It's Been a Long Day. Watch for Short Sentences.

I always struggle for a day or two after the time changes in either direction. Today has been a long one though. I count on my quiet-ish mornings when I don't come into work until noon. This morning though, I was babysitting Miss Personality. She is the cutest little sweetie ever, but she is two! She has way more energy and way more interest in all of the most mundane things around the house :-) So, I got to work and it has just been insanely busy today for some reason. Possibly people are coming in out of the heat. Yesterday and today brought temperatures in the 90's. Talk about global warming...
I did have a relaxing Sunday, though and I know I will hit my stride for the week eventually. It is all about the little things, right? I had Tivo'd Shopgirl, which I have seen before but wanted to see again. I had to watch it in bits and pieces, because I kept getting interrupted. Still, I enjoyed it. I hope they make a movie version of The Pleasure of My Company. I'd go see it.
Wow, it is 8:30...only another half hour until I am out of here. I hope the house is in a quiet mood and that everyone is ready to turn in early. I know I am.

The Rare l.b. M & M

I love the way The Comedienne's Sidekick looks as an M&M, so I decided to do one of my own. Here I am M&Menized

Do one of your own over at Planet M&M. Go on, don't be shy.

How Rare is My Personality Type?

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Don't Judge Me!

Sometimes I post humorous little questions or requests on CraigsList just to waste time with the email that comes in response. It is called starting a dialog people! Ah, this must be my Day of Shame...

You Belong in a Zoo

It had been several years since I visited the zoo. In truth, I have mixed feelings about them. Part of me finds the ideas of zoos rather cruel. I tend to feel somehow embarrassed standing outside of an enclosure with a herd of other humans gazing in at captive creatures. Still, zoos are undeniably interesting to me. I love being able to see animals that I would never otherwise see face to face. I know that sometimes zoos lead to the repopulation of species that are struggling in the wild. Zoos are a grey area.
On Sunday, Kick Back Dude took his family and I took Girlie Girl and Handsome Lad, and we all trooped off to the Los Angeles Zoo. It is fairly close by and relatively inexpensive for an outing...just remember to bring your own snacks as we did!
Miss Personality, at 2, was the perfect age for the zoo. She loved it. Afterward she kept bringing up "monkey butts". Apparently the chimpanzee bottoms made quite an impression on her. Handsome Lad loves animals and really enjoyed himself. Well, all of us did, apart from my vague feelings of shame.
What do you think of zoos?

Five on a Friday

I stole this right off of Furtive Wangler.

Five in a Row

1. Name one thing you do everyday.

Read. Newpapers, magazines, books, things off my computer screen. I devote a pretty good chunk of time to one sort of reading or another everyday.

2. Name two things you wish you could learn.

I wish I could learn to play the cello. It has always seemed so sexy to me and it is a beautiful sounding instrument. I would have to start from square one...I don't even read music, so it is rather intimidating to think of.
I also wish I could learn to do one of those really loud, piercing whistles. I don't know why, but it just seems like it might come in handy.

3. Name three things that remind you of your childhood.

-Above ground swimming pools. That was what most of the people in my neighborhood had and when I see one I remember happy summer days spent almost entirely in the water.
-Roller skates. I loved skating and went for lessons and practice a couple of times a week from about age 7 to 14 or so. It was such great fun.
-Certain songs. Hearing something like "Billy Don't Be a Hero" reminds me of the little shows my sister and our friends used to put on for our families and the neighbors.

4. Name four things you love to eat but rarely do.

Plain cornbread stuffing.
Hot fudge sundaes.
Anything with shrimp.
Carmel apples

5. Name five things that make you feel good.

Feeling close to someone.
Sitting outside on a warm day.
Becoming totally engrossed in a story on screen or on the page.
Genuine laughter.
Having my family all together just hanging out.

You should do this one too. Yeah, you!

Happiness is a Bobblehead

My oldest son, Kick Back Dude, got me this for my birthday. He actually gave it to me just a couple of days ago. Better late than never! In case you can't tell from the photo, this is a Dwight Schrute bobblehead...just like the one Angela discreetly gave to Dwight last Valentine's Day on The Office. I love it. I have it on my desk and it makes me smile everytime I look at it.

What An Exciting Day!

My week, contrary to my dire feelings at the beginning, is getting better! This morning I put on a special storytime for the toddlers and preschoolers in honor of Read Across America! The best thing about it was the participation of our local fire fighters! The basic plan was for the fire fighters to come, talk to the kids, read a story or two and show the kids their rigs! Right at 10:30 am when they were scheduled to be here, they pulled into the parking lot...almost immediately I heard their sirens, and I thought, "Oh, cool! They are showing us their sirens and lights!" But as we watched, they raced out of the parking lot! Oh no! A real emergency! But the program had to go on! So, I got everyone settled in...there were about 100 people! We sang "Smoky", which is just like "Bingo" only with a fireman's dog instead of a farmers dog! We watched a short video called "Dot the Fire Dog"! I kept telling everyone how I sure hoped the fire fighters would be back soon! I told them that for now, they would have to listen to me read a story! I read one and still no fire fighters! Just as I got a couple of pages into my second story they came walking in! We all cheered! At that point they took over for me, finished the book, read one more and answered questions! Then, the kids got to take a little snack of Teddy Grahams and Juicy Juice and head out to the fire truck for a tour! It was so exciting for the kids, who were mostly 2-5 year olds! The program turned out to be a huge success, but it was touch and go for a while there! My mind was racing with ways to redeem the program with no actual fire fighters there! Luckily, I didn't have to make candy rain from the sky or anything like that!
So, you see?!?!?! Things really are getting better this week!

You might be thinking, "There a lot of exclamation points in this post!" You can thanks Tara over at Eclectic Spaghetti for that! It is a holiday and I am observing it!

When I Was a Band Geek

I don't play an instrument, but in my high school days I was still a band geek. Well, sort of. I was in Drill Team, which is sort of an auxilliary of band geekdom. I loved being in Drill Team! I liked learning the routines for football fields, basketball courts, and parade routes. I liked traveling around with my friends on those teenage body smelling buses. I liked the uniforms we wore. I liked the other girls in the Drill Team. Most of them at least. Sure there was always the odd bitch or two, but nothing unmanagable. I liked hanging out with the Band and the other auxilliary Pagentry people (Tall Flags, Rifles, Sheilds). I had many little flirtations and those tiny relationships that you have when you are in your younger teen years with clarinet players and drummers. Gerard, my first love, played the French horn... I was a really good student in high school and a nice girl, you know? I made a very concerted effort to get to know different people and not to limit myself to any one little clique. But, being on Drill Team took up a lot of my time and sort of defined me in some ways. I honestly have so many good memories of high school, which I know is a mine field for some people, so I feel lucky.
Now, when I go to football games or parades and I hear that band music and see the pagentry, it always brings a little well of emotion. Easy tears spring up in my eyes and I have to catch my breath. It is silly, I know. But when I was a band geek, life was pretty good. Who were you in high school?

Trouble Right Here in River City

There seems to be some bad juju in the air around me. On the home front the WTG is losing what's left of his mind. I am once again thinking that I am going to have to take the big step and make a move. This is the one life that I've been given now and I really don't want to waste it walking on egg shells. On the work front the sort of #2 person in my department also seems to be falling apart. She's been willing to take on less work instead of more over the two or so years that she's been here. She acts pissed off most of the time with the patrons and seems to begrudge the services that we perform for them. She doesn't want to to commit to any long term projects, because she says she "gets bored" and "needs new things to do". Uh hello, how about doing what is in your job description? I don't think it is OUR job to make sure she is entertained, plus I was always told that boredom is the curse of the dull minded...or something like that. The Principal Librarian in the department knows she needs to deal with her, but I know she is almost as non-confrontational as I am. She, however, doesn't have that luxury, being the Boss and all.
So, this week is starting off rough, but I am ready to kick some ass and take some names, you know?

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night!

Yeah, thats a shout out to the Bay City Rollers. Wanna make something of it? My muscial influences are wide and varied. haha! Anyway, here it is another Saturday at work. It is so beautiful outside. The sky is such a clear, stunning blue that it almost makes me want to cry. I made sure to eat my lunch outside as a sanity saving measure. Still it is one of those days when it is a shame to be stuck inside.
Days like this make me even happier than usual that Daylight Savings Time is returning earlier this year. I love being able to walk out the door here at 6 and still have sunshine!
I just started a new book, very fluffy, called The Tuesday Erotica Club. In my defense, lack of much of an actual erotic life leads me to such things. A girl has to get her kicks somehow!
I have been searching for satisfying musical offerings, but I seem to be betwixt and between at the moment. Just waiting for Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, due out March 6. So far, I've heard only the one single they've released, Black Mirror, and I'm liking it. Watch them on SNL tonight!
Hope you are all having a good weekend. If you aren't working, give yourself a +1. If you are -5. If you will be attending or have attended a party this weekend, give yourself +5. If your highlight will be reading the big Sunday paper, -3. If you go out to a movie take a +2. If you watch a movie on DVD, meh, give yourself a +1 for at least trying to amuse yourself. If you sleep in one or more mornings give yourself 5 bonus points for each day. If you spend that extra time in bed productively give yourself +10. Okay, I forgot where I was going with this
:-) Hmmmmmm......

Ash Wednesday

I am not a Catholic, but I couldn't help noticing that today is Ash Wednesday. This marks the beginning of Lent, a time of penance. I remember as a kid how a lot of my friends would give up candy for Lent. I admired the resolve of the ones who actually stuck to it. I have found over the years that giving up things you really enjoy is hard! I would suspect some people give things up for Lent that they aren't that attached to to begin with, but that would seem pretty petty of me. So, in thinking about all of this, I also began thinking about what would be appropriate for someone, say, like me, to give up as a penance for my sins. I can think of several things that it would be very difficult for me to give up for the next 40 days. If you were going to give something up for Lent...or if you do actually participate....what would you give up? Your thoughts on this, please!

She's One Sorry Sack of....

I meant to come back today after my nice three day weekend and write a fun, interesting blog entry. Today got stupid busy though, and it didn't happen. So, I apologize. Don't give up on me though. Tomorrow is bound to be a better day. I'm just a cockeyed optimist like that.

Time Wasting Links

These are where I go when I want to mindlessly kill time. They are probably places you already know. Do you...

Wanna play with balls? http://www.internetpei.com/balls/
Like to draw like Picasso? http://www.mrpicassohead.com/create.html
Long to make up new South Park characters? http://www.sp-studio.de/
Enjoy listening to new music? http://www.pandora.com/?cmd=tuner

Resuming Normal Functions

I am so glad it is the day AFTER my birthday. I get way too weird on my birthday, for some reason. Now I can relax for a whole 'nother year. Milly took me out for my slightly belated birthday lunch at Leroy's today. She managed to be excused from her jury panel. Yay!
What else, what else....I am enjoying looking a pictures of snow on other people's blogs. I have never lived where it snows, although I can go visit the snow with about an hours drive. It is hard for me to imagine sometimes, yet I know people who live in most parts of the U.S. deal with snow at one point or another to varying degrees during the year. I also understand that many people who move here from other places really miss having actual seasons very deeply.
And...lets see...I am reading a really good book called A Wedding in December.
Thats about all I have to offer up on the blogging alter :-)

Hearts, Flowers, Candy...

It is that special day again. Valentine's Day is known far and wide as a pretty bogus Hallmark holiday. Some women use this day as a sort of barometer for their whole relationship. If the man in their life doesn't give the right gift, they are surely doomed. I've never felt that way, but still I can't help but have a special place in my heart for Valentine's Day. Forty-four years ago, on a Valentine's Day in Phoenix, Arizona I came into the world butt first. Once you become an adult, your birthday becomes a much smaller deal, as it should. It is still very gratifying to be remembered on the one "holiday" that is yours alone. It made me feel good that all five of my kids remembered that it is my birthday. It seems little enough to ask, right? But it is a alot in some ways, because kids are busy and tend to be rather self centered. So, when something about someone else enters their peripheral vision I can't help but be pleased. None of the so called "men" in my life are acknowledging today. WTG isn't talking to me right now and I'm actually very cool with that. The Swordsman responded back to my Happy Valentine's card, but didn't remember my birthday. No word from Team C, quel surprise. I did get a birthday card from Gerard last week and a Valentine today asking how my birthday was...so he was in the ballpark at least. I guess I shouldn't be keeping track like this or even worrying about who pays proper homage to me...its rather pathetic, isn't it? Ah well. I did get a gorgeous cake and lovely wishes over at Tara's. That really was a day brightener. Also the people in my dept at work have been very nice and I am expecting to eat chocolate cake at our staff meeting in about 90 minutes. Unfortunately, my best friend Millocent was at jury duty today and not available to enjoy a festive lunch and dance party with me. I treated myself to a nice Subway sandwich though. And I listened to the dance music mix that Milly gave me on Monday. She titled it "Studio 44" and has some current music that has to do with dancing...like Arctic Monkeys "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" and Kings of Convenience "I'd Rather Dance with You"...but most of it is very disco era. Lots of fun...I had never stopped to realize how pervasive disco was during my high school years.
So anyway...Hearts, flowers, and candy. Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Hiawatha

This girl I used to know said "Hiawatha!" when she was aggravated by someting. I had a rather aggravating day yesterday so - Hiawatha! I was supposed to go out to brunch with a couple of friends...a little ladies Sunday brunch. However at the last possible moment WTG said that he had plans and I would need to take Handsome Lad with me. None of the alternatives I suggested would do. Well, okay...but then, when Girlie Girl heard Handsome Lad was going she wanted to go as well, and why wouldn't she? It was clearly no longer and adults only event. I wouldn't have minded taking the kids so much, but it did feel unfair for me to show up with half my family in tow when my friends were expecting a nice dishy brunch. So, I ended up cancelling on them. They understood, as everyone is used to me flaking out at the last minute. I ended up just taking the kids and Kick Back Dude and his family out for lunch. It was nice, but just not what I'd had in mind. My mantra is "You brought this on yourself and now you have to deal with it." I say it to myself over and over, because it puts the blame for everything squarely on me, which helps me feel more in control for some reason. My goal is to make my way out of the swamp of my own bad decisions. Like the AA people say - one day at a time.

Photographic Evidence

I have posted pictures on this blog now and again, so you can see what my hair looked like before. This is how it looks after last night's epiphany:

The Haircut

Hairstyles had come up a bit in conversation here in the blogging world. I noted that I have had long hair for many years now, mainly because I wasn't sure what else I would want to do with it...so for the past eight years or so it has simply grown and grown. I have nice hair. When I was growing up, in the 70's, there was still a trend towards swingy, pin straight hair...followed by Farrah's disco era feathers, and the big hair of the 80's, etc. Sometimes my hair has cooperated with the trends, other times not so much. My hair is very thick, rather coarse, wavy, and dark brown. I tend to get compliments on my hair, especially as it got longer. I do know that for probably the past five years or so I have had the feeling of sort of using my hair as a cloaking device. Part of me was hoping it would be the only thing people would see when they looked at me, because nothing else about me seems to be so noteworthy. Still, I had been feeling like I needed a change lately. The catalyst for this particular change was when someone, who doesn't think particularly highly of me (and the feeling is mutual), told me that my hair was really the only attractive thing about me. I can't say I felt hurt exactly...more angry I suppose. It made me realize though, that I had more or less been thinking the same thing and it suddenly didn't seem right that I should do that to myself. So, I took the one good thing about me (no, I'm not going to believe that...) and cut it off! I guess it is a good thing my best feature wasn't my long legs - haha! At any rate, My hair is now much shorter, graduating from chin to shoulder length in a sort of little slightly layered bob. It actually feels great and I think it looks good too. I am getting a picture up on my computer and will probably post it if anyone cares to see it. Now, me and everyone else will have to find other things to like about me and I think I'm okay with that.

Easiest Birdfeeder Ever

I am playing along with Tara on this fine Build a Birdfeeder Day
:-)


What you need to get started:

Large, open, dry evergreen cone
String or wire
Peanut butter
Knife or other spreading utensil
Small seeds or oatmeal
Bowl

Directions:

Tie string or wire onto base of cone.
Use knife to spread peanut butter on cone, partially filling it.
Roll cone in seeds, or oatmeal, in bowl. Seeds will stick to peanut butter and cover cone.
Hang in tree.
Keep an eye out for all those hungry birds!

My Newest Mix CD

1. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen (I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah!)
2. Dancing Queen – Abba (With a bit of rock music, everything is fine)
3. New Frontier – Donald Fagan (We’ve got to have some music on the new frontier)
4. My Old School – Steely Dan (I hear the whistle, but I can’t go)
5. Here It Goes Again – OK GO (It starts out easy, something simple, something sleazy)
6. All You Ever Think About is Sex – Sparks (Alright with me)
7. One Horse Town – The Thrills (Oh I never should have settled down)
8. Falling in the Ocean – Blue October (I’m sinking to the bottom of my everything that freaks me out)
9. Wonderboy – Tenacious D (What about the power to move you?)
10. Ms. Jackson – Outkast (You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather)
11. Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry (and fight the break of dawn)
12. You Have Killed Me – Morrissey (I entered nothing and nothing entered me)
13. A Plea from a Cat Named Virtute – Weakerthans (About those bitter songs you sing)
14. The Way – Fastball (The children woke up and they couldn’t find them)
15. We’ve Been Had – The Walkmen (Sometimes I’m just happy I’m older)
16. If I Had a Million Dollars – Barenaked Ladies (I’d buy your love)
17. Walkie Talkie Man – Steriogram (And you wave your torch with your black short shorts)
18. Your Racist Friend – They Might be Giants (Can’t shake the devils hand and say you’re only kidding)
19. I am a Man of Constant Sorrow – Soggy Bottom Boys (For in this world I’m bound to ramble)

Nothing too terribly cutting edge on there. This one is mainly made up of reliable favorites of mine.

Everytime I make a Mix CD now I think of the book Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield.

High Anxiety

I'm just getting ready to go in and do a storytime and I am suddenly feeling anxious. It isn't about storytime...I don't think it is about work at all. I'm not sure what it is. Lawd, I hate when this happens! I am pretty noted for my calmness and pronounced lack of that weird nervous energy that some people give off. Still, I have these moments and they feel like doom.

How Normal Am I?

You Are 70% Normal

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal You're like most people most of the time But you've got those quirks that make you endearing You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!

How Normal Are You?

Very reassuring ;-)

First Love

This time of year always makes me think of the first boy I ever really loved. Let's call him Gerard. Our birthdays are very close together, plus there is Valentine's Day and it somehow seems to be "our" season or somthing. Can you really be in love when you are 17? I have to say yes. Even after all these years, I can believe that that was genuine love. There is nothing like first love...we taught each other things and were more open than people tend to be as they grow up. And even though it ended it a typical sloppy, dramatic teenage way I never held it against either one of us...after all, we were still learning. After we broke up, we lost contact for many years. I know that for my part, I thought of him fondly. First love takes on a very bittersweet glow as the years pass. About seven years ago or so, we found each other again on classmates.com and began writing back and forth. We were even sort of able to clean up the messy ends and renew all of the completely positive feelings that we'd had for one another. Since that time, we have stayed in touch through email. We've even gotten together in person a couple of times, but we live a couple of hours apart, we each have children, he fairly recently got married, so it is all about friendship now. Something about my relationship with Gerard gives me hope, though. Even though my longest, most permanent seeming relationship has failed (my marriage), I think of Gerard and the way it felt to love someone before I had ever really been hurt or disappointed and I feel renewed. I know that love could never be quite like that again, as by now we all have our baggage...but I also know that on some level that purity and depth exists. So Gerard gave me the gift of a wonderful first love and he also gives me the gift of believing that there is still love out there in the world for me, for him, for anyone who really wants it.

I Almost Forgot - Happy Groundhog Day!

Here is the official forecast right from the groundhog's mouth, so to speak.

Greetings from Punxsutawney!

Phil Says Spring is Right Around the Corner!
Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:


El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

What Color Should My Eyes Be?

Your Eyes Should Be Brown

Your eyes reflect: Depth and wisdom What's hidden behind your eyes: A tender heart

What Color Should Your Eyes Be?

I like the idea of having depth, wisdom, and a tender heart...but my real life eyes aren't the least little bit brown. They are blue.

Lemonheads

Here is my playing along with Tara and the gang photo of a food label. I had this unopened bag of Lemonheads in my desk drawer. They aren't unopened anymore. Mmmmmmm....Lemonheady goodness....

Who is Team C?

If you read my blog, you will come across the occasional reference to Team C. He just pops up randomly now and again as someone I had a long lunch with, generally. So, who is he and what is he to me? He is, in simple terms, a friend with benefits. Now, don't go thinking "l.b., you are such a ho!" I am a nice girl, really. However, I am a nice girl with a homelife that makes it supremely difficult to actually date in a traditional way. It would just be too hard and weird at this point. Still, I am a grown woman...I've done my time, you know? I am not quite ready to enter the convent or anything, so I have worked out this sort of compromise for myself. I get to have a couple hours of fun and comfort every once in a while without disrupting the household, the job, the anything.
I've known Team C for about two and a half years, and while there may be an element of us using each other, there is also understanding and trust between us.
So, I saw Team C today and anyone who wants a favor should ask now while I am in a good mood! Booya.

I Officially Suck

I was just looking at my blog and suddenly the dates struck me...I realized that yesterday was my dad's birthday and I so did not call him. I didn't send him a card, I didn't do anything!
A 'day after your birthday' phone call won't feel quite so special, I am sure, but probably better than nothing, right?
Yikes I feel so bad now! But I am going to hold on the the more positive feelings I had only moments ago and persever!

A Good Day After All

Today didn't start off so great. I had a bit of a time this morning getting Girlie Girl and Handsome Lad out of the house. Then when I got here, I heard that one of my co-workers was out sick...again. I wanted to keep a good attitude though, because today is my little bear friend Milly's birthday. Things picked up when I took her gifts over to her desk. We had some coffee and a brief dance party to celebrate. Later, we took our lunches together and went to the yummy LeRoy's. Then, just a few minutes ago I spoke to Team C and we are getting together tomorrow. Since the last time we met, a little over 3 weeks ago, I was in a weird mood I am really looking forward to seeing him tomorrow in a better frame of mind. Though I never thought that we could lose there's no regret. If I had to do the same again I would, my friend...

My Weird Close-up Picture

Over in Tara's hood it has been decreed that today is the day to post a weird close up picture. This is one I happened to have on my phone. I actually didn't take it though, so I should probably give credit to Handsome Lad. He is the most likely photographer in this case.

Lutefisk

What started as a joke has become a quest. Well, a sort of a jokey quest. My friend Milly is Chinese and I always make sure she knows how much I enjoy her food. Kung Pao Chicken da bomb. Feeling jealous that her food is so cool and delicious, I decided that we should try some of the food of my people. Naturally, with my maternal grandparents being Norwegian, lutefisk came to mind. Anyone familiar with this, um, treat? Here is the description from Wikipedia.
Lutefisk is made from air-dried whitefish (normally cod, but ling is also used), prepared with lye, in a sequence of particular treatments. The first treatment is to soak the stockfish in cold water for five to six days (changed daily). The saturated stockfish is then soaked in an unchanged solution of cold water and lye for an additional two days. The fish will swell during this soaking, regaining a size even bigger than the original (undried) fish, but the protein content paradoxically decreases by more than 50 percent, causing its famous jelly-like consistency. When this treatment is finished, the fish (saturated with lye) has a pH value of 11–12, and is therefore caustic. To make the fish edible, a final treatment of yet another four to six days (and nights) of soaking in cold water (also changed daily) is needed. Eventually, the lutefisk is ready to be cooked.
Now we feel honor bound to get a taste of MY food. However, around here it is not widely available (although I understand they do serve it in Ikea at Christmas). So, we may or may not actually ever try it. I think I could be okay with that...
Still, has anyone here tried it? If so, tell me all about it please. Let me live vicariously through you. Plus, I welcome any "I tried the weirdest food" stories that you might wish to share. I am not, as a rule, a very adventurous eater.

How Observant Am I?

Your Observation Skills Get A C+

You tend to notice the big things in life... But the details aren't exactly your forte

How Observant Are You?

Sadly, this seems about right :-}

The Sporting Life

This weekend was relatively quiet at the home front. Friday night I ended up babysitting Miss Personality, while Kick Back Dude and Princess Diva had an evening out. It was Princess Diva's 21st birthday and since she is pregnant it didn't go quite as she had imagined it. Still, they had a nice time and Handsome Lad and I kept the baby entertained with our fabulousness.
On Saturday, Handsome Lad had a basketball game. He played with a (supposedly) injured wrist and they were victorious, with a final score of 17-5. Bruins rule.
Yesterday evening was Social Animal's big Football Banquet. Since he is a Senior it was a special evening for him. The Senior players all got very nice watches. He finally got his Letter and he also received and Academic Achievement Award for maintaining a GPA of 3.8 or higher for the past two quarters. This particular banquet is very lengthy. It includes a very nice dinner, but four hours is just too long! Still, it was the last football banquet that I will be attending, I imagine.
Aside from that there stuff, I didn't do all that much. I didn't even grocery shop. This paycheck was mostly devoted to my auto insurance and renewing my Auto Club membership. Food is a distant third for the next couple weeks...

Working the Library Circuit

Yesterday my boss, Smiley, and I went out to a performers showcase. The library systems put these on a couple of times each year. At this particular event, about 30 performers got a six minute slot to impress the librarians who might want to hire them this summer, when we are all running our Summer Reading Programs. They go up and do their little thing and we get to watch them and make notes for ourselves so that later we can possibly remember who was good and who was embarrassing to watch. Many of these people tend to be a bit odd and eccentric. Some of them are quite fun though. There is also this whole weird thing that goes on...it may be hormonal or something. See, the library is a predominately female world. Of course there are male librarians and many of them are nice guys. Still, men in librarianship are often gay (nttawwt!) or sort of....I don't know...different? Okay, follow me here...a lot of the male performers are also either gay or sort of different. BUT there are always one or two performers (most often musicians) who are just gorgeous and virile and they just drive all the women insane! When they perform you can feel this energy level in the room...all these testosterone starved women! It is hard to explain what it feels like. Just this weird librarian thing.
By the way, it possibly sounds strange that people actually work the library circuit, but if they are good and get hired they make excellent money. Most of them charge anywhere from $250 - to over $600 for a 45-60 minute show. I know how much some of these people work and I know they must be doing pretty well for themselves. Not a bad life for an eccentric :-)

The Amazing Meganame Generator

This was so cool when I tried it over at Eclectic Spaghetti, that I had to have it on my blog too! Fun fun. I especially love my socialite name and the name of my punk rock band...

l.b.'s Aliases

Your movie star name: Popcorn Ivan Your fashion designer name is Laura Venice Your socialite name is Lala Pasadena Your fly girl / guy name is L Bry Your detective name is Hedgehog Workman Your barfly name is Tangerine Amaretto Sour Your soap opera name is Anne Samgerry Your rock star name is Dark Chocolate Time Your Star Wars name is Laumit Brycra Your punk rock band name is The Calm My Tummy

The Amazing Meganame Generator

Like Many Women...

...I admit to having a little thing for firemen. Or I guess we say fire fighters now. So I have a little thing for fire fighters who are also men. Today was the city lunch that we have once a month. It is touted as being informational, as while we are eating our free pizza and drinking our free soda the City Manager talks to us about what is going on in city government. Many city employees attend these lunches to stay informed and, incidentally of course, eat for free. I get a little distracted looking at the guys from the fire stations though. Most of them seem to be very handsome and there is the uniform thing going on. Today they happened to be in dress uniforms, because inspections are going on....I was so drooling into my cheese... My favorite is actually one of the Fire Chiefs. He is probably in his mid-50's? I'm not sure, I can never guess ages, but he has white hair. He is soooo good looking and in his dress uniform? Oh my. I like older men sometimes and he is right at the top of my list! Strictly fantasy material though. Like admiring an actor or something. I'm not planning to hit on him at the Spring picnic or anything.
This leads me to the question: Not counting celebrities of the most obvious sort, is there are certain profession or type that you tend to just...lets say...enjoy looking at?

Winners Announced

Fans of Children's Literature know that today was the day that the Newbery and Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books were announced. It is sort of a big deal in the library world. We have to order extra copies of the books, because they will now begin appearing on children's assigned reading lists...forever, more or less. Read about the Newbery winners HERE and the Caldecott winners HERE.

How is My Vocabulary?

Your Vocabulary Score: A-

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person.

How's Your Vocabulary?

What I See

Right now, as I blog, I am sitting on the public desk surveying my domain. It is almost 3:30, so the room is in full swing. All the after school kids with nothing else to do, nowhere else to go. Their parents tell them to go to the library after school and stay until they get home from work. They picture them studiously bent over books and computers studying the afternoon away. Instead, the majority of them are playing computer games or sitting around chatting or playing cards with their friends. Here comes The Gator passing through...he is the security guard. He is a really nice guy, but not so eager to maintain order. Oh well...okay, I see two shelvers working...The Wolfman and Purple Betsy. They are two of the best shelvers here. The Wolfman never talks, but he is nice enough. Purple Betsy is funny. She has several kids, like me, and she always wears entire purple outfits, ALWAYS.
There are kids all over the place. All ages. A few parents with younger children.
As a rule, I like working Fridays. It tends to be a bit quieter than most other days and I am able to get a lot done. Today seems a bit busier than a normal Friday, but pretty managable. I keep getting up to direct people to books that they need...and I just gave out my last computer guest pass. Now The Gator is standing and visiting. His real job is a Special Ed. teacher, then he comes and does this. No wonder he isn't up for a fight after six hours of wrangling the special needs high school students.
Okay, now a Librarian from Adult Reference stopped by looking for a book for her little boy...she's the one I call BabyMama.
********************************************
Now I am off the desk again, back in my office finishing this stream of consciousness post.
Let us all rejoice in the fact that it is Friday! Tomorrow, Handsome Lad has two basketball games. That will be fun and aside from that I have nothing special to do. I'll finish reading Memories of My Melancholy Whores. I will watch some of the things I have Tivo'd...and that, I hope, will be my weekend! I hope yours is either wildly exciting or peacefully soothing, whatever your preference.

How I Take Pictures

Over at Furtive Wangler's place he is showing some photos taken with his excellent new camera. He asked his loyal readers to post a photo on their blog featuring their favorite feature about their camera. Lately, I have mostly been taking quick snaps with my phone. I know some phones have primo cameras...mine, not so much. Here is an example of a picture taken with my phone camera courtesy of one of my compadres here at work a few weeks ago:

I love this picture, not because it is a fine quality photo, but because it shows how much fun my job can be!
I do want and need a good camera, but can't afford it at the moment. My birthday is coming soon, so maybe that should be my big request?

They Actually Pay Me to Do This

Three times a week, five six week sessions per year, I am paid decent money to run a storytime for toddlers [19 months - 3 years]. Storytimes are part of my responsibilities here, as well as class visits (they usually pass me any visits involving Kindergarten or under), plus the specials I do for families, school age kids, etc. Some of the staff act like programming is such a chore, but I LOVE it! They pay me to read stories, sing and dance, do puppet shows, do crafts, etc. with very nice, appreciative people. In honesty, of course I get tired of being "on" sometimes, but for the most part doing the storytimes and other specials is one of the best things about my job.
What is the best thing you get paid to do?

I Have a Dream

Someday, they will let us have Martin Luther King Day OFF! They close the library to the public every MLK day and then make us spend the day learning something useful, such as "Dealing with the Problem Patron", "Better Customer Service Through Empathy"...whatever. This year we learned CPR again. I have five kids. I have taken more CPR classes than you can shake a stick at. I was a model student, for sure. It doesn't hurt to refresh your training, but still...I'm going to complain anyhow!
Ah well, the day is almost over and it will back to business as usual. At least there were no patrons to deal with today and the Administration did provide us with both a light breakfast buffet and a pizza lunch. It definitely could have sucked much harder, so now I will officially stop complaining. Yo.

Wasting Time at Work

I just spent a good half hour adding all the fake profiles from The Office characters as my friends. It seemed funner than working on the department's February calendar and I still have plenty of time to get that out there!
I clearly have my priorities in order. Yay!

Thursday = My Big TV Night

I recognize there is something a little sad about this, but I always look forward to Thursday evening because of all the good shows on. Thursday is the undisputed king of my viewing world. It is so unusual for not one, but two networks to have two solid hours of must-see-tv.
ABC provides Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy for comedic drama. NBC brings the pure funny with My Name is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, and 30 Rock. I have even been known to watch Grey's and The Office more than once.
So TGITh and TGTF&IO (thank god tomorrow's Friday & I'm off!)

How's My Attitude?

Given my mopey attitude yesterday, I thought this quiz would be appropriate...

Your Attitude is Better than 55% of the Population

You have a positive attitude... somtimes. You prefer to see the world through clear glasses, not rose colored ones.

How's Your Attitude?

Join Me For a Pity Party?

If you are reading after that grabber, thank you. I am down today. First off, it is freezing in this building. I am wearing my bigass sweater and I am still cold...my face is cold! Also, I saw Team C today. I haven't seen him since...before Thanksgiving, I think. That isn't the problem though. We get together whenever. And seeing him was nice. On a day like today though, with me in this particular mood, I probably should have just stayed in for lunch. On a good day seeing Team C is like a feast...satisfying and containing everything I need. On a "poor me" day seeing Team C is more like being able to see the feast from outside the big walls of the manor. You can almost taste it, but you're not going to get to...not this time. I am now officially babbling.
Anyone who is still reading and wants to comment, please leave me your favorite joke. I need to cheer the hell up.

It is a Beautiful Day and I'm In HERE

I can't believe it is January. It is so warm and pretty outside. I came in at noon today, top down, wanting to just keep driving. I know coldness is coming soon, but not today. Makes me wish there were some sort of outdoor work to be done at the library. Maybe I could offer to wash the Director's car. I would totally do it on a day like today :-)
I don't have anything too interesting to share today. How unusual! haha! I can update you on my reading and stuff like that I s'pose. I have actually had really good reading luck lately. My last three have been complete winners. First, I read one I had originally picked up for Kick Back Dude. When he didn't get to it quick enough I called 'me first'. That one was JPod. It had some of Coupland's over-the-topiness, but it made me laugh the way it captured the creative ways that people think of to waste time in the office. Next, I read a book that I had meant to get to, but it was always checked out, and then I forgot. Anyway, it turned up on the shelf, so I got a chance to read the very sweet, touching The Year of Pleasures. Now, I am near the end of Running with Scissors, another one long on my list. It seems the library copy is gone for good, so Kick Back Dude ended up buying a copy and after reading it passed it on. I'm so glad that at least one other person in my family is a pleasure reader!
I recommend all three of these books enthusiastically. Oh, and if you need something pretty to listen to please try Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins.

Puppy Love

Handsome Lad has wanted a dog for the longest time. We have a cat, who is the perfect pet, but the last dog we had needed to be put to sleep before the Lad was even born...and he is 9 now. I just haven't felt like I had it in me to start again raising a good dog. Don't kid yourself, a puppy is a LOT of work and someone has to be up for it. If you don't put in the time you are going to end up with a pooping, chewing, little monster. Well, apparently, WTG has decided that Handsome Lad is ready for the responsibility. They got a puppy on Friday. It is a retriever / Australian cattle dog mix. He is very young, only 8 weeks I believe, but already quite stocky...I think he's going to be big. I have made it abundantly clear that my responsibility for this animal begins and ends with petting it. It is all up to anyone else in the house to feed it, train it, clean up after it, etc. I love pups, truly, but just have been resisting one more responsibility. So, we will see how it goes.

In honor of Tank, won't you join me in finding out what breed of puppy you are?

You Are a Chihuahua Puppy

Small, high strung, and loyal. You do best in the city with a adults - young kids could crush you!

What Breed of Puppy Are You?

This seems wrong for me somehow, but the quiz don't lie bro!

Tagged!

Five interesting things about me, as tagged by the Queen of her Castle over at Eclectic Spaghetti.

1. My five kids are probably one of the most interesting things about me. You'd be amazed at the assumptions people will make about you based on the number of children you produce.

2. I once bleached my hair very, very blonde. It look awful.

3. I am an excellent roller skater. Yeah, I challenge you to a skate off! haha!

4. I can't wear any light colored clothing, because apparently I am a worse slob than most people. Dirt and staining stuff are inexorably drawn to me...like Pigpen from the old Peanuts comics.

5. Sometimes I listen to songs that I know will make me cry, because a good cry can feel better than almost anything.

I don't know who to tag! Anyone up for listing five interesting things about themself? I'd love to read it, sincerely.

Happy 14th Girlie Girl

Even though no one in my family reads my blog and never will if I can help it, I still like to give a shout out to the world for birthdays. So, Happy Birthday Girlie Girl. Stay fiesty.

A Special Announcement

I got some news right before Christmas and have been absorbing it gradually. So, in the spirit of happiness and fear in which I am immersed, allow me to announce that in a few months I am going to be an actual granny. Yes, Kick Back Dude and his girlfriend...um, lets say...Princess Diva, are already a family. They have been together since before Princess Diva's daughter (Miss Personality) was even born. So, I have been pretty much a grandmama for almost two years now. Still, this makes it really really really official. My son will be a biological dad and I will be biologically oooooold. I give it a yay, tempered with a small, private yikes.

What's New?

Not too, too much, but I do have a little mental housekeeping to do...so bear with me please. Got through Christmas and New Years all in one piece. Christmas was what I would call successful. Everyone seemed happy with their gifts much to my relief. We had our big family gathering on Christmas eve, with just the immediate family on Christmas day, and everyone managed to get along and play nice.
It was pretty relaxing having some time off work the week between Xmas and New Years. I really didn't do anything constructive. Sleeping in and spending time with the kids was the order of the day. Very nice. Of course the older kids were on the move constantly, even Girlie Girl, but Handsome Lad was my constant companion. I was ashamed to realize how exhausting that was! Sometimes I feel like my stay-at-home mom days were a whole 'nother life! In a way, of course, they were.
Anyway, New Years Eve passed uneventfully. Kick Back Dude and his family came over and just watched TV with Girlie Girl and me. Handsome Lad hung out in the netherworld with WTG. Secret Agent Man and Social Animal were, naturally, out and about. Amateurs. The actual midnight hour arrived with us watching poor dear Dick Clark counting down clumsily as that big ball dropped in Times Square. Then, it was 2007.
Now, here I am, back at work. I won't have another long weekend even until President's Day in February...which is really not so far away, so I'm not complaining.
I wish everyone a 2007 full of what you want and need to make you happy. I am going to be totally boring and predicatable and say that I am continuing to live in the hope that this is the year I find true love or something very like it. Does that make me sound pathetic? Ah, well...I suppose this is as good a place as any to wax pathetic.

My Favorite Alcoholic Beverage

Tara has made it easy for me to jump back into blogging after my long break by asking that we post a picture of our favorite alcoholic beverage on our blogs! Yay Tara! Here is mine:

It is a lovely little rum and coke. Drink up everybody!

The Mixed Feelings Vacation

Getting ready to take a few days of vacation time. I try to do it at this time of year when the kids are out of school and there isn't a great deal of programming going on at the library. Last year, I spent my entire Christmas vacation deathly ill. This one has got to be better, almost by default...knock on wood.
As much as I need the time off, and of course want to spend time with my children, a part of me always sorts of dreads vacation time. First, being at home more leads to more possible interactions with WTG and especially lately that is NOT a good thing. Secondly, when I am home the kids would like for me to take them fun, exciting places. I know the best things in life are free, but they prefer things that...well...aren't. Right now, I am maxed out from the seasonal shopping. I don't like to disappoint them and be a boring mom, but I know they wish for more excitment when I am home all day. But let me not dwell on that. Let me appreciate that I will have 10 days to not think of work or school...10 days of some extra sleep...10 days of just being there for everyone as I can't usually be.

I hope you all have a truly wonderful Christmas or whatever winter holiday you might enjoy. And a Happy New Year.
See you again on Tuesday, January 2, 2007.

xo, l.b.

What Kind of Holiday Food Are You?

One final holiday quiz, just because they are so fun...

You Are a Yule Log

While you do have holiday spirit, you have a secret, heathen past.

What Holiday Food Are You?

Christmas Meme

Double grabbed from Furtive Wangler and Eclectic Spaghetti.

Yes, it is a Christmas meme that even a Grinch can appreciate!


1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, no question.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He is a wrapper, unless it is, you know, like a bike or something ginormous like that...

3. Coloured lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights on the tree and the house.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Some years. Not this year.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Some things will go up at the beginning of the month, but I usually don't put up the tree until about a week before or so.

6. What is your favourite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Figgy pudding. No, just kidding. I don't know what that is but it sounds disgusting. I guess it would be the white chili I make with leftover turkey.

7. Favourite holiday memory as a child? That moment when my parents let my sister and I open the hall door and enter the livingroom on Christmas morning.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What do you mean?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We do our big family party on Christmas eve and open presents from people that we won't see the next day. On Christmas morning it is mostly immediate family gifts and Santa stuff.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Colorful lights and mostly ornaments that my kids have made at school over the years. All those sweet construction paper with school photo inserted stars and houses and boxes...

11. Snow. Love it or hate it? It doesn't snow where I live, so when I go visit it deliberately I love it.

12. Can you ice skate? I can skate, but I'm not used to it so my ankles get sore.

13. Do you remember your favourite gift? One that stands out in my memory was the Charlie MrCarthy ventriloquist dummy that I got one year. I loved that guy!

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with all of the family.

15. What's your favourite holiday dessert? I like it when someone opens a box of See's. Simplicity baby!

16. What is your favourite holiday tradition? Everyone in the house needing to be awakened on Christmas morning and entering the livingroom to open presents all together.

17. What tops your tree? An angel with pretty filiment lights.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? As a grown up I have come to appreciate the joy of giving. It is very gratifying to be able to make someone happy by showing that I was thinking of them.

19. What is your favourite Christmas song? I like Aimee Mann's rendtion of You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch.

20. Candy canes? Yes, certainly. They are delicious and refreshing!

21. Favourite Christmas movie? I guess my number one is A Christmas Story.

22. What do you leave for Santa? Milk and cookies. When my kids were small I started crushing up shredded wheat and putting it in little baggies and calling it reindeer food. Each kid would get a bag to spread out on the front lawn for the reindeer before they went to bed. My youngest son will still participate with me, maybe just to be nice :-)

A - Z Meme

I tagged myself over at Comedienne's Sidekick...thank you Rachel :-)

A- Available or taken? Available
B- Best Friend? Milly
C- Cake or Pie? Cake
D- Drink of Choice? Hot coffee or cold Dr. Pepper
E- Essential Item? Something to read
F- Favorite Color? Blue
G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Bears, for sure.
H- Hometown? La Puente, CA was where I grew up.
I- Indulgence? Sleeping in when I can.
J- January or February? February, because of my birfday
K- Kids and names? Four sons and one daughter. See their names in my profile :-)
L- LIfe is incomplete without? Friends
M- Marriage Date? I don't think about this anymore.
N- Number of Siblings? One sister
O- Oranges or apples? Apples
P- Phobias/Fears? Heights is my main one.
Q- Favorite Quote? Thats what she said! (from The Office)
R- Reason to Smile? Happy children.
S- Season? Summer...all hot and sweaty.
T- Tag three people! Like Rachel, I won't tag anyone. If you want to do it, consider yourself tagged.
U- Unknown Fact About Me? I can still do splits.
V- Vegetable you hate? Most of them cooked. I like some of them raw.
W- Worst habit? Not asserting myself
X- X-Rays you've had? I had one on my spine for my pre-employment screening...dental ones...thats about it.
Y- Your favorite food? Pasta with cream sauce, sundried tomatos, and pine nuts from Macaroni Grill.
Z- Zodiac? Aquarius

Haiku #125

Cute Kristy Parish
An all-American girl
I thought you were swell

Time to Post the Festivus Song Again!

This is a song that some friends and I made up a couple of years ago to celebrate the very special alternative to traditional winter holidays. Enjoy.

The Festivus Song

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
Its 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!......

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 carreening 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.


Verse one by Rich W
Verse two by wildblue
Verse three by - Poppaspank -
Verse four by Stephen lyonheart Lewis
Verse Five by John H. Spencer

See if you can figure out which one I am by a process of elimination :-)

Am I a Grinch?

No surprise here I'm afraid :-)

You're a Total Grinch

Ouch! You make the Grinch seem like Santa Claus. Holidays definitely aren't your thing. Just relax, and create your own tradition. Even if it's drinking spiked hot chocolate and heckling carolers.

Are You a Grinch?

And the Parties Continue

This morning we had the Holiday Breakfast party for library staff. This is not the big city party, you see, it is for the library. Uh huh. Anyway, there was a new caterer this year and they didn't do an omelette bar. That was the whole point of the breakfast for me, so I was quite disappointed by the pan of souffle they set out, alongside some fruit salad and croissants. Oh, the troubles I have seen! haha!
Oh well, in addition to breakfast we also do a cheapie gift exchange. We play that game where you get to choose a present, then the next person can take what you opened away from you or choose a new, unopened present and so on. When it was my turn I took a Target gift card away from a co-worker...but then someone else took it from me. Gift cards and cash are the hardest things to hold on to. Then I ended up with an electronic sudoku game. Not a huge fan and although I gave it hard thought I couldn't think of anyone to regift to. Drat. Luckily though, the museum curator needed a gift for a cousin, said she'd love it, and traded me her two packs of nice Gevalia coffee for it. Yay! In case you were curious, what I brought was a Starbucks gift card and I assure you, it was quite the belle of the ball ;-)
Tomorrow is my Friday off work and unfortunately I have big shopping plans. I get my check today, so I am determined that after tomorrow I will be completely done with my Christmas shopping for another glorious year. Wish me luck.

Haiku #124

D'Arcy you were cool
But went too far with the whole
Attempt to be deep

Of Small Monkeys and Awkward Positions

I was extremely bored while at the desk earlier today and was glancing through a local paper that has tons of DBAs. One that caught my eye said that an individual is doing business as Tiny Monkey Don't Squat. I admit, my curiosity was piqued. What kind of business would you be conducting under that name? It boggles the imagination.

Haiku #123

I loved David Seal
Kissing him in his parked car
Was heaven on earth

Haiku #122

You were so tiny
Like a happy little doll
Cute Cathy Sanchez

If I Had a Photograph of You

When I first started my family lo those many years ago I was so good about organizing my photos. I received photo albums regularly as gifts and also regularly filled them with photos of my babies and that fun stuff. Over the years though, my system kind of fell apart. At some point I didn't have an album handy and the slow decent into photo hell began. Suddenly, there was a shoe box filled with envelopes of pictures. Then, I think I got a couple of albums, but by then the monster was unleashed. They sat and collected dust while the unmounted photos in boxes multiplied like little rectangular bunnies. There may not be a single photo of my youngest child that actually appears in a family album.
My mom has always been the main photographer in our family and I don't see her going digital anytime soon...so every holiday, every family gathering, brings more for the boxes. I love the family pictures, honestly, but you'd never know it by the way I treat them. At some point, I am going to get a handle on this issue. Any suggestions will be gladly accepted and considered :-)

What Will Be In My Christmas Stocking?

Your Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled With Little Wrapped Presents

You've made Santa a very happy fellow this year. Don't worry - what happens at the North Pole stays at the North Pole!

What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

Aw! At least Santa loves me! ;-)

The Day After

Here I am enjoying last night's Holiday event. The theme was Tinseltown or something...I ended up having a good time thanks to my friends. We managed to keep each other amused by giggling over the horrible woman they misguidedly got to sing a selection of Broadway show tunes, rating the firefighters in decending order of hotness, and rating the men from City Hall on degrees of baldness. (BTW, my two best friends aren't into the balding men, but I personally don't have a problem with that.)
The dinner part of the evening was nice. The food was quite good and included chicken Florentine, garlic mashed potatoes, glazed carrots & snow peas, cranberry salad, and flaky rolls. There were a couple types of cake offered for dessert, along with nice strong coffee. During this one boring speech part me and a couple of my cohorts simply went into the outer lobby and goofed off taking pictures and drinking what was left of the sparkling cider out there. We also went around peering through the doorways in order to do our ratings. We reappeared in time for the raffles and I won a $25 gift card for Best Buy. All in all, not a bad night at all.

Haiku #121

The pretty captain
Of my first year of Drill Team
You were Kim-tastic

Party Time. Yay.

This evening is the annual Holiday Party for city employees. Sounds exciting, I know, but please consider these two points:

1. There will be no alcohol on the premises
2. There will be no music or dancing

Okay, I am no raging alchy, but what is a party without a little social lubricant? And no dj or band? Not a party, thank you very much.
Still, we get some dinner, they give out awards for years of service. I'll get my first one next year when I have five years under my belt. They will do a little slide show with photos of other events we've had this year and there will be raffle prizes. I tend not to be lucky, but who knows? Maybe this is my year...iPod, you are mine! :-)

My Very Own Snowflake

I made this (poorly) because Furtive Wangler told me to. Well he didn't insist on the doing it poorly part..that part was aaaalllll me.

My Very Own Snowman

It is make your own snowman day over at Eclectic Spaghetti.
Here is mine found online:

Have a South Park Day!

Wednesdays Tend to Suck a Little Bit

Wednesday tends to be my busiest, most task filled day at the library. Knowing that ahead of time though, allows me to prepare for it practically and mentally. Today contained a little bubble of fun because I went out to lunch at LeRoys with my Dancing Murder Bear cohorts Milly and Ceku. What are Dancing Murder Bears you ask? Lets just say that around the busy days like this, there are slower ones. My friends and I are forced to amuse ourselves by making up nicknames for everyone who works here and creating imaginary performance art groups that never actually perform.
Anyway...lunch was delicious and fun. I need both deliciousness and fun. I could think of other forms that could take, but I guess this is as good as it is going to get for me today :-D
I am reading Philosophy Made Simple. It is good and he has some other books I'm interested in reading as well.
I'm listening to...mostly my XM, because my cd player is behaving majorly hinky. I am loving the new Fall Out Boy single It's Not a Scene, It's an Arms Race.
And I guess thats all I have to say for now...whew.

Haiku #120

Smart Chris Horeczko
We went to the prom as friends
I wished it was more

http://x365.org

P.S.

One more thing. No, two.

1. Today is Team C's birthday. I sent him an ecard, but he hasn't viewed it yet. I called him, but got voicemail. At least I tried.

2. Full moon tonight. Watch out for werewolves.

That is all.

Muzak

I am sitting on the phone waiting to pay my electric bill with a check by phone. I am at my desk, phone cradled between my shoulder and ear and the sounds of smooth jazz...okay blah, blah, blah...done. I am still working on paying this bigass deposit that I incurred when I got my power shut off a few weeks ago. Luckily the nice people at Edison broke my 750. down into four monthly payments of 190. On top of my regular enormous electric bill, I barely feel it. Okay, not to be a whiner, but dang! My bills just keep going up and my salary just keeps staying the same! I could use a second job, but don't know when I would do it, plus I sometimes feel that I barely see my kids as it is. At least I am not in debt. I would be probably, but I had to give up credit cards quite a few years ago :-) Nowadays it is just a matter of staying afloat.
The words to the Blue October Song "Into the Ocean" seem completely appropriate here:

I'm just a normal boy
That sank when I fell overboard
My ship would leave the country
But I'd rather swim ashore

Without a life that's sadly stuck again
Wish I was much more masculine
Maybe then I could learn to swim
Like 'fourteen miles away'

You're floating up and down
I spin, colliding into sound
Like whales beneath me diving down
I'm sinking to the bottom of my
Everything that freaks me out
The lighthouse beam has just run out
I'm cold as cold as cold can be
be

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down

Where is the coastguard
I keep looking each direction
For a spotlight, give me something
I need something for protection
Maybe flotsam junk will do just fine
The jets, I'm sunk, I'm left behind
I'm treading for my life believe me
(How can I keep up this breathing)

Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground
I'm reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

Now waking to the sun
I calculate what I had done
Like jumping from the bow (yeah)
Just to prove I knew how (yeah)
It's midnight's late reminder of
The loss of her, the one I love
My will to quickly end it all
So thought no end my need to fall

Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
into the ocean...end it all

[Zayra]
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion (yeah)
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
(In to space)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
(I thought of just your face)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

Haiku #119

You were a tough girl
With crazy flyaway hair
Warm, spicy Ginger

Haiku #118

Tammy tall and blonde
Your crooked smile was charming
You sure laughed a lot

What Movie Is My Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas

For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Aaawwwww! Cheese!

Christmas Shopping

I spent four hours or so of my precious day off yesterday doing some Christmas shopping with my mom and sister. We have to go together at least once...we used to go more often when my sis and I were stay-at-homes. We manage to have fun, but it isn't easy because none of us really enjoys shopping. Me, personally? I do not like to shop AT ALL. Not grocery shopping, not clothes shopping, certainly not recreational shopping. It has been suggested to me that if I had enough money I would grow to love it, but I don't think so. Grocery shopping is, of course, a necessary evil. I have gotten good at it over the years, but my skill doesn't bring me all that much pleasure. I declared that I was going to to all my holiday shopping online this year, but it is starting to look like that isn't going to happen unless I act quickly. I did get started yesterday with a few things here and there, but it feels like a drop in the bucket. I don't want to sound all Bah Humbug, but I find the holidays somewhat stressful. I want so much to please people and provide happy memories for my kids...it may be that I don't have the knack. Well, not that we haven't had nice holidays, but I just always get the feeling that maybe everyone was wishing for more or something...it is sort of a vague feeling. Maybe it is just my own personal paranoia. I am pleased to note though, that I have to be one of the easiest people in the world to shop for myself. Without sarcasm I can say that I am perfectly happy with anything that someone choses to give me. Socks? Right on! Who doesn't need more socks? A bath set? Yay! Nice smells and bubbles! A gift card? Unlike some I could name, I don't see the gift card as an insult. I love being able to get what I really want or need!
In conclusion, I solicit your thoughts on holiday and any other kind of shopping.

6 Weird Things About Me

I was so excited to be tagged by Tara for this meme!
It was disconcertingly easy to think of 6 weird things about myself...even if they aren't all that weird.

1. I have a thing for breath mints, especially Altoids.
2. I am extremely afraid of heights and the sensation of falling.
3. I like tomato sauce, ketchup, and sundried tomatoes, but don't care for actual fresh tomotoes.
4. I get almost panicky if I find myself with free time and nothing on hand to read.
5. I can't stand the feeling of cloth in my mouth. It sends a chill up my spine.
6. I feel ridiculous when I wear make-up.

I will tag....
Rachel
MiniJonB
Ryan
Nicole
Erin
Sarah

Go! Um, please?

Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Am I?

I don't know why there is all this space at the top, but.....

You are most like: You are Yellow
The clouds part and the smell of daffodils and daisies fill the air when you are around. Your sunny disposition cheers most, and makes others (the jealous and bitter ones) wish you'd never gotten out of bed.
Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?
Visit Toys For Your Blog.com for more blog quizzes

Yay for Yellows!

Wonderfalls

Was anyone into that show when it was on? Not enough people I guess, as I don't think it even lasted a full season. I have been watching the DVD and it is so cool! I love this show! I never did see it when it was actually on a couple of years ago, but if I had been into it I would have been so pissed off when it was cancelled! Now I am pissed off retroactively.
Does anyone else have any underappreciated gems that they discovered too late? Or maybe you were a fan, but couldn't save it. (Like me and Arrested Development *sigh*) Tell me about it.

Which Extremity of the World Am I?

You are the single biggest feature of the surface of the Earth. You cover 28% of the planet, more than all the land put together, and contain enough water to fill the moon. You also contain, almost as an afterthought, four-fifths of the world's islands. If your coastline were to be stretched out straight, it would reach around the world five times, and a lot of people would get very wet indeed.




Which Extremity of the World Are You?
From the towering colossi at Rum and Monkey.

More About Food

We've been all about the food this weekend, right? Having the big meal, making our way through the leftovers. Sometimes I get so sick of thinking about food...what to eat, when it will be time to eat again, who is going to want to eat...Enough! And having kidlets makes it impossible to just skip a meal. I mean, I don't have to eat, but those always hungry souls will certainly want to...so what to to feed them? But *sigh* I do like food after all. Eating is pleasurable, usually. I guess I just wish I didn't have to consider it so often in the course of each day.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Haiku #117

What a striking girl
Gloriana de Jesus
Bet you grew up cool

No, I Can't Complain

Hey, here's hoping you all had a fine Thanksgiving day. I am just back to work today and it has been busy, but all in all I am not inclined to complain.

On Thursday, me and all the kids drove to my dad's house for the feasting. It takes about 90 minutes to get there, but traffic was not at all bad. It was nice too that we managed to take only two cars. The only other guests, my sister and nephew, took their own truck. My dad and step-mom made a very good meal for us, with turkey (of course), gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, corn pudding, salad, and rolls. We ate early in the day, about 2, then just spent time visiting, playing basketball, and going for little rides in the golf cart. I think everyone ended up having a really good time. I'm glad it worked out well, because I know for a fact that WTG invited Secret Agent Man and possibly Social Animal to go with him to his family's Thanksgiving. I can't help but feel good that they came with me...not just one-up-manship, but I just so seldom get all five kids in one place anymore.

Yesterday, I did virtually nothing. I stayed in my pajamas until about 1, which never happens! I am reading a really good book called Sharp Objects. So, I got a chance to just sit and read, drink coffee, and play catch up with the never ending chore of laundry. Some of us went to Kick Back Dude's house for dinner and he burned me three cds: Tenacious D, Tenacious D's "The Pick of Destiny", and My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade". Yay! l.b. loves the music.

So, as you can see I can't complain.

Happy Thanksgiving

No loss of points for unoriginality, I am hoping. But I did want to take a moment to wish anyone who stops by here a very, very Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the long weekend, those of you who get one. I, personally, will be back on the clock Saturday. Not complaining though as I know some people are required to work on even the big holidays. So, anyway, please enjoy yourselves in whatever way you traditionally chose :-)

My Cassette Rawks!

With thanks to Tara, again :-)



You can create your very own here.

What Kind of Reader Am I?

As a dedicated bibliophile I had to take this quiz. I'm not surprised at how it turned out :-)

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Haiku #116

Sweet, dark, Mark Curtis
I thought you were wonderful
But you were not mine.

Haiku #115

Mike Jones, tousled hair
Star of the basketball court
You were nice to me.

For Your Consideration

This is what I went to see yesterday. Ah, I loved a good laugh! It wasn't my favorite Guest movie, but it was still a peach.

I had fully intended to start reading Running with Scissors today and though it is supposed to be on the shelf it wasn't. Since I was right there, I picked up How to Be Alone, which I actually thought was the more recently written The Discomfort Zone...but no matter, I can get to that next or soonish. What have I got but time?

My Must See TV

Not that anyone would particularly care, but I just thought I'd jot down the shows I am finding worth the time this season.

-Dexter
-Desperate Housewives
-Two and a Half Men (I consider this one my guilty pleasure)
-House, MD
-My Name is Earl
-The Office
-Ugly Betty
-Grey's Anatomy

Notice that Thursday is pretty heavy and some nights have nothing? That is the beauty of Tivo, baby.

Oh, and I am eagerly awaiting the season premiere of Scrubs in a couple of weeks. Tuck 'n J.D. slay me.

What is on your Must See list?

Haiku #114

Mrs. Anderson
A stereotypical
Girls PE teacher