Today is one of those rare days when I’m able to do all my work from home and even rarer, it has happened on a Friday. I don’t have to drive to Marshall and down to Coldwater and back home. I can tuck in for the day, sit back and relax, slow down and enjoy.
Whoa.
But will I? I have a list of around the house projects to do. I have reading and commenting to do for the next writers’ group and I have writing of my own to do. I have all of those things to do that I’d do if only I had the time to do them. Oh-oh, today I have the time.
Maybe instead of being in whoa mode for the day, I’ll treat this like any other weekday when I have things I need to get done and I’ll actually cross some of those to-do things off my list. Whoa! I’ll do something and I’ll still have the weekend to kick back.
If only making the decision to do something was the same as doing it. Sigh, talk to you later, I’ve got some stuff to get done.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Smells in the best sense of the word
AllAtwitter’s blog post on smells has me thinking about my own favorites and the “smell memories” they evoke. My strongest memory ever associated with a smell or scent happened a few decades after my parents had divorced, I was helping my mother go through an old dresser and came upon a jar of Wind Song scented body creme. I opened the jar and breathed in deeply, then said out loud, “You and Dad are going out.” The smell had instantly taken me back twenty-five years to that moment after the baby sitter had arrived and Mom was all dressed up and perfumed leaning over to kiss me good-bye.
Smells I love are cookies or bread baking, coffee, snow on the air, wood fires burning in the fireplace and that smell of cold when my husband comes in from outside. All of these evoke home for me.
Wings perfume, the flat out best smell I ever smelled.
The scent of burning leaves. The smell of apples at a fruit stand. The smell of lilacs.
Smells I love are cookies or bread baking, coffee, snow on the air, wood fires burning in the fireplace and that smell of cold when my husband comes in from outside. All of these evoke home for me.
Wings perfume, the flat out best smell I ever smelled.
The scent of burning leaves. The smell of apples at a fruit stand. The smell of lilacs.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Quoth the raven
I usually don’t talk much about my “real” job in the blog, but I’m going to say this. I’ve had a project this week where I had to search back 100 years on 8 parcels of land.
Nevermore.
Nevermore.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
V-Day is coming!
Humans are funny ol’ things. One of the most romantic days of the year is named to honor St. Valentine, a martyred saint who was caught marrying Christian couples and executed and/or buried on February 14. I vote for romantic love to be celebrated on a different day than this death day, perhaps the six month anniversary of Valentine’s Day, August 14, a day as far away from Valentine’s Day as it is possible to get in the year.
However, I would not want to forget Valentine’s Day altogether. I plan for fitting tributes to be paid. A yearly tradition where we bury old letters or other mementos from those true relics of our past, anyone who is now an ex. Each year, in honor of the original St. Valentine being offed, we toss the stuff into a hole and throw shovelfuls of dirt on top. Perhaps even whacking the stuff with the shovel before the dirt goes on top all while imagining the ex. Then we dance on the grave. I see a whole new Hallmark department with specially designed bags and trims in which to place one’s formerly treasured, er, treasures. I would opt, though, for a basic ceremony instead. Dig the hole, toss in the stuff, heap on the dirt, then say a few words or swear a few words or sing a few words and dance.
Then open some wine and toast the future. After all, August 14 is only six months away.
However, I would not want to forget Valentine’s Day altogether. I plan for fitting tributes to be paid. A yearly tradition where we bury old letters or other mementos from those true relics of our past, anyone who is now an ex. Each year, in honor of the original St. Valentine being offed, we toss the stuff into a hole and throw shovelfuls of dirt on top. Perhaps even whacking the stuff with the shovel before the dirt goes on top all while imagining the ex. Then we dance on the grave. I see a whole new Hallmark department with specially designed bags and trims in which to place one’s formerly treasured, er, treasures. I would opt, though, for a basic ceremony instead. Dig the hole, toss in the stuff, heap on the dirt, then say a few words or swear a few words or sing a few words and dance.
Then open some wine and toast the future. After all, August 14 is only six months away.
It's beginning to look a lot like February
A hint of spring in the air today with the melting snow. Not entirely melted, it is, after all, February in Michigan, but I can see a couple of patches of grass in the yard.
In the past few days, I’ve received a few gardening and flower catalogs in the near quarter ton of daily mail the post office sends along for me. I’ve been flipping through pages of beautiful roses and dahlias and it occurs to me that these freaking flowers have been air brushed of all blemishes and lit in ways meant to seduce me into believing this is just how said freaking flowers would look in my own garden. HA! They can’t fool me. Then I come to another realization. I want them to fool me. I want to believe as I sit here on a day when I also believe spring might be in the future that these flowers could be mine. Such are the dreams in February.
The reality is that the weather forecast is for at least 6" of snow starting tomorrow morning. Ah, February in Michigan.
In the past few days, I’ve received a few gardening and flower catalogs in the near quarter ton of daily mail the post office sends along for me. I’ve been flipping through pages of beautiful roses and dahlias and it occurs to me that these freaking flowers have been air brushed of all blemishes and lit in ways meant to seduce me into believing this is just how said freaking flowers would look in my own garden. HA! They can’t fool me. Then I come to another realization. I want them to fool me. I want to believe as I sit here on a day when I also believe spring might be in the future that these flowers could be mine. Such are the dreams in February.
The reality is that the weather forecast is for at least 6" of snow starting tomorrow morning. Ah, February in Michigan.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
With apologies to Lana Turner
There are movies I like that I didn’t expect to like. Usually it’s a movie starring someone for whom I do not care. Someone who is a STAR. There are certainly STARs who can act, but it seems most of the time that a STAR’s talent is secondary or even tertiary to the fact of their STARdom. I’m not totally sure they have any talent at all, but then I see them in a film and I can’t believe how totally different they are. How unlike their usual crap and I wonder, if they can generate the acting they do in this film, why don’t they do this all the time.
Take, for instance, Will Ferrell. I do not care for Will Ferrell. I don’t “get” the comedy he does, I don’t find it funny and I really don’t think he acts the comedy very well when he’s doing it. He tends to overdo everything. Then I saw “Stranger Than Fiction.” I have to wonder where he found this amazing performance? Was it the director he had?
I had a similar experience with Peter Sellers. I might be in the minority, but I do not find the Pink Panther films at all funny. I don’t care for slapstick and I don’t care for Peter Sellers. Then I saw “Being There.” Wow. Where was the person who played Chance the Gardener hiding for all those years?
My third person who turned in a performance better befitting an amazing actor instead of a STAR is Mickey Rooney. He is always all over the top in the “let’s put on a show” movies and in the Andy Hardy films to which I’ve never been able to relate. Don’t even get me started on his acting in “Boys Town.” For me, Mickey Rooney was all broad strokes, no nuances. Then I saw an old black and white movie called, “The Human Comedy” and even though the movie tended toward over sentimentalization, Rooney’s performance was outstanding. I couldn’t see “Mickey” anywhere in the role of Homer Macauley. He was nominated for Best Actor for this role and it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen him do. Did the studio keep sticking him in films that made them money instead of taking too many chances on their STAR, their investment? I have to think so.
Last, but not least, Lana Turner. If ever the studios produced a STAR, it was Lana. She wasn’t allowed to do any role that might diminish the polish and the glitter with which she was surrounded. It is truly was a shame and a waste of the talent she rarely got to use. Yes, she did a great job in “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” but she was astounding in “The Bad and the Beautiful.” And I’d no idea Lana was so freaking funny until I saw “Slightly Dangerous” and watched the long section that starts when she is walking down the street trying out possibilities for new names through when she gets clobbered by a can of paint and wakes up to notice there is red paint in the hair on which she just spent her last dollar to have dyed blonde. Her reaction is priceless.
So, here’s hoping there are more opportunities for STARs to act.
Take, for instance, Will Ferrell. I do not care for Will Ferrell. I don’t “get” the comedy he does, I don’t find it funny and I really don’t think he acts the comedy very well when he’s doing it. He tends to overdo everything. Then I saw “Stranger Than Fiction.” I have to wonder where he found this amazing performance? Was it the director he had?
I had a similar experience with Peter Sellers. I might be in the minority, but I do not find the Pink Panther films at all funny. I don’t care for slapstick and I don’t care for Peter Sellers. Then I saw “Being There.” Wow. Where was the person who played Chance the Gardener hiding for all those years?
My third person who turned in a performance better befitting an amazing actor instead of a STAR is Mickey Rooney. He is always all over the top in the “let’s put on a show” movies and in the Andy Hardy films to which I’ve never been able to relate. Don’t even get me started on his acting in “Boys Town.” For me, Mickey Rooney was all broad strokes, no nuances. Then I saw an old black and white movie called, “The Human Comedy” and even though the movie tended toward over sentimentalization, Rooney’s performance was outstanding. I couldn’t see “Mickey” anywhere in the role of Homer Macauley. He was nominated for Best Actor for this role and it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen him do. Did the studio keep sticking him in films that made them money instead of taking too many chances on their STAR, their investment? I have to think so.
Last, but not least, Lana Turner. If ever the studios produced a STAR, it was Lana. She wasn’t allowed to do any role that might diminish the polish and the glitter with which she was surrounded. It is truly was a shame and a waste of the talent she rarely got to use. Yes, she did a great job in “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” but she was astounding in “The Bad and the Beautiful.” And I’d no idea Lana was so freaking funny until I saw “Slightly Dangerous” and watched the long section that starts when she is walking down the street trying out possibilities for new names through when she gets clobbered by a can of paint and wakes up to notice there is red paint in the hair on which she just spent her last dollar to have dyed blonde. Her reaction is priceless.
So, here’s hoping there are more opportunities for STARs to act.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Survey says......
(My answers are not nearly as fun as Em's!)
1. What’s the last thing you put in your mouth?
Beer washing down salad. Obviously I’m a health nut.
2. What does your last incoming text say?
Your Attention Is Required
3. The last song you listened to?
Every Breath You Take by the Police. There was something playing on my husband’s favorite radio station on the way home from the bar, but the question specifically said, “listened to.”
4. Where is your best friend right now?
Can’t pick a single best friend. One is in Pennsylvania, couple in Michigan and one is in the other room doing his own quiz answers.
5. What did you do yesterday?
Watched old movies, read, drank coffee.
6. Pick a scar on your body. Where’d it come from?
Too many scars and too many stories to list them all here.
7. What do you really think happened to Steve on Blues Clues?
Something happened to Steve on Blues Clues?
8. If you could change your name to anything what would it be?
Queen Elizabeth III
9. What would you say if a guy told you, you were the most beautiful person in the world?
I hear that all day long and my response is always, thank you. I try to be gracious.
11.How often do you curse?
Whenever I can get maximum laughter out of it. Or when I’m by myself in the car. Or when I’m with someone else in the car.
12. Do you trust all of your friends?
Not really because, apparently, one of them stole question 10.
13. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
For a long weekend, sure.
14. Have you ever talked on the phone while in the shower?
No, but while I’m on the phone I sometimes imagine I’m taking a shower.
15. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best prostitute.
Depends on your definition of best.
16. Are you afraid of falling in love?
Why, are you afraid of loving me?
17. Is there someone that popped in your mind after that question?
Yes, but he popped out again so fast I didn’t see his face.
18. How many kids do you want to have?
Just finished that beer and salad, too full to have any right now. Maybe later?
19. Would you make a good parent?
Sure unless there were children involved.
20. Where was your default picture taken?
Probably to a deep dark cave where it’s been left to fend for itself.
21. Honestly, what’s on your mind right now?
How many more questions there are in this quiz.
22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Election results approximately 7 years 2 months ago.
23. What are you wearing right now?
A tiara. See answer for question 8.
24. Right or left?
Right where I left it.
25. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
No, but perhaps one of my staff can help you.
26. Have you had a sore throat?
I knew there would be a trick question. I had one, but it went away.
27. Who knows you the best?
See answer for question 15.
28. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
Not contacts and I only wore a wine glass on my head once. Really.
29. Ever been to Mexico?
I’ve made it a point to stay as far away from Mexico as possible.
30. Last thing that made you laugh out loud?
Reading what others wrote on this survey.
31. Would you show your boobs to a midget on roller skates?
In public they are referred to as staff, not boobs, and if they want to let a midget on roller skates see them, that’s fine, as long as they bring back my mocha latte with an espresso shot in a timely fashion.
32. Did you miss anyone yesterday?
No, I got every one I aimed for.
33. Last person to lay in your bed?
Any man who would lie to a woman in her bed is just a scum sucking b’tard. Oh, LAY.
34. What are your plans for the weekend?
Watching the Super Bowl commercials!
35. Who do you think will repost this?
Only someone very, very witty. Or very, very bored.
1. What’s the last thing you put in your mouth?
Beer washing down salad. Obviously I’m a health nut.
2. What does your last incoming text say?
Your Attention Is Required
3. The last song you listened to?
Every Breath You Take by the Police. There was something playing on my husband’s favorite radio station on the way home from the bar, but the question specifically said, “listened to.”
4. Where is your best friend right now?
Can’t pick a single best friend. One is in Pennsylvania, couple in Michigan and one is in the other room doing his own quiz answers.
5. What did you do yesterday?
Watched old movies, read, drank coffee.
6. Pick a scar on your body. Where’d it come from?
Too many scars and too many stories to list them all here.
7. What do you really think happened to Steve on Blues Clues?
Something happened to Steve on Blues Clues?
8. If you could change your name to anything what would it be?
Queen Elizabeth III
9. What would you say if a guy told you, you were the most beautiful person in the world?
I hear that all day long and my response is always, thank you. I try to be gracious.
11.How often do you curse?
Whenever I can get maximum laughter out of it. Or when I’m by myself in the car. Or when I’m with someone else in the car.
12. Do you trust all of your friends?
Not really because, apparently, one of them stole question 10.
13. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
For a long weekend, sure.
14. Have you ever talked on the phone while in the shower?
No, but while I’m on the phone I sometimes imagine I’m taking a shower.
15. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best prostitute.
Depends on your definition of best.
16. Are you afraid of falling in love?
Why, are you afraid of loving me?
17. Is there someone that popped in your mind after that question?
Yes, but he popped out again so fast I didn’t see his face.
18. How many kids do you want to have?
Just finished that beer and salad, too full to have any right now. Maybe later?
19. Would you make a good parent?
Sure unless there were children involved.
20. Where was your default picture taken?
Probably to a deep dark cave where it’s been left to fend for itself.
21. Honestly, what’s on your mind right now?
How many more questions there are in this quiz.
22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Election results approximately 7 years 2 months ago.
23. What are you wearing right now?
A tiara. See answer for question 8.
24. Right or left?
Right where I left it.
25. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
No, but perhaps one of my staff can help you.
26. Have you had a sore throat?
I knew there would be a trick question. I had one, but it went away.
27. Who knows you the best?
See answer for question 15.
28. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
Not contacts and I only wore a wine glass on my head once. Really.
29. Ever been to Mexico?
I’ve made it a point to stay as far away from Mexico as possible.
30. Last thing that made you laugh out loud?
Reading what others wrote on this survey.
31. Would you show your boobs to a midget on roller skates?
In public they are referred to as staff, not boobs, and if they want to let a midget on roller skates see them, that’s fine, as long as they bring back my mocha latte with an espresso shot in a timely fashion.
32. Did you miss anyone yesterday?
No, I got every one I aimed for.
33. Last person to lay in your bed?
Any man who would lie to a woman in her bed is just a scum sucking b’tard. Oh, LAY.
34. What are your plans for the weekend?
Watching the Super Bowl commercials!
35. Who do you think will repost this?
Only someone very, very witty. Or very, very bored.
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