only being a tiger

poor tatiana. she was only being a tiger.

Long live Oscar

end of an era

Twenty years on, the old grey (ok, blue) mare goes out to do a final bit of good in the world. We wish her well.

faithful companion

someone is missing the man who takes her on walkies and gives treats and permits puppy-ups. believe me, i'm missing him too, for all the same reasons!

grateful for the fundamentals

1. shelter
2. heat
3. food
   
4. light
5. sight
6. sound
7. smell
8. taste
9. memory
10. hope
    

turns out that sometimes fundamentals aren't so fundamental after all.

things the dog has chewed to pieces

'lectric car GO.

20. grey fake mouse
21. white fake mouse
22. grey and white fake mouse
23. part of an old quilt
24. glow-in-the-dark ball #1
25. part of her towel

on a more positive note, she has been sleeping outside of her crate - albeit still sequestered in the sunroom - for about two weeks now, with no night-time destructive chewing. of course, the day i let her stay out by herself for an hour and a half in the late afternoon is when she pulled the stuffing out of her quilt. my bad. late afternoon is when she is finished napping for the day. we live and learn.

holidays

1. crowds
2. parties
3. lights
4. cards
5. songs
6. memories
7. FAMILY

In fond remembrance of Maisie Weeks, a wonderful friend, neighbor, second Grandma; warmth and sweetness embodied. I love and miss her very much.

so close!

i had written "rock star" as one of the words i was certain to hear today, and then i thought, nah, maybe not. lo and behold, in the first 10-15 minutes of my meeting, someone was declared to be - yes! - a rock star.

lesson for today: never second-guess your guesses. the gut instinct always wins out.

fridge

1. hot and sour soup
2. chocolate pudding
3. pickled radish
4. gazpacho
5. cinnamon raisin bread
6. carrots
7. Pocari Sweat
8. yogurt
9. apple juice
10. sharp cheddar cheese
    

words i am certain to hear tomorrow

1. phenomenal
2. impact
3. credibility
4. trust
5. two a.m.
6. improvement
7. commitment
8. challenging
9. one meeting
10. most important thing we do
    

first snow!

I can't remember the last time it snowed this early in December.
Naturally, I am in denial. After I dig my car out of the snow at the bottom of the hill tomorrow morning, go to work, and then come back, no doubt I will appreciate the beauty of the snow all the more.

Seriously, I will, because I know I won't be driving much of anywhere on Friday!

so wrong

This is just so wrong. I would LOVE to hear some boring storeez!

YAHOOEY!!!!!

.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

this week was amazing. i can't believe how much got done. just one huge hurdle left to go, and that's done by wednesday. it is going to feel so good to get back to a more normal schedule.

lesson learned: if you decide that you can, you will. i don't think i believed that before. but now i know.

cautiously optimistic

rounding the final corner.... in the home stretch...
a side observation: it's amazing how a lack of sleep can make one really, really stupid.

slogging along with me

really sorry if you're reading this, since you're sort of slogging through the week with me. but i really appreciate the company!

lost a little ground today and not enough energy to slog for very much longer, but ...

i think i can i think i can i think i can i think i can i think i can i think i can i think i can

so far, so good

day 2 is coming to a close. despite already racking up about 14 hours of overtime yesterday and today, it seems this week will be possible to get through after all. turns out the key is a) insisting on a deadline extension and b) a rather regrettable dose of apathy.

whatever it takes! i am surviving the workweek!

maybe

through the fine art of negotiation (combined with your good vibes, thank you!), four impossible things may be reduced (temporarily) to 2.5! *holds breath*

need good vibes, people

this week i have to complete three (maybe four) nearly impossible things, by the end of the week. please send good vibes. thank you!

reasons why we like TMBG

1. Oppenheimer is a great opening band; have never heard one where we liked Every Single Song until these guys (all two of them) - seriously, check them out straight away
   
2. HORNS (Triceratops rock)
3. accordian!
4. presidential heads
5. they said "necrofiberoptic"
6. yip-yap
7. colorful flutterings
8. lead guitar guy plays a mean acoustic interlude
9. oh yeah, the songs
10. general awesomeness
    

we are full of...

1. turkey
2. green beans
3. mashed potatoes
4. stuffing
5. gravy
6. cranberry sauce
7. {choose one} coconut custard pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, pumpkin rolls, fruit salad
8. {repeat #7}
9. {repeat #8}
10. gratitude and familial fondness
    

thanks giving

we are thankful for

1. family
2. friends
   
3. health
4. optimism
5. opportunity
6. experience
   
7. furry family, which deserves higher than 7th place =)
   

pokkitz!

i'm such a sucker for these. =)

me too!

ever have one of those days where you get next to nothing done that you meant to do? argh. ARGH. well, i might as well get over it, since there's not a whole lot i can do about it now. think i'll go to bed, get some good sleep, and try to exert some influence over tomorrow. wish me luck. (seriously. i could use the help.)

passionate

This has been my passion since I was a little kid. It still is, even more so. One day soon I will be ready to make this into a life somehow. I can hardly wait. =)

hearts

love 'em!

CUTE

moar funny pictures

reasons i love visiting the folks

1. love 'em!
2. miss 'em... a lot
   
3. home sweet home
4. they don't mind if we bring calamity jane (f.k.a. daisy)
   
5. green beans
6. spinach
7. rice
8. chili
9. interlectural curiosity
   
10. love 'em!
    

wait, i was The Hulk earlier today

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 80% Hulk 80% Robin 70% Iron Man 70% Superman 70% Batman 65% Wonder Woman 60% Supergirl 60% Catwoman 50% Green Lantern 40% The Flash 40%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

wish we had dummies

everything would be more fun if the crash test dummies were still playing. rats.

the value of a mother

This bit is from May, but hey. From Salary.com, we learn what salaries moms would bring in if their work were waged.

The typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week, the company concluded, and works at least 10 jobs. In order of hours spent on them per week, these are: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. By figuring out the median salaries for each position, and calculating the average number of hours worked at each, the firm came up with $138,095 -- three percent higher than last year's results.

Even mothers who work full-time jobs outside the home put in $85,939 worth of work as mothers, according to Salary.com.

Just saying.

nuggets of wisdom and insight (or something like that)

... as posted on mySpace.

1. I'm pretty much up to try anything, as long as it's not a stupid idea.
2. I gave you my heart, even though i didnt tell you, and you put it on a silver platter, and stabbed it!
3. Im from NEW MEXICO raised on music and poetry, Ive been playing music for 11 years and I used to skate but I fell on my head toooooo many times. and I said f*** it. Ill stick with guitar.
4. I don't even know me. That's something I think I should get checked out.
5. Tell someone you love the truth, just like it was your very last chance.
6. Everyone has photographic memory; some just don't have the film.
7. i also work full time. yay vonage. im the person that u call and bitch out when u have a problem lol. otherwise im pretty laid back and happy. Hahaha
8. People say that if you do good things, good things will happen to you. That's a lie. All I ever try to do is good things, but I always seem to get f***** over.
9. you ask one of your pittsburgh friends how to spell yacht and you get the same look from them that you had on your face when you thought of the question.
   
10. ****(has quit the reefer) "There are cooler people to check out"

ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONG

worth all caps!

sort of embarrassing

Despite the fact that the artist's name is Nick Gilder, it has never occurred to me that the person singing "Hot Child in the City" was a guy. Who knew? (Maybe everyone but me.)

the best sort of Halloween

...is underwater.
From WTOP News: In this photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Ken Smith of Sebring, Fla., carves his top prize-winning entry in the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, off Key Largo, Fla., in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The contest, staged by the Amoray Dive Resort, judges divers on their artistic originality, as well as the degree of difficulty to carve the entry in the subsea environment. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Bob Care)

purty!

a little self-esteem

she is perfectly beautiful to begin with. when will we learn?

reasons i couldn't log back in to work tonight

1. i was home
2. i was happy
3. (repeat)
   

things in the fridge

1. Kozy Shack Real Chocolate Pudding
2. No-fat milk (gotta make up for the pudding)
3. Soy sauce
4. Remnants of excellent Chinese meal
5. Swiss cheese
6. 12-grain bread
7. Aging champagne
8. Fanta Orange
9. Pitted dark sweet cherries from Trader Joe's
10. Pickled Japanese radish
    

reasons to be happy

1. i can see
2. i can type
3. i have something to type on
4. i have you to listen :)
5. thank you
   

i bleeeve u

wisdom from unexpected places

From the mySpace page of a 17 year-old young man. Sneaking suspicion that he is actually sincere. Bravo!

A guy wrote this in his myspace. and it should make u think Stop being so.............. yourselves. I know way too many really beautiful girls who think they don't look good... It hurts... because it's our fault, guys I mean. We make girls feel like they have to be perfect. You know what I mean, flat stomach, huge boobs, round ass, long legs, big lips, and on top of all that, they have to dress like a .........., and be one as well... nobody can measure up to that... and its not fair... because nobody should have to. The little imperfections are what make people special. If everyone was perfect the world would be so boring, variety is what makes life interesting. So guys, stop making girls have to live up to your, I'm sorry, our... deluded fantasy visions of perfection. Stop acting like boys and start being men... realize that women don't exist to fufill our sexual desires. Stop talking to them solely to get with them, be nice to them because you want to be their friend, not because you want to hook up with them. Say nice things about them not to flatter them in hopes that you'll get some, but because you know they like to hear them. In short... we need to grow up and stop being dicks... just because we have them doesn't mean we need to think with them.

reasons i love my sisters

1. laughing at the same things
2. "quiet down in there!"
3. taking turns trying to discourage the production of vhs home movies
4. willingness to face mother-daughter dinners at the fire hall
5. purple and pink are always acceptable
6. shopping where very little shopping actually occurs
7. no rib left un-nibbled, no dessert left unfinished
8. shared fascination for tiny creatures
9. shared weakness for dobermans
10. general awesomeness. i love them. :)
    

reasons it's fun to work late

are you kidding me?

reasons it cannot be October

1. I wasn't finished with June.
2. Not to mention July, August and September.
3. Heck, I wasn't even done with May.
4. On a brighter note...
5. It's that much closer to spring!
   

hmmm

i thought of something really nice to count today. but i forgot. any ideas?

just do it

one of these is broken

9 good, 1 bad. it feels much the way it looks. it was a lot brighter and prettier yesterday, more eggplant-colored underneath. can hardly wait for tomorrow.

things I hope to do tomorrow

1. wait, all of these are work things. never mind.

in more interesting news, i got to meet a friend's puppy tonight. i'm so used to older dogs now that a puppy is a sheer marvel. i forgot how tiny and warm they are, and how limply they'll lie against you (unlike cats). and there's that puppy smell (the good kind, not that other kind). ahhh. i could do with some hanging around puppies!

things I don't understand

1. infinity (I tried to figure it out tonight. can't. get. head. around. it.)
2. creation of the universe
   
3. radio communications
4. escher's drawings
5. why anyone thinks kimberly stewart is interesting
6. why some dogs don't want to be friends
7. why youth isn't wasted on the not-so-young
   

things i freecycled today

40 used letter-size manila folders, some as much as ten years old. see? they came in handy for someone!

best ways to waste time

1. Law & Order
2. City Confidential
3. MTV Cribs
4. Animal Planet anything
5. Discovery Health
6. PBS / NOVA
7. Without A Trace
8. DocDay
9. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
   
10. Netflix
    

tv i've never seen

1. The View
2. Survivor
3. Full House
4. King of Queens
5. 90210
6. Melrose Place
7. Grey's Anatomy (I admit it!)
   
8. Larry King Live
   
9. Presidential State of the Union speeches
   
10. Saved By The Bell
    

my favorite!

from the coolest site in the world.

Long live Hilly

Hilly Kristal, owner of CBGB, August 2005

Photo by Scott Gries for Getty Images
Republished in the New York Times

Scott / NYT, if I'm not allowed to post your photo, please let me know and I'll gladly remove it. But it's a great photo. Thank you.

Can't Stop

The best song ever. EVER.

DAMMIT. I was going to post the youtube for RHCP's Can't Stop, and apparently the corporate, er, people at Warner have insisted it be removed. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if it was RHCP themselves. As much as I completely love that song, the band is turning out to be extremely miserly. Love the guys, but too bad their fans have become a business. Sigh.

So I bought it on iTunes. Enjoy the $1.99, Warner. That doesn't even buy a Happy Meal.

15,000 days and Burning Man

A friend of mine arrived at Burning Man today, celebrating the 15,000 day of his life. Not so inconsequential, considering the battle he has waged to get this far. I think of my silly complaining about the stress of work, and think I should be more satisfied that I have no such battle to wage. But then, I think, I don't have any such battle to wage and I am not rejoicing nearly as thoroughly and constantly as I should be. And usually I'm pretty good at that. Have to get my act together. Will do it. Starting now.

Long live Wild Bill

It's been so crazy at work this week, I didn't even hear the news that Wild Bill Hagy died Monday. He was 68. Long live Wild Bill.

This photo is from the Baltimore Sun. There isn't any photo credit given, unfortunately. Kudos to the photographer; it's a wonderful shot.

my stapler

worked too late. goofy now.More yay at cheezburger.

reality check

My client project is holding evacuation training for each of the buildings where we work. It's very detailed and well thought-out. Regardless of the type of emergency, it's a good plan.

Still, it sparked some mourning for the life we used to be able to live. Why can't we all just get along?

And no, that's not a rhetorical question.

things I freecycled today

1. lots of binders
2. art fridge magnet set
3. vacuum cleaner bags
4. glass vases
5. typewriter

still to be claimed
6. sardines
7. blue plastic purse

drawring

...as Mike Myers used to say on SNL.

1. You tend to pursue many different activities simultaneously. When misfortune does happen, it doesn't actually dishearten you all that much.
2. You are a thoughtful and cautious person. You like to think about your method, seeking to pursue your goal in the most effective way.
3. You like following the rules and being objective. You are precise and meticulous, and like to evaluate decisions before making them.
4. You have a sunny, cheerful disposition.

What does your drawing say about YOU?

YAY

we got a lovely large blue plastic "treat ball" from a freecycler whose dog Owen didn't take to it. DAISY LOVES IT. so far, it is still in one piece. AND THERE WAS MUCH REJOICING.

extreme ironing

Matsuzawa irons a shirt on the highest peak of Mount Fuji in mid-July. (Photo courtesy of Extreme Ironing Japan)

Mainichi Daily News is one of my favorites for interesting - and sometimes odd - stories. But this one really takes the cake. Extreme ironing?? The guy didn't fake it, either. He hauled a generator up Mount Fuji so he could iron properly.

PostSecret

I like this site. I haven't bought the books, but I'd like to.

appreciate

There is a Native American proverb which says "don't let yesterday use up too much of today."

Sort of related to this is a patient update from Miles Levin. Miles is 18. His cancer is now beyond treatment. But his journey has been deeply insightful. This CarePages entry is from 2005. Click on his name at the end for a link to the site.

"I was thinking how you start out with a big bucket full of golf balls, and you just start hitting away carelessly. You have dozens of them, each individual ball means nothing so you just hit, hit, hit. One ball gone is practically inconsequential when subtracted from your bottomless bucket. There are no practice swings or technique re-evaluations after a bad shot, because so many more tries remain. Yet eventually you start to have to reach down towards the bottom of the bucket to scavenge for another shot and you realize that tries are running out. Now with just a handful left, each swing becomes more meaningful. The right technique becomes more crucial, so between each shot you take a couple practice swings and a few deep breaths. There is a very strong need to end on a good note, even if every preceeding shot was horrible, getting it right at the end means a lot. You know as you tee up your last ball, "This is my final shot, I want to crush this with perfection; I must make this count." Limited quantities or limited time brings a new, precious value and signficance to anything you do. Live every day shooting as if its your last shot, I know I have to.

I found out today 5 year survival rates are just 20%." - Miles Levin

there it goes

Someone once wrote that they don't get upset when things get broken. Instead, they imagine that at some point in the future, everything will be broken. Then, when something breaks, they simply say, "there it goes." And this makes them feel better about the natural order of things.

The dog broke the cat food bowl after climbing onto a chair to get to it. I'm still annoyed. Bad dog mommy.

Oh wait. I can use the shards for mosaic projects. Okay. There it goes.

reasons the asterisk is legit

*
does this really need any discussion?
problem is, a lot of guys should probably have one.
a clean game would be good. maybe not as interesting, but probably still good.

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v.infinity+1

18. corner of the bed in her crate.

weird, considering the availability of a chew toy and a chewbone in there with her. this was overnight too. dog psychology, beats me.

August

It's August. It's hot. I worked fourteen hours on a Friday. I'm whining.

Okay. I feel better now. Thanks.

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v. infinity

Where did we leave off?

13. squeaker football toy
14. one end of favorite footstool. solid cherry. X-(
15. part of a leg of a table my brother built forty years ago
16. Gentle Leader head collar (heaven only knows how)
17. new shoots of sawgrass. good! that stuff is seriously invasive

but not: the Extreme Kong. that thing rocks. thank goodness.

Dog continues to be impressive in all ways. Counting the days until she is no longer an adolescent.

she has a point

The Great Ray Knight

...is one cool character. Johnny Holliday is pretty excellent too.

Blurry, but cooool.

mascot misfortune

Four presidents and a hotdog were in a footrace. A president and/or a hotdog took a spill, the other right on his heels. Oooopsy.
Really not sure quite what happened, but beyond a little bruised pride, it seemed everyone was fine. And the home team won!

Daisy

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v6

12. second leash, less than 18 hours old. Impressive!

ingredients for a good friday

1. a half-day at work
2. family
3. river to the bay
   
4. boat
5. dogs
6. extreme Kong toy and the equally popular "chase-it"
   
7. crab feast
8. car that did not conk out
9. abundant creatures - herons, ospreys, a big honkin' woodpecker, and lots of lightning bugs
10. peace and happiness

Can't believe our dog got along so well with the host-dog. Spouse practiced being "calm and assertive." Dog even went for a boat ride - and LOVED it. Some mountain girl.

oh noes!

Yay!!
I do so love icanhascheezburger?

one path to happy

Ever since I stopped

1. Ironing clothes
2. Washing the car
3. Subscribing to the newspaper
4. Buying bottled water
5. Filing bills and statements (one big box does nicely)
6. Carrying credit card debt (stopped buying stuff)
7. Wearing jewelry (other than my wedding ring; he did spend a pretty penny)
8. Answering the phone in the evening after a hard day at work (sorry, fam - love you, but leave a message)
   
9. Going to movie theatres
10. Worrying about our mis-matched, hand-me down furniture
    

I've been a lot happier. Life can be simple if we let it.

things i'm doing to put off the inevitable

1. erm... blogging.
2. laundry
3. eating very old but still yummy (read: edible) cherries
4. watching a cat watching nothing
5. thinking about weekend guests
6. wondering where weekend guests will sleep
7. wondering if weekend guests will make their own breakfast
8. wondering if we even have breakfasty things to begin with
   
9. wishing i went with G to walk the dog
10. intimidated by the dearth of breakfast foods, deciding i might as well get back to work. rats.
    

muppet-tastic!

You Are the Swedish Chef

"Bork! Bork! Bork!" Your happy and energetic - with borderline manic tendencies. No one really gets you. And frankly, you don't even get you. But, you sure can whip up a great chocolate mousse

The Muppet Personality Test

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v5

10. rawhide, graciously provided by her host, my bruzzer
11. the tennis ball part of a tennis-ball-on-a-rope, also graciously provided by aforementioned bruzzer

A nice day at Troy's graduation party. Oddly, I took no photos! But I think my mother took lots. I hope.

Plus, we saw:
* four fuzzy (and very hungry) baby mockingbirds in a nest in a tree near the field
* momma (or poppa?) mockingbird bringing bits of dinner
* one brown rabbit near the bottom of the yard
* one red fox near my parents' house

domestic accomplishments

so exciting.

1. cut back the spruce crowding the neighbor's yard
2. hacked at neighbor's grapevine thing that is taking over a white pine tree
3. trimmed locust damage from the Japanese maple
4. gave the wild azalea an edge over the forsythia
5. wondered about the mulch pile that occupies the driveway
6. chopped up some sticky trash plant that keeps coming back and bothering the vinca
   
7. continued to not water the lawn
8. did water the dianthus and the violets
9. collected another half-pound of cat fur
10. did not allow myself to be dominated by the dog :)
    

I was wrong

According to the dog trainer, when the dog rests her head on our arms/legs/laps/ whatever is convenient, and we respond by petting her or even making eye contact, we have put her in charge and she is now dominant, because we are doing what she wants. Apparently in the dog world, one dog will put its head over another dog's back and if the second dog allows it, it is therefore submissive.

Hmm. I admit, I didn't want to do this much thinking about having a dog. Our last dog was just a dog. This one is quite something else.

books waiting to be read

1. Miles to Go, Chris Murphy (on Miles Davis)
2. Gone, by Jonathan Kellerman
3. At Risk, Patricia Cornwell
4. Big Russ & Me, Tim Russert
5. Southern Italy (travel book)
6. A Fez of the Heart, Jeremy Seal
7. Talking to High Monks in the Snow, Lydia Minatoya
8. High: Stories of Survival from Everest and K2, Clint Willis
9. The Last Days of Socrates, Plato
10. Best American Short Stories, 1991
    

A boy and his dog

things about the dog

1. hound
2. all about the scent
3. long, long dog
4. will rest her very heavy head on whatever part of you is convenient until you pay attention
5. lives for walkies
6. likes her crate - er, den
   
7. would rather live outside
8. occasionally very tall
9. fascinated by squirrels
10. happy, sweet girl
    

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v4

9. totally sanctioned bone-shaped chew toy

Yay!

it's just science

Went out for the evening and did not crate the dog. But - sprayed Chew Stop all over the part of the bed that she had chewed up. Came home six hours later, and the bed is still only in a few pieces. Pretty exciting. All hail Chew Stop.

cautiously optimistic

Hmm. A little chewing on the purple bed cover today, but really not much. Good dog.

surprised

The dog didn't chew anything up today. Could be the "Chew Stop" the spouse sprayed all over her bed cover. Could be simple good luck. I shall not look a gift horse in the mouth. Hooray!

things i am thankful for

1. sunshine
2. kitty cats
3. (ok, let's get serious) (... well, more serious)
   
4. being the daughter of my parents
5. an open mind
   
6. good friends
   
7. good books
8. a little luck
   
9. a loyal mate
10. a dog who didn't chew up anything today
    

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v4

7. purple dog bed cover... mostly still intact, so good for another day. maybe she just doesn't like zippers.

8. rope chew toy - hooray!!!! i would like to believe the rope chew toy gave out first, hence she turned her attention to the bed.

And to think I was gone only four and a half hours. Wow. Well, my fault - I really thought she'd be okay for that length of time, since I sat here with her for the first six hours of the day and all she did was sleep. Lesson learned.

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v3

...
6. green placemat

It is time for one of us to get used to crating her at night and when we are away. The rescue group recommended it, and she has been okay with it. But one of us thinks it's terribly mean and balks at closing the crate. The other of us is working at convincing him it is okay.

It's too bad we don't have/can't create a room that is indestructible. We'd remove the placemats and things except then what's left is upholstery. Which would be double-plus ungood.

On a more positive note, it looks like she has actually been chewing on the rope toy. Ah, the joys of canine adolescence.

buffet for a 100th birthday party picnic

1. fried chicken
2. hot dogs
   
3. chili
4. green beans and ham
   
5. scalloped potatoes
6. macaroni salad
7. cole slaw
8. raw veggies - broccoli, carrots, grape tomatoes, cauliflower and salad greens
   
9. sliced fruit - watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, red grapes
10. pink lemonade and iced tea

things to be Freecycled this weekend

1. two large bags of packing peanuts
2. videotape for a HealthRider (itself long ago Freecycled)
3. books
   
4. 2006 farmer's almanac calendar
5. non-prescription allergy medicine our old dog used to take
6. photo of NYC in the spring
7. clear blue purse
8. candle holder
9. vacuum cleaner bags
10. blue NYFD baseball, slightly scuffed, found by the river

Freecycle rocks. It's just so... free!

things the dog has chewed to pieces, v2

1. blue squeaker chew toy
   
2. the braided rainbow rug my mother made
   
3. dog bed cover
   
4. dog pillow my mother made
5. plastic water/food holder for the cats' outside playcrate
   

but not...
... the rope chew toy
... the bone chew toy
... the second bone chew toy

Let's hope the first list stays short, or the second list gets shorter, whichever comes first.

names we could call this dog

Poor skinny girl. She's filling out more each day. We're looking for a mountain name, since she's a mountain girl. And don't say "Mountain Girl." That is way too much to say when she's dragging me down the road.

1. Minnie (the name she came with, but which doesn't entirely fit... unless you want to call her Skinny Minnie.)
2. Daisy
3. Belle
   
4. Jessie
5. Suki
6. Hannah
7. Letty
8. Luella
9. Zillah
10. Petunia
    

Still need to decide whether we're fostering her or adopting... but that can wait for another day.

about the Big Trip, now that it's done

1. whew.
2. whew!
3. we all made it back alive.
4. no one got maimed
   
5. no one got lost
6. no one got so mad they shouted expletives
7. no one's knees gave out
8. at least, not that i saw
9. we had a very memorable time
10. and we'll never forget it.

Family ties that bind can sometimes set you free.

about the Big Trip

1. lack of language ability (eeek)
2. a whole lotta time with the fam
3. not a lot of time to be in any given place
4. momentous trip - will it be good?
5. minding manners
6. patience
7. grace
8. more patience
9. miraculous memory, pleeeeeze
10. no regrets
    

things i'm glad about

1. i went to the viewing
2. i saw family i hadn't seen in 20+ years
3. after i got over being nervous, i was happy about it
4. someone i didn't expect to, hugged me
5. my family accepts a good bit of weirdness
6. my dad held up great
7. my mom's pastor didn't come
8. my uncle had a LOT of friends
9. there are still a lot of good people in small towns
10. i really could rely on them if i needed to.
    

places i'd like to go that start with B

1. Beppu
   
2. Bora Bora
3. Belgium
4. Brownie's Beach
5. Belize
6. Belle Mead [ hi Jodi :) ]
7. Bonaire
8. Banana Republic (I could use some new pants)
9. Baltimore (I would like some steamed crabs)
   
10. (your suggestions here)
    

things I don't like about public television

Just kidding. Public television rocks.

reasons high heels didn't make it inside the house

It turns out, I'd rather not think about this.

things on the mantel

1. a pair of bears.
2. jar of feathers... heron, egret, hawk
3. hand-painted peruvian pot (kero)
4. a small crock, Red Wing, MN, 1985
5. jar of ceramic and tile bits from a rural lane near Todi
6. candle in a Ukrainian candleholder (Ukraine via NYC)
7. blue tile from Amalfi
8. 'potpourri' of purple, blue and white columbine petals
9. a big stack of CDs that don't fit with the others
10. twenty other things and a whole lot of dust.

wishes - the meandering version

I wish for....

1. World peace. (Duh.)
2. More tenor saxophonists (aka fewer alto).
3. Better grammar for everyone.
4. Someone besides me to trim the cats' claws.
5. Some sign as to where that one black glove got to.
6. Spouse's silly purple Dinosaur Jr. t-shirt to go wherever that black glove got to.
7. Hmm. I ran out of steam.
8. More steam!
9. Free parking at work.
10. Telekinetic powers.