3:53 p.m.

My dog is a little shit.

Twice in three days Biscuit has come home covered in deer crap. I can only assume that it is deer crap as deer are the only woodland creatures I can think of that would possibly smell like sheep. Biscuit smells like a sheep. There are no sheep nearby so it must be deer. She comes into the house with a jaunty air of superiority. Smell me! Don't I smell fabulous? Damn dog.
I have to then dump her into the tub and soap her up and hose her down a few times. How do you feel now Biscuit? Damn dog.

On a more pleasant note - the spice bush are blooming and bloodroot has joined the trout lilies and violets on the forest floor. None of them, however, can mask the smell of deer crap on a rotten little red mutt. Damn dog.

Happy Easter

Why is it always cold and rainy on Easter? It's not actually too cold here, just damp, grey and gloomy. It hasn't stopped Monkey from having a fabulous day. She is finally napping after overloading on Easter egg hunting, jelly beans, chocolate bunny ears and Cadbury eggs. There was an Easter egg hunt at church this morning between services. People were asked to dye eggs and bring them for the hunt. Well some genius dyed the eggs, but didn't bother boiling them first. Who does that? I decided not to trust anyone's egg dyeing ability after that and threw the whole lot on the compost pile when we got home.

Big Daddy is outside constructing the chicken house and run. Yesterday we got in the fence posts and frame and floor of the house. I'm going to have the coolest little chicken palace in Western North Carolina when he is done. It was a beautiful day yesterday. We spent the day outside doing yard work and building. Monkey supervised our work.

I was raking the debris from under the raspberries, Big Daddy was digging holes and Monkey was spinning around dancing to the radio. That one moment is the reason we moved here. Life is good when the sun is shining. We all got a little sunburned yesterday. I only ended up with one small patch of poison ivy on my arm. Yes, life is good.

There are lots of things sprouting in the garden. Some of them have not been invited and I will have to remove them. I am of the opinion that it is much too early for weeds. I can't wait for radishes and fresh lettuce. We'll plant potatoes next week. In another three or four weeks I should be able to start planting the warm weather crops - beans, okra, black-eyed peas, squash, cucumbers and annual herbs and flowers. I will wait a few more weeks before I set the tomatoes and other plants. Last year I was over-eager and had to cover them on several occasions.

I should go outside and help Big Daddy. We have guests coming to dinner. None of us are ham people and a leg of lamb was $40 at Ingles, so we are having barbeque. There's a boston butt on the smoker. We'll pop open a jar of Big Daddy's secret sauce and one of homemade pickles. The baked beans are in the oven and the slaw is in the fridge. Lent is over so I will be drinking beer once again. Life is good.

5:57 p.m.

Counting My Chickens Before They Are Hatched

I spent a large part of yesterday inside because of rainy weather. The supplies for my new chicken house arrived and I could see them sitting out on the driveway. I kept thinking about my chicken order and wishing I had ordered a Dominique cockerel instead of a Black Australorp.

This morning I called and changed my order.

Those chicken people are mighty friendly at 8:30 a.m. I was still struggling to formulate complete sentences. So now I have a month to wait for my little chickens to arrive and I'll have a pretty little flock of Dominiques someday.

9:07 a.m.

Here Chickie, Chickie

I ordered my chickens last night. I had to order 25. This is due to the fact that they ship them when they are a day old and 25 is the magic number for keeping the little girls warm. It was so difficult to choose what type to get. My problem is that I look at all the pretty feathers and weird features and I want one of each. And don't even start to tell me that something is rare, because I want it even more!

I decided to go with decent all-around birds that would be calm and nice to live with. I wanted Dominiques. I fell in love with them last summer. I also like the Black Australorps, all shiny green-black, so I ordered a few as well, including one Australorp rooster. I like the idea of a big black rooster looking over all those hens, except now I wish I had ordered a Dominique rooster instead. Then I ordered a few Golden Polish, just for their mop heads. Next were the Golden Laced Wyandottes and a few Rhode Island Reds. They should make a colorful lot, although I'm not sure what I'll do with 25 of them. Actually it is 26 because McMurray Hatchery sends one rare goofy chicken as a freebie with the order. The suspense is killing me. I can't wait to paint them.

I want to thank my friend, Kristin for her insight and experience with chickens even though she wanted me to order all the truly strange. The baby chicks arrive the week of April 25. That's plenty of time to get their new home prepared.

I was listening to the frogs sing.

6:48 p.m.

Illustration Friday - Another Bloom

another bloom

I just can't leave well enough alone. Spring is officially in my blood. I'm blooming! I have to post another illustration for Illustration Friday. Please feel free to check out my first entry.
This one is ink and watercolor. I picked up a scrap of paper - most likely Arches.

7:51 a.m.

This day is starting with promise.

Welcome Spring

Trout Lilies are blooming in the woods. What a lovely day.

lovely

Hmm...

Blogger is not letting me add links or edit posts (like the last two) without a lot of difficulty. Hmm...
I thought it might be bloggerbot, but NO-O-O! It's doing it with this post as well.
It is pissing me off.
Dammit.
Seriously.
Don't make me come over there and kick some ass.
Fix it already.

Illustration Friday - Bloom

bloom

The Illustration Friday topic this week is Bloom. The topic is now given on Friday and participants have to post by Thursday (I think...). At least we have the weekend to work on our entries. I am already looking forward to summer, thus the sunflowers. I am more than ready for things to bloom.

*Because of the overlap this week, check out the illustration for fragile as well.

Happy Birthday Brother Bill

Happy Birthday Brother Bill

Until my brother went to kindergarten my mother thought his birthday was Saint Patrick's Day.

Illustration Friday - Fragile

fragile

This week's Illustration Friday topic is fragile. I'm feeling a little delicate myself today.

8:43 a.m.

2:57 p.m.

Five days until Spring.

Beware the Ides of March

Et tu Brute?

It was a typical Tuesday - Kindermusik, the bakery, then home. Monkey surprised me and sang today. Sang her little heart out. The goat goes bump. The donkey goes kick...

The weatherman is threatening snow, but it stayed a mild 50 something today (just like yesterday). Monkey and I enjoyed the sun again today. We ate lunch on the back porch. I raked out the flower beds and cut back the sprawling rose on the fence. Monkey sat in the dirt.

I managed to run two miles without losing a lung. I need a new dog to run with. Chelsea, Queen of the Compost Bin is now 12 and just can't do it. The heart is willing, but... And Biscuit the Wonder Dog is a sprinter. She starts slowing down after a half mile or so and drops farther and farther behind. I need a speed demon with endurance.

The weekend was beautiful with temperatures in the 70's. Like thousands of parents we took our little monster to see Robots. She said she preferred Pooh's Heffalump Movie. I was slightly let down as well. The animation was impressive, but the story kept losing my interest.

We spent the rest of the time outdoors enjoying sunshine. It was heaven.

Where's the lamb?

3:19 p.m.

February is by far the most tedious of months. It's grey. It snows. It rains. It's the shortest in days and seems like the longest in length.

I now award the title of Most Dramatic to March. It came in like a lion. The lion has been bellowing for the last couple of weeks with high winds, snow and rain. When it's sleeping the temperatures soar and I can feel Spring trying to break through. The lion is wearing out his welcome. Spring is 10 days away. I took the above photo just a few minutes ago. It was followed by a brief ray of light, then a 15 second blizzard. Now I'm looking out at blue skies.

March is a Drama Queen.

Southern Fried No. 2

I was at the YMCA today. There was a woman in the upstairs bathroom putting on make-up. I thought it was a little odd as the women's locker room has great big, well-lighted mirrors for just such a purpose. Was she in a hurry? Maybe she didn't have time to go downstairs to the locker room. No. She went back out into the gym, put her little make-up bag in a cubby and headed for the elliptical machines.

Does this happen in any other region of the country? I wonder.

Cruel Tuesday

12:37 p.m.

Winter wins once again. Yesterday the high was 58 degrees with a winter storm warning for the evening. The storm arrived in the night. The wind kept me awake. The wind and my stuffy, mucous clogged head. I woke up and watched the trees out my window bending at unbelievable angles. I don't particularly like to see 70 foot tall trees bending quite like that. I watched the rain turn to snow. The snow doesn't seem to stand a chance. The ground is too warm for it to stick to much but the taller grasses. It keeps falling and blowing though.

On our way to kindermusik this morning I saw plenty of downed branches. A tree had fallen across the road, but someone had cleared it off to the side. It's disheartening and a little frightening to see a 100 foot spruce cut in to chunks and moved out of the road. As I drove along I kept thinking of one falling on the car. Should I drive faster or slower to avoid falling timber?

I'm fighting a cold and sore throat. The chicken soup I made on Sunday has been my meals for the last couple of days. Lunch today was the last bowl. I think I'll make some curried beef and noodles tonight. Maybe the peppers will kill the virus raging in my head. My recipe calls for a cup fresh basil. I'm going to have to leave that out. It cost more at Ingle's than the sirloin that was on sale. I'm on a tight budget this week. I can't wait until summer when I'll have so much basil that I won't know what to do with it all. I'm dreaming of fresh basil and tomatoes.

Today it is snowing. The temperature is 28 degrees. Spring is 14 days away.

Aah, Sunday...

4:07 p.m.

Right now there is a pot of chicken broth simmering on the stove made from last night's roast chicken. I think I will add some mushrooms and barley to it. Mmmm. We took Monkey to the park at Tomahawk Lake today. Big Daddy helped her feed the ducks and geese. I ran around the lake. It's a nice surface to run on and fairly level. My knees needed the relief. Monkey played on the swings and slides and then we came home. She's been sleeping for a couple of hours now.

Big Daddy and I have been working in the yard and garden. I managed to turn the compost that was frozen solid a week ago. Big Daddy tilled up the bed for our new asparagus plants and got them planted. I cleaned out my herb, flower and strawberry beds near the house. I also cleared out the dogs' trail through the woods from the bottom of the garden up to the drive. I thought it would be a nice shortcut to use from time to time. Big Daddy is still outside, clearing and cutting back the raspberry and blackberry canes. I hope they produce as well as they did last year because I'm running low on blackberry jam.

I can see Big Daddy right now from the office window. He should have been a plumber. His pants are always hanging too low. Poor man, he has no butt to hold up his Levis.

The weather is sunny and in the mid 50's. Only 15 days until Spring.

I had a dream that our yard was full of crocus.
The sun is shining and it is raining.

Spring is only 16 days away.

3:11 p.m.

Let's not repeat this day.

I will ramble, but it's my blog and I feel like rambling.

My patience and aptitude as a parent was tested today. My darling Monkey is finally showing signs of the "terrible twos". I had to take her along to a meeting this morning. She managed to talk throughout. She has been talking non-stop for at least three weeks. She isn't bad, she just asks volumes of questions and involves herself in conversations. Luckily, for the moment, most adults we encounter seem to think it is charming and precocious. She has some sort of pheromone or evil psychic mind ray that affects rational adults in close proximity. Strangers come up to us and ogle her. Old women bring her handmade gifts and offer her candy.

She talked through my meeting. She talked through lunch. She talked through our trip to the library. She talked while she played at the playground. She prattled on in her carseat all the way home. She then refused to pick up her toys. I wouldn't let her watch her cartoons until we put the toys away. Here is where the battle of wills began. She sat on the couch and glared at me. She told me not to touch her toys. I ignored her glare and continued to clean. Finally she smacked her hands down on the couch and said, "Dammit!" She then stormed to her room and slammed the door. I am not looking forward to the teen years. My mother would call it poetic justice.

Now comes the part of the day that we cannot tell my mother about. Mom, if for some reason you are reading this, stop now.

Big Daddy came home early today as the Monkey was wearing me out. We were both in tears. I was tired. I had a headache. She smelled blood. Big Daddy to the rescue - HA! While his intentions were good, he thought toddler/dog wrestling was a good thing. He is in so much trouble. He is grounded.

I was in the bedroom when I hear a blood-stopping cry and Big Daddy yelling at the dog. The Monkey was screaming and crying and ran to me all covered in tears. Chelsea, the dog, had snapped at her and broke skin on her eyelid and below her eye. Her beautiful grey-blue-green eye. The left one. The guilty dog was hiding and shaking. The non-guilty dog was hiding and shaking. I'm not sure what Big Daddy was doing when the violence occured, but I blame him. Bad Daddy. And I couldn't get a straight story out of any of them. Big Daddy wasn't talking - stammering, not talking. Monkey wasn't talking. The dog wasn't talking.

So we call the doctor. The wound was not stitch worthy, but as a concerned parent I'd like some reassurance that the Monkey won't be disfigured. We are put on hold for 40 minutes. We decide to head to the emergency room. It is a dog bite after all. And I was in quite the over emotional state. On the way to the hospital I blow up at Big Daddy. Big Daddy just keeps driving - apoligizing and driving. I don't deserve him, even if he is the cause of my daughter's disfigurement. We arrive at the hospital only to be told that it will probably be a wait of 4-5 hours if we want to wait, that is. Encouraging.

The Monkey wasn't in pain. She was developing quite the shiner, but was already talking to the nurse about chocolate and her dog who growled at her. The dog is fully vaccinated. Five hours is a long time.

We decided to go eat pizza instead. I'll call the doctor tomorrow. Better yet, I'll call some of my friends and see who they take their kids to here. Put me on hold for 40 minutes when I'm distraught will you? Bastards.

When we got home the Monkey curled up on the floor with Chelsea the Guilty Dog. All sins were forgiven, at least by Monkey. She then had a creamsicle and we read "Olivia Saves the Circus" before bed.

Oh, and we plan on weeding the word "Dammit" from Monkey's vocabulary real soon.

Illustration Friday - Jazz

jazz

The topic for this week's Illustration Friday is Jazz. I've been busy all week with another project and thought to skip this week, but I needed a little paper cutting relaxation this evening.
I also think the exercise of making something each week is a good idea.

7:35 a.m.

Happy Birthday Dad!

12:13 p.m.

7:06 a.m.

Running and Birding

One of the things I love about living where I do is the close proximity of nature. There is variety. There are surprises. The mountains change and stay the same. Right now looking out the window of my office I see chickadees, a nuthatch, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, crows and bluebirds. The bluebirds are always a nice surprise. I didn't see many bluebirds during my forced "incarceration" in the city. We have several bluebird houses, but none moved in last year. Right now they are checking out the various accommodations. I hope they find one to their liking.

I went for a run an hour or so ago. Yesterday's prediction about the weather was correct. It's 40 degrees, windy and cloudy. Rain is forecast for later this afternoon. We have a winter storm warning and snow forecasted for today and tomorrow. The cold and my sore knee made the run a little more taxing than I wanted. But I saw a couple of pileated woodpeckers. They are slightly prehistoric to me. They are so big and they have that funny dipping flight. I love to see them. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see so many around here. We are surrounded by large tracts of woodland after all.

During the last leg of my run, which is up hill, two vultures were flying low over me. Made me wonder if they knew something I didn't. It's a particularly difficult stretch for me. I am returning to running after about a 10 year hiatus, I have a bum knee and asthma (although since our move from the city I've been able to go off my daily medication and have had no attacks in a year). Last week on that route, I had to walk the last bit and felt defeated. Today I just focused on making it to the speed limit sign, then the driveway, then the green mailbox, then the cemetery road and finally the Tom's driveway. I did it. My lungs were burning, but it felt good.

After my cool down walk I trudged up the hill to our house and saw a blue heron fly over the front yard and down toward the valley. That was a little strange. There are a lot of birds today.

We will plant shallots for grandma.

2:50 p.m.

Another blue sky day. Temperatures are in the mid-50's. We visited a couple of Big Daddy's worksites this morning, then went to the nursery and garden center to pick up some seeds and plants.

We bought white and red onion sets, shallots, broccoli, cabbage, beets, lettuce, carrots, radishes and asparagus. The onions are tiny things in baskets which we bought by weight. The Monkey, of course, had to have her own paper sack full of shallots. She said, "I will plant these for Grandma!" She has her own little garden where the daffodils are coming up and the orange and purple pansies we planted last Fall are blooming.

We spent the afternoon clearing and tilling the garden while Monkey miraculously napped. I am looking forward to radishes fresh from the ground. The French Breakfast are my favorite. We bought a packet of the Black Spanish Rounds to try. They look so strange and well, so black. The Baby Nantes carrots did well last year so we'll plant those again. I can't wait for fresh picked lettuce and salad greens. I will be looking every day for signs of growth. How will I ever be able to wait until next year for the asparagus? I am a most impatient gardener.

And I still think that the Seasons are just toying with me and it will snow again soon.

Perhaps a Ray of Hope for Togo?

So the man who stole a presidency and a tiny country's chance at democracy and hope for healing is stepping down. My bet is he wins a faked election. I hope not. The people of Togo deserve so much more. I always feel cynical in February.

3:15 p.m.

Illustration Friday - Sorrow

sorrow

This week's topic for Illustration Friday is sorrow. I've been very busy this week and occupied with another project. I didn't think I would have time to come up with anything. My other illustration project at the moment is very cheerful and earlier this week I had no place for sorrow. However, I recieved some unsettling news last night and now I'm rather full of sorrow, remorse, anxiety, grief.

The older sister of one of my oldest, dearest, most valued friends (we've been friends since first grade) is losing her fight with cancer. This is a family who has been much closer to sorrow than I can even imagine. Her husband died several years ago and soon their children will be left without parents.

As I began to think about sorrow the images of Kathe Kollwitz filled my head. Mother and child. Pieta. Perhaps I'm also under the influence of the lenten season as well. I don't have the heart to draw anything new, so I cheated a little and pulled a sketch out from one of my Togo notebooks. Here perhaps there is a little poetic license in art. The child is sleeping, but the slumped form suggests darker images as well. I wished it was more finished, but it's all I have today to share.

The irony is I have to get right back to cheerful, upbeat and happy to finish the project I'm getting paid for.

10:08 a.m.

4:44 p.m.

After a morning at the gym, the Monkey and I came home and played outside. She dragged her little folding chair down off the front porch and sat out in the sun. I had to laugh. It has been a beautiful day. I saw a wasp. The birds are singing and chattering. I know spring is officially a month away (and even farther away here in the mountains), but I can't help but feel a little uplifted.

I cleaned out the fish pond and all three fish have made it through the winter. I can't wait to tackle that area this spring. The pre-formed pond the previous owner put in doesn't quite suit my sensibilities, but will do for now. I started planting up the area last year and hope to continue with some more native plants this spring.

I've got my lists of seeds ready and need to place my orders. In another month we should be able to put in the cool crops (maybe even sooner for some). In about two months I'll be able to get my baby chickens and keep them all warm in the garage until they can go live in their newly constructed chicken house and yard.

7:08 a.m.

Full Moon

7:11 p.m.

When I went for my run this evening I heard frogs. The Seasons are teasing me.

It was still light an hour ago. As I ran up the valley, the moon had just come over the mountain to the east and the sun was just going all rosy behind the mountain to the west. Hurry, Spring, hurry.

Today's Color Is Grey

1:44 p.m.

It's cold and rainy. I want to go running, but not that bad. Where is spring?

Yesterday it was bright and sunny. It got cloudier as the day progressed. We took a nice little family hike after lunch up on the Mountains to Sea Trail. It's hard to turn around when you know a trail just keeps going. I always want to see whats around the bend, beyond the next clump of trees, or over the hill. But after about 45 minutes of climbing uphill, Monkey was tired and we turned around. She's a good little hiker, my Monkey.

Today is just cold and damp and I can't get warm. I'm going to have to go sit in front of the fire and wrap myself up in a blanket. I can pull out all my seed catalogs and plan for spring even if it feels like it will never come.

So Not What I Wanted

Yesterday I was feeling a little bored and a little fed up with my hair color. It's a dangerous feeling. So, while I was picking up laundry detergent at the local discount superstore, I decided to buy me a little hair color. I have not colored my own hair in ten years. Ten years. I also, after this move to this mountain paradise, no longer have the budget that allows me to spend $100 on a haircut and enjoy the color expertise of a true artist and professional. Ten years. No money. Boredom.

The particular hair kit that I bought promised neutral brown and neutral/cool highlights. Highlights. I can do highlights. I have a master of fine arts. I have watched professional hair stylists do it for years. How hard can it be? I am an idiot. Obviously my idea of neutral and cool are quite different than L'Oreal's. The base color is a nice brown. Not too cool, not too red. I can live with it. The highlights are orange. Orange is not a cool color. Orange is orange. Orange is brassy. Orange is not for me.

Big Daddy, to his credit, said he liked it. Big Daddy said I was beautiful. Big Daddy is a liar.

I broke down and called the salon. They chuckled at my misfortune. In a nice conspiratory way they chuckled. I am pathetic. My new stylist (who is very busy) cannot see me until Monday afternoon. Monday. Afternoon.

I am doomed.

7:13 a.m.

Back Seat Baby Driver

Go faster. FASTER!
Turn the wheel. Turn! Turn!
Cow!
Faster Mommy, faster!
Don't stop now.
Not that song.
The light is green. GO!
Turn the wheel.
Go that way.
Turn here! Turn here!
Did you see that dog?
Not that song.
Look at the tree Mommy.
I love chocolate!
Not that song.
Turn!

Illustration Friday - "Flight"

"flight"

The topic for this week's Illustration Friday was flight. I have spent the last two days working on a drawing of crows. But tonight after dinner I was playing "airplane" with the Monkey ("Again, again, again, Mommy! I wanna fly!") and had another idea. I scrapped the birds and went for the Monkey in flight as high as the soles of my feet could take her. Go Monkey, fly high!

Watercolor on Aquarelle Arches Hot Pressed 140 lb. paper.

2:53 p.m.

Happy Valentines Day

yummy

I made Monkey pink heart pancakes for Valentines Day. Every girl should have something pink on Valentines Day. She ate three and then wanted blue ones. We'll save those for a blue holiday.

I've now accomplished hearts and mickey mouse pancakes. My mother used to make my brother and I elephant ones. I've yet to accomplish a believable elephant. Maybe I'll try making blue ones some day.

I didn't post much this weekend, so I didn't get to write about Monkey's first movie theatre experience. We went to see Pooh's Heffalump Movie. She was enthralled. I don't know if the movie or the popcorn and "fizzy" (sprite) was the bigger hit. Big Daddy liked his supersize popcorn and the movie. I found the character development a little lacking and think that Tigger is relying a little too much on his past performances, but it was quite the movie for a young lady of Monkey's age.

Sunday, January 13, 2005 6:00 p.m.

Isn't It Romantic?

happy valentine's day

Behold my Valentine's Day present! Big Daddy got me new running shoes. He did not pick them out of course, that would be silly. He got new shoes as well to wear to the gym. His are not as nice as mine. That would also be silly. We are indeed a most romantic pair. I think to celebrate the actual day we have a babysitter. We plan to go to a movie.

4:21 p.m.

And Just One More

2:43 p.m.

The Many Faces of Thursday

2:14 p.m.
Yes, that is snow.

9:07 a.m.

7:24 a.m

It has been an incredibly dreary day. The fog didn't lift until after 1 p.m. It isn't raining. There is no wind. It is just dark and grey.

4:39 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

Instead of the normal photo, I did a painting today. I had to take advantage of the fabulously warm weather we are having. I find it rather hard to concentrate on the act of painting with the Monkey finding everything she shouldn't in my studio. We washed her hands four times this afternoon. At least we didn't have a reenactment of last year when she came to me, her mouth a lovely shade of cerulean blue, and announced, "This frosting doesn't taste good!" It was acrylic paint and poison control assured me it was non-toxic. And the Monkey isn't the only distraction. Try painting en pleine aire with a German Shepherd bringing you a ball every 30 seconds, dropping it at your feet and whining until you put down the paint brush and throw the damn slobery thing. I'm still amazed I got something done. I'm leaving it like it is for awhile.

I must say that all the wonderfully nice comments about my illustration friday submission gave me a little more courage to post this painting today. Thank you for the nice feedback!

I hope Big Daddy gets home early as promised so I can go for a run. Then we can head out for some pizza and my last beer before Lent. Hey, I made it 9 months without my favorite beverage, I figure I can make it through Lent.

Illustration Friday - The Year of the Rooster

This is my illustration friday submission for this week. This is my first and I can't wait for next week's topic. The topic this week is The Year of the Rooster. An appropriate year because I'm currently building a chicken house to hold a new little flock.

7:23 a.m.

3:53 p.m.

Great day for a run!

My Job History, Or What I've Done with My Life So Far

Here is a list of all the jobs I've held. I think they are chronological to the best of my memory. Many of these overlap. Some continued for many summers (like the camp jobs) so I've left a few redundancies out.

• Babysitter
• YMCA Day Camp Counselor
• Ice Cream Shop Employ
• Easter Bunny
• Photographer for Seasonal Promotions at Mall
• Usher at Movie Theatre
• Worked in an Icelandic Fish Factory
• Camp Counselor/Horseback Riding Instructor at Camp Zoe
• Student Employee in Dean of Students Office
• Summer Clerk at Missouri Board of Medical Liscensure
• Horseback Director at YMCA of the Ozarks
• Cook in Dining Hall (change of colleges...)
• Mailroom clerk in dorm
• Clerical staff in Office of Admissions (upgrade)
• Sign Painter
• Summer Clerk at Missouri Board of Medical Liscensure (it's called guarded nepotism...)
• Clerical staff in Office of Admissions and Campus Tour Guide
• Summer Clerk at Missouri Department of Natural Resources Laboratory Services
• Graduate Teaching Assistant
• Horse Trainer/Excerciser
• Waitress
• Bartender
• Horseback Director at Camp Juliette Low
• Starving Artist/Bartender
• Peace Corps Volunteer in Agroforestry and Environmental Protection in Togo
• Assistant Camp Director at Camp Juliette Low
• Middle School/High School Art Teacher
• Art Instructor at Community College
• Illustrator
• Nursery Worker(plant nursery)
• Private Gardener

I think I'm going to have to say that Easter Bunny was the oddest job. What was yours?

You May Not Even Know Where Togo Is, But It's Important to Me

As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Togo it's hard to believe that this man is dead. Gnassingbe Eyadema was the longest ruling leader in Africa. We Peace Corps Volunteers called him "Stevie" after his French name, Etienne. Now it just remains to be seen if the military and his son will follow the law, or change it like Stevie did so often to suit his own needs.

Mommy the Super Hero

"Hey! You look like Spiderman!"

- what Monkey said when she saw me in my running gear

2:42 p.m.

So once again the pit bulls who belong to the confederate flag flying, t-bird up on blocks in the front yard people down the mountain have showed up in my yard. This time my dogs wanted inside immediately (o.k., the smart shepherd mix wanted inside, the terrier wanted to go try to kick some ass and get mauled again).

The county has strict breed specific laws, which in theory I am against. But when it comes to the safety of my own dogs and child, I'll take the law that requires the dogs to be penned when outside. I'm not someone who thinks all pit bulls are bad and must be eliminated. I myself have owned a pit bull, who was a wonderful dog. These are not nice dogs and are overly aggressive. I tried to talk to the owners to no avail. In fact, on one visit to their home, I was forced back in my car by the dogs.

Today I called animal control first. I'll let them handle it. Maybe the owners should be forced to be penned when outside...

9:34 a.m.

dreary

9:47 a.m.

Animal Predictions

My dog is shedding like mad. Does this count? Some good might come out of the masses of black fur in the corners of the room after all.

I couldn't decide on photos, so there are two this morning. I'm looking out the window and I may have to take another.

7:23 a.m.

7:20 a.m.

Tuesday is Better Than Monday

Tuesday is Kindermusik day. There is nothing in the world quite like a room full of 18 month to 3 year old children shaking bells, beating sticks and dancing around the room to "Roll Over Rover". "Roll Over Rover" just happens to be the Monkey's current favorite. You get to sit, lay down, roll over and wag your tail all in one song. How could it not be a favorite?

Our schedule after Kindermusik is normally pretty loose. We go have coffee and muffins with some other Kindermusik parents and kids. Today after coffee we met up with T. And her son Jacob at the park. Monkey and I got there early so we took a walk around the lake. It was quite chilly, so when the others arrived we decided to head to the mall. The play space at the mall is a scary venue. It's surrounded by the food court. We ate, we played, we came home and napped.

Monkey is over her cold for the most part. Big Daddy is now knocked out by his cold and is quickly turning into Big Baby. I sent him to bed awhile ago. He must get better by Thursday. We've got a thing to go to. I don't get a chance for too many "things" these days, so I'm a little excited. I get to get dressed up. I get to eat good food and drink fine wine. I get to have adult conversations with adults. And these adults have grown children, so there will be no baby/toddler discussions if I can help it. I am looking forward to Thursday.