You'll Be a Song I'll Sing

Weekend Time

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:27:39 GMT

I've entered the strange world of weekend time once more. Twitchy, dreaming dog on one side and heavy breathing husband on the other, I wake up for no apparent reason other than my mind is racing with all kinds of creative thoughts. My eyes are still sleepy. As much as I try to go back to sleep it is no use. So now I'm downstairs while my four-legged shadow is upstairs, awake, and wondering when I'll return. Amazingly, I only hear his nails clicking on the hardwood floor as he paces. I hope he doesn't wake my husband. On a weekday this would piss me off because I know it would make me exhausted for the remainder of the day. But it's weekend time now and I know I'll have time for a nap later.

And now the whining and boofs have begun. He woke the husband. Argh!

Still Here.

Fri, 16 May 2008 23:13:37 GMT

It's been nearly a week since my last update but I have not fallen off the face of the earth.

Last Saturday I did this. Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day by going to church and having lunch with my in-laws. Later that night my parents came over since my dad was to have surgery at a nearby hospital on Monday morning. My in-laws came over to see my parents and all six of us had dinner at Northstar.

On Monday morning Sammy went berserk when my mom woke up early. Unbeknownst to us, she'd fallen out of the guest bed, scraped her hand, banged up her knee and nearly broke her nose. She said it was the most comfortable bed she'd slept in for years. I was so exhausted from so little sleep I called in to work and slept most of the morning. In the afternoon I did go to the hospital to see my Dad. Monday night my brother and his wife came over to have Chinese food with us and Mom. It was their first visit to our house. Monday night Mom slept on the couch. Dad's surgery went well and he was released on Tuesday. My brother and his wife took my parents home that afternoon.

Wednesday night I was planning on seeing Amy Bloom speak but I was just so tired from having company, I took my laptop to the Grandview library and wrote. Spent the rest of the evening at home.

Last night was busy and a late evening. I don't remember if I mentioned it or not, but someone backed up into my husband's car in the parking garage and tore up part of the grill and headlight. We picked up the car in the morning. The body shop did the repairs, fixed a sideview mirror (we said we'd pay separate for it) and cleaned up some paint scrapes on the side and on the bumper. It looked better than before the accident and it cost less than the estimate. After work I went to the Terry Moore talk at the Wexner Center. About 100 people attended. I had him sign the first issue of Echo. One of the girls/women gave him her Katchoo license plate which had expired two years ago. He was so excited! He's one of the most gracious signers I've ever met. Terry spoke to everyone and signed whatever they wanted. Strangers in Paradise was a comic I connected with because the women were drawn realistically. Francine would go up and down in weight and Terry showed it with some extra fat around the face which is more subtle and realistic than showing her as a size 2 (which Francine could never be) in one issue and then a size 22 in another.

Afterwards we had dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. By best I mean where the chef cares about the food and uses fresh ingredients. I was worried about being in jeans but Jeff was in jeans and so was Terry. There were eight of us total and Vijaya joined us later. It was the last night of the Columbus Symphony (supposedly forever though they're advertising two more shows this month) and Yo-Yo Ma was the guest performer. The restaurant closes at 10pm but we were there until nearly midnight. I ate too much and dessert sent me over the edge into colon spasms which ended up okay but really had me worried there in the restaurant. (I don't think it was the sweetness of the maple syrup creme brulee - I think it was from eating very little during the day and then a lot in three hours.)

Two of the guys at work today were talking about marriage (one is in a wedding this weekend and attending a wedding next weekend). And the one who was saying negative looks over at me and said, "Not you, Amber. Nothing like that applies to you." He went on to say, "You and your husband are really happy together and it shows." We have misunderstandings and miscommunications just like other couples but we know we're in it for the long haul and it's too much of a fun ride to try and get off early.

Due to all this family time I've gotten behind in my goal of writing a short story a day during the month of May. I'm at 6 completed stories, 1 is 3/4s completed and another barely started. Wish me luck! We have company coming from out of town tomorrow. :)

Beautiful Saturday!

Sat, 10 May 2008 16:08:55 GMT

It was rainy all day yesterday but the sun has come out today. I slept in a little bit, took Sammy for a walk and then was out the door by 9:30am to do some weeding. It was very peaceful and lovely.

I may need to figure out what to do with my lilac bush - like learn how to make sachets or something.

Geek Girl

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:28:48 GMT

You know how little kids just get so excited sometimes that they use up all of their energy on excitement and fizzle out when it gets to the good part? That was me tonight.

All day I was thinking about tonight and feeling all nervous and excited.  I ate too much ice cream at work and that with my nerves just had me all worked up.  Picked up hubby from rental car place, went home to get gussied up and then we drove to his work.

A new show opened tonight and walking through the galleries was fun.  We looked at about half of the Jeff Smith show and I just couldn't see any more of it - I was about to cry from the wonderfulness of it all. Good memories, little girl me and watching some of the drawing/writing process was all a little too much to handle.

Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner were there as was Terry Moore and Charles Vess.  The man I thought was Terry was not and I had no clue what Charles Vess looked like. I didn't talk to Jeff or his wife.  On the way out hubby asked if I wanted to talk to Jeff and I just had no clue what to say. It was much easier when I met him a few months ago to listen to him talk about his trip to Spain than to try and make actual conversation. But isn't it always that way?

Nicely paired, yet very different, with the Jeff Smith show is the Mary Heilmann show. The colors are bright and cheerful.

We spent about 2 hours at the VIP party and let me tell you, I'm one tired girl.

Surprise for Me!

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:58:07 GMT

Got a nice surprise last night while looking for writing prompts. I'd sent out two reviews in January to an editor; she published them in February and didn't let me know. Last night I updated my site - three book reviews published this year! (With more on the way.)

Cute and Not So Cute

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:16:11 GMT

Cute
The sidewalk about 5 doors down has chalk drawings. In addition to hearts and flowers there is "Obama 08 Rocks Ohio". Haven't figured out if the people who live there are parents or grandparents.

Not So Cute
Sammy's Monday morning. This is usually garbage day and he's still afraid of trucks and such. They were really noisy. I told him he could go upstairs but he wanted to be with me. So he either pressed himself up against the dishwasher or my legs and shivered. Poor thing.

Writer's Block: My First Car

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:36 GMT

What was your first car?

View other answers

My first car was a used silver Chevy Nova obtained from a couple several months after I got married. The couple was getting a newer car as they were expecting their first child.

The Nova had a boxy almost Rabbitish exterior but the interior was all Toyota parts. We'd call it the Super Nova after the Liz Phair song. It had a grey cloth interior and those flat tabs to lock the doors. I'm pretty sure it had crank handles but I was really happy it had a tape deck.

For some reason it began conking out. I drove into the hospital parking lot once from lunch and it just died. I had to put it in park and then restart it. Dave, our mechanic at the time, said "Something deep in the heart of it died." All in all, I think we got six years out of it.

Next came my favorite, the Passat.

Writo de Mayo

Sat, 03 May 2008 22:58:50 GMT

According to the poll, I should be writing a short story each day based on a writing prompt. I gathered about 8 writing prompts on the 1st. Yesterday I began my first short story and am trying to finish it up now. I'll post the prompt and my short story - they will be first drafts so bear that in mind. The first drafts are always the worst. :)

I'll create a special filter so if you want to see the results comment and I'll add you.

May Writing Plans

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:03:41 GMT

View Poll: Writo De Mayo Challenge

Inquiring Minds...

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:09:49 GMT

Is it a crime to have not made tuna salad before the age of 36?

Writer's Block: House Call

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:01:09 GMT

Whose house (besides your own) were you in last and why?

View other answers

I was last in my aunt's house for a Pampered Chef party on Thursday. Went there straight away after work, helped make a strawberry trifle dessert (which I couldn't eat) and the other team of people made a cheeseburger salad. I was able to dig through some of the salad but it was kind of a pain. The librarian at her job was just diagnosed with Crohn's. Surprisingly, because I didn't have much to eat and had been worried about getting there on time, I didn't have a flare-up from drinking sangria.

Forgot to Mention The Howling...

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:18:30 GMT

I asked hubby yesterday if Sammy should go in his crate while we put out the patio and porch furniture and he thought Sammy would be fine outside his crate. We got the table on the patio and were moving the couch/sofa to the front porch when we're next to the front door and I hear something.

"Is he howling?"

Um yeah. A low plaintive howl that said he was lonely. With the french doors open it wasn't very audible outside the house. I wonder if he was howling from under the couch.

I almost feel sorry for him and then I remember how he tried to take my bahama mama from my plate at yesterday's dinner and how this morning he tried to eat my cereal from my bowl...

Good Saturday

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:55:25 GMT

In the wee hours of the morn Friday Sammy was whining from the thunder. I told him he had the choice of going under the bed or getting on the bed. He got on the bed and watched one of the windows for about an hour before he fell asleep. It rained a little on my way to work and that was it.

Early this morning I heard the rain and when we took our walk at 10:30am I could see evidence of it. In the early afternoon rain drops were still on the ground cover on the side of the house.

Worked on a book review, took a two hour nap and watched some tv. The patio and porch furniture is out. So far the bird on our porch hasn't tried chasing us off. Sammy liked sitting on the porch with us.

I'm Back

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:33:50 GMT

In case you didn't guess, I'm back to the ordinary.

Sweeps officially begins tomorrow so the day job will be very busy!

While on vacation I finished a book that I'd been reading for a review. Monday at home was so relaxing I began writing the review right away instead of putting it off for the book to digest.

Well... Fudge!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:19:45 GMT

I sent off a submission back in October 2007. The average response time is 6 months. It's about a week after that time period and I've been getting up the nerve to email the editor to query and status... and I realize I spelled his name wrong when I sent the submission. That alone sets a bad tone for the editor. Fudge! Now I wonder if I should even bother though the back of my mind says I should just so I can have an answer one way or another and start submitting the piece elsewhere.

Goodbye Ordinary

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:25:37 GMT

There's nothing like the Pope following you around town to bring down a person's vacation. :)

Got into New York yesterday afternoon. Had a skinny hotdog for lunch at one of the plazas downtown. Went to some museums/art galleries. I think I'd like to live in portions of the Frick house. Was transported to Vienna for dinner then got to see a comic in a Chicago jazz club that looked a lot like a young Warren Beatty.

Morning Walk

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:23:34 GMT

This morning hubby and I woke up early. I don't know if it's because of excitement or what, but I could not go back to sleep.

I wasn't as awake as I thought I was when a man asked if he could see my baby and the words made no sense until he asked a second time. Sammy got some scritches.

Walking up to the house though, I noticed a fat bird in the corkscrew willow tree. It hopped and kind of wobbled with each hop like it had a limp or was slightly drunk. I think this is the first red-bellied woodpecker sighting this year. Hubby says a bird is trying to make a nest on our porch.

I Couldn't Make This Up...

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:39:35 GMT

For as long as my husband has known his grandmother (the one with dementia) she has never had a driver's license and stayed home to raise her three kids and help with the grandkids. She did have a temporary driving permit once but she let it lapse.

While we were on our way to dinner my husband was teasing about how with the recession our family would have to put Grandma to work. This started a conversation about whether or not she'd ever worked. She mentioned Kilgore's and another place where she used to make caskets. It was after she offered up the information that she remembered using straw that it was realized she had made baskets and not caskets.

This then made my husband ask what she did at Kilgore's.
"Munitions."
"Munitions?!"
"Yeah. I built flame throwers."
"Flame throwers?!"
"Uh huh. They were for the war. One time the building caught on fire while we were making them."

And so on and so forth... Grandpa confirmed what she said was true. He said she had a job after that but any job would probably pale in comparison.

I didn't get to hear any of the conversation because I was talking to my mother-in-law in the back of the minivan. It's a good thing I didn't - having my husband retell it to me had me alternating amongst snorting, crying and not being able to breathe because I was laughing so hard.

Somewhat Disappointing

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:40:21 GMT

In medical news, a research study involving 738 Crohn's patients in several countries shows Omega-3 fatty acids doesn't appear to help the disease any. I suppose that should relieve my guilt about not eating fish once a week, right?

I'm not expecting a cure in my lifetime but it would be nice for Crohnies who have severe cases to find a surefire method of relief.

The Weekend

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:50:16 GMT

The weekend consisted of several movies and lots of sunshine.

It would have been Zilla's 12th birthday and it was the 1st anniversary of his passing. I thought it would be difficult but it wasn't as hard as I expected. In fact, all it did was highlight the differences between Sammy and Zilla.

Zilla liked to sleep in during the mornings and especially liked to sleep in with us during the weekend. One of us would get up, put him on the bed, and go about our business. Unless he had to go to the bathroom he was good for a few more hours.

Sammy was up early and jumping around the bedroom until he was taken out.

Zilla understood the phrase "mine" and knew he was supposed to leave the food alone.

Sammy snagged half of a Potbelly roast beef sandwich from the middle of the dining room table then used the Lowe's ad it was sitting on as a napkin when we were out of sight.

Comic Books

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:19:56 GMT

I'm behind in my reading but thought I'd mention that there is a new mini-series of Serenity being written by Joss Whedon with possible plans for a continuation of the series in this format. I believe there will also be a continuation of Angel and while Joss is involved I don't think he's writing it. Of course, I heard this from my husband a few days ago so the details are fuzzy but thought some on my f-list might find this interesting. :)

Hrmm...

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:13:08 GMT

It's 11pm and I realize a few things...
Other than homemade french fries I've not had anything to eat the last five hours.
After ripping apart some packed boxes looking for letters thanking me for my $ donation I can use cancelled checks.
I can't find any of my bank statements prior to our move... and our $ donations took place at the beginning of the year.
I have nothing clean to wear to work tomorrow.

This Past Week

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:45:00 GMT

This week at work I was given two similar projects which are going to cut into my time to do my regular work. The best I can think of to accomplish them in a timely fashion is to block time out of my calendar to doing nothing but working on the projects. Timing isn't the best though, since I'm supposed to begin training on the monitoring room this week during the afternoon - afternoon is the best time to work on projects, of course.

Wednesday evening I did get some writing done on two short stories I've been working on the last few weeks. I tried revising a short story that I've been working on for... forever, it seems. I may just send it off this week to one of the markets I chose as a target. During the week I had a revelation on how to finish one of the new short stories.

Friday evening I saw Snow Angels which I highly recommend. I recommend David Gordon Green's movie, Úndertow, as an example of a literary movie. Snow Angels is based on the novel by Stewart O'Nan. David came on board to write a screenplay adapted from the novel for another director and eventually he wound up as the director.

I've enjoyed the cheese factor of the Underworld movies and this really shows a different side of Kate Beckinsale than usual. Sam Rockwell is, as always, the bomb.

David Gordon Green introduced the movie and took questions afterwards. Some of his upcoming projects include a demolition derby comedy, an adaptation of The Dwarf and a remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria. That's some crazy all over the place kind of stuff right there. I can't blame him though - you have to keep your work interesting. I did get to meet him and shake his hand but didn't go out for drinks/dinner as Sammy needed tending. I think Sammy was at the tenth or eleventh hour from his morning walk.

I went to a birthday party today for a one-year-old relative. It was fun and casual. Strangely enough, all of the kids were well behaved and I thought, "I want one of those." Of course, I wasn't paying too much attention to the kids so my point of view is likely skewed.

Happy Easter & Misc Stuff

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:20:24 GMT

Happy Easter! We celebrated the holiday the way we celebrate most holidays - by not celebrating. Sammy let us sleep in late (after 10am). After breakfast we saw Vantage Point then traveled to two Skylines hoping they'd be open for lunch. Wendy's was so they got our business. A nap was also on the agenda and I spent about an hour working on writing stuff (typing up or editing things I'd written the last two weeks). Then the Easter Miracle happened and fluffy flakes began falling from the sky.

Yesterday we had friends over for dinner. The company was good and the dinner was yummy. We had beef brisket from Weiland's. I had considered making a lamb shoulder roast but could not find one at any market that morning. For dessert I tried to make a terrine but it wasn't as great as it could have been. I bought three kinds of ice cream from Jeni's and the bread pan only fit two pints of ice cream. Honey Vanilla Bean, ground cream sandwich cookies, Salty Carmel and more ground cream sandwich cookies. When it came time to cut it, I think I'd taken it out too early (some of the ice cream was melty soft) or it hadn't been frozen long enough to get solid. It was still tasty. Our friends threatened to sneak Sammy home under their coats. It was the first time I thought, "I think I like having him around." It must be the morning cuddle sessions. One time when we were talking in the living room he plopped down with one leg on the fireplace just like an Olan Mills pose. From the other angle it looked like he'd laid down to chat with our corgi figure.

My husband said his turning point was probably last weekend. I'd attempted to make sugar free jello squares but my recipe was completely off and it was much more like sugar free jello slivers. Hubby let Sammy eat some from his finger. Sammy seemed to like it so hubby set a bigger piece on the kitchen floor. Sammy licked at it and tried to eat it. Then he dive bombed and tried to roll in it. He missed. Sammy did the dive bomb move again and finally got some in his fur. It was one of those funny moments when you have no idea why it is happening and can only stand by and let it play out.

I think dinner is more beef brisket tonight unless hubby wants me to make Skyline. I know he prefers it the way the restaurant makes it to how I make it.

On Thursday my mother's surgery went well. She'd had the same thing done in December but the doctor seemed to make a mess of things. The biopsy so far shows no cancer. Hubby took Friday and tomorrow off work. We're talking about a vacation in April.

This weekend I bought new tennis shoes which feel so comfy. I know my in-laws have booked a vacation beach home for October. The bathing suit hunt began this weekend. (I haven't owned one that fit since college.)

"Only My Wife Would Make That Connection"

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:29:30 GMT

On Vantage Point - "Isn't it funny that Sigourney Weaver, who played the wife to the President of the United States, who owned Corgis is in this movie with William Hurt, who plays the President? I mean, he was in a movie with Corgis, and liked them so much he got his own."