Tuesday Catch-Up Day

What a strange week it has been.  Of course work on Monday but I had already been in the office on Sunday so my desk was pretty clear.  I watched Rio most of the day and then home.  Tuesday I had planned on going to art class but with my favorite person/friend not being there it just wasn't going to be as fun so I opted to stay home and get some crap done.  I don't know if I have shared but I'm in the middle planning The Hubby's 60th birthday bash.  Every time we go to a social function he always asks if there will be dancing.  He is just eat up with dancing so, I am throwing him a Surprise Dance Party!  It's next month and I have the venue, food, guests and now music and slide show all ready.  He even delivered a handful of invites (in a brown paper wrapper) to a friend in his dance class to be handed out to the other dance geeks.  He had no idea.  Again I score.  Back to Tuesday.  In his computer he has the BEST dance playlists and I needed them for the party.  I ended up having to make discs, a lot of discs of his music to put in my laptop.  Well, when added to my ITunes it added as "Track 1, Track 2, Track 3...etc." I had to add all the info and make sure I didn't already have the songs which I had a lot.  So Tuesday I completed the task and now I have 9 hours of dance music and a slide show of that guy.  DONE.  

Another task taken care of was another clean out of unworn clothes from my closet.  New clothes in old clothes out and then a trip to Goodwill.  

Last but not least was a box that had been storage when we moved our offices.  The Hubby was getting ready to chunk this box until I opened it.  I found childhood books, a brick from the church I grew up in and has since burned down, sheet music, and this AWESOME T-shirt.  Absolutely thread bare this T-shirt was worn by Bro, Sis and myself at different times.  I am going to have it framed I think.  The books I found were cleaned and put on the shelf for Rio when she starts reading:  Huckleberry Finn, National Velvet, Encyclopedia Brown, Ramona (my girls)...

Workshop - Day 3

Day three of he workshop with Derek Penix and it was plein air painting.  Thankfully the weather cooperated with a bit of wind.  It was a bit chilly when not in the sun but I enjoyed sitting in the sun while he created.

It is amazing how he looks at things, sees the light and dark and starts swiping on color to create.

I know it's blurry but this is the final tree he did in a couple of hours. 

Side note:  I had to boogie out of actually painting plein air to head home and get ready for our evening out the the DVIS Monarch Ball.  The plan was a dress and pumps but my ankles have been bothering me and the knee was just still too wobbly so flats and fancy pants and I was ready.  We danced, yes I danced with The Hubby.  I told him no spinning and twirling but he didn't hear so I spun and twirled to the best of my knee would do.  Unfortunately, a neighboring man with heels on his shoes stopped all the dancing when he CRUSHED the top of my foot.  I know it's hard to see but the top of my foot is now green, orange, red, rust, blue and black.   

Dancing Queen

Definitely related to her granddaddy!

The Dancing Cook

Today I think will be a ramble.  I am just going to type and see what pops up here.  Blank, blank, blank, blank....okay here we go....blank, blank, blank...

I received the new The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier the other day and the first thing I cooked was the Tequila Lime Chicken!!!  That was an A+ for me.  So very yummy.  Today I'm going to try the Dr. Pepper spicy pork butt.  I really like a lot of the recipes in this new edition and plan on trying quite a few.  Sometimes I get a cookbook, look at it and maybe try one recipe then it goes on the shelf but this one I will use.  I also got Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life by Jamie Oliver.  I love, love, love his show on The Cooking Channel and have tried and plan to try several from that show and cookbook.  I'm not much of a recipe follower.  I tend to veer off the written word, a lot to make it my own but that is what cooking is all about isn't it. 

Boy, did I get off track.  I had to go to Amazon.com to find the titles of these cookbooks and ended up buying to Kindle books.  EGAD!  I am such an Internet shopper and such a sucker for a book.  I love, love, love books and my dream job or business would be a bookstore.  I can get so lost in a bookstore and I miss Borders. 

Last night The Hubby and I danced the light fantastic at the DVIS Mirror Ball (Domestic Violence Intervention Services).  It was a hoot of music, food, friends and a ton of dancing.  Oh my tootsies are not happy today and The Hubby spun my so much I got a charlie horse in my calf.  So much for laying off of exercise for the past week and a half!  Really, we had fun and The Hubby was a smiling fool on the dance floor.  He so enjoyed himself.  In fact it is nearly 9am and he is still in bed.  I'm going to finish here and then off to see my Daddy, the grocery store and back home to put that pork butt in the oven.  Hopefully a bit of painting will be done today as I accomplished reading yesterday by finishing two books. 

Toodles all and have a fabulous Sunday! 

Oh Poop!

The title, well, I mean it literally, really I do, but more on that in a bit...

Last night The Hubby and I attended (instead of my walking group) a private party Casino and dancing night at the famed Cain's Ballroom.  Mid Life Crisis Band played and we danced and danced and danced, so there was no need for the walking, trust me.  I was dripping wet by the time we traveled home from the event.  We saw several people we knew and even danced with a couple, he with her and I with him, that we knew from the cabin area but have never socialized with.  I have to admit, hear me people, I kind of had fun, that is after 3 glasses of wine and getting over my stagefright.  I really have to push myself to get over being scared out of my wits on the dance floor, but I did it.  The Hubby was overjoyed with me!  We did West Coast Swing and a bit of the 70's stuff, which I love, and he attempted to slow dance.  I told him he really needs to take a few lessons in that as I felt I was being pushed around the room but we had fun in the end, and that is what mattered to him. 

Now to the title of this post, Oh Poop!  As we traveled to the event we came to Main Street and turned north to Cain's, which was up the block.  I looked to the left at a construction site and a chain link fence.  There was a, I think homeless guy, longish dark unruly hair, young probably mid 30's, with his pants pulled down to his mid-thighs.  He was facing the street but bent forward with his butt pressed against the chain link fence and wait for it.......POOPING!  I saw it, SAW IT!  EGAD!  I said, "OH MY GOSH, HE'S POOPING!"  I could not believe my eyes.  I should not be shocked though as we have a homeless lady that shows up at our office front step and does her business on the concrete "thingy" you drive you car up to.  So far I think we have scared her off for a bit but there's not much you can do.  It made me think about the homeless and what they do to take care of their personal stuff and I guess this is it.  I've done my share of hiding behind trees in the woods when camping and such and a few rugged outhouses, but never a chain link fence or concrete "thingy".  A sad life.  I can't imagine it.  Actually, I've been thinking about the homeless that I see often every day, walking up and down the streets and it just makes me sad.  Some are mentally not there, some are alcholics and drug abusers and some I would imagine just don't have a place.  In fact, in the past month I've watched the police and ambulance workers pick up one that was intoxicated and fell off the curb on his face.  Wednesday I saw one that just sat down at a stop light and passed out and the police and ambulance workers were aiding him.  Again, a sad life.   

I Have A Headache

There is a lot of thinking going on around in my noggin lately and I'm beginning to get a headache from all buzzing between my ears.  There's just so much stuff that bounces around all the time that sometimes the thoughts just get in a jumble. 

The mind has been on my recent decision to join the Walk Fit Program at Fleet Feet that starts February 27 here in Tulsa.  It is a 10 week commitment of walking with their group Monday and Wednesday's and an additional day, usually Saturday.  Unfortunately, we are most of the time at the cabin so that will have to be done there.  Plus I'm still with my trainer 3 days a week and even though my sentence is up with the West Coast Swing dance class, I'm still dancing.  We are, for the month only, taking Two-Step in preparation for the Bob Will's Birthday Celebration at Cain's Ballroom March 3.  The Hubby wants to make sure he can dance a two-step, EGADS!  So for the next 3-4 weeks that is still part of my exercise routine.  You know something, you would think I would be pencil thin with all that I do and this tells me that I HAVE to get a handle on the food thing!  I SHOULD be pencil thin or at least Laddie pencil thin.  I've actually toyed around with the idea of doing Nurti-System or Jenny Craig so that I get out of the cooking thing but that is just not practical because of The Hubby, although it might be an option for both of us for awhile.  Oh, I just don't know.  I just get a weakness or depressed or mad and find myself in the fridge or pantry or WORSE through a drive-thru (which doesn't happen often).  Oh woe is me! 

See, lots and lots of junk rolling around up there.  I do know that my exercising will be kicked up a few notches soon and with spring around the corner I will be gardening too.  I haven't had a garden in years, an actual veggie garden and I looking forward of playing in the dirt.

Cocktail Dress

Yesterday I was on the hunt for a cocktail dress and shoes. The dress thing is not much of a problem but the shoes, whoooo...not my bag I can tell ya. I am not a fan of any kind of shoes and have so many problems with my feet over the years that I was scared. I was successful in the hunt for dresses, in fact I found two of them. But, the trip into Dillards shoe department sent me into absolute terror.  I stood looking at the thousands of shoes and was in a panic.  Which way do I turn.  What is the right shoe.  What is the right shoe for me...What, Where, Who, HELP, I tweeted!

I actually stepped my little tootsies into some pretty tall shoes that made me feel I was going to teeter over but they were oh so cute and tempting.  I knew they would not do for me as dancing is on the menu of the night I am planning on attending.  We are attending the DVIS (Domestic Violence Intervention Services) Mirror Ball in April and there will be lots of dancing so I have to think of that.  I found these although my friend C said they were more for suits but they work for me.  I was glad I was successful.

Pictures will soon follow from the gala.

Flash Mob

They were finally able to get it together for the Flash Mob.   Unfortunately, The Hubby didn't get to participate and I didn't find out about it until after the fact.  These are a lot of the people we dance with in class!  Enjoy!

New Year's Resolutions

It is now that time of year where everyone is making their New Year's Resolutions.  I really don't do that anymore but it is a very hard habit to break.  The big one is ALWAYS to lose weight, go on a diet and that is just a given for me as it is every single day.  I've battled the weight monster most of my adult life and always will.  Of course I will give into the NYR thing by admitting that I will make it my #1 resolution.  I've already talked to my trainer and expressed the desire to lose at least 50 pounds by June, June 4 to be exact when I hit the double-nickel age, 55.  50 pounds first and then we will see where I want to go after that.  I think it is an attainable thing and something I can focus on.  That means that even though I get up 5 days a week to work out that I will have to add something.  Egad!  Not sure how that will work but I will work it.  I need a plan for sure.  Probably an extra day of cardio on top of the muscle work that is Tuesday - Thursday.

Another issue is food.  I changed so much about what and how I eat but apparently it is not enough, but enough to keep me at the same weight no matter what exercise I do.  So the meal plan is the next step.  I hate to grocery shop and I love to cook yet I hate the process of trying to plan the meals.  After 35 years of doing it I'm tired of planning.  I want someone else to do it for me because I've lost all will power in that department.  I know that is not something that will happen so I have to get myself together and make it work!  The only "diet" that I have ever stayed on and lost weight on successfully is Weight Watchers but this point crap is not for me.  I'm old school, 3 ounces of tuna old school.  I don't have time or the patience to log food.  Hmmm, that would be where I should probably start but when I try I will usually stop.  Maybe my new phone can help me in that regard.  It has apps and stuff to help with the tracking of food.  This is the most difficult thing I have ever done is the food intake and I definitely need help somehow but not sure how to do it. 

For Christmas one of the gifts I gave to the hubby is a signed contract to extend the "one night a week" dance class to expire December 25, 2011.  He was pleased and it is my concession to him and to support him in his new found passion.  Maybe I can broker a deal with the food thing.  Put him in charge of my food but he can eat all kinds of stuff and pretty much stay the same and dating him some 36 years ago is where this roller coaster started.  He ate stuff I had never dreamed of, fast food, and it was my downfall.  I have actually given up on the fast food stuff.  I may fall once in awhile but probably only ate fast food 3 times all year last year. 

So here are my New Year's Resolutions:

• Up exercise, food diary, lose 50 pounds by June 4, 2011
• Find another art class to take including the one I'm already involved in.  Paint more!
• Blog everyday for the year...(let's see how that one goes!)

See simple stuff but the focus I must make!  How about you.  What are your struggles this next year.  Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  Good Luck!

Damn Dancing!

I am done with workout this morning.  I had a great one as I did yesterday.  Yesterday I rode 6 miles on the stationary bike and walked a mile and a half on the treadmill.  Today was muscle work with a bit of cardio on the bike, 3 miles.  I think I've got the exercise part under control in my life, now The Hubby, I'm not so sure.  I started to write a whole paragraph griping about The Hubby and his love of the dance and our difference of opinion but decided I would not.  Let's just say I do not love it but I love him and I'm giving him one night a week.  All the stuff in the middle of the conversation is the same old thing and I'm not going to rehash.  I will say though that I AM NOT going to learn ballroom! 

Last night as we were driving home listening to the radio a song came on that took me right back to our dating days.  Oh my!  My girls, I'm not sure you want to read this.  I don't even remember the song but the memories were flooding back after nearly 35 years of marriage.  When we were dating there was a radio station on in Tulsa called K-Kool (I think) and it played a genre of music that we just didn't listen to in Broken Arrow.  It was like Soul Train on the radio and at night they played the most beautiful romantic love songs.  That song last night just took me right back to looking at the gorgeous tall lanky blond guy that I fell in love with.  The music of K-Kool put the passion in our love and I was just transported to that time last night. 

Sometimes you just forget those moments that led you to where you are today in your relationship.  I may get cranky at him and frustrated but I so still love The Hubby.  He is a beautiful man to me and always will be.  He makes me laugh and smile and I never get tired of hearing his stories even though I've heard them a thousand times over.  That song last night took me to passion, kissing, and touching.  Sounds of love and desire...oh my, think I'm about ready to write a romance novel here.  It's good to remember those moments with you significant other.  It reignites the love.  You can get angry and frustrated at them but they are your life partner, your best friend. 

Babbling

Today is a babbling day.  I will type whatever comes through my mind and it may not be good I can tell ya! 


Workout this morning was INTENSE...oh my legs have the wobbles.  It's all good though. 

Harri called to let us know that Mr. T is still in the hospital and may stay through the weekend.  The infection or blockage is still there and the doc's are playing the wait and see game.  Mrs. P is not happy and I can see why.  It's hard to watch someone you love laying there in obvious pain.  Good thoughts are with you Mr. T and gosh darnit, yesterday was his birthday!  Happy Birthday Mr. T!

Having some weird kind of thoughts about friends again.  Goes back to when I was a teenager and I could not understand what was wrong with me.  Why couldn't I get a guy to go out with me.  Why did my friends treat me so bad.  What is/was so wrong with me that no one takes the time to get to know me.  Why don't I get invited to stuff.  Am I such a dolt that I'm just not fun!  Crap!  I asked The Hubby last night, Why.  His response, "It's because you're a party pooper!"  WHAT!!!!!!  I responded, "Why can't you for once be on my side."  I AM NOT A PARTY POOPER!   What the...HAY!!!!!  I don't get it.  I am loyal, a great listener.  I am interesting, I think.  Gemini's are supposed to glib and fun-loving!  Guess maybe I'm a dud there.  Oh well.  Onward!

Back to better thoughts.  Just not worth the worry is it.  I'm an okay person and I like me, that's what counts, right!  Didn't go dancing last night so The Hubby was a bit ticked at me.  I had a sniffle that was driving me crazy, allergies I think.  Besides I don't believe the people would like to be dancing with and touching hands with someone with the sniffles, allergies or not.  Next Monday we will start a class called Night Club Two-Step.  Not sure what that is but we will stop the West Coast Swing for about 6 weeks to do it.  I told The Hubby that the agreement was 1 night a week.  He was not too happy, but hey, I'm actually giving up a meeting for my art group for it.  I'm not doing it next time.  Hmphhhh! 

Rain.  We've had some downpours since yesterday thanks to hurricane Hermine!  The area really needed it and I think it should help the fall color.  Yep, fall is just around the corner.  I'm not too sure that I'm ready for it though.  It will lead into winter my most NOT favorite time of year.  It can be so depressing.  I have to really gear up with the painting stuff and keep my mind focused on it to get me through.  I temporarily moved my painting stuff to the office/shop and have taken up a back office that is not used.  Since I'm having to be there a lot since B is teaching, why not paint.  Yesterday I started a commission piece but I'm not happy with it so far.  Not good.  May have to restart.  Last night I kept thinking about it all night long.  Not sure moving my art place there was a good idea.  I don't feel inspired there.  Oh well, onward! 

See babbling day.  Later gators!

My Busy Life

Day 19...

My life is now busy as opposed to what...  B out for a few days but next week will begin her teaching schedule again.  Like last year it is a pretty hefty schedule which means I am now at the office most of the time again.  Really, her schedule is much more intense than mine.  I have had a nice summer of a few days off here and there and I've enjoyed it tremendously.  So 5 days a week I workout at 5:30 in the morning.  I rush home to ready for work and rush to the office which is mostly babysitting the phone.  No pressure there.  Then last night The Hubby decided he felt like going to dance class again.  (banging head on desk)  I am a supportive wife and I go but still not my idea of fun.  He is a bit frutstrated that I usually poop out after an hour and a half of constant dancing and spinning on a concrete floor.  Imagine.  But he has to (PLEASE) get that I'm done, just done.  I do the best I can and I laugh and enjoy some of it but...  Then the dance instructor handed out flyers for Night Club 2 Step on Monday's for 4 week sessions.  The Hubby's eyes lit up and I knew that I had to take hold of the situation right then and there.  He's been wanting to take NC2Step for awhile now and he was almost frothing right there.  I said that ONE NIGHT A WEEK ONLY, again.  That was our deal when this whole thing started and I'm enforcing that.  So we will probably drop the Wednesday night stuff for awhile and try the NC2Step.  I also may be not so tired as I am by Wednesday.  Boy, I'm sure getting my cardio in now.  Monday and Friday's 3 miles each day on the treadmill and then Monday's 2 hours of NC2Step.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's are intense muscle days.  This weight had better start falling off of me and I MEAN NOW!

Dance!

Thought I would update on the dance lessons.  Yes, I am still going although occasionally I get a week off due to circumstances beyond my control ;).  Every Wednesday since January I have been attending the West Coast Swing classes with The Hubby.  It is Intermediate 1 and 2 classes so I guess you can say I am able to hold my own in class.  I have to admit, really have to admit that I'm have an itty-bitty touch of fun but it is not my life like it is for The Hubby.  He is just eat up with it and I AM NOT!  The classes seem to be expanding as there have been a few driving in from Stillwater for classes.  It's getting a bit crowded which is fun but then that is where I have to ease into meeting more new people, rotating on the dance floor with different partners.  That is where I have an issue but I'm trying.  The other day The Hubby said something about taking ballroom...I set my foot down and said NO but he kind was teasing me (I hope) that oh yes I would.  I am not into it!!!!!  So that is my update on the dance front. 

I have to say also that our class is at a rec center and we meet in a kids dance room with the ballet bars on the walls and a huge, HUGE mirror on one entire wall.  I know I said something about this before but, that damn mirror makes me crazy.  It bulges in the middle kind of like one of those weird mirrors in one of those...man, having a brain fart, can't think of the word, "something" house mirrors.  Anyway, it makes me look like an elephant dancing and I hate it, really hate it.  I come from home thinking I look really nice and slimmer and walk into this room and it totally deflates my ego.  HATE IT!  Can't wait till we go back to the old room with no mirrors again. 

Don't tell The Hubby, but our youngest is coming home for Father's Day to surprise him on Sunday.  She hasn't been home since Thanksgiving so we are all ready to see her.  We're going to dinner and she is going to show up and surprise him!  I also bought myself a FLIP camera but really haven't even used the thing and decided that he would love it to tape the dance lessons for review.  See I am trying to be supportive and if he EVER says again that I don't support him...well...WHAM! 

Just gotta

I just gotta post something today even if I don't have a thing to say.  I am just dry as a bone with thoughts lately, although I'm hoping that the sun that has been peeking through yesterday and today will help my mood.  I'm just not happy lately and I know it is the dark and dreary cold days.  I got the results from blood tests from my physical and wouldn't it figure that the only low levels in my entire body is Vitamin D.  Could have guessed that.  So yesterday I rode around in my car with the sun roof open and the heat on and today I will probably do the same.  I need to soak up all the Vitamin D I can get. 

Last night was yet another boring night of dance class.  That has me down too.  I don't know if I can tolerate doing this every Wednesday night with The Hubby.  It's kind of fun but an hour and a half into the two hour evening and I'm just done.  The Hubby made fun of me who works out and then poops out but he just doesn't get it.  It's not so much my body, well it is, but it is mental too.  I'm just tired.  Up at 5 am and hard workout then I'm ready to wind down after a long day, not two hours of dance.  Sometimes I just want to cry because I don't want to go and I can get a tad testy with him.  I'm sorry but it is just how I feel.  I am being forced into feeding his obscession and it is not mine.  He then brought up the Spring Swing Fling thingy and I flat out told him NO!  I'm not going!  I said one night a week and that is it!  He wants to go to workshops but I DO NOT!  I hopefully will be able to stand my ground on this!  Do I sound mean?  I mean I've been there for him for 34 years in work and play and I'm kind of done.  I want to feed my oscession and that is painting, for which I have not had time to pick up a brush, except for class for two weeks.  I am not happy about that. 

Sorry this is a ramble but that is just how I roll lately so go with it.  Toodles all...off to lunch with an old friend!  Remember, I'm over 50 (53) and it's all about me now! 

The Sky is Falling

The sky is falling.  That is what is literally going to happen this afternoon, according to the weather people.  Let's scare everyone half to death why don't we.  I mean really.  It is crazy out there and on the TV.  Yes, yes, I remember how it was being without power for 9 days in '07 but let's not put such fear in everyone please.  I know the media is trying to be helpful like how to keep your food in the fridge when the power goes out or how to run the generator or, or, or... but I'm tired of it at this point.  Maybe I feel this way because this time our generator is all hooked up and ready to take over, unlike last time when it sat at the side of the house because The Hubby did not have time to get it hooked up.  You see, being an electrical contractor we install permanent standby generators and were so busy doing everyone else's that ours sat.  That is a good thing, to be that busy, but not when the power goes out for 9 days. 

Okay on to other things...

Last night was the 4th week of the forced-into dance classes with The Hubby.  I have to admit here that it was a little fun but I'm not happy at 2 solid hours of it.  By the middle of the 2nd hour I'm done!  I'm a sweaty mess and so tired that my feet are not minding my brain.  Sometimes I watch the clock slowly tick the seconds away, just waiting to go home.  I've decided (haven't shared this with The Hubby yet) that I'm giving him a year of this once a week crap and then I'm done.  I'm sorry but I just don't want to do it.  I had to have two glasses of wine to go last night and that does not go very well with the constant spinning or twirling or whatever you call it.  Yeah, it helped to make it a bit more fun, but I can't get half drunk every Wednesday night, or can I.  I know you ladies are confused by my dislike of this dance thing.  Many have commented that they wished their husbands would like to dance with them but I think it is a dominance battle with us and my not wanting to pushed into yet another obsession of his.  Oh I'm a bit confused myself about it all but will carry on, at least for a bit.  I think I'm going to have to buy dance shoes...EGADS!!!!!

Just a Quickie

Just a quickie note:

We're off for the cabin tonight and tomorrow night to host some friends for a huge pot of chicken and noodles and a warm fire.

Last night I kept my part of the promise to The Hubby and we went dancing.  I still hate it but it was okay.  Two of the instructors said I was really good and I should be as I've been a few times before...remember The Hubby!

Later everyone...hope to have some "chilly" pictures to share...

Sunflower

Just a quick post before I head off to the cabin this AM. I did payroll last night and thought about leaving for the cabin last night but I KNEW The Hubby was going to the dance thing. I was afraid that he would want me to go again so I had to be ready. I was shocked when he just said, "See ya later. I'm going." Whew, dodged that bullet. By that time I was stuck in town and too tired to drive up there. So here I sit this morning moving slowly but planning on leaving before 10 for the cabin.

I wanted to share my latest endeavour in painting. I'm trying to do this one on my own so bear with me. I have a lot more lessons to get through to feel comfortable with tackling things on my own but I HAVE too! This one is from a photo A took at our previous house many years ago just at dusk in our backyard. I always loved so am attempting to paint. I am not happy with the background but we'll see what happens. It is NOT finished so please understand there is a bit more to go.

SUNFLOWER

My Spring Break

Yes I am having my own spring break. I'm sitting on Harri and Jimbo's deck blogging right now. I look terrible but hey I'm on spring break and who the hell cares, I surely don't.


Saturday night was yet another 50th birthday party here at the retreat and so we again danced the night away. Wait, I didn't dance the night away but The Hubby surely did. I danced with him a few times but I was tired and full of a whole bottle of wine so I was heading home about 9:30 on S&J's golf cart to pour myself into bed. The Hubby on the other hand had a nice night and danced till about midnight. Good for him. I came up here on Friday afternoon with the plan to stay until Wednesday and hopefully that will happen. My little Miata was filled to the brim with writing stuff, paints, clothes, and food. Actually most of the food I brought was Lean Cuisine and milk. We went to a dinner at another cabin on Friday and I was responsible for olives. Yes, I said olives. I had some leftover from the weekend before party. They were from Whole Foods in the marinated olive section. I had a huge container and they were just delicious so that was my contribution for dinner. We had tortilla soup, salad and appetizers of cheese, crackers and olives. Very light and very good as we were all tired from the week. Nice chat, a little TV, wine and the company of good friends is just what the doctor ordered for me.


Saturday, The Hubby and both slept in till 9 and again on Sunday. We’re becoming a little lazy I guess, or we need it. I guarantee when the weather is better in the AM and we have the windows open I will be up to watch the sun come up. I love that. To hear the birds start to wake up the day and have the quiet morning darkness filled with the sounds of a crisp morning is just awesome. Saturday, The Hubby and I spent most of the day lounging on the couch in front of a roaring fire and the television. I recently signed us up for NetFlix and so I had a few movies to watch. We watched Iron Man and Into The Wild. We enjoyed just doing nothing all day long and even took naps to make it through the evening.


Yesterday The Hubby left for town after spending most of the day with me. I took my shower and then headed over to the deck to check out the internet since it had warmed up nicely. Harri plied me with lots of good wine and were joined with PO and MT for lots of girl chat and laughter. I heated up part of the leftover hot artichoke dip from Saturday night and we chowed down. I gave the lovely ladies a short lesson about blogging, twitter and Amazon.com. Later MT went home and we three went inside for chili, salad and brownies and to watch the Amazing Race. After dinner PO left and Harri and I watched Celebrity Apprentice and couldn’t believe Trump didn’t send Rodman home too. What a mess. Poor Harri was falling asleep in her chair and I think was glad I finally left to go to my cabin. She left early this morning for work. It was so nice for PO and Harri to stay and keep me company last night.


Oh my gosh this day is just awesome. I slept till nine again but got up and painted a little on a new painting, read a bit and now I’m blogging and writing on Harri’s deck. I am leaving my woes at the gate of this place and not going to think about anything except me and my well-being this week. I found a blog called The Secret is in the Sauce and since then I've been getting so many visits from the ladies. It's wonderful and I also get to find other blogs to read which I love. Thanks ladies.


Some observations about being here during the week. It's really kind of quiet and peaceful, unlike the last time I tried to stay here during the week. There was all kinds of construction going on and it was horrible. Today in the little loop where our cabin and Harri's is located there are four familes that live here full time. It is nice that I don't feel totally isolated. There is one lady that I swear has been on the phone for 3 hours solid, explains a lot about her busy-body ways (some of you may know who I mean fellow cabinites).

Dance Class

I agreed to join The Hubby at his group dance class tonight and he was overjoyed. I have to admit it was fun but I'm not in love with it like he is. We danced for an hour in the beginners West Coast Swing and my memory was taxed trying to remember the moves. I was actually sweaty by the end of the hour. The Hubby warned me that it was actually 2 hours of classes so I knew I was in for it. While the first class was ending a couple entered the room for the next class. They sat on the bleachers in the gym watching and I told The Hubby that the guy looked really, REALLY familiar. I went to the restroom and when I came back in they had name tags on. I walked over to The Hubby who was standing close to them. The guy turned and I saw the first two letters of his name Cl...OH MY GOSH...I did know him. I walked up to him and said, "Cl... I know you." He looked curiously at me and I continued, "I'm ****** (my maiden name)." He was shocked. The guy goes back over 35 years since I have seen him. He is about 4 years older than me and used to work for my father. He used to have a crush on me too but didn't dare follow through as my father knew he was a kind of bad boy and that my daddy would not be pleased. I got to dance with him too as we had to change partners a lot. Actually, that was the yucky thing of the evening. One old geezer had his face not more than 6 inches from my face and had this creepy grin and arched eyebrow staring at me.....OOooo....so creepy.

On a sad note. Today is the third anniversary of the loss of my best friend Gail. Miss you my dear.

Where is the sun!

Where is the sun. The weather "guys" have promised a little sunshine today and I'm banking on it. I need sun. Wait, it's trying to peek through the over cast sky. I'm sitting on Harri's wonderful deck again tapping off Grumps wireless service (he's fine with that) and I think spring is trying to take hold. For months now the air has been silent. The birds have not been singing at all but this morning, yes I hear them, chirping and singing saying spring is around the corner. Today they are telling me, "Don't worry, the sun will make an appearance." I'm so ready for spring.

I woke up this morning about 7:30, yes I slept in, and The Hubby was still asleep. It is a little after 9:30 now and when I came over here to the deck about 9, he was still snoring! That is really unheard of for him. We partied a little last night on Sin and Bare's deck. Sin fixed crockpot fajitas. (I'll find out how she cooks them.) They were awesome. We had Tex-Mex fest with lots of wine and for me champagne or sparkling wine. We had laughter and lots of girl talk inside about Brazilian Wax while the guys were outside around the fire farting and telling dirty jokes. We are planning a Sock-Hop for next weekend at the wigwam so I loaded up my IPOD with 50's music and that was playing outside. After a bit the doors opened, the music spilled in and most of the ladies found themselves on the deck with the guys dancing the mashed potato and twist. It was an awesome time last night and I don't have a hangover or headache to speak of. When we hit the sheets last night I cranked open the window and didn't close it till about 4 am. The air was crisp and clear and the moon bright, making the room look like we turned the lights on. It was an fantastic Friday night at CC.

Today I hope to get a little drawing in, a little writing, a little reading, and a little walking. Tomorrow I will be back in town, hopefully for the Street Cats Furry Valentine auction to benefit the no-kill shelter. My girl Sheezekrafty will have some jewelry in it for the worthwhile organization that she has volunteered for a number of years and where her two babies Pimmy and Vera came from.

I almost forgot, Daddy called The Hubby's cell phone last night which there is very little service here. The Hubby told me to call him back and I did pretty quick as my daddy never calls unless something is up. I called him back with a mild pannic in my chest. He just wanted to tell me that he went to the doctor and the doc told him he needs his hip replaced. Well, you know that is part of what happened to Momma. We put her in the nursing home, she fell a few days into her stay, had surgery, and was gone the next month. The therapist on Thursday told me that HE didn't think I had dealt fully with the loss of my momma and friend Gail, like my girls have said. I poo-pooed that idea but yesterday I found out he may be right. At lunch with The Hubby at the wonderful Bangkok Thai buffet I told him about my session with the guy and what he said and then I explained that his little near death experience brought out all the feelings again after 2 years (almost 3 now). Then we started talking about my not wanting the responsibility of my daddy and his impending health stuff and then he tried to explain that may be the feeling of his oldest brother and why he didn't show up at the hospital when The Hubby was on the vent for three days. I've been VERY pissed off at the BIL over this and The Hubby defended him. I'm sorry. I got upset and told The Hubby that even though we knew he was going to be alright that it was his brother and it was scary but that I needed the support. It would have been for me too. I almost started to break down right there. I couln't believe how angry I was over it. Hmmm, maybe the therapist is right. I told him I would not have another appointment for a few months but I may have to rescend that option. Now I have to worry about Daddy and his operation and I have the power of attorney, I'm on all the documentation of his finances and pertinent papers and I'm not sure I want the responsibility. There is that word again. I think I want to run away from it sometimes. Got to think on this one.