DLand - Happy Mary Day

Today is Mary Day. The real Mary Day is April 21st, but today is the day we observe it (at least this year). See, Saturday was Mary's birthday and we were all so wrapped up in our own lives that we (at least Sweetpea and I) completely forgot to call or write or anything. So I'm trying to make up for it today by telling you guys all about Mary. Mary is the best mother-in-law a person could ask for. She's the saint who gave birth to SweetPea and raised him to be the fine upstanding fellow he is today. She still has two other kick ass kids as well who can take up a fair amount of energy but are well worth it. So that's the abbreviated bio on her. Let's get to the good stuff.

You know those beautiful garnets I wear? I was wearing them last weekend if you recall. Those are all Mary's doing. In fact, any attractive jewelry I have on is usually the masterwork of Mary. She has the best taste in jewelry I know. She offers consulting services to a select few (SweetPea being one of them) at Christmas time.

She reads science fiction and fantasy novels. And she buys them in hardback (because how could you wait for the paperback?!) and then gives them to you when she's done. And she's a fast reader, so she's always done before you are. I think most of our Robert Jordan series has come from her.

She'll talk to you about anything. I've never thought, "I dunno. I don't think Mary would understand what I'm going through and would probably just thing it's weird." Usually I'm happy to babble on about anything going on - happy or sad - and she's always got a sympathetic ear and kind word.

She has gorgeous hair. I've seen it in a variety of lengths (it's gotten a lot shorter lately) and have photos from the late sixties when it was down to her butt, but it always looks good. It's dark and thick and has a tiny bit of wave in it. Look out, Vidal Sassoon, here comes Mary.

She's one of the more patient people I've ever met. The yin to my intolerant yang. There are so many situations and people she handles tactfully that I would have taken a wiffle ball bat to.

So today (or tomorrow or next week) say Happy Mary Day to someone. She rocks! Just sing a little ditty in the elevator about her or be really nice to the next person who reminds you of this totally awesome lady.

In other news, our map came into the office today. See we have all these licensees all over the US and we wanted to do a push pin thing for them. Also it's good when you get a new contract from like New Mexico to actually know what time zone and general area the state resides. So we bought this Terra Nova US Map HUGE (77" x 47") and it came in today. It's tacked on the wall outside our offices while we work up a plan on how to mount or frame this thing. Here are some quotes from today:

Bossman: I can see everything east of Utah from my chair!

Genie: Damn, I had no idea Montana was that big! How'd they get so much? Idaho got the shaft!

Bossman: Texas is too big!

Genie: You're right. California and Texas should be split up like Korea and Vietnam.

Bossman: Hey, I can see the finger lakes and the middle finger is pointing at Ithaca.

So, we're not real geography nuts. But now we have 77" x 47" of US trivia to guide us. Did you know that New Mexico has an Elephant Butte Reservation? tee hee hee

One last thing, you have to check out this web site:

http://tropico.godgames.com/

I don't really care about the game but the music is intoxicating! I've been "listening" to this web site all afternoon. I get the giggles everytime the guys goes "Op!" tee hee hee200

DLand - The Presidential Zodiac

I took a journey to the top of a tall mountain. And at the top of that mountain I met a man of great age and wisdom. He told me the secret to charting your path of life. Always know your true character, he said. He taught me much while on that peak, and this piece he gave me to carry down the mountain to share ... Ok, well maybe not. Maybe it was more like I was reading an email from a guy who said he had just celebrated his birthday and that he was born in the Year of the Reagan. So I started thinking what that would mean. What year was I born in? What does that say about me? Well, this little project has been weeks in the making and needless to say I know a whole lot more about the United States presidents than I ever did before. Find out your sign and then check the bibliography at the bottom for more information. Don’t forget to sign the guestbook to tell me if I’m on the mark or not.

Year of the Roosevelt (March 4, 1933 - April 12, 1945)

You are warm-hearted, patient and open-minded. Some, however, may call you overly frank. In work, you have a stalwart determination and are flexible to new ideas. You are inspirational to those close to you and do not hesitate to assist anyone in need.

Year of the Truman (April 13, 1945 - January 19, 1953)

You are courageous and a strong leader, but can be stubborn and short-tempered. You will defend your principles unilaterally. You are not prone to excess and tend to choose a moderate path in your career but are very generous in your relationships.

Year of the Eisenhower (January 20, 1953 - January 19, 1961)

You are very athletic, attractive and charming. Your sunny disposition can sometimes mask your true emotions and at show itself at inappropriate times. But your keen intelligence makes you very likeable and trustworthy to others.

Year of the Kennedy (January 20, 1961 - November 22, 1963)

There is nothing half-way about you. You take initiative when others don't and find yourself often in authority positions. But your self-drive can be seen as vanity at times. You are charismatic and idealistic. Literature is one of your passions and strong points.

Year of the Johnson (November 23, 1963 - January 19, 1969)

You are compassionate to those in need but unforgiving of ineptitude in those close to you. You are highly successful and a bit of an overachiever. You look for companionship in most of your relationships and wither without it.

Year of the Nixon (January 20, 1969 - August 8, 1974)

You are highly talented and resourceful. You tend to put yourself in high-profile situations even though you may be a bit of an introvert. You are a pioneer and tend to find new and creative ways of doing things.

Year of the Ford (August 9, 1974 - January 19, 1977)

You are noble and with great integrity. You have openness in your relationships and tend to give much and ask little. Personally, you are a mix of tough and soft but always with unique character. You can be a bit untidy and impulsive but always friendly.

Year of the Carter (January 20, 1977 - January 19, 1981)

You are a spiritual person and compassionate lover of beauty. You tend to be a trendsetter and exotic, setting your own style. You are diplomatic and intuitive to others needs. Your actions may be erratic but the intent is always focused.

Year of the Reagan (January 20, 1981 - January 19, 1989)

You are courageous and optimistic. At times your may have a bad temper or may seem overly aloof. You are faithful, though inclined to jealousy. You are graceful and witty, even under pressure.

Year of the Bush (January 20, 1989 - January 19, 1993)

You are sometimes uncertain of yourself but always loyal to those near you. You have a gift for building relationships and are willing to take risks. Personally, you are uncomfortable with intense emotions. You are clever and versatile in your career.

Year of the Clinton (January 20, 1993 - January 19, 2001)

You are gregarious and popular. You have a keen interest in music and the arts. You are impetuous and sometimes demanding, but always charismatic. You are a strong extrovert.

Year of the W (January 20, 2001 - present)

You are young at heart and adventurous. You have an inventive mind and keen intellect. You can be cold to those unfamiliar to you. You are faithful to those you love.

Bibliography

White House Presidents - http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/

PBS News Hour "Character Above All" - http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/

Various web sites on western and Chinese zodiac

DLand - Humility Shot in the Arm

So my whole brain is just one big jello blob of musings. This is not a normal operating state for the Genie-head, so I'm all in a funk about it. This whole weekend was a very humbling for me. Let's re-cap in third person to make it less painful. Genie prides herself on never getting lost and having a fairly good working plan of the interstates in her area. Every time Genie got in the car from Friday through today, she has made some REALLY STUPID wrong turn that gets her all turned around and on some road that no map wants to even own up to printing. There must be some logical explanation for this. The sun was in her eyes. The signs were taken down. The car had a mind of it's own.

Genie also prides herself on being able to create a piece of costume with reasonable authenticity and style. The italian has potential to be babe-o-licious in about three more woman hours of labor. But she forgot her good lacings and left the sweet pea rings at home and apparently can't even count to 24 (there were 25 lacings on the left side and 23 on the right). Now they say one breast can be bigger than the other, but it probably doesn't merit additional lacings. Apparently no matter how long before the day of the event the dress gets started it will ALWAYS be a work in progress.

Genie apparently doesn't have the cast iron stomach she claims to have. She got fairly drunk fairly quickly and managed to win first prize in the Drink 'til You Puke contest. The embarrassment transcended the rum. Oh, and she thinks she might have touched Susie's boob - twice. But that might have just been some fictitious memory burned into her retinas to pop up about halfway down I-95. Oh, that girl Genie can be such a dork.

Whew, back to first person. So other than that, the weekend was good. I was pleasantly surprised to see Wynn and her kids from New York on Friday and had an entertaining event. I spent a fair amount if time babbling about tents with Sorcha and coming to terms with the fact that my tent technology is soooo old. I'm so glad I sold my first version so I don't have to go home and look at it. But being an optimistic person, I'm glad that I have the awesome Sorcha as a resource after she's worked out so many issues with sewing canvas pavilions. And one day, I'll make a new pavilion that will be better, faster, stronger.

Gotta find something tomorrow to really kick ass at to redeem myself.