Make a list of your own

E had this link on her blog and I decided to play along. The ones in plain text I pretty much have no opinion about. I starred the ones I never knew. E will probably be reminding me that some of my starred songs I actually just don't remember.

One final point, the list is fucked because number 100 should certainly be number 1.

-Underline and bold your favorites
-Bold the ones you like
-Strikethru the ones you loathe (these would make terrific torture devices)
-Italicize the ones you consider to be guilty pleasures
-Leave as plain text, any you can’t remember or never knew

1. Physical, Olivia Newton-John
2. Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor
3. I Love Rock N' Roll, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
4. Ebony And Ivory, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
5. Centerfold, J. Geils Band
6. Don't You Want Me, Human League
7. Jack And Diane, John Cougar
8. Hurts So Good, John Cougar
9. Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band
10. Hard To Say I'm Sorry, Chicago
11. Tainted Love, Soft Cell
**12. Chariots Of Fire, Vangelis
13. Harden My Heart, Quarterflash
14. Rosanna, Toto
15. I Can't Go For That, Daryl Hall and John Oates
16. 867-5309 (Jenny), Tommy Tutone
**17. Key Largo, Bertie Higgins
18. You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Melissa Manchester
19. Waiting For A Girl Like You, Foreigner (if I only knew then what I know now)
20. Don't Talk To Strangers, Rick Springfield(just because it's RS)
** 21. The Sweetest Thing, Juice Newton
22. Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson (Michael's mother luuuuved her some Willie Nelson and at the time I really hated this song though I like it well enough now)
23. Shake It Up, Cars
24. Let It Whip, Dazz Band
25. We Got The Beat, Go-Go's
** 26. The Other Woman, Ray Parker Jr.
27. Turn Your Love Around, George Benson
**28. Sweet Dreams, Air Supply
29. Only The Lonely, Motels
30. Who Can It Be Now?, Men At Work
31. Hold Me, Fleetwood Mac
32. Eye In The Sky, Alan Parsons Project
33. Let's Groove, Earth, Wind and Fire
34. Open Arms, Journey (at the time, yes, it was the prom theme, of course)
35. Leader Of The Band, Dan Fogelberg
36. Leather And Lace, Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
37. Even The Nights Are Better, Air Supply
38. I've Never Been To Me, Charlene
39. '65 Love Affair, Paul Davis
40. Heat Of The Moment, Asia
**41. Take It Easy On Me, Little River Band
**42. Pac-man Fever, Buckner and Garcia
43. That Girl, Stevie Wonder
44. Private Eyes, Daryl Hall and John Oates
**45. Trouble, Lindsey Buckingham
**46. Making Love, Roberta Flack
**47. Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me, Juice Newton
** 48. Young Turks, Rod Stewart
49. Freeze-frame, J. Geils Band
50. Keep The Fire Burnin', REO Speedwagon
51. Do You Believe In Love, Huey Lewis and The News
52. Cool Night, Paul Davis
53. Caught Up In You, 38 Special
**54. Why Do Fools Fall In Love?, Diana Ross
55. Love In The First Degree, Alabama
**56. Hooked On Classics, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
57. Wasted On The Way, Crosby, Stills and Nash
58. Think I'm In Love, Eddie Money
**59. Love Is In Control, Donna Summer
60. Personally, Karla Bonoff
61. One Hundred Ways, Quincy Jones
62. Blue Eyes, Elton John
63. Our Lips Are Sealed, Go-Go's
**64. You Could Have Been Wih Me, Sheena Easton
65. You Can Do Magic, America
66. Did It In A Minute, Daryl Hall and John Oates
67. I Ran, A Flock Of Seagulls
68. Somebody's Baby, Jackson Browne
**69. Oh No, Commodores
**70. Take It Away, Paul McCartney
**71. It's Gonna Take A Miracle, Deneice Williams
**72. Love Will Turn You Around, Kenny Rogers
73. Don't Stop Bellevin', Journey
74. Comin' In And Out Of Your Life, Barbra Streisand
75. Gloria, Laura Branigan
76. Empty Garden, Elton John
**77. Yesterday's Songs, Neil Diamond
78. Crimson And Clover, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
79. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, Police
80. Here I Am, Air Supply
81. I Keep Forgettin', Michael Mcdonald
82. Get Down On It, Kool and The Gang
**83. Any Day Now, Ronnie Milsap
84. Make A Move On Me, Olivia Newton-John
**85. Take My Heart, Kool and The Gang
**86. Mirror Mirror, Diana Ross
87. Vacation, Go-Go's
88. (Oh) Pretty Woman, Van Halen
**89. Should I Do It, Pointer Sisters
90. Hot In The City, Billy Idol
**91. Kids In America, Kim Wilde (I know this song now as the 80's band we go see played it recently. If I knew it then I would have to strike through)
**92. Man On Your Mind, Little River Band
**93. What's Forever For, Michael Murphy
94. Waiting On A Friend, Rolling Stones
95. Do I Do, Stevie Wonder
96. Working For The Weekend, Loverboy
**97. Goin' Down, Greg Guidry
98. Arthur's Theme, Christopher Cross
99. Through The Years, Kenny Rogers
100. Edge Of Seventeen, Stevie Nicks (Can you say karaoke?)

note to self

k1, p1 k 2 rows

Inspiration strikes at 2AM

So Sawyer had to bark at something about an hour ago. This woke Lilli Munster up and I took her out to pee. It was immediately evident that she was not going back to sleep anytime soon, so I decided to begin a memoir entry inspired by seeing the carnival lights on the way home last night. I had not really thought about any of this in about 20 years. Maybe 25 years. Maybe.

The following is the first draft of 'Carnival".


The Carnival

As I drive home from work at night, I hit an overpass once I have gone from 59 to the Beltway that allows the night sky to become animated with uncommon color. There are flashing bulbs of every color and design matched only by fireworks. I love the lights of the carnival in the night sky. I love the carnival at night.

when I was 16 or 17, I went for a girls night out with my best friends at that time. I think there might have been 5 of us piled into Colleen's Maverick, Colleen, Tina, Eileen, Paula and myself. It was the end of summer and we were out to just have a grand old time. Someone had procured a couple of eight packs of Miller light ponies, and we were on our way to the county annual carnival by dusk.

I remember the five of us actually all fitting in the seat on the Tilt-a-Whirl together. It was a celebration of sorts because Eileen had finally relented and accepted me into the group of locals. I don't remember the five of us being exclusively social before this time. We were a pack of local girls out for the first time with none of the boy/friend regulars, also part of our group. It truly was unique to be out doing something with none of the boys figuring out where we were and just showing up.

There were mass quantities of cotton candy, funnel cakes, corn dogs and let's not forget, beer. Someone's cousin was working the beer concession so of course, there was more to drink than what we had on the way there. We stopped on the side of the road as soon as the night sky was filled with the lights of the carnival rides to drink the rest of our beer stash and dispose of the empties before unleashing ourselves for our night of fun. It was also the night of my first and only drunken tattoo.

As we took a break from the rides to stroll around and cruise for hot guys, someone suggested we play some carnival games. We went booth to booth and threw darts at balloons to win posters, played ring toss to win goldfish, and the best of all, thew softballs for records. I remember someone bringing home Steve Miller Band and someone else scoring Fleetwood Mac. After a fresh round of beers, we came across the tattoo tent.

The tattoo itself wasn't a bad choice . I got it on my left shoulder and it was about 4 inches high. There was a tiger and a sash across it where in my drunkenness, I took everyone's suggestion to heart and I put my boyfriend Michael's name boldly in black scripted letters. The tiger itself was vivid orange striped with black and behind the tiger was a red heart. Then the sash saying Michael. It really was stunning and I felt like such a rebellious bad girl. Truly one of the group for the first time. This was followed by more alcohol, more food, and more riding in the sea of colored lights. It really is one of my fondest memories of that era.

The next morning, I got up as usual and had campground chores to do. First there was the bathrooms, then the firepits and trash, then lifeguard duty for the bulk of the day. It was the lifeguarding where the drunken tattoo became a questionable choice. As my father finished cleaning the pool, He and I passed through the pool gate and I still had a hooded sweatshirt on over my bathing suit. I really was not consciously trying to cover the tattoo, I truly hadn't given it a thought since waking up that morning.

Michael and his dad returned from fishing and hit the pool at about 2 in the afternoon. I had been lazing around sunning for a bit and chatting it up with Stephan, one of our summer residents and a good friend and confidant. Stephan was a couple of years older and he and I developed a thick sibling like bond almost instantly when we first met the summer before. He asked about the new ink and for the first time that day my eyes went to my shoulder. Shit. I had been parading about all day without a clue. I touched it gently and instantly had the memory of the ink flowing off the artist's brush onto my skin. Yes, brush, not needle. Thank God it was fake.

So Michael and his dad came in for a dip. As soon as Mr. Wheeler swam the length of the pool, he got out of the water, dried off and told us kids to have fun while he went in search of a cold one. I knew he was also in search of my dad for some bullshitting. It was after fishing ritual. What didn't occur to me was that he had taken notice of my tattoo.

Not five minutes after Mr Wheeler's exit, I hear my dad on the speaker in the tree. "Inside, now" was all he said.

Out of the pool, towel around my waist, hoodie back on, I ran across the parking lot to the office.

"Let me see it." I had never really seen my dad pissed off. Certainly not at me. If steam could have blown out his ears, he would have looked like many a cartoon venting frustration. I really was puzzled as to what he was talking about. This only infuriated him more as he yanked me into the back room. "The tattoo."

I told him it was fake. He wasn't hearing that at all. He wanted to see it and he wanted to see it immediately. My hoodie was off in a flash. My dad touched my arm. At that point I thought he was ready to beat my ass, something that had never in my lifetime happened. He was reaching for the first aid kit and he rummaged through it for something. Finally he comes out with an alcohol wipe. I knew this would take the tattoo off, and Michael who was still at the pool had.t seen it yet.

I got my dad to give me the wipe and I proceeded to take off the tip of the tiger's tail to prove to him it was fake. My dad was instantly relieved and I was again his little girl. "Go" was all he said.

Mr. Wheeler was sitting at the counter drinking his coke and chuckling as I ran out the office door. I shed my hoodie and towel as I went through the gate and dove into the pool and came up in the deep end standing between Michael and Stephan. Michael and I had been a couple for about a year at that point and he had never kissed me in front of anyone. He was shy and protective. We were naive enough to think none of the adults knew and only many years later was this illusion shattered. Michael, after hearing the whole story leaned in close and hugged me. He then turned my face up to his and kissed me. I looked over his shoulder to see Stephan smiling and swimming off. Michael and I spent the rest of the afternoon sunning ourselves.

art at what risk?

I have already decided I will not be taking the risk, but the idea still begs the question. When you are driving along and you see the perfect photo to accompany a story you either will or have already written, but to take the phot would be nothing short of dangerous, do you ever take said picture?

Discuss.

Tears for what might have been

No, not for the Astros, that would not have me shedding a tear or two.

Lilli Munster shimmied her petite self under the fence.

the ug dykes have a big dog. Bigger than Sawyer anyway. Under she goes not a care in the world. Reminded me of Traveling Matt on Fraggle Rock. Off to the wilds to explore the unknown. So she was staying right out of my reach under the fence. Fucker.

Then she wanders over to the edge of the pool just out of my vision and what I can see from my peephole between the slats.
Inside, put clothes on, go knock on the ug dykes door before 9am. Not surprisingly, no answer even though both their cars are in the driveway.

So I went back inside to our back yard to see if Lilli had come to her senses and come back over from the dark side. Umm, no.

I could see her make her way from the banana palms around the pool to the other side where the big dog was. Not a peep from him and it was hysterical as he was askeered of her.All 2 pounds of her.

Back out the front door and around to the shared sideyard where the gate to the ug dykes' yard is unlocked. I lifted the latch and over trots the big dog to investigate. Still no sound from him and his tail is awagging. Lilli trots close behind. Sees me. Comes running to the crack of an opening so that the gate remains between me and the big dog. Hesitantly, Lilli comes through to be with her own clan.

Woo.

Exhausted.

New project

I know, I know... I am not even done with the retablo (barely started, really) and already there is a new project being launched.

There is an organization here in Houston called AssistHers. They provide care teams for lesbians in need. I think they are assisthers.org if you want more info. I have been crocheting up a storm and just last week on vacation, I finally took my sorry ass down to Y2E to learn how to knit. E went with me and sat and sketched a bit and all in all, it took about 45 minutes.

Anyway, the new project. I want to make throw size blankets for each client AssistHers serves. I can do this on my own and it would take forever. Or I could ask for help and people who want to participate. They have about 20 active cases at the moment. If you knit or crochet and are interested, please let me know. I think the blankets should be done in synthetic because allergies are quite often part of the illnesses dealt with.

If you don't knit or crochet but want to contribute, let me know and you can maybe send a Michael's or Hobby Lobby gift card or some yarn.

I am on a mission.

inspired *and* brilliant

Just wait until I finish my retablo. My brilliance will shine here for all toappreciate once it is done. Maybe tomorrow.

Maybe.

I have been contemplating a site at etsy.com. Anyone heard of it?

Happy Birthday Connor

He doesn't read me as far as I know, but it might be the only bday wish I get to send him today, actually on his bday. My youngest is 15 today!

I'll take immunity, thank you.

I got on the scal ethis lovely back to work Tuesday morning and it didn't budge. No drama or concern, Aunt Flo is visiting y'know, but I just don't feel like changing the template for nothing.

My retablo is stil sitting naked. I have to turn it in on Friday. I have faith in the universe.

I made a wrap from some of the ebay yarn and I have a scarf going from some of it. Then I decided to combine strands to use it to test a pattern for Donna on Crochetcille. It is for a tote bag and I am nearly finished with it. I cannot decideif I will use it or not. I will wait until I get the strap onto it to decide.

Going back to work is going to suck today. Hopefully there will have been an announcement and I can make my countdown official. I bet y'all have forgotten about the mystery countdown.

Yoga beckons.

vacation planning

E has told me it is my turn to pick for next year's major vacation. We have been talking about going to Santa Fe for some time now and I have found the perfect reason to make this my final decision. And it was even an easy sell.

Woo.
Hoo.

Im know E must be relieved to not be stuck in a beach town somewhere having to slather on enogh sunscreen to keep her ass from becoming fried. I am not sure 'enough' is even a possibility. Now she will just have to worry about some exposed areas like her face and perhaps her arms. I am so good to her.

Anyone been to this area and have any suggestions? We will be going late September/early October and likely for 2 weeks.

uh oh...

My disease has just multiplied. I have the illness times 2. We went to Yarns 2 Ewe today and I learned to cast on and knit. Then I was whipping right along and found a purl tutorial online. Then I figured out if I knit a row and then purl alternate rows, well then I have something normal sweater looking.

Woo!

Happy Birthday baby!

DSE, she is so dear and sweet.

We are getting ready to go to Yarns 2 Ewe to sit with the worker grrls and learn to knit. Woo hoooooooo.

Still processing

My creativity is still brewing. That loosely translates to my retablo is still a naked tin sitting on the workbench in the garage.

We went out this morning for a late breakfast to Cafe Artiste. We were planning a new budget in a neutral setting. It was rather productive and enlightening. Let's just say we are striving to be on a financial diet with greater success than our nutritional diet.

That doesn't mean I am dispairing or lamenting the state of my nutritional diet. It is working and on goddess time and I am losing, so no complaint. It only means that I hope for better success with the financial diet. Really it just comes to us communicating about finances in a healthy manner. Doing it together. A new breed of conceptual art.

Creative mind on overdrive.,,

It is a double edged sword for sure. I like all the creativity when it is brewing about. I don't like being less able to focus on one particular project. Specifically, the Lawndale retablo which I really need to get done this week.

I have seen it so clearly in my mind's eye but the tin is sitting out in the garage still naked and untouched.

Manana is soon enough for me...

We are just back from B & N and I was perusing a variety of books. Several were crochet books, no surprise there. I was also looking at a few on altered books and one called the collage Sourcebook. They are dizzying, really. I had a stack of five of the eight I selected to breeze through and took the easy road and selected a scarf crochet book. Of the croochet books, it was the one I would use the most. The others will be on the shelf in time.

I have a gift certificate from a paper/scrapbooking company to use, and I am thinking maybe I will start with the chalks and some letter stamps or embelishments. I can use these things in other mediums, altered books come to mind. I will decide on that after another breeze through the catalog.

We took Lilli Munster to the Bayou City Art Festival today. She is a chick magnet,

rainbow gay and grrly pink

I crafted a sling for Lilli Munster out of scraps of yarn. Really I had no idea what it was going to look like. It might be too ugly to photograph and post. But it is oh so gay and grrly. I might take Lilli out later and give it a test. One of the Yorkie books that came with her says it is important to socialize your pup early with as many people and animals as possible, so naturally we simply must take her out and about.

While sitting on the couch posting, I can look into the glass doors of the tv cabinet and see what Lilli is up too. There are a bunch of toy patterns available at Crochetville and it seems that Lilli plays most with the little scrumbles I have made for her with a scap of yarn. Cheapo homemade toys it is!

Buenos Dias

At 2 am, Nola and Sawyer decided they heard something outside. E got up and let them out, but I could hear Lilli Munster whining and wanting out too. Since I was awake anyway and I am tasked with house training her, I got up to take her outside with the others,

"yes baby, I am going out naked." I went on out and put Lilli in her spot where she promptly went pee. I took her back to the crate and she was quiet for a bit, but as I was laying in bed liistening, her whining increased. E thought it was the squeaky toy we got her, but no, it was Lilly.

I got up with her and took her outside again.

I have stayed up with her and let her crawl all over me on the couch and she just settled down onto the cushion just over my left shoulder. Nola is on the back of the cushion all the way to the left and Lilli tried to go lay with her, but Nola snapped at her. She came running back to the safety of my space.

The integration is going rather well. Sawyer only snapped at her once and that was when she thought she might get a drink from the big dogs' dish. She has gone back to it since, but he only seems to mind it when there is food in the other dish. I have kept Lilli's food and water dishes on the table so S and N don't inhale her food.She only eats about a tablespoon at a time. Yesterday I put her on the scale and the needle didn't even quiver, let alone move, so she has a delicate figure to maintain. That and the fact she is just 10 weeks.

When we were up last night, I scooped her up once she had settled and put her back into the crate and went back to bed with no trouble so I might try that again. Or I might stay up and find something to do. Vacation.

On vacation

Since I am on vacation until the 18th, I decided to respect my body's time clock and go with the flow. That means lieing in bed awake at 230 in the morning wasn't an option. Lilli is pleased to have someone to play with.

She is so sweet.

Welcome Lilli Munster!

Lilli
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Certifiable. That is what e has to say. I called E and asked her if I could bring her lunch today. I suggested Jason's Deli which E agreed to and asked if I would stop at Starbucks, too. I couldnn't exactly say that might be too much to carry, so the plan was set.

I got to E's work and walked into her office with my arms full and promptly introduced e to Lilly. Love at first sight, of course.

change of plans

No knitting lessons today. Nola, please forgive me.


more later...

16 cones

My ebay package arrived today. It is 16 cones of yarn, mostly lightweight stuff, but my imagination is already spinning away the things I might be creating. Most of it is a plain light strand, but some is chenille and some boucle. There is a bit of a musty age smell, but nothing too terrible.

I am considering going to the yarn shop and beginning to learn knitting tomorrow. Maybe. T lost a tire today, so he will take E's car tomorrow and I will take her to work which gets be up nice and early on the first day of my 2 weeks off work.

"2 weeks? how much time did I approve for you?" That was what my boss had to say when I told her I would see her in 2 weeks as she was leaving for the day. Actually I am taking 5 days off which parlays into my return two weeks from today because I switched a few days around.

Woo.
Hoo.

domestic goddess

So I didn't feel like going to the store right now, but I did feel like some fresh cookies or something home baked.

I noticed right away we had about half the needed recipe for standard Toll House cc cookies. If this is the case, the cupboard is near bare, Don't dispair.

1 stick butter softened
3/8 cup sugar
3/8 cup brown sugar
capful vanilla

Cream the above ingredients together.

Mix in 1 egg.

Mix in 1 1/8 cup of flour.

spread evenly into an 8 inch square or other size cake pan you might have available.

Bake about 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

When you take it out of the oven, sprinkle whatever chocolate chips you might have over the top of the pan. Let them sit until the heat of the cookie has melted them, about 2 minutes, and then spread them over the top of the cookie like frosting.

cut into bars and consume.

yum.

yum. yum.

Minpins and yarn just don't mix

I am sure Nola was convinced she was helping me out. She even went so far as to pick the skein of yarn I needed to wind next to finish the cute grrl clutch I am making.

I just spent the last two hours untangling her mess and she sat on the edge of the chair at attention the whole time watching me. She knew she fucked up. Now that I put it down, finally finished, she is snoozing next to me on the couch. She doesn't know how close I came to bringing home a Yorkie baby today. It would be quite tragic for her princess status to be displaced.

Up and at 'em

I was just going to say how it is odd for me to be ready and awakeso early on a Wednesday, and then I just let flythis tremendous yawn. So maybe not so awake.

I think work is going to be agressive today and I am even considering nnot taking a crochet bag. But if I don't bring it, I certainly will need it.

I dreamt this morning of being a substitute teacher for a history class of high school seniors. It was the class no one else wants to teach. The problem children. Oddly enough, all of my own 'problem children', were students in the class. My coworkers I have issue with, mostly, and the occasional nemesis of days gone by. They were all the age they are/were when I was actively engaged with them.

I was told by the principle goiing in that there were 10 objectives that must be addressed. Then he gave me a copy of the final exam for the class which was 10 questions long. He said he did not expect miracles. I told him that he should with me teaching.

The class was unruly and I let them be. Then 2 minutes before the end of class I told them that the only things required of them were courtesy and respect and that I would be grading them on it and it was worth half their final grade so that if I deemed them an F at thoose things, they would need an A on the exam to get a C.

I then told them to be prepared to discuss courtesy and respect the following class.

I said it was weird, yes?

Duh

You Have A Type B Personality

B You're as laid back as they come... Your baseline mood is calm and level headed Creativity and philosophy tend to be your forte Like a natural sedative, you have a soothing effect on people Friends and family often turn to you first with their problems You have the personality to be a spiritual or psychological guru

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

inventory part 2

I just took some more stuff out of my car. There were two pieces of art E has given to me, bith done by her. One is part of the ball and chain series and one is a woman holding her tits a la queenmaxine which she painted before we met. It really was perfect as foreshadowing of what was to come.

Then I removed a piece of sculpture I bought on our trip to Switzerland and another sort of sculpture I got in San Antonio. Both are of women and both reside on my altar. Just something about them.

There were two plates which I rescued from my mother just last month when I was home. They are perhaps as old as I am and there is just something about them. E does not really care for them too much I think, but they have always been a fixture and have an intrinsic sentimental value I can't further explain.

Maybe more on the next commercial.

Catching up

I have unpacked our suitcases and straightened out the closet. Next comes the bedroom maybe. I did a quick stab at the kitchen and at least have the dishwasher going, but I amnot feeling like cleaning out here in the great room just yet as a lot of it is just stuff that needs to be returned to the garage and yard.

I am feeling like being lazy all around, but I also want to work toward getting stuff back to normal as well as getting my car further unpacked and cleaned and washed. A little too hot right now to be outdoors though, so I think the bedroom it is. After I make sure my baby does not need a beer or anything. Some things must remain a priority.

Thank you Saint Rita

woohoo..............

Back form or trip to Beth's and our power has been restored. We have air. We have internet. We have fans. We have a fridge cooling the remaining beer.

Ahh...

feed me seymor

So we have journeyed into town to our friend Beth's house. She was lucky enough to make it to her pareents' place out toward Austin and we have her spare key. We wanted a hot meal and alittle bit of net time. All at la Casa de Goddesses is fine. Still no power, but we made it through with nothing but a yard to clean up.

It was cool and windy with cloud cover most of the day so the house only got up to about 80. Hopefully we will be able to sleep comvortably tonight without it being too muggy.

The dogs are happy to not be in a car somewhere and also glad that their humans are not off to work but are home slugging with them.

We were going to maybe watch a movie while we were here, but we forgot that you have to be a grrl genius to operate Beth's remote system. Too much challenge for me. Pass.

I made us some tamales and eggs for le diner and I might be off to make another round before we vacate the premises.

It's all good.

update posted from Beth's

814 Saturday morning and we are still in one piece. There is no electricity and it has rained and there has been some howling wind over night, but everything otherwise is sound. A lot of pecans are falling onto the roof and with there being no other ambient noise, they are so loud. There is a lot of tree debris in the yard, but no major branches seem to have fallen.

I was hoping that even though there is no power, that there might be cable and
I would have an internet connection but I was not thinking that the wireless box still requires power to transmit the signal so no such luck.

Nearly midnight

I am sitting here looking out the back window at a tree that is positively still. There doesn't even seem to be a gentle breeze milling about. There has been some brief rain, but none that I saw or heard. I only know it rained because I see the patio is wet.

When I switch the channel back to local news, there is a totally different picture. Galveston is getting slammed with the edge of the Hurricane. It has not quite made landfall as far as I can tell, but the current news is about a fire on the Strand in one of the historic buildings. Or maybe it is in the historic district but not a historic building. It is across from the opera house, so I kinda know where they are talking about. It is totally out of control and after an hour, no progress evident in containing it. There is a swirl of sparks that makes the wind visible in an eery way.

Rita, may you stay as calm (here) as you are right now.

Let the inventory begin

I decided I would take a physical inventory of things I decided to pack into my car to take with me had I been able to evacuate. The easiest way to do this will be to blog about the things I unload as I unload them.

The first thing out of the car was Nola and myself. Then when we went to bed last night, I brought in my 6 Martha Stewart Grandma feather pillows. They are from Kmart of all places and regular price 8 bucks a piece. In terms of our sleeping comfort they are worth taking because we might have needed to sleep in the car. In terms of recovery after the fact they are still a comfort. In terms of replacement if they got flooded, they are priceless as it would be difficult to replace them. There is no Kmart in TX. Annd they cannot be ordered from the Kmart website. I don't know what is wrong with those people.

I also removed my work in progress crochet bag which also holds my wallet and phone, etc. One needs to be able to crochet for calm if displaced, you know. All my hooks are in that bag and a pair of craft scissors. It really is rather organized of me to have all that in one place easy to grab should I have to flee.

More to come.

And let it gooooooooooooo

I just had some discipline and declined to raise my bid on my second auction. I can be so strong at times. Really it was such a struggle. Baby, be proud.

One auction down...

So I won one of my two auctions and the other one ends tomorrow morning, I was going to pay attention to adjust my maximum bid if necessary, but considering I just multiplied my holdings I will see if I win it as is.

The one I already have won is for 6 spools of yarn of various weights. Large cones. Lots of possibilities. The seller also had 3 other groupings which did not sell and I offered her half the list which she accepted. I think that means I have about 16 spools coming.

Woo.
Hoo.

Who loves you, baby?

kkifly...

House bound

When most of the city is trying to evacuate and most (if not all by now) businesses are closed, there's always ebay. The internet can be a dangerous thing. C'mon rita bring me a win on my two yarn auctions!!

supplied and in for the long haul

We just got back from the grocery store.

Actually, we went to the little brown market around the corner first. While there, we got the immediate essentials. A 12pak of Bud for E, a 12pak of Budlite for me, and also a six of Pepsi and various bags of chips, cookies, and a couple of Twinkies and Ding Dongs.

That would have been enough had we not needed dog food. E had heard on the news that walmart would be open til 5. There is a walmart about a half mile down the road and yes, I was actually going to go there. The parking lot was empty and I did not even have to turn into their parking lot.

Whew, narrow escape.

However, we still need dog food. So we went to Randalls down the street and we actually got an impressively responsible list of groceries. Real food. Not a lot of beer and crap (as we already had those items in full supply).

So as it now stands, Rita is a Cat4 and might dissipate to a Cat3 before landfall. I maintain that Rita will bring us no arm. I am already designing a Saint Rita tattoo for my calf in the near future.

The decision to stay came after careful consideration. It really is simple common sense at this point. We feel safer in our home than we would in 99 degrees, current temp, on 45 north feeling like sardines if not overheating ourselves, our car overheating or running out of gas.

Rita, c'mon over for Cheddarwurst and beer!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Was that the sound of me relaxing in aunt PAt's huge jacuzzi spa tub?

Fuck no.

That was the sound of me being somewhat rested because I have been asleep in my own bed for 5 hours.

It took us an hour and a half to go the normal 45 minutes to get to the area near E's sister's house. Then it was another hour and a half to get 2 miles further down the road.

There are 4 lanes of highway stagnant. Not moving. Then there are three to four lanes of feeder road to the highway which were not being allowed to merge onto 45 north. We were on the feeder lanes and our 2 miles were better progress than the vehicles actually on the freeway.

After the magnanimous 2 miles, E decided to pull off and rest. As I was following her, I tried to rest also.

It was 97 fucking degrees yesterday and at 330 in the mornning, it was still 82. Does Mother Nature not know it is FALL now?

So we slept or at least rested a little in a quiet little parking lot. Quiet is a relative term of course. We first pulled off and found ourselves at the walmart gas station 'letswaitinlinetiltheygettheirnextgasdelivery' party. There were a shitload of people just communning. There were several truckers sitting in their cozy little air conditioned cabs resting as is normal for them. Well let me tell you, that is fucking loud for the rest of us.

So we went to a little deserted side strip mall where it was relatively quiet.

At 6am, we decide (E decided with me following, I always defer to her as I can deny her nothing) to get back on our trek on 45 north. As we did the little turn around on SH242, E saw the left turn line for 45N and we took a right turn onto 45S.

This is how we got back home. E actually took the boy back to his dad's and I came home. I was home by about 730. I turned the air back on. I then hit the bed. So hence my ahhhhhhhhh I have slept about 3.5 hours.

so now i am really in the car

waiting at the boy's dad's house for the boy. Traffic out of town is bumper to bumper gridlock and we will be forced into an evacuation route which will have us sitting in said traffic. Two cars of us. Yippee.

Hopefully we can do a little getaround.

On the road again

Fucking September 21st and it's 97 degrees at 6 pm.

My 17 minute ride home took me 1 hour exactly. Well, actually, it took me 20 minutes to gas up at the first gas station I came across leaving work. Then it took me 40 minutes to get home.

Houston is evacuating. Had you heard??

Hurricane Rita is a Cat 5 at the moment with landfall expected sometime late Thursday/early Friday. My theory is that we will suffer absolutely no losses from Rita because Rita is E's mother, our gaurdian angel, Goddess rest her soul. When we are inches from being destitute, Rita somehow steers us through. there is no way anything bad will come to us from a hurricane named Rita.

But...we are on our way to Dallas avec les chiens. Aunt Pat, Rita's sister, called E and said it would be a helluva thing if we made her come to Houston to collect our sorry asses. So we are on our way.

JC Penney even made it easy by deciding (the Sugarland store where I work anyway) to close Thursday to Sunday. Time for a few beers in Dallas.

I will update from Dallas as I can.

XO

I get a cookie for breakfast!

Minus two, woohoo!

Dreaming again

Weirdness. I have been dreaming again and they have all been weird. Usually something of my past but I am involved as I presently am. I suppose I should start to wi\rite them down again to see if any sense is to be made of it all. I need to do this before I get out of bed, otherwise they are gone. And as I get up it is often disconcerting to not be wherever I was dreaming of. As I said, weirdness.

So. Not. Pretty.

Train wreck TV has taken over Sunday night. I just watched The Surreal Life followed by My Fair Brady and now Breaking Bonnaduce. It's just a train wreck. It's not pretty. Simple as that. But commercials are over, gotta watch.

Lazy Friday mornings

It has been lazy, but I have been productive. I rather like the combination.

Dishes...done.
Create work forms...done.
Straighten couch...done.
Yoga...done.

And it is not yet 930.

Right now the dogs are outside at the side fence which opens to the front of the house. There are construction vehicles and workers milling about out there and when they are momentarily quiet, I can hear the dogs steadily growling under their breath. This isn't quite as comical coming from Sawyer, he is medium size and definitely somewhat intimidating to strangers, particularly having no love for men. Coming from Nola, the MinPin, all 10 or so pounds of her, it's pretty fucking funny.

There is the low steady rumble and then the somewhat higher steady rumble.

Those men better beware.

Not so bad

I was going to skip the scale altogether this morning, but E so endearingly brought it to my attention that I just couldn't 'forget' it was scale day. It was my birthday week and all as well as Aunt flo, so I did not have the greatest sense of discipline. Actuaqlly, my discipline was not really sacrificed as I was intentional with everything I decided to put into my mouth.

Minus two. I'll take it.

Yoga is going to kick my ass today.

Thanks ladies!!

Thanks for all the HBs! It has been a wonderful birthday weekend celebration. Now it seems I need to find a hat pattern and get my ass in gear.

We have been kicking around the idea of an Emerald Pillows lesbian blogger convention in P-town next year. Who's in?

41

Tht birthday celebration began on Wednesday evening with some nookie caliente supreme. Awesome.

On Friday we went to MiLuna for tapas and then to Soundwaves where E bought me Bloom, a CD of Sarah McLachlan remixes. It is different and interesting and overall after a few listens, I like it. We then went to Half Price Books where I got a Rita Mae Brown book I had never heard of 'In Her Day', as well as 'Mendocino', a book of short stories by Ann Packer.

We then headed to the Continental Club to see an 80s band and drink some beers. Too many beers when I had to get up at 6 on Saturday to work, but we were having some fun.

We tried to get to Empire for desert, but there was no reasonable parking. We ended up instead at Brenner's in tshirts where we had lobster bisque and cocktails at the bar. Very foofy place for tshirts, but goddesses that we are, there was not even a raised eyebrow from the wait staff. Their lobster bisque is certainly divine.

I think we were home by 11 and I promptly fell asleep.

Saturday I worked 8-4 and when I got home I was greeted by a vase of fresh cut flowers from our garden which I should have taken a picture of. Lovely. Next to them was a bag of gifties. A box of Godiva and a book were inside. Not just any book, but one I have had my eye on for a few months now. E totally surprised me by getting me 'The Crochet Stitch Bible'. She luuuuuuuuuvs me.

We then went to Eatzi's and got some food for a picnin at the waterwall. After that we went to see Mystic India at the museum IMAX. Then to Slick Willies and then for desert at Cafe Beneigt(I think I spelled that wrong, but as we are off to breakfast in a few, I really can't be bothered to go check).

So now we are off to breakfast at empire and then the farmer's market for some produce.

Happy Birthday to me.

Hornets...don't like them

There is a nest somewhere outside of the back door. It could actually be in the attic somewhere and they are going in and out somewhere near the door. I am really trying to get to a place of Buddhist calm and reason about not wishing them dead, but ever since I was little and got stung and had to go to the ER to be treated, I don't know, I sorta have this phobia thing about bees and wasps and hornets, oh my.

They dive bomb the back french doors. Do they really think the glass is an open window and they can just come in? I don't know, but if they are that stupid, they can be eliminated as a species dontcha think? It is an ongoing thunk periodically. Not often enought o form a soothing pattern, but distracting regardless. Wisdom says then to get my lazy ass off the couch.

Time to clean the closet, woohoo.

I nearly forgot...

The reward for making my goal will be Season 3 of La Femme Nikita. No buying it before then, not even at a great price. Not until the scale says 243.

That's less than 2 pounds a week. I can be that decisive. I really can.

It's time

I read a quote in Oprah yesterday that said once you make the decision for something to happen, it will. I should get off my lazy ass to get the entire quote, but now that I think about it, the magazine is at work. I will try to remember to get it while I am there tonight. It is in the September issue.

So on to my decision. It's time. Time to move on to the next 10%. I have also considered going back to Weight Watchers, once again hereafter WW, but I really do know their formulations and the leaders can be unbearable at times with their cheerfulness whether canned or genuine. I appreciate that their program has changed once again from the last one I used, but if it workked then, changes or not, it will work again.

10% of the current weight is the initial goal over 16 weeks. That is what I went through last time, though it took me longer than 16 weeks. Loolking at the calendar, 16 weeks from today is December 27th. I do not like the added challenge of the holidays, but if Oprah, the magazine, says it is possible to decide, than I decide. It's time.

I will weigh in each Tuesday morning and track my progress here, so for the next 16 weeks, Tuesday is weight blog day. Let me go hit the scale.

Uh-oh. Maybe it's Aunt flo bloat. She is due any day now. Maybe it is that I haven't been to yoga in a month or so. I just saw the numbers and I know by now, they don't lie. My last venture to WW got me down to about 265 and some time after leaving I hit my goal and was at 260. I started at 297, so I was quite pleased with that. With the help of yoga, I have maintained 260 for two years with a + or - of 5 pounds. I just got on the scale and was disappointed to see a +10.

So there is is. I am starting at 270. The WW 10% plan means I need to lose 27 pounds in 16 weeks. By Xmas, basically. So my new goal weight is 243.

I go back to yoga next week. I am going to make it a priority for the next six weeks and I will see where it takes me in this effort. I know that when I go twice a week I maintain with little extra effort. I also know that just by upping that to 4-5 times a week, I can lose with little extra effort.

Due to my work schedule and Saturday being either a morning shift or a night shift, I can go 4 days one week and alternate 5 days the next. I will even go so far as to commit to doing something yoga at home on the days I do not get to class so I am working toward daily yoga which I know makes me feel better. It's time.

The extra effort for this first 16 weeks is going to fall under the Starbucks sign. I was going to limit myself to only when we go on the breakfast run, currently Starbucks and kolaches. Instead I think I will begin by cutting to 3 times a week. I was going to be stearn and say two, but I am confident I can manage three easily, the brekfast run included.

I used to be quite disciplined and only got Starbucks after yoga class. That is where the 10 pounds is from since I have not been going to yoga, surely. I have already given up Starbucks for this week and next week. Nothing as drastic as a cold turkey detox, but rather I gave that budget to getting some supplies for a coworker of mine who has 20 family members staying with her in her three bedroom apartment since Katrina. E and I went to Costco and got her some stuff. I decided to forgo Starbucks in lieu of that.

So I will add a tracker to the sidebar to help keep me focused and progress will be evident. Decisive, huh?

It's time.

This is how it must start...

949 PM and I am just in from work.

Bowl of mac and cheese with sliced pork tenderloin mixed in.

Tall, no, make that xtra tall amaretto and oj on the rocks.

Sigh.

Essentials

Where do you start when considering essentials? I was daydreaming today while driving arouind. I know this is not the most appealing combination of activities. I wasn't fully invested in daydreaming, really, but more I have had an awareness lurking somewhere just beneath my consciousness so it manifests quite regularly in my thoughts, dreams, and daydreams.

For much of the past few years, I have felt as if I am on the cusp of a major revelation. What does that mean? Who knows, it is still just beneath my consciousness. I feel inadequate to describe it. What do I need to do to more fully actualize this potential?

My thinking today was along the lines of absolute simplicity of lifestyle. I am not quite sure what this means either, and this is what I was pondering. As I filled the tank of my little Honda Civic to the tune of $33.46, I was glad for only a 13 gallon tank. Gas was $2.89 a gallon. The president came on the tv today urging us as citizens to be conscious of resources. Does this mean do not head to Galveston for some beach time?

Gas is an essential. How much gas is optional.

Without going to extremes, how do you evolve toward a more conscious use of resources? How long is a good test of your willpower? Do you make a deliberately achievable goal like a week? A month?

What do you relinquish?

Maybe I should have taken that nap rather than posting.

tilted universe

Nothing is quite wrong, there is just something not quite right. My boy is here and i love him dearly, but it has the universe just slightly tilted. He does nothing wrong and he really is quite engaging. He just isn't part of the day to day thing called life on a regular basis.

We aren't doing anything particularly different than if he weren"t here, so I don't really get it.

It just is.

I may never again speak...

...to that sorry ass hateful mother fucker to whom I was married. He has finally succeeded in making me regret the day I said 'I do'. I might even regret the day we first met, though I am not sure if the implications of that would infer I regret the son we share, which certainly I do not.

Sorry. Ass. Hateful. Mother. Fucker. Motherfucker.

Exhale...2...3...4...

chef william

chefwilliam
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Sunday brunch at the Lake Placid Hilton Chef William prepared a ham and cheese omelette for his mother. There was no brown scorch anywhere to be found. Most excellent.

the final leg

The journey is coming to a close. I got into Chicago at 845 and arrived at gate C32, I think. I then had to find my way to gate B22. What a chore that was.

I walked from one end of the C concourse to the other thinking that at the other end there would be a hub that branched off to the other concourses. I wasn't really looking for signs to concourse B because I thought that it would branch off near the beginning of C. Wrong.

II got to the other end of C and had to ask where B was as there was no signing at the end. On the way back to the middle of the concourse C, I saw a sign. It was small. Fuckers. I had to go down a steep escalator and through a long tunnel, then up a steep escalator and voila, concourse B. They are an H configuration.

The tunnel had the moving walkways so at least it was less of a hike, but it was still a long way. My original flight had just a half hour layover. It took me 55 minutes to go from gate to gate. Even if I had not browsed and detoured the wrong way, I doubt I would have made it.

Original flight, yes, I had to change yet another leg of the journey. It wasn't enough to change Connor's trip plan by a week and a half causing the need to rebook two additional flights. It wasn't enough that he overslept and missed his first flight last week. Or that his connecting flight had a maintenance delay causing me to wait 4 hours rather than 5 minutes.

When we got to the airport so bright and early this morning, I checked in for my flight so I would be rid of my baggage. Then we went to Connor's airline to check him in for his flight. and I was informed that I could not get on my flight because I could not leave the airport until his flight was off the ground. This trip has been such a comedy of errors that it really didn't even phase me.

I went back over to United and had to see the man. I told him the dilemma and asked if Connor and I could just exchange flights. Umm, no. Not that simple. He could, however, book me on the next flight out, and he was nice enough to cancel the rebooking fee. I took Connor to his gate which was on one end of the airport and he left at 655. The plane was not actually off the ground, but my plane was boarding at 7 at the other end of the airport and the attendant said it was okay. Like I even asked permission. Lucky for me, the Albany airport is quite petite compared to Chicago. Gate B1 to gate A5 only took about 8 minutes.

The next drama will be when Connor arrives in Houston at 1220 in terminal C and I do not arrive until 1250 in terminal A. I called E while waiting at the gate in Chicago and explained all the new drama of the morning. I did make her an alternate to sign for Connor, but she might not be able to leave work to do it. I told her to not sweat it as this is part of what the airline is paid a fee for. Since Connor's flight had a connecting layover, the unaccompanied minor fee was $75. Let them earn it by having to wait for me. The clincher here is that the attendant that was working the check in in Albany was so adamant about me changing my flight that she neglected to collect the fee. She distracted herself right out of the $$ and I think that all this drama has earned me a trip to Yarns 2 Ewe. They are having a sale this weekend to unload some inventory before they move next weekend. Sounds like providence to me.

Almost home

Two times on this trip I had a NY state trooper pull out of a freeway trooper hidey spot right behind me. the first time, I was on my way up to the mountains from the Albany airport. I had cruise control set on 70 and the speed limit was 65. I was in the right lane and there were two other cars in the left lane who had been steady next to me for quite a while, so i imagine their cruise was set on 70 also. It was just after twilight. Most of the trooper cars here are dark blue Crown Vi8c's with no bubble rack on top. Stuck into the turn around with the radar gun and just waiting, They are nearly invisible at night against the trees.

Lucky for me, the lead car to my right was about a car length in front of me pretty much sheilding me from the radar gun. I would have never heard the end of my father ranting all week long if I had been the lead car. Of course, I would have been able to keep my mouth shut about it, but Connor would have surely let it slip.

My second brush was just coming here from the mountains. Same situation and maybe my cruise was 71 or 72. Trooperman got a CRV behind me this time. Whew. Note to myself for future trips to the Adirondacks: CRUISE IS TO ?BE SET AT THE SPEED LIMIT. PERIOD.

So we are checked in and we are signed up for the 4:30 shuttle to the airport with a 4AM wakeup call. My flight leaves at 620 and connor's at 655.

Yawn.

Sanity still in tact

I am so ready to be hoime.

I could stay longer finances permitting if either of the following applied. Either E would join me, making any corcumstance pleasant, or My mom would let me clean sweep her house. Correction, make that my mom *and* my dad.

My parents live in what would be a lovely artist's retreat. It is about 800 square feet and I am totally guessing. The moveable space is closer to 100 square feet. My parents are both hoarders of miscellaneous crap. I think said crap would be manageable for a time if it was my mother's or my father's, but that it is both of their's, individually and collectively, it is an avalanche waiting to happen.

My mom said in the car today, "Lynn said she couldn't live here when we die, too small."

I said, : That's good because it really should go to me and while I couldn't live here full time, it will be a lovely summer home some day."
Mom: You would want it, really?
Me: Yes. Really.
Mom: I will let your father know that so the will is proper.

Please note this does not actually mean she will have this conversation with my father. My father knows how to have a conversation, just not with my mother. Not with my sons either, really. He has one tone of voice, hollering, and one volume, on. I might have to send him an email about it and mention it. We seem to do okay whether in email or actual conversation, but email has something in writing for him to remember by.

I think anyone who spent time as a fly on the wall would say he is verbally abusive. The trouble is he still minds his manners most of the time. I know my mom feels stuck. Either she thinks she is better off surviving him to get everything rather than the half or less she would get upon leaving, or she is too attached to miscellaneous crap which noone who would take her in would allow to come with her. No reasonable person anyway. I am nothing if not reasonable.

My mom has a sister who left her husband after 40 years of marriage and Aunt Trudy is making it work. It's not like she lacks an example. If I had to label it, I would say defeated. Her other two surviving sisters would certainly take her in as they are both retired widows who enjoy her company. While I think we would welcome her also, I know she would perhaps make E and me cuckoo. This is no immediate concern because of the stuff factor. I advised her to imagine visiting Aunt Patty which she will be doing in September for about a month. I told her to then imagine that the house burns down while she is gone. What would she miss? I think it got her to thinking, but it will take way more to motivate her fully.

Que sera, sera...

Whadayaknow

I am sitting at the cafe in Lake Placid once again, considering it my detox time. There were eight of us for Sunday brunch at the Hilton, my mom and dad, my sister Lynn and her son Ian, Brenda and bill, and Connor and myself. Brunch itself was not worthy of detoxing, but the weekend visiting without E certainly is. After brunch I went down Main St in LP for some minor shopping with Lynn and Ian. We ended up at Adirondack Yarns and i bought nothing!! E will be so happy.

I reparked the car down here by the cafe and came in for a Chai Latte. When visiting LP, be careful not to asked for a Chai, because that gets you nothing but tea bag chai. Yuckola. Yuckadoo.

There is a man sitting two tables away from me who looks exactly how I imagine Duffer would look after not seeing him for about 20 years if, in fact, if I hadn't seen him three years ago. It isn't Duffer, but he looks like Duffer should be looking. Duffer is Chef William's father. When he and I were together for three years, he was so into fitness that I would never imagine he would ever have anything other than the 27 inch waist he had then.

When I delivered Chef William to him three years ago, I was shocked to see him with a good hundred pounds or so additional...and balding. Badly. I wish I had before and after pics for the illustration.

So this guy is sitting here and has no clue how close I would be to saying hi and talking to him as if he were my ex.

After brunch, Connor went home with Poppy and Nanny because Pop was going to take him shooting. My mom is not up to walking Main Street or I am sure she would have stayed. I am not up for another day od sitting in her house as it really is rather depressing. That means I need to come up with something to do tomorrow. Connor will want to go shooting as it will be the last opportunity. Maybe the boat ride in LP. Maybe something else. We shall see.

The Saga 8/05 part 3

8/21
Technically, this is day 5, but since Wednesday was totally lost to travel it is day 4. The fourth day should have E and i back together as I instituted a three day rule early on in our relationship. On occasion there is little to be done about enforcing this rule, and I am ready to be back with my baby. Three days/nights I can handle well enough, beyond that, I just don't like it. I guess that means some retail therapy is required.

Truth be told, I don't like it for one night. I want her with me always.

So today is Sunday and we are meeting family at the Hilton in Lake Placid for Sunday brunch. If willie remembered, he made us a 1230 reservation and we won't have to wait. My sister Lynn and her son Ian will come down from Plattsburgh and Brenda and Bill who we have known long enough to make them family, will join us after church. Add Connor, my mom and maybe my dad to myself and we should be a party of eight.

William tends the omelette station for sunday brunch so that might be the required meal this morning. He said he will try to keep his chef's whites fresh for pictures that long.

It has been interesting seeing him after three years. Apparently he is quite put out with his father and refers to him as Duffer, his nickname, or That Crazy Man. I find it interesting because I have never said a disparaging word about him, and for the first 17 years of his life they had little contact. It is just another small affirmation to see him figuring this out for himself. He has lived with his father for nearly three years now and is in the process of finding his own place. There is an apartment house here which is the equivalent of the projects, but is actually fairly recent construction. It is state subsidized housing and Willie's pastor is helping him to get approved. At least he is not hinting around to come back to Texas.

So he has found god, too. That is a conversation I have managed to side step fairly easily. He had taken Thursday and Friday off so I saw quite a bit of him those days. Every time we stopped back at the hotel, he sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the bible and began reading to pass the time while he waited for me.

Interesting.

Connor has been relatively calm so far. His soul focus is on going target shooting with his pop. My dad says the only requirement is that he display a modicum of maturity. Connor is 14. A modicum is at times a stretch, but he is holding his own. My dad takes every opportunity to remind Connor he is supposed to be mature. It is much easier for him now that his brother has gone back to work. Oil and water, those two.

So Connor is very well adapted to taking my father's criticisms. He also takes every opportunity to mock my dad. This does not go unnoticed, and really, it seems the best way for him to handle my dad. I never thought of anyone as handling my dad, but Connor is already a master. He gives better than he gets most times, and my dad is so taken off guard by it, all he can do is laugh about it. It is perhaps the closest he will come to having a mini-me.

Life has been a comedy these past few days.

Ahh...civilization

So I found a goffee shop in lake Placid who makes chai lattes *and* has free wireless available. Woohooooooooo...

My oldest, Willie, surprised me at the hotel with a long hug and said as he was hugging, " Thanks mom for not leaving me fopr that crazy man to be raised."

Hah!

Vindication? Affirmation?

Two disappointments in one and so early in the morning

Two disappointments in one and so early in the morning

Yes, there is enough time to go back to the McD's counter and bitch them out for giving me the wrong breakfast sandwich before i board the plane. No, it just isn't worth the effort and I will chalk it up to fate telling me I was not supposed to eat that crap anyway. At least they got my water right.

That was one.

Now for two, WIFI signs all over the place making me think I can log on and blog my disgust with said McD's. When will I learn that "WIFI access" is not the same as "FREE WIFI access"?

I suppose it is the beginning of my week-long detox. I will be detoxing off of the internet, sure. My folks live in the middle of nowhere. They do have internet access, but they are not likely set up for wireless, and my Mac is not set-up for anything else. Planning might have dictated that I might prepare for that and set it up and pack the phone cord, but no. Didn't happen.

I hope to at least find a cafe offering FREE WIFI in Lake Placid, but I am not betting on it, so this might not even get posted until I get back to Houston.

A cafe. Sigh. I am not sure there is any Starbucks anywhere near my destination, either. I meant to do a search at their site last night but I forgot. I can at least do that on my dad's computer when I get there. I might suffer serious withdrawal. Or it might be a good thing. Spell check says that is the correct spelling of withdrawal. Not so sure.



Drama part 2
So I get off the plane in Chicago, and there is a voice mail from my son. "I overslept. I missed my plane but I am on the next one which comes in at 530 or something. I will try to call again you must be on the plane."

I called my mom to let her know we would not be arriving by 6 just so she would not be all wigged out. You see, my folks are 2-3 hours drive from the airport.

I then get back onto a plane and take my hop to Albany from Chicago. I am waiting in baggage claim for Connor and remaining very calm. Meditation and yoga are serving me well. I was debating whether or not to bring any DVDs with me as I know it drains the battery of my laptop, but I figured I would give it a go and see how season 2 of La Femme Nikita ends up. At this point I am glad I brought them, the last two discs for S2, and while awaiting my son's arrival, I found an outlet by a bench in baggage claim. I can watch *and* recharge.

Finally, my phone rings again. Connor tells me the flight has been delayed with an 8:28 estimated arrival time. Ok, I couldn't help it, I released a heavy sigh.

SIGH.

C: Aw mom, don't get mad. It is vacation afterall.
Me: Clarify please, you missed your flight, and the one you got put onis being delayed. Both those things happened, not just one or the other? It started with you missing your flight?
C: Yeah. I did not set my alarm because I thought dad was getting me up. Dad said I should have set my alarm. My fault.
Me: Back up. Who is the parent, you or dad?
C: Dad.
Me: So it is his fault. Period. End of story.

I have innumerable past experience that dictates that any transaction involving Steven LaMont Witcher, will be convoluted. He. Is. Not. Reliable. Herein lies the source of my calm. I *know* this. It is a lesson I have mastered with great proficiency.

So I was watching Nikita and it occured to me, during the previous conversation with Connor, he informed me the airline mandated he fly UM status, unaccompanied minor. This bit of info delighted my mother, "That means he's not alone through all this mess."

So this little light bulb going off told me that I would not be able to meet my son in baggage claim as we had planned. I would have to sign for him and meet him at the gate. This raised a small panic in that I had absolutely no idea what flight my son was to be on and no number to call him back at. Let's not forget, no unticketed peeps allowed beyond security checkpoints. And I am still looking at a 3 hour drive and I woke up at 5 this morning after a brief stint awake and restless at 2 am.

I found check in and the man looked up the info and gave me a security pass. I check the monitor for the flight he gave me and it is the one that should have arrived at 2:35. The monitor says it is still delayed in Philly. But that is the flight he was supposed to be on, the one he missed.

So I am sitting here at the gate with peeps waiting for the Philly flight to get here so they can go back to Philly. Or get to Philly to transfer to London. Makes me wait more manageable. I imagine hearing E tell me, "Listen to someone else's troubles and you will keep your own." I am glad I am not worrying about making a London connection, though admittedly, I would gladly go to London.

I just learned something new.

I was trying to figure out how to edit comments to remove the comment spam I got on the previous post. I looked around the Blogger dashboard but found nada. Zippo. Then, I just had the brilliant idea to go look at the FAQ page and search 'edit comments'. There it was simple as can be.

And this was all made possible by Dear Sweet Elizabeth who corrupted my desire to bail on my yoga class today. I think that I might not even be missed by my students. Well, maybe by three or four of the 15, but not entirely. I won't see them for two weeks now as vacation draws ever closer. The decision will then need to be made as to whether or not i go back to teaching them.

As E mentioned on her blog today, we have been teaching at a facility for troubled youth. A lockdown facility. She is teaching mural making, and i am teaching yoga. We are each with a group of 15 young women. Teenagers. High schoolers. We had been warned that all the volunteers who take ona program usually leave after three weeks. Of course, this is week three.

It isn't the kids that make everyone run or just not come back. it is the staff. Terri, our friend and the facilitator of all these programs, says it is because they are underpaid. Actually, most of the staff are just glorified babysitters. They are well paid for that position. There are obvious flaws in the system, and it is bothersome to feel like one of the flaws.

This is not something i willl really dwell on, but I feel there has to be some solution. Of course, the solution might be to not go back. I will reserve judgement til after vacation.




2

more

days

alternately

It will be about 60 days until it is officially official.

officially unofficial

156 days. I think that's correct. I was going to install a counter, but could not find one that
was sure enough in using in that it wouldn't fuck up my blog totally. So a random "xx number of days until..." will just have to do. And until it is officially official, that's all I have to say about it. So there.

Dried cantelope, sour cream, bagels, and rainbow sherbet

Is that a menu or what. That is actually my grocery purchases tonight on my way home from dinner with my friend Beth.

Earlier today, E and I went to the farmer's market and got some produce for the week. We scored two seedless watermelons, two cantelopes, red potatoes, bananas and strawberries. There are still squash and onions left from last week. When we are good about going to the market weekly, and good about cutting the produce when arriving home, we are pretty good then eating better, or healthier, through the week.

We also stopped at Costco where we got the nedded toilet paper and bottled water, dishwasher tablets, and eggs. We neglected to buy the also needed tamponskis and we added blueberries.

this is where the sour cream comes in, as a companion to the blueberries, breakfast tomorrow morning is already calling my name. The bagels i just knew we were in need of, and the dried cantelope and rainbow sherbet are pure impulse purchases. All in all, still a pretty healthful shopping day.

arnoldserious

arnoldserious
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Back in the day...

My dad, sometime in the '50s. Musta had a hot date.

Don't wanna get up...

I am feeling lazy and sluggish and i really wanted to go to the beach this morning.

Wah.

i guess I was just not supposed to be there. History has taught me that yoga is where i need to be this morning, so I am getting my ass up out of bed in a few minutes, into the shower, and out the door. Hmph.

Vacation in two week s will be nice. I hope. Haven't seen my folks in a couple of years and my youngest(14) who is meeting me in NY for a year, so it will be a nice mini reunion. My oldest(20) lives up there now and I haven't seen him since he left the nest 3 years ago. Interesting. He is training in the Lake Placid Hiltom to be a chef and has worked there since moving. I think he is currently a pantry man. I just learned from my mom that he has also acquired a tattoo gun. He is a decent artist, but i am thinking I would rather pay someone at this point. We shall see. E asked, "So he knows about how sanitary he needs to be?" My question exactly.

Which is worse?

I have a coworker who only works on weekends and as I in general do not work Sunday's, I see her at most once a week. Saturday is usually busy, so there is little, if any, chatty time, especially for a coworker I just don't really care for.

Today when I came in she actually made a point of saying hi to me. I did not think too much of it beyond noticing it seemed odd. She then said," I heard you sort of got remarried a couple of weeks ago and I just wanted to pass on congratulations to you and your husband."

Me: I don't have a husband.
Her: I guess that is where the sort of comes in?
Me: No, I have a wife.
Her: Oh.
(processing)
Her: Well congratulations anyway, I guess.


Then around 5ish, I was talking with two other coworkers, ones I at least like well enough to have a conversation with. As she walked by the desk, she stopped and was listening to the conversation trying to be part of those of us talking. I was relaying the latest drama about my wasband. I was specifically saying what I said to him before I had to hang up on him because he was talking to me in a totally inappropriate way.

Me:...So I said to him, "You know that I won't condone the way you are speaking to me by allowing it to continue. So just so you are not confused, this is not us getting disconnected again. This is me hanging up on you for real. I will call my son tonight when I get home."
Her: Maxine, that is so unChristian of you!
Me: I really don't know which is worse. You presuming I am heterosexual or you presuming I am a christian.

She paused briefly and turned and left the room. My two coworkers I was actually talking to had a hard time stifling their laughter.
CW1:No you didn't...
CW2:Yes she did...
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...

Kimi

Kimi
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Could it be true? All the lesbians who meet Kim want to *be* Kim. She is the quintessential lesbian. It is really sad for you if you do not know Kim even as a mere acquaintance.

Me, well i am fortunate enough to be her bestest, so I really know Kim. She is a babe. All around goddess in the flesh. I actually got to have her here in the house, no wait, that doesn't sound quite right, now does it...What I mean to say is she was here in real time twice this year! Unbelievable. And my wife (have we settled on wife?) actually likes her.

Woo.

Happy Birthday, Ma

I can pretty comfortably say my mom is not a reader here, but I thought it fine to acknowledge it's her special day. I think she is 73 today and I might be struck dead by lightning if in fact she is 72 or, gulp, 71. I really should know this and when I call her later I will certainly ask.

I am going home in a few weeks and will see her then. I guess it has been two years since I saw her last and three years since I saw my dad. My mom is delighted that I have absolutely no agenda for this trip. She is thrilled that my bestest friend Kim has zero likelihood of also visiting her folks at the same time. That means I am available only to her. She really likes it. And, I will have a car. That means galavanting. In a serious way. I will rack up thousands of miles because I have no agenda. Also, because they live in the mountains of upstate NY and you rack up thousands of miles just going to the grocery store.

My youngest son will be meeting me at the Albany airport and I haven't seen him in a year either. My oldest son I haven't seen in three years and I figure he will be cooking me an omelette at the Hilton on Sunday.

I do want to have my sister alter a few dresses for me so I will have to arrange that. And Connor wants to hike into Copperas Pond so that will be a nice day event. Mom wants to do a yard sale on Saturday. Maybe I will see if there is some sort of VT day trip to a flea market or something for Sunday. I know mom is aching to get out of the house without the ball and chain.

And speaking of the ball and chain, E made a comment on Paulie's picture. Actually she was quoting him. We went to lunch with Paul and Fred last week. In discussing it, He sounded weird so I asked him if he wanted to lunch solo or with the ball and chains. He replied without a hitch, (hear Paul Lynde) "Honey, you know I can't wipe my ass without my ball and chain."

Barking dogs, gotta go.

Yawn...streeeetch...

So I just slept through the early yoga class, but there is plenty of time to get to the eleven o'clock class. Nola certainly likes it. She is just a manic mess on Wednesday mornings because noone goes back to bed after we get up to pee. I think she counts on me sleeping in on Thursday for her recovery.

Paulie

Paulie
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Paul is just the finest man alive. He is the greatest. Paul is a dear.

Some day I might actually get past the pool hall pics from our unofficial bachelorette party. Or is it the rehearsal dinner?

Regardless, we had a lot of fun with our friends at the pool hall on Friday night.

Time for some CD inventory

Sometime during the last year, we bought some lovely silk photo boxes from the Container Store. We are repurposing them to be used for CD storage. Currently, they are holding the CDs loosely in bulk. Since I am between books, I think I might take a box of them to work today to get started on alphabetizing. I got some paper sleeves for them which I will use and the boxes come with dividers. I think a straight alphabetical without sub-categories will be the initial sort.

A few years ago, we had the bright idea to purge ourselves of the bulk of the plastic cases and put the CDs into albums. Not so good for us. I did keep the liner notes for most of them, so that will be step two pf the project, getting the liner notes back wiith their respective CDs.

Box of CDs, paper sleeves, Sharpie, all set to go.

Cafe Artiste

Sitting here and waiting to see if any writer chicks from Houston show up. I do the meet thing in a very informal leave it to the universe sort of way, posting an email to the group saying where I will be writing and when, and if someone shows, they show. I am not disciplined enough to properly facilitate a group. Also, I do not feel like I would want to be a babysitter nagging anyone to do this or do that.

E and I have been here nearly 2 hours and had a lovely dinner and doone some surfing in preparation for our fall vacation and she has a book with her so the time is not lost. I think it is time to go.

Oui, oui...hohon

Oui, oui...hohon
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

Not a vibrator.

Edible chocolate body paints. This will likely be the last time they are used on our faces.

Is it a vibrator?

100_0404
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

What is it about the pool hall that brigs out the phallic thoughts? Of course a bunch of lesbians shooting pool and drinking beer let's the energy wind up just a little.

Jenny and Cara brought us a lovely gift. That was so sweet of them. When I saw how it was being photographed, I was wondering if it was a hint as to the contents of the lovely package. Package...AAAAAAhahahahahahahahahahaha...

Who needs the Red Hat society

rockstar
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

While partying like a rockstar, C heard the call over the PA system at the pool hall.

"The next person to come to the bar in a weird hat gets a free drink."

Lightning speed ensued with C fashioning a hat from a napkin twisted into a bow and a pair of take out chopsticks. In true McGuyver fashion, she used her existing hair clip to secure the hat's position on her head.

Upon getting to the bar, the bartender said he said mint, not drink. She pleaded her case saying she came all the way to TX from NJ for the SLick Willies experience, and she ended up getting a free minty drink. It was a clear shot of something which with a little encouragement, she tossed back like a pro.

We now have a rep at the poolhall. (Like we didn't have one already, yeah, sure.)

Winding down

We survived The Grand Affair.

The band was fabulous.

The food was fabulous. (Yes, I rock!)

Hitaji was simply awesome.

And the company, well, the company was superb.

Fun from beginning to end.

More later.

The eye of the hurricane

I think that is how I am feeling at this very moment. Everything swirling around me and much to be done with barely a plan to conform to. But, ultimately, it's all good and I have faith in the unioverse so I am very calm about it all at this point.

Trisha arrived safely on Wednesday and Kim on Thursday. Today in a couple of hours my neice Crystal will be here.

Also on the agenda today, getting the chairs from the yoga center. I gure we need 35. There will be 30- seated guests and three chairs needed for the band and that gives us two extra. E and T will go get them this morning.

The cooking is to begin today as well. I am making pork tenderloin and chicken wings and mashed potatoes today and E is making lasagna. All of this before we go to Slick Willies for 7 pm.

Of course there was a trial run at Slick Willie's last night.

E has stopped bleeding but has the nastiest bruise on her arm. On top of that, she worked her ass off getting the shower mostly finished yesterday so it was sore on multiple levels. A few beers last night helped ease the discomfort along with some good food from Mi Luna. The FLamenco dancers were just beginning as we were leaving, but the pool hall was calling.

I was put out that we did not remember to bring the camera with us last night. We can be forgetful at times. Providence.

Head spinning

So, if your head spins around too many times at the possibilities of it all, it being life, I suppose, does it remain attached until you get to unwind?

Three trips to the airport this week, work today and tomorrow, yoga, picking up miscellaneous crap all over the place, pool, dogs to the kennel, paint and paint some more. OK, well the painting is E, but I have to watch her do it because I just have to watch her do everything because she is so damn cute and sexy. MMMMMMMMMMM and sex. All that has to be done in a coordinated effort this week. It will all work out fine because it's all good, and the queen of it's all good who scholled me in the philosophy herself, Trisha, will be the first to arrive tomorrow after work.

E's arm is still bleeding a little I think. It looks rather nasty what with tissue threatening to burst forth if she flexes her muscle at all, and she does because there is work to be done dammit. An inch further to the right, and the gash would be through her tattoo. Not pretty. As it is, the gash should have been stitched, three or four times, and the bruise is horrendous. It was visible almost instantly and rather than black and blue, it is pretty much just black.

I wish I had taken pics of the various hodge podge of bandaiding we did. First it was two or three regular size bandaids overlapping slightly. That did the trick for about a minute until they were saturated with blood. Then there was the thought to tape toilet tissue over the wound. More absotbant, yes, but would also stick, so no. Hmmmm...absorbant...blood...LET'S USE KOTEX!! Thus we make the transition from bandaids to panty liners. Whatever get's you through the night, s'alright. S'alright.

I think today E is back to bandaining with the larger one inch bandaids. Whether we had gone to the drug store for the proper bandaids in the first place or whether we go to restock which we now need to do, we still need to add the drugstore to the head spinning to-do list.

Countdown mode

Just one more week until The Grand Affair. Whoosh. My mom sent a contribution and in her letter, said it was from her alone and not to be thanked for in email or phone or anything. This means my dad does not know she sent the check.

So now the question of the day is did he see the invitation and know about the party? If so, there is a likelihiid that he will also send a check.

My mom also said she would take care of the hotel when my son and I come visit for a week in August. I was pretty sure she would, but it is nice to have confirmation.

At some time over the last decade, my mom has gotten very sentimental and emotional. It is nice and touching, of course, but it is still odd to me to notice these qualities in her. She has always been very flat to me. Not quite stone, but certainly some hard edges.

E's observation is of the emotional side as she met my mom about 5 years ago. I wonder if I will ever see the same change in my sister. She is less stone, more angry. She has issues and we are not really close in a way that I know what they are, but I know she has them. My neice has enlightened me a little on that and she and I are closer than her mom and I will ever be. Part of that is that I am closer in age to her than to her mom and she was around a lot when I was younger.

Time for work.

Yes, Nola, you're such a good grrl.

I have to suppress the urge to shudder and scold every time, but my dearest Nola tried to bring me another bird today. "That's such a good grrl Nola," I lied..."Now DROP IT!"

She listened immediately and then I pointed away until she went over to the side lawn to squat and pee, which was what we went out for in the first place lest the new carpet tempt her. The bird was sitting there perfectly still, not moving, looking as if the wing was mangled.

After peeing, Nola took the long way around the yard back into the house hoping it might distract me enough for her to slip by and regain her quarry. Once we were back inside, she was laying on the couch and watching her bird. It did not move for a minute or two. I went in to wake E from her nap and asked her to come help me patrol for the bird. I wanted to be sure it was not in the grass anywhere.

Vanished. Gone. Hasta la vista, baby.

Nola is a MinPin. Bred to rid estates of varmint. She is just doing her job, man.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Untitled-14_3
Originally uploaded by queenmaxine.

I think my dad has the right idea here. This is exactly what I feel like doing.

Is it really morning?

I just read about the new Blogger Image feature and while it doesn't directly say it is not available for Mac users, it is not. I do not have any of the feature buttons available like spell check, the link button, none of it. Thankfully, Flickr is easily usable. As for spell check, the occasional mis-spelled word will have to be tolerated.

I need a better night's rest. I have been very restless for about a month now and it is really getting tiresome. If not up every hour looking at the clock, it is close to that. Tiresome about sums it up.

I added a few recent reads to my list at the left and a sI go through the bookshelves to straighten them out, I might fiond a few more. Today it will be alternating between doing the books, the laundry, and watching more of season two of La Femme Nikita. I had even considered hitting the beach today, but since I am not already there, that won't be happening. Maybe some chair time in the backyard.

And then it was July

I have been experiencing a weird sleep schedule lately. Not sleeping well and then waking later than normal, though perfectly normal a few years ago, is leaving me feeling somewhat disoriented in the mornings.

I think over the past 2-3 years, I have gotten accustomed to being a morning person. It really is ghastly on some level. It is not really that I like mornings, but I can get and be up with little difficulty. Lately, if I do not have to be somewhere, I have been getting up between 9 and 9:30. And feeling totally blech.

As for getting ready for bed, If I have had a particularly challenging day at work, I am ready for bed by 11. Otherwise, 12:30 or so seems good, and quite often I have been awake and cruising the clock between 2 and 4 AM. I guess I should be getting up and doing something then as I used to when I was restless.

Time to take a book outside for some sun. Maybe that will help.

Just shoot me now

That way, I will never have to work another Sunday. It is so dreary and tedious working the desk on a Sunday. I don't know how Drayson stands it every week. There were about six stylists on and the salon was awash in negative energy. Three of them are outright negative energy as a way of life and the other three where normally not so much negative, were negative because of these three. It was nearly unbearable.

I had two crochet projects with me and a book and I still nearly went mad. It is also tiresome to have to tell anyine who calls after noon that we are booked and I cannot accomodate them. Their dissatisfied huffs add considerably to the negative energy.

Vicious

Doddering old men named Lu

I have had a second occurence of an old man named Lew crossing my path recently. The first occurence was when I worked at Oildom. A senior editor was hired on who was near 60 and no one really knew why he was there. It was basically a professional courtesy for him to be able to retire in a few years. He has a great history within the industry and contacts I am sure, but he really was doddering. There just is not another word coming to mind to better describe Oildom Lou. My involvement with him was fetching things. He might have been the only person there to consider me 'his' secretary. I was the adminiastrative manager for an office of about 10, but Lou really liked it if I would 'please get the coffee going' or "please stock up his stationery'. At least he had manners and wasn't too muich of a pest.

Yesterday, I made a new doddering old man acquaintance named Lew. As I was leaving for the night, I walked past catalog and there he was. He was asking
Beverly(think of Marge Simpson's sisters here and hear them speak) for help in clocking out. 'I'm not the trainer. Didn't Sue show you how to do all this? You been here a week already and you can't work the time clock?" She is just about the rudest bitch in the place, and it really bothered me to witness this exchange.

Here I was ready to hit the door running. My purse, laptop and bag of other miscellaneous stuff slung over my shoulder or in my hand and in my other hand a bottle of water and Rice Krispy treat. I went over to the catalog counter and said excuse me to enter the conversation. Lew, dutiful (new) JCP employee that he was had his nametag on. Reaching my hand to shake I said "Hi, Lew. Maxine from the salon. LEt me help you with the time clock." In no way was I being a suck up or anything less than genuine, and it was a definite feel good moment. I was genuine with my offer to help. Lew was genuine with his appreciation. Beverly was genuine with her slack jawed look of disbelief as she said under her breath "Well I was gonna help."

Then as I said good night to Lew as we passed by catalog, Bob the bossman walked by and said "Thanks Max, Noted." I love it when he catches me going above aand beyond, and he always does. I think it might be time to hit him up for a dependent discount card for my lovergrrl.

I just hope I haven't created a monster in Lew.

Interesting read

Go read it!

weirdness

I usually work 9-6 on Wednesday but due to our other receptionist being at college orientaation, I am working 11-7. That is just weird. I am sure it is because my boss did not want to dump another 1-9 on me this week, but still, it is odd.

Training begins with the new receptionist today who is taking Mitu's place after next week when she leaves for school. Dana has worked for JCP for years, but her previous position was dissolved. She took the severance and has been gone for about 6 months. It will help that she is up on the JCP way. Really all she needs to learn is the new register/computer and the way we book people. She will be a pro by tomorrow I think. I am pretty sure she is in her 40s, so it will be nice having more maturity at the desk. I also wonder if she might be family. Maybe on the down low as she is married with kids. But I know first hand that it is still possible.

The three of us on the desk being gay. That could be interesting.

Once again

We are once again a two functioning toilet household. My lovergrrl is so butch she can fix anything. But what a jewel that she is a handy toilet refurbisher. She is a babe. A goddess.

And she's all mine!!

I spoke to Paul today, first time since right before Easter. He actually answered his cell phone. Will wonders never cease?

I have been calling. And calling. I bitched him out royally for not calling me as I was growing very concerned. I even told him I was going to call one of his evil neices tomorrow if I did not get him. "Glad I answered sugar. You know I don't know how to work this damn new phone."

He was surprised it has been that long, and I cut him all the slack in the world because he is going through a lot of shit to rebuild a life that was callously stripped away from him. And, well. And because he is Paul and I adore him. We shall see him Saturday for dinner.

Too many friends have some crap being flung their way. Time for some Metta practice.

Monday morning blah

I hate feeling uninspired. Even when it is a fleeting moment. Brief. Just. Don't. Like it.

The thing is, I am not totally sure that is what I am feeling. It is a general blah of feeling I am *this* close (hold fingers nearly touching to illustrate how close) to some sort of epiphany. Knowing it is coming, whatever it is, makes me feel a little manic. Monday morning blah makes me feel a little depressed. There is medication for this, I know, but I am not in need of anything more than discipline.

Work in progress.

Ooooh..Ahhhhh...

Last night's milky way was more like a white russian. Nearly perfect. I think it could have been a little heavier on the chocolate and maybe even a slight bit more espresso. I chose half and it was pretty good. Easy to drink. Heavy. Cream.

E is so sick today. Isn't that sad? No, it isn't. Not. She has a new toy and is playing hooky to bask in my presence as well.

I am so damn fine.

As irritating as Rachel Ray can be...

She had a one pot 30 minute meal which I have become quite fond of. Chicken and rice. No boredom here, you can tweak the recipe at will and make it different every time. Here is my basic version:

2 skinless boneless (raw)chicken breasts chopped up
1 large yellow onion
Olive oil
seasonings
15 ounce can chicken (or beef or vegetable) stock
8 ounce can tomato sauce
8 ounce can of water
1 1/2 cups dragon rice

Thats the minimum ingredients. You can also add anything else you like vegetable wise when you saute the onions, and you can certainly sub beef for the chicken or make it vegetarian. I usually add baby carrots and bell peppers and celery. Not tonight though.

The dish evolves depending on what spices you add. I have used homemade sauce and Italian or mexican spices. Tonight I am using sweet curry.

I chopped up the chicken and tossed it with 2 tablespoons of curry powder. Then I browned it (not fully cooked it) in olive oil in the largest pot I have, 8 quart I think. Remove the chicken to a side dish and add the onion and a little more oil to the pot to brown and soften the onion for a few minutes.

Then add 2 tbs more of curry, 1 tbs paprika, 1 tbs cinnamon and a few dashes ginger for the hell of it. Add more olive oil. Just a bit to moisten.

Add rice and stir with all the spices. Add all the liquids and the chicken and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook covered about 20 minutes til rice is done.

It smells so good in here. E will have to tell y'all if it is any good or not. I have never really used curry in this quantity so we shall see...

And the first week of June is gone...

How does this happen? I know it has been June for a week because I physically checked the calendar last Wednesday to confirm it was First Wednesday and Meteor night (for Professional Women's Networking Happy Hour). I also have to tell people all day at work when they need to write a check or record debit card use (yes, people actually DO both those things often). So I have known it is June. But tos ee a whole week of it slip away is somehow disconcerting.

This means the first half of 2005 is nearly gone.

Pfft.

Over.

It is just disconcerting. I am not sure how else to describe it. Not very writerly of me, I know, but it is all part of the disbelief.

I suppose half gone also means half still to come. I am feeling that in a big way as well and trying toget back into a solid writing schedule. I think I will make my first effort something manageable and shoot for 30 solid minutes a day. If I do this in the morning, I am likely to have more consistent results, but it isn't always feasible. I hate not having spell check on this. I am still undecided on whether blogging counts toward time writing.

I think tomorrow needs to be a Milky Way day. Can't you hear it calling?

Toasted Marshmallows

I want some. Really.

I made a slide show using iPhoto and I wanted to save it to a disc to send it to my dad. It is a show of photos he took 50 years ago. I just think he would like it and from what the book says, I should be able to do this. I am just not following and there is a little bit of vagueness surrounding the directions.It could be nothing more than that the file is too big. I will have to see about that and maybe redo it. But I am not quite sure where to see how big the file actually is.

Laundry awaits.

Make mine a Milky Way

The recipe:

Hazelnut, Caramel and Chocolate syrups in the bottom third of a pint glass.
Add ice to near full.
Add heavy cream leaving about an inch of room.
Add espresso.

And yes, that is still way too coffee tasting for me, but with some extra syrup I somehow managed to finish it with no reluctance.

E remains a skeptic and is curious to see if the espresso keeps me awake tonight or not.

I like the flavors of coffee well enough and I like the smell of it brewing. I just always find it way too bitter in a you can't add enough cream or sugar sort of way. The Milky Way certainly is an admirable effort. I think I will try it again and ask for the espresso on the side. Then I can add just the right amount. The counter boy will look at me as if I am insane to be sure. Maybe I will try a half espresso Milky Way. Maybe I just need a splash of espresso. Yes. That is likely the ticket.

And then there were two...

Wrecks is on his way to a new family. We are once again a house of beings on Goddess time. Sawyer and Nola are well versed in the ways of the Goddess. They decidedly know how to chill, and there are no signs of depression of the loss of their pain in the ass pupp.

Maybe now I can refocus my energies and get back on track. There are stories to write. Paintings to finish. Felting to be explored. The beach calls.

Yes, certainly plenty else going on around here.