The oldie lyrics are true.

"They say that all good things must end, some day!"  And today would be that day.  My week of birthday celebrations comes to a close, with a passel of home made french fries and Chester fried chicken.  It has been an amazing run, but the fat, salt and carbs now have 11 months and 3 weeks to leave my body.  It may take that long, but oh, what a ride it has been.  Withdrawal starts tomorrow as I eschew the left over chips!  But the smile will linger.  Always embrace your happiness and know you are loved!

The heartbreak of...

It's that time of the year.  If you are mature (at least calendrically) you understand of what I speak.  From my ankles to my nose, I itch.  The dry weather incites in my skin a need to be touched, preferably with fingernails...over and over until I grow weary, or I start to bleed.  And let's face it.  When it comes to forebearance, I suck!  So I scratch...and regret...and scratch again.  What's that, you say?  Try lotion?  I have.  And it works, but sometimes I'm just not lotion available.  So I scratch.  I could of course sublimate.  I could eat.  But that only increases the amount of skin to scratch.  So I'm doomed.  Alas.  But like all impossible maladies, this too shall pass.  Winter shall turn into spring.  Spring shall turn into summer.  And summer my skin succumbs to the humidity, and I quit scratching.  Unless...let's just learn to live with it.  You scratch my back and I'm scratch my back!  But you are loved!

The crust is in the oven

I thoroughly enjoy making pie dough.  I'm never sure how it might turn out.  I use the same recipe every time.  I follow the same procedures every time.  Sometimes, it rolls out.  Sometimes, I piece it together.  Either way, it provides a receptacle for some pretty amazing flavors. And by the time it's filled, no one knows exactly how it got to be the way it is!  Tonight, it's in preparation for a coconut cream pie to be assembled tomorrow morning.  Milk, sugar, vanilla, eggs, butter, and coconut--with a fluffy meringue on top.  And all because there was something in which to put it.  I like pie dough!  And I love you!

My educational thesis

As a former educator, a motivational speaker, and a man unafraid to state his beliefs, categorically I would maintain the very best thing ever to come out of an in-service is the basket we learned to weave one cold February day.  I still use it for coffee filters.  It was an amazing experience.  We started with raw materials--completely without any utile form or substance.  By following directions, we ended up with a cute little basket.  I could easily demonstrate that I learned the concepts.  I could prove that I could follow the directions.  And I could proudly point to the result.  In that one hour session, I learned more about teaching than in the all the technology workshops, behavioral workshops, new strategies workshops, lesson planning workshops, and motivations speakers!  And the concept is so simple.  How do you prove you have learned?  You DEMONSTRATE.  The tech schools have known this for years.  Technical classes in high school have known this for years.  Arts and crafts teachers have known this for years.  Music teachers have known this for years.  In the "educationally based classes", we set standards, and then, we use pencil and paper to regurgitate information. And that's how we measure what a student has learned?  I don't get it!  My transcripts will attest to the fact that I could prove my education traditionally.  But what do I remember?  Not the prologue to Canterbury Tales (although I can still recite parts of it)!  Not how to determine if a train left San Francisco at 2:00 am, would it collide with the space shuttle?!  No.  I remember a basket.  A lesson I hope I can pass on before I die!  Show me you know...and know that you are loved!

Aesthetically pleasing, despite the "grease"

The 27th of January, 2015.  Temperature...upper 50's.  Pierre, SD?  Yup!  A truly unique lobby day experience.  Between lunch and session, my significant other and I revisited our memories of Australia and did a walk about.  Avoiding the GE (that would be goose excrement, or referred to colloquially as grease) we circumnavigated our state Capitol.  Note:  along with the unusual temperature, there was no wind.  NO WIND,  even more of a chance to reflect(!) on the building and its grounds.  We South Dakotans are a fiercely loyal group.  Ask anyone about the Capitol and they will extol its aesthetic attributes.  And today, there could be no argument!  It's ours.  And it's beautiful!  The only thing missing?  You!  Find your own aesthetic, and know you are loved!

Birthday Happiness

I am, apparently, a man easily pleased.  A smile.  A compliment.  A meal.  Friends.  It is in these simple things I find my greatest joy. 

• When I come across someone I know (or should know, or have never met) and I am greeted with a smile, my day improves. 
• God knows I have always sought  approbation (a character flaw I to which I readily admit), and when it happens, my day improves. 
• When days become long and tedious...when life becomes presumptive of my time and effort...when Pollyanna leaves my soul, I plea "feed me", for the meal improves my day. 
• When I can unequivocally give my heart to another, and know that reciprocity exists, my day is made. 

Today I am 65.  I smile because I am able to enjoy it. I give my compliments to those around me that make EVERY day special.  I plan to celebrate with food (in copious amounts).  And I thank God for the friends who make every day a celebration of being.  On my birthday, I give to you the greatest gift that I have:  You are loved!

It's not about the food.

Five words that would belie a significant number of my posts!  True.  I love to cook.  I love to eat.  Some would say I live to eat.  They would be accurate.  But last night reminded me of the Paul Harvey portion of the story.  Last night was the start of our 20th year of gourmet club.  10 of the 12 charter members were in attendance.  The two missing have moved away and were unable to attend.  Charter members would be a misnomer, because in the 20 years we have been together, the 12 of us have been the only members!  I'm curious as to how many "social groups" could say that?  Last night was special.  Okay...more special than usual.  The food was amazing.  The wine, a perfect complement.  But as usual, it was the company.  Our hostess had a surprise for us.  Let me regress a moment.  Prior to last evening, she had asked each of us to submit a baby picture.  When we arrived, the pictures were posted and we had to guess who was who.  I think I got three right...and two of them were my spousal unit and I!  Anyway, there was a participation prize.  She, being the official photographer of our group, had compiled pictures over the last twenty years into a spiral book for each of us!  We have aged.  Some of us more than others.  We have gone through weight reductions, increases, and reductions.  We've watched their kids grow up into amazing young adults.  And, since we are the geriatric components in this group, we've watched them grow up as well.  You see, 5 of them are former students!  And when you realize I had them when they were ninth graders, they have changed a bit!  Physically!  They will always be our kids.  The non students?  They married well and are a great fit.  We are, for all intents and purposes, a family.
There have been times our culinary efforts have fallen short of spectacular.  Coconut milk and plantains seemed to be the overwhelming memory of "oops" last night.  There have been times when finding a time has been bothersome!  But little problems are far outweighed by great experiences.  And 20 years of love outweigh any kitchen misfortune.  Early on, one of our creative members named our group.  We are the "Eating Friendsy" and we are more than the food!  Hopefully, you have similar stories!  They make life, life!  And you are loved!

Absolutely adorable!

It's absolutely impossible that once upon a time, we were this age...or this cute!  Thanks to Jan(ice) Moen for the trip down memory lane.  Picture number 1 may be the last time my sister and I were that close and no one was getting hit...at least until we advanced in years.  In picture number two, the obvious look of devilment in the eyes foretells a life to come!  I literally remember nothing of this time period in my life.  Heck, I barely remember breakfast!  But it's fun to reflect...and realize we change a lot, but we don't change the important things...like love for a sister, or family...or for passing a little gas and thinking you got away with it!  If you get the chance, get out the old pictures and remember you at an earlier age!  Oh, and by the way...I still dig bow ties!  Know you are loved!

Nap time

It was a busy day.  Had to do the puzzle, the shopping, the walking, and tonight, fudge school!  Great office peeps!  But my assets are dragging, and it's time for my nap...so I'm ready for bed!  Some days are just amazing, and the rest are better!  Know you are loved!

The "bear" necessities

It arrived today...the bear.  Wrapped in plastic, with a birthday card from my sister.  Being impetuous, I immediately opened the card.  And cried.  Let me explain.  The bear is an amazing creature.  White, with a crown of birthday candles and a paw that begs to be squeezed, because once you do, this annoying, obnoxious voice sings the happy birthday song...twice.  (It took me a while to figure out if you squeezed it a second time, it quit singing!  I never claimed to be clever!)  Why, you ask, would a sister who loves you send such a gift?  Well, it's not the first time.  In fact, it's visited this house on several occasions.  Of course, it has visited the niece, the nephews, and right back to my sister as well.  Not unlike the sisterhood of the traveling pants, the bear celebrates each family member's birthday...ever since it celebrated mom's last birthday.  Yup.  For her ninetieth birthday, the bear joined the family.  She was so proud of the bear, and as I recall, by the end of the day, we were all wondering what tragic fate might await this obnoxious creature!  Creativity abounded.  But somehow it survived.  And so did mom.  For one month.  And then she was gone.  And the bear remains.  And in some way, so does she.  And always will.  So...after five years, the tears still come.  Of course, this year, the bear arrived with a picture of mom and the bear on that last birthday.  Not fair!  But beneath the tears, an amazing thank you.  Ms Loosewheel was one of a kind!  And you are loved.

Downtown Abbey...season 1

Technology...1...credit card...1...bz and cz...winners!  It wasn't I!  It was the machinery!  It really DIDN'T work!  I feel better.  So off to buy new machinery!  As I recall, the last machine we bought was a bit pricey.  This one?  On sale for $24.00!  And it works!  That means we can now truly become Abbeyites!  And without a doubt, we are!  The characters are amazing.  The sets are amazing.  And the plot?  Well, let's just say, if the machinery breaks, we shall buy another!  Fun time together!  GREAT!  And you are loved!

Technology kicked my butt!

We have borrowed the first three seasons of Downton Abbey.  We have a DVD player.  I put the dvd in the player.  I can't change the input device on the tv.  I call the cable company.  They tell me to press the tv button.  I do so.  I can now change the input device...so it says "no signal".  I check out all the input options.  No signal.  The unit is on.  It says it's running.  No signal.  I disconnect.  I reconnect.  No signal.  I reconnect directly.  No signal.  By now, frustration is a happy memory.  I make sure the tv works, turn off the unit, and head for bed.  Middle of the night?  I realize I could have hooked the computer to the tv and watched.  But undaunted, I shall try again this morning.  Never say die!  No piece of equipment will defeat me.  Or, who really needs to see Downton Abbety anyway?  Have a success of some kind today and know you are loved!

I was cooking!

Where was I yesterday, you ask?  I was experimenting!  While visiting the JS and his AT, I stumbled across a recipe for meatloaf.  Yeah, I know.  Meatloaf?  But I happen to be a meatloaf aficionado, not to mention a baconaholic, so when I found the two together?  What else could I do but try it?  I'm glad I did!  It was amazing, both in appearance and in taste.  It is a bit time consumptive when it comes to preparation, but it can all be done ahead of time so if you are entertaining, all you need do is pop it in the oven for an hour, baste it a little and broil it for 3-4 minutes, and you are done.  Well, that is, if meatloaf is the only thing you're having.  I coupled mine with twice baked potatoes (another wonderful do ahead!), the ubiquitous cole slaw, and the second experiment of the day...peppered cheesy baking powder biscuits.  While the meatloaf was amazing, in the eyes and comments of my eaters, the biscuits were outstanding!  They, too, are a bit time consuming, but the recipe is both extremely specific and entertaining.  We ate well.  We had wine.  We laughed, and there was love.  If you happen to have seen the old television series "The A Team", "I love it when a plan comes together!"  As my good friend Floyd says, "keep your fork"!  And know that you are loved!

Cooks Illustrated Meatloaf

Glaze:

1/4 cup bottled barbecue sauce (plus extra for serving)
1 Tbs. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbs. spicy brown mustard

Meatloaf:

2/3 cup finely crushed Club crackers
12 slices bacon
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef

Directions:

Lightly spray an 8 /2 X 4 1/2 loaf pan with vegetable spray.  Line it with plastic wrap, pressing into the corners and lining the sides of the pan.  Line pan crosswise with 8 strips of bacon, overlapping as necessary to fit in the pan.  Be sure the bacon extends over the edge of the pan.  Whisk together the glaze ingredients and brush the bacon.
Chop the remaining bacon and onions.  Place in a saute pan and cook together until the onions are soft and translucent--about five minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds longer.  In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.  Add the bacon and onion mixture.  Carefully place meatloaf into the bacon lined loaf pan.  Pat down to be sure it is evenly divided and fills the corners.  Carefully take the ends of each piece of bacon and pull together to form a cover for the meatloaf.  Place a 14 X 5 piece of aluminum foil over the top, and pierce it 15 times.  Invert the meatloaf onto a wire baking rack and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
To bake:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a lipped cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil.  Place the baking rack with the meatloaf on top of the pan.  Remove the plastic wrap. Bake for one hour.  Remove from oven and baste with glaze.  Allow to sit while oven heats to broiling.  Replace meatloaf in to broil for 3-4 minutes until bubbly and crusting.  Remove.  Plate and serve!

Biscuits

The biscuit recipe is at http://www.food.com/recipe/savory-cheese-and-herb-biscuits-406757.

Where is love?

If you have seen the musical "Oliver", you will recognize this lyric.  If you haven't?  No worries.  This epistle will still make little or no sense, but it is what it is!  Consider for a moment, the things/people that you "love".
For instance, I literally love fried chicken.  I love to cook and bake.  I love flowers.  On the people side, I love my wife.  I love my family.  I love my friends.  For me, love is all around, and it only takes a breath to see something/someone to remind me of its power.  As I was coming in from feeding the obese vermin that lives in our back yard (see also, Penstemon eating rabbit), I again observed the orchid we had received from a dear friend three years ago for our birthdays.  A two-fer in terms of love---flower and friend.  Since I think it is miraculous that it is blooming again, I ran for my camera.  (Okay, I ambled, but ran sounds so much more athletic.)  Looking for just the right shot, I closed in on the center of the bloom.  Now understand, close-ups are a real challenge when tremors are part of your daily life.  It took a few tries, but eventually I got what I was looking for.  The background is actually the petals of the bloom.  The throat (what you see above) is amazingly partitioned, and full of varietal colors.  It wasn't until I brought the picture up on the screen that I noticed.  If you look very carefully (and with the eye of a romantic), you will see a white heart at the top of the picture.  Sometimes, you have to be very still and very close to discover the love!  But no matter the distance, it comes from me to you! 

The art of being retired

Like everything in life, there is a skill, and there is an art.  The skill of retirement is almost totally financial.  Planning is everything, and planning to use the South Dakota retirement system is a great plan.  The art of being retired is something quite different, and in the last two days, we painted it with large strokes on an ever-changing canvas.  For example:  on our way home from shopping, we decide to stop and visit the Amazon Temptress and her Jungle Stud.  It's 1:30 in the afternoon.  We have, as usual, an amazing visit, and almost in unison proclaim the glory of being able to to just that.  It's about friends.  Today, we do the things that need be done (oh how good it feels to have clean clothes!) and whisk the neighbor away for lunch.  Then it's off to Pelican Lake to meander among the trails in the snow.  Gorgeous tabloid, with an amazing portrait of the woman I love up to her uh-huh in a snow bank.  A quick nap and bridge tonight.  Color me happy, and paint you loved!

Renaissance morning

Just finished an hour of shoveling and blowing the 8% chance of snow we had for yesterday.  Came in and it hit me.  I was hungry for lemon meringue pie.  We have bridge tonight.  Why not make a pie and take it to bridge?  Well, there was only one sort of okay lemon, but some "real lemon" juice in the fridge (which probably has out dated some time ago.)  I managed to scrape off enough REAL zest for flavor and augmented the "real" lemon juice with a little lemon extract.  Tasted okay.  Thankfully, just before I added the water to the sugar mixture, I realized that I had used baking powder rather than corn starch.  If you are in need of two cups of sugar mixed with four tbs. of flour and four tbs. of baking powder, I know where you can find it!  Start over.  End result?  Looks fantastic.  We'll see how it tastes.  Dishes are done and I'm blogging for the day.  One might ask what Renaissance has to do with this post?  Beats me, but the title sounded good!  Hope you can enjoy a piece of pie and know you are loved!

A state...of mind

The outdoor thermometer says -2.  Of course, sitting in the car headed to Sioux Falls, it's difficult to determine the "feels like" temperature, and that may be a blessing.  The snow blows across the road, even though the sun (and its puppies) shines brightly.  A winter day with its chilling ability to depress and beat down the strongest of optimists.  Or so it would try.  But Pollyannas are not so easy to rile, and inherent belief in good somehow win over desolation!  I can't understand or explain it, but as we pass the exit for Ward, my mind immediately goes to Iyott's garden center and I'm planning spring!  The excitement of color.  The positioning of plants.  The hope that is to come.  What a warm, wonderful feeling!  Oh wait, that's the seat warmer toasting my buns!  And the knowledge that positive trumps negative every day of the year!  I'm thrilled we're out of town and happy I was born cup half full!  Could I offer you a drink?  You are loved!

Helpless

Having never had kids, I have to take on faith the discomfort parents feel when their little child is sick.  Unable to communicate the problem, the parental units have to observe, judge, and pray.  As a dog owner, I feel the same frustration.  Rocci, our almost 17 year old, didn't have a good day.  When I went to pick her up, she literally screamed.  When I put her down, she seemed okay...until we got home this afternoon.  Then I picked her up again and the screaming ensued...even after I put her back down.  Off to the vet.  No screaming.  She did leave a gigantic deposit on the scale, however.  Seems as she has no problem communicating her feelings of going to the vet.  Anyhow, during the entire time we are there, she makes not a peep.  Prodded, poked, and manipulated.  Nothing.  Our vet, who walks on water as far as I am concerned, said she may have some muscle weakness, but her temp was fine and she didn't seem to be in pain.  However, he did suggest she may scream again when she got home.  She was good...until the treat.  Scream.  After that, however, she has been relatively quiet.  I want her to tell me what hurts.  I want to make it better.  So I will observe, and judge...and pray.  It's what's left to do!  Know you are loved

I hand wrote a letter!

First, let me say I find it appalling that cursive writing is no longer being taught.  I understand it isn't the primary method of written communication.  I understand there is an overwhelming need to cram more dates and events into the minds of our students (okay, I don't, but it sounds good!).  But to not be able to sign your name?  To not be able to individualize your "font"?  To not be able to read what those of us coots continue to believe to be a preferable alternative of written communication?  Abhorrent!  But that's just my opinion.  Having said (yelled, cursed, profaned) that, I just finished writing a letter to a former student with whom I have kept contact for all these 45 years.  That bond, that relationship, deserves something other than a text, an e, a tweet, or for that matter, a facebook poke!  That relationship deserves the time...the effort...and the love inherent in a hand-written epistle.  Granted, the hand-writing (although "not bad for a boy"!) may be a little harder to read.  The strokes are a little shaky.  The pen, a little wobbly, but hopefully, he and his wife will realize the import they hold in my life.  Love comes in many forms.  And you are!

She asked for a salad

Sometimes, a simple request can lead to an interesting result.  In an attempt to alter her diet, my lovely bride said she'd just have a salad for supper.  You see, she's at church, running the sound system, and when she gets home, there's that football game she will want to watch, so I thought I would have her salad waiting for her.  Of course, I am, on occasion, wont to take a simple request and make it monumental.  Well, a salad is pretty hard to monumentize, but it is possible to dress it up a little.  The thing is, I don't see her as a simple salad.  I see her as a beautiful, appetizing, complex woman, who deserves a similar salad.  So this is what she gets!

Love comes in so many forms.  Understand that it comes to you!

I just don't get it

Three obvious preconceptions.  First, after 64 years, I am still amazingly naive when it comes to concepts of violence.  Second, I have lived an amazingly insulated life.  Third, I can't understand religious fervor calling for either overt violence or retribution.  Given those three things, you can imagine my consternation with recent global events.  Or for that matter, the inability of compromise, internationally, nationally, or locally!  I would purport our goal...our legacy...should be to leave the world better than it was before we were here.  And by better, I mean safer, happier, and joyful!  I intend to do my best.  Will you?  We can change what is to be!  And you are loved!

In the basement

-->The desktop computer is in the basement.  It has a full size keyboard.  I like that!
-->The washer and dryer are in the basement.  I can multi-task!  I like that!
-->My kitchen is in the basement and it is clean.  I can look at it without guilt.  I like that!
-->I can't hear the wind in the basement.  I like that a lot!
-->Therefore I deduce, even a pit has its benefits!  Oh, and I love you!

Just plain stubborn

So, the wind chill is -insane.  But the sun is shining.  The snow is glistening.  And you know I HATE the dreadmill.  So...put on layers.  At least three on every level.  Add winter gear.  Hazard the elements and get some exercise.  It was exhilarating!  The clothing sufficed.  The roads, while slippery at spots, were amenable to travel.  And I only had to fight the wind one direction.  I logged my two plus miles without incident, came home, had some delicious hot home-built vegetable soup, and am now ensconced in the basement, talking to you and doing the laundry.  Probably not the best decision I've made--to challenge the elements. But truly, the best decision I made--to conquer the elements.  Self righteously, I will enjoy the day!  And thanks for being there when I got home!  You are loved!

If you aren't already, be seated.

Last night, I went to start the snow blower to eliminate the wonderful gift with which Mother Nature had endowed us.  Nothing.  Nada.  Nehil.  It wouldn't even turn over.  Result?  Shovel.  My least favorite four letter word.  Oh wait, it was four letter words I used while I was shoveling.  Be that as it may, this morning, the plows went by and left their residue at the foot of our driveway as well as the neighbor's.  Check the snowblower.  Same result.  Change cords.  Same result.  Change outlets.  Same result.  And again, the ensuing result?  You got it.  Well, I decide that I'm not up to shoveling the rest of the winter so I called the hardware store.  I spoke with Leroy.  God bless Leroy.  He said it could be a number of things.  One was moisture in the switch.  I asked him if putting a heat lamp on the switch might help.  Let me review.  It was MY idea.  He said it might.  Not only did I know exactly where the heat lamp was, I knew how to attach it in such a way as to warm the switch directly.  Back inside, I set the timer for 15 minutes.  In the back of my mind, I could see the heat lamp getting so hot that it would ignite the gas in the tank and blow the entire neighborhood to smithereens.  (Okay, admittedly I watch too much television and have an overactive imagination, but one can never been too careful.)  Beep!  Out to the garage.  IT STARTED!  Between Leroy and little Billy, a mechanical problem was solved.  Now you understand why you should have been seated.  Couple that with the fact that we actually remembered our environmentally friendly grocery bags when we went shopping, and the day becomes almost unbelievable!  Needless to say, I will be basking in the glory for quite some time.  (Of course, I have to make up for yesterday when instead of turning the burner off I turned it to low and left it on for most of the day.  Speaking of blowing the neighborhood up?!!!)  Such are the ups and downs of a mechanically challenged, mentally deficient individual.  But oh, the highs!  Bask in the glory of the good you did today, and know you are loved!

Let me know

when you want it to snow.  I will schedule an eye appointment in Sioux Falls.  It was supposed to be tomorrow.  We are not going.  Seeing double is better than seeing dead!  But it is getting a bit frustrating.  And of course, I have over the years learned to sublimate my frustration by eating.  Anything that isn't secured to a table and has the form of a comestible is fair game.  The popcorn was delightful.  The cold chicken, sublime.  The mini-carrot cakes (yes, that would be plural) almost made the cancellation acceptable.  And then, of course, there was supper.  Steak!  And stuffed buns.  (No, actually I'm speaking of real stuffed buns, not the ones on which I sit, although, having reread this post, they qualify as well!)  Oh well.  We are safe.  We are warm.  And for the moment, we are full!  That, I'm sure, will change!  But the fact that you are loved will not!

Warning...if you are a visualizer, you may want to stop here.

It was my night to stay with the pup.  Apparently, it was also my night to sleep soundly!  Until 3:00 am.  Thankfully, I got up to go to the bathroom.  On the way, I discover that I had slept far too soundly and the dog had needed attention while her owner was "out"!  Deftly, I sidestepped the mess only to step in what must have been her first foray.  I said I slept soundly!  Anyhow, as I finished cleaning the floor and the feet, I noticed that the tree on the neighbor's deck has blown over.  How that could have happened is beyond me.  It appeared that it would block her exit, so the only neighborly thing to do would be to set it back up before she needed out (or for that matter, before her dog needed out.)  Did I mention the time?  I pulled on my sweat pants, put on my jacket and stocking cap, and headed over.  Of course, at a -34 "feels like" temperature, I was quick to notice that putting on shoes and socks might have been a more intelligent choice.  While tongue on cold steel sounds worse, (The Christmas Story?), bare feet on concrete has its own rewards.  Dancing my way there and back, I return to the relative safety and warmth of the couch and contemplate my Intelligence Quotient.  How's that for a picture?  Keep warm and know you are loved!

Confusion

I must admit, I had to do the math to figure out what day of the week it is!  When holidays fall in the middle of weeks, it totally messes with my mind.  Of course, since I don't work, and other than bridge on Mondays have little to remind me of what day we're celebrating, this should not cause consternation.  And yet, it does.  I would hate to miss a weekend.  Of course, every day is Saturday now, so...  I'm convinced that this would suggest there is little mind with which to mess?!  Anyhoo.  Have an amazing week (end?) and know a crazy person loves you!

I'm amazed!

With yesterday's prurient title, I expected a host of hits from curious peepers!  Not so.  Alas!  Perhaps, they know me and avoided the site due to the possibility of an image post?  Who knows?  So today, whilst preparing a myriad of food stuffs, I contemplated an intriguing, titillating title.  Obviously I didn't come up with one, but have had an amazing day in the kitchen!  Life is amazing when preparing love for others!  And know that you fall into that category!

naked...and loving it

I speak, of course, of the house.  This being the first day of a new year, the Christmas decorations, which I LOVE to put up, have all been taken down and put away.  The house looks so bare...and clean...and big.  Of course, there are remnants every where.  Pine needles (okay, they're fake but they still shed), a few things that I may have missed...but for the most part, as I remember it prior to Giving of Thanks!  And whilst the decorates are stored for the year, I will attempt to carry on with the spirit.  Or, if things get hectic, the spirits, which is something totally different!  Ah yes.  So I celebrate "housal" nudity and swear you are loved!