MelaniePenelope

Boise Pride On Parade

On June 15^th, a couple weeks ago, Chloë and I went to check out the haps at Boise Pridefest 2018. Rainbows everywhere!! Following will be a lot of pictures, so go grab a cup of coffee or something while this page takes it's sweet time to load... ;)

Because Rob and I were prepared ahead of time, when two of our kids came out to us as belonging to the LBGQT+ family, I browsed on over to the Rainbow Depot to get some supportive gear for us and the kids. Here's me on Friday the 15^th, right before Chloë and I left the house. Forgive me for the crap look; my hair was still wet.

Posing with Chloë on Friday the 15^th, at Boise Pridefest downtown near the Capitol Building, we were just about ready to see all the booths

 

 

This was the 30^th year of Boise Pridefest, and the city was pretty decked out in rainbows. It was awesome to see this in the community.

All of the Idaho counties were represented on the poles as well.

Scenes from the 'fest

I had read about the Diversity Tree on the Pridefest website, and so I was eager to particpate along with Chloë.

The Diversity Tree

Mike's Hard Lemonade was representin', and I got two or three free samples of their flavored drinks. I'd never had Mike's before, so I was a little surprised to catch a quick buzz!

Chloë, of course, could not have drink samples, but she did snag a Mike's Hard Lemonade lip balm!

A shot of the bandstand

This says it all.

I just liked the shirt, y'know?

Me too!

I was invited to join the Boise Women's Chorus that day. I really want to! I just need to wait for my voice to come completely back; I haven't had it fully since my September 2017 tonsillectomy. Sucks!

Just gathering ideas for next year's festival - so cool!

Planned Parenthood was there, and they made us take water, for necessary hydration, and snacks for energy.  Free food? Yes, please! (Also yes to the sentiment.)

Relaxing, listening to the music

Because what's a festival without a guy on stilts?

Hey, free totes from Albertson's!

BUBBLES!!

Lots of vendor booths had wheels to spin for prizes. Chloë and I took full advantage, even if it was just to win a mini candy! We were all-in at Pride, just for the fun of it.

Yes!

Just a cool tree I saw at the park, I guess ;)

LOL!

Feeling blue?

More street views

Ol' Blue Hair happy and cheerful from a successful first day at Boise Pride!

As the sun went down in Boise, we relished the feeling of camaraderie and community support. Now for the lighting up of the Capitol Building and some fireworks! #LoveIsLove

Capitol Building, full moon, Pride... It was a full feeling, being there. One just felt... full.

Nighttime at Pride

Idaho Capitol Building

Chloë wanted one of these pride flags to wear as a cape, like we saw so many doing at Pride. Except, she wanted that one for Sophia and the bisexual one for herself:

Downtown Boise, Idaho

Woot, found the Boise sign! ;)

Heartening to see the bike rental place pretty empty... that means people are using them instead of cars! I love Boise!

Sculptures in Downtown Boise

You can see peeks of Pride in some storefront windows, even.

At home, Chloë was desirous of making her hair even more blue, and we were down with that, so... here it is! So blue. Aaaand, maybe a little bit green.

Sophia hanging out with the butterfly glo stick I won at one of those spin-the-wheel games

Whoo! On Saturday, June 16^th, Chloë and I were up and at 'em for the Pride Parade. First, we had to drop Sophie off at Pony Club camp far, far away, so we were a bit tired when the festivities began. However, with all the rainbows and love just pouring out of every face and edifice, it was totally worth it!

YAY! Good times, good times.

Pride wouldn't be pride if... well. You know.

Horses, because...?  Who knows. And who cares, it's a parade?!

Neeeeeiiighhhhhh...

Rainbows everywhere! I loved it!

Oh, my!

I'm a big fan of all the corporate sponsors at Pride. Woot!

Check it out! Chloë scored a Pride flag! There was a wait list on the bi-pride one, though, as they ran out. Still waiting...

We had so many flags by the time all these people giving out flags passed by us! Never mind that there were only two of us. We had plenty!

Sophia, meanwhile, was at Pony Club camp learning and doing so much about horses. But, she ended up being finished earlier than planned, so we raced out to get her and bring her back to experience a little bit of Pride for herself. Here she is, all decked out in the flag "cape" that Chloë got her. Looking FABULOUS, Sophie!

Mm-hmm, work it, girl.

They gave her some balloons from one of the floats, too!

See? I don't even think this was all of those flags! LOL

Look at all that flair! What a fun festival and community to be a part of!

All in all, I'm so glad we went to the 2018 Boise Pride Festival, and I'm so proud of my girls for having the courage to speak up.

TTFN, y'all.

Fin.

 

Saturday 9: Back In The USA

Welcome back! I'm going to make this intro short & sweet because I'm in a lot of pain right now, but I'm glad you're here. Link up here if you're playing along today!

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SATURDAY 9: BACK IN THE USA (1978)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here. 

1) This song lists seven cities -- New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge and St. Louis -- that Linda just loves. How many have you visited?

I've been to NYC, Los Angeles, Chattanooga, Baton Rouge, and  St. Louis. I still have Detroit & Chicago on my list - especially the latter.

2) The lyrics refer to hamburgers sizzling on the grill. What toppings do you believe make a perfect burger? 

Well, I really don't know anymore, because I haven't a hamburger since 1995 at the latest. Unless we're talking about veggie burgers; I still haven't figured out the perfect toppings for that (which is why I rarely eat them). However, if you're looking for an excellent burger - veggie or otherwise - you can find one at your closest Elevation Burger. I guarantee it.

3) The original recording of this song by Chuck Berry has always been one of Linda Ronstadt's favorites, one she used to enjoy singing along with in the car. What's the most recent song you sang? 

I sang a little of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" along with an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on ION network.

4) Linda sang The National Anthem at Game 3 of the 1977 World Series. The New York Yankees won both that game and the series. How is your baseball team doing this season?

I'm not paying a lick of attention this year.

Since this is our last Saturday 9 before Independence Day, let's ask some questions about the holiday. 

5) During the Revolutionary War, General Washington celebrated the 4th of July by giving his troops a double ration of rum. Will you imbibe any spirits on Independence Day?

I doubt it. With all of the meds I'm on, adding alcohol to the mix is far too risky to be worth it. Crack open a cold one for me, y'all. ;)

6) The first man to sign the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, said he wrote his name so large King George could see it, even without his glasses. Do you require glasses for reading? 

I do, but I prefer contacts over glasses. I would really love to have LASIK surgery!

7) Since July 4 is a federal holiday, banks are closed and there's no mail delivery. Thanks to email and ATMs, Sam finds going without those services isn't a hardship. What about you? Will you find it inconvenient that banks and the USPS are closed on July 4?

Nah. Everyone deserves a break. I'm just hoping my son doesn't have to work that day, because Independence Day is my favorite holiday, and I want to go out of town.

8) The first 4th of July parade each year is held at 12:01 AM in Gatlinberg, TN. Will you attend a parade or fireworks to celebrate the 4th?

Definitely fireworks, but probably not a parade. I'm rarely awake and out the door in time to see one!

9) More and more Americans celebrate our nation's holiday by eating foods from Italy and Germany. For the July 4, 2016 holiday, more than $50 million was spent on Italian sausage and bratwurst. What's on your 4th of July menu?

I haven't sorted that out just yet. That decision will have to keep until I know whether Jack's scheduled at McDonald's that day or we get to go spend the day at the lake in McCall, Idaho!

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Well, that was fun. I actually feel better! Maybe it's the meds I just took, maybe it's listening to the music I played while writing this, but I'd like to think y'all had a hand in that. Thanks!

Have a great Saturday, folks.

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Cricket's Drivel

Hey, y'all. Welcome back! I had a busy Saturday yesterday and last night, but I'm thrilled to be able to join you for SS. Maybe I'll do a latent Saturday 9 if I can keep the momentum going. ;) For now, let's get started and see what Bev has for us today!

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 1. When was the last time you went to the doctor? Do you like your doctor?

 

 

I mean, I went to four different specialists last week alone, which is crazy! I saw my psychiatrist (because, let's face it, I'm a li'l loca en la cabeza, eh?); the Allergy/Asthma/Immunology specialist along with my daughter Chloë (because we both have the same inherited, unique set of immunodeficiencies, and he wanted to see how we're both handling our various recent infections); the breast surgeon (because I'm having some issues, but hopefully we can avoid invasive treatments); and, I saw the ENT (because my left ear still hasn't moved to the 25oo' altitude here, after moving from basically two feet above sea level where we were in Miami, and I can't hear out of it). I like most of my docs, include all of these, but my primary care doc sucks. First thing tomorrow, on my agenda, I plan to call and schedule an appointment with a new practice that comes highly recommended to me.

 

2. My back is itching, will you scratch it for me?

 

 

As long as it's not sweaty and gross, I don't have a problem with it. And you don't even have to return the favor if I don't need, as my husband would say, a scritch!

3. Do you have nice handwriting?

You know, I used to have very nice writing. Unfortunately, now that I have tremors and muscular weakness a lot of the time, I can't always say that anymore.

4. We are sending you to either New Zealand or Canada, which one do you choose?

I think I would choose New Zealand, because the closest I have come to that corner of the world is when we lived on Guam, and it's my mission in life to see as much of the planet as I possibly can before I die. I've been to Canada, albeit only over on the East Coast, a number of times, and I'm dying to go up to British Columbia while we're living here in Idaho. So it's a tough choice.

5. Do you sing in the shower?

I used to - a lot. But I don't have much of a voice left since my tonsillectomy last year, and I can't hear myself well with my left ear still plugged, so I don't want to hurt anyone's ears! I hope the voice comes back.

6. Have you ever been streaking? If so, how far did you streak and did anyone see you?

Only once that can remember: When we lived in Panama City, Florida, during the first year of our marriage, our house had the laundry room in a separate shed/garage/whatever building at the far side of our large yard, away from the house. I had to go out and switch loads after nursing the baby (Chloë), but I also had to put my clothes in the washer, too. It was about 10 pm; my husband dared me to go out, throw my clothes in, and come back in naked and carrying the laundry basket of clean clothes. I was like, all right. Well, I did it, and then I hauled a$$ back to the house - and he had locked me out! He was sitting inside, dancing and laughing, and I was naked on the back porch. Ha, I forgot about this! I don't know if anyone else saw me!

7. How soon is too soon for Christmas decorations and music playing in the stores?

Sorry for the language, but Grumpy Cat cracks me up! I think one should wait until after Thanksgiving is over to start putting things up and playing the music, but after that, it's fair game. I love Christmas and have a hard enough time making it 'til the big day to give and open presents. So hard for me!

8. If you celebrated Halloween as a kid what was the costume you wore at 5?

I have no clue. Do you?

9. How many cavities have you had in your life?

I'm not as bad as this guy - yet - but I'm heading there. I need a lot of dental work currently, despite not having any cavities until I was 25, married, and had a baby. Ugh! I've inherited my father's bad teeth.

10.  Is there anyone you regret meeting?

Absolutely. But let's end this post on a high note and say that right now, I'm in charge of who I meet! ;)

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So, that was fun. Thanks, Bev! I think maybe I'll wait a little while and try to do Sat9 later today. Have a great one, everybody!

Fin.

The Thing About Tapioca

When we got Tapioca just over two years ago, in May of 2016, she was so tiny. She wasn't bottle-feeding tiny, but we weren't her first foster family. Her story was pretty harsh: she and her one surviving littermate, a boy, watched their mother eat the rest of their siblings. Tapi and her brother were rescued just in time.

After a few months of fostering our sweety, we adopted Tapioca.

Tapi is a great doggo for us, but we know she has had some psychological trauma due to her rough start. She's very "bitey" when she's surprised or something sudden happens, and she barks at everything that scares her. And a lot of things scare her, like people walking by outside, or the vacuum or broom... lots of things.

And then there is the nursing. Tapioca likes this brown plaid blanket in particular; it's very soft, like a mama's tummy, I guess. Tapi kneads the blanket and crams a ton of it into her mouth and falls asleep nursing on this blanket. When she's halfway into her stupor, if one of us walks by, she keeps her hold on the blanket while looking around with her cutie eyeballs and flattens her ears.

This little girl, now two years old, still needs her mommy. When she can't find her blanket, her little jaw starts quivering until we find it. It's enough to break my heart.

♥ Sweet girl. ♥

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Runway Meme

What's up, you guys?! You came back?! I'm so glad to see you here again. It brings me such joy. Now let's get busy with Sunday Stealing, which you can link up to here if you're so inclined.

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This is from "Today is a Fashion Show and the World is My Runway."

 

 1. Five ways to win your heart

 

 

Welp, that about sums it up! (Plus be intelligent about those stuffs.)

 

2. Something you feel strongly about

I'm vehemently anti-smoking and am not afraid to be vocal about it when confronted with the disgustingness in disallowed places. >:(

3. A book you love

I really love this book, and it had a very profound impact on me when I first read it, oh, 20+ years ago. I love it so much that I'm kind of embarrassed I have not read any of Douglas Adams' other books. Must remedy that!

4. Five pet peeves

A. I'm not a fan of lying anyway, but the obvious lies drive me fucking apeshit. I mean, just don't. Really. Don't.

B. People who do that ^^^ and then take eleventy billion years to make that right turn. Just freakin' GO already!!

C. I like my stuff to be exactly where I last left it. I like people to ask if they want to use something, and then actually return the thing in the same condition if they get permission. When things don't go that way - and they never go that way - I get a wee big pissy.

D. I can be very weird in that I love to be spontaneous, but I'm also a very careful planner. So when things don't go anywhere near the way I've taken my time and effort to carefully plan out, it irks me. Just a li'l bit.

E. People who don't clean up after themselves drive me crazy. My kids, therefore, drive me crazy. Arrrghhhh!!!

5. What you ate today

I have eaten`` sooo much candy today. Ridiculous amounts between yesterday and today. My girls and I have been at both days of Boise Pride Festival yesterday, and seriously, every booth was giving away candy. I am not supposed to have candy. But it's Pride, and so when in Rome... Also, I had some toast with organic blackberry jam when I got home. I'm not supposed to have any of that, either.

6. How important do you think education is?

On a scale of 1 to 10, it's definitely a 23 for me. Right now, since our budget is skimpy-tight, I'm running through all our options for 16-year-old Chloë to get a stellar education for pennies. Hello, scholarship people? Call me!

7. Five people you find attractive

A. Y'all know Matt Damon is my man. He's SO cute!!!

B. Jennifer Aniston can do no wrong in my eyes. She's a beaut!

C. Such the cutie is Mekhi Phifer!

D. Eva Longoria is just gorgeous, is she not?

E. Priyanka Chopra is stunning!

8. What you wore today

I wore a kind of "hippie bohemian" outfit, as I'm sure my dad would call it, both yesterday and today for the festival. And sandals. And a rainbow lei, rainbow pins and stickers, sapphire and all my Pandora flower rings, and carried a rainbow flag or seven everywhere we went! So much fun.

9. Something you always think “what if” about

This may sound horrible, coming from a mother, but I always "what if" this one to death: Before Rob and I got married, we were insistent with each other that when it came time to have kids, we wanted one-to-one replacement of ourselves; in other words, "two and only two kids, unless the second time it's twins." Well, the second time it was twins. But one twin, Robby, didn't make it past three days. And then our family did not feel complete with only two, because through that whole 7-month pregnancy, we imagined three babies. Three little ducklings, following their mama around. It didn't feel right anymore, with just two. And so, two years later, along came Sophia Lorelei, who is incredibly awesome in every way. But... what if Robby had lived?

10. Something you’re proud of

Speaking of our twins, this guy, Jack, is doing a superb job at his McDonald's gig. I couldn't be more proud of him. Nine weeks premature, disadvantaged and disabled in so many different ways, and I never thought he'd do as well as he has. But he's an outstanding kid and is beating all the odds. Way to go, Jack!

11. Five items you lust after

A. The KitchenAid pasta attachments set - ohmagarsh, I could make so much yummish with these!

B. Yarn. Very specifically, Artyarns cashmere yarn. Any color; so yummy. I actually had some once, to make myself this fuschia cashmere "Wisp":

...but I wore it to visit my sister in New York, and she loved it, so I gave it to her on the spot. That's what you do. That's what knitters do. And I'm glad I did it, because she seemed genuinely pleased. But oh, I love working with Artyarns cashmere!

I also made Rob this night watch cap with a Filatura Di Crosa cashmere/silk/merino blend, and that was lovely. But Artyarns is definitely my favorite. More, please! (P.S. I also adore all of their yarns, like the gorgeous beaded silks, but I could wax poetic about this all day. I shan't bore you with that anymore.)

C. A yellow Lamborghini Aventador because... duh. Look at it.

D. A chartreuse Vespa, because they are so adorably cute. I want one! I covet Vespas whenever I see one scootin' around. No joke, I would rock a Vespa. Please, santa?

E. A vacation in Tahiti. I need to be there. Married for 17 years and never had a trip to Tahiti. What the hell, Rob? Get on the ball, man!

12. Five words/phrases that make you laugh

Every single thing Rob says! ;)

13. A quote you try to live by

"Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." Also, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

14. Something you like and dislike about yourself.

LIKE: Physically - my nose, and hands, and feet, are all tiny and cute (so I'm told). Personality - I feel like I'm very supportive and loving and inclusive of all peoples.

DISLIKE: Physically - The rest of my body. It is not a thin one, and I honestly wish I were a 99-lb waif. Never gonna happen. Personality - Oh, where do I start? There is so plenty much. Years of abuse will do a lot of damage to a person.

15. A problem that you have had

I've been having cognitive problems. They don't show up as much in my writing (or so I think), because I'm able to stop and think, and backspace, and correct things before I post them. But it's evident to others and it's very evident to me that something is very wrong. I have an evaluation scheduled on November 30th; we're pushing to have it brought up much sooner than that. :(

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Welp, on that note,  I'm going to eat my baked potato and think about things. Have a lovely weekend remainder!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Cat's In The Cradle

Hey everyone! I'm here, in the middle of the Boise Pride Festival! It's my first Pride, and I'm representing as an Ally for two of my kids, so we're having a lot of fun with it. Stay tuned for posts on that later this weekend, hopefully. Link up here if you want to play along this weekend! And let's begin, with Harry Chapin:

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Cat's in the Cradle (1974)

 

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day. Hear it here.

1) This song began as a poem, written by Harry's wife Sandy before the couple even met. Have you ever tried your hand at writing poetry? 

 

Actually, yes. I used to write a lot of poetry, and I have had one poem, for which I won an award, published. That was a long time ago. I woke up in the middle of the night in my dorm room, in college, and I was so inspired. I brainstormed and wrote draft after draft after draft of this poem, and then I created the final version, which won and was dissected in the Forward of the anthology. I'm pretty proud of that.

2) The lyrics include a reference to "The Man in the Moon." The original Mother Goose rhyme ends: "It's time for the children on earth to think about getting to bed." Do you remember what time your childhood bedtime was?

 

About 8 PM, I think. I remember when my sister and I visited our grandparents, and she and I had bedtimes an hour apart. I'd go at 7:30, and she'd go at 8:30. Then we'd switch the next night. This was designed by my grandmother to avoid the inevitable arguing that happened if we went to bed (we shared) at the same time. It did not work well, haha!

3)  When did you go to bed last night?

 

Because of Pride - so much to do! and see! and so much swag! - it was after midnight. Maybe 1 AM. That used to be early for me...

 

4) In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the proclamation that made Father's Day a holiday on the third Sunday in June. Can you name all 45 Presidents? (No, you don't have to list them here.)

 

No, I could not do that. I can recognize Presidential names if I saw/heard them, but I couldn't just rattle off all 45. And please don't ask me Vice Presidents. Oh, hell naw. If ever I were to appear on Jeopardy!, I'd really have to study for this category!

5) Since Sam's father is particular about his Cole Haan loafers, her Father's Day present to him is always a DSW gift card. Who on your gift list is especially easy to buy for?

 

Oh, gosh. Maybe my own dad would be, if I ever were to gift him something. I used to... before I truly realized what a complete dick he is. He's happy with anything Elvis Presley-related!

 

6) Sam's father is a voracious reader. So much so that the local librarian knows him on sight and by name. When did you last visit your neighborhood library?

 

Last week, to return George Orwell's 1984 and pick up Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Sophia, my 13-year-old, read it for school (we homeschool, lest ye forget), and she really enjoyed it. I'm going to read it next; never have.

7) Back when Sam was in high school, her father gave her driving lessons. Do you consider yourself a good driver? 

 

I used to be better before I married Rob and learned how many rules I break. Haha! BUT, now that I have teenagers who will soon be drivers, I am trying to be more careful. Never mind that I have gotten two $90 tickets for traffic violations - one in May, and one in June. Le sigh.

8) He is a stickler about car maintenance and reminds Sam to check her car's air filter regularly, because a dirty air filter can reduce mileage. Share your own car maintenance tip.

 

Uhh, I'm not great with cars. So my maintenance tip is: when a light comes on on the dashboard, take it to somebody who knows what they're doing, whether that be the (trustworthy) Hubs, or the (semi-trustworthy) mechanic down the road.

 

9) Whenever he fills up the car, Sam's father also stocks up on his favorite candy: LifeSavers. So Sam is celebrating Father's Day by giving everyone a roll. Would you prefer Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Winter Green or Peppermint? 

 

I would like Wild Cherry or Butter Rum. I haven't had a LifeSavers candy in ages! Thanks!

 

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Well, that was fun. Back to getting ready for this morning's Pride parade! Cheers!

 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Bloggone Meme

Welcome back, folks! Time for some thievery. Link up here if you wish to play along today!

1. What brand & flavor of toothpaste do you use?
2. 
3. I'm losing ground on keeping the enamel on my teeth due to extremely severe acid reflux, so whatever brand I buy is going to be enamel-building and -strengthening. I do what little I can to fix the problem. 
4. 
   2. What is your earliest memory?
5. 

I remember when I was three years old, running happily and excitedly from the living room down the hall to my bedroom. My hair was a mess, my arms were raised up in the air, and I was shrieking gleefully. I see this memory as if from someone else's viewpoint, not within myself. It was a moment of pure joy, and I have no idea why.

1. 3. Hot Dogs or Hamburgers? 
2. 

Well, vegan burgers. I haven't tried vegan hot dogs yet, because the concept just sounds too weird to me. I'm squeamish. But a good veggie burger, mm mmm mmmm... Especially the ones from Elevation Burger. They rock; they're actually crave-worthy, which is pretty crazy for a vegan food.

1. 4. If you could bring any one famous person back to life, who would it be?
2. 

Whitney Houston - but the good, healthy Whitney from the 80s era, before she got mixed up with Bobby Brown and all the drugs. I loved her. Definitely a sad story I wish could be undone.

1. 5. What is one thing we would always find in your fridge... what one thing would we never find?
2. 
3. You'll pretty much always find a gallon or three of milk in my fridge. My teenagers go through about a gallon a day. I credit that much milk imbibement with helping my daughter Sophia's broken wrist heal better and stronger than the wrist was before the break! But you'll never find a jar of gefilte fish. <<Shudder>> There are a lot of Jewish foods I love (helLO, challah!), but that is most definitely not one I'm willing to try!
4. 
   6. Did you have to go and look for the answer of #1?

1. If buy that you mean "sent my teenage daughter in to look for me," then yes! This is what she found. It's barely been used yet, so I forgot what it was.
2. 
   7. Why don't watermelons grow on trees?
3. 
4. Because they don't! WTF kind of question is that? Although, this greenhouse idea is pretty cool.
5. 
   8. What is something that you own that you should probably just throw in the trash, but you never will? 
6. 

Between representing JAFRA for 20 years before deciding to end our relationship earlier this year, and now Young Living for the past three years, I have a shit-ton of very high quality skin care and cosmetics. Knowing how much they cost - whether you count my discount or otherwise - makes it difficult for me to part with any of this abundance. I mean, I could use a different moisturizer every day for at least two weeks, so things are a little bit in the 'superfluous' range now. I'm using things up, albeit slowly.

1. 9. I push you into a room and lock the door. I leave you there for 6 hours. The walls are chalkboards and in the middle of the room there is a box of colored chalk. What will be written/drawn on the walls when I let you out?
2. 
3. If I'm the only person alone in the room, probably nothing - I would not do well in that situation and would probably cry until I hyperventilate and pass out. If 13-year-old artiste daughter Sophia was locked in with me, the whole set of chalkboard walls would be taken up with some very interesting and entertaining drawings, no doubt!
4. 
   10. When was the last time you changed the oil on your car? 
5. 
6. January, maybe? February? I'd have to check the sticker, but I know we're overdue. Time to pick up another mystery shop for that!
7. 
   11. In your extended family, who has been married the longest?
8. 
9. So, I don't have a huge extended family on my side, and I don't know if Hubs' side counts as MY extended family. Does it?  I was going to say my husband and me at 17½ years, but I completely forgot about my sister and her husband's marriage of, oh... 20 years maybe? I'm embarrassed not to know exactly, but I do know they have another wedding anniversary coming up.
10. 
    12. Name one thing that is so normal to you now that someone who was your age 50 years ago would think was abnormal. 
11. 
12. Being able to surf the internet 24/7/365! Having a computer and cell phones in every household/hand. My 75yo father hates the internet. And it hates him.
13. 
    13. Have you ever wanted someone or something so bad that it hurt?
14. 
15. Well, plenty of times over, yes. The thing that stands out is when, in that brief two-month period between meeting my husband and eloping with him, we were dating and living 9 hours apart. This one time, I drove up to go see him, and when it was time for me to leave and go back from Panama City Beach, FL, to St. Petersburg, my car kept wanting to turn back around to Rob in his barracks. It took everything within me to force me to drive back home. So hard; I loved him so much already. Well, of course I did; he'd given me an engagement ring and proposed! I stared at that ring on my finger the whole drive home. ♥
16. 
    14. What do you dip your french fries in?
17. 

Rarely anything, but if I do, only ketchup.

1. 15. What was the last picture that you took? 

Well, technically it was this photo of my latest Young Living essential oils order, but I think this one from the drive back to Boise from Coeur d'Alene on Friday morning is much more interesting for y'all:

That was such a beautiful site!

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Thank you for stopping by, you guys! I promise not to make myself scarce like I did in May, health-willing! Have a great week!

Fin.

Saturday 9: There's No Gettin' Over Me

Howdy-ho, neighbors! Once again, I didn't get my planned blogging done during the week, but here I am hoping to make up for some of that a little bit! Link up here if you're playing along this week with the rest of us. Let's go!

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Saturday 9: (There's) No Gettin' Over Me (1981)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) Ronnie Milsap sings about how worrisome it can be when you realize you forgot to pay a bill. It's happened to all of us, hasn't it? Tell about about a time you accidentally missed a payment.

Whenever I do specifically write out a to-the-penny monthly budget, I invariably forgot some important thing or other. This can have catastrophic results!

2) He also references a dream that keeps him awake. Do you have any recurring dreams?

Lately, as in, since we moved to Idaho, I've been having a lot of bad dreams. Usually it's something getting ruined.

3) He sings about the face you see in the crowd. Tell us about someone you see regularly, but don't really know.

Several of our neighbors; we know quite a few now, but there are still some that very much keep to themselves.

4) He mentions the book that you just can't put down. What's the last book that you finished?

I just returned George Orwell's 1984. . . okay, I didn't really read it at all. I suck at picking up a book lately.

5) Ronnie Milsap is a big fan of new technology, and believes the advancements make both his professional and personal lives easier. What about you? Do you embrace new technology? Or do you long for the good old days, when we weren't so connected to personal devices? 

A little bit of both for me. I LOVE new tech, but the simpler, more carefree days could be a lot more fun.

6) As a child, Ronnie used to surreptitiously listen to late night radio, especially gospel broadcasts. When you were a kid, what rule did you break again and again?

I would read my books when I was supposed to be cleaning.

7) Country star Blake Shelton says Ronnie Milsap was a big influence on his music. Do you watch Blake on The Voice?

Sort of. I watched the beginning of this past season, but I didn't really keep up with it.

8) In May, Ronnie appeared at the Choctaw Casino in Grant, OK. Do you enjoy games of chance?

No. I'm not a gambler.

9) Random question -- When did you last "do it yourself" and repair something around the house or yard?

Oh, I don't know. I'm a DIY-er in theory, but in practice I leave things up to him.

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Short and sweet! Have a great Saturday, y'all!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Friday Five Meme

Hi, y'all! Welcome back. I nearly forgot to Steal, with June being such a hectic month for us. But here I am, ready to go. So, let's!

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 I snuck a few questions from Friday Five.

 

 1. Is there a smell that will immediately sicken you?

 

 

Baked beans. I cannot handle the smell, the sight, anything. I lived through a singular horrific event with baked beans when I was 7 or 8 years old, and that did it for me.

2. When you want quiet, where do you go?

I go to sleep. I fall asleep at the drop of a hat nowadays away, but when there is too much nonsense and commotion, I just let it happen.

3. Do you need/prefer total darkness when you sleep?

Nah. I could sleep in broad daylight with no problems. I just have to be tired.

4. What is your least favorite taste?

I would have to say mustard to that, because the idea of eating it thoroughly grosses me out.

5. How heavily do you rely upon your sense of touch?

Pretty heavily. I haven't been able to smell anything, or hear out of my left ear, since we moved to Idaho last March. As a result, my sense of taste is AFU. And my vision has been bad forevever. That leaves me with, and this is with having a lot of sensory issues, figuring many things out by touch.

6. Do you mostly prepare your meals at home or do you eat out more?

Well, normally we cook most meals at home, but since Hubs and I have had four pretty major surgeries between us since April 16th, there has been a lot more take-out going on lately. Hopefully that will slow down now that it appears we're finally on the mend.

7. Is there a time of day when you are more likely to buy food already prepared?

If I'm out at the store between, say, 5 or 6 PM and midnight, I'll probably pick up something pre-made for dinner, instead of making everyone wait forever at home for food. And it often involves sushi for at least Hubs and me.

8. What is your average weekly grocery bill (for how many people)? What is your total restaurant/fast food bill for an average week?

We only get paid once a month, so I have to buy all the month's groceries at once. This month, I haven't bought a lot, thankfully, since the deep freezer is full of food. I did go a little wild at the local farm stand yesterday, though!

9. What is your favorite meal to prepare at home?

I make this rustic pizza dough, from a Martha Stewart recipe that rocks, and top it with local, fresh, often organic ingredients. It's beautiful and so tasty.

10. What is your favorite meal to order in a restaurant?

Hubs likes everything in the world, but he doesn't like scallops. I adore them. If we go to a restaurant that serves them, it's a safe bet I'm going to order them.

11. Do you believe in fate?

Maybe? Yes? No? I really don't know. I have debated that in my mind quite a lot over the years.

12. If Karma was to visit you now, would it be kind or kick you in the butt?

I hope that it would be kind. I have been through a lot of stuff in my life, and it's important to me to leave things better than when I arrived. I teach my kids to be "nice, kind, sweet, and loving."

13. Do you believe you have lived another life previous to this one?

I'm not sure. I don't think so, really, but I do always claim I was a mermaid in my previous life.

14. What do you believe in with an unshakable resolve?

I believe that, above all else, to whatever (the Earth or other animals or whatever) and whomever, one should always try to be GOOD.

15. What one factor influences your life the most?

I think probably losing my mother suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of seven was the single most important event in my life, that shaped the rest of me.

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Well, now I'm going to go make some of that rustic pizza. Ciao!

Fin.

Saturday 9: It's Impossible

Welcome back! I took most of the month of May off from blogging in order to deal with some pretty catastrophic health crises going on with Rob and me, but things seem to be under control now, so I'm back! I'm glad to be here amongst you all, my friends from Sat9. So let's go!

Link up here if you want to play along today!

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Saturday 9: It's Impossible (1970)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Mr. Como maintains it's impossible to ask a baby not to cry. When did you most recently hold a baby? Did you ask him or her not to cry?

I would still call a toddler a baby, wouldn't you? I love babies. So when our little tiny neighbor, Ta'Leha, toddled over to me yesterday, I asked her if I could pick her up. She held up her arms and nodded. Oh, my goodness, it felt good to have a tiny one in my arms again. She was cheerful, though, so no crying.

2) Perry Como was known for his casual, easy going style. Therefore people were surprised to learn that he could lose his temper. His long-time musical director reported that bad drivers really got under Perry's skin. What is one of your pet peeves?

I'm with Perry. I can be driving along, in a fine mood, when someone in front of me stops and takes a half an hour to turn right. Oh, my God, people, you do not need to stop! Just GO, already! Sheesh. I get worked up just thinking about it.

3) Though Perry Como was born in Pennsylvania, he didn't speak English until he began grade school. His parents were Italian immigrants and the family only spoke Italian at home. Do you know any words/phrases in Italian?

I know a few, like Mangia! for eat and stuff, but my Italian is not that great, especially like now when I have a roiling headache. I can read it a lot better than I can speak or understand it spoken, like French, because of my background in Spanish.

4) He met Roselle, the girl he would marry, when they were both still in high school. Tell us about a high school classmate you were crazy about back in the day.

There was this boy on 4th and 5th grades who I had a crush on: Dennis. I think he liked me, too, but I never confirmed it. He was so cute, with blond hair and blue eyes. I think that might be my type? I'm a sucker for that. He's married to a friend of mine, a girl we both went to high school with, now.

5) When he was just 14, his father's ill health made it essential that Perry begin working after school to help support his family. He apprenticed to a barber but was so short, he had to stand on a box when he cut hair. Again, going back to school, were you taller than your classmates? Shorter? Or were you the average height for a kid your age?

Oh, short, very short. I'm 5'1.5". Most everyone is taller than me, but it's still surprising to people, somehow, that with a 5'3" dad and me as their mom, we didn't raise any Amazon children. The fact that our youngest, Sophia, is 5'4" is what boggles me. The other two have Noonan Syndrome (from their dad, we believe), which can affect short stature; Sophie didn't get the gene mutation(s).

6) While taping his annual holiday special in 1971, he fell from a platform and broke his knee. He had to wear a cast and endure 8 months of rehab. Have you ever broken a bone?

I've broken the same pinky toe on my right foot at least half a dozen times. My hands and feet, and my toes, and my toe nails are very tiny, so that pinky toe really sticks out. Damn thing.

7) During the decades when he was a recording and television star, Perry Como was also an avid golfer. He was so popular that many of the best pro golfers of the day -- Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, etc. -- were happy to play with him. It's estimated that it takes about 4 hours to play 18 holes of golf. What celebrity would you most like to hang around with for four hours?

Of the opposite sex? Matt Damon. It's those blue eyes, y'know. Of the same sex? Hm. Ellen DeGeneres, I suppose. I love to laugh, and she makes me guffaw regularly.

8) After he retired, Perry's passion switched from golf to fishing in the waters near Palm Beach, Florida. His catch of the day often ended up as his family's dinner. What's for dinner at your house tonight?

You know, it's 5:07 PM, and I haven't even thought about that yet! I guess it'll be spaghetti, then.

9) Random question -- They say "birds of a feather, flock together." But that's not always true. Can you think of an area where you are out of step with most of your friends/family?

You know, I really am having a hard time thinking of something! I am definitely not a cookie-cutter type, so maybe it's just everything? I feel abnormal in every way, compared to everyone I see who seems to have their shit together more. It bothers me, but I guess not as much as it used to.

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I've got to go pick up two of my kids from the pool, so it's time to run. Thank you for stopping by, and I'll see you back for Sunday Stealing!

Fin.