Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Zen
The truth of Zen,
Just a little of it,
Is what turns one’s
Life of monotonous,
Commonplace actions,
Into one of art,
Full of genuine inner creativity.
- D.T. Suzuki
Monday, January 29, 2007
Hail to the Queen
Ladies, listen up. I'm about to tell you the secret to girly fabulousness. Ready? Here it is:
Go out and get yourself a gay man.
I have had many gay boyfriends in my life, but one has been with me through thick and thin, bangs and bell bottoms. We've been tearing shit up for 12 years now and it just gets better and better. I'm certain we'll still be raising eyebrows and standards when we're in our 90s.
Yesterday JFL came and spent the day with me and I have to say, it was long overdue. A whole day of shopping and noshing and dishing. LOVE IT.
Viva la Queen, JFL. And I'll have you know, I will forever be looking for the perfect prom dress in a size 22.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Enter the Present ...
Zen students are with their masters at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella. After greeting him Nan-in remarked: "I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs." Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nan-in's pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every-minute Zen.
I spend so much time thinking about where I ought to be (physically, mentally, academically, professionally, emotionally, maternally, spiritually,) that I often forget where my umbrella is. In fact, I'm nearly always thinking about what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow, when I'm going to do this or that, when I'm going to learn this or that, what needs to be done and what needs to be done again. My thought processes are almost always tied up in things that don't exist - the past is over, never to be here again, and the future hasn't happened yet. I know I'm not alone in this. So why are we so ready to dismiss Now as the most important thing, the time that really matters? Why do we seem to think that NOW is insignificant?
Now is all I have. It's all any of us have.Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Daily Meditation
A person of the Way fundamentallyDoes not dwell anywhere.The consistent action ofPeople of the Way isLike the flowing cloudsWith no grasping mind;Like the full moon reflecting universally,Not confined anywhere.Thus have we heard:The mind thatEmbraces the ten directionsDoes not stop anywhere.
Namaste
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Tipping the balance
The last couple of weeks have been a little rough. The day before the big ice storm, I had a little fender bender. It was really no big deal, but since it was my first one, well, it really upset me. The van was crunched and it needed a lot of work before it was safe to drive. And, of course, the ice storm hit at the same time and the result was me being stuck in the house for 7 days with my two kids. B's truck, as always was still on the road (you cannot keep that beast down,) but it isn't exactly the family friendly type of vehicle. Imagine the state of my mind on day 7. The boys and I were ready to kill each other. Hell, I was ready to kill anything that go in the way of me buying a freaking horse to just get out of dodge. I was pretty much sitting tit deep in Shit City. I certainly was sitting at the bottom of the Good Life Balance Scale.
B spent all day Wednesday with my mom's husband working on the van and, by Wednesday night, I had wheels again. Yes, the hood of the van is green and it will be until the Spring Thaw and we can get to a white one, but I can dig a green hood. As my friend, K, says, "Man, that's HOT! It's as cool as, well, NASCAR! You ought to just zoom around town at about 80 miles an hour in your bathrobe with curlers in your hair and a Virginia Slim hanging out of your mouth. Be sure to show your bra strap and scream out of the window, 'Get the hell outta my way - I gotta go get my welfare check and a bottle of Boone's!" This, of course, said in K's trademark satirical Saharan dryness. Man, I love that woman.
The boys went to their grandparents to stay Friday night. I was really torn because I had signed up for a yoga class that night and then was set to have sushi with DDFF, but I really felt like hanging out with B. We had just gotten some long awaited, much anticipated, life changing positive news on Wednesday and I wanted to hang with him and celebrate. He encouraged me to go, however, which was good. I always trust him -he usually knows what's best for me, even when I'm not so sure. Anyway, I went to yoga and sweet sassy molassy, that was exactly what I needed. I loved loved loved that class and wish it was Friday right now so I could go back. The stretch was exactly what I love, the people are just the right kind of folks I need, the aromatherapy really added to my practice, and the atmosphere was divine. After cool down and meditation, we all "awoke" on our mats and found tiny little fortune cookie like slips of paper at the head of our mat. They had the same quote on them -
Amazing, eh?
A few months ago, I did the hair and makeup for a unbelievably talented designer's models in a local fashion show. In return, she allowed me to pick out one of her great designs. I finally chose one Friday night after yoga and I picked out this fantastic "Booty Cap." Seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter? YES, you wear it over pants. I LOVE IT. It's all corduroy and just fabulous. GORGEOUS! You can see more of her stuff here.
Sushi following with DDFF and SVS was great. The wanker waiter not withstanding, the food was great, the company was lovely. FANTASTIC way to spend a Friday night.
Yesterday I met up with the folks from Ozark Handspun and got lots and lots of fibers to spin. WEEEEEEEHOOOO, Baby. Let me tell you, I was getting really burned out on spinning there for awhile, but going a month without doing it reminded me how much I love it. Did a little yarn browsing with DDFF and picked up some great stuff from the clearance basket.
Lunch with K was, as always, a great treat. 2 hours of slowly noshing on yummy foods, laughing so hard we choke, generally a feeling of being not rushed. K's almost 7 months pregnant with her first child and she and her husband, L, are so funny about the whole thing. I'm going to be their childbirth educator and their breastfeeding educator and possibly their doula (yesterday she shoots me a dirty look and says, "I thought you were NOT taking any clients!" to which I had to respond, "Yeah, well, I tried. That lasted, oh, about 4 days. I'm open for your due time - if you're interested." And her look subsequently changed. We shall see.)
After lunch, I headed down to JC to hang out with JP. My inlaws dropped the boys over there so they could play with JP's three girls. We all had a great time! It started to snow around 6 while we were making dinner. It was the plan for me to leave at 6:30 and the boys and I would come home before it really hit. Let's just say that I was a little later than that and it got hairy. A normally 30 minute drive home took an hour. Driving 45 miles an hour the whole way, not being able to see lanes or anything, I made it home just fine with no troubles at all. Many of the other drivers on the road were not quite so lucky. We woke this morning to find about 3.5 inches of snow everywhere - just as the ice was starting to melt. Sheesh. Well, today is Sunday and B is home - I'm sure there will be sledding and snowball fights this afternoon.
When I got home, I noticed that a box had been delivered for me - it was my cookbooks!! I collect cookbooks and a few time a year, I allow myself to go hog wild and order 5 or so at one time. It happens to be that time of year, so I eagerly ripped into the package and had a few minutes of cookbook Ecstasy. I was so pleasantly stunned to see that with my order of Bon Appetite I got a free year subscription to Bon Appetite magazine!! Man, let me tell you, that's like a crackhead getting rocks delivered to his front door on a monthly basis for free! Needless to say, I'll be spending a good portion of today slowly looking at my new books and dreaming of steaming hot bowls of soup and home made bread. Eventually, I'll get my tush off the couch and make some for dinner. YUM.
And, I'm not saying who, but I just want to throw this little bit of info out there - a former nay sayer is maybe starting to turn a smiling face to my man, Mr. Ritchie. I totally know where she's coming from. Rock is kind of like The Dead. Everyone thinks they know what kind of music he makes, but it's absolutely nothing like you would imagine it would be. The reputation kind of gets in the way of taking a chance with the music. While clearly not everyone is going to like it, it's impossible to form an opinion until you've really listened to it - I promise, you'll be surprised. So, you know who you are - I hope you enjoy your introduction. And if not, that's totally cool, too. Thanks for taking the chance.
I'm feeling like I have moved outta Shit City and the good life scale is moving. I think I've tipped the balance.
B spent all day Wednesday with my mom's husband working on the van and, by Wednesday night, I had wheels again. Yes, the hood of the van is green and it will be until the Spring Thaw and we can get to a white one, but I can dig a green hood. As my friend, K, says, "Man, that's HOT! It's as cool as, well, NASCAR! You ought to just zoom around town at about 80 miles an hour in your bathrobe with curlers in your hair and a Virginia Slim hanging out of your mouth. Be sure to show your bra strap and scream out of the window, 'Get the hell outta my way - I gotta go get my welfare check and a bottle of Boone's!" This, of course, said in K's trademark satirical Saharan dryness. Man, I love that woman.
The boys went to their grandparents to stay Friday night. I was really torn because I had signed up for a yoga class that night and then was set to have sushi with DDFF, but I really felt like hanging out with B. We had just gotten some long awaited, much anticipated, life changing positive news on Wednesday and I wanted to hang with him and celebrate. He encouraged me to go, however, which was good. I always trust him -he usually knows what's best for me, even when I'm not so sure. Anyway, I went to yoga and sweet sassy molassy, that was exactly what I needed. I loved loved loved that class and wish it was Friday right now so I could go back. The stretch was exactly what I love, the people are just the right kind of folks I need, the aromatherapy really added to my practice, and the atmosphere was divine. After cool down and meditation, we all "awoke" on our mats and found tiny little fortune cookie like slips of paper at the head of our mat. They had the same quote on them -
In the depth of Winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible
Summer. -- Albert Camus
Amazing, eh?
A few months ago, I did the hair and makeup for a unbelievably talented designer's models in a local fashion show. In return, she allowed me to pick out one of her great designs. I finally chose one Friday night after yoga and I picked out this fantastic "Booty Cap." Seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter? YES, you wear it over pants. I LOVE IT. It's all corduroy and just fabulous. GORGEOUS! You can see more of her stuff here.
Sushi following with DDFF and SVS was great. The wanker waiter not withstanding, the food was great, the company was lovely. FANTASTIC way to spend a Friday night.
Yesterday I met up with the folks from Ozark Handspun and got lots and lots of fibers to spin. WEEEEEEEHOOOO, Baby. Let me tell you, I was getting really burned out on spinning there for awhile, but going a month without doing it reminded me how much I love it. Did a little yarn browsing with DDFF and picked up some great stuff from the clearance basket.
Lunch with K was, as always, a great treat. 2 hours of slowly noshing on yummy foods, laughing so hard we choke, generally a feeling of being not rushed. K's almost 7 months pregnant with her first child and she and her husband, L, are so funny about the whole thing. I'm going to be their childbirth educator and their breastfeeding educator and possibly their doula (yesterday she shoots me a dirty look and says, "I thought you were NOT taking any clients!" to which I had to respond, "Yeah, well, I tried. That lasted, oh, about 4 days. I'm open for your due time - if you're interested." And her look subsequently changed. We shall see.)
After lunch, I headed down to JC to hang out with JP. My inlaws dropped the boys over there so they could play with JP's three girls. We all had a great time! It started to snow around 6 while we were making dinner. It was the plan for me to leave at 6:30 and the boys and I would come home before it really hit. Let's just say that I was a little later than that and it got hairy. A normally 30 minute drive home took an hour. Driving 45 miles an hour the whole way, not being able to see lanes or anything, I made it home just fine with no troubles at all. Many of the other drivers on the road were not quite so lucky. We woke this morning to find about 3.5 inches of snow everywhere - just as the ice was starting to melt. Sheesh. Well, today is Sunday and B is home - I'm sure there will be sledding and snowball fights this afternoon.
When I got home, I noticed that a box had been delivered for me - it was my cookbooks!! I collect cookbooks and a few time a year, I allow myself to go hog wild and order 5 or so at one time. It happens to be that time of year, so I eagerly ripped into the package and had a few minutes of cookbook Ecstasy. I was so pleasantly stunned to see that with my order of Bon Appetite I got a free year subscription to Bon Appetite magazine!! Man, let me tell you, that's like a crackhead getting rocks delivered to his front door on a monthly basis for free! Needless to say, I'll be spending a good portion of today slowly looking at my new books and dreaming of steaming hot bowls of soup and home made bread. Eventually, I'll get my tush off the couch and make some for dinner. YUM.
And, I'm not saying who, but I just want to throw this little bit of info out there - a former nay sayer is maybe starting to turn a smiling face to my man, Mr. Ritchie. I totally know where she's coming from. Rock is kind of like The Dead. Everyone thinks they know what kind of music he makes, but it's absolutely nothing like you would imagine it would be. The reputation kind of gets in the way of taking a chance with the music. While clearly not everyone is going to like it, it's impossible to form an opinion until you've really listened to it - I promise, you'll be surprised. So, you know who you are - I hope you enjoy your introduction. And if not, that's totally cool, too. Thanks for taking the chance.
I'm feeling like I have moved outta Shit City and the good life scale is moving. I think I've tipped the balance.
Friday, January 19, 2007
My sister is obsessed with blogs and has one of her own. Okay, maybe obsessed is a strong word, but I think she's used it herself. Anyway, she has been posting all these random polls (for lack of a better word.) I'm sure you've seen many of these come through your email inbox, but she's found some rather unusual ones (or made them up herself.) Anyway, because it's Friday and I'm in a good mood, I'm gonna do one or two here. Go ahead and check out her blog - I'm sure she'll come up with some new and interesting ones in the next few days. I'm not sure where she finds these, but if you like them, she's the go to girl.
A Countdown of sorts
10 Favorites
Color: purple
Food: sushi
Month: April
Song: impossible to decide -might as well ask me which skin cell is my favorite
Film: Maybe Annie Hall.
Sport: Baseball
Season: Summer
Day of the week: Sunday
Flavor ice cream: I don't eat much ice cream, but Wavy Gravy is hands down my favorite
Time of day: 8 pm -kids bedtime
9 Currents
Mood: Happy
Taste: eclectic
Clothes: dark blue jeans, hot pink poor boy sweater, barefoot
Desktop: me & B kissing
Toenail color: metallic red
Time: 9:36 AM
Surroundings: in my basement office sitting lotus style on my chair, kids on their computer next to me
Thoughts: I hope my foot doesn't fall asleep
Company: Duck and Stealth
8 Firsts
Best friend: uh, uh, man. Brandy something or other in Kindergarten
Kiss: REAL kiss? Steve Morris, top of 6th grade
Lover: my first love, BJ. We were each other's firsts and neither of us ever regretted it.
Screen name: I'm not telling - I'm an IM snob
Pet: Teddy Bear Hamster named Bo. I eventually got Luke and Daisy, too
Piercing: Ears - I don't remember exactly how old I was, but it must have been when I was 9?
Crush: Arthur Fonzerelli, and Zoot and Floyd from the Muppets
Cd: Pearl Jam's Ten and Annie Lenox's Diva
7 Lasts
Cigarette: quit full time smoking, crap, 9 years go. Used to socially smoke, but haven't in a few months
Drink: coffee, last booze was 7 weeks ago.
Car Ride: shopping yesterday
Kiss: B as he left for work
Film seen: The Pursuit of HappYness
Phone call: I have no idea -- B, probably
CD Played: Grateful Dead bootleg
6 Have You Ever’s
Dated one of your best girl/guy friends? Dated? nooo.
Broken the law? Yes
Been arrested? No, never
Skinny Dipped? Yes
Been on TV? Yes, several times
Kissed someone you didn’t know? yes
5 Things
Thing you are wearing: headband
Thing you’ve done today: made blueberry muffins
Thing you can hear right now: the music from the Handy Manny website
Thing you can’t live without: oxygen
Thing you do when you’re bored: knit
4 Places you’ve been today
1. Bed
2. Bathroom
3. Kitchen
4. Living room
3 People you can tell anything to (honestly, there are a few others, too, but they don't fit here)
1. B
2. JP
3. VJ
2 choices
Black or white? Black
Hot or cold? Hot
1 thing you want to do before you die
Travel cross country on his and hers Harley's with B
ONE WORD ONLY
This Moment: peaceful
Your Shoes: off
Craving: fulfilled
The State of Your Home: inhabited
Annoyed By: superficiality
Noise In the Background: childish
Really Want To: cuddle
Thinking About: tonight
Smelling: basement
Favorite Product In Office Supply Aisle: equipment
Don't Ever Want To: lie
Your Eye Color: blue-green
The Weather: cold
Have Never Tried: sauerkraut
Think Everyone Should Try: forgiveness
Last Vacation Destination: B&B
The Last Thing You Had to Drink: coffee
Your Bad Habit: criticism
What You're Going To Do Now: pee
Now, having done that, on we go ...
I'm really not thrilled with the formatting of this - all the bold and not bold crap. Eh well, I don't care enough to fix it.
Tonight I start my yoga class. Last week was postponed due to the weather. I'm so excited to have some time each week where I can focus on myself and doing what is right for my body. LOVE THAT. And it's not gonna hurt that DDFF and I are hitting some sushi afterwards. YUM.
B and I have been waiting for something for a long long long time. It was, in theory, only going to take a couple of weeks. It ended up taking 10 long months and lots of struggle. Finally, it came to pass this past Wednesday. I have to say, somethings are just worth the wait. Halle-freaking-lujah.
You know what? I sat down here and was going to write this big long post about life, current events (GO Obama!!!, Welcome home to 2 abducted boys, what the hell is Paula Abdule smoking?,) music choices, literary discoveries, and cooking experiments, but the fact is that my kids are just more important. It appears they have turned the playroom into a gourmet restaurant - and they are insisting that I'm hungry. How about that? All this time I thought that growling was my inner beast. Turns out, it's an apparently empty stomach.
Happy Friday!
A Countdown of sorts
10 Favorites
Color: purple
Food: sushi
Month: April
Song: impossible to decide -might as well ask me which skin cell is my favorite
Film: Maybe Annie Hall.
Sport: Baseball
Season: Summer
Day of the week: Sunday
Flavor ice cream: I don't eat much ice cream, but Wavy Gravy is hands down my favorite
Time of day: 8 pm -kids bedtime
9 Currents
Mood: Happy
Taste: eclectic
Clothes: dark blue jeans, hot pink poor boy sweater, barefoot
Desktop: me & B kissing
Toenail color: metallic red
Time: 9:36 AM
Surroundings: in my basement office sitting lotus style on my chair, kids on their computer next to me
Thoughts: I hope my foot doesn't fall asleep
Company: Duck and Stealth
8 Firsts
Best friend: uh, uh, man. Brandy something or other in Kindergarten
Kiss: REAL kiss? Steve Morris, top of 6th grade
Lover: my first love, BJ. We were each other's firsts and neither of us ever regretted it.
Screen name: I'm not telling - I'm an IM snob
Pet: Teddy Bear Hamster named Bo. I eventually got Luke and Daisy, too
Piercing: Ears - I don't remember exactly how old I was, but it must have been when I was 9?
Crush: Arthur Fonzerelli, and Zoot and Floyd from the Muppets
Cd: Pearl Jam's Ten and Annie Lenox's Diva
7 Lasts
Cigarette: quit full time smoking, crap, 9 years go. Used to socially smoke, but haven't in a few months
Drink: coffee, last booze was 7 weeks ago.
Car Ride: shopping yesterday
Kiss: B as he left for work
Film seen: The Pursuit of HappYness
Phone call: I have no idea -- B, probably
CD Played: Grateful Dead bootleg
6 Have You Ever’s
Dated one of your best girl/guy friends? Dated? nooo.
Broken the law? Yes
Been arrested? No, never
Skinny Dipped? Yes
Been on TV? Yes, several times
Kissed someone you didn’t know? yes
5 Things
Thing you are wearing: headband
Thing you’ve done today: made blueberry muffins
Thing you can hear right now: the music from the Handy Manny website
Thing you can’t live without: oxygen
Thing you do when you’re bored: knit
4 Places you’ve been today
1. Bed
2. Bathroom
3. Kitchen
4. Living room
3 People you can tell anything to (honestly, there are a few others, too, but they don't fit here)
1. B
2. JP
3. VJ
2 choices
Black or white? Black
Hot or cold? Hot
1 thing you want to do before you die
Travel cross country on his and hers Harley's with B
ONE WORD ONLY
This Moment: peaceful
Your Shoes: off
Craving: fulfilled
The State of Your Home: inhabited
Annoyed By: superficiality
Noise In the Background: childish
Really Want To: cuddle
Thinking About: tonight
Smelling: basement
Favorite Product In Office Supply Aisle: equipment
Don't Ever Want To: lie
Your Eye Color: blue-green
The Weather: cold
Have Never Tried: sauerkraut
Think Everyone Should Try: forgiveness
Last Vacation Destination: B&B
The Last Thing You Had to Drink: coffee
Your Bad Habit: criticism
What You're Going To Do Now: pee
Now, having done that, on we go ...
I'm really not thrilled with the formatting of this - all the bold and not bold crap. Eh well, I don't care enough to fix it.
Tonight I start my yoga class. Last week was postponed due to the weather. I'm so excited to have some time each week where I can focus on myself and doing what is right for my body. LOVE THAT. And it's not gonna hurt that DDFF and I are hitting some sushi afterwards. YUM.
B and I have been waiting for something for a long long long time. It was, in theory, only going to take a couple of weeks. It ended up taking 10 long months and lots of struggle. Finally, it came to pass this past Wednesday. I have to say, somethings are just worth the wait. Halle-freaking-lujah.
You know what? I sat down here and was going to write this big long post about life, current events (GO Obama!!!, Welcome home to 2 abducted boys, what the hell is Paula Abdule smoking?,) music choices, literary discoveries, and cooking experiments, but the fact is that my kids are just more important. It appears they have turned the playroom into a gourmet restaurant - and they are insisting that I'm hungry. How about that? All this time I thought that growling was my inner beast. Turns out, it's an apparently empty stomach.
Happy Friday!
Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
What Sundays are meant to be
There's ice all over everything outside. Thick ice and more is coming. Normally, this would piss me off. Normally, I'd be lamenting about being frozen in and all the angst about trying to get anywhere. But not today.
Today is Sunday.
B is off work today and there's nothing that really needs to be done. Good thing, it's not like we could accomplish much, anyway. The kids are happy, we have a house full of good food, the energy is nice. I'm thinking today will be a day of movies, popcorn, board games, and soup. Probably will bundle up and go out to the back yard so we can fall on our asses. Maybe we'll sled down our street. Who knows?
It's Sunday. It's cozy and warm in my little house, and I'm iced in with my favorite people in the world.
This is what Sundays are meant to be.
Today is Sunday.
B is off work today and there's nothing that really needs to be done. Good thing, it's not like we could accomplish much, anyway. The kids are happy, we have a house full of good food, the energy is nice. I'm thinking today will be a day of movies, popcorn, board games, and soup. Probably will bundle up and go out to the back yard so we can fall on our asses. Maybe we'll sled down our street. Who knows?
It's Sunday. It's cozy and warm in my little house, and I'm iced in with my favorite people in the world.
This is what Sundays are meant to be.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The Big Post of Everything and Nothing
Okay, got lots of nothng to post, so it's all going in one big Post Salad. Choose your dressing of choice (I'm partial to Annie's Goddess Dressing,) and dig in.
So, DDFF has issued her own little music challenge. Tis a one time thing, I'm assuming, but I'm game and am jumping in. Okay, check it, here's the deal. Open up iTunes (or, Windows Media Player or Real Player or, you know, your music stash) and put it on Random and list the to 10 songs that come up. Yep, this could be interesting. GAME ON -
1. Maria Maria - Santana
I don't listen to this album as often as I should. It's brilliant. Simply Brilliant. Carlos Santana is freaking musical genius. This song just makes me swivel my hips and wish like heck that B was home and the boys were gone and the candles were blazing and he was in the mood for some dancing. Slow, sexy, with a sultry hip hop / latin beat. Great song.
2. Blue Hawaii - Frank Sinatra
Okay, I love Frank Sinatra. Always have, always will. But I gotta say, I loathe this version of the song. Just don't dig it at all, that's why my playcount of this song, up until this very minute, has read a big fat zero. Dude, you just don't mess with The King. Blue Hawaii is his.
3. Wonder Milky Bitch - Air
This song is amazing. In fact, the whole album is great. It's listed as Electronica, but it's just kind of bizarre. Kind of like if you mixed Rocky Horror with Mark Lanegan with Enigma. This is a sit on the couch and melt into it until you turn into a pile of pudding. Uh, well, you just have to hear it.
4. My Little Town - Simon and Garfunkel
Not my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song, by any means, but it's like pizza - even if it isn't your favorite, it's great cause it's still pizza. Well, this is still Simon and Garfunkel. But I have to say, this song is growing on me.
5. Good Night - The Beatles
From the White Album, this song is so beautiful. The orchestra is gorgeous, the lyrics are simple and beautiful, and the whispered ,"Good Night" at the very end sends chills up and down my spine and has been doing so for 16 years. Seriously, you all, if you don't know this song, you MUST hear it. If you weren't a fan of The Beatles, you'd be hard pressed to peg them as the artists. I've sung this song to the boys more than once at bedtime, but it's nothing without the strings.
6. Fall - Miles Davis
If you like Jazz, you know Miles Davis. If you don't know Miles Davis, there's nothing I can write here that will do it any justice. As DDFF's man says, "Shhhhhhhhhh!! It's Jazz!" This song is pretty tame for Miles, so it's a good intro. Please, for the love of sushi, yarn, yoga pants, and all that is holy, try some Jazz before you die. Don't just say you don't like it - try it. Fall is a good place to start.
7. Coconut - Harry Nilsson
This is Duck and Stealth's favorite song. They love this song and request it several times a week. It's a great little ditty - I know you've heard it. It's on the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack and was recently used for a Coke with Lime commercial "Put the lime in the coconut, drink em both up, put the lime in the coconut, you drink them both together." Great song. Hell, it may be one of my favorites, too.
8. Alabama Blues - St. Germain
This is a very Chill Out song, kind of loungy, totally electronica. Zone out, work out, meditate.
9. Like a Soldier - Johnny Cash
There is no one who can sing this song like Johnny and I hope like hell no one ever tries. Story of a man looking back on the horrors of his past and realizing that he can overcome it all, in fact, that he's in the process of it all, and that there is life after hell.
10. Send a Picture of Mother - Johnny Cash
From Folsom Prison, this song is a heart breaker. Story of a prisoner who's not getting out who's talking to someone who is getting out. Go find my folks, shake my dad's hand, send me a picture of my Mom. Damn. Johnny can tear your heart to shreds.
Okay, well, that's my top ten that came up randomly. Freaking bizarre the selection. Of course, I currently have 5,378 songs in my iTunes Library, so randomly picking 10 will give you a, well, limited view. I might have to list the top 25 or 50 someday, but without the commentary.
But that was fun! C'mon, you know you want to play, too. Show me your Top 10!
Speaking of iTunes and music and challenges, JM Bill and I have finally rekindled the spark of the almighty MP3 Challenge. Thank Elvis, I was having some sort of meltdown without it. Bring it, woman. Monday is your day.
Last night was supposed to be yoga and sushi and I was supposed to pick out a skirt made by a brilliant designer that I bartered for. Didn't happen. Know what I got instead? Ice. I got Ice. Ice on the roads, ice on the cars, ice on the trucks, ice on the trees, ice on everything. And more is coming. I'm not happy about this. But, DDFF, I've been thinking of this and staring at myself hard in the mirror - I'm willing to consider the Booty Cap. Just have to try it on and make sure I don't look like a total freak. Next Friday, eh?
Breaking in here to say that I kept doing the random song deal on iTunes. Can you believe that it took me 28 songs to get a Kid Rock song? 28 songs!! Man, I have 132 Kid Rock songs in my library. Of course, after getting to him, iTunes played 5 in a row. Shuffle, baby, shuffle on.
Pineapple Mango Salsa is the greatest thing to have met a burrito. Yep. Pretty sure of it.
My anniversary is coming up in about 3 weeks. 6 years married. This is very strange for me because B and I lived together for nearly 2 years and had a child together before we got married, so our anniversary count seems to be a little off. Last year we took a great little trip just an hour and a half south. LOVELY. Not sure what we're going to do this year. More than likely we're going to visit KC for the day and hit the art museum and such. Or St. Louis. Or, hell, he might surprise me and take me to, oh, I don't know, Memphis? We shall see.
Got myself some new boots this week. Yes indeedy. Black suede, healed, just below the knee. I love them. Oh I love them. Of course, I love boots. Photos to be sent to Botswana shortly. Bill, I wanna see some monkeys.
I'm reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Very deep book involving 4 of my favorite subjects - Men, motorcycles, nature, and Zen. I've had this book since I was 18 years old. The pages are yellowed and the price on the spine says, " U.S. $5.99" Heh. It would be easy to plow through this book in a weekend, easy to read it and let the words flow over me, but I don't want them to flow over, I want them to sink in. Sink in deep and take root. B and I plan to cover the country on his and hers Harley's after the boys have left the house. It's our "retirement plan." Ahhhhhhhhhh, just hold on tight and lean into the curves. Nirvana cannot be that far off.
I have some single friends who are just struggling. Men and women alike, these folks are just wandering around, cluelessly, like a guy sent to make the decision between Playtex and Tampax. There must be some sort of undeniable urge, some sort of pull, that makes folks want a partner so badly they get desperate and start doing desperate things. I don't know what that's like, being in my 30s or older and still hunting. I'm so glad that I have my partner, thank the Karma that brought us together. It must be so hard to be searching. To any or all of you in this boat (and there are several) who are reading this, keep your chin up. I'm pretty sure that your pride and dignity slide right out of it when you lower your heads. And guys, if you need a reminder, check out my musings on What Women Want.
It's nearly 10 am. I'm looking out the window and it's all white ice. Great. I'm clearly not going anywhere today and neither are the boys. I'm thinking it's a day for movies and knitting and just vegging out. Man, I better get started - that's a full plate.
So, DDFF has issued her own little music challenge. Tis a one time thing, I'm assuming, but I'm game and am jumping in. Okay, check it, here's the deal. Open up iTunes (or, Windows Media Player or Real Player or, you know, your music stash) and put it on Random and list the to 10 songs that come up. Yep, this could be interesting. GAME ON -
1. Maria Maria - Santana
I don't listen to this album as often as I should. It's brilliant. Simply Brilliant. Carlos Santana is freaking musical genius. This song just makes me swivel my hips and wish like heck that B was home and the boys were gone and the candles were blazing and he was in the mood for some dancing. Slow, sexy, with a sultry hip hop / latin beat. Great song.
2. Blue Hawaii - Frank Sinatra
Okay, I love Frank Sinatra. Always have, always will. But I gotta say, I loathe this version of the song. Just don't dig it at all, that's why my playcount of this song, up until this very minute, has read a big fat zero. Dude, you just don't mess with The King. Blue Hawaii is his.
3. Wonder Milky Bitch - Air
This song is amazing. In fact, the whole album is great. It's listed as Electronica, but it's just kind of bizarre. Kind of like if you mixed Rocky Horror with Mark Lanegan with Enigma. This is a sit on the couch and melt into it until you turn into a pile of pudding. Uh, well, you just have to hear it.
4. My Little Town - Simon and Garfunkel
Not my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song, by any means, but it's like pizza - even if it isn't your favorite, it's great cause it's still pizza. Well, this is still Simon and Garfunkel. But I have to say, this song is growing on me.
5. Good Night - The Beatles
From the White Album, this song is so beautiful. The orchestra is gorgeous, the lyrics are simple and beautiful, and the whispered ,"Good Night" at the very end sends chills up and down my spine and has been doing so for 16 years. Seriously, you all, if you don't know this song, you MUST hear it. If you weren't a fan of The Beatles, you'd be hard pressed to peg them as the artists. I've sung this song to the boys more than once at bedtime, but it's nothing without the strings.
6. Fall - Miles Davis
If you like Jazz, you know Miles Davis. If you don't know Miles Davis, there's nothing I can write here that will do it any justice. As DDFF's man says, "Shhhhhhhhhh!! It's Jazz!" This song is pretty tame for Miles, so it's a good intro. Please, for the love of sushi, yarn, yoga pants, and all that is holy, try some Jazz before you die. Don't just say you don't like it - try it. Fall is a good place to start.
7. Coconut - Harry Nilsson
This is Duck and Stealth's favorite song. They love this song and request it several times a week. It's a great little ditty - I know you've heard it. It's on the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack and was recently used for a Coke with Lime commercial "Put the lime in the coconut, drink em both up, put the lime in the coconut, you drink them both together." Great song. Hell, it may be one of my favorites, too.
8. Alabama Blues - St. Germain
This is a very Chill Out song, kind of loungy, totally electronica. Zone out, work out, meditate.
9. Like a Soldier - Johnny Cash
There is no one who can sing this song like Johnny and I hope like hell no one ever tries. Story of a man looking back on the horrors of his past and realizing that he can overcome it all, in fact, that he's in the process of it all, and that there is life after hell.
10. Send a Picture of Mother - Johnny Cash
From Folsom Prison, this song is a heart breaker. Story of a prisoner who's not getting out who's talking to someone who is getting out. Go find my folks, shake my dad's hand, send me a picture of my Mom. Damn. Johnny can tear your heart to shreds.
Okay, well, that's my top ten that came up randomly. Freaking bizarre the selection. Of course, I currently have 5,378 songs in my iTunes Library, so randomly picking 10 will give you a, well, limited view. I might have to list the top 25 or 50 someday, but without the commentary.
But that was fun! C'mon, you know you want to play, too. Show me your Top 10!
Speaking of iTunes and music and challenges, JM Bill and I have finally rekindled the spark of the almighty MP3 Challenge. Thank Elvis, I was having some sort of meltdown without it. Bring it, woman. Monday is your day.
Last night was supposed to be yoga and sushi and I was supposed to pick out a skirt made by a brilliant designer that I bartered for. Didn't happen. Know what I got instead? Ice. I got Ice. Ice on the roads, ice on the cars, ice on the trucks, ice on the trees, ice on everything. And more is coming. I'm not happy about this. But, DDFF, I've been thinking of this and staring at myself hard in the mirror - I'm willing to consider the Booty Cap. Just have to try it on and make sure I don't look like a total freak. Next Friday, eh?
Breaking in here to say that I kept doing the random song deal on iTunes. Can you believe that it took me 28 songs to get a Kid Rock song? 28 songs!! Man, I have 132 Kid Rock songs in my library. Of course, after getting to him, iTunes played 5 in a row. Shuffle, baby, shuffle on.
Pineapple Mango Salsa is the greatest thing to have met a burrito. Yep. Pretty sure of it.
My anniversary is coming up in about 3 weeks. 6 years married. This is very strange for me because B and I lived together for nearly 2 years and had a child together before we got married, so our anniversary count seems to be a little off. Last year we took a great little trip just an hour and a half south. LOVELY. Not sure what we're going to do this year. More than likely we're going to visit KC for the day and hit the art museum and such. Or St. Louis. Or, hell, he might surprise me and take me to, oh, I don't know, Memphis? We shall see.
Got myself some new boots this week. Yes indeedy. Black suede, healed, just below the knee. I love them. Oh I love them. Of course, I love boots. Photos to be sent to Botswana shortly. Bill, I wanna see some monkeys.
I'm reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Very deep book involving 4 of my favorite subjects - Men, motorcycles, nature, and Zen. I've had this book since I was 18 years old. The pages are yellowed and the price on the spine says, " U.S. $5.99" Heh. It would be easy to plow through this book in a weekend, easy to read it and let the words flow over me, but I don't want them to flow over, I want them to sink in. Sink in deep and take root. B and I plan to cover the country on his and hers Harley's after the boys have left the house. It's our "retirement plan." Ahhhhhhhhhh, just hold on tight and lean into the curves. Nirvana cannot be that far off.
I have some single friends who are just struggling. Men and women alike, these folks are just wandering around, cluelessly, like a guy sent to make the decision between Playtex and Tampax. There must be some sort of undeniable urge, some sort of pull, that makes folks want a partner so badly they get desperate and start doing desperate things. I don't know what that's like, being in my 30s or older and still hunting. I'm so glad that I have my partner, thank the Karma that brought us together. It must be so hard to be searching. To any or all of you in this boat (and there are several) who are reading this, keep your chin up. I'm pretty sure that your pride and dignity slide right out of it when you lower your heads. And guys, if you need a reminder, check out my musings on What Women Want.
It's nearly 10 am. I'm looking out the window and it's all white ice. Great. I'm clearly not going anywhere today and neither are the boys. I'm thinking it's a day for movies and knitting and just vegging out. Man, I better get started - that's a full plate.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
I got nothing
No deep philosophical revelations to divulge. No sudden epiphanies. Not even any real political out cry at the moment. I mean, yeah, there's lots of stuff going on, nothing I want to write about. I want to write for a few minutes about a lot of things that mean nothing really. What can I say? Life is good, no real reason to bitch. Or pontificate. Or rally the troupes. Or whatever.
The boys asked me to change their computer desktop, so I did. I changed it to some space theme deal which works well since they are jumping back into space study. Again. Great desktop theme, really. I mean, everything is Space related - desktop, pointers, screensavers, even the sounds. In fact, it's these sound that I want to write about. They are constant coming from the computer now. The screensaver makes some sort of buzz/hiss/thwang thing every few seconds and the boys roll on the floor with delight. I haven't figured it out yet, but it's nearly like the Mothership is calling my boys home. Different sounds elicit different responses from them and there is one particular sound that appears to hold more weight than others. I don't know what the sound is or what it means, but occasionally I'll hear a blip or a flwongg and Duck stands up and shouts, "That's my REPORT!" and he goes and stares at the computer for a few seconds and then he's off. I wonder - could the Mothership possibly be sending them messages to clean the playroom? To get their hands out of their pants? To be nice to each other? To suddenly decide that they, too, love tofu salad and sushi? Who knows. I'm assuming time will tell. Kids are strange.
Speaking of kids, mine have found yet another term for the bodily function of passing gas. First it was toot. Then it was fart. Now it's Backfire. Yep. My kids backfire regularly. In fact, we all should backfire up to 14 times a day, says Oprah and Dr. Oz. Okay. Backfire. Sheesh.
I signed up for an 8 week power yoga class. Thank you Elvis for putting me in the right place at the right time to be offered this chance. Oy, my body needs it. I let the upkeep slide a bit over the past couple of months and have gained a few pounds. I can still fit into my clothes, but, well, not exactly as comfortably as I did a bit ago. A few pounds on a short body makes a HUGE difference. Anyway, I've gotten myself back on track doing my regular workout at home, but I need more than that. I need a class, someone to push me, to motivate me, to hurt me. I think this is the class. It's on Friday evenings and my girl DDFF is in the class, too, as well as some other lovely ladies that I know. I'm going to love the work, the stretch, the movement, but I'm also going to love being surrounded by women moving their bodies, loving their bodies, taking care of their bodies. I love Estrogen, did you know? Anyway, I'm also going to enjoy the opportunity to go have some sushi after class with my mates, too. I think I'll skip the shrimp tempura, though. No need to counter that hard work with fried food, eh?
On that note, I'm also contemplating getting a membership to a local gym / rec center. B is one ripped guy, but he's lamenting that his pecs are not as defined as they once were (yeah, me, too.) He is wanting to build up his endurance and up his cardio strength. I want a place where I can do some good strength training, swim, and maybe run a bit (yeah, heh, okay, not run. Walk fast while listening to Erzulie is more like it.) The kids? Well, there's not much there that the kids wouldn't like. But I'm not sure we'll use it as much as we should for the money it will cost. I wish I could go and try it all out once or twice before I make a choice. Hmm. Might have to look into that.
Ohhhhhhh and I just realized that this means I can go and buy new work out gear. Sweet,
I finished the sweater minus some fly buttons. I gotta go and get something funky - maybe some beads? Not sure. The sweater fits and is soooooo comfy, I'm not certain it doesn't make me look like I'm 80, but I think it's a keeper. I couldn't take it off yesterday. I'm thinking that I love it. It might not be as flattering on me as some other things might be, but let me remind you all - it's a cardigan. Not exactly the most stylish thing on the planet to begin with. It will be perfect for births.
Speaking of births, I have a meeting tonight with a client that I'm not sure I like. I think she's going to be exhausting. I'm doing it as a favor to a former client, but man, I'm thinking I got the bum end of that deal. Ah well, too early to tell, I suppose. Wish me luck. Hell, wish me luck in remembering I have the meeting!
I need to go grocery shopping. It's an adventure taking two little kids to the store and dropping $200+ on groceries. It takes forever because I read ever label of every new thing I buy. Plus I'm going to an Amish market this weekend to get some stuff, so I have to remember NOT to buy it at the store today. I ought to go through my cookbook collection and pick out some new meals to try and that will mean making a detailed shopping list. Crap. It's gonna be a big adventure. Anyone want to come and put a zillion bags of groceries away for me?
Somehow, magically, the stars and planets lined up just right this morning and B and I sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee for 30 minutes or so. We just sat there, drank coffee, and talked like grownups do when they don't have 2 small kids pulling on them this way and that demanding something to eat, drink, play with, think about, etc. Awesome. I wish we could make that happen every day. JM Bill, you get to do this everyday. Lucky cow.
If you have kids, you MUST go out immediately and get Cranium Cadoo. We got it Sunday and we've played this game I don't know how many times. It's so much fun. We all sat around the dinner table last night after we ate and played as a family. SUPER fun. Love it.
Ah shit, there goes Duck's report. Maybe the Mothership will send the grocery list ....
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Fluff and Lint balls
A whole bunch of unrelated, non-critical, fluffy stuff from the lint trap of my life ...
My sister got my boys Lite Brite and Hullabaloo for Christmas. These ROCK! We've been playing with the Lite Brite for days (and thus far have not lost any pegs.) Pretty groovy. If you're dying to get some of that Retro Lite Brite feel yourself, or if you're just bored to death at work, check this out. Hullabaloo is great fun - the kids get moving and hoping and making great animal sounds. If you work it just right and play along, it can be a great work out for everyone!
Along those same lines, we've been playing Uno like mad around here. Every day we play at least 2 games and I love it. Duck always wants to change colors without rhyme or reason and Stealth always wants to use the Draw Two card as a regular two, but they just laugh and laugh when you tell them the deal. I love playing games with them - I think every family should play games together. It's amazing how much you can learn.
Kids are going to the In-laws tonight. I'm thinking that B and I will go see a movie. I've been wanting to see The Pursuit of Happyness. It might make me cry so freaking hard that I blow snot on the head in front of me or it might make me want to get my kids early, I'm not sure, but I love a story of triumph over adversity. I've been told that they don't go into much detail about Chris Gardner and his meteoric rise to multi-millionaire status after getting out of the cycle of homelessness, but I've seen him on TV and it's amazing. The thing he's most proud of is not his riches, but the fact that he broke the cycle of childhood abandonment. I know that B will be crying, I know that I'll be sobbing, and I'm positive that we'll be a lot more grateful for the abundance of things we do have and a lot less obsessed on the frivolous things that we don't.
I'm knitting a sweater for myself. A cardigan, in fact. This is a big deal - I've never made a full sweater for myself and thought it was about time. JM Bill gave me a slew of gorgeous gorgeous yarn from Ireland last year for Christmas and it's been sitting in my closet begging to be used for a full year. Yesterday, I decided to whip that stuff out and turn it into something fabulous. We'll see. It's a challenge finding a good sweater pattern - especially a cardigan. I'm only 30 and don't want a sweater that screams out, "Hi, I'm 68 years old and want to crochet a cozy for my cat." We shall see how it turns out. I've got one sleeve done, close to being done with the second sleeve. I'm thinking I'll have it done sometime early next week - my hands have been busy.
Speaking of busy hands, I'm itching like made for more wool to spin. I've been out for several weeks now as the folks at OH prepare for the upcoming trade show in San Diego. Hey, T & D, if you're reading this, I'm ready for a ton of fluff whenever you get it. I'm getting antsy. My wheel is looking at me as if I've taken on another lover. It is turning it's back on me and huffing. I swear I saw it checking my laundry the other day for signs of foreign wool.
I have several clients lined up for this year which is kind of surprising because I was on the verge of deciding to not take any at all. They just kept calling and I just kept being unable to say no - they all touched my heart for one reason or another. One is a repeat and let me just say, I LOVE repeats. I've been through it once with them before, so it's easy to make plans for the next one (what they liked, what they didn't like, what was a surprise, what do they want this time?) And, frankly, it's easier because there is no interview process. Just send them the paperwork and they send me a check. LOVE that.
My brother and his wife got me 2 Bob Dylan box sets for Christmas. I'm thrilled that they thought of it - it really shows that they know my tastes. Unfortunately, they know what I like so well that 3 of the 6 cds in the sets are ones that I already have. Eh well, I'm always losing cds or wearing them out, so now I have back ups. NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE.
B and I got the MailMate shredder the other day. I never thought I'd spend that much money on a freaking shredder, but I did and we LOVE it. It will shred anything. I mean it, ANYTHING. Staples, paper clips, up to 20 sheets at a time. We get about 10 credit card offers a week (no joke) and we never open them, we never apply, but it takes forever to cut that crap up into tiny pieces. Not anymore. Just run it through the shredder and I swear to Elvis, it puts it into tiny pieces of paper instantly and we dump it right into the recycling. I love office equipment.
Bill is in Botswana now and cannot wear her boots. I hear your heart breaking from here, JM Bill. I can hear it. In honor of your pain, I'm gonna go out and buy myself some new boots this weekend or next week, I think. I know I know, I just got a pair, but I want some taller ones. I mean, I broke down and bought some skinny jeans and I need lots of things to tuck them into, dammit. I'll tell you what - I'll send you photos of boots, you send me photos of tank tops. It'll be like Seasonal Porn or something.
DDFF, if we don't get sushi soon, I'm going to kidnap one of the sushi dudes and kidnap you and we'll lock ourselves in a yarn shop, taking hostages if we have to, until we get our full fix of sushi and fibers. Since I will have spent all my bail money on boots (see above,) I'm not sure this is the best plan, so let's schedule something ASAP!!!
There is a girl on the cover of one of my knitting books who might very well be the most beautiful 13 year old girl I've ever seen. DAMN. That's some good genetics. Looking at my kids, I think they're going to be fine. My father still has a full thick head of hair in his 60's, so that gives me hope for the boys beautiful locks. All in all, B and I are not hideously homely people and we don't have any family members that are all that ghastly, either. While I'd love them no matter what they look like, let's be honest - life is easier if you're not the ugly duckling every day of your entire existence. Having said that, how would one tell if their child was ugly? I mean, doesn't love make you blind? Hell, for that matter, I could be an ogre. B could be a Quasimodo type figure and my kids might look like total trolls, but I'd never know, I'd never see it. Ain't love grand? We spend so much time focusing on our appearance and, when it really counts, our looks don't even factor into the equation. Heh. Life is funny that way.
Gummy worms are disgusting. My kids were eating them yesterday (thanks, B, for that little treat, gah!) and they made me agree to eat one. I swear, I don't think there was one natural ingredient in them. I'm nearly positive that even the water was artificial. BLAH.
I have monster trucks upstairs. If I hear the Big Foot Presents Meteor theme song one more time, I'm going to vomit. I suppose it could be worse. I could be stepping on Barbie shoes. And that bitch always has better shoes than me. Who needs her?
Have a good weekend, folks. I'm out of here because, apparently, "Monster trucks are on the go!!"
My sister got my boys Lite Brite and Hullabaloo for Christmas. These ROCK! We've been playing with the Lite Brite for days (and thus far have not lost any pegs.) Pretty groovy. If you're dying to get some of that Retro Lite Brite feel yourself, or if you're just bored to death at work, check this out. Hullabaloo is great fun - the kids get moving and hoping and making great animal sounds. If you work it just right and play along, it can be a great work out for everyone!
Along those same lines, we've been playing Uno like mad around here. Every day we play at least 2 games and I love it. Duck always wants to change colors without rhyme or reason and Stealth always wants to use the Draw Two card as a regular two, but they just laugh and laugh when you tell them the deal. I love playing games with them - I think every family should play games together. It's amazing how much you can learn.
Kids are going to the In-laws tonight. I'm thinking that B and I will go see a movie. I've been wanting to see The Pursuit of Happyness. It might make me cry so freaking hard that I blow snot on the head in front of me or it might make me want to get my kids early, I'm not sure, but I love a story of triumph over adversity. I've been told that they don't go into much detail about Chris Gardner and his meteoric rise to multi-millionaire status after getting out of the cycle of homelessness, but I've seen him on TV and it's amazing. The thing he's most proud of is not his riches, but the fact that he broke the cycle of childhood abandonment. I know that B will be crying, I know that I'll be sobbing, and I'm positive that we'll be a lot more grateful for the abundance of things we do have and a lot less obsessed on the frivolous things that we don't.
I'm knitting a sweater for myself. A cardigan, in fact. This is a big deal - I've never made a full sweater for myself and thought it was about time. JM Bill gave me a slew of gorgeous gorgeous yarn from Ireland last year for Christmas and it's been sitting in my closet begging to be used for a full year. Yesterday, I decided to whip that stuff out and turn it into something fabulous. We'll see. It's a challenge finding a good sweater pattern - especially a cardigan. I'm only 30 and don't want a sweater that screams out, "Hi, I'm 68 years old and want to crochet a cozy for my cat." We shall see how it turns out. I've got one sleeve done, close to being done with the second sleeve. I'm thinking I'll have it done sometime early next week - my hands have been busy.
Speaking of busy hands, I'm itching like made for more wool to spin. I've been out for several weeks now as the folks at OH prepare for the upcoming trade show in San Diego. Hey, T & D, if you're reading this, I'm ready for a ton of fluff whenever you get it. I'm getting antsy. My wheel is looking at me as if I've taken on another lover. It is turning it's back on me and huffing. I swear I saw it checking my laundry the other day for signs of foreign wool.
I have several clients lined up for this year which is kind of surprising because I was on the verge of deciding to not take any at all. They just kept calling and I just kept being unable to say no - they all touched my heart for one reason or another. One is a repeat and let me just say, I LOVE repeats. I've been through it once with them before, so it's easy to make plans for the next one (what they liked, what they didn't like, what was a surprise, what do they want this time?) And, frankly, it's easier because there is no interview process. Just send them the paperwork and they send me a check. LOVE that.
My brother and his wife got me 2 Bob Dylan box sets for Christmas. I'm thrilled that they thought of it - it really shows that they know my tastes. Unfortunately, they know what I like so well that 3 of the 6 cds in the sets are ones that I already have. Eh well, I'm always losing cds or wearing them out, so now I have back ups. NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE.
B and I got the MailMate shredder the other day. I never thought I'd spend that much money on a freaking shredder, but I did and we LOVE it. It will shred anything. I mean it, ANYTHING. Staples, paper clips, up to 20 sheets at a time. We get about 10 credit card offers a week (no joke) and we never open them, we never apply, but it takes forever to cut that crap up into tiny pieces. Not anymore. Just run it through the shredder and I swear to Elvis, it puts it into tiny pieces of paper instantly and we dump it right into the recycling. I love office equipment.
Bill is in Botswana now and cannot wear her boots. I hear your heart breaking from here, JM Bill. I can hear it. In honor of your pain, I'm gonna go out and buy myself some new boots this weekend or next week, I think. I know I know, I just got a pair, but I want some taller ones. I mean, I broke down and bought some skinny jeans and I need lots of things to tuck them into, dammit. I'll tell you what - I'll send you photos of boots, you send me photos of tank tops. It'll be like Seasonal Porn or something.
DDFF, if we don't get sushi soon, I'm going to kidnap one of the sushi dudes and kidnap you and we'll lock ourselves in a yarn shop, taking hostages if we have to, until we get our full fix of sushi and fibers. Since I will have spent all my bail money on boots (see above,) I'm not sure this is the best plan, so let's schedule something ASAP!!!
There is a girl on the cover of one of my knitting books who might very well be the most beautiful 13 year old girl I've ever seen. DAMN. That's some good genetics. Looking at my kids, I think they're going to be fine. My father still has a full thick head of hair in his 60's, so that gives me hope for the boys beautiful locks. All in all, B and I are not hideously homely people and we don't have any family members that are all that ghastly, either. While I'd love them no matter what they look like, let's be honest - life is easier if you're not the ugly duckling every day of your entire existence. Having said that, how would one tell if their child was ugly? I mean, doesn't love make you blind? Hell, for that matter, I could be an ogre. B could be a Quasimodo type figure and my kids might look like total trolls, but I'd never know, I'd never see it. Ain't love grand? We spend so much time focusing on our appearance and, when it really counts, our looks don't even factor into the equation. Heh. Life is funny that way.
Gummy worms are disgusting. My kids were eating them yesterday (thanks, B, for that little treat, gah!) and they made me agree to eat one. I swear, I don't think there was one natural ingredient in them. I'm nearly positive that even the water was artificial. BLAH.
I have monster trucks upstairs. If I hear the Big Foot Presents Meteor theme song one more time, I'm going to vomit. I suppose it could be worse. I could be stepping on Barbie shoes. And that bitch always has better shoes than me. Who needs her?
Have a good weekend, folks. I'm out of here because, apparently, "Monster trucks are on the go!!"
Monday, January 01, 2007
The clock 2, my kids 0
They were both passed out and snoring on the couch by 9:45. Sweet bubs just aren't up for the night life yet.
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