With a sexy, come hither look, Patches wears her heart on her cute little nose. 
I love this little cat, with her independent ways and squeaky little meow.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Tag: love
Taking the Plunge
Studly Doright took me out for dinner last night for an early Valentine’s Day celebration. He also bought me a bouquet of tulips in a box. You know, the kind you have to assemble yourself?
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore receiving flowers, but part of the romance is lost if I have to cut the stems, pull the leaves, and mix up that floral cocaine that keeps the flowers fresh. So this year I said, “Thanks, hon. Now you make ’em pretty for me.”
And miracle of miracles, he did! I know I’ll need to do a little fine tuning here and there, but at least he took the plunge. And that’s the definition of love. Taking plunges.
When Studly asked me out on our first date, he took a big, scary plunge. For all he knew I’d turn him down cold, yet still he asked.
Our first kiss was a plunge. I’m not sure which of us initiated the touching of lips to lips, but it was pure bliss and it was the moment I realized I might already be falling in love with this crazy, funny, smart(ass) boy.
And even though Studly was 99.9% sure I’d answer yes when he asked if I would marry him, that, too was a plunge.
Studly and I have been wed for almost four decades, and we’re still taking plunges. We plunged in head first on having children. Every one of our cross country moves has been a plunge. It’s been a veritable plunge-a-thon!
With any luck, the biggest ones are behind us. But those little ones, like watching my big, handsome man arranging my bouquet of flowers, I hope we have many more of those.
Peace, and Happy Valentine’s Day, people!
Beauty Full
I take myself apart
piece by piece:
a nose too long,
a chin too weak,
moods too intense,
and patience too thin.
There are no redeeming
qualities as far as my eyes can see.
Still, I hold hope that
somewhere deep in my bones
beauty does reside,
I only get a glimpse
when I witness and honor
the beauty in others:
generosity,
forgiveness,
acceptance,
gratitude.
the spiritual overcomes the physical.
the soul embraces the imperfect.
Photo of You
there you are
the mythical man;
although, your photo is dated two years past.
it must be
genetic wisdom
our lofty foreheads, near mirror imaged
faces.
ideas of you
ephemeral then
almost mythical in scope to the child I
was.
always wedged
in a crevasse deep
somewhere outside my heart, yet within
me.
no hero;
you never answered.
i fantasized your presence; you never
came.
you can’t know
how often i’ve wondered
would you have loved me if you’d stuck
around?
peace, people.
Adopt; Don’t Shop: Doggy Edition
I love volunteering as a Kitten Cuddler at Tallahassee Animal Services. The two hours spent at the shelter on Wednesday afternoons are the best part of my week. This afternoon, though, there were just four cats!
We had a big adoption event over the weekend and most of our kitties found new homes. Yippee! Now they’re out there getting used to being loved and pampered, and that’s how it should be.
The downside was that it took me all of fifteen minutes to do the basic chores, like cleaning kennels and petting cats. I helped with the laundry, but even that wasn’t a huge job this week. So I went to the dog side, and had a ball, and a couple of squeaky toys.
At TAS the well-behaved dogs get to participate in play groups. I haven’t been trained to oversee a group, but there is an observation area where I could watch the fun.
I had almost as much fun watching as the dogs had playing. One dog was a clown, interacting playfully with every other dog in the group.
That’s Chip, above. He’s a charmer. Laid back and cool as a cucumber, but always up for a good time.
I’m not ready to be more involved with the canines. Cats are more my speed, but dogs like Chip almost make me reconsider.
Go find your perfect friend at a shelter near you.
Peace, people!
A Cat Named Miriam
Miriam and I hung out together in the feline playroom at Tallahassee Animal Services this afternoon. She would definitely be a contender for the Miss Congeniality award at any pageant.
At six months of age, she’s still a kitten–playful and precocious, but with a sweet intelligence that is hard to resist. Her markings are gorgeous–very exotic.
Miriam is available for adoption and would make a terrific addition to any home.
I also played with Avocado, one of the great dogs available at TAS.
From the shelter website: “Avocado (aka “Avie”) is a purebred mutt, most notably showing characteristics of a boxer and black mouth cur (but smaller than both). She is about 2 years old and 45lbs. She came into the shelter as a stray (her owner was never found).
She has been in fostercare for about a month where she recovered from a severe case of noncontagious mange, a skin infection and an ear infection. Avocado has responded great to treatment and is now available for adoption!
She was virtually hairless and appears to be growing in reddish color with a black mask. Her hair is similar to a Lab’s.
Avocado is an active, social girl who enjoys playing with toys (she loves playing with them more than most!) and doggie friends.
She is housebroken, crate trained and alert barks when someone comes to the door. She does well with cats and doesn’t show interest in birds. Avocado travels well in the car and walks ok on leash.
She knows “sit,” “down” and “crate” most days but would definitely benefit from obedience classes. She enjoys going for walks and is respectful of fences (doesn’t jump over a 4 ft fence or try to dig under).
She has been around small kids and does fine with them. If you are looking for a medium sized dog that is active, smart and social but has a remarkable sense of humor, Avocado could be just the fit! Sweet and affectionate this girl is sure to delight any family! Avocado is spayed, vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm negative and microchipped.”
Come check out the wonderful companions available for adoption at Tallahassee Animal Services, and remember,
Peace, people!
Please, Please Adopt, Don’t Shop
In my experience there are few creatures more deserving of our love than those who have been surrendered to an animal shelter by their owners. I can only imagine what this beautiful cat, Stella, is feeling on her first night alone at Tallahassee Animal Services, having been brought in just this afternoon by her humans.
She’s scared, nervous, and confused. I tried to coax her into letting me love on her, but she seemed to say, “They’ll be back for me. I know they’ll be back.” I’m not ashamed to say I cried.
Then there was this big, goofy guy, Anthony. Look at those exquisite markings! Anthony and his sibling Mark came into the shelter as strays on the 23rd of December, but they’ve clearly been someone’s pets. 
They’re the funniest cats I’ve ever met. Plus they’re loving and eager to be petted.
There weren’t a great many cats at TAS this afternoon. But even one is too many when there are loving homes out there.
I spent a bit of time this afternoon over on the canine side playing with a dog named Beau. He’s been at the shelter for almost two months.
It took Beau several minutes to warm up to me, but once he did he followed me around like a puppy. I fell in love with Beau. Please if you’re looking to adopt a dog consider this handsome boy. Here’s his résumé:
“I am a neutered male, Treeing Walker Coonhound mix. The shelter staff think I am 7 years old. I have been at the shelter since November 18, 2015. I am available for adoption now!”
Remember, adopt, don’t shop. Visit talgov.com where you can view these guys and more on our virtual kennel.
Peace, people.
Pride and Petulance
family
grounded in
roots,
love,
shared stories,
this one
heartbreaking
because it is true:
a family torn
asunder by
petulant
offshoots,
self-serving
jealousies.
pride,
malignancy
masquerading as
balm,
soothing,
perpetually
bandaging wounds
that we refuse
to let mend
seeking
retribution in
place of healing.
Merry Happy Christmas Holidays
Feel the peace and love
Then pass them to another
Hugs work miracles.
From our home to yours
With hearts full of gratitude
Merry Christmas, all.
In my childhood home we opened gifts from one another on Christmas Eve then Santa came as we slept that night to leave presents under our tree and in our stockings. Sleeping on Christmas Eve was a tricky thing. We always wanted to stay awake and listen for reindeer hooves on the roof, but we knew Santa wouldn’t come while we were still awake.
My brothers and I would whisper and giggle for as long as possible, listening to the adults visit in the nearby living room. It was a delicious feeling of anticipation. Almost unbearable in a way that nothing else can ever be.
Sleep always overtook us before Santa appeared, but we were up before the sun rose over the flat Texas panhandle trying to figure out the best way to get our parents up. There was a rule in the Hall household on Christmas morn:
Parents were required by the powers that be to make certain Santa had indeed visited. Children were by no means to enter the living room before confirmation was made.
Fortunately, Studly Doright’s family celebrated Christmas in a similar manner, so merging our traditions was easy. We only tangled on issues of opening presents early on Christmas Eve day. I was rigid–no opening until after dark. Studly was flexible and could be cajoled into allowing one gift to be opened. Guess who was the kids’ favorite parent? Take your time. (Hint: It wasn’t me.)
Christmas Day was spent playing with our new toys and reading new books, eating turkey and dressing and Christmas desserts. The best day of the entire year.
It was only late on Christmas Day that I’d remember the why of Christmas Day. Oh, we’d sung carols and participated in Nativity scenes, placed baby Jesus in the manger. But somehow it felt like the big day had been Christmas Eve when Christmas Day was the celebration of Christ’s birth. (Yes, I know it was a pagan celebration adopted by Christians as they absorbed cultures into the fold, but it’s the marking of the event that counts, not the exact day.)
Ahem. So, before falling asleep at the end of Christmas Day I always make sure to contemplate the Christmas story, to thank God the Father for sending His son. Really, the only present we need.
Peace, people.
It’s A Wonderful Life, You Know
Christmas Eve at Doright Manor 
George Bailey found out
When prayers sent up saved him
Life is wonderful
Although our children
Are far away this Christmas
Their presence is felt
I’m watching my favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. As usual I began crying when young George Bailey prevented the pharmacist, Mr. Gower, from poisoning a young child. Studly Doright wanted to watch the next episode of Fargo, but I argued that we could watch that any old time.
For once I won the battle for the remote. Studly’s even resisted the urge to flip to another channel during commercial breaks. I love him, even if he did buy me a holster for the gun I received for Christmas last year and still haven’t touched. Love is funny that way.
The cats are both drunk on catnip.
And I’m just content. I just heard a bell ring, and you know what that means.
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 