10.29.2010

Dream On

I know I've written about dreams on here before, but they've been pretty strange and entertaining lately, so I figured I'd share.

Two nights ago, I dreamed that two of the teachers I worked with moved their office to the top of a steep mountain.  In order to reach this office, I had to run down another mountain in order to get my momentum going well enough to climb up the face.  I woke up exhausted on that one.  (I'm also pretty convinced that this is somehow symbolic of my life.  I do often feel like I'm climbing a mountain...)

Last night, I dreamed that someone was after me and had decided that the most effective way to kill me was to take me up in his helicopter and crash it.  I kept insisting though, that I couldn't find my cell phone, so the guy waited for me to find it.  This worked in my favor, apparently, because I stalled long enough...that when I woke up from said dream, I was convinced I had foiled his whole plan.  That's my story.  And I'm sticking to it.

10.27.2010

Pumpkin Guts, Glory, and a Grave Demise

Last weekend we went pumpkin-picking.  By pumpkin-picking, I mean that we drove to a church nearby, walked around, and searched for the perfect (already-picked-off-the-vine) pumpkin.  Not exactly a trip to the farm.


Dutch Boy's idea of the perfect pumpkin is one that is tall and skinny and flawless.  I'm a little different.  While normally a bit OCD in many (most?) elements of my life, I find that I prefer pumpkins which have a little character.  This year that meant a squat gourd that was covered in warts.


I love pumpkin patches for two reasons:  the thrill of the hunt and the diversity of sizes, colors, varieties, and shapes.


Dutch Boy and I spent awhile online, poring over the pumpkin-carving stencils.  We finally decided on (surprise, surprise) a Labrador Retriever face.  While I enjoy many aspects of pumpkin-carving, the hubby tends to be more dedicated to the complete task, so he gutted and carved while I did the best part: baking the pumpkin seeds.


Yum!!


The finished product looked like this:


Lady really enjoyed that her face was immortalized on the face of an orange gourd...so much so that she felt the need to lick it.  Repeatedly.


Sadly, though, the life of this pumpkin was short-lived.  Apparently rain + 90 degree Texas days + bugs = a pumpkin that literally melts on your patio table.  Last night we had to toss it in the dumpster.  Sadness.  [Insert dramatic rendition of Taps played by a bugler here.]

10.20.2010

Albino Squirrels and a Full Moon

1.  As I write this list, Lady is in a staring contest with the albino squirrel who frequents our balcony.  I've been watching her the whole time, and I don't think she's blinked once.  No joke.

2.  That little punk squirrel stole my tomatoes several months ago.  Now he's back for the dead remains of my dead plants.  And yes, I finally took those poor dead souls out to the dumpster on Sunday.  They had only been sitting around, brown and pathetic, for about 5 weeks.

3.  The squirrel just shimmied up the brick wall.  I'm pretty sure that Lady is jealous that such a puny creature can perform such a herculean feat.

4.  Lady finally decided to blink.  And promptly started snoring.

5.  I don't know what I should be for Halloween.  Has this stressed me out?  Not particularly.  It's not like I have anywhere to go, but still...

6.  When I was in 7th grade, I dressed as a Revolutionary War soldier.  Incredibly nerdy?  Yes.  Awesome?  Yes.  Did I have a fife, three-corner-hat, and haversack?  Yes.

7.  7th grade was the last time I went trick-or-treating.  Go figure.

8.  The other day I found small pellets on our comforter.  Naturally, I freaked out and decided that we must have a rodent infestation.  Upon closer inspection several days later, I realized that they were seed pods.  Carried on a dog's coat.  A dog who likes to sneak up on the bed for a deep sleep while we're gone.  When confronted, the dog refused to comment.  I plan to find her guilty as charged.

9.  Has a dog ever withstood a trial?  Considering that Lady is scared of anyone she doesn't know, it probably wouldn't be a super-successful endeavor.  She'd probably go run in a corner as soon as she saw or heard or suspected a stranger.  Oh well.

10.  I love reading and writing stream-of-consciousness posts.

11.  I also love Twizzlers.  I bought a bag of them for trick-or-treaters at Target yesterday, but I'm guessing they won't last that long.  Just sayin'.

12.  I bought oodles of snacks at Target yesterday.  I realized when I got to the checkout line that the healthiest thing I had in my basket was a bag of kettle chips.  Sad?  Yes.  Delicious?  Yes.  Guilt?  Nope.

13.  Since I started writing this, I got the hiccups.  I wish there were a cure.

14.  One time a student told me that the cure-all of the hiccups was to take a spoonful of peanut butter and eat it while standing on my head.  I have to wonder about the logistics of this plan.

15.  I'm about to crack open that bag of Twizzlers.  Could this be a cure for the hiccups?  And can I excerise any self-restraint?  Nope.

16.  Is there a full moon tonight?  Based on students' behaviors today, I'm guessing yes.





17.  Here's a picture of the last full moon outside our apartment.  Not bad for city light, right?






18.   I'm pretty excited to go pick out pumpkins this weekend.  I miss going to the pumpkin patches and apple orchards up north, but we'll make do.

19.  I think I'm going to make some hot apple cider, given that the temperature outside (and inside, for that matter) is approximately a blustery 77 degrees.

20.  I didn't plan on making this a Letterman-style top-twenty list, but my stream-of-consciousness has officially run its course.




21.  Wait.  It has almost run its course.  First I must show off this picture I took this weekend of Miss Lady at the creek.  Sometimes I wish I could be a dog.
22.  One more thing.  I caved.  I'm a weakling.  I have no willpower.  And I'm happily eating the Twizzlers.