Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
A Place in the Sun
The sun is shining, the air is warm and the Adirondack Chairs have reclaimed their space in the sunshine. You know what that means boys and girls!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The Great Clothesline Catastrophe
Today me and the clothesline went rounds. It was a pretty decent day to hang clothes out so I did all kinds of wash. The line was already on the ground so I had to knot it back up.
So, here I come with armloads of clean wash, got most of it up. I got most of the stuff on the line when it all came tumbling down.
And by the way, where did all my grass go???? We had no snow, so it can't be a raging case of snow mold. But, my yard has turned into a dust bowl, which is not good for clean, wet wash.
Geesh!
So, here I come with armloads of clean wash, got most of it up. I got most of the stuff on the line when it all came tumbling down.
And by the way, where did all my grass go???? We had no snow, so it can't be a raging case of snow mold. But, my yard has turned into a dust bowl, which is not good for clean, wet wash.
Geesh!
New Adventure
Last week I went to talk to my advisor about scheduling a full semester of classes beginning this fall. Yikes! 5-6 classes all day Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I want to do it. If I do it, it'll take me about a year till I graduate. One, short, year! It's scary though, I've never gone to school full time. I've always worked full time, gone to school part time. Scary has become my middle name of late. I'm ready for the challenge!
Most of the classes I have yet to take are electives with the exception of the dreaded science class. I'll have to pick from the lesser of the evils out of Bio, Chem, and Physics. Is there any one that's less mathy than the other? Oh, and I'm not disecting anything. I do know one of the chem prof's so maybe I should take his class because he won't seem as scary to me since I know him.
My advisor has also been instrumental in getting my sculpture classes most recent project put on display in one of the campus buildings. She told me how pleased she was with the results from the class project and took her recommendation to the President of the college. So, it's a pretty big deal, I'm thrilled to be a part of it! I also brought my sculpture home to work on again. If it's going to be on display, it's gotta be as good as it can be!
I promise I will have pics of all these pieces probably when the semester is over.
Most of the classes I have yet to take are electives with the exception of the dreaded science class. I'll have to pick from the lesser of the evils out of Bio, Chem, and Physics. Is there any one that's less mathy than the other? Oh, and I'm not disecting anything. I do know one of the chem prof's so maybe I should take his class because he won't seem as scary to me since I know him.
My advisor has also been instrumental in getting my sculpture classes most recent project put on display in one of the campus buildings. She told me how pleased she was with the results from the class project and took her recommendation to the President of the college. So, it's a pretty big deal, I'm thrilled to be a part of it! I also brought my sculpture home to work on again. If it's going to be on display, it's gotta be as good as it can be!
I promise I will have pics of all these pieces probably when the semester is over.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Daffodils, Hyacinths and Mums, oh my!
Yesterday was such bright sunshine but without the warm temps. Today is not so sunny but the temps are much better. It's supposed to get even better as the week goes on. Finally!
I've been watching my daffodils and hyacinth coming up. The daffodils still haven't bloomed but the colors on the hyacinth are beginning to show. I swear I planted pink, white, blue and purple ones last year. Why are they all blue???
The same thing happens to my mums. I plant different colors and they all come up yellow!
I've been watching my daffodils and hyacinth coming up. The daffodils still haven't bloomed but the colors on the hyacinth are beginning to show. I swear I planted pink, white, blue and purple ones last year. Why are they all blue???
The same thing happens to my mums. I plant different colors and they all come up yellow!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Hot Fun in the Summertime!
In fifth grade I met one of my best friends. She and her family moved from in the city to the suburbs. Not only was she in my grade, she and her family lived two streets away from me. I don't remember the first time we talked or the first time we decided to do something together. I do remember going to Hershey Park, playing tennis, riding bikes and having sleep overs.
The most fun I think we had were on the countless days we'd spend at the pool. Often our days at the pool would begin at 10:00 a.m. for either synchonized swimming practice or swim team. The water was always freezing no matter how hot and humid the preceeding day or night was. The pool was close enough to our houses so that we would either walk or ride our bikes there.
After the hour long swim practice we'd go back home for a few hours to do whatever tortureous projects our parents had for us that day. It was summer after all, did we really have to work??
But when 1:00 rolled around, and the pool opened for business, we were there. We had our towels, bathing suits were on, flip flops and our pool bags full of combs, mirrors, baby oil (because Lord knows we were not into preventing skin cancer, we wanted to get as much sun as possible), sun glasses, reading material, and of course money.
One of our favorite pasttimes at the pool was of course checking out guys. Older guys. We were maybe in high school possibly only Jr. High school at this point so we were so in love with the guys that were going to be seniors or maybe had already graduated. I was in love with one of the life guards Paul and another guy Mike. Mike's mom was from England and periodically he'd go there for a visit. I thought that was so cool. He was intercontinental. My friend however, was in love with the one and only Bob. We knew where he lived and even did a "walk by" once and a while. I even remember that his favorite song was "My Sharona." I'm not sure how we determined that, but it was a well known fact. I know we never dated any of these guys, not sure we even talked to them at any point.
Our second love at the pool was the food. Pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries and of course the candy; Chick-o-sticks, Delfa rolls, Swedish Fish, Fun Dips, Pixie Sticks.
One of our biggest challenges as we got older, maybe juniors in high school was trying to pull off that we were actually 18. Because at 18, we could swim at adult swim AND use the folding chairs. Every once and a while before we turned 18, we got the guts up to grab a chair or to go in for adult swim. But we were so sure we were going to get told about it. Like somehow our ages were tattooed on our foreheads.
4:00 would roll around all too quickly and we would have to pack up our belongings. The two of us were working girls. We had paper routes. So, we'd drag ourselves home and deliver our papers, have dinner and do whatever else our parents wanted us to do. Then maybe, just maybe, we'd have the opportunity to sneak back down to the pool for the rest of the night.
The most fun I think we had were on the countless days we'd spend at the pool. Often our days at the pool would begin at 10:00 a.m. for either synchonized swimming practice or swim team. The water was always freezing no matter how hot and humid the preceeding day or night was. The pool was close enough to our houses so that we would either walk or ride our bikes there.
After the hour long swim practice we'd go back home for a few hours to do whatever tortureous projects our parents had for us that day. It was summer after all, did we really have to work??
But when 1:00 rolled around, and the pool opened for business, we were there. We had our towels, bathing suits were on, flip flops and our pool bags full of combs, mirrors, baby oil (because Lord knows we were not into preventing skin cancer, we wanted to get as much sun as possible), sun glasses, reading material, and of course money.
One of our favorite pasttimes at the pool was of course checking out guys. Older guys. We were maybe in high school possibly only Jr. High school at this point so we were so in love with the guys that were going to be seniors or maybe had already graduated. I was in love with one of the life guards Paul and another guy Mike. Mike's mom was from England and periodically he'd go there for a visit. I thought that was so cool. He was intercontinental. My friend however, was in love with the one and only Bob. We knew where he lived and even did a "walk by" once and a while. I even remember that his favorite song was "My Sharona." I'm not sure how we determined that, but it was a well known fact. I know we never dated any of these guys, not sure we even talked to them at any point.
Our second love at the pool was the food. Pizza, burgers, hot dogs, fries and of course the candy; Chick-o-sticks, Delfa rolls, Swedish Fish, Fun Dips, Pixie Sticks.
One of our biggest challenges as we got older, maybe juniors in high school was trying to pull off that we were actually 18. Because at 18, we could swim at adult swim AND use the folding chairs. Every once and a while before we turned 18, we got the guts up to grab a chair or to go in for adult swim. But we were so sure we were going to get told about it. Like somehow our ages were tattooed on our foreheads.
4:00 would roll around all too quickly and we would have to pack up our belongings. The two of us were working girls. We had paper routes. So, we'd drag ourselves home and deliver our papers, have dinner and do whatever else our parents wanted us to do. Then maybe, just maybe, we'd have the opportunity to sneak back down to the pool for the rest of the night.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Oh What A Night!
OK no, so we're at Cantone's and speaking French to some Middle Eastern/French Speakers it was weird. Then we venture downtown to familiar territory and have a few more drinks and trivia, which we rocked at. Where else should we go? Well, how bout the Hardware Bar? Familiar to Mattandriver and Dorman??? Oui! So, it's a meat market. Immediately there's an "Italian" making his moves on the two of us and wants to know if were 'lesbian.' After much consideration on this question, we determine that we are in fact, lesbian wannabes, just to get rid of the greasy vulture. In case you're wondering, he didn't even bother to buy us a drink. Loser!
So, we circulate....and the band plays "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. To which Carnealian dances frantically. But Marie (not her real name) is sedate. So Carnealian see a cutie patootie and decides to say "I thought they didn't allow guys on the bar." Marie is comiserating with 60 year old basketball coaches while Carnealian is making time with the man of her dreams.
Marie decides it's time to go and she's driving (scary) so I have no choice. I must abandon the man of my dreams because departure is mandatory according to "the maniac," my driver.
Upon crossing the short unobstructed corner, Marie begins to stumble and fall flat on her face, keys spewing in every direction with local law enforcement looking onward. After a chuckle from our "finest" and a "are you o.k. ma'am" we were on our way. Eventhough the love of my life waits at the Hardware Bar for me.
Sad, but true.
As if this story wasn't sad enough, on our way to the car, a beggar stopped us asking for some change. He even produced an onion from his pocket as proof of his destitute state. We convinced him we spent all our money at the bar (which is fairly true) based on the fact that it was $13.00 for two drinks without the oral sex as a bonus.
Needless to say, I missed the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Marie. I will be going back to that bar every night for the rest of my life to find him. (Copa, Copacabana, the hottest spot north of Havana.)
So, we circulate....and the band plays "Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. To which Carnealian dances frantically. But Marie (not her real name) is sedate. So Carnealian see a cutie patootie and decides to say "I thought they didn't allow guys on the bar." Marie is comiserating with 60 year old basketball coaches while Carnealian is making time with the man of her dreams.
Marie decides it's time to go and she's driving (scary) so I have no choice. I must abandon the man of my dreams because departure is mandatory according to "the maniac," my driver.
Upon crossing the short unobstructed corner, Marie begins to stumble and fall flat on her face, keys spewing in every direction with local law enforcement looking onward. After a chuckle from our "finest" and a "are you o.k. ma'am" we were on our way. Eventhough the love of my life waits at the Hardware Bar for me.
Sad, but true.
As if this story wasn't sad enough, on our way to the car, a beggar stopped us asking for some change. He even produced an onion from his pocket as proof of his destitute state. We convinced him we spent all our money at the bar (which is fairly true) based on the fact that it was $13.00 for two drinks without the oral sex as a bonus.
Needless to say, I missed the opportunity of a lifetime thanks to Marie. I will be going back to that bar every night for the rest of my life to find him. (Copa, Copacabana, the hottest spot north of Havana.)
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Groundhog Day
It has been talked about before in blogland about repeating one single day from your life over and over again. Today was a little too realistic for me. You may remember about two weeks ago when I told you about my 101 year old great-aunt that passed away. She lived for a number of years (mostly not very happy ones) with her son-in-law. He was a gruff man of few words. It seemed as the years went on that the two of them were having a pissing match of sorts to see who would out live the other. So, when my great-aunt passed away, we thought it was a done deal.
Last Friday though we get a call from the family..."the son-in-law is dead." Well you know none of us could believe it. It was like the fire was taken out of him when my great-aunt died so what was the use in living anymore.
Today was the funeral. Held at the same time, same church, same people in attendance, same cemetery as two weeks ago. The weather was nowhere near as nice as it was two weeks ago. It was gray, windy and cold. The same words were spoken amongst those in attendance; "no more meeting like this," "thanks for coming," "he went so quickly," and so on. One thing that was significantly different was the overwhelming smell of flowers. The smell was inside my car, and it was outside at the cemetery. That smell always seems to get me like a punch in the gut. My mom used to swear that meant someone died or was about to die. Geesh, no more funerals please!!
So, there we stood where the mound of fresh dirt covered the grave of my aunt with the open space ready to receive its new arrival. In true family form however, the minute the preacher was done (and thank goodness she didn't do the 'ashes to ashes' verse because that always makes me laugh because I have to finish it with 'we know Major Tom's a junkie') my cousin walks away and returns with a case of beer to share because his father always told him he wanted beer at his funeral. So, there the family stood in the cold, gray day drinking a toast to our dearly departed.
We all returned to the church for the fat filled, carbo-licious dinner which made me practically comatose for the long drive home.
Last Friday though we get a call from the family..."the son-in-law is dead." Well you know none of us could believe it. It was like the fire was taken out of him when my great-aunt died so what was the use in living anymore.
Today was the funeral. Held at the same time, same church, same people in attendance, same cemetery as two weeks ago. The weather was nowhere near as nice as it was two weeks ago. It was gray, windy and cold. The same words were spoken amongst those in attendance; "no more meeting like this," "thanks for coming," "he went so quickly," and so on. One thing that was significantly different was the overwhelming smell of flowers. The smell was inside my car, and it was outside at the cemetery. That smell always seems to get me like a punch in the gut. My mom used to swear that meant someone died or was about to die. Geesh, no more funerals please!!
So, there we stood where the mound of fresh dirt covered the grave of my aunt with the open space ready to receive its new arrival. In true family form however, the minute the preacher was done (and thank goodness she didn't do the 'ashes to ashes' verse because that always makes me laugh because I have to finish it with 'we know Major Tom's a junkie') my cousin walks away and returns with a case of beer to share because his father always told him he wanted beer at his funeral. So, there the family stood in the cold, gray day drinking a toast to our dearly departed.
We all returned to the church for the fat filled, carbo-licious dinner which made me practically comatose for the long drive home.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Life is Good!
In my circle of friends there has been much talk about karma recently. You know when someone does something to you that was unfair, not nice, etc. and you can just sit back and say (in the infamous words of John Lennon) "Instant Karma's gonna get you." Ah, the feeling of satisfaction. It has become increasingly apparent to me that I must have done some good things in my life. I am perpetually surrounded by wonderful people. Amazingly, the not so wonderful people that I feel sorry for and become friends with seem to disappear all in good time.
I have taken a couple of hits this month but have been kept afloat when I was sure I was going to drown thanks to my wonderful friends and family. I just want to say thanks to all of you. And at the end of all this, there's going to be one kick-ass party!
thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Meet Me At The Cemet'ry Gates
Today I got to visit some cemeteries I've never seen before. I have a friend that also really enjoys cemeteries and knows where all these little obscure places are. I definitely saw some stone work I've never seen before at least in this area.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Free Joe!
Starbucks is sponsoring a National Coffee Break today. They're giving away free coffee between 10-12:00 EST. Does anyone drink coffee during those hours?? But hey, it's free!I'm guessing however there will be no price break on my $3.98 non-fat, decaf, no-whip mocha this morning .
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Ring of Fire
I slept in way too late today. I'm sure I'll be up until at least midnight probably staring at the ceiling and wondering how I'm going to be able to stay at work tomorrow.
I did four constructive things today. Got gas, went to the gym, went to the grocery store and rented some movies.
I just finished watching Walk the Line. I'm even more in love with Joaquin Phoenix than before. I also got Garden State and From Hell, thanks to a friends suggestion. Don't think I'll watch the other two till later this week.
I should be studying for my French test tomorrow. But I feel pretty confident I know the material. It's when that paper hits my desk that everything seems to leave my brain.
The weather men lied about todays weather. It was rainy and cloudy most of the day. Which was another good reason to stay in bed till noon and do pretty much nothing.
Hope you all had a great weekend. Did I mention I have tickets to see JIMMY BUFFET!!
I did four constructive things today. Got gas, went to the gym, went to the grocery store and rented some movies.
I just finished watching Walk the Line. I'm even more in love with Joaquin Phoenix than before. I also got Garden State and From Hell, thanks to a friends suggestion. Don't think I'll watch the other two till later this week.
I should be studying for my French test tomorrow. But I feel pretty confident I know the material. It's when that paper hits my desk that everything seems to leave my brain.
The weather men lied about todays weather. It was rainy and cloudy most of the day. Which was another good reason to stay in bed till noon and do pretty much nothing.
Hope you all had a great weekend. Did I mention I have tickets to see JIMMY BUFFET!!
Saturday, March 11, 2006
It's a Beautiful Day!
Happy Saturday! The weather predicted for this weekend is fabulous! Yesterday, it was partly sunny and about 75 degrees. Today is supposed to be about the same. I already have some laundry hanging on the line drying. I also plan on doing some yard work this afternoon. There's lots of leaves left over from the winter, as well as sticks etc. that need picked up. While I was out putting the laundry on the line, I picked up some trash in the yard and found a dollar!
AND, my friend Stacey and I landed ourselves a couple of Jimmy Buffet tickets for this summer. Tickets went on sale this a.m. and by 10:02 EST, we had the tickets. Now, we'll need to find a hotel room....Lord knows there will be no driving after that show!
It's only 10:35 a.m. and it's been a beautiful, lucky, wonderful day so far.
AND, my friend Stacey and I landed ourselves a couple of Jimmy Buffet tickets for this summer. Tickets went on sale this a.m. and by 10:02 EST, we had the tickets. Now, we'll need to find a hotel room....Lord knows there will be no driving after that show!
It's only 10:35 a.m. and it's been a beautiful, lucky, wonderful day so far.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
I'm the Tax Man
I am in LOVE with Turbo Tax! Yes, you've heard it folks for the first time ever in life, I've admitted that I like something that has to do with numbers!
Recently, I had several people recommend getting Turbo Tax so I decided what the heck. It was $40 at Target but I thought maybe I'd be getting a whopping refund because of using it so $40 wasn't any big deal. Really, I didn't pay anything for Turbo Tax because I used a gift card I had from Christmas to pay for it! Double yay!!
This program is so easy to use, it prompts you at every stage, tells you what kind of deductions you may be eligible for etc.
I know you're all dying to know...yes, my previous calculations of actually oweing the IRS money were in fact, wrong. (GASP!) I'm getting a handsome refund, it's bigger than a bread box!
Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I'm gonna take ya, Bermuda, Bahamas, come on pretty mamma, Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go down to Kokomo?
Recently, I had several people recommend getting Turbo Tax so I decided what the heck. It was $40 at Target but I thought maybe I'd be getting a whopping refund because of using it so $40 wasn't any big deal. Really, I didn't pay anything for Turbo Tax because I used a gift card I had from Christmas to pay for it! Double yay!!
This program is so easy to use, it prompts you at every stage, tells you what kind of deductions you may be eligible for etc.
I know you're all dying to know...yes, my previous calculations of actually oweing the IRS money were in fact, wrong. (GASP!) I'm getting a handsome refund, it's bigger than a bread box!
Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I'm gonna take ya, Bermuda, Bahamas, come on pretty mamma, Key Largo, Montego, baby why don't we go down to Kokomo?
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Internal Retard Service
Today I had to call the IRS. Something that, if you have to do it, you dread it. I had a question, and I don't want to pay some ridiculous amount of money for some numbers geek to figure them out for me in record time.
So, I got through to the first operator relatively easily. She was pleasant and forwarded my call to the next person who was also very nice and willing to answer my (probably) silly question. There was a futher question that I had and thusly had to be forwarded to yet one other person. It seems they may have a quota of only being able to answer one question per call.
The next person I was connected to was IRS employee number 7511743 as he introduced himself. First, it was apparent, he only spoke one dialect of English and that was Ebonics. Second thing was that he made it a point to say that he just asked me a question which I didn't respond to. OK, that began to annoy me a little. I rephrased my question which he finally understood and he made it sound like I asked him for the color of the sky.
Apparently the IRS doesn't much care if their "customer service" folk actually provide good customer service. I guess they figure we're going to have to give them repeat business whether we like it or not, whether they treat people like crap or not, or whether they have complete illiterate retards answering the questions from the general public.
To boot, by my calculations, I owe the IRS over $1,000.00 this year. That cannot be right. However, my calculations have been known to be wrong in the past. Maybe I should get the calculator out again.
So, I got through to the first operator relatively easily. She was pleasant and forwarded my call to the next person who was also very nice and willing to answer my (probably) silly question. There was a futher question that I had and thusly had to be forwarded to yet one other person. It seems they may have a quota of only being able to answer one question per call.
The next person I was connected to was IRS employee number 7511743 as he introduced himself. First, it was apparent, he only spoke one dialect of English and that was Ebonics. Second thing was that he made it a point to say that he just asked me a question which I didn't respond to. OK, that began to annoy me a little. I rephrased my question which he finally understood and he made it sound like I asked him for the color of the sky.
Apparently the IRS doesn't much care if their "customer service" folk actually provide good customer service. I guess they figure we're going to have to give them repeat business whether we like it or not, whether they treat people like crap or not, or whether they have complete illiterate retards answering the questions from the general public.
To boot, by my calculations, I owe the IRS over $1,000.00 this year. That cannot be right. However, my calculations have been known to be wrong in the past. Maybe I should get the calculator out again.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Rest in Peace Gentle Soul
The call came just before 10:00 p.m. It was one of those calls that you only get when you are fast asleep, the kind that only come at night, the kind that usually come in the dead of winter.
"Hi, this is Jeff." And in my sleep filled mind I was thinking "was he trying to reach me on my cell and I just didn't hear it?" No, he continued talking and what he had to say made no sense. "Nanna died." "I don't know who that is." And so the conversation went.
As he continued to talk, my mind began to clear and the pieces started falling into place. "She died this evening at home. The coroner came and so did the police." I'd like to think that at 101 years old, all that wouldn't have been necessary.
I got to thinking a few years ago we came to town, picked her up and took her to that place on the hill. The place with the beautiful view and a few hundred souls. There we stood, the three of us in the middle of this place talking about the people there; sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers. "That lady there, I'd just as soon piss on her grave." she said. Apparently, this was not a very nice woman to have provoked a comment like that from my Great Aunt who only reserved comments like that for those that truly deserved it.
It's at the top of this hill that overlooks the valley, down on the markers of the Revolutionary war dead whose stones are carved in German and covered with a few hundred years of lichen that she will rest finally besided her husband and her daughters who she has missed dearly since they day they left this earth.
"Hi, this is Jeff." And in my sleep filled mind I was thinking "was he trying to reach me on my cell and I just didn't hear it?" No, he continued talking and what he had to say made no sense. "Nanna died." "I don't know who that is." And so the conversation went.
As he continued to talk, my mind began to clear and the pieces started falling into place. "She died this evening at home. The coroner came and so did the police." I'd like to think that at 101 years old, all that wouldn't have been necessary.
I got to thinking a few years ago we came to town, picked her up and took her to that place on the hill. The place with the beautiful view and a few hundred souls. There we stood, the three of us in the middle of this place talking about the people there; sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers. "That lady there, I'd just as soon piss on her grave." she said. Apparently, this was not a very nice woman to have provoked a comment like that from my Great Aunt who only reserved comments like that for those that truly deserved it.
It's at the top of this hill that overlooks the valley, down on the markers of the Revolutionary war dead whose stones are carved in German and covered with a few hundred years of lichen that she will rest finally besided her husband and her daughters who she has missed dearly since they day they left this earth.
Imagine you are standing on the
seashore. A ship at your side spreads her
white sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object
of beauty and strength and you stand
and watch her until at length she hangs like a
speck of white cloud just where the sea and
sky meet and mingle with each other:
"There, she is gone."
Gone where? gone from your sight, that
is all. She is just as large in hull and mast
and spar as when she left your side and just
as able to bear her load of living freight to
the place of her destination. Her diminished
size is in you, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at
your side says, "She's gone," there are
eyes watching for her coming and
other voices ready to take up the glad shout,
"Here she comes!" And this is what we call
dying-this is life!
Paul S. McElroy
Friday, March 03, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
An 80's Thursday Thirteen!
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