Getting out my Green Thumb

For years, I have wanted to garden. I did try a few years ago, but my yard has a lot of chiggers. Man, I hate chiggers. They seem to love me, though. Not like my husband - they don't like him at all. It is not fair, I tell you. So, I gave up after that first season.

I have also been needing more exercise. My problem is that I do not like exercise that is just exercise. I like to have an activity that I can get involved in while I get my exercise.

Now with rising food prices, I thought it might be a good time to try gardening again. I decided to start with containers. Then, I began to clear out my flower beds as they didn't have much in them anyway. The chiggers are mainly in the back yard, so I am safe up front.

But, with the rising energy costs, I wanted to reclaim my clothes line. It is in the back yard...with the chiggers. So, I have begun a campaign to get rid of them. Wish me luck.

Also because of rising energy costs, I bought one of those "reel" type lawnmowers. It requires no gas or electricity. And, it works pretty good. I used to pay $25.00 per month in the summer to get my yard mowed, so I will now save that and the lawnmower will pay for itself after 4 months. Then, I can apply that savings to those rising food and energy bills.

Well, with all this earthy activity going on, I became excited to be outside and playing in the dirt. I have been having fun. I am sore and tired, but happy. Of course, I don't know much about gardening beyond the basics, so I also have a bunch to learn. And that is a good thing - keep me from getting bored.

I better go read "Gardening for Dummies" now...

Master Beggar

Rorschack is an inveterate beggar. I admit I do spoil him and give him tidbits. He loves beef and chicken of course, but also goes crazy for black-eyed peas! . Don't worry, I don't give him many tidbits...and the ones I do give are healthy ones.

I can't help spoiling him...Rorschack has the most pitiful voice I have ever heard and he knows how to use it...and he has the most soulful eyes...and I am a mere human...how can I not spoil him? To maintain my illusion of dignity, I try to teach him manners...but, alas, we have only made progress in small steps.

My husband is not quite the soft touch that I am...and refuses to give tidbits from his plate until after he has finished eating...and only if the kitty can behave. Rorschack just cannot seem to behave, so he rarely gets a tidbit from "Dad".

Last Friday night, my husband was eating his dinner in the TV room on the day bed. I was sitting there with him, but had eaten earlier. We talked as he ate. Rorschack was sitting in front of me. I noticed after a few moments that Rorschack was looking at me with soulful eyes and occasionally glancing at "Dad's" plate. He did this several times...it finally occurred to me that he was asking me to get him a tidbit from "Dad's" plate! My husband and I both seemed to get the message at the same time...we were both impressed. So, since we believe in reinforcing cleverness in our household, "Dad" gave me a tidbit for Rorschack. Rorschack seemed happy with his success....hmmmmm.

By reinforcing cleverness, we do open ourselves up for exploitation, but the entertainment value makes it worth it.

Long Lost Army Buddy

When I went back in the U.S. Army in 1984, I went to Terrain Analysis School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In that class, was a young man I was immediately drawn to - it seemed we knew each other, but we had never met! We became fast friends and were happy to both get stationed in Germany when class was over.

He got posted in a town about 2 hours away from me by train. I obtained an apartment off post for awhile and whenever I made eggrolls, he showed up on my doorstep. His theory was that our plants communicated telepathically and when I made eggrolls, my plants told his plants and his plants told him. Silly, but it was weird that every time I made eggrolls, there he was.

When we were discharged from the Army, I went to Austin to be near my mother, and he went home to his mother's house in Rhode Island. Shortly thereafter, I obtained an apartment in Austin and he moved to Austin to be my roommate. We were roommates for some years and collected a couple of other roommates as well.

We all used to play Canasta and Clue as well as other board games. It was one big happy family. Well, life events took us in separate directions and we kept in touch for some more years. At one point, several years ago, we lost contact. I tried to find him, and apparently he tried to find me; as he just this evening found my website and contacted me!

We have spent this evening on the phone and in emails (my phone's battery ran down) getting caught up with each other's news. I am so excited and happy to be back in touch with this very dear friend. He is on my list of "Best Friends for Life".

Many are the times when I needed a friend and he was there for me. He saw me through some tough times. We also saw many a silly moment together. Such a wonderful reunion - it seems he lives only a few hours away from me now...I will get to see him again!

Help! I have a cat on me and I can't get up

Miss Pouffie (Puff the Magicat) is a lot of cat. I say she is fat, but my husband insists she is just round. I have tried to put her on a diet, but then she just goes out and eats a bird or a mouse. How do you put a cat on a diet when she is an excellent hunter? No, I cannot keep her locked up, she would tear down the house.

She does make a warm cuddly ball on my lap, though.

Lazing the day away

Okay, I have some some work today, but I am now blog surfing. I went to check out one of my favorites and found this: