Saturday, June 30, 2007

Reading List



This guy is such an incredible writer and this is a fantastical, breathtaking tale. I checked it out from the library and read it last year (you know, when I was out of my mind) and while I remembered certain elements, I'd forgotten how beautiful and lyrical it was.

I picked it up at the bookstore a couple of weeks ago and finally dug into it again last weekend. I'll likely finish it tomorrow--one of those books where you are both racing to see how it ends and dragging your feet because you hate the idea of leaving the world it weaves.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Done!

The 06-07 school year is over. All my projects are turned in, all but one final report is completed and submitted (the remaining one is not due until August 1st-turning it in now would just be showing off) and I am off until July 16th*.

Next week? Off to Charleston for a real, grown-up party for the 4th. There's an overnighter to Greenville planned for the 14-15 with a few of them wild widders and an overnighter to Hilton Head the first of August.

Oh yeah and on Saturday? A birthday party. For a one-year old. It may be what I'm looking forward to the most--it's a co-workers child and I love her like she was mine. I imagine it's gonna be a real wingding.

*I have to go by on the 10th for one little errand, but other than that, I don't intend to darken the door at work until the 16th.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Anniversaries

Today would have been our fourth. Toasting you with a nice Grand Marnier Margharita Donnie. I miss you every day.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

I tried. Really I did

My best friend said to me the other day, "You need to get out there.", in reference to me & dating. She couldn't exactly tell me where 'there' is--pesky little detail, that.

Anyway, I live about an hour away from Aiken, South Carolina, which is a lovely, charming town that has managed to retain its small-town southern sensibilities while shrewdly catering to an influx of polo folks from around the world.

As for there, I decided yesterday it was an Aiken Foxhounds game. I reserved a box seat on the Internets and headed on over.

You know what the problem is with activities like this? Turns out all these...people show up. Like the immediately overly-friendly middle-aged guy seated next to me. Who was dressed as if he'd just finished cleaning his garage & decided the next thing to do was head on over to the game. And who also immediately creeped me out*.

Next came the yuppies who were seated behind me. The one couple wasn't too bad-had a baby who was able to sleep through Dad's constant obnoxious remarks to the ump & the home team players. He was for the visiting team. Thanks for sitting right behind home plate, dude. And shut up. The other gal with them who was herding three girls, a toddler & two others in the 5-6 year old range, would.not.shut.up: "Eatyourburgersweetieyousaidyouwanteditnoyou'renotgoingtodrinkallofmommie'sdrinkohdearshedoesn't
weighenoughtoholdtheseatdownfinishyourburgerandwe'll
getcottoncandy." in the first forty seconds alone.

And the kids were bored. They couldn't see & one of them was bothered by bugs and her sunburn. We know this because of the ongoing whine from her of "There are bugs and my sunburn hurts and I want to go home." every minute or so like clockwork.

So when the two twenty-something guys stuck with a couple of little brothers for the evening showed up at the bottom of the second inning and sat in the bleacher seats to my left & the two younger kids immediately started bitching about the seats & that they were hot & couldn't see perfectly because of the fence...I knew my time was up.

Came home, put on my gown, grabbed a Yuengling Black & Tan, fired up my 32-inch flat screen and reveled in the quiet.

I'm going to give it another try. I scoped out some bleacher seats that looked like the best in the house & I do like a live baseball game. I see this 'there' thing is going to take some work.

*I kind of berated myself about being immediately creeped out by the guy because he was...too friendly. But when he became impatient with the gal who was taking her handicapped sister around, snapping a few pictures of her at the ballpark because they blocked his view for all of about twenty seconds, I mean sheesh. You paid 8 bucks for the seat at a minor league game. A $150.00 seat at the world series, it ain't. Get over yourself, Jerk. Reminded me to always trust my instincts.



Friday, June 22, 2007

The Memorial Service

for the nine Charleston firefighters can be viewed at the SCETV site. It's touching, bittersweet, funny and heartrending.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The Firefighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God
Whenever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age,
Help me embrace a little child
Before it is too late.
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate
Enable me to be alert and Hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and To give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and Protect his property
And if according to my fate I am to lose my life,
Please bless with your protecting hand,
My children and my wife.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Sunday Dinner

Center cut pork chops & new potatoes cooked on the charcoal grill along with a nice little fresh spinach salad.

I love food cooked on the charcoal grill.

The Braves are losing as we speak and tomorrow it's back to work.

Hope y'all are having a nice Father's Day.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

A nice soaking

thunderstorm made its way through here last night and dropped temperatures by about ten degrees today as well as perking up the grass and flowers. The rain was welcome and coming as it did at bedtime, it was a nice way to be lulled to a mostly dreamless sleep last night.

We're under a thunderstorm watch right now & I'm hoping another nighttime storm will meander its ole self down this way again tonight. There's something soothing about laying in bed listening to the rain patter against the window.

Braves versus the Twins tonight--shades of '91, the series that broke my heart. Tomorrow I'll make an evening road trip to Charleston to see a widder friend for dinner, then head on back for work Thursday. We've started summer hours, so now till August is three-day weekend time. I predict quite a bit more stuff will be leaving this house for various destinations, including the Salvation Army and the landfill.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

So Paris

was released due to 'medical reasons' after only three days of confinement.

I didn't realize whore-itis was now a recognized medical condition.

ETA: Turns out she 'has a rash'. Yeah, I'll just bet she does.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

More on 'TB Guy'

"I know if he had any thought whatsoever that he would put others in harm's way, he absolutely would not have gone," said David Rich, a Nashville attorney who was Speaker's law school roommate.

"If you subtract this TB thing from Drew Speaker, he's really a pillar of the community," Rich said.


Yes, much in the same way many women say, "Aside from the fact he gets liquored up every Saturday night and beats the shit out of me, he's the best husband in the world."

Friday, June 1, 2007

The TB guy

The CBS Morning Show began today with the line: "We're learning more details about Andrew Speaker."

Here's a detail about him I don't need to learn from the newscast: He's a selfish, spoiled asshole. Bet he's a delight to work with.