March MadGladness

This "emerging-from-blog-hibernation" post is dedicated to Kristina Pulsipher, whose every blogpost elicits spontaneous and gut-wrenching belly laughs, from even the most cantankerous of souls, and whose generous spirit will not abandon a dormant blogger to the land of forgotten.

The weather has been taunting me with hints of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Then yesterday, at least in my corner of the globe, the sky opened up with some fierce winds and chilling snow flurries.

But this morning, I opened my front door to find this...

and this... and this...
...reminding me that even as Winter tenaciously clings to its final act, Spring is still posturing for the limelight. (I know - metaphorical genius, right?)

Ordinarily, I avoid waxing philosophical, but this morning’s gift of blossoms reminded me of a poem which recently struck a chord with me. So in this, my "emerging-from-blog-hibernation" post...I share with you..."Harrowing":

The plow has savaged this sweet field
Misshapen clods of earth kicked up
Rocks and twisted roots exposed to view
Last year’s growth demolished by the blade.
I have plowed my life this way
Turned over a whole history
Looking for the roots of what went wrong
Until my face is ravaged, furrowed, scarred.

Enough.
The job is done.
Whatever’s been uprooted, let it be
Seedbed for the growing that’s to come.
I plowed to unearth last year’s reasons -

The farmer plows to plant a greening season.

In honor of the soon-to-be "greening season", I raise my glass of Diet Pepsi and propose a toast: May we all allow the missteps of our personal histories, to serve as seedbed for the growing that’s to come. Cheers!

Livin' The Dream!

Am I the first to post about it? Saturday lunch with the girls + my courageous and incredibly outnumbered hubby Kirk? I don't know if anyone bothered to do a head-count at the Meet and Greet, but there had to be 60-70 bloggy friends, whose hearts all "pulse-fer-HER" (the famous Kristina of Pulsipher Predilections). How fun to meet, in living color, my imaginery friends from Utah and more new ones! (A shout-out to my out-of-state bloggy friends for whom I spent a moment in silence...sniff.)

Thank you Kristina for bringing us all out-loud-and-from-the-gut belly laughs every time you post. One day we will ALL thank you for stronger abs!

Sher, Tink, Susette, Annette, me and Erin

Along with everyone else, I wrote my name and blog address on some greasy napkin being passed around. I hope that napkin did not end up with one of the servers. How ghastly to think about all of our blog addresses in the hands of some perfect stranger! If anyone knows the whereabouts of said napkin, and how that will be shared with everyone, please let me know!

And now - after today, I can shamelessly boast about having DONE something that most people only DREAM about....I (Kathy with a K) posed in Kristina's royal-blue and very cozy Snuggie!

Happy Valentines Day - Pay It Forward

I don't know. Is it pathetic that I'm posting on Valentines Day? There is good reason! My friend Misti, always looking for ways to perpetuate goodness and FUN, had a great idea on her blog, Live, Laugh and Love. In my greedy and obnoxious attempt to hoard her generous giveaways, I overlooked the important qualifier (sorry Misti, it's my competitive nature - always getting the best of me. You know that I'm working on it.)

So, I'm following the rules (so unlike me) and paying it forward. Here is how the Pay-It-Forward game works (and don't miss #3 - I may have disqualified myself...feeling sheepish):

1) The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a gift from me sometime this month (Misti said handmade - that won't happen on this blog, sorry).

2) When and what you receive will be a surprise! (Even to me - but it will be good, I promise!)

3) And here's the part I missed the first time around - Post this on your blog; then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in.

Now, since this is my first blog-sort-of-giveaway, I don't know exactly how this will work, if you happen to be one of my imaginary (or bloggy) friends. We'll figure it out, right?!

Happy Valentines Day!
xoxoxo

Can You Think of a Better Reason to Celebrate?

My other-daughter (I like that better than daughter-in-law, don't you?) Heather, is expecting her first baby, making me a grandma-times-three, some time on or around March 16th.

I ask, "What better reason to celebrate with a par-tay?" and so we had a baby-shower. The first one to guess what she's having wins a prize....not really, I got nothin' for ya, except for some bloggy-love.

Let's zoom-in on that white platter with the chocolate things, shall we?

This is where I interrupt our normal blog-posting schedule, to shamelessly plug a sinfully-delectable treat called, "Cake Bites" which I discovered through my daughter Jen who discovered them on Rachael Ray, who discovered them through the Sweet Tooth Fairy. This is a new bakery not far from my home, which has been open for just over a week, and where I am already a three-peat customer. Embarrassing really, especially since two of my three visits were in secret when I pretended to be purchasing treats for a party, but consumed them all by myself on the drive home.

I only just met the bakery's owner on my third and NOT-secret visit (a delightful woman, by the way) but as a member of the community, I DO feel a vested interest in feeding my addiction facilitating the ongoing success of her business! The cupcakes I ordered for both my real AND pretend parties were also a-may-zing, as were the peanut butter cookies that no one else got to try.

Now back to the REAL reason for my post. Thanks to my other-daughter Heather and to my son Jared in his supporting role, for giving me the best excuse EVER to throw a party. I love you both!

p.s. Thanks also to Erin at If You Give A Mom A Moment for the how-to lesson on strikethroughs

He's Risking Our Reputation!

A few of you familiar with my old blog may recall my best birthday surprise post, but I'll give you the in-a-nutshell version just in case. Last summer I bought my hubby a Harley for his birthday...I know.

So even though Kirk is a Hot Harley Hubby and I am a *convert-biker-chick, we are probably not typical biker people (not that there's anything wrong with that). *You may read my conversion story by clicking on the link above.

Still, don't you think when you fulfil your hubby's lifelong dream of owning a Harley, there ought to be some quid-pro-quo? Don't you think HE could be doing something for ME, by at least pretending to be a "Bad Boy" when he takes the bike out?

If you disagree because you're one of those no-strings-attached gift givers, then at least consider this. With the pink slip to the Harley, I also received a FREE one-year H.O.G. membership for both of us. (For those who don't subscribe, this is the acronym for Harley Owners Group). I know that as a newbie to the Harley scene, I shouldn't put on airs and pretend to know it all. But I DID log 1,000 miles on the back of the bike before we had to winterize it. I am also a fairly observant person, and I'm pretty sure that seasoned H.O.G-ies would not be found doing this:

Yes, that's my husband...on a Harley...with a PUPPY tucked inside his coat. So, while I was at the computer responding to my loyal blog followers (all NINE of them - I love you) my hubby decided to fire up the Harley, which he claims is good to do at least once a week during the winter (like a Harley fitness program, I guess). Then, making the most of the warm-ish weather, he also decided to go for a spin.

Kirk's excuse when I questioned him about taking the puppy along for the ride? "Well I think it's a good idea for him to get used to the bike, before the warm weather kicks in."

Really honey? Keep in mind that our new puppy, who now I believe was aptly named "Rider", will DOUBLE in size by the time "warm weather kicks in". So I'm picturing this......and gravely pondering how this is going to impact our H.O.G. status. Do you think they'll cancel our membership?

My Best Girlfriend

Meet my BEST girlfriend! Every girl needs a BEST girlfriend; don’t you think? I just spent a few days with mine, and on the long drive home, I reviewed the list of life-lessons I learned from her about being a friend. Top 10 reasons my 5 year-old granddaughter Madilynn is my BEST girlfriend:

1) Maddie is giddy with anticipation when she knows we’re going to see each other, checking in every day the week before my visit to make sure I’m still coming.

2) When we talk, Maddie listens with no distraction, never planning in her mind how she will respond – just relishing the conversation and our time together.

3) Maddie has other girlfriends she likes to spend time with, but she always includes me in their play. Clearly I have nothing in common with Maddie’s other girlfriends, but that doesn’t matter. It doesn’t occur to her that we would not ALL be friends.

4) Maddie and her BFF’s will come with me for a mani and pedi. Even though it’s not THEIR favorite thing to do, they make the most of it and find joy in the moment. (Never mind that I introduced the BFF’s to shameful self-indulgences in their young, tender lives. I’m sorry, but I needed a back-fill on my acrylics!)

5) Maddie’s girlfriends always understand when she declines their play invitations to spend time with me. There’s no jealousy or competition.

6) Maddie is artistic, and every time she sees me, she generously gifts me one of her latest pieces.

7) Maddie adores me, and I her.

8) If Maddie makes the plans, it’s always imaginative and fun. Never just lunch, but a tea-party. Not a shopping trip, but a bike-ride. Instead of a movie, let’s pretend we’re someone else.

9) When I’m with Maddie, I KNOW that I’m special and important in someone’s life.

10) When our time together is over and we have to say goodbye, Maddie wraps me in a hug and tells me she doesn’t want me to go. Like most friends, we say, “Let’s do this again” but a pinky swear means that we really will.

I love you girlfriend!

My Potential Career As A Dog Whisperer

So, in my sort-of -retirement mode, I’m “rediscovering” myself, i.e. What do I want to do when I grow up, or when I get to the other side of my soul-searching sabbatical? How do I re-invent myself? Of course, I intend to redeem my do-over pass based on a wise and educated choice, and only after carefully exploring ALL of the options. So I am holding the door wide open to possibility; the universe is my palette, if you will.

There had to be a place to begin the process of “excavating” my true self, so hubby Kirk made the decision easy with his (ahem) thoughtful and certainly well-intended Christmas present…a puppy.
I assure you this is not meant to be a Marley and Me–ish blog, but my puppy experience in the first three weeks of retirement does warrant mention, especially since the education process led to my elimination of a potential career. (Also, the timing seemed appropriate since “America’s Top 10 Dog Breeds” was a headliner on my MSN home page yesterday.)

Those closest to me seemed surprised when I shared the news of my new puppy, though self doubt may have skewed my perception. Up to this point, no one outside of my very innermost circle (me and my hubby) knew anything about, “The Test”. Please be gentle in your judgment of my nature as you read this - - my public confession.

Several years ago, I took an online test about what kind of pet was a best-fit for me. There were lots of questions about lifestyle, personality, family life, etc. Genuinely interested in determining my pet match, and eager for precise results, I answered each question as honestly as possible. After checking the most accurate multiple-choice response, I clicked “send” and waited with anticipation to meet my match. I anxiously watched the rotating hourglass on the monitor as my test-answers were calculated. Finally, there appeared a message on my screen, “Please click here for test results”. I DID click there, and my computer screen revealed the test results and my best-matched pet…as none other than a PET ROCK! Are…..you..…kidding…..me?! What the world?!! Not even a goldfish or a lizard, for cryin’ out loud?! I was mortified. I promptly exited the page, deleted my temporary internet pages, cookies and browsing history - any evidence linking me to a pet rock!

Last week with only 15 days’ experience as a new pup owner, the humiliation of my long-ago internet pet match was still too raw for even an anonymous confession on Kristina’s “Post Secret Post”. My self-doubt was only made worse by my eldest son Jared’s consistent reminders of previously failed dog-ownership experiments. Every time he has seen the new pup, he greets it by a different name, always one given to a dog from one of those failed experiments. (Mind you, each of those past pups went to a good home, but how is it that Jared recalls the name of every single trial-and-error animal that ever crossed the threshold of our home? Tucker, Louie Ebony, Harker, Jiffy, Goldie, Jasper, Sadie – how embarrassing. )

My gag reflex when I clean up dog-mess and my hyper-vigilant attention to the NEW pup’s in-house activity, assures me that a career as a Dog Whisperer is not likely in the cards for me. But a few more dog-days have passed.

Some minor but encouraging puppy success has given me newfound confidence and a glimmer of hope. Perhaps maturity and experience has infused me with enough nurture in my nature for more than just a blasted rock! This pup’s a keeper Jared, so ya better learn his name - - It’s RIDER
Update: While I was occupied updating my blog, Rider (apparently relishing the freedom of my less-than-thirty-minute distraction) discovered the toilet paper roll, my underwear from the clean pile of laundry, and a brand new spot in the Master Bedroom to mark his territory……….serenity now!