Jason Mc

Hmmm. Introduce myself? Well, Here goes..... Um, I'm 25, single (for now, he doesn't know his mom just spilled the beans ) am living with my folks (just for another few weeks, I'm moving to the city for a year due to work - insert a BIG ol ick right there) in Northern Ohio. I am a (deep breath, ala Mary Poppins) editor, typist, private secretaray, manager & publicist, co-own a cleaning business with my mom, seamstress, theater tec who spends WAY too much time and far too much money on her RenFaire habit. I read, pretty much anything (in desperation I have been known to read the backs of cleaning bottles), sew, cross-stitch, cook, clean, and play with my two cats. No children, just the cats (and they are more than enough.). I am an aunt to the cutest little girl in the world, soon to be aunt of a quarterback to be named later. I own four acres that I will be moving and building on in a year and a half (money is apparently needed. how very small minded of the banks.) and am looking forward to having my own little nest in the woods. By then (cross the toes, wings, and beak) I'll be sharing it with quite possibly the most wonderful man that ever got down on one knee to sing Music of the Night to me. Hopefully. Well. Thats me. I'm viewed as a bit odd, but only a bit. (Except on Tuesdays, never got the hang of Tuesdays.)

At the sound of Darlene slathering on the sun screen, an eye begins to peer out from under Magpie's wing. As Darlene streches in her sunchair, the black bird quietly jumps off her perch and hops over to kitchen window. She opens it as quietly as possible and scoops a large wingful of slushy snow up and flies out of the house. Quickly checking her trajectory and altitude she angles for the perfect shot and..... WHUMP! Seeing a direct hit of snow sliding down Darlene's cheery bathing suit, she hie tails it back to her nest and is heard to say as she settles back in for her nap... "Not nice to brag."

Well, the last of the flu shots hit my town a week ago, anyone who didn't make it into the line is outta luck for a while. The folks decided against getting theirs, and I'm allergic (fun fun) so I was wondering. Other then wash your hands continually... staying away from small germ-ridden children (can you tell I'm not yet a mom?

At all the commotion Magpie pulls her out from her wings and looks outside. As she fluffs her feathers all that can be heard is a muttered "Not already....." Seeing the sleet and ice coming down on her own nest she gives a sympathy wave in Hillbilli's direction and is seen hopping her way to the hot cocoa bin. Anyone for hot chocolate? Leaving the milk hot on the stove (thank heavens her nest is fireproof) she hops back onto her branch and puts her head back under her wings. Her muffled snore is soon heard. A sign hanging from the branch reads "Wake when its sunny".

Made the mistake of telling my boyfriend (sorry, give me a moment, it still sounds weird to say THAT) that I could sew a bit. Now he is sending various ideas for our upcoming Halloween party that all involve MANY hours of me leaning over a sewing machine. While most people will consider the homemade option the cheaper - nuh huh. My friends are all closet costume junkies (and frankly, the closet isn't holding them too well any more. we tend to launch ourselves out into the world rather oddly bedecked and beribboned at the drop of a hat. 6'7 tall young men running around town in kilts and claymores, and tall busty brunettes playing the wiley wench) It will be fun, I'll enjoy the party, and in truth, anything I/we (yup, he wants it, he's helping.) end up with will probabbly get mainlined into our "mundane" costume. Corsets look nifty with jeans, a brocade vest will look dandy with his dress clothes, it will all come around again. Halloween is mearly the day we won't get odd looks from the public like we do during the rest of the year. Well. Not as odd.

For me? Neat! Looks good, ladies..... Thank you! (Going over to Cat and giving her a quick hug) best birthday yet! Come on ladies.... the food is magnificent! Anybody wanna dance?

Oh...

The really nifty thing is that I made a batch of pumpkin muffins just yesterday and had just enough pumpkin sitting in the fridge to put this together. My father sends his stomach-full thanks for the wonderful recipe. Bonus - the house smells great too!

Hmmmmmm directions, directions. Uh, head toward the spot where the flood waters climbed... past the road that the river swallowed, turn round the tree that is scarlet and gold, park by the sign of the cat. You can't miss it! Now hurry ladies, the rice pudding is starting to take over the house.... HElllpppppp!

TaDaaaaa!!!!! It worked it worked (both, in fact!) I have mounds of creamy dreamy rice pudding that put a serious smile on mom's face. Thanks to all.

Oh Hillbillee.... i am so sorry. I know that I am new here, but what you have been writing has hit a cord and I wanted to first tell you that you are in my (as well as many others) prayers. The other thing I needed (oh, but not wanted.) to say was this. Sweetie. You HAVE to get out of there. I am not saying leave your husband. But you need to leave the situation completly for a while. Your safety and your health demand it. The other ladies in here have been trying to offer advice from the counseling standpoint. They are all right. (how in the world such a large group of kind and compassionate woman found each other, I will never know. I do remember them in my prayers, though) I'm coming at this from a different angle. My family has been heavily into the law enforcement side. Police, Federal agents, military, Lawyers, etc. And they all will agree with this. You are not safe there. The torture and killing of harmless animals? Hillbillee that is one of the early warning signs of a serial killer. I know that sounds extreme. But when I read your posts to my dad he looked horrified and told me to tell you from him... run. Do not walk. Leave the house. Contact the police. Nag. Phone. Harass. Picket. Shoot, sit outside their house until they listen. This girl needs serious help, true. Needs prayer and love. Also true. Needs a serious kick in the butt from one side of the house to the other? Also true. If your husband is honestly concerned, if he really and truely believes she is a danger (to you, to herself, to others) he needs to step up to this. There are homes. The closest thing I can think of at 4 in the morning is one of the "reeducation" bootcamps for young offenders. They are sprinkled all over the country, and the teen involved doesn't have to have been convicted of any crime to be sent. THink the ultimate "scared straight" encounter. But be that as it may be.... you have to leave. It just isn't safe. Please be careful. And this is the important thing. If for one moment... one second.... you feel imenently threatened... LEAVE! Carry a cell phone. Call the cops. Get out. I am sorry to sound so harsh, its just a family memember went through this not too long ago. I'm the one who had to deal with the fallout. I hate sittting in emergency rooms. They give me the creeps. So please... be careful. You have an large number of ladies sitting on the edge of their seats worried about you.

Mmmmmmm, warm weather, ocean breezes, boys on surfboards...... ya never know Westbrook, if you ever see a garish gypsy wagon wandering down your lane come on out and holler. (After hiding your silverware of course. Not that I would, just why lead a bird into temptation? ) Course, ya gotta promise a time when there's no earthquakes, tidalwaves, or mudslides. On the other wing...... maybe you should mosey on out to Ohio. The leaves are already changing, and the snow will be coming soon. I keep a kettle of hot chocolate on all the time!

The problem? the problem? Quote: Could you please tell me what, exactly, ended up your biggest problem with it? scorched/burned? rice didn't cook? curdled? Is there a d) all of the above? I have never been so embarassed in the kitchen before. At one point the milk even boiled over the side (how in a large pan, I couldn't say) and went down into the bottom of the oven. Set off the fire alarm and everything. < A muffled wail is heard by all as Maggiw burries her head on Cat's shoulder> It hates me it hates me It hates me..... Alright. Enough. I will not be defeated by this. Both of Hillbillees recipes are going to be tried... and Momo? I have a tub of your suggestion chilling (and hiding) in a cooler out in the garage. Cover me girls, I'm going back in. The results will be in tommorrow. Here's hoping.

Quote: Magpie Fairy!!!! I caught you!!!! kindly return my shiny ring. hey, isn't that mine too? I wondered where that had gotten off to! Girls...never leave anything shiny laying out when there is a Magpie around! Hey, so you are the one it belongs too. I was just looking around for the owner. Very careless of you to leave it just laying there. Good thing I came along to save it. You're surely welcome.

Well, my winter plans (once everything is safely folded up til spring) will seem mayhaps a bit odd, but I enjoy them

Ahhhhhhhhhh! I'm about to toss in my kitchen mit. Throw away my apron. Burn the cookbooks (all 137). And reprogram the phone for delivery. Unless there is someone out there who can help me. PLEASE???

I wish I wish I wish.... I coulda gotten my dear old father to read your helpful message, before he.... he.... he.... he put my great grandma's.... great gran's cast iron skillet in the dishwasher!!! Oh.... the humanity..... All those years of seasoning, all that time spent curing. It was a wonderful jet black. Slicker'n a oil spill too. Perfectly seasoned. Now... its... RED!!!!

Ya know..... that might just be about the oddest title for a post. Ever. Made me grin though, Althoug I know have this horrible vision of Snuggle the downy bear being slowly lowered into a vat of boiling wax......

While I tend to lurk in all the discussion groups this is the first that leapt out at me for personal reasons. It might sound silly, but I am soooo thankful someone (