Furry Face

Good writing touches you, makes you connect to it, and allows you to feel something. At times it comes from places I wouldn't expect. There's an ESPN writer that Dina reads. At one point she sent me a link to an article he wrote about his dog. Anyone whose ever had an animal can relate. By the end, I wiped away the tears and had an overwhelming urge to call my dad to ask about the puppy of doom. I miss my puppy, but I know she's happy where she is.

Leaving her in Tucson wasn't easy, yet I knew it was the best thing. She'd gotten used to dad and he, in his retirement, made her his best friend. I hate when leaving something you love behind is the best choice. Thankfully she remembers me. Each time I visit she climbs up me in an effort to sit on my shoulders. Though now she generally ends up laying on my chest.

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater... suggest that he wear a tail." ~Fran Lebowitz

Make Way

Boston drivers make driving a contact sport. As soon as you buckle in you know you're flirting with danger. Sure, every city claims they have crappy drivers, but there really is no comparison. They have their hands glued to the horn, which is good because it helps to move people out of the way when you're driving on the sidewalk or cutting off a cop. I literally cannot drive for more than 10 mins without saying the phrase, "Holy shit, what a *insert colorful language*".

I always thought I was an average driver if not above average. Of course we all think that which is clearly why there are so many accidents. But I'm the stooge that allows people in before me and uses that odd invention, the turn signal. I even know how to merge. Merging alone sets me apart from everyone in Mass. They are physically incapable of speeding up to be able to merge into traffic without forcing every car on the road to slam on their breaks and the horn.

So you can imagine my shock when I watched these inconsiderate Massholes (as I fondly refer to them) stop at a traffic circle, aka death trap, to allow a meandering gaggle of geese to cross. Not one person honked, gave a finger, or cursed. One even smiled! I couldn't believe it, I almost had to check that I hadn't inadvertently crossed the state line.

It just proves that there's always time to stop and smell the roses... or smell the geese.

"Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead." -- Mac McCleary

Riddle Me This

I've recently had the urge to write, or at least be creative in someway. I really don't know what's brought it on... well yes I do, I just don't know what to do about it.

Figuring out what to do about something is always harder than finding the problem. I could always try poking in Flash and making something for Whirled. For whatever reason, I'm more comfortable doing that. Perhaps the more geek there is in something, the higher the comfort level?

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for." -- Georgia O'Keeffe

A Big Wheel Knocked on the Door

Holidays are so much better when there's a child getting presents. As you get older you forget how much fun ripping paper is, or hell how much fun playing in an empty box is. But kids remind you of all these things the moment they giggle and dive right into playing with the gift they got. The hug you get when they say thank you is even better.

I think I went a little over bored, but I dare anyone to blame me. You try resisting the impulse to get one more truck for the cutest boy on Earth before pointing fingers. Thankfully he's almost 3 so the toys aren't all that expensive. He's thrilled with a $1 finger puppet.

Anyway, my family likes to save big gifts and give them in goofy ways. So this year as presents were over a mysterious doorbell rang.

Riley: "Omeone's at da door!"
Me: "I think it's for you..." Who cares that it's the back door we're pointing at?
Riley: "No, Daddy gets doors cuz mailmen bring bills." Makes perfect sense, who wants those?
Me: "I'll come with you." We then go to the door and a red and yellow Big Wheel waiting with a big bow on it.
Riley: "Woah!"
Me: "I think it's for you, let's bring it in." We brought it inside and he just stared at it."
Riley: "That's not a bill Daddy!" If it were, I'd want bills like that.
His dad: "No, it's a Big Wheel and all yours." He then showed him how to get on it and they rode around the living room a bit. For the rest of the night at random points he'd just say, "Big wheel rang da door bell."

"Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving." -- Albert Einstein

Leavin On a Jet Plane

Thankfully I do know when I'll be home again (3 weeks). However, Dina's already pouting about how long I'll be gone. It just makes sense to make the vacations long to get the most bang for my buck. I don't have to worry about missing work since it goes with me. However I can't help but feel for her. I always get lonely when I'm left home alone. Well lonely after the first night where I drink a bottle of wine and watch a horrible B movie while taking up the whole bed.

I've been homesick and looking froward to seeing mom, the nephew, my puppy, and the rest of the clan. However, I'm going to miss sleeping next to the wiggling lump that insists on scooting back so her back is against me. We could be in a bed the size of Nantucket and she'd still wiggle back to squish me.

It's too bad she couldn't come, but with a new job starting, that's not really possible. I'm sure by the first night she will build a fake me out of pillows. Let's face it... I wouldn't have it any other way.

"If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters." -- Author unknown, attributed to Jim Davis

Dancin In The Chair

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If I couldn't sit here listening to music blasting while working, it's quite possible I'd have to quit after giving myself a concussion from whacking my head against the keyboard repeatedly. As it is, it's common to see me hurl a kooshball or paper ball at the monitor.

However, occasional frustration aside, I love my job. Any job where you can be barefoot is a keeper. Plus I'm constantly finding myself laughing hysterically at something someone said.

Below is an example of our typical pointless conversation:

Coworker A: "Crap, not snow again!"
Coworker B: "What is this white stuff that you speak of?"
Coworker A: "It's cold bits of ice falling from the sky!"
Coworker C: "You have slushies falling from the sky! Yum! What flavor?"
Coworker A: "They come in plain, plain, and road salt"
Coworker C: "I guess cherry is too much to ask for then."

My mother often worries that working at home will turn me into some type of hermit. I'm already half hermit anyway, so there's really no further I could sink into this. Yet I feel connected to people because I'm constantly chatting online. But I can see her point really. I've recently been thinking about friends who've left my life and the reasons for it. In doing so, I realize again why I'm a bit of a hermit. It may just be better that way.

"When humor goes, there goes civilization." -- Erma Bombeck

Crafty Eats

I think I'm getting old. I actually allowed myself to be convinced to learn to crochet. Worse yet, we have a weekly meet-up (aka cook 'n hook) at our apartment with Dina, Lisa, and myself. On the one hand, at least this is more social than the computer. On the other hand, I'm not eighty. So every Wednesday we sit there playing with yarn and watching Top Chef. Sometimes we even bake, which Dina is always up for.

I actually enjoy it more than I thought I would. I get off later than either so they both arrive from work while I'm still puttering away at the keyboard. I'm not sure if I love the easy conversation and the mocking of the people on the television, or the routine. It's so nice to have a standing appointment for some silly downtime that doesn't include a computer.

"What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul." -- Yiddish Proverb