In The Park With My Puppy

October 28, 2010.

7:30 am

Schenck's Island

One does not need to fast for days and meditate for hours
at a time to experience the sense of sublime mystery
which constantly envelops us. All one need do is to notice
intelligently, if even for a brief moment, a blossoming tree,
a forest flooded with autumn colors, an infant smiling.

Simon Greenberg

Oh The (in)Humanity

Happy Halloween...

From the most embarrassed dog. Ever.

Is anybody looking?

I hope Riley and Rugby don't see me like this.

I wish my mommy would just get a job.

And she'd better sleep with one eye open.

Seriously.

Is it over yet?

This-n-That Thursday

Burning questions:

• Should I go brunette at my hair appointment today?
• Are there any political ads out there where they are not attacking the opponent and actually telling us what they will do?
• Do men lack the ability to actually squeeze the sponge out?
• Is there such a thing as a spinning class for beginners?
• Why am I so addicted to Words With Friends?
• What about bangs?
• What does it mean when you dream you are changing a baby's diaper, and it is full of chopped garlic?
• Does anybody out there wanna play Words With Friends with me?
• Did you know it's 57 days until Christmas?
• Does anybody else out there have the a/c on? On October 28?
• Words With Friends? Anybody?

My New BFF: Divine Lemmy

I took the time to read this email on Monday. Three times. What planet are we living on?.... Hello Dear, Good Day and how are you today? My name is Mrs. Divine Lemmy, I am contacting you because I want to donate the sum of £3.5 Million to you, I’m seeking for a trustworthy person whom I will give my life time savings to help run a Charity Program on cancer or if possible establish a cancer foundation or orphanage home with the money as I will depart this wicked world soon due to oesophageal cancer. I want to help cancer carriers and the less privileged ones as much as I can especially the motherless and orphans. I am a widow and have no child my husband and our three children died in an auto-crash. I admit that we do not know each other; we are stranger to each other. God appeared to me in a dream and commanded me to donate all that I have to a total stranger for the help of the less privileged, before I started searching for someone online I prayed over it for 4 days for God to direct me to an honest person, so immediately I saw your contact I developed confidence and decided to trust you and contact you for this donation. [God should have added stupid and without a blog] Please if you can be trusted and sincere to take up this project then I will gladly order transfer of the fund (£3,500,000.00) Three Million Five Hundred Thousand British Pounds to you and 30% of the money will be your gratification as a token of gratitude for handling the project while you will use the remaining 70% for the project. I wish you are that honest and God fearing hardworking type that I desire to donate this money to. Please reply me as quickly as you can for further details on how this amount would be transferred to your account before I depart to the bosom of God my creator, because my health has deteriorated so badly that I can die at any time according to doctors. Please reply immediately if you are interested and willing to handle the fund and proposed project. Presently I am at the hospital receiving treatment. Sincerely Yours Mrs. Divine Lemmy. I am especially fond of the period at the end of her name here. So definite. So authoritative. Let me hurry up and get all my bank routing numbers to her. And my SSN. Seriously. Do you think people actually fall for these?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Wherein my formerly chatty daughter goes to visit her monosyllabic brother at school and develops his conversational style....

Augie's pre-visit "chat" with Mama:

And now, look at what has happened:

???

sigh

Anybody out there want to chat?

Blame this on The Bird

There is no MPM horoscope today. My daughter informed me that it was no fun to read those posts. So, well, here you go. I act like I'm 31. Yawn.

By the way, my various horoscopes are telling me to relax, be assertive and be quiet. Such a decision I have to make....

You Act Like You Are 31 Years Old

You are a thirty-something at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! You're responsible, wise, and have enough experience to understand a lot of the world. You're at the point in your life where you understand yourself pretty well. You are figuring out what you want... and how to get it!

What Age Do You Act?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

How old do you act?

Happily Sitting at a Traffic Light:

You cannot beat a sugar maple in October.

Such a feast for the eyes...

didyou_know did you know

The average person spends two weeks of its life waiting for a traffic light to change.

This-n-That Thursday

Things I am blaming on hormones. Or lack thereof....

• My third cowlick.
• My enlarged ankles.
• My flaking fingernails.
• Everybody else's annoying habits.
• My third buttock.
• My daughter's inane observations on my life.
• Her brother's lack of observations on my life.
• My own rambling observations on my life.
• My five deodorant sticks.
• Wanderlust.
• Moisturizer fixation.
• Intolerance of bad table manners.
• Earlobe wrinkles.
• I know there's more, but I cannot remember.

Any others?

Be Purple

WHAT IS SPIRIT DAY?

The idea behind Spirit Day, first created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, is a simple one, not dissimilar to the idea of "Spirit Week" held in many high schools, and can be summed up in three words: Everyone Rally Together.

Spirit Day honors the teenagers who had taken their own lives in recent weeks. But just as importantly, it's also a way to show the hundreds of thousands of LGBT youth who face the same pressures and bullying, that there is a vast community of people who support them.

Purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

As one of the event's Facebook pages says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple."

Wearing purple on October 20 is a simple way to show the world that you stand by these courageous young people and a simple way to stand UP to the bullies. Remember those lives we've tragically lost, and show your solidarity with those who are still fighting. 'Go Purple' today!

Please RSVP to these events on Facebook: "R.I.P. ;; In memory of the recent suicides due to gay abuse, wear purple" and Spirit Day, A GLOBAL Day of remembering.

ARE YOU IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE HELP?

LGBT youth in need of immediate help should contact The Trevor Project 's 24/7 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386) or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

The ones where I send my daughter mixed messages:

Notice how she so deftly changes the subject to skincare...

And then I coach her on her studying habits.

Because I am such an authority...

And then?

I beg her to play "Words with Friends"

And she taunts me with 77 point words.

We need to work on our sportsmanship.

Gah.

Hedging my Bets....

Aquarius Horoscope

For The Week Starting October 18, 2010

As other signs are also experiencing; this is a week for changes. If you can not willingly make those changes, then they might be forced upon you by others. Your life and your direction should be altered. It can simply be reformed or transformed, depending on your present attitude. Either way, it will never be the same. The seeds for this change have been sown over the past year so whatever is happening is the end result.

How does your week look?

I decided that this was going to be all good change. And to back it up, I looked at this one:

Aquarius - Oct. 18, 2010

Your physical energy is likely to be high today, Aquarius, so you might not feel like staying indoors. Take care of your body first, and get in a good workout. You may also want to explore, perhaps by driving out of town for the day or going to an amusement park. You may not feel this energetic very often, so it's best to make the most of it when you can.

Yours is here.

So. I need to go find my shoes and get that workout in. Then I'm going to an amusement park? I suppose I'd better get dressed.

Happy Friday

Now be safe.

And follow all the rules.

This-n-That Thursday

Random things I ponder on the rare nights I cannot sleep every night from 1 to 3 am...

• How long has it been since I read a Cosmo magazine?
• When did I come to despise hazelnut coffee?
• What kind of Halloween candy to buy this year.
• I wonder how the trick or treating traffic is here at 'the complex.'
• I wish cornbread didn't have any calories.
• Why do I talk baby talk to the dog?
• Why do people get belly button rings?
• Does the ficus need repotting?
• When can I get myself back to Virginia?
• Should I buy brown or black boots?
• Why do people just let their shopping carts run free in the parking lot?
• Whatever happened to Mr. Sheffield from 'The Nanny'?
• Is there anything like a 'starter' facelift?

How about you?

Getting all Halloweeny

Morning light at Schenck's Island.

I have been greeted by this sight every morning for weeks.

And every day, I think: "Build it, and they will come."

It is very peaceful here.

A beautiful way to start the day.

And then, Dora completes her business and we go back home.

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Wherein the college children come home for Fall Break, and the mother has to beg to see them:

PS: Only the girl child wanted to go shopping. Imagine that....

Finally....

Aquarius - Oct. 11, 2010

You're on a roll today, Aquarius. Don't let other people's insecurities or shallow understanding about an issue get in the way of your progress. There's a distinct advantage to the way you approach things. Feel free to exert your will on those who need strong direction. If you're confident about the answer, don't be shy about saying so. If people don't like the way you're leading, they don't need to follow.

It's about time all us Aquarians got our lot in life recognized. Watch out....

What does your day look like?

Stopping and Smelling...

Le Celle, Cortona, Italy.

The miracle is not to walk on water.

The miracle is to walk on the green earth,

dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Happy Friday

Got any plans?

I may go back to the beach.

Or not.

This-n-That Thursday

Because of my revered age:

• I can like being called ma'am.
• I can appreciate a good hand-written thank you note.
• A first aid kit is a good thing to have on hand.
• So are multiple tweezers.
• I can appreciate a simple thank you. Period.
• I don't have to suffer fools or toxic people.
• Differences of opinion are just that.
• I like to play Bridge.
• I appreciate and relish my down time.
• I like my doctor. It's a good thing since I seem to see her often.
• I can say "no" more often.
• I don't feel unfriendly for not wanting to breathe second hand smoke.
• I can honor my children's independence. Mostly.
• I look forward to my annual flu shot.
• It's okay to admit I don't like musicals.

How about you?

Slow News Day

You Are Calculating

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

Oddly, this is mostly accurate....

I am especially fond of the bit about my mind being a weapon.

I hope my family takes note;)

What's yours?

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Wherein I attend a rugby match via text...

And then tend to the child's injuries.

Or not....

A Present! and A Party!

Aquarius - Oct. 4, 2010

An unexpected letter or package might arrive sometime today, Aquarius. This could be a gift from a lover - perhaps a bit more lavish than you would have expected. You could receive other communications as well. At least one could be related to your job in some way. A party invitation could also come, and you will probably want to attend. Your significant other will want to accompany you.

I am already loving this day...is yours this good?

Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi (1181 or 1182 - October 3, 1226)

It is no use walking anywhere to preach

unless our walking is our preaching.
Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Francis of Assisi

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
Francis of Assisi

Rabbit, Rabbit

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on,

and produce so pleasant an effect on

the feelings, as now in October.

- Nathaniel Hawthorne