Catchin' Up

Hi! Remember me? Sometimes, I'm not sure who I am either. Life has been chaotic and before I know it, the day has flown by and I'm too pooped to think of anything but bed.

Cowboy flew to Baltimore for the Preakness race, then spent a few days at the Naval Academy. He met up with a few old buddies and since I didn't see any "arrest" reports on the evening news, I guess they had a designated driver and/or were too old to get into any real trouble. Speaking of o-l-d... he just had a birthday. More about that later.

While he was away, the critters and I were on our own - except David and Bull who dropped by here and there to EAT! I'm trying some new recipes and they're the taste testers. A couple I will NEVER make again - pepper and/or cardamon in brownies is just plain awful. (I should try them in peach dishes...)

I haven't written anything in almost a year but lately, some characters are yelling in my head. They want to get out. It's a possibility they'll make it to my web site in the not-too-distant future.

And... David's retirement ceremony was held over Memorial Day weekend. We flew in and out of DC, stayed long enough to witness the ceremony, attend the retirement ball and take the red-eye home. David stayed. He has a condo in the area and wanted to spend time with friends. He'll be home this weekend. While we were at the retirement ball, one of Cowboy's former subordinate officers - a sexy brunette Lieutenant Commander with Dolly Parton attributes - asked Cowboy to dance. I said his dance card was already full. She ignored me and in a most unlady-like manner, pulled the Neanderthal onto the dance floor. Since he didn't object, I said - very quietly, of course - that I had no one to dance with. Didn't take long to fill my own dance card... which did not please my husband. I think he was jealous; that always makes me happy.

Later, Cowboy said it was only one damn dance!

Tsk. That man swears at the oddest times. Such ungentlemanly behavior. I told him that was conduct unbecoming an officer and that it was a good thing he had already retired. I suspect he was inclined to let his hand respond but fortunately, David whisked me away for a dance.

Some squids simply lack couth. (Not that marines are any better.)

I slept on the flight home because... that's what I do.

Meanwhile, Harpo and Lucy Ricardo, the Dobie pups we're fostering have been moved to the outdoor kennels. Joining them is Hawthorne, the Leonburger mix.
I let all 3 dogs join my 3... in the backyard to play and it's a real joy to see my Rotts interact with the younger dogs. BullyBoy plays only for a short while, then lays on his back airing out his undies while they play. They have to jump over the beast when they zip across the yard.

Interestingly enough, Hawthorne stands on his hind legs against a tree when I'm climbing it. I think he wants to climb, too. He also whimpers when I'm reclined on a high branch.

Cowboy doesn't lean when he spots me up there in the sky. He glares, growls, threatens, and in general, disrupts the quiet of the afternoon. Did I mention a lack of couth?

"Did I mention a blazing fire on your parte inferiore bottom?

Tsk.

I managed to dance at the last full moon. That old man I live with isn't quite as swift as he used to be...

SWAT!

I was able to wear my new leg warmers and danced clear across the yard and back before he caught me! T'was glorious!

So was the fun that followed. Did you know there's a full 9-piece band hidden in my backyard! It played right on cue!

Cowboy had a birthday a few days ago. We had a small party - just a few friends - one of them is a fireman. I purposely invited him and his wife because there was an inferno of candles on Cowboy's cake...

SWAT!

The giant squid is sooooo old it took all of us plus him to blow the candles out.

SWAT!

Tsk. The truth hurts, huh?

He had a variety of peachy sweets and that made him very happy. However, his memory is totally shot. He couldn't remember how old he was so the birthday spanking that somehow landed on my backside was started and stopped several times over because he kept losing count. Between you and me, I think he does that on purpose.

Got an email from a reader about my story site. It seems she recognized one of my stories... It was posted on another site, plagiarized by someone who posted it as her own. Unfortunately, that's one of the downsides to the Internet. Even though all my work is copyrighted and registered with the U.S. Library of Congress, some folks think you'll never notice. Very sad.

Do I owe you an email? Probably. I haven't been online that much in the last few months - traveling, cooking for a crowd, creating fiber art, more traveling, etc. Eventually I'll write back. Please know I haven't forgotten you, am not ignoring you, just busy as I've ever been.

It's June, it's summer... I'm thinking about the upcoming 4th of July picnic, red/white/blue cupcakes, doggie get together in my yard, homemade Twinkies, the stash of jelly beans I discovered in the hall closet, Lindor white chocolate truffles. I ate about half of a very large package of them when I was browsing in the bookstore. Can't remember if I paid for them... Also fondling my new-ish leg warmers and in my head, choreographing a sexy dance for the next full moon.

~Sar~