Opal ring / family history vignette

Monday, April 28, 2008 | 3:32 pm
Opal ring

Opal ring,
originally uploaded by Amber Rhea.

This weekend when I was in Augusta, my grandmother gave me this ring. It belonged to Helen Woodrow Bones, a.k.a. "Cousin Helen" in my family. She was the personal secretary of Ellen Axson Wilson (Woodrow Wilson’s first wife). After Ellen’s death, Helen continued to live at the White House for some time as a secretary to Woodrow Wilson.

The ring is an opal and two diamonds. Opal is the birthstone of October. Both Helen and I were born in October.

I took this photo with my camera phone this morning; I’ll take a better photo soon.

Read more about the Bones family here. If (when) Rusty and I ever take a trip to Rome, we definitely need to stay at the Bones House Inn!

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Blog post cribbed from an IM conversation

Monday, April 28, 2008 | 11:12 am

I’m not saying where this came from, but I hate headlines like this: “Quick Breakfasts That Kids and Dads Can Prepare.”

Kids, sure. But dads? Come on. Way to infantilize grown men.

It’s so simple! Even dad can do it! Because he’s not much smarter than a trained monkey!

(If I had a screenshot of the headline, it would get the FAIL stamp.)

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Monday morning randomness

Monday, April 21, 2008 | 11:05 am

This is just too bizarre not to share.

This morning on the way to work, I stopped to get gas. So I’m standing there pumping gas, and a Honda Element rolls up, stops, and a guy sticks his head out the window. I’m wondering, “Oh, geez, what stupid sexist thing is he going to yell?” and thinking how apt Jenny’s post was.

But then the guy yells, “Hey! You know what happens if we elect Barack Obama?” I’m so stunned that I can’t resist yelling back, “What?”

“It’s an Obama-nation!” he says triumphantly, and drives off.

I rolled my eyes dramatically but then realized I was wearing sunglasses, and anyway he hadn’t bothered to stick around for my reaction.

But, WTF? I don’t have an Obama sticker on my car. I forgot to wear my “I Love Obama” 10-gallon hat today. So what made this dude stop and yell this joke (I use the word loosely) at me? And who yells jokes out of car windows, anyway? Was he just driving along, and suddenly thought of this great joke that blends timely political commentary with linguistic amusement, and just couldn’t keep it to himself?

What a weird way to start the day.

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Vignette

Thursday, February 7, 2008 | 9:09 am

Every time I hear the Kid Rock song “Cowboy,” at the part where he says, “Get thrown in the mix and tossed out of bars,” I think, “No, you mean Waffle Houses.”

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