I'm getting ready for a big revamp of this blog.

I began years ago because my friends were blogging and it looked like fun. It was intended to be a blog to make some money and frankly, that never happened.

I haven't posted here in ages. But I have some ideas. I'd like to finish a couple stories I started. I'd like to begin new stories. 

I've given up on making money. I've given up trying to get readers. I don't care if anyone reads it. I'm going to blog for me. 

Beneath the city, two hearts beat...

He never knew her name. He knew only that he loved her.
They met on the dance floor that first night and for the rest of that one long summer, each Saturday night they danced.

She was not young or very pretty.
He was young, and slim and handsome in a way that was somewhat disturbing.

He saw her first. And she noticed him noticing.
It was her eyes that attracted him.

They approached each other and made contact before their hands met.
It was deep and soulful.
They never spoke or heard the music from the room.

He could feel her sadness. She felt his shy youthfulness.
And they met to dance, time and again.

For those twelve quiet nights, they made love on the dance floor.

They became more intimate than known lovers often are.

And when the breezes came and the light changed,
they left the dance hall and never returned.

tiny slice of my life: dogs and boys...

january 19, 2017
2am

dog rises, bangs on door. dog goes out.
dog steps in poo.
dog bangs on opposite side of door. dog enters.
dog smudges poo from door, through kitchen and living room.
i swear.
clean dogs feet. mop floor. return to bed.
insist dog stays on floor.

8am
boy rises. is dressed and given grapes, watermelon and oatmeal.
squashes grapes and watermelon next to my bed.
i clean.
boy dips truck in oatmeal.
i clean.

830am
i take dog and boy outside.
boy steps in poo. smears on hem of pants.
i clean shoe. i change his pants.

9am
boy poos sticky messy poo.
i clean bum and place new diaper.

930am
boy sticks the feet of woody and bullseye in oatmeal i failed to remove earlier.
dances them all over table.
comes to me with messy toys and insists i clean.
i clean.

10am
i bathe.
i dry and dress.
find poo on my own shoe.

1010am
i swear.
nearly cry in frustration.

1110am
cannot wait to go to work where there is no poo or oatmeal.

In Which Jane Makes a Decision...

You can see the first part of this story here and the second part here...

After Jane left Skinny Pete at the sleazy motel, she went home to her abusive father and did the unthinkable. She stole three grand in cash from his stash in the garage, went out for coffee and cigarettes and never returned.

It was something she’d been thinking about for a long time. How to get away? How to get away safely? How to get away so he could never find her? She didn’t have the answers to any of these questions so she threw all caution to the wind, took the money while he slept and left the house.

Jane had been in a bad way for quite some time. Jammed up on speed, her health in jeopardy and not a friend in the world, she knew she had to make a change. Home life was dangerous at best and she knew her days were numbered if she stayed. If she did nothing, she had two options. Her father could beat her to death or she could kill herself with drugs, on purpose or accidentally. Neither particularly suited her.

With nothing but her over sized handbag, the ragged, dirty clothes on her back and no plan other than to get away, Jane hit the street. Her father was used to her being away for extended periods, so he wouldn’t miss her for a couple days. She had the cash and a few things in her bag. She had very little speed and no inclination to get more.  She decided on the Amtrak and made her way there.

At the station, Jane counted the cash. She knew she needed privacy on the trip but didn’t want to attract attention.  She knew she would be sick and would need to sleep. She bought a train ticket to a destination thousands of miles from home. She spent a good amount of money for private sleeping accommodations.

She looked like a drug addict; she was unkempt, smelly and scabby.  She bought the ticket, but the train wouldn’t leave for two hours. Ansty, she hit the consignment shop for some clean clothes and a small suitcase. At the druggist, she bought soap and shampoo, mouthwash and deodorant, some acetaminophen and that stuff you give to kids when they vomit or have diarrhea. She had no idea if the pedia-shit would do her any good, but guessed it was worth a shot. Walking the three blocks to the Y, she wondered if she really could make this all work. Deciding she really didn’t have much choice, she paid a few bucks for a day pass and hit the showers.

Sitting in the locker room at the Y, showered and dressed in her clothes from the consignment shop, Jane made a decision. She threw the ragged clothes in the trash, walked to the sinks and rummaged through her bag. Finding her hairbrush and an elastic, she worked through the tangles in her hair and put it up in a knot at the top of her head. She rinsed her mouth, popped a couple Tylenol, applied deodorant and went to the secret pocket in her bag. Taking out the little paper packet, she paused. Looking in the mirror, seeing the damage she had done to herself, she turned on the water, opened the little packet and let the white powder slide off the paper, mix with the water and go down the drain. She let water run over the paper for a moment. Crumpling it, she took a good look in the mirror. This is your last chance, she thought. Make it a good one.

Something from the archives...

I wrote this awhile back.
Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

click the pic...

Skywatch - 22 October 2015 Edition

One sky, many watchers...

22 October 2015 Edition

Beast's Castle - Fantasyland - Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World - Florida - USA
 December 2014

Fly on over to Skywatch to see more stunning views...

100 happy days...

100 happy days...

the idea is to find something, everyday, that makes you happy and take a picture of it.

sure. i can do that. but it wouldn't be genuine.
there are too many things involved in my happiness, too many factors, the most important being people.

other people are very much a part of what makes me happy, content and grateful. the people closest to me may be miles away. i may not see them for months and months or maybe years. they may be only inches away from me.  they may annoy me or help me or hurt my feelings. chances are, i've done the same, or worse, to them.

i'm generally content. i'm generally thankful and grateful for the blessings bestowed upon me. i can't take a picture of that. sometimes life gets too much for me and i retreat, into a book, a tv show, a fantasy land of some sort, until i regroup and get back at it.

very often, i say "i hate people."
sometimes, "i want to go home now."
also, "go away."
when i say those things, i mean them. but not in the way you might think.
that's me giving voice to my struggle at the moment, my feelings of wanting to give up, chuck it all and crawl in a hole.

i never get to the point where i do crawl in a whole. ever. the people around me save me. every day. every minute. every second. whether they are known to me or not. even if i don't see them with my eyes. even if they are only a memory.

i'm not careful. i'm a terrible steward. i want. i lie.
but i am reminded that there is goodness and happiness in me. i see it in the people i encounter every day.

i am reflected in everyone i meet.everyone i come in contact with.everyone i know
this is humbling.

today, instead of trying to find something that makes me happy, i'll find or do something that makes someone else happy. 

Columbus Paver Patios...

Garden Potential with Columbus Paver Patios!

I love my yard and I love my gardens. But I don't think I utilize my outdoor space to its fullest potential. Our yard isn't very large, but we have the best of both worlds with part of the yard in full sun and a good portion in shade. We have space for a fire pit and a grilling area, as well as a gazebo or patio. I love the idea of a patio with a pergola covered in a sweet smelling flowering vine. Green and partially shady, this new space would let in a little light and allow a breeze to waft through.

I yearn for a space that is comfortable and welcoming, a space that says "Come in and relax." With the yard as it is now, it's comfortable, but it could be so much nicer. We've never actually cultivated grass, what we have is sparse and spindly and grows naturally in tufts. We have mostly white pines that grow tall and offer some decent shade. I love that my yard smells like I'm camping every day. The needles, however, hinder the growth of nice grass and the sap can be a nuisance. I do have a couple of wonderful shade gardens and fabulous lilacs, boxwood and wigelia in the sunny spots. This is wonderful, but my mind's eye sees something else.

I see a patio and walkway, created with paving stones, set nicely under a pergola for shade. A fire pit nearby would complement the space. The scent of the pines can stay, but the needles, sap and spindly, tufty grass must go. A Wisteria to cover the pergola and an adirondack chair or two might be in order. Add to this an overstuffed sofa, a hammock and an incidental table or two and the vision is complete.

Walking Harness/Parka for Dogs Helped Me Enjoy the Winter...

I spend a ton of time outdoors and my dog Penny is usually with me. We walk every morning and evening for about an hour each time. We both enjoy this time of bonding and exercise and passing the time with neighbors. We go out in all kinds of weather and during all four seasons. This past winter the need for Penny to have protection from rain, wind, cold and snow become very important.

Since we had much more snow than normal (around 7ft fell in February and March) and exceptionally cold temperatures (in the single digits for an extended period), I wanted to put her in a coat or parka that would not only protect her from the elements but keep me from worrying about her health and safety during the super tough weather we were experiencing. I wanted something reflective since even during daylight visibility was terrible.

Penny is trained to a leash and collar, but I decided to try her with a walking harness for dogs, that is also a parka. My friend Sue and I walk her dog Winston and Penny together on weekends. Not much keeps Sue and Winston in the house during the winter. When the weather is very cold or wet, she dresses Winston in this great parka that is waterproof and has a fleece lining. Sue also turned me on to some rubber booties to protect the Winstons foot pads from road salt and cold slushy snow. Sue told me that when we bundle up against the awful cold, we should protect our pets too. I agreed and bundled Penny up to brave the ferocious winter.

Once Penny had her fashionable parka and rubber booties, we actually enjoyed our wintertime activities much more. We could stay out a little longer, exercise a little more and visit with Sue and Winston.  Last winter was a huge challenge with all that snow and cold. But I felt better knowing Penny was warm enough and safe from the elements. 

Live!

...from Walfart.

Translation Service - Family History Revealed...

Years ago, when my Nana died, I was allowed to go through some old things in her attic. I found a lot of cool stuff. There were postcards from all over the world, a box of nothing but cancelled stamps and most importantly, correspondence. The letters I found were written by family and friends from across the globe. I found a letter from Granddad apologising to Nana for upsetting her. I found letters from her brothers when they were away in the war. There were letters from her parents congratulating her on the birth of her sons. But, there was so much, I put some of it away and didn't look at it again for many years.

When I took up that box of correspondence again last year, I found something really exciting. It was a packet of information written in what I assumed was French. I couldn’t tell what kind of documents they were. But it all looked like it had come from a lawyer. There were maps and drawings and some stuff that looked like it came from a bank or an accountant. I showed it around to a couple of people I know who speak Spanish and Portuguese.They couldn’t make heads or tails of it and suggested a translation service. I packed it up and sent it off.

I told my brother what I found. I asked if he thought it could be something important like an old bank account in Canada she had forgotten about. Brother told me he doubted it was anything important. He surmised if it had been, it would not have been found in a box of old letters in the attic. Brother reminded me that as a young married couple, Nana and Granddad traveled around Europe a lot.  Brother decided the documents I found had to be concerned with those travels.

A little time passed and the documents were returned to me. Reading through I was excited to find out that Nana and Granddad once considered relocating to the south of France. The papers and maps were for a very nice little home with a few acres. There were no pictures, but the description suggested comfort and beauty. The pages that looked as though they were from a bank were simply the run down of down payments and mortgages, financial stuff. I wondered what kept them from going through with the deal.  Checking the dates, I found out that these papers were drawn up eight months before the birth of my father. I searched for the letter Granddad had written in apology to Nana. It was dated about a month after the French documents. Reading it over, it made sense to me now. I wondered how different my life would be if Nana and Granddad had actually bought that little house and raised their family there.

Wordless Wednesday - March 26, 2014

Check here if you want to play Wordless Wednesday too.

I'm Going to Disney World!

I haven't visited Disney World since 2012 and for me that's a long time.

 So, I have two trips to Disney World planned for 2014. The first will be the end of May and the next the second week of December. Why two trips? Why May and December?

Well, it's simple, I love the parks, I love the rides and the themed resorts. I love that every time I walk into a Disney park, my humdrum life with all its problems just melts away. For that short time, I am spirited away to a place where I don't have to work or do any housework. I love the landscaping, the topiary and the atmosphere. I love that there are no rules about suppertime or bedtime. I love the stage shows and the fireworks and the parades. I love that I can ride a steam train, or a riverboat or even a tram. I can rent a bike to ride around my resort. I can have cake for breakfast.

Thank you Scott Thomas.

There are other reasons too. Right now, I just feel like I have to get away! My sister has conferences in that area in May and we decided to jump over to Disney for a long weekend. I've had the urge to bolt for quite some time, but didn't schedule any time off from work last year. I so want a break, even if it's just for a couple days. I crave a change of pace, some new scenery and a better attitude. I think the quick trip in May is just the thing.

 So, why return in December? I want to see Walt Disney World all dressed up and decked out for Christmas. I've seen the parks decorated for the 25th anniversary, Halloween, and everyday decorations in March and April, but never Christmas. Of course I've looked online at pictures and videos, but it's not enough. I want to see it in person. I want to experience the spectacle firsthand. Over the last few years, Christmas decorations have lost their sparkle for me. Since I work in a little theme park that has a Christmas festival, holiday decorations have become sorta old hat to me.I need to see some new decorations during December, with fresh holiday music, killer fireworks and an enchanted parade. I need to be awed and inspired again.

Thanks Disney

I think this will do it.

Spring Forward with Scotts Florida select Mulch!

This post brought to you by Scotts Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

With Spring just arrived here in the Northeast, folks are gathering up their gardening supplies and raking lawns and flower beds in preparation for the warm weather and the short growing season. Early planning and preparation ensures the longest season possible and an early start makes everything that comes after worthwhile.  I start with my rakes and wheel barrow and theone thing that makes a good garden great: mulch. 

I love dark mulch. I love the way it brings out the color in all my flowers, annuals and perennnials alike. Mulch is also a must have for my vegetable garden. keeping down weeds is super important to me because the last thing I want to do after a day at work is weed. Mulch is essential to  me. I'm interested in Scotts Nature Scapes mulch. I like that it is made from natural forest products, no waste wood is used. It also comes in great colors and and avariety of textures.

Last week I spoke to my brother, Pete, who lives in central Florida. His growing season is much longer than mine for vegetables, but he grows flowers and shrubs all year round. Pete says he's been having great success with Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch. While telling me about Florida Select, he metioned his commitment to sustainable gardening and how Florida Select fits his sensibilities perfectly. He chose  this particular mulch because it is sustainably harvested and plantaion grown. because it is grown locally, it helps the economy in his neighborhood. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and regulate the temperature of the soil while keeping weeds down without chemical applications.

SkyWatch Friday - Season 6, Episode 43

One sky, many watchers...

Click the picture to make it bigger...

Fly on over to SkyWatch and see more interesting views...

Wordless Wednesday...May Day 2013

Wordless Wednesday 

Check out some other Word-less-ness here.

The Best Oldies Songs Take Me Back...

Certain things remind me of other things. Today those reminders are songs. Songs take me to places in my memory that I don't visit very often. Sometimes, the Best Oldies Songs are super reminders of what was going on in my life when the songs first came out.

Every time I hear "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar, I think of my sister in law Linda. She loved records she could sing to. I have a memory of waiting for her one morning about 25 years ago. She was doing her hair and she had the Pat Benatar record playing rather loud. Over her hair dryer and the music, I could her her singing "Hit me with your best shot! Fire Awaaaaaay!" She dried and brushed and sang, entertaining herself while doing her hair. Linda had really thick, curly, hard to wrangle hair. It took some time and effort to get it under control so Linda could get on with her day. One side of an LP later, Linda was ready to go.

At work we listen to oldies radio and "Anyway You Want It" by Journey never fails to remind me of Rodney Dangerfield crying "Let's Party!" on the golf course. For me Caddyshack is one of the classic screwball comedies. I watch it every time I find it on tv, commercials or not. I was about 18 when Caddyshack came out and my boyfriend worked at a local golf course. In the evenings, with a couple of friends, we would go out to the back nine and hit a few balls and sneak a few beers. We always had a boom box with us and cranked the tunes. I could identify with Rodney parting down on the fairway.

When I was a child, we lived in a small house with a floor furnace. On the cold winter mornings, mother would rise, turn up the heat and then switch on the radio.Her favorite was an AM news station out of Boston. BZ radio played the Best Oldies Songs songs and some new ones, reported news and traffic and entertained us while we warmed up standing over the floor furnace and got ready for school.

I love hearing old songs that remind me of stuff that I may not otherwise think of.

Home Is What Your Building Material Is...Try Durisol

 Maybelle and Rip are in Europe and have sent along some pictures of where they've been hanging out. They've been to cities and towns all over eastern Europe. After studying the pictures, it looks to me like there are some pretty cool building styles. It made me wonder just what folks build homes from in different parts of the world and if we use the same building materials here. I investigated a little and found for the most part, people in developed countries use mostly the same building materials. But I did learn an interesting thing: one can build a house with anything from mud to Insulating concrete forms.

Of course, through the ages, people build what they need with what they can gather. Things like mud and brick, sod and thatch, straw bale houses and wood frame construction were all born from necessity. And each one of those things was an improvement or modification of the last and pretty good for keeping people warm, dry and safe. Unless of course they just burrowed into the side of hills and became hobbits. But even for burrow diggers, hobbits were very technologically advanced. They lived in beauty and comfort and weren't afraid to share.

These days everyone is trying to be green and live in homes that will use less energy and withstand more damage from earthquakes, hurricanes and the like. That's the whole reason people initially built houses in the first place isn't it? We've gone from burrowing hillsides to homes made from  insulating concrete forms that are really strong, energy efficient, cost effective beautiful and offer the level of comfort any hobbit would be glad to entertain in.

Everybody Likes Cats, Right?

Eugene sleeping in a drawer...

Gene waking up from a nap...

Gene wondering what to do with the rest of his day.

Stanley learning to address envelopes.

Stanley failing at addressing envelopes...

Penny, Nelle and Baby Philip sharing nap time.

Tiny cat, found in a shrub, Pilgrim Hill Rd.

Tiny cat, still tiny.

Nora, tiny as ever, weighs all of 5 pounds.

Another One Bites the Dust...

In October there was a storm that caused a bit o' mayhem.

Dust biter number 1...

Poor Peter has been homeless since then. He's been in a shelter, which does not suit him at all. So he's spent most of his time on the streets.

Last night another ill wind blew through here which resulted in this...

Dust biter number 2...

Eugene came along to assess the damage and swiftly proclaimed the rabbit cage toast.

Gene was not well pleased as he likes to sit atop the cages and torment the inhabitants.

                             

  Now poor Melvin has been rendered homeless as well.

She just doesn't know it yet. She still wants to live in her house even though it's been condemned.

The super bummer is now we need two new rabbit cages. The EPIC bummer is Melvin is a girl, and she was loose on the streets with Peter for a good while.

We don't need no stinkin' bunny babies...

Stay tuned. Thirty days and counting.