I love this show, it's funny and sweet and sad, and just perfect television. I also appreciate the fact that Kristen Chenoweth has a major role. Occasionally she does guest shots on tv shows, but primarily she's a Broadway and opera star, so it's nice to get to see her on a regular basis. I just found out that ABC has picked up the show for a second season (how could they not?), but I'm unsure as to when it begins....I'm very anxious though. Haven't seen the show? Here's a clip:
New Deadly Sins??
The Vatican has handed down seven new "deadly" sins. They are far less glamorous sounding than the original ones, and I, for one am slightly offended. (I'm also vaguely disturbed that while I've dallied in all the original deadly sins, I seem to have none of the holy virtues: Chastity, Abstinence, Temperance, Diligence, Patience, Kindness and Humility. Oh my.)The other thing is, the original seven deadly sins are pretty simple, one word transgressions: Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The new sins are all wordy and vague. I guess this is what happens when a group of priests write the rules instead of just leaving it to Dante.
So that you can be fully informed, and save your souls from the firey pits of hell, I present (drum roll please) the new deadly sins:
1.Ruining the environment,
2.Carrying out morally debatable scientific experiments
3.Allowing genetic manipulations which alter DNA or compromise embryos,
4.Taking or dealing in drugs
5.Social injustice which caused poverty or “the excessive accumulation of wealth by a few”.
6.Abortion
7.Paedophilia
So I guess, they really break down like this:
1. Pollution
2. Science
3. Medicine
4. Drugs
5. Being a Republican
6. Abortion
7. Paedophilia
Anyway, I don't think any of these things should qualify (except perhaps being a Republican), and that they should have just kept things as they have been for the past 1500 years, but you know the Catholic church, always an agent of change. *smirk*
Seven Secrets
I'm bored, and I don't really have anything to post about, so I swiped this meme from a random blog. Something to do anyway.
1. Your deadliest sin? (Lust, Wrath, Pride, Avarice, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony)
Definitely Envy, although I must admit that I'm pretty familiar with most of the deadly sins.
2. Tell us a secret.
I cry about something every day. Sometimes it's about something that's a big deal and sometimes it's not (those Pedigree commercials kill me), but every day, there's something.
3. Why are you ashamed?
Because I'm miserable at my job but completely lack the motivation to do anything about it.
4. What is your secret fantasy?
There are so many...Mostly I wish I could find one thing that I was really good at, and then find the courage to pursue it.
5. Greatest guilty pleasure?
Chick-lit
6. Secret behavior?
Dancing around in the kitchen while I do laundry and dishes...all girls do that right?
7. To where would you escape?
Greece, My Aunt Eva Pearl's house-18 years ago.
1. Your deadliest sin? (Lust, Wrath, Pride, Avarice, Envy, Sloth, Gluttony)
Definitely Envy, although I must admit that I'm pretty familiar with most of the deadly sins.
2. Tell us a secret.
I cry about something every day. Sometimes it's about something that's a big deal and sometimes it's not (those Pedigree commercials kill me), but every day, there's something.
3. Why are you ashamed?
Because I'm miserable at my job but completely lack the motivation to do anything about it.
4. What is your secret fantasy?
There are so many...Mostly I wish I could find one thing that I was really good at, and then find the courage to pursue it.
5. Greatest guilty pleasure?
Chick-lit
6. Secret behavior?
Dancing around in the kitchen while I do laundry and dishes...all girls do that right?
7. To where would you escape?
Greece, My Aunt Eva Pearl's house-18 years ago.
Again.
My dad's aunt LaFawn died early this morning. It seems like every three weeks or so I have a post about this sort of thing. This makes three since the middle of January. They (whoever that is) say that death comes in threes, so I'm hoping we'll be done with this for awhile now.
I don't really know what else to say right now...
I don't really know what else to say right now...
Omens
I had a weird drive home last night. There were rabbits everywhere, in the field across from work and frolicking at the side of the road for almost the entire drive. There were so many of them that I actually noticed them out there, during a time that I usually sort of just zone out and drive. It was weird enough that that I thought I'd consult my handy-dandy Dictionary of Superstitions when I got home this morning. The rabbits are good news, they are generally seen as good luck, so I was pleased that there were dozens of these lucky charms hanging around. (By the way, apparently the feet are only lucky if they are back left feet, from rabbits killed by a cross-eyed man in the light of a full moon. I swear I didn't make that up, but thought I'd include it, because it's funny.) So yeah, rabbits...the other superstition is that they are good luck because they're born with their eyes open, and that allows them to see evil coming and avoid it, which brings me to the bad luck.
About half way home, a white mouse ran out and stopped directly in front of my car. It practically glowed in the dark, and I veered to the right so that I didn't hit it, but I was totally spooked. The book says that this mouse thing is bad news. White ones in particular are scary, and if one crosses the floor in front of you (and I would assume this also applies to a road), it's a portent of doom. I'm hoping that the rabbits cancel out the mouse...Not that I'm taking this very seriously, of course, but it's kind of creepy all the same. I think I'll lay low for a couple of days, just in case.
The Apparatus
There's an awful show on The Discovery Channel called How It's Made, I don't know why it's on my TV every time I sit down in here to use the computer, but it's the most boring thing I've ever seen.
Anyway, this isn't really about my critique of TDC's programming, I'm posting because, normally on this show, I can look up and know what they're making. It's usually fairly obvious that the pile of sticks is going to be a basket, and the molten metal is going to be some sort of tool or whatever, and if it's not obvious, the worst narrator ever will tell me in a reasonable amount of time. However, I've been sort of absently listening to this for about 10 minutes now and they keep referring to whatever it is that they're making as "the apparatus." I can't tell from looking at it what it is, but I'm afraid that I'm going to get sucked into the whole damn show in order to figure it out.
I hope it's something naughty, and that the censors are making them refer to it this way, because it's illegal to say "sex toy" before noon.
Anyway, this isn't really about my critique of TDC's programming, I'm posting because, normally on this show, I can look up and know what they're making. It's usually fairly obvious that the pile of sticks is going to be a basket, and the molten metal is going to be some sort of tool or whatever, and if it's not obvious, the worst narrator ever will tell me in a reasonable amount of time. However, I've been sort of absently listening to this for about 10 minutes now and they keep referring to whatever it is that they're making as "the apparatus." I can't tell from looking at it what it is, but I'm afraid that I'm going to get sucked into the whole damn show in order to figure it out.
I hope it's something naughty, and that the censors are making them refer to it this way, because it's illegal to say "sex toy" before noon.
Beginnings of Addiction
I've never been one of those "music people." You know the ones who, if asked "what's the one thing you couldn't live without, if lost in the wilderness," say "my Ipod, my guitar, my music." I've never really understood that sort of thing. Haven't they watched even one episode of Lost? Don't they know that the correct answer to this question is something like "tooth brush, sun screen, John Lock?" Apparently not. Lately though, I've gotten very attached to my mp3 player, and while it's still not at the top of my scary island list, it's slowly climbing the ladder.
I keep catching myself looking for chores to do so that I can listen to it and dance around like an idiot while I wash dishes, change sheets and do laundry. I have long, happy fantasies in which I own one of those plastic things that would let me take it into the shower with me. I harass Justin to download new music for me more frequently than I'd like to admit. (I have no interest in learning to do this myself. Not having to download my own stuff is the reason I got married, at least one of them.) So yeah, I might be turning into one of the Music People. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet, but I'll let you know.
If I start complaining that MTV isn't about the music anymore, take away my batteries.
I keep catching myself looking for chores to do so that I can listen to it and dance around like an idiot while I wash dishes, change sheets and do laundry. I have long, happy fantasies in which I own one of those plastic things that would let me take it into the shower with me. I harass Justin to download new music for me more frequently than I'd like to admit. (I have no interest in learning to do this myself. Not having to download my own stuff is the reason I got married, at least one of them.) So yeah, I might be turning into one of the Music People. I haven't decided how I feel about that yet, but I'll let you know.
If I start complaining that MTV isn't about the music anymore, take away my batteries.
In Like a Lion
Yesterday afternoon it was sunny and warm, and really lovely, exactly the way March should be. When I looked out the window at around 5:00 the sky was sort of split down the middle. Blue to the South, scary dark gray to the North, but what's a little spring storm? The thunder helps me sleep. When we left for work at midnight, the wind was howling and blowing and seriously scary, making it super hard to drive, but this is West Texas, we're used to that bad behavior in our weather. Now, it's snowing. A lot. *scowl*
The news on the radio this morning said, 28 degrees, blowing snow, sunny and warm this afternoon. Mother Nature is obviously in menopause.
The news on the radio this morning said, 28 degrees, blowing snow, sunny and warm this afternoon. Mother Nature is obviously in menopause.
Drugs on Board
I don't know what the problem is, but for what I think is about the 5th time in 7 or 8 months I have a cold. My nose is stuffy and runny at the same time, which is the stupidest thing I can think of, and my head feels like it's full of some sort of super heavy cotton wool. All I want to do is sleep, and so today, I've taken a nap every 3 or 4 hours. I have to work tonight, I have no idea how I'm going to manage that, but after several attempts and some interesting side effects (paralyzing paranoia anyone?), I seem to have found a combination of drugs that works. Here's the math:
12 Hour Sudafed + 12 Hour Claritin = 4 hours of relief
If I take a sleeping pill on top of these two "non-drowsy" drugs, then I manage to sleep and breathe (all at the same time!) for a couple of hours.
Going to nap (again) before work.
12 Hour Sudafed + 12 Hour Claritin = 4 hours of relief
If I take a sleeping pill on top of these two "non-drowsy" drugs, then I manage to sleep and breathe (all at the same time!) for a couple of hours.
Going to nap (again) before work.
Love Song
I just saw Sara Bareilles on The View. I think this is my new favorite song, so I'm sharing.
Disgruntled
So I don't know if I'm going to keep this blog anymore. I feel like there are too many restrictions on what I can say here. Even when I say something that I think is completely innocuous, somebody always takes it out of context, and feelings get hurt or people get mad, and then I get mad and it's just a whole big deal.I'm very upset about this, because I love my blog, and I love feeling like I'm connected in some small way to other people. I love the comments, I love looking at my site-meter and seeing that people are reading my blog, I like seeing the crazy things that people search for in order to find me. I think that without posting here, I'll feel a little lonely (if that makes any sense), but I hate having to edit my posts dozens of times to make sure that nothing I say can be misinterpreted, and I haven't decided yet whether the happiness I get here is worth the trouble that it sometimes causes.
And yeah, I know that if I just wanted to write, I could do it in a journal, or keep a blog that's author-only (which I also have), but what I enjoy about this blog is the feedback, and the semi-social aspect of it. So, for now, I don't know, but I wanted to post about it, and see if anyone has any thoughts, or solutions for me on this. See, feedback.
Bored.
I am so bored.
I've finished the book I was reading, and the new one hasn't arrived from Amazon yet. I've lost interest in TV, the puppy and Justin are both sleeping. The house is clean, and I've done the grocery shopping. I've Googled everyone I've ever known, and now I'm posting here for lack of anything better to do. Because I've got to work tonight, I should probably be sleeping, but I stupidly slept late this morning, so I'm not tired at all.
The wind is blowing super hard, and it's filled with dirt. Going outside is not an option. While I was at the grocery store, I saw a run-away cart caught by the wind crash into a woman and actually knock her down. She wasn't a little old lady or anything either, so it was scary to see her run over like that. (Ok, maybe it would have been scarier if she was a little old lady...probably an ambulance involved if that was the case.)
Alright. I'm completely out of things to say. Later.
I've finished the book I was reading, and the new one hasn't arrived from Amazon yet. I've lost interest in TV, the puppy and Justin are both sleeping. The house is clean, and I've done the grocery shopping. I've Googled everyone I've ever known, and now I'm posting here for lack of anything better to do. Because I've got to work tonight, I should probably be sleeping, but I stupidly slept late this morning, so I'm not tired at all.
The wind is blowing super hard, and it's filled with dirt. Going outside is not an option. While I was at the grocery store, I saw a run-away cart caught by the wind crash into a woman and actually knock her down. She wasn't a little old lady or anything either, so it was scary to see her run over like that. (Ok, maybe it would have been scarier if she was a little old lady...probably an ambulance involved if that was the case.)
Alright. I'm completely out of things to say. Later.
Into the Woods and Other Stuff
I've been singing this for two days...
I wish
More than anything
More than jewels
I wish
More than life
More than anything
More than the moon...
Later...
Careful the wish you make
Wishes come true,
Not free.
Gotta love Sondheim.Wishes come true,
Not free.
Yesterday was Justin's birthday. I got him a book and a cake and we went to dinner at this great little Chinese restaurant with a friend. (Hi Brooks!) Overall it was a pretty fun day, and his parents even remembered to call (which doesn't always happen). We are the same age for the next 3 months. When I was a little girl, I was always really excited when my cousin Jenny and I got to be the same age for a few weeks, but I don't really know why that was important to me. Unfortunately, that feeling seems to have carried over into my adult life, and it makes me feel silly.
Marlowe is fantastic, just the cutest thing ever, and he is almost fully housebroken now. I think he might also have learned the word "no," and that's always a bonus. I feel super lucky that we got a fast learner. Next week, puppy shots!
Who Needs Kids?
We have a new puppy. His name is Marlowe and Justin brought him home yesterday. It was the happiest day of Maybe's life so far. We think he's a beagle mix, like Maybe, and we've had some luck with that, which is why we were willing to take this little one in...well...there's also the fact that he has the saddest little William H. Macy face you've ever seen. Adorable. Here are some pics:
Passionate Lovers
Reading on the sofa yesterday, with the TV on for background noise, I looked up to see Bindi Irwin doing an interview with Rachael Ray. This kid is fantastic, she seems really well adjusted and so completely full of life that it's astounding. Every few minutes she would say "I'm just the luckiest kid in the world," and it was obvious that, in spite of bad stuff that's gone down recently in her short little life, she really believes that. So, I made a note to be a little more like Bindi, and a little less like Britney Spears and went back to my book.Two minutes later I hear her little nine year old voice say "Crocodiles are really lovely animals, they have very soft feet, they're passionate lovers, good mothers and are just really lovely animals."
Wait. What?? Rewind.
Crocodiles are passionate lovers. Who knew? And besides that, where exactly does a 9 year old learn this phrase, and how is it that she doesn't even pause a moment before or after saying it?? I'm pretty sure I couldn't ever describe something/one as a "passionate lover" without giggling, and I certainly couldn't do it on the Rachael Ray show. In front of my mom.
New note to self: If I have kids, they are totally going to school in Australia.
Good Neighbor
Today is the 40th anniversary of the first Mr.Rogers Neighborhood episode. I don't really want to post anything directly related to my life right now, so in his honor, the lyrics to his theme song:It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor
Would you be mine
Could you be mine
It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine
Could you be mine
I've always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you
So, let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together we might as well say
Would you be mine, could you be mine
Won't you be my neighbor
Won't you please, won't you please
Please won't you be my neighbor
Spoken: Hi television neighbor, I'm glad we're together again....
Happy Valentine's Day
Hope you've got someone to kiss...or at least to drink with. *wink*
In the mood for a little V-day sing along? Click the pic.
Cozy
For Valentine's Day, (yes I know it's early) Justin got me a pregnancy pillow. Don't go spreading rumors that I'm pregnant, or that Justin's a bad gift giver, because neither of those things is true. I have wanted one of these things forever (fine, about 5 years) because I sleep on my side, with a pillow under my head, one clutched against my belly and another one between my knees. I spend a whole lot of every night trying to corral the pillows and then, almost always, as soon as I get situated, I'm filled with a burning desire to roll over, and it starts again. With this, which I totally think should be named the greatest invention of all time, there is considerably less thrashing, and I managed to sleep for a full 8 hours without waking up, even once, to go to the bathroom, look out the window or wander the house to make sure the doors are locked. Fantastic!! Best. Gift. Ever.
Stolen from Terroni
Where is your cell phone? In my pocket...Wishful thinking, no one ever calls.
Vehicle? Dirty. Driveway.
Hair? Needs a trim.
Father? He's great, the very best. Here's a pic:
Your favorite thing? It's a secret...shhh.
Dream last night? Finally a night without dreams!
Favorite drink? Cuba Libre (diet)
Room you are in? Living room, there's an electric blanket in here, and it's too cold everywhere else.
Your ex? Suddenly disappeared from Myspace...suspicious.
You are? Nearly ready for bed.
What do you want to be in ten years? Happy
Who did you hang out with today? Justin, Maybe.
What you're not? Skinny
Muffins? Where?? (see above)
One of your wish list items? This.
Where is the ____? I don't lose things. Not like that anyway.
The last thing you did? Checked Email.
What are you wearing? New pink nail polish. it's called "sweet" and is THIS COLOR.
Your pet(s)? Maybe!
Your computer? I still really enjoy the novelty of carrying the laptop to the living room.
Your life? *shrug* Not half bad...well maybe half.
Your mood? Cynical.
Missing? Again, I don't lose things. Oh wait, did you mean missing-missing? *sigh*
What are you thinking about right now? Thinking that I better get to bed soon if I'm going to get up in time to do the treadmill tonight.
Your shoes? Almost always barefoot. Sometimes flip-flops, very occasionally boots. I really wish I could answer this question with "high heels, all the time."
Your work? I'm a bit burnt out.
Your summer? Up in the air at the moment.
Your favorite color? The color of molten metal, white/yellow/orange. I think the only thing you could call it is hot. The color of heat. And that sort of rich turquoise blue that they paint everything in Greece.
Vehicle? Dirty. Driveway.
Hair? Needs a trim.
Father? He's great, the very best. Here's a pic:
Your favorite thing? It's a secret...shhh.Dream last night? Finally a night without dreams!
Favorite drink? Cuba Libre (diet)
Room you are in? Living room, there's an electric blanket in here, and it's too cold everywhere else.
Your ex? Suddenly disappeared from Myspace...suspicious.
You are? Nearly ready for bed.
What do you want to be in ten years? Happy
Who did you hang out with today? Justin, Maybe.
What you're not? Skinny
Muffins? Where?? (see above)
One of your wish list items? This.
Where is the ____? I don't lose things. Not like that anyway.
The last thing you did? Checked Email.
What are you wearing? New pink nail polish. it's called "sweet" and is THIS COLOR.
Your pet(s)? Maybe!
Your computer? I still really enjoy the novelty of carrying the laptop to the living room.Your life? *shrug* Not half bad...well maybe half.
Your mood? Cynical.
Missing? Again, I don't lose things. Oh wait, did you mean missing-missing? *sigh*
What are you thinking about right now? Thinking that I better get to bed soon if I'm going to get up in time to do the treadmill tonight.
Your shoes? Almost always barefoot. Sometimes flip-flops, very occasionally boots. I really wish I could answer this question with "high heels, all the time."
Your work? I'm a bit burnt out.
Your summer? Up in the air at the moment.
Your favorite color? The color of molten metal, white/yellow/orange. I think the only thing you could call it is hot. The color of heat. And that sort of rich turquoise blue that they paint everything in Greece.
Telling Me Something...
I've been having dreams about frustration. I'm stringing tiny love beads on a wire and they keep falling off the other end because I can't figure out how to anchor them, or I'm trying to read a note and the words are blurry and I can't make them out. Sometimes I write a completely meaningless sentence on a dry erase board: "Kyle was 90," and then spend hours (in the dream) trying to figure out what it means...it all seems so important, and I wake up all stressed out and frustrated.
Then there are the fire dreams. I'm in a building, never my house, almost always some sort of office, and it's on fire, but the fire is far away in the building and I have a few minutes to pick out some important things to take with me and save from the fire. I can't ever figure out what stuff to take, I stand in the room completely freaking out and totally unable to decide what's important.
My favorite of the frustration dreams, (if you could pick a favorite, they're all so delightful, ugh) is the one where I dream of someone, like a narrator or announcer saying the word "bruxism" over and over very loudly, and then I wake up gritting my teeth. Fantastic.
So yeah, that's where I am right now if anyone is wondering. I guess frustrated is better than sad.
Then there are the fire dreams. I'm in a building, never my house, almost always some sort of office, and it's on fire, but the fire is far away in the building and I have a few minutes to pick out some important things to take with me and save from the fire. I can't ever figure out what stuff to take, I stand in the room completely freaking out and totally unable to decide what's important.My favorite of the frustration dreams, (if you could pick a favorite, they're all so delightful, ugh) is the one where I dream of someone, like a narrator or announcer saying the word "bruxism" over and over very loudly, and then I wake up gritting my teeth. Fantastic.
So yeah, that's where I am right now if anyone is wondering. I guess frustrated is better than sad.
Away
Apologies again for the lack of posts. I've been feeling really hollow and empty. Just subsumed in sadness, and I'm sorry, but it's very hard to post about...anything really, when you're drowning. Please be patient, I'll try to be back soon.
A Loss
My dad is a firefighter, as most of you know by now. His partner was killed at the end of last week. It's like losing a member of my own family. I'm posting the obituary here.
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 
Matt Thetford
Funeral services for Matt Thetford, 39, of Levelland will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at First Baptist Church, Levelland, Texas with Rev. Jay Macha, pastor, First Christian Church, Levelland, Texas and Bobby Bell, chaplain, Levelland Fire Department, Levelland, Texas. Burial will be in Whitharral Cemetery under direction of George Price Funeral Home, Levelland, Texas. He died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008 at Covenant Medical Center, Lubbock, Texas.
Born on March 16, 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from Del Rio High School in Del Rio, Texas. He attended South Plains College, Levelland, Texas, and graduated from Texas Tech Health Science Center paramedic school. He attended Texas A & M Fire School at Bryan-College Station, Texas on an annual basis and multiple area fire schools. He married Amy Horne on Nov. 3, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Matt was preceded in death by a brother, William Ashley Thetford on Feb. 18, 1967.
Survivors include his wife, Amy Thetford, of Levelland, Texas; his parents, C.E. and Margie Thetford of Del Rio, Texas; a daughter, Brooke Renee Thetford of Levelland, Texas; three sons, Matthew Crockett Thetford, Jr., Tyler Wayne Horne and Klayton Taylor Horne, all of Levelland, Texas; two sisters, Jeanie Valentine of Liberty, North Carolina and Julie Hardy of Grand Prairie, Texas.
The family suggests memorials to, Levelland EMS, 809 11th St., Levelland, Texas 79336, The Matthew C. Thetford Fireman's Scholarship Fund, c/o Levelland Fire Department, 502 Ave. F, Levelland, Texas 79336, or to First Christian Church, 311 Clubview Dr. Levelland, Texas 79336.
Back...Sort Of
I'm back for now, but only because I feel like I have to post about this...
She was very upset over the weekend and just really really fretful, but wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong. Yesterday she finally let it all out and told us that her period is late by maybe 2 days. (Caused, no doubt by stress over my grandmother and a few other things. She's also OCD so having things happen on time is a super big deal.) So she's been in a state of utter panic thinking that she's pregnant all weekend. Riigght...so for the reasons stated above, this is a highly unlikely possibility. When asked why she thinks this she had a complete breakdown and tearfully admitted that she KISSED CHRIS ON THE CHEEK!!! Oh the horror!!
Anyway, I've found this pretty entertaining for a couple of days, and that merits a share.
Also, my grandmother seems to have turned another corner and is improving again. She got her hair cut a couple of days ago, which I'm sure helped as much as anything, and will be moving in with my mother at the first of February, fates allow.
My younger sister, Stacy (see photo) has Cerebral Palsy along with a few other disabilities, and this results in her having about the mental/emotional state of a 3rd or 4th grader. She's really funny and sweet and totally innocent about most things, and we just love her to pieces. She has a boyfriend, who's been around for a few years now, his name is Chris, and he has Down's Syndrome. They're a cute little couple and spend most of their time with his family or my family and are never unsupervised. So that's the set up.
She was very upset over the weekend and just really really fretful, but wouldn't tell anyone what was wrong. Yesterday she finally let it all out and told us that her period is late by maybe 2 days. (Caused, no doubt by stress over my grandmother and a few other things. She's also OCD so having things happen on time is a super big deal.) So she's been in a state of utter panic thinking that she's pregnant all weekend. Riigght...so for the reasons stated above, this is a highly unlikely possibility. When asked why she thinks this she had a complete breakdown and tearfully admitted that she KISSED CHRIS ON THE CHEEK!!! Oh the horror!!
Anyway, I've found this pretty entertaining for a couple of days, and that merits a share.
Also, my grandmother seems to have turned another corner and is improving again. She got her hair cut a couple of days ago, which I'm sure helped as much as anything, and will be moving in with my mother at the first of February, fates allow.
Absent
I may not be posting for awhile. I'd like to tell you that this is because I'm laying on some tropical island drinking a Mojito, or at least spending as much time as possible in a tanning bed, but unfortunately, that's not the case. I just need time away.
Revised Update
So I was wrong in my last update, but I didn't know it. In spite of early improvements my grandmother seems to now be regressing. They are moving her from the rehab unit of the hospital to a nursing home in the next few days, but my mom is saying that really, she doesn't think she'll be there very long.
Nan won't eat, has a hard time swallowing and sort of seems to have given up. She's said since my grandfather died (over 10 years ago), that whenever it was her time she'd be ready to go. My mother says that Nan is not in any pain, but that she mostly wants to sleep and be left alone. She is very opposed to a feeding tube. My aunt Eva Pearl followed a similar course last year, when she got sick she declared that she'd had a better offer and wasn't particularly interested in continuing in a life where the quality had diminished so much.
I'm very frustrated in this. There aren't a great number of things that I feel passionately about, but a person's right to die is one of them. This belief is in strong conflict with my (selfish) desire for my grandmother to keep fighting and get better no matter how inconvenient it is for her. I feel like I haven't had enough time with her. There are too many things that I don't know and now, she's still with us, but it's too late to find any of those things out.
I am so sad.
Nan won't eat, has a hard time swallowing and sort of seems to have given up. She's said since my grandfather died (over 10 years ago), that whenever it was her time she'd be ready to go. My mother says that Nan is not in any pain, but that she mostly wants to sleep and be left alone. She is very opposed to a feeding tube. My aunt Eva Pearl followed a similar course last year, when she got sick she declared that she'd had a better offer and wasn't particularly interested in continuing in a life where the quality had diminished so much.
I'm very frustrated in this. There aren't a great number of things that I feel passionately about, but a person's right to die is one of them. This belief is in strong conflict with my (selfish) desire for my grandmother to keep fighting and get better no matter how inconvenient it is for her. I feel like I haven't had enough time with her. There are too many things that I don't know and now, she's still with us, but it's too late to find any of those things out.
I am so sad.
General Update
My grandmother is still in the hospital. She seems to be progressing, but slowly, and my mom says that she's unsure if Nan'll ever be able to go back to the apartment where she was living. We're really not sure what's going to happen next, and that's worrying, but certainly not as bad as it could be.
Justin and I both have colds...I think we're the same amount of sick, sore throats, hacking coughs, headaches and the need for 14 hours of sleep, but he's taking it worse than me. That comes from being a boy, I suppose.
School starts again in 2 weeks for Justin, so I'm trying my best not to harass him into doing things he doesn't want to, during his last little bit of "freedom," but mostly he wants to stay at home and I've got cabin fever and want to GET OUT NOW. It's very frustrating. Hmm... I guess that's all. Nothing particularly exciting going on...*yawn* Sorry for the snoozefest, but I thought I should update a little, anyway.
Justin and I both have colds...I think we're the same amount of sick, sore throats, hacking coughs, headaches and the need for 14 hours of sleep, but he's taking it worse than me. That comes from being a boy, I suppose.
School starts again in 2 weeks for Justin, so I'm trying my best not to harass him into doing things he doesn't want to, during his last little bit of "freedom," but mostly he wants to stay at home and I've got cabin fever and want to GET OUT NOW. It's very frustrating. Hmm... I guess that's all. Nothing particularly exciting going on...*yawn* Sorry for the snoozefest, but I thought I should update a little, anyway.
2008
Happy New Year
It should also be noted, this is the 5 year anniversary of the date that Justin and I first officially became a couple. *smile*
It should also be noted, this is the 5 year anniversary of the date that Justin and I first officially became a couple. *smile*
Cheer
So Christmas is finally over, except that tonight we are having our very last family Christmas at my aunt's house. It's mostly about the food though, so I can totally get behind it. We weren't able to do gifts for anyone this year (not even each other), and so we told everyone to avoid shopping for us, but night before last my dad and siblings brought over a whole pile of presents for us, which is just the nicest thing ever. While there are some bad things about being in such proximity to my family, there are also some really, really nice things, and Wednesday night was one of them.
Justin and I felt so loved and supported, and we're lucky to have family that ignores us when we say "don't buy us anything." We would not have survived the last 2 years back in Levelland if it wasn't for my dad, Sussan, my mom (even though she's much farther away), and everyone else, so if any of you are reading this, thank you so much. We can never repay you.
Justin and I felt so loved and supported, and we're lucky to have family that ignores us when we say "don't buy us anything." We would not have survived the last 2 years back in Levelland if it wasn't for my dad, Sussan, my mom (even though she's much farther away), and everyone else, so if any of you are reading this, thank you so much. We can never repay you.
Merry Christmas
I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Kids Christmas
My nephew, Sean, is moving with his mother to California next week (I think), and so today we had "kids Christmas" at my parents house. The children got to open their presents, the adults got to eat fried chicken (not the typical holiday fare, it's true, but it tasted good, and there's only so much turkey, ham and stuffing a person can eat between November and January). It was fun, except for some reason the seating arrangement when large groups get together at my parents' house is girls in the dining room, boys in the living room, and I don't like sitting away from Justin and my dad. There also seemed to be a lot of pressure on me to get pregnant....if my dad gives me the ever so subtle gift of baby booties for Christmas this year, like he always does when he's shoving D'Liesa down that road I'm going to have a complete meltdown. They have three grandchildren, do they really need anymore? Besides, chances are D'Liesa will be pregnant again eventually. She likes it, it can be her job, that's fine with me.Strangely enough there is still a tree in my living room...Don't worry, I haven't suddenly been filled with the holiday spirit or anything, I just haven't found the energy to take it down yet.
*please note, the picture is last year's Christmas shot, with my dad as Santa, I haven't managed to get one this year yet.
Wiped Out
I accidentally destroyed my blog today, the template anyway...so now I have a new one. I actually kind of like this one better...what do you think?
Sorry Sorry Sorry
For the lack of updates. I haven't had much internet time lately, just enough to check my email, drop into a couple of the regular blogs I read and then run right out again. I was out of town for part of last week, and this week has flown by in a blur. I have no idea what's even happened this week, actually.
My grandmother seems to be improving, at least from what I can tell. My mom has been weird on the phone lately, I'm sure the stress is getting to her, but from what I can tell things are better. They moved her out of ICU and into a regular room last week and have started rehab, which she of course hates. She still seems to be herself which is the important thing and although no one has actually mentioned this, I suspect she'll be heading home early in the new year, if not before.
Justin and I are moving our "Christmas" to February. We're really broke right now, and can't really afford the gift thing, so we're just going to have a big do for Valentine's Day, or possibly Justin's birthday instead. Christmas always seems to tip me a little deeper into my depression, so just ignoring it I think will help. We are of course doing something with my family, but we've asked that it just be food this year. They can do gifts with each other some other time, before or after we're there. I fight with myself every day to keep from taking down the tree. It usually makes it 'til at least the 23rd, but I started the 17th eyeing it warily. I think it puts too much pressure on us to actually have something under it, besides empty boxes and a dog. It will probably come down today. Next year, I won't be putting it up.
So that's the scoop. Oh and congratulations to my lovely and amazing friend Amanda, who gave birth on Tuesday night to the most delicious baby boy ever. His name is Eli Cole Martin and you can read all about him on her blog, which I have conveniently linked for you.
My grandmother seems to be improving, at least from what I can tell. My mom has been weird on the phone lately, I'm sure the stress is getting to her, but from what I can tell things are better. They moved her out of ICU and into a regular room last week and have started rehab, which she of course hates. She still seems to be herself which is the important thing and although no one has actually mentioned this, I suspect she'll be heading home early in the new year, if not before.
Justin and I are moving our "Christmas" to February. We're really broke right now, and can't really afford the gift thing, so we're just going to have a big do for Valentine's Day, or possibly Justin's birthday instead. Christmas always seems to tip me a little deeper into my depression, so just ignoring it I think will help. We are of course doing something with my family, but we've asked that it just be food this year. They can do gifts with each other some other time, before or after we're there. I fight with myself every day to keep from taking down the tree. It usually makes it 'til at least the 23rd, but I started the 17th eyeing it warily. I think it puts too much pressure on us to actually have something under it, besides empty boxes and a dog. It will probably come down today. Next year, I won't be putting it up.
So that's the scoop. Oh and congratulations to my lovely and amazing friend Amanda, who gave birth on Tuesday night to the most delicious baby boy ever. His name is Eli Cole Martin and you can read all about him on her blog, which I have conveniently linked for you.
Stroke
My grandmother had a (relatively) minor stroke yesterday. When I last talked to my mom she had regained use of her left leg, but as far as I could tell (Mom was being sort of vague) she did not have use of her left arm or the left side of her face. She is however well enough that she can complain and boss people around, which I think is a good sign.
I think...I'm sort of in shock about this I guess. I haven't completely freaked out or cried or anything that I feel like I should have done. I don't know if it's because I know that it's probably going to be okay or because I'm a bad person or what, but I feel generally numb and slightly confused when I think about it.
When I was in 5th grade, my grandfather had a massive stroke. He survived (for several more years), but he was never himself again. He didn't really have language, couldn't get up and down or walk by himself, couldn't swallow liquids...I don't really remember much besides that, and the fact that he cried a lot because he knew the condition he was in. When I think about that I cry...this time there's just nothing. I don't know what's wrong with me.
I'll post more as I know more.
I think...I'm sort of in shock about this I guess. I haven't completely freaked out or cried or anything that I feel like I should have done. I don't know if it's because I know that it's probably going to be okay or because I'm a bad person or what, but I feel generally numb and slightly confused when I think about it.
When I was in 5th grade, my grandfather had a massive stroke. He survived (for several more years), but he was never himself again. He didn't really have language, couldn't get up and down or walk by himself, couldn't swallow liquids...I don't really remember much besides that, and the fact that he cried a lot because he knew the condition he was in. When I think about that I cry...this time there's just nothing. I don't know what's wrong with me.
I'll post more as I know more.
Blue
For Christmas my aunt got everyone (Justin, my siblings and me) tickets to see Blue Man Group, which was last night. The show was amazing, although different from their regular show, which I think confused some of the crowd. The older people who had seen their Las Vegas show seemed pretty confused by the general rock concert feel of the show, but whatever, it rocked. (I guess that was the problem...hmm)Anyway we had a fabulous time and I would recommend to anyone that can get tickets to get them and go. Even if the woman sitting next to you feels the need to thrash around the entire freakin' time, it'll be worth it, I promise. Besides, you can always put your gum in her hair when she crawls over you for the 17th time on her way out of the auditorium.
Update
For those of you concerned with the state of my still (thankfully) empty uterus, the pharmacy exchanged the antibiotics and inhaler for my birth control so everybody's happy.
And a side note to Andrew: Thanks for assuming that I'd ever have to beat anyone off with a stick. That's the sweetest thing ever! *cheek kiss*
And a side note to Andrew: Thanks for assuming that I'd ever have to beat anyone off with a stick. That's the sweetest thing ever! *cheek kiss*
Sabotage!
So, Justin and I work at night, and on Sundays, lots of businesses keep hours that we just can't work around easily. I asked my dad to pick up my birth control at the pharmacy today, which is only open from 1-5 on Sundays. I was very specific BIRTH CONTROL. I called the pharmacy yesterday, and confirmed that the prescription would be ready today. Everything looked just dandy.
My dad calls me at 1:30. "Your prescription was $50." This is weird, because it's usually $30, so I ask him, "did you get more than one thing" and he says "they told me I had to pick up everything." Ok, first of all, I know that's not true. They can't make you buy drugs!! But I figured that was ok, I needed my inhaler anyway and went back to sleep. So tonight I got up and checked the mailbox where he left the pharmacy bag, it contains:
An inhaler
An antibiotic
NO BIRTH CONTROL!!
Obviously my dad was too embarrassed to say "My daughter,(who is married, government sanctioned sex people!) would like to avoid pregnancy, for the rest of her life, if possible. Can I please have her NuvaRing?"
I have no idea what to do now. I can't afford another prescription, which is why I wasn't picking up the other stuff to begin with, and I'm pretty sure the pharmacy won't exchange what I've got for what I need. I know this could have been avoided by me just going myself, but really, how hard is it to pick up a prescription!? Going to pull my hair out now.
My dad calls me at 1:30. "Your prescription was $50." This is weird, because it's usually $30, so I ask him, "did you get more than one thing" and he says "they told me I had to pick up everything." Ok, first of all, I know that's not true. They can't make you buy drugs!! But I figured that was ok, I needed my inhaler anyway and went back to sleep. So tonight I got up and checked the mailbox where he left the pharmacy bag, it contains:
An inhaler
An antibiotic
NO BIRTH CONTROL!!
Obviously my dad was too embarrassed to say "My daughter,(who is married, government sanctioned sex people!) would like to avoid pregnancy, for the rest of her life, if possible. Can I please have her NuvaRing?"
I have no idea what to do now. I can't afford another prescription, which is why I wasn't picking up the other stuff to begin with, and I'm pretty sure the pharmacy won't exchange what I've got for what I need. I know this could have been avoided by me just going myself, but really, how hard is it to pick up a prescription!? Going to pull my hair out now.
Better Suited for Halloween...
This certainly isn't what I want for Christmas, but it's pretty dang cool!
'Ghost Face' In Human Skin-Covered Book
A 400-year-old book covered in a sheet of wrinkled human skin is going under the hammer in a bizarre auction.
It is thought the skin was cut from the corpse of one of Guy Fawkes' fellow conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
And if you hold the novel in the right light, you might even see a ghostly face on the cover, it is claimed.
It was published in 1606, just months after the Jesuit priest Henry Garnet was captured and executed for his part in the plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament.The book's owner, who does not want to be identified, told Sky News he hopes it will go to a museum so that people can see it.
He believes that marks on the leather are evidence of torture, and says a Latin inscription on the cover which reads "severe penitence punished the flesh" was written to make sure people knew what had happened to the victim.
Sid Wilkinson, of Wilkinson's Auctioneers in Doncaster, says the ancient human skin feels smooth "and a little bit strange to the touch."
Several other books covered in dead people's skin are held in museums around the world.
The practice, known as Anthropodermic bibliopegy, had a novelty value hundreds of years ago. The most popular were court reports of murders that were covered in the skin of the perpetrator.
The Season of....Asking.
OK girls, (and boys, if you have advice) if you want something from your boy for Christmas, but can't ask for it specifically, (because it's rude to say anything besides "Oh you don't have to get me a gift!" or "I'm sure anything you think of will be perfect!") how do you go about getting it? I've never been particularly good in the area of dropping hints...I suppose this blog will be enough to let him know that there's something, just not what. (Assuming he reads this.) It's not really something that's appropriate for me to purchase for myself, otherwise I'd just go get it. Let the advising begin!
Aside from that, Levelland is where a whole pile (yes, I know the correct term is flock) of Canada geese end their seasonal migration. I don't know why they choose to stop here, because it's freakin' cold, but they do, and every few hours I hear lots of loud honking and flapping as they move from one lake to the other, obviously on some goose schedule that they didn't tell me about beforehand. Not good for napping. There are several hundred of them, which looks pretty cool in spite of the noise, so hopefully this weekend I'll get out to the lake to take some pictures of them, and let Maybe do a little chasing.
Aside from that, Levelland is where a whole pile (yes, I know the correct term is flock) of Canada geese end their seasonal migration. I don't know why they choose to stop here, because it's freakin' cold, but they do, and every few hours I hear lots of loud honking and flapping as they move from one lake to the other, obviously on some goose schedule that they didn't tell me about beforehand. Not good for napping. There are several hundred of them, which looks pretty cool in spite of the noise, so hopefully this weekend I'll get out to the lake to take some pictures of them, and let Maybe do a little chasing.
Almost Forgot!!
I also put up my Christmas tree, in my brief blogging hiatus. It looks pretty much the same as it does every year, white, silver and gold ornaments, and one new ornament for every year that Justin and I have had Christmas together. I bought an ornament at the zoo in San Diego for the tree, but that isn't really significant of anything that has happened to both Justin and me this year, so this weekend we're going on the hunt for this year's special ornament.
I can't really think of anything remarkable that's happened this year though, except for Justin's toe surgery (which has, by the way, finally completely healed-almost). I wonder if I can find an ornament that looks like a toe and is some neutral color...hmm. Anyway, here are pics:
Oh yes, Justin doesn't have the flu. (Thank goodness!) He has a nasty stomach virus, which should be better between 3 and 7 days from now. The doctor also gave us enough drugs so that when I'm struck down by this plague, we don't have to go back.
I can't really think of anything remarkable that's happened this year though, except for Justin's toe surgery (which has, by the way, finally completely healed-almost). I wonder if I can find an ornament that looks like a toe and is some neutral color...hmm. Anyway, here are pics:
Oh yes, Justin doesn't have the flu. (Thank goodness!) He has a nasty stomach virus, which should be better between 3 and 7 days from now. The doctor also gave us enough drugs so that when I'm struck down by this plague, we don't have to go back.
Sorry it Took So Long
I'm finally posting pictures from my trip to San Diego. This will have to be quick because Justin has the flu and I am taking him to the doctor in about an hour...
This is my friend Shannon with me after dinner one night. We were wandering around the winery in an area where I guess they have weddings and trying to teach her husband, Matthew, to dance.
Me and Matthew (Shannon's husband, my friend) at the zoo. 
Me at the zoo, koala in the background.
At the San Diego zoo, they do this thing called "enrichment" where they provoke the animals into thinking and not getting stuck in some sort of routine. It's really just animal torture, sort of. Here's an example. Koalas really just want to sleep for 20 hours a day and eat eucalyptus and be left alone. Occasionally, they grab the koalas out of their cozy trees, and take them to another koala's tree. It really stresses them out and they have to then mark the tree with their scent all over, and it looks like this:
We were lucky to be there on enrichment day though, because otherwise, we would never get to see a koala move around this much. It was really really cute!
And now for a string of pictures of various apes:
We were able to get so close to the gorillas, just a glass partition between us. It was amazing. The next trip, we're going to the wild animal park, where we will actually be able to feed a giraffe. *squeal*
We could have actually touched this bird, (a peacock, I think). It was right in front of us and there was nothing to stop us except a fear of bird bites and the possibility of being banned from the zoo for life.
The sign with a finger pointing at me says 'These animals BITE." Hehe!
This is my friend Shannon with me after dinner one night. We were wandering around the winery in an area where I guess they have weddings and trying to teach her husband, Matthew, to dance.
Me and Matthew (Shannon's husband, my friend) at the zoo. 
Me at the zoo, koala in the background.
At the San Diego zoo, they do this thing called "enrichment" where they provoke the animals into thinking and not getting stuck in some sort of routine. It's really just animal torture, sort of. Here's an example. Koalas really just want to sleep for 20 hours a day and eat eucalyptus and be left alone. Occasionally, they grab the koalas out of their cozy trees, and take them to another koala's tree. It really stresses them out and they have to then mark the tree with their scent all over, and it looks like this:
We were lucky to be there on enrichment day though, because otherwise, we would never get to see a koala move around this much. It was really really cute!And now for a string of pictures of various apes:
We were able to get so close to the gorillas, just a glass partition between us. It was amazing. The next trip, we're going to the wild animal park, where we will actually be able to feed a giraffe. *squeal*
We could have actually touched this bird, (a peacock, I think). It was right in front of us and there was nothing to stop us except a fear of bird bites and the possibility of being banned from the zoo for life.
The sign with a finger pointing at me says 'These animals BITE." Hehe!
The Airplane Plague
Someone one one of the planes that I flew on last week had the plague, and now I have had the plague for nearly 5 days. The first day, Monday, not so bad. I had a little sore throat in the morning but attributed it to sleeping with my mouth open all night to combat the pre-existing congestion. Tuesday pretty sick, but not sick enough that I wanted to give in and actually go to the doctor. Little cough, little hoarse, not that big of a deal, but by Wednesday and Thursday, it was the full blown plague. I had zero voice, or rather, the voice I had, if I forced myself was either a tiny whisper or a croak to rival broken glass. It was bad enough that finally on Thursday I went to the doctor and waited around for an hour in order to be diagnosed with Laryngitis and Bronchitis. Yeah, it's never enough for me to just have one thing at a time. They gave me a shot of Rocephin and sent me on my way.
If you've never had Rocephin, please know that this is pretty serious business. It is just an antibiotic, but it comes in a gigantic needle and has to be given into a muscle, so my hip was sore for 2 days. In the grocery store about half an hour after my shot (yes I'm Typhoid Mary) I was almost passing out dizzy and tired. (The tiredness is not an actual side effect to Rocephin, but is a side effect of the plague.) Anyway, I haven't posted because I've been sleeping about 14 hours a day and trying to feel better. I thought I would feel better on Friday, and if not, definitely by today, but this has not been the case so far. I have been coughing up lots of interesting things though...gotta keep it entertaining.
Hopefully I will have the pictures from my trip, and the will to live outside of my bed again by Monday and we can continue this happy journey in bloggerland. Until then, drink lots of juice and don't let anyone breathe on you. Especially me.
If you've never had Rocephin, please know that this is pretty serious business. It is just an antibiotic, but it comes in a gigantic needle and has to be given into a muscle, so my hip was sore for 2 days. In the grocery store about half an hour after my shot (yes I'm Typhoid Mary) I was almost passing out dizzy and tired. (The tiredness is not an actual side effect to Rocephin, but is a side effect of the plague.) Anyway, I haven't posted because I've been sleeping about 14 hours a day and trying to feel better. I thought I would feel better on Friday, and if not, definitely by today, but this has not been the case so far. I have been coughing up lots of interesting things though...gotta keep it entertaining.
Hopefully I will have the pictures from my trip, and the will to live outside of my bed again by Monday and we can continue this happy journey in bloggerland. Until then, drink lots of juice and don't let anyone breathe on you. Especially me.
Be It Ever So Humble
I am home from San Diego. The trip was so amazing in so many ways that I could never even begin to tell you all about it here. I will say that the Houston airport is way too big and that they should totally rethink the layout, particularly if they are going to have short 45 minute layovers. I have blisters on the bottom of my feet from running across the airport to catch my connection....AND on the trip home they managed to lose my luggage. (which they just returned) Yes I would love some cheese with my w(h)ine.
San Diego is so beautiful, and my friends kept telling me that the weather I experienced there wasn't real SD weather, but whatever, it was fantastic. Like the outside had central heat and air. The zoo is famous for a reason, and I will post all about my time there, but I want to wait until I have some pictures to post here. My current camera is really terrible, so Shannon took all the pictures and will mail me a disk with them in a couple of days. Then I can tell you about the koalas.
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm home, I missed Justin so much and Maybe totally had a seizure of joy when she saw me, which was quite fulfilling. I didn't realize it, but I missed my bed, and for the first time in nearly a week I got a full night's sleep. I do miss my friends though... OK, I'll post more about the trip when I get the pictures....
San Diego is so beautiful, and my friends kept telling me that the weather I experienced there wasn't real SD weather, but whatever, it was fantastic. Like the outside had central heat and air. The zoo is famous for a reason, and I will post all about my time there, but I want to wait until I have some pictures to post here. My current camera is really terrible, so Shannon took all the pictures and will mail me a disk with them in a couple of days. Then I can tell you about the koalas.
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm home, I missed Justin so much and Maybe totally had a seizure of joy when she saw me, which was quite fulfilling. I didn't realize it, but I missed my bed, and for the first time in nearly a week I got a full night's sleep. I do miss my friends though... OK, I'll post more about the trip when I get the pictures....
Out of Town
I know I haven't posted anything of value (is any of it of value?) for awhile, but you're going to have to wait a little longer. I'm leaving at 5am on Thursday for San Diego to spend some time with friends. I'll be gone for 5 days, and when I get back, I promise-promise that I'll have something worthwhile to say. I just haven't felt very inspired lately, everything has been pretty great around here, and how boring is it to just read about how fabulous someone's life is all the time? Some time away from here will give me something to talk about, I hope.
In the meantime, entertain yourselves here.
In the meantime, entertain yourselves here.
Rice
On Aging
Justin tells me that I haven't been posting enough. I did take the opportunity to point out that he hasn't posted anything to his blog in months, but he says this isn't the point. Anyway, I've been meaning to post this for awhile, but other things kept coming up, or I'd just forget, so here goes anyway.
1. I've become really offended by teenage boy hair. How is it possible that they are all born with wavy, big, hair that they choose to grow long(ish) and then top with a hat? I always think it makes them look like bozo the clown or something...hair puffing out all around the sides. Ugh. When I was in high school, there were boys with long hair, but it wasn't all big like this....Yes, I know I just sounded like someone's grandmother saying "in my day..."
2. I love NPR. Except here, here it's only classical music, all the time and hardly any talk. I'm not old enough yet to want to listen to symphonies for 14 hours a day...yet.
3. I want everyone in whatever house I happen to be at, to be in bed at the same time.
4. Every room in my house has curtains.
5. Television shows that I watched the first time around,like The Cosby Show, are now on Nick at Nite. I find myself saying things like :"why are all these new programs (yes programs!! gah!!) on this channel? What happened to I Love Lucy?"
6. I keep an afghan over my legs when I watch TV on the sofa.
7. Yesterday, it was 60 degrees and I had the heater on. (And the afghan over my legs, if you were wondering.)
8. I don't know what songs are cool...or what radio station to find the cool songs on, or how to download music onto my mp3 player.
9. I believe that they should raise the driving age to 18, and go to a year round school schedule. (I just lost Amanda, hehe)
10. I have no idea who half of the people in the tabloids are. Fine. More than half.
Anyone else starting to feel like a grown up? And not in the "can buy my own alcohol" kind of way?
Things that make me feel old.
1. I've become really offended by teenage boy hair. How is it possible that they are all born with wavy, big, hair that they choose to grow long(ish) and then top with a hat? I always think it makes them look like bozo the clown or something...hair puffing out all around the sides. Ugh. When I was in high school, there were boys with long hair, but it wasn't all big like this....Yes, I know I just sounded like someone's grandmother saying "in my day..."
2. I love NPR. Except here, here it's only classical music, all the time and hardly any talk. I'm not old enough yet to want to listen to symphonies for 14 hours a day...yet.
3. I want everyone in whatever house I happen to be at, to be in bed at the same time.
4. Every room in my house has curtains.
5. Television shows that I watched the first time around,like The Cosby Show, are now on Nick at Nite. I find myself saying things like :"why are all these new programs (yes programs!! gah!!) on this channel? What happened to I Love Lucy?"
6. I keep an afghan over my legs when I watch TV on the sofa.
7. Yesterday, it was 60 degrees and I had the heater on. (And the afghan over my legs, if you were wondering.)
8. I don't know what songs are cool...or what radio station to find the cool songs on, or how to download music onto my mp3 player.
9. I believe that they should raise the driving age to 18, and go to a year round school schedule. (I just lost Amanda, hehe)
10. I have no idea who half of the people in the tabloids are. Fine. More than half.
Anyone else starting to feel like a grown up? And not in the "can buy my own alcohol" kind of way?
Research
So, I'm doing an informal survey among my married friends, mostly because I'm curious about their answers (is there really any other reason?) but also because I kind of want to know where my relationship stands on the This is Perfectly Normal Meter. If you want to take part, repost on your blog, like any other meme, or you can just email me. Unmarried/divorced/just livin' together friends, you can do this too, just alter the question to fit your needs. Leave me a comment if you do this so that I know. I'm gonna go ahead and post my answers to the questions here, because that's only fair.
Love, S
1. So...how'd ya meet? Online. This used to really embarrass me, and I'd make up some story, but whatever. Lots of people meet online now and I've gotten over myself.
2. How long did you date before you slept together? Hmm maybe I shouldn't have asked this question, or at least volunteered to answer, my mom reads this site sometimes. Oh well, dive right in. Justin and I slept together the first night we met. He tromped over to my house in the middle of the night and at first, that's all there was, sleeping, but you know I'm just so freakin' irresistible. Hear that sound? Yeah, my parents just had strokes.
3. How long before you became engaged? This is a sort of tricky question, there was never any like giant proposal with a hot air balloon ride or anything, at some point, it just became clear that we were either going to get married or continue living in sin for the rest of our natural lives. Either one would have been fine with both of us, but we think that deciding to get married was the best choice we've ever made, most of the time. We bought the ring though after we'd been together for about a year and a half.
4. Did you live together at any point before you tied the knot? Yes. I know it's not really the popular opinion among politicians and parents these days, but I really do feel like it made us better prepared for marriage. I could expound on the virtues of Living in Sin for pages but I'll leave it at: Yes, we lived together for nearly 3 years before our wedding.
5. Whether you did or didn't, how do you think this affected your relationship? Oh look I get to talk about it after all! Living together before the big day was helpful in a lot of ways. I didn't have to suddenly wake up married and realize that I was spending the rest of my life with someone who leaves his underwear in the kitchen because hey, I knew that already and I had decided to be ok with it. I didn't have the notion that somehow marriage would change Justin from Gamerboy to Husband Who Mows the Lawn Every Friday in a Golf Shirt. He knew that I wake up every morning and behave like a lunatic who can't stand to be touched or talked to for at least 7 minutes. He was also aware that on weekends, if we don't have plans, I like to sit around in my nightgown without combing my hair for 3 days and watch reruns of CSI, and he decided for himself that it was fine. No surprises.
6. How long was your engagement? About a year, if I'm being realistic. We bought the ring in May of 2005 and then we were married in May of 2006. However, we hadn't planned to get married until October 2006, so we didn't actually start planning until oh...February and then when we suddenly moved the date up I had to run around like a maniac getting things together. You can read all about it here.
7. After you got married, were you surprised by anything that your new husband/wife did? Nope. By then we'd been living together for a long time, like I said, no surprises.
8. Have you had or do you want to have kids? How many? The short answer: We don't know. The long answer: I have kind of started to feel like kids can't make things better. We're already happy now, so we don't need a child to make us happy, and what if it made us unhappy? It's not a risk I'm willing to take, you can't return a baby to the mall. If we weren't happy, a child could only make things more stressful than they already are. We certainly can't afford a baby right now, and even if we could, wouldn't that money be better spent on more pairs of shoes, video games and vacations? If we do decide to become parents, in the (far) future, we only want one.
Thanks in advance to anyone who fills this out for me, and I look forward to seeing your answers! I may post more questions later, I'll label that Research 2 or something equally clever *grin,* you can answer all of them or none of them or 2 of them, whatever. Thanks again!
Love, S
1. So...how'd ya meet? Online. This used to really embarrass me, and I'd make up some story, but whatever. Lots of people meet online now and I've gotten over myself.
2. How long did you date before you slept together? Hmm maybe I shouldn't have asked this question, or at least volunteered to answer, my mom reads this site sometimes. Oh well, dive right in. Justin and I slept together the first night we met. He tromped over to my house in the middle of the night and at first, that's all there was, sleeping, but you know I'm just so freakin' irresistible. Hear that sound? Yeah, my parents just had strokes.
3. How long before you became engaged? This is a sort of tricky question, there was never any like giant proposal with a hot air balloon ride or anything, at some point, it just became clear that we were either going to get married or continue living in sin for the rest of our natural lives. Either one would have been fine with both of us, but we think that deciding to get married was the best choice we've ever made, most of the time. We bought the ring though after we'd been together for about a year and a half.
4. Did you live together at any point before you tied the knot? Yes. I know it's not really the popular opinion among politicians and parents these days, but I really do feel like it made us better prepared for marriage. I could expound on the virtues of Living in Sin for pages but I'll leave it at: Yes, we lived together for nearly 3 years before our wedding.
5. Whether you did or didn't, how do you think this affected your relationship? Oh look I get to talk about it after all! Living together before the big day was helpful in a lot of ways. I didn't have to suddenly wake up married and realize that I was spending the rest of my life with someone who leaves his underwear in the kitchen because hey, I knew that already and I had decided to be ok with it. I didn't have the notion that somehow marriage would change Justin from Gamerboy to Husband Who Mows the Lawn Every Friday in a Golf Shirt. He knew that I wake up every morning and behave like a lunatic who can't stand to be touched or talked to for at least 7 minutes. He was also aware that on weekends, if we don't have plans, I like to sit around in my nightgown without combing my hair for 3 days and watch reruns of CSI, and he decided for himself that it was fine. No surprises.
6. How long was your engagement? About a year, if I'm being realistic. We bought the ring in May of 2005 and then we were married in May of 2006. However, we hadn't planned to get married until October 2006, so we didn't actually start planning until oh...February and then when we suddenly moved the date up I had to run around like a maniac getting things together. You can read all about it here.
7. After you got married, were you surprised by anything that your new husband/wife did? Nope. By then we'd been living together for a long time, like I said, no surprises.
8. Have you had or do you want to have kids? How many? The short answer: We don't know. The long answer: I have kind of started to feel like kids can't make things better. We're already happy now, so we don't need a child to make us happy, and what if it made us unhappy? It's not a risk I'm willing to take, you can't return a baby to the mall. If we weren't happy, a child could only make things more stressful than they already are. We certainly can't afford a baby right now, and even if we could, wouldn't that money be better spent on more pairs of shoes, video games and vacations? If we do decide to become parents, in the (far) future, we only want one.
Thanks in advance to anyone who fills this out for me, and I look forward to seeing your answers! I may post more questions later, I'll label that Research 2 or something equally clever *grin,* you can answer all of them or none of them or 2 of them, whatever. Thanks again!
Munchies
I've been watching the Food Network for 2 hours, and I'm not even ashamed.
Mostly, I keep it on for background noise, as I'm completely intolerant of anything that I have to let rest, or rise, or freeze for x amount of time, because all of those things just mean WAIT, and we all know that I have the attention span of an overstimulated toddler. I could barely stand to wait even the one minute for my microwaveable, canned gravy (did you know there even was such a thing? miracle.) to be done before slathering biscuits in it and calling it breakfast. So I'm not very inclined to pull my pork chop off the stove and let it sit around for 10 minutes. Hello? I have a dog, yes, she can reach the stove top. I don't really mind things that take a long time to cook, as long as I'm actively doing something during that time. (Except defrosting. I loathe defrosting.)
Anyway, as I was saying, I don't have the option to partake in what has become my usual hobby these past few months (which I won't be discussing here), so instead I'm sitting on the sofa, with the laptop, reading blogs and watching Food TV. The thing is, I really love to cook, and what with my love of infomercials, I have lots of gadgetry with which to experiment in the kitchen, and there are lots of things that are fast, or at least entertaining to make, so I want to be in the kitchen, being all domestic, I just can't right now.
I do not have a great love for my kitchen right now. There's not enough counter space, and the floor is, frankly, a little scary. You'll remember that I redid the kitchen floor in my last house, so, even though we went without a shower for nearly 2 years of our lives, there was a sparkly, shiny kitchen floor and I spent considerably more time in there than I do in the kitchen of our house now. It's fall now though, and very shortly I will be bitten by the baking bug, so I'm thinking that maybe I should ask the landlord if perhaps I can put in a new floor here.
Also, I just now learned what a parsnip is, (stop laughing at me) and now I really really want to do something with them. What do you make with a parsnip? And why the hell is that woman grilling orange slices?
Editors Note: I just searched for a picture to put on this post, did you know that if you
Google the word "pot" the first 5 pictures that appear are of a certain illegal plant?
Mostly, I keep it on for background noise, as I'm completely intolerant of anything that I have to let rest, or rise, or freeze for x amount of time, because all of those things just mean WAIT, and we all know that I have the attention span of an overstimulated toddler. I could barely stand to wait even the one minute for my microwaveable, canned gravy (did you know there even was such a thing? miracle.) to be done before slathering biscuits in it and calling it breakfast. So I'm not very inclined to pull my pork chop off the stove and let it sit around for 10 minutes. Hello? I have a dog, yes, she can reach the stove top. I don't really mind things that take a long time to cook, as long as I'm actively doing something during that time. (Except defrosting. I loathe defrosting.)
Anyway, as I was saying, I don't have the option to partake in what has become my usual hobby these past few months (which I won't be discussing here), so instead I'm sitting on the sofa, with the laptop, reading blogs and watching Food TV. The thing is, I really love to cook, and what with my love of infomercials, I have lots of gadgetry with which to experiment in the kitchen, and there are lots of things that are fast, or at least entertaining to make, so I want to be in the kitchen, being all domestic, I just can't right now.
I do not have a great love for my kitchen right now. There's not enough counter space, and the floor is, frankly, a little scary. You'll remember that I redid the kitchen floor in my last house, so, even though we went without a shower for nearly 2 years of our lives, there was a sparkly, shiny kitchen floor and I spent considerably more time in there than I do in the kitchen of our house now. It's fall now though, and very shortly I will be bitten by the baking bug, so I'm thinking that maybe I should ask the landlord if perhaps I can put in a new floor here.
Also, I just now learned what a parsnip is, (stop laughing at me) and now I really really want to do something with them. What do you make with a parsnip? And why the hell is that woman grilling orange slices?
Editors Note: I just searched for a picture to put on this post, did you know that if you
Google the word "pot" the first 5 pictures that appear are of a certain illegal plant?
Todd.
Oh my!!
They're (whoever is in charge of this sort of thing) making a Sweeney Todd (The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) Movie! (yes, I know there's a version with Angela Lansbury and Kelsey Grammar, but that's just a recording of the play, this is a *real movie*) AND it's got JOHNNY DEPP.
Things could not be happier. I'm so glad that there's this sudden resurrection of the Great American Musical among the Hollywood types. I could just well....sing!!
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
His skin was pale and his eye was odd.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
who never thereafter were heard of again.
He trod a path that few have trod
did Sweeney Todd
the demon barber of fleet street
They're (whoever is in charge of this sort of thing) making a Sweeney Todd (The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) Movie! (yes, I know there's a version with Angela Lansbury and Kelsey Grammar, but that's just a recording of the play, this is a *real movie*) AND it's got JOHNNY DEPP.
Things could not be happier. I'm so glad that there's this sudden resurrection of the Great American Musical among the Hollywood types. I could just well....sing!!
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.
His skin was pale and his eye was odd.
He shaved the faces of gentlemen
who never thereafter were heard of again.
He trod a path that few have trod
did Sweeney Todd
the demon barber of fleet street
Swiped
From Terroni
Hi, my name is Susan
But you can call me Pretty much whatever you want to. I've heard it all.
Never in my life have I kept a plant alive for more than a month.
When I am nervous I try to be as entertaining as possible. This usually ends in disaster.
The last song I listened to was Hallelujah by John Cale
If I were to get married right now, it would be to Well I'm currently married to Justin so we'd have to work something out with the government in order to include anyone else. At least legally.
My hair is not good at all right now. It's been brushed so it's fuzzy and pulled back into a slept in ponytail. However, in general, it's better than it's been in years, most of the time.
When I was four I was enjoying my last months of being an only child, and trying to convince my mom to name the twins Tom and Jerry.
Last Christmas I got very depressed and actually took down the tree on December 23rd. This year will be better.
I should be washing dishes, or something equally productive.
When I look down I see the laptop, and an afghan that's sort of ugly, but really warm.
The happiest recent event was seeing how happy Maybe was when I came home and saw her for the first time after working two double shifts. She acted like I'd been gone a year. It was very fulfilling.
If I were a character in Friends, I'd be out of a job, wasn't that canceled?
By this time, next year, I really have no idea how to answer this question. Usually I have more of a plan than I have at this moment. It actually sort of feels good.
My current distress is that we're a little broke right now. Just for a couple more days though.
I have a hard time understanding why I've been feeling so unmotivated.
There are these girls who are new at work, I really want them to be my friends, but I have no idea how to achieve this.
If I won an award, the first person I would tell is Justin
I want to buy lots of things, most notably, a lavender button down shirt and the new Calvin Klein perfume, Euphoria.
I plan on visiting San Diego, in 5 weeks *squeals*
If I could spend the night at any house, it would be Matthew and Shannon's, in 5 weeks. I'm also pretty fond of my own house right now. There are clean sheets on my bed.
The world could do without George W. Bush
The most recent thing I bought myself is umm...I don't remember if this is the most recent thing, but I have new green velvet ballet flats that I haven't worn yet.
The most recent thing that someone else bought for me was Justin bought me dinner from Taco Bell today.
My middle name is Bell, now, sort of.
In the morning I call my friend Matthew at some ungodly hour, his time, and then, satisfied that everyone I know is awake, I go to bed.
Last night I was falling asleep at work.
There is this guy I know who uh...yeah I don't have an answer for this.
If I was an animal, I would be something with a long tail. I always feel like that's what I'm missing.
A better name for me would be I don't know that it would necessarily be a *better* name for me, but I like old fashioned names, like Fiona and Delia, and Hazel.
Tomorrow, I am having a really stress free day, including dishes and naps and hopefully donuts. The power of positive thinking.
Tonight, I am going to make a dent in the huge list of things on my Tivo, snuggle Justin, and go back to bed.
Hi, my name is Susan
But you can call me Pretty much whatever you want to. I've heard it all.
Never in my life have I kept a plant alive for more than a month.
When I am nervous I try to be as entertaining as possible. This usually ends in disaster.
The last song I listened to was Hallelujah by John Cale
If I were to get married right now, it would be to Well I'm currently married to Justin so we'd have to work something out with the government in order to include anyone else. At least legally.
My hair is not good at all right now. It's been brushed so it's fuzzy and pulled back into a slept in ponytail. However, in general, it's better than it's been in years, most of the time.
When I was four I was enjoying my last months of being an only child, and trying to convince my mom to name the twins Tom and Jerry.
Last Christmas I got very depressed and actually took down the tree on December 23rd. This year will be better.
I should be washing dishes, or something equally productive.
When I look down I see the laptop, and an afghan that's sort of ugly, but really warm.
The happiest recent event was seeing how happy Maybe was when I came home and saw her for the first time after working two double shifts. She acted like I'd been gone a year. It was very fulfilling.
If I were a character in Friends, I'd be out of a job, wasn't that canceled?
By this time, next year, I really have no idea how to answer this question. Usually I have more of a plan than I have at this moment. It actually sort of feels good.
My current distress is that we're a little broke right now. Just for a couple more days though.
I have a hard time understanding why I've been feeling so unmotivated.
There are these girls who are new at work, I really want them to be my friends, but I have no idea how to achieve this.
If I won an award, the first person I would tell is Justin
I want to buy lots of things, most notably, a lavender button down shirt and the new Calvin Klein perfume, Euphoria.
I plan on visiting San Diego, in 5 weeks *squeals*
If I could spend the night at any house, it would be Matthew and Shannon's, in 5 weeks. I'm also pretty fond of my own house right now. There are clean sheets on my bed.
The world could do without George W. Bush
The most recent thing I bought myself is umm...I don't remember if this is the most recent thing, but I have new green velvet ballet flats that I haven't worn yet.
The most recent thing that someone else bought for me was Justin bought me dinner from Taco Bell today.
My middle name is Bell, now, sort of.
In the morning I call my friend Matthew at some ungodly hour, his time, and then, satisfied that everyone I know is awake, I go to bed.
Last night I was falling asleep at work.
There is this guy I know who uh...yeah I don't have an answer for this.
If I was an animal, I would be something with a long tail. I always feel like that's what I'm missing.
A better name for me would be I don't know that it would necessarily be a *better* name for me, but I like old fashioned names, like Fiona and Delia, and Hazel.
Tomorrow, I am having a really stress free day, including dishes and naps and hopefully donuts. The power of positive thinking.
Tonight, I am going to make a dent in the huge list of things on my Tivo, snuggle Justin, and go back to bed.
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