...musings of the self-proclaimed spajunkie...

"...I Had the time of my Life..." The Last Letter of Love, Page 2

When we last left off I wrote a letter of love to Mr. Ken while he was under the care of hospice.  Now almost three months later I can bring myself to post this, page 2.  I won't lie the words just wouldn't come, won't come.  I searched through the blog and realized this last post from KL says almost everything I would have said....although admittedly the only dancing theme is the title song.  I have to say though you can finish each paragraph with ...and we danced...

Up until the very last dance and on to today Mr. Ken was, quite frankly, the love affair of my life.  I am not sure I will ever be that lucky again but I am sure that the memories I hold of him will stay with me for the rest of my life.  

and here is "...I Had the time of my Life..."

It is the song phrase that keeps running through my mind as we are about to close this adventure and go on to the next or maybe it runs through because this month Patrick Swayze would have turned 60, but I digress, as usual...after hearing first thing this morning that the DES made it safe and sound to Houston our first stop was to tell Rogielyn goodbye.  That was hard, she means so much to us!  Our second stop was for a 90 minute massage, then back to the hotel for burgers and for me a two hour bath.  Feeling all relaxed and ready for the trip our driver will pick us up at 4 p.m. and we will begin the long flight(s) back to Houston.  By the time this posts we should be sitting in the business class lounge at Changi airport sipping wine!  Now for the rest of the story...

 

Dear Kenny,

When we flew here in November 2009 on a house hunting expedition I admit I broke down and sobbed that this would be my new city of residence.  Then when Ken moved here in January 2010 I have to say I went through a seemingly endless number of thoughts and emotions.  Should I leave my career, sell my beloved family home, fly my even more beloved pet, and ship all of everything we own 10,000 miles from what I thought was our life - to live THERE?  I will never forget my last phone call in the airport was with our realtor in Houston.  He was letting me know that the paperwork for the house we sold and had signed off on had been inadvertently sent to Fallujah, Iraq for the buyers signature, by United States mail, instead of Federal Express.  This did not make for a pleasant flight!  (Side note - two months later we received the final signed documents and the money...until that time our house in Houston was neither sold nor for sale!)  But, I digress...again!

My sweet (almost/soon to be) niece coined it this way - "What would you do for love?"  (Hi Ashli!)  I guess the short answer is leave my career, sell my beloved family home (or at least I thought it was sold!), fly my even more beloved pet, and ship all of everything we own 10,000 miles from what I thought was our life -  to live HERE.

Then when I arrived here in June 2010, Desi arrived here (unscathed), later on the shipment arrived here I went about settling in to a very - how to say - unfriendly, poorly thought out and executed, house with three floors of marble, and a kitchen separated out on two different floors.  A house that had a contractor in it weekly because so many things didn't work.  But, I persevered.  I learned to decorate in a whole new way and to cook in a totally new way!  and, we danced....

Separating the bathroom from the bedroom so the view from the bed wasn't of...the toilet!

Carrying things up and down, down and up the stairs in order to prepare dinner!  after which we truly did dance, often!

Rogielyn came to live with us which I believe was quite possibly the best decision we ever made!  She is certainly the person I love most that I've come into contact with here.  Leaving her is very difficult.  Though I am sure she will be glad to stop washing my endless amounts of china, crystal and serving dishes!  (Inside joke.)

 

 And with her arrival, we traveled...ALOT.  From August to September 2010 we hit Miri, Bali, Singapore and Western Australia.  We ended up with some very dear friends in Singapore - Hi Jen & John - and some very dear friends in Perth - Hi Deb & Jack - who we visited often and had some great times along the way.

Then, October 5, 2010, we crashed down to earth with news of cancer.  So, off we went to Houston for a few months.  Thank (Praise!) God we are just shy two months to be two years since the news and Mr. Ken is still doing great!  this is heart breaking to read but I have to say through it all we still remembered to dance...

We came back from Houston in early December 2010 with the added addition of our (first) broken ankle...his.  Poor Des waited oh so patiently for us (and a haircut!) for two and 1/2 months!  

I began to really find my way around KL and enjoy being here, driving, shopping, etc.  We persevered through a few months of chemo and did quite a bit of traveling from February to April 2011.  This time it was Western Australia and Singapore (again), London, Italy and Switzerland.  where, we, of course, danced...

 

Then, Lauren arrived in April 2011.  She hung out with us for eight months.  We traveled to Western Australia, Singapore, Melaka, Cherating, Genting Highlands, and Langkawi while she was here. This trip to Perth, and our trip to Langkawi were perhaps two of the best vacations we have ever had.  We had the added fun of meeting two long time dear friends in Langkawi, hi Mindy and Elod!

 

And sometime during Lauren's eight months here I broke my ankle!  What are the odds of that seriously?  Two in less than a year...We also had a lot of mischief at our complex with break ins and attempted break ins and alarms going off all night long...snakes in the house.  But we persevered.  Never a dull moment that is for sure!  I loved every minute of it even if I didn't sleep much because, let's face it - it was great blog material!  You just can't make this stuff up!  and, no we didn't so much dance with the broken ankle...I couldn't manage the crutches or the stairs as it was!

When we got back from Langkawi in late October 2011, we found out we had to move to a different house, and we were SO happy about that.  But first!  We made a trip to Singpore and Western Australia in December to visit the aforementioned friends again.

 

 We came back and got moved in a record 7 days start to finish!   Being able to take Mr. Ken to the train every day and pick him up in the evening made his days much more pleasant, gave me a car all day every day so I improved my skill at getting around even more - AND Des got to ride in the car each way to the train, twice a day!  An extremely, extremely good quality way of life....in a house we LOVED.  We have ALL enjoyed this house if even only for nine short months! But probably no one more enjoyed it than the DES.  (sorry, I realize this picture was in a recent post!  I've been writing this last post from KL for about a week or more...at any rate I love this pic, clearly!)  we had more fun in this house than anywhere ever...

Next, we took our long awaited and put off leave to Houston in February 2012.  It was fun, but a bit too long to be gone.  

My friend Sandra came from Ireland to visit in March!  We had a great time...my one and only guest here in Malaysia!  So, all the rest of you MISSED out!

We headed to Singapore and Perth (WA) yet again....

After that I hung at home and enjoyed the pets while Mr. Ken traveled...

Then we were off to Phuket in May 2012.

We received the news about coming back to Houston in June...And, now here we are (having just returned yet again from Singapore this month - dinner was great Jen & John!)...  Packed and ready to move back.  It truly seems like yesterday, and yet it seems like 10 years ago, I was on the plane worrying about the house sale in Houston.  When we leave Mr. Ken will have been here 2 years, 8 months and I will have been here 2 years, 2 months.  

If I had it all to do over again, knowing what I know now:  I would have done my best to have been here in January instead of June 2010.  I would not have worried so much about if what I was doing was the right thing or not.  I would absolutely without a doubt have brought all of our things - despite the fact this is the third move in less than three years.  And, I would have so sincerely rather have spent those six months dancing with Mr. Ken than fretting in Houston.

I guess when you sum it all up, I took a leap of faith based on letting my heart instead of my head decide, which is a very difficult thing for a person like me to do as I prefer all things logical...not emotional.  And, well, it ended up that ...

Cue the music....

"...I had the time of my Life...and I owe it all to you..."   Thanks Mr. Ken, I Love you. 

To sum it all up.  I have to say I did, truly, have the time of my life for 17 years.  I saw the world with the man I loved.  We had ups and we had downs but mainly we LIVED and we DANCED like no one was watching.  

I feel assured Mr. Ken is enjoying his new adventure and I've decided I am ready to start mine.  Knowing in my heart that he would want nothing more for me, I am secure in my wish to find happiness in this new chapter of my life.  

To that end it is time for the spajunkie to retire.  This will be her last post.  I've enjoyed this blog and all of you more than I can say....

I ultimately wish that at this juncture I could write a blog called "Sex and the City Over 50" but in all reality that isn't going to happen!  LOL.  But some day soon my new blog will begin.  It will be attached to this blog so that the spajunkie and her adventures with Mr. Ken will live on...

Look for "What the duck is up" coming your way soon!

All my love, spajunkie.   

 

 

 

The Nightmare before Christmas...by The Des

This was originally posted - goodness - three years ago - but I like it so much I decided to repost, again,  this Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas to all!

Twas the day before Christmas in all of K.L.  Not a creature was stirring, not even the Airedale.  The stockings were hung on the railings with care, in hopes that more dog treats soon would be there.

Desi was nestled all snug in his bed, while visions of dog bones danced in his head.  With Mr. Ken on his crutches, Mrs. Ken as the driver, mom and dad set out for Solaris - pedi and mani.

Suddenly at home there arose such a clatter, the Des sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.  Away to the window he flew like a flash, tore at the shutters and ripped up the sash.

The sun light on the drive gave off such a glow, giving lustre of mid-day to objects below.  When, what to his wondering dog eyes appeared, but a family of monkeys just looking for cheer.

With a little old gecko driver, so lively and quick, he knew in a moment it must be a trick.  More rapid than greyhounds his coursers they came, and he barked and he growled and he called them names!

"Go away -  Go away - Go away ALL!"  "You must be a dream" he said to them all.  Oh where oh where are Mr. and Mrs. Ken, this is not the way this eve should begin.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.  So up to the house-top the coursers they flew.  With 12 monkeys in all and a gecko or two.

And then, in a twinkling, he heard on the drive, the tires of the Fortuner, mommy and daddy had finally arrived!  As he drew in his head, and was turning around, in through the door they both did abound.

His eyes - how they twinkled!  His dimples how merry!  His cheeks were furry, his nose a black cherry!  His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, he barked and he barked to welcome them home!

The stump of a bone he held tight in his teeth, and his worries of monkeys circled in his head like a wreath.  Mommy soothed his face and little round belly, it shook as he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

It was horrible and scary, a terrible dream - monkeys and geckos all making a scene!  A wink of her eye and a twist of her head, soon let him know he'd nothing to dread.

She spoke not a word, but went straight to her work, bones and toys for Desi, that most playful pup.  He snuggled back into his bed, not a care in the world, monkeys and geckos - how crazy and absurd!

As he drifted to sleep he heard a monkey give a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But he heard him exclaim, as they drove out of sight "we'll get you my pretty, on some other night."

 

From me, Mr. and Mrs. Ken, with love ~ We hope all of your DREAMS come true this Christmas!

A note from Mrs. Ken - the original "Twas the night before Christmas" was written in 1822 by Clement Clarke Moore.  Below is the complete poem and its origins in case you'd like to share it with your family on the night before Christmas. 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas Poem also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas"

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition

Rage Against the Machine

Well, maybe not rage so much but I definitely intend to rant...

This morning I left the house at 8:45 to take Desi for his annual check up/shots/etc.  His appointment in Pearland was at 9:30.  We arrived promptly at 9:20.

......we finally were ushered into the exam room at 10:20, and saw the vet at about 10:50 and paid and were on our way back home at 11:15.  I can tell you I love this veterinary clinic more than I can say as they have taken care of and helped save many an animal.  BUT did I have an extra hour today to piddle around?  Let me take that back.  Did I have an extra hour today trying to keep Desi in "sit" mode while numerous dogs (and cats) came and went and much to my baby's chagrin WERE NOT there to play with him...um, no, quite frankly, I had not alloted for this in my "things to do today" list.  Nonetheless, one hour behind on the list and $352.43 later we were on our way.

Mr. Ken was stuck at home waiting for the plumber to fix the hot water heater.  (This went out on Thursday, plumber came Friday, a part had to be ordered and overnighted so they came back today to install it - which I have to say is pretty good turnaround time and is WAY better than waiting until Tuesday.  BUT could it be I'm so fit to be tied in general with today because I haven't had a hot bath, washed dishes or done laundry since Wednesday?  Perhaps is all I'm saying...read on.)  (I did take cold showers in case anyone is thinking I am fit to be tied and stinky too!)

Anyway, I got back from the vet and ran to get Mr. Ken some lunch since he was house bound waiting on them.  I got to Whataburger and the line was down the street.  (ERGH)  I waited in line mentally thinking of everything I needed to do before I got to sit down today and I just drove right by the window where you pay and went directly to the window where you pick up.  WELL.  I just can't even express in words the mayhem this caused!  You would have seriously thought I was robbing the place.  I even had a $20 bill in my hand hanging out the window.  Jeez.  

After lunch (such as it was) I headed out to get gas and went to the Shell station.  Why oh why did I do this?  This is the exact same station I can NEVER, repeat NEVER, make the gas nozzle thingy work.  I simply don't understand this whole "compress, tilt, pump" concept.  Truly I don't.  I finally gave up and went to HEB.

At HEB I did my shopping post haste, of course organizing my cart as I went as I do, and got to check out.  There I proceeded to put my groceries on the conveyor belt in order with the recycle bags planted atop the things I wanted in them.  IE, cold things, cold bag...produce, softer light bags...heavy things, heavier bags.  I think we've already been over my OCD tendencies when it comes to grocery shopping and bagging.  

As my COLD bag was handed back to me, EMPTY, I asked the girl "Did you put my cold stuff in a cold bag?"  "Yes, ma'am."  Well, I sure didn't see how since it was empty in my hand.  I have more than one so I decided not to make a scene because at this point I was close to ranting and raving.  

On the way home I stopped at the Exxon to get gas (because for reasons unknown to me I CAN successfully use their nozzles and pumps).  As I am trying to drive in and park there are approximately five small children ranging in age from 2-7 romping around the lot in front of the pumps paying not one iota of attention to drivers, cars or anything else.  In fact, they are quite gleefully playing with the window washer things, running around and trying to "wash" each other.  Besides the fact they did all look like they could use a good washing, I was stupidified as to what parent allows this to go on right on the corner of the Beltway and Fairmont with cars/trucks and the like whizzing by.  I, again, kept my mouth shut even though one of them slung the window washer thing hard enough that I got wet.  Where are the parents in this scenario?

At any rate, I get home and here is what I had in my grocery bags after all of the OCD loading of cart and strategic placement of groceries and the bags they should go in on the conveyor belt:

Chicken in a cold (!) bag (but not the one I had placed lovingly on the chicken to begin with) with cleaning products and paper towels.  (If there is one thing I hate more than anything it is non food items bagged with food items.)

The rest of my meat in a normal bag with some produce and some canned goods.

Freezer items in a normal bag with soy sauce, pimentos, canned corn, and refried beans on top.

Peaches, cherries and tomatoes on the BOTTOM of a bag with a half a watermelon, six bananas, five potatoes and a large onion on top.  My peaches are mush...

My eggs in their own bag which I found at the bottom of my cart when I unloaded the car...meaning everything above was piled on top of them...including a twenty pound bag of charcoal.  I'm glad I happen to have not actually needed eggs and mistakenly bought them. 

WELL>  I had it.  I was just done.  After I loudly voiced my irritation, Mr. Ken went up to the man cave to watch golf (smart man!), so I called HEB.  I spoke to the manager and told her I had it.  I was just done.  She was very nice and has promised the baggers will have a refresher course on the ins and outs of packing grocery bags, which HELLO is, BY THE WAY, their job.  I did also tell her that all and all I love my local HEB and, in fact, had written favorably about it on this very blog.

So, now that I feel much, much better about the whole day I am off to finish my list.

Unpack the rest of the non-perishable groceries, make potato salad and brownies for tomorrow and Monday's festivities, wash the dishes and the laundry, and hopefully take a HOT bath and have some wine!

That last part can't happen fast enough.

BTW - hello, hi!  I'm spajunkie and I'm sorry I've been gone so long!  More about the last six weeks in another post to come soon.  Now that I've found my loud voice again.

Have a happy and SAFE Memorial Day weekend.

Love, spajunkie

 

 

 

...and a chicken necklace by any other name...

Today the DES and I went to the park.  We were walking along enjoying the weather and he decided to leave a little package in the park.  I, being the ever conscientious (sp?) dog person that I am, proceeded to pick up his offering in my little "poop" bag and dispose of it.

As I was doing this DES was at loose ends, wandering a bit, on his leash, of course, but he veered into the path of a lady, a woman, a female person.  I immediately drew back on the leash and said " Sorry!" .  She said "No problem, I have three dogs at home."  We all continued on our way, her a bit in front of us.

As we rounded a bend I saw this same woman bent forward, holding something out of her hand.  As we got closer I realized she was holding out something to a squirrel...who was very calmly sitting and waiting to receive ..this pecan.  It was a super sweet sort of thing, he (later found out was a she) took the nut and scampered up the tree to a certain limb and chomped down.  I was so wishing I had the camera poised coming around this corner, but, alas, did not, had no idea it would be a "Kodak" moment.

We kept going, round the park.  we ended up meeting the same lady a second time as I was, again, picking up a package DES was leaving and she said "I commend you on cleaning up after your dog, most don't."  I said "Well, I wish most did as my dog thinks those are presents left for him and I have to wrangle the "gift" out of his mouth!"  She laughed with me and said "I have three dogs, I know what you mean!"  (If you don't have dogs, well, sorry, this is just a dog thing!  YES, it is!  Even your precious darling dog does it if they can!)

As we continued walking I said "So, do you always feed the squirrels, or just the one, or??  He (who was a she) seems to know you well?"  She said "Oh, yes, I try every day to come...I've trained them, really, there are three, females (!), they all come directly to me...it has worried me some that they are so accepting...I don't want anyone to be mean to them based on their trust in me...the one female is now about to have babies."  I thought to myself "how sweet is this woman!  OMG, feeding pregnant squirrels in the park...I LOVE her!"

So we continued walking along, chatting...and I said (somewhere in the context of the conversation) "...yes, I would like to feed the ducks but my spaniel, well, he loves them a bit much!  I fear if he could get them, he would, so I just walk and hold his leash..."  She laughed and said "Yes, I had a dog that killed a chicken once, and he continued to kill chickens every chance he got...he never got over it...I even "WRAPPED A DEAD CHICKEN AROUND HIS NECK AND MADE HIM CARRY IT AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS....

...because I heard it cured their thirst for killing chickens. But it never did his.  I eventually had to get rid of him."

DES is never going near those ducks again!!!!  Oy vey.

I am verklempt.

Love, spajunkie.  

 

 

 

 

 

What DO I do all day?

I've had several inquiring minds ask me what it is I do all day?

The easiest answer is that I don't really know.  But then again I started looking around and thought "I do a alot!"  Why, just last week I woke up one day and decided it was time to plant stuff...

I replanted all of my house plants - basil, thyme, mint, lavender, aloe vera and a patio tomato plant (behind the stained glass)...also a christmas cactus, miniature rose and ivy (not pictured)  I've got (one of) my hummingbird feeders ready to go outside the window!

I did this out front...the bunnies were put out at Easter but I've just about decided they are staying all the time...at least until fall.

In the back I planted a few things - but more importantly I filled up the bird feeders.  Well, I tried, anyway.  One of them as I filled it the seed just pored out of it...never filling up just spilling over.  Well, in a very blonde moment I thought maybe it was the seed I had bought and switched to another type.  Yeah, sure, like that was the issue!  Turns out over the winter the wood broke under one of the holes and, well, it is more of a slide than an opening so the seed just slides right on out!  Not that someone minded...

Pretty pear tree!

With pears!

More flowers I did plant...but man, oh man, was I sore the next day from hauling all the dirt and pots around!  I thought I'd never be normal again!  

Today I woke up and decided to do this -

I like it, really could work for spring or fall.

Later in the day I trimmed the roses of the old blooms and I'm ending the day with this!  A simply heavenly way to repurpose rose petals...

So...the real truth is I have no idea what I do all day!  But, I try to find beauty in them all and enjoy them to the fullest!

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Fresh Air, Sunshine, "No Quiero Taco Bell" and Mud?

There's a title for you!

Is the weather in Houston glorious this week or what?  We are loving it!  When we watched the weather over the weekend I decided then and there that this week would call for walking at the park with the DES.

True to that we've walked every day 2-3 miles and loved every minute of it (almost every minute of it - but that's a bit later in the blog).  The park by our house is really nice and features a big pond in the middle complete with plenty of ducks.  If you are my friend on FB you might have seen a few pictures already but I've got some others I uploaded to my laptop.  

To say that the DES wanted the ducks would be like saying he wanted bacon for dinner!  Here are some pictures of the duck adventures.

The duck in the middle is truly sounding the horn about the spaniel! Incoming, Incoming!!!

He thought he could sneak up on this one...and he almost got him!

Or not...dang it!  

LET ME AT 'EM

My personal favorite!

 Truly beautiful fresh air and sunshine, nice people saying hello, good morning/afternoon, you know just LOVING being in Texas in the spring.

And then.  Then I see about six people plus three kids coming down the trail...and running round them are three chihuahuas, with no leash.  On any of them.  Okay, the park does have a leash law.  At any rate.  Fearing this would not be good, I took DES leash down to "heel" and got him right beside me, with me between him and the rather large group of people and dogs taking up all of the actual trail, width wise.  I even went off on the grass with DES.  So, let's just say I felt like I was doing my part.  Well sure enough two of the chihuahuas ran over snarling and yapping so I kneeled down and put my arms around DES because it there is going to be a dog fight, I'm going to be damn sure they bite me and not him!  I've got insurance...well, actually, technically, DES is insured too but that's irrevalent.  I don't exactly know what I was doing to be honest.  At any rate, they came over all snarly and yappy and I said in what I think was my nice spajunkie voice "there is a leash law, as in they should each be on one".  It might have come out more a not nice spajunkie voice "put your damn dogs on a leash".  Or somewhere in the middle of the two, but I know I didn't curse because they had kids with them.  So, what did they say back to me?  Are you ready for this?  Well, I can't actually print what they said but they sure didn't mind their children heard them curse!  It was a three word sentence and the first word started with F, the second word was you, and the last word ended in H and it was not witch!  Are you kidding me?  It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood people, lighten up and get your damn dogs on a leash because it they come at me or my dog again I promise to drop kick them in the pond!  Nothing against the breed I just no quiero taco bell today!  (If you don't remember this commercial with the famous chihuahua, well, sorry, you sure would be lost about now.)

Now for the mud.  This morning when we got up I let DES out in the backyard like I do every morning.  Then he comes in for "cookies" and we go about our day.  When he came in this morning I noticed his feet looked wet but thought it was just dew...until he took a few steps, then stepped on the white rug and oh, good grief!  The dog has mud from head to toe almost!  Where did it come from????  It hasn't rained since Sunday.  He hasn't had any mud up to this morning and he runs in his yard frequently, off and on, all day long.  How does this happen?  So, next stop my bathtub where he unceremoniously got an inpromptu bath with my Aveda shampoo and left my bathtub a muddy mess!  So before tea, breakfast or anything else we've got muddy, then clean, but wet dog and a muddy bathtub to clean!   

I still cannot find where he even found any mud. .. But he sure is enjoying the spring!

 

 Enjoy the fresh air, and sunshine!  (Admit it, you're hungry for a taco now aren't you?)

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Random Saturday

1.  I was sitting here chatting online with my friend and have the Miss America pagent on - well, not so much on as just ended up with it on because I never changed the channel while I was cooking.  I'm not a big pagent watcher though I was in my younger years.  When you dance and do drill team there is something about pagents that draw you in.  At any rate, my feathers were really ruffled when I heard this from Miss Georgia (paraphrasing) - "...From Scarlett O'Hara to Honey BooBoo, Georgia is all about diversity..."  I am veklempt.  To have uttered Scarlett's name in the same sentence with HBB, well, what self respecting southern girl would do so?  It is almost sacrilege!  

2.  I made fried shrimp tonight because Mr. Ken asked me to...they were delicious but I so hate that the house smells like fried shrimp for two days.  Candles lit!

3.  I did not much else at all today and totally enjoyed it!  Tried to nap but ended up just cuddling with the DES and reading.  It was heavenly.  About to go right back to that as soon as I finish this!

4.  I leave for Billings, Montana on Thursday.  BRRRRRRRRRRR.  I've only been there once in my whole life and it was so cold I thought I would die.  It should be fun - meeting my cousin there and then we head to Red Lodge where we are having a birthday party for my uncle at his house.  I am then spending one night in a hotel in Billings after she leaves so I might get to do some sightseeing on Sunday.  Or I might curl up in the bed and watch bad TV and have room service!  I just have to admit that I am not a cold weather, mountain person!  I am a warm weather beach person.  Just a fact.  Luckily the (free, with points) hotel has the best view in downtown of the rims so I won't have to go far for photo ops.

5.  But, it sure might be nice to not have rain for a bit!  I know Texas needed the rain but I am a little tired of it.  DES just doesn't like going out in the rain, it is a real struggle to get all the business handled with Mr. Picky who doesn't like his feet to be wet unless he, of course, decides to run through water and mud chasing something!

6.  What is anyone watching on TV these days?  I am absolutely positively hooked on Scandal, Revenge and Nashville.  Patiently waiting on the new season of Mad Men but I fear it will be taped, my Sundays are taken.  In the silly comedy category I will admit to watching Mike and Molly, The Big Bang Theory, Malibu Country,  Last Man Standing, and Modern Family.

7.  I had a really busy week from a "job shopping" standpoint.  Had a few interviews.  I am really liking the direction my new career is hopefully heading.  I think it will feel good to do something for the greater good instead of the almighty dollar.  Not that I'm doing it for free but you know, totally different industry.  Very, very anxious for the first few days of the week to get here already and bring with them something super!

8.  However, one interview was whatever day it rained so hard and it was right smack dab in the downpour I had to drive and get out of the car.  Thankfully it was very close by so the drive was hard but short, but then the wind totally destroyed the umbrella as I was going in and I ended up wet, with a drippy, broken umbrella only to be seen and summarily shown the door in 30 minutes.  Oddly, I was called back for second and third interviews when all the way homeI  was wishing I just hadn't bothered since I figured if only 30 minutes that was that.  I consider myself really good at reading people but I have so bombed on this skill lately, both in good and bad ways. I guess I am out of practice to a certain degree.

9.   Oh, goodness - how could I forget!  In the midst of all this crazy interviewing...so, I took the DES out front because he tends to do better in the front yard than back when it is wet.  I was reading my email on my phone and didn't see someone come down the sidewalk walking their dog.  So, the DES takes off and the leash is spinning off its reel.  WARNING - you may get chills or clench uncomfortably when I tell you what I so stupidly did next...I grabbed the leash part which was spinning out of the holder at a high rate of speed.  Within seconds I had a huge gash on the backside of my right pinky finger.  Now this gash is kind of a cut, kind of a burn and is deep.  I probably should have had stitches.  At any rate, I got it all cleaned up and bandaged.  Here is what I didn't realize.  There is just about nothing you don't use the underside of your pinky finger for, especially on your predominant hand!  You can't wash your hair.  You can't do dishes.  You can't, God forbid, open a wine bottle or even if you do, you can't get the cork out of the corkscrew.  You can't type well.  The list goes on and on.  This thing has been so freaking painful!  So, heads up!  DON'T grab the leash while it is in motion.  Seriously.

10.  Oh, and all that hand shaking which goes, well, hand in hand, with interviewing...pray for those with the limpy weak handshakes I hate so much!  The good strong ones hurt like hell on the backside of the pinky finger injury!

And, with that, I am going to read, because typing is sort of painful!

Love, spajunkie.

 

Blues and BBQ

This weekend we hopped a jet plane and headed to Memphis for a quick overnight trip.  Jet plane might be exaggerating a tiny bit...we hopped a commuter plane.  So commuter was it that we boarded the plane on the tarmac in the pouring rain at IAH.  Oddly, I've taken this exact flight many, many times over the years but it was prior to the Continental/United thing and we never boarded on the tarmac.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind boarding or de-boarding a plane on the tarmac - there is something very exotic about it.  Well, IF you were doing so in an exotic locale that is.  It makes you feel as if the island you've landed on is so small only a tiny plane will land at a tiny airport and de-boarding on the tarmac certainly makes the whole experience seem all the more exotic.  IAH, not so much.  In fact, the whole experience seemed so no-frills that I wondered how in the world the tickets could cost $900 each round trip.  That is $1800 to schlepp our luggage out in pouring rain.  Excuse me, but I thought that was THEIR job.  So glad our tickets were paid for with points!  

At any rate, we took off amidst rain and the ride was pretty bumpy all the way.  We got to Memphis, rented a car ($35/day for an Infinity Q37???  Okay!)  and headed to our hotel.  The Westin Beale Street.  We, again, cashed in points and a free suite night upgrade so we paid next to nothing to be there.  The hotel was just okay though if you asked the locals you'd of thought we were at the Taj Mahal or something.  And our room, well I've seen some sweet suites and this was not that.  However, I must remark that the staff at this hotel were outstanding.  They exuded Southern charm and hospitality.  We could hardly go anywhere without carrying on a (long) conversation with one of them.  

We then went and picked up Lauren and went in search of BBQ.  If you haven't had Memphis BBQ, well, you  haven't had BBQ!  We first went by Rendezvous which is well known and highly touted but they were closed (apparently they close every year the week after the New Year) - we then headed to Neely's, same thing (says closed for renovations but I wonder...) and finally ended at Central BBQ.  Boy, were we glad we did!  THE BEST, BEST pork ribs I have ever eaten in my life.  Half dry, half wet...both were equally delicious but the dry were my personal favorite.  Along with it I had cole slaw that was made with some celeriac root - it was amazing.  I ate the entire 1/2 slab and slaw which is about twice what I would normally eat.  We actually ate at our hotel room while Mr. Ken and Lauren watched the Texans (who won!  YEAH, go Texans!) .  After the game he dropped her off and came back to meet me in the Bleu.

This was the other reason we would go back to the Westin Beale.  Great restaurant and bar right in the hotel called the Bleu.  Their food was fabulous (we had lunch Saturday and breakfast Sunday...while Saturday night we watched them bring out food to the dining room that was gorgeous - had to have tasted great).  Anyway, we had some wine and listened to some blues.  It was very nice and relaxing.  We could not remember the last time we sat in a bar and listened to live music.  

Then this morning we caught our little commuter flight back and here we are!  No, when we landed I did not feel as if I had landed somewhere exotic but the tarmac was way better in the sunshine.  I am about to go get the DES from the kennel.  When Mr. Ken dropped him off they remembered him from three years ago and were delighted to see him and he them!  That boy is just an international celebrity!

 So, if you are in need of Blues and BBQ - head to Beale Street in Memphis!  The other thing, though we didn't do so this time, Beale Street is like a mini-Bourbon street...only so much cleaner!  Lots of fun, food and music  to be had if you are so inclined...and you just might see Elvis!

Walking with  my feet ten feet off of Beale....spajunkie.

 

 

It's a New Year (Almost)

New Year, new blog header, new blog!

I've been really bad about blogging since we got back to Houston.  The main reason I think that is - well, things have been relatively tame, at times boring, and I just figure if I'm bored no one should have to be bored via reading about my boredom!

Bored yet? 

I decided that I couldn't bear to part with my alter ego, Spajunkie, any time soon so I gave the blog a little spa makeover (hahahaha - get it??!!)  I crack myself up, I really do.  At any rate, I've committed to myself, and I guess now to you guys, to find something interesting to post at least a few times a week.  I hope...

One of the funniest things going on in my life right now is looking for a new career.  The thing is though, I haven't found it yet so I feel like writing about it could be bad luck or karma or - I don't know - maybe a prospective employer decided to google me and found a blog written about my hilarious take on their idea of an interview - and viola!  No new career!  Or, I could jinx myself by discussing the new career path I really, really, really want to take and then ...well, disappointment...But, one thing I can say for sure...wearing Spanx, skirt, shirt, heels, hair that is blow dried, curled and sprayed, make up that is more than mascara...the whole process is arduous and end result, painful (Spanx are like being swallowed ever so slowly by a snake - coupled with a bra whose underwire seems to want to poke right out of the material directly into my ribs, and a rash right on the bra underwire line - well - miserable comes to mind!).  So, before you ever even get to the interview you are itchy, out of breath and, how DO you walk in four inch heels again?

So, as you can see I am filled to the brim with prophetic things to say!  Not exactly a very convicted way to start a new year admittedly but you know I really do walk (in four inch heels) to the beat of my own drummer...probably not even a drummer if I thought about it, not my favorite instrument by far.  I would have to say the beat of a bass guitar I think if I were to actually ponder it for a nanosecond.  What is a nanosecond anyway?  What is the smallest measurment of time?  

("In physics, the Planck time, (t_P), is the unit of time in the system of natural units known as Planck units. It is the time required for light to travel, in a vacuum, a distance of 1 Planck length.^[1] The unit is named after Max Planck, who was the first to propose it.")

Very interesting!  You can learn something new even on the last day of the year 2012!

I did have one, tiny, resolution for this new year...I absolutely made the resolution to acquire these Boots, whether I am lucky enough to win or ....Prettiest boots ever!!!  All kidding aside I don't make resolutions because I feel then I am just setting myself up to disappoint myself and frankly, who needs that?  I'd prefer to just be fat and happy and perilously close to ignorant.

Hmmm, I am sure I had a point somewhere in the beginning but at this point it seems elusive.  

I had considered doing the year in review but I guess I would refer to this blogpost I Had the Time of my LIfe and then add - flew to Houston, got a house, got the air shipment, unpacked, got the sea shipment, unpacked, got a car, started looking for a new career, did Thanksgiving, did Christmas, and bing, bang, boom, here we are at the end of 2012!  Time surely DOES fly - fun or no fun.

New Year, new blog header, new blog...same old blogger!  From this old blogger to you - May your 2013 be filled to the brim with new adventures and old friends - I know mine will be!

Love, spajunkie, Mr. Ken and the DES.

 

 

 

 

A Few Random Thoughts

I haven't been random for a while - well, at least not on the blog anyway...

1.  Update on the shipment!  Mr. Ken can track the shipment online and found out these fun facts - our container is floating around the world on the largest container ship in the world!  It is the MCS Fabiola, built by Samsung in 2010, it is 366 m x 48 m with gross tonnage of 140,259!  It is currently in port in the South China Sea.  That's just a lot of information isn't it!  You can go to www.marinetraffic.com and find any ship anywhere in the world!  

2.  But seriously, until it arrives in the USA I don't really care but that it is floating upright!  This will only be funny to one Mr. Smarty Pants man who no sooner had I written the last sentence he said "look at ALL those container ships in the one port...hope they don't crash..."  

3.  This week flew by!  Between cleaning and laundry and starting my job search...I don't know where the time went.  I really did start my job search in earnest on Wednesday.  I've had no calls on the ten resumes I sent out and am already considering myself not employable!  I was supposed to go on one interview but after doing some research I found out they were not a "head-hunter" firm but were in fact, a company wanting ME to pay THEM to tell ME how to get a job.  Ummm, in a word NO.  I think I will give it a few more days before I resort to anything that drastic.

4.  In between all of that I did take some great photos - maybe not great but good enough!  First, was the space shuttle flyover.  It was awesome to see and it made me literally get chills.  That Houston, Texas was not its final destination is still a mystery to me.  I know it was all political but let's not forget the first word heard on the moon!  

5.  I so wish I could tell this next story as funny as it is in real life!  I will try to set it up...I forgot from several years back that the DES has a "thing" about stainless steel dog bowls.  I forgot his dog bowls in the air shipment so I just grabbed some at HEB and sadly, they are stainless!  His "thing" is that he can see himself in the bowl once he eats some of the food and he just doesn't like this!  AT ALL.  He acts as if another dog has suddenly appeared and so he grabs bits of food, spits them out on the floor, eats them, then very sneaky like goes back for more!  It is hilarious to watch!    Here he is sneaking up on the bowl!

Then he took another angle...

But it apparently bit back!

Momma!  Time for you to flip the bowl around for me!  I really don't know what this accomplishes but he won't finish his dinner if I don't!

Conversely, he has no problem at all drinking water out of a stainless bowl???  You would think that would be even scarier - the dog face through the water!!!

6.  I had so much fun capturing these birds on film!  I really had to sneak around to snap their photos!

Don't they look as if they are carrying on a conversation?

Then we have this guy who doesn't seem to understand the concept of the feeder!

7.  I am off to make spaghetti sauce while I watch Food Network...just a little slice of heaven on earth for me!  Cooking while watching cooking.

Enjoy this beautiful weather!  

Love, spajunkie