"Open your eyes now and should anyone really be surprised by what we see? We won't get too goofy because the Spartans aren't a shoo-in for the tournament. But at 17-4 (4-2 Big Ten), they're in fine position, if they can survive a nasty 10-game march to March that now looms.Thank you, Bob Wojnowski. There, I said something nice!As bubble season unofficially opens, I'll say this: If the Spartans win their five remaining home games, they're in. If they drop one to Wisconsin or Ohio State but steal a road game, they're in.
Before we start sifting through RPIs and getting decimal points all over our nice clothes, we should take a moment to consider what MSU already has pulled off. It has beaten Texas. It has beaten Illinois. It has won all its home games against a weak schedule.
And along the way, the Spartans have served notice to the rest of the sloppy Big Ten that they plan to contend for something. Wisconsin and Ohio State will fight for the conference championship, but the Spartans are in the middle of everything else, thus far confirming two significant points.
If you give Izzo a little something, he'll put together something more. If you give Neitzel a little, he'll take a lot."
Thursday, January 25, 2007
late January update on the Spartans
Bob Wojnowski, a sports writer from the Detroit News who usually has nothing nice to say about MSU sports, wrote this article in today's News. Since I'm trying to speak positively of others more in this new year, I thought I'd reprint part of his article on the MSU men's basketball team:
... in the face of parsimony
Dragon Mood? -- snorting, steaming and revelling
What with losing my job, the meagerness of funds especially right after the holidays and the general grayness and darkness of January, what is there to uplift my spirits?
Well, one thing that helps me feel better is this little essential oil burner. One of our kids gave it to us for Christmas a year ago ... and oh, how we have used it! It is two pieces, the bowl on top and the base which holds a tealight for heat. Made of some stone, perhaps alabaster, it is rather translucent and highly functional.
Whether we're burning peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, lavender or some combination of oils, it puts out the loveliest fragrances .... and it costs us virtually nothing; essential oils (which we had in the cupboard anyway) and cheap little tealights.
Who could imagine that such a simple thing could give me such pleasure?
What with losing my job, the meagerness of funds especially right after the holidays and the general grayness and darkness of January, what is there to uplift my spirits?
Well, one thing that helps me feel better is this little essential oil burner. One of our kids gave it to us for Christmas a year ago ... and oh, how we have used it! It is two pieces, the bowl on top and the base which holds a tealight for heat. Made of some stone, perhaps alabaster, it is rather translucent and highly functional.
Whether we're burning peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, lavender or some combination of oils, it puts out the loveliest fragrances .... and it costs us virtually nothing; essential oils (which we had in the cupboard anyway) and cheap little tealights.
Who could imagine that such a simple thing could give me such pleasure?
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
What I'm working on ...
Dragon Mood? -- Generating some dragon steam!
Now that I've finished painting in the bedroom (at least for now), I thought I'd post a few photos of my work.
Am I pleased with the results? YOU BET I AM! Compared to the old, satin-gloss baby-poop brown that covered the walls, this feels light, fresh, clean and a nice combination of open-yet-intimate. It's a definite improvement! Here's the ceiling 'mandala' surrounding the ceiling light fixture:
Here's how the walls look:
In case you're interested, the paints are Ralph Lauren, purchased at our local Home Depot. They are from top to bottom: Climbing Lily (the light, springy lemongrass), Aged Mint (a medium-valued turquoise?) and Amethyst Stone (the deep, rich purple). I love them all, but most especially the Climbing Lily. I never would have picked it out, so here's a shout-out to my intrepid designing daughter, Lina.
And here's my project for today/tonight, assembling this little bedside night table that's been languishing in a closet (purchased over two years ago!). I have a bit of concern that it may look too "country" for our bedroom. If that's the case, I may just paint it the Climbing Lily color!?!
That's ALL, folks. Have a great day!
Now that I've finished painting in the bedroom (at least for now), I thought I'd post a few photos of my work.
Here's how the walls look:
In case you're interested, the paints are Ralph Lauren, purchased at our local Home Depot. They are from top to bottom: Climbing Lily (the light, springy lemongrass), Aged Mint (a medium-valued turquoise?) and Amethyst Stone (the deep, rich purple). I love them all, but most especially the Climbing Lily. I never would have picked it out, so here's a shout-out to my intrepid designing daughter, Lina.
And here's my project for today/tonight, assembling this little bedside night table that's been languishing in a closet (purchased over two years ago!). I have a bit of concern that it may look too "country" for our bedroom. If that's the case, I may just paint it the Climbing Lily color!?!
That's ALL, folks. Have a great day!
Me and Paris Hilton's dog
Dragon Mood? -- bemused and confused
Have you ever dreamt about Paris Hilton? Or her little chihuahua? To the latter question I can now answer definitively, "YES!" Let me tell you about it.
I was living back in the house on Sunset Lane. (Yes, those Desperate Housewives had nothing on me living on an idyllic-sounding street. And this was back in the late 70's. When I was a housewife. Desperate?... not yet ... that came later.)
Sorry, I digress.
Lina and I were in our subterranean garage. Lina was around 8 or 9 years old. The garage was a dream garage, a two-car version, spacious, well-lit and CLEAN! We were talking and heading out of the garage, up to the front door. Caroline was carrying a tiny little chihuahua in her arms. I asked her whose dog was that?
She replied, "Paris Hilton's." As if that were the most normal thing in the world.
I accepted her answer with equal equanimity ... at least for the moment.
Next, we were in the living room. Panelled wood walls, orange shag carpet. Oh yeah, you had to be there. Lina was lying on the carpeting, playing with the dog. I stood over her, seeing myself even in the dream as TOWERING over her.
"Did you ask permission to take care of that dog, young lady?" I trickily composed the question. "Did you ask your dad?"
"Yup," she breezily replied.
"When?"
"Three months ago," she looked at me, confidently, almost haughtily.
And I folded, just like that, a flailing rookie in a high-stakes poker game. End of parental authority, end of conversation, end of dream.
(chuckling)
What do you make of that dream?
Have you ever dreamt about Paris Hilton? Or her little chihuahua? To the latter question I can now answer definitively, "YES!" Let me tell you about it.
Sorry, I digress.
Lina and I were in our subterranean garage. Lina was around 8 or 9 years old. The garage was a dream garage, a two-car version, spacious, well-lit and CLEAN! We were talking and heading out of the garage, up to the front door. Caroline was carrying a tiny little chihuahua in her arms. I asked her whose dog was that?
She replied, "Paris Hilton's." As if that were the most normal thing in the world.
I accepted her answer with equal equanimity ... at least for the moment.
Next, we were in the living room. Panelled wood walls, orange shag carpet. Oh yeah, you had to be there. Lina was lying on the carpeting, playing with the dog. I stood over her, seeing myself even in the dream as TOWERING over her.
"Did you ask permission to take care of that dog, young lady?" I trickily composed the question. "Did you ask your dad?"
"Yup," she breezily replied.
"When?"
"Three months ago," she looked at me, confidently, almost haughtily.
And I folded, just like that, a flailing rookie in a high-stakes poker game. End of parental authority, end of conversation, end of dream.
(chuckling)
What do you make of that dream?
Monday, January 22, 2007
Fairy habitat
Because it's so cold and wintry and white outside, this photo drew me in immediately.
The photographer asks rhetorically in her post, "...do you see any fairies?" While I don't see any, I do believe there are fairies living along this lane leading to somewhere. Why not?
The photographer asks rhetorically in her post, "...do you see any fairies?" While I don't see any, I do believe there are fairies living along this lane leading to somewhere. Why not?
Friday, January 19, 2007
Birthday shout-outs
Happy Birthday! shout-outs to
Aaron is my orangey-juice cool nephew who recently bought his first RESIDENCE in Chicago.
And Patrick is a good friend of S's and mine. He's a 'family' guy, a lovable party-er with the heartiest laugh you could ever hope to hear.
Happy Birthday, guys!
Aaron
and
Patrick
Aaron is my orangey-juice cool nephew who recently bought his first RESIDENCE in Chicago.
And Patrick is a good friend of S's and mine. He's a 'family' guy, a lovable party-er with the heartiest laugh you could ever hope to hear.
Happy Birthday, guys!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
About my feet and wool socks
Dragon Mood? -- a teeny-tiny bit chagrined that I'm actually writing about this!
Are you ready for a confession? Well, like old versions of neighborhood nighttime hide-and-seek, here I come, ready or not!
My confession is that I have sweaty feet. Or, to find a more delicate way of saying it -- I have feet that sweat. A lot actually. In the winter, I wear wool socks almost all the time so that the wool can absorb the sweat. From my feet. My feet that sweat. Sometimes, my feet sweat so much, the heavy wool socks actually get damp feeling ... from the sweat. And then my feet get cold. Yecch, I hate that feeling!
That happened today -- actually, just a little while ago. And then I had a brainstorm! You know what I did? I took my heavy wool, slightly damp socks off, put them on a paper towel and nuked them in the microwave for a minute. Yup, I nuked 'em. Isn't that a good idea? And, oh, the result? Ahh, wonderful warmth!
But then I discovered something. Something I've heard from S and Lina and other people close to me who love me. Your feet are stinky! Pewww, your feet smell! And you know what? They're right. My sweaty feet DO smell.
Are you ready for a confession? Well, like old versions of neighborhood nighttime hide-and-seek, here I come, ready or not!
That happened today -- actually, just a little while ago. And then I had a brainstorm! You know what I did? I took my heavy wool, slightly damp socks off, put them on a paper towel and nuked them in the microwave for a minute. Yup, I nuked 'em. Isn't that a good idea? And, oh, the result? Ahh, wonderful warmth!
But then I discovered something. Something I've heard from S and Lina and other people close to me who love me. Your feet are stinky! Pewww, your feet smell! And you know what? They're right. My sweaty feet DO smell.
My American accent
Dragon Mood? -- swimming in not-for-me job postings
Enough with looking for a job! I'm ready for a diversion and this proved an interesting one. I found it at LutheranChik's "L" Word Diary, written by a Michigan lesbian who also happens to be a still-in-the-fold Lutheran.
Enough with looking for a job! I'm ready for a diversion and this proved an interesting one. I found it at LutheranChik's "L" Word Diary, written by a Michigan lesbian who also happens to be a still-in-the-fold Lutheran.
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The Inland North | |
| The South | |
| The Northeast | |
| The West | |
| Boston | |
| North Central | |
| What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz | |
Friday, January 12, 2007
Red Sky Posterized
Getting ready to close out of Flickr, I saw this photo and had to look at it. And then, of course, I felt compelled to post a shot of it.
It looks like a live oak. This was taken by Jeff Clow, who lives on the north plains of Texas and who is such a consistently good photographer, you just want to throw yourself on the floor with appreciation. Or something like that.
It looks like a live oak. This was taken by Jeff Clow, who lives on the north plains of Texas and who is such a consistently good photographer, you just want to throw yourself on the floor with appreciation. Or something like that.
My hard-working week drawing to a close
Dragon Mood? -- looking forward to seeing the pine trees
Is Friday still an extra-special day when you're unemployed? You bet! I haven't worked all these years without unconsciously modifying my internal hardwiring ... such that Friday brings a slight sense of relief, of relaxation and an anticipation of leisure and good times this weekend.
What's on tap for this weekend? I honestly don't know. I'm not sure if the Christmas tree is still up and requires transport back down to the basement. I'm sure there is more post-holiday cleanup requiring my attention. Laundry that needs doing is like death and taxes -- ever-present.
I have some beading to do. I gave ankle bracelets to our friends, J & J, and sadly, both anklets require shortening. ArrghhH! I have a few other beading projects that I had hoped to finish before Christmas, but -- haha -- it didn't happen.
Cissy desperately needs her Cruella Deville-length nails trimmed. And after that, a BATH! As she ages and slows down, the least I can do (as her co-owner) is keep her looking her furry-beast best!
This week I stumbled upon a flickr user named pedalpower. I commented on one of her photographs and she wrote me a lovely email back, offering several weblinks to check out. They are here and here. I would LOVE to get in the habit of sketching every day. (It's interesting to note and pay attention to the fact that two times this weekend, the universe has 'stumbled me' upon websites featuring drawing. Everyday Matters for one and Inkymess for the other.) Sketching is something I've done for years, but never in any type of disciplined, regular manner. Perhaps it's something I should think about doing. (chuckling) Along with exercising, taking my medications, watching what I eat, exercising, walking the dog every day, blogging, reading more, did I mention exercising? Whew! So much to do -- who has time to work?
Have a great weekend!
P.S. Here's a rather compelling portrait sketch by Danny Gregory. What an interesting thing to do -- a portrait in reds and blues!
Is Friday still an extra-special day when you're unemployed? You bet! I haven't worked all these years without unconsciously modifying my internal hardwiring ... such that Friday brings a slight sense of relief, of relaxation and an anticipation of leisure and good times this weekend.
I have some beading to do. I gave ankle bracelets to our friends, J & J, and sadly, both anklets require shortening. ArrghhH! I have a few other beading projects that I had hoped to finish before Christmas, but -- haha -- it didn't happen.
Cissy desperately needs her Cruella Deville-length nails trimmed. And after that, a BATH! As she ages and slows down, the least I can do (as her co-owner) is keep her looking her furry-beast best!
This week I stumbled upon a flickr user named pedalpower. I commented on one of her photographs and she wrote me a lovely email back, offering several weblinks to check out. They are here and here. I would LOVE to get in the habit of sketching every day. (It's interesting to note and pay attention to the fact that two times this weekend, the universe has 'stumbled me' upon websites featuring drawing. Everyday Matters for one and Inkymess for the other.) Sketching is something I've done for years, but never in any type of disciplined, regular manner. Perhaps it's something I should think about doing. (chuckling) Along with exercising, taking my medications, watching what I eat, exercising, walking the dog every day, blogging, reading more, did I mention exercising? Whew! So much to do -- who has time to work?
Have a great weekend!
P.S. Here's a rather compelling portrait sketch by Danny Gregory. What an interesting thing to do -- a portrait in reds and blues!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Incorporating the drop cap
Dragon Mood? -- slightly smug
Once upon a time, there were very clever people at Mandarin Design who knew ALL kinds of CSS tricks that a simple person like myself would never dream of ... so I simply stole their idea and incorporated it into the formatting of my blog. Voila!
Once upon a time, there were very clever people at Mandarin Design who knew ALL kinds of CSS tricks that a simple person like myself would never dream of ... so I simply stole their idea and incorporated it into the formatting of my blog. Voila!
A happy-looking Dragon
Dragon Mood? -- artistically charmed
I found this friendly little dragon, drawn by the talented Mr. Tom Morgan-Jones. I admire his work and took the liberty of copying, rotating, colorizing and adding a background to his charming illustration. Please visit his website, http://www.inkymess.com/.
I found this friendly little dragon, drawn by the talented Mr. Tom Morgan-Jones. I admire his work and took the liberty of copying, rotating, colorizing and adding a background to his charming illustration. Please visit his website, http://www.inkymess.com/.
Unemployed AGAIN!
Dragon Mood? -- pretty discouraged
Igot a call from Adam last Friday. No work now, no work in the next couple of weeks or so. (... heavy sigh ...) I went in this past Monday and picked up my few belongings: headphones, box of Kleenex, a cool new mechanical pencil that my coworker Mariya had given me.
Friday, I felt so depressed and beat down, I couldn't even make the drive home to our house in the pines. I stayed here, while S was there. I can now understand why people diagnosed with clinical depression can't even get out of bed some days. Completely understand it.
Send me some positive hopeful vibes. Pray for me.
Igot a call from Adam last Friday. No work now, no work in the next couple of weeks or so. (... heavy sigh ...) I went in this past Monday and picked up my few belongings: headphones, box of Kleenex, a cool new mechanical pencil that my coworker Mariya had given me.
Send me some positive hopeful vibes. Pray for me.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
And to recap the holidays, Part II
Dragon Mood? -- downloading
Yosh headed back to Milwaukee right after the Casino Royale movie. S, Lina and I were all sleep-deprived and tired from Christmas... but first, we went to the video/DVD store and got a couple more movies. My memory is that we went home and slept.
Wednesday, each of us had missions. My mission was to buy some badly-needed bras. Lina and I went to Macy's. Serendipitously, they were having an "intimates" sale. I got sized for a bra (thanks, Lina and Oprah!) and with Caroline's help, found one style that I really like! I ended up buying four bras and six pairs of panties. Yay!
I can't remember Lina's mission. We did hit Bath & Body Works and Marshall's, one of her favorite stores. She found a cool item (which I can't reveal here) for Ruth and Paul's home and a lovely male manager (who I suspect is family) gave her a helluva deal on it. To celebrate, we decided to return to Dusty's for some drinks (compliments of a $50 payoff from Yosh on losing a drinking bet).
S's mission was to buy some gifts for her mom and grandma. She went to Schuler's to buy Sally several books. We then joined S at El Azteco for margaritas and yummy Mexican food.
Thursday, S headed up north. Grandma was back in the hospital with frightening swelling in her arm and word of several scary clots close to her heart. (I will blog about this in a separate post.)
Lina and I took it easy and enjoyed one another's company. We watched videos, took naps, got more videos, got Chinese take-out and .... watched more videos?
Friday, we took an easy drive north to visit Grandma in the hospital. Friday was also Sally's 71st birthday, which we celebrated at Spike's. Also celebrating were S's sister, Becky and her daughter, Lydia.
S stayed up north for another day while Lina and I returned to the house in the pine trees. Late Friday night, the dogs were happy to see us and ready for peeing and running around.
Saturday was another low-key day. I honestly can't remember what we did that day, but I'm sure we had fun. Oh yes ... we went to Tar-zhays to pick out an accessorizing item to the can't-tell-you gift item for Ruth and Paul. Oh yes, and we went to Home Depot to PICK OUT COLOR SWATCHES! How could I forget? That was fun! Have I mentioned that I LOVE color!
Saturday night we made popcorn and ... what else? ... watched some videos. What a bunch of futon potatoes we were!
Sunday was readying ourselves and the house for New Year's Eve. We bought groceries, Lina prepared food, S and I tidied the house, I ran the vacuum cleaner and then ...
We had a fashion show. S had put out the word that she was in desperate need of work clothes ... and by golly, Santa had delivered. So Lina and I requested that she give us a fashion show, modeling all her new duds. She gave us a bang-up one! I probably have never mentioned it here, but my partner has got a sexy figure and she wears clothes well. We had lots of fun, commenting on her combinations, take this off, try this on, oh I like those together!
After the fashion show, we all took quick power naps, showered, did our hair and dressed for our BIG intimate NYE gathering. S wore her new, glammy black jacket with a red blouse underneath along with black slacks. Lina was decked out in black, including new, very HOT high-heeled shorty boots. I tried to keep up with my decked-out companions wearing my new-favorite bottle green fine gauge sweater and an Italian scarf from Ruth and Jess.
Our friend, Kevin, arrived mid-evening along with his constant companion, Jack, a muscular little Jack Russell terrier who loves nothing more than to bounce into your lap while you're playing euchre. Oh, hello!
We played euchre right up until midnight, popped some yummy bottles of champagne that Caroline brought from Madison and toasted one another using our ever-so-elegant Waterford champagne flutes. We wandered out onto the deck, enjoying the unseasonably mild air and the almost-full moon that lit up the clear night sky. The night felt gentle and full of promise, a lovely way to celebrate a holiday and start a new year, don't you think?
Yosh headed back to Milwaukee right after the Casino Royale movie. S, Lina and I were all sleep-deprived and tired from Christmas... but first, we went to the video/DVD store and got a couple more movies. My memory is that we went home and slept.
Wednesday, each of us had missions. My mission was to buy some badly-needed bras. Lina and I went to Macy's. Serendipitously, they were having an "intimates" sale. I got sized for a bra (thanks, Lina and Oprah!) and with Caroline's help, found one style that I really like! I ended up buying four bras and six pairs of panties. Yay!
I can't remember Lina's mission. We did hit Bath & Body Works and Marshall's, one of her favorite stores. She found a cool item (which I can't reveal here) for Ruth and Paul's home and a lovely male manager (who I suspect is family) gave her a helluva deal on it. To celebrate, we decided to return to Dusty's for some drinks (compliments of a $50 payoff from Yosh on losing a drinking bet).
S's mission was to buy some gifts for her mom and grandma. She went to Schuler's to buy Sally several books. We then joined S at El Azteco for margaritas and yummy Mexican food.
Thursday, S headed up north. Grandma was back in the hospital with frightening swelling in her arm and word of several scary clots close to her heart. (I will blog about this in a separate post.)
Lina and I took it easy and enjoyed one another's company. We watched videos, took naps, got more videos, got Chinese take-out and .... watched more videos?
Friday, we took an easy drive north to visit Grandma in the hospital. Friday was also Sally's 71st birthday, which we celebrated at Spike's. Also celebrating were S's sister, Becky and her daughter, Lydia.
S stayed up north for another day while Lina and I returned to the house in the pine trees. Late Friday night, the dogs were happy to see us and ready for peeing and running around.
Saturday was another low-key day. I honestly can't remember what we did that day, but I'm sure we had fun. Oh yes ... we went to Tar-zhays to pick out an accessorizing item to the can't-tell-you gift item for Ruth and Paul. Oh yes, and we went to Home Depot to PICK OUT COLOR SWATCHES! How could I forget? That was fun! Have I mentioned that I LOVE color!
Saturday night we made popcorn and ... what else? ... watched some videos. What a bunch of futon potatoes we were!
Sunday was readying ourselves and the house for New Year's Eve. We bought groceries, Lina prepared food, S and I tidied the house, I ran the vacuum cleaner and then ...
We had a fashion show. S had put out the word that she was in desperate need of work clothes ... and by golly, Santa had delivered. So Lina and I requested that she give us a fashion show, modeling all her new duds. She gave us a bang-up one! I probably have never mentioned it here, but my partner has got a sexy figure and she wears clothes well. We had lots of fun, commenting on her combinations, take this off, try this on, oh I like those together!
After the fashion show, we all took quick power naps, showered, did our hair and dressed for our BIG intimate NYE gathering. S wore her new, glammy black jacket with a red blouse underneath along with black slacks. Lina was decked out in black, including new, very HOT high-heeled shorty boots. I tried to keep up with my decked-out companions wearing my new-favorite bottle green fine gauge sweater and an Italian scarf from Ruth and Jess.
Our friend, Kevin, arrived mid-evening along with his constant companion, Jack, a muscular little Jack Russell terrier who loves nothing more than to bounce into your lap while you're playing euchre. Oh, hello!
We played euchre right up until midnight, popped some yummy bottles of champagne that Caroline brought from Madison and toasted one another using our ever-so-elegant Waterford champagne flutes. We wandered out onto the deck, enjoying the unseasonably mild air and the almost-full moon that lit up the clear night sky. The night felt gentle and full of promise, a lovely way to celebrate a holiday and start a new year, don't you think?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
And to recap the holidays
Dragon Mood? -- bewildered
Recap the holidays? Where to start?
The holidays broke roughly into three chunks for me: time with Yosh before Christmas, Christmas Day and time with Lina after Christmas. In retrospect, S and I literally had no time alone during the ten days that I was home. We didn't really plan and make time for each other -- other events intervened -- but when we sat down and talked about it, it made us a bit sad that we had made no time just for one another.
Time with Yosh was brief but thoroughly enjoyable. Saturday, the three of us did meet at Dusty's after individual Christmas shopping for great drinking and memorable appetizers. Yosh drank Maker's Mark, S drank some imported beer I can't recall and I drank the most amazing dirty martini. Vodka martini, Grey Goose, blue cheese-stuffed olives -- are you getting the picture? -- but the most remarkable part of the martini was the tiny crystals of ice floating on that wondrous briny booze. I complimented our server and he said that is a little trick of the bartender's, shaking the martini shaker until the outside has frosted from the ice. That's when you know the environment is perfect for ice crystal-making!
Saturday evening, the three of us played cards. We played two rounds of cribbage (both times beating S!) and then a round of cut-throat, three-handed euchre. We also managed to beat S on that round. There was also a Christmas miracle in there somewhere, but damn if I can remember what it was! We even commented on it! Later that night, S and I broke tradition and actually wrapped gifts for three hours and it wasn't Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!
Sunday was another whirlwind day. Yosh and I drank some yummy Alterra coffee from Milwaukee and then headed to Oliver T's to pick up our traditional smoked and peppered salmon for Christmas Day. We also swung by Beaners in East Lansing so Josh could fire up his laptop and demonstrate for me a new approach to cyber job hunting. That was a curious way to spend Christmas Eve afternoon. It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and mild, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time with him.
That evening, Josh made smooshy potato soup for Lina, I fixed brownies for all our adult kids, I started laying out all the stocking stuffers on our bed to figure out who got what ... and darn if I can remember what I did the rest of the time. All I know is that there was no twiddle-your-thumbs time in there -- we were all busy with preparations.
Lina showed up right around midnight on Christmas Eve. She made exceptionally good time traveling from Madison -- I wonder if the speedometer needle ever tired of hovering around 80? Thank God her trip was a safe one!
Christmas Day was all gift wrapping, food preparation, bloody Mary drinking and the like. S's kids and spouses started showing up around 5. We weren't able to start opening gifts until around 7. And then -- whew! -- what a whirlwind of paper, gifts, hugs, thank yous and I-can't-believe-you- got-this-for me exclamations! Our time together as a family even included tears of sadness and tears of wonder! I never knew that a vintage Pink Floyd album could elicit such a reaction!
People started leaving around 10:30 because they had to work the next morning. Matt and Sarah and Madison stayed because they didn't have to work and wanted to play cards. I started fading around 12:30 p.m. I was just too pooped to pop anymore. I remember getting in my red flannel scottie pajamas, wrapped in my new all-cotton white robe from Tim, laying down on the living room couch, falling asleep to psychedelic Pink Floyd music remembering why I was never a good candidate for being a sixties hippie -- sometimes, I just don't like that music!
Pretty much all I remember from Tuesday, the day after Christmas was that the house was trashed, there was wrapping paper and empty boxes and gifts still strewn all around, and we left the house to go see the movie, Casino Royale. Being a card-carrying lesbian, I probably shouldn't say this, but the new 007, Daniel Craig, is HOT! I quit watching 007 movies 20 years ago because they were all so formulaic and actually rather boring -- but NOT THIS MOVIE! There's little computer graphics techno-wizardry and enough edge-of-your-seat action that the movie was fun, enjoyable, even exciting. Go see it! I recommend it!
I'll continue my holiday recap later.
Recap the holidays? Where to start?
The holidays broke roughly into three chunks for me: time with Yosh before Christmas, Christmas Day and time with Lina after Christmas. In retrospect, S and I literally had no time alone during the ten days that I was home. We didn't really plan and make time for each other -- other events intervened -- but when we sat down and talked about it, it made us a bit sad that we had made no time just for one another.
Time with Yosh was brief but thoroughly enjoyable. Saturday, the three of us did meet at Dusty's after individual Christmas shopping for great drinking and memorable appetizers. Yosh drank Maker's Mark, S drank some imported beer I can't recall and I drank the most amazing dirty martini. Vodka martini, Grey Goose, blue cheese-stuffed olives -- are you getting the picture? -- but the most remarkable part of the martini was the tiny crystals of ice floating on that wondrous briny booze. I complimented our server and he said that is a little trick of the bartender's, shaking the martini shaker until the outside has frosted from the ice. That's when you know the environment is perfect for ice crystal-making!
Saturday evening, the three of us played cards. We played two rounds of cribbage (both times beating S!) and then a round of cut-throat, three-handed euchre. We also managed to beat S on that round. There was also a Christmas miracle in there somewhere, but damn if I can remember what it was! We even commented on it! Later that night, S and I broke tradition and actually wrapped gifts for three hours and it wasn't Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!
Sunday was another whirlwind day. Yosh and I drank some yummy Alterra coffee from Milwaukee and then headed to Oliver T's to pick up our traditional smoked and peppered salmon for Christmas Day. We also swung by Beaners in East Lansing so Josh could fire up his laptop and demonstrate for me a new approach to cyber job hunting. That was a curious way to spend Christmas Eve afternoon. It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and mild, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time with him.
That evening, Josh made smooshy potato soup for Lina, I fixed brownies for all our adult kids, I started laying out all the stocking stuffers on our bed to figure out who got what ... and darn if I can remember what I did the rest of the time. All I know is that there was no twiddle-your-thumbs time in there -- we were all busy with preparations.
Lina showed up right around midnight on Christmas Eve. She made exceptionally good time traveling from Madison -- I wonder if the speedometer needle ever tired of hovering around 80? Thank God her trip was a safe one!
Christmas Day was all gift wrapping, food preparation, bloody Mary drinking and the like. S's kids and spouses started showing up around 5. We weren't able to start opening gifts until around 7. And then -- whew! -- what a whirlwind of paper, gifts, hugs, thank yous and I-can't-believe-you- got-this-for me exclamations! Our time together as a family even included tears of sadness and tears of wonder! I never knew that a vintage Pink Floyd album could elicit such a reaction!
People started leaving around 10:30 because they had to work the next morning. Matt and Sarah and Madison stayed because they didn't have to work and wanted to play cards. I started fading around 12:30 p.m. I was just too pooped to pop anymore. I remember getting in my red flannel scottie pajamas, wrapped in my new all-cotton white robe from Tim, laying down on the living room couch, falling asleep to psychedelic Pink Floyd music remembering why I was never a good candidate for being a sixties hippie -- sometimes, I just don't like that music!
Pretty much all I remember from Tuesday, the day after Christmas was that the house was trashed, there was wrapping paper and empty boxes and gifts still strewn all around, and we left the house to go see the movie, Casino Royale. Being a card-carrying lesbian, I probably shouldn't say this, but the new 007, Daniel Craig, is HOT! I quit watching 007 movies 20 years ago because they were all so formulaic and actually rather boring -- but NOT THIS MOVIE! There's little computer graphics techno-wizardry and enough edge-of-your-seat action that the movie was fun, enjoyable, even exciting. Go see it! I recommend it!
I'll continue my holiday recap later.
My first 'official' posting of 2007
Dragon Mood? -- a little blue, but it's a beautiful wintry periwinkle blue
It's Wednesday, it's Wendishday, it's 2007 ... and I'm at home.
Not at work, because of a work 'slowdown.' Sorry, no work this week. Better luck next week! Yeechhh! I'm trying to see this time at home as a positive thing, but truth be told, I'm feeling a little low today.
I walked the dog this morning, I responded to a job posting with a cover letter and my resume, I filed for unemployment, I bought a few groceries, I did a bit of organizing, I even took a nap.
I really wanted to paint. BUT ... it's a full moon today ... not a good time for starting a new project like that. AND ... S and I haven't agreed on colors for our bedroom. I do want to be respectful of her wishes on color choice ... we just need to come to an agreement!
Another BUT. There is the ceiling and walls of the pied-a-terre's center hall. The ceiling is virtually CRYING OUT for a new paint job. I may not be able to ignore it much longer.
Plus there are these things to do, as well:
It's Wednesday, it's Wendishday, it's 2007 ... and I'm at home.
Not at work, because of a work 'slowdown.' Sorry, no work this week. Better luck next week! Yeechhh! I'm trying to see this time at home as a positive thing, but truth be told, I'm feeling a little low today.
I walked the dog this morning, I responded to a job posting with a cover letter and my resume, I filed for unemployment, I bought a few groceries, I did a bit of organizing, I even took a nap.
I really wanted to paint. BUT ... it's a full moon today ... not a good time for starting a new project like that. AND ... S and I haven't agreed on colors for our bedroom. I do want to be respectful of her wishes on color choice ... we just need to come to an agreement!
Another BUT. There is the ceiling and walls of the pied-a-terre's center hall. The ceiling is virtually CRYING OUT for a new paint job. I may not be able to ignore it much longer.
Plus there are these things to do, as well:
- spend time working in Illustrator and Photoshop
- peruse my new, gently-used Photoshop books
- make my yummy beef stew tomorrow
- download all the Christmas and post-Christmas images off the camera
- upload said images to Flickr
- update all my other blogs to the new-and-improved Blogger interface
- download the latest version of Mozilla Firefox
- take a run to the new-in-Canton IKEA store (can't believe I haven't been there yet!)
- make some mandalas in Illustrator
- try using Yosh's methodology for scouting out new and potential job possibilities
- read some more of my new book, The Faith Club (thoroughly enjoying it)
- walk the dog some more
- exercise on the treadmill
- did I mention painting?
An "Ouch" Op-Ed by Garrison Keillor
Dragon Mood? -- pained
Once upon a time, there was a president named Bush. This is not a fairy tale.
According to Garrison Keillor, of Prairie Home Companion fame, Dubya may have some issues, in addition to the war in Iraq. Issues with Bush 41. It's entitled "Daddy Issues."
Once upon a time, there was a president named Bush. This is not a fairy tale.
According to Garrison Keillor, of Prairie Home Companion fame, Dubya may have some issues, in addition to the war in Iraq. Issues with Bush 41. It's entitled "Daddy Issues."
You wonder, however, what this earnest bunch [the new Congress] can do when things are so far out of whack as they are in Iraq. The gangland-style execution of Saddam Hussein was visible reality, a token of the blood lust and violence that swirls around Iraq ...I appreciate the fact that Mr. Keillor isn't pulling punches here. People are dying because of our president's poor leadership.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the limousines come and go, memorandums are set out on long polished tables, men in crisp white shirts sit at meetings and discuss how to rationalize a war that was conceived by a handful of men in arrogant ignorance and that has descended over the past four years into sheer madness.
Military men know there is no military solution here, and the State Department knows that the policy was driven by domestic politics, but who is going to tell the Current Occupant? He is still talking about victory, or undefeat, like some frat boy on meth who thinks he can step off a roof and not get hurt. The word "surge" keeps cropping up, as if we were fighting the war with electricity and not human beings...
Here we have a slacker son of a powerful patrician father who resolves unconscious Oedipal issues through inappropriate acting-out in foreign countries. Hello? All the king's task forces can gather together the shards of the policy, number them, arrange them, but it never made sense when it was whole and so it makes even less sense now...
He was the Great Denier of 2006, waving the flag, questioning the patriotism of anyone who dared oppose him, until he took a thumpin' and now, we are told, he is reexamining the whole matter. Except he's not. To admit that he did wrong is to admit that he is not the man his daddy is, the one who fought in a war...
It's time for 41 and 43 to work something out ... Pick up the phone, old man, and tell 43 you love him dearly and it's time to think about sparing the lives of American soldiers, many of whom have sons, too.
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