You Learn Something New (almost) Every Day

Signs II: The Happening

2009-06-05T19:00:00.003-05:00

Here's my scavenger shots for the week: SIGNS

Here I am showing off the signs we bought for two of our good friends. We were in a trinket shop in Florida while on our babymoon.

And this sign along our route in said babymoon, coastal town made us laugh. Happy Saturday to everyone and don't forget to read the signs!

*I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Rambunctious

2009-06-02T07:10:00.005-05:00

Loud seals hollering across the Alaskan waters on a buoy. They were rambunctious. Thanks to Tara for the word. (Sorry this is both late and difficult to see. Click on pic for larger version.)

*I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Grow Little One, Grow!

2009-05-22T10:14:00.003-05:00

I am a human crock pot. I just realized it this morning as I was cramming chili ingredients into my 6-quart crock pot we received for our wedding (apparently, cooking is my form of "nesting"). I am cooking a little person in there and Squiggles will come out whenever Squiggles is good and ready (hopefully). So, it is fitting that I should include a picture of my crock pot belly for your entertainment. Sigh. I am not a flasher normally, so I am slightly embarassed to reveal my pasty, globular tummy, but it is for posterity and for Saturday Scavenger Hunt* (the word this week is "grow" by the way, in case you missed that.)

Hope everyone has a great weekend, whether it's Memorial Day weekend for you or not.

*I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Fish-Wish

2009-05-18T07:25:00.003-05:00

Seriously, I had nothing else to post. :P

This "fishtail" wedding gown in pale pink was one of the designer gowns I tried on for my wedding and decided against (mostly because of the $4,000 pricetag).

Saturday got away from me AGAIN, I know, but thanks for letting me continue to "play" the game*. I'll try harder next week. No really, I will... zzzzz *falls asleep at desk*

*I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Chicken

2009-05-09T20:11:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, you find yourself asking, "Who me?" Am I supposed to be able to handle this? Am I going to be able to overcome this next hurdle? How did I get myself into this? Am I ready? Will I mess up? Will I fail?

And you feel, not just a chicken little, but a chicken lot.

Being pregnant has been like that for me. And as I draw closer to the conclusion of this nine month odessey, I see my old life closing and a new, wide-open door to heaven open. But to get through and stay through that door will take grace every morning. I am utterly chicken. And I feel so grateful for the chance to be chicken, and to make it through anyways.

Photo is from our honeymoon in Alaska. It's not often you find a wall that makes a point. :)

My Grandpa - My Friend

2009-05-08T10:41:00.003-05:00

So I just 'friended' my own grandfather on Facebook. He's 83 (I think, although it's possible I've lost count) and doesn't have a picture up, but there he is, in all his adorableness, friending me on Facebook like it ain't no thang. :)

I guess the next thing to do is wait for his first super-poke.

Up to Something

2009-05-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

On top of the guardhouse on Alcatraz, a bird sits surveying the sea. And his easy path to freedom.

Next week's picker-of-the-word is DMarks. Hop to it, D! :)

*I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Pregnancy Dictionary - Part 3

2009-05-01T10:25:00.005-05:00

At this stage of my pregnancy, all the focus is on delivery. Having a healthy child to show for oneself is kind of the ultimate reward here and with that light at the end of the tunnel, soon-to-be-mothers like myself put our heads down and finish the course.

Third trimester is fraught with all kinds of new and interesting symptoms and curious side-effects, but none of them have interesting or scientific names. Well, if they do, I don't know what they are. So, here, without further ado, is mythird trimester pregnancy dictionary addition:

P-Brain: aka 'pregnancy brain.' This is the time when you can no longer remember where you put something, what you are wearing, if you ever called that person back, what that big word was you wanted to use two seconds ago. Pregnancy brain is the great intellectual equalizer. I just tell people, "I'll have a witty comeback for that in about two months!"

Butterfingers: Not the candy-bar (although one of those is nice every now and again), no, we're talking about the condition. Dropping the same bowl three times on your way to the sink. Overreaching the bedside table and knocking your water all over the floor. That two-pointer into the laundry basket you almost always could make? Not anymore. Somewhere between your brain and your joints, there is now a huge disconnect. And thanks to p-brain, you really don't care. Speaking of joints...

Squishy Bones: It's not really your bones that are squishy, so much as your joints. Whatever goo-gaw is holding your frame together is slowly turning into peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You can no longer 'crack your back' to relieve pressure. You hear little popping, slurpy noises when you sit down on the ground. Your spine feels like a rubber hose. As my OB puts it, "Stretching becomes very important at this stage." And, man, was she right! Stretching and deep breathing is the only thing that makes you feel half human again.

Fatigue: There's no more hiding it, you need to sleep ALL THE TIME. At first, you make plans for after work; water and prune houseplants, finish tax documentation, prepare papers for hospital registration, vacuum living room, and make dinner for hubby. After a couple of days you realize your goal is to come home, take a shower, eat a bowl of cheerios and fall into bed for two hours. That's your list of "things to do." And if you manage to get the shower and the cereal before crashing into slumber, you can feel pretty good about yourself.

Word for the Week: Update

2009-04-29T07:54:00.002-05:00

I was chosen to select this week's Saturday Scavenger Hunt Word by Jessica. It'll be UP. Since we have no words yet that begin with the letter 'u' and looking up at the gorgeous trees had made me happy all week! Awesome! So hop to it, fellow-scavengers! :)

Express Yourself

2009-04-24T14:42:00.005-05:00

This week's Scavenger Word* is 'Expression,' selected by Jessica. Here's my photo entry:

This is the expression on the face of a person who is about to get kissed for being adorable. This shot was taken at the Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley, California. Also, please try to imagine this face as a baby, because it will happen, people! Soon! (Minus the goatee, we hope...)

Skateboarding Budgies (you heard me)

2009-04-22T14:50:00.004-05:00

Someone needs to get me some popcorn stat! This is the most entertainment I've gotten from a bunch of birds since 'Follow That Bird' released it's 25th anniversary DVD! So, in other words, since last month... :)

No, seriously, though. These budgies are awesome. Just see if i'm not telling the truth!

Baby Hiccups in the Womb...

2009-04-21T11:42:00.003-05:00

...are like having a tiny frog jump inside your belly
...give you the chance to let everybody who wants to "feel the baby"
...usually start after you eat or after the baby exercises
...let you know where your baby's chest is and so where the rest of the baby probably is in proximity
...can keep you awake at night
...are a sign of good health
...are surprisingly cute

So Fresh and So Clean Clean

2009-04-17T12:55:00.004-05:00

Saying hello to the world, this one day old is surprisingly alert for someone so fresh faced. Also, he is deliciously adorable. I love his giant hands. Or 'meat hooks', as his uncle lovingly refers to them. It's not my kid. Mine is still tucked away inside waiting for its debut. Happy Scavenger Saturday to everyone.*

Aliens

2009-04-13T14:38:00.004-05:00

This is an old shot I took years ago (and appears in my photographs section of this blog), but it makes the most sense at the moment and I'd like to submit it as my belated Scavenger Shot picture*. I'm tired and feeling a little 'hungover' from Easter weekend. Looking forward to taking a nap. :)

Choirs of Angels: Palm Sunday (cont.)

2009-04-10T09:23:00.005-05:00

(continued from earlier post)

Fighting fatigue and general pregnancy malaise, I headed to Sunday rehearsal at nine. My husband had gone for an early morning run with a friend and would meet up with me at church.

As I entered the building, I kept harboring a hope that I would faint or puke or do something that would otherwise force me to crawl back home to bed and to my sleep. The choir was gathering in the outer fellowship room. I took one of the few remaining seats, because I could barely stand.

*Plop* Down beside me sat the "Other Soprano." She smiled like an eagle surveying its lunch as her eyes shifted over to me. She peered deeply into my eyes through her coke bottle bottom glasses, furrowed her brow and asked, "How's everything in your life these days?"

This seemed an odd question, considering that she and I had never discussed my life or anything else, for that matter. I stared wide-eyed and made no reply. Was she asking about the pregnancy, which seemed to be a favorite topic of strangers? Did she really want to know my life story? And if so, where did I start?

After several seconds of my silence, she decided to help the conversation along with a gentle prod, "How are things going with this economy?" I was dazzled by this strange choice of direction and was egging my frazzled brain to fabricate a cohesive response when she continued the conversation without me, "I have the best job in the world. I make good money and I'm as happy as can be!" Then she launched into a thorough report of her long and varied work history. I stared helplessly around the fellowship hall. I had been so grateful to find this open chair so I could sit down and now I wanted nothing more than to run away.

After exhausting herself on this topic, she noticed I was rubbing my belly. It was a protective and self-soothing gesture on my part. She interpreted this as a fetal interruption to 'our' conversation. "Oh, settle down in there!" she hollered at my midsection, "We're trying to talk!" I suddenly truly disliked this woman.

She went on to tell me about her son and his lifelong habit of sucking his thumb in the most embarrassing manner. The doctor told her the boy would never stop when he was pictured numerous times in vetro with his thumb in his mouth and 'sure enough!' even when he was in the marines, he would get under his blanket for fifteen minutes in the afternoon for a 'nap' and suck his thumb. My mind was reeling with pity for this poor young man, whoever he was, and all I could think of was escape.

"I really should try to use the restroom before we begin," I said and waddled away as fast as my legs could carry me. Breathing a sigh of relief in the bathroom stall and then laughing under my breath at the poor mothered by this woman. All his life secrets spilling out of every side of her to complete and total strangers. I expect if I had sat there much longer, she would have told me of his extra toe or mismatched genitalia. If she were my mother, I think I'd cower under a blanket with my thumb in my gob as well.

I forced myself to return and found my assailant departed, so I resumed my seat. We practiced a song or two (while 'Other Soprano' attempted to contradict the director's instructions behind her back, only to be told by the rest of the choir, 'She changed it in rehearsal. You weren't there.') My husband came into the hall just before we all processed into the church. All I could manage was a weak smile as he walked in.

Madame Volume arrived in a sweeping floor-length red halter gown, covered in shining sparkles. Evidently, she was to sing a solo this morning.

In the Choir loft at the front of the church, we took our places and began one of the longest services of the calendar year (I wanted to curl up in a ball and go to sleep). The sweet woman next to me noticed I was clutching the railing in front of us and occasionally sitting down. She was extremely solicitous and after I began fanning myself for cooling relief, she put a wet cloth on my neck and rubbed my back. She and the alto on my right kept suggesting escape routes and times, but it made no sense to gather up every belonging I owned in the front of the entire congregation just to walk past my husband, get in my car and go home. I didn't really see what sitting in the outside room would do to make things better either. So I stayed and fanned and drank water till I nearly burst and tried to sing.

It wasn't till the communion solo by Madame Volume that I truly understood the attitude of the rest of the choir. As my husband came to the front, Madame Volume hit a particularly high note at full volume. My husband cringed. I laughed. The sweet lady next to me noticed and said, 'What's so funny?" I told her of my husband's reaction. "My fiance tells me to stop rolling my eyes up here when she sings, because everyone can see it. Truth is, no one can shut her up." Encouraged by this frank assessment of the situation, I confessed that she was the reason I had stopped coming at the onset. "Oh, I know." she responded. "We all know that!" I leaned in and asked her, "Do you ever feel... redundant?" She looked up at me with mock seriousness and said,

"The rest of us might as well go home!"

I snickered a little and she and I elbowed each other for the rest of the service every time the two sopranos fought over the same high note and made the windows rattle.

I crawled home and to bed. My husband made me breakfast and let me sleep. Bless him.

Choirs of Angels: Palm Sunday

2009-04-09T08:30:00.010-05:00

My husband and I attend a small community church since our marriage last July. The minister married us and we feel comfortable with the structure and enclosure that the community provides. It's a small church, a small building and maybe a hundred congregants. I have a conspicuous voice. I am a strong soprano. I like to belt out the hymns. But I try to tone it down for this church, which makes me kid of sad. I don't want to be the lone voice ringing through the rafters, but I miss giving things full volume. (That's what BIG churches are for!)

One particular Sunday as I sang the hymns with my husband, I was plucked from obscurity by the people in front of me; an Indian couple. They were so sweet. Immediately after service they turned around and complimented my voice (this happens sometimes, and I won't lie, it's flattering) and urged me (by dragging me by the arm) to join the choir. I was introduced to our friendly choir director, Sandy, given a time for rehearsal and urged to join. Sandy didn't need to hear me sing. Being dragged to the front by members of the existing choir was recommendation enough. That made me slightly apprehensive. I like a little standard to reach for. I disapprove of an 'anybody who wants to' kind of artistic efforts. I am a quality snob. Sorry.

But I went to my first rehearsal anyways. My husband was out of town. I had nothing else to do. So I went.

I was given my own folder (#18) and a seat on the front row (where all sopranos go). We did some warm ups. We began our first song. I was beginning to relax into the humble surroundings of this cozy, little choir. And then something magical happened: she arrived.

I'd seen her in services before. She sang solos often, in an operatic style and even though there was some degree of technical know-how to her presentation style, there was an even greater lack of self-awareness. I had commented to my husband in whispers during the middle of service one Sunday on why she wasn't a great singer, because she could not seem to control the volume on her top notes and because she occasionally slid around rather than placing pitches clean. And here she was coming to sit next to me. She had excited little nervous eyes and always wore skirts and open-toed shoes (despite it being winter outside). On Sundays, when she did have a solo, she wore floor-length evening gowns in some obnoxious hue that was designed to make her stand apart from everyone else. In the world.

She settled into her seat that particular evening with a condescending smile to me, the newcomer, and fussed over her choir folder and additional materials. We began a Mozart chorus. Her voice blasting over the pianissimo markings like a trumpet at Mardi gras. After the first song ended, I took in a deep inhale. That's when I realized, I hadn't really been breathing. She took my breath away. Literally.

As a soprano, I am aware that my position on the top of the musical staff comes with certain privileges and obligations: We are given the 'showy' bits more often. Very frequently we outnumber the other sections in sheer numbers. We have to curb those high notes and descants to give equal play to all singing parts. I am aware of this from my years of choir training. I flatter myself that I know how to fold my voice into the smooth texture of the whole, giving it a strength internally, but not giving myself a sore thumb quality. So, I was more than a little disappointed to find myself sitting next to 'Madame Volume' in a humble choir already decidedly tilted in the sopranos' favor. By the end of rehearsal, I was merely mouthing in an attempt to help the choir find its balance. Alas, no tenor was heard above the din to my right. I went home frustrated and confused.

I wrote Sandy the choir director an email stating the situation as tactfully as I could, "It is evident that the last thing you actually need is a strong soprano. If I was an alto, or any other part, I would gladly throw my weight behind finding the balance that is lacking." She admitted the faults of the choir and begged me to continue attendance as the soprano in question 'was not always able to attend.' This seemed too much like hoping for a miracle every Sunday, so I politely insisted that I would rather give my undivided attention to my new husband on any occasion when he was actually home and thanked her for her service to the church and the community.

That worked for a while. I could tell at the services that we did attend that the rest of the choir felt slightly rejected. They still smiled and showed delight with my growing belly, but there was a sadness in their eyes. I wished I could make them understand that there was no sense in my being in the choir when there was a loudmouth clanging like a drum over everything.

And in fact, there was not only one... there were two. Two sopranos; both with God-given talent and no apparent way of controlling it. The other soprano just as cock-sure as the first, was just as greedy with the high-notes, and just as likely to sing a solo during service to blast the ear drums off of all present. She had a little cloud of light brown hair and a wheelchair, which she didn't always need, and a husband who was a good half-a-foot shorter (which probably saved his ears from more permanent damage, now that I think about it). She had large spectacles that hovered over her watery, yet oddly piercing eyes. And if she ever cornered you, you wouldn't get out of the conversation without using Jedi mind techniques. Or abruptly walking away.

And last Sunday (well last Thursday, technically) I went back. I decided to go to choir to keep my lungs active as my belly grew. (I'm supposed to sing at a wedding one week before my due date. I want to keep myself vocally active so as to have fewer surprises the day of.) I went back and discovered that I had been deeply missed. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when I entered the choir room. Sandy's face lit up like a Christmas tree, the little Indian lady beamed and patted my belly, the older gentlemen in the bass section hovered around and smiled and inquired after my health, etc. Everyone seemed so glad to have me there. I really couldn't tell why.

We had only one death-by-soprano there: Madame Volume herself. I made the mistake of sitting next to her. Again. (Or was it truly my mistake? It seemed to me that the little Indian woman threw me under the bus, as it was she who scooted over leaving the seat vacant next to the Femme Fortissimo! ) I got folder #18 down from its shelf and was fitted for a choir robe -which was snug around my tummy and made me look like a choir balloon animal. I found it humorous, so I said nothing, only thanked my assistor and sat down next to the cannon.

Rehearsal that night went much like you would expect; ears bleeding, spine tingling, wishing I hadn't come. But there was a new development. Sandy, the director, made earnest pleas for a softer soprano section the entire rehearsal. And not only she, but other members of the choir spoke up and called for equality among the parts. No one mentioned the soprano by name and she dutifully bent her head to her folder and took prodigious notes at ever suggestion, but ended up singing at the same unrelenting volume despite the not-so-subtle hints. And she had plenty of questions, comments, and recommendations of her own. She especially liked to throw out technical musical jargon... in their proper native pronunciations, of course. So that if the word's origins were Italian, for instance, she would say it with an Italian flourish, as though brandishing a quill pen and writing a manuscript of international importance. Her sciolism was equalled only by her evident inability to put into practice what her 'expertise' supposedly taught her to do.

Once again, I went home crabby and put off. I had missed a perfectly good evening with my husband to be tortured by the banshee of the choir loft. I complained to my husband (who had a good laugh) and then proceeded to wrack my brain for any excuse to get out of actually performing that Sunday. I didn't come up with anything good enough to merit an absence and so I dragged myself out of bed and went.

(to be continued)

Welcome to the Mother 'Hood

2009-04-08T09:15:00.005-05:00

Something strange happens to a woman when she begins showing a belly with her first pregnancy. Her place in society is subtly shifted. Whereas, she was mothered by other women, advised, encouraged by other women as a single or even as a young married, she is now initiated into a whole new relationship. She moves into a new echelon of camaraderie with those who have gone on before her to bear children. She undergoes an almost instant and unavoidable initiation into the 'Mother 'Hood' as I like to call it. Instead of gang tats or colors, she sports a bulging belly and an insatiable need to pee. Other mothers, as if by instinct, nod or smile as you go past. There is a look of knowing, of understanding, and in many cases, of a need to tell you what to do. You are now open to any and all helpful hints and suggestions that they can think of. And even though you don't want to admit it, they display another trait you yourself will soon bear: an almost irrisistible urge to share their birth story.

Birthing a child is like a secret sign or initiation that mothers share with one. Another mom can understand what you went through in ways no one else on the planet can. With one penetrating look into your soul, they can see a woman who has been through the waters of trial and produced a living human being from her own body, a feat no one else on the planet is capable of achieving. A look in her eyes says, "There may be millions of us, but we are still the proud, the few!"

I am kind of excited to be initiated into the 'hood. I didn't really know I wasn't included fully in the world of women. I thought I had a deep and reverent bond with all women, despite my lack of maternal experience. I have always felt strongly included in the world of women. I am comfortable with, can acknowledge and support them and they me. But I was wrong. I am understanding that there is another room to enter in this labyrinth of womanhood. I have been shown a secret, curtained entrance and my presence is expected and respected on the other side.

Pirates of the High Seas

2009-04-08T09:08:00.002-05:00

And you thought they didn't exist anymore!

Easy as Pie

2009-04-03T11:11:00.009-05:00

Pie is not easy to make, have you ever noticed that? It is actually fairly involved and complicated. So was this saying, "Easy as pie," actually an early example of sarcasm? We should investigate. According to WikiAnswers this refers to eating of pie rather than the making of it. And there, folks, is your answer.

For this week's Scavenger Word, EASY, chosen by Pamela over at A Woman of No Regrets, I continue on my theme (like a broken record) of being married to my husband. This is by far the easiest job that I have ever undertaken. Nothing could be easier than doing what your heart longs to do anyways. You could say that in marrying my husband I have found my true calling. It's a little bit like heaven on earth. Oh, don't get me wrong, it takes work and I have more responsibilities than I've ever had, but the sweetness of being with him more than makes up for the additional load. You want to know my secret? I just married the sweetest and cutest person I could possibly find. Easy, right? :P

SCIOLISM: A Belated Scavenger

2009-04-02T07:06:00.006-05:00

Here is my belated addition to last week's scavenger shot word:SCIOLISM. I think I look very knowledgeable peeking out from behind this massive law tome. I also appear to have some kind of a hair halo, which I think adds to my general appearance of smartitude.

Tara helped me out in my tardiness by picking No Regrets as this week's word picker. Thanks, Tara!

Happy Birthday, Tara!

2009-03-25T06:49:00.003-05:00

My best friend, Tara, from Eclectic Spaghetti up and turns a year older today!

Hurray for TARA!

*blows party favor and throws confetti*

Fight the Sadness, Artax!

2009-03-24T10:39:00.006-05:00

It's a gorgeous day here in Cleveland and when I woke up from the luxury of sleeping in, I was in a lovely, happy, sunny mood. Despite my attitude of contentment, I remembered a line from the movie "Neverending Story" which always makes me laugh a little. It's a line I've used on myself when I was feeling down and out and it never failed to make me cheer up a little: "Fight the sadness, Artax!" If you are ever 'fighting the sadness' I suggest you encourage yourself with this scene from the movie. I do realize that Artax loses to the sadness, but if you call yourself 'Artax' and remember the screaming desperation in the little boy's voice, I'm pretty sure you will do what the horse could not, and fight the sadness. Hope you are having a fantastic week so far!

Shenanigans

2009-03-23T10:27:00.005-05:00

I participate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

This week's word picker is my good friend Tara over at eclectic spaghetti. Thanks, Tara!

And now on to our Shenanigans:

This is a shot of me holding up a poster of David with detachable fig leaf at my bachelorette party. We never did have time to play 'pin the fig on the David' although that would have been some entertaining shenanignas. Instead the combined group of women drank something like 8 bottles of wine and went swimming fully clothed in the hotel pool. This is me after our swim. I cannot post what I was wearing before. That would be too shenaniganish for the general population. (cue evil laughter and saucy smirk)

next week's word: SCIOLISM (use it in a sentence today!)

Need A Smile?

2009-03-19T13:59:00.001-05:00

My Dad forwarded this charming short film on to me. Thought I would share it with you. When something makes me smile this big, I have to pass it on! : )

Scavenger Shots: TREAT

2009-03-16T07:44:00.005-05:00

Hi all. I particpate in a weekly scavenger hunt for photos related to a select word. A group of us on the internet make the rounds to see everyone else's photos and comment on how they treated the subject matter. I thought I should explain this phenomenon since my brother recently complained that my website has become "esoteric" because of it. The only rules are 1) post on Saturday (something I often fail to do) and 2) only use pictures you yourself have taken.

This week's word is TREAT, chosen by Churlish Figure. Next week's word picker is my good friend Tara over at ecelectic spaghetti. If you want to join the fun, let us know here!

Here we see an above average (in cuteness) one year old enjoying a birthday treat of a cupcake. She appears to be pondering the subtle combination of flavors in this particular baked good.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-anges!

2009-03-07T13:11:00.005-05:00

Although changing into my wedding gown was a pretty big deal (and it took a little bit of time), marriage itself has been the biggest (and best) change in my life so far. I am so glad to be married to a wonderful friend who loves me with his whole heart and is always looking out for my good. I realize not every marriage gets to be so lovey-dovey or happily-ever-after, so it is with great humility that I express my delight in my partner. Thank you, Darling, for being the most wonderful change in my life! : )

(pictured above: my sister and matron of honor putting the finishing touches on my dress closure.)

Urban Camouflage

2009-03-05T11:32:00.002-05:00

Here's how to blend in seamlessly at an IKEA. Urban Camouflage is the newest international pastime. I challenge everyone to attempt an Urban Camouflage at least once this year.

Random Shots for Early March

2009-03-04T08:53:00.007-05:00

Winter is long and my attention span is short. Here are a few pictures I love to add some cheer to a heartlessly cold March morning. First pic (above) is of two friends who are rounding the bend on their second wedding anniversary. It was taken at a theatre production involving the young lady's younger brother (He was hilarious). Afterward, I snapped this photo of the two on a bench. They always sit like that... ; )

There is little in this world that is quite so heartening as a new soul being introduced to the culinary delight that is Baker Whips (chocolate covered marshmallows). The cloud-stained lips, the sugar-glazed eyes... Ah, to be 18 months again!

Two Summers ago our good friends married in a small ceremony in their back yard. It was rejuvinating and exciting to be a part of their festivities. My husband took the photos. This one makes me smile.

And last but not least, here is a shot that is sure to cheer me up under any circumstances. My (then) boyfriend and I splitting a bathtub-sized margarita at a Mexican restaurant in Old Sacramento. Immediately following this we had our portrait taken in old western dress up clothes (the margarita probably helped!). By sunset that night, we were engaged to be married. One of the best days of my life. : )

The End -All Scavenger Shot Saturday

2009-03-02T01:24:00.000-05:00

Hi, It's Monday. But here's my photo for AlienCG's word: END. This picture is blurry, but it shows the underground cavern used to store wine barrels at a Napa Valley Winery. As you can see, the end of the cavern is pretty far back. It was lovely and cool inside the cavern, too.

ICE, ICE, BABY!

2009-02-20T20:05:00.000-05:00

Crap, it's Friday afternoon, I should be already assured of my Scavenger plans. Knowing firmly what I want to post, having a post pre-made and scheduled for posting early Saturday morning, I would make the Boy Scouts proud... but I am without a plan, unsure of my options, clinging to a picture I'm not sure I can locate, sick of ice in general, and looking for some relief in the form of Spring.

Well, I have a safety. Alaska. Alaska the beautiful, ice-capped state that my husband and I visited on our honeymoon. My backup is just to post a snap from my camera phone of the craptastic Cleveland landscape.

With your indulgence, I hereby post... none of these things. In fact, let us deviate from the obvious and go straight to the alternate meaning of ice:

How could a girl say 'no' to that sparkling beauty? Also, the guy wasn't that bad. ; ) I am wearing it right now. It is also my wedding band because I don't want to make it a set. When/if my fingers get too puffy to wear it, I'll revert to a backup ring until the swelling goes down (see: joys of being pregnant). This is by far the most extravagant piece of jewelery I own. It's sort of my pride and joy. Apparently, the jeweler who custom made it from my husband's design thought so, too, because he featured on his website:

Needless to say, It reminds me of the heart of fire that keeps our love warm on these ice-capped Cleveland days. Je t'aime!

Pregnancy Dictionary, Part 2

2009-02-19T15:02:00.006-05:00

"So, Sarah, what's it like being five months pregnant?" I hear you say. Well, I'm glad you asked! It's a lot like this:

Round ligament pain: Where your insides get to feel what a drum head feels like when it's made. I think the 'round' stands for 'round the clock', cause this dull, achiness won't quit!

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Practice for the real thing, apparently, but just feels like a cramp or as if the baby is bracing itself in the very lowest regions of your body.

Pyrosis: commonly called 'heartburn' although it has nothing to do with the heart and everything to do with your inept esophagus letting waves of burning acid into your upper digestive track.

Inferior vena cava: The vein running along your spine that makes it a no-no to sleep on your back. *grumblegrumble*

Cravings: What got you eating oreos dipped in peanut-butter without your consent. Best to be very suspiscious of these bad boys as they can have you eating ridiculous things if you let them.

Excitations!

2009-02-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

This week's word was EXCITEMENT brought to us by Laura B. Thanks, Laura, for giving us all a word we can get excited about...

The pregnant lady pictured above appears to be thinking:

"I am entering the beautiful, unending chain of humanity, linking myself to the dance of life, becoming the most powerful being in the universe. I am the very center of life force on this planet!"

But in reality, she's actually thinking:

"Holy sh*t, I'm not even halfway?!? I'm gonna be frickin' HUGE, criss-crossed with stretch-marks like an albino watermelon! GAH!!!"

Haha, just kidding. I'm fine with this. I am SO happy, all the time! Who me, worry?? Nonsense. Hahaha! *tries to look away from first ever stretch mark*

California Dreaming

2009-02-13T13:55:00.001-05:00

What pregnant woman wouldn't love a vacation to California in the middle of a Cleveland winter? This is the question I asked myself when my husband proposed the idea a few months ago. We'd travel separately, him for work, and me later, and meet up with three other couples in San Jose, then we'd tour wine country in Napa Valley, take a day in San Fransisco, and then fly home. It sounded perfect (if you ignore the part about not being able to actually sample any of the wine because you're pregnant).

As I left Cleveland, the weather broke into a final hissy-fit of snow as if to give me an appropriate send-off to sunnier climes. Only... they weren't sunnier climes.

Our entire visit, the temperature stayed under 55 degrees. And it rained. While this seemed like a blow to our sunny plans, the locals were overjoyed and their faces showed their delight when we brought up the weather. "I know, isn't it wonderful?" asked one vineyard grower. It's hard to give a grouchy response when he was so obviously happy. I sighed and let it go. I was unprepared for the chilly air and as a consequence developed a little cold for my trouble. It was probably Alcatraz that set me over the edge.

What Napa had to offer despite it's cold snap, was plush fertile vegetation and living beauty. While Cleveland sits for half a year under a hard casing of mud and ice, barren branches waiting for Spring, California was ripening under the soft touch of rain, cherry trees in full bloom, cyclamen lining the streets, lemons refreshing the air with their delicious clean scent. Everything was in a permanent state of Springtime. No wonder people like to live here.

We had excitement in San Francisco when we visited Alcatraz (and were even allowed to leave after).

Something about that cold, prominent rock evokes all kinds of poetry in the mind. Our boat bobbed on the waves as the island came further into view. We imagined we were being delivered here to live out the rest of our days as many men had in it's colorful history. (Below, Raymond celebrates being non-incarcerated on "The Rock.")

We were treated to a dazzling sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge from the grounds of the prison (which is a now a National Park) then ferried back across for some hot chocolate and pizza! A good time was had by all.

To Be or Not To Be (a Girl... with Name Poll!)

2009-02-12T08:02:00.005-05:00

The suspense is killing me! Are we having a girl or aren't we? My husband and I agreed to wait on learning gender until the birth of our child. Both of us have confessed to having a gut feeling that Squiggles is a boy... but what if Squiggles is not a boy? What if Squiggles is a girl? What if Squiggles is bringing a flood of cute pink and purple clothing and toys that will adorn every corner of our house? For years! That means Dora the Explorer on TV, My Little Ponies underfoot and Cinderella bedsheets on the bed. It means my husband will be outnumbered (at least initially) and I will be raising a little mini-me. It boggles the mind. A little girl! That would be amazing. Not sure I'm ready, but it will still be amazing.

So if it is a girl, what name(s) do you prefer:

Abril

Amara

Anabel

Angeline

Anja

Brielle

Callie

Geneva

Grace

Katya

Lily

Rose

Sophie

Tatyana

Zoe

SCAVENGER WORD PICKER UPDATE!

2009-02-11T15:24:00.005-05:00

Since we haevn't heard from the elusive Babybull (they're dropping like flies around here), I choose Laura B. to choose the Scavenger Shot word for this Saturday. Hop to it, Laura B!

UPDATE: This week's word, chosen by Laura B., is EXCITEMENT! I'm excited to get started! : )

Thanks, Laura.

OPTIONS are a good thing

2009-02-04T07:59:00.006-05:00

This week's Scavenger Shot Word is OPTIONS. A word I picked. Why did I pick it? Because it's good to have options. It's a wonderful thing to have choices. It is one of the things I appreciate most about this country and this life: options. This week I chose the option of posting a shot from the interweb that demonstrates options very clearly and rather humorously, I think.

Next week's picker is: Babybull! (if she's able to get up from her sickbed with her aching back to do so...: )

Here, I've taken the option of posting yet another photo from our Honeymoon. : ) I am so predictable!

Scavenger Hunt on 'Tap' (plus: NEXT WEEK'S WORD)

2009-01-31T01:18:00.002-05:00

Aliencg brings us this week's Saturday Scavenger Shot Word: TAPPED. Let's all try to tap into this idea and produce our bestest tapped photos. Shall we? I admit, I had no clue what to do so I tapped into my primordeal reserve of photoshopped portraits and pulled out this beauty. Great isn't it? It's actually from my scanner series and then underwent rigorous abuses in some photo software or other. I think it would make a good museum piece!

Much better!

Next week's word (since I've been TAPPED) is: OPTIONS

Born vs. Unborn Children (NAME POLL!)

2009-01-30T12:40:00.007-05:00

Though your unborn child may occasionally try to kick your spleen into a cone-shape or sit on your bladder causing 24/7 urgency to pee, there are still advantages to keeping your child inside rather than outside of your body. Allow me to enumerate on the benefits of the unborn:

1. No crying.
2. No poopy diapers.
3. No day care costs.
4. No temper-tantrums in the checkout line.
5. Sleep.
6. Hours of wriggling entertainment.
7. Always have someone to talk to.
8. Navel-gazing is considered appropriate behavior at work.
9. Always "eating for two"
10. Not allowed to lift heavy things, open doors, stand too long, work too hard, etc, etc

Personally, I think this is a cushy gig. But then again, this is only the second trimester. Talk to me in three months. I will probably flip my vote by then.

POLL: Which boy's name do you like best? (Squiggles' gender is still unknown, so this is for entertainment purposes only)
1. Cade
2. Callum
3. Christopher
4. Cian (Kee-in)
5. Clive
6. Elon
7. Erich
8. Ezra
9. Gareth
10. Gray
11. Guy
12. Isaiah
13. Jace
14. Jericho
15. Joel
16. Kai
17. Luc
18. Xander
19. Zac

Museum-Worthy

2009-01-27T14:22:00.003-05:00

Just for kicks, upload your art to the most prestigious museums around the world. Good times. Found it on Cricket's page. Here a photograph of my father, newly-married in England, gets a thorough viewing by museum-goers.

Where have all the new cars gone?

2009-01-26T15:31:00.004-05:00

So, no one's buying new cars right now. No one wants to pony up the money with the economy in the gutter. Automobile makers, manufacturers and their employees are growing more desperate as their hopes of a prosperous 2009 swirl slowly down the drain. Recently, a conglomerate advertisement for all automobile makers in the state appeared on television. It's rather depressing that these huge, wealthy companies are pooling their resources to beg the public to buy up their product.

And where do unsold cars end up?

Gathering dust: (click pic for more)

MISUNDERSTOOD

2009-01-26T15:21:00.006-05:00

*singing* Please, don't let me be misunderstood!!

OK, why is it I seem to be publishing my Saturday Scavenger Shots well after Saturday every week? Oh, yeah, I remember, because I don't go near the computer all weekend. : )

Here is Squiggles giving a left foot salute. The technician decided to use the printed word to avoid any misunderstandings about the object floating before our child's face, so, no, there are no actual words floating around in my uterus... that I know of.

Death By Peanut Butter

2009-01-23T11:19:00.005-05:00

Just in case you aren't deathly allergic to peanuts, there's a new way it can still kill you: salmonella.

Do yourself a favor if you eat products that have peanut or peanut butter in them; read this article. And then go throw out those peanut butter crackers.

Peanut butter in jars are still deemed safe.

Fortune Cookie

2009-01-21T10:52:00.003-05:00

I guess I can't get that in a half size then...

Maintenance Scavenger

2009-01-20T14:19:00.005-05:00

Ironic that this week's word should be 'maintenance' when I had Internet problems since Thursday. Our Internet gave out and having no recourse, we waited for Monday when I had the day off and could go to Time Warner location a million miles away. It was closed. For MLK Day. Nice timing. So, now I'm back to someone else's Internet and posting this picture that "maintains" my appearance of complying with Scavenger Shot regulations...

Typical driver pride to take a shot of the speedometer. My husband and I were both in his car at this moment (he pulled off the road to take the photo with his camera). We kissed and vowed to travel at least another 100,000 miles together. It was all very touching and adorable. What else would you expect? What does this have to do with maintenance, I hear you ask. What about this DOESN'T have to do with it? Once a car reaches 100,000 miles, you're looking at some pretty likely future maintenance work. so far, we're good (knock on foam), but he is bringing it in for an oil change soon.

Who? ME??

2009-01-16T14:46:00.004-05:00

(looking in a mirror)

'I'm going to be a mom.'

(doesn't sink in)

'A MOM!'

(deer in the headlights)

'I am going to be someone's MOTHER!'

(inappropriate giggle)

'That poor kid.'

'Good thing I'm married to this guy...'

Fancy Pants Dance for Thursday

2009-01-15T15:27:00.004-05:00

How can you NOT smile watching this dance? HOW? Pick-me-up for your Thursday afternoon. The copy quality is crap, but this guy is a genius. Also, that SNL actor always makes me feel at ease and comforted. I have no idea why. (Edit: his name is Will Forte)

Tehran Cops: Lady Killers

2009-01-15T14:18:00.003-05:00

This video isn't of just any police academy. This is the Iranian Women's Police Academy Graduation Ceremonies. And if you're not up on your Iranian culture, then you don't know it's against the law for a woman to walk around wearing anything less than a four-person tent. I gotta admit, I admire the heck out of these women! Someone needs to make an action movie pronto.

Trick Your Brain (ya know, for fun!)

2009-01-13T13:02:00.003-05:00

Ever wanted to have the effects of a drugged out hallucination without the drugs? Well if so, you are not alone. Apparently, sending your mind into fits of giddy paroxysm is scientific and also fun. So go ahead. Wig out... the natural way.

On the Inside Looking Out

2009-01-10T09:11:00.001-05:00

This week's word, chosen by Churlita was OUTSIDE.

I like this word. It's so relational. There can be no 'outside' if there is no 'inside' for it to correspond to. And conversely, every 'inside' has its 'outside.' Which, to me, makes this word extremely broad in its interpretation. I can show a picture of almost any object and the camera will be showing its 'outside.' I could post a picture of an inside room shot looking out. I can show two objects or things one in 'outside' relationship to the other. The possibilities are almost limitless. in fact, I reckon any picture at all in all of creation could be interpreted with a title of 'outside.'

Alright, enough pondering. This week's photo is of my fiance and I signing a registry for our Church before our outdoor wedding rehearsal. It was July 4th. Sunny, cool, and beautiful outside. Honestly, that was the best weekend of my life. But my husband is threatening to take me away on a little overnighter this weekend, so that might change. :P

If you are wondering how long I can milk my engagement/wedding/honeymoon for Scavenger Shots, the answer is... forever. Seriously. I can keep this up all year. Just watch me...

Pregnancy Dictionary, Part 1

2009-01-09T08:55:00.006-05:00

Fun words and phrases from this stage of my pregnancy.

Fundal Height: The distance your little, internal helium balloon floats up toward your navel.

To Pop: When you can no longer "suck it in" (and thankfully already bought some maternity jeans.)

Quickening: The sudden and startling realization that movements in your gut aren't gas bubbles. Also, coincides with the first time you realize you are not alone.

Cranky: How you act most of the time when you're not feeling grateful for being allowed to take part in this strange miracle.

NOISE - The Scavenger That Nearly Wasn't

2009-01-06T07:49:00.005-05:00

So, Scavenger Hunt totally happened while I was laid up in bed with the flu. In fact, New Year's happened while I was laid up in bed with the flu. Last week was a rough one. I'm here now, alive and kicking in the New Year and wishing you all a glorious 2009. Here's my entry for the "NOISE" scavenger hunt for last weekend:
This is a picture I did not take, but was taken of me and my fifth grade choir. I am front and center with the bobby socks, and if it looks like I'm smiling it's because I was standing next to my fifth grade crush, a red-head named Brandon, who recently sent me this picture after all these years. Thanks, Brandon. : ) My brother is also in this shot, top left corner. See any family resemblance?

Did you know...

2008-12-29T13:55:00.003-05:00

Did you know, onions are poisonous to dogs and cats? I didn't.*

*unless of course, we're talking about a hot dog, in which case onions are perfectly harmless.

WHITE of Way

2008-12-29T08:17:00.004-05:00

Here's my belated scavenger shot for "white." Didn't even know there was a new word! oops! This was one of the statues at the entrance to the Buddhist Temple in Richmond, BC, Canada where we ended our Honeymoon voyage last July.

Scavenger Hunt for Love

2008-12-22T09:56:00.004-05:00

You had to know I'd post photos of marrying my Sweetheart this July. Top to bottom: wedding shower wrapped in blankets his Grandmother knitted for us, our reception after our first dance, and last, formal portrait after the ceremony.

Made In The USA - Nudity Edition

2008-12-16T10:12:00.006-05:00

So, let's say you just made a solemn oath to only patronize American manufacturers (for the sake of argument, fill in the name of your own country, unless it's China). You decide to begin the revolution right now with what you're wearing. How naked would you be? My guess: Jaybird naked.

I did a rundown of my own clothing today and got the following list:

glasses: Italy

sweater: Dominican Republic

blouse: Bangladesh

bra: (yes, I went there) Thailand

pants: China

underwear: Hong Kong

socks: ??? (could be American made!)

shoes: Vietnam

So, best case scenario, I'd be standing in my socks. How about you? Where are your clothes from? And if you're going to check all your labels, you might want to find a private place... I'm just saying. : )

(and , no, this isn't the first time I've been curious about this...)

A MERRY Scavenger Hunt, to One and All!

2008-12-13T01:18:00.001-05:00

(wire man designed by Jamison, photo by k_sra)

Once a year we gather together with our families to celebrate this beloved season of Christmas. Every year I get a little glassy-eyed again over the story of Christ' birth, the intrepid journey of his parents to Bethlehem, the shepherds startled in the field, those three crazy wise men bringing gifts no child would want (OK, except maybe for the gold). All of it so mind-boggling, so unusual. And I sing Christmas carols that tell and retell the stories in four part harmony. I sing out Alleluias loud as I can, because in that moment, I too get to be an angel in a heavenly choir on a still cold winter night. I too, get to be the bearer of Good News. Christmas is and always will be a magical time for me. With or without Santa, with or without stockings, trees or candles. Christmas is a burnished eternal reminder that God was not too proud or too awesome to come be with us. Like a heavenly spy, He entered the humble domain of humanity and lived it so He could truly say, "I understand."

Perhaps you do not have a faith that leads you to the conclusion that there is a God, or perhaps your life lessons have led you to the conclusion that Jesus was merely a construct of organized religion and over-active imaginations. I respect that. My life lessons and my experiences have led me to be enthralled with the One I know loved me enough to take this journey by my side and who later sacrificed His experience so mine could be a better one.

This Christmas, the thought that makes my heart 'Merry' is Him, a man as God submitting to the humiliation of childbirth in a donkey's stall, wearing human skin and living in our presence and giving up His all for us so that we could truly live.

Merry Christmas!

Leap Second??

2008-12-12T14:10:00.003-05:00

Marvel at the ingenuity of modern man. This year will be one second longer than last year. What are you gonna do with your extra second on December 31st? I think I'm gonna go for a longer new Year's kiss. Awh, Yaah!

WINDOW to my soul

2008-12-04T08:15:00.007-05:00

We are in a train which has just entered a tunnel. Instead of seeing the Alskan wilderness, we now see ourselves reflected in the darkness of the glass. Raymond snaps a picture as I hug him. Classic honeymoon stuff. You shoulda been there! : )

Happy Scavengering!

Thanks, Alien CG

Babybull chose next week's word: "Merry"

GRATITUDE - Scavenger Hunt Photo

2008-11-29T06:59:00.001-05:00

Gratitude is the art of appreciation. It is directing your focus from all things -good or bad- to a focused appreciation of just those things which are good. Even if temporary, this focus helps adjust our reality to a sweetened view. Letting the good "outshine" the bad, allowing the positive to take center stage, we do not ignore what is imperfect, but we allow the negative to take a momentary backseat in our lives. And sometimes, this little reprieve heals the heart more than anything else.

This week, I am grateful for my 10 week old (pictured to the left). I am grateful for my loving husband. I am grateful for my entire family. I am grateful for wonderful friends!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

[I nominate AlienCG to choose next week's scavenger word. I ALSO nominate AlienCG to pick up the slack left by his brother EvilE to keep an updated list of all the words used so far and by whom (in chronological order) so that we know who's been picked recently and who is getting left out of ther picking process. All agreed? Say 'aye.' *bangs gavel*]

SUPER-CALA-FRAGIL-ISTIC-EXPI-ALI-DOCIOUS

2008-11-24T07:57:00.014-05:00

I blame No Regrets for this week's crazy photo scavenger hunt word choice! I couldn't help but get sappy and sentimental with this one. Who's to blame me? Piccies of our recent Honeymoon to Alaska. My marriage fits the definition of this word to a 'T.'

BY THE WAY! I got magically tagged again for next week's Scavenger Hunt Word, so I'm picking a no-brainer for this weekend: GRATITUDE. Capture 'gratitude' on film in any way you can and have a GREAT Thanksgiving holiday!

Blueberries....

2008-11-20T14:55:00.000-05:00

...are bouncy

LACUNA MATATA! - Scavenger Shot

2008-11-14T09:06:00.008-05:00

On our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Alaska and visited some of the most beautiful country we had ever seen. This flower, nestled in the crag of a stone wall, caught my eye as we climbed an overlook in Sitka, Alaska. (More pictures of the scene at the bottom of this post.)

Lacuna means a missing part, a gap, or air space. Not only is lacuna the tricky word of the week (thanks to yours truly), it is also the name of the company that erased Jim Carrey's painful memories in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. You can still visit the company's website, where you are invited to take a quiz to see if memory removal is right for you!

Lemonade Awards

2008-11-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

These must be the kind with organic sugar...

I am the proud recipient of two (count em!) TWO Lemonade Awards! Dmark so honored me as did Mrs. Hairy Woman.

I am deeply, truly touched and honored to be considered worthy of this international award! My heartfelt thanks go out to Blogger, my readers and teh interweb for making this day possible. *sniff*

And since all of my blogging buddies have already been nominated, for the most part, I hereby nominate people I don't know!

Pulled from notables on Blogger.com (some I followed a link on a blog to the next):

Pam of "Sidewalk Shoes"
Lyndsay of "I Used To be Witty"

C. Beth of "One Minute Writer"
Caroline of "Cheaper By The Dozen"

"Her Bad Mother"

Kari and Kijsa at "Kari & Kijsa" (I think that's a two-fer)

Jen of "Cake Wrecks"

Julia of "A Slice of Cherry Pie"

For All Veterans

2008-11-11T14:32:00.002-05:00

WATER Scavenger Hunt

2008-11-06T15:03:00.006-05:00

Hi, Tara! Thanks for this week's wacky word 'Water.' This post is a bit of a failure in that to really understand the pictures you need to see them lined up side by side and I failed to figure out how to do that. But I'm posting anyways, because it is my turn to pick next week's WORD! YAY!

These pictures are all from a beach along the shores of Lake Tahoe, Nevada side, I believe, although it could be the other side. I had just gotten engaged at the time so i was a little giddy. :)

I've decided to do my best to throw everyone a curve ball. Thus far we've used words that have a pretty clear meaning, concrete language, easy etymology... let's do something different this week. Let's WORK for it!

This Week's Scavenger Hunt Word is: LACUNA

It is up to you to find the definition and to interpret this week's word in photos. Good luck to everyone!

Next week's Word-Herder is Woman of No Regrets

HERE IT IS!

2008-10-31T14:46:00.001-05:00

They found it. Call off your dogs. : )

STREET hunt

2008-10-31T09:28:00.006-05:00

This week's word "street" inspired me to post this collection of shots from Napa Valley last October. By the way, if you ever want someplace AWESOME to hang for a weekend, Napa Valley would be it. This stretch of road is actually Highway 29, near Mondavi Vineyards.

BURN, Baby, BURN!

2008-10-24T15:03:00.001-05:00

Scavenger hunts are about the only reason I post anymore, I realize... I'm not sure if this is sad or actually a great thing. I mean, on the one hand, I was once a blogging phenomenon of the internet (ok, a small blogging phenomenon, but still), on the other hand, this once prolific blogger, is at least still blogging. I think I should be happy about that.

Enough burning self-examination, let's get to the photos:

Three years ago this December, I celebrated my now-husband's Birthday for the first time. I made him a cupcake-cake that spelled out "I love you" in little candle letters. I later reduced the message to it's shortest form on just one cupcake and took this picture. I gave him this photo in a frame the next year on his birthday. it's the gift that keeps on giving! A testament to our burning love... : )

Here is a photo of the cute man himself around the time of that Birthday. That girl who's all over him should really try to show some restraint! Embarassing! (Actually, I think we bought the table in the foreground... huh, I never noticed that before!)

NUISANCE - Scavenger Shots Heard Round the World!

2008-10-17T09:37:00.002-05:00

Cricket chose this week's word (although she rather obscured it in the comments section of a post that had nothing to do with photos! Hrmpph!) and this week's word is NUISANCE. I hope that Cricket was not implying that this game is a nuisiance... ;) great word!

Here are my nuisance shots:

Rain is a nuisance. It's a driving hazard and often interrupts our plans for outdoor activites. But like many nuisances, it also has its soft, romantic side. Like this photo I took from my penthouse apartment window of the street below. There is something so wonderful about rain falling against a window pane. It has a way of increasing the drama of the moment. Like Puccini...

Being shut in your locker is a nuisance. I suppose for those who go through it it feels like much more than a nuisance. Here I am in a locker at a previous place of employment. This was obviously just for entertainment and is in no way meant to be interpretted as an advertisement for Pepsi-Cola.

Wedding dresses in and of themselves are not a nuisance, but wedding dresses that look wonderful, and yet cost $4,500 are a nuisance. Here I am modelling a couture, silk gown I can't afford. I thought the gown I did get was even lovelier, of course, so I could say good-bye this one!

What Is Going On With Madonna?

2008-10-17T07:18:00.003-05:00

I mean, I get that divorce can be tough on a person, but she's turning into the Incredible Hulk!

Down Girl!

At a recent concert she shouted "Sarah Palin's not invited to my party!"

Madonna, I'm pretty sure no one's coming to that party.

FACE THE MUSIC - SCAVENGER HUNT

2008-10-10T10:02:00.004-05:00

Laura B chose the word FACE for this week's scavenger hunt. This picture is of my mom holding me as a small child. She is making a very expressive face. This may be the most expressive picture I own of her and the only one of her holding just me. (Being youngest of five means not a lot of individual shots!) My Mom is also celebrating her fake birthday this month, so I want to say a very Merry Un-Birthday to you, Momma!

DULL PHOTO HUNT

2008-10-07T13:11:00.003-05:00

How come no one told me there was actually a word for this weekend? *sigh*

Regardless, better late than never! Here are some dull shots of antique books I am planning to sell on Ebay. One is an original first edition Uncle Tom's Cabin with illustrations (1852), the other is a somewhat battered complete works of Shakespeare:

BC Awareness

2008-10-02T13:41:00.004-05:00

Wearing pink and a pair of jeans is apparently on the docket for many Americans tomorrow, myself included. It's officially Lee National Denim Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. I'm not a big band-wagon jumper, but when I see that they are looking to make more effective, less toxic breast cancer treatments, develop blood tests for earlier detection, and create resources to educate patients and families about new options, I threw my Abe Lincoln in the bag and picked up a pink pin. I'll be wearing jeans and a pink sweater tomorrow, because one in eight women is a lot and I or someone I love could be next.

Here's to keeping the girls healthy and beautiful! : )

NO Scavenger Shot??

2008-09-29T10:17:00.006-05:00

I failed to post on Saturday (again). I am a bad, bad little scavenger. :(

Lemme see if i can dig something up here late on Monday morning...

hmmm...

AHA! I have a "no" shot. Just say NO to underage driving! Which reminds me of a funny(ish) story involving the kid at the driving wheel. I let him drive my car as an eight year old. I was in the driver's seat, but he was on my lap. He made the turn onto the driveway, but when he gunned it to get up the incline, he overgunned and drove the car right into the bushes of his parent's home! OOPS! I had to apologize and pay them for the bushes. My front license plate is a little bent as a reminder of that historic moment.

And I should also mention, that now that he's ten, he's an ace driver! ; )

POWER!

2008-09-19T18:18:00.002-05:00

*cue evil laughter and electrical storm*

Oh my, it's nice to have the juice again. I came home to a home this evening after almost five days without electricity, seeing my house a home again brought tears to my eyes, I am not ashamed to say.

I celebrated by turning on every light, turning on the TV, the computer, the fans and the shredder. Then I did a happy dance and turned them all off again... well, all but a few. : )

I'm going to take the longest, hottest shower of my life.

Thanks for sharing the experience with me!

Scavenger Hunt: RED

2008-09-19T14:44:00.012-05:00

Oooh! how dramatic! Tara chose this week's Scavenger Word: RED.

And I chose Beniamino Bufano's St. Francis statue that welcomes visitors to the Robert Mondavi Vineyard in Napa Valley. Apparently the owners are big statue fanatics as they had several about the place. We drank RED wine and the sunset was RED behind the buildings, but after we READ the prices we decided not to buy any. But their statues were cool. This one has a RED cardinal on it. Pretty! : )

(from our engagment trip.)

What!?! No POWER??!?!!!

2008-09-19T14:44:00.011-05:00

I feel like using lots of exclamation points today. OK??!?!?!!

Day Five sans electricity and we've made the evening news. i can't link to the video for some reason, but suffice it to say that Channel 3 got off their butts when an old lady from our building called them to say what a bad job the supplier (Illuminating Company) was doing at keeping her alive. Channel 3 apparently roamed her house with a camera and a flashlight and she showed them all the things that she can't handle alone. Very sad. But still not sad enough to return our mystical power source to its proper opperating condition.

Ray-Ray called them again today and they assured him they are doing everything they can to turn our power back on. "They guaranteed us power by midnight on Sunday," he told me.

How nice. Just in time for some late night running around to turn things off...

(picture is of someone else's house illuminated with flashlight. creepy)

Day 4: No Power

2008-09-18T09:26:00.005-05:00

Since hurricane Ike blew through 84 of Ohio's 88 counties, I have been without electrical power along with about one million other people. We lost electricity on Sunday evening just before the much anticipated Steelers-Browns game... which we also lost. : (

Four days later and there is still no power in the quaint subdivision that I call home. I live in an apartment building. Some 200 other residents live here also. None of us have power, hot water or even cellphone coverage. So, we may not be in Galvaston and we may have a roof over our heads, but we're definitely having a ripe ol' taste of Hurricane Ike's wrath.

15 Things You'll Do When You've Lost Power For 4 Days:

carry a flashlight to your car every morning

take your cellphone charger to work

shower at work or at a friend's house

leave what little produce you have on the porch during the night to stay cool

buy only what you can eat in the next two hours

flip light switches because you "forget"

grumble because you flipped a light switch, which reminded you you have no power

check on your parapalegic neighbor who hasn't been able to leave the building since Sunday

go to bed at 9:00pm

stop wearing makeup because you can't find your makeup kit

throw away that watermelon you were keeping on the porch because it's gone bad

realize just how stinky your fridge is without cold air in it

wash your dishes with soap and cold water

start to really miss hot meals and cold drinks

lose your sense of humor about the whole thing when your husband leaves for a 3 day business trip to someplace with electricity

Someday soon (hopefully) this will all be just a memory; an academic exercise in being resourceful and grateful. And I will be the normal person with other rather normal and not-too-important things to complain about. In the meantime though... :(

E-LEC-TRI-CITY

2008-09-16T12:04:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to here state how grateful I am for the gift of electricity. Having been without it for two days now, I realize how very fortunate and blessed I am to take electricity for granted most of the time. Thank you, Ike, for helping me be more appreciative!

As a "thank you" gift, I am going to donate the cost of one week's electricity to hurricane victims in the southern states via the Red Cross. You can use your cellphone to donate $5 to the Disaster Relief Fund by texting the keyword "GIVE" to "2HELP" (24357). Donations will appear on monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance.

Scavenger Hunt for the Hairy

2008-09-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Hairy Woman over at babybull blog brings us this week's autological word: HAIRY.

And here are two very hirsute pictures I took several years ago (in my blue period) using my scanner. It was kind of fun actually, and I encourage everyone to play around with their scanner and burn their retinas out. : )

I think I look a bit like Michael Jackson in that first picture. What do you think?

Remembering 9/11

2008-09-11T11:05:00.003-05:00

This is always a hard day for me as it is for many Americans and other sympathetic souls around the world. A complete list of victims can be found here. Needless and painful deaths. Both here in our country and at the US Embassy in Germany.

We remember.

Memorials held around the country and around the world. Photos here.

Arugula Pig-Stick

2008-09-10T11:48:00.004-05:00

Wow, have you ever seen the mud-slinging quite this ugly before? It must require thick skin to run for any office, let alone the Presidency of the United States!

In Obama's case, a colorful analogy just turned a pig, into a rampaging Republican elephant.

I have to say that the pig in lipstick comment certainly did not seem to be directed to the 'lipstick pitbull,' Sarah Palin, as is now being charged. And I think the Republicans could do without the petty, toe-stepping at this point. But I guess the GOP sees this as an opening in the gender gap and are swinging the axe to deepen the divide.

Then again, Obama did "accidentally" flip off Hillary Clinton in the primaries, so maybe he's "not that innocent" after all.

Honestly, I doubt Obama is ready to lead a nation. He comes off these days as a petulant teenager, whining about not getting his way. I think if he can stay calm and unaffected then the GOP will have to do the legwork to prove their ticket, but if he keeps saying, "Come on!" and "Gimme a break!" all the time, people are going to see him as a weak candidate. What do you think?

My Fortune Cookie Says...

2008-09-09T15:18:00.002-05:00

That's very comforting. thank you, fortune cookie.

Photo Scavenger Hunt - ONE!

2008-09-07T10:24:00.002-05:00

Sorry I spectacularly failed to post a photo on Saturday, but here now is my entry for ONE.

The ONE I love, adore, turn to in a crisis, support through his storms, remember throughout my day with smiles, call and talk to, write this blog for. love you, Honey. : ) This photo was taken by me with his i-phone in the back of the wedding limo.

I hereby nominate Mrs. Hairy Woman for the next round.

Obama-Drama vs. Palin-Railin'

2008-09-04T15:10:00.008-05:00

Politics is the new Celebrity this fall and expect everyone to get in on the act! Here's my favorite photo of the Great Black Hope. (Why do people forget he's half-white? I think that's racist. But then again, I also think McCain looks like a lopsided T-rex and Sarah Palin's voice is kind of grating.)

I think this election will go down a lot easier for me if I just focus on really trite superficial things like staging a "Cute-Off" for which nominee's kids are cuter, pitting Michelle Obama's wardrobe against Cindy McCain's and just generally accepting that for all the hoopla, Washington is gonna look a lot like Washington come January, no matter who gets elected. That's the way this country was set up, goll darn it, and that's the way it's gonna be!

And don't forget, gentle reader, if you find yourself inspired by soaring rhetoric or storming at the opposition, America is run by humans. That's right, I said it: humans. So, we kinda get what we deserve.

(One human hugging another human. Sort of.)

I'm with this lady. Let's crawl under the table and compare what Obamas and Bidens are eating for breakfast!

B.L.U.E. - Photo Scavenger Hunt

2008-08-30T03:22:00.022-05:00

Today's Scavenger Hunt is both personal and local. I am featured in all of the shots, for starters, so this is an autobiographical scavenger hunt. Secondly, these pictures, which span the last four years of my life, were all taken in Cleveland, Ohio. Enjoy.

And it's my turn to pick a word! that word is ONE

'B' IS FOR BELONGING. Being a part of a larger whole. Technically this picture doesn't 'belong' here, though. It was actually taken in PA, not Ohio, but I'm wearing a blue sari, so what do you want from me?:

'L' IS FOR LOOKING.Wanting something different. Like a blue wig, maybe? or longer pants?:

'U' IS FOR UNDEFEATED. Ten wins, as of today! [ed note; and then they lost the the Mariners. idiots.] Go Indians!:

'E' IS FOR ELF. He may drive a small sports car, but he has a big bodyguard...and a tall wife. Who is not me, by the way:

Young Me - Now Me

2008-08-28T10:07:00.004-05:00

[editor's note: these pictures are not of me or my husband] Still in love with this idea. Thanks, Ze Frank, wherever you are.

How To Be The Best Husband

2008-08-28T09:25:00.005-05:00

Send your wife flowers on the third anniversary of your first date. Genius.

Camouflage

2008-08-27T13:03:00.005-05:00

The artwork of Beijing-based artist Liu Bolin, must be seen to be believed. He carefully erases his human subjects into backdrops of a culturally dominant Chinese landscape. Love his impressions of the world as well as his near-seamless presentation. Gallery here. More pics and Liu's take on his own work here.

Just Say No To Abstinence

2008-08-27T13:00:00.002-05:00

Ohio did just that.

The abstinence-until-marriage programs in the state of Ohio recently came under heavy fire. The AIDS taskforce of Ohio asked that state funding for the no-sex-till-marriage programs be withheld until proof for their efficacy can be shown. The programs, which began under Pres. Clinton, took on added steam and additional funding under Bush (no surprise there). Ohio law requires sex ed to promote and "emphasize" that abstinence from sexual activity is the only 100% effective means of protecting oneself from STD's and unwanted pregnancy (ORC 3313.60). Whereas most non-profit organizations must match their government funds with their own funding, the state of Ohio matches the funds for the abstinence-only programs. The US government doesn't care who matches it, just so long as it's matched. But the Ohio AIDS taskforce does care. You see, the AIDS taskforce has to match their own funds and would much rather see state funds go directly to AIDS patients than to be 'thrown down the drain' in an attempt to rally Ohio teens around the no-nookie flagpole. You can't blame them. The abstinence only programs are not only syphoning off large amounts of state funding, they also blatantly advertise hetero-monogamy as "God's plan for our lives." As it turns out federal funding may not be used for religious purposes, don't you know, which gives the AIDS taskforce a nice little platform on which to launch an assault.

It's not the only platform though. Studies show that whereas the no-sex-till-wed programs muster a lot of enthusiasm, the numbers of STD's and pregnancies among the students who signed up to "keep themselves pure" were just as high as teens exposed to (no pun intended) "safe-sex" programs. In other words, it wasn't necessarily working.

I find this interesting; this battle raging over what to tell the kids. What will work best. What will make those pesky numbers of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases drop. How to get the number of teen pregnancies down, etc. It is already and has been for some time a wild, overgrown weed patch in our national psyche. A word to the wise is no longer sufficient. The world is dangerous and ignorance is anything but bliss.

But as for the notion that a child equipped with a condom is "safer" than a child without is a total crock. It does hurt a thirteen year old girl's feelings to get plowed under by some boy or man in their pursuit of the national past time. I remain unconvinced that there is any thirteen year old in this country who would benefit by having sex.

So... is Cheryl Biddle, executive director of Abstinence the Better Choice, justified in saying "we want to balance the scale" by continuing a message of abstinence only in Ohio and is that "balance" worth $455,000 in state funding? Or is the idea of preaching abstinence worth the government's money only if you also hand out cherry-flavored condoms?

One last thought before I descend my soap box:

Learning to put on a condom without also learning to protect your heart seems an ass-backwards way to protect the young of this country.

ANIMAL: Photo Scavenger Hunt

2008-08-23T01:06:00.002-05:00

OK, so I'm new to the Scavenger Shot herd, but as a newcomer, I figured I'd better come up with something pronto! I found this horse whose image I took from the car window on my trip to Lake Tahoe last fall with my then-boyfriend, when we got engaged. I was not yet engaged when I snapped this photo, but that horse just looks like he knows something...

(See Evil E's page for detailios on the Scavenger game)

Advice To New Wives

2008-08-22T08:25:00.003-05:00

Don't say you're coming to your husband's softball game and then run errands through the whole thing.

Seriously.

Driving My Husband To Work...

2008-08-21T09:17:00.005-05:00

...makes my car smell nice. Makes the air feel softer. Makes me smile and feel like I'm still in bed.

Dancing Queen

2008-08-19T09:17:00.002-05:00

My friend Tara over at Eclectic Spaghetti just posted this Elaine (Seinfeld) dance tribute. It was too good not to post on my own blog. She's even dressed like Elaine. She's killing me with the funnies!

Advice To New Husbands

2008-08-19T09:13:00.002-05:00

Don't tell your wife that her cabbage rolls are good and then tell her how they could be more like your mother's.

I'm just saying.... :P

Road Rage

2008-08-18T13:49:00.005-05:00

Saw two men in a knock down drag out fist fight on my way to work this morning. Both of them in their business attire. I always have to assume that one or both are having a hard life somewhere else. Fist fights so rarely occur during morning rush hour.

Here is a transcription of my internal monologue:

"Wow, there's a lot of traffic onto the highway this morning. Darnit, I hope I'm not late. Hey, did that car just swerve violently in front of those cars up ahead? Crazy! WHOA, the guy behind him pulled out and around him and then slammed on his brakes. He's getting out of the car! He's opening the other guy's door!! He's dragging the other guy out of HIS CAR!!! This is nuts (laying on my horn as cars start to go around the fighters). They're obviously neither of them very good fighters, because they both still have their sunglasses on their faces (more honking). Oh, now they're just yelling and looking like asses. (speeding past) Stupid. Now I feel bad for my attitude on the road..."

How to Make Cabbage Rolls

2008-08-15T10:07:00.006-05:00

It was my mother's fault really. She suggested I try making cabbage rolls and that got me looking up recipes and buying ingredients. I've never made cabbage rolls before.

When you are first married (if you did it right) you are in possession of a great deal of brand new equipment and accoutrements for your kitchen. It's like being an antique car enthusiast who is suddenly given a key to Jay Leno's garage.

So, I started right in with a bit of a grin and cooked it... and cooked more, and then cooked some more and then cooked other things.... Cabbage rolls are very involved! Across town my sister was making cabbage roll soup, a simple recipe with none of the craziness and all of the flavor. By nine o'clock I was jealous.

A few notes from my experience:
Don't use the outer cabbage leaves (too tough)
Add more spices if the recipe calls for none
Use wild rice for a little crunch (or celery or both)
Drink riesling while cooking, but only after you've removed the hot pans from the oven and let them cool... : )

I would have taken a picture of my own cabbage rolls if I had had a camera handy. As is, I include a professional shot:

Recipe k_sra used for cabbage rolls

Seeing the Indians on a Budget

2008-08-13T09:37:00.006-05:00

Step one: win a work-sponsored singing contest; prize is two free tickets to the Indians.

Step two: bring your best friend from high school who's loaded and ready to party.

Step three: have supper at your sister's house before hand.

Step four: take a minor set-back at the concession stand when you end up with a lemon-ice, a water, a hotdog, waffle fries, and a beer.

Step five: conveniently forget about step four.

Step six: resist urge to stop in for the last showing of "Dark Knight" at movie theater on the way home.

This is a tried and true method for enjoying the Indians baseball Team at a home game on a budget. Hope that helps you enjoy a fiscal, Cleveland Summer!

(Some great pics Tara took at the Ballpark)

The Last Lunch

2008-08-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

Second grade class at St. Ann's were inspired by their studies of Da Vinci. See Neatorama's for the full story. Reminds me of the time I was the proud recipient of the Balloon Last Supper.