Complete Geek

Do any of you remember the episode of Friends where Monica got the great boots, but they hurt her feet so bad Chandler had to carry her? At the same time, Phoebe finds out that Sting will be performing shortly in NY, but the concert is sold out. She then learns that Ross has a connection to the family as his son, Ben, is attending a preschool with Sting's son. She begs Ross to try and get tickets and sings "Ross Can" to the tune of "Roxanne" When that doesn't work out, Phoebe starts stalking Ben's school and pretends to be one of Ben's moms to get into Sting's house. There she meets Trudy Styler who, upon discovering Phoebe's a stalker, tells her "the police are on there way..." Phoebe jumps for joy at the news of a Police reunion. Sadly, such was not to be... Until NOW that is. The Police will perform in Dallas this summer, and M. and I are so there.

I never saw the group and frankly had little interest until Sting went solo. At the time there seemed to be so many crazy, bleach blond, British rock/punk/whatever running around that I didn't bother to differentiate. I was in school, never had any money, and was too busy working, studying, and going to class for much to penetrate the fog of battle.

But Dream of the Blue Turtles was a fine work. From that point on I became the fan girl I am today and passed my devotion on to my only daughter. God bless her, she's learned or tried every cool riff and knows more about the Police compositions than I do. She's slowly built up my CD collections of actual Police albums over the course of Christmases and birthdays. The only two things I'd bought from those days were "Synchronisity" and a "Best Of..."

I'm not sure how I feel about the Police as a group. We're going because it's Sting. It was weird to see him interacting with two musicians who are evidently his peers. Normally, he either performs with someone not part of his band and behaves like they're his guests or simply as the band leader for his employees. Hearing Stewart Copland smarting off at him and Andy Summer sort of laughing, I thought wow. This is going to be something totally new.

Now, I'm going to prove to you what a complete and total nerd I really am.

1. The first Sting song which interested me was due to his use of alliteration and irony. "De Do Do Do De Da Da Da" juxtaposed to "Poets, priests, and polititions...." Very funny. Also, I loved the use of literary allusion in Wrapped around your Finger " Mephistopheles is not your name....."
   
2. I'm a member of "The Official Sting Fan Club"
3. Membership in the above cost actual money which I pay annually.
4. I pay the money each year because I get an exclusive CD of Sting stuff and presale on concert tickets.
5. I remember all the details of the above Friends episode.
6. I'm willing to go to Dallas.
7. I actually knew the name of Mrs. Sting
8. I'm planning to make a playlist this afternoon representing my ideal Police concert set list. Then I'm sharing it with everyone I know. I know at least one person who will actually be interested.
   

If you think you're a bigger nerd, top that!

R O X A N N E................................S T I N G .........................

Tired

I'd forgotten a number of things about working. First of all, getting dressed for work is work. I know one e-friend that gets to wear scrubs most days. Another lady from my knitting group is a pathologist and does the same. I wish teachers got to wear scrubs. I wouldn't need hose, several pairs of shoes to match outfits, several purses to match shoes........ Some people could say that I don't need to bother with those things at this job either. On the other hand, my students are coming to me after a full day at school. They're tired, their teachers are tired, their parents are tired. I decided that I should be fresh and ready to go. I need it and so do they. So now I have to do the work clothes thing again. Yuck.

I'd also forgotten about work place drama. Teachers have this going continually. Colleagues with differences, students with rivalries, parents with teachers, parents with children, parents with parents, everyone with the principal. I'd just forgotten. I remembered the teaching part really clearly, because I love that part. I even remembered the teacher/student issues that arise as part of learning. However, the adult drama I had pretty well wiped from my mind.

Today I'm tired and have a flare. I'd also forgotten what it's like to go to work during a flare. I may not have to go in today. Since it wasn't a teaching day anyway, I'm hoping I can stay home. I'm waiting for a call from another new Rheumatologist. This time, my own doctor has spoken with these folks at length about what I need and expect from them. So far, it's taken three days of waiting just to speak to someone about making an appointment. I'll call my own doctor back in a day or two if I don't hear from them.

Do you guys have prescription plans with lots of rules? We always opt. for the highest level choice was, but this year they've dropped Celebrex from our formulary making it unbelievably expensive. I'll have to find out today how we we are to proceed. Evidently there is some way to get preauthorization and it will then be charged at the highest rate i.e. $45 for a 30 day supply. I don't know if that took it out because of the newly discovered risks or because they weren't making enough money off of it.

I knit for a little while last night. Most with fat needles and easy patterns. Now I'm remembering why I knit so little for several years. It's a peaceful activity though, and I'm going to try to make time even when I'm tired and hurting. I'm way behind or blog reading and miss my pals. Something else to make time for.

Good Dog, Good Man (Spoilers for Gray's)

I worked tonight. I'm leaving work after dark, and I don't see well enough to drive easily. So, I try to call Bill and let him know when I leave. That way, he doesn't waste as much time worrying I'll drive myself into a ditch. The kids worry too, because we aren't much for going out at night. Like a bunch of hibernating animals, dark means sleep and light means wake. Winter really kicks us in the butt with so few hours of light. We, good Puritans all, actually celebrate the winter solstice. From that day forward, we will have more daylight and shake off our slowing minds and spirits. The doctor would call our problem Seasonal Affective Disorder. My favorite description is from Christy at Rainbow Chills who calls it may "SAD story." A daughter of the sunbelt, I well and truly hate the dark. We use one of those photo-therapy lights on really dark days. Thank God, we don't see dark now till after 6:00.

The man and children always worry when I drive in the dark, but aren't alone in waiting faithfully. Triton worries the entire time I'm gone. Do any of you know a standard poodle? (These are the really big ones.) Poodles are smart to the point it's hard to remember they're just dogs and not people. I know everyone says that about their pet, but poodles are scary smart, and even among a race of intelligent animals, Triton is uber-smart. When I called, she knew it was me and that I was on my way home. The man calls like this when he's on his way home too. She's used to hearing us talk about getting dinner ready and doing other small chores while "Daddy" is on his way. She's always waited and watched once he called. Now, she sits for me too. Triton was the first to greet me tonight and hasn't left my side since. The dog considers bedtime as the highlight of her day. The man calls her a "rack hound" which is evidently some archaic man-speak for a person who sleeps more than others. Triton's choice spot is in bed is sleeping between the man and myself. But on these late nights for me, she sleeps patiently in the family room, either at my feet or up on the couch with her head resting on a pillow. She would rather be in the bed, but she's my late night companion staying with me no matter how long it takes me to get sleepy.

RW taped Gray's Anatomy and bought Jack-in-the-Box tacos for me tonight. When I got home, the tacos and Gray's were ready to go. The new digital service lets us do that record it, watch it, pause it at will thing. The man loves using his new TV superpowers. With both the tacos and the Gray's waiting, I have to tell you all that my husband is a total stud. Thank you sweetie!!!!

One of the fantastic things about being married for so long, is we can, at times, truly communicate love to each other. I've definitely observed that Romance means different things for different couples. One of my blog pals made amazing cookies for her wife. I thought it was an awesome gift but not likely to come my way, since the man doesn't do baking. If he did bake, it wouldn't be yummy cookies with a lovely filling and heart shaped cut-out on the top. Even so, 30 plus years have given the man insight. He knows what does it for me. So, it was a fine evening. He sent his usual dozen yellow roses to my work place. I'll have to explain the reason why these are incredibly romantic on another day. He picked a card to go with it showing two children, dressed in adult clothes circa 1935. The girl holds a bouquet of roses and the slightly older boy leans down to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. The card spoke as much about us as did the roses. The man has celebrated every important event in our lives together with one dozen yellow roses (Think "The Yellow Rose of Texas.") The card meant, to me, he also understands of our link growing from childhood to adulthood, to middle age together. To grow-up with one's mate is a fine thing. I was greatly touched that he, in his own way, showed he got that too.

Our female child (age 17) is sometimes at a loss when it comes to our own version of the romance. This Valentines' Day, I bought our first HDTV. The girl was disgusted by the lameness of our shared gift. "How could this be romantic?????? You just bought a TV for Christ's sake!" The boy (age 12) was more open minded about the purchase. If it plugs into the wall and delivers television, it's all good. Plus, he's at the age where the idea of love between his parents is best ignored. He's enjoying the high-def but prefers we keep the gushy stuff ourselves. The man set up the TV, upgraded the cable, and played with the new functions for hours. While he and I cooed words of endearment to one another watching The Chronicles of Riddick in high def, we managed to disgusted both children. We had this incredible moment as perfect mates, a perfect understanding, a sympathy only we knew.

The children think we are old and sad at times like this. For our 20th anniversary, my husband gave me my first laptop. It was, in 1996, an incredible extravagance. I brought it to work with pride to show my girlfriends. They all recoiled in horror at the complete lack of allure they perceived in such a gift. I, on the other hand, felt it was one of the most loving gifts I've ever received. He went to a jeweler and had a gold inscription affixed saying RW and DK forever. I was moved to tears while my girlfriends looked on in horror thinking of large and fine pieces of jewelry or perhaps an expensive automobile as fitting tributes for 20 years of marriage and the gift of both a son and daughter. I don't even remember what I gave the husband. It was nothing compared to the laptop. Of course, there were also yellow roses.

I must confess that there are days when we are not perfectly attuned. I wake some days wondering how I married this creature who seems sometimes a fool of a husband. Being a fine southern gentleman, the man would never expressed such sentiments toward me. However, all long lived couples must have days of doubt. In fact, there are days when I'm ready to move him out to live in the garage.

Sometimes, on the other hand, there comes a day of perfect understanding, and I know that our 31 year old decision to be together was exactly right. The man does not ponder relationships. If I understand his opinion corectly, he considers that to be my job. At times I envy my blog pal and her wife. Surly, both of them do the girl/relationship thing together? The man does manly things like take out the trash, mow the yard, and serve as our 24/7 tech support guy. He also kills all critters which disturb his wife,.and offers to deal with any person who causes me the least distress. I have to say, this is a fine thing after 31 years. He is, even at 52, more than ready to fight for my honor with all challengers. It is a mighty thing to find one's spouse so devout and faithful after such a time.

Dog sighs, tacos, and Gray's made me feel like I'm someone who matters. My family loves me and wants me. We are together and even the pets care about us. I finally have a job again and students!!!! It's a fine thing to live with one person long enough to create a unified family. Our My dear daughter commented this week that my work was inconvenient but well worth the pleasure I seemed to gain from rejoining our capitalist economy (i.e. having my very own money.) That she also knows me so well seems a blessing beyond my comprehension. The boy, on the other hand, misses the conveniences of a 24/7 maid, cook, teacher, chaperon, and driver. Such is life.

Saturday Morning

My house is quiet. I woke up at 6:30 (damn) because my husband wasn't in the bed. By the time I got up and found him, I couldn't go back to sleep. He had gotten up in the night because youngest child had a bad dream. He slept on the couch the rest of the night so the boy would feel safer. What a sweet guy! Now he's tucked in bet sleeping soundly.

That means, I'm the only one awake in the house. Oh, the possibilities of having time for myself! What do women do that actually have that in their lives? I could read, knit, look at knitting magazines. My mind is reeling with possibilities. OTOH, I'm might just go lay back down now that my sleeping partner has returned. Robert Heinlein's character, Lazarus Long, once said, "Never miss a chance to eat, sleep, or go to the toilet. You just don't know when you'll get the opportunity again."

Work Adventures Con't

I finally had my first student last night. All the hassle of starting back to work, trying to reorganize our lives to allow for a few hours away from the house, having to get dressed in work clothes....

I was kind of regretting going back to being a productive member of society, but I had a student last night and was actually teaching. I had so much fun, I would have done it for free. So I'm tired, I'm flaring like crazy, and our house is a wreck, but I have a job and my student learned. I'm not down about it anymore.

Tomorrow is our charity knitting group: From The Heart of Texas.

This will only be my second meeting, but I'm really going to try and make it since I'll most likely work on some of the Saturday meetings/times. On the other hand, I'm feeling guilty about leaving the kids and husband after I already was out of the house two nights this week. It will be good when we develop a new routine and know what's going to work. In the mean time, I really had fun yesterday!

Sting, the Police and Gray's Anatomy (Spoilers)

First, and most importantly, Sing will be in concert here in Texas on June 26. My daughter and I will, once again, have the pleasure of yelling ourselves hoarse in shear fun. It's a Police tour. I'm not sure why they're doing the whole old guy reunion thing, but it means we get to hear/see Sting so we fan-girls are happy. I don't know why I was never all that interested in the Police at the time they were so popular. I've only learned to like many of the songs because of hearing them live at Sting concerts. But, still..... so happy.

I'm going to miss some, if not all, of Gray's tonight. I have to work. Meredith is there drowning in the icy cold water. No doubt McDreamy, McSteamy, or someone else interesting is going to have to bring her back from the dead, and I'm going to be missing the whole thing. Damn. Y'all, I'm ashamed to admit that the whole "house wife" thing had its perks. (cringe) Both husband and daughter have sworn that 1) the eppy will be taped in its entirety and ready for my viewing pleasure and 2) I have a back-up as it will repeat on ABC online this week.

Thank you to PJ, Woolwinder, and others for finding your way back to me after the big move from typepad. I'm still getting the hang of this whole incognito thing. It seems weird not using our names, but you know us anyway, so just insert at the proper places. And, if you have any suggestions, for making it less lame, please let me know.

Work

I've always said, "You know you're at work when they pay you, you don't pay them." The last couple of work days have definitely been of the I wouldn't do it for free variety. After three years of staying home, just the having to get dressed part was too much like work. My morning beauty routine has mostly been basic hygiene and very comfy clothes.

Today, I have real students and teaching, but I've had to ditch my Valentines for the evening. We did our cards and gifts last night, so it should be fine. My hubby rightly pointed out that I like teaching kids lots more than the other bits of being a teacher, so hopefully tonight will be great.

My kids have been a bit cranky since all this working business started. I think they miss me! Yeah to that, but it's also occurred to me that they also be finding it a tad inconvenient to have me unavailable for my full-time services as chief cook and bottle washer. ...

No knitting, no reading, and not much else going on. Even for working part time, it's sucking up a lot of my "me" time. I'm off Friday-Monday, so we should have some time for fun then. My daughter and I are going over to the wonderful Ramona's house for a total Saturday girls night. Her house is a boy-free zone and it's so beautiful. Everything is clean and pretty and so girly. We love it there.

Going to Work!

I'm going in to tutor some today and it will be my first day of earning money type working in almost three years. It feel kind of good to have a job. That Protestant work ethic thing dies hard among us. I know everything I do at home for my husband and the kids is work too, but somehow I just feel more me with a job.

I may regret this if a few weeks, especially if I have a bad flare, but for now I'm happy. I got new shoes, a pretty purse, and a few new work cloths. Get this..... my old clothes were too big! Ha! That may actually be my favorite part of yesterday. M. got new shoes too. I'll take pictures when I can. Not of mine, but hers for mine look like the granny shoes you would expect a teacher with bad knees and hips to wear while standing all day.

The picture above, is one my kids took in the midst of unpacking chaos last year. They are concerned that I not forget they are my students too. When B. was little, he thought I had another family somewhere. One day, he asked me something about my "other sons" and I realized he didn't know the kids I talked about so often were my students. So, I'll be on the watch for our own teacher version of sibling rivalry.

Teaching

I've been super busy for a few days working out a plan to take on some students for tutoring. I still don't know how many and the exact schedule, but I'm pretty well past the biggest hurdles. It will be nice to have some new kids to teach and also to work with a few other teachers.

My latest bout of joint problems cleared up nicely on prednisone, but the doctor flatly refuses to prescribe it long term. So, once again, I'm off to a new rheumatologist to see if there is a new magic rabbits to pull out of the hat. I do have some hope that a more experienced person might be willing to experiment with low doses of the prednisone. Also, my own doctor has talked with the new woman and made it clear that I'm to receive no lectures on weight loss. They gave me the number and name for the nurse so that I can talk out my expectations ahead of the visit.

I've been thinking about what I want to do most, knit socks, walk the dog and kids, shop till I drop, go to Bandera and ride horses. The possibilities of a normal life...... I'm trying to keep my expectations low, but darn.

Still Here

Thank you so much to my wonderful e-pals for checking on me. The move to Blogger was a sudden decision and a long story. I'll be working to get at least some content up right away. Everyone is fine, but we're going to a more privacy aware format. Those of you that know us, don't worry. I think I was rather naive about the big wide world of the web and just needed a wake-up call.

I'm still working out this whole pseudonym thing. So stick with me as we experiment on that front.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Yes, I'm a Joss Wheaton geek. Deal with it. This won't be the last BTVS, ATS, or Firefly speak. I'm resolving some blog world issues and will need to come to some decisions soon. I'm trying to figure out a change in the blog title as a start and will need to find a nom de plume that doesn't make me want to barf. Don't give up on me just yet. I love a challenge.

And, just to prove it's still me, here's the poodle who must not be named modeling the Branching Out Scarf.

The currently nameless knitter.