From gruddled to grinning

I had one of those afternoons where nothing felt right and for no apparent reason I felt as though everything in the world was wrong (without being able to come up with any examples, of course!).
Then Twinerik came out and took me to dinner and the clouds lifted! At several points I had the opportunity of feeling his very masculine, inscreasingly bulgy muscles, which gave me the idea to make the silly collages on the side.

The power of a kind word - or outrageous flattery!

Okay, okay. I admit it. I'm a sucker for a compliment. I like giving compliments, and I like receiving them. Which is a not-so-subtle lead-in to the compliment of the week - (Twinerik wins for the month, and there are still three days left to the week, so he could come up from behind . . . ) - to wit:

I had to head over to Verizon for the third time about my new phone, and after the issue was resolved, I decided to pick up some things at the Shoprite in the same mall. As I was leaving, the manager was coming in from the outside. He was a middle-aged black man, wearing what for all the world looked like a tux, with a tux tie, and smiling. I smiled back at him, appreciating his get-up and feeling happy that the world has people in it who enjoy dressing up. He smiled wider, held the door open for me, and said, "What a beautiful smile you have! If you're single, I'll marry you today!" Well, I am single, and it's true he was dressed for the occasion; nonetheless, I replied "My loss!" at which he started laughing. I must have had a Cheshire Cat grin on my face for at least half-an-hour, thinking of what he said.

As I have noted many times before, possibly ad nauseum, I am constantly amazed at the power of a few kind words. What does one have to lose? The worst case scenario is that you say something nice to a stranger who either ignores you or makes a face indicating that you are obviously a dangerou maniac one step away from involuntary commitment to an insane asylum. I can live with that, because the best case scenario is that you change someone's day, week, month, or even life, all for free and with no effort. Okay, end of Pollyanna platform rant. Until next time, that is.

Ballroom Bliss

My guy and I started taking ballroom lessons together last week. Tonight was our second lesson, and I am totally blissed. I have danced before, but it has been something like seven or eight years since I have had a lesson, and I have missed it horribly. Twinerik is such a good sport: these so-called beginner lessons are anything but. The teacher is excellent, but actually believes in teaching technique to beginners who have enough trouble just staying upright! But I am so happy when Twinerik and I are dancing together and things go well for several steps in a row. I love the non verbal communication of lead-follow dance; that mysic tuning in on the other persons smallest signals and movements. I'm not that good at it, mind you, but I love it nonetheless.

We have done some Tango, and now some ChaCha. Who knows what the future will bring?

Last Year at Marienbad - more like an eternity!

Just finished watching the 60s black and white classic, Last Year at Marienbad. It seemed to last an eternity. I think I'll get a copy to put on when I have trouble sleeping. I realize I am identifying myself as a troglodyte of mammoth proportions, but c'est la vie, as they would say in the movie - ou peutetre pas - je ne sais plus.

However, I want almost every dress in the movie.

In the interests of truth in advertising, I must reveal that I write this entry in haste so my pal Lydia can log on and post a comment. How craven can one get?

Later - or not. (The movie has definitely affected me. Probably. I'm not sure. I don't remember any more . . . )

Wonderful weekend - lots of time spent with my dear Twinerik - some walking, lots of talking, laughing, hugging, attacking each other with wadded-up paper towel balls, and collapsing on the floor in hysterics. I may not have gotten enough work done, but all I can do is repeat - wonderful weekend!

Spring has sprung, and already the initial flush of blooms is fading, making way for the roses, peonies, and iris waiting in the wings.

I know it is a cliche, but I really do love this time of year. I never fail to be awe-struck by the beauty that surrounds us. Not the distant, melodramatic beauty of the Grand Canyon or Yosemite or Niagara Falls, but the unearthly beauty of a spray of roses or a lush peony right in one's own backyard. It is almost inconceivable.

My first rose bloom popped open the weekend of May 9; my old traditional red Blaze climber. Just in time to cheer me up and get me over the loss of my weeping wisterias and fragrant lilacs, which are drooping and losing color as well as petals.

This is the time of year when I hatch extravagant fantasies about what I would like to do in my bakckyard, which is, by the way, quite compact (read "tiny"). Build a very small house nestled in the roots of my fragrant honeysuckle, and people it with vintage ceramic gnome figures. Build a small castle turret out of stone with spaces to look out from the inside and enough room for a chair and a ladder to the top. Build a pergola for climbing roses and wisteria. Build a treehouse (note to self: small problem - no trees in backyard). Actually, what I need to do is tidy up, weed, prune, and water, but those are so humdrum and tedious . . .

Snow everywhere!

We have had several snows already this winter, the first on December 6th, I think, but most of them were puny things, scarcely covering the ground. But a few days ago, we had a beautiful snow storm which left about 4 inches (not bad for our area of the country, although I can imagine the sniffs of disdain from some of you who live where 4 feet isn't unheard of!) and layered everything in sparkling white. It was so beautiful, I was stunned and just stood looking out my window, transfixed. I have been sick, and couldn't go out in it for more than a few minutes, but I did sneak out to take some pictures and drink in the scene. I always try to look at everything so hard, as though I could burn the memory into my brain indelibly, but alas! the immediacy of the image is lost with time, and so too, its real beauty.

I'm glad I took the photos, because the next day the coating on the branches had already diminished considerably. I hope we have more snow this winter - especially on Friday night, melting Sunday night!