Pages

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween Meme!

Have you ever been to a Halloween party that you didn’t remember afterward?
Well, I remember bits and pieces of the party, not much of the afterparty, and the next morning was.... not my best moment.

What is your favorite costume you've ever seen?
I saw a guy dressed as a pack of Lucky Strikes

What is your favorite couples costume?
This is gonna sound weird but I always thought it would be fun to go with a friend as one part of Sherlock and Watson

Ever worn a home-made costume?
Oh yeah- I was a clown, a gypsy, and Captain Hook- all homemade

What was the sluttiest costume you have worn?
I was a "Naughty Witch" one year (Trooper, do you remember that?)

What are you going to go as this year?
I'm not. Well, that sounds crappy but what I really mean is that I probably won't go out of the house dressed up since I'm not going anywhere tonight; however, I am gonna wear a witch hat and cape, and a hot pink wig to answer the door for trick-or-treaters. (and my Halloween socks and flip-flops)

Have you ever done a Halloween prank?
not that I can recall

What was your craziest prank?
Nothing- see above

Have you ever done anything on Halloween that you regret?
nope, not any more. I had a chance for a "do over" so now I have no regrets on Halloween

What was it?
It involved Trooper, me in a naughty witch costume, a huge amount of vodka, and a Halloween Party

Do you believe in ghosts?
I think so

Have you ever seen one?
not exactly

Would you date a Vampire?
Not hardly, not even Edward

Would you date a guy that looked like Frankenstein if he was really rich?
Depends on how rich

Does one of your ex's remind you of Frankenstein?
nope, but my ex-husband's wife looks like Frankenstein...

Would you spend the night in a haunted house on Halloween for 100 dollars?
yes

How about 10,000 dollars?
abso-freakin-lutely

What is your favorite thing about Halloween?
candy

If a person were to give you a Halloween gift, what would you want?
A copy of Sweeney Todd on DVD- the Johnny D version, of course!

What is your favorite type of candy?
chocolate or gummi things

How old were you when you stopped trick or treating?
about 13 or 14, but I've some serious thoughts of going tonight. If I had a costume and a mask, no one would know I was an adult and not a teenager, right?

What was your most embarrassing costume?
I don't remember any that were embarrassing

Who would you rather hang out with on Halloween, a really hot guy/girl or your bffs?
Whomever would be willing to have fun! And I think XRayGirl is going to come over when she gets off work to watch a movie and have a Halloween drinky-poo!

Would you rather go to a party as a bride, a chicken, an astronaut, a sailor or a playboy bunny?
a bride

If you had to be stuck in a horror movie, which would you choose?
ummmmmm... Nightmare on Elm Street?

If you had to be the bad guy in a horror movie, which would you choose?
The bad guy from Halloween

Would you rather carve a pumpkin or eat pumpkin pie?
Well, since this is about Halloween I'm going to say carving since eating pumpkin pie is a Thanksgiving thing

Do you like candy corn?
Sometimes (I like it best when mixed with peanuts)

What is the craziest thing you plan to do this Halloween?
Nothing crazy... Just gonna dress up to give out candy to the kids, have some Hawaiian meatballs and Halloween cupcakes, watch some DVDs and just chill

Are you the one who goes out and parties or are you the one that stays home and gives out candy?
I give out candy.

Hot costume or scary costume?
Hot and sexy anytime

Hot date or fun date?
Can't I have both?

Black rose or plastic skull?
both

Bats or Broomsticks?
Broomsticks!

Vampires or Zombies?
Vampires.

Murderers or Ghosts?
Ghosts

Pass out or freaked out?
I'm not good with either

Squeeze a hand or hide behind a pillow?
Pillow

Left alone in a field or left alone in a old house?
left alone neither!

Stranger in an alley or stalker?
they both sound scary so can I say none?

What is your favorite scary movie?
I don't watch scary movies, but tonight I'm going to watch Practical Magic and The Witches of Eastwick, my non scary Halloween movies

Are you excited about this Halloween or do you not care?
Doesn't matter to me at all!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Consider this a PSA, or a call out to all bloggers!

There's a whole web site dedicated to blogging every day, NaBloPoMo. I don't know all the details but I've been poking around on their web site and you can register and follow their suggestions and a whole lot of other stuff.

But, one important thing I do know: according to the web site, next month is Blog Every Damn Day of the month, or something like that. It's a challenge to all bloggers to blog every day in the month of November. You can even register at the site.

I blog every day. I think this year, so far to date, I've not blogged 1 day- I think. Anyway, I've decided to dedicate myself to blogging every day in November, to just keep on doing what I do. I even went so far as to make a list of possible blog topics that I'll write about this month (and of course ya'll can feel free to comment if there's something you want to hear about sooner rather than later) like:
  • libraries
  • what it was like to visit my Grammy in southern Kentucky
  • I love magazines
  • why you need to have a good sense humor to be a substitute teacher
  • fun with death
  • movies I want to see and why
  • obsession I have with hats
  • the first ever, first time, super special Maggie Giveaway
  • a blogging scavenger hunt
  • why to do lists are depressing rather than fun
  • Planned Parenthood
  • dead celebrities
So, I'm just letting you all know. Consider it a public service message. And I hope you all choose to blog every day, too! If you want to try it and join in, let me know you're making the commitment to do so in my comments and I 'll do something special for everyone. And form a support group.

Blog baby blog! Blogger inferno,
Maggie Mae

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Mac was 'driving' me crazy!

I've been teaching Mac to drive for the last 2 months and a few days. I'm really proud of him and he's been doing a really good job.

There, of course, there are just a few times when I've wanted nothing more than to come home from a driving lesson and drink heavily. There are a few times I thought it would make more sense to drink heavily and then take him for a driving lesson.

I've also learned that it's too bad I couldn't get a brake installed on the front passenger side temporarily.

Actually, considering he drove about 3 times ever, before he got his permit, he's done a fabulous job! Other than having a heavy foot (re: speeding) he's a pretty decent driver. We've driven almost daily for 2 months. We've been in town, the interstate, country roads, highways, construction zones, bigger cities and small towns, in parking lots, one ways, neighborhoods, drive thrus, everywhere that I could think of that would help him gain driving skills.

I will admit I refused to teach him to parallel park. I can barely do that myself so I told his dad he had to cover that part of the lesson. Mac parallel parked about 25 times, over and over again, all over town, in his father's pick up truck on Tuesday night, until he nailed it perfectly. (Maybe he can give me some tips?)

Since he's my baby and he'll be the only child I ever have, this driving thing has been stressful on several levels. First, I want him to be a good driver and since he didn't take driver's education (he missed his when he moved from the Wild West back to Civilization and then it would've taken about $400 to attend a driving school) I taught him so I hope I didn't forget something in the driving process. Second, I only have one car and if he borrows it and would have an accident, I'm out the insurance deductible and a vehicle. Third, I'm scared to death to have him drive alone. I've spent the last 16.5 years taking care of him and if he's driving, then, his well being is totally out of my control and in his own hands or that of someone else driving a car who could be a stupid idiot. At least if I'm driving and something happened it would be my fault. What if he's driving and something happened? Then it's my fault, too, I guess, since I taught him to drive.

He's growing up and I'm scared. I hate this. I really do. I want him to have wings and fly and succeed but I'm terrified because he's my baby, and I want to protect him.

Which brings me to what happened Wednesday.

He had to take his driving test today with a driving instructor in my car at the DMV. We reviewed all the way there. He and I bounced "things to remember" off each: don't play the radio, turn off the cell phone, don't swear, remember to 10 and 2, no California stops, be aware of school zones and one way street signs, don't follow too closely, don't be sarcastic about anything, seatbelts at all times, watch the RR crossing, and don't speed on the highway (or anywhere else). He was a nervous wreck but still confident. (I was so nervous I threw up but didn't tell him that.)

The instructor said the test would be about 15-20 minutes long. They had been gone about 20 minutes and came back in. He failed the test.

She said they were on their way back to the DMV and he had done perfectly (including the parallel parking!) until he ran a stop sign. Yup, blew right through it. He didn't know the test was almost over or that he had a perfect score until then so he wasn't hurrying or celebrating. He had just left a school zone (where the yellow lights had been blinking) , in a neighborhood he had never been in, on a street he'd never been on, and near a fire station (he said he was concentrating on having to pull over if he hear a siren)- so much going on and he just missed it. No excuse, I know it, really I do. I understand he had to be failed. He knew it, too. Still, I felt sick for him.

The test lady told him he had done great until then but that's an automatic failure. She told him he just needed to relax and to try and not be so tense and nervous. She also told him he could come back in 2 weeks, and she wouldn't make him parallel park again since he did it so well.

I feel so bad, bad, bad for him. He was so upset. It really hit his self confidence and his self esteem. He feels embarrassed and stupid and like a failure. I feel like I failed him.

But in 2 more weeks we're gonna go back and he's gonna try it again. In the meantime, we're going to drive every single city street in this town so he's at least seen it all at least once.

Before the test I wasn't sure if I really wanted him to pass, that I just wanted a few more days of being in control of taking care of my baby boy, but after seeing the look on his face when he didn't make it--- I would take the "pass" and let me deal with my own stress than ever see him fail again.

Being a kid is very hard and life lessons to learn really suck, but being mom and letting him grow up is really hard, too. It all sucks.

Mama,
Maggie

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Talkin' 'bout men

Maggie's dating stats to date for 2009 only:

Number of times I've been asked out by married men: 3
Number of dates with married men: 0
Number of times I've been asked out by single men: 3
Number of dates with single men: 2*
Number of planned dates that ended up being canceled: 3
Number of boyfriends this year: 1
Number of current boyfriends: 0

I've dated men who are short and tall, men who were skinny and fat. I've dated men who are black, white, and Hispanic. I've dated men who are college educated and those who've had only high school degrees and a couple with technical school degrees. I've dated men who are circumcised and those who aren't. Let's see, I've dated men who are Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Spiritual, and non practicing. Apparently, I've dated men who are straight, bi, and gay. I've dated men who are are bald and those with hair: black, brunette, blond, and a redhead. I've dated via the Internet, guys who are old friends, blind dates, and men I've just 'met'. I've dated men who are employed, laid off, fired, in the military, and unemployed. Guys with tattoos (and without), guys with glasses (and without), guys with kids (and without), and guys with facial hair (and without).

What brought this on? I was asked out on a date and I told him no- I just wasn't interested and there was NO zing at all. I considered saying yes just to make the number of dates this year a little better or to have good blog fodder, but I just couldn't do it. It would've been a blind date and he wanted to meet for coffee. And instead of saying, "let's meet for coffee" he said, and I quote, "It would be nice to interact through an exchange of positive dialogue." Yup. Do I even need to go on?

And the other night Trooper and I were texting and he wants to get together as soon as possible when he gets back from his hunting trip. He misses me. Wonder which of the numbers on my stat list will increase? I haven't add this date to the "number of times asked out by single men" yet because no specifics were set. And it was via a text. And he had been drinking whiskey.

Just thought this was an interesting gathering of facts. I haven't been suffering from just a job drought, but also a men drought.

In a dating rut,
Maggie Mae



*I count all the dates with AIISam as one big date since he became my "boyfriend."

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I'm not sure you can call it an interview

Today was the big interview and I went in with a positive attitude that I was going to MAKE them WANT me. I had my resume and sample lesson plans. I had researched my status as far as licensing in this state. I had killer answers for questions about discipline, my education philosophy, classroom management, and teaching style. I had spent 45 minutes on the phone with the woman who's job I was interviewing for and grilled her over information about the 2 programs. I had a list of the standards for the classes I would teach. I was READY to kick butt and not even worry about taking names.

My interview was 3 minutes.

The assistant principal welcomed me in, said he spoke to the teacher in question and knows she briefed me on her classes, he said he knew my licensing status, and asked me if I had questions. I was so shocked that I said no but I did regroup and pointed out that since I had taught before I knew how to write lesson plans and meet state standards. I asked him if he had any questions for me and he said no, since I was a familiar face in the building. He told me he would let the head Principal know I was 'interested' in the position and tell him I would be in the building tomorrow, and he would give me an answer next week, either way.

Interviewee dismissed.

Ummmm, so. Well, between you and me, you all know I did want the job but after no many "no's" I didn't want to get my hopes up to high and hope. Well, maybe that was a good thing since all signs seem to be pointing to... well, pointing in not such a positive direction. I dunno.

I wouldn't say I'm usually a pessimistic person (I have my moments like anyone else but I wouldn't say it was my general attitude toward life... until the last 10 months I guess) but this doesn't sound good.

Guess we'll see by next week, eh?

Carpe diem,
Maggie

Monday, October 26, 2009

What's a girl to do?

Ummmmmmmmm, well, uh, er, uh..... ya know how I said last week I didn't want to teach high school and middle school any more? Well, I don't want to, but desperate times call for desperate measures I think.

I have a job interview tomorrow. At a middle school. To take over a middle school English class for a maternity leave.

I have no idea if I want to do this (okay, I lied. No, I don't want to do it), but since I haven't had steady work for about 10 months now, I'm thinking it would be a real good idea to say yes to this if offered just so I have a guaranteed pay check for 5 months.

And to think, my original blog post was going to be about a kid who spent the first 2.5 hours of class today (I was in a high school alternative school room where kids don't rotate classes- they stay in the same room all day, like jail school) chewing his fingernails and cuticles and didn't do one. damn. thing. other. than. that!!!!!!! FOR 2 AND HALF HOURS!!!!!!!!!

Am I crazy? Oh hell, don't answer that....

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Giveaways everywhere!

Mrs. B is hosting another daily giveaway in honor of the month of October and All Hallow's Eve! She is showing, today, a beautiful bracelet from the Magick Wiccan Shack! Oh wow, pink and pretty! She has other giveaways as well and something every day- really cool stuff! Go check it out!

An award for me? Who me? Awwww, shucks!

Thank you for award, Anna! You know I love award,s and I appreciate this one so much: The Honest Scrap Award! This is awarded for having a blog that you share Honest information about yourself on. I try to be honest, and if the last few days are any indication, then I might be TOO honest sometimes! But thanks again, for the award.

As with many blog awards, there are a few rules which are as follows:

1) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.

2) Tell those 7 people they’ve been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving the award.

3) Share “10 Honest Things” about myself.

Here are the honest things about me:
1. I think I'm not getting hired because I'm a bit overweight.

2. I love musicals. I don't care if they are cheesy and corny, I still like them.

3. I feel people should vocalize their opinions but in way that isn't hurtful to others. Now, I realize I don't always exercise this, but I really, really try.

4. I've worn the same polish on my toenails for 2 months. I forgot to take it off as it started to peel and now I'm just watching it "grow" off.

5. I don't look good in suits. You know, like a formal business suit? They just don't fit my body style, I guess. I just look out of whack. Even if I find a suit that "What Not To Wear" would pick out for me, I just look weird.

6. I'm miserable if I don't have morning coffee. Really. I would like to say that's a myth but in reality, I can be a real bitch if I don't have my morning coffee. When I taught college, my students would bring me coffee just in case I didn't have time to get any because they were scared of me without it. And with reason.

7. I liked smoking pot. I'm not elaborating and I'm not using it but I liked it when I did all those years ago.

8. I honestly have no idea what I'm going to do with my life if I don't teach.

9. I realize my "Number 1" Could be indicative of the following: I would eat an entire bag of Oreos in one sitting if guilt didn't get to me first. Or a package of Mallowmars, the world BEST cookie (thank Goddess they're only sold on the east coast!). Or a Wick's Sugar Creme pie.

10. In all honesty, I swear I'm telling the truth: I LOVE awards!

And now for the nominees:

a. The Prodigal Tourist- the man published a book. He encourages.

b. Knucklehead- he always makes me laugh.

c. JE- he inspires and loves me and is honest and just a great Daddy-O!

d. Evil Pixie: I met her under another name and I think the changes she wants to make in her life are admirable and I cheer her on!

e. Shan- she tells it like it is with much humor, grace and style

f. DNice- even though she's been blogging a short time, she is laying it all out there. My thoughts and positive energies are with her and Chef.

g. Wiley- she live half way around the world from her man who is at war and she has a high stress job but she tells it the way it is. Go her!

It was really hard to just pick seven, but there you have it! And thanks so very much, again, Anna, for the award!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

My issue with schools and reading

And the ranting continues: what is WITH schools and reading?

What I mean is.... when kids get to high school, why can't we let them read for fun?!?

Just about every school here in the Midwest (in Civilization as well as teachers I know in surrounding states have confirmed this with me) has a standardized reading program for high school kids. I'm not talking about English classes and the novels read in Language Arts. I mean schools set aside time for students to read.

But they can't just have an SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) period; no, the schools decide we must TEST the students. Goddamnit I am so sick and tired of students being tested to death over everything. SSS started out as a class period, separate from the rest of the class periods, as a 15-20 time of day where students were supposed to read something for fun. As long as they were reading and not sleeping, talking or doing homework, they could read anything that was school appropriate: novels, biographies, magazines, newspapers, comics- anything they were interested in was fair game.

Oh no. Apparently we don't want to make reading fun for the age set that typically hates books. Oh no, we can;t let kids have fun in school- the absurd notion! Oh no, we must test kids! Let's have a program called Accelerated Reading (AR) or Reading Counts- both programs involve every book in the school library being assigned a reading level and then a test is written for each book and the books are assigned a point value. The tests are computerized. These are national programs, not just here in my state, though some places have them under different names or have their own "Meet the State Standards" equivalent.

So now, the English teachers decide in addition to all the poetry and novels and books reports kids do, let's make kids get AR or Reading Counts points! Oh golly gee wow! So each semester kids need to earn X number of points as part of their grade, or as a percentage. And when do the kids read these books now? Why, during SSR of course. So no longer are kids reading for fun and pleasure and finding something that interests them. No longer are those kids who hate to read allowed to find something the grabs them. No longer are kids allowed to read what they want. Why? Because not every book ever written has a "test" so if you read something with no test, then you don't get any points. Now kids are hunting for books with high points to read.

I was looking as these lists the other day, just perusing and some of the choices were atrocious. I mean, some of the shit I've never heard of, some was on my college reading list and most of is would work better than an Ambien. Google AR or Reading counts with your state name and look at the high school list. Go on... I'll wait.

DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!! Why can't they be allowed to read for fun? No wonder kids hate to read! It's because we test the hell out of them and don't make it fun. I was an English teacher for almost 10 years and I am a complete bibliophile whose read 10 books this month alone (and 95 this year) so I am most certainly NOT saying kids shouldn't read for a grade, but if we are going to allocate time during the school day and tell kids they have to read during this time, then let them read anything they want. Without a test. Just. read. for. fun.

I know kids who are LD (Learning Disabled) where reading is so hard for them but they love the magazine Sports Illustrated. Some of the students who hate to read, especially LD kids, have an interest in a specific topic like trains or war or dinosaurs or vampires. So now instead of taking 20 minutes to read an article in the magazine or a topic specific book, they have to go back to struggling through another novel of some kind- like a classic- to ear points to get another damn grade.

I am so so so sick of this stuff. I hate that kids hate to read. Kids need to be given an opportunity to explore all sorts of reading material from the novel to the memoir to newspapers to... anything that interests them.

Another disservice brought to you by the public education system.

the newly Jaded one,
Maggie

Friday, October 23, 2009

What the hell are we thinking?

It's been going on for years and years and while I'm going to bitch about it, I've no solution. I know I usually say, don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution, I just don't have one.

I think the idea what high schools should be abolished. I sit there day after day and watch kids come through the doors and wonder why we as adults and parents and society put the kids through the torture of high school.

Kids come in and it's sad. Some are fat and some are thin. Short and tall. Pretty and ugly. Fashionable and trendy, and thrift store and Wally World special- and someone picks on them, or looks at them and giggles as they walk by, or roll their eyes, or slams them into a locker. Or mutters nasty names at them under their breath. Or worse. Or much worse.

Kids who are friends stab each other in the back, leave other kids out of stupid things, tell secrets, use each other... the list goes on and on. It doesn't matter. And there are kids who try to fit in and it's obvious they don't. There are kids who want to be nice to others but aren't because of what the 'popular' crowd might think. They get labeled and are then stuck.

Kids in high school treat each other like no other groups I've ever seen. They say things to other kids that no other age group could get away with. I also wonder what happens if parents REALLY knew how their off spring behaved. How the girls hike their skirts or flash their tits. How the boys smack girls on the ass. The names they call each other. The way they push, shove and grab at each other in the hallways. What would happen if a mother heard her call her best friend "bitch" because of a t-shirt.

Yet we as adults take these kids who are nothing but raging hormones who are trying to find their way in the world, trying to figure out who they are and where they belong and we lock them up in a building together and forced to function, to learn, to think, to study, to focus all while surviving the jeers of their peers.

I now know why we have school shootings, why kids kill themselves, why they're cutting, they they're binging and purging and are anorexic, why they fuck around, why they drink, why they're depressed.

Teenagers are mean. They are cruel. And yet we let them get away with the minor bullying and chalk it up to growing pains, or "that's high school" or "that's life" bullshit. And that's what it is: bullshit. We let teenagers behave unacceptably yet if the same behavior happened in the work place, or in elementary school, we would never accept it. What makes it OKAY to let this happen? How do we stop it? Why do we continue to send kids to high school?

Do you think it's not as bad as I say it is? Then you're wrong. Go sit in a high school classroom for a day and just watch. Watch and learn and be appalled.

Two days ago a girl called Mac a "fatass" to his face. First, he's not a "fastass." He might be about 10 pounds over weight, and it certainly isn't in his ass at all. And he isn't fat. Second, according to everyone who was around when this happened, said Mac was listening to his iPod and the kids he was with were talking about who was single and who was hooked up. Cam said "Mac's single" to the only single girl and she said "ewwwww no. He's a fatass."

What. The. Fuck!?!

He wasn't picking on her, being a high school teenage boy douche bag. He was just sitting and talking with folks he thought were friends and she ripped off with that. That fucking skanky little bitch. I want to rip every hair out of her head. I want to tell her parents and see if that's how they raised her. I want to call her out on it. I want to shame her into feeling like a piece of shit. I hate her.

And how did he respond? He got up and walked away.

It hurt him. Deeply.

And that got me thinking about everything I've seen since I've been subbing and teaching high school and it all comes together in the rant that is this post.

I'm done. I'm not going to teach any more. I'll sub until I get another job and I might venture back into teaching college, because there wasn't these sort of issues when I was teaching at the college level- and if there were, they were out of my sight and earshot. Done. I'm done.

If you loved high school, then lucky you. It you thought it was the best time of your life, I feel sorry for you. If you never suffered any type of cruelty or unhappiness at the hands of your high school peers, you are most certainly in the minority.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The first time I saw a dead body

One could argue that the story I'm about to tell is really about the second time I saw a dead body. Apparently, family lore goes that the first time I saw a dead body was when I was about about 2 years old. My great-grandmother on my mom's side had died. My parents went to the viewing and no one thought I should be brought up by the casket at my age so in their infinite wisdom, all the fam-damily adults thought it would be best if I stayed in the back of the funeral home and be held by my Daddy-O. So I was 2 years old and being carried around at adult height and I could see over everyone, all the way to the front of the funeral parlor, and right into the casket. And according to legend, I said in a loud clear 2 year old voice "Why's that lady taking a bath with her clothes on?" And of course it was a moment when it was dead silent. And then everyone laughed and thought I was the cutest thing in the world.

But see, I don't think that counts as the first time I saw a dead body (even though that's a damn adorable Maggie Mae story). It doesn't count because:
  1. I don't remember it
  2. I saw a dead body the way we expect to see them: after the mortician had done all the funeral homey things to it and got it all dressed up and made to look like sleeping (though I don't care what anyone says, a dead person looks dead, no matter how good a job the funeral dudes do). You know, I saw it in a casket at the funeral home, with soft lighting, crying families, organ music- you know, a dead person in their natural habitat. They way dead people were intended to be stared at.
The story I'm about to tell you is about the first time I saw a dead body. And try as I might, it's unfortunately not really funny......

Do you remember I told you I had a paper route and I was the youngest kid in my town to ever have one at age 10? Well, I did. I loved my paper route. And the people were very nice to me- well, most of them were, except for Mr. James Gardner. I would always park my bike at Mrs. Greenbean's house, the first one I delivered and then walk the rest of my route, which ended back her at house. It was easier for me to walk my route because there were lots of elderly folks who wanted me to place their papers in a 'just so' spot.

I had a good relationship with most of my customers. They were pretty protective of me and worried if I was late. And not late like past the delivery deadline, but late if I didn't come past their house as my usual time; remember, this was around the time of the first big child abduction of Adam Walsh that was famous so people were always looking out for me. They left me presents all the time and nice tips. Mrs. Greenbean, as I said, let me park my bike at her house and on Saturday mornings (the only day of the week it was a morning, Monday thru Friday it was an afternoon paper and there was none on Sunday) she would fix me breakfast. There was a guy, Sam, who owned a gas station and he would give me a glass bottle of Pepsi a few times a week and he was the first person who showed me the trick of putting peanuts in the soda bottle. So, people were nice and kind. They watched out for me and in turn, I watched out for them, I guess.

One customer was an old lady named Mrs. R. The first time I met Mrs. R I was scared out of my ever-loving mind. First, she lived in a big, creepy, creaky, old house on a corner at the bottom of a hill. It was a huge scary monstrosity, painted black and it was peeling. One shutter hung askew. There was a fence around the front yard and the gate squeaked when the wind blew it, or when I had to push it open to walk up the front sidewalk to leave her paper in the mailbox hooks next to the front door. There were no flowers. The kids all said a witch lived there and the house was haunted- okay, we all saw that coming, right?

The first time I had to collect from Mrs. R I thought I was going to have a heart attack at age 10. She answered the door and was the most frightening old person I had ever seen in my life. Her hair was snow white and looked like she had been caught in a wind tunnel or like Medusa but without the snakes. She was hunched over with a slight hump. She always wore house coats and slippers and shuffled as she walked so slowly. She was the most wrinkled person I'd ever seen, with more lines on her face than a London tube map. She was old and since everyone said she was a witch and with the looks of the house, I was terrified. And it must've shown on my face because she asked me if I was scared of her and I actually blurted out why and she laughed and laughed and thought it was the funniest thing in the world. She told me she wasn't a witch, just an old lady. And to let the kids keep thinking she was a witch because they stayed off her lawn. And from that day on, Mrs. R. was one of my favorite people.

A few times a week she would be at the door waiting for me and have me come in for a snack, usually a few stale vanilla wafers and some warm flat soda but that was okay. Her house was old and dusty and dark. Her tv was new but she had an old Victrola in the corner and her phone was an ancient black rotary thing. But she liked to talk. Even then I knew she was lonely. And her voice was low and raspy like she'd had a 4 pack a day habit for 60 years, and she whispered with a Katherine Hepburn shake to it. Her voice matched her scary appearance but she was a nice and kind lady with sparkling blue eyes.

We had developed a routine. I would leave her paper in the hooks of her mail box, right outside the door and then I would ring the bell. I could go on my way then, and she would come get her paper. Since she was at the bottom of the hill, and I had to go up it, I would turn around and check to see if she had come to the door yet and most days, we would wave at each other. Sometimes, but very rarely, she didn't get the paper before I got to the top of the hill, but as a kid, I always thought it was because she might be on the phone, watching one of her 'stories' or in the bathroom.

One Thursday, Mrs. R met me at the door and told me she had a cold but gave me a quarter to get a candy bar (and yeah, that actually covered the price of a candy bar at Sam's gas station in 1980). The next day, a Friday, I left Mrs. R's paper and went up the hill, turning around to check like always but she didn't get the paper by the time I got to the top. Even now, 28 years I later I still remember wondering if I should go back down the hill and knock on the door to check on her since she said she was sick yesterday. But I didn't because I was going to stay overnight at my friend Misty's house and she was one of 7 kids so I wanted to hurry so I wouldn't miss any of the chaos that was her house.

Saturday morning rolled around and I was doing my morning delivery. I had left my bike at Mrs. Greenbean's house as usual and went on my way. I wasn't a morning person even then and I usually didn't visit with anyone on Saturday morning because papers had to be deliver by 8am and I always waited until the last possible second, so I know it was around 7:30am.

I got to Mrs. Rs house and I knew right away something was wrong because her Friday paper was still. in.the.mailbox. I stood stock still, holding the Saturday paper. I went to the front door and knocked. No answer. I rang the bell and beat on the door and still no answer. And then I did something I was taught to never do- I snooped. I pressed my face to the glass and peered inside. And that was the first time I saw a dead body, the details forever seared into my brain.

Mrs. R was sprawled on her kitchen floor, on her stomach, arms and legs akimbo, jutting out at all odd angles. A chair was knocked over and there was a yellow Melmac coffee cup on the floor. Her hair was spread out and I couldn't see her entire face, just her mouth, open and slack. And here's what I remember happening next: I ran next door to the Hoffman's and beat on the door but no one answer so I ran 3 blocks to Sam at the gas station. I was crying and surely spewing gibberish but I finally got him to understand what I was saying. I remember sitting on a stool there, holding peanuts and a cold bottle of Pepsi but not eating or drinking, while Same called 911 and he left, probably to go check himself.

I'm sure Sam's wife called my parents who came and got me and I'm sure either they finished my route or the news paper office did. I don't remember.

I do know that I would check the paper for the next few days to find out when the funeral was. Then on the day of viewing, I figured out it was at the funeral home that was half way between my house and my paper route. So on the day of the viewing, I did my paper route, when to Mrs. Greenbean's house and changed clothes (I had stuffed school clothes in my paper delivery bag) in her bathroom and rode my bike to the funeral home. I went inside and paid my respects and then went home. I never told my folks I was gonna do it or did it. I think at that time it was because I wasn't sure if I wanted to go and was afraid they would make me if I said something about it. But when I got home that night, it was like they knew. Mrs. Greenbean had probably called and told them what I was up to. Or they figured it out on their own. Either way...

For a long time I wondered if I could've saved her. I wondered if I should've broken in the front door glass and called 911 on her black phone and then done CPR that we learned from the "BAT Man" (Basic Aid Training policeman) in fourth grade, if it would've saved her. I wondered if I could've saved her if I would've went back down the hill on Friday. Now, as an adult all these years later, I know that she was dead when I saw her on Saturday morning and no amount of CPR could change that. And as for Friday.... well, who knows, right?

That was the first time I saw a dead body.
Maggie

It happened

Today I saw the first Christmas commercial. Ashley Home Furniture is having a "holiday" sale, complete with Christmas carol music in the back ground, burning candles, and jingle bells...

Not so scary Halloween Giveaway!

Mrs. B celebrates the 31 days of Halloween on her blog the entire month. In addition to great posts and all sorts of other little quirky fun things like haunted blog tours and guest bloggers, she also gives stuff away every single day! OMG! It's so cool!

I've been reading over at Mrs. B for a few months now; guess you could call me a lurker, but today I had to come out of the closet because she's giving away a totally Halloween Starbucks basket and I would love to win it!

Check out her giveaway here!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I deserve 8 million lashes with a wet noodle

The last 48 hours have been hectic, chaotic and simply put, exhausting. Nothing is wrong, nothing bad happened, but other than to sleep and shower, I've only been home for about a total of 10 minutes in the last 2 days. I know I owe you a post- the first time I found a dead body is the winner- but it just isn't gonna happen tonight. I just don't have it in me. I don't think I have a brain cell to rub against another one... Speaking of dead, I feel brain dead for sure.

I'm so sorry!

So tomorrow, I promise the dead body post. AND since ya'll are so good and sweet and nice and kind and patient, I'll also give you another post from that list!

So goodnight, reader, wherever you are,
Maggie

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Last chance!

This is the last chance you have to vote on what blog topic you want me to write about tomorrow! Pick one and leave your choice in my comments section, please. I've tallied votes so far and the number of votes per topic are in parenthesis!

a. the time I was 33 years old and at a college frat house party (stuff happened) { 1 }

b. the first time I found a dead body { 4 }

c. my re-occurring nightmare since I was 7 years old { 2 }

d. visitin' my great-grandmother's house in the hills and hollers of her old Kentucky home { 3 }

Monday, October 19, 2009

I dont care if I ever eat chili again, but

On Saturday, Daddy-O, Curley, XRay Girl, and I went to a local craft show. It's the kind of fancy craft show, not macaroni glued on lampshades crafts, but the really nice stuff like quilts, jewelry, original art work, homemade candles and soaps, and gourmet chocolates. It was a nice event, and packed wall to wall with people. I would love to share some pictures with you but cameras weren't allowed because it's a great place for lots of crafters to go and get ideas to replicate so photo taking has been banned. I didn't buy anything except for some of the handmade gourmet chocolates because everything was pretty expensive, but like I said, it was a good time!

The weather was beautiful and agreeable finally after all the rain we had last week. It was still a little cool outside but the sun was shining, the leaves were turning colors, the sky was blue so what else were we to do after a few hours of craft shopping other than go to the local chili for charity cookoff.

Daddy-O bailed out on us girls, since he'd been home sick for a few days, claiming that after his illness (we think I food poisoned him, by accident of course) the last thing he wanted to eat was chili. Us girls were brave and figured if nothing else, we could taste chili, drink beer, look at the people, and just have a good time.

There were about 100 different teams who signed up for the cook-off contest and they cook and get judged in the morning, then the event is opened to the public in the afternoon. For $5 people can go in and taste every single chili available. We arrived about 10 minutes before the gate opened and had to park 3 blocks away. And then wait in line. It was wonderful to see such great turn out for something where 100% of the proceeds went to charities right here in my own community.

Once inside, we were given a spoon and some tickets. If we liked a particular group's chili we could give them tickets so there would be a judging a second time, based on what the people like. AND, according to the later reports, over 2000 people went through there Saturday, so there were lots of winners- people who came out, the charities, and the chili makers!

The chili makers don't just make chili but most of them decorate their booths with a theme and dress in costume. They have a clever name, call to the public and have special extras in addition to the chili, like free ice cream, cookies, candy, corn bread, peanut butter sandwiches, veggies and dip, or Popsicles. Every chili booth had mini 4 ounce cups with about 3 spoonfuls of chili in them. We started walking around, with each of us getting a cup each at every booth. Some of it was SUPER spicy so we started getting one cup and each eating a bite then getting more if we liked it.

After about 3 visits to 3 booths, I was done. I'm not a huge fan of chili to begin with so I had enough. I got beer. I people watched. I tried to not get separated from XRay Girl and Curley since there were, what felt like a bazillion people. We laughed at the vendors and booths. We ate elephant ears. We bought kettle corn. We walked and wondered about and took pictures.

It was a super day- good times for all! I love it when I can hang with my bestest people and have fun. A perfect fall day- it reminds me why I wanted to move back to Civilization!

Maggie

Sunday, October 18, 2009

What I wish I was doing this afternoon...

...but what I am doing is laundry!





Saturday, October 17, 2009

Magical Mystery Tour Meme

Today was a super fun and busy day, which I'll share with ya'll on Monday (teaser: it involved, food, the girls, chili, arts and crafts, Hobby Lobby, and fitting daddy-O for an urn). As for now, since I finally got home after being gone since about 7:20am this morning, I'm going to just do my usual meme. Thanks to Tense Teacher (who stole it from Stealing Sunday) for a great meme!

1. Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the planet?
George W Bush and anyone who worked for him, CanadianSam because he is one of two grudges I hold, Spermdonor because I hate sharing Mac, The Bitch from the Wild West just because I hate having her out in the world and she is one for 2 grudges I hold, and... well, I think that's enough for now. (Apparently I feel feisty this evening!)

2. How do you flush the toilet in public?
With a piece of toilet paper which I throw in as it spins away

3. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car?
ALWAYS!

4. Do you have a crush on someone?
Sure do

5. Name one thing you worry about running out of.
Time

6. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble?
No one has told me I resemble anyone for a very long time (my great uncle told me I looked like the girl who played Samantha on the old tv show Gimme a Break when I was a teenager and about 5 years ago people told me I looked like Lisa Loeb)

7. What is your favourite pizza topping?
cheese

8. Do you crack your knuckles?
I hate to admit it but I do; probably doesn't help the arthritis any either, I know

9. What song do you hate the most?
anything that's country or sounds the least bit twangy

10. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head?
since I didn't list a song, then nope

11. What are your super powers?
I have mommy hearing- I can hear students or Mac muttering or whispering. Freaks him and students out.

12. Peppermint or spearmint?
Both!

13. Where are your car keys?
in my purse

14. Last song you listened to?
“I'm yours" by Jason Mraz

15. What’s your most annoying habit?
Procrastinating

16. Where did you last go on vacation?
Ireland and Italy (or a long weekend in Chicago)

17. What is your best physical feature?
My mouth/lips

18. Which CD is closest to you right now?
None — they’re all in my car or in a box in my room

19. What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator?
jam/ jelly, mustard and something with mold on it

20. What superstition do you believe/practice?
tossing spilled salt

21. What colour are your bed sheets?
the ones I have on right now are red, blue and yellow plaid (I think)

22. Would you rather be a fish or a bird?
A fish — I love the water.

23. Last thing you broke?
honestly I can't remember, which worries me and now that I'm thinking about it it probably means I'll break something soon...

24. What are you having to eat tonight?
I had a steak sandwich and bacon and cheese french fries

25. What colour shirt are you wearing?
black

26. If you could be doing anything else today, what would you rather be doing?
I was pretty damn pleased with my perfect day!

27. Do security cameras make you nervous?
Not really

28. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
"Fat and sassy: the life of a girl plagued with wanderlust who won't shut up or stop eating donuts"

29. Last time you went to a cemetery?
maybe a week ago. Daddy-O and I drive though on occasion and check on mom

30. Last concert you went to?
Green Day in Chicago earlier this summer

31. Favourite musician(s)/bands you’ve seen in concert?
Green Day, John Mellencamp, and Bon Jovi (they're a guilty pleasure of mine!)

32. Next concert you’re planning to attend?
Stomp! (wait, does that count as a concert or more like theater?)

33. Do you talk to yourself?
OMG yes.......

34. Have you ever adopted or purchased a pet?
in the past, yes, and it's never been successful (for me or the pet)

35. Have you ever been present when an animal is being born?
yes

Friday, October 16, 2009

Friday's menagerie of thoughts

  • I'm trying to catch a cold apparently and feel like crap. Where ya sneeze and blow your nose and sneeze and blow and you just don't feel right, but not well either? I bet I have mad swine h1n87 flu. Yeah, and all the rain isn't helping and I'm sleeping like crap as well.
  • Remember to vote on which story you want me to blog about.
  • Something isn't right with blogger because right now I can type faster than it can put words on the screen.
  • I'm not sure I've mentioned this week how much I hate not having a full time job of any kind
  • And while I'm bitching, I have I mentioned this week how much I hate being single, or at least at this moment I do?
  • I'm subbing for middle school PE today. Please pray for me- or whatever you do that involves me and good thoughts.
  • Welcome to all the new readers of my blogs I see you lurking out there. Please feel free to comment anytime. I'd like to meet you. Unless you're mean. Then just continue staying quiet.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Who would you like to meet?

Okay, I've seen variations of this on several blogs and AlaskaSam did something like this on his Facebook, he said. (I have to take his word for it since I don't have Facebook and didn't see it for myself)

If you could have dinner with 10 people (together or separately) who would they be? They all must be folks who are currently alive! I would really love to know who everyone's thinking of right now. I have to say that when AlaskaSam showed me his list, I knew 5 of his 10; I was utterly clueless as to who the other 5 folks were on his list.

So, tell me who would like to meet. Feel free to respond here in my comments section, or if you do this on your own blog, leave me a comment so I can go read your picks.

And you can give a reason as to why you choose a specific person, or you can just gimme your list of 10.

Okay, here's mine:

1. President Obama- huge fan of this man, and I would like his ear for a few minutes to get his "off camera" comments on health care. I also want a job and would use this as an opportunity to network.

2. John Cusak- my future husband really should be meeting me soon

3. Johnny Depp- do I need to really give a reason other than he's the sexiest man to ever take a breath of air?

4. Martin Sheen- I've admired his career (and I always thought it was neato that he played advisor to the President in the film American President and then played the President on The West Wing. And at one time, when The West Wing was at its height of popularity, more people would've elected him to the Oval Office than the guy who was sitting.... shhhhh, I don't want to utter that Republican name here. ewww. ick!)

5. Lauren Bacall- such an amazing woman who could give all sorts of perspective about the golden age of Hollywood verses now

6. Monica Lewinsky- she got famous for blowing a President and doin' the nasty with a cigar. Hey, I'm curious, what you do next in life after that? Disneyland?

7. Colin Powell- the Gulf War happened at an interesting time in my life and he was such a major player during that (duh, the understatement of the century, I just typed) and he went on to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of the State and was considered as a possible Presidential candidate. I'm curious.

8. Michael Buble- I want to meet him if only that means he'll sing in my presence

9. Jon Bon Jovi- I've had a crush on him since high school so what the heck? Again, he's gotta sing (not country) and tell me about his 'movie' career.

10. Rita Moreno- she is one of the few people to have won an Emmy, an Oscar, a Grammy and a Tony. She was on a PBS show I watched as a kid and it was called The Electric Company. How do you do the Electric Company and still win the big 4? And she has a freakin kick ass voice- see her in the film West Side Story as Maria's older sister Anita. Wow.

Fixin' to serve dinner for ten,
Maggie

Friends with potential

For a few folks who've been inquiring about the status of "Trooper & Maggie" the status is: friends with potential. That's it.

He's still trying to get healed from his back surgery and it's not going as well as he was hoping. He's still trying to catch up on all his 30 days of back logged work as well as staying on top of the new work that comes along. He's still taking care of his kids (he has them half of the week or more) and helping his father farm- and it's harvest time for those of you who aren't in the "know" with farm life. And his area just got some snow, which can making farming and his job a bit of a nightmare. Gee- is that all?

He's still trying to figure out if he wants to make time in his life to date, and such. And when he'll be able to make time. Hmmmmm, when in writing, it sounds pretty bad. But we've made tentative plans to see each other sometime in November, before Thanksgiving; that's the extent of the plan.

But he and I talk and text a few times a week and all is well. We're still friends and might become more or we might just stay friends. So... that's it for the love and dating life of Maggie Mae.

Batting zero,
Mags

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Anything Goes

Last weekend Curley and I went to see our local community theater's production of the Cole Porter classic "Anything Goes" and it was awesome! Curley got me 2 tickets for my birthday and, of course, I took her with me!

After dinner at Applebees (I'm so shameless because I love to eat there. I know I know, but I do and I can't help it!) we went to the theater. We have a super nice facility here in Civilization, to the point where we get famous performers as well as traveling Broadway shows, philharmonics and other professional performers. This happened to just be a local community theater production.

"Anything Goes" is one of my favorite stage shows. It's pretty typical musical fare: guy and girl in love with each other but can't have each other so guy does some crazy things with a toss of mistaken identity to try and get the girl. Great music- I adore the sounds of Cole Porter, happy endings, fun show, lots of sexual innuendo, and just some hilarious slapstick make a wonderful musical.

And this show was amazing. I just couldn't believe it was done by locals. And the woman who was the lead was fantastic. She had a voice that could bring down the house. And this wasn't some ticky-tacky show slapped together with what could "make do." It screamed 'professional' all the way across the board from costumes to sets to the orchestra to everything. It was astounding and wonderful and I was so impressed. I loved every minute of it and was thrilled to see it. I'm also proud that mere mortals who live right here in my hometown could create such a professional looking show. Kudos to them.

It was a great night!

And many thanks to Curley for such a wonderful present and a great night!

It was de-lovely,
Maggie Mae

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

For Stephanie Plum fans- plus, I might have an OCD

I was at Wally World last night and was doing some shopping and while I was perusing the junk food, I spied something special. So special, I squealed and jumped up and down chanting, "Oh My God Oh My God" while trying to dial my sister-in-law on my cell. There are 2 people (Hecate being the other but she was in class) in the entire history of the world that I knew I could call who would get this. And when Booknut answered the phone I practically screamed THE WORD: "TASTYKAKES!!!!!!!!!" It took about a nanosecond for her to scream back at me, "OMG TASTYKAKES!!!" Of course, I had to take a picture of the box and send it to her And for those of you who are crazy about Stephanie, here ya go!

And no, I didn't see Steph or Lulu lurking in the aisles, darn it! (And for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I apologize because I try to never have an "inside joke" here unless it's among all my regular readers who are in on it but I couldn't help it this time, so just please keep reading!)

Whilst speaking of Wally World, I need to confess something. I'm the crazy Wally World lady. You know the one: I push my cart up and down the rows, muttering under my breath, trying to read signs, glaring at other shoppers to get the hell outta my way, clutching my list. I also find myself talking to myself as well. And when I talk to myself, I don't do it quietly. I find I talk out loud to the point where people look at me or think I'm "blue toothing". But I'm not. I'm just the crazy lady at Wally World.

Like last night, for example, I bought a package of soup mix and it was printed on the packaging "0 transfat" and I said, "Well, Auntie, how do you like that? I'm being healthy by accident. So there! HA!" and I chucked it in my cart. And other people were looking at me.

I also stood looking at a pastry display of fall treats asking "Where the hell is the pumpkin roll? Damn it, where IS it?" People clutched their small children to their breasts and fled the area, while a brave bakery worker asked me if I need help. I'm happy to report there was no little white jacked in her hands.

As I walked passed the Junior clothing department, I said, "Oh gee, look, the latest and greatest in slut wear for the 12 year old set." When I got to the body soap aisle, I bitched because I couldn't find it and when I did, I said, "What's aqua scent? Where's original? I NEED original! Shit!" People were staring!

I think the topper was when I was picking boxes of Puffs. I bought the kind with Aloe but not the kind with menthol in it "because I don't like menthol cigarettes so why would I want it in my tissues?" I proclaimed this loudly and clearly. People were trying to hide from me at this point, I think.

No, I'm not on medication but maybe I should be. I hate going to Wally World alone- this could be part of the reason. And I have no idea when it started, this talking aloud to myself on a regular basis. I seem to only do it when I'm in Wally World- no where else. Either living in a small town is getting to me or a huge corporate conglomeration is sucking the soul out of me each time I cross the threshold.

Oh well, now, at least, I'll have the TASTYKAKES!

Losing my sanity at Wal-Mart,
Maggie Mae

The Prodigal Give away

My friends the Prodigals are having a give away over at their blog The Prodigal Tourist. There's options: something for kids, a shirt and another book. How cool is that? Check it out! I guess I should encourage you to enter but with more folks who enter means I have less of a chance of winning. Damn, I hate being good so... oh what the hell, go enter.

Oh, and he wrote a book which is actually going to be published and it's on Amazon and everything! You can see his book's web page in my side bar, or click here. How cool for him! He so rocks! (And I'm completely flattered that a real life published author reads my blog. OMG!)

Winner takes it all,
Maggie

Monday, October 12, 2009

You vote!

In an effort to try and reduce the blogging rut I feel like I'm in, I'm going to ask you, my darling readers, which Maggie event you want to hear about:

a. the time I was 33 years old and at a college frat house party (stuff happened)

b. the first time I found a dead body

3. my re-occurring nightmare since I was 7 years old

4. visitin' my great-grandmother's house in the hills and hollers of her old Kentucky home

I'll write up your choice on Oct. 20, 2009 so keep voting until then! Please leave a comment and tell me which one!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Satchels & Shoes: The Replacements

I have a favorite pair of shoes that I love to wear in the fall/ spring/ winter time. They're lace up brown loafers with a chunky heel. I've had them for about... 10 years. The leather is cracked, the laces have been replaced so many times I've lost count, I had to put in Dr. Scholls Magellan Gellin' insoles in many times, and now the sole has a hole- the sort that if I step in a puddle or walk through damp grass I shall have to endure a wet sock for the duration. So these shoes should be retired.

Well, last spring, I did get a replacement pair. And I was excited because they were so close to my favorite shoe. I wore the replacement pair around for a few days, deemed them worthy, but I couldn't get rid of the old pair; I just bequeathed them space in the rear of my closet. Then I wore the replacements to Ireland. And I got blisters. I didn't get a little tiny baby blister but the sort of blister that... COVERED THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT!!!!!!!!!!! On BOTH feet- 1 on each heel and one on each 'ball' of my feet. And on the tops of my toes and the side of each pinky toe and on the back heel of my left foot. (These blisters actually left a sort of weird type of scarring on the bottoms of my feet in the form of discoloration of the skin in the blister shaped pattern that remains today) I was in utter misery because this happened on the first day of my trip to Dublin. I never wore the shoes again. I have no idea why I even lugged the bastards home from Europe because when I got here, I showed Daddy-O my feet, bought blister pads, and threw the offending footwear in the nearest Dumpster- And yes, I'm sure there was some starving person to whom I could've given these shoes but I would've felt terrible if my charity shoes ruined someone else's feet- what if I cursed them? Here's a picture of the offenders!

Okay, so today Daddy-O and I went shopping and lo- and behold- I got another replacement pair for the replacements. And these are Sketchers, which is what I should've bought in the first place rather then the cheap knock offs that about made my feet fall off- literally! I love love love my Sketcher tennise shoes so if these are even one tenth as comfortable and don't leave blisters, then they could be the perfect pair of casual shoes!

So there they are: the NEW replacements, part deux. And a cute green Nine & Co. bag.


In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie

Saturday, October 10, 2009

This is not a time to be verbose meme

Answer the questions with only one word- good luck!

1 Where is your cell phone? purse

2 Your hair? auburn

3 Your mother? dead

4 Your father? alive

5 Your Favorite food? pasta

6 Your dream last night? nightmarish

7 Your favorite drink? coffee

8 Your dream/goal? employment

9 What room are you in? bedroom

10 Your hobby? Reading

11 Your fear? death

12 Where do you want to be in six years? paradise

13 Where were you last night? theatre

14 Something that you aren't? skinny

15 Muffins? blueberry

16 Wish list item? books

7 Where did you grow up? Civilization

8 Last thing you did? peed

19 What are you wearing? pajamas

20 Your Tv? Off

21 Your pets? nonexistent

22 Friends? necessary

23 Your life? depressing

24 Your mood? Tired

25 Missing someone? yes

26 Vehicle? runs

27 Something your not wearing? shoes

28 Your favorite store? Starbucks

29 Your favorite color? pink

30 When was the last time you laughed? earlier

31 Last time you cried? days

32 Your best friend? Curley

33 One place that I go over and over? Starbucks

Friday, October 9, 2009

Random thoughts from my brain on a rainy Friday

  • I've had several people ask me, since I started back subbing, if my last name was still the same. How sad people thought I got married when I'm not even dating.
  • I found a radio station whose tag line should be "songs to slit your wrists by"
  • And speaking of music, have you ever woken up in the morning with a super obscure song running through your head and when you turn on the car radio later that same day, it's the first song you hear. That happened to me this morning with the song "Send in the Clowns." See, I told you it was obscure.
  • It's always 10 or 11 pm at night when I want to cook a huge meal or I'm in the middle of doing something work related when I have a brilliant writing idea and then when I finally have the time to write it, I just can't seem to recapture the moment.
  • Who came up with the term HTML code? And what is the HTML code for a strike through and how do I use it in blogging?
  • I resigned from ice cream under good terms with the agreement that I would fill in when possible but when the time came for me to fill in, the older lady owner threw a fit so I guess I really AM done!
  • Why have I never learned to drive a stick shift?
  • When did it become dark at 7 pm at night? I've been here and awake at that time but last night it was black as pitch at 7 pm and I just noticed it.
  • I've fixed up four people in my day and 3 of them married the person I fixed them up with. I think some reciprocation is in order.
  • I don't care how much rain we get- I'm not sticking any animals in the ark I might have to build. And in the words of Bill Cosby channeling Noah, "What's a cubit?"
  • I forgot how tired subbing can make me but I'm glad to be doing it!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

A visit from the fam-damily!

I have an Aunt and Uncle who live in the Lone Star state and they just came here to Civilization for a visit. It's my dad's brother and sister-in-law, just so you know the relationship, not that it matters but I do so like giving all the facts.

We had a great time; I hadn't seen them since my mom died. Dad has been to visit them several times since then and they've been here, but just not since I've been living at the house. So, it was a good time and fun to see them again.

I have to say there were a few funny things that happened during this visit. First, I think it doesn't matter that I'm a 38 year old adult; to them, I'm 10 years old. When we were trying to figure out a place to eat supper, for example, listening to them make a decision was hilarious and I was just keeping my mouth shut. because I was 10 again so it didn't matter what I thought.

Also, my aunt is always cold. really cold. It was in the low 60s or the high 50s the entire time they were here but my aunt was cold. One evening she sat in the living room in a long sleeved shirt under a turtleneck sweater with a jacket over top that- and then my barn coat was on. And the furnace was on in the house. I was comfortable in jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. It was unreal that she could freeze in the temps of 60s and the rest of us were just fine. I felt bad for her but other than giving her more clothes and blankets there wasn't much I could do!

My Uncle is diabetic and he had to be super careful with his sugar, obviously. He does the insulin and such and he also watches his carbs. And my Aunt REALLY watches his carbs. She points out the carbs and fat content in EVERYTHING. After a few days I wanted to stuff my face with entire box of Twinkies. Again, no wonder I was feeling 10.... I know she's a very healthy eater and wants my dad and me to be more healthy because she worries about us- which is awesome to have someone love us so much- but I just wanted to eat without thinking about it.

And since I live in the attic now, which is also the guest room, I had to share my space with them. That wasn't bad at all, except I had to "clean my room" before they got here.... hmmmm, no wonder I thought I felt like I was 10. My uncle snores.

Anyway, it was a great visit. I'm hoping to get to Texas to see them next year since I've never been there. Daddy-O is going over spring break or maybe over Thanksgiving.

Nothing like family,
Maggie

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Pirates, Indians, and Soldiers- oh my!

Back in 1996 I attended my first re-enactment. I worked for a nationwide not for profit, but at the local level and one of my job requirements was to assist in fund raising and one of our fundraisers was selling food at a re-enactment. I thought this was going to be hokey and stupid and ridiculous. I thought it was a bunch of grown men playing "cowboys and indians". I thought it was a reason for adults to play dress up. I whined and moaned and begged my boss to Not make me do it. She said if I would do it one afternoon that first weekend and if I hated it she would never ask me to do it again.

Because the time period was the early 1800s, there's a level of authenticity that had to be captured by all participants, according tot he rules and regulations as stated by the event organizers. All I can say is then I thought "this is STUPID!" But I knew I was going to have to dress in the period. And after going through all the costumes we had on hand to loan to volunteers, I decided to have one made for me. If I had to do something stupid, I would at least look good- and then I was going to donate my "costume" to the agency for which I worked.

And because we were serving food, that meant we were just poor colonists so I had to look like... well, a Pilgrim basically, or Ma Ingols in Little House on the Prairie rather than being English or French elegance.

So I got a chemise, a skirt, a dust cap, a lace up bodice and an apron. And I went. And it was FUN. It was one of the most exciting and fun activities I've ever done. I loved dressing up. I loved the story concocted about myself and the group I worked for. I loved the smell of the fire, the other participants, the entertainment of it all, the guests, the smell of smoke, the reenactment, the living history-- I just loved all of it. And for the four years I worked for that office I went to the re-enactment from open to close both days.


One thing I've been looking forward to since I got back to Civilization was taking a trek to this reenactment. So last weekend Curley and I went and it was awesome. I swear I can eat my way from one end of the site to the other- I love all the food cooked over the open fire pits. We had ribeye sandwiches and kettle corn. I could've eaten more- like the huge turkey leg, the fry bread with homemade applebutter, the ear of corn dipped in butter, the pork chop wrapped in new paper... and that's what I can think of that I wanted but didn't eat.

The entertainment was great; there was music, tons of authentic vendors and the living history everywhere was the best of all. The re-enactment was amazing. It was amazing and fun. I talked to several folks who really bring it to life. There are participants from all over the US, Canada and France. And the Indians are HOT. And when I say pirates, I want to point out that I don't mean Capt. Jack Sparrow "arugh" pirates but French Fur Trappers and traders having "pirate" like battle on the river- which is actually historically accurate as well.

Enjoy the view here since you couldn't all go with me! (And there are more pictures here!)

Love it all!

Your future reenactment participant,
Maggie Mae


Social Climber Preppy Giveaway

Fellow blogger Beth Dunn is hosting a give away on her blog, Social Climbers. Check it out! Enter to win!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Good news!


It's positive!


I'm gonna be an Auntie...... AGAIN!

Kisses,
Auntie Mags

Monday, October 5, 2009

I'm sorry, we're closed

Today I wasn't working ice cream and I wasn't called to substitute so I decided to do something I've been longing to do for several months now, before my schedule got to busy and I wouldn't have time. I wanted to visit all the cute little stores in downtown College Town. I went to a small liberal arts school in the Midwest (that's actually internationally known so if I named it here you would all recognize it since it make the US News and World Report magazine college issue each year in the top 5...) in a cute little, very liberal town that looks like a place out of a movie or book.

The downtown part of the town has some very unique shops and I've been dying to visit. There's a quilt shop, an artist studio, 2 used book shops, an antique shop, a boot/ leather's shop, an International Trade Fair Federation shop, an organic bakery, a tea room, a coffee house and a jewelry store that deals in second jewelry and originally created pieces. Guess what was open? The coffee shop, the jewelry store, the trade fair shop, and the boot shop. Everything else is closed. The town basically rolls up the sidewalks on Saturday afternoons and doesn't unroll them again until Tuesday morning. Just about everything in downtown College Town is closed on Mondays.

I ask you- who does this? Okay, well, obviously, they do! Curley and I went, and unbeknown to us, Monday is the day everyone closes. Are all these businesses closed because business is bad? Or are all these places closed because business is so good they can afford a day of rest? people complain that downtowns all over the USA are in poor shape- is it because of this closed on Monday mentality or is it closed on Monday because of the economy? Either way, we were sorely disappointed.

But Curley and I are known to make our own fun so she and I had a good time TOGETHER but we didn't get to see all the fun little shops. Guess we'll have to go another time- NOT a Monday!

Not such a manic Monday,
Maggie

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Sunday return of "Satchels & Shoes"!

I love muck boots but they're really expensive because they're made for mucking around the elements and they're warm as well as waterproof. I had a pink pair when I lived in the Wild West. When I left there, I gifted the boots on, not thinking I would need them here.

Well, I was an idiot!

But I think I found something a bit more my style. To heck with muck boots. I found rainboots! Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen?!? I *adore* these boots. If I could think of a reason to have more than one pair, you know I would! I was shocked that Target had such a cute item.

And I love to pair it with my purple messenger bag!

In Shoes We Trust,
Mags

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Time after time meme

1. Are you a Rolex watch, a Mickey Mouse watch, or a pocket watch?
Oh I'm a Rolex my darlings; nothing but a timeless class. Oh okay, I’m probably more the Mickey Mouse watch, fun and silly and well, a bit timeless still!

2. Can you think of a time when you couldn’t see the forest for the trees?
Yes, right now actuall. Will I ever get a job? No.....

3. Can you think of a time when you were on the outside looking in? What did you see?
I feel like that most of my life; I've never really fit in so I feel like I just don't fit in most places. I saw a person who was a bit shy and nervous at times.

4. Go back in time. Maybe a long time ago, maybe today. Pick an hour you’d like to freeze frame forever and tell us why. It doesn’t have to be THE most important hour of your life, but make it a good one.
The first kiss I shared with AlaskaSam; it would've been the point to make some many better choices, after that perfect kiss.

5. If you were a cuckoo clock, what would others say about you?
The same thing everyone says now: that I'm crazy.

6. Can you think of a time when time stood still?
You know, I know there are moments in time when I thought time stood still at that time it was happening but I can't remember any of those things at this point.

7. Watch this: You are a stopwatch. What would you stop?
Racial intolerance, abuse of any sort, world hunger

8. Imagine you were just born and have infinite wisdom. After the doctor smacks your newborn dust ruffle, you look around and say to the Universe: “Give me a whole lifetime to do this, and I will bless the day I was born.” What do you choose?
I don't know. At all.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Trip to the orchard- a very fall thing to do

I love to go to the apple orchard. Each autumn the one closest to me has an open house every weekend in Sept. and October. They always have different types of musical entertainment as well as cider making demonstrations, wagon rides, a variety of apples to sample, a corn maze, tours, and "u pick it" pumpkin patch.

When I lived in the Wild West I always missed my fall trips to the orchard. We never seemed to have anything like that at all- probably because where I lived skipped the season of fall entirely and went straight from summer to snow blizzards. Anyway...

Now that I've moved back to Civilization, I was pretty excited to go again. And it was a nice time. And just as I remembered it.

One thing I especially like is that every type of apple is available to taste. A visitor can get a knife and cut a slice off a "sample" apple. Each variety is labeled as to the flavor and use for that particular type of apple, as you can see from the picture on the left. You can read the card and if it sounds like it's worth a taste, you can cut a slice off of the apple in the plastic container. We bought a good cooking apple, that's also sweet enough to be a good eating apple called a Spartan. I'm going to make dumplings to freeze and put up some applesauce out of those.

The day I was there an amateur brass band was playing, which was nice. A guy was making cider the old fashioned way and letting people have a taste. Oh, one thing had been updated: the wagon rides. They used to be on a big old hay wagon pulled by a horse. Now, it's a low, flatbed trailer lined with bench seats and pulled by a John Deere tractor. There's also no corn maze this year; the field is a bean field this time.

I also like that there is more for sale than just bags of apples or pumpkins. There are also homemade cider, caramel apples, and apple butter- all made at the orchard from their fruits. Baked goods like pumpkin or apple pies, dumplings, and cobblers can be found as well a fresh honey made from the bees at their orchard as well.

Something else the orchard is offering this year is a little arts and crafts area. Local vendors can set up tents to sell their wares, but it's cannot be flea market junk, but craft type of things. Also a local high school has a little tent set up at the edge of the parking area where they make and sell apple fritters for a quarter. They make them in a kettle over a fire pit- very awesome.

It was a fun day and I hope to go back again in two weeks when the leaves have a chance to turn colors a little more. I'm also going to go for a wagon ride this time and maybe brave the pumpkin patch (I didn't last time because I was wearing flip-flops. Flip-flops are not pumpkin patch appropriate footwear- take my word for it.)

It's nice to have an autumn and find fall activities that I've missed! This is just one of many! This weekend I get to attend a REENACTMENT as a guest, not a participant this time! (Can we say "history nerd"?) I'm also going to a chili cook off festival and an arts/ crafts hobby show, all over the next few weeks. And I've been taking pictures so if you're interested in seeing some of the autumn whereabouts, check out my photo blog!

Enjoying the season change,
Maggie