Monday, November 29, 2010

A new appreciation for people who will be cold this winter

Yesterday, after coming home from The Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes, I noticed that my house was pretty chilly.  At first, I blamed it on the fact that my husband likes to sleep with a window open.  Another bad sign was that there was no hot water.  So I armed myself with a flashlight and went into a section that I rarely visit.  The oil tank section and much to my horror.  The oil gauge read empty. 

I immediately called the oil company.  They wanted an extra one hundred dollars to come out on a Sunday.  Forget that, I thought to myself.  How cold could it really get inside the house?  I didn't really need a shower before going to work.  I could sponge it and put the hair up in a twist.  So thinking that I was doing the smart thing, I snuggled with the husband in bed early.  Can you say that it was 50 flipping degrees in the house this morning?  I thought that my hands and feet were going to fall off.

By the time that I got to work, the oil company called and told me that my order was being processed.  Was it ok for them to charge my card? A company that I have been with for over 5 years was asking me to pre-pay for my oil.  No offense, I was told, just policy.  What if I hadn't been able to come up with the money?  Would they have let me freeze?  I'm thinking, yes.

I am saddened by this.  How many inner city children that I work with every day will be cold this winter?  How many of them will count on the 6 hours that they are in school to be warm and fed 2 meals?

I guess the point is that even with my meager resources, I am thankful that I have them.

Peace out,
MRD

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I am up at the crack of dawn because I have to go to my sister's house to prepare the turkey.  Out of the two of us, I am the better cook but she has the house to accommodate the people.  Barbie's dream house is bigger than my house.  I don't usually care about this except around the holidays.  All of our apartments were bigger, so we would have people over.  I would take out the china and the crystal and cook up a storm.  I loved it.  Now I don't do it at all and I miss it.

Also, the husband is boycotting going to her house for dinner.  He has a lot of excuses- his back hurts, doesn't want to be around the kids (He has his reasons, he's not a bad guy.)... I understand them but I won't be able to fully enjoy myself knowing that he is at home, even though it is his choice.  I guess tomorrow, I will be cooking our own Thanksgiving dinner.  I don't do Black Friday.  I did it once with my mother and sister and thought that I was going to murder them around 5:00am when I was standing in a line at Toys R Us that seemed endless. 

Eat, drink, and enjoy your day,

MRD

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thank you, you strong women

I would like to give thanks to all of the strong woman in my life that inspire me, counsel me, and uplift me.

My mother is the strongest woman that I will ever know in my lifetime.  She married "late" in life and starting having us at what is considered an "advanced maternal age".  She had 4 children in 5 years.  My brother Carl and I are exactly one year apart.  So they were busy.  Unfortunately, she had to raise us alone.  Due to cancer, she was left with 4 small children ages 9-4.  She never complained.  We lived on Social Security but we never wanted for anything. She was able to put all four of us through college which is quite the accomplishment. My stubbornness comes from her.

I am thankful for the women who battle to have a baby every day.  Their strength is unparalleled.  Daily needles in the stomach and in the ass.  Getting headaches, nausea, bloat from all of the hormones when in actuality they only have a 20% of it working.  These women know their bodies possibly better than their doctors.  A holiday should be devoted to these women that struggle with this!  These women are my inspiration.

Lastly, women who stick up for themselves whether it be to a boyfriend, husband, boss, and/or doctor should be commended.  Don't let anyone keep you down.

This, Thanksgiving, I am giving thanks for all of the strong women in my life.  When I raise a glass of wine tomorrow (one of many), one of them will be a toast to you.

Peace out,
MRD

Saturday, November 20, 2010

A royal wedding brings out the romantic in all of us

What is it about a royal wedding that has us all enthralled? I have to admit, it gives me a little thrill that there will be a wedding next year. I think that it really brings me back to the memory of my mother waking me up in the early morning to watch the wedding of Lady Di and Prince Charles.  We watched it on a very grainy tv but it was a special memory between the two of us.  She only woke me up to watch it with her, my brothers and sister remaining asleep throughout the event.

There is just something innately romantic about the whole royalty "thing".  Maybe it is because I am an American and we don't have official royalty. There is something mysterious about the whole thing.  I think that it is a romanticism of the fairy tales of our childhood. In modern society, I don't think that we believe that a prince will come and take care of us and all of our problems will be solved.  We live in a much too feministic society for that but it is the mystique and the romance of it that keeps us intrigued. We want to be swept off of our feet but we are also secure in our own lives to know that it is not the the ultimate culmination of our lives.

With that said, whatever date, I will be up and watching with stars in my eyes.

Peace out,
MRD

Friday, November 19, 2010

Half day today

I decided to take a half day today and go into work a little late.  I have a few errands that I would rather take care of in the morning than in the afternoon.  I have to drop off the husband's student loan in Warwick.  I totally forgot to put it in the mail and it is due today.  Oops! I have had just too much on my mind lately.  So now my head is screwed on straight and it is time to get back to life. I really wish that I had taken the whole day off but I have so much paperwork to do at school today. I just want to sit in front of the tv and watch all of my dvr shows.  I am also looking forward to having some pizza and wine tonight.  A lot of wine.  I can almost taste it!

Peace Out,
MRD

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Ahhh.....

This morning for the first time in weeks I feel more like myself. I originally was kidding yesterday about a bath curing my writer's block but maybe I was on to something.  Last night after a heated discussion with the husband around why I should or should not take a bath, I did.  It was pure bliss. It felt purely orgasmic slipping into the steamy water. I eventually relaxed. Of course that was after my husband had to come into the bathroom to ask me a question. When he came in, one of the cats (The Dread Pirate Roberts, nickname Boo) came in after him and tried to jump in the tub with me.

When I finally settled in, I was able to think about the story that I started a few weeks ago.  I was able to envision the initial sex scene happening on an outside porch swing. Later today, I will start writing things down again.

So hopefully, the block is gone and I am back.  At least I am blogging again which I consider a good sign on the writing front.

Peace out,
MRD

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Possible cure for my writing block

I have been thinking about one of the reasons why I haven't even been thinking about writing and I think that I have identified it.  One of my places to think about possible stories and current ones is in the bathtub.  I know it sounds weird but it's true.  Ever since childhood, I have taken a bath every night.  It helps me relax and is a place where I am my most creative.  It just seems like as I am soaking in the steaming water that the ideas just come to me. I haven't been able to take a bath in almost 2 weeks.  So I am missing part of my important writing ritual.  Never mind the ease of shaving my legs every day, I just can't get it right in the shower.

Well, I say no longer.  I am done with the tub "fast"! Tonight, hell, maybe even this afternoon, I am going to soak in a nice long bath.  Screw the cats clawing on the door to get to me and the litter box, the husband who wants to talk to me, the stress of the day, I am going to do it.  Let the ideas flow!

Peace out,
MRD

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Can't sleep and a long day ahead

Hi all,
I know that I have been missing lately.  Things have been a little crazy in all aspects of "real" life, so I really haven't thought about writing.  What really scares me is that I REALLY have not thought about writing.  It is very unlike me not even to compose stories in my head as I am driving to school.  I guess, this could be called the"mother" of all writing blocks.  I hope that I will get back into the groove very soon.  I guess writing this blog today is a first step back towards my goal.

I also think that not qualifying for the writing contest really effected me.  I am not a person used to failure, which makes it so much harder for me when it happens.  Especially if I really believe in what I am doing and I really did believe in that story.  Well, that is water under the bridge.  I am planning to attend the local chapter of Romance Writers to surround myself with "people" like me.  Maybe that will be just the thing that I need right now.

Did I mention that I have now finished all of the laundry in the house?  I will be paying for it tonight when I am trying to teach undergrads at URI,  but right now I feel a sense of accomplishment.

MRD

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Up early

I am up early.  I was going to get up and vote but I am so cold. I have decided to wait until the sun is fully up.  I have to vote at the college in my town, so I might have made a great mistake.  I could be waiting outside for a while and there's probably not going to be any parking.

I am feeling like crap today. I am totally hormonal! Even school being out today can't even lighten my spirit. I even cancelled my college course at night. I just can't stomach the long ride to stand in front of the students that try and text under their desks, like I can't see it.

My story didn't get picked for Tawny Taylor's contest, so I am a little bummed about that. I knew it wouldn't be that easy but I'm still bummed.

I am trying to stay positive.  Those who know me, send me positive vibes for tomorrow.

Peace out,
MRD