It's My Wake!

When I was about 14 years old, I had a dream about my own funeral.   I don't remember how I died in the dream, or any of the other details of the dream before the funeral.   What bothered me about this dream was the fact that no one attended my funeral.   I decided to make sure there would be a few people attending by writing out a detailed plan for my funeral.   Of course, I forgot to put this plan up and my mom found it.   She checked me out of school because she thought I was suicidal.   I wasn't.   Just planning ahead.

I still think about my funeral occasionally, usually after someone I know has died.  The plans changed pretty frequently until the last few years. 

At the time of the original plan I was still sort of attending church, and most of the songs I chose were religious in nature.   Since then my choice in music for my wake has changed significantly.   Mostly.   There are three songs I want played at my wake, in no particular order:

Amazing Grace

The Parting Glass



Feel Like Going Home



Beyond these three songs, the music is in the hands of two people, my sister and my best friend.  I want lots of music, good food and drink.  Especially the hard stuff, like Dr. Pepper.

I've also decided that I want to be cremated.   The thought of being buried in a box is just more than I can take.   It's not logical, but there you go.   Also, cremation will prevent any possibility of my becoming a zombie.

college days

This song always reminds me of the 4 years I spent at the University of Montevallo. There was nothing more angst ridden than 90's college radio.

Ice Cream Trucks

Thanks to the variety for crime dramas I've watched over the years, I now suspect everyone driving an ice cream truck is a serial killer. The creepy, tinny sound of the music they play does not help.

Progress Toward Goals

You may remember, I set some goals for myself. The progress has been a little hit and miss, but I think I'm gathering momentum now. Progress to date:

1. I've managed to limit some of my "want" purchasing. This tends to happen more consistently when I have a big project to concentrate on at work (thank you, Med-Verify). Since I have trouble leaving work at work, these projects tend to consume my time and attention to the detriment of pretty much everything else.


2. Limiting my carbonated soda intake has probably been the most difficult and the most hit and miss. While those big work projects may help with unnecessary spending, they also usually involve longer hours and extra stress. Since Dr. Pepper is the strongest beverage I drink, I have been know to hit it a little heavy while under stress. What can I say??? Now that the previously mentioned project is finished (my part, at any rate), I have managed to limit myself to one Dr. Pepper a day.


3. I think I am most proud of my progress this goal (to actually go to some of the places I have on my list to visit. Since establishing goals for myself, I've actually been to two of the places on my list: Callaway Gardens and Atlanta Botanical Garden. There are still 50+ places on the list, but those two trips are two more than I took all of last year. Baby steps.

April looks to be a pretty busy month. I have 2 work related trips and a photography class at Callaway Gardens scheduled already. Hopefully, I'll be able to make time to go to Providence Canyon sometime this month, as well.

In other news, I hope to have some new stained glass work done soon. I've been working on some patterns based on quilt squares. I also have a new turtle pattern I want to try out.

Poetry!

It has been awhile since I've posted any poetry, but the world always needs more Dorothy Parker :)

Social Note

Lady, lady, should you meet
One whose ways are all discreet,
One who murmurs that his wife
Is the lodestar of his life,
One who keeps assuring you
That he never was untrue.
Never loved another one...
Lady, lady, better run!

- Dorothy Parker

Changes

I know it's sort of late in the year for this, but I've decided to set some resolutions, or goals for myself. For the next few months anyway. The plan is to start March 1st.

1. Limit "want" purchases for myself. While I have more disposible income than some, I'd still like to have a little more of cushion for myself. Also, I'll hopefully be able to pay my car off early.
2. Limit my carbonated soda intake. I drink way too much Dr. Pepper. I think I'd feel better and eventually have more energy if I were drinking more water.
3. Actually go to some of the places I have on my list to visit. I'm not talking Europe (though that would be enjoyable), just place around Alabama and Georgia. I noticed last year I'd spent so much time waiting/wanting to go places hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away, when there are dozens of place much closer to home I've never been. Dismals Canyon, anyone??

I think that's enough for now. No need to get carried away and set myself up for failure. :\

Rooftop Shots

My car is still in the shop (damn you, Tuscaloosa Pilot gas station!!!), so out of pity, my mom drove me to the hospital to take some pictures from the roof.

This is one of the shots I got today. Haven't finished processing the others.

Photographs

This photo was taken on Christmas Eve, at the Merry-Go-Round here is town. At first I wasn't sure I liked this shot, but now I'm thinking it has possibilities. Now to decide if I like it better in black & white or in color...

Fortune Cookies

I've been in a Chinese take-out rut lately. With the Chinese take-out has come the usual assortment of fortunes. But tonight's fortune...

Well, I'm just not sure I'm ready for fortune cookie induced guilt trips.

And what was this fortune?

"The world will look a little better with some love given by you!"

Drag the Lake, Charlie

This Drive-by Truckers song has played at least 5 times in the last 4 hours via my "randomized" playlist in Windows Media Player. An impressive statistic when you consider there are 12,202 items in my playlist. So I thought I'd share. I know the style is not to everyone taste, but the lyrics are great!

Credit to my sister for recommending the group.

There's a monkey in my Christmas tree...

Dolphins

I started taking a stained glass class last year, in September. I had to skip several classes, because of other obligations, so I've only completed 2 other projects. One is a sun catcher, done mostly to learn the techniques. The next major project was a lamp shade, small but time consuming - the base is only about 8 inches across, but made of 300+ 1/2 inch pieces of glass.

Dolphins is the most recent, and I think, the best so far. I cut all the glass, except for 1 piece, and did the majority of the soldering. We put a copper patina on the solder, because I did not want the silver of the solder to distract from the blues and grays of the rest of the piece. It measures 12" x 18".

Now, I have to figure out where to hang it.

Next project is a gift, so can't say much else about it, but the project after that will be designed using quilting squares.

Grilling

This grill would look wonderful in my backyard...

I slack, therefore I am...

For my Columbus Day resolution, I'll begin updating here again.

:)

Now why didn't the IRS think of this??

20 Eunuchs to Collect Taxes in India
Friday, November 10, 2006 12:31 AM EST
The Associated Press

PATNA, India (AP) — One cash-strapped Indian city has launched a unique collection service to dislodge payment from tax deadbeats: Door-to-door eunuchs.

Eunuchs — a term used in India to describe transvestites, postoperative transsexuals and hermaphrodites — traditionally make a living on tips for dancing at weddings or for blessing newborns. They frequently refuse to leave until they are given money.

Patna, the capital of Bihar state in eastern India, hired scores of them Wednesday to compel shop owners to pay their back taxes.

"We are confident that their reputation and persuasive skills will come in handy for the municipal authorities to collect taxes from defaulters," said Bharat Sharma, a revenue officer.

Only 2,000 of nearly a half-million people have been paying property tax and water supply charges to Patna's municipal authorities, and tax collection is less than one-third of a projected tax base of $15 million, said Atul Prasad, the municipal administrator.

Dancing and singing to the beat of drums and wearing bright saris, the eunuchs met with success in their new role Wednesday. They collected about $9,000 in cash and checks from shop owners in the city, Sharma said.

The eunuchs get 4 percent of what they collect from defaulters, and will soon be asked to help collect outstanding taxes from homeowners, Prasad said.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness
Originally uploaded by threels.

On September 20th of this year my mother was diagnosed with multi-focal infiltrating lobular carcinoma. There was no history of breast cancer in our family. On September 26th, she had a bilateral modified radical mastectomy. There have been no signs of metastasis to the lymph nodes, liver or bones.

Her cancer was initially detected on a routine mammogram.

Apparently, I'm it...

So, Bones tagged me for this so I would be forced to update this blog. So here goes..

5 things in my purse wallet

1. Drivers License
2. Natural Ice "Lip Protectant"
3. Gym membership card
4. Cell phone
5. A ridiculous amount of change

5 things in my refrigerator

1. Grovestand Orange Juice
2. Roast beef
3. A variety of pickles
4. Milk
5. Mango flavored water

5 things in my closet

1. Candle sconces
2. Bride's maid dress I wore in my sister's wedding
3. John William Waterhouse prints I haven't framed yet
4. Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS boxes (just in case...)
5. Empty picture frames

5 things in my car

1. Proof of insurance
2. A partially melted crayon
3. Jewel cases for Saliva and Willie Nelson CDs
4. A lab coat
5. 2 pairs of sunglasses

As for who gets tagged next, well, I think I'll just take volunteers. Anyone?

A Poem by W. B. Yeats

Based on the poems I have previously posted, you may have thought I only liked Dorothy Parker. And I will admit that Mrs. Parker is a favorite, but I do have collections of other poets on the bookshelf. One of those other poets is W.B.Yeats. And among my favorites of his, is "The Stolen Child." (Note: If you don't have the patience to read the poem, there is a music rendition of it posted at the bottom of this entry. The musical version is by Loreena McKennitt, from the cd "Elemental.")

The Stolen Child

Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats;
There we've hid our faery vats.
Full of berries,
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout,
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that frop their tears
Over the young streams,
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Away with us he's going,
The solemn-eyed:
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside;
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal-chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
From a world more full of weeping than he can understand.

W.B. Yeats

I'm not sure how good the sound quality will be, but I thought we'd give it a try!!

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A little tune for Bones, since he didn't like the Indigo Girls.


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Dogwoods and Daffodils

Many people who have never visited the south have a very Faulknerian idea of what the spring and summer are like here. There is the idea of watching life pass from the front porch while sipping a mint julep or a sweet tea. (Ok, the sweet tea part is true.) The South as seen in movies like The Long Hot Summer doesn't really exist anymore, if it ever did. At least not for the majority of southerners.

Sometimes, it's hard to remember why I have stayed in the South.

But there's a few weeks every year, usually the 2-3 weeks leading up to Easter, when the only trees in bloom are the Dogwoods and Red Buds. The daffodils and tulips are in bloom, as well. Everyone has begun cutting their grass again.

As you drive along, you can see small clusters of Dogwoods covered in white and pink blooms in between the oaks and pines with wild daffodils scattered about and the sun dappled by the taller trees, and it feels almost like nature is sharing a secret with you. And in those moments, I can't imagine living anywhere else.

The song "Southland in the Springtime" by the Indigo Girls always reminds me of that feeling, so I hope you'll enjoy it, too.


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