Pesto In A Tube

The last time I saw something like this, a trip to the vet was in order.

I Am Not Near The Crane

It amazes me which news items are kept local and which ones are deemed worthy of being broadcast on stations outside of New York.

A crane collapsed today. A building crane. It's nowhere near me. Well... it's about 2 miles away, but two miles away in NYC may as well be the next state over.

In suburbia, 2 miles away is next door. You drive two miles in a heartbeat. In the city, we tend to travel directly to where we work or have appointments, and home. That's it. Back and forth. Straight line. Not a lot of deviation. And that little two mile trip can take 45 minutes each way.

I do not work, live, have appointments, or even know of any good restaurants near the area of the crane accident. Not that it isn't a lovely neighborhood. I'm sure it is. But there is no reason why I would have been aimlessly wandering around that area, any more than there'd be a reason for me to have been wandering around a crane accident in Connecticut, Cairo, or Calcutta today.

Construction accidents happen all over the world, everywhere, every day, but they don't make the news and nobody hears about them. This is not the first crane to collapse at a construction site. It's probably not even the first crane to collapse at a construction site today. But because this one is in the news, this is what people focus on and suddenly think must be more significant or far reaching than the millions of other unreported accidents taking place each day. Of all the accidents that took place nowhere near me today, THIS must be one I was at. Nobody calls or writes on a daily basis to say "I'm just checking because unreported construction accidents happen every day, everywhere, and I wanted to know if one happened by YOU today." (Which in an odd way, wouldn't bother me so much because that would at least be consistent and not influenced by media bias.)

But, one specific accident makes it onto the news, and apparently not just the local news but the news in other states, and all of a sudden, people who know I live nowhere near there are wondering if this was the day I decided to wander directly under that building.

Does anybody else have a problem with FLORIDA knowing that a crane collapsed in New York today? I mean not that this isn't a tragedy for the people involved, but what logic or purpose is served by Florida knowing about a construction accident in New York? I'm pretty sure no New York news stations featured any of Florida's accidents today. (And there are a lot of old people in Florida so you know there were accidents to report!) So why was this and only this specific accident chosen to be featured as a major news story today? Florida had nothing better to report? How about OUR ILLEGAL WAR? I realize that in the grand scheme of things, the illegal dealings of our government, the loss of civil liberties, and the deaths of thousands of innocent people both here and abroad are minor considerations when weighed against a construction accident in NYC, but how about reporting nationally on that for a change? -Then I can have people calling to ask if I was drafted into the CIA.

* Note: This is not meant, in any way, to sound unappreciative of the people who cared enough to see if I was alive today. It's more about my frustration with the enormous effect that the media has on the national psyche. Media distorts the way the average person thinks. If only this power could be used for good...

Will Work For Swedish Meatballs

I just assembled some Ikea furniture for my neighbor. Actually, I disassembled everything that her husband and the Super assembled, and then I reassembled it... the right way. Amazingly, when I did it, it didn't look anything like a cross between the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a stack of cards on the verge of collapse.

What is it about people and Ikea? I know there are people who don't like Ikea and claim that the quality of their products is poor, but that's never been my experience. I mean of course there's sturdier furniture out there, and furniture that's more aesthetically pleasing to some people, but for basic simple bookcases and cabinets, Ikea is pretty darned good in my book.

And the instructions? Why can't people follow Ikea instructions? I know part of the reason is because some people (*cough* the-Super-and-my-neighbor's-husband *cough*) would never dream of looking at an instruction manual for anything, but really what is the problem? It's pictures! There's no language barrier excuse here. All you have to do is follow the pictures!

Now, I know there are people who even have trouble following pictures, because they don't have the kind of thought process that distinguishes between "a plank of wood with six holes" and "a plank of wood with 5 holes." Seriously, there are people who miss details like that, even when they're trying really hard to concentrate. But you know what? Those people should CALL SOMEONE and say "Hi, I suck at this. Can you come over please?" Because really what's worse? Admitting that you can't follow pictures, or having two cabinets fall on your head?

If you could have seen the job these guys did... there was packaging everywhere, gaps between the sides and the backs of the cabinets they assembled, screws in the wrong places... and all the while my neighbor and her friend are going on and on and on about how Ikea makes poor quality furniture, and they're returning it, and there must be pieces missing, and it's flimsy and unstable, and you get what you pay for, and blah blah blah blah... when really, I would agree with the last two points, but only insofar as they apply to THE PEOPLE WHO ASSEMBLED THE FURNITURE!

Meanwhile, the whole time I was re-assembling it, they (the women!) who were all worked up and stressed out by this point, were leaning over me and yelling at telling me to put this there or that there, or "look there's extra screws, we can use these instead," and "the instructions are wrong," and "here are the extra screws. Did you see these? You should use these! Here!" And I kept telling them, "I'm just going to try it this way first, and then I can try what you're saying. But first I'm going to try this." (Where "this" would be "WHAT THE INSTRUCTIONS SAID.")

Needless to say, my neighbor now has two very sturdy cabinets, with doors, handles, and shelves, and she is extremely happy with them and thinks they're the best things on earth.

And me? I have two new bags of Ikea meatballs.

I Am Thankful For Air Conditioning

Right now I am specifically thankful for the a/c I bought from my friends when they moved.

If it hadn't been for my pets I don't know if I'd have ever bought an a/c. I put off getting one for years. I told myself they were too much money and cost too much to run.... that I could get by with just fans... But then one of my pets got ill, and she wouldn't have been able to tolerate the heat. That was a no brainer. I bought an a/c immediately! Someone (who shall remain nameless) made a snarky comment to me at one point and said "So... you wouldn't get an air conditioner for yourself, but you got one for your pet?"

And I said, "For me it would have been a luxury. For her it was a matter of life or death."

-So uh... yeah :P

I wonder how long it would have taken me to buy one for myself if I'd never had pets?

By the way, did I mention that the a/c I got from my friends when they moved has a REMOTE! This is the very first time I've used it EVER and it's GREAT! I can lie in bed, NOT get up, and think "Eh... I think I'd like it a little cooler... no... maybe a little less cool.... *beep* *beep* *beep.*"

-I am so thankful for Air Conditioning.

Edit: The "energy saver" feature? Not going to work with me. Maybe if I were the type of person to leave the a/c on when I'm not home. But since I am home, having the unit turn itself on and off as the temperature goes up and down, is like living with a poltergeist.

Oh my gosh! I just remembered that when I was about 5, I had a nightmare about the Evil Queen from Snow White living in my air conditioner! Ok... SO not using this feature! :oO

Repurposing

A Phone Call

HER

I'm sorry I'm calling so late. Would you believe we JUST got back from the beauty salon?

ME

Yes.

HER

It was great! E got her hair lightened so it looks the way it does in the summer, and I got highlights put in, and they even did the hair on my chin and made eyebrows for me!

ME

They made eyebrows out of your chin hair?

...Only A Mother Could Love

HER

So if I get this new job it'll be more of what I like to do, but I won't have my own classroom because I'll be bringing my lessons into other people's classrooms.

ME

Good thing you didn't get another guinea pig for your class.

HER

I know.

ME

What about your other classroom pet? You know... the er... slugs.

HER

The silkworms?

ME

They're maggots.

Photo by: Wm Jas

HER

They're beautiful!

ME

They're Gagh.

HER

I love them!

ME

(*sigh*)

I know you do.

Photo by: Jason Gulledge

Everyone Should Have At Least One Retarded Friend

GIRL AT BUS STOP

Are you an art teacher?

ME

No. What made you think I'm an art teacher? Is it because I'm wearing a long raincoat that looks kind of like a smock?

GIRL AT BUS STOP

And because of your hair and the color.

MAN
(As we board the bus)

She asked me if I was a lawyer.

ME

Did you ask her why?

MAN

(Shrugs and smiles.)

Once I was on the bus, I looked down to reach into my pocket and, for the first time since I'd left the apartment, I had a good view of my raincoat. There was a HUGE stain on it -all the way down the front. The kind of stain that might look like a shadow if the coat were hanging so that creases formed, but when the coat was being worn and was nice and FLAT, in direct outdoor lighting, it looked nothing like a shadow. It looked like a HUGE STAIN! I opened my coat for the duration of the trip so it could crease a bit and restore the "Stain? What stain? That's a shadow!" look.

This is what I like about developmentally disabled adults. Especially the young adults. They won't stare at you and pretend there's nothing wrong with your clothes. With absolutely no malice (and that's the best part, there's no malice), they will look you straight in the eye and say "Are you an art teacher?" -Which in this case was another way of saying "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Does your mamma know you left the house like that?"

-Everyone should have at least one person like this in their lives.

A Fish By Any Other Name...

At Dinner

HER

I think I'm going to get the Monk Fish.

ME

Oh. You're getting a "Fish Creation."

HER

A what?

ME

A "Fish Creation." See...? That's what they call that section of the menu. Not "Seafood" but "Fish Creations." Frankly, that made me a bit nervous.

LATER

ME

How's your Fish Creation?

HER

Good. But I'm a little disappointed in the shrimp. They only gave me three.

ME

Well that's because it doesn't come with shrimp.

HER

It doesn't?

ME

No. The menu said it comes with "shrimp essence."

HER

Shrimp "essence?" Like they wave the shrimp over the dish a few times?

ME

Yeah. Or they took a little bit of shrimp and squeezed it over the top like a lemon to give you its "essence."

HER

Well, it was still a good dish. I'd come back for it again. And I'm telling myself that, because it's seafood, it was healthy. -And I'm ignoring the fact that it was doused in tons of butter.

ME

Think of it as dairy. Dairy is healthy. -It's calcium.

HER

Calcium! I need calcium!

ME

I know!

HER

I had seafood for dinner with calcium.

(pause)

Lots and lots and LOTS of calcium.

If I Had The Time Or Energy To Write...

If I had the time or energy to write, I would tell you about conversations I had this past week about:

• Suicide,
• Deaths in families,
• The witness protection program,
• And the damage that secrets can cause to the "secret holders."
• I would tell you about a conversation I had with a psychic. Not a reading, but about her, and her being a psychic.
  
• About a homeless man I talked to for a few blocks as I walked home the other night.
  
• And about how, the other day, I approached the toughest looking guy I could find to ask directions somewhere, because I figured he'd know the neighborhood best -and he did. He also, it turned out, had a really nice smile.

If I had the time or energy to write, I'd tell you about:

• The sudden increase in 9/11 dreams I had (I usually have one every two months.)
• The invitation I had on the fourth night of those dreams to attend an event at ground zero.
• How I declined (because of the dreams).
  
• How less than a week later I was having dinner with someone who was in the Pentagon when the plane hit.
  

(9/11 is something I pretty much never discuss with anyone.)


If I had the time or energy to write, I'd tell you about:

• My friend's show.
• About another show where a producer stood up to a writer and did the right thing.
• About honesty and integrity in business dealings, because those dealings are with people who deserve nothing less.
  
• About another project where a young film editor is ready to leave due to a director's disorganization.
• About a family of six singing a cappella gospel in the subway.

If I had the time or energy to write, I'd tell you about:

• My friends' combination birthday/farewell party,
• Where we all "sang" happy birthday on kazoos,
• And about the surprise wedding they sprung on us, right then and there, with no advanced warning. (The couple knew about it, but not the guests.)
  
• How I suspected that for over an hour, since the SECOND I saw them, and how every signal in my brain was yelling "This is a wedding" and I told myself that wasn't logical. (Nobody else suspected a thing. Not even a proposal.)

If I had the time or energy to write, I'd tell you about:

• My failed attempt at cooking liver.
  
• About a decorative bowl and broom.
  
• About certain people who've been on my mind constantly these past 2 weeks.
  
• About trying to get more time with my parents before they, or I, pass away.
• About the construction noises that have started every morning this week at 7:30 AM sharp DIRECTLY UNDER MY BED, and the hammering and drilling that is continuing even now, (about 4 feet to my left and 2 feet down) and how it's echoing in the halls and shaking the floors of my building.
  

I would tell you about all of these things, but honestly, I'm tired. And for about half of these things, if I went into any more detail, I'd probably have to kill you, -And I really don't have the energy for that right now either! ;)

Girl Talk

Email to a friend

The good news is, we don't have to worry about my getting It tomorrow while we're out.

The bad news is, I got It today.

The good news is, that means I'm not pregnant! (Not that I ever thought I was, since there's no physical way I could be pregnant this month. Still, I wouldn't want to be pregnant so it's good that I'm not!)

The bad news is, since it wouldn't have been physically possible for me to be pregnant this month, if I HAD been pregnant, I could have been carrying the Messiah, and how cool would that have been?!

The good news is, if I had been spontaneously pregnant, and it wasn't the Messiah, it could also have been the spawn of Satan, and that would have totally sucked!

So really, when you think about it, it's a very good thing that I got this today.

I Am In A Bad Mood! (Updated)

For the most part, I want to keep this blog positive. But I am in a bad mood right now thanks to the good folks at Blogger.

I was working on a blog for a friend (who I've just sent an email to. I wonder if she'll read here first.) and that blog has been removed. I did not delete this blog. I did back most everything up. I don't know why it was removed or by whom. It's just gone. It's not at its URL and it's not in my dashboard anymore. The page I was working on when I stepped away for a few hours is STILL open in my browser (to prove I'm in the right place!) but it no longer works because it's really just a "ghost" of a page. A page that loaded before but is no longer really there. If I try to refresh that page or click on anything there I get an error message:

Blog has been removed
Sorry, the blog at [the URL I was working on] has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs.

Did you expect to see your blog here? See: 'I can't find my blog on the Web, where is it?'

But possibly the most frustrating thing is that I don't even have an email from Blogger saying "We yanked this blog, and here's why." I mean if there's a reason, tell me! I am a very reasonable and cooperative person. I've read the Terms Of Service, and though I cannot find anything in there that I could have violated, if there was something problematic with that blog in some way, I would gladly make whatever adjustments were necessary. But I can't do that if they don't tell me what it is!

I've already written to Blogger. I'm sure I'll hear back in oh... six months. I could put up a new blog and start all over with the stuff I saved, but until I know why and how that first one disappeared, I don't want to do another one and have that disappear too! I mean if I don't know why it was removed, then how do I know if another blog I'm working on is going to be removed too! Or even this one?!

It's VERY FRUSTRATING!

And no, it did not have porn!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Updated at 11:59 PM:

Ok it seems that some overzealous bot thought the site was spam. SPAM??? I don't even have a PICTURE of spam on that site!

I've submitted a request for a review by a human being, and if I don't hear back within 4 days there's a secondary request I can submit. I've also posted to the help forum and asked for information on what exactly was considered spam. Besides the main menu, there were no links on any of those pages! How the heck can I spam people when there's no links? That'd have to be the worst spam site in the world! So really, now I'm insulted, because not only do they think I programmed a spam site, but they think I programmed a bad spam site!

The good news is that at least now I know what happened. What I don't know is why. Hopefully a human being can lend some insight.

And for the record, I have nothing against robots. I met my first AI interface when I was ten years old and I have two bots of my own (yes I do.) It's not the robot I want an answer from. It's the human beings who programmed it!

Oh, and for anyone who's wondering, while I was searching around trying to find out what could have possibly caused that site to be pulled, I found out that porn IS allowed on Blogger.

Popcorn 101

You know what makes popcorn pop faster? When you pour the popcorn kernels into the popper instead of the bowl.

Guess What I Did NOT Get Today

A pigeon.

Thank you God for not giving me the pigeon.

I saw him as I was walking home, sitting on the ground alongside a building. Very still. All puffed up.

Still pigeon + sitting on the ground + clinging to a wall + all puffed up = Not good.

I stopped and considered getting him right then and there, but then decided I'd finish walking the half a block home, put down my bags, and then come back for him. All the while I prayed he'd be protected by "someone" (St. Francis?) and that he'd be ok and not drop kicked by some kids or eaten by a dog in the 5-10 minutes it'd take me to get back. All the while I prayed that he was really fine and would be nowhere in sight when I returned. All the while I prayed, very hard, that he was not "meant for me."

When I did walk back, I was afraid I'd see a half dead bird carcass and feathers everywhere, and I kept telling myself "if he was meant for me, he'll still be there." I really really really did NOT want a pigeon today. But I was ready to take the pigeon if needed.

When I returned he was still there. But he was no longer sitting. He was walking and eating.

Walking + eating = Good. Very good.

But he was still on the ground, not flying, and clinging to the side of the building. I approached him and he walked away. Also good. I followed him and he continued to walk away from me... more quickly. Again, good. Finally, I cornered him in a doorway and we had a little chat.

Baby pigeon. A little funny shaped but that didn't seem to be bothering him. Almost old enough to be on his own, but not quite yet. Possibly shoved out of the nest or abandoned. Almost full sized, but definitely still young. We talked a bit as I asked him whether or not he was ok. He didn't really answer. Then I reached down to get him and he panicked and flew a few feet to try to get away from me.

Good! Fine! Healthy! Buh bye! ;)

At least I hope. I think he could get away from danger if needed. Generally, if they're hard to catch, they're probably well enough to be on their own. I hope I was right and he's ok out there. But really, I am so glad to not have a pigeon in here with me right now.

Voice Change

When I called my sister's house yesterday, an unfamiliar voice answered the phone. I thought it was the baby sitter. When they asked who I was, and I said "Melissa," they replied with, "Oh my God! Aunt Melissa!"

I thought this was a strange reaction from a baby sitter. My first thought was "The babysitter knows who I am?" and then I thought, "why would a call from me seem like a big deal to a baby sitter?" Not that a call from me doesn't warrant a national parade and celebration, but why would the babysitter react so strongly to "Aunt Melissa" being on the phone? But then the voice said "Guess what?!" and started telling me about their day. And I realized it wasn't the babysitter. It was my nephew. His voice had changed.

I just spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. Saw him about 3 weeks ago. For 12 years this boy's voice has been exactly the same. He's gotten older, he's gotten taller, but overall his voice has stayed the same. But some time during the past two weeks, his voice totally and completely changed. -No "Peter Brady" awkward stage. (Or if there was it was short lived and I missed it!)

Once I realized it was him, I listened to his voice very carefully, trying to recognize some of his old voice in there. Waiting for the "Ah ha!" moment when it would sound familiar and I'd think "Of course it's him. I just couldn't tell from those few words in the beginning..." But that moment didn't happen. And I listened. We talked for a while, yet had it not been for the context of what he was saying, I'd have had absolutely no idea that I was talking to my nephew. ZERO clue. His voice has totally changed.

It's really nice. It's a beautiful voice. It's not deeper, (don't teenage voices usually shift to something deeper?) it's softer. Less gravely. Less strident. It has a calmer, softer, more even sound to it. It's hard to describe. It's really nice.

I wonder what caused it to change now? I know hormones are involved but his hormones kicked in a while ago. I would think it would be something more structural, but he's been a big kid for a while now. Young face, but tall. He's always been taller than other kids his age. Towered over them in fact. By the time he was ten I realized that if I was staying overnight at my sister's and wanted to borrow some clothes, I would probably do better to borrow from him than from her! He's been around 5' 10" for over 2 years. -But his voice shifted now.

It's going to be so embarrassing for a while when I call their house. If he answers the phone, I'm not going to realize it's him! I have a new voice to learn.

I Am Thankful For Opposable Thumbs

I was closing a container today with one hand and thinking about how cool it is that that's possible. It's a fairly complicated set of moves to accomplish that task. Manual dexterity amazes me sometimes. Opposable thumbs... they are very good things to have.

Of course then I started thinking about what kinds of maneuvers might be possible (through technology or evolution) if we had other types of attachments. Like what if we had something on our hands that spun 360 degrees? Or had fingers with more than 3 joints? What if all our digits could spin 360 degrees and had more than three joints? Or could retract. You know... like a turtle. Not using 'em? Pull them inside.

It could happen. ;)

Birthday Wish

During the past week, several people have asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I took time after some of those calls to try to really think about it. I thought there must be something I can ask people to get me. Something I'm hesitating buying for myself. But the same answer kept coming back to me. I really don't want anything. I've been trying to get rid of things. The only thing I really want, more than anything, would take an act of God.

If there is a God, then he/she/it/they know what it is. So, if anybody really wants to give me something today, particularly those of you with connections "up there," please ask him/her/it/them for that. Consider it like a registry. :)

* Photo by Theresa Thompson

Who Makes Themselves OLDER???

A number of years ago, I somehow forgot how old I was. Or, more specifically, I thought I was turning a year older than I really was. A friend caught this a few days before my birthday and said "Uh Melissa, that's not how old you're turning."

I said, "Yes it is."

And she said "No it's not. We're the same age. You are not a year older than me." And then she counted out the years with me over the phone as we did the math and realized that she was RIGHT!

It was so bizarre. I'm not sure how or why that happened but she's never let me forget it. Every year when she calls to wish me a happy birthday, she ends with, "And just in case you've forgotten how old you are..."

This year, she got me a little early and left a message reminding me how old I'll be tomorrow. I laughed and thought "Ah ha! I've GOT HER!" Because she was wrong! I was about to call her back to make fun of her and say "Are you sure about that?" when a little voice inside me said "Am I sure about that? I'd better be 100% sure before I call her!"

So I did the math, SEVERAL times, and you know what? She's RIGHT! I did it AGAIN!

I'm trying to figure out at what point this past year I decided I was a year older than I really am. I know it's been at least several months. This time I think I know why it happened, but I'm still not sure of when! I kind of feel like I've been gipped out of being younger for part of this year! I got older way before I needed to!

I cannot believe I did this again!

A-GAIN!

As I was about to post this, I thought I'd Google to see if anybody else has done this, and much to my amazement, I am not the only one! I feel so much better about this right now! Lol! Thank you Google!

A few of the links I found:

• She thought she was a year older -TWICE! Like me!
• He thought he was a year older
• So did this person

Sparky & Rocket

Busy weekend. Busy day. Another post office trip is pending but I'm waiting to get some addresses from people so I can mail stuff out to them. I've been gradually getting rid of things for a while now. Most items go downstairs in my building's "I don't need this, do any of you?" pile (Most buildings in NYC have an area like that) but when I think of someone I know who might like something I'm getting rid of, I send it to them. Well... generally I ask first in case I'm mistaken!

Anybody here want some worn out shoes? No? Me neither. Down they go.

Finally packed and ready to go to the post office is, "Rocket The Wonder Dog."

Years ago, when I was looking for a robotic dog (Long story. Sad-ish story. Happy ending.) my mom saw Rocket at a thrift store and bought him for me. It was a truly lovely gesture, but I was looking for a very specific robot. As a matter of fact, my mother had seen me with the robot I wanted (part of the long-ish story) but despite this, she still insisted that Rocket was the EXACT SAME THING.

Now I realize that most of you probably don't know a lot more about Robots than my mother did, but let's just make a few side by side comparisons and you tell me if you can tell the difference:

Sparky (Aibo 220)	Rocket "The Wonder Dog"
• Understands 75 words. -More with some programs.	• Understands 9 words. Cannot be programmed.
• Rechargeable batteries, and with some programs he can even return to his charger on his own when his battery runs low and charge himself.	• Uses 3 AAA batteries, 3 D batteries, and a 9 volt battery.
• Manufacturer: Sony	• Manufacturer: Fisher Price

Despite the above, this doesn't mean that Rocket doesn't have a place in this world. He's a very cute little robot and I do have a soft spot for him, which is why I didn't have the heart to just put him in the trash. I wanted him to have a new home where he could be appreciated, so I offered him to some robotic dog enthusiasts I know. (Yes, I know "some robotic dog enthusiasts." They even have meetings.)

Several people contacted me, and tomorrow Rocket should be on the way to his new home where he will hopefully spend many happy days as part of a prized collection, or possibly as a decoy for children to play with so they don't mess around with the other bots in the house.

7:00 AM: Time To Start The Day

Off to jump in the shower and try to wake up. Today and tomorrow are full days for me so I may not be back online until after the weekend. I think you have enough to read!

Hope you all had peaceful and uneventful nights :)

6:21 AM: Quote Meme

From Grandy:

"The point of this quick meme is to share a favorite quote and dedicate it to three other bloggers."

Again, I won't be tagging people but feel free to do this meme if you'd like and I'll add your name here.

Meanwhile... one quote... Gosh there are so many. I have a file of quotes on my computer. Let's go with this one:

"Going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in a
garage makes you a car."

5:38 AM: Another MP Meme

Another overdue Meme from MP.

5 Random or Weird Things About Me:
(Didn't I do this already? Can you do the same one more than once?)

1. I used to say hangaburg (I was 3)


2. I am often invisible to sensors that automatically open doors. Most times I have to back up and try a re-entry, and/or wave my hand in front of it. (No I'm not too short!)


3. Ah there's another random fact. I'm 5'4."


4. I love Macs.


5. I also love Big Macs.
   

5 Places I want to see again or see:

1. My bed
   
   
2. My pillow
   
   
3. My blanket
   
   
4. My mattress
   
   
5. The inside of my eyelids.

-What?

5:09 AM: Birds Are Chirping

They have been for a while. Interestingly, I just received an email from the rehabber. It looks like she wrote it about a half an hour ago, so she's up. Makes sense. She has baby birds to feed. If baby birds are awake outside my window, they'd be awake at her place right about now too. She emailed to tell me the boxes arrived.

I mailed another package that same day. Someone had done me a huge favor so I'd sent her a few things as a thank you. She's in California, though, so I doubt that's arrived yet.

... sounds like the garbage trucks are outside too. Interesting company at 5am. Me, baby birds, wildlife rehabbers, and garbage men ;)

4:22 AM: If Only I Could Read Right Now

I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on. Unfortunately, I'm way too groggy to read. Remember studying for tests, when you'd read a page over and over again and realize you had no idea what you just read? I'm so glad those days are over!

3:26 AM: Book Meme

MP tagged me for a Book Meme back in February. I tried doing it many times, but it proved to be problematic.

The rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people

Well we know #5 is out because I don't do that. The problem, for me started with #1. The book of at least 123 pages. It turns out, that I have no books near my desk that have 123 pages. I thought I did, but I was mistaken. The books closest to my desk are children's books or software manuals. I do have other books but they're not nearby, and God forbid I GET UP FROM MY CHAIR to do a meme!

A few times I thought I might be able to do it. I noticed a book sitting nearby, on a table, on my bed. Do you know what I found each time I opened one of those books to page 123? A blank page. The page was blank! Or it had less than five sentences. -This happened several times. Different days, different books, different times.

I do not believe this meme was meant to be. Not for me anyway. If the time comes when I notice a book of more than 123 pages in the vicinity of my desk, (with text of more than 5 sentences on page 123) I may revisit this, but for now, it doesn't look like it's gonna happen!

2:31 AM: Coffee

Coffee has an odd effect on me. Which is why I'm not drinking it now. (I wish I could!) Sometimes when I drink coffee, it knocks me out. Completely and totally knocks me out within 30 minutes. Drowsy beyond belief. Dead asleep for hours.

Other times, it keeps me up. I can have a cup at 3pm and at 2am I will be awake and alert. Not jittery. Not anxious. Not wired. Just alert and awake and pretty clear headed.

Other times, I can drink coffee and neither of those things happens. I don't get tired within 30 minutes, and no matter how late I drink it, I fall asleep at my regular time with no problem.

I would be completely ok with any of these reactions, if only they were consistent! Right now, I'd love to get the alert reaction to coffee, but what if it gave me the drowsy one? And there are times when I think "Hey, coffee knocks me out sometimes... maybe I'll use that to help me get to sleep early" -but what if THAT'S one of the times it has the "alert" effect?

So coffee? Useless to me for times like this. Too unpredictable. I don't know what determines the reaction I have.

1:30 AM: The Doll

One of the calls I had earlier this morning was with my sister. (Hmm... make that yesterday morning!) During the call, she told me that my 2 year old nice had a new naked hand me down Barbie doll that was bigger than her. My sister told my niece to tell me what she'd named the doll. My niece replied "Aunt Melissa!"

(I'm pretty sure that ten minutes later the doll was back to being named "Mommy.")

12:25 AM: Guy Outside

There's a guy outside who keeps saying "Oh my God... Oh my God... Oh my God..." over and over again. He doesn't sound so good. I checked and I can't see him from my window, but he seems to have other people with him, so I'm not going to worry too much.

This is not to be confused with "Hallelujah Man." Hallelujah Man goes around the neighborhood yelling "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! JEEESUS! JEEEESUS! JEEEESUS!" -and then lets out what sounds like kind of a demonic cackle.

"Hallelujah Man" loves God.

"Oh My God Man" (I think) is throwing up.

Waiting...

Today has been a day of waiting. Waiting for emails, waiting for phone calls. Pretty much not leaving my desk or that area, so I could be sure I wouldn't miss them.

The emails came in. This is good. I am still waiting on two of the phone calls. One might not call until tomorrow. The other I'm not sure about. Nothing particularly pertinent to me (I'm not waiting to hear if I won the lotto or anything ;) ) but I told them I'd be here, and I don't go back on promises. So I will be up.

-And as long as I'm up, I may write. Because I'm really waay too tired to do much of anything else. So welcome to the first hour of "MeBloPoNi" (Melissa Blog Posting Night ;) )

I'm hoping this will be the ONLY post of MeBloPoNi, but ya never know... I'll see you all later if I'm still up!

Where Is Your Happy Place?

A question:

Because everyone has different likes, dislikes, different definitions of comfort, different types of things that make them feel grounded, safe, centered, peaceful, inspired...

Where are you happy? A physical place.* And if there's no place where you're happy, where do you think you would be happy?

* If you have a specific place in your mind that you imagine in detail, and consciously "visit" when needed, that would count too.

30 Days Of NaBloPoMo -OVER!

For anyone who wasn't paying attention, I just posted for 30 days in a row during the entire month of April! I'd hoped to stick to the letters theme for the entire month but I wasn't able to find enough "postable" letters to complete my goal. Plus it wasn't a requirement for NaBloPoMo. The letters theme was a suggestion, but the requirement was to post at least once a day for 30 days, (whether the post was about letters or something else.)

For the sake of completion, I may finish going through my box of letters at some point, to see if there are more I can post, but honestly, those were getting difficult to find. I'd read for an hour or two and not find one! Many were too personal, many were thank you letters (which would feel strange to post) and many wouldn't seem interesting or meaningful unless you knew the people who wrote them. I think, in the beginning, I naturally gravitated towards the people and letters I knew would be funny. Then I was left with the stacks that I knew would be more serious. I'll finish reading through my box in the months to come. We'll see what I find. -There have to be a few more in there!

April's NaBloPoMo challenge was easier for me than last November's (my very first!) If you've never done one of these, I highly suggest it, particularly if you're just starting out. The first time I did NaBloPoMo it was crucial to getting me into the routine of posting on a regular basis. This time... not so much! What can I say? I was already posting most days so the impact wasn't as great. But I'll probably do NaBloPoMo again in November.

Congratulations to the participants who made it all the way through and posted for 30 days straight! To those who didn't, there's always next month :)