Blibber Blabber

No rhyme, no reason

 

Well, it's been dead quiet around here this week, but I'll post anyway.

I got a lot of work done this week-- I'm trying to get ready for Halloween.  Here are two designs:

Devil Boy's nose is my ode to Gorey.  Wouldn't it be funny is a teacher decided to use "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" as an alphabet primer?  Guarantee those kids would remember their ABCs.  You can also find ghosties, jack o'lanterns, and a black cat at my shop link.

Sent off our fair entry forms yesterday.  I've only entered ten categories this year: one art, two photography, and seven bakery items.  It's weird not entering so much, but it won't be as hectic, which will be a welcome respite. 

One of the joys in my life: finding I only live a mile from a cake-decorating store.  The downside?  They're closed for vacation until August 1.

Mr. Calm and OD make their trek from TX to here today, and should get in between eleven and midnight.  She's sick with a sore throat, but it's not strep, thank goodness (quick doctor visit to make sure).  And yet, the doc gives her a scrip for antibiotics, and THAT, my friends, is the reason for resistance.  Sheesh.

Now I have to go rest my eyeball, because this morning when I was putting out the trash, I walked through a spiderweb, and my right eye got the brunt of it.  Doesn't feel too good right now.

posted by: athenawj at 07:36 | link | comments (7) |
art , kids, kaleidoscope farm

Hey, guess what?  I didn't place at all in the ChiZine contest!  Not even in the top fifteen!!  Whoopie!

And guess what else?  I didn't win the SEFSA, either!! Double-whoopie!!

Shee-yit to the first one.  The SEFSA, that's okay.  Like I said, I was floored that I made it to the final ballot, and it's a nice credit and compliment that my story was liked that much.  I am pissed that Robert McCammon didn't win Lifetime Achievement, because if there's a more worthy Southern nominee I don't know of him/her, but at least who I didn't want to win didn't.

In better news, I've been asked to be a Featured Author for Apex Digest next year.  A reprint of mine will appear online next year, as well as an interview, and they'll plug anything I have plug-worthy.  And I'll write an original story for an antho.

And that's nice.

posted by: athenawj at 09:15 | link | comments |
writing

My (almost-grown) baby

Did I even mention that I've gotten to talk to OD twice in the past few days?  For those who don't know, OD is my sixteen-year-old daughter.  This summer, we were fortunate enough to be able to send her to France with her nana and grandfather, so she could finally meet the rest of her family (this is my husband's mother's family-- she was born in Plouguenast, France).  She's been gone since the end of May, and will be coming home on Friday.  Friday!!

We'd worried a little, since we hadn't had any calls since mid-June, before they went camping in Bretagne, but Mr. Calm morbidly said, "Well, we would have gotten a call from the consulate if anything happened..."  Ugh.  Anyway, we left a message Saturday morning, and she called back later; this morning we also called before Mr. Calm left for Texas to get her. 

It was SO nice to hear her voice.  I tell you, being the mother of two teenaged girls is a tough job like no other, and breaks are needed, but the overwhelming happiness I feel when I get to talk to her is wonderful, and puts it all in perspective.  And hey, she sounds happy to hear from me, too.

Or maybe she's just happy to speak English, heh.  Her grandpa's American, and her nana's been here forty years, so she speaks it fluently, but none of the other relatives can even pass in English.   I asked her if her French was better, and if her nana was making her speak it a lot, and she answered, "Well, I sort of have to. Nobody else can talk to me."

Hell, at least she can now say, "Where is the restroom?"  I told her that should be a must for travelling to any country.  At least, for me, it would be.

I was also worried about her sun allergy, since they were spending a lot of time at the ocean. It's actually solar urticaria-- which, in her case is medium to severe hives on her arms, shoulders and back from too much sun exposure.  She's very pale, and it takes a lot to "harden" her skin, and she wasn't hardened at all before she went.  Seems like all's okay, though; she said that after a few episodes, she was able to tan her arms and face enough so the eruptions stopped.  Mind you, she didn't tan on purpose--she just finally got enough exposure to the sun.

We're still getting used to this--it only started when she was about thirteen.  She's used to it, though: when Mr. Calm took her to TX, she put sunscreen on in the car. :)  Poor baby, though. We should take her to a doctor next year to harden her.  We've already planned a beach vacation-- not a good place to have the disorder!

All right, enough babbling.  I got to talk to my first-born-- I'm giddy. :D

posted by: athenawj at 11:17 | link | comments |
kids

Shop Stuff- Bored Yet? ;)

I've made cards out of some of my pictures from Huntington.  You can find them here.  And I did go downtown yesterday morning and got some good pix, but the trip bugs.  I adore taking pictures of architecture, signs, and the like, yet I can never get enough into the picture.  So, I'm thisclose to getting a wide-angle lens and a polarized filter. I imagine I have to outright bug Mr. Calm about it, since he's not getting my multiple friggin' hints.

Anyway.  I'll have N'ville pix up when I get my lens, although I may post some at Photobucket and post a link (I'm trying to save my other two free Flickr groups for somethin' special).

Now.  Let me take the time to pimp some other shops at Zazzle.  Actually, I'm going to wait until funnyshoes has more in her shop, unless she lets me know that she wants me to spread the word.  This woman is a fantastic photographer, and I'm totally jealous of her. :) 

I ran across another artist at Zazzle today: LeanneM.  I was instantly floored, and in love with her work.  Not too many artists strike me like that; maybe because her little people reminded me of Roman Dirge's work did I become enamored.  Anyway, take a look around at her drawings and photos-- very cool stuff.

Last thoughts before Deadwood comes on: I'm only entering two photos at the fair.  I can't stress about it anymore.  And I have a feeling that the next two weeks are going to have me totally stressing enough with my studies.

 

posted by: athenawj at 19:29 | link | comments |
art , photography, kaleidoscope farm

Yesterday we began getting some much-needed rain, and a "cold front" (that would be about 80 degrees) has come, but I'm still heading out to take some pictures.  I do hope I get some good ones.

I also realized that I forgot to post something yesterday, and I'm a bad friend, because I don't know that I ever promoted this: some of my pictures from my trip to Huntington were published in HeavyGlow's Issue #5 back in June.  I love the title: West Virginia Sub-Urbania.  Click the title to see some of the pix I took on my trip home.

Lastly, I got an email from one of the editors of Electric Spec, letting me know that they were holding my story "Atomic Runner" for final voting in September.  It's one of the stories I've written that take place in the imagined world I started in "An Odd Day in I-Forgot", which was published in Apex last year.  Much darker than that one, though.

And btw, the winners for the Southeastern Science Fiction Achievement Awards are announced tonight.  I have no expectations of winning-- hell, I was shocked, FLOORED, to make the final ballot.  But I do HOPEHOPEHOPE Robert McCammon wins the Lifetime Achievement Award.  For my own personal reasons, I will shit a pissy brick if someone else on the ballot wins.

posted by: athenawj at 07:35 | link | comments (4) |
photography, writing

The night before last, the opening lines to a story popped into my head, as well as the direction and ending.  Of course, since my writing's been so spotty the last year, I didn't pay much attention to it, although deep down I was pleased that I could still conjure up ideas.

By the time I woke up, I'd forgotten all about the story, but at nine o'clock, the story came back, and I thought, "What the hell?", and began writing it.  I finished it by noon-- a short one by my standards, clocking in at roughly 1,850 words.  It's a futuristic story about state-controlled euthanasia; and a (hopefully) one about a woman whose father's euthanasia just won't take (so that makes it fantasy, too), and how painful it is to watch one who's long past their time to go.

I later found out that my parents finally had to take their dog in to put her to sleep at the same time that I was writing.  I realized it after I got off the phone with her.  I don't know if it's that sympatico thing that families have, or just a very eerie coincidence.

Roxy had cancer; we've known since early last summer.  Over the past couple of months, she's been panting bad and pretty listless, the pain meds stopped working, and she began digging at where the tumor was growing, so yesterday, it was time.  She would have been fifteen this fall, and didn't look anywhere as old.  She's been my parents' constant companion since she was a year or so old, and after my dad's stroke, she did a lot to lift his spirits.  It was the same after my mom's stroke, too.  Roxy loved kitty cats.  She had some bird dog in her, and sometimes it was a pain to walk her, for she kept her nose to the ground, stopping constantly to sniff.  She loved to "dance", and allowed strangers to pet her, and whenever she heard "car", she'd perk up and watch you carefully. Going in the car?  Roxy loved car rides.

I don't like dogs much-- I'm a cat person, through and through-- but Roxy was a gem.  My parents are in a lot of pain right now, but all of us tried our best yesterday to talk about all the joy that dog brought them, everyone.  The size of a Lab and with Rottweiller coloring (although she had white paws and breast, too, floppier ears, and not a bullish neck-- a mutt, in other words), she may as well have been a little puffball, because she was a real sweetheart.

Once, a neighborhood German Shepherd that used to hang around ran up to me and began growling as I was trying to get back to my parents' porch.  Roxy ran up to that dog and began growling at it, making it back down so I could get past.  I wasn't Roxy's owner, but she knew I was one of her Mama's babies.  She protected me.  I'll never forget that.

RIP, Roxy.  I hope you have lots of kitties to play with.

posted by: athenawj at 08:04 | link | comments (2) |
writing, family

Shop Stuff and Published Photos

I've decided for my art entry in the fair to be "Mother Nature's Frivolity", and I'm entering it in the computer-generated art category.  True, I did draw her face on my notepad, but then I traced it on my Wacom tablet, so it may as well have been created in here.  I just ordered it from my shop.  I only wish prints could also be in PNG format, not just JPG, but I've heard great things about their prints from an old fan of Miss Millificent, so I trust it'll look good.

There are some new features at my shop: the Comment Wall and Fan Club.  These are new features for everyone that Zazzle just implemented.  Y'know, it reeks of high school cliques that I never fit into (I was the freak smoker who also copy edited the yearbook; the girl who couldn't pass anything more than consumer math but took college prep English), but I'll go ahead and plug them.  God knows if I don't get any comments or more fans than Miss Funnyshoes (who is also starting a Zazzle shop), I won't be the only one.

So, go here and if you'd like, sign up for the fan club, which really just means you get an email (daily, weekly, monthly) when I publish new products.  Also, you can leave a comment, rate me, etc.

***

Sometimes I used to wonder if I was a hack when it came to my shop.  There are so many styles, so many different things that strike my fancy, and this computer, my camera, my tablet, have really opened a new world up to me.  I like t-shirts with funny sayings as much as I love a gorgeous piece of fine art that strikes me.  And why should I box myself in?  So, while sometimes I do put things in that I think others might buy, I never create anything that *I* don't like.  So, I'm not a hack.  Especially when I'm truly enjoying art again.

***

I'm thinking about getting up early Saturday morning and driving downtown to take some pictures.  Like getting-there-at-six-a.m. early.  Won't have to worry about commuters, I'll be able to park free, and I can get some pictures without a bunch of people in them.  Plus, I'll beat the heat.  Hopefully.

***

Mr. Calm is driving to TX on Monday to try to do a little business.  Mid-week, OD and Mr. Calm's parents will be flying back, then he and OD will be home on Friday. 

My baby will be home next Friday!!!

I'm pretty sure I will bawl when I see her.  Two months is a long-ass time to be separated by an ocean by your sixteen-year-old. 

 

posted by: athenawj at 08:58 | link | comments |
art , photography, kids, state fair, kaleidoscope farm

Wave Pool!

My middle sister V. and her brood came into town night before last, and we spent the day at the wave pool with them.  Stupid me; I got burned, although it's faded mostly now, thank goodness.  This happens alot when I'm around V.  Mr. Calm thinks it's subliminal-- she got the Cherokee coloring, I got the lovely pale Scot.

Anyway.  Whatever. ;)

She lives three hours away, now we both have kids in school, so we don't get to see each other much.  My girls are so much older than hers that they might as well be aunts instead of cousins. We had a great time yesterday, although it was so friggin' hot that there was no hanging out on the towels-- straight into the water and stayed there most of the time.  The nasty thing: we were getting out, ready to go back to my house, and J. started heading toward something in the water.  V. yells, "No!  Don't touch that!" It was a used tampon.  A friggin' used tampon!  What kind of person does that?  Disgusting!  That's like the time when the girls and their nana were at the Sea World water park and someone had left a dirty diaper in the pool.  What the hell?

Squicky.

Before that, though, I got some pix that of course, I need to show off. ;)

This is K., thirteen months old, and YD just after they met us at the pool.  I don't know why it's so red:

This is J., six years old and missing most of her front teeth:

K., taking in the kiddie pool:

I've found it's really hard to take good pix on overly bright days, so this is sort of grainy, but here's the wave pool:

K. kickin' back in her floatie (that's V. to the right):

posted by: athenawj at 08:28 | link | comments (2) |
photography, family, summer

Tommy

I'm sitting here listening to Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard", which I just ordered off ITunes (I have it on cassette somewhere in the house, but I don't feel like pulling everything out to find it).  This is one of my favorite songs of all time; certainly up there in my top 5 from movies.

I saw "Tommy" when I was eight, back when cable first began and we were lucky enough to live in an apartment complex that offered hookups.  To call it anything less than a freakout would be an understatement, and one scene in particular stands out in my mind to this day: the one where the little girl is desperate to go see Tommy, dresses up and sneaks out see him "preach", then ends up getting kicked in the head by his stepfather.  She grows up and marries a rock star that looks like Frankenstein, a hideous scar marring her face.  It was that scar that scared the crap out of me, even more than Ann-Margaret rolling around in tons of baked beans (although that's up there, and it squicked me out more than scared me).

"Tommy" is running right now on one of the movie channels.  I watched it one-and-a-half times this weekend (cleaning got in the way).  Yep, the little girl's part is still freaky to me.  I asked YD to sit down and watch it.  She watched about half (I was glad she missed the Acid Queen part) of it.  I don't think she quite appreciates the techniques and excesses of Seventies filmmaking, heh, although she does know that "Tommy" is "very famous".

"There's no talking."
"Um, that's an opera."

"Tommy's a weird little kid."

(Once Roger Daltrey becomes Tommy) "He looks better now.  That's a perm!"

"He went deaf, dumb and blind from that? Come on!  That can't happen."
"It does in this movie."

(all this reminds me of when we were in Target early this spring, and YD saw a "The Doors" t-shirt.  She said, "'The Doors'...what, is that a band?"  This from a kid whose father adores The Doors.)

Anyway.  My favorite part is still the Pinball Wizard segment (which is a cool video in itself).  Those gigantic shoes are kickass.

 

posted by: athenawj at 10:46 | link | comments (2) |
movies

Even though I did study and take my third test last week, I took most of the week to wrap up other things: do some artwork I'd planned, take some pix, finish up the slideshow of our vacation so I could send cds off to my family, bake my entry for the Fleischmann's contest (Chocolate Peanut Butter Ring).  I'll start studying again today: a short module about making airline reservations for clients, but I'm a little nervous (that little niggling feeling you get in the back of your head) that I'll forget something big, or stammer.

I also did more research about running my business from home, and found some great resources, and although I'm even more excited now, there's still a little part of me that's afraid of putting myself out there (finding a host agency that will take me on-- they're the ones who'd make the airline reservations; home agents can't do that).  I've worked in the past seven years-- outside, for Mr. Calm, for Apex, for myself-- but every time, at the beginning of the process, I end up feeling not good enough.  It's a sucky, shitty feeling.

I keep having dreams that OD has come home, yet she doesn't care about seeing me.  I normally have nightmares, so this isn't too far off the mark in my DreamWorld, but I wake up depressed.  The empty nesting's already started: my mind's full of details about how this year she has to study for and take the PSAT, then the SAT next year.  School ring this year.  Next year applying to colleges.  She'll be working.  She is her own person, and most of the time I'm the maid/chaffeur/cook.  I don't say that meanly, because I'm more than well aware it's a stage of life.  But it's still so sad.  And YD starts high school this year.

Five years from now, we hope to get the hell out of here. And while I'm probably overthinking things, I wonder, "When will I see my children?"  Early menopause hits all the women in my family.  My sisters and I used to say that my mom went crazy.  We weren't entirely joking.  I completely get it, and sympathize now.  She was going through it while we were all graduating and leaving home.  That's a ring of hell if there ever was one.

I don't really feel bad at the moment; I just need to work through these feelings.  It's pretty hard when you mostly identify yourself as one thing for years and years, and then that thing begins to change.

In other news, I'm going to find a sports medicine store that will hopefully have a brace for my foot.  I'm tired as hell of not being able to walk a long period without feeling like my foot's being stabbed, and if I have to wear a fugly brace to do it, so be it.  I can't spend the next forty years or so on my ass.

posted by: athenawj at 08:46 | link | comments (2) |
family, kids, studies, the seriousness of it all

I've been offline for what, a day?  My letter "L" died on my keyboard.  Now that my computer is armed with YD's keyboard, I took off around the yard with my camera.  I didn't plant too many seeds and bulbs this year, but it's a cute little crop.

Here's one of my zinnias:

Here's another:

It doesn't do this every year, but this summer our crabapple tree is fruiting quite nicely:

Who's that handsome kitty-cat?

This is the first gladioli that bloomed, by my front steps:

This is another gladioli, hanging over the birdbath:

Yet another one, beside the birdbath:

Not in my yard, but I thought I'd share a little about my workspace in the coming weeks.  I like to surround myself with little things.  These are on the filing cabinet next to my desk:

I'm two away from having all the action figures in Series One of Corpse Bride.  These are the mini figures, but unless I order from England and pay an exorbitant amount, I'm never going to have the Land of the Dead set.  These are the Land of the Living: The Everglots and The Van Dorts.

Yes, I collect little toys (although I'm not so nutty that I keep them in the box-- I pose them), and I'm sure going to get all of Series Two before they sell out.  McFarlane Toys does an incredible sculpting job.

By the way, the magnet on the planter behind them says "Because I'm the Mom- that's why".  And that's right!

I'll post more garden pix once my one and only dahlia blooms (I'm SO excited-- my first dahlia), and if I get any other gladioli colors.

***

Update: I ordered 8x10 prints of the pix I want to enter in the fair, and I've decided on the sepia-toned one of YD's eye.  It looks better bigger.  Thanks for all the input, everyone!

posted by: athenawj at 19:52 | link | comments (6) |
photography, gardening, crazy kitties, toys

Shop Update #8636557-9

Two new t-shirts in my shop: Human: Bring Me All Your Ho-Hos and Help, I've Been Kidnapped by Killer Hamsters!

Enjoy. :)

posted by: athenawj at 09:15 | link | comments (2) |
kaleidoscope farm, silly stuff

I refuse to pose for you, you filthy human!

posted by: athenawj at 14:18 | link | comments (4) |

Shop Update #85772900-8

Finished uploading the last batch of notecards from my Disney trip, and I also did a new print for my shop: Mother Nature's Frivolity.  Here is a small version; you can find the bigger one here.

posted by: athenawj at 09:28 | link | comments |
art , kaleidoscope farm

New Products Update #60568-5

I have some new cards up in my Photography section at Kaleidoscope Farm: here.  They're the first eight on the page.  I had to put a disclaimer in the Long Description, because in Supersize view they look blurry, but I assure you, they're NOT.

They're some of the pix from our last Disney trip, so at last you can see a few of them.  I plan on doing the rest today, or, at the latest by the end of the week.  Please, feel free to log in and rate any or all of them!  I love-a da feedback.  Barring any copyright issues, I also plan on doing some prints with multiple photographs.

Tomorrow, YD and I are off to Centennial Park and the Parthenon (my summer home, you know ;)) to take photos, but it'll mostly be her.  She's developed quite the affinity for photography, which is nice to see.  Something other than sitting in front of the computer or t.v. is good, although she's still playing her viola on a daily basis.

posted by: athenawj at 12:22 | link | comments (2) |
photography, kaleidoscope farm

Pool People

Here's my latest drawing: Pool People

People actually do look happier than this at my local wave pool, heh.

Now it's down to two: Hippie Without a Cause, or Pool People, that will be my entry into the fair.

Sigh.  I'm so wishy-washy, it'll probably take forever to choose one.

posted by: athenawj at 08:58 | link | comments |
art

Opinions, please!

Which picture looks better?  Good enough for the fair?  Since I fixed it up, I imagine I'll have to put it in the digital effects category.  ??

If you need to see the bigger pictures, you can find them at the My Pictures link.

 

 

posted by: athenawj at 22:56 | link | comments (8) |
photography, kids, state fair

Inspiration

I took YD and her friend E. to the wave pool again yesterday.  It was only about 85 degrees, windy and sunny, no humidity, so it was a nice day overall.  Nice to get some fresh air-- something I need more of.

I found myself looking around again at all the shapes and sizes, and felt the need to sketch.  All I had in my bag was my book on Pennsylvania ghost lore and a pen, but hey-- the back page was blank, so it turned out fine.  The back page now looks like a template for how to build different humans, and all my little notes to remind myself of different shades, bathing suits, hair, etc.

My plan is to do a drawing (with the perspective from standing in the pool) of a pool chock full of people with exaggerated features.  I've done nine (ten, including a tiny tot peeking out from behind a man's leg) so far, and had to quit because I couldn't think of who else to draw.  I'm resuming tonight.

The features aren't as exaggerated as I like, but that's the nice thing about scanning, then fixing in PSPX-- you can run away with it.

***

Zazzle changed the look of the shops, so I went through it the other night and set it up--new template, new features.  The bad thing, IMO, is now I can't tell how many visitors per day I've had, what's gotten a comment or rating, what has the highest or lowest rating-- all those features are gone.

posted by: athenawj at 07:20 | link | comments (2) |
art , summer, real blibber blabber, kaleidoscope farm

Study Time

I've taken two tests so far-- the tests in my orientation modules.  Got 100 and 95 (I missed one).  I'm not the kind that necessarily agrees with open-book tests-- should I change my way of thinking?  I mean, hell, I'm going to have to know this stuff later on, but I can't decide if that rule's there to help or hinder.

Now I'm studying geography and airport codes.  I suck at the Great Plains and Mountain states-- gotta memorize those.  And in my next module, I have to call my instructor and do a mock airline ticket reservation within three minutes.

Fun!

Fun Facts For You: Did you know that the Concorde flies so high you can see the curvature of the Earth (you would find me passing out if I ever saw that)?  And that Thomas Cook is considered the first travel agent?

posted by: athenawj at 09:33 | link | comments (2) |
studies

New Product

My new print and mug is now up at my shop: Eat at Joe's.  Check it out-- it's a pretty cool one, if I say so myself. I had fun with it, and it didn't take nearly as long as "Hippie Without a Cause".

Yesterday, we watched the International Hot Dog Eating Championship.  Yes, I can't believe ESPN broadcast it.  I rarely watch t.v. til Judge Judy comes on, but it was the Fourth, YD and I were flipping through the guide, and were a little intrigued.  What a contest.  I can barely eat three hot dogs without feeling nauseated; the winner, the little guy from Japan, ate 54 friggin' hot dogs.

54.  Good lord.  What's more, he still had the 54th one in his mouth when the contest ended, and he had to finish it for it to count (and beat his last record).  He slowed down tremendously, and looked like he was going to pass out just trying to chew.

His closest competitor, a 22-year-old that he was neck and neck with through most of the contest, just looked like he was going to puke the entire time.  He had some weird technique that made him look like a gagging ostrich.

For fun last year at the fair, Mr. Calm competed in the Krystal's eating contest.  He ate two, if I recall.

Hee.

posted by: athenawj at 14:20 | link | comments (2) |
art , real blibber blabber

That Darn Cat

Sometimes Salem will stay out as late as eleven o'clock, although we like both the cats in by dusk.  He didn't come home at all last night, and the last time we checked was about two a.m. (not me- I was passed out on the couch and Mr. Calm was working.  Yes, that's his preferred schedule).  We worry because there are other cats around, and Salem gets into tussles.  Ya'll remember his infections?

Six a.m.: Mr. Calm lets Ollie out.  No Salem.

Seven-thirty a.m.: I check outside.  No Salem.

Eight-forty-five a.m.: I go outside again.  Salem's laying in the carport, sprawled out, washing a paw.  "Ho-dee-do, la-dee-dah-- What?  You lookin' at me?"

I was very sweet and happy to see him (making him suffer through kisses and hugs before he could eat), but I swear, that little booger's coming inside at six today.

 

posted by: athenawj at 10:14 | link | comments (2) |
crazy kitties

Argh.  Five-and-a-half hours of sleep, not good for the body that has a full day planned.  Stayed up til the wee hours watching "Something New".  This is a good movie, ya'll.  Not the romantic comedy as advertised.  Sure, there are funny parts, and of course romance, but it does a great job of honestly exploring the problems a white man and a black woman could have, dating each other.  I enjoyed it, and the two leads have great chemistry.

That leads me to this: YD commented to me recently how easily a time she had fitting in to the middle school she "graduated" from... except with the black kids.  Yet, she spent most of her middle school years going to a middle school that was 85% black, and fit in there fine.  I can't even begin to explain that.  It saddens me that a middle-class white school might be more segregated than others.

Anyway, I have hundreds of books stacked behind me, and in the kitchen.  Yes, we're ridding ourselves of hundreds of books.  I can't believe I'd ever give any of them up, but it's come down to space, and what we use and read, and they've got to go.  I only filled two trash bags with garbage, and took down some pictures and a lot of knick knacks/collectibles.  I sort of feel like I'm getting rid of my twenties.  My tastes were different, my likes and dislikes.  Goodbye!

It is so nice to have the extra room.  Heh, of course now I can start going to yard sales again, buy little things here and there... I just don't want that extra space to fill up as fast.

Mr. Calm returned his mid-life crisis car.  He told Carmax it just wasn't a family car.  WTF?  It was never supposed to be, but turns out, he really does want something more family-friendly, and is going to get something after he's put away more money.

On Howard yesterday, they played a 911 call from an upset woman.  Turned out she called 911 because she'd taken her kids to Burger King after taekwondo, they were hungry, and yet all BK would fix her was a regular burger because they were mopping the floors.  She demanded that the police be sent so BK would fix her kids a Western Burger.  She said they were there to "protect" her.  The dispatcher asked if the burger had somehow hurt her. 

The dispatcher refused to send the cops.

God.  Grow up, dumbass.

posted by: athenawj at 09:20 | link | comments (2) |
real blibber blabber