...cake for Jesus, I mean Joshua...

Happy Birthday o brother-in-law of mine! Here is wishing you the best year yet. I hope that this time next year, we can celebrate with you in person!
Have a great day with your family, and eat some of Julie's yummy food for me...well...don't eat lamb for me, 'cause I'm not sure if I will ever do that or not. Anyway...I hope all of your wishes come true. Take care.
love you much...


P.S. In un-related news, we found out Wednesday that Piper and Nick are having a boy! We get the instant gratification of having an older niece to play with and talk to, and now we get a nephew to know from the get go! I love being an Aunt!!!

...thanks due...

Yesterday was an exciting mail day...three packages and two cards and a card with cookies from our neighbors! I love getting mail!!!
Anyway, we are no-good at saving our packages to open at the appropriate holiday time. I was going to try to be good this year, but Jer said let's go for it.

Thank you Josh, Julie, and Morgan for the very cool gifts! I never knew a mini-Che existed. The cookies are very good...Jer went immediately for them...not that I didn't, but he got there first. Hope you all are having a nice holiday today. We will try to call at some point, but I am unexpectedly working most of today, and Jer has a tuning.

Thank you Joan! The tile is beautiful, and goes well with our collection. The kitchen gadgets will be definitely utilized. We hope you get your package in time...we sent it off Priority yesterday. Have safe travels and thank you again!

Thank you Rick for the gift last week! I know Jer spoke with you, but I didn't get to thank you yet. We love fiesta ware, so it was perfect! I have already enjoyed many cups of coffee in the mugs. We are slow on gathering your gift...we know what it is, it is just a matter of doing it. That's all I'm going to say. So...it is probably not going to arrive on time, but we still love you! :)

Alright! Thank you everybody!!! The best gift of all is having you folks as family.
We will talk with you at some point this week.
Happy Holidays of all kinds.
love.

...under pressure...

Man...people are getting a little too nutty out there. I really do not enjoy trying to get any sort of shopping done this time of year be it groceries or gifts. People are super-hyped up on consuming...I start to see them just as giant suck-holes bent on obtaining as much as they can in a short amount of time. Especially working retail you get to experience just how much the holidays can turn people into real jerks. Sigh. I just want to grab people and smack them...breathe damnit! Remember, it should not be about getting things. I would be perfectly happy just to have leisurely time with family and friends...no worrying about work, or bills...eating good food, and laughing. Presents are nice, but they don't have to exist.

Okay...just had to get that off of my chest, because I am starting to not want to leave the house!

In other news...things are pretty good. Jer's been getting a bunch of tunings, I am working more hours at Utrecht which is not a bad thing, it hasn't been too cold, we discovered a new favorite breakfast spot within walking distance from the house ('bout a mile,) I'm re-reading "The Red Tent," we have been eating well, Piper and Nick get to find out in a couple of days if they are having a boy or girl!, the kitties are snuggly and cute (though can be scratch-masters at night,)...I don't know...life is just moving on as it should.

If I don't get around to it again...Happy Holidays of all kinds to everyone.
P.S. Hey Josh and Julie...we got invited to a Solstice party for Tuesday night, so we will be celebrating too!

...from Julie...

I really liked this listing idea...
things listed in no particular order

Twelve Good Books:
1.The Journey is the Destination by Dan Eldon
2.House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
3.Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
4.Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
5.Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
6.A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain
7.The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
8.The Year I Didn't Go To School by Giselle Potter
9.Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by Ruth Reichl
10.The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
11.Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Alexander Brown
12.Half Asleep In Frog Pajamas by Tom Robbins

Eleven Good Bands/Artists:
1.Tool
2.Bjork
3.Pixies
4.Neurosis
5.Pink Floyd
6.Dead Prez
7.Mos Def
8.Garbanzo Brothers Music
9.Queen
10.Submission Hold
11.The Mountain Goats

Here is my list of eleven visual artists...though I think by artists they meant musically, but who cares!:
1.Remedios Varo
2.Yoshitomo Nara
3.Kara Walker
4.Vincent Van Gough
5.Frida Kahlo
6.Joseph Cornell
7.Fred Tomaselli
8.Alex Grey
9.Corrie Beth Hogg
10.Ann Hamilton
11.Kiki Smith

Ten Things You Want to Do In Your Life:
1.visit Iceland
2.have children
3.have an art show outside of the Kansas City area
4.visit every State that I have not yet been to
5.swim with whales and/or dolphins
6.learn to speak Spanish and/or French at least semi-fluently
7.have a party in which all my family/extended family is present
8.scuba dive
9.solve some sort of mystery
10.fully read "Gravity's Rainbow" and "Zen and the Brain" (they are both quite heavy, and awaiting me on our shelves)

Nine Things You Really Like:
1. snuggling in blankets on a cold day and reading
2.talking with/pretty much everything dealing with Jeremy
3.cooking/having a really tasty dinner with friends
4.walking around familiar and unfamiliar cities
5.being an Aunt!
6.sunshine on my flesh
7.my family
8.funny things that kids say
9.thinking about/working on art projects

Eight Things That Piss You Off:
1.people who don't pay attention to their surroundings
2.customers who are rude to me from the get go and for absolutely no reason
3.how utterly cruel people all over the world can be to each other
4.hitting (of children, wives, husbands, or other animals!)
5.crazy drivers...sometimes I'm included in that!
6.words intentionally spelled wrong (i.e. rite, nite, u save)
7.willful ignorance
8.stepping in dog poo

Seven Things You Do Daily:
1.drink coffee
2.hug/kiss/say I love you to Jeremy a bunch
3.make lists
4.eat
5.think about my Dad and Grandparents
6.wash my face
7.laugh

Six Memories:
1.all my firsts with Jeremy (meeting, date, kiss...you know)
2.emerging out of a three-hour hike through sub-tropical rainforest in the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney
3.driving through a blizzard in south-western Kansas, and looking out the window to see a HUGE tumbleweed rollin' on by
4.the shame I felt the first time I was caught lying by a friend (it was 2nd grade)
5.the night my Dad passed away
6.lying on the ground in Iowa, the night-sky splayed out before us, watching hundreds of shooting stars

Five Things You Thought About Today:
1.my health (I'm getting over a cold.)
2.gifts left to get for various folks
3.sewing circle tonight
4.what to do (it's my day off!)
5.frogs

Four Things You Like About Yourself:
1.sense of humor
2.my fine booty
3.creativity
4.approachability

Three Things You Don't Like About Yourself:
1.my apathy/indecision/lack of discipline about doing certain things
2.sometimes I say things before thinking about how they might hurt somebody
3.I can be a little too firey sometimes

Two People That You Confide In Most:
1.Jeremy
2.Piper

One Thing You Want But Don't Have:
1.the truth about all of the mysteries of the world

...food,thundersnow,and fun...

Tuesday night as we were hanging out upstairs it began to snow. We noticed it wasn't really sticking, and continued on chatting and taking in some cable. A little while later we decided to look out the windows again. Hmmm...it was starting to collect a bit. As I was drifting into sleep, HUGE bursts of thunder and lightning filled the room! Thundersnow! When I woke up the next morning, I made my way downstairs, threw opened the blinds to our bedroom window, and yelled,"Oh fuck!"
A very large part of Barb's pear tree had fallen on top of the fence and was jutting about five feet into our yard (right over the herb garden!) It had pulled her electrical and phone lines dangerously close to the ground. I looked up, and saw the branches that have been starting to intermingle among our own power lines were getting a little too close for comfort.
So...our power only was out for an hour on Thanksgiving, the snow melted rapidly, the tree is still in our yard, but getting taken away tomorrow, my Mom's power was off and on all day Wednesday and caused some transfering of food (great turkey transfer of '04), but ulitmately we had Thanksgiving at her place on Thursday.

Joan and Rachel made it safely in Wednesday evening while I was at work. I came home to a lovely evening of bbq tofu, baked beans, jalapeno/cheddar cornbread, and salad provided by Jer. We sat around the dining room table talking, then I fell asleep with Jeremy rubbing my head in his lap...in front of his Mom...that could sound dirty, but it wasn't. We are all sugar and innocence here.
Thursday, Joan and I both awoke early-ish and made biscuits and cranberry sauce, then some breakfast for us and the lazy bones still in bed. She and I had a nice walk around Waldo/Brookside, and returned in time so that I could make fruit salad before heading to my Ma's around 3:00. The evening was filled with good food, conversation, and much laughter.
Friday I had the honor of being at work from 10am-7pm. It was dead a good portion of the day, but Jer and Rachel stopped in for a visit, and Andrew (co-worker) and I worked on projects and danced around all day. I discoverd that the Cross-Stitch show got a little write up in The Pitch and my work was mentioned! Jer, Joan, and Rachel picked me up, and we indulged in a wonderful Ethiopian dinner. Drool. After we got home, an old friend of Joan's came over. We just hung out in the living room drinking wine, and talking.
Saturday was more work, seeing Joan and Rachel off, and then over to Matt and Mary's for curry and hanging out with Thom before he leaves for his possibly year-long cross-country excursion in his VW van.

Hoping everyone had a nice holiday...

...warm on the inside...

The weather people are discussing the possibility of snow later today! Yay! I doubt it will come close to the two-feet of snow I dreamed of a couple of weeks ago, but that is okay. We have to stay inside most of today anyway, so that we can finish cleaning for a visit from Joan and Rachel! They will be swinging in at some point tomorrow afternoon. The only thing that sucks about this visit is that I have to work Friday 10am-7pm and Saturday 10am-6pm...I think they are leaving Saturday. So goes retail...
Jeremy had a great birthday. We made our way to Lawrence on his actual b-day. Did some shopping, had dinner at FreeState, then spent the rest of the night drinking at The Jayhawker (the bar at the Eldridge Hotel)with friends. Good night. The next day after I got off of work, we went out to dinner with my Mom, Piper, and Nick, then back to Mom's for presents and cake. So...Happy Birthday Jer...big 33.
Friday night was the opening to the show "Cross-Stitch" that I happen to have two pieces in. A lot of friends showed up to support me, so I felt very lucky. I discovered the next day that a detail shot of one of my pieces ended up in our local, monthly, art newspaper the "Review." Lucky indeed.
A good portion of the leaves are down. Squirells are nervously darting across yards trying to desperately remember where they buried nuts. My Mom's Japanese Maple looks like it is on fire. Frank and Bones are more insistent each day that they just have endless food 24-hours-a-day. Jeremy is still in bed, and I am in great need of coffee.
If I don't get to it...everyone have a great Thanksgiving, wherever you may be. Family, we will be thinking of you, and wishing we were all together. Much love.

...seeing red...

This morning I decided to indulge in reading some Vanity Fair articles before really starting my day. The first one I chose sucked me in and spit me back out very worried and pissed off. If you find yourselves in the grocery store, a bookstore, any place with magazines, please pick up the December 2004 issue of Vanity Fair (it has dreamy Leonardo DiCaprio on the cover)and find the article on page 204 entitled, "Weapons of Self-Destruction." Here is the lead in:

"Heroic soldiers returning from Iraq seem to be prey to the same debilitating, potentially fatal illnesses that first became known as Gulf War syndrome and then afflicted veterans of Bosnia and Kosovo. Critics point to the U.S.'s own ammunition made of toxic, radioactive depleted uranium-an explanation the Pentagon is resisting."

I think that it is the best, most eye-opening story this month. You know what's sad? It didn't get any mention on the front cover.
This article is disturbing, and this should be something we are trying to nail the government, Republicans and Democrats, with. They do not give one shit about human life.

..."the most beautiful boogeyman"...

The flying guardians of Kansas City have returned to perch above us all in their wooden palaces. They keep an eye on the unwinding boulevards, and are tempted to flight by secretive, scurrying leaves. The crows watch me head to work, and then meet me there. I watch them through heavy glass doors, silently swaying in the treetops until disturbed into a cawing flurry. Maybe they are here to help usher those who passed in the last year into the next step. Or maybe winter cannot come until they have arrived. It does seem that the leaves are giving up more quickly this year...The weather folk say frost is lurking nearby.

...

reading: "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" and "Oryx and Crake"
listening to lately: "Medula" by Bjork, the latest Mos Def w/Black Jack Johnson cd...can't remeber the title, "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, the leaves slipping off of the trees and tumbling down the streets, huffy cat grunts
eating: lots of Halloween candy, whatever yumminess comes across my path
working on: another drawing that incorporates lungs, cleaning my studio and the house in general, putting together the puzzle of dates and names that is family history
excited about: the fact that soon there will be no more phone calls reminding me to vote, how nights have been feeling lately, elmwood cemetery, being an aunt, greeting each day
anxious about:the large, painful zit on my neck, or as I like to call it...plague
sad about: nothing in particular...I just get periodic washes of melancholia, which I don't mind
anrgy about: eh...not much...I'm trying to appreciate everything for what it is...plus some days there is just too much I read in the news that makes me angry that I just have to shut it off
curious about: the election outcome, when it is going to snow, who is America's Next Top Model

...a piece of divinity...

A friend of ours had given us some trade that he got to Piropos, a very nice Argentinian restaurant in Parkville, for helping out in his wedding this summer. We decided to use it the other night for my birthday dinner. Mmmm...wine so smooth we drank a bottle with no problem, Caprese empanadas to start (mozarella, tomato, basil), a spinach-stilton-candied walnut with fig dressing for jer, and a house salad (romaine, apple, avocado, onion, tomato, walnuts with a red wine/aji molido dressing)for me. Jer had a rack-of-lamb that came with polenta, and was lounging in a port lingonberry sauce. I opted for the roasted squash ravioli drenched in a stilton blue cheese cream sauce (my tongue is hanging out right now.) We finished up just with coffee...dessert couldn't fit in our stomachs. Oh...plus there was a basket of crusty bread, garlic toasts, and thin, snappy breadsticks with three sauces to slather on them...a garlic aioli, chimichurri, and a sort of onion relish-y thing...I love food! That pasta was unreal...I think we both were rolling our eyes to the heavens throughout the whole meal. It was wonderful food wise, and in particular - company wise.

Tonight it is another big meal (celebrating with my Mom, Piper, and Nick) We are going to Garozzo's (the one out south, which I am hoping is as good as the one near downtown.) Drool. Such good Italian food.

But before that...I've got to go put some breakfast in my belly, 'cause Jer and I are headed to explore the Kansas City Museum, which is housed in the beautiful Corinthian Hall mansion in the Northeast section of town.

...whatever...

We have been trapped in a misty, chilled fog for the last couple of days. It is seeping into our house through all of the unguarded crevices. I suppose it is time to winterize.

One more day of being 25...then I will be over the quarter-century mark. Getting older is not such a bad thing. I received a most-awesome card created by Morgan, and signed by Julie and Josh. That kid rules...they also sent an amusing book called, "Yiddish with Dick and Jane." Very funny. So...thank you once again!

Yesterday a cheddar cheese crust apple pie was created...and it was good. Once again, thanks to Martha. Keep those tasty recipes coming from your West Virginian jail cell.

Thank whoever that the election is drawing close and soon all of this hoo-ha will be over. I am SICK of ads and gigantic yard signs. Campaigning for close to a year...bleh. "They" probably decided a year ago who would step up to the plate next anyway...but I will go along with the charade...:) Who knows.

...not bad at all...

I am not sure now why I was so worried about getting my wisdom tooth out.
I didn't eat in the morning (the instructions for going to sleep had said not to, but I wasn't sure about not going to sleep), I was nervous, and we got lost on the way there and were a little bit late...I was not happy when we arrived. As soon as I went back in the room though, the nurse was very good at calmly talking to me, and she said that it should be a snap. The doctor came in, rubbed some "cherry" flavored numbing stuff on my gums, shot me with novacaine, left for a few minutes, then came back and did a test to see if I was numb enough...I didn't feel a thing, he said he was just going to wiggle my tooth a little to loosen it up - did that for about 10 seconds and I heard him comment, "That's a long, curved root!" Then he said I was done!
"Are you serious?" I replied.

It was nothing! I didn't even have to have any stitches, plus I only had to eat soft food for 24-hours. Whenever I am restricted on food, I always want burritos, which usually fall within the category of cannot have.

So...no big deal.

...da dum. da - dum. dum dum dum dum dum dum dum (poorly imitated Jaws music)...

It is oh-so-grey and chilled outside, and soon Jer is taking me to get shot up with novacaine, have my mouth pryed to it's limits, and have my only wisdom stolen from my head...I need those smarts! I don't know why I have been getting so nervous about this. It used to be old hat to get teeth pulled, but now it has been about nine or ten years, so I am a bit on edge. All will be fine. All will be fine.

The front of the house is covered with spider webs (real and fake!), I obtained a grape vine arc wreath and attached jack-o-lantern, ghost, and bat cutouts to it (along with more spider web), the paper skeletons are striking jaunty poses on the front door, there are some ghost window decals up, and the shiny pumpkin and bat garland are snaking around the step railing. We seem to be the only folks decorating for Halloween on our block. Come on people!

Two nights ago I made one of the Martha recipes...red potato, salmon, and leek gratin with a rye bread, dill, horseradish topping. Jeremy doubted it the whole time it was cooking...he kept inquiring about the ludafisk(sp?) casserole...sicko. Once it hit his mouth though, he cleaned his bowl as quickly as I did! Thanks M.S. for your tasty recipes.

The cats are being crazy!!! They are complaining all the time about wanting more food, and...I'm not sure what else. They are being endless meow and scratch factories! Of course, as I am typing this, Frank is resting calmly in my lap, and Bones is on the floor next to us delicately cleaning himself. Sure...look good in front of other people...:)

...bits and pieces...

So...Jer and I drove to Columbia on Tuesday night to catch The Pixies in concert! They are one of my all time favorite bands, and I was particularly thrilled that they played one of my favorite songs...Caribou. Whoever the band was before them (obviously not memorable if I can't even recall their name)...were not so hot...they weren't even tepid. Hearnes Stadium was the easiest venue to get to, park, find our seats, go to the bathroom (I was the only one in the bathroom), buy a cheap pretzel, watch the show, and leave. The Pixies were just great...they played solid, not even with chit chat in between, for just under two hours!

In other news...
It is that time of year again when our house is at a much chillier temperature than it even is outside. That makes it very hard to motivate oneself out of the nest of flannel sheets, thick blankets, and tangled limbs in the morning.

The perennial herb garden is fully planted, and edged by bricks...thyme, lemon balm, kentucky mint, rosemary, and garlic chives...there will be more next year, and of course in the spring the planting of veggies and annuals.

To finish up this week...getting mentally prepared for the removal of my only wisdom tooth next Tuesday, hanging Halloween decorations on the house, balance the check book, work on some drawings.

We have started the process of going through Daddad's house and deciding who will take what, and what we will either sell or donate. It is hard dividing up someone's life...then I think down the road, and ultimately everything gets endlessly divided, because I know I'm not taking anything with me! I miss Daddad a lot...it makes me miss Dad too.

I have some recipes that I have found, and want to try out soon : corn zuchinni fritters, cheddar cheese pie crust (for use with apple pie), Salsa di Parmigiano, and...I won't bore you with the rest. Fall is when I break out my garlic soup...must make soon.

So...it's my birthday month. There has been no celebrating yet...but that's okay. ;) I think we are pretty much keeping it to the family celebration, but Jer and I might get a nice hotel room the night of my birthday. 26...that's not so bad at all.

Tonight...debate night...apparently during the last Presidential debate Waldo Pizza was flooded with orders. It is good to know that people are staying home and taking it all in.

...pissed...

Man...I just wrote a new post and I went to publish it, and it disappeared!!! Damn you Blogger! I've been having problems signing in lately too. Grrr. I'll re-write in some way or the other what I did before later on...Phooey.

...getting better...

Well...we gave Daddad a good send-off on Saturday. My Mom placed letters we had written for him, and one of his favorite cookies (Hello Dollies)in the little shelf in the casket. The minister spoke well, we had compiled a nice photo board, and we all said our goodbyes. Then Mom, Piper, Nick, Nick's folks, Jer, and I headed back to our house for some food and talking.
Piper gave the news that she was pregnant!! We had death and life in one day.
Now I get to be Aunt to an already growing young lady, and to someone who I get to know from birth! What fun.

I've been absent from the farmer's market I enjoy going to for three weeks. Tomorrow I will go again so we can have tasty produce in the house once again! All the fall veggies are appearing. Many tasty things to be made.

Two of my pieces were accepted to be in a contemporary embroidery show in November! Plus I may have a piece or two in a show in October! This is fun...I'm glad I am putting my degree to work!

We had a block party last Saturday, and discovered that our block is even funkier than we thought. Some very interesting people...I'm glad we live where we do!

Hmmm...I'm getting hungry for breakfast finally. Must have coffee...must have fake bacon? a bagel? fruit? all three?

My thoughts are with those of you who need them most.

...goodbye Tex...

My Mother and I found Daddad passed away in his house yesterday morning. She called me about ten o'clock saying that she had been trying him for half-an-hour on the phone, and was about ready to head over. We both had a sinking feeling. I met her at the house, and we went in together, calling his name. We found him on the floor beside the bed, and he had probably been there since sometime during the night. The rest of the day was spent with each other, Piper, Nick, and Jeremy, and dealing with phone calls, and other business of death stuff. It has taken awhile to melt in, and I'm not sure if it even fully has.

Thomas Lyman French, Jr. (Daddad) has played a very important role in my life. In some ways he was like a second father to me. We shared a passion for family history, chocolate, having a Coke together, and laughing among many other things. In lots of ways we were different, but I always loved him fiercely, and he will be greatly missed. I know, though, that he is probably happier wherever it is that his soul might be...hanging out with Mama, and other family. He lived a full ninety-two years. I love you, Daddad.

...late night thinking...

Invisible to the eye, but I know the grass is alive with crickets, frogs, and other beasties. They are collectively raising their voices...the nights belong to them, while during the day, the cicadas rule. I use it as a lullaby.

The last week has been filled with water. We had days of rain, with Friday being the largest demonstration yet. As I was frantically counting down the drawer at work, wanting to beat the weather and rest my allergy-ridden body, the sky opened up - not with delicate plink-plinks, but with "we've either done something really bad or really good (depending on your perspective)" RAIN. In the five second run to my car I became soaked. I briefly debated waiting it out, then decided to just go on home...down Main...crossing the Plaza, I should have known to turn around...the water was already pooling. Main turns into Brookside...at 51st Street, water is tumbling down the hill. A giant SUV was in front of me, and I couldn't see what kind of water I was getting into...then the branches started floating by, and I could see smaller cars beginning to lift. My car thought it might die, but then decided not to. Possibly it was all of the fearful tears pouring from my eyes that made it stay the course. I just wanted to be able to see Jeremy again...that is all that I could think of. Making it home, the truck was gone...I thought it might be around the corner from earlier road work. I called from my car so he would open the door...no answer...nervous...called his cell phone...no answer...very nervous...dashed inside...his cell phone was on the counter, he was not home...I...did not handle it well. Coming from such a horrible drive, I did not want to discover that he was out in it too. When he pulled up, I sank to my knees and wept...I had been so saddened by the thought of losing him. Jeremy, of course, couldn't believe I had forgotten that at some point he was going to run to the store to get lemons for my sore throat! oh yeah...
The rain continued for hours and proceeded to drop 8 inches at the most, and 4 inches at the least.

Daddad and I looked through old photo albums today. We found one that contained pictures of his and Mama's cruise to South America, as well as the trip to Africa, and one of the Mexico trips! My favorite album though, was the beautiful, dusty blue leather one with squiggly embossing and "Photographs" written on the corner in that perfect,old font. It has black pages, but what interested me most were what the photo corners on those pages contained...it's an album Mama put together with photos of her ranging from when she was a kid, in college, with Daddad, and adding Mom. There are lots of other family members contained in there too...Tola and Herbert (Grandmommie and Fafa - Mama's parents,)Charles - her brother, some of Daddad's siblings and their children, old chums, pets...I love to soak up any family stuff, but I am particularly desperate for images/stories of Mama. She became very sick when I was in 2nd grade, and stayed that way until she passed away while I was in 4th. We never got to fully appreciate our similiarities and differences.
I wish I could have known Tola and Herbert as well...I enjoy piecing together what they were like from things they've left behind - stories, photographs, drawings, ephemera. Mom says they would have really enjoyed me.
I am grateful that my other three grandparents were/are around for so much of my life, and were so much...fun!
I'm not trying to live in the past, I just like to soak in it from time to time and realize where certain traits may have come from.

...goin' to the chapel...

CONGRATULATIONS JOSH AND JULIE ON GETTING MARRIED!!!
This is very exciting...I have a new sister-in-law, plus I am now an officially an aunt! I've been pretty much considering Julie and Morgan those things already, but now I can say it for real.
Here's wishing you all many years of happiness, love, health, and all things good!

...high times...

I had a dream last night in which some people came to pick me up from my house. They were very serious, and said that we were going to a council meeting. Eventually we ended up in a dew-covered field somewhere close to dawn. There was a large circle of lawn chairs, and they were all filled with familiar faces from my Art Institute days. I sat down, and noticed that everyone had their own bag of grass, and were each rolling a joint. Looking down, I realized I had a bag of pot too, so after chatting some with my neighbors, I got busy rolling my own. I was just finishing up rolling when I awoke from the dream...I wonder what we were to discuss at that meeting!

...classic summer...

Tuesday night we headed to The Stray Cat to see many, many bands containing friends...Get Wild Five, New Morning Changing Weather, Anthony Badgerow (the band...not the person), Ad Astra Per Aspera, and especially Soophie Nun Squad. Soophie contains many familiar folks including my old roomie Maralie, and her husband, Eli!
The show was great, and there were other bands that I did not list (which doesn't mean they aren't good!) It went from 7pm - around 2am. Maralie and Eli came to stay at our place, and we...well, Maralie and I...stayed up talking until 5:30ish. Oh my...it was so nice to see old friends.

The weather feels fallish, yet the cicadas are still rasping out their prophecies. The surprise lillies have bloomed, but are pretty much gone. Summer food is abundant...I love our farmer's market! We have been cooking lots with friends, and just hanging out with friendly people in general a lot! Ah...August.

...rock the...

VOTE!!!
It could very well get nasty here in Missouri today...hopefully we will NOT vote in Ammendment 2 (which will write into the constitution of Missouri that marriage is between a man and a woman so those "activist" judges can't say otherwise.)
There is also a vote to build a downtown arena in K.C. (and taxes would not be raised to do it.) I guess that's okay...I wish they would put in a giant ferris wheel like London instead. Now that would be cool!!!

...a whole lot of buzzing goin' on...

Saturday afternoon I entered my studio in search of an old sketchbook when a buzz near the window distracted me. I looked over, expecting to see a large housefly trapped on the wrong side, but instead there was a wasp hovering above the window frame right by a NEST! As one can imagine, I quickly exited the room and shoved towels around the edges. Tonight, Evan and Christine came over to pick up their tents that were drying in our backyard, and Evan sprayed the hell out of that nest with noxious chemicals. Tomorrow we are going in and removing the window air conditioning unit, and later will take down the devestated nest. Ugh. On top of that, I feel itchy all over due to bug bites and keep searching the ceiling of every room for signs of unwanted insect life.

Otherwise...I brushed a kittens worth of fur out of Frank's coat the other day, Christine made her delicious tortilla soup last night and I got to come over and enjoy it! (Jer had to work...she sent some home for him), heirloom tomatoes are highly tasty - in particular Cherokee purples, I ate a little strawberry from our yard today, the Prius is fun to drive in - especially when it is silent, rosemary infused strawberry lemonade is...fantastic!

...long distance birthing celebration...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister-in-law Rachel!!!  She turns the big 1-5 today.  Rachel...I don't even know if you read this, but Joan can tell you...we will be sending a present to the house in Detroit, and we are attempting to call or email today.  Just know that Jeremy and I are thinking of you, and hoping you have a super-fun birthday!  We love you lots.

...in other news...

How fitting that today, exactly one year from my father passing away, that I would get a call from the Toyota dealership saying I could pick up my Prius this Saturday.  It is fitting due to the fact that I am able to get it through money inherited from my Grandparents through my Dad, plus my Grandfather and my Dad both had a love of cars, and fine machinery.  So...in honor of them, I will be dubbing my new car...Dr. Wilson (Grandpa was an actual Dr. and my Dad was a PhD.)  Look for me cruisin' the streets of K.C. (in an environmentally responsible way) starting Saturday!  The Dr. is in, be-atch!

...kinda technical...

So I figured out how to show you all some photos I took of my recent artwork with my sister's digital camera!  This is a big technical step for me.  Anyway...hope you like it!

Embroidered bone flowers...sewn on tissue paper! 

Radiating eyeball...here's looking at you! 

Yet another drawing. 

Another drawing. 

One of my recent drawings that is hanging up. The color in these is relatively true, but not perfect, plus I digital photographed these kinda crooked! 

My artwork hanging at Utrecht. 

...been a long time since I rock and rolled...
 
These are busy times my friends. 
Christine and Evan's wedding came and went.  We had a really great weekend of hanging out with them, and their families and friends.  Being a bridesmaid was no sweat, and Jer and Mary played beautiful music during the ceremony.  Now Christine and Evan are away camping for the honeymoon, and I miss them!  We usually see them at least once a week...ah well...they deserve a nice vacation.  Congratulations you two!
 
I hung up some art I've been working on the last couple of months at Utrecht yesterday.  It gets to be up for a month!  I know it's not a crazy gallery show or anything, but I'm still excited about people being able to see it.  I have not shown anything since I was in college...
 
All of our precious yellow-pear cherry tomatoes have been eaten by some mysterious beastie.  That's our fault for not putting up fencing I suppose, but our pal Matt says it can happen even with some sort of barrier.  At least they have left the herbs, tomatillos, and gypsy peppers alone!
 
 

...raindrops keep falling on my head...

We had a mini-vacation of camping this past weekend, for Evan and Christine's bachelor/bachelorette party. It was at the same group site by Clinton lake that Jer and I had our b/b party at two years ago!
Here is a perfect example of how nice Jer is...Friday he arrived at the campground around 4:00 to pick up the key to the gate. I could not leave until 8:00 due to working, so I didn't even arrive until close to 9:30. Jeremy knew approximately when I would get there, so he had food on the grill for me that was ready about 10 minutes after my arrival! Plus the tent was all set up (though we ended up experimenting with sleeping in the truck that first night...quite cozy.) What a sweetheart.

It was a good trip, though we got rained on heavily Sunday morning...kind of a bummer way to end a nice weekend, but it worked out. The rest of the time was gorgeous and there was swimming, night sailing, crazy kids running around, fires, smores, drunken 14-year-old antics, who-can-hold-their-hand-in-ice-longer competition (I was part of that...I can get a little competitive), much eating of food (there was even pork satay with peanut sauce + roasted jalapenos courtesy of Noy and Aaron!), funny campfire conversations, ticks, and much, much more.


Otherwise...Jer and I are up to the usual.
The anniversary celebration was a sucess! We stuffed ourselves at La Bodega on tapas (I even tried anchovies!), beverages (port for Jer, wine for me), dessert (the best flan ever!!! + pear tart), and coffee (regular 'ol coffee for the Mr. and flaming Spanish coffee for myself...invision a sugar rimmed glass filled with Bacardi 151, set on fire, then having cinnamon sprinkled into the flames...they are extinguished by coffee, kahluha, and whipped cream...then it is devoured by a roly-poly Stacy.) Mmm...

...brown is the colour of my true love's hair...

Two years ago today it was HOT, but I didn't care, because Jeremy and I were trading rings, and we were surrounded by friends and family. Part of me can't believe it has already been two years, while the other part feels, "It's only been two years?!" A lot can go on in that time...

I cannot imagine a better partner than Jer.
You are my best friend, my lover, and I would not trade you for anything! I love you, Jer.

...what...

Since I was last here...
Rick, Jer's Dad, came for a visit. We had a very pleasant time with him - talking, watching movies, cooking, eating, talking some more. Though the trip proved not to be the best thing for his health, we still enjoyed that he made it to visit us, saw the house, and met my Mom and some of our friends. We truly had a good time hosting him.

The rains have been drowning us, but the plants seem to appreciate it. A guy Jer works with is convinced it is the weather planes run by corporate America doing it...I don't know...I think it's just a rainy season.

My car rolled over 100,000 miles yesterday! It's been all over the U.S. ...to some places multiple times, and yet it is still running (though still chuggy chuggy at stops, and having a slow go of speeding up from stops, but still running!) I am excited to receive my new car,but how can I say goodbye to my transportation for the last nine years?! Wow...I'm really attached to an inanimate object.

I've been embroidering floral patterns made out of human bone shapes on to tissue paper. Delicate work.

A belated, public Happy Birthday announcement to my sister Piper, and to my almost sister-in-law Julie. Julie is one day older than Piper! How bizzare. Both are off traveling, and having a good time of it I'm sure. Also...a belated birthday greeting to Rick!

...is that all there is?...

My body is full on friends and food. Tonight I am going to sink into the futon with my embroidery.
Friday we headed out to Excelsior Springs for a party at the Freelings. They were having a campout, though we couldn't spend the night due to work the next morning. Here are the things I remember...Mandylan called me on my cell phone, so I talked with her on the crazy, steep, twisty front stairs while cats poked out of the bushes and I stared at the triangular mailbox...devouring a slice of apple pie with homemade vanilla ice cream, followed by a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie...laying by the campfire looking for satellites among the stars...lots of kids running around...drinking wine from the bottle with Jer.
Saturday was work is for jerks, but...da da da dum...then came a most fabulous dinner with Christine and Evan over to share in it. French toast,made with Jer's yummy batter, topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, apple, banana, and kiwi, plus toasted pecans, honey butter, and powdered sugar. Drool. There was also chiken and apple sausage,scrambled eggs donated by Christine's Dad's chickens, and mimosas...then coffee after awhile. Sigh.
Sunday we headed to Lawrence for a BBQ Jenny O. was throwin'. So much food, and beverage, and...well...it was a Jenny O. party. It was a fabulous cap to a very filled weekend. One disappointment though...Amigo's is no longer in Lawrence! Where is one to get a crisp pinto burrito on their way out of town?! Highly problematic in the taste bud arena.

...my fellow friends...

Today is the start of my weekend of emptiness...ahhh.
Not that last weekend was bad by any means, just full. Thursday night I went straight from work to Lidia's Italian Restaurant where Cynthia and Ross's rehersal dinner was taking place. We snared an invite due to the fact that a couple of days before, Cynthia had called to ask Jer if he could accompany the singer with guitar during the ceremony...she was having a hard time singing acapella. So, we had a great time...lots of friends, and family (not our own, granted, but it felt close,)and food. Afterwards, Cynthia, Corrie B, and I spent some time at Broadway Cafe winding down. Corrie came home with me, as she stayed with us until Sunday! Yay!

Friday was the big day! I started off the day with two hours at work...woo hoo. An hour or so later, I was picking up Heather from the airport! She flew in for the wedding. We got to Drexel Hall a half hour or so before things started, so Jer could get tuned...I snuck up to visit with all the ladies upstairs. Cynthia looked fantastic in the dress she had picked out, and Grace, the flower girl, is possibly the devil disguised in the body of a red-headed three-year-old...she's not evil, just mischevious and hilarious! The ceremony went well...it was elegant, yet relaxed and had laughter. Dwight Frizzel was the minister, and BCR played at the reception, so it was guaranteed to be interesting! The reception was fun. We mainly stuck to our table, because the company was so enjoyable, and the food was...yummy! Goat cheese and leek tarts, purple potatoes with various toppings, baby vegetables and hummus, roasted garlic, roasted red and yellow peppers, bread, sundried tomato stuff, etc., etc. and the cake...a table of cupcakes and cookies, plus the seven-layer citrus cake...drool...so sweet. Here's to their happiness!

Saturday was a full day of work, which was followed by an awesome performance of Corrie B and her guitar (and Jer played mandolin and banjo on a few songs!)at the Westport Coffee House. Her voice...I love it. She was followed by our pal Laszlo's band The Get Wild Five...yow! Then they were followed by Ad Astra Per Aspera...always a good time. I was very tired by the end, so we headed home, but Corrie and Jer hit the after-party at Anthony's. I mainly did not due to what my plans were for Sunday...

Piper's graduation from Grad School!!! Yay Piper! Mom and I went to the ceremony at 10am (ugh) It was nice, and not too long! I really enjoyed the guy they gave the honorary degree to. His speech was great. At the end of the ceremony they released white doves. Guess it's better than a bunch of balloons!
We swung back by the house to grab Jer and Corrie and food we were taking, then made our way north to Piper and Nick's for a little party. Good times. On our way out, we had to say goodbye to Corrie at the airport. Sigh.

So...that was last weekend...this one looks to be a little more...m-e-l-l-o-w...no work today, Saturday, or Sunday...what's a girl to do?

A shout out to Josh, Julie, and Morgan...congrats on your new living space!!! Yay for you guys! I look forward to sending mail to the new address. We are excited for everything that is happening in your lives. We love you guys!

Hoping your weekend is m-e-l-l-o-w too.

...yeah, fire! fire!...

Metallica rocked hard last night! They played Master of Puppets, For Whom the Bell Tolls, One, Search Seek and Destroy, Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters, and some newer songs, and other songs I can't recall now. During many songs there were huge bursts of flames, and firework type things. We could feel the heat from where we were standing! I liked watching my Mom throw her hands in the air, and attempt to make the metal horns hand sign (an unknowing tribute to Pan?)

I got a little shiver, though, watching everyone throwing fists in the air and shouting in unison. It was a little Nazi-esque to me...I couldn't bring myself to do it, at least in rythm with everyone else. Creepy. As was the guy who was a racist skin head (nice big swastica tattoo on one arm, and a cross on the other + wearing red suspenders and a bald head.) He was on the floor, and in the pit the whole show. He did the ugly mosh pit strut. Bleh.

Otherwise...plants are transplanted and flourishing, thunder has been rolling across our land for a couple of days - broken up with lots of sunshine, I'm helping out my friend Joscelyn in her studio a bit, Corrie B is coming into town and so is Heather!, the kitties look a little slimmer, Piper is graduating from grad school on Sunday, and...life is good!

...mama mia...

So I'm a day late...nothing new there. Here's to my Mother. She's a funny, warm, silly, sensitive woman, who still continues to surprise me. Plus she is cool as hell...she's taking Piper and I to Metallica tomorrow! I think she is more excited than I am! Thanks Mom for all you do.

Also...here's to the other Mom in my life, my Mother-in-law, Joan. Thank you for your contribution in raising Jeremy, and for the love and support you give us both.

Yay Moms!

...sizzlin...

Our upstairs is hot! That is where the computer is...my brain is working s-l-o-w-e-r in the heat...must have water soon.

Meleah and Peter's wedding was a hit! We danced like crazy and I drank much more than I normally do...tried a Colorado Bulldog...yummy...it's: equal parts Bailey's, vodka, and Kahluha, then you put a little milk/half&half (whatever you prefer) and top it off with a splash of coke...try it...now! Anyway...I wasn't exactly hung over the next morning, but upon rising, I decided I needed to sit upstairs a bit, drink some water, and eat some crackers before I could get on with my day.
Congratulations Peter and Meleah! I love you guys.

So, that day after the wedding, we had a little May Day/Cinco de Mayo throw down. Overall it went well. Make your own tacos, sangria, and cookies is what we provided, and others brought shrimp, chicken enchiladas, tamales, and I don't know what else! I did not drink anything stronger than Mexican coke (it's sweetened different!) Late into the night, things got a little rowdy, but we won't go into that.

I got the pleasure of working the next day, but it wasn't bad...Monday I got a weird 24-hour bug, that made me sleep a lot, and when I was awake, burp and fart much. It could have been much worse I suppose.

I thought after this past weekend that things were slowing down for awhile...hahaha...how foolish.
It's good though. Next week is Metallica with my Mom and sister!

...snippets of life...

Preparing for inventory at work...inventory is tomorrow. Lazily working on an embroidered present for my pals Meleah and Peter who are getting married a week from today. Ate some amazing pesto ravioli in a gorgonzola cream sauce the other day. Replanting an aloe plant that uprooted itself trying to escape us...it didn't get past the front stoop. Tomato plants sprouting...basil too. Making preparations for a party. Writing a note to my future niece...now I just have to mail it. Launching pills down Frank's throat so his gum infection will clear up. The color is slowly returning to my arms. My car started doing this weird vibrate-y thing when I'm stopped...Jer put premium gas and cleaner in the tank today...massage car. Trying to keep allergies and colds at bay.
love.

...chronicle...

part one...i want to wake up in the city that never sleeps...

We arrived at Billie's apartment in the East Village around 9:00pm on Friday the 26th. The days travels went fairly well, though we had to get put on a different airline due to the fact that we were not notified that our original flight time had changed. I was about ready to freak, but it all worked out fine.
So...it was great being back in the city! That first night, after talking with Billie for a bit, Jer and I walked to Odessa...a great 24-hour Ukranian food joint/bar. We were super hungry...I got the matzoh ball soup and Jer the hot borscht, and we shared sweet potato pierogis and a potato pancake...mmm...
The next three days consisted of hanging out with Corrie Beth in Thompkin's Square Park, enjoying the company of the DiCarlos, brunch with lots of family including some cousins!, walking all throughout Central Park until finally arriving at the ice-skating rink to chat with Kuban for a bit, going up into the triple digits for a lovely night of snacking and drinking with Christine and Ron, chats and dinner with Billie, visiting with Bea, clothes shopping, and eating!!!
Tuesday we took a very l-o-n-g subway ride out to JFK and after much line standing, found ourselves on a flight to London...

part two...london calling...

We had never flown Virgin Atlantic before. Man...I couldn't sleep at all...too many movies and video games to choose from. It was a good flight, though I regretted not sleeping a little later. When we deplaned, Jer and I headed for the tube, and then got mixed up in finding our B&B. Luckily, we finally found someone who busted out a comprehensive map, and directed us to where we needed to go. I was thankful for finally being able to set down heavy bags.
We couldn't check in right away, so we left our bags and decided to grab a bite at a Vietnamese restaurant not too far down the street. Mmm...I got a bowl of tofu/vegetable Pho (I think it was Pho...maybe Bun) that came with a plate of thai basil, sliced up hot chiles, lime wedges and cilantro to add to my taste. That, in combination with some jasmine tea, made the shower and sleep that followed all the more sweet.
After a glorious rest, we spent the rest of the night in the room, enjoying British tv, and discovering the tasty sandwiches that one can purchase at Boots.
London was a blur of walking to Westminster Abbey, foot pain, expensive yet tasty food, bashing around Brixton, and the start of my love affair with Boots - the best drugstore chain in the universe.
Saturday, Joan and Rachel picked us up and we all enjoyed a great day walking the length of the Portabello Road market. Jer and Rachel had never been there before, and I was happy to have another go at it! After much walking, we wound our way back to the car, and began our journey to Swanage.

part three...there's corfe castle, i love corfe castle...

The English countryside is beautiful, and I fully enjoyed it from my shotgun seat in Joan's car. As we found ourselves getting closer to Swanage, I found myself loving all that my eyes were taking in more and more. We found out as we passed by Corfe Castle (ruins of a medieval - sp?- castle...very cool) that last summer, every time they would drive by there, Morgan would declare, "There's Corfe Castle! I lo-ve Corfe Castle!" It drove Rachel nuts, so we decided to keep up with the tradition.
The night we arrived, we got acquainted with Joan's house, and took a little walking tour of Swanage on our way to eat fish and chips...yes, I ate fish and chips...and it was good! They are about a five-minute walk from the beach, and can pretty much get anything they need by foot. The town is all stone, moss, moisture, salt air, and church bells. I love it!
Sunday, we headed to Monkey World (my new home), though Rachel did not join us, for she has been to Monkey World plenty, and had important business to attend to at the arcade...such as the dancing game. Anyway...Monkey World is a near-by place that takes in all kinds of monkeys who have been rescued from lives that monkeys should not have to lead...such as being photo props, being people's illegal pets, or living in laboratories. They are given fun indoor/outdoor living spaces, and we are allowed to try to catch glimpses of them playing with their friends, or eating their friends bugs off of their backs. We saw quite a few, and had a nice time. As we headed back to the car, the requisite five-minutes of rain for the day came down. Upon our return, Joan whipped up a super-tasty meal of vegetarian bangers, mashed potatoes, and cabbage, washed down with wine...so good. Jeremy and I were having a great time hanging out with Joan, but Rachel called and insisted we come to the arcade to meet her mates. We were game...ha ha.
The arcade is a strange mixture of adult gambling machines and various kinds of interactive video games...kid gambling machines! We met some of Rachel's friends, were ignored, played a basketball game, played the only pinball machine in the place, played air hockey, watched as they all shoved pounds into the dance game (though they are all really quite good at it...I, on the other hand, am not!), were giggled at for snogging, were hugged by Rachel, and were ignored more. After awhile, we decided to head back.
Jeremy started to come down with something, which he is still fighting a bit, so he did not join Joan, Missy (the puppy), and I on our big hike the next day. It was beautiful!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the sights, and the company. Joan made dinner when we returned, and came down with a bug herself soon after. People were dropping like flies! She was fairly knocked out for the rest of our stay, though not entirely.
Jeremy and I ventured on our own to Corfe Castle. You can get a steam train from Swanage to Corfe Castle village...about 20 minutes. We found a nice little tea room to grab a bite of lunch. While we waited for our order, a poor waiter dropped a tray of glasses, and a bunch of glass flew right onto us, and some other surrounding eaters! Yikes. We switched tables after picking the bits of glass from our coats, and were delivered some extremely tasty food. Jeremy just got some cheese scones with chive butter, and I ordered the vegetable soup with crusty bread...I think that was possibly one of my favorite meals of the whole trip!
Corfe Castle was great fun. It has amazing views from the top, and I just love hiking around ruins of things. We walked around the village some before getting the train back to Swanage. Joan still wasn't doing too hot, so Jer and I headed to a pub for some pints, and some food.
Wednesday, our last full day in town, we went to Dorchester, but unfortunately missed the market they have there. But, we did see some interesting Thomas Hardy related sights, and had fun spending more time with Joan. That night, all four of us went to an awesome pub in a semi-nearby town. Very cool.
So...Thursday we were driven to Poole, boarded a bus for the airport, got checked through quickly, got on the plane, had food constantly shoved at us, watched two movies, got off in Newark, hopped on the hotel shuttle and enjoyed lolling in our hotel room. Poor Jer was not feeling well at all. Fortunately there was a Chinese take-out menu left in our room, so we ordered soup and a spicy tofu dish, which seemed to perk Jer up.
Friday we began the journey back to Kansas City. The cats were very happy when we came through the front door.

...a few of my favorite things...

Wellies! - I was wearing Joan's, now I have my own...the view from Joan's guest room window - a full moon illuminating the swift clouds and rooftops - the colors were incredible...English candy bars - we brought many back...crisps - all those flavors...laughing with Rachel...Missy in the kitchen...that wonderful brown bread...walking around with Joan...pints of cider...British news...pulling the chain to flush the toilet...Boots ploughman sandwich!...spending time with friends and family in both New York and Swanage.

...one last thing...

Since being back, we have been discovering all the secrets of our yard. We were not here this time last year, so we did not know about the tiny purple and white flowers that are scattered throughout our front yard, how the surprise lillies that came up in the fall have very different looking plants in the spring, or that we have daffodils!

...the best news of all...

The passport arrived yesterday. In perspective, it was most definitely not the worst thing in the world what happened...there is plenty that is MUCH more frustrating and horrifying. We have it pretty good.

Anyway...yay, yay, yay!
Here we come NYC, London, and Swanage!

...the passport saga...

So, last Tuesday I flew to Chicago for the day to apply for a rush passport seeing as how someone (I'm thinking the passport agency) lost my previous application. I had the fun task of stopping a check, reporting a passport lost, and still worrying about all the documents that have all that information "they" warn you to guard just floating about somewhere.
I flew into Midway, and hopped on the orange line of the L. I was excited, because I had yet to ride the L in Chicago! I got to take in the snow that was falling from a very warm, seated position. I got out at the LaSalle Station, and walked around looking for food, and getting my bearings. I ended up in a little Middle Eastern cafe, and snacked on some lentil soup and a spinach feta pie while reading my book. Afterwards, I still had plenty of time until my meeting, but I decided to make my way to the Federal Building anyway, just to locate it. It was a very short walk...Chicago is pretty easy to get around! I wandered the blocks surrounding the building looking for someplace warm to hang out. I ducked into a bookstore for a bit, then found a seemingly fancy Italian cafeteria/espresso bar inside the Bank of America building. Everyone was a suit...I was not, but didn't care. I enjoyed a cafe mocha and took in more of my book (which is "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by the way...Meade was reading it over Thanksgiving, and I finally picked it up.)
After my coffee, I decided it was close enough to the meeting time, so I headed up to the 18th floor of the Federal Building, got my number, and waited to be called up to a window. I was surprised with how many people there are who need their passports within 14 days. I made it to a window, shoved all my papers at them, grudgingly wrote a check, and was assured that it would be mailed to me and would probably arrive on Saturday.
Then I gave Meleah a call to just say hi, since I was in her city. She was on her way to work, but we had a nice chat, filled with much laughter! After that, I figured I might as well head back to the airport. I got back on the orange line, and it took me around the whole loop, which was very cool. I scuttled up to the ticket counter once I made it to Midway, and discovered that I could probably make the 3:00 flight if I hurried, instead of waiting for my 5:00 one. I took as many moving walkways as I could. I considered for a minute just waiting for my original flight so I could check out the Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlor, but then I decided I would much rather get back home sooner than later. So...made the flight, Jer picked me up, we had an early dinner at the Jayhawk, and made it home in plenty of time to catch America's Next Top Model!

As of yesterday, I have still not received my passport!!! I gave them a ring, and they said that they mailed it that day...by regular mail...not priority...not express...so...I wait, and hopefully it will make it in time for the trip. If not, we go to New York and hope it arrives with enough time that Johnny can overnight it to us...if not that...then obviously the Gods must not want us to go. So...I am pretty sure that it will arrive in plenty of time, and we will have a great trip! Be positive, be positive.
If you need a passport, I suggest sending the request many, many months in advance, because they need plenty of time to pull their heads sloooowly out of their asses.

...in the year 2000...

Woah...I haven't written yet in March? Time is slipping through my fingers, though I don't think I ever had a grasp on it.
Today, after dropping off my car to be worked on (yes, again...there is some sort of high-pitched squeak escaping it) I walked down to McClain's bakery, which has been there since my Mom was a kid. I needed to go there actually for my Ma...next Friday is her birthday, and Piper, Nick, Daddad, my Mom, Jer, and I are all going to Governor Stumpy's for dinner, then back to our house for cake and presents. Anyway...I placed an order for her cake and eye-balled all of the other sweets they had for sale...icebox cookies (cherry and regular), fruit bars, cream puffs, macaroons, cupcakes, little pies, m&m cookies, etc. This started my envisioning what life could be like when we have kids...walking to McClain's for cookies!
So, I exited sans sweets and debated whether I should stop on my way back to the house for coffee from the wonderful Bar Roma (best espresso and coffee outside of Europe ever!!! - the other day I got an iced mocha to die for with their own espresso/vanilla whipped cream on top...sigh) or for a coke from QT. I opted for coke...couldn't resist that sweet burn, though now I am slightly wishing for coffee. I took the back way home from QT and transported myself to when our future kids are teens, walking around the neighborhood with sullen looks on their faces.
"Mom...I'm going to QT for a coke (actually probably for a coke and cigarettes...grrr)"
The back way home is full of chain-link fences, no sidewalks or ones that abruptly end in gravel, utility boxes, rampaging weeds, and weird little businesses. At least there is no drainage ditch like what was by my house growing up. I hung out there a lot (unless it was raining...I'm no fool!)

In other news...I'm starting to worry about my passport. I sent in an application to get a new one in my married name at the start of January, and I've sent them emails twice to check on the status of it...they don't have it in their system...uh...we leave in two weeks! Please passport gods...let them find it and process it swiftly!!! I'm going to call them tomorrow and see if they have it yet in their computers, and if not, ask them what I can do.

...glamour nights...

Tonight is the Oscars...I don't know why I love them so much, but I always have. One year in college I even dragged my small, portable t.v. into the weaving studio so I, and the rest of the ladies, could watch them while working at our looms. We were going to watch them with Piper and Nick, but when I got home from work Jeremy was ill...sad face for Jeremy. Nothing drastic, but feeling bad nonetheless.

Friday night while he was working at Muddy's, Jeremy spied Shandi, the local K.C. girl who is currently on America's Next Top Model! We've been rooting for her, not only 'cause she's from our town, but because she rules! I missed chatting with her as I was at my Mom's. Ah well...not a big deal at all.

All of our tickets and lodging are in place for our upcoming trip to New York/London/Swanage! It will be nice to get away, though I always worry about leaving the kitties. I think they get sad, and I miss them a lot. It will be nice to have a few days back in NYC...lots of good folks and memories there. We are also excited to hang out with Joan and Rachel in their British digs.

I think the weather has taken a turn towards spring!!! It's been warm for many days, and today it was very windy and rained, but it wasn't too chilly. C'mon spring! No more snow!

Lately I've been getting back in touch (or they have been with me) with old friends. It's nice that you can get back in sync after misplacing them for a couple of years. I've never enjoyed losing friends...unless they are absolutely wretched, but I don't think I've really had any that I would describe like that.

One last thing...if you ever have the opportunity to do an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, do it! We were involved in one a couple of weeks ago, and had a grand old time.

...emerging...

Work is good! Busy bee, busy bee. I am enjoying my job immensely - the familiar faces who come in, the variety of materials, questions, and having things to do! Yay this job! I hope my feelings for it continue in this vein.

It has been a good past week...both Jeremy and I have reconnected with seemingly lost friends, I've started a new book - "The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick: Selected Literary and Philosophical Writings" and have a couple waiting behind the curtain - "The Red Tent" and "Gravity's Rainbow." The food I've been eating has felt very healthy, and I have been exercising regularly. We once again have fixings for White Russians in the house. We had multiple days in a row of 60 or so degree weather...the snow is all gone, and the birds are out in record numbers. Yesterday at the bank, a gaggle of Canadian geese were taking their sweet time walking along the drive that leads to the teller windows. I watched a woman just wait helplessly in her car until they meandered past. They were actually headed for a specific sidewalk, and walked along it, not going into the grass!

Here is a shout out to Morgan...my future neice...Happy Birthday! You look great for your age!

...jobby job...

Tomorrow I start my job at Utrecht. That's right...I got the job. It will be nice to have money and somewhere to go. I really need schedules created by someone else to motivate me to use the rest of my time in the most efficient manner.

So Valentine's Day came and went. Jeremy and I never do tons for it, but we did some chocolate and flowers, and cooked a nice dinner. It was fun for all.

Nothing much else...for now.

...catch up...ketchup...

Jeremy took me on a date last night to see the final Lord of the Rings movie. It ruled...all 200 minutes of it!

There is a massive icecicle to the left of our front door. The whole neighborhood stands in awe of it. People are making pilgrimages to it just to get a chance for a glimpse. Well...maybe not pilgrimages...it's an impressive icecicle, okay.

I have a interview with Utrecht art supplies store today. I have been told that I am the number one candidate, so I may very well have a part-time job soon. Discount art supplies, whee!

I also dropped off a packet of work last week to a store that carries local artists work. They don't provide a definite time-line of when they get back to you, so I have no idea. Keep your fingers crossed they like my stuff.

Yesterdays mail was excellent...Meleah and Peter's wedding invitation arrived. It was beautiful. Plus I won a contest and received a $20 gift-certificate to the Majestic Steak House...fortunately they have vegetarian options.

This is the month that Einstein Brothers Bagels has chocolate cherry flavored coffee. Mmmm...I love it...drool...

Christine and I are continuing our work-out plan, though after our last session I got an incredible urge for a Slurpee...so I got one...but it was the smallest one...and so worth it...mmmm

This weekend I have to start our little brocolli plants inside. They will hopefully be transplanted into our yet-to-be-dug garden before we leave for England.

I am currently bookless, though I think I am going to start the first Disc World book, and the Lord of the Rings series, and maybe something not so fantastical. We'll see.

...another weekend another storm...

So tonight we are supposedly in for at least 6 inches of snow, and possibly ice before that. THEN, as if that weren't enough, it is going to snow another 6 inches on Sunday. Well...bring it on! I got some grocery shopping done yesterday, I have new art supplies to play with, and new goals to work towards, my husband is here, our cats are here, we have books, movies, and plenty of entertainment. Come on storm! **just don't knock the power out** please!

...mount up...

The other day I was headed out to my car to warm it up so I could chip off the thick layer of ice coating it. It was maybe 10 in the morning, but very quiet outside. As I reached the sidewalk, I had this sinking feeling, and felt as if suddenly huge men coated in furs, and riding Shire horses were going to turn on to our street off of Oak, and start riding towards me. I could almost hear the ram's horn being blown for battle call. I quickened my pace to get to the car in time. Once I unlocked the door, I realized I was totally irrational. It just had that feeling outside...like everyone was gone, and I didn't know it yet, and there are roaming bands of Vikings or something.
Maybe I shouldn't read and watch movies so much...

...blue norther a comin'...

Yesterday there was mass fear of a terrible ice storm, possibly to rival the bad one a couple of years ago that had power out all throughout the metro for a week. This morning when I woke up, there was ice covering everything, but not any more than some previous freezing rain we have already had this season. Regardless, I haven't set one toe outside today...chilly, and no place I have to go.

We received organic seeds in the mail yesterday for our upcoming gardening adventure. Since it will be our first year, we are trying not to be overly ambitious - scarlet nantes carrots, de cicco broccoli, sugar snap snow peas, lettuce/mustard green mix, spinach, brandywine slicing tomatos, yellow pear cherry tomatos, scallions, and tomatillos. Plus I think we will be doing a herb selection: dill, oregano, basil, mint, chives, cilantro...maybe more. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but I think it will be a beneficial endeavor.

I am getting very excited for the weddings that are coming up! Meleah and Peter were in town a week ago to work on some of their wedding plans, and we, along with Jenny, Pat, Julie, and Carrie had a racous evening of eating and drinking. I think their wedding is going to be fabulous. Christine and Evan's wedding planning is in full swing, as is Cynthia and Ross's. It is really interesting to see how different everyone's approach is to getting married.

...farewell...

Yesterday the dental hygenist who was getting ready to work on my teeth said that I had to take out my tongue ring. I have had it over seven years, and had never taken it out, even for the dentist. I went along with her, and she insisted that I would still be able to get it back in.
She took the full set of x-rays...didn't get it back...the doctor did his exam...didn't get it back...she spent an hour cleaning and flossing my teeth all the while lecturing me on how I should really floss, and had I heard that tongue rings can cause severe damage to one's teeth...got it back after all of that. She shooed me into the bathroom to put it back in. I could only get it partway in...the top hole had already healed. Sigh.
I had been considering taking it out, but I wanted it to be my decision. Ah well. If I had cared more I suppose I would have put up a fuss, and not taken it out in the first place. So...no more tongue ring. I keep feeling for it, and am surprised when it is not there. My tongue misses it...though now it can curl into a taco shape again.

The hygenist also said after she had finished throughly scraping the plaque from my teeth, "How much coffee do you drink?"
Oh great I thought...you want to take my coffee away too?! "Not more than a cup a day, if even that" I replied.
"Are there a lot of grounds in your coffee?"
"No (puzzled)"
"Well I found some black powdery looking stuff just underneath your gumline. Do you know what it could be?"
Just then the lightbulb clicked on. It was the monkey brand tooth powder that my mom...uh, I mean Santa...left in Jeremy's stocking. It's an Ayurvedic tooth powder from India, and it is indeed very black, and I had used it just before I went there...must not have rinsed well. I told her about it, and her face kind of twisted into semi-disgust, then she asked in a very condescending manner, "Does it have flouride in it?"
"No."
"You really shouldn't probably use it then. Is there any reason you are?"
"It's refreshing!"
"Hmmm."


I like my dentist a lot. I'm just not so sure about that hygenist.

...scritch scratch blues...

Jeremy has a bit of a cold, and I believe it may be starting to pass to me. So far though, I think my latest trend of exercising regularly, and eating a bit healthier than usual may be keeping it at bay. I have a lot more energy from the workouts...yay!

Today is gray and rainy. I should really get a job, otherwise I am going to spend my life sleeping late, and padding around the house. It's just so hard to motivate when the sun doesn't shine. Blah, blah, blah...:)

...top of the new year...

I was perusing today's newspaper at our neighborhood coffee shop this morning, when my eyes ran over an article about the possible colon cancer fighting properties of drinking coffee. Yay! I knew there had to be something redeeming health-wise with coffee, otherwise why would it taste so damn good!

Before I found myself in the coffee shop, I had been outside walking back from the gas station where I dropped my car. There is a real light snow lazily making it's way down to earth, and melded pellets of ice coat the sidewalks and trees. The branches look so beautiful trapped inside those icy shells. They crack like old bones though, if you run into them.

The holidays were good to us. We felt fortunate to be able to spend so much time with some family and friends. Lots of folks in town for awhile. Lots of good food, though my jeans seem to be more loose than ever...hmmm...unusual.