For your information

I finally got around to counting the change from the UNICEF fundraising -- we raised $28.61!  Not too shabby!  I'll match the funds and send them a check for $57.22!

Not!

Oh, you guys!  I may've cut back on the news (I still watch Keith & Rachel), but I still go to the Huff Po, et al. to get my rocks off!  Back to normalcy?  Not so fast.  Soon.  SOON.  In the meantime, this particular GYWO episode is HILARIOUS:

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

I actually know a "scared" McCain supporter.  Actually, I don't know if he's a McCain supporter, but he's defintely anti-Obama.  It's so wild what he believes will happen to him once Obama is sworn in as President!  Anyway, next time I see him, ha ha, I may have to tell him that he will have to start wearing a dashiki starting Jan. 20, 2009.

GOOD GRIEF

The return to normalcy.

Time to get back to living! No more being glued to the television or the internet or to Harper's reading political news! No more hand-wringing and sleepless nights! It's time to focus on my favorite pasttimes like reading (books), traveling, cooking & planning. I need to come up with a big project for me to do.

Speaking of planning, I've already got Thxgiving & Xmas plans underway. This year, Thxgiving will be @ KMHD's house. I will be making the meal, natch, and I will have the luxury of two ovens for my use. What I love about Thxgiving is the potluck we have the next evening with friends -- it's a potluck where you bring your leftovers. I have a chowder recipe that I make only once a year with leftover turkey and it is so so good.

Jonathan Thompson will be here tomorrow! Since he missed by birthday party last Saturday, he baked me a pie of my choice. I opted for sweet potato pie, it's been too long. It should make for an awesome hang out because JT is sweet!

So, I got a new phone. I love it! It makes me feel very important. I like that I can carry a calendar with me at all times now. I have four calendars: my work one, my personal one that I keep at work, one at home, and now my phone. I can't live w/o calendars! If I don't write it down, I will forget. In fact, I forgot that I had a lunch date with some paralegal yesterday. Oops! Anyway, the new phone is part of my *11 point program to get more organized.

Word on the street is that ATM's band Eclipse Glasses is playing WWT next Friday. That's what I hear and my source is pretty reliable. Heh.

Taken yesterday, these sugar skulls got left out in the rain. Sugar melts, honey!:


Songs of the day: Dead Kennedy's California Uber Alles & Holiday In Cambodia, Looking Glass's Brandy

*There is no 11 point program to get more organized, but there should be. Need that intern, man! I wonder if there is a kid in my neighborhood that likes being helpful and is sweet. Is that sick or what?

Here it is...

My delayed & more appropriate response.


Forgive me, I'm being cautious with my heart. Now I'm gonna go sob with joy.

Hurrah!!! What? Oh.

President Barack Obama!
Cries of jubilation!
Endless high-fives!
Big, worldly sigh of relief!

Blood, sweat, tears!

But, then I got to reading the results of our ballot initiatives. OUCH! I guess when the People don't really understand an issue they're voting on, their default vote is "yes", which makes no sense to me. Anyway, looking down the line of results, all initiatives were passed overwhelmingly. Yesterday, the majority of Arkansan voters allowed, or, have taken away the privilege of unmarried couples, single persons, or homosexuals to foster or adopt children. Also, now, we are allowed a lottery. Also, our state Legislature will now meet annually instead of bi-annually, which means these Legislators will spend more time here in the Capitol city & less time back home with their constituents. OOPS.

I'm sorry for being so somber, but this is serious! Well, what are your thoughts? Like Rachel Maddow, I think I need to be "talked down".

Here are photos from last night's Big Whoopeee!:




Muchos gracias to Heather & Zach for hosting the watch party at their lovely home.

You guys, my fifteen minutes of fame is comin'! I made these last night for my co-workers and other people @ the courthouse:


Judge Kilgore e-mailed Judge Brantley about them & she came down to our office to look at them. Well, I guess she liked them, she wanted a photo of them to give to Max (Brantley, of Arkansas Times fame) to post on THE blog. Shyeah! OK, so it's not up yet, I may be jumping the gun, but I don't care. I've tried to remain cool and calm about this election and I need to place this excitement SOMEWHERE.

In related news, Barack Obama definitely has the cupcake vote.

Halloween: Me & ATM, we got all dressed up, but had no where to go! Well, that's not entirely true, we could've gone to Vino's for the Great Halloween Cover Up show, but we opted to stay home to watch scary movies & hand out candy to the childrens. About 30 kids stopped by & they were great! We had a ninja that wanted to show off his moves & another kid was a landshark. I dressed in my kickboxing outfit & ATM wore a graduate's robe & hat, which, yes, is pretty damn lame/tame for the both of us, BUT, the kids were into it & I'm satisfied with that. Regrets: 1. Should've rented some classic scary movies, the networks failed us in that regard. 2. We missed seeing Rett & Keiko's costumes!  At least we saw Collin, HAW:

Birthday!: I had a wonderful birthday, ya'll! I got some jeans and I got a new iPod. I also had a most excellent birthday party. It was beautifully decorated, thanks to KMHD:


I liked the papel picado being all breezy and colorful:


The theme was Dia de Los Muertos, loosely. There was lots of cerveza & we had a nacho bar which people really didn't get into until we started getting crunk -- KMHD said we were totally "4th-mealin it'" -- HA! I overindulged in the drink and paid dearly for it yesterday, but thankfully, I had an extra hour to sleep it off. This photo is not flattering in any way, but it best represents me @ my birthday party. KMHD & Collin say I look like I'm on a cruise ship:

I'd like to thank everyone who brought a donation for UNICEF & everyone who wished me well on my 'dirty thirty'. And I'd like to thank Geoff for teaching me the god-awful term 'dirty thirty', good grief.

Election Night: ZOMG! It's finally here! We're gonna go to Zach & Heather's home to watch and just be surrounded by friends and loved ones. No matter what happens, there will be tears! And cupcakes. Because I'm making some tonight for the big event. Judge Kilgore told us to be in our Sunday best for this historic occasion, but he is "letting" (because I would've worn them anyway) me wear my red Converse. I'm on a positive high as of right now. I feel that if I keep good company (you, Rachel Maddow, et al.), then I'll be able to maintain my positivity.

ASIDES: Rett pointed out to me that I must be "feelin'" turning 30, you should've heard my party playlist. Fugazi, Unwound, Dead Kennedys. To be fair, I need these bands more now than ever! Judge Kilgore showed at work with a THAT ONE '08 button. He also got us cool Barack To The Future bumperstickers. I've got a cool (and very strange) boss! I'm addicted to using my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Seriously, I feel like I seek out recipes that require it's use. I'm glad to be getting back into kickboxing. We had a good work out tonight. Jon Thompson will be in town on Saturday! Since he missed my party, he baking me a pie, I asked for a sweet potato one. I have great friends.

More bday party photos:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  

This is an old post that I'm just now getting around to publish. (2 Nov 2008)

Friday evening, we stood in the middle of Main Street NLR and tolerated the Democratic lovefest (I love you/No, I love you more/Aw, shucks!) for two and a half hours. The highlight, in my opinion, was seeing old skool friends on our way home. We saw Louisa Rook-Teague, Jon Teague, Jerry Colburn, Mitchell Powers + his son (!) @ Starving Artist Cafe.

Running into (g)old pals coupled with the fact that I got myself amped up for the rally listening to Fugazi made me feel kinda nostalgic. Not the annoying kind; I promise not to tell any bories (boring stories). I'm just feelin' very very.

Anyway, photo:

The whole gang is up there -- Vic Snyder, Pat Hays, Bill Halter, Dale Bumpers, David Pryor, Mark Pryor, Mike Beebe, Tracy Steele, Corliss Williamson, Mary Steenburgen & of course Bill Clinton.  HUGS ON MAIN STREET!

How can I compliment ATM w/o sounding too girlfriend about it? He did a fantastic job DJing COOL SHOES. Let me testify: I danced his entire muhfuh set! Really, there was no way I could've left the dance floor; there were great tunes, perfectly executed. Can I get an AMEN?! It was one of those events where I was one of the four people over the age of 25. Guh. I had a good time, though. It was one of those nights that we got home @ 3 a.m. (!) We got in, kicked off our shoes, ate pizza & watched a few eps of Roseanne before turning in. These days, it hurts to stay up that late.

Because I stayed up so late, I didn't get too much done on Saturday. We got the hay bales for the party, so I guess that's some sort of an achievement. Oh! We went to Collin's house & he made us BBQ seitan sloppy joes, salad & fried pototoes. OM NOM NOM NOM NOM! We also sat around the fire pit & laughed about stuff. Got to see the Broadstone Bros., which was a long time comin'. It was a good evening.

Man, Sunday. I got up early & made a lot of food: vegetable soup, banana bread & shepherd's pie - I needed to use a lot of ingredients before they went bad AND I wanted to cook things we could eat after kickboxing, because I'm usually too wiped out to do any cooking after practice. I like this making a bunch of food at one time for future consumption, I should do it more often.

Sometime in the evening, I stepped on a hammer and cut my foot. There's a flap (GAG) and bruising and I can't walk on it. I mean, I motor & get around, but slowly. I went to kickboxing on Monday and the instructors couldn't believe I even showed, but I wanted to make an appearance because I was sick all last week and missed too much class, I wanted to let them know I am a serious student.  Well, I am!

I must confess my love for talking lady Rachel Maddow.  She's so smart and OTM, I wish we could be real-life pals.  I'm all Keith Olbermann who?

Pres. Clinton will be here this eve in MY neighborhood to rally for Obama. I wonder if it'll be more stimulating than the last rally I went to? I mean, he's pretty much preaching to the choir, so this should serve as a revival! Well, I'll be there to find out. I'm stoked that it's just a few blocks from the house!

Busy evening:

There's NO SMOKING @ Downtown Music Hall, so I'll be able to make ATM's set. My allergies are so out of line, I can't even think about being around smokers. GAG. I'm a true nerd, I've got the Vick's Vapor Inhaler for the congestion. The only other people I know who use this is Grandpas and rave kids on E. I haven't taken to using it in front of other people yet, but it's only a matter of time. Maybe I'll bust it out on the dance floor tonight.

I'm working a half-day today. I've worked up an ambitious "things to do" list. I think I can manage it if I can avoid post-lunch napdom. Must. Avoid.

Record numbers reported for early voting in Pulaski County! I didn't get to cast my vote on Monday like I wanted to, we were really busy, but I took care of it yesterday morning. That "I VOTED" sticker is like a badge of honor, it makes me stand tall w/ my chin up. I feel very citizenly!

I hope you don't think I'm crazy, I wasn't gonna confess this here, but ATM talked me into it. Yesterday, on my way to work, I experienced a split-second glimpse into the future. It was dimly lit, I smelled cigarette smoke, people were cheering, and I was crying with joy. An Obama victory! It was real! I now feel a confidence.

I am going nuts with excitement for the upcoming birthday party -- I mean, look:


These skulls aren't even finished, but they are already looking good! I'm going to make one for my grandmother & for ATM's grandfather. KMHD (and Zach?) have been working on lovely full-size skeleton paintings & I just got my papel picado in the mail. It's gonna be festive! There'll be nachos! Cervezas! Fire pit! Friends! Enemies! Fantastic!

Sometimes I get a little ahead of myself and think of future party themes. How about "Awkward Office Party" or "Hee Haw"? With the office party, we can have copy paper boxes piled everywhere, a water cooler, and regrettable co-worker sex. Wait. Maybe not. With Hee Haw, well, any excuse to be Minnie Pearl, amirite?! Aw, shucks.

On Monday, Judge called me into his chambers. He sat me down & asked me about my career @ ACORN. Yes, that ACORN. When I was 18-19, I was in their employ. I did voter registration. I got paid per LEGITIMATE form I turned in. So, at the end of the day, I'd turn in my stack of filled out forms & ACORN would screen them and go through each and every one to see if they were filled out correctly. If a person didn't sign it, it couldn't be processed. If a person listed a P.O. BOX instead of a real address, it couldn't be processed. If there were obvious fake names, it couldn't be processed. All of these things are reported to the election commission, so they can screen them, too. Of course Judge knew that all of the negative news you hear about ACORN on the news is the work of Republicans, but he seemed genuinely amused that one of his own employees used to work for a now infamous organization. I jokingly told him that I probably should've disclosed this information to him in my resume.  

Man, FEAR ANTS could really use an intern!  I wish I could hire someone to help me organize & manage my photos. All one trillion of them.  And O.P.P.  I'm behind!  All of my projects are starting to catch up with me!  Need.  More.  Time.  In.  Day.  

BIG NEWS:  ATM is an uncle!  Karla, his sis-in-law gave birth this morning!  His name is Daniel Cade Morgan, Jr., but will be called Cade, the surname of ATM's late grandfather.  That's some circle of life stuff right there!

The past several days have been a blur!  I don't know if I can even recount all of the things that happened around me, but I'll try.  (I've been sick in bed!)

ATMs grandfather passed away Friday afternoon.  It was only this past Thursday that ATM rushed to Jackson, MS to visit him.  He went back early this morning and will stay until Tuesday for visitation & funeral.  Safe travels & beaming heart rays to him & his family.  I will not be able to accompany him, I've missed a lot of work last week.

On his way back from M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I, ATM bought me a Kitchen Aid stand mixer - -  FOR NO SPECIAL REASON!  

This is tantamount to buying me a car or something!  What a thoughtful fella, I'm so lucky. In less than 24 hours that I've possessed the mixer, I've made royal icing for the sugar skulls and chocolate chip cookies.  It just makes things so much easier!  I love it! 

Undecorated sugar skulls:

 

Yesterday, we went camping, but had to cut it short.  We totally unpacked and set up the tent, built a fire -- then his mum called & told him the 'schedule' for visitation/funeral.  We ate lunch, packed it all back up & went home.  

Re-packing:

I totally poked it with a stick:

ATM set up a fire in the backyard, so we could day-camp & ensure we got that smoky smell embedded into our clothes & hair.  The nice thing about day-camping at home is that SOLO can hang out with us, too.  


We finally stenciled our camping seal on our gear boxes.  

After ATM left this morning, KMHD came over & we walked the Junction Bridge into downtown LR.  We happened across a sculpture display/show/contest in the Rivermarket.

I was looking at a sculpture when some miss from Channel 4 news approached & asked if she could ask me some questions about early voting.  I agreed & nervously answered her questions & gave her my take about it.  I was (AM) such a nerd, I was so nervous!  And didn't get to tell her all that I felt about it.  I wish I could have a do-over.  I would've at least put some lip balm on, yikes, I think I was rockin' some chapped lips.  Anyway, will I be on the news tonight?

After our walk, me & KMHD did a little shopping - - you know, light bulbs, prescription pills, acrylic paint for projects.  When we got back to the house, we practiced our kickboxing form, we're getting tested tomorrow!  We could be getting our senior white belt tomorrow!  

Ah!  I almost forgot, I got a very pleasant surprise in the mail on Friday.  THANK YOU, Jhnmrk!!!

I know Drew Daniel from a message board that I frequent, I'm looking forward to reading his effort.  You always send the best books.  ATM just started the last book in the Bonfiglioli series that you sent me.  He'll stay up late reading - - as I fall asleep, I can hear him chuckling.  SO GOOD.  Thank you!  I've been trying to think of a nice way to return the favor.  Is there anything from LR/AR you want?  I need to order a few 33 1/3 -- can I order it from Continuum Book website?   If you'll let me know in the comments, should anyone else want to order, too.  

LAST PHOTO.  Someone has graffiti'ed the little rock, LR's namesake.  As viewed from the LR side of the Junction Bridge:

IT'S TIME!

I lazily glanced at my calendar and realized that EARLY VOTING BEGINS NEXT MONDAY! It's the beginning of the end of this insane campaign cycle!


Happy Birthday to the very awesome Pharoah Sanders!

We are going to the Arkansas State Fair on Wednesday! Ferris wheels & fried food! It'll be Keiko's first time, so it makes it that much more exciting & cute! (I would otherwise never use the word "cute" to describe the state fair.)

Speaking of Keiko, ATM asked her to knit a little monkey for his soon-to-be-born nephew. ATM asked her like last Friday - - she brought it over last night, wtf! She's so fast! And so so good. See for yourself:

Oh, Monday.

I made two meals & baked banana bread today, wtf!  I MISS COOKING!  

The drawback of kickboxing is that I'm very tired when class is done, so I really do not even want to think about cooking when I get home.  So, it's either take-out or asking ATM to cook more than usual, which he is very cool about.  I've managed to work the crock pot in the schedule, too, but I do not get to cook as often as I'd like.  Well, I made up for it today!

Eggs benedict (my first time making them) for breakfast:

Pumpkin soup for supper:

Banana bread:

Rett & Keiko will be having supper with us & then we're going to sit around the fire pit, drink some beers.  We are so lucky!

Tomorrow is for rest, some chores & a hair cut.