I looked out the back door window before letting the dogs out this morning. I saw a black spot near the fence and decided I should probably investigate before letting my little monsters loose to drag whatever it was up to the door or in the house.
It was a dead crow. It didn't look like it'd been gone for very long. It was glossy blue-black and about a foot or so long. It's little eyes were only just starting to turn a milky white.
I knew I couldn't leave it out there. My dogs, not sharing my feelings about all things dead, would gnaw on this bird, possibly breaking it up and carrying the pieces around before rolling around on what was left. This was not an option for me.
I looked to my neighbors' yards. Could I toss it over the fence without anyone seeing me? I quickly dashed this thought. All of our neighbors have dogs, who would react much the same way mine would, I'm sure. Also, I felt guilty about making this bird someone else's responsibility, or giving someone else the chance not to care about it. It fell out of the sky in my yard. It was here for me to deal with and I would.
For a minute I wondered if it was a bad omen. My mom thinks that ravens are my grandmother, visiting her in the physical world. Owls are my grandfather. That this bird had died in my yard, and it was the kind of bird my mom favors, didn't seem to bode well. Then it occured to me that maybe it was in my yard for that very reason. Of the people in the area, I alone would give it the dignity it deserved. I know it sounds like I was being awfully self-important, but I don't do well with dead things and was probably just steeling myself for what I knew I had to do.
I went to the garage and got out my big shovel. It hadn't done much good against the ice on the driveway, but I knew it was perfect for this task. Luckily, the it had rained all last night, so the ground was soft and easy to turn. I dug a hole about a foot wide and a foot and a half long.
Using the shovel, I tried to pick the bird up, but it kept slipping off so I ended up rolling it into its grave.
I felt bad as I pushed the dirt onto it's small, inky body. This being that had existed almost solely in the air was to spend the rest of time encased in earth. But the dirt was soft, and it smelled like rain. I said a prayer for it as I tamped down the dirt and hoped that, when the time came, someone would say a prayer for me, too.
Friday, December 29, 2006
The ears and eyes
When "The Family Stone" came out in theaters, I wasn't much interested. The promos for it looked silly so I figured I'd save my money. However, it came on InDemand the other night, so I decided to give it a whirl. I'm really glad I did. It was very sweet and funny. I was surprised, however, how sad it was, in parts. I cried, a bunch.
On the audio front, I bought Gwen Steffani's newest effort, "The Sweet Escape." I've loved everything else she's done and was excited to see that she had a new album out. However, I was very disapointed when I listened to it. It seems she's trying out all kinds of new sounds, most predominately more of a hiphop, rap feel, which I'm just not that into, or if I were, I wouldn't chose her as the delivery device. She still has a fabulous voice, that manages to shine through. So, I think that one will probably start to gather dust pretty quickly while I continue to listen to LAMB over and over.
Another CD I got was Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled album. I saw her on, I think, Boston Legal, and wanted to check out the rest of her work. I LOVE this album! It's smooth and soft, but leaves you feeling mellow and jazzy. She's got a wonderful voice that is similar to Norah Jones, but not the same. It's very familiar, almost like Billie Holiday. I'm going to make a copy for my dad tonight.
On the audio front, I bought Gwen Steffani's newest effort, "The Sweet Escape." I've loved everything else she's done and was excited to see that she had a new album out. However, I was very disapointed when I listened to it. It seems she's trying out all kinds of new sounds, most predominately more of a hiphop, rap feel, which I'm just not that into, or if I were, I wouldn't chose her as the delivery device. She still has a fabulous voice, that manages to shine through. So, I think that one will probably start to gather dust pretty quickly while I continue to listen to LAMB over and over.
Another CD I got was Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled album. I saw her on, I think, Boston Legal, and wanted to check out the rest of her work. I LOVE this album! It's smooth and soft, but leaves you feeling mellow and jazzy. She's got a wonderful voice that is similar to Norah Jones, but not the same. It's very familiar, almost like Billie Holiday. I'm going to make a copy for my dad tonight.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt
I just thought I'd tell everyone how cool it is to have friends. I'm just saying.
Pants and I went for a while with a few, handpicked friends for the first year or so that we were here. It was nice, and there were times of fun to be had, but for the most part we were newlyweds and any spare time that we had together was rare and precious and spent ... well that's really none of your business.
But for some reason (Actually I blame this phenomenon squarely on Pants and his affable personality) we've been branching out over the past year or so and getting invites to do all kinds of fun stuff with people we really like.
An example? This weekend we went bowling and then drinking with six friends, two from Tulsa, two from South Korea and two from OKC. This U.N. meeting went to Route 66 Bowl, which was super fun. After drinking some really bad, beer-flavored water we went to the Hi Lo bar. I'd never been, but I know I had fun.
A margarita after getting there (I was driving, so not so much with the drinking for me) I was watching our friends tell jokes, laugh, and run around the room with their pretend stinky fingers extended. (That really seemed to upset this suicidal-looking guy sitting by himself in the corner) and I realized that I was having a fantastic time.
We'd all gotten past that awkward first-meeting stage. Pants had already offended most of them and they came back anyways. We'd found out who believed in what and what video games we were most likely to suck at and were having that euphoric, relieved good time that comes when you've found people that you feel comfortable with and can do fun things with. It was odd, because much in the way a drunk girl wants to tell you how drunk she is, I wanted to tell everyone how much fun I was having and how cool it was that we were all friends. Of course, not wanting to freak out said people (you can never know exactly how much a drunk person will remember the next day) I just smiled and told a dirty joke.
Continuing our mini-vacation, we met up with four friends Monday for an 8-year-old's dream. That's right. We drove go-karts. Except these people were serious about it. It's a huge track and they make you sign a waiver saying your heirs won't sue them if you go up in a ball of fire. Also, that you will pay for anything that breaks on the $6,000 karts. Yeah. So we had a great time until they let these jerks in. It was like six pissed-off guys all got dumped at the same time and decided to prove to each other who was really the MAN ... at the go-kart races.
So they let them race with our peace-loving group. They proceeded to push, bump and cajole in a way that's frowned upon by people outside of a boxing match. When those guys were leaving us alone, however, it ROCKED. I laughed for the entire first lap, it was so much fun. Also, don't want to brag, but I totally got second place out of six people.
Afterwards it was on to margaritas and Mexican food. I was surprised, and delighted, when the possibility of more bowling was brought up. So back to Route 66 bowl we went!
This time I sucked it up bad. I'd been playing pretty good for someone who never goes bowling and had broken 100 each of the last three time's I've played, but Monday I stunk. My arm hurt from using a too-heavy ball and I resigned myself to just knocking down a pin each time it was my turn. It didn't hurt that I'm not a pro bowler and have little skill, but I'm blaming the ball on this one -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
My dissatisfaction with my ball and the lack of decent balls for women (man is that going to be misconstrued) led me to decide that I should try to buy a second-hand bowling ball that would fit. I don't know if you have noticed, but if you're a woman and you go to a public bowling place, it's almost impossible to find a ball that's light enough, but also has finger holes that are big enough. I'm not saying I have sausage fingers, but gimme a break. By the time I got done bowling it was like I had been working at my office computer for 12 hours. Carpel tunnel here I come. Also, I chipped my nail polish, which did not help matters.
On the up side, I did have a good time and it was nice to hang out with people who are "marathoners" like myself. My mom calls me a marathoner, because I don't want to do just one thing. I always try to get as much bang for my buck as possible. You don't meet just a ton of people who are willing to go for several events in the same day, so that was really nice. The margaritas, however, needed a lot more umph and less ice.
Pants and I went for a while with a few, handpicked friends for the first year or so that we were here. It was nice, and there were times of fun to be had, but for the most part we were newlyweds and any spare time that we had together was rare and precious and spent ... well that's really none of your business.
But for some reason (Actually I blame this phenomenon squarely on Pants and his affable personality) we've been branching out over the past year or so and getting invites to do all kinds of fun stuff with people we really like.
An example? This weekend we went bowling and then drinking with six friends, two from Tulsa, two from South Korea and two from OKC. This U.N. meeting went to Route 66 Bowl, which was super fun. After drinking some really bad, beer-flavored water we went to the Hi Lo bar. I'd never been, but I know I had fun.
A margarita after getting there (I was driving, so not so much with the drinking for me) I was watching our friends tell jokes, laugh, and run around the room with their pretend stinky fingers extended. (That really seemed to upset this suicidal-looking guy sitting by himself in the corner) and I realized that I was having a fantastic time.
We'd all gotten past that awkward first-meeting stage. Pants had already offended most of them and they came back anyways. We'd found out who believed in what and what video games we were most likely to suck at and were having that euphoric, relieved good time that comes when you've found people that you feel comfortable with and can do fun things with. It was odd, because much in the way a drunk girl wants to tell you how drunk she is, I wanted to tell everyone how much fun I was having and how cool it was that we were all friends. Of course, not wanting to freak out said people (you can never know exactly how much a drunk person will remember the next day) I just smiled and told a dirty joke.
Continuing our mini-vacation, we met up with four friends Monday for an 8-year-old's dream. That's right. We drove go-karts. Except these people were serious about it. It's a huge track and they make you sign a waiver saying your heirs won't sue them if you go up in a ball of fire. Also, that you will pay for anything that breaks on the $6,000 karts. Yeah. So we had a great time until they let these jerks in. It was like six pissed-off guys all got dumped at the same time and decided to prove to each other who was really the MAN ... at the go-kart races.
So they let them race with our peace-loving group. They proceeded to push, bump and cajole in a way that's frowned upon by people outside of a boxing match. When those guys were leaving us alone, however, it ROCKED. I laughed for the entire first lap, it was so much fun. Also, don't want to brag, but I totally got second place out of six people.
Afterwards it was on to margaritas and Mexican food. I was surprised, and delighted, when the possibility of more bowling was brought up. So back to Route 66 bowl we went!
This time I sucked it up bad. I'd been playing pretty good for someone who never goes bowling and had broken 100 each of the last three time's I've played, but Monday I stunk. My arm hurt from using a too-heavy ball and I resigned myself to just knocking down a pin each time it was my turn. It didn't hurt that I'm not a pro bowler and have little skill, but I'm blaming the ball on this one -- that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
My dissatisfaction with my ball and the lack of decent balls for women (man is that going to be misconstrued) led me to decide that I should try to buy a second-hand bowling ball that would fit. I don't know if you have noticed, but if you're a woman and you go to a public bowling place, it's almost impossible to find a ball that's light enough, but also has finger holes that are big enough. I'm not saying I have sausage fingers, but gimme a break. By the time I got done bowling it was like I had been working at my office computer for 12 hours. Carpel tunnel here I come. Also, I chipped my nail polish, which did not help matters.
On the up side, I did have a good time and it was nice to hang out with people who are "marathoners" like myself. My mom calls me a marathoner, because I don't want to do just one thing. I always try to get as much bang for my buck as possible. You don't meet just a ton of people who are willing to go for several events in the same day, so that was really nice. The margaritas, however, needed a lot more umph and less ice.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Pre-bedlam
We got to go to the Texas Tech/OSU game and had an awesome time. Here are pictures to prove it!
I was across the arena, but you can still make out Bobby Knight trying to pay off the refs.
These are not the fans you're looking for! I wondered if they gave a Jedi discount...
I wonder whose father he is? Did he lose the paternity suit and this was part of his punishment?
Who to vote for....
Pants' old duplex, and the famed "Vesta" stove that I guess they've changed into a lawn ornament.
I was across the arena, but you can still make out Bobby Knight trying to pay off the refs.
These are not the fans you're looking for! I wondered if they gave a Jedi discount...
I wonder whose father he is? Did he lose the paternity suit and this was part of his punishment?
Who to vote for....
Pants' old duplex, and the famed "Vesta" stove that I guess they've changed into a lawn ornament.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
I did it!
Had to write and brag. I weighed myself this morning and I finally did it. I broke the weight level that I've been at for a long time. I now weigh as much as I did four years ago!!! I've been feeling thinner around the waist and fingers, but haven't been able to see the difference in numbers, until today! I did it! Gold star sticker for me!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day
Today I was helping my little brother look at apartments.
At one apartment complex we discussed rent with the manager, a lady in her late 50s, early 60s, well-dressed and very cheerful.
About five minutes into the conversation a man in his 30s walks in the front door and heads right to her holding a beautiful bouquet of roses. I watched while he smiled, handed them to her and then hugged her. I couldn't see a familial connection so I was trying to figure out if they were somehow seeing each other.
She laughed as she sat down and started to tear up. She looked up at us and explained that she had the best son-in-law in the world. She said that before dying a few years ago, her husband had secretly made her son-in-law promise to always get her roses on Valentine's Day from him.
She radiated happiness while she told us this. She then shook herself and got right back to explaining rates and electric bills, but before she could get through two sentences she'd started to tear up. She had to excuse herself for a minute, then she went back to business.
I thought this was probably one of the sweetest things I'd ever witnessed on Valentine's Day, or any other day for that matter.
At one apartment complex we discussed rent with the manager, a lady in her late 50s, early 60s, well-dressed and very cheerful.
About five minutes into the conversation a man in his 30s walks in the front door and heads right to her holding a beautiful bouquet of roses. I watched while he smiled, handed them to her and then hugged her. I couldn't see a familial connection so I was trying to figure out if they were somehow seeing each other.
She laughed as she sat down and started to tear up. She looked up at us and explained that she had the best son-in-law in the world. She said that before dying a few years ago, her husband had secretly made her son-in-law promise to always get her roses on Valentine's Day from him.
She radiated happiness while she told us this. She then shook herself and got right back to explaining rates and electric bills, but before she could get through two sentences she'd started to tear up. She had to excuse herself for a minute, then she went back to business.
I thought this was probably one of the sweetest things I'd ever witnessed on Valentine's Day, or any other day for that matter.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
And then...
Thoughts for the day that are in no way whining.
-I was called an "idiot", albeit indirectly at lunch. I'm going to have to start coming up with some more snappy comebacks to take to the eating place with me.
-I've turned into an iPod widow. I didn't mean to, but I totally did this to myself. I bought Pants the video iPod for Christmas with the intention of garnering the wife-of-the-year award and instead I lost a husband. Before marriage, I fully understood and dealt with the fact that, during football season, I would rarely see Pants. I was OK with that because during football season, there's tons of other things happening that I can go to that Pants wouldn't think twice about attending with me (fall craft sales anyone?) so I could go to these things with a clear conscience that Pants was happily pacified at home in front of the TV. However, now he's spending hours in the home office ripping our massive DVD collection to the iPod and brings the iPod to bed to watch sometimes before he goes to sleep. I've even seen him bring it to the living room and sit in front of Awesome-o 5001, while the TV is on, and watch his iPod. I've created a monster and the worst part is, I did it to myself. I knew I should have gotten him that freezer, at least then I'd be getting tons of good food stocked up.
-I love the word Hater-ade. I learned it watching wrestling of some sort when a Matt Damon look-alike used it. I used to be a big Triple-H fan, but that guy's looking old these days and John Cena looks like he's just stepped out of some kind of Supremacy. And that Shawn Michaels, buddy, get a freakin' hair cut, please. Your wussy hair just makes you look that much older and implausible as a wrestler. Now, I'm sure you've had your day in the sun when you were awesome, but these days that hair's really hurting you. At least The Edge's hair is purty. Lita, his girlfriend/wife/skank, on the other hand, needs to quit dying her hair that tacky, wanna be Goth red color. Yuck. She's got it all frizzy because it's been over-dyed and she's out there tossing it around like that's supposed to attract a guy. Not that I'm a super-seductress or anything, but I do know ugly hair. She needs a hot oil treatment or something. I also found the fact that when The Edge and Lena decided to celebrate his recent Champion title with a live sex act in the middle of the wrestling ring Pants got uncomfortable. Mr. I-love-porn thought that was too much. It was pretty silly altogether, so it was that much funnier that he thought it was beyond the pale. I think that's about it for now, but I'll probably give my further thoughts on wrestling and the hair that flows in coming weeks, not that you care.
-I was called an "idiot", albeit indirectly at lunch. I'm going to have to start coming up with some more snappy comebacks to take to the eating place with me.
-I've turned into an iPod widow. I didn't mean to, but I totally did this to myself. I bought Pants the video iPod for Christmas with the intention of garnering the wife-of-the-year award and instead I lost a husband. Before marriage, I fully understood and dealt with the fact that, during football season, I would rarely see Pants. I was OK with that because during football season, there's tons of other things happening that I can go to that Pants wouldn't think twice about attending with me (fall craft sales anyone?) so I could go to these things with a clear conscience that Pants was happily pacified at home in front of the TV. However, now he's spending hours in the home office ripping our massive DVD collection to the iPod and brings the iPod to bed to watch sometimes before he goes to sleep. I've even seen him bring it to the living room and sit in front of Awesome-o 5001, while the TV is on, and watch his iPod. I've created a monster and the worst part is, I did it to myself. I knew I should have gotten him that freezer, at least then I'd be getting tons of good food stocked up.
-I love the word Hater-ade. I learned it watching wrestling of some sort when a Matt Damon look-alike used it. I used to be a big Triple-H fan, but that guy's looking old these days and John Cena looks like he's just stepped out of some kind of Supremacy. And that Shawn Michaels, buddy, get a freakin' hair cut, please. Your wussy hair just makes you look that much older and implausible as a wrestler. Now, I'm sure you've had your day in the sun when you were awesome, but these days that hair's really hurting you. At least The Edge's hair is purty. Lita, his girlfriend/wife/skank, on the other hand, needs to quit dying her hair that tacky, wanna be Goth red color. Yuck. She's got it all frizzy because it's been over-dyed and she's out there tossing it around like that's supposed to attract a guy. Not that I'm a super-seductress or anything, but I do know ugly hair. She needs a hot oil treatment or something. I also found the fact that when The Edge and Lena decided to celebrate his recent Champion title with a live sex act in the middle of the wrestling ring Pants got uncomfortable. Mr. I-love-porn thought that was too much. It was pretty silly altogether, so it was that much funnier that he thought it was beyond the pale. I think that's about it for now, but I'll probably give my further thoughts on wrestling and the hair that flows in coming weeks, not that you care.
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