Ok. So you can check me out on the Facebook.
I'm tagged in a few photos. You'll know me because I'm the one grinning like a fool. Let's just say that I waited 20 damn years for that whole "early bloom, early rot" thing, and I may have been a little gloaty to see it finally happen. Heh. (Mrs. Maiden, also on the Facebook, just called me to congratulate me on my late bloom.)
Did you know that the only body part that does not change size from birth is a persons eyes? That's why babies eyes look so large - they'll be exaclty like that all through life.
Looking into eyes that known me since grade 6 - that's a pretty significant thing. They knew me before puberty, before braces - and although we've not been in touch in 20 years (and frankly, thank god for name tags) the affection in the room was palpable. I haven't hurt that much from laughing in a long time.
I learned some lessons: I saw what it was like to have been a mean girl in high school, and then come to the reunion. (It looks pretty lonely, actually.)
I've learned how to live with my head held high despite everything (from the little sister of the only 'out' guy in a really small, really conservative town), how enthusiasm for others is the key to relationships, and what lasting friendship looks like after more than 20 years. (Thanks, Katie! Love you!)
It was amazing.
It was heart breaking to leave. 36 hours was not nearly enough. I didn't get to the beach (it was raining) and I didn't get ice cream.
I don't think I'd choose to live there - there's not that many public service jobs there - but it's my home. And you know what? Husband has agreed that a week in a beach house might just be a perfect family vacation.
How awesome is that???
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Feh and his cheesecake: Happily ever after
I've been reading those vampire books.
You know the ones - THOSE ones.
I kinda get it; they're entertaining, but something I read before I read the books changed my opinion forever, and altered how I would view them. It was one of those alternative comics, where the protagonist had been to see the movie and likened it to a guy seeing his all-time favourite flavour of cheesecake and then declaring his everlasting love and adoration for said cheesecake. "I must have you with me for always, cherry cheesecake." snort.
While I'm on the subject, there's a few things I'd like to raise. Forgive me, dear readers, but it's been a really long time since my last book club meeting, and I really need to get this off my chest. Mostly about the second book, because that's how far I've gotten in the series. I'm pretty sure that more comments will come, because you know that even more than I hates the bad writing, I hates the unended story. (Unless you're so bad/long/unsympathetic that I don't care, and you know who you are.)
1) The quality, she ain't great. One would suppose that a female writer would know a bit about the teenage fem, having, one assumes, been one, but when one of your girls is wounded by being unsolicitously dumped by her creepy, obsessive boyfriend, no self-respecting teenage girl turns her back. It just doesn't happen. There is nothing that fuels the teenage relationship more than the DRAMA, the DRAMA! and being dumped? Dude. It's at the top of the priority list.
2) A creepy, obsessive boyfriend is just that. After having been with him a short while, it turns out that he's been sneaking into her dad's house (UNINVITED?? They can suddenly do that now?) to watch her sleep. Dude. That's not hot. It's not. He won't let her see her friends, he tells her what to do, and when she's with him, she doesn't speak of fun, just of luuuurve, luuurve. and sparklieness. Ick. Shuuuuder.
3) Sure, he might be pretty, but he's a Ken doll. He's cold, he's blond and handsome, he's got a nice chest, he's shiny, and he's unable to do more than the kissing. Feh.
4) Specific note to editor: Continuity. If you're going to set up the heroine's potential special ability as a vampire (the ability for others' abilities not to work) don't forget that. It's lame. (First family meeting, brother's special ability of influencing emotions makes her all calm 'despite the situation' (check it out, Book 1.) Later, in Italy, none of the fancy vampires can work their magic? (Book 2.) Stupid mistake. Work out the damn story arc before you write the next book. Don't make it up as you go along.)
5) If this is supposed to be a sweeping romance, the relationship with the werewolf is much better written. Aside from our supposed communal oggling of Ken/Feh, she's got stuff in common with the werewolf. He seems to strive to keep promises and stupid stuff like that. Specific note to Bella: Pick the werewolf. a) he seems like he's fun, and dude, seriously - and this goes for everyone - obsession is not sexy, it's not romantic, and it's not good for you. Under any circumstances. b) it would seem that the werewolf is capable of the physical side of love. Just sayin'. Might be a benefit later in life. You know, in your 20s or something. c) see last point about life. So that's a positive as well. (and d) you know I loves the caramel colored.) Finally, and this is just personal preference, but e) my feet are cold enough on their own in bed. I really don't need an alabaster statue sucking body heat all the time. Know what I mean?
Discuss?
You know the ones - THOSE ones.
I kinda get it; they're entertaining, but something I read before I read the books changed my opinion forever, and altered how I would view them. It was one of those alternative comics, where the protagonist had been to see the movie and likened it to a guy seeing his all-time favourite flavour of cheesecake and then declaring his everlasting love and adoration for said cheesecake. "I must have you with me for always, cherry cheesecake." snort.
While I'm on the subject, there's a few things I'd like to raise. Forgive me, dear readers, but it's been a really long time since my last book club meeting, and I really need to get this off my chest. Mostly about the second book, because that's how far I've gotten in the series. I'm pretty sure that more comments will come, because you know that even more than I hates the bad writing, I hates the unended story. (Unless you're so bad/long/unsympathetic that I don't care, and you know who you are.)
1) The quality, she ain't great. One would suppose that a female writer would know a bit about the teenage fem, having, one assumes, been one, but when one of your girls is wounded by being unsolicitously dumped by her creepy, obsessive boyfriend, no self-respecting teenage girl turns her back. It just doesn't happen. There is nothing that fuels the teenage relationship more than the DRAMA, the DRAMA! and being dumped? Dude. It's at the top of the priority list.
2) A creepy, obsessive boyfriend is just that. After having been with him a short while, it turns out that he's been sneaking into her dad's house (UNINVITED?? They can suddenly do that now?) to watch her sleep. Dude. That's not hot. It's not. He won't let her see her friends, he tells her what to do, and when she's with him, she doesn't speak of fun, just of luuuurve, luuurve. and sparklieness. Ick. Shuuuuder.
3) Sure, he might be pretty, but he's a Ken doll. He's cold, he's blond and handsome, he's got a nice chest, he's shiny, and he's unable to do more than the kissing. Feh.
4) Specific note to editor: Continuity. If you're going to set up the heroine's potential special ability as a vampire (the ability for others' abilities not to work) don't forget that. It's lame. (First family meeting, brother's special ability of influencing emotions makes her all calm 'despite the situation' (check it out, Book 1.) Later, in Italy, none of the fancy vampires can work their magic? (Book 2.) Stupid mistake. Work out the damn story arc before you write the next book. Don't make it up as you go along.)
5) If this is supposed to be a sweeping romance, the relationship with the werewolf is much better written. Aside from our supposed communal oggling of Ken/Feh, she's got stuff in common with the werewolf. He seems to strive to keep promises and stupid stuff like that. Specific note to Bella: Pick the werewolf. a) he seems like he's fun, and dude, seriously - and this goes for everyone - obsession is not sexy, it's not romantic, and it's not good for you. Under any circumstances. b) it would seem that the werewolf is capable of the physical side of love. Just sayin'. Might be a benefit later in life. You know, in your 20s or something. c) see last point about life. So that's a positive as well. (and d) you know I loves the caramel colored.) Finally, and this is just personal preference, but e) my feet are cold enough on their own in bed. I really don't need an alabaster statue sucking body heat all the time. Know what I mean?
Discuss?
Every day victories
Dudes.
In rereading the entries for the past month or so, it would seem I've been having a tough time. That's a misrepresentation. I feel in a good place; it's been a great summer, so I think I might be just finding written inspiration in my battles lately, instead of victories.
So here are some delicious victories to remind me of the summer I'm really having.
I'll be an honest to goodness auntie in late October. I'm already lucky enough to be an auntie to 6 really cool nieces and nephews, but this one will be the first baby from the Maidens (we got a ready-made nephew a few years ago in the really sweet two for one deal that was BigBrother's wedding). It's pretty exciting. I look forward to more Skype viewings soon.
In mid-July, Mrs. Maiden came to visit on her way to more healing touch training in Arizona. She stayed a day, which I was able to take off to be with her while the kids were in daycare. I had hoped to spend part of the day peeling the deadfish wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom, but as that took such a short time, we actually painted the whole room - and changed out the accessories to achieve fish eradication and new look in one day. Yipee!!
At the end of the month, she returned to care for the kids for a week while Husband and I planned to do foundation repairs. Unfortunately, as it rained each day, we were unable to dig, but what we did do was spend four days finishing all the carpentry work and prepping to allow us to finish painting the foyer, staircase and upper landing of the house - FINALLY - after 4 years of living here and two years of living with a partially scraped and prepped staircase which made me cringe just a little whenever someone new came to the house. A major, major accomplishment.
Oh, my goodness, it's delicious. The fish are gone. The decals also. As Janey said when we first bought the house - it's a matter of scrubbing out the crazy. (The sun, however, in all its subterranean glory, remains blissfully unaware of the fate which is slowly, but surely coming its way.)
Sundays I'm up when the kids are up (usually, husband takes the early shift on the weekends to let me sleep to 8. It's an amazing gift.) to do my distance training run. Doing it at the crack of dawn lets me have more of a family day with everyone, and allows time for essentials like rest, laundry and groceries. Usually, as I leave, MlleL and Husband chant "go, mama, go! go, mama, go!" (MasterP has simplified that to go, go, gooooooo!) It's tremendous motivation for me, and helps me get out the door. Yesterday morning, after my puttering around for a half hour or so - folding a load of laundry, having a snack, getting my road id on, and ensuring my iPod has juice - MasterP started his chant early, before I even had shoes on, and pushed me towards the door. "Go, go, gooo!" he crouched down and yelled through the window of the screen door as I walked out the carport, "Go, go, goooooo!" he yelled shutting the inside door.
In rereading the entries for the past month or so, it would seem I've been having a tough time. That's a misrepresentation. I feel in a good place; it's been a great summer, so I think I might be just finding written inspiration in my battles lately, instead of victories.
So here are some delicious victories to remind me of the summer I'm really having.
I'll be an honest to goodness auntie in late October. I'm already lucky enough to be an auntie to 6 really cool nieces and nephews, but this one will be the first baby from the Maidens (we got a ready-made nephew a few years ago in the really sweet two for one deal that was BigBrother's wedding). It's pretty exciting. I look forward to more Skype viewings soon.
In mid-July, Mrs. Maiden came to visit on her way to more healing touch training in Arizona. She stayed a day, which I was able to take off to be with her while the kids were in daycare. I had hoped to spend part of the day peeling the deadfish wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom, but as that took such a short time, we actually painted the whole room - and changed out the accessories to achieve fish eradication and new look in one day. Yipee!!
At the end of the month, she returned to care for the kids for a week while Husband and I planned to do foundation repairs. Unfortunately, as it rained each day, we were unable to dig, but what we did do was spend four days finishing all the carpentry work and prepping to allow us to finish painting the foyer, staircase and upper landing of the house - FINALLY - after 4 years of living here and two years of living with a partially scraped and prepped staircase which made me cringe just a little whenever someone new came to the house. A major, major accomplishment.
Oh, my goodness, it's delicious. The fish are gone. The decals also. As Janey said when we first bought the house - it's a matter of scrubbing out the crazy. (The sun, however, in all its subterranean glory, remains blissfully unaware of the fate which is slowly, but surely coming its way.)
Sundays I'm up when the kids are up (usually, husband takes the early shift on the weekends to let me sleep to 8. It's an amazing gift.) to do my distance training run. Doing it at the crack of dawn lets me have more of a family day with everyone, and allows time for essentials like rest, laundry and groceries. Usually, as I leave, MlleL and Husband chant "go, mama, go! go, mama, go!" (MasterP has simplified that to go, go, gooooooo!) It's tremendous motivation for me, and helps me get out the door. Yesterday morning, after my puttering around for a half hour or so - folding a load of laundry, having a snack, getting my road id on, and ensuring my iPod has juice - MasterP started his chant early, before I even had shoes on, and pushed me towards the door. "Go, go, gooo!" he crouched down and yelled through the window of the screen door as I walked out the carport, "Go, go, goooooo!" he yelled shutting the inside door.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Reunion -7days
On Monday, it seemed everything was cast against it, the family trip to the 20th high school reunion.
As he had several times before, Husband suggested again that I go on my own - flying to Detroit and then driving across state with Katie B. I refused it, as I had the other times, out of guilt.
But on Tuesday, after a particularly draining and fruitless session at the Passport Office as the only Valentine with a current passport, I let myself consider that option. I priced tickets (just over $800 or so) and let myself imagine a four day trip as a single woman. I thought about the books I might bring to amuse myself on the plane. (what are people reading now?) I rolled it around in my mouth, tasting the hours of peaceful window shopping between flights and the iced coffees I could have with no whining or tantrums. I thought of three nights in a bed to myself and three mornings without 6 AM wake up calls. I may also have imagined what going out free from that wakeup call might feel like, as well as a guilt-free distance run along the beach in the cool of the morning.
I thought I might like how that would taste.
But then Husband said that he did really want to go. And the tide was changed. We would make the drive after all, covering what is sure to be over 30 hours of driving in a four day weekend....
Besides. I'd have been lonely, right? And the ability to show my kids where Mama grew up and swim with them on the same beaches that I did at their age is worth all that.
RIGHT?
As he had several times before, Husband suggested again that I go on my own - flying to Detroit and then driving across state with Katie B. I refused it, as I had the other times, out of guilt.
But on Tuesday, after a particularly draining and fruitless session at the Passport Office as the only Valentine with a current passport, I let myself consider that option. I priced tickets (just over $800 or so) and let myself imagine a four day trip as a single woman. I thought about the books I might bring to amuse myself on the plane. (what are people reading now?) I rolled it around in my mouth, tasting the hours of peaceful window shopping between flights and the iced coffees I could have with no whining or tantrums. I thought of three nights in a bed to myself and three mornings without 6 AM wake up calls. I may also have imagined what going out free from that wakeup call might feel like, as well as a guilt-free distance run along the beach in the cool of the morning.
I thought I might like how that would taste.
But then Husband said that he did really want to go. And the tide was changed. We would make the drive after all, covering what is sure to be over 30 hours of driving in a four day weekend....
Besides. I'd have been lonely, right? And the ability to show my kids where Mama grew up and swim with them on the same beaches that I did at their age is worth all that.
RIGHT?
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