Do you see him?

I ran into a snake today on my long run.

Not good because those know that on a long run, you cannot stop because if you stop once then you convince yourself that walking is OK.

But I didn't smash him, I just took a picture and watched him cross the road.

Wondering, "Why did the snake cross the road?"

Oh, and the adrenaline rush from that - well, it helped me limp through the last few miles.

Thanks Slithery Slithery Snake  (say that with "th's" not "S's")

Please oh, please

Please oh, please let me get to them

There are not that far away.

Why do they not fly

Why do they stay?

Don't they see me, the ferocious dog

Hunter of the bird?

Don't they shake on their perches,

Why are they so absurd.

I'll sit here and bide my time,

relaxing as they play,

Knowing the minute that door opens,

Oh happy DAY!

They are MINE to stay!

Please Mum

She always sits there looking so pathetic.

There are so many squirrels out, getting away.

She gives me that look, lady, why haven't you opened the door for me.

But I know she has to have her walk first,

her poo poo bulletin board, otherwise,

she'll leave me presents.

It's a great exercise for both of us

Consistency

Cold Artwork

I love running on trails on cold mornings.

The only sound is the crunch of my feet as they hit the frozen ground.

Sometimes something stops me in my tracks.

Sometimes it is an animal, a deer, or listening to a woodpecker.

Today it was the design on the ice in a small puddle waiting for the sun.

The lines are straight, but go in all different directions.

The white looks frosty as the day heats up, changing it to water.

Made me think of Snow White - maybe I was the queen,

Looking into the frosty mirror, saying,

"Mirror, Mirror"

What would it reply?

Only in North Carolina

Only in North Carolina can you have a Carolina blue sky

January temperatures hitting 65 degrees

But be standing on the top of a mountain

In a T-shirt

With skis on your feet

Getting ready to go as fast as you can

To the bottom.

Many wait for the perfect time to hit the slopes.

The snow must be powder, the temperature just right

Their outfit matching

But in our household we always say,

Any day on the snow is a great day!

Personal Space-A myth?

My sons do not believe in personal space.  

Part of the reason that they are in school.

They come in immediately from school and are on both sides of me on the couch.

One twirling my hair, the other showing me something strange in his notebook.

I cannot even go to the bathroom a alone.

I'm sitting and pondering the universe

Knock Knock

"Sweetie I'm going to the bathroom."

"But I have to tell you something."

"Can it wait until I am finished in the bathroom."

"No, I have to tell you right now," door opens.

"Really?"  I put down my People magazine.

"Where is my phone?"

Here though, it is cute, he's in my lap, leaning against me.

His hair smells like the ocean.

He's on his computer showing me another game that makes me nauseous,

But I sit and hold him, kissing his cheek as he achieves another level.

Because in this perfect moment

I can.

Is your lap still open?

Le Tour de Laundry

I don't know what I hate more - washing clothes, folding clothes, or putting clothes away.

So my laundry does the Tour de Laundry in different stages around the house.

The First stage - it sits in the washer over night - and doesn't smell like feet.

The Second stage - it moves to the dryer then sits over night or for a few days - my trick, run the dryer with a wet washcloth and the wrinkles are gone.

Stage Three -  folded sitting in the laundry basket, usually in the kitchen for everyone to trip over.

The mountain stage -  pulling the basket upstairs then sitting on the landing.

Stage Five - the guest bedroom, sorted according to person.

Then it stays there until it is dirty again, or like this morning...

My husband comes walking through the house in a towel.....

I yell, "Toga!  Toga!"

He asks,"What stage are we on?  I'm out of underwear."

Do you have the same fun with your laundry?  How long do your stages last?

PS.  for those looking close and asking - yes, it is a Christmas tree in the guest room.  Yes it is January, but we're talking about the stages of laundry, not the stages of Christmas decorations.

Tap Tap Bus

We have a new art teacher at my youngest child's school.

She has brought bright colors, and beautiful pictures to my walls and windows.

I love this picture my son painted-the Tap Tap Bus.

I loved even more how he explained what a Tap Tap Bus is ----

The Tap Tap is a gaily painted bus that runs fixed routes on the streets of Haiti.

Tap Tap means "quick quick"

The bus doesn't leave until it is full and passengers can disembark at any point of the fixed journey.

The US Consulate does not recommend riding a Tap Tap bus as they could be unsafe.

I am glad that he was not  quick quick with this piece of art,

Because it is a keeper.