My Bit of Earth

Poll: Reunioning?

I'm having a small dilemma, and--as y'all are pretty smart most of the time--I thought, "Eh, why not ask my Nice Blog Reading Friends?"

Here's the issue.  My ten year high school class reunion is imminent, and I need to decide whether I'm going to go. 

 

For background, high school was not hell for me, nor was it the greatest time of my life.  I was basically happy, just hadn't really grown into my own skin yet, if that makes sense?  I don't have any old scores to settle.  There's no one whose nose I need to rub into the fact that I'm all grown-up and successful and brilliant and happy.  (Although, as you all know, I so am every one of those things!  *Giggle.*)  Also, I still keep in touch with some of my friends from that time period--not everyone, but I basically catch most of the people I really want to see at least once a year-ish--so that's not a huge issue either.

Ordinarily, I'd be totally up for it, but the problem is, it's the weekend before we're moving.  I realize I can pack at other times, and so on, but I know my to-do list will be running through my head ad nauseum all weekend if I'm not home where I'm able to do something about it.  And it will make me crazy.  That's just how I am.

But I don't want to not go, and then hear about what a great time everyone had....

But really I'll see all the people I really want to see at other times, and we'll have fabulous times then too....

But, but, but....urgh.

So, my question is, did you go to your high school reunion?  If so, was it fan-tab-ulous?  Or just whatever?  Am I missing out on a big rite of passage if I skip out on this one?  Or can I just forget about it and be sure to clear my calendar for my twenty-year?

Poll: Zits

I have a zit on the side of my nose.  I'll spare you the photograph, but, suffice to say, it's one of those under the surface buggers that hurts like hell and you can't even squeeze to hurry along because it's so far buried.  (Yes, I'm not above picking.)

Although even as a grown-up I've never had perfect skin, this particular zit is bringing back memories of my teenage years.  While, looking back, I didn't have acne as bad as some people did, at the time I thought it was tragic.

Age has fortunately given me perspective, and now I can laugh about it....

...all the silly remedies...Japanese sand scrub, funky smelling homemade masks, no chocolate, no soda...

...the time my baby brother told a caller that I couldn't come to the phone because I was dabbing Clearasil on my face...he was 7 and thought it was hilarious, fortunately it was only my aunt--but I didn't know that until later!

...the time a friend--who was ordinarily actually a nice person--commented that both I and a boy that I liked had matching zits....

Ahhh, good times, good times...I'm laughing my ass off, really....

Anyone else want to commiserate with a good zit story?

Poll: What Pisses You Off?

I am generally an even tempered girl.  Long fuse.  Will de-fuse rather than exploding.  Peacemaker.  Arbitrator.  So on and so forth, etc.  

(Truly, it's almost pathological the lengths to which I will go to avoid a fight.)

But today, I am pissed.

Wanna know what makes me so angry?  When prosecutors other attorneys try to raise procedural bars to a claim that just needs to be heard, and in all fairness, should be heard.  Like, not a case where a defendant sat on his hands for two years or is just making shit up, but a case where it should be obvious to anyone with half a brain that this guy wanted to appeal and the court system has just completely failed him.

'Cause the thing is, I don't really mind losing cases.  Of course, winning is better, but there are some cases where you just know going in that it isn't going to happen.  But to not even let my guy have his day in court?  Over a complete technicality?  Urgh, urgh, URGH!  It's so unfair and unjust, that it makes me want to just....spit!

Keep me company here--what pisses you off?

Poll: Family

I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes people family, and I've come to the conclusion that my family is not very biological these days.  Rather, it's my people, those who know me and love me anyway, those who if I said, "I have a body to bury," would reply, "Where shall I bring the shovel?"

It's really only lately that I've started to think of our household as it's own family, as opposed to just mashed together fragments of our families of origin.  Sweet Husband, Me, Porterhouse, and Moe--that is my family.

My siblings and Sweet Husband's, our parents, of course--they are all my family.  

 

And then there's this little group that's sprung up around us here in Lawrence.  Some would call them mere friends, but they too are my family.

And then there are a few of you, frequent commentors and lurkers that I look forward to hearing from each day, I think you're kind of becoming my family as well.

Who is your family?

Poll: By Any Other Name

I'm a name collector.  On any given day, I have a little running list in my head of fun names, silly names, puppy names, names I love, whatever.  I didn't know this was an official hobby until J.K. Rowling declared that she does it also, at which point I decided I could come out as a name collector too.

I was doing a little research for this hobby the other day (on the social security website) when I discovered that both my brother's name and my sister's name have broken into the top 100 baby names.  As my name--Meryl--is not even in the top 1000 and hasn't been forever (there were only nine babies given my name in 2007), I sent my Mom a teasing email--something about loving them more, etc.  (She wrote back that it really means she loves me most--so see Nice Sister and Brother, I am her favorite!)

 

Actually, although I've had a love/hate relationship with my name over the years, I've always been proud that I was named after my Dad.  And I've always loved what my name means--blackbird--because I like names to that have good meanings and with "blackbird" I get a song and everything.  I also recently found out my name was somewhat popular in the 50's, which I really like.  Because old-fashioned names are cool now, after all, so maybe there's hope.

What about you?  Do you like your name?  Have you always?  Is there a story behind your name? What are some of your favorite names and why?

Holiday Feasting

Oh, the foods of Christmas!  

...From childhood I just have to have a batch of my Grandma Mary's peanut butter balls.  

...From slightly later, a coke from a glass bottle.  You wouldn't believe how hard these were to find this year--I had to go to three stores!

...And a newly acquired taste, pomegranate seeds.  I like to pick a pomegranate apart (the oozy, messy way) and leave the seeds in a glass in the fridge.  I can almost feel the vitamin C in every bite, and they're addictive!

What foods do you have to have for the holidays?

Poll: What's on your holiday playlist?

Although I add a little every year, last night Sweet Husband was expressing distaste for the repetitive nature of my holiday playlist.  I think it's well-varied--a few classics, a few updated classics, a few that are completely new--but, well, I'm always up for adding new.  Any suggestions?

And, so as not to ask for something without giving something in return, here are a few of my favorites:

All That I Want by The Weepies

Kidnap the Sandy Claws from The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack

Snowfall Kind of Love by Ingrid Michaelson

Christmas is Going to the Dogs from the How the Grinch Stole Christmas Soundtrack

Someday at Christmas by Jack Johnson

Somewhere in My Memory from the Home Alone Soundtrack

Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! by Sufjan Stevens (and several others from the album Songs for Christmas)

Because You Really Aren't Working Today Anyway, Right?

So you can help me shop instead!

For those of you who have dogs/kids/other messy stuff:

What kind of bedding do you have?  We're about due for new, and I'm trying to scout out something fun.  I keep seeing all these pictures of pretty-pretty white beds, and I love how crisp and modern they look.  But then I think about how dirty they would get after even one run-in with the Wee Welshman's paws, and reach the inevitable conclusion that we are not white bed people. 

I don't want to do a bed-in-a-bag per se (because it sucks when one piece gets shabby and then you have to replace the whole thing because nothing else matches it)--more like something that matches, but isn't match-y?  Maybe a solid color comforter and some fun pillows?  A printed comforter and plainer pillows?

Clearly, I'm befuzzled.  If you've seen something cute or have a good suggestion, leave me a comment pretty-please! 

(Here are a few others that I like:  luxurious fabrics, leslie's blue room, minor details.) 

Wednesday Poll: A Poetic Stump Speech

Because a) I'm starting to feel more comfortable just throwing questions out there on any old day, and b) as a consequence the idea of only doing so on Wednesdays is getting a little constraining--this will be my last official Wednesday poll.  And since we're at less than a week until the election, a little game to go out with a bang. 

For this week's poll:

Write a poetic tribute to the presidential candidate of your choice.  It can be a haiku, a limerick, whatever--just make sure it includes some form of linguistic cleverness.  Please note, I said a "tribute to your candidate".  In other words, the point is to say what you love about your nominee, not what you don't like about the other guy (or gal)--play nice!

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Spooky Stories

I'm feeling all Halloween-y lately--thinking of all my favorite spooky stories and movies.

Like the ghost story that used to scare the bejesus out of me as a child.  It was about a china doll that was actually a vampire and sucked her young owner's blood one night.  The end was truly horrific--the girl's parents never figured out exactly how the girl died, but only found the china doll with a smear of blood across its face.

Or the Poltergeist movies.  Wow.  One night when I was much-too-young, a babysitter let me watch one (I still don't know which--the one with the man that looks like the Quaker Oats box?).  I couldn't sleep in a room with a mirror in it for...well, come to think of it, it still gives me the heebs.

For this week's poll:

What are some of your favorite scary stories and movies?  Why do you think it is that they give you the creeps?

Comment and discuss.

(Photo c/o.)

Wednesday Poll: A Task

Last Wednesday night when we got back from vacation, I had a not-good message waiting from one of my college roommates.  A mutual friend had suffered a heart attack and was in critical shape.  Although Nice Friend is still alive and battling, in addition to worrying about her condition, I've spent the past week feeling a little guilty.

At one point in my life, Nice Friend was like my older sister.  She was one of the managers at the restaurant I and many of my friends worked at during high school and college, and I can remember many nights spent after work talking about boys, life--you name it.  Although I have a wonderful mother of my own, of course, Nice Friend was the person I went to for advice about things I couldn't always tell my mom (because Nice Friend wasn't obligated to, ya know, be my parent).

Then I moved, and visits home got both more rare and crazy busy.  Over the past few years I've seen her at a few weddings and at our group of friends annual Thanksgiving reunion, but, more or less, we've just kind of lost touch....

And I'm feeling guilty that it's taken something like this for me to really stop and think of her.

So, for this week's poll, a task:

Call an old friend and catch up. 

Wednesday Poll: What's Your Sign?

I am a Sagittarius through and through. 

Loves travel, adventure, and new experiences? Check.

Idealistic? Check.

Impatient and restless?  Check, check.

In addition, I am a lawyer (the practice of law being a recommended Sag career) and tend to be lucky with money--not winning the lottery lucky, but I almost always can find that quarter in the couch when I need it (a benefit of being ruled by Jupiter).

For this week's poll:

What's your sign?  Do you have any of the characteristics people with your sign are supposed to have?  Is there another sign you identify with better?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Tatoos and Piercings

A few weeks ago at a friend's birthday party, we were discussing tattoos and piercings.  It's been a long time since I've visited a tattoo and piercing parlor, but I've had a decent number of holes put in my body over the years--don't get excited, nothing more exotic than my eyebrow, and mostly in my ears--and I have a little blackbird tat that perches on my lower back. 

I've often thought it would be pretty to get a tiny little stud put in my nose, but for the past few years it would have been inappropriate at my office.  Now that I work at a place where no one would care, I'm still a little hesitant because, well, I kinda wonder if I'm not getting just a titch too old. 

For this week's poll:

Do you have any tattoos or piercings?  If so, why did you get them?  Have you ever regretted them?  Lastly, at almost 28 years old, is it too late for me to get my nose pierced?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Book or Movie?

For this week's poll, a meme that's part of the Lit Flicks Challenge (see my post here):

1. Are you more likely to see a movie if it’s based on a book?

2. Do you prefer to read the book first or see the movie first?

3. List one movie that was better than the book it’s based on, and one book that is better than the movie.

4. In your opinion, what film is the most accurate representation of the book?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Gustav's Choice

From a conversation Sweet Husband and I had a few days ago, for this week's poll:

If you had to evacuate your house today and there was a good chance anything remaining would be destroyed, what would you take with you?  Keep in mind the space constraints of whatever transportation you would have to take, including the space that would be taken up by family and pets.

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Internet Friends

Last weekend Sweet Husband met an internet-scooter-forum-friend in person.  I wasn't terribly worried about it--Sweet Husband's a big guy who can take care of himself--but all the same I did tell him if they were going to be more than a few hours to give me a check-in call so I would know he wasn't lying in a ditch somewhere. 

Apparently they hit it off fairly well.  The guy was very nice and there was not the slightest danger of him leaving my Sweet Husband in a ditch, so that was good.  I believe they left off with plans to go scooter riding again sometime.

This all started me thinking--I've never met one of my online friends in person.  Sure, there are people I was friends with in the real world first that I now communicate with online, but never the opposite.  (Well, except I guess I met Nemmie after meeting her on Daring Bakers, but I knew her brother from high school so that really doesn't count.) 

I can attribute this partly to distance, as many people I know online are prohibitively far away.  But I also wonder if it doesn't have a little bit to do with being a little nervous about meeting people in person.  Not nervous in the afraid-I-might-end-up-in-a-ditch way, but nervous because, well, y'all (excepting those who actually know me in-the-flesh) know the online version of me.  The me that generally tries to look nice in pictures and present myself as a rational, put-together human being.  Not the me that get obnoxious zits every so often even though I'm 27, and wears her husband's boxers to the grocery store, and...yeah.

For this week's Wednesday poll:

Have you ever met an online friend in the real world?  How'd it go?  If not, would you want to meet one of your online friends if the circumstance presented itself?  Or do you prefer to maintain your internet mystique?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Gold Medalist

Last week I was watching some Olympics gymnastics, and one of the announcers said an American gymnast was the best in the world at a particular move on the vault.  Think about that--she is better at something than anyone else in the entire world.  How does she get over the excitement of that enough to go to sleep each night?  And let's not even get started on Michael Phelps!

For this week's poll:

If you could be better than anyone else in the entire world at just one thing, what would it be?  Is there something you think you might be better at than most of the world?

Comment and discuss.

(Photo via.)

Wednesday Poll: Summer Traditions

The Perseid meteor shower is this week.  It's one of my favorite summer events.  I can remember going out as a little kid with my Dad to watch it.  We'd wait until about midnight, when it was good and dark, and bundle up with our lawn chairs and some hot cocoa.  (This was in California, it gets chilly there at night unlike in the steamy Midwest.)  Then we'd drive out away from the city lights, and watch--mostly in silent awe--for hours.

If you've never done it I encourage you to try some night.  The shower peaked in the wee-smalls of Tuesday morning, but there still should be plenty to see for the rest of this week, at least.  Here's some more info. 

And for this week's poll:

What is your favorite summer tradition or memory?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Brushes With Fame

The office I work in handles a large bulk of the criminal appeals in Kansas, so, chances are, if you stick around long enough, you will eventually be involved in a case that makes a significant change in the law.  Nonetheless, about, oh, once every few weeks, I find out one of my co-workers wrote a brief or argued in a case that's really important, and I turn into a little starstruck groupie.

"You mean [insert name of groundbreaking case] was you?!?  Wow...."

Although no one is Johny-Cochran-famous, they're all kind of famous-to-me.  I can only hope that someday I too will be a legal rock star.

For this week's poll:

Who is someone who is famous-to-you and why?  Ever had a brush with someone famous in the more conventional sense?  If you could meet one famous person (famous-famous or famous-to-you) who would it be?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Whistle While You Work

Last week. I read the book Plenty: One Man, One Woman, and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally.  Of course, eating locally for an entire year involves a certain amount of work in preserving summer's bounty to tide over the winter.  But, after a long day of jam making, one of the authors, Alisa, had this observation:

Making jam had taken all afternoon and evening, but the last thing I'd call it was work.

It was living.

Made me think about a lot of things that I sometimes consider "work"--going to the store, weeding the garden, cleaning the house.  Although sometimes I might rather be doing other things, once I get over the fact that these jobs are "chores", I do get satisfaction from picking out good produce, plucking out weeds, sweeping the floor....

For this week's poll:

What is something that's "work" (work to you, or something others would consider work) that you enjoy once you get into it enough to forget about the label?

Comment and discuss.