White isn't a color

I just needed some color today. Olive drab and dreariness is just growing old with me.

Mii-ow!

I love the new Wii Fit Plus because you can actually add your pets--like I need more mii-owing in my life. Nothing like pedaling your bike and having Hobbes run along side, popping bubbles or whatever you are supposed to do. Cartoon Hobbes is sort of cute, isn't he?

Okay, so the Wii Fit Plus lets you weigh your pet, but it doesn't accurately portray his body type (extra large). I'm not complaining though, it isn't accurately portraying my body type either, which is fine by me.

Oh, we went to the vet today and the final verdict on the weigh in is........(drum roll).........

16 pounds!!

Wow. But the doctor didn't blink an eye and actually sent us home with a handful of treats. Whew. And no, she couldn't believe my story of him frolicking in the snow. I wasn't going to push my luck by telling her that he has a fan club in the blogging world. Now that would be weird.

Would you light my candle?

"There has never been a day that I have not been proud of you,
though some days I'm louder about other stuff
so it's easy to miss that."

I bought a print with that saying on it--it's just so me. Well....... and my kids.

Colin was inducted into the National Honor Society last night. Sheesh, I was pretty darn proud I have to say. He's in with some really great kids and when you see them all on the stage, it is a parenting moment when you think "Wow, he really is a great kid". It's a nice moment. And it sure blows the tough ones away like they never existed.

His Senior year is slipping away and I haven't for one moment taken it for granted. Nor have I taken the last 18 years for granted. I have been lucky to have stayed home with them, shared in their days, and enjoyed the time because I knew it would go fast.

When I was young, I never imagined myself as a stay-at-home mom, or even a mom for that matter. Sure, I thought I'd have kids, but I never really thought of what I would do with them once I had them. I just thought they were a part of adulthood, marriage, and family. For some reason, it just never clicked on what these two beings would do to me and my life--for the good.

And now, I can't imagine my life without them. They are my heart and soul, my whole being. There is no job, no paycheck, no obligation that I won't walk away from to be with them. Nobody could have told me that 20 years ago--I guess I had to learn it for myself.

So, as my heart brims with love and pride, I watch as a nice young man lights his candle in honor of what he has achieved and the promise of what is to come. We have come a long way, he and I. He worked hard at being a good student, musician, athlete, and human being. I worked hard at encouraging/guiding/lecturing/disciplining/supporting/driving him nuts along the way.

It's hard work to be us--mother and child. And last night was the pay off--for both of us.

I Love Hobbes Thursday

When we first got him, Hobbes insisted on sleeping close.
Really close.
Like snuggle-up-to-your-face-while-you-sleep close.
Like I-can't-breathe-when-you-do-that close.

But he was a kitten,
and we loved him,
so we let him do it anyway.
And he would purr like a freaking motorboat.

And now, he still likes to snuggle when he first wakes up.
He insists on sitting on my chest like the old days
which is sorta cute,
but now he weighs almost 16 pounds--
which is a LOT of weight on your chest when you first wake up.

But he is my kitten,
and I love him,
so I let him do it anyway.
And he purrs like a freaking motorboat.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

The Barn by Ralph Hagen


Chuck sent me this yesterday. I guess my frogs aren't the only ones checking to see if spring is coming yet.

Before we got a heater in the pond to let the frogs hibernate, we would bring all the frogs in for the winter. (Don't even ask how we caught them all or how long that took.) There were tanks all over this place, housing frogs in this room and that. There were endless trips to the pet store to buy crickets and lots of grumping about having to clean frog tanks once a week. It was a huge hassle, but I felt good knowing that I was keeping them alive for them to see another summer.

Little did I know back then that they need to hibernate to actually live longer lives. Sigh. It takes me awhile to catch on.

Well, you could always tell when spring was coming, as those little frogs just sort of knew that it was getting close. Come March, we could hear the frogs hopping about, bouncing off the top of the fish tanks, and becoming more active. Soon, our television viewing was interrupted by some frog singing, which was pretty funny until it got kinda loud. We didn't need Ground Hog day back then, we had the frogs to tell us spring was coming soon.

I sort of miss that.

Tuesday Random Thoughts

Thoughts that are rattlin' around the 'ol noggin:

1) No SoxFest tickets this year. Bummer. Gees, and I had such a swell time hugging Chops with my eyes closed last year. Then on top of it, they went and traded that finely toothed specimen of manliness. Sigh. Gees, he was lovely.
2) I really hate that sound the Wii makes when I step on the fitness board. It sort of goes "Oooh", like it is wincing from pain. Note to Wii--this sound makes me not want to get on the board.
3) I do like that Wii Fit Plus has a pet feature. Now when I work out, cartoon Hobbes comes along and runs with me. But it is a much skinnier version of Hobbes, and it doesn't meow every 3 seconds like the real one does.
4) I hate office politics/gossip/B.S. It's just such a downer and too easy to get caught up in it. Ugh.
5) It's late January and do you know what that means??? Casi Cielo at Starbucks. Yes! If you like coffee, this Guatemalan bad boy is the one for you. Hurry, it's only available for a few weeks.
6) Have I mentioned Hobbes is meowing like every 3 seconds? Yeah. It's really annoying.
7) I caught sight of Ozzie Guillen (White Sox Mgr) on the Sox website this weekend and gees, that man can dress. I'm so not into Latin guys, but sheesh, when you look at him, you just know he smells good too. (Em likes that--it's my new saying)
8) You know, there are just some people who make me belly laugh. My cousin, Kelly, is one of those people.
9) Instead of SoxFest tickets, Joe and Colin got Blackhawk tickets instead--seventh row up from the glass. Free. Tickets that cannot be bought anywhere these days. I didn't want to go, so I stayed home. They think they are cool now.
10) Colin got Beatles Rock Band for Christmas and I love to point out that those songs only got as dirty as "I wanna hold your hand" or "I wanna be your man". It drives my kids nuts. I think that means I am officially old.
11) Somebody's dog tried friending me on Facebook the other day. I was like "Rufus, who??" and hit ignore. I don't know about you, but I think my life is going wrong when my friends on Facebook are dogs.

Feel free to comment or just roll your eyes and suck your teeth.

Hedgehog Olympics

Hedgehog

vs.

Porcupine

Years ago, Em and I were driving home from somewhere when we saw the oddest sign at the local Hotel near our house. It read:

"Hedgehog Olympics" Sunday.

Just the name alone intrigued me. I laughed all the way home imagining what that was gonna be, and needless to say, we were going.The boys bailed, thinking it was going to be something stupid, but Em was all in. I love that kid sometimes.

We were going to what ended up being a hedgehog-owner convention, complete with t-shirts, beauty contests, and agility trials. There were the strangest folks of all ages, wearing these little fabric pouches hanging from their necks with tiny prickly guys peering out or rolled tightly in a ball. (Hedgehogs are very shy creatures and roll in a ball when frightened.)

There was an emcee (The Sock Puppet from pets. com) and trophies for every imaginable event. We spent hours walking from event to event, muffling giggles and trying to appreciate the love these folks have for their little spiny guys.
They had hedgehog races complete with those giant plastic balls that hamsters typically use--except they were big, like for guinea pigs. They had obstacle courses and a fashion show. There were personality contests--because getting your hedgehog to actually unroll is a big deal I guess. The amount of handling that it takes to tame one of these is incredible, and those that can get that wiggly nose out from it's hind legs are highly regarded. And there was a shop to buy all things hedgehog, including supplies, souvenirs, and t-shirts with hedgehog photos on them.

The day ended with a huge awards show, complete with owners parading their hedgehogs in those tiny baskets around their necks. And again, Sock Puppet emceed the event and was totally hilarious for a guy under the table with a puppet and a microphone. Em and I sat there watching the madness that surrounded us, hedgehog owners proudly gathering and enjoying each others' company like this was an everyday event.

Who knew this world of hedgehog owners existed?? I didn't. And I wonder if the Hedgehog Olympics are held in different cities each year? Kinda makes you wonder what other kinds of animals have their own Olympics? Sheesh, there is a lot I don't know about hedgehogs and other stuff.

I'm glad we went though, and I never saw it at the hotel ever again.

Snooze, interrupted

Sometimes, there is a warm day or two in winter
where the frogs unexpectedly wake up from their slumber
and pop their heads up through the newly unfrozen water
to see if winter is over or not.

Or maybe it is just their way of turning over,
fluffing their pillow,
and going back to sleep for a few more hours/months.

Either way, I find comfort in seeing those beady brown eyes
break the surface,
telling me that they are safe and alive
in that dark pool outside my door.

Spring is coming, my friends.
It is a long way off yet,
but it is coming.

Mindless Weekend Entertainment

Hey, look what Holy Cuteness found!

I dunno, there is just something wrong about me liking this website "Animals with Casts". It makes me feel guilty oohing and ahhhing over poor little creatures with busted limbs.

And how come there are so many hedgehogs with casts?? Did they curl up too fast or something??

We aren't cool....we are HOT!

Me and Phyl KILLED over at Secondary Roads in the "Cool Mama" contest! I keep calling it "Hot Mama" but Chuck keeps correcting me for some reason. I think we gals are HOT in this photo--I don't care what the haters say. Thanks for voting for us, pallies, it was great to have the support. And yes, I noted the folks who had some smarty-aleck comments about me "yapping" in the photo.

On another note, it's FRIDAY, pallies! That means the weekend gets a little crazy with home improvement project planning and tallying up the cost of bringing this rat hole to the new millennium. Uh, has anyone been to the home improvement stores lately to price things like bathroom cabinets, faucets, countertops, exterior doors, kitchen sinks, etc? Yikes. No wonder they were luring us in with free hot dogs last Saturday. With the prices of things, I'm surprised they weren't offering steaks.

I'm not offering you my typical "relax and breathe deep" speech this weekend, as it is home improvement time of year and there is no relaxing now. There are walls to be painted and sinks to be replaced. There are projects to be planned, executed, and completed before spring comes. Joe is in hiding, kind of like the Ground Hog, afraid to show his head for fear of what he's got to do next.

So, Happy Weekend, pallies. Think of Joe while you are relaxing on the couch or enjoying your nap. And before I hear the old "Poor Joe" bit, know that I am beside him, wielding a hammer or paintbrush, digging into whatever project is at hand. Everybody has got to help around here.

And you know darn well, that a certain Orange Stripey somebody is gonna be involved somehow.

I Love Hobbes Thursday

Hobbes has his annual check-up next week. I think the doctor
is going to be a little surprised on how much he has grown
in a year's time.
Heck, I am.

I imagine him on the big dog scale,
red numbers scrolling quickly,
and the doctor's eyes widening.
Ugh. I think he weighed 45 lbs less the last time we were here.

Do you think she's gonna believe me when I tell her
that he goes outside
in the cold and snow
and runs around like a fool?

Nah.
I wouldn't either.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

You can always tell when the cats aren't too thrilled about something. Hobbes, who is a tad more tolerant, is known for his crinkle of one ear, while Grace does a full-blown "Yoda Ears" to show her dismay. She does this a lot as she is crabby--a lot.

I wish I could do that with my ears sometimes. Like when I'm at work and I don't want to be or when I'm standing in line too long. Or when my favorite TV show is a repeat or I'm on my 4th load of laundry. Or I see somebody I don't like or I bust somebody in a lie. I would really like to be able to do this when I'm in a restaurant and the fool next to me is talking on the phone super loud or some bratty kid is running around in the store and his mom is in a coma in another aisle.

Sigh. Cats have got it made, don't they?


Hey, don't forget to drop a vote for me and Phyl over at Secondary Roads. There is some mean Mom competition going on there and we need to drive that baby HOME today!

Roadkill on the Beach

All of this MLK stuff yesterday got me thinking about my minority friend, Fain. According to her, Appalachian Americans are the last true minorities left in this country--still frowned upon, made fun of, and pretty much discriminated on at every turn. I don't usually argue with her when she starts on that one 'cuz she's usually all liquored up on Mountain Dew and Vodka when she starts that speech--not the time to argue the point, I say. I let her have her moment.

So, I called Fain which is a hoot on any given day. She just sort of brightens the day--even if I can't understand a damn thing she's sayin. She talks so damned slooooooww and then add that accent of hers and sheesh--I'm lost. But it's a treat, so I call her to give her crud about going to Florida without me.

The phone call finds Fain, Courtney, Sherri, and the kids on the beach. Okay, so it is 70 degrees and they have sweatshirts on, but they ARE ON THE BEACH all the same. Can you tell I'm a little miffed I'm not there with them? Sheesh.

When I ask Fain what she's doing and this is what I get:

(Imagine slow-talkin' here) "Welllllll, there's some starfish that died in the cold and they washed up on the beach. We're collecting them to make some crafts out of them." To which I am horrified.

"Uh, Fain. I took the kids to the dentist today and on the way there was this dead raccoon in the middle of the road. It had its hind leg stickin' up in the air. Never once did I think to stop and grab it to make a craft out of it!" I'm almost yelling this into the phone.

And they wonder why I am snickering? Arts and Crafts with dead animals. Really???!


On another note: Could you please go on over to Chuck's place to vote for my entry in the "My Momma is HOT!" contest??? My mom could use a little excitement in her life these days and really, so could I.

Keep on Rolling

There is always one idiot.

You know him--the guy in the 'hood that is always inappropriate. He's the loud-mouthed coach on the other team, the guy that is always hollering too loud at the kids. He's the dude that ends up getting sloppy drunk at the soccer picnic or grabbing the microphone at WeirdvilleFest for a little karaoke when he shouldn't. He somehow shows up at every neighborhood block party, even though he lives clear on the other side of town. And he's always making smart-ass comments to both men and women alike. We all know him and we can't ditch him for the life of us. He's just always around.

Weirdville's resident knucklehead is named Buckle (Well, not really, I changed it to prevent the innocent) and even though he has a first name, it is rarely used. His name is interchangeably used as an adverb, using "Buckle-ly" as a term when you act like an slimy ass. The biggest slam you could receive from one of the guys is be accused of being "Buckle-ly", meaning you are either drunk, obnoxious, slimey, or all of the above.

When we went to Terry's benefit night on Friday, guess who pushes his way through the crowd carrying 3 beers? Yep. Buckle. He gives Joe an acknowledging head nod and continues on his way with a "Hey, man". Joe just sort of rolled his eyes to me and nodded back. He apparently was camped out somewhere near us, because he kept pushing his way past us over and over again, bringing more and more beers with him as he went by.

At one point in the evening, the band was playing REO Speedwagon's "Roll With the Changes" as an anthem for Terry and his battle with cancer. During the song, the singer worked his way off the stage, through the crowd, and up to the balcony where Terry sat. He sang to Terry and the crowd joined in on the chorus, cheering Terry on with every word. It was very emotional.

The singer waved his arms up in the air and the crowd cheered, singing "Keep on Rolling! Keep on Rolling...." and everyone was waving to Terry up above us. It was then that Buckle decides to come back from the buffet line or the bar or the bathroom or god knows where else, but he walks past us just as Joe lifted his arm to wave at Terry. Thinking Joe is high-fiving him, he jumps up (he's a little dude) and hits Joe's hand like they were long lost buds.

I nearly lost it. What a freaking idiot this guy is. I mean, really?? You can't see the whole crowd with their arms in the air??.............Really??

Sigh. All we could do was laugh. He's just so.......so......Buckle-ly. Some things never change.

It really is the rug

This is what is making me laugh the past few days. Thank you, Cardiogirl for sharing this with me, but my family would like to kill you now. For some reason, they do not think me answering their every question with a high-pitched "Nope!" is very funny, but I do.

Apparently, they do not have a sense of humor. Sigh.

No Paddling Zone

Another dreary morning in Chicago, so I've resorted to posting my own sunshine. Now I feel a bit better, don't you ?

The benefit was actually really nice last night--much more fun than I had expected. I think there were something like 800 people there, 3 bands, a rockin' bar, rows and rows of raffle prizes, and an endless buffet of cajun food. The mood was light, the crowd joyful, and everyone was having a good time--all in honor of Terry who watched from an upper balcony.

Pummeled by a last-ditch effort to prolong his life, Terry is currently undergoing heavy chemo and radiation and couldn't be with the crowd that collected in his honor. He could, however, enjoy the fun by being there, albeit safe from germs and well-meaning handshakes and hugs.

We were one of the few that were allowed up to see Terry, so while we weaved through the dancing crowd, Joe and I had a moment to collect ourselves and gather our words. My heart was heavy, but it was soon lifted upon hugging our friend.

Still strong in spite of his frail-looking frame, Terry was still the old Terry that we know and love. He was laughing and commenting on how amazed he was at how many people showed up. How wonderful it was that he had so many people who loved him! I had to wonder if even half of that crowd would show up if it were me in that same situation--I sincerely doubt it. Terry was generous with his kindness in every aspect of his life and that standing-room only venue reflected that last night.

I didn't cry until I got into the car, knowing that would be the last time I see Terry alive. As lucky as I was to tell him what I needed to say to him, there wasn't enough time or words to convey our friendship to him. I eeked out a 'thank you' and a few other thoughts, but in hindsight, I guess I could have been more profound. But maybe that's all you need to say--just a 'we love you' and a hug. I mean, what other words mean more than that? I'll be thinking about that for a bit, you know.

I walked out last night thinking about how Terry has spent the last years of his life fighting an ugly divorce and trying to save his house, money, and worldly possessions. I think about how he was so hurt and angry for years, not knowing that these were the last years of his life, and what he was worried about were the material possessions that mean nothing now. How, if he had known, that he would have let her have all of it, just so he could live his life simply and joyfully in the time he had left.

Sigh. Hindsight sucks, doesn't it?

So, with that thought, I'm going to stress a bit less about material things and get back to the river of my life--the one where I don't paddle so much. Again, I am reminded that paddling just makes us tired and the ride go too fast, so we need to lay back and enjoy the scenery just a tad more. Another lesson from a tried and true Scout.

Happy Weekend, pallies. Breathe deep and float, pallies. Just float.

Spring Flowers for Terry

Whew! I just needed some color today. You can't possibly appreciate color like we do when you live in year-round sunshiney places like Malaysia and such. You gotta have a day that is gray and gloomy and foggy and snow-melty and icky and blah and ..... well, you get the idea. Everything is olive drab around these parts and a little spring color is what I needed.

Even the weekend plans are sort of blah. Tonight we are heading out to a benefit for a friend that is dying of cancer. Colin's former Boy Scout leader has cancer that has spread from his lungs to his brain. Terry was the quintessential Boy Scout leader--strong, encouraging, caring, and fun. He is all about the kids, making time for not only his own son, but everyone else's son as well. He took them off to camp each summer, taught him rope tying, the use of a knife, and all sorts of other talents. Most of all, he taught the boys to be proud of being a scout.

If there is only one thing about cancer that is tolerable, it is the fact that we have a minute or two to say good-bye. As painful as it is to watch our friend disappear before our eyes, we at least have the opportunity for a final hug and to tell him what he means to us and our family. How I am going to do that, I do not know.

So, I will go tonight, fake smile and encouraging words intact, knowing full well there is no chance for Terry to survive. I hope we can share a laugh or two and see the Terry we know and love behind the ravaged shell that cancer has left us with. I hope that it is a joyful evening--not that Terry is leaving us, but to celebrate his life before he dies, when he can actually see and hear how much he meant to so many people and how he made this earth so much better by being here.

My wish for Terry in his final days is that he sees the sunshine beyond the olive drab. That he can push back the pain and sorrow and bask in the warmth of Spring and colorful flowers. May he spend his time with his children joyfully instead of being sad. May he see the flowers of his life rather than the gloom of his illness.

I Love Hobbes Thursday -- Snow

There is something about snow that makes Hobbes want to run out
and stick his head in it.
And although cats normally don't like snow,
Hobbes isn't the least bit fazed by the cold stuff.

So, there he goes--out to the far end of the yard.
Under the bird feeder and near the tree,
where apparently something smells good far beneath the mass of white.

And he returns to the patio door wearing the remnants of a lost scent trail.

Pleased with himself for the adventure he just found.

We Got Ourselves a Winner!

And the winner of the Second Bi-Annual Dork Off Contest was.......

JD from "I Do Things So You Don't Have To"!!

Geesh, that girlie in her cat-eye glasses KILLED the competition!

The voting started out slow, with JD leading a tad and then wahlah!--suddenly there was an influx of JD fans loading the ballot box like a bunch of Chicagoans. Hmmmmm....I finally figured out that someone made a wee plug for the contest on her blog. Not saying who, but she is a big giant DORK.

Not that I'm jealous or anything. Sheesh.

Winning second place by a hair (or you could say a "leg warmer") was Paige from Lenox Knits, followed closely by me with some badly permed hair.

So, JD will be honored for all of eternity as the winner of the Dork Off II contest, following the staggering win of Lola this summer at the Dork Off I. Lola would have been here to hand off her crown, but she is out of commission with a bad back/she didn't want to give up her crown, although she sends her regards.

Thanks for joining in the fun, pallies. And thank you to Chuck, Vanilla, Pricilla, Casey, Karen, Paulineh (who is a very brave new pally!), JD, and Paige who all willingly let us chuckle at their dorky images of yore. You are all prize-winning dorks in my heart!

Commencing the Dork Off II

Ah, the Dork Off II--what would winter be like without a little bit of cabin fever fun, eh?

Submitted for your chuckling pleasure, the following contestants willingly entered the contest knowing that they would receive the honor of being named the best Dork in the blogosphere and a bit of razzing. As we don't want bloodshed here, there is no major prize other than the glory and a link on the side noting you as the winner. Sorry, it's lame, but so is the contest.

Please submit your votes via comments by Tuesday evening and only vote for ONE dork--I can't do the math otherwise. If we get as many comments as we did for the Dork Off I, I won't be commenting in return--that nearly killed me last time! I will announce the winner on Wednesday with lots of hoopla and fanfare.

Good luck, dorky contestants:

Contestant # 1 is Chuck from Secondary Roads. Chuck, otherwise known as "Baby Corn" to his family, spent many hours of his youth amongst the fields of newly sprouting crops. Left out in the hot sun with nothing but a lounge chair and his undies, Chuck learned at an early age to be an independent fellow and to work on his tan. Chuck recommends SPF 150 to avoid becoming a raisin.
Vote #1 for Chuck.
Contestant #2 is Lin from Duck and Wheel with String. Not coordinated enough to be a cheerleader, Lin spent one sorry year in high school on the Pom Squad. Not the cool Pom Squad or Dance Team of today, Lin realized half-way through basketball season that she was just embarrassing herself both with those red and white saddle shoes and that ridiculous pom pom hairdo. We aren't even mentioning how she marched an entire parade with no cheer briefs on under that short skirt--only her undies for the fans to see. Gees, them are some big poms you got there, Lin. And some big pom pom hair.
Vote #2 for Lin.
Contestant #3 is Paulineh from Crockpot Meals . Paulineh claims she was going to a 70's party, but we know better--she is just a dork. Going all out for that "costume", Paulineh wraps her head tightly with some holiday ribbon and a left-over bow for that "Let's get physical" look. Yeah, no.
Vote #3 for Paulineh.
Contestant #4 is Vanilla from String Too Short to Tie. Vanilla, always the snappy dresser, is sporting his favorite leggings from the Little Rascals collection at Sears. Thinking that he was the star of his family's home production of "Hansel and Gretel", he willingly wore this get-up and let his mother spit-polish that "do" of his. He wisened up when he realized that nobody else in the family was "dressing" the part and there was lots of muffled giggling coming from the other side of the room.
Vote #4 for Vanilla.
Contestant #5 is Paige from Lenox Knits. Paige is suffering from a broken ankle, but let us not let compassion get in our way of snickering at her entry. Paige is sporting a wicked kitty sweater WITH matching leg warmers for that "Who's the Boss" look inspired by a young Alyssa Milano. Then envy of all the gals in her middle school, Paige actually pulls these bad boys off pretty well--although I am wondering what happened to the kitties on one leg. (Maybe Santa got these on clearance.) A guest appearance by Paige's younger sister/Little Lord Faultnoroy is just the added bonus. Notice how her bow encompasses nearly her entire upper body.
Vote #5 for Paige.
Contestant #6 is JD from I To Things So You Don't Have To. Those of you who know JD, know that we are missing something here in her youth--her HAIR! The Rapunzel of the blogging set nowadays throws us a loop with this shorn version of a young JD, as does that innocent smirk and those cat eyeglasses. I like the uneven bangs and the pressed collar, but those glasses take the cake. Meow, JD, ME-OW. I'm thinking she's really not all that innocent here. I'll bet she was stealing Little Debbies from the other kids at the lunch table.
Vote for #6 for JD.
Contestant #7 is Pricilla from The Maaaaa of Pricilla. Pricilla sent in a supposed "dork" photo of herself in pearls, but I don't think she looks like a Dork--actually, I think she looks downright lovely in her strand of white. Always game for a little fun, Pricilla not only entered the contest, but tried to nudge Patty out of the photo, knowing that she was just horning in on her glory--again. Thank goodness Abby, Luke, Big Blue, and the rest of the gang didn't try to get in too. Sheesh.
Vote #7 for Pricilla (NOT Patty on the right).

Contestant #8 is Casey from Half as Good as You. First of all, Casey always posts these "I'm a dork" photos, but she never really is. Coming from a good-looking tan bunch, Casey was not only a snappy dresser, but cool as well. Sigh. I always hated the cool kids. But with this entry, I was relieved to see the real truth that lingered inside the walls of Casey's family home--butt ugly wallpaper, the downfall of all of us raised in the 70's. She may not have been around in the 70's, but that wallpaper sure was. Criminy, you can barely see that child in her ridiculously short dolly dress amongst the trees and the weird stuff on the walls! I think somewhere inside, Casey sports an inner dork for living like that.
Vote #8 for Casey.
Our final entry, Contestant #9 is Karen from Will Oaks Studio. Okay, so Karen looks absolutely adorable in that fluffy crinoline-lined beauty of a dress, but look at that girlie's face--she is totally fake-smiling nudging up to Cujo, the family dog. She's got that "Yeah, uh, I love the doggie, but really I'm terrified ever since he lunged at my throat last week" look on her face, doesn't she? She's thinking "Do I really have to get closer?" while her brother is just plain freaked out. I mean, look at his hair standing on end just sitting next to Cujo. Even Cujo is sort of unsure about this grand plan to have the little ones hanging on him--check out the one eyebrow lifted as if to say "Really?". I love family photos, don't you?
Contestant #9 is Karen.

Grace, underrated

Grace is:

- grumpy
- not happy sharing her house with another animal
- a pretty cat
- not big on cuddling
- getting old
- silly when no one is looking
- mine and I am hers
- heavy when she sits on my lap for any amount of time
- a one-person cat
- big on sleeping in and canned cat food
- a loner
- all about a warm ray of sunshine on the floor
- scared of the cat door
- missing a few teeth
- deaf when she wants to be
- alpha cat
- willing to let Hobbes get all the attention
- smart

and I love her for all of those things.

Suet with Frosting

How it got in through those little bars, I'll never know, but I sorta like my suet with a 2 inch cap of snow frosting. Don't you?

I Heart my Snow-Blower

Ooooh, it's been snowing for the past day and our world is covered by white. Okay, so it was already white from the last snow--it's just deeper and cleaner now. I always love a fresh snowfall when everything outside wears a little white hat made of snow. I especially like when the individual fence posts are capped--I like that god pays special attention to details on stuff like that.

Hey, it's the weekend! We are finally free of obligations and I'm hoping to spend my day tomorrow quilting and watching "Love Actually"--a favorite holiday movie of mine that I never got around to watching this Christmas. I'm looking forward to sleeping in and sitting by the fire all day. I just love when the snow comes in droves and I'm off work--gees, that is great timing.

Enjoy your weekend, pallies. I hear the cold and snow is taking over the country these days, so I wish you warmth along with relaxation this weekend. May you take time to do something you want to do and the have-to's don't consume the day. May you breathe deep and enjoy those you love.

Oh! Don't forget to send me your Dork Off entries! I'm going to put together the entries for the contest to begin on Monday. We have some doozies already, so only send your really dorky photos.

Happy Weekend, pallies. Peace.

I-love-Hobbes Thursday

Hobbes does a daily check on the pond to see if it has thawed yet. I'm not sure if he is trying to figure out why he can stand here in the winter and not in the summer--or if he is just checking for frogs.

Either way, Hobbes gingerly lowered himself onto the next ledge and we both panicked as he slid towards the frozen water. There is a heater in the center which renders the ice unstable, so I quickly shooed him away to explore other exciting things in the yard like wayward bird feathers and opossum poop. He likes to smell opossum poop.

The pond is sort of sad when it is frozen with its inhabitants snoozing away under the ice and snow. It's too quiet at this time of year and we all miss the activity that warmer weather brings. I always worry that the frogs and minnows are safe during their slumbers, and last night, I even remembered the lone snail that was still munching algae in late fall.

I say a little prayer each time I peer out, hoping all is well and they all make it to spring. In the meantime, it's good to know somebody besides me is on watch.

We need a Dork Off

Oh, why so glum? Winter getting you down? Sad after the holidays? Bored with your family members? Hate your job? Ain't got a dime to your name?

I've got just the medicine..........it's time for a Dork Off!

What's a Dork Off, you ask?

Why, it's my lame attempt at having some fun here at The Duck and Wheel. What else could be more fun than sending me your embarrassing childhood photos and letting us all vote for the biggest Dork of the bunch?!

Not sure what to send? Check these bad boys out from our very first competition back in July.

Are you in??? C'mon, pallies. Email me your dorkiest photo by Saturday and I'll be sure to write a swell caption to enhance your chances of winning. We'll kick off the competition on Monday and let it run for a day or two and we'll crown us a winner.

C'mon, admit your inner dorkiness! I mean, it can't be worse than what I've got here.

Friendship at 40

Tracey over at The Crazy Suburban Mom got me thinking the other day. Well, actually she happened to tap me when I was thinking anyway and we were both kinda thinking the same thing--friendship is tough.

It's funny how the qualifications for friendship change with time and the actual definition of friendship is altered with the years. What I considered true friendship when I was 7 or 8 wasn't the same as when I was 20 or 30. And now, as I'm listing more towards 50 (gasp!) than 40-- like the Titanic-- I find myself redefining friendship again. I wonder if friendship will be easier or harder when I'm 80? Hmmmm.....

When I was a kid, pretty much whoever lived on your block was your friend. And when you started school, the kid who sat next to you or the girls you played jump rope on the playground with were your new friends. Friendship was simple then--be nice to me, I'll be nice to you. And, oh yeah, do you wanna come over to play sometime? See? Easy.

As we moved into middle school and we were all lumpy and awkward, loyalty played a huge part of friendship. When you were getting razzed for your buck teeth or smelly armpits, did your friend stand by your side, cheering you up, whispering in your ear that the tormentors didn't know squat? Or did they bail, too embarrassed by your buck teeth and smelly armpits to be seen with you? Those that stuck by and still liked you in spite of it all--they were true friends.

Enter high school, when you hung with your girlfriends until the boys came around. The real friend didn't mind you blowing them off for more time with your boyfriend, they patiently knew that you would be back again when he ditched you. And you did the same for her. Friendship in high school was silly and fun with a splash of drama here and there. Friends were tight in high school--you were who your friends were.

When I went to college, friends became more surfacey for me. We partied together, hung out, went to classes and bars--but it was rarely the long-term friendships that I found from my earlier years. People graduated or switched schools without looking back. It was a time of finding your own true person rather than clinging to your friends or doing what they were doing. For me, finding myself was too important to compromise for anyone else.

It's strange then how our friendships after marriage and raising a family became important again. We hung out with other married people and then those who had kids in the same preschool as ours. We laughed and visited with the Little League parents, Cub Scout dads and dance moms. It seems as though our kid's friend's parents were our friends. We even had our neighbors as friends back in these days--I guess its a naive "Hey, let's all be friends" kinda thinking. In hindsight, we were idiots--I thought everyone who was nice to us was our "friend".

It's funny how as I look back lately, how few true "friends" have really stuck around long term. I mentioned my grade school friends the other day, and how we don't need to call each other all of the time to be friends. We get together and just sort of pick up where we left off. I have a handful of truly great friends that I cannot imagine life without. I think that is all you truly need--just a handful.

As I think about Tracy asking "Why are some friendships so difficult and others so easy?", I'm finding that I'm dropping the difficult ones more and more as each year passes. Life is short they say, and I say yeah, no kidding--so why are we wasting it on empty relationships? Give me the true pallies who stick it out with me. The ones who forgive me when I'm an idiot and say the wrong thing. The ones who make me laugh endlessly or are always up for fun. The ones who can call and say "C'mon, I'm in the car--let's go!".

It seems I've come full circle--with me heading back to the grade school days of "you be nice to me, I'll be nice to you. And, oh yeah, do you wanna come over sometime?". I don't need to hang out with you every day, but gees, when we do get together, it is a hoot of a time. I spend more time on being happy and a lot less on drama. Those that inspire drama are somehow lost in the shuffle, never to be really heard from again other than a polite "hi".

The one thing that I have learned through it all though, is how wonderful it is to make new friends and how often in this life we are given that opportunity. Friends can be found in the most odd places and friendships form under incredible situations. It is one of life's simple pleasures--finding a new friend.

Orange, Stripey, and Bored

It's the fourth day of January and Hobbes is bored stiff already. His usual toys, Sparkle Ball and Stick, just aren't cutting it in the entertainment department and he's letting us know it. There is lots of pathetic meowing and staring at the refrigerator, hoping that there is something on top that is more fun than what we are offering for kitty fun.

Stick was Hobbes favorite toy--until this week. A long clear stick that once held some sort of tinsel-type thing on the end, is now missing the tinsel part. The stick has broken twice, but he still relished that silly plastic thing zipping across the floor. I'm not sure what Stick was supposed to be, but Hobbes stalked that bad boy like a lion chasing zebra in the Serengeti. He even managed to catch it periodically, carrying it around like some animal carcass.

So, all was well with us taking turns playing with Hobbes and Stick until this weekend. Suddenly, Stick wasn't cutting it and he told us so. Maybe it was that we were all sick of playing Stick with him and completely ignoring his pleas at the base of the refrigerator.

"Hobbes!" Joe was yelling "Knock it off!" He was getting tired of the pathetic mewing.

"He wants to play, Joe" I'm pleading Hobbes' case, "Can't you play Stick with him?" (I was hoping I didn't have to play Stick.)

"Stick sucks, Hobbes" Joe went right for the jugular. I think that cat died a little death right there and I felt for him.

I ended up opening the garage door and letting him explore my van for a few minutes, just to entertain the poor cat. You know you are desperate when you let the cat crawl around your car interior for a change of scenery. Spring is a long way off, and I had to think of something. Later, I dropped $35 at PetSmart on cat toys, all in the name of keeping the cats entertained.

It's not a good sign when the cats have cabin fever and it's January. We still have like 3 more months of cold weather and Joe is telling the cat his toy "sucks". I'm not sure who is driving me more crazy--the cats or the humans I live with. It's like having toddlers all over again. Sigh.

It's going to be a really long winter.

Like the Earth, we are resting

Oh crud, I'm pooped.

I'm taking today off to do nothing. No writing, no laundry, no digging the frozen Christmas lights out of the snow, and no more cleaning. I plan on doing nothing more than taking a shower (maybe) and reading some blogs that I need to catch up on. Small plans for a tired old bod.

Happy Sunday, pallies. I hope you join me in my plan to relax today. May your couch greet you with open arms, may the blankie hold you close, and may your family leave you alone to just chill. I'm taking a cue from the frozen Earth--sometimes you just gotta rest.

Ode to The Train

Goodbye Christmas,
Goodbye tree,
Goodbye Pope by the KFC.

Goodbye wreaths,
and ornaments made with yarn,
Goodbye miniature horse sitting in the barn.

Goodbye decorations and lights galore,
Goodbye tree needles scattered on the floor.

Goodbye stockings,
Goodbye cards,
Goodbye little men working by the lumber yard.

Goodbye train for another year,
Goodbye hooker,
and the store with a giant ad for beer.

Goodbye Santa,
Goodbye village scene,
Goodbye tiny movie house playing "African Queen".

Goodbye all things Christmas,
Goodbye train,
for packing it all up is a royal pain.

January 1, 2010 and I'm exhausted already

Why is it that we have this huge celebration on the last day of the year that makes us exhausted welcoming in the new one? That just doesn't make sense to me. Isn't it like the first day of school where you go to bed early with curlers in your hair to welcome the new school year refreshed and some funky hair? Gees, I got up at 9:30 and I'm ready for a nap already. Not a good sign for 2010.

We visited with friends last night. I met Jan (the host) back in the second grade, which is probably one of my longest friendships. She and I have lost and gained touch throughout all those 39 years, much like the weight on our bods. It's just amazing to me that she's never dogged me, we never fought, never had a bad word for each other in all of those years. Says a lot in these days, doesn't it.

Cheryl and her husband, Tom, were there too, which is always a hoot. I met Cheryl back in sixth grade--a very awkward time for me. It's amazing that she wants to be seen with me knowing my dumpy self back in middle school. I'm not sure how I met Cheryl, but I do remember her mixing a mean cocktail at some party back in those early days of high school. Isn't it funny what we chose to remember?

We had our bi-annual game of girls-against-the-guys Pictionary game, and the girls had their bi-annual loss. There is no beating the guys--they have some weird guy-talking-code or something where Joe can draw a stick and one of the Toms yell "Hank Aaron" and then they win and they all high five each other and we gals just sit there amazed at the ridiculousness. We'd swear they cheat, but I think they would screw up the cheating more than the winning, so we just give them the win to make them feel better about themselves. Well, it was either that or watch football or porn on Tom's new big screen TV.

Janice's Tom was pretty darn excited because he figured out how to find the porn on his new TV. Of course he just "happened" upon it one day--clicking through literally 5 menus and 6 sub-menus to find it. It was an "accident", I guess. Jan wasn't buying it, but Joe and the other Tom smiled and nodded in admiration for his sheer genius.

It was nice to be with friends with New Year's Eve, which is something we don't typically do. New Year's Eve here typically finds us taking down the real tree and passing out around 10. We were rockin' it out this year, staying out until 11:30, when after consuming something like 75 mini-cheesecake squares, I could no longer hold my eyes open. We came home to ring in the New Year with Em and Caroline who camped out in the family room for the night.

So, with drowsy eyelids and a stuffed belly, I welcome in 2010 slowly.

Yeah, I'm thinking of the 10 pounds I need to lose and the gym I keep threatening to go look at. I'm thinking of my trip to Disney with the band and our annual trip to the Falls in July. I'm wondering how I'll let Colin go off to college with all of our money and if Em will try out for the Badminton team. I wonder if the frogs and minnows are alive under the ice of the pond and if the hydrangea is gonna bloom again this year. I'm thinking of how I can disconnect from the weird-ass neighbors around here and still enjoy my life in this house and yard.

There's lots of hope and promise for a new year, isn't there? I like that. Let's hope it's a good one.

Happy New Year, pallies.