No Squatter's Rights

This is the tree that has survived years of squatters. Little squatters, big squatters, and in between squatters, all four legged. Why do they all run for the little tree when there are thirty other trees and grass areas and fields around here? I live in a building that allows dogs and when the front door opens for poddie runs they all run down the sidewalk, around the side of the building, to the edge of the lot, to the little tree! I thought of placing a little sign that said, "Squatter's Rights, Full House, No Vacancy," but I knew they'd pee on my sign so I stopped that imaginary thought. Anyway what right do I have to interfere with their scent wars. If I had to give a layman's explanation of this, I would say its every dog peeing on the other dogs pee to maintain whose got the territorial rights to that corner of the world. The only corner of the outside world they have to work with. Otherwise, sadly for some its crates and carpet. eewww.. I see there little and big faces peering needfully out their apartment windows when I come home. Glad we humans don't do that tree thing, I guess we do just in different ways, we just fight, bully, lie, cheat, use money and whatever, to up the other one .... not me of course...but many humans do. Maybe we should start peeing on trees instead. Would make for less wars and bloodshed. I cant believe that little tree continues to maintain its existence for all the attention. Humm maybe its the attention that keeps it thriving after all.

Today Was a Hoot

I had a "stand in" helper at work today because my associate was "missing in action" for a long week-end. So my daughter in law stood in, the daughter in law that looks like "what's her name," Meg Ryan! Could be her twin..And that is when the fun started. For me anyway. It was after I ate my peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pretzels, one banana, and a piece of chocolate that I decided I needed more. So I went to the grocery deli for Friday shrimp. Eight Pieces with no sauce eatin' while driving to the bank. Then home...... I was hungry for a snack only! I got the peanut butter out and dipped my trusty pretzels in when the dog came running. That meant she wanted her all natural doggie bones dipped in P.B. so I dipped her some bones and me some pretzels. That is when the unimaginable happened. I inadvertently put the doggie bone dipped in P.B. in my mouth. Then I spit it out of my mouth onto the floor and the doggie ate it. I wonder if the all natural bone snack isn't better for me then the flour filled pretzel? I'm over it, after all it wasn't a dead critter. Then Cody, my third son called me from "The Hills," Beverly that is! He is one of the lighting men setting up for a taping of "Dancing With the Stars," at a mansion in "The Hills". He told me there are glass floors and a bowling alley and I forgot the rest because I was so busy with drama saying S H U T- U P! How totally cool are you while I eat dog bones dipped in P.B. That was after I pulled into the bank drive thru that said CLOSED. The nice boy tried to sweetly tell me so I could back out gracefully. If I ever have any issues with dings in my car it is from "backing out." So here I was with three inches on either side, being watched by two very young people sitting behind their windows grinning. It was Friday afternoon, where were all the people with their money to deposit? None in sight, only me in all three lanes making bad jokes, well maybe good jokes because they were laughing....I pointed to the last ding outside my car, no ding, a huge scrape on my drivers side and told them that is what happened the last time I tried this. I wanted to get out of that car and walk away. My choices were none, So I backed up, got too close on one side, went forward to straighten out, backed up and got too close again, went forward, then one more time of that all in a matter of ten feet. All the time being watched. Now this was not my idea of being in the limelight of life. It was more like "look at that middle aged woman that cannot back up ten feet without driving forward two feet and starting over. Moron. Shhh don't let her hear us"....I know that is what they were saying. But I have a great sense of humor so I survived to drive away ....in a forward manner. I will never go to that bank again. But at least I didn't go to McDonald's to make a deposit like one of my friends did. I just couldn't back out of a narrow drive through very well. And I remembered why I was there. So there. Anyway my boy is a lighting man for the stars. photo is Cody Ogden, Hollywood Lighting Man

Starring at the Ceiling

Today is a day I can't think of a thing to say. Note this is rare. My only goal is to lay on the living room floor and stare at the ceiling. You see there are about a zillion things on and in my head to the point I need to expell many of them to a new home or space other than here. I am in hopes the ceiling will bring me some answers. Sure, a large vast area of drywall, wood, sand, paint, tape, spakling, all said items full of chemicals I suspect. That ought to give me some answers. Real earthly atmosphere. Not. Its too cold to go outside and lay under a tree. Or hug one as "they" suggest. Anyway I live in a complex with hundreds of other people so if I went and laid outside I am sure to hear sirens within a short time. So the chemical ceiling it is for now. Be right back.
OK so nothing yet. I am going to do the Oprah cure. What am I thankful for? Give me a minute. Just kidding sorta. I am thankful I am not Sarah Palin because she doesn't get to keep the clothes. Too bad so sad so glad! I am thankful I am employed and have a wonderful place to live. That I do not have to sleep alone in my cushy bed. OK I will tell you....I sleep with.....drum roll please.....Gracie Allen, doggie do little, and Lucy Lu, neurotic cat. And I am actually thankful they are the only ones I sleep with. They are sweet and kind and give me joy. I am thankful for "all my children." No its not the soap opera show, but its just like it! I am thankful for being alive even if it hurts sometimes. That I and mine are healthy. For the decisions at hand even though very difficult. For the opportunity to help others all the time hoping they don't ask. Had to add that. I am so thankful for my snow tires, need I explain? No! And I especially love my computer. I used to love cigarettes many years ago, eewww. I replaced them with the "puter show." Oh and pretzels, peanut butter, chocolate and Scotch. No not for breakfast today anyway. Better add just kidding to that one. I tried the kitchen floor and that was not good....."bugs? in the lite made it not so Oprah-y. Time to head out for work. The Sun is shining so all is well no matter what. I am going to be a duck today. Going with the flow.........

Boat People

These happened during a cold blizzardy snow day two years ago. Or was that one year ago? Time flies during blizzards...doi. Especially when the twins, Frick and Frack, Fred and Frieda, KiKi's...the various names they go by depending on whose talking to them. "Them" were age 5 when this sculpture was so intently created. No one really noticed the talent and depth like I did. I asked Karsyn (one twins real name) what she named this piece. She said, "Boat People." I don't believe Karsyn knows the reality of boat people. Yet here they are in living color. And with hair and noses and even a decorative hair bow put in for added spice. And notice right up front leading the way. This girls princess mode takes precidence no matter what. These girls have spice of life I tell you. I could relay to you stories for days but today is Boat People day. Notice there is one man and four women and a blobb, or five women?? In Karsyn's family there is one Dad and one Mom and two sisters. So whomever the blobb is a mystery. Oh no, its not mwaa! No way...me a blobb on a boat? Nope not gonna happen, don't like water, not going there. I am not a Boat People or a Frick or Frack or a blobb Nana. Maybe its Great Gramma Ha! Sure it is. I did my duty, followed the fate thing or whatever it was, had the Dad and he had the Frick and Frack...His deal now I say....But...I also say, Look at this masterpiece! From a five year old child! They know more than we ever give them credit for. I have this framed and believe it to be the beginning of some serious art or creativity of sort coming from said Frack or Frick, I get them mixed up. But only one of them created the Boat People Sculpture out of blocks of Sculpie Clay on a cold snowy day!

Foxy and The Sticker

This is Joe, my 83 year old Father exercising his primal man-hunting conquest. And that is Foxy lying deceased under the tree. I know, I know, I said no more chicken blogs, but the truth be told, if Foxy had not been "taken out," there would be no more fresh brown eggs in the fryin pan every morning, anymore. It was a "had to be" deal. It reminded me of my Granddaddy in Texas who told me he rode with Poncho Via! Sure! We found him in his utility room (an addition to the huge house they owned) shooting at a mouse with his colt 45. Yup.... he shot the toilet to hell trying to play cowboy and recall his Poncho Via days....and he got the mouse too. Here I am again many years later viewing the same thing only the toilet was saved this time. Yes it was sad....but I cant go there. It was one fox or six chickens. Do the math. Now the fun part. Notice the sticker on the back of Dad's new jeans. And he went downtown with that long size sticker still there showing the world he got new jeans! I think we should all do that. Heck we do it with our cars, right? Leave that perty sticker on the window standing for, "We got a new car, and we paid this much!"

Dad buried the little critter and came waltzing into the kitchen singing....A - M - E - N! Cause I told him to say a prayer over the little guy. I hope he remembers to take that sticker off before he goes to the board meeting tonight.

photo taken at he original "funny farm" yesterday!

The Bulldog Massage

Today was somewhat stressful....so I chilled. At one point I took Gracie Allen for a long walk . Gracie, from the Humane Society eleven months ago, has decided, finally, that I might just do. Up until recently she has sniffed and tried to search out her old people. These photos are not Gracie Allen! Gracie is a tiny long haired Chihuahua...No this is Brutus is a good guess ?? Dunno...just met him today on our walk. He about choked himself trying to get a sniffer of Gracie Allen. His snorting was something I am not sure I could live with although what a sweet doll baby big dog he was. I bent over to pet him to show Gracie he was alright...ya right, he is twenty four times bigger than she is at which point she looked at me like, "Are you for real?" And he looked at me like, "Outta my way Mama!" So I took the bull by the back and decided to give the big guy a massage. Down his back my fingers ran...you know let your fingers do the talkin...it worked. That old boy just moaned and sat right on down! I asked his mastress (humm is there such a word?) if he had ever had a massage. She was in awe and said, "No." I continued to do his back and shoulder blades and neck. No I am not odd... That dog was massage toast...done...needed to lay down. Mastress commented on how she couldn't believe it.

Why not? They have a back bone and muscles and there are doggie chiropractors. Maybe I should go into doggie massage and then again maybe not. These are before and after pics of the big boy..... Cool huh and all from a stressful day. I just gave out what I needed. Besides that sloppy tongue...no thanks on any doggie kisses. Bet when I see Brutus next time he'll look at me and not Gracie...LOL
























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Where Did All the Steeples Go?

When is the last time you saw a beautiful peaceful "Steeple" standing out across the city or the countryside offering you great beauty and pleasure and peace while you were driving for pleasure or peace or business? Me either. The old highways are now Interstates and the old Steeples are now hidden on the countries back roads. Maybe its sort of like an analogy of the way our lives have taken some turns. Corporations and government seem to be in the forefront and the middle class and poor are hidden on the back roads. Not that we don't drive the Interstates, but we don't see the steeples from there, and we have been placed in the background until Nov. 4th that is. Oh this isn't funny or fun to talk about. So, changing the subject. I went shopping today. Stood in one of those three mirror dressing rooms and freaked. Why, because! Everyone freaks in those rooms unless they are in their 20's and perfect. Then I put my clothes back on and I was fine again. Bet that hasn't happened to anyone whether in a dressing room or any room for that matter! I discovered I was wearing size 12 and 14 jeans/slacks when I need 8 and 10's. That sort of renewed my day even though it was late in the day. Better late than never they say. And hungry again. Not really hungry, just a little so. Now I shall intercede by telling how I used to enjoy driving from one small town to another while searching for my insurance clients homes, and even on to the big cities seeing an occasional Steeple, which brought me back to the basic and good reality of Love one another. You know, back to the old re-memories...."Here's the Church, here's the Steeple, Open the doors and see all the Peoples!" And then Mom would wiggle all her fingers like they were a bunch of people. Funny, silly and wonderful. I wonder if the new generation shows their children the Open the doors and see the Steeple People. I hope so. I sure miss those Steeples. They were like reminders of what we all need in life. Peace and the hope of a higher power to help us through whether on an interstate or a back road, whether a Republican or a Democrat, whether a corporate Egor or a homeless person... The Steeples are missing from the "Interstates"/Life. Interstates connect people...but so do Steeples. Maybe funny will come back to me by tomorrow....

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