Clouds

In a very literal sense...




I chilled on the patio last night just watching the clouds build and morph and change. Both produced major thunderstorms - one to the north and one to the south. And I got to see the show from the calm center.

That's pretty new, actually...

Simply because it made me smile...

If the video won't play here is the link.

And with a radio... Heh.



I am home now and things are going as well as can be expected with Pop. Now I am just trying to get this place squared away so I am ready for the next phase. Whatever that may be...

I wish I could think of something pithy to say or interesting to write about... Ah well - thems the breaks, eh?

Have a good weekend.

So far so good...

After 7+ hours of surgery the doctors think we are off to a good start. There is much more to do but a good start is better than a poke in the eye, eh?

Thanks for all of the positive thoughts...

Embracing teh suck...

Here at The Mayo Clinic there is a lot going on - they specialize in removing ugliness from people. Ugliness, illness, injury - they are in the business of eradicating bad bad stuff.

Folks here are afflicted with all manner of misfortune - some of it trying earnestly to kill them. Just people watching in the halls and plaza will give you pause - mostly of a "Hey - my life is going pretty good right now!" nature...

Seeing the children hit me pretty hard in places I am glad to be grateful for...

But there is beauty here too. I was actually quite surprised by the attempts made to make this place appear peaceful, healing and above all - beautiful.

This is the Peace Fountain - needless to say I think it is pretty cool...


Interesting architectural details all around...


I really liked the the reflection off of the Gonda Building.


And I was absolutely fascinated by these - they are chandeliers of sorts...


In a weird way I kinda want one...


And here is Pop - surgery is scheduled first thing in the morning and he is ready to do battle.

We all are...

In need of a pause...

...none on the horizon.

But sometimes it takes someone else to give you a bit of perspective. My good friend Oddybobo has had one hell of a week... Her hubby is one of the kindest men I have ever met - good daddy, good husband, good MAN. And I am so very thankful that things are looking up... God, what a scare.

Consider this a virtual hug, Oddy. I've got your back...

Meanwhile, we are gearing up to head off to the Mayo Clinic for Pop's surgery early next week. My brother is here from Phoenix and we will all be in Minnesota to offer support - in whatever way we can. The only thing I know for sure right now is that cancer sucks.

But that is most assuredly not new news to me...

I am looking for silver linings these days - you know, digging for that pony. But optimism has been a bit elusive of late. I may have to see if I can conjure some up... Please let me know if you have any ideas, okay?

Thanks.

Tagged!

Ages ago, actually. By Contagion. But I have been beyond busy of late, and there has been *NO* time for.... Well... Much beyond duties. But today I am taking a teeny break... And 5 is a good number to think about.

Ready? Here we go!

The rules:
(I deleted them - My give-a-shit-o-meter is broken right now.)

What were you doing five years ago?
July 2003? Hmmmmm.... We were living in Jacksonville Florida - unknowingly preparing to move here to Wisconsin that October. We probably had company at the time...

What are five things on your to-do list for today?
1. Cooking: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
2. Vacuuming the house (It's either that, or I need to laminate the dogs...)
3. Finish planning the menu for the rest of the week - my brother arrives tomorrow
4. Teach my Aunt Richmond how to play Wii games (Maybe I should task the girls with that. Hmmmm....)
5. Catch up on some desk work

What are five snacks you enjoy?
1. Cheese and crackers
2. Bacon wrapped water chestnuts
3. Chips and salsa, guac, whatever
4. Cheetos - seriously, they should be qualified as a controlled substance
5. Movie popcorn subsidized with Hot Tamales

What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?
1. Anything I wanted to.
2. Anything I wanted to.
3. Anything I wanted to.
4. Anything I wanted to.
5. Anything I wanted to.

What are five of your bad habits?
1. Swearing
2. Not taking time for myself
3. Procrastinating
4. Taking on to many responsibilities
5. Expecting others to figure out what I want/need them to do - when I *know* they need orders.

What are five places where you have lived?
1. Powell, Wyoming
2. Bozeman, Montana
3. Flagstaff, Arizona
4. Longmont, Colorado
5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
(in that order)

What are five jobs you've had?
1. Pizza Delivery
2. Bartender
3. Restaurant Management (I was the head waitron once - whoo!)
4. Furniture Sales
5. Caterer

What are you going to do now?
Make a grocery run. And then the rest of the things on my list. My brother arrives tomorrow, which puts me at about maximum capacity. God forbid we run out of liquor or TP at this point. Armageddon might not be far behind... ;)

Happy 4th of July!!

And while I am *not* throwing our usual 4th of July bash - we are continuing a few traditions.

The Parade for one...
Complete with Horse plop bingo...

Hey - for a buck you get the pot if a horse "plops" on your outline! No joy this year - so they donated the money to the fire department. It's all good...

Lots of candy and freezy pops...
Many many many tractors - but this one was cool!

And one Marine I would have liked to have thanked - but he was across the street.
I hope the standing ovation and cheers the color guard and veterans received was enough...

Now we are chillin' at home - the girls with fruitsicles.

And I have a glass of wine and some patio time... It's all good.

Happy Fourth of July to you!! I bid you pretty explodies and all of the patio time you can get!!

Going shopping....

Looks like just the place, eh? I think I will stock up for the long haul...

I continue to paddle upstream this week. Lots to do - lots of folks coming. So having more paddles is better, right?

Last weekend...

We helped to throw a luau!! Whoohoo!!

There was dancing...

And this guy was having a LOT of fun. But it you've got it? Go for it!! Why not!?!?


And I forgot to take a picture of the food - but I made PLENTY and there were no leftovers. Yay!

And the evening ended like this....



Not a bad way to kick off the 4th of July celebrations if you ask me...

This week I am preparing for more company to arrive. My folks are here as my Pop is getting treatment at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and more are on the way... All and all its nice to have a little something something to celebrate. And blowing shit up always makes me feel better!!

Wonder why that is... Huh. ;)

I just want my tummy rubbed...

Hey you! You over there! Got a minute??

Awwwww... C'mon! What's a dog gotta do to get a tummy rub around here??


: ) Made me smile - thought I'd share. (And she did get a tummy rub - FYI...)

More tomorrow about my busy busy busy week! Now with video!! Later....

Covered up....

Note to self - watch out for antlers...

Back soon.

I report...

...you decide.

Check out WxMan's new gear...



Basically, it's a back pack beverage delivery system. It can be hands free, as there is a clippy thing that will attach the tube / straw to your shoulder in case you're riding your bike or whatever...

It reminds me a little bit of the hunters flasks my dad would use back in the day - though they looked cooler and mountain-manish. I am not quite sold on this thing.

So what do you think? Neato idea?? Or major dorkitude?? I can't decide...

Wonder if I could fill it with wine...

Update: Okay - So both Teresa and Abbadon let me know that this thing (a camelback) is used by our guys in Iraq and Afganistan. That makes it cool! Even if it *is* a bit over the top for lawn mowing... But that's just my opinion. ; )

Slammin' Jammin...

Seriously.

And you would think that I would have oodles and scads of bloggable stuff. The reality is that I am not getting much computer time at all...

Or when I *do* my brain is just fried.

The good news is that the Grad Party I catered last Saturday went over quite well. I thought the Watermelon Basket came out particularly nice...


She didn't have nearly as many people show as she had insisted - so Holy Leftovers, Batman!! But better too much than not enough...

The girls will return - grandparents in tow - this weekend. And my folks will be arriving as well. So I am getting cowboyed up for a houseful and am ever so thankful to have the extra space that I have... And that I don't live near the any river.

So there you go... I have beds to make and menus to plan. And plenty of fun to look forward to...

What more could I ask for??

On the links...

That is where I spent the afternoon.

Not playing - but I took my book and was happy to ride along... The weather was just perfect for a day of golf. (At least that's what WxMan said - at least when he wasn't cussing....)

The fact that the golf cart had "Holy Crap" handles amused me - until I needed them. Good grief!


All in all, not a bad way to spend a Monday. Hope yours was just as nice....

On the train!

The girls got off on their trip to see parts unknown with grandparents. Heading for the Atlantic Northeast they were sooooooo excited (even if Computa isn't showing it)...

I was surprised at the number of people with bikes taking the train - but then I guess I would pretty much ALWAYS rather ride the train than ride a bike...


As they waved goodbye (you can see WxMan in the refection) we watched the train pull away...
Ready for their adventure to begin...

What? I just got something in my eye. I'm fine...

That's EXACTLY it!!

You know, I thoroughly enjoy James Lileks.

Love his books.

Look forward to The Bleat daily.

Buzz.mn is totally fun.

And today he described what has been the state of my my mood for some time...

Woke Sunday morning with the heavy hand of Monday pressing down – felt the Sunday night deadlines approach, and I resented the hell out of it. I like what I do, but there are rotating fortnights in which the amount of Stuff required exceeds the reservoir of enthusiasm. Yes, I know: welcome to adulthood, enjoy your stay.

Nailed it.

Anybody else remember when you thought being an adult meant choosing your own bedtime and eating ice cream whenever you wanted to??

Yeah. Me too...

Needless to say, I am busy as hell this week. As I just wrote to a friend in an email: "between the end of school stuff (now over - yay!), Pop's diagnosis, more new clients, family phone calls, church obligations (priest just called to make sure I am on top of things), getting the girls ready to go to Maine, and the grad party I am catering on Saturday (130 people) I am surprised I know my own name."

That's basically it. Welcome to adulthood, enjoy your stay.

Word.

"I'm gonna go Storm Chasin' - do you mind??"

Announced WxMan as he got home from work.

Not surprising - given that WxMan is the tv call sign for Weatherman and that Hubby has a degree in Meteorology.


So far so good... And I am glad I like my basement. :)

Update 4:50 - All is well.
But a river runs through it...

(Sorry - the video won't load properly. Guess the siren is too loud for the blog. ;)

21 seconds...

And it made *me* laugh...

Heh. C'mon... It's good to see the humor sometimes. :) (And if the video doesn't work here is the link...)

Have a great weekend!

News...

Both good and bad. But isn't that always the case??

My dad's surgery went relatively well. I spoke to him, and he sounded pretty dang good yesterday afternoon. The bad news is that they found a LOT more going on in there than they had anticipated.

So it's time to cowboy up.

Thanks for all of the well wishes and prayers. I am going to leave Princess Fluffybutt in charge here for a while...


Have a good day.

Today, if you have a minute...

...to say a little prayer, or think good thoughts, or whatever it is that you do - it would be much appreciated. My Pop is going in for surgery this morning.

They found another mass (unlike the cancerous one almost two years ago, but still suspicious) and today they are going to get in there and excise anything that looks like a bad animal. After pathology, a course of treatment will be decided.

But for today, a little good juju would be nice... His name is Martin. Thank you.