Oct 20, 2015
Our golden retriever is a saint — not a very smart one — but she is one just the same. Dharma is a big bundle of high-powered energy. She flits around Gracie like a moth around a lightbulb nipping at everything in her path. A tender lip, an ear… she doesn’t care. Yesterday, I watched her ride Gracie’s tail into the kitchen. Dharma had a firm grip and was sliding behind — the ride looked a lot like a water skier behind a boat. I laughed at poor Gracie’s expense. Don’t judge me. You would’ve laughed too!
I did learn something last night that you should store in your memory banks somewhere. Puppies do better in a crate if you simply cover part of it up. After hours upon hours and nights multiplied, I remembered reading something about dogs thinking of their crate as a cave. Dharma’s wailing stopped immediately after I placed a blanket over the top and 3 sides of her prison. We both slept peacefully.
I also learned that this puppy gig would be easier in a climate where mornings aren’t frigid. Bare feet and pajamas aren’t enough for an urgent trip outside when it’s 40 degrees. I guess I should enjoy these before they are all gone…
Jul 30, 2015
I woke up this morning around 4:30 AM and I didn’t get to sleep until after midnight. It reminds me of my Nanny’s sleeping habits — you could find her sitting at the kitchen table staring out the window most hours of the day/night. So here I am… a little after 7:00 AM… I’ve already showered, trolled Facebook, checked email and organized my upcoming work day. If I had a table at my kitchen window, I’d probably be staring out of it. Instead, I’m here and am just about to share a photo of my granddaughter and her cousin about to hit the Jackson County Fair. (I’m sharing a before photo because it was so HOT, Colette told Ari that her hair looked “creepy” by the time we were ready to leave.)
Mar 1, 2014
I received my morning IBJ news in my inbox and glanced through the articles before hitting delete. I keep meaning to unsubscribe but haven’t gotten around to it — I don’t plan to pay for their “premium” content, and most everything included links to the same. One thing grabbed my attention though! It read, “The state tourism department’s new tag line is so folksy that some wonder whether there’s a disconnect between what it says about the state and how the city of Indianapolis is trying to distinguish itself.” (It’s ALL about differentiation, you guys!) I know how media can inflate things… especially the IBJ, in my opinion. So I’m thinking it’s probably some journalist wanting to stir up crap to get subscriptions.
So then, I navigate to Indiana’s official travel planning source, VisitIndiana.com. That’s where I saw the tag line, “Honest to Goodness Indiana.” To me, the website looks like I just walked into Cracker Barrel. No quickly visible Indy 500 or Brickyard info, no Mass Ave front page stuff, nothing about the Pacers or Colts, nothing about the fabulous breweries or museums. Oh my. It’s sure a stark contrast to the official tourism site of Indianapolis, VisitIndy.com.
I know that Indiana isn’t just Indianapolis, but if you’re trying to attract visitors to stay in the state’s hotels to pay your salaries — I would think the “sows, plows and cows” thing might be mentioned but not highlighted. If these offerings were restaurants, Visit Indy makes me think St Elmo’s, while Visit Indiana makes me think of Cracker Barrel.
Honest to goodness, I do believe there really IS a disconnect, fer real. What do you think?
Dec 10, 2013
This morning I’m reminded of that AT&T commercial where the cute kids are talking about how “more is better.” Why? Because we got MORE!
Indiana people are funny when it comes to snowfall. At first prediction, bread disappears from shelves. Milk, eggs and toilet paper are loaded into cars like being stranded for two weeks is a sure thing. The snow finally arrives! But give it a day (for some less than that) and we are digging out and driving around like idiots — and if more snow comes after we’re already used to that first wintery blast, it could be 3 feet deep and we’ll find a way to get out and go wherever our bad selves feel like it.
I remember the blizzard of 1978. While I don’t remember where the rest of my family was, I DO remember that Carl’s 4×4 (our primary transportation if snowed in) was buried under a drift on the other side of the county. Mom and I were stranded alone. I had a new car at the time; a Nissan 200 SX that was in the driveway but was so covered there’s no way you could even distinguish it from the other humps of snow out there. You must note that I was NEVER allowed to drive if it snowed. EVER!
I’m not sure how many days Mom and I endured the hardship of being stranded together, but it felt like an eternity. And then… I dug for hours to expose my car, put my trusty shovel in the back and slid on ice and crunched through drifts all the way to town on the mere one-lane of tire tracks on US 31. I made it to my cousin Jerilyn’s house just in time — otherwise, only one woman would’ve made it out of that house alive — and I’m not too sure it would’ve been me.
Dec 6, 2013
My hands froze (and fell off my arms and shattered into a bajillion pieces) just holding the camera for this shot. While I often stand inside with my lens pressed to the window to avoid cold temperatures, I actually went outside this time.
You know, I often yearn for a home located in an area that boasts a warm climate and plenty of sun. But not today! I LOVE snow, you guys. And, I’m not the only one…
The white stuff is steadily falling here in the Ville and I’m hoping it doesn’t stop until we have at least a foot. (No more ice, please — I don’t want downed power lines.) If you’re local… be safe — and enjoy the fabulous scenery. If you live in an area that boasts a warm climate and plenty of sun, just know it’s ok to be jealous.
