I found this little quiz over here at Sandra's blog, RUAWAKE. Since I'm sitting around supervising the movers while they pack up our belongings, I thought What the hell, I'll take it! I'm feeling a little bit like a loser just surfing the web while these two guys are working their asses off. I kind of feel like I need to pitch in and help, but I'm not getting paid... good damn money, in fact. They are. So throw a bon bon my way. I'm taking a quiz.

If you were a sexual position, what would it be? A butterfly, though my life span may be quite short.

Can you literally put your foot in your mouth (or toe to your nose)? Yes, no problem at all.

Name the last time you were absolutely certain you were the a-hole and still didn't apologize for it: Yesterday. This morning? It happens a lot.

How do you keep score? Depends on the game.

In which way(s) do you exact revenge? I live by the what goes around comes around philosophy. My hands stay cleaner that way.

Which super power would you rather have: Math genius or a Grammatical hawk-eye? Grammatical Hawkeye! The costume possibilities seem very cool.

Of the forty or so hours you are paid for, how many of them do you actually work? I don't work at a job, currently. So I am free labor around here.

How loudly do you laugh when you're alone? As loudly and proudly as when I'm with company. I also talk to myself. I'm tellin' ya... I'm a real dork.

Grant or Gable? Gable, because he is a little rough around the edges.

Coffee cans under the porch or in the mattress? In the mattress.

Hot or cold? Hot.

Hard or soft? That question could be answered so many ways. But for the sake of a PG rating, I'll just say I like my bed soft and my pencil leads hard.

Right or left? Right Handed.

If you could be anyone in the world, dead or alive, in any era in history, would you choose to be you? Yep.

If you could be with anyone in the world, alive or dead, in any era in history, would you choose the one that got away? Absolutely NOT.

What's the best thing you ever did that you didn't get credit for? That's a toughie. I'm stumped.

Where in the world would you rather be right now and with whom (and, yeah, it can be anyone, alive or dead, etc.)? Already in our new house with the Hero and the best dog ever.

It's only Tuesday, but do you already have plans for the weekend? Yes I do. Unpacking boxes.

Well, what are you waiting for?

*Here is a recent development to the day. One of the movers just fell out of the truck and thinks he broke his ankle. I just gave him the address to the local hospital. Keep smiling Melanie!

So Long, Farewell....

Just a few quick shots from yesterday's going away bash... a very few shots as we were having such a good time we kept forgetting to pick up the camera and shoot photos!

My best girl Ann... stuck around and helped me divvy up the leftovers, wine and beer!

I love this girlie.

This big crazy goofy guy. Yes, he is trying to lick my face. I. Love. Him.
(In a brotherly way, geez y'all.)

Eric and Mel... laughing together since 1982.

Aha... now smile.

P.S. I missed you Steph and Anna. Steph I know you were under the weather, I hope you feel better soon.

P.P.S. Mark and I were so touched by our friends and family spending the day with us. A send off full of laughter and only a couple of tears sure takes the edge off leaving town. Hugs! We will be seeing everyone soon!

Countdown is almost over.

The movers arrive on Monday to begin packing us up.

This weekend is the beginning of the end of our time here in KC. Saturday, Hero and I are taking a day trip down to see our son at school and take him out for a meal and give him hugs. Sunday we are throwing a Bringing Down the House party, cooking up all the food left in the freezer, serving all the wine in the wine rack. It will be a regular mish-mash of hamburger, steaks, chicken nuggets and God knows what else I can dig out of there. Um, yummy. Good thing our friends and family like us for who we are, not what we are planning on serving them that day. It will leave them with memories, though. Most likely gastronomical nightmares. Sorry lovelies. We promise to make it a fun time.

After today, blogging may be spotty for a week or so. I promise to get right back on it as soon as we are in the new house and have Internet hooked up. Hero is headed to South America soon after we move I just know I will feel like writing and will need the company of my laptop.

Everyone have a fantastic weekend wherever you are. Here in KC the weather is fine and the locust leaves are beginning to fall. I think I spotted a red maple leaf turning on my tree in the back, but it was just one leaf... things are turning to autumn slowly.

Just a girl and her best dog ever...

This morning, Liz and I were experimenting with the timer setting on the camera, taking some self portraits. Hardly glamour shots, (Puh-leeeez, not my style at all) I just wanted photos of my girl and me and we improvised. I should have turned off the flash... she looks like Cujo.

Oops, picture took while I was checking her little face for eye boogers!

Isn't she beautiful? Her fur is as soft as a rabbit's and she is the most gentle girl. It kills me to think that she is 13 now. She is my constant companion, and one friend that Hero and I do get to take along on our new adventure. Thankfully. Yup, we are blessed.

WTF ate my house?

Do you all see that? Over there to the left, along the roof line where the siding has been... oh, I don't know what the hell happened. Raped? It was not like that a week and a half ago when I took my leave for vacation! It was not like that when we sold this house! It was not like that when the buyers had their inspection done! At some time in the last two weeks, something got hold of my house and chewed the hell out of this portion of siding. Nice job little critter with the razor teeth. Good for you. I hope you choked yourself on the insulation. Damn! I will be spending more quality time with the handy man this week, because we can't leave this money pit without sinking a few hundred more bucks into it at the last minute. It just wouldn't be right. *wink*

Old Friends

Barcelonetta

By Dona Ann MacAdams

(Art Print can be found here.)

This is a week of organizing and last minute home repairs, phone calls and making lists. I have doctor appointments for myself and a vet appointment for the dog. All of these things are just pesky little things that are taking up my time and thoughts and making me feel anxious when what I really want to do this week is spend time with my Pals. My friends. My peeps, my gang, my support system, whatever. This other crap is getting in my way and making me feel frustrated. Please bear with me while I say a few things that I need to say.

I want to say proper goodbyes to the people who have meant the world to me. It is interesting how as the years go on, I haven't so much collected friends the way I did when I was young as I hold on to the special ones and let the others go. There are many reasons for letting friendships go. In my case it may have been life changes, switching jobs, time (people get busy and drift apart,) distance. Those who remain are special because somehow there is a motivation to stay in touch, or to invest the time despite the geographic distance. We all have folks who are special to us, and I am blessed to include among my special friends someone I met in college when I was nineteen. He has been here for me during every major life event since. I can not imagine my life without him. We have lived in different states at several different times over the years, and I always know that the bond will never break. Never. He was the first to respond to our invitation for closing down our house on Sunday. That is one reason I love him. You are awesome E. When you visit me in Illinois, we are watching The Trouble with Angels. It will be a Giddy time. My girlfriend Stephanie was a coworker and we have developed a beautiful friendship over the years. We met when we were both newlyweds... to our first husbands. So many years ago... both of us remarried and happy again we share a love of long talks and a charming town called Weston, as well as a long history silliness and a very cool road trip. I know there will be visits, Steph. Then there is my best bud Ann. I tear up thinking of not being able to spend a Sunday afternoon shopping with her and drinking coffee at Panera. She actually put up with me a couple weeks ago while I NEEDED to tour my hometown and drive by the places that made my childhood memories. She had to be bored to tears, but cheerfully listened as I explained every detail of everything I pointed out as I drove by my childhood landmarks. The mark of a true friend. Thanks girlie. Who knew when we took our girl's trip to Chicago I'd be moving there? Now there will be visits I hope! Love ya! I am so excited to see these guys this week. All will be helping bring down the house on Sunday, but I'm fortunate enough to see a couple of them during this week as well. Yay! The week seems very short suddenly. I'm saddened that I won't be able to reach out and hug everyone I would like to this week. Life gets in the way, but staying in touch is easy... right? Gah, it seems sad and I'm more than a little emotional lately.

Okay, enough. Will try to talk about something light tomorrow. Consider this a Moody Monday and we'll move on.

Book Review... Two Thumbs UP!

The Heretic's Daughter

A Novel

By Katheleen Kent

Genre:
Historical Fiction

First published in USA:
Little Brown & Company; Sep 2008.

"You cannot have grown to womanhood without hearing the embittered whispers of Salem Village, and of me and my parents. But in your love for me you have never asked me to reveal the dread happenings of my youth. The name Salem even now causes grown men and women to blanch with fear." A passage taken from a letter, lovingly written to her granddaughter by Sarah Carrier Chapman in 1752, sixty years after her own mother had been convicted and hung on Gallow's Hill for witchcraft.

The book, The Heretic's Daughter begins with this letter as a prologue to her telling her own personal history to her granddaughter. The events of the book take place mainly during the years 1691 and 1692, during the fervor and accusations that pitted neighbor against neighbor and family member against family member, in many cases. Although the book is historical fiction, the book is based on fact and Ms. Kent is a direct tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier, the mother of Sarah our story's narrator, and one of the first women convicted and hung for witchcraft. Ms. Kent does a fascinating job weaving the historical fact with the fiction and draws us in with her vivid descriptions of life in seventeenth century New England.

Sarah, a young girl during the time of the story, and her family are new to the Andover, MA area near Salem. Having arrived during an era when the community is living in fear of Indian raids, and plague, not to mention the religious superstitions of the day. Her father has a mysterious past, her mother is cold, one brother becomes ill with small pox and Sarah is sent along with her younger sister to live with family members in a nearby town. Sarah finds a closeness with her aunt that she didn't share with her mother and finds a new best friend in her older female cousin, and she feels she has found the family she has longed for all her life. Eventually, she is sent back home, and this is where the story really begins to gain some depth. The hysteria is beginning to sweep communities outside Salem, and Sarah's mother Martha becomes one of the accused.

Ms. Kent does a beautiful job telling the story of how Sarah finds her way back to her mother, and also shows what an amazingly strong role model Martha Carrier was to her children, and not to be tossed aside is the character of the father, a strong silent type with a very interesting mystery of his own, in addition to his deep and abiding love for his family. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this time period in our history, or who is interested in historical fiction. It is an easy read with fabulous visualization.

I was deeply interested in reading this book, as I too am a direct descendant of one of the nineteen "witches" hung in 1692. Susannah Martin. I am thankful Ms. Kent took the time to research the trials and paint a picture for us of everything from everyday hardscrabble life on the farms to the horrendous conditions of life in the jail.

Tornadoes and Ike and Vacations

Hello friends, I'm back from my little vacation, relaxed and ready to get serious in the next couple of weeks with and about the whole idea of this little out of state moving adventure that is actually happening in less than two weeks. Because... we close on our new house in two weeks, so we will be leaving KC in a little less than that amount of time. Dawned on me today what a short span that really is. So, deep breath Mel! Eeek... You guys I'm actually getting a little bit exited!

Photos of Tornado sightings in KC area 09/12/08

So much happened in the world while I was away. The night I left, Ike was just rolling into the Gulf. Somehow, here in Kansas City area we had a batch of late season Tornadoes form making my travel a bit hectic. The skies were dark and bleak and rain was pouring down when I drove to the airport, but once there the board showed that the flight was still on time. But, when the plane still hadn't arrived twenty minutes before we were due to take off it seemed we would be getting a late start. I kept thinking to myself, okay not such a big deal I'm a midwestern girl, tornadoes, dark skies, thunder and lightning are not really a new or particularly frightening event, you know, as long as you are not in a plane. I'll just be a few minutes late getting in. The plane arrived and while we were waiting in the passenger holding area it became pretty apparent that there may be bigger trouble brewing when the TV's were all showing tornado warnings in the area. They went ahead and began loading the plane anyway. I was in the first loading group, so I got on stowed my carry on buckled up etc., when the captain came on shortly afterwards and said that we needed to leave everything on the plane and get off quickly. They had evacuated the tower, a tornado had been spotted a couple of miles away and they were herding everyone in the airport into the underground tunnels. So, off we went. Into the tunnels for half an hour until the all clear and then back out and had to go through security again. (If you have ever traveled through the Kansas City airport you will understand this.) Getting back through security, even in little Kansas City was very hectic at this point. Everyone in the terminal had to go back through. Some folks who had been on our plane had left ID on the plane. Anyway, to make a long story short, it turned out fine. I arrived at my destination two hours late but just fine with a big story to tell. The ironic thing about it was that my sister traveling from Dallas the next day, dodging hurricane Ike was lucky enough to have her flight leave on time. Sometimes I just think WTF.

My dear friend Ann ran a half Marathon in St. Charles, Missouri on the 14th. By that time, the storm had blown all the way up and over Missouri and was pounding the St. Louis area. She sent me this as an example of what they dealt with that day:



I don't know who took the video, but as an example... those folks who ran with Ike certainly are troopers! Ann will be running the New York Marathon in the next couple of months and I wish for her better weather!

My week away, aside from weather events and worry over the stock market and the state of the country's economy, was FANTASTIC. I hugged on my family, laughed with my sisters, shopped and went to movies and visited lions and met nice people and even scrubbed my nephew's toilet. THAT, my friends, is a one time thing, done in the spirit of helping him set up his new apartment. :-) Now I'm happy to be home with my best dog ever. Seeing my kid this weekend, and my hubby. Life is good.

Vacation Vacation Vacation!

Ever typed a word and it looked odd? Like it is not spelled right? I just had that odd feeling as I typed the word Vacation up there in the title, so I typed it again and again to make sure. So, yep. Vacation is the word of the day. I'm headed out today in the rain, to the airport, to hop on a plane that will take me jetting off to see my family in Alabama. My sister who lives in Dallas is joining me there tomorrow... providing Ike doesn't prevent her from leaving. We are going to have the original Paris Fab Five together for 5 whole days. Big plans include Dallas sister and I setting up her son's apartment, as he now lives in 'bama for college. Relaxing with the folks, lunches with the Alabama sister during her lunch hour at the University where she teaches, hugging the nephews and passing along a Whazzuup to the cousins from my son Trey. There will be no lounging on beaches, no sipping umbrella cocktails, no moonlight cruises. Just good old fashioned family time... exactly what a person needs in a time of stress. I'm nothing if not stressed, so perhaps this time will do me some good. I just want to feel wrapped in the warmth of my family. Listen to the wisdom of my Daddy. Take care of my mom who hasn't been feeling well, laugh with my sisters and brother in law. Wish Hero and the kid were going along too, but they will have to wait until next time. During the holidays, where the celebrating reaches a fevered pitch and people go home feeling as if they've been to a carnival with too much cotton candy. But that will be a story for another time...

I'm not taking my computer along on this trip, as I have a bum shoulder and it is something else to carry that makes me hurt. I will try to post as I can, but if I can't I will miss y'all! See ya next Friday-ish!

Of Miscellany and Love

This is the longest space of time I've taken off from blogging since I started doing this. Nope, not getting lazy, have been working on a project. Well, have been a little lazy because I do like to take the occasional nap and have been taking more of them lately as if my body is telling me to store up the energy for the weeks, months ahead. Silly body, we all know you can't store energy in that way. You can't reason with your health. It does what it wants. Mine likes to actually scream at me, I do what I want, FOOL! Now lay down and nap, or I will knock your ass down and you will nap for a week. Whatever. Not really what I set out to talk about here... oh me with the stream of consciousness crap. My mind is all over the place lately.



What I really wanted to talk about is I have a proper timeline to work with for my move. Our movers show up to pack us on the 29th and 30th of this month. I am pretty damn sure that is why my head is all over the place. Now that I have a concrete date, I know exactly what I am dealing with. It really is a good thing, whereas before it was just some vague I know it is happening later in the month kind of thing, now it is oh shit now I need to gather up some papers and make some phone calls about the utilities, and find the roof warranty for the new owners etc. The kind of thing I tend to put off unless I'm on a deadline. I'm on a deadline, now it will get done. Easy. I used to be great at this sort of thing when I was working. Pretty sure those skills will come back, not like this is negotiating a contract or anything. Its just stuff. Moving on.

Excuse the mushiness that follows...

My hero feels neglected, as I haven't spoken about him recently on the blog. My apologies Hero. Don't you even think I've forgotten your heroism of a couple weeks ago when you flew in with your cape on and saved me from myself. Or, how you are my best friend and you are forever patient with me. I love you for all of those things. You are in my heart. You are my favorite husband because you finish my sentences and think my thoughts, among many other things. This stupid moving imposed separation will be coming to an end soon, hopefully both of us will feel less neglected... of course we will. The days are ticking down now. I'll find a countdown ticker for you.

Do Dogs Have Wisdom Teeth and Other Nonsense

Google. God love Google. Hell, I know I love Google, I couldn't live a day without it. What did I ever EVER do for info before that came along? I'm thinking. (Shush it anyone about to make a joke. I was told earlier today that, in fact, I am a bright one. I have to think Google has something to do with it.) As I was saying, wondering really, if there are websites or perhaps blogs out there who have had a laugh or two at my expense just as I have had a playful giggle or two at the expense of a few nice (I'm sure they are VERY nice with a good sense of humor) folks who have stumbled on my blog by Googling something completely unrelated and ended up with me... in all my uninformative, neurotic, anxious glory. Here are a few of my favorite Google searches that brought readers to my sight. The best part is, a couple of these folks actually stayed and read several pages. Thanks!

1. Dog Wisdom Teeth I love this one. Do dogs have wisdom teeth? By the way, this blog turned up #6 out of a possible 433,000 results. The relevant link was my post about my son's wisdom teeth coming out on Aug. 6. He's no dog.

2. Thank Goodness for Baby Boys Easy. I wrote a post with almost the same title on Aug. 7. Right on! I scored a #1 out of a possible 330,000 results.

3. I love feeling manic Me too, dude. Me too. I think I had written a post entitled Feeling Manic on Monday on August 18. Again, a #1 score out of 2,440,000. This is not a game, but I'm a lilttle competitive and like the numbers. Quite honestly, I don't even know what they mean.

4. Goodbye my part time lover hello my new best friend What the hell. Really? This from Sept. 2. I'm thinking it was a combo of the title of my blog and the word "friend" in the content of the post that scored me a #1 spot out of a possible 2,700,000. Yeah, I know. Not a game. I just like being #1 at something even if its just a silly search result. Heh, I'm pathetic! High five me anyway. C'mon.

5. Why is Spam bad? Why is spam NOT bad. Exept THIS Spam, which I wrote about and posted this video of on June 30.

New Life, New Look...

I'm rushing things by taking on a whole new look with the blog today. I had planned that for next month, but today I was feeling crafty, creative, and let me just be honest. My time is limited this month. It is a busy September, and the clock is ticking away. In a week's time I will be in Alabama with my family for a much needed visit. After that, there will be a whirlwind of visits with friends which saddens me, and then the mundane necessary things one has to do to pack up and move away. So mundane, they hardly need outlining here. So, instead of adding a countdown clock to my growing list of gadgets, I went with the photo of the clock. You like?

In other news. Today I forced my sorry ass to shower and dress and even put on some mascara and lip gloss and drove myself to a little shopping mecca I like. A little retail therapy never fails to cheer. Never. Never ever. This was a useful trip, I told myself. I bought books with a gift card... FREE.

Next I headed over to TJ Maxx to purchase a shower curtain, liner and rugs for the new guest bath at the new house. New house has a silly wallpaper border in blue and white. Being on a budget, I'm working with it. Fabric is very similar to this:

I also bought two buttery yellow chenille bath rugs, and some rings for the shower curtain and I'm calling it good.

Next stop Kohl's, where I purchased a deeply discounted comforter set in sage. Again, the one we are currently using will not work in the new master. The new one will get us by. I'm happy.

New decor for the blog, some new duds for the new house to put out when we arrive. New books to make me laugh.

This is my little story to tell you that my mundane little day made me happy. I hope yours did too.

Totally Random Tuesday **UPDATE!**

Hi, I'm back from a one day blogging vacay. A self imposed rest from words and thoughts. One would think, one who knows me well anyway, I would have an awful lot of crap just lined up in my brain waiting patiently to spill out. Or, more likely, a lot of words just jumbled up in there ready to squeeze through the door all at the same time when someone yells "GO!" and automatically, not so brilliant works of prose would start spilling out of me. Hmmm. Not so much today. Eh, what the hell. It is what it is? Hmph.

So, I'm not witty today, and not feeling particularly anxious (um, thank GOD because this is NEW), I'm just here... privos on the coffee table laptop in hand chattin' it up with my peeps about nothin' in particular. Anybody want something to drink? How about some nice iced tea? Water, G2? Doctor Dog? (Hero that offer was for you.) Okay. So dang... aren't there a lot of world events going on? I don't want to ignore our friends in the hurricane ravaged coastal south. My own family is in Alabama. The hugeness of the last few days events are not lost on me. Trust. And the RNC. Looks like its going to be a short week for them. And what is up with the anarchist protesters?

I visited my new friend Sandra Ann Miller over at RUAWAKE this afternoon and read her latest post entitled Palin in Comparison. Sandra makes me laugh out loud and this post made me think too. I'm also wondering if this is the image I want my Veep to portray. Check out Sandra's page to view it and read her entry. My thoughts on the photo are wide and include the words Ozark trailer park. Sorry if I offend.

Sandra emailed me this morning (9/3/08) and let me know she had just found out the photo she displayed on her post was not actually Ms. Palin. Thanks for the heads up Sandra! So, I feel even more comfortable now in my judgement of that photo... not having to feel some kind of wierd misplaced respect for a Governor and Vice Presidential candidate and all that B.S. I firmly stand by behind my first opinion of the photo. Ozark Trailer Park. Ellie May and Jethro. Standing by the CEEEEment Pond. Ellie's shootin' some vittles.

As a disclaimer... I typically vote republican. This year, I'm at a loss. Obviously the choice for VP has me baffled. This is not a political blog, and I normally don't discuss my politics... its like tattoos and piercings and religion. A choice. But sometimes something is so titillating I can't pass on bringing it up. I'm so flawed its not even funny. Gawd.

Changing the subject entirely to something new. As everyone who reads this blog on a regular basis knows, Hero and I are relocating to the Chicago area soon. We have been going through considerable stress with the sale of our home, or rather coming to terms with the new buyers over some things. Today I am pleased to announce... dum dum dum dum... it is finished. Our buyer situation is settled. Now, we just need to finish up some negotiations with the house we are purchasing in Greater Chicago and we will be good to go. We will be moving the end of September / beginning of October. So, cheers everyone!

Hopefully, y'all can look forward to me being in a better mood for a while. Though I will NOT make any promises to that effect. I am the original mood swinger. Well, not a swinger like with the keys in a bowl kind of swinger but oh you know what I mean. Jeez.