Home, Home on the Range

Home is a tricky word. Is it where you were born? Where you grew up? Where you've lived the longest? Where you live now? Home is where your heart is, so your real home's in your chest (Captain Hammer). I think it's easy to accumulate homes but it's hard when your current plot just doesn't make the cut. Despite having lived in the prairies for nearly three years, I find myself referring to Ohio and Southern Indiana as home. I've had a hard time grafting myself into this clay soil. Maybe it's how many times Buddy Holly and I have moved in those short three years. Maybe it's the fact that I never really imagined myself here to begin with. It is taking time but I am coming to call this home. I find myself saying "ya'll," I talk to my house and genuinely miss it when I'm away, and I'm beginning to think only mountains could improve on those sweeping sunsets.

But really, I think it's people that make your home. It's challenging for me to be so far from my natal family and I dearly miss my Belle and Pocahontas. But Buddy Holly, Drake, and Elena are my home. I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go. And I have had so many wonderful individuals make this patch of the Plains more homey. It's hard being a forward-thinking, progressive, bleeding heart liberal in redneck territory and I really don't think I could claim this land as my land without the likes of other like-minded folks. Where would I be without Miss Right? How could I survive mundane Mondays without coffee time with Charlotte and Esmeralda? With whom else can I share elucidating conversations about Mao Zedong, Sarah Palin, Henry VIII, and Downton Abbey - all before ten in the morning? And though she's gone to God's Country (apparently that's in Ioway), my first years in the Plains would have been rough ridin' without Kari.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to get around to is that my mother always told me to bloom where I'm planted. I'm just thankful for the companions that make this garden more lovely.

A few of my favorite things

I had to be at work at 6:15 this morning and I have a half-hour commute. Consequently, I've had quite a bit of coffee. Caffeine and I do not mix well. Or perhaps we mix very well because it is very effective. I am typing like a manaic right now. How do maniacs type?

Anyway, since I got to work so early, I chilled out and watched the Pilot of Once Upon a Time for the first 45 minutes while I ate coffee cake and drank hot cocoa laced with coffee and cinnamon creamer. Delicious. The drink and the show. Belle and I were discussing how surprised we've been at the number of splendid television shows this Fall. For the past while my main TV entertainment has been in disc format from Netflix (Tudors, Scrubs, 30Rock etc.), shows that are complete or nearing completion. The only show I have kept up with that is still active is Castle, which is dear to me. But this season I have found new favorites! Pan Am, Up All Night, New Girl, and now Once Upon a Time. Well done predominantly ABC! Particularly Pan Am and Once Upon a Time have captured my attention and I encourage you to give them a look-see on Hulu - if you're into history in the case of Pan Am or fairytales retold in the case of Once Upon a Time. That's where I watch them because both air on Sundays, which in our household is devoted to football and Buddy Holly's Fantasty Football writing. So, there's that.

You know what else I love? Norwegian Fjord horses. Really, I love all horses. Morgans, Freisians, etc. Horses with pep, get-up-and-go. I'd rather have to rein in a horse than coax it along with a nudge every five seconds. But Norwegian Fjord's are delightful. They are small but strong and steady. They also resemble prehistoric horses, which had toes, which is cool.

I also love feeds, Google reader, and blogs. Blogs that make me want to accomplish more, write more often, really work on making something out of Fabled Orxata, finish my short stories (or my, shh, novel), bake, photograph, read, go for a hike. There's a link roll on the right but of honorable mention are:
A Beautiful Mess - these ladies always make me want to put on make-up, put my hair up, and pull out a cute vintage dress. I don't usually have the energy for that but they make me want to.
Joy the Baker - Joy is a recent discovery courtesy of StumpleUpon (we'll get back to that in a moment) but, just in the little I've been able to read, she is a marvel in the kitchen and a great photographer.
Ms. Snarky's Awesometastic Comics Blog - I love comics, graphic novels, and manga and Ms. Snarky makes that okay. Also, as the name suggests, she's my favorite kind of snark.
Occupation: Girl - I've been following Cleolinda for many a year. And so should you.
Reader of Fictions - I have the distinct pleasure of being personally acquainted with this blogger. I love trying to keep up with her library and have a growing list of books to lend from the library on her recommendation.
The Bloggess - There aren't words. I was introduced to The Bloggess through Beyonce the Giant Metal Chicken but have since made room in my heart for Copernicus the homicidal monkey, a haunted doll house, and the myriad of delightful and snarky things Jenny brings to her blog.

I have a Gmail label devoted to Cooking, I also have one for Shopping (things I want to own), Travel (places I need to go and tips on how to get there), and Writing (my list of resources). I email, text, and leave voicemails for myself constantly updating these. My Cooking label is an archive of delicious recipies I want to try. Collected from everywhere. Mostly baked goods because I am addicted to such things but there's some healthy stuff with avocadoes and chicken pot pie in there too. I love tucking away recipes.

I love the StumbleUpon app on my smartphone. This is the greatest time spender when waiting in line. It is great finding new things - wacky, serious, educational, edible, a plethora of undiscovered items. I StumbledUpon Joy the Baker, a recipe for Butterbeer, a picture of a spaniel with wheels instead of back legs going crazy in some leaves, and, just recently...

Drinkify. Input to whom you're listening and Drinkify will tell you the perfect accompanying libation. I have yet to stump this device and I listen to some ecclectic stuff. Fantastic. P.S. a bottle (as opposed to a glass) of red wine is the suggested drink for listening to Dean Martin. Right on.

Mismatched Earrings

There is a custom in China, when two friends (girls) meet, to exchange an earring.