Hello Little Girl

A big welcome to Pepper the cat! Lucky girl now lives with Susan.

Real Love

It is spring, despite snow and cold temperatures, and spring is the season of birth and re-birth, of new beginnings and fresh starts.
Attended parent conferences last night. It was almost embarassing to hear the myriad positive comments about my clever teenager. I was fortunate that each of the instructors shared some insight about her with me (and with her, too). Some sage observations about being a smart young woman. And she is smart - and kind and likeable. Wow. Yesterday I shared how "rich" R is - well, with my wonderful teenager, my sweet dog, my dear friends (no quotations marks) and loving family I couldn't be richer. It is Real Love and I am bleesed!

Baby You're a Rich Man

Dear chum R is receiving recognition for his contributions to the arts community here. Excellent! I am ever so grateful for his enthusiasm and willingness to share his interest and talent with the ukulele. What a gift it has been for me - not only because of the pleasure of learning something new, but because it has created another connection with my father and his musician friends. I've met people and performed and had a great time with the uke and I credit R with taking the time to teach and encourage me. It is with a particular pleasure that I can join others in acknowledging his efforts. R, you are, indeed, a rich man.

PS I have discovered a world of blogs devoted to typos, misuse of punctuation, abuse of the word "literally", and eradication of clichés in media. Fun for those of us who enjoy nitpicking grammar glitches. Check out the sites on the "Where I Spend My Time..." links.

Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand

Checking in because that's what I do with this blog. I'd like to take this opportunity to share household tips, relationship advice, or nerd herd insider info, but I'm just here to tell you how I'm doing. I'm doing fine, thank you. My house is messy and dirty and has broken parts, my relationship advice is not worth the space it would fill on the page and I'm a neophyte in nerdness, despite having the coolest phone available.
All is fine in lovely Anacortes. Snow is predicted although it is nearly the middle of SPRING, thank you very much.
I'm tired and the teenager is due home. Have a most excellent sleeping period and feel free to join us for coffee at the usual time and place tomorrow.

I'm Happy Just to Dance With You

I see the sun shining in these beautiful faces... And the sunshine melts the ice that has coated me from brain to bum since the fall. Once again I feel another layer of grief fall off. It's coming together and I'm feeling better. As the weather warms up, activity increases. Time to plan the summer schedule. Hoping to get a camping trip in with good friends.
photo by iMom's iPhone

Penny Lane

What to do in a small town on a Sunday afternoon...
Walk up to watch the controlled burn done by the City fire department.
Yesterday was sunny and warm and perfect for lawn and garden care. Unfortunately my motivation to continue the work left when the clouds arrived today. Took a long walk with Ann, Tizzy and Zip today despite the cloudy sky and followed the plume of smoke to the burn site.


Saw lots of folks doing drive-bys, a crowd with their lawn chairs out to catch the entertainment, and fire trucks and fire fighters all around. Even DAS showed up on his motorcy'!

Now it's off to walk downtown and meet a friend for a bite. Life in a small town.

I've Just Seen a Face

My beautiful teenager has returned from her spring break trip! We had a very good weekend - lots of sleeping, quite a bit of decluttering, a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a couple of meals out.
We drove through LaConner on Saturday and spotted the famous turkeys walking in the street; always a small thrill. It's Tulip Festival time but only the daffodils are blooming. We need more sun and less rain for the tulips to pop open. It's the time of year when lawns grow fast but aren't dry enough to mow regularly.
The truck and camper that I was harbouring in my back yard for the past few months has been driven away and will head back to Alaska next week. Looks like this might be the summer of the fence - or at least parts of a fence (as I can afford it).
I'm happy to have my lovely girl home.

You Can't Do That

I've been obsessing. I was bored - at work, at home , in my head. Bored people are boring. I have been boring myself and was desperate for a distraction. It was not just about a lack of drama, but drama is simple to create. But even a small drama was more than I could tolerate. I am so over that way of life.
Instead I'll continue towards mastering acceptance and contentment. I need to get outside my head. It's not a pleasant place these days.
Right now I'm waiting to go on a theatre to see a guild production of "Little Women". I'm attending a small party first, sponsored by the ladies' Lion's. A step into another culture.
I feel better. I think about you while I write these blogs. I know I don't usually present my best side here.

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

Really couldn't come up with a more appropriate representation of my feelings.

To see the gravesite of someone with a sense of humour, click here.

She Said She Said

Check the date, bloggees.
Thanks for playing!

Wild honey pie continued

I've told a couple of people and I'm a bit surprised at their reactions. They don't seem particularly shocked. Does that mean they didn't believe all my protests about marriage? About the inevitability of incompatability? But this does tie in with my belief that a marriage based on mutual attraction (chemistry, if you will) is bound to flounder when the chemistry dissipates. Better to marry someone you don't particularly want.
I'm thinking we'll get married in California so my parents can be there, then have a wedding here so friends can come.
I used to have a dream of an evening wedding. I can't believe I'm even thinking about it, let alone doing it!

Wild Honey Pie

I'm not sure where to begin but it ends with a proposal. I know it's crazy - I know I've been vociferously cynical about marriage. I know the odds, but maybe the third time is a charm - it worked for Annabelle. And, to be honest, the idea of having someone to count on, someone who will be here for me, someone to come home to - well, it has its appeal. I still have to talk to the teenager about it, but I'm feeling good. He asked me and I said yes!
I'm not calling my girlfriends yet. I don't want them to try to talk me out of it.
It isn't all about love. And sex is waiting for the wedding ring (how bizarre is that?). It's about security and companionship and being cared for. It's about respect and support.
I'm in a daze. We're still debating whether to do the courthouse thing, Nevada, or an actual wedding. (Of course we'll do the Catholic thing, but that requires more planning and we're eager to just do it). The third time it just isn't that big a deal which way you get married. By this time I know it's how we'll stay married that matters more. We both have issues, but at least we can acknowledge them and work through them, together. Patience. And trust - that's harder. Communication. Tolerance. I will do it all better this time.
I feel elated and dreamy and excited and scared. I'm doing it. WE are doing it. Wow!!
Keeping my last name, by the way. I think we'll ended up doing it the fastest way possible. (Did I mention we're waiting until we're married to be intimate?) Maybe this weekend? I have to call him. Yay!!