Not Too Shabby

I just re-read some of (well, all of) my old posts on Blogger. And I ain't half-bad as a blogger/writer. In fact, I think I do pretty well. I actually impressed myself. *wiggles head prissily*

Maybe I'll get inspired and write more soon. I hope. It was a lot of fun reading them again. Kind of like traveling back in time. What a ride.

Friends Move On

I know that I don't blog here anymore, but I wanted to publish this somewhere. If you happen to read it, leave a comment if you like. I'll try to check back in sometime soon. This is more for me I guess.

_____________________________

FRIENDS MOVE ON

Wow. I don’t know where to start.

All I know is that I have an empty place inside of me. I can actually feel it physically and it is a sad, sad feeling.

I made a friend, or rather a buddy, a few weeks ago. He was everything I wanted in someone to pal around with.

Funny. We laughed constantly. He is a comedian. Not a pro (yet). But he will be if that is what he wants. He made up comic bits on the fly and I couldn’t quit laughing. Keeping me entertained is no easy thing. But he could make me laugh for days. Literally.

Talented. He plays acoustic guitar, writes his own songs, and sings so well it makes me all googley eyed.. You see, I am enthralled with men with that kind of talent. It is rare to find and it is one of the things that I love to have in my life. I miss hearing him play his clever, sweet and funny songs. I miss hearing him sing. I miss the way he smiles when he is playing and singing something amusing. It is heart-wrenching. There are a lot of musicians out there with a similar talent, but no one who captured my imagination like he did.

Sincere. We talked a lot about ourselves during our short friendship. I learned about his life so far, about what he is looking for in a girlfriend, about his dreams for the future. And I opened up with a few things about myself. And he listened. How rare is that?

Cuddle-able. One of the things I miss most about being separated from my husband is not having someone to lay down and cuddle with. My friend and I never had sex or anything close to it. We would just lay in bed and laugh and spoon each other or I would lay my head on his chest. It was so wonderful and comforting and it felt so good.

I miss him so much it makes me cry. And I have selfishly cried over my loss many times. I know that he never imagined that I would value our friendship so much. And truthfully, until it was gone I didn’t imagine it either. It’s like he crashed into my life, filled it up with himself, and then left it empty when he moved out of my life. He is so charismatic that he probably makes most people feel that way.

He tells me that we will still get together now and then. But he is busy and has moved ahead and I am so happy for him. I truly am.

He landed a great job working nights. At a comedy club no less. That way he can still go to school and get his degree. But it means no more music or tequila on the porch or staying up all night talking and laughing or cuddling.

He found a girlfriend who he is crazy about and makes him happy. He told me that when they are alone, they cook, watch movies, hang out. He sounds so happy to have found her. And I am glad that he did. But it means no more music or tequila on the porch or staying up all night talking and laughing or cuddling.

He asked me once why women hold on for so long. I told him that we were like puppies. If you are nice to us, we will desperately want to follow you home. It’s ironic isn’t it? I just never imagined myself as one of those puppies left on the side of the road crying longingly as I watched him move away.

It is said that people come into your life for a purpose. And there is a reason that they move out of your life.

Whatever the reason, I miss him.

I miss him.

I miss him.

I miss him.

I miss him.
----------------------------------------
Good luck, Wes. I wish you only the best. Keep moving forward.
Maybe we’ll have a few shots of tequila sometime. I’ll buy.

No. Really. I AM going to write about...

The mysterious invisible entity in the backyard that enthralls my dog.

Hearing the words, "If you were five years younger..." (Ouch)

Bodywork.

My take on Hip-Hop; political and/or ecological rap/poetry/hip-hop; and on being green.

What are the meteorological chances?

Yes he's cute, young and stupid, but he is also.....

The three faces of Scamper (my dog) and why I cannot take her for a public walk.

uhhh....And some other things too.

Get Ready All Of You Who Read My Lame Ass Blog (i heart trav)

I am going to bear my soul on my blog. And I might be doing it for a while. Feel like I've got some things to say and this is the safest place I can say them. I'm not going to write for sympathy or advice or censure. I am writing so I can put what I want to say out there somewhere in cyberspace so no one (or some one) can hear.



And it's not all bad stuff! I swear!



Feel free to comment, but I can betcha I know what you will say before you even type it! (I'm psychotic---I mean psychic----that way.)

First blog in a series will follow shortly........

This One's For The Girls

I was a fan of horse racing. I went to the Santa Anita Racecourse in Los Angeles a few years ago and watched some wonderful, beautiful thoroughbreds race. And the jockeys on their backs were just as amazing as the horses.

The day I visited the Santa Anita was one of the most memorable of my life. This was where Seabiscuit made his debut and amazing, unlikely comeback. I had my picture taken with the statue of this remarkable animal and with Gary Stevens, one of the winningest jockeys in the sport.

I learned a lot about horse racing. It can be an awe inspiring and breath taking sport. Watching athletic horses with talented jockeys atop them is a sight to behold.
But I don't keep up too much anymore since Gary Stevens retired from racing.

At the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles was just the latest in a long line of tragic thoroughbred racing stories. She finished second to Big Brown. A huge feat for a filly. As the jockey was cooling her down, she broke both of her front ankles, collapsing on the track. As one television announcer touted Big Brown's win, you could see Eight Belles in the background being euthanized.

I am not a member of PETA. I am not a fanatic that believes that cows and pigs are not made to eat. After all, I love steak and bacon. But raising animals for food is one thing. And, yes, I fully realize how cruel that can be also.

But watching a horse who is bred to live to run and will do so with all of it's heart, giving his or her life for the Sport of Kings is too much to bear. I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert on race horse breeding, but I do know that selective breeding is an integral part of the sport.

The horses are bred for speed and a love to race. It's in their blood, literally. And all too often these two are at odds with each other.

So if you have a strong stomach and a heart of stone, find a video of the last race of Go For Wand. You will see a horse bred for racing with a love for the sport so great that she gave us one of the most...No the very most...heartbreaking glimpses of a horse bred to be a racehorse and one who would keep trying at all costs. After shattering one her front legs, she gallantly arose and continued to stumble to the finish line on three legs, her shattered leg grotesquely flopping around.

And then there is Ruffian, another filly with a determined desire to win. She had never lost a race in her ten starts. This beautiful filly did not know how to lose. She was and still is considered to be one of the greatest race horses to run the oval tracks.

But how would she stand up againt 'the boys'. A match race was set. Only two horses run a match race. The two competetors were Ruffian and a colt named Foolish Pleasure, winner of that year's Kentucky Derby.

As the two horses galloped down the back stretch, Ruffian pulled ahead of the colt by half a length. As 50,000 spectators watched from the stands, and another 18 million (yes 18 MILLION) watched the historic race on live television, the horrified audiance watched as Ruffian broke down. She had broken her left front ankle. A compound fracture that left the bone exposed.

On her broken ankle, her hoof flying up toward the sky with each stride, she continued the race on the exposed bone, grinding into the dirt of the race track. She was euthanized the following day after veterinarians attempted to mend her mangled ankle.

Although I enjoyed watching those special animals running for the roses attempting to win the elusive triple crown, the 2008 Kentucky Derby and other races, have taken the joy for the sport away from me. I no longer watch them.

Here's to Go For Wand, Eight Belles, and Ruffian, and all of the other thoroughbreds who were born to race, with huge hearts and an unstoppable desire to win.

Signs that make you go "hummmm"...

This may be old but I just stumbled across it.....Made me giggle!


In a Tokyo Hotel: Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If
you are not person to do such thing is please not to read notis. **averts eyes**

In another Japanese hotel room: Please to bathe inside the tub. **tub of What?**

In a Buchrarest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next
day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable. **I'd be unbearable too if I have to take the stairs**

In a Leipzig elevator: Do not enter the lift backwards, and only
when lit up. **I ain't too good at walking backwards anyway and I'd probably fall down the elevator shaft**

In a Belgrade hotel elevator: To more the cabin, push wishing
floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should
press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going to
alphabetically by national order. **wishing floor...Witch one is Taylor on?**

In a Paris hotel elevator: Please leave your values at the front
desk. **I KNEW there was a reason I wanted to visit Paris^^

In a hotel in Athens: Visitors are expected to complain at the
office between the hours of 9 and 11 am daily. *At my office it's from 7am to 4:30pm**

In a Yugoslavian hotel: The flattening of underwear with pleasure
is the job of the chambermaids. **ouch**

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox
monastery: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous
Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried
dailly except Thursday. **Who is buried on Thursday? Ballet dancers?""

In an Austrian hotel catering to skiers: Not to perambulate the
corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you with
nothing to hope for. **happens in the US too**

On the menu of a Polish hotel: Salad a firm's own make; limpid
red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger;
roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country
people's fashion. **sounds Yummy!**

In a Hong Kong supermarket: For your convenience, we recommend
courageous, efficient self-service. (Sounds like Halifax!)

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs. **heads unstairs**

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's: Drop your trousers here for best
results. **Hey! That's My line!**

Outside a Paris dress shop: Dresses for street walking. **Not that deperate yet!**

In a Rhodes tailor shop: Order your summers suit. Because is big
rush we will execute customers in strict rotation. **going only when the line is short**

Similarly, from the Soviet Weekly: There will be a Moscow
Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic painters and
sculptors. These were executed over the past two years. **I thought they stopped excuting them years ago!**

In an East African newspaper: A new swimming pool is rapidly
taking shape since the contractors have thrown in the bulk of
their workers. **???**

In a Vienna hotel: In case of fire, do your utmost to alarm the
hotel porter.

In a Zurich hotel: "Because of the impropriety of entertaining
guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that
the lobby be used for this purpose."

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: It is strictly forbidden
on our black forest camping site that people of different sex, for
instance, men and women, live together in one tent unless they are
married with each other for that purpose.

In the office of a Roman doctor: "Specialist in women and other
diseases."

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extracted by
the latest Methodists.

A translated sentence from a Russian chess book: A lot of water
has been passed under the bridge since this variation has been
played.

In a Rome laundry: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the
afternoon having a good time.

In a Czechoslovakian tourist agency: Take one of our horse-driven
city tours -- we guarantee no miscarriages.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to
ride on your own ass?

On the faucet in a Finnish washroom: To stop the drip, turn cock
to right.

In the window of a Swedish furrier: Fur coats made for ladies
from their own skin.

On the box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong: Guaranteed to
work throughout its useful life.

Detour sign in Kyushi, Japan: Stop: Drive sideways, (Sounds like
Boston!)

In a Swiss mountain inn: Special today -- no ice cream.

In a Copenhagen airline ticket office: We take our bags and send
them in all directions.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room: If this is your first visit
to the USSR, you are welcome to it.

In a Norwegian cocktail lounge: Ladies are requested not to have
children in the bar.

At a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have
any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

In an Acapulco hotel: The manager has personally passed all the
water served here.

In a Tokyo shop: Our nylons cost more than common, but you'll
find they are best in the long run.

From a Japanese information booklet about using a hotel air
conditioner: Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of
warm in your room, please control yourself.

From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo: When passenger of
foot heave in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at
first, but if he still obstacles your passage then tootle him with
vigor.

Two signs from a Majorcan shop entrance:
-- English well talking.
-- Here speeching American.


Got tired of adding my own **comments**.. Feel free to add your own!

Passion??

Ok....This has been getting under my skin for a long time. This is the reason I stopped watching the Oprah Winfrey show.

Apparently every single one of us Must Have a Passion in life. If you don't have a passion, you don't have anything to live for. (Very loosely paraphrasing the all-knowing Oprah.)

I believe the only reason we're here is to find out what we love…and get about the business of living it!" —
Oprah

Now, I don't particularly have a passion. A passion like writing, skydiving, crafting, decorating, making sushi, building boats, growing organic (or any other type) of vegetable.

So I assume that the almighty Oprah has decided that I do not have a reason to be here.

The following is a mantra for Oprah:

True happiness comes when you "do" what you're most
passionate about. You have gifts to give to the world. So, what's holding you
back? Break though your fear, overcome your obstacles, and start pursuing your
passion today...

Interpolating from this statement, I will never find "true happiness" because I don't have anything that I am truly passionate about.

Truthfully, I am doing good to get through the day. Maybe I'm passionate about 4:30 when I can leave work.

Here are some "encouraging" but very obtuse words of wisdom:

Choose One Idea to Pursue
Don't let having too many ideas keep you from taking action. There are no "perfect" ideas, so just start somewhere. If you feel like you're still looking for your passion, follow these five steps.

Ok. Surely these steps will help me find my passion.

Brainstorm
Because it's easy to feel creatively blocked or paralyzed by fear, one of the best ways to overcome your obstacles is to call upon the wisdom of others in a brainstorming session. (Do I even know wise people? Wise asses maybe. So exactly what are we supposed to brainstorm about??? Very informative piece of advice Oprah.)Learn how to brainstorm and see how three women overcame their obstacles with this exercise. (Three whole women overcame their obstacles! Wooooooo!)

Find Encouragement
Put an insurance policy in place by finding two or three people to encourage and support your efforts. (Efforts in what exactly? Pursuing your unknown and brow furrowing "passion"?) Turn to these people when you feel afraid, frustrated, resigned or excited about your progress! When you feel afraid (and you will) find support. Follow six steps to create a Passion Support Group. (A what?? Is that like AA?)

Take the Leap
Once you have an idea and a plan of action, it's time to do something immediately. Take one step towards your passion right now. (AGAIN with the passion!!) Sign up for a class, write a poem, find a mentor or schedule a brainstorming group today. Write down your goals in your journal. (My goal is to win the lottery. Now, help me do that Passion Support Group.)

What steps are you taking to pursue your passion? (Yet more passion!) Share your achievements and stumbling blocks. Help others on the road to pursuing their passions.

That is the main reason I finally quit watching Oprah. I felt inadequate after watching one her shows. So I don't have a passion. Big Deal. Does that make me any less a person? Maybe it does, I dunno. All I know is that talking about finding your passion is easier said than done!

If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know! I'd hate to let Oprah down!

(Ok....Maybe my one passion is Taylor)

Oxymoron for the day...

Wireless Router

Wireless. Really??

Sub-Contractors are like a......

...box of chocolates. Ya never know whut chere gonna get.

I bought a house for me once we sold our home.

It is 3 levels. I only live on the main floor. One bedroom, one tiny bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room the size of a postage stamp. And I don't mean the really pretty postage stamps with flowers and hearts and superheros on then. I mean the plain old postage stamps.

So I've been doing some remodeling. I've had part of the wall separating the living room from the kitchen partially removed. I had a work shed installed in my back yard. I've had someone come over to put a tin roof on my back deck and build a couple of gates so my dog could go out on the back porch. I've hired and fired the guy I picked to retile the tub surrounds.

Right now I am living in a cloud of sheetrock and other various dust particles. I believe this dust might just kill me before the cigarettes do!

Needlesss to say, most of the work I've had done is sub-par. But I have figured out the modis-operindi of the sub-contractor. They stay around indefinitely, sometimes showing up and sometimes skipping it all together. The whole point of this is to finally wear you down. They stay and stay supposudly working on your project until you have finally had enough. Then you tell them to Get Out! Not caring if the job is finished or the work is well done. I truly believe that this tactic is covered in the appendix of the Sub-Contractors Manual. If I could only find a copy, I could prove my theory.

I can't expound on all of the renovation issues in this blog. But I'm thinking about writing a book which divulges the method to their madness. It is however, a brilliant way to ditch an undesirable project. Expecially with some chick that has an eye for detail. Subs Hate that.

One very bright spot that shines like the sun on a spring day. I hired a friend of mine to finish the tile work. He has taken on the job and done it beautifully. Working long and hard to cover all of the "details" I found that were not up to par. He has worked long past the agreed upon quote ran out. All he wants to do is make me happy. To him it is a challenge to see if he can do the job just like I want it. What a God send.

Anyhoo. That's my lame-ass blog for now.

I miss all of you so much and I promise to read your blogs on a more frequent basis. After all, I'm Dana's biggest fan, Trav knows my undeniable weakness for the knee-thingy, Am is, well, Am and I love her beyond reason, Robin & Wayne have been friends when I needed friends, and So Many Others that mean a great deal to me. I've been missing out on keeping up with your lives. But I will give it the old college try to get back into the swing again.

Don't forget about me. I've haven't forgotten about you.

Toodles!

Ahem...Hello....Anybody out there??

Just checkin'!

Been bloggin a little on myspace but will try to update here too.

So much I need to catch up on!

Oh and by the way I....

oops I'm late! gotta get ready for work!

Toodles!