tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20877187876969018132024-03-13T07:51:45.989-07:00The Colloquial Times "I didn't live in the colloquial times."
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.comBlogger572125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-75077323725807610372018-02-07T15:09:00.000-08:002018-02-07T17:29:38.753-08:00I'm Married to a Nerdy Comedian, and I Love ItEarlier in January, I was out of town for work for a few days. Texted Jason just to check in. Now when I tell you I never know what I'm going to get when I talk to him, I mean it. He cracks me up on the daily. On that particular day, this was the conversation...<br />
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<strong>Jan 9th, 4:25pm</strong><br />
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Sonya: hey<br />
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Jason: Hi welcome to Jason 44.4<br />
What can I help you with today?<br />
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Sonya: haha<br />
Well, you can give me a doodle report.<br />
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Jason: I would be happy to user Sonya<br />
Would you like a written or visual report?<br />
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Sonya: Written is fine.<br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: The unit called "The Doodle" is currently experiencing what humans most typically call moping.<br />
She has not be allowed egress into the wilds beyond the home's perimeter, and is currently curled in a ball on the floor next to the tub sighing repeatedly.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: HAHA<br />
Cabin fever!!<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Our best estimates for mood recovery is 5 pm, coinciding with her feeding ritual.<br />
Unless user Sonya would like to order a treat ritual between now and then?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: Oh yes let's do that!<br />
A rainy day treat!<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Remote treat rituals are subject to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jsnpckns">$5</a> A.I. surcharge, do you wish to proceed?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: ummmmmm<br />
That seems steep<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: I am not programmed to negotiate system surcharges that accompany the Jason sub-routine.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: Fine. is that per treat or per treat time?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: That surcharge is per ritual, not lasting more than 2 minutes.</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: I'll pay it. She's worth it.
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Consent received.<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: dork hahaha<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Scheduling treat ritual for 4... 45<br />
Would you like to customize your treat with a hug or overly exuberant praise?</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written=""><em>(I got distracted and did not response immediately...)</em><br />
No response. Scheduling cold, heartless delivery of treat at 4:45 pm.<br />
Have a wonderful day user Sonya!<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: BWWHAHAa<br />
WAIT!<br />
I would like to customize with overly exuberant praise and some pets.<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Did you require something else?<br />
Remote treat ritual modification comes with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jsnpckns">$25</a> A.I. surcharge.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: GOOD LORD.<br />
Let's go with cold, heartless delivery.<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: The system will happily add your modification ...<br />
Very well user Sonya.<br />
Extended system engagement comes with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jsnpckns">$5</a> per minute surcharge. Would you like to remain logged in?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: um No?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason :Goodbye.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: This system is expensive. Did I sign an agreement for this?</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">
Jason:
Hello user Sonya, what can Jason 44.4 do for you today?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: hahahahaha<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: The system is pleased you are content user Sonya.<br />
Is there anything else the system can help you with today?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: You are a little scary good at this.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: I am programmed to perform 10^10 functions, and I excel at all of them.<br />
Would you like a task list?<br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: Well maybe not the WHOLE list.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Ambiguity while using the system comes with a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jsnpckns">$50</a> surcharge.<br />
Would you like to continue to be wishy washy?<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: ok, ok sheesh. Yes please give me a task list.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Preparing text delivery of task list. Estimated time for collation: 44.8 hours.<br />
Please hold.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: BWWWHAHAHAHA<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Please hold.<br />
Error. Spelling processor runtime error 0x9h4<br />
Rebooting.<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: hhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahah<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya: Did I get any packages<br />
</sonya:><br />
<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: I am sorry user Sonya, system queries cannot be fulfilled while the system is rebooting.<br />
Acceleration of the reboot time comes with an A.I. surcharge of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jsnpckns">$500</a>.<br />
</sonya:><br />
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Sonya:<br />
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</sonya:></div>
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<sonya: br="" fine="" is="" written="">Jason: Enjoy this screensaver while you wait.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS8sdIUMP3tWc4SabSPq8zd7Q4rzegbNNNDoJPUWaZOEkR5S7X5Ie3spZpLS84rddzqoTQhLWJexos-338KMZRSJa1VSUEIkdCsj-yAqmp8egLHyuvwehvWLIio_zK0JfUMH5bIcv8ls/s1600/IMG_1488+%25282%2529.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS8sdIUMP3tWc4SabSPq8zd7Q4rzegbNNNDoJPUWaZOEkR5S7X5Ie3spZpLS84rddzqoTQhLWJexos-338KMZRSJa1VSUEIkdCsj-yAqmp8egLHyuvwehvWLIio_zK0JfUMH5bIcv8ls/s320/IMG_1488+%25282%2529.JPG" /></a><br />
</sonya:></div>
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-8185241666307174072017-09-04T12:54:00.002-07:002017-09-04T12:54:57.125-07:00Byself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, ok?Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-89856661542908688832017-09-04T11:48:00.001-07:002017-09-04T13:07:12.493-07:00Art Day at Aunt Sonni'sToday Niece 1 and Niece 2 were joined by my new neighbor - we'll call him K6 (Kid 6. There are 7 just on my block. It's kidified.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRQP6IgWaL6WOoNlPnUigHVHVRJ7s_6ezEW0pvhZZO78aF7DO-mT4WEqXIea2eHuaN5zyLNsTejdvZHNA7U9BASUau_8tb4siAiHVoXcP7DuMkbFWHu0KmGZFuaYIEA9Xv5BPAJ0j-PU/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRQP6IgWaL6WOoNlPnUigHVHVRJ7s_6ezEW0pvhZZO78aF7DO-mT4WEqXIea2eHuaN5zyLNsTejdvZHNA7U9BASUau_8tb4siAiHVoXcP7DuMkbFWHu0KmGZFuaYIEA9Xv5BPAJ0j-PU/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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K6 is my new BFF. He loves to art like I do! He is constantly drawing, cutting, taping, coloring. I had to explain to him that he cannot use wooden pencils around me, but so far he is being accommodating haha. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QMSxZO18H4T-8Cw_RZloGdZ0q-bmvbtGaAT73jf6Ydw0uD9o8wckaETcAMYVTC5wGx64JeNiJWcJn2LpG_5T1lF4oOn3-xaiB46rzdXbcmItHVuXhUWo6h3GhVqE_LE9tfLQehQAeFQ/s1600/IMG_1315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QMSxZO18H4T-8Cw_RZloGdZ0q-bmvbtGaAT73jf6Ydw0uD9o8wckaETcAMYVTC5wGx64JeNiJWcJn2LpG_5T1lF4oOn3-xaiB46rzdXbcmItHVuXhUWo6h3GhVqE_LE9tfLQehQAeFQ/s320/IMG_1315.jpg" width="240" /></a>Saturday night his family was at my house for dinner, and he had fun plundering my studio. He found a little matchbox, and asked if he could have it. I said sure. He LOVES little tiny books and boxes and things. Before they left that evening, he had already decorated it, and started making some tiny art for it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrjhFBxEDRlgrQqf4sjR_Vd59ks8MdvwzqDq0_TnWIVm0Y-BDvXTnfSNVlVYBT6vh-WNmjHHd7cemjaEBlhygDS3vLjZrcKf0xuVHZEcFSav1antJlXPp8G9LlOVGSh5TbUsjxHlESjU/s1600/IMG_1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrjhFBxEDRlgrQqf4sjR_Vd59ks8MdvwzqDq0_TnWIVm0Y-BDvXTnfSNVlVYBT6vh-WNmjHHd7cemjaEBlhygDS3vLjZrcKf0xuVHZEcFSav1antJlXPp8G9LlOVGSh5TbUsjxHlESjU/s320/IMG_1310.jpg" width="240" /></a>By the time I went over to their house to play games Sunday afternoon, he had completely filled up his little box with the cutest art - both created and found. He had gotten his parents to set him up with his own "studio" - a table of his own, and he was super stoked to come to art with me again soon. <br />
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SO CUTE!!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPxnZfiobyhkSh3nZvze9j6XM_PjB8LjRI_yFRRDmhx2lX_cA9vHUmnM2deKaNbgbWwWMoTyyi0d9MID3-Qy3eJAKFaZcxUJInkzFUR1d7ihFpEf1LHyU-Ohj09oDO4fRl4nbvuME_eY/s1600/IMG_1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPxnZfiobyhkSh3nZvze9j6XM_PjB8LjRI_yFRRDmhx2lX_cA9vHUmnM2deKaNbgbWwWMoTyyi0d9MID3-Qy3eJAKFaZcxUJInkzFUR1d7ihFpEf1LHyU-Ohj09oDO4fRl4nbvuME_eY/s320/IMG_1318.JPG" width="240" /></a>So this morning, he came over and arted with the nieces. As usual, the arting was interspersed with snacks, 5 minutes of a movie, a few rounds of hide and seek, and finding treasures in the garden....(today was flowers that look exactly like butterflies! (Niece 2 informed her Mom it was ok for her to touch the wings - it would not fly away heehee.) But they still managed to make some cool shaving cream prints and paint some pics. <br />
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I missed having KayKay here for sure! She usually helps me keep the mess under control while we art. I did NOT do a good job of that since I like to art right along with them, but it's still totally worth it. I love the smiles and giggles and hugs. :)<br />
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And the tiny new pieces of art in my life!<br />
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<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-6001138264645751732017-06-17T08:05:00.000-07:002017-06-17T08:06:09.653-07:00Things I Learned from My Own Personal Daddy - DON'T BREAK THE MAGICIn January of 2010, I lost my Dad. I was 41. <br />
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Like many (most?) other girls in the world, my Dad and I sometimes had a tumultuous relationship. Ups, downs, sideways, and every other way in between. It wasn't until I was a little older and had some distance in my 20s that I really understood that his intentions were ALWAYS to help me be a better person. To guide me, to love me, to point me in the direction he thought I should be going, although we OFTEN struggled to understand each other. <br />
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I appreciate his INTENTIONS even more now than ever. <br />
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My Dad was a choir director for jr. high and high school kids at a public school in Mississippi, and at the church in which I grew up. He did the music. My Mom, also a music major, and at that time a piano teacher, children's church choir director, and choreographer of a dance line at the local community college, often accompanied the choir and choreographed and taught all the dances for my Dad's choirs. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqEFbJQoeocVciaccpJOCaTK6qzIVENnGiY-ENS4-9Op86_kGV6yfWwYxHz66l-iBN27ms5-GOAaVG5DbN4kjgyc25iZDe3Qt4HxLtI00rrC2JmRvanungD0N4hR5zOjgPTzZkOlTnDc/s1600/946419_10151663964931178_1405697238_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqEFbJQoeocVciaccpJOCaTK6qzIVENnGiY-ENS4-9Op86_kGV6yfWwYxHz66l-iBN27ms5-GOAaVG5DbN4kjgyc25iZDe3Qt4HxLtI00rrC2JmRvanungD0N4hR5zOjgPTzZkOlTnDc/s1600/946419_10151663964931178_1405697238_n.jpg" /></a>He started way back in 1970, at a time when Mississippi was still struggling with the results of integration. (not that we aren't still struggling, but that's a topic for another day). </div>
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I can tell you one thing 100% - my Daddy did not care if you were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, or violet. If he saw a spark in someone, he did anything he could do to foster that spark. He picked people up and dropped people off for rehearsal if they couldn't get there on their own. I have vivid memories of pick-up-truck beds full of kids going here or there to practice. (It was the 70's and 80's in the deep south. Yes, we rode in the back of pick-up-trucks. Put down your pitchforks. It was a different time.) He called parents to convince them to let their kids participate. In the days long before cellphones, I overheard many of those conversations as he stood at the phone in our kitchen. (Yes kids - we used to have phones ATTACHED TO THE WALL and you couldn't walk very far away because the cord was only so long.)</div>
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He raised money. He got sponsors for kids who couldn't afford to go on the choir trips. He hired kids to do jobs around our house to help them out. He advocated for them with teachers, coaches, and family. He made the kids participate in the fundraising too. I sold enough M&M boxes to fill a warehouse, and there were car washes and yard cleanups and I can't even remember what all else. </div>
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He did a lot of this work behind the scenes. Although in some ways he liked the limelight, he didn't like the spotlight. Know what I mean? He liked the stage, but didn't love it. He was so talented, but never really 100% confident in it. He had stage nerves big-time, often not helped by the fact that he waited until the day of a performance to learn the words to a song or lines in a play.....GEE I WONDER WHERE I GET MY PROCRASTINATION GENE?? ha!</div>
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His comfortable place to shine was behind the scenes. Making the phone calls. Building the sets. Promoting the kids. Pushing the kids to believe in themselves. He never stopped believing in the kids. </div>
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He was a mentor, advocate, and father figure to a LOT of kids over the years. I'm not gonna lie. Sometimes I was really, REALLY jealous of this, because I felt how much it took out of him. Sometimes it left us at home a little short, to be honest. It happens to the best people - when they invest so much of themselves in others. But that's why I call him MY OWN PERSONAL DADDY. He was a lot of things to a lot of people - but only My Daddy.</div>
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But BOY did he expect us kids to put in the work!! If we came in to rehearsal goofing around, talking, lazy, slow, tired....we would find ourselves quickly out the back door of the rehearsal room running laps on the school's football practice field. Oh and did I mention this was the deep south and the rehearsal room had no air conditioning and no windows? That is also a story for a different day....</div>
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I only got one paddling in school in 12 years - and it was from my Daddy. He paddled the entire choir - one lick each. We were talking outside before a performance and the people inside could hear us. He made me be first, because he said I should have known better than anyone to be quiet. hahahaha. </div>
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Dad expected THE BEST from his kids. ALL his kids. He took choirs all over the south, to Disney World, to competitions here and yon, to perform at the World's Fair (I was in that choir), and to perform all over Europe (I was too young to be in that choir.) He had just as much fun on those trips as the kids. He loved it. He loved giving kids opportunities to go places and see things they may not otherwise see. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
My Mom was right there with him, teaching us to spin and sway and kick and turn, until her own career as a middle school choir director and her work with the children and youth choirs at the church had her so busy he had to turn to professional dance teachers for help. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I learned many things from my Daddy, although some have taken me lots of years to realize and truly understand. Here are just a few that come to mind today - this day-before-Father's Day. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
1> Believe in people. They often are not capable of seeing the magic within themselves. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
2> If people have taken the effort and time out of their lives to come and see you in a play or a concert or anything else, DON'T BREAK THE MAGIC. Don't ripple the stage curtain when it's closed. Don't peak out to see who's in the audience. Don't make noise backstage. Let people believe you are who they think you are (if it's a good thing;P )</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
3> Be humble. Don't brag about your accomplishments, just work to accomplish more. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJaWE4Fo6Sz5v3dKs1HCRqPTGLM2UQZZpqNLDyjZQYX7EiIjPiGhU5F2tEEneirnWBGZoyrf1rdBUDDH3nqn25b8v9KGVgBioBTmQ5FWf6YdHpwA0BhBPxzxfkVuqTVGo7wEoFL8M8vk/s1600/10386755_10204158014928703_2334392514153314075_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJaWE4Fo6Sz5v3dKs1HCRqPTGLM2UQZZpqNLDyjZQYX7EiIjPiGhU5F2tEEneirnWBGZoyrf1rdBUDDH3nqn25b8v9KGVgBioBTmQ5FWf6YdHpwA0BhBPxzxfkVuqTVGo7wEoFL8M8vk/s400/10386755_10204158014928703_2334392514153314075_n.jpg" width="300" /></a>4> Light red, white, and blue smoke bombs in your back yard when you are feeling patriotic. LOVE AMERICA.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
5> READ. Read books. Read newspapers. Read every plaque on the side of the road and at every informational blurb at every museum or historical site or zoo </div>
you visit. NEVER STOP LEARNING and paying attention!!<br />
6> Go down roads you don't know. You never know what magic it may lead you to.<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
7> Laugh. He once said to me, "A person can make themselves miserable in Disney World." He meant BE HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE. BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED. Make the world around you - no matter how small that world is - a better place. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
As people do, we had both grown, matured and learned to communicate with each other better over the years. Our relationship in his last few years was very different than it was during my own tumultuous teens and 20's, and I'm so very thankful for that. We were in a good place when he left us, and I miss him. </div>
<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-16098235983192022092017-05-17T14:02:00.001-07:002017-05-17T14:26:10.972-07:00Niece2 Teaches her Dad to play a Variation of the Cups Game, Her Dad Videobombs Us with a Piece of Deer Sausage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgkl3LKV2jyjmvcwWUxxpl_brJHiXEOUXYGjxvZsniuqt9cfU0WrhYSmF04n2JDP1N5D2_SMZI5wKMwW_qRumtWdhVDBAkrT9_GnLdojcw4I2Z48uSYuMt0X7P9a2AdssCx0T4P-VgD8/s1600/eeeeeeee.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgkl3LKV2jyjmvcwWUxxpl_brJHiXEOUXYGjxvZsniuqt9cfU0WrhYSmF04n2JDP1N5D2_SMZI5wKMwW_qRumtWdhVDBAkrT9_GnLdojcw4I2Z48uSYuMt0X7P9a2AdssCx0T4P-VgD8/s320/eeeeeeee.PNG" width="182" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CLICK HERE ------>>><a href="https://youtu.be/TzyhpsubGm8" target="_blank">Link to video, since I can't seem to figure out how to get one to post here. </a></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-57479000878750198702017-04-27T10:29:00.003-07:002017-04-27T10:49:01.382-07:00My Murder Podcast Obsession
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFBZ17aeJJhdFRJjLXJqq0dw8ewGH1MLs6iiTeCDK-CGnpU8gVemcNHdj9zImGhco4SH2e0xvfUd4Ov4Tr8Z0NGAGiruFER8GzGWNNnesAJFbKIZ4aJt868B_s89pxOobiDC_EHRq5lg/s1600/5dea2bb0115b2f684275d737f772ef3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFBZ17aeJJhdFRJjLXJqq0dw8ewGH1MLs6iiTeCDK-CGnpU8gVemcNHdj9zImGhco4SH2e0xvfUd4Ov4Tr8Z0NGAGiruFER8GzGWNNnesAJFbKIZ4aJt868B_s89pxOobiDC_EHRq5lg/s1600/5dea2bb0115b2f684275d737f772ef3b.jpg" /></a></div>
If you know me, you know I'm convinced I am either going to get serial
killed or I was serial killed in a prior life. Their brains terrify and
fascinate me. From as far back as the 5th grade, I wanted to work
for the FBI and solve crimes. I read a ton. I watched every
documentary. When I was in college, I started out in engineering but
quickly changed to psychology because I wanted to work with the criminally
insane. Then I realized how much schooling that would take, and switched
to accounting. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Still, whenever I'm in a hotel, and the fire alarm goes off in the middle of
the night, my first thought is: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"a serial killer has pulled the fire alarm so we will leave our rooms
and he can ax murder us." Paranoid, probably, but then again, who knows?? <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fortunately, work-related training and assignments have allowed me to
explore a little more of the psychology of crime, perpetuating my fascination
with crazy criminals. Which leads us to my current obsession with
murder-related podcasts. A bunch of people have asked me which ones I
listen to, so here is a list of what I've listened to and some of what
I'm subscribed to right now: <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Serial – SEASON 1</i></b>
The podcast that started it all. About Adnan Syed – who was convicted of
murdering his ex-girlfriend in their senior year of high school. The story of
the investigation and trial is told here, with some pretty damn important info.
Still not a DEEP dive, but lays the groundwork for everything that is to come.
SO SO SO SHADY – and this poor boy has spent 18 years in jail for this.
During Serial, two other podcasts popped up. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Undisclosed – SEASON
1</i></b> Rabia Chaudry is the attorney/ family friend of the Syeds who
originally got Sarah Koenig, the developer for Serial, to do the story. She
decided at some point that there needed to be a deeper dive on all the
evidence, which she had been carrying around in her car and/or storing in her
basement all these years. She is joined by 2 other attorneys, and holy CRAP
they come up with some amazing evidence, along with:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Truth and Justice –
SEASON 1 </i></b>Bob Ruff started this podcast and has since quit his job as a
Fire Fighter to pursue it full time. There are crazy shady players, weird cell
phone ping issues, REALLY WEIRD lividity evidence ( I didn’t even know what
that was until these podcasts), a random STREAKER, falsified time sheets, an
attorney who goes nuts, prosecutors who LIE LIE LIE, and MUCH more!!…..it is
INSANE. During the course of their investigations, Bob, Rabia, and the 2
other attorneys (Susan Simpson and Colin Miller) on Undisclosed found evidence
mismanaged, missed, or falsified SO BAD they got Adnan’s conviction
overturned!!!! He is now awaiting either release or a new trial. Sorry for the
spoiler, but you need to know! This is happening right now! This means,
of course, that this is actually an UNSOLVED MURDER. But we pretty much know
who did it. P.S. – NOT ADNAN!!! Non-Adnan Syed podcasts::<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Undisclosed – SEASON
2 “The State Vs. Joey Watkins” </i></b> Another kid in jail for YEARS.
Convicted of a murder he seems highly unlikely to have committed. This one is
in process, and the team has already uncovered a LOT of shady stuff happening
with the apparent coercion of “witnesses” (there were none) by the DA. They
also keep us updated as things are happening with Adnan’s case.<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Truth and Justice –
SEASON 2 </i></b>OMG. I want to be Bob Ruff when I grow up. He has uncovered
some AMAZING stuff. This season, he started working on the case of a guy in
jail for a RIDICULOUS amount of time for armed robbery in Tyler, Texas. It has
evolved from there into a very deep investigation of the murder of a woman, and
the (again – teenage) boy who has ended up doing serious time for something it
does NOT seem he had anything to do with. Corruption in the Smith County, Texas
DA’s office appears to be really, really, really HORRENDOUS. He still hasn’t
given up on the case he started the season with, but it all ties together. I
will be very surprised if this guy’s conviction is not overturned – SOON – and
that means this is another UNSOLVED MURDER!! I also won’t be surprised if Bob
solves this one. He pretty much has solved the one in the Adnan case (not
“proven” yet – but the theory is sound). THEN, he got involved with the
Kerry Max Cook case. He stayed in jail for 20 years for a murder he didn’t
commit. Is now out. Murder is technically UNSOLVED, but Bob’s theory is SPOT
ON, and could result in Cook being declared “actually innocent”. (I think he
took an Alfred Plea once the state figured out they screwed up completely.) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Truth and Justice –
SEASON 3 </i></b>currently on-going. The story of the murder of Keow Gove, and
the shady, shady, shady case against the convicted (innocent probably) guy
sitting in jail for it. Still loving Bob. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><b>My Favorite Murder – </b></em>MY FAV! This one is hilarious. 2 girls
sit around and talk about 1 murder each. There are LOTS of F-Bombs, so if you
don’t like that, skip it. You will be missing out, though. This one makes me
laugh so much. They still talk about murders, some solved some unsolved. And
they are sweet and sad and kind when they talk about them. But otherwise, they
are wild and FUNNY. They end every podcast with STAY SEXY, DON'T
GET MURDERRRRED! I want to just go hang out with them. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Real Crime Profile – </i></b>These
2 people are retired FBI profilers, specialized in serial killings, domestic
abuse, slaking behavior. I first heard about them when they did some profiling/
analysis on the Adnan Syed case. Now they have their own podcast. They have
gone in to GREAT detail about some very well-known cases – OJ Simpson, Jon
Benet Ramsey, and now Amanda Knox. I didn’t think I would like it. Thought I
would be bored. But WOWZERS. They explain SO much more about the evidence and
behavioral profiles than I knew before. WELL worth the listen. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Vanished – </i></b>This
one is done by Marissa Jones. Paralegal by day, podcaster by night. Her voice
is soothing. The stories she features are ones I haven’t heard before -the much
less well known ones.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Last Podcast on the
Left – </i></b>This one is <u>hilarious</u> and I love it. They just recently
did a DEEP dive into L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology which was awesome. However,
if you are easily offended by language or raunchiness, this one is not for you.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Others I listed to religiously:<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sword and Scale</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Sight</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Once Upon a Crime</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Generation Why</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talking Crime</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thin Air Podcast</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Already Gone Podcast</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Trail Went Cold</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Casefile True Crime</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Unresolved
Podcast</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Up and Vanished</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thinking Sideways</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b> <br />
<br />
And yes, Jimmy, I finally started listening to S-Town last night, and I am
already totally HOOKED! <span>J</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-60492123560632845452017-03-25T19:29:00.003-07:002017-03-25T19:29:32.525-07:00S%@T I Did Not Buy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtPUONhyETpv_PTdjsHAHOHfXqxv4IEVotezjelaIhFSCRFa7m770NsJEFuTiB-hHO21N8UrVxg1lFCR64VmX9lZCZa2fMP8zeZu3eX0nI1y0AH7WZOEh4uzeOQ1WDLQtCaN9tfn2a3A/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtPUONhyETpv_PTdjsHAHOHfXqxv4IEVotezjelaIhFSCRFa7m770NsJEFuTiB-hHO21N8UrVxg1lFCR64VmX9lZCZa2fMP8zeZu3eX0nI1y0AH7WZOEh4uzeOQ1WDLQtCaN9tfn2a3A/s320/IMG_1280.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I know I will probably be showing my lack of worldliness and sophistication because I don't know the true translation of these words, but come on. <br />
<br />
<u>Gelees</u> already implies gelatin, one of the world's most disgusting substances.<i> ("Hey you know what I think would make an AWESOME desert? Boiled cows knees!") </i><br />
<br />
These people just go ahead and put it right out there. The truth, nothing but the truth.<br />
<br />
<u>Morbid Gelees</u>. Really?Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-17170214239971756382017-02-28T08:30:00.004-08:002017-03-07T12:04:13.028-08:00On My Phone Issue<div class="MsoNormal">
So it’s Mardi Gras day.
I’m in Rouse’s (a grocery store) looking for something yummy to take to
the Biloxi parade, where I will be with my Mom, brother, sis-in-law, Nieces 1
and 2, and the whole in-law clan. It
should be a fun day. I am marginally
excited (I mean, I am up early and in a grocery store, I’m as excited as I’m
gonna GET about that), and then…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to call my Mom to get her approval on what I’m
getting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to call.
CALL. On the phone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m standing there looking at the trays of mini muffulettas,
looking for the phone icon on my cellphone, which I have hidden from normal
view for reasons which will soon become evident. I see that my hands are shaking. As I look at my phone, a woman comes up and
grabs all but 1 of the muffuletta trays, so I panic and grab the last one, then
go back to trying to call Mom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could go to recent calls and just click that, but that is
a facetime, not a regular call. I don’t
want to facetime in the grocery store. I’m
not THAT girl. So, I figure out how to
call her. My anxiety at this point is
about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. She
answers, I say hey, she can’t hear me, we talk over each other. My anxiety is now a 6. OK now we can hear each other, so I start
telling her about the mini muffulettas, and then the call drops. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I’m at about an 8.
She immediately tries to call me back on facetime. I bite her head off (completely undeservedly)
and say I don’t want to facetime in the middle of the grocery. I’m sure she
thinks I’m just being bitchy, and I AM.
What I can’t explain is that I am now at a 9, and my brain has taken me
smack-dab back to September of 2005, sitting in a mildewy hotel conference call
surrounded by 10 or more phones RINGING OFF THE HOOK, and on the end of EVERY
one of those calls is a person with a story I am not equipped to hear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get the stuff at Rouse’s, all while reliving those calls
and stories in my head. I am thinking
about those calls at the checkout. I’m
thinking about those days after on the way home to my Mom’s cottage. I am thinking about the worst of those
stories. Seeing, in my head, the scenes
I can’t ever forget. Thinking about all
those people. All those animals…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t control it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get to Mom’s, and I’m down to about a 5. My hands are still shaking a little, but I
have done some serious soul-searching in the meantime and I have come to some
realizations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I’m an accountant, not a psychiatrist, but I
think this may be some legit form of PTSD.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->I very much feel like I don’t have any RIGHT to
have any form of PTSD. I didn’t lose anyone. I didn’t lose my house, my
business, my car, my school... I didn’t have to deal with insurance
companies. It only took me a few DAYS to
find out that everyone in my family was ok, not WEEKS. I feel like I don’t DESERVE the knot in my
stomach. I haven’t earned it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Then, I think about one of the youtube videos I
watched recently, I wish I could remember who, and her words came back to me…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
“I feel guilty for feeling this
way, but the fact of the matter is, this is still the worst thing that has ever
happened TO ME. So, I feel the way I feel."
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you know what?
She’s right. Yeah I’m going to
continue to feel horrible that I have any stress about the issue at all, but
the fact of the matter is this: I was in
a situation over which I had no control and I was woefully unequipped to
handle. Now, 11 years later, the
reminders always bring some certain level of stress. The vacant lots where
houses once stood (there is one directly across the street from my house) keep
my anxiety present, though at a low level.
But the phone. OMG the
phone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For weeks after the storm, I talked on the phone. For HOURS –
at least 8, sometimes 12, sometimes MORE- EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. To people who had lost everything. To the woman who climbed in her attic to
escape the flood and had to watch her 80-year-old mother drown. To the woman who was staying at a friend’s
house when someone else staying there committed suicide. To the man whose dog
died along with many others in the back of a semi-trailer full of pets being
evacuated when the air conditioning went out in the trailer and the driver didn’t
know. To the people who had lost their houses AND their jobs, and maybe did not know if everyone they loved were even alive. To people crying,
sad, panicked, terrified. Just terrified.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All day. Every day. And the phone connections were HORRID. Dropped calls constantly. Busy signals, busy signals, busy signals, CALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED, static.....static...<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was not equipped. I
broke out in hives from the stress and had to get steroid shots. I looked like I had the measles. That is the only time that has ever happened
to me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My job during those calls, as a Federal Financial
Institutions Examiner, was to get these people – these scared, devastated
people – to open their financial institution.
Sounds callous, right? But it
truly wasn’t – their members were also devastated and scared and needed access
to their money. We got that job done,
and I am still not ready to really talk about that part of it. The point is, people got to their money, we
tried to help in any way possible, and we did everything we could possibly
think of to do to ease the burden of what we were asking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again let me say - I am an ACCOUNTANT. Once, I had to take a personality test for
work. It ranked 50 personality traits. Empathy was one of the traits. It was number 49 on my list. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yes, I supposed that probably APPEARS true, but I think
it is actually a rebound result. I think
perhaps I have purposely suppressed my empathy as much as I possibly can in
order to just FUNCTION. It still peaks
through where I can’t control it. I can’t watch anything on TV where an animal
gets hurt. I can’t even watch
Bambi. It tears my HEART OUT and I can’t
take it. I can’t STAND to see anyone in actual physical pain, or even watch an
actor pretend to be in physical pain. Any scenes like that just play over and
over and over on a loop in my head until I feel like I’m losing my mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And as for actual, real-live people being in emotional pain? Well, I’ve just been able to pretty much
AVOID that my whole life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except for after Katrina, when I had no choice but to talk
to people and hear their stories and cry with them and be scared for them. It ripped my soul out, and still does. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day I was in a store with Mom and my friend
Shannon when the talk amongst the patrons and owners of the store turned to
Katrina. After just a few minutes, my
anxiety was at about a 6, and I just walked outside and removed myself from the
conversation. I can’t always do
that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point is this: My
lingering anxiety about this is real, I can’t control it. Yes, I still feel incredibly guilty for having
any anxiety about it at all, but there is it.
I was thrust in to a situation I was not equipped to handle, and I did
not handle it well. A ringing phone, a
bad connection, a dropped call, all bring it rushing back to me and deposit me
right back in to the hotel conference room. I can still hear the pain in those people’s
voices and see it in their eyes when I finally did get to meet with them. Yes,
they were work associates, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care deeply about
each and every one of them. And I still
do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And NO, none of us are “over it yet”. None of us ever will be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Call me a weenie, a wuss, over-emotional, whatever. You can do your part in keeping my anxiety
under control by 1> TEXT ME, for the LOVE OF GOD, just TEXT ME 2> Do not
say things like “aren’t y’all over that yet”, and 3> if you do see me
panicking on the phone, just pat me on the head and tell me it’s all going to
be ok. One of the positive lessons I
learned through this experience (and yes, there were many) is that a little bit
of compassion really DOES go a long way.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-23251673671819432092017-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:002017-02-07T10:11:59.129-08:00SIDNB Feb 2017And now for the return of everyone's favorite blog feature.....<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">S#*t I DID NOT BUY! </span></div>
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I am currently in Dallas helping proctor a test for work. Proctoring is a fancy word for "reading instructions out loud and making sure people don't cheat." It is only for two nights, and the hotel gift shop has red bull, so it's all good.<br />
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Last night my new friend OHR Lauren and I went took the hotel shuttle over to the Galleria Mall. (I know a lot of Laurens. This one shall be known as OHR Lauren, since she works in OHR.) We walked around for several hours. She turned me on to some new products at Sephora, we looked at all the super cute jewelry in Nordstrom and elsewhere, ate great pasta (believe it or not) at a restaurant where we could watch the little kids taking their ice skating lessons, and got free froyo at the yogurt shop because it was National Froyo Day or somesuch. It was pretty much an awesome, easy, fun evening. <br />
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In one of the little shops (I don't remember which one), I spotted a clearance room in the way back of the store. And in this clearance room, OHR Lauren spotted one of the best SIDNB's ever.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oJf6VfAvz7ttOz6eGvxukDEJHkwMvaTPKGFuLFpy-9TBXk7-QDulU4lGTMgrJYavg40Dt8YZcVYwOmpUqRkbgdLgw7-UGT_qJyC4UO_o7BsaCwUrN-zoP8npxdhsfT7uocLjf_N72gg/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oJf6VfAvz7ttOz6eGvxukDEJHkwMvaTPKGFuLFpy-9TBXk7-QDulU4lGTMgrJYavg40Dt8YZcVYwOmpUqRkbgdLgw7-UGT_qJyC4UO_o7BsaCwUrN-zoP8npxdhsfT7uocLjf_N72gg/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0GEya62HJ0HK0xOIhZj7DPsxtWbP_j7gEBD_jWgz5iL2LRHczyoxDoi9iOZ8-62tWC8duLZRYEksNSL-e85a04L25dkKrSsJhPFKaaFBCKRgHNmmLXZMCwg6E3IQZP6PwHbJLSzpF1s/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0GEya62HJ0HK0xOIhZj7DPsxtWbP_j7gEBD_jWgz5iL2LRHczyoxDoi9iOZ8-62tWC8duLZRYEksNSL-e85a04L25dkKrSsJhPFKaaFBCKRgHNmmLXZMCwg6E3IQZP6PwHbJLSzpF1s/s320/IMG_0921.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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That, my friends, is a spray painted tree branch, with sparkly bit stapled on the end. On clearance for $88.88. My mind boggles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLT8qt90WFJDMMI1Nf9PO4QLDgCv5CS1yy1nE2-l8nlra3gBIOPLrRNXpZfeGJU1Rl-6l_FMI9g2n0azO-RQ4f4TUh1ufhT0_QoeMFSVbn2awwjZYeAuH-Wyinqs3zDwZBoCGW4bN_WI/s1600/ddddddddd.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLT8qt90WFJDMMI1Nf9PO4QLDgCv5CS1yy1nE2-l8nlra3gBIOPLrRNXpZfeGJU1Rl-6l_FMI9g2n0azO-RQ4f4TUh1ufhT0_QoeMFSVbn2awwjZYeAuH-Wyinqs3zDwZBoCGW4bN_WI/s320/ddddddddd.PNG" width="237" /></a></div>
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While I'm at it, Here's another Thing I Did Not Buy at the airport: </div>
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WTH is "Real Fake Gum"???</div>
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Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-71540972843437103962017-01-30T12:16:00.001-08:002017-01-30T12:16:54.749-08:00WWJD?<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sunday 10:21pm</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">plenty big, comes in 22 colors</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.brylanehome.com/decor/Florence-Oversized-Cotton-Bedspread-Collection.aspx?PfId=16994&DeptId=15167&ProductTypeId=2&ppos=1&Splt=0&StyleNo=0004</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.jcpenney.com/blue-retro-chic-striped-bedspread-accessories/prod.jump?ppId=1d09dc5&catId=cat100330009&deptId=dept20000012&urlState=/g/king-quilts-bedspreads/N-bwo3wD1nqf4pZ1z141nw</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">I like the second one</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">yeah I kind of really like that one too</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.wards.com/Bed-and-Bath/Bedding/Comforters-Quilts-and-Bedspreads/zoey-stripe-chenille-bedspread.pro?fpi=148667&catCd=SI&prefixCode=SI</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Not so much</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">lolol</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.amazon.com/Chezmoi-Collection-Kingston-Oversized-Bedspread/dp/B00T3OQCCO/ref=pd_sbs_201_8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=96YTBP17C68SJTH0VJAA</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I like this best I think, and it's cheap enough to buy 2
to layer</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">We dont want 2 bedspreads</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">We want a bigger version of tge green knit one and a
bedspread</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">I like the second color of the stripe one or the grey</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Either one</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MAT1E5Y/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_7_w</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">K. Like sage better.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><u>Monday 1:01pm</u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Hi love</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Hey</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">heyyyyyyyyyyy</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Hows it goin</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">hey</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I miss you</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Hey hon, miss you too</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">I am trying to find good gel insoles</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">on amazon</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I am trying to find a bedspread</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">you don't like that striped one?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">meh</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I like it ok</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I just think it is too much</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">no?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">the one you showed me last was 100% polyester</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">which... the green one we have now is 100% cotton with
poly fill</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">k</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">so I dunno how it would feel</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">but is it 100 for the striped one?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">yeah cotton would be better</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">everything I like is too freakin short</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I'm back to the JC Penney one. all cotton</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">but I think I like the red one better. It's cheerier, and
it would layer with either of the ones we already have</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">link?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.jcpenney.com/blue-retro-chic-striped-bedspread-accessories/prod.jump?ppId=1d09dc5&catId=cat100330009&deptId=dept20000012&urlState=%2Fg%2Fking-quilts-bedspreads%2FN-bwo3wD1nqf4pZ1z141nw</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">so you don't like the neutral?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">I just worry the red isn't going to look good against all
that dark wood. we don't really have a lot of red anything.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">the quilt we already have with the birds on it has the
same colors as this - some read, some blue, brown, green, coral</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">the neutral one - oooo is that what you meant by the 2nd
one?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I could live with that</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">and yeah actually I think that would look better with the
sheets</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I didn't even really look at that one before</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">yes that is the one I meant by second. Sorry didn't
remember thename.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">it isn't cool like the blue/green one, but not as bright
as the red one</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">I see now</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">but if the red ones will make you happy, then get them.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">nah</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">now I like the neutral better haha</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> <later></later></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">hmmmm now I like red</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">how do you still love me</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">Jason</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: purple; font-size: 9pt;">I think to myself, "What would Jesus do"</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">Sonya</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;">omg you just almost made me spit protein shake all over
my computer in the middle of class.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2129; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-57393327954783935572017-01-27T17:56:00.001-08:002017-01-27T18:28:55.562-08:00No, Jason, You Cannot Just Draw BoobsMy spouse is ever suffering, ever tolerant of my whims, indecision, general scattered-ness, and lack of ability to complete a project. <br />
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Mostly. <br />
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There are a few things that drive him nuts, and he is usually really good at gently but firmly talking to me about them and helping me get back on track. <br />
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Example of his tolerance: There is still a giant pile of mulch in the driveway I promised to move to the backyard. I have stuck the stakes in the ground for the mulch holder, and that is where that project ended in oh.......November? I'm GONNA DO IT!!! I really am!!<br />
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Example of his intolerance: The empty frames in the living room. I blogged about them in 2013. YES 2013 SHEESH GET OFF MY BACK!!! <a href="http://thecolloquialtimes.blogspot.com/2013/03/yeahempty-frames.html">http://thecolloquialtimes.blogspot.com/2013/03/yeahempty-frames.html</a><br />
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They drive him nuts, but I pretty much don't even see them any more. I DO (really - I do) constantly look at pictures of frame galleries on pinterest and think about what I may want to do. But I can't commit. PART of the reason is that when I do think I may like something, I don't think he will, so I do nothing. <br />
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And then today, we had the following discussion on the FacePage (My Dad never could remember "Facebook". He called it "FacePage", or "MyFace", or perhaps the most accurate..."FalseFace")<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7pgjcWnaN4IqHdBReeEUh3_jKA_5kXdy0GjrvbRyLsR0fT8rXI1QcW1PddpTmfh0SdK2qki4ic60vrpWRGjL1P-nT-F7Z6qtB1A8y_7ygPIgSbwdMWGK1T5XM1vp6NFgtBpVBJRluFM/s1600/IMG_0896.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7pgjcWnaN4IqHdBReeEUh3_jKA_5kXdy0GjrvbRyLsR0fT8rXI1QcW1PddpTmfh0SdK2qki4ic60vrpWRGjL1P-nT-F7Z6qtB1A8y_7ygPIgSbwdMWGK1T5XM1vp6NFgtBpVBJRluFM/s640/IMG_0896.PNG" width="360" /></a></div>
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OK OK I'm going to fix this frame situation. ACTUALLY, I just last week hit the FRAME JACKPOT at American Thrift Store. I bought like 8 million frames - GOOD, solid wood frames WITH GLASS and mats, for $48. (Ok well 13 frames, not 8 million. Same thing.) </div>
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Now I just need to take them apart, paint them with the miraculous wonder that is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, put them back together, and figure out how to arrange them on the wall. THEN I will be ready to put something in them. </div>
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I mean, how long could that take? Like a day? I anticipate this whole wall art project will be done by the end of February at the latest. INCLUDING finding or making the art to go IN the frames. Who wants to take that bet?</div>
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<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-67315144183382643002017-01-10T20:27:00.000-08:002017-01-11T12:02:14.353-08:00TWITCH (not the amazing dancer who I love)<br />
There is a building in which I spent a lot of time. I will leave the name
and location of this building a secret, to protect the innocent. The building
is very nice. I love it. It is like home to me in many ways.<br />
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However. <br />
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One feature in this building makes my eyelid twitch a little. I point this
out to people often, but they generally just look at me like I need to find a
new hobby. <br />
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So please tell me, dear readers, would this not make you nuts?<br />
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Here's the situation.<br />
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The building has 4 elevators. Two on one side and two on the other, facing
each other:<br />
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On each side of each door, there are beautiful marble panels. So 4 panels
per side...<br />
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It's hard to get a good picture of the situation because the hallway is
narrow, but here's an actual photo:<br />
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Now in this particular example, you can sort of see that panels B and C (the
middle 2 panels) are mirror images of each other.What is harder to see, so you
will have to take my word for it, is that panels A and D (the outside panels)
are also mirror images of each other.</div>
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Makes perfect sense, right? It's pretty.I like it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3CQxIOOln64g1FAruVeUT3F1GRrZRB8t_GNsZRmzwr2xQQc5thuehQCNEjNIiY1C-t42YYhsOjrtZ-ZCfl4kiGs8R1EJxg15DD7v7phJahwLYVhdQpz1ZkTnX81kM2jsuABxidZzUMQ/s1600/2902021-_e2_97_81__e2_9c_88_say_what_now__r48iiaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3CQxIOOln64g1FAruVeUT3F1GRrZRB8t_GNsZRmzwr2xQQc5thuehQCNEjNIiY1C-t42YYhsOjrtZ-ZCfl4kiGs8R1EJxg15DD7v7phJahwLYVhdQpz1ZkTnX81kM2jsuABxidZzUMQ/s320/2902021-_e2_97_81__e2_9c_88_say_what_now__r48iiaa.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Problem
Part I:</b></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
On some floors, panels B and C match, and panels A and D match, as in the
photo above. On other floors, panels A and B match, and panels C and D match.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The fact that there are two different patterns at all makes
me twitch a little.I mean why? Why have 2 patterns?</div>
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</div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Problem Part II:</b></div>
<div align="center" style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(subtitle: </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">WHAT FRESH
HELL IS THIS?</span></i>)</b></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On
the 3rd floor, the panel pattern IS DIFFERENT ON EACH SIDE.</div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So
one side has the A-B, C-D pattern:</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnHoLC_aadS-kvoYNr2hWSYiO4Gew-u8NOtSSoaosYymPZYaJCu6cw0OXoDBnuX-vMnTF3AH2qZQh8HNOo5liuLUTP9LXi0EGPyNPwyk9JX65dBhF1-dDzWtrW07XfBAxhNVwjn2uWrA/s1600/vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnHoLC_aadS-kvoYNr2hWSYiO4Gew-u8NOtSSoaosYymPZYaJCu6cw0OXoDBnuX-vMnTF3AH2qZQh8HNOo5liuLUTP9LXi0EGPyNPwyk9JX65dBhF1-dDzWtrW07XfBAxhNVwjn2uWrA/s320/vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And the other side has the A-D, B-C pattern: </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-image: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAh7g1xwEG5SsQnrQf4-Azuy2Jy_c9HHZW3SB0fAzbFdzzyxi7EKXWlsKGHBycOAsMlFxpC3GfmkVzW_G4oC84GFgyEbC4pMKqK0ntp8IPyiI29WfYg-bzbW2ZIatxJJWVvJi7wNvPq0/s1600/vvvvvvvvvvvv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAh7g1xwEG5SsQnrQf4-Azuy2Jy_c9HHZW3SB0fAzbFdzzyxi7EKXWlsKGHBycOAsMlFxpC3GfmkVzW_G4oC84GFgyEbC4pMKqK0ntp8IPyiI29WfYg-bzbW2ZIatxJJWVvJi7wNvPq0/s320/vvvvvvvvvvvv.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2-eU1PVoCVjnh88LJuA5QG0_nM36lUuySJ5jy8TaoCOn-gSvmy2-heATwnzrWDefIQdEC-g7J4i4Vvzs1Psl4DxrnB3vCfHuow_4vebvtOeBwz-U472XR7ScyaPqT3tChc9nFm2gJSA/s1600/fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2-eU1PVoCVjnh88LJuA5QG0_nM36lUuySJ5jy8TaoCOn-gSvmy2-heATwnzrWDefIQdEC-g7J4i4Vvzs1Psl4DxrnB3vCfHuow_4vebvtOeBwz-U472XR7ScyaPqT3tChc9nFm2gJSA/s640/fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I KNOW, RIGHT?????</span></strong></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
WHO DOES THAT?!?!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And yes, I am well aware of the EXTREME category of "1st World
Problems" into which this falls. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Still makes me twitch.</div>
<div style="border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
WHO'S WITH ME????</div>
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</div>
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</div>
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-65197553316034396402016-12-15T15:04:00.002-08:002016-12-15T15:04:47.657-08:00Magic Belly Button Healing Wand<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNMZHpYgWmx3Ydj-Z1OKPYKnk1S3n-QYde1Z7IcRXykwIHROfJY8LzhOBqNSmTvr7NYiOBPKFWXz5D09oGrnE-CIzMhERNFsZVnZt6eEDgr8AqsMvXYi03SSOHLQgeHMASIsuziOugDo/s1600/bbbb.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNMZHpYgWmx3Ydj-Z1OKPYKnk1S3n-QYde1Z7IcRXykwIHROfJY8LzhOBqNSmTvr7NYiOBPKFWXz5D09oGrnE-CIzMhERNFsZVnZt6eEDgr8AqsMvXYi03SSOHLQgeHMASIsuziOugDo/s1600/bbbb.PNG" /></a>So.....I haven't blogged about it yet, but I have a new job! Since November 2015, actually. Same agency, but now I'm teaching in a classroom full time. This means I'm in Virginia a lot more than I used to be. So far - loving it!</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
BUT, as y'all know, I don't get out much. I am perfectly content to never leave the hotel. I'm trying to BREAK OUT OF MY SHELL and move my body more. So, two weeks ago my new coworker Amy and I went for a walk. On the way, we saw a Tai Chi place about a block from our hotel. Talked about how we had both always wanted to do it. We went in, talked to the instructor, and signed up for an introductory class a couple of days later.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
He was (and still is) super nice. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And then, we started getting texts. Texts of videos touting the amazingness of the MAGIC BELLY BUTTON HEALING WAND.</div>
<br /><br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
It cures diabetes and cancer and kidney disease and migraines and ebola!</div>
<br /><br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbaLyHj4uLA" target="_blank">Belly Button Wand Exercise Video</a> </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Y'all, I cannot make this stuff up. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
SO.....even though I was feeling a little uneasy about the torrent of belly button videos, I went to Tai Chi. The guy told us to get there 15 minutes early. Y'all know I am not capable of doing a single thing 15 minutes early, but I did get there about 5 minutes early. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Walked in, had to take my shoes off (my feet were stinky, too, because I just ran down to a store to pick up something for my BFF Dale before the store closed), and was sweetly escorted into the Tai Chi studio by the woman working there. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And there was Amy (who had dutifully arrived 15 minutes early), sitting on the floor watching a video and using the BELLY BUTTON HEALING WAND. I wanted to laugh/die of awkwardness, and then he told me to get one of the wands off the rack and sit down. OK AWKWARD. But Amy was a sport, so I decided I would be too. I did the wand. It was WEIRD, and made my belly button sore, and I only did it for 5 minutes. Amy did it for 15 minutes. Hers was sorer. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Then more people started coming in for class, and we did a great bit of stretching and then learned the first few moves of Tai Chi. The guy was very nice, very supportive, made us smile the whole time. I felt great from the stretching. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And really, he showed us this BELLY BUTTON HEALING WAND, and lots of videos about it, but never even once suggested we purchase one. I appreciated that, and it made me feel less weird.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
And who am I to say this thing doesn't work? I know that the next day, the problem I was having from EATING SO MUCH CHEESE at Thanksgiving the week before fully resolved itself. Was it all the coffee I was drinking? The stretching? OR THE MAGIC OF ANCIENT EASTERN MEDICINE? I don't know the answer. </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I'm still not fixin' to buy a BELLY BUTTON HEALING WAND, but I have sort of been tempted to poke myself in the stomach from time to time just to see what would happen.....</div>
<br /><br />
<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-34299644896587459832016-12-12T09:45:00.000-08:002016-12-12T09:45:05.488-08:00Brain Dump Part IIMore random stuff from this past 15 months:<br />
<br /><br />
Here is the start of a post I meant to write, and never got finished with. I have zero recollection of this dream!!!<br />
<br /><br />
"Last night I dreamed we had 16 giant rescues, some came to us packaged in little boxes about the size of a bar of soap. When you opened the box it unfolded itself very slowly and expanded into a dog about the size of a 6 month old puppy. And it would be very, very thirsty. We had found homes for 6 of the rescues so far."<br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5h2ejXJbHPJ-lmG_Sh54rSQrzzuwEPlnR3UhLhbUtrvk81MhmDx-pJFOONgO64831GJWz-YYwTdomlHJzqDqKpRQwMbu8QakHjIBUejJ7ZRG2lNYWBNTXsrBqcS1zcZS6ZB0sS0-QBQ/s1600/IMG_4599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5h2ejXJbHPJ-lmG_Sh54rSQrzzuwEPlnR3UhLhbUtrvk81MhmDx-pJFOONgO64831GJWz-YYwTdomlHJzqDqKpRQwMbu8QakHjIBUejJ7ZRG2lNYWBNTXsrBqcS1zcZS6ZB0sS0-QBQ/s320/IMG_4599.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made more advent boxes - these were for my Temporary Kids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj6u9ap1IFx2Wg1pPxN5UdXGxraPTMF1EhjokHxLSJ4Ze2MeSbwuRrIoVzDhAZNhbfiYaG0-3v11ZTpxmUUjpTWIEn3ruG8JlpTm6KmJrmNyP06rrJGnIbwD7s202592EcCtWx_xZnyQ/s1600/s1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSj6u9ap1IFx2Wg1pPxN5UdXGxraPTMF1EhjokHxLSJ4Ze2MeSbwuRrIoVzDhAZNhbfiYaG0-3v11ZTpxmUUjpTWIEn3ruG8JlpTm6KmJrmNyP06rrJGnIbwD7s202592EcCtWx_xZnyQ/s320/s1.PNG" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went to Niece 1 and Niece 2's Christmas programs (2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0cB0KaKPgIonL2cltBr5BktSXIlQRJjO3pUw95Rb1eM6VpvRP3uVFnJkpd6RuGTjI8LRNgJm3vtsKFbkDHeQAUTx5xQfIkI_YaVNgGheP9hsWCeBeo6pyIQA0vGXGrNelbEf7AHtT8c/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0cB0KaKPgIonL2cltBr5BktSXIlQRJjO3pUw95Rb1eM6VpvRP3uVFnJkpd6RuGTjI8LRNgJm3vtsKFbkDHeQAUTx5xQfIkI_YaVNgGheP9hsWCeBeo6pyIQA0vGXGrNelbEf7AHtT8c/s200/IMG_4712.JPG" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bought some art</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SrN_OSX5pk76NbmBjop59aX8XeSDThk8O4fYZZ01NYkhscP6pgb9eW1zZTYQhcNVv19wd_choHfI0n4oy9PZ-NDZUIDgwoRORVUSqoLj990Bkm0Xo_yqV6Ng0j0NSEVbOdviHQV9JWI/s1600/IMG_5741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SrN_OSX5pk76NbmBjop59aX8XeSDThk8O4fYZZ01NYkhscP6pgb9eW1zZTYQhcNVv19wd_choHfI0n4oy9PZ-NDZUIDgwoRORVUSqoLj990Bkm0Xo_yqV6Ng0j0NSEVbOdviHQV9JWI/s200/IMG_5741.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made some art out of shaving cream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF39bZXEPQiGfVWFvLy4HViPRBwRIfXrkPcGI-wE_fYoDYXGurLcG7NmeIw0GyeywbLRN9tzmAA9rqwn3_1yji8t9XJG1y1tZuZZ0TaIBtoOoUsaS66CpHVfQOpQ03UNrqz3KBUA55SgM/s1600/IMG_6686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF39bZXEPQiGfVWFvLy4HViPRBwRIfXrkPcGI-wE_fYoDYXGurLcG7NmeIw0GyeywbLRN9tzmAA9rqwn3_1yji8t9XJG1y1tZuZZ0TaIBtoOoUsaS66CpHVfQOpQ03UNrqz3KBUA55SgM/s200/IMG_6686.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made new friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8H0vc7ToC-uAr_SKddyNK2a-F8Y0ftEarfhpRQje3BJWhO1pI0wbAwWcvA85_PQ7EANWlC1yzqh8UMl2DdP0AIbmO4Ry2rwDq34VcHBXQ-K3Ibf-Q9asWE-c809YWcEqn2xrh3mIbW8/s1600/IMG_6525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8H0vc7ToC-uAr_SKddyNK2a-F8Y0ftEarfhpRQje3BJWhO1pI0wbAwWcvA85_PQ7EANWlC1yzqh8UMl2DdP0AIbmO4Ry2rwDq34VcHBXQ-K3Ibf-Q9asWE-c809YWcEqn2xrh3mIbW8/s200/IMG_6525.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ate figs off my tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQAKQ4WSa9MCP0yowld31cRLT341SID3e8-Y78hZH7v_Ls5tjmDrTmNie3QgbPA50EOgtQi75CxJQm0x1xTrGNfncST2ymd1mQuC8WLqzFQoIRKDehyAmZ3VNnfMTupZcya0DJ2-c29s/s1600/IMG_6217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQAKQ4WSa9MCP0yowld31cRLT341SID3e8-Y78hZH7v_Ls5tjmDrTmNie3QgbPA50EOgtQi75CxJQm0x1xTrGNfncST2ymd1mQuC8WLqzFQoIRKDehyAmZ3VNnfMTupZcya0DJ2-c29s/s320/IMG_6217.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made an EnMasse Journal - there is a video on the YouTube!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBZqS7T7iX7KLNCOeM07Spoj1JTV_yd3mecMDAci7SNDz8lSBqFss9rV7Mae3IHIhFX8acAKb6S2ILrYbtBtUkoQ7lwtPontKeiXBFMxnhmDMYw_StBKKSGH4b94pmgtCQl83AaefDSc/s1600/IMG_5833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBZqS7T7iX7KLNCOeM07Spoj1JTV_yd3mecMDAci7SNDz8lSBqFss9rV7Mae3IHIhFX8acAKb6S2ILrYbtBtUkoQ7lwtPontKeiXBFMxnhmDMYw_StBKKSGH4b94pmgtCQl83AaefDSc/s200/IMG_5833.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost, then found, then put a GPS locator in my brain (aka my planner)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-73331551578503629052016-12-12T03:30:00.000-08:002016-12-12T15:05:35.664-08:00The Things I Have To Put Up With (or: The Things Up With Which I Have to Put?)<div style="border-image: none;">
My Mother is the sweetest, kindest, Mommy in the world. Obvi. She is a little OCD about some things, including the "even-ness" of Christmas gifts to people of similar status (e.g. my husband, me, my brother, his wife). I guess most people are. It's cool, I get it. Right now, she needs hints to round out Jason's Christmas. I thought he wanted headphones, but now he says maybe not. I told him he needed to give me some hints to give Mom. Here is a selection of the oh-so-helpful things he sent me: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib92vUn7vL0REO-UDfgHwjYwKD6lIGzLsxuHd_lLy87hIIuJ8hjtC1IRSHoVMcRfBtSShQ6IjJWfOH_CrL0LJiQ2vDGTs0dP_0lge0pCHgYj2IXO-_NQyS_tvLmAtGXutvurl-uCamlU/s1600/poo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib92vUn7vL0REO-UDfgHwjYwKD6lIGzLsxuHd_lLy87hIIuJ8hjtC1IRSHoVMcRfBtSShQ6IjJWfOH_CrL0LJiQ2vDGTs0dP_0lge0pCHgYj2IXO-_NQyS_tvLmAtGXutvurl-uCamlU/s320/poo.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_YNnbifoqo31Alb60h4B2nqprpqeY_obk23D_vQ1QgePcrqgJVi-9QM308B38qc-eE43046Hm5HXjIfJsll7_V1JykJY9nbiAX0YO5Pg-yjMH8ggI3lp71l3HI7gzAxbpwLcKGvcYZg/s1600/pee.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_YNnbifoqo31Alb60h4B2nqprpqeY_obk23D_vQ1QgePcrqgJVi-9QM308B38qc-eE43046Hm5HXjIfJsll7_V1JykJY9nbiAX0YO5Pg-yjMH8ggI3lp71l3HI7gzAxbpwLcKGvcYZg/s320/pee.PNG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE3wYnMkLdyfVb8vT3Qkxn2o0glpNthmkZXIQhnVW2jMVBaOo5J-PjPlPAx75hE7xjKgNemJReCfKCuFhTNq20zn1gvBlX284umHKBTDcUMyQF3ZkYbDsRwW3wcS_M0soH3RzrU4Tco8/s1600/boo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE3wYnMkLdyfVb8vT3Qkxn2o0glpNthmkZXIQhnVW2jMVBaOo5J-PjPlPAx75hE7xjKgNemJReCfKCuFhTNq20zn1gvBlX284umHKBTDcUMyQF3ZkYbDsRwW3wcS_M0soH3RzrU4Tco8/s320/boo.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, yeah. In case you do not know my Mom, let me assure you these are NOT helpful hints. I don't think I have ever even heard her say the words "Pee" or "Poo". </div>
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She did, however, giggle a little when I shared them with her :) Much like she did when we forced her to watch Bad Santa. That whole movie went like this:</div>
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Mom: teehee teehee (very-quiet-trying-hard-to-suppress-it-giggle)</div>
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Mom: "THIS IS SO STUPID WHY DO YOU LIKE THIS??</div>
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Mom: teehee teehee (very-quiet-trying-hard-to-suppress-it-giggle)<br />
Mom: "THAT WAS THE DUMBEST THING EVER I CAN'T BELIEVE Y'ALL WATCH THAT"</div>
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She'd never in a million years admit she found any of this remotely amusing, but trust me there is a good sense of humor hidden under that Southern Belle shell :)Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-81700364154529761472016-12-05T20:14:00.001-08:002016-12-05T20:16:03.054-08:00It's My Party and I'll Blog if I Want ToAfter the year-long pressure of at LEAST 3 people, I have determined that I shall no longer selfishly hide my light from the world. Get ready, people, because I have a year's worth of nieces, schnauzers, trips, neurosis, gardening, drama, etc. to share. I've been saving up, but I just haven't been able to force myself to write anything. For... reasons. I don't feel like writing them, but there are some. But as the title of this post says, "IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL BLOG IF I WANT TO"!!! And honestly, I have missed it a lot. <br />
<br />
So I am going to stop pressuring myself to blog in chronological order, or to try to come up with some big explanation of why I took a year off.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing: <br />
<br />
I took a year off. Big whoop. <br />
<br />
Lately I'm in to brain dumps, so below this point you'll find what will be PART 1 of a several part "2015-2016 Brain Dump" (so.....more like a "Brain 72 Hour Vomit Virus" than a one-time dump), of whatever I feel like I want to share from this past 16 months. Holy CRAP 16 months?!?!?! <br />
<br />
Time flies when you are having fun and so forth. <br />
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In the words of the great and powerful Bloggess (all hail)...<br />
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"STUFF I DID WHEN I WASN'T HERE":</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbXZl1qjiFVZoF6SIqgBHeRg97bs-tErDdxHI0ixuBkZWi741liWLfiSlVu2E_BR7ANf2qge_xI4VpFZ5WJoGR1SdjF5PabAiLHJVWCYNJA8Cu6P3NHsvJfrDOeI6kb5XJDUi6Ntnpew/s1600/IMG_0344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbXZl1qjiFVZoF6SIqgBHeRg97bs-tErDdxHI0ixuBkZWi741liWLfiSlVu2E_BR7ANf2qge_xI4VpFZ5WJoGR1SdjF5PabAiLHJVWCYNJA8Cu6P3NHsvJfrDOeI6kb5XJDUi6Ntnpew/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Went on lots of walks to the beach</span></b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pSCGHNnUvDI4PRIv9asBvHEIOtgbQz4_jQRvPdi9b_8TP0719Gd-sjTSDYkZ24wZGGS6UUGHy9QzCexmyM1kUiuVKsArjcCXYibJECKsR2P_qFqNOft8yULvX9nCtF8Zn5ux64E_lU/s1600/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3pSCGHNnUvDI4PRIv9asBvHEIOtgbQz4_jQRvPdi9b_8TP0719Gd-sjTSDYkZ24wZGGS6UUGHy9QzCexmyM1kUiuVKsArjcCXYibJECKsR2P_qFqNOft8yULvX9nCtF8Zn5ux64E_lU/s320/IMG_0339.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lots of beach walks...really!</span></b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1E3Oo_at71IgmPN67CseSNQ5KSQRW-kqengcOxNgYcEPWIV9Vl3cA40v3GlnQ8M0bSnDsLEodymL1rjZSmZ8iSp3wxhpbiNFJIByXGswMZKkKN45ukWf6XrExf46wMYi55T3bjxQnWo/s1600/IMG_0298.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1E3Oo_at71IgmPN67CseSNQ5KSQRW-kqengcOxNgYcEPWIV9Vl3cA40v3GlnQ8M0bSnDsLEodymL1rjZSmZ8iSp3wxhpbiNFJIByXGswMZKkKN45ukWf6XrExf46wMYi55T3bjxQnWo/s320/IMG_0298.PNG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Saw a lot of plays</span></b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnpsKg6k2j-uQgZPKSXzDGeC5Hlqf5ObkmBeXs6GMYCMiuPYDFopohNZFAP0psVsKWs2QqAOJH_vfgJIN2Dch4_BT99KI4Larvg_571CSGSoXbv72SW4zmvgsl94TEmhbeYAzfeAmR7A/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnpsKg6k2j-uQgZPKSXzDGeC5Hlqf5ObkmBeXs6GMYCMiuPYDFopohNZFAP0psVsKWs2QqAOJH_vfgJIN2Dch4_BT99KI4Larvg_571CSGSoXbv72SW4zmvgsl94TEmhbeYAzfeAmR7A/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Witnessed a lot of beautiful skies over Alexandria, VA</b></span></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHwZUAG6VAiPDwK3Bg-yxnFJm7Mg-N7486o2ELvRbKW1hdA_eDIcZpw2cshm_oJ0HStaLPzUxyM66jDG6x8J6rKV7Y5pmaf_N0VD9v7dncJz42SMraz4eaFR-f8oyZq73JSgwO9QNSm0/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHwZUAG6VAiPDwK3Bg-yxnFJm7Mg-N7486o2ELvRbKW1hdA_eDIcZpw2cshm_oJ0HStaLPzUxyM66jDG6x8J6rKV7Y5pmaf_N0VD9v7dncJz42SMraz4eaFR-f8oyZq73JSgwO9QNSm0/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Fulfilled my life-long dream of having pink hair</b></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wP4U4LRKg79p1u_swai37DBMFMENql36sq3nDANfrUxKUqDh97y-Qo1e1ePXJIjToeOKWCfiVznhLf8b0w1aiziHN4es5jvz6gcQZ1O1cvnCkuwWl6o6gSQ7BNQZ6J_IaAVQ1v75a_E/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wP4U4LRKg79p1u_swai37DBMFMENql36sq3nDANfrUxKUqDh97y-Qo1e1ePXJIjToeOKWCfiVznhLf8b0w1aiziHN4es5jvz6gcQZ1O1cvnCkuwWl6o6gSQ7BNQZ6J_IaAVQ1v75a_E/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Got new glasses</span></b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxiWJAzN2xyLFMI_aiwzRd_FUnvTs_NXYZ88c9muTPYPWMbry4x4qyAASkpc5uJj9qLyEb9c3Y1KzVcsXSvZuQ6-1MYkFecYnMwgFn2ogt4r-20rVHfsnUQn3mCPNUC7mQfI6x7M_7GI/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxiWJAzN2xyLFMI_aiwzRd_FUnvTs_NXYZ88c9muTPYPWMbry4x4qyAASkpc5uJj9qLyEb9c3Y1KzVcsXSvZuQ6-1MYkFecYnMwgFn2ogt4r-20rVHfsnUQn3mCPNUC7mQfI6x7M_7GI/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Built a holder for my dirt</span></b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxqUZKO2x9vvq6eHzhGUC_3-cEGMS6FLemwnlrTn9ZONaivSKP7JdJXiC8R-uWpGVFIo-v1e6OlpsBK600LjDYZqvxz4SKBWhk7ljFM8axLPlLaEQ9yX7laJF9QRDDjuUlB91TDoHE9w/s1600/sorted+%25288506%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxqUZKO2x9vvq6eHzhGUC_3-cEGMS6FLemwnlrTn9ZONaivSKP7JdJXiC8R-uWpGVFIo-v1e6OlpsBK600LjDYZqvxz4SKBWhk7ljFM8axLPlLaEQ9yX7laJF9QRDDjuUlB91TDoHE9w/s320/sorted+%25288506%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Drug my significant other to the MUSES parade</b></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8RbZB9BG9GLj4UZ5StMqFnZVYb-aS_k7jMYyc4w_w6UrfC-Z1N5t0cqHaGjT7cWAhACS8AllmbtZl3LIYn1ivsboJksbw3rkzPGV63XweeMW4d26stJZFLHM6JaEd8Dr8BYo0faBluY/s1600/sorted+%25288733%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8RbZB9BG9GLj4UZ5StMqFnZVYb-aS_k7jMYyc4w_w6UrfC-Z1N5t0cqHaGjT7cWAhACS8AllmbtZl3LIYn1ivsboJksbw3rkzPGV63XweeMW4d26stJZFLHM6JaEd8Dr8BYo0faBluY/s320/sorted+%25288733%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Made some Christmas Countdown boxes</b></span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpQshyn1qYtrkl5N6pc8XehDfEIiFTlDQ3dJvO_v27SskmvKnZ8PRs-umFbqMABViD7l8TC5LfXHU_vvXsfpLgJg9l-etY9rx9m3AA0fnRFPHM0OPHNySRhl-yrJjizxjb57qUSokVL0/s1600/sorted+%25288973%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpQshyn1qYtrkl5N6pc8XehDfEIiFTlDQ3dJvO_v27SskmvKnZ8PRs-umFbqMABViD7l8TC5LfXHU_vvXsfpLgJg9l-etY9rx9m3AA0fnRFPHM0OPHNySRhl-yrJjizxjb57qUSokVL0/s320/sorted+%25288973%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Finally got some "WILD GEARS"</b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFSah2q6xq1znxrDLWQOhK6elHKIaQrlGtmij3mK2dRXLPfArs7NbrSbhkO0aiFi9Zf6FwfBjPewNFb36QsDowx9gtkqZh1yz9eqnbH8K-8jp516IytgkBlryokPalfTWXBGBOdPlIHM/s320/sorted+%25289022%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Went to an art camp for 6-12 year old as a camper</b></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFSah2q6xq1znxrDLWQOhK6elHKIaQrlGtmij3mK2dRXLPfArs7NbrSbhkO0aiFi9Zf6FwfBjPewNFb36QsDowx9gtkqZh1yz9eqnbH8K-8jp516IytgkBlryokPalfTWXBGBOdPlIHM/s1600/sorted+%25289022%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLfJzm2C1gYixWerkcWAftREGcFq8YKm5FB48yIcyNFugejttXNiLH4Dr76eWRfjDwpkEjWOvnwX3-hgXPj-AtyyfF8J9YQ6kiOTUHgx1jl1NRN3FcsPfm2iv1sNlG5EywUCa4yk6NI/s1600/sorted+%25289038%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nLfJzm2C1gYixWerkcWAftREGcFq8YKm5FB48yIcyNFugejttXNiLH4Dr76eWRfjDwpkEjWOvnwX3-hgXPj-AtyyfF8J9YQ6kiOTUHgx1jl1NRN3FcsPfm2iv1sNlG5EywUCa4yk6NI/s320/sorted+%25289038%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And of couse, continued to ART!</b></span></td></tr>
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<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-90445426486468536322015-08-22T09:49:00.001-07:002015-08-22T09:49:26.038-07:00GenuflectionJust noticed that the last time KES was over here and playing with my bric-a-brac, apparantly McCarty Bunny was crowned QUEEN and all schnauzers were forced to genuflect. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbghZBzaxpjUxr1gJgxN1n8TfdOLFlRkmVBE4G3RovqwnGSMajyVGmM7_bu1Je3-FQOTL20uPscO1Av3XIvfMHBdE9BT6iLmHAIO78kjvEXiYTH7jrnGrgv76fNvDYENVjmpOXTX_Ziw/s640/blogger-image--1722934374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbghZBzaxpjUxr1gJgxN1n8TfdOLFlRkmVBE4G3RovqwnGSMajyVGmM7_bu1Je3-FQOTL20uPscO1Av3XIvfMHBdE9BT6iLmHAIO78kjvEXiYTH7jrnGrgv76fNvDYENVjmpOXTX_Ziw/s640/blogger-image--1722934374.jpg"></a></div>Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-55041112025609000762015-06-22T08:01:00.001-07:002015-06-22T08:01:51.973-07:00Happy Birthday to my Beast Fiend<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Happy Birthday to my Daley-Dale. My BFF. My partner in crime. My soul sister, my art mentor. The friend that pushes me and encourages me and sometimes even can force me out into the public somewhat willingly. The friend that also knows she can find me outside in a quiet corner when she has lost me in a maddening crowd. The permanent (amazing) mother of my temporary kids. The inspiration for what has become my supercool collection of vintage elephant planters. One of the top 3 reasons I moved to Ocean Springs. The reason I was not afraid to pick up this desk at which I am sitting from the side of the road, or buy that piano in my sunroom for $75 at a garage sale. The reason I love popcorn and M&M's. And amaretto festoons. The person with whom I invented view-mail. The one I can count on to be awake at 1am to tell me how to do some art thing, and can count on me to be awake at 1am to help her pick a photo for a contest whose deadline is 1:02am. The brave, just-go-for-it girl to my hesitant doubtfulness. The nothing-is-ever-wrong girl to my constant hypochondria (yeah we should really work on meeting in the middle on this one). I art you my Dale!! You complete me :). </span>Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-89662026997799543502015-06-12T09:04:00.002-07:002015-06-12T09:10:01.847-07:00Oh Neal Stephenson, I Still Adore You Even Though You Broke My Heart A Little<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ESDxDJz_EzCibUo808FHDmBFfvixRVKV57faHEVpGyxdglV7-VDk9Qd9HG7BiMcVk8K7xPF7ScrB9de4_8op6Hvr2bxIJODXyk7DYg7JXaPvSrqenEaIFMwQJ70yXtQw74cuG_sk3mo/s1600/22816087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ESDxDJz_EzCibUo808FHDmBFfvixRVKV57faHEVpGyxdglV7-VDk9Qd9HG7BiMcVk8K7xPF7ScrB9de4_8op6Hvr2bxIJODXyk7DYg7JXaPvSrqenEaIFMwQJ70yXtQw74cuG_sk3mo/s640/22816087.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22816087-seveneves%22%20style=%22float:%20left;%20padding-right:%2020px%22%3E%3Cimg%20alt=%22Seveneves%22%20border=%220%22%20src=%22https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423679127m/22816087.jpg%22%20/%3E%3C/a%3E%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22816087-seveneves%22%3ESeveneves%3C/a%3E%20by%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/545.Neal_Stephenson%22%3ENeal%20Stephenson%3C/a%3E%3Cbr/%3E%20My%20rating:%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1306065099%22%3E3%20of%205%20stars%3C/a%3E%3Cbr%20/%3E%3Cbr%20/%3E%20It%20breaks%20my%20heart%20to%20rate%20this%20only%203%20stars,%20because%20I%20SO%20ADORE%20Neal%20Stephenson,%20but%20this%20book%20seemed%20like%20such%20a%20departure%20from%20his%20%22norm%22%20to%20me.%20%20There%20was%20just%20very%20little%20character%20development%20or%20actual%20STORY.%20%20It%20was%20soooo%20much%20%22tell%20me%20instead%20of%20show%20me%22.%20Long%20passages%20where%20he%20just%20says%20%22then%20this%20happened%20then%20that%20happened%22.%20%20The%20long%20science%20passages%20didn't%20bother%20me%20at%20all.%20%20They%20were%20interesting,%20and%20I'm%20fine%20with%20that.%20The%20book%20almost%20seemed%20like%20more%20of%20a%20set-up%20for%20the%20possibilities%20of%20many%20stories%20rather%20than%20any%20real%20fleshed%20out%20stories.%20%20Let's%20have%20a%20whole%20novel%20about%20Julia,%20or%20Sean,%20or%20Ivy%20or%20Dina%20or%20any%20of%20them.%20%20Let's%20have%20whole%20novels%20from%20the%20perspectives%20of%20the%20Diggers,%20Pingers,%20Reds,%20Blues....%20you%20get%20my%20drift.%20%20This%20book%20was%20classic%20Stephenson%20as%20far%20as%20amazing%20world%20building,%20science,%20and%20scenarios,%20but%20where's%20the%20true%20heart?%20%20I%20don%27t%20feel%20really%20connected%20to%20a%20single%20character.%20%20%20%3Cbr/%3E%3Cbr/%3E%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/722324-sonya-pickens%22%3EView%20all%20my%20reviews%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">Click here to see my review on Goodreads</a><div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">It breaks my heart to rate this only 3 stars, because I SO ADORE Neal Stephenson, but this book seemed like such a departure from his "norm" to me. There was just very little character development or actual STORY. It was soooo much "tell me instead of show me". Long passages where he just says "then this happened then that happened". The long science passages didn't bother me at all. They were interesting, and I'm fine with that. The book almost seemed like more of a set-up for the possibilities of many stories rather than any real fleshed out stories. Let's have a whole novel about Julia, or Sean, or Ivy or Dina or any of them. Let's have whole novels from the perspectives of the Diggers, Pingers, Reds, Blues.... you get my drift. This book was classic Stephenson as far as amazing world building, science, and scenarios, but where's the true heart? I don't feel really connected to a single character.</span></div>
Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-27770924674097642612015-06-02T18:28:00.000-07:002015-06-02T18:28:46.555-07:00The Garden Bug is BitingFINALLY!!!!! I am getting my gardening bug back! I can't explain why, but I couldn't be happier to welcome it!<br />
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A landscape architect is in the process of drawing up plans for my front and side yards. These plans are going to give me the bones of a garden that I need to proceed. Otherwise, I am just overwhelmed. <br />
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I did, however, plant some really cool stuff last fall that survived the winter. All of this is in the little courtyard off my living room: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIZ633Vv3nnysqIDgTm9wjTVQrXhR9-QB3NiE9wh6DUj-pk6s1wtv-Cl8CEMKh-NVRQPin2s2YYeWVA1xodl3jFAq4AsZg49vYsGXRCSxS3A9-tPOKOo_QGJtoJmv6p2h6x1OG5D0ofA/s1600/IMG_2844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIZ633Vv3nnysqIDgTm9wjTVQrXhR9-QB3NiE9wh6DUj-pk6s1wtv-Cl8CEMKh-NVRQPin2s2YYeWVA1xodl3jFAq4AsZg49vYsGXRCSxS3A9-tPOKOo_QGJtoJmv6p2h6x1OG5D0ofA/s320/IMG_2844.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.5454540252686px;">Buddleja</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16.5454540252686px;"> davidii '</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.5454540252686px;">Black Knight</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16.5454540252686px;">'</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFb7edt7zt-V_wCJeRCyA04KNntewou1Z1Sf8kjSo8DgwBfEPGRMQqPj3plxjG0jXxJwv1cUS6GS4P9MkpKdn2rY5QFi4nqhCfZpNUEKHgOED7TzNsKroIAxZuQCHPSATKTTvW23f0tk/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFb7edt7zt-V_wCJeRCyA04KNntewou1Z1Sf8kjSo8DgwBfEPGRMQqPj3plxjG0jXxJwv1cUS6GS4P9MkpKdn2rY5QFi4nqhCfZpNUEKHgOED7TzNsKroIAxZuQCHPSATKTTvW23f0tk/s400/IMG_2802.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remains of a foxglove. How cool is that??</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQaxiCDIY9msZlyLIWZgRnKCvNIdUV82WyJfsXDF9ORrIC45pb4M3uSfqGHiCWrGIUDAS7yikxeb_EqrwWTKHhPA0CvTnVmaIWfyHSIDv5sarq6TNBBQsHmybsNhkVx20Mibp3fWBjJw/s1600/IMG_2803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQaxiCDIY9msZlyLIWZgRnKCvNIdUV82WyJfsXDF9ORrIC45pb4M3uSfqGHiCWrGIUDAS7yikxeb_EqrwWTKHhPA0CvTnVmaIWfyHSIDv5sarq6TNBBQsHmybsNhkVx20Mibp3fWBjJw/s320/IMG_2803.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare Doodle. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlhV1GG3YVHyi7pWqbjrn73OT981VoJDKifWTPoJ6K41pGHBv92A3_bfJ1-IIKi2KEqeRQNHNBIg0Vpc7_-xMe-iIGfVrUQwb1xzIaYkAbiPMoZfASDbfCr6Xv_QyZHGSoUoVi_m5AvM/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlhV1GG3YVHyi7pWqbjrn73OT981VoJDKifWTPoJ6K41pGHBv92A3_bfJ1-IIKi2KEqeRQNHNBIg0Vpc7_-xMe-iIGfVrUQwb1xzIaYkAbiPMoZfASDbfCr6Xv_QyZHGSoUoVi_m5AvM/s320/IMG_2805.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A last Foxglove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaQeNeHHxYjcB6FySvNbefvzkiFk1iAwm-uIEt8X2WOsW99HjugLVnyOBKyEtmXFiGwKPrwgjWk-JDmabeMKOYXI0EFL3uaf7kZJhcPgi-TlqAVbnZQw6RXzgs5EcoLh7BLe0a1znx0E/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaQeNeHHxYjcB6FySvNbefvzkiFk1iAwm-uIEt8X2WOsW99HjugLVnyOBKyEtmXFiGwKPrwgjWk-JDmabeMKOYXI0EFL3uaf7kZJhcPgi-TlqAVbnZQw6RXzgs5EcoLh7BLe0a1znx0E/s400/IMG_2807.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #facb3a; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.3999996185303px; line-height: 14.5599994659424px;">Colocasia 'Electric Blue Gecko'</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJevprSJZCv5ZQ6yNIulLC3b5xMYH_Y7CRYAF1sA8WM4exn9fY1MNlE4jUWV72eAgZJYZ_kMBR1IfqxseFtee12sj3Qbgsx4VJmbFqi_tqNsoFRQhNCwGGRgVV0iEPmmJsMktkjhzdU/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTJevprSJZCv5ZQ6yNIulLC3b5xMYH_Y7CRYAF1sA8WM4exn9fY1MNlE4jUWV72eAgZJYZ_kMBR1IfqxseFtee12sj3Qbgsx4VJmbFqi_tqNsoFRQhNCwGGRgVV0iEPmmJsMktkjhzdU/s320/IMG_2808.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #facb3a; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.3999996185303px; line-height: 14.5599994659424px;">Colocasia 'Coffee Cups'</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvHrLST2Dd4GYGM0l4cOxPnavw_CPzcMOJ_674TR-3dbdVLPTVrP4FlhyCHFu_ExByPmPu5BbBjq80gjMmK8jelsb2918c8jjCgIVtlnAf8iB6DIxqZNyb5AJEz5ts-n_vFKwJBIlIkw/s1600/IMG_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvHrLST2Dd4GYGM0l4cOxPnavw_CPzcMOJ_674TR-3dbdVLPTVrP4FlhyCHFu_ExByPmPu5BbBjq80gjMmK8jelsb2918c8jjCgIVtlnAf8iB6DIxqZNyb5AJEz5ts-n_vFKwJBIlIkw/s320/IMG_2811.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Giant Ligulaira</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH1rwTpw9D2BP1xWHXDFxDkZm9dugk4lj7Vc9w3nIX5K6xIf5uOi_DvlAAy5CEuy1sIhMZI7aa_AYfTyuFQvg0sTV56N5RCINTXIb8EExf8VG0G3Dnh_H8ILAOu-bmhHVWsSfWg7x2XM/s1600/IMG_2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH1rwTpw9D2BP1xWHXDFxDkZm9dugk4lj7Vc9w3nIX5K6xIf5uOi_DvlAAy5CEuy1sIhMZI7aa_AYfTyuFQvg0sTV56N5RCINTXIb8EExf8VG0G3Dnh_H8ILAOu-bmhHVWsSfWg7x2XM/s320/IMG_2813.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Giant Schnauzer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZrH_revUF9NLM-kGmjFbpn4u5cT44uV2kIbclWkve8dyqSAyPlkStNE6GKemlPAEHAnRiPdHUEEpMl0JmM0FIxBS1gHkP09cD_GjwvfruJpD5fXEVdJ-o6I4ZgotfEVnahWcLEcd3Dw/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZrH_revUF9NLM-kGmjFbpn4u5cT44uV2kIbclWkve8dyqSAyPlkStNE6GKemlPAEHAnRiPdHUEEpMl0JmM0FIxBS1gHkP09cD_GjwvfruJpD5fXEVdJ-o6I4ZgotfEVnahWcLEcd3Dw/s320/IMG_2818.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figs I will have to fight critters for</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGqoAPPWgPHkl7usdohPqwQX9pb4_kSgbqhV55M0q0TbMYo6GN3O09pTg_3gREWgfGZAjM4anOTqY0hyphenhyphenpJw1sEfA5x8IhJybPt7rTjQCqdkrBfVMilKSjGklpJGo0oJhHvJVnxMI-Vt0/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGqoAPPWgPHkl7usdohPqwQX9pb4_kSgbqhV55M0q0TbMYo6GN3O09pTg_3gREWgfGZAjM4anOTqY0hyphenhyphenpJw1sEfA5x8IhJybPt7rTjQCqdkrBfVMilKSjGklpJGo0oJhHvJVnxMI-Vt0/s320/IMG_2819.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last of the Johnny Jump Ups</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38iLfrtjaCKYhtghlOYhb4-FcqU7J1xtY8RoF-vfcqbyIxAjIK8uRVjzSUYx4xPkZMvr4zOkDBFcJ7HMk7C6a0x2WsbEjlgUgSokDo9UhWfFsqWDFbWkI_5L3wCjL-_wB2uqZv0p7LIk/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38iLfrtjaCKYhtghlOYhb4-FcqU7J1xtY8RoF-vfcqbyIxAjIK8uRVjzSUYx4xPkZMvr4zOkDBFcJ7HMk7C6a0x2WsbEjlgUgSokDo9UhWfFsqWDFbWkI_5L3wCjL-_wB2uqZv0p7LIk/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to bloom</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16.5454540252686px;"><br /></span>Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-49179744963126885922015-06-02T18:10:00.005-07:002015-06-02T18:34:09.293-07:00My Friends May Know Me Too WellGot this email from my friend Charlotte about a door she thought I may be interested in. <br />
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<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-5999193808415945052015-05-11T11:07:00.001-07:002015-05-11T11:18:27.612-07:001st Quarter Reading (well, 1st Quarter plus April and a bit of May) Why yes, I read a lot. And YES, I consider listening to audiobooks "reading". (Holly, I'm looking at you). HOWEVER, I will tell you that after several months of ONLY listening to audiobooks, I am really missing the touch, feel, focus, and more total immersion I can get with a physical book, so I have several "real" books on a real "to read" pile on my nightstand. Should I submit this to the <a href="http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/" target="_blank">"blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks? </a><br />
<br />
It's a real thing. And it's hilarious. Check it out.<br />
<br />
So far this year I have been in a pretty completely psychological thriller kick. Again, I blame Holly. Holly is my cousin. We grew up spending a lot of time on our grandparent's farm together and she, being WAY more adventurous and brave than me, has always challenged me to try to not be such a wimpy nerd. She makes me get out of my comfort zone - from when we were kids and she was dragging me though woods on a three-wheeler, to now when she forces me to take photography classes and (*gasp*) try to "exercise", she has pushed me and I appreciate it. Sometimes she leads me astray, but usually only into things like a psychological thriller reading kick rather than into something like smoking crack, so I forgive her. <br />
<br />
Plus she abhors crappy writing and storytelling as much as I do so we usually agree on books. <br />
<br />
Most times we try to read the same things at about the same time. The great thing about reading psychological thrillers with Holly is that in her "real job" she is a licensed clinical counselor AND an ER nurse, and she knows her stuff about mental issues. She can unravel and diagnose allllll the nut jobs in the books we are reading. It's like having my own on-call psychological consultant. It's awesome.<br />
<br />
So here's the list - too long for an in-depth description of each. If you want more info on a particular book, I highly recommend this amazing thing I found called "the Google", or <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/">LMGTFY.com</a>. <br />
<br />
Really though, I use Goodreads pretty much exclusively, though I am behind on updating it as much as I am behind on anything else on my life. Which is a lot. So, whatever. Here's the list so far, complete with length of audiobook and date of purchase: <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy -
Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance </span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Jeff VanderMeer - 26 hrs and 14 mins
- 12/31/2014<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Dept. of Speculation</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Jenny Offill - 3 hrs and 10 mins - 1/11/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">The Paying Guests</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Sarah
Waters - 21 hrs and 28 mins - 1/12/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his
Years of Pilgrimage</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">
- Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel (translator) 10
hrs and 9 mins - 1/17/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">The Girl on the Train: A Novel</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Paula Hawkins - 10 hrs and 59 mins -
1/25/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">The Long Road to Freedom</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Nelson
Mandela - 27 hrs and 44 mins - 1/25/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Into the Wild</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Jon Krakauer - 7 hrs and 9 mins - 1/25/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Don't Let Me Go</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Catherine Ryan Hyde - 11 hrs and 17
mins - 2/19/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">Crash & Burn</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Lisa Gardner - 13 hrs and 27 mins - 3/3/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Descent</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Tim Johnston - 11 hrs and 31 mins - 3/11/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Six Years</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Harlan Coben - 10 hrs and 37 mins - 3/19/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Gilead</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Marilynne Robinson - 8 hrs and 59 mins - 3/22/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Fall of the House of Zeus: The
Rise and Ruin of America's Most Powerful Trial Lawyer</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Curtis
Wilkie - 13 hrs and 45 mins - 3/26/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Stranger</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Harlan Coben - 9 hrs and 43 mins - 3/29/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Good Girl</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Mary Kubica - 10 hrs and 38 mins - 4/1/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Silent Sister</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Diane Chamberlain - 11 hrs and 39
mins - 4/5/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Hypnotist's Love Story</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Liane
Moriarty - 13 hrs and 6 mins - 4/7/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Wolf in White Van</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> John
Darnielle - 5 hrs and 22 mins - 9/28/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Girl with All the Gifts</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> M. R. Carey - 13 hrs and 4 mins - 4/10/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Room: A Novel</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Jonas Karlsson - 3 hrs and 27 mins - 4/12/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Kind Worth Killing</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Peter Swanson - 10 hrs and 18 mins -
4/14/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> What You Left Behind</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Samantha Hayes - 10 hrs and 17 mins
- 4/20/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Remains of the Day</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Kazuo Ishiguro - 8 hrs and 13 mins -
4/23/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of
Ava </span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"><u>Lavender</u> Leslye
Walton - 8 hrs and 32 mins - 4/29/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Bird Box: A Novel</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Josh
Malerman- - 9 hrs and 8 mins - 5/1/2015</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;"> Bitter Blood: A True Story of
Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder</span></u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 125%;">
Jerry Bledsoe --20 hrs and 8 mins - 5/3/2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My favorites of this bunch were the Mandela Autobiography and Wolf in White Van, which is a great, disturbing but weirdly hopeful novel about a guy who just happens to be a game nerd. You may love it even if you AREN'T a game nerd. The Bird Box and The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender are also both really great. And both kind of depressing.<br />
<br />Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-14288822271418489872015-05-11T10:21:00.000-07:002015-05-11T11:09:39.159-07:00Ooops - End of 2014 ReadingUhhh..... yeah I forgot to finish the 2014 list, so let me do that before I post 2015. <br />
<br />
Where were we.....<br />
<br />
73> was <u>The Boy Who Could See Demons</u>...but apparently I put the 1st list of 2014 in reverse chronological order some some bizarre reason, so #73 was actually <u>Fourth of July Creek</u><br />
<br />
74> <u>The Luminaries</u>- Eleanor Catton: <i>I actually liked this one way more than I thought I would. </i><br />
<br />
75> <u>World War Z - </u> Max Brooks: <i>Sooooooooo much better than the movie. So much more about the politics of a worldwide crisis. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
76> <u>Faithful Place</u> - Tana French: <i>I really so enjoy her books. Sort-of mysteries/ psychology studies, and well written. </i><br />
<br />
77> <u>Apocalypse Z -</u> Manel Loureiro: <i>I like a good apocalypse zombie story. I won't apologize. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
78> <u>We Were Liars</u> - E. Lockhart: <i>a young adult novel that is just WOW. </i><br />
<br />
79>; <u>All the Light We Cannot See</u> - Anthony Doerr: <i>It was ok. Well written, but the story just was a little too Davinci Code for me, I guess. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>80>: <u>Stone Mattress</u> - Margaret Atwood: <i>I usually LOVE Margaret Atwood, but this one just didn't stick with me. Perhaps I will revisit it later. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>81>; <u>Station Eleven</u> - Emily St. John Mandel: <i>I love a good Apocalypse story of pretty much any kind. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>82>; <u>The Miniaturist</u> - Jessie Burton: <i>If I had never read and Neal Stephenson, I would have loved this book. I did still really like it, though. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>83>; <u>Never Let Me Go</u> - Kazuo Ishiguru: <i>Meh. Story just didn't sit right with me. Too "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet", and I liked that better. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>84>; <u>Broken Monsters</u> - Lauren Beukes: <i>Too "Hannibal, the TV show". </i><br />
<i><br /></i>85>; <u>Yes, Please</u> - Amy Poeler: <i>Way better and more interesting than I expected. </i><br />
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86>; <u>Already Dead</u> - Charlie Huston: <i>Zombies are fun. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>87>; <u>To Rise Again At A Decent Hour</u>- Joshua Farris: <i>Liked it</i><br />
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88>; <u>The Vacationers</u>- Emma Straub: <i>Good story about a marriage and a family. I liked it. </i><br />
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89>; <u>The Martian</u> - Andy Weir: <i>Never ask your scientist husband to read a book you liked. He will point out every flaw. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>90>; <u>Bossy Pants</u> - Tina Fey: <i>Also way better and more interesting than I expected. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>91>; <u>Slouching Toward Bethlehem</u> - Joan Didian: <i>Meh</i><br />
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92> <u>Everything I Never Told You</u> - Celeste Ng: <i>It was just ok, although that may have had something to do with the fact that I was deeply engrossed in the SERIAL podcast at the time I read it. There are some similarities between the stories, but Serial, being TRUE and ON-GOING, was/is way more fascinating. </i><br />
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OK so that's it for 2014. 92 books. Not a record, but no too shabby, I think? The most important (and surprising) thing to ME, anyway, is that I actually remember reading them haha. There were only a couple of books in 2014 that I started and just could not complete. Both involved animal cruelty and I just cannot even. Those were: Salvage the Bones, and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. They both got great reviews and my opinions should not count against them. I just can't read those kinds of things. The horror of them gets stuck in my brain and plays on a loop for eternity. And LAWD, I don't need to add to the things already on the loop.Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-39024983775329805512015-04-06T12:08:00.001-07:002015-05-11T11:09:39.213-07:00Office of Redundancy OfficeFrom the responses we received on a questionnaire:<br />
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<i>"Additionally, the [financial institution] has sufficient earnings to increase rates on the product should deposits need to be retained as rates rise to retain deposits."</i><br />
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Spickenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05029499693839921288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2087718787696901813.post-82705387742762941602014-12-10T23:12:00.001-08:002015-05-11T11:09:39.323-07:00A Special Package A very special package arrived at our house yesterday. It's the urn we got for our sweet baby girl. This is the 3rd urn we have commissioned from <span style="background-color: white; color: #312000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">Alexandra Koiv </span>at <a href="http://www.custompeturns.com/" target="_blank">"Alex in Welderland"</a>, and we love them all. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwdBGp0pyrxaC03uXCnTPtaZDgIOL6xbgA05uF7zwfwgJGbQNVCLLCyxSA4XI5PBah2kb1ifh5UFnkjIrTB73Isvqe3gxgntsvCULgHIJQuB9rCgsefedIrFth-fiO1FQMv-hGH9TB6g/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwofJ9I9qDGf_O7xSXzJa6etOGvQlGYexjEqAGF_rcT2uWJMfXfu7Q6pfwWWCvlJGKBlQqQAlSsidJ9HHiwV0pBOBjGdAbq5eln0OzcLn-lv5SFplVPtHDEuwjF8HlSgEXKIi4ZKRd6EQ/s1600/1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwofJ9I9qDGf_O7xSXzJa6etOGvQlGYexjEqAGF_rcT2uWJMfXfu7Q6pfwWWCvlJGKBlQqQAlSsidJ9HHiwV0pBOBjGdAbq5eln0OzcLn-lv5SFplVPtHDEuwjF8HlSgEXKIi4ZKRd6EQ/s1600/1111.JPG" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaqowQqpFgBb_qe7RCx2TNphBV-z1WbeSQ9zKf7A939xYN7IIUv4J9i978C04_P1aUkGNS0uz9__U3RkUpr13D3R7RVCIvnnuSN3Wkco2B1YADSaZUrqILzP1574RnWBjEO3UXTWHlsM/s1600/2222222222222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaqowQqpFgBb_qe7RCx2TNphBV-z1WbeSQ9zKf7A939xYN7IIUv4J9i978C04_P1aUkGNS0uz9__U3RkUpr13D3R7RVCIvnnuSN3Wkco2B1YADSaZUrqILzP1574RnWBjEO3UXTWHlsM/s1600/2222222222222.JPG" height="320" width="319" /></a><br />
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And now the world seems a little more in balance, with Greta looking as if she is presiding over Schaffer and Bella, while they, in turn, ignore her - just as things were back in the good old days. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwdBGp0pyrxaC03uXCnTPtaZDgIOL6xbgA05uF7zwfwgJGbQNVCLLCyxSA4XI5PBah2kb1ifh5UFnkjIrTB73Isvqe3gxgntsvCULgHIJQuB9rCgsefedIrFth-fiO1FQMv-hGH9TB6g/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwdBGp0pyrxaC03uXCnTPtaZDgIOL6xbgA05uF7zwfwgJGbQNVCLLCyxSA4XI5PBah2kb1ifh5UFnkjIrTB73Isvqe3gxgntsvCULgHIJQuB9rCgsefedIrFth-fiO1FQMv-hGH9TB6g/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bella's urn was our first purchase, and it is one of Alex's standards. I especially love the wings and the hook which holds Bella's old tag. For Schaffer's and Greta's urns, we opted for custom ears and tails, and a beard for Greta, which Alex made from photos we sent. I think she captured their expressions perfectly. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0G5EWPH8fG5oDKGSJg9DlEb9LIs2h2gXmB8yscYaK4-9um6b3XrY5DCpbWtc1elR6VITICq1vGJkRO3YW9Qzp8YaIn_cb_dp2J2LMgVZTGYoPLM2CtN2VUjIHRKN_OZ3IFJcvjih3BI/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0G5EWPH8fG5oDKGSJg9DlEb9LIs2h2gXmB8yscYaK4-9um6b3XrY5DCpbWtc1elR6VITICq1vGJkRO3YW9Qzp8YaIn_cb_dp2J2LMgVZTGYoPLM2CtN2VUjIHRKN_OZ3IFJcvjih3BI/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Things will never be the same around here without our big, beautiful girl. It's way quieter. We miss her terribly. But she will never, ever be forgotten, that is for sure. Thanks, Alex, for your beautiful work!<br />
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