Hell yeah!!!

I finally finished the peony garden at the Miller-Kingsland house. All together, I have filled about 6+ large garbage bags of weeds on that little area. I was so covered in dirt, it was great!!! Then I went round to the front to the part I did about a month ago and tidied that up. Next part, the front along the white picket fence. The daredevil in me can't wait to do the part between the road and the fence. Three feet from the road on a death defying curve! I should probably wear flourescent so the drivers see me.

Finished the Brainscan issues. Found out some icky stuff about this distro I loved. Had no idea about the guy. I know there are two sides to every story. But it is interesting that even in the independent areas that I like to roam, there are still shady people. I flashed back to a conversation I had to hear between the guy who runs it and some dope a couple years ago at the Anarchist Book Fair. I just remember feeling like I was being ignored while standing there with my pile of stuff I wanted to buy while this trash-talking conversation went on and on and on.... I thought the other guy was the problem but now I don't know. It wasn't like the distro guy was rushing to end the conversation to help 'lil ole female me.... Ah, better get used to this thinking again... work starts in less than a month. Misogyny here we come!!!!

Finally got to really meet the young'n. Still can't touch her - which I am ok with. I do feel a bit like a leper here... Even hubby is grossed out by some of the rash. I'm not, but gosh, they itch in this heat. I did go to the Miller-Kingsland house yesterday to weed. I so love doing that!!! I got carried away and started wandering among the trees cutting off dead branches. My goal is to get there real early tomorrow morning to finish the peony plot before the sun moves over to that area.

I am trying an herbal treatment for my asthma. I have mullein growing and read the flowers and leaves are good for lung issues, including asthma. So I have been diligently picking and drying. Since I have begun drinking a tea made of mullein and lavender flowers, the asthma has been so much better. Considering the humidity, I am ecstatic! The best part, mullein grows like a weed! Do not have to plant it. Just have to make sure the hubby doesn't pick it before it dies!

Paris, here we come?

Okey dokey people, the new principal said that since it is not a trip during the school year and is not a school trip per se, we can do it and do not need approval! Woo Hoo!!!! So get your butts going and sign up. You can e-mail me of course with any questions.

On the alien news front... Lucy Rose was spitting up green bile. So it turns out her intestines may be twisting or not fully formed. I mean, my sister did go and pop her out a week early so she may not have been done cooking in the oven. Or if it's the twisting thing, well, my family is made up of a bunch of mixed up people anyway, so she immediately fits in. As soon as I get to take a picture of the loony Lulu, you will see it here. And my sister doesn't even look like she gave birth, except if you look at the belly...

At least I have finally met her. She smacked her lips and that was cute. Apparently she was the cutest baby in the unit. The nurses said not all babies are really all that cute - remember the "ugly baby" episode of Seinfeld anyone? - but this one is a winner. I think Pooh and Piglet are sick of seeing me. Actually, Pooh is. Piglet is a shameless hussy who wants to be pet and brushed the whole time I am there.... sheesh.....If the guv ever causes me to lose my job, I think I have a second career in cat-sitting...

Still sending out the show entries. There are many more this summer compared to last summer. I am also in an online show and the judging results are released on the 15th. Oh, and I re-posted some items in our Etsy shop. My allergic reaction is preventing me from doing all the art I hoped to do - some unfinished projects there - so I also bought some ad space hoping to get some sales. My sister will have diapers to pay for, you know!

Lucy Rose...

is here. I am the only one who spent the whole day in the hospital or kitty sitting and was not allowed to go see her. "Someone" told the nurse I had a reaction on my skin - though it is not contagious like poison ivy! - and I received the message I was not allowed in. But I could come in today with sleeves on and no one will know! Thanks a lot!

But when I saw the picture of her on the camera - the ones I was supposed to be taking - I thought she looked familiar. Keep in mind I think all babies look the same. While I was at sister's house kitty sitting - I am the ONLY one doing this and 4 times a day I might add - my sister called from the hospital - the only person who appreciates me even some of the time - and she thanked me for being there all day and for kitty sitting. Then she said that Lucy looks like me. That's why she looked familiar to me! Heh heh....

They may not appreciate me but they now have two of me to look at! Sweet revenge!

The alien is due to arrive today... I am lucky enough to be selected to check in on Pooh and Piglet... But I cannot hug anyone because of my oozing rash from the squash... hmph.....

Itchy...

So most of you know my love of gardening. I volunteer to fix up other gardens around town and do my parents' weeding too. I have a veggie garden every year and am pretty darn good at growing squash. I have a few types right now. I am also lucky enough to not get a reaction from poison ivy.

Well....

I must have pissed off the squash gods because I have a brutal rash on my arms, creeping to my neck and hands. Basically anything that touched the plants while feverishly pruning the dead stuff off it. After much research I found out that 9% of the population gets the poison-ivy like rashes from the prickers on the leaves and vines in the squash family. This means:

• I cannot garden for a while - can you hear my wails of horror?!?
• I cannot work at the Miller-Kingsland house until I stop oozing and can wear gloves
• I cannot pick the squash flowers each morning
• it is a pain to type and not rest my wrists down
• I can't touch the alien when she lands at St. Clare's
• I am limited to touching Millie, Pooh, Piglet, Gimpy and Ernie
• parts of my body that are oozing cannot go in the pool

Oh sure, I can submerge my arms in a big bucket of cool water. But how mobile can I be while doing that? Hang the bucket around my neck and walk around my backyard? I'll look like a demented horse wanna-be! Mother said maybe this is a way to force me to relax and rest. But that is not what summer is about dammit! I have things to do! It is even creeping up two fingers. At least I pick the flowers with my right hand. I would be so screwed if I used my left. How can I do any artwork with just one hand? This just sucks so much...

This freak town...

... I live in is a bit hard to take for some. I spent over two hours yesterday with the hubby volunteering and fixing the facade of a Chinese take-out place. They were so thankful they gave us water and free lunch! People complimented us as we worked. Then, I decided to run across the street to the Civil War memorial to weed there. Got "thank you" from a couple of passers-by. One guy even told me it was nice that someone even cared.

I have also been reading lots of what I bought in Portland. I like Alex Wrekk's Brainscan zine and stocked up on a few of her issues I don't have. She lives in Portland. One of the best things I read in issue 19 was about how in many towns, people talk about doing things, but in Portland they actually do them.

After volunteering, I am feeling pretty super. one of the reasons I like doing it. Then I call sister for the Pooh report - my four-legged nephew has been sick. I let her know what we spent the morning doing and she lays into this tirade about how our town "sucks" and they can't wait until after the baby is born and they are ready to put the house up for sale and get the hell out.

Then I thought back to Alex Wrekk. One of the things that makes me think this freak town is not so bad is because hubby and I work with volunteers who don't just talk about fixing things. We mobilize to get those things fixed. If we can't do it ourselves - with or without an ok ;) - we go to town hall and make ourselves nuisances until the things get done. That feels pretty good. I don't complain and sit on my butt. I write letters, sign petitions, volunteer, go to meetings. I know not everyone can go to a meeting or spare the time to volunteer. But is it really that hard to write a letter to your local paper? Heck, you can swing a few sentences during the commercial breaks! Write to your congressman, assembleyman or senator. I get a lot of form letters back, but I also have had some insightful - and mean - responses.

I can't stand complacency and laziness when it comes from people who complain. Like our friend Jim said this spring - if someone like Chris Christie was in France doing what he is doing to education, the students would mobilize and protest. Not that I advocate that, but they speak up! Granted, speaking up - especially if you are a small female - may not win you friends. This is particularly true where I work. But the thank you's I get around town - even anonymously on my answering machine - are pretty cool.

It is also nice to know that some of my super cool students - and formers - think the same way.

And now I wait to see if the rain will hold out for me to go weed at the Miller-Kingsland house...