Blibber Blabber

No rhyme, no reason

 

I haven't given updates on my sister because it's exhausting saying the same thing over and over.  She's back home now, under an order of protection, although I don't know if her husband tried to break it yesterday.  Lord knows he tried everything he could Monday to break it-- it took all day to get him out of the house.  He called here, too, and tried to talk to both Mr. Calm and me.  When he started that sighing, I-don't-know-what-to-do shit with me, I told him I had to go and said goodbye.  I don't care that he apologized to me via Mr. Calm.

The sheriff who helped her get her things out of the house the other morning turned out to be a Good Ole Boy- going into the house after she left and laughing it up with her husband; agreeing that she was overreacting.  V. called and complained.  The judge that is hearing the case on my birthday (9/9) plays golf with either her husband or her father-in-law.  It is fucking inescapable in that town.

Oh, her in-laws, who promised that even if it ended in divorce they would still support and love her.  Who said that they would get their son out of her house immediately, and maybe even send him to rehab.  Her lovely MIL called Mr. Calm's business phone Monday evening and said, "When is she coming home?  I'm tired, and I don't want to babysit all night."  When she dropped off the kids with V., she was rude and snapped at her.  Yes, I'm sure there'll be support.  She's lucky she has a friend there who has been telling her what her husband's been saying, has been giving her a little money to get by, calling the police to figure out what to do, and is a man.  Yes, that matters, you know?

By the way, ya'll have NO idea how many times that man called our house from Thursday through Monday (yes, even after he was supposed to have NO contact with her).  We had to turn off the ringer numerous times.  And he got ahold of Mr. Calm's business number.

I still hope V. sticks with this; gets a legal aid or pro bono attorney and follows it all the way through.  It's a big life change, but the alternative is worse.

It also puts things in perspective for my own marriage.  NO, they were never this bad, but it makes the little things... littler at the moment.

Although I still don't see why he can't clean up after himself. ;)

posted by: athenawj at 06:38 | link | comments (1) |

For the third friggin' day straight, I'm in hell.  I hurt my back-- way up high, underneath my right shoulderblade.  The pain courses down my right arm, too.  Right now I've got a pillow in my chair, forcing my back ramrod straight.  I always think three is the magic number... three days, it'll (hopefully) work itself out.  Today, I'm succumbing to the urge to buy some Advil or Motrin, because something pharmaceutical needs to be done about my muscles.  The Tylenol isn't cutting it.  I've been taking it a couple of hours before bedtime, but I was preoccupied with the discomfort while lying and watching Street Kings (my lust for Keanu has not waned, even after twenty years).

And my foot's swollen again, and my carpal tunnel's hurting.  Bad.  But in addition to my whining here, I'm doing something proactive for a change.  I'm getting the wrist braces today.  For a treat last year, I bought a  hot/cold foot massager, with little rotating ball bearings.  It tickles at first, but if I put socks on, I can stand it.  My footsies felt better after my "treatment" yesterday.  I also took the time to ice my wrists and feet.  I'm trying to mimic my old physical therapy, though I don't have an ultrasound machine stuck in my sock drawer.

I seriously think it's time for a life change, because I don't want to live with daily pain forever.  But I'm lazy.  That doesn't help.  I used to think, when thinking about losing weight, "It's only XXX months out of my life", but the older I get, the less I care.  I need a drill sergeant.  When I was pregnant, just the smell of alcohol would make me nauseous.  I wish my body would treat all "bad" foods that way now.  When I got pregnant with OD, I was 5'8" and weighed 110 pounds.  That's my natural body-- stick thin. I'd NEVEREVEREVER go back to that weight, but my poor body just can't stand this anymore.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!

posted by: athenawj at 06:27 | link | comments (5) |
pain

Things were pretty single-minded for me last week while motime was down.  I started and finished both my cakes for the fair, and now they sit on a dresser in the bedroom, out of sunlight and away from cats, awaiting dropoff.  If you wanna see 'em, go here:

http://athenaworkman.blogspot.com (scroll down a bit for the Ragamuffin cake)

Needless to say, I'm exhausted and sore.  Way more sore than I probably should be, and my hands are killing me.  I had friends in my twenties that tried to talk me into going to pastry school, but when you're broke, your husband is working overtime AND going to uni at night, and you have two little ones to raise, it's hard to fit something else in.  But maybe I should have gone back then... I might  not feel this way now.

Woulda-coulda-shoulda.  I don't regret it, so it's okay.

I visited the gallery Saturday.  Yay, I get paid in a couple of weeks.  Moolah!  The next show starts October 5, and she wants lots of work from me.  I have ONE piece done, heh.  But between now and baking time for the fair, and then afterward, I'll be creating.  Did I say this?  I want to create a series of weird family portraits and snapshots.  Yes, I think I said this...

OD leaves Thursday for uni.  I am secretly putting together a welcome care package for her.  Small, but I hope she likes it.

YD is buckling down.  She took five pages of notes for her U.S. history class on Friday (that was the day her schedule was FINALLY fixed).  Thank God for small miracles.

And yes, my MIL has cancer.  The doctor said they caught it in the beginning, and she's going to get all of her thyroid taken out.  We're hoping for the best; I'm being very optimistic for Mr. Calm, who was distracted and upset all Friday.  I feel just as bad for him, because he's a good man, and I know he wishes he was closer to her (closer as in geographically) during this time.  But she's a really strong woman, and I can just see her beating this thing down.  A little French fireball.

posted by: athenawj at 07:18 | link | comments (2) |
art , family, kids, memories, state fair, the seriousness of it all

I realized today while driving (there I go, having Deep Thoughts again) that I've already had my mid-life crisis.  Went through it a year, two years ago.  The girls not needing me like they used to, trying to figure out what to do with my life, thinking about how my life was half over (might not be, but I'm not the one who put that idea in my head... and it stuck there), getting depressed over my eventual death...

Wasn't fun while I was going through it, but wow, am I happy it's over and done with!

posted by: athenawj at 11:52 | link | comments (2) |
memories

Tomatoes!

Heya!  If you want to see pix of "Queenie McDonelson" and the Tomato Art Fest, you can go here.

posted by: athenawj at 08:21 | link | comments (1) |
art

Today I'm decorating a tomato, though I think I'll save sticking her eyes in (googly eyes) til tomorrow.  I entered the Most Beautiful Tomato Pageant, where you dress up/decorate your tomato like a beauty pageant contestant.  I'm giving her a gold crown, and a red tulle skirt, and shimmery silver cheeks and eyelids.  I have so many crafts supplies around the house that I don't need to buy anything except the tomato.  I'll post a picture tomorrow, whether I win or not. :)

If I have time, I've decided to rewrite parts Two and Three of my book, The Amazing Matthew Tribble.  Remember that one, Miss Funnyshoes?  Part One is fine-- I love that part, and as I'm going through it now, I see that it only needs some minor cleanup.  I even have a new ending in mind.  Like I said, if I can find the time.  And the urge.  I do like reading it, though.

Thank heavens for blackhead removers.  I had this weird patch on my left cheek that seemed to get worse and worse-- a nest of 'em, and it was making my skin wrinkled.  UGLY!!!   But then I finally figured out how to use the blackhead removal tool, and what a difference!!!  I am SO happy.

I know, that was gross.  But you have no idea how happy I was/am.

Mr. Calm's mom is in surgery right now.  Four years ago, they found that her thyroid was acting up, and they've been watching it since.  Today, they're going to remove half of it, and see if it's cancerous.  Apparently a biopsy's too risky.  He was going to drive down and surprise her with a visit, but then decided to wait to see if she needed help later.  Knowing Mr. Calm's mom, she would have been up and doing all kinds of things when she should have been recovering.  She's a really strong woman, so I'm hoping for the best, even if the worst is found.

posted by: athenawj at 07:19 | link | comments (1) |
art , writing, the seriousness of it all, festivals

I, erm, spoke too soon.  Got a letter today in the mail.  Was I so wrong to expect notification by email in today's times?

Ms. W:

We received 500 entries to our "Blue" juried exhibition from all over the world.  The task of choosing and eliminating was not an easy one, as we have minimal space to accommodate only a certain number.  The juror finally narrowed it down to 40 works.

I am very pleased to inform you that PEEPSHOW was accepted into the exhibition.

...

Yay! Go me!  Something new to add to the resume!  And I will learn to bitch later. :P

"Peepshow", 24"x24", mixed media on wood panel

posted by: athenawj at 20:06 | link | comments (4) |
art , memories

Food Poisoning and Fairs

I took the kids for clothes shopping Friday (Tax Free Weekend here), then out to lunch.  Usually, this place's burgers were good, but from the first bite, I knew something was up.  Bland, tasteless, and it had this funky, unidentifiable smell.  Not rotten, but... odd.  After that, I kept sniffing it, taking it apart to smell each individual part, then I made OD and YD's friend sniff it.  Heh.  YD's friend said, "It smells like plastic wrap", and yes, that was as close as we could get.  Plastic wrap that had been burned.  My guess is the thing had freezer burn.  Yes, I sent it back and got a refund.  The manager was nice.  The people next to us turned and gawked while I was trying to tell him.  I had half a mind to turn to them, hold out the burger and ask, "You want a bite?"

Anyway, no food poisoning here.  Thank God.

Saturday Mr. Calm and I went to the Williamson County Fair for a couple of hours.  Too hot for the midway, so we spent our time in the arena and livestock area.  Cute bunnies!  Jumping dogs!  Crowing roosters!  I knew B. would be there, the Bakery Chair for both this fair and the state fair, so I stopped by to say hello.  They were about to start judging, and I took a look around.  Man, if I lived in W. County I'd have it made, because there was only ONE decorated cake there.

I'll be cutting back my fingernails and beginning my first decorated cake on Monday.  Fun, fun... I hope.

Lastly, I don't think I made it into the Blue show in KY.  They were supposed to notify on Friday, and I didn't get any message.  Although it pisses me off that I wasted money sending in my cd, I'm not too bothered (right now).  I think I need to stick to alternative art galleries, and not boring old stodgy ones.

Pppppllllbbbbtttt.

Go here and tell me what you think of my still life.  GO!

posted by: athenawj at 08:26 | link | comments (5) |
art , food, festivals

It was Album Fever last night.  While we were in Chattanooga in the motel room, Mr. Calm and I watched a bit of an older Stevie Nicks concert.  She was doing a very restrained version of "Rhiannon", and it reminded me of one of my very favorite albums when I was a teenager: the Fleetwood Mac live album; a double album that I damn near almost wore out.

Last night, I finally remembered to look and see if I still had it.  Through almost all the moves, my albums have come with me.  First I put on a Rush album on the turntable and put the needle on "Limelight", and while that spun, I looked and looked and... Wow!  I still have that album!  It was an iffy thing: the sleeve had old water damage, and I wasn't sure if I'd given it up or not.

I played "Fireflies" and "Rhiannon", two SN songs.  I can't believe I still remember all the words to "Fireflies" after twenty years, but I was always good with lyrics.  And if you've never heard the live version of "Rhiannon", you're missing out on something great.

Then I sat down to cut out my artwork and played three songs from "Mirage", the album with the song "Hold Me", but didn't play that one.  I don't really like the hits from that one anymore.  I sang along with SN and Lindsey Buckingham, making sure my voice didn't carry through to Mr. Calm's office, heh.  I used to sing well, but I don't think I have more than an octave range anymore.

Lastly, I dragged out "Purple Rain".  My mom took me to see this movie when I was thirteen or fourteen.   Almost all the songs on this album are great, but I only played two: "Baby I'm a Star" and "Purple Rain".  I think the last half of "Purple Rain"-- the guitar solo-- is incredibly moving.  Prince may have not been "relevant" in years, but at least he can say he wrote some damn good songs once upon a time.

I wish I had a turntable in here.

***

YD and I watched "Penelope" last night: a modern fairy tale.  A family was cursed, and Penelope was born with a pig nose.  The only thing that would reverse the curse would be if "one of her own" loved her for who she was.  With a pig nose, you realize how beautiful Christina Ricci's eyes are.  James McAvoy does a really good general American accent.  I didn't think Reese Witherspoon, one of the producers, needed to be in the movie at all.  But otherwise, I really enjoyed it: the narration, the set and costume design-- oh! Peter Dinklage was in it, too!-- and most of all, Ricci and McAvoy's characters.

posted by: athenawj at 06:44 | link | comments (2) |
music, movies

Salem is wearing three bells on a collar now.  He's had a collar plenty of times before, but always manages to lose them.  I wish he was still little, when he'd bring his lost collars home to us.

The reason is he got ahold of another bunny.  Mr. Calm found it right behind my cottage garden, half-dead.  I begged him to leave it there with Salem, so Salem could finish what he'd started.  There's no way in hell I would have prolonged that poor rabbit's life by taking it in and shuttling it to the sanctuary, where it would have been put to sleep anyway.

So, Salem has three bells on a red collar, and Ollie, though no Great Hunter, has a purple collar with one bell.  We'll see how long they last before they too are lost to the wind.

***

I am planning on starting another strange portrait today.  I like doing weird portraits for my art-- A Girl and Her Octopus, Family Portrait (complete with Tomato Baby), etc.  This time it's going to be a girl with sash, and a sheep with a blue ribbon, standing before a fair banner.  I was really inspired by these dolls (click! it's a link) that we saw when we went to Bell Buckle; their faces, especially the middle one, are just so striking, so I may give her my own twist.

I will post pix when I'm done.  It's a four-piece deal, so it'll take a LITTLE time. ;)

Here's to what I hope will be a quiet week.

posted by: athenawj at 08:03 | link | comments (2) |
art , animals