I got my September and October stipends in the mail today -- after waiting for them for an entire month! I also got my November stipend today.
Someone explain to me how that works.
::happy, crazy gimp dancing::
So now I have one paycheck to pay my NOLA attendants for the work they did in August, with some left over. I have at least one paycheck ($1600) to put toward a van, in addition to the $1000 my department gave me for Xmas last year and the $4000+ from FEMA I've been rat-holing. What to do with the third check, besides attempt to pay the attendant service and try to help with bills? I say "attempt" and "try" because my folks have a nasty habit of not letting me help with stuff here. If they refuse, I can always make a big payment to Discover.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Camp Weekend -- Saturday/Sunday
After FINALLY getting to sleep at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning, we -- well, Gina and I, anyway -- were awakened at 7:30 by little almost-four-year-old Breanna yelling "GINA!" from the top of the stairs. We found out later that she was extremely upset that her godmother wasn't up to play. About 9:00 we decided to start getting up since we were on duty for making lunch. Yes, we HAD to think that much ahead since G and I were sharing the use of her lift.
Saturday was just a slow, lazy day. The weather started off nice, but as the day wore on it got cloudy, cold, and started raining. Perfect weather for sitting around, playing games and chatting. So we did. I spent a fair chunk of time talking with Suz which I LOVED. As I mentioned before, she lives in CA, so we rarely see each other, and I've gotten lazy about calling people. I talked to her right after she had to put her service dog to sleep (which was almost three months ago), and I can't remember the last time I talked to her before that. So we sat, holding hands and talking about everything and nothing. Suz has always had phenomenal energy, even before I knew how to recognize it, and I always find it comforting and grounding to be in her presence. There are a couple of other people who fall into that category, too, but I won't mention any names (Kender, Lady, Psi, 'Wela, Moonchild).
After supper, we had a candy hide and costume contest for the kids. While the kids were getting into their costumes, folks hid little bags of candy around the main hall. Jen's son Grant hadn't brought a costume but really wanted to dress up -- so we made him into a girl. Jen did his makeup, Gina contributed a bra, Suz loaned him a spaghetti-strap tank top with the Superman "S" logo, Tammy tied a leopard print blanket around his waist with a pink striped belt for a skirt, and Jen's black loafers and silver earrings and my mahogany obsidian beads completed the outfit.
He'll probably need therapy later in life, but he took second prize.
After the contest, the kids played with their prizes (everyone got goody bags with candy and small toys). Joy birthed the idea of the "spider nose ring" -- she broke the part of a spider ring that goes around your finger and then put it on one nostril -- and Suz and I quickly followed suit. Breanna kept trying to take mine off because she thought it was "making your nose hurt." Mama Jenni's translation -- she thought the ring was actually going THROUGH my nostril, and it was freaking her out. Not long after that, Breanna started wrapping her white feather boa around my neck because she wanted to "see how you look." Her long white and clear dress up beads followed, and she declared me "beautiful" (spider nose ring and all). Jenni took a picture, and I'm hoping she sends it to me, because it's a riot. The blue spider on my nose makes the entire ensemble!
Shortly thereafter, Tom, Gregg, and Mark got a fire going in the fireplace (no outside campfire this year ::pout::), and some of us played campfire with the kids. We told "scary" stories (the scariest was Suz's impromptu story of the killer bologna) and sang songs. Some of us (::innocent look::) were drinking special hot cocoa and pretending it was normal. Much later, it was game time again, and I had many laughs watching Suz, John, Mary, Mary's bf, and others playing a game called "Loaded Questions." A laugh a minute.
I finally went downstairs (escorted by John) about 2:30 or 3:00. The previous night's crew, minus Suz, John, and me but plus Jennifer's cousin Kyle, had gone down long before to chat and have a couple of drinks. When I entered, I was laughingly informed that Kyle had bought Jen for the night for $5.
Bedtime Saturday night, er, Sunday morning -- a lazy 4:00 a.m.
To be continued . . . .
Saturday was just a slow, lazy day. The weather started off nice, but as the day wore on it got cloudy, cold, and started raining. Perfect weather for sitting around, playing games and chatting. So we did. I spent a fair chunk of time talking with Suz which I LOVED. As I mentioned before, she lives in CA, so we rarely see each other, and I've gotten lazy about calling people. I talked to her right after she had to put her service dog to sleep (which was almost three months ago), and I can't remember the last time I talked to her before that. So we sat, holding hands and talking about everything and nothing. Suz has always had phenomenal energy, even before I knew how to recognize it, and I always find it comforting and grounding to be in her presence. There are a couple of other people who fall into that category, too, but I won't mention any names (Kender, Lady, Psi, 'Wela, Moonchild).
After supper, we had a candy hide and costume contest for the kids. While the kids were getting into their costumes, folks hid little bags of candy around the main hall. Jen's son Grant hadn't brought a costume but really wanted to dress up -- so we made him into a girl. Jen did his makeup, Gina contributed a bra, Suz loaned him a spaghetti-strap tank top with the Superman "S" logo, Tammy tied a leopard print blanket around his waist with a pink striped belt for a skirt, and Jen's black loafers and silver earrings and my mahogany obsidian beads completed the outfit.
He'll probably need therapy later in life, but he took second prize.
After the contest, the kids played with their prizes (everyone got goody bags with candy and small toys). Joy birthed the idea of the "spider nose ring" -- she broke the part of a spider ring that goes around your finger and then put it on one nostril -- and Suz and I quickly followed suit. Breanna kept trying to take mine off because she thought it was "making your nose hurt." Mama Jenni's translation -- she thought the ring was actually going THROUGH my nostril, and it was freaking her out. Not long after that, Breanna started wrapping her white feather boa around my neck because she wanted to "see how you look." Her long white and clear dress up beads followed, and she declared me "beautiful" (spider nose ring and all). Jenni took a picture, and I'm hoping she sends it to me, because it's a riot. The blue spider on my nose makes the entire ensemble!
Shortly thereafter, Tom, Gregg, and Mark got a fire going in the fireplace (no outside campfire this year ::pout::), and some of us played campfire with the kids. We told "scary" stories (the scariest was Suz's impromptu story of the killer bologna) and sang songs. Some of us (::innocent look::) were drinking special hot cocoa and pretending it was normal. Much later, it was game time again, and I had many laughs watching Suz, John, Mary, Mary's bf, and others playing a game called "Loaded Questions." A laugh a minute.
I finally went downstairs (escorted by John) about 2:30 or 3:00. The previous night's crew, minus Suz, John, and me but plus Jennifer's cousin Kyle, had gone down long before to chat and have a couple of drinks. When I entered, I was laughingly informed that Kyle had bought Jen for the night for $5.
Bedtime Saturday night, er, Sunday morning -- a lazy 4:00 a.m.
To be continued . . . .
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Music fix
Melissa and Fiona arrived today in the mail (side note -- Steve apparently arrived yesterday, but I can't get those until I see Edie). Melissa is currently jamming from Dad's surround sound.
::singing:: Somebody bring me some water. Can't you see it's out of control. Baby's got my heart, and my baby's got my mind, but tonight the sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul.
::singing:: Somebody bring me some water. Can't you see it's out of control. Baby's got my heart, and my baby's got my mind, but tonight the sweet devil, sweet devil's got my soul.
Camp Weekend -- Friday/Saturday
The weekend started at 5:15 Friday morning when I had to get up. Didn't grouse as much as I usually do considering I was heading for fun times. As we were driving through town to get on the interstate, I noticed the gas gauge was on "E." Now in P's van, that could mean you still have 1/4 of a tank or you could be on fumes. I ask Mom if she thinks we should stop and get gas and she says, "No, no. We have a 1/4 of a tank -- that's more than enough to get you to Gina's and me to work."
You know where this is going, right?
So on South-235 just after the Zoo Blvd exit, the van starts choking. We make it to within sight of the Central exit -- where there is a QT mocking us -- before it dies completely. Mom tries to call Hubcap both on his cell and at Nay's, but she can't get him. She notifies work she's going to be late (it's about ten before 7:00, and she's supposed to be there at 7:30), then gets roadside assistance through 911. The entire time, I'm laughing my fanny off. Mom, needless to say, was not as amused as I was. We never HAVE had the same sense of humor . . . .
The very nice roadside assistance man shows up within 15 minutes, we get off on Central to load up on petrol, and I get to Gina's by 7:25. I'm SO jealous of Gina's apartment. It's a spacious two bedroom with a closet for W/D (which came with the apartment) in the hallway -- and it's only $460. I pay $510 for a 1/4 of the space. It's not fair. ::frown, pout::
Jump to -- we arrive at Chihowa. It's been about four years since I've been "home," and except for the concrete around the pool that's been painted aquamarine (I bet THAT'S slippery when wet), it looks the same. ::sigh:: Man, I love that place. I attended MDA camp at Chihowa from age 8 until 21, then went as a JC at 23. For whatever reason, I wasn't allowed to be a staff member like several of my pals who had MD, but I digress. The friendships I formed at Chihowa helped make me who I am, for better or for worse. The friends I have from here are the kind you can not talk to for months or even years, but when you get together again, you don't notice except that you sit for hours and talk and talk. Well, now that I think about it, we did that even when we saw each other all the time.
So we unload and get checked in with the manager. Because of the check-in, we're (Gina, Jen, Jen's son Grant, Heidi, Sharon, Jenni, Jenni's little girl Breanna, and me) the first to arrive. At one point, the manager makes the comment that the church that runs the place is maybe getting new beds soon. I look at the beds, laugh, and say, "It's a good thing, 'cause I think these are the same beds from when I started coming at EIGHT."
I'm 34, for those of you who don't know.
And I'm not exaggerating about how old the beds are.
Gina's cousin Tammy arrives, and Jen's mom and nephew are close behind. After they unload, we all head in to Lawrence to eat. Our waiter is the most adorable little nerd of a guy, and he's wearing the Superman "S" on his belt buckle. Loved it! At one point, Jen bets Tammy $5 to comment to the guy about it, which she does. I don't think Jen ever paid up on that $5, though . . . . After supper, Jen, Tammy, Gina, and I head to the store to get our portion of the groceries for the weekend. On the way, Jen hits a doozy bump which makes Tammy bounce on the bench at the back of the van. She exclaims, "Whoa! I think I lost my gizzard!" I start giggling (remember, I got up at 5:15, and it's now about 6:30 or 7:00) as Jen asks whether people even have gizzards. Gina says no, but birds do. "It's part of their digestive system," she says in her teacher voice before adding a little uncertainly, "I think it's in their neck." Tammy and I start laughing hysterically at this. Before you know it, we're all laughing like maniacs (I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard), and it's the first repeated joke of the weekend.
"Shut up, or I'll rip out your gizzard."
"Oh yeah?" ::covers neck with hands:: "Now you can't get to it!"
When we get back to camp what seemed like HOURS later (after stopping at two gas stations for coffee because the others wanted it after seeing the closed Starbucks in the grocery store -- only in a college town), several others had arrived -- including a portion of the Stolz crew. For those who haven't been associated with MDA in any of the last 20+ years -- Suzanne (Suz) has been one of my closest gimp pals for over 20 years. At one point or another, all of her five siblings have been attendants at camp, as well as a good number of her cousins. We used to joke that if Suz's clan ever stopped going to camp, the camp would be half what it used to be. She, three of her sibs, her niece and nephew, and a couple of cousins and THEIR kids had arrived while we were at the store, with Suz having only gotten in the state (from CA) at about 1:00 that afternoon. One of her sibs, John, comes running at me as soon as I come through the front door, hugging and kissing me. John unloads our groceries for us (sweetie that he is), and I follow him into the kitchen to chat while we put things away. A young woman walks past me and says, "Hi, Dawn." Oh crap, I hate when that happens. Who was that? As John and I are in the kitchen, the same young woman comes in and I suddenly recognize her -- Mary, Suz and John's baby sister. I've known this girl since she was like three or four, and now she's a beautiful woman of 21, in college majoring in women's studies and mass communications.
God, I'm getting old.
Friday evening commences with some of us playing one of Gina's games (I don't remember what it's called, but it has an EXTREMELY annoying timer on it) while others play dominoes. I start off with the word game in which I get to make an assessment of my friend Jennifer's boyfriend. Yes, Jen, Jenni, and Jennifer. Chris (the latter's bf) is very intelligent and sweet as hell. I adore him, and I can't tell you how happy I am that Jennifer has found him.
It also makes me want to stick my head in a gas stove, but I digress . . . .
Fairly late (around one or two, I guess) Tammy, Jen, Gina, Kerri, and I head downstairs to our room and get into bed. Jennifer and Chris come in, and eventually Suz and John do, too. We all sit around in the dark and laugh and joke and talk. I learn through the conversation that Jen is warm for John, which I find highly amusing since Nay and I suspect the boy is gay. I also learn Chris's assessment of ME. I don't know how the subject came up (I think I was starting to doze), but I hear him say, "I learned a lot about you girls playing that game earlier. I learned that Dawn and Sarah (another attendant who I just met this weekend) are brilliant, and the rest of you have a LOT of catching up to do."
"What?" I ask. "Just because I talked about radioactive decay to describe the word 'half-life'?"
"Among other things," he says. He never did elaborate.
Fortunately, no one seemed to be offended. I, however, was embarrassed. I hate when people say I'm smarter than someone else.
The laughing and joking continued until very late -- so late, in fact, that I start getting grouchy. Scratch that. I became a right royal bitch. I think I even asked at one point, "Do you guys think you can shut the f--- up soon so I can go to sleep?" Everyone finally quieted down at 5:00.
Up for 23 1/2 hours. I haven't done that for YEARS. There's a reason.
To quote Danny Glover from the "Lethal Weapon" movies -- I'm too old for this s---.
To be continued . . . .
You know where this is going, right?
So on South-235 just after the Zoo Blvd exit, the van starts choking. We make it to within sight of the Central exit -- where there is a QT mocking us -- before it dies completely. Mom tries to call Hubcap both on his cell and at Nay's, but she can't get him. She notifies work she's going to be late (it's about ten before 7:00, and she's supposed to be there at 7:30), then gets roadside assistance through 911. The entire time, I'm laughing my fanny off. Mom, needless to say, was not as amused as I was. We never HAVE had the same sense of humor . . . .
The very nice roadside assistance man shows up within 15 minutes, we get off on Central to load up on petrol, and I get to Gina's by 7:25. I'm SO jealous of Gina's apartment. It's a spacious two bedroom with a closet for W/D (which came with the apartment) in the hallway -- and it's only $460. I pay $510 for a 1/4 of the space. It's not fair. ::frown, pout::
Jump to -- we arrive at Chihowa. It's been about four years since I've been "home," and except for the concrete around the pool that's been painted aquamarine (I bet THAT'S slippery when wet), it looks the same. ::sigh:: Man, I love that place. I attended MDA camp at Chihowa from age 8 until 21, then went as a JC at 23. For whatever reason, I wasn't allowed to be a staff member like several of my pals who had MD, but I digress. The friendships I formed at Chihowa helped make me who I am, for better or for worse. The friends I have from here are the kind you can not talk to for months or even years, but when you get together again, you don't notice except that you sit for hours and talk and talk. Well, now that I think about it, we did that even when we saw each other all the time.
So we unload and get checked in with the manager. Because of the check-in, we're (Gina, Jen, Jen's son Grant, Heidi, Sharon, Jenni, Jenni's little girl Breanna, and me) the first to arrive. At one point, the manager makes the comment that the church that runs the place is maybe getting new beds soon. I look at the beds, laugh, and say, "It's a good thing, 'cause I think these are the same beds from when I started coming at EIGHT."
I'm 34, for those of you who don't know.
And I'm not exaggerating about how old the beds are.
Gina's cousin Tammy arrives, and Jen's mom and nephew are close behind. After they unload, we all head in to Lawrence to eat. Our waiter is the most adorable little nerd of a guy, and he's wearing the Superman "S" on his belt buckle. Loved it! At one point, Jen bets Tammy $5 to comment to the guy about it, which she does. I don't think Jen ever paid up on that $5, though . . . . After supper, Jen, Tammy, Gina, and I head to the store to get our portion of the groceries for the weekend. On the way, Jen hits a doozy bump which makes Tammy bounce on the bench at the back of the van. She exclaims, "Whoa! I think I lost my gizzard!" I start giggling (remember, I got up at 5:15, and it's now about 6:30 or 7:00) as Jen asks whether people even have gizzards. Gina says no, but birds do. "It's part of their digestive system," she says in her teacher voice before adding a little uncertainly, "I think it's in their neck." Tammy and I start laughing hysterically at this. Before you know it, we're all laughing like maniacs (I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard), and it's the first repeated joke of the weekend.
"Shut up, or I'll rip out your gizzard."
"Oh yeah?" ::covers neck with hands:: "Now you can't get to it!"
When we get back to camp what seemed like HOURS later (after stopping at two gas stations for coffee because the others wanted it after seeing the closed Starbucks in the grocery store -- only in a college town), several others had arrived -- including a portion of the Stolz crew. For those who haven't been associated with MDA in any of the last 20+ years -- Suzanne (Suz) has been one of my closest gimp pals for over 20 years. At one point or another, all of her five siblings have been attendants at camp, as well as a good number of her cousins. We used to joke that if Suz's clan ever stopped going to camp, the camp would be half what it used to be. She, three of her sibs, her niece and nephew, and a couple of cousins and THEIR kids had arrived while we were at the store, with Suz having only gotten in the state (from CA) at about 1:00 that afternoon. One of her sibs, John, comes running at me as soon as I come through the front door, hugging and kissing me. John unloads our groceries for us (sweetie that he is), and I follow him into the kitchen to chat while we put things away. A young woman walks past me and says, "Hi, Dawn." Oh crap, I hate when that happens. Who was that? As John and I are in the kitchen, the same young woman comes in and I suddenly recognize her -- Mary, Suz and John's baby sister. I've known this girl since she was like three or four, and now she's a beautiful woman of 21, in college majoring in women's studies and mass communications.
God, I'm getting old.
Friday evening commences with some of us playing one of Gina's games (I don't remember what it's called, but it has an EXTREMELY annoying timer on it) while others play dominoes. I start off with the word game in which I get to make an assessment of my friend Jennifer's boyfriend. Yes, Jen, Jenni, and Jennifer. Chris (the latter's bf) is very intelligent and sweet as hell. I adore him, and I can't tell you how happy I am that Jennifer has found him.
It also makes me want to stick my head in a gas stove, but I digress . . . .
Fairly late (around one or two, I guess) Tammy, Jen, Gina, Kerri, and I head downstairs to our room and get into bed. Jennifer and Chris come in, and eventually Suz and John do, too. We all sit around in the dark and laugh and joke and talk. I learn through the conversation that Jen is warm for John, which I find highly amusing since Nay and I suspect the boy is gay. I also learn Chris's assessment of ME. I don't know how the subject came up (I think I was starting to doze), but I hear him say, "I learned a lot about you girls playing that game earlier. I learned that Dawn and Sarah (another attendant who I just met this weekend) are brilliant, and the rest of you have a LOT of catching up to do."
"What?" I ask. "Just because I talked about radioactive decay to describe the word 'half-life'?"
"Among other things," he says. He never did elaborate.
Fortunately, no one seemed to be offended. I, however, was embarrassed. I hate when people say I'm smarter than someone else.
The laughing and joking continued until very late -- so late, in fact, that I start getting grouchy. Scratch that. I became a right royal bitch. I think I even asked at one point, "Do you guys think you can shut the f--- up soon so I can go to sleep?" Everyone finally quieted down at 5:00.
Up for 23 1/2 hours. I haven't done that for YEARS. There's a reason.
To quote Danny Glover from the "Lethal Weapon" movies -- I'm too old for this s---.
To be continued . . . .
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Music and Old Friends
I have gone on a music free-for-all. I've ordered four CDs from an old acquaintance of mine from my master's days who is a VERY talented musician. THEN I went on Amazon and ordered Fiona Apple's new album Extraordinary Machine, her second album When the Pawn Hits, and Melissa Etheridge's greatest hits album The Road Less Traveled. ::sigh:: I was seriously in need of new music.
In other news:
I'm heading to Lawrence tomorrow for a three day Fall retreat at my old MD camp. My friends Gina and Carla have been organizing this for three or four years now. It lets all us old fogies who are too old to go to camp get together and have some bonding time. I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaking of which, I need to go pack.
In other news:
I'm heading to Lawrence tomorrow for a three day Fall retreat at my old MD camp. My friends Gina and Carla have been organizing this for three or four years now. It lets all us old fogies who are too old to go to camp get together and have some bonding time. I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaking of which, I need to go pack.
The Wise Woman's Stone
A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.
The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.
But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."
Sometimes it not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.
~Author Unknown~
The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.
But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."
Sometimes it not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.
~Author Unknown~
Thursday, October 13, 2005
From Adam -- Gator gives major case of indigestion
Burmese pythons, don't try this at home. Warning -- graphic photo.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1006_051006_pythoneatsgator.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1006_051006_pythoneatsgator.html
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Weekend Update
Got my hair cut Friday, then went and bought a radio/CD player for my office at WSU, along with some blank CDRs to make music CDs.
Got up Saturday and rode with Mom to P's place. Watched the last two eps of "Numb3rs" -- is it my imagination, or is Charlie just getting cuter? ::le drool, le pant:: At around 10:00, I met Edie at Hubbard Hall to use the bathroom, then she and I rode the gimp bus to the Ren Faire.
I didn't get much shopping done, but I had a blast. Edie and I wandered, occasionally meeting up with her hubby and two boys. Her youngest kept having to show off his purchases (including some nice arrowheads). He's a doll. I saw Creekmores and of course had to stop and catch up with both of them. Nancy pulled out a mahogany obsidian necklace she'd made. For the longest time, she's had this MO necklace that was too long for me to wear as a single strand but too short to double up. I also didn't like that the beads were faceted -- made it difficult to see the colors of the glass. I told her a long time ago that if she ever made a shorter necklace out of round beads, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Well, yesterday, there it was. She pulled it out of a box and put it on my neck, and there it wanted to stay. I knew it was going to be expensive, but a deal's a deal -- and I had $50 Melissa had sent me with my birthday present with explicit instructions to spoil myself, $50 I had held on to specifically to be spent at the Faire. When I asked Nancy how much it was, she just shook her head. She said, "I got those beads about six months after you moved. I made the necklace, then realized I had no way to get in touch with you to see if you were still interested. I made that necklace just for you, and I'm not taking any money from you for it. I knew I'd see you again sooner or later." You know I almost cried.
After that, Edie and I decided it was food time, then we set off wandering again. I was going to call my pal Lynlee, but then I saw 'Wela and Doug. I was ready to introduce them to Edie when I noticed Doug and Edie hugging. Turns out they used to be roommates/great pals about 15 years ago. ::shakes head:: Small freaking world. Pretty soon, the duchess and her hubby had to run off to a knighting, and as I turned around, again deciding it was time to try calling Lynlee, there she was. I introduced her to Edie, then she showed us pictures of her daughter and her three surro babies. I am still amazed at how unselfish a person Lynlee is to give children to people who otherwise couldn't have them.
Edie went off with a girl she knows to look at costumes, and Lynlee and I headed out for the Renaissance Shop. We looked at some stuff, then Lynlee and I had to part for a few minutes, so I went and found 'Wela and visited with her until they had to do a parade, by which time Lynlee was back. While talking with 'Wela, James (her son) came up. He didn't see me until she pointed at me and said, "Say hello to D---." Then he bear hugged me and kissed me. It's a good thing he's a baby, else I'd have to hit on him. How tacky would that be? Hitting on your big sister's kid? ::grin::
After some chocolate-covered strawberries that were a bit disappointing (milk chocolate instead of dark, and yucky milk chocolate to boot), I went back to Creekmores for a b-day present for my mom and then over to the amber vendor. Overall, I didn't see anything that jumped at me until the seahorse earrings. Silver seahorses with cognac amber for bellies. I've had a thing for seahorses lately, and those earrings were too groovy to pass up. I'd just decided to get them when L walked up. She turned the earring rack slightly, saw the seahorses, and said, "You should get those!" ::grin:: Great minds think alike.
By then I had just enough time to say bye to 'Wela while exchanging pleasantries with the queen and hug L before Mom was there to pick me up. I was pooped, but Dad had bought "Sahara," so I watched that until it went off at ten even though I wanted to go to bed at 8:30. It was pretty decent though I generally don't like Matthew McConnaghey (or however you spell his name).
Today I had the house to myself for a while since Mom is working and Dad went to the gun show with his pal Perry. I watched the last hour or so of "ROTK," did some email, and watched a bit of "Beyond Borders" -- Clive Owen is so freaking delicious. When Dad and Perry got back, Dad tossed a bag at me and said, "Here. Don't say I never gave you anything." Inside was a purple, white, and grey camoflauge style T-shirt. ::giggle:: I love it!
Now I need to get to reading for my review article.
Got up Saturday and rode with Mom to P's place. Watched the last two eps of "Numb3rs" -- is it my imagination, or is Charlie just getting cuter? ::le drool, le pant:: At around 10:00, I met Edie at Hubbard Hall to use the bathroom, then she and I rode the gimp bus to the Ren Faire.
I didn't get much shopping done, but I had a blast. Edie and I wandered, occasionally meeting up with her hubby and two boys. Her youngest kept having to show off his purchases (including some nice arrowheads). He's a doll. I saw Creekmores and of course had to stop and catch up with both of them. Nancy pulled out a mahogany obsidian necklace she'd made. For the longest time, she's had this MO necklace that was too long for me to wear as a single strand but too short to double up. I also didn't like that the beads were faceted -- made it difficult to see the colors of the glass. I told her a long time ago that if she ever made a shorter necklace out of round beads, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Well, yesterday, there it was. She pulled it out of a box and put it on my neck, and there it wanted to stay. I knew it was going to be expensive, but a deal's a deal -- and I had $50 Melissa had sent me with my birthday present with explicit instructions to spoil myself, $50 I had held on to specifically to be spent at the Faire. When I asked Nancy how much it was, she just shook her head. She said, "I got those beads about six months after you moved. I made the necklace, then realized I had no way to get in touch with you to see if you were still interested. I made that necklace just for you, and I'm not taking any money from you for it. I knew I'd see you again sooner or later." You know I almost cried.
After that, Edie and I decided it was food time, then we set off wandering again. I was going to call my pal Lynlee, but then I saw 'Wela and Doug. I was ready to introduce them to Edie when I noticed Doug and Edie hugging. Turns out they used to be roommates/great pals about 15 years ago. ::shakes head:: Small freaking world. Pretty soon, the duchess and her hubby had to run off to a knighting, and as I turned around, again deciding it was time to try calling Lynlee, there she was. I introduced her to Edie, then she showed us pictures of her daughter and her three surro babies. I am still amazed at how unselfish a person Lynlee is to give children to people who otherwise couldn't have them.
Edie went off with a girl she knows to look at costumes, and Lynlee and I headed out for the Renaissance Shop. We looked at some stuff, then Lynlee and I had to part for a few minutes, so I went and found 'Wela and visited with her until they had to do a parade, by which time Lynlee was back. While talking with 'Wela, James (her son) came up. He didn't see me until she pointed at me and said, "Say hello to D---." Then he bear hugged me and kissed me. It's a good thing he's a baby, else I'd have to hit on him. How tacky would that be? Hitting on your big sister's kid? ::grin::
After some chocolate-covered strawberries that were a bit disappointing (milk chocolate instead of dark, and yucky milk chocolate to boot), I went back to Creekmores for a b-day present for my mom and then over to the amber vendor. Overall, I didn't see anything that jumped at me until the seahorse earrings. Silver seahorses with cognac amber for bellies. I've had a thing for seahorses lately, and those earrings were too groovy to pass up. I'd just decided to get them when L walked up. She turned the earring rack slightly, saw the seahorses, and said, "You should get those!" ::grin:: Great minds think alike.
By then I had just enough time to say bye to 'Wela while exchanging pleasantries with the queen and hug L before Mom was there to pick me up. I was pooped, but Dad had bought "Sahara," so I watched that until it went off at ten even though I wanted to go to bed at 8:30. It was pretty decent though I generally don't like Matthew McConnaghey (or however you spell his name).
Today I had the house to myself for a while since Mom is working and Dad went to the gun show with his pal Perry. I watched the last hour or so of "ROTK," did some email, and watched a bit of "Beyond Borders" -- Clive Owen is so freaking delicious. When Dad and Perry got back, Dad tossed a bag at me and said, "Here. Don't say I never gave you anything." Inside was a purple, white, and grey camoflauge style T-shirt. ::giggle:: I love it!
Now I need to get to reading for my review article.