The View From Kalamazoo

Is it too much to ask to just, please, have my body back? You know, the one from Jan.? Before I was With, then Not With? I’m trying on clothes for Congress and I’m still not able to get into far too many pairs of trousers, and I’m really frustrated.

The remains of remains:

2,000-year-old murder victim found

Hungarian Mummies on display

Remains linked to famous medieval painter

Azerbaijan: Famous Medieval Cemetery Vanishes (this source has photos!)

More remains:

Young archaeologist spent £32,000 to unearth medieval village

Ancient seaside villa found near Rome

Archaeologists find 10,000 years of history at Lowcountry site

Archaeologists make unique findings in Prague centre

It remains to be seen..:

Manuscripts open new vistas of medieval India

Medieval trans-Sahara mineral trade mapped

Researchers trawl the origins of sea fishing in Northern Europe

Wonderful co-workers have been kind and supportive through all of the stuff the past two weeks. Most Awesome Boss Evar bought me flowers (yellow tulips, and tiger lillies, and snapdragons. I love snapdragons.) and there have been cards and generous meal-help and pick-me-ups to remind me that people are thinking about me and care. Knowing they were concerned for me, first, and everything else, second, made all the difference, you know? I still came back to work after the procedure as soon as the doc. would allow – too much to do, just too much. It’s not the best time of year to try and take care of myself.

Paper is not what I wanted it to be when I sat and thought about it and came up with a title last Sept., but it’ll be done. Between the Director-leaving schtuff (and meetings and meetings and meetings), and miscarriage, and my stomach flu (oh yes, it gets better – had to go the ER for an IV, even.) I have little energy and time and brain-power for it. Good friends have offered to read through it, rough as it is right now…I’m grateful for these kindnesses as well.

This weekend I try on my closet and see what bits I can wear and what bits will have to wait until my body fully reverts back to its old self. And catch up on laundry, grocery-get, and the million other things that need be done before I dissappear for 4.5 days. (my lawn needs mowed. I ain’t doin’ it, not ’til May 8 – my neighbor trying to sell his house may come after me before then, tho…a reel-style manual mower + cramping = suckage, I figure, so even if I did have time I’d likely not have the inclination) And as feedback comes in, edit, edit, edit. And translate. And PVP (hey, it’s cheap therapy. My lvl 60 mage has made master sergeant. For the Alliance!)

Had intended to do some serious blogging pre-session…might, yet. Been some ideas I’ve wanted to get back to for some time..I’m behind the pack by miles, but I’ll weigh in eventually…been so wiped out that stringing thoughts together to form simple sentences has been about all I can manage.

And I have songs from Philadelphia Chickens stuck in my head. Only the parents reading this understand…like Snuggle Puppy (sung by Eric Stoltz, for you playing along at home): OOooooh, snuggle puppy of mine…everything about you is especially fine. I love what you are, I love what you do….

via ADM and New Kid

Accent: midwestern – standard National News Anchor

Booze: yep. thank you, may I have another?

Chore I Hate: dishes. I’ll take toilets over dishes. No, I have no explanation.

Dog or Cat: Cats.

Essential Electronics:

Computer. Hell yes.

Favorite Cologne(s): I muck around with BPAL, seems to annoy my allergies less. We loves the precious.

Gold or Silver: I like silver, gold looks better on. I own both.

Hometown: The Detroit area. I’m here now, tho.

Insomnia: Here and there.

Job Title: Congress Coordinator. And Chief Minion.

Kids: Emma, 9, and Colin, 3

Living arrangements: Squatty cape cod, much attention required post-Congress. We’re here one year at the end of June.

Most admirable trait: Dunno.

Number of sexual partners: Pardon moi?

Overnight hospital stays: 3 for me (one for surgery, twice for baby-havin’), 3 for me as Mom-in-room with the kids. Emma twice, Colin once.

Phobias: Not much of note.

Quote: This time of year there is no quote that does not contain impolite language. Fill in your favorite.

Religion: Pagan. Unapologetic. Sue me.

Siblings: Sister, younger.

Time I wake up: Never early enough. No rest for the wicked.

Unusual talent or skill: Nothing unusual. I throw pottery, I carve Celtic knotwork onto clay tiles. Oh, I know – I can read astrological charts. That’s marketable, eh?

Vegetable I refuse to eat: Okra. Sliiiimy. Ugh.

Worst habit: I fret. Unceasingly. And I cuss too much.

X-rays: teeth, chest, ankle, mammogram (uugh)…MRIs, CAT scans, imaging testing for reflux, gall bladder…yippee.

Yummy foods I make: pierogi, (mild, kid-friendly) chili, goulash (Brian‘s favorite), bourbon fudge 

Zodiac sign: Cancer in western, Dog in Chinese.

Blogger meet-up scheduled – info at Dr. V‘s place.

The Classics Professor: Create Your Own Erotic Fantasy

I have no words.

I do, however, have a disturbing image of a leather-clad dominatrix in place of Cleese’s Roman soldier in the Life of Brian Latin lesson skit…and that’s just wrong.

Since most of you read it here first, it seems appropriate I should give the necessary update here..and now, as Congress is soon here and I hope to avoid awkwardness, and sadness, and difficult conversations when I see so many online friends and compatriots.

I have lost the pregnancy. I am OK. I hope to be my chipper self in two weeks (and yes, my paper has suffered for the distraction). I may be a little unsteady if I have to talk about my physical and emotional realities, but you’re welcome to lie to me and tell me the paper was super. (I’m not delicate, but a combination of over-tiredness and over-stressed-ness may leave me with few reserves for difficult topics.)

Looking forward to seeing as many as can make the blogger meet-up … and at the session, of course. I’ll be smiling, I promise.

Diggers unearth a tantalising glimpse of town’s medieval past

Archaeologists uncover bones: Human remains have been found during an archaeology dig in Barnard Castle.

Hungary, Catalonia to hold joint exhibit on medieval links

I’ve spent the lion’s share of the day fighting with my paper. I can’t, by any stretch, boast victory. I admit I’m rusty – it’s either rust or bloodshed and tears all over my translation, right?

Clearly I’m not workin’ it – maybe I should make a career move. I knew that level 60 mage would get me places!

And I burnt my pierogis.

A 40 Meme, as seen at Dr. Crazy’s and a bunch of other places…

1) Who is the last person you high-fived?

Either Emma or Colin.

2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive?

Doubt it, I’m insufferably non-athletic, no aim, no useful skills whatsoever, actually.

3) Do you sleep with the TV on?

Only if I fall asleep after rocking Colin to sleep on one of his manic late-night marathons.

4) Have you ever drunk milk straight out of the carton?

Who hasn’t?

5) Have you ever won a spelling bee?

Yes, but not in a very long time.

6) Have you ever been stung by a bee?

Lots of times – I swear as a kid I was a bee magnet. Wierdest place: belly button.

7) How fast can you type?

I dunno…seriously. Faster than slow-to-middlin, slower than Brian.

8) Are you afraid of the dark?

Dark itself? No. Things that might jump out at me in the dark? That’s another story…

9) What color are your eyes?

Green. Olive green, to be exact.

10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in?

My drive-in days were jammies-and-snacks. So, nope.

11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?

The last time I had the luxury of time for a bath…and I can’t remember.

12) Do you knock on wood?

Nope.

13) Do you floss daily?

Er….uh…

15) Can you hula hoop?

I assume so, I could last time I tried, that is.

16) Are you good at keeping secrets?

Depends. That sounds awful, doesn’t it?

17) What do you want for Christmas?

A Hippopotamus. LOL. Know anyone who wants to pay off my mortgage?

18) Do you know the Muffin Man?

The one that lives on Drury lane?

19) Do you talk in your sleep?

Rarely. Snore, now, that’s a different story…my sinuses are unhappy sinuses.

20) Who wrote the book of love?

Someone who needed an editor.

21) Have you ever flown a kite?

Yes.

22) Do you wish on your fallen lashes?

No.

23) Do you consider yourself successful?

No.

24) How many people are on your contact list of your cell?

36, but that includes family home numbers plus cell numbers, co-workers cells, school, babysitter, doctors…don’t assume I have a social life or anything.

25) Have you ever asked for a pony?

No. Can I have a day-spa GC instead?

26) Plans for tomorrow?

Retrieve children from parents, and continue work on the &%@#!! paper I never should have agreed to write when I know I haven’t the time to write it, thankyouverymuch.

27) Can you juggle?

Objects? No. A hundred crappy tasks at once? Yes, I do work full-time coordinating a conference and supporting an academic unit, why do you ask…

28) Missing someone now?

Does my sanity count as ‘someone’?

29) When was the last time you told someone I Love You?

About an hour ago, on the phone with Emma (after Colin hit her with a toy)…

30) And truly meant it?

Duh, yeah.

31) How often do you drink?

Right now? Not at all. Oh, but how I wish…

32) How are you feeling today?

Frustrated, frustrated, cold, and frustrated. (I hate that always-cold pregnant thing..)

33) What do you say too much?

Ask my co-workers, their answers would be far more colorful than what I’d admit to myself…

34) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school?

Nope.

35) What are you looking forward to?


May 8.

36) Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yes. Mom forgot her key when we went to the grocery store when I was like..5. She put me through the kitchen window so I could unlock the back door..the drop from teh sink to the floor seemed like miles. I’m still not particularly fond of heights..

37) Have you ever eaten dog food?

No, unless you count eating people food that was later saved for dogscraps.

38) Can you handle the truth?

What is this ‘truth’ of which you speak?

39) Do you like green eggs and ham?

I do not like them, Sam I Am.

40) Any cool scars?

A handful of scars, none of them, IMO, cool. One of those in the belly button, too – poor belly button.

(note: there was no #14 – feel free to ask the question yourself and I’ll answer!)