Monthly Archives: January 2013
The blog giveth and the blog taketh away …
“Cool Banner!”
I don’t check my email much – really should get into the habit. But we’ve established I work two jobs, am a single mom and read – a LOT. (6 books since just after Christmas, but that’s another blog).
Anyway. I checked my Debauchery Soup email today and found 2 sidebar emails.
The first was from the owner of Stay Calm Cupcake. I used a photo I had found on Google. It was adorable. A little cupcake with the words ‘Stay Calm Cupcake’ on it. It was hers. Oof.
I have a lot to learn when it comes to what the rules are regarding using pics etc. I figure if they have those watermarks on them, then its hands off. I will be doing my research.
She very politely asked me to take the picture down. I have done that. I apologized and she responded with ‘no worries, great blog’. LOL!
The next email was from a follower of my blog, deWriterMD. She noticed my fuzzy mole rat banner and not only found the original picture (which I probably stole also), but created a non-fuzzy version for me!
Thank you SO much Deb! You can check her blog out at: MetaRead360 Small Press Presents
So I think I’ll touch a little on ‘why the mole rat?’. I have had a fascination with Naked Mole Rats since the 90’s. I seriously adore creatures that the majority find ‘ugly’. So, other than the fact that I love them, I hope my little mole rat represents the following:
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- It’s naked. As I feel when sharing with you. Baring it all. No holds barred.
Fun facts. They’re eusocial mammals. One of a kind! All pitching in with their tasks for their colony’s Queen. Like ants … only, pink and adorable and naked.
I’ll do a whole post on them one day, so I’ll stop there. I know, I know, you’ll be on the edge of your seat until then.
SO – in closing. Hope you like the banner, I know I love it.
I also know my pal and fellow blogger and movie writer over at The Return of the Modern Philosopher is going to hate it. They creep him out.
Butters the brave (not)
My dog is very brave … when there is no danger.
The other evening, sitting outside reading, a shot could be heard in the distance. I’m used to these rural sounds. But evidently it scared Butters as she ran past my wicker chair into the house.
Thanks for leaving me out there trusty friend.
Last night at 10 ish, I heard thudding. I assumed it was my son church mousing around and hadn’t felt well that day – rolled over and went to sleep.
After midnight something woke me. I looked at the clock 12:30 am. My sturdy King sized bed shook as 3 succinct thuds vibrated through the thin walls.
Butters alerted – but didn’t rise.
I have long abandoned fear of the dark or of ‘bumps in the night’. Motherhood has that side effect. Up I got.
My first stop, Nic’s room.
He lay sleeping, the glow of the television lighting his face.
Okay.
I checked the side door window – nothing out there.
Purposely avoided the front door, for now, and checked the window from my bathroom at the other end of the home. Nothing I could see.
Alright – the front door. I parted the window blinds hoping there would not be a face. I felt pretty safe – I just dreaded being startled.
Deep breath.
Peek.
Nothing.
Hmmm.
I considered getting my knife – but decided against it. Opened the door for Butters to investigate.
Butters did not want to go outside.
This unnerved me more than the noise. If it was an innocuous source, she would have trotted out there, woofing her bravado.
I closed the door and checked all the locks and did the only thing I could do.
Went back to bed.
The mornings are dark. There was a sensation that something was ‘off’ at 6 am.
Usual routine is: I get up, use the bathroom, let the dog out, start the coffee, take breakfast in to Nic and make sure he’s awake.
I did those things and noticed Butters did not go far. In fact, she didn’t leave the porch.
Perhaps whatever visited us in the night left its scent – or perhaps she’s just a chicken with a good memory.
I noted the gate was closed.
I doubt a lurker would politely close my gate.
I’m hoping the thuds were from some night-time military testing in the mountains. But three separate thuds in a row? Odd.
As I waved goodbye to Nic, he said as he stepped off the porch ‘hope I don’t die!’
‘You?’ I answered, ‘You’re leaving the creepy zone.’!
That put a little pep in his step and off he went down the dark road.
Butters is currently on my bed as I type last nights events – staying safe from the memory of when she wasn’t brave?
Losing him
I remember believing with everything I had, that I could never love anyone more than her –
And then I had him.
And what breaks my heart and fills it at the same time, is that he’ll find the love of his life and less I’ll be.
I’ll slip in importance until perhaps I’m not a part of his totem anymore.
There will be friends made and important things to do,
Children and moves and jobs and places to be
And there will be me
Loving him – the same way I do today.
And missing him – in a way I don’t know how
Saturday afternoon mall tears
**Warning – this is probably going to bore the hell out of readers of the male variety – maybe even the female variety**
No. I wasn’t sad – wasn’t laughing ’til I cried (until after it happened). Here’s what happened.
Nic was invited to the Sadie Hawkins dance. I was feeling restless this morning (after waking up at 6:05 am for crying out loud). I watched some DVR’d shows (the Glee episode being one of them, about Sadie Hawkins by coincidence) – did some dishes – showered, dressed and woke Nic up with ‘Wanna go to the mall?’
Yes. Yes he did want that.
We left the house.
I knew I wanted to get him a shirt for the dance. Was interested at looking for a painting for the living room – And since just after Christmas, after sniffing it at a Kohls, and falling in love with it, I had decided to finally treat myself to DKNY’s Red Delicious perfume.
We’re just across the river from an outlet mall – there’s a perfume shop that sells, get this, PERFUME of all things – at discounted prices.
Off we go.
Fun ensued at the mall – fun always ensues when Nic and I are out and about. I love that about us.
We finally make it to the perfume shop.
No – they don’t have it. Ug. (Kohls hadn’t had it either – and wouldn’t sell me the sample. I also couldn’t find it anywhere else in town).
Ah Red Delicious – you elusive bitch. I’ll share with you the notes:
Champagne, lychee, raspberry, apple, rose, amber, musk and vanilla. (Hungry yet?)
If you’re anything like me – once you’ve set your mind on getting something, you’re not leaving until you get something. And it’s okay if that something isn’t exactly the ‘thing’ you originally intended to get.
So now I’m being catered to by a sales girl with whiffs of this and that on those little rectangles of paper.
I mean, I’m all over the place – “Um, what about that one? Yeah, the original Michael Korrs, NOT the Hollywood one” – “Wow, that’s expensive, never mind – what about the Ysatis?”
Point, Spritz, sniff – nope. Point, Spritz, sniff, nope.
I’m not loyal to one perfume – I love diversity. I don’t have a signature scent per se, but have a few favorites. LOVE Design by Paul Mitchell and Vanderbilt by Gloria Vanderbilt reminds me of one of my favorite scents – violet. (Funny, it doesn’t have any violet in it. But, if you have L’Oreal lipstick at home, sniff that – that’s what Vanderbilt smells like. LOVE it.)
Both are perfumes that when I scoop up an article of clothing that I wore and the smell is still lingering on it – makes me do that closed eyed ‘mmmm’ thing.
ANYWAY.
Nic is now over at the mens counter purchasing his first bottle of ‘real’ cologne and comes over to advise me that if we spend X amount of dollars together, we qualify for a ‘managers special’. Whatever the heck that is – but if something comes with a deal or a free bonus gift – I’m in.
The crying part:
I’m unattended now. Spritzing away. I pick one up and promptly spray it directly into my face. My open eyes – my nostrils, my MOUTH. That’s the tears part. I’m laughing – and Nic returns. Thing is, it smelled pretty good. Didn’t taste good – and sure as hell felt like mace in my eyeballs, but I’ve decided I’m liking Tommy Bahama St. Barts.
Notes: Tequila, Lime, floral notes, sand, guaiac wood and musk. My take on it? Smelled like jelly beans. LOL!
NOW apparently, I have to spend X amount more … I go to a friend from the early 90’s on the discount table. Escape by Calvin Klein
Notes: Camomile, apple, lychee, rose, plum, peach, coriander, mandarin and sandalwood.
Another one on the discount table is (blush) Britney Spears Circus Fantasy.
Notes: Raspberry, apricot, blue peony, lotus, orchid, vanilla, musk and … violet candy!
Done. The sales woman rings us up.
“You know, if you spend $7 more … you can get one of those bags?”
Nic says “You should get that Jelly Bean one!” I’m thinking – I really want that bag.
(For what I have no clue – I don’t GO anywhere. It’s a doctors style medical bag – good for a weekend getaway. I absolutely NEED it at that moment).
Okay add the St. Barts.
Left that shop smelling like a French Whore. (Why do people say that? I’m going to have to Google that).
Notes: Don’t go to the mall for a shirt and a piece of art and maybe a perfume and come home with 3 bottles of perfume, a medicine bag and stinging eyeballs.
Friday Morning pants
I can’t make decisions until I’ve had at least one cup of coffee – and even then, at 6:30 am, I’m not promising they’ll be good ones.
So I’m checking my Facebook – the coffee is brewing and Nic comes into the kitchen.
“Can I stay home today?”
“Why?”
“Well, I thought about it. I can get my note cards done – we’ll probably still have a sub in 3rd hour most likely and I can do the ‘verb of the week’ on Monday”.
“Oh … are you sick?”
“No”
My brain is trying to recall his grades from my last look at the school website, I’m trying to find any part of me that’s awake to protest. Too tired.
“Hey, at least I’m being honest” he adds.
Yeah, there’s that. I decide I can’t protest. Grades are good, and my brain is still asleep.
He wanders off.
I look up to see him returning in his uniform.
“I thought you weren’t going?”
“yeah, well … my pants were there so I figured why not”.
Debauchery Soup 