And sometimes...

You just gotta cover up for a while...

Or find a good solid place to lean...

Molly's a smart pup - I should take the hint, eh?

'Course she wins the cuuuuuute award every time, doesn't she?? Goodness!

More notes for the Big Guy...

Hey Raphael - don't you think you could maybe wish for more of those things?? Say if you had a freeking GENIE LAMP?? Do the math, dude...

Donna?? You need to not be so paranoid. We couldn't have the sun in our houses, now could we?? Let's assume God simply "inspired" Thomas Edison. Mmmmmkay?

That's right, Jonathan - next we get to see what God is going to do with career politicians. I am hoping they go the way of the dinosaur too...

Holy flexibility, Batman!

Check out this chick...

I mean damn!! I ache for her!!

Bet her boyfriend's a pretty happy guy though... ; )

h/t Loretta and Dal

Ever want to send the Big Guy a note?

Good job Peter - it's a good idea to be specific when you ask for things...

That's right, Larry. And be nice to your Mom - she is low on vodka tonight...

Not a half bad idea! We still need Translucent Americans Day - and that's the perfect time of year for it!!

Now I need to go work on a note. Funny how when you have a lot to say it's sometimes hardest to find the words...

Heh...

A game for the whole family?? Okaaaaaay...

Glad the word wasn't pussyfoot... ;)

Time to shake off a little tension...

Maybe a classic blonde joke will do the trick. (And yes - I rolled my eyes... But I chuckled too.)

Here you go!
---------------

Two blonde girls were working for the city public works department.

One would dig a hole and the other would follow behind her and fill the hole in. They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one girl digging a hole, the other girl filling it in again.

An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but could not understand what they were doing. So he asked the hole digger, 'I'm impressed by the effort you two are putting in to your work, but I don't get it -- why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it up again?'

The hole digger wiped her brow and sighed, 'Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because we're normally a three-person team. But today the girl who plants the trees called in sick.'

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?