Enjoying a wonderful, chaotic, wildly happy family day. All 19 of us.
Happy Turkey Day, everyone!
Well Read
A couple of months ago, I did one of those Facebook thingies a good friend tagged me for, asking me to compile a list of 10 books that have had an effect on my life.
It was painfully difficult to narrow it down to 10 (at which I failed miserably) and of course, once I hit “post,” I immediately thought of at least 10 more. (Warning: I skew a heavily towards Science Fiction and Fantasy.) These tend to be my most favorite books, that I reread at least once a year – old friends who have woven themselves into the person I am.
I guess that’s part of being a bookworm, and books and reading are odd things (to some, at least) that I am highly grateful for today.
My Top Ten(ish) in no particular order:
1) Grass – Sheri Tepper As mentioned before, I was “horse-mad” growing up and I particularly loved the comparison of an alien society to upper-class English equestrian culture. It was the first book I ever read by Sheri Tepper, who writes beautiful social commentary cloaked in delightful and innovative suspense.
2) Hobbit, Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings – J.R.R. Tolkien Who doesn’t want to visit Middle Earth? His amazingly detailed world is complex and beautifully crafted, as are his characters and their interaction. I’m actually such a Tolkien geek that when I recently saw a business card my husband left on the counter that said, “Mellon” (name of a company), I said without thinking, “Speak, friend, and enter!”
It earned me a weird look, but I’m used to it.
3) The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis Allegory and the fabulous SNL Short “Lazy Sunday” aside, these books have a great storyline and were the first “fantasy” books I read as a child. Plus there are talking animals and an amazing magic wardrobe that moves through space and time (hmmm, kinda like a certain blue police box?) I used to have a little plaque that showed a beam of sunlight illuminating a forest glade (trés fae) with the caption, “Of magic doors there is this, you do not see them even as you are passing through.” I carted that thing for years around my various college apartments and always kept it in a special place, because it reminded me of Narnia and to keep a little magic in my life.
4) Sunshine – Robin McKinley (and Beauty, and the Blue Sword by her as well) McKinley is also a great world builder, with really lovely characters and a gift for retelling childhood fables. Her versions of Beauty and the Beast (she actually has two – I like the first one, “Beauty” the best) and Sleeping Beauty (Spindle’s End) make the stories come alive.
“Sunshine” is a vampire story, but far from the prototypical goth romance – the very grounded heroine of this tale (set in an alternative America) is a baker famous for her cinnamon rolls and snickerdoodles.
5) American Gods – Neil Gaimon Deliciously dark and twisty look at mythology and belief in modern America.
6) Illusions – Richard Bach Sadly there seems to be a little hippy – dippy 70’s seagull poo clinging to this book, but it’s a brilliant story that packs a very powerful message, complete with some potent words to live by; words I have been grateful for during times of difficulty and loss.
“Don’t be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.”
7) Harry Potter series – J. K. Rowling Book candy for adults, mistakenly purposed for children.
8) Disc World and Wee Free Men series – Terry Pratchet Some of the most side-splittingly, wicked humor to ever crack a book; layered like an onion, or a mystery wrapped in an enigma (or as Pratchett says, “like a misery wrapped in an enema.”)
“You could read the Nac Mac Feegle like a book. And it would be a big, simple book with lots of pictures of Spot the Dog and a Big Red Ball and one or two short sentences on each page.” Wee Free Men
9) A Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin I read it (at least as far as it had gotten at the time) years before the HBO series came out. It really annoys my husband when we are watching the show and I already know what happens. (Basically advance knowledge of who dies next). A little windy and drawn out, but some excellent plot lines within.
10) Spenser series – Robert Parker Some of the snappiest, razor-sharp dialogue ever. The banter between characters is pure joy.
And of course, I can’t not mention:
11) Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austin ::sigh::Austin Awesomeness.
and
12) Almost anything by Pat Conroy (Prince of Tides, the Lords of Discipline, The Great Santini). Conroy is a wordsmith and reading his books instilled in me a love for the magic and power of language.
I will stop now before I think of 100 10 more. And yes, since I’m off today, I’ll most likely go and read a book.
Are there books that have made an impact on your life?
The Nano Poblano Oddly Specific Gratitude Blog Hop
Thank you so much, Ann from The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally for tagging me (and the kind words)! I sorta went rogue last week and began posting about odd and random things I am grateful for, so I should be warmed up and ready to go.
Here are the rules:
- Add to the list with your own oddly specific bits of gratitude. Add as few or as many things as you’d like. Include a picture or two if you’d like… but you certainly don’t have to. Put your name at the top of the list to see where yours started and the next blogger’s begins.
- Tag the post with the usual pepper tags and oddly specific gratitude.
- Tag another pepper to add to the list by linking to their About page, but there’s a catch! When you tag the next blogger, be sure to include a bit about why you’re grateful to be in the same blogging world with them.:) (Try not to tag anyone who has already been tagged that way more people get to join in the fun.) The List of Oddly Specific Gratitude
Nerd in the Brain:
1. the smell of wild onions when I mow the lawn
2. coffee makers (having the coffee already prepared in the mornings is magical)
3. the way my crazy dog barks likes a vicious beast at the horses across the road, but then cowers behind me like a needy wimp whenever a horse actually comes close
4. hearing my husband talk on the phone to the rest of his team at work… it reminds me that he’s not just my silly, sweet, awesome husband… he’s also my competent, responsible, highly skilled husband
5. opening a blank lesson plan book and imagining the possibilities to come
6. sausage balls
7. watching Grace’s enthusiasm for all things musical
8. the way I can hear a smile on Olivia’s face whenever we say hello or goodbye on the phone
9. knitting with really soft, squishy yarn
Not a Punk Rocker
10. Getting a random text when Matthew is in cell-signal range. (“Hi”)
11. Awesome stuff in the mail, including Legos and letters from friends, making me smile when I need it the most at the end of a long day.
12. Cherry chapstick.
13. Somebody found my blog by searching for “deadpool talks about political social issues” yesterday.
14. Skype and chat for keeping me in touch with friends in “real-time” when one or the other of us needs it the most.
15. Finding new blogs to read and follow through this challenge!
Jackie P (tobreathistowrite)
16. Having friends like I do here in the blogging world. You all make my days brighter.
17. My dog Sam. He loves me unconditionally, wish more people could love like that. Plus, he makes me laugh daily.
18.Coffee. Without it the world would be a much sadder and thirsty place. And I would be a much harder person to deal with.
19. All the bright and cheerful colors around. Something about bright colors makes me happy. The gold of the sun, the cerulean blue of the sky, the wonder of a rainbow, they never cease to make me glad I’m alive.
20. Books…… you all know what I mean.
Fish of Gold
21. Spell check. Even though it did just strangely try to correct my horribly botched spelling of “another” to “Antoine.” I don’t even know anyone named Antoine, spell check.
22. I’m grateful to myself for being the sucker who couldn’t walk away from my dog’s cage at the animal rescue. My failure to do so has converted 70 dog pounds into a metric ton of joy and unconditional love.
23. Male’s hilariously failed attempts at sexting.
24. My sense of humor. I wouldn’t have survived this long without it.
25. To the Peppers for continuing my harebrained Nano Poblano Blog Hop Story idea and turning it into something unexpectedly awesome. Go Team Pepper
26.I also second #18.
Knocked Over by a Feather
27. My aunts Oreo truffles. They are addictive.
28. Finding my comfy spot in bed.
29. Receiving a spontaneous real hug from my daughter, which rarely happens.
30. Watching stupid TV with my husband.
31. Hearing my mom call me sweetie or something similarly saccharine sweet on the phone
Mental Mama ( Mental in the Midwest)
32. the world’s best tiny mommy
33. Evie and Sissy Cats
34. lithium, depakote, and gabapentin
35. the world’s most amazing support network
36. good dark chocolate, preferably with cherries
37. the jumbo margaritas at Romeo’s – lime, on the rocks, extra salt
Mark Bialczak
38. My dear wife Karen for buying me two season tickets for Syracuse University football six years ago, going to every game with me (but one when she went on a cruise) since and turning home game Saturdays into Happy Happy days win or lose. 39. That Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle usually looks like this on the end of the living room couch and her specially covered ottoman daily come 10 p.m. after a day of enthusiastically ruling our Syracuse city home we call Little Bitty
40. That Karen talked me into going to the Paws for the Cause rescue dog event that March day four years ago when we saw Ellie marching around in her orange “Adopt Me” vest.
41.That my daughter Elisabeth was smart enough and confident enough and brave enough to go back to school this fall to get her associate’s degree and New York State certificate to become a physical therapist’s assistant, 2 1/2 years after getting her bachelor’s in biology.
42. That writing every day on markbialczak.com since Oct. 27, 2013 has turned out to be so much fun.
43.That Sheena Not a Punk Rocker talked me into hosting Nano Poblano this year, allowing me to meet so many interesting new bloggers! Wait. I want to add two more exclamation points to this one!!
Coulddoworse (Rachel or Lundygirl)
44. The park that I walk through four mornings a week
45. Iced fingers
46. Crochet and blogging; though never at the same time
47. making something beautiful
48. flowers
49. Hot toasted sandwiches with my family on a very rainy bank holiday.
50. beauty that you see in the detail
51. Great memories to mull over and enjoy.
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush
52. I am grateful that I was able to copy this whole list with pictures and get it pasted on to my post without messing it up at all, I hope.
53. I am grateful for my kids xoxo, and my husband xoxo
54. I am grateful to read good books, and watch good films
55. Good food, good wine and good friends
56. That I live in the state of California, USA
57. Discussions with my blogger friends and getting their support for my writing
Linda G. Hill – Life in Progress
58. That moment when I’m not aware that I’m falling asleep.
59. The one Smartie (candy-coated chocolate) that tastes slightly different than every other one in the box.
60. #18 – on this list, not the number eighteen.
61. That my children are alive.
62. Whatever it is that compels me to write; specifically to tell stories.
Idiot Writer ~ Idiot Writing :
63. Poetry (obviously) – mostly my poetry – I need it – lots to say things I cannot say any other way.
64. The Sun – when it shines in the UK.
65. The cheap chocolate bars I found! (and so do not feel guilty buying)
66. The fire-place – though I hate the smoke it emits.
67. Figuring out how to pump the tyre on my car yesterday.
68. Internet – SPEcifiCALLY – finding WordPress.
69. Saturdays – Cos I do not drive on Saturdays. Usually.
70. The sound system in my car – and my teens choice of music…it COULD have been – so so – not good.
71. I nearly forgot about SALT. Salt has so many uses! I am eternally grateful that salt – AND potatoes exist.
72. Last but not least…or rather first – EVER so, very grateful – that Linda has wine. 😛
Doobster418
I’m grateful for:
73. The 11 bloggers who came up with 72 oddly specific items for which they are grateful, leaving me to really stretch to come up with anything new or different.
74. That said, I wish to second, third, or fourth (I’ve lost count) #18. COFFEE!
75. God, the almighty creator of everything and everyone, for granting in me the wisdom to…oh damn, the devil made me write that. Never mind.
76. Those rare days when I’m able to sleep later than 6 a.m.
77. My wife, for being a wonderful mother who stayed home to raise two great kids while I was off doing my worky-thing.
78. San Francisco weather, because it never snows, never gets below freezing, and never gets really hot and muggy.
79. My health, except for my vertigo, tinnitus, and my current lameness due to plantar fisciitis. But otherwise, my health is pretty damn good.
80. My blog and the fellow bloggers I interact with on pretty much a daily basis.
81. iTunes
82. The Oxford comma and those who use it.
Lucy at the Excessive Gardener
I am grateful for :
83. I am so grateful for Evernote. Those of us who use and cherish it know why life is so much better. I am really grateful that I spend the few dollars each month for the premium version.
84. Golden Retrievers. My Golden, Roger, died years ago and I still miss him. I live with a Golden, my roommate’s, and he is a joy and a pain to live with but he is proof that if you know one Golden Retriever, you know them all.
85. My new knee. How wonderful it is to walk without pain. I can hardly wait to have the other knee replaced.
86. The drug Avastin. The FDA withdrew approval of the chemo drug for breast cancer, which means insurance companies won’t cover it, and it is not cheap. I was lucky and got in on clinical trials for Avastin. It saved my life.
87. That I live in Florida, right where I want to be: minutes from white, sandy beaches and warm Gulf waters and only 2 hours to Disney World.
88. Better World Books. If you know it, you know what I mean.
89. Quad Core.
90. Defensive gardening. There’s nothing more satisfying than out-smarting a bug or an animal.
Now my list:
91. I’ll start by saying what goes without saying but should be said anyway: I’m grateful for my husband Mark, my family, and my friends.
92. I’m grateful that I live in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) of Minnesota. We have an amazing combination of abundant cultural opportunities, a highly educated and literate population, PLUS endless amounts of parks, lakes, bike trails, you name it. We need the horrific winters to keep out the riffraff.
93. I’m grateful for having a job that provides me opportunity for (partially) subsidized travel experiences.
94. As everyone else said, #18 (coffee!)
95. I’m grateful for books! So many books! So many writers with so many words! As long as I have the capacity to read, I’ll never be bored.
96. I’m grateful that my husband has the best hobby ever: in his spare time, he makes furniture out of wood in our garage. He loves doing it and I love the furniture he makes for me. Talk about win-win!
97. I am grateful for the internet, which provides me with the opportunity to blog and to meet all of you amazing bloggers. I’m particularly grateful for the Nano Poblano Peppers for the sense of community y’all have been providing this month.
98. Cats! I’m grateful for my kitties Tennessee and Zelda for being such cute and cuddly pains in the butt.
Me – Who Am I
I’m grateful for:
99. Warmth! When it’s -10 outside, I’m grateful for a heater that works.
100. We made it to 100! I feel privileged to be the one who fills this one out.
101. My son. He shows me the world in a way that no one else can.
102. Fellow bloggers and the wonderful community we have here.
103. Today I’m grateful for today; a day that I may not have had.
104. Fruit. Fruit does a body good.
105. Sleep, finally! Insomnia is terrible.
Me Next – Chatter Master
106. Not having a body temperature of 94 degrees.
107. Fat baby cheeks that split in to super wide grins and smiles with various numbers of teeth-when they see me.
108. That moment at the end of the day when I know I’m done “doing” all that I am going to do for the day and there are those peaceful few minutes of quiet and relaxing with my husband.
109. Saying “I love you” at the end of phone calls and visits and not feeling awkward about it. And knowing my kids don’t either because I raised them with it being easy to say “I love you”.
110. Remembering a song from childhood and thinking no one else in the world knows it, only to Youtube it and there it is!
111. People. Good people. I’m so very thankful for good people.
Pssst! It’s me, Ann Koplow, from The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally, trying to let go of judgment and add my list of oddly specific gratitudes, starting with #112, which is a number I have no particular associations with:
112. Numbers and other things I have no particular associations with, since I love seeing things in a new light, letting go of baggage from the past.
113. Numbers and other things that I do have particular associations with, since I love things that have been in my life, up to this point.
114. Even though #112 and #113 cover everything in the universe (at least the way I think), I am also oddly specifically grateful for the way I think.
115. Everybody who had ever read my blog or anybody else’s blog, which may seem oddly general instead of oddly specific, at this point. (I’ve been in a very feisty mood lately, so I would like to see ANYBODY give me a difficult time about how I’m choosing to participate here.)
116. My cats, including Oscar, shown here moments after he accidentally accessed Siri — the alleged “personal helper” on my iPhone — having about as much luck getting help from her as I usually do:
117. My keyboard (pictured) and my fingers (not pictured):
118. Photos I take accidentally with my iPhone, like that one directly above.
119. People I meet during the day who are willing to engage in an authentic, open way, even if only for a moment, like Kenny
who stands guardian at the parking lot where I get my medical care, where I’ve been needing to go to several appointments lately because nobody knows what the hell is going on with my health.
120. My memory, which allows me to quote, accurately enough, dialogs I have with people like Kenny, such as:
Kenny (obviously using the memorized script he has to say to every driver who enters the parking lot since, apparently, people are parking there who shouldn’t be): Do you have an appointment here? Are you a patient?
Me (making an exaggerated sad face, because I REALLY DON’T WANT TO BE GOING TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT and then nodding “yes” slowly, saying nothing).
Kenny: (after a brief pause) Oh.
Me: Do you believe me?
Kenny: No.
… which cheered me up considerably and resulted in my Literally Laughing Out Loud.
121. My memory, which allows me to recall another thing Kenny said to me, after I Laughed Out Loud: “You have a good day, sweetie.” (Yes, I know this is supposed to be a list of Oddly Specific Gratitude, not Oddly Repetitive Gratitude, but please see #115, above.)
122. The room to have all my feelings, including sadness, humor, fear, disappointment, annoyance, gratitude, etc. etc. etc.
123. The opportunity to end lists (at least my portion of them)
_____________________________________
After I published this post, I realized I forgot to include something, for which I am NOT oddly specifically grateful:
Michael’s cooking. On what planet would it be odd to be grateful for that?
Kim at Drunk on Life
Not sure if I start with “123.” or “124.” if I include Ann’s postscript?
I’ll go “124.” so…
124. My warm, fuzzy Sasquatch slippers
125. Sunsets from the terrace at my loft.
126. A fire in the fireplace on chilly Sunday mornings, especially if accompanied by #127/#18
127. #18 (Coffee ) even more so with an upgrade (a little Bailey’s Irish Cream)
128. My sister-cousins Patti and Christa. Let me be clear that “Sister-cousins” are not a weird Southern relationship like an “Uncle Daddy.” It’s merely cousins that are more like sisters and mine are a wonderful part of my life.
129. Making jewelry. I don’t do it much anymore, usually just for gifts around the holidays, but I like working with beautiful materials and the soothing feeling you get while working with your hands (and letting your brain go wander).
130. That awesome feeling when you get “your hairs did” as we say in the South. Going to the salon, getting a shampoo with a scalp massage, a glossy new cut and color and the fabulous super-shiny blowout that makes you feel like a rockstar for the rest of the day until you sleep on your glorious new “do” and wake up in the morning looking like a haystack (i.e. back to normal).
131. The good things about Christmas (not the commercial, mass media stuff). Christmas music, candles, Christmas trees and all the sparkly holiday decor, parties, party dresses, cookies, old movies, feeling festive…most of all being with friends and family and the stuff that’s all still a little magical.
132. Nano Poblano and Team Pepper. The support and comments and community are wonderful and I have greatly appreciated being a part of it.
The List of Oddly Specific Bloggers
Nerd in the Brain
Not a Punk Rocker
To Breath is to Write
Fish of Gold
Knocked Over by a Feather
Mental in the Midwest
Markbialczak.com
Coulddoworse
Deborah at Notes Tied on the Sagebrush
Linda at Life In Progress
Idiot Writer
Mindful Digressions
The Excessive Gardener
Booking It
The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally
I would like to nominate grandmalin of Breathing Space if she will do the honors. I really enjoy seeing her art every day – she’s very talented!
Treasuring My Family
Today’s WP Photo Challenge asks you to post a photo that symbolizes something that is a particular treasure to you, not necessarily diamonds or gold, but a thing dear to your heart.
The “Stroh-gersons, both our families celebrating Christmas and the wedding together.
My treasure is my family, both old and new.
I had a very small family growing up. My Dad, my Mom and my sister, our grandparents, maybe a random but beloved cousin here and there. A particularly lovely Aunt comes to mind. Overall, a pretty small group.
My husband has a very large family.
When I married him two years ago, I acquired a most awesome Mom and Dad-in-Law, three Sister’s in Law, 11 nieces and nephews, 2 grandnieces and 1 grandnephew. Plus a fabulous cousin to add to the mix.
The most wonderful thing is everyone not only gets along, but genuinely likes each other. We’ve had some amazing family vacations and I’m coming to cherish each of them as I would my own family.
It’s a treasure that was also a gift – I am grateful for all of them.
Every day I write the book
I just realized that I unwittingly (a somewhat normal condition) swiped my theme of “Odd Things to be Grateful For” from the lovely Nerd in the Brain’s “Oddly Specific Gratitude” Blog Hop.
My humble apologies, Nerd in the Brain – it’s just a really awesome idea and it somehow burrowed into my subconscious to fit the trend my writing was following. If you don’t mind, please, I’d like to keep it, since I fully believe that showing gratitude opens the door for more wonderful things to come into your life.
An excellent reminder of things I am thankful for can be found in our “KAVID, The Year in Pictures” photo books. (KAVID being my husband David’s and my “Celebrity Couple Nickname” in the tradition of Brangelina, TomCat and Bennifer- although hopefully without the accompanying ick factor.)
Each year, as a gift to David, I put together a Snapfish book composed of sequential pictures and memories from the previous Christmas all the way to Thanksgiving (which is about the time I have to order the book to get it in time to put under this year’s tree.)
I try to dedicate at least a page to every major occasion, vacation, special dinner or party we share with family and friends.
When I’ve had a particularly unfriendly day or am just a little down in the dumps, I like to browse through them, savoring memories of wonderful times and remembering how blessed I am to have these people in my life.
So today, I’d like to be notably grateful to have these journals of so much love and happiness.
And to be thankful that every day, in words, actions and interactions, we continue to write the book.
Countdown of Odd Gratitudes Continues…
7 Days of Odd Grats.
Sounds like Russell Crow’s band, 30 Odd Feet of Grunts.
Today I am oddly grateful (or is it grateful for the oddity?) that I finally finished painting my bathroom.
I started in August.
It seemed like a pretty good idea at the time. I had a day off and my bathroom walls were looking a little bleh. Time for a fresh look! It’s a bathroom, it’s small, how difficult could painting it actually be?
Of course, I didn’t really take into account all the weird little half walls, the sporadic decorative tile or the glass block, all of which required miles of taping off and tiny brushwork. By the way, tiny brushwork and I don’t run with the same crowd.
I also cleverly chose a dark metallic to cover my (formerly ivory) walls. Extra coats! Extra work! Fun times!
I limped along for a couple of months doing a miniscule patch here and there (over the mirror! around the showerhead!) all the while my bathroom a nightmare of rollers, brushes, tape and half-usable countertop.
My bête noire turned out to be the giant window with it’s complicated window blind casing that I had to claw out of the wall in order to paint the inside. There I was, like a goldfish in the bowl for all the passing world to see as I stood inside the sill painting around the edges.
But I can most thankfully report that today I packed away the brushes, stripped off the last bit of tape and hauled away the empty paint cans. Mission accomplished!
Now I just have to clean and put everything back.
That much more to be grateful for in the future.
Thanksgiving 2014: Countdown of Odd Gratitudes
I’ve spent the last two days being grateful for unusual (read: weird) things (turkey and dressing, clothing racks) so I think I’ve stumbled into a trend that I will ride until the holiday.
Today’s oddity I’m grateful for: my alligator butler, Jeeves.
We first met Jeeves (or his prototype, who we now call Jeeves, Sr.) at a beach house we rented in Rosemary Beach, Florida two years ago. I fell immediately, head-over-heels in love with the little bronze fella and launched a relentless campaign for a Jeeves of our own. I found his maker on-line (Frontgate) and immediately began staging pictures of Jeeves “being helpful around the house” to assist in the case I was presenting my husband to justify spending hard-earned money on a prefabricated metal reptile.
Whose life wouldn’t be improved with a little assistance from a medium-sized fake lizard with a perky bow tie bearing an ever-so-helpful tray?
I was so wildly successful in my proposal (or so annoying my husband just gave in) that soon a little Jeeves came to live with us.
We have whole-heartedly incorporated him into our lives and actually dress him up for holidays.
Sure and begorrah, that’s me lucky lizard!
Burn’s Supper (Scottish Holiday on the birthday of poet Robert Burns)
Baby New Years. (except that when I posted this picture on Facebook, everyone thought David and I were announcing that we were having a child.)
He’s wildly handy for al fresco suppers.
Jeeves, Sommelier
We often have him greet party guests at the door with a selection of libations.
“Drinks, anyone?”
So today, I am grateful for my wonderful alligator butler.
And my even more awesome husband for bringing him into our lives.
(By the way, Jeeves has his own Facebook page and would like to be your friend.)
Some Assembly Required
My closet is an enormous mess.
Technically, it’s a walk-in closet, but more realistically, it’s a walk-on closet.
In a desperate measure to achieve some kind of order out of the overwhelming chaos, I purchased a garment rack, to give myself a little more space to hang things.
I should have taken all the loose rattling noises from the box as a sign.
There were 5 gazillion pieces to it. Holy crap.
After a moment of panic, I sat down with a large glass of wine the directions and the diagram and figured out which pieces were parts. About a bottle two and a half Downtown Abbey episodes on Amazon later, I emerged victorious.
Voila! The finished rack! Most importantly, there were no unidentified pieces left over when I was done.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am most grateful for my successful foray into storage engineering. Now, for another glass of wine a little inspiration to get started organizing all this clutter!
A Prelude to Thanksgiving
Today was the day my co-worker, C and I have been waiting for all year.
We received the invitation last Friday and we’ve been planning and strategizing ever since, determined to make this one the best ever.
Today was our company’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.
Each year, on the Wednesday the week before Thanksgiving, they throw out an enormous spread for all 500 employees. Turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole, a selection of salads, bread and rolls. A huge dessert display with pies, cakes and cookies, coffee, tea and all kinds of beverages.
::sigh::
Of course, it’s all you can eat and Thanksgiving food (turkey, dressing and gravy) is my absolute favorite food of all, so I can put away my share.
It’s kinda shameful, but C and I train for this, eating small meals for several days in advance. We even forgo breakfast in anticipation.
And each year, we try a little of everything and each year we end up stuffed to the gills, waddling back to the office and laying our heads on the desk feeling like beached whales.
I’m full, but grateful.
Not only am I happy for such a lovely meal, but I’m happy to have a job (many don’t) and mostly, I’m happy to have such a great team to work with. C is awesome and makes my job bearable. My boss is not only fair, but funny and cool and he always has my back. The other managers in my department are supportive and help me do my job. That’s important.
It’s also important to be grateful, and I am. So an early Thanksgiving, in many ways.
Lost in Translation
When I was in 9th grade, I loved nothing more than to write stories. My best friend Laura and I amused ourselves during class by making up tall tales; each of us scribbling a few sentences (or adding an illustration) and passing to the other to continue.
Daily, we composed vast oeuvres in our spiral notebooks.
From these charettes sprang notable tomes, such as the “Further Adventures of Little White Duck,” and the never-to-be-forgotten “Continuing Saga of Corky’s Junebug.” (This was an actual bug, by the way, and not a euphemism.)
Our anecdotes took on an international twist when we acquired a new friend, Ursula*, who transferred to our school mid-term from Frankfurt. She was delighted to teach us her language, and we enthusiastically began to compose our yarns in our fledgling German (along with a little help from a German-American dictionary.) We were perhaps a little more exuberant than structurally correct, but our Duck (die kleine weiße Ente) and Junebug (der Käfer von Corky) novellas flourished in their new language.
Until one fateful day in Biology class.
I should preface this by telling you that we didn’t care much for Biology. It was smelly and difficult and rumors of impending frog dissection were being spread by malicious upperclassmen.
The teacher, Mr. Green,* was terse and unsmiling. Completely unable to make a connection with him or the subject, I poured myself into expanding my body of work.
Laura’s and my latest essay, Das Hässliche Kleine Mann (the Ugly Little Man) based on our somewhat subjective evaluation of Mr. Green,* was promising to be a masterpiece.
At some point, caught up in the story, I forgot to check before I passed, and openly handed my notebook across the aisle to Laura’s desk for her to add the next lines.
A shadow fell over us.
The notebook was snatched from my hand.
“Miss Ferguson. Miss Roberts*.”
Caught.
“Ah, an essay in German!” Mr. Green* sounded almost jubilant. “How wonderful! Did you know I minored in German in college?”
Scheiße.
We were dead.
Mr. Green* continued that he’d be quite happy to grade our little essay for grammar and vocabulary, right then and there, in lieu of a Biology quiz.
By paying attention in class and actually doing the assignments, I eventually recovered from the debilitating grade.
It put quite a damper, however, on my burgeoning career as a novelist.
(*All names have been changed to protect me from retaliation.)
Drunk on Life 