An Unbelievable Day

When I was a 16 year old kid, I wasn't so sure that I would ever find the 'right' woman for me. This may sound strange coming from someone who has been married since two days before recorded history began, but it is absolutely true.

I used to go outside and talk to my one true love, wherever she was. I had to be outside because walls would obviously weaken the telepathic signals I was putting out, and since it was clear that I had no idea where she was, there was no need to put impediments in the way. I also had the problem that I didn't know if I was going to have to wait a really long time because she wasn't born yet. I had an extremely high confidence level that she was going to be a she. I had no idea what nationality she was going to be, what race, what religion.....just her sex, and that she was a redhead with great legs. For you quants out there, given every girl (woman) I knew, linear programming showed I couldn't solve simultaneous equations and produce any meaningful results. To the rest of you, I didn't have squat. That does not mean that I am not persistent. I talked to her for a long time, and she laughed at all of my jokes, even the stupid ones. All of my truly great relationships are based in humor.

Tonight I got a phone call at 6:00 pm from a woman named Susan I had known from when I was a teenager. I had known her for years. We were friends. She had known my grandmother, my parents, I had known her sister, her parents. She had gone to Boston College, I went to both of her weddings, that kind of close. Tonight, we caught up. I was on the phone for over an hour and a half. There was laughing, crying, and a lot of stories told. I am so flooded with memories that I have been having trouble writing this.

After I am through posting this, I am going to go outside, even though it's raining, and I'm going to have to explain all of this to my girlfriend, wherever she is, and maybe I better tell her about Judy. I'd hate for her to be surprised whenever she shows up.

Twitter Pays Off

I was discussing dinner with Chef Brook, who offers up multiple dishes on her blog, when I explained that I had made a pot of chicken soup last week and frozen multiple bags of servings for this week in an attempt to "Think Like Brook". Then it dawned on me. Her last post had her going to PF Chang's for dinner and bringing home leftovers.

I talked about egg rolls and sushi and all of Judy's favorite Chinese foods on the way home from Physical Therapy. She went to sleep while I took Jake to the vet for his feline leukemia shots (requiring hand-to-hand combat to get him into the carrier). When I got home and released Jake, I was talking on the phone outside (so I wouldn't wake her) to one of my all-time favorite wife-certified girlfriends (means Judy likes her too) when Judy came outside with a menu from our favorite Chinese restaurant. She wanted to know what kind of sushi I wanted when she ordered dinner. So I am writing this post instead of making dinner.

If my haircut didn't look line Ben Bernanke's, I'd have ordered Ruby Red hair coloring by now so I could look a little more like Brook.

To Bring You Up To Date

Judy started physical therapy this week, and things are moving slowly. She goes three times a week. She has my old therapist, Bret, who is a wonder worker. I know you think I go to Tiffany, Ace Physical Therapist, but she lives and works too far away for an easy commute, or I'd be there a lot more. She has this dog and two cats, and great stuff to snack on, and this boyfriend....but I digress.

I have apparently made my back a lot worse. Bret saw me walking and gently suggested that we start family therapy. I asked about group rates. He's still laughing, I wasn't. Oh well, I'll wait, Judy needs her arm back. I'll post as I can.

Spellbound of WordsonWaking wrote a really splendid piece on her wedding anniversary yesterday (Happy Anniversary, and to many better dinners!) and she gives more insight into the drama and insanity that accompanies every wedding I know of (including mine). Spellbound is a woman I have become friends with because of her prodigious intellect, and her warm and sharing nature. It is all on display in this post.

Have a great weekend, I'll talk to you soon!

Simply Kind Tuesdays

OK, I got the picture, "The Morning Meeting" is coming out Tuesday evening. It's all Claudia H. Christian of On A Limb With Claudia's fault, not mine. Let me be clear here, I am not accepting any responsibility here, this is all Claudia's thing, she is a really kind person. If you have never read her blog, you should try it. This Tuesday's post was on why it was so difficult to be kind. She mentioned a koala bear baby that was abandoned by its mother after a fire in Australia. She had me right there. I really aggravate over what has happened to animals at the hands of some humans.

I know several people who are actively involved in rescuing animals. If you read this blog you may have noticed me mentioning my good friend, buddy, pal Tiffany, ace Physical Therapist. She is the one who is running the silent auction for Heartland Horse Heroes whose mission is to provide and support equestrian activities for individuals who have mental, physical, emotional, social challenges or learning disabling conditions. She also rescues dogs and cats on a regular basis and finds homes for the animals after getting them healthy.

Judy works with a guy named John who lives in Bethesda, and regularly has several families of mothers and kittens in his house. I give him money when I see him, beside the shelter that 5 minutes from the house. This doesn't make me kind, it makes me charitable.

If you really want to see kindness, below are some pictures from a woman who is a professional photographer in Philadelphia named Melissa McDaniel. You can see her name in the photos I took from her blog, The Photo Book Projects



Please understand, I don't know this woman, and she doesn't know me. She photographs rescue dogs, dogs that are deaf, rescued dogs, and more. It is well worth reading her blog. One of the things she wrote was "I'm a photographer, traveler, and writer with an animal rescue problem...". That wasn't on her blog, but you get the idea. She also donates 20% of her earnings to the small shelters who need the money the most, as she explains.

You should easily be able to tell the difference between her photographs and mine. I haven't photographed a dog since the last time I visited Tiffany in May of '08. I think Pooh King and I were trying to share a piece of bacon.



If you look into the eyes of the dog above, you know that it is a sentient being that deserves a great home with enormous amounts of love. If you read my good buddy, friend, pal Heather's blog The Phoenix Hearse, you will run into her dog Laney, a beautiful Great Dane who could put his paws on my shoulders and explain to me what kind of treats he expected. The two of them have an incredibly close relationship.

Jake came from the Last Chance Shelter, and so did Grace. If or when you're thinking of living with an animal, think of rescuing an animal from a shelter. Go read about shelter animals at Melissa McDaniel's site. Learn a little about kindness from Claudia, who seems to know some of the most incredible people. Meanwhile, Jake has learn how to unplug electric cords from the wall. I'd better get this posted.

Have a great day. And try to be kind, whether it's Tuesday or not. And if you are, let Claudia know, please.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Jake heard Judy and I talking about the big snow storm, got excited and came out of hiding to see what the big deal was all about. He is definitely a very curious cat and has to be in the middle of EVERYTHING. And I have more dishes to wash. I have got to keep those cabinent doors closed.



We all went to the front door and saw the following:



If you look at the picture above, you'll notice that you can't see the street. This was at 8:00 am. We only had about 3 inches at that time. We're expecting 6 inches before the day is over, in fact, by lunchtime. The photo below is the house across the street. You can't see the hawk flying in the trees behind it which has just caught a smaller bird to take back to feed her family. Nature at work. You'd almost think this was Iowa, maybe if we had a small river?



There is another issue I'd like to bring up that I read yesterday. My good friend, buddy, pal Brook wrote of an experience of sexual abuse that happened to her as a young teenager. It's one of those issues that needs to be heard by as many people as possible. I urge you to go to her site and read her story, and support her.

Have a wonderful day!