A Perfect Day

I love this time of year. It puts a spring in my step, and it's not just because JH goes back to school. I've always felt this way - Autumn is my favorite season, followed closely by spring. There's just something about the weather changing, bringing new exciting opportunities.

Yesterday we had a very. busy. day. It started early in the morning when I went for a job interview at an elementary school in our district and was hired to work as a one on one aide. I'm thrilled - it will be something completely new and challenging, and everyone I met at the school is so passionate about what they do. It's also the same hours as JH is in school, with the same holidays, so that's a huge bonus. I start next week, after I get fingerprinted and reference-checked.

After I got home, we hopped in the car for a three hour drive to Seattle to see some friends who were there visiting from LA. I took care of the little guy from the time he was three months until he was three years old, so he and Joe-Henry are like brothers.





They couldn't be more different - C. is in constant motion, a blurry blonde head running by, and JH is caution personified, but they love each other to bits and pieces. I feel so lucky we got to see them. We hit the Seattle Zoo, and had a great time, but the boys had a hard time saying goodbye.



After they left, I took JH to Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union.



When Charley and I were dating, we used to ride over there on his motorcycle (oh, we were BAAAADASSES!), and down fish and chips and make googly eyes at each other. We were lovestruck, and Seattle will always mean romance to me.


It even felt that way with JH. Not in a sicko way, just... well, it just felt perfect. It was a gorgeous day, and there is nothing quite like sitting lakeside, watching the boats, and feeding the ducks. This one was so funny - it had a growth on the side of it's head and it limped and it was particularly adept at begging for fries.

When we finished our dinner, we headed home. The moon came out just about the time we reached home, so I drove in the dark of the car, not listening to anything but JH. His Daddy loaned him his iPod and headphones, and about every two minutes he would tunelessly belt out a snippet of "Burning Down The House" or "Old Joe's Place" from the soundtrack to "A Mighty Wind". As the moon rose, he shouted

"Watch out
You might get what youre after
Cool babies
Strange but not a stranger
Im an ordinary guy
BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE!"

Perfect days don't happen that often. I'll tuck this one away for later.

5 days...

...Until the start of school.

How does that happen? I know I was complaining about summer break at the beginning, but here's what happened....

I really started to enjoy this kid's company. We fell into a pretty easy rhythm:

Him: Wake up, watch tv, eat cereal, play with some sort of transportation toy, start to whine, eat some lunch, go to the park (or grocery store or post office), come home have a snack, play with some sort of transportation toy, watch the news, eat dinner, watch Jeopardy!, take a bath, delay bedtime by an hour or so by asking a million questions.

Me: Wake up earlier than him, make the coffee, read my blogs, write if I feel like it, clean the kitchen, start the laundry, make him breakfast, read the paper, order him to turn off the tv, take my shower, turn my brain over to him for the rest of the day, collapse at bedtime.

He grew about a foot this summer, and when he got his haircut the other day, when he was done I realized I have a big kid now.



He wears a watch and talks politics. But he still laughs at fart jokes, so we have something in common at least.

I took him to the ice cream social at his school so he could meet his new teacher. She asked what he wanted to learn about in first grade. He said Mechanical Engineering. She looked scared. She's going to be busy this year.

I have a job interview this morning. I'm excited and scared and nervous. I hope I don't fart during the interview.

At least Joe-Henry would still think it was funny.

All Creatures Great and Small

We took to the air this weekend, to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday in beautiful Carpinteria, CA. I won't tell you how old she is, but I will tell you what Joe-Henry says about her. "You're the perfect age, Grandma. Not too old, and not too young." She has always looked gorgeous, and aging doesn't seem to be on her agenda, ever. She will always and forever be a dish.


We've been spending lots of time lavishing love and attention on the dogs. Joe-Henry loves to help Grandpa walk the dogs, and this guy needs extra special attention.


He's only eleven, but he's had a siezure disorder for the last six years, and is on heavy duty meds. But his nose still works the way it should. He can smell food from miles away.


He weighs a ton, and smells like, well, a basset hound, but he's family. He brings grown men to their knees with his sweetness. And this little girl is smart enough to do your taxes.


It's nice to get a dose of family here, and to fill our senses up with California. There's the beach, of course, and the little creatures that thrive here like nowhere else. I am determined to get at least one decent shot of the hummingbirds that seem to be playing a game with me.

"Where's your camera NOW, lady! Haaaahaaahaaaa..." and they speed away while I futz with the lens cap. I did manage this one shot, but it's my mission to get a better one this weekend.


I love the lizards, of course, but this little frog was so cute. He was about as big as my thumb, and he hung on to the adirondack chair for dear life.


We'll see lots more family today, and there will be baseball and birthday cake. Then it's home tomorrow to my sweet hubband, who had to work, but then was felled by something nasty that seems to have crawled up his nose and stayed there. On the phone he sounds like he might have tried to stick an orange up there. I'm glad he's got the house to himself to rest up.

We miss you, sweetie. Feel better soon.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Hoo!

If you are one of those lucky enough to call the fabulous Suttonhoo a friend, then you are lucky beyond measure. If you only know of her from her amazing blog Detritus, then let me tell you a few things about her that you might not know...

She works like a demon. She's got the goods, and then some when it comes to talent, but she's so humble you'd never guess it. She's got her arms open to life, and if you look up the word "lovely" in the dictionary, you'll see her picture. She would never write anything mean about anyone on tv. But if YOU did, and say, you got busted? She would say something to make you feel better. And then she'd laugh at you a lot. Which is why you love her.

She's one of those gorgeous smart girls. If you read her blog, you know she's tall, too, so she could kick yer ass if she needed to, but she wouldn't ever need to, because she would disarm you with her charming wit immediately, and you would never even feel foolish for having wanted to tussle with the likes of her. Just lucky that you didn't.

She's the kind of friend who shows up. When we both lived in Seattle, she helped us move (twice, in one year), and when we moved to LA and I had been there only days, I received a call to tell me my father lay dying in a nursing home three states away. She met me during a layover at the Seattle Airport with bagels and a hand to hold. She's just so kind.

She loves a great cup of coffee, The New York Times, and laughing at mortifying stories. She won't shy away from a good, cleansing cry, either. And no matter how much time or distance stands between you, she will remember your stories. Sometimes better than you do. Because she likes stories and she loves you.

D., I wish you a full cup of dark, rich, hot coffee and something chocolate to go with it.
To your next year - may it be full of adventure (the good kind), and laughs (the best kind), and dear friends (the only kind).
Love you to bits and pieces.
Mrs. McQ

From "You Are Your Birthday" by Ellin Dodge

If August 24th is your birthday:

You are sensitive, detail conscious and want all the comforts of home. In youth your pettiness, jealous outbursts and overly humble manner created disharmony in your community. When you become cooperative and maintain friendships, your youthful relationships are helpful in mid-life. Love and a peaceful atmosphere at home or business are essential to your emotional and practical well-being. A helpmate, teacher or assertive friend is inspirational and helps you to make decisions. You intend to improve your material standards, have your own home and are willing to work in youth.

In your twenties you relate best to males due to your sensitivity to your mother as a tot. You are opinionated and play devil's advocate to get a rise out of everyone. It is difficult for you to be decisive or patient until you get in touch with your true feelings. As a child, your temper tantrums or violent dislikes were ignored. If you were encouraged to share your personal opinions, develop your intellectual strengths and build self-confidence, you would not make mountains out of your personal molehills or be too self-concerned.

You are too intent upon surviving before the war begins. In mid-life you assume responsibilities and begin to recognize your exceptional talents. You are a late bloomer and begin to receive recognition after age forty.

You have lived unconventionally and sensually and learned about life as you encountered changes and surprise. The people and experiences that you met in youth are stepping-stones to your concentration in later years. You have material protection.

Positive Energy

Due to recent events on this blog, I've decided to take a new road.

Without further explanation:



"You look fabulous today! Have you lost weight? Is that a new haircut? You are doing a great job!"

I mean that sincerely.

Have a happy day.

So. Busted.

A while back, I posted something mean about someone on tv.

I've been spanked.

"Thanks Joe-Henry, for your unconditional support. Truthfully sometimes I do get shy, but I always feel at ease when I am with children. Children are open, honest, and non-judgmental, but most importantly they are loads of fun and incredibly imaginative.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer. Keep up the good work with your reading. Words are the window to the world!

Your Friend,

The Giggly Miss Lori

PS Don't be too hard on your Mom. Moms are human. We all get exhausted and annoyed sometimes. It's great that she has this blog as an outlet. We should all have a safe place to go to express our true feelings. Don't worry, I don't take it personally. :)

Let Your SMILE Shine On!

Miss Lori"


Sorry Miss Lori. Thank you sincerely for your generous comment. Joe-Henry was really excited a) to see that you responded, and b) that mom got busted. Honestly, though, it was a great teachable moment. For me. I'm glad you didn't take it personally. I would honestly feel terrible if I hurt your feelings.

I will be listening with new ears. You have my utmost respect.

Your new fan,
AnnieMcQ

say what you will....

I have a dear friend who has been taking pole dancing classes. She loves it and her husband is reaping the benefits of her new sexy confidence. I have lots of body confidence, but get really embarrassed when I dance.

I have always been very private about my sexuality. Well, except for that time when I taped myself getting a pearl necklace in a three way with a cabana boy, the stable boy and an actor who, for the purposes of his anonymity I will give the pseudonym George C. Looney. That really came back to bite me in the ass. It's all over the internet. Search word "Kitty Lanai".
(Edit: I know that if you can count, that's technically a fourway, but the cabana boy and the stable boy had to tag team because George and I wore them out.)

Anyhoo, this weekend there was a little festival in our town, and these ladies had it all goin' on. There were a lot of young punks there who laughed at first, but these women got the better of them. And Joe-Henry thought they were all terrific. (Of course, now he wants finger cymbals....)











They were very inspiring, so who knows. This studio recently opened up here....