suz's muses

I don't know if I'm coming down with something or having the beginnings of an asthma attack, but I used my inhaler for the first time in months. Worse, the old-style inhaler was expired, so I had to read the directions for the new one and use it-- and it tastes and smells funny. Yeeech.

Well, I am flushed with victory.

There's a very nice boy from College Park who has seemed interested for a while. We only see each other every few months, but its been more often the past little bit. He came to our Frederick workshop in August, then our party in October. I went to the Halloween dance his group hosted, and then we both went to Argyle.

He was quite attentive at the Halloween dance, but then at the Welcome dance at Argyle, we chatted before the dance, but he didn't ask me to dance once! Not once, out of 13 dances and 2 waltzes. Anyway, I figured never mind, he isn't interested. But THEN! At the Saturday Ball, I was stunning looking (if I do say so myself.) I wore a floor-length lavender silk skirt and a black velor shirt that was faux wrap, so my decolletage was really on display. Anyway, we were a bit late, but when I got there, he noticed, and followed me around with his eyes for a while. Two dances after I got there, I was going to dance the Argyle Strathsbey with Ellen, when he turns up with a totally new dancer. Ellen says 'Hey, switch partners with me. Juliana can get you through it, and I'll help your partner.' Now, this is a very flirty dance. You turn your partner with right hands, and then flip around. Very eye-flirty. Anyway, I spend the whole dance smiling up and doing a damn fine job of flirting silently. I was looking up and then I flipped around, and he tripped over his feet. It was very gratifying.
Anyway, after that dance, we chatted for a bit, and each went our ways for the next dance. But, for the rest of the night, I would look over, and he would be watching me. At the break, I was talking to some friends, and near the end of the waltz, he crossed the room, and stood waiting for a break in the conversation. When one came about, he asked if I'd like to do the next dance with him. I smiled and said yes, that would be lovely, thank you. He took my hand, and we walked over to form a set for Miss Allie Anderson, which is also a flirty dance! Women dance 'round their partner by the right shoulder, lead down the middle, turn under their partner's arm, and lead back up to the top. Anyway, I was smiling up, and he messed up again. I said 'Are you okay?' and he said 'You've got to stop distracting me!' we passed the rest of the dance very well, without either of us messing up any more.

After the ball, when everyone was taking off their shoes, we stood and talked for a good 15 minutes, until bloody Jay Andrews came up, and said, 'Devon, you look like you've got a strong back. I hate to interrupt, but would you carry this box out to my car for me?' I was quite annoyed, but Devon turned to me very sweetly and asked if i would be here for a few more minutes. I said, yes of course. He asked me to hold his shoes and sporran, and said he would be right back. He came back, and we chatted for a bit more, and then we all walked out to our cars. We stood outside and talked for a while, and then he says 'When will I see you again? I'll be at the Frederick Christmas party, but I mean...' and I said 'Why don't you come to UMBC? We dance on Tuesday nights.' he said he had a chem lab that night, but did we dance the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I said yes, and he said he would try to come, and could I FB him the information.

He's seems quite enamored, which is a very good thing, because I am as well.

Love and Kisses
JuJu

ok. i officially love it. and mainly the mouse i just got.

now, understand i am not a power user. but i like the way things work.

understand also that there is a learning curve, as things are a bit different than windows.

safari is awesome, and i never have any trouble. have not had ONE lockup or fault so far. i have them daily with windows.

ive been using the mac for all my home web use, and am using it now.

Hannah, i would seriously consider getting a mac if i were you.

but people, if you have omne already get that damn mouse for 70 bucks. it is bloody amazing. a power user would fly with this thing.

You know you're dying to know.........

• 06:42 @ncgypsy I've been getting those from other ppl on twitter (none from you). Must be some weird hack thing going around. #
• 06:43 is looking forward to a productive, informative day. #fb #

And that's all I got fer now.

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I think I just got my anniversary present from Hermes.

I went out with Dominic today, because I needed some time out and he's free most days and looking to get out himself; we bummed around Inner Harbor and I took him out to lunch. Toward the end of our trip out, in the middle of conversations about video games, shitty movies, assholes we know/used to know and various and assorted bullshit, he suddenly tells me he's got to ask me something as he's reaching into his bag and pulling something out.

"Is there some association with Hermes and keys?" he asks me.

So I tell him that I at least have an association of keys with Hermes.

And then he pulls an old skeleton key out of his bag and gives it to me.

He says this key was something that he picked up some time in childhood, something he's always carried around with him for some unknown reason. And the last few weeks he suddenly started thinking about me and Hermes and it got stuck in his head that he needed to give me that key next time he saw me.

There is no ancient association between Hermes and keys that I am immediately aware of, though I don't think its too far fetched considering his connections to boundaries, door ways, liminal places, transitions, etc. But even still, my associating keys with Hermes is largely a personal thing, the connection comes from the particulars of my relationship with him and the (potential) direction my mystical work is going in. One of those things that is relevant to me and maybe no one else. Its one of those things I probably wouldn't discuss in any great detail (or mention at all) unless you know those particulars (since I really wouldn't be able to explain otherwise). Now Dominic is aware of some things because my relationship with Hermes began morphing in this direction when we were still living together so I told him about it, but because I was out of contact with him for a while there he's not aware of a lot of the things that have come out of these changes, not aware of how things played out or any personal associations that came out of it.

So, no, he didn't know about the keys and how that plays into things. Not until I gave him the brief summary after he delivered the gift.

Its little things like that that really help make all this real, that really confirms that I'm on the right path, that I'm not fucking crazy or merely talking with the voices in my head. Its things like this that kept me going during this last shitty year, that helped every time I stopped and wondered if any of it was real; there is just too much that can not be explained away as mere coincidence.

And I really needed this right now, because life has not been good. No, I'm not going to get into why, not publicly, not behind filters, not in chat or private emails; some things are still personal, you know. Its being worked out either way, slowly but its working out. Either way, this little affirmation from him was just what I needed.

Now, I just need to figure out what to do with the key...

All I can do is laugh. Because otherwise, I'll actually get upset.

:-D

This morning the Dread Pirate Gina was up and moving well. :-) She ate her breakfast great and was following us around to get scritches.

Yay!

Remember how I mentioned that some archaeologists are claiming that they've found the lost army of Kambyses?

Yes, well, almost as soon as that was posted I began seeing other archaeologists and history bloggers expressing their doubts about it. Probably the most informative post I've seen thus far is by the rogueclassicist who points out that this isn't the first time we've seen this claim made before.

It's not my business...unless I am asked for an opinion. Then I give it. And no, I would not spend time with them as a couple.

From now on, for all holidays that require some sort of gift, I am giving either framed pix or gift certs. Something that really can't be regifted.

Except to Small One and The Master of Hearts. (T and I do not usually exchange gifts - we do stuff together instead)

There is a person on my list who are notorious for just turning around and saying "Oh, so and so would really like this" and handing it off.

If I wanted so and so to have that thing, I would have bought it for them. Period.

i saw this sat afternoon.

well what can i say? it was pretty much one, giant, continuous fireball. i was on the edge of my seat at the effects, and eye rolling at the science.

Another night of strange dreams!
Some interesting stuff on a new list I was invited to with a lot of "old" Pagans...lots to think about there.
Off to work in a few minutes-- despite the fact that the agency has press releases, web notices and letters out about the newly-passed UI extension saying it must be filed ON A BLUE PAPER FORM available at the offices, NOT online (we don't have the specs yet so it's not programmed in yet) I can pretty much bet that the phone will ring with lots of callers asking where the right place to click on the web claims system is to apply for the new extension...
Leftover goodies from Irish class (yellow cupcakes with vanilla icing and star sprinkles, streusel muffins, and pumpkin bread) going to work with me. Students keep bringing home-baked goodies. At this point all I need to do is make tea-- which they also keep bringing-- Twining's Irish Breakfast, Barry's, Lyons, Thompson's Punjana, Dublin Tea Company, Bewley's-- and run handouts-- if I bake, it's overkill.
I will knock myself out for the end-of-term tea, though.

On the way to work tonight, it was 42 degrees. Brisk and cold, with beautiful autumn clouds underlit by the city lights.

I was ready for this!

Last night was our apartment warming party, and I must say it was a huge success! I'm really happy my school friends got along so well with D and her girl, and it was wonderful that Carrie just happened to be up from PA, so it was good to catch up with her, even though I wound up leaving other friends to cause mischief.

However, the pictures have left me a little less than pleased with myself...I really need to buy a scale and start actively getting into some shape other than round...

Had a great weekend in Asheville. I'm not sure I have ever had a bad weekend there. oneandonlymatt actually left for Asheville last Monday and spent the week up there doing some work. The plan for me was to drive up on Saturday and stay until Sunday when we would both come home.

Now, my car is a 1996 Saturn. While it is a good little reliable car that gets me to and from work every day, we weren't convinced that it would do well going up and down the mountains to get to Asheville. So, we rented me a car. On Friday, I went to Enterprise to pick it up before I went to work. I had reserved a compact car and when I got there they told me I could get the brand new, 2010 Hyundai Elantra with all the bells and whistles. It even had XM radio. Now, I will tell you that I do not want a Hyundai Elantra but it was pretty fun driving a nice new car for a couple of days.

I got up at 4:15 on Saturday morning. I got ready, put my stuff in the car, gave Piglet her food and water for the weekend and left for Asheville. I stopped for gas on my way out and hit the highway at about 5:15. I have never driven there on my own, but having been there so many times I had no problem finding my way. I got to the Downtown Inn on Patton Ave by 8:15. After Matt got finished getting ready we went straight up to Mt. Matt. He had decided not to camp because it was getting pretty cold at night in the mountains. However, it was absolutely gorgeous during the day. So, we spent the day insulating the tumbleweed house. We got the walls 75% insulated. We stopped half way thought and went to the brand new French Broad Deli and Cafe, which was right on the cut off to downtown Marshall. We had a great lunch and then went back to finish our work. We had to finish up around 5:30 because it was threatening to get dark.

We went back to the hotel where we relaxed for a bit before going to the Thirsty Monk for dinner. We went upstairs to the American Craftbrew bar. They had two different Bell's beers, the Double Cream Stout and the Winter White. Both very tasty. We also got a "build your own" cheese and meat plate - very tasty. I was pretty exhausted, though, so I went to bed pretty early.

This morning, we decided to go our separate ways. No, not permanently. Matt wanted to leave early and get home in time to go to the sports bar to watch the Lions game. I wanted to go to church at Jubilee and leave after that. It was a nice service, as usual, but this is the time of year where things are a little more introspective than celebratory in their liturgical calendar. I ended up leaving a little early because I was ready to go home.

I got back to Atlanta, turned in my rental car, and picked up my own car by 2pm. I met Matt at Mazzy's to have some lunch and watch the Vikings beat the Lions.

Now, we are home and I am just chilling out.

I do have photos of our insulation work. As soon as I download them and get them up on flickr I'll be sure to post the link.

Edited to Add: The link for the photos on Flickr... http://www.flickr.com/photos/13073825@N07/tags/asheville/

You know you're dying to know.........

• 00:42 Anyone know of a place like Dave & Buster's for kids and adults, but located on the northern end of town? North Hills, Pgh Mills etc? #fb #

And that's all I got fer now.

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If you call and nobody answers the phone, then you go over there, and the car is in the drive, but nobody answers the doorbell the first three times?

They probably work nights and are asleep. You should pound on the door really hard, because your visit is more important than their rest.

Last night, Gina collapsed in the yard. Just kinda curled up and fell over. Scared the everlovin' bejeezus outta me, let me tell you. So, I run over, pick her up (and she's not big on being picked up) and carried her inside. I decided to give her a couple minutes, rather than rushing off to the emergency vet right that second, because well, I didn't want to be driving if she decided that it was her time to head to the bridge. Not a good idea, y'know.

Needless to say, I called Liam in hysterical tears, because well, she's his dog. Yeah, that's me. Cool and calm and collected. Right.

She was breathing okay... not great but okay, and after about 15 minutes, she kinda sat up and looked at me like "well, that sucked, what happened???" After that, I decided to wait on heading to the emergency vet until and unless she seemed to be in more distress. So, I laid there with her for a while, and decided that I needed to get to bed.

Before I crawled in bed, I decided to check on her one more time and I walk out into the living room, and Gina's gone. Little idiot is up and wandering around! She did drink some water so that made me happy.

This morning, she's gotten up, gone to the bathroom and is currently curled up on the floor.

:)

Silly puppy. Your step-mom isn't sure how much more of this she can live through...

My Keene State Today magazine just arrived. In the "In Memoriam" section they listed my dear old friend Anna Zalis Kasprak, and Cornelius "Bud" Lyle, one of my favorite professors.
If I'd known he was still alive these past years, I'd probably have tried to contact him.
Ernie Hebert said the only time he hears from or about old college friends or professors is when someone dies.
It's true, I think. I need to look up another couple of my old professors-- I'd like to tell them the influence they were. I hope it's not too late. Good grief! I'm about to turn 62-- how old must they be?

You know you're dying to know.........

• 10:15 Why are cereal liner bags so freakin' hard to open? What's in there (ok, besides the crunchy goodness) that requires such protection? #fb #
• 10:24 today's agenda: study, watch tv w/Josh, study, update itunes & play lists, call my mom, be lazy, study, rinse, repeat. I love weekends #fb #
• 12:11 all of a sudden I'm getting direct message spam from certain followers- anyone else experiencing this? WTF? #
• 12:13 If anyone gets a "Hey is this you?" or test your iq or anything similar in a direct message from me, it is NOT me. I only DM ppl I know IRL. #
• 12:30 the rice I just cooked smells like socks. (not in a good way.) #
• 12:31 fortunately it doesn't taste like socks. #
• 15:54 for the love of all thats good and holy, when you give change DONT PUT COINS ON TOP OF BILLS. that is all. #fb #

And that's all I got fer now.

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