The Glass Dragonfly

I Have Made Myself a New Home

2009-02-11T12:33:00.013-07:00

I have moved this blog to a new location!

Click here------->The Glass Dragonfly

Please check it out, update your bookmarks, and let me know how the new site works for you. I've got a few little things yet to work out but it is up and running! This blogger site will no longer be updated....unless, of course, things go terribly wrong!

Healing Touch

2009-02-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

It sounds nice. Felt nice too!

I went to a Mind Body Spirit Fair yesterday and had the opportunity to have a short Healing Touch session. It was really quite lovely.

From the University of Minnesota Healthy Lifesytle Pages:

Healing Touch is an "energy therapy" that uses gentle hand techniques thought to help re-pattern the patient’s energy field and accelerate healing of the body, mind, and spirit.

Healing Touch is based on the belief that human beings are fields of energy that are in constant interaction with others and the environment. The goal of Healing Touch is to purposefully use the energetic interaction between the Healing Touch practitioner and the patient to restore harmony to the patient’s energy system.

I don't know about the effectiveness of this practice, but wow, it felt wonderful.

Monday Mix

2009-02-09T11:47:00.044-07:00

mp3: "Do You Love Me?" - The Explorers Club

Freedom Wind

The Explorers Club-MySpace

mp3: "Something Unreal" - Ex Norwegian

Standby

Ex Norwegian-MySpace

mp3: "The Mountain" - Heartless Bastards

The Mountain

Heartless Bastards-MySpace

mp3: "November Was White, December Was Grey" - Say Hi

Oohs & Aahs

Say Hi (...) MySpace

mp3: "Heretics" - Andrew Bird

Armchair Apocrypha

Andrew Bird-MySpace

An Afternoon at the Movies

2009-02-07T18:54:00.038-07:00

Slumdog Millionaire Film Clip - The Boys On A Train

Starr and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire this afternoon. We both liked it very much. Was it my all time favorite movie? I don't think so, but I am glad that we finally managed to get out to watch it. Bits and pieces of it will stay with me for a long time.

We had a little conversation in the car on the way there:

Starr: I heard this was a Bollywood movie, with dancing and stuff.
Me: I heard that it wasn't.
Starr: I am pretty sure I saw a clip of dancing...Bollywood style.
Me: I am pretty sure that isn't the case, but we'll see.

Turns out we were both right...in a way.

Escape to Seattle

2009-02-06T09:52:00.042-07:00

It was the Summer of 2007, just a few short months after the accident. Life and emotions were raw and overwhelming. We were having difficulty making sense of our surroundings. My parents offered to help us get out of town for a few days and Starr and I decided to go to Seattle for a long weekend.

It was truly an unplugging.

A much needed break.

We did all the touristy things.

...and had a good time.

We weren't able to forget everything, there were many random moments of tears, but getting out of town, getting away from the day-to-day was crucial. Everything was still waiting for us when we returned, all the pain, the reminders...but taking a break, that break, was just what we needed.

25 Things (or more) About Starr

2009-02-04T12:14:00.012-07:00

As my back is still giving me serious pain and I can't sit at the computer for long periods of time I thought I would steal Starr's 25 Things list and post it here. It made me smile...and I needed that:

1) My hair is probably the #1 thing I like about myself . . . and I am second guessing my haircut :( lol

2) I love watching documentaries about anything and everything.

3) Nobody laughs at me when I try to be funny, but everyone laughs at me when I'm being serious

4) In middle school and high school I bought sweatshirts everywhere I went, now I have 30 or more they take up an insane amount of room in my closet.

5) I want to travel the world and go to every continent minus Antarctica!

6) I'm really excited to see what my siblings end up like when they get older, hopefully they are as cool as me! Haha they're already probably cooler than me!

7) I like to make funny faces in the mirror when no one is around. It's surprising nobody has caught me yet!

8) I hate the cold. A lot.

9) I LOVE the smell of pool. Chlorine is probably my favorite smell, that is except for hot apple pie

10) I LOVE MY FRIENDS because they still love me <3

11) I'm afraid that I'll get Alzheimer's so I take crazy amounts of pictures of people and the places I see so that I never forget.

12) I'm pretty sure that I'll be famous one day for one reason or another. When I was younger I was pretty positive that I would be a super model . . . I still have my hopes ha after I get a personal trainer lol! Most likely I'll become friends with Oprah or a friend of mine will become famous and I'll be famous by default

13) There's probably a name for it, but I have a phobia of bumpy growths on people and things . . . like excessive amounts of moles or warts or those trees with the bumps on the leaves. Makes me sick.

14) I want a ton of kids that all look like the kids from John and Kate Plus 8. I think that I'm going to have ugly kids though . . . At least I will love them and I'm sure they will be talented:/

15) I've been to random countries like Norway, Iceland and The Isle of Man, but I've never been to Mexico. Lame.

16) I have a problem with commitment. I have played field hockey, volleyball and softball; played the violin, cello and saxophone. I have been in choir, done speed swimming, synchronized swimming, cheerleading and fencing, tried to learn spanish and french, joined knitting club and Shakespeare club, done ballet, modern, musical theater, gymnastics and baton twirling. I just couldn't chose.

17) I don't see the point in watching sports games until the playoffs. Before that it's boring.

18) I bet you can't guess my favorite band.

19) I want to and I will make a difference in the world with the help of my best friend and an ANGEL

20) If I could wear flip flops everyday for the rest of my life I think I would. Even to my wedding.

21) I love talking about myself. I could do it all day haha

22) I hate it when people say "we were just talking about you" . . . whether what was said was good or bad it makes me really uncomfortable.

23) I'm afraid of being forgotten . . . please don't forget me!

24) I'm a really picky eater, really picky, but I will eat whatever is served if someone else made it for me and I will say that I loved it!

25) I will- never eat snails or caviar (to the dismay of my grandparents), never leave the house without looking in the mirror, never go a day without saying "I love you", never like music by Barry Manilow (Skye & Starr "Her name was Lyla, she was in the circus"), I will never see 11:11 without kissing a wall or run a yellow light without touching the ceiling and never ever will I ever shave my head or play a sport that could compromise my face.

Hope you liked it!!

Flashing Lights

2009-02-03T10:47:00.039-07:00

With each attempt to move...flashing lights! Stupid (insert long list of creative and explicit cuss words here!!) pain!

All that catching up that I managed to do recently has been completely undone. Starr has been staying here to help me out, but between my immobility, and her casualness....oh well...it will come together again when I get better.

Bruno suggested a hot bath which sounds wonderful...but sadly I don't think that my back will allow it.

mp3: "Coattails" - Lloyd Cole

Cleaning Out the Ashtrays

Lloyd Cole-MySpace

The Things You Take for Granted

2009-02-02T09:41:00.026-07:00

This is not a philosophical post. Just a bit of whining.

Mid-afternoon, yesterday, I was doing some dishes when I felt a little twinge in my lower back. Within seconds, I was in pain. Moving, sitting, standing, all causing pain. Moving from sitting to standing is nearly impossible. And bending over? Unthinkable.

I immediately took some Motrin and plugged in a heating pad, but as of this moment, a nights sleep and several doses of pain "reliever" I have had no relief.

You don't realize just how many times you bend over, sit, stand, walk, reach, go to the bathroom!! (ugh) until you can't or it causes such pain. Diet coke is my morning coffee. I can see it there on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, pushed towards the back. Teasing me with it's nearness. Yet unattainable. Damn it!

I am afraid that it is going to be a very long day!

The iPod Game

2009-01-30T00:15:00.047-07:00

One of those Facebook memes going around my circle these days:

The iPod Game

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Put your iPod or other music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
* I added an mp3 link when possible. The links without a play button (like this --> "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" - Vampire Weekend) will take you to a place where you can hear the song. Sadly there were a couple songs that I couldn't find at all.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Rattlesnake Charm (Dream Machine) --Sean Hayes

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Sex and Mayhem --Devastations

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Say What You Want --Texas

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
No More Running Away --Air Traffic

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Red Light --Jonny Lang

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Superstar (Carpenters Cover) --Sonic Youth

WHAT IS 2+2?
Kid Fears --Indigo Girls

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Don't Dream it's Over --Crowded House

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Eleanor --Low Millions

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
The Way We Get By --Spoon there is a free download at betterPropaganda!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
When I am Gone --Sparrow House

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Postcards From Italy --Beirut

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO (hear) AT YOUR WEDDING?
Waiting For the Sun --The Jayhawks

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Oxford Comma --Vampire Weekend again there is a free mp3 at betterPropaganda!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
If You Fall --Azure Ray

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
The Very Thought of You --Billie Holiday

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Love Revolution --All Mighty Whispers

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
In the Time We've Got --The One AM Radio

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Over My Head (Cable Car) --The Fray

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Double Vision --The Ponys

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Happy --MaryKate O'Neil

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Coffee and Cigarettes --Michelle Featherstone

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
There's a Girl --The Ditty Bops

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Solome --Van Elk

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Won't Be Long --Ferraby Lionheart

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Precious --The Pretenders

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Goodbye --Elephant Parade

WILL YOU POST THIS?
I am Not My Hair (Konvict Remix) --India.Arie feat. Akon

It's About the Dog

2009-01-29T13:57:00.097-07:00

A short while ago, I wrote about finally cleaning out the boxes in my garage. The boxes of salvageable items from Starr's car. Thankfully the police officer who gathered these items for us was careful and there wasn't anything in the boxes that had blood or glass on them. I can't say the same for the local coroner who handed me Starr's purse and wallet, just days after the accident. I will always hate him just a little bit for that. It was his attitude and the things he said, like he was trying to do things to purposefully upset me. I was already upset. Hell, I am still upset.

The way he brought me to the back of his truck and opened the doors just so we could stand there by the gurney that had carried Sunny's body. We didn't need to be there, he already had Starr's belongings in his hands. He then handed me the wallet and started picking bloody glass out of it while I was holding it. Tossing the bits, bits of Sunny, onto the parking lot while "apologizing" for having tinted windows in the back of the truck "but he needed them because of the types of things he carried back there." Was he taking it upon himself to make sure that I knew something terrible had a happened? Trust me, I knew. Was it some sort of cruel punishment for being the parent of the survivor? It was cruel and I will never forget it.

*deep breath*

Back to the boxes. One of the items salvaged from the car, was this little stuffed dog. He was the girls constant companion. He was there for all the fun that they had and he was there when Sunny died. I have adopted him and he sits in my room, clearly visible at all times. He does bring back memories of Sunny with each and every glimpse, but for some reason he doesn't make me sadder. I appreciate this token and the memories he carries. This dog will never be just another stuffed animal thrown in a drawer or box and forgotten.

He means something to me.

From My Playlist

2009-01-28T10:23:00.134-07:00

A friend asked me recently what my favorite song of all time was. Truth is, I just don't know. I have many many songs that sing to my heart, or make me smile or move more than others. It truly depends on the day, the hour, my mood, current events, etc.

Quickly checking my iTunes library of songs, this is the single most played song in my collection:

"Music When the Lights Go Out" - The Libertines

The Libertines

The Libertines-MySpace

However, that doesn't account for playing music on my iPod, from different sources or especially life before iTunes. CD's, cassette tapes, records and the radio! Or the fact that I don't listen to music at the computer much anymore, it has been a few years. At any rate, this song is the second most played:

"What You Wish For" - Guster

Lost And Gone Forever
Guster-MySpace

Third:

mp3: "Postcards From Italy" - Beirut

Gulag Orkestar

Beirut-MySpace

Fourth:

mp3: "Into the Open" - Heartless Bastards

All This Time
Heartless Bastards-MySpace

Fifth:

"Mushaboom" - Feist

Let It Die

Feist-MySpace

Sixth:

"Not For All the Love in the World" - The Thrills

Let's Bottle Bohemia

The Thrills-MySpace

Seventh:

"Maybe I'm Amazed (Paul McCartney and Wings Cover)" - Jem

Music From the O.C. Mix 2

Jem-MySpace

Eighth:

"Beautiful" - Lee and LeBlanc

Beautiful

Ninth:

"Delicate" - Damien Rice

Damien Rice-MySpace

And lastly, the tenth most played song:

mp3: "With Arms Outstrethched" - Rilo Kiley

The Execution of All Things

Rilo Kiley-MySpace

Dragonfly's Favorites: These Wooden Vases

2009-01-27T11:34:00.002-07:00

The vase on the left was a gift from my parents. They picked it up while traveling in New Zealand. It was originally a fence post...remnants of it's former life are still visible. The drilled hole. Moss that's still attached. I liked it and appreciated it.

It gave my dad an idea. This time it was a good idea!

He wondered if he could do something similar with wood from Granddaddy's old barn. It might be a nice way to preserve a little bit of history. He contacted a wood crafter/artist and had them made. I believe that he had one made for each of Grandmother and Granddaddy's grandchildren. They don't have the same feel or look as the New Zealand piece, but they do carry our personal history. Our memories of visiting the farm, of the many hours spent playing in and around the barns. For some, the memory of working the farm along side Granddaddy. Of the cows and the farm equipment.

I treasure these memories and am grateful to have these lovely reminders.

100 Things to Do Before You Turn 40

2009-01-25T21:04:00.002-07:00

Borrowed from Jason at The Jason Show (Happy 40th Jason!). Unfortunately, I celebrated my 40th just a short while ago...but thought I would play along anyway!

Do you think you've really lived so far? This is a list of 100 activities--some I have experienced (in red), some I have not (in black).

*I am enjoying listening to Heather Browne's (I am Fuel, You are Friends) DJ set while I personalize the list.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band--does singing into my hairbrush as a teen (or last week?) count? Thought not.

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Bathed in a river
7. Been to the Taj Mahal
8. Walked on a glacier in Alaska
9. Caught and held a snake
10. Spoke in front of a big crowd--hopefully I will never have to.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Had a whirlwind love affair that broke your heart

13. Found an arrowhead or fossil

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch--I am not sure what this means. I draw. I've created all kinds of things..from scratch.

15. Rescued an animal--I remember a bird, and then there was Jimmy Crow, who I didn't rescue, but did help nurse back to health. Last summer, there was that earthworm on the driveway, I tossed him back onto the grass...it counts!

16. Ate sweet breads, glands or tripe--I hear that sweet breads are good. I can't do it.

17. Seen Mount Rushmore in person

18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hiked to base camp on Mt. Everest

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Watched an animal being born
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Learned a foreign language
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Stayed up for more than 24 hours

31. Trained a dog to do cool tricks
32. Been on a cruise--Northern Europe
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors--if I knew where they were from, it might help. But non-specifically, I have visited England, Ireland, Germany and France among others...so I think I have the majority of countries covered, but not specific towns etc.
35. Seen an Amish community

36. Can drive a stick shift car

37. Won over $1000 in a raffle or lottery--*crosses fingers and checks latest Powerball numbers* ...um, no.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke--and I never will.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Been serenaded--he sang Woody's "The Kelly Song". It was sweet.

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Broke a bone
47. Started your own business

48. Quit a job because you were totally unhappy

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain passionately--I feel like this should be a definite yes...but sadly no.

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in

55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Joined a prayer group
58. Taken a martial arts class--I hated it.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching--I haven't been on a "whale watching" trip/cruise, but have watched for and seen many whales from land and while on our cruise.
63. Received flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving--and I won't.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy--many books. They were what I wanted to save.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar--I don't care for it.

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London--saw the guards, but not the changing.
77. Broken something extremely expensive

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Got a tattoo

83. Been to a coffee shop in Amsterdam

84. Seen the aurora borealis in person--and it was incredible!

85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Toured the UN
95. Hiked to Machu Picchu
96. Swam in the Indian Ocean--no, but I have in the Mediterranean Sea.
97. Conversed with someone when neither of you spoke each others language--not really "conversed", but yes.

98. Dirty danced

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Acted in a play--does the first grade Thanksgiving play count? Otherwise, no...by choice.

How many of these things have you done?

Reclaiming My Space

2009-01-22T16:18:00.001-07:00

As much as I loved having Starr home for Winter break, I didn't enjoy the added mess. Since she moved back to the sorority house on Monday, I have been busy cleaning and catching up.

I am not worrying about corners or under the sofa cushions, I am dusting, picking up, vacuuming the middles. I will work on detail cleaning once I have the big things done. It feels good and calming to have eliminated some of the clutter and messiness that I allowed to grow over the past few weeks.

While I continue my little cleaning fest, I will leave you with Starr's favorite clip from Bill Cosby's live concert from 1983 which we watched a couple weeks ago and is just one of the many productive things we did together over break!

"Dentists" From Bill Cosby, Himself

A Late Wednesday/Early Thursday Mix

2009-01-22T00:14:00.002-07:00

It was a rough day, but here are a few recent finds:

mp3: "Never Had Nobody Like You" - M. Ward

Hold Time

M. Ward-MySpace

mp3: "Somebody" - PT Walkley

PT Walkley-MySpace

mp3: "It's Not Safe" - Gentleman Reg

Little Buildings

This is not new to me, but just recently posted on Spinner. It is one of my many favorites from the Shortbus soundtrack.

Shortbus Soundtrack at iTunes

mp3: "I Have Laid in the Darkness of Doubt" - Mazes

Self titled album due in March from Parasol Records

mp3: "Everyday" - Vetiver

Vetiver-MySpace

Where's George?

2009-01-20T11:40:00.001-07:00

I received my second bill with a Where's George stamp last week. The first bill that came across my path wasn't actually mine but a one dollar bill that my dad received as change while on Holland America's ms Prinsendam near the islands of French Polynesia. He brought it to me December 2003 and I entered it into the Where's George data base. Since then that one dollar bill has had a total of zero hits. Zero, in five years.

Last week while out for a glass of wine with a friend, I received my second Where's George bill. A five dollar bill. This one has been hit twice since it was originally entered just this past December. All of the hits are from here in town.

So, perhaps this Where's George bill will see more action, and possibly make it out of town someday!

Go, Abe, see the world!

Thankful for Laundry

2009-01-18T23:44:00.001-07:00

originally uploaded by caterpillars.

It was a friend's post about laundry the other day that fueled this post.

Laundry. Never ending. Constantly being generated. A must do chore.

Despite my numerous protestations here and the number of times I have personally cursed the ever growing piles of dirty clothing. I am thankful.

With each load, warm, clean and smelling fresh, I am grateful that I still have Starr in my life. That, despite the intense pain of losing Sunny, I still have her here. I was "this close" to losing both of them that day. I cherish each phone call, text, plea for help, meal cooked, dirty dish and every article of dirty clothing that comes with her presence in my life. I even cherish the arguments and petty fights that we have. Which might just account for still being a pushover about doing her laundry while she is at school.

With each tank top, sock or pair of jeans, I am thankful. While at the same time I am pained. Deeply. I miss Sunny greatly and am crushed multiple times daily over her family's pain and loss.

It is possible to be both grateful and broken at the same time. I wish that I didn't have to know this fact.

So Long George

2009-01-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

David Letterman's Great Moments In Presidential Speeches, a Compilation

Money In Money Out

2009-01-15T09:37:00.004-07:00

Today is fund day for Starr's student loans and grants (which we are eternally grateful for because otherwise there would be no college!). Our bank account was credited early this morning. This afternoon we will be paying for Spring semester sorority dues, housing and books. Tuition has already been deducted. At the end of the day, we will be back to broke. Yay.

As I was thinking about money this morning, I thought I would post a couple of things I do to save money:

Use a Programmable Thermostat:

I love not having to think about it. In the winter I have it set at 64 during the day and 54 at night. When Starr is around, it often gets bumped up to 68 during the day, but I don't have to remember to turn it back down. It's a good thing because my memory? It stinks!

I am not as frugal in the Summer, as I am allergic to being hot. Especially at night. Sleep is very important to me!

The Grocery Game:

They do all the groundwork for you. Tracking the sales and matching your coupons to those sales and then giving you an easy to read list each week highlighting the best deals for the week. You buy only those things that make sense for you and your family. I love this and have been a Grocery Gamer for several years. Through some trial and error, I eventually found a system for filing coupons that works for me.

A three ring binder with 9 pocket (for baseball cards) pages.

I've labeled the pages in approximately the same order the items are arranged at the store, which also closely matches the order of the list received from The Grocery Game.

Don't Buy Things:

Unless you have to, of course. Keep it simple...it is a need or a want? I use things until they fall apart. Literally.

mp3: "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out" - Mayer Hawthorne & The County

Mayer Hawthorne-MySpace

What's For Dinner?

2009-01-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

I am not a gourmet, healthy, all natural, organic, beans and whole wheat type of cook. And since it is just the two of us, or even more recently, just me for dinner, I don't do much (or anything!) in the way of side dishes. They are just too much work as well as a waste of food. For the things that I do make; I don't use boxed meals, I like to use real food, fresh garlic and vegetables, and real butter, although sometimes using a canned soup or pasta sauce as an ingredient.

My brother, DJ, has been asking more and more lately "what's for dinner?" So, I thought I might include a little postscript once in a while about what was for dinner, a link to the recipe if there was one and maybe a thumbs up or down from Starr.

Last night I made my version of Chicken Panini. Starr loved it and told me so repeatedly. I cooked the chicken using this basic recipe Italian Chicken, only instead of pounding out the chicken breasts, I butterflied them, slicing them in half making thinner portions. Putting the cooked chicken in between two slices of bread along with some mozzarella cheese and grilling them until browned and melty on my grill pan as I don't own a sandwich press, but I did give the sandwich a good and hard press with my spatula!

mp3: "You're My Favorite Waste of Time (Marshall Crenshaw cover)" - Freedy Johnston

Buy the CD here: Freedy Johnston

Monday Mix

2009-01-12T00:23:00.001-07:00

mp3: "Mona Lee" - The Sweet Serenades

The Sweet Serenades

The Sweet Serenades-MySpace

mp3: "Either/Or" - Wild Sweet Orange

We Have Cause to Be Uneasy

Wild Sweet Orange-MySpace

mp3: "C'mon Baby Say Bang Bang" - Jane Vain the the Dark Matter

Love is Where the Smoke is (iTunes)

Jane Vain and the Dark Matter-MySpace

mp3: "As I Go" - Richard Swift

Richard Swift Collection, Vol. 1

Richard Swift-MySpace

mp3: "Headin' Inside" - Surf City

Surf City

Surf City-MySpace

mp3: "Heaven" - The Swimmers

Fighting Trees

The Swimmers-MySpace

And a song that has been on repeat for the last few weeks:

A music video for the song "Kids" by MGMT made at the NYU Tisch Summer Filmmaking Workshop 2008

Oracular Spectacular

A Memorial Celebration, A Wallaby and A Pleasant Surprise

2009-01-11T12:55:00.002-07:00

Grandpa Bill's memorial party was nice. Hundreds of people gathered in his home to celebrate his life. It was actually quite amazing and touching. Even with all of the people around, I could feel the emptiness left in the house by Bill's absence. The last time Starr and I were there, we visited on a day when the other grandchildren were gone. We had a lovely afternoon visiting with Cora and Bill. He was lively and had lots of stories to tell. I am so glad and grateful that we were able to have that time with them.

Starr and I arrived at the same time as her siblings and (ex) step-mom, "Slice Girl". I weaved through the crowds towards the kitchen looking for Grandma Cora assuming that Starr and Slice Girl were close behind. When I made it to my destination, I realized that I was alone in the crowd. Soon Slice Girl caught up with me and said that they had been distracted by the kangaroo in the living room.

Huh?

I had to go back and check it out. Turns out it wasn't a kangaroo, but a wallaby, being carried around in a sling/pouch like a babe in arms. Very cute! And quite the attention hog!

After returning home, I went to a friends home to have a beer and decompress with some of my fellow moms who were also in need of a night off. As usual, it was nice to be in a safe place with trusting and knowledgeable women. While there the cutest thing happened. Our host's four year old daughter who had been sleeping upstairs came sleepily pouting down the stairs. She was in a hurry to get to her destination...comfort. As she entered the living room, she turned to me reached up and crawled into my lap. Facing me with her head tucked in, her arms and legs wrapping around me as close as possible on my lap. I hugged her, stroked her back and soothed her for a minute. I was in heaven. Soon her mom came back from the kitchen and asked the little one what was wrong. She lifted her head and looked at her mom, then me, then her mom again. Realizing her mistake she quickly moved on to the right lap!

As her mom put her back to bed, she said "mommy, your friend looks just like you!" Since her mom is beautiful, I will take it and savor that for a while. Just as I will savor the touch and trust of a little one. It has been a while since Starr was that cuddly and I miss it!

I told Starr this morning that I have decided that I am ready for grandkids. She informed me that I will just have to wait. Selfish.

Starr Was a Little...and She Still is

2009-01-09T08:33:00.001-07:00

Starr's father, for reasons that only he knows and understands, was not a part of her life for the first eleven years. (This is a subject that I plan to explore more in the future.) One of the many things I tried to do as a single parent was to give Starr effective, positive role models. In my friends, in my family, in my self.

When she was about six years old, I signed her up for a Big Sister at our local Big Brothers/Big Sisters agency. She was excited about the prospect of having a big sister and was matched rather quickly. There was a long waiting list for the boys, but there were fewer girls in the system so they matched her to Jill within weeks.

Jill was sweet, young, and completely not ready to be a mentor. Jilly-Bean as Starr called her was fun for several months, but she was inconsistent, and it turns out was having an affair with her boss and ended up pregnant. Suddenly dropping Starr without a goodbye. Brokenhearted, Starr went through the matching process for a second time.

This time she was matched with Jennifer. Jennifer was a young college student, approximately Starr's age now. I was worried that we would have a Jill part two. I was wrong. Jen and Starr quickly fell in love. They attended many of the BBBS events as well as making their own fun. They became a part of each others lives, each claiming the other as a real sister. Starr watched Jen finish college and become a high school teacher, move from her parents home and get married. She was an incredible role model. I will be forever grateful for her presence in our lives.

Jen and Starr, June 2007

Starr and I moved away from the Phoenix area when Starr was ten, but she and Jen have remained sisters at heart. Still keeping in touch, emailing, texting, calling and visiting each other when possible.

We are blessed to have Jen in our lives, and we are big supporters of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization.

Thank you Jen! I love you.

Dragonfly's Favorites: Burts Bees Repair Serum

2009-01-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

I don't know what this stuff is made for, and I don't remember why I bought it originally. I think that it is for wrinkles...and I don't have any of those...*cough*...but for me, it is too greasy to put on my face everyday, not to mention the fact that I have the worst facial care regimen in the world...which is none. I have no discipline.

I was lucky in my teens, as I didn't have too much trouble with acne. But once every so often I would get these deep pimples, the ones that hurt and you knew were coming before you could see them. They hurt, they were ugly, and were a bear to get rid of.

Newsflash...I still get them.

I have found that rubbing a little Burt's Bees Repair Serum on a pimple will help it to go away faster. Oil...on a pimple...seems like the opposite of what I remember being told. I don't remember why I tried it the first time, but I am glad I did. Those deep ones, if you catch them early sometimes never fully arrive...and this makes me very happy!

Burts Bees does make a Blemish Stick, with a variety of oils including Tea Tree Oil, but I have found that the Repair Serum works best for me. It also doesn't reek of Tea Tree Oil, which is always a bonus!

Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit

2009-01-06T18:18:00.002-07:00

I've been meaning to post this artist for some time. A new video crossed my path today that reminded me:

"Kamphopo" - Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit

Esau Mwamwaya was born in Mzuzu in Malawi, East Africa. He grew up in the capital, Lilongwe, where he played drums in various bands such as Masaka Band. He was a good friend of the legendary Evison Matafale and they played together for several years before he was killed in Malawi police custody in 2003.

In 1999 Esau Mwamwaya moved to London, England has until recently run a second-hand furniture store in Clapton, East London.

Esau's shop was on the same street as Radioclit's old studio, and after the Radioclit boy's bought a bike from Esau they invited him to one of their house warming parties They made friends and started working on music together. Two years later and the project has gotten it's name The Very Best. An album is finished (due 2009).

You can download the entire mixtape Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are The Very Best for free!! Here at Green Owl. Check it out!!

"Warm Heart of Africa" - Esau Mwamwaya

The Very Best-MySpace