bright things

QotD: Thanks But No Thanks

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:04:08 -0700

How do you handle phone calls from telemarketers?

That's a silly question.

I don't handle them at all. I have caller ID, so I don't answer if I know it's not a person calling, and at work, I tell them it's a business, or that we're not interested, and that's it.

I wonder why I used to get so worked up about them...

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Vox Hunt: Worth A Thousand Words

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:37:52 -0800

stell-belle

Show us a picture that's worth a thousand words.
Submitted by sami711.

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world traveler

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:55:01 -0800

I just got back to work after applying for my passport. We're going on a cruise to the Caribbean the first week of April. So far, that hasn't managed to get me excited. It's just too far away, not concrete yet. But the passport, now the passport has got me very excited.

Once I have it in my hot little hands, I will be capable of leaving the country at the drop of a hat. Which I probably won't, but I'll be able to, if I want. I will have the authorization to become a world traveler. I love the possibilities that will open for me.

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happy birthday baby boy

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:05:11 -0800

Eight years ago today, my sister gave me the most beautiful gift anyone has ever received. She held my hand, and gave birth to Ian James, the first baby I watched being born, the first minute old person I've held, and the first child that taught me about truly unconditional love.

I thought I understood all kinds of things, after all, I was twenty, almost twenty-one. But in those thirty seconds or so, between his arrival, and his first breath, I learned things that I'll never forget. I learned how quickly I can fall in love, and how fast my heart will try to bargain with God, when the one I love doesn't seem to be breathing. I learned that I'll never be able to repay my sister for making me an aunt, unless I'm able to make her one in return. And also, I learned that until I have a child of my own, I'll never understand the depth of my own mother's love.

One very small boy taught me that, all in the space of less than thirty seconds. And today is his birthday. He sent me an email, announcing that fact, and I told him, "Happy Birthday baby boy! I love you so much, and I'm so glad you're mine." He wrote back, "I got a skatboard." But my mother, who was helping him email me, told me that he looked up at her, after reading my words, and said, "I love being Tia's baby boy."

ian

He's kind, generous and thoughtful beyond his years. Give him a dollar to spend at the dollar store, and without fail, he'll buy a gift for someone. He takes care of his younger sister even though she terrorizes him, and wants to teach his baby brother how to be just like him. He still wants to cuddle, even though he's too big for my lap, and he's quick to crack a joke that shows how smart he is, and how quick he catches on to humor.

I know it's still early to say such things, but I already know I'm going to be so proud of the man he becomes, even if I still call him my baby boy.

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QotD: Rubbing Elbows

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:13:42 -0800

Have you ever met any celebrities? Any interesting stories?
Submitted by Tasha.

Joe and I were in line at McDonald's inside the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas. Just minding our own bidness. When a guy came up, followed by his large, black, body guard. I knew he was one of the Backstreet Boys, but I had no idea which one. I just looked at him, thought, "Wow, he's just a little guy." I knew that Joe had no idea who he was. Then, the Backstreet Boy started chatting up my husband. And before I could say, "Hey, wait a minute," Joe was letting him cut in front of us. What the heck! I was so mad. I mean, sure, he had a "Celebrity" golf tournament for charity to go to, but we had stuff to do too!

I was standing there, trying to smile politely, and I happened to look behind him, and saw a large group of thirteen-year-old girls running toward him, making surprisingly little noise. I was about to smile in anticipation of him getting rushed, and me and Joe getting our spot in line back, when suddenly, the bodyguard stepped between the Backstreet Boy and the mob of teenage girls, and crossed his arms and said, "Not. Today. Girls."

They instantly stopped their headlong rush into the Backstreet Boy, slumped their shoulders and put on their pouty faces en masse, and slunk away. The most interesting thing I've ever seen.

And that's my one brush with celebrity.

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lupita of the frozen tundra

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:37:37 -0800

No, I can never give my pets normal names. What fun is that? This is Lupita of the Frozen Tundra.

lupita

Lupita, because we were watching "Man on Fire," the night we got her, and Frozen Tundra because we were right in the middle of this long ass cold snap here. (It was below 30 degrees for over two weeks. That's insane here. It snowed, and instead of melting the same day, it stayed for a week. Pure insanity! Joe missed a week of work because they wouldn't let them on the roads with all the ice and snow.) The good thing about Lupita as a name, is that it's shortened to Pita, which is also an acronym for Pain In The Ass. And a fitting acronym it is.

She's beautiful, and fun, and sleeps on my feet or my keyboard, whichever I'm feeling would be a better fit at the moment.

hard to type

She's obsessed with the shower. The second she hears me slide the shower curtain open every morning, she comes running, and jumps up on the lip of the tub, so she can watch water droplets slide down the wall. I kid you not.

shower hypnosis

She has a pink collar, with plenty of bling bling, and pretty pink toes to match.

pretty pink toes

Yes, I'm just a little bit smitten, but I promise to not become one of those cat people. You know, the ones that carry a picture of their cat in their wallet? Okay, well, maybe I will do that, but come on, look at this face, who could resist?! And as a slight disclaimer on my part, I did recently get a brand new digital camera, and I can only take so many pictures of my own face.

sleepy face

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Vox Hunt: Got Ink?

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:14:02 -0800

Photo: Show us your tattoo(s).
Submitted by Megan.

I have a tattoo on my right thigh that reads, "Craziness is Heaven." It's a long story, that I don't remember correctly, that mostly has to do with the fact that I was eighteen when I got it. When I wear shorts, it shows.

When Ian first showed interest in it, he would press it, and run his little finger on it, and ask me what it said. I always told him, "It says, Tia Loves Ian." He would nod, smile, and go about his business. He was secure in his knowledge of my tattoo, and what it meant, and not surprised that I would mark myself so permanently for him.

Stella became interested in it around age two, and I held my breath, wondering when she would ask, and what I would say. I still hadn't decided what to say, the first time she asked. But whe

craziness is heaven

n she pressed it, and ran her finger over it, just as her brother had a million times, and looked up at me with those gorgeous brown eyes, I said what came natural. "It says Tia Loves Stella." She smiled, and instead of nodding, looked to her big brother for confirmation. He nodded solemnly, confirming my answer, and said, "Yep, Sister, that says Tia Loves Stella."

The next time he asked, because they always ask again, I told him the same thing I always had. That Tia Loves Ian. Because she does. And Tia Loves Stella. They've never questioned the fact that I only have one tattoo that says two different things. Maybe because even baby hearts understand complex things about love being simple. I can't wait for the first time Sid asks what it says. I'm hoping it will be this summer.

pieces of a heart

My other tattoo was one I also drew myself, because I wanted something no one else had, for decoration purposes. I like it, but forget that I have it, and if I ever get another one, it will be somewhere that I can see it.

It's in the small of my back, and I mostly remember that I have it when I feel my sweet husband's light touch there. Then, I know why I put it there, because I wanted it to be one of the places he was drawn to. I especially like it when I feel his kiss there, and that warm exhale of his breath that accompanies that kiss.

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the legend of baby elkhart

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 21:43:27 -0800

Sometimes, I'm such a child. I know this, I accept this, and I even embrace it. I think one of the saddest things that happens to most people, as they get older, is that they forget how to play. I refuse to be one of them.

Last summer, we went to the zoo. By we, I mean myself, Joe, mom, and all three of the kids. I can't remember where Tessa and Jody were, but I remember that they had asked me to watch the kids, and we decided to make an adventure out of it.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, and so when I say "zoo," a lot of the time, I'm talking about Northwest Trek. It's this wonderful place where animals native to this area are allowed to roam as free as they possibly can in a "zoo" setting. They have everything from bison, to pygmy rabbits. And it's amazing how they are kept, in such a natural setting. It's possibly the only zoo I've been to that doesn't make me sad.

It was a great day, the kids were darn near perfect, we laughed, we played, some of us even napped on the tram. Then, at the end of the day, Tia and Uncle Joe were going to be Big Spenders at the gift shop. Everyone got to pick whatever they wanted, mom and baby included. I was quite pleased when Sid instantly chose a plastic lizard under a dollar. The kids took forever to pick, but it was fun to watch. I hadn't really planned on getting anything, but sitting on a shelf with a bunch of other stuffed animals, was Baby Elkhart. He instantly captured my heart with his ridiculously floppy legs, and the real-feeling velvet of his antlers. I grabbed him up, and brought him to my chest in a little hug, because we both knew he was home.

I know, I know. He is an inanimate object. I understand that. I'm not off my rocker. I'm just a kid sometimes. And with Baby Elkhart, it was love at first sight, as only a child can have with a stuffed animal.

And so he was mine.

A lot of the time, I buy myself toys, only to quickly lose interest in them, and hand them over to the kids. But every once in a while, one becomes special. Baby Elkhart had too much personality to be handed over too quickly. Soon after the zoo adventure, we had the camping adventure.

Every year, everyone in my little immediate family (Joe, mom, Tess, Jody, all three kids), pack it all up for a week, and go to Cannon Beach, Oregon to camp. It's fun, and drives us all crazy at the same time. But the kids love it, and even under all the grumbling, all of us grown ups still save a week's vacation time to attend.

Last year, because Jody had changed jobs, he didn't have any vacation time available, so he couldn't go. Sid was still very young, and so Tessa decided that they would stay home, and it was just going to be myself, Joe, mom and the two older kids. We weren't disappointed, in fact, we were a little excited to see how our smaller group would affect the dynamics of the trip. Especially since we could all ride down to Oregon in the same vehicle together. Oh joy! Anyone who has ever taken a road trip with a seven year old and a four year old can imagine what we were in for.

We planned. I packed an activity bag, and at the last second, I scooped up Baby Elkhart and threw him into the bag. The trip down there is now the stuff that legends are made of.

It was discovered less than a half hour into our trip, that Baby Elkhart can only sing-speak. Now, I don't know if there is a technical term for that, but it basically means that Baby Elkhart says even the simplest things, like, "No, I don't want any water," in a singing voice. And it's not the greatest singing voice. Everyone was in stitches. It's hard to explain, I guess you had to be there, but Baby Elkhart is now a minor celebrity in our circles.

Stella was the most amused. There is nothing I love more than making my baby dill get the belly chuckles. You know that kind of laughing that seems to start in your toes, and ends up centered in your belly, and makes you have to hold your sides. You know, as you're laughing, that your ribs will be sore later, but you don't care, because there isn't any joy like that kind of laughing. And the baby dill laughed like that all the way down there. We were laughing until we were crying.

Also discovered, were some of Baby Elkhart's major personality traits. He's an arrogant little thing, and his favorite thing to sing is his own name. He announces himself constantly, in a little tune he made up himself, that Stella hummed for weeks afterwards. He is a little smart ass too, constantly knowing just the right little thing to say to make someone laugh. He's the master of all he surveys, and has to be the boss of all situations. We found though, that he was easily fooled into thinking he was in charge. That was fun too.

stell-belle and baby elkhart

Needless to say, once we arrived at Cannon Beach, the fun didn't stop. One night, Baby Elkhart even read, I mean sang the bedtime story. More hilarity ensued, and believe me, it took at least another hour to calm down after that one. It was decided that if Baby Elkhart was to read another bedtime story, we'd start getting ready for bed a lot earlier.

A week after the trip, my sister told my mom, "I need to meet this damn Baby Elkhart. I've never even SEEN him, and I can't stop singing that stupid song!" I was tickled in all kinds of ways to hear that story. That was a year ago, and still, most times that I see the kids, they ask about Baby Elkhart. I even brought him with me for New Year's Eve, and Stella demanded a portrait with him.

I decided at one point, that Baby Elkhart needed a comrade. There was a website listed on his tag (which, by the way, is also where his name came from), and so I went there. I was so excited to see how many different friends he had to choose from! I had my heart set on Rocky, the white mountain goat. But then, to my horror, I found out that for some reason, this company has a policy against selling things online, and will only sell to vendors. I almost cried. One day, Baby Elkhart WILL have a friend though, if it's the last thing I do.

And that, in a very long entry, is The Legend of Baby Elkhart. I'm sure you'll read about him again.

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growing up

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:50:35 -0800

Sid is one now, Stella is five, and Ian will be eight in less than two weeks. How does that happen? I still remember how warm the wood of the porch was under my bare legs, as I sat there while Tessa told me she was pregnant with Ian. So how do I get from there, to here? Where my baby is now almost eight? And not only that, but he has a sister, who is the apple of my eye, and a baby brother that lights up every room he's in.

I look back at older pictures, and I long for those days. But then I look at these current pictures, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I can't wait until these are old pictures. I want to see my babies all grown up.

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truth from a cookie

nobody@vox.com(Megan) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:23:50 -0800

My Fortune Cookie told me:
You are dreaming. It is time to wake up now.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

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