Month: May 2013

  • Xanga Suggestion Box (Update)

    @TheXangaTeam

    @Eugenia

    Dear Xanga and the sister sites (Lovelyish, Momaroo, Datingish, Revelife, Autistable, etc),

    When I visit your site for the first time, am I wrong to assume that there is an automated generator that detects my presence and then visits my blog, subscribes to me, and requests my friendship? Here's my problem with this process, it's invasive. The most invasive part is the subscription that you now have unless I block you entirely.

    When I visit a business, I'm not giving them my home address and an invitation to my next party. Ya dig? That doesn't mean I don't like your site or what you can offer. But I shouldn't have to block you in order to stop your non-consensual subscription.

    I have now had to block most of your sister sites. I didn't want to, but I also didn't want your eyes and ears plugged into my site, receiving notification of my updates without my knowledge. No, my site is not friend-locked (but it is footprint-locked). When people look, I want to know. That includes you.

    I hope someone who can take this into consideration will read this. It's a turn off to more than just me. Everyone appreciates even a modicum of privacy. Yes, even on the internet.

     

    *Edited to add:

    Maybe part of the problem is that people (anyone) can sub without your approval. Why don't you add an approval to the subscription process? That doesn't seem like a hard thing to program in. I think it's weird in Xanga beyond the sister sites, that users can sub you without your permission. And the only way to "say no" is to block a user entirely.

    It's a flaw in the subbing process altogether.

     

     

  • The Blue Mariachi Band

    When we go out to eat, we frequent family-owned establishments. We don't prefer chains. Our location in Texas means there are a lot of Mexican restaurants, and all of them are absolute family operations, sometimes there is even a language barrier. I don't mind that of course, it's authentic and I love that they are sharing a part of their tradition, a part of themselves, with us. The other night, we went to such a restaurant.

    We'd been there before, it's our first choice when we want to eat Mexican food. But this time, it must have been a special event of some kind. The tables were lined with white satin and lace overlays. The chairs were wrapped in fabric with huge gold satin bows. It looked like wedding decorations. Every table had a big vase with at least a dozen live (large) carnations. And a live mariachi band was playing. What a surprise when we walked through the doors!

    They were in authentic attire. Blue. There were 5 men and 1 woman. They were fantastic. But the real surprise was one of the restaurant patrons. A very, very old man.

    He had to be nearing his 100s, no exaggeration. He wore a brown bowling hat with a fancy feather pinned to it. He was a dapper chap, there was no denying his old man swag. He enjoyed the music very much, and I guess he could no longer contain himself, and why not? So he stood.

    He began to dance between the tables. A simple step, but to the beat. And then his wife joined him. He put one hand around her waist and the other held her hand. They swayed to the happy music with broad smiles on their aged faces.

    The song changed, to something that most of the crowd recognized and cheered wildly for. The woman in the mariachi band walked over to the couple and she serenaded them.

    Excuse me for saying so, but she serenaded the shit out of them. It was a show worthy of a hundred encores.

    And then, the blue mariachi band played a soft romantic song, the couple danced once more. The whole restaurant burst into applause and cheers (as I burst into tears, like I do). And it was over.

    It was a moment that stopped time. This Blue Mariachi Band. And this elderly couple, who shared their joy and their love. Without reservation. Ageless.

     

  • Mile High Club

    I got my Delta Skymiles statement in the mail today. Josh opened it and asked about it.

     

    Josh: Why do you get this?

    Me: I signed up for it a long time ago, when I lived in Boston. (Before I knew him.)

    Josh: Obviously, "Miss Sarah (maiden name)."

    Me: It's my Mile High Club membership.

    Josh: What?

    Me: It's a known fact you can't get pregnant in the air.

    Josh: And this is supposed to make me feel BETTER? ..... You have a balance.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Cheers to the Sevens - Happy Birthday

    Today, 7 years ago, I met my first child. A daughter. We had waited patiently for her arrival, almost 42 weeks! We induced. We failed. I had a cesarean. It was traumatic. But that isn't what this post is about.

     

    She came stubbornly into this world, all 7lbs 14oz (21") of her. She is still stubborn, now. She gets it from her momma.

     

    This morning we included her in the planning for her birthday. Her wish? To eat at our favorite Sicilian restaurant for lunch. To bake a chocolate cake with me this afternoon. And for presents, we gave her a choice: she could shop with us and pick what she wanted, or we could shop for her and wrap the presents and it would be a surprise. She chose to be surprised. She said, "I want you and daddy to pick. You're my family, I'll love what you pick."

     

    This is a child who gets it. She gets that presents aren't about just getting something you want. It's about the gift. The thought. The surprise. And the love.

     

    She could have chosen to go to Chuck e Cheese (or some other parental horror) but instead, she chose our family restaurant. She could have chosen the fancy bakery for her birthday cake, instead she chose baking it with me.

     

    So happy birthday to my daughter, Ava. Who, seven years ago, began our family journey.

     

  • MY Last Minute Survey

    I've never done one of these, you suckers. Darn you for tagging me, @olwd

    You'll get what you get in these 16 facts, habits, or goals. (I guarantee none of these are goals though, because goals as such go against my personality. Why? Because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Live today. How can we fully live today while we spend all our time planning for a time that may or may happen?) If you've been tagged, please complete and tag me. Don't forget to tag 10 of your friends. Enough of that, here are my fracking, least-known facts.

     

    1.) I once drove a train. Is that the right verb? I accidentally went too fast and almost tipped the damn thing around a corner. I didn't want to do it in the first place, but ohhh nooo, it's SO easy! Bzzz, wrong. If I had wrecked it? They would have been in trouble for letting me do it, and I wouldn't have blinked twice.

     

    2.) I'm a former body surfer. During a 65 mph wind strength tropical storm, my sister and I were the idiots body surfing in the most dangerous waters you could imagine. I was 23. It was one of the best times I ever had, and the only other idiots out there were two male lifeguards who were doing the same. The waves were irresistible (and boards would have been impossible due to the quick breaks and roughness). The lifeguards invited us to a crazy party afterward (I'm sure pot, alcohol, and probably sex were involved). We said no. And I've always secretly regretted not at least showing up. They were sexy as hell, and knew how to ride. kiss

     

    3.) I was once offered a car just for going on one date with someone. I said no. He was a doctor (at said beach hospital). I took so much heat over saying no, everyone thought I was crazy. And for years after, he still followed me around like a puppy, and even after I was married and had Ava, he asked me out again. I had to turn him down in public yet again. I did use his affection, I wasn't all angel. Whenever his office gave our department crap, people came to me, and I made a personal call to him. And it was taken care of without a peep. Because when it came to Dr. Davies, I got what I wanted.

     

    4.) My father was a chaplain for multiple professional sports teams, like the Houston Astros and New England Patriots. I spent my youngest years surrounded by professional athletes and their families. The Tebows are family enemies. Their father was an asshole to my father, they are not the pure Christians they portray. They are deceivers.

     

    5.) I did CPR on my father when I was 20. No, he did not make it. He was already gone when we tried. The coroner said, "If this had happened in the operating room with a cardiac surgeon scrubbed up and waiting, he still couldn't have saved him." Even so, CPR is tricky. I think they should tell you during classes that when you do it properly, the color comes back into the face of the deceased and it plays mind games with you - you think they're coming back to life when they aren't. That doesn't mean you don't try, of course. But the detail matters.

     

    6.) I once shot a shot-gun at a clay skeet. It was for a fundraiser and I hated it, and I will never shoot another gun. I did not like it at all. Side note? I've watched enough movies that I knew how to hold the gun well, and my stance was perfect (but no, neither my aim nor timing were true). I got whistles of appreciation. But will never do it again.

     

    7.) I learned how to drive in a classic Porsche Carrera. He was red. And his name was Gerhert.

     

    8.) I x-rayed a deceased person. He was homeless and had died from hypothermia (I lived in Boston). They had not yet called his death, but he'd been dead when the ambulance picked him up, and was long dead by the time I x-rayed him. He was stinky.

     

    9.) I was the president of my youth group. Until my pastor told me I was going to hell. It was a biblical disagreement.

     

    10.) Though I myself am white, I've never had a white boyfriend. Here are the ones that mattered: Portuguese, Filipino, Latino, and Black (Josh). Maybe I should put a white guy on my bucket list. Except that would mean something evil, right?

     

    11.) I was in a multi-state spelling bee when I was in 2nd grade, it was a qualifier for the national bee. My school trained me for about 6 weeks prior to the bee, every day after lunch break until the end of school. There were only two words I couldn't spell in the entire book of possible words: bridge and shepherd. They always screwed me up. The day of the bee, my turn came. My first round word? Bridge. I said, "b r i g e." And was out.

     

    12.) While dancing in a club, the band that was playing, after finishing their set, approached me and asked me to be in their music video. I said no. (I say no a lot, huh. I wonder what adventures would have been had if I ever said yes?)

     

    ---- holy crap, I have to think of 4 more ----

     

    13.) I was born in California. We used to lie on the roof and watch the Blue Angels practice over our house.

     

    14.) I have always been a tree climber. I would climb them as high as I could, sometimes to antagonize my sisters who "had a bad feeling" about how high I was. I even climbed a tree when I was in college after a really sucky final that kicked my ass. I needed my nature, and the tree was the only damn green thing around. No one blinked. Everyone in my class knew I was a nature girl. Give me a choice and I'll prefer to sit in the grass to eat lunch than inside a building.

     

    15.) I have picketed and protested, and have even been a part of changing written state legislation (in Georgia).

     

    16.) I still have my baby blanket.

     

    Uhm I haven't amassed a very long friend list yet, and some of you have already played, and Dan, I don't think you will... So, tag, you're it: @MommyMarty24 @MegaByyte @seven45 @LondonsMommy@Momaroo @amateurprose @WaitingToShrug @thegunslingergirl

    My apologies if you already did this. I'm a survey virgin, be patient with me. And I'll probably never do it again. Darn you Amy. (Love you)

  • Say It Out Loud

    I just fell for this and said it like 15 times out loud until Josh told me to stop. Because I couldn't hear the trick, even knowing there was one. LOL!!

    Say this out loud: Alpha, Kenny, Body

    How many times until YOU got it??

     

     

  • "Your sex takes me to paradise." In the Bruno Mars song. It was playing on the radio. Ava (6) and Isaiah (3) were singing, Ava skipped that part and advised Isaiah to do the same, "language. That part has grown up stuff we don't even want to know about."

    Awesome. LOL!

  • As You Wish

    There are those who seek drama. They love it. They crave it.

    If it isn't around, they'll even create it.

    It doesn't matter the destruction it might represent.

    The interesting thing? Sheer entertainment.

     

    There once was a girl, she made friends with a boy.

    He was kind, she was smart, their relationship a joy

    A compliment spoken, what's the harm in that?

    It's OK to say, "I like you, nice pants." blush

     

    We had things in common, had good conversation.

    You were someone I related to, but it caused a sensation.

    "Give them something to talk about." Yes, we did that and more.

    I didn't know real damage was already cracking the floor.

     

    That defining moment, a line in the sand.

    A breathless word.

    The beginning of the end.

     

    I did nothing wrong, you ended it anyway.

    With a statement of adoration?

    How do I respond to that? What can I say?!

     

    Turning this way and that, I spin totally around.

    I can't see straight.

    I fall to the ground.

     

    You lament your name, your reputation?

    I cry for our relationship bifurcation.

     

    "Enjoy each other without communicating."

    Your words were felt. I still feel them. They sting.

     

    You threw me away. A slap in the face.

    How can I respond with grace?

     

    It's with brokenness, my final verse is penned.

    As you wish, my dear former friend.

     

    As you wish, this is the end.

     

  • Mayday

    I'm so frustrated with so many things right now. I'm doing my best to be patient, patient with people, patient with situations. But the truth is, the rug was pulled out from under my feet. I've been left feeling stunned over the course of the last 4 days.

    I'm doing my best to sit back and let the cards fall where they may, having done what I could for the people involved. But it's making me crazy. I have all these feelings bottled up inside. Feelings of hurt, loss, fear, love, and betrayal. And I can't do anything about it. I just have to sit back. And let it fall.

    That doesn't come naturally for me. I want everyone (including me) and everything to be OK. I want things to be back to normal. I want to erase the foolishness that has effected me and some very important people in my life. Drama for the sake of it. It couldn't be anything else, or honesty and up front behavior and communication would have been present. Not secrecy. Not hushed conversations. Not judgmental (and completely erroneous) name-calling about people I care for.

    Let it be. Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

    It's so hard to do.

     

     

  • My Bad Habit - I Confess

    So when I'm really stressed (and yep, I've been under A LOT OF STRESS) my dirty little habit rears its ugly head. I guess some people eat cartons of ice cream, and others might just drink away their stress (or try). Not me. I hurt myself. OK, not that dramatic. I pick at my cuticles.

    Yes, since I was a kid I've done it. I pick at the skin around my thumbs, the cuticles. A rough hangnail? Dude, I'll pull at it. It's bad! I know! I know it's a bad habit! It's not cute! And? It could introduce infection. (Hey, at least I don't bite my fingernails, I find that to be more annoying. It has a SOUND, too. UGH!)

     

    So that's my ugly confession. When I'm under deep stress, I pick at the cuticles around my thumbs. Sometimes until they bleed. I apologize. smooch

     

    Do you have any bad habits? Help a girl out, I don't want to be the only one exposed, here.

     

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