Urbananites in Suburbia!

I wake up every day - assuming my link to the world will be there....I grab my Droid and check email, peruse the latest news, and maybe play a word or two against my opponent's on today's version of Scrabble.....someone else somewhere across America, trying to stump me with a tough word or block a triple word move....I turn on the TV with over 300 channels and have access at my fingertips to my computer. Life is good; however, yesterday our router died and we had no internet service....WHAT?&%^$#$^&@&@!!!  Ah gees! 

Both the hubby and I had computer related things to do.....what did we do before we were all so computerized?  So we turned into urbanites today - as if we were leaving our brownstone in SoHo and we headed to the nearest Starbucks.  We ordered our liquid delicacies....he a hot chocolate and me a Salted Hot Caramel Hot Chocolate (heaven in an environmentally friendly cup!) and set up shop next to two gals studying for the MCAT's, one already in medical school. 

We wrapped up and headed to a new place, Vickery Park, http://www.vickeryparkbar.com/ an unpretentious neighborhood restaurant & bar to meet friends for lunch. I had the most yummy lunch...a  brisket sandwich with Kahlua cream sauce and smoked cheese served on a butter honey bun. Man was it good!  The side salad was also amazing chocked full of toasted pecans, fresh grated cheese and dried cranberries, no ordinary side salad.  

We continued our "urban adventure" and jumped on the train as we head to downtown Dallas to see Jeff Dunham's Identify Crisis Show at the AA Center. It's my third time to see him....he was funny as usual. A few repeat jokes from years past, but for the most part the material was fresh. 

Both places were fantastic people watching/listening places....Starbucks: a first date, sharing their life stories over a cuppa; a Dad and little girl coming in so he can read the paper and she can nosh on a cookie, then reading the grocery list together before heading to market.  Dunham's show:  Lots of different walks of life...and I mean LOTS.....Funny how they all love a guy with dolls. 

At the end Dunham turned the lights on (his hometown is Dallas so we always get an extended show). His family, parents, cousins are always in the crowd. He brought his daughter out and she shot a huge T-shirt cannon gun with t-shirts for the fans.....one guy was so determined to get that shirt that he dove, knocking a lady out of her chair (who had gotten out of her wheelchair mind you to take her seat).  After he got up, he said, "Sorry Mom."  The dude knocked over his own wheelchair bound Mom for a T-shirt. 

Luckily, it turned out the problem was a dud power cord to the router, not the router itself, so we are back in business. I don't think my tush could've taken much more on a hard wooden seat in Starbucks, though it was entertaining to watch.     

It's seasonal.......

So last week hubby and I hit Einstein's bagels for a quick breakfast.  It's fall,  the leaves are changing, weather is starting to get cool so I decide to try the Pumpkin Nut bagel and I must say it was absolutely delicious!  Toasted, fluffy cream cheese melting in middle, you get the picture.  

So running errands this morning, I think of that scrumptious little booger and I pull in on my way to Lowe's.  I march up to the counter and order my regular.....

I'll have one toasted pumpkin nut bagel with plain please.

Sorry, we no longer have that, it's seasonal.

I tilt my head like Tank the dog does when he hears me but isn't quite sure what I said....

Seasonal I say?

Yes she says, we stopped selling those on Saturday.

Another worker chimes in......Oh don't fall in love with our seasonal items, as soon as you know it they're gone!

Still perplexed I state, it's Thanksgiving this week but it's gone?  I thought this week was seasonal.

So I had to settle for a Dutch Apple, but it just wasn't the same......what kind of crap is that? 

I'm writing Mr. Einstein now - which now that I think about it, an Einstein he's not.

Tis the season.

Furry Children

I used to think people who were so into their pets were whack jobs, nuts, you know the type - talk to them all the time, dress them up, buy them a Christmas presents...weirdos......well as an empty nester, I am now one of those nut jobs. As the girls have gotten older and almost completely self-sufficient, turning into beautiful young adults, I still find a need to nurture and care for someone, something, thus my furry children reap the rewards.  

Of course I still have my human children, but they don't "need" me like when they were little. They are great fun to do things with, but they get their own food, they know how to do laundry, they drive themselves places, and now have exciting goals as their adult lives are beginning to blossom. In essence I should be thrilled as that means I did my job....but as a Mom I still miss taking care of someone.  

My furry children, Tank, Piper & Cody absolutely LOVE me....unconditionally and no matter what I say or do.  Whatever advice I dispense, they agree. Whatever I put on, they say it makes me look thin.  I get up from my computer and they pop up to follow me in case I need assistance (which I never do). My husband calls them my entourage, my minions.

Hubby and I were talking about the Royal wedding this morning, after seeing a report on TV (one of gazillions) about Wills and Kate, and we deemed that in our land, Tank would be King. While technically he's not the first born, (Cody the Cat is by four years), he would be deemed leader of the furry children. Cody just would not make a good King. He's far too lazy. Cats do good kings not make, yet they're called King of the Jungle. Go figure!  

When the commoners come knocking on my door, Cody isn't there for assistance and to alert me, it's Tank, watching over the Queen Mother and his kingdom. When in the backyard, if any trespassers should go by on their nightly walks with leashes and poop baggies in hand, it's Tank who warns them not to cross the moat or they shall face their demise. Cody on the other hand could care less, they're disturbing his slumber. When I come into the living room does Cody get up out of the recliner and offer me a seat? No, he stretches, yawns, gives me the stink eye and rolls over. When I walk into the kitchen, no matter what time of day, no matter how many times I've already fed him, he meows and meows incessantly until more food it placed in his bowl. Sometimes he eats it, sometimes he looks at it, and walks off in a huff - satisfied he worked me over like the great puppet master he thinks he is.     

Piper is our little Harry, 2nd in line and will never see the thrown, therefore we have deemed her Duchess of Amhearst Court. However, Piper would make a great Princess Diana - she adores everyone who comes her way, she is loved by the masses, and she looks great in any outfit. She's quite the fashion plate and very amenable to any outfit change. Example: We had a Halloween party (with little kids mind you) and we ourselves had no little ones to dress up, so who got it? Tank and Piper. Piper loves a great outfit.  This year she was a policewoman....our own Angie Dickinson, Veronica Mars, Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect, or 80's classic Cagney and Lacy.

She watched over all the children the entire night, especially Allison, a 5-month-old who was attending her first Halloween party ever. Piper hardly left her side all night and when Allison tugged and yanked her ears and wanted to chew on them, Piper never snapped or barked, she grimaced but eloquently wiggled her ears out of Allison's chubby little drool-covered hands, and still sat attentively by her side.    

Tank does no like the pomp and circumstance or true appreciation of a good costume or outfit, which begs to question, should he really be king? Kings must wear crowns, capes, and all the regalia fit for such a position....and he's camera shy. He does not like the paparazzi. For Halloween I put him in a cute black and orange glittered bandana, to which he took off as soon as he was out in the yard, throwing it down and running off to watch the boys at the shooting gallery. 

I took them this past spring to get a picture in the bluebonnets, a treasured Texas tradition....as the girls are past this ritual....and who cooperated? Piper - smiling and cheesing it up.  She works it like a fan is blowing on her in a photo shoot.  Tank sees a camera and he turns his head.  "Profile pics only" he says.  "I don't want a profile pic I say, I want you smiling in the bluebonnets like you're having a good time."  No such luck.  Cody standing regal as sentry guard over the scarecrow cooperated quite well for his royal portrait.  

...hmmm....too good for commoners, demands food at the drop of a meow, poses eloquently for official portraits.....maybe Cody is King after all. At any rate - they are what we coin as our furry children and we love them, just like we do the human ones..... 
      

Cody the Sentry Guard over Scarecrow

This has been Cody's post every day since Scarecrow appeared back in September.  He sat there while I took pics of him, never moving as if he were a Guard at Buckingham Palace.  Not sure where his post will be after next week.....

This sentry has been tested by time.
The first watch was a lonely time
He stood through rain and the humid heat of summer on his own.
No one around - there was no one anywhere.
He stood watch at his post guarding this place for time
This place he guarded was new to all
And that which would happen was yet to come. (Moongzr '96)

It sucks being laid off......you feel like dog doo doo.  I'm now just a statistic on the evening news.  They say when God closes a door, he opens a window......I'm looking for my new window......I hope it's a fun and exciting new adventure.



Tuesday surprises!

Don't you just love getting surprises?  The definition of a surprise:  To come upon or discover suddenly or unexpectedly. Don't good surprises just make your day? They can be little or they can be big, makes no difference. I got TWO today. SURPRISE #1:  I came home for a meeting to find my husband had left for work and had made the bed before he left.....(did you hear angels singing like I did?)  Miracles truly never cease. Small gesture - big impact!  His philosophy: We're just going to get back in it tonight, why worry about it. My philosophy: That's gross. I am going to chew my food at dinner but I still want to see it all nice and lovely on a plate before I start. 

No, this is not our bed, but it does look comfy! 



SURPRISE #2:  A dear girlfriend had come by, rang the bell, and Helen Keller here didn't hear it so she left a nice little envelope under the front porch mat. It was our wedding anniversary last week and she had a card for us. She later sent a text to advise it was there, and I ran downstairs like it was Christmas morning to see what I got. I am like this with mail, emails, birthdays, Christmas...basically anytime I get to open a surprise. I gingerly raised the mat and found a cute card with a lovely handwritten message and gift certificates to our FAVORITE frozen yogurt place......what a great Tuesday and what a great friend, as she took the time out to think of us, despite some recent dealings with a close family member's illness (hang in there Ed!). I will raise my plastic spoon in her honor and think of her fondly when I'm creating and then noshing on my glacial dairy dessert concoction.  Thank you my favorite Canadian Frostback!  

     

Lemon Harvest!

We planted a lemon bush and have watched it bloom and grow over the summer.  We finally harvested our first lemon tonight. We cut it open and the smell was absolutely amazing! Far more pungent then grocery store lemons. The smell made me want a huge vineyard and orchard in Italy. Five more lemons to enjoy! Maybe I should harvest my crop and head to Farmers Market Saturday morning....I could sell out in the first 5 minutes...:)

Ladies and Gentlemen - start your engines!

So we did what every good Texan should do at least once....and ONLY once....attend a NASCAR race.  I still do not see the allure of this "sport".  We had pit passes and infield access as hubby had posted colors with Honor Guard the day prior so we took some good friends. The day was gorgeous and we knew our people watching would be epic.  We sat in the back of our pick up truck, in lawn chairs, and watched as race cars buzzed around the track at deafening sound and lightning speed.  We left about an hour into it - been there, done that, mark it off our bucket list....but was it really ever on our bucket list?....and dare I ask, is it really a sport?