Have you ever had to jump through hoops in order to do something?

I’ll spare you the details, but it turns out that idea was too good to be true. Someone has to go up to do one more inspection. Besides the fact it’s a long trip that no one wants to make, the county doesn’t have a key to the Forest Service lock, and it’s almost Christmas and more snow is expected. What do you think the chances are that this will be resolved before Spring?

It pays to have patience and a sense of humor.

Thursday morning we talked to the fellow who will probably install our solar cells, if we can afford him. He was very knowledgeable so we’re keeping our fingers crossed. But talking about the grounding system brought up the subject of lightning protection. We only had two instances of damage in the past. In both cases the lightning struck a tree and in one case it fried some of our electrical wires and our generator. In the other case it split a tree and bounced over to the support for one of our beams and knocked off a piece of concrete. We were glad in both cases we weren’t there when it happened.

Now, of course, there are no trees to be struck. The house will be the tallest thing around. Do you think we’re tempting fate? When we decided to rebuild we joked that maybe the gods were trying to tell us something by wiping everything out. If that was true what would be the next message? A big bolt of lightning? It might not be such a joke.

икониПравославни икони

 
One reason dogs are my role models is because they know how to enjoy themselves. They don’t worry about wasting time. They also like to explore, sniff around and follow their noses. I do too, albeit in my own way.

A simple example…. this past week I read the following quote on one of my favorite blogs:

Enjoy the little things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

I’ve pretty much always believed that, but the quote had no attribution and it sounded vaguely familiar. So I Googled it and discovered it was written by Robert Brault 25 years ago and, as he says in a blog post,

[It] is one of the most quoted lines of the past 25 years. In several slight variations, it appears over a million times on the internet. It is quoted on more internet sites than any of the Ten Commandments and almost as many times as The Golden Rule. It has been used on calendars, greeting cards, stationery, t-shirts and novelty items of every sort. It has been the motto of at least two high school graduating classes.

I didn’t know that! Anyway, I’ve now added Brault to the list of blogs I read and also went to a site that has 294 of his quotes. I will only include one of them here:

As to the Seven Deadly Sins, I deplore Pride, Wrath, Lust, Envy and Greed. Gluttony and Sloth I pretty much plan my day around.

I’m not a big one for gluttony, mostly I choose foods that will keep me healthy and feeling good. But the bit about Sloth resonated. Yes! That’s me. I plan my life around Sloth. In fact, the Sloth is another of my role models and I think of him whenever there’s social pressure to do more than I’m doing.

Mr. Sardonicus. Used with permission. Owner reserves all rights.

 
What about you? Do you have any role models? Do you ever just “sniff around” and explore?

I’m afraid I’m not much better now. We’re planning a train trip to see Kaitlin, Torben and the granddogs and grandcats. We want to travel as light as possible, and I decided it was time to replace my 20-year-old hard-sided, sturdy but heavy, Samsonite suitcases with some lighter soft-sided ones. The old ones and I have been through a lot together, but it didn’t make sense to keep them. So I summoned up my courage, kissed one of them goodbye and gave it away. The other one will follow in the fullness of time, but I didn’t have the heart to do it yet. Mourning takes time.

Are any of you cursed with the same misguided sense of loyalty and love? Do you know anyone else who is?икони

I was tickled last week by an article in the Wall Street Journal: Stylish Guys Steal Short Sleeves From Nerds.

When I showed it to my husband, he said. “So, after all these years I’m back in style! Maybe it will happen again in another 30 years.” Ever since we were married he’s worn white short-sleeved shirts and navy slacks. If people want him to be stylish they have to make that outfit the fashion.

What about you? How stylish are you? Do you care one way or another?

You be good. See you tomorrow. I love you.

Now I wouldn’t say “You be good.” When I hear the term “be good” I laugh and think of Henry David Thoreau’s:

The greater part of what my neighbors call good I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?

And if I were aware that they were my last words I wouldn’t say the “See you tomorrow.” But I would say “I love you” to my daughter. We’ve said that enough over the years that nothing more would need to be said. My husband doesn’t feel comfortable with the “L” word, so I would say, “I want you to know how much I appreciate you. Thank you.”

And just in case they’re not around when I shuffle off, I tell them often now so they might think of those words anyway.

What about you? Which last words would you choose?

Also, do you have any favorite words of wisdom?

Our local Friends of the Shelter not only manage to find homes for the dogs and cats coming through our local shelter, they provide medical care for needy animals in Northern New Mexico. They also actively support spay/neutering of pets because in general there are more needy dogs and cats than homes for them. It’s one of the most effective ways of reducing animal suffering.

As part of this outreach they from time to time give out vouchers so people can spay/neuter their animals for free. In a recent campaign they’ve added more incentive: the promise of a $20 gift card for people who actually use the vouchers.

 
They passed out the above handouts in front of the Espanola Walmart a few weeks ago. The yellow dog in the first picture was part of the publicity.

Walmart had given permission for them to use its parking lot, but to make sure its customers weren’t disturbed it posted a couple of security guards. Apparently the guards thought the event needed a bit more livening up, because one of them phoned Animal Control, saying a big yellow dog was loose. The Animal Control officer was not upset by the joke:

Anna Kroylova.

Anna Kroylova.

 
Have you ever had fun while doing good?