niicelaady

To paraphrase the Capital One commercial: What's in YOUR head? What's in mine is here: always personal, occasionally political, sometimes a rant on language or pop culture, or a heads-up on an interesting link I've found. I hope that all my friends will visit and comment and gain some insights into the workings of my twisted little mind.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

BITE ME, AARP!

This is getting silly.

My birthday is in December. I will be 48. Repeat, FORTY-EIGHT. Not 50. FORTY-FUCKING-EIGHT!

And yet, I get an invitation in the mail last week to join the American Association of Retired Persons. An organization that used to be for people over 65. Then in their infinite greed, they started coming after 60-year-olds. Then 55-year-olds. Now the minimum age is 50. But they aren't waiting for you to turn 50 to send the invitation, which used to be a complimentary copy of Modern Maturity magazine -- a practice immortalized in a Tom Paxton song:

Modern Maturity means you're getting old
Now you get the magazine that you hide from your friends
Once it was Rolling Stone, it was thrill after thrill
Now Modern Maturity means over the hill.

I know they just want as many dues-paying members as they can get their grubby little paws on. And the Baby Boom was still going strong in 1958, so there are a lot of us to hit up for dues. But couldn't they at least wait until I hit 49 1/2? Sheesh.

I'm not ready to grow old. I'm still working on growing UP.

In other news: Morris banquet was a success. Enjoyed a lovely weekend in New Hampshire with friends N&G and J&K. Going to 30th-year HS reunion (speaking of feeling old) next month in N.H. and get to see N&G again.

Life is good.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Pokingbrook's Got a Brand New Bag

And it's me!

I didn't know until our annual general meeting of the Pokingbrook Morris Dancers last night that I had been nominated for women's bag. It was actually the only contested race in our annual election of officers. It was between me and Marilee, the incumbent.

I WON!

Now, for the uninitiated, the "bag" in morris refers to (a) the person responsible for the equipment (sticks and hankies we use as props in dancing) and (b) the person who handles the money. In Pokingbrook, we have separate equipment bags for the men's and women's sides, and a single money bag.

So basically this new office means I get to schlep sticks and hankies to practices and gigs. Real glamorous -- not.

BUT ... it means a great deal to me that the team trusts me with any kind of responsibility at all, given that during the Toxic Jock years I avoided it at all costs. I showed up and went through the motions, if I showed up at all.

If any Pokingbrookers are reading this, thank you for the vote of confidence. You are the best.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

The Anal-Retentive's Apprentice

So, the trial run of Operation Organize Chez Jake at Fritz and Jen's wedding was marginally successful. The goal was to reduce the stress on Jake, but he didn't seem any less stressed, and I was much MORE stressed. Although he claims it did help. I am no longer upset about the fact that it didn't go as well as I'd envisioned. I'm processing that and using it to learn from for next time.

Step one: Get a heavy-duty music stand to hold what Tom dubbed the "O-C Book," so it can be more easily seen and referred to. Free surfaces are always in short supply at Chez Jake.

Step two: Have people sign up for kitchen duty instead of trying to assign tasks on the fly, book or no book.

Next project is the morris banquet. That looked as if it might fall apart when Jake found out the grange hall where we held it last year had instituted a no-alcohol policy. Morris dancers without ale? The horror! I found this out last night. But by noon today we had arranged another site, for half the rent. Phew! I was starting to think that this "everything I touch turns to shit" thing was going to be a pattern.

I am learning the value of planning and checklists and delegating. Me, who can't find a pair of socks that match half the time. Thanks, NiiceDuude. Your analness is rubbing off on me.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Thud.

Wedding over. More to come. Later.