Dogwood Girl

Lost Arts

2008-12-20T15:57:00.001-05:00

I have always been fascinated by the way that people lived, survived, ate, and lived in the past. Maybe it was too much Little House, but i have always been amazed at the things that people knew how to do. Baking, and sewing, candlemaking, fire banking, farming and building things with their hands.. . these have always been things that interested me in a way. I often think of how far removed I have become from those skills in just two generations. My grandparents did not have tvs, cars, electricity and running water when they were small. They had no heat or air conditioning. No malls, target, or Walmart. They had the rolling store. They had Grandma's Singer sewing machine. They had lathes and planes and saws and mills and plows. They had mules, horses, and wagons. They had chickens and eggs and pigs. They knew how to wring a neck and kill a pig. They made hoecake. They had gardens, and wells. They canned. They made their own clothes.

All of this is becoming lost to us. Sure, I can remember my grandparents talking about these things, but talking and doing are not the same thing. So, sometimes, I like to try and learn little skills such as the ones they knew.

No, I didn't kill a pig. I made Grandma Palmer's banana pudding.

This may not seem like a lot. But i didn't even know that the stuff in the pudding is actually custard. Until i made the custard, I did not even know what was in custard. That fluff on the top is meringue? Huh. I had no idea that was just egg and sugar. I made that bitch and it looks damn good, too. Haven't tasted it yet, but i don't know how it could go wrong with ingredients like that.

Not sure why i wanted to make the pudding, except that it makes me think of my grandma Palmer, and i have been thinking about my grandmas a lot lately, and my mom, too. I don't think that growing up as a tomboy and a daddy's girl I ever realized just how hard my mother and grandmas worked to put meals on the table, or to make holidays as wonderful as they were. And I never heard a complaint from them.

Rollie and Tiller will not such peaceful memories of their own mother at Christmas time.

Fucking custard and meringue, sugar cookies that look like blobs, and fudge that won't set up . . .

Tiller's Christmas Pageant

2008-12-19T11:15:00.008-05:00

Unless you are a grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, or someone else with a deep attachment to the girl, you can just stop reading now. The pageant went off without a hitch, so there are no tantrums, crying jags, meltdowns or otherwise entertaining portions of the video. Just a bunch of little kids shaking bells and singing.

Just posting it for Todd and the family, since none of them could make it. (Yes, I am feeling a little guilty about Tiller getting the second-child treatment.) Video for your viewing enjoyment:

Principles

2008-12-18T17:53:00.003-05:00

I have none.

I know that Domino's is all about bossing my uterus around, but damn! I love watching my delivery via the online Pizza Tracker.

Spirit

2008-12-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

There is no sweeter sound than the sound of one's child and husband singing "Jingle Bells" together. I keep on thinking we should cancel the whole Christmas season, what with all the extra work it creates, but I don't really mean it. Christmas has not been this magical for me since the horror of finding out about Santa.

That is a lie. There was no one moment when the Santa jig was up - it was more insidious, a creeping doubt that became stronger and stronger, until i just didn't believe anymore.

But now I remember how vivid everything was, how fascinating each decoration and ornament. Everything about December as a child was a winter wonderland. Mom and Dad, thanks for making me believe in magic. I hope i am working the same magic for Tiller and Rollie. I know they are giving me back a little Christmas spirit, and a whole hunk'o joy.

I Will Be Sad

2008-12-15T13:32:00.002-05:00

I will be sad, when she learns to say her "Rs." Right now, they are all "W." Rollie is Wally. Road is woad. Red is wed. Tiller is tirrer - When people ask her her name, it sounds like she is saying "Terror." Cracks us up.

Posting Machine

2008-12-11T11:18:00.003-05:00

Ah, the mystery of why Atlanta has no thriving downtown or Midtown. . . my latest musings on the subject are up on Metroblogging Atlanta.

Tell Me Something I Didn't Already Know

2008-12-10T23:10:00.004-05:00

Your result for Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test...

Linguistic

16% Logical, 14% Spatial, 59% Linguistic, 37% Intrapersonal, 18% Interpersonal, 20% Musical, 53% Bodily-Kinesthetic and 18% Naturalistic!

"Verbal-linguistic intelligence has to do with words, spoken or written. People with verbal-linguistic intelligence display a facility with words and languages. They are typically good at reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words and dates. They tend to learn best by reading, taking notes, listening to lectures, and via discussion and debate. They are also frequently skilled at explaining, teaching and oration or persuasive speaking. Those with verbal-linguistic intelligence learn foreign languages very easily as they have high verbal memory and recall, and an ability to understand and manipulate syntax and structure.

Careers which suit those with this intelligence include writers, lawyers, philosophers, journalists, politicians and teachers." (Wikipedia)

Take Howard Gardner's Eight Types of Intelligence Test at HelloQuizzy

Via Mostly Muppet

And no, i don't have much to blog about lately. I have a November hangover.

For Twilight Fans (And Those Who Ridicule Them)

2008-12-10T22:00:00.003-05:00

Twilight Puppet Movie Summary!

Via my fave book blog, Baby Got Books.

Required Reading List

2008-12-10T08:52:00.003-05:00

So, a friend asked what I was reading lately, and i couldn't really think of anything that blew me away.

So, what are you reading right now? What have you read lately that blew you away?

I am So Wearing These in the Carpool Line Today!

2008-12-08T11:52:00.004-05:00

My rad gift Todd brought me back from Winter Park!

Misfits gloves! Freakin' awesome.

For Todd, Who Left Forever Ago

2008-12-06T00:04:00.009-05:00

In case you miss us a little, in your Fat Tire stupor. . . things have been a little like this:

But mostly like this:

We miss you, too.

Still Basking in the Glow of Accomplishment

2008-12-01T10:33:00.003-05:00

I put my half-marathon race report up on Metroblogging Atlanta. Not sure what to do with myself, now that i have no noveling and no race to train for. . . Todd would say that I have plenty of laundry to do.

I prefer bon-bons and Oprah.

Most Productive November Evah

2008-11-30T21:33:00.002-05:00

I ran my first half-marathon on Thanksgiving. I wrote a novel. Not bad* for November. . . .

*I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping. Okay, i haven't even started my Christmas shopping, unless you count snowglobes from the Dollar Tree. Also, my novel is complete crap and it is non-fiction crap, at that.

Dogwood Girl Runs, Writes, Congratulates, Coughs

2008-11-30T10:17:00.003-05:00

I know i have been missing in action during most of November. I attribute this to a)NanoWriMO b)Half-marathon training and c) family sickness.

So, i have about 2000 words left on NaNo today. I finished the half on Thursday. This may not seem like much until you drive to Chamblee Marta station (the approximate starting line) and then drive down Ptree Industrial until it turns into Peachtree, and then follow that all the way to downtown Atlanta and then over to Turner Field. Yes, I ran from Chamblee to Turner Field and people, that is a long-ass way.

I am proud of myself for finishing what I started out to do. Sometimes I am not that great with follow-through.

So, writing Nano today and driving back from Auburn to Atlanta. It will be nice to be home.

p.s. Congratulations to all you Tech and Bama fuckers.

Help me out, Runner Folks

2008-11-24T20:22:00.002-05:00

My latest Metroblogging Atlanta post is up as of today. Check it out and give me all your sage advice on running the Thanksgiving Half Marathon. Because I am a little nervous. I admit it.

Although the calories I can conceivably take in afterwards without guilt do give me a little courage. Three words: "Mama's Mashed Potatoes."

And as an update: Nano is going well, although I am going to be driving right down to the wire.

Tiller's New Haircut

2008-11-22T09:37:00.002-05:00

I live vicariously through my daughter's hair. Yes, you heard me right.

I have long bemoaned the curse of the curl, that never allows me to have bangs or cute bobs, or even a decent Dorothy Hamill growing up. But now i have a Tiller! A straight-haired, sharp-cut banged Tiller! In the bob that I wanted in 6th grade. (Instead I ended up with what some still refer to as "The ET.")

I give you Tiller (front and side views):

Nano Update

2008-11-21T15:45:00.003-05:00

Well, I fell off the wagon a few days this week, but find that when I sit down to write, I am pretty damn fast at cranking this stuff out. I am at 32475, i think. Plenty of time left to meet my goal, and I honestly think this is going to go over 50,000 words.

I am so glad that i started this. It has given me a confidence that I have not had before.

And now I am going to go out and have fun tonight with people from high school - Very strange! And not embarrassing at all that i blogged about wanting to have sex with one of them in the middle of homeroom! Or that his fiance is coming! Or that Natalie might wear some ridiculous ensemble involving a hooker heels, egged on by Carrie, with Camille laughing all the while. I am sure there is little chance of the Roswell Police being called on us.

I am sure i will feel wonderful in the morning, just in time to go to a cookout with more high school people! Go Creekers!

Facebook is weird.

Oh, and i have a date on Sunday. With Edward. He's very mature.

Art For Kids

2008-11-19T19:17:00.004-05:00

This morning, I heard Todd and Rollie talking about one of Rollie's paintings from school. We get about three per week. They are . . . interesting. I didn't hear the whole conversation, but Todd came in with eyebrows raised, looking a little speechless, then asked if I had overheard what they were discussing.

"Rollie, come in here and show Mama your painting from school," Todd said, staring at me eyes wide and unblinking.

"Look, Mama!" Rollie said, holding up the painting.

I could not discern what he was portraying in the painting. I was scared to ask what it was.

Todd said, "Tell Mama the name of the painting, Rollie," keeping his voice calm and level, and somehow free of laughter.

Rollie beamed at me, holding it up higher for me to see.

"It's Rollie's Blood Monster!"

Yanked from a Time Warp Into the Blessed Present

2008-11-19T17:47:00.003-05:00

I have written before about my love for the song This Must Be the Place, by Talking Heads, and about how cool it was that Arcade Fire covered the song live. So, last night, we came in from dinner out, and I had to do the dishes from lunch (Domestic Diva, don't'cha know?) and so i turned on the radio. I usually listen to 88.5 or 92.9 FM or a CD while in the kitchen, but for some reason, i didn't like what was on, and I flipped over to WREK. Well, they were playing the Arcade Fire cover of This Must Be the Place, and so i stood there and listened for the whole song.

It is amazing the way a song, particular songs, can completely transport you to a different time in your life, so much so that you can almost taste and smell and feel it, and it looms over you, and you are just transfixed by it. I could not have changed the channel if I had wanted.

Also, I did not want to do the dishes, or finish the dishes and have to go wrangle children into PJs. Much more enjoyable to daydream about being eighteen and in love and with that peculiar sense of possibility that i had when I fell in love with the song the first time.

So, the song ended and I came roughly out of my reverie to the sound of the college girl on the radio, saying the name and band and the name of the radio show. And then she said, "And now i have some tickets to give away. If you'd like to see Broken Social Scene at the Variety, be the first caller through."

My cel was right there on the counter, I dialed the number and she answered. I won.

Just like that, I was yanked from 1990 to 2008, like a shot. And now I am going to a free show tonight. I love it when stuff like that happens. And I still love that song.

Obviously, based on this with my combined win of the book from Goodreads, I will be buying a lottery ticket this Friday.

I'm Pretty Sure

2008-11-18T08:08:00.001-05:00

Overheard at my house this morning:

"Ni hao, Tiller."

"Ni hao, Daddy."

I'm pretty sure that my Dad would consider that either gay or communist, but i am not sure which one.

Hope

2008-11-17T15:44:00.003-05:00

I hope my daughter never loses the nerve and desire to stand up on a bench in the playground and sing and dance her little guts out. At what point did we lose that?

Take All The Fun Out of It Why Don't You?

2008-11-15T08:52:00.003-05:00

Auburn and Georgia disappointed me so wholly this season that I don't even feel any animosity towards my husband this morning.

That's no fun.

I Never Win Anything!

2008-11-14T08:16:00.002-05:00

But this morning, right there in my inbox, was a notification that I won a copy of this pre-release book. I love the site Goodreads and they have this nifty FirstReads give-away. Basically, you sign up to win pre-release copies from publishers. If you win, they send you a copy of the book and they request that you post a review on Goodreads. How cool is that?

So, NaNoWriMo is going well. I am at over 22,000 words. Almost halfway there and right on schedule. It has almost worked out well that I have been sick for over three weeks. More reason to sit around and write. The impact on my running has not been that great. Think wheezing on hills and coughing up massive amounts of green phlegm, but I'm still running on Thanksgiving, even if I am not at a hundred percent. I missed over a week of workouts, so i doubt it will make that much of a difference in my physical ability to run the half, but it definitely has affected my mental game. Confidence level is not high.

About to have the big one?

2008-11-12T14:03:00.002-05:00

My heart is racing. I am so nervous. My blood pressure must be through the roof. Where is my xanax?

Oh, wait. Now I feel better.

A Few Things I know

2008-11-11T11:42:00.004-05:00

My mama tells a good story.
Coming from a long line of alcoholics makes for a much more interesting family history.
Hearing that your distinguished ancestors broke their faces, pissed themselves, and liked to sing when they got drunk makes it feel like you are honoring them when you make an ass of yourself. You just don't play the piano as well.
When I stumble and hesitate when choosing between dropping the baby and dropping the drink, I now know that I come by it honestly.
Do it yourself hysterectomies are hysterical. Get it?
Taxi drivers make excellent drinking partners.
There is not much that Grandma Palmer, Aunt lessie, Aunt Dot, or Dad wouldn't say. I guess I come by that honestly, too.

This barely breaks the surface. I am having a blast writing all of this down.* Word count creeping ever higher.

*Don't worry, family. If it ever makes the light of day, I will change names to protect the [not so] innocent.