...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.

...hair today, gone tomorrow...

Kristen, Becky, and I explored two of our fine city's lesser known museums today: The hair museum, and the puppetry arts institute. They were both amazing! I want to learn more about the techniques of hair art...it's so beautiful.
This area has such great museums, and after today I am much more motivated to visit them.

...walkin' in a rainy wonderland...

This time of year is out-of-control! In a good way. I think I have been more socially active in the last week than in the past few months combined...well...that's a bit of an exaggeration I suppose. Lots of friends are in town, and it is also a time for seeing lots of friends who are always in town, just busy people.

This is definitely my favorite time of year mail-wise. Today was...well...like Christmas! We received a package from Josh, Julie, and Morgan, as well as about five more holiday cards. I actually did the thing where you hang the cards you receive around a door frame, or something similar. I think it is required that you do that if you have a house. Mainly I just enjoy looking at the interesting cards people make or pick out.

On non-holiday related tips, I have begun reading "Lonesome Dove," and am about a quarter of the way through it. You should read this book! Last year our friend Dylan read it while he stayed in our apartment, and he left his copy. Then, Jeremy's Dad gave us his hard-bound volume before he moved. It has just been sitting on one of our many bookshelves, silently waiting to be picked up. I found myself perusing the shelves for something new to read, and fixed my eyes on it. It has proven to be an excellent choice.

Otherwise...more people are marrying next year, and popping out children...not us...yet. I am hoping that 2004 will be a year filled with much happiness, and not as much sadness, though I enjoy all of my emotions.

As for weather, since I always seem to have something to say about it, today is grey and rainy. Maybe it is because when we were watching a rainy scene in "Igby Goes Down" last night I was thinking about how nice a good rainy day is sometimes. That, of course, would be assuming that my thoughts had great powers, and the world revolved around me...which as far as I know it does not, thankfully. I do not believe that it is supposed to be a snowy Christmas this year, though I guess one never can tell. I just hope for family, friends, peacefulness, yummy food, and a few presents.

...what has happened to this place...

I just got done reading an article on Salon about the protests that happened in Miami at the end of last week. Man...I really don't know what to say. Is there something fundamentally wrong with the human animal? How can you beat back senior citizens, children, all kinds of people, and actually defend that action, and feel good about it?!
The deal is everyone is different, and should have differing opinions. It can make things difficult, but that's the beauty of free thought. No one is better. When I get pissed is when people don't think for themselves. We align ourselves fully with the thoughts of our government, our party, our work co-horts, whoever! It's not bad to agree, but to blindly chant U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A., or to hate someone because you are told to, or to watch T.V. all the time because that's what everyone else is doing...this sucks! Do what you really believe, yet be compassionate along the way.
Ugh.

...weather blog...

More snow! More snow! A couple of days ago the skies opened up and dropped upon us approximately five inches of snow as well as a bunch of sleet before hand. Then, last night, it started again. Pure snow. I ended up spending the night at my sister's house, and when we woke up...snow! The drive home was a teensy scary...slippy-slidey. Once I was back at our house I declared, "No more outings today!" Now it is the perfect Saturday. My belly is full of tomato soup, grilled cheese, and coffee. I can sit inside in warmth and peer out the windows at the still gathering flakes, while sipping on a variety of hot beverages. I love being housebound in the winter! There is so much here I want to do!

...bring it on...

Slowly this morning, I climbed the stairs, trying to balance my cup of juice, glass of water, and bowl of cereal. Placing it all on the table beside the computer, I then plugged in the internet, turned on the computer, and opened up the blinds a tad. I noticed the frost on the window first, then I saw it...snow! Our first snow of the year is only one-half to one inch of accumulation, but it is still snow!

We saw a little bit when we were in Michigan for Thanksgiving, but it came after being there for a couple of days. The trip was very nice. Jeremy and I rolled up Wednesday night, expecting everyone to already be there, having a jolly old time. As we discovered, only Alan arrived before us, and he was at the store when we got there! So, we had a nice chat with him for a couple of hours, and just as he was ready to fall into bed, Josh, Julie, and Morgan arrived. Meade, Lucas, and Liam followed not too long after. The visit was: hiking the dunes on Thanksgiving and being amazed at Morgan's ability, good food and lots of it, competitive scrabble, trivial pursuit, sleeping bag wrestling, talking, talking, talking, Morgan bouncing around and me bouncing around with her, drinking lots of wine, bowling, going to the movies with the boys, very late nights talking, having little Ben- who joined us with his family on Friday-climb into my lap, Jeremy making hot cocoa at one in the morning, just having a good time.

Now it's been back to reality for a couple of days. Ah well. Gotta go work...

...birthday suit...

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband Jeremy! Like a fine wine, he gets better every year (and he was definitely not bad at all to begin with!) Jeremy brings much happiness into my life, and others as well. I don't know what I would do without you sweet potato! I love you!


Last Saturday we paused for lunch at the New York Deli and Bakery, then continued on our walk to Forest Hill Cemetary. This is all only a few blocks from our house, and happens to be the final resting spot of my Mama (Mom's mom), her parents Tola and Herbert, Herbert's parents, his sister and her husband, and Tola's brother and his wife, as well as a future plot for my Daddad...which is a little creepy to look at as he is still very much alive. Anyway, on Sunday was the 15 year anniversary of Mama's passing, so we went to say hello. We ended up walking around the cemetary (which is huge) for over an hour...checking out crazy mausoleums, and interesting tombstones. As we headed for the gates, we noticed that the crows had formed a barrier that we must cross. I got a little nervous, and prepared to offer them something shiny, but they were distracted and took off for some nearby trees. Silly crows.

Saturday night we got to hang out at Scot and Marla's place. It was Scot's birthday, but he failed to tell us that! So...Scot...I'm outing you publically...happy birthday again...late... Anyway, we had a good time, and were the first to arrive and the last to leave. Why, do you ask? Because we are those people.

Sunday was Mary's flute performance. She is getting her PhD in flute, so this was no ordinary, 4th grade concert. It let me see a whole new side of Mary. We enjoyed it a lot.

Today the temperature is in the 70s. Why am I in here typing? Oh yeah...Jer is in the shower, then we are going out. I'm looking forward to these upcoming days as there are many things I get to cook for our two Thanksgiving feast we get to attend...fruit salad, nutloaf, chocolate raspberry birthday cake, Fafa's (my great grandpa Herbert) caramels, Birdie's (my Dad's Mom's mom) swedish pecans, cheddar cheese buttermilk biscuits...drool...plus, soon I will start printing various cards - some to sell and some to send out for the holidays! Yay! I love having things to do. The more I have to do, the better I use my time.

Happy Birthday again, Jer.

...just like josh...


You are the Low-Fidelity All-Star. You were born
with your cool, and it's totally natural. You
run the gamut from Hipster Supreme (only they
can ingest as much coffee as you) to the geeky
hipster (Mario Kart, anyone?).


What Kind of Hipster Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

...much more relaxed...

On Friday, since Jeremy didn't have to work, we had a nice little date of slices of Joe's pizza, and seeing Lost In Translation at the Tivoli. It was a very sweet movie, and shot nicely. When we returned home, I treated myself to a nice, warm bath with my new bath salts and the rest of a bottle of white wine to sip. Ahhhh. I feel much better than earlier in the week.

Saturday we not only got the pleasure of hanging out with Kris and Joanna, but we got to babysit 1 1/2 year old Nora for a couple of hours. I just want to make her laugh all the time! She was so much fun to play with, and she talks a lot.

Besides all of this, I have been fairly non-stop working on my easy-cut print blocks for my alphabet cards. I got the material on Thursday, and I haven't been able to keep my hands off of it.

Well, it's just past one a.m. and my hands are chilly...I spy Frank on the futon, so I think I am going to go steal some of his body heat.

...one toe over the edge...

I screamed at a man on the phone this morning...he's with the Mayflower moving company. We got a letter in the mail today that just made a rage brew in me. I wish my screaming could have penetrated the heart of the corporate beast like a sword...be felt throughout the whole body...make it quake and question. Instead I was yelling at an outer scale. I don't feel fully sorry for doing it, though I always feel pretty bad for yelling at anyone.

It brought up lots of issues. I'm partly feeling the sting of realizing my own naivete and stupidity regarding the move, and it sucks having to admit it's not all on somebody else. It also just transported me back to those days of summer, when everything was so right for awhile, and then just got dashed into the ground. I guess I've been suppressing a lot of sadness towards what happened with my dad. I just released it all on Jeremy...poor guy. Then I felt the sudden need to blindly write something down here. I don't really need to talk to anyone specifically, I guess I just need to have something concrete come out of me...something I can look at. Things aren't that bad. I love my husband, myself, our life, our cats, friends, family, our house. Sometimes I need to realize it's okay to embrace sadness, and that it doesn't have to be put in a spot where no one can see it.

So...now I'm realizing other people besides me look at this. Uh...hi...please don't think I'm crazy or depressed. I'm normal...yeah...normal... :)

...just thinking...

My mind today keeps wandering to the painting that presides over my Daddad's living room. I'm scanning over the seaweed covered rocks that shine in the moonlight. The ships look so weathered, like the small town behind them in the distance, but not unhappy. I'm trying to imagine myself on that beach. You would need a thick, wool sweater I think. Everything is moist with salt water...can't escape the smell. A foghorn sounds...there are still some lights on in the town, though it must be past midnight. I can see the moonlight playing on the surface of the water, trying to illuminate further than the first few inches. I'll have to be content with not getting in the water, though I want it to cover me. Too chilly.
I think about how in her last years, Mama must have spent a lot of time looking at this painting. I wonder if she pictured herself wherever it is supposed to be. She saw beauty in that scene...she was the one who picked it out. That painting is like a long, deep sigh.

This whole weekend has been trapped in the painting. It's been days of garlic soup, hearty sweaters, perfectly cured cast-iron pans, fat ceramic mugs of coffee, thick ecru-colored cream, grey, chilly skies, fine mists, sewing by hand, warm cat cuddles, crunchy leaves, seeing your breath, drafty houses...

...grey days...

At first we thought Halloween was going to be a bust. It was already 7:00, and we had yet to have any children come knocking. The door was wide open, I was reading a book on the couch to take my mind off of my excitement. Is there no such thing anymore as kids going around to houses? Do they just go to shops for candy now? What is wrong with the world today - isn't anything sacred? Finally...two kids came! Between 7:30 and 8:00 we had a good rush, and we got rid of all of our candy (thankfully...Jeremy and I still ended up with major sugar hangovers the next day) Witches, a vampire, football player, racecar driver, carebear, princesses, ghosts, and many unidentifiable things graced our porch that night. Woo-hoo...boo!

...skeletons in my closet (actually they're on my front door)...

The day of all days is here! My eyes keep getting drawn back to the large bowl of candy I fixed up this morning - junior mints, shock tarts, reece's peanut butter cups, milk duds, gumballs...drool...Must take my mind off of sweet, sweet candy...must not become diabetic...

So instead I am focusing on sounds today. The tornado siren-like squeal of the dryer, the rustle of embroidery thread repeatedly being pulled through linen, pops of old wood floors, the wet hiss of the coffee pot, and the giant BOOM of a transformer blowing this morning that tore me from my dream world. The power was only gone an hour or so.

Tonight we do the dance of passing out candy to kids. Jeremy and I discussed the various approaches to doing this, and I believe my way won out - mainly because I say so. He thinks the kids should be allowed to take their own candy from the bowl. While I remember this being a wonderful thing when I was a kid, now I can only see little, sticky fingers shoveling as much candy as they can into their bag. I'm for passing out one or two pieces per kid, and I get to randomly decide what those pieces shall be. You can trade up later kid...I'm not taking requests. Jeremy thinks this is another attempt of mine to take kids down a notch. Hey...I just want to make sure everyone gets a piece of the pie...er...I mean candy.

...stranded at the drive-in...

We tossed an armload of blankets and pillows in the car, and took off Saturday night to meet Christine, Evan, Liz, and Hillary for a double-feature at the drive-in. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is very frightening when viewed in your own car, surrounded by night, and having to go to the bathroom, but not wanting to go anywhere by yourself after that flick. We survived though. I pulled the blanket up over my eyes a couple of times...of course it is a loosely crocheted blanket, so I could still see anyway. Kill Bill Vol. 1 was the next movie. Very good again, but quite violent. I love the way Tarantino matches up music to what is happening in the film.

Sunday... I don't know what I did to deserve this, but Jer made french toast and fake bacon for our very late breakfast. Yummmm. Then we just lazed around with the various visitors that called on us, until Jer had to go to work. Fantastic.

...till next year...

The party is over. At least, the birthday party, not the party that is everyday of my life! (ha.) A quarter of a century does not feel that different than last year, at least so far. We'll see what is in store for this one...

The sun is still shining, and the leaves are still breaking delicately beneath my feet. Halloween is not far away, and thankfully we have not eaten all of the candy...well...I had to buy another bag or two that we haven't opened, but we never finished off the original one! My head is overflowing with things I want to work on in studio, strangers are calling Jer to have their pianos tuned, and the cats are still rearranging the rugs every night.

...what's goin' on...

A cold rain is falling outside, and the sun is almost gone for the day. Jeremy is already at work for the night. I am currently reading "My Invented Country" by Isabel Allende and "Stupid White Men" by Michael Moore. This morning I started my "Sweatin' to the Oldies" workout. Richard Simmons is pretty fun. I've been working on art and cleaning the house. my birthday is tuesday shhhh...Tonight I am going to watch Friends and ER. Tomorrow I am going to make Morrocan carrot spread, onion dip, and hummus for an upcoming shin-dig. I have begun to master medium-level spider solitaire. I need to write some letters.

...who knew...

I dropped my car off this morning for an oil change, etc., and, thankfully, had to walk home. It's only about a ten-minute walk, but in that time I learned lots about Gregory (the street) that I had never known just driving on it.
A few trees have some bluish-white mossy spots on them. They come right after the tree that has seaweed-like pods hanging from it. I am not sure if these have the same delicious sounding/feeling pop-hiss to them as the seaweed does, but they looked like it. There was also a stretch of trees that not only has regular, dark green leaves on it, but light green ones curled down like little tongues waiting to lick those who walk under it's branches. The tongues cradled some sort of berry, most likely not edible.
I think in our neighborhood that the plants are ready to take over. If only people would leave them alone! The sidewalks are already severely buckled in some parts, with plants sneaking their way out of every crevice. Lots of people have ivy creeping up their houses or fully engulfing their chimneys. If we all disappeared, it would not take very long for the ferns, trees, flowers, ivy, all of them, to claim everything as their own. They silently pass the time...waiting for the long moments of their uprising...lucky plants...

...heavy whipping cream...

Now you can witness how truly flip-floppy I am...going from serious thought to...

I just wandered downstairs for a brief interlude and found Bones, our resident heat monkey, sitting in front of the air vent in the dining room, lapping up the waves of warm air.

I'm seriously considering heating up a sticky bun my mother bought for me even though it is practically midnight.

Conan is coming on t.v. (that sounds a bit crude...sorry) and I find him highly amusing...in fact so much that I am going to say, goodnight.

...how does this happen...

Do you ever zoom out from your life and realize how ridiculous so many things are with it, and with the world in general? Here I am...I own a house with my best friend and partner, I currently have no income because my husband is making money and I am a semi-privelaged person, I have lots of things...in fact I have so many that I get rid of tons of clothing, paper, whatever each year, I never miss a meal unless I choose to, I have never had an act of physical violence done against me, I went to college - to art shcool none the less, I have traveled all over the place...
I am so lucky. How did I get this place in the scheme of things, yet other people have none of what I do? Did I do something really good in a past life, or am I destined to do not as well in the next one? Does God or whatever there is just like some people better for no good reason? And why am I not doing more with what I have to help those who have not?...is it even "better" to be the one who has?...what is the perfect existence, when you have what you need - food, shelter, love, good health, a whole range of emotions - and not too many things to bog you down - jobs, obligations, guilt, wants, and you know of no one else who needs anything? Does that exist?
I have had times throughout my life so far where I fight harder than usual for basic rights for all, for justice, for universal happiness, for something - anything...then...life sucks me back in and it is easy to forget other people. I walk down the street with a veil. We think it is so horrible that Muslim women are forced to fully cover in public, but we are a society that is still covered ourselves, and we like it! You just can't see ours and it is self-imposed.
It's so easy to sit here - in my jeans, t-shirt, and cowboy boots - and type on my computer, and drink my fresh water, and expound upon what is wrong with the world. What are my solutions? This is the toughy...I don't know. I guess I will try to be a good person and not use too much of anything, though that's easier said than done for the lifestyle we have become accustomed to. I will raise any children I have to please, please, please question things, and want to drink up any books, magazines, newspapers, people, dances, songs, art, animals, vistas, whatever that they come across, and to help, and love, and do something as long as they fully embrace it and believe in it. I will do what I can before I burn (not in Hell, I don't believe in it...in actual flames...I want to be cremated) and try not to feel too guilty for what I cannot do. That is very hard.
For now...universe...ever expanding (or is it actually shrinking?)...I love you, whatever happens, whether you take it all away or give me more (I really don't need more)...thank you for it all...please give other people breaks...please do something to equalize us all - or is that for us to figure out?

...i'm falling...

It's almost my birthday month! Yes, I declare the entire month of October as my own. This is absolutely my favorite time of year. I love that I can still wear summery clothes most of the time, but that at night I need to put on a sweater. Soups, chilis, stews and such are much tastier in the fall. Halloween is by far the best holiday, and this year we get to super decorate for it, and we should actually have kids that want to trick-or-treat at our place!

Today the first leaves started to fall from the trees, and I noticed at the tip tops of some that the leaves had turned. Fall makes me a little melancholy (spelling? one l right?) I know death and hibernation are coming for nearly everything. It's a chance to reflect and release things and hope to survive to be reborn in spring. I really like this aspect of fall. This is kind of a central theme to my life...my name actually means "of the resurrection." I love the image of the phoenix, periodically going up in flames only to come back again to repeat the whole process. I suppose lots of people can relate to that, so I'm not saying it's a unique thing to me by any means. Hmmm. Enough reflection...let's go drink some warm apple cider...and eat donuts...mmm...donuts.

...chester drawers...

Jeremy and I picked up a handy piece of my old furniture from my Ma's that is perfect for stashing socks, t-shirts, underwear and such. In order to do that though, I had to clear out the memories: cards for every holiday, elementary writings and yearbooks, stacks of notes illegally passed in class, old photos and objects that were once so important. Luckily I could part with a paper sacks worth of stuff, so I have less to find a new home for. Sometimes I wish I was a minimalist.

...saturday, in the park, blah blah blah rest of the lyrics...

Everything today is wet. There is a mist outside that makes all the plants want to give off their best shade of green before they begin to turn. Our neighborhood is dripping with huge trees, flowers, long grass, and vines overtaking whatever stands still for awhile.
No one seems to be awake today. I know other people are somewhere in town, because I saw them at the farmer's market not too long ago. 70th Terrace is quiet. Anyone with sense is still in bed, excited that quilts have needed to return.
This is when I listen...no need to talk except for the occassional exchange with a kitty. The cicadas died out with the hot weather, so now all of the other insects can be heard singing their pleas for mates. They mix in with the questioning purrs of Bones, the wood floors creaking under delicate cat paws and me shifting in my chair, the constant hum of the computer and click clicky of keys, fingers rubbing on a ceramic bowl, green tea juicily slurping into my mouth, and the distant sounds of what few cars seem to be out there this morning, but I have yet to see from my window.

...whatever happens...

I wish there was some sort of vaccum that could suck all of the snot from my head, yet not touch my brain. I would appreciate that right about...now.

My Mom was adopted by an almost all black cat. Just in time for Halloween! She named him Spooky. The fact that she took him in is very funny considering all of my life she has not enjoyed cats. Spooky worked his magic on her though, and they are great companions. He is very sweet and declawed, and she has something to talk baby talk to and to calm her down a bit.

We are working on moving Rick to Kansas City soon. I'm pretty excited. I like having family near by (well...yeah, yeah I do) and he can meet my family, and check out all the things we love about Kansas City, and I'm sure find things that we don't even know about!

The other day we were making our way through the Westport Art Fair when we realized, "Oh! We're right by Murray's Ice Cream Shop! How odd...I almost forgot it was there!" Murray's is only the best ice cream in town. No flavors felt right until my eyes fell upon the name *Pink Grapefruit Champagne Sorbet* Mmmm...delicious. I think it was the most satisfying frozen experience I have had all summer.

...open up and say ahhh...

The rains have been sent to us! I'm sitting up here in our cozy little tv room, typing away, drinking strong coffee, and watching the puddles in our neighbor's patio chairs grow larger by the second. When the rain first started a day or two ago you could almost hear the grass and other plants collectively gulp. My favorite thing though is the fact that in our kitchen the rain sounds like popcorn exploding as it hits the stove exhaust pipe on the roof!

...hide your sons and daughters...

Yowzer, we are back on line! It wasn't too bad being away. I could do it again easily. We just got back at 2:30 this morning from Detroit where we had to bid adieu to Joan and Rachel. Even though it was an extremely short visit, we had a fantastic time. Jer and I got to have Rachel to ourselves for a good portion of a day...she is just the coolest. I am so happy that Rachel is in my life. Joan made a really yummy meal of veg sheppard's pie and green beans with shitakes. Mmmm. Jer and I had a good breakfast with just Joan that was fun. I love my in-laws!

Our stuff arrived less than a week ago. I immediately set up the kitchen, as it is a very important room for me, and am now focusing on my studio. Life is good.

It's very weird to drive almost everywhere. Not that I have been wanting to walk in the 105 degree heat, but I'm missing out on all the little stuff you get to notice while strolling around town. There are other things though...we had about 15 peace lillies (our friend Matt told us they were actually surprise lillies) surface in our back yard. My Daddad has some too that were transferred years ago from my great-grandfather's garden. I think I am going to take some of those bulbs this fall. We have a chorus of crickets in our basement that sing us to sleep - Bones caught one and ate it with a sickening crunch! We have lots of spiders patrolling the premises making sure that no corner goes un-woven. There is an organic farmer's market about a mile away from us on Saturday mornings! Everything is coming together.

...how prophetic...

Well...what a couple of weeks it has been. I was not really prepared for any of it...during the evening of Monday, July 21st, my father passed away unexpectedly in a sense. That night...I can't even really talk about that night. The next morning everything got picked up...taken away so quickly...then we ate our final slice of Aniello's pizza, shoved everything in the car including the cats as loud, electric pops of thunder started breaking loose. I hopped behind the wheel and we had one of the scariest drives to Pennsylvania (due to horrible storms) that I have ever experienced. Everything happened so fast...when we arrived in town on Thursday, I immediately went to a meeting at the place where the memorial was going occur. As of today, our belongings have still not arrived and are not scheduled to for another week and a half! Never use Mayflower!

My father...this is all I want to say about him...he was a lot of things, but the things I have been remembering the most is his love for us, and really for life around him. I've been learning even more about him having to go through his belongings. I've found the rolls of photos taken solely of the television during the moon landing, slides he took himself of celestial things through the telescope that he built, letters he wrote defending his work and actions when employers accussed him of things like not doing stuff in a timely manner, etc., stuff about the Registar system that he developed, his slide rule, his bowling ball, his old camera, his shoe shine kit, so many papers with equation after equation...notes...
I really wish I could have been here...
I can't really talk about it anymore, so I'm not going to.


So...yeah...our stuff is not here, but the house is! It's a good house. Kansas City is certainly here and real. Everything slipped into place so perfectly - driving, visiting friends and family, knowing where to get anything. Whenever I have thought about New York it has seemed not real. We lived a similar life there in many senses, but in others it was so different! No one here really knows that life we had, and we have been so busy that Jeremy and I have not really discussed it much. New York worked it's way into my body, and I'm not sure I want to let it go. I guess I do not have to, as we are planning to return many times. Kansas City is great...the cicadas are busy talking all day and part of the night, Jeremy bought a truck that is a fraternal twin to the one he had to give up before we moved to Brooklyn, and I can hop over to my Mom's, Daddad's, sister's, etc. whenever I want. New York...what are you up to? I'm picturing right now what is likely happening on 14th Street, on 5th avenue, at the Dia, on 23rd Street, in the East Village, at the Buncher's, on Fire Island, at the co-op, in the subway...what a different entity New York is...not better than anywhere else, every place is wonderful in some way...just...I don't know. Well...I need breakfast

I still don't have regular computer access for another two weeks or so (by the time we hook up internet.)
Hoping whoever is out there is well...please tell me you are well.

...last call...

Our internet is being taken away from us today. Think of it...no connection by that means for probably two weeks...shudder. I can't believe how tied in with it I am. I didn't even get email until I was in college! It will be okay...I can focus on other things...like how we are getting cell phones! (They still have not arrived...it was a whole drama yesterday that ended with Jeremy telling them not to call us until they are ready to say that 2 cell phones will be here by Tuesday...they called, so we will see) That, I am still not too sure about how I feel. Jeremy's is for his work, which makes sense, but mine is not so much for that purpose. Definitely don't want to make it my primary phone, no no no! I'm sure I'll enjoy it, but I'm the person who still talks into them funny, like I don't trust that the people can hear me if the mouthpiece is halfway up my cheek. I've seriously only talked on one three times. Anyway...technology...bah!

New York...who knew a Kansas City girl could fall in love. Don't get me wrong...I am VERY excited to be moving back, but I love my neighborhood here, and riding subways, and walking around trying to figure out who it would be okay to make eye contact with, and being able to have any type of food I want at most likely any hour, and most of all different family and friends. I know we are coming back for visits every year-ish, but...sigh. Alright, it's list time...all New York lists...

Famous People I Saw (or almost saw) While Living Here:
Jacques Torres
John Waters
Lou Reed
Laurie Anderson
Duff
Pauly Shore (Heather and I were walking and she saw him sitting, but I was spacing off and totally missed everything)
Rachel Dratsch
Robert Whitman
Chuck Close
Jo Baer
uhhh...alright, I'm tired of this list

All Time Favorite Experiences In New York:

Zoe greeting me every time I come in or out of our building, sitting on the beach at Fire Island with the sky all gray and a fine salt mist devouring me, walking to the co-op especially on Saturdays, going out to Mexican food with Juhanni, Rebecca, Chris, and Carlin, this one lunch - a long time ago- with Adam and Angela...it was a Saturday, Indian food, and then a great stroll down 1st ave..., hanging out with Lola in Union Square almost every day, going to the Comic and Cartoon museum with Johnny, having Heather over for making-dinner-watching-Sunday-cartoons nights while she still lived here, chatting with Corrie up in the Dia cafe, getting to see Dust Dive twice, long talks with Nancy and Richard upstairs, meeting and getting to know Adam K, when Lola's family would give me a ride home...never boring!, shutting the door in Luis's face, that special corner on our block where you can spy on the Statue of Liberty, Ukranian Borchst...any Monday I want, dinner at Bea's - telling stories, Joan's birthday party, our wedding reception at Guru!, spending time with Rick, dinner at Peter and Joanne's, fourth of July this year, hanging out with Arno and Susie, all the things I noticed walking around town, the subway stop for The Natural History Museum, having Josh, Julie and Morgan visit, riding on the ottomans with Christine at work, dancing in the office at work, bringing home lots of good food from the co-op, sitting on the stoop and having people stopping to talk, flying over New York knowing we are about to touch down, those little tile faces I've been seeing around, running into Jeremy by surprise on the subway, riding the Wonder Wheel with an absolutely terrified Jer (hey...he suggested it!), our anniversary...brunch at Sidewalk-walking around the East Village, ...too much more to list.

Lot's is going to happen in those two weeks...Rachel turns 14, driving with two kitty boys to K.C., our fridge gets delivered (it's stainless steel with a freezer on the bottom...pretty), I visit my Dad in the nursing home for the first time...Here's to everything that has already occurred and to the unknown, may it be as fun, mysterious, heart tearing, frustrating, lovely, wild, boring, tiring, and inspiring as all that already is.
Safe travels to everyone...and love!

...keep me...

The day has only just started and I don't want to pack! La, la, la! Let's just eat bowls of sweetened corn puffs and forget all that we have to do.

...it's getting hot in here...

Last night we met up with Adam to go have a little dinner, then head to the Cutting Room where his friend Adam Dugas was singing a few songs, including his version of Nelly's It's Getting Hot in Here! Also performing were The World Famous Pontani Sisters. Glittery costumes, huge smiles, fake eyelashes, old fashioned dance moves...bringing back the burlesque atmosphere! It was the best show I have seen in a long time. Plus, there was Dana Pontani (singing), the Fisherman Xylophonic Burlesque Orchestra (awesome! the xylophone guy wears a fez!), Jo Boobs ( does not show it all, but can twirl her tassels well), and Oh De Twirlette. Yay!

...stunted...

Wouldn't you know that the urge to just sit down and super focus on art would come at the most inopportune time? There are boxes to pack, jobs to finish, people to say goodbye to, streets to walk on one more time before moving, things to eat that you just can't find elsewhere, etc. No rest for the wicked.

I also have a sudden need to look at things that are already packed, such as certain books. It is hard to believe that the time is so near. Sigh. I love our house we are moving to, and I love Kansas City, but...I love New York now too. Even though I like to complain about the city often (hey...from what I can tell most New Yorkers do) it's really grown on me. Thankfully, we have many reasons to visit: Adam, Angela, Bea, Judie, Brian, Joanne, Peter, Adam K., Nancy, Christine, Corrie...

Jeremy just called me blog horn leg horn! He makes everything better!

...burn a dollar...

Jeremy and I are not huge supporters of July 4th, but we do enjoy fireworks. Fortunately, his cousin (actually first cousin once removed) Susan was in town from Nepal, so we were able to enjoy them from the balcony of May's old apartment. It was good to see Susie. She always is fun to talk with. Her friend Viva, who is her neighbor in Nepal, was also in town. By the time the fireworks came, Francis from across the hall was over, and their friend Azalia was there as well.

I could not believe the display that New York has! We could actually see two different ones from our vantage point, but one was far superior as we could see all three parts of it. The view from May's bedroom was even more spectacular. I had a hard time deciding which view I preferred. On the balconey, you felt more a part of the whole city and could hear the collective ahhing and clapping of millions of people. We had been watching, as dusk grew, people gathering on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. After dark, we could only see them in the flashes from the fireworks and hear that they were there, and very much alive. At one point a small boy yelled out, "I wish this was every night!" I think many people replied to him, "Me too!" The fireworks were like neurons, and petri dish growth, and flowers, and things from every part of nature come to life in an extra huge version of gold, violet, red, blue, white, green, orange explosion! I was fighting back tears at how something so simple can be so beautiful. It brought lots of memories, especially from when I was a kid, to the surface. If you were to have asked me at that moment, I probably would have told you my childhood was terrific, because I could only remember those sticky, summer nights where bug repellent, barbeque smoke, and fresh cut grass are wrestling to have the largest smell. Fireflies are creating there own light display every night, and don't seem to mind being caught every once in a while. You can stay up later, because the sun doesn't ever want to set, and there is no worry of having to go to school the next day. There are more excuses than ever to eat candy, drink soda, and nosh on things all day long. That's exactly what we did at Suzie's! Mmm...cookies, grapes, Coke, hummus, potato chips...I wish we could have stayed in that moment longer, but...it's good to know that there are so many moments in time where I feel that...I don't want to leave or ever have it end. Luckily, I try not to have much space at all in between those times. Those are the times when I don't worry about anything, and I don't get so frustrated that I proclaim, "Ugh! I can't stand people!" There probably needs to be less of that in everyone's life.

...family matters...

We finally downloaded Powerpoint so that we could look at the cd of family photographs and stories that we got from Rick, via Arno (Jeremy's second cousin I believe) It is an extremely long slideshow, but you just don't want to stop! I'm interested in any person's photograph collection, but this was extra good because it's Jeremy's family. I think there is somewhere around six to seven hundred photographs spanning from 1900 to 2002/3! Arno had, and still has, a huge task ahead of him, and the end result is great!!! I think this is how I may want to organize all of the stuff for my family...we'll see.