Thoughts on Aging

Another year has gone by again, but I refuse to mope about my age. In fact, from now on, I will be choosing to embrace it. After all, I can’t stop the clock from ticking. OK, so a vampire could bite me and grant me immortality instantly, but I’m not counting on it. How many Edward Cullens could there possibly be out there? HA!

So, here I am at 37. I’m not gonna panic at that next decade marker, which is swiftly approaching. I am not afraid of you, big “4-0.” You don’t scare me any more. You are just a number after all.

“Don’t be afraid of death. Be afraid of the unlived life. You don’t have to live forever. You just have to live.” ~from Tuck Everlasting~

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

Sure is hard to believe, but we are already in the 2nd week of 2011. I’m in denial I guess because I’m still wanting to recap 2010 one more time, and so in line with Julie Andrews, I made a list of my favorite things…

FAVORITE GOD-STORY: My home invasion: GOD kept me safe and provided for my needs!

FAVORITE NEW FRIENDS: My Chancel choir friends

FAVORITE SPECIAL EVENT: Janet (my niece) and Chris’s wedding day

FAVORITE MOMENT: Being there to experience Becky’s sheer delight at meeting Jars of Clay (and Brandon Heath) in person

FAVORITE ALBUM: Mercy Me’s The Generous Mr. Lovewell

FAVORITE MOVIE: on TV Masterpiece Theatre’s Emma + in theatres The A-Team (hey, I love it when a plan comes together!)

FAVORITE NEW TOY: My DROID phone (aka home to my “Angry Birds” game)

FAVORITE ADVENTURE: Rediscovering Dawes Arboretum on my own one sunny Friday 

FAVORITE BIG NEWS: Learning that my parents were ready to go with me to Europe in 2011 - WOOHOO!!

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! !

10 days ago, I was privileged to be a bridesmaid in my niece Janet’s wedding. It was an amazing day! Congratulations to Chris and Janet!! I love you guys!

Happy Fourth of July!

"Yesterday the greatest question was decided...and a greater question perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."
~John Adams, Letter to his wife Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776~

We're a hodgepodge of people thrown together as one nation.

We each have our own story, our personal background of how we ended up here on these shores.

We don't agree on religion, politics or creed.

We argue over immigration, socio-economics and health care reform.

We all seem so very different from one another.

And yet, we are connected, drawn into an amazing unity or red, white and blue. Not just today but every day. Celebrate!

Ode to Mountain Dew

I tried to give you up.
I walked away from us for more than a year.
I said my goodbyes.
I thought we were through.

But then, you found me again,
Reminded me of better days, younger years.
You reached out.

And you had me at the first carbonated sip.
Your citrus goodness soothed my troubled soul.
You quenched my thirst like nothing else.

You bring out the best in me.
You fill me with sparkle, energy and zing.
Yes, you complete me.

You make me a better woman.
I am yours.

Wake Up

You know how some days you just wake up, and you feel happy. I mean instantly. You just roll out of bed, stretch a wee bit and start to giggle. OK, maybe you don’t (or maybe I should scratch that giggle part or at least not admit to it anyway), but I just love it when I wake up in joy. Don’t know if I was in the midst of an amazing dream or if GOD was whispering in my ear of HIS love or what, but when I open my eyes, the world looks brighter than the day before. Incredible.

Of course, since I am a split personality (half idealist, half cynic) my cynical side often kicks in and wants to know when the sky is going to fall, but the idealist in me revels in the moment anyway. Savor it, baby!

Today is one of those days. I don’t have anything special planned. No big date. No major excursions. And yet, I feel blissfully happy without an explanation. Delicious. Delightful.

Thank you, LORD!

I Wanted to Die**

These are the words my Mom said while sharing a story about her eldest daughter, yours truly. Not exactly what every child wants to hear their Mother say about them. OK, so it was in relation to my birth story, but still, I wasn’t quite prepared for the resulting conversation.

Yesterday was my birthday, and my parents called to wish me a happy 3_th birthday. OK, why hide it? I turned 36. (BIG SIGH!) Anyway...

“Melanie, I remember that day so like it was yesterday.”

“Really because I don’t remember it at all. It’s pretty fuzzy for me.” We chuckle, and then I just had to go on and ask that question that will now haunt me: “So how many hours of labor did you have with me?” I had forgotten and was curious.

Silly me. I thought she was going to have to mull it over or run and look it up in my baby book, but no she quickly sputtered out: “22 hours, and it was awful! I wanted to die. No, I really did. I told the nurses that more than once.”

“WOW, Mom! I’m not sure what to say now.”

“Well, it was horrible…” (She went into far greater detail here than I wanted to hear, and so I’ll spare you those horrific details. After all, I got chills just hearing about it. GULP!) “But then once you arrived, I quickly put those thoughts behind me. Mothers can do that, you know.”

MENTAL NOTE: I think you need to re-read this blog or call Mom more often to have this conversation every time you are bemoaning your lack of a family of your own. Childbirth is scary! OK, I know that Moms say it is totally worth it, but YIKES -- 22hours of intense labor! REALLY? Come on.

**I meant to post this weeks ago (since my birthday was February 23), but I just found the draft, and so I am posting it now.

The Writer In Me

Sometimes I think I am afraid to speak (aka blog) unless I have something brilliant to share, something insightful to relate, something deeply compelling or amazingly profound to discuss. HA! As if, I’m afraid I will scare away all 10 of my readers if I don’t give them something gripping, but my life isn’t that kind of novel. There have been some amazing chapters, and I optimistically think there are more ahead.

REAL LIFE isn’t always breathtakingly beautiful, whimsically interesting or overwhelmingly exciting. Those moments exist, but life is also lived out in the mundane: the silly happenings, trips to the grocery store, filling up the gas tank, going to work 40+ hours a week, watching too much TV, happily snapping photos of objects in my apartment with my new camera, jamming with my i-Turtle, etc. It’s good. It’s interesting to me. It’s just not always like a Friends episode. My story is my own.

I have a magnet on my fridge with one of my favorite quotes of all time:

“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” — Souza

Isn't that amazing? I love it. I think I'm going to blog more or make an effort to recount the journey. Maybe my life won't be a page-turner every "episode," but I embrace it all the same, and I'm grateful for each moment.

Pre-Valentine's Day Party

I’m having several girlfriends over tonight for a pre-Valentine’s Day party, and I’m excited. I love playing hostess. I really do. I enjoy opening my home to friends and family. I just wish I had more space. But all in good time, and hey, I think I’m finally learning to relax a bit more about it and just enjoy the evening. You know, be less a Martha and more a Mary...

CLEAN: I still cleaned, but I opted not to over-do it. In other words, don’t look behind the couch or under furniture because you just might find a dust bunny or two.

FOOD: I prepared some food items ahead of time, but I tried to keep it all low-key. I cut up vegetables and fruit, but I didn’t go all Martha Stewart and create flower strawberries or anything like that. I forgot to look for chocolate wine at the store this week, which kinda bums me out, but it’s all good. We'll have other drink options.

FLOWERS: I bought flowers for my table because gosh-darn-it, I wanted flowers for Valentine’s Day even if I had to buy them for myself. Don't judge me! It was so worth it. I opted for a non-traditional V-Day bouquet with orange and white flowers, and I love it. It’s totally me, maybe more spring or fallish rather than V-Day, but it makes me happy.

PLANS: I'm not over-planning every second. I'm winging it. No really, I am. We are making homemade pizzas with all the toppings and having some other goodies to go along with it, and that's all I've got planned. I'm sure there will be lots of conversation and laughs, a debate over which movie to watch, and hopefully a picture or two to capture the memory, but this detail-girl is attempting to keep it simple.

Go, Mel! You can do it.

Happy 68th, Mom!

Today is my Mom’s 68th birthday, and I just can’t let the day pass without stating for the record just how amazing she is.

My Mom is loving. She gives the best hugs, and you just don’t want to let go. She loves keeping in touch with people with phone calls and especially her well-written letters. I treasure her hand-written letters.

My Mom is warm, probably the warmest person I have ever encountered. She doesn’t know a stranger and can make conversation with just about anyone at any time. I love that about her. She is able to reach out to others and draw them in.

My Mom is brave. When she met my Dad 37+ years ago, she chose to date him even after discovering he was a widower with 3 young sons. WOW! That sure was gutsy! I’m not sure I would have been that brave under similar circumstances. But I’m glad she went on more dates and eventually married him, or my sister and I would not exist. It was not always easy raising 5 children, but she managed beautifully.

My Mom is compassionate. She tries to put herself in the other person’s shoes and does not jump in and take a side. As a child and teenager, I did not always appreciate her knack for seeing the other person’s side of an issue or topic, but as almost always, Mom was right. It was the best way.

My Mom is kind. You won’t hear my Mom say a mean thing about or to anyone. She prefers to think the best of people and would prefer not to hear gossip.

My Mom is positive. She is always energetically upbeat about life and able to see a glimmer of hope along the horizon.

My Mom has an incredible sense of humor. She is always able to laugh at her self and see humor even under some of the worst circumstances. Her laugh is real and is easy to pick out in a crowd. I love her laugh.

My Mom is frugal. She has always been able to stretch a dollar farther than I ever thought possible, and as an adult, I have grown to appreciate her skills even more. I love how she likes to get creative with leftovers and reinvent meals.

My Mom is a hard worker. She started a home day care and took on piano students to help pay for her children’s education, and even now, though she is “retired,” she still teaches piano and is rarely idle for more than 5 minutes a year.

My Mom is organized. She plans out monthly menus and shops well in advance. She also never forgets a birthday or an anniversary.

My Mom is hospitable. She and my Dad often host people in their home. She is a perfect hostess and strives to meet each guest’s needs.

My Mom loves GOD and points others to HIM. She is not afraid to share her faith and introduce others to her SAVIOR. She truly has a servant’s heart and attempts to make her Christian walk and talk match.

I realize that my Mom is not perfect, and she would blush to read all of this, I know she would. But I think she is amazing, and I’ve only scratched the surface. I am so grateful that I get to call her my Mom.

I love you, Mom! Enjoy your day and have some cake and ice cream for me!

Proverbs 31:28a “Her children rise up and call her blessed…”

Christmas 2009: That's A Wrap (Take 2)

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFTS: OK, maybe I'm not supposed to have a favorite gift or two, or maybe I am supposed to keep quiet about any favorites, but I just can't help it. ALL of the gifts I received this year were amazing, and I appreciated each and every one, but there were a couple that really made my day...

1. I-Turtle: I LOVE my melancholy bee-bopping pet. My nephew Jacob saw him and said that Aunt Mel just had to have one, and so now I do. (There is a long story behind how I came to like turtles and ended up with several decorative turtles and even a stuffed animal, but that is for another day.) Anyway, isn't he adorable?

The I-Turtle is great company when he gets enough tunes to groove to, but we’ve got to work on his moodiness. He gets pathetically sad or tragically ill when he doesn’t get fed (i.e. there is no music playing). Yes, his food (music playing near him) is rather cheap, which works great for a girl on a budget, but I'm not always here to "feed" his need. He also doesn’t like his tail being touched at all, and he lets you know it.

He loves music, but he can be finicky at times. He was sure head-banging to the new Switchfoot CD last night, but he wasn't quite as enthused with an older Michael Buble tune, which made me laugh. Not sure what that says about his musical tastes really. I'm not going to judge him. He's young. And my music collection is pretty eclectic. Hopefully after repeated exposure, he will adapt and come to appreciate more musical stylings. I want him to be a culturally well-rounded I-Turtle after all. What parent doesn't want that, right?

He indicates his mood or delight in the music by his behavior: head bobbing, foot tapping, tail wagging, buzzing noises and his shell raising up and down. He also indicates his mood through the color displays on his shell. Different color sequences indicate his present mood, and there is even a small handbook that explains what the various color sequences mean. Talk about a complicated little pet. He’s adorable and all, but now I have some serious pet training to conduct as well as more research. Hee hee!

Actually, he has been good company for me this week and has kept me rather amused. OK, so he technically prefers to hang out with electronic devices like my stereo or MP3 player rather than cuddle or play tug-a-rope. BUT he does communicate how he is feeling, and everyone knows that communication is key in a new relationship, and so I think this could work long-term, provided I have batteries on hand. But first things first. It is time this turtle had a name. What does one name a pet I-Turtle? Any suggestions? I'm stumped.

2. New T-shirt: My sister and her family got me a new t-shirt that I love. It makes me laugh every time I see it in my closet or wear it. It says: Does this shirt make me look tall? Isn't that great? You know, I feel taller when I have it on. Ironic! I'm posting a picture with me wearing the shirt. You probably can't see the added height in this snapshot since I was sitting down, but I'm guessing you all can sense my tallness...

Christmas 2009: That's A Wrap (Take 1)

Last night, I finally took out Christmas. Hmmmm -- let me rephrase that. Last night, I dismantled the Christmas tree and took down all the holiday décor in my place. It was time. It is nice to have my space back to normal again, but it kinda makes me sad to see another Christmas season come and go so quickly. So...I'm going to reminisce and chat about the highlights of this past season.

FAVORITE NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION: Icing and decorating a ready-made gingerbread house with Grace and Jacob (niece and nephew) and their Grandma (my brother-in-law's Mom). The kids and Grandma did most of the hard work, while I supervised and took pictures. HA! I think it turned out beautifully.

Can you tell which side was decorated by Jacob and which by Grace? Incredibly gifted children, I think. OK, so I might be a tiny bit biased since I am their Aunt Mel, but still, it is amazing handiwork for young children (ages 4 and 7). And I think it is quite evident where they get some of that creativity. Their Grandma showed her creative flair with the icing. We couldn't have done it without her. Thanks, Myrna!

FAVORITE SILLY MEMORY: Thorn, my sister’s beloved lab mix, discovered his gift from Aunt Mel without any prompting or hints. When I arrived at my sister's house 2 days before Christmas, I unloaded my stash for the family under their tree, and then I got busy playing with the kids, helping out in the kitchen, etc. After the kids went to bed, we (the adults) discovered Thorn in the living room sniffing his gift bag. He had found it on his own while snooping under the tree. He sniffed it for a while and then sat down right in front of the bag with his paws stretched out towards the bag, and he whined and drooled the entire time.

I begged Jonathan to let him open his gift up early, but he was steadfastly firm and unyielding, and so Thorn had to wait until Christmas Eve for his gift. SIGH! Thorn, Aunt Mel would have caved, you know I would have, but your "Dad" said no. Sorry, buddy!

When we did rip open the package* the next night, Thorn gobbled up one of his new rawhide snacks, and he kept taunting me with it. He wanted me to chase him and try to take his snack away. It’s a game Thorn and I play pretty often. I think I enjoy it nearly as much as he does (not the snack but the game). AHEM! And he (scratch that – WE) sure loved playing with his new rope and ball toy, too. I love that dog. He’s definitely a big part of the family.

So once again, I’ve been contemplating the pros and cons of having a a dog of my own, but I just don’t have the space in my little apartment for a dog right now. And I prefer large dogs. No Paris Hilton purse dog for me, thanks! So for now, I'll continue to get by with loving on other people's dogs. HA!

*AHEM! I know that it may seem odd that I reused a Bath & Body Works bag as Thorn's gift bag, but I just didn't think he would mind, and I was basically doing my part for the environment by recycling. And I clearly wrote his name on the package with a Sharpie and signed it Love, Aunt Mel. So there was no confusion on Thorn's part as to who the gift was for. He really is a smart dog! Hee hee!

2009 Update: Wrapping Up Another Year

NEWSLETTER: For those inquiring minds who want to know if I chose to do my Christmas newsletter (aka “Mel’s Monologue”) this season or not, I am pleased to report that I did write it up. I haven’t gotten around to mailing or emailing it out completely to the gang. So, if you haven’t received it yet, don’t panic. I’m sure YOU made the cut.

NEW DIGS: I moved into my new office last week, and I am nearly all settled in. I need to get my pictures re-hung on the walls, but other than that, I am pretty much set to go. I can see daylight. WOOHOO! And I was excited to discover that I have a white board in my office. I don’t know why that thrilled me, but it did. It's the little things in life, you know...

In other office news, there is a rumor that my office might be relocated to another area in the near future. Hmmmm??? Oh well, I am staying positive! I’m sure it will all work out for the best.

KEEPING YOUNG: For the past 5 years, I have worked with the high school co-op students who work part-time through the school year in the legal department. Today was my last day in my old job, and so it was time to say my goodbyes. I’m going to miss a lot of the faces in legal, and among those cheerful souls, I am really going to miss our two co-ops, Hallie and Nikia. They keep me young and make me laugh. Although after today, I learned that I am a comic source to them as well. They were trying to fill me in on texting acronyms because, quite frankly, I think there should be a textbook (HA! Get it? TEXTbook!) with instructions on using im acronyms and texting. They were asking me if I knew what a couple of the acronyms meant, but I failed miserably. I am rather hopelessly unhip.

ikr = i know right (my guess = i concur)
Hmmmmm….someone has been working with lawyers for too long!

smh = shaking my head (my guess = save my hat)
No clue! It kinda makes you want to shake your head, doesn't it? HA! Not sure why I have a sudden concern for hats since I don’t wear hats, but it was the first thing that came to mind.

The “girls” thought it was pretty hilarious! I live to amuse, you know. Hee hee!

CELEBRATION: I've had several holiday parties to go to, and I have enjoyed them all. Last weekend, I went to a Sara Groves' Christmas concert with 3 girlfriends, and it was just amazing! I came away respecting Sara and her music even more.

On Christmas Eve, I will be heading up to Kokomo for the weekend to celebrate the holidays with my sister and her family. I'm looking forward to playing games with Jacob, doing another "cooking show" with Grace, coloring with Harrison, playing with Thorn and his new rope (OOPS! Please don't tell Thorn what he is getting for Christmas! It will spoil the surprise.), catching up with my sister and her husband, watching some movies, and just enjoying being together.

I am planning to join my sister and her family on their trek North to my parents in Michigan over New Years, and so more fun and family time is ahead next week.

It's been a crazy year, full of ups and downs, but GOD has been faithful through it all. I'm looking forward to what HE has in store next...

I wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas season and a joyous New Year!

5 Years of Blogging

This week I am celebrating 5 years of blogging. WOOHOO!!! What a ride it has been! Thanks for coming along!

I LOVE HALLOWEEN!

I really do. I have been nuts about Halloween for years, long before it got such a bad rap. When I was a kid, Halloween was just a day of good wholesome fun in small town America. It was an awesome holiday! It meant lots of treats, and what kid wouldn’t like that?

I don’t remember ever getting store-bought costumes, but we didn’t care. With Mom’s help, my sister and I came up with some creative homemade designs that way. I’m not always sure others could identify who we were supposed to be (see 1979 photo), but we were having fun regardless. I do recall that there was one particular red princess dress that often was fought over. What girl doesn’t like to be a princess, right? I wonder if we have any photos of that red dress. Hmmmmm???

Sometimes we would get to wear our costumes to school. It was fun to see everyone else’s costume, and typically, there was a Halloween party in class, too. We’d share treats, play festive games and color fall pictures.

On Halloween night in Michigan, the weather was usually pretty cold, but we would layer clothes under our costumes, and when necessary (as in when Mom said), we would wear our winter coats over top. My Mom would walk with us all over town. We’d cover several blocks on foot, and then she would drive us over to some other neighborhoods or to friends’ houses so that they could see our costumes. We had several required stops we had to make like Aunt Jackie and Uncle Neal’s house, Mrs. Jenkin’s trailer, Pastor Endean’s place, etc.

We’d return home a bit chilled but excited to go through our stash. My Dad and older brothers would “help” by looking through our hoard of candy to determine if anything looked suspicious, etc. RIGHT! And then we got to pick out 5 pieces or so before it was time for bed, and the candy got put up for the night. Ahhhh! Those were good, happy days!

Today not everyone celebrates Halloween. There are lots of ideas and perspectives out there on the subject, and I respect that. I'm not here to change your mind or debate the subject. I just wish you well (with a twinkle in my eye).

To me, Halloween is an innocent day of treats and fun for children and adults. I usually head up to my sister's place, and while she and her family make their own rounds trick or treating, I stay behind and meet their neighborhood trick or treaters. Yes, I've been told that I am a bit TOO liberal with the candy (i.e. I give out too much to each child), but I love doing it. It's a lot of fun!

Random Comment: This photo is from Halloween 2008, and WOW! I can really tell a difference. I've lost quite a bit more weight since then. I really have stayed away from the candy. WOOHOO!!!

The Joys of Autumn

I love fall. (Stop rolling your eyes.) I know I blog about this every year (sometimes more than once), but autumn is just awesome! The cooler temps, the crunchy leaves on the ground, the smell of pumpkins and apples in the air – it’s all good stuff.

This fall has started off with a bang in Indiana.

1. It’s been really cold already, and there has been a chilly wind almost every day. Plus the weather man is threatening snow this weekend. Hey, that reminds me. I need to make sure I can find my snow shovel. YIKES!
2. It’s been super rainy here of late. So those crunchy leaves I was talking about are a bit hard to find. You are more likely to feel a squish as you make your way across the soggy ground, but the trees are still pretty with their brilliant pallet of colors anyway.
3. Someone told me that there was a pumpkin shortage this season, and that if I found pumpkins, I should buy up quickly in bulk. Personally, I don’t usually use all that much pumpkin, but I do like to have a can or two on hand. Now before you make a mad dash to your local grocer, let me state for the record that I have not been able to confirm or negate this alleged pumpkin deficit. Both groceries I have visited this week have had whole pumpkins and canned pumpkin as well. So, it is quite possible that the lack of pumpkins might just be a rumor, but I do like to keep my dear readers informed.

Speaking of Indiana, the other night on the phone my Mom asked me if I was a Hoosier now. I literally gasped in horror at the suggestion, and she laughed at me. I don’t know why I continue to fight the status of becoming a Hoosier. I have been in this state for more than 13 years now, but somehow, I still like telling people that I’m originally from Michigan. After all, I was technically in Michigan for nearly 22 years, and so I guess it is only natural that the Great Lake State still has a piece of me and perhaps always will.

Anyway, back to fall. I’m glad it is here despite the chilly, wet conditions. This is my favorite season – the sights, the smells, the sounds (raking leaves, leaf blowers, rain pinging the window pane) and the tastes.

Even though I am pretty faithful to my Weight Watchers plan, I did nibble on some candy corn recently. I also learned a valuable lesson. Just because you like candy corn, does NOT mean that you will enjoy or appreciate every new candy corn flavor on the market. I tried the caramel apple and the sweet apple flavored candy corn varieties, and I think I’ll just stick to the regular stuff in the future. All candy corn is not created equal. It’s just a fact, my friends. Consider yourself warned!

Enjoy the season and savor some delicious candy corn for me, my friends!

Recent Gratitudes

I am thankful for milder summer temperatures this past season. The air conditioner in my car still acts up once in a while—quitting when it feels like it for a few minutes, blowing stale air around the car at whim, and then working again a few minutes later as if nothing happened. Can you say ANNOYING!!

But twice now in the past 2 years when I have taken my car in for a diagnosis and fixing of the problem, my dear little Maddy (short for Madison) has acted like a perfect angel for her check-up, and so the dealership keeps telling me to bring her in when the AC isn’t working so they can see it happen. Right! Let’s see:

1. Even though my car is definitely a female, I don’t know what is going on under that hood of hers, and I certainly can’t predict her mood (her desire to shut off the AC) or what triggers the prompt shut down of cold air. She has a mind of her own, and I don’t usually interfere or judge. As long as she moves when I press down on the gas pedal and brakes when I tell her to, we get along just fine.
2. It (the missing-in-action AC) typically happens on very hot days, and there haven’t been many hot days this summer so that I could take my car in for the said diagnosis and repairs.
3. My car now makes a slight fizzle noise right before the AC clicks off, but I realize (in hindsight) that explaining that to my mechanic made me look even stupider. I’m sure he and the guys in the shop had a good laugh discussing the nut job who called talking about her fizzling car.
4. This is further proof that we need more women in this mechanic industry. [Janet: please tell me that you are thinking about opening your own garage some day where women can feel comfortable relaying their car issues. PRETTY PLEASE??]

So to sum up, I am thankful that we had a cooler than normal summer because I haven’t had much to complain about with Maddy. The AC has worked for most of the summer, and when it has been less than stellar, I was conveniently rushing off somewhere and didn’t have time to take her in for a check-up. HA!


I have only had to kill one spider in my apartment since March. The eradication of the said vagrant actually just took place this morning. In March, I installed electronic pest repellents, which get plugged into your wall outlets and make some noise or pitch that only bugs and spiders hear. In theory, this apparently makes bugs and spiders keep their distance. Naturally, I have my less-than-scientific theories and conclusions about how it all works and how effective it really is.

1. The particular aforementioned invading spider who met an untimely death this morning was near the sliding glass patio door, which is way across the room from the electronic pest repellent. Thus, I think a smart spider can get around the system by staying on the other side of the room clear from the annoying system.
2. I have killed several pill bugs and other smallish insects, near and in the same room as the electronic pest repellent. Thus I theorize that the bugs higher on the food chain are the only ones affected by the system. The lower class bug citizens don’t seem to be affected.
3. I’m concerned how long the electronic pest repellents work. Since fall has just arrived, I’m hoping the system keeps the spiders from making their way indoors, but my fingers are crossed on that score, and only time will tell how well my plan for an arachnid-free zone is coming along.

I am thankful for my time in the legal department. I have been privileged to work with some great people, build friendships that will last a lifetime, and gained experience that I can't really measure. Plus without my time spent here, I would never have been prone to use phrases like “the aforementioned invading spider” or the “said vagrant.” HA! Truly, I feel my vocabulary has blossomed in the past 5 years, hopefully for the better.

However with all that being said, I will be transitioning to a new position in January. I’ll be staying within the same company, just moving into a different department and tackling new areas. I’m excited about the change and looking forward to new challenges and growth opportunities. I will still be working with some of the same people just filling a new role, and I will also be doing more writing on the job, which thrills me. WOOHOO!!

Celebrating Five Years

I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by here on the job. Five years ago yesterday, I started at my current job a bit intimidated by the size of the office, the number of fellow worker bees, and the sea of acronyms I found myself working in. But it has been a good career ride for me thus far, and I am continually grateful for this opportunity.

I had never worked in the legal realm before my experiences here, and I’m not quite sure what I expected, but today I certainly have a different opinion about attorneys and more respect for their efforts – at least patent or IP (Intellectual Property) attorneys. There is no shortage of projects and work to get through, but we also laugh a lot and enjoy each other’s company. Yep, I work with amazing and fun people.

I am blessed to be here. I don’t know where this career path will lead me, but I’m grateful for each day. Here’s to another 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 years! GULP!

Where Has the Time Gone?

I got a phone call last week from my oldest niece Janet. She is in North Carolina at the Nascar Technical Institute, and she was calling with some BIG news: she had gotten engaged. WOA! Once I picked myself up off the floor and caught my breath again, I relayed my congratulations and excitement back to my nineteen-year-old niece. I am delighted for her, and I can't wait to meet Chris and get to know this newest (or soon-to-be) member of our family, and I certainly will be praying for the duo as they make plans for the future. I confess that I was more than a wee bit shocked, but life is full of surprises.

A year ago, I rode along with her family as we took Janet down to her new apartment in NC and got her settled in. Months before that, the family watched her graduate from high school and enjoyed her fun open house. A couple of years prior to that, we celebrated her sweet 16th birthday with a girls' only weekend. Before that, it seems like just yesterday that I lived with her family for a few months before I headed off to college myself. I was there as Janet's nanny while she underwent a medical procedure as a toddler. And further back still, I remember seeing her for the first time and snuggling with the cute little bundle and wondering what it be like to have her call me "Aunt Mel." [SIGH!]

And now, she went and got herself engaged. WOW! I'm old. Granted, I did become an aunt at just under 16 years of age, and so this was bound to happen sooner or later, but goodness, time has just flown by. And if I'm feeling old, I wonder how old my brothers feel? My brothers are 10, 12 and 14 years older than I am, and I'm sure they are thrilled that I am reminding them of that fact. Hee hee!

LORD, thank you for the blessing of having Janet Renee in my life. She is a darling young woman, and I am so proud of her. I pray that YOU would bless and keep her, that YOU would direct her and Chris as they plan their life together and draw them ever closer to YOU. AMEN!

P.S. LORD, please help the crazy aunt who is feeling a bit elderly at the moment. :)

I'm Happy With My Height

My friend posted a link to this article, and after reading it, I just laughed. (See, short people can be happy. We laugh, and some of us laugh A LOT. So there...) WHATEVER! Of course, short people have chips on their shoulders because all you tall people out there are always dropping crumbs on us from above. DUH! Come on, keep your mouths closed when you chew!

The truth is that I don’t really mind being short most of the time, and the more weight I lose, the better I enjoy my diminutive stature. It’s not that rough. I'm more flexible and wiry now. I can kick up over my head when I do Tae-Bo. OK, to the giants among us, that means I can kick up to your stomach, but come on, you are slightly impressed, you know you are.

I can get around with ease most of the time. I particularly love those signs that tell people to duck down so they won’t hit their heads on the stairs, etc. I almost never have to duck down to fit anywhere, and I don’t often bang my head on low-hanging chandeliers either. Plus I don’t block other people’s views at the theatre because I usually leave my booster seat at home. OK, that’s a joke. I don’t own a booster seat, but I confess that I have thought about purchasing one.

However, there are moments like grocery shopping where it’s not all that fun being height challenged. I’ve gotten creative in recent months with getting supplies off of the top shelf at Meijer. I mean, I can’t wait around all day for some tall person to rescue me. Now some of my friends may say that I’m missing the opportunity to appear helpless to some tall, single male shopper who might happen along and be dreaming of meeting a single smallish female afraid of heights who needs help with getting things off the top shelves. But come on, the “damsel in distress” thing is over-used these days, and I’m no actress. I’m not afraid to ask for help when I need it or accept it when it is offered, but if I can come up with a solution on my own, I will do it. I’m creatively independent that way. I’ve been known to use a spatula or another product to aid me in retrieving my favorite salad dressing, and just try putting those granola bars out of my reach—I’ll find a way to get to them anyway.

And let’s not forget the joys of air travel. I love to fly, but those overhead bins are not made for people like me. I try to keep my carry-on bag small so that I can just keep it at my feet instead. After all, I don’t need the leg room since my feet barely touch the floor. In the past, I’ve had to resort to some interesting tactics to retrieve my bag from the back of those compartments, and so those bins scare me. It’s like a black hole. (shiver)

So sure, there are disadvantages on both sides of the height world, I suppose. Yes, I always thought it would be nice to be a bit taller, but at present, I rather like being me, even if I am just a squirt, a shrimp, a hobbit-sized person.

1. I don’t think height, any more than money, truly buys happiness. I think happiness is a choice, a mind set. It's an option open to all of us -- every day, every moment

2. I don’t believe that taller people are necessarily smarter. I think it’s just a rumor. I’m not a MENSA candidate myself, but I’m not a complete idiot either.

But just in case there is some truth to this study, I’ve now sworn off men that are under 6 feet tall because I want to give any future offspring a fighting chance for height. Sorry, but I just don’t think smaller stature men should apply for the role. To my fellow petites, I know it may seem selfish of me to discriminate against my own kind especially since I am a card-carrying member of the pint-sized league, but my only thoughts are for my children. I have to put them first.

Disclaimer: The author admits that the use of sarcasm was copiously used in this article, and she begs your tolerance with her choice of expression.

**If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
If you pardon, we will mend...**

**Taken from Puck’s final monologue in William Shakespeare’s masterpiece: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1