I'm not quite sure who found the other first. I was just a newbie with this whole blogging thing. I think she left me a comment, so I went to check her out. Sort of a strange woman, but there was something about her... This was her profile pic at the time (or one very similar to it).
I don't remember exactly when we met online. I had left a comment about scary movies or something, and she responded that we lived in the same town. I also seem to remember a post about her blue bra being stolen off the laundry line, which seemed odd, since it was February. But I digress. We eventually met face to face, and I ended up finding the best beer drinking buddy one could find. I even got her to meet some other friends of mine. Little did I know how THAT would come back to bite me on the butt!
We've been friends for about 2 years, now. I couldn't ask for a better one. I've seen her cry--hell, I can make her cry on demand! She's told me to fuck off in that really serious way that friends can do. We laugh, we drink, we eat, we watch movies. We've discussed conquests, gossiped about you guys, and basically had a pretty good time together. You all should be jealous. 
When you get a chance, go by and wish Rachel a Happy Birthday!! Hope you enjoy your day off, babe! (No, I've not had the pleasure of seeing this particular view in person...)
This week's peek-a-boo Mystery Guest is actually back for an encore. It wasn't too long ago that she appeared here (ah, the luck of the draw!). She's been a longtime HNTer, and has recently rejoined the ranks of active participants. She's a music lover, and can be found listening to anything from Daft Punk, to Stevie Wonder, to Frank Sinatra or Thelonius Monk. And she's got her kid listening to the same stuff and loving it! I think we'll be revealing her to you on Thursday, but be sure to stop by and say hi, if you think you know who it is!
There's a light at the end of the tunnel. No, it's not a train coming at me, or a proctologist's scope, or even the gates of Heaven opening up. I can almost breathe again! Oh, sure. The tunnel is still snot-encrusted, and I wheeze like a beast perishing for love (I googled that one!). But I'm about one day away from feeling better (I hope).
Some people live in parts of the country where it's cold and windy and snowy. Others live in a parts of the country where it's essential to have a full body tan year-round. That would include this week's Mystery Guest. She's witty, intelligent and peace-loving, but knows how to use a pistol, and will! She's also a bit of a techno/gadget geek, and has just recently dropped some serious coin for a new toy! I'll be revealing her Thursday, but if you know who it is, feel free to stop by and say hi! And tell her to be sure to turn over so she doesn't get burned!
I've never been one to wax poetic about Valentine's Day. The last one that I remember truly enjoying was back in 1994. Life was not going well for me at the time. In fact, it was during some of my darkest days. I had been laid off 2 months earlier, and my grandfather died unexpectedly in December. But a local florist was looking for people to deliver flowers on Valentine's Day. I had nothing better to do, and the unemployment people would like to see that I actually attempted some work, so I signed on. For 12 hours, I delivered roses all over town. I think there were 6 of us. Run out with as many deliveries as we could fit in our vehicles, and run back to pick up some more. I love the smell of roses anyway, and the minivan was reeking of them. To walk into an office building with one or two dozen roses, past all the women drooling in anticipation--it was a kick! To see women break into tears when you stopped at their desk (or not). To see the joy on their face when you made your fourth return trip with THEIR dozen roses. It all made for a wonderful day for me. But it was pretty much the last one for many, many years. Until this year...
I've never had anyone actually tattoo my name on their body, that I'm aware of. So imagine my joy when I got this picture submitted to be the Mystery Guest! No, it's not a tattoo, but it was a sharpie, and it didn't wash off right away! I'm honored! Maybe I need to come up with an "Os" tattoo. Maybe not... This MG has decided not to reveal herself this week. Not sure why, but she apparently must think there's something a little risqué! If you think you know who it is, stop by and say hi!
A train axle was blown OVER the entire campus, over building #6 in the center of campus, and landing through the roof of a house that used to sit approximately where the two blue parking lots are on the right side of the picture. Next to the bedroom of the elderly lady who lived there. For a better visualization, see below--
The girl's dorm is on the right, and bldg #6 is the one on the top of the hill. (axle would have come from the right side of this pic, diagonally over the tallest bldg.)
A simple Count for today. I've been eating Raisin Bran over the past couple of weeks. I generally don't eat breakfast--cereal is a dinner food for me. Two scoops of raisins per box. Cold milk. It doesn't get much better!
This week's Mystery Guest is, and I quote, "Sort of a half-assed HNT-er". Well, I don't know about that, but I do know that she blogs from a different part of the world. Sort of. She's currently using a friend's computer, because hers died. Which means I haven't heard from her to see if she wants to reveal herself or not. I'm sure she'd cop to it if you asked her though!
Way back in the late 70s, my best friend and I had just returned to school for our junior year of school. Most of the seniors were out student teaching, so we sort of ran the music dept. We had just come back from lunch, and there she was. A quirkily cute young freshman girl, walking down the hall towards us. She was fearless (later to find out it was more clueless) as she came up to us and asked us where a particular classroom was. After tripping over our respective tongues, the race was on. While she was good friends with the both of us, I think I dated her more than he did. She was a bit naive, and awfully innocent, and neither of us really tried to corrupt her. There were plenty of other fish in the ocean (apologies to those who might be offended by that...).
After I graduated, I moved out of state and lost touch with her. I'd heard stories that she had a daughter and was living in Texas. But in general, I didn't think I'd ever hear from her again. In 1993, I caught a rumor that she had moved back to a small town, near the small town where she grew up. Short story--we reconnected and got caught up. 
She was the single mother of two teenage girls, trying to keep up her music by giving piano lessons, and singing at a variety of coffeehouse type places. We've kept in touch over the years, during her moves around the state, and through her girls' high school graduations. She's always kept the music as a focal point in her life.
I've been waiting a long time for this week's Mystery Guest to submit something. She's been in and out of HNT for awhile, and has had to move around a little bit. Among her various loves, she's a great photographer! Her nature shots are wonderful! She's not bad with her self-portraits, either. She knows guns, drinks beer, and has a secret desire to have a penis, just to see what it's like. She's got some other hidden talents, too! She's going to reveal herself tomorrow afternoon, but feel free to check with her ahead of time!
I'm SO happy to present this week's Mystery Guest! She was one of the early-day HNTers who has sort of settled into an occasional one here and there. This girl has more secret blogs than should be allowed! And keeping up with her identity from month to month is a chore! She is an avid music lover, and she has a vast collection of CDs, some that I'm waiting for her to put into her will for me. Though I'd bet that her son will get his hands on them first...
