Roll Call

I feel almost a pang of guilt? No, not guilt, it takes a lot to self inflict the all mighty essence of guilt upon myself. More like, I feel like I better get my booty on this page, officially, since Indigo over at   Raven's Lament    put me up for a Guest Editors spot and I've failed miserably at revving up the writing and giving fresh material for visitors. Thank You Indigo!

So here I am. I do have a marginal reason for lacking off. A viral plague of disease and sickness has infiltrated my house and attacked the kiddoes. Fever. Hacking. Sniffling. The whole spectrum of delightfully miserable symptoms.

I for one, have not gotten it. But I feel like a walking, cursed, potential. Like at any moment the Gawds of sickness will strike me down for hugging, kissing, nursing and generally doing the Mommy thing, while they were ridden up in bed for 3 and 4 days. Unless the high content of Diet Coke deposited formaldehyde that has accumulated in my body can fend the bugs off, I'm toast~~

In other news, we had a mini-earthquake here in Idaho this morning. Evidently I missed the entire thing. Or walked through the momentary jiggle and didn't even notice. Which is sort of a bummer. Things like that rarely happen in my parts, so I suppose it's a big deal. It must be, because the news stations in my town held the TV hostage for 3 hours with "breaking news story" even though the actual earthquake happened in Nevada.

My town is still small enough to get excited, WAY excited, by the most miniscule of news. I do hope the people in Wells, Nevada are all right. As for the people in Idaho that felt a 'wave'.....I say, relax people, it didn't even really 'happen' to us. Then again, we are Idaho, we do have to get our kicks when we can.

I do wish I had something more interesting to write about. Being cooped up in the house has limited my observation and interaction thought processes. I've been left to meddle in my own mind and own devices for days on end and that isn't exactly a good thing. A good example of what happens to my mind and thoughts can be found in the video below....................................................

On a side note. If you had emailed me your address, you should have received a note in the mail from me by now. If you haven't, please let me know, because that would mean I messed up. I do appreciate all the addresses I was gifted, and after a visit to the doctor to unlock my hand from the paralysis that occurred after writing so many (smile) , I felt remarkably satisfied by the experience. Thank You everyone~~~

Ok, this booty call is borderline mundane and I can't be having that. I shall return again, and hopefully with something more interesting then quarantined plagues, jiggle waves in the dirt, my brain on letters and a sheepish goodbye~~~

 

Delightful

I have a circuit of coffee shops I visit. Coffee shops, I've discovered, are a perfect atmosphere to read, write in ones journal, write letters to other people, scribble in my notebooks and enjoy something tasty while doing so.

Coffee shops can be a bit pretentious. Especially if you show up alone, laden with important things like a pen and paper, or worse, a laptop. Usually, and I'll give it a 90% ratio, I leave my laptop at home. I used to be able to drag my laptop to coffee shops and get a considerable amount of writing done. That is, until basically every damn safe haven added wireless Internet to their menu. I admit it, I cannot resist wireless temptation.........

I go to these places for several reasons. One, typically, there are no distractions. There is no lint on the floor I feel obligated to pick up (like my house), there are no pets there trying to bat a pen out of my hand. One should turn off thy cell phone and adhere to Library etiquette, which never happens in my own home. I don't get distracted by pretty things, shiny things, noisy things, time sucking avoidance........plus, usually I get a good cup of java to sip at my leisure. Bonus.

But yesterdays excursion to the Java Shop was different. Instead of falling into my own rabbit hole like I typically do, I was distracted by 4 woman. Delightfully distracted actually.

Now, in case your thinking about doing the coffee shop circuit, Real Estate is an important factor to consider. Never sit too close to the counter. Stay away from the front door. Avoid sitting by the sugar, creamer, napkin bar. Avoid the spot next to the bathroom. A good corner, is prime location, but you practically have to stand in line for such a dream come true, or stake it out from the middle and watch the person who's sitting there for signs of leaving. The Lap Toppers usually grab all the wall tables, because they need that energy producing plug in. Yesterday, I was stuck in the barren sea....the middle......

The 4 ladies that changed the entire dynamics of my day were older. Ok, much older then what I normally see at the coffee shop. In their 70's? Maybe a mixture of 70's and 80's? I'm not good at telling ages. Hell, I used to think 35 looked so old and here I am, 35, thinking hey, this isn't so bad. They were also clearly on a date, with each other. A coffee inspired, mid-day get together. Dressed to the nine's, sparkling with jewelry (a shiny distraction for me) attired in individual, but signature sassy outfits.

In no way did they observe the library etiquette of hushed tones and quite chit-chat. These 4 were whooping it up. I simply had no choice but to pull out a notebook, start taking notes, sketching them and all out eavesdropping.

It was all gossip. Stories. Past and Present. Current affairs and salacious rumors. I would have sworn I was listening to 4 teenagers talking it up about everyone, and everything they had heard over the past week. It was wonderful! The eavesdropper/observer that I am was entertained for over an hour by these ladies. The things they talked about..........well, it fell nothing short of unexpected, remarkable, unique and sometimes downright hilarious. They were like busy bee's, buzzing around flower top topics, never pausing for more then a moment on one petal.  

The highlight for me was when, (After they had all mutually agreed that Hillary Clinton had had a facelift) they somehow got on the topic of Scientology. One of the lowest toned ladies there made a statement that produced, a blow of my cover, chuckle from me.

She said, "Well, I don't know who shoved that Scientology butt plug up Toms (Cruise) rectum, but someone needs to tell him aliens don't give a hoot about what religion we all partake in."

Classic, I tell ya. Bloody Classic.

I took over two pages of notes on these ladies. I couldn't help myself. It didn't hurt to look busy anyway <grin>  I really admired the way they bantered, and laughed. They laughed and gorgeously laughed. They disrupted the entire normal coffee shop vibe and I adored them for it.

I don't always take time to physically visit with my friends. We all seem so busy, so wrapped up in our own lives, that most months the best we can achieve is late night phone calls. I aim to change that. If just sitting next to 4 beautiful woman, listening in on their conversation warmed my heart like it did.......I'm certain doing the same thing with my own friends would do wonders, for all of us. I made some calls yesterday, caught a few friends off guard and gave them a time and the place.

This week is about connection, when it really comes down to it. Forget about all that fleeting romantic commercial crap. This week is a subtle reminder to keep the people you care about in your mind, and hopefully in your arms with a good old fashioned hug. I plan to do that this Thursday with my friends~~~~

And now, I would like to thank twopeople from our little community that surprised me with the Kindness/ Nice Matters Awards. Thank you, very much ladies. I'm always rather word tied, tongue tied, when it comes to such things. (now you know how to shut me up) So I will simply say your beautiful words are cherished and you gave me a smile a mile wide....

Thank You Kath @   Secret Garden       
And
Thank You Michelle @ (((Reflections)))
Both Beautiful Ladies with Beautiful Journals.

And I Treasure the Beautiful in Life~~

An Abstract Idea

I would like my newest entry to resemble light and fluffy, like a marshmallow. I would have said snow, but my love of snow is dwindling amidst the clear staying power it has around my homestead.

I've decided snow is just an illusion. When it starts to fall (back in December) your overcome with a sense of peace and silent contemplation of your surroundings. Snow muffles the hustle and bustle of life and hints at the simple things like hot chocolate, cozy blankets and Christmas.

However, after the snow has landed, and stuck like Elmer's glue for well over a month, it takes on a whole new essence. Stark. Blinding. Plain. Monochromatic. Being presented with a monochromatic world conflicts with my abstract mind. It breeds a simple cliche called "Cabin Fever" of the worst kind. I want the hell outta here.

Thank you everyone, for your well wishes for my Father. He's doing as well as can be expected. I've assessed the damage and told him to blame my Mother for the amazing eye shiners he has acquired. (She didn't love that idea, but I know I detected a smile in his swollen canvas) His face is not monochromatic in the slightest. The body can produce a brilliant hue of colors when aggravated! As for his nose, only time will reveal what he ends up with. At the moment, no one is saying a word about it's appearance. It's hard to offer up an opinion on something that has what looks like a million stitches from forehead to bottom lip.

Light and Fluffy. Fluffy and Light, like a feather swirling in the wind. I don't think I can achieve fluffy and light today. I'm just not feeling the vibe of such a squishy idea. Perhaps if I had more caffeine in my system I would feel the bounce of a light and fluffy day. Hmmm, now I'm just adding fat to some filler to achieve some filled up space. Not a good idea, nope, never, because even I know that comes off as erratic and sporadic and will land firmly at the foot of whacko.

Speaking of whacko, I would like to try something. But as I put this out there, forget I ever said whacko. Just clear thy mind and thing pink posies and white daisies, the vision of pure and innocent, nice and sweet.

As for that something I would like to try, it would take a measure of trust and curiosity on your part. Oh, and an email and home address in my box would help. That's right, I'm openly stepping over the boundaries of Internet guidelines and requesting the address of anyone who would enjoy receiving a note via snail mail. In case you all forgot, that sort of mail requires an old fashioned thing called a stamp, typically purchased from a post office. Unlike email (which I know I am horrendous at) , it's something I rather enjoy doing, a hobby of mine, (mind) I suppose. And just so it's clear, nothing whatsoever, is expected in return. Nadda, nothing. I know snail mail is my thing, and would never expect one in return...I am just of the belief that sometimes, occasionally, it's nice to receive something in the mail other then a bill or tree killing junk and I like to be the one sending. Confidentiality is of course treated like a vault.

References provided if needed...... from people (actual Internet friends) I've been writing for some time... (you know, to prove I'm not a maniac whacko)  So, go for it, email me, you never know....right? <grin> 

~~Carry On~~~