In which I create a post in a post in a post.

I'm all cuddled up and cozy in my bed, enjoying a morning not at work. It's been an an interesting and fun week, both working and not. As I wrap up my first year at my "new" job, I have a couple of vacation days left to kill, or I'll lose 'em. So I've taken a few days off, and Pete's outta town and so I'm just doing my own thing. Which I don't mind, of course, but it would be better if he were around and we could enjoy some time together.

Soon I'm going to get up and make some bacon, eggs and coffee but before that it's time to materialize on a couple of posts I've been turning over in my head for several days. I like posting to the blog, but I don't find that I'm very timely at it. Just like I have the best intentions to stay in touch with old friends but can never seem to do it. Does that make me a horrible person? I don't think so, but I did forget to send a wedding invitation to my college roommate of two years. Whoops. I suck sometimes.

Anyway,the longer I live in the South, the more I turn into a Midwestern girl turned hybrid Southerner. I've done a number of fairly Southern things to do this week, and I find myself excited about it. These thoughts started swirling in my head the other day when I picked up a tote bag I had monogrammed. I still get excited about seeing my "new" initial (my wedding was more than four years ago) stitched onto things. I know monogramming is a trend coming back with the retro thing, but it seems pretty Southern to me. And while I was on my way to the monogramming place, I stopped at the "historic" Whataburger in Midtown. (Whataburger has been clogging Southern arteries since 1950. Yum.)

I've had a Southern-belle-style melt-down and taken to by bed. I don't find there's anything more Southern than taking to your bed. Also, I've bitched about humidity making my pretty Southern hair look fuzzy, and in the same day bitched about "cold." If you're up North you're surely laughing at the fact that I can find 54 cold, but oh the humidity! Later that day, I did a little community involvement, volunteering at a FSU MANCC entry point. A fine Southern lady, even a hybrid one like me, loves some community involvement.

The entry point was uber engaging. The choreographer, Luciana Achugar, is conducting research and so several community members (oh, and trained dancer with an idea of what they're doing) were asked to participate. I'm always honored when Jen and Lindsay, the staff there, invite me to be a part of things. There are several reasons: first, I can't imagine how I could be at all helpful in somebody's choreographic research, and I can't think of any person less a dancer than me. I guess I love a good dance party, though, and that was just how the entry point wound up, with all the participants dancing around and having a badass time to "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough." Um, awesome.

All Michael Jackson aside, though, participating in the entry point was fascinating. Luciana encouraged each of us to explore the rhythm and ebb and flow already present in our being. To explore moving towards pleasure. To know that our own experience is authentic and important because it's ours, and that no one else will ever fully understand it because it's ours. We talked some about moving past pain to pleasure. And ever since that time I've been contemplating Lindsay's statements about how to move toward pleasure you must experience pain. Work though it, know it and accept it. Hmmm. Maybe that big ol' dramatic Southern meltdown was moving me toward a more authentic experience.

I'd better get some breakfast, boil some coffee and think it over some more.

PS: You can check out Luciana on YouTube, and I'm embedding one excerpt here. We did an exercise similar in the entry point.

Mememememememe.

I have the afternoon off. I'm going to kill some time. Fear not, an actual post will not be far behind.

1. Are you taller than your best friend?
I'm not taller than anyone.

2. Do you have a favorite type of pen?
A Jim & Steve Smith Insurance red Bic click pen, but those are from a couple of years ago. I'll take one of the blue Smith Insurance Services one, though. Nevertheless, I can't get used to the rebranding.

3. Look at your planner for November 14, what are you doing?
Work, church choir, only one week and until until Thanksgiving, and also only four days until my brother-in-law comes to town for a visit. Hurrah.

4. What color are your toenails usually?
Red.

5. What was the last thing you highlighted?
Statements in grant applications.

6. What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
There are yellow cafe curtains and also white drapes with a yellow floral panel.

7. What color are the seats in your car?
Tan, with lots of spots. The previous owner obviously left the top down during a couple of thunderdouchebags.

8. Have you ever had a black and white cat?
Sure don't.

9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on?
I used a rubber stamp to create texture in a Precious Metal Clay class I'm taking.

10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
Uh, no, but my friend Carolyn is from Wyoming. Go Pokes!

11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time?
To pay for a painting I'm buying. Been trying to hook up with the artist for days! I'm pretty excited.

12. Who is the last baby that you held?
The Kafumbaby, Joshua.

13. Can you spell well?
I do okay.

14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste?
Yes. My Mom and Dad always used CloseUp when I was a child, so I think I'm predisposed to liking it.

16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators?
Neither of these is a good choice. The obvious Florida team of choice is Florida State. F-L-O-R-I-D-A, S-T-A-T-E, Florida State, Florida State, Florida State, WOOOOO!

17. Last time you went to Six Flags?
Never been there.

18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house?
No, but there is some coolass wallpaper out there. Wallpaper gets a bad wrap, but I think it's pretty cool. I can hardly wait to hang some in my house, but since I don't own one I'll have to cool it on the clutch, Jack.

19. Closest thing to you that is yellow?
Fiesta bowl holding pretzels.

20. Last person you gave a business card?
A colleague at a grant panel this morning.

21. Who was the last person you wrote a check or money order to?
Rent.

22. Closest framed picture to you?
Any number of the framed family photos hanging on my wall. I have a historic photo montage.

23. Last time you had someone cook for you?
Yesterday.

24. Have you ever felt you weren't good enough?
Daily it seems.

25. How many emails do you get in your inbox daily (excluding spam)?
Ten or so.

26. Last time you received flowers?
After a recent domestic argument.

28. Do you play air guitar?
During the frequent dance parties that happen around here.

29. Has anyone ever proposed to you?
Yes.

30. Do you take anything in your coffee?
Half and half or milk, plus Spelnda or a little flavor.

31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines?
Uck, no. I am anti-collectable.

32. What was your high school's mascot?
Onward you Eagles, fight on for your fame.

33. Last person you spoke to from high school?
Kathy via email.

34. Last time you used hand sanitizer?
I'm not into that.

35. Would you like to learn to play the drums?
We already have a resident drummer in our house.

36. What color are the blinds in your living room?
White. Blinds, yuck.

38. Last thing you read in the newspaper?
Opinion pages.

39. What was the last pageant or play you attended?
It's been a while, we don't go to theatre events too often.

40. What is the last place you bought pizza from?
Barnaby's Family Inn, delish!

41. Have you ever worn a crown?
Yes. I was Little Miss Marcus 1987 after all.

42. What is the last thing you stapled?
Receipts for reimbursement at work.

43. Did you ever drink clear Pepsi?
Obviously the author of this survey is young. The proper title is Crystal Pepsi. It was a middle school favorite of mine. Even more favored is the Crystal Gravy skit from early '90s SNL fame, but I can't find a video clip of it on the Internets.

44. Are you ticklish?
Sure am.

45. Last time you saw fireworks?
One night I drank some bourbon and lit up some sparklers in my living room. That was fun.

46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut?
This morning the grant panelists were treated to Krispy Kremes and coffee. And a treat it was.

47. Who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned?
I actually return 97% or so of my phone calls. Pete I would guess.

48. Last time you parked under a carport?
Everytime I roll up to my back door. So maybe an hour ago or so.

49. Do you have a black dog?
She's black and white and gross and cute, pretty much is that order.

50. Can you give one reason why David Caruso is allowed to keep acting?
Not really.

51. Are you an aunt or uncle?
My extension of marriage I am aunt to Gus, Beau, Ella, Lucy, Amelia, Hope and Kailey.

52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
Pete of course. He also has these beautiful eyelashes that are so long they bang into his glasses. He is pretty in the eyes, oh so pretty.

53. Last time you saw a semi truck?
Earlier today on the Parkway.

54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe?
Thankfully not really.

55. Do you have a little black dress?
I have a number of go-to black dresses.

Do you need a douchebag?

These days, nothing makes me laugh harder than the word douchebag. Just like Reference.com suggests, I find it funniest when used as an insult. But thanks to the company of my neighbors and a drunken game of cards on Friday night, there are even more laughs ahead!

The cards didn't have much to do with it, actually. Every time we hang out with the neighbors (which is often, since they live directly across the street) something funny happens. This time it was the etymology of douchebag that got us started. The conversation went something like this:

Ms. Neighbor: "You know it's the French word for shower right?"
Mr. Neighbor: "What, douchebag?"
Me: Laughing hysterically already.
Mr. Neighbor: "So then, in French you say 'I'm doing to go take a douchebag?' Or, I really need a douchebag. Today I took a douchebag."
Me: Still laughing.
Mr. Neighbor: "Also, do you go to a bridal douchebag? Or a baby douchebag? Or take an umbrella when there's a chance of a thunder douchebag?"
Ms. Neighbor: Sighs. Laughs.
Me: Still laughing.

And Saturday? When my friend told me she had to go to a bridal shower? That was all I needed. I laughed some more. And I suspect I will be for some time - a veritable douchebag of giggles and laughter will rain down upon those who encounter me whenever I hear or say the word shower. Hurrah for etymology.

Magic Ingredients

Want to make any meal or snack yum-tastic? Don't care much about your heart health, the fit of your pants or counting your fat grams for the day? Try out my parents' five magic ingredients theory.

Sitting at a restaurant, admiring that tasty pasta sauce? Chances are it contains one of the five. How about that delicious apple "salad"? Or even a good ol' Iowa-style casserole? Almost ceraintly at least one found there. What tops that perfect tasty taco? You guessed it, one of the magic five.

What are they? Okay, here we go: heavy whipping cream, butter, mayonaise, cream cheese and sour cream. I encourage you to go whole-hog sometimes, with the full fat varities of the five, such as the delicious seasonal favorite, pumpkin cream cheese, from my fave bagel place. Other times, like with that conservative homemade health-nut fish taco? The reduced fat version'll be just fine.

Either way, dear reader, I encourage you to live life on the luxurious side. Get to know your fabulous, magical five ingredients, and you'll be on your way to Delicious City. Happy Magic Five Ingredients Posting Day!

What's up in the blogosphere?

Seems like a weird blog day. A few of my usual reads have some weird shit goin' on. Dooce has an ambiguous post about her terrible weekend and Naked Jen, my favorite hippie-herbal tea-making-marathon-running-Santa-Cruz-blogger has a husband who has announced he's over being married to her.

If all is so topsy-turvy in blog-o-land, it seems strange that everything here is pretty much A-OK.

Things have been good, fun at work, productive at work, making progress on lots of stuff in both my professional and personal lives. Everyday I feel like I'm getting a little closer to being the person I want to be. Not without setbacks, of course, but so far no huge devastation.

Since my last post I have discovered the joy of the drink that is cheap (but still tasty) bourbon. I have sold thousands of dollars worth of art and had some pretty good days with my husband and doggie now that the weather is a little bit cooler.

I keep thinking of things to blog about, but never actually sit down to come through on the posts. I'm going to try to improve on that, because the world's a funny place. But for now I'm just going to keep on hoping that nothing crazy is going to explode into this blogger's universe.