The Crush

Steve was my first real crush. He would sometimes cross my path while I was going from one building to another on our high school campus. I admired him from afar because I was too shy to say anything. Then one day he held the door open for me. While passing him I made eye contact, mumbled a hello and skittered on my way. He was a senior and I was just a sophomore.

I don't even remember when it happened but at some point I got brave enough to talk to him in the hall. We talked more and more. But never went out on a date. It's odd that I can't remember any details about how we got to know each other.

But then the school year ended and he went off to join the Navy. He had my address and promised to write but I didn't think I would ever hear from him.

And then on some random day months later I got off the school bus and it popped into my head that Steve had written me a letter. I raced home. Skidded to the mail box and opened it up. And sure as shit there was a letter from Steve. I think I stopped breathing at that point. The letter was sweet. He told me all about training and what he was doing. And that he missed me and thought about me.

I would get three more letters from him. And spooky as it was I knew each time one arrived. It was the oddest feeling I think I have ever had. I could go weeks without thinking about him and then suddenly I would NEED to get to the mail box. And sure enough there was always a letter.

Summer came and I was hanging out with friends. I had been assigned to be a buddy for a new student at school. We hit it off and I went over to her house to help her unpack and to meet her family. While we were there a woman came to the doorstep to welcome the new family and bring them some cookies she had made. She introduced herself and talked about her family.

She just happened to be Steve's mother. I asked her how he was and she told me he was home on leave but would soon be heading back.

It broke my heart to find out that he had been home and hadn't let me know. I didn't call him or anything. I just let it go.

I don't regret that decision. After all you can't make someone care about you. But I have never forgotten him. I can still see him clearly in my mind walking a little ahead of me to class not knowing that behind him walked a shy girl that would have lived and died for him.

I also have never been able to explain the connection I seemed to have to him. It really flipped me out at the time that I knew when his letters were in the mail. And then opening a door to have his mother standing in front of me was the icing on the weird-shit-o-meter cake called life.

This little memory is what popped into my head after reading Tink's Diary post. So I thought I would share.

Simon says.....................

You're bloody terrible.

Or at least he would have if he heard me last night.

We had a whopper of a thunder storm that hit about 12:30 last night. By whopper I mean wind, driving rain, house shaking thunder and a lightening storm that burns through your retinas. So when it hit I stumbled out of bed and went down stairs to help the hubby close windows and batten down the hatches.

Caleb and Lily were locked away in the kennel both faces panting heavily at the door. They were terrified. So I did what every good puppy mom would do. I curled up on the floor in front of the kennel and kept them company. The hubster even got me my yoga mat and a pillow so I would be more comfortable.

Sophie was with me so she curled up next to me.

And since there was no hope of sleeping I decided it might help to sing to the puppies. It went something like this:

"Hush little puppy don't say a word
Mamas going to buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird don't sing
Mamas gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring don't shine
Mamas gonna buy you a dress that's fine
And if that dress doesn't fit real good
Mamas gonna buy you a coat with a hood
and if that coat is not real warm
Mamas gonna buy you some bees that swarm
Rock a bye puppy on the tree top
When the wind blows the kennel will rock
when the bough breaks
the kennel will fall
and down will come puppies kennel and all
damn, is that a depressing song
who the hell thought that would be a good lullaby
raindrops on roses
and whiskers on kittens
bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
these are a few of my favorite things
memories
like the dawning of my mind
misty water fallen memories
of the way we were
I don't think that's how that song goes
come and play
everything's A-OK
Friendly neighborhood that's where we play
can you tell me how to get
how to get to sesame street

And I went on like that for a while.

Till they curled up in their little puppy balls
And the panting stopped
And they fell asleep.

Having A Harry Moment

***We interrupt this normally scheduled post of "nothingness" to bring you a very important announcement:
Nettie Rides a Hog - also known as Girl J or BFF J has now moved. She has changed who she is, what she is, how she is and now, she has changed where she is. Please stop by and see her brand new look!

I now return you to the usual Newtness:

The hubster and I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix finally. For most of you the movie is old news but for us, a little slow on the take, well, I have to share my delayed excitement.

I was very excited and I really enjoyed the movie. The hubster did as well. No comments from the peanut gallery the whole movie meant he liked it. No groaning, sighing, under his breath complaining, not even a shake of the head. And that folks is VERY rare. Trust me.

First, let me say, as many of you did back when it was released, that the casting was exceptional as always. I believe that we caught a glimpse of Tonks in this film though they didn't really highlight her at all, and the girl they picked for Luna was amazing. She fit the image in my head perfectly.

I thought the story moved very quickly for being well over two hours but that has been the way with all the movies. They are a fast and wonderful ride.

What I didn't expect, and I won't do any spoilers here, but what I didn't expect was how I reacted to seeing these characters again after learning their fates in book 7. We've closed the book so to speak on the story but the movies are allowing us one final glimpse at all of the characters. And visually at least, introducing us to some of them for the first time. It's funny but I caught myself getting a little choked up knowing what was in store for them all. That's probably a little pathetic but hey, what can I say. I'm a marshmallow of emotion sometimes.

I can't wait till this comes out on DVD. One of these weekends this winter I think I will have to have a Potterthon. And I know I want to re-read the series. Back to back with no interruptions. My dad is reading them for the first time. It's funny to talk to him as he is discovering all the wonderful things about the books. He is on #2 and loving it.

I'm currently reading a series called "The Chronicles of Chrestomanci" by Diana Wynne Jones. It was a recommended series for anyone that liked Harry Potter. These books pre-date Potter by about 20 years so it is not one of the newer bandwagon series. I am on the second book and I like it. I wasn't sure if I would, there isn't the sense of depth in the characters like you have in the Potter series, but this morning I almost didn't get off the bus at my stop so that tells me I am really into these books. It's the same idea, children with magical gifts and the good and evil people that want to exploit them. But it's different enough that I find them fun and fresh.

Newt on the loose

25 random things

1. The flamingos on my desk must be breeding - a new one appeared the other day

2. The floor I am on had a birthday/work anniversary celebration today - everyone was invited, but they served fish and it stunk up the entire floor. It's my birthday month too and I can't even go to my own party.

3. I went and had pizza instead with Girl J. I liked that much better anyway.

4. My parents are getting a second dachshund. Her name is River.

5. It's jeans day at work today. If we donate money to charity we get to "dress down" one day a month. It's the best damn day of the month.

6. This weekend they are shutting freeways down to add lanes to help with congestion from the bridge collapse. They will shut down more next weekend. But after that they can't because of the state fair. GOD FORBID they make it harder than it already is for us to get to the fair grounds. I think Minnesota nice would only last for so long if MNDOT started getting between us and our deep fried twinkies.

7. And I ain't kidding about #6. We take our heart attack on a stick VERY seriously.

8. Our local fox affiliate is threatening advertising that they plan on adding Family Guy to the evening nightly line-up. I'm seriously concerned that they are cutting out one of my Simpsons. I will be a very disgruntled person if they do that.

9. The hubster and I went and bought new silverware the other night. We have been married 8 years and this is the first "big" table top item we have bought together. We already had glasses, dishes, and silverware when we got together so we didn't register for any new stuff.

10. Because all of our dogs were rescues and all of them were "damaged" by horrible humans we have never had a puppy. But we love to imagine what our dogs were like when they were pups. And we know that they were all the cutest little things ever. And I think when we imagine that we wish even more that we could have been there sooner and prevented them from having to go through what they did.

11. When you really think about it, they are adorable now. When they were puppies they must have been utterly adorable. How could someone hurt something that is too cute for words?

12. Grrrrrr. I get so mad when I think that there are evil people in this world hurting dogs and cats all the time.

13. There are special places in hell for them.

14. I like flavor to my water. But I don't like bubbley water and I don't want sweet water. So the other day I picked up packets of unsweetened kool-aid. And I sprinkle some in my water bottle. It's pretty good. But you really have to be into bitter flavors. So far I have tried pink lemonade and lemon-lime. It might be odd but it's one of my best ideas yet.

15. The bright green water did stop a few people yesterday though.

16. I called a customer I have worked with for several years only to have him tell me he lost his job and his last day is next Friday. Well, that makes for awkward conversation. I feel very bad for him. And how do you even go about talking about why you called in the first place?

17. The picture of my husband and the cat eating corn. Yep, it's real. They have done it a couple of nights in a row. They sit on the couch together and eat the corn off the cob.

18. Lily and I have started a tradition. Every night I have to say good night to her. She goes into her kennel and lays down. She turns over on her back so I can rub her belly and then I have to lean down so she can give me a kiss on the nose. She gets very anxious if I don't do this.

19. Caleb used to go to the very back of the kennel so we wouldn't be able to reach him. Now he gets a lot closer to the door so that when I give Lily her good night belly rub he can get his head patted.

20. There was a dragon fly on the window this morning. It had the most beautiful shades of yellow in it's wings.

21. Our neighbors came and took some vine plants that had spread from the vine we want to have growing. They were thrilled to have the little plants. We were thrilled that we got our neighbors to do our weeding for us.

22. The corn right now is orgasmic. It is sweet and crispy and incredible. One of the many fabulous things about summer.

23. I think this is going to be another weekend in which I stay in my pajamas and do a whole lot of nothing. I imagine a comfy chair, a big glass of ice cold bitter Kool-aid water and a good book. While 4 puppies play around in the grass.

24. I have started to play Neverwinter nights again on the computer. Man can you make hours disappear in the blink of an eye. My character is a elven monk. No weapons. Just a lot of punching and kicking. And she's very good at it.

25. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?

Say it with pictures

Saturday I went with Girl A to an art fair in Minneapolis. It went all the way around a lake in the city. This was the coolest thing there:

We still have the box the elliptical machine came in just in case. We figured we would put some miles on it before we toss everything. In the mean time Tinker is using this as her own little kitty fort. There is now a cat bed perched on top for her. (No we don't indulge the kitties)

And lastly: Minnesota Corn as only Hobbes and Hubster can enjoy:

Before the Dawn

Restless mind
Can’t sleep
Dawn will break soon
Pad silently out of the room
Down the stairs
Two happy waggily tails
Greet the early riser
Outside
Steamy hot air
Silence
Darkness
Coffee permeates the air
Eyes open
First hot sip
Bliss
A cozy chair
A warm puppy
Read
Pet
Drink
Repeat
Sometimes before the break of dawn
One can find utter peace
And happiness

Get Ready...Get Set....Grease on a Stick! Volume 2

The official list is out!
New this year at the state fair are the following:

warning: this list might cause your stomach to turn. In fact, you might want a waste basket near by should you feel an urge to get sick. You might also want a bottle of asprin close by in case the mere reading of the items induces a heart attack.

You have been warned!

Coca-Cola cheesecake dipped in chocolate on-a-stick (What?)

Soda fountain funnel cakes (I can't even imagine what the heck this is)

Sloppy joes on-a-stick

Peanut butter hot dog (What?)

Deep fried crumb coated apple fries

Pork knuckle sandwich and Kool-Aid pickles (ok, who thought either of these was a good idea?)

Rocky road scones on-a-stick (caramel, chocolate, marshmallow)

Batter dipped deep fried fruit on-a-stick in a variety of the following combinations: grapes, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, strawberry, pineapple, apple, pineapple, banana, kiwi, peaches, cherries, pears, watermelon

Dixie wings on-a-stick

Corned beef and cabbage dipped in batter on-a-stick

Buffalo chips and cheese (sliced potatoes with melted cheddar cheese with optional toppings)

Breakfast bread bowls (blackened steak or shrimp, eggs, potatoes, cheese), jambalaya (eggs, potatoes, cheese)

Uffda Brat (Norwegian sausage wrapped in a potato lefse)

Butterscotch cake (cream filled dipped in butterscotch) on-a-stick (sugar high anyone???)

Spam burger (fried Spam served on a bun with cheese and/or pineapple) (Ummm, no)

Spam curds (Spam and cheese battered and deep fried) (Ummmm HELL NO!)

BLP quesadilla (bacon, lettuce and picodegallo)

S'mores on-a-stick (toasted marshmallows in chocolate topped with graham cracker crumbs)