tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281673562024-03-12T18:57:17.168-07:00Pixie Powered PonderingsThe musings of a photographing, scrap-happy rocker chick.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-10255994801693228972013-02-23T10:13:00.000-08:002013-02-23T10:13:14.642-08:00The Wonderful Thing about Meghansis that Meghans are wonderful things. ;)<br />
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SO...<br />
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Most people spell Meghan one of two ways. Either Megan (the most common way) OR they spell it the same way some other Meghan they knew spelled it. I have, I think, one of the more uncommon ways of spelling it. I have seen/heard it in many ways over my 30 years of being one. Some examples I've collected over the years:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Megan (the most common way, I call it the "basic model")</li>
<li>Meghan (I have yet to meet another that spells it like this, but unlike when I was a kid, I can find this spelling on things at Disneyland, so it must be getting more common)</li>
<li>Meagan (the only way I'll allow my name misspelled, not sure why, I like it I guess; often pronounced "Mee-gan")</li>
<li>Meaghan</li>
<li>Megann (more like "Meg-ANN" than "Meg-ghen" but close)</li>
<li>Meganne</li>
<li>Negan (the little sister of a Persian friend I had in HS, I liked it)</li>
<li>Meaghanne</li>
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I love that last one. It's so excessive it's hilarious to me. I saw it in a news article. It was the daughter of a woman whose name now escapes me, but I do remember thinking that the mother's spelling of her name was excessive so I thought it was like a family tradition. I mean it's a combination of EVERY alternative spelling I've ever seen. I've actually seen more in baby name lists/books but these are the ones I've seen actually attached to living human beings, and not just some name generator.</div>
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The other thing I have learned is when 1 Meghan meets or hears of someone knowing another Meghan, the first thing we ask is: Oh, how do you (does she) spell it? I don't know if other semi-common names but mine seems to be kinda unusual that way. I've also been asked by parents of other Meghans, so I know it's not just me that does this.</div>
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These days everyone seems to know another Meghan, I hear it all the time, "oh my sister's husband's cousin's girlfriend is named Meagan." Where were these people when I was a kid? It's like, it's unusual enough that I've only met 5-6 in my life, but everyone has heard the name and knows 1 or 2 people attached to it. </div>
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I actually know where they were, most of them weren't born yet. See, when I was born, in the dark ages before parents knew what the baby was before they came, my parents had made a list of potential names for a girl and a list for a boy. My parents were very big on not naming the baby before it was born because they felt that you would know what the name was when you saw them. Y'know, "she doesn't LOOK like a 'Mary,' I think we need to go with 'Betsy.'" Any way, my parents really liked the name because it was unusual enough that I wasn't going to have an initial stuck to the end of my name my entire life. C'mon, you know what I mean, everyone my age had like 4 Jennifers in their kindergarten class and they were all distinguished by their last initial. You should see my smart phone when I'm trying to message a Sarah... I've collected quite a few in my life. :) My poor mother is always asking me to give her a last name when I talk about them too for the same purpose.</div>
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Back to naming me: So, Megan was a front runner before I was born. My parents picked this particular spelling because they were lead to believe it was the Gaelic spelling of my name. I'm not sure how true that is because I've never seen any evidence as such, but the reason they wanted that was because my last name was so heavily Polish, that it only seemed fair to have a very Scots and/or English spelling to suit the other side of my heritage. I'd like to point out, the obvious, by stating that I was the first born. No other reason would my parents put so much analysis into a name, it's not like them. So when I was born, I became Meghan. Common enough that teachers could read it and know how to say it (funny, because I was born before all these REALLY crazy spellings were trendy), and I wouldn't get teased for such an odd name.</div>
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Just less than 18 months later, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085101/?ref_=sr_1">The Thorn Birds</a> appeared on American TV. The main character? Meggie, short for Margaret, but if you didn't read the book, apparently the assumption was it was for Megan. This is why MOST of the Meghans I knew growing up were actually Megans and several years younger than me. I knew of 1 senior with my name when I was a freshman in HS and there was 1 other Meagan in my grade. I think this is where my acceptance of spelling my name like the other came from. We both ran in totally different circles and the only time we had a class together was in Economics 2nd semester of senior year. The last possible time to get a class together. I think she said her mother got mad at Thorn Birds too.</div>
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Why the reason for this whole post? I'm finally getting there. Once upon a time there was a wonderfully creative show on the BBC America (and the regular BBC somewhere too) called Being Human. If you follow my book/movie blog, you'll know how much I love this show and the original vampire on there, now starring as the hot dwarf in the Hobbit films. Then the evil Syfy channel remade and Americanized it and I watched, I think, 2 episodes before I almost threw something through my screen. It was an abomination. 2 years later I've forgotten all about it and I'm catching up on all my DVR'd episodes of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (I love that man!) and after Billy Connolly (another beloved Scot) he has on Meaghan Rath, one of the stars of the US Being Human. I say to myself, "I'll watch the other Meghan just to be supportive..." (Yes, I do that. I watch Body of Proof because the main character is named Megan too. I do like the show as well, but it's what sold me at first). </div>
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So Craig says to Meaghan once she sits down...</div>
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C: You know, my wife's name is Megan. [HOW did I miss that?] I don't know why I bring it up, but apparently I did. [It's the magic of the name Craig, just let it happen.]</div>
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M: How does she spell it? [I'm laughing to myself now.]</div>
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C: She spells it differently to you. She spells it M-E-G-A-N. You do the M-E-A-G-H-X-3-A...</div>
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M: (laughs) The most letters possible [Nope! See above!] And I guess your wife, the least. The laziest way, I say.</div>
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Audience ahhs, Craig raises an eyebrow and moves on.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPt363SXxWg/USkGGxABplI/AAAAAAAABIQ/MgtlGfoT1wU/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aPt363SXxWg/USkGGxABplI/AAAAAAAABIQ/MgtlGfoT1wU/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" /></a></div>
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I jump up, laughing hard, made a fan for life, and run to the internet to write a mile-long-blog post about it. I'm such a freaking dork. Video on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DmpQalKI_A">YouTub</a>e at 1:24.</div>
Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-23183686732800679392012-08-28T11:54:00.001-07:002012-08-28T11:58:37.598-07:00Halfway House<div><p>The reason for my long period of nothingness is because I've semi-moved to Tumblr (mostly photos, but a few other things too) and have a book & movie blog with some friends.</p>
<p>Tumblr: http://pixiemegh.tumblr.com/ <br>
Books: http://friendsfictionfilms.wordpress.com/</p>
<p>Come join me! I still will post here occasionally, but I'm a <i>little </i><i>more</i> active on the other 2.</p>
</div>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-5949285487541011262012-06-24T12:45:00.001-07:002012-06-24T12:46:18.647-07:00I want to be the bigger personI gave a lesson on forgiveness today to the teenage girls at church. In preparing for the lesson it made me realize I need to work on it myself, especially one person I have in mind. This person I have not spoken to in several years now, but was once a big part of my life. Our final falling out was dramatic and ugly and painful. She said some really hurtful things. I'm sure she felt judged, embarrassed and alone at the time. I was just hurt that the circumstances that got us to that point were not honest and open. I'm still hurt by that. I'm hurt that she took a decision that should have been mine to make away from me and just decided that she knew what I'd have done/said anyway. She may have been right, I may have surprised her; the point is now, we'll never know and now there's a chasm filled with ugly, hurtful words and feelings between us.<br />
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There are days still that I miss her terribly. There's a hole in my heart that no one will be able to fill but her.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Understand that friends come and go, but for the </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">precious few you should </span><br />
<span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">and lifestyle because the </span><br />
<span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">older you get, the more you need the people you knew </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">when you were young. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #676767; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">- Mary Schmich </span></blockquote>
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I'm not ready to forgive yet, but I'm now willing to work to get myself there.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-90880004053772177762012-04-26T01:10:00.002-07:002012-04-26T01:10:37.822-07:00I know, I knowBad blogger. Blah blah blah. Not entirely though. Come find me and 3 of my buddies as we delve into books and movies.<br />
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<a href="http://friendsfictionfilms.wordpress.com/">http://friendsfictionfilms.wordpress.com/</a>
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I swear, I'm trying to write here more as well. No promises, just hope for better consistency.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-19849431676242465182011-07-22T00:01:00.000-07:002011-07-22T00:26:21.943-07:00Books #17-24Tee hee... Remember me? :) I have read lots of books... In no particular order...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBRDjflNzbw/Tikk5HJ1i2I/AAAAAAAAA98/a-NVOuzsTQQ/s1600/wicked-appetite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBRDjflNzbw/Tikk5HJ1i2I/AAAAAAAAA98/a-NVOuzsTQQ/s320/wicked-appetite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632073372594965346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QX5i0dnTeJU/Tikkw4zww6I/AAAAAAAAA90/tMkiRrgt7Wc/s1600/deadreckoning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QX5i0dnTeJU/Tikkw4zww6I/AAAAAAAAA90/tMkiRrgt7Wc/s320/deadreckoning.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632073231305327522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hb63-fVOeI/TikkjEXLhFI/AAAAAAAAA9s/1AFd7BR1ZP4/s1600/Eleven%2Bon%2BTop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_hb63-fVOeI/TikkjEXLhFI/AAAAAAAAA9s/1AFd7BR1ZP4/s320/Eleven%2Bon%2BTop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072993888502866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyAhxvi0bFg/TikkbszCxQI/AAAAAAAAA9k/pOHgUIOO_Ow/s1600/twelve-sharp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyAhxvi0bFg/TikkbszCxQI/AAAAAAAAA9k/pOHgUIOO_Ow/s320/twelve-sharp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072867303834882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rEaUADs8Fx8/TikkTXuuJ1I/AAAAAAAAA9c/CUfKsWEfXS4/s1600/40317.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rEaUADs8Fx8/TikkTXuuJ1I/AAAAAAAAA9c/CUfKsWEfXS4/s320/40317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072724209608530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8H75mZ_t_EY/TikkJcQDWpI/AAAAAAAAA9U/7QWLW2J98p4/s1600/fearlessfourteen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8H75mZ_t_EY/TikkJcQDWpI/AAAAAAAAA9U/7QWLW2J98p4/s320/fearlessfourteen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072553624459922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lYpiJkOELI/TikkFuFDvSI/AAAAAAAAA9M/O2-KdGStjwg/s1600/Finger-Lickin-Fifteen-Stephanie-Plum-Janet-Evanovich-Macmillan-Audio-books.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lYpiJkOELI/TikkFuFDvSI/AAAAAAAAA9M/O2-KdGStjwg/s320/Finger-Lickin-Fifteen-Stephanie-Plum-Janet-Evanovich-Macmillan-Audio-books.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072489690709282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tiawaCO4aq0/TikkBjpn6zI/AAAAAAAAA9E/1W81Zr4SYYo/s1600/sizzling-sixteen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tiawaCO4aq0/TikkBjpn6zI/AAAAAAAAA9E/1W81Zr4SYYo/s320/sizzling-sixteen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632072418171808562" border="0" /></a><br />I've been on an Evanovich kick... All caught up except for one in the Plum books. The top one was based on a character from the between-the-numers holiday stories, Diesel. The monkey, Carl, was also featured. Totally different premise, but lots of fun.<br /><br />The Sookie book, as usual, was a great read. The books are <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>much better than the show too.<br /><br />I think I may be missing a couple, but if I figure out which they were, I'll add them later!Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-1407788819560957542011-06-09T09:14:00.001-07:002011-06-09T09:14:01.591-07:002 of my friends turn 30 today. It reminds me I'm almost there too. The bio-clock is RAGING today. I'm trying to distract myself, but it's not working very well.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-52631799979619813502011-05-24T09:26:00.001-07:002011-07-22T00:08:02.136-07:00Book #16<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2KRXGHVS9w/Tikhw2id8RI/AAAAAAAAA88/3WWqi3-g4b4/s1600/n69959.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s2KRXGHVS9w/Tikhw2id8RI/AAAAAAAAA88/3WWqi3-g4b4/s320/n69959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632069932161036562" border="0" /></a><br />10 Big Ones- J. EvanovichPixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-53055974489384307632011-05-23T13:05:00.001-07:002011-07-22T00:06:42.028-07:00Book #15<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUR4rCwy9vc/TikhEPVe2wI/AAAAAAAAA80/tReyOaZL57w/s1600/mauscomp_B.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUR4rCwy9vc/TikhEPVe2wI/AAAAAAAAA80/tReyOaZL57w/s320/mauscomp_B.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632069165723343618" border="0" /></a>Maus by Art Speiglman<br /><br />The author/illustrator's father was a Holocaust survivor. This book is a graphic novel based on the journey Art takes personally while his father tells him HIS story.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-9442882844948114352011-05-22T11:33:00.001-07:002011-05-22T11:33:02.794-07:00Beautiful gray day<br>All is quiet in God's House<br>Peaceful and tranquilPixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-11275479433647125472011-05-09T06:57:00.000-07:002011-05-09T07:01:55.701-07:00Books #12-14<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEUQymEECJ4/TcfztjuS6hI/AAAAAAAAA6k/hidVNKLNI2M/s1600/Hard%2Beight.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEUQymEECJ4/TcfztjuS6hI/AAAAAAAAA6k/hidVNKLNI2M/s320/Hard%2Beight.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604716225294952978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDKu-idLjYk/Tcfzi8D5wOI/AAAAAAAAA6c/dVLlBL5KNAs/s1600/nines.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDKu-idLjYk/Tcfzi8D5wOI/AAAAAAAAA6c/dVLlBL5KNAs/s320/nines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604716042849468642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRuM8YF8WKw/TcfzINqjUoI/AAAAAAAAA6U/cY2XtXh2YoA/s1600/V%2Bfor%2BVendetta.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRuM8YF8WKw/TcfzINqjUoI/AAAAAAAAA6U/cY2XtXh2YoA/s320/V%2Bfor%2BVendetta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604715583718511234" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-61887870989752084312011-05-08T09:42:00.000-07:002011-05-08T09:50:56.708-07:00Mother RantToday is a day to reflect upon mothers. I have one. I'm fortunate to have had one that loved me very much and I never doubted it. I was also very fortunate to have her home with me in my younger years (not so for all of my siblings, but I was the oldest, and that's one of the pay-offs for being the guinea pig child) and when she went back to work she worked at a school so I still saw her all the time at home. I love my mom. Every day I see more and more how much she's impacted my life. Especially when Matt says things like "OK Ruth" to me. I'm her daughter in more ways than I could have understood as a teen. She raised me the best way that she knew how and I'm grateful for her love and sacrifices for me and my siblings over the years. <br /><p>There's also a hard part of Mother's day for me. I'm LDS, will be 30 this year and married for almost 10 years. This makes me a bad person because I have no children. No one <em>says </em>it. No one hints directly to it, but it's the unspoken rule about being Mormon. No one asks <em>WHY</em> my husband and I don't have kids. They just ask <em>when </em>we're going to start. This is a REALLY personal question to be asking. This is when I feel like saying things like "we can't seem to figure out how, can you come over and teach us?" What? Why can't I say that? Because it's rude? So is asking me about starting a family. I started one when I married my husband in 2002. </p><p>I hate going to church on Mother's day. I love my religion, I love my congregation, I love my mother. I hate Mother's day at church. They have the kids get up and sing a song to their mothers (fine, and cute actually). They have speakers get up and talk about mothers, or being a mother (a little painful on the 2nd item, but I'm still OK). Then we have the closing hymn and prayers and this is where the torture starts. As a child, they used to have all the mothers stand up and the teenage girls would walk in with a flowerpot or chocolate or some small token to hand out to all the women standing. Then they'd make a contest in jest about the oldest mother, the newest mother, the mother with the most children etc. All that has been changed to "all women 18+" to stand because we're <em>ALL </em>mothers to children around us.</p><p>Guess what. I find the whole ritual insulting and painful. A person's relationship with their mother is a sacred, personal thing and shouldn't be paraded around. I'm not a mother to anyone in that room. No child on this earth calls me Mommy. Some days I wonder if anyone ever will, but at least I have my husband by my side to take that pain with me. There are many women in the church that never get married, or do so very late in life that having children isn't an option anymore. There are many women in the church that CAN'T for one reason or another have children. Are we lesser people? No. Stop insulting us. It's hard enough being in a faith that puts so much emphasis on having a family, and not "having one." I <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>have one. It's composed of 2 people. We may not be perfect, and may or may not grow in number, but it's the one I've chosen and love. I have a large extended family full of people, including children, that love me. I have children of good friends to be around. Those kids, I wouldn't trade them for the world. I love them and am thankful for them being in my life everyday.</p><p>But I'm still not their mother.<br /></p>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-63340926858138910092011-04-17T17:49:00.000-07:002011-04-17T17:53:17.257-07:00Alice I Have Been- Book #10<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85xI32cYv7s/TZ-u5e4HLNI/AAAAAAAAA6E/gSeUqK1xymg/s1600/alice-i-have-been-692x10241.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85xI32cYv7s/TZ-u5e4HLNI/AAAAAAAAA6E/gSeUqK1xymg/s320/alice-i-have-been-692x10241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593381564781636818" border="0" /></a><br />I've mentioned before that I'm an Alice in Wonderland fan. I've always loved the books, but the last several years has expanded my ability to kick my interest into borderline obsession. Isn't the internet great? Because of Netflix, I can now rent/stream film & TV adaptations that were hard to come by years ago. I can read fan fiction comics written by other fans- and their subsequent fandom. i can read reviews and easily access info on books and get them at the library or buy them. I can look at party, costume and collectible ideas. Crafting, photography, art. It's all at my fingertips.<br /><br />I can't deny the excitement I felt when I first heard about Tim Burton's film long before it hit the theaters. I LOVED the SyFy channel's recent visit to Wonderland too.<br /><br />I first heard the "darker side" of this story's legacy when I took a children's list class at Cerritos. I had to buy a copy of Gardner's Annotated Alice for the class and read the articles about dear Mr. Dodson and it broke my heart. How upsetting that a man by all means was a minor hear in my nerdasphere was so... icky. My only consolation was that it was a VERY long time ago and he wasn't benefiting from my patronage.<br /><br />AS the years have gone by, I've read conflicting accounts and evaluations of the man. I prefer to choose to believe the better, more positive views. The poor lonely man. This book helped me see beyond all that and see the man for what I hope he was. Who knows the truth? Only a few people long gone, and I've come to realize that it doesn't' ruin Alice for me either way.<br /><br />This book was ever-so-wonderful. It expanded the dreamworld of Alice. The author took the few known facts surrounding Alice Liddel's life, and common speculation, and wrote a beautifully heartbreaking story about a girl, and then woman, who lost her way along her life and was haunted by memories that she couldn't even remember. It was wonderful. It left me all dreamy for days after finishing it. FANTASTIC book! Favorite of the year so far!Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-33935607934632701442011-04-17T17:12:00.000-07:002011-04-17T17:15:54.525-07:00Seven Up- Book #11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fjecsa2gTTY/TauCqGnWEYI/AAAAAAAAA6M/PmqrMZ4lyPc/s1600/SevenUp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fjecsa2gTTY/TauCqGnWEYI/AAAAAAAAA6M/PmqrMZ4lyPc/s320/SevenUp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596710621779726722" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-16338381743571030622011-04-14T10:37:00.001-07:002011-04-14T10:37:36.730-07:00I feel a big burden on my shoulders<br>Emotions run deep & I cannot swim.<br>My life isn't perfect, as no one's is<br>But I have my partner & I love him.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-69577364166365864952011-04-08T17:44:00.000-07:002011-04-17T17:14:27.776-07:00The Virgin Suicides- Book #9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g55eiVizj4/TZ-t7QJLN3I/AAAAAAAAA58/_FgE96SIYco/s1600/The%2BVirgin%2BSuicides.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g55eiVizj4/TZ-t7QJLN3I/AAAAAAAAA58/_FgE96SIYco/s400/The%2BVirgin%2BSuicides.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593380495674783602" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-31288986742781844332011-03-31T11:45:00.001-07:002011-03-31T11:45:33.322-07:00Feeling a bit bitter. I'm trying to focus on staying positive. But it's hard some days, like today.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-86531547647540271812011-03-28T12:47:00.001-07:002011-04-17T17:14:06.601-07:00ArchEnemy- Book #8<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugyEIUQ_3tU/TZ-tDG8eQVI/AAAAAAAAA50/H8U7LQWbsjs/s1600/ARCHENEMY.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 374px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugyEIUQ_3tU/TZ-tDG8eQVI/AAAAAAAAA50/H8U7LQWbsjs/s400/ARCHENEMY.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593379531132911954" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-82016890667608476502011-03-11T09:28:00.003-08:002011-04-17T17:08:23.180-07:00Hot Six- Book #7<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rz1Hlyo2u2U/TZ-sXQE3UjI/AAAAAAAAA5s/HC4BszOhpC0/s1600/HotSix.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rz1Hlyo2u2U/TZ-sXQE3UjI/AAAAAAAAA5s/HC4BszOhpC0/s400/HotSix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593378777669784114" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-24740230656330323242011-03-11T09:28:00.001-08:002011-04-17T17:09:31.982-07:00The Other Boleyn Girl- Book #6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx-JMulyw1M/TZ-rr8SzIVI/AAAAAAAAA5k/Oc6LJo_BNq4/s1600/tobgcover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx-JMulyw1M/TZ-rr8SzIVI/AAAAAAAAA5k/Oc6LJo_BNq4/s400/tobgcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593378033625145682" border="0" /></a>Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-38339309246871473592011-02-27T16:21:00.000-08:002011-04-17T17:09:56.491-07:00Plum Lucky- Book #5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vROoJmRPMKc/TWrq-OxHXwI/AAAAAAAAA5c/y7IlHQ7wIhE/s1600/Plum%2BLucky.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vROoJmRPMKc/TWrq-OxHXwI/AAAAAAAAA5c/y7IlHQ7wIhE/s400/Plum%2BLucky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578529443288669954" border="0" /></a><br />I was still waiting on <span style="font-style: italic;">Hot Six</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Seven Up</span> when I grabbed this one (at the same time as Spooky). As you can guess, it's another holiday Plum book.<br /><br />I liked this one better than Spooky. As you can see, it revolves around St. Patrick's Day and felt a little more like a regular numbers book. More bounty hunting (I think I forgot to mention that Stephanie is a bounty hunter... a really bad one that somehow still manages to find her FTA's) in this one than in Spooky, which means more of her usual side-kicks and wackiness.<br /><br />I finished this one a couple weeks ago and have in my possession a copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hot Six</span> from the BPL now. It and a copy of Archenemies have been sitting there on my table for 2 weeks while I work my way through <span style="font-style: italic;">The Other Boleyn Girl</span>. That will be my next review. I wanted a break, and the Tudors are a VERY different world than Stephanie Plum!!Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-76007002869079183032011-02-27T11:27:00.001-08:002011-02-27T16:32:51.228-08:00Words to Live By"As he died to make men holy, let us live to make men free." Battle Hymn of the RepublicPixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-74031027417711126762011-02-15T16:27:00.001-08:002011-04-17T17:10:22.699-07:00Plum Spooky- Book #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RxWnREiRUB8/TWroYCMj1OI/AAAAAAAAA5U/nyAz4SIBuno/s1600/Plum%2BSpooky.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RxWnREiRUB8/TWroYCMj1OI/AAAAAAAAA5U/nyAz4SIBuno/s400/Plum%2BSpooky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578526588055835874" border="0" /></a>We're back to Stephanie Plum books! I still haven't picked up with the numbers yet (they only have 1 paperback copy of #7 and I'm on a waiting list for it) so I grabbed one of the "between-the-numbers" books (they're all holidays).<br /><br />Trena told me that they're not needed to read the number books. They're not, but I think I wish I had done a weensy bit more research before reading them. If you haven't started any of the Plum books, I think I'd start from One and go through but find out the publication dates of the between books and read them in the order they were written. They're not quite as good because Stephanie has two men in her life that make you gooey. The pull between the 2 makes for some great reading and tension and that isn't present in the holiday books. There's a 3rd guy in them and Stephanie pretty much writes him off because she's got enough complications. There IS a supernatural theme/twist to them though.<br /><br />Any who- I believe this is the newest of the holiday books, but I read it first. It wasn't necessary to the plot but there are characters in it that I wish I had met before I read this one. Also it gives tiny spoilers to the number books if you play close attention (they overall have no plot clues, just the "current" dynamic in Steph's love life).<br /><br />This one was a bit spookier than normal which was nice for a Halloween themed book, but don't let that hold you back if you're a 'fraidy-cat. It's not like a horror book at all!<br /><br />Overall, I'd say a B+ for this one.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-84779019579994609002011-02-15T16:25:00.003-08:002011-04-17T17:10:44.746-07:00Kingdom Come- Book #3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nf1AyOdT__k/TWrmQ6_E6NI/AAAAAAAAA5M/MS37xy3qepY/s1600/Kingdom%2BCome.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nf1AyOdT__k/TWrmQ6_E6NI/AAAAAAAAA5M/MS37xy3qepY/s400/Kingdom%2BCome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578524266837895378" border="0" /></a><br />This book (YES IT'S A BOOK!) was a Christmas gift from my friend Allen. I've always liked comics but never been as into them as I have been the last few years (we can all happily blame Allen). I still don't read many, but that's mostly because it takes a lot of disposable income to read the ones I'm really interested in, and who has that these days? Not me!<br /><br />As I'm unwrapping this, Allen says to me "I hope this doesn't end our friendship." You have to understand something... me, not a Superman fan. I feel like he's taking all the glory and totally cheating... he's a freaking alien! Wonder Woman? Boring! Batman on the other hand... HE'S THE MAN! I mean, assuming they were real...<br /><br />Animated cartoon wise, I was never a fan of the Justice League either (did you watch it? HOW?). I've always considered myself more of a Marvel girl that made exceptions for Batman.<br /><br />I think I kinda like DC a bit more now. Allen knows me well though. He knows I like post-apocalyptic stuff. This book is more like what would happen if the superheroes ACTUALLY WERE the cause of the apocalypse. So you can imagine how I'd probably be interested right there. I found it somewhat similar to The Watchmen if you want to draw comparisons, but it is totally different. I really enjoyed the art and the story was great!<br /><br />Thanks Al!Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-69662942884128010292011-02-15T16:25:00.001-08:002011-04-17T17:11:12.368-07:00Motor Mouth- Book #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxYSYtnAs7g/TWrlzobh49I/AAAAAAAAA5E/AquMM8W7dI4/s1600/Motor%2BMouth.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lxYSYtnAs7g/TWrlzobh49I/AAAAAAAAA5E/AquMM8W7dI4/s400/Motor%2BMouth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578523763640755154" border="0" /></a><br />Another Alex Barnaby Book. This is the 2nd (there are 3 so far) and I thought more fun than <span style="font-style: italic;">Metro Girl</span>!<br /><br />Sam Hooker (NASCAR Guy) returns with Alex and they manage to get themselves in another pile of trouble. RV chases, missing dogs and stolen microchip technology... what else can a girl want to do in Florida?Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28167356.post-6105508608818634532011-02-15T16:24:00.001-08:002011-04-17T17:11:40.200-07:00Metro Girl- Book #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCIhG8Iwn8o/TWrii30hggI/AAAAAAAAA48/dm08sBRLKK8/s1600/517R5E8BW0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCIhG8Iwn8o/TWrii30hggI/AAAAAAAAA48/dm08sBRLKK8/s400/517R5E8BW0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578520177179460098" border="0" /></a><br />This year I resolved to read a book a week. I doubt it will happen exactly that way, but I plan to TRY to read more at least!<br /><br />First book... <span style="font-style: italic;">Metro Girl</span> by Janet Evonovich<br /><br />Years ago Trena got me hooked on her Stephanie Plum books (<span style="font-style: italic;">One for the Money</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Finger Lickin' Fifteen</span> etc). I LOVED them but didn't have a heck of a lot of time to read them as I was in school and felt that if I could make time to read, I could read my textbooks. So, for many years I only read for pleasure around Christmas and the summer! Harry Potter and Twilight took a lot of that time, but I borrowed the odd Plum book.<br /><br />Flash forward to a couple months back, where I finally got tired of not getting my hands on books and FINALLY made the trip to the Buena Park Library and got myself a card! I started the Plum books, in order this time, resolving to read them now! The BPL is small, so not all the books I want are readily available 100% of the time. Metro Girl was sitting next to the Plum books and the next one that I needed wasn't in, so I grabbed it and what I thought was just another Evanovich book. Turns out it was the sequel to MG and I happened to read them in order.<br /><br />Alex Barnaby (aka Barney) is this series' heroine. She's girly, but knows her way around a car as she was practically raised in her dad's mechanic shop. She comes to Miami in search of her brother after a disturbing phone call from him. She's now running around south Florida and the Keys looking for him with a NASCAR driver. Craziness ensues. If you like the Stephanie Plum books, I'd recommend these as well! Alex is a little more confident than Stephanie, but she's great at getting herself into trouble too.Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15497980520101564812noreply@blogger.com0