Squeaky almost totally squeaky clean

Via Rhondar through TheQuiteTalented by way of tunagirl

My fine is a mere $195.60 -- I am so very boring, yes?

What was white and glittery and now brown?

"It's a wonderful white world of winter!"

Or, sorta was.

The snow started as I drove home from work yesterday. And continued through this morning as I drove to work. Nothing heavy--just lovely little snowflakes drifting down. They gave the ground, rooftops, and tree branches a sweet coating of glittering white.

But now that the sun has come up, and cars are driving in and out of the parking lot, the snow has begun to melt on the tarmac and from some of the vehicles. It's a shame really -- all that work to coat the world in a lovely shade of white, only to have it slide away into gray and brown slush.

Still Gimpy

One twisted ankle -- painful
One ice bag that won't stay in place -- annoying
Half-hour hunt for Advil in the house -- exasperating
2 Pamprin eventually found in a purse pocket -- PRICELESS

6 degrees above 10

As I walked out to the parking lot this evening with my classmates, I turned to speak to the one walking behind me. My foot slipped off the edge of the sidewalk, which twisted my ankle and knee in definitely opposite directions.

I stumbled. But I worked hard to stay upright. After all, I have great balance and strong legs. But since I was carrying my purse and notebook in one hand and, more important, a half-full Dr Pepper in the other, balance wasn’t all that easy. But I did try.

Bad idea. Because my other foot caught on my wide pant-leg. And I went down, dropping the notebook and spilling the precious life juice all over the cement. As I caught my breath, two thoughts came to mind (other than, “wow, don’t I look like a prize idiot!”):

1. So, like, how long does it take for a puddle of Dr Pepper to freeze anyway?
and
2. Thank God it’s 16 degrees out here.

My classmates helped me to my feet and handed me back the mournfully almost empty Dr Pepper and a rather wet notebook. We all laughed and went our separate ways. As I drove home, two thoughts came to mind (other than, “get out of my effing way, idiot!”):

1. How much Advil will I need to take to relieve the growing ache in my knee and ankle and still be able to sleep tonight?
and
2. Did the designer of downfilled parkas intend for their wearers to bounce when they tripped on sidewalks?

Holiday and Year-End Recount

I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas alone…except for the company of an Angel, of course. But she wasn’t interested in me so much as the turkey and ham. Oh, and the catnip present she got for Christmas. That's my Christmas dinner in the picture.

In many ways, I was satisfied with my company – when you spend vacations and holidays by yourself, it vastly reduces the opportunity for family arguments, long drives in bad weather and having to say you really love the wallet they gave you.

On the other hand, you can’t share your enjoyment of the good weather, the tasty food or how silly the Angel looks with tinsel stuck to her rear-end.

So I took advantage of both situations: I had Christmas to myself, but entertained guests from December 26 to January 2. My niece joined me thru Friday, and a long-time friend visited from Saturday to Tuesday morning.

A Very Surprised Courtney
Since my niece had never been to this part of the country, and since she’s a teenaged girl…I took her shopping. In New York City. It went like this:

“So, how much sightseeing do you want to do while you’re here?” I asked as we walked out to the car at Logan.
“Not much,” she replied.
“Then I guess that means you don’t want to see the Statue of Liberty?”
She stopped walking. “But isn’t that in New York?”
“Yep.”

It took Courtney a while, but she finally stopped saying “No way! We’re going to New York?” At least, I think she’d stopped by the time we got on the plane the following day.

We did the usual tourist activities. Our hotel overlooked the WTC site, so we saw that immediately. We glanced at Lady Liberty from Battery Park (she's the speck in the distance) – it was much too cold to take the boat out for a closer look.

We shopped along Canal Street, where I purchased a fake Movado. We rode the subway. We visited Times Square and 42nd Street. She had to buy a t-shirt at the MTV Store. We took dozens of pictures of ourselves with the figures at Madame Toussad’s. (I need to get the rest of those shots developed.)

When we got back to Boston, I gave Courtney a whirlwind tour of the Freedom Trail before dropping her off at the airport.

All in all, it was a truly flying visit. The weather was windy and quite chilly. I look forward to her visiting again, in warmer weather so she can see more of Boston’s sites on foot.

The Goodwitch Arriveth
The day after I put Courtney on a plan to Houston, I picked up the Goodwitch arriving from Austin. The weather surprised us both…it snowed at least an inch that day.

Our first real activity was to make a snowman…using the special kit sent me by the Contis. Goodwitch and I are not very adept at creating snowmen, as you can see. It’s not that we suck, it’s that we have no clue how to make snow bind together into large spheres. Hence, the rather unimpressive result. But we did enjoy sniggering over the ways we used the kit contents. Er, we didn’t photograph all of them. And we never did really use the carrot. We swear.

On Sunday, New Year’s Eve, we chose to be literary tourists. We walked around the farm where Robert Frost once lived, and which inspired many of his poems. Luckily for us, the weather had not warmed enough to melt the snow, providing a picturesque setting. And numb toes.

It was Goodwitch’s suggestion that took us there. I hadn’t realized just how close I lived to such a lovely location. Frost’s Farm is less than an hour north of my home. I can’t wait to walk through again in the Spring and Autumn.

From Derry, New Hampshire, we headed south to Concord, Mass. to walk the paths at Walden Pond, immersing ourselves in the wilderness that inspired Henry David Thoreau.

We had been alone to contemplate Frost’s poetry. But here we encountered many others along the path. I have to admit that the Walden Project and the park’s system have done a fine job of preserving the beauty of the area. However, I agree with the Goodwitch that the number of visitors lowered our enjoyment of Thoreau’s woods. But we did get some mighty fine shots of the pond as the sun set.

Goodwitch and I toasted the New Year at midnight, drinking the champagne my boss gave me for Christmas. After sleeping late, we spent New Year’s Day shopping and enjoying some excellent steaks (if I’m allowed to compliment my cooking). For once I didn’t watch all the bowl games. It felt quite weird. Then again, there are more games to come…but I may not visit with my good friend again for months.

As it was, I was quite saddened to drop her off at Terminal C and drive home today.

It’s back to work tomorrow. Another year has passed me by.

To view the rest of my holiday pictures, click HERE.

It's a real GIVI !!

Goodwitch just gave me some motorcycle bags
...said that Rhondar told her to do it.

It's a a very odd gift.

By the way, Rhondar, she says she used your credit card.

A Spoonful of Sugar

it's Friday evening of a week filled with holiday fun instead of real work, prior to a long holiday weekend.

I'm watching Mary Poppins, which debuted the same year I was born and which I have never seen. I'm watching Dick van Dyke and Julie Andrews dance with penguins. And all I can ask myself is "Is that the same little girl as in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?"

Migraine or twitch?

My eye has been twitching since Friday.
Twitch, wiggle, twitch.
Hours and hours of it.

My stress mechanism usually shows up in the form of a migraine. Which I could kill with a few judicious applications of Excedrin. Thereby reducing my misery to just a few several hours. And a lot of unproductive time.

But nooooo, I have the twitch instead.

Damn, I can't believe I would say this but...I sure wish I had a migraine right now.

Hold that Scream!

It's a laundry evening. And homework. And TV. And all the other little things one does around the home to neaten up after a long weekend and longer week.

And since I'm genetically incapable of doing one task to completion, I end up doing all of those activities in bits and pieces. Which means I don't give my entire attention to any one in particular.

It goes like this...Take the dried items out of the dryer, usually folding as I go. Wander back to the bathroom to put the towels away. Flip through a few channels since The Replacements just ended; watch the opening scenes of Men in Black. Wander to the office and replace the Christmas CD that just finished ripping to MP3 to start the next one. Check email while I'm there. At this point I notice that the dryer door is still open, so I stroll back to the bedroom for the next load. Drop that load next to the washer and begin taking items out of the washer. And just as I'm about to toss the first sweatshirt into the dryer, I notice something still in there. Something with glowing yellow orbs.

I scream and jerk my arm back, getting a face full of wet sweatshirt. As I try to recover, something flashes past my feet, tripping me up. I stumble backward, knocking the postcards and pictures off the shelving behind me. I've dropped the sweatshirt by now, so as I again try to recover, I stumble over it...and a tail.

I end up on my knees facing a hissing Persian who happens to be trapped against the bookshelf by a picture of bluebonnets, a stuffed Astros memento and several CDs -- and whose fur is so fluffed out that a hot air balloon would stick to her.

And, finally I laugh.

Hard lipstick?!

The Irish took my lipstick this afternoon. Damn them. They said it was a gel!

Correction...they said that only "hard lipstick" can go into hand luggage.

Hard lipstick? What the hell is that?

Dr Pepper -- Yeah, Baby!

It's official...I'm moving to London!

As many of you know, I have gone through considerable angst since transferring to the Boston area. Not only does the local bottler not know that Caffeine Free Dr Pepper actually is a product, but also most local merchants haven't even heard of Dr Pepper -- unless they think a berry-filled version is what normal people want.

Well, having spent less than 24 hours in London, I'm ready to say that I want to live here! From the convenience store in Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport to the one at Victoria Station to every small deli and store between the Station and Parliament and on to Buckingham Palace...I have found Dr Pepper.

Okay, so the British Dr Pepper tastes similar to the Dublin version -- a little flatter and sweeter, as if they're using real sugar like they do in Dublin, TX. And I prefer the bite of the more prevalent DP.

But- but- it's DP in quantity! Really. It's not a single row buried among swaths of Coca-Cola Zero and Berry Dr Pepper. Some delis even had multiple rows.

OMG! I'm not in London. Something must have happened during those 10 minutes I managed to snooze on the flight, and now I'm somewhere else. An alternate reality: the Michelle London.

Hmmm, I wonder if designer shoes cost less than $20 and can pack down into a credit card sized package...

No Pumpkin Talent

can't carve. can't draw. can't play.doh?

Salem + Halloween = Chocolate Buzz

I live too close to the home of the Witch Trials.

My exit to Peabody (go West!) is the middle of three exits leading to Salem, Massachusetts (go East!).

And I had thought that the usual Friday evening traffic is bad as folks head for the coast or north to the mountains. Well, I just discovered that Halloween traffic makes the snarled hair at my nape seem like smooth chocolate.

(Yeah, strange analogy. Sue me, I'm eating tomorrow's candy already just to recover from the last half-mile of my drive home.)

A Toast to R & L!

We celebrated my best friend’s wedding over the weekend. We rather rapidly progressed from dinner to dancing, without pausing much for cake cutting or speeches. Thus, I never had the chance to say the toast that I valiantly and effortlessly struggled to write just hours before the big event. So, here it is…

I have known R since our first week of high school – many many many many years ago.

Of course, given the many many many many years that we’ve been friends, both R and I have changed. Grown up – I can’t quite say that we’ve matured. And our friendship has gone through the usual twists and turns. Which is only natural: relationships do change. They grow or stagnate. They fall apart though lack of attention or flourish with careful tending.

My friendship with R underwent a subtle shift several years ago when she first came out to me. I know she attributed the change to her being a lesbian. But that never was the root of my stepping back. Rather, it was a far more simple reason: I didn’t like her partner. And, correspondingly, I didn’t like the way her partner treated her. R wasn’t the person whom I knew she could be.

Now, I’m supposed to stand up here and say something amusing. And my dissertation thus far probably has you all wondering where I’m headed, but bear with me.

I’ve never been witty on my own. Not really. I need someone to be my foil – or for me to act as the set-up man for someone with a quick punchline. R has usually been that person. my setup man. my foil to amuse those around us, and thereby amuse ourselves. We lost that fundamental part of our relationship when we both went our separate ways several years back.

And the bummer of this marriage, of R’s fantastic relationship with L, is that she’s still not mine for setting up or for being my foil. She’s L’s now.

The good new is that L appreciates our rather offbeat sense of humor. L – that vivacious, fun-loving person at R’s side has made a huge difference in R – and therefore in my relationship with R.

R has become more affectionate. More confident. More open. And, dare I say, more amusing!

A lot of that has been L’s influence. And for that I thank L. I welcome her lovingly and officially into our little circle. But some of that has been R herself. And I’m grateful that R has become the strong woman she is today.

Soooo, a toast to R and L:

May my best friend and my new friend always be friends.

May you never be bored while in each other’s presence.

May you create together thousands of memories to smile upon in old age.

And may you grow and change, becoming more together than either of you could be apart.

Observation No. 1

As I sit in the Jet Blue terminal at JFK Airport (surfing the web, of course), I noticed that there are more Apple Powerbooks that other types of computers around me. A 4 to 2 ratio, as a matter of fact.

Not trying to make a point -- just an observation.

The Soundtrack(s) of My Life

I stole this from a friend of a friend:

If your life were a movie, what would be on the soundtrack?
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

****************

of the 599 songs on my iPod, this is what came out:
Opening Credits: Blurry – Puddle of Mudd.
Waking Up: Perfect Situation – Weezer.
First Day at School: Bandstand Boogie – Barry Manilow.
Falling in Love: For My Wedding – Don Henley.
Fight Song: Best of My Love – Eagles.
Breaking Up: Tourniquet – Evanescence.
Prom: Look Away – Chicago.
Life is Good: Ain’t Got Nothin’ if You Ain’t Got Love – Michael Bolton.
Mental Breakdown: Wanna Be – Nine Days.
Driving: Finding Me – Vertical Horizon.
Flashback: Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel.
Getting Back Together: Just a Phase -- Incubus
Wedding: Losing You – Marble Jar.
Paying the Dues: If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red.
The Night Before the War: What Kind of Man Would I Be? – Chicago.
Final Battle: Hangnail – Nickelback.
Moment of Triumph: This Love – Maroon 5.
Death Scene: Your Mirror – Simply Red.
Funeral Song: Have You Ever Needed Someone? – Def Leppard
End Credits: Smoke – Ben Folds Five.

I have one playlist that I listen to the most, so I thought I'd try it:
Opening Credits: Misunderstood – Bon Jovi.
Waking Up: I Believe – Chicago.
First Day at School: Fight for all the Wrong Reasons – Nickelback.
Falling in Love: All Out of Love – Air Supply.
Fight Song: Modern Love – David Bowie.
Breaking Up: You’re All I Have – Snow Patrol.
Prom: Bells of Freedom – Bon Jovi.
Life is Good: Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson.
Mental Breakdown: From Yesterday – 30 Seconds to Mars.
Driving: Silent Running – Mike + The Mechanics.
Flashback: The Song That Goes Like This – Spamalot.
Getting Back Together: Pressure Point – The Zutons.
Wedding: Numb – Linkin Park.
Paying the Dues: Pressure – Billy Joel.
The Night Before the War: Dirty Little Secret – All-American Rejects.
Final Battle: Juke Box Hero – Foreigner.
Moment of Triumph: The Reason – Hoobastank.
Death Scene: Hate Me – Blue October.
Funeral Song: Lying From You – Linkin Park.
End Credits: This is How the Heart Breaks – Rob Thomas.

I See Color!

Autumn has finally arrived. The leaves are falling. A crisp breeze is blowing.

Take a look at my photos of the foliage.

Autumnal Equinox

It's the Autumnal Equinox...but no true signs of Fall just yet here on the North Shore.

Tunnel

Recently heard as a Mitsubishi Endeavor barrelled down Storrow Drive in Boston...

J: "OK, so I've put you on my calendar for --"
M: "Tunnel."
J: "--that Saturday. Probably lunch. What?!"
M: "I said, 'tunnel.' "

[two minutes later]

"And she went to Utah, and really--"
"Tunnel."
"--loves it there."

[a few minutes later]

" 'nother tunnel."

Late for Work

I spent a typical weekend -- shopping, doing stuff around the house, talking to friends and family. Yesterday I played softball for the first time in three years. Was thoroughly exhausted by the time I went to bed. So, of course, I overslept.

This morning, I was late to work.

And as I rushed through my morning routine, trying to get my act together and my hair under control, I realized something.

Five years ago today, I was late to work.