Happy anniversary to me!

Five years ago, I was having a mastectomy. Actually, the surgery was at 2:15pm, so five years ago right this minute I was probably finishing up a pre-op appointment with the plastic surgeon (Hi, Dr. Heistein!). I believe my instructions were no food or water after midnight, so I was very thirsty and pretty tense. I don't remember a lot of details about that day (honestly, probably due to the no water thing as much as anxiety; thirst is pretty distracting), but I remember checking into the hospital at about noon and pleading — pleading — with the intake nurse to let me keep my underpants on. For some reason it was really important to me. (I guess sometimes a woman just needs her underpants to feel secure, you know?) She kindly relented and let me wear them during the surgery, and I do realize that's not actually a detail you really needed to know.

I also remember the anesthesiologist telling me, "I've given you the happy juice," and I responded, "Okay. Bye-bye." I was obviously right about the bye-bye part, since that's all I remember until I woke up back in my room.

I did, at some point, think I ought to take a last look at my left breast before it and I parted company. I don't think I did, though, and honestly I wasn't all that sentimental about it. No angst. I was okay, as long as it leaving also ended the breast cancer thing. Of course, in the following months, I had times when I lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I had made the right choice.

Well, five years later, I can tell you I believe I did. My chances of recurrence went down dramatically because I opted for mastectomy, and that's something I can sincerely appreciate.

So, anyway, today's going to be a good day, pretty much however it goes.

Hello? Hello?

I have a bunch of really great topics that I plan to blog about, but only have time for a quick note right now. [Liar, liar, pants on fire, nose as long as a telephone pole.*] Yeah, well, anyway.

I don't think anybody besides me ever reads this blog, because there are virtually never any comments, but I get an email every week with some site statistics. They tell me how many visitors my blog has had that week, how many first time visitors, and so on. And I'm always surprised that all the numbers aren't zero every time.

So here's a test. A spot check, if you will, to make sure that StatCounter.com isn't just making numbers up to keep from hurting my feelings.

We have season tickets to the Dallas Stars (if you actually know me, this is not a surprise to you). There's one game in a few weeks when Rich will be out of town, and I'll need someone to go with me. There are a few more games over the holidays that we'll miss. If you're a hockey fan and you want two free tickets and a parking pass to these games, just leave a comment and they're yours.

I need a buddy to go with me on 11/18 (vs the San Jose Sharks; always an enthusiastic game)

I'm offering two tickets & a parking pass for:

• 11/20 against the Colorado Avalanche
• 11/26 against the St. Louis Blues
• 12/21 against the Montreal Canadiens
• 12/23 against the Calgary Flames
• 12/26 against the Phoenix Coyotes

So…anybody there?

*A tribute to my sister Linda's third graders early in her teaching career. She kept trying to tell them it's "…nose as long as a telephone wire," so it'll rhyme, but they informed her that wouldn't make sense. So pole it is.

  

Books

Yes, I know how long it's been.

I've spent a good portion of the day entering books into LibraryThing. It's a good, free to cheap way to keep your personal library organized. I have trouble keeping track sometimes, particularly with business books (not the ones I've read, but the ones in the queue) and knitting books (did I buy it or just want to buy it?), so I decided I needed to get organized. (If you saw how books are scattered on shelves throughout out house, you'd understand how I could lose track.) And as someone who's stood in a bookstore wondering if I've read a particular cozy, it seemed like a good—nay, great—idea to be able to access the info from my phone's web browser. I know I've read all the Southern Sisters mysteries because there aren't many of them, but I sometimes have trouble keeping track of those Chocoholic and Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom ones.

At the end of the day today, I know two things for sure:

1. I seriously need some paying work.
2. I have way too many lace knitting books. Frankly, I've learned that my attention span is not really going to permit me to knit anything recognizable as lace, so it's not something I pursue. Why do I have all these books?

Connections

I'm reaching the deadline on a big project today, but I thought I'd jot this down before I forget it.

An old friend, Lisa Bailey, did something really nice for me last week. (Really, really nice. I mean, WAY above and beyond). Besides feeling incredibly, eternally grateful, just thinking about her, emailing and talking to her many times over a few days reminded me of something else. I actually think of Lisa every time I drink champagne.

We had this experience in Germany some years back. (I won't mention just how long ago it was, but you'll have an idea when I say it was West Germany at the time.) Lisa and I were both in a dance group that was doing a little tour of the country, and in Munich all the members of the group had the chance to stay in the homes of members of a similar group there. Lisa and I stayed with Karl. We had a fine time, and the night we were leaving on the overnight train to Frankfurt, Karl opened a bottle of champagne to toast to our visit.

This brings me to the reason for the Lisa–champagne connection. She doesn't drink anything carbonated. Not soda, not sparkling wine, nothing. She doesn't like it. Of course, she was much too polite to refuse a glass, under the circumstances, but was kind of in a dilemma because she really didn't want to drink it. I knew all of this, so I waited until Karl's back was turned and quietly emptied Lisa's glass into mine. As I remember (and it is a little fuzzy), I did that a few times. I whispered to her (at least I hope I whispered), "You better make sure I get on that train tonight!"

She did, apparently, and we made it back. Years have passed, and yet every time I raise a glass of champagne, I think of her.

Isn't that funny? People leave these indelible marks on our lives, sometimes significant but also sometimes kind of goofy. Presumably, we leave those same marks, too, without even knowing it. Maybe that's just as well, maybe it's a shame. Would it be good to know exactly how and why people remember us?

In any case, there you go, Lisa. You're with me forever, or at least as long as I drink champagne.

Next time I'll talk about Ruth, green food and crumbs on the keyboard!

We're living for Tuesday afternoon

Reports from viewers of local CBS Channel 11 about today:

Cold front coming in Tuesday afternoon. Supposedly after that we'll be back around our normal temps for this time of year, mid-90s.

Come on, Tuesday!!

Projects

Finishing up the first-half-of-the-month group of articles today. Then working around the house, my favorite! Yes, really! Well, okay, maybe not always my favorite, but I do look forward to some of the projects. Well, not laundry, which is on the list for today, or cleaning the kitchen, ditto. But some things, like cleaning out the guest bedroom closet and...wow. That's actually pretty dull, isn't it?

Maybe it's just that some of these tasks have been on my To Do list for so long that getting them checked off would be nearly orgasmic. There's got to be some reason I look forward to doing them, right?

Oh, well. It doesn't matter! Even if I only enjoy them because I'm a domestic dweeb, that's okay! I'm going to hum while I do it, and be blissful when it's done. What more can one ask of a Saturday?

Why does it take so long?

Could someone tell me, please, why it takes me ten times as long to do things as it should? Is it that I'm getting older? Is it that my attention is perpetually fractured and I can't focus? Is it that I'm caught in some kind of freakin' fissure in the fabric of spacetime? Or is it just lack of sleep?

I planned last night, and got up this morning intending to spend one hour clearing off my desk. (Yeah, it was a mess. I dumped a couple of days' worth of mail at the beginning of the weekend and didn't look at it again.) That was six hours ago, and I'm still not done.

It could be age. Seriously, I'm no stranger to the Midlife Mambo:

I'm so resigned to it that normally I tell myself it's okay as long as I'm doing something. Say I leave my office and go to the kitchen, then once I get there can no longer remember why I went (yes, I see all of you nodding). I can manage to be satisfied as long as, while I'm there, I move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, or put a few dishes in the dishwasher, or something. Anything. As long as there's a little forward progress. But it's apparently getting worse. Otherwise I don't see how I could have started out the day with the intention of making two — TWO — phone calls and six hours later still have one left to make! Is that how it's going to go? Is it just going to keep getting worse every year? How can it? I mean, there's only so much room to fall, you know?

It could be that my focus is eroding. Seriously. You can read more about it on my business blog, but there's a lot of information around that indicates multitasking 1) is kind of a myth (we can actually only work on two tasks at a time, and we do neither of them as well as we would if we did them separately), and 2) doesn't do anything good for our brains. The more you multitask, the worse you get at ignoring irrelevant information and focusing on a single task. Like walking to the kitchen to do something, I guess. That could be it. Am I doing it more now than I used to, so the effects are more pronounced? Am I in some sort of multitasking downward spiral?

As far as the fabric of spacetime being to blame, I'm willing to consider it. I may be living on a cosmic slub, the border of some big metaphysical Uh-Oh, and time just speeds up when I start doing certain things. Or the time some tasks take expands as I approach them. Yeah, okay. We'll say that could be it.

Or it could just be that my dreadful occasional knee pain has started again, and I'm worried about health insurance, and I've had a terrible time sleeping the last two nights. But, really, how likely is that?

Report

This is a report of all today's activities. For those of you who were with me in North Carolina (or who have heard me speak of this before), you know that sometimes Rich tends to act like I've demanded a full report on what he's been doing and what has planned. He recites a list ("I fed the cats. I offered to let J go outside, but she didn't want to go. I made myself some oatmeal, then ate it while I checked my email...."), and often does it first thing in the morning, sometimes before I've even gotten out of bed. On those occasions, it's hard to not shriek at him to shut up at least until after I've used the bathroom. I guess all I usually do is moan and pretend he's not there.

Anyhoo, I've had a bad attitude most of the afternoon, after a perfectly pleasant lunch with Terri. Dunno why. I finally decided that I'd abandon work and go paint the bathroom. I did that. It didn't help my bad attitude, but the bathroom's painted now, so I guess it evens out.

Then I felted, or tried to, three swatches of yarn that I might be using to make the lovely matching litter containers for my new car. (Hey! Don't you judge me — I bought that car then went six weeks and four days without it while it was at the dealer waiting for a part. I'll make as big a deal over it as I want to!) FYI, camel does not felt at all. Interesting, for an animal fiber. Alpaca does, but it was weird and bumpy, so much so that I couldn't tell which part of the swatch was garter stitch and which was stockinette. The wool swatch was too tightly knit to felt much. After running it through the washer, I tried agitating it by hand in some hot water. No luck. I guess I'll have to try the wool yarn again, on bigger needles.

Finally, it's RAINING! The temperature has dropped to a balmy 84° and I'm about to go sit on the porch swing and watch it rain. That is, BTW, the whole reason we have a porch swing.

I expect an upward turn in the attitude.

Hockey and the Daddle!

First, Mike Modano & Marty Turco. Good on 'em both for finding jobs! Rich and I are big Turco fans, so we're happy he'll be playing for Chicago. I think he's as good as he ever was, and just wasn't getting something here in Dallas — support from defense, coaching [my guess], something — that he needed. Good luck, Marty! We'll be cheering for you, though not for the rest of the Blackhawks and not for you to, you know, actually win, when you play the Stars.

Modano…I'm okay with him playing for Detroit. Perfectly fine with it, as long as he plays well enough to not embarrass himself. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan, though I admire him well enough. I just don't think he's that great anymore. He's good, certainly, but not great. And I hope he retires some time before that becomes painfully obvious. And, really, I don't see how he can play again, after that big sendoff he got last season. I'm guessing the next one, when he really does retire, isn't going to be that big a deal.

As for the auction of the Rangers, I'd kind of like to see the team go to the Nolan Ryan group, just because I believe they have the franchise's best interest at heart. Who knows what Mark Cuban has at heart, besides the spirit of a spoiled 14-year-old. But I'm okay with Cuban as part owner…of the Rangers. Not the Stars. Please, God!

And, finally, this little gem. The Unclutterer blog (notice the link to your left, there) sets aside Wednesdays to showcase a Unitasker, those ridiculous items that only do one thing (the kitchen is especially prone toward them, though they can appear anywhere in the house). Today it featured the Daddle. You need to see it for yourself. Be absolutely sure, though, to read the customer reviews!

Back to real life

I'm back from North Carolina and San Antonio, with no company and even free of the spousal unit for the rest of the week. I'm committed to thirty Superpages articles about my current topic. I also need to finish cleaning the last section of the patio, get everything out of the breakfast room that's been waiting to be stored in the garage, and water everything outside so it has a chance to live through this 100°F+ week.

Time to get to work!

What I know

Just in case you ever happened to wonder. And so I can, you know, keep track:

• I know what Avogadro's number is for (though I'd have to look up the actual number).
• I know that Ernest Hemingway loved cats, and more than sixty currently live on his estate in Florida. And more than half of those are polydactyl, meaning they have a few extra toes.
• I know that the medical term for redness is erythema, and sweating is diaphoresis.
• I know that the first two notes of "My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean" is a sixth.
• I know that the plural of opus is opera.
• I know that all the Central American countries became independent nations on the same day (my birthday, in fact, 135 years before I was born).
• I know that Carita doesn't eat meat, Jill J. doesn't drink alcohol and Terri doesn't eat fried foods (except for chips and salsa, of which she is something of a connoisseur). Hey, I pay attention to my friends!
  
• I know the difference between further and farther, and continual and continuous.
• I can name all the books of the Bible, though if you ask me to I might have to sing them.
• I can fill in the states on a blank U.S. map. Right quickly, too.

What do you know?

• BTW, I also know I'll be able to recognize any Michael Feldman fans who answer the question.

I'm sure I'll think of more things to add. Then I'll start listing what I don't know. (Oy.)

Seriously, what do you know?

Surprise Self Striping Yarn

I'm knitting these socks in Trekking XXL, using a chart successfully for just about the first time ever. Well, successfully except that I saw-then-forgot a note about knitting two to change the starting point for the second repeat of the leg chart, so the bottom part of the leg design isn't exactly centered on the top part.

I bought the yarn a while ago (stash busting!), because I wanted some brown-ish socks, and the Trekking XXL in color 101 (now discontinued, that's how long ago I bought it) is a pretty tan/brown/light brown/golden tweedy color, with bluish and purplish hints. Or not.

It's self striping. I may the only person who didn't realize that Trekking is self striping, and I swear to God it didn't look like it in the skein. But now I've got half a sock I've worked pretty darn hard on that, instead of an attractive brown, is a fairly hideous stripe.

Not going to wear them. Going to give them away. Anybody need any socks?

Especially for Cindy

Not me. One of my best friends from high school. Let me know how it goes!

How to Haggle

The single most important thing is to be willing to walk away. That gives you all the power in the interaction. And the fact is — and this is sometimes hard to remember, especially for those of us who prefer that everyone like us — you CAN walk away. At any point you can politely say goodbye, turn around and leave. No reasons, no explanations, no nothing. You do not owe the salesperson, nor anyone else for that matter, an explanation. You do not have to justify your decision. (Remember that sentence; it will be your car buying mantra.)

It may help to compare this shopping experience (for a car, a big screen TV, a major appliance) to more everyday shopping. Picture yourself in, say, a grocery store. You pick up something, maybe a package of meat or a can of some gourmet item or a piece of exotic produce. You look at it, look at the price and maybe chuckle a little, and confirm that you don't want to buy it. You put down the prime rib or smoked oysters or dragonfruit, and pick up ground beef or tuna or a bunch of bananas. Imagine, now, that the store manager accosts you and tries to pressure you into buying the high-priced item you looked at. Really? He can't be serious.

Remember, shopping for big purchases is no different than any other everyday shopping. It's your money, so it's your decision. No explanation necessary.

Keep in mind, too, that there are many, many car salespeople out there who would LOVE for you to leave where you're at and come talk to them. Whether it's because of price, high pressure sales techniques or a salesperson who's being condescending or superior. There are other dealers. There are other salespeople. They'll be happy to see you and your checkbook. Walk away.

Say this:

These are handy phrases you can use; memorize them if you don't feel confident in dealing with high pressure sales techniques.

• “I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, so I'm not going to look any more today. If you'd like for me to contact you when I'm ready to shop some more, I will.” Emphasize the “if.” If they don't want you to call, you can sure find someone else.

• “I have your card. I'll let you know when I'm ready to buy.” Don't even think of calling me, jackass.

• “I'm leaving. Goodbye.” Don't stop and don't look back. If you can make them literally run after you, you've pretty much seized the upper hand.

• “I have terrible explosive diarrhea and I think I'd better leave. Now.” How are they going to counter that? This one you don't even have to say out loud. Just think it and it'll give you the proper tone of voice.

Always start out by telling the salesperson that you won't be buying immediately. Do this at once, as soon as you've introduced yourselves. Offer to look around by yourself or deal with someone else if they're going to feel like you're wasting their time. Wait for them to answer. After all, if there are other customers who can be pressured into buying, the salesperson could be making a commission right then. Wish him or her well and find someone else to talk to.

Say this:

“I'm absolutely not going to be buying today. The only way I'll even consider it is if YOU offer to pay for the car. [hearty chuckle] So please don't ask me what you can do to 'get me in this car' today. I'm telling you now I will NOT be buying today. If you're going to feel like I'm wasting your time, please let me talk to another salesperson.”

If, at any point after that, the salesperson says anything that even remotely hints that you should buy that day, remind him or her that it's not going to happen. If they persist, give a negative non-committal response to whatever reason they present, which gives them one chance to stop on their own. If they still persist, remind them that you said from the beginning that you weren't going to buy that day. Look them in the eye (that part is important) and tell them that if they bring it up again, you're outta there.

Salesperson: “Our stock is getting low. Cars are just flying off the lot, so you should really choose your car right now, just to make sure you can get it.” *

You: “Well, that's the chance I take, I guess.”

Salesperson: “You can always change your mind. Sign a contract today and we'll work out the details later.” *

You: “No. Remember, I told you I wasn't going to buy today. I'm still not. I don't want to have to keep reminding you of that, so if you bring it up again, we won't be talking anymore.”

*Things I've actually heard since I started car shopping.

If he or she responds with something snarky, leave. Refer to the fourth paragraph, above.

-------------------

Look at all the vehicles you want to look at. Think about what options you want, and what you don't. Myself, I think leather seats are ridiculous. I would probably pay a little extra to not have them. (If you disagree, I'm sure you're right, okay?) On the other hand, I love seat warmers. They make my bum so nice and cozy in the winter! Find the vehicle that has what you want, then start talking about price.

-------------------

When the actual negotiating starts, keep in mind that it'll be in your best interest if you take a break in the middle of it. Again, there's no reason — besides the salesperson not wanting you to — that you can't walk away, even if you're just going to come back the next day. If you start feeling pressured, tell them so, and say you'll come back another day to talk again.

That tends to do good things to the price, BTW. If they start making concessions to get you to stay and keep talking, that is good motivation to stay!

They'll mention a price. Whatever the number is:

1. Tell them you only want to talk about a drive away prices. No one's adding dealer prep or taxes after you've agreed on a price.
2. Decide on a number that's much lower, but not low enough to cause them let you walk away. If they tell you $30,000, your number is $23,000, not $15,000. This number should be lower than the price you're actually willing to pay. You're leaving room to negotiate.
3. Tell them if they get the drive away price to that number, you'll buy on the spot. At some point they're going to ask you to initial something saying you agree to whatever deal you're talking about at that moment (while the sales person goes and talks to their manager [sigh]). This is not in any way legally binding, and in fact doesn't mean anything at all. Its only purpose it to make you feel a little more pressure. You can still change your mind.

A quick word about car dealerships: They don't lose money on a sale. Really. They're going to tell you — possibly with supporting figures — that they're only making $100 on this sale, and they'll be losing money if they give you the price you want. Nope. Seriously, no. It might help to keep in mind the small print from car ads that mention 'dealer invoice' or 'only this much above cost' or that kind of nonsense. If you look closely, you'll see there's always a disclaimer that says, “Dealer invoice may not reflect actual dealer cost.” Gee, really? They're not losing money. Don't feel sorry for them. And how much (or little) profit they're making on your purchase also isn't your problem. If they're not making enough money, they can choose not to sell. The fact that they won't should be a tip off.

This is an adversarial relationship. Don't doubt that, and don't forget it.

-------------------

While you're talking about price, this is your 'go to' phrase:

“I'm not going to pay that.”

Also okay: “Oh, I'm not going to pay that.” (With a hint of 'Any sane person realizes this.')

Don't say: “I don't want to pay that.”

Never, ever say: “I can't afford to pay that.”

If you say you don't want to pay it, they'll do their best to persuade you, and there goes the rest of your day. If you say you can't afford to pay it, they'll happily spend the next hour explaining that you can't afford not to pay it. Both of these 'don't' phrases invite the sales techniques their managers (the same ones they have to go talk to about the price) have drummed into their heads. You're pulling a trigger here, and you're the one who ends up suffering.

The first time you say you're not going to pay that, they'll ask you what you will pay. Have your number (see above) ready.

This is another good time to remember that you can always walk away. Even at this point. Especially at this point. If they can't get to a price you like, you need to go somewhere else, so thank them for their time and hit the road.

And remember your mantra: You do not have to justify your decision. Still true.

-------------------

So these are the important things to remember.

You can walk away at any point. Be polite, but leave whenever you feel like it.

Once again: you do not have to justify your decision.

You're not going to buy today. (There will come a time when this one doesn't apply.)

Handy phrases:

I'm not going to buy today.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, so I'm going to come back another day. Would you like me to contact you when I do?

I'm not going to pay that.

Oh, I'm not questioning the value of this car, but I'm not going to pay that.

Unless you're going to write the check for me, I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain my reasoning. (Keep that one light unless you're ready to leave and not come back.)

That's just what I've decided, and I'm afraid you're just going to have to live with it.

Last Saturday, I drove away in my new car for five thousand less than the price they first offered. Stay strong!

Clothes

I'm right in the middle of changing out my winter clothes for summer clothes. (Do you hear that, weather? Let's not do anything I'll regret!) I have to wander away every so often because I have so many clothes that it takes forever.

Does that sound too much like a diva? No, really, it shouldn't. In the total set of My Clothing there is a large subset of Things I Don't Wear Unless I Don't Have a Choice. That includes things that don't exactly fit (yes, that means too tight), aren't flattering, or are at least a little ugly. If you eliminate that group, I have two pairs of jeans and a Stars polo shirt. And pajamas, which are exempt from the flattering and ugly limitation because Rich is the only one who sees them and if he's all that concerned about how we look around the house he would surely stop walking around in wifebeaters and baggy shorts. I'm pretty sure.

So I'm changing out the warm for the cool, and sending everything through the laundry. Since I already had a mountain-and-a-half of dirty laundry, this is not good news. Fortunately, I have a large-capacity washer and a couple of days with no appointments. There's hope!

Later...

I finished the clothes swap (except for the laundry part) and did some knitting. In fact, I started and finished another Peep. They're pretty cute:



I knitted a bunny tonight. I know — closets, laundry and knitted toys. My life is so full!

Tonight

I picked up the new Chet & Bernie Mystery, Thereby Hangs a Tail. If you're a Cozy lover, or a dog lover, do yourself a favor and read these books. This is only the second in the series, but Rich and I both enjoyed the first one so much we've really been looking forward to the new installment. Anyway, I got it today and, therefore, know what I'll be doing tonight.

Of course, I am at the very end of a Pinwheel Dishcloth, down to the grafting part. I'd like to take some FO photos tomorrow, so maybe I'll finish that before I get down to Chet & Bernie. My Ravelry projects page has never had a photo of one of those dishcloths, even though I've made at least half a dozen of them. (Trust me, if you're a knitter, all that made perfect sense!)

It's Spring!

The first day of Spring in north Texas! (Those white streaks are snowflakes.)

And the next morning...



Can you tell which way the wind was blowing?



It'll be close to 70°F by tomorrow. Spring really is here, and we might as well prepare for six months of heat. But for right now, it's snuggle up weather!

Did you know Texas is misty today?

I spent the weekend in San Antonio, and saw some good friends while I was there, plus had a really nice date with Rich. I drove back this afternoon/evening, and it was misting the whole way. All 300 miles. I watched a tanker truck fishtail right in front of me, on a two lane section of 281 just north of Hamilton. A horse trailer turned in front of him, then went slower than tanker truck driver wanted to go. TTD, obviously annoyed, decided to pass when there wasn't enough room and had to slam on brakes, causing the fishtail. TTD got it back under control in time to slip back in behind the horse trailer. The first oncoming car was already way over on the shoulder, of course, which I'm sure made it handy to just stop right then and clean out his pants.

Rich will be here next weekend to go to a couple of Stars games. They've lost their last three so badly, we're going to have to focus on how much fun it is to go to the games (and not think about their position, or lack of it, in the playoff standings).

Everybody drive carefully out there!

Four more years!

Mr. March on the Stars calendar, and my boy!



What? Did you think I was talking about politics?

This is it!

It's a real comfort that Brenden Morrow is on Team Canada for the Olympic Men's Hockey gold medal game. He's one of the four Stars players who went to the Olympics, and the only one still playing (though Jere Lehtinen helped Finland win a bronze medal). (And we'll just breeze past that stinko semi-final game against the USA.) Hockey is so huge in Canada (and I'm a big hockey fan), so I can understand them really, really, REALLY wanting Team Canada to win.

But, of course, because I'm American, I want the USA to win.

So I'm okay with either team winning. After all, the other team wins an Olympic silver medal!!

Either way, it should be a great game!

Added after the game

It was great, and I was actually a little happy that Canada won (national pastime and all that) until 1) they showed how very, very upset Ryan Miller (USA goalie) was. (Honey, you played great, and you should be proud! I'm guessing he and the rest of the team will be, after a little time passes.) And 2) the TV cameras couldn't get enough of Sidney Crosby's face. That must have been for the Canadians and the Pittsburgh fans, but I got good and tired of watching him just chatting with his teammates. We could have been looking around the arena, seeing what was going on, watching them prepare for the medal ceremony, but no! We had to watch Sidney. And watch. And watch. And watch. Did the TV producers think he was going to do something?

But anyway....Congratulations, Team Canada! And good on ya', Miller and the rest of the USA team! We, your fans, thought you were great!

Tonight

The Southlake Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet [yawn] is tonight. I tried to simply avoid the subject and not respond to the stream of email reminders, but they called me to ask if I were coming. [sigh] So I am.

It's "semi-formal." I've asked women all over the Chamber what they're wearing, and it's apparently going to be regular suit-type things plus some jewelry. Huzzah. Rich is in San Antonio, so I'm dateless. (Where's that guy from my dream the other night, huh?) Otherwise, there would be copious amounts of alcohol involved.

I guess the alcohol will be on hold until I'm back home, snuggling on the couch with J and Rocky (see earlier post).

And while I've got you, here's a photo from last weekend's Winter Birthday Bash. That's good friend Pat on the right, sister Linda in the middle, and nephew Michael on the left (Rich is in the background). I believe we had urged Michael to get in closer for the photo and he opted for leaning over the bar (and squishing his gizzard) instead of getting up and walking around to the other side. What, you know, ever.

This photo also illustrates the fact that my iPhone is fine for taking quick shots of interesting things I pass, but I should really take a camera, too, with me to parties and things.

San Antonio & weird dream over the weekend

I'm finally back, mentally, from San Antonio, where I visited this weekend. I stayed through Monday morning to talk to a client, and I'm about four days behind because of it. (The math doesn't really work out on that, but there you go.)

While I was there I had a very strange dream. I was on a date, and not with my husband. Mystery man (I don't know who he was) and I went to a restaurant for dinner and ran into his family (parents, brothers, sisters — not wife and kids). The restaurant was sort of Middle Eastern, but in an Ali Baba kind of way, and had dozens of rooms and nooks and passages. Date and I left his family to go into another room for dessert. Then he stepped away and I realized I didn't know where he was. I waited for a while, his father came by and we talked for a bit. I waited some more, and then I woke up. After I woke, it occurred to me that my date may have ditched me.

I'm pretty sure this means something significant psychologically, but I don't think I want to know what it is. (And if I dream about mystery date again, I'm sure he'll have a perfectly logical explanation.) (And, yes, I know that's significant, too!)

Not much to say

Well, actually, plenty to say but not much time. Here, look at these.

I squish you.



You squish me.


It all works out somehow.

(That's J, the dog, and Rocky, the feline love of my life [but don't tell Izzy and Biddy], in my lap. Where they spend most evenings, if I'll let them.) (Life is good.)

Late night addendum

Stars 4, Islanders 3. Again I say, so there, DBD! Take that, Stars-will-lose-by-one Heika!

BTW, one of my criteria for a good game is that I come home hoarse. It was a good game! (Don't argue with me about who allowed sloppy goals. They won! I'm going to have some peach herb tea.)

Random things

1. I'm a Dallas Stars fan. I'm a fan when they win (woo-hoo!) and I'm also a fan when they lose. There are bloggers and columnists out there who are ready to disband the team, it seems. I love going to the games (so much you wouldn't believe it) and cheering for them. I love the Pantera song they skate out to. I love standing up and applauding when they introduce the service man or woman Brad Richards bought tickets for, and then go on to thank everyone who serves. I love yelling "Stars!" twice during the national anthem. I love the whole experience. This is my team, and I'm going to continue to support them. I'm also going to be happy for each player, and the fact that they get paid (pretty well, too) to play a game. A game. That's right, I said it. It's just a game. Get over it.

2. Richie's here! This is news because he's going to be in S.A. a lot the next few months. It's bringing back bad memories of when we had two houses and commuted back and forth; I don't plan to go back to that life. I can stand it through March, but he's going to have to focus on courting new clients. He may not realize that yet.

3. Tim Sanders is smart. Between the Stars (see #1) and the UT game last night (which, frankly, was okay with me anyway, because I'm originally from Alabama), it was nice to read something about losing well. Or being a good—smart, effective—loser. That's a lesson from which we could all benefit.

4. I love Stitch and Bitch! I mention it because we met last night. Despite the name, it's a group of really nice women who support and encourage each other. Really and truly, they make life better! If I ever think of skipping it Rich insists that I go. He likes what it does for my disposition! You go, you fabulous bunch of women. I'll be right there with you!

5. My office kinda smells like feet. Since there are two litter boxes within ten feet of my desk, this could be considered a step up. (Thank you, I'll be here all week.) Actually, since I keep the litter boxes rather clean (they're close to my desk, after all), they're not really an issue. So the feet thing is distracting. And puzzling. Where the heck could that smell be coming from? I'm a little alarmed that it might be connected somehow to the strawberry banana yogurt I just had. The empty container is sitting on my desk. I don't know if they're related but I keep getting a little whiff of strawberry along with the feet smell. Eeeww.

I'm going to take that yogurt container to the kitchen and rinse it out. Then I'll call my ticket guy and add a few Stars games to our package. (So there, Brandon! Take that, Heika!)

Then it's back to water heaters for me.

So what's wrong with it?

Just move along, not too fast
Try to make the good times last
'Cause I've got all the time in the world

The Subdudes, All the Time in the World, from Primitive Streak

Several of the blogs that I read regularly have been talking lately about how glad the bloggers are that the holidays are over. They dislike the whole holiday season, I think because of all the obligations and feeling like they're under some culturally-dictated pressure to perform or feel or enjoy.

Not me. Towards the end of the 90s, when my parents' health began to fail, our whole family realized—myself, like a slap in the face—that the trappings and traditions are just fluff. The only thing that matters is being together, and if that's facilitated by having a particular date it's supposed to happen, all the better.

We'd sit at my parents' kitchen table and talk. Maybe after breakfast or lunch, maybe with a cup of coffee, maybe just sitting. But we'd talk. About everything—what was going on with us, what we'd heard from friends and neighbors and kinfolk, what we were thinking, what was happening in the world. The kind of talk about all kinds of things that turns out to mean really knowing someone. Sharing life, being close. Being a family.

When we realized that was what we were going to be losing at some point, it became even more precious than ever. And that knowledge has shaped my view of the holidays ever since. My parents are gone now, but I still have my sisters and their families, and Rich's family, and his parents are still alive. We see everybody at other times during the year, of course, but it's nice to know we always have Thanksgiving and Christmas to look forward to. Honestly, I don't even feel pressure around or about the holidays. Gifts don't faze me: I don't much care what I give; I certainly don't care what I get. Cooking the big meal is actually great fun for me. (It helps that I like to cook, and cooking with my various food-loving relatives is even better.) It's the time together that matters.

So I don't get the whole dreading the holidays thing. That table we used to sit around is in my kitchen now. We still sit around it and talk, sometimes. (The holidays usually happen at other people's houses. One sister and I did have a rendezvous last month, though, for a middle-of-the-night game of Gin Rummy. Or Rummy 500. Or Gin. I'm not sure which; we don't know our card games all that well. But it was lots of fun, anyway.) And even though I pray we have many, many more years of conversation, it won't be forever. So all I can do is enjoy it now. Thoroughly, and as often as I can.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Two things

#1 - Today's date is a palindrome. I understand it only happens twelve times in a century; I haven't actually given it a single second's thought to confirm that. Anyway…01/02/2010.

#2 - It's very, very good to be home!