crazy

January 6, 2014

smart dog

I reported at 6:15am, “Blue is sleeping in. Smart dog.”

Of course, just like with human children, when you remark on their sleep habits, they do the opposite to prove you wrong and by 6:38am, my Blue dog appeared beside my bed to see if I was awake too. I scratched his velvety ears and then he woofed to say, “Get up already!” I did.

In record time that dog and I went out and were back inside before 7:00am. Here’s my micro report from that excursion:

At first Blue went romping through the snow drifts thinking, “Woo hoo! This is fun!” Then he started limping and holding up a back paw. Suddenly the spot in front of our house between the sidewalk and curb, where the wind blew the snow down to where you can see the grass with a fire hydrant conveniently located nearby was THE SPOT and we’re both back inside. Dog looked at me not quite sure what kind of snow and cold that was today, nothing like the fun of yesterday. I told him he was a good boy and to go get warm. He ate a bite and is stationed in his front window watching post now. Good morning. Safe travels if you must.

The Weather Channel app declares it is -17*F and feels like -45*F. I keep calling it crazy cold, which is evidently what comes after snot freezing cold on my thermometer. I’m obviously not A Weather Girl. Usually I just wake up, get dressed enough and head outside because it’s time to walk the dog.

January 6, 2014

January 1, 2014

I kid you not

Voices drifting up, through the heating vent in the living room floor, I just heard the almost 13 year old neighbor guy say, “Somewhere over the rainbow?”

My oldest son (13 1/2) replied, “Might be over the storm clouds.”

Odds are good they are talking video games. But seriously?! I just wrote about singing a few bars of that song, while walking on the sidewalk, across the street from where our side by side houses are! I’m not making this up! My writing is memoir, not fiction, especially the really weird, crazy and not too whackadoodle stuff.

January 1, 2014
2:04pm
(My jean clad azz is off the cozy love seat spot and I am standing up. Blue dog stretched out and is resting his head upon a striped pillow. Life is good, especially for the napping dog.)

December 19, 2013

Life whirl

Life whirls by fast, like a marvelous dance.
Then the music stops and you’re dancing alone.

Some couples twirl for many decades.
They marry in their 20’s.
Their family grows with the arrival of babies.
Those babies grow to school age, then graduate from college.
Suddenly your babies have babies of their own.
Decades have flown.
The couple still holds hands and smiles.
They still stand and sway when music plays.
Inside they feel the same.
Outside their hair is silver.
They move a l’il slow, but get there.

Other couples have the music stop abruptly.
It’s the last thing they expect.
They spent a l’il over two decades together.
That’s all ‘twas meant to be.
She sat in the cemetery between their children,
as his body was laid to rest.
They won’t be dancing at their children’s weddings.
He’ll be watching from Heaven instead.

Life whirls by fast, like a marvelous dance.
Then the music stops and you’re dancing alone.
Life still whirls by at a breakneck pace.
Yet, your pace is set on savor.
Home feels good, like a cozy cocoon.
You venture out when necessary.
You pause and marvel at the sunrise.
You lift your face to feel the noonday sun.
You watch the moon wax then wane, and feel a tug.
Days pass.
Nights too.
Family and friends cross your doorstep.
Giving and receiving hugs for hello and goodbye.
Laughter returns, as joy bubbles from within.
Life whirls on.
Dance.
Set your own pace.

I do.
In the kitchen.
Alone.

December 19, 2013
I wish I could tag this “creative writing,” but it is a true story. Mine. After a two year and three month cancer fight, my husband died in August of this year. He had just turned 43. I was still 41. Now I’m 42. We were together over 21 years, counting from our first date. Together nearly half my life, married for 16. I didn’t want to write this poem, but when the words are there you learn to honor them and let them flow. Even when they make you cry crocodile tears that fall as you do. Perhaps this is why my dog was awake extra early today. Coffee and breakfast are next for me while my boys sleep a l’il longer and I can soak up the quiet of the house before chaos and commotion reign again. Zany. Crazy. Wild. Ornery. Rambunctious. Loud. LIFE! It is for living. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of today.
Love,
Janean

P.S. Nearly included this line, “Not quite four months ago, and it’s still hard to believe.” Adding it here as a footnote for now, to mull over later. It’s time to make that coffee, turn on music with the volume low, sing along and sway.

December 18, 2013 Image

bedtime mayhem

I said, “It’s bedtime.”

My oldest son heard, “It’s time to put on a stormtrooper helmet, grab a noise-making blaster, blare the Imperial March from your back pocket, and come down to the main floor looking for a fight.”

My youngest son minded by getting pjs on but heard, “Grab a sharply pointed pencil to wield like a lightsaber, while simultaneously threatening your big brother with a glass of ice water, and moving quickly from here to there dodging blaster fire.”

Blue heard, “Mom’s tired. Everybody GO CRAZY!”

December 17, 2013

June 29, 2013 Image

I am the crazy lady who just planted sugar snap peas in her garden while a persistent summer rain fell on June 29th. Of course reading the back of the packet more closely now (after the fact), since I missed sowing in April-May, I should have waited until August to plant for a fall crop. Oh well. Seeds are cheap and I have a purposeful crop in my garden now, not weeds. The thistles are cut down and uprooted. The volunteer sunflowers are welcome to stay, for they invite the birds and make me smile.

June 29, 2013

June 21, 2013

girl power

I mowed the yard this morning.
I wanted to try out the mower after my dad, nephew and oldest son tricked it out.
Blades sharpened.
Oil changed.
Something with the spark plug for an easy one pull start.
I texted my friend Kim at 12:14pm, “Mowed. Check.”
She texted back, “Good job…and even in this heat.”
I replied, “I’m not a shrinking violet. I’m a crazy daisy. ;-)”
She sent back a, “LOL.”
I’m smiling now, at the satisfaction of a job well done.
Best of all, the day is still young.

June 21, 2013

June 13, 2013

never a dull moment

This morning there was the most mega cat vs. dog race of all. Oh my word, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you! Snuggles was so smart and hid in the hallway bathroom bathtub. Blue didn’t figure it out (even though that crazy cat kept right on with her mountain lion growling). It wasn’t until after our walk that he found her. THEN he tried to get in the bathtub with her! I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out. As I did, Snuggles ran away to the master bath, her safe spot. I closed Blue in my youngest son’s bedroom to give Snuggles time to make her getaway. I found her hunkered down, sitting alongside the tub in the master bath. I sat on the opposite edge, to hold and cuddle my Brave Like A Mountain Lion Cat. She was quiet. No growls. No purrs. I think she was in shock. That big Blue dog is still looking for that cat. He’ll be on the main floor sniffing one moment, then he runs upstairs to look for Miss Snuggles in the next. I really think he just wants to play, and considers their mega chase as a game. With his wagging tail and goofy grin, Mr. Blue is saying, “That was fun! Bring it on! I’m ready to do it again!” Me?! I’m just ready for coffee and some breakfast. The best part about Blue starting his day by chasing the cat was he didn’t strain against his leash as much on our morning walk. He even missed a chance to try to chase a wily rabbit that was sitting statue still less than six feet away. The rabbit and I acknowledged the other eye to eye, as I walked on past with my wolf-lookalike dog, Blue. Woof.

June 13, 2013