He was complaining the other day that I
haven't looked at any of his weddings lately. I've been busy, you
know. Instead of pointing out how busy and tired I've been, I
defended myself by saying "You never come into the office and look over
the audits I do!" Yeah, I was being an ass, because who wants to
look over audits? (Besides other auditors, and don't any of you
speak up and be wise or I shalt smack your asses down, dawgs).
Anyway, I'm thinking now that not only was I being an ass, but a stupid
ass, too, because the bulk of what he's shot this past couple of months
has been weddings, and I love his work, even when the man shoots
RODEOS! Or hog farms on fire! Or whatever. I should
just stop being a stupid ass and go back to being appreciative of his
work, because that's really what we both need.
He has a wedding coming up soon, in Eastern Kentucky. I shit you not, they are having their ceremony in a "holler."
My love is deeper than the holler
Stronger than the river
Higher than the pine tree growin' tall upon the hill
(Yes, I know that song, and if you jack w/ Randy Travis watch me pop a cap in yo ass, G!)
My love is purer than the snowflakes
That fall in late December!
And honest as the robin on a springtime windowsill
And longer than the song of a whipporwill!
(Don't call me out if I butchered those lyrics--I prefer my own versions, ya know.)
Okay, okay, truth be known, Randy Travis runs a close second to Kenny
Loggins in my list of un-cool singers who I really, really LOVE.
Like, if I could go to a Travis/Loggins concert, I'd be in
heaven. I know, I know, say what you will, I don't care.
Anyway, my point was that I wonder if this couple (a pair of Doctors
that live in London, incidentally, but the bride is from Kentucky) are
having Deeper Than the Holler as "their song."
If they were REALLY cool, they'd pick something by the 'Hoff.
Anyway.
So there's a photo from lately. Eat it, Uncle Ernie!*
Haven't played I asked eFairy in awhile, have we?
Somebody asked if I am looking forward to returning to work...I tried to find the comment, and I'm sorry, I must be skimming over it. Whoever you are, here's the answer:
Yes! And No!
Yes, I'm looking forward to it because:
- I need time away from my family to maintain my sanity
- We need the money
- My job is fun (to me) and I am good at it
- I have friends at work now
- My kids need to get back into their routine
I'm not looking forward to it because:
- I'm milking through my clothes right now, not sure how to handle
that at work (knowing when to pump will be key, I guess). I've
never had a problem leaking through breast pads, a bra, and a shirt
before, but since I've had this baby, I've been like a leaky squirt gun
or something. More than once have I been caught out in public
thinking I was "protected," only to have a big wet spot right on the
nipple. OH! SO! GLAMOROUS!
- My tiny baby is only going to be six weeks old when I go
back--still soft and cuddly, still sweet. He'll grow and change
so fast while I'm at work every day
- My kids need lots of attention and I wonder how Steve will handle all this
- I am still pretty fat and none of my old work clothes are going
to fit me until I lose another 10-15 lbs. This is proving harder
than I expected.
Faithful reader RebeccaStar asked if I was popular in school.
Short answer: yes.
Semi-short answer: Yes, but I wasn't a bitch!
Moderate-length answer: Yes, but I wasn't a bitch, and I was popular
because I was well-liked, not because I was inherently Homecoming Queen
material. I will forever be grateful for the number of people who
responded positively to me in high school when I joined every
organization known to man and any service group that I could fit into
my schedule. Since I had no family of my own to lift me up and
build my confidence, I think my high school experiences were key to
showing me that it is possible to find validation, friendship, and
usefulness in a world where the only people who were getting my back
were friends of my own making. Pure grace, and I thank each and
every one of them for being there for me. I guess my feeling is
that not all popular girls are mean-asses like in
Mean Girls or
Heathers.
In fact, the meanest girl I knew in high school was prettier than any
movie star, and meaner than a snake. But she was
not popular. Not really. Sort of a B-lister.
Bonus answer to anybody under 18
reading this who really wants to know how to be popular in high
school...be friends w/ more people. Not just the popular
girls. Not just cheerleaders. Not just drama, journalism,
basketball, stoners, etc. Seriously. If you are part of a
clique or group, that's fine, I'm not saying "dis your friends."
I'm just saying "expand your horizons." Make a few new
friends. It is not necessary that your new friends become "one of
you." Honor the people around you for their differences as well
as their common traits, and you will go far.
Also, smile. Even when the meanest hoodlum in school scares the
hell out of you, put a big smile on your face and say "if you have a
problem w/ me, BITCH, then meet me outside at 3:15!" Trust me,
she will not know what to do. This has worked for me more than
once. Smile, smile, smile. Unless something horrible has
happened, like the death of a parent or a divorce or something like
that, don't glower or sulk or mope. Don't be pissed off all the
time. Even if you are having the crappiest day--say, your mom
made onion soup and the whole house (including the sweater you are
wearing) smells like onion--just put on a grin, anyway, and tell
yourself "today is going to get better--school is not home and home is
not school!" You don't have to give up spray-painting Satanic
graffiti on the front of the school (I sure didn't give it up), or
start helping the LD kids go to the john or anything, but just don't be
damned unpalatable. When you have the strength to rise above,
just a little bit, people will be drawn to you. In my experience,
that starts w/ something as small as a smile.
Today we found a shady spot and big open field where the kids could
run, and I sat in the shade and ate a peach. Steve didn't get any
peach because he was too busy helping kids down the slide, and playing
"king of the dirt hill" and stuff like that.
Here is a fabulous illustration of how Steve and Seamus went down the
ancient too-tall slide...Steve on his belly, Seamus on his back.
Steve somehow ripped a hole in his SeaMonkeys tee shirt. I guess
his big belly made a lot of friction:
My Photoshop skills know no rival.
Yes, I guess Steve was wearing a purloined Amish man's hat.
What can I say?
Anyway...write about it, and make it happen. Love how that works out.
I think I might be seeing my sister Barb soon, for the first time in 16
years. She emailed me again and I think I will call her next.
Sean's photos...where are they? Your guess is as good as
mine. I want to see his one month portraits. Somewhere on
Steve's computer.
I must cook now before the natives riot. Hope you all had a good weekend. I did. (And I really needed it.)
*Uncle Ernie is code for how the local photographers
bitch about people who say "I'm not going to need your services after
all--Uncle Ernie just got a digital camera for Christmas and he's going
to shoot our wedding for $200." Frankly, we've never really had
this happen enough to piss us off. Once or twice, but it's
okay--we don't save the date until we get the retainer, and we've never
had someone cancel once they pony out the $ for that.
