...in her mind

by ~AzGal45 

 in bed curled up eyes closed 

He's there ..... in her mind. 

 Strong Hands soft skin 

slowly touching so relaxed 

..... in her mind. 

 Hands roam 

Fingers tease 

soft moans heated skin 

..... in her mind. 

 erotic touches tingling parts 

body reacts soulful aching 

..... in her mind. 

 Hands focused 

Fingers delve 

panting now needs release 

..... in her mind. 

 slippery wet 

His voice 

three words she obeys 

..... in her mind. 

 loud moans 

body trembles 

Fingers stroking breathing heavy 

.... in her mind. 

 floating downward 

small tremors 

tender touches she smiles 

..... in her mind. 

 ~~~LDPoetry©2008

If I Have to Go

"If I have to Go" is a song I've recently discovered, sung by Tom Waits, composed by Kathleen Brennan. (Thanks Prof, for sharing!!) Every now and then a song really speaks out. Not sure what the message I hear in this song is, and I'm sure everyone else hears or feels something different. But what I'm impressed by is this: Some music is wild and crazy, loud and rocking. But some of the best music is simple songs, with long, pure, clear notes. Like Chris Botti's Love Gets Old (listen here ). His jazz trumpet doesn't play a complex set of notes, just long, simple notes of pure pleasure. Tom Waits' song does this for me as well. It's tinked out with simple chords and an easy tune. (listen here )

and if I have to go
will you remember me?
or will you find someone else
while I'm away?

there's nothing for me
in this world full of strangers
its all someone else's idea
I dont belong here
and you can't go with me
you'll only slow me down

until I send for you
dont wear your hair that way
if you cannot be true
I'll understand

tell all the others
you hold in your arms
I said I'd come back for you

I'll leave my jacket
to keep you warm
that's all that I can do

and if I have to go
will you remember me?
will you find someone else
while I'm away?

Tis the Season....

...and everyone's extremely busy with all that goes on in life around the holidays. No exception here, either. Because I work in retail, totally busy days don't leave much time for working on a To Do list; just the bare essentials get done on some days. I'm sure its the same with some of you, as well.

But this is the time I can celebrate something else: one year ago, I signed papers and bought my first house. It's been a good year *knock on wood* Even though my AC unit quit in the middle of summer, much of the cost was covered by my warranty -- a very good investment, in my opinion! Life has been good to me in Arizona, and I am extremely grateful for the people who have touched my life in one way or another. (ya'll know who you are!!) Work has been plentiful, no loss of hours, or wage cuts have affected me, and in this economy, that's very good news!

I'm not sure how many of you have put up a tree this year. I debated back and forth over putting up my tree, but finally relented, and it's up. It looks so cheerful standing tall in front of my bay window. Last year, I put up the Christmas tree in the new house, but it stood there looking so lonely as it was the only thing in the living room! This year, the traditions officially start, and the tree in front of the window is the first step, it appears. Which got me thinking: How do you feel when you put up your tree? Do you remember all the times you decorated your tree in the past? Are there traditions that you might not even be aware of? the location? when you decorate? who helps? I love the smell of a fresh cut tree; it brings back so many memories of growing up. We'd travel up over the hill to Santa Cruz to find the perfect tree, cut it down, then driving back, we'd stop at the beach, or maybe for pizza on the way home. The tree always sat in a bucket of water on the back patio until the next weekend (to get the bugs shaken off? give it a good drink? haha) And decorating the tree was for everyone to share in. I liked doing the strings of tinsel! *Note: You will not find any of that on my tree -- It was messy!

My daughter related a story to me: It seems my granddaughter, who is 8, decided to be a good helper while her mom was napping, and assemble the Christmas tree herself. I guess the small branches are toward the bottom, the bigger branches toward the top. I have this image of an upside down triangle shaped tree!! And bless her, she did it all by herself! :)

Tis the Season HUGGGS to everyone!

Keep the Music Playing?

Robert Browning writes: Who hears music, feels his solitude peopled at once.

Listening to your favorite music is an easy way to carve out a private interlude. Music is one of the most sensuous ways in which Life flirts with us. Enjoying music that makes us feel good, or feel better, is an important way to pamper ourselves. How easy it is at the end of the day to think "I've had enough people, enough noise, I just want quiet." But what are you missing? Have you taken the time to actually revel in this sensory pleasure?

I was reading about a woman who was alone again in her life. And she began sorting out all the 'love songs' in her collection, since there was no one to share those with anymore. And she asked herself why? Those are all tunes she loves to listen to; not allowing herself to hear them because there was no one to share them with wasn't an acceptable reason to weed them out of her collection.

It's funny, when we're in love and we hear the word ~you~ in the chorus, we immediately associate the song with that person. On the other hand, its hard to hear those songs and not feel the emptiness of not having someone in our life. But maybe the answer is a little more simple than that. Try thinking of the song as Life serenading it to YOU! Take some time today to indulge, to love yourself, with some of your favorite tunes; feel the power music has over us, let it take you to places you haven't been in a while.

For me, music has always been a powerful part of my life. I'm been collecting CD's for years, and have a strangely eclectic collection. A friend of mine started an internet radio station, and invited me to try DJ'ing (here) and I found out [after the trial and error period], that I really enjoy it! If you have some free time, pop in and give a listen (Thanks, David!)

Musical HUGS to everyone!

Holidays alone

It's officially the Holiday Season. The infamous "Black Friday" sales are over. Today is "Cyber Monday", another manic day of online shopping, if that's your thing. But by the time we reach the later years of life, things just aren't the same. How do we keep the sparks alive when things are so different now? I found a list of things to keep in mind that just might help:

• I don't have to hide purchases in the trunk of the car any more.
• I can stay in my pajamas all weekend long.
• I can eat pizza for breakfast, or have pancakes for dinner.
• I can spread all my papers and books on the other side of the bed and leave them there til I'm finished.
• I don't have to make an appointment to spend half an hour in the tub.
• I can watch a wonderful old movie at 3am without keeping the volume down.
• I don't have to share my closets with anyone.
• I can dress up for the fun of it without anyone asking "What's the occasion?"
• I can tear pages out of magazines and newspapers without waiting for anyone else to read them first.
• I don't have to tune out the clamor of someone else's choice in music, television, or video.
• I can spend Saturday reading and catch up on the housework whenever.
• I can eat anything in my own refrigerator at any time.
• I can celebrate any darn thing I want to with an expensive bottle of wine.
• I'm always happy with my own birthday present.
• I don't have to stop everything to catch the score, unless I want to.
• I don't have to explain myself, ever.

None of this may sound like it will lead to living romantically, but it has to start somewhere. If you're feeling sorry for yourself because of loves lost, try and discover a few reasons to be grateful for your singleness in the moment.

Love After Love
~Derek Walcott

The time will come
when, with elation,
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror,
And each will smile at the other's welcome.

And say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you.

All your life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

HUGS to help celebrate YOU!

Bridges of Madison County

I haven't blogged in a while. I've gotten away from writing for some personal reasons, but look forward to sharing thoughts again. Lately, I've been watching "Bridges of Madison County". And in a conversation I had, it got me thinking, wondering why I enjoy it so much. A big part of it is just the story itself. A classic love story theme, without the happy hollywood ending. The book is just as fascinating. The movie doesn't follow the book format, but there are some wonderful passages in the book that aren't conveyed in the movie. Yet they both go hand in hand, and are equally enjoyable.

I shared the following with a friend, because I look at him as one of the last of his kind, the same way Robert is in this story:

Setting the scene: It's 1965, she's a farm wife, he's a roving photographer for Natl Geographic. Happenstance or fate brings them together the week her family is out of town. And they find a very powerful love between them, unlike any other "hollywood love story", nearly instantaneous, and yet both seem to sense they can never be together "happily ever after".

He says:
"There's a certain breed of man that's obsolete. Or very nearly so. The world is getting organized, way too organized for me and some others. Everything in its place, a place for everything. Well, my camera equipment is pretty well organized, I admit, but I'm talking about something more than that. Rules and regulations and laws and social conventions. Hierarchies of authority, spans of control, long range plans, and budgets. Corporate power; in 'Bud' we trust. A world of wrinkled suits and stick-on name tags.

Not all men are the same. Some will do okay in the world that's coming. Some, maybe just a few of us, will not. You can see it in computers and robots and what they portend. In older worlds, there were things we could do, were designed to do, that nobody or no machine could do. We run fast, are strong and quick, agressing and tough. We were given courage. We can throw spears long distances and fight in hand-to-hand combat.

Eventually, computers and robots will run things. Humans will manage those machines, but that doesn't require courage or strength, or any characteristics like those. In face, men are outliving their usefulness. All you need are sperm banks to keep the species going, and those are coming along now. Most men are rotten lovers, women say, so there's not much loss in replacing sex with science.

We're giving up free range, getting organized, feathering our emotions. Efficiency and effectiveness and all those other pieces of intellectual artifice. And with the loss of the free range, the cowboy disappears, along with the mountain lion and gray wolf. There's not much room left for travelers.

I'm one of the last cowboys. My job gives me free range of a sort. As much as you can find nowadays. I'm not sad about it. Maybe a little wistful, I guess. But it's got to happen; it's the only way we'll keep from destroying ourselves. My contention is that male hormones are the ultimate cause of trouble on this planet. It was one thing to dominate another tribe or another warrior. It's quite another to have missiles. It's also quite another to have the power to destroy nature the way we're doing.

It's probably time to put away the things of childhood and grow up. Hell, I recognize it. I admit it. I'm just trying to make some good pictures and get out of life before I'm totally obsolete or do some serious damage."

She marveled at the sense he had of his ways coming to a close and the ease with which he accepted it. He could see the approaching death of cowboys and others like them, including himself. And she began to understand what he meant when he said he was at the terminus of a branch of evolution and that it was a dead end. Once, in talking about what he called "last things", he whispered " 'Never again,' cried the High-Desert Master. 'Never and never and never again.' " He saw nothing beyond himself along the branch. His kind was obsolete.

When they mention leaving together, she tells him "In a curious way, you own me. I didn't want to be owned, didn't need it, and I know you didn't intend that, but that's what has happened. You have me inside of you as a willing prisoner." He replied "I'm not sure you're inside of me, or that I am inside of you, or that I own you. I think we're both inside of another being we have created called 'us', not really inside that being, we ~are~ that being. We have both lost ourselves and created something else, something that exists only as an interlacing of the two of us."

"Robert, last night when we were making love, you said something that I still remember: 'I am the highway and a peregrine and all the sails that ever went to sea.' You were right. That's what you feel, you feel the road inside of you. No, more than that, in a way that I'm not certain I can explain, you are the road. In a crack where illusion meets reality, that's where you are, out there on the road, and the road is you. You're old knapsacks and a truck named Harry and jet planes to Asia. And that's what I want you to be. If your evolutionary branch is a dead end, as you say it is, then I want you to hit that end at full speed. I'm not sure you can do that with me along. Don't you see I love you so much that I cannot think of restraining you for a moment. To do that would be to kill the wild magnificent animal that is you, and the power would die with it."

When it's time for him to go, he leaves her with this one last thought: "I have one thing to say, one thing only, I'll never say it another time, to anyone, and I ask you to remember it: In a universe of ambiguity, this kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime, no matter how many lifetimes you live."

He got in his truck, gears grinding as he drove down the lane. At the end, he got out, stood on the running board and looked at Francesca. She watched him, sunlight making prisms with her tears. Neither of them moved, they already had said goodbye. They just looked-- the Iowa farm wife, the creature at the end of his evolutionary branch, one of the last cowboys. For thirty seconds he stood there, his eyes missing nothing, making their own image that he never would lose. He closed the door, and was crying again as he turned left on the county road. He looked in his rearview mirror, and saw her sitting crosslegged in the dust where the lane began, her head in her hands.

I really like the Clint character in this movie. He's edgy and soft at the same time. In the movie, he doesn't talk fast, you get the idea that he's weighing his words. And he listens to Francesca as if he already knows that he wants to remember each and every word the rest of his life. It's as if he knows before it even starts how it will end.

There's an odd beauty in a love between two people that doesn't cause them to disrupt what is. Neither of them gave up what they had to start something new. They seemed to know that if she had run away with him, the guilt, the feelings, would catch up to them and ruin what was beautiful. Maybe that's what's wrong with the world today. Everyone so caught up in trying to 'have it all' that they end up feeling badly about themselves, and everyone involved, because they didn't have the courage, the morals, to do what's right, to not give in to selfish pleasures. Maybe that's the biggest appeal for me about the movie, overall. She didn't give in, didn't ruin what she had with a husband and children. So often I hear "I deserve some happiness" as if that's an excuse to turn your back on what is, and reach for something else.

There's a lot to be said for old ways, old character traits, that the world has gotten away from. Morals and values don't seem to be ingrained in the same ways as they used to be. I often speak of some people I run across who are "old souls" -- no matter their chronological age, they seem to be old, like me. And that's not a bad thing!!

HUGS to all the old souls out there! (and the rest of you too!)
and a special HUG to my own "last cowboy"

Stream of Words

Stream of Words

It all begins with Hello.
How are you? Fine. Yourself?
What draws us to start a conversation in
a stream of words on a screen?

Another chance meeting
and the conversation picks up
Touches lightly on a range of subjects in
a stream of words on a screen.

Time moves along, and
the conversations continue
to delve deeper into one another in
a stream of words on a screen.

She asks questions about his theories
he continually challenges her way of thinking
she worries: does he think her thoughts too simple in
a stream of words on a screen?

Delving deeper into hopes, dreams, plans
she shares, he suggests and advises,
respect and gratitude begin to arise in
a stream of words on a screen.

Confidence and trust grow
like a desert flower blossoming
Can her dreams happen if she uses his advice in
a stream of words on a screen?

Weeks turn into months into years
her biggest dream becomes real;
hard work and good advice pays off from
a stream of words on a screen.

He's far away, and she's alone.
Casual conversations now have more depth
How can her heart be so wrapped up in
a stream of words on a screen?

Her body lonely for more, a shy attempt
at a local date begins well; but her mind wanders
and compares; wishes she was having a conversation in
a stream of words on a screen.

Other conversations are constantly compared
to her conversations with him; and fall short.
What is it that draws her heart inexplicably to
a stream of words on a screen?

Nary a day goes by without a conversation,
a memo, a note; and of course, virtual hugs!
Hello. How are you? Fine. Yourself? in
a stream of words on a screen.

There's no way to predict the
outcome of this virtual relationship
could anything ever replace this
stream of words on a screen?

I turn on my computer; log on.
Busy with my usual web pages, I wait.
Anticipating that moment when we continue
a stream of words on a screen.

The moment he logs on, my computer sings,
my heart soars, joyous to begin again....
there he is now!!! so I'm ending this
stream of words on a screen.

©L.Danielson

Short Story: Maybe Someday

"Come on, Angela, it's bedtime", Daddy called to his little girl. She ran over to him, took his hand and they started down the hallway to her room, which was decorated in pink, the furniture lovingly picked out and repainted by her Daddy. "Will you read me a story, Daddy?" Daddy chuckled, for this was the question she asked of him every night. He began to read from "Twas the Day Before Zoo Day". Angela listened with rapt attention, hanging on his every word as he read about zoo keepers and animals getting ready for people to come see them. Things don't go right, the zebras aren't happy with their stripes, the giraffes are drooling, mayhem seems to be the order of the day! It all works out happily in the end as Daddy finishes reading, closes the book and tells Angela it's time to go to sleep. "Daddy?" she asks in a sleepy voice, "Will you take me to the zoo?" He answers back as he kisses her forehead, "Maybe someday. Goodnight."

The fight starts when she comes down the hall on the morning of her tenth birthday, and kisses her daddy's cheek. He gives her the once-over look that says he's not pleased with her short skirt, and sends her back to her room to change into something more appropriate for school. "March, young lady." She stomps back to her room, and changes into jeans and a tee shirt, flouncing back down the hallway, and sits at the table for breakfast. "That's much better, Angela. Thank you." She smiles back at him, and asks where he's taking her for her birthday. "How does Applebee's sound?" With only a small pout, she nods her head. "But can't we go to the mall instead?" Daddy lowers his newspaper and says "Maybe someday. Have a good day in school."

For a girl, 14 is a hard age, not old enough, but not much a girl any longer. She slinks home from school and drops her books on the couch, crossing her arms and stares at nothing across the room. When Daddy comes home, he finds her there, still in the same spot, still staring. "What's the matter today, Angela?" With her lower lip stuck out, she's reluctant to talk about, but her dad cajoles it out of her, like he usually does. "David made fun of me, and pulled my hair. I hate him!" Daddy's eyebrows shoot skyward, "I thought you liked him a lot." Hmph. "Well, not any more, not after today." Her dad knows these things pass, and the world will be right again in another week. Angela is mired in her emotions for the moment, though, and then blurts out "Will I ever get married, Daddy?" He smiled gently at her, "Maybe someday, Angel."

In line at the motor vehicle department, Angela nervously twists the ring on her hand, her feet tapping an invisible rhythm as they wait side by side for her turn. Number 102 is called, and they walk up to start the paperwork, and Angela goes over to take her written test, so excited to be getting her driver's permit. Her dad watches her chew nervously on the end of her pencil as she reads the questions, her face scrunching up in thought as she ponders each answer before marking the paper. She breathes a sigh of relief and takes it over to be corrected, rocking back and forth on her feet as she waits to hear the answer she's been waiting for: "You passed... Here's your permit." With a huge smile on her face, she hugs her dad and proudly shows him her permit. When the reach the car, she climbs in the driver's side and holds her hand out for the key, starting the car with a huge smile on her face. "Daddy, will you buy me a car now that I have my permit?" With an indulgent smile, he answers "Maybe someday."

Years later, a divorced Angela finds herself tucking her own little girl after reading her a story. When her little girl asks if she'll take her somewhere, Angela answers "Maybe someday." And it reminds her how her own daddy said that often to her. She never did go to the zoo with him. And he never did buy her that car. When she realized that she was creating somedays that never come, she told herself that this time, it would be different. And she smiled down at her daughter, and said "How about this weekend?"

Neil Gaiman Quote

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.”

Talismans- What's yours?

As most of you know, I'm an avid amateur photographer; as such, there's a group on Flickr that gives out a daily assignment to grow our skills with topics that take us out of our comfort zones. Yesterday's topic: "Some carry a talisman, amulet, "lucky charm", or just a comforting thing in our pocket. What do you carry? "

It took me only seconds to think what that would be for me, as I wear a gold thumb ring on my left hand. The only time I take it off is when its forced (like for surgery; when that happens, my best friend 'holds it' for me until I return).

But more than a picture of the item, what fascinates me are the stories behind how it became some sort of talisman to a person. Was it something that was found? Is it associated with something, or someone, for a reason? Of course, my thumb ring has its own story.....

After my divorce, I was worried, and a little depressed, about being alone, having to start over, afraid no one would want me again. (typical feelings for that situation, I hope!) When I started chatting with my friend, my Prof, my mentor (You know who you are!!); he convinced me that I needed something to symbolize my freedom, to remind me I'm a good person, that I can do anything I set my mind to... in short, the Goddess within me!!! So after some discussion, we settled on the thumb ring -- something I can wear that doesn't get in the way, and is always there to remind me that I'm special!

A short story, but simple and effective. I never go without my thumb ring, and when I'm having doubts, a little nudge with my other fingers and I know its there, not letting me forget my Goddess within!!

What's your lucky charm or talisman ???

HUGS to everyone!!

Write it, you'll like it !!

“Use your blog to connect. Use it as you.
Don't ‘network’ or ‘promote.’ Just talk.”
Neil Gaiman

I've recently begun following a few folks on Twitter. Quotes4Writers is one. Neil Gaiman is another. He's a favorite author of mine. I admire his writing, have read his wonderful books, and enjoy the whimsy of many of them. But above is a good piece of advice when it comes to blogging. It isn't about trying to *do* as much as it is to practice your craft.

So many folks are hesitant to sit down and blog. With the folks I've spoken to, I am continually amazed how many say they "have nothing to say". Everyone has something to speak about! It's learning to focus on something, to have something to share.

As most of you know, photography is a huge hobby of mine. And every day, there's a daily challenge with instructions on what to look for when taking the daily picture. Take the other day: "Make a photograph from a high point of view. Get on top of a building, use a ladder, or just look down at a small object." OK, that's specific instructions. But in fact, what do you see when you get on a building or a ladder? My backyard or front yard isn't interesting enough to take a photo of to share. Or is it? Its about learning to think outside the normal way we see things and use a different 'eye' when taking a photo. And I think it's the same with writing.

It takes time to re-learn something we had to do in school. Remember those "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" papers we had to write? It was an exercise in getting our thoughts, our memories, committed to paper in a logical, well written, perhaps even a funny manner.

So if you're thinking you can't write, or have nothing to say, I challenge you to take a moment to think of something to write about. And maybe you'll give it a try!!

HUGS to everyone!

Sex on the Beach and other things....

There's a song by T-Spoon that I like, called Sex on the Beach.
And it got me thinking this is one thing I'd like to have on my 'bucket list'.
But the question would be: What beach??
California and the Pacific Ocean...
Atlantic Coast....
Florida beaches, Miami perhaps...
Bahamas....
Caribbean...
The possibilities are endless --- when one has money!!!

With my luck, it would be more like sex in the sandbox in the back yard!!
*laughs*

Haven't taken the time to blog lately .... not because I don't have much to say, but more that I've just busy enough to make excuses for not forcing the issue. With summer upon us here in the Valley of the Sun, well.... we like to joke "it's not hell, but right next door" :) For the most part, its 'business as usual' until the temps get over 110. Then, its more like the bare minimums get done..... usually while wearing the bare minimums!! heh heh heh

Heard@work: "I do it with Steve. I do it with my husband and father-in-law too!"
We were in the lunchroom, and one of the bosses was discussing ride sharing. Needless to say, when a few eyebrows were raised, she turned red and back tracked to explain very quickly!!

I took the summer off classes, and that's been a real relief. I think I needed the break, and I've been using the time to work on my photography a little more. Flickr has a group called "Daily Shoot" and each day they post a new theme for a daily pix. Some of them are challenging, and some are totally fun. (You can see my pix here.)

I enrolled for classes, but only one class on my library tech list was offered at night this semester. The other night classes, I've already taken. Hmm, wonder if taking classes is going to become more challenging now. So I'm pondering taking something else, perhaps English 102.

That's all for now, readers!

HUGS to everyone!!

On Turning 51...

What is it about impending birthdays that make us look back.... or does that only happen as we get older? As a child, I looked forward to the next birthday, getting older, closer to the major goals in life:

• moving from elementary to jr high;
• from jr high to high school;
• first dates;
• first kisses;
• going steady;
• learning to drive and getting a license;
• graduating high school;
• college days;
• turning 21;
• turning 25;
• first babies;
• turning 30; 35; 40;
• grandbabies
• turning 45; 50.

man, where does the time go ?
Here I am, coming up on 51. Is this the down side? It sure doesn't feel like it. And yet, I'm aware of more things: how fast time is going. And how many things I want to get done. We all chuckle a bit when it comes to a "bucket list" , but what better way to make things happen in your life? While we may not have unlimited resources to get these things accomplished, it's possible to achieve things if you put your mind to it.

I sat here and pondered all the changes I've made in the last year. I spent my 50th birthday with my family in California, trekked through the redwood trees and spent part of the day on the beach. I saved up and bought a house! My one big dream was owning my own home by the time I'm 50, and I did it! Had to have major surgery. I also got a tattoo! And a new car!! Then I took a another trip to California... a surprise to my folks. I pulled up in front of the house, and tooted my horn. "What are you doing here?????" I got asked. Geee, like I can't come home for a visit any more??? ~cheeky grin~

It's definitely been a year of happenings. I keep wondering ... what next? There are a lot of places that I want to visit, now that I have reliable wheels, here in Arizona. And I'm dying to take a trip to Southern California. (Starts singing: One way or another I'm gonna see ya, I'm gonna meetcha meetcha meetcha meetcha, One day, maybe next week, I'm gonna meetcha!!!) ~~grin~~

• You don’t get wiser with age, but you do get more perspective.
• The thirty-five years that separate 16 from 51 passes in a heartbeat. Trust me.
• The older you get, the more you become like your true self.
• Age is just mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.

Who knows what this next year will bring....
But I'm looking forward to every moment of it!!

HUGS to everyone!

Boxes

Boxes

cube
square
closed in
creates limits
one inside another
illusion of safety
safety within an illusion

just when you think
you're free of one
you discover
another

thoughts echo
bounce off walls
reverberating same thoughts
over and over

escape isn't easy
there's more than one

recognition of the
ones i built around me
didn't include the one
i let you put me in

July

Summer weather, like being in love, is a philosopher's stone
which turns our ordinary days to gold.
But not the whole day...
for it is never the whole day,
never all our life
which is transformed in any happiness,
but only the exquisite moments.
~~Nan Fairbrother.

Listen to the erotic echo of the everyday and
discover there's never too much of a good thing.
Life's serving up another portion of bliss....
so get out there and find some for yourself!

Blissful HUGS to everyone!

Stop shoulding !

Why do matters of the heart seem to matter more than other matters ?

What makes us so reluctant to see the obvious signs??

Why do we ignore the obvious in favor of our feelings or emotions??

I've heard it said "It isn't logic, it's love." Well, ok.
But that sure doesn't tell me much!

The latest book I picked up from the library is "He's just not your type (and that's a good thing!)" by Andrea Syrtash. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I grabbed it on impulse. Ok, I'll be honest, I grabbed it for the by-line of the book: "How to find love where you least expect it." And by the time I got it home, I thought, 'What the heck am I doing with this? I'm not looking.' However, according to the author, if you're single, you're looking. Even when you're not.

What I find most fascinating was what she had to say about our choices. How many of us have expectations about the person we want to be our soul mate? We could all create a "shopping list" of things we'd like our someone to have: tall, dark and handsome, a sense of humor, a good job (or even *any* job!!), smart, honest ... you get the idea. But does this shopping list exclude someone who just might be the one for us?

Here's one mind bending thought::::

Until you find the person you want to marry,
every relationship will be unsuccessful.

That blew me away; I never looked at it that way before. How many of us want everything we do to be successful? Weren't we raised that way? Why is it when it comes to dating, that we think every potential date/mate will be successful? Are bad dates and relationships part of the learning process??

The author tells us to "Stop shoulding all over yourself". Quit thinking "I should.. ________ (you fill in your own blank). The word should keeps us from taking risks, connecting with our values and following our hearts. Should is a security blanket; it feels safe. We should let it go, banish it from our thought process and be more open to things outside our ruts and routines. (Especially me! I think I'm the Queen of Routines!!)

The other thing that's obvious in each set of stories and circumstances she talks about is the fact that when you're in a relationship, it is what it is, in the right now. Never, ever think it's going to get better, improve, or that you can 'change things' by loving the other person more. Sadly, while the little things might be better, the basics of the relationship need to be just right from the get-go. Never ever 'settle' because of a 'should'.

Am I headed any where with this??? Nope! (at least, not here in public! haha) Just a few thoughts along the way that percolate in my brain .... lucky you, you get to read it! (laughs)

Since I'm not looking, I'll not bore you with several blogs on this book, but sum it up with this: The ultimate dating challenge is to challenge yourself. "Want a different dating result? Do something different consistently. Be different. Pay attention differently. Attract differently. And be open to a different result." It isn't about landing a certain kind of person -- it's about becoming the person you are meant to be.

And lastly, Don't settle for anyone who does not help you be the best version of you and who isn't someone you want to be with in the quiet moments.

HUGS to everyone!

short n sweet....

In a quick, decisive manner, I figured it was a good time to head home to Santa Clara and see my folks for the weekend. Had my son pack and loaded up the car early Saturday morning and headed out. Weather was clear and cool (for AZ anyhow!) and we hit a bit of rain at the AZ/Calif border. Didn't last long, though. The rest of the trip was uneventful and we made it there in 12 hours, door to door. We pulled up in front of the folks' house and turned on the car alarm. Mom looked out the window and said "that looks like Brian" and came running out. Was so good to see them both :)

Didn't do a whole lot of "stuff", just enjoying family time. My nephews had a ballgame on Sunday, and when I got there, Jake was pitching. After a few innings, Brandon also got to pitch! So it was like getting a "two-fer" for me!!! Sunday was hot, so we hung out at my sister's and swam, bbq'd chicken, and visited. It's always so good to catch up on all the things going on in our lives.

Monday, of course, meant I needed to get out and take some photos. I headed over to San Jose's Municipal Rose Garden, then the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. (Although my daily shots challenges were things I was able to take indoors at the house.) Monday night was ham and baked potato dinner ...... home cooking is always SO good!

I also was able to bring back a few things with me: My rocking chair that I got when I was pregnant with my daughter (that was 28 years ago!) I didn't have room for it when I moved to Ohio, so it's been housed at the folks' since 1998. Now its "home to stay" in the corner of my living room. (Where I sat rocking and reading my book for nearly an hour this morning already!!!) I also brought home an antique office chair and a wash stand, too. And I borrowed my sister's "slide scanner" along with the first 10 carousels of slides my parents have taken over the years. Can't wait to start on that project and get things scanned and onto some DVDs so we can enjoy the old slides without digging out the projector, the screen, and all that goes with finding a place to put all that PLUS have room for folks to sit and watch. Me, I can watch the oldies all day long.... this will be a better way to preserve them, and for all of us to have copies of these precious memories.

The drive home was just as uneventful; however, we hit 5 o'clock traffic in Phoenix. Once home, something eaten, and a shower, I was in bed by 730, and probably asleep before 9 .... I was tired! We left California and it was 57 degrees. It was 104 when we arrived home. Quite the difference! But that's normal... :)

It's good to be back home, though.

hugs to everyone

Optimism!!

A man is happy so long as he chooses to be happy.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
"all these blue balls with unhappy faces
and there was one in the center
illuminated and yellow with a smiley face.
reminded me of your optimism."

~~Thanks, Prof! *HUGS*

PS: Wallpaper photo from here: http://wallbase.net/wallpaper/58442

Old Friends

We meet new people just about every day. Some of them just pass through our lives, some stay for a short time, and some stay for a lifetime. Living in Ohio, I became friends with three women: Emily, Cathy and Tammy. And it's the kind of friendship that never goes away.

Much to my surprise, Tammy ended up in Phoenix this week for a volleyball tournament, so we were able to get together last night for dinner. One of the other players hosted a dinner at a restaurant chain he works for... and let me "crash the party". (Thanks so much for that!) I have to admit that after being apart for two and a half years, I wondered if we would have much to talk about, considering our lives have grown so much apart. But the minute she walked through the doors, with a great big hug, we were right back to chattering away as if we'd never been apart. And that kind of friendship never goes away. :)

A good friend is a connection to life
- a tie to the past,
a road to the future,
the key to sanity in a totally insane world.
~Lois Wyse

Thank you Tammy, I had a terrific time at Brio Tuscan Grille!
Really big HUGS to all my Ohio Sisters! I love you all!

Sending a HUG to all my friends today!

Dragonflies and Possibilities

I've been asked "Why a dragonfly?" Well, why not?? But I shall explain. One day last year, on a walk around a park lake, two dragonflies flew along with me, around me and in front of me for half the circle of the lake. It was a pivotal moment: there I was, lost in my thoughts, when it occurred to me that so many things I wasn't doing, I was very capable of doing!

Was it just plain old timing that it happened? a coincidence? I looked it up when I got home, and became fascinated with Andrews' writing about animals and what they can teach us. We are connected to Earth, and it to us, and animals are a part of it. "They show us the true majesty of life itself. They restore our forgotten childlike wonder at the world, and they reawaken our lost belief in magic, dreams and possibilities." Possibilities. That's what struck me after having my thoughts on my walk, then reading Andrews' book. How many times have we held ourselves back because we don't believe in all the possibilities? Yes, sometimes we have to work hard to achieve them, but we won't ever know if we don't try.

Maybe I'm just a little naive, or simplistic, at times, but it seems to me we all need things to believe in; but more important, we need things that believe in us. There's more to this Earth than the things we consider. It is all interconnected in ways we've only just begun to understand. Are the animals that cross our paths in different times of our lives a connection we've been missing?

Dragonflies represent new light and joy. They remind us that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways. "Let there be light" is the divine prompting to use the creative imagination as a force within your life. Life is never quite the way it appears, but it is always filled with light and color. It brings the brightness of transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision. (excerpt from Ted Andrews' "Animal Speak")

So.. why not a dragonfly???

Joyful HUGS to everyone!

I'm in the club!

For years, my daughter has been wanting to go get tattoos together. And this weekend, we finally did it. She got a lovely array of stars along her foot (ouch, that's a really tender spot!), my son got a cross with the initials of his step brother who passed away inside a cross on his right bicep, and I got a lil dragonfly on my left shoulder! Yep, I finally did it! They made me go first, cuz they thought I would chicken out. hahaha And yeah, it stings a bit but it was over much faster than I expected. The artist, Jason, was really nice, not the pushy kind who wanted to add, subtract or try to change what's already been decided. He was patient, let everyone watch.

I had to laugh: when I was 7 years old, the only person I knew who had a tattoo was my Uncle Roger, who was in the Navy. The times, they sure have changed. Today, my 7 yr old granddaughter was in a tattoo parlor watching her grandmother get one! lol what irony.

Life sure is funny sometimes........... :)
But now I'm "in the club".... who knew???

tatted HUGS to everyone!

Gonna do it!

Yesterday, me and the kids drove to a local tattoo parlor to get estimates on a tat... and yep, I'm getting one ... today at 12:30. My daughter tells me "You're going first, so you don't chicken out." this outta be interesting... more later!

Forgetfulness!!

Lately it seems there's a bunch of "forgetfulness" going around. I heard a comment on the radio about technology: It's terrific, but is it making us dumber? (I like to think of it as forgetful!!) Take the cell phone. When I was growing up, I had to memorize phone numbers if I wanted to call my friends. Now, I don't think I have five phone numbers memorized. Why? Because my cell phone does it for me.

Speaking of which, why don't cells have a way of separating our saved numbers? For instance, when I'm scrolling through names, I shouldn't have to scroll past doctors' numbers that I've saved. Or important work numbers. It would be nice if the list were in two categories: Personal and Other. Then again, I'm old, what do I know about cell phones? Maybe they have that already. Or, maybe people who use their cells a lot aren't looking for that feature. In the meantime, all my 'other contacts' start with a z, to keep them at the bottom of the list... my own innovative idea! *laughs*

Ok, I got off topic: I started this thread because yesterday at work, my gal created a claim, and it wasn't a full box, so we were doing to add to it the next day. Here it is Tuesday, and we cannot locate the box. So what happened to it? And why can't we remember?? Funny how it's the little things that we do, and then put out of our mind, thinking they're complete. Only to come back later and find that not only didn't we complete something, now we can't even find it!! (Now, where did I leave my glasses? and my mind???)

Yesterday, I was searching for some gift cards I had received. Those, too, seem to be missing in the "who knows where it is now" category. Of course, much of that sort of thing is due to moving. I'm still trying to get settled with "a place for everything and everything in it's place". It's taking a long time to get there-- even longer because I'm older?? There are moments when I think I need an item, and wonder where it is. I can remember exactly where I kept it ... three houses ago!! The mind sure is a funny thing :) haha

I like to think I'm systematic in putting things in a certain spot, then remembering that's where I put it. Now I have to wonder which step is missing? Am I not as consistent putting things in their place? Or is my mind beginning to take longer to remember??? *laughs* please don't comment on that one... I'm not sure I want to hear the answer!!

If you feel you aren't forgetful -- yet -- drop me a note, tell me how you keeps things remembered.... It looks like I could use some help!

Not Forgotten HUGS to everyone!!

What's your backup??

I haven't blogged in a really long time .... things have been busy! End of the semester meant finals week. Luckily for me, it was more projects than it was tests!! However, it coincided with inventory week at work. Talk about a hectic, stressful time ... I'm glad its over, for sure! BTW, both classes turned out to be B's (seems I'm better at actually doing than I am at all the theory and what-ifs of librarian work... ) and inventory was more successful than expected, so all good notes :)

I had a relaxing weekend after all the rushing around, and was clipping my toenails when I scrunched and twisted the wrong way and pulled a muscle from my hip to my thigh. Weirdest thing ever! Hurt to walk and bend, but with some heat and ice, and time, its better now. I guess I need to remember I'm not as young as I used to be, and not try to get myself into compromising pretzel positions!!! {laughs}

And in an interesting conversation with my best friend: "yeah but one of my things is multiple redundancy, if one thing fails you have another backup.... two autos, two fridges, two microwaves, two computers, etc.......... but hell, I could never handle one, what makes one think one could handle more than one?" To that, I woke up with these words for him: "If she's the right one, you don't have to handle her, you just love her, and she doesn't fail." (How I wish I'd had those words last night!)

I know I have a few things of my own for backup, just in case. But mine are never the costly things ... it's more like a fav hairbrush, or a hair dryer, an extra bottle of shampoo, or roll of toilet paper, pens, sharpies, a pizza cutter even! However, with a house, and a place to put it, an extra fridge could be quite useful! And a laptop in case my computer has a nervous breakdown of some sort, so I could still chat, email, twitter and post pix (my vices in life!)!!!

Do you keep a backup of things? When you look on Google at finding something about backups, its nearly always about saving what's on your computer, but what about those things you can't live without??? What's your backup???

HUGS, front and back, to everyone!!!

New Google look

[[[[[ love it? ]]]]] or [[[[[ hate it ?? ]]]]]

Damn, I hate change.

Most times, when change is for the better, I end up embracing it.

However, that hasn't happened for me with the new Google look.

The left hand column of doodads was already across the top... why the change?

Maybe it's time for something new !!

Any suggestions??

an Ode to Friends!

everyone needs someone:

who believes in them
who encourages them
who helps them
who teaches them
who listens to them
who motivates them
who instructs them
who cares for them
who helps them
who admonishes them
who energizes them
who loves them

Is there someone in your life who is all that?
If there is, have you thanked them for all they do for you?

In June, it will be six years since I left my "old life" and started over. again. The first year was very difficult for me. There's nothing like being over 40 and having to 'start all over'. It was a daunting task looming ahead of me, and I plodded on and persevered. One of the things that "saved me" was getting online and making a few new friends. As much as I love my girlfriends that I left behind, it was hard to maintain a long distance friendship, especially when they're still in the neighborhood and interacting with the life I left behind. But over time, I made new friends, new "sisters", new discoveries, and had new adventures.

As I look back at all the changes I've made in the last six years, I'm amazed. I have grown; I have changed; I have made changes that are irreversible. With a little willingness to learn, and a lot of encouragement from some very special people in my life, most of my dreams have come true.

I wouldn't be the person I am today without these special people in my life.
So here's a great big THANK YOU to each and every one of you.

On the other hand... is there someone in your life....
and you are all that for them??
If not, take a look around, and see if you can
make a difference in someone else's life!
Pay it forward!!

PS: While I intended this to be a post about one very special friend in particular, as I was writing it, I found that I couldn't single one out; there are so many perfectly wonderful friends out there, and I love you all!!

Love tetris??

One of THOSE days...

It's definitely the little crap that can get a person down....
Today, I just wanted a quiet break in the break room, so I picked a time that is usually quiet, about 930. I grabbed my bottle of water and my stack of reading for class. I have a paper due tonight, so I had things spread all over this six foot table. And being a place that employs a lot of people, my store has 12 six foot tables in the break room. I had just settled in to my reading when another gal walked in, started cooking her ramen noodles, then flopped her laptop and hot (stinky) soup and herself right next to me! I mean, for reals, there's 11 other tables! Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Making a show of looking at the time, I left the break room, with my break and my homework unfinished.

Thinking I could do a little more at lunch time, I chose the only empty table, spread my things out and tried to finish up my reading. Being later in the morning, there were plenty of people in there, but most days, I can tune them out. Today, however, was a different story. I think it was social hour, let's catch up, and I wanna bitch about my (insert specific person here) day for the spanish speaking crowd. For some reason, that is not something I can tune out. Maybe its because I can't speak or understand it. Or that I don't feel its a very flowing language. But coupled with high pitched female bitchy voices, I couldn't shut it out. At all.

I realize that everyone needs a break from work, and everyone (well, ok, most people?) enjoy having a social time for that break. But what about my break and what I prefer? Solitude! If this is how it will be, I need to find a new place to take a break :)

OK, I feel better.... thanks for reading this!

Silent, space filled HUGS to everyone!

What the Heck!?!?

Do you ever wish every day could feel fresh .........
instead of like a replay of the last one??

It takes only a little change to make a big difference ....
Just like shaking one of those old fashioned snow globes,
and watching the flakes resettle in different places,
sometimes we need to shake up our own lives.....
Here are a few suggestions:

• Try brushing your teeth with your other hand
• Get dressed in a different order in the morning
  
• Walk a different block or at a different park
• Drive a different route to work
• Rearrange your desk
• Pack a lunch
• Switch to a different radio station for a while
• Watch an old re-run movie
• Learn something new
• Read the newspaper
  
• Try cooking something new for dinner
• Eat dessert first (that's my FAV suggestion!)

Why not make "What the Heck" be this month's theme?
What have you got to lose, except boredom!

Learning to allow yourself pleasure
is the most radical celebratory change you will ever make.

So... from this moment on, repeat after me:

There is never too much of a good thing!!

and when we get to the point of having days

that are too wonderful for words,
let's remember two more:
Thank You!

What the heck kind of HUGS to everyone today!

Saturday's Apache Trail!

This morning, I decided to get up, get out, and take my new car for a spin, see how she handles on the road. I grabbed my cameras, and got myself dressed, grabbed the GPS and headed out the door. I couldn't decide where to go, so I plugged "local attractions" into the GPS, and found a listing for Lost Dutchman State Park, and its close by! The car handled the freeway just great, barely felt the 70mph... hehehehe. When I arrived, I parked, and thought "what a great place to take pictures." However, I wasn't dressed for the desert/hiking mode, wore the wrong kind of shoes. *sigh* So much for actually hiking. And I didn't even have water along. I need to restock my car! {grins} But I managed to get out and wander around, get closer to the mountains for some great pix. After a bit of walking, I got back onto the road at took Apache Trail Historic Road. This historic road covers some of the most rugged terrain in Arizona. Located in Tonto National Forest, it is 41.5 miles long. (Allow about five hours to drive this byway.... [its full of twists and turns, much of it at 25mph] ) But it sure is pretty up here, when you stop so you can take your eyes off the road! :)

Bounteous HUGS to everyone!

Romance and Bliss

There is only one romance: the soul's.
~W. B. Yeats

The subject of romance fascinates me. The media portrays romance in a certain way; there are romance novels that usually portray it in several ways. But which is it that's right for each person? While other people's love stories can inspire us or illuminate our path, the one story we want to hear most is our own love story.

But does that necessarily mean only those kind of romantic interludes between two people who are getting to know each other in that way? Certainly not! We all have times in our lives where romance such as the media reveals isn't a part of the moment we're in. And its OK not to have that. Certainly, it could be nice, and pleasurable! But if its all the time, it's like too much frosting, too much cake. Cake is wonderful, and I'm definitely a frosting lover! But if I had to eat it every day, it would lose that extraordinary, and just be ordinary. So treasure and enjoy the little moments of romance that come your way when your special someone does something special. And certainly don't think that these things should happen all the time. You'll be disappointed if you do.

For the other moments in life, why not try and have a Great Romance with Life? In all of our lives, we can turn the ordinary into extraordinary with a change in our thoughts, and our habits. Back a few years, there was a trend to Follow Your Bliss! This could be seen on bumper stickers, and people everywhere talked about it, but who knew what it really meant? But think about it, if you were following your bliss - whatever that bliss may be - you could be following a life's path that was there the whole time, but you were too busy to see it! Some thought that following your bliss meant the road to power, fortune and fame. Or just a better job. But often the door to bliss is right in our own backyard! I think bliss and romance are alike in a lot of ways. Both involve intermingling senses.

If we listen close enough when bliss or romance calls our name, it's like a divine rescue remedy from the ordinary life. Neither romance nor bliss requires a great deal of money, or things. The only requirement is that we pay attention to the things around us, not only with our eyes, but with our other senses as well. A flower in your backyard might look pretty, and smell nice. But have you touched the petals with your finger? Stroked the softness of it against your cheek? While a flower itself might not make a noise, the wind sighing across plants, or a bee gently buzzing as it searches for nectar certainly does. We all have the same seven senses. But our bliss triggers are totally different. With confidence, I believe that watching a sunset, walking barefoot on the sand or eating a juicy peach is likely among the majority of people's bliss triggers.

So here's the challenge: Take some time to turn the ordinary into extraordinary just by changing how you view your world around you. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the next Great Romance is the one you create with Life!!

Blissfully romantic HUGS to everyone!

An ode to Betsy

I finally traded in Betsy, my 12 year old Intrigue. And its funny, it was a very hard thing to do! She and I had been through a lot with each other :)

She went with me when I moved into a new single life, taking me back and forth to work every day -- most days reliably! -- and also took me to far away places to meet friends and family. Then I dragged her butt behind a truck when I moved 1,872 miles to Arizona, and did she ever complain?? Not once!! Once here, she valiantly moved her lil odometer from the 150,000 to the 160,000 to the 169,972 marker. We missed the next major marker together by *just*this*much*. But it was past time for something more reliable.

At the dealership, after all the papers were signed, sealed and delivered, I went out to climb into the new Zona-mobile and there Betsy was parked, too. I had forgotten to take my CDs out of the six disc changer. The salesman watched as I walked around Betsy, checked the interior one last time for anything else forgotten, then patted her butt and said my goodbyes. I hope she's now resting happily in the big parking lot in the sky!!! Goodbye, Betsy, your work is done! The Zona-mobile may be more reliable, but she doesn't have the class you had .... You were great, Betsy!!

She's a beauty!!

SRP: unsung heroes

Well, it was quite the day here in at my house in 'Zona territory. Around 2am, we started having electricity issues. When I got up and started trying to use lights and things, they weren't working correctly. But my TV was. Very strange. I would turn on the bathroom light, and it would come on, bright as ever, then dim to half power, flicker, go off, then right back on to full power again. All within about three minutes. I checked with my next door neighbor, his power was all fine. So I called SRP (our electrical provider) and when I spoke with her, she said if I had partial power, the problem was with my home, and not their service. Damn! So I called and placed a home warranty repair request (gotta get my money's worth!)

Spending the day trying to keep myself busy that doesn't take electricity wasn't as easy as you'd think! I couldn't vacuum. I didn't dare open and close the fridge often (thank goodness for water in the door!) I worried about when or if I'd have power, so .... when do I take a shower? definitely before sunset. Will I have hot water?? (yeah, i did :))

About 3pm, my neighbor on the other side came home, and I happened to catch her outside. We compared notes, and she was having the same issues I was having! She was calling an electrician as well. Hmm, two of us with the same problem? Not our homes' problem. So we both went back inside and called SRP and reported it again. The tech came out within half an hour, and said "yep, you have a bad line. I'll send the underground crew out. It'll be a couple of hours, they're already out on a call."

8pm and the rumble of trucks up the street has me jumping out of bed, getting dressed and going outside to meet the next crew. After they assembled all their working supplies, they checked the ground line, and sure enough, it was bad. The section that was bad was along my back yard fence line. So, out there in the dark, with a few powerful flashlights, a crew of three men dug a pit in my backyard ... not to sound morbid, but nearly a grave sized one! They were friendly and chit chatted and joked around as they worked. Since I had nothing better to do, I sat in a lawn chair and relaxed while they worked. hehehe They quickly replaced the 18" of bad power line and I was back up and running before 9pm. *shew*

It's been a long day, and time for me to be in bed. Don't forget, your service providers are unsung heroes when something goes wrong!! Appreciate them :)) THANKS SRP!!

HUGS to everyone!

PS: Happy Easter to everyone!

American Soldiers

Today, I received a phone call from my stepson Michael. He's been stationed up in New York for the past two years, and got deployment orders .... He ships out for Afghanistan in two days. I have to tell you, I'm so very proud of this son!! I can remember sitting doing homework after school with him. Sometimes it was more difficult than he cared to do. And sometimes it was just too much writing! Nine times out of ten, he persevered, and now he's been studying with the Army and he is a medic. If things go according to plan, he will be there for about a year. However, he'll be home for two weeks in July to hopefully coincide with the birth of his first baby.
(PS: it's a girl !!)

Come home safe and sound to us, Michael!!
I love you!
Mom

Saturday morning eeries...

It was 6:45am, I was wide awake but still in bed, watching the end of my favorite PBS show, History Detectives, when I heard the audible *snap* of the TV going off. Huh? Damn! looks like the power went out. I looked at my bedside clock to verify it.... and its flickering in the strangest way, as if it's still attempting to suck the last bit of power from the wires. With a huge sigh, I got up and dressed so I could do what I normally do when the power goes out: wander outside and see if any of the neighbors come out because their power was out as well. I tested my light switches, just to see if maybe it was the power strip for the TV only. Nope, they're not working.

I stepped from my bedroom and looked down the hallway to the kitchen, and WTF? My stove, my microwave and my refrigerator all still have power. I stood there in amazement, blinking, then reached back into my bedroom for the wall switches to the overhead lights. Nope, they're not working. Huh? So I donned my slippers and went outside to look at the circuit breakers. None of the neighbors seemed to be up and about, wandering and wondering about their power... I checked the circuit panel, and no, nothing is flipped the wrong way. This is the weirdest thing!

I wandered back inside, standing in the middle of the living room, turning circles as my mind puzzled over this. I looked out the back doors to see if there was anything else noticeable. And nothing. By the time I walked into my bedroom, the power was back on in there.

Why my bedroom? What the heck happened? I didn't turn the TV back on; I just climbed back into bed, curled up around a pillow and read for a little bit, trying to take my mind off this. But I couldn't help thinking in the back of my mind whether this was some kind of trickster doing? *shivers*