new camera

I bought a new camera and I love it.

I've also been super busy and slightly crabby.
It is the fiscal end of year at Second Helpings, I've been working extra at the Red Key, helping people move and attending lots of committee meetings.
I've started a few posts, but they seemed extra whiney and who wants to read that crap?

I need to find a way to tell the story of helping my mom move something that culminated in me administering first aid to my friend Tammy.
I will tell you the punch line --"applesauce".

More on all of that later, I promise

I'm headed to bed for a very necessary pre-waitressing nap.

this is how my garden grows

I thought it was high time I showed off my garden.



Two tomato plants and four hills of pumpkins.
In my front yard.
Good thing it's hard to be the biggest hillbilly on my street.

the good, the bad and the ugly

The good:
I totally goofed off yesterday. I slept in, took a walk to the newsstand (in the rain -- woo hoo), wrote for a little bit and went to a parade. The town of Fishers throws a parade the weekend before Independence Day every year. It was fun to see my niece and nephew in action. We went back to J.R. and company's house. J.R. grilled out, my cousin Jim and his family joined us and a couple of J.R.s employees stopped by. The big attraction was Molly's birthday present -- a trampoline! This was not the trampoline of my era. It is round with the springs underneath and a big mesh wall all the way around it. It was a blast and a good workout.

The bad:
I totally goofed off yesterday. The column for the Gazette was due (on Wednesday, actually), my nominations for NUVO's "best of" issue (complete with blurbs)and a 500 word piece about a fundraiser for a public radio station in south-central Indiana (that I had not even started). I came home with a belly full of barbecue and good cheer. Instead of working, I went to bed, setting my alarm for 5:00 am.

The Ugly:
I woke up at 7:30 in a panic. I raced to work. I got the day started at Second Helpings, had a 9:00 meeting, wrestled with my conscience -- and worked on my writing stuff.
I justified it, knowing that I have a whole vacation day that I'm not going to be able to use before the fiscal year is over. I pounded out the work (some good stuff too) and was done by noon.

___

I have to tell a story on myself about Molly's 5th birthday.
This weekend is typically super busy for me.
The Twilight Tour party is Friday (I ran the Silent Auction for years).
The MKNA Home Tour is Saturday and Sunday, I typically waitress Saturday night, and I always forget to ask for Sunday off.
Sweet Molly's birthday is smack in the middle of this.
I usually run on a few hours sleep for the whole weekend.
Two years ago I went straight to the birthday party from working at the clothing store.
Dinner was over by the time I arrived, so I ate birthday cake and drank two of Anna's famous margaritas.
I started feeling a little icky, so I laid down in their guest room.
My nephew came in a started jumping on the bed, and I started feeling really icky.
I shooed him out of the room, closed the door and fell asleep.
I woke up at 2:00 am.
I tip-toed downstairs and found my keys tucked in to my sandals.
I left a note: Auntie Nora had to "sleep off" the Barbie cake.

busy busy

Thursday night brought more music, Friday was the MKNA Twilight party followed by a trip to a club to hear even more music.
I have lots of writing to do...and its all due tomorrow!

I worked at the Red Key tonight and donated all of my tips to a customer/friend that is battling cancer.
As with too many people, he has no health insurance. The Red Key declared it "Don Weaks Day" and raised a significant amount of money.

For this week's edition of the "person that I felt weird waiting" on...the director of the department of agriculture of our state was in with some folks after the governor's ball.
Six good looking people in black tie attire plus one tired stained tee shirt and skirt wearing damp and frizzy haired from taking trash out in the glorious rain waitress equals hi-jinx and hilarity.

Mr. Ag is a big fan of Second Helpings.

Does one --
A: Re-introduce herself?
B: Bring the drinks and say nothing?
C: Trip and spill a drink on their table. Introduce herself while mopping it up with the hem of her skirt, so nothing gets on their fancy clothes?

Ding ding ding.
If you guessed "C" you're right.
It was a good way to break the ice.

I'm off to take a shower, gotta wash this night right out of my hair...and the gin right out of my skirt.

tag...i'm it.

In honor of spending time with Jerry last night, I finally did the meme he tagged me with. What does meme mean anyway?

Jerry and I went to see Robert Earl Keen. He was fun (both Jerry and Robert Keen) and I really enjoyed the opening musician Hayes Carll. Hayes was funny and a great songwriter. I really needed all that after the torture of Ted Nugent the night before.

Here goes....

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I am named for both of my grandmothers. Nora Spitznogle died in 1951 when my papa was 15 years old. Leona Gremelspacher died when I was in college. I've always adored my first name and changed my middle name to Leona a few years ago to honor my wonderful Grandma Leona. I cannot imagine being called anything else.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Last Saturday while working at the Red Key. I heard some sad news while I was already stressed out.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I do, I don't use it enough. I did like the way my signature looked when I had the honor of signing the check to pay off the mortgage for the Second Helpings building this month.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
The students made prime rib for lunch yesterday, does that count?

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No. I have a fabulous niece and nephew. Miss Molly will be 7 this Saturday -- and she is amazing. John is 4 1/2 and equally as fabulous.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably, I seem to have an embarrassing amount of friends.

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
I wish I didn't, I try to keep it inside. It is really hard when you're waiting on people.
I generally have the conversation that is running in my head, and the filtered one that comes out of my mouth. Occasionally they meet.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
My fear of heights gets in the way of a lot of those who-in-their-right-mind-would-do-that activities.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Granola. Mixed in with a sliced banana and yogurt.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Running shoes, yes, Chuck Taylor's, no.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Freakishly so.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Coffee. If it is scooped out of the carton with a thin mint Girl Scout cookie, all the better.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their handshake. Wet fish -- ugggh.

RED OR PINK?
Since St. Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, the house explodes with both in February.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm becoming more comfortable with my looks...

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Mr Krudy. He was 93 when he died. He would come to the coffeehouse every day and have an espresso. He fled Hungary with his wife and baby son in 1956 after the revolution. In Hungary he was an attorney. When he came to Indianapolis he worked as a painter to support his family. He retired as an Information Technologist from Dow Chemical. He raised a fine son and his grandchildren are amazing. When he died I had a flower arrangement made in his espresso cup. I keep a picture of Mr. Krudy and me wearing birthday hats I made for his 90th birthday on my fridge. He was a true gentleman.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
No pants (I'm wearing a dress) and black shoes.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Kettle Corn from the Farmer's Market. It was my dinner, midnight snack and breakfast.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The students moving tables and chairs, preparing for their graduation tomorrow.

IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Periwinkle.

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Popcorn. The air right before it rains. Baby heads.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
One of our board members.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
NCAA Basketball Tournament.

HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown (as far as you all know).

EYE COLOR?
Greenish Blue.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.

FAVORITE FOOD?
Popcorn.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy!

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Rock and Roll High School. I adore Jack Black.

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
No shirt (dress -- reddish. It has a very 1940s look. One of the students said that I look like "an old lady", I reminded him that he did not graduate until tomorrow).

SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer when it's summer and winter in the winter. I really like them both.

HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs -- barely. I'm working on being more demonstrative.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Can I say popcorn again?

MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
I'm not good at the whole "tag" thing. My niece and nephew did teach me to play potty tag...does that count?

LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
See above.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Julie/Julia. A woman, Julie made all of the recipes in Julia Child's French cookbook. It's really fun.

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
No mouse pad. It is built in to the iBook and my keyboard stand at work as a cool thing that slides out of the side.

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
No T.V. last night -- concert with Jerry.

FAVORITE SOUND?
I'm going to quote my Dad on this one. He said his favorite sound is his children's laughter. I'd have to say hearing anyone laugh, especially Molly and John.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles, I think.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Germany.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I hate to steal Jerry's talent, even though I do drive better in reverse than forward from years of backing wagons around the grain bin. I'd say my special talent is remembering names.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
St. Francis Hospital, Beech Grove (suburb of Indianapolis).

WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
I'll be surprised if anyone does this...

ughhh...

That's all I can say.
Yesterday was interesting.
Who else had a lovely beef and noodles dinner with the Greenfield Kiwanis Club and then went to see Ted Nugent?

The Kiwanis were lovely and the talk went well. When I was introduced before dinner my name brought a laugh, I promised to be as entertaining as my last name. I think I was able to deliver. I love doing those events. They re-energize me and remind me that I do have a cool-ass job.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole Nugent thing. He played at the Vogue, a cool old theater. Ted is also known for his vocal support of hunting. I'm all for the right to bear arms, but I'm not so comfortable with a stage decorated with giant grenades, machine guns, animal hides and skulls.
The show itself was classic rock. Flip Flop Mama would love it. The drum kit was on a big riser, the drummer had a fan blowing through his long hair -- very rock and roll. The band was good and looked happy to be there. I can imagine that playing with the Nuge was a dream of lots of jr. high boys in the 1980s. Ted is a master of the heavy rock guitar licks. I'm a fan of the bluegrass, finger picking style of guitar player -- but this was fun too (with earplugs, of course).

The audience was full of middle aged men. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Did I mention that the hundreds of guys were sweaty, drunk and playing air guitar. There might be something wrong with that. The few women that I saw were wearing teensy little camouflage dresses or tube tops. How did I see the women if they were in camo, you ask? They were all smoking, of course.

I will say this, Ted has aged better than his fans. He looks great.
Must be all of the healthy living.

Oh, I almost forgot -- I bought the best piece of band merch ever!
A Ted Nugent baby bib.
I know just which new parents are getting it -- after I wash the smoke out of course.

deep breath

To say that I've been feeling overwhelmed would be an understatement.

This is a busy week.
Finance committee meeting in the morning (what the hell I'm I doing blogging?), talk at a Kiwanis club tomorrow evening and Ted Nugent tomorrow night (with a backstage pass -- start the prayers now!). Wednesday brings a board meeting and a donors reception. Thursday is the agency executives meeting for United Way, Friday is graduation for the culinary class -- I will be speaking and the Meridian Kessler fundraiser dinner/dance (the only thing I like less than a dinner/dance is a dance with no dinner)that evening.

The finance meeting and the board meeting have me freaked out. I officially took the financial part over the last week in May. We're just looking at the May numbers and the year-to-date stuff, so I'm not technically on the hook for them. But I'm so afraid that I will not be able to answer a question.
Getting ready for the board meeting is taking twice as long as I thought it would. I worked today on making an offer to a bookkeeper and the usual stuff that happens in the course of a day of a not-for-profit agency that prepares and delivers 2900 meals and rescues thousands of pounds of food each day.

So, of course what did I have on tap for tonight?
Bartending at the Red Key.
I was so panicked that in my four minutes between jobs that I froze.
My craziness manifested itself into total indecision about picking out a tee shirt to wear to work.
After four shirts tried on and rejected I wound up with a plain black one.
I rolled my jeans up, stuck my hair up in a ponytail and ran out the door sans makeup.
I managed to look exactly as crazy as I felt.

So, we all know what happened.... three different guys that I am interested in came and sat at the bar. One of them that I've known for twenty-five years. His band used to play with my punk-rock buddies back in the day. One of the tee shirts I tossed on the floor? His old band.

I'm off to bed to toss and turn for a few hours.
I'll fall in to a deep sleep a good fifteen minutes before the alarm goes off.