"Go that way, really fast; if something gets in your way...turn." - Charles De Mar, 'Better Off Dead'
RIDE ♥LAND RIDE ♥LAND RIDE ♥LAND RIDE ♥LAND RIDE ♥LAND RIDE ♥LAND
Whoo-hoo! Opening day at the first ski area and I was there, baby! Choppy snow, aching muscles, anxious crowds, frozen fingers - it was wonderful. Screw Pilates and Curves for Women; traveling downhill at an alarmingly fast rate is the only workout I need. Everyone was so happy to be there. All the local news outlets showed up and one of them (in a moment of phenomenally bad judgment) photographed me. I was, of course, totally unrecognizable: knit cap covering my head, boys' size-medium snowboard pants and fuzzy jacket that combined give me roughly the dimensions of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, etc. There may possibly have been a candy bar sticking out of my right pocket, however; this is probably the same way my loved ones will identify my body in the morgue. So - I am pleasantly sore (awww, yeah) and am looking forward to the rest of the season for further opportunities to inflict injury upon myself.
At the other end of the Piglet Emotional Spectrum are the fires. Since I've moved to Colorado my Southern California friends and I have often discussed starting a commune out here, lacking any deeply-held political beliefs but overflowing with the chocolate milk of human kindness. Anyway, I can't think of a better time than now to get this started and this plan has been met with a chorus of "yeas!" (or perhaps "yays!") from my kindred spirits. In the meantime they assure me they're fine and not in harm's way, but I still worry. Because...um, that's what I do.
10.24.03
That's The End?!
I'm sorry. I just had...empty-nest syndrome. I didn't want to let go. I'm going to miss this story; I had to talk myself out of writing endless epilogues that I envision as the Cleveland-verse version of 'It's A Wonderful Life' but would probably end up being more like 'Domestic Disturbance'. Thanks to everyone who made this so much fun. Now I'm going to collapse from exhaustion because this Meals-on-Wheels program I'm doing (except it's through another organization so it's not called that) had me up at an insanely early hour. The upside? Free pastries. The food coma is my friend.
Prayers to Broken Stone, Part 12
10.16.03
I saw this really cool film the other night. It was French, but I didn't let that deter me even after the 'Swimming Pool' debacle. Read My Lips (Sur Mes Lèvres) seems at first to tell a familiar story: a man and woman with wildly divergent personalities are thrown together amidst a backdrop of corporate intrigue, crime, and of course the requisite sexual tension. This could have been a throwaway flick, easily digested and just as easily forgotten. But it's stayed with me. Without spoiling too much, I can say that the characters were gritty and real, and engaged me from the first. As I followed their journey I was rooting for these two, because they were smart and beaten but unbowed. The movie also eschews the traditional romantic pacing for something far more substantial and rewarding. Their relationship was treated with such delicacy, even when it involves retribution and blackmail and violence. I didn't want to go home and scrub myself with Brillo and bleach after watching the film, which is sadly a reaction I'm having more and more often to what is marketed as entertainment.
While I'm pimping, I'll switch subjects and mention VolunteerMatch. It's the coolest thing ever, next to Lindor truffles and Ross, Dress For Less and the clam chowder at Cheesecake Factory that you have to get as an appetizer so you can dip the bread in it. Anyway, VolunteerMatch (like you may have guessed) matches potential volunteers with non-profit and community activities in their area. It's great if you want to get involved with something but haven't decided what. Hours, expectations, etc. are all clearly indicated and once you express an interest, the organizations call you. I've done it for a bit and I'm really pleased with the results.
I'm also pretty pleased with the results of the next chapter of fic, modesty be damned. This story has been so much fun to write, and I feel like I'm going out on a high note. Speaking of going out...I think there's a McDonald's Extra Value meal with my name on it. Excuse me.
10.14.03
Prayers to Broken Stone, Part 11
10.08.03
...To
...And to My Other Girl, for the early birthday present. Are you reading this? Do you know how cool you are? And not just for the critically acclaimed screenplay, although I'm sure that's more impressive at the IMDb than 'Valued Friend to Devil Piglet'. Go figure.
Prayers to Broken Stone, Part 10
10.02.03
Prayers to Broken Stone, Part 9
In between exchanging nudie pictures with 
missmurchison's Secret as the Grave, I've been preparing for my mom's upcoming visit. My parents live a plane ride away, and can't just come over for dinner one night when I'm feeling sufficiently thick-skinned and hostess-y. Because of this, I feel compelled to have everything perfect when they do come. Seriously. While my boyfriend was watching the rugby World Cup games I was washing the vertical blinds. And the walls, but only certain spots. Promise.
Sign language is kicking my ass. My fingers keep going in the wrong directions. To console myself, I spent this weekend shopping. I bought, among other things, leather boots - the leather boots, the ones that make me look like a rock star and increase my overall confidence by a thousand percent and will just generally change my life. Shhhh, humor me. My high school reunion is in a month, so now all I have to do is find an appropriately slutty outfit to go with them. Expect photos of the skankwear candidates.
Thank You... pluckygirl, for her generosity! As I said, there's a ficlet-in-waiting with your name on it; just fill in the blanks and I'll be off and running. Metaphorical running, since I am not an active person.
(Resolve face) Today I'm going to: take comfort in my friends; do something to help others; and eat my weight in Caramellos.
One of those three has to work. To kjdraft: I miss you, and I know.
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