Toasted
Mood:  silly
Topic: random

When I was in college, my parents came to my graduation ceremony and also helped me move my stuff back to Georgia. The negative side of that was feeling rushed. THey packed me up so quickly, I forgot about my toaster oven. In the grand scheme of things, toaster ovens may not seem that important, but this was a birthday present from my brother. I remember all the yummy concoctions I had made using that toaster oven - parmasean toasted pita bread and strawberry strudels.

Our toaster recently broke. Maybe it's time for a new toaster oven. Then again, life without toast hasn't been that difficult to cope with.

War of the Yuppies
Mood:  hug me
Topic: family
We love our neighborhood, but are kinda tired of our majority white, yuppie neighbors. I think I like hipsters more than these people, who move in like a swarm of maggots on a dead body. They leave higher property taxes and McMansions in their wake. Hipsters, though costumed, are at least well-intentioned. They don't just feed off the neighborhood, draining its life blood.

In my MIL's neighborhood though, the streets are plaqued by teens in their teen costumes - baggy pants and boxers (and/or midriffs) cleverly exposed.

I guess we just want to live around everyday people, in their everyday costumes.

Crafty Business
Mood:  amorous
Topic: random

We went to scope out my tattoo today. I thought the tattoo parlour (are they still called that these days?) had the design I wanted, but I"ll have to print the one I want out. I don't want an exact replica of the image found, so hopefully the tattoo "artist" will do his magic.

R and Baba went to the nearby health food coop, to keep cool and get a drink. Also, they had a rule about kids not being in the tattoo studio (that sounds better). No crying babies, basically, which is understandable for a place with guys holding vibrating needles.

In the health food store, there was a guy selling jewelry on trade show displays. He actually had customers, too. That area is usually swarming with people selling their art or little trinkets anyway. With the right set-up, which the Godfrey Group sells online, you come off way more professional and trustworthy. Their easy-to-use webiste offers a variety of displays for retail stores, conferences, and festivals. Even crafty folks might need a nice display for the various craft fests, to sell handmade jewelry, cute stuffies, or screenprinted onesies.

Hopefully, if R's mom will watch Baba, we'll be able to go back to the tattoo studio and get my tat done.

Heat of the Night
Mood:  lazy
Topic: random
Hot. Another reason the South sucks. I want to move somewhere that has snow.

No Worries
Mood:  sharp
Topic: family

Ever since Baba was born I have on my list to become CPR certified. I almost had the chance working for the summer camp, but the class conflicted with our end of year stuff and was cancelled. The American Medical Research Institute offers an ACLS class completely online, in addition to PALS certification. I'll definitely be interested in these classes, so I can take Baba swimming. Maybe Rahim's worries will be alleviated if I demonstrate more knowledge of safety precautions. The cost of the course sequence sounds quite reasonable, and online courses are a perfect solution to today's busy schedules.

I haven't gone swimming this whole summer. I wish I could say that would change soon, but I'll be watching Baba all next week. Our babysitter is taking a well-deserved vacation. I'll have to write a post one day about how wonderful she is and how much she spoils Baba. I've recommended her to relatives and friends, who can check out her certifications and expertise.

I'll definitely pencil in some poolside time the last week. I'll also be getting my hair cut and going to the spa with the gift card Rahim got me for my birthday. A week of relaxation.

Burn
Mood:  lyrical
Topic: health
I could feel it when I got home, having spent at least 30 minutes in direct sunlight, plus the 40 minutes driving each way to work. My skin felt hot.  The watch tan line on my wrist seemed bolder. Will that line ever disappear? I haven't worn my watch on that wrist for a week! I applied sunscreen before going out on my bike, but I didn't do it early enough I think. I can see the outline of my exercise top on my back. If you have to apply the sunscreen thirty minutes before you go out (for the best protection), why do the commercials always happen at the beach or poolside? Anyway, I hope this extra "sun" that I feel doesn't turn into a sunburn. I'll make sure to drink plenty of water and maybe take some preventative acetaminophen.

Insurance Policy
Mood:  special
Topic: family

I think about my mom all the time. When she was alive, we had a lot of difficulties, we had been partly estranged for a while, and generally it was not the ideal mother-daughter relationship. Nevertheless, she was my mother. In her better moments and at her core, she was loving and nurturing. If I ever needed anything, I knew I could count on her, whether it was money or a place to stay or a warm meal.

When she passed away, I knew my father's "thrifty" (e.g. cheap) personality would come to the forefront. My mom was always the one who convinced him to do or get things for us, from our first computer, to taking trips, to birthday money. I don't know what kind of final expense insurance, like life insurance, they had, but I imagine the costs of her funeral and even the headstone must have been a burden. Though he seems confident in the amount in his pension and his monthly income, he continues to work long hours with little time off. I worry for his future. Also, I miss the small gestures of a mother - buying me a microwave for my first apartment, making sure I had a safe car to drive, and sending me pocket money whenever she could wrangle it out of my dad's hands.

I hope my father has mortgage insurance or mortgage protection insurance, too, and is able to pay off his mortgage. I want him to be able to retire and live comfortably. What would happen if he couldn't support himself or got ill? Would he come live with me? I kinda think living with my brother is a better idea. Two bachelors might get along better.

Of course I am upset at my dad with his recent behavior. Being behind on my bills and in debt surely doesn't make me a bad person. It's a situation I wish I could change and will change in time. Is it worth destroying our relationship? Is there an insurance policy for that?

Wishes
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: family
So, my father didn't call or send me a birthday card. No birthday text or email. My father is usually on the spot with holiday cards, so it's unusual to have this void. Well, not so unusual. He actually forgot both my and my brother's birthdays two years ago, the year my mother died. That sucked pretty bad. But did we even say anything to my dad about it? No. We just went on and figured he wasn't used to remembering these things on his own, that my mom would have usually reminded him. But now?

Ghost Chickens
Mood:  bright
Topic: politics

I've been having cravings these days. Yes, for meat. Chicken, specifically. And bacon. Though, Rahim would probably really prohibit that. Maybe it's those KFC commercials, about the new sauceless spicy wings. Yummm. I was never much of a wing person anyway, but probably because we just didn't eat out that much and not "American" food very much. I worry about the chickens, too, that would haunt my dreams.

I used to joke that in order to eat meat, I'd have to either live in a 3rd world country or hunt it myself. Then it would be a matter of survival. I would crouch down behind a fallen log, the trees creaking and swaying around me, a spear or crossbow heavily perched on my arm. Hunting blind, I would only have my senses to guide me - noticing the animal tracks, the wafts of scent in the air, the speaking or silence of the birds. Surely, some creature would sound an alarm at my approach. I'd probably make a lousy hunter, swatting away bugs and cracking dead branches as I tread along.

I'd love to do archery though, for fun and recreation. If R and I ever get really settled, that would be a fun sport. I could adorn my arrows with fancy feathers and such, like people often do to their fishing lures. Of course, the center of the padded target would be my only aim, not the flesh or guts of a living beast.

Fairy Tale Job
Mood:  silly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three reasons to like my summer camp job:

• getting to watch good movies for free, with enough adult humor to keep me entertained (and that the kids don't get)
  
• crocheting during the movie and on the bus ride
  
• free pudding

Only two more days left!