Dragon Mood? -- excited with anticipation
I'm getting ready to leave the pied-a-terre and head 'home' to the pine trees for the holidays.
Josh will be rolling in late tonight. I have cleaning and laundry and bedmaking to do before then, but those are simple put-on-the-Christmas-music chores that are part and parcel of holiday preparations. I'm hoping that Josh and S and I will have some time for fun and visiting this weekend.
I have a little Christmas elfing yet to do .... a gift check to cash and disperse from Papa and Evelyn .... gifts to wrap .... our traditional peppered smoked salmon fillet to retrieve from Oliver T's (Josh has agreed to drive over there with me) ... Christmas music to listen and sing along to ... drinks to drink ... Christmas Eve potato soup to prepare ... you know, the regular things people do in anticipation of Christmas!
Caroline rolls in late Christmas Eve. I'm just hoping that the roads are clear and dry for her drive.
We'll all gather (S's kids and spouses) late-in-the-day on Christmas Day to exchange gifts, eat, drink and smoke cigars. Whether or not Grandma and Sally will join us is up in the air. I don't know if S has invited them nor if they'll make the drive down.
Josh leaves to head back to Milwaukee sometime on the 26th. He's got work on his mind ... as well as partying with his peeps, I imagine!
Caroline is staying through the New Year. I'm not exactly sure what we'll be doing, but I know we'll have fun no matter what!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you! Hard to imagine but my next post will be in 2007!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Another ripple in the automotive sea change
The Detroit News is reporting today that Toyota is set to surpass GM in 2007. Here's an excerpt from the article:
NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota announced on Friday a global production target of 9.42 million vehicles for next year, increasing the odds that the Japanese manufacturer will surpass troubled General Motors Corp. as the world's No. 1 automaker.
The latest figure, announced by Toyota in a release, marks a 4 percent increase over the 9.04 million vehicles the company expects to produce this year and easily clears the 9.2 million vehicles GM is estimated to have produced this year.
GM does not give targets for next year, but it has been forced to scale back production recently, seeing its market share eroded by Asian automakers, including Toyota, which have a reputation for better mileage.
....Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe barely said anything when asked about the possibility that his company may soon beat GM in global output.
"That's just what the results may be," he said quietly at a news conference ....
A new take on garbage trucks
I just read an article at Newsweek's website by Dean Ornish that compares a person's HDL to a garbage truck that removes excessive cholesterol from your blood and tissues -- "garbage" -- and delivers it to your liver for removal. Interesting analogy.
His suggestion is that some people are genetically predisposed to having more garbage trucks in their systems than others. Those folks typically don't have coronary-related problems.
For those of us who may have been blessed with fewer rather than more garbage trucks (lower HDL), it is imperative that we be responsible stewards of our bodies and not generate a lot of garbage. That is done by eating low-fat, high fiber diets with little red meat, lots of chicken and fish, and even more fruits and vegetables.
AND .... we must exercise. Exercise typically increases HDL, creating more garbage trucks to remove cholesterol.
Sigh. I wonder if thinking about generating little Tonka-cute garbage trucks in my bloodstream will help motivate me to exercise more? I hope so!
The Faith Club
What to read a captivating book?
Check out The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew-- Three Women Search for Understanding.
I heard a fascinating interview of these three authors on The Diane Rehm Show on NPR today.
Check out The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew-- Three Women Search for Understanding.
I heard a fascinating interview of these three authors on The Diane Rehm Show on NPR today.
Seldom does a book ask so much of its readers: open your mind, open your heart, examine your prejudices, purge yourself of them, become a better person, and then become an agent of change for good in the world. A modest proposal!I'm hoping that Santa may bring me a copy for Christmas!
Let's hear it for NJ!
Dragon Mood? -- thrilled!
I guess I've been so busy getting ready for the holidays, this slipped under my radar!
Let's hear it for New Jersey, it's open-minded citizens and a State Supreme Court not cowed by fearmongering fundamentalist conservatives!
I guess I've been so busy getting ready for the holidays, this slipped under my radar!
After a long, congratulatory ceremony at the Trenton War Memorial yesterday, Gov. Corzine signed a bill granting civil unions to same-sex couples.
New Jersey became just the fifth state to extend some rights of marriage to gay couples, but many of the speakers said the law was just a stop on the way to full gay marriage - possibly in the next two years.
"That is something that needs to be our goal," Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D., Camden) said. "We need to commit ourselves to achieving that as soon as possible."
The civil-unions law will go into effect in 60 days. Among the rights that gay couples will have are hospital visitations, survivor benefits, and eligibility for tax deductions. Employers also must treat couples in a civil union the same as married couples.
The law requires municipal clerks to issue licenses for civil unions, and any mayor who performs marriages must also perform civil unions...
Same-sex couples at the signing ceremony said that they would join in a civil union, but that they regarded this as a legal formality, not an occasion for a grand celebration.
"A lot of people feel that way," said Forest Kairos of Mount Laurel. "They've had ceremonies."
Kairos and her partner of 10 years, Veronica Hoff, were married in a private, Quaker-based ceremony eight years ago, and went to Vermont for a civil union.
But Hoff said a civil union in New Jersey was significant because it "means about a thousand rights."
"Yeah, we have about seven now," Kairos added.
Ed Mather said he and his partner of 37 years, Robert Kriesat, a retired Lutheran minister, would join in a civil union, but would wait until they could get married to have a celebration.
"That will be kind of the journey's completion," said Kriesat, of Morris County. "We'll be able to join the rest of our family and say, 'Yes, we're married.' "
Steven Goldstein, the chair of Garden State Equality, said that about 95 percent of the couples he had talked with felt the same way. Goldstein got married in 2002 in Montreal, where gay marriages are legal, but he said he would have a huge ceremony in New Jersey once they were legal here.
"Every gay person on the Eastern Seaboard" will be there, he said.
The bill-signing was historic, Goldstein said, because of the support the speakers expressed for full marriage rights.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D., Bergen), the prime sponsor of the civil-unions bill in the Senate, predicted that gay marriage would pass in her next term in office.
"These rights will be known as they should be, under the banner of marriage," she said.
The law was written after the state Supreme Court ruled in October that gay couples must be eligible for the same protections as married couples. Saying gay marriage didn't have enough support yet, the Legislature passed a civil-unions law instead.
Let's hear it for New Jersey, it's open-minded citizens and a State Supreme Court not cowed by fearmongering fundamentalist conservatives!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Turning of the wheel
... the seasonal wheel, that is.
Winter begins on Thursday, December 21st at 7:21 p.m. And asThursday is the shortest day of the year, we then begin the six-month journey towards Midsummer's Eve, the longest day of the year.
I always look towards February 1st, because then I can really notice the lengthening of the days.
As for now, I try to celebrate the darkness, this cocooning time of year. It's a time to burn candles, a time for lots of holiday lights and the resulting glow on loved ones' faces. It's also a time for reflection, quietness and anticipation of what is to come.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Catching up on birthday horoscopes
Dragon Mood? -- a wee bit of dragon confusion
I love to read my horoscopes (as well as many of my family members) from Astrodienst.
Here is one that I find particularly difficult to comprehend. I feel like I want to space out when I read this -- which is why I'm posting it here -- and all the more reason to read it and understand it.
I love to read my horoscopes (as well as many of my family members) from Astrodienst.
Here is one that I find particularly difficult to comprehend. I feel like I want to space out when I read this -- which is why I'm posting it here -- and all the more reason to read it and understand it.
Limited warranty
Valid during many months: This is a time of equilibrium and balance in your life, because now you have a pretty good idea of how to handle your own world. Events will run along more or less easily during this time. But it is important to note that it will not necessarily be an especially happy or peaceful time [my emphasis]. Our lives are directed by our own demands much more than we realize, but very often those demands are unconscious. We would often be horrified if we knew what we are really trying to do. We try to protect ourselves and what we feel belongs to us from "threats" that often are not real threats according to adult criteria. Yet we structure our world according to them. This influence only guarantees that you will be successful in patterning your world. If you are very unhappy at this time, you had best get in touch with what you are really doing.
This can be a time when you are successfully approaching your main conscious goals in life. Or it can be a time when you are being run largely by unconscious "programs," as if you were a computer. Usually you will experience a little of both of these effects. However, in the long run the positive possibilities are more useful to know about. Concerning the negative side of this influence, suffice it to say that the difficult and unsatisfactory aspects of your life that you are experiencing now require you to look into yourself more closely.
At this time you are particularly good at working with other people. You are able to see your individuality and differentness in a way that makes it possible for you to work with others in a complementary way so that neither you nor they feel competitive. You can work just as well with people who are above you and with those at your own level.
You approach your own goals methodically and practically, for you are not particularly idealistic at this point. You are much more concerned about how to achieve what you want in concrete practical terms. Use this time well, for it gives you the opportunity to lay a foundation that will protect you in the future.
Transit selected for today:
Saturn Sextile Saturn
activity period from end of October 2006 until beginning of August 2007.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Blogger beta needs more work
Dragon Mood? -- slightly disappointed
I just tried to post the previous post from what used to be Writely/now otherwise known as Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
In a word (well, two), it puked. Here's the message I got:
I just tried to post the previous post from what used to be Writely/now otherwise known as Google Docs & Spreadsheets.
In a word (well, two), it puked. Here's the message I got:
There was an expected [my emphasis] problem (com.google.blogger.api.UserMigratedException: The given Blogger account has been migrated to a Google Account on the blogger beta).Okay, I guess the right hand needs an introduction to the left hand. Come on folks, let's get it together, shall we?
Dooce gets it exactly right
Dragon Mood? -- amused
I read Dooce. Pretty regularly. Along with a few other million readers, I guess.
Writing about Leta in the middle of the night, Heather describes the event like this:
She got it pitch-perfect. From one ol' mom to a new one.
I read Dooce. Pretty regularly. Along with a few other million readers, I guess.
Writing about Leta in the middle of the night, Heather describes the event like this:
And this went on for hours. Hours. And more hours. As many hours as there are between three and eight AM, which doesn’t seem like many right now, but there in the dark as the minutes were counted out in a machine gun spray of syllables, it seemed like all of the hours that ever were, a collection of time so vast that I could have witnessed the Colorado River carve out the Grand Canyon, one layer of dirt at a time.And that is what I think Dooce got exactly right. That insane, completely surreal, will-this-night-ever-end kind of feeling ... that leaves bewildered parent you wondering if you'll ever feel normal again, ever able to sleep again?
She got it pitch-perfect. From one ol' mom to a new one.
Lunchtime
Dragon Mood? -- lunchin', munchin' and contented
It's Friday, it's lunchtime and I'm bloggin'. Could life be any better?
Lina and I have been IM-ing one another (in between working) this morning via our Gmail accounts. I am curious to see how Google continues to integrate its numerous applications like Gmail and Writely along with Blogger. What will happen? What new and glorious innovations will they heap upon us? Hmmm?
For my birthday week, this has been a better-than-usual week. Probably one of the happier and more relaxed weeks I've had in several months. I've had a number of people voice back to me how anxious I have been sounding recently ... and honestly, I don't like to have people 'hear' me that way, nor do I want to 'hear' myself that way.
So, the long and short of it is that I'm trying to relax. To relax about this job. To relax about my long-term employment situation. I can remember voicing wa-a-ay back last spring that we would probably have to sell one of the houses by this past summer. Notice the operative word, "past." We have survived past this summer and are continuing to squeak by, month by month. We have survived and hopefully will continue to survive -- two houses, one house or no house.
What's on tap for this weekend?
S and I need to buckle down and get serious about some Christmas shopping. I'm in better shape than she is (I think?) but still have plenty to do.
Tomorrow evening (after our shopping), we are going to babysit both Preston and Madison. We were both feeling particularly brave when we volunteered for this 'mission.' We'll find out if it was a moment of insanity or if we're two grandmas who are really up to the task.
Sunday, I'm hoping to do some more Christmas elf-ing at the dining room table and perhaps get together with our friends, Jeanne and Joanne, for a little holiday libation. Jeanne makes the best dirty martinis! I won't be driving back to the pied-a-terre Sunday evening, so perhaps I can drink!
Monday morning, I have a teeth-cleaning scheduled at my dentist. After that, I'll jump in my trusty little car and head back down here to Motown.
Until then, have a great weekend!
It's Friday, it's lunchtime and I'm bloggin'. Could life be any better?
Lina and I have been IM-ing one another (in between working) this morning via our Gmail accounts. I am curious to see how Google continues to integrate its numerous applications like Gmail and Writely along with Blogger. What will happen? What new and glorious innovations will they heap upon us? Hmmm?
For my birthday week, this has been a better-than-usual week. Probably one of the happier and more relaxed weeks I've had in several months. I've had a number of people voice back to me how anxious I have been sounding recently ... and honestly, I don't like to have people 'hear' me that way, nor do I want to 'hear' myself that way.
So, the long and short of it is that I'm trying to relax. To relax about this job. To relax about my long-term employment situation. I can remember voicing wa-a-ay back last spring that we would probably have to sell one of the houses by this past summer. Notice the operative word, "past." We have survived past this summer and are continuing to squeak by, month by month. We have survived and hopefully will continue to survive -- two houses, one house or no house.
What's on tap for this weekend?
S and I need to buckle down and get serious about some Christmas shopping. I'm in better shape than she is (I think?) but still have plenty to do.
Tomorrow evening (after our shopping), we are going to babysit both Preston and Madison. We were both feeling particularly brave when we volunteered for this 'mission.' We'll find out if it was a moment of insanity or if we're two grandmas who are really up to the task.
Sunday, I'm hoping to do some more Christmas elf-ing at the dining room table and perhaps get together with our friends, Jeanne and Joanne, for a little holiday libation. Jeanne makes the best dirty martinis! I won't be driving back to the pied-a-terre Sunday evening, so perhaps I can drink!
Monday morning, I have a teeth-cleaning scheduled at my dentist. After that, I'll jump in my trusty little car and head back down here to Motown.
Until then, have a great weekend!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
More birthday celebrations!
Well, my birthday celebrating continues on today.
I got an unexpected call from Uncle George this morning on my drive to work. He evidently had tried to call last night while S and I were at Jan and Tom's drinking and celebrating the holidays.
Then at work, a coworker, an emigre from Russia, came up to me (again unexpectedly) and handed me two items. Mariya said she overheard that yesterday was my birthday and wanted to wish me a "Happy Birthday!" She gave me a very nice mechanical pencil and a colorful pad of Post-It notes.
I grabbed a blank piece of paper and asked her to write the words "Happy Birthday" for me in Russian. I'm thinking about replicating them in UG, creating a jpeg file and publishing it to Flickr.
And here it is ... with my clumsy effort at creating a stereotypical Russian onion dome.
I got an unexpected call from Uncle George this morning on my drive to work. He evidently had tried to call last night while S and I were at Jan and Tom's drinking and celebrating the holidays.
Then at work, a coworker, an emigre from Russia, came up to me (again unexpectedly) and handed me two items. Mariya said she overheard that yesterday was my birthday and wanted to wish me a "Happy Birthday!" She gave me a very nice mechanical pencil and a colorful pad of Post-It notes.
I grabbed a blank piece of paper and asked her to write the words "Happy Birthday" for me in Russian. I'm thinking about replicating them in UG, creating a jpeg file and publishing it to Flickr.And here it is ... with my clumsy effort at creating a stereotypical Russian onion dome.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
About this cliff-dive into Blogger Beta
Dragon Mood? -- temperature rising ... but in a good way
Well, I'm still warming up to this whole "Page Element" thing ... but it certainly is easier than my old trial-and-error-and-mostly-error method of messing with HTML and CSS which I have only the most rudimentary understanding of (with apologies to all those who are offended by ending sentences with prepositions). This evening, I intended to only post once (hah!) and ended up spending until almost midnight 'playing with' the different options on the "Edit Layout" page.
I do wish the Blogger Beta folks had included at least a couple of 3-column templates for blogs. Common on folks, step up to the plate!
Nevertheless, I will give a tentative thumbs-up to the Blogger Beta development folks.
Well, I'm still warming up to this whole "Page Element" thing ... but it certainly is easier than my old trial-and-error-and-mostly-error method of messing with HTML and CSS which I have only the most rudimentary understanding of (with apologies to all those who are offended by ending sentences with prepositions). This evening, I intended to only post once (hah!) and ended up spending until almost midnight 'playing with' the different options on the "Edit Layout" page.
I do wish the Blogger Beta folks had included at least a couple of 3-column templates for blogs. Common on folks, step up to the plate!
Nevertheless, I will give a tentative thumbs-up to the Blogger Beta development folks.
Tomorrow is my birthday
Dragon Mood? -- befuddled and unprepared
Tomorrow I turn 54.
Wow, there it is. Fifty-four, carved in stone, up on a pedestal, its profile outlined by spotlights, big and monolithic and rather detached.
Maybe that better describes my feelings than any fantasy statue. Usually I'm more excited about my birthday, feeling a keener sense of anticipation, you know? For whatever reason, this year I'm not.
Fifty-three, almost done now, has been a tough year for me. Losing my job last January and all the ensuing uncertainty has been tough. My self-confidence feels smaller and diminished from a year ago. My sense of optimism and general well-being is feeling rather worn, rather weary. (I'm chuckling to myself. Thinking of my formerly optimistic outlook -- once robust but now rather worn down with a distinctly ragtag quality to it -- reminds me of my bras. I'm wearing the lone survivor and desperately in need of reinforcements, strong and up to the job!)
My moments of excitement feel smaller these days. Bite-size rather than whole meals, if you know what I mean? Even my dreams seem to have gone AWOL these days. S asked me weeks ago what are my dreams for myself and for us. Sadly, I couldn't come up with a single thought.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow as a remembrance of all the wonderful years I've already experienced. I'm also looking forward to a new age, a new year, renewed dreams ... and maybe even some new bras!
Tomorrow I turn 54.
Wow, there it is. Fifty-four, carved in stone, up on a pedestal, its profile outlined by spotlights, big and monolithic and rather detached.
Maybe that better describes my feelings than any fantasy statue. Usually I'm more excited about my birthday, feeling a keener sense of anticipation, you know? For whatever reason, this year I'm not.
Fifty-three, almost done now, has been a tough year for me. Losing my job last January and all the ensuing uncertainty has been tough. My self-confidence feels smaller and diminished from a year ago. My sense of optimism and general well-being is feeling rather worn, rather weary. (I'm chuckling to myself. Thinking of my formerly optimistic outlook -- once robust but now rather worn down with a distinctly ragtag quality to it -- reminds me of my bras. I'm wearing the lone survivor and desperately in need of reinforcements, strong and up to the job!)
My moments of excitement feel smaller these days. Bite-size rather than whole meals, if you know what I mean? Even my dreams seem to have gone AWOL these days. S asked me weeks ago what are my dreams for myself and for us. Sadly, I couldn't come up with a single thought.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow as a remembrance of all the wonderful years I've already experienced. I'm also looking forward to a new age, a new year, renewed dreams ... and maybe even some new bras!
Monday, December 11, 2006
My Christmas elf name
| ||||||||||||||
Jumping off the cliff into Blogger Beta's arms
Dragon Mood? -- ???
Well, I did it. I jumped and am posting for the first time under Blogger Beta's interface.
So far, it all looks pretty familiar. In the upper right hand corner, I notice that my email address, the Dashboard link and the Sign Out link have a vaguely Google-ish look to them.
That's about all, so far. I am curious what they've done to the template Layout interface. I'll keep you posted.
Well, I did it. I jumped and am posting for the first time under Blogger Beta's interface.
So far, it all looks pretty familiar. In the upper right hand corner, I notice that my email address, the Dashboard link and the Sign Out link have a vaguely Google-ish look to them.
That's about all, so far. I am curious what they've done to the template Layout interface. I'll keep you posted.
Recurring insomnia
Dragon Mood? -- getting sleepy
It's early Monday morning. I've been up for at least an hour-and-a-half with this troublesome, recurring insomnia.
It started rather gradually several weeks ago. Honestly, I can't point to a specific time when it started, but it's been occurring more and more regularly the past several weeks.
I wake up around 3:00, 3:30 and am awake until 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. Then, I get tired and am ready to go to sleep.
ArrghhH! What a bother!
It's early Monday morning. I've been up for at least an hour-and-a-half with this troublesome, recurring insomnia.
It started rather gradually several weeks ago. Honestly, I can't point to a specific time when it started, but it's been occurring more and more regularly the past several weeks.
I wake up around 3:00, 3:30 and am awake until 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. Then, I get tired and am ready to go to sleep.
ArrghhH! What a bother!
Friday, December 08, 2006
My little Aries ram, the take-charge child
Dragon Mood? -- amused and still chuckling
So ... I'm posting yesterday, still trying to catch my breath and catch up with events from Thanksgiving. When what to my wondering eyes does appear but this email from my daughter, Lina, about Christmas plans(!):
Let's take a moment and give thanks.
So ... I'm posting yesterday, still trying to catch my breath and catch up with events from Thanksgiving. When what to my wondering eyes does appear but this email from my daughter, Lina, about Christmas plans(!):
Well, here’s what I’m thinking on making the food. I can bring the cheese and olives and Chex Mix with me, ready to go. I can make the Breakfast Casserole on Christmas morning [Ed. comment: "take charge"], because if history is any indication, I usually am up before anyone else, anyways. You’d be welcome to make the casserole if you wanted to [take charge], but I’d kind of enjoy arriving to some potato soup [take charge] when I roll in on Christmas Eve, if you were willing to make a little pot of that. I’d already thought about it, and am kind of looking forward to cooking the casserole on Christmas morning, so pre-making it isn’t necessary [take charge]. I would help you work out a grocery list [take charge] and ask that you do the shopping [take charge] for any ingredients for the spinach dip, artichoke/crab dip, bloody mary bar (though I can plan on bringing the vodka, since it’ll be cheaper in WI), breakfast casserole, shrimp, tortilla roulades, beef stew, brownies, etc. I’d imagine you could make the brownies and/or Rice Krispie treats beforehand [take charge]. It might be fun for you and Yosh to think about making some bourbon balls together [take charge], maybe on Christmas Eve before I get there?At this point in the email, she switches gears a bit, detailing her plans for Christmas morning, a part of the email that made me laugh out loud (while I was supposed to be working):
So, I’d get up in the morning, make the casserole, make myself a bloody mary, wait for all the sleepyheads to wake up…while the casserole was cooking, I’d probably make the spinach dip and mix up the artichoke/crab dip so they had time to “relax” before we were ready to eat them. I’d also make the tortilla roulade logs and put them in the fridge to set – only cutting them right before we were ready to serve them. I’d probably have another bloody mary, etc. When you got up, I’d serve you some casserole and a bloody mary (and maybe make myself another one), and we could eat some breakfast and have a cuppa coffee together (and our bloody marys) and then I’d probably say, “Hey Mom, let’s make that beef stew!” and we’d either work together on it, or you’d say, “Lina, go take your shower, I’ll get the beef stew started. Here’s another bloody mary to take into the shower with you.”In hindsight, isn't it a wonder that I raised this child without either of us strong-willed people trying to kill the other? ... and that we love each other and love to hang out with one another?
Let's take a moment and give thanks.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
More on Thanksgiving
Dragon Mood? -- awake and downloading
Our Thanksgiving celebration included thirteen of us adults and two grandbabies: two-month-old Madison, who I barely saw as she got passed around the relatives, and 20-month-old Preston who was all decked out in a little white oxford shirt and snazzy pint-sized dress pants; Tim and his girlfriend, Nicki (sp?); Mark and Lindsey; new parents, Matt and Sarah; Sarah's family, Hope and Sean, and teenage brother, Corey; the Wisconsin contingent, Josh and Caroline; and S and me.
Meanwhile, the bird is cooking out on the porch, the potatoes are simmering on the stove, leaves are flying out in the backyard and Caroline, the Mistress of the Autumnal Fire has got a roaring one going out on the deck in the firepit. As for me, --yawn-- I was tired and took a little nap. It was such a beautiful day, relaxed and anticipatory, that we were all unshowered and still in our grubbies when our guests began to arrive.
Amazingly, I think we actually had dinner on the table around six. Matt carved the bird -- although he would be the first to admit that it was so juicy, the meat literally fell off the bones. S made her hearty gravy (mental note for next year: have pineapple juice on hand in case the drippings from the brined bird are too salty!) and Josh carved the wined-and-cloved ham. Hope mashed and seasoned the potatoes, Sean made and brought a yummy spicy cheese dip appetizer and I believe I heard Corey serenading us on the piano with multiple renditions of "Body and Soul" on the piano. It was definitely a group effort and a fun one!
We stood around the dining room table, all thirteen of us, holding hands and taking turns saying one thing for which we are grateful. Although it was anything but a solemn prayer, I definitely felt that for those moments, we were connected in a beyond-this-world sense and sharing in a moment of sacredness. Voicing our gratitude like that never fails to move me.
Going from the sublime to the very earthy, the other dynamic that contributed to the relaxed and burnished memory of this day was THE WINE. Lina had brought six? seven? bottles of wine home from Wisconsin, a variety of them and none of which I can name. I think it was seven bottles. Well, folks, we drank six of them that day. Yup, all six of those bottles got drunk which lent a a lovely glow to an already glowing day.
I'm running out of recounting time here, but the evening included intense euchre whuppings, more combinations of people drinking and smoking around the "campfire" outside, whipped cream playtime between Matt and Caroline, playtime with Preston, conversations about sex toys and many more things that I never witnessed but heard about later. It was one of those times when you wish you could be in multiple places at once.
Our Thanksgiving celebration included thirteen of us adults and two grandbabies: two-month-old Madison, who I barely saw as she got passed around the relatives, and 20-month-old Preston who was all decked out in a little white oxford shirt and snazzy pint-sized dress pants; Tim and his girlfriend, Nicki (sp?); Mark and Lindsey; new parents, Matt and Sarah; Sarah's family, Hope and Sean, and teenage brother, Corey; the Wisconsin contingent, Josh and Caroline; and S and me.
Meanwhile, the bird is cooking out on the porch, the potatoes are simmering on the stove, leaves are flying out in the backyard and Caroline, the Mistress of the Autumnal Fire has got a roaring one going out on the deck in the firepit. As for me, --yawn-- I was tired and took a little nap. It was such a beautiful day, relaxed and anticipatory, that we were all unshowered and still in our grubbies when our guests began to arrive.
Amazingly, I think we actually had dinner on the table around six. Matt carved the bird -- although he would be the first to admit that it was so juicy, the meat literally fell off the bones. S made her hearty gravy (mental note for next year: have pineapple juice on hand in case the drippings from the brined bird are too salty!) and Josh carved the wined-and-cloved ham. Hope mashed and seasoned the potatoes, Sean made and brought a yummy spicy cheese dip appetizer and I believe I heard Corey serenading us on the piano with multiple renditions of "Body and Soul" on the piano. It was definitely a group effort and a fun one!
We stood around the dining room table, all thirteen of us, holding hands and taking turns saying one thing for which we are grateful. Although it was anything but a solemn prayer, I definitely felt that for those moments, we were connected in a beyond-this-world sense and sharing in a moment of sacredness. Voicing our gratitude like that never fails to move me.
Going from the sublime to the very earthy, the other dynamic that contributed to the relaxed and burnished memory of this day was THE WINE. Lina had brought six? seven? bottles of wine home from Wisconsin, a variety of them and none of which I can name. I think it was seven bottles. Well, folks, we drank six of them that day. Yup, all six of those bottles got drunk which lent a a lovely glow to an already glowing day.
I'm running out of recounting time here, but the evening included intense euchre whuppings, more combinations of people drinking and smoking around the "campfire" outside, whipped cream playtime between Matt and Caroline, playtime with Preston, conversations about sex toys and many more things that I never witnessed but heard about later. It was one of those times when you wish you could be in multiple places at once.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Thanksgiving
Dragon Mood? -- anticipating and salivating
Like most Turkey Days at our house, Thanksgiving was a whirlwind.
Caroline was up and knitting in her jammies when I emerged from the bedroom. The dogs had casually thrown their bodies all over the fireplace room in repose. I climbed over the various limbs and paws and headed for the kitchen.
First order of business was the bird. We had brined it about ten hours earlier, so after all the requisite cleaning and sanitizing of sinks and utensils, we washed the bird, buttered the bird and stuffed it with citrus fruits and a few small onions for good measure. Into the Rival oven out on the porch, it went.
Then we started in on other dishes that still required preparation. But, because of our post-inebriation cooking frenzy the night before, we were in pretty good shape.
Before I knew it, Lina was out on the deck building a fire in the firepit. S was outside in the stunningingly warm autumnal air, blowing a zillion million leaves off of the grass and into the woods. Josh, well, I don't know where the heck he was. Probably watching soccer or football or something on TV. (Although, bless his heart, he did peel an entire stockpot's worth of potatoes for our dinner and then risked life and knuckles cutting them up!)
So here's what our menu ended up looking like:
Like most Turkey Days at our house, Thanksgiving was a whirlwind.
Caroline was up and knitting in her jammies when I emerged from the bedroom. The dogs had casually thrown their bodies all over the fireplace room in repose. I climbed over the various limbs and paws and headed for the kitchen.
First order of business was the bird. We had brined it about ten hours earlier, so after all the requisite cleaning and sanitizing of sinks and utensils, we washed the bird, buttered the bird and stuffed it with citrus fruits and a few small onions for good measure. Into the Rival oven out on the porch, it went.
Then we started in on other dishes that still required preparation. But, because of our post-inebriation cooking frenzy the night before, we were in pretty good shape.
Before I knew it, Lina was out on the deck building a fire in the firepit. S was outside in the stunningingly warm autumnal air, blowing a zillion million leaves off of the grass and into the woods. Josh, well, I don't know where the heck he was. Probably watching soccer or football or something on TV. (Although, bless his heart, he did peel an entire stockpot's worth of potatoes for our dinner and then risked life and knuckles cutting them up!)
So here's what our menu ended up looking like:
* * *
2006 Thanksgiving Menu
Appetizers
*Olives
*Spinach Dip with Pumpernickel Bread
*Cheese Plate
Main Course
* Citrus-stuffed Turkey with Bicentennial Rub
* Traditional S&M Wild Rice and Sage Sausage Stuffing
* Apricot-Rosemary Roasted Root Veggies (NEW!)
* Steph's Famous Celery Root
* Mashed Potatoes and Hearty Gravy
* Mixed Greens with Pears, Red Onions, Blue Cheese,
Walnuts and Country French Vinaigrette
* Spicy Cranberry Chutney (NEW!)
Desserts
* Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
* Apple Cranberry Currant Crumble Pie (NEW!)
* Milwaukee's Finest -- Alterra Coffee
* * *
2006 Thanksgiving Menu
Appetizers
*Olives
*Spinach Dip with Pumpernickel Bread
*Cheese Plate
Main Course
* Citrus-stuffed Turkey with Bicentennial Rub
* Traditional S&M Wild Rice and Sage Sausage Stuffing
* Apricot-Rosemary Roasted Root Veggies (NEW!)
* Steph's Famous Celery Root
* Mashed Potatoes and Hearty Gravy
* Mixed Greens with Pears, Red Onions, Blue Cheese,
Walnuts and Country French Vinaigrette
* Spicy Cranberry Chutney (NEW!)
Desserts
* Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream
* Apple Cranberry Currant Crumble Pie (NEW!)
* Milwaukee's Finest -- Alterra Coffee
* * *
It's late, I'm tired and I'm going to bed.
More to come.
More to come.
Thanksgiving Eve
Dragon Mood? -- befuddled
Today is Wednesday, Wendishday, December 6th.
Where have I been? .......... (slow sigh) ......... Well, I've been here ... and there ... and sometimes it feels like everywhere!
Let me back up to Thanksgiving week. (ahem!)
Steph and I worked Monday and Tuesday. We arrived back at the pine trees house around 10, Tuesday evening? Caroline and Josh rolled in around 1 or 1:30 a.m. I was already in my jammies and snoozing on the couch.
Wednesday we arose leisurely, drank coffee, skipped breakfast (as I recall) and headed pretty much straight for El Azteco. I rode with the kids, Steph followed later. Jess was in town from Phillie, via Chicago, to visit with her high school peeps. We sat in the smoking section on the benches that back up to the kitchen -- perfect vantage point for watching the streetscape before us. We ordered lots of pitchers of Margaritas, numerous bowls of El Az's spicy cheese dip, mountains of their homemade tortilla chips and then .... we ordered lunch.
Lina took lots of pictures. We caught up on one another's lives. We talked about plans, or rather non-plans for Jess's graduation. We talked about the Jersey shore. We talked about NYC. We talked about things I can't even remember!
Steph joined us and the conversation got livelier. And more argumentative. As I recall? But then again, I was drinking margaritas. Does anyone really know? Care?
After a long leisurely lunch at El Az's, we mosied over to Campbell's Smoke Shop and bought some see-gars. Well, Lina did.
Then, it was on to Beggar's. You know, the place that I like to drink dirty martinis? Actually, my second favorite place to drink dirty martinis. (My first place is Jeanne and Joanne's. That's 'cuz Jeanne puts all kinds of loving TLC into her dirty martinis. And big olives stuffed with almonds. And .. they're free!)
Things get a little fuzzier around this time. Oh yes, now it's coming back to me. Steph headed home -- to take a nap, the little stinker. Josh, Lina and I headed to Meijer's to do some last-minute Thanksgiving shopping. This is now 4 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon. We're pretty well tooted, if you know what I mean. Lina, of course, is insisting that she's not tooted, but the more she wandered Meijer's aisles, the more her tootedness became apparent.
As I recall, the three of us were like heated molecules in the store, bouncing all over the damn place. Amazingly, I think we forgot only two or three items. Which, when you consider how much alcohol we had just consumed, is pretty darn good.
We got home, and thankfully, all helped to put the groceries away. Then we all headed to our respective horizontal surfaces to get, well, horizontal.
I slept for maybe an hour-and-a-half. It was dark when I woke up. Dehydrated and a bit disoriented. Everyone else was still sleeping. I started cooking and before long, out wandered S. She made some coffee, drank some coffee, woke up slowly and started cooking. Around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., Caroline and then Josh woke up and the whole famn damily was now awake and cooking. We cooked until 1:00 or 1:30 or so. It felt good to get a headstart on all the food preparation awaiting us.
I was looking forward to our Thanksgiving together. All in all, it was a very good day!
Today is Wednesday, Wendishday, December 6th.
Where have I been? .......... (slow sigh) ......... Well, I've been here ... and there ... and sometimes it feels like everywhere!
Let me back up to Thanksgiving week. (ahem!)
Steph and I worked Monday and Tuesday. We arrived back at the pine trees house around 10, Tuesday evening? Caroline and Josh rolled in around 1 or 1:30 a.m. I was already in my jammies and snoozing on the couch.
Wednesday we arose leisurely, drank coffee, skipped breakfast (as I recall) and headed pretty much straight for El Azteco. I rode with the kids, Steph followed later. Jess was in town from Phillie, via Chicago, to visit with her high school peeps. We sat in the smoking section on the benches that back up to the kitchen -- perfect vantage point for watching the streetscape before us. We ordered lots of pitchers of Margaritas, numerous bowls of El Az's spicy cheese dip, mountains of their homemade tortilla chips and then .... we ordered lunch.
Lina took lots of pictures. We caught up on one another's lives. We talked about plans, or rather non-plans for Jess's graduation. We talked about the Jersey shore. We talked about NYC. We talked about things I can't even remember!
Steph joined us and the conversation got livelier. And more argumentative. As I recall? But then again, I was drinking margaritas. Does anyone really know? Care?
After a long leisurely lunch at El Az's, we mosied over to Campbell's Smoke Shop and bought some see-gars. Well, Lina did.
Then, it was on to Beggar's. You know, the place that I like to drink dirty martinis? Actually, my second favorite place to drink dirty martinis. (My first place is Jeanne and Joanne's. That's 'cuz Jeanne puts all kinds of loving TLC into her dirty martinis. And big olives stuffed with almonds. And .. they're free!)
Things get a little fuzzier around this time. Oh yes, now it's coming back to me. Steph headed home -- to take a nap, the little stinker. Josh, Lina and I headed to Meijer's to do some last-minute Thanksgiving shopping. This is now 4 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon. We're pretty well tooted, if you know what I mean. Lina, of course, is insisting that she's not tooted, but the more she wandered Meijer's aisles, the more her tootedness became apparent.
As I recall, the three of us were like heated molecules in the store, bouncing all over the damn place. Amazingly, I think we forgot only two or three items. Which, when you consider how much alcohol we had just consumed, is pretty darn good.
We got home, and thankfully, all helped to put the groceries away. Then we all headed to our respective horizontal surfaces to get, well, horizontal.
I slept for maybe an hour-and-a-half. It was dark when I woke up. Dehydrated and a bit disoriented. Everyone else was still sleeping. I started cooking and before long, out wandered S. She made some coffee, drank some coffee, woke up slowly and started cooking. Around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., Caroline and then Josh woke up and the whole famn damily was now awake and cooking. We cooked until 1:00 or 1:30 or so. It felt good to get a headstart on all the food preparation awaiting us.
I was looking forward to our Thanksgiving together. All in all, it was a very good day!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
a Friday-turned-weekend meme
You can only type one word. No explanations.
1. Yourself: here
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend: fierce
3. Your hair? silvery
4. Your mother? missed
5. Your father: remote
6. Your Favorite Item: colorfulness
7. Your dream last night: huh?
8. Your Favorite drink: bloody!
9. Your Dream Car: cooperish!
10. The room you are in: darkly
11. Your Ex: unsatisfying
12. Your fear: boredom
13. What you want to be in 10 years: healthy
14. Who you hung out with last night? furry
15. What You're Not? entreprenurial
16. Muffins: fattening
17: One of Your Wish List Items: laptop?
18: Time: mystical
19. The Last Thing You Did: insufficient
20. What You Are Wearing: relaxed
21. Your Favorite Weather: foggy
22. Your Favorite Book: magical
23. The Last Thing You Ate: Campbell's
24. Your Life: unexpected
25. Your Mood: happy
26. Your best friend(s): precious
27. What are you thinking about right now? weekend
28. Your car: trustworthy
29. What are you doing at the moment? lunch
30. Your summer: jobseeking
31. Your relationship status: committed
32. What is on your tv? Jeopardy
33. What is the weather like? November-ish
34. When is the last time you laughed? morning
1. Yourself: here
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend: fierce
3. Your hair? silvery
4. Your mother? missed
5. Your father: remote
6. Your Favorite Item: colorfulness
7. Your dream last night: huh?
8. Your Favorite drink: bloody!
9. Your Dream Car: cooperish!
10. The room you are in: darkly
11. Your Ex: unsatisfying
12. Your fear: boredom
13. What you want to be in 10 years: healthy
14. Who you hung out with last night? furry
15. What You're Not? entreprenurial
16. Muffins: fattening
17: One of Your Wish List Items: laptop?
18: Time: mystical
19. The Last Thing You Did: insufficient
20. What You Are Wearing: relaxed
21. Your Favorite Weather: foggy
22. Your Favorite Book: magical
23. The Last Thing You Ate: Campbell's
24. Your Life: unexpected
25. Your Mood: happy
26. Your best friend(s): precious
27. What are you thinking about right now? weekend
28. Your car: trustworthy
29. What are you doing at the moment? lunch
30. Your summer: jobseeking
31. Your relationship status: committed
32. What is on your tv? Jeopardy
33. What is the weather like? November-ish
34. When is the last time you laughed? morning
Monday, November 13, 2006
Shout-out to Ruth!
Dragon Mood? -- celebratory
And .... I want to give a "Happy Birthday" shout-out to my dear sister, Ruth who turns .. uh, fifty-two today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTH!
Wow! In my mind, Ruth and I will always be young. Always.
We talked on the phone tonight and made each other laugh. When I hear Ruth laugh, I feel young. It's a wonderful thing -- an immediate, jump-in-and-splash fountain of youth.
I love you, Ruth! Happy Birthday!
And .... I want to give a "Happy Birthday" shout-out to my dear sister, Ruth who turns .. uh, fifty-two today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTH!
Wow! In my mind, Ruth and I will always be young. Always.
We talked on the phone tonight and made each other laugh. When I hear Ruth laugh, I feel young. It's a wonderful thing -- an immediate, jump-in-and-splash fountain of youth.
I love you, Ruth! Happy Birthday!
Two doors closing
Dragon Mood? -- feeling the imperceptible breath of destiny
Last week I had the distinct sensation of hearing two doors closing.
The first one I closed. My former employer, one of the Big Three automakers, wanted me to come back and do the type of work I did for over twelve years for them. After a day's deliberation, I decided that "Nope, this doesn't feel right" and turned them down. Four days later, it still feels right. I'm glad that I didn't take the job.
The second door was closed to me. An international aviation supplier company that I had interviewed with called to tell me that they had chosen the other candidate. From a large pool, it was down to the two of us and they chose the other guy. Damn. I was disappointed, but I am trying to live by what S and I have been saying to one another, "Trust the process. The Universe (God) has a plan and we have to trust the process." I did have the presence of mind to say to the HR person that called, "Well, if this candidate, for whatever reason, doesn't work out, I hope that Mr. R and Mr. T will reconsider me as a candidate." (sigh) Politically correct. Businesslike and positive. Hopefully, anyway.
And ... this provides me with another opportunity to be thankful for the job that I have, temporary and transient and interim though it may be. Every hour that I work is another little chunk of money in my paycheck. Ker-chunk, ker-chunk, ker-chunk. I am thankful for it and don't want to take it for granted. Not for a minute.
Thank you, God, for this job. I am trusting this process .... this process of unemployment and and insecurity and vulnerability. I believe there is a purpose to all of this -- even if I am never able to know it.
Last week I had the distinct sensation of hearing two doors closing.
The first one I closed. My former employer, one of the Big Three automakers, wanted me to come back and do the type of work I did for over twelve years for them. After a day's deliberation, I decided that "Nope, this doesn't feel right" and turned them down. Four days later, it still feels right. I'm glad that I didn't take the job.
The second door was closed to me. An international aviation supplier company that I had interviewed with called to tell me that they had chosen the other candidate. From a large pool, it was down to the two of us and they chose the other guy. Damn. I was disappointed, but I am trying to live by what S and I have been saying to one another, "Trust the process. The Universe (God) has a plan and we have to trust the process." I did have the presence of mind to say to the HR person that called, "Well, if this candidate, for whatever reason, doesn't work out, I hope that Mr. R and Mr. T will reconsider me as a candidate." (sigh) Politically correct. Businesslike and positive. Hopefully, anyway.
And ... this provides me with another opportunity to be thankful for the job that I have, temporary and transient and interim though it may be. Every hour that I work is another little chunk of money in my paycheck. Ker-chunk, ker-chunk, ker-chunk. I am thankful for it and don't want to take it for granted. Not for a minute.
Thank you, God, for this job. I am trusting this process .... this process of unemployment and and insecurity and vulnerability. I believe there is a purpose to all of this -- even if I am never able to know it.
Catching up!
Dragon Mood? -- amazed at my slackerly slack-ing-ness
Yes, I am indeed amazed at my slacker-coma in the blogosphere. All I can say is that given the incredibly bad marks that the nation gave George W., a vote of "NO CONFIDENCE, GEORGE!,"an amazingly uniform thumbs-down on Iraq, I was in a daze, a haze, a coma of such epic proprotions that only now am I emerging!
Wow! Can you believe what happened on Election Day!???!!?
Isn't it great? Isn't it wonderful? Isn't it amazing?
Amazing I'll grant you. As for great and wonderful, well, that remains to be seen. Can the Democrats really sustain all this "bipartisan" rhetoric and bonhomie? I rather doubt it. But ... I am a person of faith and I want to believe that they will indeed DO some of the things that they're talking about. I do, I Do , I DO!
First of all, Iraq. Or as my red-wine-befuddled fingers want to type, "Iraz."
Secondly, the minimum wage. Congress-People, "SAY what you mean and MEAN what you SAY!" Do it! Forgo the bloated, embarassing raises that you love to give yourselves and cough up the incredibly overdue cost-of-living adjustment to the people who are at the bottom of the income ladder and need it most.
Prescription drugs. Or more broadly, a short-term and long-term strategy for the national health care crisis which is rearing its ugly head ... and only getting uglier. We need it. We definitely need it. Not just the old. Not just the uninsured. Don't forget about all of us middle-class folks who are getting squeezed every which way we turn. Please don't leave us out of the health care costs equation. We want to see that our government representatives recognize and respond to the ways in which our current health care system screws us too.
Whew! Okay. I'm getting lightheaded up here on this soapbox. I'll climb down now.
But I may have more to say!?!
Yes, I am indeed amazed at my slacker-coma in the blogosphere. All I can say is that given the incredibly bad marks that the nation gave George W., a vote of "NO CONFIDENCE, GEORGE!,"an amazingly uniform thumbs-down on Iraq, I was in a daze, a haze, a coma of such epic proprotions that only now am I emerging!
Wow! Can you believe what happened on Election Day!???!!?
Isn't it great? Isn't it wonderful? Isn't it amazing?
Amazing I'll grant you. As for great and wonderful, well, that remains to be seen. Can the Democrats really sustain all this "bipartisan" rhetoric and bonhomie? I rather doubt it. But ... I am a person of faith and I want to believe that they will indeed DO some of the things that they're talking about. I do, I Do , I DO!
First of all, Iraq. Or as my red-wine-befuddled fingers want to type, "Iraz."
Secondly, the minimum wage. Congress-People, "SAY what you mean and MEAN what you SAY!" Do it! Forgo the bloated, embarassing raises that you love to give yourselves and cough up the incredibly overdue cost-of-living adjustment to the people who are at the bottom of the income ladder and need it most.
Prescription drugs. Or more broadly, a short-term and long-term strategy for the national health care crisis which is rearing its ugly head ... and only getting uglier. We need it. We definitely need it. Not just the old. Not just the uninsured. Don't forget about all of us middle-class folks who are getting squeezed every which way we turn. Please don't leave us out of the health care costs equation. We want to see that our government representatives recognize and respond to the ways in which our current health care system screws us too.
Whew! Okay. I'm getting lightheaded up here on this soapbox. I'll climb down now.
But I may have more to say!?!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
feeling nervous
Dragon Mood? -- hopeful while nervous and antsy
Today, the news is full of polls and updates regarding our national election tomorrow. It sounds like the Republican machine has kicked into gear, to maximize registered Republican voters voting as well as those poll-defying independents.
Don't get me wrong; I'm all for people voting. That is the right of all American citizens. But simply put, I don't trust the Republican Party, I don't trust Karl Rove, I don't trust that our elections won't be tampered with. A sad confession, isn't it?
Tomorrow, I hope that all people who want to vote can.
Tomorrow, I hope that polling places are well staffed, smooth operating and that all votes cast are counted.
Tomorrow, I hope that the Republicans get run out of office on a rail. Tarred and feathered would be even better.
By the end of this week, I hope Governor Jennifer Granholm has a chance to relax and spend time with her kids.
By the end of this week, I hope Senator Debbie Stabenow can settle back into work and focus on getting prescription drug costs reduced for all of us folks who need them and can't necessarily afford them.
By the end of this week, I hope Nancy Pelosi is settling into her new role as House Majority Leader.
I hope!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Picking up the slack
Dragon Mood? -- winding even further down from a relaxed, low-down weekend
Yup ... I've been slackin'. Slackin' on the postin'.
Suffice to say that this past week was a bit terrible as far as work was concerned. I got threatened. Threatened with the axe. But you know?... I don't even want to validate the ephemeral nature of that threat and the transitional nature of this job by writing about it. It's a paycheck and it's keeping the modern-day wolves away from the door. That's it.
Next topic?
Well, I had the flu this past week ... sadly enough, on Halloween. Monday afternoon I suddenly felt achy and my throat hurt. I thought maybe I was coming down with a cold. The achy-ness persisted, the sore throat went away and then it got really fun -- I started feeling extraordinarily tired and three-sheets-to-the-wind dizzy. What a way to have the flu -- like you've drunk too much and got twirly beds! I slept, woke up, felt sleepy and slept some more. That went on for a day-and-a-half. And then it was over.
Friday, I saw my doctor. My doc is a woman and a longtime acquaintance from our children being in school together. I really like Wendy. She's a good doctor and a caring person. She and her staff have been an absolute godsend to S and my precarious financial state this past year. Every time I go in, she and her staff load me up with office samples of the numerous meds that I take. Thank God for Dr. Wendy!
My lab results came back and looked pretty good. I don't have the sheets here in front of me, but generally all my numbers looked pretty good. Another thing to be thankful for!
Like I said about my mood, I'm windin' down. Not much more to say. Good night!
Yup ... I've been slackin'. Slackin' on the postin'.
Suffice to say that this past week was a bit terrible as far as work was concerned. I got threatened. Threatened with the axe. But you know?... I don't even want to validate the ephemeral nature of that threat and the transitional nature of this job by writing about it. It's a paycheck and it's keeping the modern-day wolves away from the door. That's it.
Next topic?
Well, I had the flu this past week ... sadly enough, on Halloween. Monday afternoon I suddenly felt achy and my throat hurt. I thought maybe I was coming down with a cold. The achy-ness persisted, the sore throat went away and then it got really fun -- I started feeling extraordinarily tired and three-sheets-to-the-wind dizzy. What a way to have the flu -- like you've drunk too much and got twirly beds! I slept, woke up, felt sleepy and slept some more. That went on for a day-and-a-half. And then it was over.
Friday, I saw my doctor. My doc is a woman and a longtime acquaintance from our children being in school together. I really like Wendy. She's a good doctor and a caring person. She and her staff have been an absolute godsend to S and my precarious financial state this past year. Every time I go in, she and her staff load me up with office samples of the numerous meds that I take. Thank God for Dr. Wendy!
My lab results came back and looked pretty good. I don't have the sheets here in front of me, but generally all my numbers looked pretty good. Another thing to be thankful for!
Like I said about my mood, I'm windin' down. Not much more to say. Good night!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Random thoughts
Dragon Mood? -- clearing out too many rattling-around thoughts
I haven't posted for over a week because I'VE BEEN BUSY.
Here's some things rattling around in my brain:
I haven't posted for over a week because I'VE BEEN BUSY.
Here's some things rattling around in my brain:
- I'm settling into my new schedule. I started this past Monday on a regular 8-to-5 work schedule, although for me it's more like 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. I'm hoping to work four nine-hour days with a short Friday so I can get outta the Motor City before the traffic gets hellacious.
- I'm discovering that I'm a bit sad at ordering my life around the alarm clock -- again. Yecch, I don't like alarm clocks. And ... I had a surprising revelation. The days are getting shorter. Being on second shift, I really wasn't noticing it. In the mornings, I was sleeping. At sunset, I was working in a windowless room, staring at a computer monitor. I simply wasn't dialed in on it. Now, back on days, I'm VERY aware of it. Another reason to be just a little bit sad. Good-bye, Summer. (heavy sigh) Hell-o, Winter.
- I am really struggling with a modeling problem at work. It's occupying way too much of my available brain area and locking out other more pleasant, silly thoughts.
- S and I did manage to get away this past weekend to celebrate our twenty years together. (See my previous post.) One of the images that I keep seeing in my head is while we were sitting in my car at the Stoney Lake beach parking lot. Lake Michigan was wild and wooly-looking with big waves, frothy whitecaps and the most beautiful blue-green color (lots of sand kicked up in the water). S and I remembered playing in water like that, in one of our past summer sojourns at Lake Michigan. Just not at the END OF OCTOBURRRR!
- We visited Claybanks Pottery, one of our favorite destinations over on the west side of the state. We bought each other a mug to honor our anniversary, mine which is sitting in front of me here as I write, full of warming hot green tea.
- Yesterday, I called my dad to wish him a Happy Birthday. He is now 78. I'm embarassed to say that I haven't seen him for two years. I call him and Evelyn almost every Sunday evening (as I drive down to the pied-a-terre). I wish we could be closer. I do miss seeing him.
- I'm feeling a bit anxious about my upcoming visit with my regular doctor. Heaven only knows what news may await me. I suspect I've put on a few pounds with my unorthodox schedule of the past ten weeks and what impact that has had on my cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin levels remains to be seen.
- Trusting that things will work out, I booked S and I for a week in St. Pete's Beach in mid-February. I also reserved airline tickets to get us down there. It's not exactly money that we have laying around, as you may well imagine ... but dammit, we need to have some fun in our lives. I loved staying at this funky little beach motel. According to the young lady who helped me with our reservation, the unit we're staying in this year (#3) is "2000% BETTER" than last winter's unit. Not funky, but actually NICE. I can't wait!
- S continues to have too much trauma-drama with her mother ... this time over pictures. I'm trying to stay out of it, be a sympathetic listening ear when I can, but I can tell you this: I don't like it. S and I have been having numerous conversations about her trying to reduce the amount of "negative energy" in her life, because it has a direct correlation to her health. And her health is the worst it's been in the twenty-three years that I've known her. This ongoing thing with Sally is LOADED with negative energy. Yeeccch!
- And finally, on a more pleasant note, I'm looking forward to us watching S's grandbaby, Preston, this weekend. He is now nineteen months old and just the sweetest baby you'd ever want to spend a few days chasing. As S and I say frequently to each other, "He's such a HAPPY baby!" He's also SUCH A BOY! He loves to push buttons on things. To that end, I bought him a baby "cellphone" that has a keypad, makes sounds and lights up too! He LOVES it. He walks around the house, pushing the buttons and offering up the cellphone for us to talk too. "Can you hear me NOW?"
- I'm posting this at 5 in the morning. Earlier, I couldn't sleep. Now, I'm tired. I'm going back to bed.
20-year anniversary
Dragon Mood? -- dragonly reflective
Today is S and my 20-year anniversary. Can you believe it? I hardly can.
We count the beginning of our time together when she and I were still both married, had husbands and were not 'looking' to leave our marriages. Or were we? One of the metaphors or similes that I've used over these years to describe my feelings for S is simply this: connecting with her was like going from watching black-and-white TV to color television. A whole new world. And once you experience color, who wants to go back to black-and-white?
I never could have imagined my life going this way. Never. S and I come from very different backgrounds, both socio-economically and relationally. Even today, in my head, it doesn't make sense to me that we are together. But you know what? -- in matters of the heart, your head doesn't always get to be the driver. In this case, I let my heart drive and made my big, over-inflated commonsensical head get in the backseat.
I love S. I absolutely LOVE her. Why I love her sometimes is as maddening a question for me as her behavior -- maddening. I've told her in my less kind moments that she is like a burr under my saddle; you are here, you are annoying and dammit, why can't I get rid of you? But obviously, after 20 years, I have no desire nor inclination to get rid of S. Here's where my head gets all twisted up in its analysis: even though sometimes I want to push S away, in my heart I never want her to leave and I will go through all kinds of crazy-making efforts to keep her close. Ask her; she'll tell you. And now, come to think of it, she's described that very dynamic, saying that she feels pushed away and pulled close by me all the time.
I think it's called EMOTIONAL INTIMACY.
Thank God that S has got her own crazy reasons for being in this relationship because I need her, I want her and I love her.
Twenty years. Wow! It's a long time. And it's a blink of the eye. I hope that I get to have the privilege of another twenty years with S. That would truly be a gift.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!
Today is S and my 20-year anniversary. Can you believe it? I hardly can.
We count the beginning of our time together when she and I were still both married, had husbands and were not 'looking' to leave our marriages. Or were we? One of the metaphors or similes that I've used over these years to describe my feelings for S is simply this: connecting with her was like going from watching black-and-white TV to color television. A whole new world. And once you experience color, who wants to go back to black-and-white?
I never could have imagined my life going this way. Never. S and I come from very different backgrounds, both socio-economically and relationally. Even today, in my head, it doesn't make sense to me that we are together. But you know what? -- in matters of the heart, your head doesn't always get to be the driver. In this case, I let my heart drive and made my big, over-inflated commonsensical head get in the backseat.
I love S. I absolutely LOVE her. Why I love her sometimes is as maddening a question for me as her behavior -- maddening. I've told her in my less kind moments that she is like a burr under my saddle; you are here, you are annoying and dammit, why can't I get rid of you? But obviously, after 20 years, I have no desire nor inclination to get rid of S. Here's where my head gets all twisted up in its analysis: even though sometimes I want to push S away, in my heart I never want her to leave and I will go through all kinds of crazy-making efforts to keep her close. Ask her; she'll tell you. And now, come to think of it, she's described that very dynamic, saying that she feels pushed away and pulled close by me all the time.
I think it's called EMOTIONAL INTIMACY.
Thank God that S has got her own crazy reasons for being in this relationship because I need her, I want her and I love her.
Twenty years. Wow! It's a long time. And it's a blink of the eye. I hope that I get to have the privilege of another twenty years with S. That would truly be a gift.
Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Black Monday
More people got the axe today -- thankfully, I wasn't one of them.
Our little second-shift group went from eight, down to five, and now down to three. And, as of next Monday, there will be no more second shift. We three survivors are moving to the day shift ... and Chris and I are definitely the folks with the least seniority. If the work tapers off, runs out or we simply don't measure up, we'll get the boot too.
Scary days here in the Motor City. Don't take your job for granted. I, for one, am not.
Thank goodness for the simple joys of the Tigers.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Chortling AND Laughing Dragon
Quote for the Day
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken
US poet (1874 - 1963)
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Fiery, relaxing Sunday
Dragon Mood? -- dragons LOVE fire!
Sunday morning was my morning to sleep in. Lina and I postponed our dragon-y bonfire two nights in a row due to tiredness. Sunday morning was our last chance.
I woke up sometime around 9. One of my first thoughts was, "I bet Caroline is already up, thinking about starting that fire." Then I heard a noise outside that I didn't recognize. I got up out of bed and looked out the window. There she was, already dressed, standing at the woodpile, selecting various pieces of wood.
I dressed quickly and headed out to the kitchen to make some coffee.
Caroline had the fire going already, in the firepit on the lower deck. I scouted up some more small pieces of wood while she tended the fire.
Happy dragons! Happy bonfire.
We sat around the fire for at least three hours. Mostly we burned wild cherry wood (a.k.a. chokecherry), but there were two or three pieces of oak and hickory that burned slow and hot. Oh, the scent of burning wood was wonderful!
More to come ....
Sunday morning was my morning to sleep in. Lina and I postponed our dragon-y bonfire two nights in a row due to tiredness. Sunday morning was our last chance.
I woke up sometime around 9. One of my first thoughts was, "I bet Caroline is already up, thinking about starting that fire." Then I heard a noise outside that I didn't recognize. I got up out of bed and looked out the window. There she was, already dressed, standing at the woodpile, selecting various pieces of wood.
I dressed quickly and headed out to the kitchen to make some coffee.
Caroline had the fire going already, in the firepit on the lower deck. I scouted up some more small pieces of wood while she tended the fire.
Happy dragons! Happy bonfire.
We sat around the fire for at least three hours. Mostly we burned wild cherry wood (a.k.a. chokecherry), but there were two or three pieces of oak and hickory that burned slow and hot. Oh, the scent of burning wood was wonderful!
More to come ....
Socializing Saturday
Dragon Mood? -- a slightly hungover, draggin' dragon
Saturday was alllll about S, Lina and me socializing.
We went over to J & J's in the early afternoon, with Dakota Suzita as our fourth (and canine) female. Crabby Yellow Dog we left at home.
We spent a glorious couple of hours out on J & J's pontoon, enjoying the midday sun, the nice cold beers (I drank water -- mostly) and the pleasant camaraderie of our friends. We talked about this and that in our meandering conversations and though we didn't solve any of the world's persistent problems, IT WAS FUN!
Around 4 o'clock, the sun was noticeably lower in the sky, the temperature started to cool and Captain J announced it was time to go in -- she had to go to the bathroom.
We said our goodbyes to J & J, took Dakota back to the house, picked up more beer for our next social engagement and headed over to Matt & Sarah's house.
Wow! -- talk about a beehive of activity. There were probably five guys along with Matt up on the roof, repairing the sub-surface on the back of the house and shingling on the front. They all had that slightly dazed look of guys workin' their butts off on an activity they're not exactly used to; tired, sore and ready for quittin' time. But they persevered while they had daylight and even then some.
S and Caroline and I wandered around the house, greeting all the different family members and exchanging hugs. Caroline got to see Madison Hope for the first time. The baby was all decked out in a sweet little print frock with a onesie underneath. Like all newborn babies, she slept, got hungry, got fed, peed, pooped, repeat. Unlike other babies (that I've experienced), this little gal likes to stre-e-e-etch those long, thin legs of hers O-U-T and flex her ankles too. I've never seen a baby do that like Madison does.
We hung around for several hours, holding the baby, watching the MSU-U of M debacle of a football game (U of M won, 31-13) and the glorious, joyous winning game of the Tigers/Yankees post-season series. The Tigers beat them, 8-3, I think it was. That was really fun to watch.
We headed home, tuckered out from all the fresh air and the extended socializing.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Friday & Drinkin' Dragons
Dragon Mood? -- excited and work-fatigued
Late Thursday night (actually early Friday morning) I arrived back home amongst the pine trees about fifteen minutes after Lina. It was a nice change of pace for me to arrive home with the lights on, the house opened up and my sweet little girl's smiling face awaiting me.
Dakota and Cisco had their few moments of reacquainting, circling one another, trying to get a good sniff of the other's butt. Dogs are so funny. But come to think of it -- they probably think or believe (in whatever canine form that may take) that we greet one another in odd ways too.
After not enough sleep, we got up, made coffee, did our ritual mid-morning leisurely chat, dressed and headed into town. First stop: El Azteco, for a snappy pitcher of margaritas and a Mexican lunch. I had enchiladas suizas while Lina had the infamous topopo salad. TOE-PO-PO salad. It's as funny to say as it looks; a veritable mountain of iceberg lettuce with happy little green peas, and other accoutrements mounded in there for a Mexican(?) salad. Go over to Wild Wend for most likely a spot-on description and a killer photo to boot.
Lina had several local shops she wanted to visit for Spartan paraphernalia. We also hit Campbell's Smoke Shop for some Upmann cigarillos and several see-gars that Carolina picked out.
Then it was on to Beggar's Banquet to relax, kill some time and have a drink. Or three. Well, truth be told, I had three ... three dirty martinis, each with three stuffed olives in them, because I wanted happy olives, partying with one another, in a jovial mood as I prepared to devour them. So ... let me see ... that makes nine stuffed olives I gorged on, at least 12 ounces of pure-D-alcohol (even though alcohol doesn't begin with a 'D') and at least two hours of talking, laughing, shooting pictures of anything and anyone that happened within range. But just to make myself sound a little (more) better, a little less alcoholic, a little less SNOCKERED ... Caroline had FOUR martinis, one whole martooni MORE than me! Sheesh! What a lush!
From there, our dear Taurean guardian angel, Joanne, swooped in, picked us up and delivered us to ELHS for their Homecoming parade ... where Jeanne was the grandest Grand Marshall (GM) you could ever hope to put your drunken eyeballs on. She looked cute in the school colors, her nephew's old high school varsity jacket and Mardi Gras beads hanging around her neck. She was excited and elated and cute.
S rolled in from Motown and I gave her a long, snockered hug, glad to see her and glad for her to join in the frivolity and fun. We watched all seven minutes of the parade and then headed off to another bar for more -- what else? -- drinking.
Suffice to say that when we finally rolled into the house around ten, I was still quite inebriated, even more tired than inebriated and beginning to feel the effects of overindulging myself with all that liquor. Holy cow! I managed to watch several innings of Friday night's game between the Tigers and the Yankees (Hurray, Tigers!) and even Bill Maher's Real Time at 11:00. (Recalled with smugness and sanctimony) Caroline had, by that time, passed out on the futon -- lightweight that she is.
S was still going strong. What a woman!
And that was Friday, the first day Lina was here.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
antsy, antsy
Whew! It's Thursday evening, I'm at work and I'm ready to not be at work.
I interviewed for another job today. It's with an aviation-related company, here in the Motor City. I thought the interview went reasonably well, but honestly, I have no earthly clue as to whether I'll ever hear from them again or not. As to how I feel about the possibility of working there, I don't yet know. I'm a slow processor, you see.
But slow processing is not the reason I'm feeling antsy. The reason I'm feeling antsy is because Lina is ON THE ROAD as I write, wending her wenchy wild Wendish self home ... to the place where I am NOT as of yet, because I am still at work. ArrrghhH! I'm really looking forward to seeing her!
I have managed to accrue three extra hours which will enable me to leave tonight at 11. I'll run to the pied-a-terre, pick up my stuff and the pooch, give S a sweet good-night kiss (she's staying tonight to go to work in the morning), and heading back to the OTHER house, to our home in the pine trees.
I'm feeling antsy when I really could be kicking back, enjoying the end of my work week and relish seeing Lina in just a few short hours. The antsy-ness is a substitute for lack of sleep, fatigue and leftover anxiety from the interview this morning, I guess. Nothing that a cold beer probably wouldn't relieve in a few short minutes.
After Lina and I drink our ritual thank-God-you've-arrived-safely beer, we'll give each other a long, warm dragony hug ... and then I will be comatose. Instantly.
...
I interviewed for another job today. It's with an aviation-related company, here in the Motor City. I thought the interview went reasonably well, but honestly, I have no earthly clue as to whether I'll ever hear from them again or not. As to how I feel about the possibility of working there, I don't yet know. I'm a slow processor, you see.
But slow processing is not the reason I'm feeling antsy. The reason I'm feeling antsy is because Lina is ON THE ROAD as I write, wending her wenchy wild Wendish self home ... to the place where I am NOT as of yet, because I am still at work. ArrrghhH! I'm really looking forward to seeing her!
I have managed to accrue three extra hours which will enable me to leave tonight at 11. I'll run to the pied-a-terre, pick up my stuff and the pooch, give S a sweet good-night kiss (she's staying tonight to go to work in the morning), and heading back to the OTHER house, to our home in the pine trees.
I'm feeling antsy when I really could be kicking back, enjoying the end of my work week and relish seeing Lina in just a few short hours. The antsy-ness is a substitute for lack of sleep, fatigue and leftover anxiety from the interview this morning, I guess. Nothing that a cold beer probably wouldn't relieve in a few short minutes.
After Lina and I drink our ritual thank-God-you've-arrived-safely beer, we'll give each other a long, warm dragony hug ... and then I will be comatose. Instantly.
...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
...when gas prices become a NEWS BULLETIN!
The Detroit Free Press has a front page article on their website about record low gas prices. It's labeled as a NEWS BULLETIN.
If this all isn't politically motivated, I'll be a monkey's uncle!
My prediction: Within six weeks of November's election, gas prices will head straight back up.
Two Speedway service stations in Flint are offering gasoline for $1.99.
They are among the first gas stations to post sub-$2-a-gallon gas prices in metro Detroit in more than a year [my emphasis], according to AAA Michigan ... The average price for gasoline in Michigan, which has declined for eight straight weeks, is now $2.16 a gallon. Today's prices are 75 cents lower than they were this time last year. Nationally, gas prices are still averaging $2.30.
If this all isn't politically motivated, I'll be a monkey's uncle!
My prediction: Within six weeks of November's election, gas prices will head straight back up.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Runned voer
Dragon Mood? -- bleary-eyed and weary-scaled
Yippee, it's Friday. Too bad I feel like I've been "runned voer" (as I initially typed it) by a Mack truck this morning. Five-and-a-half hours of sleep is NOT ENOUGH!
After I got home from work last night, I DOWNloaded the photos that S and others took of the baby, reduced and cropped them in Photoshop and then UPloaded them to Flickr for Caroline Marie and the rest of the world TO SEE!
It felt good and fun and creative to do -- even at four in the morning!
But now? Aye-yaye-yaye! Don't ask.
Yippee, it's Friday. Too bad I feel like I've been "runned voer" (as I initially typed it) by a Mack truck this morning. Five-and-a-half hours of sleep is NOT ENOUGH!
After I got home from work last night, I DOWNloaded the photos that S and others took of the baby, reduced and cropped them in Photoshop and then UPloaded them to Flickr for Caroline Marie and the rest of the world TO SEE!
It felt good and fun and creative to do -- even at four in the morning!
But now? Aye-yaye-yaye! Don't ask.
September 21, 2006 -- A beautiful world
Madison probably is still catching up on her sleep from her speedy arrival into the world yesterday.
But when she wakes up, she's got a WHOLE WIDE WORLD out there to spend a lifetime exploring. And Flickr is a great tool for expanding your ideas about just how big that world is ... never mind how BEAUTIFUL it is!
Thanks to Flickrleech (whose name I detest) for the ability to capture a WHOLE page of thumbnails. As Flickrleech puts it so succintly, "Paging sucks!" See the original collage here.
Brought to you by all the talented and generous people who use Flickr.
But when she wakes up, she's got a WHOLE WIDE WORLD out there to spend a lifetime exploring. And Flickr is a great tool for expanding your ideas about just how big that world is ... never mind how BEAUTIFUL it is!
Thanks to Flickrleech (whose name I detest) for the ability to capture a WHOLE page of thumbnails. As Flickrleech puts it so succintly, "Paging sucks!" See the original collage here.
Brought to you by all the talented and generous people who use Flickr.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Celebrating Madison's imminent arrival
So ... Sarah and Matt are at the hospital trying to have a baby. Caroline and I are both at work, pretending to be engaged in our tasks, but really thinking about Sarah, about the baby and simply enjoying chatting with each other on Gmail's messaging tool. As part of the fun and excitement of Madison's imminent arrival, we had an informal "pool" going on the time of her about-to-be birth.
3:35 PM Caroline: I said 4:55, you've got 5:55, Hope's got 6:24 and Steph's making Sarah suffer all the way to 7:32.
So, how are we doing this -- just whomever is closest to the time, regardless of whether you go over or not? So, if she goes anywhere up until 5:24:59, I win? And what do I win, exactly?
3:36 PM Caroline: Do I get to be the baby's God Dragon Mother? I WANT TO BE A GOD DRAGON MOTHER! Speaking of which, do we know what this kid's Chinese sign will be?
I'll go check...
3:38 PM me : I don't know .... I think we're talking about a drink or a shot of tah-kill-yah or something like that!
3:39 PM As for being the baby's God Dragon Mother .... sheesh, I dunno! Sounds like a little pagan and piratical to me!
3:40 PM Caroline: And, your point is???
3:41 PM me: Ha-ha-ha ....
3:43 PM Caroline: Whooo-hoo! She's gonna be a FIRE DOG!
me: ... Oooh, a FIRE DOG!
Cool!
3:44 PM Caroline:I think a fire dog sounds WAY cool!
Not quite as cool as a fire dragon, but we can't all be perfect...
3:45 PM :D
me: ha-ha-ha
Or cool like a WATER dragon!
Caroline: Or ANY kind of dragon!
Dragons are the best
3:46 PM Caroline: Bestest dragonestest!
3:49 PM me: Did you ever text-message Matt?
4:05 PM Caroline: You know, I wonder if cell phones are even allowed to be on in the rooms? Matt might not have even gotten my text message.
me: Oh, that's probably the case ... but EVENTUALLY he'll get it, tell Sarah and they'll have a good laugh about it ... after she's done PUSHING THAT BABY OUT!
4:06 PM Caroline : Yep!
4:14 PM me: Sarah is in quite a bit of pain/discomfort, so the doc gave her another epidural. He said to expect that things will probably move right along now.
Later
Caroline: I'm bugging on outta here -- give me a call on my cell when you have any more info on the Fire Puppy. Love you!
Later still
Caroline: Hello-hello! Are you there? I'm home from my dinner. Any news on Madison's first few hours?
Well, Madison was born at 4:36 p.m., an arrival so unexpectedly early even the doctor didn't make her delivery! She arrived healthy and well, with all ten fingers and toes, 7 lbs. 6 oz., all 19-3/4 inches of her beautiful and perfect. Mommy and Daddy (I hear) were ecstatic and emotional.
As for me, I'm giddily celebrating for Matt and Sarah and their new baby daughter. I'm ALSO celebrating (once again) MY wonderful daughter, the delightfully deranged Lina, the Fire Dragon, the wenchiest wench and piratical Wendish princess this side of the Mississippi! I love you, Lina!
3:35 PM Caroline: I said 4:55, you've got 5:55, Hope's got 6:24 and Steph's making Sarah suffer all the way to 7:32.
So, how are we doing this -- just whomever is closest to the time, regardless of whether you go over or not? So, if she goes anywhere up until 5:24:59, I win? And what do I win, exactly?
3:36 PM Caroline: Do I get to be the baby's God Dragon Mother? I WANT TO BE A GOD DRAGON MOTHER! Speaking of which, do we know what this kid's Chinese sign will be?
I'll go check...
3:38 PM me : I don't know .... I think we're talking about a drink or a shot of tah-kill-yah or something like that!
3:39 PM As for being the baby's God Dragon Mother .... sheesh, I dunno! Sounds like a little pagan and piratical to me!
3:40 PM Caroline: And, your point is???
3:41 PM me: Ha-ha-ha ....
3:43 PM Caroline: Whooo-hoo! She's gonna be a FIRE DOG!
me: ... Oooh, a FIRE DOG!
Cool!
3:44 PM Caroline:I think a fire dog sounds WAY cool!
Not quite as cool as a fire dragon, but we can't all be perfect...
3:45 PM :D
me: ha-ha-ha
Or cool like a WATER dragon!
Caroline: Or ANY kind of dragon!
Dragons are the best
3:46 PM Caroline: Bestest dragonestest!
3:49 PM me: Did you ever text-message Matt?
4:05 PM Caroline: You know, I wonder if cell phones are even allowed to be on in the rooms? Matt might not have even gotten my text message.
me: Oh, that's probably the case ... but EVENTUALLY he'll get it, tell Sarah and they'll have a good laugh about it ... after she's done PUSHING THAT BABY OUT!
4:06 PM Caroline : Yep!
4:14 PM me: Sarah is in quite a bit of pain/discomfort, so the doc gave her another epidural. He said to expect that things will probably move right along now.
Later
Caroline: I'm bugging on outta here -- give me a call on my cell when you have any more info on the Fire Puppy. Love you!
Later still
Caroline: Hello-hello! Are you there? I'm home from my dinner. Any news on Madison's first few hours?
Well, Madison was born at 4:36 p.m., an arrival so unexpectedly early even the doctor didn't make her delivery! She arrived healthy and well, with all ten fingers and toes, 7 lbs. 6 oz., all 19-3/4 inches of her beautiful and perfect. Mommy and Daddy (I hear) were ecstatic and emotional.
As for me, I'm giddily celebrating for Matt and Sarah and their new baby daughter. I'm ALSO celebrating (once again) MY wonderful daughter, the delightfully deranged Lina, the Fire Dragon, the wenchiest wench and piratical Wendish princess this side of the Mississippi! I love you, Lina!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
the end of WHAT?
Some new websites I'm checking out:
- http://absolutemichigan.com/dig/
- http://michpics.wordpress.com/
- Greenstone Media -- an all new, women-owned and operated internet radio station, founded by Gloria Steinem and Jane Fonda. Check it out!
- https://zyb.com/ -- sadly, my phone won't work with Zyb
- and last, but certainly not least: http://www.spartanedge.com/
subtitled "THE END OF PUSSY JOURNALISM"
Monday, September 18, 2006
waxing ..er I mean, soaping rhapsodic about Mistral!
My daughter, the ever-so-good writer writes about the Soap Opera in Madison. It's a wonderful, sensuous, full of knooks and crannies kind of place that you can easily spend an hour or three in.
When I visit Lina, I usually request a stop in at the Soap Opera and I head straight for the Mistral soaps. They are beautifully crafted, heavenly scented, slightly expensive and totally worth every penny. I too put them in our linen closet to make all the linens smell fragrant.
Ohh, yes ... I especially like their Linden Lettuce and the Wild Blackberry (I think that's the name -- I'll have to run down downstairs and check in the linen closet).
When I visit Lina, I usually request a stop in at the Soap Opera and I head straight for the Mistral soaps. They are beautifully crafted, heavenly scented, slightly expensive and totally worth every penny. I too put them in our linen closet to make all the linens smell fragrant.
Ohh, yes ... I especially like their Linden Lettuce and the Wild Blackberry (I think that's the name -- I'll have to run down downstairs and check in the linen closet).
Talk radio by, for and about women
Dragon Mood? -- energized
Gloria Steinem was a guest on Bill Maher's Real Time on Friday night. She spoke of a new venture, Greenstone Media, launched by Jane Fonda and herself. Their home page describes themselves this way:
Gloria Steinem was a guest on Bill Maher's Real Time on Friday night. She spoke of a new venture, Greenstone Media, launched by Jane Fonda and herself. Their home page describes themselves this way:
We’re giving women the radio they want but can’t currently find: entertaining, informative, and inspiring talk delivered in an engaging, inclusive way.As I write this, I'm listening to an interview of Gloria by a group of women bloggers, collectively known as the "mommybloggers." It's interesting and thought-provoking. Have a listen.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
We have lift off
I usually don't 'ooh' and 'ahh' over old cars ... but this one is an exception.
Look at the chrome, look at the detailing, look at the color of this vintage Caddy. Wow!
Kudos to Today is a good day!
... just how I'm feeling
... it's 1:30 a.m., I'm tired and I wanna go home.
Word of the Day
Word of the Day
tetchy \TECH-ee\, adjective: Peevish; testy; irritable.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Flying time, layoffs and family crazies
Dragon Mood? -- tired, bewildered and muddling along
I can't believe it's been a WEEK since I last posted. Whew, where has the time gone?
I worked Tuesday through Thursday. I was supposed to work a ten-hour day on Friday, but Thursday evening, it was cancelled. I was ticked off to say the least. The reasons given seemed rather lame to me. Things continued to happen at work that gave me cause for worry that they might be laying us off ... as we completed our fourth week on the job.
S and I had a pretty busy weekend. I'll get to that in a minute.
Yesterday, I went into work at the usual time, fired up my computer and prepared to begin working. Steve, one of the other guys on the night shift came to me and said, "They're having a meeting in the conference room." I thought to myself, "Here we go." When I got back to the door into the conference room, Hany (pronounced Hah-nee), our night lead was there. He frowned lightly at me, waved his hands and shook his head. I took my cue, turned around and went back to my desk.
Sure enough, four people were laid off -- three from the night shift, one from the day shift. My coworkers, Steve and Mike, were laid off, as well as a Lansing guy who had only been there a week. Mike was the fellow teaching us how to swear in Romanian. They were told this may only be temporary, but I don't think I'll see those guys again.
Seeing people laid off cast quite a pall over our little, now even littler group. I started to get a headache just from the sheer tension of it all. Hany came and talked to me, trying to reassure me. He encouraged me to keep working, focus on accuracy and getting the drawings as "perfect" as possible. Talking to me about 'perfectionist' goals is like taking the proverbial coals to Newcastle ... but thankfully, Hany has a light and optimistic "touch" in his manner of speaking. I just buckled down and tried to get through as many of these machining operation drawings as possible.
Later, that evening, I called S as well as my sister, Ruth. I shared the job update with them. (big sigh)
As for this weekend, Ruth and I managed to eke out about an hour-and-a-half to meet up with each other. We sat over coffee (well, I had coffee) and jabber and catch up on each other's news. It was balm for my soul to have a chance to visit with Ruth. I believe she felt the same way. We have said countless times to one another what a blessing it is to have one another for talking, sharing and simply unburdening ourselves when life's events feel too heavy.
After I got back home, I changed into grubby clothes and S and I proceeded to unload a landscape trailer full of pine boughs that were originally headed for the dump, now euphemistically called a "transfer station?" When did that happen? Because of concerns about spreading the emerald ash borer, the dump/transfer station won't take tree debris anymore. So, now we've got a big pile of pine boughs and debris to deal with. ArrrghhH!
We finally got on the road, S in the truck pulling the landscape trailer and me in my little car, caravaning behind her. I felt more than a little annoyed with her because she doesn't take care of problems ahead of time, and then, the problems are inflated (by her) sometimes to crisis level and she turns to me to 'share' the inconvenience/annoyance/worry of them with her. More old family dynamics!
Thankfully, the trip was uneventful. I managed to listen to virtually the entire MSU/Eastern Michigan football game, first on a local Lansing station and then, further north, WJR, in its first season broadcasting MSU football. That was fun!
We pulled into Grayling and S peeled off to head with her brother-in-law, Jim, to load up the trailer at the storage unit where Sally has more of her too-many-belongings stored. I hit the local Rite-Aid and bought beer and a huge bottle of Piesporter. When I got to Sally and Grandma's house, I immediately unscrewed that bottle, poured us all a glass and started drinking. Nothing like alcohol to lubricate the machinations of family communication, eh!
Sally actually fixed us all a nice, sumptuous dinner that evening. Never mind that we didn't eat until after 10 o'clock. (And so much for observing Oprah's rule about never eating after seven!) I was starved and the food tasted good. We finally got to bed around 2:30 in the morning.
The next morning we were up by 9:00. I made us some single cups of coffee with our little coffee filter cup and some ground Alterra coffee I had brought. Jim and Michelle showed up and S and Jim began working on the running lights on the trailer. Again, her not attending to this problem earlier was an annoyance, but I'll let go of that (for now). They dinked around with those darn running lights for over two hours and were never able to get them to work. By now, it was after noon, so we all jumped in our various vehicles and headed the 30 miles north to Gaylord to work on another storage unit, an old pole barn that Sally's now deceased husband, Bob, had built over 15 years ago and filled with the flotsam and jetsam of his building trade, loads and loads of old lumber, some of it worth keeping, much of it not worth any thing.
To make a too-long story shorter, we made two trips to Gaylord, filling the landscape trailer four feet high with lumber and wood of every description, driving it back to Sally's house to pile and stack next to another pole barn she build two years ago. The goal is to cover it with a tarp and either use it or sell it. Hah! We'll see if that ever happens. We all joked (out of Sally's earshot) that when she's dead and gone, that pile of lumber will still be sitting there, old and rotting ... and we'll have a giant bonfire in her memory. I can see it now.
The other thing we 'rescused' from the Gaylord pole barn was an old aluminum fishing boat that belongs to S, along with a boat trailer. The boat looks in great shape (because it's aluminum -- what's to go wrong?) but the trailer was in pretty rough shape. The tires were both flat and totally decrepit. The winching mechanism needs some work. The last Michigan license on the boat was dated '92. That's how long that boat has been sitting there. Hmm.
We didn't leave Grayling until 9:30 Sunday evening. That's after only six hours of sleep, physical labor outside in the fresh air all day and I'll tell you -- I was pooped. S caravaned with me (this time) south on I-75, as I was heading for the pied-a-terre here in Detroit and she peeled off at Flint back towards the pine forest. After 190 miles and three hours, I pulled in the driveway. Mission accomplished!
I can't believe it's been a WEEK since I last posted. Whew, where has the time gone?
I worked Tuesday through Thursday. I was supposed to work a ten-hour day on Friday, but Thursday evening, it was cancelled. I was ticked off to say the least. The reasons given seemed rather lame to me. Things continued to happen at work that gave me cause for worry that they might be laying us off ... as we completed our fourth week on the job.
S and I had a pretty busy weekend. I'll get to that in a minute.
Yesterday, I went into work at the usual time, fired up my computer and prepared to begin working. Steve, one of the other guys on the night shift came to me and said, "They're having a meeting in the conference room." I thought to myself, "Here we go." When I got back to the door into the conference room, Hany (pronounced Hah-nee), our night lead was there. He frowned lightly at me, waved his hands and shook his head. I took my cue, turned around and went back to my desk.
Sure enough, four people were laid off -- three from the night shift, one from the day shift. My coworkers, Steve and Mike, were laid off, as well as a Lansing guy who had only been there a week. Mike was the fellow teaching us how to swear in Romanian. They were told this may only be temporary, but I don't think I'll see those guys again.
Seeing people laid off cast quite a pall over our little, now even littler group. I started to get a headache just from the sheer tension of it all. Hany came and talked to me, trying to reassure me. He encouraged me to keep working, focus on accuracy and getting the drawings as "perfect" as possible. Talking to me about 'perfectionist' goals is like taking the proverbial coals to Newcastle ... but thankfully, Hany has a light and optimistic "touch" in his manner of speaking. I just buckled down and tried to get through as many of these machining operation drawings as possible.
Later, that evening, I called S as well as my sister, Ruth. I shared the job update with them. (big sigh)
As for this weekend, Ruth and I managed to eke out about an hour-and-a-half to meet up with each other. We sat over coffee (well, I had coffee) and jabber and catch up on each other's news. It was balm for my soul to have a chance to visit with Ruth. I believe she felt the same way. We have said countless times to one another what a blessing it is to have one another for talking, sharing and simply unburdening ourselves when life's events feel too heavy.
After I got back home, I changed into grubby clothes and S and I proceeded to unload a landscape trailer full of pine boughs that were originally headed for the dump, now euphemistically called a "transfer station?" When did that happen? Because of concerns about spreading the emerald ash borer, the dump/transfer station won't take tree debris anymore. So, now we've got a big pile of pine boughs and debris to deal with. ArrrghhH!
We finally got on the road, S in the truck pulling the landscape trailer and me in my little car, caravaning behind her. I felt more than a little annoyed with her because she doesn't take care of problems ahead of time, and then, the problems are inflated (by her) sometimes to crisis level and she turns to me to 'share' the inconvenience/annoyance/worry of them with her. More old family dynamics!
Thankfully, the trip was uneventful. I managed to listen to virtually the entire MSU/Eastern Michigan football game, first on a local Lansing station and then, further north, WJR, in its first season broadcasting MSU football. That was fun!
We pulled into Grayling and S peeled off to head with her brother-in-law, Jim, to load up the trailer at the storage unit where Sally has more of her too-many-belongings stored. I hit the local Rite-Aid and bought beer and a huge bottle of Piesporter. When I got to Sally and Grandma's house, I immediately unscrewed that bottle, poured us all a glass and started drinking. Nothing like alcohol to lubricate the machinations of family communication, eh!
Sally actually fixed us all a nice, sumptuous dinner that evening. Never mind that we didn't eat until after 10 o'clock. (And so much for observing Oprah's rule about never eating after seven!) I was starved and the food tasted good. We finally got to bed around 2:30 in the morning.
The next morning we were up by 9:00. I made us some single cups of coffee with our little coffee filter cup and some ground Alterra coffee I had brought. Jim and Michelle showed up and S and Jim began working on the running lights on the trailer. Again, her not attending to this problem earlier was an annoyance, but I'll let go of that (for now). They dinked around with those darn running lights for over two hours and were never able to get them to work. By now, it was after noon, so we all jumped in our various vehicles and headed the 30 miles north to Gaylord to work on another storage unit, an old pole barn that Sally's now deceased husband, Bob, had built over 15 years ago and filled with the flotsam and jetsam of his building trade, loads and loads of old lumber, some of it worth keeping, much of it not worth any thing.
To make a too-long story shorter, we made two trips to Gaylord, filling the landscape trailer four feet high with lumber and wood of every description, driving it back to Sally's house to pile and stack next to another pole barn she build two years ago. The goal is to cover it with a tarp and either use it or sell it. Hah! We'll see if that ever happens. We all joked (out of Sally's earshot) that when she's dead and gone, that pile of lumber will still be sitting there, old and rotting ... and we'll have a giant bonfire in her memory. I can see it now.
The other thing we 'rescused' from the Gaylord pole barn was an old aluminum fishing boat that belongs to S, along with a boat trailer. The boat looks in great shape (because it's aluminum -- what's to go wrong?) but the trailer was in pretty rough shape. The tires were both flat and totally decrepit. The winching mechanism needs some work. The last Michigan license on the boat was dated '92. That's how long that boat has been sitting there. Hmm.
We didn't leave Grayling until 9:30 Sunday evening. That's after only six hours of sleep, physical labor outside in the fresh air all day and I'll tell you -- I was pooped. S caravaned with me (this time) south on I-75, as I was heading for the pied-a-terre here in Detroit and she peeled off at Flint back towards the pine forest. After 190 miles and three hours, I pulled in the driveway. Mission accomplished!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Labor Day weekend recap
Dragon Mood? -- subdued
It's Tuesday evening -- I'm back at work. Unlike some of my coworkers who made the usual comments about the weekend not being long enough ... I'm feeling like I did have a weekend. It was relaxing, it was long enough and I'm still feeling extremely thankful to have a job right now. Which I'm glad to be working at right now (actually I'm on my lunch break).
S and I did have a pretty low-key weekend. We putzed around the house a bit. We re-installed the fountain on the deck after she waterproofed it two weekends ago. We visited and shared a spicy rib dinner with our eager-to-entertain neighbor and young-78-year-old lawnboy, Bill. I threw some cole slaw together and we took a store-bought apple pie as a thank-you for Bill. We watched an absolute wasteland of TV on Saturday night and I was bummed that we hadn't rented some DVDs for the evening. Just how many commercials can the broadcasters jam into one hour's worth of TV ... while re-airing tired and/or violent old movies? Yecch!
Sunday, J & J invited us over for a pontoon ride and dinner. Geez, did we have fun! At least I did! I think S was tired and feeling a bit under the weather from her ongoing thryoid problems. The weather was gorgeous. We spent at least a couple of hours toodling (is "toodling" a word?) around the lake, watching other boaters, picnickers, houses around the lakeshore and drunken partyers in the middle of the lake.
The highlight of the pontoon ride (for me) was at dusk as we watched the whooping cranes return to their lake "safe harbor" for the night. Their yodel-y warbles, calling and replying, never fail to enthrall me with nature's primeval beauty. And, of course, the sunset on the lake was lovely, with Mother Nature putting on a spectacular watercolor show. I wish I could paint like that!
Monday was another beautiful late-summer Michigan day. The temperatures were in the low 70s and the humidity was low, as well -- in a word, perfect! I sat out on the deck in the morning, did a few sudoku puzzles, and called my Uncle George. It was great to hear his voice after these many months of not talking. My cousin, Brenda, was there too so I got to talk briefly with her also.
Late in the afternoon, we took a ride into south Lansing to deliver numerous boxes of children's books to Matt and Sarah, in anticipation of their little girl, Madison, making her appearance in the world ... 17 more days to go! Bless her heart, Sarah was very gracious about having four boxes of books rather unceremoniously dumped in her living room. S was happy to get them out of the back of the truck and delivered for Sarah and Lindsey to divide.
I complained to S that I couldn't remember the last time that I had had a hot meal (not including burgers and/or ribs). She responded by driving us to an all-night diner for a mashed-potatoes-gravy-peas-and-pork-chop dinner! It was heavenly! We got home, packed up our stuff and headed down here to the pied-a-terre. A nice long weekend!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Learning my Romanian
Dragon Mood? -- not tongue-tied
I work with a fellow at this new job who is Romanian ... or who at least can speak Romanian. A couple of us have been bugging him to teach us how to swear in Romanian. As a polite and rather gentle gentleman, he has refused so far.
But today, Steve and I did learn this:
I work with a fellow at this new job who is Romanian ... or who at least can speak Romanian. A couple of us have been bugging him to teach us how to swear in Romanian. As a polite and rather gentle gentleman, he has refused so far.
But today, Steve and I did learn this:
- "Buna zuia" (pronounced boon-ah zoo-ah) which means "Good day!"
And then later, we did manage to strong-arm him into this one also ...
- "Rahat" (pronounced ruh-hot) which means "Shit" as in bad stuff OR manure.
Stay tuned, Girls and Boys, for MORE Romanian language lessons!
the road less traveled because it's a hard road!
Dragon Mood? -- yeah, I *get* that embattled feeling this thing talks about
From Astrodienst, here is one of this Sagittarian's longer term forecasts:
From Astrodienst, here is one of this Sagittarian's longer term forecasts:
Solid and real
Valid during many months: At this time in your life you will be able to get along with very little if necessary, and you will be able to keep plugging away at tasks with tremendous discipline. As a result this is a good time for getting your life ready for hard times, even if this is not an especially difficult period.
However, even if this is a difficult time, you can be sure that this influence will help you make it through. It gives you tremendous tenacity and toughness and the ability to apply constant pressure on a situation until it gradually changes. Patience is the watchword of this influence - not that you need patience, but that you have it.
Whatever your objectives, you will keep working at them until you achieve them. In a slow but powerful way, this influence helps you realize your goals, and because you work so slowly, the results you obtain are very lasting indeed.
You will also probably discover that you are changing during this period, not drastically and suddenly, but slowly and at a very profound level of your being. And these changes will make your life more solid and dependable. In general your life is moving from the less solid and abstract to the more solid and real.
You may work alone for the most part now. You will probably prefer it that way, at least until you have come somewhere near achieving your goals. This is a very good time for researching alone, especially when painstaking work is required. Your ability to discipline yourself is extremely high.
Transit selected for today
Pluto Sextile Saturn
activity period from beginning of February 2005 until beginning of December 2006.
Thursday morning with my coffee
Dragon Mood? -- surprised and delighted!
Sitting here, drinking my morning coffee, I noticed the first hints of autumn in the air.
But, wait a minute. I feel like blogging so I'll check to see if our computer has emerged from its coma? Yes? Yes! YES!!!! Don't ask me, but it decided to turn on this morning. Hurray!
Anyway ... back to my morning coffee thoughts. Ahem.
Our sadly unhealthy tree out front here at the pied-a-terre has already begun dropping leaves. S mowed and mulched them up last night, not only to make the lawn look better, but to hold autumn, which is NOT SUMMER, at bay, I'm sure.
The air this morning is cool, cool, cool -- refreshingly cool after so much heat and humidity this summer. The temperature and dryness of the air ENERGIZES me! I keep reining myself in -- hold on, you just woke up -- take it easy, enjoy the moment. But it puts me in mind to paint, to ride my bicycle, to make hearty, yummy soups -- oh, so many things! And then, I think of other fall-ish things like football games, bonfires, pumpkins, gourds and all other manner of orange-y goodness! Yup, I LOVE autumn!
Sitting here, drinking my morning coffee, I noticed the first hints of autumn in the air.
But, wait a minute. I feel like blogging so I'll check to see if our computer has emerged from its coma? Yes? Yes! YES!!!! Don't ask me, but it decided to turn on this morning. Hurray!
Anyway ... back to my morning coffee thoughts. Ahem.
Our sadly unhealthy tree out front here at the pied-a-terre has already begun dropping leaves. S mowed and mulched them up last night, not only to make the lawn look better, but to hold autumn, which is NOT SUMMER, at bay, I'm sure.
The air this morning is cool, cool, cool -- refreshingly cool after so much heat and humidity this summer. The temperature and dryness of the air ENERGIZES me! I keep reining myself in -- hold on, you just woke up -- take it easy, enjoy the moment. But it puts me in mind to paint, to ride my bicycle, to make hearty, yummy soups -- oh, so many things! And then, I think of other fall-ish things like football games, bonfires, pumpkins, gourds and all other manner of orange-y goodness! Yup, I LOVE autumn!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A tired blogger
Dragon Mood? -- pooped
Just a quick posting while I'm at work.
I interviewed for another job today. It was with a "foreign" automaker, not one of the Big Three. I was one of nine people out of 30 to make the first interview. I will be most surprised if I'm called back for a second interview. Just a hunch, an intuition. I could be wrong. I feel curiously indifferent about this prospective job.
I got way too little sleep last night. Partly that was my fault. I didn't remember that I was supposed to print out and fill out four lengthy documents prior to the interview. I realized that last night while sitting here at work. ArrrghHH! Googled, found the nearest 24-hour Kinkos, accessed my trustworthy gmail account and forwarded the four docs to Kinkos. I picked them up this morning about 2:30 a.m. Sheesh! Talk about unprepared!
Part of my general discombobulation is that our computer appears to have died ... or is in a light coma. S and I suspect that the electrical switch that fires it up has conked out. Whether that's an easy repair or not remains to be seen. But the timing is just downright lousy!
I'll post this now .... before I fall asleep sitting up here at work.
Just a quick posting while I'm at work.
I interviewed for another job today. It was with a "foreign" automaker, not one of the Big Three. I was one of nine people out of 30 to make the first interview. I will be most surprised if I'm called back for a second interview. Just a hunch, an intuition. I could be wrong. I feel curiously indifferent about this prospective job.
I got way too little sleep last night. Partly that was my fault. I didn't remember that I was supposed to print out and fill out four lengthy documents prior to the interview. I realized that last night while sitting here at work. ArrrghHH! Googled, found the nearest 24-hour Kinkos, accessed my trustworthy gmail account and forwarded the four docs to Kinkos. I picked them up this morning about 2:30 a.m. Sheesh! Talk about unprepared!
Part of my general discombobulation is that our computer appears to have died ... or is in a light coma. S and I suspect that the electrical switch that fires it up has conked out. Whether that's an easy repair or not remains to be seen. But the timing is just downright lousy!
I'll post this now .... before I fall asleep sitting up here at work.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Blogging by email?
Hi .... the ol' calypso Dragon herself here, reporting LIVE from my gmail account.
Will Blogger know what to do with this email/blog posting?
And now ... a quote to ponder:
"Today was good. / Today was fun. / Tomorrow is another one."
-- Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)
[UPDATE] Whoo-hoo! It WORKED! Dang, this computer stuff is COOL!!
Will Blogger know what to do with this email/blog posting?
And now ... a quote to ponder:
"Today was good. / Today was fun. / Tomorrow is another one."
-- Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)
[UPDATE] Whoo-hoo! It WORKED! Dang, this computer stuff is COOL!!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Pssst!
Dragon Mood? -- ???
Can you keep a secret? I've got another interview for another job next week, Tuesday.
I don't know about this job -- whether I'd like it or not. But, it promises more security. A foreign automaker. That's why I'm investigating.
Wish me well!
Can you keep a secret? I've got another interview for another job next week, Tuesday.
I don't know about this job -- whether I'd like it or not. But, it promises more security. A foreign automaker. That's why I'm investigating.
Wish me well!
Old dogs CAN learn new tricks
Dragon Mood? -- mind balloons and connecting the dots
Doing Sudoku puzzle this morning
I always date them
Reminded me of VISA payment due today
Eeek! -- then I remembered -- no balance on my VISA anymore
Huge sense of relief!
A little history
I've always been able to pay it down before
Couldn't do it this time
Ignored the evidence and reality based on prior experience
Is that the sign of an "old dog?"
Way back -- Josh said, "Mom, pay it off." I didn't listen.
Recently, S said, "Mary, pay it off." I finally listened.
Liquidated a stock market fund, paid it off. Whew! Good, GOOD feeling!
The MORAL of the story:
Sometimes, it pays to listen to others even when your previous experience tells you otherwise.
This old dog CAN LEARN new tricks! *SMILE*
Doing Sudoku puzzle this morning
I always date them
Reminded me of VISA payment due today
Eeek! -- then I remembered -- no balance on my VISA anymore
Huge sense of relief!
A little history
I've always been able to pay it down before
Couldn't do it this time
Ignored the evidence and reality based on prior experience
Is that the sign of an "old dog?"
Way back -- Josh said, "Mom, pay it off." I didn't listen.
Recently, S said, "Mary, pay it off." I finally listened.
Liquidated a stock market fund, paid it off. Whew! Good, GOOD feeling!
The MORAL of the story:
Sometimes, it pays to listen to others even when your previous experience tells you otherwise.
This old dog CAN LEARN new tricks! *SMILE*
Monday, August 21, 2006
Monday, week TWO
Dragon Mood? -- antsy
Starting my second week of work today. And Thursday is PAY DAY! Hurray!
Here's what's happened since my last posting:
Starting my second week of work today. And Thursday is PAY DAY! Hurray!
Here's what's happened since my last posting:
- Finished up my first week of four ten-hour days. Whew!
- Friday felt weird. S called in sick for a mental health day. I think we both felt disoriented by my new schedule. I just felt plain old tired.
- Picked up medication office samples from my doc's office. Her providing those for me these past months has been a financial lifesaver. Literally!
- I couldn't and didn't sleep in Saturday morning. ArrrghhHH! So darn fatigued!
- S and I shopped until I almost dropped Saturday afternoon for the big, upcoming baby shower. S spent an obscene amount of money. I'll save my soapbox on that subject for offline.
- We hit Buddies again (second Saturday in a row!) for nachos and a mug of beer. S got on a talking jag until I almost fell asleep sitting up.
- Thankfully, she noticed how truly tired I was. We went home, got horizontal, I crashed. I slept for over two-and-a-half hours. You think I was maybe a little tired?
- S and I watched three DVDs this weekend:
- Eight Below which made my heart hurt. Those dogs have such soulful eyes! Reminded me of how much I wanted to and yet hated watching Lassie as a kid. Anxiety, nervousness, sadness! Oh, the angst!
- Failure to Launch which never got off the ground for me -- what a dumb premise for a movie!
- And finally, TransAmerica, which I was all set to really like; again, it just didn't work for me. We listened to some of the director's commentary before watching the movie; he said the movie was really about parenting. Then why make said parent a transsexual? Bree's coming to terms with her sexuality completely overshadowed her coming to terms with being a parent, IMHO. Oh well!
- Sunday I slept until 11 o'clock. Yup, ELEVEN! It's the first day that I truly felt rested since starting these crazy hours.
- S finally got to waterproof the deck. All the interruptions over the past several weeks had made her cranky about the slow progress. I was very happy she was finally able to finish it.
- I made banana/oatmeal/blueberry bread. Turned out yummy!
- I deskunked the dog. Damn dog -- she acts like SUCH a dog sometimes! Here's the recipe:
---
Vet-approved Deskunking Recipe
1 tsp. dishsoap (preferably a degreasing one like Dawn)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 qt. hydrogen peroxide
Mix all together and apply to the dog's fur. Rinse thoroughly.
---
After applying the deskunking stuff to her face, ruff and shoulders, I drug her inside into the bathroom and thoroughly bathed her, with two latherings and two rinses. We can still smell eau d' skunk right around her skunk-sniffing nose. I couldn't scrub on that too much, unfortunately. - Sat out on the deck and visited with our pushing-eighty neighbor, Bill. The old guy, I'm coming to conclude, is overly preoccupied with sex. He keeps bringing it up and S and I comment politely or clam up with no further conversation. (sigh) Geez, you'd think he'd take a clue!
- Chased dust bunnies and cleaned the floors in anticipation of a house-full of people again next weekend. Grandma and Sally are coming down for the big baby shower. Yosh is taking the ferry over from Cheeseland just to visit. I'm looking forward to his visit.
- Had a nice long telephone conversation with our friend, Joanne. Joanne has had quite a tumultuous summer selling her mom's house and moving her out of her residence of many, many years. In a family of many, it sounds like much of the work and decision-making fell to one, just Joanne. It sounds like a marathon of exhaustion and stress to me!
- Also had a late-night telephone conversation with Dad and Evelyn while I drove to the pied-a-terre. It's become quite the routine for them and me, a good routine, and something to which I believe we both look forward.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Hump day update
Dragon Mood? -- fatigued
It's Wednesday, early afternoon. I've finished the first half of my first work week at the little design shop. I think I'm gonna like it. And -- we're working four 10-hour days this week, with hopes to make it permanent. Wouldn't that be nice to have a three-day weekend plus half of Monday off? I think SO!
The biggest adjustment so far is just trying to not-so-gently bump my circadian rhythms towards the afternoon and evening. My body is protesting. It wants to wake up at 7:30 a.m. no matter what time I went to bed (2:30 last night). The first night I only got five hours of sleep. I just absolutely could NOT sleep yesterday (Tuesday) during the day. Last night I got more like seven or eight hours. I feel better today than yesterday but still fatigued and a little disoriented. I must remember to drive the twelve-minute drive to work with EXTRA caution.
Right now I'm multitasking. Posting on this blog, frying up some barbecue-flavored turkey burgers for S's dinner and my dinner (sadly apart), thinking about what I'm gonna wear to work and hoping to still grab 30 minutes of shuteye. Do you think I can do it???
Later, alligator.
It's Wednesday, early afternoon. I've finished the first half of my first work week at the little design shop. I think I'm gonna like it. And -- we're working four 10-hour days this week, with hopes to make it permanent. Wouldn't that be nice to have a three-day weekend plus half of Monday off? I think SO!
The biggest adjustment so far is just trying to not-so-gently bump my circadian rhythms towards the afternoon and evening. My body is protesting. It wants to wake up at 7:30 a.m. no matter what time I went to bed (2:30 last night). The first night I only got five hours of sleep. I just absolutely could NOT sleep yesterday (Tuesday) during the day. Last night I got more like seven or eight hours. I feel better today than yesterday but still fatigued and a little disoriented. I must remember to drive the twelve-minute drive to work with EXTRA caution.
Right now I'm multitasking. Posting on this blog, frying up some barbecue-flavored turkey burgers for S's dinner and my dinner (sadly apart), thinking about what I'm gonna wear to work and hoping to still grab 30 minutes of shuteye. Do you think I can do it???
Later, alligator.
Monday, August 14, 2006
The BIG Monday!
Dragon Mood? -- throbbing scales too!
Today I start a new job. FINALLY!!!
My left upper back muscles are as tight as a drum ... I'm definitely nervous. I know that once I get there, settle in, and get to work, I'll be fine. It's just the time between now and then.
S and my weekend was quiet and relaxed. We did some errands separately early Saturday afternoon and then met up at Buddies for nachos and a beer. Then we drove home and promptly took a two-and-a-half hour nap. How's that for relaxed?
Yesterday, we got a surprise, impromptu visit from our nephew Luke and his friend, Andrew. S was working on cleaning the deck for a staining update. I fixed a fresh pot of coffee, nuked some turkey bacon for them and rustled up three-egg omelettes for the two guys. S drank a beer while cooling off. We had a wide-ranging conversation (would you expect any less from S?); it ping-ponged from Myers-Briggs personality types, seeking life's purpose and jobs to the gnostic Gospels, mu waves and quantum physics. Whew! I actually had to write two notes to get a word in edgewise. S was on a roll! And to Luke and Andrew's credit, they rolled right along with her!
The guys left around 4 o'clock, I believe, and I vegged and took a nap. S did some more work on the deck, I think.
I also got to talk briefly with Yosh as he prepared to fly to Boston last night. And, Lina and I had a lovely catch-up-with-each-other conversation later in the evening as I drove down "here" to the pied-a-terre for the impending work week. Feels almost funny to say that.
My orientation starts at 3 this afternoon. Wish me well!
Today I start a new job. FINALLY!!!
My left upper back muscles are as tight as a drum ... I'm definitely nervous. I know that once I get there, settle in, and get to work, I'll be fine. It's just the time between now and then.
S and my weekend was quiet and relaxed. We did some errands separately early Saturday afternoon and then met up at Buddies for nachos and a beer. Then we drove home and promptly took a two-and-a-half hour nap. How's that for relaxed?
Yesterday, we got a surprise, impromptu visit from our nephew Luke and his friend, Andrew. S was working on cleaning the deck for a staining update. I fixed a fresh pot of coffee, nuked some turkey bacon for them and rustled up three-egg omelettes for the two guys. S drank a beer while cooling off. We had a wide-ranging conversation (would you expect any less from S?); it ping-ponged from Myers-Briggs personality types, seeking life's purpose and jobs to the gnostic Gospels, mu waves and quantum physics. Whew! I actually had to write two notes to get a word in edgewise. S was on a roll! And to Luke and Andrew's credit, they rolled right along with her!
The guys left around 4 o'clock, I believe, and I vegged and took a nap. S did some more work on the deck, I think.
I also got to talk briefly with Yosh as he prepared to fly to Boston last night. And, Lina and I had a lovely catch-up-with-each-other conversation later in the evening as I drove down "here" to the pied-a-terre for the impending work week. Feels almost funny to say that.
My orientation starts at 3 this afternoon. Wish me well!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
two of the seven dwarfs
Dragon Mood? -- ???
I'm sleepy, I'm dopey .... I just downloaded two free fonts from here and didn't know where to put them. Where DO you put downloaded fonts?
I'm sleepy, I'm dopey .... I just downloaded two free fonts from here and didn't know where to put them. Where DO you put downloaded fonts?
What I am ... and am NOT!
Dragon Mood? -- benevolently amused
At least I'm not a Benevolent DICTATOR!
(move your mouse over the blocks of color)
At least I'm not a Benevolent DICTATOR!
(move your mouse over the blocks of color)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)