Ups & Downs

Cowboy here. Taking a breather. We have overnight company, the house is full. David is here. He brought his latest lady friend – his former housekeeper – they've been seeing each other socially since her husband died a couple years ago. Sar's oldest friend Alli and her husband, Paul are here. They brought their cat along, a creature that makes grizzly bears seem tame in comparison. Sar says our Rotts fantasize about throwing that animal in the commode, dropping the lid, sitting on it until the cat is flushed. The cat is a Maine Coon by the name of Hissy Fit – very appropriate. Naturally, the creature adores my wife.

Sar is cooking, baking, dancing. Alli's presence ensures plenty of mischief – never know what or when it's going to show itself. The two women - their heads together scare the hell out of me. As children, both survived some of Chicago's meanest streets. I imagine the tough guys in those days were grateful to have survived a Sar/Alli confrontation.

We have an entire village of snow people/animals in the yard. Apparently, Alli is as adept as Sar at sculpting forms that have a XXX rating. Educational as well. It seems dinosaurs had scales on their genitalia – breeding must have hurt like hell, might be why they became extinct.

Dinosaurs: There was a small article on the Yahoo home page the other day about why they became extinct.

Sar says to me: "What killed the dinosaurs?"

Me: "Twinkies."

She ordered pizza for supper. I had been looking forward to chicken and dumplings, peach cobbler for dessert. David wanted Boston Cream pie. He took revenge – used a butcher knife to behead the snow creatures in the yard. This only inspired Sar & Alli to reposition the heads in the crooks of snow arms, adhered to bellies, turned into basketballs – all facial characteristics included –in general, turning the mess into a horror show. I tell myself they're doing things they missed as children. David says we're aiding and abetting. I notice that Alli's husband takes it all in stride – they have 4 boys. Maybe it's a case of been there/done that.

I had a little discussion with my wife when we were in bed. A couple of swats later I succumbed to her attentive wiles, remembered again why I love her so much. She keeps me young, always interested.

Ups & downs: Sar's energy is back; she needs to rest periodically but health-wise, things are looking better. Appetite comes and goes; when she's eating well, I find excuses to give her more chocolate or a few specialty treats she loves – imported chocolate, ice cream, pears, black jelly beans, Boston baked beans – this is a candy, not a bean, also a number of other items I have to order online.

Speaking of treats, Passover and Easter fall in the same week this year, starting end of this month. David will fly to DC, return for the holiday week. Alli will likely stay here through the holiday; Paul will return to Chicago, he has a company to run, return later. Not sure who else will be here. Bull should be back from a deployment in time to share his leave with us; not sure we'll have enough food to satisfy him. Doubt there's that much food in all of Quebec.

Got a few emails about Sar's diet, suggestions for a healthier life style. Just want to say we've been there many a time. For months at a time the imp has adhered to a diet of proteins, whole grains, fruits, raw vegetables – except for a couple, Sar won't eat cooked vegetables. She cut out all the favorite foods – Twinkies, fast food, Cracker Jack, etc. When her weight dropped to the low 90's, the medics recommended a return to her regular diet. She needs to carbo load regularly. Appreciate your concern, appreciate your suggestions. Everybody's body chemistry differs; Sar's doing what's best for her. I continue to despair at how much crap she eats but as long as she's eating enough real food, I'm not complaining too loud.

David noticed there's a tall tree on the property that might be climbable. I might have to cut it down before Sar decides to scale it in her mukluks.

Cowboy