without a wounded pride now and again!

Every once in a while I feel as if some invisible force feels I don’t have enough to deal with.  Perhaps, I look bored and this force decides it’s time to shake things up a bit.

Just this week while trying to get all my ducks in a row, and assist my husband in preparation for a business trip, the force tried to detour my progression. 

Minding my own business and going about my routine, I slipped and fell off my back steps—landing not so gracefully on my left hip.  I wasn’t alone, but my companion went about her business and came back to wait entrance back into the house.  She acted as if I usually lay under the bush by the back door every time I walk her.  Knowing my husband was on the other end of the house and wouldn’t hear me I hauled my sorry-butt—or should I say sore butt—off the soaking wet ground and went back inside. 

Do you know how absorbent denim is?  I do now.  Somehow, I managed to escape external bruises.  Internal bruising is another story.  I realized rolling over to get out of bed this morning.  Today is only the first day.  The second is the day they say will be worse.  I had some trouble getting in and out of my truck too.  I'm not looking forward to what tomorrow brings!

Have you ever suffered a wound pride?  How did you deal with it?  Did you haul yourself up and continue on as if nothing happened?

without critics!

Where would some books, plays, movies, songs be without the critics?

Think about it.  Many of us turn to that page in the paper to see what the critics say out the latest book or movie.  Is it worth our hard earned money?  Does the "critics" say it is worth it?  Or did they give it an "F-" or a single star?  Who are these so-called "critics?"  Should we trust them?

Where do these questions come from?  I occasionally get the opportunities to watch the CBS Sunday Morning Show.  Imagine my surprise to learn a play write looked at it as a positive, to have a play of his that was nominated for a Pulitzer, rejected. Then to see a singer and songwriter, who has five (yes, five) million fans have his performances called melodramatic by critics over the decades.

Apparently, they survive these external critics... perhaps, then I could survive my internal critics and leave my mark, after all, before I draw my last breath.  Because in the end, it is not the critics buying our stories, albums, and tickets... it is our fans... our families... and our friends.

without snow! Wait what snow!?!

Well we've got about a half of an inch of the frozen white stuff.  The down side, it's fluffy and removable with a broom... or a really deep breath.  This was proven by a "roving reporter" showing the viewers how easy it was to remove snow by blowing on it.  Sorry I couldn't find the clip *snicker*!

All evening activities for the kids have been canceled.  They are ecstatic and gearing up for a frenzy of video games.  Sleeping in won't be an option... snow play will rouse them from their slumber early.  Unlike me dragging them from bed at the same hour for school.

I hope one and all have a good night... I shall snuggled with a hot bev and a good book.  

without Red!

She has been full of herself today... so much so she is the reason this will be short!

Did you know that Golden Retrievers can remove electrical outlet covers?  No neither did I!!!  But this very evening Red walked up and removed one right in front of my youngest.  He was yelling at her to "leave it" and she disregarded him. 

So as soon as I could find a replacement outlet cover I put a new on it.  Hopefully she won't yank this one off too!

without Snow Geese!

Last week, I was ducking (no pun intended) into the house because of massive flocks of birds.  I believe it was made up of mostly European Starlings, although I saw Robins and Blackbirds too.  There numbers were probably in the thousands.

Vincentown Lake, Vincentown, NJ

This week, I was gifted with the chance to take a quick picture of a flock of Snow Geese.  It was so beautiful.  What do you think?

In case you want to learn more about Snow Geese ... Check out Snow Goose, Life History, All About Birds website. 

If you'd like to learn more about European Starlings ... A bird species that is consider to be invasive; as it doesn't have any natural predators like those birds who were already established in the United States.  Check out European Starling, Identification, All About Birds website.

I found myself chuckling after reading WHY this specie was introduced to the United States... "Introduced as part of a plan to introduce to the U.S. all birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare."  Quote from National Invasive Species Information Center page on European Starling

Amazing, somehow I managed to segue back to a writer!!!  Who knew taking a picture of Snow Geese would lead to Shakespeare?

without Castle!

Ok, I have a weakness... crime shows.  But what draws me in like a moth to a flame... Castle and he's a writer!  He is a sharp dresser, a charmer and... did I mention a writer?


I remember some time ago I was trying to track down movies that involved a writer as one of the characters.  One of my favorites is Romancing the Stone.  Then came Jewel of the Nile... it was good, but not as much as Romancing the Stone.  Another one I've watched repeatedly is Under the Tuscan Sun.  Most recently, Eat, Love, Pray.

So after a quick internet search I found these articles ...

http://www.geekweek.com/2010/02/20-greatest-movies-about-writers.html
http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/03/top-25-movies-for-writers/
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20177571_20406883,00.html
http://tv-movie-reviews.knoji.com/18-movies-with-writer-characters-featuring-michelle-pfeiffer-jennifer-aniston-anne-hathaway-and-more/

...My thoughts after reading all of them most of the movies were dark and gloomy. *sigh*  Although some I'm going to track down are The Muse,  Finding Forrester, and Miss Potter. I know I've missed others... please share them in a comment below!

without ice cream!

This one's for you Jacki! :)  I asked for topic suggestions and I think Jacki's suggestion of "ice cream" is MUCH BETTER than "dentist."

When I was pregnant with my first child, I fell in love with Chocolate Chip Mint made by a specific company.  I found it in these cute little pint size containers.  I would sit and eat the entire container; being *so* disappointed when I would scrap the bottom.

Soon though, I found that this ice cream company carried my favorite flavor in half gallon size.  I was in trouble then! :)

As soon as our oldest child began to order ice cream I started to see a pattern... he LOVES Chocolate Chip Mint just like his mother.  Now, could that be that he has similar tastes like his mother?  Or could it be because I ate SO much while being pregnant with him?  What do you think?