12 of 12 - February 2009

Hello and welcome to this month's 12 of 12. New to 12 of 12? Go check out Chad's blog for the details. However, beware - Chad has had a rough few months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer and his photos of late can be a little squirm inducing - especially for the guys. I think his documentation of his journey has been at times heartbreaking, other times funny, and always inspiring. But, it ain't for everyone, so just wanted to put that out there.

So, away we go.....

12:01 am - After having a horrible bout with leg cramps earlier in the evening (and I know Mom - "Eat a banana") I'm still trying to get through Wednesday's episode of Lost on the TiFaux. Here we have Jack, Ben (not Henry) and Sun arriving to meet with a mystery woman.....

12:02 am - when out of the darkness comes ......... Desmond!! Love me some Desmond!!!

12:10 am - Finally thru with Lost, I decide to check emails and Facebook one last time before I'm off to bed and dangit! I see that my friend Laura's husband has beat by High Score on that major time-sucker, Bejeweled Blitz - how can I sleep now knowing that I no longer have the high score???

8:40 am - Had to get into my "Decor Drawer" to pull some extra paint samples to take to my new friend Susan after work this evening. She has bought and older home a few blocks over and is renovating it while living in it. God bless her heart. (Left hand side is my bedroom paint & soon to be drapes. Right side is my dining room paint and soon to be drapes.)

11:02 am - Finally arriving at work after taking a few hours of personal time. The lobby is decorated for Valentine's Day. I really need to see about bidding on the job where you put up balloons and posters around the building every time there is a celebration - I bet it pays more than mine does.

11:12 am - Checking some weather forecasts before finalizing some additional off day slots for the upcoming holiday. As long as the green isn't over Atlanta or New York, it should be OK.

5:55 pm - Getting ready to leave work, I realize that I have been far too busy to take any photos during my short day, so I tried to find something in my office that you haven't seen before. These are sort of new - I won them in a trivia contest we had at work. The topic was "Things about Minnesota" and the prizes were items from a huge "Minnesota" basket sent to our building from our new coworkers in Minneapolis. These are photos of pink & white lady's slippers (What is the State Flower of Minnesota, Alex?)

6:20 pm - Here, I am just turning on to the street that has given me a life long phobia. When I was growing up, my mom and grandmother use to jokingly call one of the local streets "Bad Luck Street" because of all the terrible and tragic things that either happened on the street or to people they knew that lived on the street. The one time I ever remember being on the street in my 20s, something bad happened to one of the people I was with. After that, I wouldn't go down that street for anything. Even after I moved into the community and met people who lived on the street, I would make excuses to not attend their parties because I was irrationally afraid of the damn street. Finally, about two years ago (and after a lot of therapy), I started making small attempts to at least go as far as the first driveway, and then turn around and get the heck out of there. Since then, I even managed to go to a party at one of the houses, although it was tough to stay very long. If I hadn't had Katie with me, I probably wouldn't have made it more than 15 minutes. Anyway, all this long story to say -

6:21 pm - guess where Susan lives????

It turned out that she was stuck in traffic, so all I had to do was drop the paint chips off in her mailbox and then make a break for it. But I hope that she has only good luck in her new home, because she seems like a seriously awesome person - an not just because she has the same Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mythology-heavy TV obsession that I do.

6:23 pm - Made it safely to the end of "Bad Luck Street" in one piece. And there is my office on the other side of the tracks.

7:25 pm - Watching last night's episode of Law & Order while I prepare dinner. Is it just me, or when they post this at the beginning of an episode does said episode almost always seem to mirror something that was in the news about 6-8 weeks ago???

10:20 pm - About to start on the 12 of 12 blog and notice my BF Traci's photo albums that I still haven't finished scanning (Sorry Tray! Will finish this weekend, I promise!)

So, thanks for playing and I'm off to bed.

12 of 12 - January 2009

Sorry - I'm a little bit late on this month's 12 of 12. What is 12 of 12 you ask? It is a photo assignment created by the wonderful Chad (who needs your good thoughts and prayers right now) where you post 12 photos from your day on the 12th. Mine are usually pretty mundane and lame. Want to see some better ones? Go here and see Helen's. Her photos are awesome (although, I think that living in England gives her an unfair advantage in finding better subject matter.)

I didn't really think about it being the 12th until I was already at work, so I forgot my camera and had to use the camera in my new phone. Since I can barely make a call with the dang thing, it took some time to get the hang of the camera, so this month's 12 of 12 my be a little shaky.

So, away we go.

8:40 am -I still don't have a 2009 calendar, and as I mentioned, it took me a while to realize that it was the 12th and not the 15th. I was starting to get a little upset that my paycheck wasn't direct deposited yet.

8:41 am - Two calendars in my office, and neither one of them is right.

12:45 pm - I wasn't really able to get everything done over the weekend, so when my boss called in sick and our afternoon meeting was cancelled, I asked if I could take a half-day. It was actually sort of sunny and warm when I left. Above are the new townhomes they are building a block down from my building. They look pretty nice, I just hope they sell as we have a few too many empty condos in the area.

1:35 pm - I stopped by my neighbor Lauren's to pick up a workbook for a program we are doing at church. She was kind enough to pick one up for me when I missed church on Sunday because I was feeling sick. Had a nice little visit with her, and then back on my way to do some errands.

1:40 p.m. - Stopped by Chapman's Drug store to pick up some prescriptions. Girl needs her Prozac, you know? Chapman's has been a Hapeville establishment for over 80 years, and they have a neat collection of old medication bottles and other memorabilia.

2:00 pm - After Chapman's, I drove through and picked up a Diet Coke at the Original Chick-fil-a Dwarf House, and other Hapeville landmark.

2:20 pm - then down to Costco (woohoo) for some gas.

2:30 pm - then to Barnes & Noble to check out the leftover calendar selection.

2:35 pm - which can be sort of random. But, they were also 75% off, so beggars can't be choosers. I ended up with a calendar of National Park WPA posters from the 1930s & 40s. They were actually very pretty and I think after the year is over, I may frame one for my home office area as the colors would work great in a couple of my rooms.

3:20 pm - On my way back home, passed the Hapeville First Baptist Church. Seems like I often have a church in my 12 of 12.

3:25 pm - and then finally making it home. I was so tired when I got home that I ended up taking a nap that lasted until after midnight. It was quite a nap.

So, there you have it - another exciting day in the life of Joni.

Happy Birthday Nanny Bug

Today would have been my grandmother's 100th birthday.

Annie Ruth was born December 30, 1908 in Atlanta , GA. She was the 15th of her father's 17 children, and the 10th of 12 that her mother had had with him. While it would seem easy to get lost in a crowd that size, my grandmother nevertheless managed to stand out.

Like when she modeled in the catalogues for the local ladies clothing store J.P. Allen's while still in her teens.
She married my grandfather Reid in 1929, and my Dad followed a year later. According to the back of this photo, this is my dad, but I think it looks more like my aunt Nancy. Although, I can still see a lot of Dad in that face as well. So who really knows.

While her first name was Annie, she went by her middle name Ruth. She was not fond of her first name, and when a state employee mistyped it as Anna on her driver's license one year, she did not correct them. I think Anna gave her the air of sophistication she desired. Of course, a few years after this photo, she became a grandmother and thanks to my brother, the first grandchild, she was dubbed Nanny Bug and it stuck. By the time I came along - the youngest of all of the grandchildren - I didn't even realize that she had a real name other than Nanny Bug. After we lost her in 1990, the grand kids all chipped in and had Nanny Bug added to her tombstone. (Forgive us - We are all kind of crazy that way.)

Nanny Bug and my other grandmother Cleo were as different as night and day - Nanny Bug was a city girl, while Cleo was from the country. Nanny Bug never left her room without full make-up, high heels and hair spray, and Cleo could not have cared less about that stuff. But in spite of their differences, they were each other's biggest fans. Here they are together at a family event.

I'm so thankful to have had both of my grandmothers as long as I did, but part of me wishes that they were still here today to celebrate this milestone. Nanny Bug would been perfectly coiffed, as usual, and would obviously have had on a pair of expensive high heels, even if she needed a walker to get around in them.

Love you Nanny Bug. Have a Happy Birthday.

Joni & Santa: A Retrospective

For nine years, my Mom dutifully dressed me in my finest Christmas wear and took me to see Santa at the Rich's at Greenbriar Mall.

1963 - So, this is where it all began. My first visit as a 3 month old in 1963. I'm clearly making noise and irritating Santa, while my brother Steve is a picture perfect boy scout. This picture pretty much sums up my family dynamic.

1964 - Still making noise and being irritating....

1965 - although, admit it - you'd cry too if Santa was letting everyone see your underpants.

1966 - I can haz a Christmas Tree Candy???

1967 - Dude! He gave me candy again, and I wasn't even good this year!

1968 - Hey, if my brother can dress up like a boy scout, I can be an angelic little choir girl. (The only departure from the Greenbriar tradition - this one was taken at the Downtown Rich's.)

1969 - I think that I'm slowly starting to notice that the beard is a fake.

1970 - Now this Santa sort of creeps me out. I think he's sort of sketchy looking, don't you? But, on a happier note, my aunt Charlsie made that top/dress for me. It was one of my favorites.

1971 - And this Santa just isn't even trying - I mean, his mustache is below his top lip and his belly is pushed up above his belt like man boobs. Come on dude, this isn't a tough gig - just sit in the chair and make sure your fake hair and stomach stays in place.

Just after this one, my stupid, mean classmate Ronnie Powell ruined Christmas forever when he told us all the truth about Santa. I hated that kid.

I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane with Santa, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

December 12 of 12

As you can probably tell from my complete lack of blogging since last month's 12 of 12, I've been a little bit indisposed as of late. Between putting in several 12 hour days at work, trying to learn all the new aspects of my job that I inherited after the last round of retirements, praying that I don't get cut from my job in the merger fallout, being a bit out of whack due to having a bit of the flu over Thanksgiving, still dealing with the unexplained stroke-like symptoms (and yet more medical tests), and being introduced to the crack that is Facebook - well, not a lot of time for blogging.

I was prepared to at least get in my monthly 12 of 12, but then I forgot my camera as I left for work at 7:00 am and then I didn't get home until after midnight on the 13th. So therefore, no photographic evidence of my December 12th exists, unless some satellite got a shot of me as I got out of the car going into or out of work. But still, I hate to completely bail on the exercise, so I figured I could just try to recreate my 12th for your viewing pleasure with the assist of some old photos. Just pretend you are watching one of those shows on a basic cable channel that reenacts some lady snapping and killing her husband or somesuch.

7:30 a.m. ish - heading the two blocks to work. Just imagine this shot with fewer green leaves on the trees.

7:32 a.m. - The place where I spent most of the day.

7:37 a.m. - yeah - my desk still looks like it did last month - just that all these papers are now covered with 30 additional days worth of papers.

7:50 a.m. - My Outlook task manager telling me that I'm about 5 days overdue on everything except for the one project we have spent the last week completely devoted to non-stop.

8:00 a.m. - Checking the flights for the trip I'm taking with my niece on week after next. While I owe the poor kid a Christmas trip to London (her brother went two years back, her trip last year was postponed due to my knee surgery) it is just too unaffordable right now for me to take her this Christmas. So, instead, we are going to Vegas. Mom is joining us, as she gets comped rooms and food at the Flamingo (hey - I can afford free), and I'm taking Liana to see the Cirque du Soleil show Love at the Mirage. Beatles is as close to London as we are getting this year, but she is thrilled nonetheless.

9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. - spent the day with these two again, except that none of us were really smiling about it.

8:00 p.m. - Finally left work. Not completely finished, but will head back on Sunday to finalize the rest of it so we will be ready first thing Monday.

8:10 p.m. - Neighbor Katie's evil cat Gracie hanging out in the alleyway, probably wondering if she can sharpen her claws on my leg again.

8:15 p.m. - Out with Katie for a belated birthday drink and dessert. I didn't look half this put together, but then I rarely do.

12:00 a.m. - Pulling into the garage after a long evening.

12:01 a.m. - Thank goodness the timer on the light is still off track, because otherwise I would have been walking into a pitch dark house.

12:02 a.m. - Christmas presents I showed you last month, still sitting in the exact same location and still not wrapped. Need to get on that soon.

That is about as close I as can get for this month. Promise to be back in regular form in January.

And on a final note - Chad, the guy who came up with the 12 of 12 concept and always graciously hosts the links for all that participate, found out this past week that he has testicular cancer. He is an Atlanta guy living in LA, in his 30s and always seemed to be in the greatest physical condition - long distance biking, running, hell - he even posed nude (strategically placed leg covering his guy parts) in Advocate magazine a few months back for a story on body image. I ask you all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

12 of 12 - November 2008

Welcome to my November 12 of 12 entry. This is where you post 12 photos from your day on the 12th of each month. New to 12 of 12? Check out Chad's blog for the details.


Physically, this was a pretty rough 12th. After being heavily drugged to avoid another major MRI meltdown on Monday, I slept for about 15 hours straight. I guess after that, my body decided staying awake for the next two days would balance that out. So, while lying in bed last night, staring at the ceiling, praying for sleep to come - my computer in the den came on all by itself. The Window's music startled me, so I got up to see what was up and to turn it back off. I assume that it was a power surge or something - no biggy.

Until about an hour later when it happened again. And this time, after the Windows music, the computer opened my playlist and started playing a David Bowie/Queen song. So, I guess I have a ghost. On the bright side, at least we enjoy the same 80s music.

3:25 a.m. - Gargoyle keeping watch over possessed computer.

8:50 a.m. - Didn't sleep the rest of the night, although I sort of dozed for about 10 minutes in the middle of putting on my socks while getting dressed for work. Here I am arriving at work, trying to dodge the union shills wanting us to sign their "informational" cards so they can take over our non-union company. Let's see - come January 1st, us already higher paid non-union employees will get a 3% raise, while union employees get a 1% raise as determined by their contract (less, of course, the 2% of their yearly salary that goes for union dues.) Yeah, I think I'm good.

9:10 a.m. - I think my papers multiplied during the night.

9:45 a.m. - Them's the numbers I'm a crunchin'.

3:45 p.m. - Late afternoon pudding break.

4:05 p.m. - This time of year, when it is dark by the time I leave work, I try to at least get to a window to see some daylight. This is the view of Hapeville from the back of our building. (Really, it is technically the front of the building, but the front gate is permanently locked, so we all enter from the back, so now we consider that the front and this the back.)

4:40 p.m. - Coworkers H & C working on C's part of tomorrow's PowerPoint presentation. Can't believe I managed to sneak a shot with their faces, as of my coworkers are not usually receptive to being the subject of a blog post.....

4:42 p.m. - ...such as Christine, partially seen here.

6:20 p.m. - Finally calling it a day and headed home. But first, stopped and pondered where my niece and I might go for our special trip in December. I am contemplating a location on this part of the map. Any guesses?

6:35 p.m. - Clothing I haven't worn in at least a year. Still can't break down and get rid of it, but at least it is getting closer to the door. Maybe a few episodes of Clean House on the TiVo will be the inspiration (guilt trip) that I need.

6:40 p.m. - Christmas shopping almost done. Even bought a little present for myself.

7:10 p.m. - Look My Cousin Bonnie - I got some head shots for you to check out. I think my 'type' is brainy. :-)

Don't know why the MRI lab always gives me a personal copy of the DVD with my scans, but I can't stop myself from taking a look. Of course, I have no idea what any of it shows - although my eyeballs up at the top are a bit creepy. Last time, there was one slice that looked like a racoon's face and yet another that looked like the Mutant Enemy "Grrr Argh" monster at the end of Buffy. This time around, I'm feeling more of a Predator vibe with some of the slices.

So, that is it for this month. Hope you enjoyed, and hope you will check out the link to Chad's blog at the top and go see some of the great stuff from other 12 of 12ers worldwide.