Ever since Mr. O read the post about Flibbertigibbet, he has been using that as an excuse to reduce any time I might spent around her. I think he would have found any excuse because I found her difficult to be around and told him what I thought the first time I met her. This weekend there was a birthday party for one of his friends, and the Flibbertigibbet was helping with the party. According to him, she had even coerced a ride out of him. Now, I have no idea how that happened. He seems to have no trouble saying “no” to me, although he usually doesn’t say the word. He told me that he would have asked me to go along, but he said he was trying to do me a favor by minimizing contact with her. What a story! I told him he should let me make my own decision. He also reminded me that I blogged about her using a “buck-fifty” word rather than a “fifty-cent” word. However, he must love the description in flibbertigibbet because he uses that instead of her name. Unfortunately, she shares the same name as the car in Stephen King’s novel. It’s too bad that I don’t remember the movie very well, or I could make some very interesting analogies.

New development…

As I write, he’s chatting with her and telling me about it. She once decided to stop talking to him. Maybe she will get mad enough to do so again. She drains your energy. I described her as a Jack Russell who can talk. Imagine a spastic dog with English skills. I have trouble with spastic dogs–forget talking ones. I think he’s seriously contemplating reducing the time he spends around her.

I just got this news Monday afternoon. Mr. O’s uncle died today. He had a long battle with thyroid cancer. I was in shock because I had recently asked how his uncle was doing. He was doing pretty well actually. He was in the hospital for some minor treatment.

I don’t consider myself to be very good at handling this kind of stuff. I don’t know what to say. There is nothing to say really. I even told Mr. O that I didn’t know what to say other than I’m shocked. I offered to help him in any way he needs. He’s not one to ask for help, and now he’s trying to be strong for his mother and aunt.

I have next to no experience with death and funerals. I remember when I was 8 or 9 that my dad’s mother died. His father died earlier. When my grandfather died about 6 years ago, the family didn’t even have a funeral or memorial service. So there was no closure there. Lots of people in the town were upset that they didn’t get a chance to pay their respect. I don’t blame them.

I don’t know that he’ll even think to read my blog with everything going on. I just want to be of help to someone who has done so much for me. My thoughts and heart are with you, Mr. O.

In the words of my adopted tradition:

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, dayan he-emet.

After two weeks of the DVD sitting on my TV, I finally had the chance to watch “The Departed.” I can see why it won an Oscar. I thought the story telling was impeccable.  The acting was very good. The movie has a really nice flow to it. I didn’t feel cheated or that something was lacking in the movie. The characters were believable in their setting.  If you really hate violence in movies, it may not be for you. It is certainly not for children. I have let my son (he’s 14 going on 15) see R-rated movies, but I don’t think I would let him see this one. If you like cop/mob type movies, it’s definitely worth seeing. If you haven’t seen it, please do. I personally watch all kinds of movies.

In case, my few readers haven’t seen this, there is a website for posting pictures and descriptions of catcallers and assorted perverts. The public pervert. You know, the ones who grab, call out or even grab themselves in public. The site began in New York City, but several other sites for cities around the country have popped up. The prevalence of this harrassment makes you want to cringe.

Check out the stories. If you live in one of the cities that has a Hollaback website, please check it out. Before anyone gets righteous about how the women dress or act, just remember that this stuff doesn’t happen to men. I’ve had incidents myself, and on both occasions I was covered up.

Since my two weekends of Landmark, I feel like all I have done is talk on the phone. My ear actually has a red spot that doesn’t go away. I relaxed on Friday until about mid-afternoon. It was a sunny clear day here, so it was nice to just sit outside for a bit. The wind was a little chilly though. The rest of the day I was on the phone yet again. I was avoiding the phone all day yesterday. I have been less watchful for blogging material, so I need to get back into that mode.

I had spent a couple days being persuaded to start the leadership program. So I spent a few days considering if the program was what I wanted to do right now. I’m holding off. I won’t say never, but I have other considerations right now.

I’m looking forward to my son’s spring break since this year he spends it with me.

This comes courtesy of Jen. Thank goodness I’m not that much of a Barbie. I hated Barbie growing up. Never could figure out why she didn’t come with underwear. There’s no way anyone with boobs that large could go without a bra. And don’t even get me started on how her proportions were distorted. Although if you look around today, you see that body type more frequently because of the abundance of women who have had surgery.

How Barbie Are you? I’m 35% Barbie.

[] you own over 10 bottles of nail polish
[x] you own a designer purse
[x] you own perfume that cost over $60
[] you had/have fake nails
[x] you have more body/hair products than you can use
[] your pet is a chihuahua/pomeranian/yorkshire terrier/siamese
[] you have clothes/shoes/accessories for your pet
[x] you have enough clothes to cover an entire refugee camp.
[] you have enough pictures to create your own wallpaper.
[] a pink comforter, carpeting, walls or sheets.

total: 4

do you:
[] spend more time at the mall than you do at home/work
[] have a hair color that is not your natural color
[x] have “blonde moments” at least once a day
[x]buy stuff because it’s awesome and then never wear it
[] constantly keep your phone at your side
[x] dance around in your room when nobody else is home
[] have a name for your car
[] know what celebrity is dating who and who broke up this week
[x] refuse to go out in public without makeup
[] prefer to be called “princess”

total: 4

do you adore:
[x] makeup
[] glitter
[] the color pink
[] shopping
[x] jewelry
[] mirrors
[x] chick flicks
[x] shoes
[] rainbows
[] unicorns
[x] Disney Movies
[] candles
[x] flowers
[x] stuffed animals
[] purses

total: 7

do you shop/have things you bought at:
[x] coach
[x] forever 21
[x] victoria’s secret
[x] guess?
[] claire’s
[] express
[] delias
[] mac
[x] sephora
[x] bebe

total: 6

do you say:
[] biotch
[x] whatever
[] oh my gosh/goodness
[] Hun
[] fugly
[] that’s hot
[] dunzo
[] darling
[] psh
[] cutie
[x] hottie
[] Skank
[x] totally
[] for sure
[] Fabulous

total: 2

do you read:
[] cosmopolitan
[] glamour
[] marie claire
[] elle girl
[] teen vogue
[] people
[] us weekly
[] star
[] self
[] perezhilton.com
[] dlisted.com
[] 17online.com
[] people.com
[] usmagazine.com
[] popsugar.com
[] pink Is The New Blog.com

total: 0

do you like these movies:
[x]legally blonde
[x] elizabethtown
[x] mean girls
[] now and then
[] the notebook
[x] a walk to remember
[x] sweet home alabama
[] where the heart is
[] just my luck
[] john tucker must die
[x] centerstage
[x] bring it on
[x] how to lose a guy in 10 days
[x] mona lisa smile
[] my girl

total: 9

are you addicted to…
[] lost
[] america’s next top model
[] project runway
[x] desperate housewives
[] the simple life
[] 8th and ocean
[x] sex & the city
[x] grey’s anatomy
[] The o.c.
[] laguna beach/the hills
[] nip/tuck
[] gilmore girls

total: 3

COUNT UP HOW MANY YOU CHECKED. THEN THATS YOUR ANSWER!

re-post as “I am —–% Barbie!”

I’m back to another rough patch in my dancing. I have spent two weekends including all day on the Fridays before sitting. My butt hurts. My strength is less than it was. I need to get back to practicing more. I can’t believe that just a few days of not practicing reduced my leg strength. I’m enjoying it more though since the courses because I’m not berating myself for mistakes.