Pretend It Is Saturday.

I probably won't be online over the weekend, but I wanted to make sure I got my Saturday Scavenger Shots up!
Okay...the word is FALL. Here are two photos representing fall to me:


This is a lovely fall day in Arcadia, CA.


This is my son, falling in love with his daughter.

I hope you all have a great weekend! I am planning to spend mine apartment hunting. Wish me luck.
Oh, and I will look forward to seeing everyone else's Saturday Scavenger Shots...but probably not until Monday....

When Good Poetry Goes Bad

It seems funny that I blogged about poetry yesterday and then had this email conversation with my friend DR today...he doesn't read my blog anymore, but he does have some fab ESP going on. Anyway, this is what happens when time weighs heavy on idle minds:

DR: We should be junk dealers like GrandMama.

Me: Junk dealers, eh? Sort of a little Sanford and Son establishment?

DR: Well, it's something. Maybe not. We should write something.

Me: A collaborative effort? We do need a group project I think....a group project. You may make the first suggestion. Really, I am fine with you going first!

DR: We will write a poem about the first noun in the third sentence of the 22nd page of the third closest book to you right now, to your right. If there are shelves, the second from the top, third book from the left.

Me: Sawdust.

DR: "Sawdust"
by Laurich Bryaugh (ed. note: our names cleverly smashed up)

Little sapling, do you know
little sapling, how could you though
what the future holds for thee
beyond your first life as a tree

Me: Stretch your branches towards the sky
Inviting birds to rest, then fly
Spread your roots wide and deep
And never, never make a peep

DR: Yet sounds from you will be heard
when you fall in the forest without a word
Not an end but a new life, a change in direction
perhaps a table with four chairs and an elaborately detailed removable center section

Me: You may become paper or many a pencil
But there will be no more opossums with tails prehensile
No more nests, or leaves...but is this true?
Someone could carve these things upon you!

And here is me, talking to you again...that is all we have so far. Impressive, no? No? Well, that's okay...sometimes poetry is called doggerel and it is just for fun :-)

Certified Grade A Poetry Dweeb

I love poetry. Sometimes I write it, sometimes I read it. Sometimes even bad, amateur poetry can speak to me if I am in the right frame of mind. For the past couple of days I have been reading through Americans' Favorite Poems. It is an anthology of poems that people submitted citing reasons why a particular poem was their favorite.
I happen to like reading poetry aloud. I find it easier to understand and usually less abstract than reading it silently can make it seem. Last night I was reading in bed, very quietly to myself...and really enjoying it! Well, the window by my bed was open and it is right on the front porch. WTG, wandering in, well, I guess he heard me muttering away, because all of a sudden I hear, "Who are you talking to in there?" Instead of telling him to mind his own business (nice restraint self!) I just opened the curtain and held up my book. He called me a rude name and went on into the house. Sort of ruined the reading for me, because I felt self conscious after that. Still, I highly recommend reading poetry aloud if you want to try and enjoy it more. Well, perhaps that is advice that there is no big call for...
Anyway, I was also trying to pick out my favorite from the 200 poems in the anthology. And of course that choice would be liquid, because different things appeal in different moods. I did sort of winnow it down it down to a Top 8 List. No particular reason for 8...that was just as far as I could go. Interested? Ah, I'll tell anyways. You don't have to read, you know? haha! In no particular order (okay...the order is alphabetical by author's last name)-----
1. Daystar - Rita Dove (most moms will relate to this one)
2. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock - T.S. Eliot (as a college student I wrote an awful, awful reply to this...I believe I still have it)
3. Invictus - William Ernest Henley (motivational x infinity!)
4. Minstrel Man - Langston Hughes (no one knows whats going on inside...)
5. Quiet Until the Thaw - Jacob Nibenegenasabe (it's nice to have something to look forward to)
6. Lady Lazarus - Sylvia Plath (everyone has a talent for something!)
7. Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night - Dylan Thomas (Rage, rage!)
8. Danse Russe - William Carlos Williams (for the happy, naked genius in all of us)
Do you have a favorite poem or poet? Tell me about it and I promise to read it aloud to myself :-)

Can I Have a Do-Over?

If I had the power to change one thing about myself, I would change my non-confrontational nature. I guess in theory, that actually is within my power to change. It just sometimes doesn't feel like it. Being non-confrontational has probably kept me out of trouble on occasion, but nowadays I am really starting to see all the ways in which I have been ill served by my meekness. In idle moments I can sit and ponder the myriad of things that I have just allowed to happen, simply because I didn't want to rock the boat. Really, I should have capsized the damn boat and been done with it!
I am going to make a real effort to change my ways. I am not planning to fight for the sake of a fight, but I am definitely going to start defending myself a lot more strongly.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be, and why?

Veni, Vidi, Vici!

Did you know that according to the most fun calendar in blogdom today is Use a Latin Phrase Day? Some of my favorites include et cetera, verbatim, and id est (i.e.). Simple, but effective! I also love veni, vidi, vici because it is fun to say and makes you feel good...I came, I saw, I conquered! You can even wear this particular phrase on a t-shirt and be da Latin bomb. In addition, it is the title of a fun and educational book called Veni, Vidi, Vici: Conquer Your Enemies, Impress Your Friends with Everyday Latin by Eugene H. Ehrlich. I browsed through it when it first came in the library and wrote down a thing or two to work into casual conversation. For example, saying "Servus ille fortis satis portare me non apperet" instead of "That slave doesn't look strong enough to carry me" sounds much classier, right? And who among us hasn't wondered how to look for an orgy in the most sophisticated of dead languages? Why say, "Any good orgies here this week?", when you could wow them with "Orgia bona hic in his septem diebus?" I'm just saying, it could mean the difference between getting an invitation to all the coolest orgies or being given a blank expression and a shrug for your troubles...
In conclusion, don't be afraid of Latin. Doctors and lawyers use it all the time and you can too!

I'm Completely F*cked

Okay. Listen to this. In my household WTG and I both live there in order to share in the financial responsibilities. My responsibilities are:
-Electricity
-Gas
-Water
-Trash
-House phone
-Cable / Internet
-Children's school expenses
-My own personal things such as my car insurance (and help the kids who drive), mine & Girlie Girl's cell phones, and about half the groceries.

His responsibilities are:
-Mortgage
-Property taxes
-His personal things, such as his truck payments (he has three for his business), his insurance, his cellphone, and about half the groceries.

I take care of my stuff, he his, and we don't get involved with what the other is doing financially or otherwise.

I was going along, thinking we were doing our thing, but today I found out that this is not so. WTG hasn't paid, basically, any of his bills in about two or three months. I knew there was a bit of a struggle with him getting back to work and all following his illness, but I also knew that his dad and brother gave him a fairly substantial amount of money to help him get back on his feet...of course, I was not privy to any details.

Today my oldest son told me his dad started just pouring all of this out to him and told him that he was going to call MY dad for money. WTF? First of all, my dad is not a WTG fan, although he wouldn't want anything to happen to me or the kids. But more importantly, my dad doesn't have the money that WTG always seems to have assumed he does. Plus, as I learned many years ago...he doesn't like being asked for money. It puts him in the difficult position of being the asshole turning you down...or something like that.

Anyway, I am getting off the point. The point being, that we (me, the kids, and WTG for that matter) are completely fucked. Of course I bear plenty of responsibility here for being stupid enough to trust that dumbfuck. Why did I just assume he would take care of things? I guess I must be a dumbfuck too.

I am spilling all this out here and I know how bad it makes me look, but I really needed to get it out. It is a horrible mixture of embarrassing and frightening and I am just not sure what my next step will be. Stayed tuned.

Splice the Mainbrace, Me Hearties!

Like many other bloggers, I couldn't resist mentioning that today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! You might want to check out the official website HERE. Pirates are blood thirsty brutes, but we can't help loving them, can we? My favorite pirates are the ones in the "Pirate!" books by Gideon Defoe. Very comical...and they love ham...and thick luxurious beards.

Your Pirate Name Is...

Captain Fanny La Bouche

What's Your Pirate Name?

So...get your pirate name and get to jabberin' or I'll make you walk the plank! Or I'll just take away all of your citrus fruits so that you come down with a terrible case of scurvy! Thats right...you don't mess with Captain Fanny LaBouche. Um, yes...thats right...Captain Fanny LaBouche...whats so funny? I will not be mocked!!!!

That 70's Blog

Today's Taraday is about celebrating the 70's and I certainly couldn't pass that up! After all, as I went from 6 to 16 in that particular decade, you could say that it was my childhood...and oh, what a magical time it was! Okay, I'll grant you that the 70's may not bring to mind magic, but hey! That's my childhood you dissin'! Here are some things that I recall from those bad old days:

1) We had duck and cover drills at school, because the Cold War was still going on, along with the sad tail end of the Vietnam "conflict". We still feared "the big one" and Russia was the evil empire.

2) Watching Nanny and the Professor, Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch (my imaginary siblings), and The Partridge Family. Cartoons were pretty much restricted to Saturday morning, at least when I was young enough to care about cartoons...

3) We had a black rotary telephone in the den and a tan wall mounted rotary phone in the kitchen. You had to actually sit in the den or the kitchen to talk on the telephone. Didn't stop me from spending a great many nights in high school marooned in the den with that big black receiver pressed to my ear...wow, sounds almost hot, doesn't it? haha!

4) I remember my best friend's older sister ironing her hair, with an actual iron. By the time I cared much about my hair it was time for the Farrah bangs. I could rock them.

5) When I was in high school girls wore very tight, very high waisted pants. A popular brand was Dittos and there was this other kind that was designed to look like the top button was unbuttoned. WTF? Also, boys and girls wore really teeny, sort of silky shorts...like the ones Richard Simmons still wears!

6) At school dances there would be these face offs between Rock and Disco fans. Apparently there was no other genre worth mentioning in the 70's. You admired one or the other.

7) People typed things on carbon paper and used mimeograph machines for reproducing multiple copies. It was messy and if you made a mistake everyone knew :-)

So there you have it children. A genuine old-timey recollection of living in the 1970's. For those of you there, recognize anything? For those of you not yet born, are you at all jealous? haha!

My Weekend Mix

I made myself a little mix to listen to this weekend.

Surfin' on a Rocket - Air
Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
Bohemian Like You - Dandy Warhols
Do Ya - ELO
Mr. Blue Sky - ELO
Half Acre - Hem
Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / It's a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Molly's Chambers - Kings of Leon
Picture Book - Kinks
I Want to Break Free - Queen
New Slang - Shins
Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram
Ballroom Blitz - Sweet
We've Been Had - Walkmen

There is a theme, which I wish were challenging to find, but it isn't :-)

I hope you all have a great weekend...and all my best to BabyBull and her Big Hairy Man as their wedding day comes to a close and the rest of their lives begin. Congrats!

Dwight Schrute Gives Good...

...well, you know.
I know that I have posted this picture on here before, but since today is "Post About a Random Object (Again)" Day over at Eclectic Spaghetti I couldn't resist posting about my favorite little work buddy. He sits on my desk at the corner of my monitor so I can enjoy him all day long. It seems that like a small child or pet I never get tired of the simple act of watching his head bobble gently at the touch of my finger. He was a birthday gift from my oldest son and of all my many, many desk objects he is #1. I highly recommend a bobblehead to anyone who sits at as desk all day...or what the heck, put one on the dashboard of your car if you prefer! And it doesn't have to be Dwight, although he does kicks ass and take names. Man, I can't wait for all new episodes of The Office! Seriously, thinking about it makes me happy... and then a little embarrassed for being soooo happy about a tv show...

I'm Throwing a Pity Party and Everyone's Invited

I have been feeling particularly sorry for myself lately. Frankly, there is nothing less appealing than someone feeling sorry for themself. I know this. Yet here I am talking about it in polite company. And here it comes...
I know that I have many, many things for which to be thankful. I would say I couldn't do much better in the family and friends department. There are people who care for me and bring me great joy. I have a job that I can take pleasure in on an almost daily basis. I have a fine home, and even though this may change, I know in my heart that I will never be homeless or anything like that! Could I use more money? For sure, but all in all I get by and could certainly give some amenities up if necessary.
It has become sort of shameful for a woman to admit it...but the truth is that sometimes I miss having a man. Someone who loves me. It has been a very long time since I have had that kind of love. I am not speaking of sex, although of course that is a factor...but the plain fact is that sex is available, not often, but you know....But love, with all the time and energy that it requires has been something that I haven't even bothered to pursue. It seems pointless with the way that my life is structured right now. I know this to be true, but sometimes I wish things were different. I wish that I could at least seek out a true and loving partner. And when I think about it too much, like I am right now, I have to throw myself a great big pity party and then move on. Chalk it up to being tired and a bit stessed I suppose. I appreciate getting it all out there. It helps a little. I am certain I will feel different by tomorrow and will write a post that is certified pity free :-)

Hey Shorty!

I figure I better keep today's post brief. I've been going around leaving my comments and have noticed that I am having a lot of trouble forming coherent sentences and my spelling errors are multiplying exponentially. I think I am still just tired from the new earlier time that I am rising since my little darlings went back to school. Five and half or even six hours of sleep is just not doing it for me anymore in my dotage. Pretty soon I'll be one of those old people clapping my lights off at 8 o'clock sharp. Or I could just carry on being a bit tired. Actually, if you really get sleep deprived you can get a very cool light headed thing going on...but scratch that, because I couldn't recommend driving or blogging or talking to others in a sleep deprived state....
Well, actually what will happen is I will adjust to my new schedule, fall asleep maybe half an hour earlier, and learn to get by on whatever I get. That's how I do, do, do what I do. Do. Doh.

An Af-Fair to Remember

Okay, that was uncalled for...sorry. But guess what I did yesterday? Right! I went to the L.A. County Fair with Girlie Girl, Handsome Lad, plus Kick Back Dude and his family. In some ways, I really enjoy the County Fair. I like the animals and a lot of the exhibits of people's collections and prize winning recipes and things like that. I also like people watching and there is certainly an interesting cross section of humanity at (I am guessing) any county fair. I have never seen so many big, jiggly bellies proudly displayed in very short tight shirts than I did at the Fair! Not that I am into that or anything...just saying... Plus, there are these total gang bangers walking around completely in awe of "The World's Largest Steer." It is kind of cute. Now, I am not as crazy about the amusement park area. For one thing, I could live the rest of my life without ever going on another ride that makes me feel like vomiting or passing out :-) Yes, I know it is hard to believe, but I am no dare devil. So, there is that...plus, damn, the rides are expensive! Like, you feel pretty good purchasing a card of 40 tickets for $20 until you find out that will get you on about 4 or 5 rides. Now, this whole blog entry has only served to make me look like a very cheap, dull, and possibly very weird person, correct? I don't think that is quite right! I mean, we did have a good time. Everyone (except me and Love Bug) got on a few rides, we enjoyed the sights, and we didn't end up eating any food on a stick. Not exactly a road trip, but it was definitely a break from the regular routine.

I Need That Road Trip

After my last sad post, a few people commented that I should consider getting away for a day. After the day I have had today that suggestion is sounding better and bettter.
First off, it is always busy at the library on Saturdays. I guess between it being the only day some people have time to come, and other people just looking for something to do, it is bound to be busy. Still, today has been especially taxing for some reason...and I suspect that it is not them...it's me. And, in fact, I am not actually having problems with patrons. It is more the way this place seems to be sort of falling apart somehow. I can't find anything! Nothing is where it should be! That is pretty problematic in a library. People get frustrated, although no one has been unhinged about it. In fact, I think today not being able to find things has bothered me more than any of the actual book seekers.
So, now that I am off the desk I decided to decompress by making a little list of things to look forward to:

1. Most immediately, the drive home. I usually enjoy my drives to and from work. Hopefully there will be some good tunes on XM. Alternatively, I could listen to CDs.

2. WTG was supposed to take Handsome Lad and go to his brother's house today. I haven't spoken to anyone today, but hopefully that happened. If so, I may have a peaceful house to look forward to upon my return. (I am speaking more of WTG being gone than Handsome Lad...)

3. In the near future many of my favorite shows will be returning with all new episodes to enjoy. I am especially excited about House, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Dexter, to name a few off the top of my head...by the way, is anyone else watching Mad Men? Excellent!

4. If things go as they tend to, I should be seeing Team C soonish. That would be good.

5. And, tomorrow is Sunday...and I just might take that little getaway if at all possible....

What are you looking forward to in the short and/or long run?

Like Groundhog Day, But Less Funny!

Seems like I am having a very static period of life, in some ways. Not much unusual or interesting activity going on in my life. There is a lot to be said for maintaining status quo, but it can also be rather demoralizing to feel that you are living the same basic day over and over again. Little extra fun things happen now and again, certainly! And sometimes what I am going through right now might actually be comforting. I don't mean to paint my life a pure drudgery. I guess I am possibly reacting to the whole new beginnings aspect that kids get when they go back to school, as the are right now. It is like they have this whole blank slate set out before them and perhaps I just miss that feeling of being able to start over with mistakes from the past pushed into last year where they belong.
Maybe I need to take a tip from Bill Murray and spend these endless days learning to play piano or learning everything I can about someone so that they can't help but fall madly in love with delightful me.

Post a Picture of Your Favorite Room

This was an easy Taraday to celebrate! I don't loooove cooking, so my favorite room is not the kitchen (although I am a fan of eating...) The livingroom is so public. I like it when everyone is hanging out there, but it does have the feel of a sort of public space, needing to accomodate different tastes and needs. I'm not a hanging out in the bathroom getting dolled up sort of girl, so we can eliminate those. Then there are the kids' rooms, which are generally anything from acceptable to disgusting on any given day...but they are not MY rooms, even with I am the one tidying them up. I present to you...
...my bedroom...my little sanctuary. When my children were really small, I never really felt that anywhere was all that private, but now that they are older I do feel that my room is all mine. I have it set up the way that I want it, although I still feel there is room for improvement. That's okay though, no rush. What is your favorite room, and why?

Los Angeles, You Are Too Hot (thanks Morrissey)

Ah, back to the salt mines after a long weekend. In some ways, it is more pleasant being at work right now, because the air conditioning is divine. It has been so hot here! Like ridiculously hot, like 100°+ hot…and on top of that disgustingly humid. Every moment of the weekend, baring total immersion in the pool, was spent experiencing the sensation of sweat running profusely from every pore. We don’t have central air in my house, and even if we did, I couldn’t afford to run it…although I would at this point, money be damned – haha! Anyway, it was incredibly gross no matter how I tried to spin it in my mind. The little laundry room was like a sauna, so I was trying to tell myself that I was undergoing a purification ritual. I wanted to make all that sweat into a good thing! Yeah, nice try.
I don’t mean to make it sound like all I did for three days was sweat…but that is sort of how it feels. I did have a nice lunch yesterday with my mom and some of the kids in a cool restaurant (okay, it was Burger King, but it was cool!) We actually spent a good portion of time in the pool and I recognize that we are lucky there. Also, the nights were not too bad. It didn’t cool off much, but once we all retire to our rooms, shut the doors, and turn on our own little swamp coolers, it was somewhat bearable.
Still, it is pretty sad when you are sort of thrilled to back to work just for the physical comforts it provides. Oh, plus, I know workplace refrigerators have a bad reputation for being raided by others, but my food never disappears here as it does at home! So there is another reason to get back to work. Not to mention the deep satisfaction I get from…blah, blah, blah…you buying that?
So…how’s the weather? Are you too, too hot?