Where: Outside our apartment building in south Minneapolis
When: Tonight around 10:30 pm
How: Quite loudly
*******************************************
Man: You better stay the hell away from my daughter!
(Long pause.)
Man: You better run, you little n*****.
End scene.
*******************************************
Discussion questions:
1) Do people in 2010 really say stay away from my daughter? Do they clean their shotguns and wait on the porch swing at curfew, too?
2) Am I allowed to type out the n-word? Would it be un-PC to write the entire forbidden word out? Because, I assure you, the man screaming outside of our building, he did not edit himself.
3) Should the daughter be allowed to go home with the bellowing man?
4) Should I have done something more than go into our bedroom and ask my dear, depressingly sick husband if he had heard the exchange as well?
5) Does this make you want to move to our fabulous city?
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
On The Book Shelf
Fade and Wake by Lisa McMann - A girl can enter other people's dreams. She has a hot boyfriend. I think Owen from Just Listen is still my favorite teenage lit boyfriend character, but Cabe is definitely a close second. Bestest Friend and I had a small Facebook war over who gets lustful possession of Cabe. These are the first two books in a series that follows the falling into other people's dreams girl. I read these on a never ending bus ride while visiting Chicago recently. I was fascinated by the concept and truly enjoyed these books. So read them.
Need and Captivate by Carrie Jones - Bestest Friend put these in the mail for me. And. Huh. I didn't love them. There are evil pixies and our main character must deal with this. And. Well. I just felt like the author backed herself into a plot corner with this one and I was not shocked when that plot line was followed through in the second book. Plus, the plot line almost exactly parallels that super popular Twilight series. You might have heard of that series, right? Girl moves to cold, dreary place with a somewhat oblivious guardian. Weird stuff happens. (SPOILER) Her boyfriend turns out to be otherworldly. Um. Really? Really? Carrie Jones, how have you not been sued?
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - This book is what I wanted Prep to be. It was so so so funny. I nearly peed my pants laughing during this book. Girl is at boarding school. There's nothing wrong in her life - no abusive or neglectful parents, no alcoholic/anorexic/dying siblings, no monsters she sees in the night - but she's just a discontented teenager. Who wreaks hilarious havoc. Plus, she creates false positives and false negatives with her words which completely cracks my shit up and reminds me of this Buffy scene:
Giles: Punishing yourself like this is pointless.
Buffy: It's entirely pointy.
I highly recommend this book. I'm immediately requesting every Lockhart book from the library that I can.
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff - Um. No. Just no. Read Push (the book the movie Precious was based on) and avoid this mess. This book follows the story of two girls who live in the inner city and the trials and tribulations that they endure. I just felt it was too too, if you know what I mean. Trying too hard to cover too much with too much preaching. Too too. Don't read it (although I know this is a super loved book, I can't recommend it).
Falling by Dough Wilhelm - Typical teen with a serious family problem suffers silently until his breaking point book. Yawn. But, but, but, there is this one scene. It's on page 121 in my edition. This scene? It's so poignant and tender and written so well, I forgive Wilhelm his trite plot and fall into the words.
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis - I bet you won't be surprised to learn that everything is not fine in the main character's life. As a matter of fact, nothing's fine, nothing's right. It was a quick read and perfectly acceptable teen lit, but I don't remember so much as the main character's name three days after I've finished it (but, oddly enough, the sister's name is Olivia).
I just picked up some new books from the library yesterday, so a new batch will be up within the next week or so!
Need and Captivate by Carrie Jones - Bestest Friend put these in the mail for me. And. Huh. I didn't love them. There are evil pixies and our main character must deal with this. And. Well. I just felt like the author backed herself into a plot corner with this one and I was not shocked when that plot line was followed through in the second book. Plus, the plot line almost exactly parallels that super popular Twilight series. You might have heard of that series, right? Girl moves to cold, dreary place with a somewhat oblivious guardian. Weird stuff happens. (SPOILER) Her boyfriend turns out to be otherworldly. Um. Really? Really? Carrie Jones, how have you not been sued?
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart - This book is what I wanted Prep to be. It was so so so funny. I nearly peed my pants laughing during this book. Girl is at boarding school. There's nothing wrong in her life - no abusive or neglectful parents, no alcoholic/anorexic/dying siblings, no monsters she sees in the night - but she's just a discontented teenager. Who wreaks hilarious havoc. Plus, she creates false positives and false negatives with her words which completely cracks my shit up and reminds me of this Buffy scene:
Giles: Punishing yourself like this is pointless.
Buffy: It's entirely pointy.
I highly recommend this book. I'm immediately requesting every Lockhart book from the library that I can.
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff - Um. No. Just no. Read Push (the book the movie Precious was based on) and avoid this mess. This book follows the story of two girls who live in the inner city and the trials and tribulations that they endure. I just felt it was too too, if you know what I mean. Trying too hard to cover too much with too much preaching. Too too. Don't read it (although I know this is a super loved book, I can't recommend it).
Falling by Dough Wilhelm - Typical teen with a serious family problem suffers silently until his breaking point book. Yawn. But, but, but, there is this one scene. It's on page 121 in my edition. This scene? It's so poignant and tender and written so well, I forgive Wilhelm his trite plot and fall into the words.
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis - I bet you won't be surprised to learn that everything is not fine in the main character's life. As a matter of fact, nothing's fine, nothing's right. It was a quick read and perfectly acceptable teen lit, but I don't remember so much as the main character's name three days after I've finished it (but, oddly enough, the sister's name is Olivia).
I just picked up some new books from the library yesterday, so a new batch will be up within the next week or so!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
It's all in the name
Let's say my husband's name is Robert. It's not, but it's an equally traditional, kind of boring, but completely fine name. Fine enough that popular teen vampire literature is centered around a character with this very same name. There are a variety of diminutives based on the name Robert - Rob, Bob, Bobby - these are the most widely used nicknames, but my husband, for reasons that are obscure and based on his father's pretentiousness (I love my father-in-law, but the man is overly concerned with family appearances), goes by the name Bert. Not an unheard of shortening of Robert, but certainly not the first one to come to mind.
This means that when people are trying to pretend that they know my husband, they usually use one of the traditional nicknames. If they call him Bob or Rob, I know that they don't really know my husband. This is a useful skill when avoiding telemarketers. My husband occasionally lets this charade of which name he goes by go on for a long time, particularly when it comes to people he doesn't realize at first will be important to him when he first meets them, so he doesn't bother to correct them, thinking it will be a once or twice meeting and then he or she will go away.
Enter our rental management company manager.
When we first met her, she called him Robert. My dear husband just didn't realize that we would have a very cozy relationship with our management office in the future. He was okay with Robert, since that is, after all, his name. But then she kept shortening it - first it was Bob, then the completely ludicrous Bobby. We were in constant contact with her because things kept going wrong (our rent check got lost in the mail, we had bugs, the empty neighboring apartment's smoke alarm kept going off at random times in the middle of the day and night, etc.). Then came the paperwork that mistakenly said we weren't married.
I emailed her to let her know that the paperwork was wrong. She told me I had to provide written documentation that we were married. It turns out an email was good enough for that purpose: NGS and Robert were married on May 24, 2008. Simple enough.
She told me that she would slip the new, updated to show we were married paperwork under our door and one of us would have to slip the old, not married paperwork under our resident manager's door. I emailed her back saying, "Bert will slip in under the caretaker's door when he gets home today."
She emailed me back: "Bert?"
Me: "Robert."
Her: "I've been calling him Bobby."
Me: "I know."
So we got a note slipped under our door from the manager addressed to NGS and Bert, letting us know she's leaving for another job. At long last, she has figured out his name!! However, we now have to break in an entirely new person in the rental company office. Our work is never done.
This means that when people are trying to pretend that they know my husband, they usually use one of the traditional nicknames. If they call him Bob or Rob, I know that they don't really know my husband. This is a useful skill when avoiding telemarketers. My husband occasionally lets this charade of which name he goes by go on for a long time, particularly when it comes to people he doesn't realize at first will be important to him when he first meets them, so he doesn't bother to correct them, thinking it will be a once or twice meeting and then he or she will go away.
Enter our rental management company manager.
When we first met her, she called him Robert. My dear husband just didn't realize that we would have a very cozy relationship with our management office in the future. He was okay with Robert, since that is, after all, his name. But then she kept shortening it - first it was Bob, then the completely ludicrous Bobby. We were in constant contact with her because things kept going wrong (our rent check got lost in the mail, we had bugs, the empty neighboring apartment's smoke alarm kept going off at random times in the middle of the day and night, etc.). Then came the paperwork that mistakenly said we weren't married.
I emailed her to let her know that the paperwork was wrong. She told me I had to provide written documentation that we were married. It turns out an email was good enough for that purpose: NGS and Robert were married on May 24, 2008. Simple enough.
She told me that she would slip the new, updated to show we were married paperwork under our door and one of us would have to slip the old, not married paperwork under our resident manager's door. I emailed her back saying, "Bert will slip in under the caretaker's door when he gets home today."
She emailed me back: "Bert?"
Me: "Robert."
Her: "I've been calling him Bobby."
Me: "I know."
So we got a note slipped under our door from the manager addressed to NGS and Bert, letting us know she's leaving for another job. At long last, she has figured out his name!! However, we now have to break in an entirely new person in the rental company office. Our work is never done.
45 x 365 Wrap Up
- When you start writing about people in 45 word bites, you start to think about them in 45 word bites. When you're talking to someone, you are likely to ponder what their most intriguing characteristic is and how you can describe them quickly. You also start to parse apart quickly whether or not your overall impression of people is positive or negative. Sometimes this means you stop giving people a chance. I think if I were to rewrite some of my synopses from the first hundred later on, I might have changed my outlook and tone regarding some of those individuals.
- It's difficult to write about people you know really well in 45 words. There's too much to say and too many scenarios to play out to make the description pop just the way you want it to. It's also difficult to write about people you don't know really well. Then 45 words is just too many. There are only so many ways to say a person is boring.
- Speaking of boring, hey, maybe I could use a thesaurus once in a while. I used the words always and never(68 times!) almost as many times as I used the word the (okay, fine, a lot more than 68). A word frequency of the words I used in my 45 x 365 pieces tells me that I should work on my vocabulary. According to WordCounter, if you take out all the common words in the English language from my posts, here's what I'm left with: never (68), you're (59), one (49), know (49), life (47), time (41), think (39), and other boring one syllable words. The only adjectives and nouns worth mentioning were laugh (34), kind (32), and friend (30). It's somewhat disconcerting to learn that the vast majority of my written words are small and useless.
- The entire project was fun, but I'm glad it's over. Finding time to write them was more difficult than I initially presume it would be. Even if I only spent 7 or 8 minutes on each one, it still morphed into 7 or 8 minutes each day that I sometimes was angry I had to spend. Hence the occasionally skipping and naughtiness.
- In the end, these short descriptions of people said a lot more about me than they did about the people I was writing about. That was an entirely unintended consequence. I thought it would help me write more descriptively, but in the end it served more of the purpose of me grouping people - past, present, future, adders or subtractors to my life, friend or foe, right or wrong. I had to cut through the frill and get to the heart of people in my life and acknowledge some strange grudges I should probably get over.
- Since this is my record, I'll just say that I have many favorites among these. The mostly fall into three categories: people I love (184, 215, 217, 316, 359, and 361), people who taught me about the perils of aging (88 and 134), and people who I have ambivalence about (71, 277, and 327). I found a lot of these to be difficult to write - ambivalence makes for more challenging writing, but now that they are written, I love to read them and savor my opinions from that time in my life.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Trip to the Library
So I've been spending a lot of time at the library recently, due to some weird scheduling issues. Most of the time, the fact that we are a one automobile household doesn't cause any inconvenience, but once in a while, you're trapped and unable to leave because Metro Transit does not actually go out as far as you would like it to. You are completely allowed to loiter in a library for long periods of time and no one says a word to you. On Monday, I spent just over six hours at a public library in one of the mystery suburbs. If you got an email from me, begging for suggestions as to what to read or do, it's because I was trapped. Trapped.
So, here's what I've been reading.
On the Kindle:
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie - I wanted a new author to replace Sir Arthur Conan Doyle because I think my Sherlock Holmes obsession is perhaps a tad pretentious, but I do like a good mystery, so I thought that Miss Marple could become a character I love, but...I didn't. The book was good and I was really interested in the outcome, but the characters themselves were pretty flat. So. Yeah. I might read more Agatha Christie because it's cheap to access on the Kindle, but I don't feel the need to download the entire works of Agatha Christie.
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen - This is the first in a young adult historical fiction series. I didn't like it at first. But then something magical happened and I fell in love about halfway through and couldn't stop reading. So then I ordered the rest of the series from the library. (The first book was free; they want me to pay for the rest and I don't want to!)
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - A book about a girl who is being stalked by evil fey. Or at least, that's what I've figured out so far. I'm really enjoying this book, but I'm only about halfway through. I love books that manage to weave the magical in to day to day life without coming off as hokey or too magical realism-y. I hope it manages to keep its staying power.
From the library.
Swim the Fly by Don Calame - This book was boring until Chapter 20. Then I started laughing and completely enjoying it. I'll admit that I have trouble relating with males as main characters, but I enjoyed Matt in this book. It's not life changing literature, but it's readable and enjoyable. Young adult literature about a summer of swimming and love (and oddly perverse behavior) can't really go wrong, can it? (Yes, yes, it can. And if you read this book, please know that you're going to be astounded by the bad grammar, even in the non-dialogue parts. Full disclosure.) Frankly, I was a little relieved to read teen lit that didn't have a relative dying, a mental disorder, rape flashbacks, or dead parents, but a perfectly normal teenage existence!
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien - Straight up children's fiction!! I had to go to the kiddie section to get this classic. So I overheard a mom reading her small child the first chapter of this book while I was hunkering down at the library on Monday. So I went and got one of the seven other copies and read it to myself. This book is so great. I remember reading it over and over and over again as a kid and I know now why. It's smart, it's funny, it's a teeny bit creepy, and I want to read it over again right now.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - This is a young adult book following a girl throughout her freshman year of high school. She had a traumatic experience the summer before this school year began and we don't find out until quite late in the book what the experience was. It was quite powerful. Not everyone has the same problems that Melinda has, but we all have problems and her way to deal with them wasn't perfect, but no one really is. You should totally read this.
Black Box by Julie Schumacher - The main character's sister is sick. And she has some trouble dealing with it. Take a teenager with problems at home, throw in a little romance, and you have a classic formula for teenage literature. I am totally on board with this book. As an educator, this book (and Speak) really reminded me to remember when I am dealing with my students that the time they spend in my classroom is really a tiny fraction of what they are dealing with. It's a reminder I need over and over again, I guess. I want them to think my class is a priority in their lives, but it's true that I'm deluding myself if I fail to account for all the other tough circumstances they may be living through.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - Hey, I totally read a grown up book. Shocking, I know. This follows the journey of a whiny spoiled brat who goes to boarding school. Frankly, the main character's complete shallowness and vacuity made me want to pull my hair out. But, as someone who didn't go to boarding school, I found the "inside look" at what that would be like to be incredibly interesting. It's fiction, so how much of what I read is truth is up in the air, but I like to think I know more then I did when I picked it up. So, read it if you can stomach a main character you can't stand for just over 400 pages.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary - We were in Iowa last weekend and my in laws gave us a bunch of books from when my husband and his siblings were little. This was in the stack. I remember this being the first chapter book I ever read, sitting out on our falling down sun-porch, thinking about how Romona was just misunderstood, just like me. As an adult, I find Ramona to be an insufferable little munchkin, but I can see why she would be so comforting to other kids.
I have three more library books and the rest of The Luxe series on order to be delivered to my library soon, so more reviews to come soon!
So, here's what I've been reading.
On the Kindle:
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie - I wanted a new author to replace Sir Arthur Conan Doyle because I think my Sherlock Holmes obsession is perhaps a tad pretentious, but I do like a good mystery, so I thought that Miss Marple could become a character I love, but...I didn't. The book was good and I was really interested in the outcome, but the characters themselves were pretty flat. So. Yeah. I might read more Agatha Christie because it's cheap to access on the Kindle, but I don't feel the need to download the entire works of Agatha Christie.
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen - This is the first in a young adult historical fiction series. I didn't like it at first. But then something magical happened and I fell in love about halfway through and couldn't stop reading. So then I ordered the rest of the series from the library. (The first book was free; they want me to pay for the rest and I don't want to!)
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - A book about a girl who is being stalked by evil fey. Or at least, that's what I've figured out so far. I'm really enjoying this book, but I'm only about halfway through. I love books that manage to weave the magical in to day to day life without coming off as hokey or too magical realism-y. I hope it manages to keep its staying power.
From the library.
Swim the Fly by Don Calame - This book was boring until Chapter 20. Then I started laughing and completely enjoying it. I'll admit that I have trouble relating with males as main characters, but I enjoyed Matt in this book. It's not life changing literature, but it's readable and enjoyable. Young adult literature about a summer of swimming and love (and oddly perverse behavior) can't really go wrong, can it? (Yes, yes, it can. And if you read this book, please know that you're going to be astounded by the bad grammar, even in the non-dialogue parts. Full disclosure.) Frankly, I was a little relieved to read teen lit that didn't have a relative dying, a mental disorder, rape flashbacks, or dead parents, but a perfectly normal teenage existence!
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien - Straight up children's fiction!! I had to go to the kiddie section to get this classic. So I overheard a mom reading her small child the first chapter of this book while I was hunkering down at the library on Monday. So I went and got one of the seven other copies and read it to myself. This book is so great. I remember reading it over and over and over again as a kid and I know now why. It's smart, it's funny, it's a teeny bit creepy, and I want to read it over again right now.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson - This is a young adult book following a girl throughout her freshman year of high school. She had a traumatic experience the summer before this school year began and we don't find out until quite late in the book what the experience was. It was quite powerful. Not everyone has the same problems that Melinda has, but we all have problems and her way to deal with them wasn't perfect, but no one really is. You should totally read this.
Black Box by Julie Schumacher - The main character's sister is sick. And she has some trouble dealing with it. Take a teenager with problems at home, throw in a little romance, and you have a classic formula for teenage literature. I am totally on board with this book. As an educator, this book (and Speak) really reminded me to remember when I am dealing with my students that the time they spend in my classroom is really a tiny fraction of what they are dealing with. It's a reminder I need over and over again, I guess. I want them to think my class is a priority in their lives, but it's true that I'm deluding myself if I fail to account for all the other tough circumstances they may be living through.
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - Hey, I totally read a grown up book. Shocking, I know. This follows the journey of a whiny spoiled brat who goes to boarding school. Frankly, the main character's complete shallowness and vacuity made me want to pull my hair out. But, as someone who didn't go to boarding school, I found the "inside look" at what that would be like to be incredibly interesting. It's fiction, so how much of what I read is truth is up in the air, but I like to think I know more then I did when I picked it up. So, read it if you can stomach a main character you can't stand for just over 400 pages.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary - We were in Iowa last weekend and my in laws gave us a bunch of books from when my husband and his siblings were little. This was in the stack. I remember this being the first chapter book I ever read, sitting out on our falling down sun-porch, thinking about how Romona was just misunderstood, just like me. As an adult, I find Ramona to be an insufferable little munchkin, but I can see why she would be so comforting to other kids.
I have three more library books and the rest of The Luxe series on order to be delivered to my library soon, so more reviews to come soon!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
45 x 365 #365
365/365 - EWG
The light of my life, the joy, the pain, the laughter, the tears, and the everything. The insect killer, the vegetable chopper, the bike tire inflater, the dormant volcano of tested patience waiting to erupt. I dream dreams of you, our future, our togetherness forever.
The light of my life, the joy, the pain, the laughter, the tears, and the everything. The insect killer, the vegetable chopper, the bike tire inflater, the dormant volcano of tested patience waiting to erupt. I dream dreams of you, our future, our togetherness forever.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Cheater, Cheater, Where'd You Meet Her?
In college, I had a picture of Tiger Woods on the cork board above my desk, right next to the pictures of my dog and friends. (What? Don't lie. You didn't have pictures of your family, either. You had a picture of your pet(s) and that time you got all dolled up to go to the bar, put too much eye makeup on, and hit on the captain of the intermural hockey team. Admit it.)
Last year, I watched Celebrity Apprentice with Jesse James and frequently mused out loud that he seemed like such a nice young man, articulate and well spoken. Sure, he was an occasional jackass, but so I am. He seemed quiet and kind of shy, but confident, too. I could totally see why Sandra Bullock agreed to marry him. I mean, minus the tattoos and the ability to build choppers, these are descriptions of my own dear husband, right down to the occasional jackassery, like how he's being a total wet blanket on this lovely Friday afternoon, stressing about something that is days away from right now.
And then there's Tiki Barber. When Barber left football, I admired him. He knew that the longer he was in the sport, the more likely he would be to suffer a serious injury or do long-term damage to his brain. I thought it was ballsy for him to leave while he was still on the top of his game and respected the decision that he made that was best for him and his family. I love to watch football and I would be devastated in my various favorite players left the game in the way that Barber did, but at the same time, I don't know if I want to see what Brett Favre's physical condition is like in fifteen years. Barber is not the world's best sports announcer, but every time he speaks, I'm relatively impressed. He's not the most tactful person (hi! I can't really talk about tact because I have none), but he calls it as he sees it and does so in an only occasionally sporadic manner.
I guess it should come as a surprise to nobody that these men are, in fact, lying, cheating, unable to keep their penises clean, douchebags. But, somehow, I am still surprised by the innate nature of human beings. I AM surprised that they would cheat on their spouses, beautiful women all. These men are just men, I know that. I know that their celebrity probably helps them cheat (it's easier to attract the attention of women, it's easier to find the time - my husband would probably cheat if all he had to do was play golf - but instead he has to work, make dinner, fix the sink, and do the day to day minutiae that Woods can pawn off on others, and it's certainly easier to pay for the escorts when money is pouring from your sponsors), but they are just regular guys who have fame.
And regular guys cheat. So where is my surprise coming from?
It's coming from the idea that these men are more stupid than I thought. Why would you risk everything you have for a quick lay in a motel room? Why would you risk the adulation, the money, and the security that comes with a hard-earned, if not deserved, reputation? I know that you can't see inside someone's marriage or their life, but you certainly can look from the outside and realize how privileged and lucky some people are. Woods, James, and Barber have what so many others dream of (wealth, fame, family, talent, and so much more); I wonder what is going on that makes them put all of that on the line.
So that's why I listen so hard to the news stories about this topic. I don't want to hear excuses about sex addiction. I want to know more. Because I need to know. I wonder about this same thing with others who put their lives on the line for alcohol, drugs, or in at least one mystifying marriage I'm familiar with, a new jet. What is the deal? Fine. Claim sex addiction, although I will call bullshit on you. With every addiction, there's an underlying trigger. What is theirs? And how do I prevent it from every entering my family?
I'm often embarrassed at how much time I devote to celebrity news. It's demeaning. I care about so many important issues, but I still know what's going on with Justin Bieber. It's taken me far too long to acknowledge that I do this because celebrities behave how we would all behave if we had the freedom and money to do whatever the hell we wanted whenever the hell we wanted to do. And sometimes it worries me that I am one (giant) step of fame away from the atrocious actions taken by the people on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
I'll continue to be disappointed in these men because we, as regular, non-celebrity people, need to have a seed of hope that we are, actually, good at heart.
Last year, I watched Celebrity Apprentice with Jesse James and frequently mused out loud that he seemed like such a nice young man, articulate and well spoken. Sure, he was an occasional jackass, but so I am. He seemed quiet and kind of shy, but confident, too. I could totally see why Sandra Bullock agreed to marry him. I mean, minus the tattoos and the ability to build choppers, these are descriptions of my own dear husband, right down to the occasional jackassery, like how he's being a total wet blanket on this lovely Friday afternoon, stressing about something that is days away from right now.
And then there's Tiki Barber. When Barber left football, I admired him. He knew that the longer he was in the sport, the more likely he would be to suffer a serious injury or do long-term damage to his brain. I thought it was ballsy for him to leave while he was still on the top of his game and respected the decision that he made that was best for him and his family. I love to watch football and I would be devastated in my various favorite players left the game in the way that Barber did, but at the same time, I don't know if I want to see what Brett Favre's physical condition is like in fifteen years. Barber is not the world's best sports announcer, but every time he speaks, I'm relatively impressed. He's not the most tactful person (hi! I can't really talk about tact because I have none), but he calls it as he sees it and does so in an only occasionally sporadic manner.
I guess it should come as a surprise to nobody that these men are, in fact, lying, cheating, unable to keep their penises clean, douchebags. But, somehow, I am still surprised by the innate nature of human beings. I AM surprised that they would cheat on their spouses, beautiful women all. These men are just men, I know that. I know that their celebrity probably helps them cheat (it's easier to attract the attention of women, it's easier to find the time - my husband would probably cheat if all he had to do was play golf - but instead he has to work, make dinner, fix the sink, and do the day to day minutiae that Woods can pawn off on others, and it's certainly easier to pay for the escorts when money is pouring from your sponsors), but they are just regular guys who have fame.
And regular guys cheat. So where is my surprise coming from?
It's coming from the idea that these men are more stupid than I thought. Why would you risk everything you have for a quick lay in a motel room? Why would you risk the adulation, the money, and the security that comes with a hard-earned, if not deserved, reputation? I know that you can't see inside someone's marriage or their life, but you certainly can look from the outside and realize how privileged and lucky some people are. Woods, James, and Barber have what so many others dream of (wealth, fame, family, talent, and so much more); I wonder what is going on that makes them put all of that on the line.
So that's why I listen so hard to the news stories about this topic. I don't want to hear excuses about sex addiction. I want to know more. Because I need to know. I wonder about this same thing with others who put their lives on the line for alcohol, drugs, or in at least one mystifying marriage I'm familiar with, a new jet. What is the deal? Fine. Claim sex addiction, although I will call bullshit on you. With every addiction, there's an underlying trigger. What is theirs? And how do I prevent it from every entering my family?
I'm often embarrassed at how much time I devote to celebrity news. It's demeaning. I care about so many important issues, but I still know what's going on with Justin Bieber. It's taken me far too long to acknowledge that I do this because celebrities behave how we would all behave if we had the freedom and money to do whatever the hell we wanted whenever the hell we wanted to do. And sometimes it worries me that I am one (giant) step of fame away from the atrocious actions taken by the people on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
I'll continue to be disappointed in these men because we, as regular, non-celebrity people, need to have a seed of hope that we are, actually, good at heart.
45 x 365 #364
364/365 - FW
Defeated by the world. When you’re not sleeping, you’re thinking about when you can next sleep. I call you and tell you I love you, but it’s not the same as being there daily, watching you battle those demons, and helping you chase them away.
Defeated by the world. When you’re not sleeping, you’re thinking about when you can next sleep. I call you and tell you I love you, but it’s not the same as being there daily, watching you battle those demons, and helping you chase them away.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
45 x 365 #363
363/365 - TPW
The reflection shows a feminized version of you – same face shape, eyes, and regrettable hairline – along with stubbornness, anger, and impatience. You weren’t always this way and I will try to remember the old you when I see my (your?) face in the mirror.
The reflection shows a feminized version of you – same face shape, eyes, and regrettable hairline – along with stubbornness, anger, and impatience. You weren’t always this way and I will try to remember the old you when I see my (your?) face in the mirror.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
45 x 365 #362
362/365 - DW
We share parents, initials, a tendency toward anxiety and depression, and precious little else. You can push my buttons like no other, but at the end of the day, it’s you and me together against the ‘rents, for the ‘rents, and because of the ‘rents.
We share parents, initials, a tendency toward anxiety and depression, and precious little else. You can push my buttons like no other, but at the end of the day, it’s you and me together against the ‘rents, for the ‘rents, and because of the ‘rents.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
45 x 365 #361
361/365 - TP
Impetuous, sassy, and irreverent. She doesn’t keep a ledger for her checkbook, but can quote Langston Hughes at a moment’s notice. A mama, a daughter, a sister, an English teacher, a wearer of purple nail polish and Cubs tshirts, my bestest friend in the world.
OR
She has been humbled by a psycho ex, but is still open to love and all its joys. It’s impossible to hear a song on the radio without hearing her alternate lyrics. She’s the jelly (not grape) to my peanut butter. My first real love.
OR
I pealed out of the driveway, tires squealing and gravel spraying. She slammed the door loudly behind her. At home that night, we each apologized with small gifts we had unknowingly procured for the other. Best friends fight, sure, but always kiss and make up.
Impetuous, sassy, and irreverent. She doesn’t keep a ledger for her checkbook, but can quote Langston Hughes at a moment’s notice. A mama, a daughter, a sister, an English teacher, a wearer of purple nail polish and Cubs tshirts, my bestest friend in the world.
OR
She has been humbled by a psycho ex, but is still open to love and all its joys. It’s impossible to hear a song on the radio without hearing her alternate lyrics. She’s the jelly (not grape) to my peanut butter. My first real love.
OR
I pealed out of the driveway, tires squealing and gravel spraying. She slammed the door loudly behind her. At home that night, we each apologized with small gifts we had unknowingly procured for the other. Best friends fight, sure, but always kiss and make up.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Books: Paper and Electronic
Up first: paper books I've recent read. (This is to combat the idea that I ONLY read books on my Kindle these days.)
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire - My principal gave me this book to read. It was heart wrenching and made me realize that I do not need to see that movie. I read a review that said this book is not for the fainthearted and I guess I didn't believe it until I was in the middle of a graphic scene of incest and realized I was crying.
Recently the struggle of those facing poverty and illiteracy has become a real part of my daily life. There is no way out of the cycle of poverty if a child doesn't learn to read. Literacy is an important part of the story Sapphire is telling here. Much has been made of the focus on the incest, obesity, and systematic problems of the welfare and education systems in this novel, but I think, at its heart, it's about how important reading is to the self-esteem and survival of a young person today.
I was not satisfied with the ending of the book. It left me feeling like the main character, even though her life has been improved, is still never going to have the life she wants because it's just not attainable for her. A true, honest ending. But definitely not satisfying because no one's life should be a dead end before it has begun.
American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent - I wanted to like this book. It's sort of an academic take on the evolution of the concept of nerd. But, alas, the true academic that I am was confused by his nebulous definitions and constantly changing terminology. There are admittedly funny anecdotes in this book, but I feel like it tried to be more clever than Nugent actually is.
the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon - My Bestest Friend gave this to me at Christmastime. I read it recently and couldn't put it down. It's a novel told from the point of view of a young man with some disability that lies on the autism spectrum (a lot of people say Asperger's, but I don't think that's quit accurate; however, I am so far from an expert on the DSMV that I refuse to say more) who sees an incident with a dog and decides to investigate said incident. It really was a fascinating glimpse into a brain that is wired incredibly differently from mine.
To the Kindle:
I read a bunch of Sherlock Holmes stories. I'd tell you all about them, but you're all sick of my obsession. I just got this awesome annotated Sherlock Holmes collection from the library, so I won't detail all the individual stories I read. But don't worry. More Doyle love will soon come along.
One Night in Boston by Allie Boniface - This was a free romance. Pretty good. I would read this author again.
The Boyfriend League by Rachel Hawthorne - This was a sweet book about a girl with a crush on a baseball player. I have to say that this book was completely inoffensive, if a bit forgettable.
Have I told you how I accidentally download Christian fiction/Christian romance novels on occasion? Amazon groups them under romance and I just click on them without reading into the description. I had a couple of those including Miss Match (just no - the main character is a sanctimonious churchy chick and I just couldn't do it), Against All Odds by Irene Hannon (not too preachy and I actually finished it - I'm not going to convert, but I wasn't offended), and The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman (it was fine, although a little too moralizing for my atheistic tastes). I think what I've learned is that I need to start reading between the lines of my downloads better.
The Apothecary's Daughter - I don't usually read historical fiction, but I liked this novel a lot. I also felt like I learned a lot so chalk one up for the historical fiction camp. I still think I will try to stick to contemporary fiction.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block - Man, this book was awesome. It's a teen book, but the characters were quirky and cool. And then the last ten pages happened and I had to turn to my hsuband and ask, "Why? Why did that just happen?" And I won't give it away, but you'll ask yourself that question too.
I'm currently reading The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, but it's not going well (historical fiction rarely does). Once I finish it, I'll put up more complete review. I also have three books that I checked out from the library, in addition to the Sherlock Holmes annotated collection, so I should have plenty more book reviews up soon!
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire - My principal gave me this book to read. It was heart wrenching and made me realize that I do not need to see that movie. I read a review that said this book is not for the fainthearted and I guess I didn't believe it until I was in the middle of a graphic scene of incest and realized I was crying.
Recently the struggle of those facing poverty and illiteracy has become a real part of my daily life. There is no way out of the cycle of poverty if a child doesn't learn to read. Literacy is an important part of the story Sapphire is telling here. Much has been made of the focus on the incest, obesity, and systematic problems of the welfare and education systems in this novel, but I think, at its heart, it's about how important reading is to the self-esteem and survival of a young person today.
I was not satisfied with the ending of the book. It left me feeling like the main character, even though her life has been improved, is still never going to have the life she wants because it's just not attainable for her. A true, honest ending. But definitely not satisfying because no one's life should be a dead end before it has begun.
American Nerd: The Story of My People by Benjamin Nugent - I wanted to like this book. It's sort of an academic take on the evolution of the concept of nerd. But, alas, the true academic that I am was confused by his nebulous definitions and constantly changing terminology. There are admittedly funny anecdotes in this book, but I feel like it tried to be more clever than Nugent actually is.
the curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon - My Bestest Friend gave this to me at Christmastime. I read it recently and couldn't put it down. It's a novel told from the point of view of a young man with some disability that lies on the autism spectrum (a lot of people say Asperger's, but I don't think that's quit accurate; however, I am so far from an expert on the DSMV that I refuse to say more) who sees an incident with a dog and decides to investigate said incident. It really was a fascinating glimpse into a brain that is wired incredibly differently from mine.
To the Kindle:
I read a bunch of Sherlock Holmes stories. I'd tell you all about them, but you're all sick of my obsession. I just got this awesome annotated Sherlock Holmes collection from the library, so I won't detail all the individual stories I read. But don't worry. More Doyle love will soon come along.
One Night in Boston by Allie Boniface - This was a free romance. Pretty good. I would read this author again.
The Boyfriend League by Rachel Hawthorne - This was a sweet book about a girl with a crush on a baseball player. I have to say that this book was completely inoffensive, if a bit forgettable.
Have I told you how I accidentally download Christian fiction/Christian romance novels on occasion? Amazon groups them under romance and I just click on them without reading into the description. I had a couple of those including Miss Match (just no - the main character is a sanctimonious churchy chick and I just couldn't do it), Against All Odds by Irene Hannon (not too preachy and I actually finished it - I'm not going to convert, but I wasn't offended), and The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman (it was fine, although a little too moralizing for my atheistic tastes). I think what I've learned is that I need to start reading between the lines of my downloads better.
The Apothecary's Daughter - I don't usually read historical fiction, but I liked this novel a lot. I also felt like I learned a lot so chalk one up for the historical fiction camp. I still think I will try to stick to contemporary fiction.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block - Man, this book was awesome. It's a teen book, but the characters were quirky and cool. And then the last ten pages happened and I had to turn to my hsuband and ask, "Why? Why did that just happen?" And I won't give it away, but you'll ask yourself that question too.
I'm currently reading The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, but it's not going well (historical fiction rarely does). Once I finish it, I'll put up more complete review. I also have three books that I checked out from the library, in addition to the Sherlock Holmes annotated collection, so I should have plenty more book reviews up soon!
45 x 365 #360
360/365 - JK
She is a ray of sunshine in my life everyday. She has lived in many places and has stories from all of them. She loves her little girl to pieces, but finds the day to day living and breathing and paying the bills sometimes overwhelming.
She is a ray of sunshine in my life everyday. She has lived in many places and has stories from all of them. She loves her little girl to pieces, but finds the day to day living and breathing and paying the bills sometimes overwhelming.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Right Here, Right Now*
Sunday afternoon. Both of us are in the office in the back of our apartment, using our computers. My husband is listening to The Tossers on Pandora, eating a cupcake, and drinking a cup of hot tea. My cupcake is long gone, my cup of tea still too hot to drink, and I'm giving unsolicited opinions about the songs as they come up.
The windows are wide open, the sun is pouring in, and across the street, a family with a mom, dad, two boys, and a little girl are walking away. It's in the 60s today and it seems like the populace of Minneapolis is out to enjoy it. The grass is green, but the trees have not budded yet. There's a window right in front of my desk that opens up to the road in front of our building and most of the traffic today is pedestrian traffic and bicycles.
He finished his cupcake and has gone back for one more. The music has switched to some annoying instrumental with an obnoxious string instrument (mandolin? banjo?). The birds are chirp chirp chirping outside my window. Randomly, our resident manager just started the lawn mower and I guess he's cutting the grass. I don't know that there's enough grass to be cut, but I don't make these decisions.
The shadow of a tree is stretching out across the road I'm looking on. It's sinister, with its angular limbs outlined in sharp contrast with the bright midday sun creating a malevolent umbra in the shiny happiness of the day.
Hipsters on single-speed bikes ride by, ignoring the stop sign at the intersection and nearly colliding with cross traffic. The horn of the blue mini van can be heard over the roar of the mower from below. The sun glints off the cars parked on the street. While the mower is temporarily shut off, the noise of a plane circling around the city and the hum of far away traffic fill the air. The scent of freshly cut grass wafts up through the window.
There is no other place I'd rather be.*
*Jesus Jones, of course.
45 x 365 #359
359/365 - TJC
She told me her major was creative writing and I said, in my usual tactful way, “why don’t you get a real major?” But she is a writer, a fabulous writer. Her poems make my heart hurt and her stories make me scared and lonely.
OR
I would watch her play Final Fantasy Tactics until my eyes would fall heavy and drool would end up on her pillow. We would play pool (badly) and order Papa John’s garlic bread and drink Mountain Dew while listening to Garth Brooks and Billy Joel.
OR
She’s a slacker. She’d take an F in a class rather than ask an instructor to sign that paper. She earned a master’s degree but works a crappy job at a crappy clothing store. She’s also loyal, funny, smart, and one of my best friends.
OR
Hers is a dysfunctional family; she watches her siblings fall in and out of love. She doesn’t want to be like them, in oh so many ways, so she steals her heart, stays in her shell, and hides away so no man can hurt her.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
45 x 365 #358
358/365 - MG
They went to college together, a college that has long been closed, back in the 1960s. But twice a month, without fail, she kicks her husband out of the house, makes tea, and sits down to enjoy a gossip session with her best oldest friends.
They went to college together, a college that has long been closed, back in the 1960s. But twice a month, without fail, she kicks her husband out of the house, makes tea, and sits down to enjoy a gossip session with her best oldest friends.
Friday, April 09, 2010
My New Digs
Look! I have pretty new digs. I decided that the retina searing blue of my template was painful for everyone to look at. Sheila over at Blog Designs by Sheila very nicely and patiently helped me out with revision after revision on what it should look like. If you're reading in a reader, click through. It's pretty!!!
I'll be making a few organizational and cosmetic changes here and there throughout the weekend and I'm super excited that everything looks exactly how I want it to look!!
I'll be making a few organizational and cosmetic changes here and there throughout the weekend and I'm super excited that everything looks exactly how I want it to look!!
45 x 365 #357
357/365 - MG
He came back from the war with a wandering eye. When asked what happened, he shrugged, unable to relive whatever happened. Now he’s a funny old man, sometimes crotchety, always getting frustrated by the ever downtrodden Cubs and always kicking ass in family euchre tournaments.
He came back from the war with a wandering eye. When asked what happened, he shrugged, unable to relive whatever happened. Now he’s a funny old man, sometimes crotchety, always getting frustrated by the ever downtrodden Cubs and always kicking ass in family euchre tournaments.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
45 x 365 #356
356/365 - MG
When he errs, death is a not unlikely scenario. He takes this seriously, so seriously that he cannot see the import of any job that does not involve manipulating human organs. I end up questioning my worth around him, but I also question his worth.
When he errs, death is a not unlikely scenario. He takes this seriously, so seriously that he cannot see the import of any job that does not involve manipulating human organs. I end up questioning my worth around him, but I also question his worth.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Best Of
School Tales - Helplessness is just a part of being a teacher sometimes. I haven't always dealt with it in a way that I am proud of, but sometimes I do.
An Inconvenient Truth - If you found someone crying in a public restroom, would you try to help them?
A Long Time Coming - I sometimes think of friendship as a job, but sometimes it's a job that's harder than any other.
I Need to Stop Watching TMZ - Chris Brown beats Rihanna and I beat down celebs who weigh in to support him.
Sweet Summer Scent - Isn't it crazy how a smell can take you back?
The Summer of Heat, Humidity, and Horribleness - Go on a summer bike ride with me and question why I do this all the time...
Tales from the Bus - Sometimes I am reminded of how nice people can be.
OJ, Kobe, Kirby - Words are powerful. So are names. So why aren't we more careful with them?
An Inconvenient Truth - If you found someone crying in a public restroom, would you try to help them?
A Long Time Coming - I sometimes think of friendship as a job, but sometimes it's a job that's harder than any other.
I Need to Stop Watching TMZ - Chris Brown beats Rihanna and I beat down celebs who weigh in to support him.
Sweet Summer Scent - Isn't it crazy how a smell can take you back?
The Summer of Heat, Humidity, and Horribleness - Go on a summer bike ride with me and question why I do this all the time...
Tales from the Bus - Sometimes I am reminded of how nice people can be.
OJ, Kobe, Kirby - Words are powerful. So are names. So why aren't we more careful with them?
45 x 365 #355
355/365 - SKG
We went to a street fair together, laughing at the guy making balloon animals and getting matching temporary tattoos on our arms. But your personality, fun and quirky as it used to be, has been subsumed by parenthood. Sadly, now you are dull and spiritless.
We went to a street fair together, laughing at the guy making balloon animals and getting matching temporary tattoos on our arms. But your personality, fun and quirky as it used to be, has been subsumed by parenthood. Sadly, now you are dull and spiritless.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
A Time to Every Purpose
Six weeks ago, it looked like this in our fair city. It was beautiful, peaceful, and quiet, but if you were forced to give people directions in and around Minneapolis, it was nigh impossible because all of our wonderful landmarks were covered in white cotton. We ice skated, we sled down the hill, and we trudged walked around the deserted lake, a path we felt was devoted to just us and the die hard dog walkers, feeling superior because we were hardy and not afraid of breaking our fool necks on the skating rink below our feet.
March was kind and the snow begin to slowly melt. Soon you could even tell that those big bumps were, indeed, a kind of boat. Ice still dammed the lakes, but we began to feel insecure about those who were still insisting on ice fishing in their little huts on what we thought was probably too thin ice.
And now. Our first major spring rain. I am thankful that some of the debris on the road may be washed away. I am thankful that the trees may get some precipitation they dearly need to start budding. I am thankful that the last time we visited my inlaws, they stocked us up on allergy medication. I am thankful that I got to enjoy the beauty that was this past winter, but that we can now move on to a new time.
Welcome, Spring. Thanks for stopping by.
March was kind and the snow begin to slowly melt. Soon you could even tell that those big bumps were, indeed, a kind of boat. Ice still dammed the lakes, but we began to feel insecure about those who were still insisting on ice fishing in their little huts on what we thought was probably too thin ice.
And now. Our first major spring rain. I am thankful that some of the debris on the road may be washed away. I am thankful that the trees may get some precipitation they dearly need to start budding. I am thankful that the last time we visited my inlaws, they stocked us up on allergy medication. I am thankful that I got to enjoy the beauty that was this past winter, but that we can now move on to a new time.
Welcome, Spring. Thanks for stopping by.
45 x 365 #354
354/365 - EG
She is the source of my greatest shame. Even her beloved grandparents describe her has stubborn and willful. She makes my husband think having children is a wrong move for everyone, including us, and secretly, deep inside, she makes me think the exact same thing.
She is the source of my greatest shame. Even her beloved grandparents describe her has stubborn and willful. She makes my husband think having children is a wrong move for everyone, including us, and secretly, deep inside, she makes me think the exact same thing.
Monday, April 05, 2010
To Spend or Not to Spend
Spending Moratorium Update:
One trip to Old Navy where I splurged and purchased three skirts to be worn for the next five months pretty much all the time. (They cost $45 and I immediately paid and put $45 dollars in my savings account, too.)
One trip to Barnes and Noble to buy two children's books, promised as a present before the moratorium was enacted. So I did buy the two books (go Anna Dewdney!), but my Barnes and Noble membership was about to expire, so I also paid to renew it. I will definitely use the membership since I buy almost all of my gifts for small children in the form of books and it is cheaper to renew membership before it expires rather than pay in full later on, but it was a purchase that wasn't really in the spirit of the moratorium.
One weak-willed moment where I convinced myself that downloading four songs was not breaking the moratorium because music wasn't on my original list. The songs were "Regular Joe" by Ashton Shepherd, "Little Red Balloon" by Kristina Cornell, "What I'd Say" by Earl Thomas Conley, and "I'll Pray for You" by Jaron and the Long Road to Love, which is quite possibly the worst band name in the history of band names. I deeply regret the purchase of the first two songs, but the second two have quickly turned into two of the most played songs on my media player.
Another weak-willed moment where I stopped by Baby Gap and got a gift card for someone. I can't help it. I'm weak. I didn't want my friend to go without a Baby Gap splurge.
And. That's it. I did get gas an oil change, and new brakes (egads!) for my truck last week. However, car maintenance and repair seem like a good use of the money I've been saving.
However, there are still ten days left in the moratorium and I only have six postage stamps left. I know that for most people that would be okay, but I'm having some issues here, people. I think I may have to convince BB that it's his turn to buy stamps for once...but I'm not sure if he'll actually fall for that.
***************************
A brief issue of Overheard in Suburban High School:
Context: I am suffering from an annoying stiff neck.
Student: What's with Ms. NGS? Is she auditioning for the role of Frankenstein?
Teacher next door: What's a platitude?
Student: A platypus with an attitude.
One trip to Old Navy where I splurged and purchased three skirts to be worn for the next five months pretty much all the time. (They cost $45 and I immediately paid and put $45 dollars in my savings account, too.)
One trip to Barnes and Noble to buy two children's books, promised as a present before the moratorium was enacted. So I did buy the two books (go Anna Dewdney!), but my Barnes and Noble membership was about to expire, so I also paid to renew it. I will definitely use the membership since I buy almost all of my gifts for small children in the form of books and it is cheaper to renew membership before it expires rather than pay in full later on, but it was a purchase that wasn't really in the spirit of the moratorium.
One weak-willed moment where I convinced myself that downloading four songs was not breaking the moratorium because music wasn't on my original list. The songs were "Regular Joe" by Ashton Shepherd, "Little Red Balloon" by Kristina Cornell, "What I'd Say" by Earl Thomas Conley, and "I'll Pray for You" by Jaron and the Long Road to Love, which is quite possibly the worst band name in the history of band names. I deeply regret the purchase of the first two songs, but the second two have quickly turned into two of the most played songs on my media player.
Another weak-willed moment where I stopped by Baby Gap and got a gift card for someone. I can't help it. I'm weak. I didn't want my friend to go without a Baby Gap splurge.
And. That's it. I did get gas an oil change, and new brakes (egads!) for my truck last week. However, car maintenance and repair seem like a good use of the money I've been saving.
However, there are still ten days left in the moratorium and I only have six postage stamps left. I know that for most people that would be okay, but I'm having some issues here, people. I think I may have to convince BB that it's his turn to buy stamps for once...but I'm not sure if he'll actually fall for that.
***************************
A brief issue of Overheard in Suburban High School:
Context: I am suffering from an annoying stiff neck.
Student: What's with Ms. NGS? Is she auditioning for the role of Frankenstein?
Teacher next door: What's a platitude?
Student: A platypus with an attitude.
45 x 365 #353
353/365 - MH
In a room crowded with people, I will find myself gravitating toward him, unconsciously making him my human security blanket. He has a calm, serious demeanor, but then he’ll mutter under his breath a spot on deprecating comment and make me laugh until I cry.
In a room crowded with people, I will find myself gravitating toward him, unconsciously making him my human security blanket. He has a calm, serious demeanor, but then he’ll mutter under his breath a spot on deprecating comment and make me laugh until I cry.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
45 x 365 #352
352 - KH
Serious in appropriate places – church and work. Otherwise you’re silly and lighthearted. You sat in the car last weekend, seat pushed back as far as it goes (“ridin’ dirty”), window down, feet up on the dash, screaming “I’m a Bee,” and making us all laugh.
Serious in appropriate places – church and work. Otherwise you’re silly and lighthearted. You sat in the car last weekend, seat pushed back as far as it goes (“ridin’ dirty”), window down, feet up on the dash, screaming “I’m a Bee,” and making us all laugh.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
45 x 365 #351
351/365 - MK
Rumor has it you were a spitfire when you were younger, sassy and snappy, but when you got married, you turned into a doormat, taking on your husband’s ultra-conservative politics and religious beliefs. You let his cheating go with no consequences. Where is that spitfire?
Rumor has it you were a spitfire when you were younger, sassy and snappy, but when you got married, you turned into a doormat, taking on your husband’s ultra-conservative politics and religious beliefs. You let his cheating go with no consequences. Where is that spitfire?
Friday, April 02, 2010
45 x 365 #350
350/365 - MG
You must be useful at all times and are incapable of just sitting still for more than thirty seconds unless you’re watching basketball or college football. The kind of guy who hasn’t read a novel in years, but reads the newspaper every morning at breakfast.
You must be useful at all times and are incapable of just sitting still for more than thirty seconds unless you’re watching basketball or college football. The kind of guy who hasn’t read a novel in years, but reads the newspaper every morning at breakfast.
Dear Spring Break
Hi,
How are you? I know, I know, I know. It's been too short, our time together. But haven't we enjoyed it?
First, there was the whole "not much on our agenda" except for listening to Pandora and doing an occasional errand here and there*. I really liked that. I hope you're okay with the fact that we didn't do any of that crazy traveling/drinking/partying that seems to be what people think of when they think of Spring Break. Last week, I was fraying at the seams, unraveling in front of myself, and I really needed just a relaxation party. Which, you know, you provided.
Plus, there was that whole awesome global warming thing you did for me. I mean, it was eighty fucking degrees here yesterday! In Minneapolis! On April 1! I thought it was a big fat April Fool's Day joke, but it turns out that there's just a crazy weather system. And since it was warm and sunny and beautiful all week, I had a week of doing nothing while hanging out at the lake and riding my bike. So, yeah - thanks Spring Break.
Sure, we had our stressful moments together. Taking Monster in to deal with the squealing was tough and cost us a pretty penny. But, guess what? Overhauling the brakes at 101,000 miles is probably a good idea. And, now? No squealing!! Sure, we had to deal with the taxes. It's been an ongoing struggle and we did end up owing some money, but whatever. It's just money. We are, right now, hemorrhaging money in kind of a bad way, but that's why we are so frugal, right? Let's not even talk about the ant I saw and the freak out that followed by my dear husband and the Raid and the open windows because, hey, it was eighty fucking degrees and we could have the windows open!!!
Let's just cap it off by letting you know that I am really sad you're coming to end. But, I know that it's time I go back to work because last night I got snippy with my husband because I have now cleared the cache of books I had stored on my Kindle and now I really want to buy some new books, but I have this spending moratorium, so I'm not allowing myself to buy new books and I'm a teeny tiny bit bored.
So thanks for coming and being so spectacularly awesome. Let's do it again sometime, okay?
Love (really and truly),
*Yeah, yeah. I know that I did work 20 hours this week at my other job, but really? That seemed like FUN, you know? Something to force me to get showered and dressed each day?
How are you? I know, I know, I know. It's been too short, our time together. But haven't we enjoyed it?
First, there was the whole "not much on our agenda" except for listening to Pandora and doing an occasional errand here and there*. I really liked that. I hope you're okay with the fact that we didn't do any of that crazy traveling/drinking/partying that seems to be what people think of when they think of Spring Break. Last week, I was fraying at the seams, unraveling in front of myself, and I really needed just a relaxation party. Which, you know, you provided.
Plus, there was that whole awesome global warming thing you did for me. I mean, it was eighty fucking degrees here yesterday! In Minneapolis! On April 1! I thought it was a big fat April Fool's Day joke, but it turns out that there's just a crazy weather system. And since it was warm and sunny and beautiful all week, I had a week of doing nothing while hanging out at the lake and riding my bike. So, yeah - thanks Spring Break.
Sure, we had our stressful moments together. Taking Monster in to deal with the squealing was tough and cost us a pretty penny. But, guess what? Overhauling the brakes at 101,000 miles is probably a good idea. And, now? No squealing!! Sure, we had to deal with the taxes. It's been an ongoing struggle and we did end up owing some money, but whatever. It's just money. We are, right now, hemorrhaging money in kind of a bad way, but that's why we are so frugal, right? Let's not even talk about the ant I saw and the freak out that followed by my dear husband and the Raid and the open windows because, hey, it was eighty fucking degrees and we could have the windows open!!!
Let's just cap it off by letting you know that I am really sad you're coming to end. But, I know that it's time I go back to work because last night I got snippy with my husband because I have now cleared the cache of books I had stored on my Kindle and now I really want to buy some new books, but I have this spending moratorium, so I'm not allowing myself to buy new books and I'm a teeny tiny bit bored.
So thanks for coming and being so spectacularly awesome. Let's do it again sometime, okay?
Love (really and truly),
*Yeah, yeah. I know that I did work 20 hours this week at my other job, but really? That seemed like FUN, you know? Something to force me to get showered and dressed each day?
Thursday, April 01, 2010
45 x 365 #349
349/365 - MA
When I met you, you wrapped your arms around me in a hug that made me feel so important, so wanted, that I nearly broke down in tears. Your family is your everything and that you welcomed me into that fold has not gone unappreciated.
When I met you, you wrapped your arms around me in a hug that made me feel so important, so wanted, that I nearly broke down in tears. Your family is your everything and that you welcomed me into that fold has not gone unappreciated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)