Today

Today dawned gloomy and wet. We are having our first snowstorm. Kind of fits. I woke up with a sore throat, headache and stuffed up nose so I decided to stay home from work sick. Right now I'm watching it snow out the front window. Much as I'm not a fan of snowy cold weather, the accumulation looks very pretty coating the dark red leaves of the plum tree out front.

Makes me think about Christmas. Less than 2 months away now... I have one gift. Well, actually what I have is the stuff purchased to make one gift. And other than that, I don't even have any good ideas. And need some I do... this Christmas is going to be pretty tight financially so if I can find ways to repurpose some of the raw materials I already have that would help. Easily doable for neighbors and some adult friends, but not so much with the little boys on my list. Ideas anyone?

Towards dealing with the financial strain, I've decided (pretty much) to sell my little house. The renters are moving into a bigger place at the end of the year and I'm just not thrilled with the prospect of having to find new renters and dealing with all the problems they can present. Maybe if there was a mister around to share some of the responsibilities and work, my decision would be, could be, different. But there isn't. I get to make the hard decisions in life alone. So my thought right now is to mull it over for another week and be sure, then call in the realtor. It won't be easy, but the cash infusion will certainly be welcome.

Sick, broke, cruddy decisions to make, gloomy day... it would sure be easy to throw myself a real pity party right about now!

Rover cake

Yesterday afternoon I went for a short walk. One of those idiotic gangster taggers had left his mark on the sidewalk down by the Baptist Church. It said "rover" and then below that, what looked to me like "cake" all in big red spray-painted letters. Hmm... rover cake. Doesn't that sound like something you'd politely call dog poo?

Clutter dumper

I have a friend who has lived in her current home for 16 years now. In that entire 16 years, she has never (not even once) been able to park in her garage or use her patio. They were stuffed to the rafters with clutter. It didn't matter what it was or whether she needed it, if you were giving it away or she found it in a thrift store and it looked it might have some use to someone somewhere that she might come across she took it.

Suddenly she's unloading...

And unfortunately, some it is finding it's way to my house. Some because she thought I would like it and use it and some because if I "didn't want it, surely someone at Church would." In all fairness, some it is pretty good stuff... like the bug zapper and brand new flagpole she brought me today. Those I will actually use.

But there's a lot more that I simply don't want. Don't want the stuff, don't want the responsibility to find someone else who does. I'm having some discouraging thoughts about being "the conduit" as this friend puts it in finding some of her cast offs a new home.

I've been working hard on decluttering my own house and have only recently been seeing some very positive results. And I don't want the garage and the storage room to get all junked up again! But at the same time, I don't want to hurt her feelings and they would be if I told her to not bring her "junk" over here. It's kind of a delicate spot to be in and I don't know quite what to do.

Sheer black dresses and 5 o'clock shadows...

I love to sit somewhere like a park bench or a busy restaurant and watch people. Last night we decided a treat was needful and went to Cafe Rio... always a busy place that attracts a fairly eclectic range of patrons.

No matter which direction I looked last night, I was greated by one of two sights: A tall leggy gal in a short and very sheer black dress or a big boyish-looking woman with a noticeable 5 o'clock shadow. There are lots of unique people in Salt Lake, so seeing a person of either description wouldn't be cause for wonderment. What amazes me is the sheer numbers of both that were out last night.

There was one woman who was easily 6-feet tall on her own. Then add the 4-inch plus stilletos and even I found myself in awe. I am pretty much the polar opposite in build and style. Where she was tall and ultimately trim, I am short and fat. Where she wore tight, sheer clothing that left no doubt that she had a great figure, I dress much more modestly.

Sometimes I find myself wishing I had the body confidence to be able to wear some of these outrageous outfits... it's not that I would, just I wish that I could.

This poem made me smile today!

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
to paint a picture, write a letter,
bake a cake, or plant a seed,
ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must, but there is not much time
with rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
music to hear and books to read,
friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
a flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
this day will not come round again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go, as go you must,
you, yourself, will make more dust!

...Author Unknown

What you can see on 2nd South...

Ever see something that makes you look a second time wondering "Did I really just see what I thought I saw?"

I had one this afternoon on my way home from work.

There was a man at the bus stop on 2nd South and Main. Guessing he was probably 60-ish with kind of long light gray hair and a full beard that was quite neatly trimmed. From the bottom of his beard UP he looked like your average commuter headed home from work. From the beard DOWN... not so much. He had sheer hosiery and some women's sandals (the kind with wider staps and a chunky square heel - sorta granny-like) denim shorts and a pale pink tank top poking up out of the neck of a red t-shirt with white polka dots. You could also see the quite obvious lines of a very well-padded bra...

Not offended, just a little astonished. And still wondering if i really saw what I thought I saw...

The Biblical Ideal Woman

While I've never before heard of The Message Bible (my Church relies on the good old standard King James Version) I came across this description of the Biblical ideal woman and liked the simplicity, virtue and deep respect it evoked.

Proverbs 31:10-28 The Message Bible

A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.

Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.

Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.

She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.

She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.

She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.

She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise.