The 13th Guest

13 People I'd Invite to Dinner (dead, obviously)

1. Andy Warhol…the king of Pop Art. I’d invite him because he’s be fascinated with everyone else at the dinner table.

2. Mary Queen of Scots…because she was a fascinating victim of circumstance and I’d love to ask her about things from her point of view.

3. William Shakespeare…because I want to know if he really did write all those sonnets & plays or if it really was someone else?

4. Jane Austen…because I’d be interested to hear her opinions about her modern fame. And she was a fan of Mary, QofS.

5. St. Joseph…I was going to say Jesus Christ, but would anyone else at the dinner table really be able to focus on anyone but Him? So I think it would be better to have His stepdad.

6. Lord Byron…because he’d shake things up a bit.

7. My friend Boyd…because I miss him and he’d have a blast.

8. Adolf Hitler…come on, who wouldn’t like to either find out what he was thinking or give him a piece of their mind?

9. Beau Brummell…he’d set the standard of fashion.

10. Jane Fitzalan, Baroness Lumley…because I want to know if I actually portray her accurately at RenFaire, and she was brilliant.

11. Wofgang Amadeus Mozart…he was a genius and a flirt.

12. Dorothy Parker…because someone has to add some humour to the group.

13. Some random person from the Elizabethan age…to get things from their perspective.


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Sunday Comics

I feel like I should write about something today, though I don't really know what to write about. I suppose I should share with you the news at hubby went to the doctor today to address the issue of our state of infertility, and despite future tests, the doctor's advice? "Stop thinking about it & trying so hard, just have fun!" Ugh. Are you kidding me?

So yesterday we went to the Milwaukee Art Museum's current exhibit "Masters of American Comics". Like most people I enjoy my Sunday Morning comics most of all. I can appreciate not only the humour, but the talent that it is. That said, I hated the exhibit! It was interesting to note that there have been colour comics on the newspapers since at least 1906 (who knew?) but the exhibit, on a whole, left me feeling depressed and bitter. Why? Because it really focused the just how policial comics have always been, and being a timeline presentation I could see the downward spiral of society. The early comics focused alot on fantasy and imagination. By the 40s they were filled with Nazis and anger. The 50s had a reprise with the Peanuts and all the simplicity that is CharlieBrown. But by the mid 60s & 70s, comics were literally laden with drugs, sex & hatred of family. You don't even want to know about the ones representing the current day! I don't know, maybe my idea of "Masters" is different than those of the exhibit curators, but give me the beautiful simplicity of a family oriented comic any day.
(Ok, so I hate clowns! That's what makes ths comic so funny!)

Summer 13

13 Things I'm going to do this Summer

1. Complete all of the books on my summer reading list

2. Support my public library through my reading

3. Take a getaway with just my hubby

4. Take a true family vacation

5. Perform a few days at theBristol Renaissance Faire

6. Work hard at my new job...and coordinate Lots of weddings

7. Go canoeing on the Mississippi again (it's been years!)

8. Learn to scrapbook the endless amounts of photos I have

9. Help finish painting our house

10. Spend quality "downtime" with friends

11. Visit places I've never been to in the state I now reside

12. Work some more on that whole "having a baby" thing

13. Make new friends!

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Just call me Lady K

No time to write, so this instead!

You Are 92% Lady

No doubt about it, you are a lady with impeccable etiquette You know how to put others at ease, even if their manners aren't the greatest.

Are You A Lady?

Domesticated Bliss

Ok, I've never exactly been what you'd call a "domestic goddess" by any stretch of the imagination. And yet recently I've planted many flowers & plants (including a large lilac bush...my favourite), put in a vegetable garden in my backyard (tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, basil, onions, carrots, grapes, raspberries, etc.) and now today I made strawberry freezer jam for the first time ever!
Ok, I know this is dull and boring compared with my once-upon-a-time life I used to live when the most important fruit in my diet was the cherries in my Cosmopolitan, but I find myself somewhat proud of this little domestic accomplishment.

Spoiled for Summer

I was a very lucky kid...I grew up living on a lake. Pretty much every waking moment of summer was spent swimming or boating with friends. I grew up never having a fear of the water, and yet profound respect for it. I understood the power of it, that it isn't our element...and yet it was my friend. I still am drawn to the water; the rhythmic tempo of the waves, the breeze upon my face, and the yearn to be one with it. I could spend hours simply sitting on the shoreline, being invited to share the beauty.

Now, as the sounds of kids laughing & playing outside drift on the winds as only summer vacation can bring, I am all too aware of the sheer joy of summer that becomes lost as an adult. Our days are still rife with responsibilities, worries, and work. If only we were able to appreciate & embrace summer the way we did as children, perhaps, just perhaps, people would be more peaceful? Imagine conflicts being settled with simple games of Red Rover or Hopscotch...ah, to be a kid again. Meet you at the beach in an hour??

Summer Music 13

13 of my favourite songs for Summer

1. Save a Prayer - Duran Duran

2. Fins - Jimmy Buffett

3. Love of my Life - Clay Aiken (my wedding song)

4. (Don't) Steal My sunshine - Len

5. Opportunity - Pet Shop Boys

6. Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves - Cher

7. Scarborough Faire - Simon & Garfunkel

8. Oh L'Amour - Erasure

9. People are People - Depeche Mode

10. Let's Fall in Love - Cole Porter

11. Pure - the Lightening Seeds

12. Bizzare Love Triangle - New Order

13. Head Like a HOle - Nine Inch Nails

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

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"I don't have time to read"

I love to read. I've always been a voracious reader. From the time I was a kid, I'm always reading something...from cereal boxes (I loathe & don't eat ceral by the way) to epic novels...I simply find great joy in books. Books are my friends. In fact, I'm completely anal about taking care of them. I once loaned a close friend a book (always makes me nervous) and he had the nerve to return it with the cover off, and the binding broken! I was furious, and refused to accept it. He was forced to buy me a new copy, and I don't think that's unreasonable!

Anyway, we all get so busy with work, kids, life, that sometimes its hard to find time to read as much as we'd like. Or we'd like to read something other than our current find, or want something new, but we just don't know what. So, I found a couple of great online resources, I'd like to share!

Read It First c/o of St. Martin's Press offers a free membership to join and each day they send you another chapter from a soon-t0-be released book, that doesn't take any more than 5 minutes to read! It's great for that small break!

Dear Reader offers the same sort of thing, they will send you another chapter in your email each day, but you actually get to choose which bookclubs you want to join. From mysteries to romance to classics. (I'm rereading "Little Women" c/o the Classics book club this week.)

I hope someone else enjoys reading as much as I do, and will benefit from these few minutes of literary enlightenment!

Nuts!

So, my weekend didn't go as planned. The shower was nice enough (sunny, but very cold)though very few people came, which was disappointing. I don't understand how people can either just not RSVP or when they do, not show up. I am continually amazed at the rudeness of people. I didn't get to Pug Fest, unfortunately, though we did get alot of cool stuff at the Wilton sale. My daughter leaves for her father's house, out of state, for the entire summer in a couple of days, so while I have a few days off work, I've been trying to spend as much time with her as possible. We had her hairs cut (very cute short bob), have had lunches out together, saw "Over the Hedge" (hilarious movie, completely recommend it to anyone no matter if you have kids or not, no matter what their age if you do!), went to the Jelly Belly factory tour (it's only about 15 min. from our house, and we'd never gone...it was cheesy, but fun...and FREE Jelly Bellys to boot!) I'm going to miss her all summer, but I think it will be good for both of us.

On our way back from the cinema we rescued a pug! A little black pug was dodging cars on a busy street, so I pulled over, grabbed him, and we called the number on his collar...only to get a message that number was disconnected! We were so upset worrying about the little squishyface guy (named Teddy). We started to walk to some of the surrounding houses, when I hear someone calling his name. We walk the pug toward the voice, and this nasty woman (I hate to say it, but the epitome of white trash) comes gulumping across the street looking all angry with me. I tell her the pug was in the middle of the busy street, so I wanted to make sure he wasn't hit. What does she do? Glare at me and says, "yeah he's always running away from me". So then I say, "Well, I called the number on his collar but its disconnected. Maybe you should update that" as friendly as I possibly could. She grabs the dog from me and gulumps again back across the road with Teddy. My daugher & I just stood there dumbshocked for a moment. Are you kidding me? No thank you, no nothing?! Here we stood, both of us wanting a pug of our own, and this woman had zero appreciation for her pet! Oh, we got back in the car and were so upset! I'd say, how can people treat pets with such distain, but look how she treated the people who just saved her dog from being run down! UGH! I seriously HATE stupid people!

Nuts.

Fear Me

Ok, so I came across this today...and I have to say, the results were amazing:

Behold the Power of Kimba

Indeed.

Weekend Madness

Saturday I will work with 2 weddings at my new job, plus host a bridal shower...all of them outside. Please say a prayer for no rain! The shower is for my friend, Jo, and it's a Garden Party theme. Gerbera Daisies & big hats!

Sunday we're heading down Chicago way to go to the Wilton Tent Sale...everything for cake decorating at a huge discount! Looking forward to that, since we started Course 3 last night. I are going to learn all about fondant, so I'll be able to make some Amazing cakes! Then, we'll go to...PugFest! I know, isn't that hilarious?! Nothing but pugs! No, I don't own one, though I would. But they totally crap me up! I'm certain I'll be laughing the whole time. Then dinner w/the in-laws. His mum is heading to Eastern Europe next week to "pick up" his sis in Poland, then they'll tour around for 3 weeks. Good way to start summer vacation, eh?

Yesterday the daughter had a tooth pulled. The dentist was amazing, and it was done before she even knew they'd given her a shot & yanked it out. I realized just how strong & non-quesy you really have to be for your kids. And that distraction is a good thing! She had a tooth that wasn't growing in correctly, as it didn't have enough space, so by removing one, it will move down into that gap & fill it in. Cool, eh? Amazing how the body can heal itself.

Hubby goes in to be tested for his fertility today, and then I have tests Monday. Hopefully that will give us some answers and a "plan of attack". I've now decided to approach getting pregnant like a battle. "Troops attack!" (tee hee)

Broadway 13

13 Songs from 13 Musicals
I love musical theatre, and have been fortunately enough to have been performing most of my life. Most of my friends are performers, in some capacity or another. And nothing can express your mood better than a tune from a Broadway show! Here are some of my favourites (no, they aren’t always the most popular ones...and they are listed oldest to newest). Wouldn't it be great if people would break into song in the middle of the work day? Imagine a whole office or grocery store singing & dancing!)

1. Consider Yourself from Oliver!
2. You Gotta Get a Gimmick from Gypsy
3. Wouldn’t It Be Loverly? from My Fair Lady
4. Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music
5. This Plum is too Ripe from The Fantasticks
6. Better to Live & Die (Pirate King) from Pirates of Penzance
7. Turn Back O Man from Godspell
8. Another Suitcase, Another Hall from Evita
9. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Miserables
10. Tomorrow Belongs to Me from Cabaret
11. When You’re Good to Mama from Chicago
12. You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray
13. Defying Gravity from Wicked

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Step Outside of the Circle

Today was kidlet's last day o'school, and I realized while she is moving on toward the teenage years, there is much of her that is, proudly, still a little girl. Her enthusiasm over yearbook signings (really the first year for that), awards ceremonies, and their fieldtrip to the zoo, all remind me that despite the frustration we share with one another these days, there is still an innocence in her eyes that I don't ever want to go away.

I look toward the future too with some hope as the doctor gave me an A-OK on the checkup, then promptly ordered blood tests and ultrasound tests, and tests for the hubby all with the proactive approach of "Let's make this happen"! So, hopefully a baby will be in the not so distant future, even if we need help.

But looking forward means I also have to recognize where I've come from. In 6 years I've come from unexpectedly divorced and practically destitute (I'll never be able to thank the Gilbert and Rife clans for their generousity & kindness) to happily married in a nice house, working a job I'm really liking, and feeling peace. But I've come from even more. Kassi shared a brilliant bit of writing recently that inspired me to creatively recognize my past. You write your own c/o this template.

I am from a snapping turtle filled lake so private motorboats were not allowed. I am from miles of biking trails through Autumn's splendor. I am from demembered Barbies tossed gleefully into the water to dive for. I am from baklava, Baskin-Robbins, and 5-star restaurants.

I am from the Better Homes & Garden's photo feature spotlessly tidy and invitingly warm. I am from the white 4-poster bed with Holly Hobbie sheets and antique ballerinas on the wall. I am from rooms too pristine to be allowed to walk into.

I am from the tall trees, seaweed, ferns and slash of Geranium red.

I am from Sunday brunch buffets and talking to strangers, from Raymond's confidence, Barbara's kindess and cattiness, and NanaDoll, whom I never knew but from whom I share a passion for stylish hats & gloves.

I am from forgotten birthdays and friendly teasing.

From being the "Chosen Baby" and more like my parents than their biological children.

I am from traditional but loving Catholic faith with priests who were family friends and taught it was alright to question.

I'm from Flint not knowing my personal ethnicity so feeling free to embrace them all; from kibbe and mom's stuffing and saurkraut.

I am from dad lying about his age to join the Navy in WWII to sail to all the countries the Pacific touches. From mom taking 2 Chicago trains & buses daily to be a professional figure skater at the age of 13, and a great-grandfather who was rich in the 1930s and helped to "take down" Al Capone, who had a rival Speakeasy.

I am from albums without descriptions needing to be organized and have their story told.

In Working Order

Today I go to the OB/GYN for an exam, specifically to check that everything is in working order "down there". We've been trying for 6 months now to get pregnant, to no avail. Truth be told, I'm a little bit nervous. Fearful they will tell me "Nope, too late, you can't have any more kids" or something equally disappointing. I know I've written about this before...but it there each & every month...and I've never been known for my patience. This so-called natural act should just happen, right? I mean, come one already! I've had more sex lately than a hooker at a convention. I read yesterday that the average male "release" contains upwards of 35 MILLION sperm! You'd think just ONE of those buggers would find their target. (giggle...now I'm imagining all these lost sperm refusing to ask for directions!) I'll let ya know how it goes.

Pests

Today I've been bothered by pests all day. Let me start by saying my day began at the DMV...need I say more? After 1 1/2 hours of waiting, I was finally called, only to be told they couldn't do what I needed done. (Insert explative #1 here.)

Then it's off to the grocery to pick up a couple of things...of course they don't have what I'm looking for. Finally I make my way back home, put some laundry in...and my washer decides it stop mid-cycle, leaving clothes soaking wet & the machine 1/2 full. (Explative #2 goes here.) Another hour spent figuring out the problem while the phone begins to ring upstairs. Not wanting to go run to get it, I let it ring...for the next hour!

Ok, so I sold this guy my car and somehow in my move I can't seem to find the title. (The reason I was at the DMV to begin with today.) I told him I'd call him sometime today AFTER I had gotten a replacement. He called the house 40 times...in a row!!!! It became a game to me because, quite simply, I REFUSED to answer it at that point. (Feel free to insert explatives 3-40 at this time.) So I call him back finally & tell him "We have a problem". He had the nerve to get angry with ME when I told him not to call my house so much! Hello, when someone doesn't answer, maybe there is a reason?!? I explained that apparently there was a glitch when I moved from Michigan to Wisconsin, meaning I now have to contact the Michigan DMV and for him to give me a couple of days to try to clear up the confusion.

I go about my business, doing laundry, cleaning the house, etc...the oh-so-much-fun for a day off...when there's a knock at my door. His father & girlfriend are standing there asking me what's up with the title? Are you kidding me? I tell them exactly what I told the buyer guy, when they tell me they had gone to the DMV themselves & asked for information on the title of my car...and the DMV not only gave them the information but physically showed them the screen (you know, the screen that has all your information like social security numbers, etc. on it!!!) Now I don't know what to do, scream at them or file a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation for invasion of privacy?!? (Yeah, about 100 more explatives wouldn't even begin to cover it at this point!) I'm livid...what the hell???

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

My family are at church right now. I didn't go today. I couldn't. I would have been going for all the wrong reasons. I feel angry today. With God. I feel angry that my father is gone. I feel angry that my mother can no longer live life, but instead exist in a nursing home, unable to walk or barely feed herself. She was a vibrant woman, a professional figure skater once upon a time, always on the go, always full of life. Now she is forced by Multiple Sclerosis to sit in a bed or wheelchair day in & day out, no even capable of pushing it. I feel angry that my daughter hates me most days, and despite much of it being pre-teen hormones, I can't help but think there is so much more to it than that. And I want a good relationship with her again, and I feel like I don't know what more to do. I feel angry that after months and months of trying, I'm still not pregnant.

So rather than going to church today, I drove down to the lakefront, and sat on the rocks, and talked to God. And questioned God. And questioned if there even is a God. And I received no answers. At least not yet. I suppose there is a fragment of hope that God will give me something to take away some of this anger deep inside of me...but the skeptic in me has to wonder. I can't help but wonder if all my prayers to God to bring romantic love into my life came only at a cost?

La La La La...L!

TLC over at "Send Chocolate" (gotta love that name!) tagged me to play, and since I love games, I had to! The plan is I have to come up with 10 words that represent me in some way that begin with the letter L. (If you'd like to come out and play too, leave me a comment, and I'll get back to you with your own letter!) (I'll be adding photos to go with the words later)
LILACS...my favourite flower! I love the delicacy of the bloom, the rich colour, and the fragrance. Nothing is more calming to me than the smell of lilacs! (It saddens me every year they only bloom such a short time.)
LITERATURE...I love to read! I'm always reading something, and a good book that will suck me in & make me feel that I know the characters is the best! I like many genres of literature...historical fiction probably being what I read most often. Some of my favourite authors are Anne Rice, Jane Austen, Lord Byron, Alexander McCall Smith and Linda Berdoll, to name a few.
LEGOS...possibly the greatest toy ever invented. Simple design, bright colours, the quintessential imagination builder. While I like some of the sets (like the Harry Potter ones, for example), nothing is better than the basic set that forces you to use your creativity.
LAUGHTER...especially my daughter's. What's better than being able to laugh?
LIPSTICK...no matter what, I will almost never go out without lipstick of some sort on. The absolute best red, that is actually red no matter who wears it, is L'Oreal British Redcoat.
LEAVES...I love the fall colours. It is my favourite season. The bright crisp colours make me much happier than green.
LONDON...my favourite city. I lived there for a couple of years, and visit whenever I can (which isn't often enough). I love the markets (Petticoat is my fave), the culture, the shops, history. It's just a great place.
LUMLEY...at the Bristol Renaissnace Faire I portray Jane Fitzalan, Baroness Lumley. She was an amazing woman during the 16th century who was fluent in 9 languages, wrote books that are still studied today, was a staunch Catholic in the Protestant country who stood strong for her faith, and was powerful despite being a woman.
LADY...I firmly believe there is a difference between being a woman and being a lady. (Likewise being a man or being a gentleman.) It takes effort to act with decorum, manners, and etiquette. I, unfortunately, believe most people in this world are not ladies.
LOVE...what can possibly be said about Love, other than it makes life worth living.

Thirteen Treats I'm Hungry For Right Now

(I haven't had breakfast or lunch...as you can tell)

1. Real Lemonade (you know, the good fresh squeezed kind!)

2. Saurbraten Goulash (mmmm...German food!)

3. Raisin & Biscuit Yorkie Bar (my favourite candy bar in the world...from England)

4. A Cherry Slurpee (yes, from 7-11...there are no 7-11s in Wisconsin...how evil is that?)

5. No Bake Cookies (haven't had them in years!)

6. Warm gooey chocolate brownies (mmmm...chocolate)

7. Coke with lemon (Coke good, Pepsi bad)

8. BBQ ribs (gooey with sauce)

9. Shrimp Scampi (garlicy goodness)

10. Thai food (spicey yum)

11. a Cosmopolitan (made w/Absolut Mandarin...my drink o'choice)

12. Mandarin Chicken Salad (yes, something healthy now & again)

13. Ice cream...with chocolate (of course)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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