Astilbe & Solomon’s Seal

I forgot to say that I think my astilbe is above ground. Which means all the rhizomes, bulbs, and corms I planted last fall have made an appearance here in the spring. I’m not sure what to expect from the astilbe. I’m hoping for something large and flowery in the shady spot at the end [...]

I am Always Grateful to the People who Lived Here Before Me

My neighbor and her baby came over this evening and she said, “I want my yard to look like yours.” Now, I’d love to take credit for all the cool stuff in our yard, but I’ll tell you, the most nifty stuff was here when we got here. Mostly, I feel like I’m just trying [...]

First There is a Mountain, Then There is no Mountain, Then There is and other Random Things

1. Autopsy IV over at Ninebullets has the kind of album review that, upon reading it, a girl can only think, “Oh, yes, that is what’s going on.” In this case, he postulates that Gretchen Wilson’s new album signals that “Nashville” is coming for alt.country. 2. The Professor sent me an link to the awesome [...]

In Which I Make a Prediction

I predict that, in ten years’ time, whatever the new health care reform looks like, Tennesseans of all political stripes will be milking it for all its worth. In the meantime, though, we have to put up with this nonsense, where only seven state senators will stand against demanding that the State’s Attorney involve us [...]

Just Doing My Part to Help the Tennessee Obesity Task Force

Sure, I spent today like every day–using my fat ass to ruin it for other Tennesseans. I especially tried to ruin things for the Tennessee Obesity Task Force by scowling and pulling the peeling part of my forehead off and dropping it on the floor, which is, admittedly, very gross. Not that they noticed. But [...]

The Truth about ICP

Yes, folks, this is a post about motherfucking Insane Clown Posse. Whenever you sit around and wonder if white people have a culture or cultures, think of the fact that, while most people in this nation have probably only the most cursory knowledge of ICP (if they have any knowledge of them at all), I [...]

Treme

I loved it. I was worried I was going to be spending all my time comparing it to The Wire, with so many of the same actors, but I really didn’t. I’ll admit, the only thing I know Khandi Alexander from is CSI: Miami, so seeing her here, so easily embodying this character, about blew [...]

Confined?

I am so sunburnt from Mule Day I can’t even tell you. We had to go to Target and get Solarcaine and I couldn’t even wait to get out of the store to put it on. It has faded a lot on my arms, but my forehead is still a mess. I went out to [...]

Mule Day!

More WTF?! Gardening

So, I come home last night to find my parents standing in my lilac bush just enjoying the smell of the blooms. And I say to my mom, “Did you see my bluebells? They are the only things blooming right now except for the daffodils.” And my mom says, “But what about those white things?” [...]

Where are Our Parents?

The Butcher is going out now to discover how it can possibly be 7:40 in the morning and our parents are not yet awake. I mean, sure, they sleep in, but they’re Midwesterners. Seven o’clock is sleeping in for them. Plus, they’ve been in the Eastern Time Zone all week. So, technically, this is 8:40. [...]

A Question for the Ages

Has this perfectly fine song, performed in a perfectly fine manner, been unfairly forgotten by history because the perfectly passable performer was Bo Duke? And, if it is a perfectly fine song, who could sing it now and give it another shot at being a perfectly fine song for the ages? I’m going to say [...]

Name Names or Shut Up, Gail Kerr

Gail Kerr is scolding some folks for referring to Kim McMillan as “Kimmie Mac.” I, in return, am going to scold Gail Kerr by saying, “Name names, or shut up.” Really, if you have a beef with the way folks on the internet have been carrying on, a big enough beef that you’re going to [...]

Why I Love Y’all

So, there’s this thing called Groupon. Basically, the Groupon folks make a deal that, if they can promise a business x number of patrons, the business will give the patrons Groupon brings them a sizable discount on their services. I haven’t ever used it, but the people who have seem to think that it’s nifty. [...]

Thank You, Anonymous Rumors Patron

So, a bunch of us were at Rumors last night for wine and knitting, which was wonderful, as always, but, as always, contains this set of stairs that kind of sucks. The restaurant is in an old house that sits way up off the curb. So, you have to go up a set of steps [...]

Isn’t This Just Your Face?

Over at The 9513, they’re talking about the Billy Joe Shaver trial and they report the following testimony: “Coker said he had been shot ‘in the mustache area.’” Now they don’t discuss this over at The 9513 and I don’t have anyone from Nashville Cream on Google Talk, so I am out of music experts [...]

Allergies and Tent Caterpillars

For the first time in years, my allergies are trying to do me in. Oh, sure, I have gotten sneezes and watery, itchy eyes every year. But the full blown groggy-headed sniffling dripping mess? This is an old friend I was hoping to have grow out of. Speaking of things I hate, the tent caterpillars [...]

The Dog Thinks I’m a Terrible Host

So, W. came out to ponder the lay of the land with me, literally, by wandering around my yard looking at my drainage issues. He arrived and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Wigglebottom barked ferociously and he greeted her politely. I then put her in the house while he and I went outside to look at [...]

I’m Covered in Petroglyphs and Other Random Things

1. I am both confused and delighted. What is this? What does it mean? Where are the critics who can explain this to me? 2. The arrival of a girl from Fulton, Mississippi in the comments to this post, to explain why they just had to have a second prom sounded so real to me [...]

Campfield’s “Can’t Say Gay” Bill

I’ve been thinking about my parents, with their new lesbian friends, who are just like a “normal” couple. I’ve been thinking about it a lot because it’s kind of a remarkable closed system–how small town America works. You make life so miserable for gay people that they leave, thus ensuring that the only gay people [...]

Shorter Campfield: Laws are for Little People

Stacey Campfield wants to make all kinds of laws that affect the quality of your life, invasive laws that often revolve around how lying bitches are cheating the menz or about lying to children about gay people. He, however, doesn’t even think he should have to follow basic traffic laws. Is it really too much [...]

The Tennessee State Library and Archives

In honor of The Tennessee State Library and Archives*, I have been reading about weeping willows. I have learned a number of interesting things. One, they can grow up to ten feet a year. Two, it might have been a little obnoxious for me to put this right inside the property line where it will [...]

Weird Loneliness

Sometimes, when my family is all together, it makes me feel very, very lonely in a way that can only be cured by being alone. Maybe it makes sense. When I’m alone, I have in my heart the best things about the people I love. When I’m face to face with them, I have to [...]

The Tennessee State Library and Archives Tree

So, yes, in a move that gets funnier to me by the minute, we have planted another tree in the yard and named it the unofficial Tennessee State Library and Archives tree. As you recall, we have some water issues by the driveway. In an effort to stem the tide, so to speak, we’ve planted [...]

Easter Sunday