Sometimes...

I feel really, really dumb.

Howie is still non-functional.  With it being the very end of the month, the nice garage people are tied up with last minute inspections, people who had set appointments.  So they haven’t even started to figure out what’s going on with him.  Okay, I understand that.  When I have an inspection appointment I want my allotted time too.

My very wonderful friends have been letting me drive one of their cars the last few days.  Have I mentioned how wonderful they are?  Anyway me, being me, can’t allow myself to impose forever.  Which leaves me with several options.

Take next week off.  Not good.  I don’t want to use up that much vacation the first week of the year for such a silly reason.

Take a cab to and from work.  Not good.  Too expensive.

Hike.  Only a mile and a half or so.  It would be fine except it is dark.  Reading is really not the safest place to be hiking around alone after dark.  Not the neighborhoods I’d be going through.  I really prefer not to start out the year by getting shot.

Take a bus.  Perhaps.  I’ve never taken a city bus.  I have no clue how to go about it but I decided it couldn’t be that impossible.  So I went online and did some research.  As far as I can tell I need to take Route 4 to get to work and Route 3 to get home.  Fine.  Only thing is in all the buses I’ve seen throughout the years, none of them have a route number.  They all have a destination.  And several different buses go to the same destination so how exactly do I know which to hop on?

There’s a woman at work who I know rides the bus so I questioned her.  Apparently the things I am clueless about are common knowledge to everyone who has ever ridden a bus.  So much so that she didn’t understand what I was asking.  It ended up being a bizarre conversation.  Me, mounting frustration.  Her, hysterical laughter.

The schedule lists the beginning stop, the ending stop and two in between.  Only in Reading there is a bus stop on pretty much every corner of every full street.  The corner closest to me isn’t on the list.  If I stand there will the bus stop for me?  And how do I know which one to get on when more than one goes to the same place? 

Then there’s the problem with getting off the bus.  Do I need to ride all the way to the end or is there a way to disembark at the corner nearest to where I work, again not list on the set schedule?  If I can get off where I want, how do I tell the bus to stop?  Or doesn’t it?  Is the door left open and I leap out when it slows for the stop sign, ready to roll when I hit the ground?

Then there’s the paying of the fare.  There are passes available.  Only no where could I find where to purchase one.  At a sales outlet the website says.  Hmm.  Sure would be nice if they provided a list of them, wouldn’t it? 

That’s when I decided it would be better to take my chances and hike.  Or I could continue to inconvenience my friends who are beyond wonderful to help me as they so kindly do.  I have told you how absolutely wonderful they are, haven’t I?

I Am So Spoiled!

I arrived home to find a box, at least ten pounds, between my doors.  It was labelled "Fragile - Baked Goods".  Hmm...

Inside it went.  I was very restrained.  I fed the kitties before allowing myself to open it.

Three layers of total numminess from a very dear, sweet friend who spent all day Sunday baking to send me Christmas treats.  Naturally I had to sample everything as I packed it into containers.

Everything was incredible but the brownies exceptionally so.  Walnut with caramel, Nutella and Grand Marnier.

It doesn't get much better than this.  I love my friends!

Go Read This

Bled Away  Written by a very dear friend.  I promise it's worth the few minutes it'll take to read.  Please sign in and click the heart to vote.

Pout

I’m sad.

My neighbors are moving soon.  I popped over to see them tonight and discovered they are working on using up all the food in their freezer. One less thing to pack and transport.

They’re not moving far but they’ve been next door for almost fifteen years.  I hand picked them.  When the woman who used to live there was getting married and informed me she intended to rent her house I directed them immediately to it.  It’s been so great, having them there.

As I said, they’re not moving far so I’m sure we’ll stay in touch.  But it won’t be the same.  For instance, we won’t call out a hello any time one of us goes in and out of the house.  And it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to drive across town in our PJs to visit.  Whose oven will they use when they are cooking so many things they won’t all fit in theirs?  And what will I do with the excess soup that won’t fit in my freezer?  Who will I play with when I’m out tending my yard once their granddaughter isn’t around?

No, they’re not moving far but I sure am going to miss having them right next door. 

Nom!

Look what my dear friend, Taylor Tryst sent me!  Not only is it gorgeous but it's super nummy too.  The things that look like cookies?  Chocolate covered pineapple.  And the dark things?  Chocolate cinnamon covered apples.  Need I say more?

Happy weekend all!

I Have an Elephant!

Really, I do.  Or in some alternate reality, I do.

I had a dream last night that was so incredibly real I believe it must truly have happened somewhere.  I was riding an elephant.  A young, perky elephant, not an old, on her last legs elephant.  Someone, nope, don’t know who or why, trapped me on her and sent us both off to the elephant graveyard to die.  I was sobbing and she was very obviously upset but things had been set in motion and there was nothing to be done about it.

Or so I thought.  I have this awesome friend who rescues me from my dreams.  Sometimes from within the dream and sometimes not, depending on whether or not I am able to reach out from wherever I’m stuck.

Last night, I sent out a call for help.  And got it.  I was told we didn’t have to go and die, and how to stop the elephant.  The method worked as expected and I managed to hop down to safety.

So there, Miss Elephant and I stood, grinning because our untimely deaths had been circumvented and I decided to bring her home with me.  Only not to Reading.  I asked said friend if I could keep her and was told of course I could.  I led her to his barn, no, he doesn’t have one in my waking reality, and put her in with his horses, which don’t exist either.

They had a blast!  When I left she was puffing air on them and tickling them with her trunk and they were affectionately head butting her and flicking her with their tales.  She was the happiest elephant I’ve ever seen and I can’t wait to get back to visit.  It's hot today.  I bet she's spraying water on them!

Catching Up

Hmm, let’s see. What have I been up to these past few days?

Friday, in the snow, I took a little ten hour drive across the state and back for a quick visit with some very good friends who I’ve been missing lately. Considering the circumstances, it ended up being a wonderful day.

When I got home in the wee hours of the morning I found that Condemned is back on the Coming Soon page, complete with new cover. Such a fun thing, seeing my very own book there!

Saturday, I went to the Middle Child’s engagement party. They’re both such great kids. Between them, the others in their family, and their friends I’m not so worried about the future of the world. It’s in good hands. Friends, fun, way too much yummy food to choose from. What more could you ask for?

Sunday, I curled up with the kitties and read more of the book that distracted me from getting anything accomplished on my cleaning project the weekend before. Wait. That’s not quite true. I did move one book, the one I’m now reading, off the pile. Better than nothing, right?

How was your weekend?

An Event

I went to see Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader Saturday with one of the little girls. The movie was most enjoyable. Action, adventure, a little magic, humor, a sarcastic talking mouse who is a great warrior, mysterious fog, a hot guy with a few tears thrown in at the end. What’s not to like?

Afterwards, we went to Austin’s for dinner again. She made me misbehave the entire time we were there. You see, most of the staff is now made up of elves. Nearly identical, perfect little creatures. Too perfect. At first we couldn’t decide if Santa might be having some sort of problem that had the elves departing the North Pole or if this bunch did the prep work and had already finished their Christmas duties. But then we paid close attention and spied a few switches beneath their perfect little ponytails.

Mm hmm. Cyborgs in the guise of elves. Just the right height so they can stand next to the tables and chat with the customers without needing to bend over or strain to hear. I suspect their presence to be economically based. You invest in cyborgs up-front and don’t have to pay an hourly wage. You get to keep their tips since you just switch them off at the end of the night. No health insurance costs or staffing difficulties due to illness. Yes, makes sense if you think about it.

We did observe the other diners and it didn’t seem as if they noticed anything out of the ordinary. I found that most distressing as plastic mechanical beings do malfunction at times, intentionally or not, and then there’s no telling what you’re in for. It’s okay though. The little girl and I did notice. We were prepared, ready to fight our way out of there, should it become necessary.

Oh, yeah. Cyborgs or not, dinner was still ultra yummy and all in all it was a very good day.

Yay!

I am a happy girl. I ordered me new Crocs. Furry kids Crocs for winter. Ha! I discovered this particular style comes in junior sizes and yep, you guessed it. I have junior size feet. That’s how I had blinky shoes back when there were around too. You’re jealous now, aren’t you?

I know. I’m easily entertained. Not necessarily a bad thing as I see it.

Kinda along the same line only different, the Pike now serves the full menu plus specials on wing nights. That means I can have knife and fork food any time I feel like it. When I don’t want to cook it myself, I mean. Yes, I can cook. I cook quite well actually. It’s just lately I haven’t felt like bothering. Why should I when I can go for a short stroll and have all sorts of yummy choices for a very reasonable amount and have it made for me with no dishes to do when I’m finished? Ooh. Perhaps I shouldn’t be telling you this. You all might invade and then there won’t be room for me. Hmm, if you do come, save me a spot, would ya please? They have ultra nummy pumpkin spice cake in honor of the upcoming holidays right now. Un huh. You’re on the way, I can tell.

Kya’s decided that the toy mice need to learn to swim. She keeps dropping them in the water bowl and then sitting there, waiting for them to do something besides sink. Silly cat. She’s as easily entertained as I am but at least I’m not sitting there watching with her. I wait until I hear several splashes and then I go rescue them. Do you think perhaps I’m her entertainment, not the mice?

It’s almost cookie baking season. Don’t get any ideas here. I’m not the one doing the baking although I am capable of that as well. I have absolutely no ingredients and I’ve discovered it’s much easier to wander over to Riley’s house and keep her kidlettes company while they bake. It’s a lot of fun and they’re very sweet, sending home a tin of cookies with me. Eva May’s family bakes too and I’m way overdue for a visit there. Yep, I admit it. I’m shameless when it comes to cookies. Good thing my friends are so indulgent.

Snit Over

Isn’t it amazing how the universe works? As you know, I’ve been out of sorts lately. Severely in need of a laugh. Ask and you shall be provided.

First, I was surfing the groups and read something posted by the beautiful and talented poet, Sayora Poirier. If you haven’t read any of her work, shame on you. Go to MySpace and do so now. Anyway, Sayora posted some quick home remedies on Derek Musgrave’s Portal of Eros, great group by the way. They made me laugh. Here, I’ll share a few with you:

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop.
2. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.
3. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
4. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.
5. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

Another thing that went a long way to restoring my karmic balance was a phone call I received out of the blue. A gazillion years ago, in a former life, I worked in purchasing and inventory control for a local craft company. I had the best bunch of suppliers imaginable, many of whom have remained friends. I heard from one of them last night. Apparently my name came up and his wife commented that they hadn’t heard from me in a while so he called to see what I was up to. No good as usual, which he was pleased to learn.

Funny thing about this couple. We only met in person twice but I still count them among my friends. No matter how long it is between conversations we can always pick up where we left off. They’re truly wonderful people. I know I could turn up on their doorstep unannounced and they’d yank me inside and keep me for as long as I wanted to stay. Their son got married last weekend and some family is still with them but last night they took a moment out of all the hoopla just to call and say hi to me. That’s the sort of thing that means so much and never fails to warm my heart.

Since I ended up in a good mood after all and since my wonderful writer friend Dakota was nice enough to supply me with the information I requested, I did some shopping. Her birthday is coming up and I can’t resist sending her a little something that I know will make her chuckle. If you have a minute, stop by her blog. She has one of those cool counters that is counting down to her day. There’s another one marking time until her next book release so you know exactly when to congratulate her.