Thursday 13 things I did today

1. Went to Starbuck's 3 times.  Yes.  I did.
2. Cleaned out and filled up the P-keet feeder.
3. Worked through an internet issue with Dad.
4. Gave Mister Bird a Peanut.
5. Picked up Moon, Molly and Oliver the dog-each one separately.
6. Took Oliver the dog on one trip to Starbuck's.  He brought his pupucinio back to share with his border collie buddies-such a sweetie.
7. Bought Oliver the dog a pretty new collar.
8. Took pictures on a deserted road.
9. Bought some mud boots for moi-bring on the mud and poo.
10. Made arrangements to go groom some dogs rescued from a puppy mill. (Saturday)
11.  Bought Casper a new blue padded halter and lead rope.
12.  Found some great picture frames at the thrift store and a large turkey decoy (to be used for t-giving decorating).
13. Worked with the BC's on loose leash walking-the did really well today.

Thursday 13-Substitutions

I was very excited to wake up yesterday.  I had a shiny red single filter that I purchased at the Atlantic Spice Co. and a shiny pound of Peet's Coffee from KJ.  A can of whipped cream and some fat free half and half sat chilling in the motel room fridge.  The gulls, the ocean and the sunrise over P-town all showed up to complete the mornings entertainment.

I enjoyed that it was, in fact, WEDNESDAY as I went through my reverent Sunday morning coffee ritual of brewing, savoring, admiring, assembling.  I briefly wished I could complete the perfection with a little shot of sugar free syrup and then noticed a box of dark chocolate wedges waiting patiently on the counter to be opened.  How often to do we pine after a familiar substitute when the real thing is sitting right beside us?

I'd like to make a list of things we default to when we are really looking for something else.  This is my personal set of inferior substitutions, but I'd be delighted if you'd add one or two of your own if the list causes you to think about it at all.

1. Anger when I really only want to clarify or state a differing opinion.
2. Defensiveness when I could open myself to a new idea-I don't have to embrace the idea, only hear it.
3. Greed rather than sharing.
4. Coveting rather than delight that someone got something they really wanted.
5. Envy rather than motivation to aspire to greater heights myself.
6.  Potato chips when I really need to burn off a little excess energy.
7.  Retail therapy when what I really want is some quiet time away from chaotic thoughts.
8.  "I'm tough, I can take it on the chin" when I really want a hug.
9.  "I don't need you" when I really mean "I can't live without you."
10.  "I'm fine" when I really should say "I'm scare shitless."
11.  Reaching for the sky when I really want to be grounded.
12.  Someday instead of now.
13. ME ME ME instead of you or us or we.

Thursday 13-over used phrases and metaphors that annoy me

1. ______ is the new black.

2. A new paradigm

3. My ________ journey

4. Think out of the box

5. "And how did that work for you"-when you really mean to say "well, dumbass, what did you expect?"
6. "Cool", when you really mean "I have no idea what to say so I'm going to make a noise now."

7. Can't give ______ the time it deserves.

8. I'm addicted to _____________(something you enjoy.  Shit, just say you enjoy it-OWN your enjoyment....don't attribute it to helplessness....this really really annoys me).

9. Full blooded ___________

10.  Nothing I could do....

11.  My little........men never use this to describe anything unless it's blatantly BIG-women on the other hand, modify everything with little ALL the fucking time.

12.  FUCK-yeah, I have to call myself out on that one.

13. Well.......I used to think this was an Okie thing, to start every sentence with WELL, but it's quite common and annoying as all get out.  I can forgive the spoken word, but when writing, WELL, that's just redundant. If you put a period at the end of your last sentence, or if it's your first sentence, I bloody WELL know that you are now speaking.  Why on EARTH do you need a filler word when you haven't even said anything yet?  As for later on, we have neat things called paragraphs and punctuation that allow a person to understand the same thing.

Thursday 13-A rare double feature of lists

Just organizing thoughts.  This is for my upcoming vacation. 

Things I'm looking forward to:

1. See my blog friends-#1-even above the GW-you should be honored...LOL.

2. See a Great White Shark

3. Peabody Essex Museum and Salem Witch Museum (Thursday 8th)

4. Art-Ick with the plane thing I'm going to have to plan a little.

5. Writing

6. Photography

7. Ride a bike

8. Stick my toes in the ocean, even for just a little while.

9.  Do something with a boat.  The GW Shark/cool ocean makes me pause at the thought of a Kayak.

10. Dig up a clam.

11. Run around in my vacation PJ's-I need to get some-drinking coffee/tea.

12. Trader Joe's.  One visit, on trip to post office.  No more.  Really.  3 personal boxes, 1 box for California kin who will want cool regional Joe's stuff.

13.  Sleep late several times.

I really must sit down and have a talk with myself about luggage limits.  I could probably do another 13 on odd items I've flown across the country.

1. Lots of dirty laundry (UPS'd it to the office)

2. My dog Dottie (several times)

3. Work laptop (as checked luggage)

4.  A frozen turkey in a cooler

5. A frozen rack of ribs in my suitcase.

6. A platter (as a carry on)

7. Cartons of shopping my boss and I did in California once-we filled a Nissan SUV.

8. My dog Cody (once).

9. Snakes (UPS and Delta).

10. Horned Lizards (UPS)

11. Rattle snake rattles (US Postal)

12. A saddle

13.  A lime tree (carry on).

Thursday 13 Sounds I like

1. The peep peep of the 'keets as they settle in for the night.


2. Oliver's wolf howl announcing that he is awake, therefore it must be time to wake up.


3. The sound of water boiling in a kettle-such promise!


4. Casper's nicker-his quiet "ahem, you are paying attention to someone other than myself " noise.


5. The rumble of the heater coming on-it says "I'm working, I'm gonna warm you up now...."


6. The woosh of the breaking seal of a tin of biscuits-POP!


7. Dog nails on wood-clippity clippity clippity.


8. Hoofbeats on turf.  Goes right through me in a wonderful way.


9. Hissy pissy python hisses.  I KNOW it's not polite-but it makes me laugh and I can't help but like it.


10. Parakeet fussing noises.  I think it's probably a squawk, but the more outraged they get, the more I smile.


11. Cody's mustering of the troops to go out and pee.....could he BE any more of a little old grumpy man?


12. I like to hear insects buzz as long as they are not buzzing around my head or on me.


13. Clothes in a dryer-going round and round....ah, a comfort sound if there ever was one.

Thursday 13-Afterlife dinner party

I actually started out with people I wanted to ask questions of-but later, I began adding people who I thought the earlier guests might enjoy meeting....so they are listed here in the order I thought of them. Not saying this my ALL TIME list (I hate those declarations anyhow, but wouldn't this be a fun dinner party?

I do hope someone would talk Mother Theresa into being a little less demure though-you can barely see her.

I'm sure Michael Jackson would love to come and visit with Marilyn and Janis-but he isn't even in the ground yet and frankly, I'm tired of him right now.   Don't worry Michael, I'll have you over next time along with Princess Di.

Thursday 13 Things You Should NEVER ask at a cocktail party

Michele got this rant started. First, definition of cocktail party is in order. In this case, I am speaking of a group of people who are not all in the same "inner circle". They may have shared friends, but not everyone has buried a body for everyone else. It's the old fashioned kind of get together they used to have in those black and white movies, pre-reality television.

In such cases, I believe a person should observe the following rule-Nothing more personal is to be discussed than ANYONE would feel comfortable discussing with the least known person in the crowd. While YOU may be bosom buddies with everyone, person A and person B may have just met. Another good rule is to ask yourself this: "would I feel comfortable addressing this question to everyone in the group?"...

Case in Point-

Question 1-If you wouldn't say "did everyone have sex last night?" then for the love all that is holy, don't ask me if "I got lucky". I had a lady boss get mad at me one time when she asked me that over the water cooler and I replied "how many orgasms did you have last night?"

Question 2-How much weight have you lost? If there are more than two people in the room, chances are the person who is now on the spot does not want to say. Losing weight is often thought of as a cause for celebration-but socially it is a tight rope over the fiery pit of hell. The more weight you've lost, the harder people who didn't know you when you were heavier will try to imagine what you did look like. If it's a big crowd, chances are there is someone who looks like you used to look who is now wanting to crawl under the carpet and die and you know, without a doubt, exactly how that feels.



Question 3-Do you want/are you going to have children/more children? There is no way to answer this question that isn't going tick someone off or hurt someone's feelings. If you don't know the person well enough to already know the answer, you shouldn't be asking the question. RUDE RUDE RUDE

Question 4-Did that tattoo hurt? That is the dumbest fucking question on the face of the earth, and I am still asked that at least once a week.

Question 5-What kind of deal did you get on that.......whatever. Car, house, job offer. People who know you'd tell them to get stuffed in private tend to ask that in social situations because they think you won't tell them to get stuffed in public. I say, tell them to get stuffed.

Question 6-Would you donate to.....Good grief, talk about putting someone on the spot.

Question 7-Why aren't you eating/drinking? There is no good answer for this one, maybe you don't like the cake, maybe you are on a diet, maybe you ate before you came to the party. I loathe the food police. Everyone loathes the food police. Why don't they just shut up?

Question 8-Do you really like .......? I am often asked if I "really like snakes." and I always say "yes, I do." I can give you a summary of the things I like about them, but that won't change your mind, I don't want to change your mind and somehow I feel put out by the entire exercise. So, if you really don't like......., then don't ask someone you know does if they do. It's silly and the REAL point of the question is for you, the asker, to go on on and on about what you don't like about......I am often tempted to respond with "do you really like anal sex?"

Question 9-Age. Uh uh. If you are over 8 years old, don't ask.



Question 10-Location-as in, what part of town do you live in, etc. Oklahoma City is really awful about that-Northside, Southside, Norman, Edmond, East, West.

Question 11-Any medical procedure question.

Question 12-Any bodily function question. Although, in my fantasy, someone asks a rude medical procedure question and I belch loudly on command and say "why do you ask?" Alas, I lack the talent, but so help me, if the right moment ever presents itself......

Question 13-Are you wearing panties? (I think this a perfectly acceptable counter-question to any of the questions above)

Thursday 13 Words

Empty head
Tired
Can't even create a list
Please come back next week!

Thursday 13-Really Random Thoughts

1.  The "burquini" scandal-good grief, let people wear what they want to wear.  Insist, if you must, that they not be worn anywhere but the pool, and that the person shower before entering the pool-just like everyone else. I've seen a lot of people who would benefit from a good burquini, and maybe using them will make people realize they don't have to bare all to have a swim.

2. Today is Aug. 13-Thursday thirteen on the thirteenth-the lisping alliteration is mesmerizing.

3.  This is not Oliver the parrot, but I love this picture.  It really illustrates how a monotone bird can still be gorgeous and fascinating to watch.

4. At some point in our history, maybe in the 70's, every restaurant in the United States of America got the idea of substituting rice pilaf for baked potatoes.  It was a good idea, suitably bland, but easier to prepare and store.  Nobody ever eats it though-so why bother?  Charge me a dollar less and keep your pilaf.  Pilaf. Pilaf. Pilaf.....even the word annoys me at times.

5. According to Wikepedia   fart is one of the oldest words in the English language, and "Teachers in American schools have been encouraged to use books about farts to make children more comfortable with the word.^[15]"  

Trust me, kids already LOVE the word.  I suppose it's one those full circle things-where we were too uptight and now we have to embrace farting in our educational system.  Some people will do anything to avoid teaching our kids to READ.

6.  I ordered a   

The BBB never got back to me about the other, inferior and shoddy product I ordered and am apparently stuck with.  I went to Sears and Roebuck to buy a gas mower, but they assured me if I didn't like the Neuton I could return it at the store, no problemo.  Sucker that I am-I decided not to give up on my quest for green mowing.  

Actually, it's not the green-so much as I like the noise level or lack thereof, and the lack of smelly gas slopping everywhere.  That said, I WOULD like the damn thing to cut grass.

7. I am training for a 50 mile road ride  

in September.  In my entire life I've never ridden more than 40, but that was on such a windy day that the last 10 miles (people were blowing over it was so windy) probably equated to at least 20 on the fear factor alone.  That was the one and only time I ever rode my road bike in a tour.  Now I'm happily rolling a hybrid and I feel a lot more secure.  My center of balance and power is in my ass-and stretching out too far away from that is not fun.

8. I wish I had more upper body strength, but apparently not enough to do much about it.

9.  I did not go look at the boa yesterday as Oliver reported.  I am going today.  Boas give live birth as opposed to laying eggs like pythons do.  That kind of blows my mind a bit-I would expect all snakes to do one or the other.  I guess fish and sharks do that too-some giving live birth and some laying eggs.  Oh well, it still blows my mind.

10.  Meet Fluffy.

 Fluffy(I believe this one is Fluffy 2) used to live in Oklahoma City but now lives in Columbus, Ohio.  She's big, isn't she?  None of my kiddos will get this big unless something goes terribly wrong.

11.  I did not boycott shark week.  I'm too weak.  But I do disagree with the programming choices, all shark attacks and gore.  Why not do a little gore with a little education too?  Sorry Discovery-when you ran the save the seas ads, people were taking leaks or had recorded past the commercials.  Get savvy-you have to put your message in the body of what is being recorded.  And the whole rehashing of Matawan Creek again-yes, people were attacked by a shark in a river and that was the FIRST time in AMERICA we knew about it.  Michael Jackson is still dead-is that on next week's line up?

12. This guy   annoys the shit out of me.  The whole whale wars thing-I can't watch it because the ego and the nonsense outweighs the message for me, and the amount of money spent on what amounts to a stupid publicity stunt is staggering.

13. Low Carb ice cream makes you fart like a rhino.  Ok, it makes ME fart like a rhino, and other people have told me they experience similar results.  It happens fairly quickly too-so don't eat it on a first date with someone you want to see again.  Hey, maybe teachers can start serving it in school as part of the fart enrichment program!

This really isn't tasteless enough to warrant a warning at the top of the post.  I wish I could just rip off really tasteless stuff at the drop of a hat-but, such is not the case.  I do think I nailed the random part though-don't you?

Thursday 13-One Word Wonders

1. orgasm (bet you smiled...hah!)

2. chocolate

3. latte

4. shiver

5. solemn

6. bliss

7. furious

8. grin

9. shimmer

10. translucent

11. savor

12. obtuse

13. epiphany

Isn't it funny how some words are just better and more evocative than others?

Thursday 13-Oh By the ways....

These are things I never work into the actual posts.  I thought of the first one yesterday, and the concept for this post-  The rest I'm just going to let flow.

1. I'm working with Oliver the parrot with a focus on real verbal communication-he's never rewarded for "speaking".  Sometimes he just babbles because he likes the sound, sometimes he clearly intends to communicate.  Since I can't get into his head, I count intent to be when I receive the "message".  It's quasi science at best, but it amuses the heck out of me.

2. Oliver, through this blog and me, has also "communicated" with you guys.  I bet you look at a grape and think "craps" sometimes.  Communication is powerful and strange and fascinating.

3. Molly, the red border collie, is having the worst teenage spell of any dog I've had in ages-she rivals Prissy and Dottie in terms of being a stubborn, vexing diva.  This only fuels my curiosity-the great ones are always difficult.

4. Moon, my blue merle BC, has to be kept mentally engaged or he will start in with OCD behaviors-licking a chrome water bowl and whining for one.  It's common with the breed and also common with smarter animals in general.

5. Godfather, my pinstripe ball python is ready to breed!  Unfortunately, my females are not and he's a little frustrated.  Most breeders breed their females when they hit a certain weight, but I believe it best to wait until they hit the AGE they would have hit the weight in the wild.  Godfather believes I am full of shit.

6. Lucy and Ethel, Godfather's brides to be, are two fairly rare (but less so now) color morphs called "clowns".

7.  There are probably less than a 100 of Diego's type of snake-a half dwarf color morph burmese python....man made between a naturally occurring dwarf species and selective bred color morph "full size" burmese.  His sister carries the gene, but does not display the color trait.  Interesting (to me) -ly enough-she is the smaller snake (and as a female "should" be larger).  I freely admit I don't have a real plan as to what I intend to do with them, but I'd like to make a snake that hasn't been done before.  (No babies created will be rehomed to any but the best and most honorable homes-I would rather give an animal to a good home than sell one to a bad home).

8.  I've had the parakeets since last fall sometime, and I just noticed that one of the green ones has a different back pattern from the other one.  Since Waylon and Willie passed away, I  think of the parakeets as "the boys", and can approach them if I look at the entire group.  Focusing on one bird only freaks them out, but looking at them as a group-they will allow me to put my hand in the cage to clean, etc. without a fuss.

9. My father actually pulled me aside, sat me down and told me he was proud of me.  It was such a huge event, and it was a big deal, but trying to write a post about it made it seem to be in some ways bigger than it was.  I always KNEW he loved me, I just wanted to hear it.  It was actually terribly awkward for both of us, but I think he was proud of himself for doing it too.  Those are the moments I moved back here for-growth for all of us, not just me.

10. I took my parents to the Senior Day at the Casino and Mom and I won about 250$ on the penny machine.  I gave Daddy 20 (I didn't think he'd take more) because I am superstitious and when I win I always share it with someone who hasn't won.  As a result (I believe) I win quite frequently-but I never tested it by betting more.  I always gamble with the mindset "I'll play 20 dollars and then quit".  I did gamble 500 dollars away once in Vegas-my biggest scandal!

11. I got new glasses.  I was so glad to get rid of the old ones-last year I tried stepping out and getting some "fabulous" and glittery Diore or something that just wasn't me.  One pair I promptly lost.  The other pair I hated and wore dutifully.  This year instead of getting bifocals I got readers only because I figured out I could lose 4 pair for the cost of one bifocal pair.  Because I have to remove my glasses to see at a distance, I focus much better.  I bought a glittery leash for the ones I really like and I wear them around my neck. At first I was horrified by it all, and now, for some weird reason I like it-I feel as if I am "owning" my age.

12. I used to be blind as a bat distance wise, but Lasik fixed that.  It truly was never for vanity (or I don't think it was since I still wore bifocals most of the time).  Three of the things I like best-snorkeling, biking, horseback riding-are difficult with glasses.  It also freaks the snakes and birds out sometimes-that shiny thing on the face.  But I liked the glasses because I feel "hidden" behind them.  I used to pull them off in meetings and give a level Scorpio stare when I needed to make a point-to great effect.  If I sat my glasses down on the table and looked you in the eye, you'd better listen!

13.  Twelve reminded me of another strange but logical habit.  Unlike most women, the madder I get, the lower my voice goes.  If I am shrieking-everyone, the birds, the dogs, people-know they are safe.  If I drop it down and began to speak slow-it's time to listen up!  It's a habit I've cultivated with the dogs and training-because in group situations most people are using the high pitch, I drop lower and the dogs can hear me through the crowd.  They don't always listen.

Thursday 13 Things I've Tried (with results)

1. Blu Bandoo hat-that is supposed to keep you cooler on a hot day. I hate to say it-it does appear to work.

2. Billy May's Fly Catcher-I bought this in honor of the late great BM-but it sucked eggs. It stank a lot, the water turned brown, but no flies met their demise.

3. One of those European wipe the hair off your legs and underarms things-I couldn't put my arms down for days.

4. Furminator-I love it, and my dogs love it. It's just a fancy schmancy shedding blade, but it seems to be a little safer for the dog and handier for the human.

5. Sham Wow-a very high priced ugly towel, but Mom wanted to try them and wouldn't buy them, so I bought some and gave her mine. WOW.

6. Hercules Hooks-I'm always misplacing my hammer, so I do like these.

7. Zero Gravity Lounge chair 60 dollar knock off-SIXTY dollars for lawn chair. But I kept in in the living room when I was sick with my hernia-it was the only thing I could get the "right angle" to be able to sleep without choking to death.

8. Gator Grip-I have one and I've never used it-but dang it, I'm ready should I need to grip something! The one time I needed it, the neighbor rushed in with the properly sized metric tool. Oh well.

9. Pedi Paws-Ok, mine is made by dremel. I do like it much better than nail clippers and my dogs do too. But, if you already HAVE a dremel tool, just buy some sandpaper and use your dremel tool.

10. Spa towel....yes, it's a towel with a piece of velcro around it-and I LIKE it because it is less likely to drop unexpectedly.

11. Turby twist-fun, but totally unnecessary with my thin hair.....LOL. It does look nice with my spa towel though, although both never seem to be clean at the same time.

12. Crocs-I used to really like them, ugly as they are. But when watering the garden, etc, they get slippery and you can twist your ankle while inside your Croc, at least I can.

13. Grass Plugs Via Mail order-complete and utter waste of time, money and postage. I should have suspected something was up when the instructions began with "don't worry if your plugs appear to be dead" . Clever bastards KNEW I wouldn't write to them to admit I just plugged an entire lawn with dead grass plugs.

Thursday 13 Blasts from the Past

My brother showed me how to use a USB hard drive enclosure to recover things from my long dead lap top. Some of these you've seen, some you haven't.

1. Dottie-I still miss you my love.


2. Pasht-I'm glad you are still with me old girl. This was a few years ago.

3. Flower from a floral arrangement I got when I had surgery a few years ago.

4. Budding flower in my yard.

5, Succulent.

6. Top of Frankencactus (rest in peace).

7. Pretty Lucy-she's a lot bigger now but still very pretty.

8. Pretty Greta and her then new harness (long since destroyed by Cody).

9. Andy Warhol and a funny photographic accident. (Miss you funny little snake.)


10 A very rude tree in my backyard in Dallas.


11. Playing on photoshop-Chinese Food Nightmare.


12. The name on this file is Buggy-I have no idea why.


13. More silly play.


Old photos and files are fun-don't you think?

Thursday 13 Things to remember during this family weekend

1.  I am not the keeper of family happiness.  If someone gets cranky or pissed, it's not up to me to fix it.  

2. This IS my family.  No use mourning for those who are not here (daughter) because if I do, it will obliterate the joy of those who are.  This is a hard one for me.

3. I do not have to rearrange my entire tiny house for entertaining for two days.  Clean paper plates, a place for a few people to sit and a fresh toilet paper roll-that's my only obligation.

4.  Sometimes over thinking things is just that-over thinking.  Learn to leave it alone.

5. I don't owe anyone explanations for anything.  (Why do you keep snakes, etc.)

6. I have a lot of toys.  I didn't have a lot of toys when I raised my one child alone-that child is gone, I didn't start a second family-but I did start buying toys.  When you aren't raising generations of children, you get to have toys.  (refer to no. 5).

7. I don't have to let you play with all my toys if I don't want to, or I think you are going to either hurt one or be hurt by one.  My toys, my choice.  (refer to no.'s 5 and 6).

8. My animals are not toys.  When they are tired, they are put away to rest.  Not all of them like people other than me-and that's ok, because they are mine, not yours.

9. Yes, I want to draw on the sidewalk with the kids.  I don't care what the neighbors think (unless they want to join us).

10. No, sorry, you can't stay here.   My extra bedroom is full of snakes-it cuts down on overnight stays.

11.  Out of ice/beer/chips?  Wow, somebody better run to the store then.

12.   I'm not sure why the parrot farts and belches.  He was already doing that when I got him.  Ok, he didn't say "good LORD" afterward, but, uh, see no. 5.

13.  Everything that bites is in a cage.  If you stick your fingers in and get bit-don't come crying to me.

Honestly, I am looking forward to the cook out and visit, but these are things I need remind myself of.  My brother's kids and grandkids are coming up, and so my brother decided to come for a visit too.  Of course, all my household projects are "in process" and not done because I've been sick.  But I suppose if you waited till everything got done, you'd never do anything at all.

Thursday 13 Things I want to work on

1. I'm working up to having more ambition-I'm still pretty lazy.

2. Molly and Moon need to be worked on a regular basis. Molly did great in her class Tuesday, Moon starts his next month. They both should be superstars-and they can be if I work them.

3. Casper needs his work out stepped up too. He was a pasture ornament for years, I got him moved a couple of months ago and got very sick-so I still haven't ridden him and I had to start back at square one last week. By the end of the month he'll be under saddle and ready for the trainer. (It's been a long time since I trained a horse, but so far it's all been common sense).

4. My cooking skills are improving-I've set a goal to enter three recipes in three different contests in the next few months. I've been working on them over the past few weeks. It's a way to move out of my comfort zone. Yes, snakes, no problem, cooking scares me.

5. I want to work on friendships more than I have-I haven't been as good a friend to anyone as I'd like to be. I know I've been ill but I'm not ill any more and there is work to be done!

6. I am going to set aside an hour each day to write-or at least stare at the screen while I think about writing.

7. I'd like to work on remembering that I don't have to get it all done today-progress is what counts, not perfection.

8. I'd like to get back the upper body I had going before I got really sick. That was largely a result of the horse work I was doing-so number 3 is going to help that. Grooming a horse is the only thing I've ever done that seemed to make a difference in my arms.

9. I'd like to take some sort of art class by the end of the year.

10. I'm going to compost and prepare the garden for a fall crop (and research the timing of said crop.....).

11. I'd like Molly to have her Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog certifications by the end of the year. Not setting any goals for Moon dog-agility is physical as well as mental, and I don't want him pushed too hard.

12. I'd like to KILL KILL KILL the grass in my rock garden once and for all and GROW GROW GROW the grass on the bald spots in my lawn. (remember die die monkeygrass?)

13. I'd like to contribute more to the world-just not sure how.

Thursday 13-Things I Enjoy

1. I love the smell of horses.

2. I really enjoy rose moss. In the morning the flowers are closed up tight, but by noon, the bright flowers are shining for the world to see-then at night, they close back up again.

3. Videlia onions-I can't get enough of them these days. Roasted, with a few cloves of garlic.

4. I like the throaty sound of my new car (Mustang) and the retro dash. A blast from the past.

5. I really dig picking herbs from my garden and cooking with them immediately.

6. I enjoy watering the lawn (even my bald spot) in the morning. I like the sound of the water and the smell of the wet grass.

7. I like the smell of freshly done laundry.

8. I like rocks. They fascinate me-some of them have layers that tell stories, others tell their stories with the chunks that are missing from them.

9. Water. Bath water, river water, lake water, ocean water, rain water, water in a bottle-I love it all (which is probably why I like watering the lawn-see number 6).

10. I like the feel of freshly shaved legs. It's like losing a quick 10 pounds.

11. I like really old, ugly lamps. If those lamps could talk, I bet they'd have tales to tell.

12. I adore the sound of rain at night, and I love listening to thunderstorms roll in. Thunder echoing down a river is sublime.

13. I love the sounds of 3 a.m.-I feel like the night's muffled noises are just for me.

Thursday 13

I'm just going to put up 13 gratitudes today.

1. I am so glad to be able to enjoy the texture of semi solid food again. Roast onions, roasted carrots. Broth is nice, but the actual chewing of a vegetable is beyond compare.

2. Goats-I'm grateful for all the little goats out there making goat cheese (another semisoft food).

3. Parrots-and one in particular, fill my life with incredible sounds and a crazy laughter that can never be silenced.

4. Medical science is high on my list this week-just one week ago my stomach was up in my throat-today I'm walking around and eating and drinking with a few holes in my belly that are healing quickly. Amazing! Truly amazing.

5. My blog friends-I am so grateful for each and every one of you. Every person is a treasure, a rare being that glistens across time and space. I close my eyes and I can see you all sparkle.

6. The improving health of my father-we had quite a scare this past week. It could have been worse, a dermatologist prescribed something she shouldn't have-but we got it fixed and he is improving rapidly. Sooooo grateful am I for that.

7. I was able to pick my first cukes and give them to my Mom this past week. Garden vegetables make her happy, and she needed those this past week. I am so grateful for my garden.

8. Sonny, who can be a handful at times (he's the big python) was a perfect angel during the worst of my illness. What a good boy-thank you very much.

9. Nightbirds. I'm in the burbs and there are streetlights, and during the summer, birds sing all night long. I'm never alone, even now, at 4 am. Thank you for your gentle song.

10. The rain. We had a lovely thunderstorm today-not damaging, no hail, just sweet honest rain. Sometimes we all need a little sweet honest rain.

11. Hope. I seem to have a never ending supply of the stuff, and I am very grateful for how it plays on my life. I don't know how people get along without it.

12. My brain. It gets me into trouble a lot, and sometimes I wish it would back off a bit, but it also gets me out of scrapes and helps make life interesting. 12.1 would be Prozac, which helps me live with my brain....hah.

13. Love. It's all around. Can you feel it? There for the having-we are all so blessed.

Thursday 13

Little things that make me very happy.

1. Tiny flowers growing in a field-the kind that you don't notice until you sit down with them.

2, Hummingbirds. I got to hold one once.

3. How the air smells after a storm.

4. The slip stream of water on your body as you dive in.

5. Owning my very own in house washer and dryer-the thrill has never left me.

6. The suck of air as you open a vacuum sealed can or jar.

7. Dragonflies.

8. The tiny chirps the parakeets make as they fuss themselves to sleep.

9. Listening to the old folks talk amongst themselves.

10. Rose moss always makes me smile.

11. The first tomatoes. I have my first two on the vine now. Subsequent tomatoes are just as nice.

12. A meal someone else has cooked with me in mind.

13. Dried Okra. It's sweet and savory, my favorite combo!

Thursday Thirteen in 10 minutes

1. I have 10 minutes before I have to dress (redress, I'm muddy from dog bathing) and take Moon to class. This is the class where Shelly and I will decide whether we want to tuff it out with 3 giant dogs whose owners don't have a clue, or move to a quieter class.

2. I haven't had solid food in days. Ok, I had some on Sunday, but it didn't stay long. I had a stuck episode with my lap band, went to have it unfilled on Monday, and caught a stomach virus at the Dr.'s while I waited. I'm not even going to weigh until I get back from vacation next week-I'm sure I'll have put on what I need to regain by then....LOL.

3. It has rained 17 out of 18 days now in Oklahoma City, and last night there were tornadoes a few miles from my house.

4. Apparently vomiting uses stomach muscles, because I feel as if I have performed 10,000 crunches. Maybe I'll firm up a bit.

5. Sonny the python ate three large chicks last week-he should be good for awhile.

6. After I fed Sunny I really craved eggs and matzo ball soup.

7. I was netless from last ???? till Monday-by the time I got home Monday the flu bug was already taking hold-so I haven't been around much.

8. "Hola" is Oliver's new call word for when he wants me to answer him. It used to be hello or "what you doing?". If he isn't speaking to me, he prefers I keep quiet and let him talk.

9. My parents and I are going to California next week. Oliver will still post, but he will not be able to respond as he scribe will be gone. Same for any posts you might read after Wednesday-I haven't pre posted any, but I might.

10. I have two more minutes to come up with three more items. This is one.

11. Right now there is an E-show on Serial Killers on the TV. I think the Toddler channel would be a better background, but I'm saving that for when I leave.

12. I bought two new pair of shorts and a belt to wear on vacation.

13. I have to pee before I leave for class. Actually, I just have to pee, but it's time to leave too, so I'll pee, change clothes, then leave. Sorry, that's a pathetic one, but it IS what's uppermost on my mind.

Thursday 13

1. This is Oliver, sorry, Mister Bird and Fugly-a traveling chicken. Oliver wasn't amused with Fugly and Fugly is no more-at least the traveling Fugly because people on the list kept not sending him on. Several other Fugly's live in my garage, awaiting their fate at the jaws of the dogs and other creatures.



2. This is Sonny's "birth picture" when he was emerging from his shipping bag, last fall. Sonny is a strange creature, even for a snake.


3. This is a local church, once described to me as "the Darth Vader church-the one that looks like Madonna's bra...."


4. This is another shot of Fugly-in the grass, before he left for Kentucky, Disney World and other great adventures before disappearing, more or less forever.


5. I actually enjoy anchovies-on pizza, on crackers-yes, I do.

6. My pizza now has to be gluten free-after trial and error and some unexplained puking and fever and yes, a rash, I realize I have a gluten intolerance (and I always thought I was such a tolerant person).

7. It's not, at this time Thursday, but Monday night. I'm watching Prissy tear up the living room, Oliver, who has decided, inexplicably, to perch on his food canister which was sitting on Prissy's crate (and only about 3 foot off the ground low for him), this screen and an FX version of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. By the time you read this, it will BE Thursday and many things will have happened between now and then but I will still be marveling at the strangeness of time and sharing thoughts across it. While the internet may have killed distance, time died eons ago.

8. Prissy is no longer allowed out in the backyard with the other dogs. In addition to her recent skirmish, she's learned to tunnel under the fence. Much like a rat, if she can get her nose through, she can follow. Her last escape led her into a neighbor's yard where she was chased a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. This is not a healthy pass time for a 3 pound dogs. Nor would it be a good thing for the other kids to learn.

9. I got a bareback pad (basically a leather pad with a cinch, no stirrups) and am going to attempt Natural Horsemanship-at least in the arena. Casper is 15.2 hands or 62 inches tall at the withers, which means his back is even with my forehead. With my current upper body strength, stirrup free mounting without a mounting block isn't a possibility. This is not particularly tall for a horse-but tall for a cowpony which is what I'm used to riding.

10. If I could time travel, I'd like to go visit the dinosaurs, see a living Tasmanian Tiger, a dodo, a megaladon, a mammoth, visit with Kahlil Gibran. (This assumes, ala Star Trek, that interference is not allowed.)

11. My musical influences include Alice Cooper, Johnny Cash and the Moody Blues.

12. I recently tossed out both recliners, but stacked two love seats one in front of the other-stadium seating and prop my feet up on the back of the front one. What can I say, I like it with my feet in the air! (Currently I'm slouched in the loveseat with my feet over the other, and my laptop piled in the middle of my lap. Prissy, finding nothing exciting, is now asleep next to me on a pile of important papers. Oliver is still chuckling on his food container.

13. I am thinking of getting another tattoo.