Well, folks, it's Saturday and Chester and I are sitting on the couch with a log burning in the fireplace. I'm drinking tea and he's watching the log...will it move? What's it going to do? Watch! Watch! Of course we can't figure out which way the flue is open and closed so I've smoked up the whole house. When it gets really cold outside we'll be able to tell the difference. Right now it's only in the 50s, but I'm trying to avoid turning the oil heat on. Since it's just me here today, I don't need to heat the whole house.
Did you all see the post about Nancy's book? Check it out! (Gracie, she moved back to TN, she's Southern through and through!) Until that book comes out I'm reading Harry Potter 2. Well, re-reading for the fifth (at least) time. I had a wonderful morning of laying in bed reading for an hour before I got up. It was delightful!
Has anyone else ever wondered about how the Internet--and blogging in particular--can tend to exaggerate our emotions? It's like we almost feel embarrassed when our lives are stable and healthy because it's disinteresting. Of course, folks like Nancy can turn any mundane experience into a hilarious account, but the rest of us just sort of putter along and go through life. It seems that it's become fashionable to highlight what's wrong with ourselves--to make each individual life into a soap opera. I wonder, though, if it's just me who has noticed that. A slight funk suddenly becomes a deep depression, and a marital tiff becomes cause for intense therapy. It's almost like we have no patience for working through things--it's so much easier to think we can farm out that work to doctors, therapists, and drugs than to think we can or should do it ourselves.
I'm not at *all* saying those three things aren't useful--they definitely are in the right circumstance--but it seems to me that it's become a first reaction ("I'll just go get some Prozac from my family doctor") rather than one part of a comprehensive treatment. Incidentally, I've never known any treatment that worked that did NOT involve a significant investment from the person being treated. Drugs do help but they must be in tandem with therapy. Therapy does work but it requires a change of lifestyle and a support system. There's no easy solution, and you can't really "farm it out" to anyone without doing some work yourself.
Given that there's no easy solution for real mental illness, I wonder why people are so quick to categorize themselves as being mentally ill. For example, my desire to have a clean house coupled with my love of orderliness does NOT inherently mean that I suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder. People truly do suffer from that and would be an insult to lump my enjoyment of order with their suffocating need for it. Similarly, a situational issue that makes us sad and disoriented does not necessarily mean we are "depressed" to a clinial extent. Some people absolutely are--and deserve treatment--but I am continually surprised at how quick we are to pass off situational sadness as full-blown depression. What is it that makes people eager to categorize themselves as mentally ill?
There's a song that goes, "If you want to be somebody else, if you're tired of fighting battles with yourself, then change your mind." It seems to me that many of my generation *don't* change our mindset and we don't take active steps to change the situations that cause our sadness. It's almost like it has become fashionable to be dreary.
I suppose I find it fascinating because it's completely counter-intuitive to me. Wouldn't we all want to be happy? Wouldn't we fix the situation rather than medicate the symptom? Or is this perhaps just dramatics and we all know it?
Saturday, September 30, 2006
A great new book--check it out!
A friend of mine wrote this. If you like a good laugh from a smart woman, check it out! It comes out October 9th.
Check it out on amazon.com, where you can pre-order it for a substantial discount. Here's the description: For the first 20 years of her life, all Nancy French knew of the world was Paris--Paris, Tennessee, that is. When the former homecoming queen trades in cow-tipping, big hair, and the Catfish Capital of the World for a new life in the Big Apple, she is in for a real education. With a keen sense of humor, French discusses everything from the South's obsession with church attendance to the blue-state notion that red staters think as slowly as they speak.
Please feel free to copy this html and put it on your own site! Let's spread the word and support Nancy!
Check it out on amazon.com, where you can pre-order it for a substantial discount. Here's the description: For the first 20 years of her life, all Nancy French knew of the world was Paris--Paris, Tennessee, that is. When the former homecoming queen trades in cow-tipping, big hair, and the Catfish Capital of the World for a new life in the Big Apple, she is in for a real education. With a keen sense of humor, French discusses everything from the South's obsession with church attendance to the blue-state notion that red staters think as slowly as they speak.
Please feel free to copy this html and put it on your own site! Let's spread the word and support Nancy!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Okay, a real post
I know I have posted anything real in awhile, sorry sorry! The hubby got into a car wreck on Monday and his car is drivable but pretty darn beat up. We are waiting on the assessor to come and figure out the damage to determine whether they will total it or fix it. We would rather fix it because another car payment is not that exciting.
Hubby's bday is coming up. He really, really doesn't want me to get him anything but I want to get him something! He especially doesn't want me to waste 3 dollars on a card because he will just throw it away. I am thinking of trying to get some Bruins tickets or something like that--something that will be a real treat for him. It would be even better if I told him he could take a guy to it instead of me; then he could drink beer and eat nachos with jalepenos to his heart's content. We will have to wait and see though. He can be really uptight about money so I don't want to spend "too much" even though he bought me a huge anniversary present. I just don't understand that man; he sees presents for me as "an investment" and presents for him as "a waste of money."
Chester is getting a bath today and he doesn't know it yet. He's enjoying having me home; I haven't been home much lately! As I am a real homebody this has been probably more stressful on me than on the dog. I just love being home and everything home-ish. I don't like being gone 7 am to 9:30 pm. The house is not clean enough and I haven't had time to do anything crafty lately.
Oh did I mention I now have a minimum hour-long commute? Superfun. Maggie suggested I find some books-on-cd and I may do that. Usually I flip around on the radio and sing really loudly to keep myself awake at 6:50 am. My xm radio works again and I have been meaning to plug it in in my car (but first I have to find it and put the magnetic antenna up). That has the best music. I wish I had a smaller version of it though; one the size of an Ipod that I could slip in to work and listen to while writing code. I would like an Ipod except for the work it takes to set up and purchase music lists--too much for me! I'd rather just listen to non-commercial radio. And now I also have to pay $210 in parking a month. I have offered to take over kitchen duty in exchange for the company's paying for my parking and the Executive Assistant perked up at this idea and said she'd forward it on to management right away. Apparently having the regular cleaning service also run the dishwasher, put away dishes, and wipe the counters once a day is really expensive. Even though I know it would be adding extra work to an already-hectic schedule, I would like to have that extra money every month.
And the ultra-top-secret news that you CANNOT tell anybody (for folks who actually know me) is that we quit with the birth control a few weeks ago. What's the sense in waiting until January? Obviously I'll post as soon as something comes of it.
My dad has not been feeling well and no, I don't want to talk about it, but there it is.
In better news, my birthday is coming up in November--that means only one month and a week until Birthday Month and a little more than that until Birthday Week. Woohoo!
Tonight we are going to Manchester to watch Renee's husband in the Ultimate Fighting competition at the Verizon arena. He is competing for the New England Middleweight championship. This is his last fight ever--he just turned 33 and he feels it's time to retire "because kids will be coming along soon." And of course he told me that about 30 minutes after Renee had been telling me she couldn't see kids coming along for at least 3-4 years...ha ha. They are too cute together. They really are a wonderful couple. I may make signs to take tonight; I'm gonna call her to ask if that's "done" and then I'll go to Walmart and buy the stuff to make them. I think we're going to try to be there in time to have dinner with Renee. She is really nervous for Leigh and wants him to win so badly so that he can go out with a real flair.
I guess that is it. I'm gonna go grab another half-cup of coffee and get ready to shower the dog. I have also been meaning to install my software for downloading/manipulating video files so I can start posting our videos to you-tube so I may do that.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Hubby's bday is coming up. He really, really doesn't want me to get him anything but I want to get him something! He especially doesn't want me to waste 3 dollars on a card because he will just throw it away. I am thinking of trying to get some Bruins tickets or something like that--something that will be a real treat for him. It would be even better if I told him he could take a guy to it instead of me; then he could drink beer and eat nachos with jalepenos to his heart's content. We will have to wait and see though. He can be really uptight about money so I don't want to spend "too much" even though he bought me a huge anniversary present. I just don't understand that man; he sees presents for me as "an investment" and presents for him as "a waste of money."
Chester is getting a bath today and he doesn't know it yet. He's enjoying having me home; I haven't been home much lately! As I am a real homebody this has been probably more stressful on me than on the dog. I just love being home and everything home-ish. I don't like being gone 7 am to 9:30 pm. The house is not clean enough and I haven't had time to do anything crafty lately.
Oh did I mention I now have a minimum hour-long commute? Superfun. Maggie suggested I find some books-on-cd and I may do that. Usually I flip around on the radio and sing really loudly to keep myself awake at 6:50 am. My xm radio works again and I have been meaning to plug it in in my car (but first I have to find it and put the magnetic antenna up). That has the best music. I wish I had a smaller version of it though; one the size of an Ipod that I could slip in to work and listen to while writing code. I would like an Ipod except for the work it takes to set up and purchase music lists--too much for me! I'd rather just listen to non-commercial radio. And now I also have to pay $210 in parking a month. I have offered to take over kitchen duty in exchange for the company's paying for my parking and the Executive Assistant perked up at this idea and said she'd forward it on to management right away. Apparently having the regular cleaning service also run the dishwasher, put away dishes, and wipe the counters once a day is really expensive. Even though I know it would be adding extra work to an already-hectic schedule, I would like to have that extra money every month.
And the ultra-top-secret news that you CANNOT tell anybody (for folks who actually know me) is that we quit with the birth control a few weeks ago. What's the sense in waiting until January? Obviously I'll post as soon as something comes of it.
My dad has not been feeling well and no, I don't want to talk about it, but there it is.
In better news, my birthday is coming up in November--that means only one month and a week until Birthday Month and a little more than that until Birthday Week. Woohoo!
Tonight we are going to Manchester to watch Renee's husband in the Ultimate Fighting competition at the Verizon arena. He is competing for the New England Middleweight championship. This is his last fight ever--he just turned 33 and he feels it's time to retire "because kids will be coming along soon." And of course he told me that about 30 minutes after Renee had been telling me she couldn't see kids coming along for at least 3-4 years...ha ha. They are too cute together. They really are a wonderful couple. I may make signs to take tonight; I'm gonna call her to ask if that's "done" and then I'll go to Walmart and buy the stuff to make them. I think we're going to try to be there in time to have dinner with Renee. She is really nervous for Leigh and wants him to win so badly so that he can go out with a real flair.
I guess that is it. I'm gonna go grab another half-cup of coffee and get ready to shower the dog. I have also been meaning to install my software for downloading/manipulating video files so I can start posting our videos to you-tube so I may do that.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Hello out there!
I've been asked to update but things are just rather eh right now. The hubby got into a three-car wreck (got sandwiched between a car in front and an asphalt truck pulling a trailer from behind...the back of his Jeep is pretty smashed) and I've been out every evening for a week so I feel rather swamped. But tonight...tonight I'll be watching the Office and eating popcorn. I CANNOT WAIT! Right now though I've got to get back to work, so I'll leave you with this tear-jerker:
If anybody is going to be around during the Office, I am christy_re on yahoo messenger.
If anybody is going to be around during the Office, I am christy_re on yahoo messenger.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Sept 11th
Five years ago I was awoken by a phone call from my dad, who immediately asked if I had seen the news. I said, "No, Dad, you woke me up!" And I still recall his reply and I think I will until my dying day:
"Oh it's awful, it's just awful...(deep breath)...terrorists have attacked New York and Washington. The President is in a plane, they won't disclose his location, but he's alive. Our nation is under attack." He told me to stay in my dorm room until we figured more out, and that he had to call my brother to tell him.
I stumbled out of my bedroom in time to see the towers collapse on TV. I called my then-longtime-boyfriend who was from Long Island. He couldn't get in touch with his dad who worked in Rockefeller Center and his best friend worked in Tower 2. He had to get off the phone in case someone--anyone--called with news. He was beside himself with panic. I felt numb.
The campus was surreal. A lot of the Vanderbilt kids had parents who worked in the Twin Towers. People were hysterical, there was a huge phone bank in the student union for kids to try--and try--and TRY to reach family in New York. Counselors were bussed in from miles around. I didn't cry because I felt I didn't deserve to cry for those I didn't know.
A Sigma Chi who had just graduated died in the Towers. He sent an email before he died. The Sigma Chis hung their one-story-high flag from their building and put floodlights on it, and blared bagpipes funeral music for a whole two days. The frat brothers sobbed. Many other Vanderbilt recent alumni died that day. I wrote a prayer and gave it at the University-wide service. I don't remember much from that service because they played Adagio for Strings, which is what we played at Justin's memorial service, and I suddenly couldn't stop crying. I have never heard that song since he died and not cried. People thought I was sobbing for those who died in the Towers and I guess I was...I was crying for all who grieve, and all we've lost, and lives snuffed out too early. Suddenly I was surrounded by other people who had lost their best friends like I had. It was terrible.
My ex's dad walked all the way to Long Island in borrowed shoes where his exhausted wife picked him up, crying. His best friend happened to be late to work that day and got off the train just as the towers collapsed. He turned and ran. He made it home okay. What luck. My ex's home church lost over 200 people that day.
My roommate wanted to watch every piece of news coverage, almost like a drug. For me it was too close. A family friend was in the Towers too at a conference. He was in one of the lower stories and ran to safety. Others weren't so lucky. I still hate seeing the footage. In fact it makes me sick.
It's still really hard for me to process all of this. My dog's whimpering because I'm crying--"It's okay, Chester!" But really, it's not. They're still out there, and they're planning more. I just hope we stay one step ahead. And I admit, I still like the photo of the Statue of Liberty with her middle finger stuck high in the air, saying, "We're coming, motherfuckers!" I know it's wrong to feel vengeful but there it is.
"Oh it's awful, it's just awful...(deep breath)...terrorists have attacked New York and Washington. The President is in a plane, they won't disclose his location, but he's alive. Our nation is under attack." He told me to stay in my dorm room until we figured more out, and that he had to call my brother to tell him.
I stumbled out of my bedroom in time to see the towers collapse on TV. I called my then-longtime-boyfriend who was from Long Island. He couldn't get in touch with his dad who worked in Rockefeller Center and his best friend worked in Tower 2. He had to get off the phone in case someone--anyone--called with news. He was beside himself with panic. I felt numb.
The campus was surreal. A lot of the Vanderbilt kids had parents who worked in the Twin Towers. People were hysterical, there was a huge phone bank in the student union for kids to try--and try--and TRY to reach family in New York. Counselors were bussed in from miles around. I didn't cry because I felt I didn't deserve to cry for those I didn't know.
A Sigma Chi who had just graduated died in the Towers. He sent an email before he died. The Sigma Chis hung their one-story-high flag from their building and put floodlights on it, and blared bagpipes funeral music for a whole two days. The frat brothers sobbed. Many other Vanderbilt recent alumni died that day. I wrote a prayer and gave it at the University-wide service. I don't remember much from that service because they played Adagio for Strings, which is what we played at Justin's memorial service, and I suddenly couldn't stop crying. I have never heard that song since he died and not cried. People thought I was sobbing for those who died in the Towers and I guess I was...I was crying for all who grieve, and all we've lost, and lives snuffed out too early. Suddenly I was surrounded by other people who had lost their best friends like I had. It was terrible.
My ex's dad walked all the way to Long Island in borrowed shoes where his exhausted wife picked him up, crying. His best friend happened to be late to work that day and got off the train just as the towers collapsed. He turned and ran. He made it home okay. What luck. My ex's home church lost over 200 people that day.
My roommate wanted to watch every piece of news coverage, almost like a drug. For me it was too close. A family friend was in the Towers too at a conference. He was in one of the lower stories and ran to safety. Others weren't so lucky. I still hate seeing the footage. In fact it makes me sick.
It's still really hard for me to process all of this. My dog's whimpering because I'm crying--"It's okay, Chester!" But really, it's not. They're still out there, and they're planning more. I just hope we stay one step ahead. And I admit, I still like the photo of the Statue of Liberty with her middle finger stuck high in the air, saying, "We're coming, motherfuckers!" I know it's wrong to feel vengeful but there it is.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
I've been tagged!
Jule Ann has tagged me for a word association game. Here goes!
I'm supposed to tag others to do a word association, so I tag Maggie.
- aluminum - foil
- braid - hair
- claustrophobia - small rooms
- dumpling - gang
- elevator - up
I'm supposed to tag others to do a word association, so I tag Maggie.
- Kumquat
- Gobbledygook
- Lollygag
- Diphthong
- Masticate
Monday, September 04, 2006
Labor Day Blahs
I've been asked to update, so update I shall.
First, damn you, Aunt Flo. You are not welcome in my house.
Second, I'm lately frustrated with how MEAN Massachusetts people can be. I keep thinking I'm oversensitive but no, I'm not. People around here keep positive thoughts to themselves and anything negative has to be broadcast to the world. There is very little community, very little happiness anywhere near Boston and I struggle to insulate myself from it. It doesn't help that I'm a homebody at heart. I like warm fires, clean kitchens and fresh muffins. I want to sit at my computer and type from home after taking the dog on a walk around the lake. I don't like it when people are in my face, criticizing everything they can, and I don't like bullies. There are a lot of bullies around here. Boston's full of them, and it's pretty well-known. What a sad, pathetic way of life, you know? Blech! Sometimes I feel like I just want to shower off all the negativity with a good scrub and some fresh bath salts. It's so pervasive and it feels like poison to the soul. Perhaps a bath is what I need tonight, along with some positive thinking! Now I know why Paul spoke of a Christian warrior, with weapons like Scripture and the Spirit.
Third, we went to one of the strangest weddings I've ever been to last night. It was nearly two hours long and was a Methodist wedding that discussed GLBT's right to marriage in the OPENING LINE, then had Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian blessings followed by a communion served by a rainbow-frocked priest to the tune of African drums and songs in an African language. There were only white liberals there. In fact, we were probably the odd ones out because we're conservatives. I'm really happy for the couple getting married--they're wonderful together--but MAN, that was a strange wedding to attend. I'm still chewing on it in my mind.
Fourth, I made a bumblebee-themed gazebo bird-house thing today with my friend Karen (from the Republican Women's group here in Boston, all 16 of us...). It was fun and the little house is a-dor-a-ble! We grabbed some lunch at Panera and came back and did our crafts and had tea and talked for hours. It was really nice. And now I have realized my new hobby is doing random crafty things for the nursery we're starting to put together. It's relaxing, creative, and productive. I feel like I'm actually taking pro-active steps toward Baby when in reality I'm just getting paint and hot glue all over my fingers.
This is what I made:
Fifth (who's really counting now?), the hubby and I cleaned out the front porch on Saturday and set up the laundry room as the office. It's not super-polished but it looks good, and I'm glad we did it. We also created a lot more space in the front porch to put our stuff when we finish the back porch.
Sixth (yeah, I'm still counting), I've been working on my cookng skills and they are vastly improved! I'm gonna start dinner here in a minute and start bugging the husband to do some tidying and/or dishes. He's been laying around reading his new sci-fi novels all day.
Finally, I have word that I may have some business thrown my way for editing and technical writing. I would love to get that going! It would give me peace of mind to know I'd be able to earn some money AND stay home instead of just assuming/hoping it'll happen.
I guess that's it. I'm off to make rosemary chicken with garlic potato wedges. If I screw up we'll order pizza.
First, damn you, Aunt Flo. You are not welcome in my house.
Second, I'm lately frustrated with how MEAN Massachusetts people can be. I keep thinking I'm oversensitive but no, I'm not. People around here keep positive thoughts to themselves and anything negative has to be broadcast to the world. There is very little community, very little happiness anywhere near Boston and I struggle to insulate myself from it. It doesn't help that I'm a homebody at heart. I like warm fires, clean kitchens and fresh muffins. I want to sit at my computer and type from home after taking the dog on a walk around the lake. I don't like it when people are in my face, criticizing everything they can, and I don't like bullies. There are a lot of bullies around here. Boston's full of them, and it's pretty well-known. What a sad, pathetic way of life, you know? Blech! Sometimes I feel like I just want to shower off all the negativity with a good scrub and some fresh bath salts. It's so pervasive and it feels like poison to the soul. Perhaps a bath is what I need tonight, along with some positive thinking! Now I know why Paul spoke of a Christian warrior, with weapons like Scripture and the Spirit.
Third, we went to one of the strangest weddings I've ever been to last night. It was nearly two hours long and was a Methodist wedding that discussed GLBT's right to marriage in the OPENING LINE, then had Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian blessings followed by a communion served by a rainbow-frocked priest to the tune of African drums and songs in an African language. There were only white liberals there. In fact, we were probably the odd ones out because we're conservatives. I'm really happy for the couple getting married--they're wonderful together--but MAN, that was a strange wedding to attend. I'm still chewing on it in my mind.
Fourth, I made a bumblebee-themed gazebo bird-house thing today with my friend Karen (from the Republican Women's group here in Boston, all 16 of us...). It was fun and the little house is a-dor-a-ble! We grabbed some lunch at Panera and came back and did our crafts and had tea and talked for hours. It was really nice. And now I have realized my new hobby is doing random crafty things for the nursery we're starting to put together. It's relaxing, creative, and productive. I feel like I'm actually taking pro-active steps toward Baby when in reality I'm just getting paint and hot glue all over my fingers.
This is what I made:
Fifth (who's really counting now?), the hubby and I cleaned out the front porch on Saturday and set up the laundry room as the office. It's not super-polished but it looks good, and I'm glad we did it. We also created a lot more space in the front porch to put our stuff when we finish the back porch.
Sixth (yeah, I'm still counting), I've been working on my cookng skills and they are vastly improved! I'm gonna start dinner here in a minute and start bugging the husband to do some tidying and/or dishes. He's been laying around reading his new sci-fi novels all day.
Finally, I have word that I may have some business thrown my way for editing and technical writing. I would love to get that going! It would give me peace of mind to know I'd be able to earn some money AND stay home instead of just assuming/hoping it'll happen.
I guess that's it. I'm off to make rosemary chicken with garlic potato wedges. If I screw up we'll order pizza.
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