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November 30, 2005
Wednesday Already?
Well my little dumplings, how are you today? I've been immersed in old archives, trying to fix the mess I've made of them in the move. It's not looking pretty, folks. It may take me a long, LONG time to make them happy again. It's a snarl that will probably take me months to untangle. Grr. But I shall. Oh yes.
Dang my perfectionism.
In yippeenews, today is the last day of November! Right? I think I'm correct on that one. Christmas preparations must begin post haste-- especially the presents thing. I'm usually far ahead by now, mostly done-- but this year, I keep putting it off until we have some money... and um... that hasn't really happened yet. So everybody is getting 7-11 beef jerky this year. Yay. Kidding. Kind of.
Anyway.
Ya know, for all the trouble of getting The Sift up and running, I am girlishly excited to be here. The graphics I'm working on are awesome, kind of a vintage comic book theme. Hooray! I love design-- that's half the fun of blogging to me, changing things up every now and then. I like to keep it fresh, yo. I could tinker all day long, but King Pen threatened to take the mouse with him today if I don't get myself together. (He says this tongue in cheek, because we know of someone who's husband did this very thing. Poor girl. That's just cruel.)
But, I guess I really should get cracking on some stuff. I've been so busy with these here internets that I've put off some bill paying, phone calling, dish washing, teeth brushing, and well, you get the idea. Gotta get back into the real world for a little while, drat it.
Don't have too much fun without me.
Posted by WonderGirl at 4:07 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 29, 2005
Kaboom
Whoa! This place is a wreck! It looks like somebody stuffed a firecracker into my blog, and it exploded all over the place. It's going to take a while to restore all my pictures, import all the old entries and edit them to make them "fit".
Not to mention getting my new layout and design implemented, too. Let's see... to accomplish all this, I'll have to cut back on my sleep. And forget cooking meals. Laundry? Nope. Gotta work on my blog. Showers may have to go as well, because let's face it- you people can't smell me over the internet. You'd never know the difference.
Ew. No. There are some things I'm not willing to do, even for you good people out there. WonderGirl is not capable of being malodorous. It's in the rule book.
Anyway.
Looks like I have my work cut out for me over here. But I'm excited. Oh yes. This baby is gonna SPARKLE when I get done with her.
Yip!
Posted by WonderGirl at 3:32 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
November 19, 2005
Scatterday
Hello, good people!
I am blogging from my parent's house, where I will spend the next few days. Then, the kids and I will head out to my aunt and grandmother's house. We'll stay there a few days and be joined by more out of town family members for Thanksgiving. Friday, we'll then meet up with King Pen at his folk's house, for even MORE Thanksgiving.
So, lots of traveling. Lots of eating. Lots of picture taking. Lots of reading. Maybe not so lots of blogging, I dunno. We'll see.
And tonight? Harry Potter date with my da. Skippy!!
Will write more in between bites of pumpkin pie and spoonfulls of raw sugar.
Ciao!
Posted by WonderGirl at 12:02 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 16, 2005
Cuts Are Coming
Okay, warning to my buddies out there who haven't been blogging lately... I'm getting ready to tidy things up here at my blog, including my blogroll. People are coming, and people are going. I've gotta make some cuts due to inactivity. I don't want you to lose your place on the team, folks! Blog, blog like you want to win this thing!! Look alive out there!
Please!
Wow. That was intense.
Posted by WonderGirl at 4:47 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
3 Things
3 things I can't resist: semi-sweet chocolate chips, smelling the baby lotion when I open the top, watching Dirty Dancing if I know it's on.
3 things I can't stand: the smell of ketchup after we've eaten, flipping the radio stations and finding only commercials, people with superiority complexes.
3 things in my purse: trident gum, cellphone, and a size 3 pull-up.
3 things I could never throw away but probably should: ticket stub from the Aladdin movie (yeah, from fifteen thousand years ago), my fourth grade retainer, and every purse I've ever used in my life.
3 things I regret: being disrespectful to my parents as a teenager, breaking hearts before I knew how it felt to be broken, not sticking to one thing long enough to get really good at it.
3 things I wouldn't change about myself: my creativity, my legs, and being the oldest child.
3 things I want to do before I die: write a novel, lay on a tropical beach, go on a safari.
3 things that touch me: children who are brave in the face of adversity, an old man who wants to make things right, birth.
3 things I love to hear: unbridled laughter, rain on a tin roof, and choral christmas music.
3 things I hate to hear: unkind mothers, meows at 3 a.m., and someone snorting mucus loose in their nose and then spitting. (well, you asked!)
3 things I am passionate about: my faith, my family, and my writing.
Okay, your turn!
Posted by WonderGirl at 1:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
In Memoriam
So last night, I was checking my usual round of blogs on Bloglines, which is a tool that lets you know when someone has updated their site. I saw that a longtime read of mine, Punkintoes, had written, and I went to her blog right away because it had been a while since she posted. I'd been concerned for her recently, because something was going on and she hadn't been able to share it. I was shocked and saddened by what I read. A family member had updated her blog, to let her readers know that she had passed on.
I didn't know what to do with the grief of that revelation. I began reading her blog after I first found Shar's page, which I blogged about a long time ago. I've followed Shelly's difficult journey dealing with tragedy since then, occasionally commenting and exchanging the random email here and there. She lost her sister, and her mother, and then her aunt in a relatively short period of time. It was heartbreaking to read her thoughts, and I prayed for her often, hoping she'd eventually find the peace she sought and needed. I didn't expect her peace to come with her own death, though. There was no one to really say, "I'm sorry" to, other than to leave a small comment on her blog. No one to send flowers to, nobody to hug, no way to say goodbye to a woman I'd never seen, never met, never claimed as a close friend, but always cared about and prayed for. No way to express my sorrow at the loss of her presence in this world. Not just the physical world, but this world we bloggers have created of words and pictures and thoughts. One of ours has gone, one less voice... and I am sad. So, in her honor, I use the medium that connected us, I write my goodbye here, and send it out to the wide open world with the click of the button, and hope that the words float outward and upward.
Goodbye, Shelly. My prayers are with your family, and my hope is that they find comfort in the knowledge that you have been reunited with those you've missed and grieved over for so long. Farewell, friend.
Shelly's mother, Shar, wrote this before she died, "I have learned that life is not just about joy, but also sorrow. It is our sorrows that pave way for greater joy and appreciation for life. It is our sorrows that remind us of our own mortality."
I will never forget those words, or these two remarkable women.
Posted by WonderGirl at 10:47 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 15, 2005
Pouting
Ya know, when someone (like your husband) doesn't laugh when you tell a joke, well, that's bad. But it just adds insult to injury when they ask nicely, "And did you make that one up, sweetie?"
No.
I did not.
Hmf.
I am totally misunderstood as a comedian. (click the link for the joke)
Posted by WonderGirl at 8:48 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
November 14, 2005
Small Talk
Wow, I am totally useless today! What's up with me lately? I have NO get up and go. But I have plenty of lay around and goof off. Hm.
HeroBoy is sick - same thing Czarina had (and still has, to be honest) - viral croup. It's bad coughing, and fever, and difficulty breathing. That part scared me- when he was just gasping for air! I took him to the dr. first thing this morning and got him some medicine. He's knocked out in the bed at the moment. Czarina usually handles these little illnesses better than he does, for some reason. Seems like he always gets stuff worse. I am crossing my fingers that The Duke doesn't get it, too, but I won't be surprised if he pops up with it in a day or two.
Czarina has school the rest of this week, and then she's out for a whole week for Thanksgiving. Wow! I can't believe the holidays are upon us already. It happens this way every year, but it still surprises me.
Well, I don't have much to say, just wanted to throw an update out there. I'll be on later, if I ever find my get up and go. It's around here somewhere, I swear it...
Posted by WonderGirl at 4:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 13, 2005
You Make Me Feel So Fine
I have an early history of ambivalence when it comes to wine. Oh I'd drink it if it were available, at say, a wedding. Or if somebody brought a box to a party (aah, boxed wine, truly the pinnacle of man's accomplishments!) Anyway, if there was wine around, I'd drink it. I'm polite that way. But I didn't really have a taste for it. And then, magically, sometime after Czarina was born, I discovered an appreciation for that sacred drink.
I found that a glass in the evening was just perfect, as I was making dinner. One glass, and a smallish one at that, and my mood lifted instantly. It's like I had been holding my breath and didn't know it, and suddenly, aaaah. Chill.
I like my wine room temperature, red, not too dry, and not too sweet. One glass will do the trick- though I'll have more in a social setting. I like generous sips, and pretty glasses. I'm not hung up on labels and brands, as long as it tastes good. I've had wine made from grapes (surprise, surprise!), muscadines, strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, and most recently, apple blossom wine, which was incredible, and very rare. I think I've had peach and blackberry and others I'm sure, but I can't think of specifics.
What do I like about wine? At first, I didn't like the taste. Too bitter for my palate. But I drank it for the physical impact- and I don't mean drunkenness. I'm talking about that immediate warmth that slips down your throat - it's like a fuzzy blanket on a cold night. I can feel my face flush slightly, my cheeks feel rosy and cozy and quite nice. I smile a little easier, I am comfortable and chatty and happy. The taste of wine became synonymous with that sensation, until one day, it was liquid joy on my lips, a beautiful flavor.
This is not about drunkenness. I won't defend drunkenness as a Christian, because I think the Bible is undeniably straightforward on that. But you can drink wine and not be inebriated, just like you can eat food and not be fat. The Bible actually encourages us to enjoy wine - and no, it doesn't mean grape juice. (I'll be happy to pass along text to support that if you want.) Wine gladdens and cheers, and causes the heart to exult, and that is from the Word of our Lord. It is a gift. Like a sunset, or a kiss, or a cool breeze, or a baby's laugh.
I have heard the argument that as a Christian, I should avoid wine (or other alcohols) because it can be misinterpreted by nonChristians, or because other Christians believe it's wrong. I reject that line of reasoning. For one, I do believe it is a gift, like I mentioned. Who am I to snub the gifts of God, for mere man's opinion? That sounds like such a justification, but seriously- do I think I am too good, too pious, too holy for something that GOD Himself has given me? Secondly, I think wine is a wonderful symbol of the joy we have in Christ, the liberty and the blessings we find with our Maker. I see this as a testament to that, and I happily engage in conversation to explore it with people who may think differently. And in the end, if we have to agree to disagree on the subject, I can accept that. I won't drink my wine in front of you if it makes you uncomfortable, and I won't try to force you to see my point of view. I am respectful of your opinion, just as I hope you are of mine. (Even though my opinion is a little more right than yours. Ha.)
Anyway. I share this here, because last night, I found a depth of happiness that needed expression. As I ate a wonderful Italian meal with friends, at a table overflowing with candles and grapes and beautiful linens, and drank rich, red wine from pretty decanters, and laughed as we scribbled a game of pictionary, I reveled in the joy of it. The abundance of blessings seemed to be the theme of the night, and I can't help but feel God was pleased as His children enjoyed His endless benevolence.
As I lift my glass filled with wine, and eat from my plate filled with savory food, and share an evening filled with laughter, I am filled with thankfulness, and I offer a silent prayer of gratitude to my God.
His gifts are good and perfect, and gladden the hearts of men.
Posted by WonderGirl at 7:37 AM | TrackBack
November 11, 2005
Titled "Eh", or "The Overuse of the Asterisk*"
Eh. This is quite possibly one of my favorite noises to make, a la The Sopranos. Know what I'm talking about? It's the shrug your shoulders, italiany noise you make when you feel ambivalent or indifferent about something. Tony Soprano does an awesome "eh".
"Eh". It's the new "Whatever".
I've been saying it all day (yes, to myself) about all the stuff that needs doing around here. Procrastination, thy name is WonderGirl. I don't wanna do ANYTHING!! Help!!! Somebody light a fire under me and FAST. I just want to veg out of the sofa with my book, my slippers, a movie, and a snickers bar. Hey, when you blow it, you might as well go all the way, right? We won't even look up the calorie count on that one. *shudder* And yes, I can watch a movie and read a book at the same time. It's my special power.
Anyway.
All that to say, yeah, I know this blog has been pitifully quiet lately, and all I can muster up is "eh".
I'm trying, seriously. Okay, I'm kind of trying. A little. I mean, ya know, if I think about it.
*suppressing another eh*
Somebody else wanna take the wheel for a while? Spot me for a bit? Keep this baby afloat for a few days? No? Man, you guys are such TAKERS. I'm outta here.
*bounds off in search of slippers*
Posted by WonderGirl at 3:58 PM | TrackBack
November 9, 2005
It's All About The "O"
How about this, Ms. Overstock.com Spokeslady - your innuend"O" totally creeps me out. Give it a rest, mmkay?
[/random rant]
Posted by WonderGirl at 5:20 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
A Girl With No Wings
(notes from my journal, forty thousand feet in the sky)
Flying inspires me. The novelty will probably never wear off for my simple mind. The fact that we wingless creatures can soar the open heights fills me with awe. The chance to explore the anatomy of the clouds, to plunge ourselves into this white, ethereal field of cotton - well, it's fun. I love the momentum of takeoff, that one second before the wheels lift and you think, "Here it comes! Go, baby, go!" as if your will and encouragement are what gives the plane that last needed push. I smile, every time, even though I try not to. What a victory for mankind! What an accomplishment! And I look around at the people who have already begun to sleep or read, and I wonder, how can you not mark this moment? Look at us! We fly! We did it! We conquered gravity!
I don't want flying to ever be commonplace to me. I don't want to pull the blind down and block out the clouds. I don't want to close my eyes against the patchworked terra firma beneath me. I want to feel the magnitude, the history, the effort, the sheer miracle, that has brought me into the sky. And if I seem naive, or inexperienced, or totally lacking in sophistication with my nose pressed against the window, I don't care. My mind is on other things- like the twisting of rivers, the geometry of corn fields, the glimmering of lakes, the cresting meringue of clouds.
The world becomes bigger as the people become smaller, and I am reminded of life beyond my own vista.
I see the world, and know that I am such a small part of it. And yet, it's exactly the way it should be. The world is too big for any one of us. It takes us all to fill up the nooks and cranies, we each hold up our own little end of the world.
What a lovely way to live, and what a beautiful sight it makes.
Posted by WonderGirl at 12:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Covering Her Bases
Czarina is sick and home from school today- nothing too bad, just a cough and fever. She's loving it- this special treatment. Laying on the couch, watching Tom & Jerry, extra snuggles from Mom, and eating orange jell-o and popsicles - what a life.
Earlier, I could tell she was thinking hard about something, then she turned to me and asked, "Mom - when we're sick, we can still get spankings, right?"
To which I replied, "Yes dear, if you do something wrong, even if you're sick, you will get in trouble."
"Okay, Mom. Just checking."
The scamp.
Posted by WonderGirl at 12:02 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
November 8, 2005
No Night Owl Tonight
Is it totally, unforgivably lame of me to go to bed at 7:45? Cause I really, REALLY want to.
What the hay, I'm going for it.
Posted by WonderGirl at 7:43 PM | TrackBack
November 7, 2005
Le Trip
For those of you just joining our program, let me fill you in. We flew out Tuesday to Baltimore for a longtime friend's wedding. We just got back yesterday. Wow. I thought it would take longer to explain that, but no. I guess I'm much more efficient than I thought.
So, anyway.
Our first flight was delayed, and we missed a connecting flight in Dallas. It put us about an hour and a half behind, but we eventually ended up in Baltimore. I did use the layover time to eat some sushi, which to be honest, was REALLY good, but made me nervous. Cause, ya know. Sushi in an airport? That's weird.
But, we made it in, little bit of jetlag and whatnot, and we got up early Wednesday to do our Baltimore sightseeing. I'm sorry to say, my pictures for this day weren't particularly great - actually, most of the pics I took for this trip were kind of blah. Sorry. My excuse is that I was bone tired and actually a bit sick as well. Eh. Anyway, click the link for Wednesday's photos.
Posted by WonderGirl at 8:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
More of Le Trip
Thursday was an official wedding prep day, so we didn't do any sightseeing. Our next excursion was into DC to see, yes, you guessed it, the bums.
No, I'm kidding. I was scared of the bums, and kept a careful eye out for them. I'm sorry, maybe that's not politically correct or whatever, but guys in trenchcoats with crazy eyes that approach my car scare me. Sue me. And the fact that you have to pay them not to bust into your car when you leave really hacks me off.
Anyway.
We went to the National Mall, which is not the headquarters for Gap and the Yankee Candle Factory. (I'll admit, I thought the National Mall was an actual mall at first. Please don't tell anybody that, though, because it's embarassing.) Anyway, it's the long strip in front of the Capitol that has tons of monuments and museums.
Click the link for pixturizement.
Continue reading "More of Le Trip"
Posted by WonderGirl at 8:10 PM | TrackBack
Last of Le Trip
Saturday was the wedding, which was the last event of the week. (Oh, except for the after party, which lasted until four in the morning, but I'm not allowed to write about that here. I had to sign a document that stated that the aforementioned gathering was not for my blogging pleasure, and I must refrain from any reference to it on my blog. As a matter of fact, there was no party. Nope. Not one at all. We went straight to bed.)
Anyway, I cannot explain just how tired I was at this point. I was in charge of the reception, and had also done the rehearsal dinner, and I was beyond exhaustion. Not saying I wasn't happy to help - I was just super tired, and super busy, and only took a few scant pictures.
Click for em.
Continue reading "Last of Le Trip"
Posted by WonderGirl at 8:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Psst...
Hey!! Guess what?
I'M BACK!!!!!
Yip!!
Posted by WonderGirl at 6:59 PM | TrackBack