Today I was 15 again

But I wasn't wearing braces this time around.
Thank goodness.
And I have to tell you, it was fun!
I took someone back in time with me too, a friend from high school.
Now you're probably wondering how and why we traveled back in time, and we did it for him:
And the encounter we had was via a DVD -- my friend Cindy and I got together to watch this movie:
Sooner or Later, with Sexy Rex Smith.
(Lucky Cindy even got to see him in concert in 1978.)
Does anyone remember watching this on tv in 1978?
I do, and I also remember braiding my wet hair at night and using the elastics from the orthodontist to hold the braids in place, all so I could have poufy hair in the morning.
This is way back in the dark ages of hair styling, before crimping irons.
And I also remember wishing I could find some 17 year old guy who looked like Rex Smith who didn't mind that I was 13.
Yeah, well that didn't happen.
Only in my fertile imagination.
Cindy and I had a good time together, just watching the movie and thinking about a time when we had our entire lives in front of us and they were wide open with possibilities.
All we (I) had to do was get out of this small, rinky-dink town.
Cindy never left and here I am back again.
Spending Friday night sleeping in the gym of my old high school, and Sunday watching a movie from when I was a freshman/sophmore in high school.
Man, life is cyclical, isn't it?
The biggest difference?
Those Calvin Klein jeans I keep that I will never fit into again.
Well, a girl can always keep on dreaming, and I guess I will.

....and now I'm passing it on to you

I survived the Brownie lock in.
I misrepresented the event when I said it was "Girl Scouts."
Yes, they are technically Girl Scouts, but go a few grades younger and think of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders.
Anyway, it went off without a hitch, even though my hackles were up at the beginning.
The supposed organizer of the event came into the gym just before opening ceremonies and shouted out to everyone, "How are you guys doing tonight?!?"
Grrr...
She then said, "Are you guys ready to have some fun?!?"
Arrgh...
A gym filled with 75 Brownie Girl Scouts and not one "guy" in sight, except for the one dad sitting over in the corner.
Hello!!!
Even my daughter looked at me and said, "We're not guys."
Well, she's been trained so I expect that kind of awareness and reaction from her.
I understand that saying "guys" to people is truly an American colloquialism, but we really need to pay attention to how we use it.
To my leader's credit, when she began speaking to the group at large, she referred to them as either "ladies" or "girls" which is what they are.
I mentioned how irritating I find this to our other leader and she nodded in agreement and said she had never thought about it before.
I looked at her and said, "Now you will, forever and always. I have passed this on to you."
She looked at me and replied, "Thanks."
She's welcome.

TGIF

And can you believe this post is number 189?
Actually at the end of the month I will have been blogging for a year.
Kind of hard to believe how quickly time passes.
Or as Patty Griffin would say in my new favorite song "Trapeze" from her new CD "Children Running Through":

Some people don't care if they live or they die
Some people want to know what it feels like to fly
Gather their courage and they give it a try
Fall under the wheels of a time goin' by

Anyway, thank goodness this week passed quickly, because I can't wait for the weekend.
Actually I can't wait for Saturday morning at about 0700, because Friday evening I have to spend at a lock-in at the high school with the Girl Scouts.
Won't that be fun, eh?
Once the lights go out, maybe it will be a good thing I finally got around to purchasing these things:
I haven't used them yet, but in a dark gym with 150 or so young girls, perhaps now is the time.
So to all, have a nice weekend, or as my French friend Danielle would say, "Passez un bon temps!"
And belated birthday wishes go out to my good friend in North Carolina!

Please Mr. Postman

Remember that song?
I'm of the age when it's The Carpenters version I think of, but who did it originally?
Anyone?
Well I know that it was The Marvelettes, but I only know that because I looked it up.
So the postman, or the UPS man, or the international mail delivery person delivered a package for me and look where it came from:I knew it was going to be good, because it felt nice and squishy and my first thought was...YARN!!
Look what was inside:
I just don't think my camera took good enough pictures so that you too can appreciate the hand-painted beauty of this yarn:
It is luscious, like a cold Concord grape in the summertime.
Okay, I don't want to eat the yarn, but I do like to rub it up against my cheek, and yes, I will knit with it.
Let me tell you why this package is so great.
Well first of all, it came from my Favorite Color Swap partner Chrissie.
And she's a smart, smart girl, because she is a very good enabler.
She not only sent me the yarn to knit either Birch or Kiri, but she sent me the needles too.
And she sent along a pattern to use with my fourth skein of yarn in order to make lovely lace bookmarks (now how does she know I like to read, I ask you) and she sent along the needles for that project too!
See, she knows I want to knit lace but am afraid.
So she has enabled me.
What a great swap partner.
A big, huge thank you to Chrissie!
Now I just need to get my act together and finish purchasing my goodies for my swap partner.
I hope she likes it -- you know that's what is hard about swaps, you worry that you could be buying more or different things, and you hope that they like what they send you.
Not everyone is simple like me, I'm just happy to get anything.
You know how that is.
And before I came to work this morning I did make sure that my lovely new yarn was put away from these little innocents:
Don't let them fool you.
They're Yarn Cats.

There was a pod next to my bed this morning

We're in the middle of changing our ISP, so unfortunately my capability to blog is hindered.
The situation will be rectified tonight, so I will be back with more snarky comments, mediocre knitting, pictures of sexy men, and news about my chocolate binges.
Tschuss!

Some things are too funny not to share

I'm sorry, but this is just too funny to pass up, so I must share!
J. Harvey from A Socialite's Life is just too hilarious!
And clever!
In a post entitled "Howard K. Stern is sitting in the passenger side of his best friends ride trying to holla at me" he writes:

God, what a boll weevil this man is. Howard K. Stern admitted on the stand yesterday that Anna Nicole paid for everything.

"Under grilling from lawyers and Judge Seidlin, Stern admitted that Smith paid the $950 rent on his apartment, and that she gave him cash to buy personal items such as shoes."

But wasn't he her "lawyer"? Couldn't he have billed for that? Shoes? You let your woman buy you shoes? I mean, I've been a kept man before, but at least I got a cover job down at the Dairy Queen so no one could say anything. And I pretended that I was able to afford my Coach flip-flops because I was slaving away over the crunch coat and making bitches the perfect Blizzard. Now, you're up on the stand admitting to everyone that some high bitch kept you as a flunkie and made you her man-servant and bought you a pair of Payless once in awhile to give you the impression you were earning your keep. Good lord, you define "sniveling".

Is that not the funniest thing you've ever read?
A cover job down at the Dairy Queen...I'm still laughing...

Things are looking up

For one thing, it's Thursday.
Tomorrow is Friday! Yea!
DN1 came out of the hospital yesterday afternoon, and in response to queries about why she was admitted, unfortunately she does not want to be known as a poster child for a piercing gone bad.
But I think she may become one anyway.
So let it be said that if you get things pierced (like ear cartilage), infections can happen.
Thanks for all your concern, now she's back to her manic life and catching up on schoolwork.
And as DH brought her home yesterday afternoon, we spent the first part of the evening eating crappy Chinese food (and not from the place that tried to blow up the block with gasoline) but another restaurant.
As an aside I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as "good" Chinese food in this area.
While we were eating our Chinese we watched this that came in the mail yesterday from Amazon:
I enjoyed it, and at this point when I watch a Christopher Guest film it's like watching a group of good friends entertain you, and you look at who they were in other movies and who they are playing in the new one. Somehow that doesn't sound as eloquent as I'd like it to, but I think you know what I mean. It's all good.
After it was done I went upstairs to watch some tv and knit but got distracted by watching this:
It was pretty damn motivating, and I loved watching the footage from Quantico and thinking about running on those trails.
I miss them.
Oh, and Rick, I thought about you as I saw the DIs pushing the Candidates through the Quigley - they should have filmed you doing that, because I know you are a true ball buster.

Sometimes it takes more than chocolate

My cold is still lingering but winding down, DN2 is just about over her cold and flu and is finally back to sleeping almost normally, but DN1 still sits in a hospital bed.
Hopefully she'll be out today, but if a doctor comes in at 0630 and tells you the swelling is not going down the way they expected and they'll have to figure another course of action, you can bet your sweet bippy she'll be in that damn bed for another day.
None of us are loving it.
Every class and lab she misses puts her that much farther behind and I have a presentation to prepare for class on Monday which I haven't even started yet.
Anyway, I did buy this last night at the drug store on our way back home from the hospital:
Yes, sometimes it does take more than chocolate, but I'll start with this and let you know if I need something stronger.

P.S. Does anyone else notice that my photography skills totally suck when taking a picture of what's inside my handbag, but when it comes to photographing a bag of chocolate crunchiness the picture is completely clear and in focus? Amazing.

I'm channeling Monty Hall

Some people think I carry too much stuff around.
My kids do.
And my DH does too.
But really, I don't think I carry all that much around in my handbag.
Take a look at this.
Does it look full?
Yes, it is.
Does it look heavy?
Well, yes it is.
But move the knitting and it's not so bad.
Also, if you need something, by golly I've got it.
Last night we were visiting DN1 who is currently in the hospital (long story, can't violate HIPAA regulations, but let's hope she's out soon).
(Which hospital? The one that rhymes with Wrong, right Jean and Sheri?)
Anyway, you know how food is in a hospital, not exactly haute cuisine.
So before we left I knew she'd be sitting there by herself feeling like crap so I asked her if she wanted something, like a chocolate bar.
She said sure, so I began to dig.
And my family sat there amazed at everything that came out of my bag.
This is some of what is in the main compartment:
And these are some of the things in the small pocket on the inside:

(Kat, you'll appreciate the MCRA Life Member pin - who knows how that got in there, or how long it's been in there.)
And sorry for the blurry photos, apparently the DTs are kicking in.
And for those who asked (Major Knitter and Angelika), believe it or not the yarn I'm using for Rachael's Good Ole' Cabled Scarf is charcoal - I think the light hit it funny and it looked blue. But here it is in all its blurry glory:

Please note the Lantern Moon needles, received as a gift from the lovely Major Knitter 2 years ago.
So anyway, back to my bag.
Why do I carry so much stuff?
I guess I watched too many episodes of Let's Make a Deal when I was younger.
I'll be ready if anyone ever says, "I'll give $500 to anyone who has a spoon in their handbag."
Will you?

This algorithm was obviously not developed by Charlie from "Numb3rs"

I was checking out the Little Professor's blog and she noted that this Gender Genie continued to think that, based upon her writing, she was a he.
So I decided to check it out myself.
And look at what it said:

Words: 54

(NOTE: The genie works best on texts of more than 500 words.) -- (My note -- yeah, yeah, whatever)

Female Score: 108
Male Score: 135

The Gender Genie thinks the author of this passage is: male!

Just for clarification, I used my previous post wherein I called myself a girl and discussed a threesome with two men!!
And knitting!
Hello!!!
Your algorithm sucks.
Where's Charlie?

What provides comfort

Can you tell me what these three items have in common?

They are all items to provide me comfort since I am beginning to get a cold.
What better way to spend a Sunday but in bed with your knitting and Ioann Gruffudd and Robert Lindsay.
Well, it's not quite a threesome since they're on tv, but a girl can always hope, right?

Look what I have

See what I have here.
A jar of recalled peanut butter.
Guess I'll turn it in and get some money back for it.
But I really wanted the peanut butter.
Damn that Salmonella.

A Classic

Last night was cold.
What do you do on a night when you shouldn't be out driving?
Go to the video store.
Of course.
So I rented a classic.
Something I haven't seen in Years!
But I wanted to see it again, just because.
And I told SN2 that it wasn't a great movie, and it's really only good until about halfway through.
Not true.
And he called me on that too.
He said, "Mom, why did you say this was only good until halfway through?"
I responded, "Because it's been a long time since I've seen it. Excuse my memory lapse."
My sense of humor has apparently changed - and I'm glad to see that he enjoys some of the crazy, stupid, warped things that I do.
What was the classic?
Take off, hoser, if you don't know this one, eh.

Snow Day!

Snow, glorious snow.
And I'm off to work.
But I thought you might like to see what I had to pull my car out into this morning (and what the backyard looks like).
These photos were taken at 7:45 - it's going to be much worse.
And to all my friends who live in the South and insist on telling me about their temperatures - stop it.
I get the point. ^_^
But -- tell your kids that mine don't have school today.
They may be asking you to move!
Enjoy and be safe.

It's coming tonight

Snow.
Big snow.
For us, at least.
In the Oswego area they've reached over 12 feet.
Amazing.
We're just expected to get between 5 to 8 inches tonight and tomorrow between 8 and 12.
A mere pittance, right?
I'm looking forward to it.

Looking out and looking in

What you see when you look out the windows of my house:


What you would have seen on Sunday if you had been looking in:








Some of my cousins came to tea.
Along with my mother and one of my aunts.
With our family when you tell them what time it will end, it will always be exceeded by at least an hour.
I belong to a family of talkers.
And there were a lot of them present yesterday.
Which is great, because I really enjoy their company.
We'll definitely be doing this again.

It doesn't take much thought

When you wake up to this:


You have to buy this:

Why I Read the Police Blotter

Here's a police report from an incident that occurred in town on January 26:

Police and Fire Department personnel responded to a report of strange odors in two Main Street businesses at about 4 p.m. Emergency responders discovered that the occupants of the business at XX Main Street had been attempting to fill a kerosene powered heater with gasoline, and further, a natural gas leak existed in the same building. Had the callers not notified emergency services, and quick-thinking responders not identified the problem, a serious explosion may have resulted. Police arrested Johnny X., owner of the Kitchen Express, on charges of Reckless Endangerment, 2nd Degree, and Reckless Endangerment of Property, both Misdemeanors. Johnny X. was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town Court, and the building was red-tagged by Code Enforcement.

Are you just as horrified as I am?
Okay, well since you don't know where I live, let me set the scenario: this particular restaurant is in the middle of a block containing approximately 10 businesses with apartments and a dance studio above. Typical old town-style buildings.
This guy is an idiot!
And I went into the pizza place on Monday that is two doors down from this restaurant and he said they could smell the gasoline in there!
I still can't get over these actions by a future Darwin Award nominee, so I figured I would share.

Northern Virginia Barbie Dolls

This is too funny.
And it's a joke, folks.
If you don't like it, stop reading now.

Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls
for Northern Virginia areas.

Loudoun County Barbie
This princess Barbie is sold only at the Dulles Town Center or Tysons
Corner II. She comes with an assortment of Louis Vuitton Handbags, a
brand new Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a way
overpriced house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift.
Workaholic Ken in High Tech/Attorney/CPA/M.D. attire sold only in
conjunction with the augmented Barbie version.

Fairfax County Barbie
The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar
Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time
occupation. She's currently taking Spanish lessons to get along with her
neighbors. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

Manassas Park Barbie
This recently paroled Barbie comes in overalls or Wal-Mart sweat suit
with racing strip and "Too Cute" embroidered on front. Accessories
include a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted
windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and
must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills)...unless
you are a cop, then we don't know what you are talking about.

McLean Barbie
This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer
H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club
membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private
School Skipper. You won't be able to afford any of them.

Woodbridge Barbie
This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too
small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has
a six-pack of Bud light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit
over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken's butt when she is drunk.
Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper
sticker absolutely free.

Ashburn Barbie
This Botox Barbie comes dressed to impress in leopard print pants and
bleached blonde hair. She comes ready to party with a cosmopolitan in
her right hand and a bottle of Valium in her left. Overpriced condo sold
separately.

Dumfries Trailer Home Barbie
This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own
high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased
beer-gutted Ken out of Warrior Barbie's house. Her ensemble includes
low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through
halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.

Dupont Circle Barbie
This doll is made of actual tofu. She has long straight brown hair,
arch-less feet, hairy armpits, no makeup and Birkenstocks with white
socks. She prefers that you call her Willow . She does not want or need
a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Cloverdale Barbies and the optional Subaru wagon, you get a rainbow flag bumper sticker for free.

Route 1 Barbie
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional
accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy
were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of
the infant.

Thanks to Tracy for this.

What The Clash know

"The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is burning and I, I live by the river"

Okay, actually I live by a canal and a lake, but yes, the ice age is here.
I would have posted over the weekend, but it's too damn cold to do much of anything.
Winter brings out the best in all of us - at least the part that is prone to hibernation.
And don't ask me about the Super Bowl - I didn't watch it.
Sorry.
I watched a movie and knit on my hat instead.
And charged my camera battery.
Soon there will be pictures to accompany my inane chatter.
Yippee!
Bundle up, kiddles!

Oh to be in Punxsutawney

It's Groundhog Day.
A day for monumental things to happen.
First and foremost, will the shadow be seen or not?
I know this is a day we always use to predict the remaining length of winter, but it has always seemed to me that we're going to have another 6 weeks of it (at least) regardless of what Phil and his progeny see.
So you can be entertained and watch the irascible Bill Murray relive his life over and over.
Did you ever think about how long a period of time he was there repeating the day? Long enough to learn how to play piano and do many other things to a high level of proficiency. My prediction: it had to be about 3 years.
When I went to SNCO Academy in '93, this movie came out and it prompted many discussions about which day you could live over and over, if you had a choice.
I think it's hard to chose, and sometimes not even necessary.
As Freak says, "You don't need a time machine if you know how to remember."

Be sure to perform your civic duty

The 7th Annual Weblog Award nominees have been announced, so go vote!

More VB for the B-day Girl

Well, girl is hardly a word you would use when talking about my mother.
She turned 75 yesterday.
Last year I hosted, well planned (and paid for) a surprise birthday party with all the cousins, aunts and my one remaining uncle.
This year I just had her over for dinner.
And I bought her a Vera Bradley bag.
Let it be known that this is one craze I am not entering into.
But I figured my mother would love to have one as a status symbol kind of thing.

It is, however, a retiring color, so we are a bit out of style, but honestly, who cares!
And she was pretty thrilled to get it.
Well I thought she was.
I'll see how many comments I get from the ladies around town who know my mother (and know that she talks incessantly) - that will be the true test.
Now, if I were to buy a Vera Bradley bag this is what I would like for myself, something simple and classic:

But for $79 I think I'd rather have something in leather.

Sometimes there's God so quickly

No, this post is not about religion.
Nor will it be an homage to Tennessee Williams.
It is about the small things
This morning as I was pulling into my mother's driveway in order to drop off DN2 a Boz Scaggs song came on the radio.
It was "Lido Shuffle" and I used to have that album (probably still do, up in my attic).
I had to get the pouty girl out of the car and into my mother's house so by the time I came back out the song was over.
Bummer.
Because I haven't heard it in ages.
So I begin my drive to work and start flipping through the stations rather quickly because I really hate to listen to people talk in the morning, especially on the radio.
I found a station where a good song was finishing and then the next song started.
Do you know what it was?
"Lido Shuffle" by Boz Scaggs.
So to quote Blanche DuBois, "Sometimes there's God so quickly."

Can I get a refund for time wasted?

Last night while trying to struggle through a chapter of Thomas Carlyle's text On Heroes, Hero Worship, and the Heroic in History, I turned on the tv.
After flipping through channels I realized that The Soup was on E, so I watched it.
Now that is a good show, it makes me laugh and keeps me as up-to-date as I need to be with regards to other television shows.
But then I made the big mistake.
I kept it on E after The Soup ended.
Intrigued, I decided to stay and watch High Maintenance 90210.
Are these shows for real?
Are people really this selfish, vacuous and downright stupid? Not to mention afflicted with drinking problems?
It was like watching a train wreck, problem is you don't know how much is real and how much is scripted.
And no, I don't think I'll be watching it again, but I would like to have that 1/2 hour back in order to do something productive, like watch Weird Al videos.

Irrelevant Question #532

Why is it that I can barely drag my lazy butt out of bed on mornings when I have to go to work, but on a non-workday I'm up at 5:37?

Lake Effect

I shouldn't have complained about the temperature yesterday.
After I posted that it was 15 degrees, the temperature started to fall.
By the time I left work (at 4:05 Jean and Sheri!) it was 10, and then when I went to PetSmart it was 4, and that is where we're holding this morning.
4 degrees Fahrenheit.
I don't even want to think what it is for Celsius because when it involves a negative number it's best just not to think about it at all.
And we're getting the lake effect from both lakes this morning. Yikes.
Actually this is not true, I just watched the news, it's only from Lake Ontario, but the wind chill factor is -8. We are expecting about 3 inches of snow today and a couple more this weekend. Remind me again why I wanted to move back here!?!
Some joker on the tv's Wake Up show this morning played Journey's song "Wheel in the Sky."
For those unfamiliar with the lyrics it begins, "Winter is here, again, oh Lord..."
I finally got some knitting done last night because the best thing to do in my big, drafty, hugely expensive home to heat is to sit in bed and watch tv and knit. Or read. Whatever floats your boat.
So last night I busted out my mitten I've been working on.
Have you ever committed a large amount of time to a project and think, (1) this doesn't look much like the picture, and (2), perhaps I should have swatched?
Well, perhaps I should have, because it just seems to me the space where the thumb hole is going to be shouldn't be located up at the base of my index finger. Hmmm.
Am I going to rip it out?
Oh no, I'll see it through.
The cuff may reach to my elbow just so I can make them fit but I'll keep on plugging along because I'm stupid that way.
Stay warm!

15 Degrees and holding

Not much going on around here.
It is 15 degrees outside with more snow in the forecast.
So evenings are spent hibernating, with lots of reading being done.
I finished Shane, it was lovely, and now I'm reading The Princess Bride.
If you've only seen the movie - which is great - go get the book - it is definitely a classic.
And in honor of the snow, I leave you with pictures from 1911 when Niagara Falls froze.

Large Amounts of People

I went to class last night half expecting a small, intimate group of people, specifically six other grad students, and I found that the undergrad and grad classes had been combined.
When I got to the room I thought, "This can't be my class, this room with this large amount of people," but indeed it was.
Seeing as there are about thirty undergrads, added to the seven grad students this makes for a very full classroom.
But it was a good time.
And we went around and introduced ourselves and said what our favorite toy was from childhood.
So who got to go first with the introductions?
The fat, old lady by the door.
For those of you not keeping track, that would be me.
After I said who I was and what my major was (non-matric grad student and here for fun!), I cleared my throat and said, "My favorite toy from childhood, which is obviously much farther back than anyone else in the room..."
And it's true.
I am the old lady in the class, and it's kind of funny.
Because the professor is talking about when she played with Ninja Turtles.
And I'm thinking, okay, while you were playing with them, I was buying them for my kids.
But really it was all good, and we have some assignments to do on the internet in addition to our discussions in class. I'm used to internet learning, which is how I finished my undergrad and grad degrees.
I'm already working my way through all the required texts before thinking about what I want to write about.
Reading Shane now and I must see the movie because I never have, believe it or not, only the clip where the boy yells, "Shane, come back! Come back Shane!"
For the record, that is not in the text, I looked for it already.
Again, another first for me - working ahead.
It should be a good semester.
As long as I can stay organized.

Long Mondays

First off, thank you all for your thoughts on whether I should take a class or not.
I would have to think that my mind had already been made up for me as soon as I saw the book list.
In other words, yes, I signed up for it.
And here is my rationale:

I will not be changing jobs in the middle of the semester like I did last semester.

My hours at my current job are shorter than in my previous one (although it's a lower position, right Sheri and Jean?)

My commute to work is 4 minutes vice 30.

My commute from home to classroom is 1 1/2 blocks.

I will not be in charge of Girl Scout cookie sales this semester.

I am already organized for the semester and thinking ahead to what paper I'll write (15 pages) and what picture book I'll discuss in class (30 minute presentation) at the end of the semester.

And as my friend Rick advised me, take classes in the winter months and save the summers for the family.

That's farther than I was last semester at this time. I used to leave work at 5:00 or just prior and zoom home only to zoom to class. So Caroline, your words of advice were certainly appreciated and spot on, but I ended up deciding to register anyway.
Why?
Well, because as Laura put it so succinctly, I'm a learning junkie. If I'm not in a class I feel as if I'll be missing out. Plus, I don't have to pay for anything but the books and I got those on Friday for $50. Now that's a nice price to pay for textbooks you have to admit.
Anyway I've read the syllabus already and for the first week we have to read some passages from Plato, John Locke and some others regarding the importance of education for children. And I've already read Plato and Locke for my other master's program, so we're old friends.
So I'm set.
Wish me luck - class starts tonight and goes from 6:00-9:15 so it's going to be a long Monday.

Genetics is a funny thing

My brother T called me yesterday.
There he is on the left-hand side of the picture.
Oh and look, there's DH back there pretending he knows how to grill.
Anyway, he had just finished talking with my mother and as he claims to be the favorite one he didn't want to sully his standing in our mother's eyes by having to ask her (1) how old she is going to be, and (2) the actual date of her birthday.
He's close, because he's shooting within the general vicinity, but he's like many men - he just can't remember.
Unless it has to do with the date of a particular football game.
So he calls me to get the info.
About the birthday, not football.
He can pretend to be the favorite all he wants, but I'm the only girl and that alone earns many more cool points.
And also allows me to inherit our great-grandmother's china and crystal.
Well, and her fat ass too but that's a different story.
So we got to talking and he had said he read my blog awhile ago.
He also admitted that he can't remember how to get back to it.
Now he and I have not lived in the same house in over 25 years.
He moved out West (the real West, not just Western NY State) in 1980 or 1981 - I can't remember exactly.
We really have only seen each other a few times since then - like maybe three or so.
It's not that we don't like each other, it's just that I was out allowing the government to pay for me to live abroad in exchange for giving them my body and soul 24/7.
I tell you this because it is important to my story, essentially to set up the fact that although we may have grown up together we really have not been around each other much in our adult years.
Although at the age of 43 I still bear the scar on my pinky finger where he ran over it with his ice skate when I was 8, not to mention the numerous mental scars to my psyche concerning the existence of vampires and werewolves.
Well he read the post in my blog about six weird things and he told me that he too likes his eggs hot, hot, hot. We continued to talk and found out that we share many similarities when it comes to the consumption of food, beyond the fact that we both like to eat it.
Obviously.
But he eats his food one item at a time as well, vegetables first, always, unless of course it is a meal with french fries, then they come first.
So I thought it was kind of cool to find out that I am not the only strange one in the family.
Genetics is indeed a very funny thing.

J'en connais

I've been thinking about this for over a month.
I don't know what started it, but something did.
And because I am an inveterate listmaker, I felt compelled to compile this one, so here it is.

The 10 Songs I Never Get Tired of Hearing

1. "Down by the River"
Neil Young

2. "Hole Hearted"
Extreme

3. "Solisbury Hill"
Peter Gabriel

4. "Black"
Pearl Jam

5. "Yes, Anastasia"
Tori Amos

6. "Gloria"
Laura Branigan

7. "Don't Shed a Tear"
Paul Carrack

8. "Hear You Me"
Jimmy Eat World

9. "Windy"
The Association

10. "Northern Lights"
Renaissance

Honorable Mention:

"Tempted"
Squeeze

"Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)"
Squeeze

"Ballad of Sir Alexander"
Zach Nelson

Don't consider this a Meme, but I would be interested to see what others have on their list. That is if you've ever given it any thought.
No pressure now.
^_^

Decisions, decisions, decisions

Today is the last day to register for classes without incurring a late registration fee.
This is important because I haven't yet registered for a class.
And I swore I wasn't going to.
But then I looked at the books for a particular class, namely Children's Literature.
They're studying Peter Pan, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Treasure Island, The Princess Bride, and four other books.
Since I'm still in a non-matriculated status, I can only take three classes before I apply for the Master's program and I've already completed one. And since I've been taking classes non-stop since September 2003 I know that I really need a break for many reasons, namely to get my house organized and spend time with the family.
Oh, and knit!
However, I really like to take classes and Learn! and I feel as if I'll be missing out if I don't take a class. And truthfully I do have this grand delusion that someday I'll be working on a PhD, because who doesn't want to be a secretary working on a PhD?
Anyway, I thought the answer would come to me in a dream as to whether or not I should register.
It didn't.
I asked DN2 if she minded if I took another class on Monday nights and at first she said no, then after I asked her about ten more times she said, "go ahead and take it because you'll just keep asking me until I say yes."
Jaded at eight.
Sounds like a new after-dinner mint.
Dang.
Here it is 6AM and I can't decide whether to take it or not.
This is going to be a long day.

Ice Storms

This is a horrorific video of cars sliding on the street in Portland.
But check it out anyway.

Funny books and bottle deposits

When we went to the museum on Sunday they had library books all over the place. So while DN2 worked on a craft I read to her from a book that was close by. For the record, I love places that push reading.
I found a great book with some poems that made me laugh, and the pictures were great too!
Here in New York, and in some other states, we have to pay a 5 cent deposit on all bottles and cans of anything with carbonation (this includes Red Bull). So this poem caught my eye and really cracked me up:

Poor Dad

A witch mean and bad
Imprisoned poor Dad
In a bottle of pop in the closet.

We couldn't free Dad
And were sad when we had
To return him for the nickel deposit.

It's from a book called Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny by Bill Grossman.
And tomorrow is Friday!
Yee haw!

New blogger, old friend

If you get a moment, head on over to my friend Laura's blog.
She is just starting out (as in yesterday was her first post), but I love her dearly and hope you give her as much support as I will.
Let me tell you a bit about her.
We bonded over angel food cake.
Seriously.
We were stationed in London and our paths never really crossed, but I talked with her husband everyday at work and DN1 was in the same kindergarten class as her son W. We lived in Northwood and I think they lived in Slough, as in the city where The Office is set, but I'll let Laura tell you about that (and she can correct me if I'm wrong).
So we finally had a command picnic in May just prior to our packing up the command and moving it over to Germany. At the picnic Laura and I struck up a conversation with each other, and as we talked we picked at an angel food cake that someone had brought.
By the time we were done talking there was nothing left to the cake, but as you know, food and drink are among the best things in life and when you share them with someone you truly like, well life is good.
Just not so good for anyone who wanted a piece of that cake.
When we moved to Germany their apartment was across the Strasse from ours and we became very good friends.
We have even vacationed together!
And for me, or anyone else, vacationing with someone and still being willing to do it again is a great testament to how well our families get along.
So I'll be checking Laura's blog and encouraging her to achieve her goals.
And she's learning how to knit too!
You go, girl.

I know what I did this past weekend

How about you?
Other than my day of sloth on Monday we actually had a fun-filled weekend.
On Saturday we went ice skating and had a good time. Well, crappy rental skates (no toe pick and plastic boots - can you say foot pain?), but good enough that we are actually considering buying some skates and going more often. I grew up ice skating, but not at a rink, we went down to the pond and skated around and away from the edges where the frozen cattails were. Now people put helmuts on their kids' heads and knee pads. Man, times are changing.
Anyway, on Sunday we headed out to the Strong National Museum of Play.
What an amazing place.
I wish that I were 8 again, because there was so much to do there!
You could work in a post office, see the butterfly garden, sit in the cockpit of an airplane, walk through Adventures in Reading and see where the troll was from the Three Billy Goats Gruff (I have a thing for trolls, even took my picture with him).
It was fantastic.
They even had a Wegmans supermarket there where the kids could go and shop for items and then ring them up.

Once you've done your grocery shopping and you can scan it yourself. Well the kids can. If the adults want to do it, they can go apply for a job at the store.

You can even print up a receipt to take with you. It's actually pretty cool. Great marketing for the supermarket, I say as a jaded consumer, but fun for the kids.
There were craft tables all over the museum.
And you didn't have to worry about the mess!
Now that's what I call fun!

Even DH got into the act, working on some boondoggle with DN2.
The second floor had all sorts of toys that you could look at, but you could play at the table with the Tiddlywinks and Lincoln Logs if you so desired.
I ended up buying a family pass for the year - much cheaper than just paying each time. And it is a great place.
So, you can see why I earned a well-deserved day of sloth on Monday - I was playing all weekend.

Ride a White Horse

The title has nothing to do with the post, other than it's snowing, and I was listening to Goldfrapp on the way in to work.
We're in the middle of a snowstorm.
It's amazing.
I didn't go anywhere yesterday, and finally at about 7:15 pm I went to clean off my car.
The ice was so thick I had to run it for 20 minutes just to get to the point where we could scrape it.
And then the side doors wouldn't open.
So this morning everything is frozen again, and the doors, which I still couldn't get open, are kind of open but not.
Which means the lights in my car keep flashing on and off, and the doors keep locking because the door is open, but then it's closed, but then it's open.
It is crazy.
Fortunately it is still frozen, so the doors are not flying open as we drive along.
Even still, the weather stripping ripped off the driver's door, because it has been stuck to the metal!
I walked out yesterday to take the dog out, and I could hear the clatter of the tree branches as the wind knocked them about. Everything is covered with ice, and we have plenty of snow.
So you know what I did yesterday in the midst of this icestorm that turned into a snowstorm?
If you guessed "not a damn thing other than watching movies and knitting" then you are the one million dollar winner for today!
And yes, this is what the tree branches in my backyard look like, minus the bird.

Big News on the Football Front

I'm sure many have heard this story.
What I would like to know is what happened to the salary cap for MLS?
I'm anxious to see how this will pan out -- will more Americans suddenly begin watching and playing soccer?
I have to tell you, where I'm from (which is where I am now) soccer was always a popular sport.
And this cracks me up.

"David is truly the only individual that can build the 'bridge' between soccer in America and the rest of the world."

Pele built a bridge.
Don't get me wrong, Beckham is a brilliant player, but he's no Pele.
Especially if he turns to Tom Cruise for advice.
Yikes.

Well we got past hump day

And we finally have some snow here.
It's great!
About 2 inches fell the night before last, but I've heard rumors that it is going to rain this weekend.
Soon, soon, we'll get some more snow.
That which fell in October can't be all that we get for this winter, and we didn't even get hit as hard as Buffalo.
On the health news front, my friend Sheri's husband, Charles, is recovering quite well from his surgery and is currently cancer-free. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
Don't you hate days that take you away from home, especially when all you want to do is sit home and read, watch tv, and knit.
Dang it.

Concerts with girls

For many months (since September actually) I've thought about writing about the phenomenon called "High School Musical." For those without younger children who stay glued to the Disney Channel(s) 24/7, or for those who don't frequent Limited Two, this may be a new thing.

Rather than provide you with a synopsis of the movie you can check it out via IMDB, much easier. DN2 fell in love with both the movie and the soundtrack, and because she is 8, she of course thinks that Zac Efron who plays the lead is extremely cute.

More background information. When DN1 was 8 I took her to her first concert. It was important to me that we do this mother-daughter bonding thing, and especially at a concert that was pro-female and a positive experience. So we saw Tori Amos (Under the Pink tour). And then 2 years later we saw Tori again (Boys for Pele tour). DN2 knows about this, and she also knows that her sister is a veteran concert-goer (ask DN1 how many times she has seen Thirty Seconds to Mars). Anyway, DN2 has been dying to go see a concert. So at the last minute, literally the morning of the show, I bought tickets.

Because they were last-minute tickets DN2 didn't know, so when I came home from work she was in her bed, crying, saying that half the kids on her bus were going to see High School Musical and she really wanted to go (in 2nd grade math "half the kids" really equals 2, but we won't quibble). So when I told her that we were going too she was so excited she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was cute.

We got to the concert where there was a mob of mothers and daughters, some fathers, and even an emo kid or two. When the concert actually started, DN2 was so excited she was crying. Here are my girls waiting for the show:

I did get DN1 to take the earbuds out and put down the cell - no texting during the concert! And here it comes:






It was a good show and everyone enjoyed it. Even I liked it, though it did feel like a 2 1/2 hour Disney commercial. Unfortunately Zac Efron wasn't there since he is up in Toronto filming Hairspray, but Drew Seeley did a good job as the male lead. And if I were a more involved parent I could tell you the names of the characters, but the only high school basketball show I watch is The White Shadow because that is the 70s time warp I am stuck in.

And I will give props to Disney for buying their female stars some AMAZING shoes.

Why, oh why, won't she enable me?

All I made was one simple request of Kat.
Well let me preface my story by reminding you that I am participating in Wendy's idea that we knit from our stash in 2007.
And I've also been checking out the sale at The Scottish Lamb's place and she's got some nice things for sale.
But you know I won't buy anything because I've vowed to knit from my stash.
And I have been!
I've completed two scarves (simple enough), a hat, and some mittens for DN2.
Not much, but for me any FO is better than a UFO, right?
So I said to Kat today, "Hey, you know, The Scottish Lamb has got some really pretty yarn over there and I bet you could decide to buy some and send it to me as a gift. Perhaps later on you might remember that I owe you $20, plus shipping and handling, and I could reimburse you."
You know what she said?
"Cheater."
Some people are just not good at enabling others.
Meanie.

Sorry, I was busy in talks with Hollywood

No posting over the weekend.
I was sick, lame, and lazy.
And of course, I was in a movie.
Seriously!
DH rented a movie on Saturday called The Game of Their Lives. It's about the 1950 World Cup game (this is soccer, folks), where the U.S. beat the Brits in the first round (thus setting the bar for future World Cup competition where the US wins in the first round but doesn't get much farther).
The film opened and the announcer says, "Welcome to the RFK stadium and the 2004 Sierra Mist MLS All Star game," or something along those lines. I looked at DH and said, "Hey, we were there."
You know I love watching my soccer games (and players) and we had some seriously good seats at this game.
Well sure enough, DN1 comes home from the Redneck part of NYS (the Southern Tier) and watches the movie and spies us in the crowd!
So rent the movie and watch it because it's soccer, not just because you might see me.

What I Am

I saw this on Blithering Knitot's blog and thought I'd play along.
I think this one is a little more true to life than the "Which Flower Are You" quiz because I am so not social and bubbly, people!

You are The Hermit

Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.

The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Oh, and I have four kids, so part of this is not true either, unless we're talking about a metaphorical virginity.
And if this is true, how come I can't get paid to be a hermit, eh?
What's up with that?

Concerns

Prayers go out to my friend Sheri and her husband Charles.
I don't want to violate HIPAA regulations, but suffice it to say that I am thinking of them both.
And just so you know, Sheri, I'll be substitute teaching Sunday School in two weeks - apparently I'm getting in good with God and I may have a direct connection so I'll let the big guy know.