I got a new friend request on myspace this morning, from one of my cousins that I've never really kept in touch with. Her dad (my uncle John) passed away on Monday.
First, this is sad of course. I know he was a good man, and he looked a lot like my dad. Second, it's strange, in a few different ways. This past weekend I was thinking about him, and considering writing a letter to him to see if he'd be willing to tell me more about my dad and their family to help my attempts at geneaology. But now that he's gone, I don't think there's anyone that would really know much about their parents & their story. On top of that, when I read John's obituary I learned that he had a few more children than I knew about, and a total of 20 grandchildren! So now the whole "let's learn more about my extended family" idea just got a whole lot more daunting.
I admit a little bit of jealousy towards B's family, in that they are all so close. His cousins are good friends of ours, and we keep in close contact with them. Granted, there aren't very many of them (B's mom has one brother, and his dad has one sister, so not a whole lot of branches on the family tree), but I still wish I had that with my own family.
My mom has 3 sisters, only one of whom I've actually met (and only once!). My dad had a brother and a sister, and we kept in touch with them when I was young and their mom was still alive, but we lost touch soon after she passed away. Of all of these aunts & uncles and all their kids, I only know a fraction of them. I may still try to get in contact with a lot more of them, just to see if I can at least develop a correspondence.
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Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
If I was on a diet, I totally would have blown it today
I discovered today that while red velvet cake is not my favorite, cream cheese frosting is and always will be. Also Butterfinger ice cream = DA BOMB.
(Yes, today was a co-worker's birthday. No, this is not my everyday lunch fare.)
***
The job, when related to a rollercoaster, is currently on the sloooow upward climb before all the dizzying loop-de-loops and nasty drops where your stomach relocates to your throat. In other words, I don't have much going on right now but it looks like next month will be a nightmare. Three major trips in three weeks: Washington DC, Raleigh, and Boston. Time to vacuum the sawdust out of my suitcase I guess.
***
I think I'm going to try to have my mom visit for Christmas. Last time, she not only got stuck in O'Hare overnight, but also caught a disgusting plague. Good times were not had by all, to say the least. This time, perhaps a non-stop flight from Phoenix to Detroit will solve the one problem, and a pre-trip care package of Airborne tablets might help solve the other?
***
In regards to the craziness that is my home, B's den is done, the back door is nearly done, the basement carpet is as clean as it's gonna get, and things are starting to come back together. The added bonus of having Mom to visit is her inherent desire to decorate will come in handy!
(Yes, today was a co-worker's birthday. No, this is not my everyday lunch fare.)
***
The job, when related to a rollercoaster, is currently on the sloooow upward climb before all the dizzying loop-de-loops and nasty drops where your stomach relocates to your throat. In other words, I don't have much going on right now but it looks like next month will be a nightmare. Three major trips in three weeks: Washington DC, Raleigh, and Boston. Time to vacuum the sawdust out of my suitcase I guess.
***
I think I'm going to try to have my mom visit for Christmas. Last time, she not only got stuck in O'Hare overnight, but also caught a disgusting plague. Good times were not had by all, to say the least. This time, perhaps a non-stop flight from Phoenix to Detroit will solve the one problem, and a pre-trip care package of Airborne tablets might help solve the other?
***
In regards to the craziness that is my home, B's den is done, the back door is nearly done, the basement carpet is as clean as it's gonna get, and things are starting to come back together. The added bonus of having Mom to visit is her inherent desire to decorate will come in handy!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
How WEIRD. And no, I'm not a stalker.
I've mentioned before that my favorite online writer is Linda at All & Sundry. She never fails to either inspire me, or make me laugh so hard that I snort. So in the spirit of "looking busy on the computer at work" I like to read her archives, for entertainment purposes, but also to see how she dealt with certain things that happened before I started reading her that I might be able to pull advice from. I stumbled on this entry today, and yes it's dated correctly! (I like to start a story at the beginning, okay?) But what struck me the most, is how she was able to articulate so many things that I'm the same way about, but I probably wouldn't have thought to write them down. So here's my version of "100 Ubiquitous Things About Me", and yeah there are a few that I didn't change from Sundry's version. (PS: I hate how Blogger doesn't keep the list formatting!)
The ubiquitous "100 things" entry!
1. I have 1 half-sister and 3 half-brothers, and all of them are much older than me.
2. Therefore, it makes sense that my mom has been mistaken for my grandmother many times. But I think she's incredibly beautiful (for an old biddie!)
3. I don't have a favorite color, but I tend to wear more blue & green.
4. I'm not afraid of snakes or spiders, but moths freak me the hell out.
5. I didn't break 100 pounds until my freshman year of college.
6. Someday I want to own a gift shop in the touristy section of a coastal town, and sell things that I made, photos I've taken, artwork I've framed.
7. I obsessively watch Dirty Dancing and Top Gun when I was a kid, but didn't "get it" until I watched them again in college.
8. I hate drinking alcohol at home. I might finish half a beer, but I only really like hot apple cider & rum when I'm at home.
9. The only organized sport I've ever tried was basketball, and I quit after a week & started keeping stats for the team instead.
10. I have a piss-poor memory, which I think must be genetic.
11. The only grandparent I remember is my father's mother. The rest died either when I was a baby or before I was born.
12. I don't know how to drive a stick.
13. I used to love archery, and I would still like to own a compound bow, but I don't know if I could hunt with it.
14. I took a gymnastics class in middle school.
15. I can't sing, but I have a good ear for tone & pitch and can help B tune his guitar by ear.
16. I don't believe that a campground with paved roads and electricity is really camping.
17. I'm more of a cat person than a dog person.
18. I didn't know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat until the last election.
19. My hands are always cold.
20. I spent a month in Hawaii while I was in college, but would never want to live there.
21. I am apt to well up with tears over the most embarrassing things, like Gary Sinise doing the voiceover for Army commercials.
22. Until a year ago, I hadn't thrown up since I was 12. Now, any licorice flavored alcohol is bad news.
23. I pick my nose sometimes, and so do you! You do too!
24. I don't like flying, and can't sleep on a plane.
25. I'm an insomniac. It usually takes me at least an hour, sometimes more, to fall asleep at night.
26. I never really cooked until this past year, and I'm discovering that I kind of like it.
27. I'm a sucker for an accent of any kind.
28. I've thrown my back out while scrubbing the bathtub.
29. When I walk up stairs barefoot, my left foot stays flat but I always walk on my toes with my right foot.
30.I carry my stress in my shoulders and neck, and no amount of Tiger Balm or massage will help it.
31. I hate folding laundry.
32. I daydream all the time, but have learned to multi-task.
33. I hate having my feet touched, unless B is giving me a serious foot rub with no tickling involved, with my socks on.
34. The dentist totally doesn't bother me.
35. I really enjoy sci-fi and fantasy type books & TV shows.
36. The only kind of music that I really hate is gangsta rap.
37. I hate driving in strange cities, especially in congested areas.
38. I would eat some form of potato with every meal if I could.
39. I love to decorate.
40. I absolutely cannot justify spending large amounts of money on clothing, but would gladly spend hundreds on artwork.
41. I'm a pretty courteous driver, unless you're an asshole.
42. My parents owned their own business.
43. I had my own computer when I was a kid, one of the first "portable computers" that was the size of a suitcase with a handle on one end. I liked playing "Baghdad" and Pacman.
44. I played the xylaphone/marimba in high school, and the marching rig for it weighed more than I did.
45. I hate having my picture taken.
46. I used to collect keychains.
47. I have never used a push-lawnmower. Riding, yes. Push, no.
48. I have phobias about electricity, firecrackers, and storms.
49. I still remember a dream that I had when I was little about my mom turning into a vampire.
50. My dad surprised my mom with a '67 Mustang when they were first married. She still has it.
51. I was in "advanced classes" all through school, until college when I stopped trying to do well.
52. I hate when people drink out of milk jugs. The goop that collects around the mouth of the jug just grosses me out.
53. I never wear lip color. My lips are naturally bright.
54. I hate extremely hot weather and high humidity.
55. I love carousels, and have two porcelain musicbox horses.
56. I have never ridden a rollercoaster, and never will.
57. I have never taken any illegal drugs.
58. In regards to 57, I was a DARE Role Model in high school and damn proud of it!
59. I would love to take horseback riding lessons.
60. I don't know my bloodtype.
61. I used to like going to my best friends house just so we could play with her little brother's toys.
62. I have never watched a porno.
63. When my blood pressure goes up, all the veins in my forehead stick out. My friends in high school called me a klingon.
64. When out with a group of people, I usually prefer to quietly observe rather than be a part of the happenings.
65. I hate to be told what to do.
66. I went through a phase in college where I put sour cream on pretty much everything.
67. My favorite job was at Barnes & Noble, and I would totally work there again.
68. My high school only had about 700 students, and my college only had about 2000.
69. I almost always show up at appointments way too early.
70. I have a funny dimple birthmark on my belly, right next to my bellybutton.
71. I'm kind of a picky eater.
72. I don't really like going to concerts because I feel the crowd often detracts from the music.
73. I take things very personally and I'm easily wounded.
74. I have a hard time getting comfortable in bed. I almost always wake up in the middle of the night with one of my arms all tingly.
75. My 17th birthday was, in retrospect, the worst birthday ever.
76. I coughed so hard when I was sick in college that I cracked a rib.
77. I lost a spelling bee in middle school on the word "wrought."
78. My face turns bright red & tingles when I get nervous or embarrassed.
79. I was on the flag team in middle school.
80. I taught myself how to drive because my mother was terrified of riding with me.
81. I developed an allergy to wool after working in a store that sold wool rugs.
82. I took ballroom dancing to cover my P.E. requirements in college.
83. Every time I get a fever, I hallucinate that the walls are closing in on me.
84. The only type of facial cleansing product I use is makeup remover wipes and sometimes witch hazel.
85. I've never been in the hospital.
86. I would love to run an animal rescue.
87. I love folk music, thanks to my dad. He used to sing to me in the car.
88. I hate talking on the phone. I tend to use email or text more often.
89. Tailgaters piss me off more than anything.
90. It seems to me that I am always the person to move aside, on sidewalks etc, instead of someone else getting out of my way.
91. I always get flustered when someone holds the door for me.
92. I have an oral fixation. I'm either biting my nails or chewing my pens all the time.
93. I like watching dog shows, and as a result I can identify almost any breed.
94. I probably cuss too goddamn much.
95. I've wanted a horse since I was a child, and I would still love to have one.
96. I can only crack the knuckles on my ring fingers.
97. I can't go underwater without holding my nose.
98. I'm a beer snob.
99. Even in the worst level of drunkeness ever, I would never do karaoke. But I will laugh at you when you do.
100. I'm a master at procrastination, but when it's actually something important I'll do it right away.
The ubiquitous "100 things" entry!
1. I have 1 half-sister and 3 half-brothers, and all of them are much older than me.
2. Therefore, it makes sense that my mom has been mistaken for my grandmother many times. But I think she's incredibly beautiful (for an old biddie!)
3. I don't have a favorite color, but I tend to wear more blue & green.
4. I'm not afraid of snakes or spiders, but moths freak me the hell out.
5. I didn't break 100 pounds until my freshman year of college.
6. Someday I want to own a gift shop in the touristy section of a coastal town, and sell things that I made, photos I've taken, artwork I've framed.
7. I obsessively watch Dirty Dancing and Top Gun when I was a kid, but didn't "get it" until I watched them again in college.
8. I hate drinking alcohol at home. I might finish half a beer, but I only really like hot apple cider & rum when I'm at home.
9. The only organized sport I've ever tried was basketball, and I quit after a week & started keeping stats for the team instead.
10. I have a piss-poor memory, which I think must be genetic.
11. The only grandparent I remember is my father's mother. The rest died either when I was a baby or before I was born.
12. I don't know how to drive a stick.
13. I used to love archery, and I would still like to own a compound bow, but I don't know if I could hunt with it.
14. I took a gymnastics class in middle school.
15. I can't sing, but I have a good ear for tone & pitch and can help B tune his guitar by ear.
16. I don't believe that a campground with paved roads and electricity is really camping.
17. I'm more of a cat person than a dog person.
18. I didn't know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat until the last election.
19. My hands are always cold.
20. I spent a month in Hawaii while I was in college, but would never want to live there.
21. I am apt to well up with tears over the most embarrassing things, like Gary Sinise doing the voiceover for Army commercials.
22. Until a year ago, I hadn't thrown up since I was 12. Now, any licorice flavored alcohol is bad news.
23. I pick my nose sometimes, and so do you! You do too!
24. I don't like flying, and can't sleep on a plane.
25. I'm an insomniac. It usually takes me at least an hour, sometimes more, to fall asleep at night.
26. I never really cooked until this past year, and I'm discovering that I kind of like it.
27. I'm a sucker for an accent of any kind.
28. I've thrown my back out while scrubbing the bathtub.
29. When I walk up stairs barefoot, my left foot stays flat but I always walk on my toes with my right foot.
30.I carry my stress in my shoulders and neck, and no amount of Tiger Balm or massage will help it.
31. I hate folding laundry.
32. I daydream all the time, but have learned to multi-task.
33. I hate having my feet touched, unless B is giving me a serious foot rub with no tickling involved, with my socks on.
34. The dentist totally doesn't bother me.
35. I really enjoy sci-fi and fantasy type books & TV shows.
36. The only kind of music that I really hate is gangsta rap.
37. I hate driving in strange cities, especially in congested areas.
38. I would eat some form of potato with every meal if I could.
39. I love to decorate.
40. I absolutely cannot justify spending large amounts of money on clothing, but would gladly spend hundreds on artwork.
41. I'm a pretty courteous driver, unless you're an asshole.
42. My parents owned their own business.
43. I had my own computer when I was a kid, one of the first "portable computers" that was the size of a suitcase with a handle on one end. I liked playing "Baghdad" and Pacman.
44. I played the xylaphone/marimba in high school, and the marching rig for it weighed more than I did.
45. I hate having my picture taken.
46. I used to collect keychains.
47. I have never used a push-lawnmower. Riding, yes. Push, no.
48. I have phobias about electricity, firecrackers, and storms.
49. I still remember a dream that I had when I was little about my mom turning into a vampire.
50. My dad surprised my mom with a '67 Mustang when they were first married. She still has it.
51. I was in "advanced classes" all through school, until college when I stopped trying to do well.
52. I hate when people drink out of milk jugs. The goop that collects around the mouth of the jug just grosses me out.
53. I never wear lip color. My lips are naturally bright.
54. I hate extremely hot weather and high humidity.
55. I love carousels, and have two porcelain musicbox horses.
56. I have never ridden a rollercoaster, and never will.
57. I have never taken any illegal drugs.
58. In regards to 57, I was a DARE Role Model in high school and damn proud of it!
59. I would love to take horseback riding lessons.
60. I don't know my bloodtype.
61. I used to like going to my best friends house just so we could play with her little brother's toys.
62. I have never watched a porno.
63. When my blood pressure goes up, all the veins in my forehead stick out. My friends in high school called me a klingon.
64. When out with a group of people, I usually prefer to quietly observe rather than be a part of the happenings.
65. I hate to be told what to do.
66. I went through a phase in college where I put sour cream on pretty much everything.
67. My favorite job was at Barnes & Noble, and I would totally work there again.
68. My high school only had about 700 students, and my college only had about 2000.
69. I almost always show up at appointments way too early.
70. I have a funny dimple birthmark on my belly, right next to my bellybutton.
71. I'm kind of a picky eater.
72. I don't really like going to concerts because I feel the crowd often detracts from the music.
73. I take things very personally and I'm easily wounded.
74. I have a hard time getting comfortable in bed. I almost always wake up in the middle of the night with one of my arms all tingly.
75. My 17th birthday was, in retrospect, the worst birthday ever.
76. I coughed so hard when I was sick in college that I cracked a rib.
77. I lost a spelling bee in middle school on the word "wrought."
78. My face turns bright red & tingles when I get nervous or embarrassed.
79. I was on the flag team in middle school.
80. I taught myself how to drive because my mother was terrified of riding with me.
81. I developed an allergy to wool after working in a store that sold wool rugs.
82. I took ballroom dancing to cover my P.E. requirements in college.
83. Every time I get a fever, I hallucinate that the walls are closing in on me.
84. The only type of facial cleansing product I use is makeup remover wipes and sometimes witch hazel.
85. I've never been in the hospital.
86. I would love to run an animal rescue.
87. I love folk music, thanks to my dad. He used to sing to me in the car.
88. I hate talking on the phone. I tend to use email or text more often.
89. Tailgaters piss me off more than anything.
90. It seems to me that I am always the person to move aside, on sidewalks etc, instead of someone else getting out of my way.
91. I always get flustered when someone holds the door for me.
92. I have an oral fixation. I'm either biting my nails or chewing my pens all the time.
93. I like watching dog shows, and as a result I can identify almost any breed.
94. I probably cuss too goddamn much.
95. I've wanted a horse since I was a child, and I would still love to have one.
96. I can only crack the knuckles on my ring fingers.
97. I can't go underwater without holding my nose.
98. I'm a beer snob.
99. Even in the worst level of drunkeness ever, I would never do karaoke. But I will laugh at you when you do.
100. I'm a master at procrastination, but when it's actually something important I'll do it right away.
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