Okay, little help please.

Finally figured out how to post pictures on this system. Sometimes I'm not the quickest. How do I post a picture next to my name? Any advice on adding art to my blog appreciated.

A special new clan member. 

Home for the birth of a new great niece. Babies always arrive in the wee small hours. 

Another picture of Army life. 

My new home at Lowry Air Force Base.  

My senior portrait. 

Help

Spoke to Delaney last night. I asked her opinion in the situation at work. Her first piece of advice was rather violent and graphic. I believe she was joking. Her second bit of advice was, I thought, odd. She suggested that perhaps he was nitpicking as an excuse to spend time around me. If so, I pointed out, picking apart my work was hardly scoring brownie points. Needless to say, I promptly discarded both bits of advice.

What is Delaney, friggin clairvoiyant? He asked me to the Christmas party. Good grief!...He's good looking and only slightly older than me, but I just don't think mixing work and play is a good idea. It's not frowned on in our office, well unless your the Director and dating your secretary. They might frown on that. Or laugh and point. Anyway, I find myself in a bit of a fix.

I, suddenly, need a date. Didn't mind going solo before. But if i'm gonna deflect this guys interest without it impacting my job (maybe, maybe not why risk it), I need a date. The problem is all of my male friends, that don't work with us, are in Iraq. Crap!

Maybe I should hire some aspiring actor for the evening. How pathetic. I don't want to start trolling for men. I can't see myself picking someone up on the subway either. : )... Anybody have a cute cousin or best friend they'll loan out for the evening. Preferrably somewhat large and imtimidating. Or at least alpha male material.
Without being a player. Okay, because I would never here the end of that. And what if he decided to save me from myself at that point. ....Growl!!! ...I don't want to make up a fake relationship. But maybe that would work. He doesn't know I'm not dating one of my friends in Iraq, maybe J.T. .

Don't know, all seems so ridiculous. Maybe this a molehill, not a mountain. I'll just bite the bullet and tell him I don't date at work. God, please let that work.

First a correction

First, a correction. Last night I had a Bahama Mama, not whatever that gibberish I wrote was.

Secondly, to good news. My friend, J.T., called me from Iraq, early this morning. All is well. Mostly they are homesick and board. Anyone wanting to help can make donations to "Operation Entertain Our Troops". I can also get addresses for Holiday care packages, if you are interested.

Thirdly, heard from Delaney today, as well. Apparently having two teenage boys can be a bit of a trial. They really like to see how far they can push her, sometimes. Gotta love 'em. Can't call them rugrats anymore. I'm 5'4" and they dwarf me. Still, when they smile, I see chubby little toddlers all smeared in whatever treat Aunt Faye sneaked when Mommy wasn't looking. Sorry, Delaney. ; )

Visited Nicole's blog recently. My Criminal Psychology professor would have had a heyday with that woman. Even her problems have problems. Seriously bad Karma there.

Abrupt subject change. Finally finished the handout for our next exhibit. Hallelujah!!!! Getting everyone to agree on wording and graphics is such a pain in......well, you know.

Next subject change. Office Christmas party is coming up. Dec 17th to be exact. It is a cocktail event. Guess that means one of my favorite little black dresses. Need new heels though. Also, ladies, I have a question for you. First let me describe myself a little. I am 5'4", as previously stated. I have dark brown eyes and, currently dark, reddish brown hair. My hair is mid back length. Two years ago I had laser eye surgery, so I no longer wear glasses. I think I am a pretty sharp dresser. I try to be fashion forward, yet classy. Anyway, recently a new department head was put in charge of our section. I simply cannot get this man to take me seriously. He has even patted on my head, after telling me to change something on our handout.
I am good at what I do. I work hard. No, I don't act like the villiage idiot at work. I save that for sidewalk surfing(see previous posts). I can't change my verticallity. Do you think perhaps,
if I shortened my hair I would look more serious and less collegiate?

I know that seems kind of silly. But maybe I'm not marketing me correctly for him. Never mind. I have a feeling that either he is one of those, if you have breast you can't have a brain types , or he is of the short people are still children ilk. Short women, dont' you hate that?

Good night all. Sweet dreams.

Sorry guys, tonight I'm just gonna curl up with a Bahama Mam and a sleazy romance novel. Talk to you tomorrow.

Tired but Determined

Tonight I can't even seem to get the computor to cooperate. Got splashed twice one the way to work. Yuck.
Still working on the wording for newest exhibits, handouts.

When I was in college, I used to visit the museums around the Mall in D.C.. There was this one small museum of modern art that had hands on children's events on Saturdays. It was great. They would roll out these huge sheets of paper. Set out trays of paint and give the children some simple direction. I.E. paint a picture of happy, or sad. Then they would let the kids go. You'd have like 20-30 kids, covered in paint, running amok, and creating. It was perfect. They'd hang these long banners of painting out to dry and for everyone to admire. There'd be little kids jumping up and down saying, "Look Mommy, I did that!"

I wish we did that here.

Talked to Tiffany. Her evening with officer Bell is fast approaching. They are going to the movies tomorrow. He had to work tonight.

Delaney called. She is tired from commuting to and from her family's Thanksgiving celebration. And then, I had to chuckle, she told me she needs to go grocery shopping because there is nothing to eat at home. Her mother's house is probably holding enough food to feed New York's homeless population and Delaney's living at old mother Hubbard's. I teased her. She didn't bring any left overs home. Just thought it amusing that she didn't leave loaded down. I know you don't leave my Mom's without at least one foil wrapped plate or casserole dish.

Good Night all. May Heaven smile down upon you all this night. May Santa keep you on his nice list no matter how NAUGHTY you might be. May your hands and feet stay warm and dry, while waiting on public transport.
May a stranger offer you a kind word, for no reason other than they would like on too. May the sun shine down upon you. May the wind not blow your skirt or trench coat up around your ears. May you always have correct change. Sweet dreams.

Days of our Delaney

Yes, that was my best friend, the wonderful Delaney. She called while the rest of her family was unbuttoning their pants and heading for recliners. Doing the seventh helping stretch. She wasn't sure which amused her more; my incident or my rambling speach pattern thanks to the painkillers I'm taking. I have my own opinions on which is more amusing, but I digress.

Back to the wonderful Delaney. How can a 36 year old, mother of three teenagers, still look every bit as amazing as she did in high school. I am in awe. Her hair is still a shining auburn curtain of silk. Her skin is still flawless alabaster. (Now as I am saying this, I must comment that to me freckles are enhancements not flaws) And completely , unfairly, her figure is the same. I thought women were supposed to change after child birth. (Yes, that is envy. I know I will be on a never ending diet rollercaster after childbirth, if I am like every other female in my family.) Best of all, her personality is still every bit as vibrant and warm.

Delaney's exhusband had called her to complain of their oldest. It seems his girlfriend had found a disturbing love letter in the trash. Why they were digging through the trash, I have no idea. Anyway, the letter rambles prosaicly about how horrible life is when apart from the object of your affection. No big deal. It is the ending line that is intriguing. "I've even shaved my legs for you, just like you wanted, Lover." I'm not sure what Delaney and I found the funniest. Hmm, was it the thought of some poor, sweet, besotted man abusing razor after razor for the sake of his one true love? Or could it possibly be the patheticness of a man trying to pass a letter, from one of his affairs, off on his daughter? I suppose the reason I am more apt to believe the second option is, Rand spent 30 minutes yelling at Delaney about this, in front of his girlfriend, but when Andie (their daughter) walked in he said nothing. That was two days ago. Andie is currently staying at Rand's house. If he is so concerned about her having some guy, with naked legs, in her bed, why not confront her with the letter?....

It is like the Tootsie Pop Slogan. The world may never know.

Things I am thankful for this season:

1. I am alive and, for the most part, extremely health.
2. Family, even if we are apart.
3. Friends, same.
4. I didn't have to eat turkey this year!!!!
5. My friends in Iraq are still alive and safe. Can't wait till you all are home, guys!
6. My career. Even if I'm not illustrating for Marvel Graphics, like I planned in high school.
7. My Nintendo Gamecube. (guilty vice)
8. The New Avengers (another guilty pleasure)
9. Bubblebaths.
10. The occasional wolf whistle. Thank God for construction workers the world wide.
11. No run pantyhose. (fellow women I know you understand)
12. Real people when you call a customer service number.
13. The little grocery store around the corner, that not only knows your name, but they can tell you if something you normally buy is out of stock, before you even look.
14. The Macy's Parade.
15. The ability to be creative.
16. I am not homeless.
17. I am not hungry.
18. I think I look better than that girl I used to be. My style is definately more defined.
19. Chocolate.
20. Knights in shining armor. I think badges count, don't you?

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Turkey Day

Not sure if I had the mini-flu, the holiday blues, or just a cold virus intent on taking over the world; but THANKFULLY I'm feeling much less likely to drip upon the keyboard today. I chose not to go home (Maryland) for Thanksgiving. Didn't want to contaminate anyone. I have been informed by my loving sister's that they are truly thankful for that! Don't know if I would have been up for it even without the aliens trying to escape my sinus cavity. Seems like everyone is paired off. Even my neices and nephew all have signifigant others. Two of my neices have even added to the family. I never expected my 30's to feel old. Honestly, they don't usually. Sometimes I worry that I, like Peter Pan, will never grow up. I mean, I'm responsible. I have been gainfully employed since the tender age of 12. I have a car (even if it does spend more time in the parking garage than anywhere else). I have an apartment. I have houseplants. BUT, I still feel like that young girl who joined the Army to pay for college. I still look in awe at the Statue of Liberty. I still enjoy skipping stones on the creek, when I visit home. I still watch the occasional cartoon. I still watch the Macy's Parade, and smile.

But when I go home, I feel old. My sisters are in their 40's and doing their bit for hearth and home. And now their children are, as well. The youngest, my nephew Mack, is eighteen, and even he has a girlfriend that attends family events. EEK! I've had relationships. When I was eighteen I was engaged. I suppose I should be thankful I didn't marry that young man. He wanted to put down roots and I still had years of globetrotting ahead of me at that point. Thanks to the Army I have been to Colorado, New York, Alabama, Kansas, West Virginia, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis, not to mention Panama, Germany, France, and Canada. I probably wouldn't have gotten my degree or the chance to work in New York city, either. So why do I feel I'm missing something?

Jeesh, how whiney can you get? Abrupt subject change. I saw him again. Unbelievably, the day after my last post. I was walking back to work from lunch with my buddy Tiffany.(Don't hold the name against her, her parents were yuppies.) We were discussing a new exhibit the museum was arranging and then WHAM!!!!!!!! I felt like had been hit by a load of bricks. I went flying and then body surfing down the sidewalk. I heard a shriek, must have been Tiff, there was no air in my lungs to shriek with. : ) Anyway, suddenly I was levitating in front of HIS face. He set me on my feet and sort of steadied me for a moment. Some petite blonde lady walked up with Tiff and asked if I was okay. Give me a break, I just learned how to body surf a sidewalk! Tiffany was sort of dancing around me, like a hyperactive chihuahua, and chanting "Oh, my God!" endlessly. He walked off for a moment, I don't know how long, I still felt a little out of focus.

Tiffany decided spinning me around to look at something would be a good idea, right about then. When the world stoppend tilting, I realized I was seeing HIM and someother people handcuffing someone they were lifting off the ground. Some pannicked looking Wall Street type. That's what ran me over? That was the only thought I had for a few seconds. Then I noticed HE was walking back. The tiny blonde introduced herself as Detective Eames and introduced Him as Detective Goren. HE IS A COP!! Wow! Now I have a name for the face. He handed me my purse. Good grief, I had no idea I had even dropped the thing.
Everything seemed to be still in it.

I had to answer a few questions. I felt sorry for the officer questioning Tiffany and I. I was completely useless and Tiff was practically drooling on him. She says she has a thing for uniforms. Afterward Det. Goren apologized to me. At the height of eloquism, I questioned: "What for?"
....I am groaning and rolling my eyes in remembrance of this particular DUH moment.

He apologised for them not tackling the suspect sooner.

....Here it comes another stellar moment of idiocy

I said, "That's alright, I enjoy flying! Usually. Tee Hee.

...Oh where is a time machine when you need one. Probably my one and only oppurtunity to speak with this AMAZING man and I turn into the villiage idiot. My only hope is that he is used to having this effect on women and will not hold it against me. Although Det. Eames looked suspiciously like someone trying to choke back their guffaws. Way to make a first impression. To top it all off, Tiffany managed to score Officer Bells number.

Have to go my absolute best friend is on the phone. She should get a chuckle out of this. Happy Holidays.

Just Another Tour Group

Why do they always give me the T.G.'s with the smart alek, know-it -all, professor of art-history wannabees?
Show them a Matisse they have to talk about how child-like and REAL his art is. Show them a Degas and you have an hour long monalogue on his secret passion for some unknown ballerina. Show them anything, and they never really see it. They're too busy trying to be seen. Trying to be The One Who Knows. Did I really get a degree for this? ....

Where are all the students looking for their inspiration? Where are the gentle souls waiting to be gifted with the hidden beauty hanging on our walls? Where are the dreamers who lose themselves while walking our halls? I have not seen them in so very long. I miss them. It makes all the know-it-alls and bored, MP3 blaring, couldn't care less, classes worthwhile.

I used to see this one gentleman walking our halls. Tall. Imposing. Alone. He used to, obliquely, trail behind my Saturday afternoon tours. He joined in our discussions once. He had so much depth. And such unnexpected insight. If you are out there, it has been over four months since you wandered our halls. Will you wander back again?