More (and hopefully the last of the) ice cream tales

Number 1:

"Tom" comes in 3-4 times a week, usually with his wife to get a flavored soda. They are obviously regulars. They've always been super nice to me. They're the chatty type and we've gotten to know each other. Tom came in one day last week alone and stood and talked to me for about 15 minutes (it was actually slow at the point since it was thunder storming outside). he told me how great my hair looked and I said thanks. Then he asked me what I was doing that night and I said I was working. He said it was too bad because he wanted to take me to dinner at his favorite place on the lake. I think I said something about "wouldn't his wife mind?" and I 'haha-ed' and he said "she doesn't have to know. If you go with me, she won't be."

A married guy. Who's old enough to be my dad. EEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!

Number 2:

Mother and her three screaming brats come in and order dinner and decide to eat in. The kids run all over the place and scream and yell. I fix their food and take it to the table. Kids continue to scream and yell and mother continues to do nothing. When the woman standing at the counter who was trying to order and I asked her to repeat herself for the third time and I still COULDN'T hear her, I decided I had enough. I marched over to the table and got down on the kids' eye level and said in a very loud and nice voice, "LOOK! You need to be quiet right now. I can't hear. You need to use your inside voice or your mommy will need to take you home. Got it?" The looked at me and nodded. I looked and mommy and she refused to make eye contact with me and never said a word. They left about 5 minutes later.

Number 3:

Our ice cream store is located between a liquor store and a local restaurant. We get some interesting people who walk, drive, bike, and skateboard passed the parlor.

Yesterday is was cool- the first really cool day we had, in the middle 50s, there was a HUGE wind blowing and it was raining- basically the cold, wet nightmare of a day. And a woman walks passed. She is an older lady, probably in her late 50s, early 60s. She had a cane and a limp. And she walked passed my store and about 15 minutes later she goes back the way she came, struggling along with her cane, her limp, in the rain, against the wind and carrying a bottle in a brown paper bag.

Number 4:

Every day, around the same time of day, a guy rides his bike passed. He looked like the version of Forest Gump who ran across the country a few times. He rides a bicycle and goes by with carry out food in a Styrofoam container in the basket of his bike. He wears leathers. There's so much about this that makes me smile: that a guy who looks like him rides a bicycle with a basket or the carry out or that he looks like "Running Forest Gump." Hey, I'm just observing.

Number 5:

The ice cream is owned by 2 sisters, their mom and their uncle. The uncle is sort of the "silent" partner in that he does all the finances for the company. And because he's such an early bird, he stops in the shop each morning and puts cash in the register. Since I've been opening, the Uncle comes in each day before I get there and leaves some money in the register and he also turns the alarm off, but keeps it locked. That way I don't need to have the alarm code.

So one day I open the doors, walk half way across the dining room and hear a beeping- the alarm! Shit, it wasn't turned off! I drop my stuff, dash across the room, back out the door, and I throw the lock hoping I can keep the alarm from beeping. Unfortunately, it doesn't. The blares; a cacophony of sirens that sounds like 17 police car sirens all at once.

I have no code so I need to call someone before I had the entire police department at my feet. I start to grab my phone and... I dropped my purse inside. I unlock the door, get my purse and then I get the cordless store phone because the "Very Well Known and Reputable Nationwide Alarm Company" will be calling. I stand outside and call one of the owners. She gives me the code, I shut it off and go inside. And start through the opening procedure. And guess what? The alarm company has never called. The police never called. I could've been robbed or killed or something and no one would've known. Yeah.

And to top it off, the Uncle forgot to leave me cash in the register. Feh.

Celebrate Freedom- Read a Banned Book

Wanna know more? Check this out!

Here are just a few titles that have been banned in the US at some point:

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Blubber by Judy Blume
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
Carrie by Stephen King
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Christine by Stephen King
Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Cujo by Stephen King
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Decameron by Boccaccio
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Fallen Angels by Walter Myers
Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) by John Cleland
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Forever by Judy Blume
Grendel by John Champlin Gardner
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Have to Go by Robert Munsch
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Impressions edited by Jack Booth
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
It's Okay if You Don't Love Me by Norma Klein
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Love is One of the Choices by Norma Klein
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
My House by Nikki Giovanni
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Night Chills by Dean Koontz
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective
Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Separate Peace by John Knowles
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Bastard by John Jakes
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
The Living Bible by William C. Bower
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
The Seduction of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders
The Shining by Stephen King
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder
Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth

Why I quit ice cream

• I can make the same money in 3 days of subbing as I can working a whole week of scooping ice cream
• I'm gaining weight (not much, but enough)
• I have arthritis in my right hand and it's so bad right now I can't open my fingers wide nor make a fist, because of the pain and swollen knuckles
• My back hurts, my feet and ankles hurt, my right elbow always hurts and so does my right shoulder. this job gives me occasional cankles. I'm such a big baby!
• I will probably not fall asleep as soon as I get home from work each night, at around 6:30pm so I'll feel like crafting, watching new tv and reading and hanging with Mac.
  
• I miss teaching and subbing is better than nothing
• I will be able to actually attend a spinning class as I've wanted to do all summer long, and if that doesn't kill me, I'll be able to attend a zumba class. Hey, I do these things for blog fodder and for no other reason, my prettys!
  
• If I have a day where I don't get called, can go to my college Alma Mater town and see all the new adorable shops that have been opened, including a hands on artist studio! They also now have a grand coffee house, an organic bakery, 2 used books shops, a quilt shop, and a bunch of other little neat shops. I've been passed but haven't been able to go because they are always closed when I get off work and there's not time to go in the morning.
  
• I live anywhere from 3 minutes to 30 minutes from 9 high schools and 9 junior high/ middle schools= total of 18 schools. And I signed up to sub as EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!
• Subbing looks better on my professional resume than scoop girl
• I hate standing on a hard concrete floor for 6.5-9 hours a day and since I'm the only one there, I have no breaks or relief. (Not that I ever did when the owner was there...)
  
• I hate coming home hot, sweaty and sticky and ruining clothes because chocolate DOES stain
• I miss wearing my dress up clothes
• I can read lots more books in a month when subbing than I can when ice cream coning
  
• My ice cream hours are going to be cut from 30 a week to 5 a week in January through March because, even though we're open all year around, that is "off season" for ice cream. And if I wait get on a sub list then, no one will call me because I'll be at the bottom of the 'seniority' pile.
• Working at the ice cream parlor was leaving me zero flexibility to interview
• There is going to be an English teacher going on maternity leave in January and she requested ME to finish her school year. I WANT to do this and the principal has casually mentioned it to me already so I need to be visible to him, and gain some sub points to be eligible.

So there ya go. That's all she wrote. My last day as a scoop girl is on Friday, Oct. 2.

Closing the ice creamy cone chapter,
Mags

Birthday Bash Recap

This is the best birthday I've had since I turned 30! (Other than birthday 33, which I don't remember so that one is excluded) It was a fun day!

Daddy-O, Curley and I spent the day in Northern Civilization shopping. We went to my favorite book stores and favorite mall. We hit Lane Bryant, Half Price Books, Kohls and Barnes and Noble. It was grand fun.

Daddy-O got me some super awesome clothes since I'm going back to subbing (yeah, I know I owe ya'll a post of why I quite the ice cream biz but it's not nearly as exciting as it sounds!). He also replaced the hat I lost when I was in Milan, Italy last March; remember how I kvetched for months after losing the hat? He found another one exactly like it- yahoo! Hey, it's a damn cute hat! Curley got me a beautiful ring and tickets to a local production of "Anything Goes" for me and a date- of course, I'm taking Curley! It was a great day. (I realized later I didn't even go to a Starbucks, though! I was shocked. Shocked, I tell you!)

I was also pleased with all the well wishers here on my blog- thanks all for taking time to send me special wishes; I appreciate it! I also got birthday email from Honey and Attila the Blond, and special birthday text messages from my buddies Trooper and Redneck Nerdboy. (I love technology and how it changes birthday greetings!) I got actual cards via the USPS from blogger girlfriend Bragger and Curley. I got a call from my friend "Ben Cartwright"- ya'll get a blog post about him tomorrow. But the surprise of the day came from blogger girlfriend Patti, who CALLED me!!!!!!!!! it made my day! She and I have never met in person but we've always personally emailed and she reads my blog AND we're on a blog together. One day when I got a new cell phone number and did a big ole' batch email with it, I included her. She always teased she would call when I least expected it and!!!!!!!! She called to wish me a happy birthday! Now, dang it all- how freaking cool is THAT!?! Made my day, I tell ya!

Dinner at the Mexican restaurant was yummy. Guard, Booknut, The Divine Ms K, DaddyO, Mac, Curley, Mr& Mrs XRay Girl and I were all in attendance and had a good time. We laughed and talked lots and made noise and giggled. The food was great and the waiters seemed to have forgiven our drunken escapade from a few nights ago.

After dinner, Booknut, XRayGirl and I went to a local bar for a few drinks and thought we'd listen to the DJ or might get lucky and find karaoke. I want to say the bar we went to in town was... different. Mullets were prominent as popular hair style. Old ladies dirty danced. Old men played air guitar. I drank a lot to try and wash it from my mind. No but really, we did have a good time and LAUGHED until we about cried. We fed the juke box and danced!

On a hilarious note, Booknut has stopped breast feeding since The Divine Ms K is one year old now and she drank for the first time in almost 2 years. That was HILARIOUS! I about damn near peed my pants listening to her and watching her.

We all had fun and it was a great day! I'm so blessed to have so many people make my day special and it meant lots! Thanks for making my day great, everyone!

(And I also want to say that in 2006, 2007, and 2008, when I lived in the Wild West it snowed on my birthday. I had never had snow on my birthday in my life until these three years. This year in the Wild West Town where I lived it was 85 degrees. Go figure! And, by the way, it didn't snow here in Civilization, either!)

Another year older but still smilin',
Maggie Mae

9 layers of me meme

LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Maggie aka: Mags, mom, Gracie
-- Birth date: Sept. 26
-- Birthplace: Civilization, Midwest
-- Current Location: The red recliner at Daddy-O's house
-- Eye Color: brown
-- Hair Color: auburn
-- Height: 5ft 4.5 inches,
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Libra

LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: Irish/ Scottish/ Walsh and a swish of German
-- The shoes you wore today: Flip-Flops.
-- Your weakness: shoes, purses, books, Starbucks, Cosmos, donuts
-- Your fears: death, growing old, never becoming employed professionally again
-- Your perfect pizza: extra cheese and mushrooms on a thick crust
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: marry John Cusack
LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on MSN or Chat? lol, haha, :)
-- Your first waking thoughts: I hate my job.
-- Your best physical feature: lips
-- Your most missed memory: I dunno.... I can't remember
LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Pepsi.
-- McDonald's or Burger King: McDonalds
-- Single or group dates: any dates would be acceptable at this point
-- Adidas or Nike: Sketcher
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Lipton all the way, baby
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee

LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: Nope
-- Cuss: Fuck yeah!
-- Sing: Yes- Karaoke Queen
-- Take a shower everyday: yup, and maybe more than once
-- Do you think you've been in love: yes.
-- Want to go to college: yes
-- Liked high school: NO
-- Want to get married: is this a joke?
-- Believe in yourself: Not too much, no.
-- Get motion sickness: usually in the backseat of the car on long trips
-- Think you're attractive: If I could lose some weight and have everything nipped and tucked, sucked and lifted and grow another 5 inches then, hell, Victoria Secret would hire me in a minute
-- Think you're a health freak: ummmm, no. is this a joke?
-- Get along with your parent(s): Yep
-- Like thunderstorms: used to hate them and now I don't care.
-- Play an instrument: I pick at the piano and not very well

LAYER SIX: In the past month...
-- Drank alcohol: Yes
-- Smoked: yes
-- Done a drug: No
-- Made Out: yes
-- Gone on a date: yes
-- Gone to the mall: way more than I care to admit
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: yup
-- Eaten sushi: nope
-- Been on stage: yes
-- Been dumped: yes
-- Gone skating: No
-- Made homemade cookies: nope
-- Gone skinny dipping: nope
-- Dyed your hair: yup
-- Stolen Anything: No
LAYER SEVEN: Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes; have you heard a of a little thing called sex?
-- If so, was it mixed company: yup
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: the word "yes" comes to mind
-- Been caught "doing something": define something
-- Been called a tease: I've been called a lot of things, but 'tease' isn't one of them
-- Gotten beaten up: No
-- Shoplifted: No

LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: I'm still single at age 38, so let's figure that out
-- Ages and Names of Children: Mac- age 16
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: BBQ pig, jello shots, kegger, DJ.... I'll let you decide if I'm kidding or not...
-- How do you want to die: peacefully in my sleep, I guess
-- Where you want to go to college: anywhere that will give me lots of degrees for free and be an accredited university
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: beautiful, thin and wealthy
-- What country would you most like to visit: England

LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: Just pot.
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: 1
-- Number of CDs that I own: I own about 100 but I can't remember the last time I bought a CD
-- Number of piercings: 1 in each ear; I let the nipple piercings grow closed
-- Number of tattoos: -one
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: a bunch
-- Number of scars on my body: do stretch marks count as scars?
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: three

Can I be the Princess today? (my answer is 'hell YEAH'!)

This is it. I'm almost 40. I can't believe it. I have two more agonizing years in my 30s after today and, well... then I'll be 40.

Tonight 9 of my family and friends are joining me for dinner. That's very cool. I have no idea what else I'll do since I'm almost 40.

But as for today, I'm 38. 38 years old. I want a pony. And yes, I said 38 years old, not 8!!!

And if I can't have a pony, can I have Johnny? Please? Ok, 'prolly not, but I do have cake candles to blow out and a wish to make...!

So happy birthday to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow.

Ms Maggie Mae O'Sullivan, the birthday girl

I think we need to learn Spanish before we try to speak it

Last night XRay girl and I decided to have a pitcher of margaritas at our fav Mexican restaurant.

By the end of the evening, XRay girl thought she could speak Spanish and ALL the waiters were laughing AT us. Though we had no idea what they were saying, we KNEW they were laughing at us.

But we didn't care since we were laughing at ourselves.

One minute we were actually talking and making sense and being quite serious and philosophical and then all of a sudden we both stopped and said, "We're drunk" and it was downhill from there. The giggling escalated into full blown laughter.

Neither of us took waiters home, which is a good thing because I think XRay girl's husband might have been pissed about that. And I don't think DaddyO would appreciate me bring home men to the attic... I just don't even want to go there.

Mr. XRay Girl came to get us and take us home, which is good because neither of us could drive a lick. Hell, we were giggling so hard that I'm sure people thought we couldn't even walk- but we could, really, I swear. I think.

We also learned that some of XRay Girl's ability to speak Spanish came from the tv show Cops, which means that her language skills were 1) not good 2) she knew dirty Spanish words and gang lingo but didn't know it, and 3) and our waiter thought it was hilarious that she could barely count to about 6 but knew LA Barrio gang words. Oh shit.

Our poor waiter. Our poor poor waiter.

If she and I ever go back, I know they'll flip a coin to see who gets stuck with us.

I would like to say we are good tippers. We had a sober moment there before we departed and I know we left a nice healthy tip. ($6 on a $20 tab isn't soooo bad, right? 30% is okay?)

Did I mention we giggled and laughed A LOT?

And "moo-la" is NOT Spanish for money?

And apparently there is an age cut off between calling us senoritas and senoras. And we're apparently senoras. Which for some reason really bothers me.

And now in the light of day, I really hope XRay Girl didn't holler at our server: "Yo Amegio, here's your moo-la, ese." Shit.

And this is where I'm bringing 9 people Saturday night for my birthday....XRay Girl included. Maybe I'll drink agua. Maybe they won't recognize me since I'll look a year older.

But damn we had a good time. And damn those margaritas were FINE! And we laughed so much my sides ache today. I really really needed that!

And I actually had planned to write a semi serious post today about something.... no clue.

I did learn a very important lesson: when Mr. XRay Girl comes to pick our drunk asses up, don't try and pet his pet bird because it bites.

Until next time,
Maggie

Thank you for the award!

Thanks so much to Anna at "Let's See if this Works"! She presented me with the Kreativ blogger award- many thanks! I love Anna's blog, too! Thank you!

There are rules that go along with winning this award and even though I can be a rule breaker, I promise to follow these guidelines this time!

The rules:

1.) Thank the person who gave this to you. (did it!)
2.) Copy the logo and place it in your blog. (did it!)
3.) Link the person who nominated you. (did it!)
4.) Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know. (did it!)
5.) Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers.' (did it!)
6.) Post links to the seven blogs you nominate. (did it!)
7.) Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them. (did it!)

The 7 things about me:

An aside: this is hard because I've been blogging for more than 3 years and I think ya'll know everything!

a) I like a scoop of orange sherbet in my vanilla ice cream milkshake because then it tastes like one of those old fashioned orange push-up pops.

b) I resigned my job at the ice cream store on Wednesday, effective Oct. 2, 2009.

c) I have really bad arthritis in my right hand, especially my thumb, index finger, and the "fuck you" finger.

d) I often check out more library books than I can read during the allotted period so I either pay fines or I return them and check them right back out again since I usually have about 15 home at a time. But the reason I want so many at once is in case I get sick and have loads of time to read, or... well, what if I don't like something? I need to have another choice. And my mood changes so I have to have at least 3 different genres at home at once. Um, does this make me sound weird, or like I need medication?

e) I'm uncomfortable around old people because I feel like I end up talking to them the way I do a 5 year old and I never consciously do it. Then I catch myself and I feel like an idiot.

f) I don't recycle and I don't feel bad about not doing it but I feel bad about not feeling bad...

g) I like to wear flip- flops with toe socks just for a few weeks in the fall to make my foot transition back to real shoes easier. I try and trick my feet into being happy about shoes again. it doesn't always work...

My nominees

1) Bragger- I know I've given her an award before but I think she is SOOO worthy! Her blog is always thoughtful, and usually funny or insightful. AND she's smart! I love her blog and her brain! I have a 'girl crush'!

2) Julie at Riding Solo- her pictures are beautiful. And you never know what you might get with her blog- something personal, something insightful, something funny, quirky or just off the wall! I love it! (AND she works with BOOKS!!!!!!!)

3) Shan at Shansland- her blog is another potpourri of delight. She might have a video of anything, including her kids, or some insight or just a quip about her life. All good stuff. I also personally appreciate her comments that she leaves on my blog. She is funny, kind and always offers words that make me feel better; she shows through her comments that she is a good soul.

4) Finn McCool- my blogging buddy across the Pond in the land of the Emerald Isle had beautiful pictures, smart poetry, or a personal thought to share. (And I think his writing is sexy...)

5) Tense Teacher- a fellow high school English teacher who shares her stuff- the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's well written and I appreciate that she pokes a little fun at herself- anyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously, posts the greatest memes, and is always grammatically correct gets my vote as a FAB blog!

And the next 2 nominees are a bit unconventional...

6) Patti who is a member of a group photo blog called Through Our Eyes. This is her only blog but she is great. i love her pictures- they are stunning! And she is a frequent commenter here who always has something smart of fun to share. She is witty and insightful and I'm glad she's become my blog friend- and I hope to meet her in person someday!

7) Curley who is also a member of the group photo blog Through Our Eyes. She has a great sense of humor, which is apparent in her photos. I also appreciate her diligence in blog reading and commenting. She is a wonderful lady and I'm happy to call her my best friend and fellow blogger.

(Patti and Curley- we can post your award with your next picture on "Eyes" if you want!)

So once again, thanks to Anna for the award- I *heart* awards! And thanks to all the great bloggers who make my days just a little better!

Hugs and kisses,
Maggie Mae

That's what I like about everything

• I like that President Obama does talk shows other than political ones
• I like that Neil Patrick Harris hosted the Emmys- he was funny!
• I like the color Tiffany Blue
• I like cooler weather
• I like festivals and fall leaves
• I like Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe
• I like West Wing, House and Numb3rs reruns
• I like booze- lots and lots of booze
  
• I like Broadway musicals
• I like that I've never watched 30 Rock
• I like Justin Long and John Corbett
• I like wearing jeans, the smell of rain, the color of green apples, and body lotion
• I like massages
• I like that Justin Timberlake obviously does not take himself seriously- that is so cool.
  
• I like going to the movies, tubs of buttered popcorn and the laughter heard in the darkness
• I like the song "Holding Out for a Hero"
• I like to make people laugh
• I like to wear Chanel no.5
• I like to eat and cook
• I like to spend time with friends
• I like that there's going to be a movie sequel to Sex and the City
• I like that Fame is going to be a movie remake, released this week!
• I like the sound of Shohreh Aghdashloo's voice
• I like casseroles and homemade bread
  

Mother and son review

So EventChaser and RazorGator gave me free tickets for the Metallica concert- which we thank you VERY MUCH for, but I couldn't go- long story for another post later- so Mac and his friend went to the concert!

And Mac helped write the review! (Though he mumbled something about being the only kid with 'concert homework'...) Do we have another Cameron Crowe here? Or is more like Mac and Maggie, the writing duo? In reality, why do I have a feeling he and I will never write sitcoms for a living after this?

Anyway, go check out the review! And thanks again to EventChaser and RazorGator for making this possible! As always, they rock!

This year I'm watching TV

I've always been a fan of TV but sometimes in my life I just don't have time to watch. But this year, I am SOOOOO gonna watch tv. I'm even thinking of calling it "Maggie and TV- the year I watched." I even made a list of what I want to watch. My problem is that we don't have TiVo here so I'm gonna have to resort to using the VCR. First I'm gonna check online and see what I can watch there. We also have Comcast so I guess some of the shows are on there if I hit the menu button and go through a bunch of menus and stuff...

So, here are my viewing plans: (and the * denotes new to this season)

Monday:
House
How I met Your Mother
Two and a Half men
Big Bang Theory
Trauma*
CSI Miami

Tuesday:
NCIS
NCIS LA*
The Good Wife*
The Forgotten*

Wednesday:
Mercy*
Criminal Minds
Law and Order: SVU
CSI NY
Eastwick*

Thursday:
Grey's Anatomy

Friday:
Numb3rs

Saturday:
nada

Sunday:
Three Rivers*
Cold Case

For me, with new shows, I don't give them much of a chance to impress me. I'll try them once and if I don't like 'em then I won't come back to it. This is what happened to me and The Mentalist (though if Simon could speak with his accent I might have to rethink this show) and Samantha Who.

Also, because Thursdays are looking so sparse I can watch other stuff that I've taped (I feel like such an old geek who's completely un-hip to say I tape stuff) the rest of the week, or that I find online via a network or Hulu or wherever shows are.

I worry that Eastwick is just gonna be like Charmed and while I know it was HUGELY popular I just wasn't a fan. I'm hoping it's more like... the movie Practical Magic. Guess we'll see.

And I also want to watch Rescue Me because Mac got me all sorts of hooked on it. And I wanted to see the show on TNT called Hawthorne (that one with Jada Pinkett- Smith) but I can't find it listed. I supposed I should Google it and see if it was cancelled already or if it's a summer show or a mid season replacement. And I want to watch Mad Men. I watched the entire first season on the airplane when I flew back from Ireland- again, I need to see where this is listed on my cable network.

And what happened to Without a Trace? Did it get canceled? Again, I suppose I should be Googling this information.

The new show I am most excited about is The Good Wife. Julianne Margulies is a great actress and it's nice to see her back on television again after her stint on er. And Christ Noth is on it and we all know how much I just a-DORE Chris Noth (aka Mr. Big).

And anyone who is as much of a tv junkie as I am probably noticed the 30 minute gap on my Monday viewing schedule between Mother and Two and a Half Men... I think the new show Accidentally On Purpose looks stupid but I guess I will watch it once. And if it sucks, then that 30 minutes is when I can take a shower or blog or do laundry.

Gawd, is John Corbett on tv somewhere because if he were then it would only be a perfect season!

Okay so what are you're viewing plans for tv this season? Anyone??

I should be a Nielsen girl,
Mags

The Park Ave. Princess Give-away

Fellow blogger Park Ave. Princess is giving away a coffee to go mug with a Starbucks card and some chocolates. The drawing is on September 26, which as we all know is my birthday!

I entered to win her giveaway since it seems like it's meant for me: drawing on my birthday, it involves Starbucks, it involves chocolate and the coffee mug comes in TIFFANY blue. hello- all the goddesses might be aligned for me to win!

Now the reason I'm tellin' ya'll this isn't because I'm so generous or I want you to rush over and enter yer ownselves. No, I'm simply tellin' ya'll this because I get extra points toward my entering of said contest if I link her giveaway right here. So here it is.

Fingers crossed,
Mags

What the hell- meme on a Sunday 'cause I'm boring

Who(m) ….
is easy to love? Curley!
do you just wanna smack? Customers at the ice cream parlor
do you trust? right now, no one
do you talk to when you’re alone? if I'm alone, who would I talk to other than myself? And I'm getting a new plant and I'm going to name him Mr. Goldstein and talk to him.

What….
dangerous things do you do while driving? dig in my purse or load a new CD into the player
are you allergic to? nuts.
is Satan’s last name? Shrew
is the last thing that moved you? the fact I can't come up with an answer worries me-- something I read about 9/11, I think...
is the freakiest thing in your house? my jewelry armoire that sitting in the middle of my bedroom floor because I don't have free wall in which to place it.

When…..
is it time to turn over a new leaf? now
will you be all that you can be? never
is enough enough? When I get mad enough to yell because I'm not usually a "yeller"
do you go to the dark side? Don't ask- you don't want to see it coming...

Where….
are your pants? hamper (I really wanted to be a smartass and write something wityy about how good they look on 'his' bedroom floor but that works better if I have a 'his' in my life...)
is your last will and testament? in my underwear drawer
is your junk food stash? night table drawer
is Carmen Sandiego? in Hell, I hope

Why…..
was the Lone Ranger alone? because he was smart enough to not get married
was The Scarlet Letter scarlet? Red is the color of sin
are musicians sexy and plumbers not? I'm sorry but plumber butt is NOT sexy
are there no seat belts on school buses? I have no idea but I've wondered why

Would you….
swim the English Channel for a doughnut and coffee? If not that, what? nope. But maybe for a Klondike bar...and $100,000 American bucks
forgive someone who deliberately hurt you? I try to forgive and not hold a grudge and sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't
rather believe a lie if it hurt you less than the truth? sometimes, yes
still be alive if you were sucked out of an airplane window? Would you just float around in space for while? What a stupid question…

thanks to Tense Teacher for this meme!

Another meme since it's a Saturday

1. Can you fill this out without lying? Yes

2. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? food

3. Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew? yes

4. Where was your profile picture taken? found it on Google Images

5. Can you play Guitar Hero? I’ve tried and I suck

6. Name someone that made you laugh today? XRay Girl

7. How late did you stay up last night and why? not very because I'm still recovering from taking Mac and his buddy to see Metallica and getting home at 230am...

8. If you could move somewhere else, would you? This is the kiss of death question in my life right now. I moved back to Civilization for a reason, which is FAMILY. Since it asks "If you could move" then my answer is YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But "can I" is a different story...

9. Ever been kissed under fireworks? probably but it doesn't stand out that I have been

10.Which of your friends lives closest to you? My BFF Curley

11. Do you believe exes can be friends? Sure (I have more exs as friends that I should. I think I'm going to start eliminating them...)

12. How do you feel about Dr Pepper? tastes like cough syrup- ick!

13. When was the last time you cried really hard? the day Trooper called, a week ago Wednesday, I guess

14. Where are you right now? on the recliner in the living room

15. What bed did you sleep in last night? My own

16. What was the last thing someone bought for you? Curley bought me a book and DaddyO bought me fabric.

17. Who took your profile picture?no one

18. Who was the last person you took a picture of? the Divine Ms K

19. Was yesterday better than today? No

20. Can you live a day without TV? Easily

21.Are you mad about anything? Not mad, actually

22. Are you upset about anything? yeah, several things

23. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? I'm not sure- let's see in a few months

24. Are you a bad influence? I can be at times

25. Night out or night in? I like both

26. What items could you not go without during the day? Computer

27. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?Grandpa Shrew (he's still alive BTW)

28. What does the last text message in your Inbox say? “Encore"

29. How do you feel about your life right now? mostly sucks

30. Do you hate anyone? hate is a strong emotion but I'm going with a "yes" on it

31. If we were to look in your Facebook Inbox, what would we find? I don't facebook

32. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? yeah

33. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? only in a bitchy sounding voice

34. What song is stuck in your head? “Broken"

35. Someone knocks on your window at 2am, whom do you want it to be? Trooper

36. Wanna have grand kids before you’re 50? No

37. Name something you have to do tomorrow. Laundry, clean the car, clean my room

38. Do you think too much or too little? WAAAAAAAAAAAY Too much

39. Do you smile a lot? Yes, which is why most people are surprised that I'm usually in a bad mood.

40. Who was your last missed call on your Mobile phone? Mac

41. Is there something you always wear? underwear, except when I'm not

42. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? surfing the net

43. Did you have an exciting last weekend? FUCK NO

44. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes (Oh there's a blog post-I was 30 and at a raided house party!)

45. Have you ever dyed your hair? yup

46. Are you wearing a necklace/chain? No

47. Are you an emotional person? Yes of late more than ever before

48. What’s something that can always make you feel better? nothing can ALWAYS make me feel better

49. Will this weekend be a good one? I have high hopes

50. What do you want right now? sex

51. Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing? Oh hell yeah- that's one small reason I love a significant other- expands my wardrobe!

52. Have you ever worked in a food place? currently...

53. What’s on your schedule for tomorrow? not much- maybe a matinee?

Johnny Depp Friday

Why? Because I wanted to, because I can, just... because I felt like it!

Ticket windfall- can we say Metallica?!?

RazorGator and EventChaser have done it again with concert tickets to see--- METALLICA!!!!!! And guess when??? TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, Metallica tickets tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis!

Mac thinks I'm the greatest mom on earth. And that's right, I am!

And I think he wants to marry the women who work at EventChaser...

So thanks to RazorGator and EventChaser for this great opprotunity- again!

Concert queen,
Maggie

Colts gallop over Jags!

They did so! Go read my review!

And thanks to the great folks at RazorGator and EventChaser for the free Indianapolis Colts tickets for last Sunday, where they played the Jacksonville Jags at Lucas Oil Stadium!

Many thanks to these great organizations for hookin' me up! They rock!

Whoot- whoot for being an EventChaser!
Maggie

Matter of Trust

You would think that after that that's happened with the Shrews, with the mean That Bitch from back in the Wild West, all the Sams (especially AlaskaSam and CanadianSam), and more recently Trooper I would have more trust issues than I really do.

It hit me like a ton of bricks that I should stop trusting anyone after Trooper's phone call. Then I thought that was sort of drastic and probably a knee jerk reaction. He didn't really violate my "trust" exactly- he just hurt my feelings, hurt my heart, and disappointed me a whole bunch.

Then last night one of the kids came in to relieve me at the ice cream and he asked how my weekend was and I rolled my eyes or something and he said, "Oh yeah. I forgot. I'm sorry." And I looked at him with that "what?" look and he said, "I heard you got dumped by your cop boyfriend." I asked him where he heard that and he said "XRay Girl told me all about it," and he proceeded to tell me about my life in detail. (I would like the record to state that I never once referred to Trooper as my 'boyfriend' to anyone.)

I was shocked and surprised that XRay Girl would tell after I told her not to. And to tell one of the HS kids at the ice cream parlor where I worked! I was pretty mortified.

The ironic part is that she and I had plans to see a movie and have dinner last night as well. So when she came to get me for the movie (her turn to drive since I did last time) I called her on it. I figured worst case she would lie and then I would cause a huge ruckus and then end up back home, or she would fess up. Basically, she said she was sorry, she wasn't sure why she told and was sorry, didn't mean to hurt me and was sorry, and she seemed fairly chagrined. Okay.

So rather than end the friendship, I've decided to learn something important here: don't tell XRay Girl anything that I don't want the entire world to know. We can still be friends but I need to keep my secrets to myself. This seems more adult and grown up than never speaking to her again and bitch slapping her for being a blabber mouth.

It's funny really, that no one knows all my secrets. If you get all the people I know together in one room after I die and they start comparing stories, then all the pieces will fall together, but no one person knows it ALL! And it's also funny, I realize, that I don't make friends very easily and I don't usually tell secrets to people, yet here on my blog I'll write whatever-- maybe because here started as a bunch of strangers so it didn't matter? This was a good place for me to kick down some walls and let down my hair? And because here I think, most of the time, like a writer and sometimes my 'Maggie' persona spins a good story?

I've always had a rough time making friends and have done better as an adult than I ever have as a teenager or a young kid. My problem has always been about trusting someone and it seems like when I do let my guard down, I get burned by someone, accidentally or on purpose. I think maybe the wall should come back up? Dunno.... Just thinking out loud here....

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall,
Maggie

I wish it wasn't that easy for me

It’s hard to become good at leaving, but I think I am. I’ve done enough of it in my life. And leaving seems to come easy to me. This isn’t to say that I don’t have connections, but leaving and wanderlust and discontent seem to go hand in hand with leaving.

I taught college, my first teaching job and when I left, it was so sad. The students and faculty gave me a farewell party and said their good-byes. I still miss those kids, those people and that particular job. I felt like I belonged. I miss the camaraderie with my colleagues.

I also left my family and moved to the Wild West. I knew I would be back to see them, but initial good-bye was hard. I left everyone and everything and no matter who you are, me included, or what dream I was following, I couldn’t help but have second thoughts and twinges of guilt.

Leaving doesn’t just mean leaving a place or a job. Leaving is just a parting, a saying good-bye to a person you may or may not ever see again. When my mother died I said good-bye forever. When I left the Wild West, I left kids, my students, who I knew I would never see most of again. When I said good-bye to AlaskaSam in DC many years ago, awash in tears and standing at the airport terminal, watching his limo pull away, I never knew that would be the last time I would see him, so far.

More recently I said good-bye to an old friend, a lover, a possible future… It was in a parking lot, and we kissed and chatted. I was calm on the outside and frantic on the inside that this connection might not last, no matter how much I wanted it. For the first time in a very long time that I can even remember, I didn't want to leave, didn't want to say good-bye, didn't want to break a connection.

But we both got into our automobiles and I drove away first, holding my breath, forcing myself to not look back, willing my fingers to not call Trooper on the cell phone. I drove away, hating that I was so good at leaving.

Maggie

How many times can I break 'til I shatter?

Bet ya'll are kind shocked to find me posting and not all "away from my blog" because I'm with Trooper. Well guess what? I'm here to tell you about the date that didn't happen. And I'm not with Trooper. And I'm not "WITH" Trooper, either. Ya'll get my drift, right? And yeah, this is a long post, but read to the end to get the whole story. Go get food and drink to make this more interesting, preferably chocolate and booze of some sort; a Cosmo if you're feeling "Maggie"!

Ten days went by before that man called me. At first I thought I had another Man Vanishing Act- if you read my old blog you know about the six month relationship that ended when the guy never showed up at my house again and had moved away... With Trooper, I hadn't talked to him, really talked in about 10 days, and the text messages were sporadic and scattered and then faded into non-existence. I figured he was pulling a vanishing act. One week Trooper and I are talking and texting and laughing with each other and have plans for a fabulous weekend together (today would be part of that) and the next thing I know he won't answer an email, the phone, a voice mail, or a text message. Nothing for 10 days until Wednesday night.

FURTHERMORE!!!!! Because I knew he was nervous about dating (apparently I didn't know JUST HOW nervous until Wednesday night) I wasn't gonna write him off even though he pretended I didn't exist for 10 days. He said last week (and a few times before that) he was nervous about dating so I was going to wait and hope he called on Friday and say he would be meeting me in Northern Civilization. And I would've met him and pretended like it wasn't odd I hadn't heard from him for ten days. I would not have given him any grief at all because I would've assumed he figured out whatever was bothering him. If he came to me, then I knew it would all be okay. It didn't work out that way, in case you haven't figured it out yet.

MOREOVER!!! For 10 days I wondered what the hell was going on as the silence stretched around us. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. He could be... dead. That would be a good reason for him to not call back. Or someone close to him in his family could be dead. Or he could be in the hospital in a coma. Or there could be some sort of natural disaster which knocked out cell service and phone lines and the Internet in the greater Wisconsin area for the last week and a half so he didn't know I've called or texted or emailed. Or someone could've stolen his cell phone, computer and answering machine so he doesn't know how to reach me. Or he could've been in a freak accident and is now blind and deaf. (BTW- according to many Google searches, none of this stuff was true...)

I thought the 'ignoring me' thing could be revenge. Three years ago when Trooper and I first met and when I wasn't very nice to him, I ignored him. I was mean to him on the phone and wrote a nasty blog post about him and then when I calmed down and cooled off, I was really embarrassed and didn't know what to say, thinking if I did call he would chew me out and make me feel worse. And then too much time passed to call and so I never called him, but we found our way back to each other to be friends. But because I did ignore him, I guess this could be his revenge. "Revenge is a dish best served... by absentia"? But that just doesn't seem like him, being mean and spiteful. And I've apologized for the ignoring him thing a million times over and he told me over and over again I was forgiven so it seems strange he would do the same thing to me. (Okay, and he wasn't ignoring me... he was building courage to tell me bad stuff, which you can learn about in more details if you keep reading.)

I thought his silence said: "no I don't want to date you, no I don't want to see you in Northern Civilization this weekend and do all the cool things you had specially planned for me, no I don't want to go to a Colts game with you, and no, really, your friendship means nothing to me, either and I never wanted to stay friends with you even if the romance didn't work which is why I decided to totally ignore you and pretend you no longer exist."

But all these "what ifs", these random thoughts, these wonderings were all for naught because he called. (And because he FINALLY called, he ruined a perfectly good post I'd written about him disappearing. I sent him a copy of it later... yeah, I'm evil.) And the long and the short of it is....Trooper's scared. Of women. Of dating. Of being hurt. Of dating me and having me hurt him. He was hurt so much by his ex that he just isn't sure he can do this, date me, see me, (or any other woman, he says) and he needs some time to think it through and figure out what he wants.

He says there's no one else.

He says I'm great and wonderful and he doesn't deserve me and he's sorry for hurting and disappointing me.

He says it's not me, it's him. (I hate Seinfeld.)

He says he can't give me any answers to the "whys" I have.

I suggested that he at least see me this weekend to decide fairly. I couldn't understand why he wanted to "end" something that hasn't even started. I wanted to know what the difference was between now and when we were together a month ago. He didn't have any answers, just apologies and compliments. I didn't ask for a commitment, or anything serious. I just thought it was a date....................... He said he could't do it, didn't want to lead me on.

I think deep down it might've been easier if he disappeared because then I could be mad at him.

I think deep down he already has some serious feelings for me since we've been friends for years and now he's scared because he knows I'm reciprocating.

I think deep down he so very much wants to do this but doesn't want to risk getting hurt; being alone is a sure way of not being hurt. I can't give him guarantees. But I can wait while he figures it out. Right?

One thing that just drives me batty is the whole "quitting" before we could see if we could date, let alone anything else. Part of me regrets seeing him a month ago. Part of me regrets opening my mouth about having a crush on him. Part of me regrets opening my heart a tiny bit (the regret is huge, the heart was open a tiny bit- needed to explain the modifier rather than re-write the sentence.) Or am I just hurt so I feel regretful?

Okay, so I'm not gonna beat a dead horse here. (Where in the HELL did that horrid expression come from, anyway?) I might post again tomorrow on the concept of trust and why I seem to be lacking some these days. And should he not be a gutless, yeller -bellied, lily livered, coward jerkface and decide to at least give what's left of this weekend a try, I'll fill ya in.

So for 10 days he was trying to sort it out and didn't have any luck. He wasn't ill, infirmed, dead, crippled, suffering from the onslaught of a natural disaster or a smiting from a god or two. He was just scared.

For those of you keeping score, we had two dates. Hell, they weren't even dates- just 2 "whatevers", three years apart (though we had dinner together 3 times in Oct. 2008. Do these count as dates? I bought my own food and drink. I don't think it counts.). Why I thought I was anything special to him is beyond me- obviously I had a HUGE attack of the stupids. I was... am... his friend, I guess. Hey, Trooper and I didn't have anything "extra" special, just the makings of another nothing love story, like everyone else. Nothing special, nothing special, nothing special... I wasn't a Princess and he was no knight. Just turns out instead that I kissed yet another toad.

Oh hell, I don't believe that at all. He is special and I do care for him. And we can have something special and good. It isn't, wasn't, won't be, nothing. He is Prince Charming. I was just ranting because I haven't had enough booze.

He said he was sorry and I was great and all........... He said he needs time but if he can sort it out, a few weeks or months down the road, and he feels he is ready to do this, he would give he and me a shot so maybe I was "special"? Or that's just what guys say when they don't want a girl who wants them?

I know that if he decides he wants to do this, I'm all in. My feelings haven't changed. And since I've been "crushing" on him for many, many months now, if he calls and says, "let's do this, darlin'" I'm in. I gotta.

And Oh great goddess, I so, so, so miss him calling me "darlin'." (Wonder if he could call me at least once a week to just whisper good-night and call me darlin'?)

But in the meantime, my heart hurts a bit.... and I missed seeing him.

Right now I'm done looking for Prince Charming because he's either dead, gay, or will just need killin',
Mags

Mac's view on relationships

I really can't believe he said any of it...

Mac said, "Look, when I meet a girl I can stand, then she can be my girlfriend. That's how you pick someone. Find a person you can tolerate, stick with 'em and hope you can tolerate them for a long time. And since there isn't anyone in high school I can stand for longer than 10 seconds... well, hence why I'm single."

I stupidly asked if looks mattered and Mac then said, "If she's super hot but dumb, I'd learn to tolerate her. But since women in real life aren't super hot, it doesn't matter. Even if she's 'ugo' [teen speak for ugly] but tolerable, that's fine. Most girls, well most people are just stupid, therefore intolerable."

Some people are just mean!

Yesterday was not my best day. At all. I hated work, my heart hurts, my depressed and sad and just a whole host of other things went wrong yesterday, in my little area of the world. This little incident was just part of the crap that hit me yesterday.

I have a Harvard t-shirt. I like to wear it. I think I've mentioned this before. To me it's no different than someone wearing a shirt that has a Fighting Illini logo or the Patriots logo- I don't assume that the person went to that school or plays for the NFL. It's just a damn t-shirt.

Yesterday a woman came in for ice cream, as wont to happen when you run an ice cream parlor. I was working. I was not in a good mood. I was not wanting to deal with humans; rather, I wanted to be in bed, watching sappy movies and feeling sorry for myself, but NO, I was working. With the public.

So this broad comes in and orders. I dip. I give her the cone. She asks the price. We have one register working and it was in use by another employee. Rather than wait to give her the price, I guessed. This state has wonky taxes and off the top of my head I thought the total was $2.42 and I told her. She gave me $2.50. When I rang it up, in reality it was $2.46. I apologized for my math error and said I "don't do math so late in the day" and laughed. She said she couldn't believe a Harvard student couldn't do math. I said in a light tone (and tried to NOT convey my irritation), "Oh well, I always say English majors don't do math." She told me she was an English major and then gave me a hard stare and asked me if I attended Harvard. I said nope and her response was, "Obviously not."

What nerve! I am not a stupid woman and I am sick and tired of people treating me as such.

I hate this job. I really really really hate this job.

Maggie

So, my birthday is coming up...

And there's stuff I want; I may not get a damn thing (and that's okay!), but it's nice to be wishful! (And if you wanna see the list in its entirety, you can click on my profile, then click "wish list" at the tippy-top of the page, under my location, in case clicking right here doesn't work! And if you want to send me something, then by all means- go ahead! And if this list isn't enough, go here or here for more...!)

I just cannot believe I'm going to be 38 on Sept. 26th... Where has the time gone?

The Martha Stewart Cupcake Book because cupcakes are the world's most perfect dessert.

OMG- cute shoes! Red satin with black velvet- seeeeexy! Size 9 is still sexy, right?

Love this silver ring... and it would be nice to have this sentiment on hand at all times to keep me remembering it's true! (Yes, pun intended!) Size 5 ring- the only thing on me that's little are my fingers!


New Jeans

I totally WANT this cookbook- how in the world have I never owned it before?

And while I'm on a book kick, I would love Simon Henry's book The Little Black Dress

Have me a little drinky-poo in this adorable Princess shot glass!I would adore this necklace from Tiffany & Co, for the necklace itself AND the magical blue box, but of course no one I know could afford to be so extravagant.

Or this Tiffany & Co heart key, which of course comes in the Tiffany blue box!

And if I had a picture of Trooper, I'd put it right here!

Beatle- mania... yeah I got it! So what?

I love the Beatles. I do! If I had been around as a teenager in 1964, I would've taken my pony tailed, sweater set, poodle skirt clad self to the nearest 5 and Dime and bought one 45 record after another, practiced kissing on Paul pictures, and screamed myself into a stupor at their performance on the Ed Sullivan show or at one of their concerts. As it is, since I wasn't even thought of during the Beatles era, I do own a framed photo of the Fab Four, have the cutest pair of Lennon specs, several of their CDs, a coffee mug, a bumper sticker, and a t-shirt. I think that's a respectable amount of Beatles paraphernalia for a woman of my years. Fact: I LOVE the Beatles.

So today is a pretty big day in modern day Beatle history. Today marks the release of Rock Band Beatles- you can buy the video game alone or the video game with replicas of the Fab Four's instruments. And you can be your favorite Beatle at home while playing a video game. And I guess this is a kick ass game because Paul and Ringo, Harrison's kid and that bitch Yoko all worked together to give players as much authentic experiences as possible in the music's sound and the visual effects. It looks kick ass. I want to buy it for Mac and then force him to come over here and play it with me. And I want the whole set. Yeah, I know I don't have $300 for a video game, but still...!

And today marks further cool Beatles-ness because all the Beatles albums are re-released today. All studio recordings are being released again on CD (and some DVDs) so if you need to rush out and buy The White Album or Sargent Pepper, now is your chance. Go ahead- go. I'll wait.

What I think is completely cool about all of this is that the Beatles are now crossing over into yet another generation and creating even a larger fan base- if that's humanly possible. Bring their music through a video game? What better marketing could there be?

So 09/09/09 is another day that will live in infamy of the Fab Four. (And did you notice I even published this post at 9:09 am?). The Lads from Liverpool are still rocking out, just in a new and innovative ways!

Can't buy me love,
Maggie

I don't care what Harry says...

... men and women CAN be friends! Really! And the sex part doesn't have to get in the way!

In the 80s movie When Harry Met Sally, there is an infamous scene and ongoing theme in the film that men and women can't be friends without there being some sort of sexual attraction. And of course, the film goes from there in an ironic fashion. (This is one of my favorite movies of ALL time and I could type the dialogue verbatim between Harry and Sally Albright, which also ties in an analysis of Ingrid Bergman's character in Casablanca of why she married Victor Laszlo instead of bar owner Rick in the scene where it all kicks off.)

But Farrago and are are JUST FRIENDS. There is not sexual attraction. There is no sexual tension. There is no sexual undercurrent. We're not former 'flames'. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch. We are just friends.

And the reason I bring this up is because while I was in Chicago over the weekend, I had several conversations with people on this very subject. One was with a woman at the karaoke party named K. K is married but thinks Farrago is, in her words, "totally hot." I'm like, "really?" and turn around to look at him. I don't see it. I mean, I don't think he's repulsive or anything but he's just not my type nor am I attracted to him; if he was the last man on earth and I were the last woman, the human population probably wouldn't die out, but that might be the only situation where he and I would ever have sex. Then she goes on and give me the third degree, wanting to know if we've ever dated, fucked, kissed, or made out and she just can't believe that none of that ever happened, nor do I desire it to happen. Because she really wants to date, fuck, kiss and make out with Farrago- which is a whole other can of worms, if you will.

Another guy at the party, whom I shall call R. also ran me through the same thing of wanting to know if Farrago and I were a "couple" or a former couple or just ever... "ya know" once. And I said nope. He then wanted to know if there was an undercurrent of sexual tension between us and again, I said nope. Farrago was just a buddy, a great friend, sort of like the older brother I never had. I can pick on him and he's nice about it-- and sometimes picks back. We talk and laugh and hang out, but that's as far as it goes. We never even flirt. R. was shocked and I'm not sure he totally bought it since he said he has a platonic female friend and they've "never" but he thinks she's hot.

So, I guess we're living proof that men and women can just be friends, no more no less. And I need friends more than I ever need or will need a "boyfriend", that's for sure!

And Farrago-- no offense was meant during the writing of this post!

Platonic and liking that status,
Maggie

Return from the Windy City

I took the train up to Chicago on Friday night and met two of the most delightful gay men who were from Northern Civilization. It was like talking to Will and Jack (from Will and Grace) for 3 hours so it made the time fly. We exchanged phone numbers and plan to get together in the next few weeks! Ah shucks, Maggie made new friends.

The train station put me out right downtown in the theater district where Farrago picked me up and we headed to his house. When got a great pizza and stayed up talking for 4 hours, just like good girlfriends do!

We got a late start on Saturday so he headed to Farrago's fav breakfast spot, where it has the best hash and eggs in the world. Okay, he claims it does. I don't like hash so I didn't order it nor eat it so we have to take his word for it. But it was cool to go there with him. The owners and cooks and waitresses at this diner know him by name. It was a Cheers feeling when we went with all yelling greetings at him- and the staff sang a rendition of "happy birthday" to him because they just remembered it was his special day- we hadn't even mentioned it!

(OH and he totally seemed to like the bottle of Johnny Walker Black I gave him since I still haven't found the lost Johnny Walker Blue!)

We headed to Farrago's home town for the tour. Any of you who read know (and any of you who don't read his blog should!) Farrago's blog know he writes about growing up and has some delightfully funny stories about his childhood. So we took the tour of his hometown and that was cool- it was neat to see the sights where all the stories took place. And there was a yummy bakery where I got some sort of pastry thing that was scrumptious- even though they have the best chocolate cinnamon rolls in the world-again I have to take his word for it because the bakery was OUT of rolls.

After the stroll memory lane, we went into the city and took a driving tour of the famous neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Wrigglyvillie, Boys Town, and Old Town. We also drove the entire length of Lake Shore- it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too expensive to stop to park so I got most of my water fix with the drive. We found a faux Irish pub and had some beers. And remember my love affair with Bulmer's Irish Cider? Well, I found the American equivalent: Magner's!

Finally we headed over to the karaoke party for dinner and singing, which was great fun. It was more of a crowd than when I went a few months ago so we sang a little less but we all had fun! And because it's my birthday month, as well as three others- including Farrago- there was cake and a serenaded rendition of the Beatles "Today is your birthday". And cake. I *love* cake! Nice people, good fun!

Sunday the train brought me home but it was lots less entertaining. No delightful gay men to engage my brain. Instead there were lots of screaming bratty kids so I slapped in my head phones and let the train carry me back to my world, leaving the city adventure behind and ready for me to return another time.

melancholy,
Mags

Travel meme

1. What is your dream destination?
England or most of western Europe

2. Who is your favorite travel buddy?
Myself (well, I usually travel alone so that makes sense, but I have no problems in traveling with other people, I guess.)

3. Where is the last place on Earth you would want to visit?
The Middle East- to much unrest and too war torn and ravaged

4. How many countries have you visited?
Four- Canada, USA, Ireland, Italy

5. How many Continents have you visited?
2- North America and Europe

6. Favorite State in the US?
Massachusetts- since I adore Boston. But I haven't visited all the states yet so that could still change

7. How many states have you visited?
32

8. Beach, mountains, woods or city?
City

9. City or Country?
I like being in the country- and wouldn't mind living in the country again- as long as I'm near a city.

10. Do you like Vegas?
I've never been but would love to go sometime. Though not in the summer- hell, it's so hot there that even the mob left...

11. Favorite historical landmark?
Feline's Basement.... or the Statue of Liberty (I canNOT believe in the Wild West three years and never saw Mt. Rushmore; I was an idiot! ) And I've always wanted to see the Hollywood sign (among many other things!)

12. Have you ever been on a cruise?
nope but again, I would love to do it!

13. Plane, boat or car?
I don't mind driving but if I want to get somewhere quickly, I'll hop a plane, even though I hate to fly

14. Best vacation memory?
I have several. I loved taking Mac to Disney World and to Boston the first time. I also liked when I went to Memphis and toured Graceland- the tackiest but one of the most fun places on earth! I love the fancy hotels I stayed in when I was in Quebec, too. And I went with a pack of GFs to The Big Easy and that was a blast- I don't think we were sober the entire time!

15. Worst Vacation memory?
I went to Hawaii and got sick. I think I was sicker than I ever have been in my life. I had to go to a Doc in the Box while there and had a HIGH fever and ear ache. So I got back on a plane and flew back to Civilization, which was 2 plane changes and about 12 hours in the air. And the landings about killed my ears; I cried like a baby. The flight from Honolulu to LAX wasn't so bad though, because it wasn't full so I laid across three seats in the back and the flight attendants were so nice to me. LAX to Detroit was okay; i slept most of the way but when I got to Detroit my gate for my next flight home was moved three times. At the second move, some woman who was an angel stuck me in a wheel chair and bitched out any Northwest ("Northworst") employee who would listen about making a sick woman move so much and then she pushed me to the next gate. So I finally get off the third flight in the Northern Civilization and my "friend" who was supposed to pick me up never showed. There I sat with a fever of 104, sore throat and an ear ache, hurting like hell and via cell phone I learn she's on a date and couldn't convince her date to come and get me. So I called another friend who picked me up and I crashed for 2 days in her guest room; she and her husband swore I was delirous and in a coma off and on. And I was in Hawaii for about a grand total of 50 hours.

Today is his birthday!

Happy Birthday Farrago! Sing your heart out tonight- glad I'm privileged enough to be able to spend it with you!

Leavin' on a.... train

Well, after work today I'm off to the Windy City and to celebrate Farrago's birthday in style. We're gonna sing karaoke and maybe see a Sox game. The White verses the Red and both of us are Red fans so it should be interesting! And if the weather cooperates, he's taking me to walk on the beach (though he told me if it was cold he was staying in the car with the heater on. Chicken!). What a great guy!

And I'm takin' the train into the city this time, rather than drive. I can head to the train station, not even an hour away, and then go all the way to downtown Chicago, where Farrago- the ever so wonderful gentleman from IL, will pick me up at the train station! That way I don't have to walk, take a cab, take a bus, and the 'El then his car to get to him. And I can park my car for free at the train station. I might even have a few new pictures to post on my travel blog! Sounds like a wonderful plan all the way around, ya know?

With the holiday weekend, I just so did not want to fight the traffic, so I'm excited at the prospect of sitting quietly for 3 hours, reading and listening to my music and watching the world pass me by.

So, ya'll, I'll catch ya on the flip side of the holiday weekend with tales to tell!

Kisses to you all and have a Cosmo weekend!
Maggie

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!?!

OMG- I *heart* Event Chaser and Razorgator for NFL tickets! I want to say HUGE thank yous to both of these organizations because this girl right here is gonna see the Indianapolis Colts play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 at the new Lucas Oil Stadium on opening day!!

I am psyched! I love watching NFL and in person, live- what could be better? Oh, what could be better, I heard someone ask? Well, I have a DATE. With Trooper! Me, Trooper and the NFL!

Oh yeah, I'm sooooo happy dancing my ass all over the dang place! And, of course, since I'm an official EventChaser, I'll be writing a review of my game experience!

Opening day. Trooper. Football. If I can wear cute shoes to the game and have a Cosmo... well, I will have died and gone to heaven.

Life Can be GOOD!
Maggie

Voodoo isn't always a bad thing, right?

The above is my voodoo doll. Okay, I bought it for my folks when I was in The Big Easy about 10 years ago and after my post last week, Daddy-O dug it out.

But here's the news that's fit to print. Think I should or should NOT use the Ol' Black Magic?

• Sperm Donor had emergency surgery and came out fine. He was in the hospital for 5 days and was in a lot of pain but is home now.
• Grandma Shrew is in the hospital as well with some sort of flu. She was there for a whole day and never called anyone because she couldn't remember any numbers, even though I live at the same number my mother (her daughter) had for 40 years. I'm just too terrible of a human being to call apparently. (Actually it's a good thing she didn't call. I don't want that sort of responsibility to her.) She would rather sit in the hospital without her family knowing than call me. COOL!
  
• Trooper has not told me to go away, though his gun shy-ness is shining through, but he's sweet about it. he's such a... trooper. *giggle* (Oh come on! That was a great pun!)
  
• ItalianSam sent me an email about a job that he has connections to so I might actually get an interview, at least. It's in Wisconsin somewhere... And it was a nice olive branch from him.
  
• The insurance office might have a full time opening and I might be considered- if I want to become an insurance sales person... That would involve commission and more schooling.
• The ice cream owner has to have some medical stuff done and wants me to run the day to day operations while this happens.
• I can't find a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue that I bought for AIISam last March at duty free. I've had it here in my room since the break up and was going to give it to Farrago as a birthday gift and now it's missing. And no I didn't drink it.
• I can't find my tv remote, either.
• When I told the bank about all the hoops I have to jump through for that stupid fucking Verizon Wireless to give me the overdraft fees back, they just credited my checking account and told me to not worry about it.
• I almost have free Indianapolis Colts tickets and am taking Trooper there on a date, if they come through. Now, am I the coolest could be girlfriend in history? (I think he might consider drastic measures if I scored Packers tickets... HAHA!)
  

So, it's a mish- mash of all sorts of blessings and curses.

Witchy woman,
Maggie