(((Ivory)))
I wish I could take credit for the cake, swampy, but it actually belongs to the late Laurie Colwin, who is one of my Food Goddesses. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it over and over and over… 
Must make chore list and do things. Back soon!
Update:
Mom’s been admitted. She’s one floor below my dad. He doesn’t know she’s been admitted, so she’s going to call him from her room as if she were home. My siblings and I can’t decide if this situation is horrible, or strangely convenient. :smack:
Heart attack has been ruled out, but EKG changes persist. While she is stable for now, the docs are concerned that it could change for the worse very quickly.
Again- thanks to everyone who called out good thoughts and were up during the evening and night. It may seem like a small gesture, but it means a lot to me. 
As a wise man once said: “different mood, different post”
The Moment Slayer post was, of course over shadowed, but I still think it’s very funny. You may need to live in my world to truly appreciate it though… and GT I do think he believes you are all real- you all intrude enough into my life and conversation that either you’re real or I’m insane-- wait, don’t answer that!
Lunch- what about Alessan? Isn’t she in T-A? Maybe she lives right above you? Think about it later, after sleep!
Bobbio- a nanny gram from the insurance company? That’s wicked stupid!!!
Good luck FCD!
Well, the Ivory tower Princess has a dentist appointment today (which her daddy will take her to), I have algebra tutoring to do and then off to the hospital for a two-fer-one deal :smack:.
Humor is my friend.
Take care, folks.
That one reminds me a lot of the love songs that are in a couple of my Tamil DVDs; they often use nature-related allusions for what I’m guessing is desire in both the sexual and non-sexual forms.
Is your mother religious? If so, she might be wanting a “book of hours”. (The external links on Wikipedia have a list of books of hours that appear to be for sale.)
{{{Soapy}}}: I hope things get better.
Yesterday was an OSHIMA* kind of day. Had a rare early shift at work, and ended up nearly exhausted when I got home. Was lucky enough to be able to stay up until 9:30pm so I could sleep semi-normally, thanks to the wonders of knitting and baths. We’re watching Acid Lamp’s parents’ dogs, and they’re going home today; it’ll be a relief to not have a tiny dog to deal with, as I’m tired of the “don’t accidentally squish the little dog” game-- she gets in the way all the time.
This weekend, we’re headed down to visit my mom and see how she’s looking now that she’s gone through four rounds of chemotherapy; hopefully sometime in early August, we’ll have an updated outlook on how the treatment is going. She seems to be doing a lot better with pain management, and is able to work full time these days, which she wasn’t back in mid-May when she first started chemo. I’m just hoping that she’ll be well enough that she can accompany us to book our wedding location in mid-August.
[sub]Oh Sht, it’s Monday again![/sub]
I’ve posted my response to the nannygram in The Pit. Linky.
Best wishes to Ivory and her parents.
Sorry you lost someone, Bobbio.
Nooner Go to sleep already.
Banana Bread and cake sound yummy. I haven’t baked much lately. 
Massage sounds good…me want one. (did anyone see the “news” story about the place in D.C. that is offering fish pedicures? You put your feet into a tank filled with fish, and they eat the dead skin off… I don’t know what to think of that.)
I am tahred. Both my manager and her boss are out this week, so I’m the only one here who knows what we do. Yesterday was pretty busy, but today seems to be quite quiet. We’ll see how the rest of the week progresses.
Hawkeyeop is leaving for San Diego on Thursday to attend Comic Con. (Huge geek convention.) I have no clue what I’m going to do while he’s gone. Any ideas?
I miss Beebs. Come back Resident Troublemaker!!
mousey, that has got to be pure tickle torture.
soapy, best wishes going out to the 'rents.
bobbio, capital rant you did there!
Etc.
Day Two of putting in a full hour on the treadmill. I’d been slacking off for about the last year and with only two months to go till I’ll be tramping around Italy, I decided to put my best foot forward…so to speak.
Not much else on this end.
Tupug
You can also get your eyelashes permed. I found this out yesterday.
I didn’t think we lived in a decadent society until yesterday.
My favourite love poems are The River-Merchant’s Wife- A Letter, and somewhere i have never travelled, which has the lines,
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
Doing okay at chores so far, and I got a pic of Nat smiling!!! Amazing!
yawwwwwwn Up and about too early, but I had to get my car to the shop. Crossing my fingers that there’s nothing seriously wrong!
Perming eyelashes? That can’t be safe, getting that stuff that near the eyes!
{{{{{Everybody}}}}}
Strangely enough, I really would like to try one. Considering that fish like to nibble my legs when I’m in the water at the beach, I can’t imagine it’d feel much different. I may have to cultivate my own fishies that do that, though; how expensive is it to set up a small pond with little bitey fish?
**Nashiitashii ** thanks for the suggestion, but my mother-in-law isn’t religious. I’m going to have to go and ask her for a specific title. I called her last night and she said one was geared toward alcoholics, and I do believe that was the one that I found. The wiki link was very interesting though!
{{{Soapy}}}
Lunch were you finally able to get some sleep?
I FINALLY got all of my camping pictures edited. I posted my favorites on my blog if anyone would care to take a peek. 
Morning.
{{Ivory and 'rents}}}
Yay for FCM’s daughter!
I had a visit with my son last night. He came over and ate dinner and stayed until around 10. He is so much fun sometimes. Yesterday he took the assessment test at the comm. college and he only needs to take remedial algebra. He read me his course load for the fall. :eek: I’m sure he can handle it, he’s a smart kid.
Mr Rebo surprised the hell out of me when he gave ReboSon $50 and said “Happy Early Graduation!” He’s sweet like that. I can’t wait to see the GED results.
Better get busy… later, gators!
fish nibbling my toes? Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
VBob - not to poke at a sore spot but why on eaeth would you not take you meds as prescribed?
::waves back to the woof waiter::
biz-Z today!
Good morning everyone!
I don’t think the fishes would work for me as I am ticklish too. But I could use it - I do get dry skin a lot on my feet.
Nature things are very much incorporated in romance in Indian culture. Young girls are referred to as flowers, just as in our culture, and guys will “pluck” them.
I was exhausted last night. We are trying to help out his brother and family, who are all fighting very much and there’s constant stress. I ended up going to bed early.
They’re saying thunderboomers here, too, and thus I haven’t ridden my bike. I miss it already.
Hugs to everyone, just at random. I think everybody could use it… I cold. I did NOT want to get out of bed this morning.
Here is today’s morning poem/song:
This is a man speaking to his own heart as if it was another person. He thinks he is falling in love, and so he is asking his heart, What are you doing? Without telling me? What is happening to me?
Oh my life oh my heart
Heart of mine tell me this
In what direction are you going?
What haven’t you obtained?
What are you looking for?
This unspoken, unheard thing
What is that you are keeping secret?
Oh friend, what your heartbeats are telling you
Don’t hide it from your own self
On life’s path and in the garden of love
Since someone came into our life
You think, you wonder
The thing you were lacking, is this it?
You are thirsty, she is a river
Why don’t you say the truth out loud?
This unspoken, unheard thing
What is that you are keeping secret?
Oh friend, what your heartbeats are telling you
Don’t hide it from your own person
Your eyes look to the horizon
But you think - should I go or not?
If this life is filled with dancing
Why are only your ankles bound?
Dance to the tune of love, crazy
If the veil covering you flies away let it
Why do you make yourself suffer?
This unspoken, unheard thing
What is that you are keeping secret?
Oh friend, what your heartbeats are telling you
Don’t hide it from your own person
*jaaniye heeriye
jaaniye heeriye
mere mann ye bata de tu
kis or chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
mitwa kahe dhadkan hai tujhse pyar
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa
jeevan dagar mein prem nagar mein - 2
aaya nazar mein jab se koi hain
tu sochta hain tu puchata hain
jiski kami thi kya yeh wohi hain
haa yeh wohi hain - 2
tu ek pyasa aur yeh nadi hain
kaahe nahi isko tu khulke bataye
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
mitwa kahe dhadkan hai tujhse pyar
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa
teri nigaahen, paa gai raahen
par tu yeh soche jaaun na jaaun
yeh zindagi jo hai naachti toh
kyon bediyon mein hai tere paanv
preet ki dhun par naach le paagal
udta agar hai udne de aanchal
kaahe koi apne ko aaise tarsaaye
jo hai ankahee jo hai ansuni
woh baat kya hai bata
mitwa kahe dhadkan hai tujhse pyar
mitwa yeh khudse toh na tu chhupa
mere mann ye bata de tu
kis or chala hai tu
kya paya nahi tune
kya dhundh raha hai tu
mitwa… *
Morning!
Up, caffeinating, workin’, etc. I missed yesterday 'cos it was an unusual day; took the wife to a doctor’s appointment in the morning, had lunch with her around noon, then went in to work for the second half of the day, which was fairly hectic.
So let me first say, lovely OP, 'Mika! We’re really going to have to chain you to a sofa here or something. Who’s got some rope or some fur cuffs or something?
Okay, so, on Sunday I went to the new Asian supermarket to go to town on some N.O.L. items for work, and I managed to pick up a bunch of nice stuff. Or I hope it’s nice anyway; some of it I’ve never tried before so I’m gambling. How bad can it be? I took pictures of it this time 'cos I know Roo and Smarty wanted to know brands 'n labels 'n stuff. I’ll have to wait 'til I get home to post 'em so I’ll do it all up later.
I love the supermarket by the way. Well-appointed, clean, tidy aisles, well-presented, even the atmosphere was kinda posh, with subdued overhead lights instead of the bright, harsh lighting you usually associate with big stores. It was nice! And so much cool stuff, different stuff I haven’t tried but want to. I’m going to make another trip there next payday to try a whole new selection of stuff.
OH! And someone offered to buy our blog. For $300. That was a pretty firm no. Maybe if he’d added another zero, and maybe added one or two to the first number, Jody and I would consider it – provided we stayed on as admins – but otherwise, just … no.
Soapy - I’m sorry to hear about the familial illnesses – two at once can’t be easy at all. I must admit it’s kind of a strange situation and probably a little frustrating, but I imagine she doesn’t want to worry your dad, given that he has his own situation to deal with. It definitely makes for more convenient visitation though…
Vbob - First class rant there. There’s some touchy privacy issues going on with that company, and their “compliance letter” just sounds stalkerish. “Shame on you for not dilligently taking your medications! And what’s this? You only ate half your vegetables last night? And you had *two[/] glasses of wine? Oh, you’re just asking for it now, aren’t you? And need I remind you that you are running low on milk…” Yeah. That needs to be nipped right in the bud.
Taxi - Wow – I’d forgotten how big ostriches are. I can’t believe people actually ride them. (I know jockeys are traditionally short so the difference in size is a little more dramatic in those images, but still!)
The old school gamer geek in me wonders where the lances and fiery lava pits were…
Okay, time for break, back in a bit.
It happens because on weekends, when I don’t do the usual purtification routine that I have during the work week, I’ll forget to take them. I don’t do it intentionally, but it happens.
I hate being nagged.
Oh, in that case, I would hate that too, and I am with you. We’re adults and I hate being mommied.
The perming eyelashes thing is so weird. It’s really common in Korea but you have to get it done fairly often and you look really scary with those clamps over your eyes.
I have to admit, though, that I am all for decadence, when I can afford it. I really want to try the fishies thing. I’d keep some at home if they turned out to be efficient. They’re cuter than razors anyway.
You shave your feet, Coffee? 
I don’t need my eyelashes permed thankfully, nor my hair. All of it is mad curls anyway…drives the SO crazy because it wraps around everything and I have to cut it loose from the vacuum regularly.
Indian girls have two different problem - first of all, in India, a lot of girls lighten their skin. Here dark skin canbe kind of exotic, but the other problem we have is we are hairy people. Russell Peters, an Indian stand-up, has a great bit on how our God was having a big ol’ joke on us. We’ll put them in the hottest place in the world, and just for fun, we’ll cover them with hair. Men and women!
I will confess that I do have troubles - thank god for modern hair removal. At least I just get hair on my upper lip which I can remove and not a beard like this girl I knew in high school. Poor girl!
I have light skin, being Punjabi, and dark hair, so it shows up, too. Strangely enough, I don’t grow too much hair on my legs.
In India, the richer folks think it’s barbaric that we shave our legs, go figure. They only wax. Waxing hurts and I won’t do it.