...across the room to outsmart a cat...

Occasionally I am privileged to look after a friends cat when she is away and this week is a week I get to be so privileged!

That's the culprit, I mean the cat, in the picture, acting, I mean giving me that best friend, pet me kind of look.

I have to admit I do not understand cats.  Dogs are so expressive.  Cats, not so much!  They CAN be.  If they want to.   Not in that waggy tail, tongue hanging out the mouth, licking everything in site kind of way.

This cat goes to the back door when I come in the front and fully expects that I will hurry sufficiently to open the door in a timely manner for him to check out the neighbourhood.  He takes his sweet time getting out the door (apparently I need to learn a little patience!) and then disappears.  When his owner is home it's usually a twenty minute absence but when I'm waiting for him to return it could be twenty minutes or if one hour strikes his fancy then no amount of calling will bring him back sooner.   It doesn't matter that I'm wearing out my shoes running back and forth to see if he's decided to saunter home yet.  He comes when he wants to come.

I don't know why I'm always so glad to see him at the door when I go to check but my heart just sings when I see him there waiting for me to let him in.  It just means he's safe and I can sleep at night!

Once inside, once again, at his own pace,  he looks up at me and I understand instinctively what he is saying.  "There's a space on the couch for you to sit so I can lay down beside me so you can pet me and scratch me for as long as I need you to" and I once again, do exactly as He dictates.  Sometimes I like to take a break which he interprets as reneging on my supposed commitment and that results in some type of bullying tactics.  If getting his head under my hand and butting it into action doesn't work he jumps up beside me and butts my chest!!  He even tries purring sweet nothings in my ear when he gets really touch deprived!   Arching his back, purring, pressing against me and licking my hands are his way of expressing himself and for the most part I think we understand each other.  OK, I understand him.  He does not get my schedule one bit!!

So once again today, he called the shots, came home after an hour or more, I did my duties as his cat masseuse and when he raised his hind leg straight up in the air and started cleaning THAT anatomy I got up, went home and will be back in the morning for some further abuse!

Man do I love that cat!

...across the room to make a list.....

It just seems to be the right time of year to make a list. Maybe it's because of Valentine's Day, or that February is Heart Month, or that I am so looking forward to spending a week away with my husband that my heart is filled with gratitude and thoughts of love, good times and good things, or it could be that the self centered, rude, annoying bride on TV that I can't imagine anyone wanting to marry makes me so grateful for my life. I felt like making a list of some of the stuff that I like, love, puts a smile on my face, brings me joy.... here it is....in no particular order..... and definitely a condensed version :)

my husband

babies

perfume

perogies

my life

duets

baths

Prada

coffee

good conversation

stars

Jesus

bread

spontaneity

pure soap

quiet

senior citizens

white sheets

Arbonne make-up primer

grandbabies

candles

laughs

cotton

rings

children

city lights

Jane Austin

Christmas

my home made laundry detergent

Bible

trees

Mom's notes to me

puppies

bra-less at home

ideas

lotion

mountains

laugh lines

daughter time

uninterrupted sleep

red

Doc Martin

architecture

Easter

friends

clean scents

good writing

French accent

my house

yoga pants

my bathroom chandelier

chocolate

jokes

learning

shoes that fit

spa days

My Harley

forgiveness

art

humor

walks

a finished project

red rock

God

...across the room to wrap up an amazing day....

Some days are just so amazing in every way. Yesterday I thought to myself I really needed to be more scheduled in order to get things done around here. It didn't happen. I find it difficult to schedule a hopelessly spontaneous soul (that would be me!). It is possible for a short time and then suddenly I feel like I'm suffocating and the schedule gets tossed out the window. Thankfully I forgot to get out my dusty schedule thingy yesterday making this day totally spontaneous!

I felt my energy the minute I woke up and knew immediately this day would be extraordinary. Starting the day off with two slices of yummy toast topped with some good cheese and a delicious strong cup of coffee got me started on the right foot. An encouraging inspirational reading about gratitude and a thankful heart in every situation prepared me further for my day. It was easy to thank God for a friend to walk with in the morning all the way to a downtown coffee shop where we shared a fresh cinnamon bun, YES, WITH butter, and freshly brewed cups of coffee. On our way downtown we walked past a neighbours house and noticed the front door was open and that one of their two dogs was outside, following us until we persuaded him to go back home. We were surprised to see nothing had changed when we walked past the house again an hour later. It disturbed me enough to call my next door neighbour to come with me to investigate further. We rang the door bell, called loudly to see if anyone was inside while the dog inside the house barked furiously and the other dog jumped on us barking and growling all the while. Finally I decided to call the police. While we waited for them to arrive we had to keep chasing the more adventurous of the two dogs back into the house! The police investigated the home and found no one there. It would seem the door was not properly latched allowing our gale force winds today to blow it open. Apparently it was their second call of the day where this had happened.

Had I made up a schedule yesterday it would have most likely had me out and about picking up a new tube of toothpaste so I wouldn't have to keep using my husband's toothpaste; a trip to the post office; doing some church duties I need to get done before the end of the month; catching up with some reading I need to get done for next week; and the list goes on! Instead I started cleaning my bathroom, decided to do a really thorough job this time including washing walls, bathing the tree that's been collecting dust in one corner, cleaning light fixtures, dusting shelves and putting up my nice red towels I use only during the Christmas season. Since I had my ladder out anyway I decided to move into our bedroom to dust everything I can't reach any other way; bathed the plant on top of my armoire since I was up there dusting anyway; vacuumed the baseboards, floors and anything else that was attached to something and unable to get sucked into a vacuum hose. Then I opened my closet doors and began purging, continuing in the armoire. Two full large garbage bags later it still looked like very little had been removed from my closet. My armoire now looks orderly enough not to be embarrassed should I need to open it with someone looking over my shoulder! My closets are another story.

By this time I was shakey and somewhat dizzy (after all, when is the last time I've been up and down a ladder 37 times or hanging upside down to get every speck of dust visible to the naked eye!) I grabbed a quick sandwich and finished the last of the coffee I made this morning. Of course it was cold. And VERY ......... not good! But it was wet and didn't steal precious minutes needed to continue whatever I decided I would like to do next. What I decided to do next was vacuum the rest of the baseboards in the house, the brick on the fireplace, venetians, and again, anything permanently attached that couldn't get sucked up by a vacuum. I continued my obsessiveness throughout the TV room, kitchen and eating area ending up in the laundry room. My obsessive compulsive kick got me sticking the hose between the washer and the wall and that is when I heard that sound that nobody wants to hear where the end of the hose suddenly goes deafeningly quiet and the pitch from the unit in the furnace room suddenly sounds like a screaming cat in heat. When my husband came home I met him at the door with "how do you know whether something is stuck in the hose or in the pipes of the vacuum system?" (well that was after he told me how nice I looked in the bright teal blue top I was wearing :)

There is not one article of clothing in the laundry baskets (although there are probably 13 shirts waiting to be ironed!); I had a home made pizza in the freezer for our movie night at home so neither of us had to go pick one up somewhere across the city; and I just simply feel like WONDER WOMAN with a permanent smile on her face today! All because I just followed my instincts and for a change did what I just simply felt like doing!

Some days are just simply more amazing than others!

...across the room to share my poem...

Ode To Menopause

It seems absurd

the things I do

mistakes I make

to name a few

I laugh and blame

it on my “roots”

when shoes don’t match

or was it my boots?

The thing is this

it’s not that bad

until the FLUSH

turns my body red

and makes me feel

like hitting and biting

kicking and screaming

yelling and fighting

the stresses of life

are deadly for me

soaked to the bone

even behind my knees

take a few pills

is the advice I get

how would they know

I’ld be filled with regret

zombie filled days

don’t turn my crank

I’ll deal with the sweat

to be quite frank

just hand me a kleenex

no, make that a towel

when you see the beads

running down to my jowls

soaking my clothes

from the sweat of my brow

I’m having a moment

don’t touch me, NOT NOW!

...across the room to admit my condition....

The evening was so beautiful my husband and I decided to go for a nice long walk following an early dinner and movie tonight.

I thought it was warm enough to wear my fancy red STRETCH WALKER sandals I bought last year that I never had a chance to wear in. Every time I wore these sandals last summer the strap would rub on my ankle bone, or the bottom of my fibula malleolus, the lateral bone of my ankle! Don't ask!

Remembering the aggravation this footwear caused me all summer and wanting desperately to be able to wear them this year since I paid an arm and a leg for them I came up with what I thought was a great solution to my problem. I decided I could insert an insole into each sandal that would lift my foot enough to give the ankle bone a little extra height and give me a chance to wear them in!

We headed out for our walk downtown enjoying the fresh air, scenery, and the people along the way. Conversation on our walks varies a lot and today we seemed to cover many topics. For some time now I've been trying to come up with an interesting personal licence plate for my Harley. We discussed whether I wanted the plate to describe me or just simply say something unique, funny or interesting. I said if I were to choose a plate that would describe me it would have to say something about my "blonde roots". As a brunette I just simply have entirely too many "blonde moments"! That's when it happened! AGAIN!

We were on our way back home when I told my husband I had a pebble in my shoe that I needed to get out. He looked down at my feet and said "Well, that's not all that's coming out of your shoes!" I looked down only to find what you are seeing on this picture! My insoles were working their way out of my shoes and were flopping behind me with each step I took! A teenage girl with a big smile on her face had just passed us on her bicycle. I remember thinking she must be enjoying this beautiful evening just as much as we were! We had a good laugh as I instinctively yanked the insoles from my sandals! As we continued our walk I told my husband I had been thinking people were smiling at me because they were admiring my pretty Harley T-Shirt :)

Since today is Mother's Day I thought I needed to post this little story in honor of my mother who would have such a great laugh at my blonde moment. She would relate because she had them as well. The good thing was that she shared these moments with me so we could enjoy a good laugh together. I guess I inherited my condition from her. Happy Mother's Day in heaven Mom. Have a laugh on me today!!

..across the room to write a poem.....

There are days I wish spell check on computers had never been invented! It drives me crazy. So here is my way of venting about it!!

There seams two bee a problem

with my spelling re cent lee

My knew Macintosh computer

thinks it nose bet her than me!

The men it eye start typing

it under lions my words

Two let me no I’m wrong a gain

end my writing is four the birds!

Eye real he can knot quiet bee leave

How this ma sheen can sea

The men knot eye slip up

end right an oh in sted of a pea!

Sum daze this knew ma sheen are re

seams two in true sieve four me

end eye wood glad lee go back

two pen, end pay purr from a tree!

Bee four these mod darn annoy an says

Miss steaks were rare four me

Butt now it seams to Finnish align

takes an eat urn it tea!

...across the room for some sillyness....

Ever receive gifts at Christmas time you just don't like? Need help knowing how to respond to the giver of the gift. Here are a few ideas I came across via the internet last night....hope they help you out this year! You could try saying:

1. If I had not recently shot up four sizes, that would've fit.

2. What a shame if the garbage man ever accidentally took this

3. Perfect for wearing in the basement.

4. Well, well, well...

5. I really don't deserve this.

6. I hope this never catches fire!

7. Love it, but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.

8. If the dog buries this, I'll be furious!

9. To think I got this the year I vowed to give all my gifts to charity.

....across the room to share Mexico with you....

A few weeks ago I did something I have never done before. Most of my vacationing has been on my motorbike, touring across the countryside, relaxing in a different hotel every night and covering a lot of territory in the span of two to four weeks at a time. This year I decided to join my sister-in-law on a tropical get away to PV, Mexico. Since we had never travelled together and since I had never been to Mexico or any resort, I decided one week would be long enough for me. My husband suggested I book this trip through AMA because if anything happened to me (like the aircraft disappearing into the ocean!) he would get a good amount of insurance! Always the jokester! Everybody won because I hooked up with the BEST travel agent ever. She seemed to understand what I was after and found the perfect package for me. The perfect package was a 5 Star Riu all inclusive resort. Nothing to worry about...everything done for you! I should add here that I have never gone on vacation alone...at least not something like this. I have travelled alone extensively but not to a vacation spot. I've always vacationed with my husband who looks after all the details! That's a loaded sentence, really! I've been so spoiled by having my doors opened for me, meals paid, packages carried, elevator buttons pushed, and the list goes on. In other words, I am married to a real gentleman!

I used the park 'n fly to store my car for the week and got a ride to the airport hotel attached to the airport where we had booked a room for a few hours. We had to be at the airport by 3:30 AM! The next morning as we were getting ready to go through security I realized that I was on my way to Mexico without my prescription sunglasses which I had left in my car. A great start to my holiday! I knew I'ld be shopping for a hat almost immediately!

I am so embarrassed about those poor bell boys! Once they took charge of my bags I forgot all about them. They carried all that extra poundage we had to pay a total of $130 to even be allowed on the plane and I forgot all about the tip! Shame on me! My mind was completely occupied and focused on hanging on to my passport, tickets, carry on bag and purse and not lose my traveling companion.

My husband says it doesn't matter what building we are in, when we walk out the door or get out of the elevator I turn left! For me LEFT is RIGHT! With no one to guide me I cannot tell you how many times I had the two of us taking the long way around to where we really wanted to be! We were given strange looks in the elevator when neither of us selected the floor we wanted to go to. My most embarrassing moment had to be trying to get used to Mexican currency. I insulted a waiter by leaving a miniscule tip, realizing what I did, handing him another bill that only added insult to injury, all the while thinking I was being really generous! SO EMBARRASSING!

If you've been to Mexico you will know that many of their buildings are built without any windows and as few walls as possible. This includes restaurants. Those of you who know me well know of my debilitating bird phobia and my embarrassing habit of ducking and sometimes yelling as a bird flies by me a bit too close for my comfort. You can only imagine my discomfort at the dining room table with birds circling around above me on the fans, sitting on the backs of chairs, eyeing my food, probably wondering when I'ld ever leave and whether I would leave something on my plate for them! Shudder! As I was para sailing two pelicans were circling around me causing me a little anxiety as well! Those birds are bigger than birds need be!

Out of necessity I did learn where every bathroom on the resort was without taking the long way around! Let me just say I was thankful for a good memory!

What a learning experience for me! I must ago again so I can prove to myself that I can learn to be a generous, independent, responsible tourist! It won't be an all inclusive next time. I think I'm just too adventurous for that type of vacation though I probably need the protection and security!!

Muchas Gracias for a great learning experience and a few hours of sun Mexico!

...a walk across the room for a sticky situation...

What's in a name? I think we all like to hear our name. Who would want to be referred to as "hey you" or even worse. Someone I used to know always called his father by his first name and it was done in a demeaning tone of voice accompanied by a snicker. There wasn't much love between them and yet I saw the hurt in the Dad's eyes. I feel for people who have names for which the meaning seems to have changed over the years. In some case, rather derogatory meanings for names that used to be just simply normal.

So this is the problem. I have a friend who has one of those names she feels ashamed of and so to avoid embarrassment, snickers, snide remarks she has changed her name and asked her family and friends to call her by her new name. Mostly I'm not in favour of people constantly changing their names but I really do see her point and understand her reasoning. The issue is that a few of her friends just simply refuse to call her by her new name. I don't understand why a person you love would not call you by the name they know you prefer. So I thought I would do a little survey to see what my fellow bloggers think about this. You could email privately or respond on this blog. How do you think she should handle this situation? I think she is slowly losing respect for these few people she once loved to be around and I can't say I blame her.

...across the room to walk.....

SHOES!  Have you tried buying a good pair of shoes lately?  I have wasted so much money on shoes in my life time it's downright shameful!  Been there, done that, when it comes to high heels and pointy toes and trying to fool people into believing "they're so COMFORTABLE I could shop in them all day"!  Let's face it.  Forcing your feet into a shoe shaped anything other than your foot is not comfortable and I have been the queen of uncomfortable shoes for many years.  I remember a few years ago being given a beautiful pair of black, pink and white heels by a friend who was moving away.  They looked great on my feet and with one particular outfit I had.  I was speaking to a group of women one day and decided to wear those very high heels with my special outfit.  Before I got up to speak they had a podiatrist do a presentation.  As soon as they introduced him as a podiatrist I felt uncomfortable and just automatically tucked my feet under my chair.  Fortunately he had to leave the group as soon as he was done.  I teetered up the steps to the podium in my very high heels and told my audience "I NEVER wear shoes like this and I can't believe that today of ALL DAYS I would have to choose these horrible shoes to wear!".... followed by "But are they not perfect for this outfit?" to which I received a standing ovation!!

So now I'm at the point in my life where comfort has become more important that style.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm all over fashion and style but just not at the expense of my feet anymore.   That is not to say I will never wear those stupid pointy shoes just because they look better with my outfit but hopefully I will do it less than I used to.  

I've been searching for a good walking shoe for a long time and since recently I noticed that my shins were hurting all the time I was forced to get out there and make a decision.  It's astounding to me that shoes in the $150 - $175 price range still have very little cushioning for the feet.  I tried several pair and found nothing satisfying.  Then I spotted some rather ugly shoes in a separate area in the store.  My attention was drawn to the shape of the soles.  They didn't look like they'ld be easy to walk in but when I tried them on I felt like I was walking on a trampoline.  I wanted to jump.  I actually DID jump a little....something the sales clerk found rather amusing!  They were pricey but I couldn't justify spending $175 on the best pair I had found before I spotted the STRETCH WALKER by Xsensible.  They claim it's probably the most comfortable walking shoe on the planet.  I hope so because at $230 a pop (and I usually buy a new pair of walking shoes every year) they better keep my feet happy for a long time!

If my camera battery was charged I would show a picture of my black and silver Stretch Walkers but you'll just have to take my word for it that they were the cutest of all the ugly shoes in that grouping!

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

This looked like fun so here are my supposed look alikes!  I had to try a few pictures to get anything I would be brave enough to post here!!

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs