Spring Makes Me Cranky!

VOUSA

This is a Vousa (technically, the Greek word for a toad on a log. How they get Toad-on-a-log from one little word is a mystery to me. But then so are a lot of things that are Greek - like my X). The word "Vousa" also refers to a crabby, petulant person who doesn't want to move (note the expression). Picture this creature crossing it's little arms and saying "hurumph!"

Every Spring, I can relate.

Spring is not a good time of year for me. It is chilly, windy and damp. The yard turns in to mud with ugly old plant material from last year sticking up. I try to take wonder in the tender little daffodils, hyacinths and crocus that are trying desperately to survive (only to be slam dunked by a late Spring snow freeze probably in April - Jeez is there an analogy there?), but it's not working for me.

I can't let Frick and Frack out in the already muddy yard because they will tear it up and come in looking like canine alternatives for a detergent commercial where kids are playing touch football in the mud (you know the one) and, damn it, it's cold, windy and raw out.

CRAP!

We toy with the idea of moving down South, but we really don't want to be away from the kids, babies, friends and activities here by the Lake. I try to fool myself into thinking that maybe the kids would come and visit if we lived in warmer climes, but actually, I know that I can hop in the car and drive for less than two hours to see everybody if I am truly in need of a family fix.

Next year we just might not come home from AL until April. So there ("hurumph!")

Old Beast with Dogs

Saw this picture and I can see me doing this when I grow up. I wonder how in the heck she picks up the poop, though.

An Insight About Children

This bit of wisdom is so simple but at times, so hard to grasp. Sometimes you ask "why" and the answer is "It's better not to ask".

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

What Kind of Christmas Are YOU?

This is from a certain Rizzi Redhead that I know:

1. Favorite Christmas Song:
"Hark The Harold Angels Sing"

2. Age you stopped believing in Santa:
About 8. I could have sworn that I saw him in his sleigh flying over the city!

3. Real Tree or Fake Tree?
Up to now, real, but this year we actually bought a fake!

4. When do you open the bulk of your presents? Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning of course!

5. Favorite Christmas movie or special?
Miracle on 34th Street with Natalie Woods.

6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
The sugar cookies my kids use to decorate. A Second would be the Spitzbuben that Nicole made.

7. Do you know the names of all of Santa's reindeers?? (without using Google) and which one would you be if Santa aske dyou to guide his sleigh???
Dasher, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen. Comet, Cupid, Prancer and Vixen...and, of course, Rudolph. Although, I'd probably be Prancer because I would fall down and get lost as stuff, and he would have to rescue me out in Three Oaks, MI.

8. When is the last time you make a snow angel? When I was a Freshman in High School.

9. What does your stocking look like? Blue velvet with a fuzzy white fur top (Paula gave it to me eons ago.
10. If your wished could be granted for 3 things this Christmas, what would they be??

1. For Jack to have a 000 PSA test
2. Cure for cancer
3. Enough money to pay off our mortgage.
   

Have an Elfen Great Holiday From The Erwins

I just couldn't resist this. Make one yourself and post it! Check it out!

meme designed by burglars

OK, I'll bite. Here is my answers to Paula's burglars' meme:

1. what kind of soap is in your bathtub right now?
I don't know the brand. I have two; one is a citrus exfoliating bar and the other is a black lava purifying bar.

2. do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?
Nope


3. what would you change about your living room?
I would have a fireplace and get tables that match together.

4. are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
Dirty.

5. what is in your fridge?
Food and batteries.

6. white or wheat bread?
Lately, no bread.

7. what is on top of your refrigerator?
Oven mitts, flash lights and dog treats.

8. what color or design is on your shower curtain?
We have glass doors on our bathtub/showers.

9. how many plants are in your home?
I think - about 5. Right now they are all in a cluster on our back porch.

10. is your bed made right now?
Yep. I make it, but keep it folded open to air it out.

11. comet or soft scrub?
Neither.

12. is your closet organized?
It's - well - comfortably organized. It's not messy.

13. can you describe your flashlight?
We have the plain old battery operated flashlights and a couple of heavy duty rechargeables.

14. do you drink out of glass or plastic more at home?
Glass

15. do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
No.

16. if you have garage, is it cluttered?
Slightly cluttered, but manageable.

17. curtains or blinds?
Blinds.

18. how many pillows do you sleep with?
One memory foam with a big kingsized backup.

19. do you sleep with any lights on at night?
Oh, God, no.

20. how often do you vacuum?
Two or three times a week (dogs-argh).

21. standard toothbrush or electric?
Electric mostly, sometimes I feel like using by standard brush, though.

22. what color is your toothbrush?
White.

23. do you have welcome mat on your front porch?
Gee, you know, I don't really know. No one uses the front door.

24. what is in your oven right now?
My griddle and a couple of huge pans.

25. is there anything under your bed?
Slippers.

26. chore you hate the most?
Cleaning windows. I never clean windows on a sunny day. You can't get rid of the streaks.

27. what retro items are in your home?
Lots of old photos. Us, actually.

28. do you have separate room you use an an office?
We have a third bedrood that we use as an office.

29. how many mirrors are in your home?
Six

30. do you have any hidden emergency money around your home?
Hidden money?!!!

31. what color are your walls?
Mostly warm taupe. My bathroom is god awful yellow. I was drinking when I painted it. I keep thinking of changing it.

32. what does your home smell like right now?
Hopefully, not dog. I have a great candle called Black Ginger. It's spicey without being too sweet. I love it.

33. favorite candle scent?
See #32.

34. what kind of pickles are in your refrigerator right now?
I don't like pickles. Ask Jack.

35. ever been on your roof?
No.

36. do you own a stereo?
Yes, but we never use it. The CD player is broken. It's kind of a joke because I can only hear out of one ear.

37. how many tv’s do you have?
We have two working TVs and One tiny non-working one in the basement.

38. how many phones?
Four land based and two cells.

39. do you have a housekeeper?
Ha ha ha ha - no.

40. what style do you decorate in?
Comfy and whatever we have that fits.

41. do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
We have a couch that is solid with printed pillows. It is sinfully comfortable. I guess I like solids best because you can always add printed pillows.

42. is there a smoke detector in your home?
Of course - and also a carbon monoxide detector.

Ah! Lovely Australia

We just got back on Friday night. It was wonderful. Sydney is gorgeous. The people are great (No worries, Mate). We saw whales, koalas, tons-o-kangaroos, the rain forest etc. etc. The reef was absolutely awesome.



The thing that sort of got me (no, not this really nasty spider) is that Australia is so beautiful and plays host to so many really deadly flora and fauna.

This funnel spider, for example, not only can send you to the hospital, but it seems to really want to. They tell you, with an affable smile, "Check your shoes in the morning, Mate!"



Then you have the Taipan. This little bugger is considered the deadliest snake in the world. There are 5 sub species of them on the East coast of Oz. (good on-ya, Mate!)







Then you have this critter - the Cassowary. It can reach 6' tall. There are signs in the rain forest that tell you not to feed or provoke them if they should approach you. The signs remind one of the signage in the Western U.S. re. cougars. Basically they get mean and can rip you open.

Think "Raptor" in Jurassic Park.





We also did a "rain forest dream walk" with an aboriginal bloak. Really interesting stuff.

See this rather perky little plant here? It's called a stinging tree. If you even stand too close to it, you will have severe pain from little nuerotoxin filled hairs on it's leaves and in the air around it, that can last for months. There are stories of people killing themselves to escape the pain. The aboriginal guy said pulling up the plants root and using it on the spot will ease the pain. But don't count on it.





Then there are the wonderful box jelly fish that can give you cardiac arrest.







No wonder these people have a sense of humor. No wonder they learn to love "Vegemite". (by the way, Zed actually had a little every morning on toast. He really tried to acquire a taste for it, but never really succeeded.)

When they tell you "no worries", it's because they know what "worries" really can be.