Homing In

It seems to be Homecoming around these here parts. Check out Artichoke Heart's fantastic photos of her home on the Western Edge.

Here are some of my photos.

View from front porch:


Rufus and the Amazing Technicolor DreamRug:


Dad's Shop:




Wild aspargus:


Restored gas pump in the entryway:


What every farmhouse needs: a weapon at the ready:


Pray for rain:

BFFs

We mostly just watch "What Not To Wear" on TLC and nap. Then we play on the floor or in an exer-saucer. We love rice cereal lunches. We're really into just chilling in our sweatpants. We like to play "Super Baby!!" the most, though.

Auntie Lu loves this little boy so, so much!

Life on the Farm is Kinda Laid Back

ain't nothin' an ol' country boy like me can't hack.

I JUST! FINISHED! entering my FINAL! GRADES! for the semester.

I am not expecting any whinging e-mails from students, but ...

*****

My Days at Home Have Been Filled By:

Blowing money on pull tabs during lunch at The Eagles Club.

Lap swimming at the rec center while my Grandma walks the current river.

Hanging with one overgrown 3rd grader and one skinny, knobby, 5th grader.

Playing the always popular "I'm-gonna-get-your-rug-game" with my dog, Rufus.

Mentally checking off all the antiques I want to steal from my dad's quonset.

Cooking dinner for the folks. I am currently THIS MUCH into dill.

*****

I bought a new jean skirt. It's exactly what I've been needing.

*****

I am now going to attempt a run out to the oil well with Rufus. It will probably and quickly evolve into a brisk walk. I haven't run these roads since I was a junior in high school and in track. Also, I may be attacked from behind by a rogue mountain lion.

*****

I miss V-town and my V-town people.

Proof I Am, Indeed, an Adult

1. Got my tax stimulus refund thing and immediately thought, I should kick a chunk of that over to my student loans ...

2. When picture frame ran up for $12.49 instead of 9.99 at Shopko, I spoke up.

3. Bought a sweet new Chicago Cutlery butcher block full of sweet, effective knives.

4. Read the newest Reader's Digest cover-to-cover.

5. Got to pick out what days, times, and classes I want to teach in the fall. Yeah-uh.

6. Decided for sure I won't buy my next awesome dream car until I run my lemon of a Ford Focus into the ground.

7. Am looking forward to going home.

Directions

Last night I was eating oatmeal.

Not oatmeal mixed with hot water or anything.

Me, hunched over, eating dry oatmeal right out of the canister with two fingers and a thumb.

I apologize for that visual.

*****
Directions to cure sickness (heartsickness, head-sickness, stomach-sickness)

Turn shower on, as hot as you can stand it.

Sit down on bottom of tub, draw knees up to chest, rest head. Stay.

When the hot water has done enough, uncurl yourself to open up your heart, head, stomach again.

This is tried and true.

Eat Fresh

I really enjoyed the people who built my Subway sandwich today.

As my chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, spinach, black olive, and a little-bit-of-sweet-onion-sauce on wheat bread sandwich was being made, this rockin' song came on the radio and all three of us (customer = me, kinda nerdy white teenage boy who worked the cash register = Curtis, and other girl working = Funny Latina Teen), started bopping our heads and kinda singing along.

FLT: Curtis, who is this?
Curtis: I don't know.
Me: Matchbox 20.
FLT: Ha! Curtis, you don't know anything!
Me: Do I win anything?

later on

FLT: Curtis, do you know the band 311?
Curtis: No.
FLT: You suck! They are only, like, the most awesome band out there!

later on

FLT: Curstis, can you beatbox?
Curtis: Be bop?
FLT: No, duh, like beatbox, you know?
Curtis: Oh, no. I can't beatbox.

enter other worker, Gladys

FLT: Gladys, you're like 4 minutes late!! Curtis said he wasn't gonna talk anymore until Gladys gets here.
Gladys: Oh, I'm here.
FLT: Curtis, are you leaving?
Curtis: Yes, (incoherent manager's name) told me I could leave at 4 instead of 5.
Gladys and FLT: You suck, Curtis!

Curtis exits, the new Alicia Keys song comes on, and Gladys and FLT sing their hearts out while refilling the tomato bin.

*******
And, I am mere hours away from my last class of the semester. Are you kidding?

Totally Awesome Workout Mix

Run, Run Away -- Slade

Whenever, Wherever -- Shakira

Me Love -- Sean Kingston

Sweet Pea -- Tommy Roe

Jump On It -- DJ Twitch

Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! -- Vengaboys

Trouble -- Pink

You Can't Stop the Beat -- Hairspray Soundtrack

All Over You -- Live

Ooh Ah, Just a Little Bit -- Gina G

Touch My Body -- Mariah Carey

The Rubberband Man -- The Spinners