Did You Notice

Did you notice my blog is back to normal? Thanks to a true knight who was willing to come to my rescue.

Three or four emails back and forth and he had the problem pinpointed and repaired.

I think know he is an amazing slayer of dragons large and small.

Thank you Lou for taking time from your busy schedule to figure out my mistake and then correcting it. Your genius in matters of computer programs and language made quick solution to my dilemma.

When you looked at the html codes, you were able to read and understand what was being said. I on the otherhand looked as said codes and had a since of what it must be like for first and second graders as they learn to read. They have been taught all the symbols, can recite what each is and the sounds they make, but putting them together to form words and those words together to make sentences and sentences together to answer a question as simple as who is this story about. Well, let's just say I have a whole new respect for the struggling reader now.

I'm going to keep reading and working on some of the how this all works --- but be patient with me..... old dogs and new tricks are still hard to put together.

Just So You Know

And so ---

The letter to hubby may have been a little harsh, but that was me being me. I can't be all sunny and happy all the time. My blog is to share me --- the good, the bad and the ugly. I guess that letter was the bad and the ugly.

Robert and I have talked. I was gentle with him and come to find out he was embarrassed by his appearance also. He said he was in a hurry and just didn't think about it until he was asked to make the presentation.

He has learned from his *mistake* and we are moving forward. Does he do everything my way? No, and that is probably a good thing.

Hidy Ho, Neighbor or Just Heidi

Meet Heidi a full blood miniture dachshund. She is my soon to be new puppy. The runt of the litter and the only one with the pie-bald marking (white) and the ticking (small black spots on the white). I picked her because I thought she was the cutest, and even very early seemed to have more personality than her larger syblings. I have met her twice and she is a sweety.

I'll be getting her the end of May. Yes, she will be one spoiled puppy.

The Joys of a Pedicure

I'm joining back in with the folks over at Heads or Tails. Since this is my first time back in several months I was fortunate to find Edge as the *side* selected with the toss of the coin. With Edge the writer can go back and select any theme they might have missed or one the just want to revisit. Perfect for me. I scrolled through the list of things I had missed and happened upon this from January 20, 2009

HEADS
*OR*
TAILS
Feet *OR* Feat

Now in January my feet are usually tucked inside closed toed shoes or boots to be protected from the cooler weather. I would say cold weather, but since I'm here on the coast I'll opt for the word cooler because so many of you experience temperatures much below what I experience. A story posted about feet in January would have had to have included something about different styles of boots to keep your feet toasty and probably the different kinds of socks available to not only keep your feet warm, but to whisk away the moisture that can build up and then cause more problems for feet.

But here it is spring. The time when the toes are coming out of hiding, the time when shoes are less about service and more about style. Where less is more. But before those feet can be shown in public they really should be spruced up just a bit. That is why I went today and had that all important pedicure.

Ahhh, that wonderful time when your feet are soaked, scrubbed, massaged and pampered by an expert. Yes, there is a certain amount of tickle involved for those of us with sensitive feet. An involuntary jerking away when certain parts of the foot are rubbed, but it only caused the technician to smile and me more determined to have power over my feet.

The end results are always worth it. Smooth heels, calluses all diminished and pretty, perky color of the nails. Yes, the pedicure --- the feet's best friend.

"Rats" I Needed a Hug

Earlier this week while teaching a reading lesson a student looked at me and asked, "Does it hurt when a rat bites you?"

I was caught totally off guard because we were not discussing anything remotely close to rats. I'm not sure what I answered or even if I did. (I've learned to just ignore some random questions -- I think you can understand why.)

But that question has had me thinking about rats and mice. Those rodents haven't been a big part of my life and for that I'm thankful, but they have on occasion played a part.

One incident was many years ago when a mouse was caught in one of those old fashioned mouse traps that closes on the mouse's head and kills it, but leaves the mouse and trap there for you to deal with. I was a young mother at the time with a very ill husband.

I remember hearing the trap spring and knew I would have to remove the mouse. When I first looked under the sink the mouse was still moving and that in itself really *wigged me out*. So I decided I could let it just wait a bit before I did anything.

After about an hour I looked again and the mouse was still so I got the dust pan and the broom and was going to sweep the mouse into the dustpan and take it - trap and all - out to the trash can in the ally. I put the dust pan down and started to sweep, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Try as I may each time I reached for that mouse with the broom I would start shaking and gag. I couldn't do it. I could not sweep that mouse up. All I could do was cry. I had three little girl, a sick husband, and a dead mouse. I could deal with the girls, and I could deal with a husband who was going through radiation after having a kidney removed because of cancer, but I could not deal with that dead mouse. I just couldn't do it.

Finally I went next door with the story of my dilemma and this sweet little lady came over to help. She of course, swept the mouse up disposed of him and then did something that has stayed with me for all these many years.

This dear lady wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. That is what I needed more than anything. It was that hug that gave me strength to deal with so much more. Whenever I think I can't deal with anything more. I think of her and that mouse and that hug.