The focus of their gaze...

He watches....carefully, as the cat twitches her tail. He looks relaxed, but you can see the tension in his body. The cat, nonchalantly leans down and licks her leg. He freezes, poised to move at the slightest invitation. The other cat peers out from behind the door; she watches him. The first cat stretches out and continues her licking. He notices the second cat and now must alternate between the two. Back and forth his brows move, showing the focus of his gaze. The first cat now notices him and freezes. Her hind leg still extended outward, she looks at him steadily. He has shifted his feet under neath him, but he is still down on his bed.

The second cat is crouching and walking toward him like a tiger in the jungle. He notices her and begins to tremble with anticipation. The first cat withdraws her leg and backs up to the wall. It is a three-way stand off...anything can happen. All three are poised for attack. The cats making tiny shifts with their feet preparing to make their moves. He wags just the tip of his tail, his breath is short gasps ready to move....and then....

I turn on the vacuum cleaner...hee...hee...hee. All three, cats and dog, turn into birds and fly straight up into the air. But, there is no grace so maybe it is more like grasshoppers. Maybe grasshoppers missing one leg and wearing blindfolds, maybe a little drunk too. Anyway it is fall down on the floor, loose your breath, tears flowing from your eyes funny.

And that is what we call fun in the mountains, when all of your books have been read, there is nothing on TV and all that is left is house work. Yup, we county folk know how to have a good time. Peace and love to you all...

People, puhleeze...

You may have noticed that the people skills of individuals are on the decline, for instance: I pull up to the McDonald's drive thru window; number one, where you pay. I say hi, she says, "Hi, how are you?" I answer, "I am well how are you?"....And then she told me... "My back hurts, my head aches I have an upset stomach, my legs hurt, and I feel a little dizzy" During this I begin to blink rapidly. I think I was trying to send out a morse code S.O.S. When she had finished, I said, "Oh...that's too bad" then she went on. "Yeah, well, ya' know I wasn't feelin' well. So I'm going home in 30 minutes". I nod and say, "That's good, yeah take care" she finally gives me my receipt and I pull forward. At the next window I receive our food, smile and pull forward. My daughter says, " Mom ? Mom? Why did she say all that?" I pull over, hand her her chicken nuggets and stare out of the window. "Mom?" I answer, " I don't know.... I'm too sad to eat now!"

I was raised to ask how someone was and to expect a non-descript answer; then respond the same way. It is just polite chit-chat. Really, that is all that is required. I'm sorry if you don't feel well, I'm sorry, your life is normal. You have ups and downs just like me, but I don't want to hear them all. I just want to wish you well and go eat my quarter-pounder with-out tears. Please, I'm on a reduced salt diet! I shouldn't even be here. Peace and love to you all...

What is that smell ?!...

It is everywhere. Not strong like a dirty cat box, but subtle like a dirty gym suit. I walk around the house on a quest. The dog follows me. What is that smell? At times it is as prominent as paint drying, other times it is faint like the smell of a new plastic toy. I ask my son when was the last time he showered and I ask my daughter if she is using some new hair product. Jeeze, they are easily insulted.... It must be the cats. We have two cats and one of them has breath that could knock a buzzard off of a garbage truck. I hunt high and low, the dog is not helpful. He keeps running back and forth making the cats hide. I go into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. (a much nicer smelling room) Suddenly, there is that smell. Could there be an animal under the house? The dog walks away, bored with the game, and the smell goes with him. "Hey, when was the last time the dog had a bath?" I shout down the hall. Now the dog is insulted. He runs down into the basement confirming he is the smell... peace and love to you all

Lent...

Okay, so here we go... Lent. Why is it that when you give up something for lent, you can't stop thinking about it? I rarely drink coffee when my husband isn't here. When I gave up coffee for lent, I would salivate when I drove by a Starbucks (I don't even like their coffee) Honestly, I think if I give up lima beans for lent, I would be staring at the one can in the pantry that I accidentally bought 2 years ago. Could it be the "forbidden fruit" urge? The same urge that drives you crazy with thirst when the water is shut off so the toilet can be fixed?

Well, I think I have devised the perfect lent denial practice. Age. Due to my failing memory I can't remember what it is that I gave up and that way I won't waste all that time fixated on what ever it is that I am avoiding. Of course now I am wondering what it was that I gave up and why I gave it up. Now I'm wondering why I am sitting here when I have a comfy bed and a small, dark chocolate bar waiting for me...ewww, now I'm thinking of lima beans.

Peace and love to you all...