This past weekend was the Irish Picnic in McEwen.
You know, there were pictures to go with this story but I can't get them to load. Stupid blogger.
I mean, the story just isn't as much fun without the pictures of the nuns.
Sigh. Well, suffice it to say it was muddy and kind of gross. The heavy rain from the night before soaked the rummage sale but I did find a Richard Simmons book. I love that man.
Stupid blogger. All I want to do is show y'all some pictures.

The Elders of the Bellevue Community Church, a church right up the road from me, have fired David Foster, the very man who founded the church and until last week was the pastor. His wife was also fired (she headed up youth ministries).

If you have a moment, before you read on, please read this article from the Tennessean.

Now, my feelings of BCC aside, this seems to be a pretty shady act on the part of the Elders. In my church (PC-USA) the Elders are elected to represent the congregation, I would imagine that the BCC's Elders are elected on the same principles. The BCC is non-denominational and does not report to any larger governing body. If the Elders represent the congregation, why don't they bring this before the congregation? I am wondering if there's something the Elders aren't telling the public. It would have to be a pretty big transgression for them to kick him out and literally change the locks.

What disturbs me is the non-compete clause. Is this standard in independent churches? This is just odd to me. It's a ministry, not a business.

With much help and many thanks to The Amazing Mandy The screen was burned, repaired, and used. Some don't look quite so good, the ink dried a little bit on the screen. Some look amazing, I let Mand have first pick for all her help. Wow.

Now I have two more screens and about a million designs.

Labels: pictures

When I went for my first college tour at the University of Tennessee at Martin I first met Dorotha Norton. She encouraged me to apply for the Freshman Communications Scholarship which I later won. Winning that scholarship is why I went to UTM.

She passed away in June.

Jackson Sun: UT Martin loses 40-year veteran teacher.

When I heard that Kevin Smith was making a Clerks 2 (originally the Passion of the Clerks) I thought it was a desperate attempt to kiss fan ass after Jersey Girl (which I haven't seen). I pretty much didn't want to see it, but when Dave asked and I had a free ticket I figured why the hell not?

You know, it was so good. I really enjoyed it. It wasn't cheesy, it wasn't jam packed with winks to hardcore fans that are very often distracting. In fact, it had an excellent point.

One comment: Randal and Dante look better in black and white. That's all I'm sayhing.

If you didn't know, my father is still living and I am not a lesbian. At the end of this book I was crying, that's how touched I was. Seriously.

Labels: books

Oh man, did I hate the character development in this book. I loved the story, but by golly, all of the characters sucked. Well, except one or two, but whatever.

Labels: books

SO I have just completed step one. I've covered a screen in emulsion. THe funny thing about the emulsion is that it reminds me of an old episode of Amazing Stories. Remember the one with Jon Cryer where he had no luck with the ladies? He found that if he mixed two chemicals together and applied that to a picture that the image would become real? So he tried it on several pictures of ladies? Anyway, that's what this emulsion reminds me of, except it's green, not lavender. It's goopy and thick and gross. Anyway, my laundry room is now a dark room and the emulsion is drying on the screen.

I'm so, so tired. I went back to my friday night aerobics class for the first time in a while...like, over a year. THe teacher was different but the classmates were essentially the same. I worked my ass off, my face was red as a tomato, but I feel amazing. It was hard work--like the kind of hard work that means I can pretty much eat whatever I want tonight and still drop weight. Damn.

But my dream of being an aerobics teacher might not be doable. See, I look absolutely ridiculous. I usually try to hide behind someone else so I don't have to see myself in the mirrors but today, no, I had to be up front. I had a hard time keeping up though, and I'm pretty sure that "fuck you whore" is not an acceptable answer to "can we do it one more time?" But to be honest when the teacher asked if we could run through the routine one more time I was the only one who answered, and that answer was a single finger held aloft to indicate "one more time." Oh, and one step was called the Fred Astaire. Our teacher explained that it's because of hs dance moves in such movies as "Singin in the Rain." Yes, you do know me, I corrected her. But at least I could talk. A sign that you're working at a good aerobic level is that you're able to carry on a conversation.

As we began the abs/cooldown section I began to doubt my choice in exercise gear. My favorite exercise shorts are long gone, I believe I left them in Anaheim last fall. But the point is I had to wear my old school Lane Bryant shorts which, as you probably know, are entirely too huge for me. So as we do the floor exercises they kind of shift. Now, I have nothing to hide but I'm not eager to let my fellow gym-goers know that yes, I'm a natural redhead.

I'm glad to be back on the horse again (but not the baloney pony, sucka).

I think it is no secret that I love Project Runway. I came in late in the first season and have been watching since. I love, love, love Tim Gunn, the gentle guide of the show. To me it's his show, not Heidi's. He hasn't had a boyfriend since 1982. No idea if this means he's dedicated to his career, if he's a slut, or if he's just realistic. At any rate, he's a silver fox and I want to have him over for dinner, although he'd be out of place in my shabby-without-the-chic condo. He does seem to have a great sense of humor though. He often shows up on Best Week Ever (my dream job) and cracks wise on the weekly PR podcast. Love it. Love him.

On last night's episode someone said something about horses, so I was hoping I'd see Mr Gunn ride up on a white stallion, but no, he was just leading a pack of frou frou dogs.

I do love this show, I'm dying to know who gets kicked off next week and why. More the why than the who.

I didn't want to consider it official when I submitted my application. I had academic issues that would eliminate me.

Then I didn't want to consider it official until I got my acceptance letter. Even though during the interview I got the definite impression I was in.

Then I didn't want to consider it official until I turned in my acceptance statement. Even though that was only a minor hurdle.

Then I didn't want to consider it official until I was registered in my class. Well, I'm registered now.

I won't consider it official until my first class. But I'm going to start school in less than five weeks.

Labels: pictures

My dreams are crazy. I brought this up at my last therapy appointment but she said unless it's affecting my sleep I shouldn't worry. It isn't affecting my sleep but it seems as though my brain isn't getting a rest. We're talking crazy, realisitic, sometimes lucid dreams. Last night I was on Project Runway. Of course, as is the case with dreams, nothing was normal. Nina Garcia had taken over for Tim Gunn. The cast was some folks from the first three seasons as well as some new folks. It wasn't all about fashion, among our tasks were to have a battle of the bands, redesign a car while maintaining the factory built structure, and creating a new dessert for a local restaurant. I made it to the last five and was a shoo-in for top four, possibly even top three.

But enough about dreams. People hate to hear about other people's dreams. i heard a story this morning that MSN has the syndication rights to Arrested Development. You'll be able to watch episodes online FOR FREE. hot dog.

I say I think because every year I think it's one day but it's actually the day after or before. So I know it's either the 27th or 28th. So, happy birthday Angi either today or tomorrow!

So I'm emailing with Dr Gay about my brief stay in Meridian, MS (it all comes back to Lance Bass--I was thinking he was born in Meridian, but it's actually Laurel. My mistake). About all I remember is I was fed up with my summer job, I was going to get my nose pierced*, we stayed in the Microtel, and I nearly left my beloved Freddy Bear behind in the hotel. Oh, and behind the hotel were what I believe were fairgrounds and an old, rusty sign that read "Royal Land." I cannot, for the life of me, remember why I didn't take a single picture of this, I was into abandoned properties even back at age 20. I imagine it was an amusement park of some sort, but at the time I wasn't really eager to go exploring on my own in a strange, overgrown place in a city I didn't know much about. My travel partner didn't seem to be into that sort of thing and besides, we weren't in the city for very long. I was much shyer then so I didn't think to ask any locals what it was all about. You'd think there'd be some information on the internets but you'd be mistaken. There is one tiny mention on a members only site (yes, I've registered) but then, I'm the sort who's too impatient to wade through 10 pages of google results. I figure if it's not in the first three it's not there.

So here's the deal. I'm curious to know more about the Royal Land Amusement Park, if that is indeed what it was (I'm assuming so based on the one site that turned up in my google search). I'm kind of hoping someone with memories will google it one day, come to this site, and let me know a little more. And yes, I've even thought about returning to Meridian, MS to explore Royal Land a little bit but it is doubtful I will find an interested party to go with. I'm kind of alone in my desire to explore old, abandoned areas that may or may not now be meeting places for transients, drug addicts, satanist wannabes, or other less than desirable characters. Besides, who knows if it's still there and not another motor hotel or subdivision? I'd like to think the old, rusted Royal Land sign is still there.

*The reason I did not get my nose pierced: At this time, 1996, piercing was mostly mainstream but the shop where I stopped was not mainstream enough to accept credit cards. I had to wait until late morning to cash my road expense check and get some cash. By the time I cashed my check and ate some lunch I had calmed down considerably. No pierced nose.

No links, cuz you can use google as well as I can. Here goes:

1. Lance Bass comes out! Not that this is a big surprise. I mean, well, you know. So glad I'm lazy and left that image up on the splash page.

2. Prince is getting divorced. So what I'm saying is there's a chance...

3. Something something Hezbollah, something something Lebanon. Kidding. Yes, I'm aware there's a world outside Us Weekly. I like to keep things light here.

My head hurts. I'm tired. I have two new books to post about but I'm going to wait. I also saw Clerks 2 but again, will post later on. I just got invited to a Willie Nelson show for free but I'm too tired even for that, if you can believe it (oh yes, I went there. Or didn't go there as is the case here). Right now I've got bigger fish to fry.

One of the books I just finished is a graphic novel. Now, call me a copy cat, but I kind of want to do my own graphic novel. The problem is I'm not the best artist. I'm also not the best writer, but this is not news to regular readers of this blog (all four of you). I think I can manage the writing if I can find someone to manage the illustration. Anyone here good at that sort of thing and willing to do this for free? Well, mostly for free, you'd get a copy of the finihsed product.

I think I'm back to me. It's about damn time. I've read that anti-depressants can cause a sort of creative block, but I've found the opposite is true. I'm learning new crafts all over the place. Well, learning is perhaps not the right term for it. More like half-assing my way through things.

Yesterday I started back on the weight loss plan and the exercise. I've been flirting with both for the last few weeks so it's been more of a gentle mosey back into the routine. I'm hoping all goes well. I really feel like my old self again. I'm so glad.

So apparently the course of the Strangers With Candy movie did not run smooth. Apparently they ran into all sorts of bumps that I won't document here, Google works as well for you as it does for me.

It would've been a better episode than a full length film. It was funny but kind of draggy and long.

The point is you're a racist.

Okay, so I am watching a rerun.

I remember when this pageant was such a huge event. Everyone watched at and when we got back to school we all discussed it.

Seven of the top ten are from traditionally Southern states, although it could be argued that Texas is actually Southwest, but we won't split hairs today. And of course Miss Texas is in that top ten-they're trained from birth to be beauty queens. Everyone born in Texas is beautiful. And Arkansas might not count as the South either but I'll include it here because I do.

One of the most successful Miss Americas of recent years isn't a Miss America anymore: Vanessa Williams, who has come a long way from the scandal tht caused her to lose her title.

I don't see Miss America lasting much longer--I wish it would, I mean, it's an institution, but it doesn't seem as relevant today.

Right now I'm watching the final scene of Dirty Dancing which is, in my mind, better than any glass of wine. Nobody puts baby in a corner!

So yesterday was just peachy. I mean, there's some wacky stuff going on at work, but it's all systems and work specific stuff and that's really not what I'm here to talk about. So I come home to a cable free household. As in nothing at all. No cable, no internet, none of it. Luckily I have about a zillion hours of DVR-ed goods so I caught up a little. I'm below 70% full right now! Of course, it'll fill up again tonight, but we move on. So I made my appointment and woke up to a cable free morning. Nothing. Nothing at all. I couldn't even watch the terrible morning show that I need to blog about sometime.

Today I move my cable appointment. Since it's a same day thing they can't give me a set time, I only know that they'll give me a 30 minute warning. I wait patiently for the phone to ring. Aside form a few family and friend calls: nothing.

But on the way home I decide to run a couple of errands. First is the bank where I, uh, do some banking. Next stop was a little bit more interesting--the library. Not so interesting in itself, but outside was the sweetest, most patient choco-lab. She was sitting so nicely I thought for sure she had to belong to a library patron. After waiting about ten minutes and calling the owners (she did have a collar and tag) I realized she had just gotten away from home. A quick check in the library revealed that this wasn't the case, this sweet gal had made her way across a busy intersection on more than one occasion. I did make a quick call to the home (no answer) and since the little lady had already jumped in my car once I decided to take her home. She was a true sweetheart and I was very sad--I mean this great doggie is out in high nineties temperatures? I wanted to take her home but I knew that was out of the question. So when I dropped her off (no one at home) she stood on the porch and watched me leave. Sigh.

So the cable dude eventually calls and shows up a couple of minutes later. It was a simple disconnect--or disco, as they say in the biz. When the cable came up it happened to be on MTV which happened to be on a rap countdown. After signing, surveying, and testing the tech asked me if I liked rap, if I knew rap, blah blah blah rap, so I said no, I don't deep up with it, it just happened to be on that channel. Apparently he'd spent some time at some up and comer's house setting up something cable related. I then told him about a co-worker's husband (also a cable tech) and how he did some work for some member of KISS. I suppose this was cable dude's cue to move out fast because he was gone within 30 seconds of me finishing the story.

Anyway, Flashy's here. It's hot. I'm sleepy.

Labels: pictures

It'll be a challenge, that's for sure. It seems that the easiest way to do things without buying more stuff than I need involves drawing my design right onto the screen, then covering it with some chemical, then washing this all off, leaving me with a screen ready for some ink. IT should be noted I don't exactly have a steady hand when it comes to the drawing, I'll give it the ole college try.

Did I mention it's hot here? It's probably hot there too. My parents' air actually went out today, of all the rotten luck. They did get it fixed but little Flashy stayed over while I was at work.

Oh, and in case you didn't notice the site was down for two days. I don't know what happened. Actually, I do, they told me, it was essentially a problem on their end. From what I understand they had to do some server maintenance, they restored everything BUT mine, and my email bounced for over a day. Nice, huh? The bad news is for some reason I'm getting more spam than I was before. Which isn't as much as I used to get, but still a lot. At least I'm not getting ten thousand spam messages a day like before.

Finally, if you aren't listening to Eli Renner's podcast WTFWJD and you're even the slightest bit Christin then I don't know what to say to you. It's short, it's almost weekly, and the message is fantastic. I wish my podcast were half as good and half as focused as his. Go listen. It won't kill you.

First, the good news.

One: As I've hinted I am going to start the Masters degree process this fall. I'm excited and scared. Excited because it's a pretty big opportunity and one of those right things at the right time situations. I kept quiet about it until I was sure I was accepted. I mean, I had a hunch at my interview with the Dean (he essentially told me that all I had to do was turn in the transcript and then to let his assistant know which class I wanted to take) but you know me, I play it safe for fear that I'll jinx the whole thing. However, the acceptance letter has arrived, my acceptance statement has been turned in, and I've received the information on the welcome reception/first night of classes. But the scary thing is I have to do an illustrated class presentation. Well, that's not so bad, I'm kind of an attention whore. The bad part is the 17-20 page paper I have to write for the class. There doesn't appear to be a text for the class, I think it's one of THOSE classes. But I'm excited. It's an adventure. Oh, and I'd just like to mention the school that accepted me in a graduate program is the same college that waitlisted me for undergrad. SUCKAS!

Two: I started back to exercising today and I feel fantastic. I know, I did the same last month, but I don't know--it feels very different this time.

Three: I'm actually feeling really good these days. I never thought I'd get here, honestly. Team Sheila tees are soon to come. They're all about supporting happy Leah. More info on that once they're actually here. I've gotten a job upgrade this year, I just got my annual raise, and financial outlook is good.

Now the bad:

I've got some messed up muscles and joints. My right hand is inflamed and sore. I can't really grip anything small. A mouse is ok, a pen is not. In other words no crafty night for me tonight. Besides this my jaw hurts something fierce. I was chewing some gum Saturday night and two days later I'm still having issues. I opted not to eat my normal lunch of Kashi cereal due to the crunchiness (yes, it is that difficult to chew). All this in addition to my recurring neck issue.

And more bad: it's hot. Like really hot. Like, put your animals in the house already hot. But that I can't control. Let's move along.

All in all I'm feeling better, I really am. I think my therapy visit tomorrow will go swimmingly as I have nothing but good news to report what with the exercise, grad school, and a mostly clean house. But still, I'm feeling downright lonely. It's that whole thing of you can have everything going for you but when it comes down to it it's a lot better when you have a partner to share the joy with. I'm also getting the travel itch. As I mentioned before my job is going very very well, I do enjoy it, and I've been accepted in a graduate progrm that I really, really look forward to, but I have the notion to pick up stakes and head to new horizons. I suppose I could wait until graduation and then find a teaching position somewhere, but would I enjoy that?

Not to mention my allergies are freaking nuts these days. With the humidity and my underproductive nasal passages it's hard to catch a breath once in a while

Y'know, sometimes a book is just a book. And sometimes a mesh bag of pineapples is just a mesh bag of pineapples.

I'm not belittling Cook at all, but sometimes I just sit back and enjoy the story.

Labels: books

As you may've noticed there was a bit of downtime this weekend. No biggie but all email sent to leah at this domain bounced. Resend if you can.

Here's some stuff I like. No ads, just feel like yammering. I've had a crazy week and these are a few of the things keeping me going:

Things That Make Scents. I got two soy tarts in a Sampler several months ago. They had broken and so I put them in the wax burner together. The package was not labeled with the name of the scents but one is fruity, one floral, and they are mixing together in the most amazing way. Very strongly scented but they're not making me ill (I have some scent issues). If you have a sensitive nose please be careful with these. Still, my house smells better than it has in a while. I have a hard time finding a house scent that doesn't smell fake but at the same time fills the whole room.

Project Runway. Oh, how happy I am that this show is back. I only wish I knew more about constructing a garment--see, K from crafty night does sew and loves the PR, I don't sew and love the PR. We do have differing opinions on the fashions, but it's all good.

Air conditioning. Right now it's so consarn hot I can barely walk the 3/4 mile in to work. When you hit good a/c it's the most wonderful feeling in the world. Add in DVR and I am a happy lass.

Today my mom is 55. Happy birthday!

After a long conversation with Angi (hi! i'm glad I got to talk to
you!) during which I washed the couch blanket AND rubber brushed the
cushions (if you have a dog and cloth covered furniture you HAVE to get
one of these--much more effective than a vacuum) I vacuumed the floor
for no reason. I'm not expecting guests, I just had the notion to
clean. hooray! I'm now officially out of bags.

And then, if that wasn't enough, on my way to work I had a Hedwig sing
along in the car. I'm such an NPR junkie that this is a big deal.
Hooray for ipods! Sausage curl chicken wing it's all because of you!

Why is this a big deal? I have only vacuumed/dehaired the couch ONCE in
the last several months, that was because of a houseguest and I had a
lot of help. i haven't had an in car sing along in about a year. It's
all getting better.

and in the fall I'll be a grad student! more on that later.

One last look at the Live Journal most recently posted images feed reminds me how freakin happy I am that I'm not a preteen right now. Sweet merciful crap, if I had access to blogs, digital cameras, and the like I'd be mortified. Very few have access to tangible reminders of my angst. Not that the web is tangible (or permanent, mind you) but I'm counting in the same league as journals, notes, and other ephemera.

Labels: pictures

I can't remember the last movie I saw in the theatre. I know it's been a while, but no matter. In the past three days I've seen two, one highly anticipated, one not so much.

Pirates blah blah: Dead Man's blah blah. Good sword fights, Jack Sparrow, pirates, so what's the problem? Well, much like the second movie in the Matrix series the ending isn't satisfying, and we've got another year to wait to see the actual end.

The Devil wears blah blah blah. Which was better: the book or the movie? Does it matter? Actually, overall it makes a better movie but the book's ending was a little more fun. Oh, and the movie was a little long. And there were a few things in the book I wish they'd put in the movie, most notably the liberal borrowing from the sample closet. My key lime truffles did make the movie a little better. Key lime truffles make life better every freakin time.

Some previews:

* Talladega Nights: PLEASE don't let the funniest parts be in the preview.
* Running With Scissors: YAY except Evan Rachel Wood? Not who I pictured in the least.
* A Zach Braff vehicle I don't recall the name of but could easily be Garden State 2. Is he the new face of slacker angst?

Let me rant for a second. One of the conflicts in the Devil Wears Prada is that Andi's boyfriend starts losing respect for her, sort of pressuring her to quit her job. Now let's think this through. She does have a rough, thankless job. He thinks she's giving up her dignity or something abstract like that. But isn't getting what you really want about paying your dues? Not so much selling out, but doing thankless jobs to get ahead? I know ultimately the point is she's allegedly slowly becoming another person under Miranda's employ and therefore becoming as heartless as Miranda but I don't see it. She's simply proving herself more capable than her co-worker. YOU PAY DUES. That's how you get ahead. She isn't asked to murder, she isn't really asked to backstab. but whatever. It's a movie based on a book that is based on true life but is, at the end of the day, a novel.

Major spoilers to follow.

Partially a reply to comment below, and partially to elaborate more: Yep, she did bang the guy in Paris. The job drove a wedge between her and her boyfriend leading to her seduction by blonders. But who's to say they were compatible in the first place? The boyfriend comes off as kind of needy, but then i'm a cold bitch who is currently single. He's placed in the position that millions of women have found themselves in: support an ambitious male partner. Not to say he isn't ambitious in his own right. Love sometimes means supporting your partner's pursuit of a dream. My opinion from the movie (it's been a while since I read the book) is that while Andi is in the world she never really becomes part OF the world. She does come awfully close. when Andi breaks the news to Emily that she has been chosen to go to Paris instead they try to tell us that this proves Andi is losing her self and is no better than Miranda. Hardly. Andi has proven herself more capable than Emily, and I think a lot of that's due to Andi's continued perspective that this too shall pass. She continually reminds herself that this is only for a year. Much, much different from undermining your competition by using influence and connections while discounting loyalty and experience.

But then, I had my own experience ages ago of discovering that the dues weren't worth the payoff and gave up a field I'd spent my college career preparing for.

David Kodeski found two old diaries in a shop in Chicago. He is having a different woman read each entry which means, if you are quick with the math, 730 different women. I'm reading the June 3rd entry which you can hear by subscribing. It is available on itunes. Once you listen to a few entries you can hear an All Things Considered story about his search for the woman who wrote the diaries. It's actually pretty interesting.

I just got home from seeing a tiny bit of the rocktastic Falls City Angels (they've improved 5000% since the first time I saw them) and the fucking clever Alcohol Stunt Band (Chris Crofton is my new hero) and had my TV on TBN for some reason. I can't remember why I had it on this when I left for the evening's events but doggone, I left it on when I got home because Kirk Cameron was evangelizing. I mean, I had a gazillion KC posters on my walls as a tween (before we were called tweens and were a highly marketed-to demographic), now he's preaching the good word of the gospel. I knew he was a Christian, I just didn't know he had his own progrm. This all makes me feel kind of dirty. Wonder if he still likes Prince, on account of Prince is now a Jehovah's Witness?

And then, THEN I see Gary Busey doing a promo for something or another. I didn't catch it cuz I was distracted (youtube? phone call? can't remember).

Now I'm listening to some dude sing. Flashy just finished Denny's rawhide. God bless us, every one.

You know, I'm not the least bit tired right about now? I've been home for an hour now and just don't have any interest in sleeping. Is it the caffeine I had during the movie (more on that later)? Or is just that I feel great? I might have stayed at the bar but I had the world's worst headache. Even seeing my ex-bf with a plain, personality free girl didn't impact my great mood. Maybe it was my cleavage. Maybe Jack Sparrow is the world's greatest antidepressant (more on the movie later, short version: will reserve judgment until The World's End is released, but love the Depp).

Not only is Dr G visiting from Minneaperlis but he also brought his AP English journal! Hot damn! So he reads a bit, we talk about the good ole days, podcasting, churches, my medication change. Best enjoyed with spinach and artichoke dip, preferably from the cleavage of a sassy redhead. Dr G wants to know who listens to this show so email comanche dot red at gmail dot com. So rock out, bitches.

Labels: podcast, schmoovecast

Ok, I'm watching the Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough At Last." Now, who the FUCK would destroy someone's reading material? Why would you even do that? That's so wrong! And who would criticize someone else for being an avid reader? Why why why?

Gosh, if I get this worked up about fiction can you imagine what real life does to me?

But occasionally when I'm walking through the sub-basement tunnels of the place where I work I sometimes imagine the same fate befalling me. Only I could probably read just OK without my glasses. Also, I have a few spares at my condo, assuming I could get there after the bomb destroys humanity. And even if not, I usually carry my prescription sunglasses with me at work. So, yeah. I like to read.

This is Milo, my favorite neighbor is taking care of him for someone. Milo is super cute, super small. He's a miniature pinscher, but he's the runt of the litter so he's a min-min-pin.

Labels: pictures

Here's old man Denny. awwwwwwww.

Labels: pictures

To celebrate the birth of our country, the US of A, I headed to Ginger's for good times poolside. Flashy is no stranger to water so he was placed on a raft. He did eventually jump off the raft and swim like the dickens over to me. He didn't seem to mind the water but was in no rush to get back in. All was fun until Ginger's little dog Sarah decided to exert her dominance over Flash. Oh, and the in-pool roughhousing concerned Denny a little bit.

It was then over to the parents' for burgers and banana pudding. God bless us, every one.

Labels: pictures

So, it's fairly common knowledge that back in the day girls would occasionally "go away," sometimes to take care of a relative, sometimes with no explanation. And, of course, they ended up in maternity homes where they were often treated coldly and gave birth without family or other support nearby. Sad. And of course, the babies were often given up for adoption despite what the mom wanted. And that's what this book is about. It'll make you cry, that's for damn sure.

Labels: books