Rain on Colbert

Did this not make you fall off the sofa?

FETCH!

Over the weekend my two sons and I went to the mall to hang out with someone in an orange dog suit. It was a promotion for one of their favorite shows.

We are incredibly lucky to live where we do. Among the reasons is our local PBS station produces a large number of children's shows including Arthur, Postcards from Buster, Curious George, Timewarp Trio (even though that airs on Discovery Kids it is made by WGBH), Design Squad and others. It also means that there are opportunities to interact with the cast members of these shows. When those cast members are people.

The premise of FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman is fun. Six kids compete for points over the course of the season. A cartoon dog, Ruff Ruffman, hosts the show in "Studio G" (he is sensitive about calling it the garage). He sends them on various outings (e.g. creating clothes for dogs, making gumbo in New Orleans, solving a crime with members of the Boston Police Department, creating derby cars) that involve math and/or science. What makes it even funnier for the grown-up watching (or overhearing) is the running commentary by the "dog" who is also the voice for the "shark" in Kenny the Shark.

Which is how we came to spend part of a very sunny Saturday afternoon in the middle of the kids' clothes section of a suburban department store. Bridget, Willie, Mike, Rosario, Nina and Maddie were all there. My guys couldn't believe they were meeting the real kids that they watch on their television nearly every day. And those six "big kids" were just the nicest, most pleasant people to be around. Nothing star-like or pretentious about them.


Which was good since the point of the day was to do science experiments with the "Fetchers" as they are called on the show. Here Willie and Mike are creating self-inflating balloons. Notice there are no grown-ups helping (they were floating around but not helping). These 11-14 year olds were genuinely kind to this group of young kids.

But someone had to mention to my guys that 9 year olds can audition for the show. But when they heard they wouldn't be nine until 2009 they were very disappointed.

So I'll have to send them on math outing. We'll start with the backyard.

Odds and ends

We're still coming up for air after getting in late last night and preparing for....


drum roll.....

FIRST GRADE (times two)!

So in the next day or two I will regale with tales of Quebec and bore you all with the obligatory slide show in the basement.

However, before you go I have some odds and ends to tend to.

****

Go visit Jenn's and my photo site, Looking Into, for a stunning image by none other than Aimee of Greeble Monkey. She is our first professional on the site and I really have this feeling of "one of the cool kids is hanging with us!" Thanks Aimee for sharing such a wonderful photograph. I also think her site, Greeble Monkey, is funny, talented and heartbreaking. Oh, and did you know she likes Crowded House? Alot?

****

Looking Into got its first recognition from a very talented photographer, Jams O'Donnell at The Poor Mouth. To be recognized for this little experiment of ours is pretty cool. To get it from someone like Jams who sees photography as an art and not simply a series of snapshots, well that is even cooler. Dare I say it? It is wicked cool.

****

Lastly, I promised that if anyone ordered from my list of suggested New Orleans businesses I would sing their praises. Who else but Flower Child in Washington DC would click the Dirty Coast link and viola!

"Check out my cool t-shirt from Dirty Coast! I LOVE IT!

FYI - I often order women's small but for this I ordered medium and it fits beautifully. And it's sooooo soft. Heavenly."

[And doesn't Flower Child have the cutest chin? I think so!]

Now just because you aren't hearing about New Orleans in the news anymore (you know, why should the press pay attention to it when the anniversary is gone?) doesn't mean you can't spend some money there. So let me know what you buy, even if it is Tony Chachere's at your local grocery store.

The Blame Game

You know the ones we're talking about. Those bloggers with their memes, interviews, contests. You can't stop thinking about it. You keep on entering, or modifying your entry. You think about something else you want to say. You add to what you've written or submit another entry or find yourself tagged yet again for another meme.

Or maybe it's a quiz that you can't stop taking.

Or a post where the comments are fast and furious and you can't stop checking on what else someone else has said.

Suddenly, you find that this whole theme has taken over your thoughts while riding or driving, your quiet time when you should be working, your dreams at night, your blog! We (a self-appointed committee of like-minded bloggers) decided it was time to give credit where it's due and have developed this very special "Blame It On THIS Blog!" Award.

It is my distinct pleasure, along with Jenn, Ms. FA and Jami, to present the first ever "Blame It On THIS Blog!" Award to Leslie of My Mommy's Place. As Jenn wrote today "The Blame [Leslie] receives is well deserved as she caused me and many others some serious haiku grief these past few weeks as we scribbled and scrawled through the blogosphere in 17 syllables. She knows what she started and she is rightfully proud of the onslaught in 5-7-5 rhythm which began with a challenge at her place."

Leslie is to blame
For creating this big game
That spread like the flu




This button is for you darling!

Awarded jointly by the committee formed to award such things as this.

Would you like to bestow the Wicked Witch button to someone? The rules are simple.

1. Sometimes we all want to blame someone. If you know of a deserving blogger, please submit your nomination and reasons for placing the "Blame" to the Award committee: Jenn in Holland, Soccer Mom In Denial, Not That Different and Fourier Analyst.

No one wants to be "Blamed" for everything, so please limit your reasons for nominating to specific and deserving instances where "Blame" should be given. Recipients of the "Blame" will receive the button to display on their blog along with their "Mea Culpa" at their own convenience.

The Award committee wants to remind all bloggers that they should not be discouraged if their nominee does not get an award the first time as there is plenty of "Blame" to go around and at any future time it may be deservedly placed!

2. Anyone who has received the "Blame" is also free to pass it on to another blogger, once! We hope all recipients of the "Blame" award will accept it in the humorous spirit in which is has been conceived!

Happy Blog-iversary

This little experiment is one year old today. On this day in 2006 I put up my first post explaining why I was jumping in. Mainly because at my then-job I was having to ask low-income - some homeless - women to blog on our non-profit organization's website. I didn't want to ask them to do something that I didn't know about.

And what a year I have had.

I spent the first few months really writing for myself. I didn't know the games, err, repeat commenting, that were done to ensure "readership". Never mind the concept of linky love. But then I jumped into my first Blog Exchange, started visiting blogs of people who left interesting comments and I found a group of folks I really like. They are listed on the side. Go visit them if you haven't.

I've been thinking of the all the new people I've "met" (or e-met) this year. Of all the experiences, personal stories and perspectives you have shared. Some of you have even become close email buddies (doesn't that inspire you to leave your email address when you comment?). I'm grateful for all that you have taught me and inspired me to be as a blogger.

I've gone back and looked at the 226 posts from the year and these are some of my favorites (note some - I started with a much longer list):

The Red Balloon

Yaz: Medicine or Music?

Because You Asked

National (Public Radio) Exposure

For Good

Paris 1990 and Part Deux

Tongans, Fire and Sugar

Talking About It

Channeling the inner black Diva

Saying Goodbye

Those of you that have been regular readers, do you agree with the list? Was there one (or nine) you particularly liked that I didn't mention? Please let me know.

Thank you for being part of this journey, whether you comment or not. It's nice to have all of you out there.

So I was discussing Haiku with the train conductor

Yes, I showed the train conductor the Haiku poems I was working on.

He was walking up the aisles, preparing for the final stop on the line when he did a double take and stared at me.

"I thought chu were gonna stab me which yor pen!"

"No, I was sounding out syllables.... I can't believe I was about to tell you this. Never mind."

"Wha? Wha?" He walks over to my bench and looks over my shoulder.

Now I'm done for. "I'm writing a Haiku about Sudoku. Do you remember Haiku from English class?"

"Yeah, yeah" as he starts to read what I wrote:

Hurry line up one

through nine in boxes and rows

before my stop comes.

"I have a friend who is doing these and..." this is sounding bizarre. And now I'm plotting to kill her. Even though we haven't met in person, yet.

Then he reads another I wrote in honor of Norm,

One day may we find

acceptance for all of us

With love, hope and peace.

"So you gonna go home tonight and make dinner for yor hubby right?" he asks. He looks like he is hatching a plan.

"No, he works late. I'm making dinner for the kids."

His look clearly conveyed I wasn't getting this. "You need to write one of them poems for yor husband so he'll come home early!" he winks.

That particular Haiku will be a private one. But in honor of tonight's train conductor:

Who knew a train fare

would lead to poetry talks

and lovers' advice

Yup, more haikus for Leslie's Haiku Buckaroo contest. Come on. You know you want to enter. You've got until August 10th to do it. And you don't need a blog. You can send it to her via email. So all you lurkers, make Leslie happy.

Perfection

Such a loaded word. Perfect. It implies no errors. Somehow above others. Without flaws.

Feel free to giggle at this being associated with me.

Jenn in Holland gave me a gift of Perfect Post for July for what I wrote about Norm. This from a woman who wins more awards, and reads more blogs, than humanly possible. To get this from her is an honor. To get this about someone I admire even doubly so.

[Thanks to Momma K and Lindsay for hosting the Perfect Post awards. Check their sites for more Perfect Posts.]

But we also had a perfect weekend. Or as close to one as you can get. We journeyed to the capital of a neighboring state. It is a city on the move. We couldn't believe all the fun we could have a mere 40 minutes from home.

We saw a 5 day old giraffe (apparently we were following Alex Elliot's various men. They were visiting the baby the previous day). The zoo staff were begging people to be quiet in the "barn". My kids were silent for over 10 minutes. They didn't want to leave the baby. I didn't want to leave the silence.



We all rode on an old-fashioned carousel, complete with blinking lights, mirrors and the tinny 19th-century music. Then the people under 80 pounds each had a turn riding a real pony.

But the main reason we went to this town was the WaterFire. A combination of music, performance art and, yes, fire. It started with a half hour of ethereal music playing from speakers in the middle of the river.


Then a woman came out on a low boat, banging a gong.



Then a boat full of people in black clothing lit each pile of wood floating above the water. Soon the rippling water reflected the orange, red and yellow of the fire. The clouds parted and a full summer moon appeared.



Mr. SMID took the babes up to the hotel room and I got to sit in silence, again, listening to the music and crackling wood.

Fire dancing bright
Over rippling dark water
White, yellow, orange

Yes, I finally broke down and entered a Haiku for Leslie's Haiku Buckaroo contest. (As Jenn in Holland repeatedly asks "did you enter yet?")

Stares

They start in the middle of May.

People stare. Sometimes with open mouths.

Other times they nudge the person they are with, and either point or motion their chin in my direction. The other person joins in the stare.

Occasionally someone will smile. Mostly it is a look of disconnect. As if they can't understand what I am doing.

Only once in a blue moon will someone actually say it.

"Nice hat."

I border on obsessive about wearing hats from late spring through early fall. I live in fear of sunburns and since I insist my children wear hats, I do the same.

So I asked the brood to help model some of my favorites (note the use of the word some).

A hat that I can roll up (a mere $15 on sale at a chi-chi store).

The reverse of above hat so really two hats for $7.50 each!

Another $15 find at the same store. It feels like it was made from burlap bags.

I just love the huge brim on this one. And for some reason it gets ALOT of stares.

When I wear this one, a colleague comments "Oh, you've got your church hat on."

Much to my patient husband's chagrin I have lost count of the number of hats I own. There are a fair number of caps in this mix as well including one with the Cat in the Hat and another from an awesome bar in St. Louis.

So I walk proud in this northern city with my big, ol' sun hats. When I walk through Chinatown I'll see a few women walking under paper parasols. We give each other knowing smiles.

We won't have nearly as many wrinkles.

She's leaving

Yup. Jenn is leaving China this week.



And if you haven't clicked Heart to Heart Talk over on the right, you should. And spend an hour going through her photographs. They alone will make you wish you could live Jenn's life.


Jenn has spent the last 10 months on a Fullbright Scholarship studying women and work. From the about section of her blog she explains, "My one sentence topic description is 'how rapid economic development and reemerging traditional cultural beliefs are currently affecting women’s work.'"

Yes. She is a smart as she sounds. But she isn't one of these people who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her life experience is varied and textured. It gives her a perspective few of us are capable of having.

But the most exciting thing for me? I get to give her a hug when she returns.

While we worked in the same office for more than a year, we didn't really know each other. Before she left the country she gave me some blogging tutorials. But our friendship really bloomed over this near-year. And while I am sad that she won't be in China for now, I'm glad to have her back.

Because maybe she'll give me some photo tutorials.

Schmoozer

In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a registered lobbyist. Yup, in the same profession as Jack Abramoff. I've even been known to start my part of a meeting by donning a fedora, just for the laugh.

But before you start slinging rotten food at me (or your computer screen), I am a registered lobbyist in the Commonwealth where I work for a non-profit organization that supports community economic development through affordable housing, small business development and asset development. I spent the bulk of today at a legislative hearing about affordable housing. I ran into people I knew, introduced them to each other, met new people and listened to nearly five hours of testimony. Some of the testimony was heartbreaking. Elders, adults with disabilities and low-income mothers talked of their fears that government subsidized buildings might start renting at market rate, effectively forcing them into nursing homes, out-of-state or into shelters.

That is one definition of a schmoozer.

But now this has some cache since I now have been bestowed THIS!

Jenn, lovely, lovely Jenn, has given me the Official Schmooze Bicep button. I could not be more honored. Especially after reading this:

Schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.

Yes, dear readers, I was built for schmooze. But not for gaining an advantage. Simply to make connections.

So now I get to pass this along (see these are the things I like to pass along - an award with a pretty, err, forceful button). My top schmoozers are:

Gunfighter - this man oozes schmooze and coming from me this is a huge compliment! He definitely embodies the spirit of bringing people together.

Soodz - she was one of the first folks to pay attention to me. She was also my first hostess for the Blog Exchange (which is sadly taking a break this month. Boo-hoo).

Jodifur - she set the bar really high for Blog Exchange host. She actually forwarded to me every single comment left on her blog from my piece. She also never let's a comment go without a reply and the ensuing conversations are funny and thoughtful.

The Real Life Drama Queen - she. simply. rocks. My trail is definitely happier after she has strutted on by. And as a fag hag, I just love a drama queen.

Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting - she not only chats it up with me, she actually met me in person. That gets a gold star.

And I had every intention of giving one to this blogger but Mz. Jenn had to jump in and add her after the fact so while I hate giving people awards they already have, she's too good not to get it twice.

Twas Brillig - First of all the name is just awesome. Secondly she is one of those "popular" blog kids who still finds time to visit those of us hanging out in the science labs (or political science in my case). How popular is she? She got 28 comments (I was one of them) when she complained that her site was broken. Twenty-eight.

Now go forth and schmooze! Pass along to as many, or few, as you want.

Crossing the line

I read about them with envy. People meet, talk, laugh and comment how wonderful it was.

Actually seeing someone from the blogosphere live and in person.

Now Ambassador and Jenn don't count. I knew them before I started to blog (in the Ambassador's case before email became a regular part of people's lives. Yes youngsters, a really, really, really long time ago).

But I was a bit paralyzed with "what if". What if the person turned out to be someone that I didn't like? What if they weren't who they seemed (to me) on their blog? And then there are always those ax-murderer, identity-stealing, thug-like fears.

So meeting Alex Elliot of Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting was great for several reasons. She didn't want my credit card information and wasn't a jerk.

Now dear readers who have yet to meet her, she is wonderful. Funny, bright and truly one of the kindest parents. Period. I also got to meet OS and YS and according to her OS wasn't in his best mood. Now, if that wasn't sterling behavior, that kid must glow when he is behaving. He was great and YS just lapped it up when my daughter rubbed his head. Which is good because she did it often.

Those of you going to Blogher at the end of the month, go find Alex E. She'll be there. And I'll be a little less envious since I've already met her. Plus we've already mentioned the next place to meet up.

But this one won't allow food inside.

The Princess and the Pond

My high school was written up in a recent biography of the Crown Princess of Japan Masako Owada. She attended the high school before I got there. I have no idea if she was interviewed or even consented to this biography.

A friend, and fellow BHS grad, received photographed pages of the book taken in a Tokyo bookstore. He in turn sent them along to me. The following dissection of the translated passages are in no way meant to offend anyone (so calm down all you readers in Japan).

I indent the passages from a translated version. The author writes:

Even though she had attended primary school of three years in New York, nothing better illustrates the culture shock the young Masako would have to cope with than her new school. The contrast between the strict, prudish nuns of Futaba and freewheeling Belmont High School in semi-rural Massachusetts could not be starker.

Freewheeling? Semi-rural? I read that and think cows (well, cows on drugs). Or Vermont. We were less than 4 miles from the state capital, had public transit and no farms. I comment on drugs below.

Set beside a large lake in grounds full of silver-birch trees,

The "large lake" is called Claypit Pond and would never be mistaken for a lake. And full of birch trees? This is a photo from around the time the eventual Princess attended BHS. I did drive by last night and there are a lot more trees around today. So many you really can't see the school from the street. While an accurate description today, not so 20+ years ago.

Belmont's emblem is not a symbolic green sprig, but a pirate with a dagger clenched between his teeth wearing a tricorn hat emblazoned with a skull and crossbones.

I never thought of our Marauder that way but yes, we were fancy pirates. Argghhh.

The school has grassy sports grounds, where Masako would continue to play softball, an ice-skating rink, and a huge parking lot for the staff and teenage students, many of whom drive themselves to school.

It is true we had very, very nice sports facilities including a pool. The parking lot, however wasn't THAT big and in my day some kids did drive themselves to school (I was not one of them). What? Everyone walked to your school?

Instead of religious icons, the walls are covered with great splashy pictures of comic-book characters.

Really? Where? I would've LOVED to gaze at Wonder Woman during biology.

It is co-educational, and as for tucking one's socks over three times to just 15 centimetres above the ankle, the uniform is gangsta (their spelling) rapper chic - forage caps on backwards, baggy pants, football jumpers and sneakers. And make-up - banned on pain of expulsion at Futaba - is de rigeur (their emphasis).

Had "gansta rap chic" even hit the suburbs in the early 1980's? And what are football jumpers? I was too busy wearing over sized Frankie Says Relax t-shirts to notice.

Ethnic homogeneity is replaced with diversity - one in five of the students at Belmont is Hispanic or African-American.

This part is probably the most horrific because it is just patently not true. While I was at BHS I literally cannot recall any Latinos and all the African-American students were bused in - I kid you not - through a program to get "inner city" (read Black) students into suburban schools. There were maybe 5-10 Black students per class of 250-300. That's more like one in twenty. And at times a pretty lonely one too.

The notice board, rather than having notes about upcoming softball fixtures and music clubs, has the phone number of the Samaritans' suicide helpline, and newspaper cuttings with cautionary headlines such as '20 Shots of Scotch Prove Fatal to Student' and 'Six-Pack Cost Him $4722'.

The only place I can think of that had these posted was the health ed classroom and I was able to get out of that requirement because it met during band. Plus, what health problems could band kids get into anyway?

Julie Yeh, a Taiwanese student who befriended Masako, says that, compared with their new American classmates, they were both initially rather socially naive. Masako was shocked at the drug use and dating.

Yes, there were drugs at BHS. I can't comment if it was more or less than other schools since I didn't A) attend any other high school or B) use any illicit drugs. Yes my dear friends, I have never smoked, snorted, nor injected. I've never smoked a cigarette.However, did you notice that in the above sentence from the book they put dating and drug use together? As if they go hand-in-hand? Yes, I dated in high school but wasn't getting stoned or drunk with them.

When they went to the school prom, Masako blushed at the couples kissing in the dark, and since they didn't know how to dance, the two girls spent the night watching movies in the school auditorium.

Now I know for a fact that the author(s) have no clue what they are writing about. Every BHS Prom is held at one of the swanky downtown hotel ballrooms. And the room is always well-lit so kids can enjoy the ridiculous opulence around them.

There you have it. Of course, I'd love to know what the huge busloads of Japanese tourists who drove through our town in the late 1980's and early 1990's thought of it all.

***

I've got to say that letting people pick if they want to participate in a meme takes the stress off of receiving them. Jodifur listed a wonderful set of 9 (hey, more is better). My favorite of her list - she wants to own a winery. Darling you have an investor, as long as I get a case every year.

Not even PG-13?

(Brought to you by Mingle²)

I was determined a PG Rating (oh, how, safe) because of the following words:

I wrote "Fag" three times and wrote "Shoot" twice.

Now I am impressed that violent words are counted, but come on.

I have written FAG more than three times!

***

And guess what? The Real Life Drama Queen posted her own list of eight things about herself. I think the list is both hysterical (300 DVDs) and touching. Fodder for more posts darling!

Cleaning house

Tags. They really are tough for me. I have these plans for what the week's worth of posts will look like and - bam - someone publicly hands me a task. One poor person gave me one months ago that I just couldn't fulfill (I mean I take ALL of my goals seriously!). Sorry.

There are three in the cue. Here's the first one.

The Rules:

Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.

• Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.


• Players should tag eight other people and notify them that they have been tagged.

Eight random things about me:

1. I read Gone with the Wind between 5th and 6th grade. When I wrote that what-I-read-over- summer-vacation 2 page essay (they didn't assign books back then), my teacher didn't believe me.

2. I was one of the two murderous, spinster maids in Arsenic and Old Lace in my senior class play.

3. I was in a movie with Daniel Day Lewis.

4. Growing up I was teased for not having a "girl" middle name - my middle name is Mitchell.

5. I miss reading books. There are not enough hours in the day to be a mom, work and blog.

6. I was set up on a blind date by someone I met on an airplane. The man I met on that blind date? Mr. SMID.

7. When I entered college my parents told me not to "darken the door of the theater department". I joined the crew team.

8. I believe that the government can play a role in making people's lives better and that the conservatives have done a grave disservice spreading a small government message. Do you like having clean water to drink, cook with and bath your sweet precious children in? Do you appreciate roads that are paved? Do your parents or grandparents like the universal health care (aside from the Republicans creating prescription "coverage") that the government provides? Thank big government.


So now I am suppose to pass this along. Guess what? If you are reading this and think "hmmm I would just love to do this" then considered yourself tagged. Just be sure to let me know you did it and I'll highlight you at the end of upcoming posts.

Gee, I rock?

I fancy myself more of a techno-girl. I get all giddy with computer-generated drumbeats, synthesizers and faraway voices. I hear a dance tune a la 1989 and I get all glassy-eyed.

However, there is a new award floating around the blogosphere. So new I was completely unaware of it until Ms. Jenn in Holland nominated me for one.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you're favorite fag hag has been bestowed:

These things still take my breath away. I just turn on my computer and write what comes to mind. The fact a few of you comment makes me feel like there a others out in cyberland who understand.

But when one of you gives me an acknowledgement like this, well, I'm still gasping for air.

Like all awards, it must be shared. So my list will be a bit odd, because that is how I am.

1. Alex Elliot - I've said it before and I will say it again, Alex makes me feel like I am not alone in this crazy journey. She is funny, thoughtful and informative.

2. The Blog Exchange - the insanely talented Kristen Chase created and maintains the Blog Exchange among other endeavours, plus being a superior mom to two kids. It is by far my favorite "activity" that I have found so far (and no not because I finally got a couple of Best of nods). I have made wonderful friends through the exchange, found new sites to read and have been challenged to write topics I wouldn't have attempted. Oh yeah, and the three people I encouraged to join in all received Best of nods their first time in. I know how to pick 'em, yup.

3. Kate - The Pillow was packed in a box for a while but my hope is it comes out of the crate soon and is fluffed up. I went on a Blogher discussion group for working moms a couple of days after starting my blog. Kate was the ally I needed as I tripped my way through blogging. Plus, it was through her that I found The Blog Exchange. And her masthead is just awesome.

Now for the slight tweaking of the awards.

As Stephen Colbert says "I don't see race", I've been surprised at how I don't see gender among my fellow bloggers. Seriously, I think of all of you as people first. So I'm naming the following two as honorary Rockin' Girl Bloggers (both of you can feel free to ignore me or show this off with pride):

4. Gunfighter - for the exchange about bummer stickers and poverty alone he Rocks. He's a blogger who really makes people think, is hysterically funny and gets under people's skin. Seriously, he's got some folks in a dander over writing about girls whimpering or some such thing.

5. The Ambassador - o.k. so maybe I shouldn't be giving awards to people I knew BEFORE BLOGGING BEGAN but this guy was blogging before me as he dealt with the exodus from New Orleans post-Katrina. But I happen to know that he can walk in high heels better than me and knows how to wear mascara. Sorry but that makes him, at times, more girlie than me. Not that that is very difficult to do.

Although guys, if you would prefer the Rockin' Guy Blogger badge, I can send that along.

So rock on everyone. Feel free to pass this along or ignore it. Just know I think you are fab.

Something about my left side

We're here on vacation and something about my left side is very attractive to the locals down here. I'm serious. They find me irresistible. To the point that they physically attach themselves to me.

While walking up to the beach the top of my left arm hurt. It was a nagging hurt on my skin. Upon investigation, I found I was being bitten by a teeny, tiny red ant. And it was going to town biting, scurrying and biting some more.

A few hours later I noticed a new mole above my left hip. It was dark and very raised. As I went to check, it moved. I had a tick working very hard to get under my skin. Fortunately, after much tugging, I got it off with just two little bite marks on me. The head stayed attached to its the body.

And now this will be the vacation where my children will have to deal with me being a fanatic about ticks.


In spite of the hungry wildlife, we are having a lovely, lovely time.

A bit tired

I was woken up before 4:30 this morning.

Don't go blaming my darling cherubs.

Although usually if I tell this story it involves someone under 7 years old yelling "MOMMY!" and me scurrying to bring the yeller back in our bed to get him/her to go back to sleep. Sometimes it works. But then I lay awake.

This time the story involves jack-hammers. At 4:30 in the morning.

We live on a state highway. That inherently brings traffic and noise. Several years ago we needed the gas company to come in the evening to dig a hole when there was a gas leak. I recognize when loud noises are necessary for public safety.

However, this was the town Department of Public Works (DPW) using jack hammers to dig up - I kid you not - two traffic islands near our house at 4:30 in the morning.

There is no public safety reason to jack-hammer traffic islands at 4:30 in the morning.

So my husband went down to investigate and call the police. They told him it was a DPW issue. We live in one of, if not the only, state that requires a police detail for all public works project. He told the dispatcher there was no detail at the site. That got their attention. There was a police officer within 5 minutes. He also left a message on the work number of the DPW director. He joked he should have found his home number to wake him up. I told him that if our kids woke up we were calling the DPW director at his home. Somehow the kids slept through the entire thing. I did not.

I left the house at 6:55 am and the jack hammers were still going. The DPW director called my husband at 7:05 am to apologize profusely and explain he didn't know how this happened.

When asked what the crew was doing, the director said they were tearing up the traffic islands to put in flowers.

Let me repeat, I was woken up before 4:30 in the morning for frigging flower beds.

Colorful

Fabric at the India Independence Day Celebration, 2006.


This is part of the Weekly Photo hunters.

Click to find other hunters.

Sad

One day during my senior year of high school I came home and picked up the mail lying on the entry way floor. There was an envelop addressed to me without a return address. I tore it open and only read the first line.

It contained nothing but expletives about what the writer was going to do to me. I dropped the letter and have never seen it again.

Eventually my mom came home and did what a good, loving mother does. She became the raging mama lion defending her young. She went to the police and demanded they open a case. They tried to dismiss it as "something boys do" and she went ballistic. She demanded a meeting with the principal and got the school to compare the handwriting on the letter with students' writing folders. We also finally realized we had been getting crank calls at home and had the phone company monitor our phone line (this was before caller id).

It all pointed to a pretty lonely kid. Someone who was in a few classes with me but I had never interacted with. This kid was actually in bad shape. My mom then demanded a meeting with the kid and parents and somehow extracted a promise of mental health counseling. As the months wore on this kid looked better.

I tell you this because for the first time as a blogger I got a truly hateful comment in response to my piece about the kids' silhouette portraits.

Anonymous said...
you sound like the biggest loser I have every heard!!!!!!I pity your poor poor kids when they actually get out in the REAL world.....OMG you make me sad for you!!!

And while a dear friend of 15 years came to my defense (oh how I love you), I'm not upset by it. I am sad but not what Anonymous thinks. I'm sad that you had to spend the energy to be mean. Are you o.k.?

Watches

A completely vain post but I have a thing for watches. I've lost count but these are some of my favorites.




This is one of my first off-beat watches. I bought it my senior year of high school with babysitting money. The man with an eye patch and a hat is a Peter Max illustration.







Then there is this foursome.

The red face to the right of the green one has a likeness of Mao. His waving hand ticks off the seconds. A friend got it for me in Hong Kong, while it was still British.

The blue faced watch is Barbie-esque and celebrates road trips with a Route 66 theme. I got it at Century 21 with Flower Girl, years before 9/11.

And this is my all-time favorite, but I can't really wear it around the kids. They get freaked out that I'm wearing a watch with a moving hatchet, a fat king in the middle and six women on the outside. Then they hear me mutter, "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" as the hatchet ticks off the seconds.

Watches are suppose to tell time. That's it.

Oh but how boring.