noclevernamesleft

this blog is on hiatus

2011-03-24T17:39:00.001+02:00

In training this afternoon, we received word that our blogs must be password protected (or every entry must be pre-approved by our Regional Director). Rather than close this out entirely, I'm going to put it on hiatus and start up a different blog for my time in the Peace Corps.

I will be sending out reader invitations to folks who expressed interest in reading about my Peace Corps adventure. If you didn't receive an invitation e-mail from katymac to be a reader of the new blog and would like to be able to access it, please send me an e-mail and I'll send you an invite. There may be a wait depending on what sort of internet access I have. Patience will be rewarded.

I am in Ukraine

2011-03-23T21:07:00.000+02:00

Not much to say right now as I'm running on only a few hours of sleep since Tuesday morning.

Travel here was relatively uneventful. There wasn't any lost luggage out of our group of 106 people. Only minor travel injuries (cuts, bruises) and no lost people.

The Peace Corps staff is wonderfully welcoming and super organized.

thus it begins...

2011-03-22T06:17:00.000+02:00

Greetings from DC!

Staging (pre-departure orientation) was informative and an excellent use of five hours. I especially enjoyed meeting all these folks (there are currently 106 of us slated to board the plane for Kiev tomorrow) who have been through the application process, the departure preparations, who have similar aspirations and anxieties, people who will be watching my back for the next two years. I remarked (to myself) in orientation today that the Peace Corps does a good job of selecting people to serve; I was generally impressed by everyone I met - folks were personable, good at public speaking, game for anything.

I have to say that while it doesn't seem real yet, I am ever more eager for this journey to begin. Not long to wait.

It may be at least a month before I am able to post again (about 70% of volunteers in Ukraine have access to internet, and those not necessarily in their town), but I will be writing posts and saving them up until I have internet access. Worry not. I shall be just as chatty as I've been on any other trip.

the countdown begins...

2011-03-18T22:38:00.066+02:00

Yup. 48 hours to go... I leave Sunday at 4:24pm.

Am I ready? Mentally, pretty much. Physically? Well... I pre-packed last night and was happy to see that each rolling duffel weighs about 40 pounds. Even with the few things left to pack, I think I'll come in comfortably under my 50-pound limit. I love that sort of surprise.

Today, Mom and I wandered around suburban Atlanta;our goal was to find a couple of souvenir tea towels and have lunch in downtown Stone Mountain. Instead, we had a surreal shopping experience in a flea market sort of antique store and found cool spoon holders made by a potter in Stone Mountain and little reindeer figures carved by another local artist. After all, no one is insisting that gifts to my host family have peaches, peanuts, and Confederate soldiers on them.

I haven't been to downtown Stone Mountain in 10 years or so and many of the cool little stuff shops are now empty. A little sad, we decided to try for lunch in downtown Lilburn. The Blue Rooster, a wonderful breakfast/lunch cafe and bakery, closed its doors January 8th. Again, a little sad, we headed to downtown Lawrenceville.

Success! Along the way I stopped at Central Gwinnett (haven't been there since I graduated... many years ago). Months ago, I'd come across the suggestion that a high school yearbook can be an excellent teaching tool for TEFL classes. It's also cool to look through and see how the high school experience has changed (and not changed).

Lunch at the Uptown Cafe in Lawrenceville. Mediterranean. Soooooo good (truly, if you're thinking you might be up for a drive, go there, you will be happy).

Now it is time to un-pre-pack and pack for good.

New Orleans

2011-03-17T00:18:00.000+02:00

The Friday that was my last day at work was also the day I drove to New Orleans. It had been planned as either a weekend to commiserate (if I did not get into the Peace Corps) or a weekend to celebrate. My girlfriends and I chose the most convenient weekend for four busy schedules and, a wonderful surprise, we were there the first weekend of mardi gras celebrations.

Here's my favorite shot from Saturday... we were in the take-out line at Cafe du Monde when this waitress got off shift. She sat down, pulled out a pink cloth and set about dusting the powdered sugar off of her legs, then her shoes. It must be a small misery to spend your workday delivering piles of powdered sugar. I, unsurprisingly, ordered my beignets without sugar (I do not enjoy sticky fingers nor messy food).

Saturday night we went to a parade in Uptown because the parade of the Krewe of Pygmalion turned onto St. Charles Avenue less than five blocks from where we were staying. I was surprised by how fun it was (factoring in the whole crowd thing). Exciting. My pics turned out terribly for the most part, but I like this crowd shot.

Most of our weekend was spent wandering and eating. The house where we stayed (a vacation rental by owner property) was delightful.

The way home was long. About 20 miles south of Atlanta we were brought to a stop - not two minutes after H. said "I might have to pee" (translation - can you stop at the next exit?). An hour later, we were set free (the authorities on the scene still unable to figure out how to pull the toppled tractor trailer off its side). The first exit we came to had an open McDonald's. E. and H. headed to the bathroom, I to the counter. Nothing like a milkshake to help you forget the hour of your life that was sucked into nothingness by an unexpected traffic jam.

It was a good weekend.

packing, part I

2011-03-12T04:33:00.005+02:00

Some Peace Corps volunteer blogs give their packing lists and these lists seem so sensible. I, on the other hand, have so many things in contention for going that there is no point making a list. I am aiming for sensible. There has been one round of culling and there will be at least one more.

It is not space that I fear running short, but weight (my LL Bean bags are wonderfully roomy - I have the ice blue and the guide gold, I like to think of them more as electric turquoise and school bus yellow). Everything must fit into two 50-pound bags, a carry on and a personal item. I must be able to manage everything on my own. Tricky, that.

The carry on is of overnight bag size (and will serve as such while I'm away); this will be packed with a week's worth of necessities in case my checked bags are delayed. The personal item will be filled with my electronics, a trashy travel magazine or two (or three - which I will further justify by saying I can use these in my classes), and food.

I have requested a vegetarian meal, but things do go wrong. A side of rice drenched in airplane-chicken juice will not sustain me for the transatlantic flight. Protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, an apple, a banana, a chocolate bar, and crackers. And lots of water. It would do no one any good for me to arrive in Kiev hungry, dehydrated, and grumpy.

preparing to pack...

2011-02-21T04:50:00.001+02:00

The waiting time is a good part of this preparing-to-leave process.

A short while ago, I acquired a rolling duffel from LL Bean (an obnoxiously lovely teal color) and I started tossing things into it that I though I might take with me. The bag is overflowing... I have yet to pack all the clothes I will take, let alone the shoes. After staring (in dismay, I must confess) at the bulging teal beauty, I began to think along a more ascetic line. A few wonderful parts of my life from home are necessary, but as few as I can manage. Things I don't use here, are unlikely to be things I use in Ukraine with a few exceptions (notably being the sleeping bag and the ice gripper things for my shoes).

I am prepared to miss many material things, but there are folks in Ukraine pickier than I and they have found material comfort. I'll be fine.

I can't believe I forgot to post about this...

2011-02-10T01:55:00.003+02:00

I wrote a short little update and forgot about it for, oh, three weeks. To be fair, I didn't want to post of my invitation until I had given notice at work.

So. I gave notice on January 31st. I have accepted an invitation from the Peace Corps to be a secondary teacher of English in Ukraine (not the Ukraine, which I am forever self-correcting). I leave for staging (the preliminary orientation event) in DC March 21st. March 22nd I get on a plane with 40+ other volunteers and head for Ukraine. Wow. Wow.

I must confess that I feel a bit lucky to have been selected for Ukraine... Many volunteers have flush toilets, showers and even reliable internet in their domicile. Keeping in mind that there are no guarantees of this plushy life, there is also no guarantee that I will have to trek 10 yards in the snow to get to an outhouse at 4am. I am mentally prepared for both.

PC update

2010-12-10T13:43:00.001+02:00

Medical review complete! The placement review process began yesterday according to my application status online. Wow. It feels real, as of this moment, the possibility that six months from now I could be living in a country you might be hard pressed to place on a map.

Thanksgiving at the beach

2010-12-10T03:49:00.002+02:00

The beach was odd this year. A bit colder and windier than I like and there was a dirth of outdoor furniture - one chair, no table. The house, in general, was a disappointment, but it did not ruin the week.

My pictures have been up on Flickr for a while, but here's one of my favorites:

remember I went to Texas?

2010-11-23T05:56:00.001+02:00

Old news, my weekend in Texas a couple weeks back was pretty darned good.

Friday's performance of Don Giovanni was a bit of a disappointment. Paulo Szot is the only tenor I've heard whose recitative was as beautiful as his arias. The set, staging, and oh-my-lands the costumes were not to my liking. The costumes veered from turn of the 18th to turn of the 19th century. Discombobulating. Also, at the end of the first sword fight both parties pulled guns and shot each other... as there are no guns in Don Giovanni, it was an awful departure from what I expected.

Saturday I spent dashing hither and yon to see favorite people and managed to get most of them seen.

Saturday night T. and her boyfriend took me to see (as a birthday gift) Anna Bolena. It was fantastic. Except for the almost fist fight which took place in the nosebleed seats. At the opera I do not expect belligerent patrons.

Sunday was race day and it was, as expected, awesome.

my Peace Corps application timeline

2010-11-20T14:47:00.005+02:00

For anyone who's curious. I will update this as new things happen...

End of May my friend S. saw an ad for PC on the MARTA train and starts talking it up as something he can see me doing and could it hurt to try? I think about it a day or two, as it's something I've considered in the past, and decide now is the time.

June 2, start PC online application

June 22, completed online application

June 24, received information concerning supplemental documentation needed

July 8, completed fingerprints

July 9, mailed supplemental documentation to recruiter, e-mailed additional information, received request to schedule interview, scheduled interview

July 15, interview, tentative nomination waiting for final recommendation

July 26, final recommendation sent to PC

July 27 official nomination

July 30, medical kit mailed to me

September 17, completed medical kit sent to PC

September 21, completed medical kit received by PC

Shortly thereafter, Dental clearance granted

September 30, send e-mail question to handler and receive out of office reply that she no longer works for PC, forward question to general e-mail, receive quick response

November 19, application status updated to show a hold on medical status as it is now under review

November 27, returned home from Thanksgiving at the beach to find a letter requesting a re-do of a test

December 8, faxed results of test re-do to PC nurse, received almost immediate call to confirm receipt and say that she'll check with the PC doctor to see if I'm clear or I shall begin a new healthcare adventure

December 9, provisional medical clearance granted, file forwarded to placement office

December 13, receive e-mail from placement office requesting updated resume, etc.

December 15, submitted additional information

December 22, received e-mail from placement officer requesting additional information to assist her in review

December 26, submitted information in written format to facilitate things in light of the Christmas/New Year's holidays

December 28, application status updated to show that my placement review has been completed and now awaits final medical clearance

December 29, invitation packet arrives. wow. Ukraine, secondary teacher of English.

January 1, send acceptance e-mail.

refresh

2010-11-17T00:16:00.002+02:00

Time for a refresh.

Pictures soon. Maybe even something entertaining to read. Maybe.

opera, racing, writing

2010-11-05T01:15:00.002+02:00

Heading to DFW tomorrow. Opera, visiting people, opera, visiting people, NASCAR.

This weekend I get to see Don Giovanni at the Dallas Opera. I am as excited as if I were going to a Hoodoo Gurus show. Maybe more so for I have never seen Don Giovanni live. Remember that scene from the movie Amadeus where Salieri is talking of the how the statue of the Commander Don Giovanni killed is like the ghost of his father condemning him? It was that scene that turned my maybe like of opera in to love. Salieri's explanation made me think that I understood the meaning behind the music. I know: movie drama. But I was 10. While I am better informed now, that feeling stuck. Not to mention, it is indeed an opera worthy of love. So excited.

And the artist performing as Don Giovanni is the super talented hottie, Paulo Szot. SO excited.

Saturday, after a day's running around visiting people I love, I go to the opera to see Anna Bolena by Donizetti. I've neither never seen nor heard this particular opera before and it is not known to be one of Donizetti's bets, but I am nonetheless very much looking forward to it. If the singing or the pace is not so much to my liking, I am certain the orchestration and costumes will make me happy to be there.

Sunday is NASCAR day in Texas Motor Speedway. Section 444, Row 58. Pretty darned good seats and good weather is forecast.

Busy busy weekend. Feeling a little crazy about it, really. It will be wonderful to see so many people, but I do know the appeal of secretly slipping in and out of town. I hope the rental car is comfy for I will be spending much time in its seat.

I'm up to an average of 1,000 words a day on Nanowrimo. Not nearly enough (average of 1,667 is needed to reach the goal by November 30th), but I am doing better than any previous year. This weekend the writing will be tricky as I'm going to be away from a computer, but I think I will be happy if I manage to longhand at least one college-rule page a day. Saturday might be the most difficult, as my free time is to be spent driving. I am certain I can find ten minutes to sneak off a page.

So far, I find the first few pages are bor-ring, but it is picking up as I hit my stride. I remind myself, when I start getting bogged down in the idea of wanting to write well, that it need not be something anyone else wants to read. Not at this point. Writing during Nanowrimo is like knitting a swatch - just enough to give me the idea of what I am looking to see. Just enough is good enough for now.

waiting, writing

2010-11-04T05:15:00.003+02:00

Changes at work make waiting on my Peace Corps application even more difficult to handle. Monday a colleague that I have not always gotten along with became my boss. I am being nice and playing well with the others, but it has given an edge to my waiting.

On a positive note, Nanowrimo has started and I've written something every day. It's been only three days, you say, surely that's nothing to crow about. But it is! If write something every day, I'll have done better than last year. I must set myself many small goals right now.

asinine caption...

2010-10-28T02:52:00.004+03:00

Here it is... I laughed out loud.

Although no records document it... I LOVE that.

nanowrimo approaches...

2010-10-28T02:26:00.001+03:00

Four days more until it is time to write. About half of my plot outlined (the fun filler part, but little of the hefty plot-moving stuff - always my problem with these things). I am happy to say my main characters have arrived (Mariah, Eli, John, Avery, Marie, and one who is still Neighbor Lady but will have a good, solid name soon. I hope. I have one story where the housekeeper's name has been Mrs. Housekeeper for about two years). Other important bits of storyline have come along as well - my location (near Oglethorpe, GA), time frame (mid-1864 to late-1865), and a number of deaths (by illness, by violence and one born of grief).

The possibilities are exciting. What will come out of my pen? Yes, I am going write longhand at home and, when time and workload allows, use the computer at that place I go every weekday.

The lack of a complete-ishness in my plot outline concerns me. My hopes were pinned on the outline as what would propel me to the 50,000 word mark by November 30th. Then again, my best papers in college were written in segments and then assembled under acute deadline pressure. Hopefully, whatever I come up with now, will be enough to keep me moving three weeks from now.

I will, of course, keep you erratically posted.

Peace Corps update

2010-10-20T02:14:00.002+03:00

Still waiting.

I did hear from some fellow applicants this morning - their invitation is in the mail! They submitted their medical portion back in May, so they have a three month head start on me and I am not fretting.

The kicker is that they were nominated, as I was, for Eastern Europe. Turns out they're going to sub-Saharan Africa! Once their heads stopped spinning, so they told me, my friends were excited with their change in assignment location. It was an awakening for me - no more looking at reviews of wool vs. silk long underwear. Part of the mental preparation for this to keep myself free of expectations. Now, I understand that I also need to prepare myself for the possibility of some place that is hot 12 months, rather than 3 months, out of the year. That's going to take some work...

warning: it is a long-winded sort of day

2010-10-16T05:38:00.004+03:00

Last weekend I went to DC with H. The impetus for our trip was my wanting to see the Hoodoo Gurus.

Last time I saw them in DC it was at a venue with a capacity of about 500 and there were maybe 150 people there. Wide open. This time, they booked themselves into a 160 person venue... it was sold out when we walked up to the door an hour before showtime. I had had no idea - that the venue was so tiny nor that it would come close to selling out. It was stupid of me, I know. Tickets were not sold in advance and, according to the surprisingly pleasant and apologetic doorkeeper, there had been a line at the door by 4pm. Even if we'd been able to get to DC by 4pm, I would not have thought to check out the venue. No. Clue. So. Still quite sad about it, really.

But I have seen them a number of times and, considering that they "retired" (Farve style) a while ago, I'm happy to have seen them a few years ago. I may be a little sad to not have seen a super fantastic show by my favorite band ever, but I am not dwelling.

Thankfully, the trip's purpose was three pronged: Hoodoo Gurus, visiting my fabulous friend M., and the Gorillaz concert. Two out of three wonderful things in three days means that it was a wonderful weekend.

The drive up and back was easy and relatively traffic-stupidness free. The weather was gorgeous. M., as always, a gracious and most generous host.

We left Atlanta around 7:15 Saturday morning, and after ten hours in the car H. and I were more than happy to help M. finish up her bulb and pansies planting. After planting was done, M. took a shower, I hosed off the driveway (and scraped it free of clay - disgusting, poo colored, sandy Virginia clay) and H. took the dog for a walk. We had a lovely dinner, the failed attempt to see a show, and H. and I went to see a movie in place of said show. It would have made me too sad to just get back in the car and head back to the house. I must say, H.'s iPhone (hereafter to be thought of as the Magical Black Box) saved me because H. was able to find a movie for us to see. It's Kind of A Funny Story. A lovely movie, if a bit trite. Smart, fun and witty. In its life-lesson-learned-sharing way, the ending is evocative of Trainspotting. A perfect movie to see on that particular Saturday night.

Sunday we met some folks for brunch and then went to Old Town Alexandria to wander amongst the hoards of people shopping. It was hot and crowded... true, it is likely that I would not have found it so very hot if it hadn't been so crazy busy crowded. I did manage to find a couple of Christmas gifts, M. found some shoes, and we had ice cream while sitting on a bench (in the shade) watching the Potomac. The wind was blowing in such a way as to create the illusion that the river was stationary.

That evening we were joined by N. (a close friend of H.'s) for a dinner of fabulous cheeses, baguette, olive tapenade, carrots, grapes and hummus. And two bottles of red wine. Finished by a few of M.'s amazing ginger molasses cookies (from a recipe in the Washington Post). Such tasty, sugary crunchy cookies.

Monday, N. joined us again for a trip to Mt. Vernon. It is different than the last time I visited; they now have an orientation center, a museum and an education center. The education center was too much like Chuckee Cheese. The center's set up is one where you must walk though every 'room' to get out; each section blends into the next in both physical orientation and noise. Lights and video and sound coming at you from every angle. I walked through this as if on my way out. Though, I did stop once to look at the wee exhibit on Washington's dentures. Truly, how could I not? When I get my photos uploaded, I'll post a picture of the most asinine exhibit caption I have ever read.

We had dinner at home and then N., H. and I headed to the Patriot Center for the Gorillaz concert. It was fabulous. There are at least 20 people onstage at any time; then there are the guest artists that come on for their particular songs. Amazing! For this album, we get half of the Clash (Nick Jones and Paul Simonon). On the album as well as in DC were: De la Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Little Dragon and a couple of others I cannot remember. When the artist cannot be there for the tour gigs, their vocal track is played over the live music. Much cooler if they are there. Mos Def was a fantastic surprise.

A set of photos from S. when he saw them two days before in Boston.

I'm working on photos... maybe next week.

baseball

2010-10-15T02:52:00.001+03:00

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the last game of the Braves regular season. The weather could not have been more beautiful - bright blue sky, sun, breeze, autumn temperatures (toasting in the sun, freezing in the windy shade). Our seats were second row outfield, about four seats from the Braves bullpen.

I have to say that I love being a part of such a communally American moment. 50,000 people there for the same reason; red, white and blue (didn't hurt that it was the Braves playing the Phillies color-wise), a festive spirit, 'God Bless America' sung by an Atlanta Opera member with the flag held aloft by a consistent wind, roasted peanuts, cheap beer in a can, baseball caps.

Peace Corps update...

2010-10-07T03:44:00.002+03:00

Waiting.

update on stuff and things

2010-09-26T17:12:00.009+03:00

I have decided to post only one update entry rather than back-date many. It will be long, but there is coffee to be had (at least for me).

PC application update - my doctor appointment was September 15th and the packet was logged in by the PC office on the 21st. I have to give kudos to my doctor as she more than made up for the last (non)appointment. Over an hour it took us to complete everything. I have received notice that the dental review has been cleared. Now I wait to find out what is needed to complete the medical review part. I am hoping that mine is an application which hits all lights green.

I've spent the better part of my adult life in some sort of employment limbo, thinking of each job as "for now". Typically, it has been my own complacency that kept me in stasis. This is the first time since 2001 that I am simply waiting for someone else. This is an uncomfortable feeling... I very much want to move forward with planning, but I cannot. No point. Until I know of my placement or rejection, I cannot plan.

So, I plan for something else! Nanowrimo 2010. Yes, it's that time again. Well, five weeks before that time - which means five weeks to plan. Despite my repeated failure to reach the 50,000 word mark, I am undaunted.

Inspiration backhanded me the other day and I have my general story line. The lofty goal of a unique and brilliant plot has been abandoned in favor of something easier. Them more I think about it, the more trite it seems, but I am not bothered. I don't much care how much of a cliche my plot is as I am likely to be the only person to read it. And we all know that I can be entertained by the same story told different ways (think bodice rippers or any of the vampire muck that weighs down my bookshelf). I fully expect to enjoy reading my own drivel. One must please oneself.

My humble aim is for a moderately compelling story exploring the idea of evil; the idea of evil rather than a story about evil deeds. I think it will be set in the Civil War South, somewhere in Georgia, likely near Atlanta. Right now, I'm in like with the idea of setting it in the months surrounding Lee's surrender (April 9th, 1865).

A plot outline (replete with details) is actively being wrought; thankfully, the characters seem to be forming in the background. So far, I am pretty comfortable with the idea that there will be a lady without living children who takes in an orphan with unusual skills. Add an almost elderly newspaper owner/editor/writer who's sweet on the lady and maybe a chic, top hat-wearing, mustachioed photographer. Of course, a few deserters of less than savory character, some starvation, a few cellars in which to hide from shelling, and a couple of hangings (maybe of said deserters). Big, big skirts. A vegetable garden. Likely a post-war excursion to Atlanta (I am currently reading a book about the lead up to and the burning of Atlanta).

I just had an idea! I have just written it down for incorporation into my plot outline. That said, I smile as I write this for my plot grows ever more trite. Nonetheless, I remain enthused.

Also, there has been travel. I went to Canada week before last. No computer access during the trip, so no daily blog posts, but I took notes. I shall put together some entries. Lots of critter sitting in October, so it may be a few weeks. If you're interested, my pictures are up on Flickr.

I'll just say that Vermont and Quebec are wonderful places to visit.

NASCAR is great!

2010-09-08T02:36:00.000+03:00

It is, it truly is. Oh, I know it's not for everyone, in fact, for most people I know and love, but it is for me. I think to experience it live is the key. When 43 cars go by at 190 mph, your heart vibrates in your chest and it is a good feeling. Then your hair is whipped by the backlash of all those cars punching through the air and your nose is filled with fumes of burnt fuel and melting rubber... It is great.

Here are my photos.

update

2010-09-03T02:12:00.002+03:00

A little snag because of a misunderstanding. With my doctor. I had to schedule another appointment with her for the middle of the month. I had to do this while sitting in her office not being seen by her. I was not a happy girl. I did try to keep my feelings off my face as the nurse working with me was doing her best to ameliorate the situation into something that wasn't a complete waste of my time. It was a complete waste of my time.

This two week delay likely won't make or break my chances, but it is certainly annoying.

And my representative from the medical review office will not answer her phone nor return my e-mail. Do I risk irritating her by sending another e-mail, leaving another message? It is disappointing; the regional office staff is responsive, professional and generally impressive. I should not be surprised as I've often found that the most difficult of government processes tend to be staffed by the most difficult people. My theory is that working in an environment like that, with people constantly wanting things from you that you cannot give or getting upset because they didn't listen to you the first time you told them what you needed and growing hostile when you tell them the same thing again, would daily erode your spirit and compassion for those seeking your services. Still, mine was a terribly polite message. Almost obsequious.

Happier thoughts... the Atlanta NASCAR Sprint Cup race is this weekend! Taking my Mom. I know. Crazy, but cool. I'll have a picture or two to share, I'm certain.

cake is irresistable

2010-08-28T06:41:00.000+03:00

It is. To me. Especially Piece of Cake cake. All year round, their caramel layer cake calls to me and in the summer, their strawberry layer cake. I've had maybe two pieces in the past year, so it's not like I'm going insane and listening to the call of the caramel cake, but occasionally, I must agree with the voice in my head that says "oy, cake. goooood cake". Mind you, I could eat four bites and be satisfied such is the richness of these cakes. But I don't. I eat at least half my generous slice and feel a sugar headache coming on... and I say thank you through my clenched teeth.

photos!

2010-08-28T03:00:00.004+03:00

On Flickr.

Here are a couple...

Abandoned buildings hold a fascination for me. Especially ones in the middle of densely packed urban areas. This one is across the street from Five Points station and the Sam Nunn Federal Building.

My hair. Love my haircut.

The van in which H. and I had our tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

new year

2010-08-27T00:55:00.003+03:00

Yes, it's my new year starting today. So, I entered and published the few posts I've written and not published because I thought they were boring or whatever. I shall let you be bored. Start my new year with some blogging. Only a wee bit, but it's something.

I've uploaded some pictures to my computer and will try to get those up this weekend. Random shots from the last two months of "oh, where is my camera". Including a picture of the oh-so-classy-yet-still-cool van that drove H. and I around the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Happy Birthday to me!

gathering, gathering, gathering

2010-08-26T02:55:00.003+03:00

So. I am still in the process of gathering the documentation for the medical review portion of my Peace Corps application. So far, I have the completed of have scheduled the following:
clinic for blood work
dentist for exam
clinic to pick up blood work
dentist for filling replacement
finding documentation in personally kept medical records
eye exam at doctor
physical exam visit at PCP
glasses at eye care place
follow up PCP visit for any shots needed
former allergist to obtain copy of records

Whee.

***

Putting together scavenger hunt CDs, I recently grew too annoyed that I didn't have all the music I own in my iPod. In the past few weeks, I've uploaded the mising 100 or so CDs. Best thing - my difficulty finding a song about food has been alleviated (thank you to the Dead Milkmen for giving me a song about monster food). With 7500 songs and 1300 podcasts to choose from, life is better. For free.

update

2010-08-17T01:44:00.002+03:00

Last week, I received my medical packet from the Peace Corps and have begun making appointments and obtaining documentation. Oy. I must really want to do this... money and time. It reminds me of the Habitat for Humanity requirement of their participant families - they must work along side the volunteer builders as well as take classes in home economy, maintenance, etc. Habitat calls it "sweat equity". For the Peace Corps, completing the medical review process is putting in sweat equity.

On a different subject, my weight loss has stalled, but I'm currently wearing a skirt that I could not wear just two months ago. I am going to stick with the idea that I'm converting fat into muscle and ignore the number on the scale. For now.

Knoxville

2010-08-10T02:46:00.006+03:00

Went to Knoxville this past Saturday to visit a friend from college. It was a good, quick visit. Easy and boring drive from Atlanta to Knoxville. Mostly green, bumpy land shot with streaks of grey highway. I love my iPod. I do, I do. It kept me awake.

A.'s little boy is the most adorable baby I've seen in a while. By this, I mean objectively adorable baby. My niece and nephew were cute at 9 months, but they're my niece and nephew, so I could be slightly biased. Anyone would say that A.'s baby is adorable. So cute. And solid. He is perfectly proportioned and sized for a 9-month-old, but he feels like he's filled with lead.

it's easy to forget how much stuff you have

2010-08-03T04:53:00.005+03:00

From a song I've been listening to by the Drums that has the line: The less you own, the more freedom you have. They are a jangly, youthful band.

I have been crittersitting the past week and returned to my own collection of things this evening. It is always a slap in the face, this return. A gentle slap, but certainly one to remind me that I need to purge. What do I need? Now is a good time to figure this out... even if I don't pass the suitability/competitive review, clearing my world of extraneous stuff is always a positive thing. Good Will could use some boxes filled with good stuff...

Saw Inception. It was good. Entertaining.

The Expendables

2010-07-30T05:24:00.001+03:00

Oh yes. I am terribly excited about this movie. Look at the cast! And those character names! Seriously. It cannot fail to entertain.

screen shot is from IMDB, page link here.

Nomination

2010-07-28T05:05:00.007+03:00

Today I received word that I have been nominated for a position in the Peace Corps. Eastern Europe, projected departure in March 2011.

In a few weeks, I should be receiving my packet of medical forms. Thus will begin the part of the process that leads the impatient to despair. The medical review is intensive and covers the minutia of an applicant's medical history. If I am diligent and can correctly anticipate their concerns, I may avoid throwing myself into the pit of despair. Here's hoping.

Once I pass the medical review, I must pass the final suitability review where they take into account my skills, my medical clearance level and available slots. There is a 40% chance that the assignment region/country will differ from that in my nomination. According to the calculator on Peace Corps Wiki, the top five countries to which secondary English teaching PCV are assigned are Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Romania and Mozambique. Yes, Mozambique. That said, there is the possibility that something random will happen in my assignment selection and so I am mentally prepared to be summer hot all year round.

It is petrifyingly exciting.

Peace Corps application process - as I understand it

2010-07-24T02:48:00.001+03:00

The Peace Corps Volunteer application process is a long one. First, you complete an application online with two essays and a medical questionnaire. You must submit the names and contact information of three recommenders. Once the application is complete and the three recommendations are in, you are invited to an interview. If you are seen as a good candidate for a position, the recruiter can nominate you on the spot. The nomination is for a general region and a tentative travel month.

The recruiter then forwards your nomination, along with supplemental documentation and notes from your interview, to the PC office in DC for initial processing by the medical office folks. They send you a packet of medical and dental forms that must be completed by your doctors and submitted along with x-rays, test results, etc. Once your medical clearance comes through, you are in the running for an invitation to serve. An invitation to serve is not guaranteed at this point.

The completed file is forwarded to a placement officer who then gives everything the final once over and conducts a suitability review; checking your background, interview notes, skills, and available positions for a match. If there is a match, you are sent an invitation including information about your specific position, country and departure date.

Peace Corps

2010-07-23T01:44:00.002+03:00

I have begun the process of applying to serve in the Peace Corps (teaching English). So far, and I am barely into the process, the most difficult thing is controlling my impulse to repeatedly call and e-mail and otherwise pester those who have graciously agreed to complete the long, thought-requiring recommendation form. It is unusual for me to have my life, my desires and decisions in the hands, under the control of someone else. It's driving me a little batty.

That's why I've decided to re-start this blog. Is this worth sharing? Obviously, I think so. In comparison to some of the other blogs I've read by Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) and applicants, most certainly. Some are entertaining, often enlightening, excellently told stories and others are filled with the sort of cloying, "I am a creative writer" writing that I want to slash with my red Sharpie. Those are often the ones written by an idealist whose idealism has run into the brick wall of tradition and broken its neck.

I do not delude myself that I will change the world or tradition in my two years, but I can give the kids I teach a different perspective. I can give them better English with which they may have more options in life. I hope to give them a window to other ways of thinking about their place in the world, a way to maybe start changing their world.

I have always believed that the most effective, the most lasting change comes from within.

photos on flickr

2010-06-09T01:26:00.003+03:00

Photos uploaded to Flickr from my trip to Montana and last weekend's Good Neighbor Airshow at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport.

Updates... the foster kitty was returned to her family. She seems happily resettled. The little girl is doing well, all things considered.

My English class has started up again. There are seven students on the roster and two showed Saturday. We were able to spend the first hour of class talking and still worked our way through two lessons. The main goal of the class is functional knowlege and comfort with speaking, so I'm quite alright with an hour of chat... fits right into my curriculum.

The classes are held in the elementary school of a private academy here in Atlanta; it was a bit surreal walking into the classroom as the school year is over and the room was filled with moving boxes and a damp, unclean carpet smell. I think I'll like having the class over summer as it means I don't have to take so much time to ensure the room is left exactly as the day teacher wants it.

Working on my application to the Peace Corps.

Working out a few days a week and, though I've not lost much weight, I look a little smaller.

Taking the GRE Thursday... yeah. We'll see.

Heading to Charlotte Saturday after class to see Phoenix! And, of course, tour Charlotte Motor Speedway.

more webcomics!

2010-05-15T03:24:00.003+03:00

These are another two of my favorites...

Dylan Meconis, Luther Levy. She has also done Bite Me - a comic for anyone who loves vampires and the French Revolution! Bite Me is a complete story.

John Allison, Bad Machinery. He is also known for ScaryGoRound. The first storyline for Bad Machinery has been completed and the new one has started rolling. Try it. I think you'll like it (it's my favorite of the favorites). Go on.

webcomics galore

2010-05-14T02:12:00.004+03:00

The first weekend in June, I am considering (trying to figure out how manage) going to Charlotteto attend a day of HeroesCon (a comic convention put on by the shop Heroes Aren't Hard To Find). Five of the eight webcomic artists I follow will be there. I have a major crush on the wit and talent of these folks, if not their actual persons. It will be fun (crossed fingers) to see what they might be like, however briefly, in person. Here are some links in case you'd like to see what I'm a little nuts over.

In no particular order...

Chris Hastings, Dr. McNinja. Note: this is not the beginning, but is quite a fabulous introduction. Judy is Dr. McNinja's receptionist.

David Malki, Wondermark

Anthony Clark, Nedroid... This strip is good, but this strip is also good.

Ryan North, Dinosaur Comics

Kate Beaton, Hark, A Vagrant!

One

2010-05-13T03:48:00.002+03:00

My nephew turned one last month. These two pics are from the gathering we had in celebration. Not the full party as had been planned because O. had had a fever the day before. The invited non-family declined to come because those involved were either on this side of recovering from an illness or bringing a wee bairn with them. So, just us. But it was good.

I uploaded photos to my computer last night... the last time I'd done that? February. I've no idea what lovely surprise photos are in store for me when I go through them this weekend.

So. Here's O. (the cake was a blue robot done by Aunt J - and it was cool)

And E. waiting for her turn at the cake. LOVE that hair. It makes her head look huge in this shot. It's really a lovely, normal sized head. She appears to have inherited her mother's texture and her father's curls.

Complacent?

2010-04-29T00:56:00.010+03:00

Complacent is a perfect example of why English is a grumpy bear of a language - meaning a) quiet satisfaction with one's situation or b) unconcerned.

Tuesday

2010-04-28T03:22:00.003+03:00

This year, I am paying attention to baseball. My binlaw and I were talking about the amazing amount of baseball stats out there. I find it amusing that the great American passtime involves so much math.

Here's a silly quote from an excellent source: "I'm a natural left-hander, but I bat and throw right-handed because that's the way I learned. But, I eat left and drink left and write left. I'm amphibious." - Dale Murphy

Phoenix

2010-04-27T01:11:00.003+03:00

Saturday I saw Phoenix at the Tabernacle. They weren't so awesome as when I saw them last, but it was still a good show (there were some tempo issues, some togetherness issues). Nonetheless, the band was energetic and fun.

Another overly enthusiastic Atlanta audience... The last time I saw Phoenix was before the band had been embraced by mainstream radio (sold out a venue capacity of 1800); Saturday's show at the Tabernacle was sold out (capacity of 2600). The difference between the audience at the Variety Playhouse show and the Tabernacle show is entirely due to the blood alcohol level of those additional 800 people.

Example: at the VP show, there was a chatty couple who stopped chatting as soon as I pointed out to them that others were there to hear the music. At the Tabernacle show, the dude behind me frequently let loose this ear piercing, equilibrium destroying frat boy holler in between hits on his skunk-weed filled pipe. Pair the contact high with that deep-throated, high-pitched vibrato-heavy holler that says "hey, look world, I am awesomely paying attention" and there were moments where I forgot my own name.

Another example: at VP, we sat in the balcony and had almost no smoke or spilled beverages in our area. At the Tabernacle show, I spent the second half of the show with my hand firmly on the sweaty small of some gigantor, posturing drunk guy to keep his overly muscled self at least 3 inches from me. I wore more of his beer than he drank.

It may be obvious that I prefer smaller shows populated mostly with an artist's devoted following. I know what to expect when it's an audience full of drunk cowboys or too cool for school hipsters. And then there's a certain bond formed when we are all singing along with every song. That bonding overcomes a measure of assholery.

bright futures

2010-04-16T03:41:00.002+03:00

I took a career exploration class today. At one point we were looking at the O*NET site (online occupational data; fabulous, if you're interested in source information for job descriptions). I found it amusing that two careers with 'bright futures' (their term, not mine - denoting growth of 10% or more in the next 8 years): 'Clergy' and 'Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Disorder Counselors'. There are many others, certainly, but those two make an amusing little snapshot.

Took a GRE practice test last night. Boom. Bits of my pride and confidence are sticking to the walls. I now fear that I shall fail in my efforts to master enough of the quantitative portion to not embarrass myself. I haven't given up studying, but it does feel a bit like climbing up a well shaft with only my fingers and toes.

The kitty I'm fostering is on her back and just crossed her paws over her cute little face. Jen and Scot, yours may be the cutest kitten in the world, but I think Audrey may give Katia an honest run for the title.

Monday-Thursday

2010-04-09T05:56:00.001+03:00

Monday was good until around 7:45pm. Left work early to meet my binlaw; we went to the Braves' season-opener. Fanfrickintastic. That's what a baseball game ought to be. In spite of the gaggle of drunken idiots about 10 rows behind us chanting incessantly - 19-0-8 (the last year the Cubs won the World Series) or Ja-son Hey-ward (the new phenom outfielder), I stayed un-annoyed the entire game.

Monday after 7:45pm was terrible. I got a call from a beloved friend with news that her daughter was in the hospital. Around 11pm, it was confirmed that said wee one has leukemia. I have been a bit distracted this week. The diagnosis and the entire situation leading to the diagnosis was the best way a terrible thing could happen and I think everyone is doing as well as can be expected. It will be a difficult month for them, but the prognosis is that a quick remission is likely and cure possible.

The nature of the treatment necessitates an all but sterile house, so tonight their cat came to live with us. Yes. We are now a five cat household. I am laughing through my tears. Getting her into the carrier was an ordeal; I've never put a cat into a carrier before. I know, it was a surprising realization; but then, it's the same with changing diapers... no one asks and I don't volunteer.

I imagine getting this very sweet cat into the carrier is like getting an octopus into a Coke bottle. Nonetheless, it was accomplished with no harm to either of us. After only an hour in her new kitty condo, she decided it was better to forgive me than forgo petting and all is well. Enough.

Thursday

2010-04-02T05:22:00.001+03:00

It occured to me this morning that volunteering to teach English is the best thing I have done in quite a while. It has revived me, it has revived my faith in my ability to use my brain sucessfully. I cannot quit my job, but I can buckle down and find something new. I am still studying for the GRE (albeit half-assedly), still planning on making applications to grad school in May, and I've just begun planning a trip for September-ish.

Plans are good. Plans are restorative.

Wednesday

2010-04-01T01:12:00.004+03:00

Lately, I have found myself listening to (what I think is) top 40 music. I flip between two stations, 99.7 and 105.7. The latter used to be Viva! ciento cinqo punto siete; now, it is 105.7 The Groove. Dancey, disco, cheesy pop, but I am drawn to it as I am drawn to trashy romance novels. Musical escapism. How can you not enjoy a song that makes you laugh with lyrics such as "But thanks for lovin' me 'cause you're doing it perfectly" paired with a catchy tune and bouncy beat? I'm smiling even now. Also, occasionally, a fabulous memory will come on, like 'Get Your Back Off The Wall' or 'Billie Jean'. Officially, the format is called "rhythmic adult contemporary"... sounds like a dance class for middle-aged housewives. I kind of like that.

Last Saturday, as I was spending much time driving hither and yon, I was listening to the weekly countdown. It is like being given a glimpse into another world. My iPod is playing Metric, Seawolf and Elbow and my radio is playing Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga.

I have always wondered why muffins are considered breakfast food. They bring to mind the Bill Cosby bit about cake for breakfast. I had a perfect cherry almond muffin this weekend, from Fresh Market. I had one yesterday afternoon, too. Again, I succumbed to late afternoon eating as entertainment. Sigh. I miss the days of having a job so busy I didn't have time to look out the window.

anyone still out there?

2010-03-31T01:31:00.004+03:00

I've again hit the point where a blog seems silly. That said, you listen to me when we're having a conversation, and this is a bit like a one-sided conversation. I'll pretend it's one of those times when I'm hyper and don't stop for breath.

Spring. When it is not soft and lovely, the air is filled with the cloying stench of bradford pear tree blossoms. A top heavy and unimaginative landscaping fall-back. It could be that I'm anti-flowering tree becuase they cause me nasal annoyance. This could also be why I consider Georgia pines to be tall, strong weeds. Soon, I'll be able to watch billowing clouds of chartreuse pollen coming from the trees by the parking deck at work. It gives me shivers to think about it.

Most things are well.

stuff and things

2010-02-09T05:14:00.003+02:00

The neighbor down the street was using his chainsaw at 8-o-clock at night in 35 degree weather. He is scary.

I've taught two classes of the English class. The second class went much better - I was only about 20% terrible. And maybe even 20% quite good. That would be the 20% of class where I tossed out candy for correct answers. I am not above bribery, no ma'am. The class did go well, on the whole. I had all but three of the 13 initial class show up and an additional 5 enrolled this past Saturday. Next week will be the test... how many will come back for more? I don't think the class is boring, but I fear I may not be as well understood as I think I am.

Domestic day, yesterday. After breakfast with JJeo (sister, binlaw, niece, nephew), I made lots of cranberry oatmeal cookies, southern caviar and chex mix. Then I watched the Superbowl. I will say that most of the commercials disappointed me, but I do understand that I am not of the testosterone influenced target audience. I must also mention The Who. The performance made me a little sad, despite the amazingness of the light display.

I've started math review for the GRE. Oy. More math knowledge has leeched from my brain than I had anticipated.

Going to Nashville this Saturday evening for a concert with H. and E. Sondre Lerche (note: link plays a clip) at 12th & Porter. A 24-hour girl's night out. Two of my favorite people going with me to hear one of my favorite artists.

Upon returning to Atlanta, I will hunker down on the couch to watch a few hours of fast cars turning left. The Daytona 500! Happy indeed am I that race season is here. I shall be happier still come 7:30 a.m. March 14th when the Formula 1 begins in Bahrain.

Happy New Year?

2010-02-01T04:17:00.008+02:00

I've had thoughts of posting more often... at least once a month. So, naturally, I wait until 3 hours before February. Close enough.

Not too much to report. I'm taking the GRE. In April. I've not studied for anything in years. The idea of studying inspires more anxiety than the idea of taking the test. Perhaps to be baldly shown all that I do not know is a lurking fear.

I've started volunteer teaching an English as a second language class. The first session was this past Saturday; it was not my best moment. Nonetheless, the class was friendly and kind and I am confident I will improve. If I have 3 of 13 students show up next Saturday, then I'll know that I was worse than I thought. Odd thing about it was that I didn't feel nervous. I wasn't confident, but I wasn't nervous. Maybe this is a good sign. I'm going to pick up some candy this week and find some games to liven up my "teaching"... maybe I can bribe students to come back.

On another plane, I will not let myself complain about work any more. It does no good and only serves to irritate or enliven sympathetic outrage in those who hear my tales. Rather, I will focus my energies on my nascent and long-term plan to make things better.

Before I go, here's a picture... Dad and I went to the Falcons game Sunday after Christmas. Beautiful sun, lovely walk from Peachtree Center to the Dome.

Here's J. and J.

Random things...

2009-10-23T05:50:00.005+03:00

There are new pictures on Flickr! I am quite proud of myself. I've been holding photos in my camera since July 18th. That's sad. So, no longer sad.

***

Nanowrimo starts in 9 days. I have a premise, the main character's name and a bit of his background. Currently, I am researching for the setting; luckily for me, I've hit upon an idea that incorporates my newest obsession - tower cranes - into the story. The research is fun.

My hope is to actually finish this year... 1,667 words doesn't seem like a lot until you have to crank out that or more every day for a month. Last year was the first year I seriously considered finishing, but, alas, I was about 30,000 words shy. This year... maybe a year of accomplishment?

Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop Rock

2009-10-20T03:01:00.004+03:00

I am a silly, giddy girl today. Too little sleep and lots of happy thoughts to fill my brain. This weekend was flippin' fantastic.

Alzheimer's Walk Saturday morning was cold and a bit too loosely organized, but a good time was had for a worthy cause. My parents, my aunt, my sister/binlaw and the kidlets came. Also, a friend from work showed up randomly... she and I walked together at a much faster pace.

Saturday evening I was privileged to see Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop (of Travis). They're traveling across the U.S. doing an "evening with" show where Fran talks about the songs and their origins; there is a slide show and, of course, wonderful music. I could have wished for a bit more of Andy's guitar playing, but I'm not complaining. A treasured experience.

After the show we queued to buy merchandise - along with most everyone who attended. One of the two crew guys on the tour (the sound tech, I think) was selling the merch while Fran and Andy stood at a table signing everyone's stuff and taking pictures. They are so gracious! The sound guy, too. We waited just over an hour and there were still as many people behind as had been in front of us. Just at the end of the line the crew guy (I wish I knew his name so I could pretend to be all personal with him, too) was chatting with us. Friendly, good natured about the whole thing. He even apologized about it taking so long!

When we got to the table the guys shook our hands and asked our names - and spellings! - for signing our CDs. Fran also complimented H.'s hair. They asked us if we wanted to take a picture. They seem genuinely surprised that Travis are so genuinely loved here. Bless S. for documenting every concert he attends for we had a camera with us and the next person in line took the picture. She took a second one at Fran's urging, to make certain it turned out well. It did. H., S., and I have a radioactive glow of delight (no, that's not just the flash). Pictures taken, encounter to be over and Fran and Andy made a point of shaking our hands again. I thought H. might pass out on the spot, but her lungs kept moving air and all was well.

I have to say that Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop are two of the most gracious artists I've met.

I also must say I was proud to be a member of that Atlanta audience. There was one point in the show where Fran asked the audience not to film or take pictures because he was going to put up a private picture, a picture of his son. As far as I could see (and I was able to see most of the audience from my spot in front of the sound booth), this request was respected.

Here we are:

Music

2009-09-25T03:23:00.002+03:00

Lately, I have been listening to new music. It's a new addiction. Yay, I needed another one. It is a source of pleasure, this new music; something to keep the monotony of my day from becoming oppressive.

Yesterday, I bought the new Whitney Houston cd. Curiosity. I find that I like it. On the way to work, I was kept entertained. The first song is especially fun - a disco-flavored number. A few songs in and I had the strange sensation of visiting a new place. My current listens are mostly new bands with little production polish; I happily imagine their live shows won't be too far off the recorded tracks. To listen to a highly polished, widely accessible sound was novel. Houston's voice has changed, it is raspier, deeper. Still strong, but there are fewer sustained power-ballad bits.

Just thought I'd share.

I'm off to Birmingham this weekend. Should be fun. Going to a the film festival.

DC

2009-09-20T18:29:00.005+03:00

As my mother pointed out yesterday, I've not written a blog entry since mid-July.

Last weekend was a good weekend, I'll start there. Friday - 9/11 - I flew to DC to spent the weekend with my friend from college, M. M. is one of those valued friends with whom each visit is a continuation of the last, even if it has been a few years. We planned to be museum goers Saturday and have a lazy Sunday wandering around Alexandria, but I must confess that Friday was the most fun for me.

I landed at DCA round 5pm and headed straight to the 9:30 Club. A few weeks after I'd bought my plane ticket, I read that Sondre Lerche (pronounced Ler-key - Norwegian, you know) would be playing the 9:30 that Friday. Yipee! M. was game so I bought tickets thinking "this will be a nice show"; the 9:30 Club is one of my favorite venues for size and spot-on acoustics. Better than expected, it was fantastic. Sondre Lerche is an amazing guitarist. Sheer enjoyment pasted a silly grin on my face for most of the show. In fact, I had post-show blues (a rare occurrence for me). If you ever have a chance to see Sondre Lerche live, take it! He's not only a gifted musician, but quite a charmer with startling blue eyes.

After the show we went to a bar/restaurant in Alexandria for nachos and beer. Weight Watchers? What's that?

Saturday, a leisurely breakfast at home prepared us to head into DC. Alas. I did not know that there would be a protest against healthcare reform held in DC or we would not have ventured into town. What happens when a protest of 30,000 folks disbands? Bands of highly opinionated, sign-wielding folks become tourists. Ugh. Double ugh. Thank goodness most of them were uninterested in our primary destination - the Sackler. We went to the exhibit Tsars and the East: Gifts from Turkey and Iran in the Moscow Kremlin. Extravagant, opulent, frighteningly valuable. One scabbard was decorated with as many as a hundred rubies and emeralds. Not tiny little Mervyn's jewelry counter rubies and emeralds, but thumbnail size beauties. Fascinating stuff.

Most of the pieces were intended as ceremonial accouterments and it does indeed remind one that money is power.

After this peaceful, enchanting, uncrowded exhibit we headed to the American History museum. Yes, silly girls. It did not occur to us that all those anti-healthcare reform folks would decide THIS was where they needed to be. I must say though, that you all should be proud of me for my restraint during the walk across the mall. Not once did I provoke a person carrying one of the ubiquitous Obama-as-Batman's-Joker signs. I was in a mood to start a fight; the stink of hypocrisy is almost unbearably provoking.

So. We enter the American History museum and I immediately recognize our error.

I had wanted to see the First Ladies' inaugural dresses and M. wanted to see Julia Child's kitchen. First Ladies - 20 minute wait in a cordoned line. Never mind. Straight to Julia Child's kitchen. Down the stairs and around the corner to a space that brings to mind reclaimed hallway. The surprisingly small kitchen is set against the wall with plexiglass sealing off the entrances so that you can look into the kitchen from three angles. I did get a quick glimpse (it was surprisingly small, but the sort of kitchen you'd be happy to sit down in and have a cup of tea and a chat). Thing is, there's a side exhibit of extrania (a "real" enough word for me) that rings the kitchen. Between the glassed-in kitchen and the glassed in extrania, you have a four-foot wide walkway around the kitchen. Fill this with about a hundred self-absorbed, overheated, likely hungry tourists and, you guessed it, I lasted about 62 seconds. Sitting on the bench (excellent museum design) that rings this exhibit, I quietly waited for M.

That was the end of our museuming. No loss. Purpose of visit: time with M. We bonded in our bitching about protester-tourists.

On our way home, we stopped at a lovely wine/gourmet shop staffed with delightful people. With the liquid restrictions for carry-ons, I had to purchase M.'s gift there. A nice bottle of Chianti. Not the one I wanted, but close. We picked up three new cheeses, a loaf of crusty French bread, and a small bar of Scharfenberger dark chocolate. Dinner, check.

Sunday was indeed a lazy day of wandering Alexandria, marveling at the crowds and returning to the house to have pizza and work on a jigsaw puzzle.

I'll post pictures... eventually.

touristing

2009-07-16T02:05:00.004+03:00

I went touristing Monday and Tuesday. Friends in from out of town. Zoo, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, and Fernbank Natural History Musuem.

More to come on the touristing experience. Photos too, but not now. Must assemble niece's birthday present and cut up vegetables for the party tomorrow.

This afternoon, my sister had the niece her latest parlor trick for me. J. put the phone to e.'s ear and I asked "how old are you e.?". A slight hesistation and then her clear, round tone and slightly drawn out answer "two" comes through. Awwww. Cute, right? You know it is. Every new word is a delightful surprise.

clean car

2009-07-15T02:04:00.000+03:00

The other day, in the parking lot at work, I did a double-take. Is that really my car? She's a newer, brighter, lighter color. It is amazing. Even a week after washing.

Newness is good. Change is good. I've signed up for a step-aerobics class that meets after work (in one of the conference rooms) Tuesdays and Thursdays. It started in January, but I didn't sign up because I prefer to keep the separation between work and personal. That said, I have signed up because I've done nothing on my own - not walking, not a gym membership, not even taking the stairs at work. This is a change and I think it will be good. Though I don't like the additional familiarity this will bring with some of my colleagues, it cannot be helped.

July, July

2009-07-07T01:51:00.007+03:00

Yes, I still live. Living normally, boringly. Well, not boring so much as quiet. I haven't been writing much of anything lately... Even my work e-mails have grown excessively to the point. I fear people will start thinking of me as that snippy bitch. I might be okay with that.

I don't remember when or what I last posted... why don't I go look? Okay. Done.

Since my last posting I:
* saw one of the best concerts ever - The Decemberists supported by Blind Pilot (fantastic engery in the bands and the crowd)
* have thrice experienced the wonder that are Taqueria del Sol's nutty shrimp tacos (in the same week! no, it's not an addiction, I don't need any help)
* had my hair cut and colored (I'll post a picture another day)
*have begun to enjoy Portrait of a Lady
* spent a week in a very hot place called "Texas"
* have not been reading Shakespeare (but have seen Midsummer's Night Dream and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Georgia Shakespeare)
* have seen my nephew go from alien to baby almost overnight

Not in that order. June was a good month. Funny how it doesn't always feel that way when you're in it...

As for my enjoying Portrait of a Lady, at the start, James' prose made me tired and I could read only three or four pages before needing a rest. Now I'm up to 15 at a stretch! That man did love to use as many words as possible. It took my sadly atrophied brain a while to be able to process so many words used to convey a simple point. Here's an example:

"He was not a great walker, but he strolled about the grounds with his cousin - a past time for which the weather remained favourable with a persistency not allowed for in Isabel's prevision of the climate; and in the long afternoons, of which the length was but the measure of her gratified eagerness, they took a boat on the river, the dear little river as Isabel called it, where the opposite shore still seemed a part of the foreground of the landscape; or drove over the country in a phaeton - a low, capacious, thick-wheeled phaeton formerly much used by Mr. Touchett, but which he had now ceased to enjoy."

I wonder if the typesetter charged by the sentence rather than the word. Now that I've adjusted to James' style, I find the images and sense of mood and lighting conveyed by all the many words are beautiful and interesting and wonderful.

Here is my niece:

Here is her family unit... Not the best picture of J, but they were all laughing and I like it, so I figure he'll forgive me.

I have again fallen in love with the MINI Cooper. Now I want a MINI Cooper Clubman in British Racing Green with carbon fiber mirror casings, rather than the red MINI Cooper that called my name a few years ago. From what I have read, MINIs are wonderfully well-running or they are a notch above lemon. No immediate plans to purchase, but the saving has begun.

Here's a picture of the car I will one day own (but in British Racing Green, of course):

Words

2009-06-03T02:35:00.001+03:00

After about a year of mostly flufftastic literature (i.e. bodice rippers and teenage vampire love stories), the prime exception being Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman, it is time again to use my brain. I'm currently reading (Life and Fate is still there, I'm plugging along) The Assault by Harry Mulisch. It is making me think again and this is good. Life and Fate should inspire thoughtful analysis, but I started reading it when I was still in mental hibernation and find myself reading for story and character more so than insight and meaning. Hopefully, now that I'm awake, I'll get more from the second half of the book.

I have decided to read Shakespeare this summer. All the plays. Even Romeo and Juliet which shall be put off until last because I don't really care much for that one because of the story (okay, I loathe it). My mom has a heavy tome from her college days "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare". It will require reading at a table for I don't believe I can hold the book upright for any length of time nor set it in my lap for fear of cutting off circulation to my legs. Still. It is every play in one place and I don't have to buy anything.

I currently have an aversion to bookstores. My stack of unread new and borrowed books is a heavy presence and has finally reached guilt-inducing status. The Assault was pulled from this tower, thus have I begun to chip away at my guilt. I do go to Borders once a month, in the last week of each month to pick up the latest copy of F1Racing, but I do not stray upstairs to where they have books. Yes, they do have books downstairs, but the chocolate at the register is a greater temptation.

My brain is waking up in other areas, as well. My Nanowrimo idea from last year is still appealing and, now that I've found a placed to set my story, I'm thinking about it every day. The setting is central California as I remember it from childhood. My memory tends to mist things into a loveliness that might not have ever existed, so it still isn't a real place. Nonetheless, setting the story in a place I would like to spend more time has resparked my desire to write. I know I will, one far distant day, finish this thing.

200k Yay!

2009-05-21T03:43:00.010+03:00

I don't have one of the actual 200,000 because, you know, I was focused on that whole driving thing. It was cool to watch all of the numbers on my odometer flip at the same time. 200,000 miles. In 11 years and one month. Yay! Go little Honda! Maybe I shall celebrate by cleaning her.

These photos happened because the light was lovely. The kind of sunshine that makes everything (even telephone poles and highways) look pretty. Well, they looked pretty to me through my sunglasses with the wind blowing and great music on the radio. Sunshine can be such a good thing.

And here's a random one of my niece and parents...

And this, to me, is motherhood... constant motion.

sigh

2009-05-20T02:35:00.004+03:00

At work, we are currently in the midst of a rennovation - nifty new cubes, moving the executive suite, etc. I am in the building wholly leased by the company and they are building out 2/3 of my floor to house the executives. In a tasty bit of conversation, I learned today that the original plan had been to secure the executive side of the floor. Yes. Secure, as in my badge would give me access into my side of the floor, but not "theirs". To be fair, this idea was scrapped late last year when the new Director came on board; nonetheless, I am horrified by the idea that it was even a possiblity. To lock the doors against the lower orders as if we'd rampage to the executive suites and steal the silver...

Add to this the fact that, recently, two of our three coffee pots were taken away. Now, for our section of the floor (about 40 folks), we have one pot. One. You can have decaf OR regular, neither of which is worth drinking.

Resume, oh resume, wherefore art thou not current?

random thoughs...

2009-05-19T02:35:00.002+03:00

The fates are conspiring to remind me that I am no longer in my 20s. At work the other day, I noticed a grey hair. Okay, no big deal, I'll snip it out when I get home. That night at home, I'm standing in the brightly lit bathroom, brushing my hair this way and that. I find the offending hair, snip it out and catch sight of another, and another, and another. I stopped snipping. Here's hoping I take after my grandmother - all over salt and pepper.

Yesterday I was listening to a CD and it occurred to me that I have been listening to this album since its release 20 years ago. This blew my mind. I do listen to (and need to listen to) new music, but there are favorites to which I return. For more than 20 years in a few cases. This may not seem like such a great revelation to you, but it put things into perspective for me. Especially because this isn't music I heard on the radio as a kid - would all who had a crush on Michael Jackson circa Thriller please raise their hand - but music chosen as an aware being looking for something different.

Alas, no more clinging to the idea that I'll reach my health goals and will fit the image I have secreted away in the back of my mind. I shall have to let that image go. I may obtain the hot bod (may), but I'll not be young and hot. No, stop. I can hear you now. No, I am not saying that I'm old, as "old" is mostly in the mind. I am saying that I am past the optimistic, shiny age. I am an adult of Mom-age headed towards Grandma-age.

****

Yesterday I went with my Dad to see Star Trek. I loved it! LOVED it. In the same way I loved the recent Speed Racer. Take the old beloved and give it a nice acid wash. It made me laugh each time a catch phrase came up. I hope I was supposed to laugh, I think I was. I don't think I would have enjoyed the movie if it took itself seriously.

Simon Pegg as Scotty was inspired. I love both the actor and the character, so it was a Reeses moment. My only complaint was the score. So loud, so present it was a character in it's own right; that may have been intentional, but I was annoyed by the obviousness of it. Still, I can't wait for the next one.

What was once old is new again.

2009-05-09T04:21:00.002+03:00

I had an "oh, hell, am I really that old?" moment the other day. A kid was wearing tight jeans, well-beaten Converse All-Stars, a red and black check scarf over a white t-shirt with a frayed, once dark blue jean jacket. A flashback to early-teen awkwardness. Not that I was cool enough to wear that particular outfit to the mall. Oh, no. I was what is referred to, in faux politesse, as husky; clothing choices were limited. Thankfully, things are different now. There are fewer girls wandering around in black Madonna inspired lace ensembles, for one, and I no longer have to wait for my mom to pick me up outside Mervyn's. That and I may still be husky, but now I can own it wtihout shame.

I have also recently noticed that many of the bands I'm listening to, the bands that are new to me, are channeling the 80s. Monomen, stellastarr*, The Fascination Movement. Someone beat them wtih the pretty end of the 80s stick. So, naturally, I'm digging through the archives and revisiting old favorites. I have to confess a refreshed opinion that "Your Love" by the Outfield is the best skeevy song EVER. The link will take you to the delightfully 80s video on YouTube

Nephew

2009-05-02T05:05:00.003+03:00

Late, late, but I think you who read this already know. I have a nephew. O. Born April 19 at 9:19pm, coming in at 19 inches and just under 7 pounds. He is wee.

He's still alien-like and a bit of a life lump, but he looks just like my niece did at this age, so I am confident he'll at least grow to be adorable.

My sister is doing well. My niece is adjusting well to the disturbance in her perfect world. My binlaw is staying home the first four weeks to help and it is a wonderful thing. Bless those that enacted the Family Medical Leave Act.

I confess...

2009-05-02T04:55:00.004+03:00

I am a fan of Obamas the way I am a fan of Tilda Swinton. I love them. I don't care what their politics are, I love their style, their aura of better than real reality. I was on the front page of French Yahoo and, apparently, the French feel the same way. Sure, it's a bit like watching fish in a bowl, with the pretty staging and fake plants, but we all like watching fish in a bowl. It's soothing.

Can I just say how much I love this? The White House on Flickr.

Nephew

2009-04-25T05:09:00.002+03:00

My nephew was born this past Sunday night at 9:19 pm, April 19, 19 inches long and 6 lb 13 oz. He is crusty and looks like an alien and I am in love. A few months from now he'll look like himself, but right now he looks like most babies - exactly like his sister did when she was fresh. He's got this hoarse cry when he's being changed or is hungry and occasionally he tries to fling his head around, but mostly he just sleeps. It's like holding a warm fuzzy to your chest.

I'll post a picture or two maybe this weekend.

I'm going to sleep now. I've been helping the sister and binlaw as much as they like and I'm tired. Reason 3,456 that I won't be birthing my own kidlettes... less than 6 hours of sleep a night for more than a couple of nights and I can barely remember my own name.

rainy Monday

2009-04-13T22:50:00.014+03:00

I had an appointment with a career counselor this morning. She is insightful and has 20 years experience in the field of career exploration; I am looking forward to working with her. Since college I have fallen into each of my jobs and I think the time is now to be proactive. Wish me luck.

I have finally uploaded my photos to Flickr from my most recent visit to Texas.

Here's one... Dallas and granite cows.

E. and I were driving about and stopped at this little park off Sylvan Road. Upon pulling into our parking space, I informed her that I had to take pictures of the granite cows. Only in Texas.

That evening we went to see a play. It was a surreal play that I, after reflection, believe I enjoyed. At the moment of experience, it was a little jarring. Afterwards it was sushi at Sushiyama with E, S, and friends of S. Interesting conversation - S., an artist, E. a writer, a playwrite, an actor, a grad student studying martial arts, his wife, a videographer, and an IT geek. Yes. I was a touch out of my element, but hey, I can keep quiet when I need to...

Across the street from the theater was this random shot I like:

Saturday I met up with T. and the bunch in Willow Park. We had a nice day.

Sunday was NASCAR day. Up at 7:30, spackled on the SPF 70 sunscreen on all potentially exposed skin. Left the house around left house at 9:15 and stopped at McDonald's for coffee and an egg mcmuffin. Cooooofffffeeee. It was frickin' cold. Cold and windy. The weather forecast had been for warm weather, so I'd brought summer clothes - the best in which to sit in the sun all day I thought. Luckily, one of these items was a pair of pants with zip-off legs.

The track is in the middle of a vast region of Texas flatness. Nothing to break the wind but a few buildings and the sea of RV trailers. The wind continued fierce and cold all day. Things were straining to break free and fly to Oklahoma. To make a sandwich, the bread was held by one person as another added everything to make a sandwich. The wind caught the stream of mustard and throughout the day I found mustard in strange places on my jacket.

Our seats were on the back stretch and the stands were wonderfully full, unlike Atlanta. Our seats were low, row 7. I'd say less than 10 yards from the cars. Pros: noise, rubber bits flying, close to the cars. Cons: noise, rubber bits flying, close to the cars. We could only see 1/4 of the track well... next time I think we'll have to get higher seats because not being able to follow the cars around the track gets kind of boring. Yes, Mom, I know you can only imagine. That being said, it was a good spot to take photos:

Jeff Gordon - my other friend T.'s favorite - won. It was wonderful. My guy came in second and it was a good finish for him, so we were all happy. As we were heading to the highway, I was arrested by the sight of the sunset glittering on the sea of trailers. Of course I snapped numerous shots.

NASCAR in Texas

2009-04-01T02:35:00.003+03:00

Yes, it's that time again. I head off to Texas Thursday. I had contemplated skipping his weekend's race in favor of a more financially conservative staying at home and watching it on t.v., but there's a Chris Knight show at the Granada Thursday. I knew it was destined for me to be in DFW this weekend.

I am so excited.

F1, doll

2009-03-31T06:22:00.003+03:00

Yes. Formula 1. The first race of the year was Sunday. I still haven't finished it! I know, it's killing me to have to stay away from all my F1 reading, but I hope to finish watching the race tonight or tomorrow.

Not much to write about. I have these flashes of brilliance or at least moderately entertaining thoughts a couple of times a day, but usually when I'm flying down the freeway or in the shower. By the time I am able to write, all that's left is the vague recollection that isn't worth sharing with myself. So. Not so much writing to do tonight.

I gave H. her Christmas gift las week. I know. A touch over 3 months late isn't so bad, I think. She laughed and was happy. I made her a doll. The doll was intended to resemble, loosely, the 10th Dr. Who (played by David Tennant - a YouTube link). H. likes Dr. Who and adores David Tennant. As you see below, the doll is a bit on the generic side. We decided he could be any tall, brunette British actor she chooses him to be.

a mean, Longhorn loving bunny.

2009-03-20T02:51:00.003+02:00

For my friend T., a Longhorns fan, I made this mean bunny. T. needs some love at work and who better to squeeze than a mean bunny in your favorite colors?

He's got bad posture, but hey, he's got eyes narrowed in mean-spiritedness.

musical memories...

2009-03-20T02:06:00.003+02:00

On the way to work this morning I listened to a CD from my high school music. Not that I was cool enough to have a CD player in high school. Ha. No, this is a CD purchased a few years into college. I thought, this morning, that it would be fun to hear HUP by the Wonder Stuff. 1989. Enjoyable, but not so much fun.

I started thinking of how annoying the music of my high school self must have been to my parents. The music isn't awful, but it is a bit silly and 1989ish. The other music I listened to in high school, the music no longer in my current rotation might just annoy me now. Most of HUP did this morning. To be truthful, there are some tracks on the album that still resonate, but most I skipped after the first verse.

No matter how silly my music occasionally was, I still think it leaps and bounds better than what was on pop radio at the time. Not that I listened to the radio in high school. No car, no reason to listen to the radio much; that and my radio in my room didn't get Album 88, the only station to listen to if you were cool. And I did want to be cool, never quite got there. It's good to be a grown up. Any hoo, my twice daily ride on the bus exposed me to pop radio at the time. Two songs come immediately to mind because they seemed to be played morning and afternoon - "Just the way it is, baby" by the Rembrandts (you remember, "baby" is said something like 72 times in the song) and "Waiting for a star to fall" by Boy Meets Girl. I'm not linking the songs because, if you want to have them rip through your brain on an incessant loop, I won't give you the tool to heap the blame on me. They are terribly catchy, you remember. More hook than song. A bit like the CD I put in this morning. Funny how that works.

I've been listening to the NPR All Songs Considered podcasts. Started with early 2007. I'm a little proud of myself that I know about more than half the bands featured so far. A small point of pride, but it's there nonetheless. I need more new music in my life. My favorite podcasts are about South By Southwest in Austin (this year's is going on this week/end). Not a festival I could attend with my aversion to crowds of drunk young people, but it is a wonderful thing that SXSW exists.

pollen, The Antagonist

2009-03-17T02:05:00.004+02:00

Wrote, but not posted Monday...

Rainy Monday.

I can't complain. It drags the pollen from the air and off the trees. The world is about to go yellow. As I turned off the car in the parking lot at work last week, I noticed a pine tree covered in pregnant buds. Buds poised to burst into clouds of yellow. Sperming tree time in the land of the Georgia pine. It is the time when every car becomes the same color as the ground, as the trees, as the air. That not-lovely shade of yellow tinted with a sickly green. No open windows, very little sitting outside to enjoy the air for the air is foul. The eyes and throat and sinsuses are irritated and puffy and assaulted every moment out of doors. It is as if the air is filled with many a tiny mace.

On a happy note... a webcomic I look forward to following... The Antagonist. Very cool.

photos of NASCAR

2009-03-15T19:55:00.004+02:00

It's cold and rainy outside. So, I finished sorting my photos.

Here.

This was one of my views...

This is the last turn before the green flag drops. A great moment.

It was a climb... I told you it was.

My new hair. Love it.

weather, hair, car, comic

2009-03-13T04:17:00.009+02:00

Yesterday was another gorgeous day. The drive in to work was pretty. The moon was full and low on the horizon. When I got to Buckhead, the sky was just beginning to lighten and there were wispy clouds crossing the moon, which was between the buildings. At that time of day, looking away from the nascent sunrise, the buildings have this lovely shiny blue quality. It was beautiful and you know I would never be accused of having a soft spot for Buckhead.

I had a lovely lunch with the sister and niece and then went to have my hair cut. I love it. It's a bit more trendy than I would have asked for, but I like it.

Here it is... in the two photos I took in the bathroom of the salon the choice is surprised or angry. This one was better for the hair.

I also had J. take a before picture and, while it is a good picture of me in that it accurately portrays my face, I don't like it. I look like my age. Ick. I am fine with my age, it is a good age, but I hate that I am now looking like a 34-year-old woman. That, more than anything, makes me feel unwell about my birthday this year.

Here is a shot of the side/back. Great shape.

Wednesday driving home I thought, traffic was oddly light. Good thing, too, because my car died. Driving along, thinking about what to have for dinner and all of a sudden it feels as if I've taken my foot off the gas. I hadn't. Luckily a police car pulled up behind me not five minutes later and blocked what little traffic was there so I could roll back down the hill into the Mrs. Winner's parking lot to wait for the tow truck. Yay for me. But I have to say, the cop was lovely and didn't treat me like a stupid girl. Though, I did remark that the first question every one asks - my dad, the cop, the AAA operator, the tow truck guy - do you have fuel? Yes. I do. I guess it's the car equivalent of "is the computer plugged in?".

My love of Rome the t.v. series has spawned a general interest in Rome. I came across a webcomic by way of eternallycool.net - SPQR Blues (click on it and it will take you to the first strip), drawn by Klio. Love it. Not funny in a comics sort of way, but a compelling saga set in a city just outside of Pompeii in the years before Vesuvius blew. History geeks of the world unite!

Another NASCAR experience

2009-03-10T05:04:00.001+02:00

Another NASCAR experience for you to read about. Yay for you!

Yes. It was fantastic. I do, I can't help it, I just love it. The the rumble of the engines, the crisp smell of the exhaust after that first lap, the sun, the wind. Even the drunk, sunburnt rednecks making friendly. They're friendly, not creepy. Most of the time, I am an island surrounded by folks who do their best to put on the pretense of polite interest but really couldn't care less. It's a neat feeling to be in a place where 100,000 others are as thrilled about being there as I am.

We parked around 10. The weather was a bit overcast, a bit chilly. After settling in, T. and I went to look at the wares for sale. The "shops" are semi-trailers converted into shiny, fancy store fronts. There were long lines for most of the top drivers and someone at almost every "shop" - there were a couple of sadly lonely cashiers, but not many. It amazes me how much stuff is sold at a NASCAR race. At Jimmie Johnson's "shop", most of the t-shirts were sold out of large and x-large.

I bought a nifty t-shirt and a new sticker for my car (I went to the self-wash last week and the power rinse blew my 48 sticker off and into the drain). Once I wash the shirt (and shrink it a bit for even the medium is generous on me - who knew!), I'll post a photo. Once I get my photos on the computer, I'll post many. Or maybe not. I have reached the point where it is easy to cull the photos as most of them look like most of the ones taken at any other race.

After shopping and people gazing, we had lunch - grilled shrimp and burgers - before heading to the track around one. Then we climbed. And climbed. Our seats were three rows from the last row of the grandstand at turn four. Great view - fantastic seats, I think, but there were about 80 bleacher steps from the ground to our seats. Up, up, up into the sun and mountain wind. It felt like mountain wind.

There is certainly a character from Greek mythology to reference, but I cannot think of the exact one. T. suggested Sisyphus, but we did get to sit down before the boulder of drinking too much beer rolled back downhill. On the return from my one trip to the toilet, mid-race, I began the climb and was physically reminded of how dehydration weakens the muscles... I pushed through and made it to my seat in one go. I would not stop half-way to rest. If the corpulent drunk guy sitting in front of me made it in one go, I certainly was. Once.

The race wasn't the most entertaining I've been to as a race, but the confluence of unexpectedly perfect weather and my frame of mind made this the most enjoyable race so far. It was like the first time only better. It still has me in a good mood. Even after a day of work.

I very much look forward to my next race - April 5th at Texas Motor Speedway. Good company, good food, and more noise and soot and fumes than one could hope for! Woo hoo.

Dialog in the Dark

2009-03-09T05:13:00.004+02:00

Last Tuesday, I went to Dialog in the Dark last night. It is an experience in sightlessness. You are handed a cane and led to a dimly lit room. The lights fade out and you're met by your tour guide - all the guides are legally, if not totally, blind. S/he leads you down a path that includes a park setting, a grocery store, going up a ramp, crossing a street. There are six people in each group.

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't what I expected. I was a little disappointed, mostly because we were forced to share physical space. There were few moments when I wasn't bumping into or inadvertently touching the back or elbow of one of the others. I imagine the experience of sightlessness to include many moments of isolation, of finding your way alone. That was not possible during Dialog In The Dark. Their literature says this will be an experience that will forever change your perspective. Not so much. I learned some interesting things from our lovely guide, Joyce, but I feel about the same as before.

Joyce told us that folks like her, totally blind from birth, dream in sound. It seems like a no-brainer, but it had never occurred to me to think of how totally blind people dream. That, more than the experience itself, made me think. I've met only one truly blind person - a professor in college who went blind as a complication from ignored diabetes. I know a couple of legally blind folks, but these people live lives as full and perhaps more rich than mine. They work, they get about, they shop, they entertain. The only time I think about their eyes is when crossing a street. To have to cross Peachtree with only sound as a guide would petrify me. Literally.

Until Tuesday night, I had never before thoughtfully considered what it might be like to be blind. I confess, I want to wear a blindfold around the house. Not as a lark, but as an alternate way of knowing my space. For example, when you think of all the stuff piled up in a room, without sight, most of it is useless. Then follows the thought, do I need these things that fill my personal space? Books I've read, a pillow I've never used, yarn I may never knit. Clothes for my niece when she's three. Well, the latter can be shucked off into my sister's basement. Right, J?

opera, snow

2009-03-03T04:08:00.006+02:00

Il Trovatore was good. The performers were superb. Conceptually, the set was interesting, but the finishing seemed hurried, slapdash. From where we sat, in the upper nosebleed, you could see the spider veins of blocking tape covering the stage. Red, white, green. For each reconfiguration of the set they dropped the curtain and there was much noise coming from behind. It brought to mind the image of a Laurel and Hardy sort of scene going on behind the red curtain and the supertitle -Pause-. To leave the curtain up for the audience to see the set changes take place would have been interesting, but I think it likely that they have to have the stage lights on bright in order to see all their directional tape. Even with all the noise during set change, they can pretend to preserve the illusion.

If this were the first performance I'd seen by the Atlanta Opera, I would wonder just what caliber is their artistic director, their stage director and their set designer. We won't go into the costumes.

That said, if you like Il Trovatore, go see. The music will not disappoint.

Sunday we had snow. Lots of snow. It snowed all day. I went to the High to see the First Emperor exhibit of terracotta warriors. It was interesting and crowded. I think I'm still processing. That these figures were made more than 2,000 years ago is amazing. The hubris of the man behind the terracotta army. Mind boggling.

On the way to the museum it started snowing. Heavy, misshapen clumps of wet snow rather than hard, cold flakes. By the time we left the exhibit, there was a layer of slushy snow. Our yearly snow.

design

2009-03-01T18:19:00.000+02:00

“Beautiful things don’t have to cost more than ugly ones” --Denise Fayolle

DFW, opera

2009-03-01T00:21:00.004+02:00

Texas last weekend was wonderful. Great time, longed for weather.

Friday night we went out to Station 4, a gay club in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas. Much dancing and watching of the drag show. My friend T. had never been to a drag show before. She had a fantastic time. On the way home, T. commented that, six years ago, if someone had told her she'd have gay friends, enjoy going to a gay club, and watch a drag show, she'd have laughed her a** off. Of course, six years ago she had bought into the southern Mississippi conservative Baptist idea of what is right and good in the world. A little exposure to other perspectives and, pow!, a new girl.

La Boheme Saturday evening was nice. Not great, not bad, just nice. As I've been to a number of shows at the venue, I was surprised that there were moments when I couldn't clearly hear the Rodolfo. Same thing with the Mimi. Though, this could be because my seat was under an air vent producing an arctic wind. After the second intermission I borrowed my companion's head scarf - one of those nylon ones that create a triangle around your face and tie under your chin. With the nice little visor of nylon to block the wind, I was physically more comfortable.

As for the opera itself, in the times that I have listened to and seen (on video only) La Boheme, I didn't read the libretto. I had the gist, but not the full meaning. Saturday I found, reading the supertitles, that I truly do not care for Mimi. She is all sweetness and light and she makes my teeth hurt. I am going to see Il Trovatore tonight. Perhaps a little operatic bloodlust and old fashioned revenge should displace the cloying, sweet scent of death left in my nose from La Boheme. I have high hopes that the Atlanta Opera won't let me down.

less than a month...

2009-03-01T00:13:00.002+02:00

Okay, okay. It's been less than a month.

I have been exploring the world of Apple. The fruit and the computer.

I was in Publix the other day and bought an Ambrosia apple. It was wonderful... crisp, prettily colored, not too sweet. I was inspired. I have since tried a Cripps Pink, Honey Crisp, and Braeburn. Braeburn and Honey Crisp are too sweet. I am looking for something with crispness of a Granny Smith, but not as much in the way of tart.

For the computer, my binlaw has forwarded to me a rescue PowerBook from his office. It died, the boss wanted a new one. A new hard drive, an updated operating system and I'm in business. Luckily for me because in my research, only one laptop put a twinkle in my eye... yep. The Mac. So, I'm going to save about $850. Yay binlaw!

Though, I must admit to being a reluctant Mac user. The rescue PowerBook still won't let me use the lovely new iPod my mom gave me for Christmas... USB 2.0 issues. I love that Apple, the company responsible for bringing firewire into the world, has now decided that it needs to use USB 2.0 ports. A**holes. There. I've gotten that off my chest. Now I just have to figure out a way to trade in the iPod for something I can actually use. No, I don't want an iPhone... though, my phone has started warming up for the dance of death. I grow worried.

So, with the "new" computer, uploading pictures to the web is much faster. I might post a few more now on Flickr. Now that, you know, it takes less than 20 minutes to upload 6 pictures. We'll see. First I have to take some. Last weekend in Dallas, didn't take a single shot.

Monthly foray into blogland

2009-02-05T02:22:00.009+02:00

As requested by Scot. There's not so much to report, so I'll just blather on about whatever pops up.

First and foremost, it's cold. Windy cold. Biting, depressing cold. This morning, as I was putting gas in my car, I did have the the thought, brief and squashed though it was, that Summer in Georgia would be welcomed. Admittedly, at that moment, 8:23a.m. this morning when the wind chill was about 19. At that moment a cold shower would have been warming.

Went with the sister to her hair appointment. Spent the time entertaining my niece. Dmn, but she is a good kid. Really. We sat there for almost an hour and looked through her books, drew on her etchasketch-like thing, looked at the people, said hello and bye-bye to everyone as the entered and exited the salon. No whining, no straining to go to mommy, no beseeching looks to let her go exploring. Lovely, lovely, lovely. And my sister's hair looks wonderful.

Going to Gulfport this weekend. Quck visit. I'm thinking of going to Beauvoir - Jefferson Davis' home and presidential library. It was completed in 1853 (post-Katrina restoration completed in July 2008). I like antebellum homes. Hope to get some lovely photos. And a nice day near the water. Beauvoir overlooks the Biloxi Bay.

Here's the house at groundbreaking of the restoration (photo found at http://beauvoir.org/photo_gallery/photo_gallery.htm)

This is Beauvoir now (current phone book... (photo found at http://beauvoir.org/index.html)

The weekend of February 21st I'll be in Dallas. The Dallas Opera is doing La Bohème. I am thrilled as I've not seen La Bohème as a live performance. Not to mention that DFW is now one jacket weight warmer than here.

I am currently reading a heavy book. In all meanings of the word. Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman. It's set in Russia during the battle of Stalingrad. I can only read about 20 pages at a sitting. This is a bad thing. You may ask why. Well, of course I'll tell you; it is bad because Life and Fate is about 870 pages long. It is a book I cannot say I enjoy so much as it is good to be reading. Some passages are heartbreaking and others offer insight into the mind of a Communist party boss, some are action packed, comaraderie filled war scenes, some are beautiful depictions of familial love. I shall read it through to the end and be glad to have done so, even if I am sad at the end and have had my vaguest misanthropic feeling validated.

Here's a photo.

And another.

A Happy New Year

2009-01-01T20:36:00.008+02:00

I guess I could say happy month, again. Once a month is not too bad, really. I've been being boring again. When I do feel like writing it goes into my nanowrimo novel. Yes, the deadline passed, but I like my story enough that I continue to daub bits and pieces to it. Nothing concentrated as I've hit a plot wall, but it is still alive and occasionally kicking me. Which is good.

December was a good enough month. The Christmas week at the beach was good. I could have happily had another week, but alas, gainful employment must remain a part of my world. For now. No immediate plans, but I've begun researching my next trip. Australia is a strong candidate, but France is gaining ground. Not a touristy trip this time, something more substantial as far as how I occupy my time. Hopefully, it will all work out so that I don't have to leave my job. There's time yet to plan as my personal goal to be on the plane isn't until August of 2010. Plenty of time.

I am thinking that 2009 will be good. I like 9 more than 8. My new year feeling comes in Spring, but the changing of the calendars is a motivation to tidy and reorganize and start new things. Like eating better and using the gym membership I decided to buy. And doing things I've not often been doing - writing on my blog, uploading photos to Flickr, you know, difficult things for a lazy person.

Oh, and time to dive into a new yarn obssession. Amigurumi. It's a Japanese style of crochet where you crochet very tightly to achieve super cuteness. I've made an apple and an alien, an owl, an octopus, and I'm almost finished with a mantaray. Too many planned projects for reality, but I'm enjoying myself.

I recently finished a scarf for the Special Olympics. The organizer of the Lawrenceville knitter's meet-up group, brought it up and I decided to make one. With Red Heart Super Saver yarn... this was a bit of a sacrifice on my part. It had to be this particular yarn because the colors chosen match almost exactly the Special Olympic blue and white (as requested by the organizers). but RHSS is like knitting with... it's like... well, I'll just say it isn't soft. After I finished the blue and white scarf, I started working again on my mother's scarf which is being made with a merino sock weight yarn... it was like sticking my fingers in butter. Lovely and soft.

Okay. Back to the tidying. Check out my Flickr page for photos...

Happy Month

2008-12-01T17:59:00.003+02:00

Yeah, so. December 1st arrives and I've not met a number of my goals for the month of November. I am feeling pretty good. Could be because the nasty cold that started Wednesday morning has lifted, leaving me with only disgustingly productive sneezes.

I did not hit 50,000 words in my Nanowrimo effort, but I did reach almost 13,000 and this is enough for me. Enough to know that I still like my story. I am still thinking about the characters and the plot and am still writing things down whenever the idea seems worthy. Maybe 300-500 words a day. I, as you know, am not a novelist and have no plans to earn a living by this. I am simply grateful that I can write without hearing the muses mocking laughter.

Other goals - diet and exercise. I have not so much fallen off the Weight Watchers wagon as stepped down, removed the wheels and used them for firewood. I need find new wheels. Motivation is not my problem; as always, it is laziness leading to a failure to execute my grand plan. The same with craft projects and books. My space is littered with all the fixin's needed to make lovely cloth covered pencil cases, refrigerator magnets, blankets, quilts, paint by number pictures, stacks of books too compelling not to purchase.

Another goal yet un-accomplished is to rid my space of all this stuff I haven't, and likely won't, use. Easier said than done. There is something powerful about the "what if". Something powerful which must be overcome, I think. Just because it seemed like a good idea at the time...

hair and noveling

2008-11-12T02:49:00.003+02:00

Haircut tomorrow! Colored it Sunday. Blackberry. A dark cherry brown, almost black. Much better color for me than mousy, dusty brown.

The novel is coming along slowly. I didn't write anything from Friday to yesterday. Tired and easily distracted. I have written some today, about 1,000 words. I'm up to almost 6,000 - 14,000 words behind schedule. I've decided that I will be happy if I reach 25,000 words by the end of the month. Who knows, the story my flow readily from my fingertips, but if it doesn't I'll be happy with 25,000 words. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel as if I've stalled - when I sit down to write, the story doesn't need to be pulled screaming from it's warm bed. I am still excited about my story and hope that it's (one day, far from now) going to be decent enough to let folks read.

One more race left.

2008-11-12T02:37:00.002+02:00

The end of this NASCAR season is so much fun. It's a bit odd for me because I've not before been anxious about the results. Last year Jimmie Johnson was in contention for the championship and yet I wasn't anxious. I have not the slightest personal stake in the outcome of the season other than I want the 48 team to win. If it were my friend's kid or a colleague's uncle, I could understand my strong desire to see the team win, but a bunch of guys I don't know? I can't explain it. I guess I have to apologize to all those folks I used to rag because they were fans of a college team that wasn't their alma mater. Now I get it.

People talk about the connection between the fans and the drivers; how this connection is fostered by the drivers being accessible and having their personal bios be as much a part of the information out there as their racing resume. Maybe I've been sucked into this. I don't know much about JJ's personal background, but I still feel a genuine fondness for the guy. From interviews and watching the interaction between him and his team, I like him. I look forward to seeing what he does next.

Sunday between 3:30 and whenever the race ends, I'm simply going to enjoy the excitement and anticipation and hopefully Jimmie's victory - in championship and maybe the race. Jimmie Johnson needs to finish 35th (out of 43) or better to win the third championship in a row. Too cool.

So, now most of you know more about this week's race than you ever thought you'd have to know.

Back to the normal world.

2008-11-06T23:57:00.008+02:00

You know it. The world of work, home, sleep, work, home, sleep. Thankfully I have things like Nanowrimo to keep things from being boring. I'm not exactly cranking out the words, but I am comfortable with the steady stream. If I don't win this year by reaching 50,000 words, I'll have enough words to know if this is something I want to finish. Or I will know if I will be better served by deleting all those novel ideas stored on my computer.

I am trying to focus on Nanowrimo, but I have downloaded my weekend pics to my computer. I'll try to upload a few of them this weekend.

Yay weekend!

2008-10-31T02:16:00.003+02:00

The weekend of lots of good stuff starts tomorrow afternoon.

This is the first year that I've been eagerly waiting, impatiently waiting for November to start. I feel as if my novel is swirling around in the back of my brain like a nascent dust storm.

It will be a weekend of time spent with people I like.

The NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway is Sunday.

Shivers of antici.......pation.

Yay weekend!

Written today, Monday.

2008-10-28T04:31:00.009+02:00

More driving! Drove to Asheville, NC with my friend T. to attend the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fest at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher. We drove up Friday morning and, after having lunch, arrived around 12:30. A walk around the upper level and a spin through the main arena floor and my head was numb.

So, here's the first impression of the main hall of the fiber fest:

Here's one of the many bunnerific examples of the cuteness on display:

We made a full run through and then we had to stop for a drink and a snack. I would have been happy with a Coke, but they had beer. Beer was better, mellowing. Much easier to deal with the hundreds and hundreds of fellow knitters.

After our break, it was time to spend money. I'll show you my haul another time, but I'll tell you about it now. I bought the book Tiny Yarn Animals by Tamie Snow. So much cuteness. I will make the lemur and the hippo and the owl and the turtle and the lion and and and. I found amazing yarn for a scarf/wrap - Clapotis from Fall 2004 Knitty. I've been waiting to find just the right yarn for this and voila! Soft silk/wool blend in a vivid purple, green, charcoal colorway.

Then there's the sock yarn - marigold orange and a stormy blue/green/grey variegated. And the yarn for a pretty scarf for the mom. Oh. And yarn for a kid's sweater for the niece and any others to come along. So. Much knitting to be done. I shall gather the tools this evening, but have promised myself that I will finish my Holland socks first. They are a heel and foot away from complete. It's only taken me three years...

Drove back Saturday morning.

Sunday, I went to the race with T. and her husband - yes, T. is a knitting NASCAR lover, too. It was a perfect October day - breezy, sunny, cool. While we sat and chatted before the race, the sun was warm on my back (there is nothing quite like having the sun warm your jeans clad butt on a cool autumn day). The meal was great - pasta salad (a balsamic vinegrette dressing accenting a combination of black olives, asperagus, bowtie pasta and fresh grated parmesan), a fresh green salad (with chickpeas, carrots, corn, mushrooms, croutons, and almond slivers), and grilled shrimp. Eating out of a trunk in a grass parking lot is no reason not to have fantastic food. Just ask Mario Batali...

We got to our seats early. I love it when the engines start so I pushed to get there early... alas, from the cheap seats, the effect is not so wonderful because of the distance and ambient noise. Still, it was all made good when when the cars passed by on that first warm-up lap. The smell, the sound, the feel is why after the first five or six laps I started thinking of how wonderful it was that I'd be experienceing it all again this Sunday in Texas. Addictive.

In other news, I making positive strides towards being ready to start writing on November 1. Nanowrimo, for those who've forgotten, starts in just over 4 days (96.5 hours and some change). No writing is allowed before November 1, but it is okay to gather tools; since my inspiration a month ago, I have a premise, a basic plot (no resolution, but the story/characters will take me there naturally, or so I tell myself), a bit of the backstory on my main characters, a physical setting, and maybe even a point. I know, crazy. It may be enough to jinx me, but this prep work feels different, more solid than for past tries.

This was written last Thursday...

2008-10-28T04:29:00.001+02:00

The Cold War Kids show I went to in Chapel Hill was fantastic! H. and I drove up at noon the day of, had dinner with Jenifer and Scot, walked into the venue, found a decent spot and turned our attention to the stage. Not 30 seconds later the band entered. Except for the 6 hours there and 5.5 hours back (yes, when focused, I do make good time) within a 17 hour time span, it was a perfect evening.

I do acknowledge that it was a little bit insane. Leave Atlanta at noon, evening in Chapel Hill, drive back at 11:30 after the show. We had fully intended to stay the night somewhere along the way, but the nervousness I felt at the possibility of not making it to work on time was compelling. As was the lack of traffic. When the stupid people are sleeping, traveling along I-85 is quite pleasant.

My car has 199,800 something miles and still gets about 34 miles to the gallon. My little Civic, how I love you. And I must also sing the praises of cruise control. Better gas mileage, feet free for tapping and bouncing along to the music.

various

2008-10-14T05:18:00.005+03:00

I just felt like it was time to touch base... nothing particularly intersting to share. Work is work, home is home. My niece is wonderful, but that's a given.

I spent last weekend in Gulfport. T. is currently in Texas, so the weekend was spent with her husband B. and the two girls. I adore those kids. It was a good weekend.

This weekend I went to the Falcons' game. Good game, great cheap seats. From the row before the last I could see the entire field without turning my head. Only drawback - walking up those crazy steep stairs. There was also the guy in the row behind us who couldn't keep his mouth shut. Just couldn't shut up. Occasionally, he was amusing, but mostly I just wished he'd shut it.

I finished the Twilight series. When I bought the fourth book, there was a girl ahead of me in line holding the third and fourth books. She couldn't have been more than 16, adorable in her private school uniform. Yes, I am reading teenager books. Eh, they're entertaining and easy reads. Well, the fourth one, not so much, but you have to read it to find out what happens... though, I think I would have been okay if someone had simply summarized the plot for me. I think that would have been just fine.

I've got a stack of mind-stretchers that I need to get into now that I'm through with the fluff. Here's hoping I don't get distracted by some other escapist book.

US debt clock runs out of digits

Cool.. scroll down to April 2008. Who doesn't love a earth-mover you can see from space? I know, it's not the most environmentally friendly machine, but it is kind of cool.

A quote for the day...

2008-09-16T04:24:00.000+03:00

Winston Churchill said of the United States: "It can be counted on to do the right thing, but only after it has tried every other alternative."

Let's hope we get it right this November.

Helen, waste not want not

2008-09-10T07:05:00.003+03:00

Heading off to Helen, GA for a few days in the mountains with the family.

I was wandering around my computer and I found this never posted post from October 9, 2007:

"I’m driving down the road, happily bopping along to Travis or my latest drivelly obsession – the album “Strange and Beautiful” by Aqualung (damn car commercials, I curse VW for starting the whole lets have catchy pop-y tunes that will stick in folks heads mercilessly). So, I’m driving along merrily and bam!, I’ll be hit with this wave of nostalgia for whenever/whatever. Yesterday it was daytime excursions in college – when you should be in the library studying, running off to the market for a snack and heading off to the park to sit in the sunshine."

Yes, Fall is the time for nostalgia. I love September; the quality of the sunlight, the changing temperatures, kids back in school, I still have a fresh-start feeling each September. Almost as good as the fresh-start feeling in Spring.

Football, racing

2008-09-09T04:02:00.006+03:00

I went to the Falcons game yesterday. Fantastic seats - first row, 40 yard line. I think my problem with football has been the television coverage. Boring on t.v., exciting in the stadium. At least in those seats. I'll have to see how it is from a less exalted view. At lunch this afternoon, I was tooling around on the NFL and the Falcons' websites - I've already begun the descent into the black hole of football stats and team info.

Speaking of NASCAR, I am going to the October 26th race in Atlanta and the following race in Texas. So excited. This weekend I must paint my toenails blue! It's a lovely OPI shade that closely resembles Jimmie Johnson's Lowe's team blue. Go 48!

Between football, Formula 1, NASCAR and hurricane season, it's amazing I have time to read the vampire books... oh, but read them I will. Just not tonight. Tonight is for sleeping.

Vampires

2008-09-09T04:01:00.001+03:00

I've started reading the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer. (When you type her name into Yahoo!, the first four auto-options once you've typed in Stephen are Stephen King, Stephen Hawking, Stephenie Meyer, Stephen Colbert.) E. gave me Twilight for my birthday and I read it in three days... I paced myself after the first evening or I would have read it in two days - sleep optional. My first thought when started reading was "oh, no. this is going to be too difficult." The author's style reminds me of being in a writing class and sharing chapters... Twilight is written by one of the more interesting folks in class, but not necessarily the most talented. When I read that she conceived the story, wrote the book and was accepted for publishing within a six month span, I understand better the quality of the writing.

That said, I understand what all the fuss is about. When the story is wonderful and the characters are people you'd like to meet, you don't worry so much about pesky things like style.

Rod Stewart is still fantastic

2008-09-03T04:19:00.005+03:00

For her birthday, I bought my mom (and myself) tickets to the Rod Stewart show last week. I bought lawn seats because, as wonderful as we think the Mr. Stewart, those seats were too expensive. We were in line to purchase a beverage and were apprached by a venue agent. Would we like an upgrade to a seat? Why, certainly. They were decent seats, too, even above and beyond their being a free upgrade.

The first 20 mintues of this show were the best ever. I do not say this lightly. I've been fortunate to see most of the (existent) bands that I adore, but this was the tops. Just the first 20 minutes. The entire show was fantastic, but the first 20 minutes were imbued with all the anticipation from waiting for months and months, then watching the stage set up, the universal excitement of the crowd, perfect weather, the nicety of not having to sit on the grass, and the evening spent with my mom seeing a show we both were thrilled to see. I suppose you could say I was primed to love it. As soon as the houselights went down, I popped out of my seat with my hands in the air, screaming. Pure Pavlovian.

I cannot remember the set list, but I do remember that the first songs were my favorites. The entire show was of favorites - I think the tour's called the Greatest Hits...

Here's a shot from later in the show... he's wearing silver leather pants. Yes. Silver leather pants.

My birthday... documented

2008-09-03T04:18:00.002+03:00

Here's a shot I took while driving home from work... the clouds make me happy.

This weekend

2008-08-25T00:05:00.011+03:00

The concert was great. D. and I had a fun time. I recorded a video on my camera because I wanted to see how it would look. I watched it this afternoon. Well, I watched some of it. I was completely surprised because it sounded great last night, but in the admittedly harsh speakers of my iBook it was bad.

The opening act was Telluride and they enjoyable. The lead singer did his best to engage the audience, but he had some trouble managing the more boisterious folks (i.e. hecklers).

Billy Currington and the band.

The dude to my left, the one who's a blur of motion, was enjoying the show more than anyone else. I think his three or four drinks might have added some to his enthusiastic motions.

Taken this afternoon....

another couple of shots from Texas

2008-08-23T18:35:00.005+03:00

Not my best photo, but I love it nonetheless. The intensity on both their faces... I wonder what they were discussing.

S.'s bookshelf.

Myrtle Beach...

2008-08-23T17:54:00.008+03:00

The birthday celebration in Myrtle Beach was good. We consumed quite a lot of alcohol, but all of it in the safety of our room/balcony or on hotel grounds. H. was a wee bit past her limit Saturday night and wasn't feeling her best Sunday morning. That being said, she was a trooper and consented to have IHOP for breakfast. I have to go there again this weekend... they have these new lemon pancakes with berry compote that look amazing. How often does that happen? Advertisement food never looks like food. There's this one billboard for the humongous-est hamburger chain where the three pieces of bun, two patties of glistening meat and fixin's have what I imagine is the opposite effect on my desire to choose fast food. Not even the meat eater in the car thought it looked like food. Blech. Glistening is not a good food adjective.

I took three pictures. Here's one taken at 8:30 in the morning from our balcony...

Here's another taken after lunch at the NASCAR Cafe. You read that correctly, the NASCAR Cafe. The onion rings were good... After lunch we headed back towards the beach. H. collects shot glasses and where better place is there to get a cheap shotglass of a souvenir than at a Wings? (Or an Eagles, but we stopped at Wings because it was on the right side of the street and why turn left across three lanes of MB weekend traffic when you can turn right? Silly.)

This past Wednesday evening we all gathered for H.'s birthday celebration at the Westside Six Feet Under. I was impressed. With the food and the wait staff. The seating on their deck leaves something to be desired for those of us with legs that do not go on forever. The fried green tomatoes appetizer was lovely. I had the blackened shrimp tacos and they were perfect. The textures, the flavors, the slightly crispy edges of the soft taco tortillas were all perfect. The only dish at our table of 10 that didn't thrill was the chicken fingers and those because the coating, a seafood style cornmeal batter, fell off in great chunks. Naked chicken finger is unattractive in its beige and glistening fleshiness.

Wednesday morning I went to the optomotrist for a check up and to get contacts. I've worn glasses for 21 years and cannot explain why the contacts are now appealing. It's certainly not a sport reason, though there is a sport to keeping a toddler from snatching the glasses off your face. It may be a vanity thing, but I honestly think my face looks better with glasses - cuts up the moonish expanse of cheek. We'll see. I was only able to wear them 3 hours Wednesday before the eyeballs started to strain. I don't relish the idea of taking them out in the bathroom at work, so I've not worn them since Wednesday afternoon. I'll wear them again this afternoon.

Wednesday afternoon was spent with J. and my ever lovlier niece. It is amazing how charming and infinitely entertaining I find this child. Even when she goes on a crying jag (likely because it so rarely happens - at least in my presence, I'm certain my sister and the binlaw have lost their taste for the screaming).

This weekend should be quiet. I will be going to see Billy Currington this evening. I am very much looking forward to the concert as I love his voice. Love it. Sometimes I imagine his core audience is middle-aged women in unfortunately sexless marriages; if you don't count his sad songs, he's a bit like country music's version of the romance novel.

Sunday morning I'll be watching the European Grand Prix. The race should be pretty frickin' fun to watch as it's on a new street course in Valencia, Spain (also home to the America's Cup) with 25 turns (most tracks have 15-17 and are dedicated). As I read up on the various journalist's blogs I enjoy, I again marvel at the great interest I take in their subject. It is easy to forget that there are those (even myself five years ago) who would find these blogs beyond boring. In a similar vein, as I was reading F1Racing (a monthly magazine I love), I realized that I find every article worth reading. It's a sickness, truly. Who knew the subject/hobby I would become enthralled with is also the one in which no one else in my world is remotely interested.

Again with the driving thing...

2008-08-15T07:26:00.004+03:00

H. and I are heading to Myrtle Beach, SC tomorrow. H.'s birthday is next Tuesday and, as mine always falls a week after hers, we have our own little celebration together. This time it's going to the beach. How old will I be, you ask? I don't really want to write it out. The answer I always think of is that given by Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Streetr - I am am as old as my tongue and older than my teeth. That has always delighted me.

H. and I will spend the weekend in Myrtle Beach in our hotel by the ocean on our balcony overlooking the beach. We will drink lovely adult beverages and read trashy books. We will eat terrible for us food and let the beach be our pedicurist. Yes, yes. I know. It will be wonderful.

Texas pics

2008-08-13T04:01:00.017+03:00

Texas was hot. Hair dryer on the neck hot. My visits were good. I'm working longer hours this week, so you're getting pictures only.

This is my friend K.'s baby... I like this shot because it looks like he's giving attitude. And his little bicep is fantastic; this kid has (for a baby) definition in his arms!

Texas sky. I love it.

Rock roses.

One of the angels on the Bass Hall in Fort Worth.

Here's the front of the building with both angels.

NOLA pics

2008-08-13T04:01:00.013+03:00

The New Orleans Museum of Art.

Self portrait... it was intended to be a shot of me and A., T.'s youngest, but she moved...

Cupid and Psyche. If it's in marble, I love it.