Mr. Mouse

I

Let me tell you about Mr. Mouse
He lives in the hollows of my house

He never bothers to use the door
Just slides right through the cracks in the floor.

These are the things I'd like to know
About my furry friend below.

Does he have a favorite little nook?
Does he sit in his chair and read a book?

Does he drink hot chocolate from a mug?
Does he really have a cat skin rug?

Does he shop from my cupboards late at night?
Wonder if I should leave on the light?

I'd like to have him up for tea!
Stuff him full of tasty cheese!

And once I knew him really well
I'd take him to school for show and tell!

Simply Irrestible

My friends know about my on again off again relationship with Kate, the girl who knows every intimate detail about me - including my credit card number.

We have the common relationship problems, mostly swirling about money. We dance around the issue, she at the primary lead.

I keep a little envelope with her name on it (ala Dave Ramsey) and try to make the occasional  investment into our relationship.

I want to be ready when she reaches out to me via email. And sometimes I get the occasional text. This is how I know our relationship is progressing in a serious manner. She's got my number.

With attached images so provocative one must proceed with caution. Open at your own peril!
(Especially if there isn't really an envelope with her name on it...)

Sometimes Kate moves a little fast. She plays a game called "Flash Sale." Limited items for a limited time. It's rapid fire decision making.

How limited are these quantities, Kate? No time to ask!

But she knows I'm not that kind of girl. I like to take my time. I need to look at every photo listed for the item- every angle. I need to zoom. I need to see how it looks on the model. I need to get my tape measure out and get a visual on how large that bag actually is! (Not that....well, you know..)

Lately, she and I have encountered another relationship pitfall.

Communication

Take this beautiful bag, for instance.

The color for this bag is listed as "Clock Tower and Black."

Are you kidding me, Kate? Even in a box of 64, I never came across the color Clock Tower. Is this grayish? Because I would really prefer it to have tan tones. I can't really tell and clock tower isn't ringing any bells. (so to speak..)

I hate to go behind Kate's back, and I realize trust is an essential element in any relationship..but, I must. I Google: "Is Clock Tower a color?"

And to tell you the truth, I'm still not sure. I did find a fancy pants paint line by Marston & Langinger that mentioned the name.

 I guess you learn something new everyday! And isn't that the sign of a healthy relationship?

We'll work though this, like we always do.

I'm just going to have to forgive my Kate for using her designer names for something that could simply be described as tan or grey.

 She can't help herself...she's an artist, a designer type. But, I knew that going in.

And as Robert Palmer often reminds me:

"She's simply irresistible."

A Book Review - A Life Review

So, here's my new book.

 Not reading the last page of a new book first- isn't listed as one of my 2015 New Year resolutions, so  I know how the story ends....or in this case, begins.

According to my new decluttering Guru, this book will change my tidying tendencies..forever!

 Some of the testimonies listed are as follows:

"After your course, I quit my job and launched my own business doing something I had dreamed of doing ever since I was a child."

Wow, she decluttered her home...and her head at the same time.

"Your course taught me to see what I really need and what I don't. So I got a divorce. Now I feel much happier."

Hm..nothing like throwing the baby (daddy) out with the bathwater. Wonder if I'll be looking at Homeless Cat any differently...

"I finally succeeded in losing ten pounds"

I'm not sure how that could happen - but....OK!

My Japanese sista tells me that tidying my house will have positive affects in all areas of my life, including work and family - with "unexpected results." (o0h-la-la)

I read a good chunk of the book until it was time for me to go to work.

I felt the need to tidy.

I tidied the office supplies.

I tidied the store binder.

I put fresh contact paper on the bulletin board and tidied the tacts.

I tidied.

Maybe this is an example of the "unexpected results" of which she speaks.
 I'll just start to tidy, where ever I am.

Visions of myself in the doctors's office - tiding the magazines and the tongue depressors.

Even now sitting in this coffee shop I have a strong desire to tidy. There's a man sitting across from me who looks like he could use some help.....
But, better not get carried away in the magic of it all. I'm new to this. I should finish the book first...

Her approach contradicts conventional wisdom when it comes to decluttering and organizing. She refers to storage experts as "hoarders."

We don't need to store (hoard) we need to "discard."

There's a physical aspect to her approach. She wants her readers and clients to touch the items- to examine what you own.

Selection criterion: Does it spark joy?  That is the question..

She states that the process can take up to six months.

Well I guess so, if you are picking up every item and talking to it.

Like the conversation I had with these little shoes:

"Little pink shoes..you spark joy in me! I love to see your feminine shape ready and waiting in my closet. Um..we need to talk. We're just not a fit. It's not shoe, it's me! When we go stepp'n out - it never ends well. You're just a little constricting. I need my...space. A little wiggle room, please. You may have exaggerated your size. Are you sure you are really a 6 1/2? Because, you feel a little more like a 5. I'm going to have to let you go..set you free! Send you out to find your true soulmate! (so to speak..)

Well, that wasn't so hard! One item down! Just 259385038 more to go..

I tend to choose books with the hope that they will inspire me. Let's face it. Our surroundings affect us. Beauty and flow, matter. I'm not sure if I buy into all of her tiding philosophies but if "cutter symbolizes unfinished business and impedes forward progress" I'm going to have a few more conversations...with my "stuff."

(And the word tidy is now officially in my vocabulary.)

After breaking up with a few more of my items, I took a different kind of break to check my email.
My mom and I seem to be on the same wavelength, only she's talking about decluttering...forever.

Her email is a request for what she would like done with her things. Who should get what, and why.

I send a one-line email as a reply.

"I don't want you to die."

But, I get it. She's preparing.  Even with my own decluttering efforts, the thought crosses my mind  that I don't really want my children to have a lot of "stuff" to deal with when my time comes. I'd like them to find only the things that "sparked joy" in me ~ to come across things that mattered to me. Not a lot of ridiculous clutter.

I admire my mom for being proactive. She's taking charge and keeping up with the details of her life-and her death. I haven't always been like that- but then I had a dream that both haunts and speaks to me until this day.

In the dream:
I was a young mom of three. For some reason I was alone. I was in charge of three little people. Each night a lightbulb would go out. I'd say to myself "I'm so busy, so tired...I'll get to that later" Another night, another light out- until one night we sat there in total darkness. So dark, we couldn't see each others faces. My life was so undone and I was so unorganized I couldn't find a candle, or a match or even a flashlight. And, it was entirely my fault.

That dream changed the way I operated. Being afraid of the dark had a new and profound meaning. I stopped putting things off. I did my part to keep the darkness away.

My mom's a believer. She believes heaven awaits her -and if heaven is the next step:

" O Death, where is your victory?  O Grave where is your sting?"~ 1 Corinthians 15:55

"Out of the darkness, and into his marvelous light"~ 1 Peter 2:9

I often have dreams about things that are current with what's going on in my life. When Aidan sees a plane in the sky, he does his "please please please!" thing..and I say "would you like to take a plane ride!? So, I've been trying to figure something out.  A few months ago, I had this dream:

In the dream:
We are about to board. It's all so exciting! Big, ear to ear smiles all around. Aidan takes the window seat. (of course:) We buckle up! Ready for take off. Giddy with laughter! Then the scene changes. Aidan and I are in a place so beautiful we can't stop talking about what we are seeing! That's when I realize..Aidan has speech. I say "Aidan! Your talking! He nonchalantly says "yeah..I know" We burst into laughter. We're taking it all in...everything is just so beautiful! I'm wondering how we got there? The last thing I remember is taking off in the plane. It must have crashed.  "Aidan, we're in heaven! More laughter! We were not worried about a thing. Not worried about the people we left behind..just somehow knowing they'd be there soon. We'd check things out for them first:)

Well, I believe Marie Kondo's book on decluttering and organizing really has had some "unexpected result." It's tidied up some thoughts in my life. I think I'll keep her book..because it "sparks joy' in me:)

I give it two (clean) thumbs up!

T'is The Season

What? Where did I get this beautiful platter, you ask?

 Oh, at a little shop called On A Whim.

And look, you can change it up!

Ah, the sound of velcro. (rip, rip rip)

 It's the cousin to bubble wrap. (pop pop pop!).

 Very satisfying, if you're weird.

This plate has as many changes as a Madonna concert.

 You might like one of your own.. if you're a Material Girl like that:)

T'is the season! We are making our homes Merry and Bright.

 Shopping for others, but somehow always finding something for ourselves.

 I should really fund one of those Christmas Club accounts.

I work retail. So it's busy, hectic, stressful but fun. It's festive and fast paced.

No time to wimp out.

 I channel my inner Duke.
-
To myself in the morning: "A (wo-) man's gotta do what a (wo-) man's gotta do!"

To my Barista: "Don't say it's a fine morn'n or I'll shoot ya"

When I'm placing an order for a customer who needs it yesterday: "Hurry up, we're burn'n daylight!"

To the co-worker who appears to be doing nothing: "Fill your hands, you son-of-a b*tch"

And when I get home from a long day and kick off my shoes I hear him say:

 "Get off your horse and drink your milk"

Ah..Duke..you always know just what to say..

Here's what he night say if I asked him if I could just use his finger for a minute to tie a little bow...

He's non-verbal like that....

One of my favorite shoppers this season was an eight year old little girl.

Me: What would you like for Christmas?

She doesn't shy back...

 Favorite Girl: Duck tape!

Me: Wow! Duct tape..that sounds exciting!

She's an artist. It's her medium of choice.

She has belts to make, backpacks to decorate, and books to re-design.

She's eight....

Her joy is contagious.

Duct tape.

Right when the thought crosses my mind that her Christmas wish is going to be fairly painless on her parents budget, she adds:

"Oh, and Ugg boots. I'd like a pair of Ugg boots"

Of course she does:)

She's an artist with style.

Is there any other?

Merry Christmas..Pilgrims.

Mom Diaries 2014: Every 15 Minutes

Has anyone heard of Bubble Tea? Sophie introduced this to me yesterday.
                                                       
                                                               

         
It's a little like the self serve frozen yogurt experience, except the "toppings" actually go on the bottom. Instead of candy and fruit, the choices are little jelly cubes of tapioca.. also called "pearls" Then the tea is poured over and the cup goes through a little machine and a foil top is sealed. Using a large straw, you punch through the lid and as you drink you get a few of the little pearls of various flavors.


                                                                                

This Southern Belle is becoming quite the California girl.

Thank you Alameda, for all your cute coffee spots and shops and beautiful  homes.

Next stop: San Mateo. Let the Mom diaries begin..

I was feeling a little travel worn so my mom and I decide to crawl into her bed and watch a movie.

We go through the choices and decide on Jerry Maguire.
I totally had forget that the movie starts with that rather steamy sex scene between Tom Cruise and Kelly Preston.

We take turns saying:

Oh..
Oh my...
Ooh..

Our mother/daughter time has started off with a bang.

(So to speak....:)

Today, we decide to actually get out of the bed and GO to a movie. There's a heatwave here and I am
looking forward to the air conditioning..I don't care WHAT we see.

My mom logs on-line and checks the movie times. (I love that about her, still engaged in life and not afraid to try new things like Facebook, Blogging and learning more about the internet. That's pretty impressive for a 84 year old.)

She finds an early show and tells me we need to leave by 10 am. And here's how the rest of the conversation went:

Me: Oh, great! I'll just hop in the shower around 9.
Mom: Oh, we don't take showers here..only baths.
Me: Oh, (we take turns saying "oh" a lot ) Well, how will I wash my hair?
Mom: You can get on all fours.
Me: Oh...
Mom: Or, you could lay down and I could pour water over your head.
Me: Um...
Me: Oh, that's ok..I'll figure something out...

She comes into the bathroom a couple times asking if I need any help.
(I'm wondering how I functioned for the last 30 years with out my mother's help:)
I told her everything was fine and I was doing great.....I did manage to wash my hair in the bathtub.
That one day at the gym finally paid off..
           

Look at my choices at the theater..
 Now, how do these Californians expect me to choice between drinking Starbucks coffee or eating ice cream...Better just do both?

This is my mother's "grandmother" clock.

It chimes every 15 minutes.

Every 15 minutes...at a decibel only an 84 year old could appreciate.

Did I mention it chimes very 15 minutes????

I am increasingly becoming aware of the time passing here...in 15 minutes intervals....

Anyway, I know that time passes quickly and soon I will fill this visit flying by..

I want to savor every minute.

Thanks to this clock, I have a reminder of that.

Every 15 minutes:)

"My favorite things in life do not cost money. It's really clear that the most precious resources we all have is time."~ Steve Jobs.

Travel For Dummies

"I'm leav'n on a jet plane..don't know when I'll be back again..."

Well, actually I do, because I bought a round trip ticket...

After a three hour drive, I'm sitting at my gate. If I enjoyed flying all this might be pretty exciting. It's just the take off, the landing and all that in between.

So, I just asked The Lord for two things.

1) "Lord, would you please bump me up to first class? I dressed up, just in case. ( just doing my little part ,Lord)

2) "Lord, could you please keep the plane from landing too soon. (If you get my drift..)

It's a shorten list.

I'd also really love it if a Flash Mob would erupt during my flight.

Maybe the cast of the Lion King aboard?

I've always wanted to be a witness to one of those fantastic events! Maybe we'd all be in first class so I'd really feel apart of it. ;)

And how fun would it be to have a flamboyant flight attendant  demonstrating the proper way to buckle my seatbelt via Chorus Line style?

Maybe a Rockettes high kick pointing out the nearest exits?

My flight is delayed. They need to replace the fire alarm in the bathroom.

It's taking so long I believe they must have had to send someone to Wal Mart.

I guess I should want to know if my plane is on fire...

I hope I sit next to that young mom I see to my right.. Maybe I could walk up and down the isle with her little boy. ( Maybe he likes to pace too:)

And we could sing along to our Flash Mob and enjoy our real cloth napkins in first class:)

Anyway, I'll see if there is a way I could help her... It IS a 5 hour flight.

 Paying it forward for the wonderful people who offered to help with Aidan.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Meet Coe

In the past year I have had this conversation with the little family that lives here:)

"I really don't want anymore pets in the house. Especially pets in cages. Cages that need to be cleaned"

So, that being said, in the past year there have been fish tanks, frog terrariums, spiders encaged and about two weeks ago I went downstairs and saw something that looked like scaffolding extending halfway up to the ceiling.

Is that a cage?

It looked like some kind of animal urban development project.

Is that a cage?

On closer inspection, I spy two coiled up ferrets in a hammock hanging from the top of the CAGE.

On a little table next to them are mini icy drinks with little umbrellas floating atop and little ferret ear buds in.. and I'm pretty sure I hear this verse:

                                                       Nibblin' on sponge cake

                                                       Watching the sun bake.

      Wasted away again in Margaritaville.

  Search'n for my lost shaker of salt. 

That part might have been an exaggeration but, they did look very comfy and obviously scored the Penthouse. 

Oh, I give up. 

If a woman is talking 

But no one is listening

It's probably the Mom. 

A few weeks ago, we had quite a stormy night. My daughter sent me a text that my grandson wanted to come upstairs with me. 

He slipped into bed with me and did the sign for "cold" and "scared." I asked him if he wanted to pray and he put his palms together. 

I prayed aloud that the Lord would protect all the animals outside in the storm then I prayed for family members. 

Aidan loves to hear their names:

Uncle Justin

Aunt Amy

Baby Penny (he cracked a smile at that name..I know because I peeked:)

Uncle John 

Aunt Sophie....

I mean, who knows....maybe its raining where they are.

I prayed for any storms that might be in their lives.....

And then this came out of my mouth:

"And Lord, would you please bring Aidan a dog"

What? 

Where did THAT come from. 

This time both our eyes popped open. 

Silence. 

Then we looked at each other and started to crack up! 

We laughed and laughed and laughed:) 

All laughed out, we drifted off to sleep in the Peace that covered us.

Storm? 

What storm..? 

The next day (the very next day!) I received a call from a friend. 

She had recently met a woman in a dog park who trained service dogs. My friend was interested in training one of her dogs to be a service dog for herself. They planned a meeting to discuss it. Sitting at Panera, my friend started to tell this woman about Aidan and she showed her a picture of him. The conversation went from HER wanting/needing a service dog, to the idea of Aidan getting a service dog. (she is one of the most generous, selfless women I know)

To make a long, beautiful, furry story short..meet Coe: 

A black lab. A recuse dog.

I went to meet him at the home of the "foster mama":) The trainer met me there (along with my friend who crafted the whole idea:) and the trainer decided he would be a great candidate for a service dog! 

Coe will be trained to sleep with Aidan and bark to get our attention if Aidan needs us. He will learn basic sign language and basically be a companion for Aidan. 

Here's my thought for the day. 

Sometimes there are dark frightening storms in our lives.

Sometime our prayers fall flat - they come back to us like an echo. No ear to catch them. No response. Some prayers seem to go unanswered. 

"I know Lord, why your utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away...What other answer would suffice? - C. S. Lewis. 

And then there are the prayers that are answered before you even pray them. ("And Lord, please bring  Aidan a dog") They are all tied up with a bow...waiting to be delivered once uttered:)

Woof..