Of Course I Hear Voices: I Own Parrots

Thank you Marsh Funeral Home for all your help. We couldn't have made it through this year without you!

I agree that the Indianapolis media gets a little over zealous about bad weather...and by over zealous I mean they can make it into a three ring circus. I agree that it is a little over kill at times, and that yes it gives the average person another reason to worry and be anxious over what is usually nothing. Snowmageddon...annoyed me. The ice I kept getting stuck in because my apartment complex doesn't pay for "ice removal" was really the biggest issue once I unearthed my car from it's ice coffin. Every thunderstorm isn't severe, and we don't have to pretend it is. If nothing is changing about the storm, lets not interrupt programming to tell me the same exact thing over and over again for an hour. However, if there is a severe storm, with rotation in your viewing area and you can help save lives, then yes interrupt the programming. Give the people who need the info the facts. Yeah you know what it might just be raining in our neck of the woods, but the v...

I really do not like having my picture taken. Actually, I dislike most pictures of me. However, I have one picture that may be my all time favorite: Yes it is old, and yes it is very much not how I look now, but there are many reasons why this may just be the best picture ever. Here is a break down of why it is so awesome: In this picture: Mom, Adam (1 month old...as evidenced by the June '82 date stamp), and me (one month shy of 3). Reasons it is awesome: It is from the "original Woodville house:" This is the house I grew up in. This is the house I miss. Please note the ugly paneling that we had throughout the first floor. It was hideous, but no one else had it. We also have "Old Greenie." THE couch that stayed with us even when we moved...when I was 20. Ugly? Oh yes. Comfortable? In that regard, she was the best couch ever. Also, you can just barely see the ugly curtains on the window above the couch...they matched the couch and the carpeting...and...

Writing Prompts: 1.) Write about a time you got in BIG trouble as a kid. 2.) Not your mother’s daughter…how do you parent differently than your mother did? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 3.) Photo Story: Share photos of your most recent trip to the beach (maybe an excuse to go!). 4.) Write a poem about starting over. 5.) Your top 10 Summer Don’ts. 3)  Photo Story: Share photos of your most recent trip to the beach (maybe an excuse to go!).

Again folks this isn't pretty: Writing Prompts: 1.) Write about a time you got in BIG trouble as a kid. 2.) Not your mother’s daughter…how do you parent differently than your mother did? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? 3.) Photo Story: Share photos of your most recent trip to the beach (maybe an excuse to go!). 4.) Write a poem about starting over. 5.) Your top 10 Summer Don’ts. Bonus Vlog Option! 6.) Most bloggers have an About Me page…create an About Me video that will give viewers a quick glimpse into who you are and what makes you tick. Consider adding it to your About Me page!

Well folks as promised I have the margaritas made...time to clean and enjoy them (sadly alone, but what else is  new).

Ok and by weekend I mean tomorrow: Why may you ask? 1) For the friends and things that make me laugh so hard my ribs hurt and I forget about the rest of the world for a moment or two: If Doug weren't techno-amish...I would almost believe he posted this himself 2) The fear of trying new things: My First Vlog And then the fear of trying them again...tomorrow... 3) The memories and upcoming anniversary that make me sad:  2 Sisters Recount Losing Their Mother in Tornado 4) The things that worry me and keep me awake at night 5) The things (yes things) that terrify me because they are totally out of my control. Whether it be the media: Way to be classy Toledo Blade..because we need a reason to hate you more or things in my personal life (which gets no picture(s)...nosy people ;-p). So for all the good, bad, crazy and otherwise "just me" things in my life...I think tequila is needed.  All are welcome to join :-).

Coming off of last weekend, I have some major conflicting feelings. I know some of this has to do with the one year anniversary of the accident looming on the horizon. I also know some of this has to do with my lack of sleep and I know I'm always a little more paranoid when  haven't slept.  However, this is bugging me enough I have to say it out loud. There are a few parts of my life that are making me nervous...in some cases (or one case really) scared. I think Michelle Branch says it best in her song "Goodbye to You": It hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time. I am facing several situations where I know exactly what I want. I may even think I deserve everything I want. However,  the final verdict isn't in my hands. All I can do is back off, wait and hope for nothing. Yes: Hope for nothing. Why? Because hoping for what I want makes it real. It takes a situation that will already suck if I don't get what I want and makes it wor...

Pick the one with the complimemtary happy hour

Today (well tomorrow...depending on when you read this.) I will be coming out of retirement of sorts. I will start taking pictures for "Belt it Out" (aka the contest formerly known as Indy I*o* until we got a cease and desist letter earlier this week...no I'm not kidding). I used to take all the contest pictures. Actually, I took pictures all the time. I loved it. I loved taking the pictures and all the editing that came with it. Then I just stopped. I'm not sure why, but it just didn't make me nearly has happy as it used to. In the last contest, I was  running the second computer, so pictures were sort of out of the question. This time around, pictures will all I will be doing each week. I think it will be fun for the contestants to see shots from each week on our Facebook page. I just hope I can get back on my A Game for this opportunity. I want it to be something I get joy from. I'm hoping that it will live up to that expectation. I want that cre...

I no longer have a land line phone. I ditched my land line when I moved to my current apartment. For a good year before that, I stopped answering that phone. I figured I never gave anyone that number and if by some chance someone still had it and wasn't calling my cell, they would leave a message. Basically, I was sick of these phone calls: Telemarketer: Hi are either of your parents there? Me: Um no.... Telemarketer: Do you know when they *will* be home. We have called several times now and they never seem to be around. Me: Um well they were were a couple weeks ago, but I have no idea when they will be back. Telemarketer: A couple weeks ago? Me: Yes. Telemarketer: Um okay.... Yes to quote the No Doubt song I have sang so many times on karaoke: It's all your fault, I screen my phone calls. This wasn't some stalker, but I was over the telemarketers. They called ALL the time.The only solace I could take in any of this, is that  I never really had to listen to th...

The things I worry about...not all these all the time (because holy geez that would need some therapy), but if something is bothering me it is typically one of these things: Have you ever wished most of the last year of your life never happened? Have you ever looked at your friends and wondered: How in the hell am I supposed to compete with that? Have you ever worried that the next phone call you get about your dad being the worst thing you could hear? Have you ever wondered if you are doing what is right for your family? Have you ever wondered when it is your turn to get what you want? Have you ever wished you knew how to take away someone's pain? Have you ever wondered if they would miss you if you were gone? Have you ever realized part of who *you* were is gone, and you can never get that part of you back? Have you ever missed the person you used to be? Have you ever been afraid to hope for what you want? Have you ever been afraid to follow your own heart? ...

  At 18 I really thought I had my whole life planned out. I was going to college. While at college, I was going to meet the man I was going to marry. We would graduate and get married. I would find a job writing for a local television station. He would get promoted and we would move to some fun city with an obscene cost of living. We would live either in a little apartment or find the perfect old house. I was going to be able to quit my job and write full time (books, blogs whatever) and make enough $ to do it full time. We were both going to be successful. It was going to be perfect. My priorities were clear. Almost 14 years later, this is very obviously not the case. Life happened. Choices were made. Some good things changed my path along with some very bad things. I went to college. I did not meet the man I was going to marry at school. Actually, I'm not married. I might not ever get married. In which case I already am well on my way to being the crazy bird lady:...

On May 21, I am attending Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio's Commencement. My mother was a student there, and she would have graduated this May. The college has decided to award her a posthumous degree. This is very kind, and we are honored they have decided to do this. Today I was trying to  figure out my plan for that day, when it occurred to me: What does one wear to accept a degree for their mother (who died nearly a year ago)? Well black doesn't seem fitting (and there goes half my wardrobe) It cannot be too short It cannot be to low cut (there goes most of the rest of my wardrobe). So what are my options? Very obviously this is not going to work: Maybe something like this, but not in Black? This had potential...until I noticed those were skulls not polka dots This has potential Then I was distracted by this (but....it is on sale!!) Okay...more like this? I just don't know...any suggestions?

Senior year of high school: If you were to go into the parking lot at my high school, you would find many nice new and nice used cars in the lot that various parents had bought for their children. About halfway back in the middle row, parked between 2 *much* nicer cars, you would find my eye sore: my 1986 Ford Escort (mind you I graduated in 1997).  She was gold with red "racing stripes." She was well rusted. In theory, she was fuel injected, but she wouldn't stay started unless you pumped the gas pedal and applied a little bit of pressure after starting her up. The heater: was a joke. I could start the car, make my brother scrape the windows (this actually made him so mad he *stopped* riding to school with me...but hey I was driving AND someone had to keep their foot on the gas pedal to keep the car running), and then make the 10-20 minute drive to the next town over (where my high school was located) and my heater would kick on about 2-5 minutes before we arrived ...

When I went away to college, one of the agreements I made with my parents was no piercings and no tattoos (BTW I am the only child that kept that promise...Adam got in a MAJOR fight with mom about it and had to take his piercing out though). It is only fitting that one of the last things Mom and I did together was go to get my cartilage pierced. I was home last Memorial Day weekend. Amy's car was dead. Adam's was in the shop. Both of them AND my mom were using the CRV. Adam took the CRV to work that Monday, and I had taken Amy to work (at Claires). I had been contemplating getting my cartilage re pierced ( I had it done once when I first moved to Indy, but I had taken it out and it healed quickly). My sister offered to do it for me and use her discount (remember: She works at Claires). I was going to early to pick her up from work and while I was there have her take care of my ear. Mom didn't have to go with me, but last minute she decided to come. We piled in to t...

Two weekends ago, I went out to our one Friday night karaoke show. I put in Liz Phair's Everything to Me, but when they called me to the mic, it was this song instead:                           (um yeah if you are easily offended...you might want to skip the video...the radio version is Less than Perfect by Pink) I told the guys I didn't know the song well enough to sing it (which was true), and they of course gave me crap for it. They made me promise to learn the song for the next weekend. I wasn't sure why they wanted me to learn it. Yeah, I sing Pink songs, and maybe they just wanted to hear me curse into the microphone. Then I actually listened to the words, and I suddenly had a revelation: this song was so me. I'm sure many of you can come up with various reasons of why the song is me. There are few that come to mind. Literally, if you look at the video there is that comparison. No, I never cut myself or shop ...

I spent 3 days hidden away in the west Chicago suburbs at the annual Midwest Region COMPASS conference.  There are many things I learned, and moments that I will not soon forget. Here are the highlights: Lesson learned: Being "work me" 24/7 for 2.5  days is really hard.  Again this year finding people to hang out with after hours (after my co-workers went to bed) was a challenge. I'm not saying this is the venue to get out and party, but when everyone goes to bed at 10 it is a little disconcerting. I'm relatively certain our ACT rep (Tim) looks forward to seeing what color my hair will be each time he sees me (it as been different each time in the past 5 years). The hotel is on the grounds of McDonalds corporate headquarters and "Hamburger University." The hotel used to be owned by McDonalds and used only for employees, but now it is owned by Hyatt. Still the Mcdonalds influence shows through out the hotel. They have classic pieces of art that have b...

I warn you now....this isn't pretty, but the best I could do on short notice. The Prompt:  Bonus Vlog Option! 6.) Tell us the story behind the title of your blog. What is it? What inspired it? What other options did you consider? Are you happy with it?

I arrived home last night in a good mood. The night hadn't been what I had expected, but I had a good time with my friends. All was good in the world, until shortly after I crawled into bed. This whole first Easter without mom hadn't bugged me one bit until that very moment. What set me off? A Damn Chocolate Bunny. Of all the things Easter represents, and all the memories I have of the holiday it was candy that I never ate that made me cry. Awesome. When I first moved to Indianapolis, we started doing Easter here. The family would come up Saturday and we would make dinner here on Sunday. Every year  mom would come bearing a Lindt Bunny. Every year that bunny would get put in a drawer and eventually thrown out. I like chocolate. I really do, but it is something I really try to cut out of my diet. Once mom got her own church the Easter visits stopped. However, the next time I saw mom there was always a Lindt Bunny waiting for me. Even last year, I didn't make it home un...