Okay so you called it. I went to finish and discovered I forgot to pick up the three things I need to finish today like I was supposed to… Yes, right now I feel stupid.

I’ve done what I can and now I’m back. I’ll have to go thorough it all again tomorrow.

Now I have another problem. I consumed 20oz. of caffeine about two hours ago and will be running in circles for at least four more hours…what to do, what to do… At least I still have you guys! Right?  Guys?

 Guys? Right?

Hey come on I was only kidding about ignoring you…I’m here. Guys… *sigh* 

THE ROOM… Tonight I am working in the room. I will avoid the lure of Xanga, I will, I will…

I will get the room done if I have to die of exhaustion doing it. I will, I will.

This is it I’m off.

 Don’t try and stop me I have work to do… I’m going.

 I have to get it done, no one is going to do it for me. Pop, do you want to come do it for me? Just kidding, I’m going alright. I’m on my way.

I’m peeling my keys from the computer… I’m shutting the lid . I’m,,../km bz,djs+cdmgMcx 

Okay, A post ago, I said that one of the things I would change in the world would be to institute a uniform gun control law in all fifty states… Yes I actually dared to open that can of worms.

Well, my head is now swimming. I have been doing a bit of reading and I don’t understand why we can’t just get it together people… Okay and here comes the fence sitter part…I can understand why we can’t get it together.

Boy there are so many topics that I’m probably going to regret mentioning, but here goes.

1.)  Gun control: Each state has their own law about how guns can be purchased, how many firearms can be owned, even what are considered fire arms. So why can’t we get it together enough to have one law, maybe something to the effect of ,you can own ten guns, at one time.That should be enough for anyone, after all you only have two hands and if their are four people in your family that’s forty guns…your own armory… that sounds excessive. Okay to continue, purchasing: Why not have a background check and a waiting period of 24hours. I believe all states have a background check at this time and each individual state goes from no wait to a two week waiting period…which seems excessive. 24 hours seems like sufficient time to have a through safety check done and in 24 hours a person can talk themselves out of a lot of things. I mean ,if I can talk myself out of shaving my head or getting another tattoo in 24 hours,shouldn’t that be enough time for someone to decide not to kill themselves or someone else, if that’s what they want.If they are purchasing one for safety or recreational reasons, one day shouldn’t hurt, what’s the hurry. 

Now on the other side of that fence I wouldn’t want to take away anyones guns, but I don’t think people need personal arsenals. Some might say why would someone need an AK47?  Well,  probably because their fun to shoot. That would be my guess. I could see that. Everyone needs a hobby, blowing things up is what some people do.

We had a local man not too long ago who made cannons as a hobby. The police confiscated them, saying they were firearms… I don’t get this, they were tubes with gun powder in them…If he wants to blow himself up, who are we to worry. If he wants to pay for property damage even better. Although I believe it was all done on his property in the country…

That brings me to #2

2.) Helmet laws and seat belt laws. Why do we force people to wear helmets and belts? If someone wants to risk having their brains smeared all over or going through the windshield who am I to complain.

  Here’s the fence. If his/her insurance has to pay for it then my insurance goes up and I have to pay more money. So I say wear the damn seat belt or helmet!

3.) Abortion. Okay even as a fence sitter I won’t talk about this one because it could hurt someones feelings or insult their religion and I won’t go there. But this is another one of those fence things for me

Okay so there’s still so much I haven’t talked about like gay marriage, assisted suicides, government involvement in foreign nations and polygamy. Probably a million other things that I can’t make my mind up over,but I think about on occasion. I won’t bore you with them tonight. Your all probably falling asleep at this point. But if you aren’t and you have some righteous indignation about what I’ve said, feel free to send me a comment. Don’t be mean though, I’m all about free debate but I don’t like name calling… Freaks!

Someone asked what brought this on?

I was reading an article in Outdoor Life about Roger Waters leaving England and coming to America because England instituted a gun law he didn’t like. He had threatened to leave the country if they did it. The author of the piece applauded him for this and said he wished we could send Rosie O’Donall or Alec Baldwin over there…

I thought what a loser. If you believe in something, shouldn’t you stay in your country and fight for it? Why flee under the guise of protest.  Also, since when do we think it’s a good idea to exile someone for expressing their opinion…. Well, that’s what did it. That’s what set me off.  

Oh I think Roger Waters is a great musician and song writer by he way…but come on.

So most of you have been reading my posts for awhile and know that I spent a large chunk of my time this summer cleaning out my garage, getting the space ready so that I can move my work shop and studio. You’ve read how the kids and I discovered what voles are and how I had unintentionally become an orphan maker and wreaker of homes in the tiny land of voles that inhabit my garage. I didn’t post however about the three voles that my faithful companion Max disemboweled and the poor dead babies I found in a nest later.

So about a week ago I decided to save myself the trauma and over all heartache of having to see the death and dismemberment of the local field mice by placing poison pellets in my now wonderfully clean garage. I mean after all, if I don’t see their tiny little corpses I can pretend it didn’t happen, right. I didn’t say I don’t want them dead, I just don’t want to have to deal with the carnage.

So I purchased a large box and placed it in a safe place. Over a couple days I noticed that the pellets were quickly disappearing then I went out the other day to do something and the box was gone. No box… At first I panicked, maybe one of the kids had found it, nah, they definitely couldn’t get it there. Maybe Ben moved it. That had to be it. He must  have thought it was unsafe and decided to move it. So I assured myself that was it and went in the house.

Later it was really bugging me. Why would he move it, did he think I was being careless? So I asked him before I allowed myself to get all worked up about it.

“Honey, did you move the box of pellets?” to which he responds “What pellets?”

“The one I put in the garage.” Ben “Nope.”

Me “Yes you did, seriously, why did you move it.” Ben “I didn’t move it.”

Me “Well where did it go?” Ben “Don’t know.”

Me “Do you think someone got into the garage and took it?” Ben “Nope.”

Me “Well it had to go somewhere.” Ben “Maybe the Mice ate it.”

Me “Yeah right, they wouldn’t do that.”

Ben “Don’t know, don’t care.” actually he didn’t say this but I’m sure it’s what he was thinking.

So  I went to sleep thinking about who had gotten into my garage to move the poison. Was it a neighbor who enjoyed the local voles ripping up their yard?Was it the Field Mouse Liberation Organization? Were they going to bring charges against me for premeditated mousey murder.

This morning I put the kids on the bus and went to investigate. Maybe I just hadn’t looked hard enough and it was there and I hadn’t seen it, Or maybe I had imagined it all.

In the garage I went. Nope it wasn’t there, big empty spot right where I had put it. I looked around the inside walls of the garage no box.Wait, what was that right in the corner… four tiny little pieces of shredded pellet box. THEY ATE IT. That or they shredded it and used it for nest lining somewhere.  Who’d of thunk it.(Ben)  The mystery of the missing box is solved and I am relieved to know that I won’t be brought up on charges by the F.M.L.O. However, if you don’t read any posts from me in the future it is because my house and everything in it has been carried off by the voles that live in my garage. I mean I would bear a grudge, wouldn’t you? Should I be worried?

Okay my friend Rach had this on her site and so I thought I would do it too. It’s always a good idea to stay in touch with yourself. Okay here I go. I’m feeling very David Letterman here..

Five things I’m grateful for…

1.  My family,three great kids, a husband who loves and supports me, a sister who tolerates me, okay, she loves me a bunch, and parents who have always been loving and supportive in all that I do.

2. My ability to laugh at myself and the world around me and to generally find humor in all things.

3. My childhood. I had good friends, good times and A safe protected place to call home. I wish all children were so lucky.

4.  My creative abilities.

5. My house, even though it is a big pain in my backside most of the time, it’s a good place to be.

Boy that was harder then I thought it would be. Now the next part. I know, David does ten, but I’m no Letterman, I’m more like that Paul guy. Besides I actually prefer to watch Leno. Okay here goes.

Five things I would change…

1. I would loose my addiction to caffeine and sugar.

2. I would fence the back yard in.

3. I would want a uniform gun control law for all fifty states that  required a minimum wait period and a security check for the purchase of a new firearm. My Pop is going to have something to say about this one but there it is…

Okay, I think I’m supposed to put down things I actually can change or that affect me now, but I’m finding it so much easier to think of things I would like to change in the world.That one might not count but I’m leaving it cause it’s true.

4. I would have gotten my degree before I had children. No changing that one since I’m definitely not trying to put them back where they came from. I’ll just have to get it while their here.

5. I would buy my video camera earlier so that I had movies of Charlie and Isabelle when they were babies. Oh well. Their hams so I’ll just get as much as I can from here on out.

That wasn’t so bad. It was actually not easy thinking of things I would change here. That’s good right. I think that’s good. Well if you all want to try it I would love to read your lists.  Hope you had a great weekend. Ang

Oh I’m still working on my movie list. It’s fun because it gives me stuff to think about while I’m working in THE ROOM…

The kids came  home from school today and we all squeezed into the jeep to head downtown to the local game store and joke shop, Hocus Pocus. Charlie and Isabelle have been wanting to get a game called Munchikin and had decided to pool some of their money and get it. When we arrived they were disappointed to find that it was sold out. The store carried several other versions though and so the negotiations began. Charlie wanted Munchikin Bites…Werewolves and vampires,  Isabelle wanted Super Munchikin, superheroes.  I don’t have to worry about Isabelle, like a little woman she said “Listen we’re using more of my money. I want Supermunchikin. So if we don’t get the one I want we’re not getting one.” To which Charlie’s response was “Okay.” Boy she’s a little mercenary.

We’re in the car on the way home and Ben is reading the game cards out loud. One of which is Free Invisible Monkey Sidekick. I said “Yeah just what I’ve always wanted a monkey sidekick… well not really. What kind of sidekick would you guys want?” Without pause to consider Charlie pipes up with  “I want  a giant talking pelican so I could climb into his mouth and yell  ’To the sky! ’”  I could just picture it, him in the mouth pouch of a giant pelican with his little head sticking out arm and fist thrust towards the sky.   “You’ve thought about this before.” I said to which he said “Yeah!”  Like it was stupid that I hadn’t…

Can I just say I’m so happy my life amuses me.

Now I know you see it coming… What kind of sidekick would you want? I know we’ve all thought about what super power we would want. Invisibility and flying of course. You haven’t…oh come on I know you have. But I’ve never really thought about who I’d want at my side, much to my sons chagrin. So again. What kind of sidekick would you have? or who?

What is it about men playing instruments that makes us women big squishy bags of hormones? Right now Ben is playing the piano and I love it.*sigh* I find this completely ironic. I didn’t even know that he played the piano until we were engaged. We went to kindergarten together. Had been friends for fifeteen or so years and I had no idea until after we were engaged and he sat down at my Moms piano and started playing hymns.I remember thinking ‘that’s nice.’ and then he started playing his own music and I thought ‘Aren’t I lucky!’ Yes I am. 

About three years ago he asked me if we wanted the piano from his parents farm. Ugh! I thought one more thing to fit into our little house and it’s ugly.(It’s been painted blue, brown and cream.) After some gentle persuasion, I said okay and we brought it home. I figure if someone else painted it, so could I. So the ugly little upright found its way to our living room wall. The next morning I woke up to piano music floating through the house. What a good decision. Now whenever Ben feels like it, which is once or twice a week, he plays and I turn into the aforementioned bag of hormones.

Since we have a piano in the house I’ve been trying to teach myself to play. Ben has said he’ll start teaching the kids when they show interest. His only teaching advice to me so far has been buy a metronome, which I did. So I’ve been waiting for the kids to show interest. Occasionally I ask and they say not interested.

Charlie is teaching himself the harmonica and he can play three songs now, Twinkle Twinkle, This Old man and Row Row Row Your Boat. The harmonica’s good. It could be a girl magnet right? I’m sure even John Popper has his groupies.

The other day he brought a magazine to me and said ‘Look Mom authentic bagpipes! I want these for my birthday.’  I said ‘really?’  Feeling him out I asked if he would be willing to pay for part of them. Just to see how serious he was. Well then he started planning how much he had and how much he thought he would get for his birthday. I was still stuck on- Really? Okay so I figure he wants them so I’m sure we’ll work it out but I’m still stuck on the girl thing. Will women go gushy for bagpipes? I know he’s only going to be eight and this isn’t foremost in his mind but, Really?  Then he says…” Mom can you make me a man skirt?”

REALLY?     After I settled down a little since I was laughing so hard I almost wet my pants. I explained to him that it was called a kilt and there were probably some Scottish and Irish men out there who would beat him to a pulp if he called it a man skirt.

While I was explaining it to him I thought about kilts and Scots men. Hmmm…Charlie’s not going to have any trouble at all. The women will fall over him if he gets a Scottish accent down, I don’t think Northern Michigan is the accent women are looking for. Then again, I’ve heard the lumber jacks got all kinds of action.

Excuse me Ben’s done playing. Bag of hormones signing off.

All of the movie gathering has been fun and it’s reminded me of about a millon other movies that I love and that definitely deserve a mention so I’m compiling my list and will post it later.

 At the end of my post I said I needed definition. It started me thinking about how I define myself. We’re all faced with this dilemma on a daily basis. Maybe it’s not a dilemma to some of you.You know who you are. When I browse the posted profiles I see that we all define ourselves in  many varied ways. Some of you get quite detailed. I look at mine and I see mother,wife, aunt… yadda yadda yadda… is that who I am?

A year ago Ben and I attended a conference on apologetics. Religious studies is a hobby of his. We got a babysitter for the kids, put on our finest and went to a fancy dinner for the speakers. When we got to the restaurant we were seated at our table with eight other people. Ben was to one side of me and an older woman was to my left. Immediately she looked at me and asked “What do you do?” to which I smiled and said “I’m a stay at home mom.” to which she responded “Oh’”  And since she didn’t offer,but clearly wanted to be asked I said “What do You do?”   “I teach history at Columbia University.”  I was excited because I love history. Before I could question her farther, she had turned away from me. It all went down hill from there.

 I would ask a question struggling to make conversation.Considering this and that. I asked if she had children, she did, six and she had once been a stay at home mom. And when she told me this I thought, then why are you making this so hard?! Shouldn’t we have tons of things to talk about? The truth was, her definition had changed. She had moved on to her career. I was still working on my family. I know it’s possible to have both, and if she had still been raising her family or I had been a working mom maybe we would have had something to talk about. In the end, we did. We found that we had art in common and desert was spent enjoyably discussing exhibits we had seen and who our favorite artists were.

 Ooo another list is brewing…

The point is that our definitions do change. It’s important to know what yours is. I’m just realizing that mine is broader. I need to start paying attention to the part that doesn’t include my family. It’s too easy to get sucked into one part of your definition. Maybe because the word  in itself limits us and we are boundless. Of course boundless and limitless don’t fit in a profile box or an introduction.  So I will say I’m a writer. I’m an artist. I’m a traveler. I’m a student of life. I’m full of it. Well, you know,  I’m still working on it.

In a recent conversation with a friend, I realized that I no longer know what my favorite movie is. There are just so many of them out there. If you had asked me when I was younger I would have said ‘A Room With A View’ and ‘The Naked Gun’ movies, but now that I’m ancient I’ve seen so many more movies and I just don’t know.

 Young Frankenstein, any Mel Brooks movie really, deserves consideration. Although I can’t say I was fond of the Producers. I’ve been a big  fan of older movies and slapstick comedies, I really love the scene in Woman of the Year where Kate Hepburn tries to cook Spencer Tracy an egg, I love that there’s no music, you just hear her trying to cook an egg and my laughter at her ineptitude.

I’ve gone through a horror movie stage and the phycological thrillers. Dead Ringers still gives me the creeps.The sappy-drama-chic flick stage, Sense and Sensibility and Howards End. Scifiction is often fun, but only when it’s not too hookey. IRobot just couldn’t hold a candle to the book, but isn’t that always the case. Actually The Princess Bride is the only movie I’ve ever seen that I considered as good as the book and I think that was because the author was a screenwriter.

Now I think I’m on movies-with-relevance stage, as the most recent things I’ve seen have been Hotel Rwanda and Crash. Crash I was super impressed with, I love it when a movie forces you to think and consider your life and how your living it. 

Okay, the point of all this babbling is, I’m open to suggestions. What are the movies that wowed you guys? I want to know. Why do you think you liked them so much and why do you think I will? I know it’s a tough assignment. But I need some definition here, I need to once again be able to say…My favorite movie is…