The Story of a Friend

But first: Borrowed from Beauty of Gray

Apparently I am very talkative. Hmmm, have to quiet down a bit. I am laid back. Hubster says I am a great kisser. I am down to earth. I wouldn't say I'm addictive, but then some of you dear and loyal readers have been with me for a while now. I do love being in my current long relationship and I intend to stay in it for another 50 some years. Rare to find, well, I'm home most nights. Good when found. Ok, if you say so. I can't agree with the dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things, as most of my life is filled with nonsensical and unnecessary. And I absolutely do judge people through observation. I love to watch people and make a judgement on their character. But I do watch them first, no snap judgements. Though I have met the occasional person that set off bells and whistles from the second their aura crossed mine.

So, R.E.H. asked me about the friend I mentioned in yesterdays meme. My friend, for as long as I knew him wanted to be a fly boy. He had planned to go into aeronautics when he was done with high school. So, when my mom called me my freshman year of college and told me he had killed himself my world and everything I knew seemed to fall apart. Of all the people in my life he was the one that knew what he was going to do. He had his future planned. He knew his path. So what could possibly make him do that? I called my best friend and I asked her. She was as close to him as I was. But I moved out of state so I hadn't talked to him since I started school.

She said that his parents refused to let him go to Embrey Riddle. He had been accepted and was even offered a scholarship there. But they said that no son of theirs was going to be just a stupid pilot. Their son was going to be a doctor or a lawyer. And then she added that at the same time that his parents upended his career plans his girlfriend, the love of his life, came home from college pregnant. The child wasn't his.

And so he took the only way out he knew to escape the pain, and the heartbreak.

I remember him for his smile, for his laughter, and for how deeply he enjoyed life. How much he liked to make people laugh. How much he enjoyed egging on old Enez at work. How he would follow her around the store and do imitations of her. And how she would turn around and sock him in the arm. And tell him to behave. And he would just laugh, and then he would hug her.

And how he scared the crap out of Girl S and me in the cemetery. How he had us so spooked we were crying. And I almost drove over a dozen tombstones trying to get out.

I'll never forget the day he hot glued every thing in the break room down. Everything. And the look on the faces of the ladies that worked with us. And how, out of all of us kids, they knew it was him. And how when they charged out to the cash register area he just doubled over laughing. And he made all the customers in line laugh. It was infectious.

He was the strongest most confidant person I knew growing up. I looked up to him. I admired him. For how easy life seemed. How easy he laughed, how easy everything came to him. He was so smart, so handsome, and so loved by everyone.

But one sad afternoon I learned that his life wasn't that easy, or that perfect, or that confidant. He was just as insecure and afraid as I was. He was just as human.

In my heart he has always remained larger than life. I look at his picture and I smile. And I remember that he was a part of the best memories I have of my teenage years. And after all these years I still miss him dearly.

Funny Ha Ha

Conversation with the Hubster

While unloading the car last night

Hubster: "Uh honey, did you know you had a pair of shoes in the trunk?"
Newt: "Yes, those are the shoes I wore at work today"
Hubster: "OK, just checking, I thought maybe you were storing them away like nuts."

Conversation with the Hubster 2

Newt: "Well, the doctor said that my shoulder will just have to heal on it's own - but unlike a sprained ankle it will take a long time because I have to use it which keeps re-aggravating it.

Hubster: "Well, I'm just glad it isn't anything more serious like a fracture or crack."

Newt: "Me too, but he said I might have pain for another 3 months or more."

Hubster: "So, what you’re saying is that you’re going to be milking this whole “hurt arm thing for the next 3 months”? I can hear it now, “open this honey”, “lift this honey”, “big jewelry heals my arm, honey”

Newt: "Actually I think he said that big jewelry and new shoes will speed up the healing process."


************************

I just learned that the hubster is going to be staying overnight in Amsterdam on his way to Berlin. So, nothing like having the one you love in the land of free pot and hookers. Fabulous.
Just freak'n fabulous.

************************

So R.E.H. tagged me with a meme. I won't follow the rules, you know me better than that.
So, 7 weird things about me. Just for him. You are welcome to play if you would like. Of course I would never deny anyone the pleasure of a meme.

1. I'm a dog person. I honestly don't like cats all that much. But, I have four cats and we volunteered for 5 years at a cat shelter.

2. Pirates 3 is coming out on DVD Dec. 4th. I will be buying it on the way home, making mac n cheese for dinner, closing the drapes, turning out the lights, and enjoying the movie, probably more than once that night.

3. December 21st is my favorite day of the year. It is winter solstice. Which means that after that date the days get longer. It still might be cold, but we are over the celestial hump.

4. An hour in Barnes and Noble does wonders for my sense of well being. It's instant, relatively cheap therapy. I will never need a shrink as long as there is a Barnes and Noble within driving distance.

5. I was actually relieved to not be going to California in December. That has got to be weird right? I mean, let me think, Minnesota or California in December? Should be a no brainer. But I have my reasons.

6. There are certain people in my life that have left an impression on me deeper than I ever thought possible. The only way I know how to describe it is to say that they touched my soul. And that feeling is so much deeper than normal that sometimes it scares the hell out of me. Especially since a few of them I see rarely if ever, and in a few cases, will never see them again.

7. A friend of mine from High School died while I was in college. I have never gotten over his death. And I have carried his picture in my wallet for more than 20 years. I wasn't in love with him, we never dated, we were just very good friends, and he always knew how to make me laugh. But after he died I realized I didn't know him at all. One of my best friends, and I barely knew him. Do we ever truly deeply know anyone? Or is there a part of each of us that can never be reached or known by another human being?

8. I can't sleep with anything on my feet or legs.

9. I realized that I really live to the beat of my own drummer. At work the other day I was in a room with a wide assortment of people. I had my headphones with me so I could focus better on what I had to do since I only had to be in that room in case someone needed support. Anywhoodle, I was putting on Pandora when someone asked me how I listened to music with my laptop. SO I told them about Pandora. And then I said, "So, right now I'm listening to my station "Mat Kearney" cause he's my new boyfriend." Well, about 8 heads popped up and all of them looked at me like I was on crack. And a few of them sort of shook their head and mumbled "new boyfriend". It wasn't done in a mean way, just a sort of, "Ok, she's odd" sort of way. They laughed and no one treated me like a leper. But, I realized that I am definitely not a main stream person in my expressions or odd ness. I mean, I KNOW, he's not my boyfriend. And, I am fully aware that I am no longer 15. I was kidding. But I think some grown-ups, have forgotten how to have fun in life. They are all serious all the time. Sheesh, that's kinda sad.

WWC

Brought to you by the incredible, the beautiful, and the amazing Tink

Purple

Assortment

An assortment of medicines in an old apothecary in Germany
My assortment of Eyeores
Caleb's assortment of toys and chewies and his purple soccer ball

Chef Newt

I have a confession

I don’t cook

Not in the chef sense

More in the pre-fab sense

But once in a while I get an urge

And I actually cook

I found a recipe for one of my favorite appetizers

So I gave it a try

I went to the grocery store with my list.

I got green onions because they didn’t have scallions

Turns out they are basically the same

Garlic bulb

Minced peeled fresh ginger

I had to settle for a jar of minced ginger – they didn’t have fresh

A jar of hoisin sauce

A bottle of Asian sesame oil (which by the way smells incredible)

Waterchestnuts

Ground chicken – they didn’t have that either so we settled for turkey

Later that night I pulled out the recipe and started making dinner

I even used tiny prep bowls for adding ingrediants later

I’ve never used prep bowls before

I don’t actually own prep bowls per say, just tiny little glass dessert bowls

But I followed the recipe. Adding an extra teaspoon of Sesame oil because it smelled so damn good

And I got a little giddy when I realized that a few of my items didn’t have any English printed on the label

I felt like a chef – just for a second it was exhilirating

Then I called in the hubby and we sat down to have Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

They were fantastic

The hubster complimented me several times on how tasty dinner was

I have set a new bar for my cooking excellence

It only took 9 years

Up until now tater tot casserole was the fanciest thing I make

Well, I did try baklava once. And that did come out freak’n incredible.

So let’s just say I play chef once every 5 years or there abouts.

But now I’m kinda thinking I want to try this a little more often.

But that would mean I have to find recipes, plan the meals and shop for them accordingl
And I’m not very good at that

Heating a frozen pizza is just way easier

However I do have more cookbooks and squirreled away recipes than a non-cook should have

So maybe I’ll give it a try

Even if it’s only one meal a week or maybe two

It was sorta fun

And satisfying

Here’s a picture of dinner – looks tasty eh?

On Saturday I went out with Nettie. We had a ball
And she gave me a surprise.

She couldn’t resist. Not after my raging rant

Stop the planet so I can get the hell off

Alright, I normally reserve the rants for a different blog. And typically I like to keep this blog light and upbeat. But the straw broke. I can't take it anymore. The fruit loops that seem to be coming out of the woodwork in vastly increasing numbers have finally gone off the deep deep deep end. ***I warn you, this post is full of venom.***

The hubster asked on the way into work if I happened to see THIS article.

Where to start? I don't even know. So, let's just take this paragraph by paragraph.

"Just don’t bring the children. According to an earnest warning on Volumes 1 and 2, “Sesame Street: Old School” is adults-only: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child."

Ok, how are today's preschool children different? I mean, Sesame Street was the wholesome show, the good show that taught us all to just get along, how to read, write, and that everyone can be friends. We were just all one big happy family in a neighborhood. How is this suddenly not suitable for children?

Is it a race thing? Perhaps white bread yuppie parents don't want their children to get along with *gasp* black children or children of other races and cultures?

Is it an imagination thing? God forbid children have to figure out for themselves that the talking animals aren't real? Cause damn, I am far more traumatized by a telle-tubby than I am by Big Bird.

Is it because it took place in the inner city and again, yuppie parents are in fear of their children learning that not everyone grows up in a nice little mcmansion that their parents can't afford driving cars that make them feel important, outdoing their neighbors and spiraling out of control into debt?

What? What could possibly make Sesame Street not suitable for the preschooler of today?

"At a recent all-ages home screening, a hush fell over the room. “What did they do to us?” asked one Gen-X mother of two..."

She's kidding right? Or now will she need to go to a therapist? Is her confidence in herself and who she is so weak that she actually had that reaction? Or are we so desparate to play the victim these days that she is imagining dollar signs as she sues one of the greatest children's institutions ever created? Trying to claim some post traumatic stress disorder? Latent memories of wrongs done to us? Seriously, WHAT?

Nothing in the children’s entertainment of today, candy-colored animation hopped up on computer tricks, can prepare young or old for this frightening glimpse of simpler times.

Or is it as simple as this? To think that the world was once so innocent, good, and wholesome that the culture shock might send today's priveleged brats into convulsions. You mean to tell me there was once a time when people had to walk places? Work for a living? Write something on a piece of paper? Help one another? You mean there was once a time when people were held accountable for their actions? Where kids were expected to actually actively learn things and not just be babysat for 12 years and then pushed out into society unprepared and disfunctional?

Back then — as on the very first episode, which aired on PBS Nov. 10, 1969 — a pretty, lonely girl like Sally might find herself befriended by an older male stranger who held her hand and took her home. Granted, Gordon just wanted Sally to meet his wife and have some milk and cookies, but . . . well, he could have wanted anything. As it was, he fed her milk and cookies. The milk looks dangerously whole.

And this is the saddest part of the article. There was a time when we could do this without fear and suspicion. We should weep over the fact that that sort of thing can't happen anymore.

I asked Carol-Lynn Parente, the executive producer of “Sesame Street,” how exactly the first episodes were unsuitable for toddlers in 2007. She told me about Alistair Cookie and the parody “Monsterpiece Theater.” Alistair Cookie, played by Cookie Monster, used to appear with a pipe, which he later gobbled. According to Parente, “That modeled the wrong behavior” — smoking, eating pipes — “so we reshot those scenes without the pipe, and then we dropped the parody altogether.”

Yes, because SO MANY of us 30 and 40 somethings are munching on pipes. You have got to be freak'n kidding me? What? WHAT?

Which brought Parente to a feature of “Sesame Street” that had not been reconstructed: the chronically mood-disordered Oscar the Grouch. On the first episode, Oscar seems irredeemably miserable — hypersensitive, sarcastic, misanthropic. (Bert, too, is described as grouchy; none of the characters, in fact, is especially sunshiney except maybe Ernie, who also seems slow.) “We might not be able to create a character like Oscar now,” she said.

Oh please, Just do what everyone does with today's angry and or depressed youth, put them on drugs.

As for Cookie Monster, he can be seen in the old-school episodes in his former inglorious incarnation: a blue, googly-eyed cookievore with a signature gobble (“om nom nom nom”).............and in the early seasons he comes across a Child’s First Addict.

Ok, finally now I understand why everyone looks at me in disgust as I gobble a dozen cookies spewing crumbs everywhere. I have Cookie Monster to blame for my love of junk food and my bad table manners..............Give me a break.

In East Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant in 1978, 95 percent of households with kids ages 2 to 5 watched “Sesame Street.” The figure was even higher in Washington. Nationwide, though, the number wasn’t much lower, and was largely determined by the whims of the PBS affiliates: 80 percent in houses with young children.

So, let me get this straight, if these shows are no longer deemed suitable for preschoolers shouldn't that mean that the 80-95% of us that were subjected to this "filth" should have major issues? Wouldn't that mean that a whole bunch of us in our 30 and 40's should be really messed up people?

People on “Sesame Street” had limited possibilities and fixed identities, and (the best part) you weren’t expected to change much. The harshness of existence was a given, and no one was proposing that numbers and letters would lead you “out” of your inner city to Elysian suburbs. Instead, “Sesame Street” suggested that learning might merely make our days more bearable, more interesting, funnier. It encouraged us, above all, to be nice to our neighbors and to cultivate the safer pleasures that take the edge off — taking baths, eating cookies, reading. Don’t tell the kids.

Oh yes, let's keep a show that did all those things away from today's children. God forbid they ever think for themselves, get an imagination, or read a book. Damn, that would ruin them. Computers might grow dusty. Teachers might stop fearing having to walk into the class room and face todays overpriveleged overprotected brats. And the worse possible outcome: more children like me, Girl J, Hubster, Boy J, Boy W, Boy S, Boy G in this world. Oh lordy NO! It's probably a good thing they are keeping kids away from Sesame Street. We grew up well adjusted, responsible and accountable for our actions. We wouldn't want that in todays world, oh good lord no.

WWC

Yellow

Great things come wrapped in yellow ribbon

Thank you Tink from the bottom of my heart.

Inanimate

But while taking my pictures my furry children wanted to make sure she was inanimate

Ummmm, so what's the deal?

Funny Ha-Ha

Conversation with the hubster:

While watching a commercial for BMW

Hubster: That would be so cool to have wipers that talk.
Newt: But all you would do is argue with them
Hubster: Yeah, but think of the conversations I can have
Newt: But you'd just piss them off and they would stop working
Hubster: **laughing** Oh, yeah you are probably right
Wipers(hubster): Oh yeah? You really think there is no such thing as global warming?
Hubster: Nope, I think it's just climate change, like has been happening for millions of years.
Wipers: Well, that's just stupid.
Hubster: No, you're the one that is stupid, why don't you do a little research, review a little history you dumb ass wipers
Wipers: Oh, so now you are calling us stupid? Well, fine, screw you
as the wipers stop working in a down pour
Hubster: What? Oh, come on,,,,,,,,,,,,oh, jeebus on a cracker, FINE, You win, there is such a thing as global warming
Wipers: And?
Hubster: And you are the greatest wipers that ever exhisted in the history of the auto mobile
Wipers: And?
Hubster: I'm sorry I called you stupid, and I will admit that I am wrong.
Newt: What? You'll say you are sorry to the freak'n car wipers but you won't to me?
Hubster: Well, they are sort of blackmailing me.

As seen in target -

For lack of a better word: Modern Goth guy with a twist of the odd
Really bad hair, black leather jacket covered in belts and chains, combat boots with tongue hanging out and laces undone, and: red plaid tight flannel pants.

Also seen at target a few isles over -

Tall guy with a brown pill box style hat, light brown coat with fur collar, tight tight TIGHT white white WHITE hot pants with lace up the side and black boots with a pointy toe close to that of an elf.

Needless to say I had to call Nettie and share what I was seeing. Just to make sure I hadn't landed on a different planet.

Well folks, that's all for today.

Hugs to one and all.

Friday Drivel

How in the world is Thanksgiving next week?

Weren’t we just ringing in the new year?

And what the hell happened to my summer?

Melatonin rocks!
Thank you to those who told me to try it.

I’m sleeping like a baby now.

Of course it helps to not have a deathly dread of going to work anymore.

Speaking of work – I love love love going to work now.

I haven’t had that in so long.

I wasn’t sure if I would ever truly like going to work.

But I’m happy to say that now, I do.

I brought in doughnuts for my group.

When I handed one of the girls the box the guy in her cube said:
“Shut-up you did not bring doughnuts!”

My boss’s son got sick during the Lion King last night.

Barfed chunks right in the lobby.

Only because no one would get out of their way in the rush to the restroom

Taught them a lesson about courtesy didn’t it?

He was sound asleep in her chair this morning.

With his head hanging upside down.

That can’t be comfortable. But I guess when you are six, it works just fine.

She only brought him in because she had to interview a few candidates.

Poor lil peanut.

Now they are gone, him to bed, her to work at home.

Caleb and I were ruff housing this morning. That, my friends, is progress.

And Lily attempted to drag a baby up the stairs and into the living room.

Did I mention it was a six pack of bottled water?

Made for a most amusing few minutes of my morning.

She eventually gave up and decided to take the towel hanging on the fridge instead.

And later I noticed she stole one of my slippers from upstairs.

And a pair of hubsters underwear

And a sock

And a t-shirt

And a different sock

And a boot

While Driving to Work

Something that makes you think WTF?

An express delivery truck passed us on the way into work today. Inside the back of the truck were dead plants.

In other news:

Last night when I got home I had a package in the mail. It was from Tink so of course I was very excited to open it up. Inside was a package that made me smile, left me speechless, and made me laugh so hard I think I pee'd my pants.

Nettie and I had commissioned Tink to design business cards for us. Since we get asked all the time to be personal shoppers we thought it would be a good idea to actually have business cards and maybe get this little venture off the ground.

Not only did Tink make us the coolest business cards in the history of business cards but she actually came up with the name for our company.

"The Girls Next Store" officially opened for business as of 7:00 last night. And Nettie and I have been busy handing out cards every since.

Thank You Tink from the bottom of my heart for kicking off a business that till now had been just a neat thought.

And let me tell you now, if you need a graphic designer, Tink is your girl. Hire her, honest, you won't be disappointed. She delivers ideas, designs, and dreams better than anything in your wildest imagination.

WWC

Architecture

Red

Misc. pictures from California:

A Fire getting started

An area devastated

Random Friday

I realized yesterday that the suitcase the Hubster used in September is still sitting in my living room. WTF?

I got back Wednesday night and my suitcase is already put away.

I didn’t realize that Heroe’s had started. Stupid me. So I got caught up on the season by watching episodes on line.

Now I just realized that I haven’t watched it again since getting caught up a few weeks ago.

Oy, vey.

Same with Bionic Woman. For some reason I like that show but I never remember to watch it.

Me and the computer apparently need to spend some time together this weekend getting caught up.

But I also need to clean

I scooted a whole bunch of doggie tumbleweeds outside – I told them to go potty and then didn’t let them back in. Yep, animal fur cruelty. I’m guilty.

But seriously, I have been so damn busy that I haven’t had time to do anything and it shows around the house. It’s really very sad. And a little gross.

Ok, it’s a lot gross.

I know that you will be shocked by this, but I’m already known for my shoes here at the new job. People have been noticing and commenting on my oh so fun style and cool shoes.

That didn’t take long.

Funny thing is, I’m so NOT fashionable or fashionably attractive that I can’t quite figure out how it happens. Or why.

I had lunch with the hubster and a former co-worker of his. It was a lot of fun.
We went to Noodles and Co.

Nettie and I LOVE that place. In fact, we are having lunch there tomorrow.

Tonight the Hubster and I stop at Costco on our way home. This will be dangerous. Two of us at the 100 dollar store???

Save Me Jeebus!

Vacation Recap

1. Had Persian food when I arrived – very yummy. Fabulous lamb dish with basmati rice and roasted nuts.

2. Got a cat sculpture from a friend of the family as a gift

3. Hillcrest is a wonderful area of San Diego, one of my favorite spots.

4. And the men are all wonderfully good looking. Which figures since the vast majority are gay.

5. Went on Sunday to see my Aunt Louise.

6. My Uncle Glen died last month. He was a wonderful man. They were married for 65 years.

7. She was telling us that she couldn’t find his wedding ring and she was afraid it was lost. And it broke her heart.

8. While looking at their photos in their bedroom I found the ring. It was in one of those places that is in plain sight but you would never normally look for it there in a million years.

9. She cried when I helped her hang it around her neck.

10. We took her to In and Out burger for lunch.

11. She gave me one piece of advice: “Enjoy each other every minute of every day, cause honey, 65 years goes by in the blink of an eye.”
12. She also called that night to say how much she enjoyed our visit and to say thank you again for finding his ring. She’s so cute.

13. Monday we went to see my Aunt Betty and Uncle Phil. It was a perfect day. When we visit them the whole entire world goes away and it’s just the 5 of us. And life is perfectly wonderful.

14. Tuesday morning I went to the coffee shop with dad and hung out with the gang. They are too fun. Two of them are now dating each other. Both Roe and Bob lost their spouses within a few weeks of each other. And they have just enjoyed each other’s company. But now, I think they have found something more, something wonderful. They look so incredibly happy it is just, well, it gives you the warm fuzzies to see them together.

15. The only restroom is over at the pet store so I excused myself and headed over there for a few minutes. Of course I picked up some toys and treats for the puppies. Can’t come home to my babies empty handed. The lady gave me samples of some new all natural treats. The ingredients are all the things we would put in an apple cookie. The only thing missing is sugar.

16. Back at the coffee shop I gave a few of the cookies to Jack to give to his puppy. But Jack decided to eat one. He said they were bland but pretty tasty.

17. We also went over to See’s Candy to get some chocolate I promised to bring back to someone.

18. Wednesday we went back to the coffee shop to visit for a while and then we left for the airport. We stopped in Old Town for lunch. Wonderful lunch at Guadalajara’s.

19. I haven’t mentioned the fires. Mom and Dad took me for a quick tour. It was devastating and sad.

20. The homes that were lost seemed so random. And when everything around you for miles is fine, not even singed, and your home burns to the ground. Well damn, what the hell did you do to the karma cow to deserve that?

21. I didn’t have the heart to take pictures of the homes. It seemed so wrong to do that.

22. But I have to say that the mountains around the area looked like something from NASA of Mars. Nothing but dirt and rocks. Absolutely no vegetation left. It was spooky weird.

23. I noticed a sign at the coffee shop. It read: Pay It Forward – Free Carpentry work. That just warmed my heart. People helping people.

24. Roe, one of the coffee shop ladies, is a dog sitter. She currently has a dog from someone that lost their home. She isn’t charging them for his care and she doesn’t care how long she has him. It’s her way of helping Pay it Forward.

WWC

Brought to you by the beautiful, wonderful, and talented Tink

Blue
The blue lego dinosaur at MOA

Old

They are taking down an old roller coaster

Halloween

Sophie giving me the what for about the whole tricker treater ringing the doorbell noise.

Random Pictures of Lego Land at MOA

Super cuteness cuddle

Overheard Above the water cooler

My company has what I earlier referred to as a rustic campus. It is composed of 7 dilapidated fantastic buildings off a county road in a relatively rural setting. For whatever reason they still use a paging system over the loud speakers. So every so often you hear "Sam Stone, there is a call for you on extension 1324". I've already learned to tune it out for the most part. Hopefully no one ever actually needs to get a hold of me. But today, for some reason everyone tuned into the page, it went something like this:

"All employees in building 7 must exit the building immediately, there really is a fire."

We are in building 6 so it wasn't any big deal for us. But I wish I had my camera for all the heads that popped up out of the cubes. And the subsequent discussions.

"Did I hear that right?"
"Should we go check on everyone?"
"Shit, there goes the project"
"Huh, I wonder if you can see any flames"
"So, is anyone going to go check?"

And all the heads popped back out of site and we resumed working.


Tomorrow night I am meeting with Girl J for some quality girl time and people watching at Mall of America. Fan-fucking-tastic people watching.

Then Saturday morning I fly off for California to see my family. Yes, one week on the job and then off on vacation. Life is good!

So, kids, I sign off for now. I will see you Tuesday for WWC.

Hugs to all!