Which Slayer are You?

Okay, I'm a buffy fan now. Yes, I've seen the first three seasons and working on the fourth. I can't seem to get enough of Spike and Xander. Judge me how you will.

You scored as Buffy Summers. You are a very strong individual. You do, however, have some trouble admitting how you truly feel. You've experienced a lot during your life, but you more than manage. Always willing to help, you're a great friend.

Buffy Summers 71% Tara Maclay 67% Xander Harris 58% Dawn Summers 54% Anya 54% Willow Rosenberg 38% Spike 38% Rupert Giles 38% Which Buffy The Vampire Slayer Character Are You Most Like!? created with QuizFarm.com

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday

(I want this on a shirt...)

Cracker Jack Day

Dude. My mother-in-law TOTALLY loves me. I just got Fed-Exed a whole box of "Cracker Jack." What a lady. And after a day like today where one wishes to escape the world of being a grown-up in Yankee country, "Cracker Jack" is just what the doctor ordered. (Yes, being a librarian is HARD work!!! I had a story hour with 60 people and a fourth grade class visit - I feel like a burnt piece of toast.) Oh thank you, snack foods gods, for the blessing we call "Cracker Jack."

Christ in a Walnut

Christ in a Walnut
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

I finished uploading the pictures from our trip to the Cloisters last Saturday. (I took my hunny for his 30th birthday.) This picture is of one of my favorite things there. I'm sure it isn't called Christ in a Walnut - and I'm not trying to be sacreligious or anything. It is a rosary bead, made out of a walnut, with scenes from the life of Christ. Somebody seriously went BLIND doing this. And this is just one of the cool things we saw - check out the slideshow for more. I know you want to. At least click on this picture to get a closer look. It's worth your time. Come on - somebody went blind doing this!

Margaret Wise Brown's Garden Apt.

Margaret Wise Brown's garden apt.
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

This is the former garden apartment where Margaret Wise Brown wrote "The Noisy Book" (notice the bunny). This was one of the stops along the "Storied City" Walking Tour we took with Leonard Marcus. (Click on the picture to go to my flickr page and see more images from that little trip into the City...) And for all you non-librarian types, Margaret Wise Brown was the writer of the children's book "Goodnight Moon." Anyway, this garden is just as I'd imagine it to be!

Photo Friday - "Girl"

Prom Girl...

You think you know me? Find out.

What About Suzy?!? Take my quiz! Take This Quiz | See Scores | Make Own Quiz

Wordless Wednesday - "Cowlamnity Jane"

Fun Day

What an amazing day. (Every now and then, I have some really great ones...) Today I got to hang out with a slew (is that a word?) of children's librarians and take a walking tour of Greenwich Village with the author and children's lit. historian Leonard Marcus.

First of all, Marcus is a way cool guy. I remember picking up his book "Storied City" a couple of years ago when I came up to NYC for a visit and LOVING this book. It is like a travel guide for where famous children's books were conceived and where famous authors lived and hung out. I even went to a couple of his recommends, like Pete's Tavern where O'Henry did lots of his writing.

Anywho, the walking tour was great. We all had a blast. But I think the thing I liked best of all was going to lunch afterward with him and four other librarians. It was just me, Leonard Marcus, my buddy Ann (who I worked with at MPL), Mary (my boss), Judith from WLS (who I want to be when I grow up), and a former classmate Ellen. Talk about a cool lunch date! We sat around, talking about books and movies and whatever else came to mind. It is just really an amazing experience when you get to hang out with people you have a ton of respect for and know that they are real people too. (Does this make sense?) Marcus was a great listener and a totally down-to-earth guy; and it was just really cool to hang out with him and people that I have mucho respect for. It made me feel oh so grown up.

(Shameless Plug: If you are going to NYC and dig children's literature, get this book! It's fabulous!)

Slue-foot Sue

Slue-foot Sue
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

I am so behind on things! I tell ya, this moving-in thing and the fact that I am a perfectionist is really taking its toll. (Also, the fact that I am addicted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't helping much with the free-time factor.) Anywho, my TX visit pictures are ready to roll. Check out the slideshow. There are some funny pictures of the nieces and of our visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards. I guess you could call us "Posers" (because we all like to pose for pictures)! The cheesier the better, baby.

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Travel Mate

Today is my hunny's 30th birthday!!! What a hunk. (He ages well - I got me a good one. Look out, Harrison Ford.) Well, I wanted to post something I put in his b-day card because he is the most precious thing in my life. And here are thirty reasons why:

Thirty Things I Love About You, Tim...

1. You are the kindest and most genuine man I know.
2. You’ve always taken care of me, regardless of how silly or serious the situation.
3. You are so very handsome! (Growl!)
4. I love the way you act around children – I know you’ll make a wonderful daddy.
5. You are incredibly smart – you know a little bit about everything!
6. I love that you are always warm when I am cold – it’s an excellent snuggle feature.
7. I love that you open my doors, even after seven years of marriage.
8. You can fix anything. You are the ULTIMATE handy man!
9. I love your attention to detail when you’re working on a project. You have to do it right or not at all. Although it sometimes gets you into trouble, your finished project is always extraordinary.
10. I love your strength – physical, mental, and spiritual.
11. You have an amazing sense of adventure and it makes you the best travel companion ever.
12. I love that you used to be such a bad boy! (Every girl wants her “Rebel.”)
13. I think you have a great sense of style. We like most of the same things!
14. You always go above and beyond for people without needing any recognition.
15. You adore me. (And that is a task!)
16. You always know how to cheer me up when I’m down.
17. You are incredibly self-sacrificing, whether that means getting me a cup of tea or giving up your day off to help my little brother move or doing the dishes, etc…
18. I love that you always manage to take care of the details that I forget about, like bills or whatever.
19. You’re never afraid to try new things.
20. And I love that you never care what other people think.
21. Also, can I just say that I am seriously lucky to have a guy who can cook?!?
22. You fix my car and even pump my gas. And that is a BIG deal for me!
23. I think you are so flexible and tech savvy! You really figure things out quick.
24. You are really modest, too. (I bet by now you are blushing – well, I have six more to go…)
25. You are really creative, Tim. You come up with logical solutions to problems that completely stump me, all the time.
26. Did I mention that I think you’re brilliant?!?
27. You are so daring, too. You do crazy things like cliff diving and climbing walls, and black diamond skiing and whatnot. You’d do more if it didn’t freak me out so much!
28. You handle situations with wisdom and integrity.
29. And you have so much patience!!!
30. But most of all, I love the way you love me. You are the best husband in the whole world!

I love you, Timmy!!! (Even if you are OLD.)

Photo Friday - "Bright"

This is a pic of "The Gates" in Central Park last Feb.

Wordless Wednesday - Billy Bob's

A Blue So Blue...

I recently read a picture book that really spoke to me. It's called A Blue So Blue by Jean-Francois Dumont and it won the Prix Saint-Exupery (Best Illustrated Children's Book) for 2004.

Anyway, the story is about a little boy who is "strange" because he liked to paint in the quiet of his room. This little boy has a dream one night about "a blue so blue" and he starts out on a quest to find this color he's dreamt. He travels far and wide, searching for this blue. He goes to the museum, to the sea shore, to the America's to hear the "blues" and even to Africa to see the "blue men" all the while searching for "a blue so blue." Finally, someone tells him that the blue he is searching for "may never have been very far away" to begin with. The little boy remembers his home and his mother who loves him and he travels back. When he gets home, he realizes that this blue he's dreamt of...

A blue so blue, it was both dark and bright... A blue so blue, it was always just right...
A blue so blue, it's both common and rare... A blue so blue, it's beyond compare...
A blue so blue, it's both precious and plain... A blue so blue, it's hard to explain...
A blue so blue, it's both warm and cool... A blue so blue, it shines like a jewel...
A blue so blue, it's both happy and sad... A blue so blue, through good and bad...

..had always been right there in front of him - it was the blue of his mother's eyes. The little boy said, "Night after night I've been dreaming of blue, a blue so blue it's both tender and strong. A blue so blue, it felt close all along. I looked and I asked and I started to roam, till I found it at last - right here at home." (sob...)

This story really got me! I've been so blue lately, with the move and trying to fit in to my new job and the loneliness of being up here in NY (as well as other things). I feel like I have been on a great quest to find an answer to a question - "what is the meaning of all of this" - and I've been searching in vain. But then I'm reminded of what is really important. (And it isn't my house and it especially isn't my job!) What is important is my family. And the things that I love that inspire me. And all the rest is a means to an end. It's the stuff to get you to that realization. So, basically, I've journeyed and found my "blue so blue." I wonder what your is?

9-11

Oh, let me be a reflection of what is good in the world...

Hey Coinage

This is one of the coins we found... Remember my post about the coins Tim found in an old suppository jar?!? (Gross, I know.) Well, I was looking at them today and we have a couple of somewhat valuable coins! This is the most valuable of them; a coin from Hungary, dating 1847, worth about $35 bucks. There are four other coins from Hungary, dating 1930, called "5 Pengo" coins. They are worth about $25-26 bucks. Cool, huh? There is also a "Walking Liberty" and a Franklin Half dollar. They aren't worth more than $8 dollars, but it is neat to see a bit of history, isn't it? What a sweet find!

We Love NY

We Love NY
Originally uploaded by peachicken.

Well, not really. But we got t-shirts for the girls that say they do! These are all my little nieces (so far). And I love 'em to pieces. Heh.

Morgan is the oldest, she is just starting sixth grade. (She is on the far right.) She has a very pretty smile but she only shows it on special occasions (I got to see it a couple of times!). She is really growing up fast. We had a sleepover and watched one of my new fave movies - High School Musical. And in the morning, we played beauty shop and made a tent out of a mattress and some blankets. She's really a cool chick.

Beside Morgan is Cherokee. She is the tomboy twin. This girl totally cracks me up. She does flips and twists and falls on her head, then hops right back up. There is NO stopping her! She has so much energy and expression. I can't wait to see what she'll be like when she's older.

Sitting on my lap is Cheyenne. Chey is so creative, sassy, and witty! She comes up with the best ideas. She is a total third grade diva. She wants to be a barrel racer when she gets older - and for all you non-Texans, that's a horseback riding term. (I didn't have a clue, either.) Chey is great at math and is an awesome big sister.

And peeking out at the left is Shawnee. She is also enormously sassy! Shawnee makes the FUNNIEST faces ever - especially when she isn't trying to. She is much girlier than her twin, Cherokee. Her favorite color is pink and her room is absolutely covered in that color. Shawnee can make me laugh just by looking at me.

Can you tell that I'm crazy about my little nieces?!? They are each so different and so special. It makes me wish I lived closer by so I could watch them grow up!

Deep in the Heart...

Hey everybody. Guess where I am?!? I'll give you a hint... "The stars at night are big and bright..." That's right - "deep in the heart of Texas." Me and hubby are visiting his family and having a grand ole time of it. I adore my little nieces. It's been forever since I've seen them. After our sleepover party this morning, my little buddies Morgan and Cheyanne even fixed up my hair. It's great to see family - but it is gonna be so hard to leave for home on Wednesday!

Photo Friday - "Silver"

(Silver - Ware!  Heh.)
 This was taken at the Guggenheim in NYC; the silverware is reflecting that amazing ceiling.