Random Muses of Megret

We are not "big halloween people." Never have been. I think for the most part, costumes and haunted houses go way too far. However, I do have fond memories growing up of being able to dress up and go to the houses of our friends and family to get treats. I am a big sweet tooth, and candy is my favorite addiction within the realm of sweets. Free candy? Oh, I was SO there. I remember almost every one of my childhood costumes. Mom and Dad would not allow scary ensembles, nor would I have ever chosen such a thing (I admit it, I am a scaredy cat). My favorites included Strawberry Shortcake (my red hair blended in perfectly with the mask's front), Scarlet O'Hara, and Wonder Woman. I remember carrying around my heavy-laden plastic jack-o-lantern, swinging it a little too bravely as I walked here and there. Mom and Dad surrounded me, held my hands with one hand and held flashlights in the other. When we were visiting Mom's side of the family, I would join in with...

I have always been a big ER fan. I know...I know. Hyperstimulated drama/soap opera backsplash with trauma scenes on steroids. I have never observed an ER for longer than 3-4 hours, and obviously not one in the heart of Chicago. Obviously, I know that the situations on the screen are extremely exaggerated at times, but still, a well-written show. Excellent direction, great cast of characters. I have to admit, I, with so many others, mourned the loss of Dr. Greene and abruptly took the show out of my repertoire of weekly viewed programming. I went on an emotional strike, of sorts. When Sally Field (one of my all-time favorite actresses) made a few of the episodes a couple of seasons back, I was intermittently catching a few of them. Yet this season, I don't know what it was....I was hooked once again, completely swallowed in. It's like I hear so many times....it's like a car accident that you can't pull your eyes away from. As gory and as cheesy at it can get at times, I ...

I am having an inspired day. Ever have one of those? I don't know if it's the weather....or my mood....or something I ate last night....or what. But I am inspired to greater things today. I am inspired to set to work on the things I feel I'm best at, to sharpen my skills and let my creativity soar. I have to admit...it's been a long time since I've had an inspired day. Maybe it's partly due to the "slowing down" I've been doing this week. Maybe it's something that happens to me every so often but I can never remember it happening from one time to the next. All I know is that I'm inspired. I pray that this inspiration stays with me, doesn't get replaced by a task list or drudgery. I pray that I would fuel the fires of creativity, not let them die out. If anyone else is feeling inspired, here are some links I have found that might help you in your journey: Design Creativity Exercises Freewriting Coffeehouse...

I find it uncanny that what we discussed at home group last night was put to the test today. We talked about busyness in the American family today....being always on the run, always cleaning, always volunteering, always carpooling. Most families don't sit long enough to rest, much less get to know each other and spend true quality time with one another. I don't find it a coincidence that my life was 90mph since Monday morning (cleaning, running errands ALL day long except for G's nap times), then was brought suddenly to a halt last night. I received a call while at our home group from Mom....Gardner had a temperature of 101. What followed was an entire 1-1/2 hours of Ken proceeding with leading the lesson, and me trying as hard as I could but not able to concentrate one bit. My mind was elsewhere....my son was sick! (You have to understand, this is only Gardner's second fever in his entire 13 months on this planet...I was freaking out.) Yet today as I took him to the do...

....the funniest thing I've seen in a while. Watch this . On a more serious note, let's delve into this a little big deeper. Here are two Chinese guys who are (lip-synching) to an American song, who've memorized the lyrics which are not even in their native language. That is amazing. It hit me hard, too, as I grew up with a myriad of pen pals from around the world who spoke practically perfect English. I was ashamed that the only things I could say in their language were "hello" and "thank you," if even that. This makes me want to dig out those French and Spanish workbooks I have lurking in my attic and brush up on my language acquisition skills. (and....did you notice? It's not just us who sarcastically make fun of the Backstreet Boys.)

So, this saga all started a few weeks ago when I awoke to two presents our cats had left us in the study....they had evidently eaten too much too fast (you might remember my post about it). I cleaned it all up and thought nothing of it. Later that day, however, a stench wandered up to my nose. I attributed it to the cat's doings and reached for my pet odor neutralizer spray. After dousing the areas sufficiently, I set to work again. Didn't think about it again till the next morning. I opened the study door and was hit with it again....that smell. This went on for two weeks. I finally borrowed my mom's steam carpet cleaner and cleaned the entire room this weekend. No luck; the smell was worse than before. I wonder..... I leaned down and sniffed nearby, and my nose led me to our HVAC vents. OH. MY. WORD. It was THAT. I was knocked down backwards, gagging and gasping for air. What squirrel had crawled into our HVAC system and given up its ghost? Weird part: The...

Today started off as a day where I was intentional about letting loose and allowing things to come my way....let fun find me. Well, adventure found me. It found all three of us, and a little neighborhood kitten. I was on my way out to run some errands when I heard what I've been hearing since 11:00 this morning....the desperate cries of an invisible kitten. I wrote it off earlier, thinking it was just a cat who was vying for attention. This time, though (now 2:30 pm), I was sure the cat must be in some sort of trouble. The cries came from our next door neighbor's house. First thought: The cat had gotten stuck under the house's crawlspace. But a few steps into his lawn proved me wrong....I looked up, and there it was....a striped kitten about 40 feet into the air, suspending himself on a lofty tree branch. Anyone who knows me will not be surprised at the events which followed hereafter. I am a sucker for anything animal-related, ESPECIALLY animal rescue. So, hold on...

So, we got a little screenshot of the muddy legs of the "Others" walking by on screen last night on Lost . Oh, please. You think that's going to satisfy our craving for more knowledge about the mystery, enough to last us for TWO weeks until a new episode is aired? I think not. Though I heard many complaints around me after the show, I have to admit that I was partial to this episode. Mainly because it dealt with love and loss....something real, something that's not sci-fi or far-reaching. You know it's quite a show when one of the characters breaks down into an emotional stupor and you're feeling it right there with them. Yes, the plot was severely lacking in excitement....but overall, it gave us a more intimate glimpse into the lives of some more of the island's inhabitants, and that, in turn, makes me even more insistent that this whole saga will end happily. Today promises to be a fun one. Newspring band is giving an outdoor Katrina relief concert ton...

So, I get news today that my dad has a long lost cousin. By "long lost," I mean no one in his entire family knew that he existed until yesterday. Dad got a call at work yesterday from his brother who wanted to drop by so he could meet someone....can you imagine? "Hey. I'm 63 years old and we've never met.....but I'm your cousin." Wow. Turns out it is a Hollywood-esque story if there ever was one. My great uncle was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. Those of you who've been to our house might have seen his framed photo displayed. It turns out that he had a son who no one knew about, born two years before my uncle was killed in action, given up for adoption at birth. This guy started to research who his real father was, and it led him to my Papa (his uncle). He came here from the Midwest this week to meet his real family. No one is even sure that my great uncle even KNEW he had a son. This just goes to show that your reality isn...

Well, we did it. We broke down and went to the county fair last night. I think it has honestly been since high school since Ken and I set foot on that property for that reason. It was, well, just as we conjured it in our minds beforehand....surreal. I will stop talking now, before I talk too much and get into trouble. (Let's just say that I don't have a terribly high opinion of the fair in general.) Gardner loved it.....well, at least we think he did. It was like he had toothpicks in his eyelids....he practically never blinked. There was so much to look at and hear all around us. I'm quite sure he was wondering what he did to deserve the onslaught of such fierce external stimulation right before his supposed bedtime. I wonder if he dreamed about it last night. By far, the creepiest moment of the night was when we stopped beside a crowd of onlookers. I peered into the circle, asking Ken, "What are they looking at?" We got closer, the crowd parted, and there was the...

Last night, we had a birthday party for my dad. All three of the grandkids were there, and it was quite a circus! We had more fun just watching the antics and silliness of the three children. Arianna (2 years old) was full of words last night, talkative and oh-so-funny. Savannah (7 months old) kept trying to grab onto Gardner when he walked by, and she was all smiles. Gardner got so excited about having the girls to play with as well as the myriad of toys all around that he went into his high-pitched squealing mode. Favorite lines of the evening were spoken by the articulate Arianna....hilarious. (Arianna): "Mommy, can I have some Tote?" (i.e., "Coke") (Emily, my sister): "You can have just a little bit." (Arianna): "No, not little bit. MUCH." (Arianna, taking off her sandals): "Mimi, smell my feet." (Mom): "Shoo-ee! They stink!" (Arianna): "No! They don't stink! Clean!" (Mom): "Mmmm....oh, right....

Looks like my sister Emily and I had the same exact idea today (great minds think alike!)....to give Dad a happy birthday "shoutout" on our blogs. So, happy birthday, Dad. We are so blessed to have you as a Dad....and Gardner's so blessed to have you as his Grandad. I hope your day (weekend, really) is full of fun and good times with family and friends. I know this day is full of memories for you, and the same for me. On your birthday, I remember all of the wonderful times we've spent together in the past and single you out in my thoughts. We all three love you very much!

I have to give it to my friend, Suzanne.....she is the Queen of Organization. It's not that she is just good at it.....it's that her adrenaline rushes every time she merely thinks about it. This girl even goes over to other people's houses to help THEM organize THEIR stuff, which is completely unselfish giving of her time, for one, and a pretty scary task for her sometimes, I bet (come on....who else has found dead spiders behind that mass of junk in the closet?). I begin to look at my own house and wince when I realize how much I've let go unorganized through the years. I'm ashamed to admit that after nearly three years of living in our current house, I still have things in boxes from our move that I've never unpacked. Pathetic. So I decided to look at what things I'd like to be organized most, in no certain order. Maybe it'll inspire me to actually do it. (And Suzanne, this is in no way a hint to you to assist me. :) I just think you are the WOMAN and ...

I have learned that I learn such valuable and noteworthy life lessons just by watching Gardner. Case in point.... I watch him nearly every day as he travels on his teetering feet until he finally drops and surrenders to all fours (it's much faster, so why not?). He races from study to kitchen to den, crossing through the dining room each round. Right in the center (like in most dining rooms) lies our dining room table. He drops whatever is in his hand, makes little grunting sounds, and proceeds to climb through the web of chair legs. It takes him a minute or more to exit the other side, if he even does. Sometimes he cries for help when he feels as if he's gotten trapped or bogged down in all of the wooden legs, and I rush to rescue him, laughing (he soon laughs with me). I ask him every time, "Why do you go through the table, Gardner? Wouldn't it be much faster just to crawl AROUND the table?" He looks at me, or rather right through me, not understanding y...

So it's true. Much like dolls do when you leave the room and turn out the lights (or so I thought as a small child), computers like to act up when you're not there to keep an eye on them. See what I mean.

(Pardon the title. It's semi-inspired by a country-clutter-looking yard sign that I saw in a craft store recently. At first glance? "Awww, cute." Then I started to think, "I don't think I'd want that in my yard." No offense if you have it in your yard. It's just not my thing.... But it made an appropriate title for this post. Whew.) So thanks to Ken for this lovely new, autumn-inspired look for my blogs. He is so talented. And, like me, he knows the power of color. I'm thinking about revamping other aspects of my blogs, too. I will keep the morsels blog the same....it's just a good place for me to post my kitchen-centered endeavors as well as questions and interesting tidbits for the culinarily-curious. I am thinking of starting up a blog to jot down my daily adventures (or misadventures) as a stay-at-home-mom. My sister Emily has been doing this for a month or more, and I really like her ideas and stories. Of course, not everyone can get...

So, we went to Ken's 10-year high school reunion on Saturday. Talk about a surreal experience. It was like deja-vu. Seeing people I haven't thought about in years (I graduated a year behind Ken, so we knew the same people for the most part)....seeing who's changed and who looks exactly (and I mean exactly) the same. Laughing at the fact that the same cliques still crowd around each other in the back, acting just like they used to at 18. Seeing who had kids, seeing who's still single, seeing how far away everybody moved. Learning about the far-out professions (by far the most shocking were counter sniper for the Secret Service and an attorney in the country of Japan). All of that just made me itch for my '96 reunion to hurry up and get here. I can't wait. See pics from the event here on Ken's flickr page .

It says it's "new," but who knows how long it's been available. Either way, Google now lets you personalize your search page if you have a Google account (gmail). Really cool.

IF I was currently in the workforce (or in the market for a job), and IF I had a specialized degree in a certain area, and IF I had the creativity, brains, and tenacity to succeed at certain tasks, these are the jobs I've always thought would be some of the coolest on the planet. 1. A children's show actor and/or producer. Come on....the sets are big, bold, and colorful. The characters are nubby and cartoon-like. The lingo cheesy, the songs even cheesier. But to know you were making connections within a child's tiny, developing mind....and having loads of fun while doing so.... 2. A chef. More specifically, a pastry chef. To watch the faces of hundred of wedding guests as you entered a banquet hall with the most glorious cake of fondant and edible flowers. To roll out crossiants like they were just biscuits. To be known for a "signature cookie." And to have the willpower not to taste everything that came out of the ovens! 3. The person in charge of naming paint ch...

You ever had one of those days where you plan for things, but things just turn out way better than you'd planned in the first place? Today has been that way for me. I have been experiencing God's blessings today, in tangible ways as well as intangible....and it's refreshing. When you go through dry spells, you can't see the end of the tunnel. But when He begins to lift you up out of the mire, then....oh, wow....you are renewed. The song "Zippidy-Doo-Dah" just pops into your head and you start singing. (Oh, wait....maybe that's just me who does that.) It's just one great thing after another. I love giving Gardner gifts. Just yesterday we had some birthday money to spend for him, so we headed to Target's toy aisles. It only took a matter of minutes before I found a toy which had him spellbound. So simple, so novelty....a little monkey flashlight that made sounds. Gardner smiled...he laughed....he chuckled....he bought the attention of every...

...the spirit of fall, I mean. Although the external temperatures don't want to believe that autumn is officially here (it's been averaging 84 degrees each day for a month), it is....at least in this house. And we are all decked out for it. There are spicy smells coming from my kitchen day and night.... cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice. I went on a rampage and bought up a bunch of candy corn this weekend that was on sale. And last night....well, we did something we've only done together once in our years together until now....we carved a pumpkin. Ken penned the template and then set to work. One hour later, ta-dah. We Wilsons aren't just about a pretty face (er, a pumpkin face...jack-o-lantern, if you will). We wanted to do something different. Ken's the man. (See his entire set of photos chronicling his endeavors here .)

This morning has definitely started off on the wrong foot. First of all, my sleep was random; I got a "total" of 8 hours or so, but I feel as if I only got 2. Since waking up, I have managed to spill cereal, find clean (but wet) laundry that I'd forgotten about in the washing machine, and one of my two cats has thrown up massive amounts on our bathroom floor and our study's carpet. It's days like this when I am honestly afraid to ask, "Can it get any worse?" because I know that it can (and I am not one who believes in superstition....but still, why ask it?). It's days like this when I fully realize that my mind's pictures of what stay-at-home-motherhood would be like are taken and thrown, fractured into a million pieces. Thank the Lord, though, days like this one don't come around every day. They are once-in-a-while days, and it somehow seems as if God always gives us just enough strength to overcome them. Just when we think we cannot take an...