Solitude denied

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . August 12, 2010 . 2:22PM

Every now and then I tend to forget that my blog isn’t solely my blog. There are many of the most amazing people I’ve ever met or never met that stick their head onto this little piece of my soul and nibble on whatever I put out there to taste for flavor. Sometimes what is on the plate is delicious and insightful and leaves them happy, and hopeful and better for spending their time searching for nourishment among the many places they could look for that little something extra in their lives…however their lives may be. Sometimes…frankly it’s just leftovers. Some crust. A leftover thought that may have been worth sharing and building upon but something in my life has blocked it from my elaboration or my heartfelt need to push forward upon it and so I lay it on the plate and hope that somewhere they can see that there was love but the love was either so raw that it couldn’t be elaborated upon or it was just…enough.

And sometimes…we don’t need more than that. Sometimes, as people, we just need enough. So for today, I offer you my enough. Each of you makes me smile, think and realize things about myself that I would not otherwise realize. Thank you for enough.

All the things that I can’t say in this blog

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . July 3, 2009 . 11:04AM

I’ll bet that when you read that title you thought you were going to get a bonus blog entry of filth, or dirty words or something nasty. Or maybe even something controversial. Or a CONFESSION of some sort. Or drama. That was my hook and I drew you in like a fish, didn’t I? WHEW HOO, I caught me a big one today, folks! But, hey, now that you are here, hang out, will ya? I have stuff to say and I like it when we can chat for a minute.

I’ve said it before, there are times that little things happen in my day that are funny, or poignant or just strike me as something I want to share with you, but the information isn’t enough to make a full blog entry. These bits and pieces get combined into “A.J.’s Leftover” posts or “Random Thoughts” posts, but don’t be fooled! They are all things that make me think of one person: you.

So, here are some things that brought you to mind recently. Take that however you need to after reading them.

May 8, 2009
Never trust two 8 year olds who have shut themselves in a closet. They are making plans that are in no way beneficial to your well-being or that of humankind.

May 13, 2009
It drives me nuts when people that get honorary doctorates (usually celebrities) think they have any right to claim the title of “Dr.” As someone who is working to earn a Ph.D. I’m offended by this in so many ways. Mainly because I’m working for mine and paying for it as well.

June 11, 2009
Leon: A.J. called me six times this morning when I was in a meeting to ask if his game had been cancelled. (A.J. takes his baseball seriously)

June 17, 2009
You know it’s going to be a bad day when you wake up and whisper hello to your dog and she glares at you because your breathe is just that bad.

June 26, 2009
AJ: If I were a lightning bug, i would just fly wherever I wanted to go ahead and get my death over with. ((My note: What the heck?))

July 1, 2009
Me: “A.J., when you get older and become rich and famous, are you going to buy me a house?”
A.J.: (skeptical) “NO. I’ll buy you a couch. Or a bed with 14 cup holders.”
Me: (bewildered)

OH! And I’d been promising that I was going to show you the picture of me wearing my own Linda Lee necklace that I purchased in May to wear to a June wedding. Here it is. Sorry about the bewildered face and pulled back hair. We were in Arkansas and it was roughly 4000 degrees and I was in the middle of explaining how to use the camera when someone I don’t know took the picture. It’s a keeper! I got no less than 10 compliments on this necklace and all of them wanted to know where I got my stuff. I told you she was in high demand.

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my giveaway by 5pm CST today! Last chance!

Dorothy Parker and her misconception

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . May 30, 2009 . 2:33PM

Tina Fey's glasses help define her as a professional

Dorothy Parker once said, “Men seldom make passes. At girls who wear glasses.”

As a proud glass-wearing member of society, I’m wondering what gives her the idea that men are dissuaded by a good pair of specs? Frankly, I think they provide character and lend intrigue to a woman. Without them, I feel almost naked. My glasses are one more way for me to give myself a little bit of mystery.

And, let’s be honest, without them I have a bit of a moon face. There is the awful truth. It’s out and now I can’t take it back. Moony face moony face.

With my glasses, I feel smarter, more confident and, in some ways, invincible. I certainly can see, and that helps a lot. I didn’t need glasses until I was 21. I was doing support for a well-known blogging site and was spending quite a bit of time on the computer. Things began to go blurry and I started having some severe headaches. When my eyes were tested, they pronounced me with astigmatism and sent me on my way with a pair of retro shaped shades and a comment to come back yearly. And so I have.

I keep trying to make the pictures of me without glasses work, but frankly, they aren’t me and they just don’t. Being myself is sexy. Being myself is real. Besides, without my glasses, I can’t see what’s happening around me anyway, so it wouldn’t matter if someone was “passing” or not. I’d imagine it’s similar to the concept of beer goggles. I like being able to see. I think that’s sexy.

Random thoughts

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . May 14, 2009 . 2:46PM

These are the little thoughts that just don’t make it into posts. Maybe someday.

Random thoughts

April 27, 2009 Dear men,
Women want to feel desired and adored. If you can accomplish these 2 things, you will have cornered the market on your woman. Flirting is an art.
Sincerely, Me

May 1, 2009

One of the small things in life that I greatly appreciate is my mailman. Every day he brings my packages to my door instead of putting notices in my box, which effectively saves me about 18 trips a week to the post office. He does this regardless of the weather. I’m thankful for him.

May 5, 2009

I gave my final today and said goodbye to my undergraduates. The pride I feel at watching them grow this semester is not unlike the pride I’ve found in being a parent. Teaching is incredibly rewarding and I’m going to miss it while I spend more time focusing on my education.

AJ’s leftovers

by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . May 2, 2009 . 6:39PM

April 14, 2009
AJ said that if he got bitten by a King “Crowba” (Cobra), he would spend his last 30 minutes alive doing “whatever he wanted” which would include eating all the ice cream he wanted, riding rollercoasters and killing the King Crowba.

April 18, 2009
Today, I noticed AJ had two red spots on his face, one over each eyebrow. I was worried that he’d gotten some kind of funky sunburn so I asked him, “Adrian, what’s going on over your eyes?” and pointed to that area. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, “Eyebrows?” Yep. I deserved that.

April 27, 2009
Over the weekend, AJ had a baseball game and then it has become a new tradition that those of our adult friends that come to the game come over for dinner and games. AJ is particularly drawn to one friend who said he may or may not come and we were having fun leaving him a couple of silly messages while trying to find out if we should be waiting for him or go ahead with dinner plans. Then the bottom dropped out.

AJ: “Ohhh, this will be a good message.”
Me: “I can’t wait to hear it!”
AJ: *thoughtful* Hrm. Mom, Can I leave bad words on this message?
Me: NO! You cannot leave BAD WORDS on this message. You can’t say bad words in normal talking and you cannot leave it on a message.
AJ: *giggling hysterically and leaves a message berating said friend for not being at his game*
Me: *aside to the adults* “Now I’m always going to wonder what his message would have been?”