Last Night's Bridge Game at Candy's

Always a feast for the eyes...

Oh, and I came in dead last.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Some more role reversal....

I feel so smart now.

Unplug.

Who'd a thunk it?

Oh the Possibilities....

Aquarius Daily Horoscope

Part of you may want to sever ties with someone just now but the timing is wrong. You're better off to forget any grievances you have, and even if you have to spend time with that person, try to enjoy it if you can. The time will soon come when you can gracefully do what needs to be done and move onto greener pastures.

Emotions: Good ~ Money: Fair ~ Wellness: Fair
Power Numbers: 25, 11, 46, 31, 5, 20

Eyeballing those greener pastures is gonna be hard all day;) What does your day look like?

Sunday in the Park, With Roses

Parque del Retiro, Madrid.

Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger.

There is really nothing to be said about it.

It is like the perfume of a rose:

you can smell it and that is all.

~~W. Somerset Maugham

Mom of Eight

Kate.

I think lucite shoes would go better with this outfit.

Remind me about this when I start whining for a botox shot...

This-n-That Thursday

Mindless drivel:

• I checked out a large print book from the library last week. I love it.
• I started P90X yesterday. I think I may die.
• I really do not like Holly Hunter's voice.
• There is a black bear on the loose near here.
• I wish I understood soccer.
• I signed up to run another half marathon this Sunday. I ain't gonna make it.
• I love my little condo.
• I also love the farmers' market near here.
• People keep telling my baby boy he looks like Joran van der Sloot. He actually does a little...
• I want the new iPhone but my current one is perfectly fine.
• I think that Kristin Chenoweth is the cutest thing ever.
• Why do I have teenage blemishes on my 50 year-old face?
• I want to ride on the Orient Express.

Hump Day

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Where the mama decides to get fit with some DVD's:

And she resorts to all manner of bribery and whining:

Stay tuned for the new, buff MPM.

Has anybody out there done P90X?

Dazed and Confused

Aquarius Weekly Horoscope

June 21 - June 27, 2010
If there ever was a week when you needed to perfect the art of juggling, finding a balance between work and play, this is it. The Sun's move into your work sector on Monday sets the scene for the most important month of the year for work matters and with a total solar eclipse here next month, there is the potential for significant new beginnings or opportunities opening up. You would think then that you'd need to be super work focused, but with Mercury remaining in your romantic and creative sector until Friday, the answer is no. Once Mercury leaves things will become a lot more work focused, but as this is the last activity in your romantic and creative sector for the year, a balance between work and play is crucial. Keep your mind open and you'll retain your creativity.

So what should I be doing with myself? Seriously, this is so confusing. I think I may need a nap. What does your week look like?

Happy Father's Day

To fathers here. And there.

LTC A.R. Ives

February 24, 1925 - January 5, 1986

Balls

Yesterday, we hosted 4 lovely young girls overnight.

They were part of a visiting youth choir of 60+ members

from Charlotte, North Carolina,

and the concert was absolutely glorious.

The Bird and Augie were away, so we put their rooms to good use.

I had them clean and organize things for our houseguests.

And after the concert, I brought the girls here.

It was late; I got them cookies and milk, and tucked them in.

This morning, they had to be up and back at church by 7.

Did I say the girls were lovely?

They were.

Very.

And so, after I returned home at 7: 15 from delivering these sweet girls?

I found this charming display on the back of Augie's door.

Yes. Basketball shorts. And boxers.

These fancy boxers...

So, um, yeah.

Happy Friday, y'all.

This-n-That Thursday

Things that made me smile before 7:45 this morning:

• A 3+ mile walk along the shore with The Baby Bird.
• An osprey nest with a baby in it.
• The smell of fresh cut grass and salt air combined.
• A goldfinch on the wing.
• An awesome cup of coffee with almond milk.
• All the blooming hydrangeas along our route.
• Ditto for the beach roses.
• Droplets off the trees from last night's rain.
• The sun on the Long Island Sound.
• Working up a sweat.
• Steel cut oatmeal with cinnamon.
• A beautiful full day stretching ahead.

Life is good. Happy Thursday my friends, what made you smile this morning?

Patience is a Virtue

And, "If you build it, they will come..."

I have had this feeder for 4 years.

This is the first hummingbird I have ever seen use it.

Stay tuned for more hummingbird-themed posts...

The owlets have fledged and there are no current puppycams.

I really need a job.

Dora

Six years ago,

Give or take a day or two,

A litter of beagle-mix puppies was born to a mama dog in West Virginia.

They were taken to the pound.

All fourteen puppies and their mama...

Were left there to be euthanized.

Then the good people angels at Pet Rescue came along.

And brought them to foster homes in New York.

A human mama and her babies, found these puppies.

They selected one named Maggie and went through the process to adopt her.

The human daddy didn't want another puppy.

The family bichon Boomer had only last year gone to The Rainbow Bridge.

"It's too soon." He said.

"It's a dishonor to Boomer." He said.

"Okay," said the human mama. "We'll just go view the puppy."

The human daddy went to play golf.

The human mama and her babies went to 'view' the puppies.

They were six weeks old and ready for their forever homes.

Maggie the puppy was just as cute in real life as she was in her photos online.

She was so sweet, cuddly and squishy.

But her sister Dora? The Explorer?

Decided that she was our puppy.

And that was that.

By the time the human daddy reached the human mama on the phone,

She was already at Petco buying supplies...

For the puppy her children could hold in the palms of their hands.

And when they got home?

And put the puppy on her new daddy's knee?

He was a goner.

And still is today.

Happy Birthday Dora!

You are loved more than you will ever know.

Loved and Wanted

Aquarius - June. 14, 2010

Today your emotional intuition intensifies your mental abilities, Aquarius. Friends and family members are likely to grow closer to you. You may be more aware of what they really need and want, and they could see you in a new light. This can make you feel loved and wanted. The downside is that your empathy is so high that you may pick up on everyone's aches and pains. Try to keep yourself bathed in the white light.

I am going to do everything I can to live up to this one today. In fact, I think all the planets and the moon are going to make it a good day for all of us. That's just how I see it. And because my empathy is so high, you have to trust me on this one. Now tell me, am I right? Is yours as good?

LOL

I love a good prank.

Westport’s Minute Man statue, which next week will mark the 100th anniversary of its unveiling, got some company today from Sabrina, the 350-pound bronze statue of Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. Since it was donated to the college in 1857, the statue has been the subject of countless pranks, and has changed hands between the college administration and various student classes multiple times.

Totally stolen from here.

Lagging

Last weekend, I was sitting under this tree.

In Toledo, Spain.

This weekend, I am back home.

In Connecticut.

And I don't know whether it's the time difference,

or if it's just me being, well, me.

But I feel blah-ish.

I have nothing interesting to say.

I have no energy.

I have plenty to do...

I just don't want to do any of it.

Nada.

help

This-n-That Thursday

Why Madrid is my new favorite city:

• The fountains (everywhere).
• The cleanliness (amazing).
• The weather (dry).
• The people (friendly).
• The olives (self explanatory).
• The jamon (ham).
• The Retiro (park).
• The bread (also self explanatory).
• The Reina Sophia (museum).
• The cava (sparkling wine).
• The taxis (always where you need one).
• The flamenco dancers (seriously).
• The whole package.

What is your favorite city? More to come. Now that I am back home, I am trying to adjust to these horrible hours we keep here...

Hola!

Aquarius: Today's Daily Horoscope

Stretch your boundaries somewhat -- that's what you're best at, after all. If you can come up with just one crazy scheme, you can call it a day. There's so much activity that it's easy to sneak it past the censor.

Okay. Let's see. It's 11:45 here in Madrid, and I just woke up. That's pretty crazy in my book. I think some coffee and some cardio are in order. Then perhaps some lunch. A museum tour at 5:45. Then dinner...which will probably happen sometime between 10 and 11. So, um, yeah. I'm stretching some boundaries here. And I love every minute of it!

Get your scope here

How's your day shaping up?

This-n-That Thursday--Traveling While Aging

You know you're getting there when...

• You spend two whole days deciding whether or not to roll or fold your clothes.
• You cannot find any more ziploc bags to put toiletries in so you opt for a doggie-poop-bag solution. Unused, of course.
• You wonder how many magnifying mirrors you can safely pack.
• The same with tweezer products of all manner.
• Snappy flat shoes become your obsession.
• You pack more meds than make-up.
• You wonder how long it will take your bodily functions to catch up when you get there. Sorry. But I know you agree.
• You are counting on your cute wraps to draw the eye away from your upper arm issues.
• You are thrilled to be able to bring as much Sudafed as the CVS would allow you to buy to your hostess. There isn't any in Spain.
• You are just thrilled. Period.

I'll be reporting from the scene....

I Want...

This puppy.

Charlie is a 9 week old maltese/yorkie mix.

And no silly sign is going to keep him away from Mental P.

No-siree.

But I eventually gave him back to his mommy.

sigh.

And in other news?

I am going to Spain this afternoon!

My old friend Miss Hower has invited me.

She has lots of plans for us.

Check out her life in Madrid here.

Stay tuned for my adventures...

I just wish I'd paid more attention in Spanish class.

Meet My Driver

Just don't offer any advice on her driving skills...

She gets cranky when you do.