A Very Interesting Man

Yard trimmers oughta do the trick!

     My Uncle Glen is arguably the most interesting man I know.  He is a Professor of Finance, an Engineer, a golfer, a wine and cigar connoisseur. Now all that might make one think that Uncle Glen is snooty or boring, but he is far from it.  The first thing he said to me when I walked in at Christmas was, "How's your car? Do you need your uncle to look at anything? Change the oil?"  He is handy, that Uncle Glen (see the photo exhibit of the not-so-deep fried turkey Thanksgiving 2008.)  At my dad's 60th Birthday, I think he had three flashlights on his person.  Why?  He told me he had a new flashlight fetish. 
       On Christmas Day, I brought a scratch off lottery ticket for each person attending dinner and provided the pennies for revealing our winnings.  I made everyone agree that would we split any winnings.  We scratched our way to $13. I spent $8 to get them, so we won a whopping $5 (this was reinvested into MegaMillions and Hoosier Lotto tickets that I have yet to check if we won last night.)  The pennies were intended to be part of my gift, but apparently no one wanted them. I discovered the pile of pennies as we put on our coats and started the parade of good-bye hugs and kisses.  "Excuse me but does no one want these copper gifts?"  Uncle Glen said, "Here give them to me, I will wash them."  And that's exactly what he did.  He had some sort of handy dandy cleaner and brush right there at the sink and started to soak and scrub.  Then he dropped one down the sink and said, "Does anyone have a flashlight?"




***MOOSE UPDATE*** Good Boy! This is his most favoritest time of the year because he likes to harvest ice in the yard...for real. (I wrote this before the warm rains came and washed it all away.)

Bad Blogger, Bad!

I know I have been inconsistently posting the last couple of weeks. My commitment to this blog remains.  I have three hundred and seventy-four excuses.  I have been ill (truish.) I am working two jobs and am exhausted (very true.) The holidays are stressful (not really true.) Moose ate my posts (he ate lots of other stuff, but this is not true.) I broke a fingernail (true...grrr.) I am mentally and emotionally zapped from work (true.) 


I wrote something tonight but then I stopped before posting.  Am I supposed to ask permission to talk about people in my life on here? My mom already told me "to leave her out of the blog," but I have not heeded her warning.  I guess it is the polite thing to do and since I have no intentions of slander to anyone, I guess it wouldn't hurt.  Stay tuned.  

Favorite Holiday Images...so far

This is the cutest damn cheese ball I've ever seen

This is Lori.

This is Sis, Lori's dog.

I attended an early holiday gathering on the 11th with some of the loveliest ladies I know.

 So many exciting things occurred on the night Erin and I BEDAZZLED our REAL Christmas tree - the angel appearance, the dog photo shoot, and Erin's ornaments and my tree topper melding together to make a stunning tree despite the flipping tinsel. 

 The photo above displays a radio antenna.   These are used often to dial in radio waves to an exact station.  I had not used one of these in quite some time and spent 15 minutes tonight trying to stop Led Zeppelin from running interference on Bing Crosby.  Once I conquered that challenge, it was onto rocking around the Christmas tree and wrapping the gifts that I bought today while shopping with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Jenn.

Wrapping is not my forte.  Compare Erin's sharp, pointed corners to my, well, not so sharp.

Now, decorating the packages is where I spend a little more time as to distract the recipient from my wreckless wrapping.  The next comparison I like to call "Mullet Wrapping" - all business in the front and a party in the back.

horrible corners...ahhh...pretty bow!

um, eeh, ah, geez, hoping you wouldn't notice.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to my 30 "followers" and who knows how many "readers."  Blogging about my Random Thoughts amidst the Hoosier Corn Stalks, and you actually reading, has been the best gift.  Thank you for being here!

Santa Paws

As mentioned last week, Erin and I subjected the dogs to a long photo shoot (like 5 minutes, which is very long for two independent pups.)  As you can see in the right corner of the first shot, Erin's hand full of treats made this all possible.  

"Who's alpha now?" Lilli

That's the pose...hold it...stay!

Humans Galore

If I had to guess, which I do, I checked out at least 150 guests on Saturday at Tarjay and another 100 on Sunday.  That is an awful lot of human interaction in one weekend.  That's not including all the people I mingled with at a holiday party Saturday night and the chit chat with my co-workers.  The diversity of the shoppers at our store impresses me - older folks, college students, all ethnicities and races,varied income levels, jumbled family status.  I almost feel like I took a trip around the world...almost..mostly due to the accents of two Spaniards who  graced my lane.  I recognized their accents and got to practice a little español. 


"Yo estudie en Madrid...now please don't speak to me in Spanish because I will panic.  Llevo diez años sin hablar español." That is my rehearsed line to let people know that I once studied abroad but I have not practiced the language and can't really have this conversation anymore...thanks...love your country.


All in all, the holiday Tarjay gig hasn't been too bad despite the literal pains in the neck...back, feet, shoulders, hands. Experiencing 250ish humans in one weekend makes up for all of that.

Angels we have heard on high

Erin and I decorated the Christmas tree the other night and are quite proud of our bedazzled evergreen.  It wasn't all joy and bliss to start.  Erin's insistence on adding tinsel to the tree irked me a bit.  That stuff gets all over the place and we'll be finding it for weeks after the tree comes down.  I conceded because in all honesty the tree trimmings aren't a hot issue for me and she seemed pretty attached to the tinsel idea.  Erin kept telling stories about how her mother, Joan, directed every single ornament hanging on her last Christmas before she passed away.  I was cracking up at her impersonations of her mom and truly felt blessed to hear the stories while we decorated on our tree with her old ornaments and new ones.  


We delighted in our completed task by taking an excessive amount of photographs (just wait till you see the ones of Moose and Lilli posing.) One of the first shots I got with my cell phone had Joan in it...I swear...if you think you know something about lighting/exposure and want to ruin this miracle for me...GO AWAY!  I believe the swoopy, white thing on the left of this picture is Joan's angel wing...and I am sticking to it!  She oversaw our tree trimming and nothing anyone says can change that!

BEDAZZLED!

***MOOSE UPDATE***

Went to a new vet closer to the house yesterday (we still love Dr. Bundy the most.)  They loved him and kept saying how handsome he was. He weighed 84.3 lbs.  GOOD BOY!

I got nothing

My head is empty, so enjoy this weird, cute, creepy, video.

Working Woes

Boy, oh boy, am I tired!  My part-time gig at Tarjzey is putting a beating on me.  I was griping and moaning how tired I was last night while I worked till midnight.  Then a co-worker told me she is working 40 hours this week as part-time job on top of her day job as a bus monitor for Indianapolis Public Schools...shut me up!   So, I tried to come up with a list of positive things and lessons as a result of the aching feet, sore back, sagging eyes...

1. It is temporary...hopefully.
2. I opened 3 credit cards for guests yesterday and therefore, received wonderful swag...a mini FM radio, a messenger bag, and a chocolate covered peanut butter Rice Krispy treat...big things, folks. Big!
3. I get to bring smiles to people dropping their last dimes on Christmas gifts. I can tell the difference between the people that are enjoying their shopping because they have the money to spend.  Then there are the people counting out pennies with horror on their face. I wonder why they put that pressure on themselves to provide one day of gifts for possible months of struggle to pay the rest of the bills.  This, my friends, is precisely why the Universe has put me in that check out lane - I have lots of growing up to do in the world of money...I get to watch and learn.
4. Extended holiday store hours took effect this week...but no one really knows that.  The store was empty with a half hour to go.  I got to unman my lane and re-shelf all the unwanted or returned goodies to their rightful homes. Now, I have intimate knowledge of where the wrapping paper, sausage/cheese gift sets, stockings, and REESE PEANUT BUTTER CUP gifts (Yes, these treats of the gods come in a tube the shape of a candy cane.  Nothing will bring me more joy than sharing this delight this holiday season) are.  This is useful for when I need to make a quick purchase during my 15-minute break.
5. Making a mental shopping list as guest check out tops my list of positives. "Oh...that would be perfect for Dad." "Well, now that's adorable." "That's a good deal!" I am sure my guests don't enjoy my comments on their purchases as much as I do.  I do keep my mouth shut when the prophylactics ride down the conveyor belt and quickly drop them in a bag. 
6. Moose got to go to a half day of day care today because I have a little extra cash from scanning and bagging...that's the ticket!

Check It Out

It is amazing how quickly I can waste my lunch hour bouncing around YouTube.  With the chatter around the office about favorite songs, old tunes just keep popping up and then leading to another song that I have to listen to...right then and there.  This week I even created a playlist for a camping trip next July.


One sweet gem of a song I had to listen to this week was John Mellencamp's Check It Out.  Sometimes you just need a little Mellencamp.  He gave my commencement speech at Indiana University Bloomington in May 2000.  I was screaming "JOHNNY" from the front row with my fellow Journalism School grads as he walked on stage to accept his Honorary Doctorate from the School of Music.  He started his speech by saying that he hates to be called "Johnny" and ended his speech telling us that we shouldn't rush into jobs and careers, that we should take our time to explore the world and find out what it is we really wanted to be.  My fellow liberal arts students thought this was brilliant while the Kelley School of Business grads looked at him like he was off his rocker.  Oh ,Johnny...I mean John, you rock!

Do You Fufu?

My roommate, Erin, still sleeps with her childhood blankie.  This "blanket" is named Fufu as in "little Bunny Fufu hopping through the forest..."  The fact that she still sleeps with this textile doesn't strike me as odd or strange. It is the mere size of Fufu that truly amazes me (see photo below.)  I am baffled at how she has managed to guard the tiny remains of this bunny blanket for 33 years, through numerous moves, etc.  


Moose bares the brunt of several accusations of digesting Fufu during near panic attacks at an assumed disappearance.  Then Fufu is found tucked under a pillow or at the bottom of the sheets.  I lose sweaters, scarves, books, and other substantial objects.  I just can't wrap my head around how this tiny blankie has survived.  Quite an amazing feat, Erin!  Long live Fufu!


I had a serious attachment to a blankie until I was 8 years old, and a teddy bear until I was 22 years old, but those are stories for another day.

Good thing Erin has a fresh manicure to include in this perspective shot

A Dad That Will Live in Infamy

No. I didn't misquote FDR's request to go to war against the Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbor 69 years ago.  Da' bomb Daddy was born was 60 years ago!  We celebrated tonight over deliciously buttered filet mignon at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse...also da' bomb.


Some things that make my dad, Brian, infamously bomb diggity:
1.  His iPod holds more tunes than mine and I like 90% of what he has loaded on there.
2.  He has very dark hair with very few grays that many people think he "stains."  My father does like to look nice and grooms well.  However, he is not vain enough to color his hair.
3.  Daddio has a great, Croatian complexion...tans well.  This point and the one above are hopeful indicators of my aging genes.
4.  He coached my softball teams growing up and dedicated many hours that he would have rather been playing golf.
5.  My dad kicks ass on the golf course.  This past summer he improved his index by two points.  I just wrote that like I actually know what I am talking about, but I don't.  Other people have said that he is really a good golfer...and he likes it, so that's nice.
6.  Pops has worked for the same company for 30-some years. Loyal dedication!
7.  He is the third oldest of seven kids...he didn't really have anything to do with this but I enjoy having a large extended family, so this qualifies for bomb diggitiness.
8.  He loves my mom.
9.  He loves my sister and me and has offered us unwavering support no matter our hits or misses in life's experiments.
10.  Dad's first concert was The Beatles.

Happy Birthday, Dad!  You are da' bomb diggity!

Words and Stuff

My dear friend Sarah (who just asked me to be in her wedding by the way <smiley>), recently started back up her blog, A Room of One's Ow(e)n.  Of course, I love the fact that she says I inspired her to get writing again - along with the fact that she was just bored one night when her fiancée was teaching at the prison - but I also love her knack for writing with action verbs. In Mr. Shoup's Yearbook class he often challenged us to rewrite sentences with a more active voice than passive (he also taught us to check, recheck and check again the spelling of someone's name.  As you can see in my first post, I spelled this very man's name incorrectly.)  I feel (passive) as though I write passively too much.  Sarah is full of active action...and I want (passive) to, too! I should mention that Sarah is an English teacher. Her career life is dedicated to words and stuff, but that doesn't mean I can't seek to improve.  

I dusted (action) off a box full of old journals and books about creative writing and pulled out this little gem, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (Published in 1986. Surely not too much evolution in writing has occurred (damn passive voice) since then.)  I found this book at a massive book sale when I lived in Seattle, and it claims to "free the writer within."  Game on...let's give it a whirl!

***MOOSE UPDATE***

Getting a little antsy because my walking commitment wanes with the dropping temperatures outside.  Still a very GOOD BOY!

I like my parents

Mom had a small gathering last night to celebrate Dad's 60th birthday that is on December 7th. I have to say, I think I have just as much if not more fun hanging with my parents, sister, aunts and uncles, and my parents' friends as with my own friends.  I laughed so hard listening to my Aunt Rah tell the story of how she and my Uncle Regis had one date their sophomore year before actually getting together two years later.   Aunt Rah described the car ride with their friends "Jim and Char", but our old neighbor, Veronica (a lovely lady from Northern Ireland) thought she said they spent the night in the "gym and shower."  You'd probably have to know these people and/or have been there to get the kicks I got out of the story.  I hear so many people struggle with their families of origin.  I am blessed to truly enjoy being in the company of mine.  

Happy 60th Birthday, Daddio!

Favorite...for today

Today, my boss sent out his annual request for each of our favorite song.  He compiles everyone's input and gives us a holiday CD.  Some people select a Christmas tune, but the majority truly pick a song that reflects their personality and music taste.  Then the bossman adds some random tunes that circulate the office.  For example, last year Little River Band's "Cool Change" came on the radio and several of us chimed in to sing along as if we'd been singing it our whole lives.  Not a song you hear every day or even every year, but we all picked it right up.  That song made the holiday CD...obviously.


I righteously submitted Grateful Dead's "Dire Wolf" last year with much disapproval.  I just don't understand how anyone can't love the Grateful Dead.  Their disapproval doesn't deter me from rocking it out from my iPod dock anytime that I want, but I am going to select something different this year from my current favorite band, Gomez. They've been a favorite (really, can you have just one favorite band or song?) for about 5 years now and are in the studio making a new album now.  Their Chicago show this year rocked my world and I can't wait to hear what's next.  Enjoy my favorite...

Check out a newer video like "Airstream Driver" to see how they have evolved from their dweebiness. 


***MOOSE UPDATE***
Sweet boy with stinky gas...greenies???

Dental Schmental

GREENIES claim to be good for my dog's dental health. For you non-dogfolk, Greenies are hard green treats in the shape of a toothbrush. How can these treats benefit Moose's K-9s when he chomps them down into two bites?  An iota of plaque may fall from one solitary tooth but no major cleaning takes place. Perhaps dogs of more petite stature than Moose savor these "healthy" treats long enough to ward off tarter.  I felt duped when I handed him one (after he sat like a GOOD BOY) last night.  I am such a sucker for marketing ploys. 


I once heard that any business targeted towards baby boomers or pets has a better chance of success today than most other new businesses.  I can't give you a source or stats and percentages or charts or data...I just heard it.  I believe it, too.  You all know by now that I am crazy in love with Moose.  If I had the means, I would shower this dude with new goodies everyday. I am such an emotional consumer...it's dangerous!

Okay, so I bought the generic "Freshies" in the shape of a bone...same diff.

How Now Brown Cow

Erin put up new shower curtains yesterday and the fresh, rubbery plastic smell instantly conjured memories of wearing water wings at my Grandma McMahon's community pool.  Man, if you didn't wet your arm and the wing first, ouch! Besides that occasional mishap, only warm, fond memories come to mind from playing at her pool.  She carted Beth and I along to her morning water aerobics with the other ladies in the community.  We would have to sit on the side of the pool or participate in the exercises.  "Hoooowww noooowww brooooowwwn coooowwww" topped my list of favorite exaggerated mouth exercises.  These ladies were more interested in preventing facial sag than trimming a few inches off their waists.  "A-E-I-O-U" over and over again motivated the group, too.


A concrete bridge stretched the width of the pool near the middle.  We could not walk across this architectural feature but we most certainly shimmied our way to the middle from underneath like monkeys just to drop into the water.  One day, Beth and I conquered this task repeatedly until our fingers nearly bled.  We weren't bothered until we went to see "The Natural" that night and could barely eat the buttered popcorn due to our raw fingers.


All this from a new shower curtain...Miss you much, Grandma!

Thanks to ForRent.com for this image...I need to learn these photo rules...eek!

***MOOSE UPDATE***

Got to have a 1/2 day at camp....GOOD BOY!!!

Classics

While I was scanning items on "Black Friday" at my part time job at the superstore, I was delighted to see how many toys of my childhood have stood the test of times. As Mr. Potato Head beeped over my scanner, Easy Bake Oven lined up behind him and then the farm wheel thing that you pull chord and you land on one of Old MacDonald's animals.  Of course, there were Wii's, DVDs, and a talking Maltese, too.  It was just refreshing to see some toys I grew up with aren't completely obsolete.  There are days that I feel older than dirt and it's too late to have dreams, but then an Easy Bake Oven comes down the line to remind me of grander plans...which by the way have never included becoming a baker, but a farmer, maybe, and I do like potatoes.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  

Sometimes I wish I had a vocational dream, like "I want to be a farmer," "I want to be a nurse," or "I want to be a fireman."  Lord knows, I didn't dream of selling Internet Advertising and scanning shenanigans coming down a conveyor belt, but life truly is good.  All I can do is try to be the best possible Meghan that I can be and enjoy short moments with Mr. Potato Head...I couldn't have dreamed a life this full...for real...I am serious.

all photos rights to Hasbro or Disney or somebody other than me

***MOOSE UPDATE***

    Generally awesome. 

Vibes

Yesterday, Moose and Lilli had a play date with Cheetah and Sister at the dog park east of ours.  It was a SUCCESS!  I watched Moose like a hawk with every other dog.  I knew he'd be fine with Cheetah and Sister because they've know each other since with he was a pup.  Those girls put him right in his place. Erin and I left the park saying, "There's just a better vibe at this dog park."  I love the park where we are "members," but there really was a different energy among the human visitors - more laid back, less snooty, and generally kinder.   


I believe whole-heartedly that the dogs pick up on that energy.  Moose knows when I am sad and just need to snuggle on the couch or when I am sick and can't give him an ounce of exertion.  He just knows.  So, surely these beasts pick up when there is bad juju or funkiness and carry that with their behavior.  I am no animal psychologist, and this is pure speculation.  I am just saying the Moose was a GOOD BOY at the park yesterday and the vibe was good. 


***Took a two-day holiday from the blog and then felt guilty after watching "Julie/Juila" last night.  I know, I know...you were all distraught, and I am sorry.  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

It's an action

Some very wise people have told me that "Gratitude is an action."  "Huh?" was my first reaction.  It was further explained that if I claim to be grateful for something I need to show it with my actions.  Less lip service and more foot movement.  For example, "I am extremely grateful for my family."  Okay.  So what I am going to do about it?  I try to show up for them and be present when I am with them.  I don't do this perfectly...at all.  "I am grateful for my car."  Yet my car sometimes collects all my coffee cups, documents, pop cans, etc.  I need to show my ride some respect and spruce it up.  "I am grateful for Moose."  Walk the good boy!  Get it? You picking up what I'm putting  down? 


Here's another one.  "I am grateful AT&T gave us all the movie channels for free this weekend in an attempt to gouge us for money."  Now, I must go watch the The Hangover and be grateful that Bradley Cooper exists.

Mom told me to leave her out of the blog.

My Name Is. My Name Is...

     Did you know that Moose is no stranger to blogs?  That's right.  His doggie daycare, The Good Dog Hotel and Spa, featured him in an October blog...his very own feature, "Hi. My Name is Moose."  Unfortunately, we haven't been able to visit there in the last couple of weeks - hence the part-time job.  Now, don't go thinking Moose is all kinds of spoiled (he's totally spoiled) because he frequents The Good Dog.  He usually only gets to go once a week to get him good and tired.  
     I was thinking after last weekend's dog park incident that Moose never gets in trouble at daycare.  The ladies mentioned he once bullied a black female Great Dane around the water bowl...once out of like 20 visits.  My friend Darci reassured me it is because the staff knows how to handle a pack of dogs as opposed to us novice dog people at the park.  Until the daycare funds increase and I get the guts to return to the park, it is walks no matter the weather.  I better get a nice butt out of this!

***MOOSE UPDATE***
         GOOD BOY

Valuable Prevention

Tonight was Orientation at my new part-time job at a large superstore-type place (see hint below.)  We had a session with a member from the loss prevention team who was by far the most entertaining portion of this 5-hour experience.  He has a Segway, people...for real! The protector/enforcer said something thought provoking that I thought I'd share with you.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Deep, huh?  My parents are getting to the age where weird stuff is happening to them and their friends in regards to health.  The stuff I am always thinking, "I don't have to worry about that because I am too young."  Well, I am sure they thought that up till the point that a scare slapped them in their face.  So the list begins: calcium supplements, long walks with Moose, increased H2O intake, smoking cessation (I lied about all the fresh air), decreased sodium, and the list goes on ad infinitum. 

umm...can i get sued for this? 

***MOOSE UPDATE***

Poor fella had a long day in the crate but did well.  GOOD BOY!

Follower vs. Reader

Let's talk about you for a while shall we?  Random Thoughts and Corn Stalks has been holding steady at 20 "Followers" for several days now.  I was really enjoying logging in each day to find a few more had jumped on board.  Who is going to be number 21 in honor of my 21st post...do you recall the 21-days-habit-forming-commitment?  Mom? Dad? Erin? Here is the real question I have tonight - do I value readers or followers more?


My sister is a follower and came clean at family dinner last night that she does not read the blog everyday. My mother hasn't figured out how to sign up and all that, but she does in fact read my blog each and every day.  Dad did a cram reading session at the nudge of  Mom this weekend.  Believe me, I am grateful to each and everyone of you for peeking, diligently reading, browsing, clicking, critiquing, or just telling me you read it.  

I guess what I am pondering is the goal?  Now that I have the habit, what is my next goal for Random Thoughts and Corn Stalks? By the way, that title is something I've had tucked away since dinosaurs roamed the planet (college where I thought I'd write the next great American novel.)  That goal has appropriately reformed to its right size here in blogland where I simply just write.  Thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride.  I will try not to put you all in boxes and just let you be you.

No relevance - just sick of my face on Facebook posts

***MOOSE STATUS***
Graciously entering his crate like a GOOD BOY!

Come to Mama

I am such a fair-weather Indianapolis Colts fan.  Come playoffs, I am all in and pumped and actually watch the games.  Tonight, I had no clue what time they were playing and had no thought of wearing my #63 Jeff Saturday jersey (I picked that one because he seems like a really nice guy and it wasn't the ubiquitous #18.)  I showed up at Mom and Dad's for the last half and really tried to focus for a bit...but...then...there he was.


Tom-come to mama-Brady.  Dear Heavens, he is one beautiful specimen of God's work.  I lost all focus on the Colts. The random thoughts flooded in "Is Gisele at the game...would the TV network have to pay her to film her...no dummie she is in public...didn't you graduate from Journalism school?! Do they love each other or is it just their supreme beauty that binds?"  Then Peyton barrels a pass down field into the hands of a Patriot to lose the game.  


"Maybe if I wasn't thinking about Tom so much this wouldn't have happened."  Maybe the game has absolutely NOTHING to do with me. I really dislike the Patriots, but I love me some Tom Brady.  Does that make me a traitor?  Peyton is a nice, smart, skilled, talented, good fella of a quarterback but he has nothing on Tom's dreaminess...I can't help but be honest about that! 


***MOOSE UPDATE***
Happily entering crate when we leave the house.  Got a good long, hard walk today.  Good boy!

Seriously Bad

And by seriously, I mean seriously.  This is a sad day in our household.  The crate is officially out of the basement and up and ready to house a very bad dog...very bad.  Honestly, I don't have all of the details to report but Moose's behavior was bad enough to cause my roommate to leave the house for a breather.  Apparently, while I was at a workshop all day, and while Erin stepped out for an hour or so, Moose decided to shred some literature about budgeting that was collecting dust on my bedroom floor.  This act of frustration signaled Erin to take the dogs to the park for some exercise.  Generous roomie that she is, she made the venture.  


Well, I guess things got pretty ugly at the park.  Moose got in a fight and wouldn't back down.  The other dog people were not very happy with this and let Erin have it.  UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The park exercise is a solution to the literature shredding...or was.  Now, I think we may be shunned from the park.  Erin has sworn off taking him and now I have so much fear and shame, I don't if I can go back. This just plain sucks and is seriously bad.  I took him for a 45-minute walk tonight and is still ornery as hell.  BAD MOOSEY....sad mama...frustrated roommate.

Mama Santa

My sweet mother sent an email to my sister, Beth, and I this week asking for a Christmas wish list.  I haven't responded yet because in all honesty, I do not have any major wants and have all that I need.  But if I did have wants, maybe they would look like this...

Dear Mama Santa,
Thank you so much for asking what I might like for the Christmas holiday.  I really don't have any wants or needs.  I would just like to spend some time with the family eating some good food.  But if you absolutely insist on some suggestions, I guess I can come up with a few. 

Moose and I would like to move home with you and Dad and I can be a full-time graduate student.

Oh, I know you're allergic to Moose and I have already boomeranged twice since college, so that's probably not a good idea. Maybe a fancy new camera for posting beautiful images to my blog would be more reasonable.  I like this one:

A little excessive? I haven't had much luck lately posting fancy stuff to the blog, but this camera could change everything.

Probably not, actually...not necessarily a good investment.

Hmmmm....

I sure do miss the garage from my old house, especially with the recent morning frosts.

Automatic Car Starter...AWESOME!

That's just lazy now that I think about it.

Really, Mama Santa, all I want for Christmas is a new pair of socks and a whole day to spend with you in our pajamas watching all the sappy movies we want on Lifetime or Hallmark - seriously.

Love,

Meghan

At Work

Well, I worked hard to create an exhibit of randomness at work, but I think you'll have to double click this image or zoom in or get a magnifying glass or wait till I figure out how to make something bigger and clearer.  I was lacking in thoughts to share, so I figured a visual display may be a nice change of pace.  Oh well, better luck next time.  Just you wait, loyal followers, one day this blog is going to be so technologically advanced.  We'll look back and say, "Remember when that silly Meghan couldn't post media in her blog." And we'll have a good ol' laugh...

A Hot Mess

I came home at lunch today to stir my enchilada crock pot concoction and to walk the dogs.  I failed to mention yesterday that Moose was GOOD BOY due to my video embedding debacle.  I knew we'd be pushing our luck today with him since he hadn't had any really good exercise in the last couple of days, so a lunch walk was a must.


It was a sunny but chilly day so I wore my mitten/gloves - the ones that have a convertible top on them to expose or cover the tips of the fingers.  Very versatile knitwear.  At any rate Moose had to take care of some business, so I being the good neighbor that I am, pulled out my plastic grocery bag (recycle, reduce, reuse!) to pick up after my pooch.  At this point my glove/mittens were in mitten mode.  Well, that's the last time that happens because I lost some dexterity and scooped poop with the mitten/gloves. Then in an attempt to close the bag and keep the two dogs wrangled in, it ended up on the other glove/mitten, the leash, and my coat.  This, my friends, is what you literally call a hot mess!

***MOOSE STATUS***
Pretty good. Got a water bottle out of the recycling bin and messed with the bathroom trash.  Roomie is off work in the morning....keeping my fingers crossed the dogs get to go to the park.

Loyal Listener

I consider myself pretty loyal, especially to radio stations.  When I lived in Seattle, I listened to 103.7 The Mountain religiously on my way to work, on lunch, on my way home, on late nights. I called the radio station all the time, too.  Once I called on my way into work when I saw a bald eagle dead on the side of the road.  I didn't know who else to call (I was very lonely in Seattle.) Somehow, I managed to get through to the studio most times.  

Being loyal had its benefits.  The Mountain invited me to a private studio concert of the Indigo Girls, which was amazing.  I even got to ask a question to the ladies.  I was totally star-struck.  Each of their albums represents a different break up of mine in high school.  I also called into 103.7 during lunch one day and answered some silly questions and got to select the next song play.  I chose Train's "Meet Virginia."  Man, I love that song!

When I moved back to Indy in 2004, I felt a void losing my morning show friends and fresh tips on new music.  Luckily, 92.3 WTTS quickly stepped in to ease my whoas.  I wasn't as in love with the personalities but the music was spot on with a little extra dose of Mellencamp (103.7 played a lot of our Hoosier boy, too.)  Every once in a blue moon I need a little Top40 boost, but for the most part my dial stays fixed on 92.3.  Sometimes I find the selection random and a little 70's-esque but then there are weeks like this that I get two new gems to add to the music vault.  I downloaded Fitz & The Tantrums to iTunes and tried to get Amos Lee's "Windows Are Rolled Down."  The latter isn't on iTunes that I can find (enjoy below.)  My loyalty to WTTS has reaped some free goodies, too.  On Valentine's Day this year, One eskimO rocked a private concert at Creation Cafe.  It was one of the coolest shows I have seen   because of the setting, music, and it was free!  

All this loyalty doesn't change the fact that I want XM Satellite radio so bad that it hurts!

Loyal Listener (draft with bad video posting...reposted 11/17)

I consider myself pretty loyal, especially to radio stations.  When I lived in Seattle, I listened to 103.7 The Mountain religiously on my way to work, on lunch, on my way home, on late nights. I called the radio station all the time, too.  Once I called on my way into work when I saw a bald eagle dead on the side of the road.  I didn't know who else to call (I was very lonely in Seattle.) Somehow, I managed to get through to the studio most times.  

Being loyal had its benefits.  The Mountain invited me to a private studio concert of the Indigo Girls, which was amazing.  I even got to ask a question to the ladies.  I was totally star-struck.  Each of their albums represents a different break up of mine in high school.  I also called into 103.7 during lunch one day and answered some silly questions and got to select the next song play.  I chose Train's "Meet Virginia."  Man, I love that song!

When I moved back to Indy in 2004, I felt a void losing my morning show friends and fresh tips on new music.  Luckily, 92.3 WTTS quickly stepped in to ease my whoas.  I wasn't as in love with the personalities but the music was spot on with a little extra dose of Mellencamp (103.7 played a lot of our Hoosier boy, too.)  Every once in a blue moon I need a little Top40 boost, but for the most part my dial stays fixed on 92.3.  Sometimes I find the selection random and a little 70's-esque but then there are weeks like this that I get two new gems to add to the music vault.  I downloaded Fitz & The Tantrums to iTunes and tried to get Amos Lee's "Windows Are Rolled Down."  The latter isn't on iTunes that I can find (enjoy below.)  My loyalty to WTTS has reaped some free goodies, too.  On Valentine's Day this year, One eskimO rocked a private concert at Creation Cafe.  It was one of the coolest shows I have seen   because of the setting, music, and it was free!  


All this loyalty doesn't change the fact that I want XM Satellite radio so bad that it hurts!


BAD VIDEO EMBEDDING WENT HERE>>>

This is the first time I have embedded anything and the video appears to be dangling off to the right...que pasa con eso??? 

Waddle You Have

My quirky employer, Angie's List, had a diner delivered over the weekend.  Seeing this beautiful edifice makes me just want to smack gum in my mouth and tap a pencil on a pad of paper and say, "So what's it gonna be this morning, sugar?"  That reminds me of a wooden goose that my grandmother, Marcella, hung in her kitchen.  It said "Waddle you have?"  Ya know? Cause geese waddle? Get it? 

No one quite knows what's going to be on the menu yet or when it will actually be functioning. Seeing as my employer has a pretty robust wellness program, I imagine my visions of cheesy grits and biscuits might be a bit off base.  I am guessing there's going to be wraps with sprouts and and other ruffage.  I wonder if they'll let me play out my impersonation of Flo from "Alice."


***MOOSE STATUS***
      Very good boy!