Blog Mechanics

Our friend Garret is becoming an expert at the whole blogging thing and at his suggestion I've made the following minor changes: Anonymous comments are allowed now so anyone can comment on a blog post without using the word verification filter. Since I still approve any comments before they are posted, it seemed pointless to add another hoop for people to jump through - and you don't have to create a blogger profile to post one now.

Also, for some reason Garret has been unable to add the blog to those that he 'follows' - but something I did must have corrected the problem, and that feature works now.

That Magic Moment

One of the things that I have missed a lot since moving to Florida was experiencing four distinct seasons. Prior to living here I'd always taken for granted the cycle of the seasons from Winter to Spring to Summer to Fall. But I miss it. Technically we still have four seasons but it really feels like two - the wet season when humidity is high and the days are warm, and the dry season when humidity is low and the days are cool. Florida always seems out of sync with the rest of the country, too. Winter comes very late here and it's hard to get into the spirit of the Holidays when it's 80+ degrees outside, and the short cool days that pass for Winter here are over so very quickly. Spring is even sprung on you before you're ready. I guess this is the draw for many who move to the Sunshine State, but for all the glory of subtropical paradise - I've never really felt at home here.

But twice a year, late in Spring and Fall, I experience an echo of what life was like when I lived north of Florida - in the South, ironically. It's most powerful in Autumn, a magical moment when something within me responds to subtle changes around me and I *know* that Fall has arrived. It always catches me by surprise even though I look forward to it every year. I can't explain it, but there is a miniscule shift in the temperature and humidity, a breeze and an unmistakeable smell in the air that makes me sigh, lifts my spirits and puts a spring in my step, a smile on my face. Suddenly everything clicks into place, and the world around me is finally in sync. No longer do the seasonal decorations in the stores seem out of place. Suddenly even though we're not all wearing sweaters and sipping cocoa here it doesn't seem odd that others in the country are.

I look forward to this moment eagerly. It just feels good. It also stirs up the wanderlust deep within me. It grows stronger every year, this yearning to return to familiar surroundings where not all colorful fall leaves are silk, and where Christmas decorations are less likely to hang from palm trees. Where the Sun and long hot days of Summer are treasured for their brevity rather than grumbled about for their unrelenting, tortuous humidity. Where the first brave flower to poke up it's colorful head is greeted with delight while the chill of winter not yet past fails to beat it down. When this moment comes I am happy but wistful.

It finally happened a few days ago, while I sat on a bench outside of work taking a break from the madness that is retail. A golden, serene, blissful moment in time that changed me. Even my co-workers noticed, smiling as I re-entered the store whistling. So what if we're already taking down the fall decorations and splattering the store with red and green and glitter. Who cares if Santa Claus and snowmen grin luridly at me from every other shelf weeks before Thanksgiving. Today the windows of my house are open, a breeze is blowing, and the rustle of still-green leaves clinging tenaciously to the trees in my yard fills the air. Autumn in Florida - such as it is - has arrived.

Paper Leaves and the Dream Machine

In keeping with the fall season and the ever-present retail push for more sales I had a scheduled Demo of the Cricut Machine at work today. I set up the table and proceeded to make the requisite Halloween-themed scrapbook page, which went smoothly. I'll post a picture of the end result in a later entry - I think it came out nicely. It didn't take long at all, though, and I still had three hours left for the demonstration. For the rest of the 'show' I experimented by using the Cricut machine to cut out leaves from various shades and patterns of paper, scattering them across the table. A fair showing of interested customers kept me pretty busy and I had lots of fun talking about the machine and scrapbooking in general. I sold 2 Cricut machines by the end of the Demo so... not bad.

I absolutely love mine, and hope to get some projects done by Christmas. I have an idea for making paper ornaments this year for the tree. If I manage to pull it off, I'll post some pictures.

Late Cards and Domestic Fish

David turned 49 today, woo hoo! I arranged to have the day off so I'd be available for whatever the birthday boy wanted to do. A good idea in theory, but it turns out he just wanted to go to Outback for dinner and we went so late I could have still worked a closing shift. Ah well, it's the thought that counts right?

Speaking of the thought that counts, this year the honey did not get any cards on time. Family members and friends called throughout the day to wish him well on the anniversary of his birth - and to inform him that the card was in the mail. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but this year it turns out everybody was late and being the Scorpio that he is - he was bummed. I could tell. In case you're wondering if I bucked the trend and saved the day, I'm afraid not. Yup, I forgot to get him a card in time too. I feel very guilty about that as it is, so save your snarky comments - you didn't do it either.

After checking the coupons for specials, David settled on Outback Steakhouse and off we went. He had the Outback Special (the 9-oz sirloin) and was quite happy with it. I, of course, had to complicate things by ordering fish. I don't get it much at home because David only likes fish if it's square and breaded. So yes, we went to a steakhouse and I wanted fish. The Tilapia in a Crab and Mushroom cream sauce looked good but with all the chemically-laced stuff coming out of China these days I wanted to be sure it wasn't imported. The waiter was completely stumped by the question "is it domestic or imported?" and gaped at me open-mouthed for a beat before asking another server as she passed by. The verdict? "oh geez, I dunno dude..." (run away). "No problem," I say, "I'll just have the Salmon instead." This didn't sit well with our server who was determined to check with the 'Chef'. Sure enough, the Tilapia was declared domestic and served up promptly. I have this image in my head of the 'Chef' saying "I don't friggin' know either, just tell him it is." At any rate, it was tasty and the accompanying grilled asparagus was perfect. I'll let you know if I end up with Melamine Poisoning. ::twitch::

Dinner dispatched, we headed home for some quiet time in front of the TV and take-out Dairy Queen. We live such an exciting life, eh?

Why Did it Have to be Her? (Warning: Politics)

Governor Sarah Palin makes me want to vomit. There. I said it.

I think we're long overdue for a woman in the White House. But why, o why, does the first woman with a chance at it since Geraldine Ferraro have to be THIS woman. A few of the many things about her that make me green around the gills:

- Contrary to what she may think, Pakistan is *not* a 'neighboring country'
- As I've been screaming at Bush on the TV for eight years, it's 'nuclear' not 'nukuler'
- Contrary to what she would like us to think, Russia is not so close you can touch it.
- It is a Governor's right to fire anyone in their administration; but just because you can do a thing does not mean you should. Personal vendettas - however you justify it - do not override a person's right to work and make a living, especially when their job performance is not in question. What will she do with her power if she's a heartbeat away from the Oval Office?
- Trickle-down economics do not significantly benefit the soccer moms she claims to identify with.
- The Katie Couric Interview was scarier than "Saw III" and just as 'cringe-worthy'
- Talking to governments who may threaten our national security 'without preconditions' is not dangerous to our future; it is exactly this sort of sane, measured discussion that is the foundation of diplomacy and may provide alternatives to the armed conflicts that put our soldiers at risk and re-establish the United States of America as the leading democratic force for peace rather than the stubborn, swaggering bully we are becoming.
- There's a place for smarmy, self-righteous smart-asses who throw stones from doorstep of their glass houses, but it's not the White House.
- Given the odds that both presidential candidates might not survive their first term, and her assertion that Senator Obama lacks experience, it is clear that Senator Biden far outstrips Governor Palin when it comes to understanding modern domestic and foreign policy - making him better suited lead the nation from the hot seat.

That's a drop in the bucket, but I have to stop before I spew. Suffice it to say that any hope of my vote for Sentator McCain was dashed by Governor Palin's nomination as VP; I will be voting Obama/Biden in November.