check it

cant sleep again. theres a new hurricane, frances. wouldnt that be awful if it hit those areas that are still suffering from charley? it probably wont come my way, but still, tomorrow i will go shopping for my hurricane supplies (again).

the list
9 gallons of water
canned goods, like fruit cocktail - yummy!
batteries
hmm, now then what else?
i already have matches and candles and a good book
i have to find my flashlight. i know its around here somewhere...

http://hurricanealley.net/Storms/06LMDL01.html

looks like orlando may take another hit. come to my place this time, deb

what you keep inside, i know

the drive home was fast. i was lost in my thoughts and didnt see the storm until i drove into it. as much as i love the summertime rains, i am looking forward to some cool days in the fall. not too cold, mind you.

and then this evening ive been admonished. no longer can i hint about the things i could write about; its all or nothing. i dont really like that thought, but i suppose i could make an effort. is that all you wanted anyway?

to all you joe six-packs out there and my constant readers, come back for future revelations. and i will try to keep my disingenuousness at a minimum.

back effects

my back is groaning in protest at sitting so long today. and now i will be driving to orlando within the hour and im not looking forward to the road along the way. too much construction. tomorrow i think i may end up at a theme park. ugh. sometimes i enjoy parks, but more often than not, the people start to irritate me, the lines frustrate me and the characters walking around the park in fuzzy morbid suits, scare me.

but, i suppose, i will enjoy the company. some of my brit friends are in town and im determined to show them a good time while i have the time away from work. plus, it doesnt hurt to get on their good side, since i will be at their hospitable mercies only next month. ahh, london in september and paris in october. it doesnt get any better than croissants below the eiffel tower in the autumn months. comment 'allez vous? tres bien, merci. oh yes, very good, indeed.

thats another thing to think about; how much money will i exactly spend on this trip? 500? 1000? i think it just depends on what i find. kristian says that i should just bring enough to come home with no regrets. not like last time. then i wished i had bought the bag made out of a man's suit jacket at covent garden and when i sent the same visiting friend back to see if he could find it, it was long gone. then again, i would have been more overlimit when it was time to finally go home. i remember telling debbie with complete seriousness, "if we only have enough for one ticket, you go ahead." was i going to live there? make some money at the oslo airport panhandling? call thom and beg him to take me in? who knows. after all, i might be perfect but im also not norwegian. :)

i look to my eskimo friends..

i feel a bit restless tonight. the radios on and thom yorke is crooning as if to only me, but its not soothing. there is a haze around the moon, the same moon that kept me up last night with its bright glow, and im fidgety. yesterday i encouraged my sister to try out her own blog. i think she is concerned about others reading her thoughts. of course, i know that there are many things that i would never write in this blog. at this point, i could describe those thoughts and feelings that would fall under the 'do not write about' category, but i find even i cannot find words elusive enough to use. i fear being discovered.

i could write about the person that ive been thinking about lately.
i could tell you the dream i had this weekend that left me confused but oddly comforted.
and i should probably write about the shadow that hangs over my heart.

instead, i stick to the relatively safe topics. not because im afraid to share, but because i desperately want to be known. and you arent really listening, anyway.

this is ralph in his glory days. 

ralph, as he wanted to be remembered

beloved friend and mouse, trusted pet and avid crawler- my cute companion, ralph the mouse, died this week. he died of apparent natural causes, surrounded by the pine shavings he knew so well. he is survived by 1021 sisters and brothers, 10 aunts and 15 uncles and numerous cousins. he had children as well, but they have since made their own way in the world.

ralph was a spirited mouse, full of energy and a love of acting, his chosen profession. he is most commonly known for his role in the film 'mouse', which made him a legend in his own right. he became very close to the writer and director of that film, k. korner, even spending weekends with korner's family. he never let fame get to his head though, and acted as any mouse would during his days. he loved life and good food - he enjoyed puppy chow the best.

in the end, ralph led a fulfilling life, bringing joy to all those that held his furry little body and stroked his soft belly. thanks for the memories, ralph. i will miss you.

this is only a test. if this were an emergency, the water lilies would have machine guns. 

NNE at 26mph, winds exceeding 145 mph

hi. things have changed. my town was spared but others, less prepared and ill-warned, were not. i am sad for those that lost. i fight the urge to go back to the town that saw me grow up and give whatever material things i have, and whatever comfort i can bring. but i know that i have to wait. meanwhile, i bide my time, waiting to get a phone call from my aunt, everyday saying to her in my mind how glad i am that shes safe.

last ill and testify!

for my last will and testament, i hearby bequeath the following of my material possessions:

to emily, my barbie collection, my radio and cds and other pseudo-decorative items
to chris, my bug collection and my vacuum cleaner.
to zeph, my other toys (legos included) split between ezra and the miniature classic books.

to melissa, my journals, my towels and all my books, minus other bequeathed books.
to nat, my ability to fib like the wind and my pencil collection.
to ezra, my other toys split with zeph and my nancy drew books (trust me, boys can love her too)

to debbie, my globe and my desk, along with all my stationary products.
to cameron, my organizer and rolodex, also my posters and cure t-shirts.

to andrew, my cell phone, madlib collection and my map of the world.
to mom and dad, my photo albums and tvs, along with my treadmill.
to kimberlea, my games and my wish that we could have started over.
to robbie, my guitar and my straw broom.
to dan and peanut, my chalkboard, my wines and my swingline stapler.

to kristian, all items from my kitchen, my herbal garden and one picture of how we were.

the edit

i feel i should edit the last blog because the wedding was beautiful and extravagant, and so well done. i was able to keep my critical nature to myself as i cut a rug on the dance floor with my family. josh looked so happy and could not stop smiling. i have never seen him smile so much. absolutely, that was the happiest day of his life.

things are well, even now that im back. im dreaming of a new place, with cool breezes in the summertime and new birdcalls to listen to at night. yes, california is crowded, full of a lot of rich people that are mostly snobby and the traffic is a nightmare. but i still can imagine what it must be like to live there and absorb the tranquility of the countryside. probably i am falling in love.