While I'm on the subject, brought to the forefront by your Dad's comment, would you mind if I incorporated into a blog post?

I'd credit you/your blog post in the writing.

That's definitely a difficult situation. Poor Jess, and poor you, too. I'm sure you felt pretty helpless. As you know, I lost my grandmom in September. John was at a loss as far as what he could do for me. He's never had any kind of loss. He's been very fortunate that way. He just kept asking me, "What can I do? What do you need?" You did what you had to do, and I'm sorry you guys had to go through that at all, and especially sorry that something like that happened so early on in your relationship. I really am sorry that happened.

I LOVE your bullet point about drama! You totally rock, my friend!!

I have people that I don't know subscribing to me on Facebook, too. I don't understand it at all. I get random friend requests also. One of the reasons I have my wedding photo as my profile pic is because I get friend requests from dudes that are like, "hey gorgeous, what's up?" Um, really? Idiots.

oh . . . ow . . . I can so relate to the comment about the 'vegetarian thing'.

My dad's a marvel on the bbq - between him and my mom, they've come up with recipes that make meat melt in your mouth.

Before I gave myself permission to follow my inclination, I found his meat preparation the best this side of heaven.

He just cannot get his head around me declining his succulent offerings.

It's . . . it's . . . bordering on the blasphemous. Ooops. I should not be laughing.

And food is soooo important to him. Ah, well . . . I've become the fly in his dietary ointment.

Guess what? My daughter now has a guinea pig, so now I get to worry about the price of carrots, since this creature eats them. I didn't before, having never allowed them to pass my lips.

hmmm... what if my muse jabs pencils in my eyes for blaming her?

I like Earl. Earl is the ol' shaggy farmer guy who's hair I cut once in a while. He brings me a sack of Idaho potatoes when he comes... not in trade, but because he's just a nice guy.

Brain nuggets! Now that brings all sorts of pictures to mind. Like . . . I forgot to eat lunch!

gypsy,

If you haven't guessed I get lazy and write my blogs about whatever is on my mind... often they are a restatement of the obvious, however for many the obvious can't be restated enough. I am continously amazed by the lack of developmental work that accompanies what are often sizable investments of time and effort... It's like going to a car show and seeing an ugly car with a $10,000 paint job. It's amusing in a sense but in another, depressing.

I forgot I read the same Ann Rice series that you did. Maybe Twilight should have been called, "Son of LaStadt. (Or whatever his name was...

I agree. It's hard to believe someone with a voice like hers couldn't make herself happy...so sad.

What a great perspective on life. I never thought about it that way, but now I will be looking for the "new" thing each day

Wait.....there is supposed to be structure in writing?!!!! When did this memo happen and why didn't I get it!

I thought of Earl, the blog challenge person, and James Earl Jones...one old and one new. It is interesting to take note of all the thoughts that flee through our minds when we are not totally concentrating on what we are doing and just how we relate to things. I guess that is what makes each of us unique in that particular way. I like your food for thought .

Is it some sort of convoluted compliment that you're popular enough to have a weirdo stalker?

Wow. I am so happy for you guys, Sandy. And you're exactly right. This guy is getting the best treasure of all—Shannon!

I would so love to have been a fly on the wall that night! Maybe the skunk is your muse!

That is truly a bummer, Sandy. I was on a four-lane highway near Fort Worth when I was a student. (a poor student) I was driving my Volkswagon back from a little church I worked in. There were COWS on the highway! I swerved gently in to the inside lane to miss a light colored cow...and bashed into a black cow! It wasn't an innerstate highway, and my speed was reasonably low, especially after braking. But the cow limped away into the field, and my little car was drivable, barely. It's so true of animals; good fences make good neighbors.

I do love it, Sandy! Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

I have a thought. If you can't write, blame it on your muse. If you DO wirte, credit it to brain power and the emotional insights dwelling deep in your own soul! Works for me!

I think it's true anticipation and retrospect are often better than the here and now, which applies to places we visit too. Nothing and nowhere is perfect, but I think you have the ability to pluck the best from wherever you are. Better to wonder where the hell you are, than to know exactly yet long to be elsewhere?

We all have regrets, some more than others. Being 'present' is very difficult, but taking one day at a time as much as we can do. I suspect leaving your nest today may alter your perspective somewhat. Hope so anyway.

We're off to the supermarket. All those carrots...

Kåre,

As much as we want to, we can't revisit the past without revisiting our errors. You've been gently tempting the devil for a few years now and although I read that you are content to be in CR, you do not seem to have found what you have been looking for. You do not seem to blossom personally. Yes, your excursions into nature give us the beauty your eyes see, but I have been hoping to see another type of transformation from you.

And maybe, because you're trying to find a certain part of your happy-go-lucky years, this will not ever be possible.

And I feel sad for you.

Pole dancing. Definitely!

"Dear, I've got this new pole installed because your sports programs are the purfect background for learning to pole dance."

"You're gonna WHAT?"

"Oh, that's just the first step in my new career. There's a new strip club auditioning next month for a new show done only by mature women. I'm purfect for the role, don't you think?"

One of two things: full endorsement for your new project or heart attack.

Scuba diving? In Britain? In winter? Ya, I vote for that one, but only if I get to film

Good to see comments from people I haven't spoken to in awhile.

The only ice here is in the freezer and I had to clean out an old icetray because I don't do ice.

When I get back to Mointana there will probably be some waiting for me.

Oops...

*hardhat needed*

I did go to the Club Marcella site. Hadn't seen or heard of that place in years. The page is ab-fab ...of course. Back in the day ...before it had that name...

As for gas-fracking. It's an issue in Montana as we are a mineral resource state that has both prospered and been hurt by the industry.

Yes, I remember that time. A hug to Jess.

As for Whitney ....best to remember her soaring voice when she sang the anthem in '91 before the Bills and Giants game. Best to remember the best ...and forget the rest.

Scuba Diving for me. I don't have the energy for an affair (as if someone would be attracted these fat old bones) or the flexibility for pole dancing.

I know exactly what you mean about when you do an activity on a different day it messes up the brain!! haha- the week it snowed here, I was forever trying to figure out 'what day is it today' because my normal routine was disrupted....I told my hubby, "If you find out I have Alzheimer s what will you do?" He informed me (most definitely) he would NOT be sticking with me- he would put me in a home- I said, "WHY???" He said, "Because can you imagine...if you forget who I am and you wake up and see this Chinese guy next to you??!! You'll probably try to kill me!" I couldn't stop laughing!!!!
At least for now, my brain cells seem to be clinging on for dear life...hopefully they will continue to do so :)

And no jokes about a town I now remember as "Haveastraw", please.

I vote for an affair with Robbie

hugz

hugz

Of course, it could all come to naught, but I'll bet it works out fantastically.

I vote for pole dancing.

Thanks Joel...love the way you put it! Only, I had to strike out a bunch of times in Triple-A to get there.

And Julie, no need to not give it away! I've already done that. Or as I like to say, again, "BOOM! goes the dynamite!" Damn does that feel good!

And another undecipherable comment from the always verbose Teff. Thanks for the welcome to something I was already a part of. Thanks for the comment about "dialog" I didn't include for a reason. I have no idea what your comment is trying to say, other than, well, no need to go there anymore. Just senseless and pointless.