My Gertie Girl

Well, this is my Gertie Girl. She's about 11 years old and has been a great friend to me for the last 10 years. She is a character. She has my husband snowed! He takes her to the golf course with him when he practices and she snoops around the driving range while he's hitting balls. Or, she sits by his bag (the shaded side) and waits for him to finish. She loves to run behind the golf cart when we take her with us on the golf course.

Today I found out she probably has a little cancer knot on her right rear leg that will need to be removed. So Tuesday morning (7:30 AM) she goes in for Dr. Sierra Guynn to perform a little removal. She's going to get her teeth cleaned while she's there and we hope she'll come out with the cancer totally gone. Hopefully we've caught it early and a little surgery will take care of it all.

Gertie came to me from the SPCA in Austin in the fall of 1999. She has been a good dog from the get-go. She has been very attached to me. For a while she didn't want me out of her sight. She didn't like getting left in the car while I ran into a store, but as time went by she determined the car was a great place. If she is in the car that meant she is going along for the ride!

I had been working in the garage one day, cleaning out the car, picking up in the garage, cleaning the car windows, etc. A bit later I went inside and called Gertie. I looked all over the house, in the yard, called and called, but no Gertie. Finally, I told Gerald I'd better take a drive around the neighborhood and look for her. I thought maybe she decided to go roaming. Oh no ... not at all. When I opened the car door there was Gertie sitting on her blanket waiting to go somewhere! So now when I can't find her I check the car to see if she's jumped in while I was getting something out of the back ... that's usually where I find her. She's always ready to go!

Gertie won't like the trip Tuesday morning because she'll have to be left at the Vet's office for a while and she doesn't like being left. She doesn't want to miss out on the action. And she doesn't want to miss me and Gerald! I'll keep you posted about Gertie's health. She's a good girl.

Welcome 2009 ... Peace...Love...Happiness

Out with the old, in with the new. Say goodbye to our lovely December decorations and say hello to 2009. We enter this new year with hope and some amount of trepidation. We hope that with the change of policy in Washington our country, and indeed the world, will be a more prosperous and peaceful. There are many problems to tackle both at home and abroad. As I see it the most immediate attention is needed in the U.S. and world economy. If we can bring back prosperity to our and other countries perhaps we can help bring peace to countries in the mid-east and in Africa. Hunger, sickness, and violence reign in many African countries and it is incumbent on us as a nation to assist these countries in relieving these conditions.

Where we go, how we solve our problems, and how we assist in the resolution of problems worldwide will take some very smart and creative individuals. I for one am pleased that we have President-elect Barack Obama taking the helm on January 20th. It will be an all-consuming task, but one that I believe he is capable of shouldering. He seems to have put together a strong cabinet of intelligent, creative, and caring people who will carry out his agenda. I just hope it is going to be enough taken the problems facing humankind.

Along with millions of people within our country and abroad I pray for this good man and his team. The welfare of our country depends on a positive outcome of what is done over the next 6 months to a year. Hopefully by 2010 we see significant improvement in the economy, education, health care, and peace in our country and around the world. Peace, love, happiness... I hope we can reach into these areas over the next few months.

New Years Eve ... all is "almost" well

Well it's time for the annual making of resolutions and I haven't a clue as to what to resolve.
Last Sunday morning Gerald & I watched one of our favorite morning shows ... CBS Sunday Morning. Charles Osgood is a wonderful host and always has such interesting stories. One such this past Sunday was OPINION: Nancy Giles on New Years Resolutions (Nancy Giles proposes a New Year’s Resolutions Revolution!) Now I didn't remember everything she said, but I did get the last 3 items and decided to take them to heart.

• Work like you don't need the money
• Love like you've never been hurt
• Dance like no one is watching

Now don't each of those revolutions sing to you? I'd say it's more like an epiphany than a resolution revolution.

If each of us worked like we don't need the money then I'd say we're working in order to gain fulfillment in our lives or perhaps to help others or because we love what we are doing or for a more intrinsic personal reason. Wouldn't any of those be a valid reason to "work like you don't need the money"?

If we love like we've never been hurt then surely we'll be happier and more fulfilled people. I dare say there is not a single adult or teen for that matter who has not been hurt in some fashion ... by either an outside love interest or by an event within the family. Gaining outside professional help, along with time for healing, disappointments in love can be overcome. Then just "gut up" and look for love again. It's a scary process, but if you are lucky like I there will be rewards at the end and you can "love like you've never been hurt".

If we take risks and don't worry about who is "watching" we'll be happier for it. That is a tall order, but with some amount of self assurance and a great deal of support from people around you, you can "dance like no one is watching".

Happy new year for 2009.

Overlooking the Sceine River - Paris, France

On a cold December day Gerald & I are in Paris (12/21/08). We have been on a zippy bus tour of the city, did a short visit to the Musee d'Orsay (about 3 hours), and went for a walk down the Champs Elysees to the Arc d'Triomph. The Parisians were out in masses this Sunday before Christmas. I can't tell that they are shopping as much as just enjoying their city. The sheer numbers of people on the streets is almost shocking. It's the same in New York City so why I am surprised at the masses is silly. In actuality it is wonderful to see so many people walking, talking, visiting museums, going shopping, stopping for coffee, and just looking about their city. Living in a small town I don't see this happening so much. Even when I lived in Austin there was more traveling from place to place by car rather than by foot or bus and there is no metro at home. There are still cars around Paris, but not many compared to the number of people who actually reside in this inner city area which is only about 6 miles across. Gerald & I covered at least 2 miles today on foot. Last evening we probably walked that far going up to and then back down from Montmartre.
I wish I could see this city on a sunny day. The entire trip from Arles to Paris has taken place under cloud cover with some rain on the second day. A clear crisp day with lots of sun would be beautiful and give this city great color either in spring or autumn. We picked a poor season to visit, but we enjoyed it without so many other tourists. We feel sure we are mostly seeing people who live here.
I doubt we shall ever make the trip again. It is just so hard to travel by air. The airplanes are so uncomfortable, the flights are long, and the jet lag is hard on the body. Then there is the language barrier for the two of us. Neither of us speak French and totally depend on the kindness of the French to help us. Saying "bon jour" before attempting to ask a question or order food is a real necessity not to mention it is just plainly good manners. At home don't we say "hello" before we ask for something? We greet our wait people in restaurants before diving into placing our order for dinner. It is just civil to do so. I think had we gone to Spain, Italy, or even Germany the language barrier would have been less difficult for me ... but it would not have been France!

The Demise of "Boston Legal"???

Tonight I watched the 2 hour season finale of Boston Legal. It is so outrageous, but I love watching it. Many times I have to tape it and watch it at a later date which is what happened with this. I was saddened to learn it is most likely the last episode of this great show. I love James Spader in this role. He epitomizes the good guy lawyer. He's a bit outrageous, but so what he's the good guy lawyer ... wanting to work for the under-dog, concerned about the little guy, and is full of moral decency. Great character!
Let's hope ABC reconsiders ending this show. It'll be tough on ABC if they cancel this as well as Dirty Sexy Money. What a contrast is character development to watch both shows. Let's keep both on the air!!!

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Well here we are... A beginning... However, Paris is at the end of our trip, but I shall begin with the Eiffel Tower. The photo is taken from atop Montmartre during our first few hours in Paris. The tower is in the distance and is lit with blue lights in which blue represents the European Union. The flag is a field of blue with 12 stars in the field. The 12 represents the original 12 countries, 12 months of the year, and any other significant 12 that one can think of. The number of stars will never change in the flag. A picture of the flag at the Arc d'Triumph will be published later; hopefully the stars will show.

Christmas Day at Our House

We are home from a 2 week trip to France! It is so good to be home! It's 7:30 AM and I am sitting at our breakfast table, enjoying our "christmas flowers" & Santa and waiting for Gerald to awaken. I know it will be quite a while before he rises. He loves to sleep in and after our 13 hour flight home he needs a little extra "shut eye". He didn't fare so well and came home with a cold.

Christmas Eve dinner at the Long's home was lovely. We had B J's traditional Mexican dinner complete with tamales. (I understand the Bush's are having tamales at their last Christmas gathering at Camp David. Yippee!) Well, I won't go into that...

Gerald and I had a good time on our trip, but have decided those long - long flights are absolutely no fun. It takes too much out of us. We're going to opt for driving trips within Texas and to Taos in the future. I have some good photos from our trip which I will upload soon on my website. I've got to get it all together. I have my own photo of the Eiffel Tower to upload!

Christmas Day we stayed home, rested, and had roast beef with the trimmings for our dinner. Not quite traditional, but was Gerald's request. "Santa" brought each of us goodies from the local chocolatier. We saw wonderful chocolates all over France, but vowed to wait until we returned home & buy locally. Our chocolatier is from Holland and does fabulous work! We have had lovely afternoon treats with his chocolates and holiday tea that he sells. All this in our lovely little town!

Today we made it to the gym for a workout. We need to get back into the swing of things. A cold front blew in around 1 PM so tonight we'll have some good homemade vegetable soup using some left-over roast for flavor. Simple, but good. Yummy!

Tomorrow We're Off to France!

In about 2 weeks I hope to have my own photos of the Eiffel Tower! Gerald & I will be in Paris on 12/20 (I think). Anyway, I hope the weather is relatively nice... it is winter I realize, but I'll finally visit Paris.

More later...

Dirty Sexy Money!!!

Today I was shocked to learn that ABC may be canceling the Wednesday night show that my husband & I love to watch. We are really going to be upset if this gets canceled.

So, if you are a fan of this outrageous show go online to ABC.com and make a statement in their comments section. Beg them to keep the show!!!

Where else can the average person see such outlandish opulence and get as connected to people in such a lifestyle as this. It is as much fun to watch as was Sex & the City on HBO. I was hoping for a long run of this program.

ABC, if you are listening, please keep DSM!!!

Dow Plunges 680 Points as Recession Is Declared

The stock markets took a fall on Monday, diving along with
investors' confidence. Confirmation that the nation is in a recession and reports of only a modest gain in holiday shopping sales have prompted many investors to resume selling after five days of higher closings.

Now just tell me... what makes today any worse than last week? We've known for a time that we are heading into/or are in a recession so why did the Dow drop 680 points today? I guess it is because Black Friday wasn't so black, could that be it? You couldn't tell it by looking at the stores around here. The Outlet Malls in San Marcos, TX have been brimming with customers for weeks. At midnight on Thanksgiving night the line of traffic on IH-35 was unbelievable! The lines waiting to turn off the interstate were miles long. Surely those people didn't suffer all that just for the fun of it. Surely they made purchases. And what about the rushes we saw on television where people pushed & shoved to get into the stores.

I stayed home. There is nothing out there that makes this 60-something woman want to brave those kind of crowds!