Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Improper Poll: The Agony of De Feet


This post is not really about painful shoes. Sorry to have misled, but I was going for a title that combined articles of clothing and sports.

The reason is that I’ve lately been privy to the television watching habits of a certain young adult who shall remain unnamed...and it seems there are entire shows which attempt to make other people’s shopping into a spectator sport. 

To me it’s like watching old guys who are bass fishing. Someone tries to make the show look interesting. You see lots of shots of facial expressions, and often there is some lack of cooperation that is made to seem far more dramatic than it is, but essentially we’re talking about an act that is about as fraught with drama as getting the lid off a jar. There's a little effort, and in the end they probably get what they're after. So here are

Ten Shows I Would Rather Watch Than “Say Yes to the Dress” or “I Found the Gown”

1.      I Saw the Bra
2.      I Barfed on the Scarf
3.      I Care About Underwear
4.      Say No to the Poncho
5.      I’m Peeved About My Sleeve
6.      Say Gak to the Fanny Pack
7.      I Rant at Pants (and Hurt for a Shirt)
8.      I’m Picky About the Dickey
9.      Say Hooray for the Toupee (because it goes without saying that I love men who wear them)
10.  I Scream for Pajama Jeans

Bonus show that TLC is reportedly considering to air after Breaking Amish: I’ve Heard Rumors About What Goes On in Those Bloomers

Do you like to watch other people shop?

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Sweet Aftertaste



I was pleased and flattered to have received this award from Lynn Obermoeller at Present Letters almost a month ago. Unfortunately I was battling computer issues then. So here is my long-overdue response to the Super Sweet Blogger Award!

The Rules:
  • Thank the Super Sweet Blogger who nominated you.
Thank you, Lynn Obermoeller. Not only are you super sweet, you are a fierce and lovely soul who writes with such riveting honesty that it speaks to something deep within the spirit.
  • Answer five Super Sweet questions.
See below.
  • Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post.
See above.
  • Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers.
I don’t have a consistent baker’s dozen of followers, but if you’re here, you are sweet. Consider it passed to you.
  • Notify your nominees on their blog.
Ditto.

The 5 Super Sweet Questions:

  1. Cookies or Cake? – Yes. And pretty much anything that falls within the “dessert” category.
  2. Chocolate or Vanilla? – Yes again. Real milk chocolate wins over just about any other possible ingredient any day, but I don’t like some chocolate flavored things so much, like cake or ice cream. My system craves the real thing and there’s no fooling it.
  3. Favorite Sweet Treat? – Depends, but I get weird cravings for coconut sometimes, so I’d have to say coconut cream pie.
  4. When do you crave sweet things the most? – At night, coincidentally right within the times when we’re supposed to be the most prone to weight gain.
  5. Sweet Nick Name? –Shoot—I’ve had lots of nicknames, but this forced me to realize that no one has ever given me a “sweet” name like Sweetiekins or Honey Pie or Sugar Lips. Never! In fact, some are decidedly UNsweet…hee hee. Should I be offended? Nah. 
Thank you again!

“I’m gonna go talk to some food about this.” ~Liz Lemon, “30 Rock”

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Voodid It Again

A few months ago, I joked about the voodoo that had apparently been performed on my possessions. My new computer has been the worst, undergoing its third reformat in three months. So please don't take it personally that I haven't been visiting your blogs or blogging much myself. Fortunately the powers that be are getting to the root of the problem, and I hope to be up and running again when my computer gets back.

What's depressing is that it's currently travelling more that I have in years.

But right now, that's okay. In fact, I'd like to say a little thank you to my voodooers. It's provided me with an excuse to work on more publishable work, and I'm finally making headway on the book I started ages ago! Hope you are having a wonderful summer!

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. ~Albert Camus