That is the other thing. Those movies all have happy endings.
Real life doesn’t have happy endings.
God, I sound bitter, don’t I? I don’t mean to…just stating what is the truth. Remember, this is glass-is-half-full girl speaking.
I know, it’s just such a sweet movie…and it has a good message. In fact, at one point the Irish guy is going on and on about how horrible his dad was–he is bitter, and she says something about her parents (not disrespectful) and he is somewhat taken aback. She floors him with, “they love me, and want what’s best for me.” And her parents DO. They are not neurotic, controlling morons (how come there are so many of those in every culture?)–they really do want to do what is best.
hey, it’s fantasy, but I like it. Plus, it introduced me to some really good music!
I am dog tired and filthy-been gardening all day.
In other news, I drove my daughter’s Mini today! It is alot of fun to drive. My car is back now from the shop (new rear tires and an oil change).
Roof estimate is in: $1500+. Gah.
When I leave this hotel, I kind of want to uproot the dogwood tree and take it with me. It’s so pretty, and seeing it every day is really nice.
Doooooo it. DO IT DO IT DO IT.
What? 
Mika, thank you. What do I have to do to get another couple of notches? Hehe.
GT’s post, part II. Maybe this time I’ll hit preview instead of submit. Also, I’ll learn to code.
The bear thread title made me think of swampy immediately. Took me a bit to catch on to the Fire Swamp and ROUS’s in this thread, though. Knew I knew them from somewhere, so I googled and found out that Denver has a comedy troupe by the name of ROUS.. Was also reminded of where they were actually from.
taxi, I would contact your grad school profs and talk to them about being a reference for you. Two years isn’t actually all that long. But definitely talk to them or e-mail them first and make sure it’s OK. Also, feel free to use all of us as a reference. (Or maybe as a threat?)
I stongly recommend kitchen painting. I had very dark kitchen cabinets when I moved in (keep in mind that the kitchen is teeny tiny). They’re white now. Even the ends that were covered in something one level up from contact paper were painted. Unfortunately, I’m still living with the lovely harvest gold appliances because they refuse to die. I’ll remodel eventually, but it’s not happening yet.
MBG, clearly your employer doesn’t understand the importance of posting to the MMP. Please straighten them out (sez the one who can’t even post from work…).
Have I mentioned how much I’m enjoying all the Indian holidays? Makes me want to dance like a mad person right here in my own little house…
How did it get to be 9:24 without me having dinner? Oh…it was the mowing. And some phone calls I had to make. And the reading and posting.
Need food.
GT
You’re going to get me in trouble, mister.
I have been looking at apartments here. Dang, most of them are so cheap. Even the expensive ones aren’t that expensive. Now, if I could just get a job…
See, that’s the thing. There was a time when my parents loved me, too…then something happened. I found out I was adopted.
I’m going to spoiler this because it’s not in the spirit or mood of the MMP.
My mother’s fear of losing me turned her into a bitter old shrew, I’m afraid, and at a much later date I discussed it with my aunts and we think it might have even triggered a sort of nervous breakdown and a mental disorder. Paranoia, maybe.
I was already bitter about being lied to, and I was told 1000x I was only their “duty” until I started believing it (I was born illegitimately and she was my aunt and adopted me) and it just soured the relationship entirely.
But I always hurry to say that for my first 14 years life was grand. And I never wanted. They gave me everything I needed and lots of things I wanted…just after I found out, they stopped with the whole affection thing. Sigh…
drools I want, I want, I WANT!
Telperien, I give you permision to take the tree. Trees are good for you.
Go out to dinner with me. No seriously, we should meet again sometime, particularly before you fly off to the Panama Canal or Panama City or wherever and before **taxi **leaves. And you know, we can meet without **taxi **sometime, too!
Speaking of taxi, I ran into her at the park today, totally unexpected. She had her rollerblades, and I was fussing around with my bike, so we got to spend some time together and exercise together. And then she stayed around while I messed around with my bike computer, but unfortunately I think it needs a boy’s hand to be fixed.
Have I mentioned how much I like hearing this? New one, coming up shortly!
which is when I’ll come to visit
ok - I am guilty of not reading the first 5 pages, but “Hey, that’s great”, “geez, I’m sorry”, “Wow, sounds like fun”, “:eek: you’re kidding”, as appropriate. (I did intend to read the whole thing, really, I’m just still really sleepy, but couldn’t stay in bed any longer. So I’m editing down the 160 photos to a reasonable sized album)
Sunday - I picked Cousin up at the train and we headed off, up route 95, to New England. Stopped in Mystic (really Olde Mistic Village) for lunch (we also wanted to shop but all the shops were closed for Easter). Back on the road we talked about maybe going to Newport for a few hours Tuesday (since relatives would likely be at work and we’d have a day to kill) Got to the hotel around 6pm. Brother, 2nd nephew and 2nd’s gf met up with 1st nephew, niece-in-law, and baby, and picked us up for dinner around 7. Baby slept the entire time, and did not mind being passes from relative to relative. NIL said they were thinking of spending Monday in Newport, were we interested in that? Heck, yeah.
So Monday, around 10:30 (after a stop at WalMart because Cousin forgot to pack some things) we arrived at 1st’s house. It’s a cute little place with a decent backyard, on the other side of which AmTrak zooms by on a regular basis, and apparently the noise does not bother baby, who again slept thru being passed around. He does, however, mind having 1st put his little jacket on him. After much fussing, we packed the car and headed off to picturesque Newport, RI, stopping at one of the hundreds of Dunkin’ Donuts drive thrus along the way for some much needed caffeine.
Talk about your drive-by shootings, most of the photos were taken from the car (since many were not open for the season, and some not open to tourists at all). But those are some gorgeous houses up there. And the shopping district has some interesting buildings also. In the winter, they put socks on their famous sculpture. The weather was beautiful, if a bit windy. We lunched at the Red Parrot, one of the oldest pirate bars, and did a little shopping. Then headed off to dinner with NIL’s family. After dinner we visited NILs godmother for a bit (altho why she and her hubby didn’t just come to dinner I still don’t understand - they all live in the same neighborhood)
Tuesday, Cousin and I went to the Wrentham Premium Outlets and SHOPPED. (Well, she shopped, I found two stores I was interested in, Saucony and Claire’s, and was in and out in 10 minutes - but we were there for 3 and a half hours - so I napped in the car :D) Then over to Brockton for a lovely dinner and visit with an old friend from college and her wife. Then back to the hotel to sleep
We were supposed to have breakfast with 1st, NIL, & baby, but 1st’s relief (he’s a paramedic) showed up an hour and a half late, so he didn’t get off til 9:30 am, and NIL and baby had a rough night, and wanted to sleep in, so we packed the car, dropped by the house to leave the little gifties we picked up for them on their porch, got caffeinated, and headed home, stopping again in Mystic for lunch.
Traffic wasn’t too bad, but the detour to drop her in Brooklyn (we’d agreed to do that if she did most of the driving, and she had) took it’s toll on me, which is why I fell asleep by 9pm last night and only just woke up today around 6pm. (damn good thing I took today and tomorrow off as well - I hadn’t originally, but last Monday, decided it might be a good idea)
I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I won’t be staying up late. But I did want to tell you about the trip.
I still have more photos for the album but Flickr says I’ve used up my bandwidth this month, so I have to wait til May to finish it (heavy sigh) anyway - enjoy.
rigs - I’m not trying to down that movie. Fact is I enjoyed it, but at a sub-level was kind of squicky about it, especially because of the happy ending. Parents like hers don’t just change their culture because their daughter is Kiera Knightley’s buddy. Though if the Bus Kid came home with Knightley and introduced her as the new BFF, I think I’d make a culture change too… 
Mika, the holidays are a an educational blast, keep 'em coming!
I did just say “educational blast”, right?
GT - Just as I was getting free to sit/read/post, I had a bus get in a minor scrape. Nobody hurt, only four kids left on the bus. Jimmie was pulling through the lot at the tree farm (ya’ know, the one the messicans run on 126?) and snagged a bumper on a trailer. Pulled the corner of the bumper back 90 degrees. Of course, even something like that means mandatory paramedics to check the kids, (who were enjoying the whole show) cops, me and the kids’ principal.
I told the two 8th grade girls left on the bus that Jimmie would have to sacrifice a fnger as his punishment, but since it was a minor scrape and no one hurt, we’d probably just take a knuckle. I Left Jimmie asking the girls which knuckle he ought to surrender.
I like Jimmie - great guy. Two years ago, he was pulling away from a rural stop, when a semi that didn’t see him stopped slammed into a car, pushing it under a cement truck in front and killing the driver of the car in a horrific, fiery wreck. Jimmie saw the whole thing from his side window as he was turning away. Been driving a bus 25 years, that’s the worst thing he’s sver seen in his life, and the next day he drove again because he didn’t want the kids to be scared without him.
Remember Irv, that I ragged about last week? (Or was that this week?) Takes one Jimmie to make up for a handful of Irvs.
I got to go to the gym tonight, after 4 weeks of Therapy. The gym I go to is in the same building is where The Wonderful Laura -Physical Therapist of the Gods works. Still I didn’t expect it when she appeared while I was elliptical-ing my way to sweat-heaven. And she scolded me in case I overdid it there, so soon after leaving her capable care. Never mind, it felt good. I got sweaty, and my legs are sore. And my bike will be back from it’s top to bottom overhaul tomorrow, so look out river path, here I come!
Got home tonight, made burgers on the grill, then the Kid and I went to the library (Pratchett - Feet of Clay, and Adams - Life, the Universe and Everything), then she thought what a great idea it would be for us to get DQ. Then I decided what a good idea for her to make her maiden Farm & Fleet trip. The only place I know where you can one-stop shop for your agricultural needs, get your car or truck fixed, grab that new armoire you had your eye on, grab some new Carhartts, stock up on Fiddle-Faddle, visit the electronics dept., get your film developed and toss that new trailer and boat on the back of the F-150 all at one place.
Now? Time for a Harp or two. A chapter or two, then sleepy-time!
See y’all in the morning!
Hmm. Something is pollinating, and now I’ve got a rash all over my forearms. I remember that this happened last year, too. It doesn’t itch, really, it just looks odd, and if I look at it I start assuming it itches, and become freaked out…
Why is it always just my arms?
Done most of the chores, and I think I’ll try to go to bed fairly early.
Mika, I also like the holidays, so keep them up.
Ok, our next holiday is one of my favorites and doesn’t involve any dancing.
Raksha Bandhan (a different link) is the thread that binds. This ritual celebrates the bond between brother and sister. Sisters tie a rakhi, or a holy thread, around their brother’s wrist as a symbol of love and affection, and the brother in exchange gives a gift and vows to protect the sister from harm.
I, having no brothers, have adopted many cousins as my brothers. Any male can be adopted as a brother, but it comes with the rights and responsibilities of course.
Raksha Bandhan means a lot to me. As I’ve mentioned on occasion, my house was seriously lacking in affection, and the scraps of affection I got from my cousins was like lifeblood.
Now, my Aunt adopted a son. This aunt is neither my bio mom nor my adopted mom, (remember, they’re sisters) but the in-beween sister, and actually, the one I love the best and take after the most. It was her son whom I met last october, and after only a little time, really loved him more than a brother. He wants a sister just as bad. Sometimes I joke and say we should have been born in the same family, and were born in different ones by accident. This aunt of mine and I myself are so different from the rest of our families.
Anyway, the girl ties the *rakhi *around her brother’s wrist, and feeds him a sweet with her own fingers. He then gives her her gift, and vows to protect her.
Rakhis are made in all different colors, shapes, and sizes these days. Used to be just a string, but now they have many varieties.
My cousins are hard-working men, though, and so is my aunt’s son…so they don’t like the frilly useless things they sell. Some of them are as much as two inches wide! So I prefer to make my own.
Some pictures of rakhis:
As you can see, they are all rather flowery, and most men take them off in a matter of days. Mine are very simple, the way friendship bracelets are made, and often my cousins will wear them for weeks because they don’t get in the way or look overly girly. I will try to take a picture of mine, but Raksha bandhan is not until August.
A pciture of a sister tying a rakhi on her brother’s wrist
And this is specifically for Mr Bus Guy and Sean Factotum. The very first pic on Yahoo! Images when I typed in ‘rakhi’.
The face isn’t very pretty. But I doubt you need to look much at the face!
And what am I, chopped liver? She is HOT. Including her face. By the way, as for dinner? You’re totally on. Name your time and place.
I’ll throw another in for this Rakhi being rather hot.
I have to make dinner for a girl. She stoped the hell out of me in rummy for three games. Gr. I hate losing. I really hate losing to a girl. Gr!
Think I’ll make spaghetti. Good, cheap, easy meal. Probably won’t impress her. That’s what the sex was for.
If my whackjob cyberstalker looked like that, I don’t think I’d be bitching about her so much…
Ah, yes…how is your cyberstalker, Bobbio? Hope you haven’t heard from her. Hope even more that you don’t hear from her again.
Sorry, I can’t resist…actually came in here to post this link.. Went into my e-mail to send something and found NPR’s most e-mailed stories. They used this for the subject line…
Another neat holiday, Mika. Even if there’s no dancing involved. I think there are always people who just don’t fit into their families the way most do. Nice to have a holiday that kind of makes up for that. I’ve got several honorary brothers that ought to have a string around their wrists… My family accepts me pretty well (although I’m probably the most differentest), but Mom has always wished that I’d have a side of me that was more like Mary Poppins/the end product of My Fair Lady/fill in your favorite saccharine lady protagonist. She’s proud of me and all, but she’d really like me to have a debutante-ish side and I just don’t. Faraway Best Friend is another kind-of misfit. Her family cannot understand why she wasn’t happy just staying home in beautiful Smalltown, Indiana. Her mom has never lived elsewhere and can barely stand getting to the airport to go visit her let alone imagine wanting to live somewhere where they <gasp> speak something other than good ol’ Amerrkin.
As for you, Mika, I really don’t get why anyone would be inclined to be less than affectionate to you. You’re obviously a charming and lovable person.
OK, MBG, we’ll let you work. Just this once. Cuz the kiddos really needed you. Jimmy sounds like a great guy. (Have I mentioned that I think you have a really cool job?)
And…it’s rosie! Hey, guys! Rosie’s back! Sounds like you had a fun time.
Well, gotta finish that e-mail and get myself off to work.
GT
She’s roadtripping to Chesapeake today to visit a college friend of her’s. I’m going to be on edge all weekend…
Is that a part you can buy in a bike shop? You might have to try a place that sells things for casting spells. Or maybe make friends with someone at the morgue.
FCM in a lot of the navy rates, switching to officer after being senior enlisted is a fine idea. But not in mine. Even with 15 years experince and being a chief, those guys who got their commissions were treated like 23 year-old ensigns, not experienced people. I was very happy to stay a chief - I reached my level of competence and was very happy there.
Rifty I’m sure Panama City has at least one Dunkin Donuts, right? There’s your coffee source. Unless you drink those coffee-flavored fancy fruit drinks. In that case, you deserve to go without. Maybe 10 months will break you of that nasty habit.
Drae I was just trying to be funny. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.
I did some mulching last night, and planted grass in some very bare areas. And we trimmed back the last of the growth that needed trimmed. The GF had done a lot of stuff before I got home but still needed me for the heavy lifting.
Ok, I’ll e-mail you and we’ll figure it out.
I don’t know anybody at the morgue. I was thinking of going direct to the source, as it were. I mean, my cleaver is pretty sharp. Now just to find the right boy…
Aww, thanks! :hugs gardentraveler: But really, mom didn’t like to hug or kiss or anything like that. Was just mom, though.
Sorry, aren’t you under-age? :ducks and runs:
Hey, I may decide to add something to the MMP every week. I like sharing my culture anyway, and it gets me in here daily, which I’m liking.
Glad you posted, mika, I thought I killed the MMP.
Aww, it’s okay. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I can laugh about how much I hate that movie now.
See, I like it because the guy who plays the coach is hot. 