I Hate Bureaucrats

You guys are NOT going to believe the next (and last) chapter of the library saga.

I found out I got the job on Wednesday afternoon. I was so happy - whooping and hollering and telling everyone I knew. The very nice man from the library district employment office said I needed to come down the next morning and get my intake paperwork and then go do a drug test. No problem.

My family and I celebrated the job that night and Kirk made a nice dinner. I went down to the office the next morning, did my intake, got my papers and went to do the drug test right from there. It was a hair and urine test but not a big deal. I've had two kids, so I've (ahem) peed in many test cups. And I've got tons of hair, so a few snips won't even show. As a matter of fact, seeing as how I worked in the medical field for almost 20 years ... I've done the whole drug screening pre-employment dance before and have never had even the tiniest issue.

Piece of cake, right?

Wrong.

I get a call Monday from the office and this testy little governmental female drone informs me that they have to rescind my job offer.

I am shocked. "What? Why?" I ask.

"Because you failed your drug test." She answers, in this slightly accusatory tone.

I'm stuttering now. "W-W-W-WHAT?"

"Your urine test came back positive for alcohol." Ms. Smug says. "0.02."

For those of you whose jaws have not dropped at this incredible finding ... let me explain. (And I did a LOT of research to verify these facts.)

That horrid, job-ending-before-it-began result is proof that a female person of my height and weight, who tends not to drink enough water and is probably dehydrated, and eats a LOT of carbs and sugars .... had ONE alcoholic beverage in the last 24 to 48 hours.

See, females have a higher fat percentage, so alcohol tends to stay in the system longer. Worse still, if that female is dehydrated (I live in the desert, people, and it's 106' outside!) the alcohol will be flushed out of the system slower. And, since carbs turn to sugar just like alcohol does as it is processed through the body, it can affect the accuracy of the test. On top of all that - because I am the daughter and granddaughter of diabetics and I don't have the best diet (Did I mention that I love carbs?) I am more likely to have a higher insulin level in my system, which can also affect the test result.

The irony of it all is that the alcohol that cost me the job offer was a celebratory drink with my celebratory dinner with my celebratory family the night before.

Sooooooo .... I fought it. I talked and talked and tried to reason with the worker bee, and so she went to talk to her queen worker bee and they decided that I could re-take the test within 24 hours, but I would have to pay for it myself. $35 frickin dollars.

I started to think about the whole issue. I waited for that stupid little part-time job for FIVE months. I'd work 12 hours a week and make $8.36 an hour. When you do the math, baby ... it just didn't seem worth it. The whole drama left me with a bad feeling. To have to protest and fight for a low-paying job ... when the entire drug testing fiasco was such a sham ... I just let it go.

Don't think for a second that I'm not going to write a very long letter of protest and send it to everyone on that library board, detailing all of the inaccuracies and fallible aspects in the drug testing process.

And now I'm going to end this missive on a happy note. Remember that new website business I told you all about? I went to the launch party last night and it was FAB-U-LOUS. I signed up right away and left there walking on clouds. My own website will be up and running in about 5 days, so you will hear much more about the business in the coming week. I've known the owner for years and years and just love her to pieces. This is going to be great!!

I guess it's true ... things really do happen for a reason.

Cheers!

Better Days

This has been a good week. The kids are both back in school again - and although we had a little kerfuffle (I really love that word) with Katie's schedule, that problem has been fixed and she'll have the classes she wanted as of next week. Payton really likes his new teacher, and seems to like third grade also.

I got really great news too. I finally got a call back from the library. I'm sure the man from the employment department thinks I'm quite mad because I nearly yelped in his ear when he said I had the job. The hours are perfect - part time so I can still be with the kids a lot - although the pay is peanuts.

I know I could go back to ophthalmology and make three times as much money but my heart just isn't in it. I was so miserable at the end of that career I get nauseated thinking of going back. All the politics and backstabbing and crap ... bleah.

I loved taking care of patients, learning and working with my doctors but I couldn't just clock in, do my work, clock out and go home. Everything and everyone gets tainted by the tornado of drama and that ruins everything. Gossip is everywhere, and gossiphounds thrive.

Enough of that negative crap ...

I'm still working with Charlotte at the book review site and loving it. Imagine - getting free books in the mail to read and then write about. I'm loving it so much that if I was getting paid to do it I'd die from happiness. As it is, free books are payment enough for now.

Most amazing of all is that Charlotte sent my name to a publisher. I've been working on my resume' and will send it off as soon as it's polished. If I could get paid to write, work at the library, and spend time with my kids, well ... that would be too wonderful for words.

This was just a quick update for those of you that still check back in with me. I know I've been posting so infrequently that I may have lost many readers but I'll never stay away.

Promise!

Is It Just Me?

Has anyone else noticed the change in the Blog-O-Sphere?

Two blogs I read often - one of them religiously - have gone and shut down on me. Three more have posted "hiatus" notices.

It's helped me to thin out my "Favorites" list but I'm sad to see them go. I understand that real life gets in the way, and that sometimes you just need a break from blogging. But, honestly? I'm feeling a little selfishly upset. OK, more than a little. I miss 'em. Baaaaaaad.

I've been a mite on-again-off-again with my own posting so I get it. I really do. But I always try to make my way back here again - to connect with my e-friends all over the place. There's a lot going on here now - I'm really loving the book reviews I'm doing, and I'm starting a new online business next week (or so) and possibly doing an interview and writing a brochure for a very prestigious architectural company here in Vegas. I'm trying to keep busy, and maybe make money doing something I love so much it actually leaves me at a loss for words. Yeah, I know. Me.

So, just in case you were wondering - if you decide you need to shut down or take a break, I'll understand but miss you like crazy.

But if you stick around and slog your way through ... I'm your biggest fan.

Reading and Writing Fool

Did you think I fell off the face of the Earth again?

I am happy to report that I have been absent because I've been reading and writing like crazy.

I've been reading books and then writing reviews for Bookstrumpet! Yay, me!

My first review was for "Twilight" - not a bad review for my first one, but I'm getting better. I've just finished reading "The Painter From Shanghai" by Jennifer Cody Epstein. A gorgeous story with such lush prose. My review for that one is almost done - it's difficult to write a review for such an amazing work. It's also hard to not use the word "lush" in every other sentence, but it was. The scents, textures, tastes and colors she describes are so ... well, you know. Lush.
I only hope I do it justice.

I've also just read "Kate - The Woman Who Was Hepburn" and will write that review next. That was a thick book - 532 pages in hardback. But it was very worth it! And such an interesting take on Katharine, her life, and (of course) Spencer Tracy. Thoroughly researched, for certain, and quite eye-opening. Most especially for a huge fan of both Hepburn and Tracy. I've read bios of them before but this one was layered and complicated - just like the woman herself.

In between reading those two books, I got to do an interview with one of my favorite authors - Sonia Singh. She's very warm and witty and the interview was a treat. And, as it was my first interview, she was very patient and helpful. She also gave some good advice about dealing with your Inner Critic as you begin to flesh out a story. I hope I get another chance to interview her again - I learned some valuable info, and would love more!

If you have a few minutes, stroll on over to http://wordstrumpet.typepad.com/bookstrumpet/ and take a look. Charlotte even posted a little something about the interview on her main site - Wordstrumpet. (The link for it is over there on your left.)

That's all for now. We had Payton's (belated) birthday party at the Noisy Arcade, Pizza and Birthday Party Place today ... and right now I'm seriously exhausted.

Cheers!

Happy Birthday, Pay-Pay

Today, July 8th is my son's eighth birthday. This is, as he learned from his sister's tenth birthday a few years ago, his golden birthday. That's the one where you turn the same age as the date of your birth.

I think he's had a pretty good day for an eight year old. He got to sleep in a bit, got cinnamon and sugar toast and a big glass of orange juice for breakfast, got an early birthday call from Grandma, and headed off to school to talk about his birthday (all day, I'm sure) with his classmates.

Then he came home, got another birthday call from Mamaw and Papaw, and opened his first present (we're saving the rest for the party with his friends and the extended family) and unwrapped the Lego Indiana Jones Playstation game.

And there was much rejoicing.

Then Kirk made his birthday cake, and Payton got to decorate it however he wanted. I didn't help with the baking, but I helped with the decorating. Later, he got pizza and soda for dinner - all the while playing the new Playstation game.

At the end of the day, he got a birthday call from Aunt Kelly in New York (New Jersey) which tickled him to no end. I think he talked to her for over a half an hour.

He finally went to bed at 10p.m. and fell asleep just after the sugar crash.

He was our surprise baby, no doubt. Katie was three when we began the "should we have another kid" talks. Soon after those talks began, God or Fate or The Universe said ... "Here." That silenced all our debates - we were expecting our second child.

He was a very easy pregnancy - except for the ravenous cravings for Del Taco and Peanut M&M's that I dealt with. I soon learned that his sister and he had totally different movements in the womb ... she was graceful and tai chi-like, he was short, staccato-like punches. I knew from the first moments of confirmed conception that she was a girl, and later, that he was a boy. It wasn't just their movements from later on ... right at the start - I just knew.

I worked right up until the day before his birth. I felt great, and had that spontaneous energy burst that tells you that something's about to happen. I picked Katie up after work on Friday, and after being home for a few hours, realized I was having early contractions. Katie and I walked the neighborhood for a while until Kirk got home from work. I had plenty of time to check and re-pack my bag, call the grandparents, call the hospital, and call my doctor.

We got to the hospital after dropping Katie off, and the next few hours were spent roaming the labor ward hallways, joking with the nurses, and watching T.V. in my room while waiting for the labor to get serious. I clearly remember watching the video for Metallica's song "I Disappear" from the Mission Impossible soundtrack about 10 times. I adore Metallica and that put in me in a very happy mood. The hard-rock soundtrack that accompanied the laboring for his birth could very well explain his current constant level-10 energy, though.

He was born near noon on Saturday. His birth was so easy. I think I "pushed" three times. My wonderful doctor, who had saved my life (literally) after an ectopic pregnancy a few years before and delivered our daughter in 1996 was fantastic. With a smile on his face, he told Kirk, "I'm tired. I delivered your last kid. You do this one." And Kirk did. Dr. T. was right next to him; instructing and guiding him.

So the first hands to touch my son in this world were the sturdy, dependable hands of his own father.

Over the last few years, we have learned quite a bit about this unique boy. He has the physical body-sense of his football-playing father, and the obsessive-compulsiveness of his mother. He's as whip-smart as his big sister - but he has a curious, unique view and observation of the world around him that gives all the grown-ups pause. He loves dinosaurs, bugs, archeology, cartoons, candy, camping, swimming and the beach.

He's gentle and loving, rowdy and blunt, sensitive and obtuse, and much, much too witty and smart for an eight year old boy.

Happy Birthday, Payton. We all love you so very much, and are all so glad you showed up to become a part of this family. We wouldn't be complete without you.

I love you! - Momo

Words

I'll admit it.

Letters, words, punctuation, grammar, all that ... makes me High with a capital H.

Reading, writing, thinking about writing and reading - it's all so good and sweet.

I've had the house to myself for the past several hours and I've done nothing but write and plot and think about what I'll write next. And it's so ... delicious.

The first review I wrote for Charlotte was O.K. Nothing spectacular, just O.K. But I want to do better. I want to do more. I want to do another review, with more review of the book and less of how I came to read the book. In addition to that, I want to dive in and do interviews now. Biting off more than I can chew? Maybe. Probably. But it is too tempting and exciting.

A few minutes ago, I sent an email off to one of my favorite authors and asked for the chance to interview her if she comes to town again - or any other way that I could work it out. Phone, email, texting, carrier pigeon - I don't care. I really like her work - reading it reinforces the idea that someone, someday may just want to read my work - my book.

All this literary goodness goes straight to my head. It's so addictive. The more I write, the more I want to write. The more I read, the more I want to write. I am giddy with the thought that I have an email correspondence with two published authors - and two more writers that are published regularly in magazine and newspapers. For me, that's like having signed autographs from Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

Those writers - my e-friends - are my idols, in a way -because they have found the way down that scary dark path that I am trying to navigate. And they are kind enough to show me support, and offer a light to ward against the darkness.

I'm giddy and nonsensical and it's past midnight, so I ought to go to bed. But I won't because I'm too full of these words. I have to get them down on paper or on screen before they disappear.

I don't think I'm the only one that has to sleep with a notepad and pen beside the bed, and has to carry a small notebook and pen with her at all times.

Today, these past few hours, I have felt more alive and more myself - my true self - than I have in a long time. Writing is like breathing. When I don't write, I feel suffocated and stale. When I take pen in hand, or place my hands on this keyboard - I come alive.

(Happy sigh)

Good Night!

Frickin' Field Trip

What is it about the month of July that makes the teachers of the Clark County School District - or more specifically, the teachers at my kids' school - decide it's a great frickin' time for a field trip?

Last year I was a newly-freed parolee from the prison of an multi-doctor ophthalmology practice (read: had just quit job and 18 year career to stay at home) and all that freedom went to my head. I volunteered of my own free will to be a chaperone on my daughter's fifth grade class's jaunt to the Hoover Dam. (Boulder Dam for us old-time natives) And just when did they decide to undertake this venture? Um, the second week of July.

Helloooooooo ?

We live in the frickin' desert, people!?!?!? It's 117' outside !!!

Why the hell can't we do a field trip in February or March? Is it because the teachers have cabin fever by July and just have to get out of doors? Is it because you get cheaper rates for admission for a bunch of rowdy elementary school kids? Why, oh why?

I'm not going to rehash the trip to the Dam 'cause that was last year and I posted about that after it happened - and after I recovered from the heatstroke. Scroll back through the archives for July of 2007 if you want the whole story.

But I will refresh your memory (or let you in on the joke) by recalling that I had a group of six kids I was to watch over throughout the trip. My mantra for the day was: one, two, three, four, five, six ... just counting each head and making sure the little hellions hadn't (a) been kidnapped by a crazed tourist (b) fallen over the side of the Dam (c) run out into traffic. And just so you know - I did return to the school with all six accounted for. But my sanity?

I left it somewhere on that school-bus-with-a-poor-excuse-for-air-conditioning.

Fast forward one year. Now my second-grader's class is going on a field trip to the Natural History Museum. I signed the permission slip the day he brought it home (four weeks ago) - because to not do so would have caused him to spontaneously burst into flames. He loves dinosaurs and there are dinos-a-plenty there - they even roar when you push a button on the display.

There was no place on the slip to volunteer to chaperone so I figured I had dodged the July-field-trip bullet.

Ha-ha-ha. Fate has a sense of humor, did you know that?

This past Monday, I got a call from my son's Very Sweet and Nice teacher, asking if I would be available to chaperone the field trip.

Of course, being the big spineless dork that I am, I agreed.

Thursday morning found me sitting in the school's office, (which also had iffy air conditioning) and waiting for the morning bell to ring so I could traipse down to the classroom. Happily, the other chaperone for the trip was the father of my son's dance partner from the talent show. He has a good, snarky sense of humor also, so that helped.

As the class lined up for last-minute potty breaks before boarding the buses, the Very Sweet teacher, the Girl's Dad and I were discussing how to divvy up the kids to watch over. Once that was settled, she mentioned that I should keep an eye on "Shawn." I agreed and asked her to point him out. She did. Turns out Shawn is the one with the four-inch Mohawk.

Oh. O.K.

Shawn has a bit of an attention-span problem, Teacher says.

Uh-huh.

Let's just spare you the gory details and sum up the rest of our day. The mantra from last year, when I was counting all the kids? Totally unnecessary this time. All 10 of my kids stayed close with the group - no one wandering off ... except for ... guess who.

Shawn.

My mantra for this most recent trip -all day - was ... "Shawn, turn around. Shawn, sit down. Shawn, don't stand on that. Shawn, don't touch that. Shawn, come back here. Shawn, sit down. Shawn, listen to the tour guide. Shawn, don't run. " (ad nauseum) Girl's Dad snickered at me and my mantra the entire day, by the way.

(Harrumph - that's OK though, HE had to go to the PTA meeting that night ... HA! With the exception of one woman, my friend Anne, they are all Scary Psychotic Control Beasts. )

I am happy to report that my son seemed to be aware of Shawn's 15-second attention span, and without any instruction or request from Teacher or myself - helped me herd that hyperactive little boy like a sheep dog all damn day. At one point, my kid had his arm around Shawn's shoulders, subtly trying to keep him focused on the tour guide. And let me tell you, my kid can be hyperactive like nobody's business some days.

That was the best part of the day.

Oh, and the air conditioning actually worked in our school bus.

Whew.

New Gig

Hey, all. Guess what?

I was meandering my way around Charlotte's WordStrumpet site and found a nifty little item from her - asking for people that would like to write book reviews.

Ahem ... yes, please ?!?!?

My blog bluddy / neighbor Anne volunteered as well, and our first reviews have already been put up on the site. Anne chose the newest book in a favorite series of hers to review, and Charlotte sugessted I write the review for Twilight, since we were just chatting about it on her site, and I read it in the last month.

Whoo-hoo!

We don't get paid - but in the very near future we will get free books mailed to our homes to read and review for the site. And someday in the future we'll get paid for our work.

But we already have our own little bios with our reviews, and Charlotte put up a link to my blog.

I'm sorry. I just have to read that little part about getting sent free books and then getting paid to read and write a review ... one more time. Hee - hee !!

Is that just incredibly awesome or what? I mean seriously - that's like getting paid to shop for purses, and then having the store GIVE you the purse. (Yes, I have been known to have a purse addiction. Some women like shoes - I dig purses.)

Here is the link to the book review site: www.wordstrumpet.typepad.com/bookstrumpet

Please drop by if you have a chance and check it out. Oh, and feel free to leave a comment and tell Charlotte just what wonderful writers she's chosen. (KIDDING !!) She lavishes praise on us like frosting - working with her is too much fun.

I know it's been a while since I've posted - but like I said after that last gap between postings, there just hasn't been much to talk about. Really boring stuff. But thank you so much for checking in with me every so often all the same - I promise to not stop writing altogether. There just may be a bit of lag time between items.


FYI: I still haven't heard anything back from my freelance client. I'm not really sure what to think about that - but rather than beat myself up and decide that she hated the first 25 articles, I'd rather simply chalk it up to the fact that she travels a lot, and has a lot on her plate at one time. Ah, well.

Somebody out there still wants me to write for them - and that's good enough for me!

Goodbye, George

Two of my favorite books have been and will be - for the rest of my life - "Napalm and Silly Putty" and "Brain Droppings".

I was having trouble sleeping, so I was channel surfing a few minutes ago. Then I saw the news ticker on the bottom of the screen announce George's passing.

I feel heartsick.

He was one of the few comedians who possess a sharp wit and a sharper mind. Yes, he could be crude to some people. But he surpassed that surface crudeness with a take on the American way of life and the bigger picture of the world at large that was sheer brilliance.
He wasn't about bullshit. He may have used that word, or forms thereof, but his words - spoken and written - were the basest truth. His view of the world was funny - but it was also clear and honest and shared with a raised eyebrow, as if to say, "Did anyone else notice this?"

Witty, dry, sarcastic and brilliant.

I love his comedy records, I love his Hippy-Dippy WeatherMan, I love his stand-up routines, but most of all I love his work in the movies of my favorite writer/director ... Kevin Smith.

Watch Carlin in Dogma. Watch him in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He's so damn funny.

But best of all, watch him in Jersey Girl. Watch his tenderness and vulnerability - covered up by a thick layer of gruffness. The last scene, with Affleck and then Carlin's on-screen granddaughter is sheer poetry. Makes me tear up every time.

I'll miss you George. But I will keep re-reading your books forever.

And to quote the man himself ...

There are nights when the wolves are silent ... and only the moon howls.
Brain Droppings 1997

Ha Ha Ha

The funniest thing I've heard in a week:

The kids were staying over at Hubby's parents house while we went to work the taverns last weekend.
I sent our daughter a text message at 11:30 - knowing she'd still be up - to remind her that Steve Carrell was on Saturday Night Live.
She answered me back, and then she called me. We chatted about what she and her brother had been doing, and then her seven-year-old brother got on the phone.
This is when the braying laughter started ...

Son: "Papaw is fixing the toilet."
Mom: "Really?"
Son: "Yeah. His glasses are in there."
Mom: "Oh, wow." (Kind of disinterested until the brain matter kicks in)
Mom: "Wait. Did he drop his glasses in there while trying to fix it - or did he drop his glasses in there and that's what caused the problem?"

My father-in-law is forever losing his dime store reading glasses that he just tucks carelessly in the front of his button-down shirts.

Son: "He was going potty and after he was done, when he bent down to flush, ummm, his glasses fell into the toilet. But he was already pushing the handle so the glasses got sucked down and now Papaw has to fix the toilet and try to get his glasses back."
Mom: "Honey, I don't think Papaw really wants those glasses back. I think by now he's just trying to fix the toilet."

During and after this phone call Hubby and I were laughing out loud for several minutes.

That was the best laugh I've had in a long time.

Talent Show

Here's the sweetest talent show performance you will ever see.

Unfortunately, I goofed up and hit the "off" button instead of the shutter / start button and so the first portion is missing. The first few (missing) seconds are highlighted by the entire audience saying, "Awwwwww" in unison.

If my fingers cooperated more often I would have tapped the correct button and you'd get the whole experience.

All the same, it's pretty darn cute.

But I'm a little biased.

Enjoy!

Random Blips

It's me again.

Just thought I'd share a few random tidbits and maybe make you laugh a little.


#1: My husband has been kidnapped by Pirates. Seriously.

He's been held captive by the online Pirates of the Caribbean game. He loved the free trial portion and then some well-meaning relative sealed the deal by purchasing the whole shebang for him as a birthday present. I've never been a football widow, 'cause I'm usually right next to him, screaming my head off during the games. But the whole Pirate thing? Meh.



#2: My eight-year old son was in the school talent show.

He tossed this bit of information out to us about a week before the audition. Hubby and I were unloading the dishwasher and tried to keep our voices calm and unsurprised while we asked him about the talent he was showing. Ahem. (I had visions of bodily function noises set to music.) He was roped into dancing with a friend that's a girl to the song Valentine. This little girl wanted him to wear a tux (I vetoed that) or at least a suit (Seriously?) and had him coming over to her house after school to practice ... one evening specifically set aside for her to show him how she wanted him to wear his hair for the show.

Hubby asked, "I thought girls started changing what guys wore and how they did their hair in high school. Isn't she a bit early for this?"
I had no answer.

After the performance, as all the parents (hers and his) were chatting ... my son threw her under the bus - right in front of her dad.
My son: "Did you see those three boys in the last dance act? Olivia has a crush on one of them!"

Her dad paled - my Hubby laughed out loud - I nearly sighed out loud with relief. I am soooo not ready for the whole girlfriend stage.


#3: My twelve-year old daughter is bored to tears, and she's only in the first two weeks of summer vacation.
(Our son is in year-round school so he's gone most of the day.) She mopes around the house, complaining hourly that she's bored. And of course her tedious, boring parents are no help at all ... every suggestion we can think of gets shot down by the PreTeen Princess. Sigh.

#4: I am trying to figure out why my hands and feet are on fire. No joke.

Every day the palms of my hands feel like they are burning. Some days, the soles of my feet join in to scream along with the palms. So, I have competitive feet?
I did the whole WebMD thing and found no solace.
It could be peripheral neuropathy (there is a history of diabetes in my family) or MS or Lyme Disease or (and this is my favorite - just because of the plain speaking language of the name) Burning Feet Syndrome. Of course, WebMD also gave me a handful of other frightening causes, some of which are neurological (read - brain disease) and scary as hell.
So, what am I going to do about it?
I'm going to keep wrapping my hands around cold glasses that I'm stashing in the freezer.

Other than that, I am still waiting to be paid by or contacted by my freelance client. She said she was going to pay me over a month ago and I still haven't seen or heard anything from her. I still have the second 25 articles for her but she's MIA.
I hope she didn't hate the last 25 articles I did for her - I didn't get that feeling from her when she read them over months ago. Maybe she's had second thoughts.
Frick.

On a happy note, I am re-establishing my decade-old love relationship with Lucas Davenport. For those of you that haven't encountered him - he is the hero of the Prey novels by John Sandford. I hadn't read them in a while, and happened to pick one off of my bookshelf, late one night after I'd read all my library books.
I'd forgotten how much I love this series, and after I'd reread my own books I had to make a specific library excursion just to get some that I hadn't read.
So, that's good.

Ummm ... nothing much else to report. The recent days and weeks have taken on a mind-numbing routine, with nothing new or Earth-shattering to talk about.

I will post the talent show performance soon - I expect to hear plenty of "awwwwws" from across the world after you all get a look at it.

Cheers!

Hello Again

Here I am, peeking my head up out of my burrow, sharing a rare daylight post. You see, in months past most of the blog post ideas seemed to magically appear in my brain long past sunset - closer to the witching hour. Actually, the majority of all my best writing ideas usually show up late at night. But right now - right this minute seemed a good time to check in and let you all know I'm alive and kicking. Prepare yourself for a quick, probably disjointed update.


I have been absent from my blogging world and friends for too long. My Google Reader is jam-packed!
I've been trying resist the magnetic pull of the blogs for the last few weeks. It's much too easy for me to lose several hours of prime work-time if I take even one quick peek at a favorite blog. That just opens up a can of worms and the next thing I know I've read every one in my Favorites list, commented on half of them, finally emptied my Google Reader - and haven't gotten one damn word written of real work.


Oh, and the other reason I've been AWOL for the past few weeks?


I ran out of words.


No, really.


What with working on the articles, writing reports for the mystery shopping visits, working on the book, and even just talking (stop snickering) ... I was tapped out. I couldn't think of a decent topic to post about. Even if I did come up with something, I would mull it over in my head, working out what I was going to say and poof! It would just vanish.


I know what you're thinking - you were going to suggest I try reading more. Well, I've somehow found a way to cram frequent trips to the library and many, many late-nights engrossed in one book or another into my daily schedule. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, but for some reason it hasn't refilled the paltry word pantry (interesting twisty combination there, huh?) in my noggin.


Speaking of books ...
My daughter got me hooked on the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I read Twilight on a Friday, New Moon on Saturday and Eclipse on Sunday. Crazy, huh? Then I had to pass them on to my mom (who also read them all in a few days) and when she was done I gave them to Anne. Thank goodness we're all fast readers. They're on loan from the library, and I had to request them. There are currently something close to 80 requests for them on the library's website, so we all had to read them while I had them or they would have to wait for weeks like I did. I'm a book hog but I'm willing to pay the late fees! So far I'm up to .75 cents.

The story is quite good, and we're all looking forward to seeing the Twilight movie in December. The fourth book in the series comes out in August, and I have a feeling we'll be in the bookstore at 12:01 a.m. that day. Yes, they are Young Adult books, but even us old ladies liked them.


So, that's my update. Still here, missing you all but trying not to give in to my desire to sit on my bed and blog (reading and writing them) all day every day. I am a happy hermit, you know? But then a few weeks go by and I realize I haven't been farther from my house than the kids' schools or the library (less than 2 miles) and that just can't be healthy, right?

I will check in more often - I promise. But now I'm going to be a good girl and get back to work.

Cheers!

Happy Birthday, Honey

I know I've been gone from the blog for a while, but I've got a really good reason for reappearing today. But first - the lame excuses for not blogging for over a week. The whole family has had a full calender lately, and time has been flying by. Katie has been getting ready for the end of her sixth grade school year. She's had her plate full with her choir concert, getting her yearbook, cleaning out her locker, taking pictures of friends at school, and final exams. Payt has been busy being a seven year old boy, going to school, doing his homework, then getting immersed in Playstation and making forts in the family room, and waiting impatiently for the pools at two of the grandparents' houses to be warm enough to swim in. And of course, Kirk and I have been busy with the mystery shopping tavern work and writing the reports. On top of all that, I've been working on the articles and my book - as well as reading a lot.

My really good reason for showing back up today is to share and celebrate my hubby's birthday with you all.

He's the greatest guy, my best friend, and a wonderful, caring and devoted husband and dad.

Did I ever tell you that when I was eleven my mom tried to get me to learn how to make a Thanksgiving turkey and I refused? When she asked what I was going to do when I grew up I answered, " I'm going to marry a man that cooks."

Guess what?

My husband is an amazing cook - I prefer his special creations over the fanciest restaurants. He has his own signature dishes like homemade tacos, which is a recipe that started with my dad's mom, she gave it to my mom, and then Mom gave it to Kirk. After a few tweaks, the whole family agrees he's made an amazing meal even better.
Then there is his garlic and wine steamers. Yes, steamed clams - and this is coming from a girl who wouldn't eat any seafood but lobster or crab until about 10 years ago. He has even convinced me to try halibut - and I loved it.
And I cannot forget to mention his chicken creole, which was the first meal he ever cooked for me when we were dating.
And all because of his talents in the kitchen - he's opened my mind to a whole new world of food I never would have tried before.

He's also a guy's guy without being a knuckle-dragging caveman. He'll stay up all night playing poker with his friends, go fishing and camping, and can fix most of the electronic gadgetry around the house. But he also never hesitated in changing diapers, getting up in the middle of the night to give the kids a bottle, or kissing scraped knees and other boo-boos. He's one of the few men I know that doesn't see jobs around the house - or even outside the house - in a specific male / female category. We've divided the chores according to what we like to do (his cooking) or hate to do (my cooking) don't mind (my laundry) or just can't get the hang of (his laundry). Everything else gets done by one or both of us - if it gets done at all!

Aside from all that stuff - he's one of the most funny, snarky, and witty people I've ever known. We have the same twisted sense of humor, and can have fun doing the most ordinary things - even running errands or grocery shopping. He's taught me to play poker and Euchre and a few other card games, he plays my trivia games with me, and there's no rabid competition or ego-bruising no matter who wins.

I think back on how lucky I was - and how close I came to never meeting him at all. My close friend Beck kept trying to hook me up with a long-time friend of hers and I refused for months. The night I finally gave in and agreed to meet him changed my life. Literally.

I was so sure that it wasn't going to turn into anything that Beck and I invited him to join us and a bunch of friends at a bar whose bartender I was then dating! We were all just drinking beer and chatting when Beck suddenly got up and ran the door, jumping up and hugging this big tree of a guy with shoulder length hair, a beard and a UW Huskies sweatshirt. My friend CJ said, "Who's that?" and I answered, "I guess that's Kirk." In my head I was thinking, "THAT'S Kirk? That's the guy I've been avoiding all these months?" We talked and laughed all night, and his sense of humor impressed me immediately. Well, that and he was taller than me (a rarity) and darn good-looking!

I went back home that night, walked past my mother and made a beeline for my room. I sat on the floor of my closet with my chin on my knees and my arms wrapped around my folded legs. I think I was rocking back and forth - and maybe I was mumbling too. Beck stood outside the open closet door, laughing at me. My mom walked up to Beck and said, "What the matter with her?" Beck barely stopped laughing long enough to say, "She met Kirk." I looked at my mom and said, "I met the guy I'm going to marry." I just knew it.
I seriously was not expecting it. It scared the crap out of me. I thought it was just some silly little blind date - I was just going to meet him once and make Beck shut the hell up.

I met him 15 years ago this past January, and we'll be married 14 years in October.

Honey, I'm so glad I finally listened to Beck when she kept telling me she just knew we were right for each other. You are still my most favorite person in the whole wide world - and we've created two incredible kids together. You've always been supportive of my dreams - no matter how far-fetched anyone else thought they were.

I am the luckiest, most spoiled wife with the most wonderful husband I could ever ask for.

I love you ... Forever and Always. xoxoxoxo

Cheap Therapy

I have discovered a non-narcotic treatment for the blahs.

Interested? Thought you might be ...

This astounding discovery is very simple, as most truly good things are.

No trip to the doctor's office to try to explain your need for meds without a suspicious, eye-brow-raised look from the professional care-giver in the white coat. (Who you always secretly suspect of self-medicating with copious amounts of expensive scotch and more-expensive escorts.)

No baring those nasty skeletons in your mental closet and then getting blind-sided with a referral to a "mental health" facility where the staff seems to need more counseling than the patients you are surrounded by - all of you trying to look casual and comfortable while perched on hard plastic chairs that remind you of your oh-so-comfortable high-school bleachers.

Here is Dr. Lori's recent discovery and advised treatment plan:

1) Send the kids to bed.
This is not mandatory, but it helps to focus on your recovery.

2) Send the hubby to play Pirates of the Caribbean Online.
You won't see him again for days - unless you count him walking in front of the TV on the way to the potty every so often.

3) Find your favorite four-legged member of the family to stretch out on the bed next to you. Preferably one that won't snicker at you for laughing at jokes that he or she knows you've heard a thousand times. It's an added bonus if said furry friend snores like a freight train, and periodically chases (or is chased by) rabbits in her dreams.

4) Fix yourself a cocktail, and grab a handful of snacks.

5) Tune in to TV Land, find the M*A*S*H* Marathon and then just sit back and enjoy being transported back in time. You will simultaneously experience the early 1950's (the time of the Korean War) as well as your own life from the early 70's to the early 80's.
Feel free to let your mind wander back to the nights you watched the show in prime time - and don't forget to let your taste buds remind you of the dinners you ate while watching. Mine happens to be homemade macaroni and cheese casserole and a big glass of ice-cold milk.

For a few half-hour episodes, all the worries and troubles and anxiety of the outside world with go away. You'll laugh, you'll tear up, you'll mourn for Henry and feel sympathy for Radar. You'll guffaw at Hawkeye and if you're like me you'll renew your childhood crush on B.J.

Call me sentimental if you like. Call me nostalgic. I don't mind.

It worked for me - it can work for you too.

And it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the pharmacy co-pay.

Oddly disappointing but not surprising ...

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

The only "bad" word this blog-rater could find was "crack."

Really? That's it?

I mean, I know I reign in my inner-foulmouthed-sailor-self because my parents, in-laws and one of my kids reads this ... but seriously?

It's not as if my fam is so super-straight laced. My maternal grandmother's term of endearment for any of us 8 grand kids was "you little shit-heels." And no, I'm not really certain what that means but I am totally sure I don't want to know.

When I was about 10, I was talking about movies with my mom one day. I decided to be cutsie and say the movie title in a funny voice. Sadly, what came out of my mouth was, "Shitty, Shitty, Bang, Bang." I was mortified. My mom laughed till she almost peed, and then called her parents to share the story. They laughed too.

Growing up, the curse words hell, damn, and shit were just words that were tossed out in conversation. Randomly, but most likely when it made the statement funnier. I never thought of many curse words as being on the big Forbidden list. I mean, if my grandparents called someone a "damn piss ant" or a "sonofabitch"- it kinda removes the mystique, right?

Coming from a family of bookworms, sprinkling a ton of curses into a conversation was viewed as a sign of a vocabulary that was lacking. However, if it was a creative turn of phrase and happened to contain a little naughty word, well ... it was quite acceptable.

The only word that was never used was the big mamma-jamma "F" word. That one was the one I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole around family. Still don't, actually.

But if family isn't around, don't think the Big Naughty Word doesn't get dropped occasionally.

If family is, there's always the watered down but still indicative and mildly satisfying "frick."

If only I could score points (or would that be "get points deducted?") for the overuse of the word "frick" while being rated. I'd be sure to get at least an "R" rating, right?

Probably not.

Frick ...

As if there was one shred of doubt ...

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Literature Nerd Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works. It's okay. I understand.
Science/Math Nerd
Musician
Drama Nerd
Social Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

As if I had to reinforce my supreme nerdiness ... that first sentence in the descriptive paragraph up there bugs the crap out of me. Is it just me or are there a few words missing on the end there? "...insomniac appearance ... " What?

... sound like your perfect evening?

... describe most of your exciting Friday nights?

... explain why the librarians know you by name?

Wait. Did that say overly-critical?

Uh. Oh. Hmm.

Whoops.

Breathing Again

The fluttery, nervous anticipation has ceased. The sour bile of regret has relinquished it's perch at top of my throat. The self-doubt is no longer coloring my every waking moment.
I had finally reached a point where I could honestly let go of the gnawing, consuming distraction.

And just when it was nestled in the back of my mind - I got an email from Charlotte.

Her critique of the first 22 pages of my book.

(gulp)

With shaking fingers, I opened the email and the attached file. I must admit I was surprised to find that her critique was just over two pages long. I wasn't really expecting more than a note saying, "It doesn't suck too terribly bad. Keep trying." Or even, "Holy hell. Don't quit your day job. Oh, you already did? Can you get it back?"

I didn't expect such a detailed review, knowing Charlotte's schedule and the many hats she wears. I was more than pleasantly surprised and my heart rate increased a bit.

The results?

She addressed an issue with formatting and italics that I wasn't even aware of. Check. Easy to fix. In fact, I reformatted the spacing and removed the italics within the first hour after I read her review. She was right on the money - it looks and reads so much better now.

Aside from that, Charlotte had three main recommendations. To expand one scene a bit more, to show one character's emotions more than telling them, and to cut back on another scene. She gave me many more pieces of advice and direction, but I'm just going to pare it down for you.

(I, however, will be rereading each word daily for a long time to come ...)

I hadn't really thought about expanding that first scene more, but once I sat down and fleshed it out (yes, I did that immediately - after the formatting changes) it got so much better. It really seems to better show what I have been seeing in my head all these months. And I found myself becoming more interested in those two main characters - even though I created them and thought I knew them so well.
In fact, I'm more anxious to work on the book again to get to know them better.

I'm still working on "showing" rather than "telling" - if you've ever taken a writing class or read a book on writing you know that phrase very well. But it's fun. I am truly enjoying the mental stretching, exercise and process as much as I did when I first started to jot down notes on a yellow legal pad.

The funny part about the scene that needs to be cut back is that I had noticed something was wrong there whenever I reread it - but I had no idea what. It didn't occur to me that it could be so much better by reducing it. She's right on target, of course. That's why I kept hearing those clunking noises in my head. It meanders too long.

Lastly - here are the best juicy bits. Charlotte - I am taking liberties by quoting you directly and I hope you don't mind!

This piece has a lot of power and a lot of potential. It is a searing beginning and we get a good glimpse inside Sophie’s head and feel her emotions. You know, of course, that novels not only need a lot of conflict, but also need to start with conflict and you’ve got that covered here!

You have some very fine descriptions. (She likes my verbs!)

And the best one of all ...

I am very impressed with your writing, Lori, and hope that you’ll keep working on this novel.

Holy freakin' cow, man!

I'm all atwitter. And I'm falling in love with the writing and the writing process all over again. It's different than writing the articles and different from my scribbling here on the blog.

It's so amazing to have a critique done of your work that is supportive and encouraging, that offers accurate and useful advice. I never felt like she was giving false praise, or being too harsh or critical. The suggestions made a huge difference - and were spot on. It also helps to see your own work through someone else's eyes.

Charlotte - I can't thank you enough for your direction, advice and support. You are a gem!

UPDATE:

Charlotte liked this post so much she put one up on her blog about this one. Check out the comments for this post first, then stroll over to Word Strumpet and take a look.

I'm just going to sit here and fan myself. I'm so happy I may faint.

Cheers!

Click, click, whirr ...

Hear that sound? That's the sound of the gears and wheels and levers of change.

Just when you think Karma has nothing better to do with her time than to poop on your parade; just when you think things aren't ever going to get better - you bear your heart and soul, wounds and scars and idiosyncrasy for the world to see ...

... and slowly but surely, things start to get better.

Things have changed since my Screaming Out Loud post. There hasn't been a miraculous appearance of a "normal" 9 to 5 job offer - but something that may turn out to be better than the "norm."

My dad has received several phone calls in the last week or so from other tavern owners that are interested in our services. The first clients were apparently quite pleased with the reports and information we provided, and have mentioned us to other owners. If this continues, this could mean that Kirk and I would be able to make money simply by going out on date nights and turning up our observational skills. When this branch of my dad's business was at it's peak, he had 35 clients. I won't be so tacky as to share the numbers, but let's just say it pays well.
Hell, it helped him pay for my wedding!
Dad thinks I described it perfectly when I said he'd rather be at home, watching Leno than doing the mystery shops. He's perfectly happy to be the contact man for the clients, let us do the work, and then let us receive the profits. All the profits.
It will take some time to build up the client base again, but if the last time was any indication, it won't take long.
So the initial motivation of quitting our day jobs a year ago may be fulfilled. We still get to spend more time with the kids, and each other. And make a decent living doing it.
That, my friends, is a gift beyond description.


Speaking of gifts ... my parents (who have been divorced for 27 years) ambushed me Tuesday night. I was expecting my dad to drop by with our first paycheck (yay!) and I opened the door to find my dad AND mom walking to the door.
They put their little heads together and came up with the Most Awesome birthday gift for me. (Yes, it was a few days late but there were some stomach-flu bugs flying around that delayed things a trifle. But am I complaining? Hell, NO !!)

Yes, I am a spoiled only child. I admit it. My 14th birthday present was two tickets to my first concert - Van Halen's 1984 concert tour. My 17th birthday present was a car - a 1984 Ford Escort. (Weird coinkindink in the year, there, huh?)

This year? A Sony Cyber-Shot camera! Whoo-Hoo!
You all can expect many more posts with pictures from now on.
(Although I suspect my mom was motivated to suggest this for a gift so I'd finally return her camera. Yes, that was the one I used for the birthday blowout cake video. And yes, it's the same type of camera so I've pretty much got it figured out.)

On a different topic ...
I haven't heard anything from the author and creative writing teacher that is critiquing the first 22 pages of my novel. But, oddly enough, that's OK.
Seriously.
Once we hit the one week mark since I sent it to her - I just stopped stressing about it.
I'd almost rather not hear anything from her again than hear that she thinks it's crap.
I know that one must have a "hook" to grab the reader's attention within the first page or so, but after rereading those damned first 22 pages I'm not sure it's there. If it is, it's a tiny little goldfish hook.
I'd rather see the book as a Hansel and Gretel kind of story. It leaves little treats and enticements every so often to get you to keep turning the pages. Granted, the treats may be tiny Smarties, but you can't eat just one. Trust me, I know. Ask my dentist.

So, my friends, it appears the tide is changing. And even if the skies darken again, and the tide starts to rise again, I think it's going to be alright.
I'll just sit here on my little Island of Peace and let the waves crash over my toes...

... if nothing else, I'll take some great pictures of the tidal wave!

The Day

My birthday was a really good day. We met with our clients, and they were really happy with the work Kirk and I had done last weekend. In fact, they hired us to visit another one of their locations this weekend. And my dad got calls from three other owners the same day who had apparently talked with our current clients, liked what they heard and wanted to hire us also. Whoo-Hoo!!

I prefer low-key birthdays. I really don't like all the fuss and attention directed at me. Weird, I know. I just hung out with Kirk and the kids that night, and it was great.

The best part was when Kirk and Payton were making my birthday cake. You have to get a little history first and know that Kirk is the cook in our house. Actually, he's the chef of our house because he really enjoys cooking, it relaxes him, and he's damned good at it. I tend to burn things and cause people to ask for the number for the poison control center when I attempt to cook. (The only kitchen skills I can boast about is the fact that I make better pancakes than Kirk, and a killer pumpkin pie! Killer in a good way, not a poisonous way.)

So, Kirk wanted to make my birthday cake, and Payton insisted on helping. We suspect that Payton got his hand on the speed button on the mixer, but can't be sure.

Anyhoo ... Kirk hollered for me to come downstairs and the following video is what I recorded for posterity (after I saw the state of things, I made a mad dash upstairs to grab the camera).
I just have to warn you - the house is a wreck 'cause I don't clean often, least of all on my birthday. So don't look at the mess behind everyone. And you must remember that my husband is a fantastic cook, makes cakes all the time and has NEVER had the following event happen before. (Again, we seriously suspect some 7 year old involvement.) And Payton wasn't really hitting me, just smacking my arm and making the camera jiggle. He's a boy and kinda wild at times but he'd never actually hit me. He knows better!
You have to know our family to know that we are joking and teasing throughout the whole thing - Kirk may look angry but he's really not. And listen for Kirk's comment at the end about what I'm going to do with the footage ...

So, without further ado ... I present The Birthday Cake Blowout .....

Momo!!!!!!!!!

HI peoples!!!! This is Lori's WONDERFUL, innocent, kids! Kaitlin,11 and Payton, 7 1/2. Ha-ha just kidding on the whole innocent part. Today is our beautiful momo's birthday. Oh and just to warn you ahead of time momo is my (katie's) word for her. Today momo was happy about her birthday being today. We have a amazing momo. She makes sure we get to school on time and that we're fed and taken care of and that's just the little things. If I were to list all the amazing things she does for us you people would be reading and reading this post FOREVER! She helps my little brother get to sleep when he's tired and just can't or when he's scared. (payton: HEY!!)

We did get her OCD and DMD. For people that don't know what DMD is, it's "Decision Making Disorder." But we love her for that =] It's also funny to be able to tell people we have it, but I love being able to tell people I got it from her. Just kidding momo. =] (oh and just to tell you katie is being OCD right now...im putting the pictures in chronological order) She has soooooooo many amazing brilliant talents! She is an amazing writer, reader, mom (of course), has a good taste in sports teams! (GO 49ers!!! GO RED WINGS!!!! sorry I (Katie) had to put that)

The hardest thing for her birthdays is what to do. She always says she doesnt want to do anything, but we always have something up our sleeves. This year my dad started making her a double-decker cake. But.....well I'll wait for her to tell you guys about that. We're making her this post (but this is fun and we're glad to do this), my grandma got her flowers, and we're going to try again to make a cake. =]

So wish our wonderful momo a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and hope you enjoyed

this post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May Eighth

Were you all wondering about the major significance of May 8th? I thought you might be. So, here I am, sharing all this wonderful (useless bar-trivia) knowledge with you all.

That's what kind of friend I am.

On May 8th, over the recorded history of time (listed on Wikipedia) the following events took place ...


589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo
1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI.
1541 - Hernando de Soto reaches the Mississippi River and names it Río de Espíritu Santo.
1794 - Branded a traitor during the Reign of Terror by revolutionists, French chemist Antoine Lavoisier, who was also a tax collector with the Ferme Générale, was tried, convicted, and guillotined all on one day in Paris.
1821 - Greek War of Independence: The Greeks defeat the Turks in Gravia.
1846 - Mexican-American War: The Battle of Palo Alto – Zachary Taylor defeats a Mexican force north of the Rio Grande in the first major battle of the war.
1861 - American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia, is named the capital of the Confederate States of America.
1877 - At Gilmore's Gardens in New York City, the first Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show opens (ends May 11).
1886 - Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invents a carbonated beverage that would later be named "Coca-Cola".
1898 - The first games of the Italian Football League are played.
1899 - The Irish Literary Theatre in Dublin opens.
1902 - In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and killing over 30,000 people. Only a handful of residents survive the blast.
1914 - Paramount Pictures is formed.
1919 - Edward George Honey first proposed the idea of a moment of silence to commemorate The Armistice of World War I, which later resulted in the creation of Remembrance Day.
1933 - Mohandas Gandhi begins a 21-day fast in protest of British oppression in India.
1942 - World War II: The Battle of the Coral Sea comes to an end. This is the first time in the naval history where two enemy fleets fight without visual contact between warring ships.
1942 - World War II: Gunners of the Ceylon Garrison Artillery on Horsburgh Island in the Cocos Islands rebelled in the Cocos Islands Mutiny. Their mutiny was crushed and three of them were executed, the only British Commonwealth soldiers to be executed for mutiny during the Second World War.
1945 - Hundreds of Algerian civilians are killed by French Army soldiers in the Sétif massacre.
1945 - Combat in Europe ends in World War II: V-E Day. German forces agree to an unconditional surrender.
1945 - End of the Prague uprising, today still celebrated as national holiday in the Czech Republic
1946 - The Estonian school girls Aili Jõgi and Ageeda Paavel blow up the Soviet memorial that preceded the Bronze Soldier in Tallinn.
1967 - The Philippine province of Davao is split into three: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental.
1970 - The Hard Hat riot occurs in the Wall Street area of New York City as blue-collar construction workers clash with anti-war demonstrators protesting the Vietnam War.
1972 - Vietnam War – U.S. President Richard M. Nixon announces his order to place mines in major North Vietnamese ports in order to stem the flow of weapons and other goods to that nation.
1973 - A 71-day standoff, between federal authorities and the American Indian Movement members occupying the Pine Ridge Reservation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, ends with the surrender of the militants.
1982 - Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve dies in a crash during practice for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.
1984 - The Soviet Union announces that it will boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California.
1984 - Cpl. Denis Lortie enters the Quebec National Assembly and opens fire, killing three and wounding 13. René Jalbert, sergeant-at-arms of the assembly, succeeds in calming him, for which he will later receive the Cross of Valour.
1987 - The Loughgall ambush: The SAS kill 8 IRA soldiers and 1 civilian, in Loughgall, Northern Ireland.
1988 - A fire at Illinois Bell's Hinsdale Central Office triggered an extended 1AESS outage once considered the 'worst telecommunications disaster in US telephone industry history' is still the worst to occur on Mother's Day.
1990 - Reindependence Day of Estonia
1997 - A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 crashes on approach into Shenzhen's Huangtian Airport, killing 35 people.
1999 - Nancy Mace becomes the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel military college.
2005 - The new Canadian War Museum opens, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of V-E Day.
2007 - A new Northern Ireland Executive is formed under the leadership of Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party as First Minister and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin as Deputy First Minister.

Coca-Cola, The Irish Literary Theatre, Paramount Pictures and V-E Day ...and so much more...


And, just in case you were interested ... the following births took place on May 8th...


1326 - Joanna I of Auvergne, queen of France (d. 1360)
1460 - Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (d. 1536)
1521 - Petrus Canisius, Dutch Jesuit (d. 1597)
1587 - Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy (d. 1637)
1622 - Claes Rålamb, Swedish statesman (d. 1698)
1629 - Niels Juel, Danish admiral (d. 1697)
1632 - Heino Heinrich Graf von Flemming, German marshal (d. 1706)
1653 - Claude-Louis-Hector de Villars, Marshall of France (d. 1734)
1668 - Alain-René Lesage, French writer (d. 1747)
1670 - Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, English soldier (d. 1726)
1735 - Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, English painter (d. 1811)
1738 - Mikhail Kamensky, Russian general (d. 1809)
1753 - Miguel Hidalgo Mexican revolutionary (d. 1811)
1786 - Jean Vianney, French Catholic priest (d. 1859)
1821 - William Henry Vanderbilt, member of the Vanderbilt family (d. 1885)
1825 - George Bruce Malleson, Indian officer (d. 1898)
1828 - Jean Henri Dunant, Founder of the Red Cross; Nobel laureate (d. 1910)
1828 - Sharbel Makhluf, Lebanese monk (d. 1898)
1829 - Louis Moreau Gottschalk, American musician (d. 1869)
1839 - Adolphe-Basile Routhier, French Canadian lyricist (O Canada) (d. 1920)
1842 - Emil Christian Hansen, Danish physiologist (d. 1909)
1847 - Oscar Hammerstein I, American theater producer and impresario (d. 1919)
1850 - Ross Barnes, baseball player (d. 1915)
1853 - Dan Brouthers, baseball player (d. 1932)
1858 - John Meade Falkner, English novelist (d. 1932)
1859 - Johan Jensen, Danish mathematician (d. 1925)
1884 - Harry S. Truman, President of the United States (d. 1972)
1893 - Edd Roush, baseball player (d. 1988)
1893 - Teddy Wakelam, English sports broadcaster and rugby union player (d. 1963)
1895 - James H. "Dutch" Kindelberger, American aerospace pioneer (d. 1962)
1895 - Fulton J. Sheen, American bishop (d. 1979)
1895 - Edmund Wilson, American writer (d. 1972)
1899 - Arthur Q. Bryan, American voice actor (d. 1959)
1899 - Friedrich Hayek, Nobel laureate (d. 1992)
1901 - Turkey Stearnes, baseball player (d. 1979)
1902 - Andre Michael Lwoff, Nobel laureate (d. 1994)
1903 - Fernandel, French actor (d. 1971)
1904 - John Snagge, British radio personality (d. 1996)
1905 - Red Nichols, American musician (d. 1965)
1906 - Roberto Rossellini, Italian director (d. 1977)
1910 - Andrew E. Svenson, American children's book author and publisher (d. 1975)
1911 - Robert Johnson, American blues musician (d. 1938)
1913 - Bob Clampett, American animator (d. 1984)
1914 - Romain Gary, Polish writer (d. 1980)
1916 - João Havelange, Brazilian industrialist
1916 - Swami Chinmayananda, Indian spiritualist (d. 1993)
1919 - Lex Barker, American actor (d. 1973)
1920 - Saul Bass, American graphic designer (d. 1996)
1920 - Tom of Finland, Finnish fetish artist (d. 1991)
1920 - Sloan Wilson, American author (d. 2003)
1925 - Ali Hassan Mwinyi, President of Tanzania
1926 - David Attenborough, English naturalist
1926 - Don Rickles, American comedian
1927 - Chumy Chúmez, Spanish film director (d. 2003)
1928 - Theodore Sorenson, American writer
1929 - Claude Castonguay, Quebec politician
1929 - Miyoshi Umeki, Japanese-born Academy Award-winning actress (d. 2007)
1930 - Heather Harper, Irish singer
1930 - Gary Snyder, American poet
1932 - Julieta Campos, Cuban-Mexican writer (d. 2007)
1932 - Phyllida Law, Scottish actress
1932 - Sonny Liston, American boxer (d. 1970)
1935 - Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, 7th in the Line of succession to the Danish Throne
1935 - Jack Charlton, English footballer
1937 - Carlos Gaviria Díaz, Colombian politician
1937 - Thomas Pynchon, American novelist
1937 - Mike Cuellar, baseball player
1940 - Peter Benchley, American author (d. 2006)
1940 - Ricky Nelson, American singer (d. 1985)
1940 - Irwin Cotler, Canadian politician
1941 - Mahmoud Ahmed, Ethiopian singer
1941 - John Fred, American singer (d. 2005)
1941 - Bill Lockyer, American politician
1942 - Terry Neill, Northern Irish footballer
1943 - Toni Tennille, American singer
1943 - Paul Samwell-Smith, British bassist (The Yardbirds)
1944 - Gary Glitter, English singer
1945 - Keith Jarrett, American musician
1946 - André Boulerice, Quebec politician
1947 - H. Robert Horvitz, Nobel laureate
1948 - Felicity Lott, English singer
1948 - Steve Braun, baseball player
1948 - Stephen Stohn, Canadian television producer (Degrassi)
1950 - Robert Mugge, American music documentary film maker
1951 - Philip Bailey, American singer (Earth, Wind & Fire)
1951 - Chris Frantz, American musician (Talking Heads)
1953 - Alex Van Halen, Dutch drummer (Van Halen)
1953 - Billy Burnette, American singer and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac)
1954 - David Keith, American actor
1957 - Bill Cowher, American football coach
1957 - Marie Myriam, French singer
1960 - Franco Baresi, Italian footballer
1960 - Eric Brittingham, American bassist
1961 - Janet McTeer, British actress
1961 - David Winning, Canadian film director
1963 - Terry Christian, British radio presenter
1963 - Sylvain Cossette, Quebec singer and songwriter
1963 - Anthony Field, Australian musician and actor
1963 - Robin Jarvis, British writer
1963 - Izabela Kloc, Polish politician
1964 - Melissa Gilbert, American actress
1964 - Bobby Labonte, American race car driver
1964 - Dave Rowntree, British musician (Blur)
1966 - Claudio Taffarel, Brazilian footballer
1966 - Marta Sánchez, Spanish singer
1968 - Jamie Summers, American porn star
1968 - Johan Pehrson, Swedish politician
1968 - Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec politician
1969 - Akebono Taro, sumo wrestler
1970 - Luis Enrique, Spanish football player
1972 - Darren Hayes, Australian singer
1972 - Ray Whitney, Canadian ice hockey player
1973 - Hiromu Arakawa, Japanese artist
1974 - Jon Tickle, English entertainer
1974 - Korey Stringer, American football player (d. 2001)
1975 - Enrique Iglesias, Spanish singer
1975 - Jussi Markkanen, Finnish ice hockey player
1975 - Gastón Mazzacane, Argentine racing driver
1976 - Martha Wainwright, Canadian musician and songwriter
1976 - Ian "H" Watkins, pop singer (Steps)
1978 - Jang Woo Hyuk, Korean singer
1978 - Matthew Davis, American actor
1978 - Lúcio, Brazilian footballer
1978 - Josie Maran, American model
1980 - Michelle McManus, Scottish singer
1980 - Benny Yau, Canadian entertainer
1981 - Andrea Barzagli, Italian footballer
1981 - Björn Dixgård, Swedish guitarist
1981 - Yasuko Tajima, Japanese swimmer
1981 - John Maine, American baseball player
1982 - Adrian Gonzalez, American baseball player
1983 - Matt Willis, British singer
1984 - Nadine Chandrawinata, 2006 Miss Universe Pageant (Indonesia)
1985 - Mashio Miyazaki, Japanese actress
1986 - Marvell Wynne, American soccer player



Oscar Hammerstein I, Harry S. Truman, Bishop Fulton Sheen, Roberto Rossellini, Lex Barker, David Attenborough, Don Rickels (saw him in concert at a very young age) Phyllida Law (fantastic actress and mother of Emma Thompson, who is one of my all time favorite actresses), Sonny Liston, Thomas Pynchon, Peter Benchley, Ricky Nelson, Toni Tennille (yes, I loved the Captain and Tennille), Phillip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire), Alex Van Halen ( Oh My Gawd did I love Van Halen ... words cannot express ...), David Keith (hubba, hubba), Melissa Gilbert (I grew up with her while watching Little House on the Prairie) .....those are my personal favorites.

Besides the birth of Luis Enrique and the Hard Hat Riot in NYC ... one other little event took place on May 8th, 1970.

The birth of yours truly.

Yep, I'm 38 years old today.

My kids are planning on posting a birthday tribute to me sometime today. All I can say is brace yourselves. I have no idea what they will write, and I doubt they will let me proof-read it and correct the spelling errors and my daughter's conscious avoidance of capitalization.

But I'm bracing myself and believe I'm well prepared.

I think ...