Memory Nest (Revisited)

Back in 2015 (which was my first year of blogging) there was a quaint little tag that went around called the Memory Nest tag.  (You can see my original post here.) For this tag you had to list five things that started with "When I grow up and have my own house..."  It was a fun little tag, and in trying to come up with a new post idea recently, I thought why not revisit that post and add some updates to it now that I have "grown up" and actually do have "my own house"?  

It is my sincere hope that you will all gain much wisdom and insight from this post.  (And if not wisdom...and if not insight...well then, perhaps a bit of entertainment at least.)

(Original answers in black, comments on those answers in blue.)

1.  When I grow up and have my own house...I'm going to stop eating so much sugar because I just know that having my own house is going to magically give me the discipline which I now lack.  (And until that happy time comes, I'll enjoy my cookie--because I deserve it for making such a noble resolution.)

1.  Resolution?  Pray tell, what is a resolution?  Discipline?  Prithee grant me pardon, but I comprehend not such language as this!  My dear former self, what sort of thought didst enter thy brain at that time?  Consuming less sugar?  Why, tis an impossibility, and certainly not a goal thou wouldst strive for with any real degree of commitment.  I know thee too well to believe such a horrendous thing of thee.  And no...having your own home makes no difference whatsoever.

"Less sugar?  Nonsense, Jeeves!  Utter nonsense!"

2.  When I grow up and have my own house...I'm going to have lots and lots of children.  And I'm going to handle all the chaos with grace and ease...and even ENJOY it!  I can see myself now: pulling a pan of well-baked bread out of the oven, while balancing my one-year-old girl on my hip, and calling to my little son to "wait a moment!  Mommy will be right there."  Oh! such bliss!  No, I'm serious! I like the feeling of being a busy, bustling housewife, with so many things to do! 

2.  Yes, indeed.  Thou truly doth regard with bliss the thought of bustling about thine house with so many things to do and so many children to take care of...but my dear girl!  In all practicality--and facing reality--thou hast but one child even now and what sort of state dost thou find thyself in?  A fully functional, thriving, and joyful one?  No, methinks not.  Thou lovest thy child, but thou dost not always love all the work he doth demand of thee.  Oh fickle, fickle woman.  

Baby crying and calling for your attention for the hundredth time...

"Ahhhhh!  Not now!  Not again!!"

3.  When I grow up and have my own house...everything will be in spotless order, because I can't stand a messy house.  My children won't have trouble picking up after themselves because they will only have one toy a piece.  It's simpler that way.   (Just kidding.  I'm not that cruel.)

3.  We knowest not yet how thy children shall be in straightening up after themselves, but dear Miss March...there is much to be said for thy record.  In general, yea, thy house is quite neat, but yet there is room for improvement.  Thy closet?  Thy baby's closet?  All those dishes in the sink?  That inch thick layer of dust upon thy furniture?  Tsk, tsk.  Teach thyself to be orderly and then worry about thy children.   

4.  When I grow up and have my own house...I will get enormous amounts of writing and housework done all in the space of time designated for my children's afternoon naps.  (Don't ask me how.) 

4. One word...

Mwahahahaha!!!

5. When I grow up and have my own house...I'll probably faint from exhaustion.

5. Either that or weep many tears which is more thy style when thou art fatigued.  

"I'm telling you, you're more of a cry baby than the baby!"

The End

Note:  I wrote this post several weeks ago.  At that time I was just getting through the early weeks of being a new mom (which weren't easy, let me tell you!) and so my humor found vent in laughing at the overly emotional state I had lately been in.  I am happy to report that things have been much better recently.  Baby is sleeping quite well at night, and I am therefore getting much more rest which is a must for me if I want to be any sort of good company.  I have also learned that every time Baby cries it does not mean that he is starving (or even that he is hungry, believe it or not)!  Sometimes...as my husband so kindly reminds me...he just cries because...he's a baby!  ;)

Romantic storytelling in a nutshell

From all the vast exploration and research I've done over the years regarding romance novels and romantic films, I've decided today to provide you with a brief but comprehensive overview of what you can expect to typically find in a story of this nature.  I hope this will prove enlightening and even educational, especially for those of you who wish to pursue a career in romantic storytelling and who are perhaps wondering where to begin and what specific themes to focus on.  Here's a tried and true, never fails, solid check-list for you to go off of. 

You're welcome.

 

~*~

 

The heroine.  Strong, independent, and beautiful.  Also very, very unique.  The hero has never come across such a woman before and neither have you or your readers.  (Just swallow it.)

 

The hero.  A charming and mysterious gentleman.  With a past.  ('Cause yeah, nobody ever had one of those before!  'Twill be a definite page turner!)

The heroine meets the hero.  They have a MAJOR argument and HATE each other very much indeed.  Actually, the heroine only thinks she hates the hero--really she's in love with him...on the spot...just like that...but she won't admit it not even to herself--and as for the hero, he only puts on a front of disliking her...he knows full well he's a goner.  (As well he should be.  For no man can resist the heroine.  No man whatever in the history of...of ever.)

The hero and heroine will remain so-called enemies for as long as they can, but eventually they will  back down and admit their feelings for each other.  Indeed they will.  For they cannot help it.  Fate, people.

And thus, the plot thickens!!

Then come all the ups and downs.  All the miscommunications.  The hurt feelings, followed by beautiful moments of making up--which are however ruined by those extenuating circumstances beyond their control which somehow forever continue to come and joggle and boggle and foggle things up, keeping them from each other until...yeah...*deep sigh of exhaustion*...it's time.  Just get 'em married.

 

And so the wedding bells ring!  Happiness, bliss and happily ever after, until...

Uh oh... 

(Yes, you must always have just one more thing to ruin the happiness of your characters.   This will infuriate your readers to no end, but believe me it must be done.)  (Don't ask.  Just do!)

...of all the tragic, unexpected phenomenon, the hero dies!  (Who would have thought it???!!) 

(Let us have a moment of silence to mourn his untimely departure.)

(Got that out of your system?  Okay, good.  Let's get back to romance.)

*Pause*  But first!  Before the romance, we need to talk baby.  Because our heroine is of course expecting a baby.  Things can't go any other way.  She must and will have a child--and a child who looks just like his daddy and who will forever be a means of connecting her to her dead husband.  (Gotta have it, folks.  That's human interest stuff at it's best.  And your audience will love you forever!) 

 

Now the romance.  (And about time, too.  This story was getting downright boring!)  Enter tall handsome stranger.

Mysterious, handsome stranger, with shady past. (Wait!  Do you get the feeling we've been here before?  You don't think the readers will notice, do you?  NAH!!)

 

Our heroine is not yet ready to love again.  All her friends are very anxious that she should be because...well, good grief!  I DON'T KNOW!  *scratches head in bewilderment*  Forget the whys of it, that's how it is.  Just write it.

 

But whether she's ready to love again or not, one thing is certain, our heroine has not by any means lost her former taste for argument.  In fact, she  has plentiful and heated arguments with the new handsome stranger as soon as he appears on the scene...and the village clerk begins to write up the marriage certificate.   (Or if he doesn't he should.  Because let's face it.  There's no point in delaying the inevitable.  Second marriages will happen whether you want them to or not.)  

 

And so the wedding bells ring once again, and all is happiness and joy!  Only...SHOCKER!  The happiness stays put this time!  (But only because someone finally came to their senses and decided enough was enough.  Thus ending the story and putting us out of our misery.)

 

THE END.



"These are the things that upset me!"

In other words, this is a post about some very random (but oh so very vital) movie pet peeves of mine.  Those storylines, characters, situations, or what-have-you, that send me running for my soap box...or in more desperate situations begin the creative juices for my next novel in which I'm determined to right all wrongs, and do things the way they were supposed to be done!! 

 

(I warn you in advance, this post will most likely have very little rhyme or reason to it.  I'm just going to plunge right in, so goodness knows where we'll end up.)

 

 

1. When a child loves her pet so much that her father's inability to save it from dying causes her to turn her back on her father and be totally cold and unresponsive to him.  Like...grrrrrrr!  I'm sorry, guys, but this makes me so, so mad!!  You can't love a cat more than you love your dad!!  I mean if your dad is really cruel to you or something, then maybe...but the situation of which I speak was not that way, and I consider it very unnatural for a small child to throw away the love of her father simply because he didn't fix her cat!  (Pardon me while I go let off some steam...)

 

AAAAHHHHHHH!!!

 

(P.S.  The movie I'm referring to is an old Disney film entitled The Three Lives of Thomasina.  I had hopes of it being a good movie because it has the kids from Mary Poppins in it...but unfortunately my hopes were dashed.  Yes indeedy, this movie left much to be desired.)

 

2. When a stupid cat that you care nothing about is somehow supposed to be the great heroine of the story...while all the time she's just very obnoxious and you find yourself wishing whole-heartedly that she would find some way to choke, drown, shoot herself, or...or...something!  Just so as we could be rid of her for good and all.  (The Three lives of Thomasina again.  What can I say?  That movie clearly does not bring out the best in me.)

 

3. When girl falls in love with guy and guy falls in love with girl but...oopsy!! Guy is already married.  How are we supposed to get out of this mess??? 

Don't worry.  It's actually quite simple.  Guy's wife is of course nasty and mean which draws our sympathy against her in favor of the true love that guy and girl share...so...the solution?   Quite simple really.  Wife is in the way.  Wife must die.  (Or get a divorce.  *shrugs* That works, too.)   So it's done, and we all go forth happy because once again true love has won!!! 

 

UGH AND DOUBLE UGH!!! 



I'm thinking primarily of this couple here...



...and this couple, whose names I can't remember but who made me very, very mad.  Bad, bad, bad.)

 

Seriously.  Just once I'd like to see a story where the man in question does not have a rotten wife, and where he actually comes to his senses, goes home, honors his marriage vows, and together he and his wife fix their marriage!  And furthermore a story in which we the audience are encouraged to support the marriage rather than the "fuzzy duzzy love-a-thingy."

 

I've said my piece.  I rest my case. 

 

4. The newly widowed heroine pursued by numberless suitors before her husband is cold in his grave.  And the whole "you must be open to love again" jargon.  Give me a break.  Wouldn't it be so refreshing to have a heroine who actually remained unmarried, and who wasn't pursued by every available man just as soon as her first love is out of the picture?  (coughcough...looking at you Love Comes Softly and When Calls the Heart...coughcough.)

 

She's joking, right?  I mean, second marriages, that's what we're all about.  You lose half the romance if you don't allow for a second marriage.  (I mean, literally, you do.)  Come on now!  How could you dare suggest such a thing?  *Very, very affronted at the mere idea* 

 

5.  When the hero falls for a manipulative and obnoxious girl, who the filmmakers don't even seem to realize is a totally annoying person.  You know, like when they think the annoying and obnoxious girl is like the heroine or something and that we're supposed to be happy this is happening!!  No thank you.  (And I'm sorry but I don't have a specific scenario in mind for this one, I just know I've seen this before...somewhere.)

6. When a wife decides not to share a very important bit of information with her husband because she wants to protect him...and all the time you know that's only going to make things worse, and that they're totally setting themselves up for more drama and heartache in the future, so you sit there screaming "COMMUNICATE PEOPLE! COMMUNCIATE!!"  But of course they don't because, I don't know *shrugs*...logical, intelligent thought never was their forte???

Or common sense is dead maybe.

 

Anyhow, I guess that's the end of my rant for today.  I sort of punched a hole in my soap box when I pounded my foot down too hard, and yeah, I kind of need to figure out how to extricate my foot from that painful situation.  Not that I can't endure pain--I mean, it's not like I'm a squeamish person or anything--but it's just a bit difficult walking around with ones foot in a box. 

I'm sure you understand.  

And now I shall leave you with these very intelligent parting words. 

Because as you all know, that's my motto in life. 
 

The TRULY Romantic Tag // Lovely Blog Party

Cordy's Lovely Blog Party has begun!  You can join the fun by checking out the official kick-off post on her blog Any Merry Little Thought. 

I'm going to be starting off my participation by filling out the lovely tag she created, which I hope will prove enlightening and entertaining to you all. 

Oh that's okay.  Don't bother.  I'll do it for you. 

What?!  No!  You can't just come in here and steal my post from me.

Trust me.  It will be better this way.  A post such as this requires very delicate handling, and can only be written by one who knows and understands what romance truly is.

But that's ridiculous.  Why would you understand it better than me?

Experience, my dear chap, experience.

Yeah right.  Like you have any more experience than I do. 

Now, now, don't be sassy.  Be quiet rather, and allow me to proceed.

Am I going to regret this?

Oh probably.

 

 

 

~Isn't it romantic to be serenaded?~

Why of course, of course it is! That's just the thing to melt any girl's heart. And it wouldn't be awkward at all--dear me no!--standing there on one's balcony, fidgeting with one's cellphone fan, unsure where exactly to look, while one's true love squawks out an endless song all about his love for you...and the automobiles whiz past on the busy street out front and you wonder what on earth the people in those said vehicles are thinking as they pass by and whether the heat washing over your face is really just the heat of the day or something else altogether and whether you're supposed to clap for him when he's done or just smile down romantically...*deep breath*...oh but it's a dream! An absolute dream.  (Or maybe you just wish it was and that pinching yourself really could be a means of exiting it.)

 

~Isn't it romantic to have pet names for each other?~

Indubitably.  Absoluteably.  My dearest little, Chu-chi Face, could there be any other answer to that question?

*gasp from Miss March*  Of ALL the references you could have made, that may well be the worst.

*grins*  You're welcome.

*scowls*

 

~Isn't it romantic if he wants you to look him in the eye?~

Well, that all  depends on what kind of look me in the eye we're talking about here.

You're awful!!  This isn't a truly romantic tag at all!  You're making it utterly unromantic.  What is your problem??!

Now, now.  Don't fly off the handle.  And stop interrupting.  Aren't you always telling me that's rude?
 

~Isn't it romantic to be carried across the threshold?~
*Solemn look of deep contemplation*  Ahem.  Somehow I feel that would entirely depend on the weight of the one being carried.  *pointed look at Miss March* 

Are you insinuating something?

Me?  Of course not! Whatever do you mean?

Forget it.  Why do I even try?

~Isn't it romantic to receive flowers and chocolates?~
Chocolates?!  Did someone say chocolates? 



Romantic or not...doesn't matter!!  JUST DON'T YOU EVER SAY NO TO CHOCOLATE!


 

~Isn't it romantic to get caught in the rain?~
Humph.  They say it is, but I can't help feeling that the topmost thought in one's brain at such a moment would not be "oh how perfectly romantic!" but rather "How and when and where am I going to be able to get out of this mess and change into dry clothes??  And why oh why oh why do these things always happen to me???!"


(And now my hunny's wet, too.  Oh bother.)
 

~Isn't it romantic to dance?~
Again, the infamous "they" (whoever they may be) says that it is, but of course I shouldn't depend on it too much.  There's a lot that goes into dancing and if you're not very good at it well...let's just say "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Flop goes you."

Oh, you really are so funny.  *eyeroll*

I know.
 
~Isn't it romantic if he asks for your parent's permission to marry you?~
Naturally!  I've always found it extremely romantic, especially when one is in the thick of wedding plans and the thought suddenly springs to mind, "Oh yeah!  Asking the parent's permission.  We still have to check that off the list."  So you go and do it.  And the parents say, "Didn't we already talk about this?"  And you say, "No.  Not officially."  And they say, "Oh.  Well, that's funny."  (But really he should ask your parent's permission to marry you.  I don't know that I'd necessarily call it romantic, but I'd say it's the right thing to do, and I'd call it very nice indeed. Just sayin'.  :))
 

~Isn't it romantic to be rescued?~
Actually, no.  I never find it all romantic to be rescued because the situation you must find yourself in in order to need rescuing quite drives all thought of romance out of the question and all one can really think about is "GET ME OUT OF HERE I CARE NOT HOW!"  I mean really! Practically speaking, that does seem as if it would be the most natural reaction.  Don't you agree?
 

~Isn't it romantic to stargaze?~
Could be.  Though the crook in your neck by the end of the night might possibly bring up second thoughts on the matter.  Just sayin'.
 
Well, that's all folks! 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!  And thank you, Cordy, for coming up with all the fun questions.  I enjoyed myself immensely. 

(Of course you did.  Stolen posts are always fun for the one who steals them...)

Precisely!  My thoughts exactly!

Why are you posing as Bugs Bunny?  (I'm a little concerned.)

Because he has good facial expressions.  Don't you agree?

Well!  Gotta run!!




 

 

Oh good grief.  I...am embarrassed...for you.

 

Thanks, Doc!

 

Don't even...  Okay!  That's it.  We're ending this post right now! Good-bye everyone!

 

~*~

 

P.S. Miss March would like to make it perfectly clear that the sentiments conveyed in this post are not necessarily representative of her true feelings on each and every subject.  She also wishes to apologize for Mr. Smart Aleck's downplay and disrespect for romance and all that, and asks that you will forgive her as well for being weak enough to allow him take over her post.  (I think in the end she only allowed it because she really wasn't sure what her true feelings were.  It's called a cop-out.  She's good at that.)

 

In which I ramble on about nothing because that's what I do...

*a heavy sigh to start things off*

Ahhhh!  My friends.  It's been awhile.  I do apologize for my unceremonious disappearance.   Life's just been rather busy lately, and I confess I've been greatly lacking in energy and motivation for writing.  A lame excuse probably, but hey!  It is what it is.

Random sunrise picture.  Just because.

I suppose I really ought to do an update post, letting you all know what's been going on with me, but...nah! Not today.  Today I'm in the mood to be dramatic.  Please bear with me.

*clasps hands over heart*

Ah me! 

To write or not to write!  That is the question!

*slaps hand across brow*

To think or not to think! 

To...

Sleep or not to sleep!

(Uhhhh, duh.  NO SLEEP.  Who ever heard of going in for that kind of a time waster?)

I sense thou art making a mockery of me.

I sense thou art talking very silly.  (But yes, of course I mock you...what else am I here for but to mock you?  It is my chief joy and delight to make fun of you and I have to say, you give me many a good opportunity for doing it.  Thanks, old chum.)

You are no chum of mine.

Oh?  Well, that's good.  Things are beginning to look up then.   

I glare at thee with abhorrence. 

I grin at thee with glee! 

Hold it!  You can't grin!  My glares are dreadful.  They fill you with fear.

*raised eyebrow* 

They don't?

*shakes head firmly*

Aww.  Bummer.

Come on, Miss March.  Forget about me.  Get back to what you were saying.

And pray, how am I supposed to forget about you when you're always interrupting me?

Hey!  That's my job.  What's the point of having a second little voice in your head if nobody ever hears it?  You just have to learn to ignore me.

Yeah, right.  Like that's so easy.

Well, I never said I was here to make your life easy.  Now come on.  Get back to what you were saying.

Okay, fine.  But you really disrupted my dramatic build up.  Now I have to start all over.

*strikes dramatic pose*

Ah! Woe is me!

To write or not to write...

(To be able to write.  That is the question.)

To think or not to think...

(To be capable of thinking...yup, another question.)

To sleep or not to sleep...

STOP, STOP, STOP!!! *stomps foot in frustration*  Why do you keep bringing that up?  Sleep has nothing to do with this!

Oh of course.  Of course it doesn't.  Pardon me.  Sleep has nothing to do with this at all...sleep is gone, totally gone.

What ARE you talking about?

You, my dear girl.  I'm talking about you.  And the fact that you are totally and pathetically sleep deprived.  (That means you don't get enough sleep.)

I know what it means, silly!!  What do you think I am, dumb or something? 

I won't say the thought hadn't crossed my mind.

(That was a movie quote!  Not an opening for an insult.)

Sorry.  My mistake.

Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're very sorry. 

But back to this whole sleep issue.   Who says I don't get enough sleep, I should like to know?

I says.

(You mean, you say.)

(That, too.)
 

Well, I certainly don't see what all the fuss is about.  I sleep every single night, don't I?

Yes.  You do.  But going to bed after midnight can hardly be considered a good night's sleep.  Admit it, you and a good night's sleep have not exactly been buddy, buddy for quite awhile now.  (Actually, were you ever?  *laughs*)

*glares*  You're making fun of me again.

I really am!  *laughs some more*

Well hear this, Smarty Pants.  Maybe some people don't need as much sleep.  And maybe I'm one of those people.

Ha!  You wish. 

WHY DO YOU THINK I NEED MORE SLEEP?

*strikes dramatic pose*  "To write or not to write...to think or not to think"...uhhhh,  your complaining makes me think you need more sleep.  I'm not saying I'm positive about this or anything--I mean, it's just a hunch really--but does it not seem possible that your inability to write--and even to think--might just possibly stem from the fact that your body and mind is worn out, and that from not getting proper rest?? 

 

Oh stop talking so logically.  You annoy me.

 

I sense I am now getting my point across.

Yeah, fine.  Whatever.

So, are you ready to turn over a new leaf and start taking care of yourself?  To stop staying up till all hours of the night watching movies and eating sugar and killing brain cells by the minute?

 

Well, I must confess, what you've said does make a lot of sense.  And I suppose I really ought to give it some very serious thought and consideration...

 

 

Ha!  What are you nuts???  Of course I'm not ready! Bring on those late night movies!  Oh yeah!

And the sad, sad, cycle continues....

 

Tune in next time to hear Miss March say...

 

 

Okay, let me see if I've got this straight.  You want me?  To turn over a new leaf?  Right now? 

 

 

Sorry, pal.  Can't be done.  I just haven't got that kind of willpower. 

 

Pip now!

 

 

P.S.  I'm hoping to be back with a more sensible and informative post soon.  *fingers crossed*  Until then, I hope you're all doing well.  Tell me what you've been up to lately!  I've missed hearing from you. 



Hi! I'm back from my blogging break. (Kinda, sorta, maybe.)

I mean I'm sitting here at my computer typing a blog post.  That must mean I'm back, right?

 

But how much of me is back?

 

All of me?  Half of me?  A quarter of me? 

 

(Ugh.  That's disgusting.  Let's keep things together here, shall we?  All this quartering and half-ing is giving me the creeps.) 

 

I don't care.  I'm too tired to care.  Maybe after all there's really only an eighth of me here.

 

Maybe after all you're a complete nut! 

 

*shrug*  Possibly.  But who cares?  What's the point of having a strong intellect if you're too tired to use it?

 

You, ma'am, need to get more sleep!

 

*yawn*  What good will that do?  I'll only get tired again.  Besides all the fun things happen at night.  I can't possibly go to bed early when fun things are happening.

 

You're pathetic.  Did you have something to say or did you just come here to whine about how tired you are?

I most certainly did have something to say!  What do you take me for?  I came here to say hi to my friends because I miss them.  *sniff* *sob*

Oh stop.  I can't stand emotional people.

I can't help it.  It's the truth.  I miss my friends.  I miss our conversations.  I want to be back in the swing of things, blogging regularly, keeping up with everyone, but... 

I don't know if I can do it.

I've just been so tired lately.

So tired.

Well, I have a suggestion for you.

What?

Put off your blogging and your whining till another day.

And GO TO BED!

I have to admit, bed does sound rather nice right now.  *silly, exhausted grin*

*rolls eyes*   I should think so. 

But wait!  *tries desperately to keep eyes open*  I need to give some sort of update on what I've been doing...or something...or...I don't know.  This is such a pointless post otherwise.

You're telling me.

Give me a minute.  I'll think of something.  Oh yes.  I started my new job.  I'm two days in and...yeah.  That's part of the reason why I'm so tired.  (But mostly it's because she never goes to bed on time.)  A-hem.  I mean it's not like it's hard physical labor or anything but still it's a lot of new stuff to learn and learning new stuff can be exhausting.  (Not to mention the fact that I had to get up at 6:00 am this morning.)  I'm going in to work again tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday and...what's that?  A pillow?  I WANT A PILLOW!  Ohhh, for a soft, fluffy, comfortable pillow.  Somebody please give me a pillow on which to rest my weary head!

(Oh good grief.  She's really losing it, folks.) 

 

That's it.  You're going to bed even if I have to drag you there!

 

No, no, wait!  I didn't tell them about how I went car shopping this afternoon...

Big whoop.  You didn't even find anything.  Wait until you find a car and then tell them about it.  (Though I don't know why anyone would care to hear about such boring details.)

But there was more to it than that.  I was going to explain how all that driving around this afternoon made me even more tired.

 

You did come here just to whine about how tired you are.  This is beyond belief. 

 

I don't whine.  I gripe.

Oooh.  I see.  And that makes all the difference.  Yes.  Griping is much better than whining.  Everybody knows that.

 

Go to bed.  Please.

Fine.  I will.  Good-night.

 

Good-night.  (If it is a good night.  Which I doubt.)  (Really, I'm beginning to think I won't get a wink of sleep tonight.  Who could with a loony in the house?)

 

I heard that.

 

That's okay.  I don't mind.

 

*****

 

P.S.  (From the sensible Miss March who's still alive here somewhere)  Hello dear friends!  I've missed you!  I hope all's well with you (and that you're taking better care of your mental health than I am, heehee.)  What's been happening in your lives lately?  Do tell!  :D

 

(Also, Natalie should never have shown me that website full of Emma screen caps.  I'm afraid I'm going to be using them far too often.)