Kellye's blog

the yagoni: update

I know the fate of the yagoni has kept people up at night with worry, right? No? Well, here is an update anyway. Some time in late August, I noticed that the water in the wine glass had evaporated below the "safe" line and yet he continued to blink so I ditched the water and have just had his head sitting around, blinking happily. There was an accident in September where he was bumped, took a fall (I was in a hurry and clumsy, bad mommy) and stopped blinking but we had an E.T. moment a few days later where he came back. Then, the first part of October he died again and I thought he had finally gone to.... well, I have no idea where the yagoni go when they die and don't care to speculate. I couldn't bear to throw him away so even after a few weeks without a heartbeat, he was still in his spot. Don't worry, I wouldn't do that with an actual pet or anything.
But while I was in Nashville, he came back! He wasn't alive when I left that morning and Vic said he noticed him blinking when he got back from trick-or-treating with the kids. It was a Halloween miracle! Hallelujah!
And now it is November and he's been here for nearly a full year. I have to recharge my iPod and cell phone nearly every day, the kids can run a battery out of a toy within hours and yet there he sits. blink-blink blink-blink blink-blink.
Keep it up, little guy.

wishes do come true

I stayed up way too late last night. I couldn't go to bed until I heard the first speech from our new president...and then I was all snuffly from crying. Everything he said in his speech is exactly why I voted for him. I think we have all forgotten what kind of country we want to be over the past eight years. We have forgotten how to respect each other, how to listen to each other and how to learn from each other. I sincerely hope he will bring the inspirational leadership we so desperately need and all Americans will come together with a unified goal for a better future.

Any chance we can go ahead and get him moved in today?

the red state blues

I voted last week but it doesn't really matter. I could have voted for a purple monkey and my state would still go to McCain. I got all these emails from Obama's website encouraging me to drive to North Carolina and knock on doors or even call people there. I interpreted these as "hey, we're super glad you are voting for Obama but you're state is a seriously lost cause so maybe pitch in somewhere he actually stands a chance in hell of winning." I get it. I still love ya, Tennessee. But I cast my little vote and tried to be as vocal as I could around here without getting pummeled. I am hopeful that maybe this one will at least be close. Belle's class did a poll and it was 18-2 for Obama, that's encouraging. It's just a few hours now before the polls close and then the circus will really begin. My one and only wish is that we wake up tomorrow with a president elect no matter who it is. The last thing this country needs is to have another election drag on for months.

No election day cake but I did make this one Sunday for a charity auction.....

best.day.ever.

the king

What a positively perfect 24 hours. Nashville is such a relaxing place to be. We got there really early and were able to check in and just hang out. Our afternoon was so chilled out that I almost felt a twinge of guilt about all the kids' Halloween festivities Victor was having to scurry around for.... almost. Our hotel was on the block next to the venue on Broadway and there was a nice little bar with live music (all the bars have live music, it's Nashville) right across the street where we had drinks before the show, well I did, sis is preggers. Once we got in, we set up a meeting place and I started working my way forward during the opening act (they were called Health and they sucked). I got about 6 people from the front when I got stuck so I sweet-talked this very tall dude near the front into pulling me in front of him. He was there with a short, slightly round gay guy who had every manner of goodies smuggled in his pockets that he happily shared. Good times. There was no real pit but the crowd was large and crushing. One of those that swayed and moved together where you see the occasional chic being pulled out from exhaustion and the security feels the need to douse water on us. I ended up just two people back from the barricade with a great view. I'm pretty tender today with some bruising on my arms and a generally sore torso from all the pressure but it's worth every bit of it. I haven't made my way that close to the stage since the very first time I saw him at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. (Remember that show, Jason? How many years ago was that?) This tour has an incredible stage show that you lose most of when you are that close but, oh my, being that close is..... well, it's just fan-fucking-tastic.

The set list was nearly identical to the last show. He didn't do The Wretched or Reptile (grrrrrr!!!) but most people shut up during Hurt and, where I was standing, appreciated the Ghosts tracks. There was some asshole who used a laser pointer and messed up the Echoplex drum screen thing and Trent gave us a nice little speech about how he used to be the kind of guy to freak out over that but he's letting it go now. He also mentioned concern over a missing tech guy that was with them when they came in town but couldn't be found. This means nothing to most of you but for those that follow Trent, this is really opening up. He rarely speaks during shows at all. And look, someone got video of it too! Their sound was incredible and even though I've seen this tour twice now, I'd give anything to see it one more time.

Today we strolled around Nashville some more before hitting South Street for some scrumptious ribs and heading home. The weather was perfect and we got to see the most beautiful displays of fall colors on the drive. My sister also felt her baby move for the first time on the way home. It's her first pregnancy so it's was wonderful to be there for that and to have some time together before her life gets baby-hectic. Yep, the whole thing ranked up there with the best trips ever.

I don't try to keep up with a camera at these things but I've swiped a couple of pics to share...

one more day

and I will happily squeeze into one of these.....

NIN-orlando

To get closer to this. 

34

Turning 30 didn't bother me at all. I think I was genuinely surprised to have not only survived my 20's but to have escaped them (relatively) unharmed. Why does 34 sound so irritating? I'm in a pretty good place. I'm literally in the best shape of my life, I've got a good husband, two healthy kids, a comfortable house with little debt, a good family and community around me and a couple of people I can call true friends. I have no career but my current 'job' still feels important. There is the occasional nagging sensation of being surrounded by people and still absolutely alone. We all feel that way sometimes though, right? Maybe it's because 34 is painfully close to 35 and there is something ridiculously ominous about that number. I'm sure when I turn 40, 35 won't seem scary at all. Who knows. But this birthday is the first one that has made me feel old. Not heading-for-the-rocking-chair old, more like where-did-all-the-time-go old. Maybe it's these darn kids with all this growing up faster than a speeding bullet business. In less than a week I'll be in jumping head first into a NIN pit. Will I be the oldest one in there? shudder. Will I break a hip? ok, probably not but this year will probably bring my first need for anti-wrinkle cream and a trip to the salon to cover the gray. ew.

ah well. Enough feeling sorry for my old ass. Friday, I will jump in the pit like its 1993 but today I will practice yoga and eat cake....ah crap, I forgot to make myself a cake.

they really love me

Thanks Ms. Susu! I love Susan's blog. Like her it is always interesting and often teaches me something. She's got cute pooches too ;-)

Iloveyourblogaward

Here are the rules for the award recipients:
1. Please put the award on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. You must nominate at least 4 fellow bloggers for this award. (yes,  I only did 3. Coco is on hiatus)
4. Add links to the recipients.
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

I read very few blogs but I present this award to...
Amanda - Gretchen - Stacey

everybody loves a musical

There's been quite a bit of excitement around here over the new High School Musical movie coming out. Since she's out on fall break this week (and it has been heaven!), Belle and I scooted over to the first showing this morning. I won't say it's a fabulous movie, there's no helping what it is. But I can get in to any movie where people randomly bust out in song for 2 minutes at a time. The cheese factor is high, way high, but that's always been part of their charm. They've pumped out the length for the final installment and, although unnecessary, it still moves well. There were a couple of moments that reminded me of Footloose which is always a good thing.
It was a packed house, lots of little girls with their moms. And I just have to mention, there was a scene where Zac walks into the locker room and, with his back to the camera, swiftly removes his shirt. I heard many of those moms audibly purr.

don't touch

I made this iPod Touch cake today for Victor's brother's birthday. I started making the app icons last night and they didn't turn out to be nearly the pain I thought they would be. It's covered in black icing but it sure did smooth as slick as fondant this time. And yes, I know I didn't put the time or the app names below each icon- bite me.

we love fall

Is there anything more wonderful than jumping in leaves on a lovely fall day? I think not.

And here's something that will make you feel old. This is the same girls on the same swing five years ago and then again today. I wish I could also throw some props out to the makers of this swingset for lasting this many years but the name wore away long ago.