This is the Not-So-Nice People's barn. I parked my car across the street to take this autumn photo for you.   

     My job often leads me on surreal journies...where it is possible that I witness extremes in human behavior in a matter of mere seconds. I've learned to quickly adjust, but sometimes it is difficult.
     My favorite moment yesterday was sipping chai tea and learning niblets of Swahili from a Rwandan and a Burundian war refugee. Their survival stories of war in Africa and resulting love of wamama (women) , their love of all watoto (children) , and the particular caring for the unwanted Watwa -or pygmy children,  were still wrapped up in my brain while I was on my way home and stopped at the grocery.
     I saw three well-dressed women pushing one cart and giggling up an aisle. Clearly they were leaf-lookers on a hunt for eats to fill their weekend cabin. “Look!” said one lady as she pointed to jars of Penrose Pickled Eggs,  “It’s Hillbillly caviar.”  Her friend pointed to a jar of Penrose Sausages and then said,  "And those must be Hillbilly hors d’oeuvres." I may have thought those comments were humerous if I had not heard the high hatting tone in their voices...

Girl Gone Gardening tagged me with this meme: And yes I know, it is all about me...

10 years ago:
Good lord that was 10 years ago and I had a 5 and 6 year old. I just got a job working part time at the Watauga Democrat. I took my girls on every assignment and I made up all kinds of games that they would entertain them  while I closed myself in the dark room to make prints. Beanie Babies and Simba animals were good friends.

5 years ago:
That would be the year 2000...I don't remember a thing in particular except that I'm sure I worked too much.

last year:
Well, I was still around last year. Both children were in the High School which opened up a whole 45 minutes of my life. I spent a whole lot of evenings making sure that youngest child passed honors English. Eldest daughter learned that life was not necessarily fair, yet she thrived. Ummm...I worked too much.

yesterday:
Learned that because I was introduced to some amazing women from Africa, I really want to go there and visit them. Soon. I will learn Swahili and brush up on my french. And, of course I worked too much.

5 songs I know all the words to:
Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody, Blondie's 'The Tide is High', The Pretender's  'Precious' as well as 'Brass in Pocket,' The B-52's 'Planet Claire' and The Kinks' 'Lola.'

5 snacks:
Lima beans w/ Texas Pete vinegar/pepper sauce. Frozen M&M's. Cherry Vanilla ice cream w/ hard shelled chocolate drizzled on top. Any and all cheese. Caviar and a shot of chilled vodka.

5 things I would do with $100 million:
Keep it and think about it for a while. I know that I would share the wealth, I just don't know the break down. I reckon that I would be a wee bit more self-indulgent. I would buy all new digital camera gear and computer stuff and I would definitely hire someone to help me skin my blog because it sucks.

5 places I would run away to:
Home. Harley. The woods. The beach. A book.

5 things I'd never wear:
Anything my teenagers would wear.

5 favorite tv shows:
umm...'Survivor' because it is a family tradition. Other than that, I blog, I don't watch much television.

5 greatest joys:
My husband and children. Harley and Mr. Man. Workin' the light. Meeting people and hearing their stories. Learning.