I Knew I Loved Her When...

I was fond of Sophie when we first got her.  I was delighted with her when I witnessed her unabashed curiosity.  I adored her when she displayed all the spunk and joy an puppy should possess.  Today, however I can say with utter finality that I love this dog.  I spent the past couple of days baking & cooking in anticipation of a dinner party that was an absolute balm to my soul.  Recovering from the effort occupied the better part of my day and I was just relishing the relaxation of having completed tasks... still though, I had a bit of a lingering need to cook, and so invited a few folks over for a simple meal.  I observed throughout the past few days, that Sophie would roam the kitchen floor, seeking fallen morsels.  Not sure what her teensy puppy belly can tolerate, I would inspect her findings if she lingered too long in any one spot.  This afternoon, she was not only lingering, but seemed to be kind of playing which prompted me to dutifully examine the situation.  Turns out, my Duchess Sophie Diamond Darling had found a huge black spider and chosen to execute it, doggy-style.  She caught it in her mouth and I imagine the wiggling tickled, or something, because she flipped it up in the air and worried over it as it landed.  The poor brute had no chance; ferocious Sophie repeated her ritual until the spider was robbed of its despicable life.  I congratulated her heartily, while Tawny admonished her - I'm not real sure what message Sophers took away from the event.  All I know is that I got a spider-killer in my camp.  Yessir.

A Day for the Birds

Some days weird things just happen.  Today was one of those days.  I woke up late, and got the puppy out to go potty and was standing around outside waiting for my mom to call.  We have a typical Monday phone date to catch up and connect, and I was expecting a long chat so I stood outside to ensure better reception.  While on the phone with Momma Bear, I was watching Sophie roam the yard and scout poo places.  All in all, it was business as usual - until I detected motion at my eye level, raised my head and came face to face with a hummingbird - inches away from my skin.  Seriously, I kid you not - this bird was close enough that I could feel the breeze from its furiously beating wings.  It hovered for a moment and then flitted off into distance.  It was strange, but weirder things have happened, right?  

I know that weirder things happen, because this evening I was out on the river trail trying to get in some good solid motion.  I was minding my own business, about an hour into my trot when a bird flew overhead into the blackberry bushes that line the trail.  Nanoseconds after, another bird flew, not OVER my head, but INTO my head.  NO LIE!  I felt the beat of wings upon my skull and only had sense to be grateful that it wasn't a beak-first collision.  I have no idea why these things happen - but there's two for one day.  

These Boots Were Made for Marching...

Alrighty friends, it's time to saddle up the walking shoes for a good cause.  I know that I've got a couple of faithful ghost readers out there, and it just occurred to me that I could be posting blogs that focus on causes near & dear to my heart.  On the plate today is the Family Yussman and their work with the March of Dimes.  To be honest, I knew nothing about MOD except the name until Amanda, her husband and their children had reason to be blessed by the foundation.  18 months ago, Amanda gave birth to triplets - three tiny, wonderful, beautiful babies who were cared for by an incredibly talented team of physicians, nurses and other health practitioners.  The level of care they received was made possible, in part, by the mission of the March of Dimes.  Even through the devastating loss of one of the babies, Spencer, Amanda and her family were assured that the best possible treatment and attention was devoted to her precious baby.  The surviving triplets, Paige and Levi are thriving at a year and a half - I'll refer you to these resources for more detail:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?w=251005060&u=yussmantriplets&bt=2

http://www.yussmantriplets.blogspot.com/

The reason I'm writing this blog is to ask you for your support for the Yussman family.  I know as well as anybody that times are tight and that it's a difficult thing to open up expendable income for a stranger.  I also know that there is nothing like the warmth of kindness extended in the hand of an unknown person... So, if you are inclined, please consider donating to the Yussman March of Dimes team - I can assure you that it will be received with deep, unabashed gratitude on the part of a family that has endured the worst horrors of prematurity and revels each day in the rich joys of having survived.  

I'd Rather Cry With You Than Laugh With Anyone Else

I still haven't come to any firm conclusions about capitalization in titles, but seeing as how the internet has nearly obliterated any sort of absolute standard in grammatical propriety, I'm going to follow my heart.  Perhaps I'll write on that later - the contribution world wide connectivity has made to ultimate relativism.  Perhaps I'll lose the motivation and not.  

This past weekend four of my sweet girlfriends came up to visit me.  The Assyrians came up about a year ago & my parents came up to rescue me in November, and those have been the only visits I've had here in the 'Ding.  Until this weekend, that is.  Witness below the joy of camaraderie.  

Jill, my sister-in-law; Joy, a dear friend for years; Sarah, likewise a loyal friend; and Emily, the backbone of my emotional stability.

I was tickled pink in anticipation of their arrival, but I could not have anticipated the sense of calm euphoria that their presence provided.  I realized that I am perfectly happy where I am, however something is continually missing - and that is my friends.  I know we all have grossly busy lives and that if we were to live in the same place we'd be apart more than we'd be together - it's just the simple fact of inaccessibility that drives me nuts.  That I can't call any of them and ask if I might swing by on my way home from work, that I can't invite them to a dinner party at regular intervals, that I can't just be there when something hurts or goes wrong, that I can't just be there when something is wonderfully right - these are the things that are missing.  It's terribly unfair to all the people I meet nowadays that they pale in comparison to these friends of mine.  How lucky am I to have even one person to call my friend, much less these ladies who delight my heart!

PS - MANY MANY thanks to Tawny & Cathy who put up with us all weekend & double helpings to Tawny for serving as the photographer when I didn't even think of it :)  

I've Been Dabbling in Exterior Design

More or less designing my exterior:

This tattoo is now about 2 weeks old and although I'm only a short-while into "the rest of my life," I still love it.  I got it as a reminder to constantly question my premises regarding myself and my worthiness in love.  Some of people's better comments:

From Alan, my boss - "It's a reminder to you?  So you put it on the back of your neck?"

From Bonnie, my mother - "I heard you got a spider bite!!!  Is THAT what happened to your neck?!"  

Thank you loved ones, you are ever an encouragement.