I'm Done

No, I'm not.

But it seemed like a fun thing to say for the final NaBloPoMo entry. (Thanks, TanTan!)

Which is technically arriving 3 days late.

Not all my fault.

We were full of the crud, remember?

Saturday was also my side of the family's big Thanksgiving Day dinner.

And the Iron Bowl.

Busy, busy, busy.

Oh, and there's no "Shopaday" for this entry, because I've not done any fun shopping.  I don't have a insane shopping posse, so Black Friday does not happen in my world.

All in all, I've had a great deal of fun with the NaBloPoMo, and it's been wonderful to finally discuss the significant events for my past year.  Carl is my biggest blogging fan, and his encouragement and delight have been a great motivator for me to spark my mind and write my heart.  I'm looking forward to blogging more in the coming year (yay!)

I also owe you two more NaBloPoMo's from last year.

Stay tuned!

Friday Favorites: Getting Along

So, how do the kids, MLB & DLG, get along with Carl?

Quite nicely.

DLG, although she does the I'm-shy thing and the I-want-mommy thing, knows she also has him wrapped around her little finger.  They are snacking buddies.  He also is a big fan of her singing.

Carl does NOT like to sit on the floor.
But for DLG?  He'll stretch out, even in dress clothes.

Yep, Believe it.
He even let her BRUSH his hair!

Carl and MLB are fast becoming good buddies.  They "get" each other. They both geek-out about numbers and math.  They both like a certain order & symmetry to their lives.  They both can get overwhelmed by sounds and textures.  They both are all about science.

Then there's the whole computer game mania.  Carl's introduced MLB to WoW, and MLB's introduced Carl to the sites "Cool Math Games" and "Physics Games."  Those guys could stay plugged in at least half the day.

See MLB's laptop in the foreground? Yep.

Carl, with the acquisition of the iPad Mini, has passed his iPads 1 & 3 to me, who in turn lets the kids use them.  They seem to think these are THEIR iPads.....

They also adore Carl's mom, Hazel, who lives here, too.  DLG like to collect grandmotherly types, but then again, Hazel knows what little girls like: little Disney kid-meals toys (on loan from a grown-up Zoe), a PowerPuff Girls blanket (also on loan), dress-up hats (from Hazel's own collection) and make up!

Ms. Hazel loves hugs!!!  MLB loves to give hugs!

One last photo of all my loves together.

Alright, so DLG was photobombing.  The ham.

Thankful

For everything

Fact:

I am sick.

And tired.

The DL Roster

Being Dr. Mom can be the hardest job in the world.

Well, seems like it anyway.

I currently have Carl with a horrid cold.  He takes his breathing seriously-- I mean a professional level of serious-- so there are few medicines he feels comfortable taking.  Therefore, the poor fellow is struggling along, and is miserable.

The kids' dad also has had a head-crud, so he needs plenty of post-choral concert rest.  I'm keeping the kids with me as much as I can, and lend him a hand with the kids's stuff around the house.

Both kids, at different times last week, had "stomach bugs" which required staying home from school for 24 hours, poor babies.

Me? I had stomach symptoms on Monday and got to stay in bed (thanks family!!!) so I could be up and in charge today.

Sigh, I think it's my turn with the head cold.  Pbbbttthhh!

Happy Harrises!

Sandra says that they are moving through the legal processes.
Here's the picture she posted on FaceBook and her blog.

Cannot wait to see these folks for a very blessed holiday season!!

Acting, Kindly and Almost Randomly

I decided what I would do in memory, in honor, of Martha McClain Lewallen.

And did it.

I brought a donation to the WZYP Annual "Bikes or Bust" Drive they do in conjunction with Toys-For-Tots.

I drove past the Ashley Furniture Store every day this weekend.  I saw the growing lines of new bicycles.  I saw the proud Marines standing tall in their most joyful of duties.  I saw a poor cold DJ stuck at the top of a lift in some of the most bitterly cold, wet & windy weather we've had yet this season.

I wondered, as I always did each year, can there really be that many kids here in Huntsville, or the whole of North Alabama, who need a bike? Sadly, yes there are.  Some might live in circumstances where having even your beloved bike stolen is not uncommon.  Some might live in circumstances where they had to leave a bike behind.  But for many, this might be a first.

I wasn't moved to give this year because I felt sorry for Mojo (DJs are notoriously half-a-bubble off.)  I've given books to Toys-For-Tots before and have proudly thought of my uncle who served as a Marine, but this year I was inspired by something more.

I thought of the joy a kid has when he/she gets that first bike, especially if that bike arrives in the magic of Christmas.  Whether Santa brings it or a Marine, that bike means being offered a chance to learn a skill, being granted freedom, being bestowed a responsibility.  That bike says you and your hopes mean something to the great, big world.  I will remember my first bike forever.

Hope this gift makes Ronda's mom smile-- a smile as big as a kid's on Christmas morning.

Shopaday: Holiday Haul for DLG

Guess what, y'all.

I DID find a Lalaloopsy "Jewel Sparkles" for DLG. yep-yep

That day I was running barely on time for MLB's tooth-pulling, when I thought I was running ahead of schedule?  And stopped at Wal-Mart first? It was a hunch.  I didn't see any "Sparkles" remaining on the front-of-the-store display, but I did see just one "Crumb Sugar Cookie."  The web info about the Lalaloospy dolls had mentioned this one had also been popular-- and gosh-darn-it, she was cute-- so I chose her.  Just in case....
I was willing to trek back to the toy department....  just in case.

I found a slice of shelving on the doll-aisle filled with the Lalaloopsy gals. Mini dolls and soft-body dolls populated the top sections, but on the very bottom shelf were the dolls in the series I was searching.  "Sugar" and I sat down on the floor, and I started digging to the back of the shelf.

There she was!

The LAST "Jewel Sparkles"!

(Thank You, God!!!)

(("Sugar" came with us, too, since she'd hung with me all this time, and gosh-darn-it, she was cute.))

So here's the dolls ("Sugar" and her mouse are on the left; "Sparkles" and her cat are on the right.)  And there's that Hello Kitty Jet.  It might be a mistake, but I found a Hello Kitty ceramic mug on sale so DLG can have a mug just like the adults.  Also a Hello Kitty double-wall, lidded, straw cup to be on the safer side.   A Blue M&M double-wall, lidded, straw cup because you cannot have too many kid cups.  Yep, that's a back-scratcher. The kids keep poaching the adults' bamboo back-scratchers; might as well stuff a stocking with a dollar-store find and make all backs happy.

That's not the whole of DLG's holiday gifts.  I need to select out a few more things like books and holiday gee-gaws that I've tuck away in a box during the year.  I would still like to find that Disney I Found It! game.  Maybe get her a DVD or a special piece of clothing.  But this is a start.

No, she doesn't get my hat box.

Friday Favorites: Brownies!!!!

PMS time                            NEED chocolate                            Made brownies

BEST Brownies EVER!
(Monster box available at Costco)

Why are they YUM??!?
Because they use stuff I have in my pantry!

From bowl to pan
Luscious
Of course
I licked the bowl

Shame I have to share

NaBloPoMo Make-up, 11/21/12: The Planets

This is a make-up blog post that I had hoped to post last year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took my children to a free concert presented by UAH at the VBC Concert Hall a week ago.  It was a last-minute sort of thing, and when you have a 3yo & 8yo, a last minute, late evening usually doesn't work very well.

Surprisingly, the worst they gave me was merely being tired & fidgety by the end of the concert.

A FaceBook friend (Amanda, I think) gave me a heads-up about the concert, and a check of web sites confirmed it.  The UAH Wind Ensemble and Chorus, joined by The Army Materiel Command Band, would be performing Gustav Holst's "The Planets" as the conclusion of "A Gala of Celebration of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences" day-long Liberal Arts forum/open house at the VBC.

I had to go see it.  I am a fan of Mr. Holst's band pieces, having played both his "Military Suite in E-flat" and "Military Suite in F" in high school and college (and, maybe, have the

melodies memorized-- consider yourself warned.)  Nowadays, "The Planets," despite their mid-century popularity, rarely get a full performance, even on the radio. This would be an exceptional treat for me, so I was excited to go.  I took the kids with me because 1) they needed some culture and 2) their dad had a choral rehearsal, so he couldn't watch them. (Nor could I get anyone else, it being last minute.)  The concert was the very night I'd heard of it; I called the proper UAH department to have them put 3 tickets at the Will-Call window for us.

We arrived and found a reasonable parking place, despite the hockey game in the arena.  I picked up the tickets with no problem.  Most of the Liberal Arts departments were closing down their booths, but of what I could see, it must have been fascinating to learn what they were doing to make science

even more visionary.  That was the theme of the evening: that the achievement and the execution science can only go so far unless it goes forth with the liberal arts.  The keynote speaker was Glenn T. Dasher, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; his pre-show lecture "Colliding Spheres" illustrated that throughout the centuries, many scientists who looked to, dreamed of, and finally entered space were "well-rounded" men and women who read and wrote, who took in the marvels of the visual world and studied the esthetics of biology & physics, who heard the beauty of music & rhythm in its mathematics & inspiration, who saw the true meeting of the minds of art & science in the scientific art of psychology.  It is no wonder that we bestow the term "Renaissance" upon one whose mind and studies encompass the breadth of human knowledge and experience. Here in the "Rocket City", we are blessed with many individuals who are helping the art & science of thinking and creating be reborn.

What better work to evoke this than "The Planets"?  Is it not the idealized industry of Huntsville to seek out the planets, and to bring their discovered

secrets back to our Earth.  Do we not still dream of living out there?  The planets were named after the pantheon of old, given names as befitting to what characteristics each heavenly body seemed to have from what was observed. Strangely, even now that advanced telescopes, satellites and interplanetary probes have brought back more information, more detailed images than the original Renaissance scientists would have imagined, "who" the planets are still holds in our minds and is further reinforced.

"The Planets" is Gustov Holtz's impressionistic work of the solar system. Sometimes unsettling, sometimes yearning, it conveys each planet distinctly.  After the keynote speaker, there was a fanfare, followed by a "unworldly" excerpt from the Theater Department's recent production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest."  Then began the concert.

The concert was further sensually enhanced by a complex light plot with full effects of gobos and a fog machine.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and was enchanted.  DLG, being young and short, was bored and  was overwhelmed by the powerful pieces like "Mars" and "Jupiter."  But when the orchestra was joined by the choir for the ethereal and almost atonal "Neptune," she snapped to attention. DLG adores singing.  MLB was fascinated by the effects and even enjoyed the percussion, no matter how loud it got; he practiced tapping out rhythms.  But "Neptune" he did not like; my budding musician and mathematician prefers order, organization, themes and harmonies.  (Reasonable enough.)

To bring us all back to our own planet Earth, the combined artists concluded with "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and invited the audience to join in.  Oh, I did, singing with everything I had.  DLG smiled, and MLB relaxed in the military harmonies (despite the audience participation.)

Getting the two of them back to the car wasn't difficult.  Luckily for me, I had some bottles of water, for both kids were thirsty and tired due to the late hour.  I don't know what of the performance they'll remember.  My take-away was said succinctly on a UAH College of Liberal Arts bumper-sticker that I took away with me to apply to my tackle box of theater make-up:


"Do what you love.  Change the World."

RAK

A FaceBook friend is busy collecting Random Acts of Kindness.  To quote Ronda Fisher Lewallen Shickles: “On Nov. 26th my mom Martha McClain Lewallen would have been 60! We had big plans for 60 but sadly those plans won’t see fruition. BUT I STILL HAVE BIG PLANS! In honor of my mom’s 60th birthday I want to collect 60 Random Acts of Kindness in her memory! I am asking my friends to do something nice for someone for no reason and then tell me about it in a private message or email. On Nov 26th I will post all of the RAWs done in memory of Mom. It doesn’t have to cost you money but if you have money to spare… there is always someone else who could use a little extra. If you are short on ideas… check the links in the first couple of comments! I am super excited about celebrating Mom and her birthday this way and I hope my friends and hers will be just as excited!”

I’m having a hard time deciding what I shall give.

What would be a Random Act of Kindness… for me.

I could always make a monetary donation, but don’t I usually plan those? I even make it a point during Salvation Army Kettle Season to carry singles and change with me.  If it’s planned it, is it random?

I could always let someone in line in front of me— at the store or in traffic— but isn’t that supposed to be common courtesy? Traffic backs up on my route home, so taking turns/merging only makes sense. So does letting someone with a few items in front, or someone with a squirmy child.  If it’s courtesy, is it random?

I try to smile at others, or be pleasant while in my own thoughts.  I try to give others the benefit of the doubt.  I try to compliment folks, share happy thoughts.  I try to say “I love you” as often as I can.  I try to give hugs as often as I can.  If it’s usual, is it random?

I’m not belittling any of the above. They are all wonderful and should be a regular part of everyone’s life.  I just want to make sure what I do is simple yet spectacular, just like the best gifts should be.

What to offer? What to offer?

I’ll let you know.

NaBloPoMo Make-up, 11/20/12: Making Up Is Hard to Do

Last year I almost did a full NaBloPoMo.  I was off by four posts.

Now, I don't blog every day. Obviously.

But I think-- what I want to say, how to say it, how to title it-- every day.

That should count for something, right?

So to stretch my mind and complete my thoughts, I will this year present the blog posts I almost finished (or started) last year.

Except for this one.

Amazingly, this was the only day I did not have pre-titled or started.

Worked out nicely, huh?

My Life as a Divorcee

Well, there's this guy.

This really really great guy in my life.

Not a perfect guy, but a PERFECT for ME guy.

A guy who, every day, is proving to be the companion in my life that I need.

I love him.

Meet Carl.

There's an Elephant in this Blog

Yep, there's an elephant in this blog.

And it ain't Big Al. (I'm an Auburn Fan.)

It's that I used the word "ex-husband" in my first NaBloPoMo post.

"Ex-husband" implies a divorce.

Yep. I haz one.

I wouldn't have pegged myself as the "divorcing kind."
But I guess I'm full of surprises.

I haven't talked about this much.  It might even be a part of the "subconscious" reason I didn't complete NaBloPoMo last year, or even blogged at all afterwards.

I'm not "ashamed" that I'm divorced.  It's just that it seems like talking about it is awkward, and an invasion of privacy.  Not my privacy, but Scott's-- my ex-husband.  There are two sides to every story, and if I get into too much of my side of the story, then it neglects his side.  Or might show him in a bad light.  Or even worse, assign thoughts and words to him that are not his.

I don't want to do that.  I respect him; I respect what our marriage once had been.  I especially respect his fatherhood of our children and I never, ever want them to believe I think less of him.

My closest family members, my dearest friends and my therapist know all the "whys," and that's enough.

I'll try to tell you what I can.

It was my idea, my desire to get divorced.  It took him for quite a shock.  I asked for a divorce out of the blue November 2012.  It wasn't something I'd been planning; but looking back, I could see that for quite a while I wasn't feeling like our marriage was what I'd expected of it.

It wasn't that I stopped loving him. Or liking him.  I just felt like we weren't the true companions that we should have been.  I felt we had seriously diverged in our plans for not just the future, but for the here-and-now.  I felt disconnected from him in many ways.

That wasn't fair to me, it seemed.

Could we have "fixed" our marriage with counseling?  I don't really know.

Me, as I'd have bouts of my depression, I'd get counseling for myself to get past them.  After over a year on my antidepressant, I'd been feeling "normal," with no bouts of depression or dysthymia.  So I don't think my dissatisfaction was due to my mood.

But for "our issues"?  I don't know.  Scott had been resistant to counseling, and I knew from my experience "on the other side of the chair" (I used to work as mental health client intake technician) that "forcing" a person into counseling would likely only effect meeting a condition, not effecting a true change.  I'd been hinting, tip-toeing, dancing & lately bluntly suggesting that he "talk" to someone-- even a friend!-- about things that seemed to be stressing him out and causing him to "go to ground" with his own interests and comfort zones.

I'd just reached my limit.

Not to truly give him a "fighting" chance really wasn't fair to him.

But to threaten "get shrunk or get out" wasn't fair, either.

It took us about a dozen years to unravel.  I'm 46.  I didn't want to wait another dozen years to see if we could knit ourselves back.

I was selfish, and asked for a divorce.

I didn't "take" the kids.  I didn't "take" the house.  Scott was the one with the job, the benefits.  I didn't think it was fair that he have to support two households because I said so.

Through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I slept on the sofa and we kept it sort of "normal" for the kids.  It wasn't until after the holidays that we told our family and friends.  We told the kids after the first of the year and I moved out shortly after that.

We made a gentle transition for the kids.  I'd move a bit out at a time, and would try to load the truck when they weren't watching.  They'd see stuff "disappear," but I wouldn't leave empty space.  I rearrange art and nick-knacks, I shift closet usage, unstack things in cabinets.

Scott trusted me to divide up our stuff; I think there were very few things that he questioned.  I suggested that as the residential custodian, he use the sedan and would take the truck.  We each liquidated equal amounts of assets to close out our unsecured debts and out attorney fees.  We would share custody of the kids and I would care for them any time that Scott was at work until I was a point in my life where they could have overnight stays with me.  Neither of us pays child support or spousal support.  We work together to make sure the kids have what they need from us both for creature comforts and for love and attention.  We do our best to make sure the kids know that our divorce has nothing to do with them, they they are not in the middle of anything but love.  We do our best to communicate with each other, if not about our lives, then about the kids.

No, the kids did not like it at all that we divorced.  They took it with some confusion for a while (especially little DLG,) but they seem to have adjusted OK, and are making the best of it.

Our families were not pleased with our decisions.  I don't think Scott's family will ever want to see my face again.  I insisted that since my family developed a friendship and affection with Scott that they continue to welcome him into their lives.  Yeah, that's awkward, but it's for what's best for the kids, in my opinion.

We worked out all the details ourselves.  We got one lawyer to represent Scott (to save money) and file our paperwork.  I didn't feel I needed representation.  We didn't rush things.  It was all done by the end of July.

We didn't rush things, and I haven't been trumpeting it.  That's why I've been slow in changing my name back to my birthname.  Slow in getting my "statuses" updated with various providers, contacts, etc.

But I am divorced now.  I'm no longer "Mrs. Anyone."

Now.  Truly.  Me, myself, am I.

Blogging Can Be Hard

This whole daily content thing?  Finding time to write well, including photos and links that are commonplace now?  All this around kids, chores, commutes, cooking, crafting, family time, shopping, not shopping, the daily Internet time-suck, other forms of communication, an occasional book to read, eating, sleeping, bathing, sh....

Wait.

Didn't I begin NaBloPoMo13 complaining?

Didn't I complain about this last year? (And fail to provide posts for the 20th-23 and the 30th?)

Didn't I complain the year before that, both frequently and humorously?

Didn't I attempt, even, to task myself?

Didn't I make NaBloPoMo2010 a recurring whining theme, with short posts and great gaps to a total fail by week 3?

Didn't I give up on a community self-history project?

That's right, this is my first blog post....

I guess I should accept that writing is is a love/loath life.

BIG E, little e.... What Begins with Ee?

Sandra & Kevin's daughters just as sweet as they can be!!!

This week my dear friends (on a diplomatic assignment in Timor Leste) finally traveled to China to embrace forever their newest daughter.

Little sister Elizabeth Xin joins her Big sister Eileen Ping!
And there was much rejoicing through out the world.

As soon as they have pictures up (or to me,) I'll share.

Or even better, pics of their kids with mine--
they'll be here by Thanksgiving!

Thanks be to God!!!

Shopaday: Open the House of Hallmark

Last weekend it was the Holiday Open House at
Hallmark Gold Crown Stores (mine is Jan's on Whitesburg.)

Then again, it was also Open House back in October & July.

Call me smitten;  I'll avoid Christmasy stuff until Thanksgiving, EXCEPT for the Hallmark stuff.  They know how to market to the likes of me
ALL. YEAR. LONG.

So, three weekends of loot in one easy page:

Best excuse to shop Xmas early?
It's for the kids.

I've been been working on acquiring Hallmark's Snowman books, but I'm missing at least half of the volumes.  DLG has taken a shine to snowmen.

DLG's two ornaments: her yearly "Making Memories" features a snowparent & snowchild "Reading Is 'Snow' Much Fun!" and the Precious Memories Disney Special Edition "Alice in Wonderland." (Not all P.M. have enchanted me, but this blonde charmer with her kitten is so DLG.)

There's two ornaments for MLB: his yearly "Season's Treatings" features "Treats for Santa" on a Santa plate and the Limited Edition "Season's Treatings" features a "Bûche de Noël."

I'm not sure if the other two ornaments-- the retro "Jolly Jukebox" and retro "Captain Nello's Ray Gun" (real tin accents! 3 ray gun sounds!)-- will be for the kids themselves or for them to give to their father.  He has a soft spot for all things from the way-back machine, and the Hallmark artist "Nello" gets them detail perfect.

And like they need one more electronic "countdown," but maybe they'll finally leave their father's microphone alone.

Why should the kids get
ALL the goodies?

There are treasures for us.

I started with Hallmark's newest "12 Days of Christmas" series just last year with "2 Turtle Doves;" these birds are mixed-media darlings whose plumage is partly crafted from music sheets.  We "late comers" found the resales of the first year's issue sparse and pricey, and thought we had to content ourselves with this year's "3 French Hens" (just the one, but it laid a golden egg inscribed with "Three,") BUT! for the October Open House Event, Hallmark re-issued a limited edition package of the first two years. (Oh yeah!)

I'm starting the new series "North Pole Tree Trimmers;" some of my favorite stage-tech people run electric, light & sound, so this little elf ready to test a bulb with a battery & clamps-- he's my kind of elf.

The "Skating Santa" was part of a "premium bonus" at the December Open House; I got a snowflake tote bag, a snowflake cakeplate, a Spruce-scented candle in a hob-nail votive holder and a gift-planning journal (the Magic Cord was a bonus in November.)

The other things?
      A special elf ornament for a special cousin who is a year-round friend of
          Santa's Elves (now marketed as "Elf on the Shelf.")
     (A hat box from Hobby Lobby because it was good for staging these pics
          before I load it up with hats.)
      A pair mystery gifts.

Shhh!  No peeking.

Friday Favorites: The Great Cover-ups

Today I baked chocolate chip pumpkin bread from some of our "holiday" pumpkins.  Every now and then, I do remember to wear an apron.

Since I wear what would be, if I were a kid, "play clothes," I often ignore the need to cover.  Thus, I find myself dipped in egg & dusted in flour.

But.... My aprons are too PRETTY to be battered up!

See that multi-colored one to the left?  It also has "pearl trim" at the neckline.  I bought it last year from Pier 1 because I fell in love with the one Terri had bought for us to use on Fred in "Greater Tuna."  (And she wanted her apron back!)  The one I'm wearing today is also from Pier 1-- I couldn't resist the pom-pom edging.  The long green one has a big E monogrammed on it; it is a delightful find from Hillary Dunham at Mint Julep Monograms (sorry, the apron is discontinued, but she has tons of other great stuff on her site and at her brick-n-mortar Mint Julep Market.)  All those short ones were passed on to me from my grandmothers and great aunts;  the gingham were kits/patterns my mom made as gifts in the "salad-days" of her marriage, others are home-ec offerings from daughters, granddaughters, nieces, two are vintage chiffon hostess aprons.

The empty peg to the right usually homes a long blue hostess-smock my mom made for her mom one Christmas; I remember watching her work on it, as well as a green one for herself and a goldenrod (I think) one for her sister-in-law.  The blue one is usually my "default" apron, but a tie got snapped off & I haven't tacked it back on.

Ah, my aprons.  Too pretty to wear; too charming not to.

Did She? Did She?

And????

Oh, yes she did!!!!!!!

I got a role in Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theater production of
"The Great Cross-Country Race"!

(I've known since the night of call-backs.  I was at Big Ed's Pizza and enjoying a meal with Carl, my kids, the Millers & Jeremy.  After taking the call-- and taking the role-- I hopped all over.  Don't yell.)

I should have blogged about this sooner, but as you can tell, I've blogged about other things.  Another reason I delayed blogging was that I wanted to find my photos from 2000.  Remember, I said I'd been in this play with this company before.  And???  So????

In 1999/2000, I played "Mrs. Warren" a rabbit.

In 2013/2014, I will play "Mrs. Warren" a rabbit.

I would have been happy with any role, but to be offered Mrs. Warren again--- y'all, there's a special thrill in being able to say you're reprising a role.  For auditions, I brought the characterization I'd used before; I think that helped win it for me.  I'm tempted to describe it as "nailed the role," but any good character is a composite-- what I know and bring to the show, and what the director(s) know and impart to and develop from me.

The director the first time I did the show was PJ Sligting, and he was assisted by Karen Alexander and the student director Eric Sizemore.  Even while I was auditioning, PJ suggested that I try to talk as if I had the long teeth and lack of lower lip like a rabbit.  The nervous, rabbity lisp seemed to be just right.  They "blocked out" Mrs. Warren's movements in the scenes I appeared in; I thought up "business" to make her seem nervous & matronly (chasing large balls of yarn as they spilled out of my basket worked nicely.) They had such confidence in me that Karen suggested that I get added to the "cornfield" scene.  It did make sense, since each animal reappears at different race check-points and the cornfield was Mrs. Warren's; but as that scene was written, it was so busy that it would seem unlikely a nervous character like Mrs. Warren would poke out her nose (busy means about 10 loud characters dancing, flailing, and scampering.)  But I found my niche-- serene until the picnickers arrive, then scampering, flailing and dancing. The best proof that I'd done my job as an actor?   My character was so sweet that I got many, many requests for my "autograph" from the audience kids at the after-show meet-n-great.  Sigh.  If they believe, then I am.

I love to create.  I adored working with other actors and stage-crafters.

Brent Baker designed our make-up, which left me amazed at his artistry.

Marie Sexton, with fittings from Carol Morris, designed my "fuzzy bunny" costume; that costume was so soft & warm, I was constantly getting hugged backstage by the "young humans" because they were in summer clothes and the AC was blasting.

The first time I walked on the completed stage--- as designed by an awesome crew

that included Dennis & Sharon Griffin, Gary Knight and Bob Baker among a dozen others---  WOW, I felt I'd truly entered the quarry glade by the stream. Bitsy & Steve Thornton were in charge of props, the smoke machine "water" and helping the stage managers keep us calm & on cue.

The actors I got to meet:  Ronni Kirk & her son Ross, Gabe Jamie & his brother Ari, Emily Griffin (yes, daughter of the above & now pursuing stagecraft in NYC,) Patrick Key (who was back home in between roles in NYC,) Michelle Allen (who had work interfere with plans to direct the current iteration,) Jeff White (photog extraordinaire) and many others.

Some have moved on to follow their jobs or families;  the young ones have grown up to follow their futures.  Sadly, Carol & Bitsy are no long with us, but I consider myself blessed to have gotten to know them.

Now for the future!  This time I will be directed by Lorie Hubscher, who is assisted by Liz Graham and the student director Theresa Gardiner.  My make-up will be done by Wynn Oldham.  Tom Morris will helm up the set (and I'm certain he's already lining up more talent.)  I wonder if Marie will be able to let-out my old costume, for I am "much too matronly" now.  And while many of the cast are new to me, over the years I've gotten to know so many other folks whom I'm glad to act with again or finally share a stage with: Cheri Furno, Kevin O'Brien, Sarah Altonji, Michael Keeney, Bill Hubscher and his boys Robbie & Mikey.

First rehearsal is a month away on Dec 17, and we open February 14, 2014.

"Ready... Steady... GO!"

A Willing Victim to the Whirlpool

Got sucked in again.

Kinda wish I could have spent all week eddying around the Green Room.

Ah, community theater! I love it.

Weeks and weeks back, I was contacted by the costumer for Theatre Huntsville's production of "Arsenic and Old Lace."  She needed some period hats and the "Abby Brewster" actress recommended me.  (Gaylen is such a dear!)  As if I could refuse, even if I wanted to; most of my hat collection is courtesy of TH's rummage sale last fall.  When they need, I gratefully lend!

In between my other obligations and Suzi's schedule, I didn't get my offerings out to her until the first night of tech week.

That's when I got sucked in, so to speak.  Poor Suzi!  A friend of hers had offered to help her sew up vintage-style costumes, but then had her own issues to preempt her time.  Luckily, the woman playing "Elaine" (the delightful Sonja) is a talented seamstress and sewed her own pieces, and Sonja's mom was able to complete a complicated blouse; but, well, otherwise Suzi was alone in her efforts.  When I arrived, I was not just hats and gloves, I was company.  I was an extra pair of eyes to say yes or no if something worked.  I was a receptive set of ears to bounce ideas around.  I was a bonus resource to complete costumes with lace, jewelry, slippers, clutches, notions.  I was a spare pair of hands to pin hems, fit pieces, trim bits, or throw a stitch on the machine (or take one out.)  I was there.

And I liked it.  I like being useful, creative, social.  Suzi believed she was so far behind, but as I helped her tidy up and think out loud, it turns out she was almost there.  It was just a matter of finally getting the costumes on bodies, reviewed and in motion to know exactly what was needed to complete each thing.  And someone who could get in the car & fetch-n-step while she kept her foot to the treadle.

Suzi has been a delight to get to know; an interesting woman with an interesting life; gracious, but no-nonsense.  It's been good to hang out at the Playhouse-- I've been away too long.  It's been good to see so many familiar faces and to be seen.  If my time had been more free this week, I wouldn't have minded spending all of tech week there, helping to tighten things up.  I adore the art of theater; on stage, back stage, audience--- something about it is "home", I guess because it is one of the few things in my life I have sought by myself, for myself and have made my own.

Speaking of making, check out these hat pins to give a "splash" of color to the cream hat Elaine will wear with two different dresses:

Coral Casual

Evening Aquamarine

"Martha Brewster" (Linda) needed her own, distinct, Victorian hat.  I mean DISTINCT. Let my own DLG model:

Oh, my.

Math=Mania

PTA night was something completely different.  No kid-centric performances.  No copious awards.  No endless reports.  We enjoyed a simple, warm & friendly chili dinner.  The PTA president and the school principal hit the highlights in less than a half hour.  And on the the main event.....

MATH MANIA!!!

Not in my memory has MLB been so excited to go to a PTA meeting.  Even though he fell hard asleep in the car as we ran an errand beforehand-- all it took was a whisper in his ear ("Math Mania") to bring him to life.  Barely a bite he ate-- well, of chili, anyways (the cookie, the chips and the pumpkin bread disappeared)-- in his excitement to participate in the math games.

My MLB, such a sweet boy!  All of his previous teachers stopped by our table to say "Hi."  His S.P.A.C.E. teacher couldn't wait to share the news that of all the Fourth Graders that took the Math-Olympiad test today, only MLB scored 4 out of 5; no one scored a five-- not in Fourth Grade, not any grade.  (Even the Fifth Grade had just four 4s.)  The other parents, seeing their own children's scores of 3, 2, 1 (some did not score,) would remark upon MLB's 4.  Their kids, "But of course, it's MLB-- duh."  Not jealous, just incredulous that their parents don't know who it is they're talking about.

MLB skipped-- yes, skipped!-- the length of the school to the S.P.A.C.E. classroom because he could not wait to show us the number game he learned that day, "Knock Out."  He preferred using a pair of octahedral dice instead of a trio of cube dice.  The game seems to be a variant of "Shut the Box."  He owned poor Carl; luck and dice were on MLB's side.  Then, while I was shopping at the book fair, he and Carl joined the other families at playing Multiplication Bingo.  Took a few rounds for MLB to get a bingo, but bingo he did and won a pencil.  More exciting than that??  He won the door prize of a $10 B&N giftcard.  More books!

I'm so pleased, so blessed, to know that MLB has been given such a gift, such a delight.  It will take him far, and he will be joyful along his journey. We can't wait to see where he goes.

Grissom Junior Math Explorers
October 2013
Fourth Grade, First Place

In Favor of a Semi-Sheltered Life

Can you believe this hydrangea was blooming up until the freeze?

Look at it!

This determined plant has enjoyed a certain amount of sheltering.  It is tucked into an interior corner of the house where a small bird sanctuary has been created.

One brick wall to the west shelters it from the storms that track this way. But there is no overhang, so rain comes down upon it.

One brick wall to the south shelters it from the Southern summer heat.  But the kitchen roof slopes down to bask it sunlight.

A large barberry shrub to the north shelters it from the chilling winds.  But the breezes come through to dry the water-loving leaves.

All that stands to the east are bird feeders and the sun.  The morning rises to give it first glow and to gently warm the the walls as the sun ascends. The birds bring company and an eager appetite for the seeds we provide and the bugs that just are.  We hear the birds scamper through the undergrowth; their tiny feet and beaks keep the litter lightly turned.

We all need a semi-sheltered life.  Experience is good and all.  Adversity brings profound and lasting changes.  But a life graced with the semi-shelter of the care of others-- that life can find such growth, such blossoming.  Shelter by fortune or plan, for short or forever.  Thank you, Lord, for Your shelter.  May my heart, my life, be shelter to others.

I Know This Kid

He's my son.

(I'm also in love with the grown-up version.)

Shopaday: New Thrift Store Edition

Every now and then, I need retail therapy.  I'm not your average shopping-babe.  To be honest, in college I bought way too much uselessness and rounds of drinks on my credit card and scared myself pretty good-- for much less than the national average.  It was enough to make me think long & hard about shopping for myself; I anything I buy now has to be on a mental shopping list, has to have a planned day to go buy it, has to be on sale/couponed/discounted, and, more comfortably, to be actually useable or giftable.  That being said, I'm not that mental about shopping-- I keep all that wacky stuff in my head.

Soooooo......

After a planned trip to Hallmark, then retrieving my repaired sewing machine, I stopped at a new thrift store on my route home.  The Saving Way.  I've passed it time & time again, but never stopped.  They now have additional stores in town and I've seen some churches advertise that they are donation-drop-off locations.  I've heard buzz from other thrifters, so I decided to stop in.  This location on Winchester Road is their "flagship".

I was impressed:  spacious, well lit, friendly people, assortment of merchandise/clothes that were clean & easily accessed, prices in keeping with other thrift stores and easy to read, daily specials.  I am also impressed that it supports a local, worthwhile project-- His Way-- so my money goes to good use and stays in town. "His Way is a residential, Christ-Centered recovery program for men with drug & alcohol addictions. The facility is located in Huntsville, Alabama, and since it began in 2007 has served men & families from all over the United States."  (The program is just around the corner from the store.)

I had nothing specific on my to-buy list; when I'm thrifting, I'm usually shopping for kid clothes, props/costumes or a specific clothing/kitchen item.  Today, I just opened up my "just in case I see 'XYZ' for sale" file.

Yep. They were for sale, along with AEIO&U.

Here's what I bought for just 13 pennies shy of a Jackson:

I'm addicted to books.  Always have been, always will be. I love children's books the best, cause it's easy to see what the quality stuff is.  Little Golden Books-- real good stuff.  The McDuff book is modern imagining of a children's book from the 1940s-- I think it succeeds. And a "chapter" book for my 9yo, in case the others are too young for him.  (Yeah, right.)

Children's books aren't just for children.
I adore folktales, lusciously & regionally illustrated.
And, there's The Muppets.  Cha-ching!

I'm more likely to buy household items than clothes.  We have here: a small Fire King bowl that is a match for the green one I already have (because I
love Fire King-- it's cute, retro & great in the microwave); a collection of mis-matched & capless aluminum knitting needles (because I felt sorry for them); a Cherished Teddies figurine (because I decided to stop accumulating them, but she also looked lonely, is named Madison and is at the beach which my daughter eagerly anticipates visiting in person); an aluminum loaf pan (because after 40 years of being allowed to use the oven, I have concluded aluminum bakeware is unbeatable); and a pair of Arby's Hollyberry tumblers from 1984 (because I am trying to collect a set of all pieces issued and I didn't know these existed.)



Speaking of Christmas, here's Snowy & Little Bird, as an enameled stick pin.  Y'all, these are my favorite little guys.  My mom got me these guys as a plastic Hallmark Christmas pin when I was in fourth grade.  I felt a bit grown up having a holiday pin.  I've treasured it each Christmastime since. How could I NOT bring this tiny treasure home???

And now for something completely different.

Not that I'm in mid-life or anything.

Friday Favorites: Pre-K Art

What my daughter is
thankful for

What I'm thankful for

It's Out!

Remember November first?  All that rambling?  One of the items was the dental consult for MLB.  Well, today was THE day to get that tooth pulled. All things considered, it went excellently well.

Last night I prepared for the visit by reminding the boy that he was going to be checked out of school at about 11 for the rest of the day.  When I got home, I reminded the Toothfairy that tomorrow was a big day for MLB-- he was finally losing another tooth, but not in the typical fashion, so could she perhaps leave him four half-dollar coins instead of two and also write him a letter?  My own reward to MLB for this discomfort was to buy the "Cranky Levels" for the iPad "Where's My Water?" game.

The appointment was about noon at the dentist's Madison office, so I left in plenty of time to get the boy at school and drive out there.  (20 miles from my house to the school, 20 miles from the school to the office.)  And then, I figured I had enough time for a quick trip to Wal-Mart first.  There's no such thing as a quick trip to Wal-Mart, even for a pack of gum.  But we still had a good window of time.  Except that it took him almost 10 minutes to sort out his desk, collect his belongings and have his teacher write a sticky-note of his homework assignments.  [sigh]  "Mom, do I have everything?" Backpack? Check.  Lunch bag (with uneaten lunch)? Check.  Computer, in bag, with assignment sticky? Check.  Jacket? Check.  Kid? Roger on that.

He was amazingly accepting of my decree that he would not get his iPad with the new levels until after the procedure.  My rationale was not that he needed to have "good behavior;" come on, he'll feel what he feels.  I know this kid; he'd be so locked-in to the new game, he'd have a difficult time bringing his focus to any instructions.  He understood.

It's that canine just to left of his large incisor.
Obviously, there's nothing just to the right,
since that is where the cleft was.

We drove to Madison, while he played on his "sister's" iPad.  He got quieter & quieter.  I wondered if he'd fallen asleep.  We arrived at the office "a l'heure," and the boy stretched out across some chairs and asked me to wake him when his tooth was out. (Um, I think you'll have to wake up and walk back to the treatment area first.)  Poor kid.  He seemed a bit apprehensive.  Don't blame him; I was, too, but I was keeping it to myself.

I insisted on trying to take a picture of the targeted "victim;" not sure if it lightened his mood or just irritated him.  Got some goofy pics, though.

Light's so bright,
he's gotta wear shades.

He got settled on the "surfboard" treatment "chair" (total cool, total comfort, total access.)  We caught the tail-end of a "Madagascar" movie; there was some debate whether it was the first or the sequel.  The "what flavor nose do you want" question threw him for a loop. Lemme 'splain: the application of "laughing gas" is done with a single-use nose-mask that is impregnated with a scent-- he could choose between grape (purple), chocolate (tan), bubblegum (pink) or orange (duh.)  He didn't seem too keen on the idea.  Being a big fan of sedation dentistry myself, I suggested a "no-flavor nose," since the gas itself is odorless. No luck on no-flavor; we all conceded bubblegum would be the mildest scent.  We told him he might feel tingly or goofy, but it was all OK.  My two-cents' worth: "You'll still feel some stuff, but you won't care."  (Big, big fan here.)

We watched the credits, then the movie started up again (sequel on loop.) We waited our turn.  The boy zoned out.  I messed with him by poking my finger at his arm; yep, still ticklish, but he couldn't discern what I used to tickle him.  I tested his acuity by holding up my thumb & pinky finger and asked him how many fingers I was holding up; he messed with me and said 17.  (My answer was going to be 1 and a thumb, but then he went all binary-counting on me.  Fuzzy but still sharp.)  Then it was time for the topical; the assistant left it on for a good while before Dr. Beitel sat down to give the shot.  I couldn't watch that-- it's the part I personally dread the most.  MLB was good and relaxed and took the injections as calmly as he does his vaccinations; just one tiny "ow" at the outset, then an occasional tensing as the volume got tight in his gum.  Dr. Beitel explained that he administered the anesthetic in increments by numbing a small area and then moving the syringe to the numb edge of the area for the next dose.

Tooth? What tooth?
The one she's drying off behind you.

MLB was fuzzy, relaxed and numb.  Dr. Beitel got out the pulling tool and explained that there would be a firm tug in the mouth that would feel no stronger than someone tugging at MLB's arm.

With that, as Dr. Beitel tugged on his arm, he tugged on his tooth and it was out.

Thirty minutes prep to make an easy one minute of work. Wow.

MLB was not phased; he was watching the movie.

Yes, Dr. B knows his job.  Yet... Mommy was a wee bit sideswiped and mildly queasy by how simple of a force it seemed to take to separate a tooth from its seemingly firm lodging.  (Good thing the recycler tubes on the gas were not 100% effective; mommy needed her own "calming breaths.")

Root and all.
Pretty neat.

They unhooked the nose and let the boy return to normal.  He got his tooth in a little box, the nose and a small toy as a reward.  He chose a glider for himself and a dome-popper (in her fav pink) for his sister.  This boy was a fine as frog hair.  He did GREAT!  Thus turned loose, it was Cranky Gator all the way home.  Just before we got home, he commented that he couldn't wait to see the two half-dollars he was going to get. I couldn't help it; I played dumb to exasperate him.  "From where?"  "I'll give you an hint-- they will be under my pillow."  "Under your pillow??  Half-dollars??  I thought only quarters came out of ears!?!"  "Maaahhhmmm! It's from the Toothfairy."


Tangentially related, DLG was fascinated with the nose and its smell.  And with her brother's glider, which had to be protected from her.

Before he went to bed, he wrote his own letter to the Toothfairy.

"The tooth is in the yellow box. I got a shot in my mouth to get it out.  Sincerely, MLB."

I've got to admit.

I've got a good kid.