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Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday Mieography


This one is short, but sweet. My brain is just suffering this week! (second week of brain mush, I blame allergies).


Ann Bancroft was born in Minnesota, in 1955. She describes her family as "risk takers". When she was in 5th and 6th grade, her family lived in Kenya. Other than that, she was raised in Minnesota, where her father took her camping, and canoeing, frequently. At 8 years old, she took herself on Mini expeditions, often convincing her cousins to go on winter backyard camping trips. Despite a learning disorder, she graduated from St. Paul Academy and Summit School. She continued on to earning a BS in Physical Education from the University of Oregon. She taught PE and special education in the Minneapolis-St. Paul schools, and coached many highschool sports.
In 1986, she gave up her teaching job to go on an International North Pole Expedition. Using dogsleds, she and her team members reached the north pole in 56 days. She was the first woman to reach the North Pole by foot and sled.
If that wasn't enough, she also was the first woman to ski across Greenland. 
Then, in 1992-93, she led a four woman expedition to the South Pole, on ski's. It was, of course, the first woman group to do this. She has been inducted into the National Woman's Hall of Fame.
At this point in time, she co-owns the Bancroft Arnesen Explore Company, in Minnesota, where she lives with her partner, and, besides her expeditions, she actively campaigns for the recognition of same sex marriages. She also is an instructor for Wilderness Inquiry, an organization that helps both the disabled, and able bodied people enjoy the wilderness, year round. She has also founded the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non profit organization that "celebrates the existing and potential achievements of women and girls".

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Thursday 13

**Warning, this week I am going to be sappy**

I don't blog a whole lot about MM. He comes into many posts based on the fact that we live together, along with Mustang Girl and the menagerie of animals we house, but, I don't think I have ever really sat down and intentionally blogged about HIM.
(Well okay there was that one really fun post about the various methods we met and dated, but he started that on his own blog.)

So this week, because I can, I am going to tell you all Thirteen things I love about Mustang Man.

1. His eyes. The color is gorgeous, to me, green, with some flecks of brown. The brown is more pronounced when he is tired, like he is this week. But beyond the color is the expressiveness of those eyes. He can speak volumes with one look.

2. His hugs. When MM hugs you, his arms are long enough to go all the way around, and strong enouugh to give a good squeeze. You KNOW you've been hugged when you get an MM hug.

3. His sense of humor. Its fun and warm and outrageous, and sarcastic and warped. Just the way I like them

4. His Honesty. The man is honest to a fault, and I really appreciate that, because I have been the victim of the opposite all too many times.

5. He is extremely easy to talk to. We don't lack things to talk about, and the conversation is intelligent. When we want it to be, that is.

6. His work ethic. MM is not afraid of hard work, and when he is doing something, you can rest assured it will be done right.

7. His patience. He has more patience than I think I could ever have.

8. He will help any friend in need who asks it of him. Need help moving? Call MM. (no don't). Want to work on your car? Call MM (depends on what kind of car :) ). No, really, if he is able, he is willing.

9. His sense of self. He is who he is. If you don't like it, then it is your problem. He isn't an egotist, running around, thinking he is perfect, and all that and a bag of chips, but he knows who he is, and what he stands for, and he is not apologetic for it. Nor should he be. He is a wonderful person.

10. His Wild Things tattoo. Nothing says sexy to me like the Wild Things crew marching around his leg. When we go anywhere, we get more comments on that tattoo.... and I get to see it every day.

11. I sleep better when I sleep next to him. Sleeping in the day sucks because I have to sleep alone. More often than not, I sleep in his arms. (or I start off that way). Its a very comfy place to lay my head....

12. His family. He has a great family. This includes his forever friends who live in our area.

13. And, certainly not the least, and speaking of family, his Daughter. Mustang Girl. She is a great kid, despite the raging teen-ness that is surging in our house. She keeps us both on our toes, she's funny, kind, fun to be around. I would not trade her for anything....

So, there you have my Thirteen. For more participants, go here

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

 What? Who, me?

Yeah, I like the floors.....

Once again, I am not totally wordless this Wednesday. At the suggestion of MM in my last post comments, I am to
Blog about how life is good, we have steady jobs, we have a roof over our heads, we have a house full of people we love... :)"
Yeah.
What he said, exactly. 
We have a really nice, normal, (somewhat) beautiful thing going here. And I couldn't be happier.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hmmm

What should I blog today?

fingers are healing (slowly)
went to work last night (was interesting)
weather is great (I'm happy)
dogs are behaving (a miracle)
teenager isn't grounded anymore (SHE's happy)
house is lovely (we're all happy)
and now I am off to bed (zzzzz)

Monday, May 25, 2009

Monday Morning Mush


or, Memorial Day Mush.

Think, for just a moment, about all the men and women whom have paid the ultimate price. No matter how you feel about the current situation we are in, the past situations we have been in, and the future ones we may get dragged into, realize this.
The ones in the thick of it?
Hate it as much as we do. But yet, they VOLUNTEER to go risk life, and limb, to miss significant chunks of their family lives, and KNOW they will come back changed. And they STILL go do it. For very little pay, I might add.
Think of them, and those that have passed, while you are out having fun this weekend. And have fun for them, too.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Friday Mieography


Margaret Ann Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928. Her father was a doorman, and also a dietician in the Navy. Her mother was a real estate agent, and trained surgical nurse, and, interestingly enough, later became a merchant marine. Her older brother nicknamed her Maya,  derived from "my-a-sister." Her parents marriage ended when she was three years old, and her brother was four. They were sent alone, by train, to to live with their father's mother in Arkansas. They were there for four years before they were returned to their mother's care. Sadly, at eight years old, Maya was sexually abused, and raped by her mother's boyfriend. She told her brother, who alerted the family. The man was found guilty, but spent only one day in jail. He died after his release, by being kicked to death. Some speculate it was by Maya's uncles. She became mute after this, thinking she was responsible for his death, that she had killed him because her voice spoke his name. She remained that way for five years. The children were sent to live with their grandmother in Arkansas again. While there, a friend of the family introduced her to classic literature. Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe to name a few. 

     When she was thirteen, she and her brother went to live with her mother, again, this time in San Francisco. She attended highschool, studied dance and drama, and worked as the first black female streetcar conductor. She gave birth to a son, Clyde, while she was there. To support herself and her son, she made her living doing various jobs, including prostitution, and being the madame at a brothel. She moved from job to job, city to city, trying to raise her son.
     In 1952, she married a Greek sailor, and three years later, she divorced him. She never clarifies how many times she's been married, not wanting to sound 'frivolous'. She has been married and divorced at least three times. She had been going by "Marguerite Johnson", or "Rita". However, the managers at a San Francisco nightclub called The Purple Onion suggested she adopt a more theatrical name, thus, Maya Angelou became to be. 
     She ended up touring Europe with a production of Porgy and Bess, she studied modern dance with Martha Graham, and recorded an album called "Miss Calypso". She also was in a dance team with Alvin Ailey, specializing in elements of modern dance, ballet, and tribal dancing. She struggled with trying to be a good mother, and balancing her career.
     In the 50's, she also joined the Harlem Writers Guild, meeting numerous African American authors. She also heard Dr. King speak, and joined the Civil Rights Movement. She met a South African freedom fighter, and moved with him (bringing her son with her) to Cairo, Egypt. When the relationship didn't work out, she and her son moved to Ghana, where she worked at their school of Music and Drama. She learned Spanish, French, and Fante during her travels. She became close friends with Malcolm X, and returned to the United States to help him build a new civil rights organization. He was assassinated shortly after that, as was Dr. King. Dr. King was assassinated on her birthday, and she sent flowers each year to his widow on that day.
     She wrote her first autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" in 1969, and has written a total of six autobiographies about herself.
     She married again in 1973, and moved to Sonoma, California. She had many productive years as a writer and poet during this time. She composed music for movies, wrote articles, produced plays, and lectured at universities as well. She also had a supporting role in Roots, and wrote some songs for Roberta Flack.  Her screen play, Georgia, Georgia, was the first original script by a black woman to be produced. She also met Oprah during this time.
     She divorced, again, and returned to the Southern States in 1981. She recited poetry at Bill Clinton's inauguration, and continued to travel, and lecture, mostly on college campus'. 
     She is still very active in both lecturing, and writing, and his been honored with many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Arts.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

This week, I thought it would be really fun to explore some interesting facts about the number 13, itself. For more Thursday 13 participants, go Here
  1.  In Scotland, the number 13 is known as the Devil’s dozen.

  2. The state lotteries of France and Italy in particular, never sell tickets with that number printed on it.

  3.The fear of number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia and it was derived from treiskaideka, the Greek word for thirteen and phobia.
  
   4. In Formula 1, there is no car with the number 13.

   5. Most airplanes have no seat No. 13

   6. Thirteen for dinner? Not in France. A party of
thirteen can hire a professional quatorzieme, a
fourteenth person, from an agency.

   7. There are traditionally thirteen steps leading up to a gallows.

   8. The moon moves approximately 13 degrees each day.

   9. “When I am reading, I wil not stop on page 94, page 193, page 382, et al. The digits of these numbers add up to 13.” — Stephen King

   10. In ancient Egypt, the number 13 represented immortality

   11. The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle's head, 13 war arrows in the eagle's claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there's been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation. 

   12.President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month 

   13. Any month that begins on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year.



Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

  Home, there is no place like it...



I don't usually update a ww with words, but, this blog is hoe I keep track of things, so here I am again....
in my special talent to maim myself, I reached into a drawer last night as I was getting ready for work, and promptly cut a large portion OFF the tips of my first two fingers of my left hand. Bled a lot, still tried to go to work (MM drove) and ended up in the ER instead....
I am fine, obviously not working this week now, and the fingers will just have to heal. Should take a few weeks according to the doc. 
I never knew finger tips hurt so bad, or bled so much!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Off!

It seems I am doomed to a week of mush brain. I blame my allergies, and the bugs.

Bugs, you say? 
Yes. We have bugs. With the heat that has finally decided to grace us with its presence, the buggy world has decided to make it's presence known to us. Especially the mosquito realm, when we are out watering our plants and shrubbery (SHRUBBERY!) each evening. We may have to buy stock in Cortisone cream.
And that spray, Off?
Yeah. That stuff stinks, and I always feel like I have to have another shower if I've used it. It makes me a sticky mess.
If Jack lets those baby lizards grow up, they will be an immense help. AND the bats. Maybe I should make our back yard a lizard and bat farm? Then we'd be bug free, for sure....

Monday, May 18, 2009

Monday Morning Mush

Some have their Random Thought Tuesday, (which is very cool), I now have my Monday Morning Mush. Since my brain is usually mush most Monday's, anyhow. 

This weekend was fun. My parents came to visit on Saturday, and my Dad had volunteered to make dessert. Usually, I make dessert for him. He brought us lemon cake, that he'd made. It was pretty tasty.
NOTHING is funnier than watching the two of them play Wii, though, ESPECIALLY boxing. My Mom was throwing punches like a little girl in a school yard fight, eyes closed and everything. She kept moving closer and closer to the TV (yes we made her wear the wrist strap). The bowling got pretty competitive, and I just sat back and laughed. They will be getting one of their own, soon.
In the meantime, MM was making his extra powerful, very very good Margarita's for my Mom and I. She had ONE, then followed me around, giggling that she was "buzzed". Lightweight.
We had a nice dinner, then they wandered off to their hotel, happy. They were home before noon the next day.
Sunday, we went to run a few errands, and decided to go look at fish tanks. Well, we now are the proud owners of a 29 gallon "bio tank". We are picking that up, today, it will be set up, with fish in it, by Friday.
I also learned we have a plethora of lizards here, and that when one gets in the house, Jack turns into a master lizard hunter. Don't worry, we saved the wee thing. Minus a bit of its tail....

Friday, May 15, 2009

mush brain

Oh.

are you here looking for a mieography?
I am the empty shell of Mielikki, her brain has taken a leave of absence and probably won't be around until Monday, if she's lucky. Maybe not even then. She hopes her brain will return in time for her work week, which begins again on Tuesday. In the mean time, she will be going to the new Star Trek movie, entertaining her parents, and doing laundry. Please leave a message if you are so inclined. This blogpost will self destruct in...........

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Thursday 13

We in the good old USA are free, free to do what we like, right? Of course right. 

Well, maybe.
Here are Thirteen laws, that are still on the book, that limit what we can do...

1. In Alaska (home of the fish assholes...), it is illegal to look at a Moose from an airplane....
2. California law prohibits a woman from driving a car while dressed in a housecoat.
3. In Utah, birds have the right of way on a public highway.
4. In Tennessee, it is illegal to sell bologna on Sunday
5. In Massachusetts, it is against the law to put tomatoes in clam chowder
6. There is an ordinance in San Francisco that bans the picking up and throwing of used confetti.
7. In Phoenix, Arizona, it is against the law to walk through a hotel lobby with spurs on.
8. It is still a hanging offense in Texas to steal cattle.
9. Kentuckians, by law, must bathe once a year.
10. It is illegal to mispronounce Arkansas, (in Arkansas)
11. In Denver, Colorado, it is illegal to mistreat rats
12. In Iowa, no kiss may last more than five minutes. (boo, Iowa!)
13. In Wichita, Kansas, a father cannot frighten his daughters boyfriend with a gun....

for more participants, as usual, go here

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Now what?

So.

Rock garden? Check
Hardwood floors? Check.
are we happy? Check and double check.
But, as home owners, we are always looking at things we want for our home, and property. You'd think we'd be content, and reluctant to do even MORE after the last few weeks of flooring hell, but, hey. Its all about the fun of making things beautiful, right? Of course right.
We've got two projects on our mind, at the moment. One inside, one outside.
Inside, it's all about the kitchen cabinets. They are fine. They are great. They are plentiful. BUT, an upgrade would be nice.
Our idea? Remove the doors, and have the middle of them jig-sawed out. Then, we will have glass put in. Not just any glass. But a design in our glass. A Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design. We kick this idea around on a regular basis.
On to the outside, we are discussing what to do with the little side yard we have next to the house. 
It is a mud pit at the moment. 
Not as much of a mud pit as the front yard was, but a mud pit none the less. And I am hoping a mud pit that will be taken care of by the time fall hits.
Our idea? Rototill the ground, remove all the vegetation (and there is BARELY any vegetation) except the tree's that live there, and do a brick herringbone-ish patio there.
Now we just have to advance from the idea stage to reality.....

Monday, May 11, 2009

Monday rolling back around

and once again, my brain is kind of mush.

We spent yesterday with the Kilt and Clancy family, visiting a smallish Renaissance Faire about 20 minutes away from here. One of the Kilt boys, (we will call him Skull) was fencing there, and most of us had garb to wear, so we all dressed up and went. It was a fun little faire. A good start to the faire season. And I still say the best breath in the world is the one after the release of the bodyce. Mustang Girl learned that as well yesterday, as she was also dressed for the faire.
Friday evening we went and ate good Sushi, then went to see the Wolverine movie. It was entertaining. MM and MG seemed to think so, as well. I will admit I am looking forward to seeing the Star Trek movie, soon.
you know, Monday's really aren't good for my brain.... 

Friday, May 8, 2009

Friday Mieography


Dora Angela Duncan (Isadora) was born in May of 1878 in San Francisco, California. She was the youngest of four children born to Joseph and Dora Duncan. Her father was a poet, and her mother was a pianist, and music teacher. Her father was 30 years senior to her mother. He supported their family by running a lottery, publishing three newspapers, owning an art gallery, directing an auction business, and, owning a bank. (whew!). The bank fell into financial ruin, and he abandoned his family, moving to Los Angeles, where he married, again. Not surprisingly, Isadora ended up not believing in marriage. She and her mother and siblings moved to Oakland. Isadora went to school, briefly, but, related to her "individuality", she soon dropped out. She and her sister gave dance classes to local children to earn money. She eventually joined a theater company in New York, but quickly became disillusioned with it, and moved to Europe. She started in London, then moved on to Paris, and was successful within two years.

     In Paris, she rented two large apartments, and used the first floor as her dance school. She dressed herself in clinging scarves, and faux Grecian tunics, and danced barefooted. Her primitive dancing style was much different than the rigid styles of her time. She rejected traditional ballet, leaning more towards improvisation, emotion, and the human form. She thought classical ballet was "against nature". She became very famous, and inspired many other crafters of her time to create poetry, novels, even jewelry.
     In 1922 she found it in her to move to Moscow. She did not last long there, because the "new" Russian government did not fulfill its promises to her to support her work. The country was too spartan for her, and she headed back West within two years. 
    She did not like the commercial aspects of public performances, such as touring,  and   negotiating contracts.  She concentrated more on education, and founded three schools dedicated to teaching her methods, all in Europe. The most famous one was in Germany, and the students were titled as "Isadorables". Her sister, Elisabeth, ended up taking over that school.
     In her personal life, she flouted the traditional ideas of morality. She did actually marry once, a Russian poet whom was eighteen years her junior. He, unfortunately, was frequently in a drunken rage, which gained her much negative publicity. He left her within a year of their marriage, went to Moscow, had a mental breakdown, was committed, and, eventually, committed suicide.
     She bore two children out of Wedlock, Deirdre and Patrick, to two different fathers. Sadly, they both were drowned in an accident with their nanny on the Seine River. They had been riding in a car that went over an embankment. She spent much time in Italy recovering from this.
     In 1923, she did a tour of the United States, where she raved a red scarf, and bared her breast on the stage, proclaiming "This is red, and so am I!" She also came out as a bisexual.
    Her career dwindled, and she became notorious for her financial woes, scandalous love life, and her public drunkenness.  She also published a few autobiographies.
     Her fondness for long, flowing scarves led to her demise. She was 50 years old, wearing a hand painted silk scarf given to her as a gift from a Russian born artist, Roman Chatov. She was a passenger in a Bugatti, and her last words as she was getting into the car were "Adieu, mes amis. Je vais a l'amour" (Goodbye, my friends, I am off to love!") When the driver drove off, the scarf, which was large enough to to be wrapped around her body, and neck, and still hang out of the car, got wrapped into one of the open spoked wheels, and rear axle. At the least, it broke her neck.
     Her ashes were buried next to those of her children in the Pere Lachaise Cemetary in France. 

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Thursday 13

This weeks 13 was inspired by our trip to the store last night to pick Mother's Day cards. It has nothing to do with Mother's Day, however.


13 disgusting things I've seen in the grocery store.... follow the links at your own peril...

1. Microwave Pork Rinds. The poor young man who was working at the counter told us that these were so bad, that when they got a new delivery the "low man on the totem pole" (him, unfortunately) had to unpack them....

2. Pickled pigs feet my Grandfather used to eat these, thank goodness, not when I was around....

3. Coffee foam admittedly not disgusting, but stupid that someone would actually buy foam for their coffee....

4. Tofu Pups now most hot dogs are bad enough. But Tofu pups?...

5. Seaweed Candy how can they call this candy? Evil people

6. Tequila Pop with the worm because THIS is what you want your kids to have, right?

7. Tripe. Just. eeew

8. Canned Haggis I have blogged about this, as well....

9. Fish Assholes No really- go look! I coudn't believe it, either!

10. Kimchi. yep, a cabbage thang. Ick

11. Anchovies I don't like these on ANYTHING

there is nothing cheese about this. Gross...

13 Kopi Luwak coffee.  MM has seen this one, not I. Thankfully

for other participants, as usual, go here

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

 Introducing..... Gnome Be Gone.......

we love him.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Rainy Tuesday and a birthday wish

still rainy here, should be until Thursday or so. Which kind of sucks because I have some painting to finish in our bathrooms, and it will take forever to dry in this weather.
I had a good direction to go here, but MM is IM'ing me with these various You-Tube things, including, "Gangsta Folk", and some Undignified Way's to die. This includes teasing a Scot wearing a kilt, slapping the head of a bald sailor, approaching a helicopter on stilts, renting a basement apartment in Venice. Among other, silly things. 
So this blogpost just kind of went sideways, didn't it.
Mooning some cannibals who haven't been fed. Nice. 
So, rain.
I don't mind it. Love the sound of it, whether it is gently falling, or if its a "gullywasher", which we've had plenty of in the last few days. I like it even better when we don't have to go out in it. 
Oh, look, its Cinco de Mayo. The 5th of May. SOMEONE I know is having a birthday. He doesn't read my blog, but certain relatives of his do, including, at times, MM. So happy birthday to MM's big brother. Last year we went to Arrid Zone-Ah! for the big event, and had a blast, looking at the ass floating in the pool, drinking tequila shots, and giving the birthday boy a big can of Nacho cheese from Costco wrapped in a Baja Fresh bag. Good times...... despite the heat. 
It seems I am easily distracted today, doesn't it? Hmmm, have to go try and get my focus back. Maybe.
Happy Tuesday all!
 

Monday, May 4, 2009

The story of Willow

We have some friends, who have four children. 3 boys, with the age range of 17-12, and then, surprise! They had a girl. She is now 5. We'll call her Willow.

Willow and I first met on Halloween a few years ago. I met her first, though I didn't know it. MM was at my apartment for Halloween, and his friends and their children were due to be trick or treating at my domicile. So, I opened the door, and was not surprised to see Mrs. Clancy, and their kids. And they needed to use the restroom. So I let them in, and as they passed through, I counted one extra child. A little black cat. Hmm. I thought. She must know Mrs. Clancy...
I go back to the kitchen to say a few things to MM, when there is a loud knock on the door. Must be a hungry teenager I think as I go back to the door, candy in hand. Instead of the hungry teenager, I looking at a man with a kind of wild look in his eye.
Do you have my daughter? He demands to know. My mind immediately bounces to the little black cat that ambled in with Mrs. Clancy, and I am horrified. Did a complete stranger, a little girl, just follow them in, to go with the flow? Did I accidentally kidnap a child here?
Just then, MM says from the kitchen 
"She's in the bathroom with Mrs. Clancy, Kilt" (yes I changed his name to kilt. sue me.). Visible relaxation occured when he heard MM's voice. As their youngest child, and only daughter, Willow is the apple of Kilt's eye. As Mrs. Kilt likes to say "I have three boys, and he has a daughter."
As the years have gone by, Willow has gotten older. She dances now, and we got to attend one of her dance recitals this weekend "Broadway in the Foothills". The kids did a pretty respectable version of "Annie Get Your Gun" (with the exception, that, at one point, the kids were dancing to the hip hop sampled version of "Rhinestone Cowboy". My brain seized during that, I think). Willow looked adorable in her cowgirl outfit, and danced so well that she got TWO My Pretty Ponies when the recital was over.
The second half of the recital was "The Wizard of Oz". Now, one would think that it is a reasonably safe bet. But I am still confused by this version, which was attempting to be a combination of The Wiz, The Wizard of Oz, and Wicked. Confused? Me too. Add to it, because whomever wrote the script also decided to toss in Global Warming, just to make it fun. Thats right, they were asking the wizard to fix Global Warming.
My brain seized again. And so did MM's, I am pretty sure.
He did remain astute enough to appreciate the "Solid Emerald Dancers", though....

Friday, May 1, 2009

my new wordle

Wordle: what its like to be Mie

Sorry

No Mieography today. I was unexpectedly tossed from the house this morning so that the floors could get TOTALLY finished, and that man out of my hair. Its all good, it's worth it. I am at Celtic Rose's house, and we are going to work on our story... maybe... if I can stay awake....