Random Thoughts

At work, we have chipmunks. Normally I see only one. I knew there had to be more than one around because they have an extensive tunnel system under the sidewalks. Yesterday, I had the utter joy to see two chipmunks playing with each other. To my untrained eye, it looked like they were playing cops and robbers. This went on for about 3 minutes, as they darted in and around the grass and sidewalk I was on. Every so often the one being chased would stop and hunker down in a grassy patch. The other chipmunk would pause and consider his/her options. Suddenly, the chaser would pounce on the "hidden" chipmunk and the chase would begin again. I don't know what the average speed of the chase was, but it looked faster than my MINI's ability to takeoff!

More random thoughts...

The above picture is of my sweet Willowby Bobbin. I took it with my Samsung mobile phone. Check out his long, dark eyelashes. It almost makes him look Egyptian.

Isn't it amazing how ants come in some many different sizes? How many other critters come in sizes as varied as ants and look exactly the same?

Did you know that "fauna" means "the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment?" I learned this from watching "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Every morning I open the window in my bathroom as I am getting ready for work to let out the shower steam and let in the fresh air. At the new house, there is a cacophony of birdsong. I get a different symphony every morning.

I'll add more thoughts as they occur. I'd love to hear your random thoughts!

J.

I caught the bouquet!

Yesterday, I attended my friend's wedding in Swannanoa. Eric and Crissy were married outside under a gazebo. The weather was absolutely perfect - sunny, not too hot, with gentle breezes. Thankfully, bees and other flying critters weren't out in droves.

As I told the bride and groom, that was the most fun I've ever had at a wedding. Great music, all the traditional wedding rituals and some special dances performed by the groom (read: I'm Too Sexy, Rumpshaker and Cotton-eyed Joe). It was so apparent in each of their faces that they are very much in love. There was beautiful sentiment throughout the wedding and reception.

Funny story: They asked for all the single girls to come up to the dance floor for the bouquet tossing. At first, I was the only one up there. For several minutes I was the ONLY one up there. How embarrassing! Eventually some other single ladies joined me. However, they were out of luck because Crissy threw the bouquet right toward me. The funny part comes in after the single guy, Trent who lives in Asheville, catches the garter belt and then has to "return the garter." To me. It was a beautiful moment. Really. As it turns out, I couldn't keep it because he wasn't entirely single and his girlfriend didn't appreciate it. Uh-oh! So I had to return the returned garter. Um, yeah. Next time I get a garter returned to me and then asked to return it, I believe I'll say, "I think one of the other garter-catchees needs to help me!" Ha! Too flirty?

Did I mention that three of my co-workers were a witness to all this? Yep. Ramona, Monique and Tom. Ramona will be the acting Dean of Continuing Education soon at the college I work at. That added a slight surreality to the whole regartering event. I also taught Ramona and Monique how to do the Electric Slide. Lol!

Carol, Tom's wife who works at a local collegiate honor society, was there as well. We go way back. Between the four of us, the ladies ripped up the dance floor... and I'm not just talking about the Electric Slide! I had no idea they were such good dancers. We had a ball! There were many moments when Ramona was laughing so hard that tears just streamed down her face. :D

Till next time,
Jaime

Quote of the Day 05/15/2007

I was watching Criminal Minds last night and the quote they summed up the show with is:

"Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles."

~Charles Chaplin

Isn't that calming? I know I get so easily caught up in the day to day moments quite frequently. I thank God I have people surrounding me to remind me that most everything is ephemeral.

Enjoy your day,
Jaime

Quote of the Day 05/13/2007

Talk not of wasted affection; affection never was wasted.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wonderful thought! So the next time you think you've shown too much care and affection for someone else, remember this quote. Provided it's a mutual affection of course. :)

Elton John Concert Update

For a full 12 hours after the EJ concert in Greenville, SC, I remained speechless! It was that great. It took me that long to absorb the whole experience. I paid an exorbitant amount of money for the 5th row floor seat, but it was so worth it! Thanks to my friend, Daniel, I got EJ's autograph. Woo-hoo! I plan on laminating it before adding it to my scrapbook.

He performed several songs from Captain and the Kid and a bunch of his classics, like Your Song, Philadelphia Freedom and The Bitch is Back. I'm more in love with him than ever! He did mention that this was the last new album that he would produce. Oh no! I am not sure if I heard that right, being so caught in the glory of his musical genius. I just hope he doesn't stop touring. I plan on going to see his Red Piano Tour in Las Vegas one day soon. He made mention around his 60th birthday bash that he felt better and stronger than ever. :)

Note: This picture was not taken by me. It was a photo I found on Google images when he performed at Boise State last year, same tour. The only negative I have to mention about the concert were the holy roller homophobes outside the venue with their signs of hatred and anti-Christian messages smeared across them. I got so angry that it made me nauseous. Literally, I had to shield my eyes because it upset me so much. They'll find out sooner or later that intolerance, hatred and exclusivity was not any part of Christ's message. 'Nuff said.

In other news, today marks one week since my grandmother's nephew, Robert Pollard, died at the age of 56. He had inoperable lung cancer. He never smoked a day in his life. I met Bobby once, several years ago at a family reunion in Chatham, VA after his mother, Sarah, died. He was very close to my mother (all the cousins were) growing up. I remember him as being very vibrant and full of positivity. He was a good man; I am certain he found his way home quickly!

We (Mom and I) are in process of planning our mini family reunion in Leesburg, VA this July. My grandmother, Lois, and my aunt, Lois Ann, live there. (Holla, Gramme & Lois!) We were going to Connecticut to visit with my sister's in-laws, but that trip is financially prohibitive. It'll be great because 2 of my 3 sisters will be there with their kids and husbands. Wait, what? They each only have one husband. Lol! Mom will get to meet her newest granddaughter, Kiowa Grace, in person. We will be visiting my remaining sister at her home in Collinsville on the way back. From there, I hope to veer west to my Dad's cabin near Wytheville, VA for a few days. This is shaping up to be a great summer vacation!

To wrap up, I want to send a "Holla!" out to my aunt and uncle from Charlotte, Debbie and Fenton. They had their church retreat at Kanuga two weekends ago. I wasn't babysitting this year, but was promised I would be employed again next year. Apparently, the hectic pace was a little too much for the little ones. :)

Peace,
Jaime

Long time, no blog!

Ok, ok... I know! It's been nearly a month since I last posted. And you're saying, "WTF? I've gone into f****ing withdrawal... where's my Jaime blog??" A lot has happened since then...

The beach/chaperone trip was great. I really enjoyed spending time with my coz, Meg, and all her friends. Holla, girls! They are all extremely talented and intelligent... makes me hopeful for the future! We had a great time... I'll never do it again... but we had a great time. Bonded, ya know? :D

I was really fortunate to extend my trip by staying with Stuart in Little River. He was my mother's high school sweetheart and he has the cutest grandpuppy, Gracie. Thanks for taking me in, Stuart.

Maria and I patched things up somewhat (re: see post "Is it the full moon?")... been socializing with her a bit more for the past few weeks, though we both agreed that the friendship between us would never be like what it was. Sure makes things easier at work.

Since then, I've been doing the usual... working, sleeping, more work... did I mention work? :D Two words to describe this week: fartin' fantastic! I'm not sure what that means, but it fits perfectly. Somebody add that to Urban Dictionary, please? In southern speak, it's been a "lawng" week. It's been very productive which is always satisfying, but it's been n-o-n-s-t-o-p. Go here, go there, do this now, no do that instead. Meetings up the ying-ying and appointments flying at me out of the blue. The good part is it went by fast.

My friend and co-worker, Edward, has been hitting Craig's List: Asheville to meet new people. He's encouraging me to do the same. Now I've got a new GMail account and a message haunting the Drafts folder... courtesy of E. He's helping me to weed through the riff-raff. In all truth, I'm skittish about meeting someone online simply because I've done it before... among other tapes in my head. E's been encouraging me and been a living example of how "easy" it is. Ha. This persuasion only took three scant months... imagine where I'll be and who I'll be with in 6 months! Thanks, E, for being a real friend. Otherwise, I might have ended up with 20 shih-tzus and a few token kitty kats.

In the category of dreams, I had the best one of all a few nights ago. I dreamt that my friends and I were able to go backstage with Elton John. We were just hanging out, taking photos and generally chillin' with THE man. What a great dream!!! O' to be real! To be true! I am going to see EJ in concert tomorrow night. I AM SO EXCITED! We got great tickets: 5th row, floor on the left hand side. Hot diggity dog! I've said it before and I'll say it again: if EJ weren't gay, I'd so be all over that!! I'd make stalker of the year! The way he caresses a piano and coaxes the melodies out of it is nothing short of paroxysmal excitement.

Now I have to get my beauty sleep. Anything less would be unfair to EJ. (5th row!) More details on Saturday.

J.