I'm Going Against The Mainstream, Here

But what else is new?

Do you all remember the show Mad About You with Paul and Jamie Buckman?

Here's a quick refresher for you.



I enjoyed this show. There was one episode in particular that I've been thinking about lately.  They were both having terrible days and  kept trying to get to "The Feel Good Movie of the Year" and were thwarted at every turn until and act of kindness by the film projectionist at the very end of the show saved the day.

Right now, I really want there to be a Feel Good Movie of the Year. Everything that has come out recently seems to be either post apocalyptic or base humor that flaunts bodily functions and/or tears others down.



Are there any feel good movies out now? One that is light and funny and even, dare I say it, a little uplifting?

Help a gnome out. What do you recommend for lighter fare in the movie realm?

More Fun With Taxidermied Squirrels

Yes, folks, there's so much fun to be had with taxidermied squirrels. You didn't think I'd be able to find anything more entertaining than the ones from my previous post, did you? Well the gauntlet has been thrown down. Here are pictures of actual boxing taxidermied squirrels that I saw in all their moth-nibbled first hand glory when I visited Montana in July.

Upper cut. Upper cut. (Name that video game!)

Note the sheep in the background. This becomes important later.

EXTREME CLOSE UP!

 My mom sent me these photos since I'd forgotten to take them when I was there admiring coughshockedandmezmerizedinabadwaycough them in person. She included in the bottom of the email this picture that scared the ever loving crap out of me.

I could have done without that. (The lamb has a twin coming out of its back. Note the legs appearing as spider leg appendages and the two sets of ears.)

There was an entire case of taxidermied animals at this museum, and the Youngest Urchin, who just turned six, went through and named them all. Until she got to this one. She paused in her identifications, and deemed it, "A baby bobcat and its turkey friend."

Umm, friends don't let friends nibble on each other, Youngest Urchin. Just so you know.

And yet, despite the taxidermy, (or maybe because of it) a good time was had by all that day.

The Urchins, my mom and me. The Man is behind the camera.

What would you want to see in your taxidermy? Inquiring mind (me, of course) would like to know.

Sweat, Snot and Tears

Only one was mine.*

Yes, these are the joys of working with three year olds. I didn't list all the bodily fluid combinations that I may or may not come in contact with each day. I'm classy like that.

So the new job is in full swing, and I'm exhausted. I should be working on my manuscript as we speak, but I figured blogging is close enough at the moment. I'm trying to psych myself up and convince my decrepit, aging body that I have energy to spare. So far my body isn't buying it.

I'm having fantasies about hijacking a tractor trailer full of Red Bull. I think this is how addictions start and then later how I end up in the papers. I'll keep you posted.

Any advice or home remedies for exhaustion? Do you have a bootleg recipe for an energy drink? I can easily get my hands on a still, being as I'm the former county 'Possum Queen and all. Lay it on me in the comments!


* That would be sweat.

Back In The Saddle Again - I Hope

Hey everyone!

*chirping crickets*

Yeah, sorry. It's been crazy. What can I say. Just yesterday I had a doctor's appt. and she ordered more blood work for me. It took three women and 5 tries before one of them was successful. And you know they were twisting that needle and pushing it in and out, trying to get the blood flowing. Thirty five minutes later they got a tiny bit of blood. And I had a small fever off an on for the rest of the day from the experience.

Then I had to go get one of my fingers x-rayed. I swear the x-ray techs love to contortion their subjects. It's some type of competition for them. "Hey! Look what I can get my guy to do!"

Anywho, the urchins are back in school, and I'm rejoining the working world. It's all crazy around here.

But here are some good/funny highlights -

The oldest Urchin played two truths and one lie with her new teacher and the class on the first day of school. Here's her list.

My favorite color is red.
My birthday is this week.
I play roller derby.

I was so proud!

My father-in-law has been in atrial fibrillation for the past month and had to get his heart converted via electric shock. Though the procedure was no fun, it worked, and his heart is beating normally again.

I got to see my friend who has ALS.

I worked on my query letter for A Shot At Forever.

I'm trying to be more positive and look on the bright side, instead of the complaining I've been caught up in recently.  I might even join a blog hop that helps celebrate the little things every Friday. I need something, 'cause this blog hasn't been very tongue in cheek-y recently. And I really want that back!

You've been warned.

Until next time, Citizens.

Now Her Eyes Have It

The oldest Urchin, whose birthday party is this Saturday, has some allergy related swollen eyes thing going on.  Can she never have a birthday without crisis? Either I'm sick. Or a skunk and a hurricane stop by (not sure which was worse). Now swollen eyes.

We went to the doctor last night. Our appointment was at 8:40. PM. What the heck was that about? That's after her bedtime. I was tempted to take her in her pjs. The doctor was very nice. She recommended to keep giving her what I was giving her, confirmed that it wasn't contagious and sent us on our merry way. They're starting to look better, so hopefully by Saturday she'll be fine.

So I have party stuff to prepare, Monday is the first day of school for my girls, and I start my new job.

So many changes, and it's my writing time, of course, that has suffered.  I'll need to yet again strive for balance in my life. Which never seems to be very forth coming around here.

So what are your secrets to finding balance in your life? Any big changes coming down the pike?

The Eyes Still Have It

Yes, I'm still feeling the effects of my double eye infection. Which is making it hard for me to type, let alone visit the internet and all my favorite blogs.

And let me tell you, my eyes nearly popped out of my head today when I got a bill in the mail this afternoon from my ophthalmologist. I know I keep harping on the fact that he tried to shiv my eye way back in June, but now he's adding insult to injury by majorly over-charging my insurance for plucking a frigging eyelash.

You'll never guess how much he charged my insurance for coming at me with razor sharp tweezers and yanking out an eyelash without my permission.

$115.00.

Yes. You read that right. One-hundred-fifteen dollars. Of which I'm supposed to pay $40. For a split second's work, but a day's worth of throbbing ouch-i-ness to my lower eyelid.

How can they sleep at night?

In other related news, I haven't gotten anything written on my W.I.P. lately, and I'm bummed, but my eyes are just not up to it. So it's doubtful I'll be making my goal this month. Sigh. I really need to get on it!

So has anyone tried to shiv you recently? Any ridiculous overchargings to your insurance? Any infection related stories to share? Do tell. Cause I wanna know!

I'm A Geek Girl Too!

And I'm raising a pair of them.

I really enjoyed this video, but my favorite sign is at 2:45. I want to make it into a billboard and post it all over town.



Enjoy!

The Eyes Have It

I went back to the ophthalmologist yesterday, thankfully he didn't try to shiv my eye again. I did get my eyes dilated, which is never a picnic. And he found that I have eye infections in both eyes. So one heating eye mask, a box of eye wipes and a tube of antibiotic/steroid ointment later, I now am on a highly involved eye care regimen for the next month until I see him again.

Hopefully this will help my writing. I've found for the past few months, looking at my computer screen for overly long amounts of times really inflamed my eyes. I dubbed it computer induced eye sunburn. Apparently It may have just been double eye infections. Leave it to me to identify and over-name something incorrectly.

On Monday of this week I had two small cavities filled, and the spot where they injected the Novocaine is still pretty tender. I'm not a big fan of doctors this week.

Onto other news. I finaled in a writing contest in June, and the winners are supposed to be announced by Sunday. I'm really nervous, so any good mojo you all could send on the airwaves would be completely appreciated.

Coming soon to a Tongue In Cheek Blog Near You

Vacation picture infliction Part Deux

and

Squirrel Boxing - The Montana Update

Until next time, Citizens!

My Muse Later That Year

Hello sadistic fools loyal readers. Back for more, I see. Well, I aim to please. Here's a glimpse at my muse a few months later. I still wish it looked like this. Wife beater, plumber's crack and all.

Enjoy that visual.

My Muse In January 2009

Yes, I was blogging way back then. I started in 2008 actually, and have done over 400 posts. This one is number 427. I'm not proud. Or tired. (Name that song!! I'll give you ten thousand imaginary bonus points and much respect if you do.)

Anywho! Back to the topic! Re-runs, of the moldy-oldy variety, as promised. My muse in that month of that year was wreaking havoc all over my manuscripts and acting like a dynamite loving Muppet.

Enjoy this blast from the past.

My Muse