Don't try

'Somebody at one of these places ... asked me: "What do you do? How do you write, create?" You don't, I told them. You don't try. That's very important: not to try, either for Cadillacs, creation or immortality. You wait, and if nothing happens, you wait some more. It's like a bug high on the wall. You wait for it to come to you. When it gets close enough you reach out, slap out and kill it. Or if you like its looks you make a pet out of it.'

- Charles Bukowski
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I am listening to: Barfly
I am reading: Nothing
And I am: Still waiting

Good things Friday

Last weekend in Michigan with Mom, Da, Eric & Rudy - wonderful.
We live in the best country on the planet protected by amazing men and women willing to give up their lives for our freedom.
Mowed the lawn for the first time last Sunday.
Mistyped Google this morning and found Booble.
I've worn sandals all week.
We are blessed with so many wonderful friends.
We're attending Justin's commencement ceremony on Sunday.
Made dinner for Jim last night - my specialty - Sloppy Joes.
Grommie went swimming yesterday for the first time.
Sycamore Speedway tonight with Susan, Keith, Judy & Steve - a fantastic way to kick off summer.
I'm not writing - completely uninspired right now - but am okay with it for once.
A co-worker's boyfriend accepted a job offer yesterday.
Sold the motorcycle Wednesday - Craig's List is a beautiful thing.
Looking forward to playing in the dirt with Jim all weekend.
The last bit of furniture Jim bought with his starter wife will be leaving the house tomorrow.
A fresh keg of Miller High Life arrives today and the Hula Lounge is officially open - c'mon over!
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I am listening to: Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
I am reading: The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips
And I am: F.I.N.E.

The teacher dog

"I'm watching TV and G is on the porch barking at me."

"He wants you out there. It's a good idea - it's a beautiful night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They'd do well to listen to me, She and He.

They're always off running around the house painting this and folding that when they should be kicking back and enjoying life.

I try telling them. There's a lovely spot right here in this patch of sun. A warm breeze. Sit down. Take a break.

Just be.

They don't always listen. But I will always keep trying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Gromit
I am reading: A dissertation on evolating
And I am: Quiet

Grommie is GREAT

All the biopsies came back clear! YAYYYYYYYY!

He has inflammatory bowel disease and it will be treated with a special prescription dog food and steroids (for a while).

Thanks again for your care and concern for our guy. Love & hugs.

Marketing

"What are we watching?"

"It has Nazis in it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: The Sound of Music
I am reading: Nothing
And I am: Unconvincing

Happy Mother's Day

Best wishes to all of the truly fantastic Moms I know, especially my own.

Love & hugs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Sing for You - Tracy Chapman
I am reading: Nothing
And I am: Grateful

Good things Friday

Confession: It doesn’t feel like Good Things Friday.

It feels like We Still Don’t Know What the Fuck is Going on With Our Puppy Friday.

HOWEVER.

The best time to count our blessings is when we’re filled with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Right?

So let’s forge ahead as if all is right with the world.

My good friend Judy, who listened to me blubber and let me blow snot on her shoulder after hearing all the (potentially) awful news about Grom
ALL of our good friends who expressed care and concern here and in the ‘real’ world
A veterinarian who takes 20 minutes with you on the phone explaining what happened during the scope/biopsy procedure
Grommie is a smiley dog once again but we don’t know if it’s because of the prednisone shot or because he’s actually feeling better…we’ll know the prognosis today hopefully
A very good date night with Jim at El Taco Grande
Still looking forward to – and loving – dinner conversation with your spouse
Dinner with Mr. & Mrs. You Know Who Last Night
Laughing again about my impromptu and inexplicable imitation of Gilbert Godfrey the last time we were up at the lake
Planning our next trip to the lake
Being more present – even while doing mundane things
A very productive week
Dancing every Tuesday night
Not stressing about what to wear anymore
Being blessed with the ability to recognize the truth in both people and situations
Finally wearing the sandals I bought back in March
Jim is not losing his job (as we momentarily feared due to a poorly-worded e-mail from his boss)
In fact, they’re un-shelving a product once deemed too expensive to support – a product that no one else offers in his market – and this means nothing but good things for him and his division
Resisting the profound urge to punch the woman next to me on the train who has been babbling non-stop into her phone for nearly an hour – way to go, me!
Watching Twister with Jim – a Springtime tradition
Inspiring someone to dance on the El platform earlier in the week
Downloading the song in my head from iTunes to my phone
Dancing on the Quincy El platform to the song that was in my head
Losing 5 lbs. this week
Neil Steinberg commented on my Facebook status so I know he’s listening
The trees and the flowers are bursting
Being able to tell your boss you're 15 minutes late because you danced on the El train platform
My all-time favorite view: Looking out to the backyard and seeing Jim and Grommie together on the lounge chair
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I am listening to: Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire
I am reading: Nothing
And I am: Sweaty

He's listening

Hedy 9:01: okay I have chills

Hedy 9:01: neil steinberg COMMENTED ON MY STATUS ON FACEBOOK

Hedy 9:01: HE'S LISTENING

Jeff 9:01: chills or arousal?

Hedy 9:01: BOTH
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I am listening to: Piece of My Heart - Big Brother & The Holding Company
I am reading: Today's Neil
And I am: Chillingly aroused

Gromit, sweetheart dog

"What's his name?" asks a large gray-haired man unsuccessfully reigning in an exuberant black lab/boxer mix named Scout in the lobby of the vet clinic.

"Gromit," I say, ready to explain his rather unusual moniker.

"Gromit?" he asks, smiling. "Is Wallace at home?"

He bends over, gives Grom a quick scratch and says "Gromit, you are a real sweetheart."

Yep. A sweetheart dog. That's the word most people use for Gromit. It's what we've called him since he was a puppy. And while many of you have never met Gromit, if you did, you'd say the same thing within minutes of meeting him.

He's just that kind of guy.

So when doctors (who have to give you the worst case scenario) say things like "this kind of abnormality in the stomach, I just can't think of a good scenario for that" and "two hard swollen lymph nodes" you can probably understand why I sobbed on the couch all morning.

He's eaten next to nothing for more than a week. In that time he's transformed from Gromit, smiley sweetheart dog, to a forlorn little guy who looks incredibly uncomfortable both day and night.

Around 3 p.m. today, the doctor called to say they'd found no masses, tumors, or obstructions in his stomach or small intestine. However, his small intestine is extremely red and irritated and, while they haven't ruled out some sort of lymphoma, the preliminary diagnosis is Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (which I swear is what Jim gets after El Taco Grande).

We still don't know the scoop on the lymph nodes -- but the chest x-rays looked normal and all of the biopsies will come back in a few days. The doctor was very positive.

It's hard to explain what this fuzzy little mutt means to me and Jim, but if you knew him, you'd understand that life is significantly sweeter with Gromit in it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: The birds outside
I am reading: Nothing
And I am: Sort of relieved but not quite

A small favor

Grommie Dog is in for a stomach scope and biopsy at noon. Please send warm healing thoughts and prayers for our guy today.

Good things Friday

Bulls win in double triple OT
A pre-haircut scalp massage
Talking about The Shack with Mom & Da
I'm no longer drinking Diet Pepsi - just water
Washed down all the cupboards in the kitchen last Saturday morning
Being blessed with too much work
Re-connecting with Mary, Alison, and Dennis and helping out with web 2.0 stuff
Down 4 lbs. since Monday
Wearing the peace necklace I got with Susie in Long Boat Key
Nelson & Kyra are visiting for a weekend in June
The commute was a breeze for some reason this morning
Dinner at The Bristol Tap with Steve & Judy - sure love you guys
Jessica the Vet Tech, caring for our sad, sick Grommie Dog
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I am listening to: Keep Me in Your Heart - Jorge Calderon
I am reading: Neil Steinberg in Sun-Times
And I am: Wishing for just one good thing today - a healthy dog