Haunting the Zoo

Another Halloween down. This was a fun one. We skipped a party Saturday night because it might have proven to be too much fun, but really because hubby doesn't like costume parties. It was ok. We actually needed the night to rest because Sunday and tonight we volunteered for "Haunt the Zoo".

Tonight wasn't bad, slow night.

Sunday was hectic and we were worn out afterward.

Several observations from this week:

Some parents spend an awful lot of money on their children's costumes.

Some parents spend an awful lot of money on their own costumes.

Hardly anyone makes their costumes any more.

Cell phones should be prohibited. We saw so many parents so busy talking on their cell phones that they were virtually ignoring their child. With thousands of people around, this is not a good time to be distracted as a parent. I felt sorry for the kids.

Most popular costumes: Spiderman, the Thing, Mr. Incredible for boys, followed by the Ninja Turtles (still?), firemen, policemen, or race car drivers.
For girls: Princesses, Tinkerbell, and witches followed by kitty cats, unicorns etc. I didn't see one little girl firefighter.

Or Supreme Court Justice nominee for that matter.

Because it's Sunday and I have time

Sometimes I take the time to read other people's blogs. No really, not just the regulars, but the links on the regulars' blogs. And then links the links have. Some are very interesting, and today, I think I'll share some cool blogs:

"Mafia" links added to my blog:

Gotham Girls Roller Derby

Dispatches by Mr. Hahn"

Just plain interesting blogs:

Post a Secret

Pajiba

The Morning News

The Leaky Cauldron

Early Morning meme

I'll post something totally creative and thought-provoking later. But right now it's early (couldn't sleep) and I'm going to answer a meme.

Here it goes -- this is from Little Bit Crazy


three names you go by
1. E (to grandkids, kids, etc.)
2. Cissy (to bloggers)
3. Honey (to Hubby)

three parts of your heritage
1. Spanish, Mexican
2. Irish
3. French
(to the best of parental disclosures -- I'm researching this)

three things that scare you
1. Getting old
2. Something happening to my loved ones
3. Vampire movies

three of your everyday essentials
1. The really expensive hair product I use that I ran out of yesterday and forgot to buy a new one of...dang
2. Talking to my children
3. Music

three things you are wearing right now
1. Wife beater T
2. silky p.j. bottoms
3. panties

three of your favorite musical artists
1. Melissa Manchester
2. George Strait
3. BBKing
I'll add a few more: Everclear; Hole (when they were a band); Willie Nelson; Ella Fitzgerald; Will Smith, L.L. Cool J; Bon Jovi; Pinky and the Snakeshakers; Watermelon Slim; Gwen Stefanie; Kelly Clarkson; Paul McCartney; Billy Joel -- you get the picture. I love music.

three favorite songs
1. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
2. New York State of Mind -- Billy Joel
3. Buttercup

And so many more...


three things you want in a relationship
1. Love
2. Trust
3. Communication

two truths and a lie
1. I like Oklahoma
2. I'm a morning person
3. I love shopping

three physical things about the opposite sex that appeal to you
1. eyes
2. smile
3. individualism
Let's not forget the "tush"

three of your favorite hobbies
1. Blogging -- does that count?
2. Painting
3. My podcast (Dec. 1 folks)

three things you want to do really badly right now
1. Go back to bed and sleep for another two hours
2. Hmmm...maybe do something else before I go back to sleep
3. Wake everybody else up

three places you want to go on vacation
1. Okinawa, Japan
2. A cruise anywhere
3. NYC -- always, but probably Europe

three things you want to do before you die
1. Finish a novel
2. Get it published
3. Win a pulitzer

three ways that you are a stereotypically a chick/dude
1. I'm hate bugs, snakes etc.
2. I like pink
3. I love flowers

Three people I want to do this: I promised I wouldn't. But anyone brave enough to try -- go on ahead.

10 things I love about my life

1. It's never the same -- always interesting -- and yet the same.

2. I have a wonderful husband who supports me in everything I choose to do, and shares my spirit of spontaneity and adventure. "Let's go!" I'll say, and he leads the way.

3. Great kids. Maybe they didn't do what we would have chosen as a career path for them, or a life path, but no jail time -- much -- no addictions and all are in long-term relationships.

4. Health -- it's been a wild ride this year. I love the fact that our son is going to be ok and that we've been fortunate enough not to deal with serious illnesses before.

5. Silly -- but I love our car. I never thought we would drive a PT Cruiser, but it's fun, and it's reliable.

6. I love that I live in America.

7. I love that I grew up in Texas.

8. I love that I was able as an adult to return to college and find a career that doesn't feel like a job.

9. I love that God has given me some talents -- writing, art, etc. It took me a while to be able to say that without feeling like I was bragging. I'm not the best, but I make a living doing what I love.

10. I love my friends -- my family.

This list obviously could go on and on. I love my life, and I don't think I would want it to change for all the millions in the world. Oh, and I love my blogs!

Can we keep this weather forever

I love it. Crisp, cool, sunny. I'm just enjoying the weather today.

So leave your computers, and stick your head out the door. Aaahh.

I love languages

J'aime les langues. Je peux parler l'anglais, espagnol et un petits Japonais (a utilisé pour être aisé), donc c'est le temps pour apprendre un plus. Je pense que j'opterai pour le français ou peut-être italien.

Je le déteste absolument quand quelqu'un dit qu'ils ne peut pas apprendre une autre langue. Augmenter vos horizons !

Sad Revenge

Six people are now in custody in the death of Sgt. Jonathan Dragus. They didn't shoot him, stab him, or directly do bodily harm to him, yet at least one of them is charged with Dragus' murder. But is it really murder, or is it the Oklahoma City police seeking revenge for what is unquestionably a tragic death?

Dragus was chasing a motorcycle that Kyle Crider was driving. No question, the motorcycle was trying to elude police. Where was his backup? Why not get a license plate number? Why do police insist on high speed chases? But that's what Dragus did and nine minutes later, a pickup pulled in front of him at an intersection, he swerved and he lost control of his police cruiser, careened across the expressway and struck a light pole.


Crider claims he was so far ahead of the police cruiser that he didn't know an accident had occurred. He turned himself in. Crider definitely should be charged with the crimes he committed, but murder?


One can safely assume if the cruiser was involved in a high speed chase, there were lights and sirens, why is the driver of the truck who went into the cruisers path not the one charged with manslaughter? That driver left the scene of the accident.

Does the police officer bear no responsibility for his own decisions? Does he bear no responsibility for his own driving mistake?

Everyone involved in this made poor decisions, from Crider to Dragus.

I know it's harsh to say that, but this isn't the first time this has happened. If the Oklahoma City police department is going to continue its policy on high speed chases, do they provide adequate training on how to drive the cruisers fast through city traffic and obstacles?

The policy needs to be reevaluated before the safety of other police officers and the public in general continues to be put at risk.

The best laid plans

I accepted another job today. This time, I'm stepping away from my comfort role as a news journalist to work in media relations. It's making me contemplative tonight. This year has not been at all what I had planned, and this new direction is not at all where I had planned to be when I graduated from college a few years ago for this "second" career.

Not that I'm unhappy at all. I welcome the change. I was ready to get out of the daily grind of newspapers, and my current gig designing hasn't exactly turned me on to being back in a newsroom (let's just say disorganization and some how the a.hole with the penis is always in charge.) Hey, sorry. But I'm a little jaded about newsrooms. It's a good ol' boys club at the top, just like it's always been.

Look at Helen Thomas, a wonderful journalist and she doesn't get the same respect she would if she were a man. I don't think women will ever get that respect in the workplace.

I'm not a raging feminist. But I am a feminist ( a label like liberal that's gotten a bad rep in the past few years.) I just know I've seen a lot of deserving women who were damn good at their jobs -- and often far more qualified than the men who got the promotions. I've been shoulder-to-shoulder fighting for news scoops with male journalists, and it was getting old. Having to be twice as good to get half the pay or respect gets old.

So I'm embarking a new chapter in my journalistic career and I think I'm really going to enjoy it.

But who knows, I might miss the rat race so much I'll want to go back. I'm not shutting any doors, just opening a new one. Is that so wrong?

So for the rest of the evening, I'm going to sit in my office, read Molly Ivins' book, drink some Coke and rum and listen to BB King...The Thrill is Gone.

(P.S. For those of you who were kind enough to ask. I'm over it. Hubby's back in his bed after a heart-felt, "she was so ugly, what was I thinking" apology. All is well.)

Good thing the guest room's empty

Normally, I'm not the jealous and overly crazed type of wife. But for whatever reason, the mere mention of my husband's ex-wife drives me crazy. I don't want to remember that there was anyone ever before me whom he thought he could spend his life with. Never mind that we've been married for more than 20 years, it still drives me nuts. And, for the record. I DON'T mention my ex-husband. EVER. Neither one of us keeps in touch or knows where the exes are, but it still bugs me.

So I'll share what happened:

Redneck son-in-law starts making jokes about new son-in-law going to boot camp, and how he can't have sex during boot-camp -- prohibited by some rule, he says. (Don't know where he gets his information -- I've never heard that.)

New son-in-law laughs and says he's going to be in Illinois and new bride is not going to be with him until tech school.

Redneck son-in-law says that the military says you can't have sex while you're in tech school.

So up pipes hubby with, "I saw my wife -- uh, ex-wife during basic and she was with me during tech school."

EXCUSE ME?! He brought up the ex-wife during a conversation about sex???

I was pissed. Of course, he didn't realize it until he tried to get into bed Sunday night. His pillow and blanket were already on the guest bed.

In 20-some years, he's never been relegated to the guest bed. But dang it, I'm mad.

So last night, he tried to apologize. 'Hon, it's you I love and you are more sexy than she ever was.'

MORE sexy? That would imply first wife was sexy. Second night in guest bed.

I'm tired of being mad, and I don't like sleeping alone. But dang it, I want a honest to goodness, "I don't even remember her, except she was ugly and snored and... and I must have been out of my mind or drunk when I married her." apology.

It's going to be a long week.

Finally

Woohoo. The wedding is over. Our youngest is married. I still haven't had time to soak that in.
I'm so far behind at everything now -- work, watching t.v. -- and a host of other things that will now have my attention.

It's amazing how something so joyous as a wedding can cause so much stress.

33 hours and counting...

Before the "I dos" of my daughter her fiancee. I'm SO exhausted. I don't know what I'm going to wear. I had to call into work and tell them I just couldn't make it today. Really. Wedding crises...too many.

No. 1: They go get their marriage license. Guess what. No can do. Her license is expired. They don't take college i.d.'s as substantial proof that you're you. So in a few we're going to the DMV to stand in a long line and get a state i.d. because she doesn't have time to take a driving test today.

No. 2: Dress alterations. They screwed up. Really. Now the off the shoulder straps fall way off her shoulder and she's hysterical. So, guess who gets to fix it. Me. God help me -- beading.

No. 3 -- Guests start arriving today and my house looks like a tornado hit it, and there's no food in the fridge. No sleep for me today.

I didn't even get to watch "LOST" last night. Thank God for T-VO -- that's a whole post in and of itself. I'm going to watch t.v. all day Sunday.

Bright spot today? Four-year-old little redhead will be at my house this eve. Yeah!

Life's little challenges

I've been reading the Diva's blog this morning and it made me laugh. She handles life's little challenges well, and it's good to know that we're not in this alone.

Because this week, I've been feeling so sorry for myself. For what, you ask? I actually have to get out of my car to open the garage door.

Up until last week we had a garage door opener. But last Friday, our daughter had just backed out of the garage and the door was coming down. Hubby and I were inside and we heard a large snap and then crash. Because our driveway faces a very busy street, we had visions of our daughter -- ok, ok, we're worried about the new car too -- being crushed by some speeding motorist as she backed out.

But no, it was the cable to the garage door opener. The spring went flying across the room and hit the opposite wall. Crash. No garage door opener.

And because we're in the midst of paying for a wedding reception, we just can't fork over the money to pay for a new opener.

But Diva made me realize that we were lucky. We've had so many outlet explosions in the last few weeks, that it's lucky there's been no fire.

Life's little challenges. God's little blessings.

More sports

Basketball:

Seems some people are getting their shorts in a bunch because the Hornets coach is telling OKC folks he likes it here. Then he's telling New Orleans folks, the team is going back.

Well, what the heck did you expect him to say. Oklahomans are thrilled to have the Hornets. But we need to chill before we scare these folks out of here. They can't make promises right now without appearing insensitive to New Orleans, but Shinn is saying what people want to hear. He's probably wrong in doing that, but he's trying too dang hard to make everyone happy.

Truth is our minor league hockey team has more regular fans attending games than the Hornets did in New Orleans. Truth is the team probably was shopping around for a place to go. No one wants to say that, but everyone knows it's the truth.

OKC need to concentrate on filling seats, making the guys welcome and well, if they decide to stay then great. If they feel obligated to go back to New Orleans, we've still made an impression that the NBA or other professional sports are not likely to forget.

Baseball: So long to my Red Sox until next year. Go Cards.

Football: How 'bout them Mizzou Tigers? And, yep. I was just a little proud of Texas.

Going to the chapel...

First it was March 11. Then it was August something or the other. Then it was Nov. 26 this year! Now it's next Friday -- Oct. 14.

We're talking wedding dates here. My daughter and her fiancee have changed their date so many times, that I want to scream. We're totally ticked off that they decided to go to the JP's office next week instead of having the wedding at the Capitol as planned.

"We decided to save money, it was getting so expensive..." Well, it's still expensive. Now we're just doing everything really really fast. Ok, so no bridesmaids or groomsmen is a good thing. No tuxes. Good. But we still have a wedding dress that has be to altered in less than one week! We're planning a small reception at our home now ($3,000 savings) so that's good.

So maybe they were right. I'm still ticked off about it, but at the same time understand why they want to get married before he goes off to boot camp. I don't think the realization that he's going to be GONE almost the whole first year of their marriage has hit them yet.

So now, I have to run. I have to go order some flowers and a cake, and napkins with their names engraved -- because this is our youngest child and she can't get married without us making a big deal out of it, even if she's going to the j.p.'s office. Cool thing -- her dad gets to give them the oath and sign the marriage certificate since he works at the court. Pretty cool.

Brrrr...

Every year when the temperatures begin their downward spiral, I tell myself that next year I'm going to be living in a warmer climate. I can't say that this year because I actually turned down a job in Phoenix this year.
It's a balmy 85 degrees in Phoenix today.

So, OK this time next year I'm going to be living somewhere near the beach. It could happen.

The Pink Zone

Calling all females -- particularly sports fans: I need feedback on this from everyone, so please pass this along and let me know what you think.

You've heard all the sports talk shows, now as a female and a sports fan, what features would you like to see/hear in a show dedicated to women and sports and women in sports?

Who would you like to hear from? What teams/sports are you interested in? What issues relating to sports are you interested in hearing/talking about?

This is an ongoing project, and an announcement will be forthcoming, just want to get some input from my digital sisters. Thanks, ya'll!

Mushy stuff

We just had a delightful evening at friends' 50th wedding anniversary. It was wonderful to see a couple so in love with such a great family -- and extended family via friends.

It was so cute, they danced to their song, "Somewhere my love." Hubby and I even danced and he sang "When a man loves a woman" in my ear as we danced. How romantic, and trust me, my husband is not a romantic.

We talked afterward and couldn't quite decide if we had a song. We laughed because when we got married in 1985, we were such "children of the 70s" and the songs at our wedding reflected that. First, we got married in a rose garden. We had flute music. We came in to John Denver's "Annie's Song" and we walked out to Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken." Pretty cheesy.

But that's ok. Love, weddings and anniversary parties are supposed to be cheesy. That includes doing the chicken dance, the Macarena and the YMCA. We had fun.

Tomorrow is going to be grueling though. I'm going with my "bridezilla" daughter to the bridal show. I have a feeling that I'm gonna need a stiff drink afterward.