Did you see that crowd of people at the inauguration? Two million souls crammed together, shoulder to shoulder in the freezing cold? That’s how I’m feeling right now, seriously crowded by my life. I can’t seem to find enough space to stretch out and find some solitude. And my life isn’t even that stressful. I just can’t find enough time to do what I want or need to do. And that makes me feel like I’m tied to a chair. (This computer chair, come to think of it.)
But where were we before the Russian hackers so rudely hacked through my old edition of WordPress and took down the server?
Our newish van was hit by a car in a parking lot. My husband telephoned me to share this bit of news. Shockingly enough, the culprit left a note with his insurance information and that guy’s insurance is paying for the damage, including the use of a rental car.
You’ll recall that my husband has had a spate of bad luck–our passenger-side window of the same van was shattered in December while he drove in the snow. Then his debit card number was stolen. I told him he needs to just stay in he house where nothing bad can happen (ha ha) but he’s going to Texas, instead, to pick up a new-t0-us car. (Did I tell you the story of the red Cadillac? ) But that doesn’t happen until January 29, the day after my birthday.
Meanwhile, this weekend I am going on another scrapbooking retreat–hey, what do you know, I’ll get time to myself (driving through Seattle traffic!), but I am such a glass-half-empty girl that I am fretting to myself about whether I’ll be able to get the house in order before I go and dreading that I’ll come home to disarray and then I’ll have to immediately start working again and *weeps*. . . please stop me. I am going to scrapbook for the weekend! I am looking forward to it. I’ll be reliving 2005, which, as I recall, is the year we went to DisneyWorld, so that will be fun. (Though it would be more fun to just go to DisneyWorld.)
Oh! I saw “Gran Torino” over the weekend. I absolutely loved that movie. I kind of want to see it again. (Warning: lots of cursing–beware if you are very sensitive to language.) The only bummer was that a child of about four years old sat in front of me–this is definitely not a movie for children. Why do parents allow their children to see things that cannot be unseen? I am baffled.
What else? Nothing, I guess.
Actual Unretouched Photo 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so plagued by annoying seatmates in movie theaters as you seem to be, Mel. I totally agree with you on age-appropriate movies for kids, tho. Maybe it’s because I only go to movies about once every few years but I guess I’m blessed with people who are as intent in watching the show as I am, ha!
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Yes, I did miss you! Glad you’re back up.
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Hey! I just wished you a happy birthday on Facebook. So I’m a week early. Isn’t that better than totally forgetting? I’d like to think so.
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Of course I missed you. I return to blogging and *poof* Mel’s gone! I am reading an AMAZING book, Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger. It is well-deserving of a five-star rating in BookMark magazine, if you ask me. It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered writing that wonderful (well, except for your blog, Mel, hehe) I didn’t know you ever read books twice; it must be a good one. Will have to check into it.
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I saw Grand Torino also. Kids in that movie?
Are you kidding me?
Loved the movie!
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i need to read the road…
i love reading your thoughts in this blog…makes me feel like I am listening to you across a cup of coffee. woo hoo, mt hermon is coming up soon!!
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Ah, scrapbooking weekend. Have fun! I am gong to try with all my might to go to Texas again for a scrapbook weekend in June (like I did last year). No money to go, but I’m going to scrape up a plane ticket, if I have to sell my kids to do it. 🙂 Just kiddin’, sort of.
I understand feeling crowded by life. My work has almost completely gone away, so I’m going to have to look for work. In this economy. I feel like a deer in the headlights. All I want to do is go to a movie, but I can’t afford it.
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Yea, I missed you!
My son saw Grand Torino and has talked about it non-stop, told me every scene and even downloaded the best scenes so I could watch them online. But I still want to see it.
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I’ve heard so many good things about that movie! I’ve not really seen or done much, to be honest!
Steph
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I just finished Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder. Good book.
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