Good Ol' Solitude

Okay. You got me.

Yeah I walk around in slippers with no pants.

That'll keep you from looking in my windows!

Only a Fool's Here

I've been obsessed with these boots for a really long time.

They're so adorable! I've always wanted a pair of wellies and how cute are those???

I knew I'd wear them about once every three months, so I really didn't need them. Somehow I was able to control my impulse shopping.

But then they had these wellies with tweed. Also adorable. Fur lined. Cute. They finally went on sale and when they were only eight bucks, how could I continue to resist???

I read that the weather was going to be crappy on Monday. I got up early and slid into my wellies, excited to get use out of them so soon.

My excitement was really unwarranted. Sure it was cold, but the weather wasn't so bad. Did I sound stupid walking around in wellies all day? Yes.

No really. I think some people call them galoshes because that's the sound they make when you walk.

Today, I rolled out of bed entirely too late. I'm telling you this place is cold! It's so hard to get out of bed when you know you will be instantly frozen in place!

I slipped on my shoes and headed out the door and found ice. Lots of glorious ice covering my car.

And I was one of those people I hate. I drove away with a small bit of my windshield cleaned off. It was horrible.

But I couldn't help it! I used all of my de-icer spray just to try to soften the ice! And then when I got my de-icer wiper fluid out of the trunk, I struggled for five minutes to get the stupid thing open just to realize the whole jug was frozen solid.

I hate mornings like this! These are the days I seriously consider moving to San Francisco where the weather is always the same-ish. Certainly never icy! And I didn't get any use out of my wellies!!!

Moral of the story? Get out of bed and look out the window!!!

Memories Made in the Coldest Winter

Okay, friends. It's super freaking cold.

It's been really cold and not just outside, but here in The Penthome. I usually handle cold pretty well. Just throw on some pants and one of my many blankets and I'm good.

You see . . . my building is old enough and crappy enough that everyone is on the same heat/cold vents. That means I don't have crazy gas or electric bills, but also means my body temperature is at the whim of my landlord.

I haven't seen my landlord's car in a few weeks. So I'm thinking maybe they moved and forgot to turn the heat on. Because I don't even hear it running.

Of course, when I'm awake, I'm usually listening to something. Maybe I'm just not hearing it.

Whatever the case, what has worked for seven other winters just ain't cutting it this year. I can't sit at the keyboard without my fingers turning to ice.

So today I finally bought a space heater. And now the cat and I are both huddled around the two inches of heat it seems to be producing. This side is warm. Now let's get the other side toasty. What's that smell? Is it burnt hair?

Maybe I should have spent more than twenty bucks. Or I guess I could call the landlord . . .

A Good Head on His Shoulders Isn't Everything He's Got

Yesterday morning, I woke up and turned on the television. I flipped the channel to CNN so I could start watching the inauguration activities.

That's right. I pretty much spent the entire day watching CNN. Call me what you will, I don't care. Yesterday was a historic event and I didn't want to miss it.

Just before the actual inauguration, I rushed over to my grandma's house. I threw the door open to see her sitting at her dining room table. The radio was blasting some crappy country song and she was licking an envelope.

"You're not watching???"

"Watching what?"

No joke.

I grabbed the remote and curled up in a chair to continue my day of watching speeches. She told me about how all politicians are crooks. And then she headed back to her bedroom.

"Is this on every channel???"

No, really. "Of course!"

"You mean my soaps won't be on???"

I guess maybe she's been around for enough of these that they don't seem like a big deal anymore. But this one seemed really important to me for several reasons.

First, this is our first African American President.

I hope that's not all anyone remembers years from now. I hope he ends up as one of our greatest presidents ever. That he goes down in history as the guy who united us and pulled us out of the gutter.

But I know for a lot of people, it's the number one reason this was a huge event. These people fought for the right to sit where they want on a bus. They really had to fight for their lives. And now, within one lifetime, they're seeing a black man educated at the best universities, married to an equally smart and gorgeous woman, with a seemingly well-adjusted and happy family; who is respected and even adored be sworn into the highest office in our country.

Second, never in my lifetime has the country been so excited to welcome a new president. I wonder if DC was prepared for the huge number of people that flocked to see Obama take office.

The energy there was amazing. If I were any of the speakers at the ceremony, I probably would have taken one look and been shocked speechless. I don't think anyone could even see the end of the crowd from the stage.

And it wasn't just the United States watching. The whole world was listening.

Third, I couldn't wait to see ol' Georgie waving goodbye.

For those of you who didn't have the luxury of staying home to watch it live, I've posted a video. And for those of you too lazy to watch, here's a few nuggets I enjoyed:

We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Ouch, Georgie!

And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

That is what the world has been waiting to hear.

We will not apologize for our way of life nor will we waver in its defense.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

I hope everyone had a great night. Because today, work begins.

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

And first on Michelle's list: Teach your brother how to stifle a yawn!

And We Could've Been Happy

Rowina came rushing up to me this morning. "I had a dream last night that you won the lottery!"

"That's so weird! The guy at QuickTrip just told me I should play the lotto!"

"You won two million dollars in my dream!"

"It's a sign!"

But apparently, not a sign that I'm actually going to win the lotto. Not even one of my numbers was right. Thanks a lot, Ro!

I Just Need to Catch My Breath

I do Christmas the way I do my birthday--with multiple celebrations.

This weekend, I summed up one of the weirder holiday seasons by helping Jackson tear down a mountain of presents.

I was too worn out to help him wade through the resulting swamp of wrapping and tissue paper.

And I Bet You Didn't See It Comin'

I only have 8,590 photographs at Flickr. When searching for a specific shot, I always manage to get a laugh out of one I'd forgotten about.

Things Aren't Meant to Be This Clear

It doesn't say great things about your mobile signal when you call your mobile company and the second question is "And is this the number to reach you if I need to call you back?"

And the Old Ones Will Be Ended

Hello! Happy New Year!

I know I've been seriously slacking around here. As usual, I have a lot of excuses, none of which are very good.

I have been incredibly busy. I've been going here and there all around the square. I've been working some overtime to help out another department in our building. I've been trying (and failing) to hang out with everyone who is visiting near from afar.

Worst of all, I've been ill. Really, incredibly ill.

I'm sure there's several reasons for the horrible stomach pains I endured. There's crap going around and of course, during the holidays, there's a lot of hugging. A lot of slobbery kids gooping on me. A lot more chances to get diseased.

And then there's the food. My poor body has eaten way more cream and sugar than it's used to.

And then there's the worrying. There's a lot going on right now, if you haven't noticed. Every time I read the news, my stomach churns a little more.

I'm one of those kinda secretive worriers. When I hear bad news, you may think I look calm, but that's because I'm too busy developing three or four game plans for each of the five or six outcomes that can come as a result of that news. I don't have time to express my worry.

Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's good to have an idea of what to do.

The thing is, I worry about everything. And since there's so many plans running around in my head, I'm clogging the pipes. I'm blocked up creatively. I'm slacking here and in taking photographs. It blocks my ambition.

Last night, I noticed how beautiful the sunset was. And then I realized, and maybe it's just me, but I think they've been that way all winter.

After returning home, I slept straight through for a full eight hours. I didn't wake up once. It's the first uninterrupted sleep I've had in weeks. It felt amazing.

I walked outside to a gorgeous day. Even the ducks and geese were playing around in the river like it was spring.

I know it's cheesy. But I felt hopeful. Maybe things aren't going so great, but probably it's not up to me to fix. Things are going to happen the way they're supposed to happen. And I can deal with that.

So my New Year's resolution isn't really a measurable goal. It's just to worry less.

Hopefully that brings about a happier and healthier life. Perhaps it will help me take advantage of opportunities I may have missed otherwise. Hopefully I'll get more done.

It's working so far! Just look at all the pictures I edited and uploaded for your pleasure: