The Rest is History

     Oh, Blog.  Oh tiny-and-neglected-for-five-days-blog.  


     Honestly, there hasn't been a lot going on around here.  We are upgrading our house...right down to the switch plates.  So, needless to say, the place feels like a war-zone.  But I can see that someday in the not-so-distant future, it will all be good.  


     Yesterday, I was cleaning out some things and found the extra pet bedding I had intended to use for Beezus.  Tons and tons leftover.  So, I did what any good clean-sweeper would do....I put it on craigslist.  


     Dragging it out to the driveway to give to the lady who responded (quite promptly, I might add), I couldn't help but feel a little devastated.  


     I think I am the kind of person who always needs something delicate and cuddly to have around.  Maybe having a baby will change that.  


What can I say? I still miss that little guy.  


     So, in honor of moving on and growing up and letting go, here are 10 Things I learned from a tiny, spotted mouse. 

1.  Know what you like, know what you don't like and don't be afraid to own up to it.
Beezus was never too proud to munch on a free cheeto, but was also bold enough to turn down anything he wasn't too crazy about.  

2.  Be cuddle-y. 

3.  Next time someone lets you sit on their table, enjoy the view. 

4.  Run a little bit everyday, even if the only time you can squeeze it in is late at night

5.  Get enough sleep. Lots of sleep.  Don't let anyone make you feel strange or out of place or guilty for the copious amount of sleep you require.


6.  When you've got something good, enjoy it.  Don't be so worried about the day it's gone that you forget to relish the good stuff.  


7.  Keep a clean house.  Life is better managed when all your stuff is in neat piles.


8.  Explore everything.  Even if it doesn't immediately appear to be interesting.  You never know what you'll find.  


9.  Be flexible.  On several occasions, we moved Beezus from cage to cage, room to room.  He never complained. 

10. Never rob anyone of the opportunity to comfort you.  


     So, there you have it.  


     Yesterday, Scarlett Ball was on the floor, enjoying the afternoon sun that was streaming through the windows and we just sat for a good long while.  She likes being petted, and I like to pet so we are a good pair, Scarlett and I.  


     Sometimes, when we are together, I think about a time in my life when she will no longer be with us.  I have to be careful because sometimes, my brain goes to That Place.  That very dark and scary and worrisome place and I start to fret about doggie cancer, and cars and broken fences and dog-nappers.  Then I feel extremely guilty because I think if Tim spent the entire time cuddling with ME secretly worrying about MY demise, I would probably not like that very much.  


     So instead, I chose to think about Good Things.  Lots and lots of good things this dog has yet to see.  A someday-new-house, a baby, a bigger bed to sleep in (Queen size, please), more bugs to chase, new friends at the dog park, the list goes on.  


Love and better outlooks, 


H.

Let's be honest. This is a post about fish.

     Our room is too hot and our bed is way too small considering we have 2 dogs who like to sleep completely on their sides with all four paws stretched out. I'm also pretty sure that their average body temperatures are 152 degrees at night, which also doesn't help much.  While this is not my photo, it will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.  

See what I mean?  


     So it's 5:57, and I feel like an old lady...well, maybe not an OLD lady, but at least a lady going through menopause (which, last time I checked, I am not).  Maybe it's because of the conversations I've had/overheard with women in the past, but I always associate being too hot and not being able to sleep with women in their 40's-60's (which I also am not, by the way).  It is as if I've aged 20 years in one night...if that's the case then, dang our goldfish have lived a long time. 


Who knew I'm FUNNY this early in the morning? 


This leads me to my next rant.  


     Today (which I guess by now is technically YESTERDAY), I bought buttons on clearance at Hobby Lobby, Ralph Lauren Shoes at Goodwill, and 2 tropical fish.  That's random, I know.  


I think the fish are called Platys?  It bothers me to break a typical phonics rule by not changing the y to an i and adding "es."  Same goes for the word "monkeys," but let's move on.  


We'll call them fish.  


     As of 2 minutes ago, these "fish" were still alive which is honestly a surprise, but a good one nonetheless.  Tim & I?  Well, we are bad at fish.  I have come to realize that everyone is bad with something.  Some people are bad with houseplants (which I rock at, by the way).  For other people it's cats or italian food or even babies.  


But we are bad at fish. 

     And I'm honestly not sure why.  Based on what little research I have done, I have an inkling (how long has it been since you've used THAT word? My guess is too long), but its totally drawn out and boring, and there's no way I'm going to use words like "ammonia," and "nitrates" on here.  


Snoozefest.  


     And I know there are people who would get on here and say,


      "Hey yourstruly, do a little research before you buy poor defenseless fish and then unintentionally kill them with your hard water and your high ph levels and your nitrates, you fish-hating hussy."  


For which I would have no response.  Well, no immediate response at least.  More on that later.   


     Yesterday, I was in line at Taco Bell (I ordered off the 'fresco menu' thank you very much).  There was a little girl standing in line with her mom, and they were rough-lookin'.  You know...dirty faces...torn clothing...tattered shoes. 


And I just got somewhat-sort-of-disgusted.  As in, Lady, take better care of your kid.  


But then she got to the counter and sat her daughter on the edge and the two had the most loving interaction.  


My bad.  


     So I guess what I'm saying is that maybe we should go a little easy on people.  Maybe we should realize that everybody is bad with something, but there are some people out there who still mix chemicals and pour in fish flakes and test water temperatures.  There are some people out there who are doing the best they can...but are still bad.  

I have fallen in love with this city.

It happened on accident.

X is for...

    Dear Goodness.  I want to be in a band.  I want that band to include a teeny tiny light blue, handheld piano as well as a xylophone.  How cool is it that there is music out there like this?  

Stumbled upon this today....adorable? Yes.

...because we ALL know how much I ♥ the ukelele.

Hannah Sciurba (http://shesinthebandmusic.blogspot.com/)

Worlds Collide or a post about San Francisco

     I often get "on here" and wonder if I will EVER be finished posting about vacation.  Probably not.  This, Sweet Readers, is a post about searching for something and actually being 100% satisfied, pleased as pie, content once you find it.  


     This is also a post about San Francisco.  

      I have become mildly-obsessed with a few blogs since finishing my Master's Program (oh free time, glorious free time)!  I said mildly, okay?  One of my favorite blog-authors happens to have previously lived in San Francisco.  During her time there, she left behind a little treasure  (the etching, NOT the baby, okay?) on a nearby sidewalk that I was bound and determined to find while we visited the city.
   
     My husband was The Best Sport Ever.  Not being much of a blog reader himself, I think he had a hard time wrapping his head around what exactly we were looking for during our hunt (not to mention WHY we were even looking).  


    We searched for quite a while until we finally found our mark.  In the end, it was quite the adventure and felt pretty close to a real, live treasure hunt.  After nearly 7 months of reading dearbaby and withoutmelissa,  finding her old apartment felt like getting plunked right down in the middle of an old, favorite book.  


     And if you know the true purpose of this trip from reading this or this, then you know these two little words held even more meaning for us.  


Find Joy. 


Just magical.

 (Although my sister insists that asking an almost-stranger for their previous address via email is creepy, I tend to disagree, and I hope Melissa does too.)


     So, today- I encourage you to think to yourself, "What do I want to find today/next month/next year?  What will I regret not finding or not even TRYING to find when I look back on my life?"  


Now, it's not fair to ask YOU to do something if I haven't done it myself.  True?  


I think my answer right now has to do with Jesus, book-writing, and babies.  


So now you know.  


I've got my GPS, some comfy shoes, and a puppy with a pretty good sniffer.  Let's discover it together.  


Love and successful treasure hunts, 

P.S. I know why you love this city. I see it, too.  

Copy Cat Schmopy Cat or 25 Things I Love

      Um, I stole this idea.  

But that's okay (I think)?  

 

Oh well, here's my list anyway...on this, the second day of the week.   

1. skirts/dresses with pockets

2. saying, "I Ruv Rou" to my husband

3. when he says, "I Ruv Rou, too."  back

4. using the handheld tool on our vacuum

5. hot air balloons

6. pedicures

7. black and white photos

8.  circa 1920, 30, 40 or 50

9. muppets, that's right. muppets

10. DVR

11.  dogs dogs dogs

12. red brick, ivy covered walls

13.  not losing my sunglasses


14. The Kiss Cam at baseball games

15. The moment someone STOPS tickling you

16. These PJ Pants (recently purchased on sale)

17.  The ability to stay calm and compromise

18.  Those days where you can look back and say, "Holy cow, I got a lot done/finished/whatever." 

19.  Rain right when you need it

20.  When Kroger does 10 for $10 (especially on things like blueberries, peanut butter and cottage cheese!) 

21.  Making the effort to use good grammar

22.  Phonics

23.  Yellow houses

24.  Finding things that are big but not TOO big (pieces of cake, hats, sunglasses, hair accessories, handbags)

25.  Google Reader  

LOVE, 

H.