Final Preparations

Today, February 27^th, I made some final preparations for the Month of Abject Poverty Theric and I will be commencing on March 1^st. By ‘preparations’ I mean spending large sums of money on purchases that will not be allowed during said Month of Abject Poverty.

I started off the morning buying Fiesta ware. I was flipping through my Betty Crocker catalog over breakfast, not intending to buy anything, when I saw indications in said catalog that they still had Fiesta ware pieces in the color Sea Mist! This is my favorite color and was retired by the manufacturer at the beginning of 2005. I called the 1-800 number and ordered some bowls, serving platters, and serving dishes I had been wanting. I completed the order, basked in the feeling of consumption, and then finished my breakfast.

After breakfast I got online to read some blogs, check email etc. I thought I would go over to the Betty Crocker website to request a catalog for my mother-in-law. While on the website I noticed an announcement for a Clearance Sale. A sale not mentioned in my catalog. I clicked and perused the offerings—more Fiesta ware! Happy Pumpkin! A pattern I had been wanting a few pieces of for Halloween (my favorite holiday). These pieces were on clearance, half off! And they too will be retired at the end of the year! Ahh! I got out my credit card clicked and typed all the right spots, then basked in some more consumer-related endorphins. Mmmmm.

Next the Big O and I got in the car to go do some recycling and buy some oatmeal. But instead we ended up at Target. Where many pretty things had just been marked down with their lovely little red stickers. I wandered the aisles checking out the red stickers, made my selections, and then went through the checkout, a slight feeling of guilt on me. But then the purchase was over and I felt better again.

We arrived home. I looked at my Target purchases. I tried some of them out. My feelings of guilt increased. What would Theric think of me?! Is this any way to act before the Month of Abject Poverty?! I quickly packed the items back up. When Theric got home from work I confessed all. Theric was not mad though seemed slightly overwhelmed.

Tomorrow I will go and return most of the Target items. I hope then that my feelings of guilt will dissipate.

I have bad feelings about this Month of Abject Poverty.

Zoo Visit

The Big O and I went to the LA Zoo. It is a zoo that is very large and on the side of a hill. I would like to slap the person that thought this would be a good idea. Being on the side of a hill means I (and practically every other mother there) spent a lot of energy pushing the stroller up hill, it was exhausting! A trip to the zoo is an exhausting outing anyway, what with chasing the Big O around, picking him up to see the animals, and preventing him from throwing himself into the hippo den. But at this ‘on-the-side-of-a-hill-LA-Zoo’ it was extra exhausting.

As soon as we got to the Zoo the Big O let me know he wanted to see the Lions, “Arrr---ARRR”, and the Elephants by doing his elephant impression wherein he purses his lips together then, while leaning his head back as though he is swinging his trunk, says “mmm—mmmm”. We were off to find Lions and Elephants, but of course we got distracted on the way—by swinging, leaping and jumping monkeys (the LA Zoo seems to have A LOT of monkeys), alligators, rhino, ibexes, antelope, hippos and a very cute, not-scared-of-humans, young Giraffe.

This Giraffe came right up to the fence around the pen and stared at the Big O—but of course he was more interested in the other children around him than saying hi to the giraffe eating grass within his reach.

We found the Lions and the Big O recognized them and was excited to see them, even if they were just lying around napping. Did you know that Lions spend most of their time sleeping, sometimes 23 hours a day! Wow, LAZY!

After the lions, we were off to find the Elephants, but this was difficult as the LA Zoo is going through some remodeling. We got lost and ended up at a playground where the Big O had a grand time playing on the slides. I rested up on a bench, ate some snacks, took pictures of the Big O going down the slide and took a family picture for some Asian people. After I took the picture the Father made a point of telling me “I have only two daughters! And no sons!” The daughters were right there! They were both grown up and I don’t think the comment bugged them but I wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

After the playground we finally managed to find the Elephant and he was a great specimen. He had huge tusks and everything! Plus, he was even walking about and eating! O got really excited when he saw him and started doing his elephant impression, it was very cute. After watching the Elephant for a while we started to make our way to the exit.

On our way we stopped at the Orangutan exhibit, which had been recently redone. Two walls and the corner where they met were floor-to-ceiling clear panels. There was a ledge just outside and the Orangutan was sitting right there, up against the glass taking a nap. There was another little girl there and she and the Big O walked up to the Orangutan to get a good close up look. The Orangutan woke up, took notice of these small hairless monkeys, and looked right back at them. Then he put his hand up to the glass. The little girl placed her hand in front of his—it was very cool. I tried to get the Big O to put his hand up too, so I could take a picture, but he got scared and wouldn’t do it. Oh well, it was still probably the neatest thing I have ever seen at a zoo.

We continued on our way towards the exit. I took a detour through place called “The Desert Tunnel” and immediately regretted it. I decided I would not look at the bugs on the left side but only at the lizards on the right, but I knew the hard part would be getting the Big O not to notice the bugs. He likes bugs. Fortunately the lizards were fascinating to him and we got through “The Desert Tunnel” without having to view one gross bug. I breathed a sigh of relief and headed towards the exit. But as he and I were not two paces from the tunnel o’ creepy crawly bugs, a cute little boy came running up to me and O and said, “Wait!! Did you see the cool bugs!?” The boy ran back into the tunnel and O followed close behind. “Arrrggghh!” I thought. O and the boy enjoyed standing in front of each display for each bug and marveling in their yuckiness. And of course O had to be sure that I saw too. He ran up to me (I was standing a safe distance away pondering the life of the Mexican Beaded Lizard), grabbed my hand and pulled me over to see the stick bugs, the millipede, the tarantula, the hissing cockroach, and the hideous scorpion. Just thinking about it now gives me shivers.

We eventually made it to the exit and said good-bye to the LA Zoo. We got in the car both exhausted and both in need of a nap...but only one of us got one.

The Smell of ‘The Internet’

I started talking about this on a comment I left on Foxy J’s blog, now I will expand.

When I was in High School my father worked for a company called Eiger. They specialized in making high-end sound equipment for home theatre systems. My father was their head sound engineer. In their office they had a theatre room. My father would often stay late working on boards, creating new designs and other such things that I did not really understand. Sometimes if he knew he was going to be really late he would let me, my brothers and my mom come over and watch a movie in the theatre room. Sometimes he would invite extended family, and sometimes we even got to bring a friend. It was a great place to watch a movie—comfy couches, a huge screen and some of the best sound equipment known to man, created by my father (no, I’m not boasting about my dad, it really was some of the best sound equipment ever).

I loved going to watch movies over at Dad’s office. But sometimes I didn’t really want to watch a movie. Sometimes I just went so I could get on ‘The Internet’.

At my Dad’s office they had a computer with an Internet connection. The computer sat in front of a huge window that looked over Foster City, a very nice view but I hardly noticed over the bounties of ‘The Internet’. I remember being absolutely fascinated by all the information I could access. All the strangers I could ‘chat’ with. It was so cool! I wish I could remember more specifics about my initial encounters with the Internet, but the only thing that remains is the smell of my Dad’s office. The smell of ‘The Internet’.

The building was fairly new so there was a very distinct smell of newness. New furniture, new walls, new carpet, it was all new. I had been to the locations of my father’s previous places of employment, but none of them smelled as new as this place. It seemed to smack you in the face when you walked in and say, “Ha Ha! I am new and shiny and you are not!” It was a nice place, a new place, a hip place, a place with ‘The Internet’.

At the time this smell of newness really was the smell of the Internet. It was new to most everyone. It was the huge new thing. Do you remember that? It occurs to me that now the Internet is no longer that new. I think it is still great but it’s not all spiffy and shiny and smelling like new carpet. It’s older now and it doesn’t smell new. Perhaps now its smell is that of an old sweater, comfortable sneakers, old books, or a rotting whale carcass. I’m not sure.

But almost every time I sit down in front of a computer to use the Internet I have a moment where I can smell that distinctive new smell. The moment comes, I smell the newness, I remember my fascination, my teenage insecurity and the way chatting online allowed me to be a more confident version of myself. The moment comes, I remember all this, and it passes.

Then I return to my current Internet task.

It is Here!

Hurrah!

It is finally here

I am sitting in the bedroom typing this—can you believe it?

Yesterday we got the Internet all set up in our apartment, and he is making himself feel at home. He’s all spread out in one corner, making a mess with all his wires and cords. It is very exciting.

I spent about two and a half hours yesterdays catching up on Th. and Nem’s blogs. I would have caught up on more but I had a headache from reading the computer screen for so long and I thought my eyes might fall out—that would be bad.

The only other time I have had Internet in the place where I reside was when I was a freshman at college living in the dorms. Back then I spent way too much time online chatting with friends from high school and buying Tori Amos stuff on eBay. I wonder how I will waste…. er, spend my time now?

Oh wait, I know.

Blogging. Reading blogs, commenting on blogs and writing blogs…well at least I’ll be in very good company.

Why Lady Steed?

Many of you have been asking the question “Why Lady Steed?” In fact it has been asked incessantly, by Master FOB and then others. I suppose I answered his “Why Lady Steed?” question in a rather secretive way, but I never intended for it to become a campaign. I have explained the Lady part (Thmazing used it first when referring to me on his blog) but I have not yet explained the Steed part. Only Tolkien Boy has made a guess and those of you who know why have politely remained silent.


First a warning: this is bound to be a most anti-climatic reveal. I don’t even really want to reveal why I am Lady Steed; I kind of like keeping the secret to myself and the few who know. But Thmazing pointed out that many of you will know why I am Lady Steed once you get your Last Day of the First Month of the New Year letters, so he thought I should do the reveal before then.


When Lady Steed was born one fine Monday morning in June she was given a first name a middle name and a last name. Her first name was chosen because her dad liked an actress by the same name, though her mother found the unique spelling in the credits of a movie. (Lady Steed always stays through the credits just to see the interesting names and spellings) Her last name was the same as her parents. And her middle name was given as a remembrance to her mother’s heritage. That name was Steed. (See I told you it was anti-climatic--it’s not even that hard to guess. I don’t particularly care for horses and I have read exactly zero of the Work and the Glory books.) Steed was Lady Steed’s mother’s maiden name and is the middle name given to Lady and her two brothers. Her mother’s father’s last name was Steed and they were one of the families to settle Farmington, Utah by way of Nauvoo, Illinois. You could say that Mr. Lund named the family in his books after me.


For a long time, Steed was a slightly embarrassing part of my life. As a child I always feared the stage of a new friendship, or the period of time at a slumber party, when middle names would be revealed. I knew my middle name of Steed would get a strange look and a comment of “Gosh, that’s weird” or “Isn’t that another name for a horse?” The explanation that it was my mother’s maiden name never seemed to take the edge off the weirdness. I often wished I had a ‘normal’ middle name like Lee, Mae, Rose, or Ann. I didn’t like sharing Steed it with others. It was my secret.


When I was born, my mother’s best friend wrote a poem as a birthday gift to me. The first lines went like this

Fair [Lady] Fair [Lady]
Fair [Lady] Steed
Looks at the world with a twinkle of glee
Scottish smiles and little girl sleeves
She’ll always be
Fair [Lady] Fair [Lady]
Fair [Lady] Steed


(note: the poem did not use Lady but my first name, which does start with an L)


Yes, cheesy I know, but still a sweet thing to write for your best friend’s firstborn. This poem always slightly embarrassed me. When I was a teenager my friends would come over and read it out loud to each other (because it was hanging on the wall in my room right where anyone could read it). They would laugh and josh me about it, I knew they weren’t trying to hurt my feelings, but always felt like they were making fun of my middle name, and me. But I’m sure they just found the poem a little bit silly and maybe they were just a little bit jealous that no one had ever written a cheesy poem about them.


Eventually my friends took to calling me [Lady] Steed, or if they were trying to find me out in the school quad they’d call out “Oh Fair [Lady] Fair [Lady] Steed!” I hated it at first but after some time I got used to it, and then grew to like it. It was a term of endearment. At college I really missed being called [Lady] Steed--for a short while I even considered dropping my last name and just being [Lady] Steed. (Instead I switched to Thmazing’s dorky name.)


As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. They’ll be easy to recognize—they’ll be the cute little girls with Scottish smiles and little girl sleeves and a massive insecurity complex that only appears when you ask what the S stands for.



You're so clever! And so are we. Here are the alternate endings to this post Thmazing and I came up with. Do you think we chose the right one?

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. After all, what’s girlhood without a couple embarrassing slumber parties?

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. After all, what’s one more thing to feel insecure about during a girl’s developing years?

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. Because hey--I lived through it and now I’m a Lady!

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. May they suffer every bit as much as I suffered.

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. Hey--if my mom can do it to me, I ought to be able to do it to them.

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. Maybe they’ll even luck out and like horses.

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. Just remember the books are named after them.

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Lund.

I mean Steed!

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. Deal with it.

*****

As there are no male heirs to carry on Steed as a last name, I have decided to continue on with the tradition my mother started and will be giving my daughters the middle name of Steed. That’s right, Steed. Deal with it.