Sounds of Silence on Wordless Wednesday

Reflective Youth

Meme Monday. You'll laugh, you'll cry. It's better than Cats

You were probably wondering if you had anything else to learn about me, weren't you... never fear, more useless information is here!

1. Do you like blue cheese?
It’s bleu. And yes. Mmmmmm.

2. Have you ever been drunk?
Please. Have we just met?

3. Do you own a gun?
No way.

4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite?
Grape, baby

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Yep

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Best at a ball park – ketchup and ‘kraut. With a beer.

7. Favorite Christmas movie?
“White Christmas” and “Love Actually” since “A Charlie Brown Christmas” cannot be considered a movie.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Milk; iced tea. But never together.

9. Can you do push ups?
Modified, but yes. Just did some the other day.

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
Tiffany ball necklace and earrings

11. Favorite hobby?
Tie: cooking and writing. Although I’m working on making one of these more than just a hobby.

12. Do you have A.D.D.?
Just a smidge… oooh – is that something shiny?

13. What's your favorite shoe?
Tie: Black Chucks and black clogs

14. Middle name?
Elizabeth

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
*I’m really sick of Kashi cereal for breakfast
*Am I ready for Will’s parent/teacher conference this afternoon?
*I’d rather have a root canal than listen to Barry Manilow’s new album of love songs. Good lord, it’s awful.

16. Name three drinks you regularly drink?
Water, iced tea, Grey Goose

17. Current worry?
Will. As always.

18. Current hate right now?
My challenges with organization.

19. Last thing you said to somebody?
"No, your name is not Maurice nor are you a Gangster of Love..."

20. How did you bring in the New Year?
At home playing Beatles: Rock Band and drinking port.

21. Where would you like to go?
South America

22. Name three people who will read this?
No telling

23. Do you own slippers?
Yep – terry cloth flip flops. They do so count.

24. What color shirt are you wearing right now?
Maroon

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
Ew. No.

26. Can you whistle?
Yes

27. Favorite color?
Purple

28. Would you be a pirate?
Probably not – that all-seafood diet is the deal breaker.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Interestingly, the shower is the only place I don’t sing.

30. Favorite girl's name?
Grace or Lucy

31. Favorite boy's name?
William or Michael

32. What's in your pocket right now?
Lint

33. Last thing that made you laugh?
My phone conversation with my brother

34. Best bed sheets as a child?
White with pink rosebuds

35. Worst injury you had as a child?
Ankle sprain

36. Do you love where you live?
S’aight. But that’s about to change…

37. Who is your loudest friend?
Does Will count? Because no one is louder than he is. Just ask anyone with whom I've been on the phone while he's afoot.

38. How many dogs do you have?
None

39. Does someone have a crush on you?
Doubtful

40. What is your favorite book?
Honestly – “Around the World with Aunite Mame” by Patrick Dennis

41. What is your favorite candy?
Anything caramel. As long as it doesn’t involve coconut.

42. Favorite sports team?
University of Florida Gators; Boston Celtics; Tampa Bay Rays. Like I could narrow this one down...

43. What song do you want played at your funeral?
“Amazing Grace”, followed by “Honky Tonk Woman” and “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.”

Saturday Morning Cereal: Eighth Bowl

As a young lass, Saturday mornings meant time with my favorite member of the family Leporidae and his crazy – dare I say loony – pals.

Yep. Talkin’ bout Bugs. Bugs Bunny.

These days, The Rabbit is tough to find on the telly. And while my Saturday mornings are now devoted to watching chefs wield their knives and home improvement experts sharing their craft, I often miss just sitting down to watch some Bugs antics.

It occurred to me that while Bugs and the gang were always good for a laugh, they had lessons to impart as well…

Charm goes a long way, especially when one is trying to negotiate tricky situations with itinerant prospectors, earnest hunters and Tasmanian devils.

The Fudd. Always foiled. Never deterred. A role model for the ages.

When literally face-to-face with a shotgun, sticking your finger in the barrel of said gun is the best defense.

Adding the word “le” in front of everything makes you a passable speaker of ze French. Le mew. Le purrrrrrr. Le pussy ferocious. (which may be my new stripper name, replacing Clams Casino.)

Rabbit stew is an international, time-tested favorite. Now, WHERE’S MY HASSENPFFFER!?!

Space aliens. Kind of douchebaggy.

Cross-dressing. Stylish and effective. In any situation.

There is no tragedy in life that you cannot get up and walk away from. Running off a cliff. Sticks of dynamite going off in your hand. Being crushed by an anvil.

When you step off a cliff, there is always a two-second delay before you fall.

ACME. Your source for just about everything.

Sometimes business is really just business. The sheepdog and the wolf went to work together, clocked in, did their respective jobs antagonizing each other, clocked out, went and had a beer.

Look to your right. Then look to your left. Then look to the left of the guy on your left. Chances are three of you probably have a speech impediment. And people neither notice, nor particularly care.

Classical music is teh awesome. And there are some pieces that had previously little-known lyrics and unusual used – songs about rabbit homicide and tunes to be sung while hairstyling are just two examples.

Grannys can be badasses when they need to be. Never underestimate an old lady – especially one wielding an umbrella.

Rabbits are great at time travel. They can jump from sitting with the Knights of the Round Table to hanging with Robin Hood and his Merry Men to causing havoc on the fields and war rooms of WWII.

Taking a left turn at Albukoikee can solve a plethora of issues.

And when you think about it, all we really need in life is to have someone hug us and pet us and squeeze us and call us George.

That right there is the best tidbit of all.

George.

A Day in the Life...

It’s Day Three in my grand “Damn, I’m a Hot Mess” self-remodel plan. Yesterday, I took some notes (put 'em in MS Word so I wouldn’t lose them. Yes, I even remembered to hit save periodically...) on the organizationally-challenging moments during my day. This is just a snapshot of them – I hit the highlights.

Please save your applause for the end of the presentation. There will be a chance to ask questions and make comments then.

Over the course of the day, I…

…worked diligently to remember to call Will’s neurologist for a follow-up appointment to the hospital visit. When I finally connected memory and phone, it was after the office closed for the day – they keep a short day on Wednesdays.

… made a list for the grocery store. Good. Helpful
Forgot the list on my desk. Came home with all but one thing on the list, but working so hard wandering back and forth across the store as items popped into my head made me 10 minutes to collect Will from school.

…spent 10 minutes looking for my keys. They were on the shelf in the bathroom. No, I don’t have any idea why either.

…had to wear my brown Chucks with my jeans/black top because I could only find one of my black Chucks. It’s around here someplace.

…did some think-planning about a long-germinating project I want to kick start. Finally. Did I write any of my brilliant ideas down? Guess…

(However, I **did** do something about this today, putting out feelers and coercing possible partners. So there’s that.)

…was mildly proud of myself for being on time for the Choir Urchins. Or at least leaving on time. This was, alas, a temporary thing. Not my fault I was late because a traffic signal was out at a major intersection. However, the jury’s still out on why I couldn’t find the CD with the new music on it that I sent along with my pal last week when I had to miss because of Will’s health issues.

…half packed about five boxes in different rooms of the house. Got distracted each time I started…oooh look! Shiny!

There’s no question I need some help. Or a personal assistant. Preferably one named Jean Paul who will go shopping with me, split a pitcher of sangria and then go dancing.

However, the likelihood of that is about as much as Jon Gosselin trading in his Ed Hardy wear for a Brooks Brothers look. Onto Plan B…

I’ve started reading “Organizing for the Creative Person” and so far, I’ve learned that I have very strong right brained tendencies.

Shocking. Knock me over with a maribou feather.

In the book’s defense, I’m only through chapter two, so there’s undoubtedly more information and helpful hints to be gleaned. One would think. Right?

Meanwhile, I need to go figure out where I left my reader glasses (I’m not going to tell you how many pairs I own, because then this little revelation would be REALLY embarrassing), handle some logistics for the new house and figure out what’s left to do that I need to do during the rest of the day.

Suggestions welcome.

Shhhh... it's (Semi) Wordless Wednesday

"Hello, KGB. How may I direct your call?"

It's Monday. Meme Monday. Shaken, Not Stirred

Yay! More useless information about me! Wheee!


do you get regular massages?: No. But how lovely would that be?
do you have an answering machine?: Nope. Voice mail. Which I’m always forgetting to check. Even though there’s that weird dial tone that indicates we’ve got messages.

what cuss word do you use the most?: Shit, crap, fuck, damn. Yeah. I know.
are you underweight or overweight?: I prefer “curvy”
can you see your veins?: No, actually. But I had to look.


Favorite...
soap?: Ivory for the basics, but I LOVE Neutrogena cocoa butter body wash

fruit?: Banana
. Or maybe apple. Oooh no -- fig.
kind of red meat?: either a filet or a burger. Both prime cut. Both cooked rare.
fish?: Swedish

candy bar?: Zero bar.

Have you ever
...
eaten a whole bag of potato chips?: Please. Have we just met?
eaten lobster?: Yep. Prefer crab, but lobster’s not bad
climbed a mountain?: Indeed I have. NC mountains. The view will take your breath away.

been skydiving?: Heck no.

been water skiing?: No, believe it or not. Odd for a native of the F-L-A.

Do you
...
wish you could change something about your life?: Yes. Yes I do. And we'll leave it at that.
like your nose?: It’s not bad.

like salt and vinegar chips?: YUM! YES!
eat salsa?: But of course.
own a boat?: Does a 30 year old canoe count?

What is
 a small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences?: 
Hmmmm…

your most macho trait?: I swear like a sailor and adore sports

the longest relationship you've ever had?: Married 12 years/been together 15
your most embarrassing thoughts?: Usually something lascivious about a member of the opposite sex
your most shameful moment?: Like I’m going to tell y’all that…


This/That

bath/shower?: Love a bath, but usually only a shower fits the schedule

markers/crayons?: Crayons!

pens/pencils?: Pens
jelly/cream cheese?: It depends. But the jelly’s usually grape.
bagel/toast?: yes

Finish...

My greatest weakness is...: my tender heart

I wish I was...: about two inches taller. All in my legs.
Three things I wouldn't do for a million dollars is...: murder, harm someone, robbery
The oddest thing I've ever put in my mouth is...: Let’s go with octopus

Firsts

credit card you had?: I had a Master Card in college for emergencies. However, I thought an “emergency” was a sale at Burdines. First credit card I had on my own was a Maas Brothers card.

loan you got was for?: living room furniture
first paycheck was for how much?: You know, I can’t remember specifically. I had summer jobs and babysitting gigs. But my first grown-up job paid $13K a year. That’s right. Oy.
time you had stitches?: I sliced open my right pinky finger knuckle breaking a Mayor McCheese glass trying to force ice into it. I was a senior in high school. Why I remember those details is beyond me.
time you went to the hospital for something?: See above.

Lasts

list everything you ate in the last 24 hours?: Since when did you become my trainer? Please.
last thing you used a credit card for?: Amazon.
what was your last job?: Other than being a SAHM to Young William, I was a copy editor/proofreader/writer for a printing company before motherhood abruptly came a'calling.
last thing you celebrated?: New Years!
last time you were at a sports bar?: Ferg’s to watch football. However, with baseball season just around the corner, my time there will increase shortly. Yay!

Flashback Friday: One Night with Elvis

Lord Almighty,
I feel my temperature rising
Higher higher
It's burning through to my soul

Picture it… North Georgia. The early ‘90s.

For some reason which completely escapes me now, my mother (aka The Belle) and I went on a road trip one fine spring to spend time with my cousin and his wife at their house on Lake Lanier, between Gainesville and Cumming.

Yeah. I know. I laugh every time I reference that town.

Anyway.

Aside from doing the usual family-visiting-family things – sitting around drinking and telling old stories; going out to eat; telling more stories; drinking – my cousin always liked to throw something fun in to the mix. A very genteel Southern gent, he would have been a city slicker out of water in his country environment had it not been for his natural and unassuming charm. One summer visit when I was a young lass, that “something fun” involved catching several hundred dollars worth of fish at a trout farm. My younger cousins and I just kept catching the bloody things and before our host realized it, we had acquired fish for days. The real fun, though, happened later that evening when The Belle and my other cousin’s wife (don’t try to keep up with the family relationships – even I get confused) after consuming several “Silver Bullets” (aka martinis) tried to package the filleted trout into little freezer bags. It’s been over 30 years and I still recall the hilarity that ensued.

So.

The “something fun” for this visit involved a trip to a place called the Lantern Inn. An inauspicious rural Southern joint where the menu was fried and the draught was cold and plentiful. The place had entertainment! – not usual for this sort of establishment. A brother/sister duo.

She was a Patsy Cline impersonator.

And as for the bro -- he took on the icon. The King. The One and Only.

Elvis.

Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.

The best part of this whole thing was that these two were multi-talented and multi-taskers. Patsy was a waitress. And Elvis – well, Elvis was the fry cook.

We opted not to eat dinner there the night we went -- if I recall correctly, we’d hit a catfish fry earlier in the evening at the VFW. Amazing hush puppies. So after supper, The Belle, my cousin’s wife and I headed off for an evening of beer and entertainment.

We had plenty of both.

Patsy Cline was meh – not a bad voice, but really – no one can come close to the original voice of silk and heartache.

And then there was Elvis. Wearing the While Jumpsuit. With the moves and the vocal affectations.

Awesome.

By the time he hit the stage, our little crew was well into the long neck Buds. By the time he segued into “All Shook Up” we were dancing on the floor. And by the time he finished up with “Burning Love” we were atop the picnic table we’d been sitting at, shaking our groove things. Even The Belle. Oh yeah.

Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you
Little sister, don't you kiss me once or twice
Then say it's very nice
And then you run

Little sister, don't you
Do what your big sister done

After his set, he didn’t retreat to a dressing room to recover and recoop. Nope. There were French fries to cook and some chicken to tend to. The Belle, fueled with Bud and bravado, wandered into the kitchen to extend her appreciation and spent some time with him, still clad in the White Jumpsuit, TCB, baby. That’s Taking Care of Business in Elvis-speak, y’all.

Somewhere in a photo box, I have a pic of us three ladies with Elvis, his parting gift of scarves ripped – literally – from cheap red rayon and autographed “Love, Mike Jones as Elvis”, draped around our necks. Hoping to unearth it sometime during the move.

So today, which would have been Elvis’ 75th birthday, I think not only of the King and his music and his tacky-fabulous-white trash taste, but also of Mike Jones as Elvis. And my One Night with The King.

Uh huh ohh, ohh, yeah, yeah!


I'm all shook up!

Put Another Dime in the Jukebox, Baby -- it's Tuesday Tunes Time

Welcome to another installment of The Wonderful World of Janey's Musical Mind.

Today we're playing Word Association -- what’s the first musical thing that these words bring to mind.

Here goes...

Snow: "Snowbird" ~ Anne Murray



Bitter: "She F&$^ing Hates Me" ~ Puddle of Mudd


Cold: “She’s So Cold” ~ Rolling Stones


Snuggle: “Love Song”~ The Cure


Kind: “Cruel to be Kind” ~ Nick Lowe



Tree: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” ~ Tony Orlando and Dawn


or

“Feed the Tree” ~ Belly


Dark: “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” ~ Frank Sinatra


Long: “Long Time Gone” ~ Dixie Chicks


Candy: “Sex and Candy” ~ Marcy Playground


Special: “Saturday Night Special” ~ Lynard Skynyrd

Look! It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Meme Monday!

A goofy meme to kick off the new year -- this one's a pip.

1. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?
Wow. That’s a pretty violent to start this off with. Let me think about it.

2. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?
Any of those faux pop manufactured Disney spawn teenybopper artists. That’s not music. That’s noise pollution.

3. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?
Jon Gosselin. O’Reilly and/or Beck. Just for being douches. That’s it for now.

4. What is your favorite cheese?
Toma

5. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your immediate disposal. What kind will you make?
Chunky chicken salad on a hoagie roll. Preferably from the Chicago Deli. Loved that sandwich.

6. You have the opportunity to sleep with the movie celebrity of your choice. We are talking no-strings-attached sex and it can only happen once. Who is the lucky celebrity of your choice?
Jon Hamm. At least for right now.

7. You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. Who do you pick?
Please. Have we just met? Stewart Copeland. I’ve been in love with him for 30 years. No sign of that waning now.

8. Now that you’ve slept with two different people in a row, you seem to be having an excellent day because you just came across a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk. Holy shit, a hundred bucks! How are you gonna spend it?
Considering the day I've just had, probably birth control and Ben & Jerry's. Girl's gotta rest.

9. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?
Manhattan. No question. Next!

10. Upon arrival to the aforementioned location, you get off the plane and discover another hundred-dollar bill. Shit! Now that you are in the new location, what are you gonna do?
That will go towards my bar tab at the Algonquin.

11. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. It is…?
Grey Goose. Again, have we just met?

12. Rufus appears out of nowhere with a time-traveling phone booth. You can go anytime in the PAST. What time are you traveling to and what are you going to do when you get there?
Either 1930s Havana, where I’ll write or 1960s Manhattan where I’ll be Ann Marie’s roommate.

13. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?
NO WIRE HANGERS!! Just kidding. Probably do unto others...

14. You have been given the opportunity to create the half-hour TV show of your own design. What is it called and what’s the premise?

It’s a talk show. Set is my “bedroom” and everyone – me and the guests – wear pajamas. Tailored men’s pajamas. Title: Pillow Talk. Let me know if you want to be on the premiere week.

15.What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck. Yeah. I know.

16.One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What do you do?
Take a Pepsid, roll over and go back to sleep.

17. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the item?

Computer. It’s got my family photos, so two birds/one stone.


18. The Angel of Death has descended upon you. Fortunately, the Angel of Death is pretty cool and in a good mood, and it offers you a half-hour to do whatever you want before you bite it. Whatcha gonna do in that half-hour?
Hee hee. Wouldn’t you like to know.

19. You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What’s it gonna be?
Love this question – it reminds me of the Gilligan’s Island episode with the… radioactive vegetables. And I’d eat beets, like Mrs. Howell. Love them. And really, who couldn’t use more energy?

20. You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?
The moment when I first held Will. It was six weeks after he was born – his health had been so precarious that any contact was prohibited. When I finally got to hold him – the feeling, to this day, is indescribable.

21.You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
You know, I don’t think I’d do this. Regardless of how painful an experience was, it still contributed to who I am as a person. So I’ll just take them all.

22. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world! Bitchin’! What country are you going to live in now?
Either England or Argentina.

23. This question still counts, even for those of you who are under age. Check it out. You have been eternally banned from every single bar in the world except for ONE. Which one is it gonna be?
The long gone but never forgotten Purple Porpoise in Gainesville.

24. Hopefully you didn’t mention this in the super-powers question…. If you did, then we’ll just expand on that. Check it out… Suddenly, you have gained the ability to FLOAT!!! Whose house are you going to float to first, and be like “Dude, check it out…I can FLOAT!”?
My brother’s house. Because we’d both probably just laugh our asses off.

25. The constant absorption of magical moonbeams mixed with the radioactive vegetables you consumed earlier has given you the ability to resurrect the dead famous-person of your choice. So which celebrity will you bring back to life?
Dorothy Parker. I have so much to learn…

26. The Celestial Gates of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person, etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?
Cannot choose. Will not choose.

27. What’s your theme song?
I have two. Both Stones tunes. Honky Tonk Woman. And You Can’t Always Get What You Want.

Rock on.

Saturday 9: You Shook Me

Yeah. Day Two of the New Year and I'm doing a meme. I know.

Wait. You're reading it. Seems now we're rather in the same boat. So hush.

(Check out the Saturday 9 for more people's take on these fun questions)

1. What celebrity would you just want to shake some sense into?
Where do I start… Charlie Sheen. Tiger. Courtney Love. Whitney. La Lohan. Anyone who shows their tuchus in an unflattering, stupid light. A big, bright, movie-premiere sized spotlight.

Oh – either Mr. Hamm or Mr. Clooney for not realizing that they were meant to be with me.

2. What do you think comes after death?
Good question. As a Christian, I have very specific ideas about life after death. Let’s just leave it at that.

3. What is the first book that you can remember reading by yourself as a child?
Little Women in about third grade. Loved that book. Still do.

4. What was the first rock concert that you attended?
Chicago. November, 1982. Gainesville, FL. Yeah. I was living on the edge in those days…

5. If you were to suddenly become famous, would you choose a stage name? If yes, what would it be?
Hell yeah! I’d use my middle name as my first name and a family name as my last. Elizabeth Glisson. That might make a good nome de plume, now that I think about it.

6. What is the one thing that you wish the media would stop talking about?
Tim Tebow (love him like it's my job, but c'mon people. Leave him alone.) Tiger Woods. Those #(&$#%^ Gosselins. OK, that’s more than one. My blog, my rules.

7. If you could be part of any band, which one would it be and who would you be and why?
Hmmm. Let’s see…

The Go-Gos. Singer.
The Bangles. Singer.
Luscious Jackson. Singer.

See a theme?

Seriously, though, I’d want to be a girl singer with a jazz band. Interpret the classic standards. Be a chanteuse. Wear fab clothes. Writhe around on top of a piano every once in a while. Have groupies that buy my vodka between sets; pull my chair out when I sit down; stand when I leave the table; pay my cab fare; call me doll.

And this would be my most “famous” song:


Get the picture?

8. Do you live close to your immediate family members? If not, how far away are they?
Oh yes. The ‘Rents reside in a condo, affectionately known as the Tower of Terror, about 15 minutes away from the new house. My brother and his family are in Orlando – not too far afoot.

9.What did you do on New Year's Eve?
Beatles Rock Band (news flash: Lennon and McCartney did not write for an alto chick. My vocal chords are still rough.); had Julia’s French onion soup for dinner; enjoyed a plethora of adult beverages.

Groovy.

The Year of Living Bodaciously

Bodacious.

Main Entry: bo·da·cious
Function: adjective
Etymology: probably blend of bold and audacious
Date: 1832
1. outright, unmistakable

2. remarkable, noteworthy
3. sexy, voluptuous

It’s rather a funny word, though, isn’t it – bodacious. Albeit with some great meanings across the board – yep, even the sexy and voluptuous part. Can’t be noble and upright all the time. (insert lascivious eyebrow raise here)

That’s what I’ve declared the next 365 days to be for me. Full of bodacious living.

How I’m going to be.
How I want the path I follow to be.
How I want the footsteps I leave behind to be.

Bodacious.

I asked some friends to give me one word they would like to see describe their 2010. Here’s what they told me:

Skinnier
Prosperous
Fulfilling
Awesome
Amazing
Improved
Success
Happy
Patriotic
Love
Happy
Lessons
Contentment
Ausgezeichnet
Employed
Lighter
Orgasmic
Opportunistic
Calm
Happier
Plurific
Peaceful
Non-Craptastic
Bacony
Excitement

That works, dontcha think? Got a word to add? Leave it in the comments. I’m curious to see what’s on your psyche.

What is it about the genesis of a new year – a series of days, hours, minutes, moments – that causes the collective humanity to assess themselves and set upon some course of self-improvement at the least and self-awareness ideally.

You got me.

I know, though, that come Monday, my gym will be full of people on a mission. Cigarettes abandoned. Calories counted. Order sought. Calendars streamlined.

Whether anyone will be able to maintain his or her personal quest for the next 525,600 minutes is one of those great unknowns. I’d like to think so. But just as the human condition prompts us to engage in self-improvement activity, it also gives us reason to stop, whether of our own doing or from the doing of outside, unavoidable forces.

At least we mean well.

So what am I going to do with myself here in the shiny and new framework known as the year MMX? So glad you asked…

Have better posture and engage my core CONSTANTLY
Be more sassy
Do unto others…
Laugh every day
Engage in self-confidence, not self-defeat
Make a difference
Make a joyful noise
Pray more
Praise more
Thank more
Trust more
Run that half-marathon
Make my new house a home, with an open door, full glass and engaging heart
Write, dammit – WRITE!

Most of all, though is that I want is to let 2010 be a year of sustained passion – for creative ventures, relationships, myself and life as a whole and to cultivate the belief that passion translates to success by any and all definitions.

Let’s go do this thing called life, y’all, in the year Twenty Ten.

You ready?

A day late and a dollar short... It's Meme Monday

So here's the deal. Will and I have been a dynamic duo for ten days now. Just the two of us. Together. 24/7.

I'm about to lose my mind from all the "togetherness." And my usual usuals are a little off plumb. Like the timing of Meme Monday. It's not even Monday anywhere in the world at the moment.

I am all about making an entrance though... so here you go. Enjoy.

What color is your toothbrush?
Purple and white. Motorized. Very badass.

Name one person who made you smile today?
Will, of course! Followed by my girlies, natch.

What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Changing the sheets on a bed

What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Making Young William’s breakfast. Which today involved oatmeal and vanilla pudding because we're running low on yogurt. Yeah. I know.

What is your favorite candy bar?
Zero Bar

Have you ever been to a strip club?
Yes... shhhh.

What is the last thing you said aloud?
Damn – I **am** going to have to do laundry.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Pralines and cream

What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water with my FRS mix-in.

Do you like your wallet?
Actually, yes. It's pretty awesome. For a wallet.

What was the last thing you ate?
Maple Nut Clif bar

Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
Nope. Yay me! But it’s only Tuesday.

The last sporting event you watched?
Last night’s heartbreaking Rays game. Sigh.

What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Regular old plain

Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
Patty

Ever go camping?
Ugh. Yes. (my idea of camping = no room service)

Do you take vitamins daily?
Yep

Do you go to church every Sunday?
We try, but schedules and illness can get in the way…

Do you have a tan?
Kind of – my appendages are tan from working out outside.

Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Nope

Do you drink your soda with a straw?
Only fountain soda

What did your last text message say?
It was from Twitter telling me I had a Direct Message.. boo yah!

What are you doing tomorrow?
Meeting with The Trainer and taking Will to feeding therapy. Plus laundry. Apparently.

Look to your left, what do you see?
Basket of folded laundry. Are you sensing a theme here?

What color is your watch?
Gold/silver

What do you think of when you hear Australia?
Swimmers, baby. Rowrrr.

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
If I go, it's the drive-thru

What are your favorite numbers?
7, 27

Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
The Mister

Any plans today?
Nothing concrete -- might go to the beach, actually. Or finish cleaning some closets, thanks to some inspiration from my girlie cajunvegan. And then there's that laundry...

How many states have you lived in?
Just one – the F-L-A.

Biggest annoyance right now?
The piles of stuff yet to be taken to Goodwill that keep multiplying. With my beloved child running a close second. When does school start again?

Last song listened to?
“He Loves Me”/Jill Scott

Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Probably. Just take my word for it.

Do you have a maid service clean your house?
Sadly, no

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My New Balance trainers

Is anyone jealous of you?
Please. SO doubt that.

Do you love anyone?
You betcha.

Do any of your friends have children?
But of course!

What do you usually do during the day?
Work out, domestic goddess things, chauffeur Will, write, net surf, watch the Rays game.

Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
Hate’s a very strong word – let’s just say there are a couple of people I really really don’t like. At all.

Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Uh, yes -- when I answer the phone. The operative term there being “when”

What color is your car?
Grey/green

Do you like cats?
Yes. I miss my Roxanne every day.

Are you thinking about someone right now?
Yeppers

Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Many moons ago -- in ATL

How did you get your worst scar?
Fibroid tumor removal stuff. Ugh. And ouch.

Julie & Julia & Janey

Normally, I don't get all a'twitter about a movie's opening, but there's a film coming out today that's got me a little excited.

It's "Julie & Julia", based on the novel of the same name and featuring the inimitable Meryl Streep as Julia Child.

So, why in the hell do I care?

I have a couple of reasons. Wanna hear them? (Just say yes -- it'll be easier for all of us)

First, I loved the book. Not that film adaptations of literary works always live up to expectations (or their source material) but this is a unique piece.

Second, and more importantly, I've got a vested interest in this whole thing. For something I wrote right here on my little blog is part of a newspaper feature about the movie.

In other words, a bit of my random blatherings have been put in black and white, shoved into bags and tossed onto lawns across my fair community.

While I've been "in" the paper before as a interview about this, that or the other, I've never had anything I've **written** published.

Pardon my giddiness, but I'm a little excited.

A Twitter pal of mine, a gent called Jeff Houck, is the Food Editor for the Tampa Tribune. He tweeted asking if anyone was a Juila Child fan. I responded saying yes and shared the link to my blog piece about the great lady as "proof", so to speak.

And the rest is history. Heh.

Have a hankering to check it out? (Just say yes -- it'll make me happy)

Groovy. Here you go: Tampa Tribune Julia Child feature

Wanna know something interesting? I'm still being inspired by Ms. Child. This little bit of affirmation has encouraged me to think big and revisit dreams.

To investigate taking serious cooking classes in Manhattan.

To pursue writing and 'netting about my dual passions of food and sports (not together though -- can you imagine? Maybe...)

To live life full of life and joy and abandon. To be full of genuine life.

So there you are.

And because I cannot resist (just humour me -- I may never pass this way again), here's the original blog piece which started it all.

Enjoy.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a “What the hell?” attitude.
~ Julia Child

It was my Saturday afternoon ritual. Make a sandwich. Grab a cold drink. Go to my room. Shut the door. Turn on the TV -- a little black and while model. Change the channel to our local PBS station. Settle back into my black bean bag chair. And wait for that jaunty theme music.

I was twelve years old.

And Julia Child was my idol.

It was French Chef time.

Life itself is the proper binge.
~ Julia Child

I don’t know where I got my intense, passionate, almost obsessive love of cooking. My paternal Grandma was a damn good cook; my maternal Nana wasn’t bad. My mom cooked, but it wasn't her passion.

But me -- I not only inherited the cooking gene from my ancestors, I got bit by the culinary bug as well. My earliest memory is of my four-year-old self being lifted up to take a look at the Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven.

And I did time with a couple of kids cookbooks -- pouring over the Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls like it was the Magna Carta, devising menus and mentally tinkering with recipes.

For some reason, my mother had a subscription to Bon Appétit magazine. Every month when the latest issue arrived in the mailbox, it spent about two days on the family room coffee table, then disappeared into my room. I cut recipes out like a girl possessed, treating them as lovingly as I did my pin-up poster boys from Tiger Beat. I’m not sure what I was thinking, as at that point in my life (and my family’s taste buds), there was no way I would be making 40 Cloves of Garlic Chicken, but I had the recipe. Just in case.

I don’t remember what brought me to my Saturday afternoons with Julia. Chances are I read about the programming lineup in TV Guide and just tuned in one day. Instantly hooked.

I watched Julia, with her non-intimidating style and deceptive skill, move ‘round her TV kitchen and create dishes the likes of which I’d never seen before in my home kitchen. Salade niçoise. Chocolate Mousse. Veal Prince Orloff. Which, of course, I knew about, thanks to a favorite episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Never use water unless you have to! I'm going to use vermouth!
~ Julia Child

So imagine my delight when under the Christmas tree in December ‘77, I found this.




Between that and the other fab book I received that year (Scarlett Fever - The Ultimate Pictorial Treasury of Gone With the Wind) I spent all of the 25th and most of the 26th reading until my eyes grew heavy with exhaustion.

As I read though my new treasure, my mind pondered all the possibilities. What would be the first thing I would make under Julia’s guidance and following her directions... which recipe would be the one that I would use as my jumping off point into the world of serious cooking.

The answer soon became apparent: French onion soup.

Onion soup sustains. The process of making it is somewhat like the process of learning to love. It requires commitment, extraordinary effort, time, and will make you cry.
~ Ronni Lundy

The recipe looked simple enough. Not many ingredients to bog down a new cook. Nothing too unusual to intimidate. And it was something that everyone in my immediate family might dig.

And so I began a ritual that I would continue to this day. I’ve been making Julia’s French onion soup for thirty years. Happily. When I was single and living on my own, it was my family’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner -- everyone would come to whatever hovel I was living in at the time for soup, salad, wine and conversation after the Christmas Eve church service. These days, I make it when the air turns cool and the palette craves a bit of familiar sophistication.

My cooking technique has improved over the years, as have the tools of my trade. And I think the soup I make now reflects the maturity of its creator. But honestly, there was something so perfectly delicious about those first batches of soup my idealistic teenage hands made. I infused the hearty melange with my youthful enthusiasm and zest. It in turn gave me confidence and a sense of self not known before. I wooed men with my soup. I cared for ailing friends with my soup. I helped to ease the grieving process of loved ones with my soup.

While poking around for pictures and whatnot to accompany this little piece, I did some reading about Julia and her life and accomplishments. The most interesting tidbit -- and the one I shall remember always -- was what she had for her last meal the night before she passed away.

French onion soup.

Bon Appétit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Julia’s Soupe à l'oignon
3 Tb. butter
1 Tb. olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. or about 6 cups thinly sliced yellow onions
1 t. salt
1/2 t. sugar
3 Tb. flour
6 cups organic beef broth
1 c. red wine
1 bay leaf
1/2 t. rubbed sage
salt & pepper


Melt the butter with the oil in a dutch oven and add the sliced onions and stir up to coat. Cover pan and cook over moderately low heat until translucent, about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover pan, turn up heat to medium-high and add salt and sugar. Sugar, by caramelizing, helps onions to brown. Stirring frequently, cook for another 20-30 minutes until the onions are deep brown and jam-like. Meanwhile, heat broth to a simmer in a separate pan.

Lower heat to moderate and add flour to onions. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously, to brown the flour. Remove from heat and whisk in one cup of the hot broth. Add the rest of the broth, wine, bay leaf and sage, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

Soupe à l'oignon gratinée (which really is the only way to eat it)
The soup!
1 baguette
olive oil
1 1/2 c. grated Gruyère/Emmentaler/Baby Swiss and Parmesan cheese, mixed

Cut bread into slices about 1 inch thick, paint lightly with olive oil and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Place in middle of preheated 325-degree oven for 15-20 minutes until beginning to brown lightly; turn and brown lightly on other side for 15-20 minutes. These are called croûtes.

Ladle soup into heat-proof bowls and top with a couple of the croûtes and grated cheese. Broil until bubbly on top. Serve.

Warning: hot melted cheese is akin to culinary napalm -- if not careful, you could burn the hell out of the inside of your mouth and render your taste buds helpless for a short period of time. Eat wisely. It’s worth it.

Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.
~ Julia Child

The Education of Young William

I tried marijuana once. I did not inhale.

~ William Jefferson Clinton

It's not enough that Will knows all the words -- and sings them frequently and at a volume that exceeds 11 -- to Flo Rida's "Low."

It's not enough that Will knows the entire daytime lineup -- in order -- for the Game Show Network. "Ooooh look... it's Card Sharks!"

He's now encountered his first narcotic -- smelling the unmistakable aroma of cannabis.

He was on a stroll around my parents' condo building (which shall be referred to from now on as the Tower of Terror) with my mother (aka Nana.) They had walked their regular route -- poked through the dog park across the street, looked in at the diners and drinkers at the tapas place on the corner and watched the sailboats glide along the water in the bay.

As they approached the building, right at the corner where the Irish pub-ette (it's like Dublin lite in there) is, my mother, ever the hip septuagenarian, smelled pot in the air.

Before she could hustle Will along, he wrinkled his little nose and said "what dat smwell?"

And Nana, with her Aunt Pittypat nature at full mast, said "Oh, Will. That's garlic."

Yes, you read that correctly.

Garlic.

Sigh.

She meant well, but good lord.

It's not as if Will's going to have occasion to smell pot on a regular basis. But he does smell garlic con frequencia 'round here, as I cook with it. A lot.

Can you feel me rolling my eyes right now? Because I am.

I'll keep you posted...

Flashback Friday: When a Stranger Calls

My friend topsurf recently posed the following question on Twitter: When I say Philadelphia, what’s the first thing you think of?

OK.

That’s pretty easy at first blush – cheese steaks and cream cheese and Those Damn Phillies and Rocky and the Steps and Tom Hanks and the Liberty Bell and so on and so on…

But as I was musing upon this, I was struck with another thought of Philadelphia… one more personal. Of department stores and gentility and elegant chocolate and politeness and heart. That didn’t involve me setting foot in the city at all.

It was a winter’s eve, sometime between the Watergate hearings and the Three Mile Island brouhaha. We were settled into our evening routine, which included watching something on the five channels we got on the telly; reading; enjoying the cool humidless breeze blowing through the screens on windows and doors.

A press of the doorbell startled all of us. Not that it was particularly late – in fact, the front lights were still on, signaling that we were still up and available for callers. The bell was simply unexpected. Daddy, being the chivalrous man of the house, went to answer the door where he was greeted by an older gentleman standing on the threshold. This fellow was dapper and immaculately dressed – tweed jacket with patches on the elbows; shirt and tie; wool hat. He explained that his car had broken down in front of our house and could he trouble us to use our telephone to call for assistance. The answer was, of course, yes. In those days, it’s just what you did. It was a more trusting time in regard to such things.

While he waited for AAA to arrive, Mama, ever the hostess, invited him in, offering him something to drink. He accepted and he and my parents sat in the living room, a place reserved for special occasions and grownup conversation, making small talk

My brother and I weren’t privy to what was discussed and only after he had left did we learn that he was a snowbird (our affectionate phrase for winter residents here in Florida) from Philadelphia. And that he drove a very big car.

We didn’t think much about our visitor after that – until a week or so later when an unexpected package arrived addressed to my mother. From Wannamaker’s, which, Mama explained, was a very nice and “tony” department store in Philadelphia. Fortunately, I was one with the family dictionary and so the meaning of the word “tony” was not lost on me – after I had to look it up, of course. I really wasn’t quite as smart as I thought I was – chalk it up to the confidence of youth.

Anyhoo.

The box from Wannamaker’s contained another box – this one covered in green velvet and adorned with a big silk flower. Very sophisticated. Inside the box were two layers of Godiva chocolate. Mama’s favorite. A handwritten note was enclosed, graciously thanking our family – my mother in particular -- for our kindness and assistance. It was signed by our traveling visitor.

I don’t remember eating any of the chocolate – I’m thinking my mother bogarted it all for herself. (Being an only child, she has a self-proclaimed difficulty with sharing.) But when the box was empty, she called me into the living room, the place for special occasions and grownup conversation. She handed me the box, saying that every girl needed a place to keep letters and notes and mementos. And that the empty box, a remnant of a gift cloaked in grace and chivalry, would be the perfect place.

She was right.

I had that box for many years – through high school and college and after. It held letters of love and of heartbreak; reminders of emotions unrequited and ambiguous; photos of the heart and of the mind. Boyfriends and crushes and friends and foes and accomplishments and activities and events. All were contained in the It finally fell apart thanks in part to use and reuse and in part to the rigors of being something recherché in the harsh humid heat of Florida.

It’s emblematic, that box -- of things past, of things remembered. Of a time when manners were the norm, not the exception. When random acts of kindness were things that one just did without forethought or hesitation. When my tender heart measured things tangibly and repeatedly.

I miss that box. And that time. I keep my memories internally now. But you never know – one day, I might spy a prettily packaged box of sweets that would be perfect to hold treasures…

See Janey Run. Run Janey Run.

I have just done something I hadn’t done in nearly 30 years.

No, I didn’t sneak a bunch of people into the drive-in by stuffing them into the trunk of my car.

No, I didn’t funnel beer straight from the keg (although truth be told, it’s been way less than 30 years since I did this)

No, I didn’t tie a huge bow in my hair after spraying it with a half can of Final Net, put on about 47 black rubber bracelets and pull up my ankle socks so they could be seen nicely above my black pumps.

I ran a mile. Without stopping.

A feat last accomplished in PE class my senior year in high school. Why I took PE my senior year is a foggy memory – I think it had to do with me having more than one elective on my schedule my junior year and needing to make it up before graduation.

Anyhoo.

I did it. I ran. A mile. Without stopping. . And then, a couple of days later, I did two. Sans break.

Wasn’t fast.

But I did it.

And I think I may have found a little piece of myself that’s lain fallow for nearly eight years.

At the very moment Will was born so abruptly and without warning, a large part of me – who I was, how I defined myself – ceased to exist. Which was necessary. Very necessary. Everything everything everything had to be channeled into ensuring that Will had whatever he needed in order to not only maximize his potential, but literally survive.

For several years, I focused solely on my child. Had to. No choice. And I did it gladly.

But while I was focused on him, I forgot about myself. In every sense of the word.

Partly out of necessity.

And partly out of guilt, for I felt paralyzingly responsible for his circumstance. My body had failed my child – failed to keep him safe. But that’s another story for another therapist’s couch.

As Will grew and stabilized and began to demand less and less of my intense attention, I became aware, first gradually and then acutely, of the floundering within my own self and psyche. I had let myself go, in myriad ways. At first I wallowed in it. Tears and self-flagellation a go-go. And then, finally, last fall, I did something about it.

I started to write a novel, taking care of the mental, creative me. And I began to work with a personal trainer, to assist the physical me.

All the parts of me are still works in progress – and always will be, as I firmly believe that growth is an integral and ongoing part of life. ‘Tis good for you, staves off stagnation.

So that mile I ran – it was much more than just 5280 feet. It was an individual victory. Sweeter than honey. My own gold medal, earned when I defeated my closest nemeses – my own personal demons.

Have a long way to go – my tuchus and core and thighs are testament to that, as is the holding pattern my book is in. But I think I’ve finally broken through the barriers I set for myself nearly eight years ago. And irony of ironies – who knew that taking care of oneself would make me a better mother. Which was my objective all along.

One small step on a treadmill. One giant step for me.

Meme Monday. C'mon on -- you know you want to...

Yet even more information about me you didn't know you wanted to know. Until now.

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Where’s my undereye de-puffer roller.

2. How much cash do you have on you?
$8

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
Gabor

4. Favorite planet?
The big blue marble, natch.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
Mikki

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
“Honky Tonk Woman” by the Stones

7. What shirt are you wearing?
My Old Navy ‘Vote Now’ t-shirt

8. Do you label yourself?
Sometimes I do when I’m in a “nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I’m gonna go eat worms” mood. But otherwise, no.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
None. Please. Have we just met?

10. Bright or Dark Room?
Dark. I like it dark. Mwah hahahahaha. If I could get away with wearing my sunglasses inside and not look like a douchebagette, I totally would.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
N/A. Leaving it here because I don’t feel like renumbering the bloody thing.

12. What does your watch look like?
Two-tone Timex. Stretchy band. El Cheapo from Tarzhay.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Trying to fall asleep.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
A confirmation from The Trainer about today’s workout time

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
Oooh – a couple of miles away. Near Tarzhay.

16. What's a word that you say a lot?
Seriously.

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
Will! Unprovoked, even.

18. Last furry thing you touched?
A stuffed animal in Will’s room.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Ibuprofen, Prozac, Endorphins (Whooooooo!!)

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
Z-E-R-O. And the age of this little exercise has just been exposed.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
Thirty. Just old enough to know better and just young enough not to care.

22. Your worst enemy?
Myself.

23. What is your current desktop picture?
A piccie of my table set-up at the Algonquin taken on my last trip to NYC.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
“Quit singing and eat your breakfast. NOW.”

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
The money. Flying is what airplanes are for.

26. Do you like someone?
But of course.

27. The last song you listened to?
“I’m Gonna Run to the City of Refuge” ~ The 77s

28. What time of day were you born?
7 am and change. On a Sunday.

29. What’s your favorite number?
7

30. Where did you live in 1987?
Gainesville and The 'Burg -- both in the F-L-A.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
To be honest – yes, yes I am.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
I doubt it. But maybe. Actually, yeah, there might be one or two, now that I think about it. Why, I can’t imagine. But actions say it is perhaps true.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
At work.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Swear. Again, have we just met?

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
I like to think so.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
On my hip. An ampersand.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Spanish.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Yes.

39. Are you touchy feely?
Oh sure... quite.

40. What’s your life motto?
I have two: You are stronger than you think. And it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Phone. Earrings. Sunglasses.

42. What’s your favourite town/city?
New York City

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
A hot dog at the ball game yesterday.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
I cannot even remember. Sad, really.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
If that means taking it to the mechanic, then yes – yes I can.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
That he is living in Maryland.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
I can go back to the mid-1700s. Not bad, not great.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
Theatre and dinner in NYC. Wore my LBD and great shoes. Plus pearls.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
My hamstrings and glutes are tight from my Friday workout. This problem will either be alleviated or exasperated with my Monday workout here shortly.

50. Have you been burned by love?
Absolutely.

Flashback Friday: Baby, it's cold outside. Wanna snuggle?

Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.
~ One Hundred Years of Solitude

The First Time I Saw Snow: An Essay

Immediately I recognized it.

Cold. White. Wondrous. Cascading from the sky. Showering down on me. Making the landscape of Park City, Utah that much more gorgeous.

This was it. Snow. I looked around for enough on the ground to make a snow angel. Or a snow man. Or a snow ball. Anything.

Snow. It was awesome.

And I was 35 years old.

Can you say native Floridian?

~~~~~~~~~~~

We were in Park City for a business function of the mister's -- his company was having their annual company meeting and Park City was the place. Although it was early spring, I had high hopes of finally seeing up close and personal the mystical white snow that had eluded me for so long.

It wasn't that I avoided snow. The opportunity to experience it just had never presented itself before.

Oh, I'd had several near misses:
* The ski trip to North Carolina with my church high school youth group.
Fake snow on the slopes.
* The ski trip to North Carolina as a chaparone for our church high school youth group.
Fake snow on the slopes.
* The smattering of flakes that fell one freaky cold Christmas eve in Orlando, where I was spending time with family. Don't count that.

So can imagine my delight when we drove our rental car out of Salt Lake City in route to our hotel and I saw the landscape covered in white. That was only heightened by the flurries that flew about the next day as I hilariously and spectacularly unsuccessfully took a beginners ski class.

Ooooh. That was bad. Really bad. Not pretty. Needless to say, I became an expert at apres ski very quickly.

However it wasn't enough to dampen my spirits as I came face to face with the only aspect of Mother Nature's bounty I really yearned for.

Snow.

I got in it, around it, through it. And threw it. Happily. Big kid. I had a lot of time and antics to make up for.

Fantastic.

I know it's a pain to live in for months at a time. It's ugly when tinged with the soot and grime of everyday life. It's problematic when driving.

But in that moment, when it was pristine and pure and gracious -- it was beautiful.

Well worth the wait.

Power Failure

Tough evening here at my house.

Frustrating.

Angry.

Tearful.

For both Will and me.

He's sleeping now, cheeks still pink and eyes red-rimmed from crying.

All because he and his mama had a communication stalemate.

My brave little boy wanted something tonight -- something that involved "turning it on." But he never could get me to understand what it was he wanted.

I tried everything. Oh, how I tried. We played with every toy that was tumbled onto the floor of his room. Music was turned on and off. Lights flickered.

"Will, please tell Mama what it is you want."

"I need you to turn it on."

And so it went. For over an hour. Neither one of us able to break through the wall and get to that ah-ha moment we both so desperately wanted.

I finally walked away, to try and gather my thoughts and to glean some clarity. He closed the door of his room and sobbed angrily. I had not been able to meet his need. He had not been able to tell me what that need was.

I can see the frustration in his eyes. Hear it in his voice. He wants so much to engage with me, to share things with me.

His skill set just isn't cooperating.

And it breaks my heart. I want to help him. But even my best efforts weren't enough. Not this time.

So as he sleeps, I will try to figure out what it was he was trying to tell me. Hoping for the best.

Tomorrow is another day. after all.

Meme Monday. The Fresh Maker.

(special thanks, once again, to Perpstu for the meme. She's awesome, you know.)

1. I’ve come to realize that my chest-size… is real and spectacular.

2. I’ve come to realize that my job… is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I never feel as if I'm doing it right.

3. I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving… I sing very loudly to whatever’s on the radio.

4. I’ve come to realize that I need… to cut myself a break.

5. I’ve come that realize that I have lost… a pure sense of who I am.

6. I’ve come to realize that I hate it when… people are narrow-minded.

7. I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk… I loooooove everrrrryooooone.

8. I’ve come to realize that money… is a necessary evil.

9. I’ve come to realize that certain people… will never change.

10. I’ve come to realize that I’ll always… wear my heart on my sleeve.

11. I’ve come to realize that my sibling… is one of my best friends.

12. I’ve come to realize that my mom… wasn’t always right.

13. I’ve come to realize that my cell phone… needs to be charged regularly.

14. I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning… it was too damn early.

15. I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep… I remembered to moisturize.

16. I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking… about what to have for dinner.

17. I’ve come to realize that my dad… was always my biggest ally.

18. I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook… Mafia Wars will be played.

19. I’ve come to realize that today… is finishing much better than it started.

20. I’ve come to realize that tonight… there is no Rays game and I’m at a loss at what to do!

21. I’ve come to realize that tomorrow… is another day.

22. I’ve come to realize that I really want to… write. And write. And write.

23. I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to repost this is.. no telling.

24. I’ve come to realize that life… is fragile and precious.

25. I’ve come to realize that this weekend… will be what I make it.

26. I’ve realized the best music to listen to when I am upset… is jazz.

27. I’ve come to realize that my friends… are too few and far between.

28. I’ve come to realize that this year… has been enlightening.

29. I’ve come to realize that my exes… are exes for a reason.

30. I’ve come to realize that maybe I should… finish cleaning my office.

31. I’ve come to realize that I love… passionately.

32. I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand… myself sometimes.

33. I’ve come to realize my past… is to be learned from.

34. I’ve come to realize that parties.. are to be enjoyed, not feared.

35. I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified… of not living up to my potential.

36. I’ve come to realize that my life… is an evolutionary work in progress.