from the mixed-up files of a middle-aged mind

[From the archives: I just discovered about 5 years of posts that were lost in an incident over at my new and current wordpress site, compulsivewriter.com In the next few months I will archive some of my favorite ones here, just to be sure I don't lose them again]. In honor of b. who A). wrote a  fabulous post   about being real and dealing with addiction and 2). just now in an e-mail completely flattered me with a comment about not being able to be in withdrawal from both dp and my blog at the same time. As I said before, sometimes I wish we could just open our meetings or other public gatherings with our own “My name is…and I…” Just drop the pretenses and be real about who we are. Be open about our strengths and talents as well as our weaknesses. The truth of the matter is we all have our own coping and avoidance mechanisms, our own addictions if you will. Sometimes I get tired of trying to be better than I really am and I just want to be me. And I just want to be with ...

See you at compulsivewriter.com

Bad thing: the morning after tax day. Yesterday I got hit by the surprise fact that the lovely $1000 per child tax credit that’s been saving us the past few years stops at age 17, not age 18. Bad thing: Knowing I will have to take a loan out to pay the state of Utah while it sits high in pork heaven with a bazillion dollar surplus. And that I paid taxes on my taxes as well as on the morally reprehensible sales tax on food. Dear government leaders: How do you people sleep at night? Good thing: another day, another dollar. At least I’ve got a job. Bad thing: my day at work. period. Good thing: I stuck it out. I’m proud of myself because I did not start looking at help wanted ads during my break. Co-workers brought me notes and goodies and tried to make it a better day. And laughed at me when I turned my iPod up so loud they could identify the songs on my playlist. Bad thing: finding out the  high school  my kids attend went into lock down because of a bomb threat. Good thin...

Three things I learned at my first prom as the mom: 1). Boys are WAY easier to help get ready than girls . Seriously! I was out getting a pedicure and eating Café Rio with my in-laws while Melody was juggling her 14 yards of gorgeous brown tulle. It almost didn't seem fair. 2). Apparently, my son informed me (as I started to pull out Ottavio's coupons when I heard where he was taking his date), it's not kosher to use coupons at prom. 3). Although a dress would be completely beyond me, I am going to learn how to make my own darn corsage--thank you very much--before I watch another kid fork out $20 for one stinkin' (but lovely) gerber daisy. Not that his cute date wasn't worth it, but I would've made her an armload of gerber daisies for half that! ( p.s. Here's a shout out to Melody for earning both 3rd Place and an honorable mention in Segullah's annual poetry contest . And in case you were wondering, I'm not bailing on compulsivewriter.com, but unti...

The French have this wonderful capacity for understatement that is just delightful. And much more effective than the gross exaggeration (can you say “Super-Size?) that often runs rampant in America (guilty as charged!). Which is why this little explanation of last night’s episode at the Provo Library had me rolling on the floor: A gunshot broke the silence at Provo’s library and scared patrons Monday. The woman who fired the shot told those in the library she was having a bad day . Of course, that explains  it ! So, silver revolvers aside, what do you do when you have a bad day?

Well, tune in to Disney Princess: Part Deux over at my new digs . (And please update your links !)

Why don't cha hop on over to Sister Pottymouth's place and wish Julie a BIG H a P P Y B i R T H D a Y !!! (Friday, April 6)

Sure I've read each and every Harry Potter book and sat through each movie in the theater and on DVD. But today I finally caught on to the tiniest bit of clever word play. Ten years later! Diagon Alley. Diagonally. (Thanks Russell!) HaHaHaHaHa. I'm sorry but my blog muse is on vacation and small things amuse small minds. So are you as excited as I am for July 31? I will admit to being a fan and will probably stay up all night just to read it in one day. It's just a crazy little thing I have to do now and then when I'm in a mood. (Besides that, it really impresses small children.) Which is why I have not been able to put down this: "Have you ever been to the Déjà Vue before?" asked Madeleine... Jack: "I don't think so, but it does look sort of familiar." And one more reason to look forward to July 2007: the next Thursday Next novel. How I love to get myself lost in a good book! What about you: Harry Potter Y/N? What's on your nightstand?

G o o g l e me this ! And answer me this: Where do you do your best thinking ? ( Oh and this just in, my snake charmer friend .)