Obsessive

Having been too busy lately to write (never a good sign for a scribe like me), this blog has seemed very empty. No... it has been very empty.

I really need to do something for myself, so this weekend I insisted on play both Saturday (@the Silos) and Sunday (@OCNP). I did not drink with the group. I did not volunteer. I also did not get the satisfaction out of the weekend that I thought I would get.

One of the things I did not do, was fix anything in my house. We did get the raised beds build, though there was not enough time to put in dirt... nor had I ordered it yet. So, that will wait. And, btw, the weeding of the garden before the raised beds went down caused real and lasting pain... it's the worst possible activity for me... bar none.

Spring is here and there's a lot more to be done. So, forthwith, a list.

1. Split/stack the rest of the wood.
2. lay down more sod in the back yard.
3. Rebuild gate
4. Spread out the white rocks and prune fruit trees.
5. Get rid of mini fence.
6. finish poisoning the rocks.
7. power wash deck.
8. seal deck
9. power wash front porch and scrape.
10. Paint concrete
11. tear out tile in kitchen.
12. Weed front beds
13. fix bubble lights (on front porch).

Mop
disinfect
sanitize
clean out fish tank
new vanity in bathroom
fix window sills with wood putty
fix bottoms of the doors -wood putty
paint windows and trims
paint all walls.
Hang new curtains


Dog meds (comfortis and heartguard)
buy Ivermectin
buy puppy shots

so... again this has devolved into a list of things I need to get done.

Sigh.... This was not what I intended. But it's done, so here you go.

short list of things to be grateful for.

chedder cheese
pepperoni
gluten free crackers
peanut butter
apples
nalgene bottles
house plants/ceramic planters
Oscar the Dog
dog beds
dog coats
Kindle
unexpected gifts
Buddha statues
colored pens
unexpected Christmas cards
animal rescue groups
Brightly colored fall leaves
Cheap flights
warm air from the heater
electric lights
NPR
HOT Water
Hot Showers
clean dishes
Tuna sandwiches
recipes from friends
email
facebook
chat
texting
phone calls
smart phones
digital cameras
sterling silver
tarnex
families
friends
friends as close as family
pumpkin pie milk shakes
down comforters
new pillows
clean sheets
comfy beds
warm fur boots
inexpensive meds for dogs
garbage service
recycling
maps/globes
my vet
tacos
real Mexican food
Aqua Pina
Dog Food from RPAL
retractable leashes
dry red wine
crisp champagne
robert burns
heated seats
coffee
tea
hot cocoa
blogs, vlogs
youtube
moisturizer
lactose free milk
winter lawns
and so many, many more things.

Santa Baby?

http://shirt.woot.com/friends.aspx?k=Nevermore-Long-Sleeved-Tee

Can I get this if I tell you I still believe in Santa.

Where do you want to go before... long.

And just like that, an NPR promo inspires me.
I want to go to Venice. There's a giant print of a famous black and white of Venice's main square taken in the 50s hanging in my den. It was a gift.
I have been to Italy twice in the last decade, but have not seen Venice nor the Lake Country.
So those two places are on my list.
We spent a very wonderful five days in D.C. and decided very early in the trip that we definitely needed more time. So, on our list is at least one return trip to D.C., probably more, with trips to Baltimore, Potomac Ocean Shores and Virgina Beach. And, then a definite trip to the Appalachian Trail.
And some floating down that Shenandoah River seems like a good idea too.
Which reminds me that I want to go back to the mountains of Georgia/South Carolina and do some river rafting there. And Mt. Biking. It's just gorgeous.
Just now I was on the phone with an employee and she reminded me that I've been meaning to take a week and go explore the Gulf Coast. I have friends in Biloxi who I am supposed to go visit.
And it's been far too long since I've seen Charlston and Savannah.
So, the idea for this post is a bucket list of places I want to go.

Maine.
Vancouver BC
San Francisco/Santa Cruz/Monterrey
San Diego
Cuba
Playa Del Carmen
El Paso (Hueco Tanks)
Sedona and Taos
Costa Rica
Belize
Alaska
Lake Louise
Cape Hatteras
Martha's Vineyard
The Hamptons
New Zealand

That's just a small list to start.
Who can add to it?
Why no

Spreading Smiles

Sometimes I try things for a little while before I talk about it, or write about it.
So I found myself thinking that we tend to fail at giving the little compliments that flit through our minds.
Do you take for granted that the garbage is picked up? Have you ever thanked a cashier for simply ringing up all your items correctly? Who did you think of yesterday and then not call? Because you were too busy, or you thought someone else was too busy? Or you dismissed the thought because something else seemed more pressing?
Well, I've been trying to let people know when I think of them.
And you know what, it is amazing.
I am behind, of course, because now I am thinking of all of you all the time and how grateful I am.
So, I'm asking you this... try to tell one person today that he or she makes your life better.
I think it will make your day.

grocery shopping
repair kit for hose
braces to repair futon frame.
timer for hose.
defensive driving online
tequila
coffee
chair to John
horn
windshield wipers
climbing
scouting
garage sale items
annie
faith
mail Elenor Roosevelt book

grumble

The fruit trees look like they're living in a war zone.
***
I was supposed to pick my car up at 7 p.m. last night. When I walked over there at 7:05 p.m. they were closed. When I got out there at 8:30 a.m. this morning to see if I could get it, they weren't open yet. It's odd hours for a mechanic shop, no?
***
Leo's vet records are here and so he gets to have his balls cut off. Finally.
***
I have a headache. I've had a headache since I got back.
Is it because it's 108 outside? Because it was only 78 outside in Virgina? Because of PMS?
Or is my body addicted to Ibuprofen and can't function without it now?
***
Harper's Ferry is in West Virginia. Annapolis is in Maryland. Add them to my list.
***
There's a restaurant in Harper's Ferry called Hannah's. Avoid. It's run down, dirty, cramped, messy, and a little bit creepy. Not only that, but the BBQ is not smoked, the sauce is from a big plastic tub and the fries are cut, breaded, fried and frozen before they get shipped in. We went there. It was one of 3 dozen choices. The fact that we stayed once we had walked in is proof that the worst restaurants can survive off frustrated and starving tourists. Location. Location. Location.
***
HHR is a crappy car. Chevy should be ashamed of the lack of visibility and leg room.
***
Ok, enough complaining. Tomorrow, a plan.

fear of the un-cold.

I am scared to go home.
The Air Conditioner is supposedly working, but I'm just sure if I go home and try to work it will stop again.
It's been an unsettling six days. My nerves are frayed. My sleep has been erratic. It turns out I just tried 9 ways to spell erratic before I got it right.
My house if filthy. that's what happens when you've got doors open at night for six days. And dogs panting and restless from heat.
Everyone stopped eating. Eric didn't eat for 29 hours or something. The dogs left food in their bowls... left food!
It will probably take 6 plus hours of cleaning to get it all up and I have ... 40 people coming over on Saturday.
Sigh.
Time to face the dragon.