Quote of the Day

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
-- Maya Angelou

STORY TIME

Good Morning!  I thought I would share with you a short story I came up with based on a Writer's Digest writing contest. The challenge:  In 750 words or fewer, write a story based on the following prompt:  You return to the house where you grew up, only to learn it has been condemned.  Below is my fictious story:

I rubbed my tired eyes and blinked as the 19^th century farmhouse came into view.  I had hoped that my eyes were deceiving me.  The wood post and rail fence was broken and worn, tattered from the secrets that it had held.  Newly built cookie cutter houses now bookended the property to the east and the west where the regal pines once stood, stripping the house further of its original lure.  The house appeared vacant and cold. Windows in the top floor had been broken and paint on the porch’s wood pillars was peeling away from its façade.  I slowed my car as I noticed a large orange sheet of paper blemishing the grand wooden door.  The house appeared abandoned now, so I decided to take a closer look.

I turned onto the driveway lined with wild Queen Anne’s Lace and Black-eyed Susan, and listened to the familiar crunch of gravel beneath my wheels. The sound reminded me of the State’s welfare checks on myself and the three other children fostered in this home.  I found myself wondering if that very noise was the previous inhabitants’ first alarm that the enemy was approaching.  Because just as this house comforted me during my childhood years, it was also a safe house many generations ago for the Underground Railroad. 

Once out of my car, I walked up the creaky old steps and approached the front door until the black print on the orange paper came into view.  CONDEMED it read.  I gasped.  Not this house.  I jiggled the handle on the front door, but it would not release, so I went around to the back door to try my luck there.  It was already opened a crack.  Cautiously letting myself in, I found myself standing in the mudroom, formerly the butler’s pantry, staring at the markings on the doorframe indicating the various children’s heights.  A smile graced my saddened face as I pictured my foster siblings and me sitting at the kitchen table waiting our turn to be measured.  I was the tallest until Bobby shot up in the seventh grade.  He overtook me by a foot that year.

Moving on, I first peered into the cellar, the musty odor both strong and familiar.  Continuing, I walked into the dining room where floor to ceiling panels of red fabric still framed the windows.  Torn and holed, I reached out to stroke the curtains.  A puff of dust billowed forward at my touch enticing a cough, to which I quickly retracted my hand.  The ornate built-ins still remained, albeit covered with a thick layer of dust.

Unable to resist, I bent down and grasped a corner of the hideous brown shag carpet and pulled it away to reveal the servant call button in the middle of the floor.  I remembered my foster parents explaining this fascinating button to all of us kids as we scrambled to see who could push it first.  Those past generations had seemed like a different world to me – maids and butlers a thing of southern storybooks.  But now, I found myself standing here, feeling the roots of this old house in quite a different way.  The foundation supporting much more than four walls of stone and mortar, but holding instead the history of our forefathers to be discovered and learned by those who chose to cross its threshold.  I instinctively knew what I must do.

I quickly walked through the remainder of the house gazing at the old bluestone fireplace and small upstairs bedrooms, taking note of every detail I could. 

Now I found myself almost running to my car.  The high school reunion wasn’t for a couple of hours and it could certainly wait.  This couldn’t.  I hoped that my schoolmate’s mother still worked there as I fumbled around the inside of my purse feeling for my cell phone.  Once located, I quickly dialed information and gained the number I sought.  

I hopped in my car and dialed the phone.  Now dust and gravel flew from beneath my wheels as I headed out the driveway and pointed my car towards town and in the direction of the county’s historical society.  I was going to save this house.

Quote of the Day

A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.
-- Jerry Seinfeld

2012 Grammy Performance – Guaranteed to be Remembered

Did you watch the Grammys last night?  If not, you missed everything from soup to nuts – some parts of which you might be sorry you missed, and others, well . . . .

This year’s Grammys started off with a thoughtful prayer from LL Cool J in honor of the late Whitney Houston who passed away on Saturday, and ended with an exorcism performance by Nicki Minaj that is sure to have had many people talking long after the backlight dimmed on their TV screens.  What on earth was that?   I wholeheartedly embrace artistic freedom, but good grief Nicki.  Many are claiming her performance was an attempt to outdo Lady Gaga.  Others are just plain horrified.

The funny thing is it immediately took me back to 1989 when Madonna made a highly controversial music video to her song, “Like a Prayer”.  She too was surrounded by both fans who loved it and critics who hated it.  Comprised of a story about an African Amercian man who is unjustly arrested for a crime he didn’t commit and is then later released, Madonna’s video shows her being kissed by the African American man who is then portrayed as a saint, cutting her hands and bleeding, and dancing in front of burning crosses resembling the likes of an act by the KKK.   It’s easy to see how this video struck a nerve with many.  Religious communities were outraged by what they perceived as blasphemy, while some viewed it as racism, and others yet hailed her as a creative genius.

Fast-forward 23 years and Nicki Minaj’s performance seems to have induced similar results. Viewers watched dumbfounded as a mock exorcism was being portrayed while Nicki flailed around restrained as if possessed, and a scantily dressed female dancer bent over backward in front of a kneeling altar boy.  If it was attention she was looking for, she certainly is receiving it now.  The Catholic League apparently is already speaking out against not only Nicki Minaj but The Recording Academy which approves all performances stating, “Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam”. 

Fortunately with freedom of expression comes the freedom to grab the remote control and turn the thing off if you don’t like it.  As for the comparison to Lady Gaga, Steve Helling, staff writer for People magazine summed it all up when he Tweeted, “Suddenly, Lady Gaga seems really, really normal.”

P.S.  Oh, by the way, did you catch the green neon trimmed mouse ears sported by the audience during one particular performance?  You know you’re getting old when Deadmau5 (pronounced “Dead Mouse”), has replaced Micky Mouse. (Sigh.)

Quote of the Day

Always do your best.  What you plant now, you will harvest later.
-- Og Mandino

Reminder - Wear Red Friday!

Just a reminder to those of you who will be joining me in bringing awareness to heart disease that Friday (February 3) is National Wear Red Day.  Read my prior post to find out more about this number one killer of women.

Quote of the Day

A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.
-- David Brinkley

My Soapbox Moment: Alert – Cougars are Now Offensive!

Okay, so my husband and I were watching the news the other night when a story came on that made us do a double take.  Did I just hear correctly?  Did they just say what I thought they did?  My husband and I just looked at each other dumbfounded.  Really?  We laughed in disbelief. 

Apparently, a Utah school held a student vote for the name of their future mascot.  And after the votes were tallied a winner emerged, the Cougar.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Wrong.  The school board decided to veto this choice of mascot and instead chose to name their new mascot something more appropriate, the Chargers.  Why you ask?  Get this, it’s because the term cougar might be offensive to older women.  Yes, you heard it right.  Since the modern vernacular for cougar refers to older 40-something women who seek out and have romantic relationships with younger men, this might be too offensive.   Allegedly parents were complaining to the school board about the distasteful connotation the animal now brings.

Now I ask, wouldn’t anyone with half a brain see the animal on the school’s logo and know that the animal is the cougar they are referring to?  Or were they planning on using a picture of a vivacious older woman with her boy toy?

Again, really?  Give me a break people.  Has society really become that uptight and PC?  Why even let the kids vote on their choice of mascot for their school?  Perhaps these folks need to stop watching so many made for TV movies and focus their energies on something a little more important -- say world hunger (since we know it won’t be a campaign to save the cougar!).

Exiting my soapbox now.

Your Health Segment: The Thyroid Guard Controversy

Recently I received an interesting email about thyroid cancer, which has been on the rise in both women and men over the past several years.  Maybe you have been the recipient of this email.  In the email it explains that on the Dr. Oz show (originally aired in September 2010) Dr. Oz mentioned that part of the increase could be due to the exposure we are receiving from dental s-rays and mammograms.  On this show and the follow-up show he did more recently, Dr. Oz explains how a thyroid guard is available during these procedures, but rarely used.  It’s a small inexpensive guard that is simply wrapped around your neck, which he explains could help lessen unnecessary exposure to radiation.

Since his original airing of the show, women have started to go into their doctor’s offices requesting use of this guard during their dental x-rays and mammograms.  Doctors, wondering why their patients were now all of a sudden asking for these guards, have been inquiring of their patients and hearing repeatedly that it’s because of the Dr. Oz show, proving to us once again the power of the media.

Now a heated debate has been ignited.  Experts across the country are weighing in to voice their opinions.  Opponents of Dr. Oz’s recommendation say that the risk to the thyroid is so little that this guard is unnecessary.   Additionally, some suggest that use of the guard during a mammogram can inhibit an accurate result thereby increasing the need for an additional mammogram if the results are skewed. 

So is a thyroid guard helpful or unnecessary?  I think it is up to the individual to decide.  If there is the possibility that an ounce of prevention could potentially ward off or lessen your risk of thyroid cancer, would you use that prevention or take the risk? 

To view the follow-up segment from the Dr. Oz show, visit this link:  http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/thyroid-guards-do-you-need-one-pt-1 .  It is part one of a three part video where he discusses the pros and cons with a panel of experts.  Definitely something you may want to think about.  After all, it is your health.

Honor Your Heart - Wear Red on February 3rd

Pull out that red sweater, strap on those red shoes, throw a red scarf around your neck, or jump into those red long johns, because Friday, February 3^rd is National Wear Red Day! 

In 2004 the American Heart Association created Go Red For Women to educate women about heart disease and stroke.  There was a great need for this campaign since heart disease was typically viewed as an older man’s disease.  So National Wear Red Day was formed to bring awareness to this number one killer of women.  That’s right; heart disease kills more women than any other disease, including all forms of cancer, a staggering 500,000 lives of American Women are claimed to it each year.

Won’t you mark your calendar and join me to bring awareness to such an important topic?  If you have a mother, sister, wife, female friend or co-worker, or if you yourself are a woman, you should be concerned and informed about this silent killer.

To learn more, check out the American Heart Association website to find out anything and everything about the heart.  This site will give you information about events in your area, recipes, warning signs and ways you can help. 

Please don’t forget to mark your calendars and show your red!

Legal Debate: Should Cute Therapy Dog Have Been Allowed on Witness Stand During Trial?

There is currently a case in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York regarding a therapy dog who took the witness stand with an underage abuse victim.  Apparently the 15 year old girl had been raped and impregnated by the defendant, her own father.  Her dog, Rosie, is a cute golden retriever therapy dog trained to recognize and comfort a person who is under stress.  Rosie was allowed to sit next to the child on the witness stand as she bravely testified against her father.  When the child became distressed during moments of difficult testimony, Rosie recognized this and would nuzzle or lean into the child.  Thus allowing her to calm down and continue testifying.  The trial ended with a 25 year to life conviction against the father.

After the conviction, the defense filed an appeal which is currently pending.  One of their chief objections is that a therapy dog responds to the testifier’s stress, whether that stress is a result of telling the truth or from telling a lie.  The jury in turn sees the dog comforting the victim and assumes that it is because the victim is telling the truth.  Therefore the defense feels that the jury was unfairly impacted by observing this unconscious message portrayed by the “cute” dog.

Now, permitting a service dog into court is not new.  Many states have allowed service dogs into court with impaired victims.  There is some debate however, about whether a therapy dog, which is there to comfort a traumatized victim, falls into the same category as a service dog under the law.

Many are following this important appellate case due to the legal implications in cases such as these.

So what do you think?  Should a therapy dog or service dog be allowed in court?  Do you feel that the cuteness of a dog can sway a jury?  And if so, does that mean that a cute witness of any type, animal or human, will prejudice a jury?  What does that say about a jury or juror if they are swayed by cuteness?  Think about what a ruling on this case could possibly mean to future cases and the precedent it will leave. 

Quote of the Day

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
 -- Seneca

Today's Mindless Trivia - Nature's Nightlight

Last night my husband and I were sitting in the living room watching TV, when we noticed a stunning sliver of light coming in from the sliding door and casting a gentle glow on the tile floor – nature’s nightlight was in full bloom.  I got up and walked over to the door and looked out.  The full moon was large and rising over the eastern mountain range.  It would soon appear to get smaller as it rose, so we both took a moment to marvel at its beauty and awesomeness.  I know there are some people who find a full moon eerie, but on the contrary I find it and the glow it casts gorgeous and even comforting.   Occurring once a month, nature’s nightlight always amazes me.  Something I once never gave much thought to, I now welcome, like an old friend.

Now there are negative stories of the moon’s effect on people and animals, and likewise there are positive stories as well.  You might even hear a bit of folklore including everything from migratory patterns of animals, to lunacy and birthing rates.  There is also folklore regarding a crescent moon:  seen over the right shoulder it is lucky, but the opposite is true if seen over the left shoulder.

Following are some fun facts about the moon that you can save for your next Jeopardy appearance.  (I’m just going to give you some of the English names for each of these moons.  The Native Americans had other names for some and there are other variations for all.) 

January – Old Moon

February – Wolf Moon (when wolf packs howled because they were hungry)

March – Lenten Moon

April – Egg Moon

May – Milk Moon

June – Flower Moon (because in most areas flowers are abundant now)

July – Hay Moon

August – Grain Moon

September – Fruit Moon (time to harvest the fruit)

October – Harvest Moon

November – Hunter’s Moon

December – Oak Moon

What about the Blue Moon you ask?  Well there is quite a bit of misinformation about a blue moon, but the version that appears correct states that a blue moon occurs an average of every 2.7 years.  We usually have 12 full moons per year, but every once in a while there is an extra moon, which we call the Blue Moon.  This occurs because the solar calendar differs from our own. 

And now that you have all of this loony information (yes, pun intended), go ahead and dazzle your trivia buff friends at your next party!

Quote of the Day

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
-- Wayne Gretsky

Hurry - Try Kiva for Free!

A couple of years ago I was introduced to Kiva through a Christmas present.  If you're unfamiliar with Kiva it is a organization that allows you to lend money to someone in need throughout the world.  Once the money is paid back, you can choose to lend the money again or allow Kiva to keep it as a charitable contribution.  Well, this morning I received an email from Kiva who has partnered with Ladies' Home Journal for a rare opportunity.  They are offering a small number of free trials available for new lenders.  If you act quick you will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.  You will receive $25 to lend to a new businesswoman in another country.  Check it out through the link below.  You will be able to read a short bio about the different women asking for loans and choose who you would like to lend the money to.  What a great feeling to be able to help someone in need.  I don't know how long the offer is going to last, but if you ever thought of doing something like this, what better way is there to try it? 

Okay, end of my unsolicited endorsement.  I'm going to post this fast because I really would love for someone to take advantage of this offer.  Here's the link for the free trial:  http://kiva.org/ladieshomejournal

Quote of the Day

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.
      -- Albert Einstein

The Gift of a Positive Attitude

With the Holidays rapidly gaining momentum upon our heels, and the economy leaving folks feeling a little strapped, I started to think, what if you could give something that wouldn’t cost you a penny?  What if it was something that would last throughout the year?  Of course this isn’t something you can wrap and give at your annual Holiday gift exchange, but I’m talking about something you could give on a daily basis to those who surround you -- the gift of a positive attitude.

I know most of us try to stay as positive as we can even through the roughest spots we encounter in life, but what if we tried just a little bit harder throughout the week?  Now I’m not saying you need to be the perpetually perky type.  You know what I mean, that one person you see that leaves you scratching your head and wondering what miracle pill they’re on and where can you get some, but the person who always tries their best to see the glass as half full.  These are those people that you tend to find yourself gravitating towards.  Why?  They make you feel good and positive and happy.  These are the people who try to uplift your mood when you are down.  They may be silly or spiritual or philosophical, but whatever they are, they depart you with a gift of renewed energy.

Adversely are the glass half empty types, the ones who seem to have nothing positive to say about anything.  They leave you feeling defeated, depleted and depressed.  They are toxic to our wellbeing.  And while you can’t entirely rid yourselves of these types, you can learn to live with them on a daily basis without letting them drag you down.  In fact, let’s try to change them around.  If however, you find yourself absorbing too much negative energy in this attempt, then I say why not just leave them with a positive last word during your next conversation and move on.

Seek out those glass half full personalities and encase yourself with their positive outlook.  They could be a spouse, friend, sibling, co-worker or even an occasional stranger.  Let’s fill our glasses with their upbeat outlook.  And remember the next time you hear the saying “love don’t cost a thing”, think to yourself, well neither does a positive attitude.

Today’s Mindless Trivia: Crow versus Raven – Size Matters

So the other day while I was sitting down looking out the back window and writing, I was awestruck at the amount of birds I was seeing.  You see, we hung two feeders in the backyard and unlike the shy birds in Littleton, Colorado which took over a day to decide if they wanted to come to our ornithological buffet, these Arizona birds have gumption!  Not fifteen minutes after the feeders were out did we have what seemed like half of the birds in the desert eagerly dining!  Oh and get this, we put a water bowl outside right next to the slider so that the boys would have it when we let them out.  Well, I look over and half a dozen little birds are fluttering in and around in the 6” dog bowl.  Mila, the cat, is in her glory.  She’s thinking, hot-diggity!  You gave me my own personal zoo with a full length viewing glass. 

I have been able to identify a couple of the bird species:   finches, I believe purple finches (the ones with the red bellies and necks), and Western Meadowlarks (pretty yellow bellies).  But looking out over the open terrain, we have also noticed many large black crows or ravens in the area.  Hearing them sound their “call” every morning actually reminds me of the corn fields near my childhood home.  It distinctly takes me back to a crisp fall day in the farmland of Pennsylvania with a cool breeze teasing my hair while I watched the crows sitting on a fence post or flying up above in the sky. The familiarity of the sound is actually comforting.

However, the crows I am seeing in Arizona are very large, which led me to puzzle over whether what I was observing were crows or ravens.  What’s the difference?  So, off to the computer I went.  After a search I quickly determined that these were indeed ravens.  With size seeming to be the major difference, crows are relatively small in comparison to the raven which averages 25 inches.  Now I know some of you are shuddering at the image, and maybe a particular Alfred Hitchcock movie is coming to mind, but did you know that crows and ravens are extremely intelligent?  Their brains are apparently among the largest of any bird species.  Ravens being larger are therefore a bit smarter.  The young crows and ravens also love to play.  They will pick up objects, play with them and hide them.  Yes, they are scavengers.  They also mate for life, or for long periods of time.

I realize there is a common thought that they carry an evil connotation or omen (often thought of as a bad omen, yet they can be a good omen as well).  Did you also know that they conversely carry a God-like presence in Mythology?  I learned too that the Raven is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible and often used as a positive example.

I’m certainly not trying to convert you into a lover of crows and ravens, but perhaps we shouldn’t stereotype them as being bad so easily.  They too serve their own unique purpose.  Anyway, there is an abundance of information out there to suit your fancy should you really want to dive right into it.  As for me, my curiosity having been fed, I think I’ll “call” it a day.

Consumer Alert: Talking Doll Says a Bit Too Much

In my last blog I made a brief mention of the evolving dolls of the 21^st Century, but has anyone heard about the You & Me Interactive Triplet Dolls?

Now these cute little baby dolls move their heads, giggle and babble.  Adorable, huh?  Well, before you run out to your local toy store to purchase this set for the Holidays, there is something you should know. 

Apparently there is a lawsuit pending over what is believed to be one of the dolls swearing.   Lawyer Joey McCutchen in Arkansas recently filed a lawsuit against Toys “R” Us citing misrepresentation, breach of contract and negligence over what appears to be the pink doll saying something sounding like, “Okay you crazy B****”.  Obviously it’s up to your own interpretation, but there is an argument to be made over what it sounds like this doll is saying.  However, don’t take my word for it. Do a Google search and listen for yourself, then decide.   

In the meantime, maybe a nice stuffed animal would be a better choice for the little one. 

Grumpy Santa and the Non-Conformists

So last night Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was on TV.  This is a highly anticipated event for me each year right along with The Grinch, The Year without a Santa Claus, etc.  Love ‘em!  However, the more I write, the more I notice things about the way movies and books are written, hidden meanings, clues . . . you get the point.  This is not a negative for me.  In fact I thrive on it.  Anyway, while watching this 1964 classic, I put aside my childlike glee for a moment and viewed the movie through my analytical glasses.  You know what I discovered?  The younger generation is probably appalled by this movie.   Political Correctness is nowhere to be found.  Not everyone wins a soccer trophy in this movie!

The Santa in this particular movie I found to be a predominantly crotchety old fellow.  First of all, he’s going to cancel Christmas because of a little snow.  Now you’d think having lived at the North Pole all his life that he’d have this gig covered by now.  Secondly, he admonishes Rudolph’s father for the fact that Rudolph has a red nose stating “ . . . you should be ashamed of yourself”.  Then, after the elves have sung him a beautiful song, “We are Santa’s Elves”, he mumbles that the song needs more work, gets up and scurries out the door slamming it.  Mrs. Claus of course tries to cover for his rudeness.   Is this grumpy Santa the one we really want to be leaving us presents under our tree?  Fortunately he gets in a better mood by the end of the movie after realizing Rudolph can guide his sleigh with "that wonderful nose".

It’s interesting to note that the original 1964 movie didn’t have Santa returning to the Island of Misfit Toys as he promised.  Apparently there was a public outcry that Santa did not fulfill his promise to go to the island.  So in 1965 they rewrote the movie to include Santa’s journey to the island to pick up the misfits before delivering his toys.

Now for the non-conformists, Take Hermey.  This poor elf doesn’t like making toys.  He wants to be a dentist.  And what does everyone do?  Make fun of him.  Yell at him.  Of course the optimist in Hermey tries to fit in by fixing the teeth on the dolls, but the head elf tells him that no one wants a chewing doll (just wait until he sees the dolls of the 21^st century). 

Then Rudolph.  Well, you know, he has that red nose and all.  Heaven forbid!  We can’t have any of that.  He is promptly kicked off the flight team.  When his new girlfriend Clarice walks home with him, she is reprimanded for being seen with a red-nosed reindeer.  Again, can’t imagine this type of message being written into any of today’s current children movies.  Thank goodness Rudolph becomes the hero in the end.

Just imagine for a moment where we’d be without the non-conformists in society.  Does anyone know the highly successful names of Steve Jobs or even Lady Gaga?  Talk about thinking outside of the box.

But don’t take me wrong, I’m not trying to be the scrooge.  I still love these old animated movies.  I can’t help it.  I don’t care whether or not they are PC.  They bring joy to my heart and that’s what matters.  Therefore, in the future I can be found eagerly awaiting the Snow Miser and Heat Miser to make their appearance by dancing their way onto my TV screen.  Popcorn anyone?

The Journey

The Colorado November day was sunny, crisp and clear.  The muscles were sore and the nerves a bit frayed.  We left a day later than planned due to a few hiccups on the bank's end with getting the mortgage approved in time for the planned settlement date.  It wound up being pushed to the following Tuesday, but things were looking positive so we proceeded on with our move. 

We ran out of room in the Penske truck and wound up renting a 6 x 12 pull behind trailer too.  So our caravan consisted of my husband, Scott, driving the Penske and towing my car, while I drove the SUV with all three "kids" (two cocker spaniels and one kitty) and towed the trailer.  We left on a Friday afternoon and made it to Las Vegas, New Mexico that evening.  Saturday morning we were on the road by 8:30 and drove through a very windy section around Santa Fe.  Scott was barely able to go above 45 mph at that point, and I was feeling the trailer blow around a bit.  At this juncture I thought maybe we wouldn't make it to AZ until Thanksgiving!  But after finally getting through the rough spot we continued on without mishap.  It was a long drive, but the kids traveled really, really well.  We took an unplanned tour of Flagstaff when looking for gas (we always wanted to explore the area, just not exactly at that time. . . ) and got a little turned around, but once back on track arrived at our destination at around 8:00 pm.  Whew, finally made it.  After hauling that trailer, I'm ready for "Ice Road Truckers"!  (Okay, maybe not).

Monday was very busy with phone/Internet, Directv, and movers arriving to help unpack us.  It was a real Tetris puzzle trying to figure out what furniture would fit where (we downsized).  Scott was back to work by Monday afternoon in our makeshift "office", and I spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to make sense of the boxes piled neck high in our garage.  By Wednesday (having not hooked up the washer and dryer yet) I was on a mission to find Scott's jeans -- no success.  Thursday I again was on a mission to find Scott's jeans.  The good news was I got the closet organized, the bad news was, yea you guessed it, no jeans.  I wound up unpacking around 10 boxes that day (who knew we had so much ahem, crap) and by 3:30 -- eureka!  Jeans!  Happy day!

So while we are slowly getting unpacked, the kids are finally adjusting and curious to see what treasures I'm pulling out of each box next.  The boys are having fun exploring the property, while the cat is cautiously slipping into cabinets and nooks and crannies to see what hiding places she can find.

Having worked my entire adult life, it's been odd not to get up every morning and go to work, but I am welcoming the opportunity to actually organize the house for once after a move without jumping right back into work. 

Well, time to start unpacking boxes again.  Today's mission -- find the silverware and ditch the plastic forks!

Fondly,

Chris

P.S.  Saw our first Roadrunner this week right at our front window.  Very interesting bird.  Scott was totally intrigued, which isn't surprising since he owned two Roadrunner cars during his teenage years.