Mae @ Rainydayinmay

Dear Neighbor…

Published on April 16, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay3 Comments

Dear Neighbor lady,

We haven’t met. I don’t know what you look like, what your voice sounds like or exactly where in this beautiful neighborhood that you live. Even so, I already feel like I know more about you than i care to.

You are a mean spirited person and after hours of anger and frustration over you, I have to thank the Lord that I don’t know you. As for you, wherever your standings are with God and heaven- you should be abundantly grateful that you don’t know me.

What is it that I supposedly know about you? Well, I know that you take great pride and pleasure in insulting a fourteen year old girl, who was only trying to show you some courtesy and kindness. I also know that my sweet dog, (who is still adjusting to this townhome way of living, verses the large fenced yard she had just one month ago) exhibited more manners through her excitement to meet you and your daughter than you showed in the first fifteen seconds after you opened your mouth- and it just got more ugly from there.

You like to be mean? You like to bully girls younger than you?

Have fun with that, and in the meantime you can tuck yourself in at night with the realization that this isn’t a big neighborhood and we are more than likely going to cross paths again. Trust me, it will be equally as memorable as your moment with my daughter was for her, tears and all.

xoxoxo,

Today…

Published on April 16, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay7 Comments

{My pretty fantabulous friend Jenni sets up posts like this every now and again. I’m feeling anything but original these days so I thought I’d crash her bullet point party and go that route…}

…I had tea and toast for breakfast. While this is true of most mornings, it’s been quite a struggle recently because they do not sell our beloved bread here and so we are trying (and failing) sandwiches and toast other ways.

…I had an amazingly ideal list of things to do. They were necessary and wonderful things that included things like finally getting to the end of unpacking our office; baking a batch of delicious muffins and sitting down to write a few handwritten notes. These things did not happen.

…I fought with my fourteen year old over being tired of nagging her to do things she knows to do. It’s true, world, I suck.

…I ignored the photos, from the weekend, that need to be blogged and categorized.

…I did light organizing.

…I touched base with my son, which is always awesome. Gen received her AWESOME birthday gifts from him. She’s been watching the mail, like a hawk, every day for weeks. International shipping is sometimes not our friend. At any rate, that boy is an AMAZING gift giver and she is one happy girl, for sure.

…We ate sweet potato chips and ice cream for dinner.

…When I could not watch CNN anymore, and my heart ached deafeningly over the Boston tragedy, I lost myself to pinterest and then watched rom-coms with Gen.

…I hugged her tight at bed time. She’s a precious, precious girl.

…hours passed by so slow and fast, all at the same time. The air pressure is doing a circus number on my head, for sure. Today someone was over for a bit and we discussed the overhead/sunshine differences between here and places like Idaho, Texas and California. You take the good, you take the bad and suddenly- well, you just have to look at the bright side. That’s what we have to do. That’s what I have to do. Life isn’t bad. Sometimes there are crazy, dark or overwhelming things- but our perspective is everything.

…I LOVE the Osbournes. Ozzy, Sharon, Jack, Kelly… I love them. Today when Ozzy announced that he’d “fallen off the wagon” and had been drinking and using again- but was 44 days sober and trying- I beamed for this celebrity man I admire. This moment right here is when the few ultra conservative friends I had, will decide I am not worth it and close the door on me. Ha ha. I am ok with that. I admire a man who is honest, and loves others with an honest and grateful passion. I learned a lot about parenting from them. Today I am reminded that I can learn a lot about life too. I may not have a drug or drinking problem, but it is always true that no matter how many times we fall on our faces- it’s getting up and being brave enough to try again that matters.

…was all in all, not an awful day personally. The Boston tragedy aside, of course. Some days are worse, others are better. I am better for today, or at least I hope so. That’s my introspective 10:17 p.m perspective anyway…

On food… {You can’t act like you didn’t know it was coming.}

Published on April 11, 2013 by Mae @ RainydayinmayLeave a comment

Those who read my blog (or follow my twitter/facebook) are well versed on the fact that I love Trader Joe’s I love that store! I became familiar with it, when we lived near one- though I stuck to only shopping there occasionally and buying only things I already knew were great. Then, suddenly we lived back in Idaho where that was NO Trader Joe’s. I missed it instantly and began researching products they carried that people loved.

We would travel to a TJ’s within a 6-8 hours drive, and buy a few new things to try while stocking up on the beloved things that no other brand compared to. We would tow along a small cooler to fill with my FAVORITE salad dressing and handful of frozen things we loved, the majority of our loot was of the least bulky and non-cold-needing grocery and face care variety.

Then, in March, we moved.

On our fourth day in our new home, we ventured to one of two local TJ’s markets. It was insanely crazy, small, cramped, a little seedy and quite disheartening.

But we did not give up.

(To those of you who aren’t Joe fans, and are thinking Good grief, this is quite possible the WORST post in the history of blogs everywhere, it’s not- I promise.)

Two days later we braved the other location. We’ve been back every week since.

It’s about 40 minutes from our house, and sadly a flowers don’t travel home well… Which is pretty sad since they have AWESOME flowers. It’s a small thing though. We’ve been able to try a lot of the fresh and cold-needing things we hadn’t before. We’ve been pretty impressed all around. We’ve found some new favorites. Favorites that other supermarkets may carry- but I’ve never seen them…

The top of this list is this. It’s amazing! We’ve had it in sautes, poured it raw into our salads, added it to stir fry and most recently used it in a sweet potato hash that was to die for.

Their Greek yogurt is amazing and affordable.

Their Kefir is delicious, especially the pomegranate flavored.

The sell shave brussel sprouts. Have used them in all of the things I used the super 8 in, and they are AMAZING!

Their instant Steele Cut Oats are fantastic. My oatmeal adoring 14 year old has declared them her FAVORITE.

Their Dixie Peach juice. (YUM!)

Sweet Potato chips. Only potato chips I like.

Their blocked cheeses are a Great price and so delicious.

Joe Joe ice cream was a huge hit with my Joe Joe cookie loving hubby.

Salted Peanut Butter Caramel truffles are to die for. (and fair trade, so no one DID risk dying for them, even better!)

Blueberry scones (in a can like Pillsbury muffins) are AWESOME.

Their frozen Veggie fried rice is amazing, as is the Mandarin chicken. (also frozen.)

There is more- but these things stand out. It has honestly been every single meal, that we’ve raved about how fresh, delicious and amazing something was. It has inspired me to cook more, to cook more creatively…

So there you go… If you live near a TJ’s and don’t use these items- I encourage you to try them…

And if you live in Boise: Hold on!!!! It’s coming. :)

rainy day confessions…

Published on April 9, 2013April 9, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay11 Comments

I wrote this little book, you see.

The goal was to publish it, and after two years (nearly), move on to a few other projects mulling around in my brain.

But this book, this book just won’t get right. Of course, I hadn’t known even 2.5 months ago that I’d be moving across the country. Then I saw myself doing necessary rewrites and getting this thing done. Instead, I feel I am forty five (thousand) steps from where I should be. Now, whenever I think about it, I sort of feel all panicky and breath absent. And the thing is, I know of a handful of people around the web who have self published some of the most unedited books I’ve ever read. While this should serve to reassure me, it only adds to the pressure. Without a big house backing a book, are there populations of people who look down on self published authors as worthless or rejected? I mean, is it really any different than the independent music or film projects? One out of every 3 indie films is far superior to the majority of main stream released movies.

I likely shouldn’t feel as overwhelmed and incredibly inadequate as I do- yet with every passing day the pressure looms. Grows.

And I reread the book, and I love it. I am proud of it. It is personal and relevant. But not for everyone, and thats the part I do not like. The truth is, I want my book to be for everyone. I want everyone to love it, and by extension me.

And there you have it.

I have only ever had two people tell me my writing was awful. One of them had an opinion I placed far superior to all others, undeservedly. The other didn’t say it in so many words but still, I have to wonder- is it that I just couldn’t appeal to those two people, or am I surrounded by people who lied?

Oh, fear… Fear of failure, you are but a vicious foe.

I want my book to be beautiful. I want it to be some semblance of a poetic snapshot of life moments that can reach out and touch someone else. I want some small piece of the world to be better for it. I want to be better for it. This truth is when I realize, my book- the writing of my book and the publishing of said book- has to be for me.

I’d like to say that alleviates some of the pressure, and maybe it will. Not yet though, but soon. I hope.

Heeeere’s Johnny!

Published on April 8, 2013April 8, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay4 Comments

It’s raining today, in our little midwestern town. I am not complaining, I love a good rain. We are nearing having been in this house a month, (I can’t believe it) and though we aren’t quite as settled in as I’d hoped- this weeks call for rain and thunderstorms motivates me a bit. I am one who likes to jump in and get things done, so I am more than a little irritated that there are still an array of boxes in our garage. Of course, it hasn’t helped that I am on week three of a pretty severe cold/infection. All things considered, we’ve got quite a lot going accomplished. I’m waiting to post photos, until everything is done. The grand tour will come then.

Our 19th anniversary was last Tuesday and so on Saturday a friend hung out with Gen and we went on a little date. We went to dinner at a local Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse, only to realize very early on that this made us a bit homesick because we had one back home that we frequented often with dear friends. It’s bound to happen I guess. At any rate, we ended up at this enormous grill table with one other couple. They were older than us, and informed us early on that they loved to chat. It was actually really cool to spend the whole of dinner talking with complete strangers, over juggled knives and the most amazing salmon and steak ever. Our waitress (who was a brunette, but truly a blond at heart.) must have agreed that we had great social chemistry because she brought all four of our meals on one check. Could not have asked for a better evening, honestly.

My husband spent the weekend painting and I couldn’t be more thrilled. My kitchen is now the color of sunshine, and though its really brighter than our norm- considering the grey days this state has- it’s an effective choice for sure.

I am ready to feel better and get out there and meet people. An almost-month is a long time to just see a few old friends and thats it. I am not stir crazy yet, but my thoughts are referencing The Shining a bit more often than I’d like. (I Kid…) I am rejoining my old book club and am very excited about that! It ranks up there just behind the excitement I’ll have to park in my garage and never see another cardboard box again. I’m going to grow old and die in this house- I swear it. Never. Moving. Again. As my beloved Mama would say, “I’m too old for this crap.” Only she wouldn’t say crap, but whatever. It’s all poop in the end.

Kind of like this random post about nothing. It’s simply my attempt to connect with civility by any means possible.