How Are We Doing?

What a long, strange trip it's been. 

In April, after season, we went to Mexico with Bella and her new love. Let's call him LB. 

I have a bad knee and somehow I twisted it and it was worse than ever. It made walking about the resort very challenging and not fun. I decided to have it replaced - something I've been avoiding for a long time. 

So I did on May 31st.

Everyone said:

• it's a breeze!
• you'll be so happy you did it!
• recovery is fast!

May I say I was not looking forward to being put out for this. I got some excellent advice and opted for the spinal. I woke up to seeing the lovely face of one of Lorenzo's good friends who also happened to be working at the surgery center I went to. 

"Oh Lee! Lovely Lee! You are so lovely! Let me see your face! You came to see me?"

An easy wake up! It was so good! When I had surgery for a meniscus tear back in 2009 my memory of waking up is crying on the table for hours and everyone ignoring me. I'm certain this didn't happen. I'm dramatic apparently even when anesthetized! 

So for this summer I've been recovering . . . and recovering . . . and recovering. It is not a breeze. It's not horrible, but it's not a breeze. Why would I ever have believed that? I feel the same way my sister-in-law must have felt after she had a baby. She recounted how I had described my labor with Bella to her, "One half hour and two pushes and the doctor caught her like a football!" Her experience wasn't that I'm assuming. I am dramatic.

So things are getting back a bit. I even drove last night for a little ways! (new knee is on the right side).

On my phone!

Davie (she's a girl - I know, I know) guarding us from anyone walking down the street with a dog. 

Life at the Lake

Some things never change with me. 

Pup using Davie as a pillow. Call the humane society!

Lorenzo and Pebbles sick sick sick!

Pupism from just this morning. "The bill I just paid asked for an email, I put down eatme@eatme.com. Luckily they'll think it was from you!" Oh Pupski!

If You Like It Then You Better Put a Ring on It

Ha! Haha is what I say!

There; I had to get that out. Like stretching, laughing is purifying yes?

Today is the 15th of July. That frightens me. Summer is scooching by with an alarming speed. I'm love love loving this summer. We've only had our central air on twice or so. Emoji for happiness! Lots of rain which has made a very lush lawn, but has caused lots of flooding all over. It's never perfect as we know. Mother Nature just can't be equitable. She's over here; she's over there. She is random in her gifts and random in her penalties. I do love her. She's a woman. Never be too predictable.

We recently went to Vegas for a family trip to celebrate my birthday and me and Pup's fifth anniversary. Pup, me, Lorenzo, Rand-Man (I hope this is my final alliteration of the boy's name), and Bella. Bella's husband, B, stayed home with Spud, but we missed him.

Five years? I've joked for a few years how we are newlyweds. I guess I'll have to put that joke to bed. Five years is a chunk of time! We had gotten married in Vegas so we always said we would return to the scene of the crime for our fifth.

Pup and I had taken an earlier flight on a Thursday and the kidlettes were arriving that evening. While we were hanging about watching the soccer match in the sports book when Pup's phone rang.

It was Rand-Man asking Pup a question. Would we mind, since it was our vacation to celebrate, would we mind if he asked Lorenzo to marry him while in Vegas? He had a ring in his pocket that was quite literally (I know that isn't correct) burning a hole in his pocket.

Would we mind???

My squeals were loud and maybe just a little bourbon infused. Pup and I giggled the rest of the day.

We were sworn to silence. We can keep a secret if we have to. Pup especially is very good at it. He does have five sisters after all. He is the sister-whisperer and can keep a secret like no other. Even from me at times.

It was hard to zip it with the kidlettes once they arrived! Our happiness was concealed by the fact that, yes, we were entirely happy to see all of them. But now came the hard part. We had to wait for Randy to decide when the right time was to spring it on Lorenzo.

The following day we were hanging out in the pool, having a laughing and talking and lounging and drinking time. Oh so fun. Towards the later afternoon Rand-Man asked Lorenzo to go up to the room for a bit. She wriggled her eyebrows in a teasing fashion and we all said, "oooooh??" So classy.

Later, Bella, Pup, and I were in our suite and the knock came on the door and they swooped in to tell us the news. Much crying and looking at the ring and more crying. Such happiness.

I won't give all of his proposal speech here, but one part that touched me (out of plenty of parts let me tell you) he said that she was already family to him and would she become family for real. He is a very family-oriented man. We do love him. And now he is part of our family

The gifts in my life just keep coming.

The Facebook Life

I've fallen out of love with Facebook. It took two years, but I'm breaking it off. Probably not in its entirety, but definitely out of my heart.

It can be fantastic. A fantastic way to stay in touch with people. In fact, a cousin I haven't spoken to in years found me through who knows where the other day to give me some important family news. It's great for that. It's great for relatives to see photos of new additions to families, it's a wonderful way to organize meetings, clubs, events, parties, yes to all of this!

There are too many unspoken rules, too many missteps you can unknowingly or deliberately make. Too many places for Gigi's, like myself, to overstep with their grandchildren; no matter how perfect and adorable they are. I mean seriously, I posted a video I made of Spud where he is doing nothing but staring at himself for a minute. Gripping cinema.

I hate how everything I do online wants me to signup through Facebook. FB already knows every website I've been looking at, why would I want it to know how much or where I've spent money?

I'm not smart enough to weave and dodge all the traps.

I was on the phone with my sister a few weeks ago and she mentioned that she had noticed that I don't "like" all/any of some posts from a family member. I replied with some smart-assy retort, but it's stuck in my mind since. Do people really notice who "likes" or doesn't like anything people say? Gah . . . I can't remember to put water in the coffee pot before I turn it on. I'm going to remember to "like" posts from people I don't even like that much in real life?

And the statuses. Oye vey to the statuses. Peeps are either cryptic, "Sigh . . . why do these things only happen to me?" Or they're morosely quotation-happy, "People can't wipe their feet on you if you don't lay down." Fuck! And haha just a little bit.

Then there are the endlessly happy and perfect people. Their husband loves them and is amazing with gifts/flowers/trips. Or their children only win awards, are good looking, and get good grades.

Now, mind you, I'm certain I've been guilty of all and more of these things.

I scroll like a mother-fucker through it all. Hoping to see a nugget of real in there somewhere. Why am I craving the real?

I have a girlfriend that moved far away recently. She's very stealth-like in her Facebooking. She has NOTHING on her page. She seriously only uses it to view photos of her grandkids and, perhaps, do a bit of lurking here and there. She makes no missteps. Even if you message her she won't reply.

I have another girlfriend that is very judicious. She will reply here and there. "Like" something here and there. But for the most part she's very elegant and quiet.

I am not elegant or quiet. In real life or with my thoughts. It would be lovely to be elegant. I'll have to ask someone what it's like.

It's not just Facebook here either. I post on a health-related site where there are "friends" you can garner so you can have support in your progress. I was posting in a Keto (nutritional ketosis - a new trial I'm attempting) thread and had sent a few friend requests to a few people that were doing Keto as well. One woman wrote back and demanded to know "why" I wanted to be her friend and would I be supportive and write on her status every day as a good supporter would? I replied, "Probably not. Please feel free to ignore my request."

She friended me anyway.

I'm not sure why I'm spilling all of this out from my earnestly tapping fingers. The more I write, the more I can see this just may be my issue. Everyone else seems perfectly happy Facebooking away. Lurking or prolific. Quotation-happy or equivocal. Bounteous or meager. Somehow I get knots in my knickers and feel above the fray.

It must be my Facebooking way.

Mark This Day - Grow

It's five o'clock in the morning.

I'm standing on our porch. Crying. Phone in hand. The ambulance has just left our driveway with Pup in it. I'm rattled and I've left my keys in the house. They are not in my hand where I need them.

I call my son-in-law. He and my daughter live seven blocks from us and I know he will have his phone on.

"B," I say, "I locked myself out. Could you come and let me in? Pup is in an ambulance with severe chest pain. Please come and let me in." I'm sobbing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't know it in that moment. In that moment I didn't know it was muscle spasms in his chest. I didn't even know chest muscles could spasm so painfully. My husband is not the kind of guy to complain. He powers through everything. So in that moment, the fact that he was in so much pain, the fact that he asked me to call 911, the fact that I watched him being taken into an ambulance, was swirling around on the top of my brain.

I didn't know any of that. I packed a bag with shoes, sweatpants. I put my hair up. I dressed. I let George out because I didn't know when we'd be back. I did not think about what was happening. I collected my stuff and didn't worry about collecting my mind.

Until I left. Until I left and locked myself out. And called my son-in-law. That's when I thought about it. I cried on the porch.

It was muscle spasms. Painful, horrible, but not a heart attack. That's what I didn't want my mind to think. Heart attack. It was muscle spasms.

Pup is snoring away next to me in The Big Room. He is sleeping. He is full of oxycodone. He is full of muscle relaxers. He is snoring and in between snores he watches The Red Zone. He has muscle spasms in his chest. Hallelujah.

Mark this day. Mark this day.

That's Alright Momma

It's 78 degrees here at the Chez Emerson. And it's 5:30 in the morning.

I have spent the majority of the summer in sundresses, skirts, and tanks. Wearing as few items as legally allowed. Funny how you get used to your summer uniform. Jeans are going to feel so weird! Do I have to wear jeans ever?

And I cannot remember the last time I wore shoes. Or even heels. I'm not counting wedges, but proper heels.

I'll have to put some heels on later and pretend.

Our deck is awash daily with bright sun. I haven't sat out there for a while. I had a few people over for dinner last night and it was a little sad to me to not be outside. The deck looked sad as well. Poor deck! I love you still. I will sit on you again I promise.

Instead we sat in the big room and after dinner (I baked pork chops and sweet potatoes - yes I said baked! I am sick of grilling! Ha!) we sat there having a second glass of wine and talking talking talking. I love after dinner table-talk. It's always the best. I love it when you can barely tear yourself away from the table because the conversation is so great. You know if you move to the sofa it will change. It just always does. It stays important leaning over the table and spiking the air with fist pumps and declarations while hoisting your glass of wine. Or that could just be me.

Rock em and sock em today my lovely hooches. But first, come have dinner with me. I'll pour some Fat Bastard and fist pump with you.

I Am Vicious!

Picture this is you will . . .

Pet supper time at the Chez Emerson.

For some reason feeding the pets every day is a bit of a tug-of-war between me and Pup. He's one of the youngest in his family and I can just hear what he was like as a little kid, "But I did it yesterday!" Make sure you read that with the proper portion of whiney-voice. Ha!

I'm the oldest in my family so I'm used to bossing people around. As I've mentioned millions of times. I also remember that bossing didn't always work on my younger siblings.

Okay . . . so it is pet supper-time; I'm doing the honors. We have George, the lovable 75 pound dog of the huge noggin. We have Calvin, coconut-minded cat that is on Prozac (please don't ask - vet is even in awe of this), and we have the constant houseguest cat DK - or as we call her, Deekers.

I am dawdling while getting the pet dishes ready. George gets very very excited at this time of day. Hey! Wouldn't you get excited if the only thing you got to eat every day is two cups of kibble and a third can of dog-food-smelling canned crap? Yes?

I'm dawdling away at the counter, George is in the kitchen - then the dining room - then the kitchen. Getting very wound up. Whooping and barking and prancing around. We're not exactly certain, but I believe one of his prances swiped Deekers somehow. She wasn't having it. She launched an attack on George  that sent him crying and yipping to the back door. Deekers had wrapped her 6 pound body - let me repeat that, her 6 pound body - around George's nose and head and had him in a death grip.

Then all hell broke loose. George yipping, Pup hollering, Barnabee calling on the phone, cat's tails puffed out, dog trying to get out back door. Even Calvin got huffy-puffy at George - I know he didn't know why.

Serious bedlam. Screaming, laughing, yipping, hissing. Pup grabbed Deekers and yelled at her. I was yelling at Pup. George was yelling to get out. Calvin was yelling just to feel part of it.

Pup was put out with me stating that if I didn't dawdle so much when feeding the pets George wouldn't get so excited. I, of course, couldn't stop laughing. None of them thought I was amusing. And Barnabee on the phone? They thought someone was being murdered.

George wouldn't come back in the house for the remainder of the day.

Pup says I'm vicious! These three look like they got over it.

Just Give Me a Kiss

Alli-baby had a date last night and was texting me while she was waiting at the pub.

The guy was someone she had worked with a while back and she wanted to see if they had any dating mojo going on.

Her texts were making me laugh out loud. And y'all may remember what happens when I laugh out loud. Small children and animals run for cover. Two things I cannot do quietly - sneeze or laugh.

Alli - I'm here. I'm early. Help me not drink too many glasses of wine before he gets here
Me - Two drinks total! That's all you get!
A - But it's hot!
M - Water!
A - But we'll be outside.
M - WTH? It's hot! Get inside! Cool as the cat!
A - I like to be sweaty!
M - OMG!
A - How should I greet him?
M - You know what to do.
A - Is it okay to grab his balls?
M - aaaaaahahahaha!
M - No, no ball grabbing.
A - What if he doesn't like my hair?
M - Stop it! He already loves your hair!
M - Just flirt and touch him from time to time.
A - Is it bad to touch his ass?
M - [snorting and choking]
M - yeah, that's okay. Go ahead and touch his ass.

silence for a minute

A -Okay, conversation going good. Small talk, blah blah blah
M - No texting during date

I was laughing so hard imagining all of this.

She and I are meeting for lunch today. I am bringing Dating for Dummies with me, but that girl will do what that girl will do.

I cannot stop laughing.

And I wouldn't have sat in the sun. I melt like butter.

Violently Happy

I can change from being pissed off to being happy but I don't see it as bipolar I see it as being a girl.
~ Unknown

Some people are so stressed trying to be perfectly flawless, but I'm so HAPPY to be perfectly flawed.
~ Unknown

Happiness is the delicate balance between what one is and what one has.
~ Unknown

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
~ Herm Albright

True happiness is singing at the top of your lungs in your car while the people in the car next to you are staring.
~ Unknown

What are you all doing to get your happy on this gorgeous Memorial Day?

Smooches my hooches.

You'll Never Regret Saying It

My luggage coming home from Mexico. I'm lucky customs didn't put a tag on me.

I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. 
~ Author Unknown

If I know what love is, it is because of you.
~ Herman Hesse

Hell is the inability to love.
~ Leo Tolstoy

If you love someone, be brave enough to tell them, otherwise, be brave enough to watch them be loved by someone else.
~ Unknown


A woman I used to work with when I had my corporate job came into The Turnstyle yesterday. She is 42. Getting married for the first time. And pregnant!

I hugged her while crying because isn't that the best? The very very best?

She is a GORGEOUS girl and I thought my heart would burst it was so happy.

Hug who you love today.

Never pass up a chance to say how you feel.

Makeup to Breakup

I can't leave the house without makeup.

I've tried a time or two, but I just can't.

Especially mascara. And now that I'm older; eyeliner. Oh, and a little magic in the eyebrow area.

I started wearing makeup in the 7th grade. I wasn't allowed to wear makeup, but my first class that year was phys. ed. so I'd spend a few minutes putting it on after class. If I remember right I was heavily into all of the Yardley products and painstakingly putting on white eyeliner and then a thiner black line over the white. And then white creamy lips. Yep I was so cute!

When I moved into my 20s I was into the entire 'natural' look which only meant I still wore mascara on the eyes and vaseline to shiny up my lips (yep, I said vaseline).

In my 30s I was having babies so while I know I wore makeup, I sure don't remember putting it on. I barely remember what I was wearing, what I was thinking, or what I was saying during my 30s.

In my 40s I got way more vampy with my makeup. Much more eyeshadow, more eyeliner, I added lipstick, I added a bit of foundation to smooth out my skin, I discovered bronzer. Women in their 40s come into their own if you ask me. We're hitting our sexual peak, we are at our most attractive because we have lots of experience to back up that body we're walking around with. I remember flirting with a young server at an Italian restaurant and him looking at me dreamily after stating, "I just love older women."

Now I'm in my 50s. Makeup is no longer a fun, creative thing. It's a necessary thing! I cannot leave my house without people asking me if I'm okay.

"You look so tired! Are you okay?"

"I'm good! I'm just in my 50s. Hey, wait a minute while I find my huge sunglasses. How do I look now?"

No Static at All

Think about poor Georgie today.

He slipped a while back and ripped out his knee. We've been monitoring it along with his vet and came to the decision that he needed surgery. He had it on Monday and, of course, when the surgeon got in there it was discovered to be entirely snapped like an old rubber band poor little dude.

They actually had to put a huge piece of hardware in his leg. He has a lengthy rehab ahead of him (Pup and I will be the therapists - aaah!).

He's such a sweet boy that even the surgeon loved him. Although when Pup brought him into The Turnstyle last week Shelly-Belly's* eyes got huge as silver dollars. I'm not surprised because I think she weighs about five pounds more than George does (she is teeny-tiny) and she told Nicolina* that George is "a scary f-ing dog." Wah?? lol

Pup has been a WRECK since this all started. He's a bad, indulgent parent. But it's kinda cute he's so concerned about George. He even asked me how I could stand it when the girls were young and sick.

Yeah . . . do you have hours to listen to stories? hehehe

I'm not a worrier. Not much anyway. I usually fall apart after everything is over. During the crisis/trouble/sickness I'm there. Ministering, nursing, swabbing, cleaning up. Then I crumble - just a bit.

Ask my first Wasband - one time Lorenzo flipped her car on a winter highway. She flipped it over into a snow-filled ditch. While we were driving to get her I turned to my finger-pointing Wasband and said, "If you say one bad word about Lorenzo right now I will punch you out. Don't play with me. I don't want to hear an f-ing word." And to his credit, for once, he said nothing accusatory.

Pup can't stand all of this. Not only did I wake up to see him sleeping on the floor with George (he said George was crying in his sleep) I even caught him letting George be on the sofa.

Nope - he cannot be on the sofa.

So Pup is getting Georgie a new bed today and that's all good.

Smooches all my hooches and do think about Georgie today.

*Shelly-Belly and Nicolina are two of the women I work with.

Promises Promises!

I keep promising that I'll:

1. clean my office. Umm . . . yeah.
2. stop killing all of my plants. What's happening???
3. take photos of the big room to post. Aaah . . . yeah.
4. bring in that pile of clothing thrown over a dining room chair into work to consign. I think I'm afraid of being judged! Ha and wussy!
5. work out. The workout room in the dungeon really mocks me. Daily.
6. eat better. Okay - that one I really am working on.
7. stop repeating myself constantly; if not daily. I'm not certain how to fix this one. I don't know I'm doing it!
8. enjoy winter this year. No complaining.
9. stop letting time fly by without my noticing it! It's really starting to scare me.

Meanwhile:

1. I am enjoying my new job and all the awesome muchachas lindas that I work with. They all call each other dorks so I fit RIGHT IN! Amazing how that works out sometimes right?
2. We had a family meeting (Pup's fam) at our place and I was petted and coddled and praised for all the awesomeness that is our house. I blushed like a teenage bride.
3. I am preparing notes and a list of all the managery things I'll be able to do for Pup once he and I buy into the new biz (in the spring - yahoo! He's expanding his business in a HUGE way and needs to hire someone and who better than yo for that? Keep the money honey. Keep it in the family as Pup says. Why not? I super duper enjoyed working for him last winter before I took the job at The Tumbler. It was a bit surprising to both of us how well that went. Sometimes hubs and wifes shouldn't. It did help that I had my own office.
4. summer is ever so slowly turning into fall and that, this year anyway, is making me so happy because I do love the fall even though it means winter is on its way.

Aaaaaah breakfast out. What could be better than that?

SHOPPING! I texted this photo to Bella to show her I was expanding from my normal palate of gray!  Exciting yes? hehehe

As always, I am super duper jealous of this cat's sleeping ability.

This is why I fit right in with the other dorks. I am one. Yes, those are Crocs. Don't hate me.

My last name starts with a W. Is the Universe trying to tell me something?

400th Post

This seems momentous! It's been great fun and great expression.

Not so much during the past few months. A variety of reasons have contributed, but the biggest one just may be impetus for the change I am about to make.

I haven't talked about it much, but I got a job back in March. I was sooooooo excited!

Not too many stories from The Tumbler because . . . well . . . because I kept experiencing the not so good and hoping for the best. I think the metaphor goes something like that. Maybe not.

That's the other problem with this problem. How something, somewhere was withdrawing my magic charms. Yes! Those! Heh . . .

I tend to be a stick-with-it person. I don't jump imprudently. I try hard to not be overly impulsive. Think things through. Maybe even a bit stubborn.

The slow, painful realization began pounding into me a change needed to happen. It really hit me on the head when I found myself one Saturday evening designing this t-shirt for myself.

This can't be good I thought.

So change is coming for me. I'm glad about this. It will be a bit of a challenge, but isn't that quintessential? Yep.

Pupism of the Week

Do you think if Calvin's balloon-knot broke free that he would blow about the room like a deflating balloon?

What it is!

I'm so whiny right now I can barely be in the same room with me.

C'est la vie!

Feb 16, 2011

I've been reading different blogs all over the country and it looked like many places were experiencing a bit of a thaw.

When I left the office the other day (I am doing some work for Pup) I thought the air felt a bit balmy. Holy Hannah I guess it was a bit balmy!

Yes, my outside gauge actually reads 58. This is mostly interesting to peeps here in Minnesota since last week the temperatures were below zero.

I'm not a fan of the February thaw. It plays with my emotions and gets me thinking Spring is in my future. It will be a while. Quite a while. I really shouldn't be with other people in February since I'm such a little joy to be around.

^..^

I was stopped at a traffic light in case anyone wants to call me out. Heh! My phone really isn't that grubby although I just had to have white didn't I??

Valentine's Day

If you have a Valentine honey, yay you. If you are your Valentine honey, yay you. We really are all we need. It's nice to have a honey, but it's an add-on, not an absolute. Either way it's a good thing.

Here is what Pup had the flower-man bring me today. I was deep into making sense of a senseless situation and looked it. The look on that man's face was something I wish I had gotten off a Blackberry shot of.

Priceless!

Daisies are my favorite flowers. This little bouquet is colorful and so lovely.

I was feeling fretful and obnoxious today. Must be the storm before the calm. Yes!

Happy Valentines everyone. You all mean more to me than an 80 percent off sign on a rack of lovely STUFF!

Smooches my hooches.

In Keeping with Keeping

I feel on edge when I live in a space that isn't orderly. When it isn't tidy. When it isn't CLEAN!

But . . . I've done pretty good so far. I've ignored the fridge in the dining room. I've ignored layers of dust. I've ignored every spoon and coffee cup in the house being dirty.

It's ever so sweet right now because the end is soooooooo in sight and I am taking the very sage and smart advice from several of my readers and I'm hiring a small team (well okay, there are two of them) to help me get out from under the dust. I'm happy about that!

Pup is clutching his chest just thinking about it, but I told him to blow me. Smooches Pup and sorry I stole your line!

He'll be fine. It's double hard on him with all of this because he's in the throws of his busy season and all of this is unsettling. Poor baby Pup.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You sometimes see a woman who would have made a Joan of Arc in another century and climate, threshing herself to pieces over all the mean worry of housekeeping.  
~Rudyard Kipling

Don't cook. Don't clean. No man will ever make love to a woman because she waxed the linoleum - "My God, the floor's immaculate. Lie down, you hot bitch."
~Joan Rivers

I'm not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on.
~Roseanne Barr

This mess is a place!
~Author Unknown

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
~Author Unknown

When I have company, I don't clean the house, I just throw a sheet over the furniture and say I'm remodeling.
~Phyllis Diller

Your Mother Should Know

Still stuck on song titles from The Beatles. When in doubt - steal!

I've been seeing photo memories all over the web of late. I'm thinking lots of us are in funky-funks perhaps and looking at the past is the best way to form a future. Bop!

When Pup and I were in Idaho I was looking through family photo albums and Momma Bee was sweet enough to scan a few for me and throw them on a CD. I'd love to go back and scan all of the albums the memories and visuals were so fun to see. I want them!

First of all; here's another shot of my car. Isn't it the most awesome thing you've ever laid eyes on? Just knowing that my dad wants me to have this made my heart swell with emotion. Cars are his passion and that he is going to share his passion with all three of us kids is beyond words for me. I love you Dad.

Barnabee is on the left. The rest are my aunts and one of my aunt's partner. How adorable are they?

A shot of me when I was about 20. I do believe there was wine involved. Do you love those plucked eyebrows?

My momma. This is a shot of her while we were all up at the cabin. A natural redhead. As fiery as you might imagine. I do believe it's true what they say about redheads. She was truly adorable and kept you on your toes to say the least.

The mountain view outside of Barnabee's front window. The fog never cooperated while Pup and I were there so I am so happy that Momma Bee had this photo to share.

Lorenzo and Barnabee's dog Chitzi. The girls and I rescued Chitzi from the clutches of a crabby piano teacher they had back in the day. I bought Chitzi from that lady and gave her to my momma. My dad fell in love with that little thing and had her for years and years. She was a ballsy little thing. She was once at my house and tried to eat George's food, which he didn't mind, but he drew the line when she tried to kick his ass out of the room. I do believe it was one of the few times I ever have heard George growl. Miss you Chitzers. You were a crazy, cute, little beastie.

This was taken a couple of years ago at my house before I married Pup. Lorenzo looks crazy-happy about something. Me and Bella apparently wanted to take our leading ladies out for some air. Ha!

Looking at photos can make the grayest day better. I love my family and am so grateful for them. Smooches and love you guys.

Tumbleweeds

Yeah, what would I do without google images?

Don't know what that's about, but that's what is going on in my head. So, I'm empty in the brain.

It could be what's going on around here, which is very exciting! But it's all encompassing. And overwhelming. That's good.

Or it could be our trip to Idaho. That trip was eye opening. I miss my dad and while I'm so happy he is happy, I hate that he's getting older and living so far away. Where he lives is not an easy place to get too. It's not like you can just hop on a plane and get there quickly and cheaply. It's an expensive plane trip and a long plane trip and even then you are still 25 miles from where they live. Difficult.

It's good. It's sad. It's the reality.

Meanwhile, here I am. With the tumbleweeds.

What's in your head?

Madhouse

It's a madhouse around here. Literally a madhouse.

Meaning, I am either insane, or we are putting on an addition.

I knew it would be hard. After all, I've been through a few bouts of remodeling in my life. I even built a house once.

But this one is really hard. Mostly because I'm unemployed (looking for work like a mo-fo I might add; finally, my kids might add) and mostly because, right now, the dudes are working in the office and working in the room-to-be-renamed.

I don't like it when things are out of place and the whole house is upended.

So, I'm pulling up my big-girl panties (or my granny-panties I guess I should call them) to get on with it.

Concentrate on what it is, not what you want it to be. Be in the moment. What the hell does that really mean? I think it means that instead of moaning and moping about because things aren't the way I want them, I need to celebrate the process (bop!) and maybe learn a thing or four.

So, with panties firmly in place, I approach the continuation of this process with open-ended curiousity and never-ending joy.

Got it? Yes I do!

What are you approaching?