Oops! I did it again.

You may remember a post titled "Lexie's Lucky Day." It was almost 2 years ago. Well, guess what. That's right, I did it again this evening. One significant difference was that I was wide awake as opposed to the previous time when I was groggy at 6:00 AM.

The other significant difference was this time, I reached down to pick up her bowl the very second I poured 3 cups of kibble into it. Bad idea. Lexie remains very quick when it comes to gastronomical satisfaction. The growl and jaw clamp from her caused me to jerk my right hand away from the bowl.

I rationalized that two times making this blunder in two years wasn't too bad. Lexie thinks it's pretty damn cool.

Analyze This

Had a rare remembrance of a dream this morning. I never have awakened memories of my dreams, but this morning, I did. My dream was very jumbled and there were quite a few components that were unrelated and made no sense.

Points: I was at my childhood home. The house was uninhabited. The dream involved a few previous co-workers (from a significant previous employment---some of you will know from what I speak!) There was quite a bit of activity...a World War II tribute on my front lawn of childhood home replete with uniformed veterans. The Air Force Band were playing patriotic music and American flags were posted everywhere. Unknown persons were milling around when I arrived. As I came out of a work conference held down the street to head back home, I noticed a former co-worker and her husband leaving the tribute. The former co-worker was curt, but polite.

My husband was sitting in an area of assembled lawn chairs waiting for my conference to be over. My son's former girlfriend was a new employee at this place and I was there to orient her to my previous job (on-the-job training---I volunteered for it.) I felt a bit of nostalgia for this job that I left many years ago and I remember feeling quite at home in the conference. It was good to see people I had worked with.

I mentioned to the former employee I approached that many old co-workers were down the street. She said she could care less. I was a little hurt by her, but made my way back to my husband, excited to tell him all about the conference. Our children were to meet us at the WW II tribute and then we all planned to go to Babe's for dinner.

The dream was emotional for me, having so many random connections of my life there in one scenario. I remember the feeling of loss of important things in my life that had transpired over a wide block of time. Towards the end of my dream, things unraveled....I lost my way--- all those I love were evaporated one by one and I was left in the front yard of my childhood home. The WW II tribute dis-banded, my husband walked away to talk to an old friend, the kids had other plans and the people at the former job had moved the conference further down the street.

I have pondered about the randomness of the life connections. I'm guessing it had something to do with mortality.

I CAN'T WAIT

I can't wait.

Just one of the images I hope to see.

All Is Right With The World

Did you ever have a block of time in your life that just couldn't be better? I may be in just such a place. Sure, there have been frustrations and sadness. But overall, life is good. There are some exciting times going on with family members. Some of are making strides in personal growth. (Yay, Miss Tootie!)

Some snippets of life's goodness: A very unexpected white Christmas, my family all together.

A January road trip to Tennessee to see Gail and Jack, Rachel, Lance, Will and Maci. The weekend flew by, but Gail and Jack were great hosts and I felt pampered and loved. It was a fabulous time of catching up, relaxation, music and family love.

Since visiting Tennessee, I have made home-made bread a few times. Jack has baked his family's bread consistently for many years. Watching Jack make bread brought to my mind all the pleasure and satisfaction I have had when baking bread in the past.

My youngest spent 10 exciting days in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics. That is an experience that will live in her memory forever.

Work has been rocking along. I work with such a a cohesive group. We ARE a team.

Then, the record-breaking snow in February. Large broken tree limbs everywhere and the Lusk household lost four shrubs and some big tree limbs. The snow was beautiful. I will always remember stepping out on the patio around sunrise and listening to the muffled sounds that come with a heavy snow.

I have booked an Alaskan cruise for myself and two of the kids. I can't even begin to wonder about the things we'll see and experience. This has been a life-long desire. I'm only sorry that I can't share it with Clu Flu. We always "planned" to take an Alaskan trip.

There are other positive things going on that I can't speak of right now. But suffice it to say, I'm happy.

Cheers!

Merry Christmas From The Family

Christmas was fast and a blur. I always marvel at the time taken to prepare for Christmas---writing cards, making plans with loved ones, cleaning and decorating the house, grocery shopping, shopping for gifts, baking, attending various social functions. Then 12/24/2009 arrives. There is still lots to do. Church services, build a fire in the fireplace, prepare Christmas Eve dinner, maybe open some presents, travel. Most women are tired when Christmas morning breaks. There is still so much to do. Family traditions are observed--we must have Aunt Sue's Breakfast Strata and Mimosas! Christmas dinner must be prepared and there are gifts to open and admire.

All things Christmas are memorable, whether positive or negative. And to ensure that we don't forget, cameras are clicked hundreds of times.

I hope we all keep one point in focus. Christmas is LOVE. Whether we say it to others or just share a moment. it is still about love. Even when we are at our worst, love still is paramount. Christmas Season brings stresses to us all, but how we choose to remember THIS Christmas is what matters.

I love my family---each member is very dear and each person brings a different set of positive attributes to the collective group. There are times...there are times, when things go awry, but for each and every one of us, the collective WE is what matters the most. We continue to cement our love in the here and now, never forgetting those cherished moments in the past when we had fun, when we had sadness, when we overcame our troubles, when we revelled in one's successes.

Truly, God's gifts to us include our families, for no others will be there with us for each important moment in our lives. There is unconditional understanding and an ability to give each other what we need. Count your blessings, hug those you love and remember...there's no place like home.

Merry Christmas.

Zoom Zoom

I bought a new vehicle today. There has been contemplation for several months. I needed better gas mileage and a smaller car.

I drove a Mazda 3 rental while in Baltimore and loved it.

Switching makes of cars is a big deal to some (me) people. I have driven Jeeps for nine years...and other Dodge/Chrysler products for 14-15 years prior to that.

But the biggest deal about all this is that I bought my first foreign-built and designed car today.

"American-made is better made."

"Buy American."

"Support industry here at home." I believe all those things...but, the time has come in the auto industry that one cannot make a major purchase like a car on honor and allegiance alone.

Clu Flu would never buy anything but a Ford/Mercury or Dodge/Chrysler product (American). But, he was a very intelligent and rationale man....and I think if he were alive today, he would probably see there are valid reasons to buy a foreign-built vehicle. Anyway, I guess I hope he would see that...

On to the fun part---I bought a 5-door Mazda CX 7 i Sport; "Stormy Blue" with a 2.5 cu. engine with variable valve timing. It's a good looking crossover and I enjoy driving it. The Commander was just cumbersome and had limited maneuverability.

The dealership was easy to work with and I feel like they were fair/honest.

The only drawback is that the car has a rear DVD player that will never be used, but since it was on the lot, they dropped the price.

ZOOM-ZOOM!

YGTBK

"You've got to be kidding!" This is what my brain said to me this evening when I scanned FB (Facebook). I found a poll that asked if our schoolchildren should be allowed to watch a Presidential address to the nation's schoolchildren. Apparently schools are sending permission slips home for parents to allow their children to watch the address at school. Results of the poll earlier tonight showed about 2/3 of the people taking the poll voting "NO."

YGTBK.....

Points: Our schoolchildren have watched live coverage of September 11, 2001 devastation. They have watched "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" learning that true love may be found by going on a TV show and being in a contest to find a life-partner. (Where is the sanctity of marriage in that, I ask of the religious right wing and Sarah Palin???)

Do those in opposition fear their children may become thinkers in their own right? Under the Third Reich in Nazi Germany school content was censored and programmed to show that the Arians were supreme over all other races. Books were banned. How will our children learn about our democratic process and be able to DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES later in life if we don't allow them to have access to our President. It is all about our freedoms, people. One may argue that there should be the freedom to prevent them from watching this. With no disrespect...that is Neanderthal thinking.

I was in the fourth grade when John F. Kennedy was sworn in as President. My teacher walked her whole class to her nearby home so that we could watch live coverage of the Inauguration. My parents did not have to send a permission slip to school to allow this. My parents did not vote for JFK, but they sure did not raise a ruckus when I went home to tell them that I watched that special day on television. I still remember the sense of being pleased that I was able to witness a historic event. We discussed the election process, the formality and the responsibility of the Oath of Office. I felt like I was part of something that impacted all of America.

We have become a nation of self-satisfying and self-protecting people. Where is our concern for our fellow man? I think we have forgotten just how great our American way of life is...that was prescribed by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Think about it in a global way...outside your own little individual domain. If not for yourself, then for your children and theirs.