latest read

Well, I am supposed to be on my 8th book of 2012.  Here however is the first one I've finished:

the glamorous librarian life: at the end of the day it's about poop and teeth (or lack thereof)

Every day, sweet little library patron nuggets.

 

The man with the bull dog – the man who poops when he wakes up, oh yes, he told me so – and at the sound of the first fart on the toilet, the dog leaves the bathroom after delivering the newspaper to said man.  But yesterday morning, the man was just farting in the kitchen.  He wasn't ready to poop.  Just yet.  The dog got the newspaper however because he heard (or smelled, hmm) the farts.  The man laughed and laughed as he told me.  It is a cute story.  If you can get past the part about the poop.  I cannot get past that part.  At all.  Old man poop.  You don't want to think of it either.  Nuggets. 

 

Then there is the regular lady who, if I had time, I would start a blog entirely in her character.  Oh wait; millions already exist (find any source of poetic-ish spam – one with bits and pieces of text from all over the webs sewn together with malicious content – and you've found the closest thing I can think of that is like listening to her talk).   A nugget from Saturday, a nugget so dear to me:

 

She is very interested in what we the staff read, which is normal and expected of course.  She thinks I like to read Mysteries, because I did a book discussion a ways back on Rebecca (which is a gothic romance really, not a "Mysteries").  But that is a different story.  So Saturday she sees a stack of books at our desk and reads the spines, giving her two cents about each title here and there.  She gets to one called Anna and the French Kiss and after reading it out loud says "Well I wouldn't know about that.  I haven't had a date in 19 years."  At this point, she had my full attention (we the staff want to know desperately the point in her life that she went Crazy Pants (read: not Schizophrenic) because sometimes she is totally Sane; we know she was married, we know she has hipster children that live in Brooklyn, we know she was an elementary school teacher).  "I'm also missing teeth."  I laughed.  She glared one of those 'you stupid bitch' glares.  She drifted away.  I am still laughing.  And maybe you had to be there.  It was really funny.  

we went to the fair last weekend

All wide-eyed:

the carpenter

Some children are attached to stuffed animals, blankets, pacifiers.  George has taken this plastic screwdriver everywhere this weekend.  To nature, to grandpa's, to nature again.

To do, 2012.

Be outside more, more, more.  This is super easy to say in January, when the weather is perfect. But we had such a fun time over last weekend at three separate parks and from the looks of it, there should be enough shade to keep us happy in August:

This next resolution has been a small "goal" for Steve and me for at least a couple of years.  We love the little city that we live in and we'd love to make a little blog about living here.  So we'll see about that.  It would incorporate his photography (and mine, dammit!), things to do and places to see; yes, places, places places, etc.  We find our city limits unique and we want to share.  

NEXT.

I got married almost two years ago (01.11.10), went to Social Security that same January to see about changing over my last name, was intimidated by the line and never went back.  Or, I would have gone back, except I threw away my passport, original marriage license and birth certificate by accident shortly after I left the SSA which screwed me up in a bad, bad way.  Anyway, I'd love to officially change my last name.  All of my important documents were replaced so I think I might attempt it again soon and stand in line no matter how long or smelly.

And then there is NEXT.2

We still don't have wedding bands, wtf.  That needs fixing.  Even my engagement ring is hidden away because the diamond in it is loose.  One of the creepiest library patrons ever asked me if my marriage fell apart since I no longer wear my ring.  Ewww, sad.

So here we arrive at yet another resolution of mine:

Be a better gift giver.

Seriously.  My gift giving this past Christmas was lame.  It was gift-card-kiosk-at-the-grocery-store-lame.  Lately I'm  bad about timing gifts for birthday packages and getting cards in the mail if at all.  I hate this about myself!  Especially since I was once a very with-it giver of gifts.

And then, celebrate more.  Steve and I are way too "meh" about our anniversary and birthdays.  I'm tired of our nonchalance.

Finally:  master the art of laundry.  Or the art of doing laundry diligently.

Oh, I can't stop with that.  I'd love to bake and cook more this year.  I'm kind of sad at how perfectly okay we are with eating out.  Growing up, to eat out was a special thing.  Now it seems that almost the reverse of that is true:  eating a really good home cooked meal is special.  I'd like to change that up this year.

Okay, I'm done.  Happy New Year, people!

helen keller in the liberry

"There's this woman writer, she writes like Danielle Steel.  Romance!  Her name is Helen Keller.  Do you have any books by her?"

 

"Umm."  Umm.  I know.  It's a really bad, frowned upon word.  But I'll tell you something.  You can buy time with it.  I totally condone Umm as an empathetic tool to look just as stupid as the stupid person you're helping.  Meanwhile, you can gather your wits about you – suppress that tremor of giggles that's about ready to blow your nose off your face – and find composure.  "We do have Helen Keller's autobiography but I'm not sure that's what you're looking for."

 

"Speak louder honey I can't hear you."

 

"Umm."

 

**

 

I'm still thinking of more New Year's Resolutions; actually I have about 17 I just need the time to write them down.   I keep reading them by people who expressly hate making them.  If you don't like resolutions just don't fucking make them, understand?  Do not say "I hate making resolutions because they're bound to be broken, but I'm going to go ahead and make an exception for this Facebook/blog post."  No.  Do not say that.  

resolutions, take one

Blogging more is definitely one of my resolutions for 2012.  (I accidentally typed resoulutions and thought I could probably do PR for a semi-large Christian fundamentalist church, or "campus," like they are called in these parts.  University of the Jesus. Resoulutions.  #1 Git your heart out of hell in 2012.)

Blogging more.  Yes.  But do you see how easily distracted I am?  Not just by my own crazy crackers brain, but by this adorable boy?  Gah!  Here he is, flapping his mouth about...

Like always, Madge:

Read more.

Listen to more.

Start taking care of this body a little better.

And, for fun:  find a scent.

Hope you all have a safe and exciting New Years Eve and Day.  Gwyneth Paltrow wants to help you out with that hangover.  So, you should probably listen.

christmas 2011

I'm late in wishing you all a Merry Christmas, or a happy whatever-you-celebrate, wherever-you-are.

Hope you got that excavator you asked for!  George sure did.

Santa brought me an iPad. :)

top ten things of 2011

Enjoy.

10.  The first anniversary of my marriage was way back in January (01/11/11 – not too shabby all those 1’s) and though Steve and I still don’t have wedding bands to show for it outside my engagement ring, all is well.  I delight in saying “my husband” when I tell others about him – strangers, coworkers (who might as well be strangers!), friends. 

9.  Our new house.  We quietly packed up our things and left our old house – a mere 7 or so blocks away – to a slightly bigger, Spanish-style home.  The new kitchen is a place where two adults, one rambunctious toddler, and two big dogs can “be” without bumping into each other, cupboards or appliances.  There’s a swimming pool out back.  There’s a working fireplace (and unfortunately a very warm winter thus far).  Life is good on O, our street.

8.  George (not that he ranks #8, but I’m doing this both chronologically and from memory).  He was a crawling drooling little chub in January and still very much a baby.  By his first birthday in June, he was walking.  Now he is running, talking and loves spending time with his books, tools, dogs (the cats get chased; sorry cats), and being outdoors, collecting sticks, pine cones and pointing out the dog poop we’ve missed.  UH-OH! POOPOO!  He has a sweetness and tenderness about him that is genuine; a concern for others that I learn from.  Ooof, I love my baby.

7.  When George turned 1, my mom came to town.  She was able to spend some quality 1-on-1 time with George and I’m grateful for every ounce of it.  In August, my dad, little sister and again, mom came.  I always struggle with missing my family – it’s like an illness that I manage without prescription drugs.  They are so freaking far away!  My husband(!) always buys vehicles with 4-wheel drive.  Recently I asked him why that was; we live in Florida and there’s really little need for it.  “You never know when we are going to move to Oregon.”

6.  There was a family reunion to Captiva, a gorgeous barrier island on Florida’s Gulf, in August.  Captiva is paradise.  We stayed in a cottage right on the beach.  Food, family, fun.  After the festivities, we drove through Sanibel, vowing to come back soon.  Are you reading this Steve.

5.  While not a highlight by any measure for good reasons, one of Steve’s uncles unexpectedly passed away and we went to north Florida for his funeral.  North Florida is completely different from South Florida – up there, it is the South.  There are hills and thick accents.  We went up to his uncle’s property after the funeral – acres of shaded land – and though I never met the man, there was a very welcoming presence.  You could feel the love.  I met some of Steve’s family I’d never met.  It was a nice coming together, even though it was a sad time. 

4. In September we went to Montana, and though it was something I was openly dreading, it was not a half-bad trip.  George met the mountains, and if he had his way, he’d never have left all that fresh air and open space.  I predict the boy will move out West if we do not.  He covered more ground than I knew possible.

3. Shortly after Montana, we went to Portland.  George met extended family and a couple close, dear friends I’ve known all my life.  It was an incredible time.  George was happiest exploring the great outdoors or snuggling with his aunts or playing with my parents.  We went throughout Portland and though it was brief, I inhaled enough of its air to keep me happy until…spring?  Summer? 

2. Return to reading and listening.  What?  I didn’t do so well with my reading this year and the past few years I’ve all but neglected music.  Both broke my heart.  In October, I decided to do something about it.  Reading requires time, and I’m able to listen to a lot of books on my commutes which can sometimes take 2 hours of my day.  I check out the physical copy of the same book I’m listening to so that I can read when time permits.  I also turned to the library’s music collection to reintroduce myself to music from 2009—present.  Working off Best-Of lists from NPR Music and Rolling Stone, I’ve been able to add quite a few albums to my collection.  It feels good.

1.  This. 

Out of 2500 applicants, 50-odd people were chosen to participate, and Steve is one of them (see second 38).  The juror, Todd Hido, has been an idol of his for a long time.  Steve said to me “just to have my photos in front of him was enough.”  

Well, and there you have it. 

great while it lasted

I got pregnant in September 2009 and shortly after my period went into hibernation.  For 2.25 glorious years.  Yesterday, it came back.  

Merry Christmas Madge.

tummy smummy

George is throwing up. :(  But so genteel about it.  When I used to barf as a little girl I was such a terrible, terrible drama queen.  

I'm awake, can't sleep.  Washing sheets, Googling "toddler vomiting without fever", faintly smelling the vomit on my clothes -- it smells like his baby spit-up of days long gone by.  

Okay, just had to let the blogosphere know about his condition.  Signing off.

(more recent reads) (memoir city)

from top to bottom: laugh, cry, a little of both.

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