And the Holidays Just Keep on Comin'

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday! In case you don't follow me on twitter, let me tell you about a "fail" I pulled on the Santa present. We got The Offspring an acoustic/electric guitar set with everything she needed to rock the house. For a week, we've had it hidden in the closet of our bonus room (that infamous 8x28 closet). Now that the bonus room is our studio, we use it as a place to chill and relax...

On Christmas Eve, my baby girl didn't feel too well. She was laying on the couch with me and woke up around 1AM. Since our living room is tile, sound tends to carry to every room on the bottom floor. She wanted to talk, so I suggested we go up to the studio so as not to wake her father in the master bedroom.

Not a good idea. Because unbeknownst to me, the father had moved the humungous box with the guitar and amp inside into the MIDDLE OF THE BONUS ROOM/STUDIO so that he could attach a big bow to it. She and I trudge upstairs, open the door, and after I'm a few feet into the room, WHAM.

"Get out of here!!" I holler.
"Okay," she says, running back down the stairs.
"Did you see it?" I query.
"Uh...no..." she replies, totally unconvincingly.
Then the father appears at the bottom of the stairs. Not exactly happy. Technically, it WAS Christmas morning. And yeah, she did have to wait until we got up to actually play the thing.

I think she enjoyed it:We went to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra for her birthday the next day - and let me tell you, it was incredible. If you get a chance to see them, GO.

Our next adventure? New Year's Eve. We usually have an adult party, with 20 or so revelers. This year, the kid wanted to invite more than just a few friends. She passed out fliers at school before the break. Fifty fliers.

This ordinarily wouldn't worry me - after all, you usually can expect half of the invitees to show. However, a few weeks ago, she asked me (with a sweet innocent face, let me add) if she could have FOUR or FIVE friends over. Got that? A few text messages later, and kids start showing up to my house. From out of nowhere. When it was all said and done? This is how many ended up there:In case you're not good at counting, there are 23 kids in that photo. At one point, as one kid is hauling in the whole set of Rock Band to play in the living room, I asked her, "When exactly is this party over?" In return, I got a shrug.

A bottle rocket/roman candle war broke out in the yard shortly after the bonfire was lit. And when I left the house in the care of the male influences, I returned to find a kid being duct-taped to a tree:She DOES appear quite happy about it.

Hopefully, I will survive New Year's Eve. We are cleaning out the garage (not that we've had much time to get it messy) and hope to contain some of the teen melee in there.

Pray for me, will ya?

And here's wishing you all a happy and SAFE New Year!

A Holiday Favorite

I hope you and yours are preparing yourself for a fantastic holiday, recession/depression be damned! This is one of my favorite holiday stories, which appeared in a book by Jeff Foxworthy many years ago. No idea if it is true or not, but this is the kind of family stuff that makes the holiday season special!

As a joke, my brother Jay used to hang a pair of panty hose over his fireplace before Christmas. He said all he wanted was for Santa to fill them.
What they say about Santa checking the list twice must be true because every Christmas morning, although Jay's kids' stockings overflowed, his poor pantyhose hung sadly empty.

One year I decided to make his dream come true. I put on sunglasses and went in search of an inflatable love doll. They don't sell those things at Wal-Mart. I had to go to an adult bookstore downtown.

If you've never been in an X-rated store, don't go. you'll only confuse yourself. I was there an hour saying things like, 'What does this do?' 'You're kidding me!' 'Who would buy that?' Finally, I made it to the inflatable doll section.

I wanted to buy a standard, uncomplicated doll that could also substitute as a passenger in my truck so I could use the car pool lane during rush hour.
Finding what I wanted was difficult. 'Love Dolls' come in many different models. The top of the line, according to the side of the box, could do things I'd only seen in a book on animal husbandry. I settled for 'Lovable Louise.' She was at the bottom of the price scale. To call Louise a 'doll' took a huge leap of imagination.

On Christmas Eve and with the help of an old bicycle pump, Louise came to life. My sister-in-law was in on the plan and let me in during the wee morning hours. Long after Santa had come and gone, I filled the dangling pantyhose with Louise's pliant legs and bottom. I also ate some cookies and drank what remained of a glass of milk on a nearby tray. I went home, and giggled for a couple of hours.

The next morning my brother called to say that Santa had been to his house and left a present that had made him VERY happy, but had left the dog confused. She would bark, start to walk away, then come back and bark some more. We all agreed that Louise should remain in her pantyhose so the rest of the family could admire her when they came over for the traditional Christmas dinner.

My grandmother noticed Louise the moment she walked in the door.
'What the hell is that?' she asked.
My brother quickly explained, 'It's a doll.'
'Who would play with something like that?' Granny snapped.
I kept my mouth shut.
'Where are her clothes?' Granny continued.
'Boy, that turkey sure smells nice, Gran,' Jay said, to steer her into the dining room.
But Granny was relentless. 'Why doesn't she have any teeth?'
Again, I could have answered, but why would I? It was Christmas and no one wanted to ride in the back of the ambulance saying, 'Hang on Granny, hang on!'
My grandfather, a delightful old man with poor eyesight, sidled up t o me and said, ' Hey, who's the naked gal by the fireplace?' I told him she was Jay's friend.
A few minutes later I noticed Grandpa by the mantel, talking to Louise. Not just talking, but actually flirting. It was then that we realized this might be Grandpa's last Christmas at home.

The dinner went well. We made the usual small talk about who had died, who was dying, and who should be killed, when suddenly Louise made a noise like my father in the bathroom in the morning. Then she lurched from the mantel, flew around the room twice, and fell in a heap in front of the sofa. The cat screamed. I passed cranberry sauce through my nose, and Grandpa ran across the room, fell to his knees, and began administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

My brother fell back over his chair and wet his pants.
Granny threw down her napkin, stomped out of the room, and sat in the car.
It was indeed a Christmas to treasure and remember.
Later in my brother's garage, we conducted a thorough examination to decide the cause of Louise's collapse. We discovered that Louise had suffered from a hot ember to the back of her right thigh.
Fortunately, thanks to a wonder drug called duct tape, we restored her to perfect health.
I can't wait until next Christmas.

Fun Monday Kindness

The lovely Mommy Wizdom is our hostess for this latest Fun Monday, and BOY...was it a doozie! She wanted us to perform a random act of kindness, and then blog about the experience. OR...blog about being the recipient of a random act of kindness.

One suggestion she had was to "smile at everyone you meet for a day, no matter what." Well, I decided that I would do just that during my weekly shopping excursion. The store, of course, was unbelievably crowded...and as much as I wanted to just get in and get out, I felt obligated to complete the assignment! What happened was inevitable - in a small town, everyone knows everyone else...and with just a smile, I found myself engaged in conversations with folks. But I didn't smile just at people I knew.

I smiled at an elderly lady who looked lonely - she did a double-take, looked at me suspiciously for a moment, then returned a feeble smile. It was almost as if she was surprised that someone would notice and smile at her.

I smiled at a little girl, who was checking out my daughter's funky attire for the day. She looked puzzled, but seemed comforted by the gesture.

I smiled at someone who was hard at work, in appreciation for what these employees must have to endure on busy shopping days. Once again, a slight double-take, then a return smile.

It was too easy. I smiled at so many people - most of whom were unknown to me. It was interesting to see how many people were a bit taken aback by my smile (promise, I didn't have anything in my teeth). Has our world become so troubled and cynical that a simple gesture seems entirely out of place? I don't live in the big city, mind you - but a small, Southern town. Yet, I felt a bit out of place, smiling at people all over the store.

I perform acts of kindness each day - from picking up a friend's child at a party, to taking an extra kid home from school, as a mother I'm usually pressed into service. I also volunteer with my local Rotary Club and serve on board of two local organizations. Service to others is something I try to accomplish EVERY day. However, a free smile to a stranger may be a more welcome gift. The gift of random kindness that is free, and makes us feel better in the process.

Now, perform your act of kindness today - AND check out the other participants!

Name Us - Make Us Famous

Remember these guys?
Yeah, well, they need your help.

Desperately.

We need a band name. Soon. Like, NOW.

ATTENTION: If you are a LURKER...and NEVER COMMENT on this blog, I need you to comment NOW. If you don't have a blogger account, comment anonymously. Whatever it takes. But I need your suggestions for band names.

Five of us were up until almost 1:00AM trying to think of a name (and practicing a little, too).

What kind of music do we play, you ask? So far we have been working on rock music, like Fleetwood Mac stuff (no Pantera just yet - sorry Greg). The Pretenders...Sheryl Crow...Tom Petty...with plans to do many more songs...

If you need to know more about us to start throwing out names, then just ask in the comments. I will respond!

This is like BRAINSTORMING, folks....anything goes! We are taking any and all suggestions!

Why the rush? We may have a gig! Oh, and there will be a prize if we pick your suggestion...so GO FOR BROKE!

Fun Monday Holiday Music

Ooh, I'm LATE today...maybe because I stayed up until wee hours...but then, none of you care about my excuses. Blah - get with the program.

MamaLang is the hostess for this Fun Monday, and she wanted to know our favorite Christmas songs and our favorite Christmas item.

Only THREE songs? Wow...okay...that's a tough assignment!

1. I LOVE (adore) George Winston's version of "Holly and the Ivy." If you have never heard this piano version, take a listen here.

2. Mannheim Steamroller and Christmas - This version of "Silent Night" has a very special meaning to me, b/c of a very special Christmas, many years ago. I wonder if Mr. Big still remembers?

Kinda weird to see a house in lights to this tune, but here ya go:

I get tears in my eyes every time I hear this.

3. I don't actually think this last song is a Christmas song, but I can't spend a holiday without listening to it. And for the record, this song will prove that I am a total dork. And nerd. And should be wearing glasses and braces and carrying a stack of books under my arm. I had a Christmas album by Dean Martin as a kid, and I LOVED it. Yes, Dean. Poor, dead Dean. He just always sounded like he was SMILING when he sang, you know? Now, I realize his smiling might have been due to large quantities of alcohol consumption. Still, I love this tune, called The Things We Did Last Summer. Listen if you dare. Total cheese.

As for my favorite Christmas thing? Well, I could pick all sorts of ornaments...pretty little glass things...but when you go into labor on a Christmas Day, it's hard to pick much else but my almost-a-Christmas-Baby as a reminder of what this season really means to me:
Now go check out all the Fun Monday participants!

The Doghouse

I know this is really ad advertisement, but it's not "in your face."

I found this funny, b/c my husband told me early on that he believes in "practical" gifts. For example, last year - I received a new blender and a food processor. Other gifts have been similarly useful, but at least he does have the sense to throw jewelry into the mix at least every other year.

Enjoy:

Beware of the Doghouse- Hilarious! - A funny movie is a click away
Have you ever received a gift that made you want to send your significant other to the doghouse? If so, I wanna hear about it!

The Commute

I have watched this several times, and think it is SO CUTE!
If it took me more than two minutes to drive to work, I would seriously have one of these built. Especially if I got to go thru the library.

Fun Monday Neighbors from Hades

Whew...now that NaBloPoMo is over, I'm actually glad to merely focus on Fun Monday for a while! Ari_1965 is this week's hostess, and she wants to know about our worst neighbors EVER.

Living in a small town, I figured this could get me in some trouble. I started thinking of all the bad neighbors I had in the past, and then realized they were bad neighbors only b/c they had such little tolerance for the late-night partying ways of a college student. Other neighbors that city ordinances define as 'bad' were the quietest, most non-obtrusive on the block.

I've only had one REALLY bad set of neighbors...though they didn't live quite next door. When I lived in the "old part" of town, my house was very close to the houses on both sides. Likewise, the houses across the street were close. One of these houses was obscured by overgrown bushes...it used to be a cute house, belonging to a local artist. When The Offspring was a toddler, the house became a rental. The occupants had NO restraint when it came to the use of expletives - LOUD expletives, shouted for the entire block to hear. Sometimes, their voices could be heard even with all the doors and windows shut.

As years wore on, activity at the house increased. A lot. Random folks would seem to appear on the sidewalk, and stumble away with hazy eyes. Young men would sidle up the alley behind our house, and magically find themselves across the street, at "that" house. Only to stay for a moment, before exiting, bleary-eyed. The traffic became so obvious, that it was only a matter of time before police vehicles frequented the domicile. We observed one occupant (female) submit to officers as she was led away in handcuffs, crying, pleading...to no avail. Most disturbing were the little children in and out of the house. I wondered what their existence must be like. I was sad for them.

In our old home, our master bedroom windows faced the street. One morning, in the wee hours, I awoke to flashing lights. Reds and blues, blinding almost...as I went to the window to see what was going on, I couldn't see anything. There was a haze in the air, with only red and blue flashes within the fog. Slowly, I came to realize that this time the flashes were NOT only from the police, but also from the large fire truck in the street. That 'haze' I was struggling to see thru was the smoke from a fire that had broken out upstairs at 'that house.' The smell that filled the air was horrific...I'm not sure what was going on at 'that house,' but I was assured that the fire was caused by something left on the stove unattended. I was glad the children escaped the home unharmed.

I don't miss living so close to my neighbors. Granted, I do miss some of the porch visits and talks with my "good" neighbors, but I like the serenity of the pastures I see, and my new neighbors - a pair of docile horses!

Now, go check out the other participants!

NaBloPoMo Day 30 - The End. Period.

Day Thirty. Endgame. I did not fail. I rock. Again.

I really can't believe that I accomplished this month-long-daily-posting thing - and yet, I still have a lot to say. And music to share. If you care.

Interestingly enough, I am saddened by the fact that I haven't visited many of my blogger friends in the past month. OR in the past few months. But I will...and I will respond to comments, as always.

But you know, I started this blog to have an outlet for expression and to find out what YOU were thinking...and I'm so thankful that so many of you share your thoughts with me.

I will return to visit you all soon...all of my faithful readers...I have enjoyed blogging this month! For now, enjoy one of my "new" favorite groups...Paramore:

And imagine me and The Offspring, thumping in the Intrepid, singing along.

NaBloPoMo Day 29 - Life in the Country. Or Not.

Day Twenty Nine.

Ever since moving into our new home, I've had to get used to "country life." I know, I only live 2/10 of a mile outside the city limits...but remember, I'm a CITY girl at heart. Big city...like Houston kinda city. Even living in my small town seems extremely rural and isolated.

Across the road from our home are several pastures. Do you see what I see in this photo?There is a hay bale in that sunny spot of field. And atop that bale? Not just one, but TWO birds of prey. Zoomed in and cropped...you can see them. We usually break out the binoculars to spy.
Another afternoon, we spied something in roughly the same pasture. Can you tell what it might be?
Zooming in, we spot a deer! It's amazing how far one can see with the naked eye.Here is another little critter that ended up on the hood of my car. Well, he ended up there after I was terrorized by several people, as they shook him in my face. Menacingly.

Naturally, as things go...he was worse for the ordeal than I was.

I'll get used to living here - I know I will. And the dog has already been skunked once, and I survived that. I love the peace and quiet...but the critters? Gonna take some getting used to.

NaBloPoMo Day 28 - Blast from the Past

Day Twenty Eight.

I know this will date me, but I used to watch "WKRP in Cincinnati" as a kid growing up. And I loved the theme song. I admit it.

Making the rounds this Thanksgiving - one of the most popular episodes of that show. Enjoy a scene from "Turkeys Away:"

Hope you had a GREAT Thanksgiving!

NaBloPoMo Day 27 - Happy Fat Bird Day

Day Twenty Seven.

Giving Thanks.

There are so many things I am thankful for this year, not the least being that I can wake up in the morning, step out on my porch and enjoy the first light through the trees.
I'm also grateful that I HAVE this porch - a year ago, this house was still under construction, and I could only dream of what it would be like to live here.

Now, I sit on my porch, and gaze at the mountain, which gives me peace.But most of all, I'm thankful for this person in my life:She brightens every day, and if I lost everything and everyone else in my world? Well, she'd be enough to sustain me.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

NaBloPoMo Day 26 - A Show is in Our Future

Day Twenty Six.

Guess who we are going to see in concert exactly one month from today? It is The Offspring's birthday, and I convinced her that her 16th would be a MUCH better birthday for which to host a 100-teenager party. For the 15th? Definitely need to go to this concert instead:

Have any of you see this group live? I expect they will rock a little more than Mannheim Steamroller. If you have seen this group, let me know.

Sure hope those chicks with the nightgowns don't flounce around the stage the whole time, though.

NaBloPoMo Day 25 - Worse Than Marnie

Day Twenty Five.

The other day, or month, or whenever she decides to randomly post, Marnilicious questioned her own sanity, as she had become transfixed and enamored with the lastest video from Britney Spears. Well, obviously, I'm no better. In fact, I may indeed be a lower life form in comparison. Why? Because recently, I've been hooked on this:

I have a few issues with the video...mostly b/c it implies a relationship between a much older Paris and a young boy. But the song is SO CATCHY, and I love the lyrics...and as we all know, that's what COUNTS.

NaBloPoMo Day 24 - Fun Monday High

Day Twenty Four - hey, this is almost over, isn't it?

Mariposa is this week's Fun Monday hostess, and she wanted to know about those 3-5 "high" moments in our lives. NOT what you are thinking...but those moments when we felt "on top of the world." Or something like that.

My "first" high is easy - the birth of my daughter. Especially since that day marked the first time I had ever met someone who was my actual blood relative. (Click here if you missed out on all that drama.)

Another "high" that always catches me off guard is when I hear The Offspring sing. She has been singing since she was a wee thing, but now when she is performing I am overcome with emotion. It doesn't hurt that she has sung with a talented all-region choir for the past three years, not to mention a select auditioned group at school and a special group at choir camp. These perfomances tend to move me to tears.

And an everyday "high" also involves MUSIC. I can't live without it, in one form or another...I honestly think I would be lesser of a person if I didn't have a broad musical background and the opportunity to listen on a daily basis.

I was late to Fun Monday today, so forgive the short post! Be sure to go check out all the other participants!

NaBloPoMo Day 23 - Jammin' with Justin

Day Twenty Three.

Do you love SNL?? Well, I love Justin Timberlake on SNL. If you haven't seen the actual skit he did with Beyonce, here is a taste:

I hope they don't remove this before it posts to my blog...it is interspersed with the actual video. Justin, is on the far left. Enjoy!

NaBloPoMo Day 22 - Winkin' and Slayin'

Day Twenty Two.

I know I could make a drinking game out of this video. However, I just could NOT take my eyes off the guy in the background. Palin is fairly oblivious, but I suppose animal slaughter is a common thing in her world. Just not something I witness on a daily basis. Watch if you dare.

In a weird way, I'm kinda glad to see her again. Brings back memories of the election.

Happy Thanksgiving, Ya'll!

NaBloPoMo Day 21 - We Really Rock

Day Twenty-One.

If you follow me at all on Twitter, you may have read a tweet or two about band practice. This is for reals, ya'll.

When we designed our home, one of our requirements was a music studio...part of the house, but over the garage. This portion of our home has extra insulation, and eight-foot walls, so that Roger can hang his guitars there. I was able to snap a quick photo from my cell phone one night:This was taken at an impromptu practice...the sleeping bag hoisted on the wall is for baffling. You can't really see it, but there is a monster monitor on the bottom right hand corner of the photo. Our lead singer is going thru song lists and lyrics in the middle of the photo, sitting down.

I've been a musician all my life...but there is a man playing the digital piano who is FAR more talented than me. I just fill in as a backup vocalist for the real talent in the group.

We are NOT playing country. No gospel. But we are having organized band practices, every Friday night...and by next Spring, we may be ready to go live. After only two months, we have four songs down almost to perfection. Now we are working on our next set. We have practice for sure tonight!

Any suggestions for songs you would like to hear? And feel free to guess what music we've dabbled with so far!

NaBloPoMo Day 20 - Election Withdrawals

Day Twenty.

Is it just me? Or do you feel a little bit of letdown, now that the election is over? (Well, over for most - I guess for Al Franken, it will be a while.) Seriously, when all the commercials were popping up on each channel and the yard signs were cluttering yards, I was ready for the election to be HISTORY. But now? Now I'm having DT's.
I miss the media coverage the most, I suppose. It was truly insane, and more entertaining than I gave it credit for at the time. Every night, I would be sure to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in case I missed a media feeding frenzy. Often, I would learn many new adjectives in the process. Most of them akin to "colossal."

Somehow, the announcement of new cabinet members just doesn't give me my fix. A week of Palin interviews helped stem the tide of my depression...but now? Now...I'm in a funk.

Am I alone in this? Is anyone else experiencing this phenomenon?

NaBloPoMo Day 19 - A Random Meme!

Day Nineteen.

Thanks to Richies, a blogger who lives in the SAME TOWN as your dear Tiggerlane, I have a meme to help me finish this month of assignments! Here are the rules (I love rules):

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (Done!)
2. Post the rules on your blog. (Done!)
3. Write six random things about yourself. (THAT is going to be hard.)
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. (Easy!)
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog. (Okay - six blogs and comments in an hour - I can do it!)
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up. (Will do!)

And just for fun, here is a RANDOM painting of my dad's:
At first, I thought this would be really difficult, since I have done this meme so many times. Then I remembered: I have many new readers...who don't know my randomness. So, if I repeat something that you already know about me, please forgive me and remember, it's for the love of the newbies, k?

1. I have no idea what day, time or place I was born. No clue. If you are not familiar with this little fact, click this link, go to "Show all posts," and read from the earliest post forward. Or don't, and revel in the mystery.

2. My second toe is longer than my big toe. That's random.

3. I still sleep with a teddy bear (NOT my husband).

4. I actually enjoy public speaking. Doesn't bother me in the least to train or present to crowds numbering in the thousands.

5. I still have one wisdom tooth in my head, needing to come out.

6. Even though I live in the South, I have NEVER gone hunting.

Okay - here are the victims:
SayreSmiles
Karmyn R at Dreaming What Ifs
Desert Songbird at The Ice Box
M@, b/c he LOVES to be tagged and he is the KING of random.
Bond on the Big Leather Couch
Spellbound

Done!

NaBloPoMo Day 18 - Gettin' Pussed

Day Eighteen.

I can't believe I've made it more than halfway thru this challenge!

Now, before you get all wonky at the title of this post, it is NOT what you think. THIS is what the title refers to:
That is The Offspring with our cat, Whiskas. Whiskas has a habit of making herself comfortable upon any member of the family (and a friend or two) who sits still long enough to let her. We call this "gettin' pussed."

She will then purr incessantly, post-pussing. The worst time is at night, when I am her favorite victim. I like to start out sleeping on my side...and Whiskas will lay upon me, her body stretched along my side...her head on my shoulder. Sounds real cute, doesn't it? Well, it's NOT. Because the next step in the pussing is when she takes her paw, CLAWS EXTENDED, and snags my lips. No glass of warm milk or dose of Valium will allow me to sleep thru the torture. Not to mention the loud purring in my ear.

And when I turn? She doesn't budge. I have to turn and hoist her off me, and as soon as I am settled on my other side, she climbs back on. I've had lovers who were less clingy.

Sometimes, when I get into bed, she has already pussed Roger. Then I laugh and giggle that he is the victim, not me. Of course, he is usually lying on his back, with Whiskas on his chest. Still reaching for his lips, with that crazy paw. However, as soon as the lights are out, I get pussed. All thru the night, I toss and turn and shove and move that cat, and just like a magnet, she returns.

Purring and pussing - she is the reason I have bags under my eyes.

NaBloPoMo Day 17 - Fun Monday Talismania

Day Seventeen.

M is for Misanthrope is the host of this week's Fun Monday...and has a fun topic: Do you have a piece of jewelry or other item that holds great personal significance for you, and that you wear or keep with you every day? Show us a photo of your talisman, and tell us why it is so important to you.

I know we're not supposed to "repost," especially during NaBloPoMo, but I just HAD to...because my post from February 19, 2007, was too poignant not to repeat...

Much like a gypsy - I always wear several gold rings. A total of FOUR on my wedding finger, my Texas Aggie ring, my MBA ring, and then, my most prized - I've worn it on my left hand ring finger for almost 21 years.
I received this ring from my grandmother - my mother's mom. Before you get all in a twitter, I'm talking about the only family I've ever known - my adoptive family. My grandmother attended Marlborough School, a prestigious all-girls' high school in Los Angeles, CA. The inscription inside the ring is "BCM 1934," for Barbara Corinne Morrow - graduated in 1934. My grandmother sent it to me shortly before my own high school graduation in 1986. The crest and lettering were once clearly defined; they have worn down now, and the ring has taken on the shape of my finger. The ring I'm talking about is the top one in this photo.

My grandmother was articulate and wrote long letters to me over the years, discussing everything from current events to stories of her past. As the eldest of her granddaughters, even sharing her middle name, I felt very close to her - even though we lived many miles apart. I only saw her a few times after my family moved to Texas in 1976. The last time was during Christmas of 1992, when I flew to California to visit my parents, who were then serving as my grandparents' caretakers. Unfortunately, she was no longer completely lucid, and our conversations were limited by the onset of her Alzheimer's.

I started this post late last night - too late to phone my mom and ask more about my grandmother's past. I knew she had attended college, but couldn't remember where. I found a "missing alumni" entry for Barbara Morrow Weir at the Alpha Phi site, in the UCLA Beta Delta chapter, with a graduation year of 1938. I assume she married my grandfather during her college years. I remember hearing that she had also attended Cornell University, though I wasn't able to access their alumni site for verification.

I am extremely proud of my grandmother, as it was quite an achievement for a young lady to attend college during the Depression Era of the mid-1930's. The ring reminds me of the challenges she might have faced, as well as her determination to receive a quality education. I am honored to wear it each day, and it has given me courage to face adversity as I seek my own place in this world.

No go see our other participants for Fun Monday!

NaBloPoMo Day 16 - Houdini

Day Sixteen.

I totally think this is the kind of dog the Obamas should get. Can you imagine the Secret Service response?

You have most likely received the video of this little guy in your email inbox, but if not, enjoy:

I'm SO glad this is not my dog.

NaBloPoMo Day 15 - Now Fuzzier

Day Fifteen.

I have just found the bane of my existence.

Thanks to the community of Twitter, I have found the ultimate in time-wasters. Yes, I have discovered the horror that is PuppyCam.

Click the link to see these adorable Shiba Inu puppy stars:

The six Shiba Inu pups (3 boys and 3 girls) turned 5 weeks old on November 11th. This is the first litter from their mom, Kika.

Girls:
- Autumn (Purple collar) - 3 lbs 5.8 oz (as of Nov 11th)
- Ayumi (Yellow collar) - 3 lbs 3.4 oz (as of Nov 11th)
- Amaya (Red collar) - 3 lbs 6.6 oz (as of Nov 11th)

Boys:
- Aki (Green collar) - 4 lbs 0.4 oz (as of Nov 11th)
- Akoni (Black collar) - 3 lbs 12.6 oz (as of Nov 11th)
- Ando (Blue collar) - 3 lbs 1.2 oz (as of Nov 11th)

Live streaming cuteness...fuzzy puppies. Can't. Tear. Myself. Away.

NaBloPoMo Day Fourteen - Musical Fluff...Again

Day Fourteen.

I know it's been a while since I've introduced you to any addictive musical drivel. Don't worry, The Offspring is STILL making sure I don't miss out on any new music. If the XM radio isn't blasting Ethel, I will assume the electricity to our home is cut off. Especially if I hear wailing and gnashing of teeth. Preceded by a scream of, "MOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" The child's life has a soundtrack, guaranteed.

Occasionally, good sense will NOT prevail in her musical world. This usually results in the constant repetition of ONE DAMN SONG. Over and over ad nauseum. The second she gets in the car, the song is immediately found and blasted. Her phone blasts it. The iPod blasts over speakers while she is in the shower. It can't be ignored. What happens in the process is that I become brainwashed, and the song will not leave me be. I am humming and singing it all the time. Remember those geeky guys from Hellogoodbye? 3OH!3, featured below, is much the same:

I love the line, "Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips." Helen would have loved it.

An addiction from a few weeks back, Family Force 5...and I liked the song a LOT more, before I saw this video:

It was a rockin' song...until...sigh.
Why do geeky guys make it on the music scene? I just don't see the same market for rockin' geeky girls.

BTW, I think FamForce5 inspired The Offspring's latest look.Have a great weekend...I'll still have posts, just not as intense!

NaBloPoMo Day Thirteen - Whoring Out My Dad

Day Thirteen.

Is it wrong to blatantly use my father to help me come up with a post for every day? Surely not. If blogging had been around when I was growing up, I would have been the source of his daily posts...ad nauseum. Including photos of me with buck teeth. So, all's fair.

This is a little different side of Dad's stuff. And to be honest, I wouldn't be so ready to throw all this out there if you guys hadn't been so supportive.

And don't feel like you have to gush all over his stuff b/c he is my dad. Remember, I'm adopted. I can back away and say I don't share any of the genetics. So let's get critical here. The first one just reminds me of the letter "N." Too much Sesame Street as a child, I think. Speaking of, do any of you out there think numbers and letters are supposed to be a certain color? Or is that just my weirdness? For the record, the letter "A" is supposed to be RED.That one...looks...kinda...you know?That one is my favorite. Lots of energy.

Okay, get to criticizing, folks.