Monday Musing

I just took a few minutes to watch Susan Boyle on the Today Show on NBC.  What a great talent and seemingly such a nice person.  I will be buying her CD.  Especially since I got a 40% off coupon from Barnes & Noble for it.....teehee.  But I probably would have bought it anyway.  I admire people who are able to push through their obstacles and/or fears to accomplish something important to them.

Now, I've heard that the critics aren't so enamored of Ms. Boyle.  They opine that she is (to use one of my favorite words from one of my favorite Christmas movies) "schmaltzy".  I say that a little schmaltz may be EXACTLY what the world needs about now.  We are full of cynics, critics and curmudgeons.  A shot of innocence sounds pretty damn refreshing to me.

So sing on, Susan........I'll be listening with an open heart.

You Can Quote Me

"Many small people, who in many small places do many small things, can alter the face of the world."

(Piece of graffiti from the Berlin Wall, which fell 20 years ago.)

Literary Dogs

Just received an email from the AKC about a cute little contest they've devised in conjunction with PawNation.com.  They're asking people to vote for their favorite dog character in literature.  As several people pointed out, they left out two icons:  Lassie and Lad.  But included Clifford The Big Red Dog.  Huh?  And CUJO!  At least they managed to include my second fav, Skip of My Dog Skip fame.

I've read lots of dog stories in my life, but probably the one that I would have to vote for is one I never read.  I was too young to know how at the time.  But my father read it to me -- a chapter every night before bed.  You'll recognize him:  Old Yeller.  I remember very well being taken to see the movie when it came out.  I think it was the first time (but definitely not the last) I ever cried at the movies. 

I guess I can thank that "old yeller dog" for being engulfed in dog hair and drool since then.

Martha Made Me Do It

See this?  It's all because of Martha Stewart and her magazine. 

Granted....I most likely would have gotten the fake poinsettas anyway.  I use them on my front porch for the holidays and half of them got thrown out after last year.  They were just way too faded and sad looking.  But if I hadn't been flipping through Martha's December issue, I wouldn't have gotten the bright idea to try some window dressing this year.  My porch is a trial.  It's VERY long and therefore, it takes quite a lot of stuff to make it look "decorated".  Not to mention that there is usually, for some unknown reason, a small gale-force wind blowing across it.  So anything over 2 feet tall sitting out there is repeatedly -- and I mean REPEATEDLY -- knocked down or over.

So, in the next few days I will don my Santa's elf hat and attempt again to fashion something I can attach to the windows that will get me in the Christmas spirit.  Lord knows I don't have it yet.  Of course, first I have to get all the summer plants off the porch and put somewhere to survive the winter.  Another trial......but let's not go there right now.

From Purgatory to Paradise

Sometimes it's tough to be a dog.  Especially one of my dogs.  First, I get a little glint in the eye.  Then I put on a grooming smock.  Then dogs start disappearing.  I guess I could take the easy way out and just get them clipped down by a groomer every few weeks.  But I love the look of a stripped coat.  Plus the fact I keep trying to get better at grooming.  Hard to do if you don't have a dog or two to practice on. 

So, today was the day.  First it was toenails.  Everybody hates having nails done.  I tell them it's part of the price to live here.  The smock went on and a black dog was grabbed and taken.  It happened to be Blue, who, after 5 years of this, stoically submits with a certain amount of grace.  A couple of hours later (after fortifying myself with some lunch), it was Vivi's turn.  Being still relatively new to the ins and outs of grooming, she does the circle game:  every time I grab one end, she turns to present the opposite one to me.  It's an exhausting dance for her and for me.  Not to say it doesn't have it's own little rhythm after a few minutes.  But still.  It sure would be easier -- and faster -- if I didn't have to keep turning her around and/or circling the table myself.

She's learning though that there are certain compensations for beauty work.  If you wait long enough, patiently enough, something wonderful happens.  You get to get DOWN.  And not only DOWN, but OUTSIDE.  Where all kinds of surprises can be awaiting................

TABLE PURGATORY

PARADISE

RePot

Sometimes when you're feeling as bedraggled, dry and sad as last summer's dahlias, you just need to rethink your flower.......become this winter's pansies and stick your little face in to the sun.

From this .........

                    To this................






I'm ready to start blooming now.  Isn't it wonderful how digging in the dirt can be so refreshing and mind clearing?

The Attack of the Antibiotics

Since October 21st, which is the last time I sat down to write, a few notable things have happened.

Yes, Mama got moved.  That was 3 weeks ago and now when you go over to her house, it's like she's been there for months, if not years.  That Mama.  She's a worker-bee alright.  Of course, if you go DOWNSTAIRS, that's a whole different story.  Let's just say that it may take all of 2010 to get that conglomeration of "things" straightened out.  However, she does know where the Christmas decorations are.  Important stuff.

We loaded everyone up last weekend to go to the Fala Day event at the Little White House in Warm Springs, GA sponsored by the Atlanta Scottie club.  Always a fun little trip.  I came home with two more unnecessary Scottie collectibles, but cute nonetheless.  However, the weekend just wasn't as fun as it could have been.

Nobody felt good.  DH's knee/leg was hurting.  And I was on some rather potent antibiotics for some unknown infection running around my system.  I hate medicine.  Almost all of those antibiotic things make me feel worse than whatever it is I have.  And this was no exception.  We soldiered on though, but were thrilled to be in our own beds on Sunday night.

No relief for me though, as I have had to continue with the drugs all week.  I have been draggy and useless which has made me feel worse.  Tomorrow is the last day I have to take the stupid things and I am planning on feeling MUCH better by Sunday.  Wish me luck!