Words

A picture is worth a thousand words.
Yet when I am in the elevator I only long for two.

Would they PLEASE just write words OPEN and CLOSE next to those ridiculous ‘universal’ symbols they use.

It cant’ just be me.

It happens all the time.
I get in the elevator and notice someone approaching just as the doors begin to close. I want to help. I reach out, finger poised, ready to save the day... and there I stall.

Staring at those stupid little graphics.
Completely helpless.
Not a clue.
The door closes.

The Grooms

My ethereal wife is a Justice of the Peace.
This weekend she 'unionized' two good friends on the day they celebrated their 20th anniversary.

Congratulations to Chris and Danny.


They are a wonderful couple... (and their home is like a movie set.)

Friday

tip-o-day

Summer is in full swing, but you may have noticed your lawn isn't.

If you lawn looks brown don't despair. Grass naturally goes into a semi-dormant state in the heat of the summer. Growth slows down and much top growth turns brown.
Notice the brown top growth is still moist however, so its not dead.
So unless your lawn is crunchy and dusty - don't worry, it will come back when the weather cools closer to fall.

I am sure you have noticed some lawns which still look green and thick. This is most likely due to regular watering, and I would bet the watering is from an in-ground system.
Home watering with a sprinkler can be helpful, and will help your lawn survive a drought. But its unlikely to keep it green and lush like an in-ground, timed system.
Personally, I don't water the lawn*. I let my grass do its natural thing in the summer, plus I don't like to waste a precious commodity on my vanity. (hmm, conservation vs. vanity hmm)


* except for newly seeded areas which may fail without adequate water

Tidy

I just got back from having my eyebrows ‘done’.
I go to this little place in town called Oscar. They probably meant to say Oscar’s but the folks there don’t really speak English so I can’t really fault them for their lack of the possessive apostrophe.
My woman today was a new one. She was just a petite flower of a woman… quiet and calm yet confident in her mastery of eyebrow waxing.

I am actually new to the eyebrow waxing routine. As a teen I painstakingly used tweezers. As I got older I basically did nothing except the bare minimum…which was basically to keep them from growing together. But my new eyebrow place was recommended to me by someone well-trusted and equally fastidious (you may draw apple/tree conclusions as you wish).

I believe it was the first time that Ferris shaved his head

when he started to feel his eyebrows were …well as he put it ‘old man brows’.


And so he checked with various girls at school for the best place to correct this.
He found Oscar.
He has been going regularly ever since.
He likes to get it done when he gets a hair cut, which he does at a different place. He is that particular.
They just love him over there. I am sure he must have been the only high school jock to frequent their shop.

As for me, I am pleased with my results. I look tidy.

She's at it again

It's that time of year where my charitable wife puts stuff out at the curb.

She really loves to do this. She can easily get a little carried away too. I keep a close eye on her once she gets going.

She made a cute little 'FREE' sign.



















and as stuff was getting taken, she just kept adding more!

I have no idea where all these came from.

tip-o-day

The FREE dog is on antibiotics. Evidently she has some parasite or bacteria or some such thing caused by a deer tick.
We have long used the clever method of wrapping her pills in something tasty. I prefer cheese, but the Doxycycline she is on calls for no dairy. So we have been using soft cookies, bread or pasta. Every so often tho, the FREE dog will get a taste of the pill concealed inside and spit out the whole mouthful.
To keep this from happening I hold another treat in my hand, so she can clearly see it as she eats the first piece. This causes her to gulp it down quickly so that she is ready for more.

The Italian-Stallion

Ferris and his grandfather have been doing some landscaping work together this past week. After Pop-Pop retired a few years back he modified his pick-up to be a dump truck and has since been delivering small loads of mulch and soil.
And now that he’s got a big, strapping grandson – he is taking on some small scale landscaping work.

I dropped Ferris off at Pop-Pop’s house this morning … it’s on my way to work and …well… Ferris is currently without a car.

I sat in front of the house for a moment this morning …and the only thing I could think of was – please, please just shoot me if I suddenly become enamoured with stick on letters.
You know the ones – they are vinyl and come in ALL CAPS, and all shiny and sparkly.
They are generally used for say… mailboxes and house numbers. But, OH, the possibilities!

Pop-pop has used them all over the back of his big red truck.

In addition to his name and number, it says things like:
‘THE MULCH MAN’
and
‘GITTR DONE’

I can’t decide whether the fact that they are not aligned or spaced properly adds to …or detracts from the look.

This morning I also noticed he is started to write little sayings on the house.
He’s got this Sox banner hanging on the screened porch and next to it has printed in 3” golden block letters ‘LINE DRIVE’.
I have no idea of why… I am sure there’s a story.

This is the curse of the retired Italian man. First they start to ‘letter’ things – then comes plastic lawn animals, this inevitably leads to homemade wine and leather sandals with black socks.

So while our son may enjoy a full head of hair well into old age – vinyl letters are his destiny.

Green-ness

Earthfriendly
Organic
Eco... blah blah.

You're not helping the environment buying eco-crap if you have not cut down your consumption.
Use less, people.

I am not saying to live a year without new clothes or not to use toilet paper or to build a tree house.

Just be smart. Everyday. When you buy three things at the store - don't use a bag, just carry the stuff to your car.
Reuse bits of paper for lists or notes left on the counter for the kids.
Turn some stuff off in your house.
Waste less food, start by buying less.

Buy a Subaru over one of the new hybrids.
Better yet, buy a used Subaru.

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose
little things add up.


Here is a fun article on the subject. The author balances the ridiculousness of buying green ...

“Green consumerism is an oxymoronic phrase,[...]. The fruit at Whole Foods in winter, flown in from Chile on a 747 — it’s a complete joke. The idea that we should have raspberries in January, it doesn’t matter if they’re organic. It’s diabolically stupid.”

while considering that having folks just begin to think about being 'green' is a good first step.

“We didn’t find that people felt that their consumption gave them a pass, so to speak,”... But they do it as a practice of mindfulness. They didn’t see it as antithetical to political action. Folks who were engaged in these green practices were actually becoming more committed to more transformative political action on global warming.”

but...

"...sustainably-harvested caviar..."

pulleeezzeee.

and so it goes...

I have a little bit of poison ivy on my hand. I don't know where or when I got it.

The house is in desparate need of a good scrubbing. We have tomorrow off, and scrubbing is first on the list.

I continue to patch my convertible top with gobs and smears of clear silicone. It's working swimmingly.

The weed-n-feed application mysteriously burned parts of the lawn. I am sad.

Our social schedule is packed until mid August. This is fun.

We have taken several days off from work in July. This is very fun.

My alert wife tells me the slugs are back this year. I will put beer out for them.

I may add to this list later, if the mood strikes.

Pride '07

We had such a great time at NYC Pride last year that we decided to add to the fun and go in a day early for the women's dance on Pier 54.

Fantastic. The music was great, the women were hot, and we danced until we couldn't stand anymore.

What I treasure about being able to celebrate Pride in NYC is the powerful ties to the origin of a movement. While this was only our second time ... we again got to talk to someone who was there at the beginning... Stonewall '69.

Sunday morning we walked into a bar (yes.. morning ... bar... hey - it was Pride) and while we were sipping our breakfast mimosa's - our bartender, a retired NYC cop who served The Village precinct, regaled us of stories of Stonewall and how it all began.

So while you are celebrating Pride events around the country and wearing rainbows and watching parades and dancing and enjoying the 'scenery' - remember where it started.

Friday

tip-o-day

With the heat and humidity of the summer - be sure to leave the lid to your washer open in between loads. This goes for both front and top loaders. This will keep the machine from smelling musty.

TheVword

It's a Girl!

Shortly after TheDaughterTheTherapist and her HandsomeBeau get their own place - look what they get!



After some internet research and some poking around, she thougth she had a boy. It's actually quite difficult to tell you know.

But the vet confirmed - a little girl.
Weighing in at all of 1 lb. 12 oz.


They call her Sophie.

Friday

tip-o-day
Will you be throwing any big parties this summer? Perhaps a graduation, or a family reunion, or perhaps taking part in a town-wide happening such as a lobsterfest or clam bake?
To make the event even more memorable, or to really call attention to your group – whip up some iron-on T-shirts.
They are so easy to do using the iron-on paper right in your own color printer, and you can make as few or as many as you need.
Come up with any wacky design you can think of and start ironing.

Remember, it’s important to use a hard, flat surface – don’t rely on your ironing board for the best quality. And try looking online for affordable (yet good quality) T-shirts if you have a lot to make.

Home alone

Recently, I was so happy to find out that dog hair we had found on the sofa was not from the big, smelly FREE dog sleeping there... she simply needed to hide her perfect, like new, never-been-chewed rawhide under the cushion.

Ah.. so foolishly relieved.

I came in from work yesterday evening to find the living room and dining room ransacked. Cushions and pillows all over the floor, blankets strewn about, a lamp tipped over, a picture fallen to the floor, tables askew, the rug bunched up...
It didn't take me too long to figure out that that the FREE dog had happily (or perhaps feverishly) spent the day finding a better hiding spot for her perfect, like new, never-been-chewed rawhide.

In case you need to know - after (I can only assume) trying every other place in the room, the rawhide was finally placed back under a different cushion on the sofa.

Summatime

I saw a commercial last night which said that our children are losing valuable information taught to them during the school year over the summer. That they were starting school in the fall at a deficit. This commercial advised that we send our kids to summer classes so as not to let all that pertinent school stuff just leak out of their feeble little heads.

I had summers off as a child and remarkably I can still do basic addition, subtraction and multiplication. I remember what year WWII started, I can conjugate Spanish verbs and for reasons I can’t really fathom I have an uncanny recollection of the battle at Bunker Hill.

But what I learned over the summer was so much more than anything my parents tax dollars could buy me in the classroom.

I learned how to get along with others – sometimes compromising, sometimes holding my ground. I learned the laws of gravity and the repercussions of this awesome power. I learned how to do things for myself, how to be alone, how to make fun from nothing, how to fight, how to make up, how to be a good friend and a bad one.
These are things that blossom in the unstructured environment of the neighborhood streets and lawns and woods.
Having kids sit in classrooms during these invaluable summer months robs them of their greatest and most memorable learning experiences... and some of their most colossal mistakes.

Parents get a grip.
Let the world be their classroom, even if that world is only a block wide, and two months long.

Those late night calls

First, Ferris is fine.

How many blog entries have I started like that?

19 year old boys are invincible, immortal and seemingly made of rubber.
When Ferris was 5 years old he was hit by a car in front of our house. He flew 25 feet across the front yard – right in front of me.
Ferris was fine.
His uncle dubbed him RubberMan from that day on.

With Ferris you can expect anything, so when the phone rings at 2:22 a.m. – it may not necessarily be anything to worry about.
Then again… sometimes it is.
Again. He is fine.
The car… not so much.

At first skillfully maneuvering to avoid a car speeding through a red light – he unfortunately met with disaster when he launched over a ridiculously high curb and down a ditch. Airbags deployed, front under carriage and tires completed destroyed.
He and a buddy walked away.

At first inconsolable, mad and sad… his sister helped to bring him out of his cocoon. They are like that. An 8 year age gap and a bond like cement.

We are grateful for these kids of ours.
And insurance…

Friday

tip-o-day

Did you forget to put down your Weed-n-Feed application?

I forgot to tell you to put it down.
It's ok.
Do it now.

I actually haven't done it either.
Let's do it together.

Remember, apply in the morning when the dew is still on the grass, and no rain is expected for 24 hours.

They grow up so fast

Completely out of character, Ferris decides to bring in the mail yesterday.
Further defying logic – he actually opens some mail addressed to him.
And what does the universe send him on this day.

A medical bill for two million eight hundred fourteen thousand four hundred ninety-three dollars.

He called my calming wife in quiet the distress and read to her over the phone...

Please pay this amount: $ 2,814,493

We have not received your payment for the above referenced account. Your obligation is clear and this account needs to be paid in full immediately. If payment in full is not received within 15 days, your account may be ref…blah blah blah….

Mom. I need to pay this within 15 days ???!!"

Ah… the joys of adulthood.

Horticultural Identification

Anyone know how to properly identify Papaver Somniferum?

I am just curious.

...no really

Look at this

They say this stuff has negative calories.

No really, if you read the back of the can it says this:

Three cans per day of eniviga have been shown to increase calorie burning by
60-100 calories....

So now that I can no longer go to the gym... I am thinking I drink 6 of these and I am good to go!

Friday

tip-o-day

It’s a great time of year to bring it cut flowers. If you have a small, somewhat sunny, unused part of the yard you can start a cutting bed. Cutting beds should be placed so they are not a focal point. This way you can bring in as many blooms as you want without trying to save some to keep the garden looking colorful.
For cuttings with woody stems, use a small hammer to smash the stems. This allows the flower to draw more much needed water.

The FREE dog...is a dog.

Just about a month ago we discovered some dog hair on the sofa in the living room.
Oh…the horror of it.

Not surprisingly, I was not happy. This is not acceptable FREE dog behavior.

Well last week, while removing the slipcovers for washing I found a brand new, never been chewed rawhide hidden neatly under the sofa cushions.

This brought me great joy.
The FREE dog was NOT sleeping on the sofa – she merely needed to hide her toy there.
After washing and replacing the cushion covers I put the rawhide right back where I had found it.
There have been no further discoveries of dog hair on the sofa.

Yay.
We were back to having the perfect FREE dog (well… that is if you don’t mind the whole ‘not friendly with strangers’ thing…).

Until last night.
A major canine indiscretion.

Food taken from the counter.

We are simply not used to such behavior. We have kept plates of food out on the counter for over 6 years without worry.
We have even left food on the coffee table in the living room… unattended. And while it was carefully watched by the FREE dog, it was never touched.

I am dismayed.

My dog-loving wife points out that the FREE dog clearly waited until Ferris, the alpha dog, was satiated and had left the house before devouring his tasty, cheese-slathered meat.

This sort of behavior makes sense within a pack.
Except that weese is in this pack.

My constantly-cooking wife is already coming up with alternate game plans to leave food in more secure locations for the alpha dog. She keeps the whole pack happy.

damn damn damn.

blogger ate my post and i am pissed.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day moves me. There is just something about honoring people who do brave things that I treasure.

If you have the opportunity to spend Memorial Day with senior citizens – please seize the moment. A country at war means a whole different thing to that generation. It’s something we should not lose touch with.
Again this year, we went to my mom’s senior complex to watch her town’s parade, and also to help her with some gardening which is becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep up with.

After the parade we finished up the gardening and gathered our stuff to leave. Since we were taking home some of the plants mom no longer wanted – we had quite a bit to carry, so my spry wife went to get the car. This year, because we were a little late getting there – we had to park a few blocks away as the senior housing is right on the parade route and the roads were already closed when we arrived.

I sat with my mom and had a cool drink while we waited for my Jeep-drivin’ wife to return.
And we waited… and waited….

Some time later she finally pulls into the driveway and we start loading up the Jeep with tools, lawn chairs and the plant materials. My adorable wife apologizes for the delay and tells us she had to give ‘a friend’ a lift.

You see…we parked just at the end of the parade route, and while she was getting the car an elderly man asked her for a lift back to the parade start point where his car was parked. He was clearly dressed as a veteran… and my patriotic wife’s Jeep was top down and decked out with small flags – what could be more appropriate.

This veteran was a bomber pilot from WWII station in England. He happily shared stories and showed off his badges and pins to my ever-grateful wife as they rode along. He told her this was the first year he chose to ride rather than march the entire route… this veteran is 90.
She was smitten of course.

Friday

tip-o-day

In the laundry red is the enemy. Ferris has some red t-shirts that bleed so much I won't put them in with anything but the darkest darks...and even then I wouldn't put in dark dress pants if they had light colored pockets - lest I want them pink.

To test color-fastness in the wash I use this nifty little method. The first time a new dark or brightly colored item goes into the wash, I toss in what I like to call an 'indicator'.

[sub-tip]
We use white bar towels around the kitchen...as mopeenes. After serving us well - when they get tattered or stained they get re purposed as dust rags.. and then eventually end up in the basement or garage for oil or paint clean-up sort of things. To tell the difference at a glance, my clever wife uses a sharpie to put dots on each corner. These then get sorted/folded/and stored in the laundry room rather than with the kitchen towels.

Anyhooo... I just toss one of these white dust rags into the load since I don't really care what color they are. If it comes out white, then I know I can safely wash the item without worry.

It's a look

I thought the cane really suited me... so I started using it again today.



.

.

.

Um... no. Not really. My coddling wife made me bring it. Seems I've had a little setback in the whole "Look!, I'm healed!" process.
oops

But I am sure taking a ribbing here at the office. See, you need to imagine the whole picture.
Since the A/C has been on I have started wearing my cardigans again.
Add that to my wal-mart special magno glass that I wear on a chain around my neck.
Then toss in a cane.

Oh yeah, I've got 'the look' goin' on.

Am I really a lesbian?

While its true that I have a tool belt, a basement full of power tools, a ride on mower, even the short hair cut - there is one thing that keeps me from truly crossing that cliche line.

I don't own a Subaru.
My petite wife drives a Wrangler- which I think is a good substitute on the cliche scale. Plus she looks really hot in it sporting a tank shirt with the top down.

Last night on TV I saw a Subaru commercial. It seems they have built a new plant in Indiana which creates zero landfill waste.
Zero.
Wow.
And the site is a protected wildlife habitat.
Not to mention they have those gay commercials on Logo.
What's not to like?

Bravo to my pal Zoe who just picked one up!

Of course, I started shopping online immediately.
Hmm, they don't make a convertible...
Don't lesbians like convertibles?

Coincidence?

“Previously on weese”
… last week we found a mouse in our trap. I ‘felt bad’
for the little guy and let him go on the side of the garage.

Saturday, I found a mouse in the other trap.
Hmm….

This time I drove him over to the park. It’s a beautiful park, plenty of deeply wooded areas, playground equipment and two concession stands for ample snacking. I am certain he will make new friends there.

I checked the traps this morning.
Nothing.

Friday

tip-o-day

What do you want dear blog people - would you rather hear a tip about bleach additives in cleaning products or... how we captured an intruder this morning.

Ah yes… as I suspected.

I was a little slow to wake this morning. My early-rising wife came bubbling in to get me with the digital camera in her hand.
"Get up, you need to come with me."
Handing me the camera, "You'll want this."

Ok, my interest was piqued.

She led me to the basement.
The terribly disorganized, discombobulated basement.
The future home of my workshop…now sitting piles all over the place.
The basement… the scene of the ‘accident’.
Where I had not ventured for the past week.

She had evidently gone to the basement this morning in need of some such stocked item down there and heard a scratching sound.

Welp… quite a long time ago we had set some traps which I diligently checked for weeks.
Slowly, over time, I checked them less and less. Tho still every other day or third day or so…
Now the forlorn basement has been abandoned for a week and guess what.

Yup, we caught ourselves a mouse.

However, my excitement was tempered by the fact that the little guy was in rough shape. He had clearly been in confinement for some time.
My original plan to drive the captured mice to my office and release them in the parking garage was dashed by the need to get this guy some air and freedom as quickly as possible.

I am such a softy.

I released him in the back of our detached garage. Other mice live in the garage, perhaps they already know each other. He will be happy there.

And yes, I know he will probably move right back into the house.
My fault tho.

Your tip for today:
Keep checkin’ the traps.

It's all fun and games until somebody...

It's all good people.
weese does NOT need surgery.
The doctor tells me that I have some cartilage that may be frayed.
weese is fraying.

So for now, if I keep improving I am good to go.
There is an outside chance that I will need my frayed-ness smoothed out.
But weese is doubtful.
My Reiki-practioning wife will take care of the rest of my healing.
She has already been taking care of me dutifully all week. Each night she makes sure I have the requisite number of cocktails to keep me in a happy place. A place far from my long 'spring to-do list'.

I have been given the go ahead to resume 'light' activity today.
You all know what that means....

a restful place

I am in the office today... for my health.

I know if I were home today I would be trying to clean that damn basement on crutches.
Yesterday I found that I could push the laundry basket around the house. See, you just balance on the good leg with the opposite crutch, then using the free crutch you... ok, well you can see why I came into work.

The pain is minimal today, which is too bad really - because I've got some awesome opiates.

Just when you thought...

We have spoken of my spring anxiety...and of my looooong list of things to do.
Well - just when you thought you had a plan to get things under control and get some stuff done... the Universe - it plays with us.

This morning... while doing nothing more than squatting down to get something off a low shelf - it seems I may have torn my meniscus (this is evidently the cartilage in my knee). This is not a definitive diagnosis yet. There are tests to be done, results to review, and treatments to discuss.
In the meantime - there are crutches and pain meds.
weese is
out
of
commission.

And let me just say how amazingly blessed I am to have a son strong enough to lift me.
If he hadn't been home I can just imagine I would have had to call 911 for them to get me out of the basement. And since one of the projects underway was cleaning the basement, there was no way I was letting any EMT's down there without straitening up a bit. And since standing was impossible... we would have had a serious problem here.

Friday

tip-o-day

Did you know you can get soap out of a sponge simply by adding different soap?

For example, if you've got a sponge full of dish soap and it seems like you could rinse it forever with endless suds - take a bar of hand soap and rub some into the sponge, then squeeze and rinse.
One washes the other out.

A creak in the floor

The floor creaked as I walked the hall last night. Our floors creak easily.
I like creaks.
I have always found them comforting.
I got to wondering what other people thought about creaks in the floor.

This creak was right in front of Ferris’ room. He is home for the summer and fresh off finals, so sleep grabbed him early.
I wondered if he heard these creaks. The creaks of his mom and me paddling about getting ready for bed. Perhaps they woke him slightly, or perhaps they were simply unconsciously noted. I wondered if they comforted him. Those cuddly sounds of home.
I wondered about people who might not like creaks. Imagine the tiny victim of child abuse cringing at the creak of approaching terror.
I wondered about those who might think to fix the creaks- and of course wondered how they might fix them.

I would not fix them.
To me… these creaks are part of the sounds and smells and tactile feelings of home.
These creaks bring me joy.

To Blave

weese can be anxious at times.
Anxiety often comes to weese in the spring. The spring brings many things to do which must be done in a timely manner. The list is daunting to weese. Add to these spring things – Ferris arriving home for summer break with three times as much laundry as he left with, and discourse where weese works…and you have one weese who really should be medicated.

Ah, but then there is weese’s most patient wife. She seems to sense the energy before even pulling into the driveway. She steels herself, and then walks into it. She speaks just a few words, waves her arms around a bit and this fretful weesy energy disperses all over the room seeping out the windows and doors. Then she gently sets weese off on a task, and calmly sorts through the loose ends.

This weese is blessed.

Our baby boy

turns 19 today.

I wonder what he's gonna be doin' tonight...

just talking

Our conversation this morning over coffee...

weese: I really like this house.
my lovely wife: me too, we can stay here for many more years.

Our conversation this evening over sparkling water...
after spending most of the afternoon lying under the tractor trying to get it to work, then cutting the grass for two hours

weese: I'm thinking a little cape, on say 1/8th of an acre.
my supportive wife: uh huh... do you want 3 or 4 Tylenol?

Wednesday is Friday

I have Thursday and Friday off.
I have a long list of projects scheduled over the next four days.

I won't have much time for blogging, but surely enough time to post a picture or two.

The biggest project will be moving my workshop from the garage into the basement.
We have a big garage which used to be a barn. There are two bays up top where we park the cars, and a large lower bay where we keep the lawn equipment and yard tools. A few years ago we moved my workshop out there as well so that we could use the basement space for other purposes.
We live in a small house and its essential to not only use all space available, but to be open to re-inventing it every few years.
Perhaps we were Nomads in previous lives. But we enjoy the re-invention process.

Once the workshop is tucked neatly back into the basement, the space created in the garage will then be used to store the Jeep's hardtop over the summer. My free-spirited wife simply can't wait to get her top off.

Butch enough for me

I love the chainsaw.

First... the job site.

One down (prior to the chainsaw purchase) two to go.


Here is my energetic wife getting a head start,
while I gather the tools.

Then...poof - the thing was down.

Miller time (well ...technically...Michelob)

Friday

tip-o-day

Today's tip is simple.
Know your own limitations.

Everyone has limits. Learn them. It may extend your life... or certainly some appendages.
I purchased an electric chainsaw today. And while that may scream 'pansy-dyke' to some... I think it's damned smart.

There will be pictures. Especially since I will most likely retain all my fingers.

Power tools

She's done it again.

This past weekend...
It was Sunday afternoon and we were finishing up two full days doing spring clean up.
The work had been heavy and I was pretty tired and a little sore. I had left the tractor work till the end, figuring I could still manage to steer.

I drove my big orange Husqvarna with cup holder around to the side of the house... to find my frugal wife and our 82 year old neighbor cutting down a tree.

See, I had a tree guy come and give us an estimate on taking down these three hemlock trees and trimming up a large northern pine in the side yard. The estimate seemed high, so I planned on calling around for others.
Evidently that's unnecessary.

Again, my burly wife used her tool of choice for this 19 foot sapling with an 8 inch trunk- her HAND saw.

She did mention that she could use a new blade this year.

There are two more trees to take down... larger than the first.
Time to buy some power tools.

Somebody hide the remote

Sometimes I wish I had the strength to toss the TV right out the window…and I don’t mean physical strength.

I went to the gym during my lunch break yesterday, and foolishly turned on the TV while I ran endlessly going nowhere on The Machine That I Hate⁽¹⁾.
I was watching The View. I found it… mildly amusing at best.

BUT then I saw a commercial by the folks who make Lysol. They were hawking some new plug in type air freshener. First, let me just say that I really don’t like air fresheners in the home. Fine in the office – where you really can’t control your aromatic environment but cleanliness should not be replaced with pleasant smelling tricks.

Which is EXACTLY what these Lysol folks want you to do.
So much so in fact, they spell it out for you. The voice over said something about covering up bacterial odors and they gave two examples. One was a teenage boy with smelly sneakers. Ok… I was not completely irate here, smelly sneakers can happen – we did raise a boy. (Of course he got new sneakers as soon as there was any detectable odor. He is actually rather fastidious about his shoes.)
But… the next one folks had me gasp audibly.
They showed a bathroom, and suggested that the toilet was the source of the bacterial odors by having it grow to enormous size and then have a child walk in and grimace at the smell.
Did they suggest cleaning the toilet??
NO!!!
They suggested that you get this wonderful magical fix it all up electric⁽²⁾ air freshener.
OMG.

Please, please I implore you. If your toilet smells⁽³⁾ – CLEAN IT.

1) TMTIH – the elliptical
2) Do you really need to waste even more electricity on an air freshener?
3) This should never actually happen of course. The toilet should be cleaned regularly regardless of the way it looks or smells, and therefore will never degrade to the point of causing odors.

a day off

I am off from work today.

I am puttering around the house and yard continuing the spring maintenance that my energetic wife and I started over the weekend.

This morning I scrubbing the wood porch floor and washing the siding on that side of the house (yes, I wash the house).
Evidently during this process I got the doorbell unusually wet.
Now its randomly ding-donging.

The FREE dog is going nuts.

Friday

tip-o-day

It's Earthday people.
Conserve today.
But please, don’t forget about tomorrow.

A Weekend Outing

One of my artistic wife’s favorite places is the Met… for those who don’t live near NYC, which is the center of the universe – this can either mean the Metropolitan Opera, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today I refer to the Museum. (she also loves the Louvre…but we don’t get out there as often)

We have been going to this museum since … well since the mid 80’s. We have favorite rooms, specific artists and certain paintings that we like to visit each time.
My painterly wife loves the American Wing, and the Dutch painters have a special place in her heart.
In the rooms which house the permanent collection of European paintings I have a favorite bench… it faces a Rembrandt self portrait which I have grown to love, and allows me a rest while my wife enjoys long visits with her Vermeer’s.

We have visited the museum in each season – Christmas time is always a favorite.
Spring time in the park can be lovely, and dinner in little Italy is fab in the summer.

We brought ‘The Daughter’ to this museum when she was small enough for a piggy back. I remember this distinctly because after a full day in the museum she was tired and we rode her on our backs the entire 30 blocks back to Grand Central. We didn’t take cabs or the subway in those days… we were young…and strong… and broke.

A few years back we introduced Ferris to the Met with the Da Vinci exhibit. We learned Ferris’ insight into art is priceless. Having been raised by artists in a home filled with art, he saunters through a room filled with renowned European painters and his keen eye hones in immediately on this piece.


Can you see why?

We returned to the Met this weekend after having been away for several years. Perfectly timed with a special exhibit of Louis Comfort Tiffany. If you are in the area, I highly recommend it. It’s extremely well presented.
We will of course now be purchasing lead, glass cutters, grinders and several pieces of colored glass – as my affected wife gets inspired.

This perfect museum visit was topped off with a meal in Greenwich village, a visit to a head shop, and the near purchase of a $2300.00 dollar puppy.
I adore my sweet wife’s birthday.

One more year

Because we have been so busy having a fun filled weekend.
I am a couple days late wishing my ever so slightly older wife a happy, happy birthday.

Friday

tip-o-day

It’s time for spring cleaning (well for those of you finished up with your shoveling).
I will probably have several spring cleaning tips over the next few weeks.

Aren’t you excited?

I think you may like this one… because I am going to tell you NOT to clean something.

Don’t be too eager to wash your windows yet. With all the sand/salt and winter dirt still on the roads, washing the windows now would be futile. If you have great resolve you can even hold out until after spring pollen week. At the very least wait until the street cleaners have come.

On window cleaning day, gather all the screens in the yard for a good hosing off. (the screens you removed last fall…right? Well, if you didn’t remove them… take them down for a rinse now). Let the screens air dry as you wash the windows. Remember to wipe the sills inside and out. When you are looking out of your windows on a beautiful spring day, the last thing you want to see is a grungy sill (specifically that spot under the window when you open the sash).
During this process check any caulking that has been installed to make sure it’s still supple and intact. Replace any damaged or cracked caulk.
Also remember to wipe down the tracks, window frame and muntins... again inside and out.

To make the outside cleaning even easier we hose down the windows prior to washing. We take this extra step in the spring to rinse away the accumluated grit, where in the fall we usually just wash the windows when the screens are taken in.
These simple steps will keep your windows looking great, and in good working order for many years of service.

be careful what you wish for

---->

It's the least I can do

I was in the ladies room at work this morning, serenely washing my hands. I have been more careful lately to limit my water consumption. I use my wrist to flip the water on, then off during sudsing, then on again to rinse. The process takes a little longer – but it’s more economical.

I was rinsing when I first heard the *thrrip*,*thrrip*,*thrrip*… I turn… slowly, as the realization of the origin of this sound washes over me. As my sight slowly hones in on the source, it continues... *thrrip*, *thrrip*, *thrrip*.
Yes, six times. I am pretty sure I recall hearing it six times.

I stare. Incredulous.
I falter, suddenly realizing my water is still running.
Damn. Wasteful.
I quickly slap the handle down with an audible pop.
I look back … curious… miffed.

And there she is. Wiping, mopping you might say, her just slightly dampened hands with SIX paper towels.
6!
Oh… the horror of it.

She tosses her WAD of nearly dry and unused paper towels in the receptacle and brushes past me toward the door.
I want to call out.
“Why?”
I don’t. I stand, dumbfounded … speechless.

I will not use any paper towels today.
I feel I need to balance the scales.

The Animal Kingdom

They're back.

My soft-hearted wife calls them Doves.

Which they are... but I still call them pigeons.

See, there is one sitting in the garage. They like to do this. I don't know why.

I did some research on them.

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family, Columbidae.
The bird is also called the American Mourning Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove.

...~ Mourning Doves are prolific breeders. In warmer areas, these birds may raise up to six broods in a season. This fast breeding is essential for the survival of the species as mortality is high.
Each year, mortality can reach 58% a year for adults and 69% for the young.
The Mourning Dove is monogamous and forms strong pair bonds. Pairs typically reconvene in the same area the following breeding season, or sometimes may remain together throughout the winter. However, lone doves will find new partners if necessary.

yes yes... isn't it cute that they are monogamous, and they come back to the same place each year... yeah, cute... those prolifc breeders that they are.

Friday

tip-o-day

It's time people.
I know its still a little chilly up here - but get up off the couch and go outside and give your lawn some lovin'.

In order to keep to a timely feeding schedule, you need to get your first application down pretty soon. This means you need to have finished your raking.

Remember, that the first application of the year contains crabgrass preventative (crabacide). This product works by forming a barrier on your soil which stops crabgrass from germinating. If you rake after the application - you muck up your barrier.
Also note - that it will stop grass seed from germinating as well. So don't apply this product to any areas you plan to seed this spring. Instead, use a starter fertilizer in those areas to give your seedlings a strong start.
This will be an important application, as it was a banner year for crabrass across the country last summer. We may even put down a second application later in the season at our house.

Apply to dry grass, any time of the day.

You may notice the Scott's advertisements for a new product this year which now includes crabacide in the second application of weed and feed to be applied later in the spring. While I am impressed with their quick marketing response the the prolific crabgrass we saw only last year... I have some issues with these two products mixed together because of the very different application methods... we can discuss this next time.
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Tuning in

I read over at Sassy's their list of TV shows that they like to record.

This, of course, got me to thinking... lovingly of our Hi-Def DVR.

We are not rich folk. We don't have fancy cars, or a big house - hell we don't even have a dishwasher. But I love our Hi-Def DVR.

What makes me love our large TV and Hi-Def DVR even
more is Planet Earth.

You should really tune in.
And... if you have the means, see it in Hi-Def.

Under Construction

time to customize
mucking with html
it can only get better

damn...

changing templates.
lost comments.
damn.

abstinence

weese is on the

Friday

tip-o-day

Take Friday's off.

[evidently if you are not in work on friday you are not asked to
work the weekend.
dammit]

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where is weese

weees is out walking...

weese walks at lunchtime
weese eats lettuce at noon
weese goes to the gym after work
weese has stopped using the elevator
weese's fit wife makes her vegetables for dinner
weese does not want to buy new pants
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Chapter 13 – Ranch Hands

(a sporadic continuation of the ‘FREE dog’ series)

Last night my sweet wife and I were catching up on several shows which we had recorded on our beloved DVR and flipping back and forth to the women’s games on ESPN.
Ah, Sunday night bliss.

Every so often I heard some noises from the direction of the kitchen. My clever wife pointed out that the FREE dog was in the kitchen guarding the chicken.
You see, the FREE dog would NEVER touch food on the counter however, she simply keeps an eye it.
She is as well behaved as they come.
And…since Ferris showed up unannounced this weekend my coddling wife made sure there was a ‘pot of something’ on the stove the entire time. Since Ferris is basically an eating machine – he can just take what he wants when he wants it.
The FREE dog is acutely aware of this system, and takes it upon herself to guard any food that may be left to fend for itself.
And so last night… since the chicken was sitting all by itself in the kitchen while we watched TV – it was the FREE dog’s job to remain by its side. We thought nothing of it.

When it was time for bed, I went to let the FREE dog out for her last pee of the night. This is our routine. She rarely actually leaves the stoop – because she knows when she comes in she will get a biscuit. I don’t really care that she doesn’t actually pee…she has never once had an accident in the house – so clearly she knows her own bladder.

However, when I went into the kitchen last night to find her - no dog... the chicken, forlorn and alone, on the stove.
Hmm.
I went upstairs.
No dog.
Hmm.

I vaguely remember letting her out earlier… tho we don’t really watch her when she goes out because the yard is well fenced. Had I left her out in the dark this entire time? …o dear! Poor thing.

I looked out the door… no dog.
Atho… she is a black dog and it was dark. As I went to call out to her, I heard the faintest little sound behind me at the side door.
The side door which leads to the driveway.
The driveway which is not surrounded by fence.

And there she was.
Waiting to come in.
Covered in mud.

This morning my clever wife found this.




And so we will walk the fence line.
Look for weak spots.
And begin to mend the fence.
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Friday

tip-o-day

Well, its spring here in New England.
ooo the horror of it
The thing about spring is... mud.
Well, also sand.
Its everywhere, and its coming into your home.

So spring is a good time of year to place an extra mat by the door. This will help in keeping some of that sand at bay.

But the best thing you can do for your floors right now is to simply keep them vacuumed. Just keeping the fine layer of sandy silt off the floors will keep them looking shiny and new.
Even if you are in the habit of slipping off your shoes, some of this silt still gets in and then acts like sandpaper as you paddle around in your slippered feet.

I don't recommend sweeping or even swiffering - as these methods rub the sand around the floor, and will dull the finish (tho I do like that swiffer for under the bed and dusting the walls... more on this another friday).
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no mice for weese

I checked the traps as soon as I got home yesterday.
I was, foolishly, worried.

Of course they were empty.

Really the biggest problem with this project at this point is my short attention span.
.
.

o dear

I forgot to check the traps this morning.
O dear.

What are the odds...
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And so we wait...

We moved the trap last night.

I figure they must really like it under the furnace if that's where they are keeping their extra paintballs.
Same bait... but we freshened it up.

So... why are we not successful in our mouse quest... I have some theories:

1. Perhaps we have no mice. (not sure how we would explain the paintballs then)
2. Our mice have peanut allergies.
3. Our mice are really smart.
4. Our mice are really dumb.
5. Paintballs are actually made from rat poison.

I have no evidence (yet) to support my 5th theory, but there is this odd odor (of death) in the basement these days. So that one gets my vote for now.

The trap was still empty when I checked it this morning.
patience
patience
.

a wise woman

Thank you Max for covering my tip-o-day on friday.
you could not have been more right!!!

Friday Tip-o-Day, courtesy queenmaxine
The first day of Spring is still about a week away. One would be wise to keep the snow thrower gas tank full and ready just in case Mother Nature decides it time for a laugh.
maxine | 03.16.07 - 11:04 pm | #

Not only did we have 6 inches of snow, followed by 6 inches of ice. But I also failed to check the gas tank.

About the mice....

*sigh*
**heavy sigh**
no mice yet.

There are several theories. But before I begin to postulate - we will try fresh bait and a new location this evening.

Tune in tomorrow for pictures and a recap.
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The Trap is Set

The traps are in place. Two of them. Let's see how we do.

Remember these are 'humane' traps. These mice will be re-located.
To get the mice to willing enter the trap, my coddling wife prepared a tasty treat for each trap.

She took a small saltine - well not just a saltine but a wheat saltine, with reduced sodium, from Trader Joe's. She put a dollop of peanut butter on the cracker. Well... not just peanut butter, but Jif. She says Jif is best because they put molasses into it. I have to agree... she needed to make several of these tasty treats as I kept eating them instead of loading the traps.

The directions said to place the trap along the wall, because evidently mice travel along the walls (tho this is not at all evidenced by the paint balls).

Since I am good at following direction - I place the trap along the wall.



Here is the door. See, it only swings one way.



See the tasty treat inside? Hard to resist, eh!


I will photograph the catch tomorrow (optimistic aren't I?).

(as Fran noted... I will check the traps often, otherwise the mice might expire. The would not be good karma)
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Look!

Look what we got.

Never touch another mouse again!

Its safe, clean... and IT WORKS!

Will keep you posted. More pictures to come.

One of my first jobs as a teenage was at McDonald's. This was back in the 70’s – and McDonald's was not like it is today. There were high standards in our store. We were required to speak a certain way to customers, say certain things and present food in a specific manner.
• The bag must be folded neatly, away from the logo, three times and presented to the customer logo out.
• No customer should wait in line for more than 3 minutes.
• When addressing a customer you must always use: Sir, Mam, or Miss.
• After the order was taken you must always suggest to either up size or add on:
-- “Would you rather a large fries, sir.”
-- “Perhaps an apple pie with your order, Mam?”
We were actually tested on these standards by folks from corporate headquarters who would stand in line during lunch rush. They would note how we treated customers, the presentation of our food, and the timeliness of our service.

When there was down time we cleaned. The mangers would walk the front and check all the appliances and counters – they were to sparkle. You never stood idle. There was always something to prepare always something to wipe down.

Is it any wonder I thrived in this environment.
I do so love order and discipline. The army would really be a perfect choice for me… if it weren’t for all that fighting and killing and such.

I thought of my McD’s days this morning as I was dressing for work. But not the work itself… I was longing for a uniform. Granted, in the 70’s, we wore the most hideous of polyester outfits.
But conceptually …the idea appeals to me.

Get up, shower, toss on the uniform. Done.
No decisions.
What shirt will work with these pants, which socks and what shoes… what’s my mood, what’s the weather…

What I really want… is to wear a gi.


I don’t need variety. I just want to wear something that works.
Everyday.
Pure cotton, breathes well, roomy and comfortable, and good for the environment, washes up nicely, no ironing necessary. What is not to like.

I would have 3 or 4 plain ones (non bleached natural cotton)…and maybe one of these for nights out.

When they got old I would retire them to be gardening gi’s, or painting gi’s.

How simple my life would be, how tidy my closet would look.
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Friday

tip-o-day

I am continually trying to reduce my ecological footprint but there are some areas where I fall short.
One area is washing clothes. I tend to wash things each time I wear them.
I know this is not good ... all that water and electricity and even wear on the clothes themselves - but I just love clean, crisply folded clothes.

For items that I do re-wear, such as my many cardigan sweaters, it's important to let them air before putting them back in the closet. Did you know that one of the things that draws moths to your closet and drawers is putting away clothes that have been worn?

You can use a clothes valet or I just use a hook outside of my closet.
Just toss it on a hanger as you undress for the evening, then the next morning while you're dressing, pop it back into your closet.
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a little snow

There is snow on the driveway.
Night before last it snowed a little bit.
It’s more than a dusting…but certainly less than an inch.
We didn’t clear it.
So… its still there.

It’s below 10 here this morning.
So … it’s not going anywhere right now.
No melting today.

My patient wife tells me it will be near 60° next week.
Which means the snow will go away.
In a week.
She tells me not to worry.
But she knows…
I am waiting.

I couldn’t help myself this morning so I just quickly swept off the walkway.
She just smiled.
I feel a little better now.
Tho, there is snow on the driveway.
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qoute

Out at Wednesday Wings Night this evening we were discussing the time change this weekend, The Daughter The Therapist says:
"I just don't know how I feel about living in a country where this president gets to decide what time it is."

Symbolism

I was reminded this past weekend of the first time I heard the story behind the Christian fish symbol.
The story was told to me by Dr. Lord, my Art History professor in college.
Dr. Lord was a stout woman who wore her gray hair short and slicked back. She had a deep gravely voice clearly attained from years of smoking. Dr. Lord was always smoking. Back when I was in college and especially in our art department, smoking in class was the norm. Little foil disposable ashtrays were even provided for our convenience.
So there we would sit in the dark looking at slides, smoking our cigarettes and listening to Dr. Lord’s gravely voice tell us stories of great works of art and architecture.

Dr. Lord’s smoking was a thing of great fascination, she would take these deep… long… draws on her cigarettes and hold… and then… she would begin to speak. She never exhaled and no smoke ever came out of that woman. She was like a smokeless ashtray.
We used to take seats in the back of class just to watch this in amazement.

But I digress… back to the fish.

Dr. Lord explained to us, between deep long draws on her Newport 100’s, that after the accession of Jesus, early followers of Christianity were somewhat persecuted. And so they devised a clever way of identifying each other in passing.
When two strangers met and thought maybe they were fellow believers, one of them would draw on the ground, perhaps casually with a walking stick, the upper half of the fish symbol.

Recognizing the symbol, the stranger would add a second curved line to complete the drawing of a fish.


I always liked this story… the whole secret society thing appealed to me – well except for the persecution part, but you get my drift.

What reminded me of this story was that I finally got around to adhering a Human Rights sticker to my car this weekend.

What I like about this symbol is that while it is widely know in my community it’s not readily recognized by the general populous.

I don’t personally feel persecuted, but it does make me feel like a part of some secret society … and I don’t mean that in the closeted sense.
I just like the idea of having it be seen on my car and immediately understood.
It conjures up ideas of perhaps meeting someone in the grocery store where my gaydar might be engaged and perhaps placing a string cheese strategically on the child seat in my shopping cart – only to have it added to by a pretzel rod from their cart….
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Friday

tip-o-day

The next time you get a big package delivered or perhaps buy an appliance – don’t toss out the box just because it’s too big to re-use for your next shipment.
Cut the box into panels for easy storage. These big pieces of cardboard can be used for all sorts of things from protecting photos to be mailed to making tag sale signs.

My favorite use is to keep some in the garage and occasionally lay them under our cars to check for leaks.
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Touching

I remember a really long time ago when we first got AOL dialup. What an amazing new world our 14k modem conjured up.
Logging into my first ‘chat’ room I watched conversations scroll by in awe... so many people coming and going in and out of the ‘room’. I was mesmerized, and soon worked up the courage to type ‘Hello’. It was titillating when someone replied. I called out to my offline wife… hey! I am actually talking to someone!

The novelty of chat rooms wore off– and over the years the internet has taken its place in our lives. It has stealthily replaced things like the yellow pages and several old and worn Rand McNally’s. It’s settled into a comfortable spot in our family and our home.
The internet has become a tool and the computer a mere appliance – albeit one that lacks much of the finesse that we have come to expect from our other appliances. Have you ever had to reboot your refrigerator?

Several years later… I was introduced to blogging. Again, as I did with the chat room… I watched and read quietly for some time. I can’t really remember how I found all of you, a link here… a comment there, but I was quickly wrapped up in your lives, checking in often to see what you were up to.

It wasn’t long before I couldn’t help but to comment. I had something to say.
In fact I found I had so much to say – that I eventually started my own blog.
I wanted you all to come by, I wanted you all to get to know me – as I had been getting to know you.
I was …and am…thrilled to be part of this innovative new community.

But where it gets really exciting and I suppose a little freaky… is how we can walk into a room to sit over food and drink, striking up one conversation after another as if we have been neighbors for all of this time we have been virtually visiting each other.
We wrap our computer generated (((arms))) around each other daily … and I was thrilled to find that to do it in person was just as natural, yet more fulfilling.
We have forged a close bond in our cloistered world of text, but I fear that meeting you all has proven something to all of us.

We want more.

We want to meet for a cocktail next Friday, or maybe if you happen to drive by the house and see my hard working wife out in the yard – you can swing into the driveway and roll down the window for a quick chat. How about running into each other at the supermarket, or a quick wave at a stop light.

Alas this is not our reality…

I love the internet for bringing us together and yet... our physical distance tears at my heart.
I love you all. I am so glad I was able to touch you (stop it Syd).
And so… as we fall back into our comfortable online relationships know that I truly hope we can touch again.
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Bloggers are people too

Huh, they do exist.
They are real.
They are wonderful.

Prayers before gaiety

Before my sweet wife and I can share stories of the weekend …

Within the span of two weeks – two different couples, both our closest friends… lost fathers.
Fathers who were great men, with kind hearts and dearly loved.
We pray for them now.

How many lesbians can you fit in a ...


we'll let you know.

Winter in NE

I noticed when I walked out of the house this morning that the driveway was all shiny. Since we did not install a shiny driveway this was my hint to be careful as I walked over to the garage.
As I drove into work I noticed many shiny spots on the road. Since I know the town did not install shiny roads - here was another little clue.

Just in case I was too dense to notice all this slippery shiny-ness, I was passed by an EMS vehicle, and later a police car.

I heard sirens all around me as I drove into the office.

Clearly some folks missed their visual clues.

Friday

tip-o-day

Have you ever taken the hardware off a door to paint it, or strip it - only to find when you go to re-install that the old holes are simply not snug anymore?
Here is a quick fix, and will keep you from having to move a hinge or latch.

Take a toothpick and put in the screw hole, breaking it off flush. Then, simply install your screws. They’ll tighten right up.

I like to use two flat toothpicks (tho either will do) – they seem to break off cleanly and easily.

In a moment of passion

My valentine and I went out to dinner last night. We had a wonderful meal, and a couple of cocktails.
Before we left for dinner we had decided to wait until later to clear the driveway, since the storm was still going on.
I think it was sometime after my second cocktail that I suggested we wait until morning to clear the snow. My reasoning was that we have this behemoth snow-thrower, and really what was the difference whether we cleared it now or later. My romantic wife, also on her second cocktail, readily agreed.
Our plan was simple. I would get up and go right out side…firing up the behemoth and getting the driveway cleared in record time. My caring wife would fix up a big pot of coffee and we could have a cup together and admire my work.

So this morning, I got right up and started to put the plan into action. i did have a little nagging worry... because I had been a bit of a slacker this year and didn’t pre-test the snow-thrower.
I was so pleased when she fired right up.
Pulled out of the garage… only to skim across the top of the ice pack that had formed overnight.
Oops.
2 inches of solid snow. Could not for anything get the lip of that snow-thrower under it. It would not budge.
Oops.
Crap.

Ah, but for the sparkling wine, the red roses, the crackling fire it was a luscious evening– my sore back and arms will heal.

Oh …and regarding our paintball playing rodents… I was not able to set the trap up last night because my coddling wife was worried about me releasing the little guys in the middle of a storm. We will revisit the catch and release plan early next week.

A game of cat and mouse

When the cat is away the mice will play… paintball?

When Ferris was a young teen he and his buddies played paintball. He had a couple guns, one of those cool facemasks, and other various accoutrement. There were also some leftover paintballs.
Since he has grown into a strapping young man – these items have been relegated to a box in the basement.

A couple of weeks ago – my organized wife and I were tidying up the basement when we noticed little pink blobs and slimy streaks on the basement floor.
We, relatively quickly for two old ladies, realized these were expoloded paintballs.
We wondered if perhaps Ferris had decided this may be a fun new dorm toy, so I checked for his paintball box and it was still there... and seemingly intact.

We dismissed it as an isolated incident.

Well,over the last couple of days I think I have been smelling the tell tale aroma of a mouse making his final ascent. Last night I decided to rip apart the basement to try and find the little guy - to of course be sure he was laid to rest properly... in the pet cemetary we call our back yard.

In my quest for the little rodent, I came upon this -

These are paintballs. These paintballs have been placed under the furnace.

The paintballs came from this box:


See the paintballs laying on the top - these had been in sealed bags tucked under the gun, mask and tanks. Not only that, but this box is in a separate room no where near the furnace. The agile little critters opened the bags, took the paintballs up and out of the box, carried them out of the room and clear across the baesment to place them gently under the furnace. And other than those few little blobs of paint two weeks ago - we never saw a paintball.

Ok, so I can accept the fact that since the cat died we clearly have multiple rodent issues. But what's going on with the paintballs? Is it some wacky late night rodent football. Is under the furnace a goal?

Time to pull out the ole RTD.

off spring

Have I bragged about our kids lately.
Hmm, no?

well then…

First, I want to congratulate The Daughter The Therapist.
She passed her State LPC exam, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) exam giving by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
So if you are in the neighborhood…and nuts – she is now licensed to help you.

We’re also very proud of Ferris – who made it through his first semester at college …gaining only a scant couple freshman pounds, doing his own laundry, oh and making the Dean’s List.

Friday

tip-o-day

Are you feeling ill effects from the winter? Do you feel listless, tired, do you poop out at parties? Are you unpoopular? (oops …a Lucy moment).

Maybe you have an unexplained lack of energy or are you getting a little short fused?

You will be surprised how much it helps with winter blues to get your house clean and orderly.

Your home is an integral part of your energy. Your home has energy flowing through it all the time. Feng Shui is the environmental science of this energy – and there are boat loads of info on this.
But on a smaller scale – and without doing a lot of research…
Energy in your home can be good or bad which can help or hinder you in your daily life. A cramped, cluttered home that’s dusty and disorganized will greatly affect the way you feel.

I am more pragmatic than most, and proudly consider myself shallow – but even I can feel the difference in our home when it’s cleaned and set right. I am more at ease, and I feel happier. Sometimes that’s enhanced by the several lite beers I partake after getting everything in order… but I digress.

So if you’re longing for the days of summer and feeling like you need more space and sunlight, take some time this weekend to do a good cleaning. Think of it as a way to pamper and care for yourself. Some folks may go to a spa, which while pleasant is short lived. Caring for yourself by caring for your home environment will have lasting effects.

If your home is particularly disorganized – start small. Take one room, perhaps your bedroom – which should be your sanctuary. Dust and vacuum everything including your window treatments and walls (which can be quickly dusted with one of those swiffer thingys). Wash your linens, hang out spreads and comforters and toss your pillows in the dryer at high heat for freshening.

If you are storing things under your bed, remove them. Keeping clutter hiding under your bed is not good for sleeping energy. Keeping it clear is good for air flow, which keeps your room fresher and also allows easy access for vacuuming and/or mopping.

Attics and basements are other great places to organize and purge unneeded stuff. You may think there is no harm in keeping piles clutter and useless stuff behind closed doors.
But – try this. Clean and organize your basement, throwing out anything you don’t use and making sure the stuff you do use is accessible and arranged by purpose.
Then sit in your living room and see how it makes you feel. You will feel a better flow of energy even in other rooms. Perhaps you won’t perceive it as energy. You may simply feel, at first, satisfied with a job well done.
But I promise it will feel good.
And… a couple of beers won’t hurt either.
Something about a good day of clutter clearing that just makes the cold ones flow better.

You make the diagnosis

Have you seen these new shows on TV? They give you a bunch of medical facts about someone and then a list of possible ailments.
I am really good at these, because not only do I watch DiscoveryHealth, but I have been watching TV medical shows my whole life.
I could intubate someone if I had to.

Today, you can play along in my psychosis by analyzing my dream from last night.

It goes something like this: (cue eerie music and fog...)

I get onto an escalator, which seems to be in a mall type setting. The escalator is unusual in that it's covered – picture a tube... with moving stairs. I suppose it was somewhat like those kiddie slides you see at playgrounds.
I crouched down to get on and then sit once inside, because it was pretty small. I think about how difficult it would be for someone larger than me, and how silly to have such a thing at the mall.
As I descend I that creepy feeling that I have done this before, and on that previous occasion I just barely fit through the opening at the bottom. I feel my anxiety rise as I approach the bottom. I see the opening, size it up. Just as my feet pass through I realize it's too small.

I hear a squelch sort of sound as my legs are stopped by the small opening.
I am stuck.
I tap on the tube, and call for help. I remember to panic. Claustrophobia washes over me. I look down at my feet poking through the small hole. I notice I am wearing cream colored pumps. I may also be wearing a matching cream skirt and jacket.


Then... I woke up.

well??

Luckily for me we are having dinner with The Daughter The Therapist tonight.
Hopefully she will read today's entry before we go and possibly jot down some notes and come up with some theories.

We have a little basket with a couple magazines in our bathroom, just in case you find yourself with some time to pass.
One of them is a health and well-being type of magazine.
It has an article on things you can do to boost your memory… especially as you age.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this article.