The soda machine at my office is possessed. If you push the coke button, you have probably a 2 in 3 chance of getting a cherry powerade. Mr. Pibb is slightly more reliable though the powerades do pop up from time to time. Now if you want a Sprite, you are almost assured of getting a Diet Coke. The only button on the machine that seems fool proof is, in fact, the cherry powerade button.
I'm really not fond of powerade.
Saturday morning I woke up alone. Shawn had left early that morning to go skiing. I was still snuggled in bed when the phone rang at 7:30 a.m. and wrenched me out of my dreams. I trudged into the kitchen. Shuffling from one foot to the other on the cold tile, I stood there in front of the caller-id display, waiting to see who was silly enough to think that I'd be awake at this hour.
Jenny and I volunteered to help our dance teacher with a benefit she was putting on for a local private school this past weekend. She was doing a dinner and silent auction with a Victorian Christmas theme and had seen my Victorian day gown on my dress form a few months back. I told her about our Thimbelina Sewing Guild with an affinity for historical and fantasy costumes, and she asked if Jenny and I would be willing to come in our Victorian gear and be greeters, interact with the guests a little.
Last night I took the Christmas decorations down from the attic. I pulled out the stockings and the candles and set to work decorating the mantle above the fireplace. There were four mini-pumpkins sitting there. Those ought to go out into the yard waste bin, I thought. I picked them up. They were all still in surprisingly good condition. Hmm. Well, it's cold outside. I'll take them out later. I put them down on the kitchen table.
Here we are at t- 1 hour to turkey day and now I'll spill my confession. I've been listening to Christmas music for a week. I know, I know. There are rules. No Christmas until we're through with Thanksgiving. "Well," I thought, "since I did Thanksgiving with my family last week, then I'm sort of allowed. But just music. That's it."
Family. It's an interesting...reality. I was about say "an interesting concept" but "concept" doesn't cut it, does it? No. Concepts have bounds and logic and concise little ideas that can be summarized up in an abstract. The idea of family may have these things, but the reality of family is just what it is. Chuck your standard societal rules at the door. Shed your precepts and hang them up next to your coat on the rack. We operate on our own gravity here.
I have a long to-do list of things to get done at work. I've had a long list of things to do for months, probably years. I need a few clones. A small collective, perhaps.
I had a 4 day celebration for Halloween this year. Here's the recap.
Jenny's Pumpkin Carving Party
Every year my friend and neighbor Jenny throws a pumpkin carving party. Not only does she throw a good party but it's a great opportunity to do the pumpkin mess in someone else's house. And Cheryl came up for the party which was awesome. Being the studious grad student that she is, I don't get to see enough of her. A wonderful kick-off to the weekend. And may I just say that Jenny makes the best clam dip ever?
I had this dream last night about something that happened when I was a kid. Funny, because I hadn't thought about it in a long time.
Happy Halloween Everybody!
I'd love to write lots today, it being my favorite day of the year, but as it is, I'm a busy girl and thar be a pirate ship awaitin' on me to sail into All Hallows Eve!
I'll write reviews of the holiday and all its wondrous festivities later. Until then, may you be blessed with flights of fancy and stalked by creatures of your own imagination. Be merry, be safe, be mischievous.
-Shannon
