The Metaphorical Magpie

Before I get to that list a mile long

I've seen a few of these fun cards pop up at various blogs, so I thought I'd give the Blyberg Card Catalog a whirl. Of course, my to-do list for this weekend is seriously scary. It's the last weekend of my singledom people!

I'll be so busy I won't even notice. Good thing the Bad Girl Posse designated last weekend for giving me a margarita swillin', drag queen lap dancin', Lower East Side traipsin' bachelorette adventure that I um, sorta, remember.

We've got plenty to do tomorrow so I'm kicking back for a while tonight. We watched Real Time with Bill Maher as usual on Friday nights. We also squeezed in the third and fourth episodes of The Riches which is quickly growing on me with its quirky characters- crossdressing kid, one armed neighbor, gun crazy boss and a passel of grifters. I kicked around Flickr, too. I found a new group trousseaux to treasure full of lovely things like these cameo earrings and this sakura blossom wallet. I've got my thinking cap on about this swap I'll be doing at the end of May. Check out Matthew A's self portrait with donuts. Totally brillz.

Now I need to get some rest before I start checking things off that dang list.

Bonjour, mes amies

It's been hectic, hectic, hectic here as you can imagine in the last two weeks leading up to our big day. There are still lots of little details to finalize. I long to spend a whole day snoozing. Yesterday, I started my day beyond tired. I actually considered calling out from work due to exhaustion. I dragged myself into the shower and out the door instead. On the way to work, I chatted with my sister and told her they should feel lucky at the office that I'd managed to show up with clean hair and shaved legs. As soon as i got in and sat down a meeting was called unexpectedly. I gathered up my pad, pen, coffee cup and headed to the conference room. Then I was interrupted by a phone call from a photographer pleading with my for an edit. I told her I was on the way to a meeting and would sit with her later. Then another editor stopped my along the way to the meeting. When I got to the conference room, my editor told me the lights weren't working so we'd meetin in the next room. Totally oblivious, I walked into a room filled with people and flowers, balloons and a camera in my face. Those sneaky so and sos sandbagged me with a surprise bridal shower. And I love them for it! There was a potluck lunch with lots of my favorites- the Rileyfamily recipe etouffe, brisket, amazing meatballs, salads and my favorite ice cream cake from Nasto's in Newark.

The amazing floral arrangement pictured here was made by Mercedes, the wife of our managing editor, Coop. This is certainly the most sophisticated arrangement I've ever had at my house. I adore tulips and the squiggles of veronica. She'd even packed it in a gorgeous hatbox so I could carry it home. I also received this book with an inscription from Coop, some sweet things from our registry, and a card with an enclosure of a very generous gift from my coworkers.

Wow. I was really touched by how kind everyone was to me. Some of the things people said were funny and sweet. A librarian said "The hip,cool girl is finally getting married." A retiring motherly designer said "I'm so happy. You were so sad when you didn't have a boyfriend. You were crying about it all the time. Now you're getting married. (hugging me now) And L. is having a baby. I can retire now." My dear friend, Mario took me aside the night before to give me a gift from his family and told me in his adorable accent "Remember when you were so sad over that other guy and I told you everything is for a reason. He must not be the right person for you. See. Now you wait and you find the right person." Oh, Mario, you are so very right, my sweet friend.

I have found the right person. In the meantime, I've been in the company of some people pretty extraordinary in their own right.

Self Portrait Challenge: Neck

Ah, I remember the days when I had a smooth swanlike throat, creamy and regal, leading to my prized collarbones. Over the years I've watched my collarbones settle down under my skin like a glacier imperceptibly melting into the sea. I've made piece with that process. It's only been in the past few years that I've become alarmed by these fine lines across my throat. I look as if I'm a well loved letter that's become creased after being opened and refolded repeatedly to read my words over and over.

I worry that as I, inevitably, become more creased, people will be less inclined to find my words beneath the worn bits.

For more revelations on people's body parts, visit our many splendored tribe at Self Portrait Challenge. Next month's theme is self portrait street photography. I'm very excited.

Happy Birthday, Sweets!

Today is my sweetie darlin's birthday. I wish I could spend the whole day giving him snuggles and smooches. He's working on a big special summer section and his deadline looms. The wedding is only a few weeks away now and there is still much to do. So we'll be celebrating his birthday low key this year. Maybe a nice Sunday supper is in order.

There is not a day that I don't feel lucky that he is my man. His creativity, work ethic, integrity and passion for film inspires me every day to be better myself. He makes me try harder when I used to say its good enough.

He supports me in my work and my art. I've never had that before. It feels fantastic when there is no frowning over how demanding my job can be or condescension over my artistic outlets.

I love him because he is inists on working a crossword puzzle until he's filled in every box. Because he takes bubble baths and bakes cookies. He's good to my friends, helping them move, with home improvements, when their cars break down. He gets the whole Bad Girl Posse in this bargain and he's man enough to help all of us. There is no project he won't take on. Even if it requires tearing the walls down and rebuilding them again. Our home becomes more amazing each year from his handiwork.

He's thoughtful and sweet. Funny and freespirited. Inquisitive and informed.

He gets me. For all the reasons here and many more; he's got me for life.

I love you Sweets. Happy Birthday.

It takes the juice right out of you

I don't usually like to talk about my work here. As a journalist, I try to remain objective about the news we are covering. I don't think that is a good fit where I blog my opinions and personal affairs. Sometimes though the news can be so gruesome my feeling become unmanageable. Last week we had big news here when our Governor Corzine was almost killed in a car accident on his way to moderate a discussion between Don Imus and the Rutgers womens basketball team. As the accident report came in, I surged into adrenaline mode, getting photographers where we needed coverage. At the end of the night, I cam home tired but high on a big news day.

Yesterday, I worked all day on the Virginia Tech shooting. I cam home in a different mood. Tired and sad. Angry that guns are so readily available and that life can be so devalued by some individuals. I couldn't sleep. I stayed up past 3 am putting photos on Flickr to calm myself. A few hours later my mom called and woke me up. She was chipper on the phone. I'm not sure she knew what had happened. When I mentioned it she didn't comment on the story. I hung up the phone. Laid back down and asked out loud "Why do I put myself through this to make the news if people don't read it?" Then I dozed off a bit.

When I got up, way later than I should, I sat on the couch with a bowl of frosted mini wheats watching CNN's coverage of the story and realized today would be the day the names of the victims would come out and I will spend my day looking at their photos. Learning about their lives that are now so senselessly over.

And I cried over my cereal.

Self Portrait Challenge: Happy Feet

Not much fun time this week. News has kept me super busy at the paper. I didn't get home until almost 2 am last night and I was late the night before, too. I'd really like some free time to open up so I can relax and put my feet up with a magazine and a drink. The weekend is almost completely scheduled already. I'm really looking forward to not having wedding plans to attend to so I can just attend to Sweets' and my own amusement.

Note: The green socks are in keeping with my green theme for the week.

More at Self Portrait Challenge.

Splendor in the Grass

We're over a week into National Poetry Month and I've not uttered a peep about it. Luckily, my memory to do so was jogged over the weekend.
The last two movies I saw both quoted poetry. Netflix brought us "Splendor in the Grass" starring Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. Dealing with sexual repression, madness and the Great Depression, I found it to a so-so cinematic experience. Although, Warren Beatty, in his first leading role, is pretty damned splendid-on the eyes.

The film features a few lines from Wordsworth. Here is a longer excerpt from his ode that includes the lines the film highlighted. I like the passage in its entirety.

"INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD"
Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song!
And let the young Lambs bound
As to the tabor's sound!
We in thought will join your throng,
Ye that pipe and ye that play,
Ye that through your hearts to-day
Feel the gladness of the May!
What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.

Full text here.

On Saturday night we went to the late showing of "Grindhouse" the double feature of Robert Rodriguez's "Planet Terror" and Quentin Tarantino's "Deathproof." One might think this type of film is lowbrow and not enjoyable. As a fan of Tarantino, I would disagree. His mix of references from the high, low and obscure spectrums of culture always dazzle me. In "Deathproof" Kurt Russell's character Stuntman Mike recites these lines
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep"

from Robert Frost 's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Full text here.

I hope you find time to savor poetry wherever it happens to intersect with your life. Sometimes it can be in the most unlikely places.

...Cool and Fruity

I'm feeling a bit wobbly today. Overwhelmed. Pulled from all directions. Another sleepless night.

I tried to be creative today and nothing has worked out as I wanted. Some days are like that. For days like this, you should have a Nigella bowl full of tasty lime jello in the fridge to perk you up. I'd probably feel perkier if I ate the whole bowl but I refrained and had a more ladylike serving.

Tomorrow I'll be going to the first rummage sale on my spring calendar. That ought to perk me up. Nothing like a good sale in a dusty church basement to brighten my mood.

Leave it to nature

This photo was taken late last summer in Cyndemouse's garden. It's one of my most favorite places to be in the whole world. She has a big piece of land and much of it is overgrown and wild. One moment you can be inside sipping tea and in the next you can be walking into the woods following the call of a bird. There is a magic spot deep in the depths of her yard that grows a carpet of lily of the valley in the spring. Going back there to see it has become one of our seasonal rituals. I keep wanting to do portraits back there but I've never done it. I imagine a girl in a white nightgown, holding a rabbit or hulahooping or some such nonsense. Perhaps this will be the year to make it happen.

There is always something happening in her garden. The wisteria attempts to overtake the garage. The mosses creep. In the summer there is a week in June that her chestnut tree becomes obnoxiously smelly and she has to plan parties around it's potentially smelliest days. Out of one bed, lilies rocket out with orange abandon. The path is obscured by exuberant creepers. I love that while we are going about our days, the garden is going about its own business. Moving forward one shoot at a time. I can count on it.

More ruminations on green tomorrow.

Gonzo for green

Spring must be here. I've been consumed by green thoughts lately. Clad in a green striped shirt I've sipped gin and tonic with extra slices of lime bobbing amongst the ice. I've made sandwiches with thick slices of avacado and tossed green peas with orrichiette pasta and shrimp. There was a late night watching CSPAN as Al Gore was questioned by senators about global warming. The current soap in the dish is called Mint Pearl Cooler made by Savonerie in Portland, OR. We made a special visit to the Saturday Market in October to stock up on some of soapmaker Deborah Windell's amazing bars. Her Lily of the Valley is another fantastic green-hued spring treat for the skin.

I'm not only attracted to the color green, I've been thinking alot about how to have a greener lifestyle.
Each day this week, I will post an item that is dedicated to all things green.

Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt

A meme that caught my eye on Scrumdillyumcious.

Copy the list and highlight/bold/color (whatever works for you) only the things that YOU have done yourself. I've taken the liberty of changing a few items that I may or many not have done just to mix things up a little.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19.Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Left a successful career to pursue your dream
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Went on a vacation by yourself
42. Had an amazing friend
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Swam in an ocean
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Had your drivers license suspended
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Got married
73. Been in a rain forest
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Got a tattoo
81. Been in the front row at a concert
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Cried while listening to music
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Won the lottery
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140.Had a premonition
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Had your photo taken in a photobooth
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Anyone can play who is interested. Just leave a comment here so I can see your list, too. And feel free to change a few items to cool things you've done or would like to do someday.

Self Portrait Challenge: I'd Only Keep My Eyes

This month's Self Portrait Challenge theme is the body. We are all so obsessed with our bodies. We hate this and that part. We preen and pose. It's a life long love-hate relationship.

Then one day, your relationship with your body is going to end. Most likely suddenly. My father was killed in a car crash almost ten years ago. After an autopsy his remains were cremated. This, of course, happens every day to many people all over the world. It was only after reading his autopsy report found most of his parts to be "unremarkable" which means basically they are fine and dandy I began to think about all of those parts individually and what good could be done with them.

I believe in recycling, reusing and repurposing. I don't think any differently about my body. That's why I've filled out the donor card on the back of my drivers license and talked about my desire to donate my parts when the time comes. Sweets and I actually had a pretty emotional conversation in a cemetery in Woodstock, NY about what we want to happen to our bodies after we die. This cemetery is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in town. It's a quiet retreat from the crowds to have a peaceful snack wandering the rows and have a good chat. He doesn't really like it when I get on the "I want to talk to you about when I die" conversation but I think it's important to have it at least once. He's going to be my husband and will most likely have to make decisions for me when I no longer can. I feel like if we talk about these things now, we can go about living our lives as fully as we can and not fret about these issues in the future at a stressful, emotional time.

When other people are done with a coat or a set of china, I am quite pleased to use it after they are through with it. I like the idea of someone else enjoying my lungs to sing out for the first time without pain in a long time. Or any of my other organs if they can be of service. Even my heart. I'm not sentimental about it. The one thing, I don't want to give away is my eyes. I know, I am a silly gir for this but I feel as if they define me. All that I experience is through them. Much of how I express myself is in a visual way. To me the old saying, "the eyes are the windows to the soul" has weight. Even if I'm not so sure about believing in the soul. So, I'd like to be selfish and keep my eyes for myself. The rest can be picked over like a table at a rummage sale.

When we watch shows like Greys Anatomy, ER or any of the other medical shows, sometimes UNOS is mentioned. According to The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) site of this moment, 95,814 people are waiting list candidates.

Visit Donate Life to understand more about donation. Then you can decide if it's right for you and discuss it with your family.

For more views on the body (that probably aren't nearly as morbid as mine) visit Self Portrait Challenge .