From the edge of postcards

I got a compassionate, supportive postcard from a friend today. Unfortunately, a third of it was decimated en route to my mailbox. Here's what it said:

"mber, are you? I know eaded out to kee. Our prayers our grandma and I also hope you ace with your p decisions. ecial and God lthy, whole and tionships! n, Janelle"

Thankfully, my deductive powers are quite good.

This is for Emlyn

Hey, y'all. Don't feel compelled to do this. I don't even know if the commenting feature lets you post replies this long. If you want to take part and can't use the HaloScan commenting application, send me an email with your responses.

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. How have I affected you?
5. What do you think of me?
6. What's the fondest memory you have of me?
7. How long do you think we will be friends?
8. Do you love me?
9. Do you have a crush on me?
10. Would you kiss me?
11. Would you hug me?
12. Physically, what stands out?
13. Emotionally, what stands out?
14. Do you wish I was cooler?
15. On a scale of 1-10, how hot am I?
16. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
17. Am I loveable?
18. How long have you known me?
19. Describe me in one word.
20. What was your first impression?
21. Do you still think that way about me now?
22. What do you think my weakness is?
23. Do you think I'll get married?
24. What makes me happy?
25. What makes me sad?
26. What reminds you of me?
27. If you could give me anything what would it be?
28. How well do you know me?
29. When's the last time you saw me?
30. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
31. Do you think I could kill someone?
32. Do you think our friendship is getting stronger/weaker/or staying the same?
33. Do you feel that you could talk to me about anything and I would listen?
34. Are you going to put this on your blog and see what I say about you?

The In-Between …

I'm back home and at work this week, since Grandma's funeral isn't until this Saturday. It's a weird sort of in-between, having grieved her this past weekend when we got the news (my folks and I had a couple drinks and laughed and cried and told stories), and waiting for the "formal" grieving of the funeral.

There's a lot of normal stuff going in the meantime. Work, planning English lessons, running mundane errands and the like. At first, I felt like I didn't seem appropriately distraught at work. I felt my co-workers expected me to be more, well, sad. And I am. I'm sad she's no longer here. But I'm also happy that she's a legacy to us and that we're celebrating her life this weekend.

In the meantime, my very cool friend Janelle invited me for dinner tomorrow night, before I teach English class. It made my day.

Raise your glass ...

Thanks, everyone, for your prayers. My Grandma Phyllys died on Saturday. If anyone feels like raising a glass to Grandma, we'd all be okay with that, too. So would Grandma, who was known to appreciate a good "drinky-poo" every once in awhile and who had a dog named Martini.

This just in …

Listening to the news is part of my morning routine. I turn off the alarm, turn on NPR and curl up under the covers for a few additional minutes before making breakfast.

This morning, the oracle of the radio told me to stay in bed, since I'm doomed anyway.

According to Bob Edwards, I should "reconsider" being a poet.

Five best breakup albums …

With a nod to the genius of High Fidelity, here's what's in my CD player this week:

• Peter Case, "Beeline"

• Dream Theater, "Falling Into Infinity"

• Julie Miller, "Broken Things"

• Gin Blossoms, "New Miserable Experience"

• Johnny Cash, "Murder"

Sunday night blues

Prologue

I had a bad weekend. I don't want to blog about it. But I feel like only blogging about amusing or uplifting things is somehow dishonest.

Sigh.

Maybe Monika's right. Maybe blogging is like therapy.

Chapter One: The Last Word

I had one of those rare moments (especially for introverts) in which I said everything I wanted to say in one breath, stormed out of the room and woke up the next morning, thinking: "Wow, pure unadulterated rage can really be an ally when making a point."

Usually, after confrontation, I wake up and think: "Wow, I really blubbered my way through that." (And then I usually place a phone call or send an email to clarify ... or further muddle the situation.)

I had the last word, for once.

It felt good.

Chapter Two: The Driving Cure

Sometimes driving is the only thing that makes sense. Something about the acceleration that cures heartache.

Chapter Three: A Little Help From My Friends

If you happen to practice a faith that includes prayer, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep my grandma in your prayers. She had a heart attack and stroke while I was in Germany and is under hospice care. She doesn't have long to live. If you could just pray for her comfort and peace of mind, it would mean a lot to me, even if I don't know you're doing it. Thanks.

I'm back

I've spent the last two weeks in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Strangely, I feel less like I had two weeks vacation and more like I went to sleep at the end of March and woke up Mid-April. Good thing I did my taxes early.

Some highlights from the trip:

• Stepping in a puddle of beer in the Munich airport upon arrival. A local had brought his bottle of beer when he came to retrieve his friend, who was also on my flight. The friend quipped, by way of greeting: "Someone can't hold their liquor."

• The Life of Pi. Great literature defying genre and masquerading as a novel. Great plane reading. Even jet-lagged, I found some time before bed for "just one more chapter."

• Radler. It sounds disgusting, but it's really quite good. Carbonated lemonade-like beer, something you order when you're riding your bike home later.

• Five trains, seven hours and 37 Euro from Munich to Prague. The first train within the Czech Republic was straight outta Indiana Jones ... wood panels, bare lightbulbs, and copper seat springs.

• Prague. All of it, from the amazing Charles Bridge and castle, to the swanky bars and quality ethnic (Afghani, Icelandic, you name it) restaurants.

• Staying in a bed-and-breakfast that was once a prison.

• Finding a new favorite artist.

• Hiking with a view of the Alps in Salzburg.

• Drinking beer while watching "Big Fish" at the English-language cinema. Meghan dropped her beer, and it rolled to the front of the theater. Someone can't hold her liquor. (Sorry for that embarrassing blog debut, Meg.)

• Hard rolls, salami and cheese.

• German chocolate and coffee.

• A British English copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.