He's The Love Of My Life

I have better pictures of Elijah Blue--I just can't put my hands on them right now.

This is how he looked before our move to Virginia in 2001.

He made the trip and has since, lost his sight. He moves around as if he hasn't, though. I admire his dignity.

What I love most about him is how he is always glad to see me, always forgiving and puts no other before me. He is my ever faithful companion, through thick and thin.

Makes me think of the saying "If you want undying love and affection, get a dog."

Happy Tenth Birthday, Elijah Blue.

Play Bingo and Win A Condom

I received this notice in my campus mailbox last week.

A Condom Carnival! What an intriguing idea!
Safe should be a given, but fun intercourse got my attention.

I read further and had questions. Since I am over 50, who else would I go to except the 25-year-old city-girl?

What, I asked, is a dental dam? She threw her head back in laughter and said she could not believe I was asking her. Well, of course I was asking, because I didn't know and had decided that she may.

From the information I gathered, it is an apparatus used during oral sex to prevent the spread of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Due to the level of discomfort for the city-girl daughter and for myself, I let it go at that.

While I am thrilled that such things exist, I'm still curious... How does it work? Is it intended for the male or female? What does it look like?

Needless to say, I was not curious enough to attend the Condom Carnival, play a round of bingo and pick one out, should I win.

Momo and I discussed this very thing during a recent telephone conversation. She asked me if it was something new. I told her I had never heard of such a thing, so perhaps it was new. Without a moment's hesitation, she told me she sure hoped it had been around for some time.

Although I am not completely playing by the rules as outlined, I'm counting this post as "one more" for the wrap up for the Honest Scrap Award.
If I were to play by the rules and reveal my innermost thoughts, you would hear from me no more, as I would be run out of town on a rail!

And She Doesn't Cook?

The city-girl gets caught up in the moment sometimes. We talk about all sorts of things. We discuss current events, human behavior or the latest celebrity gossip.

And sometimes in the the midst of all this, I'm cooking.

While I'm busy doing chopping, I'll cleverly ask her to stir what's on the stove. My hands are wet or messy, so I'll ask her to check what's in the oven or fetch me something out of the cabinet.

She's been "helping" in the kitchen since she was a small child so she does it without hesitation. But I really pushed the envelope when I asked her to turn the eggrolls while I prepared more...

But I know how she likes eggrolls.

Broaden Your Mind

I've decided to tackle my demons head on.

I began this good read at the hairdresser's yesterday. I feel better. I'm not sure whether the book should get all the credit, though.

Realizing the power of a good read, I gave JB this book for Valentine's Day.

I appealed to his inner geek and got him a technical manual!

This book has just hit the shelves and is a fabulous find for mothers, sisters, daughters and friends. It's written by best selling author, Gregory Lang and you should get yours now for Mother's Day. It'll make you weep. It'll make you laugh out loud. It will touch your heart.

This book...you'll have to wait a bit longer to hit the shelves.

Pop turned 75 on Thursday and is busy writing his memoirs.
It's still a work in progress.

439 Times in 3 Years

Today is my blogoversary--and I nearly forgot. It took a commenter wishing me a "Happy Blogoversary" to remind me.

I've been too preoccupied with Cisco's WAN exploration class and trying to learn C++ programming via a web class. The stress of the workload is getting to me.

I took a hot shower this morning and tried to decide whether it was stress, lack of yoga, or if I was having a heart attack and just didn't understand the warning signs. I figured I better clean up and fix up just in case it was a heart attack.

JB came home midday to find me all weepy debugging a C++ program. Those of you who understand this language may find my reaction quite silly. But those of you who have no earthly idea about C++, would probably empathize.

After my eyes had leaked sufficiently into my floral handkerchief, I managed to correct 30 errors. I have no idea how--and of course part of the assignment is to document how.

This entire episode reminded me of my Jeni when she was just a little girl. She often practiced piano through tears--pushing herself to the limits of her ability. She played well, but seemed intent on torturing herself by taking on projects meant for more accomplished players. But in the end, she was always victorious.

In middle school, the city-girl daughter made herself physically ill maintaining her high grade point average--as if to do well was not enough, she had to be the best. She was first chair cello in the school orchestra and the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and a top-ranked tennis player in the state at the age of 14.

I guess sometimes you just have to find out just what you can do.

I invite you to check out my first blog post, written 3 years ago today. The advice given to me by one of my daughters three years ago still rings true.

But, first I have to get through this semester of school...

No Holes Barge

Here's the city-girl daughter braving the elements to attend her 8:30 am class. She has two more days to go and she will have completed her first semester.

Her focus is psychology. She says she'd like to be either a substance abuse counselor or a marriage counselor. I assured her she has chosen a stable field, as the majority of the world is--and more than likely, always will be--whacked out.

We don't mince words, she and I.

When I suggested we play Scrabble free of restrictions--no holds barred, she admitted she had always thought it was no holes barge.


Here's what a scrabble board looks like between two forward-thinking females.

Lady Bug, Lady Bug--Your House Is On Fire

The warm sun streaming through the patio doors
has invited an invasion of LadyBugs.

Since I live in an old house, the LadyBugs don't have to work too hard
at getting inside. Inevitably, they all end up inside with me.
There's a bajillion of them--flying and buzzing around.

This one looks like it's ready to take flight!

When I was a kid, I remember seeing Lady Bugs and reciting my own version
of the nursery rhyme:

Lady Bug, Lady Bug--Your house is on fire.
Your children are inside.
Your better get home before they burn up!

I also remember the Lady Bug scurrying off in a tremendous hurry
once I had said my piece. But, now that I'm 50 instead of 5,
I realize she was trying to get away from me.

For More Than Half A Century Now

My city-girl daughter included a hand-written thought in my birthday card.

From what I understand, if something is "the shit" it's a good thing.

I had a good birthday, and I'm embracing the second half of my life. The first half went so damn fast that sometimes I feel as if I am running out of time. There's too many things I want to do or feel I need to do. But I know also that too much planning can prevent you from enjoying what's going on right now.

As a direct result, I've made a conscious effort to enjoy life more.

My birthday dinner was crab legs and Caesar Salad.

In honor of Blue's 9th birthday Friday, he was allowed treats
from a Canine Party Platter all this week. In this picture,
he's having a preservative-free bone after a bath.

From here on out, I'm treating everyday like a special occasion.

(Note: If you're curious about the wine, you can find it here.)

I Saw It All, My Friend

The city-girl daughter called last evening as I was walking out of class. She was checking to make sure I'd be watching the debate with her.

I've seen a few good debates in my day, and this one didn't even make it to the bottom of the meter.

I sat through the entire debate with my bowl of popcorn waiting for some substance. I never saw it, my friend.

I just wish I'd spent my time counting how many times McCain said "my friend." Every time he uttered that phrase, the city-girl daughter would look genuinely confused as she turned to me and asked "Who is his friend?"

These are scary times indeed...

I Guess Things Are Tough All Over

JB found my friend, the spider, UNDER the deck. I guess she didn't care for all the attention she was getting outside the kitchen.

This video might help explain things better.




I really had no idea...