Semi-Wordless Wednesday - Mabel

There is no better mouser or catcher of flying things than she.  Open a car trunk to pack for the weekend, you'll find her in it. Sit by the fire in the backyard and reach down to pet your cat--it's not yours--you can tell by the floofy tail. 

Meet Mabel--my neighbor Laura's cat.  She is everywhere and nowhere. She's friendly, but aloof.  She beats the bajeepers out of stray cats, but knows that Hobbes and Grace are off-limits. She walks the 'hood like she owns it and ignores the crabby old lady who yells at her to leave the yard.  You gotta love her, that Mabel.

She is my favorite neighbor. Ever.

Seven Posts

While I love Pricilla, I think I'm gonna poke her in the shins for tagging me on this one.  It is called My 7 links by Tripbase.com and it's a challenge to list your past posts by these categories:

1. most beautiful post
2. most popular post
3. most controversial post
4. most helpful post
5. a post who's success surprised me
6. the post that I felt lacked the attention it deserved
7. the post I am most proud of

 Great. I have over 1100 posts to glance over. Sheesh.  (wait--photo time. Almost forgot to give your eyeballs something to enjoy for a minute there. Oops.)

(Isn't that nice? Vacation photos again. Ahhhhhhh.)

Okay, so I did it and here are the links.  See if you agree with my choices.

• The most beautiful post is tough for me. I mean, is this supposed to be beautiful as in "lovely" or beautiful as in "touching"? I dunno. I'm not sure I've got either, so I'm just going with one of my favorite photos ever on the blog.  This one is just me in a nutshell. I think you will agree. Is it beautiful? Nah--but it's funny.

•  The most popular post was The First Official Dork-Off, by far.  What started off as a wacky idea, grew to be really hilarious. I can't believe that I got other bloggers to send in wacky photos of themselves. In fact, I'm thinking we need another one of these soon. I cracked myself up with this post.

• The most controversial post?  I think it was this about Obama being elected, but I can't find it in my post history. I wrote my thoughts on his election and the glorification of the man and sheesh, did I get it. Whoo! Won't do that again. I stay clear of politics now, but I still trash Oprah every now and then.

• Most of the questions I get from posts are about the pond or the frogs. So the most helpful post has got to be something about either of those two subjects. I'm forever writing about that darn pond, but I think most people like the tales that begin there. And heck, who doesn't love frogs stories??  I've also found most people don't know a darn thing about tadpoles. Sheesh.

• The post who's success surprised me was the series of posts about the raccoon problem we had in the yard. While I struggled with the removal of these guys, I had to prevent serious damage to my property--not to mention my pond inhabitants, cats, family members, and helpless rabbits who wandered into the yard.  Happy Raccoon Village was a hit for some reason--maybe folks secretly hate raccoons.

• The post that lacked attention was probably one of my older ones--you know, when it was only one or two people who knew you were out there as a blogger.  This post is still one of my favorites from way back then.

• And finally, the post that I am most proud of is the one in which I introduced you to my blog's theme song. You know there are millions of blogs out there, but who's got a theme song? Yep, me. I know you are still thanking me for this classic.

I'm not sure how long this is going on, so I'm not tagging anyone--but feel free to join in if you want.  You can thank me later because it is a bugger going through all your old posts. Please let me know if you do it because I would like to see your choices.

It's Monday--I'm Shufflin'

Here's my latest favorite commercial.

Not a day goes by that I don't hear this song like a cabillion times, but somehow, hamsters just make it more fun--if that's possible. 

If Muffin was still here, I'm sure he'd be shufflin' too.

The 4th Annual Band Parent Bonfire

Yeah, it was ugly.

But in a good sorta way.  

Charlie Bit Me

It always amazes me what I find in my yard.  In our wee spot-o-land, life is bustling--you just have to look for it.  But I think that is life in general--there is good stuff out there, you just gotta find it.

I found this beauty the other day when I was watering the flower pots.  Oh, he ate my viburnum right down to the quick--four plants total, but I don't care. It's the end of summer and I'm gonna dump them soon anyway.  He was a growing boy (girl?) and he had to eat something, right?

I think he is a hawkmoth caterpillar--one that will blossom into a hummingbird moth, which is a great find. If you have ever seen them, they look just like hummingbirds, but they are moths.  Kinda cool.

This was probably the biggest caterpillars I have ever seen.  I held him on my middle finger so that you could judge just exactly how tubby and long this little guy was.  And believe it or not, he actually got bigger since this photo was taken.

And my special prize for sacrificing my flowers for his belleh? He bit me.  Yep, he and his wee little scissor-like incisors apparently thought I was food and took a nip.  While it didn't hurt, it did surprise me a bit and I yelped. Em, who was taking the photo, ran into the house.

She's helpful like that.

Chapter 1: Escargot

Note: Being that I can't swim AND take photos at the local rec center, you'll all just have to deal with my vacation photos--WHICH, by the way, sounds like hell, but actually I'm saving your retinas from more serious trauma. Believe me.

I'll preface this post by saying that I love Seniors--I do. It's just that they crack me up sometimes with the wacky stuff they say and do. I know, I'm "gonna be one someday" and do all this wacky stuff too--I'm just enjoying the giggle for now.

First, you have to imagine me, the only person under 90 at the pool each day--the time that I am available to workout just happens to coincide with Senior Swim at the pool.  Okay, so I'm missing "Rusty Hinges"--whatever the hell that is, but Senior Swim is pretty traumatic for those who don't fall into that category. It's like traveling to another world--one that is very slow. And it includes a lot of noodles--you know, those long noodle-like floaties that folks use in pools?  Observance #1: Seniors like noodles.

Anywho, half of the pool is marked off so those who want to lap swim (me) can do so. Being that rarely any of the old guys (yeah, it's the guys in the lap lanes) actually swim laps, I'm thinking they just sort of use those lane markers to keep the old women away from them for an hour.

Everyone likes their own lane, but sometimes I'm forced to share--which means I have to just start swimming around the old guys and hope they get the hint to move over.  Problem is, old guys like to float--on their backs with their arms outstretched really far and it is hard to get around that.  And you hate to sneak up and surprise them for fear of getting whacked by a surprised flailing appendage. Plus they do not take kindly to any whippersnappers intruding on their private lane--I get a lot of dirty looks.  Observance #2: Old guys float really well.

Sometimes, it takes a little more than passing another swimmer 4 or 5 times before he gets mad and moves.   I have to swim really slow and hope he notices that I'm passing him.  French Laura at work (yep, she's back) suggested I "submarine those escargot", which is inherently more hilarious when said with a french accent. I giggle at the thought of me having to swim underneath the old guy to pass him--but how else do you pass with his arms fully outstretched?? I'm gonna have to go Jacques Cousteau on these guys, I guess. Observance #3: Old guys like their personal space and don't let it go very easily.

I finally garner a lane and try to mind my own bubbles, so to speak, but the weirdness has only just begun.

As I swam into the shallow end yesterday, I see through my goggles the man in the next lane over.  I see swim trunks, a pair of white legs, and flippers. Homeboy was wearing flippers in the lap lanes. Okay, that is weird--who wears flippers in a pool? Aren't they for snorkeling and scuba diving? And for 5 year olds? Which leads to........

The other dude wearing a full mask and snorkel.  In the swim lanes.  At an indoor pool. That is used for working out. OMG.

I tried not to laugh, I really did.  And it's hard to laugh out loud when you are swimming, but I did. I nearly choked to death cracking up, but I laughed. And I laughed out loud. I didn't even care if he saw me--it was hilarious.


Thank you, blogging gods, for sending me to the pool.

Shhhhhh.........

Enjoy this scenic beauty while I sleep in this morning. I'll be back to post a "real" post later.

Oh, and can you keep your loud tippy-tappin' on the keyboard down, please?

Move Over, Frogs

I'm not exactly sure when or why the dreams started, but it was weird--I kept dreaming about swimming.  I think it was well over two years ago when the dreams started and they weren't quitting. I just knew that I felt peaceful swimming in those dreams and I wondered if I was missing something--if I should start again.

I swam in high school--on the team and everything.  And while I'm probably more competitive now, I wasn't back then--I could care less if I won a race or not. I was in it for the fun, like most everything else in my life.  I did pretty well, though, I won a few races and actually held a few school records for like a minute and a half or something.

For 4 years, I swam. And swam. And swam.  And I swam with my buddy, Cheryl.  We were two peas in a pod and swimming was our life. Even in the off season--then we swam with the boys swim team under the guise of being "swim team managers"--whatever that is.  Now that I think about it, I think we were probably just addicted to chlorine. Or those boys in Speedos.  Either way, we loved that darn pool--and the chlorine smell that was the aroma of our lives.

Well, after the dreams wouldn't quit, I finally joined our local rec center pool. Okay, so I hate that rec center--it is loaded with seniors, but  I bought myself a suit, a snappy purple cap, and some funky pink goggles and I was set. Whether or not I could still do a few laps was yet to be seen, but I was up for the challenge, so I handed over $30 and dove in--literally and figuratively.

So, I'm hooked again.  The smell of chlorine, the smooth surface of the water in lane #1, the dry skin, my soggy suit hanging out to dry in the laundry room--everything, like it was 30 years ago.  The only thing missing is Cheryl. I'm not kidding that with that very first lap, when every memory of those years flooded my brain, I honestly missed her feet in front of me, leading lap after lap, after lap. 

The thing I love most about swimming is the thinking time. With no scenery other than a blue ceramic tile path on the bottom of the pool guiding me, my brain wanders--back to the old days, how much this does not hurt like I thought it would, how much I love swimming, and how ridiculous it is that the time that I am available to swim just happens to coincide with Senior Swim at the center.  Sigh. 

And while I just joined over the weekend, I'm already feeling great, the dreams have subsided, and I've got a week's worth of blog posts on my fellow pool buddies alone.  Stay tuned.......

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

No one ever believes me when I tell them my frogs eat birds.  They do--a lot. I think once they get the taste of birdie, they just want more. It's sort of like frog cocaine or something.

So, yeah, when I saw the frog eyeing the hummingbird the other day, I had to intervene. That wacky hummingbird is so curious, she was all but asking to be frog dinner, so I chased her off and then moved her feeder.  At the size of her, she'd make a lovely appetizer.

Pterodactyl.....again

You know it is not good news when another neighbor feels the need to talk to me. Ugh.  I must be sending out signals that I'm "neighborly" or something these days--I've had TWO neighbors want to talk with me in the last two days.  And in a nice kinda way--usually they are mad at me for something.

I went out to say good morning to the frogs and to feed the fish when I heard my name being called. It was the lady next door who wanted to warn me of yet another blue heron sighting in my yard. Criminy.  I guess that silly pterodactyl was on the roof this time, spying on the pond, trying to figure out what was on the buffet this morning.  She claims that no arm-waving or yelling was gonna make him budge--so that is sorta scary.  Nothing worse than brave pterodactyl.

So, Joe and I made the trip to the home improvement store for stakes and fishing line to build a little fence around the pond.  I guess you have to put the line at 6", 12" and 18" around the pond to prevent the big guy from getting close the water to spear the fish and frogs.  So, that we did, and added some netting on top--just to make it look a little more intimidating to the intruder.  Add electricity to the line and you've got yourself a little jail yard look going on around the pond. Gees, it's lovely.

It's not the fish I'm worried about--it's the frogs this time.  I was missing two large frogs the past few days and I thought for sure they were in the belly of some prehistoric bird--but no, all three were sitting there looking at me while I built this fortress for them.  I hope they appreciate the effort.

I've got an uncle that sits out on his porch to shoot the armadillo in his yard.  After years of destruction to his garden, Uncle Jerry has finally had enough. Now he's got a shotgun to solve the problem once and for all.  And while I'm not keen on firearms, I'm thinking I may just have to send Uncle Jerry a plane ticket to help me out here. 

And while the raccoons and the heron will all kindly move along with Uncle Jerry here, I'm thinking it will also keep the neighbors from wanting to chat as well. It's a win-win if you ask me.

The Long and the Short of it all

Whew! What a weekend! What a WEEK!  Sheesh.  It's sad when you are wishing for Monday to come so that the routine can lull you into calm.

So, lots has happened--too much so to blog about it constantly, so I just gave it up and waited for it all to pass.  Here's the update at the Duck and Wheel--not that you all care, it's just that I need to dump this all into the universe to make the snow in my personal snowglobe settle. 

• Went to move Col into his dorm room on Friday, only to find his name tag missing, replaced by some other kid's name. I caught this immediately, although the boys were sort of comatose on this hint that something was awry.  Sure enough--Colin's freshman roommate found a friend at soccer practice and the two knuckleheads decided to move Colin to the other side of the dorm. Yeah/no. Being that Colin is a Sophomore, requested that particular room, AND you can't just make your own room assignments, we had to have Housing intervene. Yeah--made for a really long day while they pushed this kids crap to one side of the room so we could unpack. Col said things worked out, but I'm sure there is some roommate switchin' that is gonna happen.
• Sammy the Weiner Dog is aging, and apparently with age, homeboy has a wee anxiety problem. Yeah, he ate through a rug, part of my door frame, AND a seat belt of my car. I am not happy.  Sammy's visiting days may be over--sad as that may be. Hobbes is not as sad about this as the rest of us.
• One of my frogs attempted to eat a hummingbird.  After I foiled that attempt, he packed it up and left. I'm down to 2 frogs. Whatever. 
• Mr. Cuddles is freaking HUGE. What is with that pond that makes my fish extra large?
• The snail count is CRAZY! I'm not sure what is with the snails (well, I do, but I don't want to comment on that.), but we have like a cabillion snails all over the pond.  I'm thinking this was the summer of love for snails.
• Band Parent Bonfire is next weekend--we spent the day yesterday pimping the lawn. Not that it needed it--it's like carpeting this year with the rain we've had recently. I'm gonna make everyone take their shoes off when they get here.
• I actually talked to a neighbor on Saturday, which went against my "Just say 'hi' and move on" rule.  Sometimes I'm nice like that--but not too often.
• Oh, it's my birthday today.  I think I'm 48--I dunno, I can't remember.

 I think this is the first official week of routine with both kids back at school.  I think I'm ready for the dullness that comes with it.  Sigh. I'm exhausted.

The Annual Migration

It's that time again--time to bring Col back to college.  I'm still trying to figure out where the summer went. If anyone knows, please tell me. Wait, maybe I don't want to know.

It's strange on how different it is this year versus last year.  I'm not so sad and I'm actually looking forward to getting him settled in at his place down there.  I know how happy he is at school, so it's easier to let go. Well, that and we drove each other crazy this summer--which I guess is normal. That's what all the seasoned parents tell me anyway.

All of this packing of crates and moving all of one's belongings miles away just reminds me of my own college days. Damn, if I'm not sincerely jealous that it isn't me going instead.

I'll be catching up with all of the pallies this weekend--I've been M.I.A. this week and I feel out of the loop. In the meantime, Happy Friday! Be sure to take some time away from the computer.  Go outside and enjoy what is left of the summer.

Weiner Dog Thursday

I made the mistake of leaving the car door open yesterday--guess who's ready to go home?  Sheesh. Like life isn't good here, dog friend??  No sweet words of love and encouragement could budge the Weiner Dog, but two very magical words work every time--"Cat Treat".  Home boy was outta there faster than lightning.

I shared that special trick with my family last night--they were very impressed with my ability to make that dog do what I wanted him to do.

Hobbes has had a rough week as well. For absolutely no reason whatsoever, he's decided that he hates Sammy, so he spends his days out in the garden. And IF he comes in the house, he poufs up his tail like a raccoon and acts all ridiculous. 

Just for the record, Sammy could care less about those cats--it is their stinky food he is after. He cared once, a very long time ago, but he learned the hard way that the kitties have claws. He hasn't messed with them since that day. He is a respectful dog.

Grace is funny because, of the two cats, you would think that she would be the one to be more timid around the dog. Nope. Nosirree.  She lets him know who's boss at every turn--including making him walk the long way around her.  It's a darn shame that I have to tell her to be nice to the dog.

Poor Sammy--it has been a long week for the little guy. He'll be here until Sunday, when we'll take him home--and he'll sleep for a week to recover.

I'm-rarely-wordless-Wednesday

Fresh from my first Parent Volunteer meeting of 2011-12, I'm learning that I need to be a little less vocal this year. Sigh.

While everyone else is all geared up in orange and brown and talking about installing rainbows, I'm wearing my snappy white capris, tank top, and jewelry, talking about how there is no land available for installation, and maybe a rainbow isn't such a great idea. Has anyone thought of a unicorn? (*cricket* *cricket*)

I'm thinking I don't quite fit in--I'm not good with all that clappin' and back-patting when there is work to be done.Oh well....

So in the spirit of keeping my yapper shut and my spirit light, I'm sharing my latest favorite tune. You can thank Patty--she sent it to me when I mentioned that we were dog-sitting Sammy the Weiner Dog.

Enjoy, Weiner Dog Singers!



Tell me you aren't gonna sing that all day.

Is Google for Weirdos?

I love those tracker things for your blog.  I love that it tells me who's lurking (Kim W., you're busted) and who's finding the Duck and Wheel through Google Searches.  If I'm ever looking for a laugh, I just read those Google searches that bring them to the Duck and Wheel.

It's funny the images that bring folks here too. My number one is "hoopty"--my first car that seemed to live forever. Go ahead and Google image "hoopty"--I'll wait..................

See it?  It's the silver car in my mom's driveway.  Sheesh. Who would have thought that car would haunt me until eternity?  And who's Googling the word "hoopty" so darn much?  I don't think normal people actually use that term too often. Well, maybe if you're gangsta.

Anywho....

So yesterday's laugh was brought to you by the Google Image search, of all things:

"Lumpy thighs when sitting"

Really?! Really Google?  THAT is my identity out there in cyber-land?! She who has fat lumpy thighs?! And that is what makes you click on the photo and you follow it to my blog?? Really??! Like you actually WANT to see lumpy thighs when sitting and/or standing?? Them is some sick people, I'm thinking.

Sigh.  

And out of curiosity I typed in that phrase and searched Google Images to see what came up and brought some odd folks to the Duck and Wheel.  Three guesses what it is.  Go ahead, Google it. I'll wait.......................

Thank god, it's NOT me. Or my legs.  'Cuz I really do have lumpy thighs, but I didn't want the whole world to know me by THAT. Sheesh.  Just don't tell Hobbes that someone labeled him as having "lumpy thighs".

Side Trip

In the spirit of one of my favorite blogs, Along Life's Highway The Yard Art Game, we made a stop at this yard art distributor just outside of Louisville, KY.  Each year, Em and I yell and scream at Joe that we want to stop at The Concrete Lady, and each year he say's no. This year.....well.....I think even he couldn't resist.

If you read Cheri's blog, you'll see that you wrack up points for yard crap art that folks keep in their yards. I figured if I visited the home of all this stuff, I 'd be sittin' pretty on the scoreboard--but I guess that is sorta cheating, eh?   Bummer. 

This one is for you, Cheri--points or no points.  I hope this cheers you up and that lousy college intern who is trying to nab your job ends up with some of these tied to her ankles. Funny, but I didn't notice any cement shoes at this place--which surprises me because they had everything in cement here.

This is the mother of all yard art distributors. This place has acres of these.....uh....lovely things.

What is yard art without gnomes?  

Hey! What is with the little brown skunk? How did he get in there with all the gnomes?
Traitor.

Here's Em posing with an emu. That's her nickname--we thought it would be a funny shot.

Not that selling (or buying) a giant cement emu isn't funny enough.
I like his realistic pink feet. Yeah/no.

A flock of cement pelicans. What yard doesn't need a few dozen of these?

There was actually a man on the premises painting these things. Imagine that being your job.

Joe begged, but I said no. No Sasquatch for you, buddy! 

Well, maybe if it was life-size.....

Here is the pig massacre section. 

So sad--those poor little pigs laying there dead.

Here's Em pretending she's a manatee mailbox holder just like the original.

I love how it is surrounded by  Giant Chicken, Brown Moses, 

and My Pretty Pony.

Oh, the choices!

Did I mention that it took Joe half an hour to find that place once we got off the highway?  Yeah, it was a pretty snarly adventure at first--but it was worth it in the end. Notice how there are no photos of Col here--somehow he didn't think this place was fun. Sheesh.

It's Weiner Dog Week!

The cats are thrilled--Sammy the Weiner Dog is here for a week's vacation.  While his family is off dropping their first-born at college, Sammy will be busying himself with:

• avoiding the cats
• drinking fish-flavored pond water
• sniffing around the back 40
• Bark Fest 2011 - where he barks like a fool with the idiot dogs next door
• trying to get to the cat's food (which has been put up high for the week--totally irking the cats)
• trying to get to the cat's litter box (I dunno, I've heard there is something yummy about cat poop to dogs.  That too has been blocked off)
• sleeping on our bed (yuck)
• doing that little Weiner Dog Circus Trick where he stands on his hind legs and looks totally cute
• following me around for the entire week (yeah.)
• and sitting in the garage, looking at the car, and wishing he could go home

We, of course, will be spelling certain words out all week so that he doesn't get all freaked out. Words such as "walk", "ride", "home", "treat", and "Joe" are no-no's.  "Joe" is bad because one of his kids is named Joe and he thinks he's going home to see him--it's really sad.

While I'm not keen on the daily responsibility of a dog full-time, we all look forward to having Sammy here for a visit. We're all be getting our dog fix. 

Hobbes--well, he's sick of him already.

TGIF

Raise the roof--it's Friday!!  

Here's wishing you all a chill-fest this weekend. We are gonna be packing Col up to go back to school (which I think he is none-too sad about),  Sammy the Weiner Dog is hiking his Weiner Dog butt over to our house for the week, and I'm going to channel my inner vacation self once again. 

There is a slight chill in the air these days, whispering "fall is coming".  The katydids are clickin' and the grass is dewy--all signs that summer is on the wane.  Am I sad about that?  Nah.  While I'll miss the free feeling of summer, I'm ready for routine and marching season.

So, enjoy the summer weekends while you still can--there aren't many left. EEK!

Happy Raccoon Village found

So, I had a good laugh yesterday when Sharla from Beaded Tail asked if my favorite spot in the whole world was also home to Happy Raccoon Village.  I never thought of it that way until she said it--and then I remembered this photo from the back of the lodge. It is taken directly below the spot where I took the photo of the river for yesterday's post.

The patio on the back of the lodge sits atop the restaurant.  There is a small piece of land there where little birds, chipmunks, squirrels, occasional skunks, and raccoons come to eat at bird feeders set up for the diners to enjoy out the windows.  Those diners then sneak a few pieces of bread or crackers upstairs to toss down to the raccoons, who beg like the dickens to the sucker crowd.

So, yeah, Sharla. The answer is "yes", this is also Happy Raccoon Village.

And the thought that these little buggars are there spending the rest of eternity with me never really crossed my mind.  Thanks--thanks a LOT for pointing that out. Sigh.  It's karma isn't it?

Semi-Wordless Wednesday--The End

I probably post this every single year after returning from vacation, but I pray that my end brings me here.  It is the back patio of the lodge at Cumberland Falls, KY and there is no place closer to heaven to me than this very spot.

It is quiet, peaceful, and the earth smells sweet--just right for finding yourself. There are birds and raccoons, a muddy river view--and if you get there early enough in the day, you can touch a cloud or two. 

Each year, my vacation begins and ends right here at this spot, with a vow to have my ashes spread on this very spot when and if I meet my demise. 

Crank up a little Bill Monroe's version of Blue Moon of Kentucky and you got yourself heaven right here on earth......

Facebook Bat

Em and I sat there in the vet's office yesterday, waiting for poor Grace to come back from god-knows-what-torture they do to her to get a urine analysis from her.

And while we wait, we look at all the giant models of fleas, heartworms, and ticks that the vet has to scare you half to death.  And we read the posters that warn you of every pet danger known to man and enjoy all the cat/dog knickknacks that they keep around to make the place jovial--while your money is flying out your wallet. 

Grace is feeling well, but we have to have a follow-up visit after her last bladder infection, and so I drag Em along with me to keep me laughing--otherwise I just sit there and worry unnecessarily. 

While poor Grace was dragged to the back, we went around the room cracking up about everything when I spied this Rabid Bat Warning posted on the wall.  Along with this photo is a warning that there has been a rabid bat found in the area--which I guess is serious, but we can't get past the photo.

I'm not sure who started it, but we both decided that if bats had Facebook photos, this would be his. I mean, look at the cheesy grin homeboy is sportin' here.  And I like how his little arms are all spread out--and you just know that out of camera range, he's got two little thumbs-up going on. So we laugh and laugh, doing our own imitations of bat Facebook poses until the doctor comes in and looks at us like we are having way too much fun in that little exam room. 


I suppose some people are normal and sit like adults and wait--but not us.  I just hope we didn't embarrass Grace.

Great to be back--I think

I've learned that nothing freaks the teens out more than not having cell service. And I love that our favorite vacation spot has no cell service--unless you drive the 1/2 drive to town. Funny how after a week of listless thumbs, there was suddenly a huge interest in going to town for groceries. Somehow I'm thinking it wasn't the lunch menu they were worried about.

Even Joe chimed in, pacing the deck one particularly dewy morning, trying to eek out a cell signal of any kind--and he doesn't even use his phone half the time.  It's hard to let go, you know? I'm still not sure who he thought was going to call him.

It's amazing how much we rely on cell phones and wi-fi--me included. While I didn't care about the cell phone, I typically can't walk away from the computer. But I did this week, and it felt good. 

The problem comes in when you have to merge yourself back into that fast lane of life--work, obligations, doctor's visits, school registration, band performances, and online billing/paying and such.  It's exhausting this high-tech life we lead, isn't it?  And while we think we are so spiffy with our 3G (or is it more now?) phones and laptops to keep on top of things, I have to wonder if we really are. I find myself exhausted after coming home, trying to catch up on all that "down" time.

I loved hiding out in my little cabin in the woods.  It was nice to just relax knowing that nothing there belonged to me--nothing needed repairs or cleaning, no gardening required, no have-tos. I just sat on the deck and enjoyed.

Well, I will admit to sweeping the deck the first day, only because I wanted to hang out there barefoot and I don't like sticks and leaves sticking to my feet.  Oh, and I did bring a little vacuum with us for the very same reason inside the cabin--although I didn't use it much. Some things are hard for me to let go.

Life is good when you turn off the have-tos of your life. The blog didn't shut down, the bills didn't go unpaid, work continued at it's frenetic pace, and life went on--without me.  Amazing, isn't it? And big important worries were if it was going to rain or not--ruining our pool plans for the day, or who was going to hike where the next day.  I like those kinds of worries, don't you?

So, here I am, home again and gearing up for madness that is life and I'm dreading every stinking minute of it. My heart is still back in that cabin. 

I'd call it, but there is no cell service.  Sigh.

Disconnected at Cabin 501

Okay, so in all the years that I have been blogging, I have never, ever, taken a full week off . Ever. I'm usually hiking myself to whatever wi-fi link I can find to answer comments, write a new post, and/or blog hop--never fully disconnecting.  But this year was different, I did it--I actually kept the darn laptop in the book bag and rarely, if ever, snuck a peek at the internet.......or the Duck and Wheel.

And it was wonderful. 

Pretty much, the days consisted of me sitting on the deck of my cabin like this all week.  And yes, there was usually a cold drink somewhere nearby, right next to my lizard friend and other various flying and buzzing visitors.  But they didn't bother me, nor I them, and we co-existed in a mutual chill for days--me and my book, they and their...uh....wings and stuff.

Our cabin was sweet--lots of space for us and the kids.  Air-conditioned, three-TV comfort, so everyone had space to escape each other--which kept us all alive and barely sane.  And while we enjoyed escaping home together, you all know how important space is when you are living with teens. Especially on vacation.

But, that said, I still had to deal with the wackiness that is my family.  We went everywhere together--ugh. Except for when they all went for a hike to Eagle Falls and I.....well....hiked to the pool.  And while togetherness is swell and all.......it does make for a long week--ask Colin.  If he wasn't ready to go back to college before, he sure is now. That Joe sure is annoying sometimes. Sheesh.

But we still had this to enjoy.  Sigh.

And the air was sweet, the temperatures warm, the humidity high, and the scenery lovely.  I miss it already.

So, now we are home and I have some 4000 loads of laundry to do and some kitty petting to make up for.  We are back in full-swing with a band event today and Sunday, plus school registration on Monday.  The calendar didn't rest while we were gone, it was merely catching it's breath before gearing up again.  Sigh.

And in the midst of it all, I'll be weaning the "hee-haws" and "ya'll's" out of my system.

Retro Hobbes

I love baby photos, don't you? 

Look at that little face....

that little body.

Notice that homeboy is a little thin 

and his belly doesn't touch the ground....yet.

And the size of those feet--

a sign of the big boy to come.

Irene's YouTube Picks

Okay, who loves bananas?

Apparently Irene because she showed me this one on a particularly slow day at work--a long time ago.  It hasn't been very slow lately and videos are sort of out the window lately. Sigh.  I don't like it when work is....well....work.



I find myself singing that silly song whenever Joe cuts bananas for his cereal in the morning. He does not appreciate my banana song. I don't know why.

Bark Fest 2011

Guess who's coming at the end of the week?

Yep, Sammy the Weiner Dog.

Tormentor of cats, cat poop eater, he who insists on sleeping in my bed....

UNDER the covers, and go to get-even guy for Yip Yap the Non-Stop Barking Dog next door.

I can't wait.

No Pressure or Anything....

With my love of hydrangeas (sorry, Grace), I have three plants scattered around the yard.  I have one by the pond that blooms incessantly and another that has never, ever bloomed for me.  And while any other plant would get yanked for that very reason, I let it be, hoping that someday it will surprise me.

I have a third hydrangea on the side of the house that, for years, never gave me a bloom either--until last year when it popped one lone blossom.  Like the prodigal frog returning, there was lots of dancing and hootin' and hollerin', AND lots of photo snappin'.  Oh, there was such fuss that it decided to bloom again this year--a LOT.

I'm not sure what lit it's fire, but this plant is absolutely gorgeous. Maybe it needed some time to mature or perhaps it was all the attention it got with that one flower, but it is crazy pretty.  And I think I tell it that every time I go around that corner of the house. I'm convinced now that they like a little attention.

Too bad the other one is on the opposite side of the house, I would think it would hear the fuss and work on a blossom of its own. It's pressure time for the other non-bloomer--it's time to up its game. Or face the shovel.

There may just have to be a little conversation with the non-performer.