On Leave

What a superb young man! Here he is! My nephew Kyle, on leave from the Army. Last night the entire family gathered to welcome him home. We were sad that Mom was not able to join us as she is still in rehab, but gaining strength each day.

We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner and great conversation. After dinner, the entire group graciously offered their opinions and rankings on the logos that have been submitted for our new publishing company Cozy Cat Press. We have received around 350 entries so I can use all the help I can get in making the final choice. Everyone in my family had different ideas about which of the entries I should pick, but I listened to all of their ideas and I appreciate all of the input.

If you would like to take a glance at the amazing submissions for our logos, you can drop by Logo My Way and click on Cozy Cat Press. If you see a logo you really like, let me know!

Computer Crash

If you read my other blog, Communication Exchange, you know that my trusty PC crashed Wednesday, and I'm down in the basement blogging on my husband Milt's MAC. As this very thing happened not so long ago, I am more than frustrated to be going through it again. The Geek Squad can't get to our house to fix it until Saturday.

In the mean time, I'm squeezing in what time Milt will allow me on his precious MAC (which has never broken down). It's frustrating to be so reliant on a piece of equipment, especially one that needs such frequent repair.

Computers! Can't live with 'em! Can't live without 'em! What do you say?

(graphic from www.wouldntyoureallyrather.com)

"The Bachelor" Will Never Marry

Oh, Jake! I had such high hopes that you would be the one bachelor on ABC's hit reality show The Bachelor to break the mold. I thought--especially after seeing your considerate treatment of Bachelorette Jillian--that you would be the first Bachelor to actually marry his final choice. I've been waiting--as I'm sure many other women have been waiting--for one, just ONE of the Bachelors to give up their single lives for marital bliss. However, so far, not one of them has! (Yes, Trista married Ryan, but she was a Bachelorette.)

Now, we have Jake, the hunky pilot, down to his final two choices--Vienna and Tenley. He makes his decision next Monday in the big season finale. All along, Jake has been saying over and over that he's on the show to "find his wife," but I predict that he will NOT propose to either of the two final ladies. Why do I say this?

As much as I love reality TV--especially The Bachelor--I've come to realize that The Bachelor's format is designed to discourage--not encourage--matrimony, at least for men. Here's why. You put one single man and 25 single women together and tell the man to think about marriage. Ha! Most men in that situation will think, "Wow! Me! Twenty-five babes! Hot tub!" It's probably genetically impossible for a man to think about marriage while in a hot tub with half-naked women.

Now, on the other hand, the show's premise does work for the female version--The Bachelorette. Most women (I think), when given a private pool of 25 marriageable men, will get down to business, carefully interview all, winnow out the chaff, and select the best candidate--just as Trista did.

Yes, yes, I know. I saw the promo for Jason and Molly's wedding in March. (For those of you who don't know, Jason was The Bachelor who proposed to--then summarily dumped--Melissa on national television for runner-up Molly.) I doubt Jason's wedding will happen. I doubt that Jake will select a wife. The Bachelors will never marry because the show The Bachelor just makes it too appealing to remain a bachelor.

What do you think?

Suspense Sunday

Looking for an exciting mystery to curl up with on a lazy Sunday afternoon? Here are three suggestions of novels I've recently read that you might enjoy.

1. Play Dirty by Sandra Brown. I've read many of Brown's novels (three within the last week) but none of them can compare to this dazzling thriller with one of the most intriguing and convoluted plots I've ever encountered. When I tell you that the protagonist is a former professional football player and that I'm totally uninterested in sports--and that even so--it's one of the most exciting mysteries I've ever read, maybe you'll believe me. Even with all the sports jargon, you will be caught up in the twists and turns of a strange plot involving bribery and pregnancy.

2. Infected by Scott Sigler. I absolutely love medical and scientific thrillers a la Robin Cook and Michael Crichton. Scott Sigler's strange series of medical mysteries go where I absolutely was not expecting to go. Infected is the first. By all means, read it before you tackle Contagious. I guarantee it will creep you out and you will probably want to head to the local emergency room before you're done, but hang in there. Though much more gory than I typically like, Infected is so different than most medical fiction that I simply cannot forget it--even years after reading it. I read its sequel when it was released and will eagerly consume the next in Sigler's series.

3. Avenging Angel by Kim Smith. I just finished this one via download. Kim Smith's delightful mystery is much more the type of book I typically like to read--and write. The plot will keep you guessing and along the way, you will meet a bunch of intriguing characters (including the dapper Dwayne--a would-be detective and stylist with a big attitude). Poor Shannon, the amateur sleuth in this series, is dumped by her boyfriend and fired by her boss on the same day (boss and boyfriend are one and the same). If that isn't bad enough, the ingrate fellow is summarily murdered and Shannon is suspected of the crime. Shannon's luck then goes downhill faster than an Olympic skier, and she and Dwayne have to work together to find the real killer before the killer finds her. The best thing about Avenging Angel is that it's really funny--much like the smart humor in the television series Castle. Love it!

Read any good mysteries lately? What would you suggest for Suspense Sunday?

(graphics from www.coverbrowser.com and www.scottsigler.com and www.murderby4.blogspot.com)

Mothering Mother

We've changed places--my mother and me. She used to comfort me and assure me that things would be fine when I was sad. She changed my clothes--and my diapers--when I was a baby. She helped me learn to walk as a toddler. She encouraged me to be the best I could be as I entered adulthood. I never thought I would be doing the same things for her. But I am.

My mother is 89 years old and recently had a pacemaker implanted. Shortly afterwards, she began having fainting spells which hospitalized her for a week and ultimately landed her in a rehabilitation center in order to gain back the strength she lost during this period. In many respects, she has lost her independence and is now more like my child than my mother. I help her get around and change her clothes. I assure her that she can and will improve. I encourage her to work hard at her therapy.

It makes me incredibly sad to see my mother reduced to this child-like state, but I'm thankful that she has me and my sister and brother to help her--to mother her. Something she did so willingly for us for so many years.

Do you have to parent a parent?

Lose Weight With SparkPeople

My friend Jodi from my Curves gym recommended a nifty website called SparkPeople. This clever site is devoted to people who want to lose weight and eat healthy--and get support doing it. They have programs to help you keep track of your calorie intake, your exercise, and everything else you do to lose weight and stay healthy.

It's a very complex and complete site and I'm still just getting my sea legs as I explore its various parts. I like that I can put in my height and current weight and immediately get my ideal weight, as well as an estimate of how long it should take me to reach that weight. The segment for listing each food item I eat is quite complicated, but I believe that once I master inputting my daily data, I will have a much more accurate understanding of what I'm doing right and wrong as far as my eating and my exercise are concerned.

I will keep you updated on my progress. I won't tell you how much I weigh now or how tall I am, but I will tell you that SparkPeople informs me that I need to lose another fifteen pounds and that I should be able to accomplish this by June. Would any of you like to join me in my journey?

Photo Finish

Since the recent death of our beloved Pomeranian Coquette, I have been working to put together some photographic memorials of her for our home. Many of you, my loyal readers, made some great suggestions about how and where I could do this. Although I have many photographs of Coquette, they are all on my computer.

Eventually I chose a site called Snapfish. Snapfish allows you to upload digital photographs into a variety of forms for purchase. I selected several of my favorite Coquette photos to be reproduced on a coffee mug and a photo collage. The process was easy and not unreasonably expensive.

I received the items a few days ago. The mug is a bit smaller than I anticipated but the photos came out quite well. The photo collage was not at all what I expected. It consisted of my photos printed on a piece of canvas and then stapled over a wooden frame (crooked at that). It looked sloppy. Even so, the quality of the photo reproduction was excellent and our doggy looks as sweet as she ever did.

My hubby Milt and I discussed our options regarding the collage and we decided to find out if a local framer might be able to salvage it. We had it removed from the base frame, cut, and replaced on a different mat, and then put in a gold frame with a glass cover. The result of this (although more money) was much more what we had wanted. The photo collage of Coquette now hangs in our guest bedroom and Coquette's sweet face greets us whenever we walk in the room.

The photo coffee mug sits beside me at my desk where I can look over at my favorite shots of my little buddy whenever I want. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions about how to remember Coquette. I appreciate your support.

A Traveler Stops By "Subjective Soup"

Subjective Soup welcomes Kim Smith from Writing Space. Kim stopped by on Thursday to pay me a visit. She plans to make regular Thursday stops to other bloggers on her "Traveler Thursday" series. I'm quite honored that she chose to come by my place first!

What do Kim and I have in common? Well, for one, we both have Pomeranians. In my case, "had" is the more appropriate word, as I lost my little buddie Coquette recently. Kim's pooch is only half Pom, but she is well aware of the great spirit of this breed.

Also, it turns out, Kim is a novelist too--a much more prolific one than I am. She has quite a few published books to her credit. As I looked around her blog, I realize I'm going to have to check out one of her books entitled Avenging Angel in her Shannon Wallace series. This mystery involves a woman who is "dumped by her boyfriend and implicated in his murder." Umm. Sounds like a story I'd like to read. Fun!

I love guests! Thanks for stopping by, Kim.

Sunshine Amidst the Snow

Given all the snow we've been getting here in Illinois (although evidently not quite as much as they're getting on the East Coast), it's nice to receive the Sunshine Award from Kasai at My Simple Life. Thank you, Kasai! You must know how much we bloggers need some sunshine right about now.

Let me pass the award on to the following bloggers and spread this sunshine around the blogosphere to some people who bring me a lot of sunshine each day. I'm sure you are all in dire need of some brightness in your lives too during these dreary winter months.

1. Isolated Existence

2. Endure My World

3. The Snoring Queen

4. Bwagaga!

5. Mom's Place

Congratulations, all! And please spread the sunshine to others!

Where Did My Lake Go?

The lake behind our townhouse has vanished under several feet of snow! Here it is last summer with our troop of geese, and here it is this morning with the snow still falling. You can't even tell there is a lake because the snow is so deep!

What a great day to be able to stay inside and enjoy my cup of coffee and chat with my friends on the Internet. I'm so glad I'm retired and don't have to try to struggle against the elements just to make it to work. As I look out my front window, I see a moving van down the street. There is one poor fellow trying to push a sofa up a slippery driveway and he's not getting very far very fast. I have to wonder who would plan to move to Illinois in February. The news reports that all flights into Midway Airport are cancelled today and most are cancelled for tomorrow at O'Hare.

My lake and I are hiding today. Are you in this snow belt? Are you out in it or, like me, hiding?

How Beautiful!

The lovely Katherine at The Queen Speaks has bestowed the Beautiful Blogger award on Subjective Soup. I'm assuming Katherine is referring to something other than physical beauty--you know, beauty of soul, spirit, or shoes. Just glancing at Katherine's rendition of what I assume is herself in her widget, I can see why she received an award for beauty. Now there's a hair-do!

Anyway, I'm delighted to receive this award from Katherine and will follow her rules and list seven interesting things about myself and then pass said award on to seven other beautiful bloggers (or at least beautiful from what I can tell from their widgets or online profile photos).

My Interesting Stuff:

1. I'm probably the only person in the United States NOT watching the Super Bowl today.

2. I successfully completed the test to receive my third-class radio operator's license.

3. As a child, my hobby was rock collecting.

4. I have trouble completing the crossword puzzle in TV Guide each week.

5. When it comes to popcorn, I only quit when I reach the last kernel, not when I'm full.

6. I have a serious crush on Mo Rocca.

7. I can do 100 push-ups (the lady version on the knees).

Passing the Beautiful Blogger Award on to the following beautiful bloggers:

1. Jo at Life's Perfect Pictures

2. Stephen at The Third Uncle

3. Beruang at Beruang Rebus

4. Arnold at Ba-Bootie

5. Jeni Aurora at American in France

6. Ronald at Metrogadfly Symbolic Resources and Image Links

7. Janicephil at My Birds' Eye View

Congrats to all!

Pacemaker Update

My Mom got a pacemaker last week. The doctor felt she need one because she had a slow heart beat and he said it would help prevent her from passing out and possibly breaking a hip. Of course, Mom has never passed out in her life--but there's a first time for everything.

On Wednesday, Mom suddenly fainted while playing Bingo with her buddies at her assisted living complex. The ambulance was called and it took them a while to resuscitate her. She was admitted to the hospital where she remains. They have run every test in the book and they have all come back negative.

I can't help but wonder if the pacemaker contributed to her fainting spell. The medical folks don't think it did. What do you think?

Remembering Coquette

Our sweet little Pomeranian Coquette died on Monday. She was fifteen and a half years old. Her passing was a total shock to us. On Sunday she was fine—her usual lively, energetic self. On Monday morning she was lying lethargic on the kitchen floor, unable to move, eat, or drink. When we took her to the vet, her temperature was very low, her heart beat very high, and her gums very pale—all signs of total system failure. The vet said there was really nothing we could do except try to alleviate her pain. She was a very old dog and sometimes this happened.

I remember when we first got Coquette. When we bought our first home almost sixteen years ago, the first thing I wanted to do was get a dog. After living in rental units for most of my life, I was anxious to have a pet. My husband Milt was not so keen on getting a dog. I remember finding an ad for Pomeranian puppies in the local classified sections and my daughter and I bringing Coquette home in a box in the car many years ago.

Coquette soon made herself at home in our kitchen which we barricaded off for her home. It was soon apparent that Coquette didn’t like our kitchen linoleum because one day when she was still a puppy, we arrived home to discover that she had ripped up much of the flooring. It’s a good thing I hated that linoleum and we were able to quickly replace it with a sturdier tile. Even so, Coquette let us know in no uncertain terms that she was a force to be reckoned with in our family.

Coquette quickly became a member of our family. Although my husband Milt never really wanted a dog and told me I’d be the one to take care of her, Coquette had other ideas. She soon learned to adore Milt, following him around the house and plopping herself at his feet wherever he sat—paws skyward, begging for a tummy scratch. Milt begrudgingly responded and soon he was hooked. Over the years the two of them bonded completely.

I was always amazed how polite and courteous Coquette could be—particularly when it was really necessary. Yes, she was loud and barked incessantly when she wanted something—like her favorite biscuit--or when she saw something important go by the front window—like a leaf. However, when the chips were down, she could really behave

For example, when we had to evacuate our home during hurricane Lilly, and were trying to find a hotel room because our car had broken down and we were miles away from home, Coquette came through for us. I remember standing at a hotel check-in desk with Coquette in my arms, trying to explain to the clerk that I was sure she would behave herself. Coquette seemed to know how important it was that she win over that clerk, and she did. Her smiling face, her little pink tongue, and her wagging tail—all said, “I’ll be good. I promise.” And she was true to her promise.. Every time we traveled with Coquette, she always was a little lady—very polite, quiet, and well behaved.

I could regale you with many stories about Coquette. Milt and I have been reliving many of our favorite stories over the last few days. Unfortunately, whenever we start to talk about her, we both start crying. We both loved her—a lot.

We want to find a good way to remember Coquette. One thing we plan to do is take some of the many digital photographs that we have of her, and create a framed collage that we can display in our home. I don't know anything about turning digital photos into regular photos. If any of you know how I might go about doing this, or if you have any suggestions about how I might appropriately memorialize Coquette I would love to hear from you.

Happy About Happiness

It's the Happiness Award--and I'm happy to receive it from Yummy-as-can-be. Thank you so much, Yummy! Here are some things that make me happy:

1. my ratty, old, extra-large terry cloth bathrobe

2. Amtrak

3. raisins

4. escape room games

5. giant coffee mugs

6. turning right at a stoplight

7. doggies sleeping in bookshelves

8. exercising to disco music

9. losing 13 pounds

10. the color turquoise

I'm sending this Happiness Award on to my ten top Entrecard droppers during the month of January. Believe me, they make me very happy!

Just One Touch
Wirez and Circuitz
The Way I See It
A Simple Life
Secondary Roads
moms..... check nyo
Mommy's Little Corner
Jean sQuared
Orica's Gentle Tones
Life's sweets and spices