Archive for 'The Girl'
About True Friends
Posted on 22. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
Though Facebook hasn’t brought much to my life beyond Scrabble and a reminder of how petty junior high was, it has been the vehicle for connecting with a couple of folks from my past that has been very positive. Like Miss J, who met me for lunch today. This is the second time we’ve gotten together since reconnecting and the thing is, she is just one of those people that is genuine.
I’ve known Miss J since the 6th grade, which would have made us eleven. She spent the night at my house, was one of the few friends to attend my wedding shower; but I moved on to my married life and she went away to college. The rekindling of this friendship after twenty-two years is really sweet. As you cannot help but do, we discussed some of the folks we went to high school with, and those interactions we had in present day as well as those we had in the past. Some folks, you see, are unable to live in the present and still cling to the lives of their past. Some folks are interested in growing and bettering themselves; others are more self-centered and shallow.
She told me today that our freshman year, the purity and sweetness of my voice when I audtioned for the part of Daisy Mae our freshman year moved her; as an artist, she saw beauty there. It meant so much for her bring forth a brief moment of my past, and let me know that it was something that she still remembered so many years later. She also confided in me about an action of her past and I was now one of only six people that knew; she told me because she just knew that she could trust me to know and not judge. A true friend, you see, is someone that you can talk to daily, and still have soemthing to say; or someone that you can talk to after two months and have a milion things to catch up on; or someone you haven’t seen in twenty years, and it feels like you had just seen them the day before.
I am so thankful.
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Saucy
Posted on 21. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
Tonight I made a white sauce, otherwise known as Béchamel Sauce. It’s amazing what the mixture of a little bit of butter, flour and milk can produce; I am always impressed with not only the taste, but the pure loveliness of the sauce. It was so yummy, and I added it to chicken, pasta, and broccoli. Here is a quick “how to” I found on YouTube
Loveliness? In a sauce? Oh, yes. In growing up we had gravy at at least half of our meals and when I first began cooking, it was something I thought should be served as often as possible. There was a problem, however: I couldn’t made a smooth gravy. Don’t laugh, but I had to strain almost every gravy I made thanks to the lumps. So, every time I make a new sauce or a successful gravy, it makes me very joyous.
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Make It PINK
Posted on 17. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
Today when I got my manicure and pedicure, instead of my typical red and/or french, I got pink. Not a dark-almost-red raspberry, but a delicate baby carnation pink.The last couple of months, I have been embracing my femininity; pink is just one of those things. So is exploring changes in my hairstyle, little sparkly clips, and putting on a dress to wear on evenings when I am simply home. It’s a break from the bulk of last year, when I wore black suits and pantyhose every day. A year ago, I would have said you wouldn’t catch me dead in delicate pink nail polish, nor would you find a little white daisy on my polished pink big toe; it just goes to show that you should never say never.
The first really dressy dress I remember owning was for my cousin Judy’s wedding. I know some folks don’t consider Texans as Southerners, but in our own way, we are. Weddings, of course, are important affairs for anyone, but in the South, they can be huge affairs. My Aunt and my cousin were sorority girls, so this wedding, the oldest daughter as well as the oldest granddaughter, was enormous. The wedding was in June of 1972. The color scheme was rainbow, and each of the bridesmaids wore a differently colored pastel chiffon dress with a matching hat. I was not the flower girl, but I did get to pass out the rice to the guests, which meant I needed something pastel and fancy; I wanted something pink.
I can clearly remember the dress, although it’s been more than thirty years: it was a delicate silky pink gingham with white lace trim. It was floor length and I wore white stockings and white patent leather Mary Janes. I can’t recall actually buying the dress, but I remember the events surrounding the purchase. We had to drive to Dallas as there were no big department stores in the nearest town, Arlington. These days, I go to Dallas regularly, but in 1972, getting from Mansfield, Texas to Dallas was like an adventure. Or maybe my mother just made a big deal out of needing to drive to Dallas to go shopping. She never has been much of a traveler. I don’t remember trying on dresses and making this final selection, I do remember eating lunch after; I guess I’ve always been a little food driven and it was the first time we ate at The Zodiac Room, the tea room at the Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus.
Funny how our minds and memories work and the choice of pink nail polish made me recall my first fancy dress. Maybe it was a simple trigger of a color that reminded me, or maybe, I’m beginning to get down to the core of the person I truly am: part tomboy, part girly-girl. I’m learning how to play again and I am embracing my femininity. When it gets down to it, I guess I just I enjoy being a girl….and I hope you enjoy this lovely little song from “Flower Drum Song”:
Happy Friday! I hope this finds you embracing who you want to be today.
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On The Side
Posted on 15. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
When I went to dinner tonight, I ordered my salad like I tend to always do: with the dressing on the side. I like the taste of the salad and the dressing truly is just a little flavor enhancer. Besides, the drenching of a salad with dressing can add hundreds of additional calories. I’ve dropped twenty pounds since January, and closely watching what I add to foods has been a great help with that.
As I was enjoying the salad with tiny dips of the fork tines into the dressing before spearing a bit of the crisp iceberg or fresh tomatoes, I began to chuckle to myself about the preference of having sauces and dressings and the like served on the side. It made me think about the movie When Harry Met Sally and Sally’s complex way of ordering:
When Harry Met Sally is one of those movies that I can watch anytime it comes on. There is the whole discussion of “can men and women be friends” / “low maintenance vs high maintenance women” as well as the underlying lesson of the movie that the best lasting relationships between men and women are those who have a basis of friendship and simply enjoy each other’s company as friends. In the final scene of the movie, Harry tells Sally what he loves about her, which is all about reveling in her imperfections because, in his eyes, that is what makes her perfect.
.
You see, he just likes her. When you get down to it, when it comes to choosing a life mate, isn’t the ability to like someone as much as you love them pretty darned special?
It’s been, overall, a wonderful day. I hope that your day has given you some bright spots as well as
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Nothing
Posted on 13. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
Today, I wanted to run away. I began to dream of far off places, as well as some nearby places. Easy escapes are trips to the bookstore, where a cup of coffee and a browse around are a way to escape from the days responsibilities for just a few moments. Books, you see, have always been a big part of my life, and a way to lose the outside world. In recent months, I’ve done a bit of research as well, just to confirm my heart and my head are on the same page. They are, which is always a good thing. But in a way, I digress.
I talked to a friend today, and beyond the fact that I wanted my friend to run away WITH me, the discussion turned to “where would we go”? One such location that came into discuss is the BEACH. I’m not an athletic kind of girl, so it isn’t that I want to go swim or scuba dive or other such things; I just want to be. The photo above is from St. Croix; I spent an afternoon in that hammock with a book. Yes, I wore lots of sunscreen and a big straw hat. I was able to take in the sounds and smells of the ocean while doing what many would see as “nothing”. I mentioned the other day that I am reading the Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff and towards the end of the book, the author discusses “Nowhere and Nothing”. According to Taoists, the key that unlocks the doors of wisdom, happiness and truth: nothing. To the Taoist, Nothing is Something. I’m really getting the Taoist perspective on life. Nothing is something. Especially if I can roll in good friends and/or good books.
To follow through with the changes in my life, I cannot ignore the addition to meditation in my life. When I realized that running away to the beach today wasn’t something I could feasibly do, the thirty minutes spent meditating this afternoon brought me exactly back around to where I needed to be mentally. Hoff reminds us that emptying your mind is the way to listen and that emptying your mind charges up the batteries of spiritual energy and ties to this “nothing”. While emptiness may seem lonely or scary, if you allow it, it actually become the blank canvas or a fresh sheet of paper: full or promises.
If I am honest, I will tell you that I still want to run away; not for the need to escape, however, but just for the opportunity it presents; the beach, where we can listen to the ocean, share books, and just be. Because doing nothing is really something, and like that empty mind, the way to recharge yourself in body and in spirit.
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Rain on Hot Concrete
Posted on 11. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
It’s Spring in Texas, evident by not only the burgeoning flowers and trees, but also the presence of thunderstorms tonight. Spring storms can be both exciting to watch but frightening to experience when raindrops are accompanied by hail or worse, tornadoes. We desperately need the rain here in the North Texas area as we have been experience wildfires and were still under a burn-ban. The rain tonight isn’t expected to satisfy the need for rain in the area, but any little bit helps.
Spring rains, however, do not hold a place in my heart like summer rains. Oh, it isn’t that I hate spring rains; I recognize their need intellectually, of course. I’ve also learned appreciate to the fierceness of the storms and respect the power of Mother Nature. Spring rains, however, are like a woman in desperate need of her estrogen shot: unpredictable. They can be harsh and cold in one moment, soft and weepy in others, and in the next moment, unreasonably angry. Anyone in the “Tornado Alley” of the US understands, I’m sure.
Summer rains? Now those are a totally different animal. My reminiscences of summer rains are all about unbearably hot days and quick thunderstorms. I’m sure there is ferocity to summer rains, but those are not the standouts in my memory. The best summer rains were the ones that took place in July when I was at my grandmother’s house. She allowed me to go out and play in the rain, telling me that I didn’t have to worry about “catching my death” thanks to the warmth of the air. There was nothing better than the first moments of standing barefooted in the grueling heat one moment and in the next, but hit with big, fat drops of rain. The rain was cooling and soothing and fresh, a way to wash away the grime of the 100 degree day.
And there is nothing like the smell of the cooling summer rain as it first hits the hot concrete. Trust me, the smell of a spring rain, as evidenced by my brief stand on my front porch, just isn’t the same.
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When Country Wasn’t Cool
Posted on 10. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
I can’t not remember loving music. No matter what was playing, I would find a way to sing along. In grade school, we learned our patriotic songs and folks music. My sister, who is seven years my senior, preferred bubblegum pop and I recall Donny Osmond and the sounds of K-Tel Records coming form her room. But when it comes down to it, I have always loved country music. I grew up on country music. Oh, Not the crossover pop stuff that fills the airwaves these days, but the heartfelt crooning of Patsy Cline, the love torn George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and the rich stories woven into the songs of Johnny Cash.
I was introduced to country thanks to Bill Mack, the Midnight Cowboy, who was on WBAP Radio (40,000 Watts of Power!) and my grandmother. I can still recall the hot summer nights visiting my grandmother, with the windows open to catch any breeze. There were the sounds of crickets and the occasional howling tomcat coming from outside; and from a transistor radio resting between our pillows came the sounds of Bill Mack and country music.
Thinking back on on my early love of Country Music, I can’t help but think about Willie Nelson. Nelson was from Texas and did a stint as a DJ in Hillsboro, Texas, which is a short 45 minutes from my grandmothers. He was a song writer as well, writing such classics as Crazy, Pretty Paper, and Hello Walls for other singers. His first number one single as a singer was Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain, from his Red Headed Stranger Album. Can you believe that Columbia Records questioned the album’s use of only a guitar and piano?
I could share a dozen songs from Willie Nelson that I can listen to today and still recall the wonder and appreciation of hearing it like it was the first time and long to sing along. I won’t share a dozen, however, but I will share this wonderful recording of “Always On My Mind“, which won a Grammy in 1982 as Song of the Year. The songwriter in him certainly certainly lends itself to just the right mix of instruments and pacing and I have to admit I like this version better than the Elvis version:
As I got a little older, I realized the Country Music wasn’t so popular with my friends. It’s funny, I grew up in a town where the Kowbell Rodeo had a rodeo every Saturday night between 1958 and 2004, yet the music that was popular was pop and rock. I could enjoy the pop, but I still went through spells of listening to country. By the time I was 13, I had begun singing in spaces outside of my shower (and my living room, where my sister played the piano and I sang). No matter how much I wanted to sing classical arias and popular songs, my voice was best suited to the music I had always loved, country and folk.
When thinking about the days of purchasing sheet music and scrambling for a piano or guitar player to serve as an accompanist, I can’t leave out the amazing Patsy Cline. The movie “Sweet Dreams” came out when I was in high school, and music from that soundtrack made it’s way into both performances as well as part of my audition for a scholarship for college. This is probably one of Cline’s most famous songs,and it was written by Willie Nelson.:
It’s funny, when I was surfing for videos to post, I ran across this song from the 80′s by the Judds. Funny, because I ran across the sheet music to this song in the garage a week or so ago. It’s also funny because the song is quite appropriate for me these days.
It’s been at least two years since since I’ve sung in public, unless, of course you count singing at the grocery store. I do that mainly in an attempt to embarrass children, though I think they find humor in it. I haven’t purchased sheet music in twenty-years. To be honest, I was never a reader of music. I learned everything by ear. These days, I just need to hear a song a couple of times to sing along. The IPod is a wonderful thing as is the ability to search for videos via Google. I’ve been on a habit of listening to CMT in the mornings when I am doing my morning emails, so an introduction to some of the newer faces in Country Music is part of that process.
In addition to the new faces, however, I am treated to hearing from an artist I would consider a real classic. Like Loretta Lynn. In 1994, a Coal Miner’s Daughter does an album with rocker Jack White of White Stripes, which was released when Lynn was 69. Portland, Oregon is one of the best songs in that collection. As I was pulling videos for this post, my youngest commented “her voice doesn’t sound old at all!” No, ma’am, she doesn’t:
And now that I’ve shared some of the older voices that I’ve grown to love throughout my lifetime, how about closing this post with this sweet song from one of the newer artists, The Zac Brown Band:
I hope you are having a lovely Good Friday. I know that I am……
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a Very Happy Thursday
Posted on 09. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
Today my father had cataract surgery and I needed a book to pass the time, so I borrowed The Tao of Pooh from my oldest daughter. I didn’t have much reading time, as my mother was happy to chat about family drama and share her opinion on a variety of topics, but I did get through the first couple of chapters. Benjamin Hoff does a nice job of describing Taoism and relating it to the classic AA Milne Characters of Winnie the Pooh and the other inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. Pooh, the author explains, is the Western World’s Taoist, explaining that Pooh may be simple minded, but that does not equate to stupidity. Instead, he sees Pooh as “mirror-minded” and is thus the hero of the stories, rather than the other characters who appear more clever, like the Book Smart Owl or the Ever Clever Rabbit.
I am striving these days to learn something out of each book I spend time reading and a discussion between Pooh and Piglet rang very true to me in how I see the Real World:
“Rabbit’s Clever,” said Pooh thoughtful.
“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit’s Clever.”
“And he has Brain.”
“Yes,” said Piglet, “Rabbit has a Brain.”
There was a long silence.
“I suppose,” said Pooh, “that that’s why he never understands anything.”
It’s a good lesson, one that I need to remind myself of, as well as the actual owner of the book. Cleverness is a good thing, but if we allow our brains to overrule our hearts, we can never understand the lessons that sometimes mean the most. And I thought that a fitting thing to share today, since the discussion between Pooh and Piglet began on a Very Happy Thursday.
My father did well in the surgery and we had a late lunch of eggs and toast.
Tomorrow is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter. I hope you have a good holiday weekend planned. And a Very Happy Thursday.
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Carryovers from Lent
Posted on 05. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
As of today, Palm Sunday, we are only a short seven days away from the end of Lent. You won’t find me gorging on sweets like many do once Easter is here, as I had chosen to not “give up” anything in Lenten sacrifice, but instead to grow myself spiritually (and improve my self-discipline) by learning to meditate. I have yet to master it and know that I may never, as it is a process. The shift from something to “try on for size” to “part of me” was made this past week, and I am grateful. Today, I more quickly found my center and the awareness of my being lasted throughout the day. That’s a gift in growth both mentally and spiritually.
Meditation will be a carryover from Lent this year.
This past Friday, I began pondering another carryover from my my Lenten observances; continuing the abstinence from eating meat on Fridays. Oh, I have observed this tradition since I converted to Catholicism over 18 years ago, but this year was the first in ages that the practice didn’t waver in the slightest. What changed was, not the observance, but my approach. Instead of looking upon it as a rule of the Church, I viewed it as a vow to myself about sacrifice and self-discipline. Making it a vow made me conscious of not just honoring it, but of being more conscious of everything that made its way onto my plate and into my mouth. After talking over some the rewards of this vow with my best friend, I have decided, indefinitely, to continue my vow of abstinence of eating meat on Fridays beyond the end of Lent.
In all honesty, these two carryovers from Lent dovetail well into my guiding principals for 2009. Choosing constructive ways of living are showing me the rewards of living in a dynamic manner. I have more peace, more self-awareness, and have begun to live a life that is truly more fulfilling than I ever imagined. One of the keys to that fulfillment is learning about vows and self discipline. And in the journey of this thing we call “life” I am becoming this complete being that everyone deserves to be….. it makes living life a joy.
Happy Sunday. I hope you’ve had a good week and are anxious to face the glorious week ahead.
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I *Heart* This Little Song
Posted on 04. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
I loved the album that Jessica Harp and Michelle Branch put together as they formed the country/folk duo “The Wreckers”. Stand Still, Look Pretty, in it’s entirety, is one on almost every play list my little IPod has. It’s funny, there are usually songs on an album that you tend to skip, but not this one – I can sing along to all of it.
Jessica has now gone from blonde to her natural brunette (much prettier) and has begun started her solo career. I just love this little song, her first single, and the VIDEO is simply too precious for words. I like the lyrics as well as the beat, the joyfulness of the song and the playfulness of the video as she happily belts to the world that she has finally found a boy like her. So much of Country Music is on a sadder tone, so this is a breath of fresh air. Enjoy!
I have had such a joyous weekend so far. I am in a very girlie kind of mood and am longing for floral printed dresses and little sandals, so a trip to the mall is certainly in my future today. I am planning to go with Miss O to the special exhibit “Art & Love in Renaissance Italy” at the Kimball Art Museum sometime in the next week or so, and a springy feminine dress seems like just the thing to wear.
Life is truly better than it’s ever been. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Happy Saturday 
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Edges of Summer
Posted on 03. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
I know that we are barely into Spring, but this morning, I had summer on my mind.
Since I was a baby, I have been a morning person. For me, each day means an opportunity to start fresh as I face the world and an often growing “to do” list. In the past few weeks, I have become even more aware of not only the morning side personality but the positive side of my personality. They are a part of me and I am allowing myself to embrace them rather than hide them. I have also realized that I need some exercise each day, so the additional of a daily walk with Greta has been a real positive to my schedule. This morning, because I needed to be at the salon at 9 AM, a time I am normally coming back from the park, we were making our way around by 7:10.
I had forgotten how magical the hour is from the time the sun peeks it’s face over the eastern horizon until it makes it’s way on its journey. The grass glistens with dew and the air, while heavier than it is mid-day, also smells sweeter. It seems a waste to spend the time indoors when all of this gloriousness of the waking earth is out there, just waiting to be embraced. As we made our way along the east-bound portion of the walking trail, the brilliant orange was not blinding, but soothing and welcoming. It was 50 degrees this morning, and I needed the hat I thrust upon my head and was wishing I had remembered gloves, but in the chill, my thoughts turned to summertime. Both the summers of my past and the upcoming summer of 2009, which is turning out to be, truly, the best year of my life.
When I was a child, I spent a portion of my summer vacation at my grandmother’s. She didn’t have air conditioning, so if I wanted to play outside, the only time to really do so was early mornings. I was allowed, you see, to “walk around the block” as long as I stuck to the alleyway and sidewalks in the small Ellis County town. Today was cooler and crisper than a July morning in Texas, but the feeling is honestly the same: a magical time when the air is fresher and most of the world has yet to rise. We are fortunate that there are weeks before the rising temperatures will force us into air conditioning, but I think I will endure the need of hat to keep my ears warm if it means I can envelop myself in the feelings of peace that can be found in the early morning hours.
It’s truly a wonderful day for me today. I hope it is for you as well.
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Inside and Outside
Posted on 02. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
In a few short weeks, I will be 41. Overall, I don’t think that I look or feel “middle aged” (or “old” as my kids would view me). I like how my face looks. A huge part of that is my concerted effort to take care of my skin. I have used Sonya Dakkar products for the last three years and have noticed an overall improvement to the feel of my skin, especially in the winter months when I used to fight extremely dry (and painful) skin. The other thing is this: I use suncreen daily. When I changed my outlook on skincare to taking care of my skin instead of how I looked, I discovered that my skin looked better.
WHY am I talking about taking care of my skin and aging today? Well, two reasons, really.
First of all, I visited my esthetician for a facial today. No matter what care I take of myself, I cannot do the kind of thorough work she does, especially when it comes to the extractions needed to unclog my tiny pores. A visit to her at least every other month has been incredibly beneficial. This last year, when I was living in DC, I went almost four months without a visit and my first trip back to see her was more on the painful side. I learned my lesson. Clogged pores require, at times, a professional and diligence.
Secondly, I got a local ad-magazine in the mail today. As I glanced through the glossy pages of salons, dining establishments, dentists and other such local spots, an ad that said “Uncover your Natural Beauty Within” caught my attention. I was expecting something, like a yoga studio, but instead discovered it was an ad for a Cosmetic Surgery Center. Seriously? The way to rejuvenate yourself and uncover your natural beauty is to have Botox injections or a Brazilian Butt Lift? (What is a Brazilian Butt Lift exactly, as it’s one of the 10 most popular cosmetic procedures)
I’m all about people making their own choices, but society today has so sold us on the fact that in order to be seen as beautiful, you have to look a certain way; and for women of my age or older, it’s all about looking younger. Do many realize that that looks are truly only skin deep? Do we truly measure a person’s value by the shape of her body? I, of course, want to look the best I can. I am pleased that I have dropped some weight this year, but that has been more about my health – feeling better and lowering my blood pressure – than it has been about how I look. Of course, I’m pleased with the outside results, but it took getting more healthy on the inside to accomplish that. It seems like having liposuction, a breast lift or a face/neck lift would all be about changing how I look on the outside without ever working on the most important part: the inside.
I will still continue to have my nails done and I still have an appointment to get my hair colored. I’m not going to just not put forth “an effort” to look my best. But there are some lines that seem to be uncrossable to me personally, and that is when it comes to harsh or surgical treatments just so that I will look younger or thinner. I think that discovering your natural beauty has to begin from within – not through surgery – but inside of who you are – what you want out of life, what you want spiritually, what you value, what makes you happy. Because, without the inside parts of me feeling good, the outside parts simply won’t matter.
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F O C U S
Posted on 01. Apr, 2009 by Deb.
There are some days when I am more scattered than others.
From the moment I got up this morning, my thoughts have been flitting from here to yon – my neurons reminding me of fireflies on a summer’s night. I knew it was extreme, like a summer night in the 70′s, when a daily report I do took me twice as long as usual as I grasped to pull the pieces together of what should be a quick task. an easy task. I say the 70′s because since then, I haven’t seen many fireflies.
Greta and I are still doing our daily walks. I have my gym membership, but while the weather is nice, I will be using it as a time to exercise the dog and I both, as well as a time to really commune with nature. At times, I can feel the pull to be grounded to the earth and spending time in nature is always a way to do that. When I was in DC so much, I would visit the Smithsonian Gardens behind the Castle or Arlington National Cemetery. I have a girlfriend who needs the ocean in order to ground herself, and I understand that; if you are spiritual in any way, I am sure you will understand as well. The combination of exercise and nature were of great help, but the biggest help has been the addition of meditation of my routine. We are a week and a half away from Good Friday and my Lenten goal of meditating (usually daily) is present. It is still a struggle some days, but I can see and feel the difference.
I still have to say, however, that beyond short bursts of focused time, I am still a little scattered today. I have some deadlines tomorrow as well as some deadlines for Friday, but today, I am going to simply do the best that I can. I still struggle with the habit of being too hard on myself, however, I am lessening the severity of the self-flagellation. It is a part of living constructively, by the way, to embrace the fireflies. I’m going to put on a pretty dress and go to have drinks with one of my girlfriends and know that my focus will eventually be found again, in all probability by tomorrow. It is SPRING and it is BEAUTIFUL and it is a fabulous day to just BE and embrace the happiness and love in the world.
Whoever said that happiness was overrated was wrong, by the way. Hope you are having a lovely day – with your focus or your fireflies.
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Girlie Bonding
Posted on 31. Mar, 2009 by Deb.
There are two perfect ways of bonding with girlfriends: chatting over coffee and going to get your nails done. The best days are when you can combine the two, which is what I did today. Miss Melissa was kind enough to have me and another of her friends over for coffee (and cookies) this morning, where we discussed families and coffee, Mac vs. PC, old-fashioned hardware stores, piercings, tattoos, religion and gourmet food. We also spent some time out on the deck, enjoying the cool Spring breeze and the sunshine. The butterflies are beginning toe flourish and we saw several varieties as well as bees hovering over the photinias. It never fails to amaze me how we can cover so much ground and how conversations about one subject flow seemingly into another without any awkward segues.
After coffee and chats, Melissa and I headed on to the nail salon for manicures and pedicures. It seems like there is a nail salon in every strip mall in the area, but they are not all equal. Besides, I am picky – and I believe Melissa is just as picky – as to the environment. It’s amazing how relaxing putting your feet (and hands) in plastic bags filled with hot wax can be, as you would think it was some sort of torture. Each little nail place is different, and this place does the paraffin as well as a hot rock massage as part of the “deluxe” routine. Discussions turned a tad more serious when it was just Melissa and I as we discussed work and writing and family related stuff. We always brainstorm and discuss where we are on All Things Girl when we do this, so it’s both work and pampering. Two short hours later, we left with beautiful hands and feet. I chose “I’m not Really a Waitress”, the classic red of OPI world.
By the way, when I grow up, I want to name OPI Nail Polish. The names are always so clever.
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Must Love Dogs
Posted on 30. Mar, 2009 by Deb.
If you know me, you know that I have a dog named Greta. She is a Bouvier des Flanders, one of those breeds that you just *don’t* hear about on a daily basis. She is in her elder years, turning 9 this April, and she weighs 92-lbs. She sleeps quite a bit, but is still lively enough to go for walks and play hide-and-seek with me in the circle that makes up our living room and kitchen. She is happy as long as she is just in the same room that I am in. She loves everyone else in the family, but she is my dog. In fact, I felt so strongly about that issue that I had her named specifically in the divorce papers. Prior to bringing her into our household, I did quite a bit of research of breeds and talked to other Bouvier owners before we made the decision. She has been the most amazing dog I have ever had and in all honesty, once she is gone, I don’t know if I will want another dog.
Bouviers were bred to be work animals and spent their time herding cattle and pulling milk drays. They flourished, up until World War I, when the French used the sturdy animals to assist in pulling injured soldiers out of trenches as well as to carry messages to the front lines. The Germans, you see, realized the work the dogs were doing and it wasn’t unusal for snipers to take out dogs. A casualty of war. Thanks to a concerted effort, the breed has thankfully survivied. The breed is loyal, strong-willed, agressive, protective, and loving.
Most people can walk int our home and be greeted affectionately. She carefully watches how we greet a stranger and follows in kind. That was something that was not in her nature, to be honest, but careful socialization in her puppy days gave us this trust of the family as her guide to the trustworthiness of strangers. She is, however, a protective dog. Recently, a strange dog ran towards as at the park and she jumped in between us, ready to attack and defend me. The other dog owner (trailing behind with the leash the dog should have been wearing) was offended by her aggression, never understanding that she didn’t know his dog “just wanted to play” and I had to explain to him that she had seen it as an attack on me (and that he needed to leash his dog!).
One of the things about being home lately has been getting to spend some time with her – like our daily walks as well as know that she is there, sleeping at the foot of my bed. I guess I’ve realized, too, that she is moving slower and my time with her may be limited. I’m just thankful I’ve had any time with her. She truly is one of a kind…
Time for school. Hope you are having a good Monday. It’s certainly a Monday in my world…..