Church, book-squee, my wardrobe and everything

[vanillafluffy]

I just got in from church, after not going for three weeks in a row---it's been YEARS since that last happened---and it was very nice.

When she was down last spring, GK gave me a sleeveless solid black dress, microfiber/chiffon. I hadn't worn it, thinking it was a bit dressy for church: I had to pin up the neckline, for one thing! but finally bit the bullet, otherwise I'd never have worn it before I outgrew it. It would benefit from a little taking in, but I thought it looked nice with a blue shrug and blue shoes for a color-block effect.

We had a guest speaker, the Reverend Ann Fuller, who is an actual Unitarian Universalist minister, as opposed to our usual Speaker Potluck. Her talk was "Antidote for Idolatry", defining "idolatry" as anything that comes between us and God, the Universe and Everything.

There was definitely food for thought there. By that definition, I suppose my clutter could be considered idolatry. Or my wardrobe---and I really have to go through that again; I *know* a lot of it---especially tops---is too big for me.

She also referenced "Whitethorn Woods", a novel by Maeve Binchy, which I own but haven't actually read yet. I'll be rectifying that soon, as I know where it is. It was nice to have someone to author-squee with! I recommended "Scarlett Feather" as my favorite of Binchy's---she's never read it, and I hope she does so we can squee some more next time she comes.

Sadly, we're going to be losing the Happy family. RHappy has gotten a job offer in Tampa that pays $20K a year better than what he's doing here, so they'll be departing soon. It's good that they have such a teriffic opportunity, but they were the young blood of the congregation, and it'll be hard to see them go.

I went to WalMart afterward, as is my wont. Got several packs of bug foggers (almost typed "bug floggers"---yikes!); I figure I'll bomb the whole house, give it a week to allow for any potential hatchings, then bomb it again. KILL ALL THE (evil) SPIDERS!!!

And maybe do some more laundry. I got a load done last week, so I've got basics, but I need to do bedding and towels and darks, so---laundry ahoy!

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Comments

[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

I've never read any Maeve Binchy (though I've heard of her) but is it weird that I've always loved the name? MAEVE. There was an actress on the soap opera Guiding Light named Maeve Kincaid - I just remember thinking that was such an interesting, even pretty, name.

I believe it's Irish? Not sure.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed. She's Irish, and as far as I know, all her books are primarily set there.

I think that's yet another indication that we were sisters in a past life, because I've always adored the Irish name Moira. Moira and Maeve? Sounds like a matched set of colleens to me!

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, Moira - yes! That one too. So many of the Celtic names are just so... lyrical. They just dance off the tongue! :-)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

And I've already mentioned thinking of changing my first name to Clancy.

My goodness, you're up early. (Or maybe it's just that for me, this is early!)

[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

I'm up around 5:15 every work morning (ugh). I'm actually off today -- Caelie has her oral surgery this afternoon -- which is why you're HEARING from me this early. ;-)

Also? LOVE Clancy. Of course, it makes me think of Clancy Brown (yum) but I love it as a woman's name too. Why not?

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

It makes me think of Clancy Brown, too. *le sigh!* God, that Voice of his!

I hope Caelie's surgery goes well and that she recovers swiftly. (And for good measure, I hope Asshat's flakiness doesn't cause any trouble, although that's asking a lot of the Universe!)

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the well wishes. Unfortunately, Asshat's flakiness/stupidity has ALREADY struck. I found out last night when he dropped her off after his weekend that he didn't just switch shifts, he actually switched COMPANIES. He's now working for GE (General Electric) in Akron instead of Rockwell (last 6 years) in Twinsburg. Which means.... *wait for it* .... his INSURANCE has changed yet again. He thinks he has United Healthcare but he's not positive. And he has NO idea if he has dental or what carrier it is.

Yeah.

So I'm taking her to the oral surgeon today who thinks they'll be billing MetLife. MetLife will only be covering the evaluation back in February - not the procedure today. If they think I'm paying the balance in cash, they've got another think coming. This is just... a mess. And don't even get me started on the likely 4-week lapse in child support while the new employer waits on paperwork. *sigh*

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Let's hope there's some benefit from it, like he's making way more money, which it sounds like he sorely needs, and maybe has better insurance coverage, which it sounds like he can also use, considering the spawnage.

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

LOVE your icon! *snickers*

While it may, indeed, be a step up on both counts (a friend of his has worked there for several years now) - the main reason Asshat went with a new company to begin with is because his old employer was sick and tired of his ADHD issues and was getting ready to let him go.

So I have to wonder: new employees are supposed to be on their best behavior (i.e. proving themselves) and ON-TIME. I can't imagine GE cutting him slack like Rockwell has for so many years. Plus he's starting at zero with PTO and vacation time. And he's not home during the day any longer, to help Bucky. Even if he's making more money, I don't see how this was a positive move for him.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Yow. Shot in the foot again, sounds like.

I found the pie as clip art and colorized it. Feel free!

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[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

BTW, speaking of books, I've got this idea floating around for a crossover wherein Jupiter Jones (the all grown up version) meets Spencer Reid (of Criminal Minds). Any thoughts???

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

BTW, speaking of books, I've got this idea floating around for a crossover wherein Jupiter Jones (the all grown up version) meets Spencer Reid (of Criminal Minds). Any thoughts???

OMG! You mean, any thoughts other than YOU MUST WRITE THIS?!? That would be brilliant (in more ways than one)!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

That would be brilliant (in more ways than one)!

That's kinda what I thought...in some ways, they're a lot alike. Both real brainiacs, but the way I see it, Spencer is more academic while Jupiter is definitely more hands-on. (All those gizmos he's always building, and I'm sure they've only gotten more technical as he's gotten older!)

We know from the show that Spencer graduated from high school at 12 and got his Math doctorate at 17. (And he's got a bunch more undergrad degrees by the time the sseries begins.) Socially, he's a little behind the eight-ball at times.

Meanwhile, Jupiter was into the Three Investigators around junior high (according to one of the websites I've seen, which sounds about right), and that was *after* his career as a child star. So his social skills are extremely well-developed.

I think there's an intriguing contrast between the two of them, now all I have to do is come up with a plot. I'm not that good at PWP.

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

I'd agree with those assessments. Jupiter is definitely more outgoing, due to his child-star past, but he's ALSO socially awkward in his own way. Love it. Do you see him and Spencer as 'rivals' at first, or immediately as kindred spirits?

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

The scenario I've been assembling takes some liberties with the 3Inv canon. Jupiter is a couple years younger than Spencer. He's still in Rocky Beach because after his Uncle Titus died, he saw it as his responsibility to take care of Aunt Matilda. (Hans and Konrad left the salvage yard to open a microbrewery, do it's pretty much up to Jupiter.) He takes online courses, and addition to running the yard real-time, he also sells some of the more portable treasures online. As part of his studies of criminology, he's read some of Spencer's papers, and he's something of an admirer. After all, they're close in age, but look at everything Spencer has already accomplished! When he contacts him, Spencer is somewhat suspicious, but they eventually meet and hit it off.

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

Words cannot express how much I'm LOVING this. You must write it, you MUST!!!!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

We'll see....


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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

One more thought/question: is Jupe still "stocky" and/or sensitive about his weight? Because Reid is so thin... ;-)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

He's had a nice growth spurt; Jupiter and Reid can look each other in the eye, but Jupiter is *much* more broad-shouldered, which Reid finds curiously affecting. He's trimmed down a bit---he isn't exactly boasting a six-pack, but nobody except Garcia is going to call him Baby Fatso, either. (And THAT only happens once.)

There's definitely some "opposites attract" going on. Yes, they have a lot in common, as previously noted, but I see them as admiring things about each other, such as all the adventures Jupiter had while Spencer was cloistered in academia, balanced by Reid's aventures with the FBI while Jupe's been stuck playing care-giver in Rocky Beach (although J *does* have more sexual experience).

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

That sound you heard? Was my fangirl self SQUEEEEEEING up here in Ohio. I love how you've already thought so many of the details out!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

This has been keeping me company for a while now. In this case, "a while" starts back in 2010. Not continually, but every now and then, when Spencer had a particularly strong episode, or I had a rush of nostalgia for my youth.

Does it help if I say that my version of grown-up Jupiter bears a passing resemblence to Rossi? Dark hair, dark eyes, solidly built...Reid has a few daddy issues, and in some ways, Rossi took over where Gideon left off. Jupiter, though, does have a slight tendency to act older than Reid, but in their case, the playing field is a lot more level, and in addition to being his "boyfriend", Jupiter is probably the first guy friend he's ever had in the male-bonding sense. Morgan also does the "big brother" thing toward Reid---the team in general does---so J being matter-of-fact about tisks and not trying to candycoat things is good for Reid, IMO.

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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

jkdsllrmsohjgdasemkhglghoihjk!!!

You're KILLING me, here!!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!


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[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

;-)

[thru-the-blinds.livejournal.com]

Whoops! And I'm SO sorry - didn't mean to hijack your journal entry and make it about Asshat. *facepalm*

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

No biggie!

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[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the talk on idolatry was very interesting. It's actually something I think about a lot - it's so easy to let things, even good things, come idols. (What did she suggest as a cure?)

My middle sister says she envies everyone who hasn't read Maeve Binchy yet, because they still have the pleasure of reading her for the very first time. (I confess, I'm one of those she envies.)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

What did she suggest as a cure?)

To be mindful of it, basically. To look at the value we place on things and try to discern their real versus perceived worth.

I hadn't heard of her until someone gave me a bunch of books, including "Scarlett Feather", which, since it was set in Ireland, I was moved to read, and loved it. She has an eviable knack for drawing vivid characters with a few sentences so you feel youve known them for ages. The funny thing is, a few weeks later, someone else gave me a copy in a stack of books, which prompted me to lend it to everyone I could.

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