All You Have to Do is Call

I guess I am sort of running with a Friendship theme this week.  I had lunch today with an old friend and it was just what the doctor ordered.  Just like you guys, he set my head on straight and made me feel understood, which always seems so essential to me!   Since it is Talk Talk Tuesday here is some talk talk for you...

"There is no hope of joy except in human relations."

~ Antoine de Sainte-Exupery

What say you?  Does that seem true to you?  What else brings you joy?   Talk Talk!

You're a Pal and a Confidante

It has been a crazy busy day, as Mondays tend to be.  But I wanted to stop in and just thank you for your thoughful, steadying comments on my blue post from Saturday.  It always helps to write it down and it helps even more when I get some feedback.  It really, really helps me get out of my own head.  So, I am definitely feeling better!  Thanks a million, bloggers :-)

In other news, Little Prince turned 2 yesterday.  I guess they weren't up for a family party, which I understand.  Plus, today, Miss Personality started Kindergarten.  She is very, very bright, but I suspect she is going to find the confines of proper school behavior pretty challenging.  They will have their hands full with that one.  Hopefully, they'll realize they need to keep her busy and challenged all day long.

Hope you all had a good weekend and are looking forward to a fine, productive week.  And thanks again for being your own sweet selves.

This Musical Message is For Keeping This In Mind

Any Good News?

Feeling a bit blue.  Not that everything is bad...not by a long shot.  The kids are back in school and seem happy with their classes and are getting right back into the routine.  Work is fine and being there does give me a sense of purpose.

But there are troubles too.  Kick Back Dude and Princess Diva are having serious relationship problems.  That isn't unusual for a young couple.  They're under a lot of pressure with three small children, never quite enough money, very different personalities and priorities.  I just feel so bad for them....well, if I'm honest, I feel bad for Kick Back Dude and the kids.  Princess Diva comes from a severely damaged family and I have to say that it is really starting to show, through some of her actions and decisions.  I am trying hard to stay out of their problems.  It is between them, I know.  But I worry about them a lot.

Three good reasons to try.

 As I've alluded, I am having issues with the whole DR thing.  There is nothing wrong between the two of us.  I still love him, he says he loves me.  We talk every day or two and a couple of times I've tried to bring up my concerns, but it didn't feel that useful.  Also, I do recognize that DR is going through a tough time with his family there and I certainly don't want  to make things worse.  My problem is, though, that I sincerely don't see how he is going to be able to return here within the time we were hoping for.  When I tell him that, and tell him why I think that, he just asks me not to jump ahead and decide that right now...but how can I not?   Apparently, what feels like thinking realistically to me, feels like rashly jumping to conclusions to him.  So I stop talking about it.  But I worry.  And when I don't worry,  I feel like I've put up a wall to protect myself from what I see eventually happening.  Trying not to borrow trouble, but it is just sitting right there, begging to be taken up.  sigh.

So, I am looking for some good news.  Be a pal and share :-) 

You Are My Candy, Girl

I'm feeling the need for a little sweetness on this very, very hot August Choose and Defend Wednesday.  How about you?  Want something sweet?  There are ever more options for sweetening your foods and beverages...what is your choice?

Honey

Sugar

OR

 Artificial Sweetner / Sugar Substitute

 

You know the drill!  Choose and Defend!  And stay sweet, baby.

Ring, Ring Goes the Bell

 Today was the day my two youngest returned to school.  I have mixed feelings.  It is nice for them to have the structure in their days that school gives them.  And there are a lot of fun and interesting things that go on during the school year.  But we are also so much busier...and mornings are way more tiring, just the getting going part. 

Still here we are again.  One of my personal favorite things are first day of school pictures.

Girlie Girl preparing to show her Senior spirit.

Handsome Lad ponders 8th grade.

Ready to take on the world!

  Bonus, since it is Tuesday, how about a little Talk Talk?

Up in the mornin' and out to school
The teacher is teachin' the Golden Rule
American history and practical math
You studyin' hard and hopin' to pass
Workin' your fingers right down to the bone
And the guy behind you won't leave you alone

-Chuck Berry "School Days"

Do you have an especially memorable first day of school story to share?  Could be about yourself, your kids, or something you dreamed about :-)   Does the phrase "Back to School", even as an adult, make you feel a little anticipatory?  Full of dread?  Nothing...in par-ti-cu-lah?  Talk Talk!

Somebody's Cryin'

Happy Monday.  It felt great to sleep in today...my kids' last day of summer vacation.  It's been great having this time off....and after today, still two more days to go.  Very refreshing.  A lot of my time has been spent hanging with Girlie Girl and especially Handsome Lad, who is not as busy :-)  Friday night, though, I had a grown up night and went out to a Chris Isaak concert with my girlfriend, Ceku.  I tried to take photos, but only have my phone, so they are...you know, phone pictures.  I really do need to plead for an actual camera for Christmas.  Yeah.

Anyway, the concert was great!  We saw it at the Pechanga Casino in Temecula, which is kind of a drive.  It was totally worth it though, as it was a pretty small venue.  We were towards the rear of the showroom, but were still relatively close to the stage, compared to going to the Hollywood Bowl, or even the Greek (where we saw him last year).  He and Silvertone have been together a long time and put on an amazing show.  Old favorites and new....set bits that I remember from having seen him before and funny little impulse moments with the crowd.  I, personally, have a huge crush on Chris Isaak.  I love his voice and he is just...cute!  I really like his guitarist too, Hershel Yatovitz.  What a talent...and also cute :-)

My ticket

A close up of my concert tee.  Chris Isaak does the drawings for all of his tees and I think his album covers too.

The stage.  See how he glows in his sparkly yellow suit?  That is because he's a professional entertainer! :-D

Here is Chris roaming the auditorium.  We were on the aisle too, but it was the wrong one :-(

 

That was definitely a highlight of my, ahem, staycation (Aliens CG and GF dislike the term, but I'm sticking with it), thus far.  Tomorrow the kids return to school and me, my mom, and sister go out for our traditional celebratory breakfast.  Wednesday is my last day of staycation, then it is back to the book mines of Arcadia :-)  

So, what was the last concert you attended?  And do you object to the term staycation, even though vacation doesn't necessarily include travel?  Thanks for your imput!!!  :-)
 

Friday 5 - Mint

Yes, it is Sunday rather than Friday, but we don't get too amped up about things like that over here in Fresh Hell.  We just go with it and talk about Mint.  I present to you - Friday 5 - the Sunday Edition.  Join me, won't you?

1. How picky are you about toothpaste?  Not very.  I like Colgate best, but will sometimes buy cheaper brands at cheaper times.  And I don't like the gels, only the pastes.

2. What’s the best cooked dish you’ve had that included mint?  Well...now that I am asked, I realize I may never have eaten a cooked dish that included mint.  Hm.  Um, my favorite ice cream flavor is mint n' chip.  Yeah.

3. How far would you have to go from where you are right now to get a breath mint?  Just out into the livingroom where my purse is, with two tins of Altoids tucked away.  Here, see?

4. Got any gum?  Sure...I have some Wrigley's Spearmint and in non-mint I can offer you some Juicy Fruit.

5. What’s something you keep in mint condition?  Aw, I don't have anything like that.  Not that I don't take care of my things, but if I have it, I use it.   I don't think anything in my life could be considered in mint condition.


Thanks for visiting, and I hope you've had a minty fresh weekend!

This Musical Message is For Shyness That is Criminally Vulgar

Caught Up in the Action I've Been Looking Out For You

Choose and Defend Wednesday is here...and it brought some heat.  It has been a remarkably mild summer here in So Cal.  The past few days, though, have felt more like how summer usually feels....very hot.  In honor of the heat I thought I'd do a Choose and Defend about animals who live in the desert!  You may remember my Animals of Ice and Snow Choose and Defend?  Okay, well now it is an Animals of the Desert Choose and Defend.  Which one is your favorite?

Coyote

OR

Jack Rabbit

As always, I do realize that neither of these creatures may be your favorite hot weather animal.  However, this is what you have to work with :-)  So Choose and Defend.   Feel free to elaborate in comments...we live for that here in Fresh Hell.

They Said, "You'd Look Better Alive"

Ready to do some Talk Talk Tuesday?  Lately, I've been personally struggling with something that seems about to end in my life...or if not end, change pretty significantly.  Not to be oblique or secretive...but I can't face talking about it quite yet.  Still, it is on my mind and it is making me feel sort of doomsday-ish, if you know what I mean.  Do you know how many songs there are about the end of the world...or at least about emotional apocalypse?  Well, I don't either...but a lot!  One I've had in my brain is called "Four Winds" by Bright Eyes. 

Your class, your caste, your country, sect, your name or your tribe

There's always people dying, trying to keep them alive.

-Bright Eyes, "Four Winds"

And herein lies your Talk Talk for today...what do you feel is worth fighting for?  And when do you stop fighting and resign yourself to loss?  Kind of heavy, maybe, but perhaps you could put your own fun spin on it and jolly me out of this mood. 

PS- In spite of how it sounds, I am actually not depressed.  More just feeling reflective.  Thanks.  Now...Talk Talk!

This Musical Message is For Sinking Into Oblivion

Friday 5 - No Superstitions Here!

It's Friday!  I'm sooo glad, although I suspect this weekend is going to be more busy than relaxing.  Are you all okay on this Friday the 13th?  Not that we're superstitious...that would be silly, right?  Over at Friday 5 we've been given a chance to play around with the idea of luck...or lack thereof.  Shall we?

1. What’s something good that there are thirteen of?   What popped right into my head is the phrase "baker's dozen"...you know, when they throw in an extra donut?  That is a good thirteen!


2. Have you known any black cats?  I had a sweet black cat when I was growing up.  His name was Spooky Dee, he was burmese, very loving, and when he would get kneading on you his nose would start to drip.  That last thing was kind of gross, but he was an otherwise perfect kitty :-)

This isn't Spooky, but the resemblence is pretty good.  Aw, I miss him!

3. Among people you know, who seems to have an uncanny knack for games of chance?   My daughter-in-law Princess Diva seems to be one of the luckiest people I know, when it comes to games of chance.  I, personally, do know seem to have the knack. 

4. It seems to me that while people seem to have all kinds of tokens of good luck, such as lucky articles of clothing or lucky rituals or lucky figurines, nobody has a lucky food. What would make a really good good-luck food, and what would seem to be a bad-luck food?  This question made me laugh...never thought about food in quite that way.  I guess a good good-luck food for me would be Altoids.  Mints count as food, right?  I can't make a mess with them, they aren't fattening, and they freshen the breath.  Nothing wrong with any of that!  Bad-luck food...um, let's see....maybe something troublesome to digest, like beans?   That could be bad luck, I think :-)

5. Not that any of us believes in luck, but what’s something that happened this week that seems to have been very lucky for you?  I feel lucky that my ability to sleep as well as I normally do seems to be returning after an extended hiatus.  Whew.  I was starting to get really worried, but I think I'm back on track.  Lucky!
 
Please feel free to play along in comments or on your blog.  Or don't, but don't be shy about leaving any absolutely unrelated comment.  Good luck!

It Must've Been Some Kind of Kiss

Hey, did you notice it is still Wednesday?  Yes, time to Choose and Defend!  Today, let us think about comfort.  Comfort food.   Food definitely has its associations for people and we all have our comfort foods, right? What comes to mind for you when we talk about comfort food?   As always, here are a couple of choices...Choose.  Followed, of course, by a vigorous defense. 

Is your comfort food more like...

A Traditional Meal

OR

A Snacking Treat

As always, please feel free, once you've chosen, to get as specific as you want.  Tell us your most ideal comfort food.  Or maybe the one you just go to first.  Whatever.  Totally up to you...it is YOUR Choose and Defend Wednesday!

I Grow Old...I Grow Old...

I was considering a Talk Talk Tuesday topic and the words of one of my favorite poems came drifting across my mind. 

Like any other English major who lacks originality, I have always had a special fondness for "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot.  If you'd like, refresh your memory of the text HERE.  I've always found it very beautiful.  You can make your own call there, and feel free to mention it to me, if you like!  But here is the Talk Talk....What do you anticipate your greatest regret might one day be?  I thought by talking about it now, maybe we could try to avoid actually having many (or AS many) big regrets.  What do you think?  Talk Talk!

The Life and Brief Death of laura b.

Oh my.  What a week it has been.  Last Tuesday, I was sick.  Wednesday and Thursday,  I felt fine.  Friday, I awoke in pain about 6am and spent the next 24 hours thinking I might die.  Seriously.  It is probably better left unshared, but I was hovering between feeling nearly unconscious and in excrutiating pain.  By Saturday, when I was supposed to work again, I felt somewhat better, but knew I couldn't work.  And let me tell you, calling in on a Saturday is a MAJOR production.  But I stayed semi-comatose for another day.  By Sunday morning I felt okay, got up and about, even ATE a little...that was exciting and frightening.  Today I am back at work and feeling tired, but basically fine. 

Not to make a big deal of my virus or whatever, but I just seldom get sick and this was soooo awful!  Join me in hoping that it is gone forever.  Or at least for a very long time.

As a bonus for coming back to work today, at lunchtime I went to join the family party at Chuck E. Cheese for Love Bug's 3rd birthday (which is actually tomorrow).  Why they had a party on a Monday afternoon, and why so many people in the family could show up, remains a mystery :-) 

Here us a blurry action shot. You can see the back of Miss Personality, as she "helps" Love Bug with her gifts.
You can see Love Bug sporting some classy specs and hugging a box that has something Dora in it.
And you can see a bit of Little Prince sucking frosting off of his fingers. Awesome party, right?

Anyway, I am glad to be back amongst the living and promise to whip around to everyone's blog to make sure I haven't missed anything.  Onward!

This Musical Message is For Dreaming of Glory

Happy Birthday to My #1

I can't believe my oldest baby is turning 25 today!  Happy Birthday to my Audie Kick Back Dude!  I am so proud of the man he has turned out to be...great son, loyal brother, caring partner, and loving father to his own three beautiful babies.  My heart is full when I think of that night 25 years ago when he came into the world.  His dad and I knew NOTHING about what we were getting into.  But somehow we all got by and here we are to prove it :-)  Who could have guessed how quickly 25 years would fly by?   It really is a wonderful life and a wonderful world.

Seven Nights I Have Laid to Waste

Hello from the land of recuperation.  I was dog sick yesterday, but it at least it inspired today's Choose and Defend Wednesday!   Tell us your preference...Choose, and then explain yourself...Defend.  It's some free fun for a Wednesday.  It'll take you right over that hump!

So, when you are ill do you prefer to be...

Pampered

OR

Left Alone

Stay healthy...I don't want any of you to have to consider this for real!   Choose and Defend. 

This Musical Message is For Taking a Bite of My Heart Tonight