Once again, I feel uncomfortably chubby. Mr Handsome and I were watching "House, M.D." and I was saying how pretty the actresses were. And how tiny. He didn't say anything. I said, "Would you like it if I lost weight?" (poor guy. how's he supposed to answer?) He replied, quite easily and cheerfully, "Yes!" So, I said, "Tell you what. You bulk up and I'll slim down! How's that?" He answered, "Sure!" I've got motivation now!


And a goal. I'd like to look more like Eva Longoria-Parker.




She's my height (5"2" - I've got a half-inch on her, though!) and not surgically altered, at least I don't think so. I think she's a good goal for me!




Also, I love this suit and would love to be slim enough to wear something similar, but right now, if I wear anything cut like this (peplum), I'll look like a clown!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is my FAVE holiday (next to my birthday)! It's just all about the fun, and playing, and CANDY! We had a Halloween Party for kids last week at the bookstore. It was CRAZY! Little kids all over, eating chocolate donuts and playing with the Hugg-a-Planets and making pumpkins and getting candy and having a great time! The parents enjoyed watching their little treasures have fun, too. And it was fun for me and The Writer (my co-worker, who has written more than one book) to watch everyone have a good time.


I went as a 1950's Sock-Hopper, complete with poodle skirt






The Writer was an EXCELLENT Mrs. Dracula. I totally coveted her billowy, flowy, cape.









And Lima's Beansprouts were The Red Power Ranger and a Disney Princess (Ariel? I can't remember! Sorry Lima!)








Today, I went as a Witch: my AQ grad robe, really bad black wig, lots of eyeliner and also eyeliner for lipcolor. Easy, peasy.



When I took off the wig, my hair (which I'd sprayed with orange glitter) looked a lot like Edward Cullen's!



I have to admit, though, that the '80's Girl in me looooves the heavy eyeliner!

What did you all do for Halloween?

Why?

I've been asked, several times, "Why do you have a blog?" I've always just kind of shrugged sheepishly, and mumbled something incoherent. But, I think, for me, it's a way to affirm my life, to review where I've been, what I've done, even if it IS just having cereal for breakfast.

My life is not extraordinary. I don't think Great Thoughts. I'm not trying to save the world or inspire people or become famous. I'm just noting banal things that are going on. Maybe occasionally, there WILL be Great Thoughts or Amazing Occurences. But, in general, my life is uneventful, smooth, quite pleasant, really. My past is full of chaos, excitement, drama... I like this current life much, much better.

And I've decided to return to the blog. I don't like Facebook. I'm not interested in the online games or making new "friends" whom I've never met. I'll stick with the ones I've got and welcome new ones as they come along. And maybe I'll write about it here!

ok, that didn't last long...

Well, what can I say? I just don't like Facebook.

Your results:You are Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command)
Dependable and trustworthy.
You love your significant other and
you are a tough cookie when in a conflict.

Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 75% Alliance 65% Wash (Ship Pilot) 60% Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 50% Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 50% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 40% Derrial Book (Shepherd) 40% Inara Serra (Companion) 35% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 35% River (Stowaway) 25% A Reaver (Cannibal) 10%

Click here to take the "Which Serenity character am I?" quiz...

Bye for now.

oh my god, I'm gonna cough up a lung. No, a kidney. THAT'S how deep and painful these coughs feel. Sucks. Man, it's really super-duper rainy here. I feel like I'm with Sissie in Seattle!

Ok, I think this will be my last post for a while. I'm gonna give Facebook a try. Gina loves it. JB loves it. Maybe I can promote the bookstore, too. I dunno. It's not my store, though I love it. It's odd how friends tell ME how to advertise and shit for it. Not my call. Not my store. Book Doctor has her own vision and plan.

Anyhoo, this is it for a while, maybe forever. So, if you want to follow me on Facebook, you're welcome to! Just email me and let me know.

Happy 'netting!

I need some cheese to go with my wine

Went to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show (DANG! helluva long name!) last weekend and caught a miserable head cold that has now migrated down to my chest. Resulting in the kind of coughing that you can see and feel in glorious Technicolor. meaning it hurts. a lot. The trade show was fun, though! Lots and lots of books! And authors! And food! It was good! We got quite a few autographed copies of books. Museum Girl came to the bookstore today (yay!) and bought one of the signed copies we got. I knew she'd like it; I was actually going to give it to her as a late b-day gift, but now I can give her this OTHER book instead! BOOKS GALORE!

On a completely different subject, I'm considering going to the Dark Side: Facebook. That would require anyone who's interested in my goings-on to ALSO join Facebook, which I think is bogue (to make them do). I'm also considering just stopping the blog. I mean, is anyone out there? If so, why don't you leave comments? Maybe it's just all as boring as I feared: "I had cereal for breakfast today...."

Anyhoo, I was going to go to Indiana this weekend and now that's off, so I guess that means

DUHN DUHN DUUUUUUUHHHNNNNNN

I'll have to work at the cottage.

Bummer.

Autumn

Mr Handsome and I are (or maybe were - he's still in bed!) planning on going to the the 48th Antiquarian Book Show in Lansing today. I don't know if were going to make it, but I hope we do SOMETHING interesting today! He had to go into work yesterday, so maybe a day to just loll around is what he'd prefer. The kitties sure do like it when we just hang out - laps for everyone!

There is a LOT to do around here and at the Cottage, too. So much work. I really just want to sit around and read. Or watch a video. Or play on the 'puter. I should at least vacuum. I can't do laundry unless I go to the laundromat, 'cause our machine is broken. Luckily for our bank account, Mr Handsome is also Mr Handyman, so he can fix it! We're just waiting for the part to arrive. I'm in no rush. I figure, if I desperately need clothes, I'll go shopping! hee hee!

Today is supposed to be the last "warmer than average" day of the season. I'm ok with that! I love Autumn! This year, I want to go to a corn maze - I've never been! And I want to go on a hay ride. And pick some apples. I don't know where I'll get the time or energy for these things, but I sure do want to do them!

just murmurs

I've been overscheduling myself lately. The Blonde and The Boater came to the store, which was very nice of them, on my birthday. Since then (and including that day) I feel like I've hardly had any time to think! Or read! YIKES! I have to prioritize stuff. Like, sleep. Eating nutritious food. Exercise. That stuff. Not putting others first. Hard to do, 'cause most people just taketaketaketaketaketaketaketake until you're bled white. I mean, it's not their fault. They don't know when you're running dry unless you let them know.

Anyhoo, tonight was good, 'cause I met Lima for dinner and seeing her always lifts me up. She's has some major heavy-duty challenges (no joke, she really has), but doesn't beg for sympathy or cry in her beer (if you can call what she drinks beer. Gawd. It's so light, you could keep fish alive in it. HA! Funny! To me! Remember, I'm a beer snob.); she just gets on with it. And finds humor in it.






OOPS!! She's SIDEWAYS! I blame the second melon margarita that I had.

Birthday WEEKEND!

Ma and Pa Handsome came over this morning to drop off my birthday presents! They left a message on the machine last night, singing "Happy Birthday" and it was really cute, 'cause Ma Handsome was giggling in the background at the beginning of the message while Pa Handsome was saying they hoped I was having a good day. Ma Handsome is not typically a giggler, so that's why it was so cute!

So, Pa Handsome made some homemade mayonnaise for me, which I had particularly requested at one point, weeks ago (I'm not shy about asking for food!). If you've never had homemade mayo, you're missing out! It's wonderful!





Ma Handsome gave me this really cool ring (Bubba was curious about the ring)! It's a whole bunch of "leaves" of glass, attached to an elastic band which is inside a silver tube. It's really comfortable, because it's stretchy; and the "leaves" can move independently, so it's kind of a toy, too!

That was awfully nice of them. Sometimes I feel like a total outsider in Mr Handsome's family, but then, other times, they're so very sweet to me.... I appreciate them remembering my birthday and making that extra effort for me, it really means a lot.

Happy Birthday to ME!

(updated 9/21 with more pics at the end!)


Queen For A Day!

...





I'm working all day today, babysitting Samba










and working at the bookstore, but that's ok, 'cause it's still my BIRTHDAY! Sissie already sent me a box o' goodies, which I was going to wait to open until today, but I opened it last night. Except for the wrapped gifts! The Gummi Bears were NOT wrapped, so I immediately dove in!








AND she sent me "Robin of Sherwood, Season 1"which made me SQUEAL with joy! I loooooove that TV show and Michael Praed was such a good Robin! And so lovely to look at...




















At the bookstore, my AWESOME boss, Book Doctor, gave me delish chocolate cupcakes (which I shared with all the customers; I am SO generous! ;} ) AND sent me flowers from "Wealthy at Charles;" so NICE of her!












I also set up a shelf with some of my favorite things. I actually sold a copy of Persuasion from it! YAY!




When I got home, Mr Handsome had set up a cake (with my name on it! My first birthday cake to have my name on it!) and candles and flowers and champagne! Here's the cake and then my Birthday Haul.
















All in all, a really, really good birthday. The customers in the store were all very nice to me, happy to share my enthusiasm for my birthday (and my cupcakes), Mr Handsome and I watched ZULU, a GREAT film about a battle in Africa in 1879 at Rorke's Drift, and it was just, all around, a really great day!