Ever have song déjà vu?

I almost always have to listen to a song more than once to like it. And it's rare that I feel moved by a song the first time I hear it. There is so much to take in -the rhythm, the words, the meaning. It's hard to get it all on the first time. But then there are those songs that you know you have not heard before, you know that they hold no personal meaning to you, they do not connect to your eighth grade dance, or the first time you drove a car, to college, to a particular person, or to a particular location. But yet it seems they should. They stir you, something deep in you. You feel a wistful sense of longing -melancholy yet incredibly sweet. Tell me you know what I'm talking about? The first song I remember feeling this way about is "Lonely Ol' Night" by John (who at some point decided to drop the Cougar) Mellencamp. I didn't think it was the best song I had ever heard. It didn't make me run out and buy all things Mellencamp. (Although I think he is pretty cool, for the record.) It held no specific meaning to me -I was 19, what did I know about loneliness? Yet it stopped me in my tracks every time I heard it. I was with a man who pretended to love me, but didn't, really, and he said..."this song obviously holds memories for you, it makes you think of someone else." I was shocked. I said..."no, I just like it." But he didn't believe me, he said he could tell by the look on my face. (That was my first clue that he was overly dramatic.) I couldn't convince him that it really meant nothing. And then I realized that it did mean something, although what, I can't really say. Like I said, I was 19, what did I know? The next song that held this power was also by John Mellencamp. Go figure. It was "Ain't Even Done with the Night." Then, Bob Seger and "Night Moves." And on and on, mostly old songs -some Credence, some Clapton, some Waylon. The only recent songs I can say that have had the same effect are Floating Men songs. Oh, and one Ryan Adams song. Maybe a Black Crowes song. Tonight I am listening to one of those songs over and over and over again. I must be on the 20th repetition of it by now -I am sure that Kevin is quite sick of it. It's "Into the Mystic' -Van Morrison. I hate to admit that the first time I really noticed this song was on American Pie, Part Whatever When Michelle Finally Marries That Guy With The Goofy Dad. Sure, I know Van Morrison. Who doesn't know 'Brown-Eyed Girl"? (Especially brown-eyed girls like me...) "Moondance"? Yeah, I know it. But somehow "Into the Mystic" had slipped through the cracks for me until I saw them dance to it on that silly move. (My sincere apologies, Van.) I had to buy it. And each and every time I hear it, I listen to it over and over and over again. I'm not even sure what it's about.....old souls, soul mates, happily ever after, dreamy love, contentment? All I know is that when I hear the opening strums....I feel very, very, very happy. I want someone to want to rock my gypsy soul.... Anyway, I hope that if it didn't happen for you in '06, I hope that in '07 you hear songs that move you for no apparent reason. And I hope you listen to them over and over again. :)

Ever feel like this?

Do you get a little panicky toward the end of the year?
Do you think about those things you wanted to do this year but didn't?
I start thinking this is the last book I will read this year, the last time I walk my dog this year, the last bowl of cereal I eat this year...you get the picture. Everything is suddenly so meaningful. Time is short. Must cram more into 2006. This could be the last time I blog this year. This could be the last words I write this year. (Unless, of course, I actually work for the last 1.5 hours I'm at work today. Given my earlier work performance today, it could go either way...)
So, cram more stuff into 2006! There are only a few days left. Make them meaningful! Or, just procrastinate and do lots in 2007. It's up to you. Ta-ta!

Wait, I can't have ta-ta as my last words of 2006.....that's just wrong. Oh the pressure of signing off for the year.....

Hello bloggers my old friends

I've come to ramble on again......

At least one of my faithful readers has been asking for an update. You would never know I had readers from the complete and total lack of comments. You non-commenters, you.

Hope your Christmas was wonderful. I must say I really enjoyed it this year, and I am ready for the new year. I am actually going to make a resolution or two. I usually scoff at such. What will 2007 bring for us? In a demonstration of hope and commitment to the cause, I have changed a portion of one of my many passwords from a Russian name to an American name. Perhaps at least one of you will figure that one out.

Good-bye '06. See you folks in '07.

I am thankful for...Jacob!!

Quote for the day

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
-Douglas Adams

My one and only attempt to be a celebrity gossip columnist

It wasn’t so long ago that everyone wondered if Britney Spears could turn the tide of public affection in her direction again, or was it too late? I think the AMA Awards answered last night –a loud and clear “YES, yes she can.” Britney came out to thundering applause to announce an award immediately following a skit that featured a Kevin Federline look-alike being sealed into a crate (soundproofed for our protection –from his singing) and dropped into the river, as well as several scathing jokes from Jimmy Kimmel about the state of his career as a rapper. Kimmel referred to Federline as the first “no-hit wonder”, said that Federline’s release of “Playing with Fire” was his first release that didn’t result in a pregnancy, and made fun of Federline’s poor record sales -all sending a very clear message: "Britney belongs here, you do not." So, Britney’s back, whether you like it or not. She’s chain smoking, dancing without pants at a Vegas club with Paris Hilton, and enjoying some positive media attention for the first time in a long time. Welcome back, Brit.

I DON'T LIKE CHANGE

There are too many changes going on in morning radio. I feel all out of sorts. I had grown to love the Bob and Sheri show. I listened every morning during the week, and sometimes on Saturdays. They really made me laugh. I couldn’t wait to turn it on every morning. Then one morning without warning –gone. No more Bob and Sheri. Then, a few days later, news anchor Kris Kelly is suddenly gone from Woody and Jim. Last night I heard that, after nine years, The Bob and Tom show will no longer be on 102.9. This morning someone other than U-Turn Laverne did the traffic report. OK, OK…enough already! Stop messing with my morning radio! Some of you just won’t get this, because your commute is too short. So trust, me. Morning radio is important. It keeps me sane. Puts me in a good mood. Makes the commute much less horrible. So, Nashville radio, get a grip! Stop freaking me out!

Disclaimer

The "Unfaithful" poem is not about me. It is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any real person, event or location is entirely coincidental. (I have always wanted to say that.) It started out with the line My breath froze...and went from there. I had no idea what it would be about when I started. That's how it goes. Tally-ho.

Unfaithful

My breath froze
but my heart chose
to go on beating
in spite
of your shock show.
My face glowed
a bright red code
and it heated
in spite
of the harsh cold.

My mind slowed
but my eyes chose
to go on seeing
in spite
of the cries, “No!”
My life changed
As feelings ranged
From hate to love
in spite
of the status quo.

Mind games.
You are on my mind
My mind lets me down.
Mine. My mind used to be mine.
You are in my mind.
My mind is on you.
Me my mine.
I have to say me
Because you always said you.

Words

I love words. I like some words merely for the sound they make, others for their meaning. I even love words in other languages. Reloj is my favorite Spanish word. Not for it’s meaning –it means watch –but for how it sounds when you say it. Rolls off the tongue quite nicely. Do you ever think about words that have no literal translation to English? How trippy is that... I like to learn new words. If I see a word and I don’t know the meaning, I have to look it up. I bought one of those vocabulary builder books, but that was kind of a boring way to learn, and I never got past bellicose, which I have never remembered to use. My old boss liked to throw big words around that he thought other people wouldn’t know. I would, of course, pretend to know exactly what he was talking about and then run to the library to look them up. That’s more fun that reading a vocabulary builder, don’t you think? He once called me valetudinarian, which made me mad when I read the definition, although it’s really not far off the mark. He also liked to call me obdurate, which isn’t really nice either. What made him think he could call me all these names?

Feeling a little whiny

Today I just want to curl up on the couch with a big blanket and watch TV. Or maybe snuggle in a chair by a window and read a book –with one dog in my lap and the other at my feet. I want to eat greasy cheesy hash browns for lunch with lots of ketchup, with a fiery diet coke to drink, and then doze on and off, all warm, snuggly and full. Instead I drove in the rain, walked in the rain, and now I am sitting in my cold office with no window doing things that bore me. In a little bit I will walk in the rain to eat lunch –no greasy hash browns :( - then I will walk back in the rain to my cold office to do more work that bores me. Wow, my mood is phenomenal, isn’t it? Why am I whining on my blog? From now on, this will be a NO WHINING ZONE. !

My Bailey

My Chel

Baby, it's cold outside....(and I'm glad)

Christmas decorations for sale

I am selling Holiday Gifts of Light like the one shown above. You can choose the color of your bow, and either clear or colored lights. $25 for one, or $22.50 for two or more. You know you want one.

On a lighter note

Yeah, yeah. So I was a little touch yesterday. It happens. So sue me. (Please don't.) I got it off my chest. I feel better. They even responded… that’s a first! No one ever responds to my venting e-mails, so I will give them kudos for that. So on a lighter note, I’m hoping to go to the movies this weekend. I want to see Stranger than Fiction with Will Farrell. It just looks like my kind of movie...weird. But now that I think about it, I think I remember The Kev telling me I would have to see that one alone. Not his thing, he said. I think he’s playing golf on Sunday, so maybe I’ll go then. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Me venting to a local radio show that made me mad

I have listened to your show for several years. I am not in the habit of taking up for the people you make fun of. I understand your job is to make jokes about current events. I am not the type to take things too seriously, but I feel your comments on the air about adoption were insulting and irresponsible, and I cringed when I read the article in the Murfreesboro post that said you were going to call the embassies in Africa to see how easy it is to adopt a baby. I can assure you that there is nothing easy about adoption. Even if the adoption process itself is easy (and most of the time it is heart wrenchingly long and hard), that is only the beginning of a lifetime commitment that could never be described as easy, even in the very best of circumstances. I am not concerned about what you say about Madonna - I think she can take care of herself. I don't believe that any comment you make could hurt her. But adopted children can be hurt by your comments. And any adopted child that heard you compare them to puppies lined up in a window -or whatever the comment was- probably did not feel so good about themselves. Adopted children and the parents who make the decision to adopt have enough issues to deal with without having to hear snide comments on the radio. Many people who choose to adopt have endured years of heartbreaking infertility. Others choose to adopt because they want to share what they have with a less fortunate child. Whatever the motivation behind the adoption, they all have to deal with attachment issues, the incredible financial burden of adoption, and ignorant uninformed people. A child that is an orphan or a foster child in the US has a chance at life, education, care and a future. A child raised in a foreign orphanage - especially in places ravaged by poverty - often has close to a zero chance at anything. Many children are turned out to the streets at age 18 and die at a young age due to health problems, suicide, or crime. Some of them will also have endured abuse, neglect and unimaginable conditions in their childhood. For you to do or say anything that could in anyway be taken as a slight to these children or to the process of adoption is reprehensible. To insult adoptive parents is unforgivable. I pray to God that no adopted child was listening to your show on those days. If the US system didn't so strongly favor neglectful and abusive biological families' rights, as opposed to what's best for the children, then I would bet that many people would not be spending the money, emotion and stress of adopting overseas. Say what you want about Madonna. Poke fun at stars and entertainers who put themselves in the spotlight and in a position to be critiqued. Leave innocent adopted children, and people who have made the decision to adopt out of your show.

Well today was one of those days where the weather is doing something screwy, and it feels like a gift. Summer is over. No, wait....here's one more day for you. One more day to hear lawn mowers buzzing, walk your dog in short sleeves (you, not the dog... please forgive my dangling participle or whatever that is), catch a whiff of green onions through the sunroof. Hope you enjoyed it. I did, even though I worked and had to go to the dentist. Here's to one more day of summer. Cheers.

Look! It's Halloween Melissa!

Look.
My posts are getting fewer
and farther between.
My blog is
dyyyiiinnngggg......

Another poem I like (read recently in a movie I like, In Her Shoes.)

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)
ee cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear no fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)
i want no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

YEAH, BABY!!

GO CARDS

I think I was in 3rd grade the last time the Cardinals won a World Series. My brother and I were so excited. We loved baseball and we loved the Cardinals. I can still (almost) give you the entire lineup from that year -1982 I think it was. It's a pretty good party trick. I remember that we proudly wore our St. Louis Cardinals shirts to school the next day. We were so happy, so proud. So, my fingers are crossed for the red birds. I need a new Cardinals shirt, preferably one that says World Series Winner - 2006. Come on, guys, you can do it!

The results are in!

Well, it’s over. A heated weight loss contest that started a little under two months ago came to an end last night in our kitchen. We removed each extraneous item that might possibly weigh us down –watches, glasses, jewelry, socks, etc.- and stepped gingerly on the scale, holding our toes up in the air to maybe squeeze out another ¼ of a pound...and….drum roll please……the results…..me……16 pounds……The Kev…………30 pounds! Yes, now I have to give the Kev my hard-earned cash. If you know me, you know that’s getting me where it hurts. But he deserves it and I am very proud of him. We have been going to lots of classes at the Y- Total Body Conditioning (torture), Boot Camp (torture to the extreme), Kick-Boxing, and Step Aerobics. (Well, The Kev did not go to Step Aerobics...that was just me.) And we have been eating less and less. I even managed to go FOUR WHOLE DAYS and drink nothing but water. That is a record. One day would have been a record...four days is a freaking eternity. I drink decaf coffee now, for the most part, but I love it...it is my morning friend. My little cup of happiness to start the day. My little warm friend. My bottle of water was not nearly as friendly, let me tell you. I feel pretty good. We have made some positive healthy changes, my jeans fit better, and food tastes sooooo good now. So, cross your fingers - next weigh-in is January 15. No money will be exchanged this time. This time, it's all for bragging rights. ;)

GO ST. LOUIS CARDINALS!

YEAH!

Jen

You loved
Doo Dads, Bubba, Days of our Lives,
and me.
You loved laughing, puzzles, word games
and me.
You loved Jack, your girls, Peg,
and me.
You loved God, family, neighbors,
and me.
You loved baseball, fishing, music,
and me.

And now the sky is a little less blue.
The Christmas lights don't twinkle
quite as bright as they used to.
I still laugh, but it will never be the same
without you.
A family, a community, a generation mourns your loss.
We love you.

Silly girl

I’m not sure what has happened to all of my poppycock musings. (I just wanted to use poppycock in a sentence because it’s a funny word, isn’t it….you know it is. So is claptrap. Look them up. They describe my blog well. ) I still just don’t have much to say these days. Remember my post about my morbid fears of crashing while on vacation? Apparently my friend V suffers from the same affliction –being a worry wart obsessed with irony. A few weeks ago a man carjacked a woman in a white Nissan car downtown. She called to make sure it wasn’t me. This morning there was a fatal car crash near my house. She called to make sure it wasn’t me. And while we chatted I told her about how I watched that new show Criminal Minds last night. It was OK, I guess. Not as much punch, not as slick as Law & Order, but they are still working on their chemistry, I guess. The characters are kind of predictable. One FBI agent was at the top of his game when something happened that shook his confidence. He retired. Now he’s back with something to prove. Then there’s the weird nerdy wonder kid who can spout crime statistics coming and going. He must constantly show how smart he is to make up for his young age. Then there’s the gum-popping, smart-mouthed woman back at the Bureau. She’s a computer whiz who can pull up background checks and cross-reference them with other searches with absurd speed. But, I digress…..so it was about this wacko serial killer last night. So of course I had to close and lock all the windows after watching it. (We have been sleeping with them open, enjoying this weather.) I mean, I had to close them. Now, I understand the chances of being attacked by a serial killer are very small, and even smaller are the chances to be attacked on the night you watch a scary show about a serial killer. But that’s what makes it ironic, see? So I’m relaying this all to V this morning, when we realize….even more ironic would be to be attacked this morning after telling that story. We both got the creeps. How silly is that! I watch too much crime drama, is obviously the lesson I should learn here.

More vacation photos...

That pile of dirt

They are building a "residential and commercial mixed-use community" near my neighborhood. It's going in a big empty field that was bordered by trees. I liked that field. In the summer the yellow-green grass grew high, and caught the light as it swayed in the wind. It always made me think of that Norah Jones song, Come Away With Me..." I want to walk with you, On a cloudy day, In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high, So won't you come away with me?"... But the grass is gone now, and the trees will be soon. I always meant to take a picture of that grass, of those trees. (Yeah I'm always trying to take an artsy fartsy picture of something. I bet you do something weird, too. I just betcha.) But I never did. Shoulda, coulda, woulda, didn't. Oh well. At least what they are building sounds pretty cool. You can read about it here if you are interested.
Lenox of Smyrna
http://regenthomestn.com/Philanthropy.htm#Story17
Anyway, there is now a humongous pile of dirt there. It's got to be 40 feet high. (I would love to know how tall it really is- my estimation skills are horrible. You know how people will say "It was about 200 yards away." What? I will never be able to do that. When I think of a yard, I think of the red yardstick that my mom used to threaten to spank us with. I can't imagine 200 of those end to end. Isn't that what you have to do to guess length like that? My brain just does not work that way. I don't get it, never will.) So every time we drive by this pile of dirt, my loving wonderful hot husband (thought I would say nice things since I am about to make fun) cannot help himself. He has to talk about it. "Man, look at that pile of dirt." ... "Boy, that pile of dirt is even bigger than it was yesterday." ... "You want to see if we can drive my truck up it?"... "I bet I could drive my truck up that." ..." I'm going to drive my truck up that pile of dirt one day." He can't stop. I've seen him try. We drive by, he glances over, waits a few seconds, looks back at the pile of dirt in the rearview, waits a few more seconds, makes a face like he's trying to not talk about the pile of dirt, then, two seconds later...an inane comment about the pile of dirt. The other day his truck was suspiciously muddy. His explanation sounded really lame. But, nah, he wouldn't really try it...would he?

Fall for fall...

I have not been rambling on much, lately, I know. Not much to say these days. Fall is here, and I am happy. Winter is just around the corner, and we all know I adore winter. Time change is almost here, and while the early darkness is a little sad at first, the mornings are easier, and soon enough the early darkness is cozy as we settle in for winter. I hope your summer was fabulous. I hope that you will enjoy winter as much as me. There’s not too much you can do about it coming, so you might as well try to enjoy it. Eat some chili. Have some hot chocolate. Light a fire. Toast a marshmallow. Buy some comfy jeans. Find your favorite sweatshirt. Huddle under a blanket and watch a scary movie. Count your blessings, and enjoy the season.

"First Lesson"

I like this poem. Maybe you will, too.

"First Lesson," by Philip Booth

Lie back, daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's-float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

Saturday

Today is one of those days I wish I could record and play back over and over. One of those days where everything feels in place, there is calm, and contentment. There seems to be enough time to do the things I want to do. There is an easiness, a nice flow to the day. I don't feel rushed or behind. Do you have any idea how rare that is for me? Not that my life is so busy - I mean what am I doing that I'm so busy? -but I so often feel behind, and I too often feel rushed. Nothing we have done today has been special or out of the ordinary. We went to the Y this morning to a total body conditioning class. (Makes you feel alive, I tell you...of course, by tomorrow my arms will be screaming and I will say that I will never go again, but of course I will.) Then we had lunch, and I cleaned a little while The Kev watched the UT game. Lit my favorite candle...blackberry smoothie...mmm mmm mmm...., did some laundry, sat on the deck for a while and threw the ball for Bailey. Nothing special. It must be part exercise endorphins, part weather. It is a gorgeous day, folks. We've had the windows open all day -there's just enough breeze to make you want to curl up and take a nap. Fall is here! My favorite time of year. I hope your day is good, too.

Untitled

I want to take you out into a field
and scream at you until you understand.
I want to wrap happiness and hopefulness and confidence
in shiny silver paper with a crimson bow and give it to you on your birthday.
I want a giant eraser to take away the pain,
leaving behind only pink residue on a blank sheet.
I want you to look inside and see what I see.
I want so much for you,
But can do so little.

Grand Canyon

I'm Not Afraid

These are the lyrics to my favorite song when I'm working out/walking/etc.

I'm afraid of growing old
I'm afraid of staying young and running out of fun
I'm afraid of photographs of mom and dad when they were young

I'm afraid of spending my life
Waiting for a day that may never come
I'm afraid of earthquakes hurricanes and other acts of God

I'm afraid of having kids
I'm afraid there'll be no world for them to live
I'm afraid of pleasing all the people all the time

I'm afraid of jeaslousy, cupidity
And all words that end in "ee"
I'm afraid of men with bombs who think they're God

But I'm not afraid I'm not afraid I'm not afraid of you
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid I'm not afraid of you
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid

I'm afraid of driving on 65
I'm afraid of flying in the sky
I'm afraid of getting out of bed with nowhere to put my head

I'm afraid of multiple choice
When a and b and c are true
I'm afraid... of not being afraid

But I'm not afraid I'm not afraid I'm not afraid of you
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid I'm not afraid of you
I'm not afraid I'm not afraid

Maybe you are afraid of something? Maybe you won't be if you listen to this song over and over....it rocks.......

http://www.myspace.com/flemingandjohn

ta-ta

You can ignore this post

I am just linking to something here. Faithful readers, you may ignore this bit of housekeeping. Or, if you are nosy you can click my "technorati profile" and read much of the same stuff you have already seen. Later...

Technorati Profile

Photos

The Kev kissed another

Vacation was going great. I was excited to finally see what the western part of our country looked like. It was beautiful - so very different from here. The Kev and I were getting along splendidly. He was being the usual "vacation Kevin" -extremely agreeable and affable. We were having a fine time. We were a young (ok, semi-young) couple in love. But then it happened. He kissed someone else. And it wasn't a girl. I don't remember his name. But I will never forget his face. I stood nearby and watched as he leaned in and licked Kevin's chin. And Kevin looked so happy. I wasn't mad, just extremely disappointed. Disappointed because the "him" was a giraffe on the "safari" that we were on, and because I missed -not once but twice- the photo of the giraffe "kissing" Kevin and taking the carrot from his mouth. Kevin will never forgive me for that. It was a wonderful time, though. If you ever find yourself in Arizona, I highly recommend it. We were hesitant about going, because it was an hour and a half drive from Scottsdale. We had passed it the day before, but they were closed on Tuesdays, so we had to drive all the way back to Scottsdale, then back 1.5 hours to the park, then 1.5 hours back to Scottsdale. But it was worth every second. (We had extra encouragement because the night before we watched Steve Irwin's memorial service. We were inspired. I will miss that exuberant man, God rest his soul.) It's called Out of Africa, and it is wonderful. www.outofafricapark.com.

You didn't really think The Kev would kiss someone else, did you? ;)

Trans Fat

Feeling preachy today. Please, if you do not know about the dangers of trans fat, go to www.bantransfat.com and read about it. Read labels. Save your heart. Do not eat anything that contains "partially hydrogenated oil," "margarine," or "shortening." A law was passed recently that makes food labels have the amount of trans fat grams. But, beware. By law, a food can contain a certain amount of trans fat and still call itself trans fat free. The only way to know is to read the labels. Trans fat is found in many things like cookies, pastries, crackers, and powdered things like soup mix, coffee creamer, and hot chocolate. And of course, most things that are fried. You can eliminate trans fat from your diet!

I saw this article about NYC banning trans fat and it got me all riled up. See my post here. My comment here is down near the bottom...my name is "down with trans fat."

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thecheckout/2006/09/nyc_to_restaurants_get_an_oil.html

Happy label reading!

Flying

Flying demands a certain reverence from me. Stephen King once said that he believed that planes were kept in the air because they each contained enough people that feared they would fall, and the collective wishing kept them up. Sounds good to me. And I’m definitely one of those wishing -for a safe takeoff, a safe flight, a safe landing. You won’t see me making jokes or being too playful on a flight. It’s a somber affair, ladies and gentleman, and it commands a certain frame of mind. Maybe because the very first time I flew was right after September 11 (yeah I’m a late-in-life-first-time flyer, I know), and I took with me a printout of the most wanted terrorists. Armed soldiers patrolled the airports with guns slung across their backs. My boss told me I was “brave” for not canceling my vacation. It was not normal circumstances for a first flight, that’s for sure. Or maybe it’s just my fatalistic personality. I don’t think of myself as being negative, really, on the contrary I consider myself an optimist -but a realistic optimist, nonetheless. Why am I scared as we are driving down an insanely steep and curvy mountain road in Arizona? Because in my mind’s eye I can see with perfect clarity how The Kev could turn to say something to me at just the right (wrong) second as a deer or something steps into the path of our vehicle. He could panic, hit the brakes, slide off the shoulder, overcorrect, and there we are - flipping end over end to our untimely deaths. Death on vacation. How ironic. Yeah it sounds morbid, I know, but this is how my brain works, folks. It’s the curse of an imagination that is in tip-top shape from years and years of practice. So, if you see me on a plane and you think something’s wrong, don’t worry. I’m just trying to keep us in the air.

Welcome!

Welcome, constant readers, and random passerbys! I decided to check out this beta blogging and see what the fuss is all about. Thus the new blog. I have a link to my old blog here, just in case you get to missing it. Also, I had grown tired of the "world according to woo" title. It served its purpose. It was time to move on. So welcome to ramble on. I hope you stop by often.