When being good pays off.

A couple of months ago while on a walk to the neighborhood market for some coffee beans, we were passed by a van that was being happily chased by a dog. We called to the dog, got him out of the road, and checked his tags. The address on the tag was one street over from us, so I pulled some yarn out of my purse, fashioned it into a lead and we walked him home. When we arrived at his house the owners weren't home so we talked to their neighbor (and ours as our backyards meet up with each other). She said that they have been having trouble keeping the dog in their yard and just to stick him in the back yard. As we were putting him in the backyard and shoring up the gate in hopes that he wouldn't get out again, the owners pulled in the driveway. They had been at Home Depot buying things to fix their fence to try and prevent anymore dog breakouts. They thanked us for our help and asked us if we like to go see shows. We said, "Yes we do." Then they told us that one of them manages a couple of clubs around town and if we ever wanted to get into a show, to let them know.

Earlier that day I had read that the "the boy's" favorite performer was coming to one of the clubs this guy manages, so I jumped and said, "Yes! Matt Costa is coming May 28th and we would love to take "the boy" (the boy nodding his head in agreeance). They took down all of our names and my phone number and said that they would put us on the list. As we walked home, "the boy" was in awe...we were going to be on a VIP list!

Two days later they changed the venue for the concert and all but ruined our plans for a free show and being on the VIP list.

Months went by and life got busy and crazy and I had actually considered just letting the concert pass without taking "the boy", then last Sunday I got a call from the dog owners. They said that Matt Costa had been moved from their venue to another but they were going to make some calls and see if they could get us in. I.WAS.SHOCKED. I got a call a little later confirming that we were on the "list" and to enjoy the show.

So last night headed down to the show (stopping by the ATM on the way, just in case). We walked in and said, "We are on a list".....and we were. Right at the top of a special list! D and I were shocked. It isn't often that people do what they say they will these days.

We made our way to the front of the crowd and waited through two bands for Matt Costa to come on. There were some very sweet kids that allowed us to squeeze towards the middle and closer to the stage so that "the boy" could see. It was a very pleasant experience all in all.

Delta Spirit - opening touring band




Mr. Costa


And the best....



I am always looking at ways to set positive examples for "the boy" and this is a great one. Sometimes kind pays in kind, and hopefully that will be recurring theme in his life.

Gang aft agley

Farmer and poet Robert Burns wrote it best after plowing his field one day and disturbing a mouse's nest, "The best laid plans of mice, and men, often go awry".

Our remodel plans for the basement have taken many twists & turns, but things are happening nonetheless. Stress and worry, and time all wash away when I think of the finished product and what it means as we start a new chapter in our lives and chalk the whole thing up as another adventure that we've survived.

The progress thus far, along with my daily coffee:













We hung the first sheet of drywall last night. More big things to come this weekend.

Third

I have devoted the last two days to listening to the new Portishead album "Third"...(that is, whenever the boy wasn't listening to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" on repeat).

My normal reaction to Portishead is "sexy-time". I could be in the most repulsive, unattractive place on earth, hear Portishead and want to take all my clothes off and make out. Too much information? Ask any random passerby and I bet they will tell you the same thing.

So while listening to "Third" I keep waiting for it, waiting for my head to get all swimmy but it isn't really happening...something different is. I find myself wanting to take my Zune and a pair of big headphones to some southern Utah slot canyon for a night hike under a full moon. I find myself longing for my youth and days gone past. It feels like psychedelic rock more than trip-hop. Hell, Beth Gibbons even sounds a bit like Grace Slick at one point during the song Threads. Maybe I need to read a professional review of this album, or something at all about it, because, honestly I don't know anything about it. What I do know is this:

"Third" feels more like a trip or a story than a orgy. And that isn't bad.

New & Improved Ways To Teach Children to be Grateful (or scare the hell out of them trying!)

It is hard to raise a grateful child these days as it seems they want for nothing. We are not rich by any means, but my son never goes hungry, nor do we have to save our money to buy a turkey that we bake and eat for days, then turn the leftover bits into soup that we then eat for more days (hi mom!). Hell, even the welfare mom down the street with 3 kids and a job managing a burger joint's kids don't go without. They have a trampoline! And electric scooters! And so much crap that it spills out of their house and onto their porch....and into their yard.

I have taken to new measures of teaching my son to be grateful. Some people may not agree with my tactics, but in a world where we go out of our way to cushion our children for anything "ugly", I am thinking that shock and awe is the answer.

If the child has a fit over what is for dinner, *SHOCK and AWE* show them a picture of this:




If the child doesn't want to help around the house, or complains about going to school *SHOCK and AWE* show them a picture of this:



For some reason when I googled "child labor" all of the images are of kids smiling! I can't scare my kid with other smiling kids.....The kids need to look miserable! Google, I beg you, more images of miserable children doing child labor!!

At the very least, I'm going to make my kid watch this Radiohead video.

ANYWAYS....

Ultimately, even I need to be reminded every now and again to be grateful that I have food to feed my family and that I'm not working 12 hours a day gluing shoes together to put that food on the table.

And yes, maybe I did compose this whole blog just so that I could post the new Radiohead video....what of it?

6 Minutes with Stanley Donwood

To me, Stanley Donwood is as much a member of Radiohead as Thom, Jonny, Colin, Phil or Ed. His art and writing give us a butally honest look at humanity that borders on the offensive, and I love it. Here is a rare and short glimpse of him doing his thing. Also visit "Small Thoughts" on my blog roll to read some of his writing.



*disclaimer* Mark, if you watch this, there are several instances where Thom Yorke's voice is playing in the background.

Things

I love things.
Shiny things.
Funky things.
Things that do nothing.

But as I have been preparing for the upcoming merge of two households into a very small space, I am looking at things in a much different light. Any new purchase of "things" requires them to be utilitarian as well as hold some sort of visual interest. Here are some examples of the types of things I would consider purchasing:

The Cycloc

We have 3 bikes. It would be great to be able to store them and have it look cool at the same time.


"Bento" Style Lunch Boxes
They are functional, as all three of us pack a lunch at least once during the week and they are attractive and can serve a decorative function when being stored on a shelf.

Vintage Tamac Pottery (I love the avocado series)



Thanks to Evany I have been obsessively looking at Tamac pottery online for the past week. I love the free form shape of the pieces and the prices are comparable if not less expensive then other modern dishes. Thus, they hold visual interest and yet can be used on a daily basis.

I will post more purchasable "things" as I find them. Things are part of the frivolité.

Parenting, MP3's & Tattoos

Click to make bigger

Whispered Apologies

Squidman

I'm married to the sea.....but don't tell him I called him that.

Inspired by: http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=148

Alternate title: "Who said back injuries couldn't be fun?!"

Once upon a time

Gather around children and I will tell you a story.

Once there was a girl who fell in love with a boy... and the boy, in turn, fell in love with the girl.

It was all very convenient that way.

The boy was very thoughtful and ordered the girl a Valentine's present that he knew she would love. He ordered it early, giving it plenty of time to come via post... All.The.Way.From.Canada.

It came two days ago. They decided not to mail it until 2 days before Valentine's Day, but it was worth the wait.


How can you not love things like this?




Thanks DZA! xo

One of those days....

1. There was an earthquake near my home town this morning.
2. My father's home almost burned down last night.
3. I woke up with 2 zits.
4. It snowed.
5. My boss is being rushed out of state for a highly complicated surgery that will require him to be gone for 3+ weeks.
6. I have to figure what to do with 4 Grad students and an undergraduate course that is taught 3 days a week for the next 3+ weeks.
7. The senate did not approve funding for my contract, thus I am out of a job in August.

If anyone needs me, I'll be "cleaning" the oven.