J.K.I.R.

Just Keepin' It Real. I think this phrase has reached its saturation point. It's the modern Bless Her Heart. Have you ever pulled this phrase out to cover an overshare, maybe the details of your child's bathroom habits or a piece of "information" about someone, such as "I know I shouldn't judge, but can you believe..."?

I find myself saying JKIR frequently. And if I use it as a conversational diversionary tactic, how real am I keepin' it, yo?    Bless My Heart.

What are your pet phrases?

P-Dub Redux

Acquaintances.

Friends.

BFF (with a book plug!)

I saw/meet/became BFF (for 1.75 minutes) with Ree Drummond, the self proclaimed Pioneer Woman at her book signing at the Borders store in Buckhead, GA.  I have followed her blog since seeing it linked on a friend's (hi Lara!) blog.  PW chronicles her life on her family's ranch and she's just my kind of weird.  Witty, authentic, talented, smart, fun, and just plain rad.

My friend Denise and I got down to the Borders at 4 p.m. to get our wristbands.  We were in the fifth group to be admitted to the line.  We made it down in plenty of time and were able to check out Filene's basement.  We tried on prom dresses and I actually bought an inexpensive navy mini-dress with tasteful faux bedding on the scoop neckline.  With strappy silver shoes, I looked pretty darn good, tummy bulge and all.  Almost smokin', if I may say so.  I admit it: I have a pretty healthy body image.  I couldn't handle any more insecurities!

We get back to the store and piddle around the cafe until P-Dub takes the mic to welcome the crowd.  Her husband, the Marbolo Man (MM) is there with their two sons, all clad in boots and cowboy hats.  The man truly must be heroic, because the flocks of slightly manic women wanting my signature and picture would spook me.  Plus, his wife (PW) is always extolling his Wranglers.  I would worry that some zealous fan would want to check him out a little too closely.  But PW must be more secure than I am, mini-dress and all.

Denise and I wait in the long line that snakes in and out of the humor, HTML, and photography aisles.  We exchange PW tidbits with the two ladies in front of us.  When we are about in the last aisle before our PW encounter, I notice that she has a fan pointed toward her.  I am in the throes of a dry cough/snotty nose/sweating moment and am trying to keep my composure after standing in line for two hours.  I mention to the ladies that PW has written about her sudden sweat spells when she gets very nervous, notably right before her wedding.  And PW hears me!  Kindred spirits, I tell you.

We make our way up to Ree, who is as gracious and lovely as her writing.  She comments on my kids' baby pictures, encourages Denise as she prepares to homeschool, signs her book and smiles for our picture.

On our way home, we even manage to find a La Madeleine in Sandy Springs, where I inhale a Chicken Friand with Mushroom Sauce.  A PW day from beginning to end.  Fashion, foibles, and food.

As Ree would say, The End and Amen,
M-Yo

Call Me A Snot, But...

1. I think statuary/yard art is tacky.

2.  I think cars belong in the garage.

3. And trash cans should be out of sight.

4.  I think tummies should stay covered.

5.  I think spending hundreds of dollars on a handbag is ridiculous.

6.  I think using one's phone during a meeting of any kind is rude.

7. I don't get monograms and stick figures on cars.  But that's just me.

8.  I can be judgemental.

9.  I'm female.

10.  I'm working on the judgemental part.

11. I'd never say this to anyone's face.

12.  Blogs are kinda passive-agressive.  And I can be, too.

13. But fun. And snarky.  (Me and the blog).  :)

The End.

Deeeep Thoughts...

With Melissa.

1.  I pulled out a college photo album to rob it of 4 x 6 photo pages to put in my coupon binder.  Yup.  I did it.  It's obnoxious. 

2.  Looking at those pictures of me at about age 19 to 20, I cannot believe what a kid I was just a few years ago.  Didn't have a clue.  Or a care.  I wonder what I'll think of myself now when I'm 40?  Shudder. 

3.  Those pictures I pulled out were so precious to me back then and moreso, the people in the pictures.  Most I will never see in person again; a few I exchange emails with, even fewer I pick up the phone to call.  The passage of time never ceases to baffle me.

3. Today, I managed to throw out two passive-agressive judgements on two perfectly nice women without even realizing it.  One on a lady who has her own natural children and it providing foster care for others.  One is getting pets with small children in the home.  Anything wrong with that? No. Not at all.  Yet, I somehow manage to slide in some off-handed comment that implies "You must be crazy to do what you are doing because I never would/could do that."  I am realizing that I do that a lot in an effort to make conversation or an attempt at humor.  Different is different, not better or worse.  When someone does something that I think is out of the norm (all the parenting/schooling/family size debates), that does not mean they are wrong.  Why do I/we do this?  I guess it's insecurity.  Mea culpa.  My bad.

Now I'm going to look in my mirror and say my daily affirmations.  Say it with me, y'all. 

"I'm good enough.  I'm smart enough.  And doggone it, people like me!"

Now,  don't we all feel better?

(Really, I like me.  And you.  Hugs, not drugs!)

I just made myself laugh.

Two views on Fort Hood

Cal Thomas on the Fort Hood Shooter in today's article "E. Pluribus Diversity":
"Why do so many Americans seem ashamed and apologetic about America? Holding the view that America is unexceptional and that no idea, policy, belief, or practice is to be preferrred over any other is not diversity. Rather, it is thin gruel; unappealing and unappetizing, and it robs us of our strength."
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/11/12/article/cal_thomas_e_pluribus_diversity
Eugene Robinson in the Washingston Post "Failing Our Troops at Fort Hood"
A view from the other side the political spectrum.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110902601.html

Both writers are right on in my view. Common sense should prevail.

What do you think?

Correction

Smokey Robinson works the crowd with "Bein' With You", not Lionel Richie. This occurred to me as I drove to tutor this morning. Glad we got that straightened out!

Random Thoughts...

1. A lot of cars in middle Georgia have window decal monograms. Linens, I understand. Hangbags, jewelry, but cars?

2. There was a 50-year-old man waiting to have a pedicure at the nail shop I stopped in for a eyebrow wax. This was not a 'metrosexual'. This was a jeans-and-sneakers, gray-haired, good ol' boy. The times, they are a-changin'.