Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
With Love From the Past
Last night, as I wrote the tome about my Dad (which I got in trouble for... Dad was not happy to sit down to read a sentimental dedication to him... when I came in this afternoon, he said, "I did NOT appreciate that"... well, Dad, sorry... but that's how I feel... and if I can't say it on the blog, I'm not likely to say it at all!!!), I was also messing around with an old, old friend. I would write a sentence about Papa John, then read a file or two from my old St*rwriter70. (That's partially why the post from last night was so disjointed.) Recently, while cleaning out a box of stuff in my home office at Forsyth, I ran across a disk that the computer wouldn't open. Not to be deterred, I brought it with me to M&D's to pop into the old Starwriter. (Yes, of course they still have it. And lucky for me, or I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun laughing through my tears last night!) Well, there was already a disk in it; so I found myself with TWO disks of fun! There are some boring things... research papers, bibliographies, etc., etc... but there are also some real gems. Honestly, I was expecting to find my little dog French tale. Alas, no petit chien was uncovered. But there was a particularly enjoyable little exchange between my beloved sis and me. I hope she doesn't mind that I'm about to post it. Unfortunately, I have to retype everything... because the paper wheel seems to be stuck and it won't feed... AND I can't save the files in any computer-readable types. So, I'm thinking I'll spend some time over the next few weeks doing some retyping. I'm quick anyway... and it's just so much fun to re-read all these docs!
Haley began the back-and-forth with a quick note while she was bored the day after Christmas, 1994. My reply to her wasn't until later-fall 1995... probably when I found the file while playing around on my Starwriter. I used to have it on a little cart (which has its own fun story) beside my bed that served as a nightstand and Starwriter-holder. It was actually a TV stand, but it worked VERY well for a number of years as a nightstand/Starwriter-holder, didn't it?! Anyway, I remember sitting on the floor beside my bed, typing away on my little Starwriter. It was just like a little computer... except with a teensy-tiny screen. You can only read about 6 lines at a time, so there's no fancy formatting or snazzy extras on these papers. But it served/serves the purpose very very well.
Anyway, without further ado... a sisterly exchange (apologies for the length... we're both evidently quite wordy):
Haley began the back-and-forth with a quick note while she was bored the day after Christmas, 1994. My reply to her wasn't until later-fall 1995... probably when I found the file while playing around on my Starwriter. I used to have it on a little cart (which has its own fun story) beside my bed that served as a nightstand and Starwriter-holder. It was actually a TV stand, but it worked VERY well for a number of years as a nightstand/Starwriter-holder, didn't it?! Anyway, I remember sitting on the floor beside my bed, typing away on my little Starwriter. It was just like a little computer... except with a teensy-tiny screen. You can only read about 6 lines at a time, so there's no fancy formatting or snazzy extras on these papers. But it served/serves the purpose very very well.
Anyway, without further ado... a sisterly exchange (apologies for the length... we're both evidently quite wordy):
Haley was here on the date of December the 26th, 1994. It is the day after Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse… except mother was bathing in the bathing room and sister was talking and trying on new shoes. Okay scratch that last part. You know, about the shoes.
Ya know what? I wish it would snow I wish it would snow I wish it would snow. But, this is a real neat-like gift. This computer typewriter I mean.
Tomorrow, tomorrow I go shopping tomorrow. Mea mater et mea Boone ambulatamus sunt. Latin scholar I am I am I am I am I am. I looooooove Latin. (Mea amo latino) I love Christmas also. (Et Christi Dies Natalis amo)
I hope I can save this little bit of creative thinking so in years ahead we can look back and chuckle on my writing.
Anywho, see you later, kay?
Love always,
Haley
Devoted sister
Loving daughter
Sweet girl
Latin scholar
4.0 student
Flute extraordinaire
Queen of the elf people
Lover of fine beef
Daughter of farmer grande
Haley, (get your nursery rhyme reading voice ready)
You, my friend, beloved sister, queen of elves, are strange!!! But I mean that oh so kindly. The masterful world of Heidi has once again chosen to bother you! Yea! Hooray! It’s the hours after drumline practice and all through the halls, all creatures (freshman to seniors) are stirring with extra courage and balls! They yell, shout and scream while I try to dream. Never do they rest, though Granville Towers is pressed… for dry rooms, I tell you. That flood got us all. From those six feet under to those six feet tall. Even Dante and Serge felt it, the power of God. The heavens opened up and we saw fire in the rod! ANYWHO… My classes are great and friends even better. I’s having great fun, even more with this letter. It’s fun to start rhyming, but then you can’t stop. Very soon I will have to, I’m afraid I will drop. But for now I go strong so you can see me… at the tip of my prime, the top of my tree. I ask you now what would please you most? A trip to the mountains, a trip to the coast? How about just coming to Chapel Hill? Imagine the happiness, imagine the thrill!! Come here now!!!!! You have a friend in CH!!!
So what do you think of my lovely letter thus far? I’m still working on it…
So you say you like Dante? The man or THE MAN? Boy, does Ashley have a story for you. I’ll tell it if I can. We were coming from Astronomy, going straight to Math, but that’s not where it starts! Roll your eyes… Laugh, laugh. The next class was Math for both of us at noon, though she had the luck to get out late. Oh swoon! I had already gone back to the great great South when Dante came up to Ashley and hit her in the mouth! Just kidding… But really she saw him. Came face-to-face… with Dante Calabria, and where was her mace?! Kidding again. She was stunned, she was shocked, and was definitely out-gunned. All she could do was grin and be funned! (Funned? Don’t ask me!) “He was big!” was all she could say, from his head to his toe to his big ole toupee!
Okay, I’m going to stop rhyming now. It’s getting hard! Plus it’s getting late (11:20 pm) and I still have to do about 2 hours worth of French homework… due tomorrow of course. Classes are killer, but they are really okay. I have to do mega reading for POLI 41. The biggest pain in the butt is getting the New York Times every day and actually reading it! There are some very interesting stories, but what do I care? I do, but just not at the moment. I’m really wrapped up in band right now. We had an extra drumline rehearsal tonight (6-8:30). It was great fun! But, I still don’t have my music memorized (I’m working on it!). I’m getting so excited about the Syracuse game! It’s going to be a blast!!! Can’t wait! Anywho…
Ashley really did see Dante. She was in such awe that she didn’t know what to do. Know the feeling? So, she just let that spectacular photo op pass by. But, we already have a plan. Now we know that he must have a class in Phillips Hall at 1:00 on MWF, so after we get out (both of us have Math in Phillips from 12 to 12:50), we will ‘hide out’ on the front steps to Phillips for the necessary 10 minutes. I will see him! Ashley also met a girl who says she stayed at his house the other night. Yeah, right, like he’s not saving himself for you and me. She said they and a bunch of other people played Sega until 7:00 am. Whatever! As if!
Then I ate lunch with Vince Carter! Well, not really ate lunch with im, but we were in the same cafeteria! He lives in West now, by the way. He is really big!!!
Anyway, I’ve got some phat French to do, so I had better go for now. I’ll be seeing you real soon. Keep the light on for me. And don’t worry about friends. I don’t have any either! It’s cool. We’ll be friendless (and Clueless) together. By the way, that reminds me. We’re going to see Babysitters’ Club on Sunday afternoon. So, find out the showtime before then. I’ll try to convince Ashley to stay with Kasey, or maybe my suitemates are going home… Gotta go! Ran out of room! Love you.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Papa John: The 62nd Year
So, hopefully, I can actually write this without sitting here crying. I don't wanna cry. But I'm a silly, silly girl... I am my mother's daughter, after all (as everyone keeps telling me!)... and I am quite emotional. So, I won't be surprised if a few tears fall while I'm sitting here in my Carolina blue room (that my Dad painted for me) in the house I grew up in (that my Dad built for us) typing about how much my Pop means to me. Why do you guys have to go and have birthdays anyway? And why do I feel like I need to write about you when your special day comes around?
OK, OK... biting the bullet...
There's a tiny little t-shirt somewhere in this house. It used to be in this drawer right next to my bed where some of the tiny little-person tees were kept for a while. And since my mom (okay, and me... I'm the same way... I do not deny any of the similarities... I accept the fact that I'm a carbon copy) doesn't throw anything away, I'm positive that it's still around here somewhere. (Side note... Mom & I were sitting in Haley's room tonight just chatting and she made a motion toward a pile of junk Haley had gone through and laid out... possibly to take to Goodwill? Anyway, there's a stack of no-match socks on top. There's a tiny child's sock laying there. WHEN, please tell me, was there a baby in this house that would've worn that sock? Lord have mercy, I bet that thing is nearly 30 years old. AND there's no mate. WHY, Mom, WHY would we need to keep that? But she loves it. She says, "Awww", and the sock is still sitting there.)
Okay, wow, I just opened this drawer. It's still home to t-shirts... special ones that have my name on them or certain commemorations for special events. There's my b-ball practice jersey from ACHS, my Class of '95 senior shirt (Final Tour!), the Lady Panthers name/number shirt we wore on some game days, the softball jersey from that rockin' (APW?) team that won the championship, a Tweety Bird tiny tee with 'Heidi' screenpressed on the back, several other 'Heidi' creations for a 2-5 year old, awww... here's my monogrammed red sweater that I had SO MANY pictures taken in (MOM!), and yes, yes, here it is, the one I was thinking about:
No matter how big I get (shut up please), I am always my Daddy's Little Girl. My Pop is always in my head and my heart... no matter what the situation. They're his words that reassure me, that encourage me, that give me hope. It's him I hear telling me to be happy but do the right thing. It's him (and Mom, of course) I want to make proud.
If you know my dad, you know he's full of advice. He doesn't push you to do things his way, but he lets you know what he thinks is right. (Although... he doesn't talk a lot, so I'm not sure how he conveys so much information in such few words.) Anyway, he's a wonderful advisor. He'll never push you to do something... only gentle nudges and maybe a few leading questions thrown in for good measure. For me, he's pretty much the only person I can take a compliment or a criticism from. It's overly-sensitive-city with most other peeps, but when Dad says something, I listen. And he doesn't hurt my feelings... because I know he's in my corner and only wants what's best for me. Don't get me wrong. I know other people are there too, but he's the one holding the stool, taking out my mouthpiece, offering the water bottle and the spit bucket, doctoring the cuts and bloody noses, and lifting me up to get me back out there for the next round. (Sorry... I'm not a boxing fan... just seemed like the right analogy for the moment.) Other men in my life have wondered how I can bristle at something when they say it and take it as gospel when the same words come out of Dad's mouth. Hello... he's my Daddy. And I'm his baby girl.
Today, my Papa John turned 62. "I'll never be 62 again," he said. He's always saying stuff like that... kind of morbid, kind of funny, wholly sentimental. Don't let him fool you, he's a great big softie. I could never understand my friends who seemed to be afraid of him (well, not really afraid, but adequately, possibly overly, respectful & stand-offish). Yes, okay, he did threaten to jerk the phone cord out of the wall. But, I was on the phone awfully late; and I got off, didn't I? And yes, he is taller than many of us, his muscles are bigger, and his hands are rougher. But he's worked every single day of his life! And when it comes time to comfort or encourage, he sits down. Duh.
Dad always has a "motto" or a "mantra" for the moment. If you've spent any amount of time with me at all, you've heard me say, "My dad always says...". And believe me, every single time (even when I'm just repeating him), his words are relevant, meaningful, and have the ability to flip your thinking on its ear. I hope my to-go container of my Dad-always-says quotes never runs dry. Because even if he's proving me absolutely 100% wrong (which, of course, happens all the time... and then I have to go pout about it), he always teaches me an important lesson.
You may think being so smart is a full-time, serious job; but leave it to Dad to be FUNNY too. He loves to laugh, and he loves to make you laugh. He seems to be a silly-joke-magnet (did you hear the one about the pilot?), and he often forgets how the rest of it goes. But he can usually deliver a pretty good punch line (even if you have no idea what the rest of the joke was about!).
Anyway... you know I have more I could say; but I think I've done enough damage for the evening. You get the point, I'm sure. I ♥ Daddy. Most definitely. And Dad, even though I sometimes have trouble saying the words, I LOVE YOU and I appreciate every single thing you've done for me. If I am anything at all, I owe it all to you & Mom. Thanks for being so good to Mom, Haley & me... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
OK, OK... biting the bullet...
There's a tiny little t-shirt somewhere in this house. It used to be in this drawer right next to my bed where some of the tiny little-person tees were kept for a while. And since my mom (okay, and me... I'm the same way... I do not deny any of the similarities... I accept the fact that I'm a carbon copy) doesn't throw anything away, I'm positive that it's still around here somewhere. (Side note... Mom & I were sitting in Haley's room tonight just chatting and she made a motion toward a pile of junk Haley had gone through and laid out... possibly to take to Goodwill? Anyway, there's a stack of no-match socks on top. There's a tiny child's sock laying there. WHEN, please tell me, was there a baby in this house that would've worn that sock? Lord have mercy, I bet that thing is nearly 30 years old. AND there's no mate. WHY, Mom, WHY would we need to keep that? But she loves it. She says, "Awww", and the sock is still sitting there.)
Okay, wow, I just opened this drawer. It's still home to t-shirts... special ones that have my name on them or certain commemorations for special events. There's my b-ball practice jersey from ACHS, my Class of '95 senior shirt (Final Tour!), the Lady Panthers name/number shirt we wore on some game days, the softball jersey from that rockin' (APW?) team that won the championship, a Tweety Bird tiny tee with 'Heidi' screenpressed on the back, several other 'Heidi' creations for a 2-5 year old, awww... here's my monogrammed red sweater that I had SO MANY pictures taken in (MOM!), and yes, yes, here it is, the one I was thinking about:
 |  |
No matter how big I get (shut up please), I am always my Daddy's Little Girl. My Pop is always in my head and my heart... no matter what the situation. They're his words that reassure me, that encourage me, that give me hope. It's him I hear telling me to be happy but do the right thing. It's him (and Mom, of course) I want to make proud.
If you know my dad, you know he's full of advice. He doesn't push you to do things his way, but he lets you know what he thinks is right. (Although... he doesn't talk a lot, so I'm not sure how he conveys so much information in such few words.) Anyway, he's a wonderful advisor. He'll never push you to do something... only gentle nudges and maybe a few leading questions thrown in for good measure. For me, he's pretty much the only person I can take a compliment or a criticism from. It's overly-sensitive-city with most other peeps, but when Dad says something, I listen. And he doesn't hurt my feelings... because I know he's in my corner and only wants what's best for me. Don't get me wrong. I know other people are there too, but he's the one holding the stool, taking out my mouthpiece, offering the water bottle and the spit bucket, doctoring the cuts and bloody noses, and lifting me up to get me back out there for the next round. (Sorry... I'm not a boxing fan... just seemed like the right analogy for the moment.) Other men in my life have wondered how I can bristle at something when they say it and take it as gospel when the same words come out of Dad's mouth. Hello... he's my Daddy. And I'm his baby girl.
Today, my Papa John turned 62. "I'll never be 62 again," he said. He's always saying stuff like that... kind of morbid, kind of funny, wholly sentimental. Don't let him fool you, he's a great big softie. I could never understand my friends who seemed to be afraid of him (well, not really afraid, but adequately, possibly overly, respectful & stand-offish). Yes, okay, he did threaten to jerk the phone cord out of the wall. But, I was on the phone awfully late; and I got off, didn't I? And yes, he is taller than many of us, his muscles are bigger, and his hands are rougher. But he's worked every single day of his life! And when it comes time to comfort or encourage, he sits down. Duh.
Dad always has a "motto" or a "mantra" for the moment. If you've spent any amount of time with me at all, you've heard me say, "My dad always says...". And believe me, every single time (even when I'm just repeating him), his words are relevant, meaningful, and have the ability to flip your thinking on its ear. I hope my to-go container of my Dad-always-says quotes never runs dry. Because even if he's proving me absolutely 100% wrong (which, of course, happens all the time... and then I have to go pout about it), he always teaches me an important lesson.
You may think being so smart is a full-time, serious job; but leave it to Dad to be FUNNY too. He loves to laugh, and he loves to make you laugh. He seems to be a silly-joke-magnet (did you hear the one about the pilot?), and he often forgets how the rest of it goes. But he can usually deliver a pretty good punch line (even if you have no idea what the rest of the joke was about!).
Anyway... you know I have more I could say; but I think I've done enough damage for the evening. You get the point, I'm sure. I ♥ Daddy. Most definitely. And Dad, even though I sometimes have trouble saying the words, I LOVE YOU and I appreciate every single thing you've done for me. If I am anything at all, I owe it all to you & Mom. Thanks for being so good to Mom, Haley & me... and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
 |  |  |
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A Grab Bag of Photo-Goodness
Holy Cow! This whole day went by without me taking a picture! And it really was a nice day! How in the world did that happen? The photo ops I missed: breakfast with the SonShine Club (I'm calling them a club, I don't care what you guys put in the bulletin), a visit to little J.R.'s office, Mutt & Jeff playing loggers, more stress-relieving pianer playing, b'day dinner with M,D,M&H, hanging at Haley's with JR, Katie, and everybody from dinner, and plenty o' landscapes et al. Oh well, luckily I have plenty of pics that haven't been filed away yet to share tonight. (My system is: upload from camera into Pics folder, go through for posting/sharing with others, post/share with others most appropriate ones, file away gone-through/posted/shared photos into date/event folders.) Most pics on this computer have been filed into folders. But there are still 124 in the top-level Pics folder that need to be looked through, posted/shared, and filed appropriately. Here are a few... yay, they can now be filed away!!!
 | Jon in State College for his dissertation defense. Yeah, we packed for SAV weather... forgetting Central Pennsylvania was the ultimate destination. We got progressively colder on the way up... from 90 in Savannah to 60 in DC to 40 in Philly and SCE! Okay, so it wasn't that cold once the sun came out in SCE, but the piles of snow were still hanging around. (That was one of the most interesting things about living in SCE for those 5 years. They piled the snow up in parking lots into HUGE drifts. It took FOREVER... usually WELL into spring... for those snow piles to actually melt away!) This is outside the Penn Stater (our first-night hotel). |
| The girls (a.k.a. colleagues from the COR at SCE) at Jen's baby shower. Judy, Joyce, Kimmy, Jen, and Kristen. Evidently, you have to have a first name that starts with a J or a K to be part of the team. Well, then there's me... and Mary... but we're just crazy. |  |
 | One of the main reasons I love Forsythe... and JoRun... and Statesboro... and SE Georgia... and summer. ♥ |
| A playful Mom & Dad at Holiday one of the nights they were with me in Statesboro a few weeks ago... over Easter... or something like that |  |
 | Naptime at Forsythe. Believe me, Dad, Cooper's eyes were shut too... until I start moving around to get the best angle for this pic. I actually have plenty of this pose, but it's my opinion that this one's the best. |
| Sunset from one of my fave spots in JoRun. Yes, again. You've seen this angle before. I love these two trees whose branches reach out and touch. And the sun is always perfectly positioned between 'em. |  |
 | Still don't know where that last pic was taken from (a.k.a. one of my fave spots in JoRun)? Hint #2... with acknowledgment of artistic imitation... it is the most sincere form of flattery, y'know. |
| Kona had a "scream"ing good time at ArtsFest '07. She insisted on having her portrait made here. |  |
 | Coop and I vamp for the camera a lot. You've seen such a small fraction of these photos, it's sad really. We snuggle and I take pictures. That's just what we do. |
| Okay, last one for now. The pic that goes along with the post from last week about mowing your neighbor's grass. Notice a few things in this pic: 1) First and foremost, the CROOKED line he mowed into our yard... c'mon, man, you were on a RIDING mower. Pay more attention! 2) The post marking our lot has a small pine tree planted just beside/on top of it (thanks Dad!). So, you can see that Mr. Neighbor was kind of in line with the property line when he started from front to back... but he just kinda arbitrarily decided to stop following that line when he got to the dirt patch that is his back yard. Bottom line... let's make a deal. I won't mow your grass/dirt, and you don't mow mine. Although... I simply must say... I had a pretty nice line blended between our yards until you came along on your big honking riding mower and created this S curve. Maybe my take-away lesson should be... wait for him to finish, THEN go fix it. |  |
Monday, April 23, 2007
Stand Up and Shout... Or Do the Double Basic
Soooo just what I needed... a room full of estrogen. I miss my girls. And tonight, I got to be an honorary member of the clog club. I ♥ Clog Club. (That should be the t-shirt, Haley!)
So, in honor of Dad's birthday (we like to celebrate for multiple days around here), I'm going with him to breakfast in the AM. Well, it's not really for his birthday... it's the SonShine Club (is it really called a club? I hope so... I like clubs). They do breakfast every Tuesday morning. But with this week being Dad's week, I choose to believe we'll be celebrating his birthday! I say: 9am meeting? Who needs a stinkin' 9am meeting. The boss is in Turks and Caicos. Not sure why I would want to be in a 9am meeting when she's off having a cosmo on the beach. Therefore, instead of sitting in on the boring useless meeting, I'll be at McD's having a sausage, egg & cheese and DC. Cannot wait. Mmmm.
I also got the opportunity today to have a few uninterrupted hours of quiet time to do with what I pleased. And when I have that alone time at M&D's, I don't choose to get some good work done, no. I also don't choose to help around the house (which I could've been out picking up sticks... sorry, Pop). What I choose to do is play the piano... loudly. And even sing along sometimes. It is a major stress-reliever... but when Sydney starts wallering around making noise, I always think someone has come home and caught me belting out the last hymn or medley I happened to flip to. And I'm embarrassed. Why are we like that? This is something I love to do. I like to play loudly and sing along. I'm not horrible. Granted, I'm not great; but it can't be that bad to listen to. Sydney doesn't seem to mind. :) But if I were to be "caught", I'd be all kinds of apologetic. Of course, that's a whole other problem in and of itself. Anyway, I wanted to know how bad it really is today... so I decided to use my little digicam to record myself. Funny, yes. And I'm not sure why I chose to share that with you here... because you KNOW those vids are never going to see the light of day. In fact, they're already deleted (mainly b/c I know I can take another one with better song choices, etc. tomorrow!!). I'm silly. I know it. But you just have to love me anyway... or stop coming here to read about my small little life. One or the other. You pick.
Random addition: I indulged in two things today that are important to the heritage of this area and/or my fam. Both were interesting and fun:
An interesting piece of real estate on the market: With 21 kids between 'em, the Bunkers can be traced in the ancestry of many of us mountain folk. Turns out the wives were our, what Dad?, distant cousins?
Our official state dance: The most fun you can have with your feet on the floor (that's a direct quote from Wikipedia... I SWEAR!)
Do something good for yourself today. Thanks for visiting. X's and O's.
So, in honor of Dad's birthday (we like to celebrate for multiple days around here), I'm going with him to breakfast in the AM. Well, it's not really for his birthday... it's the SonShine Club (is it really called a club? I hope so... I like clubs). They do breakfast every Tuesday morning. But with this week being Dad's week, I choose to believe we'll be celebrating his birthday! I say: 9am meeting? Who needs a stinkin' 9am meeting. The boss is in Turks and Caicos. Not sure why I would want to be in a 9am meeting when she's off having a cosmo on the beach. Therefore, instead of sitting in on the boring useless meeting, I'll be at McD's having a sausage, egg & cheese and DC. Cannot wait. Mmmm.
I also got the opportunity today to have a few uninterrupted hours of quiet time to do with what I pleased. And when I have that alone time at M&D's, I don't choose to get some good work done, no. I also don't choose to help around the house (which I could've been out picking up sticks... sorry, Pop). What I choose to do is play the piano... loudly. And even sing along sometimes. It is a major stress-reliever... but when Sydney starts wallering around making noise, I always think someone has come home and caught me belting out the last hymn or medley I happened to flip to. And I'm embarrassed. Why are we like that? This is something I love to do. I like to play loudly and sing along. I'm not horrible. Granted, I'm not great; but it can't be that bad to listen to. Sydney doesn't seem to mind. :) But if I were to be "caught", I'd be all kinds of apologetic. Of course, that's a whole other problem in and of itself. Anyway, I wanted to know how bad it really is today... so I decided to use my little digicam to record myself. Funny, yes. And I'm not sure why I chose to share that with you here... because you KNOW those vids are never going to see the light of day. In fact, they're already deleted (mainly b/c I know I can take another one with better song choices, etc. tomorrow!!). I'm silly. I know it. But you just have to love me anyway... or stop coming here to read about my small little life. One or the other. You pick.
Random addition: I indulged in two things today that are important to the heritage of this area and/or my fam. Both were interesting and fun:
An interesting piece of real estate on the market: With 21 kids between 'em, the Bunkers can be traced in the ancestry of many of us mountain folk. Turns out the wives were our, what Dad?, distant cousins?
Our official state dance: The most fun you can have with your feet on the floor (that's a direct quote from Wikipedia... I SWEAR!)
Do something good for yourself today. Thanks for visiting. X's and O's.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
I Will Stand on Your Promises
Standing in BCCC today, I was reminded of all those years gone by standing in OFBC... primarily because of the songs we were singing. Music has a way of taking me back. Certain songs simply belong to certain people, buildings/rooms, feelings, activities, memories. On today's playlist... or bulletin, as the case may be...: "Standing on the Promises", "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", and "Softly and Tenderly". They're all (well, maybe not "What a Friend") on the menu when I sit down at M&D's piano. They're all from memories that belong forever at the old home church.
What a crappy thing to have... an "old home church". Oh well... sometimes life is life and other times it's just life. People are generally pretty disappointing, huh? Time after time, they just go and show their humanness.
Anyway, those songs sure did take me back to the red carpet, the red curtain, the stained glass, the bell with the plaque in memory of sweet Papa Cecil, the whole family growing and worshiping together, singing with kids, with adults, with the congregation... all of those ties that bind. I honestly considered taking the right off old W.McN. Road to put in an appearance at OF this morning; but I was expected elsewhere... where a most loving M&D were waiting for me. It feels nice to have someone waiting for you, doesn't it? Someone who wants you to be there with them? Besides, they were hearing a trial sermon today from the potential new preach. I simply had to hear the newbie... although, I accidentally caught myself reading Ecclesiastes instead of fully listening to the sermon. Have you read Ecclesiastes lately? It's quite... relevant.
Well, I could talk all night, but I'm getting sleepy. Here are a few pics from today's apres-worship luncheon with Me-maw, Shannon & Nathan. Would you believe today is the very first time I've EVER had chicken salad? I know, crazy, huh? But I've always just assumed I didn't like it. Turns out, it's pretty tasty. Who knew? Missed you today, little one. Once again, you'll just have to photoshop yourself in. Also... no, I'm not in love with this dress... just so happened it was handy when I was packing my bag for this trip.
What a crappy thing to have... an "old home church". Oh well... sometimes life is life and other times it's just life. People are generally pretty disappointing, huh? Time after time, they just go and show their humanness.
Anyway, those songs sure did take me back to the red carpet, the red curtain, the stained glass, the bell with the plaque in memory of sweet Papa Cecil, the whole family growing and worshiping together, singing with kids, with adults, with the congregation... all of those ties that bind. I honestly considered taking the right off old W.McN. Road to put in an appearance at OF this morning; but I was expected elsewhere... where a most loving M&D were waiting for me. It feels nice to have someone waiting for you, doesn't it? Someone who wants you to be there with them? Besides, they were hearing a trial sermon today from the potential new preach. I simply had to hear the newbie... although, I accidentally caught myself reading Ecclesiastes instead of fully listening to the sermon. Have you read Ecclesiastes lately? It's quite... relevant.
Well, I could talk all night, but I'm getting sleepy. Here are a few pics from today's apres-worship luncheon with Me-maw, Shannon & Nathan. Would you believe today is the very first time I've EVER had chicken salad? I know, crazy, huh? But I've always just assumed I didn't like it. Turns out, it's pretty tasty. Who knew? Missed you today, little one. Once again, you'll just have to photoshop yourself in. Also... no, I'm not in love with this dress... just so happened it was handy when I was packing my bag for this trip.
I'll Remember Where the Love Was Found
There's always another reminder of the fact that life is too short: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/21/blueangels.crash/.
Leaving Statesboro today, I was listening to a Savannah station advertising this very event (the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Beaufort Air Show). I thought about how cool it would've been to have been going to watch. But the next thought in my mind was of a particularly disturbing scene (at least in this particular thought pattern, it was disturbing) from one of the Left Behind novels I read years ago. The "team" in Left Behind actually put on an air show and intentionally crashed their plane via remote control (so that they could escape working for the bad guy). Thinking that thought today made me ultra-uncomfortable to hear the repeated advertisements for the Beafort Air Show. No, I didn't anticipate something like this would happen, but I HATE the fact that I had the thought at all.
Yet another reminder (just the latest in an incredibly discomforting line of reminders) that life is too short to be unhappy. We're simply not promised another breath. To expect one seems awfully egotistical. Tragic endings happen nearly every day, and we really shouldn't put off being happy until tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.
Leaving Statesboro today, I was listening to a Savannah station advertising this very event (the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Beaufort Air Show). I thought about how cool it would've been to have been going to watch. But the next thought in my mind was of a particularly disturbing scene (at least in this particular thought pattern, it was disturbing) from one of the Left Behind novels I read years ago. The "team" in Left Behind actually put on an air show and intentionally crashed their plane via remote control (so that they could escape working for the bad guy). Thinking that thought today made me ultra-uncomfortable to hear the repeated advertisements for the Beafort Air Show. No, I didn't anticipate something like this would happen, but I HATE the fact that I had the thought at all.
Yet another reminder (just the latest in an incredibly discomforting line of reminders) that life is too short to be unhappy. We're simply not promised another breath. To expect one seems awfully egotistical. Tragic endings happen nearly every day, and we really shouldn't put off being happy until tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Love Your Neighbor and His Yard
How much of your neighbor's yard are you SUPPOSED to mow for him/her? I found myself wondering this today as I thoroughly exhausted myself mowing the entire yard (back + front, yes). When there weren't neighbors... only plots of empty weed-ridden land belonging to the developer... it was easy. I mowed as much of it as I could. Even though it was mown weeds, it was nice to have the extra space in the yard.
Now, though, we have neighbors to the side and soon-to-be neighbors in the back. (I still have one side that's completely mine to decide how much to mow... and we're lucky it's still empty... otherwise, we'd have to actually DO something with the clippings instead of just dumping 'em in the empty lot!) So, as I'm cutting my neighbor's lawn today, I started wondering if he minded... or if it was polite/impolite. Should I stop right at the line or go all the way to the edge of his sod (the landscapers seem to be a little cheap down here... they stopped his sod about 3-4 feet from the line... I guess because our grass has grown so well over onto his side... but still, MY GRASS... and there's definitely a distinct line now where the sod stops)? I ended up going to the sod, but I was frustrated doing it. First of all, the "sod line" is all kinds of crooked. It's like they had a few extra squares and just tossed 'em while blindfolded... so my "mow line" is crooked as well. Secondly, if I follow the sod line in the front, I have to stick to that line in the back... where there's no sod... so I'm mowing my neighbor's dirt just to maintain the straight line. That seemed silly.
Oh well. At least it gave me something to think about while I was working on it... well, during the times I wasn't belting out whatever song was blasting in my (i)podded ears. Lawnmowers, yelling, and overhearing, by the way, make for a funny combination. Did you know that the farther you get from the mower (within reason, of course), the easier it is for you to hear what the person doing the mowing is saying? My neighbor down the street (like 1/4 mile from me) often yells at his wife or kids while on his riding mower. They have to yell "What?!" and "Huh?" over and over again whereas I hear him perfectly the first time. So... given that little funny piece of data... I'm quite amused with myself just singing away tonight while I was mowing. I bet my neighbors were rolling on the ground laughing. But I will tell you I thought of that before I sang one note out loud. Just. didn't. care. Laugh away. Know why? Cause I was laughing with you the whole freakin' time. Probably laughing harder at myself than any of y'all. Obviously, mowing the whole entire (back + front) yard was extremely enjoyable for me this evening. However... now I'm tired... exhausted is more like it. Must. rest. now. Zzzzz.
Now, though, we have neighbors to the side and soon-to-be neighbors in the back. (I still have one side that's completely mine to decide how much to mow... and we're lucky it's still empty... otherwise, we'd have to actually DO something with the clippings instead of just dumping 'em in the empty lot!) So, as I'm cutting my neighbor's lawn today, I started wondering if he minded... or if it was polite/impolite. Should I stop right at the line or go all the way to the edge of his sod (the landscapers seem to be a little cheap down here... they stopped his sod about 3-4 feet from the line... I guess because our grass has grown so well over onto his side... but still, MY GRASS... and there's definitely a distinct line now where the sod stops)? I ended up going to the sod, but I was frustrated doing it. First of all, the "sod line" is all kinds of crooked. It's like they had a few extra squares and just tossed 'em while blindfolded... so my "mow line" is crooked as well. Secondly, if I follow the sod line in the front, I have to stick to that line in the back... where there's no sod... so I'm mowing my neighbor's dirt just to maintain the straight line. That seemed silly.
Oh well. At least it gave me something to think about while I was working on it... well, during the times I wasn't belting out whatever song was blasting in my (i)podded ears. Lawnmowers, yelling, and overhearing, by the way, make for a funny combination. Did you know that the farther you get from the mower (within reason, of course), the easier it is for you to hear what the person doing the mowing is saying? My neighbor down the street (like 1/4 mile from me) often yells at his wife or kids while on his riding mower. They have to yell "What?!" and "Huh?" over and over again whereas I hear him perfectly the first time. So... given that little funny piece of data... I'm quite amused with myself just singing away tonight while I was mowing. I bet my neighbors were rolling on the ground laughing. But I will tell you I thought of that before I sang one note out loud. Just. didn't. care. Laugh away. Know why? Cause I was laughing with you the whole freakin' time. Probably laughing harder at myself than any of y'all. Obviously, mowing the whole entire (back + front) yard was extremely enjoyable for me this evening. However... now I'm tired... exhausted is more like it. Must. rest. now. Zzzzz.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Oh, the History
One thing I pretty much never do: nap. I may not want to get up in the morning (ever), but once I'm up, I'm up. I rarely, rarely, rarely ever take a nap in the morning, afternoon, or evening. My normal schedule... up by 8:30 am and fight sleep until about 1 am. Sleep for a few hours and back at it again. Today, for some reason, I got very sleepy looking at my computer screen at about 5:30 pm. And then the oddest thing happened, I took a little baby nap. I only slept for about 30 minutes, but I woke up with a clearer head than I've had in a really long time. Clarity... what a concept. I didn't know it really existed in my head, but... boom... there it was.
In other of-interest news tonight, I am working quite hard this evening on clearing out the unread RSS feeds in my IE Feed Reader. There've been bold "unreads" for several days now, as I just haven't had the time... or haven't made the time to catch up on all my reading. (Sometimes, certain bloggers write really long and difficult-to-get-through posts. Not me. Never.) Anyway, the "Official Google Blog" has an interesting post today... Searching Without a Query. I know Google (and other search companies) keeps crazy amounts of data on us. Who hasn't heard about the story where search data was posted for "research" and became a major privacy issue? And I know my always-useful Google Toolbar "remembers" my search history. This is convenient. Sometimes I want to repeat searches or find an interesting page I stumbled upon and lost. But I never really thought about that data being out there... in the ether. Silly me. Of course it is. In today's blog, Mr. Google links me to my very own "Search History" page that, once I'm logged into my Google account, displays all my search history with the exact phrase I typed in as well as any of the results I clicked on (plus any searches with no clicked results listed at the bottom of each date). Wow!! Google is slick. And scary. I'm enthralled with this data and also quite bothered that it's out there. Conflicted, one might say. Where's that clarity I spoke so highly of in paragraph 1??? Check out your own search history... if you use Google, that is... which I know many of you do! It's interesting, if nothing else. Kinda builds a pattern and paints a picture of your obsessions. Anyway, the point of the blog wasn't actually that... it was a new pair of dice you can add to your toolbar... a recommendations feature that takes you straight to a possible site of interest based on your search history. Google's always coming up with cool things.
Meanwhile, I promised pics of the Jekyll vaca a long while back, and I still haven't sorted through the (digital) piles. But here are a couple that jumped out at me tonight. Perhaps... just perhaps... you haven't already seen them. Okay, so, sue me... I picked out 12. I know, too many. But it's just as well... b/c Blogger doesn't seem to want me to post them anyway. Never mind. I'll work on that again later. For now, rest easy parcheesi.
In other of-interest news tonight, I am working quite hard this evening on clearing out the unread RSS feeds in my IE Feed Reader. There've been bold "unreads" for several days now, as I just haven't had the time... or haven't made the time to catch up on all my reading. (Sometimes, certain bloggers write really long and difficult-to-get-through posts. Not me. Never.) Anyway, the "Official Google Blog" has an interesting post today... Searching Without a Query. I know Google (and other search companies) keeps crazy amounts of data on us. Who hasn't heard about the story where search data was posted for "research" and became a major privacy issue? And I know my always-useful Google Toolbar "remembers" my search history. This is convenient. Sometimes I want to repeat searches or find an interesting page I stumbled upon and lost. But I never really thought about that data being out there... in the ether. Silly me. Of course it is. In today's blog, Mr. Google links me to my very own "Search History" page that, once I'm logged into my Google account, displays all my search history with the exact phrase I typed in as well as any of the results I clicked on (plus any searches with no clicked results listed at the bottom of each date). Wow!! Google is slick. And scary. I'm enthralled with this data and also quite bothered that it's out there. Conflicted, one might say. Where's that clarity I spoke so highly of in paragraph 1??? Check out your own search history... if you use Google, that is... which I know many of you do! It's interesting, if nothing else. Kinda builds a pattern and paints a picture of your obsessions. Anyway, the point of the blog wasn't actually that... it was a new pair of dice you can add to your toolbar... a recommendations feature that takes you straight to a possible site of interest based on your search history. Google's always coming up with cool things.
Meanwhile, I promised pics of the Jekyll vaca a long while back, and I still haven't sorted through the (digital) piles. But here are a couple that jumped out at me tonight. Perhaps... just perhaps... you haven't already seen them. Okay, so, sue me... I picked out 12. I know, too many. But it's just as well... b/c Blogger doesn't seem to want me to post them anyway. Never mind. I'll work on that again later. For now, rest easy parcheesi.
I Choose to Just Lay Here
I love my new alarm clock. I don't even have to set it at night. Alarmingly disarmingly charming, my sweet baby sister is waking me up these days. Okay, so it's never at exactly the same time like my preset reliable clock radio. But she's much more engaging than Bob & Sheri or whatever pop/alt rock/country song playing on the only station I can find that's static-free the night before. I may not know exactly what time I'm waking up, but when I hear my little JT ringtone in the faraway lands of my latest Vera backpack, I'm ready to get up & chat. Sometimes it's a short house-to-office chat, sometimes she throws in a little McMorning spice, but she's always got a bright & chipper how-do these days. Is that your influence, MC? If so, kudos, my friend. Because the sister I used to have was not so pleasant to be around in the AM. THAT sister was true blue grumpy mcgrumps a lot every live long morning. Just recently, Haley and I were discussing... how DID our sweet mama do it? First of all, how was she successful in actually dragging our sorry butts out of bed every morning? And then, once she accomplished that feat, how did she have breakfast ready, herself ready, all-the-while remaining so gosh-darn chipper? Yeah, yeah, she's a saint. You wish you had her.
Meanwhile, I have a sopping wet kissable red dog standing on my chest letting me know it's time to close the bright-light-emitting laptop and come to bed. Wait... he's really, really wet. Is it a sprinkler day? It simply must be. Cooper, have you been chasing the water again?
Meanwhile, I have a sopping wet kissable red dog standing on my chest letting me know it's time to close the bright-light-emitting laptop and come to bed. Wait... he's really, really wet. Is it a sprinkler day? It simply must be. Cooper, have you been chasing the water again?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Life... Short
Frustrated, helpless, sad, angry, panicked, lockdown, person of interest, prayer, thorough, shocked and saddened, deadliest, serious, breaking news.
Just a few of the words/phrases from today that are stuck in my head tonight. Words seem empty, though. And I'm most tired of CNN trying to shove their words into my head about it. No, thanks, I won't blame VTech for the mayhem caused by a crazy person. And stop trying to convince every VT student, parent, or tangential party that they should lash out at the university.
Just a few of the words/phrases from today that are stuck in my head tonight. Words seem empty, though. And I'm most tired of CNN trying to shove their words into my head about it. No, thanks, I won't blame VTech for the mayhem caused by a crazy person. And stop trying to convince every VT student, parent, or tangential party that they should lash out at the university.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Your Threats Are Simply Empty
Dearest Weather,
I simply do not believe you anymore. You get rumbly, dark, and menacing... but you're just a big pushover. Your bark is definitely worse than your bite. Your rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning (alongside the weather center's tornado watch) was a little scary, but I know not to really get my hopes up. You're all wind and show... no rain. And we NEED your rain. You actually got me this time. I thought for sure you'd wet the ground. And I trusted in that enough that I put down some more fertilizer. When will I ever learn? I can ONLY trust the sprinkler system for watering the grass. You simply will not rain. You may pour everywhere around us, but for some reason, JoRun is on your punk list. Everyone who's not from here has trouble believing me, but I am not lying. No wonder the farmers who used to grow peanuts in our yard sold their arid patch of ground to us suckers. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'm onto you. And, by the way, I still very much enjoy the light and sound show even though you refuse to bring the final rain product. Just letting you know to feel free to keep it up, and that I'd love to actually have a little rain next time too.
- XO -
I simply do not believe you anymore. You get rumbly, dark, and menacing... but you're just a big pushover. Your bark is definitely worse than your bite. Your rumbling thunder and flashes of lightning (alongside the weather center's tornado watch) was a little scary, but I know not to really get my hopes up. You're all wind and show... no rain. And we NEED your rain. You actually got me this time. I thought for sure you'd wet the ground. And I trusted in that enough that I put down some more fertilizer. When will I ever learn? I can ONLY trust the sprinkler system for watering the grass. You simply will not rain. You may pour everywhere around us, but for some reason, JoRun is on your punk list. Everyone who's not from here has trouble believing me, but I am not lying. No wonder the farmers who used to grow peanuts in our yard sold their arid patch of ground to us suckers. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'm onto you. And, by the way, I still very much enjoy the light and sound show even though you refuse to bring the final rain product. Just letting you know to feel free to keep it up, and that I'd love to actually have a little rain next time too.
- XO -
Thursday, April 12, 2007
I Must Just Be in a Boo-Hiss Mood
BOO HISS to:
- conference calls that steal my "lunchtime".
- eye doctor appointments that take until after 5 (NO ONE's still working then)
- M&D leaving me
- my inability to get anything done yet again today
Let's go save this day with a lovely walk in the 80 degree sunshine and a turn on the swings. Positive thoughts, good vibes, and encouraging words. Ah... the sunshine & silence. :)
- conference calls that steal my "lunchtime".
- eye doctor appointments that take until after 5 (NO ONE's still working then)
- M&D leaving me
- my inability to get anything done yet again today
Let's go save this day with a lovely walk in the 80 degree sunshine and a turn on the swings. Positive thoughts, good vibes, and encouraging words. Ah... the sunshine & silence. :)
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Blog That Never Was
I 'threatened' Dad all day that "this is going to end up on the blog". Lucky for him I forgot absolutely everything I said that about, huh?! I do that a lot... think about telling someone something, doing something, writing about something... then when it comes time to actually do it, it's so far gone out of my head, a freakin' high-powered electromagnet couldn't bring it back. Well, maybe an electromagnet with lots of coils or something. Do electromagnets have coils? Mine do anyway.
So, we finally had the nice warm pool day we had been waiting for. And despite being bored while I worked for much of the day, I hope M&D had a good last day here. We had breakfast somewhat late, skipped lunch, went to the pool at about 3, had Greek/Italian for dinner at 5, saw the cotton gin, walked a little, and watched another 2 movies. In bed by 11:30 for a restful evening... hopefully preparing the two of them for a safe and short-feeling trek back to the cold country and me for a very-productive (hopefully done with lots by 3 so I can go back to out to the pool!) day of work. (Well, the done-by-3 part is a fantasy... first of all, I've got too much to do to get anything DONE; secondly, I can't go to the pool at 3 because I have an eye doctor appointment scheduled for just about then; and thirdly, I got too red today in the sun anyway to attempt to hit it again tomorrow!) Anyway, I most definitely wish for that short-feeling trip for the 'rents. Thanks for the quick sojourn down here in Georgia. I loved having you here. Come on back now, ya hear?!
Pics from this past weekend and week forthcoming... when I decide my faves out of the 300. I TOLD you Haley loves pics as much as I do!
Hope you're having a grand Thursday... in fact, I hope it's the best Thursday EVER! Life is short. We really should work hard to enjoy it. And that includes making sure we do everything we possibly can to, in fact, HAVE the best Thursday ever. X's and O's to all y'all.
So, we finally had the nice warm pool day we had been waiting for. And despite being bored while I worked for much of the day, I hope M&D had a good last day here. We had breakfast somewhat late, skipped lunch, went to the pool at about 3, had Greek/Italian for dinner at 5, saw the cotton gin, walked a little, and watched another 2 movies. In bed by 11:30 for a restful evening... hopefully preparing the two of them for a safe and short-feeling trek back to the cold country and me for a very-productive (hopefully done with lots by 3 so I can go back to out to the pool!) day of work. (Well, the done-by-3 part is a fantasy... first of all, I've got too much to do to get anything DONE; secondly, I can't go to the pool at 3 because I have an eye doctor appointment scheduled for just about then; and thirdly, I got too red today in the sun anyway to attempt to hit it again tomorrow!) Anyway, I most definitely wish for that short-feeling trip for the 'rents. Thanks for the quick sojourn down here in Georgia. I loved having you here. Come on back now, ya hear?!
Pics from this past weekend and week forthcoming... when I decide my faves out of the 300. I TOLD you Haley loves pics as much as I do!
Hope you're having a grand Thursday... in fact, I hope it's the best Thursday EVER! Life is short. We really should work hard to enjoy it. And that includes making sure we do everything we possibly can to, in fact, HAVE the best Thursday ever. X's and O's to all y'all.
If Not Tomorrow Then the Next Day
I watched The Lake House again tonight. This was our 2nd movie of the evening, it was getting late, everyone was tired, and this was the 1st time through it for Mom, Dad, & Jon. So, while it was probably difficult-to-love for them, it was much better the second time around for me. I watched it enthusiastically the first time... I was enamoured (the British version) by the idea of it and had already promised myself that I was going to like it... but Sweet Jenny's audible tummyache made me lose concentration in the theater (and concentration is pretty darn important for this complexly-weaved space/time-continuum-defying flick). So, I left the theater disappointed that I hadn't loved it more in DC.
Tonight, I paid attention and more fully understood parts of it I had clearly missed before (it was hard to hear always-whisperful Keanu over the grumbly of Jenny's tumbly in DC). And I knew the basics. And of course, I was willing to suspend my idea-of-time-as-one-linear-reality belief. By knowing it's coming, you're much more prepared for all the rest of the hocus-pocusry.
Meanwhile, in the actual space-time continuum, Mom & Dad have decided (I THINK) to stay one more day. I love the already-more-flexible almost-retired couple that is my M&D. I have appreciated the heck out of having them here... mostly because they've been working for me! Nah, I'm just kidding, I love the company, the eating/sleeping (what we're best at), the laughing, the fun, the cooking, the just-plain-feeling-loved... and the working for me... among many other things! I'm thrilled we have one more day now in tomorrow! Haley, you get 'em back soon enough... too soon for me. Share with me one more day. After all, anyone who comes to visit me down here MUST have at least one 80-degree day with a visit to the much-loved pool! Tomorrow should be just that type of day. :)
Tonight, I paid attention and more fully understood parts of it I had clearly missed before (it was hard to hear always-whisperful Keanu over the grumbly of Jenny's tumbly in DC). And I knew the basics. And of course, I was willing to suspend my idea-of-time-as-one-linear-reality belief. By knowing it's coming, you're much more prepared for all the rest of the hocus-pocusry.
Meanwhile, in the actual space-time continuum, Mom & Dad have decided (I THINK) to stay one more day. I love the already-more-flexible almost-retired couple that is my M&D. I have appreciated the heck out of having them here... mostly because they've been working for me! Nah, I'm just kidding, I love the company, the eating/sleeping (what we're best at), the laughing, the fun, the cooking, the just-plain-feeling-loved... and the working for me... among many other things! I'm thrilled we have one more day now in tomorrow! Haley, you get 'em back soon enough... too soon for me. Share with me one more day. After all, anyone who comes to visit me down here MUST have at least one 80-degree day with a visit to the much-loved pool! Tomorrow should be just that type of day. :)
Monday, April 09, 2007
You Know What They Say About Cold Feet
Well, I guess I'll be working a little while longer tonight. As many times as I started this one project for my bestie on the HR management staff, I didn't ever really accomplish anything on it... and I MUST uphold my rep with her. She seems to think I walk on water (which makes me break into song... Simon Peter, won't you put those nets down; Follow me, I'll lead you out of this town; To a place where no boat has ever been; I will make you a fisher of men...). Who am I to tell her I sink like a stone?! And since Jon is still up working (and will probably continue to be for a while), I figure it's status quo. Jon's working on revising the dissertation. Hopefully, a final draft. Which means the little bitty piece of paper that means everything could be just around the corner. And as for my work, well, it's not nearly that meaningful. No little bitty piece of paper for me. But a gold star, I'm sure, when I send this report off to Miss Gail.
Meanwhile, Mom & Dad are snoozing away in the other wing. I love, love, love, love, love having those who make my favoriteist-people list visit. My dad has been sooooo helpful today. He completely fixed the screen door (the project that I had started and scared myself away from, my dad finished in no time at all... with better quality results than the professional we hired to re-screen the rest of the porch!) and is halfway through the major repairs on the bathroom wall & molding. Okay, okay... since it's almost repaired... and since Dad already knows about it (I partially didn't want to share the pics until he had heard about it... he tends to give me a hard time about damaging rather valuable items -- like a house), here's the much-talked-about carnage, proving once again (will we ever learn this lesson?) that energetic, hellion-ish puppies and new houses do not mix:
Pretty, huh? So, K... believe me now? I told you they ATE the bathroom wall! (By the way, it was very fun to catch up with you again today, girlie.)
Well, anyway... I'm off to catch up on a little bit of work. It's hitting me a little that the busy season for me is coming up very quickly. And I'm really not prepared. I need to get several more projects cleared off my to-do list before these next few big ones start up. Hmm... maybe I should stop writing so much on my blog. ;) Nah... these few activities I have that bring me joy and make me smile simply cannot be cut.
[As for the title... it only warmed up to 60 degrees here today... and my feet (especially here at bedtime) are f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g!]
Meanwhile, Mom & Dad are snoozing away in the other wing. I love, love, love, love, love having those who make my favoriteist-people list visit. My dad has been sooooo helpful today. He completely fixed the screen door (the project that I had started and scared myself away from, my dad finished in no time at all... with better quality results than the professional we hired to re-screen the rest of the porch!) and is halfway through the major repairs on the bathroom wall & molding. Okay, okay... since it's almost repaired... and since Dad already knows about it (I partially didn't want to share the pics until he had heard about it... he tends to give me a hard time about damaging rather valuable items -- like a house), here's the much-talked-about carnage, proving once again (will we ever learn this lesson?) that energetic, hellion-ish puppies and new houses do not mix:
Pretty, huh? So, K... believe me now? I told you they ATE the bathroom wall! (By the way, it was very fun to catch up with you again today, girlie.)
Well, anyway... I'm off to catch up on a little bit of work. It's hitting me a little that the busy season for me is coming up very quickly. And I'm really not prepared. I need to get several more projects cleared off my to-do list before these next few big ones start up. Hmm... maybe I should stop writing so much on my blog. ;) Nah... these few activities I have that bring me joy and make me smile simply cannot be cut.
[As for the title... it only warmed up to 60 degrees here today... and my feet (especially here at bedtime) are f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g!]
Friday, April 06, 2007
Finally... Right In Front of My Face
Finally...
- it's THURSDAY (well, Friday now... but Thursday has arrived)
- Haley & Mike have arrived in the Boro
- it's almost beach time!
Why does it have to be cold all of a sudden? My thermometer showed temps in the 90s last week. And now, all of a sudden, we're hearing predictions of 60s. Well, I guess it is only April... and I've already been in the pool twice. I love April.
Oh, and hey, surprise! Tomorrow's a holiday at the COR. Who knew?? Oh well.. I still have plenty to do while I await the final bell at GSU so Jon can join me for our trip to Jekyll. It'll probably be business as usual for me until at least 1 or 2. But then, I'm on vacation, buddies! I know it'll be over so darn quickly; but, at the moment, I'm looking so forward to it!
I hope each and every one of you has a stellar and BLESSED Easter weekend. See you soon... with pictures. :)
- it's THURSDAY (well, Friday now... but Thursday has arrived)
- Haley & Mike have arrived in the Boro
- it's almost beach time!
Why does it have to be cold all of a sudden? My thermometer showed temps in the 90s last week. And now, all of a sudden, we're hearing predictions of 60s. Well, I guess it is only April... and I've already been in the pool twice. I love April.
Oh, and hey, surprise! Tomorrow's a holiday at the COR. Who knew?? Oh well.. I still have plenty to do while I await the final bell at GSU so Jon can join me for our trip to Jekyll. It'll probably be business as usual for me until at least 1 or 2. But then, I'm on vacation, buddies! I know it'll be over so darn quickly; but, at the moment, I'm looking so forward to it!
I hope each and every one of you has a stellar and BLESSED Easter weekend. See you soon... with pictures. :)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
You Can Wrap the Scent in Corduroy
One of my favorite parts of every day is shower-time. I just love it... partly because it's nice by-myself-thinking-time but mostly, mostly, mostly because of the smells. I love the fresh clean smells of showering. Those smells stay with you all day if you use the right ones. How many times have you caught a small whiff of someone's hair or skin and wondered what lovely-fragranced shampoo, conditioner, or soap that could be? What?! Is that just me???
Anyway, I recently bought new Aussie shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used Aussie since I was a kid. Callie always had Aussie... or at least she had some Aussie at some point in her life. I remember going to Gran's and seeing it, smelling it, possibly even using some of it if I stayed over. Well, I think that's a real memory. You'd think that by living with Cal for a year my sophomore year at college (my memory skills should've been fully honed by then, right?), I'd remember more definitively what shampoo she used then. Especially since my mind so clearly remembers her as an Aussie gal. Funny that I'm questioning it now. Regardless, Callie = Aussie and I remember LOVING her Aussie but never wanting to spend more than $0.99 when I actually got to the store to buy shampoo and conditioner. I know, I know. I'm cheap. Actually, I've broken down more than once in my life and purchased some Herbal Essences. But, for the most part, I've been a cheapo (as long as it's nice-smelling) girl. This last trip to the store, I decided to splurge on some Aussie. It is the best-smelling shampoo & conditioner I've ever had. It makes me enjoy shower time even MORE.
BUT... you know what absolutely RUINS the ("organic", if you're an Herbal Essences fan) euphoria of heavenly-scented shower time? A stinky towel. P.U. I just went from heaven to hell in one quick swipe of that towel over my yummy-smelling hair and body. Dang it. Now, I feel like I need to get back in that shower and re-do all that sudsing and thinking and thinking and sudsing... just to get my intoxicating smells back. Intoxicating as in the best possible of ways... not the intoxicating as in need of detox.
Anyway, I recently bought new Aussie shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used Aussie since I was a kid. Callie always had Aussie... or at least she had some Aussie at some point in her life. I remember going to Gran's and seeing it, smelling it, possibly even using some of it if I stayed over. Well, I think that's a real memory. You'd think that by living with Cal for a year my sophomore year at college (my memory skills should've been fully honed by then, right?), I'd remember more definitively what shampoo she used then. Especially since my mind so clearly remembers her as an Aussie gal. Funny that I'm questioning it now. Regardless, Callie = Aussie and I remember LOVING her Aussie but never wanting to spend more than $0.99 when I actually got to the store to buy shampoo and conditioner. I know, I know. I'm cheap. Actually, I've broken down more than once in my life and purchased some Herbal Essences. But, for the most part, I've been a cheapo (as long as it's nice-smelling) girl. This last trip to the store, I decided to splurge on some Aussie. It is the best-smelling shampoo & conditioner I've ever had. It makes me enjoy shower time even MORE.
BUT... you know what absolutely RUINS the ("organic", if you're an Herbal Essences fan) euphoria of heavenly-scented shower time? A stinky towel. P.U. I just went from heaven to hell in one quick swipe of that towel over my yummy-smelling hair and body. Dang it. Now, I feel like I need to get back in that shower and re-do all that sudsing and thinking and thinking and sudsing... just to get my intoxicating smells back. Intoxicating as in the best possible of ways... not the intoxicating as in need of detox.
The Happiest Little Part of Me
When you work from home and take multiple walks per day in the mucho-warmo sun of spring in southeast Georgia, you wear a lot of t-shirts and shorts. And you do a lot of laundry. So, the same t-shirts you wear one week are generally recycled into the next week's wardrobe... of course, because they hit the top of the pile when they're laundered each week. Anyway, there's this one t-shirt that I find myself wearing more than all the others. It makes me smile every time I put it on for two reasons... maybe more, but two that I'll share with you here.
For one, it's a marching band tee. (By the way, I saw a young guy... think high schooler... in Wal Mart tonight in a marching band tee. This guy was cute, looked like he probably has several things going for him... sports, friends, etc. Why should I be amused that he was wearing a marching band tee?) I think us self-proclaimed "band geeks" have sentenced ourselves to such a silly moniker. Self-preservation, y'know? I don't care. Honestly, some of us ARE big ole dorks. But we're the kind of dorks that are funny and silly. Anyway, I'll tell anyone who wants to listen that I was a member of the Marching Tar Heels. Best years of my life. Best friends I ever had. Best, well, lots o' stuff. But the fact that this particular t-shirt is a Pride of the ACC advert makes me giggle every time I think about my audience in the neighborhood. They have no idea, I'm sure. They're just not in the game.
Second, it has a HOLE in it. Now, I have TONS of t-shirts in my drawers/closet/armoire. Many of them haven't been worn many times at all and are in pristine condition. Why I would continue to sport a marching band tee with a HOLE in it is beyond me. But I do. I probably actually seek it out, truth be told. One thing I didn't mention (but that you probably could've guessed) is that I have about a million marching band tees. Of this particular year/style/print? Probably (without exaggeration) at least five. The hole is what sets this one apart. I always know that it's "the one" because I can do something with it I can't with all the rest of the mirror-minded Pride tees... I can touch the skin on my shoulder without lifting the sleeve. I know... a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Ooooooh. Anyway, the tragedy (or blessing, depends on your point of view, I guess) is that the hole is growing noticeably bigger now. I guess the fabric really isn't holding up as well as I could've hoped.
Anyway... this was today's t-shirt. It was just-light-enough workout garb on, count 'em, TWO walks (Cooper was stoked!) and it served as the perfect cover-up to my it's-finally-time-to-break-it-out-again! bikini at the pool (oh my gosh, how much do I LOVE sneaking off to the pool in the middle of my workday?!). Of course, most importantly, it's my most-impressive topic of conversation tonight on this here silly (and hopefully funny) blog.
Speaking of going to the pool and my bikini... I decided that I'm soft, sure. I have rounded edges. I have definitely been neglecting the aerobic and anaerobic. But I don't care. If I could bear to keep the self-portraits on the camera (and possibly even eventually transfer 'em to the computer), I could have pizza and beer (although, substitute cinnamon sticks for the beer please... I'll take those sugar-filled empty calories over blecht-beer empty calories anyday). Luckily, that's good enough motivation to bring out my rose-colored glasses... or I-look-okay-colored glasses, as the case may be. No worries. I won't subject you to the proof of my delusion. But I will subject you to a few new puppy pics. Like Haley said, it IS called "Pawpads", after all. What else would you expect?
These are from just today. Now that it's warm out and our grass is green again, how could I NOT go outside, sit in the lawn, and snap pics?!
For one, it's a marching band tee. (By the way, I saw a young guy... think high schooler... in Wal Mart tonight in a marching band tee. This guy was cute, looked like he probably has several things going for him... sports, friends, etc. Why should I be amused that he was wearing a marching band tee?) I think us self-proclaimed "band geeks" have sentenced ourselves to such a silly moniker. Self-preservation, y'know? I don't care. Honestly, some of us ARE big ole dorks. But we're the kind of dorks that are funny and silly. Anyway, I'll tell anyone who wants to listen that I was a member of the Marching Tar Heels. Best years of my life. Best friends I ever had. Best, well, lots o' stuff. But the fact that this particular t-shirt is a Pride of the ACC advert makes me giggle every time I think about my audience in the neighborhood. They have no idea, I'm sure. They're just not in the game.
Second, it has a HOLE in it. Now, I have TONS of t-shirts in my drawers/closet/armoire. Many of them haven't been worn many times at all and are in pristine condition. Why I would continue to sport a marching band tee with a HOLE in it is beyond me. But I do. I probably actually seek it out, truth be told. One thing I didn't mention (but that you probably could've guessed) is that I have about a million marching band tees. Of this particular year/style/print? Probably (without exaggeration) at least five. The hole is what sets this one apart. I always know that it's "the one" because I can do something with it I can't with all the rest of the mirror-minded Pride tees... I can touch the skin on my shoulder without lifting the sleeve. I know... a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Ooooooh. Anyway, the tragedy (or blessing, depends on your point of view, I guess) is that the hole is growing noticeably bigger now. I guess the fabric really isn't holding up as well as I could've hoped.
Anyway... this was today's t-shirt. It was just-light-enough workout garb on, count 'em, TWO walks (Cooper was stoked!) and it served as the perfect cover-up to my it's-finally-time-to-break-it-out-again! bikini at the pool (oh my gosh, how much do I LOVE sneaking off to the pool in the middle of my workday?!). Of course, most importantly, it's my most-impressive topic of conversation tonight on this here silly (and hopefully funny) blog.
Speaking of going to the pool and my bikini... I decided that I'm soft, sure. I have rounded edges. I have definitely been neglecting the aerobic and anaerobic. But I don't care. If I could bear to keep the self-portraits on the camera (and possibly even eventually transfer 'em to the computer), I could have pizza and beer (although, substitute cinnamon sticks for the beer please... I'll take those sugar-filled empty calories over blecht-beer empty calories anyday). Luckily, that's good enough motivation to bring out my rose-colored glasses... or I-look-okay-colored glasses, as the case may be. No worries. I won't subject you to the proof of my delusion. But I will subject you to a few new puppy pics. Like Haley said, it IS called "Pawpads", after all. What else would you expect?
These are from just today. Now that it's warm out and our grass is green again, how could I NOT go outside, sit in the lawn, and snap pics?!
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Monday, April 02, 2007
No Really... How Did You Find Me Here?
See? THIS is what I'm concerned about... and why I think I should go cold turkey.
I asked Jon if he didn't want to post something tonight. He surprised me and said no. And I just don't have anything on my mind at the moment. So, I'm just popping in to say hi. Taking the advice of trusted advisors who say not to write anything if you have nothing to say.
Know why I can't wait till this weekend and next week? Besides the obvious reasons of seeing my much-loved mom, pop, and sister, it's because Mom & Hay are just as camera-happy, if not more so, than I am. I ♥ pictures. I bet you didn't know that about me.
Look, more pictures of the SE Georgia sky:
Okay, I'm out. Sorry for being boring. Some people would say I'm like that all the time.
I asked Jon if he didn't want to post something tonight. He surprised me and said no. And I just don't have anything on my mind at the moment. So, I'm just popping in to say hi. Taking the advice of trusted advisors who say not to write anything if you have nothing to say.
Know why I can't wait till this weekend and next week? Besides the obvious reasons of seeing my much-loved mom, pop, and sister, it's because Mom & Hay are just as camera-happy, if not more so, than I am. I ♥ pictures. I bet you didn't know that about me.
Look, more pictures of the SE Georgia sky:
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Okay, I'm out. Sorry for being boring. Some people would say I'm like that all the time.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
A Blog Worth Reading From He Who Sings Our Travel Songs
First time I've been online all day... and it's to post this silly little blog. I'm actually kind of proud of the fact that I haven't been online at all this weekend. Maybe after I'm finished giving up DC, I'll give up connectedness. I think I should. I have a problem. I'm willing to admit it. I think the only way to stop is to just unplug for good. Cold turkey. No goodbyes, no nothing. You wouldn't miss me. I know it and you know it. Just quit... kinda like the Lady Heels did tonight. Good example they set for me.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell Haley that the villa is booked. Looking forward to seeing you guys this weekend. You too, M&D... albeit a couple days after H&M.
I'm off to finish reading the story of Big Brother. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight and can check it off the list as well as move on to another. Big Brother sucks. I am Winston. We are broken.
Obviously, I'm full of it tonight. Too much time away from the interweb has made me loopy. The weather's been grand. First day back at the pool results in sunburn already. I am a weeding and walking machine. My legs hurt. I miss my Mommy. I tire of the History channel after about 5 seconds. I've had my chocolate cake (ate it too). Time is wasted. More, more, more. But none.
Anyway, I just wanted to tell Haley that the villa is booked. Looking forward to seeing you guys this weekend. You too, M&D... albeit a couple days after H&M.
I'm off to finish reading the story of Big Brother. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight and can check it off the list as well as move on to another. Big Brother sucks. I am Winston. We are broken.
Obviously, I'm full of it tonight. Too much time away from the interweb has made me loopy. The weather's been grand. First day back at the pool results in sunburn already. I am a weeding and walking machine. My legs hurt. I miss my Mommy. I tire of the History channel after about 5 seconds. I've had my chocolate cake (ate it too). Time is wasted. More, more, more. But none.
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