Category Archives: true life 2013

I can control o/possums WITH MY MIND

Image of North American O/possum By Cody Pope (Wikipedia:User:Cody.pope) [CC-BY-SA-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons.

I can control opossums. With my mind.

With my mind, people.

My mind.

Incidentally, since I can’t decide whether to use “possum” or “opossum” I’ve decided to go with o/possum from now on. The o/possums will understand.

I don’t know how useful this ability will be, but I like the idea of it, even though o/possums weird me out.

Damn. Now the o/possums know they weird me out. Shhhhh!

Although I don’t really believe I almost burned down Gatorland with my mind, as I have previously suggested, I choose to believe I’ve got this o/possum thing locked down.

I’m going to be sad if it’s the only X-man power I ever develop, though.

So what proof do I have of this ability? I’ll admit it’s a maybe possibly a little bit sketchy…

Dana was one of the winners of my inadvertently o/possum-themed blogiversary give-away. Yesterday, I decided to drop her prize off at her house, which is less than 1/2 a mile from mine – well within any rational person’s acceptable o/possum mind-control perimeter.

Before I arrived, one of her neighbors told her he’d seen an o/possum run into her yard. There is only one explanation (that is currently being posited here on my blog) – I sent this o/possum to her house!

I believe that I shall stop short of declaring myself the o/possum queen, because no good will come of that.

I’m also not going to be brushing their teeth anytime soon.

I forgot to take a picture of Dana’s present, but once all of the blogiversary presents have been received there will be some picture posting. Also, since I’ve decided that everyone who commented but didn’t win the drawing will be receiving a postcard I still need to send some emails and round up some addresses.

And the winners are…

The winners of the blogiversary giveaway are…

Kelly, Paula, and Dana!

I’ll drop you an email for mailing addresses. Wait, I can deliver Dana’s and I have Paula’s address. So, Kelly, I’ll be in touch for a mailing address.

I put all the names in a hat. (Really. An actual hat). I drew 3 names.

Then I got worried it wasn’t random enough. I tried 2 more random selection methods and got the same 3 names every time, so I figured the Fates had spoken. I feel bad because I feel like there should be presents for those who took the time to tell such good opossum stories, so I’ve filed away all the contact info on that post in case some more inspiring prizes land on my desk.

There aren’t any pictures posted of the prizes yet because I don’t want to spoil the surprise :-)

Dinocroc vs. Supergator & My High School Reunion

Dinocroc vs. Supergator is predicated on the idea that “alligators and crocodiles are mortal enemies.”

I called bullshit since the 2 species co-exist in South Florida, but Husband reminded me we aren’t dealing with a regular gator and croc, we’re talking about Supergator and Dinocroc.

Sure. Whatever.

The movie opens with a scene wherein David Carradine‘s character shouts, “What the hell is going on?”

This is a question we will ask our television for the next 90 minutes.

I’m having trouble keeping track of the characters who are neither Dinocroc nor Supergator because these people are boring and unidimensional. Plus, they keep getting eaten before I can even try to feign interest in them. Plus, I’m texting with JunglePete, who is attending our 25th high school reunion on Siesta Key on behalf of Heather and myself.

JunglePete and I were on the reunion planning committee. I thought we came up with some excellent themes, including Family Everglades Camping Weekend Of Terror, in addition to the multi-page list of alternate themes we proposed which our committee chair confiscated and burned in front of us.

The final decision was to not have a theme.

If I was at the reunion, they probably wouldn’t let me watch Dinocroc vs Supergator. Silly geese.

I’m starting to doubt that Supergator is actually the friend of all children.

Dinocroc isn’t very bright, even for “A Primeval” with enhanced intelligence.

Frankly, I’m not sure which monster we’re supposed to root for.

Husband thinks we’re supposed to be rooting for the humans.

That’s unfortunate.

I actually didn’t go for complicated health reasons, but you’re welcome to believe I stayed home to watch Dinocroc vs Supergator.

Or that one member of our class always has to sit out the reunion in an undisclosed location. Just in case.

(The confiscating and burning of our list didn’t actually happen, but it probably would have if we’d all met in person).

Last chance for a blogiversary prize

In light of the traffic I get, I’m perplexed by how stubborn many of you are about not leaving comments. Your loss!

You have until 5 p.m. EST today (Friday July 26th) to leave a comment on Monday’s post if you want the chance to win an exciting prize.

I promise to check the spam filter before I determine the winners. I found a few comments trapped in there that didn’t belong today. Sorry for that.

I swear to you that none of the prizes involve opossums, although 1 or 2 of them may be opossum-adjacent. Possibly.

Lotus time!

IMG_2678, originally uploaded by meanlouise.

The end of July is generally a miserable time of year here in the mid-Atlantic region. It’s a million degrees out and the humidity hovers around a level my old boss, Dr. Noodles, refers to as “air that makes you feel like you’re breathing through a wet sock.

Yum.

It’s all (mostly) worth it when you trek over to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to see the lotuses and water lilies in full bloom.

I think it is, anyway.

I try to visit multiple times each summer (and throughout the year) but so far have only made one journey this season. I posted a small set of photos on flickr for those of you who don’t want to trek out into the heat, humidity and punishing sun. (Go super early in the day and take lots of water. Your brain will thank you).

View the most recent Flickr set:
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington DC, July 16, 2013

p.s. don’t forget to leave a comment on this other post before Friday if you want the chance to win an exciting prize. I swear to you that none of the prizes involve opossums, although 1 or 2 of them may be opossum-adjacent. Maybe.