So Much Beauty

We are in day four of the Ice Storm of '09. Today the high will be in the low 20s and the low will be seven. Nothing is melting. The entire city looks like it's been decorated--the ordinary transformed. I'm going to try to get into the Lexington Cemetery today if it's open.

I cannot stop taking pictures.


Icing




Branch



Fringed



Snowfall




A Visitor






Arches



iced branches





gracefully





looking up





From the attic








Ricky Fitts in American Beauty: ""It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in. ""

Smooches and remember to stop and see the beauty gropes babies.

Until The Ice Breaks

Hey y'all

As everyone probably knows a large swath of the US is being enveloped in a silken robe of ice. I am ever fascinated by the dichotomy of it's lush, soft appearance and the harsh reality of its brittle weight.

Deck Stair Cap




Twins




Caryatic





sky




You can see that the freezing rain is still falling.




Front Tree


Glazed




Deck



I hope you are snuggly and warm wherever you are.

Smooches and some frosty little gropes babies.

It's A ConFab, Baby

Hey y'all

Saturday June 13, 2009 is the date.

Location is Bliss Manor in beautiful Lexington Kentucky.

Brad does the funny about it here *grin*

Think of it as a big ole barbecue/slumber party/omg-did-you-see-that? fest.

Folks can come in on Friday--we are planning on that. And you won't need a cab if you fly. We'll come get you. Everyone is welcome to stay at the house---there will be some sleeping bags and floors--and possibly a lap or two --- involved ;-)---but for those who choose to get rooms we'll get you details on the closest accommodations.


We'll have more explicit details as we get closer. Please email either or both of us if you are coming as we might miss it in the comments.

The main thing is this--- it is all about being relaxed and having fun with people who make a connection with you everyday.

Smooches and stay tuned for more gropes babies!

Charles Schultz Had It Right

Happiness is a warm puppy--or two*smile*

I hope you get to enjoy the simple pleasure of snuggling today.

Big news tomorrow ---dates and details for ConFab, Baby.

And I am working on the interview questions so if you asked for it watch your email this week.

Smooches and gropes babies.

Shiny Things

Hey y'all

Meet Aureelia

We've spent some quality time sharing our Christmas presents to each other which includes playing some World of Warcraft. I had to pick a name for my character and, in casting about for something I liked, came up with Aureelia--a feminine variation on Aurelius derived from Latin aureus "golden, gilded". I didn't know that when I picked it. I just loved the name from one of the characters in the movie Love, Actually.

This game has increased my skills with my MacBook---I've learned new things that I didn't know how to make it do ---like a screen capture--that make me love it even more.

Brad had been playing for a bit and already has a higher level character. He created an 'alt' so he could help me level--although I seem to be quite good at that on my own*giggle* and we've been having a great time playing together. Of course we were already damn good at that;-)

Smooches and some Silvermoon gropes babies.

Sunshine Superman

Hey y'all

A few weeks ago I posted about the omen of this hooded sweatshirt showing up on our doorstep the morning of the UK- Florida football game---which Florida won in typical fashion. The shirt was dubbed 'The Colors' and despite a LOT of wear it has not been washed because you don't mess with a streak.

Well last night, in no small part because of the talent and heart of their Superman of a quarterback, Tim Tebow, the Gators defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 to win their third National Championship of the BCS era. And that's very cool because I will always root for the SEC.

But here's the rub.

VERY early on in the year we were having a discussion about football and for some reason ---for the life of me I cannot remember----and believe me I tried---we made a bet. We can't remember what Brad would have to do if he lost but that is moot now because he won. And my payout? Just look------

He bought me this last year as one of my trivia prizes. I bet that if Florida won the National Championship I would carry that purse for one month.

And as we know I always pay up.


This could get ugly;-)

Smooches and some CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP gropes babies!

UPDATE: After I bravely toted the garish Gator tote into not only Kroger on a Sunday afternoon but Cheapside (local bastion of Cat loving lawyers at lunchtime) Brad has offered me a reprieve---it would be an insult to turn it down so...YAY!

The Thursday Edition--Page 7

There have been some news stories crop up recently that have made my blood boil. This is just the first one.

I've had a few of these in the queue since before the holidays so if you recognize the story good for you. I just didn't want to harsh my mellow.

The headline in the local newspaper read something like "Don't Let Poor Economy Endanger Children" . The 'media' ate up the story of 23 year old Jeri Moss of Tampa almost starving her 5 month old baby to death by watering down the WIC supplied formula she received for him, using the drama of his near death to ratchet up fear. But the tragedy of this child 's circumstances wasn't caused by the economy.

I think ought to be charged with something akin to wanton endangerment.--she won't be---it will be handled through protective services. But this is not an extraordinary case. See it wasn't about the economy at all making it hard to feed this baby. It was just normal in her world. She never gave any serious thought as to how she would feed a second child for a couple of likely reasons. First because she obviously wasn't concerned about the fact that she already had a 4 month old to feed or that neither she nor the daddy worked---as the government assistance was always 'there'. And second because she 'watered down the formula for that first child with no problems.' That child is 18 months old now.

There is no question that the economy is squeezing most of us living in the real world. But that's not the real story with this particular person and her poor poor children. She is just one of millions living in the self perpetuating culture of government dependence. It's a mindset that can be very difficult to understand if you've never had first hand experience with it. Is she a poster child for 'bad decisions' or is it more a question of no decisions? Is she guilty of consciously making wrong moves or are they errors of omission? Either way or both it has been going on for many decades and will continue until we get smart about it.

I have no problem at all with helping families. I just think we do carelessly and in a method that encourages dependence.

I thought interesting the country DJ's offer to provide all the formula she needed if she'd take a drug test---it was cynical but not at all uncalled for. This woman was sitting there with highlights in her hair yet starving her baby. And I don't care if it was a 99 cent bottle of peroxide she used to do it--it was still money. And by no means is the daddy off the hook---I have yet to see much reportage about his deal but I think it's particularly telling that the 'media' dropped this like a stinky diaper not long after the initial 'rush'. I think something important happened, like Brittney Spears farting.

Hopefully there will be adequate supervision of this situation through social services---hopefully.

Although I am far too world weary about those over worked and understaffed agencies making any real change.

--All thoughtful discussion is welcome--

Hazy Shades of Winter

Hey y'all

We've made it to hump day of the first full work week of the new year. I feel like I should cheer.

Rah.

At some point I will share more of the Memphis trip. For now I'll just say that a visit would be well worth your while--seeing Sun Studios and standing where the magic of rock and roll began was really really cool. So I'll have more later---pics and everything.

Coming back we got an extra treat in being able to meet up with Ginger of Gingersnaps for lunch in Nashville---another fabulous place to visit. Janelle was supposed to join us for lunch but couldn't make it. Ginger is awesome---we had an instant affinity. We had a great time talking and could have ---and did consider---spending the rest of the day there. However we had already made some karaoke plans Saturday night so we came home. We plan to go back for a weekend soon as it is just a three hour drive.

It's been gray and cold and rainy here and both Brad and I are feeling a little puny. Lord knows we were exposed to enough germies at Graceland alone. It's a FABULOUS place to visit but very much like a theme park in the number of folks and their attendant microbes.

We took down the outside decorations at Bliss Manor on Sunday--they are drying out in the garage. We agreed that the rest could wait til this weekend. We spent the rest of the day being slugs--snuggling with the Babies (the Ex was really cool to switch weeks and let us have them) and enjoying a fire for the entire afternoon and deep into the evening.


I feel a rant coming on for tomorrow's Thursday Edition--I think I just really need a good vent about a few things. Maybe you do too;-)

Smooches and gropes babies.

Walking In Memphis

Hey y'all


Happy 2009!

Brad and I are still in Memphis having rung in the New Year with Bond and his lady love, the beautiful Miss Nancy. I'm sure Vinny will get around to a re-cap so I'll let him go first. I'll just say that the hospitality has been wonderful and we are having a big time.

Last night after supper Brad and I made our way to the Windjammer Restaurant and Lounge so we could karaoke in Memphis.

Neither Brad nor I smoke and Lexington is smoke free so the wall of cigarette smoke that hit us on entry almost knocked us back into the parking lot.

It's a smallish low ceiling-ed hole in the wall type of place, with regular characters so perfect and diverse---from the blowzy barflies to the giggly girls who look just a little too world weary to be college girls to the 'professor' with his mock turtle wearing crew and the red neck in the trucker hat singing Elvis Presley's "American Trilogy---you'd think someone from central casting had put them there. Some might call it a little 'rough'. I think it's colorful.

We had an ace in the hole because Brad was wearing his Gator sweat shirt. The bartender welcomed us to the bar with the big ole 'Gator Chomp' and we were 'in'. I truly believe that we were the only people in the place who were not smoking.

We had to wait through the whole list of singers already in line and it was tough because of the smoke. There singers were good and entertaining and the crowd was appreciative even to us new folks. Brad, of course, already had groupies and didn't get to leave without having his picture taken with one of them.

When we got to the room we sprayed everything with Febreeze---well everything except my hair. Ugh it stinks.

Today we'll be walking around being touristy-- Sun Studios and Graceland and at some point with our feet ten feet off of Beale. Oh and those Cats will be playing some football too ;-)

Smooches and some smokey bluesy gropes babies.