Wednesday Words

If you are only my friend on the blog and not FB, you probably don't know how our anniversary day turned out.  If you would have told me eighteen years ago in Stillwater, MN that my new husband would be saying 'you stink' to me on our 18th anniversary, I would have hardly believed you.  If you would have told me that our dog was kinda dumb, I would have believed you.  Before the whole fiasco, this is what daughter #1 captured unbeknownst to us:

I turned the table and took a picture of her then:  

I digress.  

About an hour after our anniversary supper that consisted of a mish-mash of leftovers and lively conversation, son #1 and I headed out for a little walk in the dark.  Puppy dog and kitty cat love these dark and spooky adventures.  We were just about home when Lisi excitedly sniffed something in the culvert at the back of our lot.  Soon she starts her "I"VE GOT SOMETHING HERE" tail-wagging/following a trail gait.  I told son #1, "I bet she has sniffed out the possum again!".  I was so wrong.  

Soon we hear barking right by the driveway at the front of our house.  We run up.  Son #1 turns on his headlamp to see what she's scared up.  And scared indeed.  

A skunk!  A big skunk with tail raised and then... the explosive bomb of stink hits the air.  Lisi backed up barking but then starts heading back at the skunk.  I am yelling, "NO LISI!  LEAVE IT!  NO!" and all her high-brow training was doing not one iota of good.  She was determined to bring that skunk into submission. Without thinking clearly, I start to run up to the dog/skunk to pull Lisi away.  I'm thinking the skunk has sprayed his juice and there wouldn't be more.  Lucky for me I have a smart son.  He yells, "MOM!  NO!"  And then I realize Pepe LePew's tail is turned towards me.  I back slowly away and grab the collar of Lisi.  The skunk scampers off across the field into the darkness.  And we are left alone with a VERY, VERY pungent dog.  Her face is wet with spray.  I have it all over my hands/arms.  

I go into the house and yell for the Chairman.  He looks at me and says loudly, 'YOU STINK'.   Followed by 'get out of your clothes!'  Then he grabs the keys and heads for the store to get more ingredients for the skunk removal potion.  Two and a half-baths later, Lisi still smells musky.  Not in a wonderful way either.  So she has spent a lot of time doing this

But don't worry, she's also doing some of this:  (don't mind my purple stripe pajamas!)  She's lucky I let her be close because she still stinks.

Anyone else know of a 7-month old cat that still 'nurses'?  Simba always kneads and sucks a soft blanket before settling down for a nap.  I find it almost awkward to watch... He must have some self-confidence issues.  Or miss his mama in a big way.

Got a blog hit from Gambia!  I had to look up to see that it was in western Africa.  Don't worry.  I'm not becoming that famous.  It was an innocent soul looking for "gave note on a Chairman of the Company".  I wonder what the note said?  

Am I going to mention anything at all about the election that just happened?  Nope!  Well maybe just one thing.  I am thankful that I can now answer our phone knowing it will most likely be a real person and not a recording...

Eighteen short years...

I want to take a break from regular programming (such as Monday Musings) to offer up a tribute to this guy:

This is my home screen on my phone.  It was a moment captured by one of the MYP this summer after supper on the deck.  Today marks eighteen years of being side by side.  I have lived with the Chairman for as long as I did with my parents....

Eighteen years.  It seems like it has been a blink of an eye.  But more so, it feels like a lifetime.  In a good way.  We never fathomed on November 5, 1994 what we would be facing in the future.  We have experienced the richest, saddest, most joyous, and sometimes most challenging moments.  And we did it together.

Marriage isn't a piece of paper.  It isn't a date on the calendar.  It is a living thing.  Yes, it all isn't candles and roses and sweet smelling things.  It is also the crumbs and cat hair of life.  It is realizing that the other person isn't exactly like you.  They don't think exactly the same way.   You have to not only accept differences, but embrace them.

The Chairman has changed me in so many ways.  He's taught me how to be more sensitive.  He's taught me how to reach out to others more.  He softened my rough edges.  And he's challenged my brain to the point of it exploding (that's the problem with marrying a guy that's almost too smart for you).

The longer we have been married, the more apparent how incredibly serious the decision is on choosing a mate.  They influence every fiber of your life.  They are the parent of your children.  They are your source of Spiritual help when you can't do it for yourself.  I was beyond fortunate.  Though I did not know it at the time, I found my soul-mate with His help.

After eighteen years, you learn things that irritate - like wet shower mats from jumping out too soon.  Crumbs in the butter.  Open doors.  Too high of thermostats.  And especially things falling out of the freezer and onto your toe.  But you learn what pleases them and that's really a wonderful aspect of a long commitment.

Would I do it again?  In the flutter of my next heartbeat.  I'm living my life-long dream.  I have a husband that puts his family first.  I have MYP keeping our home lively.  I have a great big sweet dog and a cute kitty.  I have a warm home and extended family and dear friends.  I'm so thankful he chose to join up on the Utah raft trip of 1992.  I'm thankful I passed his rigorous and thorough research phase (if you know the Chairman, you know what I'm talking about).  And I'm thankful we have the future before us.  Because it will be perfect no matter the experiences we have yet to face.  Because the Chairman is by my side.  And I know we will be safe.

City Slicker

Have you heard that story about the country mouse and the city mouse?  You have?  Good!  I think I'd like to compare myself to that story because last time I wrote about a skunk in the country.  This time is about a city I never knew existed.  But I don't want to compare myself to a mouse.  Because that blasted cat that now lives here keeps killing and (gack!) sometimes eating mice.

Hello from your good friend Lisi!  Now please don't get too excited because I'm writing again so soon.  It might be another year or so before something interesting happens around here.  But today was different!  Really different.

The Big Guy that lives here ate his breakfast with his family around the table.  Then he got his big boots on!  And a jacket!  And he picked up the leash (he never uses it... I think it's a prop) and headed for the truck.  Oh BOY!  A big hike with my Big Guy.  So I hopped in and off we went!  We drove through some different areas.  I love that truck we have because the back window goes way down and I can lean waaaay out and sniff to my big-soft-hearted golden's content.  We stopped and it was a different kind of place.  Some grass, but lots of cars racing here and there.  We hiked around some tall poles a bit and then eventually got back in the truck and ended up in this super-big garage that was dark and had a lot of different levels.  The Big Guy gets out and actually puts me on a leash and we head outside of this garage place.

Then we walk down this sidewalk.  I'm looking this way.  That way.  There is NO grass anywhere in sight!  Where to you go to the bathroom?  Then the Big Guy opens this big glass door and we walk in.  Fancy!  Then we go to this big door with buttons.  The Big Guy pushes it.  The door opens.  We go in and it jostles us around and then the door opens again.  MAGIC!  Did you know my Big Guy can push buttons and we are amazingly in a completely different spot?  He's pretty neat and all, but that really wowed me!

We walk into this quiet place.  There is deep carpet.  Lots of rooms.  And one of them smelled a lot like my Big Guy!  I sniffed all over but felt most comfortable lying right by this big desk.  He looked like he was busy enough, so I took a good nap.  Even snored mind you!  But there were honks and busses roaring by on the street below and so my nap was interrupted.  After about five minutes or hours (we dogs are challenged with time), he says, 'lets go Big Girl'.  Seriously?  I'm not overweight!

This time he opened a door and there were lots and lots and lots of stairs.  So I raced him down and beat him to the bottom.  We headed back to the big garage.  I still couldn't see grass.  I'm not sure what people do in places like that where there are only tall buildings and cement and glass and no place to go potty!  Lucky for me and the Big Guy, the ride home wasn't too long.  I could tell he was talking on the phone to the the Big Lady that yells but loves me anyway that we had been on a field trip downtown.  He even said that we were just a couple blocks from the President!  I could be famous!  No wait!  I am famous.  I write stories.  That's enough for me.

My family is going outside now for a game of hide and seek in the dark.  I LOVE that game.  Except they yell at me when I help one team more than the other by sniffing them out and standing there wagging my tail.  So I'll try to be fair this time.

Hope you enjoyed my little venture to the big city!  I think I behaved so well that maybe if I'm really lucky, the Big Guy will take me to work with him more often!  I hope so.  Especially if I don't have to go potty....

Frivolous Friday

Why frivolous the curious peeps ask?  Because almost every thought I'm going to share has nothing substantial or serious about it.

Hmmm where to start?  Well at the moment, I'm waiting for a plumber to show up.  No, our toilets are not overflowing.  It is for a good reason.  A new faucet that I'm delighted to report will be a part of our kitchen!  Since most of the work will not entail leaning over, I think I'm good.  However if the theory holds true about plumbers, I'll try to avert my eyes.

Yesterday I had the privilege of being with a lot of the Chairman's family at lunchtime.  In fact, the Chairman wasn't even able to go.  I was sitting there enjoying myself to the fullest and realized that really once you have been married for a lot of years, his family/my family becomes very blurred.  His family is my family.  My family is his family.  That's a neat concept.

When the MYP have questions about homework, I defer to the Chairman if it involves math.  However, the other night there was a need for assistance in a writing assignment.  I took over assisted as best I could and found out 'my' grade was a 5.6 out of 6!  Not bad for a rookie.  (I almost never help with homework since I think they should figure it out for themselves.  Honest!)

Lisi's dog training paid off again yesterday.  In fact, it quite possibly saved her life or kept her from injury.  I was walking her while waiting for a child in piano lessons.  We became separated - she was on a grassy field and I across a parking lot.  Suddenly she discovered that she wasn't with me and started racing towards me.  I saw a van coming in very fast.  I threw up my arm in the 'wait' position for her in case she didn't hear me yell 'wait'.  She promptly sat down right at the curb and the van whizzed by.  I then yelled 'come' and she did with gusto.  Sweet, smart puppykins we have.

Can't have a post without mention of the cat.  Another call.  This time from another neighbor.  "Hello?  We have your cat here.  He's in the yard by us and seems like he is so friendly he must be an inside cat.  Did he get away from you?"  Um no.  He's looking for another rodent to kill and dismember, but likes to stop and say hello to people if they are nearby.  So thanks!  You'll probably see him wander by again.

Today the football team for son #1 is all meeting at a nearby hotel to swim and eat snacks/supper.  Picture 30 - 12/13 year old boys in a swimming pool.  Now picture Mr. and Mrs. Out of Town there for business and after seeing the glossy brochure of the calm pool head down for a dip in the hot tub to relax.  Tee-hee.

We have a neighbor that I am certain thinks I'm unique at best.  Well last night I headed out with the MYP and we had a fantastically fun game of hide and seek in the dark.  I was teamed up with one of the MYP.  We decided to lie down flat in an adjoining field.  Soon we were found and shrieks of delight were coming out of my mouth and then I realized that less than 100 yards away was Mrs. Neighbor Lady squinting through the darkness wondering if something very scary was happening.  I should grow up.  But nighttime hide and seek is still very fun.  She doesn't know what she's missing.

See?  I promised frivolity.  So there you go!

Simply Stinky

It was just like any other night.  After the people here ate their meal together circled around the round table, they did the dishes and then the Big Guy got on his jacket.  We were heading out for our evening walk!  Hello!  This is Lisi.  Yes, something happened again.

Last night the Big Guy and I started our nightly journey by the light of the moon.  I like our night walks almost better than the day ones (but don't tell the Big Lady that yells but loves me anyway).  They are more spooky.  Full of interesting things.  And the Big Guy never uses a leash.

We were heading by the last pond before we turn for home and I thought I smelled an animal.  Got deep under a big pine tree and sure enough!  A little kitty!  Wait!  It is black and white.  Uh-oh.  I back out of there.  Skunk follows me out with his tail high.  Big Guy is screaming, "RUN LISI!  RUN!!!".  I think I know what that means.  It means get closer to the skunk and give him a scare.  Wait.  Maybe not.  The skunk turns and 'shoots'.  Ohmygoodness.  It was just like the other two times.  Terrible.  I reel around looking for my master.  All I see is the silhouette of him barreling away from us and heading for home.  I must go after him!  I finally catch up with him back at our yard.  He runs into the house hollering for the Big Lady that yells but loves me anyway.  She comes outside.  Shakes her head slowly from side to side and I think she muttered under her breath 'stupid dog'.  How insulting.

She disappeared for a couple minutes and comes out wearing different clothes and a bucket with some foamy stuff.    She scrubs me down a little harder than she needed to if you want me to be honest.  I think she was kinda mad.  But she still loves me.  After she rubbed all that salty-icky stuff on me, she went inside a bit.  Then she came out and headed for the hose.  Oh no.  I'm not letting her pour all that freezing water on me after that scrubbing.  So I took off.  Wait!  What was that!  Something is right by the tree.  Big Lady still giving chase catches up with me and almost steps on the animal.  She looks down and Big Lady yelled like I've never heard before.  POSSUM!  Yeah!  That's what it is!  It has its mouth open and it looks fierce.  I keep barking and barking at it.  Big Lady has retreated to the house based on the diminishing screams.  So I'm left alone to guard the family from this icky animal.

A lot of little people run out of the house with flashlights to look.  Then out marches Big Lady.  She's all business now and grabs me away from that possum.  She hauls me up to the very cold hose water and squirts it all over me.  To add insult to injury shameful to stink, she locked me up in the cold garage all wet with that rotten cat.  He thinks the nights are for riotous partying, so now I'm exhausted, slightly damp, and a bit odorous from my excitement last night.

I think I better take a nap.

Monday Musings

I think I'm going to cheat again.  Instead of witty wisdom coming forth from the Chef, it'll be more pictures documenting my days.  I promise to return to the chuckle chair before long again.  I just have a long list of things I'd like to do before the Chairman and the MYP return from their duties today.

my al fresco lunch dates last week

 We had a couple days off school so ventured off to see Gpa and Gma R.  Gma dug out a very, very, very old thing you looked at to see a 3D image of a picture.  Think about a Viewmaster and then go back another 50 years...  We had a yummy lunch and nice visit (when I wasn't hollering at the MYP to behave themselves).

He prefers more modern technology

Moving forward 50 years to LOTS of Viewmaster  reels to look at

I should take pictures more often like this...

 Then as we were driving the hour+ home again, I started to tell some riveting stories about the past...

 At least the one sitting shotgun could capture the enthusiasm for my tales...

This one burned midnight oil and started off  her day in the chair with wild enthusiasm.

 Ok.  I'm so very sorry to my faithful reader from NE.  You can't stand dead mice pictures.  Please avert your eyes.  And remember we are near Halloween so you can expect macabre.  This might look like a great morning.  But I failed to get the other two mice in the picture as well.  And I'm sparing some very gross details like just the back feet/tail of a mouse and next to it just.  his.  face.  Major ick.  I think Simba will soon need to go to Mousers Anonymous.  I must say though, that he's turning into a unique cat in another way.  He LOVES to go on walks when we take Lisi.  I'm sure we are quite the sight with a big golden trodding perfectly beside us and a  soon-to-be tom cat racing in front and then behind and then up a tree - all the while continuing with us on our journey.

 Then there is trick or treating.  It's kind of an annual pilgrimage to come here and hit the pavement.  A nice bunch this year.  I failed to get 'the boys' as they were off and running immediately.  I think there were 10 kids here this year.

 The little goblins eating pizza to garner strength for the next subdivision.

 Son #1 came back with nearly 12 lbs. of candy.  The girls have a bit less than that.  The dentist is on speed dial.

 Ahhh.  Football.  I hesitate to write much about it because it is an intense sport.  But if you knew son #1, you would understand his need to play and bonk the crazies out of linemen.  The undefeated team has finished their job.  I almost hesitate to tell you that I felt a big tinge of sadness at the end of the last game.  However, it'll be nice to see son #1 join us for suppertime again.

Uh-oh.  Notice her, "I'm so very sorry for tearing up my new pink poodle" face?  Don't believe her.  She's not sorry one iota.  Apparently, there's hardly nothing more rewarding than to find an open seam and pull out all the stuffing.  Fortunately, Goodwill sells them for pennies.  

And that my dear peeps is my musing for this Monday.  There are four loads of clothes to fold, some stroganoff (blogger doesn't recognize the word stroganoff!) to stir up, and a pooch to walk.  Hopefully, I don't step on a dismembered mouse as I walk out the door.

Workable Wednesday

Well I should be working.  I have a house to clean, laundry to fold, a dishwasher to unload, and a dog to walk.  So yes, this will be a workable Wednesday.

It's hard to be motivated when you walk by the dog bed and see this:

Or go out to empty trash in the garage and see this:

Yes, we've upped the ante again.  A heated pad for our little feline in the garage.  Warms up his little body and he doesn't want to move.  I hope he keeps mousing anyway...

He's been causing a bit of a ruckus in the neighborhood.  It's to the point he almost needs a ghost writer.  This morning he headed inside the neighbor's home for a visit.  Yesterday, a teenage boy and his (girl)friend were walking by and apparently Simba thought he needed to be part of the action.  So he walked home with them.  We have the golden-retriever of cats.

It seems like every store has a loyalty program.  My keychain has one key and 14 loyalty plastic thingys dangling along.  Yesterday I did a drop at Goodwill and ran in for a couple new stuffed animals for Lisi and Goodwill even has a loyalty card for goodness sake!

Speaking of discounts.  We are signed up for an automatic withdrawal for many things.  I noticed this month that our internet/phone service went up by another $11.  I called to complain and threaten to leave their business behind and within five minutes I was offered a $25/month savings.  Squeaky wheels do get grease.

Does your plastic ware area look like this?

  

That actually isn't my cupboard, but it sure could have been.  I stuck my head deep in the scary, dark corners of that cupboard and basically recycled about 47 of the little deli meat containers.  I still have LOTS of storage things, but at least it is under control and doesn't leap out to the floor when I open the door.  Any tips on keeping it organized?

I think I just started to bore myself re-reading this post.  So I better go work...