Green Acres

I love gardens.

All kinds of gardens.

I really loved my gardens.

I spent many hours out there.

Many hours.

And I hope the new people treat my plants well.

And now that we are all settled in here at The Complex? All my tools and containers are tucked away in storage. Well, almost all. I saved two big pots--they will be my garden this year. And tomorrow I am going to toil there. It should take about an hour. Then I am going to shower and head out to enjoy the day. And I might just have a mint julep. Or two.

What are you doing this weekend?

This-n-That Thursday

Got the Boob Tube on my mind...

• Laura Bush's memoir has been out for one day, and I've seen so much of it that I feel like I already read it.
• And that nutjob Rielle Hunter is on Oprah today? No, thank you.
• I love that Dawn commercial where they are washing the oilslick animals.
• Those aerial shots of that oilslick heading for Louisiana are making me sick.
• Joan Rivers has a show on TVLand called "How'd You Get So Rich?" I am oddly intrigued by it.
• Speaking of commercials...the latest Pedigree one with all the shelter dogs? Makes me cry every time.
• I've seen more of Britain's PM Gordon Brown in the last 24 hours than I want. Forgetting about open mics is never a good thing. Never.
• I think I'll just go back to watching owlets.

Please tell me I am not the only one with such deep thoughts as these....

Wordless Wednesday (Sort of)

"In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger."
— Kobayashi Issa

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Mother/Daughter Streams-of-Consciousness:

Wherein The Bird is looking for any possible distraction.

Trivia?

Is that what all the drama was about?

And who told her she could say GAH?

You'd think she was an Aquarius the way she switches from subject to subject.

I wouldn't know anything about that.

Really.

So now you're supposed to send healthy care packages?

A 'variety of food groups and textures'?

Who the heck is she?

Giada De Laurentiis?

gah

Really?

Daily Overview for April 26, 2010 (Today)

Aquarius

1/20 – 2/18

You are like the poster child for connectivity, today! Get connected, baby!

Try to show someone new a little kindness, or reach out to someone you'd normally never say hello to. It's a really good time to make new friends and allies,and connecting with others is always beneficial.

Connected? I was hoping for a massage and a pedicure. I guess I will put that off until tomorrow. It appears I have some networking to do. It is Monday after all. Right? What does yours say?

High Fives All Around

The Music City Marathon & 1/2

I was there.

The Dude.

He ran the entire 1/2 in those boots.

The Elites...

I was not there.

The Thunderstorm.

I was there.

I did my 1/2.

13.1 miles.

And today?

I am on the sofa with my puppy.

Life is good.

Ready or Not....

...Here I go.

Breakfast at 3:45.

A.M.

gah

Thanking every single one of you for the support.

xoxo, Lauren

Nashville!!

I am in Nashville.

My old stomping grounds.

To run this race in memory of my mother.

Who left us all too soon.

Leukemia and Lymphoma know no bounds.

Insidious diseases.

I am blown away by the following bloggers who have given to my cause:

Daryl

Snooty

Nurse Nancy

Country Girl

Caution

Woody

Deb

Noe Noe Girl

Big Hair Envy

Foolery

And my dear friends and family:

(sans blogs)

Sal and Martha

Christy

Polly

Patty and Jimmy

Al & Kim

Lucia

Jen and Steve

Sharon and Craig

Melissaaaaah and Petey

Candy and Bob

Elaine

Jane (Winetipper)

&

The Cocktail Corner

Annie

Jules

My brothers and their families:

David, Tyler, Betsey, Dudley,

Elliot, Alex, Russell, Johnny

Lathram, Rieves and Mary Dudley.

And, of course, The Bird and Augie..

My mother would so love all your devotion and drive to this endeavor.

And I love and thank each and every one of you for it.

I could never do her justice.

Never.

Contagious

Well. Did you?

I clearly need a job.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The texts where the mother is exposed on Facebook:

Don't you love how concerned she is that we don't have Internet?

I'm thinking it's more about Internet service when she returns...

But I could be wrong.

At any rate, it was a nice diversion.

We didn't discuss the newly posted photos of me.

30-year-old photos...

Have mercy.

Happy Monday

Aquarius - Apr. 19, 2010

You're bound to be busy but happy today,Aquarius. You'll likely spend the morning doing chores and generally puttering around the house. Don't be surprised if a friend drops by unexpectedly in the afternoon with some important news to share. Your evening could be occupied doing research at the library or on the computer. It seems your friend's news piqued your curiosity about a particular subject.

So... I am going to take every word of this horoscope to heart. Today is the two week mark for our new life in The Complex. And I am still happily puttering around here in my doll house. I am hoping that my friend who drops by is the cable guy to fix my Internet. We have had very little service all weekend. It was both frustrating and peaceful at the same time....

And in other news, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the feedback on St. Joseph. Some amazing stories have been coming my way, and there are more to come!

Now the research at the library has me stumped...I'd much rather be here this evening--sitting on my deck--and monitoring the neighbors....

Is your horoscope as fun as mine?

St. Joseph

When we decided to put the house on the market, we were leery. I don't think there are many places in the country that haven't been touched by our economic debacle current trying times. But the older I get, the less stuff I want. And the less space I need. Even when The Bird and Augie are home, they are rarely at home. So it was Squazz and MPM who were left sitting there. I loved our house. Loved it. But it was a money pit. And way too big for us doddering old farts empty nesters.

So we put it on the market and held our breath.

And then I just buried a little statue in the back garden.

Upside down.

This is a lucky St. Joseph.

He has sold many a house.

Nurse Nancy lent him to me.

And I followed the explicit directions she sent me.

And we sold our house.

In the middle of a very bad market.

I don't consider myself a superstitious person--

Nor a photographer, for apparent reasons.

(But in my defense, I only had my iPhone)

And when we get our check after the closing today?

I might just say another little prayer.

To my new man. Joe.

Read about St. Joseph here.

Now I must get back out on the deck.

There are neighbors here at The Complex who need to be observed...

This-n-That Thursday

I need some answers:

• What is poppycock?
• Why is jail called the Department of Corrections?
• What airline accepts a lone 7 year-old going to Russia?
• Justin Bieber?
• Those Duggar people?
• MSNBC or CNN?
• Can you be too old to have a crush on someone?
• How do you prioritize your Bucket List?
• Is it weird to want to throw out all your underwear?
• And buy all new?
• Is it acceptable to let grey hair replace highlights?

Please?

Condo Contemplations

• We have had over a week in our new digs.
• I still feel like we are living in a doll's house.
• I imagine it will feel smaller when The Bird and Augie get home for the summer.
• It is really quiet here in "the country."
• "The country" is less than 10 miles from our previous home.
• Dora encountered her first herd of deer this morning on our walk.
• I have a few things for the concierge to address.
• We have some interesting neighbors here.
• We have installed our ficus tree on one end of our deck as screening.
• Squazz and I have to share a closet now.
• I told him this morning that he should contemplate donating some more of his things.
• Dora is considering writing her own post.
• I love having a concierge.
• I wonder when the euphoria will wear off...

How are things in your world today?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The tables continue to turn...

Isn't it cute how she was all worried about me?

And how she instructs me on proper birthday wishes?

gah

And he was laughing at my homework angst?

Seriously?

I don't remember laughing when the multiplication tables rolled around.

gah

A harbinger of my dotage?

gah

So What Else is New?

Today's Aquarius Horoscope January 20 - February 18 You can't seem to shut up, even if you desperately want to -- and you thought you'd said too much yesterday!. You're so ridiculously chatty, in fact, that even people who know you well may end up exchanging bewildered glances. You simply love to surprise, startle and amaze the masses, and there's nothing wrong with that. At the moment, though, you need to find a reason for all this verbal energy. Are you nervous about something? You've got to slow down a little bit and see what you can do to help your partner. Forget about your own needs for the day and focus all your energy on what you can do to strengthen the relationship. Revel in the power of knowledge today, whether from books, coworkers or even the Internet. You could use a change of routine, and learning something new could provide just the novelty you need. Get yours here While searching all over the Internet for a horoscope I could tolerate my horoscope for today, I found this one. And I had to stop and ask myself if this just couldn't be my horoscope every day. For the rest of my life. So I have decided to try to be quiet today. Well, more quiet than usual. We'll see how well that turns out.

Ahhhh Friday

Counting my blessings--

Wonderful friends.

Old and new.

Blisters are blog sisters.

We convene at this event.

Blisters are thoughtful folks.

They sent this basket as a housewarming.

Or I should say condowarming....

Look at the sweet bird's nest.

I just love birds.

All kinds of birds.

Happy Friday, my friends.

Be well.

This-n-That Thursday

Observations from my new abode:

• This condo is about half the size of our house.
• We weren't sure we were doing the right thing when we put our house on the market. I am happy now.
• I feel like I'm on vacation. A vacation where I am carrying stuff around all the time.
• My back hurts.
• The biggest change is for Dora. Dora is our dog who thinks she's a human.
• Now that we have no yard, Dora has to be walked many, many times a day.
• I think I've lost 5 pounds since Monday. This is good news.
• I wonder if I'll miss all my stuff we put in storage. I'm betting on "no."
• Today I am going to finesse The Bird and Augie's rooms.
• My Blisters sent us the most beautiful basket of flowers as a housewarming. There is even a bird's nest in it;)
• Our deck overlooks the pool here. The Gladys Kravitz in me takes much pleasure in this.
• The neighbors are all quite friendly. Squazz is a little leery of a couple--I find it amusing and am hopeful it will give me something to blog about. How sick is that?
• When something doesn't work, the concierge comes and takes care of it. Same with burned out light bulbs.
• Have I mentioned I feel like I'm on vacation?

So Moved...

Just a minor quandary: what to do with the extra electronics.

Our first major step in downsizing is complete.

We have hopefully sold our house.

More than half of our possessions are in storage,

And Squazz, Dora, Cupid and I have landed in our condo.

So far, so good.

We await the arrival of The Bird and Augie next month.

They will dump their crap settle into their new rooms,

Which I have arranged with loving care.

And then they will be off to their peeps.

And Squazz, Dora, Cupid and I will still be there.

In our cozy, cute new place.

So far, so good.

Moving Day?

April 05, 2010

Aquarius: Today's Daily Horoscope

Try not to worry too much about everything that is going on around you -- even if (as is likely) events are constraining your actions. It's just one of those days, and things do get better soon.

I am going to use this as my mantra today. Wish me luck....

What does yours say?

Easter on the Green

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born.

~Alice Freeman Palmer

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose.
Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,
Burst at last from winter snows.
Earth with heaven above rejoices...

~Charles Kingsley

A Good Friday

The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, and the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life.

-Dalai Lama

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

I shall be packing.

Calmly. Packing.

This-n-That Thursday

Sorting+Reminiscing+Donating+Packing+Storing=Downsizing:

Keeping the baby shoes...