October 2005 Archives

Damn it has been an expensive month. Oral surgery, 2 weddings, 1 car battery, a trip to Deep Creek Lake and now more car problems. I don't yet know what is wrong with the car but I am sure it is going to expensive. Even with all this I am thanking my luck stars. Riding with the tow truck driver last night, we discussed his experiences as a repo man. I got a chill remembering a time in my early twenties when everytime I walked out get in my car, I crossed my fingers and prayed it was still there.

The stress that come with financial instability is the worst I have ever experienced. I am glad to have it behind me. Maybe growing up isn't so bad afterall.

I can't wait to blow off some steam this weekend. Tonight is going to be hectic with packing, laundering and shopping. Lord, we are taking a lot of stuff with us! In the midst of the To Do List swirling around in my head, I have a long list of things I am grateful for. Look for a portion of that list in upcoming posts.

Quote of the Day:
Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.
Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892), Song of the Open Road

Flounder and I had a tough evening. It started with Flounder waiting for me at the Metro Kiss and Ride. Once I arrived, he tried to start the car but it wouldn't turn over. The Battery was very dead. We just replaced the last Sunday, so needless to say we were not pleased and I was suspicious. We called AAA and waited. An hour and 1/2 later a guy shows up with only battery jumper even though we asked for a tow truck as well. We got the jump, and all seemed well. As we pull out of the metro station onto route 355 and the car just dies. No lights, no nothing, in the dark at 8:00 pm. Shit Monkey! I scurried back to the station for flares while Flounder called 911 and stood by the road trying to wave people away from the car. On my way back I watched a car rear-end a SUV because they were trying to stop short after seeing our car. We light the flares, police showed up, we got a tow and Mi Mama picked us up at the garage. Mark my word -- alternator. We weren't hurt, Thank God, but I would really rather not hang out on 355 again anytime soon. Considering the ordeal we are in surprisingly good spirits.

In other news, I got my first ever flu shot today. I want to save all my down time in 2006 for the honeymoon don't you know!

Deep Creek Lake, here I come!

Ms. Lugnochro said: I ask you to tell me about your actual Birth Day. Talk to your mothers, find out what actually transpired on your day of birth. I'm feeling flexible, so feel free to write a short piece of fiction from her perspective if your prefer. Or if both ot these options grate you the wrong way, how about your goals for the dwindling time you have left in your twenties?

The moment I was born my mother was young, single, and exhausted. She labored with me for an astounding 32 hours or some similarly amazing amount of time. Despite the fact that my conception was not planned, I always knew that I was loved and wanted. She guided me down the path of my early years using the "do as I say, not as I do" school of instruction. I took the lessons to heart. No unprotected sex. No smoking. Check. Somehow her best intentions payed off and I made totally original mistakes that didn't resemble her own.

Now I am 5 years older than my Mom when I was born. I am happy, healthy and financially stable. Despite the act that my wedding is still 6 months away, if I found myself pregnant tomorrow, I would be totally ok with that. I no longer feel like I live in the shadow of my mother's mistake and there is a great freedom in that.

For other takes on this topic see:
Write Again Soon
Bad Apologies
A Prize In Every Box
Post No Bills
Lugnochro

I had a terrific weekend in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The wedding Flounder and I attended was enchanting and big fun. We had a few misadventures due to wet weather and a dead battery, but like the troopers we are, Flounder and I perservered.

The most exciting development of the weekend was a fantastic deal on shoes at the Lancaster outlet mall. I bought 2 pairs of shoes; 1 pair of black work loafers and 1 pair of black snake skin (leather of course!) dress heels. I purchased both pair for half off the their already discounted outlet price, totalling $55! How cool is that? I sware I think I developed a momentary shopping high at the register. Retail therapy indeed!

I am also happy to report that my mouth is much improved, and the oral surgeon very pleased with my progress. I am now using only Advil for the pain. Whoo hoo I can drive again!

This coming week will be as busy as the last few. I will not be say to see the wacky October come to an end next week.

Quote of the Day:
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
Walt Disney

From Ms. Write Again Soon:This week's topic was supposed to be posted by Mr. Bad Apologies, but no one has heard from him in several days. Speculate on what is keeping him so busy that he can't fulfill basic tasks. Incorporate things that he has written about, and link to his past blog entries whenever possible.

Instead of scrolling through Mr. BA's blog to explain his absence I am going to discuss why I believe his personality makes it challenging for him to blog regularly. I have been friends with those listed below in the WEbring for a long time. Long ago I realized that Mr. BA and I have very different priorities and perspectives when it comes to time and how we use it.

We were 17 years old, spending the evening doing projects in Mr. BA's teenage bedroom. Such evenings were usually spent each of us working on separate things, occasionally checking in on one anothers progress. I don't remember exactly how it happened (perhaps he was yet again trying to organize his mountains of things) but Mr. BA pulled out a book called If. If was a book of questions meant to probe a persons inner thoughts and motivations. He and I subsequently spent several hours pouring through the book quizing each other with question after question. The one that stands out in my mind is this one: "If you could live without sleep, would you want to?"

My answer was no. I had a very hard time imagining what I would do with that time. It sounded like a very boring, lonely and issolating idea to my 17 year old self. Mr. BA loved the idea. His mind raced with all the ways he could use those extra hours. The choices were endless. The tasks he could accomplish! The people he could meet! He actually became a little disappointed when he realized that a sleepless existance was not possible for him.

It might look like a small difference, but it's bigger than it seems. Mr. BA is almost always going to pack his life as tightly with activity and new experiences as possible. Though he enjoys contemplation from time to time, his "doing" time greatly overshadows his "sorting" time. Blogging falls under the catagory of "sorting." This is why he will never have an uptodate blog. I have accepted this reality.

Mr. BA? Am I wrong?

For other takes on this topic see:
Write Again Soon
Bad Apologies
A Prize In Every Box
A Little Maryment
Post No Bills
Lugnochro

The last few weeks have been interesting, challenging and painful.

As you know last week I had some grueling oral surgery and I am still taking narcotics for the resulting pain. I have a check up with the surgeon this afternoon. Considering how much pain I have been in over the last week, I am preparing for the worst. I have a feeling I am not healing well.

Book Club? I was supposed to be reading a book? This is one of my social responsibilities that fell through the cracks. The worst part is I picked out the book for this month. *sigh*

Yesterday I turned in Paper #2 for my English class. Now that I am free of that heinous assignment, I can stare down my substanstial To Do list. So many things to organize and clean. So many people to call.

Yesterday I also received the grade for me first paper...drum roll please...I got an A! 92 out of 100. A special "thank you" to Maryment and Flounder who read and edited the paper for me. :)

Work has been crazy recently. Old people have left, new people have started and everyone's work is up in the air. The atmosphere has been very pleasant, if hectic. My department has nearly doubled in size; in a matter of months going from 35 to 60 people. Most of the new staff work in other office and I haven't the slightest idea what a third of these people do. As often seems to be the case, the amount of work seems to be expanding to fill plates of the entire team. With holiday cards and budgeting, end of the year looks to be just as busy as the beginning.

This weekend Flounder and I are headed back to PA for his best friend's wedding. I am expecting to have a wonderful time at this event, but at this point I am most looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday morning. I hope the hotel bed is up to snuff.

I am really setting my sights on our Deep Creek Lake trip next weekend. Ah, the turning leaves. Ah, the crisp fall air. Ah, the bubbling hot tub. Ah, sitting around with friends! Bliss.

Quote of the Day:
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it. Beyond the pairs of opposites of which the world consists, other, new insights begin."
-Hermann Hesse

I am really beat. Pain and Vicadin really take it out of a girl.

I had oral surgery Friday which was a scary, violent experience. The proceedure itself was pretty horrifying. I am happy to say the staff and doctor were terrific and kind, and the office was clean and nice. The team (there were 4 people in the room during the event) did a good job or numbing the pain. It was witnessing the whole event that was disturbing. Next time I really want to be knocked out.

I was waiting at the pharmacy for the world slowest pharmacist to fill my prescriptions when numbness began to wearoff. Boy did the pain really kicked in. I was lucky that Mi Mama was avavilable to come to my rescue. The Vicadin wasn't kicking in quickly enough and I was too emotional to remember the instructions. Within 30 minutes Mi Mama had me properly medicated and capable of speaking without bursting into tears. Thank God for Mom!

From there on in I was OK, as long as I remained current with my meds.

Saturday was big fun with J. Wo, Flounder, Condorman and his new paramour B. We all attended the Maryland Renaissance Festival and had a delightful time. Flounder left the festival with a dashing pirate hat, J. Wo purchased a beautiful mask and I left with a lovely hat. Good times for all. Later in the evening Flounder and I accompanied J. Wo to Winterbrook Farm's Maize Maze. Flounder and I were pooped, so instead of following J. Wo and the group we were meeting into the maze, we enjoyed the excitement of the Pumpkin Cannon and headed home.

Today was far more restful even though the pain has increased. I am crossing my fingers that today will be the peak of the pain because I am going to have a long day at the office tomorrow.

Quote of the Day:
"The people who oppose your ideas are inevitably those who represent the established order that your ideas will upset."
-Anthony D'Angelo

Is the spate of rain finally coming to an end? I don't think I can take another couple of days worth of soggy grayness. Weather like is always reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time, one of my all time favorite children's books. I would happily trade the opportunity to reminisce for a clear blue sky. Wasn't it just a week ago I was crowing about the beautiful Fall weather? Oh, how I miss it.

I am greatly looking forward to fun times this Saturday. I have plans to visit both the Renaissance Festival (in costume of course) and a Maize Maze in ONE DAY! Two of my most favorite things! First I have to get through oral surgery tomorrow. I will be enduring Phase I of a multi-month process that will culminate in the installation of a new tooth implant. Phase I will include a tooth extraction and bone graft. Whoopee! I will probably spend Saturday high on codeine. Which could make me very fun! Flounder has promised to keep a close eye one me (no, I won't be driving) so that I don't endanger myself or others.

Standing between me and the drama of wandering around drugged and costumed this weekend is my current class assignment. I hate it so. Tonight the rough draft is due for the particularly heinous paper and I would truly rather have oral surgery than work on this paper. I have to finish getting my thoughts on paper today before class. *sigh*

Quote of the Day:
Sometimes it is harder to deprive oneself of a pain than of a pleasure.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tender is the Night

This week I picked the topic: In whatever writing style you feel moved to use (poetry, prose, list...) I want you to detail 5 thing you are (traits, titles or descriptions), 5 things you aren't, and 5 things you want to be.

I am:
1) Growing Up
2) Ready to get married
3) Smart (most of the time)
4) Easily distracted
5) Doing my best

I am not:
1) Well organized
2) Afraid of the future
3) Following my advice
4) Worrying about the past
5) Prepared for my Mom to die

I want to be:
1) Working a job I find fulfilling
2) A Mom
3) Physically healthy for many years to come
4) One who lives my beliefs
5) A trusted friend

For other takes on this topic see:
Write Again Soon
Bad Apologies
A Prize In Every Box
A Little Maryment
Post No Bills
Lugnochro

I don't usually play Chicken Little, but I am starting to get a little freaked out about all the natural disasters the human race is enduring at the moment.

First Hur icanes Katrina and Rita hitting the Gulf Coast.

Then Hurricane Stan and the mud slides that followed in Guatemala.

This weekend there was the 7.6-magnitude quake in South Asia, from central Afghanistan to western Bangladesh, killing at least 30,000 people.

Perhaps there aren't more disasters desieging us at the moment. Maybe I am just more aware of them than I used to be, but regardless, it's not a pretty picture.

Quote of the Day:
No one but Night, with tears on her dark face,
Watches beside me in this windy place.
~Edna St. Vincent Millay

Firstly the image above has been stolen from CNN. I am just trying to imagine the internal dialog of the little boy who is about to loose his passifer to the wily monkey.

Today's events with the future in-laws went really well. We hashed out a lot of details for the coming months. Thanksgiving and Christmas have been planned. We also settled on a rehersal dinner location -- That's Amore in Rockville. We even squezed in a very wet trip to Butler's Orchard to buy pumpkins.

Other than the above mentioned monkey hijinks, all is right with the world.

12 out of 15 of my classmates did not do their reading this week. You can imagine that our professor was not at all happy. I myself was wrapping up the reading minutes before class started. As it turned out, we even had a quick quiz on the reading. It worked to my benefit that the material was so fresh in my mind; I made a perfect score. Despite doing my reading at the last minute, I sware I did not slack off this week. My paper took up my time than I expected. Yes, I turned in my first paper of the semester. Even after some expert eyes looked it over, I was nervous turning it in. I was worried that I might not have hit all the nit-picky requirements the professor had in mind. Too late to worry any more about it now. I already have my next assignment. This time I am going to try to do as much work on it over the weekend as possible to avoid the nervous crunch time that has become Wednesday's lunch hour.

Tomorrow afternoon I am have a very exciting appointment with the oral surgeon. Ick. It is just a consultation on some future work but I am not looking forward to it. I am however looking forward to the fact that I will not be returning to work after said appointment. Instead I will be returning home and working on the house. The In-Laws are coming down from PA on Saturday and our domicle must be presentable. Flounder and I will be taking the Storybook Parents around town to the three possible rehersal dinner locations. I pray that they will pick one before the weekend is over. I seriously want to take this item of my wedding to do list.

Sunday, Flounder, Mi Mama and I are going to Gettysburg to tour some houses Mi Mama is interested in. She and Micah are still planning to move to PA. Is it possible that Pennsylvania is really the center of the Universe? OK, that's an exaggeration, but my life have been very Penn-centric lately. I feel like every one I know is moving to or from the state and we are attending two different weddings there this month. That's a whole lotta PA.

Is it a miracle? I have successfully pruned one of my houseplants, forced two cuttings from the original plant to grow roots and then transplanted the new plants in their own pots! 1 plant now = 3 plants! And they are all alive?!?! Has my plant killing spree finally come to an end? Stay turned for further news.

Quote of the Day:
Jayne Cobb: Shepherd Book once said to me, "If you can't do something smart, do something right."
- Serenity

This weeks assignment from Ms. Post No Bills:
Open up the nearest book or publication. Go to the middle of the book and select the sentence that comes at the top of the page. From this sentence, draft a very short bit of fiction, the zanier the better. I'm thinking no more than 100 words, but closer to 50.

Suddenly, the overhead light went on. Jane looked around at her brother standing with a finger on the light switch. "Dick, turn that damn, thing off. Do you want to let the whole town know were are here?" The lights flicked off leaving only their flashlights to illuminate the cramped pet store. It only took a moment for the store to erupt with the sound of 100 alarmed animals. Dogs cried, cats meowed and a parrot near the window loudly quoted Seinfeld. "Newman! Yadda, Yadda, Yadda!" it said. "Where is Spot?" Dick asked, "I just want to get out of here." Jane located Spot caged in the corner of the store. “I still can’t believe Father sold our dog! I swear I will eat all my peas for now on.”

For other takes on this topic see:
Write Again Soon
Bad Apologies
A Prize In Every Box
A Little Maryment
Post No Bills
Lugnochro

Would you believe I already have 90 jars of jam/perserves/butter for the wedding? I know, it's shocking news! I was very pleased when I did a count last night. I still want to try the Sweet Cider Apple Butter recipe I found. I also have some frozen blackberries that I need to make into jam and some frozen mango I am going to combine with pineapple for a tropical perserve. In the end I am going to shoot to have 150 or so jars ready before May. On the off chance that the seal was less than firm on a few of the jars I want to have more than enough to cover the wedding.

Quote of the Day:
The two things that matter the most to me: emotional resonance and rocket launchers. Party of Five, a brilliant show, and often made me cry uncontrollably, suffered ultimately from a lack of rocket launchers.
Joss Whedon