"You only have what you give..."
Sunday, 08 November 2009
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The Will
I think I have lost my will to blog.
That worries me.
I mean, it really really worries me.
I have so much going on and yet the words aren't there to tell you about it.
Maybe I am using them all up on NaNoWriMo? According to my word count, you can't tell it tho
Maybe I have used them up over lunches with old friends and silly fortune cookies:
"In the near future, you will discover how fortunate you are.'
As we go around the table and read them aloud, we are held to the rules of the game to add the words "in bed" to our fortunes. They cause so much laughter, other patrons turn and stare and at least one from our table makes a hasty retreat for the ladies room. Encouraged by our shennigans, our waiter brings us another round of cookies "on the house" and the riot starts all over again.
Patrons from other tables lean in and join the fun and soon there is a run on fortune cookies and half the restaurant is wheezing and redfaced.
Who knew a group of middle aged women could cause such a riot in a small Chinese restaurant?
Yes, maybe I used them all there.
Maybe I think all the good words are used up. Does that happen? Sometimes when I read your blog or your emails, I think you got all the good words and I was too late ...yet again. Is that possible?
Maybe, I think most of all; I am just tired.
There is a novel to write, a baby to be born, a granddog to sit, hospitals to visit and chickens to be fed.
Those thoughts weary me, but I am holding steadfast to my fortune:
"In the near future, you will discover how fortunate you are."
In bed or not.
I believe.
I'll find those words somewhere.
I know I will.
I'll be back.
Monday, 02 November 2009
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I Love My Friends
My friends love me
In the past week I have received these as unexpected surprises:
The 'Studs n Spurs' calendar was the first surprise, given to me by my friend Angela. She invited me over for lunch and when I arrived, I noticed a casually dropped Hastings bag on the table. Angela motioned to it and said, "You have a present".
I opened it up and a huge smile lit up my face.
"Oh H*** yeah!"
"I thought you would like that. It just screamed for me to buy it for you."
I'm so glad Angela hears these things
You will also note the Purple Cowboy wine. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm willing to bet the crazy heifer knows her stuff. Bless her heart.
Today, the last surprise came. The cutest little book called Pig Gets Stuck. My favourite Marsha sent that to me along with the cute bookmark. Inside was scribbled a quick note to tell me she saw that right after my last post about getting stuck in the chicken coop door. For some odd reason, it reminded her of me.
Go figure
Thank you all. You brighten my day and make me laugh.
Next time, lunch is on me. Just let me get my calendar and pencil you in.
It may take awhile
Currently
Studs 'N Spurs 2009 Calendar
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Friday, 30 October 2009
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Being Holy
*This was originally written for intomylens for her series on Halloween and the Holy Days. You will find it there as well as here today. Just for blue, I have added the prayer in latin coz I know she digs that)
By the time October has reached its dissolution, the cold and the wet will have found its way to this end of Texas.
This is a place where Summer does not flaunt her good-byes, she simply leaves. There is no spectacular display of cross-dressing trees nor have they tossed any bright swirling confetti in the yards or down the street as a requiem.
Things here turn brown.
Die.
Fall.
And the rain and cold slither in.
It is one of my favourite times of year.
We are Irish-the whole lot of us-and the grasp of death and rebirth are sewn into the fiber of our being. We do not need a calendar to know when things end or where they begin.
We know.
Our heritage tells us it's a time souls and spirits come a little closer to earth and the Church that my family has belonged to for generation upon generation, acknowledges that; as best they can, in All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2). It is a time of remembering and giving thanks and asking for blessings upon the upcoming year.
Precisely it is a time to honour Saints of the Church, but in our family-and most any other, if we are honest- it is our beloved, deceased family and friends are the ones we think of.
Holy Days of Opportunity.
No matter how noble, illustrious or long-suffering, what Saint of the Church could compare with the memory of a beloved grandmother patiently teaching a curious child the magic of flour, sugar and eggs in a drafty kitchen? The grandfather who conjured a fish from the dancing water with only a pale line and wiggly worm? The elderly neighbor who painstakingly taught tonedeaf and stubborn children piano or let them play on her lawn even though the park was right down the street?
Those are our Saints.
Those are days that Love rises in the cold wet and reaches beyond the dark and the dirt and goes straight to the ear of God. Psalms and blessings are sung, candles are lit and sadness and joy are offered up to beseech our Lord and God.
"Gloria Patri, et Filio et
Spriitui Sancto, Sicut erat in principio,
et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.
Amen"
Be a blessing to someone.
These are your Holy Days of Opportunity.
Be remembered.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
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Chicago and Saintvi
I love Chicago.
I really do.
Despite being hit so hard with icy wind I fell into a lamp post and got a goose egg.
Despite those &*^$#! revolving doors.
Despite the serious lack of Dr Pepper anywhere ...I love Chicago.
And most of all, I loved it not just because it's a great place to be, but because great things come to those who wait. In my case, not only did Wendybird come, but also our own notorious Saintvi who dragged brought along her friend Carol.
I got a text while they were on the train coming in asking to meet me at the Columbus statue. Squinting out my hotel window, I could make it out and readily agreed. (If you look far to the left of the picture it's over that way:
It was about the same place I crossed the police line just a couple of days before (I not only crossed the police line, but took a picture of it first. No wonder the cop was to ticked off), so I didn't think it would be a big deal.
The big green area is Grant Park and it goes on and on and on for a long, long way. The original idea was to do some geocaching there.
However ...I had been running on caffeine and adrenaline for two and a half days and no little sleep. I was not only seriously dragging, but the wind and the cold coming off the lake was getting to me. I was in no shape to geocache.
Melinda quickly sized up the situation and suggested the aquarium. Yessssssssss! Warm tropical breezes and pretty fishes completely appealed to me and I quickly agreed. By the time we got there I was huddled against Melinda and whimpering. To make matters worse, the aquarium was closed.
For the next two days.
WTH? Did someone not tell these people I was in town?? I mean really ...how could I miss going in a place that has this statue out in front?
To be fair, it also had this:
But it was closed, so who cares?
Melinda, quickly sensing a meltdown was about to occur, went to plan C-the planetarium. But where the heck was it?
Whipping out her trusty GPS (which I have decided I really need), we quickly plotted a path and made a beeline for the planetarium (which I might mention is also off the &^%^%# lake). It had this in front just in case you needed the time.
There is a little plaque at the bottom telling you how to figure it all out, but I just checked my cell phone. I'm a simple girl, what can I say?
Inside (blessedly inside where it was warm and toasty), we picked out our shows. It was not as easy as it sounded and we were struggling with decisions when the guide mentioned one was narrated by Robert Redford. That did it for us and the three of us chimed in together "That one!".
Yes, we are that shallow-Carl Sagan we ain't.
At that point, I didn't even mind forking out $$ for it. It was worth it to be in the warmth and out of the wind.
Oh yeah, and sitting in nifty chairs that have these:
and getting to look like this:
You will notice I have discreetly edited Melinda out. Trust me, she looks just as nerdy as I do and for the right amount of chocolate and cash, you too can see the whole picture.
I can be bought.
Just so you know.
After that I wanted to see the Navy Pier. Everyone had recommended it and it seemed the next logical thing to do. Not only that, but it involved a cab ride and I didn't have to fool with bus schedules.
Did I mention I was tired?
The Navy Pier was awesome. Even out of season and with little to go on, it was still incredible.
I quickly spotted the atrium. Where there is an atrium, there is warmth.
Make it so Number One.
Melinda and Carol thought all the tropical plants were wonderful-and they were, but I see them all the time so I have to admit, I wasn't as impressed.
Being warm, I was impressed with.
See the little shooting streams of water? Those were really pretty cool, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not reach them.
And I did try.
Most of the Pier's activities are scheduled and located outside around the marina and were closed. We did venture outside and take a few pics, but that didn't last long. I had already spotted the Bubba Gump sign and decided we were going in!
Bless their hearts, they were the only place in town that carries Dr Pepper!
Melinda and Carol had other ideas tho.
Uh huh. That ain't no Dr. Pepper.
And there are twinkly lights in the bottom of that glass too.
And I don't know if there was tequila in it or not, but I got to eat the worm
After our huge plate of appetizers, we decided to share a dessert. A big chocolate chip cookie with tons of ice cream and caramel and chocolate syrup and whipped cream and ...well you get the idea.
Anyway, we decided to share till it actually came to the table.
Then something possessed me:
I took complete advantage of Melinda's drunken state slow reflexes and got piggy.
Ok, I really did share.
But not much.
On the way back to the hotel, we wandered thru Grant Park into what youandwhosarmy described as 'walking crotches'. I turned around just in time to see Melinda taking a picture of one of the crotches
WTH??
Turns out that in her inebriated keen state of mind, she had zeroed in on a cocoon or cobwebs of some sort in the crotch and decided a picture was in order.
For the record, this is HER picture and yes, she was standing about that close.
Sadly, all good things come to an end and it was time for them to go much too soon.
I hope next time, we do get to see the aquarium and play on Navy Pier and geocache.
And there WILL be a next time
Currently
Forrest Gump
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Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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The Windy City
I am in Chicago
Yes, the country mouse is in the big (windy) city and loving every minute of it.
Wendybird came over on the train yesterday and met me. I looked up and she was practically bouncing all the way across the crosswalk, grinning from ear to ear when she saw me. I would of met her half way, but I had already been in trouble once by the traffic cop and I could of sworn his eyes narrowed when he realized wendybird was coming to meet me. He could just envision what the rest of his day was going to look like.
So we set off!
No plans, just flying by the seat of our pants (as my friend Debra says, that's the best way when you leave your broomstick at home
).
We caught the tail end of the Columbus Day parade, got whistled at by a traffic cop (not in a good way), crossed a police line (might of had something to do with it) and then ended up at the Field Museum.
Here there be pirates!
and they weren't kidding-they were everywhere!
One could even ride the ptyerdactyl!
And remember Night at the Museum? We got to meet Sue!
We wandered Grant Park:
Can you see Wendybird? She was trying to sneak a shot of me while I was trying to do the same
I had my first train ride (you will notice everyone around me is pretending not to notice me-check out the girl behind me-lol!):
For dinner, we went to Giordanos-it was AMAZING!
Now, see that revovling door? There are a lot of those in this town.
The problem is, I'm not used to them.
So, in one of my finer and more touristy moments ...I got stuck in it.
This little place is in the middle of a plaza with tall, tall building all around. I admit, I was looking up and gawking and not really paying attention. I was just sort of following Wendybird out of the corner of my eye.
I followed her into the door.
She didn't realize we were in the same panel and shoved the door to go in. This caused the back panel to whack me soundly on the back and squish me in between the door and frame.
It caused Wendybird to stop so abruptly it squished her face on the glass causing momentary confusion, discomfort and turning around to see just what the heck I was doing.
We got me unwedged and both of us literally tumbled out of the door on the inside, laughing.
The girl at the desk was trying to keep a straight face and said, "Table for two?" (I caught her rolling her eyes as she turned around)
Needless to say, she led us to the very back of the restuarant and seated us there.
At that point we decided we'd better text hatsie and make sure he really did have the bail money.
I got this text back:
Basically it says he not only has the bail money but the name of a good lawyer...just in case.
The last words are: "Party on girls!"
I can't wait to see what Day 2 brings!
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
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Meeting the One Who Sows the Seeds
I got to meet Beth.
When she and her mom were on their southern tour, I twisted her arm (just a bit) and talked her into coming this way. I knew she was coming to Houston to see Dan, so I figured she'd be up to meeting anybody.
There was just one problem.
I live in College Station.
Which means unless you want to see Texas A&M or the George Bush Library (both of which I think are pretty great), there really is nothing to see or do here.
So I came up with a plan.
I would rent us a cabin out in the middle of the Hill Country on the Guadelupe River and we could roam.
It turned out fabulous (except for one little part about meeting up at Ace Hardware-apparently I didn't clarify the specific town, so we both were in the right place, just the wrong town. Minor details.)
This was our cabin (well, the outside of it anyway):
and this was our balcony:
Pretty sweet, huh?
And over the balcony, we saw this:
See that ridge up behind the river? Late that night a full moon came out over that ridge.
Just for us
We roamed the shops in Wimberley, first stopping at the cafe to have lunch. Ma had catfish which I would later find out, was her staple item for whole tour!
Don't you just love the decor?
After our meal, we took a stroll around the square and I showed them some of the local wildlife:
As far as I know, these are native to the Wimberley area, but are available for purchase, so it's possible you might see them elsewhere.
After the scenic route, I took them to my favourite cowboy/girl shops were Beth got some pretty nifty pictures and I got to try on some snazzy boots and pants. I had a lot to pick from:
These were my fav's tho:
While I was busy with boots, Beth was checking out the dresses:
Of course, a girl has to have earrings to go with the pretty new dress:
Beth and I both got lots of pictures and had a really good day in Wimberley. Later we went back to the cabin and Beth let me pick out some of her beautiful photographs and made cards for me. She also let me pick two of my favourite photos of hers as an 8X10 and framed them for me. I was so thrilled and had more fun digging thru her pictures than you can imagine!
And she brought me pickles!
Which we opened that night and had with our supper. The best pickles ever!
Later we retired to the balcony which I had lined with little votive candles (I went and unscrewed every single cabin's porch light too so not to mess with our candle light!) and Beth and I sat and talked and talked. When the moon came up, Beth took her camera and got shots of the moon. (Unlike her visit to a certain other xangan's place, we did not stay up half the night swilling blackberry wine-mostly because I forgot to get any-opps!) I have no idea how long we stayed up talking, but before bed she painted my fingernails and gave me my very own xanga t-shirt! I was so thrilled, I slept in it! (uhh ...sorry, no pics of that)
Since she had come all this way and done so much, I figured the least I could do was set the table for breakfast:
I brought her and ma two of my tea cups from my collection and two hand embroidered tea towels with a vintage pattern. (I made her promise not to ever show anyone the backside, so no one knows how bad my needlework is!)
The next day, we headed to Gruene (in the rain) and got to eat at The Gristmill:
Those onion rings are awesome!
I got to show her the oldest dance hall in Texas:
After that, we wandered the little shops there where I found some pretty cool signs:
Where was that last one when I was a teenager? I needed that!
Any my fav spot on the wall:
And then ...they left.
Our visit wasn't nearly long enough, but I knew they had other places to go and other xangans to see. We agreed the next time they come, I'm meeting them up in west Texas and they'll see the Texas I grew up with and know what real cowboys are.
I'm so glad you came Beth and Mildred (Ma). I missed you sorely after you left.
Ya'll come back.
Currently
Happy Trails: The Roy Rogers Collection, 1937-1990
By Roy Rogers
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Sunday, 27 September 2009
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So ...
Due to a great stroke of luck and the generosity of my sister, yours truly will be heading to the windy city in a couple of weeks.
Yup.
I'm going to Chicago!!
This will be my version of country mouse goes to the big city. I will have four days to roam and explore.
So my questions are: what should I do? Where should I go? What should I see?
Keep in mind three things:
1.) I will be by myself for these excursions, so don't take me off where I might get mugged.
2.) I will have a very limited supply of money, so most of this must be free.
3.) I cannot get tickets to Oprah, the show is sold out thru the month of October. I checked.
Oh yes ...and the most important question of all...who wants a postcard?
Currently
Chicago
By Various Artists
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Monday, 14 September 2009
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Stuck
The rains have finally come.
As if to make up for the months of no rain, it has come steady for days. Some times in drizzly, spitting fits, sometimes in gushing downpours.
But, it has come.
Which has brought some interesting challenges.
One of which was getting into the chicken coop.
I have your basic, standard wooden door on the chicken coop. Even has a window on it, which I thought was a nice touch and gives me the chance to glance in and check on them before rounding the side and scaring the bejeezus out of them (which I have been known to do). Holding this in is a nice wooden frame, which brings us back to one of the challenges.
Getting the door open after it rains.
I headed out there yesterday afternoon with my hands full. Chick starter, layer pellets, hay and watermelon rinds. I shifted everything over to one hand and grabbed the knob, turned and pushed.
Nothing.
I gave it a hard shove and it gave a bit, but seemed to be soundly stuck up at the top somewhere. I shoved again.
It gave again at the bottom, but not the top.
By now I was really annoyed and it had started sprinkling again. I moved everything over to my other hand, grabbed the knob, turned and threw my hip into it as hard as I could go.
The door didn't open, but it shifted enough at the bottom that I could squeeze thru.
I fed the chickens, arranged the hay, checked on the babies and tossed the rinds over for the geese and rooster.
Feeling satisfied that was taken care of, I headed for the door, noticing the wind had picked up again and the clouds were getting darker. I was pretty certain I could make it back to the house before the hard rain came.
Except I couldn't get the door open.
I yanked on the knob and pulled the door. The bottom part opened a bit, but not enough for me to get out. I put both hands on the knob and yanked as hard as I could.
Nothing.
By now the chickens were coming to see what was going on, because no matter what they are doing, what I am doing is always more interesting. I have no idea why. And of course, I didn't have my cell phone on me to call and get one of the punks to come rescue me. Challenges. Did I mention that?
I grabbed the knob again with both hands and braced one foot up by the door jam. I yanked as hard as I could. The bottom pulled open enough for me to swing my leg thru, then force the top half of my torso through. Which presented the next challenge.
My butt was stuck.
Seriously stuck. I was wedged in that door, and thanks to my big butt and my super duper undrerwire power bra, I couldn't back out either.
And the chickens were getting out.
And it started to rain.
Really, really rain.
Did I mention challenges?
So I am stuck in the door of the chicken coop, half in, half out, soaked to the skin, cussing chickens in every language I know and wondering how and when I am ever going to get out. And I would be there still except one of the punks finally walked out (under an umbrella) and surveyed the problem.
"How did you know something was wrong?" I asked her.
"I looked out the window and saw wet chickens running across the yard laughing. And then I heard you cussing so I was pretty sure something wasn't right."
"I don't think the chickens laugh."
"These were."
And so I was rescued.
The punk kicked the door open and freed me. And just to complete the experience, I got to chase down chickens in the rain.
I'm thinking chicken soup for dinner. I'll save you a bowl.
Sunday, 06 September 2009
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10 Things I Believe
Because I got nothing else.
1.) I believe if I stand at the fridge and drink milk out of the carton I will not turn into a guy.
2.) I believe 'badassery' is a excellent word.
3.) I believe at just the right time, a 9mm can make a pretty good fashion statement.
4.) I believe leather and lace go together really well.
5.) I believe you can't have too many books.
6.) I believe that horse sweat, hay and leather can calm the roughest days.
7.) So can fishing.
8.) Then again, so can a good cocktail dress.
9.) I believe in the poetry of love.
10.) I believe you're the best person I know.
Saturday, 05 September 2009
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The Longest Month
I think the month of Hell is slowly winding down.
A front came thru this last week, and while there was fierce winds and lots of huffing and puffing from Mother Nature, no rain came of it.
But ...the night before the full moon, the temps dropped. I think that night we actually went down to the 80's.
With the rise of the sun it was nothing but a sweet memory, but it was enough.
Yesterday the girls mentioned the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations were out in the stores along side the back to school supplies. Once the school stuff is gone, they will be front and center.
I have mixed feelings about that.
Of course, part of me is appalled and wants to shake my fist at the corporate greed, but the other part is always secretly pleased. It means that while I cannot see it or feel it yet, the seasons will change.
In my part of the world our summer is divided into two sections; Summer and Hell. Summer hits by mid April and by mid June we are in Full Fledged Hell. We will stay there until the end of September when the rains come and true glimpses of Fall can be seen. In the meantime, I content myself with store displays.
September is always the month of Hurry Up to me. Or in more practical terms, the month of Always Behind. (I am not called k8tthelate for nothing you know). Deadlines for school came much sooner than I thought as did that pesky monthly banking fee that is not in my checking account and I am surprised to find the chicken feed is almost out. My birthday has come and gone and when a card arrived from my sister proclaiming "Congratulations! You're half way there!" one of the punks snorted and said "Half way to what? Infinity?"
Sometimes I wonder.
Sometimes September lingers forever.
Good things come too...on Tuesday, Beth (seedsower) and her mom will visit. We will be out on the Guadalupe and immersing ourselves in the 'river culture' and taking in the charm of that is the Hill Country. I have yet to mention there will be no internet and probably no cell phone service. Think I should?
If you are near us, you come too.
Happy long weekend everyone
Currently
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time
By Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin
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Kater's Playlist
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k8tthelate
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- Name: k8t
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 9/5/2004
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About Me
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The kindest person on the planet-or so I'm told. I like to read/study, paint/draw and create. I would rather have roses on my table than diamonds around my neck. I long for summer mornings and winter nights, the sound of rain on the roof and the chance to sit before an open fire...blessings. So many blessings....
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NaNoWriMo anyone?
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tylenol is my friend today. jeez I hate cold fronts! It sucks being old :(
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has noticed all her best recipes start with "melt two sticks of butter ..."
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