I'll Be Superstitious For Today

Here is my future, courtesy of Kyria and Rachel. There was some kind of code that was about as accurate as MASH in 4th grade is proving to be... The left column, however, represents happy joy love money with my favorite person in the world so I am apt to believe them for this game.

Jim Croce Songs

I think I was the only person in the fifth grade who knew every word to American Pie and Don't Mess Around With Jim. This was with purpose. While all my other friends were being polluted by Shaggy (banging on the bathroom [door] was the Dial home version), I was learning what Dirges were and not to spit in the wind.

So grateful for those Saturdays at the lake, burning in the sun and snacking on a lunch we had packed, memorizing the words to old songs. There was a story to every song- and most stories ended with, "and that's why you don't play with fire."

Another Day at 2.0

I saw my mother today for the first time in 5 days today. The first thing she said I cannot repeat. The second thing she said is we need to get the black heads off our noses. Next, she asked if I would be here to help dig the trench. I tend to answer in the affirmative always, so I cancelled my Monday night DVD in bed plans, and committed. For the next 30 minutes as I am filling her in on the conversational, uncomplicated details about my life (hair, nails, bread) there was a constant reminder of this trench that was in our future. She said she needed it to fix the Internet and that it was important I help because it was the big Family Night activity.

I began to relay the history of manual labor in our family; laying slate tile at 14, shoveling sand on Christmas at 16, walking uphill both ways in the snow without shoes, etc... Nikka gave me pity. We laughed, we cried, I expressed jealousy of Nikka for being raised on the tail end of the Dial day labor organization. To prove she can hold her own she said "Okay, Mom, tell me the details of this 'trench' so we can get started."

Mom: "It needs to be at least 3...... inches deep."

Four people looked at her in amazement. Nikka said, "Alright, let's go dig our bird bath."

MMS

ONE:

My dear sweet mother texted me yesterday and said " 'Scoggin500 :) :) :)' WHAT DOES THIS MEAN".
I texted back the word happy, because that's how I feel.

TWO:

Kyria texted me today and said "Is this a joke? If so you should really hash tag it."
That's right. The unlearned knows what a hash tag is.

THREE:

A restaurant here in Austin texted me a picture of a too small wheat bun. And I cared. No, not just cared, I made a fuss about it. This is the point where my job gets into my blood.

Welcome To The Bread Business

At what age do adults stop asking, "What time do you get off?"...

Like a job is just something that begins and ends. This ain't Jamba Juice, this is my life.

Don't Count The Miles

I still remember the feeling I had the first time I heard Ingrid Michaelson sing. I was in New York City on vacation. I was on a treadmill in my hotel and she was on Regis and Kelly. I stopped the run because I was blown away. It wasn't anything remarkable, it was, however, fresh. I wondered why no one had thought of her songs before her.

That's the same feeling I'm having listening to Christina Perri. You've heard her song "Jar of Hearts". What you haven't heard is the versatility of her music on the full album. Download "Miles", "Bang, Bang, Bang", and the "Arms" video.

Welcome To The Bread Business

At what age do adults stop asking, "What time do you get off?"...

Like a job is just something that begins and ends. This ain't Jamba Juice, this is my life.

Dear Mom,

Here is your only sneak peek.

Looks like you'll have to come over to see the finished product.

XOXO,

Momo

I'm The Hero Of This Story

Learning an important lesson of humility this weekend. I don't know why it took so long to recognize that the world doesn't stop because I ask it to. Thank you to Regina Spektor, a frustrating coworker, and an honest man for teaching me this lesson.

Today I Want To Wear A Sign That Says

"Because I'm ELYSE MIKEL DIAL, that's why!!"

Sitting in a meeting today with more women than I've interacted with my entire time in my career; 5. 20 men. Pardon as I generalize.

Men like to be right. Women like to be heard. Men say it once and assume that will suffice. Women beat the horse dead and then bring it up twice more. Men are right- Women are emotionally driven. Women are right- Men are simple minded. Is one better? No. Do Women complicate everything? Yes.

Don't badger the generalization. Embrace the candor.