People

One of greatest joys of life is watching people.  Why?  Because we hate to watch ourselves and our own bad behavior.  Arguably, my whole blog endeavour could be viewed as bad behavior by some, but I look at it as a way for me to vent my frustrations, share my thoughts and deliver my own little brand of therapy to myself...   BUT, moving on....  I generally hate going to the mall. The stores are expensive, the spaces are crowded, and parking is horrendous, but it's a great place to plop down with a pretzel and a drink and people watch. When my grandmother was alive she used to love to sit and watch people walk by and try to figure out whether the people walking together were related or friends, who was who in the family dynamic, etc.  She also loved to watch women walk by with long beautiful hair (she was nearly bald at this time and wore a wig...).  Whenever I see someone with long hair, to this day I think "Wow - Mema would have loved that!".  Another good place to people watch is on the bus; however this is a bit more difficult because people are looking around and notice when you are watching them. Sometimes they don't like to be watched and sometimes they are paranoid.  Then they want to know why you looked at them and then it can get very ugly.  So, I've decided that when I retire I'm going to get a part time job as a local city bus driver.  I can check the rear view mirror all I want without being questioned as to why (gotta see out the back ya know!!)... I can drive all around town, meet new people and provide a safe place for those who have no place to go. :(  Some of you know that I work in the mental health field and find it fascinating.  It always amazes me to see people who have gone from absolutely nothing to finding themselves through some small piece of hope or enlightenment and then re-establishing themselves into individuals who are educated, competent, helpful and eager to give back. I've seen some go on to establish successful businesses, build group homes or drop in centers to help others, staff soup kitchens, teach employment skills, etc.  All because they finally "got" what was going on and decided to follow through with the necessary treatment, difficult as it may be, in order to be the best they can. So, they next time you're out people watching and see someone that you think may need some help, remember, they may be the next successful entrepreneur and a smile might be all it takes for them to get started :)

Earth Pot

Note to self:  Never eat anything that is served in a flower pot.  Today I had lunch with my husband at a fairly new little Vietnamese place near my office.  As I perused the menu I saw an option called "Earth Pot" and my husband pointed one out as the waiter walked by.  Intrigued by the beauty of this little clay dish, I decided that the food inside must be just as lovely.  I eagerly ordered it with some chicken and vegetables.  A pretty safe choice, right?  WRONG!!  After bite #1 I thought I might need to call the fire department.  As my mouth throbbed and I struggled to keep my eyes inside my face, I watched my husband happily eating his.  Now I had a dilemma....do I keep eating it and hope that once it cools a bit the spices magically disappear or should I shove it aside and starve with a little frownie face.  Well, I decided to eat what I could, albeit very slowly, and all the time thinking about how nice a little plant would look on my windowsill growing out of that beautiful dish.  Once I'd had enough, I decided to box the rest up to take home to my little 11 year old spice loving princess.  Surely, she'll tell me whether it's truly spicy or she'll laugh at me and call me a wimp. Problem #2....apparently spicy earth pot food is not only spicy in your mouth....it's still spicy in your stomach and then in your intestines and then.........well, you get where I'm going....... I'm now thinking that an ice bath might not be such a bad thing.  That and I feel like I have a rather large bowling ball in my stomach which is not helping me to get any work done.  Next time I'll stick with my original plan.......pho!

It's Official!!

Well, Spring is finally here!  I look around and see all the new life and it makes me appreciate the beauty of a God-designed world all over again.  Daffodils are up and bulbs are growing as well - I even put new mulch in the front :)  My husband has been enjoying all the new life as well.  As soon as Spring "sprung" he sat down at the computer and ordered a black angus to be slaughtered.  This Saturday we'll go to pick up our meat. Now he's looking at hogs......... All the while, I sit and think of names for these creatures in hopes that if it becomes personalized he won't want to have it slaughtered...no such luck.  I have to admit though, I am looking forward to having a year's worth of quality beef in our freezer chest.  I just didn't want to have to see what Buddy looked like before he got wrapped in white paper and labeled...

It's going to be a busy week.  Steph leaves for her band trip to Chicago tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m.  I often wonder why they can't leave at 7 or 8....always 5:30....and of course I have to go up there because I have to personally deliver her luggage to the bus so they know that I "searched" it.  Why can't I search it at home the night before and cover it in duct tape?  One more year of this and then I'll be missing it...or not.  Jess goes to her dad this weekend so that 2 out of 3.  Bailey will be around but he usually stays in his room.  It is nice when we can get him out though.  Perhaps he can come help us get Buddy...er....the meat....and then we can have some friends over to hang on the deck, assuming it will be nice out....This meat thing has me a little freaked out -- OK -- a lot freaked out.  I wonder if when I get to the meat place I'll walk in and see cows dangling from the ceiling?  Will there be people outside leading a line of cattle in there like what the Nazis did to the Jews as the were led to the gas chamber?  I shudder at the thought and I'm not quite sure how to prepare for this experience...

Well, have a blessed day everyone!

Spring

Could it be that Spring has finally sprung?  I sure hope so...I love to wake up and hear the birds singing :)   I'm trying to get out more with the dogs for walks, and be sure I get my daily dose, maybe plus some extra!, of Vitamin D :)  Jessica and her friend are out jumping on the trampoline, Eric is making pepperoni sausage, the dogs are sound asleep, kids all over the neighborhood are outside playing, Stephanie has gone to "Festival" with the FHS chorus, and the weather is just gorgeous!  So, I decided to write while I was still in a fairly decent mood, while trying to drown out the voice screaming at the television (or himself) across the hall from my bedroom.... >:{   Tomorrow is the Super Pet Expo and we are going to drag our 80 lb. oaf (a.k.a dog), Charlie.  Gluttons for punishment, maybe, but it will keep us from eating out afterwards!  Perhaps I'll drag out my hammock and read for a bit on the deck.  Then a trip to PJ Skidoos for a beer on the patio.  Absolutely anything to get outside and away from here on this beautiful day! 

On another note, I've joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and I'll have to let everyone know how it works out.  Supposedly, you pay a fee for about 22 weeks of  farm grown food that is different every week (i.e. greens, asparagus, strawberries in Week 1 with a U pick bonus of 3 pts. of strawberries).  The U pick bonus applies if you arrange to pick up your goods at the farm every week. Then you get an extra 3 pts of strawberries at no extra charge but you pick them yourself.  They do this for pumpkins, strawberries, blueberries, etc. and it looks like a nice way to get out of the house and do something different this year. Whether it's worth the cost or not remains to be seen so I'll keep you posted but it looks like fun.  I did it through Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia for $462.00.  That is 22 weeks of food for 4, 6 family memberships, two free passes for guests, free admission to all festivals, free u pick bonuses every week, free use of the 18 hole cowpie putt putt, etc.  The downside is that if there is some sort of catastrophe (i.e. a tornado carries the farm away, etc.) you lose your money as it is kind of a "share the risk, share the gain" kind of venture.  I'm praying for no tornadoes in Bluemont this year...