it's all happening at the zoo...or next door to my house

bees, basil, bees! (i know, bad ripoff...) anyway, yep it's true, a small colony of honeybees was discovered right next to the walk between my house and the place next door and the plumber had to come and snake out the main drain because of roots (old trees/old house) AND if it wasn't enough ghostface killah scaled the low brick wall that enclosed my back courtyard today! i was hoping that he wouldn't discover that he could actually JUMP over it until hassan came home, but i digress, back to the bees. soooo, the beekeeper said they'd probably been there a couple of days and in the last pic, you can see the beginnings of a honeycomb! i've walked past that branch every night for the past week with the dog and never heard or saw a thing! of course, it was dark and cold, but whatever they were there and i didn't even realize it! and now, they're off to a new setting and ultimately, the honey they produce will be available right down the street from me at polk's fresh vegetable market! we're living the sustainable dream, darlins! ;-)

who says nothing ever happens in savannah? (ok, besides me)

one monday in madrid

RING THE BELLS AND SHOUT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

we have a winner! the 10,000 guest since i started using the sitemeter in march of 2007 was. . .

cue the drumroll, balloons & streamers

TRAVELING CHICA!!!

thank you, sugar, for reading and all of your gracious comments! even more importantly to me, thank you for being such a wonderful writer and such a delightful friend of the blogosphere!

first 5 rounds on me next st.paddy's day or whenever you show up here in savannah! ;-)

naptime or you 'd think he lived here

at least he's sleeping well! bless my heart, i've finally lost my mind!

you are what you read..or something like that

new york times

It’s Not You, It’s Your Books
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: March 30, 2008
Among the bookish, even casual literary references can turn into romantic deal breakers.

according to the essay, based on the number of duplicate books and general overlapping in some areas, the MITM and i are literary equals or if nothing else...closet librarians.

this essay struck me on many levels, but the first was that this was one of yesterdays MOST emailed articles on the new york times website! who was sending and who was receiving? on the either hand, it does seem so much more sensible than letting the type of car one drives (or lack of one) be a deal breaker or is it just a variation on the matchmaker theme? anyway, having the right books is not a substitute for reading them, but it can make for a cute meet in a bookstore! (yes, i've been watching romantic comedies!) what do you think? a worthy deal breaker or just another example of our "something better will come along" society?


maybe i just need to go back to bed. . .

a mind is a terrible thing to waste...

...or in my case lose!

i think i might regret this later! it's so not as hip as manuel, the waiter's

update:

for a good time, go check out istvanski's mixtape...words can not begin to describe the musicality! go on, have a listen, you'll love it!

the things you can find

found this over here. i think y'all will enjoy both!

it's friday, so here's some poetry

i subscribe to the academy of american poets newletter and its arrival in my inbox is always a joy and pleasant diversion (thank you, mr. moose. i'm taking the liberty of doing a cut & paste job here to give you all the information, but with easier links to the categories. (thank you, e@l for teaching me how to do hyperlinks.

so, for your reading pleasure and a lovely lead-in to the weekend, i present,

The Academy of American Poets Presents National Poetry Month 2008

Poem In Your Pocket Day, April 17
Handpicked for Your Pocket: Downloads & Mobile Poetry
National Poetry Month Poster 2008
Sign Up: Poem-A-Day Email
Life/Lines Contest: Enter by April 1


Poem In Your Pocket Day, April 17

Poets.org is brimming with poems for pockets in anticipation of the first national Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 17. Celebrate the power of the poem to both transport a reader and be transported by carrying a poem in your pocket to share with friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers on April 17.


Handpicked for Your Pocket

Get ready for Poem In Your Pocket Day by finding the perfect poem for your pocket. In addition to browsing your library, bookstore, or shelf at home, you can pick poems in these new ways:


Pocket-Size Poems

Poems by Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and many more are ready to print and distribute for your Poem In Your Pocket Day celebration.


Poetry Ringtones

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light" with ringtones for your mobile phone featuring lines by Dylan Thomas, Langston Hughes, W. B. Yeats, Gwendolyn Brooks, James Wright, and Robert Lowell.


Poets.org In Your Pocket

Verse is now at your fingertips with the launch of a new mobile version of Poets.org, which provides free and direct access to the entire collection of over 2,500 poems from the Academy of American Poets. To carry Poets.org in your pocket, simply go to www.poets.org/m from any mobile device.


"I Carried My Life, Like A Stone, In A Ragged Pocket": National Poetry Month Poster

Celebrate National Poetry Month 2008 with the official poster, featuring lines from Jay Wright's poem, "The Healing Improvisation of Hair." Designed by SpotCo, a New York City agency responsible for the lion’s share of poster designs for Broadway’s most popular shows, the poster is available to teachers and librarians while supplies last.


Poem-A-Day Email

Sign up for a daily shot of poetry in April from new spring poetry titles including new poems by Charles Simic, Marie Howe, Alan Shapiro, James Tate, Adam Zagajewski, Caroline Knox, Cate Marvin, and many more.


Life Lines Contest: Enter by April 1

Enter to win a piece of jewelry hand-engraved by San Francisco designer Jeanine Payer by sending the lines of poetry most vital to you, along with notes about the precise situation that summoned them to mind. The winner will have their "life line" hand-engraved on a specially chosen piece. Entries can be emailed to npm@poets.org until April 1, 2008.

~~~~

so there you go a party for your heart & soul! get drunk with words this weekend, darlings...i plan to!

(oh yes, thank you to bock the robber for reminding all of us to always remember to acknowledge a source when copying information on your blog.)

and here's sleepy!

i am suffering from major sleep deprivation.

talk amongst yourselves

...I never walk into a place I don't know how to walk out of.

i'm getting nervous about the november elections!

i think it's time to start formulating an exit plan. you know, how to get out in the event of . . . think ronin when de niro checks out the backdoor in the café before he goes in. you have to know how to leave before you go in. so, that's what i'm doing, hope i don't have to execute the plan, but i need to have one.


any suggestions?


we can travel very light and very quickly...

almost there

a few more hours.

work, work, work, work, work.

where the hell are the seven dwarfs???

not that i'm snow white

thought for a monday

heads up

slim pickings around here for monday and possibly tuesday...nothing serious, just a lot of work and ya'll know how easily distracted i can be. . .

2317 UPDATE!!!!

I FOUND THE SCRIPT NOTES!!!! happy dancing to beat the band! but still lots of other stuff to do.

easter sunday 2008

i know, i've taken the easy way out! enjoy!

lights, cameras...action!

check out paris parfait a good bit of info and links on some of senator clinton's "claims" to greatness and leadership!

found this over at expat@large read it and if you know anything about ksa, the last line is the funniest!

i think today, i'm just going to add bits of information as i find them (oh yeah, we're talking plural here). why, you might ask...well, darlings...why not? random bits of info can trigger thinking, problem solving, fruitful tangents...mine and yours...or not, but what the hell. it's 8.30 in the morning, i'm awake and i can't find some script notes!!!!! (so, i'm procrastinating/freaking out/hoping for a mental news flash on where they might be)


i'll be back..

(what a depressing day...supposed to be sunny, it isn't. supposed to be warm, it isn't. i still can't find what i'm looking for - yes, i know, now all ya'll will have that song thumping in your brain pan all day - sorry about that BUT...where are the notes??????)

good friday news

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Friday, March 21, 2008 -- 3:30 AM ET
-----

Bill Richardson Endorses Obama for President, A.P. Reports

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is endorsing Senator
Barack Obama for president, The Associated Press has
reported.

"I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that
can bring our nation together and restore America's moral
leadership in the world," Richardson said in a statement
obtained by The Associated Press.

Read More:
new york times

nothing today.

i'm too grumpy.


later that same day...

thanks, m'loverlies *hugs* tomorrow is another day....(if it could work for scarlett, it damn sure can work for me!)

wednesday

i have been to hell already.


bathing a brittany spaniel at 5.30AM.


cleaning his kennel before that,
and the floor in my bedroom
and the landing
and the stairs going down to the first floor
all the little pee paw prints

and oh yes, did i mention i had to take him out at 4 IN THE DAMN DARK MORNING before i did all of that?

i don't need a present from sweden, i'm going to need a spa day over at the greenbriar!

a more perfect union

you can read barack obama's speech or you can watch the cnn coverage on youtube. i pray that this marks the beginning of a real conversation about race in america. it is our opportunity for change.

we can be better.

we will be better.

i have hope.

i believe.

ghostly images

red beans and rice or monday is laundry day

back to my routine. almost

red beans are on.

laundry is sorted and some started.

have to take ghost out again.

i feel as if i've forgotten something...

hello!

yet another of the savannah marsh mama crew has leapt onto the wonder that is blogspot! you know him as #3 son, michael and, of course, mr. moose! go visit, he's there with lots to read and share.

he is also (although he'd be loathe to admit to it) a master of the holmesian turkish brushoff. (and also a master of the parenthetical statement)

the night the lights went out in georgia

you might have seen the story on cnn about the tornado up in atlanta and the devastation there. middle georgia was also hit and sadly with 2 fatalities. the storm hit here last night around 11.30ish, so how did it get reported on cnn?
"second largest st. patrick's day party goes dark" yep, river street festivities went down, bars were closed and the cops had to try and move thousands of people off what used to be the wharf of this port town up cobblestone ramps to the street and away from the river - all in the dark. generators did power some extra lights eventually, but it was a step back into the past here for a while. the only lights around here were from gas lamps that are now just novelty lighting and not on every street. no wonder this and every other town shut down early...it was DARK outside! i can see why robert louis stevenson used savannah as the setting for the opening chapters of treasure island. the river so close, the spanish moss in the trees and the flickering gas light....a true pirate town. i'm normally not an easily frightened person, but, i swear, if i could have managed to carry a baseball bat AND walk the dog, baby, i would have!

and yes, ghost and i took a very quick morning walk because it is pitch black at 6am!

after breakfast, we never moved from the porch

yes, it's true...breakfast on st.patty's day is lox, cream cheese,thinly sliced onions & tomatoes, topped off with capers! couldn't find our favorite bubbly, so it was just coffee.

then the serious drinking began

the day after

i for one am fine! no regrets and no hangover. we had a great time sitting, eating, drinking and visiting. it really is one of the highlights of living along the parade route, at some point, everyone comes to you. all you need to do is smile and wave back! i would have posted some pictures, but after the first one, they just seemed to go downhill. (note to self: make sure we have a designated photographer next year)

the streets are clean, my block is quiet and i think i'm going back to bed!

oh why not?

good golly miss molly!

it started at 4.30am!!!!! stage whispers down on the street...i tried to pretend it was a dream, but by 6am, THEY were drinking, i ain't talkin coffee...it's gonna be a L-0-N-G day.

i know today is thursday

because. . .

the parking meters are all covered and no parking on friday signs are posted. friday is the parade. this year festivities kick off tonight at 6pm and continue until sunday. of course, st. patrick's day is monday, but that doesn't stop my little town from turning this into a long weekend of fun that turns into debauchery after dark. we're a party town gone mad wild and waking up three days later wondering what the hell happened this time.

today will be another ongoing post.

(i posted a mapcluster thing at the bottom of the page and right there, in the heart of africa, is the MITM...go look, you'll see him)

~~~~~noonish

go and check out old knudsen tis enuff to make me drink...ok, drink more! ;-)

~~~~~eightish

holymoley! 47 people stopped by here today!!! is my blog address scribbled on some international lavatory wall???

this is about the height of my understanding today

perhaps things will change as the day progresses...it is still early here. on the other hand, i did quote a line from network on another blog already.

later that day...

a gentle reminder to myself: just because you THINK it, doesn't mean you have to SHARE it outloud.

but, dammitall...some things make you go "huh?" more than once and outfuckingloud!

she can't stop herself. . .

drop over by manuel, the waiter's blog and check out his post bemoaning the lack of class and gentility in food service nowadays. i'm in total agreement! i love fine dining!


almost done for today

i am 2 seconds away from whining/crying/tearing my hair out...but fortunately for all y'all, just typing that out was cathartic enough to keep me from doing violent harm to myself or all y'all...visually anyway

lost day

somehow i skipped tuesday, 11march and went right to wednesday, 12march. why you might ask, did you do that savannah? and rightly so, i would answer back. march 12th is my middle son's birthday! the guy-who-isn't-fredo lives in madrid with his lovely flamenco dancing wife and will be back stateside sometime this year. but for right now, he remains our man in madrid!

happy birthday a day early, doc! ;-)

blank

i got nothin.







maybe later.


~~~~~

you know how you get that "some thing's not right" feeling and yet, you really don't want to address it. well, yeah, happened last night as i was out with ghost...as we rounded a corner, making our way towards one of the gazillion squares nearby, there they were savannah's finest. 3 cars and a truck parked in front of a house. a house where people i know live, a house around the corner and down the street from my house. at that point, you start to notice things. 2 cars with parking tickets. those cars never have tickets. those cars are never parked on the wrong side of the street on street cleaning night. and then i saw the masks. the "i-don't-want-to-smell-that-particular-scent" faded green mask. but i didn't stop and ask what happened. the cops looked at me, i looked back at them....and i kept walking.

i just found out what happened.

a natural death.
and then a suicide.

i only knew these men to say "hey, nice weather, aren't we the lucky ones?" it was on another neighbor who was friendly with them for years to figure out something had gone horribly wrong. the strangest thing is that this is the second time something like this has happened within sight of my house. across the street and now around the corner. no connection, of course, just coincidence, but still un-nerving. or maybe, it's because i knew the guys they found yesterday.

or maybe it made me wonder who'd look for me?

did i mention

just how much i dislike daylight saving time?

that st. patrick's day is going to be celebrated on friday, march 14th instead of monday, march 17th? something to do with holy week, but really more like a three day money grubbing opportunity not to be missed?

ghost is still alive and well?


ok, well, now you know.

dashboard of a mad housewife

you're still the one

update: many thanks from the both of us to all of you for your kind wishes and congratulations! xoxoxoxoxoxox's to all of you!

because this makes me smile and tomorrow's the day

clarification: i'd never heard this song until i saw the movie a good year and the MITM almost danced with me. . .

thursday

i had planned to finally answer the meme ellie sent me, but trying to narrow down the weirdness of me to only 7 things proved far too daunting for my addled brain, but who knows, by the end of the day it might appear.

enough about me

read this nyt op-ed piece. it's called the $2 trillion nightmare.

here, but not here

guess who?

it's really difficult to hear the strain and weariness in his voice over the phone. tomorrow will mark a week since his departure, but he already sounds as if he's been there months. he's good at what he does, but that alone doesn't make his life easier, in fact, it probably makes it more difficult. he is an honorable man and a pilgrim in an unholy land

monday blues

sunday wrapup

check out the dublin community blog for a list of the irish blog award winners!

back later

well, that didn't happen.
see all y'all tomorrow!

march 1st...

i have a cold. there is no one here to indulge me AND i have to take care of the dawg! i must admit, ghost seems to have adapted to MY routine rather well, yeah, i know, it's only been a day..but like a baby, he slept through the night and didn't hassle me until AFTER i'd had a cup of coffee. (btw, i had no idea just how cold it is outside at 6am) this might work out.

y'all know how i love countdowns, right? well, next saturday, march 8th is our 39th wedding anniversary! yep, THIRTY NINE YEARS...i know, i am just as astounded as all y'all! i mean, who knew, right? i am not the easiest person to live with (i know how difficult that is for all y'all to believe), but neither is he for that matter. but somehow we've managed to overlook our failures or at least, learned to live with them and each other. we've had a rather interesting life along the way. our children seem to have weathered it all rather well or at least, that's what they tell us! ;-) so for the rest of this week, i'll probably be insanely sentimental and bore y'all to tears with my reminisces and photos, bear with me, ok? but then again, i could find something else to babble on about that has nothing to do with the MITM...

shiny objects

a special day

it's not just friday, it's february 29th! an extra day, a surprise 24 hour visit...didn't happen last year, won't happen next...how will you spend it?

take a moment and read...

this is a commentary by a professor in michigan about names and meanings. just thought i'd share this informed comment.

update: the post i'd mentioned is his wednesday, feb.27th entry. scroll down and you'll find it.

wait! stop the presses!!!!

#1 son has joined popular culture and started a blog! drop by and encourage him since he isn't going to tell anyone in the states until he's sure he can blog with some sort of consistency/content/interest...you know, just like the rest of us! ;-)

and so it goes

is there anyone out there to hear my story...

about the girl he left behind...
(my sincerest apologies to the beatles)

ok, not really, BUT, i do have a question...#1 son is off to sweden on friday and i just wondered if any of y'all have suggestions, favorite places or even better...is anybody in stockholm?

and yes, the MITM is off again and far away. so, besides taking care of #1 son's dog, ghostface killah, i'm jes gonna be a bloggin fool again!

you have been warned

sunday night in savannah

unless the MITM and i count

friday night with family

by the way, this picture was taken very, very late using my phone camera...so either excuse will explain the flare of the candles and the fuzziness of this pic.

almost a week to the day, she said...

once again, m'loverlies, i have taken time off to deal with the everyday. thankfully, things have settled down overseas and the MITM will be going back to work without a MAJOR threat of revolution (fingers, toes and everything else crossed) and all of his staff/colleagues safe. i'll try and post more often, but the next couple of weeks will be hit & miss while he's preparing to travel.

if i haven't said it already, ya'll are some of the most delish folks i have ever had the pleasure to know!

almost back...

saturday, 16FEB08 update:

thank you for your good wishes! i've started a few posts, but for some reason they seem less than, if you know what i mean. we're still sorting things out, making plans for the MITM's departure (yes, he has to go back there for a little while). i have tried to drop by and read/comment when i can. best of luck to all the short listed irish bloggers, i'm really proud that i read so many of the nominees! ya'll are my closest brush with fame! but i digress...

anyway, to answer conan drumm, no, sugar, we aren't renovating just floundering along as usual!

thanks for thinking of me, dh..that sugar refinery explosion was a few miles from here, rattled the windows and floorboards here!

i'm sorry

i've got nothing witty or funny to share right now.

the MITM & i have been under serious stress because of his business or rather where it's located. those of you who know me know that i'm usually the one who laughs off stress or at least, rolls with it, but never lets it show. this time i can't pretend or put on the good face. i'm tired, he's tired, we tired and it shows. i just need a few days to get it together.

i'm telling ya'll this because all ya'll have been kind enough to stop by and read/comment this past year and also because as someone else said on their blog...we have these friendships all over the world that have become precious and good. so, dear friends, i will be back.

much love and peace, m'loverlies!

since super nana didn't say it...

i will:

happy fat tuesday!

super bowl sunday or how i stopped thinking about the war and decided to flake out

yes, it's true, the MITM and i will be monitoring the news AND watching pre-game coverage and all the rest of the hoopla that surrounds one of the most insane events on america tv: THE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS! that's right, the game is BETWEEN the commercials today, babyeeee! because we all KNOW the PATRIOTS ARE GONNA KICK THE GIANTS COLLECTIVE ASS!
later on today, i am going to scan some pics and post them...so beware

~~~~~~~~~

11:55PM update

the giants took the super bowl 17-14 over the patriots
the commercials were funny, ok, some were
the MITM was gloating because he was the only one who picked the giants to win
i didn't scan my license picture because i seem to have misplaced my drivers license...wtf? i think it might be in the car.

BUT , most importantly, our colleagues and friends are safe and THAT was the best news today and really, the only way we could enjoy the day. i can only hope that tomorrow will be a better one and that some sort of peaceful solution will be achieved.

more, but these were from...

enigma


things are still wildly insane, but ok

for all of you from...

...me

pithy titles escape me

despite my best intentions, m'loverlies, i have not been blogging (but then, those of you who still drop by know that already). nor, have i been making the rounds reading/keeping up wih all ya'll. what can i say?

i'm sorry.

ya'll are too delish!

there is good news, of sorts, we're all ok here...just a bit busy with the everyday.

in the previous episode

savannah hinted at a dark secret (ok, it wasn't dark, it was a familial anecdote) which is going to be told in the next post,

super nana and #1 son arrived within days of each other at the ancestral compound (well, ancestral is kinda stretching it),

the most gracious and generous kim gave yours truly a rambling beard award and i humbly thank him for including me!

and in the words of THE DUDE, "new shit has come to light!"

the MITM went to hear the stellar percussionist, vinx last night and during the course of conversation after the show, the dear MITM learned that 1. he (himself, the aforementioned MITM) was deathly ill with some horrible disease he had picked up during his travels and that 2. he was literally at death's door! what did i tell you about this place? gossip central...anyway, how this bit of news traveled to mid georgia and beyond is a wonder to me, but then again, i found out a while back that 1. i had moved to morocco, 2. no, i'd moved to paris, 3. the MITM and i had split up 4. no, we hadn't, but we didn't live in town anymore...i'm tellin ya'll, i can't make this shit up!

and of course, part of my absence has been because of american football divisional playoffs...it's almost over...ya'll know how i am....

i'll be back soon...ok, probably later today.

i miss all ya'll!

friday, 04jan08

i know, i know,

where have i been?

where are the pictures?

what is she doing in there?


all things will come to light.


soon


(thank you for the birthday greetings! happy new year to all ya'll, too!!!)

my 2008 theme song

thursday evening

almost 9PM...where the hell did the damn day go?

i DID get my drivers license renewed.

and NO, that pic will NOT be posted!

wednesday

so, we made it through THE DINNER.

i was good and well behaved. ya'll would have been proud. we took a ton of pics which still have to be downloaded, so it may be a day or 2 before they show up here, but they will...as will, the fairy tale or as we've taken to call it: mama's bad day blues and cautionary tale

happy day after, sugarpies! ;-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

yikes!

sorry, m'loverlies...i've been remiss!
yes, yes, i know i left you with a cliffhanger.
yes, yes, i know that isn't fair.

BUT, here's the deal...

small town readership.

but, seriously, i'm sure EVERYONE can relate...EVERYONE has probably had the same situation...EVERYONE has one &%^#$@* relative who, as doc maroon said, knows how to push your buttons and does!


but i will continue working on my fairy tale (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

in fact, that might be my contribution to the storyteller's blog next year!

working title

some things are far too insane to write about...we all know this...yeah, that's right FAMILY stuff...not the MITM or the rest of the corleone crew...the extended family.

i'll say no more

not right now anyway. . .




BUT, i will be writing about what happened today soon!

saturday morning in savannah

big excitement in my little town! check out the local coverage. . .

IMPLOSION!

how does it happen?

friday?

already?

sorry, i've been so out-of-touch of late. i've read a few blogs, perhaps even commented, but i've yet to respond to your comments here. i apologize. i will try to correct that today!

after a very harrowing week, the MITM & i have finished a project and all we can do is wait for the results. my contribution is nowhere near as great as his, but we share the burdens and the rewards equally, so it's done and we can relax. last night was the first real break...we watched movies! one thriller and then, one comedy...it was good to laugh again.

i am reminded of how good my life is in the grand scheme of life.

i am thankful every day.

more later.

mid-week

i had a long, thoughtful post in mind, in fact, i wrote it out last night (mentally, of course) and now, in the clear light of day, it is gone.

i'll be back with something later.

it's not as bad as it seems, right?

turn off the news.

update:

ya'll are always good for a laugh...

somebody tell a joke

(i won't ask which movie cos we all know where the line is from)

you reap what you sow. . .

yes, it's true... super nana sent this card! she is coming home for the holidays! there will probably be some guest blogging.

but you never know

december countdown...

almost the end of the year.

almost my birthday.

what does that mean?

movie time!

our personal family favorite:

the ref

nothing like denis leary for holiday cheer, darlins!

and your favorite seasonal flick?

you know what day it is....

AND anon boxer is having a weekend-starting-today-and-going-until-monday-or-you-passout BLOG PARTY!

go on over...i'll meet y'all there at some point!

i am alive

sometimes life grabs hold and all you can do is tread water to keep from sinking!

regular posting will resume shortly.

thanks again for all your kind words and also, emails asking "wtf am i/was i?"