i am feathermaye

Down in the mouth

2009-04-11T13:32:00.006-05:00

I’m not one to toss the word 'hate' around in a frivolous manner. I strongly dislike a lot of things. I’m not fond of others. I would prefer almost anything else than to come right out and admit that there is anything I HATE. Except for the dentist, of course.In my estimation, a visit to the dentist ranks right up there with an appointment to get my hair cut or a fun-filled visit to my doctor

The Science of Dogs

2009-04-04T19:07:00.004-05:00

On the National Geographic channel tonight, Scott and I watched a program about dogs and the science behind them.The program explores the history of strict, controlled breeding of specific breeds of dog. In some cases, the dogs were bred to purify the genetic coding (much like computer code!). In other instances, the certain breeds of dogs are cross-bred with other breeds in an effort to combine

Take This Job And Shove It

2009-04-03T19:25:00.005-05:00

My father taught me to work; he did not teach me to love it. ~Abraham LincolnAlways be smarter than the people who hire you. ~Lena HorneWhat work I have done I have done because it has been play. If it had been work I shouldn't have done it. ~Mark TwainI love my job; it's the work I hate. ~Everybody elseIf you were to ask ten random adults what the most amount of dissatisfaction in their lives is

When Bad Jobs Happen To Good People

2009-04-01T15:43:00.004-05:00

Have you ever discovered something about yourself that made so much sense, you were stunned to not have noticed it sooner?It has become clear to me over the past six weeks or so that I have been suffering from anxiety. However, I never really equated what I was feeling or thinking with anxiety. I had no idea. It's only been since it started going away that I recognize it for what it is.Mostly, my

Blame My Brother. I Do.

2009-03-28T08:24:00.005-05:00

In February, my brother made a business trip to Texas that allowed us to spend a few days with him. Christopher is my only sibling, and for the most part we have always gotten along exceptionally well. We both enjoy a raucous (and sometimes raunchy) sense of humor, and when we are left to our own devices we typically bring everyone in the room with us (including ourselves) to tears of laughter as

Renewing Your Resources

2009-03-27T14:22:00.005-05:00

The fact that the earth’s resources are running out should not be news to anyone. We can’t turn on the television, read a newspaper or magazine or even surf the internet without being confronted with depleted fuel sources, world-wide food shortages, dwindling water supplies and an ever-worsening atmospheric condition. We are pushed and pulled and prompted to make changes that will make a

Crisis Averted

2009-03-23T20:57:00.002-05:00

If you were paying attention, you'll know I posted about my anxiety attack over my scheduled hair cut. As luck would have it, there was little anxiety necessary!This was the back of my hair, before leaving:Healthy, but way too long for my tastes anymore. Besides, it had gotten so heavy that there was no volume left in the top at all.Now, the back is light and airy (although the picture is a

Cashing In and Freaking Out

2009-03-23T10:17:00.003-05:00

Today I have a 1:30 appointment to get a shampoo, conditioning treatment, hair cut, blow-dry and style. This is one of the series of salon treatments my husband got me for Valentine's day, and the first part of the package I'll be cashing in on.When it comes to haircuts, I get a bit freaked out by the whole thing. I can count on one hand how many hair cuts I've been pleased with in my adult life.

Get A Move On

2009-03-20T19:12:00.004-05:00

Much of my life over the past ten years has been spent in transition, and since I always try and learn something from my experiences, I’ve become quite the expert in moving. I know which boxes are strongest for my dishes, which tape tears easiest (without having to use my teeth) and how many books I can safely pack into one box without permanently injuring a grown man.My nomadic lifestyle (

Real Live Women

2009-03-06T00:30:00.000-06:00

In recent weeks, the media has been full of news about and for women. You can't read a single headline without encountering either a great achievement in women's issues or a perceived setback in the battle of the sexes. We're repeatedly presented with women that are pushing the envelope in their respective niches and we are invited to judge them: Is the octomom out of her mind? Is Barbie an

Intimate Defenses - Revisited

2009-03-03T10:10:00.008-06:00

A while back I blogged about a rape-defense product concept I had encountered while surfing the web. I received some pretty strong responses (both here and at a women's network) from women, all in agreement that they would not even consider using the device depicted. The primary concerns seemed to be 1.) The device would malfunction and actually harm the wearer and 2.) the rapist, incensed over

You Can't Stop The Musical Healing

2009-02-26T22:06:00.008-06:00

Real life is full of more comedy, drama and music than any movie ever could be. The comic moments are what keep us afloat. The dramatic moments are what keep us grounded. But the music that fills the spaces in-between is the medicine that heals our souls.Musicians on Call is a non-profit organization that recognizes the beneficial power of music. Through numerous benefits and the fund-raising

A Friend. Indeed.

2009-02-25T22:10:00.000-06:00

Just after Thanksgiving I began to suspect that I had been dumped out of a decade-long friendship. No explanation; no fight or conflict leading up to it. Just a matter of a dwindling of forwarded emails; a lack of response to my text messages; a failure to return phone calls; and one ignored Christmas card. It was, quite simply, just over.If I'm to be honest about the quality of the friendship

Getting all glammed up, Oscar-style!

2009-02-21T18:52:00.009-06:00

As I get all amped up for my version of the Superbowl, I am vacillating between my choices for the big event.I mean, this is The Oscars, y'all. Not just any-old-thing will do!In a frenzy, I've gone through my closet and tried everyone everything on. I've been met with some mixed results...I started with a bit of retro:But decided that the hair just wasn't gonna do it for me.So I moved on to

I'm A Hugh Fan!

2009-02-19T17:47:00.007-06:00

I can only say this so plainly:I love Hugh Jackman.He's Emmy-winning! He's Tony-winning!! He was chosen as one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People five years in a row, and is the 2008 Sexiest Man Alive!!! I mean, just look at him:And as if all of that wasn't enough, this weekend the man himself is hosting my version of the Superbowl--The Academy Awards.There are only so many actors who

Wear A Cup

2009-02-18T10:05:00.002-06:00

Remember the ongoing storyline through a couple of Friends episodes where, just as Ross is boarding a flight to China, Chandler lets slip that Ross is in love with Rachel? Then, while Ross is gone, Rachel gets herself all jazzed up over the idea of being with Ross. And when Ross returns, Rachel meets him at the airport with flowers and an eager intent to acknowledge that she has feelings for him,

Oh, the horror!!

2009-02-12T23:36:00.006-06:00

No single day is held in more fearful regard than Friday the 13th. It doesn’t matter which month it falls in, and the superstition itself exceeds racial boundaries, religious differences and generational gaps. Quite frankly, it’s the one day of any year guaranteed to freak a whole lot of people out. (And it happens three times in 2009!)The fancy word for the fear of this particular day is

Life After "I Do"

2009-02-11T08:25:00.007-06:00

Some months back I discovered a website titled Project Happily Ever After. Well, not discovered as in I was the first to tread upon its pages and mark it with my flag, but it was a personal discovery for me, and one for which I'm very grateful. I've visited many times since then, and each time I come away with something relevant to me and my life.You see, if there's one clear-cut lesson I've had

The Gunslinger Born and The Long Road Home

2009-02-11T01:07:00.006-06:00

I've just finished reading the first two books in the graphic novel version of Stephen King's The Dark Tower Series.Book #1 is titled The Gunslinger Born and actually begins where Book #4 (Wizard and Glass) of King's original series falls.Roland, having just bested his teacher and earned the title of the youngest-ever Gunslinger, leads his life-long friends and gunslinger-apprentices Alain and

What Monday's Are Good For

2009-02-09T15:34:00.005-06:00

Sleeping in, drinking GinBuilding a boat to paddle 'round inScreaming to quiet the internal dinThat's what Monday's are good for.Doctor's appointments, applying ointmentsIgnoring my body's odd little disjointmentsLearning to live with life's disappointmentsThat's what Mondays are good for.Playing lotto, singing vibratoDrinking enough to become fully blottoComing up with a new life's mottoThat's

In Pieces

2009-02-08T17:11:00.007-06:00

(The following is a work of fiction, inspired by writing prompt #68 from here. It is mine, and copyright belongs to me.)***"I thought I saw movement off to the right but when I turned in that direction, there was nothing," the girl said. She lay on the chaise lounge in the therapist’s office. The shades were drawn over the large windows and the atmosphere was dim. "I moved deeper into the tunnel.

Fifty Years of feathermaye Favorites

2009-02-05T22:29:00.003-06:00

Okay, so here’s the deal.I’ve been debating with myself how to handle the weeks leading up to the 81st Annual Academy Awards in relationship to feathermaye’s Friday five. I mean, I could devote the next three weeks to purely Oscar-worthy stuff, but then I’d be completely overlooking the ideal palette provided to me with the naturally-occurring spectacle of next week’s Friday the 13th.And, even if

My heart is racing. My palms are sweaty. I got... I got...

2009-01-31T13:24:00.008-06:00

...I got new library books!We're a little late getting into the swing of our new local library since moving to this part of Houston last fall. Usually it's one of the first things we do. I'm not sure now why it kept getting put off but we've remedied the situation and are in full-swing once again.The closest branch to us is actually quite small and mostly consists of children's titles, so I just

Makeover Madness

2009-01-30T20:05:00.002-06:00

I have been all wrapped up this week in giving makeovers. Not of the physical kind (although that, with my treadmill and other changes is taking place, too), but of the aesthetic and motivational kind.In an effort to get back on track with everything I've got going on, I have completely revamped my website and been working long and hard on getting my writing schedule nailed down. I've got a lot

Your eyes do not deceive you...

2009-01-29T20:16:00.002-06:00

I'm cleaning house here at feathermaye.com. Fewer bells and quieter whistles are in the works...Please pardon my dust and potential broken shards while I finish tweaking the stuff in the corners. I still have no direction in which to take this thing, but at least I'll have a clearer path!!And, just a reminder: this Friday will be the last January installment in the feathermaye giveaway. The