What Fresh Hell is This?

Belated Word for This Week

2012-02-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the late post with this week's Saturday Scavenger Shots word. I know there were legions waiting! ha! Okay, maybe not... Anyway, this week we are going with ORGANIZE. This word was chosen by the fabulous Tara. If you get the notion, visit her blog: Eclectic Spaghetti. And play Saturday Scavenger Shots! Yeah.

But How Much, Baby, Do We Really Need?

2012-02-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

As you read, maybe, I am in a bit of a mood. Of course I thought - What better way to celebrate my blahs than to incorporate them into Choose and Defend Wednesday? Personally, I have a couple of ways I cheer myself up when I am having one of those days. These are quite probably not your ways to cheer up, but supposing that I made you cheer up in Fresh Hell fashion, which would you prefer?

Dance Party

OR
Pretend Spy Mission

Yes, I do actually use both of these techniques...pretty successfully, too! Would one of these things make you laugh a little? If not...would one be less onerous? Choose and Defend! Bonus points for telling of your most surefire cheer-up technique in comments. Thank you for participating, as you know that will also make me smile. :)

Tuesday Tidbitch...I Mean Tidbits

2012-01-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

- I'm tired. I'm not going to bed later or getting up earlier than usual. I am having weird, vivid dreams though, and I think they are disturbing my usual sleep patterns or something. I don't know. But I'm tired.

-Today is my dad's birthday. I called him before I came to work today. I admit to being somewhat relieved when he didn't answer and I could just leave a message. It is always challenging for me to have to speak on the phone to he and my step-mother simultaneously. They seem to have some sort of policy against alone time on the phone and it bugs me!

-My daughter got a really good report card! Yay! But I found out she is 2 units short of being able to get the "good driver" discount on our auto insurance. They bumped up my monthly payment. A lot. I'm so tired of struggling financially.

-My youngest son got a fairly horrible report card. It is frustrating, because he is an intelligent, but unmotivated young man. I've seen him to so much better when he cares to. I am going to have to go very, very hands-on this next semester and try to get him going. It is harder than it should be, since he's living with his dad.

-My current negativity is poisonous and I know that. Hopefully I can hoist myself up by the bootstraps and look at the bright side again soon. I guess that's up to me...and there is some comfort in something, anything, being up to me.

This Musical Message is For The Moon is On My Side

2012-01-29T01:30:00.000-08:00

Fritter and Waste the Hours In an Off-Hand Way

2012-01-28T16:29:00.000-08:00

Tick tock...TIME for Saturday Scavenger Shots. I choose this week's word. Possibly it was done before, somewhere in the mists of TIME. I used to be able to go back to AlienCG's blog to see a chart of used words, but during his last change he removed it. Totally understandable. Luckily, Tara has the most current incarnation on her blog, so I won't use anything too terribly recent :) Thanks Tara, for taking the TIME to keep track!

Is TIME on my side? I like to hope so! Here's a couple of poor phone photos I took only moments ago.

We have his & hers calendars on the computer desk in our room. Mine has Modern Family quotes. DR's has brain teasers. This is a way of making TIME that is nice and concrete. You will notice that my calendar is current and his is living a few days in the future. The TIME of the return :)

There are these pinata parts sitting on the floor of the kitchen. When DR gets back, we will have to take the TIME to turn them into an actual pinata...maybe for Miss Personality's birthday! TIME flies. SomeTIMEs...

Hope you are all having a good TIME this weekend. I will have a look around the blogs and see what's what and all that. Thanks for stopping in and wasting some TIME with me. xx

PS- Can I try one more TIME to tag Silly Rabbit? Let's give it a whirl!

The Word

2012-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

Haven't heard back from Silly Rabbit this week...she seems to have gone off the grid. So I'm throwing a hail mary pass to myself and just putting up a word. I will try tagging someone else again on Saturday. This week's word will be - TIME.

Play?

Trying to Forget My....

2012-01-25T14:24:00.000-08:00

Feelings. This is a Wednesday Choose and Defend all about feelings. Won't you share yours with the group? Tell us how you'd prefer to spend your time feeling -

Nervous, but Excited

OR

Relaxed, but Bored

As usual, probably neither is quite ideal...but you know that you must still Choose one or the other. Then you must Defend your choice, as strongly as possible :) So what will it be? Choose and Defend!

Tiny Mind Thoughts

2012-01-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

On my mind -

1. Sunday my mom called me to tell me she was retiring from work in May. Since she is going to be 73 on her birthday in couple of weeks, I am very happy that she finally feels ready to retire! Her Social Security isn't much, but she has a bit saved up and she has always been a very careful person. I'm a little worried about how she'll spend her time and if she will be too isolated. She doesn't care too much for socializing. She may end up living with my sister. Not ideal, but probably better than being alone all the time. Her memory isn't what is used to be and we do worry about her a bit. But anyway, for now she seems happy and excited about retiring, so I will be too.

Hi Mom!

2. Yesterday Little Prince had the tubes in his ears reinserted for the 3rd time. They also decided to remove his adenoids. Everything went fine and today he is bouncing around like nothing ever happened. Kids are so resiliant and awesome :)

Hi Little Prince!

3. Only a couple more weeks until DR get home. I was telling him the other day that when we were apart before I couldn't really think that much in terms of missing him. I felt like I could drive myself crazy with that, since there was no real end in sight! This time though, I have that sort of luxury of allowing myself to feel the things you feel when you miss someone and want them there with you. It isn't a great feeling...but I feel lucky I can allow myself those feelings! When we speak on the phone I say - I miss you. I tried not to say that before. And I don't really think he likes hearing it, truthfully. It probably just makes him feel bad about not being here. But I do miss him. Hoping these next two weeks go quickly!

Hi DR!

4. Please everyone, be thinking good thoughts for our friend Tara and her mom who is in the hospital. All prayers, good vibes, positive thoughts would surely be welcomed.

5. Also, please come back here tomorrow to play Choose and Defend. You know you want to. Or at least you know I want you to! Thanks.

This Musical Message is For Confront What You're Afraid Of

2012-01-22T01:30:00.000-08:00

Baby Take Off Your Dress, Yes, Yes, Yes....

2012-01-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

...But you can leave your HAT on. Hey! It is Saturday and therefore time for the displaying of the Scavenger Shots. For anyone unfamiliar, this is a game that some of my blogging associates and I have been playing, on and off, for several years now. Every week someone suggests a word, then that Saturday we post photos that reflect that word in some (sometimes very nebulous) way. The photo(s) can be old or new...they are generally something you've taken yourself, but occasionally someone will put up something they found online that spoke to them :) We're pretty lax about any actual rules or guidelines in the game. It is always just fun seeing people's interpretations of the themes.

This week, the word word word is HAT, chosen by me, me, me! Here are some HAT-tastic photos for you to enjoy or, um, simply view.

Here are some cute guys in HATs. We all get along because we like

carbohydrates quite a lot. And wearing HATs.

I call this Still Life with Apples, Cherry Tomatoes, and Wizard HAT.

You need these things for a good day, yo.

Aye aye! It is I, Cap'n Dork! You don't see me in a HAT too often,

as I have a giant noggin. But here you go. Enjoy. haha!

If you enjoyed, even a tiny, tiny bit, this Saturday Scavenger Shots post, I'd love to persuade you to play along too! Just drop me a note in comments and I will come check you out and make all sorts of admiring noises :)

For next week, I'd like to tag Silly Rabbit to choose a word, if she would please. Thanah queueah.

Friday 5 - A Stitch In Time

2012-01-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

Having myself a quiet Friday off work, so I thought I'd do a Friday 5 here. Time, time, time is on my side. Yes. It is. If you have some time, please play along in comments or on your own blog or even in your moleskin journal.

1.What was your first wristwatch like? I would really like to be able to answer this, but I have no memory of my first wristwatch! I don't even remember how old I was when I began wearing a watch. I guess I never really wore one entirely regularly and now, with my phone almost always on me, I no longer wear one as a rule. Remember Swatches though? haha! I did rock one of those :)

2.What lately seems to have been a thief of time? Sleep. I go through periods of time, like now, where I wish I could somehow just skip it. Other times, sleep is a great treat. Lately, not so much. Just let me carry on with other things and sleep at some later date.

3.What were yesterday’s quietest five minutes like? I probably talked to myself through them. If not right out loud, then certainly internally. Shut up, laura, shut up!

4.In what way have you lately been saving time? This week was a nice change of pace for my morning commute. My youngest son had finals this week and had to be to school 30 minutes earlier than usual. That meant I could begin my commute 30 minutes earlier. And even though the travel time was the same, I didn't feel as rushed, of course. I got to work early all week and it felt somehow like I was saving time...but I guess I was really just saving stress. Next week, back to the same old mad dash.

5.We are often charged hourly rates for labor, but we never get to reciprocate in kind when promised completion times don’t match actual completion. If you could bill people for the time you spend waiting, what would be a reasonable amount? Hm...if I could bill people for time I spent waiting, I would be a rich woman, no matter what I charged! I wouldn't need to be greedy about it at all. I should set myself a little base amount of, say, $8.50 an hour. That is CA minimum wage. I wonder how much extra I could bring in over the course of each month? I'm guessing enough that I could at least go out for a nice meal a couple of times a month...where I'd make more money waiting!

I hope you didn't find this a waste of your precious time. Have a great weekend you guys...and come back tomorrow to check out my HATS in the Saturday Scavenger Shots!

Never Ever Let It Cool

2012-01-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday! Today's choice is inspired by one of my assignments at work today. In just a while, I will be judging a Marshmallow Madness Castle Building Contest. I know, my job is awesome :) So, anyway, I have marshmallows on the brain...which leads to hot chocolate on the brain...which leads to my question for today! Which do you prefer on your hot chocolate?

Marshmallows

OR

Whipped Cream

What a yummy choice, right? So Choose, then make us feel your conviction and Defend your choice!

****And please note that if you are playing Saturday Scavenger Shots, the word for this week (January 21) is HAT.****

Thanks for playing Choose and Defend Wednesday. Makes my week :)

This Musical Message is For You Cry and You Want to Die

2012-01-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

The Sacred Geometry of Chance

2012-01-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

Here I am! I didn't forget! I am ready to do my Saturday Scavenger Shots...today's word, SHAPE, was chosen by the lovely Tara @ Eclectic Spaghetti. What a great word, right? You can do a lot with SHAPE. Or at least *I* can, because I'm fairly awesome at this game. Not to brag or anything, but I can basically make anything photo fit in with any theme. It's a gift.

Speaking of gifts...I got one today! And it is one for my favorite SHAPEs! Scheck it out, mang -

This SHAPE is one of my favorites. It is the SHAPE of a book.

It is, in fact, a book! I just got it today, courtesy of one of my favorite people in

the world and the chooser of this week's word! Thank you, Tara. You rule!!!

I did some granny duty today and we had some art time outside.

There were many SHAPEs involved.

Doesn't Miss Personality look intent on her work? The babies, as we call them,

were in no SHAPE to compete with her commitment to her art.

Here is one of the little foam SHAPEs that we employed today. Lovely.

Finally, finishing up with an image that is not so lovely. My apologies, but really, you must see this.

I took this picture yesterday...one full week after the embarrassing heel debaucle of '12. See how I suffered? Clearly my gigantic feet are in no SHAPE to be wearing fancy lady shoes. I am just not fancy lady material.

Thank you for joining me for this week's Saturday Scavenger Shots! I am going to take a look and see if anyone else manned up here and showed a SHAPE or two. I hope you are still able to enjoy the rest of your weekend after being forced to gaze upon my horrible, horrible injury ;-) TTYL, Alligators!

Friday 5 - Type

2012-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

How about a little Friday 5? We haven't done that in awhile and I always get to missing it. This one is cool and simple, I think. Please feel free to play along on your blog or in comments. Good times, good types :)

1. What’s a decorative font you really like? Forte is pretty cool. I use different decorative fonts when I do flyers...not for standard forms, of course. It is fun to be able to mix things up and feel somewhat creative by choosing a decorative font.

2. MS Word uses Times New Roman as the default plain font; Apple Pages uses Helvetica. Is there a plain font you like better? I like Georgia (which is what you see here) and also one called Lucida Bright. I will also say that of the two mentioned, I prefer Helvetica to Times New Roman.

3. In words per minute, how fast do you type? (if you Google “check your typing speed” or something like that, you’ll find many online options for testing yourself) Oh, I am not at ALL a fast typist. Especially for someone who spends most of the day on a computer. But I tend to type in short bursts...book titles, for example. And my blog posts are not speedily typed, not quite. I think maybe 70 on a good day. haha!

4. Who in your life is just your type, but for some reason not romantically compatible with you? A lot of people are just my type in one way or another. I find many people to be attractive or interesting and I can imagine getting along with them in many ways. But I cannot think of one person who stands out as being "my type", but not compatible romantically. If someone was truly my type, I tend to think maybe the romance might work itself out...or am I just not getting it here?

5. What’s your blood type? The attitude and the blood: B+

Hope you all have the type of weekend you want to have! I also hope you join me tomorrow in posting at least one Saturday Scavenger Shot using the idea of SHAPE. kthxbai!

It's Alive! Alive!

2012-01-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Our dear, recently returned blogging friend Tara over at Eclectic Spaghetti, has suggested that we give Saturday Scavenger Shots another go. You know how I love that game, so I am all in! She even gave us a word for this Saturday, January 14. The word is SHAPE.
Now, go look through your photos or take some photos and give some SHAPE to your blog this Saturday!!! Do it!

Also, please Choose and Defend just below ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ Ta.

I Wouldn't Spend My Life Just Wishing

2012-01-11T10:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday here at Fresh Hell. Today's Choose and Defend was inspired by some recent photo-worthy gatherings that I've attended...from the holidays, to the zoo, to Cougar Town. I've noticed the different nature of those who photograph and those who are photographed. So I thought I'd throw it out to you, my favorite people to throw things out to!

Who are you?

The Photographer

OR

The Subject

We've probably all been both. Even the smallest child can take a decent photograph in this age of digital magic :) But at heart, you are one or the other...so which is it? Choose. Why is it? Defend. I await your comments with bated breath! Choose and Defend!

This Musical Message is for You Can Be Addicted to a Certain Kind of Sadness

2012-01-09T23:10:00.001-08:00

Cougar Town

2012-01-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

Do any of you watch Cougar Town? I watched the first episode or two when it started a couple of years ago and didn't care for it. DR stuck with it though, and after awhile encouraged me to give it another chance. I did and it ended up being one of my favorite shows...really funny, sometimes sweet, always quite clever. The name makes it sound like a show about older women prowling for younger men...and it kind of started out like that. But it grew in to a show about the adult relationships that we form with the people around us. The show is very well acted and helmed by one of the most dynamic writers / producers working in television today.

Right now, the show is on hiatus. I haven't heard a definite date for its return, but there has been speculation that it will be in March. In the meantime, the creators of the show, Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel decided to step outside the box and do something to keep the fans interested and enthused. They began sponsoring Cougar Town viewing parties all over the country. They promised that at least one cast member and one writer would be in each location. There would be lots of time to talk and ask questions. Also, they would preview an episode or two from the coming season at each event. Ticket giveaways have been organized through Twitter, mostly in a fairly last minute way to keep things interesting :) I was soooo excited and happy when I got the email saying that we were in!!!

Last night DR and I got to go to what was probably THE best of all of the nationwide events. Living in Los Angeles does have the occasional advantage. We were able to go to Culver Studios where they actually do their filming. Since it was homebase, all of the cast and a great deal of the writing staff and other crew where in attendance. They visited with the fans in a very casual fashion, right on the fake street that stands in for their Florida neighborhood. They ran a Penny Can tournament, provided free drinks, and most importantly, just made themselves available for questions, comments, and photo opportunities.

Me and my new boyfriend, Bill "VDOOZER" Lawrence.

DR and I spent the longest time glued to Bill's (I call him Bill, that's right) side. He is the most gregarious person in the world. He is the guy who created the show, as I mentioned. He also ran Scrubs, which is one of my favorite shows ever. He encouraged people to ask questions and answered them honestly. He had many great stories. He is married to the beautiful and funny actor Christa Miller. If you don't watch Cougar Town, you might remember her from The Drew Carey Show or Scrubs. Talking to him, and Christa, briefly, was absolutely amazing.

Here are some pictures of other people we met -

DR and Bob Clendenin. Bob plays the creepy neighbor, Tom, on the show. Nicest guy ever.

Me and the adorable Ian Gomez, who plays Andy Torres on the show.

DR and very cute Dan Byrd, who plays Travis Cobb.
DR made him laugh by mentioning remembering him from 28 Days.

This is a dark picture of me with Brian Van Holt. He gave us a tour of the sets and
I have a small story about his extreme kindness.

He is a better picture of Brian Van Holt, who plays Bobby Cobb, with DR.
Aren't they the cutest?

They divided the group into smaller groups for tours and had cast and other crew members give the tours. Our tour was led by actor Brian Van Holt, who plays the hapless Bobby Cobb on the show. He was accompanied by one of the charming writers, Greg Mettler. By the time we were touring, we'd been on our feet for over an hour. Usually that would not be worth mentioning. However, I had decided to be cute and wear these new heels DR got for me. I underestimated the amount of walking around the evening would entail and I was suffering. I NEVER wear heels and I don't know what I was thinking! Well...cute. I wanted to be cute. Anyway, Brian noticed that I was sort of pained looking. Later, after.we'd toured and I was sitting lamely at this little table all alone, he came up and asked me if I wanted him to get a golf cart to bring me back to the theater for the viewing. Wasn't that nice? I was embarrassed though, at seeming infirm or something. I declined, but thanked him. It was one way to be noticed I guess....the hobbler. haha! So, not cute. But I tried.

Anyway, after another glass of wine and sitting around the big heaters they had out, it was finally our turn to go see some preview episodes of the show. We were in the second group and had a bit of a wait. When we went in, the cast were all seated in front for some more Q and A. It was the first chance to see Courtney Cox, who didn't really mingle before hand. While this was going on, they were also handing out souvenirs. DR got a Cougar Town tour tee and I got a complete Season One DVD set. After that Bill released the cast and we settled in to enjoy a couple of brand new episodes. We watched Eps. 1 and 4 from the coming season. At the last minute, we were invited to view Ep. 5 if we wished. We did! Made me look forward to this third season so, so much...which of course was the point.

After that we hobbled off to the car and home. I think it was one of my best evenings ever and I was so glad that DR and I got to do it together before he takes off again in a couple of days. Go Cougar Town! :)

Happy Birthday, Girlie Girl!

2012-01-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today my baby girl turns 19! Happy Birthday ~~Shelly~~ Girlie Girl! She's kind of my idol :)

Girlie Girl on your right, with a couple of her friends. They make their own rules.

Everybody Gets a Nice Autographed Picture

2012-01-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

How about a little Choose and Defend Wednesday? I missed last week...did you notice? haha! Anyway, I'm not giving it up! Choose and Defend is one of my favorite things ever. Here we go...

This week, your life just got a little more dramatic. You will have a choice about what form that drama is going to take. So, would you rather have each moment of your life...

Narrated by Morgan Freeman

OR

Scored by John Williams

What will it be? How can we dramatize your life? Choose one and then, please, Defend your choice. Choose and Defend! It is Wednesday and that's what we do here. Thanks :)

Welcome to What Comes Next....

2012-01-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the future! 2012 is here and I'm ready. Just returned to work after another long weekend. Not sure how I will be able to make it through a standard work week after the past couple of abbreviated weeks!

Had a great New Year's Eve. DR and I went to his sister's house for lasagna, board games, and sparkling cider at midnight. I really appreciate how welcoming his family has been....and I'm even willing to learn games for them :) We ended up staying over there until around 5 am, then we drove on home and went to bed for a few hours.

On New Year's day, we went to the zoo with Kick Back Dude's family. I was not in picture taking mode at all...not sure why! But there are pictures somewhere and I will post them if anyone sends them to me. The weather has been so sunny and pretty and the animals were so active. It was a really fun, but tiring day.

But here now...listen to this bit of bad news. Not BAD bad...just, you know, not good. DR is going to back to NC for another month. I am told his round trip ticket is Jan 10-Feb 8. His mom would like one last bit of assistance as she gets settled into her new place. So, I'm not exactly thrilled. But am I going to be the horrible person who would deny his elderly mother help in getting situated? That doesn't sound like me :) But honestly, I am feeling a bit resentful. They had a year and a half to do all of their projects. Also, I'm upset because like when he left the first time, it was presented more or less fait accompli. I tend to think they had this plan in mind for some time. DR didn't want to ruin at least the beginning of our time together, but by NYE he had to tell me or risk me hearing about it from someone else.

Anway, if it is really a month, fine. I mean, what is really to be done in this sort of situation? I appreciate his sense of responsibility to his family. I hope someday I will mean enough to engender those feelings of commitment. I did have to say, though, that I am not willing to pin all my hopes on some date they've laid out. As I've seen, anything can happen. So when he is at the airport then I will get excited again about his presence in my life. I'm going to try and enjoy this week, wish him a nice trip, and then just wait and see. I seem to be alright at doing that.

This Messical Message is For Back to the Start

2011-12-31T01:02:00.000-08:00

My Happy Holidays - Part II

2011-12-30T16:40:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's action packed installment, I got as far as Christmas, yes? Yes. So, to continue...for myself, as a kind of diary entry, in spite of an outside lack of fascination with the minutia of my life :)

Sunday: Actual Christmas day felt like a regular Sunday, really. We'd had our festivities, so the day was about just hanging out. DR and I ended up going to the park with Kick Back Dude and the kids. It was a very pretty day out and we had a fine time enjoying an outdoors Xmas afternoon. I got a couple of photos -

Here are Miss Personality and Love Bug. Not entirely sure what they are doing, but it may be a simple cell phone photo shoot. Glamorous!

Little Prince is pouting over something. At the same time, he is eating a chocolate. I can never manage to eat chocolate AND pout. He's an up-and-comer for sure!

Monday: We slept in a bit. I went out to have lunch with my mom and sister. A couple of my boys joined us, and the little ones. DR decided to go out and do some shopping. Turned into a long afternoon. Later DR and I went out to dinner with Kick Back Dude and the kids. It was meant to be a 'Welcome Back' dinner for DR. It means a lot to me that while not everyone in my family is terribly excited about my relationship, both Kick Back Dude and his ex, Princess Diva, as well as Girlie Girl have all been especially supportive.

Tuesday: DR and I spent most of the afternoon out running little errands. He enjoys that sort of thing. Shopping around, checking out prices, browsing. It isn't something I enjoy, as a rule. I choose to think of it more as just an activity to share in with DR and that makes it worthwhile.
In the evening, we continued experimenting with this quesadilla maker DR brought with him. We have, so far, made some good to excellent quesadillas! Also, we attempted to make a pinata. It was semi-successful...but as the basis for an birthday a couple months away, rather than immediately :)

Wednesday: We accidentally slept in a little later than we planned, but everything ended up going okay. We went out towards DR's sister's house to celebrate his nephew's 10th birthday. Several hours were spent at Boomers. Do you know this place? Arcade games, some outdoor activities like go-karts and a rock climbing wall, lots of noise. I was happy to be there though. I finally got to meet DR's sister and her husband and three children. Very sweet people and they were all very kind and welcoming towards me. We were almost going to head home after Boomers, but both his mom and sister encouraged us to come to the house for dinner and cake. Ended up being a long, but really, truly nice day.

That marked the end of my long weekend of getting sort of accustomed to having DR around daily. I'm so happy it is almost embarrassing. I can't believe that, if we are lucky and take care of each other, we can live together like this for the rest of our lives. Not sure what I did to deserve the joy I feel, but I'm certainly grateful.

My Happy Holidays - Part I

2011-12-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am back to work after five glorious days of not being back to work. Guess it does give me time to blog. I've been going around catching up on your blogs; getting to see how your holiday celebrations are going so far. We do still have New Year's Eve to get through, right? But hey, so far, so good! Mine too. Let me dish a bit.

Thursday: DR and his mom pulled up in front of my place around 7 pm or so. I cannot even begin to describe how it felt to finally see DR after a year and a half. It felt good. Let's go with that. Good.
We all had a little visit, then I had to run pick Girlie Girl up from work. We had a bite to eat, watched some TV, just relaxed. I know both DR and his mom were very tired after their long trip. I put DR's mom in my room (our room!) for the night and DR and I camped out on the livingroom floor. I would have been happy to sleep on a bed of nails with DR beside me again...but luckily, the livingroom floor is not bad at all :)

Friday: DR needed to take his mom to Irvine, where is sister lives, and where his mom will be staying during her visit. I had kind of left work up in the air, but decided to just go in since they would be busy. So, it was just another work day. But you know, a little happier! DR stayed out there for the night so that we could each do our own family stuff for Xmas eve.

Saturday: A busy day, full of prep for the evening. The last few years, as the kids have grown up, our holiday has been focused on Christmas Eve as a time to gather our own family and the extended family together. This year, WTG (my ex) hosted in his new home. It's just a little mobile home and the place was packed full. With everyone counted there were 22 in attendance. When I first walked in, I was incredibly overwhelmed by the amount of people and by seeing guests I wasn't expecting to see. However, it turned out to be a really wonderful evening. There was good food, provided by everyone potluck fashion....and so many gifts!

Here are some photos of the festivities -

Girlie Girl and Social Animal cannot control their beauty and charm!

Kick Back Dude and Girlie Girl being jolly and such. Schweet!

Why, Handsome Lad! You look fabulous!

Me, me mum, Little Prince, Princess Diva, & Love Bug. We got stuff and this is some of it ;-)

I finally got home around 10:30 or so. DR finished up with his own family and came back over. By Christmas proper he was home...and it was probably the happiest I've been in such a long time.

I will take a break and you give you a break....more to come tomorrow :)

This Musical Message is For Every Mother's Child

2011-12-25T01:52:00.000-08:00

We're Ready!

2011-12-24T14:47:00.000-08:00

All is right in the world! Merry Christmas to some of the best girls and boys in the whole world.

Festivus, We Salute You!

2011-12-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

"The Festivus Song"written in 2003 by three people who got it:
by Rockyhors (DR),
Wildblue (me),
Poppaspank,
And two people who didn't:
Lyonheart
John H. Spencer.

Now it's time for Festivus
a holiday for the rest of us
no dreidel to spin
or fat guy creepin' in
a season that quickly ends
gather your family and friends
this part is the most fun
tell each and every one
how this last trip round the sun
every wrong thing that they've done
has really let you down
but no need to wear a frown
beeeee--caaaaaause
---- now it's time for Festivus ...

Now it's time for Festivus
A holiday for the rest of us.
No big ticket items
Or games of gelt hide 'ems
It's no festival of unity
But you'll speak with impunity
Call your dad and mother
Invite your sis and brother
Tell 'em what you REALLY think
Bottoms up, lets have a drink
Spread the ugly truth around
Cry, if you must, without a sound
Beeeeeeeee-caaaaaaause
---Now its time for Festivus.....

Now it's time for Festivus
a Holiday for the rest of us
We'll gather round the festive pole
an icon of majestic length
and stretch and flex as we prepare
the challenge of the feats of strength
We'll feast as friends who hate us
are preparing to berate us
we gather for this yearly meal
with family we'd like not to see
why subject ourselves to this ordeal?
because, you putz, the chow is free
Beeeeeeeeeeee-caaaaaaaaaause (gasp)
----- now it's time for Festivus!......

Note: Goes wildly off course here ---

Now is the time for Festivus
a holiday for the rest of us
but keep us far away from mistletoe
because we really don't trust Uncle Joe
and big expensive gifts for kids are poxes
because they end up playing with the boxes
you know that you can count on sweetie's mom
to tell you why your turkey was a bomb
while in the den Ed, Bill and Walter stare
as if a football game were on the air
you're tired of each other -- that much is clear
and so you smile and wave "Same Time Next Year"
beeeeeeeeee-cauuuuuuuuuuse
---- now it's time for Festivus! . . .

And now, it is the time for Festivus,
A holiday made for the rest of us.
Blow out the pilot light and crank up the stove,
Insert your head and reunite with Jove.
Beware the cars careening to and fro,
don't sin too much, and don't eat yellow snow.
The carolers evoke a thoughtful grin--
One well aimed .22 will damp their din.
The yule log burns, it is a merry light
It's Presto scent's like smoking Samsonite.
The guests are gussied up, so no one knows
that Uncle Fred has cankers on his nose.
And all those joys abound with little fuss
Because it is the time of Festivus
************************************************************************************

And that, my friends, is the Festivus song. A tradition here at Fresh Hell since 2005! Hope you all enjoy celebrating with your own Airing of the Grievances and Feats of Strength around the old Festivus Pole! Festivus for the rest of us!

All I Want

2011-12-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Time, time, time for the final Choose and Defend Wednesday before Christmas...so one more festive choice to be made! We are almost there, people! Home stretch! And yes...of course, I am talking about DR's journey, as well as the push towards Santa's big day. For today, though, let me learn a bit about you and the way that your family celebrates. Which part of the holiday is the main focus in your family...

Christmas Eve

OR

Christmas Day

Maybe it is both, or neither, or it changes from year to year. You can tell us all about that in comments! But still. You know the rules. For the purposes of this game, you are encouraged to Choose and also, of course, to Defend. So let's have it! Make a statement! Tell a story! Make me stop yelling things with my fingers!!!! Choose and Defend :)

Counting the Minutes

2011-12-19T17:31:00.000-08:00

Counting down to Christmas. Counting down to some time off from work. But mostly counting down, in earnest now, the return of DR. After a series of misadventures, primarily car related, he and his mom were finally able to set off on their cross country trip earlier today. Finally! DR thinks they should be here by Thursday. Think good thought for safe travel, would you? Thanks!

Are we there yet?

This Musical Message is For My Everything

2011-12-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

Friday Five - Award Season

2011-12-16T10:10:00.001-08:00

Thought I would treat myself to a little Friday 5 today! Here is what that blog's author, Scrivner, had to say -
Golden Globes nominees were announced this week, and while it should be clear by now to anyone paying attention that they are fully irrelevant, they do kick off the season for reflective retrospection, at least in certain parts of life. In that spirit, please announce your awards for the year 2011 in these categories!

1. What wins your award for Best Supporting Household Appliance? I'm sorry. THAT is a personal question. Moving on.

2. What wins your award for Outstanding Performance by Something that Comes in a Bottle or Can? It would would be cuter if I had a boozy answer for this, but I'm not really very drinky. The award goes to Dr. Pepper! I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper, she's a Pepper, we're a Pepper...wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too? Come on. You know you want to. Just do it...I won't tell, I swear. Do it.

3. Who wins your award for Excellence in Poor Timing? Since sometimes my whole life seems to be based upon the notion of poor timing this might be a hard one to narrow down. However, I am going to go ahead and announce a tie, with the award going to two great blasts from the past - Team C and Gerard...this one's for you. Maybe you should wrestle for it...

4. What wins your award for Wardrobe Newcomer of the Year? Easy. That award goes to the newest addition to my beary Sebastienesque t-shirt collection. Bear with Machete, come on down!!!

5. What wins your award for Outstanding Achievement in Stealing Time? The Internet. More specific? Um...Blogger? No...Tumblr? Oh, I know...it has to be Twitter. There. You happy, Twitter, you time sucking jerk?

(bonus question!) 6. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences calls its trophy the Oscar. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences calls its trophy the Grammy. What do you call yours? When you win here, you when a Fresh Hell. Enjoy!

I invite you all to play along on your own blog or in comments. I'd love see who wins YOUR awards!

A Man Must Have a Shed to Keep Him Sane

2011-12-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd go all in with another sort of festive post for this week's Choose and Defend Wednesday. I was thinking about the many things about Christmas that leave me with mixed feelings. Some of the pomp seems to be just so much filler...yet it also has that callback, traditional element that is hard to dismiss. When I thought of "filler" and "tradition" what immediately came to mind, for some reason, are those traditional fillers that tend to go in the Xmas stocking. Follow that line of logic! Um, anyway...What is your favorite traditional stocking filler?

Fruit

OR

Nuts

All that's left to do is Choose and Defend. I will leave you to it :) Gracias!

I'm Gifted!

2011-12-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick pictorial post about some gifts I've already received. I have to admit that getting things does help get me in that proper festive mood :) I guess giving things has a similar effect, but I am still waiting on my vacation sell back check so that I can really begin shopping.

Anyway, here are some lovely things for you to admire -

This is the Sebastien print that I bought Sunday. It makes me laugh

every time I look at it.

My newest Sebastien bear tee. So true, so true.

My little bear friend, Milly, gave this to me early, because I gave her an early gift. All six episodes of Andy Barker, P.I. I ♥ Andy Richter and still mourn the loss of this show and Andy Richter Controls the Universe. Very happy to have this on DVD :)

Milly also gave me this cute, cute tee! Books! A cute giraffe in specs! Love it!

This was a shirt that Team C brought me when he stopped by to see me unexpectedly last week. Haven't seen him in a couple of years, but he still knows me I see!

So yeah, I am getting in the mood! On a less festive note, it looks like DR is pushing back his departure date. That is why I took the countdown clock down. He had planned to leave tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. Now it looks to be maybe Friday or Saturday. Who knows? Not me. But I guess he has to do what he has to do and I will see him when he gets here. *sigh*

Please check in tomorrow for Choose and Defend Wednesday!!! Thanks.

Renegade Craft Fair

2011-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my little bear friend Milly and I took the Metro into L.A. to the Renegade Craft Fair. Our purpose was twofold - to look at all the fine artistic creations AND to meet someone I feel like I've known forever, blogger and artist Sebastien Millon! (Note: he doesn't get a chance to blog much anymore, but check his place out anyway. Lots of great art there!)

Here I am with the handsome devil, Sebastien.

Milly was kind enough to take our picture :)

I've been a fan of Sebastien's work for a long time and own many of his graphic tees. Of course, like a giant geek, I wore one to meet him. He is just as cool and nice as I'd imagined just from knowing him online. This was one of my first opportunities to meet a fellow blogger and I highly recommend it.

While I was there I got a new tee and also an awesome print. Pictures tomorrow. If you haven't or even if you have, make sure to check out Sebastien's Etsy shop. You can also see his latest work on his Facebook page.

Hope you all had a good weekend too. But mine was better!

This Muscial Message is For Hurry Don't Be Late

2011-12-11T10:46:00.000-08:00

Tick Tock

2011-12-10T11:25:00.001-08:00

Do you guys see my countdown clock? In about a week, DR will be back in the land of earthquakes and love :) I'm happy, excited, and nervous. We are planning for him to move in, which I am also happy, excited, and nervous about.

One of the first pictures I ever got of DR, from about 7 or 8 years ago!

He is planning to make the trip back by car. He and his mom will head this direction, setting out either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. It isn't quite clear how long the drive will take, but probably they will arrive Sunday or Monday (the 18th or 19th). The plan is for them to come to my place for a couple of days and then go on to his sister's place and be based there during the holidays. I think that will give us a good little transition period. I admit, however, that when he brought up having his mom with us for the first couple days of our reunion, it certainly changed my mental image of that reunion! Still, it makes the most sense, and I am glad to get to meet his mom finally. After all, he has had the dubious pleasure of meeting my parents already.

Anyway, I expect to have these butterflies in my stomach for the next few days. I have some things to do to get ready for guests...and for a new roommate, so to speak. But honestly, when I try to think of what to do, my mind goes kind of blank. That's how I roll.

What are you looking forward to most this holiday season?

Revved Up Like a Deuce

2011-12-07T15:54:00.001-08:00

After slaving away in the darkness for the past four of my work days, I was super excited to see the lights on when I came to work today. We pulled ourselves together and opened to the relieved public by noon.

In honor of this glorious day, I dedicate this week's Choose and Defend Wednesday to LIGHT! And, you know, might as well get specific and festive too, right? When you are out oohing and aahing at the holiday displays, which ones really light your fire?

Muli-Color Displays

OR

Single Color Displays

Multi-color is multi-color, but for Single color feel free to imagine any one color that you like! Tell us which you prefer and why. Choose and Defend! You don't have to celebrate Christmas or decorate yourself to have an opinion either...so there is no getting out of this. Choose and Defend!

Our Weather Event

2011-12-05T19:27:00.001-08:00

abcnewsradioonline.com

It has been an odd few days. On Wednesday night, we had what is being referred to as a "weather event". Some very high winds came through, like 80-90 mph, all during the night. I could hear the palm trees rattling, but it didn't disturb me unduly. When I got up Thursday morning, it was clear that the winds had created some major consequences. Many, many trees had been torn apart limb from limb or uprooted altogether. Transformers had been knocked out, power lines were down. The whole San Gabriel Valley was quite a mess.

I never lost power, but all over the place schools were closed. I have had kids in school for over 20 years and we've never had school cancelled unexpectedly. We don't have snow days here! Anyway, no school for Handsome Lad. I hadn't heard anything from work, so I headed in. It took me 70 minutes to drive the 12 miles. There was so much debris in the street and most of the traffic lights were not functional. When I got to work, I found that there was no power.

We sat around for a couple of hours, and finally the decision was made to send everyone home. Those of us scheduled to work the next day (Friday) were told not to come in unless we were called. Keeping up on Nixle, I knew power hadn't been restored. So...I ended up with two extra days off, paid! Plus, of course, the weekend. Handsome Lad and his family spent Friday night with me, as they had lost power too. Fortunately for them, theirs was restored early Saturday. My mom had lost power too, but the property owners had a generator! She was fortunate and was able to stay home snug.

When I went in to work this morning, I knew that there was still no electricity in the library. I was hoping they'd send us home quick. However, they were probably sick of paying us for not working. We were told if we wanted to leave, we could take vacation time, otherwise we should find some sort of little project to work on...and maybe the power would come back on at some point. Bah. So we worked in the cold, dark building...mostly shifting books and straightening shelves. Always stuff that needs to be done, but tedious in the dark! They did finally let us go about 4:00, when it started to be become too dark even to work near windows. Towards the end of the day, they also brought by a HUGE generator. So, by the time I go in at noon tomorrow, maybe we will have some sort of power.

They have told us we cannot open to the public until we are fully functional. Meaning we have to have enough to juice, not only for lights, but the servers and such must all be up and running. I hope we can return to business as usual. The old people that come every day were lingering around the door this morning, probably unsure of where they'd spend their long day. After school the kids were all around the building...because the library is where they go! I loved having extra time off, I can't deny it. But since now they are going to make us linger in the building no matter what, I really, really hope they can get us functional.

Whew.

This Musical Message is For Y'All's Baddest Behavior

2011-12-04T01:03:00.000-08:00

I'd Rather Drive a Truck

2011-11-30T15:00:00.001-08:00

Here we are, creeping through the week, and we've made it all the way to Wednesday! Cheers, cheers! Let's reward ourselves with a little Wednesday Choose and Defend. Today I thought I'd ask you about your taste in landscaping. Not anything weird...actual landscaping! So, say you had some land, and I know some of you do, and you were forced to come up with a plan...what do you prefer? Choose and Defend from these two choices...

Formal Garden

OR

Informal Garden

What do you say? Thought I'd get this one out here before everyone forgot what flowers look like for the winter :) Can't wait to see how you Choose and Defend! Thx.

Unscheduled Sick Day

2011-11-28T14:15:00.001-08:00

I'm not gonna lie. I've definitely felt better than I do today. I'm not sure what has gotten to me...something stomache-y. At first I thought maybe it was some Chinese food I ate yesterday, but no one else who ate it feels bad. So I imagine it is just my body telling me to halt for a bit. I have a big problem actually recognizing that I am unwell, though. Yesterday, when this started, I was weepy and felt uneasy...as though I was somehow in the middle of a big mistake. I couldn't go to sleep, I was uncomfortable, yet somehow it never occurs to me that I might be ill. Eventually I had my ah ha moment when I realized I wasn't in a mood, I was not well! So. Not sure what I am going to do. I am at work at the moment and am meant to be until 9 tonight. Hoping I can maybe get out of here at 7 instead. If I go right to bed, I could feel better by tomorrow.

Since I'm sitting here I thought I'd just write a little. Here's my stuff -

On Saturday morning, one of my friends and co-workers, AG suffered a stroke. He's a young man of just 35 or so, I believe. He had a gastric bypass last year and lost a great deal of weight, but he is still affected with hypertension. The doctors said he had a pulmonary embollism that moved to his left cerebellum. He seems out of immediate danger, but his right side is paralyzed and he's unable to speak. I can only imagine how frightening this is for he and his family. He has a wife and three children of about 10, 8, and 5. I am not a person who prays, but I had an appreciation for a phrase his wife used, asking people to continue "lifting AG up in prayer". I like the idea of our thoughts helping him to rise above his injury and move toward recovery. It's all very sobering and upsetting.

Here is AG receiving an award from the Arcadia PD for his part in helping to stop
a series of thefts in the library.

In less dire news, my family members have all gotten themselves relocated after WTG lost the house. WTG himself has gotten a little mobile home and has put it into a small park very nearby. It is not quite habitable yet, but hopefully by tomorrow? He's been staying with his mom (except for one night with me, which was not all that comfortable for me). The grown up boys he had living with him are situated. Although Kick Back Dude and Princess Diva are no longer a couple, he has had to move back in to their family home. They will just have to work it out for awhile, while she finishes school. When they are both working, perhaps they can afford two places. Secret Agent Man got a 2 bedroom apartment with a friend just a street over from me and Social Animal got a little studio on his own just a few blocks away. I feel, in truth, a lot of relief that those little birds were put in a position that made it unquestionably time to leave the nest. It was time. Me and Girlie Girl are sitting tight, with Handsome Lad expected to continue roaming back and forth between mine and WTG's places. So, all should be well.

Here are mah behbehs running around after their Thanksgiving meal. There were bubbles involved.
In their game, not the meal :)

I even less dire news, Dancing with the Stars has completed it's 13th season. (It has been on since 2005 and I guess runs two seasons per year.) I had a lot of fun watching it, as I'm sure you all know from reading my DWTS 2011 page. haha! Just kidding :-) But I did. And I can't wait to see who the contestants will be in the spring. Sorry to report that there were no winners amongst my bloggers. 3GirlKnight came closest with his pick, Hope Solo, finishing 3rd. But no one bet on war hero and soap actor JR Martinez, who won. You'll get 'em next time, guys!

Dancing with the Stars winner JR Martinez and his professional partner Karina Smirnoff. Yay!

Guess that is it for the time being. Writing is very soothing at the moment, so I thank you for reading. Feeling hopeful that the rest of the week will find me feeling more like myself. THAT should shut me right up :)

This Musical Message is For You Did

2011-11-27T02:34:00.000-08:00

Friday 5 on Saturday - Leftovers

2011-11-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to the moody hangover that is the weekend after Thanksgiving :) So much food! So much family! Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...which for me means work today (Saturday). I thought I'd go check out this week's Friday 5. I thought it was particularly clever with some leftover questions from other Friday 5s getting their big chance. So even though it is Saturday, I decided to participate. Please feel free to join in! Have I mentioned that I ♥ comments?

1. Leftover from April 17, 2009: What’s a creature comfort (practically unnecessary) you must take with you on an overnight trip in the great outdoors? Please consider a phone something that has practical necessity! Let me start by saying I couldn't quite tell you when my last overnight trip in the great outdoors even occured. However, were that to come up, I know I would want to have a book or two with me. Practically necessary? No. But for me, reading material feel necessary on every level! It's an addiction.

2. Leftover from August 31, 2007: What did yesterday cost you? <– Thanksgiving in the U.S., but answer it for wherever you are and whatever you did! If I stick with the idea of what did Thanksgiving cost me, the answer would be nothing! I didn't provide anything except my company. It took maybe $10 in gas to drive to my dad and stepmom's...but they gave me $40 and a roll of quarters for laundry! So, I actually made $40 on Thanksgiving.

Love don't cost a thing...

3. Leftover from January 25, 2008: What was your excuse the last time you were REALLY late for something? I'm usually not REALLY late for things. But I am sometimes a BIT late. Last time I came in to work late, my excuse was multifaceted. It included Handsome Lad having been difficult to get out the door and off to school, exceptionally horrific traffic, and the understandable need to arrive with some coffee. And it was fine :)

4. Leftover from February 18, 2011: What was your first online purchase? I can't say, in all honesty, that I remember my first online purchase. Given what I tend to purchase though, I imagine it was either a book or a CD. Maybe it was naughty lingerie. I went through a brief flirtation with naughty lingerie that might have coincided with the beginning of online purchasing. So maybe.

5. Leftover from December 25, 2009: Which of your gifts do you think you do not put to its best, fullest use? I think I have been given the gift of empathy. I have to say though, it can be difficult and painful to use it fully. So I don't think that I do. I mute it or I'm not sure how I'd live.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving...or a wonderful past couple of days...and a good weekend as well! Now, if I can get through Xmas in one piece I can call this year a relative success.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

I don't practice gratitude as often as I should. Today is a good day to remember all that we have and all that we may potentially have. Have a great day everyone!

You Say Potato

2011-11-23T09:41:00.001-08:00

I feel like I haven't been a really good blogger lately and I apologize. I think a lot of it has to do with having more anxiety at work for the past few months, since my new weird boss came on board. There has also recently been a lot of upheaval for my family with them losing their house and everyone scrambling to find other accommodations. Anxiety, apparently, is not this blogger's friend when it comes to writing. I am hopeful that things will be better soon. I really enjoy blogging and miss it when I can't get to it or feel unable to put my thoughts together.

Now...on to a simple Choose and Defend Wednesday. I thought since it is the day before Thanksgiving I would go with a food choice. We all like food, right? So here you go...Choose and Defend! Do you prefer -

Potatoes

OR

Sweet Potatoes

As usual lately, not exactly a deep thinker...but still, I'd love to read your answers and the rousing defense of your choice!!! Choose and Defend strikes again!

If I don't see you before....Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and Happy Thursday to you other fine folks :)

This Musical Message is For a Face Like an Angel

2011-11-20T03:03:00.000-08:00

Friday 5 - Moving

2011-11-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Had a bit of downtime, so I decided to check in at Friday 5. They've moved, but are still in bidnez :) As you can see, this Friday 5 is all about moving, which is super relevant to my life at the moment. Let's explore. I hope you'll participate, on your blog or in comments!

1. When did you last move residences? I guess it was just over two years ago. And my last move was just from one apartment to another in the same building. Very simple :) A bunch of my family members are in the process of moving as we speak. Not simple at all!

2. What song leaves you completely unmoved even though it seems everyone else is moved by it? Lately, I don't know. Things that come to mind...people saying they teared up when they heard Susan Boyle singing back whenever that was? Didn't get it. Also, Circle of Life doesn't make me cry. And I am not some hardened heart! So whatevs.

3. On what kinds of mornings is it easiest for you to jump out of bed and get moving? Mornings when I've slept long enough that it is light out and I have something in particular to look forward to that day. Then I'm all bright eyed and bushy tailed, so to speak. Truthfully, I seldom linger in bed. Once my alarm goes off, it might not be easy, but I get on up and get going.

4. What object do you get most annoyed about when people move it without letting you know? My keys. Please. Do not make me look for my keys. Don't do it.

5. In what way are you waiting on someone else to make a move? Aw, I think most of you know the move I am waiting for. The clock is ticking! My sweetheart is making a move...and I am waiting, waiting, waiting....

Hope you all have a weekend that moves you in some good way! Peace!

I Love Them All, One By One

2011-11-16T12:09:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday. We are deep in the middle of the Silly Season. [Note: officially Silly Season begins with Halloween and ends with New Year's Eve] I thought it would be a good time to compare the two major Autumn holidays and pit them against one another in a brutal fight to the finish! Or, you know, we could just Choose and Defend... Which of these two holidays is your favorite (Choose) and why (Defend)?

Halloween

OR

Thanksgiving

I know you will all tell it like it is...so tell!

PS- If you are not American, perhaps you have a similar sort of harvest festival type holiday you could use?

Thanks for participating in Choose and Defend Wednesday!!!

I'm Social. Let's Network.

2011-11-15T14:26:00.001-08:00

There are simply too many options now! I am a big fan of social networking. I really do believe that while all of my online interactions have not been positive, the overwhelming majority have been. I have gotten to know people whom I never would have met without the benefit of the webz. The fact that I even feel compelled to talk about it is probably partly just a condition of my age. I didn't grow up with all of this. I called my friends from the phone in my mom's kitchen or the den. If they weren't home, the phone would ring and ring and I would call back another time. Now, no one is every truly unreachable...well, not NO one...but most people. There are so many ways to get ahold of them. But I'm kind of getting off track with what I started to say. Social networking sites. Ways to post content and receive reactions, either immediate or sometime in the future when someone stumbles across it. I'm aware too, that there is a lot more out there that I am not even participating in, but I feel close to overwhelmed by what I'm doing now. Let's break it down -

Yahoo Groups - Anyone remember those? I still have a couple of active ones sending somewhat regular emails (remember those?) I have a great sentimental feeling for these groups because one of them is where I met DR. Pop culture talk and my soulmate! Nice.

Blogger - Obviously. I blog here. I have met some amazing people through reading their blogs and commenting...or they came here and commented. Of the particular people I started out with, a number of them have either given up blogging or put in on hold. But there are new bloggers all the time it seems. As for me, I love blogging. I love a forum where it is perfectly justified that I'd be talking about myself non-stop. It's MY blog :-D But seriously, I do get great feedback when I have questions or issues or just want to have some fun. Hard to imagine giving it up.

Facebook - Facebook came after a brief foray into Friendster and a longer stay at MySpace. I used to play games there, but gave all that up when it became too time consuming and felt jobbish. Now I just check in to see what people are up to. I have my family on there, friends from high school and from work, as well as people I met at other place online, but haven't met in real life. I know the shine is kind of wearing off Facebook, but I still enjoy visiting there and engaging in a bit of back and forth with people in comments about posts...and who doesn't love looking through people's photos? (That could be just me...but I don't think so!) Also, if you ever post a YouTube video on there because it made you think of me, my heart will melt and I will love you forever ;-) Um, unless it is, like, a monkey peeing in it's own mouth or something...don't send me that.

Twitter - Twitter has turned out to be a lot of fun for me. Some people don't like the 140 character format, but I love that part of it! Just say what you are going to say and walk away, so to speak. I get to read jokes, opinions, and just random observations from sooo many different kinds of people. I am endlessly fascinated. And when I post something and get some talk back, or a star, or a retweet, I admit it feels pretty good! The danger there is getting too caught up in the sort of competitive aspect of it. But I am a pretty laid back person in some ways, so that part doesn't bother me all that much. I just like the one liners :)

Tumblr - Just recently started participating there. Mostly because a lot of people on Twitter are also on Tumblr and are always sending links to their posts. A lot of them I just ignore, but sometimes I want to read. Of course you can read without signing up, but I thought, why not? Now, I mostly use it to reblog things other people have posted...mostly cool images that I like. So it is kind of like a virtual scrapbook of stuff other people created or found that I like. Can't really think of much original content to post...because I have so many other forums already!

I've also signed up at Google +, which hasn't really added anything to my life. I might have a profile or started a profile at Linked In...but I didn't follow through. Didn't seem like something I needed. I do check my Klout every now and then. Not sure exactly what it means, but everyone likes to feel influential, right?

I am guessing a lot of people have lots more going on online than I do. But for me, I think I'm fully saturated! But each piece of the puzzle feels like it fits for now. Can't wait to see what's next! I'd love to hear more about what you guys are doing. (This is participation-y part of blogging that I like) Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of my life here. It means the world to me.

This Musical Message is For Would You Like a Present Too?

2011-11-13T01:35:00.000-08:00

A Happy Birthday

2011-11-12T12:21:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to post a little Happy Birthday post for my ~~Richard~~ DR. I am so happy and excited that by Christmas we will be able to celebrate holidays together!

Happy Birthday to my best friend, always.

Dreams of You All Through My Head

2011-11-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

It was a kooky day today, so here is a very quick Choose and Defend Wednesday post for you! Had a quick brainstorm and just decided to offer up a couple of iconic cartoon critters for you to peruse.

Scooby Doo

OR

Snoopy

All you have to do is Choose who you'd prefer as your own loyal canine companion. Then tell us why. Choose and Defend!

Not too deep...but I bet you can bring some depth to it. Thanks for participating. It is one of the high points of my week, seeing what you have to say.

The Long Road to Patience

2011-11-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

Today's post was inspired by a post that 3 Girl Knight wrote over at his blog By God's Good Grace about patience. I was almost going to write a rather political post, but that is really not my forte. I have some fairly strong feelings about some of the issues surrounding prospective Presidential candidates, but I think I will leave them alone for now. But, I think an argument I recently engaged in about one of these issues was what made 3GK's post hit home for me.

Me and patience. It's not simple. I can't just say that I am a patient person or an impatient person. This particular post made me think about how my capacity for patience functions though and here is what I came up with. In the short term, I would say that I tend to be rather impatient. I sometimes react without thinking when I feel like someone doesn't or won't understand a point I am trying to make. How well I'm actually making that point is totally not the point. Whatever kind of job I'm doing, I'm not thinking of that when I get to that point of eyes tearing up and teeth / fist clenching. It is about the other person not GETTING IT. I am also impatient, as most people are, about the bureaucratic elements that delay simple things. I work for a city, so I am used to being thwarted on acting quickly, yet I still find myself impatient and frustrated when the expected obstacles are put up.

But there is also the big picture and the long term. That is where I think I am able to pull it together and become one of the most patient people in the world. It is the me with the cooler head that operates in this dimension. Sure, I can stay married to a person who is in no way good for me for 15 years. There is work to be done and my time will come. Yes, I can struggle for the next 10 years and counting on my own, because, again, there is work to be done and my time will come. I can be patient with the people in my life, not always moment to moment, but certainly year to year. I am patient like a dog who will always be there. The patience of loyalty and the patience of the conviction that I'm doing the right thing in the long run.

Reading this over, I'm not sure how much sense it will make to anyone outside of my head :) But still. I appreciate you reading. Go ahead, try my patience. Just make sure you are planning to stick around to see the big picture.

This Musical Message is For a Wet World Aches

2011-11-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

I Came to This Strange World

2011-11-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

Ready for some Choose and Defend? It is Wednesday, so I hope so! It's what we do here.

I think I've brought this topic up in the past, but not on Choose and Defend. I've had it on my mind, so I thought I'd invite you to join me in thinking this over. Although, during the course of our lives we all fill many different roles...in general, do you tend to find yourself acting as....

A Giver

Or

A Taker

Again, no one is always one or the other. But I do think we tend to fall into one category or another. Sometimes because of who we are and as a correlating factor...who we surround ourselves with.

Go ahead - Choose! Then, in comments, Defend as enthusiastically as you can manage :) Looking forward to your responses! Choose and Defend.

Boogity Boogity Boo!

2011-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from the City of Arcadia. I am not in this picture.

It was taken this morning around 8:30 and I am lucky if I make it in by 9 :)

Hope you all get lots of treats and only the good kind of tricks!

This Musical Message is for...Antici...payshun

2011-10-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Friday 5 (on Saturday) - Repellent

2011-10-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Lately, although I have things to say, I seem to have trouble putting together a coherent blog post. This sort of block is one big reason why I love memes like Friday 5 , which is one of my very favorites to use. Seems appropriate that right before Halloween the theme would be "repellent". Even though it is Saturday, please enjoy some Friday 5 soul searchin'. Play along in comments if you like!!!

1. What’s something you enjoy eating that many others would be grossed-out by? My tastes are quite non-exotic, so it is hard to imagine anyone being grossed out by my food. Still, my deep love for ranch dressing and/or french onion dip and my willingness to put them on most anything MIGHT be a teeny bit gross to some ;-)

2. Which of your personal traits is most likely to make others want to avoid you? The french onion dip? Maybe. I wonder sometimes if my shyness keeps me from seeming approachable. I tend to look down at a book or my phone in situations where I am on my own. Yet, I do seem to attract those people looking for someone to talk to...endlessly...

3. If you could wear a bracelet that had the power to keep certain kinds of people away from you, what kind of people would you repel? I would want to repel people looking to spread their negativity and ugliness to others. I'd never again be subjected to a weird, random, bigoted rant...BE GONE!

4. We are all capable of overcoming our biases, of course, but what’s a physical trait (in others) that pretty much turns you off? Not that you run into this often, but I have to look away from those really muscle bound guys...like super body builder types. The distortion of the musculature is unattractive to me. Also, don't mind some extra weight...I myself am not the slip of a girl I once was! But, you know, hugely obese? No thank you.

5. When you feel a case of the blues coming on, what do you do to fend off the bad feelings? Too much solitude tends to bring on the blues. Not that I don't love my "me" time...but too much seems to lead to darker thoughts. If I feel myself getting kind of weepy and down, if I can't actually get together with someone, I try a phone call or even interacting with someone online. The human connection repels the blues for me.

Hope you're all having a great weekend repelling what needs repelling...and more importantly attracting what needs to be attracted! Be thee like the magnet!

I Was Born, One Day I'll Die

2011-10-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday, which means it is time once again to Choose and Defend. The question today comes straight from the life of yours truly. It will be no surprise to anyone to hear that people don't like to be told "no". Today, I am running a very popular program for the little kids. It is very simple, a brief storytime, trick or treat through the library, back for snacks and a little video. For some reason, this community goes crazy over it. I do the program twice and am able to allow 75 children (ages 2-6) into each program. We have been giving out tickets since Saturday, and since yesterday afternoon both programs have been full. You might be surprised if you could see how upset people get when they find out they won't be able to attend. Honestly, tempers flair. But there are certainly different styles of anger, frustration, and trying to get your way. And I thought I'd ask you how do you tend to react when you come up against something that angers or frustrates you? Do you get...

Aggressive

OR

Passive Aggressive

Some of you are probably pretty zen and don't delve into the murky waters of aggession. But another way to look at it is maybe...do you tend to be very direct? Or do you slide around the issue and hope for results? Choose and Defend! Because it is Wednesday and this is What Fresh Hell is This? !!! Thanks :)

Stress

2011-10-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

I am so stressed right now. I need to medicate or at least meditate. Very, very anxious. I need to go to my happy place. I guess it would look something like this...

This Musical Message is For Oh, Makin' My Mind Slow

2011-10-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Friday 5 - Everyday Tasks

2011-10-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

Since it is Friday, at last, I thought to myself - why not do some Friday 5? They usually give me some food for thought. This one is about the everyday things that we all know and love. I invite you to participate in comments or on your own blogs!

1.What everyday task is more difficult for you than it should be? Anything having to do with meals. I like eating, but I am not crazy about deciding what to eat or preparing it for myself and/or others. I would prefer that good food just magically appear in front of me. Come on lottery! Mama needs an awesome chef!

2.What everyday task do you usually put off for as long as possible? It isn't quite an everyday task, but I find myself putting off gassing up the car. Sometimes it feels like an everyday task...feels like too much money, too often, and I try tend to ride the fumes a bit.

3.What everyday task do you perform especially well? Hm. Well, I guess I perform my commute pretty well. I don't, as a rule, get impatient or feel stressed when the traffic is bad. I use the time to enjoy music and the feeling of just being in my little capsule. But my commute is not really all that long, so it is a slight boast :)

4.What everyday task has most recently been added to your every day? There hasn't been anything very recently added. I guess the biggest, most recent change, as been Handsome Lad's weird and sometimes inconvenient Cross Country practice schedule. I think we've only got another three or four weeks of that.

5.What everyday task makes the least sense to you? Most everyday tasks are so routine that they just get done. Sometimes I have that compulsion to not make the bed, because I'm just going to unmake it in another 17 or 18 hours anyway. And sometimes I give in to that compulsion. No need to be a slave to these chores! Get crazy and skip a shower! Or, you know...maybe not....

Image from http://www.nataliedee.com/

The Sun is the Same

2011-10-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

Time for some Choose and Defend Wednesday. This week, you are off on a year long adventure! You will be a bit isolated, but oh, the things you will learn. As always, you have a choice about where you will spend this challenging year. As always, I will ask you to also defend that choice in comments.

Where would you prefer to spend a year...

Primitive Society

OR

Space Station

Think it over...then Choose and Defend. Thanks!

Some Updates and Such

2011-10-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to drop a quick note while I can. Busy days are nipping at my heels! Which is mostly a good thing. I'm trying not to feel overwhelmed...but there is so much going on right now over which I have very little control. I think that is the hardest part of any issue...lack of control.

WTG and the boys (men) there have just barely a month in which to situate themselves and be out of their house. WTG, whatever. The guys, I have concerns. Yes, they are grown men. (25 and 22!) But they just don't seem to be preparing and as a mom I still worry. But...not much I can do materially.

The transmission is shot in my car. I can't come close to affording to fix it. WTG is trying to help by finding the best deal on someone dropping in a used one. But even so, it may be a couple of months before I can get it together financially to move forward on a repair. In my heart, I suspect my mom will come to my rescue again. And I am so, so, so grateful and fortunate...and so, so, so guilty feeling. I try to pay her back for all she does for me, but I admit that she moves to the bottom of the list of debts when things are tight (always). And she is so kind about it. The ONLY person I know of who has never made me feel bad about needing something from her. The ONLY person who doesn't make you feel like since they've given you something, they now have some claim on all that you do. I know some people have zero options, so believe me, I do feel lucky that both of my parents have been able to help me when I need it. But as a middle aged woman, I feel awful that I have to keep asking.

But hey! I have good news too! Did you notice the countdown clock in the right margin? DR is finally coming back! For the first time since he left at the end of May last year, there is a DEFINITE plan for his return to California and to me. He's done what he can do for his family and now it is finally, finally time for us to be able to move forward!!! I'm so happy and so relieved. I don't have any ridiculous thoughts that having him here will make everything alright...but it will certainly make things much, much better. He'll be leaving, by car, the afternoon of December 14....so three days or so later, he will be here!

So let me close here on a happy note :)

Saturday, I was the only one who did Saturday Scavenger Shots, so I guess I will let that go for now. If anyone else remains interested, of course, let me know. I'm always up for it. But it isn't much fun to play alone.

Tomorrow - Choose and Defend Wednesday. If you haven't done last week's, would you? Please? It would mean a lot to me. Thx! TTYL! xoxo

This Musical Message is For Altered Expectations

2011-10-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

Do You Want Some More?

2011-10-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Sirs and Madams. Today, I invite you to INDULGE, because that is the Saturday Scavenger Shots word. You can thank Silly Rabbit for that one. Thank you!

When I think about the word INDULGE I think of the pleasure of treating yourself to something extra. Did anyone see this week's Parks & Rec episode? If you didn't, you really should Treat Yourself...Donna and Tom really know what they're doing. Since I am a poor-ish person, I think the ways that I INDULGE myself are fairly simple. Sometimes it is simply about indulging in a feeling...I let myself feel the pure happiness that strikes at odd times, or I allow myself to sink in to a good wallow of self-pity. It happens. But those things are hard to photograph. Or rather, they are probably not something you'd like to see :)

But here are some things you should not object to seeing. And since I am at work today, the focus will be on my fabulous cubicle where I INDULGE in a few small ways. Here you go. INDULGE -

Dealing with the peoples is hungry business. Sometimes you just need a little sumpin' sumpin' to get you through. I will INDULGE in a little snack now and again and again!

I find it rather nice to put on some lovely scented lotion from time to time. It is a way to INDULGE myself in a bit of sensory redirection, I guess you could say. Also, whenever I think about lotion, I can hear Buffalo Bill in my head saying - It puts the lotion on it's skin, or else it gets the hose again. And that makes me laugh, so that's cool.

I do INDULGE in some blog reading and writing time while at work. Not to excess, but it is always a wonderful break in my day.

I have DR's picture pinned up so that I can INDULGE in the occasional daydream. It is nice to see his face during my long days. I have pictures of the kids and grands all over too, so I can INDULGE in fond, foolish musings about them all.

Now you are privy to some of the ways in which I INDULGE myself when I am not doing what they pay me to do here. Luckily, I have the kind of job where there are moments to do so. Also luckily, I have the kind of job where I get to INDULGE my love of reading, books, and the people seeking such things :-)

Hope you are all able to INDULGE in something pleasureable this weekend. See that you do!

So Let's Sink Another Drink

2011-10-12T12:08:00.000-07:00

Time once again for ~~your~~ my favorite Choose and Defend Wednesday! That's right...here is your chance to predict the next winner in Dancing with the Stars!!! Okay. No one is as excited about it as me. Obviously there are fans in the world...this show does very well in the ratings. But none of those people read my blog. Or associate with me in real life. I am alone in my love for this super sweet and cheesy show. I accept that. But a couple of times a year I do ask my blog reading friends to make the whole experience even more fun for me by choosing who they think will win for the current season. Since it is Choose and Defend, it is great if you can tell us why you made your choice. "She / He is hot" is absolutely acceptable. Just please, please indulge me and play! If you Choose the winner, there is something in it for you too! I will send you a $25 Target gift card. It's true.

So, a few weeks in and here are the remaining contestants...

David Arquette - Actor / Producer

Chaz Bono - Author / Activist / First transgendered contestant

Nancy Grace - Lawyer / TV Inquisitor

Rob Kardashian - Reality Star / Professional Kardashian

Carson Kressley - Celebrity Stylist / TV Personality

Ricki Lake - Talk Show Host / Actor

JR Martinez - Iraqi War Veteran / Actor

Hope Solo - Professional Soccer Goalie

There they are...take a look...Choose and Defend! Thank you in advance. (Especially to NoRegrets, who at least LOOKED at my DwtS page and already chose David Arquette...are you sticking with him NoR?) Rest of you, get on it! Thx.

I Can't Complain

2011-10-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of those days that put things into perspective for me. It was a nice day that included a late lunch with the whole family to celebrate Secret Agent Man's birthday. The lunch went well and it was a truly lovely day. After lunch I brought Miss Personality home with me for a visit while her parents went shopping. She read "Are You My Mother?", ate a fruit cup, drank some milk, ran up and down the block a few times, and got picked up by her mother. Very nice.

Awhile later, I got a call from Princess Diva (mother of my grands, Kick Back Dude's ex). She said Kick Back Dude had been in an accident on the freeway while driving from her house back to his dad's. She didn't have a lot of information, although it was reassuring to hear that he'd called her. She said he sounded shaken, but that he was not injured. WTG (Kick Back Dude's dad, my ex) went over to where he was. It was a five car accident...I guess this big rig came right into his lane...right into him...not sure how the other cars were involved. But Kick Back Dude is fine. His car was even drivable, although severly damaged.

You can't see what is going on in this picture very well...it is from WTG's phone and of course, it is dark. But what you are looking at is Kick Back Dude's little Dodge Neon, with a very large truck smashed into his driver's side door.

So, you see what I mean about perspective. This could have been so, so, so much worse. But it wasn't. And I find that in the end, that is all that really matters. I'm so grateful.

This Musical Message is For Starting Over

2011-10-09T08:20:00.001-07:00

SECRET Secret Agent Man

2011-10-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday, October 8. So, we have Saturday Scavenger Shots...and the Oct. 8 date means it is also ~~Paul's~~ Secret Agent Man's birthday. Thus, join me for a celebration of everything SECRET and SECRET Agent Man!

I am not very good at SECRETs. My life tends to be an open book. My second oldest son, SECRET Agent Man, is one of the most private people I know and has been that way since he was just a little guy. He keeps his own council. He's always had some quality about him that touches my heart....maybe it is that 'I go it alone' thing...or his tough guy exterior with a soft heart that can't help showing though.

Here is one of SECRET Agent Man's nice guy things. He is to your right and Social Animal is on your left. They both give blood regularly. It isn't a SECRET activity, but if you know SECRET Agent Man casually, you probably wouldn't guess that this is one of his things.

Although, now, SECRET Agent Man won't be able to give blood for awhile. About three or four years ago, he got one tattoo on his upper arm. Recently, he added another three, including this one. He says he wants both upper arms completely covered. Because we have encouraged him not to go below his elbow, he can keep his tattoos a SECRET of sorts when he is working. He likes the body art...what can I say?

In conclusion, I wish a very happy 25th to my second son, SECRET Agent Man. My heart is full remembering each year of his mysterious life :)

Hoping I can get Silly Rabbit to choose a word for next week. What say you, Silly?

Friday 5 - Book 'Em

2011-10-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

When I found myself with time to blog today, I had to go check out what was going on at Friday 5. Don't get there as often as I have in the past, but I always enjoy participating. And this week's entry is so perfect for me! Here is what the host of Friday 5, scrivener, had to say -

"I am a total bookworm, but I’ve mostly avoided indulging that passion of mine in this space. Today, however, I feel the need to be reminded of why I love books and reading, so please share your thoughts on books as you answer these questions."

So...here are my thoughts on some books!

1. What book did you struggle to get through but is something you’re glad you’ve read? - Sometimes reading something worthwhile, can be a struggle...although ideally, not. Seems less worthwhile if it is a chore. Still, I try to push myself sometimes and not be lazy even in my pleasure reading. A few months ago I read The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. People tend to rave about it and I had been curious for some time. It is one of those books that disappears from libraries, but we finally held on to a copy long enough for me to read it. Let's just say I was underwhelmed. But still glad I can now say I've read it.

2.What’s a book whose popularity has baffled you? Not exactly baffled, because I think I understand what makes popular books popular. But The Da Vinci Code? I mean, yes, I get that it is all action packed and each short chapter is like a little cliff hanger (sort of like Goosebumps for grown-ups). But please don't pretend that it is great literature. That is not gonna fly. Um, don't hate me.

3. If you could make everyone you know read one book, what would it be? Right now I am feeling very fond of The Elegence of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. While sometimes the characters can annoy you...just like real people...the story and the writing are so lovely. Some of the passages made me want to cry. Not in that sad way, but in that beautiful ache way. So, I'd encourage others to take a look.

4. What book have you liked less and less as time has gone by? Anything by Tom Robbins. As I've gotten older, I am more bothered by his (or his characters') misogeny and fondness for, shall we say, very young women. I still name Still Life With Woodpecker as a book that made a difference to me...it truly did change how I thought about fiction. And I still have a fondness for Robbins colorful and engaging style. But I do find myself liking some things about his books less as time has gone by.

5. What book have you loved more and more as time has gone by? I'm going to say Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr. Although I liked this book when I first read it several years ago, I think I appreciate it in a different way as time goes by. Doerr style is quite understated, but her characters are vivid. This story about an older couple settling in a tiny Mexican village to reopen an old copper mine is full of life and death in a matter of fact way. It is really so beautiful and really has stayed with me in a way that I have come to appreciate over the years.

Wow. Not sure anyone else will enjoy this little game as much as I did, but I would love to read anyone else's answers in comments or on your own blog. I'd really enjoy that!

Hope you all have a good weekend! Stop in tomorrow for SECRETS and a little birthday post.

But You Were Up to Your Old Tricks In Chapters 4, 5, & 6

2011-10-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Choose and Defend Wednesday, hot and fresh :) Since I asked you about television a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd try some literature today. You know, mix it up. Then since there needs to be two choices, I needed to think of two things that most people would have read (or at least encountered by cultural osmosis) that had something similar about them, yet something very different. It is a process, people!

Here is what I have for you. Would you rather be a character and live in the world of...

Winnie the Pooh

OR

Wizard of Oz

Think it over. Put yourself in the stories and decide where you'd rather hang out....FOREVER. Choose and then Defend your choice to us...your judges. J/K, no judging here. We just like to watch. Choose and Defend!

Me Go Crazy

2011-10-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to vent some frustration about work. I am adjusting to my new, weird boss. She is weird, no way out of that...but I could work with just weirdness...there is something else. I don't like having a meeting of some sort nearly every single day. Yesterday, I met with her individually to...I still don't know. We talked about the internet presence of the Children's Room. We talked about...something like...the room as an organism and how we relate to it And I have some trouble understanding what it is she is looking for a lot of the time. Right now, I am trying to be open to suggestions, to offer suggestions, to stay on top of things. So much of what she says strikes me as kind of ridiculous, but I fear seeming old and set in my ways. She always makes a big deal of the fact that I've been here for 10 years. It is a double edged sword for sure.
On the home front WTG (the ex) has lost his house. That was something a long time coming, but it still shakes things up. They have to be out by the middle of November. None of that is really my problem, but of course I have it on my mind. Fortunately Handsome Lad is doing well at school and loving Cross Country. The older kids all seem fine, but of course with grown folks it can be harder to tell. I guess until I hear specifically otherwise, I can assume things are fine. Not looking to borrow trouble!
I hope that you are all less stressy than me. I hope I can be less stressy soon. I just need to figure out what my boss wants and try not to worry about the family. There is so little I can really do about any of it.
Thanks for the rant space. Come back tomorrow and I will try to have a fun Choose and Defend. Suggestions welcomed! Also, please note...Saturday's word is SECRET. Ooooohhhhhh!

This Musical Message is For Dream On

2011-10-02T02:48:00.000-07:00

I Close My Eyes, Oh, But I Still See

2011-10-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hello from a Saturday Scavenger Shots post. Today's word was both fun and easy and we have Furtive Wangler @ Tortoise Feathers to thank! Thank you. The word for today is RED. Nothing says pay attention like RED! I wear a lot of black for the invisibility factor, but occasionally RED feels right. I went through my photos and here is what I found -

Here are Little Prince and Love Bug standing next to a big RED fire engine.

I know some cities use different colors now, but to me RED is the color of the Fire Dept.

Here are a couple of my friends from work, Camper and DD. On this particular day, they looked like sort of hipster doofus siblings and we had to memorialize the moment. Notice their lovely RED sweaters!

I wore a RED Sebastien shirt on the day I met the very lovely Henry Winkler.

So that RED shirt is kind of my lucky RED shirt :)

Thanks for stopping in and seeing RED. Don't know what is happening next week, but can't wait to find out!!!

And In the Truth When It is Told

2011-09-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, isn't it? That means it is time for Choose and Defend Wednesday. Thought I'd go for a silly one today...although it is also pretty difficult, at least for me :) Something in your life is going to change. You're about to gain an unusual characteristic. But you have a choice! All you have to do Choose and then Defend your choice. You can do that. I've seen it happen. So, would you rather...

Dance (anytime you want to move from place to place)

Sing (anytime you want to say something)

Give it some thought. Picture your life either way. Choose and Defend!

A Dream Deferred for TWO DAYS

2011-09-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

COMMUNICATION let me down this weekend. I missed posting my Saturday Scavenger Shots on Saturday and even Sunday. Here I am Monday evening finally getting to it. Could have let it go, I guess, but I'm no quitter!!!

This week's word (last week's word?) was chosen by Mrs Hairy Woman @ The Northern Sky Chronicles and it is a good one. COMMUNICATION. Let me lay it down for you now, come on.

This is a bookmark I am working on. It is part of the COMUNICATION that takes place between staff here and the kids who use the room. This bookmark will help them quickly locate some non-fiction topics, that through COMMUNICATION, we have learned they are inordinately fond of.

We also encourage COMMUNICATION through storytelling. This is from a couple of years ago at a Halloween program. I'm preparing for that yet again! The COMMUNICATION just keeps coming around in a seasonal, cyclical way.

Music is one of my favorite forms of COMMUNICATION. I am one of those annoying people who tend to put way too much into the lyrics of a song. This is from 80s Night at the Hollywood Bowl a few weeks ago. So much fun. That particular music, from those particular bands, felt like a COMMUNICATION from 80s me to 2000+ me. We still get along okay :)

Hope you all enjoyed or tolerated this COMMUNICATION from me to you. Not sure if this game can limp on without Tara participating, but I will leave it to others to make that call. If it is played, I will come.

This Musical Message is For I Can Feel You

2011-09-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

As Primitive As Can Be

2011-09-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

In honor of this premiere week for the Fall television season I decided to do a TV based Choose and Defend Wednesday. I was trying to think of similarly themed, yet wildly different shows. And actually there are quite a few of them...nothing is new after all. But this one seemed rather fun and interesting, so let me lay it on you. Who are your favorite castaways? The ones from -

Gilligan's Island

Lost

So, what do you guys think? Who's your crew? If you have never ever seen or heard anything about either one of these shows, feel free to choose based on the photos or the titles of the shows...whatever! All I ask is that you Choose and Defend! Thx. x. x. x.

Hellooo

2011-09-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hey all. Just wanted to post a couple of quick little things. You won't need to take notes or anything :)

- On Saturday, one of my co-workers made a joke about my super power being sarcasm. Now whenever I open my mouth, my weird boss laughs maniacally and shrieks that she knows I'm being sarcastic. Help.

- DR has told me he plans to be here before his birthday, which is in November. Fingers crossed, but as this is the second rejiggering of the original estimate, I remain wary.

- Um, Dancing with the Stars started again last night. I know, I know...but YOU know I am unalterably addicted. I have started a new Dancing with the Star page...see up top? ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Maybe someday when you are really bored you will read all of my ~~witty~~ remarks about each episode :-) Also, please do note that after a few eliminations I WILL be asking you to Choose a winner during one of my upcoming Choose and Defend Wednesdays. It is tradition! And I love it. And you like me enough to indulge me, right? Right! Right?

Guess that is it for the moment. Come back tomorrow to play a non-DWTS oriented Choose and Defend. And consider posting some Saturday Scavenger Shots this week! Mrs Big Hairy Woman is blogging again and has chosen the word COMMUNICATION.

This Musical Message is For I Am Alone

2011-09-18T01:21:00.001-07:00

I've Tried Patience But You Always Want a War

2011-09-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today's Saturday Scavenger Shots word was chosen by Tara @ Eclectic Spaghetti. The word she chose is a big one....EARTH. Our planet, third rock from the sun, the pale blue dot. Some of us are said to be "down to earth". Soil is also called "EARTH"...elemental. However you look at it, EARTH is important. My photos were taken this morning when I got to work...so they don't look too important or imposing. Not quite fitting for such a subject. Yet here we go...some EARTH for you.

Here are some Children's non-fiction books about EARTH.

There is a lot to learn about our very own planet.

Here is the globe that stands by the Children's Information Desk. It is a representation of planet EARTH.

It is not terribly imposing when we scale it down so very much.

Kids love looking at it and finding different locations around the world.

Thanks for joining me for this little celebration of EARTH. Maybe I can persuade Mrs. Hairy Woman @ Northern Sky Chronicles to choose a word for next week?

I hope your weekend is heaven on EARTH :-)

You Gave Me Love For Free

2011-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

I feel like I haven't posted that much lately (for me). I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed, not only at work, but in general. It isn't all bad, but I have to say that some of it definitely is. So I'm a bit Stressy von Stressenhoff. I'm sure one day it will explode on your computer screen :) Until then, let's play a little Choose and Defend.

Looks like me sweet tooth is calling to me. I have a delicious choice for you to make. I can't handle the heavy stuff I tells ya! So which of these candies (which I am convinced, sometimes work in cahoots to fool people) will you choose for your snack today?

M&M's

OR

Skittles

There you go! All you have to do is Choose a treat and Defend your choice with as much enthusiasm as you can muster when it comes to candy :-) Sweet!!!

This Musical Message is For So Cruelly You Kissed Me

2011-09-11T00:20:00.000-07:00

There Always Seems to Be a Catch to Anything You've Ever Said

2011-09-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday for a few more minutes here in the wild west, so let me quick get my Saturday Scavenger Shot up for you. Would have gotten to it sooner, but it was a day full of...what else but....BAGGAGE. That stuff we carry with us as we travel. Everyone, every adult has some emotional and physical BAGGAGE. And of course, you may have a nice set of matching Samsonite as well. It's just more BAGGAGE. I'm here to show you some of mine.

Oh, these folks again! My BAGGAGE. They come with everything you'd expect and more. When it comes down to it, I suppose I wouldn't change a thing. How could I when I see what I have now? Sure, there is BAGGAGE in my life, but it isn't a burden but a great gift.

Ha! Well here. This is my dark little cupboard under the stove where I keep my reuseable shopping / toting stuff around bags. A simpler sort of BAGGAGE. I haven't got any, like, actual suitcases...if I go somewhere things are stuffed into the cheap BAGGAGE I've collected. And that's how I roll.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my BAGGAGE. I hope yours is light and brings fun things with it. I can't wait to find out what happens next...

It's Us That Made This Mess

2011-09-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Have you come prepared to Choose and Defend? I sure hope so, because today is the day...Choose and Defend Wednesday. Today I am asking you to make a lifestyle choice.

Would you rather live the life of ....

A Pet

OR

A Wild Animal

So, what would you Choose? And can you Defend that choice? Also, if you'd especially like to live the life of a particular animal, feel free to share this in comments! Remember, there is rarely such a thing as too much information :-)

Choose and Defend! Thank you.

This Musical Message is For Tin Roof, Rust

2011-09-04T01:36:00.000-07:00

Lay Back, It's All Been Done Before

2011-09-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a COMPLICATED Saturday, according to this week's themestress, Tara! It is a good word for Saturday Scavenger Shots because so many things in life are COMPLICATED to the core. Then there are things that only appear COMPLICATED. Further, there are things that need not be COMPLICATED, but we make them that way through our own ways and means.

So, what have I got to show you that is COMPLICATED? Let me see...

Here is Girlie Girl's self portrait of her first day going off to college. I was already at work when she left, so she had to be the photographer :-) College is a COMPLICATED time of change and growth. I have a lot of confidence in my daughter, though. She managed to negotiate the COMPLICATED channels of financial aid and has covered her tuition and books. Yay!

Who is this guy? Sometimes it seems very simple and other times it seems painfully COMPLICATED. After 16 months of doing the long distance shuffle, it almost seems normal...and that kind of bothers me too! Real COMPLICATED or just me making it COMPLICATED? I remain unsure.

So, once again, I am a people person. But let's face it, people are the most COMPLICATED creatures around.

I hope your weekend is good, simple fun! Nothing COMPLICATED about that! Next week's word will be BAGGAGE. What do you think of that?

I See That Adorable Ghost

2011-08-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

Looks like Wednesday has snuck up on me once again. We're having another one of our busy times at work with the kids returning to school. The afternoons get wacky. But let's take a break and enjoy some Choose and Defend Wednesday. I'm afraid that today I am going to have to take something away from you. The good new is that you get to Choose which thing it is! Could you more easily live without (for the next five years, let's say) -

Access to the Internet

Your Car

One or the other has to go for the next five years. Which will it be and why? Choose and Defend! Thanks :)

This Musical Message is For Just Give Me the Truth

2011-08-28T00:22:00.000-07:00

Everybody In the Room Notices You

2011-08-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

Today's Saturday Scavenger Shot word was chosen by me and may well be done by only me. FINE! BE LIKE THAT! Ooooohhhh, I was all yelling there! Alarming, right? Well, um, anyway...our word for today is KEY. That wasn't a yell, that is just the way I always write the Saturday Scavenger Shots word. Although if you want, we could go old skool Pee Wee Herman and yell every time someone says that word today. Want to?

Now then, there are a couple of shots I took this morning at the very uncivilized hour of 6:30 am. On a Saturday. Um hm.

Handsome Lad had to be at his XC practice bright and early for a five mile training run. It is good for the kids to run early in the day, before it gets so hot. It is bad for the parents of the kids who don't drive yet, because it is Saturday morning and mama likes her beauty sleep. But, training is the KEY to success in any sport! So, run free Handsome Lad, run free! Let's see...I worked the word in there, didn't I?

Yes! Very good.

This shot looks almost artsy doesn't it? Here we see my car KEY, a bit chewed looking. But I enjoy the way this KEY in the ignition makes you think of a beautifully photographed worn, lined face, lovely in it's flaws. Shut up and stop singing that stupid R. Kelly song about putting your KEY in the ignition! Let's have some respect for my pretty KEY shot!!! Thank you. My goodness, you people.

That is all I have for you today. I have no more KEYs for you. I would offer you the KEY to the Kingdom, but it seems there are no takers there :) Have a great rest of the weekend and make sure to head for high ground if you are in to that sort of thing.

Friday 5 - Sticky

2011-08-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

Quiet Friday at work, so how about a little Friday 5 to pass the time? This week it is about sticky things, which seems appropriate given the sticky way that the air feels today...way too much moisture mucking things up. So...let's see what sticks -

1. What kind of magnets do you have on your fridge? Mostly the kind that are like clips to hold packets of paper. A couple cute ones I've gotten from work or business give aways. I did not prepare for this day with a photo of my fridge! Another time, perhaps :-)

2. What’s your preferred type of glue? Fully depends on what it is for. For doing crafts with small children or even for my own work, I like the control and ease of glue sticks. If I'm doing some heavy duty repair job, then Gorilla Glue is the way to go!

3. When is it good to feel sticky? Never. Closest thing would be, you know...an after-glow type of situation. If I'm recalling such a thing correctly.

4. What was the last thing you wrote upon a Post-It? I just had a phone call from WTG asking me to email something for him and I took notes on a Post-It. I have various sizes and colors stashed around my desk and use them a LOT.

5. How much pancake syrup do you put on your pancakes? Oh man...so much. So very, very much. I can never have enough syrup on my pancakes. Mmmmmmm...sticky sweet.

There you go. That is how I handle the sticky questions. How about you? As always, I invite you to join in on your own blog or in comments. Have a lovely, syrupy sweet weekend!

We'll Be Together All Alone Again...

2011-08-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Since I got all reflective and stuff yesterday I thought I'd follow up today with a similarly themed Choose and Defend Wednesday. This is not a new thought by any means, but still...it is a thought. When do you most feel like your "new year" falls?

New Year's Eve / Day

OR

Back to School Time

I mean, for a lot of people the answer may be both. But if forced (as you are) to Choose one, think about the way in which you most often mark the passage of time and the feeling of a fresh start. Defend your choice so we can all see it from your side! Because today is Choose and Defend Wednesday and this is what we do.

Midweek Notes

2011-08-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Some housekeeping. First, let me throw a word out there for Saturday Scavenger Shots - KEY. There you go.
Second, I have just come back to work today and my co-workers did fulfill my request for a "welcome back" poster...more or less :-)

I found this taped to my computer monitor! They did fine work, considering I'm the one who usually creates the posters for the dept.

No one has done an impression of me. Yet.

Made me feel good to be back to work.

Back to School

2011-08-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

The first day back to school has, of course, always been a very big deal in my house. Some of you have watched me document it here for the past 6 years or so in one way or another. Back when my kids were small the day was so celebratory. Everyone would be photographed and after those in school had been taken there and guided to their new classrooms, the rest of us would go out together for a nice breakfast. My mom and sister and I had that tradition from the time my oldest son went to Kindergarten over 20 years ago.

This is a back to school picture from, I think, 1996. Secret Agent Man would be entering 4th grade, Social Animal 2nd, and Kick Back Dude 5th. Girlie Girl was just 3 and Handsome Lad wouldn't join us for another almost 9 months!

Now, back to school still feels exciting, but it has definitely changed as the kids have grown. Now Kick Back Dude takes his own kids to school. Secret Agent Man is a single man and most days just mean it's time to go to work. Social Animal and Girlie Girl are community college students working around the whims of their own schedules.

Now, Handsome Lad is the only kid going back to school! Here he is, ready for his first day of high school. I picked him up this morning from his dad's house and dropped him off...and recalled once again how much I hate drop offs and pick ups at the high school :-)

He's excited about high school and I'm excited for him. He's had his challenges as a student, but he's been running around with older kids for so long that I think he finally feels he's caught up and is in his proper element. So, there is a lot of happiness. But it is a very different sort of day than it once was. My mom didn't take today off or go in late, because she was out yesterday with a dental appointment. My sister never wants to do anything with me anymore. So it was just me and I came on home after dropping him off. No more first day of school breakfasts...at least not this year.

But things always change. There is still much to look forward to. It is just different now and I don't think anyone could help but be reflective on a day like today. So I will take this last day off work and put my feet up, ponder the past a bit, and congratulate myself on having helped to get everyone to this point in time, happy and healthy and full of potential.

This Musical Message is For There Was Hope Here

2011-08-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

F is For Friends Who Do Stuff Together

2011-08-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

Well into Saturday here and I've finally set aside a moment in my frantic schedule to post my Saturday Scavenger Shots! (By the way, totally being sarcastic there...which doesn't "type" well.) I'm not really busy. I am having a rather slothful "back to school" vacation. I feel lucky that the lovely Tara, scribe over at Eclectic Spaghetti, choose such an easy and inspiring word for this week's Saturday Scavenger Shots! Thanks Tara :-) Today's word is FUN. Yay!

Here is a brief photographic representation of the FUN in my life:

My kids, in one of the few recent-ish photos I have of them en masse. The have kept things FUN for the past 26 years of my life!

What could be more FUN than a few little grandbabies? The answer is nothing! Nothing is more FUN. And nothing is cuter. So there.

Couldn't leave DR (shown here in Mountain Man mode) out of the FUN. He still make life FUN for me, even from a distance. But I will need him to shave. A lot. :-D FUN!!!

I hope that you all are having a weekend that is full of the kinds of FUN you most enjoy. Thanks for stopping by to share in my FUN. Blogging friends make all FUN more FUN.

For My Own Amusement

2011-08-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is the note I emailed my coworkers right before I left for my vacation. I hoped it would make them laugh...at least I made my own self laugh :)

Oh Feel It

2011-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

My last couple of Choose and Defend Wednesdays have been rather harsh. This week, we're going to take it easy and have ourselves a spa day! Doesn't that sound relaxing? All you need to do is lie back and Choose which of these spa activities you enjoy the most. Then you just need to lie back some more and Defend your choice with enthusiasm. Relaxed enthusiasm.

So, which is your favorite?

Hot Tub Soak

OR

Massage

Aaaahhhhh! Don't you feel better already? I know I do! I am on vacation...or off work at least. So what if my main reason is to get Handsome Lad back to school? It is still a vacation! So start it off great for me, if you please....Choose and Defend!