Here are a few shots of some birds who come to feed in our yard.  Today, with all the snow, the red ones really stand out.  (Of course I couldn't get any closer without them flying away.)    

I know my life is getting busier by the number of days a week I wear make up.   Hunter is playing tennis on a doubles team.   I like tennis and am so glad he is not playing soccer this year. I hate watching a bunch of 11-12 year olds play soccer.   Or actually watching them kick the ball out of bounds (or whatever it’s called) every other hit.   Gah, I’d rather watch paint dry, it’s less frustrating.   My 4 year old is not a tennis fan.   I...

Today blue skies birthed seventy degrees after days of chilly weather.   I took my four year old to our favorite park.   We like to go during the day when all the “big” kids are at school.   When we arrived, there were about twenty parents, and probably thirty children.   It is a large park with two major areas of primary colored plastic play equipment and a sand pit in the middle.   It wasn’t crowded.   There are several blue rubber co...

All day I work and do things with the kids and think of hundreds of things to write an article about.   Then I sit down to do it and…nadda.   Cleaned house today.   It was actually raining when I woke up, and rainy days are house cleaning days.   The cable guy came, tracked mud across my carpet, thank you very much.   My high speed internet is not connected correctly, or wasn’t, he fixed it.   (Something about it not being grounded and a bad s...

Today I met Melissa.   I was in my garage sanding the trash table find by hand ( http://lifehappens.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=155909 ) and mumbling under my breath.   It was about 86 degrees and 80 percent humidity.   Once I stripped the piece, I found the stains.   Deep stains that no amount of sanding will erase, thus the grumbling.     A short young woman with red hair pinned atop a sweating head approached my garage.   She was...

My son started sixth grade this year.   In our area, sixth grade is the first year of middle school/junior high.   Last night was the “parents only” open house.   Actually, it involved parents, all the other siblings, but not the actual middle school attendee in tow.   It was hot.   Our schools are old and have no air conditioning.   They are literally falling apart.   We already pay huge property taxes, but they go for things like brick...

Summer is over.   Someone needs to let Mother Nature know.   She’s not taking my calls.   It’s supposed to be 95 here today.   That’s hot for September.   I am addicted.   Today I admit it to myself and the world.   Everyday I must have a bowl of mixed sweet corn, pinto beans, white rice, chipped up avocado, and salsa.   I’m eating some right now.   It is so yummy with salsa made from fresh tomatoes out of the garden. ...

Gah. Sometimes I could just kick myself. I like to write fiction. Shocker, I know.   Ya think you know a person….. Anyway, I started an idea for a story last spring.   I wrote several chapters and then discovered a book already published that pretty much went where I was going with the story.  https://forums.joeuser.com/?forumid=314&aid=148727#1187639 Discouraged, I deleted it.   Then forgot about deleting it. So, this story is playing i...

I opened the paper to read the latest news.   Ok, honestly I read the headlines and then only follow the story if it sounds interesting or seems like something I should know. I don’t read the sports section and usually finger, but skip, the financial page.   My favorite parts of the paper are the classifieds and the cross word puzzle, occasionally the political cartoon.   Oh and on Sunday, the coupons.   I love coupons! I make myself look at every page...

My oldest made honor roll at school this quarter.   We found out before the report card came home.   I was so excited for him until I saw the report card.   It seems in middle school (or at least this middle school) all A’s and B’s earns a spot on the honor roll.    It is not based on GPA.   Kinda takes the “Wow” out of those bumper stickers that shout to the world “My child is an honor student at….” My husband took a new position which means he...

Last night the tv was on.   I heard a voice I recognized immediately.   I turned and there he was!   One of my pals from college.   We produced a magazine news show together in the 90’s, and now he is acting in a national commercial. I cracked up at the irony.   Why?   This guy was the ultimate ladies man in college.   He was smooth.   Now he is doing a national commercial for Cialus!   I think that’s how it’s spelled.   But ...

Hope today is treating you all well.

We’re snowed in today. Technically if we really wanted to get out and about we could.   But what is the point?   Most everything in town is delayed or closed. Something I wonder about since moving back to Ohio.   Why does snow seem like such a surprise every year to the schools and the snow plows?   They know it’s coming, but then re-act with a “wow, where did this come from?” attitude.   Maybe it’s just me, but I remember a lot more snow falling here wh...

Word of the Day for Tuesday, January 8, 2008 mimetic \mim-ET-ik\, adjective : 1. Apt to imitate; given to mimicry; imitative. 2. Characterized by mimicry; -- applied to animals and plants; as, "mimetic species; mimetic organisms."

I miss Bakerstreet. Even though part of the time I didn't understand what he was saying, (that was my inability not his), he gave JU a certain intellectual sophistication and wit.  I looked forward to reading him along with my other JU favorites. Anyone know him in real life?  How is his health?  How's his family? I miss Bakerstreet!