Weekend Purchase

Today after the gym, we stopped by the Acura dealership and Jay traded his Acura TL for an Acura MDX. It's a small SUV that drives like a car and gets decent gas mileage. He is as excited as a little kid on Christmas.

While he was transferring everything from his old car (which we had shoved into a box) into the new one, I was playing with the dogs in the yard. We bought them a wading pool last summer and they enjoy splashing around in it on hot days. They also like to retrieve toys from the water, which is so adorable I can hardly stand it. They were a little worn out by the time I got the camera out, but this gives you an idea what they're like...

[video coming soon]

So, now we're going out to ride around in the new car. See ya!

Today's Royal Trivia

It has been a while since I've done some royal trivia, but today is a doozy. On this date in 1819, Great Britain celebrated the birth of George III's first legitimate grandchild since the death of Princess Charlotte two years before. The child, a daughter, would hold a high place in the line of succession - at the time of her birth she was in 5th place, behind her father and his three older brothers. Two of her uncles would become king: George IV and William IV, but neither would have any surviving legitimate children. Her father and another uncle predeceased William IV, so upon his death, the crown would pass to his niece. She would reign as Queen Victoria for over sixty-three years.

Queen Victoria was 18 when she inherited the throne, and unmarried. Her maternal uncle, King Leopold of Belgium, arranged for her to meet her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gothe, and love bloomed. The Queen had to propose herself, as Albert (and really no man) was of sufficient rank to propose to the Queen. In February 1840, Victoria and Albert were married.

Any anxiety about the ability of the royal family to procreate were alleviated with Victoria. The Queen and Albert would have nine children: five daughters and four sons; forty grandchildren; and eighty-eight great-grandchildren. Her descendants comprise the first 512 (give or take) people in line for the throne today - and that doesn't include all the people who would be in line if they weren't ineligible for some reason.

She would outlive her husband by about forty years. She buried three of her children, nine of grandchildren, and three of her great-grandchildren. There is currently one of her great-grandchildren still living: Count Carl Johan Bernadottte of Sweden.

Her descendants include the current Queen of England, as well as the monarchs of Spain, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark; the deposed kings of Romania and Greece; and the pretenders to the thrones of Russia, Germany, Hanover, Hesse, Serbia, Prussia, Baden, and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. The only current monarchs not related to her are Albert I of Belgium, and Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Queen Victoria just barely surpassed her grandfather, George III, as the longest-lived British monarch when she reached the age of 81 years and 240 days, and then died three days later. She has since been surpassed by her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II last December.

Her long life and fecundity are the source of endless bits of royal trivia, which I find fascinating. Happy Birthday, Queen Victoria.

It was a busy week

It has been a very busy week. I'm staying at work until 7 trying to keep up with the craziness. I also starting managing a summer intern this week, which has been great. It's an interesting challenge to not just do the work, but articulate to another person what it takes for him to do it. 

On Thursday a friend of mine from work, TB, invited me to dinner. He and his wife, MB, have two little ones - a boy about four and a daughter about eight months - so it was a chance for me to see domestic life up close and personal. The kids were actually amazingly low-key, much more than I expected. Now these friends of mine are a little geeky - their term, not mine. Very into sci-fi and fantasy, etc. In fact, years before I was in a meeting and dropped some semi-obscure Star Wars reference. Something like, "I recognized your foul stench when I was brought on board." TB's head shot up. He looked at me quizzically and asked: Are you a geek? Of course, I replied. I can discuss Star Wars and hold my own. Jay is the Trekkie and Battlestar Gallactica fan. So between the two of us we're covered. What I really love is when they drop an obscure geeky reference to something from our childhood that I haven't thought of in years. (Like Apache Chief from the Superfriends!)

After dinner we were discussing geekiness, and MB wondered if her kids would be geeks too. I laughed and said, "That will be your curse. Your kids will be captain of the football team and head cheerleader."

On Friday, Jay buzzed over to B'ham and we went to look at a couple more houses. We found one that is a possibility. We made an offer this morning... Wish us luck!

redneck take on gay marriage

Every once in a while someone at work will ask me whether Jay and I are married. I usually tell them that while we have never had a ceremony, we're as married as we're ever gonna get. And with the recent ruling in California, it has come up again. I think I'm just going to email people this clip from now on...

Ten Things Tuesday

Since I missed Ten Things Tuesday last week, I decided to lift another meme from Mrs. Chili and use for an extra-special, bonus, Fifty-Six Things Tuesday.


1.ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
I have a nasty scar on my right elbow that I got when I was about sixteen. I was engaging in some underage drinking, and my friends and I decided to climb on the roof of a local strip mall. On the way down, we disturbed a hornets nest and I got stung. I fell onto a piece of glass. Rather than call my parents, I tried desperately to get the bleeding to stop. When I got home later, and the bleeding hadn't stopped, my father took me to the emergency room for my first set of stitches. On the way out of the hospital, I turned to my Dad and said, "That wasn't so ba-" and promptly fainted.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
At my real room, at home in Atlanta, we have a watercolor of Biltmore Estate, along with several other pieces from Z Gallerie. We have a really cool oversize photo of the Queen Mary 2 sailing past the Statue of Liberty.

3. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
I believe around 3 PM.

4. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
My husband, dogs, and cat to move to Birmingham so my family can be together every day.

5. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
See above.

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
I do not mean to equate my pets with objects, but if my house were on fire (and that's happened to us once, so don't pooh-pooh it) I would run inside to save my animals. There is not one other possession in the house that I would care about.

7 . HOW TALL ARE YOU?
I am 5 foot 7. My father and brother are both 6 feet, and my younger sister has at least an inch on me. I hold my mother personally responsible.

8. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DAY?
Only when Jay's driving.

9. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
A knock on the door in the middle of the night from the Christian Gestapo. Because it could happen here in a heartbeat.

10. WHAT KIND OF HAIR COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Hmm, whoever wrote this meme clearly didn't expect any deviant homosexuals to answer this question.

11. WHAT ABOUT EYE COLOR?
My boo has pretty brown eyes.

12. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK
Ugh, neither. I drink way, way too much Pepsi One, though. I am thoroughly caffeinated.

13. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Sausage.

14. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Pasta.

15. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?
Blue

16. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?
Only the cracker.

17. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
In 7th grade, I was in the school auditorium, and I accidentally rubbed a contact out of my eye. I spent at least an hour patting down the chairs, the floor, myself, trying to find it. I was extremely stressed out. I missed the bus and my mother picked me up at school. She gave me a card that said "Tomorrow will be a better day" and a silly ceramic statuette of a bean that said "You're a special human bean." I still have it.

18. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
There's a guy in our neighborhood who was a big jock at either Tech or UGA who is one of the hottest guys I've ever seen. He's really nice, and doesn't mind at all that I can't stop staring at him at the pool. He's very friendly. Last time I ran into him at the gym, we chatted for a while and then I said, half-jokingly, "When are you going to ditch your roommate and run off with me?" He told me to simmer down. I think if I did run off with him, Jay would understand. I mean, damn, he is smoking.

19. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
For work, I'm a total label queen: Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabana, Canali, etc. But on the weekend, I am happy to sack out in Old Navy.

20. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU WANT?
I think I would love an Audi S4 wagon.

21. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Tomorrow isn't promised to anybody.

22. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA?
Yes. Canada, Mexico, and various ports of call in the Caribbean. I've also been to Europe several times: London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Lucerne, Salzburg, and several cities in France and Germany.

23. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
I avoid confrontation more than I should.

24. MET ANYONE FAMOUS?
A few here and there, but by far my favorite was Debbie.

25. FIRST JOB?
Dishwasher at Pewter Pot.

26. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Of course.

27. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE?
I can't speak for everyone, but I sure do.

28. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
Typing meeting notes for work.

29. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?
In April of 2005 I had extensive jaw surgery as part of my orthodontic treatment to correct a crossbite. It's a story worth its own post, but suffice to say that it was brutal. But worth it now that I can actually close my mouth.

30. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My storytelling ability.

31. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? …
A vacation.

32. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Every once in a while I get the itch, but I think my critters are enough. No real babies.

33. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope.

34. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Um, the vagina?

35. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU MISS ABOUT GRADE SCHOOL?
Oh gosh, I don't know, the constant bullying and teasing because I was small and effeminate? Gee, let me think on that one some more...

36. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
The stuff at the gym in the dispenser on the wall.

37 . DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes.

38. ANY BAD HABITS?
Farting in bed?

39. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?
Not at all. I tell Jay, if you want to run off with the pool boy, knock yourself out. But remember, I sign your name better than you do, and you don't even know where your paycheck gets direct deposited. But seriously, I'm not jealous at all when it comes to my relationship.

40. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes.

41. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS?
Back in the day, it was known to happen.

42. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
I shout. Jay really, really, really, doesn't like it. I try not to do it.

43. WHAT’S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?
Still working on this one.

44. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
Busytown.

45. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
Dunno.

46. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?
Before my time.

47. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?
No carbs, please. But mac and cheese for sure!

48. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES?
Let me count. Yup.

49. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM?
I have a laptop in the guest room at the Mary's. But not at my house.

50. PLANS FOR TONIGHT?
I'm going home soon and I'm going to read a little.

51. WHAT’S THE FASTEST YOU’VE EVER GONE IN A CAR?
Driving from B'ham to Atlanta I occasionally glance down and realize, Holy shit, I'm going 90.

52. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
There is not a peep to be heard in my office. Every once in a while my phone beeps with a text message from Jay. He's on Delta 4262 from Des Moines to Atlanta, about to take off.

53. LAST THING YOU DRANK?
Pepsi One a couple hours ago.

54. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
Democrat.

55. DO YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM OR A HIGH SELF ESTEEM?
High. mostly.

56. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Queen in Waiting, by Jean Plaidy. It's the second book in the Georgian series, a series of historical novels about the wives of British Kings George I, George II, George III, and George IV.

Code Red

Work has just been crazy for the last couple of weeks. I'll spare you the gory details, but the general gist of it goes like this:

1) Senior-level people approve a 24-month plan
2) 9 months into the plan, the same senior-level people decide to change the plan
3) We have six weeks to do a complete 180 and implement changes

Unfortunately we have spent a lot of time arguing over whether changing the plan is a good idea or not... But to me that's really irrelevant. The issue is not having time to adjust what we're doing. Even if we all thought that Plan A was terrible and Plan B was fantastic, we'd still be in full-fledged, balls to the walls, pedal to the metal, clusterfuck, panic attack mode.

I'm also dealing with the pains that some people are having with being acquired. The buck doesn't stop where it used to around here, and that has some people absolutely coming unglued. Plus, we have other people who are working completely out of their league. Everyone is desperately trying to assert his or her authority. So it's fun.

But I am not complaining. I will take this over nap time at the credit union any day.

Housing Update

I haven't been posting about our housing search, because Jay started his own blog dedicated to the whole process. We made an offer on a house a few weeks ago, only to learn that the house was in probate. Some old man bought it as a second home to downsize two years ago, never moved in, and it's been on the market ever since. Unfortunately not only did he die in November, but he did not have a will. So his whole estate is caught up in probate court. And apparently there are some big issues that need to be resolved with the estate, including a dispute over the source of funds that the old man used to buy the house. We were told that it would be at least two months until they could address the sale of this particular asset. Which is great, except that we're closing on the Atlanta house in six weeks. We also suspect that two months could be overly optimistic.

So we're working on a back up plan.

Friday Fake post

I have had no Internet connection this week at Momma's, so I haven't been able to post anything. Work has been full-force, pedal to the metal, non-stop, cluster fuck all week long. I didn't leave the office today until after 5; there was construction on I-20; and it took me almost three hours to get home. So I'm just going to post this photo that made me laugh out loud.