"Belly Rubs and Life"

We spent almost 3 and a half hours at the Emergency Vet with Missy yesterday.  She woke up very lethargic and would sometimes cry out with little yelps for no apparent reason.  As the day went on, her cries became more frequent and I knew that she was in some sort of pain and I was a wreck. 

It's Sunday and I knew that my Vet would be able to get me in quickly, but I had to wait until they opened on Monday morning.  I waited until a little after noon and called the three Emergency Vets in our area.  All three told me that "They were already at capacity" which meant that they were not accepting any more cases. 

Two hours later, Missy is worse and I called the Emergency Vet closest to us again.  They said that they can take Missy but it would be at least a two or three hour wait.  I think this was said to be a deterrent, but it didn't deter me.  Bill and I got Missy into the car and we were off.  At this point, Missy was very anxious and crying out sharply.  And I'm crying.  I knew it was irrational at this point, but I was imagining that we were not going to be coming home with her.  Bill is an incredibly strong man and he does a good job at soothing me, but I couldn't seem to stop my thoughts from going to the worst case scenario. 

When we got to the office, and after I checked in, the Triage Nurse came out to get Missy.  They were going to run tests and then get her calm and settled down.  This began our wait.  We had to wait in the parking lot, and we did, along with about a dozen other people at this Emergency Vet on a Sunday afternoon.  

A large part of why I was so upset was because I just felt so helpless.  I just knew that there was something wrong with her and not being able to help her tore me up.  In the car I began to pray "Your will be done".  Over and over "Your will be done".

I prayed for wisdom and compassion on all those kind people working inside that building. I prayed for peace for Missy, I didn't want her in pain and I didn't want her to be scared.  I prayed for strength for the other people who had pets inside this Emergency Vet building.  As I prayed, I felt myself calming down. I knew that there was nothing more that Bill and I can do physically and that she is now in the hands of people who can take care of her.  

"Your will be done" is what I repeat to myself often. It reminds me that while I have no say or sway in any outcome, it reassures me that I can handle every thing that I am faced with.  It most likely won't be easy and it will never, ever be my time frame or will, but I can handle it.  While I was created to be a deeply feeling and nurturing person, I was also created to be a strong and resilient one.  

I thought about when we had to put our first dog Ginger down - we had been in SC only four months at that point.  It was almost the same scenario, Ginger woke up lethargic and whelping out in pain.  She ended up having advanced cancer and there was nothing the Vets could do. We were with her when she was put down and that was one of the hardest and most heart wrenching experiences I have ever been through.  I told Bill that I couldn't do it again.  I could never own another pet because this, the good-bye's, are so incredibly painful. 

But Bill knew.  He knew me better than I knew me.  I didn't know this, but he had been looking at the shelter websites in our area.  One morning, about 8 months later, he saw Missy on the Greenville Humane Society page.  I was there when they opened their doors that morning and Missy joined our family.  

As the name of my blog states: Missy makes me laugh.  Every single day.  Repeatedly.  This little dog has so much personality and is so fiercely independent and unique.  And I think this is why, this is why I, we, opened our home and heart to another dog.  This is why while the pain of good-byes can be gut wrenching, it is the moments, the day-to-day joy in the moments, that do make it so worth it. I can't, and I shouldn't, spend my life trying to avoid the pain at the risk of missing the joy. 

After three hours, the vet tech called us and told us that they found that Missy had injured her back again.  She was having muscle spasms which was causing the yelping and causing her the anxiety. We had gone through this about four years ago with her.  She was on Prednisone and that was a rough 6 weeks with her.  But she recovered and has had no other problems since then.  They had given her a shot to relax her immediately and gave us two different medications to relax her and keep her relaxed once we got her home.  I had Bill take the call from the Tech because I was just so sure that it was going to be news that I could not handle. When he hung up and told me, I just started crying again - happy, grateful and thankful tears.  

We got Missy, Bill put her in my lap and we drove home.  I rubbed her ears, and gently pet her back.  My little trooper.  My little crazy and funny dog seemed to inherit her back issues from her Mom and I apologized to her for that.  

I know that there will come a day when we will have to say good bye to Missy.  This little dog who so loves her multiple walks per day, primarily because, I believe, she knows that she will see someone who will rub her belly, will no longer be living a good quality of life.  There will come a time when it would be cruel and selfish to have her suffer and not be able to meet her quota of belly rubs per day, those things that bring her such joy.  

I will have to say goodbye to people I love, there is no getting away from or denying that.  I can live my life in dread of this or I can put my faith in the Lord who has given me the strength to know that there is nothing that I can not handle.  I can not live my life avoiding joy because I want to avoid pain. 

Missy is home sleeping very soundly and we won't be going out on any walks for a while until she completely heals.  But every so often, I go in to check on her and give her a belly rub.  I know she has a quota to keep. 

"Thankful"

In the 1980 movie "The Blue's Brothers", Jake takes Elwood to his apartment.  As they stand outside the apartment, the pictures on the walls start rattling and you see, and hear, a train passing by outside the window.  Once inside Jake says "Well, it ain't much, but it's home". 

Elwood asks "How often does the train go by?" and Jakes replies "So often you won't even notice it".

"So often that you won't even notice it" is great when you have a speeding train that repeatedly passes outside your window. However, it is not so good for other things.  

Our brains are amazing aren't they?  We can tune out repetitive and invasive sounds and events so they don't overwhelm us. But there's a down side to this. Our same brain has the ability to do that for everything.  

Things that we do every day; taking a shower, drinking your first cup of coffee, driving to work, preparing dinner, etc... can easily become those events that happen so often we don't even notice them.  

I aspire to live a grateful and observant life but I know that I can often fall into the "not noticing" mindset.  When I find myself doing this, I stop and make a conscious effort to notice and appreciate everything.  I take a moment to be thankful for all the little details that make up my life.  And what's really amazing is that when I do this, I always find more to be thankful for. 

Blues Brothers Train Scene - Bing video 

Weight, Food and my Thoughts

Over the past 35 years, there has not been one single day when I have not thought about food.  Not one single day when I have not obsessed about what I ate, what I shouldn't have eaten, or what I would like to eat. I have literally spent more than half of my life fixated on food. Crazy right?  

At the end of each day, I go over in my mind what I had eaten that day.  Often I would judge a day as being "good" because I was able to follow the unrealistic goals I set for myself.  But years of unhealthy and restricted eating means that I rarely view any day as a "good" food day.  And yes, it is as tiring and soul crushing as it sounds.  So much energy wasted and so much time spent on negative thoughts. I'm almost 59 years old and I often forget this. This body, as the kids say "It is what it is".

I have always been restricted and picky about what I eat. I haven't eaten meat, poultry or really any kind of fish for almost 40 years.  I don't eat fast food of any kind and I do not eat any franchise food that is 'assembled' and not actually prepared in a restaurant kitchen. I also eat very little fried, processed or packaged food*.  

So, no fast food or heavily processed food, this all sounds great right? Yup, my blood pressure, my heart rate and my blood work are all fabulous.  However, just because I don't eat the 'bad for you foods', it doesn't mean that I eat the 'good for you foods'.  Because of the restrictions I have placed, I have spent almost my whole life not eating enough protein or getting enough calcium. And my body reflects this. 

My body has as much muscle tone as a couch pillow.  And I am not talking about those all-firm-looking-pretty-on-your couch-just-for-show pillows.  Nope, I am talking about the pillows that are in the TV room.  The ones that are all squishy and comfortable. Yup, put overalls on them and that's basically me, Janet Alden all squishy and cellulitiey.  

Ahhh cellulite. My legs are full of cellulite so I no longer wear shorts.  And there is no way to get rid of cellulite - I've tried.  I've tried lotions, pills and whatever else QVC sells. Still got cellulite.  I've looked all over the world wide interweb thingy, and it has been determined that once you have cellulite, it's yours for life. Even when I weighed less than 100 lbs, I had cellulite on my legs. So, I have cellulite and I am going to die with cellulite. It is what it is. 

The newest treat is that my arms are starting to get cellulite too. Isn't that just grand?  Yup, just grand. But y'all, I live in South Carolina where it is warm for most of the year and I'm not going to wear long sleeves all the time. But I will say this, if I am feeling particularly bold and sassy, I wear sleeveless shirts. But shorts? Nope, I ain't ever going to feel that bold and sassy.

Sure, it would be easy to blame society, the media and the fashion industry for my distorted thoughts on food and weight, but I won't. It's all on me. These thoughts are in my head and I own them.  I have the ability to keep them or throw them out. This second half of my life is all about throwing them out.  While I am still self-conscious about some parts of my body, I am also embracing the other parts. 

My phone has been sending me pictures from 7 years ago.  Always fun right?  Except when they aren't. These pictures were taken 7 years ago when I weighed 95 lbs. That was an all-time low for me and it is painful for me to see these reminders. It used to be that I would look at those pictures and beat myself up for what I no longer was. Isn't that sad? But it is the truth. But it is not my truth anymore. 

More than half of my life spent thinking about food and my weight. What a waste of a life. I've accomplished much in my life but I still have a lot more that I want to accomplish and do. And I am determined to not spend the second half of my life obsessing or wasting energy, or time, focused on food or my weight. 

* "Salt, Sugar and Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us" and "Hooked: Food, Free Will and How the Food Giants Exploit our Addictions" both by Michael Moss are excellent books that talk about how the processed food manufacturers are making us fat, obese and unhealthy.  I highly recommend both of these books!

The Hummingbird Connection

My plan for the morning was to run a few errands, go to the library and come home and write the blog I have been 'writing' in my head for the past week.  It all started out very well until I saw a sign for a yard sale along the way. Of course I stopped. There was an elderly gentleman walking around putting prices on items and we immediately began a conversation.

He was very nice and told me the stories behind almost everything that I picked up or looked at.  He had some really neat things and almost every single item was an antique. Just about everything was made in the USA, solid wood, solid metal or completely handmade.  He shared with me the stories and history behind the car models, records, pottery and glassware.  Because I am really trying to make an effort to not bring home so many treasures, I decided that there wasn't anything that I needed.  Then I spied a stack of pictures leaning up against a tree. I noticed some vintage frames and went over to take a look. I flipped through them and saw this print of hummingbirds.

I know!  Hummingbirds!  As I've shared, and as so many of you know, hummingbirds are my thing.  Hummingbirds represent so many things in my life and they always seem to show up as little winks from God at just the right time. I saw this and it was perfect!  I asked Michael (we had already shared names) how much it was and he said "I don't know, let me ask my wife Judy".

Judy was laying down on a chair in the back and Michael explained that she is suffering from a sciatica flare-up. I picked up the print and brought it over to her and that began our hour-long conversation. And because these two connections, the hummingbirds and the sciatica, were not enough, their lovely dog Sadie was laying back there with her as well!  

We talked about hummingbirds and our experiences with them, we talked about her sciatica and our struggles with that and we talked about our dogs.  Sadie was a mix of Cocker Spaniel and Rottweiler and was just delightful!  Judy and I, and occasionally Michael, had such an easy and comfortable time talking about her volunteering with the church, about my mission to donate cards and our shared love of vintage pottery.  

She explained that she used to go to estate and yard sales with her son and it was something that they both really enjoyed doing together.  Now that he is married and has a family, his time is limited. She brought me into her shed where she had stored a lot of her pieces.  She had lots of Shawnee, Hull and McCoy pieces, all things she has picked up through the years or items that were given to her as gifts.  She shared with me that Michael has some health issues and they are looking to scale back to spare their family from having to deal with it all "when the time comes". We spent a long time talking about her pieces, her plants (she had a lovely garden), the birds she gets at her feeders and her church.  And sweet Sadie was getting lots of loving and attention - so she was pretty happy too. 

After we were talking for a while she said, "I want to go in the house to get something.  I will be right back".  She came back out with a porcelain hummingbird figurine.  She said "I want you to have this." I began to gently protest and then I remembered something that my friend Jennifer Gray said.  She said that when people try to refuse her compliment or gift, she says "Don't block my gift".  It means, roughly, let me do this for you. I think of that a lot, and I gratefully accepted Judy's gift of the hummingbird figurine. God was winking again. 

I gave Judy my card and thanked her and Michael for their kindness and for spending their time with me. I got back to my car and realized that I had spent an hour talking with these two delightful people.  I also realized that my blog, the one I was "writing in my head" will have to wait.  I now had a new blog to write. 

I thought about the three different routes I could have taken this morning and how I was supposed to meet Judy and Michael, and Sadie.  Sometimes, oftentimes, things happen and you meet people that are exactly who you are supposed to meet.  One thing I know for sure is that the more that I open my heart and look for the blessings, the more I find them. 

I am putting together a packet of cards and I'm going to drop them off to Judy and Michael's house next week.  Along with a bag of treats for Sadie. 💓

 

"Looking for a new Notebook and not Settling"

As I've shared with you all, I have a lot of different notebooks. Lots of different kinds of notebooks and they all have a specific purpose.  

First, I have large scrapbooks. 

This is where I put the cards, drawings 

and articles I've liked and want to keep. 1  

Then there are the notebooks 
that I put quotes and small 
cartoons in. 2

I have a notebook that I use to 

write down blog ideas and 

thoughts in.

The notebook that I keep in my pocketbook to write down things that I want to remember while I am out and about.

The notebook I keep in the car to write down things that I don't want to forget while I am driving.

There is the notebook that I keep in the studio and a notebook that I keep by the TV to write down things that I hear. 

        

I keep a notebook by the side of the bed to write down meaningful things that I've read, things that I remembered and don't want to forget, and sometimes I write down snippets of dreams that I remember when I wake up. 

There is the notebook that I keep on the kitchen table next to me to write down things I want to look up or that I need to do on the computer.

And then there are the notebooks I have that I use for specific topics. These are for things like Christian quotes, Introvert topics and Hospice stories....

So, you get the idea, I have a lot of notebooks!  And surprisingly, I needed yet another notebook!  

I knew exactly what kind of notebook I was looking for;  I wanted this notebook to lay flat when open, not be spiral, be legal-lined, not be too big, and not be too thick or too thin. And, it had to have a cover that I liked. I knew exactly what I wanted and I headed out to the stores to find it. 

First, I went to the Office Max, TJ Maxx and Barnes & Noble near us.  While they had plenty of stock to choose from, there was nothing that was exactly what I wanted. B&N had one that met the first five requirements, and I almost bought it, but I wasn't crazy about the cover, so I didn't. I headed home. 

As I was driving home, I was thinking about this - it's just a notebook.  Really, why is it such a big deal? But I realized, it is not just a notebook, it is a desire to not settle.  

I have spent the first part of my life often settling for things and situations that weren't exactly what I wanted.  I settled, and more times than not, I ended up disappointed.  At this stage in my life, I no longer settle.  If I know what I want and I have certain criteria that I want to fulfill, I know that I will be disappointed with anything less. This can be difficult when I am looking for the perfect notebook or product and it has proven to be difficult in other areas of my life as well.  

I have never been a lazy person and I do not do anything half-way. Nothing. If I commit to something, I am all in.  I have never been one to believe in doing something just to get it done and over with. That has always been a true constant in my life, but sometimes I have settled just to keep the peace. 

It is only recently that I recognized the difference between settling and my displeasure with the end result. And I am determined to no longer settle.  Whether it is helping out a shop owner at their business, serving as a volunteer in our neighborhood or purchasing a product, I will not do or buy something just to get it done.  While this has not always been easy, especially when I am pressured to get something done fast, it is something that I will continue to apply in my life. In the long run, no matter how difficult it was at the time, not settling has always been the right thing for me to do. 

I eventually found the notebook I wanted and it did meet all the criteria I was looking for, but I had to visit a lot of stores to find it.  I could have settled and bought the notebook I saw at the B&N, and I won't lie, after the 7th or 8th store, I almost went back to buy it.  But I knew that if I did buy it, every time I saw the cover and used the notebook I would have known that I settled and I wouldn't be pleased with it or with myself. 

Whether I am looking for the perfect item or performing a task, I know that settling or doing something halfway will only make me unhappy, disappointed and not feeling proud of myself.  And at this stage in my life, I am not willing to settle for any one of those end results. 

1. I have been keeping these for over 20 years and I have 7 of these. 

2. I've been keeping these for over 30 years and currently have more than 11 of these. 

Things I am really good at....

......that are not really "resume worthy".

☑  I have never eaten a Big Mac, Whopper or any kind of KFC chicken. Never. Ever. In my whole life. 

☑   I can open the dryer door, toss in a fabric softener sheet, and close the door and not have it turn off. 1

☑  I once waited 11 minutes to go out to my mailbox after the mail was delivered. 

☑  I can walk by the "Bullseye Playground" in my local Target without stopping. 

☑  I can identify any candy bar by the description. 2

☑  I have never been fooled by those 'fake baseballs shattering the windshield' stickers.

☑  I am 99% right at predicting Missy's cough vs Missy's "I'm getting ready to puke" noise. 3

☑  I can stop the gas pump on an 'even' number when pumping gas. 4

☑  I can usually identify that guy in the movie as being the guy in another movie we saw.

☑  I walk away from any estate sale or flea market I stop at with at least one piece of vintage linen. 5

☑ I routinely produce, what I believe are, the world's sharpest pencils. 

☑  I can name that tune in 3 notes. 6

☑  I'm really awesome at choosing "strong" passwords. 7

☑  I have not balanced my checkbook in 23 years. 8

1. You have to be fast.

2. I'm really good at naming nuts too.
3. Mr. Alden get's it wrong 79% of the time. 
4. Again, you have to be fast.
5. It's some sort of magnet or something.

6. Two or one if it is a Paul Simon song
7. Or so I'm told when I create them.
8. Maybe not something to be proud of, but there it is. 

I bet you all have some really great talents too!

Quotes and Snippets I

The month of April was very tough for me and I sure am glad we are in May!  My month started with a sciatic nerve flare up.  This first one lasted about a week and subsided after much rest, heat, and thankfully, anti-inflammatory and pain medication.  

The second flare up was much worse.  It came on about 6 days later and it was one of the worst I have ever had.  I needed to get in to see my Doctor for a steroid shot and an oral steroid pack for the inflammation.  This second flare up was stubborn and took longer, even with the steroids, to calm down.  More rest, heat and medication. 

And then, because apparently this was not enough to try to wear me down, I experienced serious and adverse side effects to a new medication I was prescribed.  It took about ten days for this medicine to get completely out of my system and those ten days were long and rough. My sciatic was still inflamed, but thankfully the worst of that was over.  So, at this point, you are most likely thinking "And this is a blog because......."

Well, because I couldn't do much else, I spent a lot of time listening to TED Talks and listening to and reading non-fiction books and audio.  I have always kept a notebook or two with me to write down things I hear or read that are meaningful to me, and this blog is me sharing some of these things with you. 

Some of what I included are quotes, some are snippets of larger discussions and some are just things that struck a cord with me. I hope that perhaps you too may be able to find wisdom in these offerings as well.  In some cases, I may not be able to attribute and give credit to the author, but I did when I could. 

✔ "If your creativity is driven by a desire to get attention, you're never going to be creatively fulfilled."  Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Ted Talks 1

✒ Don't base your decisions on the advice of people who don't have to live with the results.

✔ In an October 1985 interview, Merv Griffin asked Orson Wells "...were there certain parts of your life that were really joyous?". He responded:  "Oh yes....there are certain parts of almost every day that are joyous. I am not essentially a happy person, but I have all kinds of joy." 2

✔ "You don't always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too." Anne Lamott on Ted Talks

✔ "If all the insects were to disappear from the Earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end.  If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish." Jonas Salk quoted on Ted Talks

✒ If you have been successful in the past, beware and consider this: If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today.

✒ "For some people, being angry is better than being ignored. Childhood habits that go unaltered turn into unconscious ways of being."   Rachel Hollis

✒ If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.  You should want to surround yourself with people who are better than you in areas that you want to improve in. 

✔ "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?" John Wooden on Ted Talks

✔ The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit. 

✒ The older I get, the more I find that a good quit feels powerful. Deciding what you won't have in your life is as important as deciding what you will have. 

✒ "There are known knows. These are things we know that we know.  There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. These are things we don't know we don't know." Donald Rumsfeld

✒ "I took to my bed.  I like the way that sounds: I took to my bed. It implies that I acted with style and flourish, perhaps adorned with a pink satin bed jacket. It suggests that I knew what I was doing. But I didn't. I only know how to tell the tale." Margaret Overton "Hope for a Cool Pillow"

✔ "There are two kinds of gratitude:  The sudden kind we feel for what we take, and the larger kind we feel for what we give." Edwin Arlington Robinson

✔ You don't need everyone to love you. Just a few good people." Charity Barnum

✒ When we throw out the physical clutter, we clear our minds.  When we throw out the mental clutter, we clear our souls." Gail Blanke

✒ "Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God." Ronald Reagan. 

✔ If you spend your day looking for blessings, here's the magic - you'll find them. 

I have notebooks, LOTS of notebooks and scrapbooks, full of these kinds of quotes and 'wisdom', and I hope to be able to share more in the future.  

As always, I appreciate you reading and supporting me and my little blog! 💓🙏

1. You may recognize his name from "3rd Rock from the Sun" and "Snowden".  He did an outstanding segment on Ted Talks: Joseph Gordon-Levitt: How craving attention makes you less creative | TED Talk

2. The whole interview was fascinating.  This particular interview was the last he ever did, literally. He died in the early morning after returning to his home hours after the taping.  I'm glad that he died joyful and content with his life.  Orson Welles Final Interview - Video | eBaum's World (ebaumsworld.com)

Random Thoughts and Photos V

I know that you can buy pistachio nuts that are already shelled, but I really like that feeling I get when I find a random one mixed in with my in-shell nuts.  Not willing to give that up. 1

I think that if you reach my age and don't already have a 'nickname', chances are pretty good that you probably won't be getting one. 

Costco shopping is just not that much fun any more. 2

I had peanut butter on my left big toe the other day.  It was chunky so I am pretty sure it was mine. 

Revolving doors terrify me.  I honestly turn into a clod when I enter and exit.  I just can't seem to do it gracefully. 

I wish that when you order something online you can specify that you want the "Big" bubble wrap.  Small bubble wrap is lame. 

Yup!  That's a real cat in her backpack!

When you carry a bunch of balloons, everyone will smile at you.  

I have lived a long time but I still have to stop and think about how to spell "quiet" and "quite".  3

I have never tried cottage cheese. I don't want to try cottage cheese. 

Missy is the funniest dog I know.  Seriously, this dog is a hoot!

You know that moment when you are on a roller coaster and the car is slowly climbing up the hill and you reach the top and just before you decline?  That moment?  That is exactly why I don't ride roller coasters.  4

When you are at a flea market backing out of a spot, and an older gentleman stops to guide you, you let him. 

When I reach into my pocketbook and get a lip balm on my very first try! 5

And this....she is adorable!

  

1. I call it my "Pistachio Jackpot"

2. No samples

3. Every. Time. 

4. I do not like being scared for that same reason - that terrifying anticipation

5. I call it my "Lip balm Jackpot" 5a

5a. Of course, when you have 174 Lip balms in your pocket book, the odds are pretty good.... 

 

Angie

Did you smile? I bet you smiled! This is Angie and she was the very first friend I made when we moved to South Carolina in December of 2011. I had only been here for a few days when I asked a woman who cut her hair. She told me about Angie and I went to see her a few weeks later. Almost ten years later, and I have never been to anyone else since.    

Angie reads my blog and she told me that she likes my writing, my style and my observations. When I told her that I wanted to write a blog about her, she gave me a funny look and said something like, "Why on Earth would you want to do that?". I told her that it was because I appreciated her and wanted to share her.  

Angie is awesome in so many ways! She is kind, loyal and respectful. She is gentle with her older customers and patient with the squirmy ones. She's honest but never unkind. She is pistol smart and quick-witted. She remembers how each and every client likes the chair, their shampoo and whether to use hair spray or not. She remembers every little detail. I asked her once to not put the cape too tight around my neck or I'll gag, and she hasn't forgotten. Not once in ten years. 

She is a skilled hairdresser and knows how to cut my hair exactly the way I like it.  And she does this while we get caught up on all the activities of the past month. I am in awe of people who are able to talk and do complicated tasks at the same time. I am good at doing one thing at a time. And definitely not two if one of them requires me to hold and use sharp scissors.  

I know all about Angie's family; her husband, her two boys, her parents, her in-laws and her dogs. I've been through Angie's oldest son playing baseball in high school, going off to college, getting married, and most recently, welcoming a daughter. Angie is a Southern gal through and through and it sure tickles this Yankee just to hear her talk. Especially about her granddaughter!

Angie has met my mom and my sister Leah, and she knew all about Miss Ruth and Emil. She's seen my work published and she reads all my blogs. No matter what it is that I make or do, everything seems to delight her!  Angie has been the grateful recipient of all my creations through the years and she cheers and supports me in every endeavor. How awesome it that? To have such cheerleader on your side!

I did the math and I figured out that I have seen Angie approximately 100 times over the years. That's a lot of time to spend with someone. I've seen Angie handle her elderly clients with the utmost care and give sass to the ones who needed to be sassed. And she does it all with a pure heart and a big smile. 

I sure do appreciate you and your kindness Angie. Thank you for being my friend.    

My Friend

This is one of my favorite pictures of Emil and Missy. I believe that this picture shows exactly what Emil felt for me.  I can see it in his face - the love and the care that he gave me.  April 11th is the first birthday without Emil and I wanted to take a minute to write and share him, again, with you.  

Last year at this time, we were one month in the COVID lock down and I couldn't visit with him. He was in the category for high risk and I wouldn't take the chance of passing along the virus to him. For his birthday, I ordered sidewalk chalk and I asked my friend Mike, who is a manager at a grocery store, if he could get me a cake for Emil's birthday. It had to be chocolate with lots of frosting because Emil had a tremendous sweet tooth! 

That morning, before the sun came up, I got to work writing Emil's birthday "card" on the street in front of his house.  Even though we couldn't safely visit with him, he still went out most mornings and had coffee on the front porch.  I wanted him to see it as soon as he went outside. 

When he saw this, he couldn't get over it!  He called me and kept saying "Well, I'll be."  "You did that for me?".  Yup.  Emil, I did this for you. 

Emil was such a good friend and I miss him dearly. We used to talk every day - just to check in with each other. He was a fine man and he exemplified every good trait that you would expect and want in a friend.  Emil was kind, thoughtful and extremely loyal. He treated everyone, every single person he met, with respect. He appreciated and recognized the little things that people did for him and he told them and showed them. It didn't matter who they were, or what they did, he appreciated and acknowledged kindness. Even after his death, I learned of the incredible selfishness of my friend. I know how much his friendship meant to me and the fact that he felt the same for me, is something that I will always treasure. 

While Emil was teaching Missy new tricks, whether he knew it or not, he was also teaching me as well. I will forever be grateful for his kindness and love and for all that he taught me. I still reinforce the tricks that Emil worked so hard and diligently teaching Missy. Whenever she has a good lesson, she gets an extra treat and loving. I tell her that Emil would be so proud of her. 

Happy Birthday dear Emil. 💓💓💓

 

Random Thoughts IV

Even if they stopped publishing books right now, I will never get to read all the books on my list of books "to read". 

What exactly is the "end game" involved with traveling to Mars?  Are we going to start sending construction equipment so we can try again?

I have a sweatshirt that I can wear inside out or backwards and it basically looks the same.  I have had this sweatshirt for about 25 years and I believe I shall cry when it is no longer wearable. 

I know how to cook.  I just don't want to. 

"Some friends are for a season, for a reason and for a lifetime" 1 

Why does medication tell us to avoid "heavy equipment operating"?  I'm pretty sure that 89% of the population no longer uses "heavy equipment". 2

Besides having the funkiest piano playing (listen for it around 2:20 minute mark) "Call me the Breeze" has the best quote:  "I ain't hiding from nobody.  Nobody's hiding from me.  That's the way it's supposed to be".  Yup. 

Judge Judy is a smart gal, but sometimes she can be really mean. 

Missy is not a cuddly dog, but there are the rare occasions when she will lay with me when I take a nap that just melts my heart. 3

"Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else." 💓

I hate worms. But if I see a worm struggling across my dry driveway, I will pick him up 4 and transplant him to the grass. 5

Why do they say that something was "caught on video" when they purposely taped it?  What they should say is this was "captured on video". 6

And why does the news report that companies/people are "cooperating with the Federal investigation".  I'm pretty sure that if Federal authorities are investing you, you gonna cooperate. It's just a 'filler' statement. It would only be news if they weren't cooperating with the Federal investigation. 7

What do robots do when they get to the security box that asks you to verify that you are indeed, not a robot? 

How does my underwear 8 turn itself inside out in the washer?  And how come when I turn it inside out first before I put it in the wash, it doesn't right itself?  I have spent a lot of time correcting my underwear situation. 8a

My lip balm says that it "refreshes".  Okay. I have never put on lip balm because my lips were feeling fatigued.

Why is 'Grilled Cheese' usually only available on the "Children's Menu"?  We need to bring 'Grilled Cheese' to the adult menu. 

Telling someone you appreciate them is like giving them gold.  Try it and see if they don't light up.

Missy will come off her bed, out of her room and down the hall just to bark at the vacuum. 9    

When we were growing up, whenever my parents wanted us to clean out the car, they would tell us we were going to the drive-in that night. 

Missy doesn't like Provolone cheese. 10

How is it that in 2021, there are still bathroom stalls without hooks to hang your purse? 

I don't have to get up to change the channel on the TV, but it takes me 3 different remotes to operate the TV. This is progress. 

1) Read this somewhere. 

2) Vacuuming is the extent of my heavy machinerary usage. 

3) And then she immediately goes and does a bratty thing. 

4) By scooping him up on a piece of paper because I still hate worms. 

5) Crawling across dry pavement seems to me to be extreme torture for a worm.

6) Just one of those little things....

7) See #6

8) I have to say it's mine because Bill doesn't like it when I talk about his underwear in public. 

8a) Same

9) She is either very brave or very dense.

10) True. She will literally spit it out on the floor. 

  

Happiness

In a 1973 interview, Merv Griffin asked Ingrid Bergman about her homes and she answered "I have one home in Paris, one home in London and another one in Italy." Merv then asked her, "Where are you happiest?" and Ingrid replied, "Well, I'm happy everywhere".  What a simple, yet philosophic response this is. 

How easy it is to think that happiness can be found in a place or in a thing. I know that I often need to be reminded that happiness is inside you. It is in your heart and in your soul. 

No matter where you are, I hope your heart and soul is happy.  

 

Not really a Blog

Back when I used to be on Facebook and Instagram, I would share my finished projects. I am no longer on any social media sites, so, I am sharing these with you all! 😊

My great-niece Nora LOVES dinosaurs!  She is 2 1/2 and just welcomed a baby sister to the household. I saw these in a book and figured that I would make them for Nora. I adjusted their pattern a little bit and decided to use felted wool instead of fabric. I thought that wool would hold up better than fabric for a toddler.  

Felted (shrunken) wool is a great material to work with and I've used it a lot in the past. When I am in the thrift stores, I always look for wool sweaters. Since most clothing is now made primarily of acrylic and other man-made materials, wool is getting increasingly harder to find. When I find it, I buy it!

I've been in 'card mode' for a while now and it felt (ha!) good to use another part of my brain to make sure it still works! 

Thanks for looking! 

"Hurry Disease"

 

Many years ago, I was in Connecticut staying at a friend's house. I was heading out early to visit with my mom. I was in a bit of a hurry, but as I looked up, I saw the sun just starting to come up behind me and shine on a sliver of the backyard. I didn't have my camera with me but I did have my phone. I quickly took this picture before the sun became blocked by her house. To this day, this remains one of my favorite photos.  

"Eilkrankheit" is a German word and it loosely translates to "hurry disease".  Do you feel this, this "hurry disease"?  I know I sometimes do. 

Think about all the things and devices that we use each day to give us "more time". We no longer have to wait for anything. Everything is instant and done with little effort on our part.

Do you have more time? Seriously, do you have a chunk of time at the end of the day from all the time you saved during the day? Where does the 'saved time' go? 

We are conditioned to multi-task and do things as efficiently as possible. I'm not going to argue the merit in this way of thinking on occasion, it definitely has it applications. But on the whole, what ever happened to focusing on one thing? To focusing on doing one thing right? On taking the time to be sure that something is done correctly? 

Is there some time in your day today that you can slow down? Can you take the time to focus on what is in front of you? I bet there is and I bet you would be rewarded for it. If you spend your day looking for blessings, you will find them. 

Outside my Window

Bill leaves for work and it's just me and Missy in the house. Missy heads off to "her" room to nap - she's been up for all of 45 minutes and she's exhausted. I finish up my second cup of coffee and head into my studio.  

I take a moment to gather what I will work on today and get fresh water for my watercolors. I pull up the audio book I've been listening to and I begin to paint.  

Outside my window I see Jill, one of our neighborhood runners, go by. Jill is in phenomenal shape and she runs every day. I always stop to watch her go by because she truly is graceful. Graceful with the ease that comes from dedication and hard work. Sometimes when Missy and I are out, we will see Jill and she always has a ready smile and a kind word for us both.

A little while later I see Carmen. Carmen does not live in our neighborhood but she walks in our community multiple times a day. I stopped her one day to introduce myself. She is a delightful woman and I'm glad that she feels welcome and safe in our community. 

I see the FedEx truck drive by. He doesn't stop at our house today, but he does make a few stops on our street. I don't know the driver, we have a few, but he always waves when I see him. 

Next I see Zee come by. She has a new rescue and she's doing a great job training her to walk on the leash. I've gone out to talk to Zee and give Rocca a few ear scratches and they are both appreciative and friendly. Rocca is a sweetheart and she looks like she has settled into her new home just fine.

I see the neighbor up the street come by with his two dogs.  One of the dogs is a new addition, and I can see that he is trying really hard to get them to both walk on the leashes. This is one of those things that you don't appreciate how hard it is, until you do it yourself. Walking two dogs, on two separate leashes, without them getting tangled up, is not an easy task. It takes dedication and practice. I enjoy seeing Mike as he trains his two dogs and I like being able to see their progress. He gives them firm yet gentle reminders as they walk and they listen to him. 

Across the street I see the dogs in the yard. I love seeing them run around the yard and play with each other.  One of them is a Doberman Pinscher, and I can't get over how much he has grown. He races through their back yard like a thoroughbred. 

In the yard across the way, when their daughter visits, I can see their dogs in the backyard sunning themselves. I imagine how that feels, to be there, with the full sun on their fur, faces turned to the heat. Delightful!

Last fall, the house across from us was sold. The new owner did a lot of work and for a few months I watched the workers from my window. One day, I introduced myself to one of them, and over the few months, I would stop by and visit with him. I compliment him on his workmanship and his dedication. He has been here almost everyday, even on the days when it was very cold. He waves off the compliments and thanks me for noticing.  

I see that Leigh is coming by with the mail. Leigh is our Mail Carrier and she is always so cheerful and pleasant. She always has treats for the dogs and Missy loves when she gets to visit with her.  

Later in the day, I see that Jeff is out with his son. He is a toddler and he has just started walking. Shannon keeps him busy during the day, and when Jeff gets home, he takes him out either for a walk or a bike ride. They are a lovely family and I love seeing them all out together.

Missy comes into the room looking for a belly rub and a walk outside. I look down at my work and find that I have done a lot today. My days may be solitary, but I never feel that I am truly alone. I turn off the tablet, put down my brush and grab the leash. Missy and I are heading outside. Bill will be home soon.