Doxie Proxy

Same

I’ve just come back from several days with family in another state. The “hearthstone” of my life, I suppose you could call it. Someone I love is ill. She’s been sick off and on for a long time, and it’s exacerbated some traits I hadn’t really given much thought to before.

I started to write about all she’s done for me, but suffice it to say she’s been there for me, a lot. My grown-up self can now look back and say I’ve been there for her a lot, too, and as of this week, we’re even. Maybe forever.

My mother hugged her and cried, asking forgiveness for something every single one of us agree she should have and HAD to do, and this particular relative didn’t so much as twitch. My mother. Cried. And this… God, how I pause at this point. Do I say angry? Bitter? Hateful? When at the same time, my heart tells me she’s a loving person, and I know this because her life has been about helping wounded people. Nonetheless, she didn’t acknowledge how much pain my mother was in, and how she was practically begging for forgiveness over this imagined sin, and that, to coin a Southern phrase, just FLEW ALL OVER ME. (I don’t care where the phrase originated from; the South’s where I grew up hearing it.)

My mom stepped out of the room and I let loose with both barrels. God, I was so furious that I was shaking, and I could feel the flushing starting on my chest and going all the way up to my temples. I blasted her with this great righteous indignation, full of thunder that my beloved mom had been hurt.

I spent the night tossing and turning. At 3am I was looking at the clock, saying “God, what did I do? What did I do? How could I say that?” I haven’t seen her since, and I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. A big part of me says that I’m done, completely. She’s been hateful and horrible and bitter and beyond the most nightmarish of people that you could ever want to be around, and right now I feel like a gigantic ass, because I could have been more compassionate. Damn it. I could never, ever hate her, and will always love her, but right now.. I don’t think we like each other very much.

(Note to self: No, really, jackass?)

There’s no contest between my mother and any other female in this world. None. I love her with every fiber of my being, and will do everything I can to protect her from harm. I am so blessed. So very blessed.

It will probably not last long, but there is a tiny spark of hope within me.

I am 5 days late.

Please, God. Please.

Tags: family, vacation

Lost.

Mister is ill - 3 days gone with bronchitis and a wretched cough, poor thing. He’s slept precious little and aches all over. Sleeping with him and the dog is an exercise in patient compassion. He coughs, wakes up, rolls over, groans because he aches, the dog is displaced from his snuggle spot amongst Mister’s legs (under the covers), the dog then rolls over and groans because he’s arthritic. So…it goes something like this:

Mister: *hack*

Mister: *wriggle* *moan* *rolls over* *groans* *hack* *cough*

Taz: *smacking noise* *wriggle* *wrigglewriggle* *flop* *groan*

Bless their hearts. That’s about all I can say, because my man, he is sick, and not just with the man-flu. (OK, I admit it. In his words, as well as mine, he feels like ass. In fact, yesterday he was sitting down, looking like he felt just horrid, and I looked over and said “Ass?” He replied “Yeah.”

Now see, for us, that’s funny as heck. An entire conversation in just two words, and nothing more needed to be said. My poor darling. I hate that he feels, well…. like ass.

The Book of Eli turned out nicely. I do enjoy Denzel Washington. The man can act, and he’s handsome, to boot. Why can’t he run for president? Oh, wait.. because he doesn’t have decent political experience, and he’s a good actor? Well heck! Apparently that’s all you need to get elected these days. Bleargh. Whatever. I joined a FB group along with lines of “I hate it when I get up in the m0rning and 0bama is president.” Again with the bleargh.

Argh. I would love to go see Legion, but must save money. Phooey. Will do next week.

Started back on the hand-written journal a few nights ago. (Dear God, I actually just wrote “a few night’s ago” - WTH is wrong with me?) I have always adored writing somewhat like the journal reads in that Bridget Jones movie. Y’know, all “am v. displeased with weight. Hair vile today. Must have this bushy shag snipped soonest.”

No, seriously…I tend to be more real, I suppose. I don’t know why. There’s a much bigger chance of someone finding my actual journal than this site, and no, it’s not because I’m a complete dolt and think all this is OMG private; it’s because Mister couldn’t be arsed to look for it, and that’s not a bad thing. I don’t say anything in either one that I wouldn’t say to him, so…meh.

Taz is snuggled beside me, curled up in a white blanket older than I am. Abigai1’s on her bed, snuggled up in a pink blanket, again, older than I am. What is up with my natty blankets? Ah well, they’re in good shape, and they belong to the dogs.

God, I’ve written about nothing, haven’t I? Blathered on incessantly about essentially random stuff, which I hate to read, but apparently tend to write.

Mom’s out of the hospital - thank you, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please keep her safe.

Dad’s feeling much better - thank you again, God. Thanks so much, because he felt truly wretched for several days, and is only now able to eat with some semblance of normalcy. Poor thing. =(

My aunt’s doing well in rehab. She broke her hip, and I still can’t believe it. Please be with her, Lord. I do love her dearly.

My other grandmother seems to be doing well with her hip replacement. I’m not close to her (and it’s her own doing), but I am glad she’s not in any pain.

Lord, please be with all those folks in Haiti. I know folks say there’s a purpose for everything, but I sure don’t understand what it is for that awful, awful tragedy.

Time for Mister’s cough syrup. (Thank you, codeine!)

Night!

Tags: movies

Gratitude is the fairest blossom…

..which springs from the soul. - Henry Ward Beecher

It’s been a long month. More of the same, essentially, but I need to list my blessings if for no other reason than to remind myself of them.

Thank you, God, for my blessings.

• My parents. They are wonderful beyond words, and I am wholly and thoroughly blessed by having them in my life.
• My husband. His faults are few. His strengths are innumerable. How I love this precious, precious man.
• My animals. I love my two little dogs and my sweet, fat cat more than I can say. They’ve brought so much to my life.
• My mind. Thank you for blessing me with a quick wit and the ability to add without using my fingers.
• My job. Thank you for blessing me with the ability to work with wonderful people performing work that can be challenging, and that pushes me to learn new things every day.
• My car, because it gets me where I need to go, and allows me to see my family more often.
• My health insurance. I can’t imagine how I could make it, even a few months, without it.
• My faith. In this day and age, when so many think it is open season on anyone with a smidgen of belief, I am grateful that mine is not shaken. I love you, Lord, and I thank you for being in my life.

===

The problem has reared its monstrous head, once again, and I fear…no, I know, that I can’t keep it at bay this time. It’s time to pay the piper, and he’s apparently very proud of his wares. I don’t know that I can afford this, and I really do mean that. I’m scared. I’m not suicida1, by any means, but I wish I could lay down and sleep for five years, then wake to face the future, because surely the bad stuff would already be over.

I spent an afternoon at an auction. My parents, my grandmother and I had a good time, and I snagged a nice laptop case, replete with wheels (vroom!), and a ridiculously cute pair of kiddie umbrellas for two young cuties I know and ?.

I think I must head back home tomorrow. I’m glad we got to spend the holiday with my family (Mister had to head back early), but I miss the feeling of home. Being at home is like…proprioception. When I’m there, my heart knows I’m where I’m supposed to be, and it feels right. My life moves and flows in relation to the outside world, but I go forward from my origin; my home.

My sweet Abigail is relapsing again, and this time it’s worse. No seizures, but her hind legs are going, and I worry that soon, there will be no further remission. I don’t know what to do. Is this the beginning of her end? I can’t imagine my life without this precious creature. Please, God. Tell me what to do.

Tell me how I can fix her. Tell me how I can fix me.

Tags: Abigail, blessings, blues, dogs, family, holidays, pets, thanks

Thankful

I found a fantastic coupon last week, and immediately called to schedule an appointment. It was for a professional carpet cleaning (by a company I trust), entire house, up to 2500 square feet, including stairs and deodorizing, for $99. (Plus gas fee, I’m sure.) In the words of my beloved MMORPG brethren, “w00t!”

As I think (long story - don’t ask) we’ll be moving in a few months, I’ve been wanting to start packing, slowly but steadily. Tonight, I started. Mister and I have planned to do some rearranging/cleaning for a little bit Wednesday through Friday, and we started that tonight, as well. Bless his heart, he just asked me what I needed him to do, and went right to it. How lucky can one woman get? (man-wise) My goal is to A) of course, make sure the house is clean (every room) when carpet fellows come by, as they’ll be all throughout the house, and B) when I notice things that we don’t really use but once in a blue moon, to go ahead and pack it. I have several (read: 60?) boxes of all sizes, and am hoping to cut down on what we eventually have to pack, as well as give me a big chance to donate or, more likely, throw away stuff. Yes, I know.. perfectly good stuff that someone else can use, especially in this economy, and adding to landfills and etc. We’re talking torn clothes that I don’t think can be used for crafts, chipped bowls and dog food that the dogs didn’t eat and the cat tried to bury. Things like that. (And probably as many old, ragged tee-shirts that I can convince Mister he no longer needs.) I filled up 2.5 packed boxes tonight, plus about half of a donate box that I’ll be taking to work. A dear, dear friend has a daughter that’s going through a rough time, and I’m hoping she can use what we don’t.

I talked to my dad last week - ON A WEBCAM! How funny is that? He has surprised me with how tech-savvy he’s become in the last few years. He’s always had a great mind about how things work, and has always loved gadgets used in the shop, but he’s turned out to be a bona-fide geek, and I’m so proud of him.

My dad is one of my best friends. God, how I love him.

Here’s to you, Daddy!

Tags: Daddy

Me.

Randomness.

I call my dad every weekday, Monday through Friday, on my way home from work. I’ve been doing this for close to five years now, and it’s one of my favorite parts of the day. We talk about everything and anything, and I think we’re closer than ever. I’m so blessed to have such wonderful parents.

When I first receive a book I’m really excited about, I read the first chapter out loud to myself, so I don’t just rush in and gobble it from beginning to end. I did this night before last with Kim Harrison’s White Witch, Black Curse.

I watch to see how well other women wash their hands in the bathroom. If they sprinkle their fingers under a tiny stream of water, well, I grimace, thinking how everything they’re going to touch their phones or faces or.. *gag* mouths, with nasty hands. It just grosses me right out.

I have a heart condition that I was either born with or developed when I was very young. It’s worsening through no fault of my own (it happens as one ages), but yet when I had to have a certain test a year ago, the tech/nurse/whatever came into the room with my chart, looked down at me, looked back at my chart, and tsk’d, then he said my age. I’m in the position I’m in (eventual, definite heart surgery, but hopefully a few more years down the road, and as minor as this type of procedure can be) - again - through no fault of my own, but this idiot assumes that I’m ruining my health with bad habits, and if I was, which is not the case, who the hell is he to look down on me? I was so mad! No, I never said anything, and yes, I wish I had, and no, I’m not going to stress over it. (That jackass.)

I had nearly all of my hair chopped off last night at the local Ulta. I heard or read somewhere that if you can’t or aren’t willing to take care of long hair, then you don’t need long hair - and this make great sense to me. The stylist last night talked to me for a good while about my hairstyle, and how I usually fixed it, what products I used, and bless her heart, she answered my multitude of questions just wonderfully. My hair’s gone wonky the last couple of years. It’s very curly, but has become so dry and dull, and just behaves differently. (Does hair behave? Mine doesn’t.) Anyway, long story short, my medications have increased a good bit over the last couple of years, and that’s probably also having an effect on my hair. Liza (stylist) said that whatever you put in your mouth shows up in your hair, and that makes sense, like those drug tests they do where they snip off a bit and find out if you’ve snooted or whatever they call it in the last few months. Between that, and being thirty-something, thyroid problems and God knows what else, I decided to ask her to snip it all off. I have a lot of curliness on top, cut close around my ears, and short in the back. I adore it. Mister likes it. All is well. Yay Liza!

Thanks to this adorable post, I’m going to make some big crayons for one of my best friend’s freaking-adorable, gorgeous, too danged cute for words grandson. His cheeks! His red hair! I wanna squeeze him! I’ll pick up some crayons tomorrow while I’m out, as I must hit the Kohls sale in the morning.

My husband asked what I was going to do when I logged off the computer this afternoon around 4:30. I replied I was going to go do laundry, since I’d been slack about it the last couple of days. Bless his heart, he came right downstairs, and did the dishes, without fussing, complaining, grumbling or growling, when I wanted to do all four at the thought of laundry. He’s a keeper.

I burned two discs for a good friend tonight. Approx 220 songs. Some of the music is not what listens to, I think, but I’m trying to branch out, and am draggin’ her right along with me. We’re were apparently wrenched apart at birth, as we both profess a long and enduring love for all things Rex Smith. (A moment, please. I may swoon.)

Lastly…

I think the headache is getting worse again. It’s never completely gone away, but has, for the last week and a half, eased to about a 2 on a 1-10 scale. Right now it is a 4, and earlier it was bit worse. I took a pain pill for the first time around 10 days. I thought, or rather I hoped, that I was through with this. The neuro consult is next Wednesday. All I know now is that it’s not a ‘tumah’. Sigh. Please don’t let it start again.

Tags: crayons, heart surgery, Kohls, Rex Smith, Ulta

PaPaw

My grandfather passed away in November of 2007, a few days before Thanksgiving.

I miss him very much. He was a loud, loving man, and a caring grandparent. I never knew him to drive anything other than a big truck, and my favorite memories are of us heading down to the local corner store (Hankins). He was most likely there to get gas, or cigarettes, but I always felt like it was a trip especially for me.

He was tall, and when he reached over me to pull open the door to the store, it was like passing under the wing of a giant bird. Mr. or Mrs. Hankins was always at the counter, giving a quick smile, nod, and “How’re ya doing, C?” to PaPaw, and would wink at me conspiratorially. I felt a little like royalty, as if the entire world revolved around me. When I was with PaPaw, it did.

He’d pull his wallet from the back pocket of his starched-to-high-heaven jeans, and gesture toward the rows of brightly colored candies and gums, stacked neatly beneath the counter. Whenever I couldn’t make up my mind, PaPaw just nodded and opened his hand. I’d poke my lip out and drop one of my sweets into his palm, and he’d sigh, grin, and tell me to just “gem ‘em both.” Into a tiny brown paper bag they’d go, and I had to hold on to that bag all the way back to the house. I had a habit of tearing into my goodies before we got back, you see. Sometimes I’d try to sneak one little hand into the bag, and that tell-tale crinkling sound would give me away. My grandfather’s big paw would gently close over my hands and the bag, and he’d grin and shake his head, without ever taking his eyes off of the road.

I loved riding in the truck with him, holding my bagged treasure.  It was like flying, because I was so high up in the air. He’d roll the window down, and I’d stick one hand up on the door, with that wonderful Mississippi breeze ruffling my ridiculously curly hair. It seemed like we were moseying, and I knew every curve, every inch of that winding road that would take us back home. The sun always seemed gentle, and the warmth was like being hugged by Jesus.

I miss you, PaPaw.  What I wouldn’t give for more ride.

At work, my favorite picture of him sits to my right. He’s sitting in a big, comfy chair with his legs stretched out, wearing his usual plaid shirt, starched jeans, and cowboy boots (and his ever-present suspenders). I’d been bugging him to smile for the camera, when he turned and gave me this wide-eyed goofy grin.  Next to his picture is his funeral announcement, with Brother Bobby Joe, Brother Gene and Brother Gerald as officiants. The sheer Southern-ness of that makes me smile.  PaPaw was gruff, but loving, and loud, but gentle. When he laughed, it was with his whole heart, and losing him makes the world feel a little…less.

4:30 a.m.

That’s what time I woke up. Out of a dead sleep, I turned to the Mister and quietly asked, “Baby, did you give Abigail her medicine last night?” Because he is made of pure wondefulness, he merely mumbled “Yes - she got it at 9.”

Now, had it been him waking me up to ask this, I most likely would’ve woken completely up, turned, glared and said “DID I WHAT?” “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” Not him, oh no. Bless his heart for putting up with my eccentricities and neuroses. The lad’s a saint.

I started to lay back when Abigail chose that moment to perk right up and announce that she had to meet her betrothed out by the lamp-post. Translation: Mom, I have to PEE. NOW. Like, RIGHT now.  There’s no use grumbling, because Prednisone’s side effect of drinking a lot and thusly tinkling a lot is alive and well in this dog, and at least she has the good sense to let me know about it, eh?

After letting her back in, I figured I’d get back to my aggravation of trying to figure out why Adobe Flash wasn’t working in Firefox, but was working fine in IE. This has been nearly infuriating, because I HATE to be forced to use IE. I’ve gotten so completely spoiled by AdBlock that it’s actually surprising to see an ad sometimes. I finally found this post, which suggested an incredibly simple fix. In mere minutes, I had Flash! To coin a phrase from my 11 years of MMORPG-playing, w00t!

I had to first uninstall Flash by using the Adobe Flash uninstaller (ridiculous that you have to use an alternate uninstaller, but that’s another story). Incidentally, I learned about the uninstaller from Michael Horowitz.

I heart the innernet.

• Listening: Al Jarreau (Mornin)
• Reading: Gale Force (Rachel Caine)
• Thinking: Whether I want to volunteer, give donations, or do both for the local food bank. See the small banner in the right sidebar? It’s made me focus on how I can help. Check it out!

40 Questions (plus a few)

(Shamelessly borrowed from Jason at negroplease.com, after he borrowed it from the wonderfully talented amandarin.net. )

1) Was 2005 a good year for you? Yes. A great one.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year? Visiting the Americana winery in New York with a dear friend. It was a quiet, windy day in April, and the only ones there were my friend, the girl behind the counter, me, and this great, huge dog. We tasted so many different wines, snacked on this divine fudge, and it was just a magical afternoon. New York is a beautiful state, replete with magnificent scenery, funny, friendly, talented people, and great food. This is coming from someone born in the lower right corner of the country, so I mean it, y’all.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year? The day I was told my best friend had a 30% chance to live.

5) Who were you with? His mother and his brother.

6) Where will you be when 2005 ends? At my mom and dad’s home, most likely, since that’s where I am right now, and 2006 will start in a little over 20 minutes.

7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends? My perfect parents and 2 incredibly spoiled Australian shepherds.

Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005? My resolutions were:

I want to be kinder, calmer and more patient. I want to be quicker to tolerate and accept, and slower to judge and criticize. I want to see a whale breach, walk in the moonlight with my husband, and to listen more while talking less.

I was not kinder or more patient, though I was calmer at times..I think. I was probably even less tolerant, (we won’t go into the judgemental bit), didn’t see the whale, but I did walk in the moonlight with my husband. I tried to listen more while talking less, but I honestly don’t think that happened, either. Oi. I suck.

9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006? I have several, and am trying something new this year. I want to be a better person, yada yada, have more patience, blah blah, etc. etc. ad nauseum, but I also want to try for things that are, for the most part, measureable. Hence, these:- Reduce my possessions. I’m very good at ruthlessly tossing stuff out, but have been a real slacker about it lately. I’m tired of being surrounded by things that just take up space & bring nothing good into my life.

- Take better care of my teeth and skin. Don’t fall asleep with mascara on, and floss!

- This goes along with #1, but whittle down my clothes to key pieces that can complement several outfits.

- Buy good quality, attractive, classy, comfortable shoes (several pair), and wear them. I’m awful about wearing a favorite pair of shoes right into the ground.

- Get more sleep. 4-6hrs/night is ridiculous, and I know better.

10) Did you fall in love in 2005? No, but I stayed in love, which was wonderful.

11) If yes, with whom? The Mister, AKA my husband of 5 years.

12) If yes, do they know? Hah! He better. As he likes to say, “I have papers!”

13) Are you still in love with them? More, with every single breath.

14) Do you regret it? No

15) Did you break up with anyone in 2005? No

- Insert intermission. It’s 7 minutes til midnight, and the dogs are going crazy because of the fireworks. Did you know two 65lb dogs can fit in one lap whilst sitting on a computer chair? Me neither.

Happy New Year!

16) Did you make any new friends in 2005? Yes, several.

17) Who are your favorite new friends? C, this amazing, funny, precious lady at work, V, this brilliant, beautiful, funny lady at work, and R x 2, the respective husbands of 2 great ladies at work. (This is only re: new friends.)

18) What was your favorite month of 2005? April (See #2)

19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005? No

20) How many different states did you travel to in 2005? Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Mississippi and New York, so 5. However, I traveled through a kazillion.

21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005? I lost 2 wonderful loved ones that I hadn’t seen in quite a while. My beloved Aunt G, and the wonderful Uncle H.

22) Did you miss anybody in the past year? Yes, terribly.

23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005? The Wedding Date, because before that movie I wasn’t all that impressed with Dermot Mulroney, but in the movie, there’s this part where he presses Debra Messing back against the car, just with the tips of his fingers, and speaks softly to her, and oh my Lawd, it was a revelation. Ooh! Add Unleashed to the list. That movie was brilliant. Oh, and Transporter 2. Ok, I’ll shut up now. I liked Hitch, too, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, though Angelina can hug a root for being with Brad now.

24) What was your favorite song from 2005? True, by Ryan Cabrera (at least I *think* that’s from this past year)

25) What was your favorite record from 2005? I don’t have one. I did, however, recently purchase the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack (from the *real* movie, the Zeffirelli version, not that Leonardo DiCrapio one), and am IN LOVE with it! It’s the actual soundtrack too, as in the actual words spoken, not just the one song. Wow, is it still moving and mesmerizing, even after seeing it at least 50 times. “and I… for winking at your discords, too… have lost… a brace of kinsman.” *sigh*

26) Did you see any concerts this year? No, but a harpist’s solo made me cry.

27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005? N/A

28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005? No. I got pretty tipsy in January, and went into SVT, so, no.. there wasn’t a lot of ETOH consumption throughout the year. Best drink I did have, though? Appletini. Nummy.

29) Did you do a lot of (not counting alcohol) drugs in 2005? Heck, no. Not a lot, not a little, nor any amount in between.

30) Did you hope for something you didn’t get in 2005? Yes, but I’m still hoping. It’ll happen. Or it won’t. Either way, I’ll be fine.

31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Yes. What, like I’m going to actually write it out?

32) What was the biggest lie you told in 2005? “I’m sure he’s a good man, because you’re a great person, and you wouldn’t be with anyone that didn’t have many good qualities”. The truth, madam, is that he’s an ass, and something must be intrinsically defunct in your personality to stay with such a bottom-dwelling moron.

33) What was the worst lie someone told you? “I promise I’ll keep in touch. I promise I’ll call, or write, AIM, or email so that you don’t worry constantly that I have died.” The reason this lie is so terrible, is because they really could die, and I may or may not find out.

34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005? Probably, as I’m human, but specifically, no. I really hope I didn’t.

35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2005? Yes, but not out of malice.

36) How much money did you spend in 2005? Hoo-boy. Let’s just say ‘more than I saved’. Example: The $58 order I’m awaiting from Lush.

37) What was your proudest moment of 2005? There were many. I was blessed.

38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005? Let me get back to you on that. I need to consult Mister, as I’m sure he can recall one in detail. (Hehe..you keep thinking that.)

39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be? I’d have kept my mouth shut that day.

40) What are your plans for 2006? I’d like to do and be better. Vague? Yes.

(A few questions of my own)

41) What was the nicest thing you were told in 2005? As I was hugging my boss goodbye on my last day at my former position, she whispered “You are a treasure“. I will never, ever forget this, or forget her. Have you ever actually loved a boss? I did. I still do.

42) What was the worst movie you saw in 2005? There were several bad ones. Must I choose just one? White Noise, Boogeyman, The Island, The Brothers Grimm and Corpse Bride (oh, how this movie sucked).

43) What was the worst song you heard in 2005? I’s a safe bet that it’s a tie between A) Hollaback Girl, B) that “my humps, my lumps, stuff in the trunk, or WTF-ever it is” song, C) anything sung by someone moronic enough to attach diamonds or platinum to their teeth, and D) anything that remotely references busting a cap in someone’s ass. I also hate anything where someone screams like their testes are being peeled with a potato peeler, and you can’t understand a single syllable. I miss the 80’s.

44) What was the best overall book you read in 2005? The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger (I have to add that the funniest book I read was You Slay Me, by Katie MacAlister. Hysterical, laugh-out-loud funny, even.)

45) What was the worst book you read in 2005? The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers. Yeah, it’s a classic, blah blah yada yada. It sucked so, so bad - and if the dork in one of my book clubs went on and on one more time about all the “like, symbolism” in the book, I was going to stick a fork in my eyeball.

46) What was the last book you read in 2005? A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey Let me save you the trouble, and sum it up for ya: Do drugs, throw up, black out, have massive dental work done sans pain-killers or anesthesia, throw up, black out, therapy session, throw up, black out, therapy session, throw up, meet girl, throw up, therapy, hug mom, hug dad, throw up, leave rehab. The end.

Parental Units

I arrived at my parents after a short, albeit agonizing 3 hour drive. I usually love to drive, but the spasms, they were a-hurting. The aforementioned Christmas gift for my Dad has gone over extremely well, and he and his new preciousssssss PDA have not parted ways in the 6 hours since he received it. Giving a great gift is my the greatest feeling. I like to give gifts much more than I like to get them, though of course this doesn’t count when it comes to things like cars, books or RAM.

I am awash in Australian shepherds, watching TiVo and enjoying a lovely, freshly-stoked fireplace. Life ees good. Pictures to follow!

Workin’ for the Weekend

Ah, blessed weekend. Well, not technically, as it’s only Thursday night, but I requested tomorrow off, and my beloved company is giving us Monday off, so voila, 4-day weekend. I’m heading to see the folks tomorrow, in order to finally take my dad his Christmas present, a Zire 72s (the silver one). He likes gadgets like this, and has religiously used a Palm m105 until it’s almost on it’s last leg. I wanted a PDA with relative ease of navigation, and this one is so nifty I had to get one for myself. It does everything, y’all. MP3 player, takes and plays videos, voice recorder, pdf books (eReader.com), audio books (audible.com and me are like *this*), takes photos, plus the proverbial coterie of calendar, task list, planner, and all sorts of organization doodads.

In other news, my neck is still feeling awful, and Skelax1n, Excedrin, Biofreeze and those adhesive heat packs are giving minimal (at best) relief. Good grief. WTH did I do to it? I’ve heard several explanations, including that I’m having a backlash of the stress I was under over the holidays, and that people hold, or.. what’s the expression.. focus? tension in their neck and shoulders, and that the left side of my neck is hurting because I’m a right-brained person. No matter what, I’d just like it to please go away. I don’t relish the thought of driving, if only for a few hours, with this spasming monstrosity formerly known as my left neck and shoulder.

Also, my husband is a miracle. I can’t believe I have this precious person in my life. Just had to say that.