PractiGal

Don't You Hate It When That Happens?

It was a glorious morning for a walk. There was a coolness in the air that I haven't felt in days; it was soothing as I swung my arms through it -- refreshing as I inhaled it. There was a bit of fog too, which made for a lovely backdrop. Who'd have thought this peaceful stroll would end with an adrenaline rush!?

I walked around the neighborhood for about 25 minutes, passing only two other walkers, and seeing very little traffic. The sunrise was gorgeous, beneath the haze. I saw another bunny today, and he didn't seem to be bothered by my presence. We were each just doing our morning thing.

As I headed back to my street, I started thinking about the tall glass of cold water I'd have. Mmm. You know, it's a nice way to start the day. I want to keep this up. I crossed the busy street near us, which was quiet then, and walked down our even quieter side street. Not much going on with the humans - lots of activity with the squirrels and birds.

Suddenly, I saw a neighbor's car approaching, getting ready to leave the street. There was something on the roof of his car. Wait, what is that? I waved; he didn't see me. Oh my! It's a coffee cup! I shout "coffee cup on your roof!" Still he doesn't notice me. I turn and start running after him, waving my arms in the air to try to get his attention "there's a coffee cup on your roof!!!!!" By then I was yelling. I'm sure the neighbors appreciated that at 6:30.

I guess you're oblivious to neighbors behaving strangely when you haven't yet had your morning cuppa jo .....

He turned onto the busy street, coffee cup still in place on the roof.

Hopefully it wasn't a favorite mug.

Mow Mow Mow Your Lawn

Can someone please explain to me why some people find it necessary to mow their lawn every other day?  I'm curious, because I truly cannot relate.

I suppose it's none of my business, but in a "noise pollution" sense, it is. My neighbor mows her lawn like most people brush their teeth. OK, so I brush my teeth at least twice a day, so I guess that's not the best analogy, but you know what I mean. Her lawn is so beautiful, it looks like carpeting. Actually, it's nicer looking than my carpet. But I still don't get it. Does it have to be cut because it's grown 1/16 inch?!?!

Do you suppose it's about a genuine desire to have the nicest looking grass on the street? Or is there something more to it? 

I can easily think of 10 things to do, rather than mow the lawn when it doesn't need mowing:

1. blog -- if you don't have one, get one. Or just read others' blogs. It's fun, addictive, and doesn't disturb the neighbors.

2. have another cup of coffee and read the paper -- already did? Have another cup.

3. do some laundry -- don't tell me it's all done. Is it ever all done?

4. visit with someone -- in person or on the phone, your choice. You have some very nice neighbors!

5. give the dog a bath -- he doesn't like water? well, maybe he can get over that phobia now.

6. polish your silver collection -- don't have one?  sounds like a new hobby!

7. write a letter -- you know, the old-fashioned way. It's a quiet activity that doesn't bother the neighbors.

8. tend to your gardens with your hands -- you don't always have to have a power tool in your hand you know.

9. go for a walk -- it's good exercise, and it's a quiet hobby.

10. surf the web -- if you're not into blogging, then surf. Read news, play games, read about the latest advances in lawn care technology. Whatever. There's something out there for you. I just know there is.

So I Can Walk - I Just Can't Inhale

This a.m. was the first morning of my new exercise routine. I was a cranky witch yesterday, and I realized that I've been letting myself be held hostage by the hot & humid weather. So I realized I needed to get out & get more exercise, striking while the iron isn't hot, so to speak. I went for a walk at 6:15a.m. today.

My alarm goes off just before 6. I listen to the news on the radio, then some country tunes, then some clips of Jay Leno's monologue. Then maybe some more music, and yes, I sometimes sing along (my husband's least favorite part of my morning routine). Eventually I get in the shower & officially begin my day - usually by 6:30. Today, I got up after the news, and was on my walk by 6:15. And it was wonderful. It's my absolute favorite time of day. The birds are chirping, there's very little traffic on the busy street near us, and there aren't many signs of other people around. It's so peaceful.

The only potential downside to a healthy early morning walk is the smell. You see, I live right near the bakery facility for our area's major grocery store chain. And early in the morning, the smell it pumps out is intoxicating. You know the smell that Krispy Creme pumps out? or Dunkin Donuts? It's like that. It smells like fresh hot donuts. So, as I'm walking to try to eliminate some of the jiggle on my thighs and get my heart rate up, I'm inhaling the very elixir that summons me, to clog my arteries and fatten up my thighs some more.... In fact, I think I heard it today:  Marie! We have fresh hot donuts... just for you! Come and get 'em! You know, your favorites? The soft squishy kind with chocolate frosting? We have lots of them for YOU.

If I were to take my walk in a particular direction, I could end up at a store where these treats are dispensed. It would be so easy. I did not walk that way today. I will not walk that way... I will not put spare change in my pocket for one of these early morning walks. I will not. I won't? No, I won't.

You heard it here. Be sure to ask me about tomorrow's walk...

Survey says...

Yet another thing to push that to-do list aside:

Much Ado About 'To Do's

As I sit here eating my morning cereal, I thought I'd review my to-do list:

1. Pay bills.  I could be doing that now, instead of blogging.

2. Purge and clean fridge. Yuck. This is on the list because my mother-in-law is coming today and I want to impress her with my attentiveness to house-keeping. Yeah, right. Actually, I unearthed a container marked "chicken 5/21" this weekend. There was no year on the label, and judging by the condition, I can neither confirm nor deny that it was placed in the fridge in 2005. That discovery led me to believe that a full fridge investigation is warranted.

3. Plan meals / Make grocery list. This way, I can begin stocking up for future science experiments.

4. Move stuff to attic. Do you have any idea how long this has been on my list? In June is it even worth it to put the stray Christmas stuff in the attic? Before you know it, I'll just be getting it out again.

5. Clean bathrooms. See #2. Yes, a moderately clean fridge and clean bathrooms are in order when the m-i-l visits. At least, those are my self-imposed rules.

6. Sort clothes - Goodwill pile.  This relates to #4 and has been on my list since before my son was born, over a year ago. I seem to have a problem admitting that some of the baby clothes are no longer needed, so I keep them around in piles, drawers, & laundry baskets. They should go to the attic. As for my clothes, they need to be sorted & a Goodwill bag assembled. Seems simple enough. Why the heck don't I do it?

Notice what's not on the list? Blogging. Yet here I am. I think that blogging is more fun than any one of these things, and it can be done while I eat cereal.

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In other news, our new PC, Papa Dude, arrived the other day. Sweeeeeeet!  That's worth repeating. It is sweeeeet. We're setting it up & having a lot of fun looking at all our old digital pics on it.

Oh, yeah. And it's summer. I just want to play. I want to pull weeds from my garden and run around outside with my little boy.

But I must work, and did I mention I have this To Do list too?

Growing up in the 60's and 70's

I've been tagged by Elle from True Blue 4ever!  Why not, it's the weekend...

First, the rules:
Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place; add your blog's name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollination effect.

1. Ivy Tied Up
2. The Fountain Pen
3. The Color Purple
4. True Blue 4ever
5. PractiGal

Next: select new friends to add to the pollen count. (No one is obligated to participate). Want to play but not on the list? Please do!! Add yourself!

1. Bluegrass Mama
2. Emzeedotes
3. Fighting Inertia (hear Anita yelling? Yes, that's her)

What 5 things do you miss about your childhood?

1. Completely carefree summer days. No school. No grown-up responsibilities. Play, play, and more play. Barbie reunions, swimming til shriveled and pruney, jumping rope in the driveway, riding bikes all over the place.

2. Seeing my sisters every day. Who'd a thunk it back then? I miss seeing and talking to my sisters each and every day. Being spread out around the country makes it hard -- it's more of an event when we see each other now. I miss hanging out together, just talking, laughing, and being goofy together.

3. Eating anything and everything without concern that it will land on my hips and thighs. Yeah, I do miss that -- guilt-free eating!

4. 45s (little records for you youngin's). Playing the same record over and over and over, allllll dayyyyy long. I guess I could do that now, but it might not go over too well.  I remember doing this with: Rhinestone Cowboy, Dark Lady (Cher), Afternoon Delight (not that I had a clue what it was about -- I liked the harmony), ...

5. Camping in the Adirondacks & playing with Matchbox cars in the dirt -- building intricate villages and roadways for the vehicles, and designing lovely landscapes with twigs and moss.

Fantastic Flick?

Do you ever sit & look at the blinking cursor in your blogging window, and think 'I have nothing to say.'   Ok, that's me today. Yet, why is it that I can visit another blog & babble endlessly about whatever?  I can almost always think of 2-5 cents worth of something to say on someone else's blog. I fear that makes me somewhat Cliff Clavin-esque. The thought of that gives me shivers.

Well, how about this... let me ask you - do you have any recommendations for movies now in theaters? Not Star Wars. I don't mind those movies, but I'm just not a big fan. We haven't been to a theater in AGES, so for our anniversary, I gave my hubby movie coupons so that we can go on a date together. I have a really bad track record at picking movies. I've picked some doozies. (Have you seen Anchorman? That was a recent video pick of mine -- El Stinko. Except for 1 line in the entire movie, which was great.) If I go to see a movie in the theater, I like it to be something that's big-screen-worthy. You know what I mean?  I'm sure that Star Wars would be that, but again, we're not really Star Wars folk. Genres that might be winners for us: drama, action (but not too bloody), comedy (the more off-beat, the better).... open to other guggestions...

So, whatchagot?

June 22

I woke up this morning to receive chocolates and a card in bed....  I entered the kitchen and found a dozen roses and another card for me. 

Today is our 3-year wedding anniversary. And what did I get my husband? A card.

I am lame!

But the day is young, and hopefully I can do better by day's end.

Starting right now...

I never had pre-wedding jitters, thinking "am I marrying the right person?"  Nope. I was 36. I was "mature." (I prefer that word to, um, other words.)  I had been around the block enough to know what made a man a 'good man,' and what made a man someone for me.

My man is honest. There's never any guessing about whether he's being straight with you. He is. I love that about him. There are no games.

But there IS fun. There are practical jokes. There's Mr. Bean. Monk. Odd humor. We enjoy odd humor together. I remember on an early date going to see the movie Mumford. There were only a dozen people or so in the theater, and we were the only ones laughing. Didn't anyone else get it?

That's another thing I like about him. My husband 'gets it.' He's a deep thinker. Sometimes my brain can't keep up with all of this ideas and thoughts, but I love that he's always thinking.

And he's always thinking of our family. When I was pregnant, he busted his butt to make updates to our kitchen, because I insisted on having a dishwasher.  He's a very handy man, and it seems that there is no task too big for him to take on.

My husband is all of these things, and he's very handsome and sweet, to boot. I am a very lucky lady! Our son is a lucky little boy.

Many years ago, in a yoga class I was taking, the teacher always had us do a "visualization" at the end of class. We were to imagine something that we'd like in our lives - personal, job, love, whatever...  I always pictured the same thing. I'd see myself working around a yard, on a tree-lined street, with a little child running around, and a car would pull into the driveway -- it would be my husband... and the little child & I would go to greet him.

Thanks for helping to make my dream come true, sweetie. I love you! You are forever my Pickle Man.

Take Back The Memorial

Beep beep beepbeep beep...

I interrupt this normally nonsensical blog to bring you the following important information:

If you believe that the memorial to be built on the ground of the former World Trade Center in NYC should be strictly a memorial to remember and honor those who were killed there on Sept 11, 2001, you may be interested in checking out Take Back The Memorial. 

Apparently, there's an effort underway to make this a politically correct memorial, showcasing "man's inhumanity to man," and as this Wall Street Journal editorial points out, "this is a history all should know and learn, but dispensing it over the ashes of Ground Zero is like creating a Museum of Tolerance over the sunken graves of the USS Arizona."

I heard about this while listening to the radio in my car today; I couldn't wait to get home and get my name on the petition.

Ground Zero is a sacred space and should be politics-free. Period.

Summer Solstice

Ahh! Summer! For those of us in the northern hemisphere, we'll be at our max for daylight hours today. Yippee! Anyone have any special plans for outdoor activities? Maybe I'll go out this evening and plant my flowers, which have been waiting for me for almost a month.

Don't forget to look at the sky too! I just heard the weatherman say that this week the full moon will be at its lowest point in 18 years, and it will be extra huge, due to Moon Illusion. I was thinking I'd try to take pictures, but apparently it's a trick of the eye -- and camera lenses know better. I think the huge full moon is just beautiful, and I plan to enjoy it this week!