9.25.2008

A Vision Like a Mirage

Beat of the Day

A lot of people wonder why I like to go to Lawrence.

Well, there's the Pumpkin Cheesecake Ben & Jerry's and awesome sushi.

A few weeks ago, I taught Allison all about Yo Gabba Gabba!

Allison

Last week, I made Marcus and Cameron rub beards.

Rubbing Beards

And it's always fun to dress The Boy up like an old man going to the beach house.

Dear DJ Lance,

9.24.2008

To You

Maizey and Evan

Today, you are three.

Three is a great number. it's the number of Blind Mice, Musketeers, Pure Ones, Wise Men and Beastie Boys. It's also the number of some other stuff that you're not allowed to ask me about until you're older. Wait. Not even then.

One thing that hasn't changed over the year is your personality. You're just as crazy and rambunctious and all-out boyish as ever! I really don't know where you find the energy!

Your vocabulary has expanded quite rapidly. It's so funny to hear your personality come through in your speech. I can hear true emotions now; especially concern and attitude!

Your aim when throwing is awesome and you're getting tough. You don't throw a fit and cry every time you fall down anymore!

Bedtime has been a nightmare in the past, but you've recently gotten much better. I didn't think I'd ever be there for a bedtime where you didn't come running into the room screaming because you didn't want to sleep! I'm really proud of you!

And potty training? Down. Pat.

I have to admit we did go through a bit of a rough patch. You picked up this nasty habit of spitting at me. I hate spitting! It's so gross.

Your mom kept telling me it was probably a phase. i was worried, though. We tried to be stern and tell you to stop. We tried explaining how it was yucky and it hurts people's feelings. We tried ignoring it. nothing seemed to work. I was really starting to take it personally!

I should have known. Moms are always right. The spitting ended as suddenly as it began. And we have been having a blast the last few months!

We've had fun playing Spiderman and chasing each other around the house. It's fun to throw you on the bed and I really feel like it's giving me a good workout!

We both laughed quite heartily when I shot your mom in the eye with your disc gun! I don't think I had ever seen you mock someone before! "My eye! My eye!"

Mocking!

We have this routine at bedtime. You come and give me a big hug and I attack you with kisses. Then I repeat my goodnight wishes to you over and over. I have to confess, though, that I stole those wishes from someone.

A long long time ago when I was young, I used to babysit this boy. Like you, and all kids, he always tried to delay bed time.

He would holler at me through his closed door and expected me to repeat each line after he said it:

Night night!
Sleep tight!
Don't let the bed bugs bite!
Love you!
See you!

And to really keep from going to sleep, he would repeat it over and over. The repetition is probably why it's still stuck in my head to this day! Since I chant this to all my poomongers at bed time, you get to hear this once a week. I apologize in advance for the frustration you'll have later in life when you can't get it out of your head.

You used to love the routine since it delayed bed time. Recently, though, you're enjoying going to bed more and you just don't have time for me.

"Night night!

"Night night!"

"Sleep tight!"

"Yeah."

"Love you!"

Here is where you sigh really hugely. "Love you."

Oh poor Evan. This is just the beginning of the exasperation! I plan on many more years of embarrassment and harrassment!

Happy birthday, Evan!

Heart,
Aunt Bee

Evan and Maizey

But Papa Doc's Old Choppin' Block

Chihuly at the deYoung

Dear Heidi, Michael & Nina,

At this point, I don't even hate Suede as much as Kenley. Why can't you please get rid of her???

No really. Tim hates her! Heidi hates her! Why? Why is she still there???

"I think pop music is really cheesy."

Says the girl with the oh-so-original Bettie Page look!

If she is in the final three, I just might suffer head explosion. I implore you, don't let this happen!

Heart,
Aunt Bee

9.21.2008

It's You I'm Dreaming of

Michael's Gate

Okay so I finally have all my photographs uploaded to Flickr:

On the plane.

The cruise around the bay.

Alcatraz.

The Golden Gate Bridge.

Chihuly at the deYoung.

Ridiculousness in San Francisco.

My trip down the Cabrillo Highway.

I know it really seems like there should be more pictures. Some of them just didn't turn out well. But really I just didn't take as many as I had anticipated I would. I was always on the move!

But we'll get to that later . . .

Here's a short summary of what you'll find in the above links:


9.18.2008

High on a Hill, It Calls to Me

Golden Gate Bridge

Hello Loves!

I'm back in Wichita . . . again.

I've spent the last two days with The Boy, so I have not yet managed to get all the pictures uploaded. I do also want to tell you all about the trip, so be on the lookout. I promise to have stuff going within the next few days.

Be patient. I'm old, now!

9.11.2008

Phoenix

Folsom Street, on the Way to Polk and Castro

Mmm . . . Cake!

Okay, kids. I'm off to turn officially old by the ocean.

I'll try to check in here with a picture or two. No promises, though. We're packing a lot into a short time. I hope my old body can keep up the pace!

At least there's still proof that my brain isn't mature and old:


Slide from Aunt Bee on Vimeo.

9.08.2008

Poop Week!

Michael

Michael knows this guy through a friend.

"He poops his pants on a daily basis."

"What?"

"He poops his pants every day."

" . . . So like he has some sort of control problem?"

"Nope. This guy seems totally normal. He's not dirty or anything. He seems intelligent. He just poops his pants every day."

"So he's at like work and is all 'Oh sorry, boss! Pooped my pants again. I'll be back after I change?'"

"No. I guess he works in his garden and doesn't feel like going back inside. So he just poops his pants."

"Why would you tell someone? I don't think if I even accidentally pooped my pants, I would tell anyone!"

"I know! How does that even enter the conversation?"

"Right! 'Yeah, the restaurant was great. Oh and hey--I poop my pants every day."

"Haha! 'Hey, there's something I've been meaning to tell you! I poop my pants every day!'"

"Huh."

"Yeah."

"Why doesn't at least pull his pants down???"

9.07.2008

Poop Week!

Pretty!

I went to Lawrence on Friday to hang out with Marcus, T-Biscuit and The Boy before the rest of the family showed up.

Marcus was working, so T-Biscuit and I ordered some Chinese food from down the street. Later that night, Casey and I had a text message conversation.

"Are you in Lawrence?"

"Yes. We had Jade Garden."

"Jade Garden will give you the shits."

"HAHA! Guess what I'm doing right now???"

9.06.2008

Poop Week!

Hot

Do you remember Carpet Pooper? CP made for a pretty popular story last year.

Well, CP doesn't stop at carpets!

Carpet Pooper went on a trip awhile back. It was a quick, last-minute trip that required some late-night driving. CP drove to the destination and their traveling companion was going to drive back.

The trip up was uneventful. They had a good time and then it was time to turn around and go back home.

I received this text message at 1:30 in the morning as they were driving back:

I just had diarrhea so bad that it woke me out of a deep sleep. We had to pull over and I shit in someone's yard. I used socks for toilet paper."

9.05.2008

Poop Week!

Big Boy Shower

Evan's pretty good at the whole being potty-trained thing. He's just not so good at the going by himself.

So last weekend, when he announced that he needed to potty and didn't beg anyone to accompany him, Chris and Jacque were relieved. He returned, pantsless, which isn't unusual.

As Jacque repeatedly asked him to put his pants on, Evan ignored her and played with his toys. He sat there and played with this. He sat here and played with that.

And then Jacque realized Evan is not so good at the wiping thing.

Jacque grabbed Evan and took him to the bathroom to clean him up. She followed a poop trail all the way there.

As Jacque and Chris cleaned scrubbed the floor, Evan walked around pointing out spots they hadn't gotten to yet. "Poop! EW! Poop!"

When they finally finished scrubbing, Chris and Jacque went back to the living room to try to get in a bit of relaxation. Evan came in and did what he does. He was noisy and played with all his toys in as destructive ways as possible.

When he got to his tool set, he grabbed his hammer and started hitting Jacque in the foot with it. "Ew! Momma sock! Take off! Stinky!"

Nobody realized Evan had sat on his hammer.

9.04.2008

Poop Week!

The Troll

"That was a pungent diaper!"

"Yeah. They usually are."

"But it was a weird stinky. Like so bad it almost smelled good."

"What?"

"Kinda like something to eat."

" . . . "

" . . . It smelled savory."

9.02.2008

Poop Week!

Marcus, in His Natural Habitat

So Marcus packed up and moved everyone to Lawrence a couple of months ago. His new pad has two--that's right--two bathrooms.

"So which bathroom do you poop in?"

"Oh I just go in whichever one is closest."

"What if you're right in the middle of the two? Which would you go to?"

Yes. This is exactly the kind of conversation I have with my brother.

How Long Before You Let Me Go?

So you're wondering why I'm so obsessed with CERN's Collider?

9.01.2008

Poop Week!

I Poopy in the Potty!

I had a Ladies' Night Out with Raw and the girls on Saturday night. When we returned home, Sophia did all she could to put off bedtime.

Raw heard her on the stairs. "Sophia! Go to bed!"

"I have to go poopy!"

Sophia is still doing the potty-training thing, and you never want to discourage her from using the toilet.

A few minutes later, I hear her approaching the living room. "I poopy in the potty!"

She walks in, carrying her pot!

I'm laughing as I'm telling her good job, while Raw and Mary check the goods.

"That doesn't count as a poop! It's too little" Raw declared.

"You pooped a raisin!"

The Bell Jar

by Sylvia Plath

This is one of those books I felt like I had to read. It comes up in other readings and as a chick, I guess you're expected to have read it at some point. I went into it believing I wouldn't like it.

I was surprised to find out I actually enjoyed it. Yes, I found myself very irritated with Esther, especially when she acted childish and knew she was doing so. But for the most part, I was struck by how horrible a depression that deep is.

The book reminded me a lot of Salinger, a la Catcher in the Rye. I was surprised to find out that a friend of mine, who is a big fan of Catcher, hates The Bell Jar.

Where do you sit on the Bell Jar fence?

See how I rated this book.

In Motion We Seem Wrong

Puddle

John McCain chose Sarah Palin?

Who? No really, even Fox News was calling her Susan Palin for awhile.

Haha! Break ties in the Senate and shooting old men in the face!

It just seems like such an obvious ploy.

Y'all think I'm too old? Well look at how young my VP is! You like Obama because he's all about changing the way Washington works? You want someone less experienced? Check out my VP! I think this is a mistake, for the same reasons Matthew Baldwin has brought up.

What I find most ridiculous is that the McCain camp is obviously making a play for all the women voters who supported Clinton. I seriously hope that her supporters weren't voting for her simply because she was a woman, as I hope people aren't voting for Obama simply because he's not a white guy.

I feel like I'm watching a bad movie about a presidential race.


ps--If you don't watch The Colbert Report, Friday's episode should change your mind. I laughed through the whole episode.

8.28.2008

Honey I Will Stitch You

Cameron

My brain is really quite a mystery. You could study me for years and still never understand my thought process.

The way I remember birthdays is especially screwy.

Bret's birthday is the 13th because it's an unlucky number and if you double that number, you get Mitch's birthday for the next month, 4/26.

My college family was easy. John's birthday is the same as my dorm room, 4/16. Jackson's favorite number is 8, so it's funny that his birthday is 3/9. Raw's is the same month as his, but add a two to make 3/29.

I called Cameron yesterday to sing happy birthday. How did I remember his birthday?

Well, my mom and dad's anniversary is 6/24 and my Dad's birthday is 6/25. i always had trouble remembering which was which until I met Casey. his birthday is pretty easy to remember; 5/25. So that meant I would remember boys on the 25th, which left it easy for me to remember Mamo's birthday on 7/24.

I know Cameron's birthday is in August and it's the twenty-something-th. I was following the same "this is a girl day or boy day" calculation that results in me knowing Dad's birthday.

Sarah and Jacque are both on the 29th, so Cameron's is on the 28th.

I called at lunch before I forgot.

"Hello?"

"Haaaaaaaaaaaapy biiiiirthday to yoooooooou!"

"You know my birthday is tomorrow, right?"

Apparently, the ol' brain doesn't work the same. I guess I'm old enough to get a calendar.

Happy Birthday--on the RIGHT day!

Cause I'm the Woogie Boogie and the Master of Fun

DSCF6097

Evan's third birthday is coming up and Jacque is starting to freak out.

"Renting a Moon Walk is actually pretty cheap!"

Moon Walk??? We were lucky if we got to rent a movie!

While we were talking, evan had snuck back to the spare bedroom to watch Spiderman in peace and solitude. Of course, I just couldn't have that!

I ran in and picked on him for a bit, but not too long. If you distract him from his Spiderman too long, he gets cranky. I quickly tired myself out and laid down across the foot of the bed.

Jacque got lonely and came in to see what was going on. She ended up sitting at the head of the bed. This of course, meant that we had just made a crazy playground for Evan.

He crawled all over us, making strange hissing sounds. "What is that? Why is he doing that?"

Jacque is good at interpreting for me. "That's his spidey webs coming out."

He continued crawling back and forth between us. Then he leaped from person to person, all the while "spraying" us with his web. On one leap, he slid a bit and instead of catapulting himself off my butt, he fell on it.

Jacque groaned and then started laughing. "He bounced off of you and hit me!"

"What are you trying to say?" I demanded to know. "Are you saying I'm bouncy?"

"No! I meant--"

"Maybe I'm so bouncy, you should just hire me for Evan's birthday party!"

Who needs a Moon Walk when you can just have Aunt Bee lie down and let the kids jump on her?

8.26.2008

And Although It's Been Said Before

OUvsKU

You might remember that on a bitter cold night, I was at the Caucus.

I didn't talk about it a lot back then, but while there, I stood and was counted in the Clinton group.

I didn't talk about it much because, just as I assume you're doing now, I figured you all would scoff and harass me. But I stand by my decision.

I still feel Hillary would make the better candidate. No, I haven't agreed with everything she's done or said. But that applies to 100% of the world's population. But I feel like she's strong. She's funny. She's incredibly smart. She's been in the White House and knows what kind of BS happens on a daily basis.

Of course, there's the question that counters the experience: "Would you let the brain surgeon's wife operate on you?"

I tend to agree with Bartcop:

Well, if my choices were the brain surgeon's wife, who watched every minute of brain surgeries for eight years OR a smooth-talking guy who'd never been in the operating room before, I'd go with the surgeon's wife - wouldn't you?
After the mess we're in, I feel like she was the only candidate that could jump in and hit the ground running.

Not that I think Obama is a bad guy. Four years ago when he spoke at the DNC, I thought he was amazing. I thought he would be a great candidate for Vice President in 2008. But President?

I was also weirded out by the mass rush of people to jump on the Obama train. Like it was the cool thing to do.

Maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps he'll be the greatest president of all-time. I'll be voting for him, of course.

But tonight, I listened to Hillary and felt inspired and thought about what could have been. It seems I wasn't the only one:

HRC quoting Harriett Tubman marks the first time Hillary Clinton has given me chills. Where was this woman a year ago? I miss her.

"We don't have a vote to spare or a moment to lose."

"Don't ever stop. Keep going."

Enslaving the Young and Destroying the Old

Casey

Casey watches "The Hills!"

"I was watching it, but I didn't really watch it."

8.19.2008

And I Know I'm Countin' Good Times

Jill and Me

Twenty five years ago today, I was the cutest flower girl ever.

Okay. So I might have had some competition from my cousin Jill. No really! It was a serious competition!

Our mothers made our dresses and when I saw Jill's, I was crazy jealous. Hers was longer! That made the pink ruffled dress so much more sophisticated! I was so mad at my mom!

Someone pointed us toward our flower baskets and we rushed to them. Jill beat me to the table. I'm sure it had something to do with her long dress and nothing with the fact that she has always been a way better athlete than me.

Jill grabbed a basket and of course it was the best one! The ribbons were better, there were more flowers . . . why does she get everything?

But, being the experienced flower girl I was, I sucked it up and put on a stellar performance.

But who was the happily-getting-hitched couple?

Christmas at Grandma's 2005

Oh come on, kids! It's no laughing matter! You've made it twenty five years! That's a freaking miracle!

If you know BJ, you totally know what I mean.

Happy Anniversary!

8.18.2008

Sometimes My Tries Are Outside the Lines

Flint Hills

The Hills is back!

I am so lame. But not as lame as JustinBobby!

"There's a lot of skepticalism."

8.16.2008

Gotta Stay High while I Survive

Outside My Window

I was on my way home and just turning around the bend of the river when I saw lights. Lots and lots and lots of lights.

There were police cars and fire trucks and ambulances, all crammed into the parking lot of the Mid-America All Indian Center. They were also parked in various spots along the river.

So I figure some drunks either fell into the river or there was some sort of mass murder; the victims being thrown into the water.

I was pretty nervous to actually walk into my building. I just knew there was a murderer hiding around the corner!

8.14.2008

Breathe Deeply from this Envelope

Let Me In!

Dear Hollywood,

I will watch bad movies. Sometimes I'll be surprised and I will like them.

But I will never see Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Heart,
Aunt Bee

8.12.2008

Help Me Become Somebody Else

Mmm . . . Cake!

Yesterday, I was more obnoxious than usual.

"Guess what? In a month, I'll be in San Francisco!"

And then today, I wanted cake. And then I remembered what day it was.

"Aaarrrgggssssh! In a month, I'll be thirty!"

So then I had a drink.

8.10.2008

Into the Mercy Seat I Climb

Raw

Last night, Raw and I went to the theatre.

She had a coupon, so she bought the tickets. "Two for the balcony, please."

We were really early for the movie, so we went upstairs to have a drink or two at the bar. We were the only ones there at that point, so the bartender was very chatty. "What movie are you seeing?"

"Pineapple Express."

"Oh awesome! I haven't seen it, but I've heard it's hilarious! I just caught a couple of minutes and I almost pissed myself!"

Other customers came to the bar, so he walked away to serve some drinks. Raw and I contemplated buying some Depends.

He came back, still interested in us. And by interested, I mean, he was trying to figure out how much money he was going to squeeze out of us. "Are you watching it in the balcony?"

The balcony seats are different. The tickets are typically purchased as a pair, since you sit in a loveseat with a small table in front of you. Servers bring food and drink to you at the touch of a button and you even have your own seat warmer.

We were, as mentioned, sitting in the balcony and decided it was time to head in. We tabbed out and gave our tickets to the usher.

"These tickets are actually for downstairs."

My brain was already working on what crappy seats we would get since we had been hanging out in the bar, assuming we had decent balcony seats. Raw's brain went straight to outrage. "We asked for balcony!"

The usher took pity upon us. "Well, if you don't care where you sit, we can fit you in."

He led us into the far dark corner. Crappy seats, sure, but at least we didn't have to try to search for something decent downstairs!

We thanked the kid profusely and made ourselves comfortable. We griped about the stupid ticket kid and gushed about how awesome the usher was to get us in, anyway.

Not that it really seemed to be a big deal. The show was starting in five minutes and there were more empty seats than full. Which is why it seemed really strange when a couple came and sat right beside us.

"We're mad at you!"

Raw and I glanced at each other. Do we know these people?

"You're sitting in our seats!"

Who would actually want these seats? We felt bad, since apparently we weren't supposed to really be there anyway. "We can move!"

"No that's okay. These are fine." And then she told us about how we were sitting in the seats they sat in when they first came to the theatre. "So they became our seats!"

"Seriously, we can move!" Raw was thinking the same thing I was. She and I could go to the other far corner. The one over there, that was empty. The one you'd think a person would naturally pick if they really wanted to be in one far corner and found out it was occupied. Why would they rather sit right next to someone?

"No. Really it's fine."

But it didn't seem to be fine. The man told us the whole story about how they weren't able to get the seat they wanted and she looked around the theatre. "It doesn't look that full!"

I was definitely feeling more annoyed than sympathetic at this point. It's a crappy seat, people! How can we get them to quit griping to us about it?

"Well, there seems to be enough room that we all four could share the seat!" I offered.

That did it!

8.04.2008

Teeth

"It's true! Vagina Denta!"

But My Eyes Tell the Story that My Lies Can’t Hide

Facedown in the Snow

I can't even tell you how glorious that looks to me! I would love to shove my face into a pile of snow!

I know I've been terrible at this whole blog thing the last couple of months. It's just so hot! I can't even move! My brain won't work!

There's other things clogging my brain, too. I'm still obsessed with the whole San Francisco trip. I'm not kidding. I am so excited.

I talked to my gramps this weekend and he accidentally mentioned the trip. And so I started singing. "Oh no. I'm not going to have to listen to this for an hour, am I?"

C'mon people! I never go anywhere outside the midwest! Not to say I don't love Kansas, but I'll be turning thirty by the ocean!

And then there's that. I'll be thirty, soon. Just over a month. I think the trip is keeping me from really freaking out about it. But that doesn't stop it from happening.

And I know it's just a number, but that number is thirty! And do you know how close that is to forty? And then fifty is just around the corner! I feel like my life is just going by too quickly. And there's so many things I wanted to do and I haven't done them and I don't even feel old enough to do them! I'm so far away from childhood, but I still feel like such a baby inside. I can't be thirty! People who are thirty are so old!

Wow. This isn't really where I wanted this post to go. What I wanted to say is just that I have writers' block. Which seems so silly when it's just a blog. I just sometimes can't even pull up the blog to do any posting. I'm that blocked sometimes.

It's the heat! Not to mention the eye.

Sorry, folks! For the lack of posts and this whole tirade. My brain is a mess. But you knew this.

You see this . . . this is why I don't post!

7.30.2008

Breathe Deeply from this Envelope

Monster

Dear Heidi, Michael and Nina,

Please get rid of Suede. Aunt Bee does not like Suede. Aunt Bee wants to hit Suede in the face. Many times. Aunt Bee is irritated.

Heart,
Aunt Bee

ps That'll teach you to listen to Tim Gunn, Emily!!!

7.28.2008

'Cos Nothing's Gonna Save You Now from the Devil's Eye!

My Nasty Eyeball
This is my left eye.

My Nasty Eyeball
This is my right eye. (Click to enlarge but not if freakishness makes you vomit.)

You'll forgive me for not posting much tonight, yes?

Click here for more views.

7.24.2008

If You're Going to San Francisco

Wichita Gay Pride Parade & Festival

Last week, it was decided that I would go to San Francisco for my birthday.

Since then, I have been unable to think of anything else.

I have been scouring the internet, trying to decide what to do while I'm there. There's just too much! Raw will be my chaperone and we will be staying with Michael. I have been bombarding them with emails, text messages and phone calls.

I do have other things to tell you. I just can't get my brain to produce anything but SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO!!!!!!!

And hey hey hey kids! Step right up! Your favorite event is coming soon!

Poop Week isn't far away! Enter your poop stories by emailing me now!

auntbee (at) heartauntbee.com

7.16.2008

Take a Look Around, Look What I Found

Running!

Things I found recently on the internet that made me feel good:

Lyle Lovett Sells Millions, Makes Nothing.

No, I'm not excited that Lovett hasn't made any money off sales. I'm sure he's getting screwed, and screwed hard. But he seems to be doing okay and that gives me ideas.

"The possibilities are very exciting, I think," Lovett told Billboard.com. "I've never made a dime from a record sale in the history of my record deal. I've been very happy with my sales, and certainly my audience has been very supportive. I make a living going out and playing shows."
If Lyle Lovett can be happy with the living he's making by playing shows, can't everyone? The music industry has to change.

I'm just saying this because I want iTunes to go subscription. I'd gladly pay a monthly fee to be able to download as much music as I want to. Make my dreams come true, people!

If I had a speaker at my high school graduation like Patton Oswalt, I mighta made something outta myself!

All of you have been given a harsh gift. It’s the same gift the graduating class of 1917, and 1938, and 1968 and now you guys got – the chance to enter adulthood when the world teeters on the rim of the sphincter of oblivion. You’re jumping into the deep end. You have no choice but to be exceptional.

7.15.2008

Take a Look Around, Look What I Found

Splash!

Things I found recently on the internet that made me feel bad:

Remember when I was complaining about how the ridiculous cattiness of girls never goes away?

It's so true. And insane.

Apparently, this is really old news, but there was an outbreak of silly junior high behavior on the US Women's Soccer Team.

Hope Solo was cranky after a loss in the World Cup. And she expressed her anger to a reporter.

What did her teammates do? I'm sure they said "Hey. Zip it. Suck it up and let's go. We've got another game to concentrate on."

Oh. No I guess I'm wrong. They did what any mature team would do and banned her from the third-place game. She wasn't even allowed to attend the medal ceremony. They wouldn't allow her to eat or even fly home with the team.

But the healing process hasn't been easy. Solo issued a formal public apology to Scurry and Ryan when she rejoined the team in St. Louis last October. But behind closed doors things only got worse. At a team meeting that Solo says had been billed as a first step forward, players took turns telling her how upset she'd made them. Solo wasn't allowed to play or train with the team during the tour, and only midfielder Carli Lloyd broke ranks to sit next to her on the bench, visit her in her room and join her for meals.
They banned her from the cool table at lunch! How much more juvenile can it get?

There is no hope for us, ladies!!!

Remember this couple?

Tyler Ziegel was in Iraq for the second time when he was incredibly disfigured in an attack by a suicide bomber. His fiancee, Renee, stayed with him until he was well enough to marry her.

The marriage didn't last a year.

“Nothing was ever really wrong. It just wasn’t right. Going into the marriage? I’d never been married before. I think we were okay. The wedding – it was so planned. There was this thing... ” He breaks off and gets up to retrieve the framed certificate. It’s from the state of Illinois declaring his wedding a state holiday. “To call something like that off...”
It sounds like they got caught up in the "You gotta get married!" machine. It's bad enough for regular folks, but can you imagine the pressure on these two?

Renee stuck in there longer than most young women would. Long enough that it surprised me that they dissolved their marriage so soon.

I guess it's not much different from a lot of marriages these days. Everyone seems to be so eager to rush in and then can't wait to get out.

7.14.2008

Hey Miss Murder

Trees

Well, it's not every day that someone accuses you of murder.

Throw Your Keys in the Bowl

Radiohead is not just a band making brilliant music. They also consistently produce the best videos.

Yes, I also ended up getting the idea that they went a little "Hey look at our new toy!" overboard. But it's just beautiful.

And for all you uber-nerds, Google has all kinds of stuff about the how-to and you can even play around with it.

7.13.2008

There Are Two Colours in My Head

DSCF5747Oh hey! Are you still here?

Thanks. Sorry about that. I've just been a bit . . . off lately.

And I should really make a big comeback, but I don't really have it in me today. I'll just let you in on a bit of conversation from yesterday.

"So I'm thirty in two months. I don't know what I want to do."

"Get a tattoo! I'm getting one when I turn thirty! A cupcake and an ice cream cone and some candy."

"Huh. Where?"

"On my stomach! Because that's where that shit goes!"

7.06.2008

'Cos I'm Made Out of Glue

DSCF5764

While we were in Kansas City, Raw's brother proposed to his girlfriend.

Jeremy and Robyn have been joined at the hip for awhile, so we weren't surprised. In fact, we were anticipating it. Every special occasion gave us the chance to wonder if Jeremy would give Robyn a ring.

"It's Christmas! What do you think Robyn will get?"

"It's their anniversary! They're going out for a nice dinner! I bet tonight's the night!"

I think he proposed while we were out of town for a reason. He didn't want us old ladies grilling him on the details.

They had only been engaged for a couple of weeks when Raw told me that Robyn already had a lot of details already planned. She had set the date and even had her dress already!

I was almost afraid that she was going to be one of those crazy wedding-is-my-only-focus bridezillas. And then I remembered she had just gotten a job teaching high school. Once August comes, she'll have no time for wedding planning. She's smart to get it out of the way now!

Today, I put in my two cents to the wedding fund by taking their engagement photos. They turned out pretty good for a first-timer, I guess.

Robyn got pretty nervous about one shot. She was sitting on a rock, facing me. "Can you see up my skirt?"

"Yep. I'm selling these shots to all your students!"


Jeremy and Robyn Are Engaged from Aunt Bee on Vimeo.

7.04.2008

And a Bright Ideal

Wichita Gay Pride Parade & Festival

Happy Independence Day!

Don't blow off your fingers!

Little Girl Walkin' Down the Street

Wichita Gay Pride Parade & Festival

"I kinda hate cap sleeves. They're pointless. Just make it sleeveless."

"Oh I like them! They provide more coverage and top and there's still the airiness underneath!"