Random Muses of Megret

I love foggy mornings. The dampness of the air, the slight chill in the temperature.....the cars with headlights on, drivers leaning forward as if that would help clear the air before them. The birds remain hushed, almost as if they don't dare disturb the calm that surrounds them. Sounds seem more muffled, and colors appear more subdued....all except for the greens, which look more vivid and lush in the whitish-colored daylight. I remember foggy mornings as a child. They remind me of early September mornings, school mornings. I remember waking up as a child, looking out over the pasture behind our house, seeing foggy blankets covering all of the cows so only their legs peeked out. I remember climbing onto my school bus, the damp, mildew-like fragrance filling my nostrils as I stumbled back to find a seat as the driver took off. I noticed the condensation on all of the horizontal bus windows, some with messages written on them by tiny fingers. I remember the foggy morning at F

I decided to investigate just what Memorial Day really signifies, simply because many people (myself included) have probably just observed it as merely a day off of work or an extra excuse to grill out. It is far, far more than that. Memorial Day is dedicated to those who gave their lives for this country, and the people who dwell within it. It is meant for those brave souls, many of them very young, who left everything they had to fight for everything they wanted to have....freedom and peace. It hasn't been around that long, sadly....its idea was birthed by President Johnson in the 60s. Yet a smaller form of this holiday most likely took place in individual towns and communities who were shaken hard by the grips of war themselves. On this day, I bring to mind those family members of my own who have died in combat. My Dad's uncle Charles was killed in the European front during WWII. He was buried in France. My mom's uncle Herbert's plane disappeared among the Alue

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I'm sorry if you are a die-hard country music fan, but I hate it. I mean, I am absolutely repulsed by it. Especially when it keeps me up at night. Let me explain. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend in our town, and that means that an annual hot air balloon festival is taking place at the civic center, not two miles from our neighborhood. THAT means that people from all over the U.S. come and assemble in droves to hear lesser-known musical artists who perform at an outside amphitheater each evening. THAT means that there are no walls with which to contain the music, and THAT means that everyone within a 4-mile radius, unless they have 10-inch thick steel walls on their houses, can hear every note played and every word sung. I was very, very tired last night, and though I hate to admit it, some grouchiness was shining through a little bit. I climbed into bed, wearily, at 10:50pm. I laid still. What was that? Did I leave the stereo on in the living room? Was the computer left stream

The U.S.S. Constitution, Boston, Mass.

The Beacon Hill district, quite possibly the most regal district we saw while in Boston, Mass. We dined at a local gourmet spot while visiting this area.....very memorable last day of our honeymoon trip.

Saturday, May 27, 2000 Ken and I decided to go on Boston's Freedom Trail tour this morning. There were tons of people with the exact same idea! It was so interesting.....you just follow a red line all over the city, as far as you want to travel, and you find either written history or a tour guide at several stops to tell you historical bits. It was on this tour that we were able to see the U.S.S. Constitution . I took many, many pictures of this magnificent ship for my Dad to see. We walked to the Boston railway system ( MBTA ) and jumped on to visit some other stops. We went and saw the Bull & Finch Pub , the bar which inspired the television series "Cheers." We went into the Faneuil Hall Marketplace (one of many city markets, I'm certain) and looked at the local wares and delicatessens. It was like Charleston's market times 1,000! Everyone had thick Boston accents, yet every person we came across went far out of their way to be courteous and helpful. Wh

Salem: The location for the witch trials of the 1600s. A historically preserved....yet slightly creepy....town.

This view of one of Salem's streets shows how most of the original buildings have been beautifully preserved.

One of Salem's many graveyards where "victims" of the witch trials were buried.

An old Salem church that I found beautiful.

Coming into Boston over the main bridge....a little bit intimidating!

The view from our hotel room in the Westin Copley Place.

Friday, May 26, 2000 We got up early and packed to leave the inn. Another breakfast in the solarium: Cinnamon-apple waffles with fruit, cranberry muffins, and chocolate chip bread. We (of course) stopped for more Ben & Jerry's ice cream in Waterbury, then we traveled on to Stowe, Vermont to see the Trapp Family Lodge . It is the lodge that the Trapp family (who inspired the movie "The Sound of Music") started upon their arrival to the United States fifty or more years ago. We agreed that we'd try to lodge there next time we visited the region. We stopped into the Cabot Creamery to see how they make butter and cheese.....they had samples everywhere you looked! To this day, I am a dedicated purchaser of Cabot cheese and butter. Its purity and simplicity is unparalleled. We bought a huge baguette and some fresh cheese, and ate it in the car as our lunch that day. Mmmm....life couldn't get much better! We headed towards our final destination, Boston. On our way,

The beautiful Vermont landscape seemed to touch the low-hanging clouds. The weather was cool and damp....the sun peeked in every now and then to make all of the greens even greener. We thoroughly enjoyed our drives from town to town because there were so many beautiful sights to see.

Ben & Jerry's Factory in Waterbury, Vermont. Well worth the long drive!

Downtown Burlington, Vermont....a town which hasn't lost its historic charm.

Thursday, May 25, 2000 Our first breakfast at the Willard Street Inn was breathtaking. We went downstairs into the black-and-white-checkered-floored solarium overlooking the gardens. It looked like the dining room of the 1920s era. We sat down at a small metal table with Parisian chairs and enjoyed our meal: Kahlua-Soaked Baguette French Toast with Maple-Marscapone and Orange Butter (oh, yes, read that again, if you want to, for the full effect), mixed fruit, and pumpkin muffins. They served Green Mountain Coffee (known for organic blends) 24/7 (wow!)....roasted locally in the mountains of Vermont. We hastily climbed into the rental car to finally get our tour of the Ben & Jerry's Factory in Waterbury, VT. Oh, yes, there is such a place. We endured a guided tour full of corny jokes about watching a documentary "mooovie," the staff people telling us to "mooooove on through." We were surrounded by some kids, but mostly kids at heart, ice cream lovers such a

The Willard Street Inn in Burlington, Vermont. This would later be called our favorite overnight spot on the trip.

The marble back steps of the inn led up to a beautiful marble patio.

Delilah, the "inn cat." She went from room to room, meeting and greeting guests....(but I think she liked us the best).

Wednesday, May 24, 2000 We slept in a little bit today.....we went down to the Three Chimneys Inn's colonial-style dining room and had breakfast: French toast with berry compote, bacon, mixed fruit, cranberry juice, and coffee. It was a very, very rainy day....it didn't let up till sunset. We checked out of the inn and got into the car to venture around the area. We ended up finding a local pizza parlor in Lebanon, NH where we had lunch. We then drove over to the next state, Vermont. Immediately the trees were a richer green, and the landscape became more rolling and sloping. It was gorgeous. We attempted to capture the beauty that we saw in photos, but it didn't do the landscape justice at all. We checked into Willard Street Inn in Burlington , VT. The inn was enormous; a late 1800s house with a large foyer and even larger stairwell. Everything was in a Victorian style. The entire front of the inn was covered with a rich blanket of ivy. We got up to our third story room,

The Three Chimneys Inn, Durham, New Hampshire. The rooms were a mixture of medieval feel, antique charm, and modern conveniences.

Tuesday, May 23, 2000 Ken and I woke early so we could head out to our next destination on our "tour of New England." We went down the narrow stairwell into the ornate (and a little bit creepy) dining room. Completely different people were there this time. We were the only couple who stayed two nights, I supposed. We had sauteed bananas with nutmeg and fresh cream, swiss toast with almonds (I couldn't understand the distinction between this and FRENCH toast, but evidently there was one; the owner let us know that emphatically), mixed fruit, and again, strong coffee. We were caffeine-jolted and ready to ride. We went into the town of Portsmouth one more time. We stopped into an arts supply store on the harbor. After we'd seen our share of this quaint town, we got into the car and drove once again into Kittery, Maine. It is like Commerce, Georgia on steroids. There were four or more major outlet malls....outlets as far as the eye could see. We found some stuff for our n

Visit Ken's blog for a brief synopsis of our 5th anniversary date Friday night.

Monday, May 22, 2000 We woke up to the scent of a wonderful breakfast spread. We went downstairs and took our places at a long, rectangular, antique dining table . We chatted around with the other guests in the inn....a couple "on holiday" from Cambridge, England, and some others (one was a spitting image of Dr. Greene on ER, my favorite show at the time). We were served cantaloupe boats, ham, Maine blueberry pancakes (with Vermont maple syrup), OJ, and very strong coffee. After breakfast, we changed and went into the city of Portsmouth to work out at the Portsmouth Athletic Club . After a shower, we traveled among the character-filled streets. We visited eccentric little shops such as Equinox Music (which later inspired Ken's purchase of a didgeridoo ) and Portsmouth Antiques. For dinner, we crossed the bridge to Kittery, Maine for a other-worldly seafood extravaganza at Warren's Lobster House . The salad bar was bigger than most entire buffets back home. Bec

The Martin Hill Inn, Portsmouth, NH. A quaint little place. We stayed here May 21-23, 2000.

Sunday, May 21, 2000 Ken and I spent an evening at the Westin Peachtree Plaza . We woke early and trotted down to Starbucks for a cup o' coffee and dry, tasteless scones (they really need to work on this aspect of their salesmanship). Then we met up with my uncle Kevin and we jumped aboard MARTA . We traveled to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl. Airport and boarded a very small, very old USAir plane. I was doped up with Dramamine. We had a layover in Pittsburgh, then arrived in Boston at the Logan Airport shortly after 1pm. The airport shuttle bus carried us over to a car rental stop. The driver hardly ever sat down....he spent most of his time leaning out of his window, cursing, waving fists, and beeping the horn. Our suitcases slid around at our feet. We tried to appear calm. We rented a Hyundai Sonata and drove like mad trying to get out of that freaky city. We got our map out, and proceeded to make it up pleasingly quiet, country roads towards our destination, Port

So many pictures....we began to act silly. Karna, Emily, Stephanie, Julie, Christy and I all pause for a photo before the ceremony.

Ken and the guys....David, Roger, Dad, Ken, Ken's dad, Trent, Jason, and little Wesley.

Ken and I exit the reception hall....birdseed was flying (and lodging itself deeply, deeply into my hair). Amidst all of the rush and hubbub, I realized I did not say adequate good-byes to those I love most. I had mixed emotions as we drove away. It was the most beautiful and emotional moment of my life to that point.

Saturday, May 20th, 2000 I woke up early and felt butterflies in my stomach immediately. I reached up and felt those pink sponge rollers....yep, it was my wedding day. I wasn't dreaming. I jumped out of my daybed and went into the den. Everyone else was still asleep. I crawled into the recliner and turned on the television. It was not long before I found classic Disney cartoons.....a favorite thing of mine since I was a little girl. I sat there for an hour and watched black and white shorts of Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. By 9am, our house was full of mayhem. Mom and Emily fought for the bathroom. Dad was making breakfast (I love how he doesn't let stress get to him....he was acting as if it were any normal Saturday, and that was comforting!). My hairdresser, Pam, arrived to put my hair in an up-do. Emily and my cousin, Laura, left to go to a salon to get their styles done. Mom tried to convince me to eat something....she succeeded in getting me to gnaw on a piece of

Wedding rehearsal, May 18th, 2000.

Preacher Rigsby goes through the motions during the rehearsal. My sister and Ken's dad look on.

Ken and I practice the "cake thing" with the groom's cake.

Five years ago today was Friday, May 19, 2000. The rehearsal was the night before, and we were all hoping we'd remember what we had practiced. I woke up early....Ken and I were going to rendevouz at Jittery Joe's for a quick mug of coffee. I was supposed to be at my bridal luncheon at 12....time got away from me, and Mom ended up having to call me and find out where I was. Oops! My luncheon was at a bed and breakfast with its own restaurant.... Liberty Hall Inn . My wonderful grandma and my aunts put together a girly luncheon for me. I went all traditional and let my bridesmaids pull silver charms out of a raspberry-poppyseed cake. Whoever got the diamond ring was the next to be married....I believe Ken's cousin Emily was the one who found it. We dined on chicken salad, melon, soup, bread, and cheesecake (plus the raspberry cake....we were sugar happy, to say the least). After the luncheon, I was ready to help with last minute preparations for our big day. We headed to the

I had another dream about school and being lost within a school on the first day. I have this dream about five or so times a year. I have no idea why my subconscious still holds fears of not finishing school or attending school. Were first days of school THAT traumatizing for me? I hope not. This time, however, I was the mom and I was taking my son to school. Nevermind the fact that he was his current age (8 months) and that I have no idea why he'd be attending a 3-story school at this age. I was toting him down the long, confusing hallways in his little red wagon. As I walked, nuts and bolts kept falling out and flying every which way. Pretty soon, the handle broke off, and it collapsed onto the floor. I ended up carrying my son plus all the parts of the broken wagon as I struggled to walk. Lots of people passed me in the halls, but not one of them offered to help. Does this mean I am already experiencing dread of his first day of school? I hope not; it's way too ea

Five years ago today, May 18th, 2000, I was two days away from walking down the aisle. I was nervous (whoa, an understatement), but not about getting married to Ken. He is my soulmate, and I never second-guessed my decision to say "I do." I was nervous about the ceremony itself, that everything would go smoothly, and I was also nervous about the fact that we'd be flying out to Boston the next day (and anyone who knows me knows that I HATE AIR TRAVEL). May 18th was a Thursday, but we were having our rehearsal dinner that night instead of the usual Friday tradition....my cousin (and several other people) were graduating that same weekend, and I gracefully surrendered Friday night to his events and moved our rehearsal two days back. It provided an extra day of last-minute preparations, which turned out to be helpful. I remember this day very well because, um, I wrecked a car that day. I was backing out of my parent's driveway in my Civic, trying to make it to the re

Last night we went to have dinner with Ken's brother and our sister-in-law, Jason and Kelly. They live on 300 acres of beautiful scenery from end to end. After we ate, we trekked down a worn path to a pond. Jason let their dog, Jed, dive into the water for a training dummy while we marveled at his energy. The ducks who had been relaxing so serenely there now scurried to the other side of the pond, obviously annoyed with our disturbance. The entire surroundings reminded me of where I spent part of my childhood, near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, in a little town (speck, really) called Holly Springs . We lived in a parsonage near the church where my dad was the pastor. The parsonage sat in a big field with a cow pasture behind it, as well as a small pond. I drove Ken up to this area two summers ago to show him where I'd grown up. Memories flooded back as I stood there staring at it. I recalled how I would climb underneath the grapevines, pretending it was my castle. I s

Here's a little something to occupy your time during your lunch break (or any other slow part of your day)....a virtual Lite Brite . How awesome is that....

I live in a town of, oh, I don't know, about 25,000 within the city limits. I moved here in the 6th grade, a very difficult age in which to try to assimilate into a new school and the cliques within it. I came from an even smaller town, a military base, at that. The school where I attended had a majority of military kids in the same boat; there were very little cultural or social divisions. Imagine the shock and frustration of moving to a close-knit area where kids grew up with each other since diapers....something with which I could not relate. Last names of my school peers were all over town on signs, storefronts, and restaurants. It seemed like everybody knew everybody. Newcomers from other states, like myself, stuck out like a sore thumb immediately. Needless to say, those middle school years were quite unstable as I sought to find my place. Now, nearly 15 years later, I feel a part of my town....really. I completed middle school, high school, and even college within the confin

I finally saw Shrek 2 tonight. I know, I know, it's been out of the theaters for nearly a year now. But I saw it. And it's cute. Not the most theatrically well-written story, but cute. And beautifully animated. And may I also say this: Those animators sure did their homework. The mannerisms of Puss n' Boots were exactly cat-like. From the saucer-sized pupils to the hairball incident, it made me squeal with delight.

So, I was frolicking around the web tonight and stumbled upon this . If you have ever dreamed of having a pet chicken, now's your chance. Now if I can just decide on a color....

Has your heart ever skipped a beat after thinking that you might have lost something precious to you? I had this experience this past week. I was feeling under the weather and decided to lie down and rest during one of Gardner's naps. I began to think it would be nice to be able to watch some of our home movies while I vegged. I went to the place where I thought they were.....they weren't there. My heart lurched into my throat. My fingers went clammy. WHERE were those videos? Ken had made copies of our miniDVs onto both video tapes and DVDs for extra protection that they wouldn't be lost. Now I couldn't find either. After turning the house upside down and becoming extremely frantic, I finally remembered that Ken said he'd keep the DVDs at the office just so they'd be in a different location....and I found the videos tucked precisely in the cabined underneath our music CDs. There are many things which are irreplaceable to me. Those videos, for one. Thos

I just wanted to list out a few things I love (and fondly remember) about my childhood. For those of you who grew up in the 80s like I did (even though that phrase is WAAAAY overused), maybe some of these will trigger hidden memories and maybe even a smile: - Gak....an oozy, messy, slimeball from Nickelodeon. And speaking of Nickelodeon: - "You Can't Do That On Television" ....the tv show that my mom banned me from watching, and rightly so....it was unbelievably disrespectful - Disney's Mousercise (oh, yes, I had the record, and I also had the legwarmers) - Barbie and the Rockers (Dana, Didi, Derek, etc.) - Full House (was I the only girl who wanted to be just like D.J.? And man, oh, man, it was even better that she had Kirk Cameron as a brother!!) - Jelly shoes (I wore these all summer, till the dirt left stencil patterns on my sweaty feet) - Jelly bracelets (I wore all but the black ones....they were "evil") - Slush n' Mush (those silly little cups o

....I think that Home Owners' Associations can actually be a good thing. We were forcibly a part of one in Columbia, within our Dove Park subdivision. There were many rules which we had to follow, and many of us complained about the "Big Brother" mentality behind it all. Now, in afterthought, I see the value in all of those imposed rules and regulations. I see what happens when those rules are NOT in place, and I'm not crazy about it. In Cola, we were even warned (and then fined) if our trash cans were put out on our curb before sundown the night before garbage pick-up. We were also expected to wheel it back out of sight by sundown the day OF pickup. What that created was just another thing for us to remember and be diligent about doing....and it also created cleaner streets within our neighborhood. There was also a law in Richland County which stated that all cars must be parked on pavement....none could be parked on grass in your front/side yard (or even on cem

You think God might be trying to get some things across to me? Hmm. It's not coincidence that I just started reading John and Stasi Eldgredge's book, Captivating , the same week that Perry's mother's day sermon dealt with the same issues. Granted, I'm sure the inspiration for some of the sermon points were taken from this book, since I am sure that most of the staff women who helped plan the message are also currently reading this book. But still, I do not find it coincidental that these things are bombarding me when I need to hear them most. I have said it before, and I'll say it again (and again)....I am an overachiever. I feel worthless and guilty if I do not have something to do all day long to occupy my time, in order to accomplish the ever-expanding list of chores I write out each day. This book tells about many good intentioned, quiet "Baptist" ladies (I like to imagine them as Baptists, because this is the vision I've had of these types of

So, I am battling a head cold/sinus infection/allergies today....big time. I just want to take 2 Sudafed and call my doctor in the morning. But life doesn't stop when we feel badly, and my son still thrives off of my attention and playfulness during the day. (Sweet boy....check out the baby blog to see the surprise he brought me last night.) So, while he naps, I am just planning to sit around in my PJs and read, as well as look for internet diversions. So, if you have any funny sites, jokes, online piddly games, etc. that you can tell me about, please leave them in my comments section. I am serious. I feel like I did as a kid when I'd plead with Mom to buy me a "Fun Pad" and a big bag of candy whenever I was sick in bed. Sometimes being under the weather is a good excuse just to treat yourself to things you normally would label as just a waste of good time.

(This post from Ken) Tonight, Meg and I got "all 50s," you know, curled up on the couch, gathering around radio for some programming. No TV, but we did have the Bose system working for us. Why, you ask, were we not watching Extreme Home Makeover? Isn't the new Desperate Housewives on tonight? Yes, I suppose so, but we had something more important to attend to. Tonight, Meg was featured on Brent Sear's show The Static Breaker . It was awesome hearing the struggles of my wife, and ultimately God's success through all of it, laid out neatly in a one hour program interspersed with progressive Christian music. Brent did a phenominal job, and I'm sure you'd do well to listen to Meg's story. Visit his site, and he should have audio of the interview up soon. Now, can someone pass the gelatin salad?

My mom and I in 1982, me 4 years old.

On this, my very first official Mother's Day, I am thankful for the one who brought me into this world, my mom, Miriam. In her I find a perfect example of motherhood to follow with my own childraising, as well as a wealth of other desirable traits which are worthy to be mimicked. I cannot believe that my years at home are already come and gone. Childhood really IS a fleeting moment. In the midst of it, we feel like we will never get out of it....when it's over, we wonder where it all went, and also wonder why we wished it all away. There are so many things that Mom does or says that I find myself copying, intentionally and not intentionally. Some of them are sweet, others silly.....but I thought I'd jot them down, nevertheless, just to show her (and everyone else) how much she has changed my life for the better: - I can't deviate from her recipes for many things, simply because other versions just don't have that "Mom-flavor"....you know what I'm t

Ken and I stayed up a while last night and watched the "I Love the 70s" series on Vh1. We turned it on just in time to see 1977 and 1978, the years we were born. It was quite entertaining. There were so many things on there that I remember my parents talking about...and I can remember watching the re-runs of some of the showcased television shows later in childhood. I have always told Ken that the 70s were a landmark decade for hairstyles, for fashion, and for music (oh, yeah). But there are two things that should have never evolved during the 70s....home decor, and car models. One of my all-time favorite phrases to say is, "If it weren't for the 70s, the real estate market would be booming right now." I know it's a bit harsh of a statement, but think about it. How many homes have been turned down (usually by the female) because of orange shag carpet, mirrored walls, or black commodes? We women have a hard time seeing the whole picture. We always can't i

I have fond memories of Cinco de Mayo. I remember having "tertullias" (spelling is likely way off) for this day....in other words, a huge party where everyone brought their favorite Mexican foods and we pigged out during class. Mrs. McCoy would twirl around in her flowered dress, singing something in indecipherable Spanish, and we would don sombreros and join her. Looking back at it, I cannot imagine such strange ongoings, or imagine how such insecure high schoolers would even submit to such humbling activities with their peers around. I remember my one (though short) visit into Mexico. I was 10 years old, and my family was vacationing at Galveston Island, Texas . We decided to venture across the border one afternoon just to spend an hour or two. Upon realizing that nothing was in English anymore (even the stop signs), we turned around and left rather quickly. The weather was scorching....it was about 101 degrees that day, and no relief of rain clouds was in sight. We

I love old stuff. I really do. I cherish the little, dirty, forgotten trinkets that others might throw away or forget about. I take family treasures that others cast off and make them a spotlighted showcase in my home. I rummage through other people's family momentos, even, and give them a new lease on life by sparkling up their shine and touching up their paint....or even by displaying them in their old, worn-out glory just as they are. Ken has had to accept this about me. He is not a throw-away Nazi by any means (in fact, we can both be packrats), but he doesn't always see the value (as with most men) in keeping things around "just because they mean something to us." I have ammassed so many old things which now decorate my home. I don't own any priceless antique vases or collectible silver....but I do have old photos hanging in our hallway of my family over the past six decades. I have an old chair that I bought from the basement of an antique store for five dol

This list is inspired by the Today Show's current "Live for Today" series . When I'm fortunate enough to catch this show in the mornings, I always learn something interesting or am inspired to do something cause-worthy. With this current series, I have been inspired to think about what I myself would choose to be on my list of things to try before I leave this earth. They are (in no certain order): 1. Visit Japan 2. Find old childhood friends and start up correspondence 3. Parachute out of a plane (well, maybe) 4. Write my autobiography 5. Write a book (or two, or three....) 6. Have a pet canary 7. Hold a live koala in my arms 8. Visit Austria 9. Meet Katharine Hepburn in person (that is no longer physically feasible, but it was on this list for a very long time) 10. Go back to graduate school 11. Own an airedale terrier 12. Go repelling somewhere out west 13. Pick up where I left off in piano lessons 14. Go back to personally thank every person who insp

How does it happen? I start off a Monday morning with just 2 things on my to-do list, and before 10am, there are over 15 items that need to be checked off. Wow. It's amazing that my list of tasks has not shortened at ALL ever since I made my transition from the working world to a stay-at-home-mom. One thing I am NOT (and can't remember being for a long time) is bored . This week is busy, but full of fun things ahead. That is what counts. We all must intersperse wonderful, memorable times with our hectic day-to-day tasks...it's essential for sanity and for satisfaction with life in general.