let’s see if this works

Just dropping in to say that any second now I’m going to find my rhythm and start writing here regularly again. It’s been quite a transition to go from the insanity of school to working full time. It’s an improvement on so many levels, but now we need to find the way this will work for all of us, the family flow of the many things we need to get done and would like to do.

And now my .02 on Valentine’s Day.

Foo.

I don’t care for it, I think I quit caring for it before I actually gave up on it because I thought I was supposed to care about it. Somewhere in 1993 maybe? Eh I’ve had folks that made an effort and it was nice but very rarely was did it ever make sense. It just felt forced. And the best Valentine’s is this..and the last 10. Why?

Because we just don’t do it. The Bean does and that’s fun. Kids doing Valentine’s with friends is just great, but the rest of it is contrived. Isn’t it just a greeting card holiday? It may have begun based in an ancient fertility festival, but fertility has never been a big part of my life–well I avoided it longer than I wanted it. Then wanted it fiercely …and now I’ve given up on it. Maybe if I think about February as being the month the “birds began to pair” as it was in the middle ages it isn’t so bad.

This sounds a lot more depressing than it is. I just don’t get it. I love his birthday and getting him surprises for no reason. I love our anniversary–but this seems somehow impersonal. Perhaps because we’d be sharing it with everyone else and we’re just not joiners. Hee.

Anyway. Happy Valentine’s to those who celebrate it and I hope you enjoyed your Sunday to everyone else.

Ah where have I been? I have been enjoying the hell out of the swine flu. I’ve had fever and barfing and all sorts of horrible other things for the past almost week. I’m still so fatigued I can barely move.

We’re so behind on Xmess I don’t know how we’ll catch up.

The very good thing and if I had even an ounce more energy I’d go on and on about it, is I have a new job. Start in January. I’ll say more when I sign the papers, just superstitious that way. It’s exciting, what I want to be doing and exactly what I have the ability and passion to do. It took awhile to come back to this line of work–until I figured out it was working for salesman that was the problem.

Sigh. I want to write more but I’m exhausted and have to figure out how to catch up on Xmess.

First random thing:

I would like to like the show Eastwick because

1) the redhead witch was on Eureka a show I love

2)The actor who plays Darryl the Satan character was in this WONDERFUL PBS/Sundance show called Slings and Arrows. Which I LOVED.

3) I adore the other redhead Sara Rue to distraction. She was in a great movie called Gypsy 83 that everyone should see. It is also nice to see her not being a blonde bobblehead anymore. I actually love Sara Rue more than the first chick, but I’m writing this as I watch the tivo so I went to her first. She’s written whedonesque.

Next random thing:

Babbage, our small kitten has an insatiable need to knock every single glass or cup over. And crawl up my nose at every available opportunity.

I made a website today for the thing I’d like to do:

http://www.etherhumanity.weebly.com

Still working on it.

I finished Feed

it wasn’t the story I thought it was, with the kids teaching themselves to read with emergency signs and manuals (must find that story again, it was good, possibly metafilter).

But it was goooooooood. And very topical and real. And I want to read more of him. I ignore banners and other net enticements, but the progression in this book is fully on point.

No really library tomorrow! I need more reading material. The sequels to Wicked Lovely and

Can I be an adult and be enthralled with YA lit? Well there are so many adult women who are crazy over Twilight, which I don’t get. I like bloodthirsty brooding wampires, not sparkling emos. But I saw the first movie and I’ll see this one. I justn don’t know if I can try and read the books again.

Now…the Hunger Games…Can’t wait to start THAT sequal. And the sequel to City of Bones

I’d really like to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie, because when Robert Downey Jr. isn’t on drugs, he’s an amazing actor–yes I liked Iron Man.

I made a very tasty dinner– Lovely pork chops (coleman’s mustard on both sides topped with paprika, salt. pepper, onions, apples and honey) and green beans sauteed with onions, breadcrumbs, and garlic. Yum. I missed having time to cook!

And I must finish the random notes for the day. This finishes it.

I have an interview or two or three. I have about 10 resumes out there, and have started getting positive responses back. I’m so excited to be going back to work. I did enjoy using my brain and effort in the M.A.T. program–I just didn’t like the fact that there was never any breathing space. None. You never got even one moment to savor an accomplishment. Not resting on laurels mind you, but just having a moment to enjoy a job well done.

We went to Nightbird books yesterday. Love that place. I like it even better in the new Dickson location. The books are more expensive than Borders, Barnes and Noble or Amazon but the atmosphere is excellent. I try to get at least one out of three books there. There is an excellent CHEESE sandwich restaurant called Hammontrees. James had a Jack to the future and I had the Scarlet Chedder. Um…Cheese is good. And this is extra cheese.

I’ve got some pictures somewhere, why? Because it is cheese. I’ll put them up in a bit.

Ah here they are (edited the morning after)

Edited–WHY did this post in January? Sheesh.

Today is world AIDs day. Get tested if you are at risk. Take care of yourselves–we’ve lost too many wonderful folk.

Planet 51 is a cute movie. J, Em and I went this weekend and it was so cool to just hang out with her without something hanging over my head.

Movie popcorn however, is quite evil. they now cook it in something that has more artificial flavor in it than it used to. Also–do not add the butter flavor, even a little. I was siiiiiiiiick. So no more movie popcorn for me.

Haru catten is getting more and more affectionate. Girlcats usually are more standoffish in my experience –they take awhile to warm up. So after about two years she is more snuggly.

Finally got my check for ACC. And the door closes.

And tomorrow I sit down and start writing.

Finished Wicked Lovely, would love to read the sequal.

Reading Feed, feel like I read that as a short story, will see when I finish up.

Got Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games.

Will hit the library tomorrow for another couple of books and maybe a manual or two on some new software. Might as well learn a new program or two while I have the time.

Once again I’ll thank you for the pokes and proddings to catch up, to write more. We’ve had an eventful last several weeks, both good and bad. The bad is that my stepfather has returned to the hospital then been moved back to the skilled nursing facility. He won’t be leaving there anytime soon. My mother almost never leaves. When she does he gets upset which saddens her. She needs to take more time for herself and I’ve said so and she will if she feels like she can.

I’ve had a health scare myself. I don’t want to go further into it than that. It was a frightening miscommunication between the doctor and myself. When everything was sorted out the news is still not wonderful but much less bad. It was a terrifying 48 hours though. Really horrible. Life flashing before my eyes and all that. The news that is isn’t great but there are things we can do.

We’ve been very busy with the Bean. She’s been in soccer camp, Drama camp and this week swim and fitness camp. They meet a different parks for three hours a day and the folks work for the parks, the schools and are interested in becoming teachers. They are wonderful. Very patient and encouraging. It’s kept Bean from being bored out of her mind during a wet and upsetting summer.

I’ve joined a gym. I have very little idea what I’m doing. I lift weights for 30 or 40 minutes in no set order every other day. Arms,legs and abdomen. I run like a rat on the wheel for 30-50 minutes every day of the week. I wonder how long it will take to see a difference? I’m guessing about 5 weeks. That’s what it took before all those miscarriages. I’d lost 20 some odd pounds and had a nice bit o definition in my abs. And so I’m back to the drawing board and trying not to be too hard on myself. Having the Ipod and two new Abney Park CDs helps a lot. I’m just hoping if I sweat a lot that means I’m getting somewhere.

I organized an outting to the incredible Ravenwood Festival on the 12th. We had to leave a little earlier than I’d hoped (the Bean was staying with my sister ALL NIGHT~!!)and missed the after party, but it was still wonderful. Abney Park is my new passion. I liked them before but seeing them live and actually talking to them–well they are both talented and nice. And gorgeous, all of them. It was the big fun to get dressed up again. J and I spend so much time being parents and doing our life things that we don’t have much time for our preferred pasttimes (involving dressing up, random spookiness and music usually)so it was bliss to get to do this. George’s was transformed and the Bands were AMAZING. I’ve got several CDs to pick up soon. I think I’ve already worn out my Abney Park’s Lost Horizon’s

I suggested J’s outfit and helped dress the girls. J loaned G2 some old Docs with buckles he had. And I got to wear a flouncy skirt AND my paratrouper boots. Yes, that was good.

That’s me with forceps from the turn of the century by way of Lisa. I had a monocle from then as well.

That is the very handsome Captain Robert

And again.

Ms. Lisa

Gary and Laura

J and I

I’ve got a new visitor tracker installed (it’s invisible currently) because Feedjit is opt out and I have some stalkers I’d like them to know I know they are visiting.

Other project going along nicely.

Jury Duty tomorrow. I’m kind of looking forward to it. I’ve only been called once before, at the very same week we moved from SF.

Be prepared for some wiggling on the site in the next few days. I also need someone to help edit my website (it was done in Dreamweaver and I don’t get Dreamweaver). I can pay or trade .

Every year, at midnight of the 31st, J asks me to marry him again. And every year I say yes. This year he told me how lucky he was to have met me and I told him how wonderful he is. He’s proven that even more often in the last six weeks, which have been weird to say the least.

We went over to my Mother’s and help re arrange a couple of rooms to make it easier for my stepfather to get around. He can’t make it up steps anymore. Some of his kids and grandkids were there and we all worked together to move couches, china cabinets, tables and other large furniture. I took the opportunity to organize the kitchen a bit and hopefully put some papers in order. The Bean hung out with the kids who were very polite and sweet. All of us carried little pieces of their history back and forth, placing them in safety, carefully replacing them once the cabinets were moved. It was moving. I heard from Mom how great everyone thought he was and she seemed good with the changes, though they’ll take getting used to.

Later on we went to First Night with the Bean and saw some kid music, made a hat, watched folk dancers and the giant puppet parade. We didn’t stay out much past 8 this year, miss Bean was tired. She’s growing again. I think she’ll be 6 feet tall at this rate .

We got some custard on the way home and popped her in bed after. J and I watched Repo Man and snoozed but were both awake at midnight It’s a big change from the legendary parties of 1998 in SF, but I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. We have a good little family and whether it grows or not the amount of love is considerable.

Today was quiet . While the rest of the world was hungover, J went to see Alien vs. Predator, I did some more organizing around the house and caught up on some chores. The Bean had her own work to do (we go through her toys every few months and cycle out for friends or for shelters, toys she doesn’t play with, that kid gets a load of toys from my mom and inherits even more from my sister’s daughter who is just a few years older–lots of good clothes that way too). She was also busy putting together a gallery of art for her Granpapa’s hospital room. He’s being moved to another section of the hospital, but he won’t be out for some time.

I have some resolutions–typical ones like getting more exercise (though I’ve lost a bit of weight recently it would still be best to strong, not just smaller)and trying more adventurous cooking. Some atypical ones like going forward with a big goal I’ve had (more on that when more has been accomplished, it will be great ) and putting up with less crap from people and one more try at the pregnancy rodeo. All in all a lot to look forward to and even though 2007 was full of some horrid (and some unexpectedly horrid) stuff we are lucky to have each other, an incredible support system , a beautiful place to live, a great school for the Bean, some wonderful kitties (though we miss our little old lady very much)that other than the er, random expensive vet visit (this time around it was Zak, J’s favored kitty) give us no trouble and lots of love. Well, without all that it would have been a much much harder year.

Here’s hoping 2008 is better for everyone.