Urged To Move

This afternoon, I left work to go and run an errand. I pulled up to a light behind a large truck that was hauling bags of trash. A mini van pulled up behind me. I noticed that the lane on the right had no traffic in it. I looked at the vehicle in front of me and thought, "I should probably get over so I can pass before these 2 lanes merge into 1 lane." I checked my mirrors, saw that nothing was coming, signaled and scooted over into the right lane. This was a last minute decision. When I was approaching this red light, I could have easily decided to go in that right lane, but instead pulled behind the traffic in the left lane and then decided to make the switch to the right.

We soon approached a second red light. My car was in front of the line of traffic. The large truck was behind me. The mini van was behind the large truck.

As I was sitting there, waiting on the light to change, I heard a loud noise that I actually thought was gunfire. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the truck pull off the road. Then I saw the mini van (with a smashed front) pull over behind it. Holy crap! That mini van completely nailed the back of that truck. If I hadn't decided to pass that truck at the last minute, the back of my poor Corolla would have been history the way that the mini van slammed into that truck. Yikes! I'm so glad something seemed to urge me out of that lane at the last minute.

When stuff like that happens, I have to wonder, was this a coincidence or was there a reason that van hit a large, sturdy truck instead of me? Was it just luck or was I spared that hardship for a reason and if so, what I am I supposed to do? If I am supposed to do something, am I supposed to do it today or some other time in the future? It sure felt like I was "urged to move" but I'll probably never know for sure.

Isn't it strange how the smallest, seemingly insignificant decisions can change your world?

6 Years Old

This is my baby girl, Hollywood. She is six years old today.

Below is a picture of her on the day we got her. The greyhound adoption agency just delivered her and her brother to our house. She was just a young gal.

Today, (pictured below) she has a little more grey fur on her face, but she is just as sweet as can be.

Happy Birthday, sweet Hollywood. May you have wonderful dreams of chasing cats and rabbits during your naps today. And may you have many, many happy years ahead.

Friday Feast - 7/28/06

Here's my Friday's Feast--Happy Friday Everyone!

Appetizer

What's the funniest dream you can remember having?

It was probably the Paul McCartney cocktail party with Starbursts as hors d'oerves dream. More details by clicking on this link.

Soup

If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?

Definitely a greyhound. I could eat what I wanted and stay slim and sleep a lot. Perfect.

Salad

Continue this sentence: "I get confused when..."

I get confused when I have to multiply or divide fractions. I'm not a big fan of fractions. I don't have to deal with them often. It is just not one of my strengths in life. Please don't make me multiply or divide them if you don't have to. I'd appreciate it.

Main Course

Name two things that need to be done, but you are procrastinating in completing.

1) I really need to make a dentist appointment for a cleaning and 2) find a myself a general doctor. I've been living in Tennessee now for over two years and I still haven't picked a general physician. I'm basically a healthy person and when I get my one case of bronchitis a year, I usually just head to the urgent care clinic since I don't need an appointment. I really need to get around to that one of these days...

Dessert

When was the last time you tried something new, and what was it?

When I was on vacation, I tried a Bloody Mary. I usually like my drinks on the sweeter side, but it was 9:00 in the morning, we were on a plane and they were serving breakfast. It seemed like Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's were the drinks of choice for that time of day, so I thought, why not? Wow, it was wonderful! Spicy and savory--it was very tasty and was great with quiche. I looked to see what kind of mix they used (it was Mr. and Mrs. T's) and bought some as soon as I got home.

Barking Mad - A Very Short Play

Scene One: Hollywood (stage left) and Smoke (stage right) enter room upon their owner's return from vacation.


Hollywood: I'm happy that you are home from Jamaica.

Smoke: HOW DARE YOU LEAVE US AND GO TO JAMAICA! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO THAT! DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN! I DEMAND AN EXTRA TREAT! NO MORE LEAVING! EVER! THAT'S AN ORDER! NOW, RUB MY BUTT!


The End

Jamaica, Ya Mon

Jamaica was so amazing that I don't even know where to begin. This was my third visit to this magical country and hopefully it will not be my last.

We did a lot of "abnormal" things. We had cocktails in the morning. We ate exotic foods. We read books by the ocean. We sat in the sand and watched the sun set. We had breakfast delivered to our room. We sat in the shade and did nothing at all. We buried our feet in the sand. Crabs ran past us on the pier during dinner. Birds stole morsels of food from surrounding tables at lunch. We played bingo, and whenever our card had the number they called, we yelled out, "Ya Mon." We made friends with a Jamaican named Ricardo. We watched contortionists and fire-eaters. We chewed on sugar cane. We visited a rum factory. We sat in a huge hot tub at midnight and watched the waves roll in by the light of the moon. We rolled out of bed at 7:30 in the morning just to go to the pool. We listened to reggae music all day and I became a fan of Terry Linen' s music.

I think the best part of all, was the opportunity to re-connect with my sweet husband. We had the chance to talk, laugh and just spend time together with no distractions. It was like being in a true paradise. We didn't talk or think about work at all. I don't think I've ever been so relaxed.

We learned that Jamaicans say "No Problem" because they believe they have no problems...only "situations". In a country that has an ocean view so beautiful, it is easy to see how they can believe that.

Now, it's back to the real world again. But somehow, I don't really mind. It probably has something to do with the fact that for a few days we truly believed we had "No problems" too. Ya, Mon.

Friday Feast, 7/14/06

Happy Friday, Everyone! Here's my Friday Feast.

Appetizer

Name one thing nice that you could do for someone else today.

I can let my husband get some sleep. I tend to be a night owl and I'm sure some nights he wants to put something in my drink to knock me out. I don't have trouble sleeping, I just like to stay up.

Soup

When was the last time you were frightened by the weather?

A few years back, the first time we had moved to Tennessee, a tornado touched down pretty close to our house. It was black outside in the middle of the day and the rain was going sideways. It was a little disturbing.

Salad

What would you say is the most useful website or blog that you visit?

Mapquest. I love that you can get directions anywhere immediately. Instant gratification.

Main Course

Who was your favorite singer/group when you were a child?

Definitely, hands down, Duran Duran.

Dessert

Do you have any rituals? If so, what are they?

I don't know if it's really a ritual or not, but every year when my husband and I get our flu shot, we sort of have a tradition. We try to get it on a Friday and then we come home and put on sweats, watch movies, eat comfort food and get lots of sleep. Somehow, I feel like comforting your body when you are building up your immune system is helpful. Besides, it's a good excuse to relax and eat pizza!


Have a great weekend, everyone! See you when I return from Jamaica...

Poem

The week is almost over
Want the weekend to come
Flying to Jamaica
Soon I'll be drinking rum.

I'm trying to get my work done
Since I will be away
But It's really hard to focus
I think I hear reggae.

Calendars and deadlines
Many people to reach
Trying to sift through it all
So I can lay on the beach.

Been eating next to nothing
Have to wear a swimsuit
Soon I'll eat jerk chicken
And some tropical fruit.

I want to leave right now
To run far, far away
But soon I'll be landing
In Montego Bay

Guess I'll finish my work
And I'll try not to fret
Just one more question:
Is it Friday yet??!?

Cheap & Sexy

The vacation is drawing ever closer. So close, I can almost taste it. However, there are only so many things in a girl's wardrobe that would qualify as cute to wear to dinner on a Jamaican beach. Especially when you live nowhere near a beach. Like Nashville.

I will enjoy five dinners that will take place on or within view of a beach. However, I can come up with only four appropriate outfits. I was missing that one more great thing to wear. What to wear...what to wear...I spent hours digging through the closet last night, and just kept feeling like I was coming up short.

Then, I went to Target over lunch today for some Clairol Nice and Easy, and I found it.

Eureka! The sexy little black halter dress for only $24.99.

And it's machine washable.

Target rules.

Starbursts?

I had a dream two nights ago that contained ALL of the following:

• New York City
• My husband
• One of my husband's co-workers
• Paul McCartney
• A crowd of people (to greet Paul McCartney)
• My current employer
• My husband's current employer
• A cocktail party
• A limousine
• A cell phone call from my sister
• My in-laws

and....

• Starbursts (As in, the chewy, square, fruit-flavored candy. They were available in abundance at the cocktail party and went well with flavored martinis--at least in my dream.)

Sometimes, I think God is messing with me, just for fun.

Friday's Feast - 7/7/06

Here's my Friday's Feast:

Appetizer

When was the last time you visited a hospital?

It's been a few months...sometime over the winter I stopped by a Nashville hospital to pick up one of my friends to take her home after a short stay. However, I personally haven't had an overnight hospital visit since my first few days after coming into the world back in 1970.

Soup

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?

Ambition is defined as "an earnest desire for achievement, distinction, wealth or power". That being said, distinction, wealth and power are not things that I go out of my way to seek. I will not feel that I am a failure in life if I do not achieve those things before I die. I take pride in my work, which I think falls under the achievement category, although I do it for myself as much as I do it for the approval of others or recognition. Maybe that means that I am not very ambitious at all. Maybe a 3 or a 4?

Salad

Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)

(Elbow) Eccentric Lovely Brunette Opposes Won-Tons.

Main Course

If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?

Could I start a club that watches the Sopranos, Lost, 24 and Sex and the City re-runs? We could eat Italian food, drink cosmos and discuss plot twists and cliffhangers. Sexy Little Italy Adventure Seekers (Maybe SLIAS for short?).

Dessert

What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?

Light tan fake hardwood flooring. Much easier to keep clean than carpeting when living with greyhounds.

The Pits

Do you ever wonder why you develop a mental block about certain things and not others? I am having the weirdest mental block situation. It involves something tragically personal. I am having a mental block about deodorant.

Some of you might ask, "Deodorant? Why deodorant? Isn't this something that you would routinely wear daily?" My answer to this question would be a resounding "yes". This should not be an issue. But yes, I have to confess--since the beginning of summer, I've forgotten several times to apply deodorant.

The first time it happened, one might think, okay...weird fluke situation. I thought the same thing.

The second time it happened, I left work at lunchtime and purchased a travel size deodorant to keep at my desk. I figured that this would solve the whole problem.

Well, it happened again last night, but since it was July 4th, I wasn't at work. I was in the car with my in-laws and husband on my way to walk around downtown Franklin, Tennessee (a.k.a. a southern town in July = HOT) and to watch fireworks. As we were riding along, I realized that I had forgotten deodorant once again. It's not like I notice it because I stink, I just realize that it is something I neglected to do. I sort of go through that checklist in my mind...I have gum, sunglasses, my keys, my cell phone....DANG IT! Forgot the deodorant AGAIN! What is WRONG with me?!?

Luckily, the evening went just fine. I tend to be on the cold side, so it takes a lot for me to sweat. I also had just showered before leaving the house (which worked in my favor) and it did cool off a little once the sun went down (thank goodness!). However, I am starting to wonder about myself. This has never been an issue before.

I'm beginning to wonder if I need to start carrying deodorant with me, which just seems silly. I don't need one more thing floating around in my giant purse. It would surely pop out of my purse at a bad time (along with a few tampons--the deodorant stick and the tampons would probably gang up on me and work together on this) when pulling out my key card for work or something like that.

My mental block doesn't seem to be affecting any other aspect of my life. I am not missing deadlines at work. I am paying bills and mailing out birthday cards. I still call my mother every few days. I am still wearing clean underwear. For some reason, the application of deodorant is just one of those things that occasionally escapes me. It's like the "put on deodorant" brain cells have died. Like my last glass of wine finally put them in their grave.

I guess the moment of truth is finally here. Either my true friends will still love me in my stinky, senile state, or I will find a way to get past this mental block. In any case, I am working toward the goal of drier, freshly-scented armpits.

Thank you for your patience and support.