tina to sadie to tina

about 4-5 months ago my neighbors found a dog - a darling, female, jack russell terrier. they named her sadie. she had such personality and was so full of spunk. when i walked by their house in the mornings she would be sitting outside. so, i asked them if i could take her walking with me. they said certainly! and i was welcome to take her anytime that she was sitting outside. 

it became a morning ritual 5-6 days a week. i had a walking buddy! i was happy. and since they never took her walking, sadie was happy. she was great. she kept up with my pace the entire route and never got nasty with any of the neighborhood people.

the weather has turned cool here and i have not been doing the morning walk outside much for the past couple weeks. yesterday i headed out and when i got near to their house, i saw that sadie was not outside and the garage door was going up. obviously i was not going to have my walking buddy, as they were going somewhere. i waved and walked on by.

i got around the corner and the neighbor pulled up beside me. she rolled down her window and tells me that sadie was back to her original home. instantly i felt a clench to my heart. the neighbor told me the story of how it came about that they found the original owners. when the original owners came to the house sadie recognized them immediately and it was clear that she was quite familiar with them.

so, my walking buddy is gone. it makes me sad for selfish reasons, but i am happy for sadie that she is back home.

oh and by the way, her name is tina.

the iceman cometh

Looking out the front door

Ice cocks

It started Friday night, January 12.
crappyCrappySHITTY weather - rain and cold.
Saturday it was still rain and cold and getting colder, the rain turning to ice.
The ice began to set ... setting on things like satellite and television dishes, on streets, on sidewalks and on power lines.
The power went out.

The entire house is electric.

By Sunday morning, the storm was over and had left its damage with 4" to 5" of ice on anything left standing.

It was one of the most beautiful sites I have seen - one I hope never to see again.

and still no electricity.

Finally at 18:30 the power returned. After 20 minutes of this, it had me tuned back in and feeling all safe, secure and WARM. Then at 21:30 it went out again.
That was January 14.
I did not see power again, in this house, until late yesterday, January 20.
I hate living here.
However, there was a blessing in all this mess.
I found out my neighbor's last name and how truly wonderful they are.

The very first morning when he-neighbor realized no lights came on at my place, he came over with a thermos of coffee and offered full use of their kitchen and to come over and get warmed up.
At that point I declined.
As the day went on, I realized that I probably would not see electricity in this house for days and all the hotels and motels between here and a 75 mile radius (those that had heat and electricity) were full.

I took the neighbors offer to get warmed up.

I sat down on their couch and proceeded to get acquainted with the two of them. It was so warm and comfortable at their house, and I felt right at home. They offered their spare bedroom until the electricity could be restored or before their son arrived home from his work week - whichever came first.

I didn't refuse, and spent 5 nights with them. They made it so easy to be there.
I will never be able to fully express my gratitude to these 2 people who opened their home and their lives during this winter disaster. Their generosity was unconditional and I realized, this is what the real Midwesterners are about.
Thank you God for making people like this.

Their son was coming in on Friday night. The morning of, I packed up and headed out so that he could have the spare room back. Thousands had their power restored by then, so I assumed there would be some hotel rooms available at that point.

I assumed correctly.
Not the hoity-toity ones though. Those rooms were all taken.
A one-night-rendezvous-romp hotel was the best to offer --- but hey! it had working heat, electricity, cable, frig, microwave AND internet access. What more could a girl ask for?
One night was enough.

However, they did have the best coffee I have had in a longLongLONG time -- well, since visiting my cousin's in Alaska.

Around 9am on Saturday, the call came from the he-neighbor. He could see lights on at my house.

I am ecstatic - but leery. I decide to stay in the city for a few hours more, and see if the power is a sure thing.

An hour later, he-neighbor calls back and says now the entire subdivision is without electricity, which included them.
fuck! I hate living here.

I go shopping.
I shop for the next 5 hours.
I decide that it's time to reserve another room for the next night or two ... in time to get a nicer hotel.
I am all locked in on the reservation. I feel safe knowing this.
I stop at the bar and have a drink before heading to the hotel.
The annoying cell phone goes off - it's the he-neighbor.
My hopes go up.
The power has been completely restored. The entire subdivision is back on.
A total relief comes over me, as I feel that it is completely restored this time and I can return to my own surroundings.
I get to sit in my own chair,
I get to soak in my bath,
I get to sleep in my own bed,
I get to clean out the stinking refrigerator of the spoiled food.

But, it is my spoiled food and it is my domain.

and so starts '07

I stayed home on NYE. I freshened my scotchie a few times and called it a night at 10:00. Even tho I didn't make it until the ball dropped, when I woke this morning the new year had still begun. Imagine my un-surprise.

As soon as I heard that saddam had been executed, a couple nites ago, I searched all over the net to find the video. I finally found the view of the one that was obtained surreptitiously and yes, I have watched it over and over again.

I went back to the Palm Springs of the Midwest over Christmas. That was the first time I had been back since leaving. My eyes dripped on the way in and on the way out. I'm not sure I will go back again. Oh hell, I say that in text -- but in reality, I'm sure as long as Sharon and the Cap'n are there, I'll go back.
At least one more time.
Won't I?

From there, I went gambling in Tunica, MS. I did so very well the first day - doubled my dollars.
Then came the next day.
I came home broke.

I stopped smoking (again) on Dec. 27th. But, sucked one down with my scotchie yesterday. I hope I have the sense to make it stop for good this time. Hopefully my own pig-headedness and the Chantix will be the answer and thankfully, the insurance covered that cost.

I realized the other day that I seldom find myself laughing any more.
My sharp sense of humor has become as dull as a matte finish.
The only time I find myself laughing is when I read something funny on the blogs ... and I don't spend much time roaming around on them any more.

Surely there's more to life than work and breathing.
I have got to find something more fulfilling to do with myself this year.

does anyone recognize this?

I know, you all have probably received this in the forwarded "friendly spam" --- but ...

... I don't even have any words for this other than, I guess everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame.

stopping

I've been thinking about stopping smoking on Friday.
Just thinking about it.
I don't want to say it out loud, for fear that I may actually have to go through with it.

It's just getting damn inconvenient to smoke in this new domain now that it is getting cold.

we all look alike

I've been noticing the faces of the old people here.
I see so many that look like others that I have met throughout my life.
I've come to the conclusion, that when people get old, they all look alike.

settling in

Here I am all moved. That would be cyber(blog)wise and physically. The late summer brought with it another major move for the Mr. and me. I'm not so sure I am going to adjust to this place as the new neighbors are kinda creepy - like this tarantula that was on the house where the brick meets the front door.

Is it a tarantula? Hell, I don't know - but it was big enough to be one and when the Mr. sprayed it, it charged us. However, the next photo ...

well, this next photo is the last one that spider will ever pose for.

Then, about a week later, I spotted this black widow sunning itself in its haphazard web. Again, right outside the front door. And like the other 8-legged intruder, it was this spider's last photo shoot.

I hate spiders.

But this is where I now call home.

For how long?

Who knows.

Keep on moving