Things that make me go HUH?

This past Saturday we had a winter storm. No matter that is technically spring. The temperature dropped and we awoke Saturday morning to freezing rain which turned to sleet at mid-day. Everything was coated in ice. Beautiful, but when limbs on trees appear ready to give way pretty doesn't cut it.

About the time I started thinking we were going to loose some tree limbs the sleet turned to snow. Enormous snowflakes that looked like thousands of Kleenex had just accidentally gone through the wash cycle.

Sunday reached fortyish degrees. The ice melted and most if the snow disappeared. By yesterday afternoon there was no evidence of the winter storm whatsoever.

Here's the weird thing. The forsythia, daffodils, hyacinth are still blooming! So are the Pear and Magnolia trees! The daffodils may be drooping slightly but you would never know these flowers had spent twenty four hours completely encased in ice.

Perhaps when I emerge from my ice cocoon my teen-aged thighs will reappear cellulite-free?

A deal is a deal....

Sigh. In the end a more mature Spartan team won the right to advance to the Elite Eight. As promised I'll keep this hideous lovely image on my blog for a month. And Ree? Drinks are on me. Sigh.

Throw Down

One of my bleeps is cheering for Michigan State tonight. I, of course, will be cheering for Kansas. We have a wee wager on the game. The loser shall display the winning team's logo for a WEEK. Altogether now - "Rock Chalk Jayhawk - GO KU"!

Quandary

We're deep in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and I have a problem. In my Midwest bracket I have Kansas playing Michigan State. Which is EXACTLY what's come to pass. Which is awesome as it means my bracket is holding up nicely.

Unfortunately I have the Spartans beating the Jayhawks and advancing to the Elite Eight. Do I cheer with my head or with my heart. And what do you say Hotfessional? Care to make this a little more interesting?

*Updated to add that if the Spartans win I will post their logo for a week. If the Jayhawks prevail the Hotfessional will return the favor. And the next time we're in Chicago at the same time? Loser buys drinks!

"L" is for Lolly-gagger

From the Urban Dictionary:

1. Lolly-gag
To goof, to waste time, to procrastinate. Mostly said by hipsters and old farts.
"Stop lolly-gagging and get off that nintendo! You have homework to do!"

This is a word I actually use. With the above definition, I especially like the "old fart" reference. Several weeks ago I agreed to do the letter meme with Jen on the Edge. She assigned me the letter "L". And then I fell off the face of the blogosphere.

So last night I was poking around my blog and saw a draft of a post with the unfamiliar title "L". What did I find when I opened the draft? That I am a LOLLY-GAGGER!

So with no further ado - My "L" list:

Bret Lott: author of the novel "Jewel".

"Life of Pi": by Yann Martel. I know some people did not care for this book AT ALL, but I loved it.

Liverwurst: Hah! With mustard on rye!

Lamb: Chops, Racks, Roasted, Grilled. Just get away from me with the godforsaken MINT SAUCE!

Black Licorice: Again I say Hah! Black licorice, black jelly beans and of course Good and Plenty. Love it all!

Laura Ingals Wilder: I have read all of her books MULTIPLE times. And then I turned around a bought them for my daughters to read too!

Lee Pace: I am so disappointed about the cancellation of "Pushing Daisies". Lee, Swoosie Kurtz, Kristin Chenowerth, I freaking LOVED that show. And I think I may the only person who was not annoyed to death by the voice of the narrator.

Is anyone bored? Leave a comment and I'll send YOU a letter. But as I am a lolly-gagger, don't expect it any time soon!

News

My parents, who live three hours away, sold their house.

The first day it was on the market.

For what they were asking.

They're looking for a NEW house.

In my zip code.

Should I laugh or cry?

Grace in Small Things, Part 14

1. The warm spring sun
2. Time spent with Precious Oldest over her break
3. The safe return of the Saint and Precious Youngest from their mission trip
4. A newly painted kitchen
5. College basketball

In which reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated

OMFG people - I am tired. You may recall that work occasionally consumes my life. I coordinated a new fund raising event this week that had multiple components. One of which was a concert. I have done luncheons, dinners, auctions, galas, tournaments, tastings, etc., etc., etc. BUT I have never done a concert. Many moving parts. Much learned. Much to tell. But right now? I'm going to BED!

Transcending

Precious Oldest and I were watching some favorites on You Tube. She hadn't seen "Where the Hell is Matt" or "The Beckoning of Lovely". We needed a tissue when we were done. And I thought I'd share a video with you that was sent to me from one of my GNO friends. Kelly Corrigan is the author of "The Middle Place" and a wonderful story teller. Enjoy, but you might want to get a tissue first.

Ready to Go Back

The food was great

as was the wine.

Sometimes I napped here

and sometimes out here.

We did a little tequila

and sang with this guy

which required a lot of this in the mornings.

But MAN was it relaxing!

Soul Soothing

The view

from the balcony

was spectacular.

Pool out to ocean

bliss.

Poop

I am buried at work. As in balls to the wall with a fund raiser (new event in this economy? Oy!) and the auditor in the office to boot.

I'm trying to read up on what's been going on with my bleeps and get some vacation pictures off my camera. Really I am. But first I have to deal with sweet potato poop in my oven. Sheesh.

Hard To Say

Which is more daunting? The number of e-mails in my in-box or the number of posts waiting in my feed reader. Hard to say, but I'll tell you what I WISH I was wading through right now.

Playa del Carmen

The Saint and I are off to the beach. See you in a few.

Well yeah, so I was wrong

Smug
Pronunciation: \ˈsməg\
Function: adjective
1 : trim or smart in dress
2 : scrupulously clean, neat, or correct
3 : highly self-satisfied

While #1 and #2 describe me to a degree I LIVED #3 until this week. I was the one who was NEVER sick. NEVER. Not in YEARS AND YEARS! Flu Shot? Why?

Well people, I have been laid low. I went to the Emergency Room. I am doped up on antibiotics and pain killing ear drops all in the hope that my flight tomorrow will not be excruciating.

Pray for me. And pass the wine.

Fannie Gets It

There many things Fannie doesn't get. MANY things.

Fannie doesn't get texting or twitter. Fannie does not have a Facebook page. Fannie does not get the appeal of "Lost" , "American Idol" or "Survivor".

Fannie doesn't get drivers who drive slow in the fast lane OR drivers who fail to yield for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Fannie doesn't get parents who refuse to set, or follow through with, consequences for their children and then stand there shaking their heads wondering "what went wrong?"

Fannie does not get how, IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, her achingly beautiful but unordered kitchen counter tops sink lower and lower on the list of financial priorities.

Yes, dear readers, the list of things that elude Fannie goes on and on.

But there is one thing that Fannie most emphatically DOES get and that is Mrs. G. Go check out the new digs. You'll thank me.

Oh Dear Lord

People, it is FINALLY FREAKING March. You know, as in spring is just around the corner? And yet:

• It is elven degrees
• There is a good five inches of fresh snow on the ground
• I have a sore throat mixed with laryngitis
• I'm not sleeping AT ALL well
• I'm drinking so much tea with ecinacia that I'm peeing half my body weight every half hour
• I'm using so much saline nasal spray that I can smell an ocean breeze that's a billion miles away
• We're leaving town at O'Dark Hundred on Wednesday morning and my To Do list seems to be growing exponentially

Now if you'll excuse me, my table is ready. Pity, party of one.