Friday, July 2, 2010

Ramblings of a Young Girl

I was searching through some old journals (o.k., so I was really FINALLY cleaning my room) and I found some of my attempts at poetry from my college days. Mostly it is just stream of consciousness, so don't be looking for any real format.


I can't look at him, or even in his direction, as he passes
I freeze. My body sucks in the fat that I know I can't hide,
my eyes squint as though I am looking at something of great importance in the distance.

He probably has a girlfriend.
Ew! He smokes.
If I look at him he'll know--he'll know I'm attracted and I can't let him.
I can't let another man see my affection and crush it.

He--I am sure--is not looking at me, but I don't want to be sure.
I don't want to see the expression of uninterest in his eye,
confirming what I already use to keep myself down--that he doesn't want me.

Why do I care?
How can I ever know unless I look up and show him the wonders that are in me?
How many times has my love looked and I didn't?
I can feel him looking, but I'm not ready.
I am still bitter and who knows when I'll get over it.

20 June 2005
Outside my apartmentin S.A.waiting for Lizzy to pick me up to go to HEB.


Hope you like it! Wishing you the best year ever....Mel

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Really?! That is really what you're gonna do with your money?

Found out that my dad had to borrow money from his dad for our Christmas presents this year. Then, got a call from him on Saturday asking if I would go and see if the S.A. Academy carried a $400 meat grinder b/c the one in C.C. was out of stock. He spent the gas money to come up here Sunday to pick it up and told me that he has his best friend's brother living in his house. He has been taking this guy back and forth to job interviews, getting him his hardship drivers license, letting him borrow clothes, feeding him 3 meals a day, all on top of giving him a $20 a day allowance for his beer and cigarette habit. All the while, I am trying to chose between paying my bills or paying for BC and allergy medication. Seriously?!? C'mon man!

Wishing you the best year ever....Mel

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Artsy Sunday

I had a fabulous day walking around the McNay art museum on Marion Koogler McNay's birthday. As I stepped out of my car I immediately noticed the beauty of the grounds, even on such an overcast, grey day. Even though there are many people around...some taking engagement pictures, some visiting with family, some talking with other mothers as their children run around and play together, some taking photographs of the breathtakingly landscaped trees, shrubs, and flowers...I still feel as though this is my own private place.

I imagine myself living here, this manicured lawn leading up to my colonial styled mansion with steel latticed window coverings and richly colored imported tile patios, walkways, and balconies. Even if it means I would have to live during the 1900s without indoor plumbing or air conditioning, I would have loved it.



An immediate soothing calm follows the first few seconds of embarrassing questions about which exhibits are free at the entrance of the museum. The artwork intrigues me--How do they do that?, I wonder. I decide to watch the brief skit in the auditorium that celebrates the birthday of Marion Koogler McNay. I am certainly glad for her and thankful for this sanctuary she has built.







She led a fascinating life and I can't help but feel kindred to her. She is described as high-spirited and daring. I blush to think of you reading this and imagining that I think myself either of those admirable qualities so I will go on to describe her and explain my feeling of connectedness.

She grew up in El Dorado, Kansas as the only daughter of a well-to-do doctor who purchased land that would later be discovered to hold oil, thereby ensuring her wealth until the time of her death. Again, this is nothing like me who is the eldest of 2 daughters of hard working laborers who struggled and rose from poverty to middle class.



She was, however, a strong woman with an artist's heart and a love for life, a romantic. At the age of 34 she married the love of her life, the 26 year old, Don McNay. Marion fell in love with Don because of his innocent and earnest way of being. They were only married 10 months before he died of the Spanish Influenza that killed off 25% of the population in the early 1900s. Although she married 4 subsequent times and is known as The Liz Taylor of Texas, she never stopped loving her Don and kept his name after her divorces.






These are a few of my favorite pictures from the ones I saw today. This is John Sargent's Study of a Young Man (Seated) 1895 Lithograph and I love the multi meaning expression on this young man's face. I am curious if he was wondering what he was doing there, whether he should leave without waking his partner, or replaying the fantastic scenes of the night before in his mind over and over again. I sometimes do that same thing myself, but mostly as I am driving in my car.






This is a 1910-12 watercolor and graphite on paper by Maurice Prendergast called Venice. I was particularly drawn to it because its vibrant colors and bustling waterways and market remind me of my trip to Venice in 2005.






This picture was incredibly moving. I was able to feel the strife of people in Mexico making their way across the desert seeking refuge in the U.S. The gross juxtaposition of the horrific-faced woman with her breast exposed running along the family man carrying his little girl to safety is moving. In a few years, if left behind, who knows if the child would become the presumed prostitute? This lithograph by Luis Jimenez titled Tan lejos de Dios, tan cerca de los Estados Unidos (So far from God, so close to the United States) 2001 was donated to the museum by my former University President and boss, Ricardo and Harriet Romo. Small world, right?

But this is by far my most favorite painting. It is Cesar A. Martinez's Sol y Remolino 1992 acrylic with sand and organic matter on canvas. I wrote the following notes down while I watched the painting and hope to make it into, or the inspiration for, a poem soon.

earthy

an eruption from the core

spray of organic detritus

desert in the foreground

over emphasized circular figure as focal point; juxtaposition of far and near

a wounded openness, cut with surgical precision; the impression of a red eye

one earth staring at its twin; the viewer is the earth

the beginnings of an identical wound is forming on viewers earth; foreboding of similar future

Impression that it can still be mended by the way the bits of the viewer's earth begins to cover the open wound of its twin.

At first, the colors are warm and soothing; browns, purples, reds, whites, but as you stare a while and contemplate the work inch by inch, your mind wanders and connects the colors with a dying of light and the movements of the painter's strokes with anxiousness, fearfulness, sadness for the pain, but gladness of the promise of healing.

I encourage you all to go check it out. Wishing you the best year ever!.....Mel

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Spoiler Alert: Don't read if you want to feel uplifted

Ok, ok, it has been a while. But I have been busy. Too bad I didn't write about all of it because I would have entertained you all.

Money, money, money, must be funny...I have pretty much been obsessed with it lately. How much is coming in, how much is going out, and whether there will be enough of it to keep me in my house.

So far I have been very lucky. When money has come in (from christmas or from Brit's rent) I have saved it. I had planned to use it for home improvements. I really want to put tile in my spare, downstairs, and master bathroom w/attached walk in closet. I would like to tear out the vanities and mirrors in the 3 bathrooms and replace them with more updated and personalized ones. I would also like to paint all the bathrooms, as well as my bedroom to get it out of the dull blues.

But then life happens and my plans take a backseat. I would say screw John Lennon, but screwing him would not make his words untrue. I guess there is always responsibility to be taken, and we all know that I usually take responsibility for my mistakes, as well as those of others. Chalk it up to being raised by an alcoholic.

I did not monitor or ask the right questions when communicating with my dentist about what services I wanted and did not get a clear estimate/understanding of the charges I would incur and received a very large, and very unexpected bill after having already paid more than I expected to at the window after each visit. I did some research and found that they had overcharged me by $300, but did still owe a balance of $200 or so. Bummer. There goes my master bedroom vanity.

A day later I received a certified letter from the title company that handled the purchase of my house. The letter stated that there was not just one HOA that handled my property, but 2 and the second HOA had not been paid since I purchased the house back in September. They asked me to contact the second HOA to pay $650 in back payments. This, the title company stated, did not include any late fees because they had been waived, nor the transfer fees involved with getting the HOA info put into my name.

I contacted ProComm, the company that manages my property, and they said that the account had been sent to collections and that with late fees and collection charges I owed $750. They suggested I pay as quickly as possible because I would not be able to get any money from the previous owner nor the title company with enough time to make the account up to date and thereby putting it back in the black. I explained to them that I had a letter from the title company stating that those fees had been waived, at which time the billing manager told me that it was not their policy to make such concessions and that I must be mistaken. She asked me to fax her the letter and I did. She did not change her mind on the fee waiving thing.

I am obsessed with my credit score. I am obsessed with paying any debts owed by me; so obsessed, that it is almost religious. I feel a moral obligation to pay back my debts. So naturally, this freaked me the fuck out. Why others don't feel the way that I do, I just can't fathom.

So, I called the title company and expressed my concern that they did not catch this 2nd HOA, even though it had been listed by the seller on the board of realty paperwork that I was given when I first toured the home. The title company just said that the seller knew there were 2 HOAs, but didn't say anything and that in 30 years she had not seen a property with 2 HOAs...Bullshit.

I explained to her what Procomm had said and she called over there to straighten it all out. She let me know that all of the fees associated with transferring ownership of the account were going to be paid by the seller, that September's payment would be prorated since I only moved in on the 25th, and that the late and collection fees would be waived bringing my grand total to $587. There goes my other 2 vanities for my spare bathroom and 1/2 bath downstairs.

Fuck corporate america and their bailouts. They screwed around and made it impossible for our government to not give them money for fear of the collapse of our economy. Whereas to not pay for the bank fuck ups would be more costly than paying for them, I have been put in a position where to fight this bill would be more costly than paying it.

Plus, I have been taught to always see my own responsibility in situations. I put an offer in on the house with the understanding that there was a monthly HOA that covered expenses/maintenance for my house from the studs out. I was pleasantly surprised when the title company informed me that it was not monthly, but yearly. I did not look into it further to notice that the yearly HOA did not cover insurance on the exterior of the home, but only the maintenance of the neighborhood commons. I suppose I should count myself lucky that nothing tragic happened that would require me to try to make a claim on the insurance that I thought I had paid for because ProComm, I am sure, would not have approved payment for anything because the policy had not been paid for. And that is another way they have me by the balls. I would hate to have my insurance for the inside of my home to find out that I did not have exterior insurance as required by my the terms of my mortgage. They would probably try to up the price of my policy for those months knowing my luck. I know that it is unlikely that they could/would do that, but the way my luck is going lately I can't believe I am putting this on the internet. Oh well, call me a dumb ass. I would have to agree with you lately.

These financial woes in addition to my irritation at living with a roommate who feels that since she pays rent she should not have to do any house work or take care of any of the animals that live in it is incredibly irritating. I know that I should be thankful for when she does the dishes occasionally and for the money that comes in from having a roommate because it has allowed me to not touch the small savings I do have in order to pay these unexpected expenses, but sometimes I wonder...I think I would be happier just getting a second job instead of feeling like I'm a mother. I am incredibly glad for Brittney's successes lately and I sincerely hope that she will feel confident enough to go out into the world on her own in the near future. I fear that our reliance/codependency on one another has caused a rift in our relationship as sisters. I am just trying to keep myself together.

I now know the real reason people get married. Two incomes is better than one. Two incomes will pay for groceries, needed medications, and gas money that is not available if you have only one income some months. Good luck to you all. I know that we shouldn't bitch about going without since our depression does not even begin to compare to the 1st depression, but sometimes you feel like having a pity party. Thanks for listening, any advice is welcome, wishing you the best year ever...Mel

Monday, September 21, 2009

Getting Packed

Well, this weekend was spent packing. Yes, mom...Brit did take a pic or two. I really hate packing and so do my animals. They get really needy because they think I might leave them behind. If they keep whining I might. Anybody not doing anything next weekend can come and help me clean the new house. I am hiring movers so that part is taken care of. I figured I would let everyone know that I was doing that so they would stop avoiding/screening my calls. No--I am not going to ask you to life heavy boxes.

Closing on a house wouldn't be closing on a house if there wasn't some drama involved. I need to get a copy of the title company check to prove that I have already paid it. Otherwise they will make me pay a 2nd time at closing when I pay all of the other prepaids. For some reason, the one check I need to view and print is the one check that Wellsfargo Online doesn't want to show me!@!! It keeps showing an error message. I went to the drive through teller and they had the same problem. So, I asked "What should I do about that?" "This is TIME-SENSITIVE!!! People". "Well, I can give you the card of our personal bankers". Yes, and thank you dumb ass teller.

All I know is that if I don't get what I want I am going to go postal...Wishing you the best year ever...Mel (And yes I am seeing someone about the anger)

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Rain? In July? Seriously?!?

So I woke up at noon, had my coffee, read some of my Jen Lancaster novel, and pet my cats until their combined shedding caused me to have a sneezing fit!

I realized that I had not been out of the house much in the past 2 days except to go to the grocer or the Hollywood video, even though I have been avoiding the stereotype of crazy cat lady lately, and that I was going to have to be on the sailboat this weekend and my tan needed a boost.

So, I put on my newest bathing suit and cover up, put my hair in an on-the-side braid (which I can still rock at my age--I don't care what ANYONE thinks!), packed my pool bag (which includes over sized beach towel, bottled water, book, and sunglasses), put on my cute heeled sandals and headed out the door.

Seriously, I was looking for funnel clouds with how bad the wind was blowing. The construction site next door has now lost all of its topsoil (or should I say all of its caliche dust) because it is now floating around my neighborhood for at least a mile. I turn on the radio and find out that it is raining like crazy in Kerrville and that it is heading straight for us. So much for tanning...guess I'll have to go to plan-B (which you can get over the counter at any pharmacy now if you are over 18!! Yeah!!) and head over to the Bijou to see Cheri, the story of an aging courtesan in France...Please, no comparisons.

Wishing the best!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Awkward and Spastic

Last night I met up with my friend Michael and we had drinks at Chuy's where my sister is a bartender. As such, she was good enough to top off my and Michael's drinks with some extra tequila. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea--read on for details. The happy hour was as interesting and entertaining as ever.

Once Brit was off work, we changed into our after hours clothing, a.k.a. stripperware (just kidding, sort of) and headed over to Eden. We sat down and talked with the owner, Alex, and his gf, Carly, who we met through Lisa and Neal. The drinks, D.J., live band on the patio, and overall ambience of the place was fantastic. If you are ever in SA on a Friday night and looking for a really classy place to chill and are a little bit on the mature side of life, this is the place. There are all ages, but it doesn't feel like a teeny bopper fest.

We all headed over to Bitter End for the much famed Pink Party. Very few people were wearing pink and judging from the amount of dudes there, I think the "Pink" was a poorly veiled attempt at suggesting there would be a lot of pussy there, hence all the guys. Why do guys think that just because you call it a pink party that a bunch of chicks are going to show up clad in all the sexy pink things that we own??? The joke was on them, because there were more dudes than chicks so they ended up looking queer. One of them was even wearing dark black rayban glasses. I scoffed, "who wears sunglasses in a club, what a weirdo." As we passed by him and his crew, who were checking us out hard core, I realized that the sunglass-wearing man was also carrying a walking stick--the dude was blind. I almost gave him some ass just cuz I felt so bad about making fun of him.

After Bitter End we headed over to The Falls for the last 30 minutes of the clubbing evening, which turned out to be the most hilarious. We went straight for the dance floor and some of the most booty shaking songs came on. This guy politely came up to me and asked if he could dance with me. Within a matter of seconds, I assessed him toe to head. Tall, surfer blonde hair, muscular build, not bad at all! Oh wait--his eyes are a little funny...OMG he is cross eyed. Naturally, I said thank you, but no. Shortly after that, the "Birthday Sex" song came on. It is a good slow moving one so all the chicks can dance their sexiest. I think they put it on at the end of the night because it is the last chance men have of picking up a chick that will go home with them and they don't want to waste their time on a chick that can't move her hips. BTW, I can definitely move my hips. LOL.

All of a sudden, this hand slides across the upper backside of my right ass cheek, around my hip, and almost gets as far as my hooha when I step away and look back disgusted. Who does this guy think he is? I mean it has been a while, but wasn't that at least 2nd base!?! But there was no one there when I turned around, which was strange because the hand was still on my hip. At this point I direct my attention towards the floor and there smiling up at me is this bald midget of a man. Seriously? I am 5 ft 9 inches without the 3 inch heels I was wearing. Did this guy think that he would do me with his head, cuz I am pretty sure that I was not going to be able to feel anything else, and I do not need anymore 'are you in?' moments since I left college. I gave him the get the f away from me look and turned back around and continued to dance alone. I turn back to see Brittney having a laugh attack of stroke-enducing proportions. I keep saying, "stop laughing, he can see you." But she doesn't. I am always torn between giving them props for trying when they know it would never work out and being pissed that I am the one they think they had the remotest chance with.

We grabbed a burrito and headed home, but I could only eat a little because my tummy had been upset ever since the 7 margaritas I had a Chuy's. Needless to say I spent a lot of time with my head in the trash can early this morning. I will NEVER have tequila again!

Today I met up with Elizabeth at our usual Starbucks. We are having a great time and I am relaying the mini me and cross-eyed stories when this dude comes up to us and sits himself down at the table next to us and tries to butt in on our story.

Dude: "Sounds like yall are having fun, ah ah ah"
Mel and Elizabeth: "Yeah, we are"
D: "Anything yall can share with me?"
M&E: "No, nothing we care to share"

The guy gets up and leaves, or so we thought. 20 seconds later he comes back and listens in on our conversation about loser guys trying to pick me up and being unsuccessful and he jumps into the conversation.

Dude: "Yeah, this one time I met up with a girl friend of mine at a bar downtown for Halloween."

Oh, brother, I thought

He continues to tell us how when he got there, this guy had camped out and was harrassing his friend with unwanted advances. They ended up having to go to the bar to get another drink and then sit down somewhere where there were no extra seats that the unwanted guy could find to once again rain on their parade. He continued to remark on the guys "awkward and spastic" dancing, to which I remarked would be the title of my next blog. Unfortunately he did not get that I would be describing him and this momentary interuption of my girl talk session.

I suddenly asked Elizabeth, "Is it time for us to catch that movie?" She immediately replied, "Yes it is!" The guy asked what we were going to see and for an undetectable second Elizabeth and I locked eyes with the realization that neither of us really knew what movies were in the theaters now, so I blurted out "Bruno". That is the new Sasha Baron-Cohen film that I have seen, but that Elizabeth has too high taste for (turns out I do too, but I am a glutten for punishment and just don't want to believe that someone can make two bad movies and forced myself to see. There are some funny parts, but way too much ass action).

When we got into the car I said "See! That shit happens to me all the time." Elizabeth replied, "Did that guy not realize that he was telling the story of his life!?!?!" There of course was no movie, so we went to Sushi Zushi and had a delightful afternoon catching up. Wishing you the best year ever...Mel