Dreaming What Ifs...

8 days and counting

I have two days left until my husband comes home from his fishing trip. I wouldn't say I've completely lost my mind, yet. There is always tomorrow.

I got this little robot from Michele from her Reformed Weltanschauung Blogging . (Michele manages four blogs!) I could have just put her name down for Blogday and called it good!

So, I thought the following was all cute and funny. That is until I realized it was true.

Since my husband has been gone I have been tossing it aside Artificially Repairing stuff. I have become quite good at the Masterful Yelling part. My throat is really sore today from all the screaming at my kids directions and reminders I give. I'm even beginning to look a little bug eyed and not quite human.

Two days to go. Only two more days.

BLOG DAY PICKS

Okay - its BLOG DAY time - and here is a list of 5 blogs that I like to read. (I have TONS of favorites, but these are ones I don't have listed on my sidebar - so please know that anyone listed on my sidebar is a recommendation ANY time!!!)

#1 - Chocablog - A blog dedicated to chocolate! There are four contributors (mainly from England) who buy and eat tons of chocolate and review it. They've got some yummy stuff on there!!!

#2 - Just Ramblins - He calls himself Fish - living in Kentucky. He just talks about life and has some cool stories. I've enjoyed it.

#3 - Wegads - I actually just stumbled upon this guy the other day and thought he was pretty clever. I had to read his post a few times to figure out what he was doing. Very witty, very opinionated, but fun to read.

#4 - The Sartorialist - I'm not a fashionista by any means. But, for some reason I am drawn in to looking at what this guy finds stylish. Some of his "finds" I think look like crap, but others I agree with him. It is kind of fun to see what people are wearing in New York.

#5 - Oblivious Maven - this chic is a hoot. That is all I am going to say.

(There are so many others that I wish I could put them all in - but today is only about 5 - so these made the cut. Enjoy....)

PS - I just had to put this link down because I found it today and thought it was the most absolutely hilarious blog topic ever - flipfloperotic. So, Susan in VA - here is an answer to one of your word polls!! And Robin - you might REALLY like it - it involves feet!!!

*PPS (added after Robin's comment) - I in NO WAY endorse flipfloperotic nor suggest that you check it out. I removed the link to the site, because, although I enjoy naked men, I do not think it is appropriate to have that and gay sex posted in such an easily accessible public site.

Tomorrow is Blog Day 2006

I didn't have a clue until I read Rach's post (Dutch Femka)...

Tomorrow, August 31 is Blog Day 2006.

What you do is: Post links to 5 blogs that you find interesting and would like to recommend to other bloggers. And also link to the Blog Day official website! Then, spend the day clicking away, reading, and discovering new blog writers. So come back tomorrow for some of my picks that I don't link to on a normal basis!!!

The Return

This morning, as we were laying in my bed watching "Clifford", my son told me he dreamt that Ozzie was sleeping on his bed last night. That made me a little sad, so I decided to tell my children the truth.

"It's been 7 days, kids." I said, "I think Ozzie is gone."
"Do you think he went back to his other family?" my son asked.
I nodded my head. "I sure hope that is what happened."

Suddenly, my daughter started laughing, "Oh Ozzie!"

I reached out and rubbed her head, smiling. "He was a pretty funny cat, wasn't he?"

Then, my son started laughing, "There's Ozzie, looking at me!"

And sure enough - there he was. Ozzie was standing outside the bedroom sliding glass door; cobwebs on his ears, burrs in his tail, and maybe a little thinner. But he looked no worse for wear.

I opened up the door, grabbed him up, and squeezed him tight. Of course, he had no time for that. He wiggled out of my arms and ran down the hallway to the food bowl.

"Welcome back, Oz". I said as I dumped some of the stinky canned stuff onto his plate.

He gave me a welcome chirp and then started eating. Back to normal.

When the Cats Away....

The birds come to play!

My feeders were attacked today by a rampage of birds. I have a feeling they know something I don't know. Perhaps winter is coming a bit early. They certainly were gorging themselves on the food.

There were two Black-headed Grosbeak in my tray feeder, along with an unidentified bird (a sparrow os some kind?). Also, the usual goldfinch flittering about.

Two mourning doves came calling along with some of their brethren. There are usually eight pecking around underneath the feeders looking for seed tidbits.

Later in the day as I was checking e-mail I was startled by a loud BANG. I caught a flash of feathers and wings flying from my window. When I looked outside, I saw this stunned Brown Creeper clinging to my house.

He was a frightened little thing watching me take his picture. I was able to lean out the window. But, once I really looked at him, decided his beak and claws were pretty deadly looking. Hate to have him get angry with me!

MISSING

Ozzie has not come home. It is not unusual for him to be gone for a night or two carousing. After a night-long party, he comes home yowling for attention, food, and a safe place to crash. Of course, he normally brings home a gift of either half-eaten mice, bird feathers, or chewed on shrews. But now Ozzie has been gone for six days. That is too long. I am worried.

Ozzie and my daughter looking out the front window at one of his usual spots. When he isn't outside he is usually thinking about being out there.

Weekly Delight - 8/28/06

My Weekly Delight is just a light-hearted little post shared by Wordnerd. She shares a little goofy conversation between herself and her sister about the plight of Pluto.

I found this post very cute, because the entire conversation involves Text Messaging - which is near and dear to my heart. That is how my sister Amanda and I communicate most frequently.

Also, the post touches on a deeper topic: Pluto. When Pluto was reclassified as a planet-like object , I felt the loss - a sense of innocence gone. My childhood memories forever changed. I mourn its status. I mourn the millions of dollars it will take to change the textbooks. I mourn the confusion to millions of children everywhere.

Just like Wordnerd says - They can stick it up their Uranus.

The Dirty Truth

Recently, WillowTree posted a picture of food cooking in his kitchen. There was an immediate response from all of his readers about the cleanliness of his kitchen; The appliances sparkled, the counters gleamed. I was jealous. I remained mum for I figured people in dirty houses shouldn't throw food.

Then I started thinking about how unrealistic his kitchen was. (No offense, WT) His kitchen was almost "magazine-ish". He could put on his Charlie Daniels hat and pose for Better Homes & Garden. I decided he was setting a bad example for the rest of us.

So, the more I thought about it, the more I knew what I had to do. Robin took a brave step this week and spoke from her heart about the darker world of mommyhood. I decided I had to do the same. If not just for myself, but for women everywhere. Here is the truth! It is a picture of a true, REAL kitchen; The horrors that are held behind closed doors.

From upper right hand corner to the left -

#1 - the sticker sheet I use to reward my children with good behavior

#2 -The Salsa cooling on my tenth used towel today.

#3 -The box of zucchini that have been sitting there for 5 days, waiting to be used up and slowly turning to mush.

#4 - The flashlight that I took from my children when they tried to bonk each other with it and the new-age oven mitt.

#5 - The 11th used dish towel of the day.

#6 - My bottle of prescription medicine for Ulcerative Colitis, in front of a bunch of Peter Pan squash (waiting for use, just like those in the box).

#7 - One of several Diet Pepsi cans that my husband finds around the house in varying states of fullness.

#8 - The chopper I used to cut up some onion. It is clean, just not put away.

#9 - A hard to see number (sorry) - in front of the white and blue bowls that have various vegetables in them (tomatos and hot peppers) along with my pink tumbler full of water.

#10 - an open drawer, full of flatware and crumbs (oh the horror) that accidently got brushed in when I was cleaning the counter.

There you have it. The truth laid bare. My kitchen is a seething pit of grime, vegetable matter, utensils, and various objects. I'm not proud, just realistic. I wouldn't eat off my counters, that is for sure.

I will tell you one thing. If someone called and said they were coming over, that counter would be miraculously shining clean just like over at WillowTree's!

CARNIVAL TIME

There is no theme this week. The Carnival includes great samples of the Blogging Chicks writing. Mine is included. Please click on this link to read.

Just Because My Friends are Doing It.....

I have to do it too! EVERYONE is posting cool sky pictures. Here, here, here, here, and here. Oh - and if I forgot anyone, please let me know so I can post you here.

This was taken last week during one of our walks along the E.E. Cummins wildlife refuge. The sun was setting behind the coastal range. It didn't look quite that orange in person - but the camera shot turned the color out nicely, I thought.

Oh - and I have a picture for WillowTree, probably coming up tomorrow. It's kind of dirty, but I think he'll like it.