Stefiny_Lynn's Xanga

Because my mom's been having trouble getting to my new blog

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:10:14 GMT

It's not goodbye...

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:26:29 GMT

...though this movement has been a long time coming.

I don't like all the changes Xanga has been making either. I don't want a Mybook or Facespace. I just want a blog.

So I popped on over to Wordpress awhile back and made one... I've been trying it out in secret over the past couple weeks. Re-learning some HTML, experimenting with widgets, testing out different themes and headers. Wrote some new posts, copied and pasted some oldies.

Despite my enjoyment whilst learning the ropes over at Wordpress, I was still hesitant to leave Xanga, having been almost exclusively faithful to it for nearly 5 years now. (I did veer sideways for a time, with a blog on LiveJournal, when I was going through a difficult season and needed a private place to vent my frustration.) But, like I said, it's time to move on.

Now, I'm not clicking the "Shut Down Account" link. My Xanga will stay put for now, just no further updates.

But fear not, friends. You can still keep up to date on my ramblings! Come, read, comment:

Mrs [American] Pai

Because my world was rocked.

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:19:25 GMT

And I've been walking around singing pretending I'm Marketa Irglova ever since.
(From the film "Once")

Happy St David's Day

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:56:25 GMT

It's the Welsh version of St Patrick's Day. They celebrate by decorating with daffodils and leeks. Nice, eh? And of course the typical parades, food, and drink. There was a petition last year to have it made an official bank holiday, but Tony Blair said no. Loser.

Anyway! The real reason for writing today...

Ushwin has taken several two-day trips to Brighton for work over the last couple of weeks, team-building stuff and whatnot. Part of the trip included a visit to the Brighton Aquarium, which we saw while we were there but couldn't actually go into as we had Toby with us. I'd really like to go back one day, sans dog, as it looks pretty aweosme! There's a tunnel that you walk through which has glass sides and ceiling, so you can see all the fish and turtles swimming around.

One of the trips, Ush brought us back a couple of little souvenirs from the Aquarium. (I commended him for choosing functional souvenirs, not just dust-magnets that will sit on a shelf.) They're mugs!

Check out the lips on my little clownfish mug!

Aunt Becky

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:25:46 GMT

I wrote this last week, at the end of a several week long lead-up to the inevitable.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

She and my mom were part of a trio of friends at nursing school. I remember seeing a photo of the three of them when they were maybe 20 years old - all with their white nurses caps and long hippy hairdos.

I used to call her Ka-ka before I could say her name.

When we were little, she was famous for her wiggly hugs. (Still is, really.) She’d pick up Alex or me, our limbs dangling, and she’d jiggle us around, swinging us side to side, squealing as we laughed hysterically.

She’s gone now, though.

It’s almost a cliché, which I hate. Because clichés cheapen what is a very real and extremely painful reality. My Aunt Becky died of cancer.

Her cancer (I hate to give it ownership like that. Hers. It’s not as if she chose to have it, let alone wanted it to be hers.).. The cancer that stole her away was the kind that is relentless. And it was deceptive – hitting hard, then lying low for a time, giving a shred or two of hope, and finally striking again, harder and faster.

Becky fought long and hard, with good times and bad, but the cancer won. Like a parasite, it had set up shop in many of Becky’s vital body systems. The doctors were out of ideas. “Not more than a few months,” they said. And then, “Less than two weeks.”

In her final weeks and days, my mom spent time with her friend – laughing, praying, reminiscing over old memories, making funeral arrangements. Both being keen gardeners, they enjoyed an early spring – in the form of bunches and bunches of flowers sent by loved ones. My mom served as Becky’s hospice nurse, making her comfortable as her body slowly began to shut down.

I’m told that my mom and Greg, Becky’s husband, were on either side of her as she went… whispering words of love and encouragement as Becky left us to be with the Lord.

I can hardly imagine a more simultaneously excruciating yet also beautiful moment.

wherethehellismatt.com

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:03:18 GMT

...the best thing I have ever seen on the internet. And pretty much the greatest idea ever to present a brief record of the amazing places visited in our incredible world. Needless to say I'm in awe.

all you need is love

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:40:30 GMT

The intercom buzzed.

“Would Stephanie please contact reception.”

That’s odd. I pick up the phone to dial 0.

N. answers, but she talks so fast all I hear is, “*mumble mumble mumble* rub it in my face why don’t ya!”

Laughing, “What?!”

“Just come downstairs!”

So I get up and make my way down to reception, what is this girl on about?

And there it was, on the counter, a big box delivered from Bunches.co.uk Flowers, a card, a box of chocolates, and two votive candles in painted holders.

My husband is pretty amazing

Stronger than a powered up PacMan

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:35:20 GMT

I think, or rather I know to be factual, that my parents are two of theeee most amazing people in existence. As my brother recently said, "We got lucky with that pair when they shared DNA." (And of course by 'luck' we mean that it was and is a gift from the Divine.)

Speaking of my little brother, here is a photo of an abstract family portrait painted by that talented young man.

4 years, 4 months, and 7 days

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:05:31 GMT

"Hi Stefiny_Lynn! It's been 1589 (wow, that's a big number) days since you joined Xanga... won't you support us by going Premium?"

The answer is still, no, Xanga.

Frankly, I'm not so impressed with you lately. All these flashy upgrades, new bits and bobs. You're starting to resemble an overweight and over the hill woman who's intent on wearing tight leather pants and a leopard print corset. Or balding, middle-aged man growing a potbelly who's driving a brand new sports car and in denial about his midlife crisis.

I can see right through you, Xanga.

Just do what you set out to do, because you've always done that well. You'll never be Myspace, and you'll never be Facebook. I don't need all your glitter and gadgets. Nudges, chatboards, memories... Rubbish! I just want to blog and read my friends' blogs.

Now, I'm not making any immediate plans to leave you... not yet. I can still see the good in you, Xanga. And there is comfort in the familiar.

I won't lie, though, Wordpress is starting to look pretty good.

They even do anal glands!

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:12:24 GMT

Toby had his first trip to the groomer on Thursday evening.

If you'll remember (Mom, I believe you were there for the conversation), only a couple short months ago, Ush was adamantly against taking Toby to get groomed because he thought he'd end up looking like a pansy little showdog. He for some reason didn't believe me when I said I wouldn't let that happen, and threatened divorce if I went and did it behind his back! (He was feeling that strongly about preserving what little there is of his dog's masculinity, you see. )

Anyway, something changed somewhere along the lines and at my mere wisp of suggestion, he booked an appointment at a local place that was recommended to me by my park buddy Suzy and her dog Harley. (Subsequently, we also switched Toby's brand of dogfood as per her suggestion, and it has worked wonders for his appetite and his, er, digestive movements.. So clearly she knows what she's talking about!)

Each time the groomer gave us a choice, eg: Do you want his underbelly to have a skirt or cut short?, our reply was always, "Just cut it short." "No, short is fine." "Shorter!"
He's a playful, low maintenance dog who's prone to dreadlocks and random flora and fauna getting stuck to his ears and butt.. So we wanted to prevent both of those things as much as possible, as well as making our jobs of bathing and brushing him simpler! And she did a fantastic job. He looks great and now I can't believe it took us this long to get it done.

As is our usual blunder, we didn't do a standard before and after. One day we'll remember. In the meantime, here are some pics of the process...

Oh man, look at that 'tache...

Thank you Denise!