Blue Gardenia

I have an amazingly beautiful niece.

http://picasaweb.google.com/shelly.davis/MargauxElyse#

To: everyone I know, everyone in my address book, everyone I may meet on the street, etc. etc. etc.


RE: political e-mails, letters, articles, cartoons, opinions, persuasions, etc.


Subject: Thanks, but no thanks.


Dear You,

I have never been more proud of you. I love the fact that you have taken an interest in our political system, its workings, and your representative voice. I am thrilled that you have educated yourself on a candidate and have made a decision on who you would like to see elected president, senator, representative, governor, mayor, councilman, garbageman, whatever.


I am NOT thrilled, however, that you have chosen to express your enthusiasm about your favorite candidate via propaganda, political jargon, cartoons, articles, e-mail forwards, and etc. to me. Allow me to explain why.


I am an adult. I am perfectly capable of making a voting decision without your assistance. In fact, having a working knowledge of the internet (snopes in particular), the news channels, and how to read my newspaper, for you to assume that I cannot choose a candidate without your assistance is a bit insulting.


Additionally, smears against the candidate who you do NOT like only shows immaturity, insensitivity, un-sportsmanlike, and certainly un-Christ-like behavior. I'm sick to death of hearing about how Obama could be the anti-Christ and how McCain is a clone of the current administration.


My vote belongs to ME. Not to YOU. My vote is a personal and confidential thing. My vote will not be determined by the slanderous, petty, and sometimes utterly ridiculous jargon that seems to fill my inbox every thirty seconds.


I have not once asked anyone to vote the way I choose. This is my one-time request that you stop asking me to see your choice for a candidate in a different light. For all you know, I already like your candidate...and you're turning me off of them with your constant harrassment.


Thank you.

You know, it used to be so easy to blurt out several paragraphs of my life...they were even entertaining once upon a time.

Now, I click to update and stare at my nails.

When did the cat get my finger-tongue-whatever?

It appears I've had writer's block for nearly four years now.

Sucketh the asseth.

life is spiraling out of control

Ibby is more of a socialite than I ever was in my day....play rehearsal, choir practice, birthday parties, church events...I'm pooped and can't imagine what she must be going through as a ten year old with a schedule like that.

On top of all of that, the co-manager for the restaurant quit with no notice...and the boss has decided not to replace him.  SO, I get to do his job AND mine, I'm the only manager left, and am trying to budget all of that into my personal life.  Sheesh.

PLUS, my little sister has a baby due in four weeks, and thanks to Marcus, I don't know if I'll be able to take off and go to Atlanta for the birth...which means I'm disappointed and pissed on top of the fatigue.

I need a vacation.

"You're lucky, because I was about to elbow you in the stomach, and then I remembered that you've got guts."

The house was a dud with rotten wood and cracked plaster indicating serious foundation problems.  The roof leaked, the floors were warped and/or rotten and blue shag carpet from the 1960s.

Back to the search...maybe.

My main interest in this house had been its close proximity to my best friend.  I may not even look for a while longer.

got pre-approved to buy a house.

I know my blogging has lessened lately.  Life has been SO busy.  But, to sum up:

Graduation didn't slow things down at all.  Ibby got a small part in the musical 'Gypsy' with JJP, then made concert choir with the MSC, so the summer has been filled with concerts and play rehearsals.

To top it off, the restaurant opens in about three weeks and things are beginning to get hairy at work.  It's not overwhelming, but can be emotionally draining at times.

Shelly came home this weekend for her Mobile baby shower.  It was hard to say goodbye.  She came to church on Sunday as she was leaving town to see my mother, Ibby and me, and I just wanted to hold her tight and not let her leave.  I didn't, but mostly because the cops told me to let her go and they'd send the S.W.A.T. team home.

But, I digress.  Shelly's baby shower was a resounding success, and she looks totally beautiful pregnant.  I loved seeing her and Clay together.  They're true soul mates.

It seems each weekend is somewhat busier than the last.  But, thankfully, this weekend has nothing on the agenda...YET...except play rehearsal for Ibby on Sunday afternoon.  I'm hoping that if I don't answer my phone, nothing else can come up.

The weekend after is Shelly's baby shower in Atlanta, so I'll be in Georgia then.  Insha's pre-wedding ceremony is that same weekend, and I'm trying to figure out how to get home in time to attend. 

I had a nice long conversation with Ami today.  I think our friendship deepened as a result of it, but only time will tell.

I've been spending a lot of time on Facebook lately...primarily because it's less intrusive than MySpace in re: graphics and such and it has games I can play while I'm at work.  Because of my activity on Facebook, I've reconnected with a LOT of old friends.  I'm stunned by it, but relatively excited. 

Ibby and I had mother-daughter movie night tonight.  We watched 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' AGAIN.  I don't mind, though.  I'd totally have a torrid love affair with Steve Martin.  Sick, I know.  But, the funny guy has always captured my attention.  It's probably why I'm still single...big joke and all.

How is it possible for life to be so insanely busy, yet monotonous at the same time?

I'm winded....and bored.

I'm at work.  My boss is having a medical procedure done this morning, so I have full access to play on the internet.  If I didn't, I doubt I'd be updating.

Marcus is here with me.  He is brianwj's soul mate.  I have decided.  That means Brian should call me and stuff.

The carpals tunnels in my hand is worse, and my right hand is currently numb.  I'm going to have to quit secretarial work soon, which is kind of sad...not sad in the sense that I love doing it, but sad in the sense that I'm really good at it, and it pays the bills.

Ibby got a part in a local production of 'Gypsy', and auditioned for and made the advanced concert choir of Mobile's Singing Children, a division of the Mobile Opera Guild...yay her.  That means she'll begin touring next year.  I hope I can afford it.  Her choir director said she had "an amazing gift" though, so I guess I'll do what I have to do.  I think that comment must be like putting candy bars in the checkout aisle at Wal Mart...it just makes me more inclined to purchase it.

I'm still toying with options for my future.  I'm also toying with winning the lottery.

I think I may have finally decided what I want to be when I grow up. As soon as I empty my bladder, I may share the news.

Ok. I feel better.

I've decided to try for my ph.d.  This means the GRE, and I've ordered almost $100 worth of materials to help me study for it.  I'm petrified of it.  It's the main thing standing between me and my dream.

Well...maybe not a dream, but at least a practical(ish) solution to singlemomism.  Here's what I'm thinking...college professors decide what times to teach, whether or not to teach summers, have long fall breaks, spring breaks, holidays, summer breaks, and discounts on tuition for their children.  If I taught at a Jesuit school, my daughter could attend any Jesuit institution in the nation for free.  That freaking rocks.  Notre Dame?  Boston?  The possibilities are endless, and to a large degree could provide a huge opportunity for my daughter.

So, it's an opportunity to reach toward becoming a part of the country's intelligentsia...of seeking stability for my child and myself...and being as close to a stay-at-home mother as is humanly possible in my position.

So, I guess it is a dream.  MLK doesn't have that market cornered anymore.

This journal has seen me through a lot. It's seen me through heartaches and silliness, it has recorded the loss of friends and been a network through which I've made new ones.

It was an outlet for me when I decided to go back to school, and is here now that I've graduated and am beginning the search for employment.

I guess my point, really, is that now that I have completed my education and have found time again to turn to my livejournal, I do so with a sense of awareness of the tool which it has become.

It is my outlet in a very private way. MySpace, with its links to everyone I've ever known (or so it seems) offers very little in the way of the intimacy which is livejournal. Even my public posts are rarely commented or read.

The conflict over which path to choose has become one of great enormity and stress. I'm currently contemplating law school, library science, and furthering my studies in history. My dream job (museum curation) appears to be unattainable as the job market is flooded with qualified candidates, and qualified candidates typically have two masters degrees and a ph.d.

I'm working as a clerical nothing in the interim, but am seeking other avenues while I try to let my life settle back down in the wake of graduation. (Speaking of which, I made a total ass of myself at the ceremony. A post for later, I'm sure.)

So where am I? What do I do? Where do I go? How do I achieve it? I'm perplexed and my self-analysis has left me coming up short no matter which road I take.

Blah.

But, at least I have my livejournal to help me sort it all out. Right?

I mean....right?

Best site in the universe

I graduate in May.

I'm shopping graduate schools.

I'm looking for a job.

I'm being semi-stalked by a crazy man.

My ex-boyfriend wants me back bad.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I have gas.

I have made two new seriously hot e-friends.  One is nerdy Drew Carey hot, and the other is All-American boy next door hot -- if the All-American boy next door had a six pack and tattoos.  The sad part of this scenario is that they're both married and so I must resist all observations of hotness.  However, I'm meeting them BOTH in Chicago next month.  I think.  If I can save. 

My friend Natalie invited me to go, so it will be cheaper than if I were to travel somewhere by myself.

Anyone want to meet me there?  4/18-4/20.

It's that time of year again -- Ibby's selling Girl Scout cookies.

If any of you would like to order some, just let me know. She's looking to earn some patches.

Here's a fabulous Gift catalog if you're interested in giving back and still Christmas shopping to boot.

I bought 20 meals and planted 500 trees as stocking stuffers for people this year. It?s a great idea. Many of the 2007 items have been fully funded, so the catalog is shrinking. I believe they're adding items to the 2008 catalog as we speak (err.. type).



2007

http://www.adra.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cat07_Ecommerce_home

Holy crap. Some times the things that come out of that child's mouth simply astound me. She's in the next room watching the news with my father.

She said, "I hope Hillary Clinton does not become President. I believe NO WOMAN should be President until it's time for me to be the President."

*shakes head*

The Mobile Opera and the Mobile Public Library invite everyone to step back in time with the Ghost of Christmas Past and catch the spirit of Mr. Fezziwig's party. The event will take place in the restored Reading Room, where guests will partake of a delicious holiday meal, complete with roast goose, prepared by Creative Catering. The evening will include music, dancing, parlor games, ornament making, and readings from England's celebrated nineteenth century author, Charles Dickens. Mobile's Singing Children will perform selections from their large Christmas repertoire.

Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $7 for children ages 6-12. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds from the event will benefit Mobile's Singing Children and the Mobile Public Library. Tickets may be purchased at the Spring Hill Branch, the West Regional Branch and the Ben May Main Library. For more information please call 208-7097

Halloween 2007

Join us this Friday evening at Midtown Dance Studio 157 S Florida St for a cha cha group class and party.   Group Class Starts at 7:30 and party starts at 8:15!!  Midtown Studio is across the street from TP Crock's on Florida Street.

     
    Also remember to join us on Monday nights at Debbies Dance Studio 6429 Hillcrest Park Court.  Group Class at 7:30.  We have been having a good turn out so make sure you head out. Debbies is at Hillcrest and Grenlot, across from Wendy's at the end of the street.
    
    Each group class is 10:00 Dollars for a single and 15:00 for adult
    
    Monthly group class passes are available for 40.00 for singles and 60.00 for couples. This would entitle you for attend 2 groups a week for the entire month.
    
    I hope soon to add another group class to make it easy for all to attend.
    
    Private lessons are also available by appointment only.  If you are interested please give me a call for details and pricing.
    
    Thank you
    Matthew Kiel

NOTE:  Matthew has trained with the best of the best when it comes to Ballroom in Los Angeles and Las Vegas! Every Friday he teaches a different style of Ballroom dancing. He is an award winning Choreographer who has worked all over the U.S. Please tell any friends, family, brides/grooms to be, those who may want to look good on the dance floor at Mardi Gras Balls, etc. 

So, Jamie and I got into a bit of a tiff last Friday night.  It started out pretty well -- the two of us went to see Across the Universe and then back to his place for some alcohol consumption and sex.  We never made it past, "Well, that was fun to see!" before we started arguing religion and politics.

Or, more accurately, he started bashing my religion and my politics and I got defensive and cried like a fool.  So, I left.  The older I get, the more aversion I have to any type of confrontation, and it was rapidly degenerating to name-calling.  It was awful.  But, he called before I even made it home and we talked things out. 

We've been planning a trip to Las Vegas to see Cirque de Soleil Love, a Beatles tribute version of the traditionally fabulous Cirque show.  But, ever since the argument, he's been relatively distant, and I've followed his lead.  I'm not sure we'll still be together in May (he was planning the trip as a sort of graduation celebration for me).   Everything was fine last Sunday night when he made me watch Psycho (Can you tell he's  film buff?), but I guess only time will tell.

But, his band is playing this weekend (or something equally time consuming, I'm not exactly sure what he's doing), and I'm busy with JJP stuff and a yard sale, so we won't even see each other until Sunday night.  We were averaging several times per week there for a while.  So, maybe this once/week break thing is good, right?

Oh, yeah.  Jeanna's birthday party (and last bonfire EVER) will take place first Saturday in November at her old house on the island.  They've moved into the new house, but they don't allow bonfires in the new neighborhood, so we have to kiss our childhood goodbye next Saturday night.   Ironically, I found a house I really like just two houses away from her.  The really really ironic part is that between Jeanna's house and the house I'm looking it, lives Lisa.  I've known her since I was eleven.  And, directly across the street is Lisa's brother and his wife.  It would be like the best block party EVERY DAY.  Who needs bonfires, right?

April called.  Christopher has wigged out again and she may be kicking him out tomorrow.  Remember how I said I have an aversion to confrontations?  Watch me not answer my phone tomorrow if she calls.  Heh.

Finally, I should be studying for philosophy right now.  I'm burned out, though.  Eighteen hours this semester, plus a child with mono (yeah, you heard me right -- Ibby has mono), plus a high-maintenance boyfriend, plus a job I hate really has a tendency to make you not give a shit about Pascal.  FYI.

Whoa!  I was way overdue for an update, huh?