For Mere

i used to stand in your shoes
wishing i could be you
all i needed was your arms around me
and i was happy
you were the sun and the moon
i thought you were so beautiful

and now some of your hair has turned gray
never thought you'd look this way
so much has changed
except your arms around me
still makes me happy
and i still think you're beautiful

this is just my way to let you know
what i so often fail to show
just how much i feel
you are still the sun and the moon
and you will always be beautiful

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.

New World Order

Dodie: I've got it all figured out.

kctl: Got what all figured out?

Dodie: What I'm going to be when I grow up. I've got a plan.

kctl: Plans are good. Let's hear it...

Dodie: I'm going to go to the University of Colorado and get my degree in Political Science.

kctl: That's a good start...CU is a good school. Then what?

Dodie: Then I'll be the govenor of Colorado.

kctl: Uh-huh.

Dodie: That's only for a few years, because in 2027, I'm going to be President. I'll be the youngest President ever!

kctl: Honey, that's great, but you can't be President at 30. You have to be at least 35 to run for President. Why don't you go into the Senate for a few years first?

Dodie: Because I want to be the youngest President. Why can't I be President at 30?

kctl: Because that's the rule. It's in the Constitution.

Dodie: Fine. Guess I'll be a Senator first.

kctl: Okay, so when you run for President, what's your platform going to be? What are your issues? Are you a Democrat or a Republican?

Dodie: Well, the first thing I'm going to do is create "Skittles World." It'll have roller coasters and water rides and bags of Skittles everywhere. Oh, and it'll all be free!!

kctl: Free? How are you going to pay for it? That would cost millions and millions to build and operate.

Dodie: I'll just tax everybody.

kctl (laughing): That would make you a Democrat.

Dodie: Whatever. Fine. I'll charge everybody $10 to get in.

kctl: So, then, what about poor people? How will you help them?

Dodie: I'll make them get jobs.

kctl (laughing): Now that'd make you a Republican. Okay. So, what about your foreign policy?

Dodie: What's that?

kctl: Well, that's how you handle America's relationships with other countries.

Dodie: Oh, that's easy. I'll just turn all the other countries in the world into Americas.

kctl: Now I get it, you just want to rule the world!! You don't want to be President, you want to be a dictator.

Dodie: Does that mean everybody would have to do what I say?

kctl: Yep.

Dodie: Awesome! I want to be a dictator then.

kctl: My niece the dictator...sounds good. It'll be a new world order!!

Family ties

I woke up in a great mood this morning: I'm leaving today and heading east to visit my family for the weekend. I'm so excited to see everyone. I cannot believe how much I've missed them! By early evening I'll be catching with Mere and Kel; more than likely getting teased by my bro-in-law...and best of all, I'll be knee deep in hugs and kisses from Booger Butt and Dodie.

I just know I'm going to cry. I'm such a sap.

Forget Me Never

I am haunted by the events in Virginia. A moment of silence for those who were lost...

...

...

...

May those who are grieving find comfort and solace in the memories of their loved ones.

If I should go, forget me never

Please say that you'll remember me

I pray the dreams we share together

Will shine on in your memory

Each time a star falls out of heaven

It leaves the sky a deeper blue

So if we part, forget me never

And don't forget my love for you

Elvis Presley, "Forget Me Never"

An age old question

Talking about the snow storm that missed Denver metro by a smidge yesterday...

kctl co-worker: What happened to the 8-12 inches we were supposed to get last night?

kctl: You know, women have been asking that same question for ages.

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. Tip your bartender...

Impromptu

The evening was over and they walked outside together. Their hands brushed once, twice, before their fingers caught.

Smiling at him, she noticed how warm his hand felt in contrast to the chilly night air.

As they stood by her car, the wind picked up and made her shiver. He tucked her hands into the pockets of his jacket as he leaned in to kiss her.

Quietly he said, "I've been wanting to do that for hours."

"Me too," she sighed.

Trip On

Mile high in the sunlight

Hung bright in the desert sky

I've been through the dance

Some say there's a better way

But I'll take my own road

Almost Home

Lately I've been obsessed with the concept of home. What makes a place a home? Does it have to be a place? Could it be a feeling? A person?

Since I moved to Denver, I've been wondering, where is my home? Is it in Kansas City with the people and places I grew up with? Is it in Small Town, USA where my grandparents live, even though I've never lived there? Is it in the love I have for my family? Is it in the love they have for me? Is it in the growing pains I'm having in my new city? I think home, for me anyway, is in all of these things. Home can be many things at once, can't it?

There's no such thing as no regrets

But baby it's alright

I'm not running

I'm not hiding

I'm not reaching

I'm just resting in the arms of the great wide open

Gonna pull my soul in

And I'm almost home

Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Almost Home"

Happy Easter

This always makes me laugh...

Opposites attract

I confess: I'm bad with money. I mean, really bad with money. I pay my bills on time (for the most part) and try very hard to put something in my savings account each payday, but I am (thus far) unable to create a budget and stick to it. I have gone to a cash only existence by cutting up my credit cards and not using my debit card. 'Cash or nothing' is my new motto. I need someone to give me an allowance.

Dawn (who is very good with money, by the way) has graciously offered to help me by creating a budget that she swears I can live with. We'll see. Anyway, Sunday is D-Day. Here's a bit of an email exhange we had today:

kctl:Linda's obsession with Excel spreadsheets is rubbing off on me, so I'll have everything on a spreadsheet for Sunday.

After you get my finances organized, wanna tackle my closets? Hee! Only kidding, I love you too much to torture you like that.

Dawn: You know I would love to do that. We can do both on Sunday, but you are going to have to be brutal. My rule is if it doesn't fit, you don't like it or you haven't worn it in a year (except for dressy stuff) it goes. Oh... I'm so excited!!! Do I need to bring hangers? "WE" only use plastic.

kctl: You're weird. Very, very weird. Let's save the closets for next weekend. We wanna pace ourselves.

Dawn: Okay. :(

kctl: Don't be so glum, the closet mess isn't going anywhere. I promise. Heck, we might even look under the bed. And dresser drawers. There's plenty of organization to be done! My bedroom alone could keep us busy for a month.

Dawn: Ahhhh! Thanks for making me feel better!!

I mean, really, who gets excited about cleaning/organizing closets? Weirdos, that's who!! I'm going to have to clean my closets before I can let her help me clean my closets! It's a wonder that this self-confessed slob and a neat-nik like her have been friends for so long, but as they say, opposites attract.

Sorry, Charlie

Solitary

I drive alone with my mind

fighting thoughts of this kind

In the darkness of these naked, empty streets

I'm free to just breathe

He said I'm the queen of random phone calls

I explained it's just this time of year

These awkward conversations, these constant isolations

And this town is bringing me down

So bogged down with this, this flesh and bone

I'm not supposed to feel quite this alone

Amidst this clutter, watch me stumble, step and fall

I haven't the strength to get back up

'Cause I am empty, floating loveless

Cut me and I bleed only dust

Reposted from March 2006