Bubba scored tickets (through his work) to Wednesday night's Nine Inch Nails concert*. I'm stupidly giddy over the prospect!
His work gets tickets to pretty much everything, and before any event, they send out a mass email to announce what tickets they have. Any employee who is interested sends a reply email - and then a winner is drawn from the respondents.
I first heard about this concert a few weeks ago, and I told Bubba that if they had a ticket lottery for this show, that I wanted to go.
Then we both dissolved into peals of laughter at the thought of his fairly straight-laced company having these tickets up for grabs.
Much to our surprise, the announcement came out today - Bubba replied and the rest is history!** We suspect he won them because absolutely no one else wanted them...
Anyhow - it promises to be a great show - Bauhaus is opening. I'm just reveling in my musical time warp week....
*And no, this really isn't as random as it seems. I went through a very intense "I love Trent" phase in the early 90's. And yes, I was married already, and should have been beyond such things.
I suspect that if you were to know me, or meet me, this penchant for "angry young boy" rock would probably be the last thing you would guess about me (remember, I am working on being "average personified") but there it is. Bubba has always said that my music collection looks like it belongs to a schizophrenic...
This will be my 3rd NIN show? Yup, that's right - third.
**Although, to be fair - a tiny part of me is not so surprised. The only other time that I asked Bubba to win tickets from work was last summer, when I wanted to see Robert Plant. I jokingly told Bubba that he needed to win those tickets, and he did! My crush on Trent Reznor in the 90's was rivaled only by my crush on Robert Plant in the early 80's. Going to that show was a high school dream come true....
How funny that my husband wins me tickets to see my ex-boyfriends....
Monday, June 05, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Stone Cold Yesterday*
The Connells
Remember these guys?
Well, I do, fondly - and apparently I am not alone.
Last night, Bubba, Schecky and I wandered over to a neighboring neighborhood's SummerFest for the express purpose of attending a performance by The Connells, a band that Bubba and I both remember with affection from our college years.
There was enough of a crowd that the performers could feel proud, yet it was not so crowded as to be uncomfortable. Or to worry about people trampling the Scheckster.
It was a funny crowd though... I would say the vast majority of attendees were within a few years (on either side) of their mid-30's. (Present company included....) And a good 70% had kids with them. It would seem that The Connells have a very specific fan base.
They did a lovely job of pandering to the mid-to-late 80's/early 90's fan base by playing several of their big hits** of the era, interspersed with newer stuff that I was not familiar with, but still enjoyed.
A short bit ago, GeekyMom mentioned something on her blog about a mixtape (wow - "mixtape" - does that date me, or what????) that I made for her when we were in college. I can't say for sure, but I'm willing to bet I put some Connells on it...
*Sorry - couldn't resist.
Yesterday, however, was not Stone Cold. In fact, it was a balmy, perfect high-70 degrees with a slight breeze. In short, it was a stone cold perfect night for being outdoors and listening to one of my favorite jangle pop bands from back in the day....
**Follow this link for full length audio clips! How much does that rock???
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Because sometimes the only thing better than a doughnut....
...is a free doughnut.
This came in my email inbox - I guess it pays to be a friend of Krispy Kreme!
You may need to click the image above to see a bigger size and be able to read the print.
Have a very happy "Free Doughnut Day" tomorrow!
This came in my email inbox - I guess it pays to be a friend of Krispy Kreme!
You may need to click the image above to see a bigger size and be able to read the print.
Have a very happy "Free Doughnut Day" tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Ramblings from a Recovering Preschool Teacher*...
Well, it's sinking in, people...
Yesterday morning, as the Scheckster and I were sending Bubba off to work (would it be wrong to interject a Nelson-from-"The Simpsons" style laugh here??), he turned to me and asked "Are you and Scheck ready to start the first day of your summer?"
And I stated, somewhat dramatically (for effect), "My summer? My dear, I am ready to start the first day of the rest of my life!" Then I dissolved into hysterical giggles**...
But really, it's kind of true. The last several summers I've always known that in X number of weeks, I would be returning to work. Now, it's kind of open ended. Which is very exciting...
I have found myself, the last few days, checking out what it is that people do and wondering "I wonder if I would like that?" Hopefully, this is just a phase, as this could get old, fast.
Yesterday, Scheck and I went to a storytime at the local BigChainBookstore (we just happened to wander by at the right time on our way to Target.) The reader was not particularly good, and I found myself thinking "I wonder what it would be like to work here?" Then today, when we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up some more vitamins (our preferred brand being on good sale this week) I found myself eying the pharmacy tech and thinking "I wonder if she likes her job?"
Isn't it interesting that I am not pondering going back to law school, or med-school - or trying to score a high level executive position? I'm eyeballing basically slightly-better-than-minimum-wage jobs. I would say that my days of stress and striving and trying to dazzle you with my greatness are gone, Daddy, gone! Viva le Average!
When I am not imagining myself in another person's job, we're taking it pretty easy around here.
We've been to the pool twice this week (which is actually good for us, some years we only manage to go 3 times all season!), and we've run a few little errands each day.
I've done a ton of reading, but nothing really great (largely best-sellery/thrillery/beach booky kind of stuff), a little bit of knitting, and I am trying to see just how long I can ignore that increasingly scary tower of laundry before:
A). Someone gets hurt when the laundry avalanche occurs
or
B). We have to venture out in public wearing nothing but paper bags and a few strategically placed leaves to cover our nakedness because nothing else in the house is clean....
*This being the other snotty way I have been referring to myself as of late. ("Trophy Wife" being the first....)
**Which is understandable - I stayed up past my bedtime last night to see my boyfriend. It wasn't the best episode I've ever seen, and it was probably very confusing to new viewers, but I do think that it kicks off a very promising season...
Also, I was delighted to see commercials for Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days documentary series, and the comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Both shows are returning and should begin new episodes in the upcoming month. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the F/X network....
Yesterday morning, as the Scheckster and I were sending Bubba off to work (would it be wrong to interject a Nelson-from-"The Simpsons" style laugh here??), he turned to me and asked "Are you and Scheck ready to start the first day of your summer?"
And I stated, somewhat dramatically (for effect), "My summer? My dear, I am ready to start the first day of the rest of my life!" Then I dissolved into hysterical giggles**...
But really, it's kind of true. The last several summers I've always known that in X number of weeks, I would be returning to work. Now, it's kind of open ended. Which is very exciting...
I have found myself, the last few days, checking out what it is that people do and wondering "I wonder if I would like that?" Hopefully, this is just a phase, as this could get old, fast.
Yesterday, Scheck and I went to a storytime at the local BigChainBookstore (we just happened to wander by at the right time on our way to Target.) The reader was not particularly good, and I found myself thinking "I wonder what it would be like to work here?" Then today, when we stopped by the pharmacy to pick up some more vitamins (our preferred brand being on good sale this week) I found myself eying the pharmacy tech and thinking "I wonder if she likes her job?"
Isn't it interesting that I am not pondering going back to law school, or med-school - or trying to score a high level executive position? I'm eyeballing basically slightly-better-than-minimum-wage jobs. I would say that my days of stress and striving and trying to dazzle you with my greatness are gone, Daddy, gone! Viva le Average!
When I am not imagining myself in another person's job, we're taking it pretty easy around here.
We've been to the pool twice this week (which is actually good for us, some years we only manage to go 3 times all season!), and we've run a few little errands each day.
I've done a ton of reading, but nothing really great (largely best-sellery/thrillery/beach booky kind of stuff), a little bit of knitting, and I am trying to see just how long I can ignore that increasingly scary tower of laundry before:
A). Someone gets hurt when the laundry avalanche occurs
or
B). We have to venture out in public wearing nothing but paper bags and a few strategically placed leaves to cover our nakedness because nothing else in the house is clean....
*This being the other snotty way I have been referring to myself as of late. ("Trophy Wife" being the first....)
**Which is understandable - I stayed up past my bedtime last night to see my boyfriend. It wasn't the best episode I've ever seen, and it was probably very confusing to new viewers, but I do think that it kicks off a very promising season...
Also, I was delighted to see commercials for Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days documentary series, and the comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Both shows are returning and should begin new episodes in the upcoming month. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the F/X network....
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
My BoyFriend's Back....
...and he's in all kinds of trouble. Hey Now, Hey Now, my boyfriend's back!*
That's right, my boyfriend, Tommy Gavin, is back tonight.
It's the season premiere of Rescue Me.
What's that you say? He's a troubled, tortured alcoholic with known relationship issues and he sees dead people? Well, to that I reply "No one's perfect".
Plus that's the beauty of the imaginary boyfriend...
you don't actually have to put up with all their baggage.
If you are not watching this show, well... you should be. It's not always the easiest show to watch, (OK, sometimes it is downright painful... ) but it really is some of the best stuff on television. Really strong writing, dialog that has you in stitches one minute, in tears in the next.
Tonight, 10 pm. On F/X.
Don't call me, I won't be answering the phone...
*Although this is the song that I have chosen to title this post, it is not the song that I have been singing all day. That would be the Von Bondie's "C'mon C'mon."
I've been humming it mindlessly all day....
That's right, my boyfriend, Tommy Gavin, is back tonight.
It's the season premiere of Rescue Me.
What's that you say? He's a troubled, tortured alcoholic with known relationship issues and he sees dead people? Well, to that I reply "No one's perfect".
Plus that's the beauty of the imaginary boyfriend...
you don't actually have to put up with all their baggage.
If you are not watching this show, well... you should be. It's not always the easiest show to watch, (OK, sometimes it is downright painful... ) but it really is some of the best stuff on television. Really strong writing, dialog that has you in stitches one minute, in tears in the next.
Tonight, 10 pm. On F/X.
Don't call me, I won't be answering the phone...
*Although this is the song that I have chosen to title this post, it is not the song that I have been singing all day. That would be the Von Bondie's "C'mon C'mon."
I've been humming it mindlessly all day....
Monday, May 29, 2006
Memorial Day...
This weekend I have spent time reflecting, and knitting some tiny sweaters for redsweaters.org.
Please check out this site, and read more about the idea behind the project....
And for those of you in the US, I hope you are having a lovely Memorial Day! If you are out on the roads, please travel safely....
Saturday, May 27, 2006
What a Girl Needs...
Sometimes it's OK to wallow in self pity.
For a short bit. Then you need to hoist yourself up (and give yourself a good swift kick in the pants if necessary) and begin to get over it.
So - as part of the getting over it, I present you with a few nibbly things that caught my attention/made me happy today....
I think I am going to go off to bed, stupidly early. I've been self-medicating today with a combination of margaritas and gummy bears (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!), and this girl has now run out of steam....
WT??? is wrong with Blogger these days - both yesterday and today it has taken me exponentially longer to post my post than it did to write it (and in the case of yesterday's missive, that is not an unsubstantial amount of time!)
C'mon Blogger, what gives with all the connection errors???
For a short bit. Then you need to hoist yourself up (and give yourself a good swift kick in the pants if necessary) and begin to get over it.
So - as part of the getting over it, I present you with a few nibbly things that caught my attention/made me happy today....
- I got my toenails done today. Woo Hoo!
And, I found a new color that I think I love. For the last several years, the toenails have been all about the "Chick Flick Cherry". Seriously, I've had bright red CFC toes for at least three years....
Today, I decided to go to the nail place, and as usual I took along my own bottle of the aforementioned favorite color. But when I got there, I decided "to heck with it, I need a change". So I picked out a new color - "Lincoln Park After Dark". I think I love it. A disclaimer, though - it is not nearly so purple on, in fact it's almost a blackish color, somewhat Goth, kind of like Chanel's "Vamp" that was all the rage a while back. Anyhoo, it is quite a departure for me. Sometimes a change is good.... The clever and witty Potlikker introduced me to a new project - RedSweaters.org - the concept is simple, there is an artist in San Francisco who is decorating a tree with mini red sweaters, each one to represent an American soldier casualty in the Iraq war. Which appears to be, at the time of this writing an unforgivable 2,476. Although, sadly, this seems to be a difficult number to pin down....
I think that I will be creating some mini sweaters in the upcoming days....You go, Creative Little Daisy!
I have long been in awe of your mad sewing skills, your crazy flair for interior design, as well as the way you rock those blond highlights! And now, you're a quadruple threat, adding most excellent breakfast night skills to your already impressive resume. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day - and you've cooked up a fine one!
Oh, and of course, don't let me forget to mention how much I enjoy your "Gratitude Fridays" - you always seem to have a good attitude, no matter what the situation. Hopefully, you're a good influence, and some of that will rub off on me!
I think I am going to go off to bed, stupidly early. I've been self-medicating today with a combination of margaritas and gummy bears (don't knock it 'til you've tried it!), and this girl has now run out of steam....
WT??? is wrong with Blogger these days - both yesterday and today it has taken me exponentially longer to post my post than it did to write it (and in the case of yesterday's missive, that is not an unsubstantial amount of time!)
C'mon Blogger, what gives with all the connection errors???
Friday, May 26, 2006
End of an Era...
Well, it is official. The end of the school year. And I am now no longer employed...
I suspect that I may be guilty of composing a meandering, introspective, navel-gazing post here. So you may want to skip this one and come back later for the usual.
(I finished a scarf and a new freezer paper stencil that I'll share soon, honest.)
Still with me? Don't say you weren't warned....
I've known that this has been coming for a long time - I knew that I would not be returning to the preschool where I have worked for 4 years. Also - I had every chance to put together a resume and apply other places. Heck, I even had an unsolicited job offer to teach, to which I said "Thank you for thinking of me, but No Thank You" to.
So even though returning to my former employer was not an option, the only thing stopping me from seeking other employment was me. And I chose not to.
So why do I feel so untethered?
Is it because I've pretty much always worked? Ever since I was 16 and old enough to get my first job, I've always been employed in one way or another.
And I'll admit - I used to be the biggest workoholic.
Somewhere in college, I became that girl. You know, the one who is just driven, driven, driven? Who joins any and every activity that interests her, burning the candle at both ends with little regard to emotional or social wellbeing? Who eagerly accepted any and all responsibilities, and will kill herself to do the best possible job?
Then I graduated, and came to Atlanta. I was hired right out of school and entered into a v. large corporation's "Executive Training Program" and was determined that I would climb further and faster and higher than anyone. And I did a pretty good job of it, and managed to get my "dream job" within the company - Training Manager - in less than 18 months. Which was unheard of. I kept that job until the company went spectacularly bankrupt, and eliminated the Training Department. All the other trainers were "let go" - I managed to wrangle a promotion out of it, to Personnel Manager. Which I hated - whereas in Training, you always got to the be the "good guy", it seemed like in Personnel, you were pretty much the bad one. No one seemed to remember that you were the one who hired them, just that you were the one who could fire them.
So I decided that teaching was really where my heart was - and I left to become a Computer Software Trainer. And pretty much carved out a new path there, as well. I managed to get on a track to become certified by Lotus, and killed myself to get all kinds of levels of achievement. I could bore you, but I won't. Suffice to say that once again, I threw myself into it and worked all the freaking time. No time for friends, social activities, a life. Good thing that Bubba loves me - I don't know that I would have put up with my schedule/priorities.
I left that job after Schecky was born - much to everyone's surprise. I was so career-oriented, etc. that everyone expected me to go right back to work, and honestly, I kind of expected to, as well. However, getting put on bed-rest for 19 weeks while pregnant with the Scheckster was a real eye opener. It turns out that I do not get pregnant easily. And once I do get pregnant, it's even harder for me to stay pregnant. Hence, the 19 weeks on the couch.
Which was an eye-opener. I realized that I just wasn't happy. I really didn't have any friends - and why should I have? I didn't make time for anyone, or anything, that wasn't work. Some revamping was in order...
So, I stayed home with the Scheckster. But I always had a little something something on the side. Maybe some freelance training, maybe some website development. Once he started school, I started teaching there - and stayed even after he left. Even though my priorities had changed, my husband and my child came first, and I no longer allowed work to define me.
Or so I thought? Is it possible that my dinky 2 1/2 day a week job did define me somewhat? It was something that gave my week definition - I am not happy with too many choices in life, or too much wide open time. It makes me restless and scares me to a degree.... I was good at it, or at least I felt like I was good at it. And I felt like what I did was important, although many would disagree. I do recognize that many in our society see teachers as they do the postman or the garbage carrier - a deliverer of a necessary service, nothing more.
And society doesn't know quite what to make of you if you are not employed - I've already sensed this just in the past month or so when it was determined that I would not be coming back.* People have been asking me what am I going to do - and their reactions are almost comical. If I try to tell any version of the truth - I'm not sure, I want to take some time to figure out what I want to do before I jump into the next thing, I want to spend more time on the house, etc. - their eyes glaze over and they immediately begin searching for another companion with whom to talk. Men and women alike are guilty of this. It's very frustrating....
Although, to be fair, maybe it's just me. My uncertainty may be the turnoff, I don't know....
I'm come up with a smart-alec answer, and now reply "I'm beginning my new career as trophy wife" - which usually elicits a chuckle, but at least it's not a conversation killer.
And is it so wrong that I don't know? Is it so wrong that my days of needing to set the world afire are beyond me? I'm not nearly as impressive, but I am a lot more placid, and yes, I think happier. And whereas I might have been more fun to talk to for 5 minutes at a cocktail party (if I could have been bothered to go) because we could talk shop then, I think that now I am a much better listener and definitely a better friend.
Is it bad that I have gotten to a place in my life where I am happy to just be an Indian, I don't have to be the chief? And if that is politically incorrect, I apologize...
My needing-to-lead days are over. I don't need to overwhelm or impress you anymore. I just need you to know that I am every bit as intelligent, and a reliable as always. I'll be on the darn PTA, I just don't need to be the president. I'll make the cupcakes for the class party, I just don't want to be the room mom... And now, I will always have time for you, I'll be there as a friend when you need me, and I'll understand when I don't hear from you for long spells at a time, because you are out there setting the world on fire...
This really is what I think I want for right now....and I want some time to figure out what I want long term. For the longest time, I have thought that I would love, love, love to be a librarian. Is that weird to have librarian envy? And now is some time to contemplate that...
So why, why, why is that so weird? Why are people so dismissive? And why, even though I say that it is not going to bother me, is it obviously weighing on me???
* * * * *
Oh my word - I took a break from proof-reading this (and yes, I occasionally proofread - surprising, I know, given my uneasy grasp on the English language and basic writing skills) and I found that Geeky Mom** was talking about this very sort of thing! Only far more eloquently than me, as usual! I do love me some Geeky Mom
Let's hear it for Average!!!!!
It may not be exciting, but it's pleasant.
and what the hell is wrong with that???
< /ranting and raving>
< / indecisive whingeing >
< more yarn-y things will come, I promise>
< enjoy your long weekend>
< kisses >
< my word this was a long post - if you made it all the way though, you deserve a drink! >
*I just realized that this sounds all mysterious - like "What the heck happened????" Long story short, the director of the school where I worked decided that one-year-olds should not be in preschool programs. The biggest motivator being money - the class doesn't make a lot of it. So my two-day-a-week position was eliminated. I was offered a different job at the school, five days, but that is not in the best interest of me or my family, so I declined....
**You may need to scroll down the page to "Wednesday, May 24th -- Average".
I suspect that I may be guilty of composing a meandering, introspective, navel-gazing post here. So you may want to skip this one and come back later for the usual.
(I finished a scarf and a new freezer paper stencil that I'll share soon, honest.)
Still with me? Don't say you weren't warned....
I've known that this has been coming for a long time - I knew that I would not be returning to the preschool where I have worked for 4 years. Also - I had every chance to put together a resume and apply other places. Heck, I even had an unsolicited job offer to teach, to which I said "Thank you for thinking of me, but No Thank You" to.
So even though returning to my former employer was not an option, the only thing stopping me from seeking other employment was me. And I chose not to.
So why do I feel so untethered?
Is it because I've pretty much always worked? Ever since I was 16 and old enough to get my first job, I've always been employed in one way or another.
And I'll admit - I used to be the biggest workoholic.
Somewhere in college, I became that girl. You know, the one who is just driven, driven, driven? Who joins any and every activity that interests her, burning the candle at both ends with little regard to emotional or social wellbeing? Who eagerly accepted any and all responsibilities, and will kill herself to do the best possible job?
Then I graduated, and came to Atlanta. I was hired right out of school and entered into a v. large corporation's "Executive Training Program" and was determined that I would climb further and faster and higher than anyone. And I did a pretty good job of it, and managed to get my "dream job" within the company - Training Manager - in less than 18 months. Which was unheard of. I kept that job until the company went spectacularly bankrupt, and eliminated the Training Department. All the other trainers were "let go" - I managed to wrangle a promotion out of it, to Personnel Manager. Which I hated - whereas in Training, you always got to the be the "good guy", it seemed like in Personnel, you were pretty much the bad one. No one seemed to remember that you were the one who hired them, just that you were the one who could fire them.
So I decided that teaching was really where my heart was - and I left to become a Computer Software Trainer. And pretty much carved out a new path there, as well. I managed to get on a track to become certified by Lotus, and killed myself to get all kinds of levels of achievement. I could bore you, but I won't. Suffice to say that once again, I threw myself into it and worked all the freaking time. No time for friends, social activities, a life. Good thing that Bubba loves me - I don't know that I would have put up with my schedule/priorities.
I left that job after Schecky was born - much to everyone's surprise. I was so career-oriented, etc. that everyone expected me to go right back to work, and honestly, I kind of expected to, as well. However, getting put on bed-rest for 19 weeks while pregnant with the Scheckster was a real eye opener. It turns out that I do not get pregnant easily. And once I do get pregnant, it's even harder for me to stay pregnant. Hence, the 19 weeks on the couch.
Which was an eye-opener. I realized that I just wasn't happy. I really didn't have any friends - and why should I have? I didn't make time for anyone, or anything, that wasn't work. Some revamping was in order...
So, I stayed home with the Scheckster. But I always had a little something something on the side. Maybe some freelance training, maybe some website development. Once he started school, I started teaching there - and stayed even after he left. Even though my priorities had changed, my husband and my child came first, and I no longer allowed work to define me.
Or so I thought? Is it possible that my dinky 2 1/2 day a week job did define me somewhat? It was something that gave my week definition - I am not happy with too many choices in life, or too much wide open time. It makes me restless and scares me to a degree.... I was good at it, or at least I felt like I was good at it. And I felt like what I did was important, although many would disagree. I do recognize that many in our society see teachers as they do the postman or the garbage carrier - a deliverer of a necessary service, nothing more.
And society doesn't know quite what to make of you if you are not employed - I've already sensed this just in the past month or so when it was determined that I would not be coming back.* People have been asking me what am I going to do - and their reactions are almost comical. If I try to tell any version of the truth - I'm not sure, I want to take some time to figure out what I want to do before I jump into the next thing, I want to spend more time on the house, etc. - their eyes glaze over and they immediately begin searching for another companion with whom to talk. Men and women alike are guilty of this. It's very frustrating....
Although, to be fair, maybe it's just me. My uncertainty may be the turnoff, I don't know....
I'm come up with a smart-alec answer, and now reply "I'm beginning my new career as trophy wife" - which usually elicits a chuckle, but at least it's not a conversation killer.
And is it so wrong that I don't know? Is it so wrong that my days of needing to set the world afire are beyond me? I'm not nearly as impressive, but I am a lot more placid, and yes, I think happier. And whereas I might have been more fun to talk to for 5 minutes at a cocktail party (if I could have been bothered to go) because we could talk shop then, I think that now I am a much better listener and definitely a better friend.
Is it bad that I have gotten to a place in my life where I am happy to just be an Indian, I don't have to be the chief? And if that is politically incorrect, I apologize...
My needing-to-lead days are over. I don't need to overwhelm or impress you anymore. I just need you to know that I am every bit as intelligent, and a reliable as always. I'll be on the darn PTA, I just don't need to be the president. I'll make the cupcakes for the class party, I just don't want to be the room mom... And now, I will always have time for you, I'll be there as a friend when you need me, and I'll understand when I don't hear from you for long spells at a time, because you are out there setting the world on fire...
This really is what I think I want for right now....and I want some time to figure out what I want long term. For the longest time, I have thought that I would love, love, love to be a librarian. Is that weird to have librarian envy? And now is some time to contemplate that...
So why, why, why is that so weird? Why are people so dismissive? And why, even though I say that it is not going to bother me, is it obviously weighing on me???
* * * * *
Oh my word - I took a break from proof-reading this (and yes, I occasionally proofread - surprising, I know, given my uneasy grasp on the English language and basic writing skills) and I found that Geeky Mom** was talking about this very sort of thing! Only far more eloquently than me, as usual! I do love me some Geeky Mom
Let's hear it for Average!!!!!
It may not be exciting, but it's pleasant.
and what the hell is wrong with that???
< /ranting and raving>
< / indecisive whingeing >
< more yarn-y things will come, I promise>
< enjoy your long weekend>
< kisses >
< my word this was a long post - if you made it all the way though, you deserve a drink! >
*I just realized that this sounds all mysterious - like "What the heck happened????" Long story short, the director of the school where I worked decided that one-year-olds should not be in preschool programs. The biggest motivator being money - the class doesn't make a lot of it. So my two-day-a-week position was eliminated. I was offered a different job at the school, five days, but that is not in the best interest of me or my family, so I declined....
**You may need to scroll down the page to "Wednesday, May 24th -- Average".
Monday, May 22, 2006
An Embarrassing Richness of Many Small Good Things...
Ah - the weather here is lovely, albeit starting to really warm up, and life is generally all-around good. Nothing big, nothing majorly exciting... but the past few days have been exceedingly pleasant.
I'll take it....
Like I said - nothing huge or earth-shattering, but just a nice, nice weekend. And we needed one of those!
Hope everyone out there had exactly the kind of weekend that you wanted!
*And for those of you who like a social commentary with your cartoons, Over the Hedge has a really rather pointed message about our American tendency to consume too much of everything. And how unnecessary it all is....
I'll take it....
- Bubba had a birthday this weekend! 39! He's been having a hellaciously busy work schedule lately, so he really just wanted to kick back and relax this weekend. So we did.
Bubba is a man of simple needs - he is passionately interested in a few specific things, and therefore is quite easy to shop for. For his birthday, Schecky and I got him the first season of Lost on DVD, this book about Lost, this other book about Lost, and this book which was featured on Lost. Sense a theme there? Guess what we'll be watching Wednesday night....
He also is going to buy some piece of music software for his MIDI setup that I don't understand, but he seems excited by it all... - We went to see Over the Hedge with Schecky. I somehow did not know anything about this movie going into it - must have missed every preview, trailer and commercial... Anyhow - we all loved it!
When we got in, and I realized it was a DreamWorks animation film, I did not have high hopes. I know that I am in the minority on this, but I didn't love Shrek. And I really didn't like Shrek 2. And whereas I actually enjoyed the penguin parts of Madagascar, I acknowledge that that was a pretty lame movie at best. And Sharktale...well, that movie just sucked. So I thought "Oh well, at least I have Twizzlers," and settled in for what I thought would be a pretty mediocre movie.
I was wrong - it was funny, it was clever, the animation was amazing. The story was really quite good*, and everything fit together neatly. In addition to Garry Shandling, whom I love, there were at least a dozen big "names" doing the voice work, but this enhanced rather than overshadowed the movie. That's a pet peeve of mine, when you get a celeb to voice a character, and all you can think the entire time is "Well, that's Eddie Murphy".
I would recommend this for elementary age kids - there are a few tense parts with an exterminator who is trying to eradicate the critters - voiced by the very funny Thomas Hayden Church - which might be a bit much for little guys. However, Schecky, who often does not do well with scary parts in movies, did just fine with this.
A final note as to why I give this movie high marks - it is a very funny kids' movie that does not resort to pee and poop and fart jokes for cheap laughs. Yes, there is a skunk, and there are some jokes about skunk smell. But when bodily function jokes seem to be the norm in kid movies these days, it was a delight to go to a movie that got laughs the hard way - with clever writing and good setups. We gave this movie six thumbs-up. And I would go see it again... 
I got to read the new Augusten Burroughs book, Possible Side Effects, and I enjoyed it immensely, despite some unusually savage reviews of it at Amazon.
Unlike the nay-sayers at Amazon, I did not find this to be B-sides or rejected material. I thought it to be exactly what I expect from Augusten - biting and funny and observant.
If you like Augusten, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. If you don't like him, this isn't going to change your mind. If you've never read him - start with Running With Scissors - it's a good litmus test as to whether or not your going to like his style.- Last, but certainly not least,
I got a cool new Adult Swim jacket from an acquaintance at Schecky's school. She had been wearing a jacket like this earlier in the week, and I complemented her on it. Her son and Schecky got together for a playdate this weekend, and when I went to pick Schecky up, she gave me a jacket of my very own! I love, love, love it, and have been trying to wear it whenever possible - which is proving difficult, since summer is wanting to appear. How long is it until October????
Like I said - nothing huge or earth-shattering, but just a nice, nice weekend. And we needed one of those!
Hope everyone out there had exactly the kind of weekend that you wanted!
*And for those of you who like a social commentary with your cartoons, Over the Hedge has a really rather pointed message about our American tendency to consume too much of everything. And how unnecessary it all is....
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Because, once again, sometimes my pictures are better than my words....
We got a wee bit o' sunshine this afternoon, so I managed to get a few better pictures before I had to deliver all the little bears.*
*And delivering them was really gratifying - the little ones seemed to really like them. One little guy was cranky and tired and on the verge of a total meltdown. When I gave him the bag with his bear it in, he paused...pulled his bear out of the bag...and then just beamed! Waterworks over, a ten-thousand watt smile crossed his face. He grabbed the little bear to his chest and hugged furiously. Then he threw himself at me and I got the sweetest hug and kiss, albeit a fairly soggy one...
*And delivering them was really gratifying - the little ones seemed to really like them. One little guy was cranky and tired and on the verge of a total meltdown. When I gave him the bag with his bear it in, he paused...pulled his bear out of the bag...and then just beamed! Waterworks over, a ten-thousand watt smile crossed his face. He grabbed the little bear to his chest and hugged furiously. Then he threw himself at me and I got the sweetest hug and kiss, albeit a fairly soggy one...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
At last....
(and they all have limbs!)
From left to right, they are:
- A is for Ava
- B is for Bo
- F is for Frankie
- O is for Oliver
- N is for Naomi
I modified the Jess Hutch pattern in a few teeny ways - the limbs are a little shorter, and I didn't do the increases for more hand/foot definition. Also - I gave everyone long sleeves. As if long sleeves are going to compensate for the fact that they are not wearing pants.**
I did some experimenting, too. Different ear placements, different arm placements... You can really see this if you look at the arms of F, O, and N!
I just wanted to try a few things and working in bulk really gave me the ability to compare and contrast.
Also, everyone has a very different expression (which doesn't really show in this photo) which I tried to match to the personality of the child. Oliver is very solemn and doesn't talk much. Naomi is so very outgoing and engaging...
I do hope that everyone will love their bear.
*and the picture quality is dubious. It's icky and rainy and the light is bad today.
Hopefully, I'll be able to get a better shot or two before I have to give them all away tomorrow...
I was just so pleased to have them done, and I wanted to share!
**I'm not sure what it is with me and the pantsless bears. I just like them this way... Besides - Pooh, Yogi, BooBoo - none of the greats wear pants....
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day!*
A big Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow moms out there - and to everyone who was good to his/her mom today, I say "Thank You!"
*Is it strange that I despise Valentine's Day, and do my darnedest not to celebrate/recognize it in anyway - claiming it is "a made up, stupid, commercial holiday designed to encourage people to buy unnecessary gifts" - and yet I revel in Mother's Day? (I also love Father's Day, too - I give the guys their props!) I mean, Mother's Day/Father's Day are probably every bit the made up, stupid commercial holidays too, aren't they? A paradox....
Oh well, call me a hypocrite and bring me breakfast in bed (a cliche, but a sweet one) and some homemade goodies!
*Is it strange that I despise Valentine's Day, and do my darnedest not to celebrate/recognize it in anyway - claiming it is "a made up, stupid, commercial holiday designed to encourage people to buy unnecessary gifts" - and yet I revel in Mother's Day? (I also love Father's Day, too - I give the guys their props!) I mean, Mother's Day/Father's Day are probably every bit the made up, stupid commercial holidays too, aren't they? A paradox....
Oh well, call me a hypocrite and bring me breakfast in bed (a cliche, but a sweet one) and some homemade goodies!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Jake Ryan
Everyone in my house is taking such good care of me - even TiVo recorded Sixteen Candles* for me today, and I managed to stay awake for 2 straight hours to watch it.Sigh.
Then I found this article at The Washington Post which outlines just why we love Jake Ryan so.
Sigh somemore....
*Which in a way was kind of eerie. Earlier in the afternoon, I decided to move my base of operations to the couch and watch a movie. I was looking at our meager DVD collection, and I considered "Pretty in Pink". I decided against it, and thought 'what I really feel like watching is "Sixteen Candles." '
Since I don't have that DVD, I went back to bed. When I woke up and lurched into the living room, the little red TiVo light was on, and when I looked to see what it was recording, it was "Sixteen Candles!"
How do it know???
My TiVo is psychic, maybe? Love that TiVo...
Noon*...
that's what time I woke up this morning.
Or should that be afternoon?
I have not slept this late in, oh say, eight years.
"Why?" - you might very well be asking yourself - is this an early Mother's Day celebration? Or just a random celebration of sloth?
I wish.
I have a raging fever (which is weird, because as a rule I never run a fever) and the world's sorest throat. And my head is gunked up with cotton wool or something else that should not be there.
Ugh.
Fortunately, this is the first weekend we've had in a bit that has not been jam-packed with a dozen different things that we had to do. This, however, is not how I was planning on spending it.
Bubba and Schecky have been such champs. They let me sleep, and then they went to Publix and got me soup, and pink Jello and Ginger Ale, also pink.
How cute is that - that they thought that largely pink foods would help "feel Mommy better," as Schecky says?
But they may be onto something. The pink foods do seem to have strangely restorative properties....
I'm climbing back into bed now.
*Actually, it was a little bit closer to noon-thirty... if I didn't feel so cruddy, I would be reveling in the decadence of it....
Or should that be afternoon?
I have not slept this late in, oh say, eight years.
"Why?" - you might very well be asking yourself - is this an early Mother's Day celebration? Or just a random celebration of sloth?
I wish.
I have a raging fever (which is weird, because as a rule I never run a fever) and the world's sorest throat. And my head is gunked up with cotton wool or something else that should not be there.
Ugh.
Fortunately, this is the first weekend we've had in a bit that has not been jam-packed with a dozen different things that we had to do. This, however, is not how I was planning on spending it.
Bubba and Schecky have been such champs. They let me sleep, and then they went to Publix and got me soup, and pink Jello and Ginger Ale, also pink.
How cute is that - that they thought that largely pink foods would help "feel Mommy better," as Schecky says?
But they may be onto something. The pink foods do seem to have strangely restorative properties....
I'm climbing back into bed now.
*Actually, it was a little bit closer to noon-thirty... if I didn't feel so cruddy, I would be reveling in the decadence of it....
Thursday, May 11, 2006
A Perfect Blue Sky*...
I'll admit that it might be possible to conjure up a more perfect springlike day....
But for the life of me, I can not image a more gorgeous day than the one we had today.
A few more pictures may be found at flickr.
*and Thank you, Robert Smith and Junkie XL, for providing the soundtrack to this day...
But for the life of me, I can not image a more gorgeous day than the one we had today.
A few more pictures may be found at flickr.
*and Thank you, Robert Smith and Junkie XL, for providing the soundtrack to this day...
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Ack! Help, Please!
All right - can someone smarter than me* help me with any/all of the below???
How 'bout one last plea for help, and I bet someone can help with this one....
BlogRolling.
I want to have that cool side bar, that lists all the people that I like to visit, and that I think you should be visiting too - because all these people are clever and thought-provoking and talented.
So I went to BlogRolling.com, created an account, and BlogRolled you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and of course, you too, Scarecrow!
And I see where I can get the code - but then what do I do with it? I know, I know - I ought to be able to figure this out. But with all the ElementarySchoolHighJinx scheduled for the next few weeks - it's gonna take me a while to muck through it.
I need some instant gratification - so anyone got some good advice?
*and right now, trust me, that's pretty much every single one of you!
My regular readers, that goes without saying, naturally - but right now, as thinly spread and over-committed as I am, I'm betting even the weird pervy people who stumble across here from bizarro Google searches could probably whoop my behind in an IQ point cage match...
- Can anyone help me slow down time?
- Or at least go back in time far enough back that I could convince all these crazy people who are loading up the end-of-the school year with too many activities that maybe we should space them out?
I understand that "end of the year" picnic needs to be at the end of the year.
I get that, OK.
But "Lin-a-palooza" (a huge schoolwide talent show), a Roman Feast, Teacher Appreciation Week, a Field Day Parade (followed the next day by the actual Field Day), an Art Show and Picnic, a Graduation Ceremony (OK - obviously this one needs to be at the end of the year, too...), a family Fun Feast, and a Schoolwide Book Swap - all of which need a great deal of parental involvement and volunteering - did we have to cram all of these things into the last 21 days of school?
Seriously? - Can you help me keep my resolve?
I have been asked to help run, coordinate, or at the very least volunteer for every single one of these events.
And I am proud of myself, because I have actually said "No" to a few of the requests. Probably not as many as I should have declined, but saying no has always been very difficult for me in situations like this, so that fact that I've been able to turn any of these down is HUGE! However, I'm worried that I might waiver - some of these people keep coming at you, and coming at you. Sigh
How 'bout one last plea for help, and I bet someone can help with this one....
BlogRolling.
I want to have that cool side bar, that lists all the people that I like to visit, and that I think you should be visiting too - because all these people are clever and thought-provoking and talented.
So I went to BlogRolling.com, created an account, and BlogRolled you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and of course, you too, Scarecrow!
And I see where I can get the code - but then what do I do with it? I know, I know - I ought to be able to figure this out. But with all the ElementarySchoolHighJinx scheduled for the next few weeks - it's gonna take me a while to muck through it.
I need some instant gratification - so anyone got some good advice?
*and right now, trust me, that's pretty much every single one of you!
My regular readers, that goes without saying, naturally - but right now, as thinly spread and over-committed as I am, I'm betting even the weird pervy people who stumble across here from bizarro Google searches could probably whoop my behind in an IQ point cage match...
Monday, May 08, 2006
Thoughts on Sweeps Month...
How much did Grey's Anatomy make me cry last night?
Buckets. Absolute uncontrollable buckets.
(Oh, and by the way, this guy* was much funnier when I last saw him in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.)
And whereas nothing has had me sobbing quite so hard as Grey's, I must admit that several of my shows have been rocking lately.
Of course, I remembered as I began typing this entry that it's no coincidence - it's May "sweeps". Which is always kind of fun to have all good episodes of your favorite shows, but then it is also a little frustrating too. I mean, why can't the writing, etc. be this good all the time?
Anyway - I can not wait to see what happens this week on Gilmore Girls. The season finale.... and I know that they are going to leave me with a huge unanswered cliff-hanger. Or two. I'm already anxious....
And OMG, do I even need to tell you how much I am anticipating this week's Lost??? I'm still reeling from last week's revelations.....
*John Cho.
And I thought he did an excellent job. In both H&K and last night's Grey's Anatomy...
Buckets. Absolute uncontrollable buckets.
(Oh, and by the way, this guy* was much funnier when I last saw him in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.)
And whereas nothing has had me sobbing quite so hard as Grey's, I must admit that several of my shows have been rocking lately.
Of course, I remembered as I began typing this entry that it's no coincidence - it's May "sweeps". Which is always kind of fun to have all good episodes of your favorite shows, but then it is also a little frustrating too. I mean, why can't the writing, etc. be this good all the time?
Anyway - I can not wait to see what happens this week on Gilmore Girls. The season finale.... and I know that they are going to leave me with a huge unanswered cliff-hanger. Or two. I'm already anxious....
And OMG, do I even need to tell you how much I am anticipating this week's Lost??? I'm still reeling from last week's revelations.....
*John Cho.
And I thought he did an excellent job. In both H&K and last night's Grey's Anatomy...
Sunday, May 07, 2006
New Fun Thing...
Like everyone else in the universe, I was smitten by Angry Chicken's cool little elf shirt. I followed her links for the instructions at Craftster - and thought that I might try my hand at it someday.
Then Michael's put t-shirts on sale this week for $2.50 each, and I figured that this was a sign that I needed to try it now!
But first...what to do???
Schecky has been taking a class on Saturdays called "How to Draw Your Own Comics".* And he's been cranking out lots of product, a great deal of which I am just smitten by! Admittedly, I am biased...
So I selected one of the more simple drawings - this little cranky jellyfish guy- just in case this project proved to be more difficult than advertised....
Pleasantly enough, it was all pretty straightforward...
I reproduced his drawing by just redrawing it on the freezer paper's rough side (so it's not an exact copy of his) and then I cut it out with an X-acto knife. However, if I were to do it over again, I would use a copier and copy his exactly. I was just too lazy and too eager to start to take the time to take this and copy it. Also, you can supposedly use freezer paper in your printer.
Then I ironed the freezer paper to the shirt, and then applied the fabric paint. Voila!
Things I did that were good:
The big thing is that, like Angry Chicken, I ironed a second piece of freezer paper on the inside of the shirt to help stabilize it all. Also, I did a careful thin coat of paint, then let it dry and did a second - I think that this really helped prevent "bleeding" of the ink.
Things I did that I would do differently next time:
After searching through the Craftster archives for additional information about this project, I decided to apply a layer of packing tape over the freezer paper before cutting it out. The idea behind this was to make a more sturdy stencil, and provide for more precise cutting. It did add sturdiness, but when I went to iron it on, I found that it made it more bulky and it wanted to buckle and wrinkle. Plus, I had to use a pressing cloth so the packing tape did not melt - and this made it more difficult to iron the freezer paper on. I would not bother with this step again.
Additionally, I think I would just use regular scissors to cut out most of the design - I would have had more control over curves etc. than I had with the X-acto.
In short - I don't think this is perfect, but I can live with it. Particularly given how quickly I whipped it out! Schecky, on the other hand, thinks it's wonderful and has already stated that he's wearing it to school tomorrow....
*No, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Bubba is so proud he could burst!
Babies!*
Or more accurately, I suppose, baby!
Check it out...
*Thank you, Phil! (lymi!)
My friends are far kinder to me, and indulge my whims, way more than I deserve....
Check it out...
*Thank you, Phil! (lymi!)
My friends are far kinder to me, and indulge my whims, way more than I deserve....
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Happy Free Comic Book Day!
May 6th is Free Comic Book day! This event is exactly what it sounds like - free comics! This is a great opportunity for anyone who wonders "what all the fuss is about comics" or for anyone who has children - 'cuz kids love comics!
You can find a store in your area that is participating in this event by entering your zip code at the Free Comic Book Day 2006 website.
There are a few rules - you can't just walk in and take any old book you want; stores have selected books that are available as part of this promotion. Some stores have a limit on how many books you can have; however, I personally endorse a "Speed Limit: Two" policy.
Of course, I'm lucky enough to live in an area with a whole slew of shops, so I can take Schecky to more than one if there are multiple books that we just have to have.
I'm thrilled, because one of the participating authors is Andy Runton, author of Owly.
And you know just how much I love Owly....
*Sorry to have been so quiet as of late, I'll be back later this weekend with a few miscellaneous nibbly bits to share - but I wanted to spread the word about FCBD so that you can join in the fun!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Good Color Day -
May is too darn busy - and if I get more than 2.3 minutes to sit down in front of the computer, I'll tell you all about it sometime!
In the meantime - I need to sing the praises of a couple of people:
Jessica at Salon Red - she keeps me blonde* and today she was on fire. My hair only ever hangs this straight/looks this shiny once she's done with it. But I'm so happy with my new highlights, that I thought I'd share.
The nice people at Yarn.com - On Monday afternoon, I found myself in a situation. I was out of Oatmeal-colored wool and I've got 3 little bears who still need ears! (and maybe limbs. Depends on how pressed for time I get!)
I called the three yarn stores in my area which carry this particular yarn, but no avail. No one had it. At the last store I spoke with, the yarn lady told me to try yarn.com, but to not tell her boss that she told me that. Seems she's been recommending it to too many customers, and her store's customers are defecting.
I went to the website, and saw that they had the yarn - but wasn't sure how long it would take to ship it to me. I really need it by the weekend, as I am planning an all ears/arms/legs knitting extravaganza. I noticed that their phone number was prominently displayed on a banner on their site. So I decided to call.
The phone was answered immediately, by a human being - and a lovely one at that. She was personable and helpful, and even went back into their storehouse area to see if she could match my dye lot. She found my yarn and said she could get it to me by the weekend. I said great, and gave her a credit card number. She then said that she'd go grab my yarn personally and get it out ASAP.
That was Monday afternoon. Guess what showed up before lunch today? The nice people at yarn.com rock!
I am all for supporting your local yarn shop, whenever possible. But if you need an Internet alternative - my experience with yarn.com was a great one...
*no easy task.
In the meantime - I need to sing the praises of a couple of people:
Jessica at Salon Red - she keeps me blonde* and today she was on fire. My hair only ever hangs this straight/looks this shiny once she's done with it. But I'm so happy with my new highlights, that I thought I'd share.
The nice people at Yarn.com - On Monday afternoon, I found myself in a situation. I was out of Oatmeal-colored wool and I've got 3 little bears who still need ears! (and maybe limbs. Depends on how pressed for time I get!)
I called the three yarn stores in my area which carry this particular yarn, but no avail. No one had it. At the last store I spoke with, the yarn lady told me to try yarn.com, but to not tell her boss that she told me that. Seems she's been recommending it to too many customers, and her store's customers are defecting.
I went to the website, and saw that they had the yarn - but wasn't sure how long it would take to ship it to me. I really need it by the weekend, as I am planning an all ears/arms/legs knitting extravaganza. I noticed that their phone number was prominently displayed on a banner on their site. So I decided to call.
The phone was answered immediately, by a human being - and a lovely one at that. She was personable and helpful, and even went back into their storehouse area to see if she could match my dye lot. She found my yarn and said she could get it to me by the weekend. I said great, and gave her a credit card number. She then said that she'd go grab my yarn personally and get it out ASAP.
That was Monday afternoon. Guess what showed up before lunch today? The nice people at yarn.com rock!
I am all for supporting your local yarn shop, whenever possible. But if you need an Internet alternative - my experience with yarn.com was a great one...
*no easy task.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
My Friend Phil...
My friend, Phil - of Digital LandPhil fame - is amazing. He can paint, he takes wonderful pictures, and has some of the most clever illustrations around.
One of his latest creations is this great little robot - the WinkBot. People responded so positively to the WinkBot, that Phil created a girlfriend for him. She's also a cutie.
So why am I bringing this to your attention? First of all, I think that the WinkBot could brighten anyone's day! You owe it to yourself to go visit the WinkBot.
Secondly - I want to enlist your help in a guerilla warfare campaign...
(insert evil laugh here....)
I think that the WinkBot and his girl ought to propagate! That's right, Robo-Babies! So far, Phil is ignoring my plaintive cries for offspring.
Won't you please go visit Phil, and leave him a comment expressing your desire to see WinkBot tots????
Thank You!
One of his latest creations is this great little robot - the WinkBot. People responded so positively to the WinkBot, that Phil created a girlfriend for him. She's also a cutie.
So why am I bringing this to your attention? First of all, I think that the WinkBot could brighten anyone's day! You owe it to yourself to go visit the WinkBot.
Secondly - I want to enlist your help in a guerilla warfare campaign...
(insert evil laugh here....)
I think that the WinkBot and his girl ought to propagate! That's right, Robo-Babies! So far, Phil is ignoring my plaintive cries for offspring.
Won't you please go visit Phil, and leave him a comment expressing your desire to see WinkBot tots????
Thank You!
Monday, May 01, 2006
10 Things...
I've been tagged twice now - and I am grateful for it. There are a few things that I've been meaning to share, and this got me together enough to do it. Also, it's always nice to take some time out and reflect on what makes you happy - and this is something that I am bad about doing - taking the time to just be still. And to be happy for what you have. And to just be.
(So, thank you Autum and Capello!)
And so, I present in no particular order...
TEN SIMPLE PLEASURES*
And there you have it, my list**! I'm not going to come out and tag anyone in particular, as I don't want to put anyone on the spot. Although, I must say that I really I enjoyed thinking about this, and would love to see your list, too!
So if you do choose to play along, please be sure to let me know ...
*And I am grateful to my friend, Geeky Mom, for pointing me in the direction of how to embed this cool slideshow! Blogger was giving me fits today, and I was getting way cranky. And then I learned this trick from Geeky, which I think is pretty darn cool.....
**Oh, and of course I ended up with 11 items on my list. A little trick I learned from This Is Spinal Tap. A movie which might not deserve to be on a list entitled simple pleasures, but certainly deserves to be on the list of guilty ones!
(So, thank you Autum and Capello!)
And so, I present in no particular order...
- Reading
I honestly don't know what I'd do with myself if I did not love to read. We have more bookshelves in our house than chairs. - Knitting
I am really enjoying rediscovering knitting after a hiatus of several years; and I am particularly grateful for the inspiration of Jess Hutch.
As you can see, I am knitting an army that has taken up residence on top of the piano. Although, it's hard to be an intimidating army when most of you don't have arms and legs.... - Building "Nests"
The concept of the nest is a big one at our house. Particularly with me and the Little Guy, but Bubba will get in on the act now and then. We like to get all the feather pillows and blankets and surround ourselves as much as possible and settle in - to read, to watch movies, to just snuggle. - Lip Balm
I suspect that I have a fetish here. I don't really wear much makeup to begin with - I'm not a earth mother, I'm just lazy. And somewhat intimidated by it all - but there's always time for lip balm!
I've got several favorites, and they actually get called into service for different occasions, times of day, etc. For example, the Cherry Chapstick is very much a bedtime lip balm.
Just imagine how smart I'd be if the lip balm portion of my brain were freed up for some other, more lofty use... Cancer might be cured! We might be colonizing Mars! But I can't help because I'm too preoccupied with lip balm.... - Gummy Vitamins
I've had the whole raging internal debate about how it is so wrong to blur the line between medicine and candy, etc. But what can I say, I love them! - Finding "Finds"
You know, the unexpected serendipitous thing that just makes your heart happy?
Like this tea towel that I found at a booth set up for our neighborhood festival's street market. The vendor had a chair sitting on top of a bureau, and to keep the top of the bureau from getting scratched up, they had old towels crumpled under the legs of the chair. This was one of the "rags".
I thought that the embroidery was just wonderful (it's all done by hand!), so I asked if it were for sale. The vendor was amused - to him it was just a rag to protect his tabletop - but he let me have it for $2.
I just love how one man's "trash" was this girl's treasure. I've got this hanging over the back of a chair, and everytime I look at it, it makes me smile.
I could insert some "Flea Market Find"...$2, "Unexplainable Bursts of Happiness....priceless blather here, but I'll refrain. - Cupcakes
Do I really need to elaborate? - When the Mail Arrives
I don't know if this is a throwback to summer camps and college, when the mail was so pivotal to whether you had a good day or not, but I love when the mail gets here. I look forward to it far more than the occasion warrants.... - My "Pet" Carpenter Bee
Don't even bother to tell me how weird I am - both Bubba and Schecky have told me plenty often enough over this, trust me...
Long story short: I discovered that a carpenter bee had bored a hole in this piece of landscaping wood that has been propped up against the porch (for far too long! It's left over from a long since forgotten landscaping project...)
Anyway, I've become attached to the bee. I don't know why - he's not particularly endearing. In fact, if he bothers to notice me at all, he's not really happy to see me, as evidenced by the fact that I couldn't even get him to come out of his perfect little hole for the picture. But you don't have to love me back to have my devotion...
And I know, I know - they're destructive, etc. My cranky little bee still makes me happy.... - Bare Feet on Freshly Mopped Floors
And if you have clean sheets on the bed, that's the ultimate - padding across a squeaky clean floor and getting into a freshly made bed... And a nice new pedicure doesn't hurt either.
Please forgive my Fred Flintstone feet. They're not pretty, but they get me where I need to go - "Bowtie" Occasions
We got this bowtie for Schecky when he was just a little PotPie. The occasion was my sister's wedding, and it was pretty swank, and we all got dolled up to the teeth. Schecky now equates his bowtie with good times, and whenever he gets invited to attend a grownup party, or wedding type of thing, he'll always ask "Is it a bowtie party???" And he gets so happy when it is, because "bowtie parties" usually have cake. And dancing. And people to make a fuss over you. In short, good times....
And there you have it, my list**! I'm not going to come out and tag anyone in particular, as I don't want to put anyone on the spot. Although, I must say that I really I enjoyed thinking about this, and would love to see your list, too!
So if you do choose to play along, please be sure to let me know ...
*And I am grateful to my friend, Geeky Mom, for pointing me in the direction of how to embed this cool slideshow! Blogger was giving me fits today, and I was getting way cranky. And then I learned this trick from Geeky, which I think is pretty darn cool.....
**Oh, and of course I ended up with 11 items on my list. A little trick I learned from This Is Spinal Tap. A movie which might not deserve to be on a list entitled simple pleasures, but certainly deserves to be on the list of guilty ones!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Indulge Me for a Moment*...
...while I wallow in pure unadulterated maternal adoration.
*I know, I know - no one is really that interested in admiring other people's children. I just couldn't resist. And he has been a really great kid on a really busy and hectic (but fun) weekend.
And furthermore, I acknowledge what a copout this is - since I've not posted in days, and even then the last post I did was nothing but a Lorelei Gilmore rehash (although I still stand by the brilliance of the quotation!) But in all the whirlwind of getting ready for Festival, then celebrating Festival, and attending a wedding on top of that - there's been no time for anything else.
Next week, the usual blather and occasional knitted thing/book review will return....
*I know, I know - no one is really that interested in admiring other people's children. I just couldn't resist. And he has been a really great kid on a really busy and hectic (but fun) weekend.
And furthermore, I acknowledge what a copout this is - since I've not posted in days, and even then the last post I did was nothing but a Lorelei Gilmore rehash (although I still stand by the brilliance of the quotation!) But in all the whirlwind of getting ready for Festival, then celebrating Festival, and attending a wedding on top of that - there's been no time for anything else.
Next week, the usual blather and occasional knitted thing/book review will return....
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
You Said It, Lorelei...
During last night's episode, Lorelei is helping to host a slumber party for a whole passel* of 13 year old girls. She's is preparing to screen a movie for them. She sits them all down, and delivers this speech:
And then, the wailing intro to the Psychedelic Furs song, the long camera shot of the railroad tracks and the street sweeper crawling by....
That's right - it's Pretty In Pink.
I love this movie.
And, Lorelei, you hit the nail right on the head....
*Isn't that what tween girls come in, passels???
All right, girls, um....
You are about to meet someone very special to me. Her name is Molly Ringwald. Now I know you don't know who that is, but suffice it to say she is my generation's Audrey Hepburn. And I know you don't know who that is, either. But trust me... you're going to love her.
...and yes, that is the guy from "Two and a Half Men".
And then, the wailing intro to the Psychedelic Furs song, the long camera shot of the railroad tracks and the street sweeper crawling by....
That's right - it's Pretty In Pink.
I love this movie.
And, Lorelei, you hit the nail right on the head....
*Isn't that what tween girls come in, passels???
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
"Captain Saturday"
All-in-all, this past weekend was a lovely and low-key one. We hung around the house, I puttered a bit (laundry, tidying) and did some good knitting on some little bears. I also read a truly enjoyable book, and that is what I wanted to share...I will preface this by admitting that I do have a soft spot for Southern literature, both the serious and the not so serious. And to my delight I've found a new (well, new to me) Southern author - Robert Inman. The novel is called Captain Saturday - and it's the story of Will Baggett, who is the most popular TV weatherman in all of Raleigh, NC.
Will's pretty much on top of the world: he loves his job, and he loves his adoring fans. He and his beautiful wife have a lovely home, and a son in med school. In short, Will's on top of the world.
Until the station is sold, and Will finds himself out of a job. And that's just the beginning of the woes the universe has in store for him.
This story deals with how Will reconnects with his roots, and in doing so reconnects with himself, and his wife and son. It was beautifully and descriptively written. Inman has a very good eye and ear for details. Even the more outrageous characters ring true.
I'm excited to have discovered Robert Inman. First, because I did genuinely enjoy this book; and second, because he has several more books out there. It's always nice to "find" someone who already has a couple of books under his belt, so that when you like their writing style, you don't have to wait years for the next book to come out* - you can go back and read some of the older stuff.
Although, this week, not much time for reading.... I'm paying for my leisurely weekend! Our big-time neighborhood festival begins Friday, and the unofficial kickoff is the children's party which I am helping to put together, which is on Thursday night. The rest of my week is going to be all about Festival....
*And yes, I mean you, Donna Tartt. You wrote The Secret History which was absolutely wonderful. Then you made us wait NINE YEARS for The Little Friend, which wasn't....
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Lovely, Lazy Sunday
Today has started off quite satisfactorily. I got up early and went for a nice long walk with one of my neighborhood girlfriends.
It's funny, I absolutely hate getting ready to walk, I kind of like the actual walking, and I just love having gone for a walk.
Then I returned home to spend a leisurely morning. As I was puttering about in the kitchen, I noticed that there's a whole slew of honeysuckle threatening to overtake the western side of the deck. I have no idea where that came from, or how long it's been out there. As I've admitted before, we rarely ever go out into, or even pay much attention to, the back.
Since it was such a lovely morning, I decided to drag a kitchen chair out there and spend some quality time with the crossword, and the other "fun" sections of the paper.
An excellent decision if I may say so. The weather was stunning this morning, a slight breeze, high 60's, sunny with a few puffy lil' clouds. It's still too early in the season for all the bugs to show up yet, so no beasties or long legged ghoulies were trying to suck my blood. And the smell of honeysuckle wafting around - amazing.
The crosswords were quite rewarding this morning, and I completed them both without having to cheat. (Usually, the NYTimes one requires some peeking, or at the very least, some Google help.) I then moved on to the "Art & Books" section and read a lovely review of a book I would just love to own: The Encyclopedia of Appalachia.* Just as I was sitting there, basking in the glow of completed crosswords and the anticipation of a newly released book, I thought to myself - "Could this morning be any more perfect???" Which is usually the moment at which something goes comically, cosmically awry - the universe smiting me for daring to question. Instead, and here I kid you not, the sound of bagpipes begins to drift through the air.
I know, I know - many of you might think that the bagpipe sound was my punishment from the cosmos - however, I actually love the sound of bagpipes. Weird, I know, but there it is.
I just sat quietly and listened. And that's a big deal for me, because there is not a lot of stillness in my life. The music didn't last long, maybe 10 - 15 minutes or so, and then ended as mysteriously as it began.
It doesn't get much better than that, folks.....
*Even though I am craving this book mightily, don't be looking for a review anytime soon. It's a big ole book (1,800+ pages) with a hefty price tag. However, Bubba if you are reading this, it is on my Amazon wish list. And I've got a birthday coming up. Admittedly it's not for months and months, but it is coming up!
It's funny, I absolutely hate getting ready to walk, I kind of like the actual walking, and I just love having gone for a walk.
Then I returned home to spend a leisurely morning. As I was puttering about in the kitchen, I noticed that there's a whole slew of honeysuckle threatening to overtake the western side of the deck. I have no idea where that came from, or how long it's been out there. As I've admitted before, we rarely ever go out into, or even pay much attention to, the back.
Since it was such a lovely morning, I decided to drag a kitchen chair out there and spend some quality time with the crossword, and the other "fun" sections of the paper.
An excellent decision if I may say so. The weather was stunning this morning, a slight breeze, high 60's, sunny with a few puffy lil' clouds. It's still too early in the season for all the bugs to show up yet, so no beasties or long legged ghoulies were trying to suck my blood. And the smell of honeysuckle wafting around - amazing.
The crosswords were quite rewarding this morning, and I completed them both without having to cheat. (Usually, the NYTimes one requires some peeking, or at the very least, some Google help.) I then moved on to the "Art & Books" section and read a lovely review of a book I would just love to own: The Encyclopedia of Appalachia.* Just as I was sitting there, basking in the glow of completed crosswords and the anticipation of a newly released book, I thought to myself - "Could this morning be any more perfect???" Which is usually the moment at which something goes comically, cosmically awry - the universe smiting me for daring to question. Instead, and here I kid you not, the sound of bagpipes begins to drift through the air.
I know, I know - many of you might think that the bagpipe sound was my punishment from the cosmos - however, I actually love the sound of bagpipes. Weird, I know, but there it is.
I just sat quietly and listened. And that's a big deal for me, because there is not a lot of stillness in my life. The music didn't last long, maybe 10 - 15 minutes or so, and then ended as mysteriously as it began.
It doesn't get much better than that, folks.....
*Even though I am craving this book mightily, don't be looking for a review anytime soon. It's a big ole book (1,800+ pages) with a hefty price tag. However, Bubba if you are reading this, it is on my Amazon wish list. And I've got a birthday coming up. Admittedly it's not for months and months, but it is coming up!
Friday, April 21, 2006
For Phil...
I drove past this today, and it made me think of you.
And I almost got run over by a Marta bus, attempting to take this picture....
Which, pretty much sums up how my day has gone today.
And just in case you thought that I might be exaggerating about my day, let me just tell you that Schecky is sitting on the couch, waiting for me to come watch a DVD with him. Which on the surface sounds lovely and sweet. Except that the movie is BabyGeniusesII: SuperBabies!
Ack.
Oh, and get this: Scheck's new name for me is "Evil Mom Lady". (Which is actually kind of funny. Obviously I've been letting him read too many of my old "Calvin and Hobbes" collections.)
Oh well, tomorrow's gonna be, tomorrow's gonna be, tomorrow's gonna be another day. Yay-yay-yay-yay!*
*Name that tune!
LCB, you ought to get that one....
Thursday, April 20, 2006
"Everyday with Rachael Ray" Review (and a miscellaneous nibbly thing)
REVIEW:
I am a magazine junkie. And pretty much anytime I get one of those "Try an issue" offers, I give it a try. Typically, I read my free issue, and that's that. No desire whatsoever to subscribe.
Yesterday, a trial issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray arrived. I was not all that excited. I have a vague idea who she is, but have never watched her show. Or does she have more than one? I have this notion that she's building an empire and has multiple fingers in multiple pies....
Anyway, what a pleasant surprise the magazine was! First of all, it looks and feels nice. It's about an inch wider than most magazines, which gives it a substantial feel (although, it doesn't stack up nicely with the other magazines if you tend to let them pile up. Which I do.) and it's on nice heavy glossy paper. Points for that. The design throughout is clean, and visually appealing while still being easy to read. More points for that.
And there are a number of recipes that sound really appealing - and there are photos of every recipe. Huge points for that.
The only thing that make it lose points is that there is no nutritional information on the recipes, which I would like to have. Particularly since Ms. Ray seems to have dependency issues with her "EVOO"*. I could do without the cutesy name. She loses points for that, too.
All in all the good points outweigh the bad points. And we may have to try the Chicken Sausages with Red Slaw, the Leek-y Chicken with couscous, Andoille Dawgs with Gumbo Sauce, Rice Cracker Tuna, or the Shrimp and Feta quiche. Yum....
MISCELLANEOUS NIBBLY THING:
OK - want to know something that is really weird? Sitting down to watch an episode of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" that your TiVo has considerately recorded for you, only to realize that the main guest (the one who gets to sit down with Jon and plug something, not the one who gets visited by a field reporter and usually ends up looking crazy) is a boy you used to date. Never happened to you? Well, trust me, it's a strange feeling.....
The boy in question handled himself beautifully, and came across as very witty and clever and smart. In short, he did well enough that I was not embarrassed by the fact that I went out with him for a short period, but he wasn't so amazing that I was kicking myself for letting him get away. In fact, I was actually proud of him - does that mean that I'm an adult???? Perish the thought....
* "Extra Virgin Olive Oil"
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Introducing the Disappointing Kitten Thing
There are a couple of reasons behind this:
- As far as crafty girls go, knitters are the riders of the short bus. Those who sew can whip out prodigious amounts of amazing and creative product in what seems like the blink of an eye. Whereas we knitters plod along with our yarn and our sticks. We're slow. (or at least, I am!)
- I really have been knitting - but I haven't been finishing anything.
I've got too many projects going on and I just need to buckle down and finish something.
I'm making slow progress on the Irish Hiking Scarf, plus I'm making a whole slew of bears. Five to be exact. I've got about two and a half of them done, so I'm literally halfway there. I've not taken a picture of them, though, because I figured you all might be tiring of bears. First there was BabyHenry, then Chubbins, and then Miss Laurie. I figure I won't subject you to each individual bear - but you might have to endure a group photo when the clan is all done.
Oh yeah, I still have something that I started for a friend a month ago, and all I need to do is finish two tiny little things and then put it all together - but I seem to never get this done...
I had so much fun with the DomoKun, and he was such a quick little knit and is so pleasing to hold that I wanted to experiment with the "bean bag" format further. Also, I wanted to try my hand at intarsia. So somehow I decided that I wanted to try to knit a stripey kitten.
I got out Excel and plotted the whole thing out and then set to work. The above picture is the final result. I'm not real pleased with him, so I think that I am not going to bother to put him all together. Finishing/assembling is my least favorite part of any project - and since I'm on the fence about him, I'm not going to invest the time right now.
Things I like about the Disappointing Kitten Thing: I did a fairly good job with the intarsia. It was awkward to do and I had a bazillion strands all over the back, but I managed it all. And I even did a nice job of weaving in all the sticky outy bits in back. I also really like the concept of the stripes... the way that they frame his face (the back is a solid set of light orange/dark orange stripes) Finally, I like the fact that I am starting to be able to imagine my own stuff, even if it's not necessarily turning out the way that I wanted....
Things I don't like about DKT: I never did get his expression the way I wanted it to look. I wanted him to have more personality than he ended up with. Also, I made a dumb mistake - due to the fact that I created the pattern for the front of him, then the back of him, and then I ended up modifying the front without modifying the back. His stripes are 4 rows high in front, only 3 rows high in back. It's not the end of the world, but it is going to bug me.
So - thank you for allowing me to introduce the partially completed Disappointing Kitten Thing!
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Handwriting Meme
thought I'd join in on the fun at the handwriting meme on Flickr....
In all honesty, I thought about "staging" a shot - using cute stationary, and my very best handwriting, etc. Instead, I decided to just "keep it real."
I grabbed a nearby 3x5 index card - they're ubiquitous in my house, as I use them for everything. I grabbed a Sharpie, my weapon of choice*, and just used my everyday scrawl.
NOTE TO ALL YOU HANDWRITING ANALYSTS OUT THERE: I am pretty sure that I don't want to know what this says about me.....
*Although, I am not completely sure how I ended up with a purple one.
In all honesty, I thought about "staging" a shot - using cute stationary, and my very best handwriting, etc. Instead, I decided to just "keep it real."
I grabbed a nearby 3x5 index card - they're ubiquitous in my house, as I use them for everything. I grabbed a Sharpie, my weapon of choice*, and just used my everyday scrawl.
NOTE TO ALL YOU HANDWRITING ANALYSTS OUT THERE: I am pretty sure that I don't want to know what this says about me.....
*Although, I am not completely sure how I ended up with a purple one.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Hot in Herre...
...and other miscellaneous nibbly things.
- It's HOT! Ugh. Seems we are having a streak of "unseasonable weather" - read this to mean it's too darn hot here in Atlanta. I've got a reputation for being kind of a dictator about the A/C in our house. I hate using it, and prefer fresh air whenever possible. Both Bubba and Schecky know better than to even ask about turning on the A/C until sometime in May.
Until today. I broke down and turned it on. But only because when we woke up this morning - it was 79°. In the house! That's the thing about these old houses - nice thick walls. It takes a while for the hot to get in, but when it does, it stays. That was bad, but when I saw that the high today is supposed to hit 89° - I just sucked it up, and turned the A/C on. The boys will be thrilled. I suspect this means it's going to be a long summer..... - Today is the first day of the official Vidalia Onion season.
Woo Hoo! - The new issue of Cooking Light came today. It looks promising.
Which is nice. Frankly, I've found the last few issues to be kind of duds. - I cleaned the oven this weekend. For the first time since we bought the house. Fourteen years ago.
I am so ashamed.... :) - Traffic was a nightmare today, as the Interstate was shut down (once again) for (yet another) jumper....
Is this purely an Atlanta thing, or does every city once it reaches a certain size start to attract lunatics who threaten to jump off of overpasses?
We've had so many of these in recent years that they actually fenced in/up most of the overpasses, but it seems this guy was crafty and got outside of the fencing.
I apologize if I come off sounding callous. I am sure that these people have terrific problems, and that I live a blessed life in comparison, and have no way of comprehending the depths of desperation to which life has brought these people. That having been said, I feel like if we (the city) handled these situations better/differently, that this would not continue to be such a problem.
I wonder how much money it costs - in resources, traffic tie ups, loss of productivity, etc. - for an incident like this???
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Easter Morning Egg Hunt Excitement
This is a snapshot I took of the Scheckster this morning - in the throes of a whirling dervish brought on by Candy Egg Avariciousness.
And the sad part is - at this point, he had not even eaten any of his candy.....
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Because sometimes my pictures are better than my words....
Schecky at Work*
*He really does have other shirts than this one. He just obviously wears it frequently, since the majority of photos that I have over at Flickr seem to show him wearing this one....
Friday, April 14, 2006
Dear Lord, I am a moron...
It just this very minute occurred to me....
I could have spent the past 2 hours watching a movie, instead of balancing the checkbook.
Duh.
I blame the brain damage on the repetitive alternative rock....
My. computer. has. a. DVD. player.
I could have spent the past 2 hours watching a movie, instead of balancing the checkbook.
Duh.
I blame the brain damage on the repetitive alternative rock....
How is this even possible....
I had high hopes for this evening - a lazy night curled up on the couch with some DVDs* I picked up earlier in the week. ('cause it's not like I spent all morning going to the movies or anything....)
Maybe even falling asleep on the couch, that's always fun. I love falling asleep on the couch...
However, I wasn't taking into account that there's a Braves game on tonight, and Bubba called dibs on the set.
Bummer.
So - a change of plans, no problem.
I sit down in front of the computer, put on my earphones, and get to work on balancing the checkbook. (and sneaking a few peeks at blogs!)
Funny thing is that when I get to working on a task, I kind of lose track of time, and to a lesser degree, my surroundings. So I just came up for air - everything balanced, yay! - and realized that I had just listened to the same song, Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge, TWENTY SIX TIMES in a row.
How is that even possible? Seems that I had it set to repeat, and it did. And not only did I not notice until I happened to see the playcount, but I'm still not sick of the song yet.
I repeat, how is this even possible???
*Melinda & Melinda and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Maybe even falling asleep on the couch, that's always fun. I love falling asleep on the couch...
However, I wasn't taking into account that there's a Braves game on tonight, and Bubba called dibs on the set.
Bummer.
So - a change of plans, no problem.
I sit down in front of the computer, put on my earphones, and get to work on balancing the checkbook. (and sneaking a few peeks at blogs!)
Funny thing is that when I get to working on a task, I kind of lose track of time, and to a lesser degree, my surroundings. So I just came up for air - everything balanced, yay! - and realized that I had just listened to the same song, Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge, TWENTY SIX TIMES in a row.
How is that even possible? Seems that I had it set to repeat, and it did. And not only did I not notice until I happened to see the playcount, but I'm still not sick of the song yet.
I repeat, how is this even possible???
*Melinda & Melinda and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Movie Friday...
Today was an impromptu "Movie Friday" - according to the calendar, I'm not due for a Movie Friday until next week. But sometimes you just gotta break the rules...
I went to go see Thank You For Smoking and I really, really enjoyed it. It was quick, it was witty and ever-so snarky. And I enjoy that in a film, I truly do. I cackled out loud numerous times. Which was totally fine, 'cause I was the only one in the theatre. Which was fun. And sort of odd...
There were a number of familiar faces in it, and with only one exception, everyone was outstanding. Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, William H Macy, Dennis Miller, the list goes on - all did wonderful jobs. I even truly enjoyed Rob Lowe. The kid (Cameron Bright) was good - I didn't recognize him from anything, but suspect we'll see more of him.
My two favorites, perhaps, were JK Simmons, because I pretty much always love him, and Adam Brody who absolutely stole his scene.
I started to say, he should have been given more to do, but it was probably wise to keep the part so small. A little of "Jack" goes a looong way!
The icing on the cake was a teeny tiny appearance by Connie Ray, whom I have loved ever since she played the spunky, but strong matriarch on the short-lived series The Torklesons.
The one low spot in the movie is, sad to say, Katie Holmes. And please, don't think this is just knee-jerk TomKat bashing. I loved Joey Potter, and I thought she did a great job in WonderBoys and Go. And an even better job in Pieces of April. And it wasn't so much that she was horrible, I just didn't buy her as her character - it wasn't a good fit somehow. And even though her character is part of a huge turning point in the film, her performance didn't detract from the rest of the movie - it was just noticeable that she didn't fit in....
Next week is a scheduled Movie Friday....Brick? Friends With Money? Anyone?
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Four Answers
This was sent to me some time ago, but I had to sit on it for a bit*....
Here you go, Laurie! Better late than never????
2. La Bamba
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. A Christmas Story
2. Kingsport, TN
3. Sewanee, TN
4. Atlanta, GA
2. Rescue Me (When are you coming back, Tommy Gavin???)
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Beverly Hills 90210
(I know, I know - it's not on anymore. But it was one of the most fun shows ever to watch, and if it were still on the air, I am embarassed to admit that I'd have TiVo grabbing every episode....)
2. Gatorland, Orlando, FL
3. Stockholm, Sweden
4. Baltimore, MD
2. The Digital LandPhil
3. Geeky Mom
4. Creative Little Daisy
Oh c'mon - let me at least plug Jess Hutch, too!
2. Vietnamese ClayPot Chicken
3. Parmesan Pretzels (like you get at Mellow Mushroom)
4. Eggrolls
1. In a "nest" built out of comforters in my bed, surrounded by a stack of fabulous books I've been longing to read.
2. Billund, Denmark - with Schecky and Bubba
3. Prague, Czech Republic - and again, Schecky and Bubba are invited
4. Having a "movie Friday" - all by myself!
*I was all prepared to answer this the day she sent it to me. Then I realized that I had posted pictures of the Laurie-bear just the day before. Since I didn't want to reveal her birthday present in advance, I just squelched the "four questions". Then I realized that I had the date for her birthday lunch wrong. So I squelched it somemore. But we had a lovely birthday luncheon for Miss Laurie today, and now I can play along!
Here you go, Laurie! Better late than never????
Four jobs you have had in your life:
- BBQ restaurant counter girl
- Truck Driver
(I kid you not...) - Software Application Designer / Network Administrator
(I did both simultaneously because I taught them) - Preschool Teacher
Four movies you would watch over and over:
Here I feel like I should say something really classic, like "Dr. Zhivago" or at the very least, "Casablanca". And whereas there are lots and lots of diverse movies that I do truly love, in all honestly - these are the ones that I can, and do, watch repeatedly....1. Pretty In Pink
2. La Bamba
3. The Nightmare Before Christmas
4. A Christmas Story
Four places you have lived:
Sad to say, this is the entire list. And honestly, Number 1, I moved away from before I was five years old. Number 3, I just lived part time, during college. Pretty short list, isn't it? Is that weird???1. Bryn Mawr, PA
2. Kingsport, TN
3. Sewanee, TN
4. Atlanta, GA
Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Gilmore Girls2. Rescue Me (When are you coming back, Tommy Gavin???)
3. Grey's Anatomy
4. Beverly Hills 90210
(I know, I know - it's not on anymore. But it was one of the most fun shows ever to watch, and if it were still on the air, I am embarassed to admit that I'd have TiVo grabbing every episode....)
Four places you have been on vacation:
These are the 4 most recent....1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Gatorland, Orlando, FL
3. Stockholm, Sweden
4. Baltimore, MD
Four websites I visit daily:
Gulp - only 4??? Ummm- OK....1. Drudge Report - What can I say? I'm an addict....
2. The Digital LandPhil
3. Geeky Mom
4. Creative Little Daisy
Oh c'mon - let me at least plug Jess Hutch, too!
Four of my favorite foods:
1. Shrimp and Grits2. Vietnamese ClayPot Chicken
3. Parmesan Pretzels (like you get at Mellow Mushroom)
4. Eggrolls
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. In a "nest" built out of comforters in my bed, surrounded by a stack of fabulous books I've been longing to read.
2. Billund, Denmark - with Schecky and Bubba
3. Prague, Czech Republic - and again, Schecky and Bubba are invited
4. Having a "movie Friday" - all by myself!
*I was all prepared to answer this the day she sent it to me. Then I realized that I had posted pictures of the Laurie-bear just the day before. Since I didn't want to reveal her birthday present in advance, I just squelched the "four questions". Then I realized that I had the date for her birthday lunch wrong. So I squelched it somemore. But we had a lovely birthday luncheon for Miss Laurie today, and now I can play along!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
WooHoo!
Spent a lot of time today getting caught up on blogs, etc. Learned lots of interesting things, saw lots of cute stuff, laughed out loud at a lot of the wittiness I read. Then I came here and realized that I've been so immersed in the thoughts of other people - that I've got nothing!
So, in that spirit, I'm just gonna share some of the stuff that amused/educated me today....(no absolutely no order whatsover...)
So, in that spirit, I'm just gonna share some of the stuff that amused/educated me today....(no absolutely no order whatsover...)
- Brick, a movie I have on my Friday-Go-See list, got a pretty darn good review from Pathetic Fallacy
- One of my oldest friends, GeekyMom, made it back home safe and sound after being unexpected called out of town.
- The April edition of "Very Good Things" is now available.
I'm thinking that Baby Bird Cupcakes need to be on the menu at my house. Soon. - What can I possibly say about The Company Bitch and White Trash Mom?
You make me laugh, ladies. You make me laugh out loud.... - My friend, Phil, is displaying a brilliant design for the Washington State Quarter...
- Gwyneth had her baby....and Tom Cruise is batpoop crazy...and Arrested Development is not coming back. Grrrr... (thanks Mean and Catty!)
- I never knew that I needed a pirate duck, until Molly Chicken created this....
- Jess Hutch is up to more crafty goodness. She's my idol!
- and so is Autum, at Creative Little Daisy - this girl has a crazy gift for colors! Plus, I truly enjoy reading what she is grateful for each week...
- There are new photos of the weird little cupcakes, with which I have become obsessed, on Flickr. it seems that this type of cupcake has some sort of name and a history and blah blah blah. I know nothing about that - except that it makes me stupidly happy to stumble across a new picture of them...
- Mommycoddle's Weekend in Pictures is so lovely, and looks almost idyllic!
- Cheerwine is getting a makeover (thanks, Potlikker!) I do love my regional soft drinks!
- Bunnies, bunnies, and more bunnies from Sewing Stars.
- I don't know how she does it - everything Hillary does is wonderful...
- Today is "Bunny Rabbit Day" - we should all be eating these adorable Grilled Cheese Sammiches
- and to accompany the sammiches, we should have a little green pea (Thanks, Blair! And happy birthday!)
and lastly, but certainly not leastly - - the Moustache Factory Shop is open! Woo Hoo! Cupcake button, anyone???
Monday, April 10, 2006
Easing back in...
Baltimore was absolutely a wonderful time....
We wandered around gorgeous neighborhoods, did a bunch of fun things (went to an Orioles game at Camden Yard, visited the Science Center, the Aquarium,, the Children's Museum, etc.) and basically ate our way around both the Inner Harbor and Little Italy. All in all it was a relaxing and much-needed trip.*
Now, back to reality! I'm almost done tackling the mail, the email, the laundry, etc. I've got a few things on my knitting needles that I'm having fun with. Guess I need to do those darn lesson plans, though!
*I am never quite sure how exciting other people's vacations are. I know that I personally love to live vicariously through other people's travels, but I also know that I am a bit of an odd duck. I've got some photos posted over at Flickr - just some random bits and pieces - and believe me, if anyone is interested, I've got lots to rave about with Baltimore!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
I'm baaaack...
...or mostly so.
It was an absolutely fab trip - I love Baltimore!
Give me a day or so to:
And did I mention how much we loved Baltimore????
It was an absolutely fab trip - I love Baltimore!
Give me a day or so to:
- settle in
- unpack
- sort through the mail/papers/etc.
- and a chance to visit all my blogs I like to visit
I can't wait to see what you've been up to, I've missed you all!
And did I mention how much we loved Baltimore????
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