ack!

Oh my god. I just found this (click to link) that turns any of your single photos into Hockney-esque polaroid groupings. I did not need to know about this today; I actually have WORK (gasp!) to do, damnit.

photo bombardment

Wow. I haven't downloaded the photos from my camera for a very long time. So today's blog is all about pictures:

First, this is Anna making a bird feeder out of a discarded box. I love how she finds ways to be creative with anything and everything, plus she's always looking out for our feathered friends.

Here's my little cowgirl. Always the ham.

Fun with face paint (thanks, Rod and Julie!)

Mysterious note found on ottoman right before the party.

An entire weekend TO MYSELF = fireplace, wine, Neko Case and embroidery. These will be wall hangings for Bugs's new bedroom. I think I've finally gotten the hang of this embroidery thing and can't believe how relaxing it is. I even mastered the French Knot! Woo hoo!! Meanwhile, Moby took his job of keeping the furniture in place very, very seriously.

The REAL Giving Tree

In a park in Copenhagen, Demark there is a very special tree. Read the story and see the photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitchendesigner/sets/72157602123671017/

I love this. What a sweet way to make this normally traumatic experience something beautiful.

what IS patriotism?

Recently, a CNN reporter noticed that Senator (and Presidential hopeful) Barack Obama does not wear the seemingly obligatory flag lapel pin seen on most politicians these days. Here is what he said in explanation:

"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest,” the Democratic presidential candidate told the reporter Tuesday in Iowa City, Iowa. “Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great. Hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
Obama touched upon the exchange again Wednesday at a speech in Independence, Iowa.
"I haven't worn that pin in probably a very long time. I wore it right after 9/11. But after a while, you start noticing people wearing the lapel pin but not acting very patriotic,” he said. “My attitude is that I'm less concerned with what you're wearing on your lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those ones who serve."

After September 11th, 2001 it became important to people to prove how PATRIOTIC they were. Fly the flag, wear red, white and blue, write country songs about "God Bless America!", put "Proud to be an American" stickers your pick-up, boycott the Dixie Chicks for expressing their personal opinion about the President. But does loving America mean the exclusion of those not just like us or those who don't share our views? Does patriotism mean fear and loathing of all Muslims? Does patriotism mean it's acceptabale to bash Mexicans, gays, Jews? That's just completely UN-American. We're the Great American Melting Pot! I learned that in 2nd grade. Every single American (except the Native Americans of course) is descendant from immegrants. And that's why it baffles me that patriotism has taken this ugly turn; it's just way too close to White Supremacy to me. And that is exactly why I actually have an aversion to the American flag. I've never flown one and I doubt I ever will. So when I saw Barack Obama's quote this morning, I went "Yeah!!" Of course, it's only a matter of time before the Rush Limbaughs and Ann Coulters of the world start shouting "He's unpatriotic!! He's probably a Muslim lover!! He's no American! Send him back to Africa where he belongs!!" And you know what? Those people just prove his point EXACTLY. It's not what's on your lapel (or bumper or sweatshirt or flagpole), it's what's in your HEART.

divorce, 2007-style

So yesterday was Bug's birthday. Initially she said she didn't want a party (she does not like to be the center of attention in that way.) So we were just going to have Eric over for dinner and cake and present opening. Then I started inviting a few other people who are important in her life and so it grew into a party. But she didn't seem to mind.

It was a lovely fall day and I'd spent the day decorating the house with colorful gourdes and Indian corn and orange and yellow mums. We ordered pizza, had plenty of wine, had a fire going and candles lit.

And as I looked around our living room, I saw David (the love of my life), Eric (my ex-husband), Eric's mom and her new husband, his dad and his new wife and even Eric's new girlfriend. I thought "Now this is what divorce should look like." We had come together because of our love of Anna, overcoming past differences, and everyone was pleasantly surprised at how natural it felt. Eric's mom and dad visited (in the past, they would not come to family gatherings with the new spouses present), Eric's step-mom and David got to know each other (she got teary when leaving, telling me how much she likes him and how happy she is that I found him and that I'm happy), and I visited (briefly...ahem) with Jennifer, Eric's new girlfriend. Every one lingered long after cake and ice-cream, sitting around the fireplace talking and laughing. It just felt so, so good that Eric's family still loves me, that while they didn't understand our divorce they accept it and are loving and welcoming toward David, and that Anna gets to be the center of all this love.

Life...is good.

on not judging a book by it's cover

This morning started out fine. It's always hectic when David's out of town because I have to rush around to get Bug's lunch made, my lunch made, her breakfast made, my breakfast made, get both of us cleaned up and ready to go...by myself and in just over an hour. Not to mention that today is her birthday (my little sweetie is 7!!) and tonight we're having a party for her, so I was also putting the finishing touches on cupcakes for school and trying to keep the house somewhat presentable....when one clumsy move sent my beautiful, steaming hot mocha flying across the counter, drenching some paperwork and threatening the carpet. Bad sign. But I got that cleaned up and both of us out the door and I'm off on my morning commute, driving 40 miles to the Rez. Just about 7 miles outside of town, I notice that my heater wasn't working. So I checked the temperature gauge and it was firmly planted in red zone, as high as it could go. Damn. I pull over, let it cool down and think I can limp along to work. But it immediately shoots right back up and I'm forced to accept that there's a problem. Now, as mentioned, David's out of town and I have no one I can think of to call....except my ex-husband. Not exactly what I want to do, but. I know there's really nothing he can do (he works in Coeur d' Alene, 45 miles in the other direction). Thankfully he answered and was very helpful....chided me for not having AAA but he did make some calls and get me a tow truck which will take me and the car to a service station 4 blocks from my house. What a guy. So they say they'll be there in 40 minutes. And I wait. And wait. And freeze my butt off because it's 41 degrees out and I have only a light sweater on. And no socks, of course. So.....an hour and a half (and much swearing) later, my knight in shining coveralls finally shows up....and he looks like a total crack head. Beady eyes, bad teeth, filthy clothing and wreaking of cigarettes. Here I am, 7 miles out in the country, alone with this guy. Earlier, my sister had asked if I was in a safe place and I'd laughed at her..."I'm in the country for god's sake. At most I'd get attacked my a killer turkey." And then this guy shows up. Now, I didn't used to be skittish in situations like this, that is until I was robbed at gun-point in broad daylight 4 blocks from my house. Now, I'm not so trusting. I could feel my heart-rate increasing, and my "oh shit" instinct kicking in. But there was nothing I could do. And at that point I was just cold and tired of waiting. So I got into the truck to wait until he hooked up my car, keeping a suspicious eye on him all the while. Finally, he got into the truck and we started toward town. Now, I wonder what HE was thinking about ME. "Prissy little soccer-mom, not even smart enough to check the damn oil in her car." But before you know it, we got to talking about where he lives (waaaay out in the country north of town) and that he'd recently moved here from LA. He went on to say how much he loves it here, because of all the wildlife he sees every day: wild turkeys, deer, bobcat, cougar (!) and even moose. Once he started talking about animals, he seemed human and safe for some reason. We shared wildlife sighting stories and he told me about his daughter and how much fun it is being a dad and we just visited all the way back to town.

After he dropped me and my car off, I thanked him and waved goodbye as I walked toward home, thinking what a surprise he was: not at all the hardened ex-con who loved to kill animals that I'd assumed he was. It reminded me that you can find common ground with just about anyone, if you're open to it. And I like that.

my birthday's coming you know

and here is what I want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FQA6H_QMwE

watch it until the end. you'll die from the cuteness.