My Most Perfect and Gorgeous Niece, Anna Joy Allen Grady. This was taken when I was staying with Dave and Sooz, the night before I picked Simon up from the airport. Leah sent me a text asking "How's it going," and I sent this pic back in response.
Man, I can't wait to watch her grow up. Wonder if she'll call me Aunt Cee Cee?
23 December 2008
Have Yourself a Busy Little Christmas...
Things around here are going...well, they're just going. I think this is the first time I've really had to sit down and just think since last Monday, and it's already giving me a headache. Simon arrived as scheduled Monday the 15th. I got to the airport just after he landed, and stood at the top of the escalator that leads to the baggage claim at Hartsfield for an hour waiting for him to jump through all the hoops required of international arrival. Perfect song after perfect song came on the iPod that would have made his appearance at the top of the escalator a scene to rival the opening ones of Love Actually...and he didn't appear. Honestly I don't remember what was on the iPod when he did appear because everything stopped. He was here, in America, and that was literally all that mattered.
We collected his bags and rode MARTA (because really, it's SMARTA) up to Kensington where my car was waiting, then headed to Susan and Dave's. Simon got to meet my Most Perfect and Gorgeous Niece, Joy, and then we all enjoyed a magnificent feast put on by my Sleep Deprived Brother in Law. A grand time was had by all.
Back up to Greenville via Canton, GA to pick up the pups. I truly think that Daisy remembered Simon because she danced and pranced and hopped and tried to jump into his arms. What a good girl. H and J couldn't be bothered with us because we interrupted their naps, I think.
Got to Greenville and we've pretty much been on the go ever since! Christmas shopping, two days of work at the University for me, lunch with Mom and Dad down in Commerce...busy busy. If I had any lingering regrets about quitting DMH when I did they're gone...I couldn't have kept up this schedule had I not decided to freelance my last two months in the US.
Now on to a bit more freelance work, an overnight with Mom and Dad, two nights with Sooz and Dave, a family Christmas party with Mom's family and then...the WEDDING.
Wait, let me take a sec to let that sink in...the wedding is a week from Saturday. One.Week.
Okay, now that I'm about to pull out all my hair, I'm off to get ready for a freelance gig and then get the rest of the presents wrapped and Mills to the vet for boarding and the dogs ready to go to their sitter tomorrow and and and...
Merry Christmas, Lettuce Readers. I'll catch you on the flip side...eat much, love much, laugh much, and count your blessings!
We collected his bags and rode MARTA (because really, it's SMARTA) up to Kensington where my car was waiting, then headed to Susan and Dave's. Simon got to meet my Most Perfect and Gorgeous Niece, Joy, and then we all enjoyed a magnificent feast put on by my Sleep Deprived Brother in Law. A grand time was had by all.
Back up to Greenville via Canton, GA to pick up the pups. I truly think that Daisy remembered Simon because she danced and pranced and hopped and tried to jump into his arms. What a good girl. H and J couldn't be bothered with us because we interrupted their naps, I think.
Got to Greenville and we've pretty much been on the go ever since! Christmas shopping, two days of work at the University for me, lunch with Mom and Dad down in Commerce...busy busy. If I had any lingering regrets about quitting DMH when I did they're gone...I couldn't have kept up this schedule had I not decided to freelance my last two months in the US.
Now on to a bit more freelance work, an overnight with Mom and Dad, two nights with Sooz and Dave, a family Christmas party with Mom's family and then...the WEDDING.
Wait, let me take a sec to let that sink in...the wedding is a week from Saturday. One.Week.
Okay, now that I'm about to pull out all my hair, I'm off to get ready for a freelance gig and then get the rest of the presents wrapped and Mills to the vet for boarding and the dogs ready to go to their sitter tomorrow and and and...
Merry Christmas, Lettuce Readers. I'll catch you on the flip side...eat much, love much, laugh much, and count your blessings!
13 December 2008
This time, I'll get that Santa...
Mills has found a new hiding place now that I've rearranged his old hiding place. This picture reminds me of one someone took of my girl Franny a few Christmases ago in Montgomery, and made me miss all my babies that are only with me in spirit.
Tonight I'm sad for an internet friend of mine, Chrissy, who unexpectedly lost her greyhound boy Speck (Speculation, Specky Lee, the Speckster) today. There's a new star in the sky, but somehow the Christmas decorations seem a little more dim.
But instead of being too sad, I just imagine that Mills is lying in wait for the Fat Man to come down Mommy's chimney, so he can finally find out first hand (from someone that's been there) what the inside of the chimney looks like...since Mommy kept yanking him out of there and finally put the Gone With the Wind poster up to block further exploration.
In other news, Simon will be here DAY AFTER TOMORROW. At long last...
Tonight I'm sad for an internet friend of mine, Chrissy, who unexpectedly lost her greyhound boy Speck (Speculation, Specky Lee, the Speckster) today. There's a new star in the sky, but somehow the Christmas decorations seem a little more dim.
But instead of being too sad, I just imagine that Mills is lying in wait for the Fat Man to come down Mommy's chimney, so he can finally find out first hand (from someone that's been there) what the inside of the chimney looks like...since Mommy kept yanking him out of there and finally put the Gone With the Wind poster up to block further exploration.
In other news, Simon will be here DAY AFTER TOMORROW. At long last...
09 December 2008
Tis the Season...for Capitalism
This post is a shameless plug for my Lulu.com storefront. Please go and at least visit, but if you buy something that would be great too. All proceeds go to the Send Nancy To The UK With Enough Cash Left Over That She Can Eat fund. Truly a worthy cause.
Either click the title above or the linked text to see "what I'm on about..."
30 November 2008
Trash Can Followup
So apparently, if one slams one's trashcan into the kitchen floor, it will permanently affect the trashcan lid's ability to cooperate with the pedal that should cause it to open. Life lessons.
29 November 2008
Christmas Meme, Thanks to Liz
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags. Paper is wasteful and too much work.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - easier to convince the dogs not to pee on it and the cat not to climb it.
3. When do you put up the tree? When I figure out where in my clutter I have room for a tree...
4. When do you take the tree down? The weekend after New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My brittany spaniel Lady. It was the typical puppy with the bow on her neck. Perfect. As an adult, Simon proposing to me at Manchester Airport.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Simon.
8. Easiest person to buy for? No one really, a lot of thought goes into all of them.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not at home, no.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email except for the card exchange with my greyhound group.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My ex husband gave me a chain for my glasses so I wouldn't lose them one year for Christmas. No joke.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After second payday in December. Not terribly organized, I know.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Little Debbie Gingerbread Cakes.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes please.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I'm not that into Christmas music.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Travel. None of my family can stand my animals for very long so I have to go to them.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Nothing to open until Christmas morning really.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Radio stations that play nothing but Christmas music from the first of November onward.
23. What theme or color are you using? Isn't red and green the theme?
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Honey baked ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Simon and me in the same country.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - easier to convince the dogs not to pee on it and the cat not to climb it.
3. When do you put up the tree? When I figure out where in my clutter I have room for a tree...
4. When do you take the tree down? The weekend after New Year's.
5. Do you like eggnog? No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My brittany spaniel Lady. It was the typical puppy with the bow on her neck. Perfect. As an adult, Simon proposing to me at Manchester Airport.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Simon.
8. Easiest person to buy for? No one really, a lot of thought goes into all of them.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not at home, no.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Email except for the card exchange with my greyhound group.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My ex husband gave me a chain for my glasses so I wouldn't lose them one year for Christmas. No joke.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After second payday in December. Not terribly organized, I know.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Little Debbie Gingerbread Cakes.
16. Lights on the tree? Yes please.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I'm not that into Christmas music.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Travel. None of my family can stand my animals for very long so I have to go to them.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Nothing to open until Christmas morning really.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Radio stations that play nothing but Christmas music from the first of November onward.
23. What theme or color are you using? Isn't red and green the theme?
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Honey baked ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Simon and me in the same country.
27 November 2008
Pachelbel Rant
I didn't play the cello...but I did play the piano for 12 years and I feel his pain. Very funny.
Visitors on my Birthday
For my birthday this year I woke up to three gorgeous whitetail does in my parent's "backyard" (really, it's the woods!). Isn't she just adorable? Thank goodness for a zoom lens, and apologies for the quality but it was taken from the other side of a window.
Today I'm thankful for the ability to see the wonders of our earth like this little doe and her two "girlfriends" having brunch in the backyard. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!
Today I'm thankful for the ability to see the wonders of our earth like this little doe and her two "girlfriends" having brunch in the backyard. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!
21 November 2008
Me: 1 Trash Can: 0
Man, something is up this week. My friend Debbie would say that my stars are not aligned but I don't think that's what it is. Though I don't really know WHAT it is, so maybe?
I've been freelancing at UGA this week and it hasn't been bad at all. The drive is not as long as it used to be now that they've re-routed 441 around all the little towns, and I enjoy being back on campus. Interestingly enough, though, it isn't making me pine for my old job there as it did in the past. I rather feel like UGA has moved on without me, rightly so, and I'm just there for a visit.
I do miss Athens. I miss the wonderful places to eat downtown, I miss the creativity and the culture and I definitely miss the liberal environment. Ten years of living in exile in a red state will do that to you.
But on to the title of the post, the battle with the trash can...last night I really needed to take a bag of trash out and was having some difficulty doing so. My trash can has a pedal that opens the lid, and has a ring that fits VERY TIGHTLY INDEED into the top to hold the bag in place. You remove the ring by pulling on the two handles that are inserted into each side.
Well, you do unless the handles come out of the ring. At that point there was some unfortunate language and then wisdom: pry the sucker out.
By the way, a knife that can cut through a plastic ring that goes around the top of a trash can is not a good choice for a lever. Just so you know.
Finally the handles did their job and the ring came out with a very satisfying POP. I'm still not sure if it came from the rings or my shoulder, to be honest. I closed off the bag with the ties and pulled upward to remove it from the trash can.
Nothing.
After more unfortunate language and lots of yanking at the bag, I realized that part of the problem was coming from my boots that have NEGATIVE tread on the bottom. Seriously, I could go ice skating in them, and do anytime I encounter leaves on the ground. I couldn't hold the lid open with my foot because it was sliding off the pedal. More unfortunate language concerning boots made in American having more tread than those made in the UK (and to be fair, these were from Primark so they probably weren't made anywhere NEAR the UK, but...) later, a change of shoes, and the bag still wasn't budging.
Last straw. Hold trash can by bag still firmly wedged inside. Bang can up and down against the floor until bag lets go. Take bag out to bin.
Luckily I have a hammer, so the dent I put in the trash can that was impeding the use of the pedal once I put on proper shoes with tread was easily hammered back out. Mostly.
Envy me, don't you?
I've been freelancing at UGA this week and it hasn't been bad at all. The drive is not as long as it used to be now that they've re-routed 441 around all the little towns, and I enjoy being back on campus. Interestingly enough, though, it isn't making me pine for my old job there as it did in the past. I rather feel like UGA has moved on without me, rightly so, and I'm just there for a visit.
I do miss Athens. I miss the wonderful places to eat downtown, I miss the creativity and the culture and I definitely miss the liberal environment. Ten years of living in exile in a red state will do that to you.
But on to the title of the post, the battle with the trash can...last night I really needed to take a bag of trash out and was having some difficulty doing so. My trash can has a pedal that opens the lid, and has a ring that fits VERY TIGHTLY INDEED into the top to hold the bag in place. You remove the ring by pulling on the two handles that are inserted into each side.
Well, you do unless the handles come out of the ring. At that point there was some unfortunate language and then wisdom: pry the sucker out.
By the way, a knife that can cut through a plastic ring that goes around the top of a trash can is not a good choice for a lever. Just so you know.
Finally the handles did their job and the ring came out with a very satisfying POP. I'm still not sure if it came from the rings or my shoulder, to be honest. I closed off the bag with the ties and pulled upward to remove it from the trash can.
Nothing.
After more unfortunate language and lots of yanking at the bag, I realized that part of the problem was coming from my boots that have NEGATIVE tread on the bottom. Seriously, I could go ice skating in them, and do anytime I encounter leaves on the ground. I couldn't hold the lid open with my foot because it was sliding off the pedal. More unfortunate language concerning boots made in American having more tread than those made in the UK (and to be fair, these were from Primark so they probably weren't made anywhere NEAR the UK, but...) later, a change of shoes, and the bag still wasn't budging.
Last straw. Hold trash can by bag still firmly wedged inside. Bang can up and down against the floor until bag lets go. Take bag out to bin.
Luckily I have a hammer, so the dent I put in the trash can that was impeding the use of the pedal once I put on proper shoes with tread was easily hammered back out. Mostly.
Envy me, don't you?
17 November 2008
14 November 2008
Just because I really don't get it...
Why is it that those that are Pro-Life believe that Pro-Choice=Pro-Abortion? Maybe it means Pro-"I'm going to keep my baby, but if carrying it to term would endanger my life then I'm glad I can still make choices that affect my body without the input of the government." It might mean Pro-"Thank goodness we live in a country where a moral and religious objection does not become restrictive legislation."
I am very proudly Pro-Choice. Unless it meant the difference between life and death for me or the pregnancy occurred due to horrible circumstances (incest or rape),I would not personally pursue an abortion because it goes against what I believe and what my church believes. It's MY choice. Not the government's.
Ugh. Time to stop reading the news and hit the bed. I'm going to leave comments open for now but if they get ugly they're getting closed. I really do want to understand because it makes no sense to me.
I am very proudly Pro-Choice. Unless it meant the difference between life and death for me or the pregnancy occurred due to horrible circumstances (incest or rape),I would not personally pursue an abortion because it goes against what I believe and what my church believes. It's MY choice. Not the government's.
Ugh. Time to stop reading the news and hit the bed. I'm going to leave comments open for now but if they get ugly they're getting closed. I really do want to understand because it makes no sense to me.
10 November 2008
The sweetest sound...
...is the sound of my Hounda starting up, ready to drive. Why have I picked that sound, dear readers? Well...
This weekend I headed up to Charlotte for the Renn Fest as I've done almost every weekend since the first of October. I was driving along, talking to Simon on the mobile and actually in a good mood. I got to a gas station and pulled in to refuel. After only spending $25 to fill my tank (I am LOVING the current gas prices) I hopped back in the car and turned the key in the ignition.
Nothing.
Nada.
Not even clicking.
I did not panic. I did not cry. I called Simon first to tell him what was up and then Leah, because she was driving toward Charlotte as well and had her 16yr old son/amateur mechanic in the car. They came to my rescue, her son looked around under the hood, and pronounced that the issue was probably my battery but might be the alternator.
How to strike fear in the heart of a single woman who's just quit her full time job to freelance, therefore securing a higher rate of pay without a set date for receiving such pay? Mention the words "replace the alternator" to her five days before her last payday from the prior job. Seriously. You might just get to see her head combust.
They jumped off my car and got me running again, and I headed north to my friend and fellow Rennie Debbie's house where I was staying for the weekend. Her husband can work on PLANES and according to Debbie "...can take a hunk of metal and turn it into a racecar." Off the the festival on Saturday and then again on Sunday, while he looked at the car to see if he could fix it.
It was just the battery!! Apparently the original battery was still in the car, and once replaced my Hounda started up like a dream. Thank goodness, since said freelancing is taking me to Georgia this week!
This weekend I headed up to Charlotte for the Renn Fest as I've done almost every weekend since the first of October. I was driving along, talking to Simon on the mobile and actually in a good mood. I got to a gas station and pulled in to refuel. After only spending $25 to fill my tank (I am LOVING the current gas prices) I hopped back in the car and turned the key in the ignition.
Nothing.
Nada.
Not even clicking.
I did not panic. I did not cry. I called Simon first to tell him what was up and then Leah, because she was driving toward Charlotte as well and had her 16yr old son/amateur mechanic in the car. They came to my rescue, her son looked around under the hood, and pronounced that the issue was probably my battery but might be the alternator.
How to strike fear in the heart of a single woman who's just quit her full time job to freelance, therefore securing a higher rate of pay without a set date for receiving such pay? Mention the words "replace the alternator" to her five days before her last payday from the prior job. Seriously. You might just get to see her head combust.
They jumped off my car and got me running again, and I headed north to my friend and fellow Rennie Debbie's house where I was staying for the weekend. Her husband can work on PLANES and according to Debbie "...can take a hunk of metal and turn it into a racecar." Off the the festival on Saturday and then again on Sunday, while he looked at the car to see if he could fix it.
It was just the battery!! Apparently the original battery was still in the car, and once replaced my Hounda started up like a dream. Thank goodness, since said freelancing is taking me to Georgia this week!
05 November 2008
Good News
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.
-President Elect Barack Obama
Amen.
04 November 2008
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