Mama Kitty

Beloved and I have added a new addition to our kitty family. This is Ben or Benja the Ninja as B calls him.

I was not sure that I wanted another kitty before. Losing Basil was extremely tough. It was the first time that B had to help me into the house because I crumbled when I got out of the car. It still is tough.

But Ben has helped and I love him for that and for being himself. He has an extremely sweet nature but loves to play too. He is a lap kitty like Basil and a water kitty like Henri and a player like the girls.

Good day and happy kitties : )

I swear I was a shy child

Alas, no one believes me anymore. I try to tell people that I was so quiet that my family used to routinely make everyone else be quiet and then ask me to talk. I still am quiet at times or in larger groups.

But no one believes me. I am a one-liner. When B and I write the puppet plays, I am a good quipper. I tend to that a lot I have noticed. I do the one liners to make people laugh. My favorite iin the library play was when I sang "I'm a dictator, I'm a dictator, I'm a dictator, woo hoo hoo." It wasn't scripted... it was just what I felt the Miss Ewe character might do.

Funnily enough, no one believes me now when I say I'm not a puppet person. I have now done three filmed ones. We just finished Glog a bit ago. But I still say I am not a puppet person. I might be learning to be one but I am not one yet. We are still working on the editing. : )

Good night and Wakka wakka wakka : )

I may be less quiet but I still find I need my quiet times.

Sleepy Day

I found myself awake for no reason at 6:30 a.m. this morning. It was the second day in a row that this had happened. I dreamed that I had gone to a party and seen an old friend. When I hugged him hello in the dream, it felt very much like a good bye hug. How you can tell the difference I don't know. Afterwards in the dream, I demolished a toilet. I mean smithereens... what exactly this means I don't know. Beloved said he dreamed of a anamatronic puppet play in Amelia Island. We had just gotten back from there last week. He dreamed that he lost the tickets and had been waiting in a long line. He had finally found the tickets when he had woken up.

This was my part of my dream list I wrote in 1996.

I am quite amazed on how many of these I have done. What is even funnier is I have the 1994 version of this and how much changed in just two short years. I have always been a big dreamer either awake or asleep.

Good night and sweet dreams... : )

How to Disappear

I've been reading this book recently called How to Disappear by Frank Ahearn. Now, let me preface this by saying I am not planning to disappear. Though I imagine if I were, I wouldn't be telling anyone either.

It really has been an interesting read. You basically not only have to learn how to leave your old life behind but then you have to create a false trail for those that come looking for you to waste time and money and hopefully convince them to give up the search. He spread intriguing stories throughout the book along with helpful advice. Like the one guy that was so hard to find until the writer found out that he had a serious love for lobsters and tracked him through one of the few companies that ship lobster around the states. Or the people who went the trouble of hiding only to be busted by their friends posting pics telling everyone what a great time Bob was having in SouthAmerica.

Though he does include a section which fit me more. It was about the controlling how much information is out there about you or making it harder for those that bug you to find you. Though I had to laugh when he said to write the misinformation (wrong address or slightly wrong name) down in a notebook. I am constantly leaving stuff down and then walking away particularly at work as I get started on a new project.

Good night and I will be back : ) ...maybe : )

1st Ever Jacksonville Public Library Hooties

For a staff event recently, they came up with some unusual awards such as JPL's Unsung Hero or Most Likely to Shush you. Well, I won one of these prestigious awards....

I was awarded the Most Likely to Talk to Puppets.

In order to accept my award, I found it only fitting to make sure that I took a puppet to the award ceremony. It came up on stage with me. As I turned to the audience with my puppet on my hand, I wondered aloud why they felt that I was a person who talked to puppets...

And they laughed. Then my puppet said Thank you and we both went and sat down. All in all a good night. And a very fitting award : )

Sometimes the Emotions get in the way...

I have been working diligently tonight on transcribing a notebook of poetry. I am about five pages away from being done.

It isn't mine. It is a dear family friend's. She passed away today. It wasn't sudden as she had been put into hospice not that long ago. But it does make me sad on one hand. I know that she has gone Home but I am selfish and wanted her here. God does seem to get all the best people.

Though I ended up with a lot of really good memories and some good stuff. I thought about it the other day and she is literally all over my house. Paintings in the bedroom and guest room. A end table in living room and bookcase in the library.

And this notebook.

I found one that I particularly liked ( I hope you don't mind, Dad. I'll take it off if you do....):

My evening and morning canticles
Are sung by a small brown bird
Perched on the tip of a naked tree
Rejoicing in all his eye can see.

His Word delights and sustains us
My heart leaps up at the sound of the bird
My throat fills with praise for my God.
I lift my arms, like the tree I am bare.

He clothes me with blessings and love.

Thank you, Lord of the day and the night.
For the bird and the tree and their song
For the gift of praise which we lift to thee.

By Barbara White

Thank you, God, for letting this incredibly special person into our lives. I know you took great care of her here and know that you will continue in heaven.

Good night and God bless.

Reading

I have been reading a number of books all at once. It just depends on where I am. I have The Devil in the White City in the bathroom. It is the telling of the first World's Fair in America and the serial killer that used it to his advantage. I think the best thing I learned was that Elias Disney was a carpenter and told his son Walt about his part in creating the World's Fair. I have Little Women Vampires in my bookbag. It is the latest in a series combining classics literature and a current trend. It is not wonderful but it is very cheesily good. My favorite part so far is when Beth thanks Mr. Laurence for the piano by turning him into a vampire. I have also been reading Full Moon No Stars which is a new Stephen King. It is rather like looking at a baby and seeing the parents in various expressions. I see different parts that remind me of other of his stories. Though I am only through halfway into the second story, I have decided that he must have a thing about librarians. My favorite part of it all was his dedication. It said To Tabby... still. He is one of the few people who I have read where I like his introductions sometimes as much or more than his stories. This week is National Library Week and for it, my branch (well, it was me actually) put up a display of Readers Rave. These were books that staff, teens and volunteers picked out. I even created a whole line of personalized bookmarks. That way, you know who liked a book. Mine say Eve Enjoys : ) And I do enjoy my books. I still check out as many as my account will hold and have to stop myself from checking out more. I just checked out one called Hello Kitty Must Die. I'll let you know what happens. Good night and read well.

Dad's Puppet Progress

Today, B and I worked on the costumes for Dad's puppet commerical. It was something B and I came up with to promote Dad's books. Plus it gives us a chance to have a little fun together with puppets and filming. We still have to order the club wielding puppet and blue fish.

Daniel the Priest Praise the Lord!

Daniel sans costume

Daniel's Costume

Soon to be Clubs

Cross

Good day and have you hug a puppet today?

Stewball and 500 Miles

I used to wonder what my soundtrack for my life would be and what songs would be included. Music premeates my whole life. I listen to it or sing as I wake up, work, shower and a multitude of places in between. I laugh and cry to music. Today I actually teared up singing along and listening to "Feels like Home". It was what B and I danced to as our first dance as man and wife. I had recorded a version of it as a present for him but it didn't work. But in a way it worked out better since I got to sing it to him as we danced. I remember growing up listening to some of my Mom's records. I loved Peter, Paul and Mary. And Frankie Avalon and Godspell. I even remember singing the theme from American Tale on long trips with P. Or creating a song book with all the songs from Camp Weed. ... no, it wasn't That kind of camp. It was a church summer camp. I have always taken the Make a Joyful noise to heart. Good night and sing loud!

National Security

I'm waiting for the SWAT, National Guard and Special Forces to descend on my doorstep.

I just got off the phone with my older sister J. In a spur of just for the heck of itness, I had sent her flowers. And had placed the order with FTD. I had never used them before. So I was surprised to find out that they use FedEx instead of a local florist.

I guess when a surprise box landed on her doorstep, she was a bit suspicious. I had forgot to sign the card as my message took up all the space. I had assumed that the florist would put who it was from on the outside of the envelope. Plus FTD has some privacy policy. They won't tell her who sent it.

So she had T open it outside. It had come from Georgia. Goodness knows nothing good comes from there : P Apparently I didn't know I was a mad bomber. I just thought I was a nice sister.

When she told me, I almost fell on the floor from laughing so hard. I just have this mental picture of them sending Britney out to sniff and investigate and her running away. Or them sending the bomb squad to blow it up and a shower of petals afterwards. Too funny....Evil Eva the Mad Bomber strikes again... insert evil laugh here.

This will cure me of for the heckedness.

Good day and laugh well.

Change for me

Same face, same hair, same me... Beloved is changing though. He is moving his Wednesday game to Monday. This means a night I work is a night he games. Thus Wednesday will be free for other things like dancing. : )Yay: )


I didn't ask him to but he did it for me. I've changed one thing too. When I start to fuss about cleaning or whatever, I stop take a breath and tell him thank you. Or I love you. What I am fussing over is not important. Those words are.

In fact, they are right over my head right now. I have a note posted to my desk. It says Love you! Mark.

Good day and I love you too, honey.

Perspective

I have worked in all sizes of libraries : small, medium and large... and every single one says that they don't have enough room. Granted we do get books in all the time, but books (yes, I said books) go out the door too. Maybe we should all invest in Nooks : ) though I've heard crannies are better : P

The library has been busy lately. Everyone coming back in from their holidays. I've been helping out at another library and doing their storytime. I have missed doing storytimes. For my first one, I wore cat ears. The reason I am doing the storytimes is to train the staff there to do them. They have been told that they must provide storytimes and have not one staff member with a children's background. The closest they have is one who used to do teen work. Sometimes the teens can be a bit like toddlers but not quite. Basically I am slowly having them take over parts of the storytime. I hope it will work.

I myself am doing teen programs at my home branch. Today's program is the Wii. It is just a chance for the kids and myself to socialize and have some fun. I have a unique opportunity to be a positive adult in their daily life.

Good day and have fun!

Begin Again

The year is almost over. I asked Beloved what his favorite thing was about the soon-to-be last year and he said our new house. It is a wonderful place.

We have now hosted Christmas. I wanted it to be relaxed and low key. And it was. I did the devotion (See December 2009 for the written script) and filmed it with my new camcorder. I was nervous and it took like 17 takes but it turned out really well.

We had family in from Maryland as well. I think my favorite part of their visit was them getting to see my library and F's reaction to his gift. He described the USS Enterprise pizza cutter as beyond spiffy. I am glad that they both came down this year and I know that it pleased Dad to no end to have all 6 of his children in the same room.

For the before Christmas and the day after, Beloved and I hid away and did our own thing. Getting together with everyone is wonderful but tiring. I told him that next year, we are going to the Bahamas....

Good day and Happy almost Old Year : )

In the wee small hours of the evening...

when the whole world is still awake. I listened to the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack the other night and that song is still stuck in my head. We have put up the tree and the musical animals. We have bought presents and looked at possible christmas cards. We have put up the kitty nativity. But other than that, no other Christmas preparations have been made.

We are having Christmas at our house. It will be in the afternoon. Unfortunately I don't believe it will be dark enough to go down the street to the dueling houses. There is a corner at the end of the street where about 75 percent of the houses are done up in all many of Christmas decorations. It is like a visual top that contest.

We are not topping that though. I have some decorations in the window and the wreath on the door. I am not strive to outbrighten my street. I will just stay in my car and watch as others play that game.

Good night and enough that : )

I did not...

I did not go shopping in the wee hours of the morning post Thanksgiving. I believe my sleep is worth more than any sale.

I did not completely stuff myself with turkey. This year, our first year in the new house, it was just the two of us. I got a small turkey breast (which we are still working on : )

I did not see my family. That might seem a bit odd. I did get a voice mail and had talked to my dad earlier in the week.

I did not feed the cats turkey. Well, at least not until Sunday night : P

I did not get cranberry jelly. I got the whole cranberries sauce instead.

I did not eat stuffing. With no turkey to put it in and no Mom's best stuffing to eat, I just made some for Mark. I ate mashed potatoes instead.

Good night and do not....

My short list

Growing up, I was known for my enormous Christmas lists. I considered it a wish list and therefore anything was game. I used to always have Peace on Earth on it too.

Right now my list is about 20 or so items. It is probably the shortest list I have ever written. Don't get me wrong... I still want presents. But I am content right now. I have a job I like. I have a husband who loves me as much as I love him (which happens to be quite a bit). I have friends and family that I love and who still love me and like spending time with me. I have a joy about life that I treasure. I am fairly healthy.

My wish list is now a would be nice list. LOL But I am continuing a tradition of one abstract wish on the list. A couple of years ago, I asked for sunset in a bottle. I got it from my parents. They took a picture (I think it was a sunrise but I'm not quibbling) and put it into a glass bottle with a cork stopper. It is one of the best things on my desk at work. Last year, it was a jar of moonlight. I got that from Mark. He had found a candle in a jar. The candle's name was Moonlight : ) It is in the office at home. Two things I've learned.... ask because you just might get it and intangible doesn't mean impossible.

Good night and make a wish.

Without a List

A package came in for me yesterday. Well, for me, in the sense that I knew what was in it. It was a present for Beloved and my parents.

So I ended up hiding half in my closet and half in the guest room closet. I bought both before I knew what anyone wanted. Though B's is something he has mentioned wanting. It wasn't from his list. Since no lists have been made. We always make our christmas lists after thanksgiving.

I am a list girl. I make lists for shopping, goals, my to dos. I even have an eighth grade one of the man I love/marry lists. That one was a long one. I don't recall what was on that one but I believe cute buns was : ) Though it didn't make the starred list. The starred list was the one we had to create of the things that were important from the first list.

I also had a daily verb adverb list. It was things like love fully or laugh deeply or sing loudly.

Good night and live joyfully.

Bitten by Shrimp

I normally love shrimp. I am not to the level of Bubba, Forrest Gump's friend, but I do like it.

Yesterday it did not love me back. As best I can figure, it was either the shrimp or the ranch dressing. Regardless it was a less than stellar night. I don't think I actually truly got to sleep until about 5 a.m. Too much running to the bathroom. I hated pulling B. away from his Friday night game. I just wanted him to be there with me. There wasn't much he could do. But I wanted him there.

I am feeling better today. Not quite 100 percent. Maybe more like 75ish.

Good night and be well (me too)

Day Off

My new place of work is giving me something I have never had before.... regularly scheduled three day weekends. It is weird. And somewhat wonderful. I am just not sure exactly what to do with it. There are so many possibilities. I mean some of my day is already eaten up by the haftatos. I have to take the car in for an oil change. I have to send a letter. I have to feed the kitties and take my meds. But there is a luxury of time. Or at least it feels that there is. Even my haftatos are based on my free will. I could not take the car in. The kitty feeding is a bit more a willdo though.

I just finished a very excellent zombie book. It included zombie cats so hence why the feeding of kits is a willdo and not a haftato. It actually made me cry. The book not the zombie cats. It was set in the time after. Zombie were now a way of life and survival was possible. Normal had become a different type of normal. Plus how do you not love a book in which the bloggers have become the source of info...particularly as a blogger?

Good day and watch out for zombie cats...

43 days left

I like seeing things that not everyone does. It is like a secret between me and God. I just happened to glance behind me while driving. There are these little bumps in the road. I am sure that there is a proper name for them but it eludes me right now. They are what tell you if you skirt out of your lane. They are also what when my used to be brother in law would call driving by braille.

Did you know that if the sun shines on them just right and you happen to look in your rearview mirror that they look red? A long red dotted line.

I have looked back plenty of times but the sun wasn't shining the right way I guess.

Now it is a secret between you, me and God.

Today's thing was the number 43 on the calendar. There are only 43 days left in the calendar year. Well, granted that does assume that you are reading this today and before today becomes tomorrow for you. This is a day I am happy with. I rode to work with Beloved, have a good lunch, talked to friends, did a teen program, laughed and there is still another 7 hours or so left in it.

Good day and good day : P