Farewell

As I said in my first post, this blog was a trial run to see if I could manage to do it justice. I've concluded that I can't. It's not so much the posting, but the fact that I can't get around to visit y'all's sites and see what you have to say. Since blogging for me is a social activity, it's the equivalent of sitting in a room and talking continuously, and not listening to what anyone else has to say.

I do have another blog, a non-anonymous one for family and friends, and maintaining the two sites is beyond my dialup, homeschooling, Dilly-regulated world. I've had such a good time discovering all of you and hate to leave the party. I'll drop back in now and then. Meanwhile, continue to be funny and thoughtful and don't ever send wedding invitations -- unless you *specify* that it's a save-the-date -- by Facebook. Thus shall you have a blessed life.

Thanks for all!

-- Mairzy

Miss Mairzy Does Not Approve

I'm not a great fan of Facebook. The constant busyness makes my head buzz. About once a month, I log on and take care of all the friend requests, group invitations, and Fun Applications that I can't play with, having dialup.

Facebook sank to a new low ranking on my list when I got a notice in the other day:

Jessica has invited you to the event "Kevin and Jessica's Wedding"

Event: Jessica & Kevin's Wedding
"Once in a lifetime"
What: Ceremony
Host: Jessica & Kevin
When: Sunday, August 24 at 11:00am
Where: Grace Community Chapel

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
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I'll go bury my head and pretend I never saw it.

Nice Try

August found a quarter and stuck it in the back pocket of my jeans.

"I inserted a coin," he said. "Are you going to dance now?"

How Was Your Question Popped?

A cousin of August's just got engaged. His proposal was sweet, but not my style. Not that he consulted me. Many of my friends' husbands went all out for the event: one arranged to have a third party turn on a CD player so there was a soundtrack. Another actually had a family member videotape it, which violates all my notions of proper romance.

August's proposal, on the other hand, was like most everything he does: simple and to the point. We hadn't seen one another for an entire month, and he surprised me with a visit sooner than I was expecting him. We went to a house and garden that was open to the public but deserted on that particular day. (August of course didn't bribe the owners to turn everyone else away. Probably.) Did I know what was up? Well, yes. I even knew the spot where he was going to take me -- beside the lake with the weeping willow -- because we'd spent a lot of time there on previous trips.

So when we got to the enclosed courtyard with the fountain, I was unprepared when August knelt down in front of me. He condensed the question into, oh, two sentences. My answer was one word, but it was the right one. We lived happily ever after and got married two months later.

So I started wondering what sort of proposal story others have. If you don't mind sharing, how did you Get the Question? Or was it an understood thing that never formally got Asked? Or did you, flouting convention, Ask Him? It's a grey midwinter day here and I've got a cold, so I need some romance to brighten the day.

What Mairzy Did

Okay, y'all. I was in the library, and who should be ringing up my fines but the China-traveling librarian that we'd thought about asking for dessert. I hestitated. I pretended I didn't notice the opportunity. But I could hear y'all behind me: "Come on, just ask her. You're the one who was going on about 'lost social relics.' It won't hurt you. She'll be pleased! Go for it!" (By the way, you need to keep your voices down in the library.)

So I said, "This may seem a bit odd, but my husband and I would love to hear more about your trip to China. Would you like to come over for dessert some evening?"

She stared at me, then called security and hit me with pepper spray.

Not really. She looked surprised, pleased, and said she'd talk to her husband about it. It'll probably be after Easter, as we're both rather busy till then. And it might not come off... but hey! I did it!

(Applause is appropriate here.)

Sickness -- Hurray!

Ladybug is sick again. She's lying on the couch having the stomach-bug equivalent of a celebratory party.

"Ooohh!" (Moaning with her eyes closed, but checking our reaction through a tiny slit of eye.) "I'm really, really sick. I need to go to the hospital!"

"You don't have a fever, honey. You're not sick enough to go the hospital."

"I AM sick enough! I won't last the night! Tomorrow you won't have me with you anymore!"

"Would you like some water? And I'll pray for you."

"I won't last the the night, I tell you!"

Daddy prays for her, during which she moans pathetically. Then he announces it's storytime (the usual bedtime routine). Ladybug moans louder.

"I won't last through storytime!"

At August's request, I'm going to Google the symptoms of appendicitis. But we think that involves a fever and pain, not an upset stomach and a dramatic six-year-old.