Holiday Traditions

Well, we survived another Christmas! This one was extra-special because my daughter and grandchildren were with us this year. There's nothing like opening presents on Christmas morning with a 2- and 4-year old! They were so excited to see what Santa left under the tree. Tierra, the 4-year old, immediately separated her presents from her little brother's. She opened hers really quickly, moving from one to the next with speed and determination. Zeke was slower opening his, so when Tierra had opened all hers, she very thoughtfully offered to open Zeke's as well. We of course let Zeke open his own, even with the generous offer of help from his sister. After the gifts were all opened and examined, we all went to my brother's house for the traditional Christmas dinner. We've done this for many, many years, and it always feels good to be in their home for Christmas. My mom loves the Claymation Christmas Special that first aired in 1987, and I bought a copy on Amazon this year so we could keep the tradition alive. We also watched another family favorite, "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol". Thank goodness for Amazon and DVDs! We all had such a wonderful time, but then we always do. I wish everyone had the kind of family I have. Every Christmas I think it's the best one ever, and this year is no exception. Having both my kids and the grandchildren all together under one roof was just wonderful. This is the first Christmas in at least 5 years that we've all been together for the holidays. I don't take these things for granted. Each day is special, and needs to be lived to the fullest. To anyone who may stumble upon this blog, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years. I hope the future holds nothing but good things for you and the ones you love. Material things come and go. Relationships between people are to be cherished and nurtured. After all is said and done, that is what really matters, and that is what all people yearn for. That is my wish for everyone, that you give and receive love freely, fully, and unselfishly.

My Moment of Christmas Zen

So last Saturday night, I'm watching "Meet Me in St. Louis" on TCM. I was sitting on the sofa with my favorite cat, Moe, in my lap. We were at the the part of the movie where Judy Garland sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". My 2-year old grandson Zeke came into the room, climbed up next to me and snuggled under my arm just as Judy started singing. As I sat there and listened to the song with my grandson and my cat, I was struck by how perfect the moment was. It couldn't have been scripted to be more perfect. My moment of Christmas zen. And when the song was over, Zeke hopped down off the couch and went about his business of playing with his little cars. It's those little moments that make life so incredibly dear.

So, after 11 weeks of fitness training, I'm happy to report that I've reached my goal! I had my followup DEXA scan yesterday, and I've lost 10 pounds of fat and gained 4 pounds of muscle! It's a great feeling to be back in clothes that I couldn't even zip up a couple of months ago. I had reached a point where I thought it was an impossible task, but thanks to regular workouts and adjusting my eating habits, I was able to get back in shape. I've always been the type who could eat whatever I wanted and never gain an ounce, but over the last few years, that changed. I gained weight so gradually that it never really occurred to me to change my habits until the fateful day when I tried to squeeze into a dress that used to be a loose fit, and I couldn't even zip it up half way! I had lulled myself into a false sense of security with stretch jeans and baggy shirts, so the dress incident really slapped me with a dose of reality. I decided there and then to enroll in the fitness program offered at my place of employment, and I'm really glad I did. Not only did I lose the weight (and inches!) but I am more energetic and feel healthier. I've also learned to eat healthier foods, and not rely on quick and easy processed foods so much. And my snacking habits have changed as well. I used to keep a bag of dried fruit under my desk, but instead of just having a small portion, I would eat handfulls of the stuff! Fruit is healthy, right? Well, yes, but dried fruit has as many calories as candy! Yikes! I've also learned that I don't have to give up everything I like, I just have smaller portions. It has made a big difference in the way I look and feel. Our class comes to an end this week, and I'm hoping I don't backslide. But you know, I don't think I will because I want to stay fit and healthy, so I'm sure my new habits will keep me on the straight and narrow. Besides, my daughter and her family are moving back to Texas, and I want to be able to keep up with the grandkids!

Mad Men Style

Most everyone who knows me knows I am addicted to "Mad Men". I've watched every episode, and I think it is one of the best TV shows ever. I suppose I'm particularly drawn to it since I grew up in that same era and so much of the clothing and set design reminds me of my own upbringing. Not that I grew up in New York, but the similarities are there just the same. I especially like looking at the clothing, both the women's fashions as well as the children's clothes. My mom sewed a lot for my sister and me, and purchasing "store-bought" dresses was reserved for special occasions or back-to-school shopping. My mom would let my sister and me look through the pattern books for outfits we might like, and if my mom approved of the pattern, we got to pick out the fabric ourselves, so it was kind of like having designer clothes. Mom also sewed for herself, and favored the Vogue patterns. My sister and I got to pick out Simplicity or McCall's patterns. It was always so exciting to choose a design, pick out the fabric, and take it home. I was always so impatient to get started. Poor Mom hardly got in the door before I was laying out the fabric on the table and pinning the pieces down so we could cut it out and start sewing. Back then, labels weren't really important...what was important was whether or not you were in style, and since my mom sewed, I was always on the cutting edge of fashion. And I never had to worry about someone else showing up for school in the same dress as me! I was very lucky to have a mom who could sew, and was really good at it. I loved the clothes she made. When my daughter was young, I sewed for her, too. There's something so satisfying about seeing fabric go from being on the bolt to becoming an article of clothing. Makes me want to start sewing again! Maybe for my granddaughter....

The workout is working!

I'm happy to report that after just 3 weeks of my new fitness program, I am seeing some really good results! My body feels more like it used to before I gained weight, and I have lost 3 pounds! My belly is flatter and my thighs are slimmer. I've been wearing jeans and skirts I haven't been able to wear for several months. I'm really happy with the progress, and it is keeping me motivated. I downloaded an app on my iPhone which allows me to keep track of calories in, and I think this is helping me not only to watch how much I eat, but also what I eat. I'm eating healthier foods, more natural and less processed. I'm also eating more protein and fruits and vegetables. I've discovered farro, which is a grain cultivated in ancient times. It has become a popular item with chefs world wide, and it makes a great side dish. It is also a healthy grain, and can be used in all sorts of ways. It's easy to prepare, and can be adapted to most recipes where you might use rice or pasta. I highly recommend it.

I've been working out twice a week with my fitness group, and once a week we have a nutrition class. We are also supposed to work out on our own another three times a week, and I've done that this week. I have a one-hour yoga class each week, and I've been walking a mile or a mile and a half. This week I added strength training and used the weight equipment at our gym at work. I feel more energetic and the fact that my muffin-top has diminished is really encouraging me to keep going!

I decide to de-clutter

For a few years (I won't say how many), I've been meaning to organize my bedroom and get rid of the piles of clothing and other stuff cluttering up the place. Last week I took a giant leap in accomplishing just that. I had an old chest of drawers that was given to us when we lived in Arkansas back in 1979. This thing was large, clunky, and took up a bunch of space, but had not much space for actual clothing. A few weeks ago I was at Ikea with my son and his girlfriend, and I saw a bookcase (Expedit, in case you're interested). It had 16 "cubbies" and you could purchase bins which fit like drawers in the openings. I decided that it would make a wonderful replacement for the old relic in my room, taking up less space and holding more clothing. I went back to Ikea last Friday and purchased the bookcase and 16 of the bins to go with it. Saturday and Sunday were spent putting it together. Sunday afternoon I hauled the old chest to the curb and replaced it with the clean, modern new unit. What a difference! I unloaded everything from the chest and put it in the new setup. I also emptied four rolling carts full of clothes and put them in as well. After all that, I still had 5 empty bins! Amazing! And since I was moving stuff around and getting rid of piles, I was forced to clean and throw out old magazines, books, and other "stuff" that was just cluttering up the place. I can't tell you how good it felt to look around and see everything clean, organized and in its place. I've decided I'm going to do this with the rest of the house, room by room. The Goodwill and Salvation Army better watch out...I'll be bringing in a ton of stuff!

Fitness, Day Two

We had our second workout session yesterday, and I can feel it today, especially in my shoulders and thighs. On the other hand, I did survive the workout. It was cross-training, with aerobics and strength training stations. I kind of liked it better, because we had lots of variations and only spent 30 seconds at each station. We made it through the first round of stations (there were 15), and when we finished, our instructor told us to "do it again!" So we did, only this time we were supposed to "step it up" and do each excercise faster. Well, I was beat from doing the first round, so I didn't step it up too much, I'm afraid. Our homework is to walk, run, or jog a mile and time how long it takes. With my knees, I know I'll be walking, but I'll try to walk at a faster pace than just a leisurely stroll.

We also had our first nutrition session and learned quite a bit about fat and calories. One really useful tidbit I learned is that a 5 oz. glass of pino noir is only about 70 calories. I know what I'll be drinking from now on!

Fitness, Day One

Well, I survived the first workout...that alone is quite an achievement. Let's face it, I thought I was in OK shape, just a little belly fat; nothing too dramatic. Boy, howdy, was I wrong! Ten minutes into the workout, I realized that I was not in as good shape as I thought. I was struggling to keep up with the moves, and sweat was pouring off me. I didn't know I had that much perspiration in me! We were moving, moving, moving...marching and running in place, doing lunges, jumping jacks, and lord knows what else. We also had a push-up test. We were charged with doing as many push-ups as we could in one minute. I did ten, and was surprised I did that! Well, I've got nowhere to go but up, right? We will have round two this afternoon. I'm hoping I get better at this....

Gonna get fit.

After years of just talking about it, I'm finally going to work on my belly fat. The University of Texas has a program called "Fitness Institute of Texas". The program is 12 weeks of excercise and nutrition classes designed to help you lose fat while gaining muscle. Since it is being offered through the place where I work, I figured it was worth trying. If I successfully complete the course, my fees will be refunded to me in full, so all I've got to lose is the weight! We start next Tuesday, and I will be tracking my excercise and eating habits, so I've got to start being more disciplined as well. I'll keep the blog posted on my progress. I don't need to lose much, but I do want to gain strength. No sense in waiting till it's too late! Maybe if I'm brave enough, I'll post before and after photos.

iPhone

Well, at my son's insistance, I finally got an iPhone. I was skeptical at first, but he assured me that I would love it eventually. I have to admit, it is more fun than my old phone, and it is much easier to check e-mail and get messages. More time-wasters, too. I downloaded an app for a free mah jongg game, and I'm quite addicted. He also has me playing a Scrabble-type game called "Words With Friends" and I've got two games going at all times (one with him and one with his friend Jenna). I justify it by saying playing these games keeps my mind sharp. I've also downloaded an app that tells me when and where happy hours are occuring in Austin. Now that is handy information! I always said I just wanted a phone that lets me make and receive calls, but I must admit, I'm getting attached to my iPhone. Oh, and did I mention that I can check Facebook regularly. I'm never out of touch now!

Being a Grandma

I always thought I was too young to be a grandma, but now I have two adorable grandchildren, and I love it. Everyone I knew who had grandchildren said it was an incredible experience, and I totally agree. It's so much fun to rediscover your own childhood through the eyes of a child. You do that with your own children, but with grandchildren it's even better because you don't have to worry about the raising and discipline...that's their parents' job. Tierra, the 4-year old, is a total delight. She has a very active imagination, and it is so much fun to enter that world with her. She describes in great detail her "dream castle" where all the things she wants or wants to see live and play. Unicorns and sparkles are her favorite things, and she is very much the "girly-girl". Her favorite colors are pink and purple, and she loves to dress up. That's not to say she's afraid to get dirty. Oh, no! She's not afraid to try new things, and is quite the little daredevil. We went to Blanco State Park a couple of days ago to swim in the river, and she swims like a little fish. She would jump in the water and go under and swim to the nearest family member. I shouldn't have been surprised, though. She's spent most of her life near the water, most recently living in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, where she swam in the Pacific Ocean and even learned to body surf! Zeke, the two-year old, is quite the little charmer, and even though he's not talking much yet, has his own language and understands everything you say to him. He is fascinated by our three cats, and the cats grudgingly have accepted the kids. Zeke loves all things with a motor, and especially loves trucks and motorcycles. And sharks. He loves sharks.

I am having the best time with them, and it will be a sad day when we have to take them to the airport for their return trip home. However until then, I'm enjoying each and every minute. I want them to remember their time with grandma and grandpa as fondly as I remember my visits with my own grandparents. Life is an amazing journey, and you have to be open to each and every experience that comes your way.

Trip to the Zoo

My daughter and her family are visiting from Mexico. They'll be here one month, so I decided it would be a good time to keep up a family tradition and take the grandkids to the San Antonio Zoo. It was one of the first places we visited when my family moved to San Antonio in 1961, and I took my kids there when they were young, so naturally it was a must to take the grandkids. Tierra, age 4, and Zeke, age 2 loved it. We went on a Thursday, and the zoo was not crowded at all. We saw most of the exhibits, and my neice Jennifer and her three kids met us there for lunch. Afterward, we took a ride on the Brackenridge Eagle, another San Antonio tradition. The Eagle once was, or maybe still is, the world's largest miniature railroad, and takes you on a tour of Brackenridge Park. We arrived at the train station just as the train was pulling in, so we didn't have to wait for our ride. It was a wonderful day!

FFWC Reunion--Mission Accomplished!

Our reunion was a huge success! Eleven of us were in attendance, and we had a ball. It's just so great to get together and catch up on what's been happening in our lives, and to reminisce about all the fun we had together at Texas Tech. We went to Ruiodoso Downs and watched the horses run...a few of the group even won a little money betting on the ponies! Something unusual happened at this reunion...we had a couple of mascots join us! One morning, a large black dog appeared at the back door. We didn't know if it had been abandoned or was lost, or was just a neighborhood dog. She was hungry and thirsty, so we fed her and gave her a bowl of water, which she lapped up. This was the day we went to the races, so on the way back to the house, I stopped and picked up a box of dog biscuits in case she was still there when we got home. She was nowhere to be found, so we figured she had gone elsewhere. I was getting ready to go to bed when she just appeared on the porch, so I gave her some biscuits and went to bed. Then next morning she was still on the porch, so I gave her some food and water. We were still wondering about where she came from and where she belonged when suddenly we realized there were two of them! The one who appeared first was younger, the second one was older and a bit more grey around the muzzle. We named them Sally and Sue, and I decided that Sue must be Sally's mother. The two of them were so sweet, well-behaved and very polite. They were our protectors for the remainder of the reunion. Of course, I took pictures.....

FFWC Reunion

I am fortunate to be part of a group of exceptional women. We were all enrolled at Texas Tech in the early 1970's, and lived on the 5th floor of Clement Hall. After graduation, we (mostly) went our separate ways, as many college friends do. Then in 1982, we got together for a reunion. We've been "reunioning" ever since. Every summer, the weekend after the 4th of July. No husbands, no kids. Just the girls. And it is great. We catch up on each other's lives, compare notes on child rearing, husbands, in-laws, boyfriends (ex- and current). We've been together through divorces, deaths, illnesses, births, children and grandchildren. We can (and do!) talk about anything and everything. We offer each other friendship, love and support. I have not missed a single reunion in all the years we've been meeting, and I don't plan to, either. We've got one coming up next week in Ruidoso, New Mexico. I think of it as my once-a-year group therapy. There are 13 of us in the group, and it looks like this year most all of us will be in attendance. I can't wait!

More Beauty tips

My friend Denise liked my AquaNet endorsement so much she asked for more tips, so here goes....
I got an e-mail today with photos of Hollywood actresses caught without makeup. You know, side-by-side photos showing how they really look compared to how they look after a session in the makeup chair. It got me to thinking about my own use of makeup. I came of age in the late 1960's to early 1970's, and it was all about the "natural" look, so I used very little makeup on my face. I was also lucky that I had good skin and didn't need much coverup. My basic makeup session consists of a little eye shadow (generally browns or greens, some purple on occasion), matching eyeliner, and brown-black mascara for the eyes. I put a bit of cover stick under my eyes to help decrease the look of puffiness, then a bit of liquid foundation and blush. That's it. Oh, and lipstick, generally pink or mauve, sometimes a brighter clear red depending on where I'm going. I am a fanatic about washing my face before going to bed. I once read an article about Lena Horne, who had great skin and looked fantastic well into her '80's and she said she always washed her face with "whatever was in the soap dish". I'm not quite that casual...I use a good facial cleanser. My current favorite is Saint Ives Green Tea face wash. It is gentle and smells great. I also use a good moisturizer day and night. You don't have to spend a fortune to take care of your skin!

Beauty Tip

For those of you interested in this sort of thing, I've rediscovered an old friend...AquaNet Hairspray. Seriously. It's not the sticky, stiff AquaNet of years gone by. I use it as a styling aid, and it's just great. I use the unscented in the purple can. It's light and holds your hair without being stiff or sticky. And no, I'm not being paid for this endorsement, although if the folks at AquaNet happen to read this and want to hire me as a spokesperson, I'm available.

Adam West!

I've always had a bit of a crush on Adam West, so when I heard he was coming to Austin for a special screening of the 1966 "Batman" movie, I knew I had to be there. I joined the Paramount Film Fan Club so I could go to the meet and greet with Adam held before the movie. I'd already met Adam once before at a comic convention here several years ago, and had him sign my copy of his autobiography, "Back to the Batcave", so I really didn't have anything for him to sign. However, my son, who is a big fan of "Family Guy" asked me to print out a picture of Mayor West and have Adam sign that. At first I was skeptical because it seemed sort of cheesy, just printing out an image and having him sign it, but on the morning of the event, I decided what the heck and printed a picture of Mayor West. When my turn came, I told Mr. West that my son had but one request, and that was for an autograph on a photo I'd brought. When Adam opened the folder and saw the picture I'd brought, he burst out laughing and held it up in front of his face (a woman in line behind me caputured the moment on camera!) I think it's a great picture, and proves what a great sense of humor Adam West has. The top photo is Adam signing the picture. He is just adorable, funny and self-deprecating, and a real gentleman. It was a wonderful day.

Pond News!

This morning I decided to clean the pump and filters for the pond. I hadn't really checked the status of the fish in the pond, other than to note that when I released the 5 comets I purchased a couple of months ago, two turned up dead on the patio, leaving a possible 3 remaining. This morning when I removed the waterlily I found only two remaining. I don't know what happened to the third one. I never found a body for that one. Anyway, while looking at the two surviving fish, I noticed a couple of really tiny ones swimming nearby. Then I noticed a couple more. First I thought they might be tadpoles, but no, they are fish, and they look kind of like minnows, but one has a split tail like the goldfish. I don't know if the two older ones reproduced or what, but the fact remains that now I have 6 fish! The smallest one is about 1/16th of an inch, and the largest one is about 1/4 inch. I'm so excited that the pond will support life like that! After I cleaned the filters and returned the pump and water lily to the pond, I added a bit of fish food and they all showed up for dinner...even the tiny ones!

On the Farm

A friend from college, Dana, has a place out near Round Mountain. It's on roughly 40 acres of land with a beautifully restored 1800's farmhouse, a few out buildings, and 8 longhorns. She was at the farm last Saturday, so I drove up from Austin to see her. It is such a lovely place, and you truly feel like you have stepped into the past when you drive through the gate. We put some fish in the two stock ponds and fed the cattle. Sat on the porch and drank a couple of beers. Took a walk through the wildflowers. It was just heavenly. Here are few photos I took:

Porch Party

Well, the party was a big success. Had a good crowd, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Good weather, too, and thank goodness for that. The morning of our party our AC fritzed out. I just regrouped, and ruled out any menu item that involved using the stove or oven. I did make a batch of my famous queso, but I used the electric roasting pan so it didn't heat up the kitchen. Other than that, the party went without a hitch. The yard looked great, mosquitoes were not much of a problem, and there was a lovely cool breeze so people could escape the heat in the house.
Here's the queso recipe (I got it from my college roommate Margaret), in case any of you are interested:

Finely chop one large onion, three jalapeno peppers (seeded unless you want it REALLY hot!), and 3 cloves of garlic. Heat about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a saucepan and add the vegetables. Cook over medium heat until onions are transparent, then add one can RoTel canned tomatoes & chiles. Lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, then add one block of Velveeta. When cheese is melted, add one small can roasted chopped green chiles. Deee-lish!

Every year I host two parties...one in the spring and one in the fall. It began as a celebration of the completion of my screened porch, and just became a regular thing. I've been doing this since 2002, and I really enjoy it. It's really more of an open house....I just invite friends to drop by and visit. Most everyone knows everyone else, but not always. The first parties were a bit stressful, because I hadn't done anything like that for many years, but now it has gotten so easy the parties almost throw themselves (thank god for Costco!). Anyway, I've got one coming up this weekend and I'm really hoping for good weather. That's really the only thing that makes these parties difficult. If the weather is bad, we all have to crowd into my tiny house. Nice weather means we can spill out into the backyard where there's plenty of room to stretch out. I love having my friends over for these shindigs, and if I'm late throwing one, I'll get questions about "When's the next porch party?", so I guess that means my friends enjoy them as much as I do. I went out today and bought another couple of strings of lights...one is just multi-colored globes, and the other is a string of pink flamingos. I just love them!

The Backyard (again!)

We had an unusually severe winter this year, and I lost quite a few plants. Many of them were tropicals, so I was prepared for that, but I was surprised at how many of the cacti took a hit. I've been working to get the yard back to its pre-winter state, but instead of using tropicals, I'm trying to use native plants instead. I really enjoy yard work. My paternal grandmother was from Germany, and she loved to putter around in the garden more than anything. She was not a housekeeper, that's for sure! I tend to be the same way...given a choice between cleaning house or working in the yard, I'll be out in the yard every time! There's just something so satisfying about digging in the dirt, planting a seed or seedling and watching it take off. And you can paint your landscape with color using flowering plants or plants that have colorful foliage. My favorite time of day is early evening, when the sun is going down and the sky goes from azure to indigo. This time of year (May), the fireflies make their appearance, and I love to sit on the porch and watch the flickering show. Now if only the mosquitoes would find someplace else to play......

Sweet Stripes, part 2

In an earlier post, I wrote about the two feral cats who live outside. I refer to them as the "Sweet Stripes". We feed them and they allow us to pet them. One of the dangers of feeding stray cats is that sometimes we get other strays who like to dine on the porch as well. I'll let this photo speak for itself.

More on the porch

I'm not the only one who loves the screened porch. Our cats enjoy lounging out there, too. And our smoking friends appreciate it, too. Although I've never smoked, I collect ashtrays of all shapes and sizes. I love the really big pottery ones from the forties and fifties...the ones with lots and lots of places to park your butts. I'm also quite fond of advertising ashtrays...the glass ones you used to find in gas stations and diners or restaurants. I also try to pick up at least one souvenir ashtray when I travel. So even though I don't smoke, our smoking friends have lots of options when it comes to ashtrays.

Backyard obsession

I've been working on trying to create a little bit of paradise in my backyard almost as long as I've been living in my house (27 years). Bit by bit, it is coming along. In 2002, I got rid of the apron patio and had a screened-in porch added to the back. I love that porch! It's my favorite room. The inside is painted in vibrant colors---turquoise, royal blue, red, yellow, green, purple, and orange. The ceiling is painted sky blue with yellow rafters mimicing the sun's rays. I have strings of colored lights decorating the interior. One string I purchased at The Alamo has used shotgun shells as light covers. Others have dragonfly covers and Dorothy's ruby slippers. I have a set that has the aces from a deck of cards as light covers, but I haven't hung those yet. I also decorated the interior with all kinds of found items, from salt and pepper shakers to beer trays to cast off photographs. You name it, it's probably in there somewhere. I love to sit on the porch in the evening with a glass of wine and listen to the sound of the water flowing in my pond out back.

Backyard time

We finally had a break in the weather yesterday, so I made my pilgrimage to Lowe's and bought some plants for the backyard. All my hanging baskets were killed in the freeze, so I needed to replace those. I also wanted to get some jasmine to plant on the arched trellis I have near the patio. I swore I wouldn't get any more tropical plants, but I broke down and bought one hibiscus to replace the two that froze. I also bought two hanging baskets of bougainvillea...they were so beautiful I just couldn't help myself. Besides, they look beautiful all summer with their bright fuchsia flowers. I planted zinnias in the hanging baskets and moss rose around the pond so it will creep up on the surrounding rocks. The yard is starting to look presentable again.

Grey Days

Springtime weather has always fascinated me. I've always lived in parts of the US where thunderstorms are common, and I've grown to love the sound of thunder. Not the extremely loud *BOOM* of thunder close by, but the low, rumbling sound thunder makes when it is several miles away. Rainy days (like today) make me think of my childhood in Arkansas. We lived in the small town of Jacksonville, about 13 miles from Little Rock. My dad was stationed at the air force base there. My brother and I would walk to school on nice days, or take the bus when it rained. Sometimes it would begin to rain on us as we were walking home, and we'd run home and arrive cold and drenched. One afternoon a thunderstorm blew through and knocked trees and tree limbs all over town. I heard later that day that a boy my age (6 years old) had been killed when he touched an electrical wire that had been knocked down in the storm. A tree in our backyard lost a rather large limb, and before it was cut up and hauled away, my brother and sister and I would jump on it like it was a trampoline. It seems I've veered off the subject here...I was originally thinking about how much I love thunderstorms. Anyway, I do like the sound of rain hitting the roof and running down the windowpanes. I love sitting curled up in a comfy chair with a kitty on my lap, drinking a delicious beverage and watching the rain fall. There's something that makes you feel so secure, knowing you are safe and warm and dry while the rain falls outside.

Pond Culture

A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to build a pond in my backyard. I just wanted a small pond with a water feature, a plant or two, and a few fish. I really didn't want to dig a big hole in the yard, so I decided to build an above ground pond out of galvanized tin washtubs. My original concept was to have a large tub on the ground, with a smaller one above that so water could flow from one to the other. While shopping for the tubs, I found a really neat metal oil can, so I decided to run the hose through the spout of the can so that water would look like it was pouring out of the can into the top tub, which had a lip cut into it from which water flowed into the bottom tub. Now, I'm not an engineer, and I'm not really mechanical, so figuring out how to rig this setup wasn't really easy, but eventually I did it! I set the upper tub up on cinderblocks set behind the bottom tub and angled the top tub so that the water would flow downhill and into the bottom tub. The can part was trickier. I had to cut a hole in the bottom of the can so that I could run the hose up into the spout so that the water could flow out and into the top tub. I used a cinderblock as the base for the can and tilted the can so the water would flow out. I used zip ties and bricks to hold the can in place. Foliage around the pond covers the fastenings. The concept was to make something that looked sort of industrial, but that would blend in with the natural surroundings. In a future blog I will elaborate further on the materials and maintenance. Here's a photo of the finished product, before adding plants and fish.

More cats

In my last post about the cats, I didn't mention the two feral cats who live outside and have adopted us. I call them the Sweet Stripes...brother and sister who had the same mother, but came from different litters. The female is older than the male. Her name is Little Stripey. The mother cat was named Stripey, and this little female looked like her, so she became Little Stripey. Little Stripey actually got bigger than Stripey, and when Stripey died, Little Stripey just became Stripey. The other cat was originally named Stripette, but when we took her to be spayed, we found out she was a he, and he became Striper. Striper and Stripey are very sweet, and love each other very much. They appear on the front porch every morning and evening waiting to be fed, and usually stand with their tails entwined. They are beautiful long-haired cats, and are always impeccably groomed. Usually long haired cats need to be groomed, and I guess they groom each other because their coats are always so shiny and full. They never have any matted fur at all. Because they are feral cats they are very wary of humans, but they have come to trust us and let us pet them. They've both been "fixed" so there is no worry about more kittens. We're firm believers in having pets spayed and neutered.

Cats

I love cats. Cats have been part of my household for the last 36 years. We've always had at least two, and as many as four indoor cats. I'm convinced that people who don't like cats have never owned one (or had one own them!). Cats are great companions. Unlike dogs, you can leave a cat on its own for a few days and they can take care of themselves. I've heard it said that cats are not loyal or affectionate like dogs, but I've found that to be totally untrue. All the cats I've ever had are very affectionate; they just decide when to give the affection. Right now I've got three cats---Morris (orange tabby), Muldoon (black & white), and Corky (grey tabby). The cats pick out their "human", and Morris has picked me. He greets me at the door when I come home from work, and sleeps on my lap when I'm reading or watching TV in the evenings. He also likes to drink from the bathroom faucet, and will call me until I come and make the faucet drip so he can drink. He's my buddy. Corky is more my husband's cat, especially since our oldest cat, Max, recently died. Muldoon is sort of in the middle. He keeps his own counsel, but seems a bit more partial to my husband than to me. All our cats are rescued cats, and all have been neutered, of course. There are enough strays in the world without adding to the problem.

More on the subject of dreams....
One of my earliest dream memories occurred when I was about four years old. My dad was in the Air Force, and he had a tour of duty in Libya. He left when I was almost 3 and returned just before my 5th birthday. One night during his absence, I had a dream that he'd returned home. It was so vivid and so real that I jumped out of bed and ran into my parents' room to see him. He wasn't there; my mom had to explain to me that it was just a dream and he would be home in a few months. All these years later, I still remember every detail of that dream. I wonder how many memories lie buried in my subconscious. I wish I could recall other incidents of my life as clearly as I recall that dream.

No Cover Etiquette (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tip Jar)

Let's face it...Austin has an abundance of riches where live music is concerned. On any given night in this town, you can find live music, be it in a bar, night club, restaurant, or street corner. This is a blessing and a curse for the musicians here, because people tend to forget that music isn't free. The musicians who perform work hard. I know...I've helped with load-ins and load-outs for a local band here, and it is hard work. I think because the word "play" is used to describe what a band does (they play music), people think it is just fun and the band is just having a good time. A good band also makes it look like lots of fun to be onstage. I've seen musicians show up to play when they're sick, exhausted, stressed out, over worked and under paid, and they're still entertaining the crowd. The point I'm trying to make is that when the tip jar is passed at a show where there's no cover (or even if one is passed at a show WITH a cover), you should be generous and show the love by putting something more than a dollar in the tip jar. Musicians have families to support and bills to pay, just like the rest of us. And by making sure they get paid fairly, you help insure that music will be around in this city for years to come. So don't fear the tip jar....embrace it and fill it to the brim! Thankyouverymuch.

Blogs

Yesterday I announced to my family that I had started a blog. Of course, they wanted to know why. And you know what? I don't really know why I decided to do this. During the course of my day, I have thoughts that I think are funny or interesting (at least to me) and would make good content for a blog. Then when I sit down to write about the, they vanish...poof! Frustrating, to say the least. So I'm just going to continue to try to write about whatever I please and not worry about whether it's interesting or funny to anyone else. If you stumble upon this blog and find it amusing, fine...go ahead and read and hopefully, enjoy. If not, well, move on. I'm not looking for approval or praise.

Moon Dreams

Ever have recurring dreams? Well, I do. One type of dream involves the moon. The other involves houses. My moon dreams generally have a scenario in which the moon grows larger and larger until it seems it will crash into the earth. Sometimes the moon will be on fire. Once there were two moons, one inside the other. I have no idea what this means. The house dreams generally involve a room or rooms in my house that I've forgotten about. Sometimes it is the house I live in now, sometimes it is a house I used to live in. Sometimes it involves a house that seems familiar, but that I've never lived in, at least not in this lifetime. I guess I need to find someone who interprets dreams, because I have these types of dreams on a regular basis.

SXSW

South by Southwest...we here in Austin have a love/hate relationship with it. We have great music here year 'round, so the festival isn't that big a deal, at least not where I'm concerned. My beef is with the City of Austin, which, in its eagerness to embrace the financial gains to be had, totally mess up traffic for the people who have to live and work downtown. OK, I get that it's only 10 days out of the year, but still. I have to find alternate routes to get to my office, and I don't like it! I just checked out a map of street closings and my regular route is completely shut down. But you know, when I write it out like this, it makes me seem like a really shallow whiner, which I am totally not! So, I guess I'll quit my bitching and be glad that a) I've got a job to to to; b) I've got a reliable vehicle to transport me to said job; and c) it's a temporary situation and next week all will be back to normal. Life in Austin, Texas....gotta love it.

Fashion over 40

Ladies of a certain age: It's perfectly OK to dress provocatively. In fact, I encourage it. BUT if you are showing flabby or wrinkly, that's not sexy. You can wear clothing that accentuates the positives without drawing attention to the negatives. Great cleavage? Low-cut tops are fine. Flabby upper arms? Don't wear the halter top. And too tight is always out. Clothing that fits properly will always make you look thinner.

I'm just sayin'.