Redemption! Is Mine. Sort Of.

Take THIS, every plant I ever (almost) killed in my lifetime either intentionally* or accidentally:

That’s right. I! grew those.

Of course they are, technically, “wild flowers,” and so by “grew” I mostly mean “I planted them and then completely forgot about them.” But, still. A girl has to take full credit where she can get it.

And look! Look how they are still big with the being alive! and growing! and only dying of natural end of the season causes!

Behold, the easiest flower to keep alive:

One that is painted. On cement.

* Always accidentally. The “intentionally” is just (ground) cover. My green thumb pride, it runs generations deep. My mother and grandmother have always been good at The Growing. And no doubt my great great great grandmothers all the way back to Ireland, England and Poland have boasted luscious gardens that were the talk of their cobblestone neighborhoods. Gardens so lush and green and full to the brim with foliage of all shapes and sizes that small children feared to tread them, they all having been told stories of how little Pavel never returned from a trip to Muriel’s garden when he was just a wee lad.

Where Am I Going, Where Have I Been?

This week I have been:

Writing, editing, and organizing grant proposals, and preparing gargantuan-sized grant budgets feverishly, to meet deadlines both old and new.

Snuggling with my pug and enjoying any downtime I have been able to muster.

Writing! I’m so excited about three different stories I have in the works, and thanks to a recent prompt by Danny, I’ve been sitting down daily to translate my excitement into actual words on a page. (Not unlike snakes on a plane. Only → Read more...

Stand In The Place Where You Live

This post inspired by my friend and partner in movie quote crime, Home Sweet Sarah.

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Some of the most memorable places I have stood, in no particular order:

On The Great Wall of China. Next to my sister as she took her wedding vows. In front of the Kremlin in Moscow. Next to my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Priest Lake. Specifically, my family’s Priest Lake dock spot. On Mt. Seorak, South Korea. Poolside for countless summers with friends, and cousins, and awesome(ly ridiculous) bikinis. At the base → Read more...

“I once saw him beat a guy up with a starfish.” “That’s ridiculous.”

Full disclosure: I initially considered titling this post !!!!!!!!! but Wordpress started laughing at me, and threatened to throw spam.

At this point to say I cannot contain my already typically excessive exclaiming is to understate. HOW am I going to refrain from blurting out, “Hawaii! I’m going there!” from now until I leave at the beginning of September? Better yet, Maui! + getting to see my sister in TWO WEEKS = how am I going to sleep tonight? And the → Read more...

Not A Kid’s Movie Review: Pan’s Labyrinth

Originally aired: January 19, 2007. Watched by Kerri Anne: August 1, 2010. Courtesy of: Netflix Instant Watch. Because: a) I was in the mood for a lighthearted, kid-centric story; b) Netflix told me I would four stars enjoy it and saw fit to leave out crucial somber-tone-revealing plot points in their synopsis; c) Netflix is a lying liar face; d) ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Starring: A slew of great Spanish actors you’ve probably never heard of, most notably Ivana Baquero and Maribel Verdú. Protagonist’s → Read more...