loose dog

 I cannot understand how this font is the one I want, but I have to choose the font, the size, and so on every time--even within a post when it will revert to the unwanted selections.  So if I shrink or begin writing in a weird typeface, bear with me, I will figure it out eventually.

I refuse to re-write the whole damn thing over again.

Last night we heard a dog barking really close to our house, and when C went to look, it was that damn dog from across the road.  He was barking at our scruffy feral black cat who has lots of hidden spots in the garage, but the garage door was open.  We don't leave it open, it has a small cat door opening so Blackie can come and go at need.  C went back inside for shoes and a flashlight, and when he got across the road, that damn dog had one food bowl chewed in half.  So fast!  We now have a metal bowl.  If we can catch the dog safely it will win The Blue Ribbon! and a free trip with the dog catcher to the pound.  We have a have-a-heart trap we use for possums, coons, and so forth, but this dog is too big to use it, pity, it would be the safest way to catch it.

Temporary pause here

I have been watching Downton Abbey Season?  Chapter? Whatever... And I think I have been seeing US version as well as the UK version, and they don't mesh.  Dead people (I see dead people) rise again, pregnant everyone I think, beautiful horses, spiffy actors, a house good for the entire county, gorgeous clothes, wow!  Chapter 3 now...

My MacBook is pretty small for watching video, but being able to be started/stopped mid word as needed makes up for it.  I love Maggie Smith the most, hers is a nice bit of dialogue when the action lags a bit.  And her hair and hats!  And the food, I don't know what most of them are eating, but the kitchen table groans with the weight of the food to be carried upstairs.  And they burn stuff too.  Fascinating.  And the head cook washing up the kitchen ladles, Never!  

I got an "important safety recall" for my GMC pick up, stating that there is a factory recall about the passenger side airbag that may inflate spontaneously and send metal bits into the passengers, "causing injury or death"  but don't worry, we'll inform you once the parts have come in, meanwhile go ahead and drive it.  I think not.  Class action lawsuit, anyone?  

A grave time

 I heard from the lady who wants to buy the 4 cemetery plots in Falls Church, VA.  The whole thing made me leery, it was too much money, and she never tried to bargain the price down.  Plus, she wasn't in a hurry after the first two exchanges, never mentioning her deceased son, it felt weird.  Anyway, I finally got a "certified" check and that didn't look right either, although I couldn't point to one item.  We took the check to our bank and she said, Hmmm, and called a banker at Chase bank, the bank it was supposed be written on.  She agreed to taking a look at it, and off we went .  I couldn't walk that far, and there are only a few parking places, so C took me home and went back on foot.  The Chase banker said, "forgery" and they decided to let Chase hold it while they pursued finding the source.  I sent a message to the woman (so she wouldn't keep bugging me), giving her the bare bones of what is happening.  Oddly, that night I got this violent email which I only glanced at (it was 3 in the morning) and by that morning the message was gone, Pffft!  I didn't know you could erase a message after hitting "send".  Anyway, I heard no more.  My guess is some sort of scam that would show our account numbers, so they could drain the account.

Are you the person to whom I am speaking ?

If you remember the quote in the title you are at least my age, and watched Laugh-In.  This is one of the lines of Lily Tomlin in her role as Earnestine the switchboard operator.  Way more funny than what passes as humor now.  In my opinion.

I checked on this mini-post to see if it is saved when I go to another tab, and it looks OK.  So far.  Moving right along...

When I was a teenager I saw quite a few classmates wearing makeup, while I was only using lipstick.  That is all Mom used; but my best friend, a little older, teased me to try more.  So I picked mascara, since I had really light eyelashes.  Then my friend teased me about getting mascara in my hair, here and there.  I used Nice n Easy to color my hair, but damn! it had to be done every 6 or 7 weeks.  It made my roots really dark in contrast, light brown to golden blond.  I switched to auburn a few years ago, and it made me look better. I still had to do the coloring every few weeks.  The blond shade was hard to carry into middle age, but auburn (much to my  surprise) matches my eye brows and lashes.  I worked in a lab doing electron microscopy, where one used a single eyelash glued to a wooden applicator to move the sections around to place them on a copper grid.  Every one did this, weird as it sounds.  But under the light scope the lash was clearly red.  And now I use primer, foundation, powder, blush, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, lipstick and  mascara.  I have an account with IPSY and they send me 5 full sized samples every month.  I now have cabinets and drawers full of cosmetics, and I have given unused makeup to my niece in KY, and to the daughter of my manicurist's.  Neither of them ever sent even a verbal Thanks! So I won't be doing that again.  I am not asking for a formal engraved thank you, but a card from WalMart is what, $2?  or so.

My best friend passed 4 years ago, and I really miss her.  I flew to FL several times to see her near the end, and she still looked great, even with the bald top.  

This is the last time I saw her, as they are taking me to the airport.

                             Beautiful Suzanne before cancer

http://www.thepastwhispers.com/train 17 edited1.jpg

The Train of Life

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believed they will always travel by our side.

However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of your life.

Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum; Others will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is:  We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down.  So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.

It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

Lost and not found

 I had a new post all written and proofed when I had to leave the keyboard.  When I came back my laptop had crashed and then re-started, and my post was toast.  I will get another put together tomorrow, but for now nothing, sorry.