Ramblings on a Saturday afternoon

Today is the birthday of my high school friend, John.  I don't remember very many birthdays but I always think of him on October 23rd.

Pandora is playing "All Star" by Smash Mouth -- which always makes me think of student teaching -- I'd never heard the song before til we took a camping trip and this group of fourth grade boys (let's not think about how old they actually are now) knew the song by heart and sang it at the campfire -- it was impressive.

Today is 16 months since I got hit by a car.  I will see the doctor again in a week and a half.  Been having some days where I don't think about it too much and others where the pain is very present.  Because I am still in care, we haven't been able to start the settlement.

I have a giant stack of divorce papers sitting on my floor.  Need to sit down and start filling them out.  So hard to imagine what my life will be like in two years, let alone five months.

Been working on Fiona's wings for Halloween.  Too soon to decide if I'm proud of my efforts or not -- need to figure out what to trim them with to hide the part where the fabric is wrapped around the frame.

Image via Wikipedia

I'd like to get my living space sorted out -- I think the next step is probably getting a dresser from my old apartment.

I was reminded the other day that I like beer-breath kisses (from smelling the bottle as I put it in the recycling).

My daughter is with her dad tonight.  I'm hoping to finish her wings and have them all ready for trying on when she gets home tomorrow.

I'm really grateful for all the ways friends are buoying me up right now.  So many different ways and all so important. 

In the process of making Fiona's wings I was reminded of my grandmother when I saw Amy's little silver metal sewing ruler (I'm sure that's the right term, of course) that was identical to one I can remember watching Grandma Surface use.  Later, as I stood and stared, moved things around a little bit, and stood and stared some more, I was reminded of trying to cut a pineapple in Costa Rica.  I stood there long enough, looking at that pina, that my Costa Rican mother (who had been resting but had given me permission to cut the pineapple) came out to the kitchen -- she'd been picturing me trying to cut the pineapple and realized that I was clueless and she'd better come help me.  :)

My friends, Amy and Tim, have told me that they'd like to send me "home" to Indiana for Christmas so I'm trying to figure all of that out.

Blessings to all of you today.

Friday 56 -- Khai of Khem by Brian Lumley

Welcome to The Friday 56, hosted by Storytime with Tonya.
Here’s how it works:
Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
*Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

"Being employed in the trade -- as an agent for one of the big airlines -- he had no difficulties.  As to why he brought the mask to us --" he shrugged.  "He says he 'guessed' we were the right ones to approach!" 

~Khai of Khem by Brian Lumley

I expected this to move me, but didn't know how deeply it would do so.

Quote of the day

Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, or the end to be attained, but set earnestly at the little task at your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day. 

~Sir William Osler, physician, 1849-1919

Teaser Tuesdays -- October 19, 2010 -- The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

Marta's laugh sounded life-threatening.  "I'm fine.  I just don't sleep much anymore."

~ p. 268 The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

 It's been a slow couple of days for me, reading-wise.  (Lots of stuff I'm trying to figure out right now.)  I'm vacillating on what I think of this one.  Have any of you read this?  

Fiona & Kolya at Lair of the Bear

Amusing Each Other

Friends

Something Crazy This Way Comes

Quote of the day

Try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language.  Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them.  And the point is, to live everything.  Live the questions now.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet