Halloween Goof

I just got back from having my teeth clean. Mmmmm, they're nice and shiny and tartar-less. I noticed the hygienist had on a cute halloween sweatshirt and pants, along with fun earrings, but didn't think anything of it. As I was leaving, I saw the receptionist was wearing jammies and had freckles painted on her cheeks. I blurted out, "Oh, that's right, it's Halloween!" She laughed and replied, "I sure hope so! I like to dress comfortably, but I don't think I'd normally wear this to work!" I honestly had forgotten today was Halloween until I was confronted with a baby girl making appointments.

Tooth Hurty

Ok, for those of you who have never heard that riddle, here it is:

Q: What time is it when you're at the dentist's office?
A: Tooth-Hurty

Actually, my teeth don't hurt. They're just wickedly stained from coffee and I was years overdue for a cleaning and exam. We've not been to the dentist since we lost my good dental coverage at my last job and our dentist wasn't on hubby's new plan. The good news is, I have no cavities! Wooo! The semi-bad news is I have a little bit of gingivitis, but not too bad. By the time I left, I found out that both the dentist and hygienist like dogs. Leave it to me to sniff out fellow dog lovers. Howie's having his first appointment tomorrow and I'm getting my teeth cleaned. This dentist is really thorough, so the cleaning comes on your second visit. Yeah, there's not a lot going on in my life...

Oh, well, other than it only being 23 days until vacation now. Wooooo! Every day my Cajun friend Lisa's been sending me a countdown and link to something cheap/fun to do in her area of Louisiana. One link she sent was for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Now, THAT looks awesome. We won't have a lot of spending money on our vacation, but that is one place we have got to see. The other thing we're definitely budgeting to do is The Cajun Man's swamp tour. One other thing that sounds fun is hearing some MUSIC. Today's countdown link was for The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, and their homepage says there's Cajun music nights...Only $1 to get in, so it passes the cheapness test.

Other than that, we'll pretty much hang out with Lisa's family and see some sights. I've never been to a place with a tropical climate like Louisiana, so I'm pretty excited about seeing the wildlife down there. The only other tour I would considering paying for is one of a cemetery; I've always wanted to see the New Orleans cemeteries, but Lisa cautioned that they're not safe for people to just walk around in alone, and that we'd better plan on a tour group if we want to see one. The way I zone out in my happy little world when taking photographs, I'd probably be a prime mugging target, LOL.

The Midas Touch

This is Midas, our friend's cat. As you can see, he's a very busy kitty and, though blurry, I think this shot pretty much captures that. He poked around in the woods behind us when we took a walk, taking his good old time and falling behind. As soon as I'd stop and turn around to take his picture, though, he'd dash up my way expecting scritches. Gee, think he's conditioned? ;)

I think I'll make Midas here the focus of my homepage's index page. He's just hangin' out in the woods, checking everything out, kind of like I was the day I took that shot.

It's done.

MM...With Minutes to Spare

My, what an assortment of questions today for Promoguy's Monday Mission 2.43:

1. Ever do anything over and over just to make someone else happy but discover you actually hate it?
Well, something I've discovered in life is it ain't all about me. Of course there are such things I've discovered I've hated. But sometimes in life you grit your teeth and get through the stuff you hate because you love someone enough to sacrifice and step outside of the land of flowers and butterflies. ;)

2. What kinds of obligations do you enjoy?
I struggle with enjoying obligations, per-say. That word has a negative connotation to me, equalling "joyless chore". I do enjoy being married and the obligation and permenance of that relationship. I enjoy helping my mom and mother-in-law learn the joys of computers, too.

3. What are your feelings about celebrating Halloween?
Bah-humbug. I think the trick-or-treating is fun for kids, but I don't like the really gory displays. And I have a personal aversion to the color orange because my father was obsessed with hunter's orange and the spray-painting of such things as trash can lids in said color. That doesn't leave a whole lot of love for Halloween orange, with the exception of real pumpkins, other squash, and leaves.

4. Are there any stories of bodily functions you would prefer people not share with you in conversation?
It depends on the person and the context. I dislike hearing about zits and their poppage. :P

5. What do you think is the most important aspect of personal hygiene that bothers you when people overlook it?
Basic cleanliness and deodorant usage. Oh, man, who can't afford $1.50 for deodorant every few months? And there's running water and soap just about everywhere if you really care to be clean.

6. Ponder the thought of being forever young, living on endlessly, being immortal. What would that life be like for you?
It would be lonely. I can't imagine having to leave those I love behind, to watch the decay and death prey upon them as I saw no end in sight.

7. What's the last thing you felt was "worth fighting for?"
Generally I'm a little wimpy in speaking out about issues, especially those of a more limited interest. I do, however, think the freedoms we have here in the US are worth fighting for. Just the fact that I am free to express such things - that is something worth fighting for.

BONUS: Sooner or later, they all will be gone...why don't they stay young?
Cute, considering. Forever Young.

Today's comment question: What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
Usually, if I haven't already gulped it down, I jump back up and go take my birth control pill. A decade ago, I got into the habit of taking it as I went to bed. Hey, it makes sense since bed is...well, you know, a happenin' place sometimes and we don't want kids. The association has stuck, and I've only missed a few the last 3,650-odd pills I've ingested these last ten years.

Into the Woods

We spent the afternoon at the hilltop home of one of Howie's coworkers today. She owns 13 acres and she built her cedar home up at the top of the property. The property's marvelous, full of old trees and all that wonderful understory of undisturbed woods. Her house is really cool, too, and decorated just as Howie and I would decorate. I told her, she would be the easiest person in the world for me to shop for since all I'd have to do is pick out things I liked.

This get-together was the second in a series the gardening folk at Howie's job decided to do; we've been having a potluck at each person's home every month or two, making the rounds. It's so cool to just kick back and visit, and to tour the different homes and yards. We had two types of chili today, along with a really nice, beefy veggie soup, jalepeno cornbread, rosemary bread, and all manner of toppings on homemade vanilla ice cream. *burp*

I got a chance to see more of the surrounding woods when Teresa took a couple of us to see her favorite tree on the property, a huge old oak that grew into three trunks. What an awesome tree that is! I also found, by seeing some growing on her property, that the wee little sapling I have growing at the foot of our sycamore is a cedar. I think I'll let it grow. :)

P.S. Why is there so much space between this last line and my row of thumbnails? Can anyone help me out here?

Fireworks

I love fireworks. Since I didn't get to see them this year, I thought this was pretty fun to see in my inbox just now. Enjoy the Lady Liberty Fireworks, y'all. :)

Thanks to Those Who Tend My Plot

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
-- Marcel Proust, French author (born 7/10/1871)

Even more than those gardeners who make me happy, I thank the ones who love me enough to prune me when I have an errant cane or need some shaping. When you're pruned, it makes you grow deeper, stronger roots. When you're pruned, it makes you send out new growth. Pruning hurts sometimes, but it's a good thing. So, thanks.

Friday Five Again

In keeping with the season, Promoguy scared up some good questions this week:

1. What is your favorite scary movie?
It'd have to be Sixth Sense. It was suspenseful and creepy without a bunch of bloody, gross-out scenes. And it wasn't just a senseless violence movie.

2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Hmmmmm, it's a tie between Snickers bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Oh, and Hershey's Dark chocolate mini-bars. 'Course those little Mr. Goodbar's are awfully good, too, and Crackle bars are tasty and textured...Leave the Pixie Stix and Sweet Tarts for the kiddies and give me the CHOCOLATE, baby!

3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.
When I'm working or have plans with our friends for beggar's night, I do. My best costume was from 1999, The Bad Hair Day Fairy, which I mentioned in my Monday Mission answers (posted late, on Wednesday of this week).

Second to that is my Gardenwife costume, which is basically a straw hat I doctored up with gardening stuff, a fan of fake credit cards in the brim, and a homemade "I break for plant sales" caution sign on its back. I wear a denim jumper, my hat, gardening gloves, flower socks and sneakers with a bold butterfly print.

4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events?
Not really. I prefer a suspenseful movie to live-action stuff any day.

5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?
I doubt it. Naaaah. My friends aren't doing beggar's night this year since one of them has to be away on a business trip, and I'm just not in the mood, anyway.

Encouraged by Faythe

I found Faythe's blog while searching for the lyrics Promoguy threw out there for the Monday Mission. Not only does she have some really neat writing in there, but she's also a gal after my own heart when it comes to nature pictures. She's one to get down to the nitty-gritty close-up stuff I love to see. And she loves animals, especially kitties, it seems. She must be a good egg.

Her blog clued me into an article about how one-sided "diversity" can be. Let me preface this by saying that I admit that I am reluctant to get political in my everyday speech or my blog because I don't relish flames. It's so rare for people to be able to discuss liberal vs. conservative ideals without it turning ugly, and I just don't like to go there. I basically like people. And people who live on the way extreme away from what I believe can still be really cool and have great ideas and observances about life -- But sometimes I feel like the same openmindedness is not extended toward those of us on the more conservative side of life. This article on MSNBC really sums up what's frequently been my own experience as a Christian in America.

My Wednesday Edition of Monday Mission

As usual I was running around with hubby on his days off, so my Monday is a few days late. So what's new, right?

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 2.42...

1. Have you ever felt like you were expected to set a good example for others?
Oh, absolutely. I've rebelled against that feeling periodically throughout my life, but I've always headed back. I think the biggest thing I want people to remember about my example is this: I WILL mess up, you can count on that, but I will also own up to it and do better next time.

2. What keeps you on the right path? For example, why do you think you turned out the way you did as opposed to the nut ball sniper out there?
What keeps me on the right path is my relationship with God and my relationships with people who encourage me and challenge me to be a better person. The people you surround yourself with will influence you for the better or for the worse, there's just no way around that. God continues to help me work through pain and anger in my life. I used to be a very, very angry person. I learned early in life that it was easier to feel angry and lash out than it was to allow myself to feel hurt and sad. But through getting to know God, I've also learned that there's an alternative to being angry all the time.

3. Sometimes things seem different than they really are. When was the last time you believed something to be one way only to learn you had it all wrong?
There's so many things in life that prove themselves in this way. I think a biggie for me was my father. After my mom and I moved to Ohio and I only heard from him sporadically, it was easy for me to romanticize him and forget how awful with him life really is. I'd go back to visit him with the hopes that things would be different, and when they weren't, I was so disappointed. Even as an adult, when he got back in contact with me, I thought it might be a chance for us to foster a new relationship, but I learned very quickly (not quickly enough, still) that he was the same user he had always been and that it wasn't going to happen.

4. Can you recall a time when being alert and observant kept you safe?
It's easier for me to recall times when being unobservant resulted in my being harmed, LOL. I am rather klutzy. On a more mental and emotional level, I think I've learned to observe people more closely and to avoid spending time with those who just don't feel quite right to me inside. It may not be that the people pose a physical threat to me or my loved ones, but they may be people who will drain me dry emotionally or keep me in some weird type of controlling relationship. I've been there and done that, and I don't want to go back.

5. Who in your personal circle of relationships do you think is smarter than you? Are they smarter in just one area, or overall? How do you feel about that? How do they interact with you?
People with financial saavy really blow me away. We have friends who are such good planners, investing and making their money grow. My husband and I both struggle to be diligent about saving and planning for our futures; to think some of our peers have thousands of dollars set aside for retirement or their kids' college funds -- and have for years, too -- just blows me away. I can't imagine begin that foreward-thinking; I am such a creature of the moment.

6. Let's daydream a little: Describe in detail the most perfect lazy day, start to finish.
A lazy day would need to be one spent away from home so I wouldn't look around me and see all the things that need to be done. So let's set it at a cabin in the woods somewhere. The weather's quite cool, and it's fall. We went to bed early the night before; the early sunsets have us feeling sleepy earlier than usual. This morning, we've awakened to the sound of birds chattering and the light pattering of rain on the leaves outside and the roof above our heads.

We stretch and sigh heavily, smelling the fresh rain-scented air. Donning our flannel snugglies and slippers, we make a fire in the fireplace and sit looking out the window as we drink our morning coffee. We read a little. The rain stops and the sun starts peeking out from behind the clouds. Getting dressed, we head out for a walk down to the lake and take a rowboat out onto the water so we can fish for a while. The hot coffee from our thermos feels really good going down.

After a few hours, we beach the boat and go back up to the cabin for lunch. A nap overtakes us and we succumb to its wiles, snuggling together beneath the thick comforter. When we awake, Howie feels like reading, but I want to take pictures; I leave him with Lord of the Rings while I wander around the trails and enjoy that sense of really seeing everything for the first time again. In no time, dusk is settling in and I can't believe how quickly the time's passed since I left the cabin. That sense of timelessness permeates days like this, especially when I am behind my camera.

In the evening, we enjoy a homemade stew and bread, then sit and play Scrabble before a roaring fire. The radio is on, playing some light jazz, and the woodsmoke smells good. The fire begins to die back and my eyelids grow heavy; that thick comforter is looking pretty inviting...

7. Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, what as? If not, how come? What is the most favorite costume you ever had?
No, this year I have no plans. I may have to dress Howie up and send him out the door to his job, though. When I was little, my mom sewed me a leopard costume. I remember really liking that a lot, and I remember being annoyed because kids were pulling on the tail. As an adult, my favorite costume was one I came up with in 1999: The Bad Hair Day Fairy.


BONUS: Come on baby tell me what’s the word?

Grease is the word
(Grease is the word, is the word that you heard)
It's got groove, it's got meaning
Grease is the time, is the place, is the m-o-otion
Grease is the way we are feeling...

Okay, not what Promoguy was lookin' for, but that's what popped into my head, and that's what you get. Sorry, Cameo. Word.

Today's Comment Question: What gives you the creeps?
Oh, that's easy. Centipedes, especially those with the long legs. You know, the ones which seem to hover over the ground as they glide along on all those legs. I think they're cool in their own way, but if one gets on me, I get a little....Twitchy. We rented the lower in an old house a few years back; the house was old, and the basement was damp. So, it was just a lovely home for centipedes and other moisture-craving critters. Normally, you just see them when you descend into the bowels of your house to do laundry. But because the dining room was so neat in this place, we chose to put our bedroom in the finished room down in the basement instead of having it upstairs. Oooooh, I will NEVER forget the night we were lying in bed reading and I felt something plunk down on me from somewhere. It was one of those huge long-legged, creepy centipedes! It skittled down my body until I knocked it off of me (screaming bloody murder the whole time, of course). It disappeared under the bed and we never did find it. *Shudder* Yuck!

Seventh Time's A Charm

Okay, the surprise for Vikki is finally posted. Not sure why Blogger was so sluggish Saturday night, but it seemed to be resolved by the time I took one last stab at it last night. Yippee!

Ain't I a Stinker?

We can't let the bus go blogless, can we? Let's give Vikki a warm housewarming for her return to the online world. :) Waaaah! I can't get it to upload to her blog! She might just have to see it when she goes to update her blog later! Boooo! :(

Little Tease

Now, fellow bloggers and readers Naomi, Pangie and Busgirlie will be able to read past the first post on the Survivor Thialand threads at Dave's Garden, in particular in the Media Forum...But the rest of y'all who don't subscribe can only see the first post of each. Ohhhh, the things you're missing! ;)

The Thursday Three, Belated

How'd I miss these for so long?

1. What is the best Halloween costume that you have ever worn?
Had to be the Bad Hair Day Fairy. I had a wand and everything! I'll have to see if I can scare up that picture, LOL.

2. What is the best horror or Halloween related movie in your view?
I don't much go for the gross-out hacker movies, not anymore. I do like a great suspenseful, creepy movie, though. One of my favorites is The Sixth Sense. I loved that movie!

3. What is your favorite tradition and activity for Halloween and why?
Every year we go out to Pigeon Roost Farm with our best friends and take lots of pictures at the cool photo-op spots they've set up for just that purpose. It's fun to look back at our pictures and see how much (or how little) we've changed. They have tame turkeys and goats which roam around, plus other animals penned for you to see, so it's great fun. Then we go buy pumpkins somewhere cheap, LOL.

Bonus for comments: What should BBQ and I dress up as for Halloween?
I don't know ya, so it's hard to say. How about...Samson and Delilah? The classic brute and his belle.

What Cat Are You?

Take the Purrsonality Quiz!

Ok, I don't know how quiet I am, but I do like to make people happy. :) How about you?

Boxes, Boxes Everywhere, and Not a Spot to Tink

So poignant. God love ya! :) That link may not work until this week's posts are archived over at Busgirlie's page. It's the entry called "Boxes...Boxes... everywhere!"

TGIF Again

Life just seems to be an endless series of Fridays lately. Once again, it's Friday Five time, too:

1. How many TVs do you have in your home?
Three: office, living room and bedroom.

2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?
I tend to be online far more than I watch TV. Probably....on average I watch 15 hours/week. It just depends.

3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?
A qualified yes. My husband and I both rue the fact that our childhood memories are comprised largely of what we watched on TV, not of the games we played or the friends we had. We lived in front of the tube. I think there are great kids shows, no doubt - but I also think it dulls a kid's imagination to have everything fed to them visually without any effort on their part. It's just not interactive. I think there needs to be a balance, and that TV shouldn't be used as a babysitter.

4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?
That varies for us. Right now, it's Survivor Thialand, ER and Dog Days (turn your volume down on that last site, LOL).

5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?
Man, it'd probably be the best of several networks' shows! Frankly, it'd be a big pay-per-view thing where people could choose the shows they wanted from all the other cable/satellite networks.

Fleeting Tropics

As the temperatures start their inevitable descent, I realize this tropical hibiscus' beautiful time is short. What a show she's giving for her last hoorah of the season, though. Most of my tender plants survive the winters inside our house, but not very well. This gal will probably look horrible by the time April or May rolls around, but she'll bounce back. Considering I've had her over a year and she's at least tripled in size since I bought her in a wee 4" pot, I feel pretty good seeing these blooms! I really need to set up some plant lights in our office since sunlight's at kind of a premium in our house during the winter months. Here's another shot of her.

Dog Days

Here's my mother, victim of a doggie avalanche. Would that be a puppalanche? The dogs love to cuddle, and with three of them, it can get pretty crowded in the old recliner. Good thing mom loves dogs, heh.

Is anyone else watching Animal Planet's new series Dog Days? Howie and I think it's a hoot, thoroughly enjoyable. We know...It's probably 90% staged, but it's still fun watching these folks as they cater to and play with their canines. The one couple from Episode 1, Lori and Stephen, really remind us of Mad About You's Paul and Jamie. Only Lori and Stephen, like my own DH and I, have decided that dogs are preferable to kids of their own.

I wish our own city had a dog park. The only Ohio dog park listed on Animal Planet's site is in Cincinnati - just a tad too far to go (especially considering Buddy gets carsick, yuck). A friend who works for our local city government told me the subject of a dog park has been brought up recently at city council. I zapped an e-mail off to the fella in charge of Parks & Recreation today, letting him know we'd be in wild favor of such a place. Who knows...Maybe it could happen. Our poor pups need the exercise, and it would be great to meet other doggie people.

With God as My Witness, I Married a Lunatic

But he's fun, and I'll keep him around. I downloaded my pics only to find this fine piece of portraiture in the midst of my shots. He snuck one in there when I wasn't in the room...

Catching Up...

As usual, I didn't blog over the weekend. Howie's off Saturday-Monday, so we tend to do our running around when the weather's nice on weekends. And it's been REALLY nice. While Howie and my dad watched the OSU game at mom & dad's on Saturday, mom and I did some picture-taking in the country, went shopping, and had dinner (and dessert!) at Tom's Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville. I got some good pictures, some great bargains, and a fully tummy - oh, what wonderful ice cream.

Sunday was terrific. We went to church and then enjoyed lunch with friends at Ruby Tuesday's. It was so good to be around people and to laugh. Howie and I stopped by the house and loaded the doggies up in the car for a ride. We we headed out to our church's property to let the dogs stretch their legs and play. We thought that Emma and Buddy would not run too far away from us since we would be in the huge field away from the road...But they did. They just took off together, mutt and Jeff, and ran straight back down the gravel driveway and toward the road. We got back in the car and headed out after them, and by the time we got back down near the church, they'd stopped running and got in the car. Leashes, always, from now on!

As usual, Sarah found something suitably repugnant in which to roll, so we drove home amist some truly nasty smells. We also learned that having all three dogs in the car does not distract Buddy suffiiently to stop him from getting carsick. So, while Howie gave Sarah a bath, I cleaned the carpet and upholstery in back. Oh, fun.

At the back of the church property there's a tall hill, and at the top of this hill a wooden cross overlooks the valley. For the first time, we braved that steep hill and climbed to the top; we had to stop several times during our ascent, but it was so worth it. A talented stoneworker donated his time and created a tiered patio area there at the base of the cross; I don't think there's a prettier spot to sit and survey the area. :)

Last night we got together with Jeff (not of mutt and Jeff, LOL) and watched Panic Room. It was a pretty intense movie, but somewhat predicable, I thought. I can't remember a movie that has the F-word in it more, either, so be forewarned. I don't want to give anything away here. It's worth watching, but there's a few holes I couldn't reconcile.

Choices, Choices

It's that time again, Friday Five. This sounds like one of those "you have to go live on a desert island - what would you take with you?" kinds of things. We've been watching Survivor Thailand (Bye, bye, Denver Diva, LOL) and I've contemplated what my choice of luxury item would be if I were ever to be thrust into that situation (not a snowball's chance in h*ll of that, though). Anyway, here's the FIVE:

1. If you could only choose 1 cd to ever listen to again, what would it be?
Gosh, that's rough. I think what I'd have to do is make a compilation of my favorite songs onto one CD. I got around that one pretty well, didn't I? One of the songs would have to be Kim Hill's rendition of "You Are Still Holy". Wow, what an awesome song - a real cry of my heart.

2. If you could only choose 2 movies to watch ever again, what would they be?
My first choice was easy: As Good as It Gets. The characters are so full, so real and detailed - it's funny, it's sad, it's thought-provoking...It's a wonderful story of friendship and getting outside of our comfort zones. Choosing a second is so difficult! Right now, I think it would be the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility. The cinematography and costuming is so rich and beautiful in that one, and the characters are just terrific. I need to rent that one again - it's been too long since I've seen it.

3. If you could only choose 3 books to read ever again, what would they be?
Definitely the Bible. In particular, I'd like the NIV Life Application Study Bible; I've always liked the NIV translation, and since I'm not heavily into finding the nitty-gritty, original Greek and Hebrew translations, this Bible's study notes are pretty down-to-earth and practical. I don't own this Bible yet, but I want to get it sometime. The second book would be Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True, a fascinating (and sad) story of twin brothers and their unique mental illnesses. I was so engrossed by their story, so touched. The book which rounds out my list of three is Colony, by Anne Rivers Siddons. That is another incredible journey through the lives of a family; this one follows Maude Chambliss from the time she's a young bride of an aristrocratic family's son, through her incorporation into their family and becoming a matriarch of her own right. It's really something, in Siddons' lyrical, descriptive writing; it's a true pleasure reading anything by her.

4. If you could only choose 4 things to eat or drink ever again, what would they be?
Mmmmmm. Assuming HEALTH isn't an issue, I'd choose coffee, chocolate, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. No, I don't like junk food. ;)

5. If you could only choose 5 people to ever be/talk/associate/whatever with ever again, who would they be?
Wowsers, I really hate questions like this because I don't want to exclude anyone! And my answer would change depending on what's going on in my life at the time, you know?? Right now, I'd say Howie, Amy, Pastor Steve, Lisa, and Mom. But at any time, Angie, Julie, Naomi, Carol, Vikki....Gosh, any number of folks could swap out! Aaaaaargh!

Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me

I could adopt this as my theme song, only it would be my body singing to itself. I am a klutz. There's no disputing the fact, ask my husband. Bless his heart, once he sees I'm not mortally wounded, he usually breaks into uncontrollable chortles as I jump around or grasp dismally at the injured part of my body. I usually end up crying "it's not funny!", but the fact that I'm laughing doesn't add any weight to my assertion.

I once broke my toe in what proved to be a goldmine of amusement for my husband. We were newlyweds and lived in a huge old victorian home that had been split into apartments. Our back door opened to a hallway which led to a few other apartment doors and to the outside door out back. On this particular evening, I was fresh out of the shower and, ummm, still not dressed. I heard him walking down the hallway toward our door and thought it would be great fun to run and greet him, au naturale.

So, off I went. I rounded the corner and was making good progress toward the door when things went terribly wrong and I ran a bit too close to the desk. Have you ever had your pinky toe bent outward, sideways? No? Trust me, it is no fun. Carried on by sheer momentum, I reached the back door just in time to greet Howie as he walked in. What a sight greeted him: his wife, naked and hopping on one foot, uttering dark, terrible words. Oh, my, we've certainly had our laughs over that one the last ten years.

Today holds no exceptions. I have several nice, deep papercuts on my hands. Actually, they're yogurt container cuts I sustained while washing a yogurt cup for reuse. I don't know how I do it. And I'll tell you what else, it stings when you get homemade laundry soap in those little fissures. Man! I made a triple batch of that today, and wished I'd made it prior to washing out that danged container. Ah well.

Photoshopping

Okay, I am awestruck by Bert Monroy. This guy does unbelievably photo-realistic artwork using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. He doesn't scan photos in and manipulate them; he starts from scratch. Wow.

A Mouse In My Mailbox

Well, technically, we only have a mail slot and it's in our front door, but we did get a mouse in the mail. Okay, technically two mice. And a duck, and a couple dogs (at least I think one of them is a dog). Thanks for the postcard, Busgirlie! :)


Speaking of traveling...We won't be a leavin' on a jet plane for a while yet, but we did buy the tickets for our Thanksgiving visit to Louisiana. I am SO excited - other than visiting Tennessee last year and again this spring, this is the first real vacation (more than 4 days) we've taken since visiting my sister-in-law in 1999. We're going to stay at the home of friends we made via Dave's Garden and met last year. It's really cool to visit people you know, because they know the good stuff to do and what stuff isn't. Lisa and her hubby are really sweet, funny, laid-back folks -- and can they cook. Their little girl was so sweet on the phone the other night - she's a darling little thing, a four-year-old sprite with a smile that could melt the Grinch's heart.

We're don't usually have to dress for summer temps and humidity in November, so I did some shopping for cool and comfy clothes since ours are pretty ratty for anything but yard work. And, like I told my aunt, I've become an old fogey. Yes, I will soon own five seersucker shirts from Blair.com. I bought four seersucker gingham-checked shirts in various colors, along with a pair of shorts. Hey, as far as I'm concerned, they're pre-wrinkled so they'll be a breeze to pack. They're also lightweight and cool to wear. I can wash and dry them and have clothes to wear the next day.

This is my second order from Blair and I've been really happy with their products and with their service. These shirts are on clearance now, and I couldn't pass up $9.99 each, with free shipping and no sales tax. Check out currentcodes.com for all the latest online discount codes for your favorite online stores - that's where I got the code for free shipping. :)

Move Over, Mr. Coffee

We finally broke down and decided to try Gevalia for their free coffee maker offer (pictured at left along with a groovy Dave's Garden coffee mug - they're great!). It's so nice having our coffee brew directly into a thermal carafe, y'all. Vikki told me she has one and it works great, so we thought we'd give it a shot. Of course, it helps that Mr. Coffee, may he rest in peace, died. The first pot I made overflowed the filter basket and poured onto the counter; in my haste to try it out (and thanks to my math-shunning brain), I put in twice as much coffee as I should have. The water couldn't make it through the resulting coffee-ground sludge. So far, there's been a bit of a plastic taste to the coffee, this despite my running vinegar water through as directed, but it's getting better.

While I'm on the subject of coffee, I must mention The Mug of Honor, not to be confused with the DG mug pictured above, LOL.

The mug was given to me by Dad (my stepdad, Bob). He thought it was really something. And it is. It's become a family joke (or a family institution, if you want to be positive). It's a truly repugnant mug depicting an angry-looking, surly cat. It's not just his face that is disconcerting, no. His tail curves around the handle of the mug, and even then the handle is uncomfortable. Every time Dad visits, his coffee is served in The Mug of Honor. It's only fitting that he should enjoy this fine piece of ceramic artistry since he is the one who hand-selected it.

Friday Five?? I Never Did Monday Mission!

It's Friday Five time already? Thanks for reminding me, Naomi - I truly would have forgotten all about it! These questions are nothing to make a stink about; they're treading on thin ice. Those old shoes just love to wag their tongues and sing soul. Ok, I'll stop. Gosh, I'd like to hear Imelda Marcos' answers, or maybe Leona Helmsley's. Shoot, my mom's answers, for that matter. My shoe-happenings are pretty tame compared to theirs, I'd wager.

1. What size shoe do you wear?
Big ol' size 11's. But not wides, just regulars.

2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
How many do I own, or how many can I wear? I own around eight pair, including winter boots. Frankly, I'm comfortable (and barefoot) and I don't feel like getting up to check!

3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)?
I prefer sandals first, the athletic kind with lots of cushion in the heel. Next to that, I like tennis shoes. I do have a pair of buffalo hide boots I adore.

4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?
I love the bison boots I got at a warehouse sale at my old job. They're made of soft, supple hide and it's the most buttery leather I've ever felt. They're the type of boots that lace up, and they go just a little above my ankles. There's a rolled cuff at the top, which cushions them against my legs. They're really well made, really comfortable, and really cute.

5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?
Hmmmmm....Probably $60 for a pair of really good tennis shoes once. Even my bison leather shoes were only $32!

Keats Eats

"...this moment I was writing with one hand, and with the other holding to my mouth a Nectarine - how good, how fine. It went down all pulpy, slushy, oozy..."
-- John Keats, English poet

Now, I enjoy a good nectarine, too. Only I eat it with my left hand so my right is free for mouse-clicking and hunt-and-pecking on my keyboard. ;)