since I occasionally post my appreciation for good commercials. I feel obliged to also voice my apathy for the low, shitty ones. here's what I think, and what I've always thought about the last few years of this company's commercials...

hey, AT&T! 

exploiting, harassing, corrupting and demoralizing children is disgusting and wrong

 YOUR 

PIECE-OF-SHIT

COMMERCIALS 

 SUCK

  (...doing it regularly on NATIONAL TELEVISION gets you bonus evil points--bastards)

  

I know beggers can't be choosers, but...

it'd be really cool if he were bored when he came to my copy ;)

Neil GaimanAuthor, Graphic Novelist, "Stardust"

more from Neil Gaiman »

"Neil Gaiman on WhoSay"

snakes on a sidewalk

For the record, I do not consider myself a "snake person," nor do I feel 100% comfortable around people who have and/or collect snakes (or  lizards or frogs) as "pets"

THAT BEING SAID

This little buggar was trying his best to catch some sun yesterday when I returned from moving a few things into the new condo. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but I didn't think it was poisonous because the shape of the head and rounded eyes are non-viper. I might have also texted a picture to Rob for safe measure before entertaining further contact :)  -- this is a baby Rat Snake

I tried to shoo him into the bushes but he was determined to stay right there on the sidewalk, no doubt hoping for a few rays of sunshine to peep through the clouds. Maybe he just ate a little lizard and was stuck in the open trying to digest. Maybe the recent sharp drop in temperature left him feeling too aware of his cold blooded existence...who knows.

And I would have just left him there except I knew one of two things would probably happen: 

1. The neighborhood cat (and avid snake killer) "Puddles" would take it as his next victim (until now the only snakes I've ever seen here have already met Puddles), or 

2. another person passing by would have the ever so common reaction of "KILL THE SNAKE!!!" and the same sad fate would occur

So I scooped him up in a glass bowl then transferred him into a small bucket with leaves and some water. He seems to be a very perceptive little snake and would look right at me even if I wasn't moving around or making noise. 

He may not know it (or appreciate it) but spending a few days in our apartment until later in the week when it warms back up might just save his little reptile life. Or at least extend it somewhat. 

Having had the experience we had with rodents in our last abode, I'm more than happy to support the rat snake population on this island!

Rob said he couldn't believe I caught it and honestly, it was just a spur of the moment thing but it had a lot to do with the fact that he was clearly somewhat disabled. Which reminded me of a time when I was little (really little...like, 5 or 6) and was playing in the yard while mother was humoring the Jehovah's witness who had just stopped by the house. I discovered a little green snake and picked it right up to take in and show mom. I was so proud of myself.

(they look like this)

The Jehovah's witness nearly fainted and of course fled the scene. We've since joked that she probably though I was Satan's spawn bringing the serpent to tempt the unfaithful.

Mom saved it in a shoebox until Dad came home from work, at which time I was educated on exactly what kind of snake it was and on NOT picking up ANY snakes even though I not only felt I would sense which ones were bad or good (haha) I also loved all animals so much that I truly believed they would sense this and never hurt me (but I've always thought children are so much more in tune with the world than adults...so there's still a chance I might have been on to something ;)

(UPDATE:...umm...the snake died anyway. so it goes)

AD WINNER OF THE MONTH (possibly year)

KMART - Ship My Pants

praise be....I finally finished my damn taxes. I even made myself (and Rob) wait on dinner so that I had them done and submitted.

I realize I could have waited a few more days to really maximize on the experience, but in a moment of weakness I felt inclined to get it over with.

I've struggled for weeks with my returns, convinced I've missed something. And, well, knowing I surely have because I haven't had or made the time to earn the degree in forensic tax and finance required to file a really impressive return...sigh.

but it's done! wooooo!

(and now my thera-flu is kicking in)

I did it....

a few weeks ago as I climbed out of my car after work to head into our condo (aka 'the cave') I had that "hmmm, feel like I might get a cold" feeling....you know the one. really hard to describe. it's sortof a back-of-the-throat / sinus / head thing...weird

that night I dreamt I woke up with a cold, and the next day....you guessed it....I woke up with a cold--sore throat and everything.

I only left work early one day of last week (though I probably should have been out -completely- for two...hey, I'm no whiner...I had to go in and prove to others I could be at work sick -- if you don't at least infect one or two others you're just faking it)...seriously, there is no compassion for the cold in the workplace--all my working years (all of them. hah) I've never understood why that is.

anyway, the last few days I have suspected my cold had evolved into something that may or may not go away on it's own...I have probably had two or three true blue [bacterial] upper respiratory infections in my life--but one thing I have never had and never want to have is an ear infection, so all morning and early afternoon as I wobbled around at work thinking the floor was surely going to come up and smack me any second (there's no way I'm passing out between my office and the front desk...especially not in this dress...) I thought about it. I don't feel all that bad, but I kindof do....and finally when a trip to the boss' office seemed downright perilous, I did it

I made the call. And it was much easier than I thought it would be (or perhaps should be). I called my doctors office and told the nurse what I thought I had/needed. I even offered my very sincere rendition of why I don't think people should arbitrarily take antibiotics...I gave him multiple opportunities to turn me away, even offered to come in for a listen...nope, says he, the doctor is sick too....which pharmacy do I use

so. off to CVS I go.

(walks delicately away from computer...I wonder how driving will be?)

"next up: bs-o-meters around the world continue to hold firm in un-measurable, off-the-meter positions..."

(for the record, I try to focus the majority of my energy toward supporting, encouraging and sincerely appreciating 'good' -- but I gotta confess, I firmly believe the disease is chronic and terminal)

not to undermine the other staggering buffoon moments in just this week alone, but this guy deserves a highlight....

In a statement Thursday, [Republican U.S. Rep. - Alaska, Don] Young said that during an interview this week with KRBD Radio in Ketchikan, he used a term that was commonly used during his days growing up on a farm in Central California. The congressman says, in his words, "I know that this term is not used in the same way nowadays and I meant no disrespect."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/29/alaska-congressman-migrant-slur/2030259/

umm....well, I hate to break it to you dude, but I'm pretty sure that term is used EXACTLY THE SAME WAY 'NOWADAYS' 

idiot

SOLD!!! my contributions to capitalism. And a few notes on the spring-fall phenom

Yesterday I went to the grocery store after work--and since I had to pick up a prescription at the CVS on the north end of the island, it worked out perfectly that I could shop at Harris Teeter instead of going to the more economical Winn Dixie. But honestly even if I was going to the other pharmacy I'd have driven a few extra miles anyway because I was needing a fresh market/gourmet grocery store fix. And buddy, I found it. I was so excited when I got home about all the NEAT stuff I'm going to cook this week. A person who really knows me knows that for me, $100 at a specialty grocery or farmers market is better than $300 in counseling.For a long list of reasons, but the bottom line is it makes me happy. I mean, seriously, happy enough to blog about it the next day- that's enthusiasm.

Before I go further, let me do a little theres an app for that advertising. I have a nifty app on my Nook called Smart Foods - Organic Diet Buddy

it's not as extensive as I'd like, but it's great for the basics and tells you what produce you really should buy organic and which ones don't matter so much. Some of it is common sense -- we all [should] know that apples and citrus are heavily treated with chemical pesticides (that DO sink into the skin) while potatoes, onions....things that grow underground...not so much (unless you live in certain parts of Washington state...sad sigh (one time in 8th or 9th grade I wrote a very amateur little essay that was anti-nulcear anything--I had a wonderful genius as a father--I was a smart fucking kid)

ok. on to my shopping adventure

last night I was making French Spring Soup and I needed carrots for it, so at first I grabbed a cheap bag of carrots, but THEN I saw these

followed by a very brief, slightly awkward & somewhat inwardly embarrassing moment as my first thought upon seeing them was, holy crap! REAL carrots

in my minds defense, by "real carrots" I was thinking about any time in my life that myself, any person of my family and/or any of my friends have ever tried to grow carrots, THIS is what they look like!!!....normal people don't grow those hulking things you find in the bags. I want normal carrots!

I also keep in mind the bigger picture. It helps that they left the stalks on because of (in no particular order and certainly not an exhaustive list) A. hello marketing appeal--from hippies to Sea Islanders, it looks cool, B. the presence of the stalk helps the buyer somewhat ignore the obvious--that they're actually rather small (this consumer is happy to buy smaller carrots), and C. they make the produce at least LOOK as though it has been as minimally processed as possible--and if you look you'll see there's even a little dirt still on them...if that's fake then I'll take it for the sheer effort

and I made soup but not for eating last night. It's supposed to sit overnight--much like true New England lobster stew--for the full flavor. So I also made some [really half-assed for me but tasty] spaghetti and meatballs. We opened a nice botttle of Sangiovese and even ate at the table. AND after dinner Rob humored a Rachel Recital of the memorized-since-childhood "Jabberwocky" AND a very spiritual reading of "The Cremation of Sam Mcgee."

ahem

Now on to the last commentary of the day--today I believe is the first of spring. Yay :)

I'm not going to generalize it to all Live Oaks along the southern coastal regions, but I'd be willing to bet that if I looked into it I would find that it's mostly true. Along with several other features, in the south where Live Oaks grow, they do not shed their leaves in the fall as other oaks normally do--they hang on to them, and the leaves even stay green all the way through winter and into early spring. Then, when new growth starts pushing out, last years leaves fall off, sort-of like baby teeth. So right now, as we enter spring, the parking lots, roads and sidewalks are littered with dunes of brown oak leaves. And yesterday when I stopped to get the mail and it was just starting to cool off I thought "if one didn't know better, anywhere else this would be a perfect fall day"

and that's the end

oh, and I don't mind sayin' -- the soup -tonight- was awesome! ;-)

hello thirty-one

It's easy to believe in magic when you're young.  Anything you couldn't explain was magic then.  It didn't matter if it was science or a fairy tale.  Electricity and elves were both infinitely mysterious and equally possible - elves probably more so.  ~Charles de Lint 


It's Saint Patrick's Day, are you wearing green? 

Mom and Wayne just took off for their home on the other side of the state. They arrived around 3pm yesterday so it was one short but sweet visit....always a rare and happy surprise to have the parents at our place. Especially on me birthday! This will be two years in a row that both of them have come to St. Simon's. 

Last year was the big 30 -- even my brother and his wife came to the island. Rob took the day off and the whole bunch of us spent all afternoon at the beach. 

My mother and father brought my brother and I up in a way that I believe wove our minds more deeply into our souls and taught us the ability to see beyond the initially observable world...things that many people were unaware of seemed obvious to us. I think that gets harder to do as you become an adult, so I'm grateful that we learned this early in life and I intend to do them same with our children when we have them. 

Last year, as we were collecting our things to leave the beach, mom showed us what she'd been working on almost the entire time we were there.  Were weren't allowed to look at it until then, and it will probably always be one of my most cherished birthday "gifts" :)

...when the tide came in, she jumped free of the beach and danced on the waves

de gah?

yesterday I realized that without even intending to do so,

I have been having a birthday week

:)

EXHAUSTOMUNDO!!!

(damn, i think those exclamation points took the last of my energy)

my face and chest are SUNBURNED....lord a mighty. no spf could stand against a sunday so absolutely wonderful that i could only force myself to go inside long enough to trade an empty cup of coffee for a bottle of water and a few new magazines (and later, a bottle of wine, a frisbee and a fresh towel)

first day of new job made me feel like a fish out of water...this is what it's like to change careers!

can't believe i'm finally saying that after all the years i've threatened it....sortof thrilling in a holyshitdidijustdothat? kind of way

night #2 sans spouse. there are times when a night to myself is great. a hot bath, a new book, catching up with an old friend on the phone, a vampire movie i've seen 98.6 times, painting fingernails with a color i'll undoubtedly pick off only hours later...
but i do not dig extended absence. in this situation traveling with Rob (which was the original plan, before the previously mentioned decision I made) would have been equally if not more draining b/c going to WV with Rob is like being on a week-long stand-up roller coaster that you have to really hang on to lest you find yourself flying off into the wild blue yonder...and the only times in my life I've ever experienced genuine car sickness

at some point in the day, almost every day for the last few months, I find myself peering at the calendar, calculating the days until I can take a legitimate vacation. a real live honest to goodness vacation. not wedding or a honeymoon. not time off work where we're navigating the hurdles of someone else's wedding.....a 100%, out of the country (but not overseas -- that deducts relaxation points. not to mention I may just decide to stay), warm, sunny, clear water, good coffee, good wine, fresh local food, little spoken English and no cell service

(i suppose i should also be peering at a map considering my requirements. hah. but i feel better just dreaming about it)

and speaking of dreaming, i may be doing just that in about 4.26 minutes

big decisions in a little life in a big world......finding the balance

thirty days ago I thought really hard, prayed to the universe, felt a peace, took a deep breath, made a decision, shook a hand and turned in a resignation

so as of yesterday I officially and respectfully extricated myself from the realms of healthcare

and for the next howeverlongittakes I'm not going to work for money as a clinical social worker.

i've been called an "under-achiever"

and i've come to know now that their measure of "achievement," (along with other ideals) was and most likely continues to be based on something rather shallow

about a month ago, while on my lunch break, I had a sudden realization that at this point in this life and at this exact time it's important to pay attention to how my mental and emotional energy is spent. and until now, I believe I have been unable to really direct my attention--in as speedily a way possible--toward effectively saving money, going back to school and actively moving toward what it is I feel I desperately need to be doing with my life. I want to work toward improving the whole-person wellness in older adults and their loved ones, because somethings gotta give, but as much as I have loved working one-on-one with a handful of women and men and their families, and as much as I know I made a difference in their lives, I have absolutely no doubt that I need to be heading somewhere so I can do more.

one handsome groom :)

Stef with all the ladies

the amazing switch-up

This photo was taken about 4 month ago. In two days, the people in this photo will swap places (though I doubt Stef will be holding quite a bouquet)

I guess there isn't much that my brother and I haven't done closely if it's a big deal. Here's to beginnings of new chapters in our life paths and a family that is expanding once again. And here's to one awesome mother who's two kids are "marrying off" less than 5 months apart. The last several years have been a whirlwind! But if I've learned anything (and I always do), it's the faith that life goes on, people -- it's a journey and all journeys have challenges you can choose to grow from or be defeated by -- you have to actively choose to make it a good one -- and if you do, it will be.

A Cat's Guide To Caring For A Human

View this and other Catdance Film Festival finalists and make your vote :)

background change! fun :)

dedicated to one of my best friends, Graham. and because tomorrow we plan to read The Wreck of the Zephyr -- it came up in a conversation we were having the other day about how much he loves sail boats. he thinks it would be a good book to get his great-grandson. I agree :)

ANNDDDDD please visit the next post "A Cat's Guide To Caring For Humans" -- a FINALIST in the Fresh Step(R) 'Catdance Film Festival.' If you like it, please vote for it (and do share away). I really do think it's the best one but also confess total partiality--Will Suto is Graham's grandson. But I'd have no idea of the film if Graham's daughter hadn't seen me in line at the Winn Dixie last night and told me. I was hauling out a bunch of groceries...and a 25lb box of Fresh Step. hah.

whooopsie...

hmm...just noticed the link to the original article must have been deleted in a random edit and I've since lost the link...so, post removed

but since I've been poking (truly good-hearted) fun at astronomy lately, here are a few (of many others) that will be cool to try to follow. Searching for info on any of these or  just astro events of 2013 reveals a lot more of course....which led to searching for how much it might cost to invest in a telescope, of course :)

uuh ohhhhh

hey, I'm not sayin you're going to find a morbidly depressive Kirsten Dunst moon-bathing nude on a river bank

I'm just sayin....you might

(mwahahahaha)

diary of a headache

it's been a long time since I made a frantic coffee run at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon. probably college days.

this morning before we finally accepted that the day was starting with or without us, Rob said "I'm sorry I forgot to mention we're out of coffee"....."oh, that's fine," I said, "I'll just go to starbucks in a little bit"...knowing full well I had no real plans of doing any such thing

later in the day after tylenol and tea and food and water and cowering on the couch with an ice pack wondering why in the world my head had been throbbing most of Saturday and into/through the night, then all day today -- it finally dawned on me that for nearly 48 hours I had completely forgotten about my caffeine addiction

talk about a mad dash

coffee fix accomplished
successful purchase of a lovely bag of my favorite, wonderfully oily, whole bean Italian roast
effective submission of budding migraine

still not sure how I just forgot. though my life has been a wee bit bewilderingly hectic lately. when I worked at the OTP I used to pack caffeine pills on multi-day hikes because I was afraid of the monster that could emerge if I wasn't properly drugged soon after waking. imagine finding yourself stuck 40 miles out in the woods with a group of 15-17 year old emotionally unstable girls when a migraine hits? terrifying!!

and marajuana is illegal