Let's Talk Random Again, Shall We?

A picture so funny, it deserves to be shared and repeated here!  :-)

Every now and then, I just feel like sharing some tid-bits and updates from my daily life.  It's not thought-provoking or necessarily funny (or even interesting).  But it's my world and my brain food. 

So with that being said, here is my randomness of the week:

• Vivian is taking swim lessons.  Well more importantly, she's taking "drowning prevention" instructions.  My friend is a certified ISR (Infant Swim Resource) teacher.  With the beach, bay, lakes and ponds all within a close radius of where we live, it became important to me that Viv be safe around water.  Each weekday the Diva has her lessons.  Each day, she cries and whines a little less.  Each day, the Diva shows off her fish fins more and more.   Her teacher says she has a great form and strong kick.  It's silly how proud I am that she has inherited my swim legs.  Although I think her intense focus and determination comes from Kirk. 
  
  
  
• Earlier today I saw a grown man riding in the back of a pickup truck with a dog while it was raining.  We were on the interstate and driving approximately 70 mph.  I've never seen someone so happy to be riding NOT within a vehicle.  I watched in almost astonishment how this adult let this dog lick his face while smiling and laughing with the rain falling down over them both.  What a great attitude, I thought to myself.  Here's a man who is living in the moment and enjoying himself even though he's got bugs coming at him in hurricane force speeds and may catch pneumonia.  Then of course I wondered if he was an illegal immigrant or an escaped convict who hadn't seen his dog in a few years and maybe that's why he looked so happy??
  
  
• Within the past week, three people commented on how great (and thin) I look since the last time they saw me.  Can I just say that I did a little internal happy dance when I heard those words?  I simply said thank you and told them it was in part to my no gallbladder diet.  But it sure is nice to receive compliments, especially when it's from relatives you haven't seen in awhile.  Twenty two pounds lost since October 2009.  I'd say that would be a change for someone who hasn't seen me since then!  ;-)  Now, let me go have some ice cream to celebrate!  :-)

• We had to board Bono our dog into a kennel while we went on vacation since our usual dog sitters were out of town.  I was a nervous wreck trying to find a place.  I called his groomer to see if they kept animals overnight.  They told me that they were booked up.  When I thanked them anyway and said again how I loved the cut job they did for Bono, they said, "Wait! Did you say Bono? Oh well that changes things!  He's on our VIP list!"  Can you believe it?  My dog.... the one that eats his own poop and runs around like a crazy convict in the rain is on aVIP list?  Amazing!  I wonder if he can get me tickets to see Lady Gaga in concert this fall?
  
  

• I forgot how much I enjoy a car ride for several hours.  I used the quiet time recently to do some major reading in my latest classic novel.  While Kirk was annoyed at the traffic buildup and longer than expected arrival time, I was secretly happy to turn the pages and have the solitary time in the truck.  I'm currently reading "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens.  It took me awhile to get into the story but I'm looking forward to finishing it and gathering my thoughts for a review soon.
  
  
  
• Cooking and baking have become therapeutic for me lately.  When I feel as if I have nothing to write or nothing creative going on in my day, I can suddenly think up a recipe to try.  Then I make it and the dish more than likely comes out great.  For some strange reason, this has given me a sense of accomplishment recently, especially when I feel I have nothing else to give.  I love making a little more than what I need and sharing it with others too.  Some other great compliments I've recently lately have included positive remarks on my potato salad and my carrot-cinnamon muffins.  When someone asks me for the recipe of what I make, I feel as if I've won a contest or a race.  Silly I know, but sometimes it is what I cling to to feel successful.
  
  
  
• I have had a great time visiting with my nieces and nephew over the past week.  I tried to give each of them some individual, spoiled time!  I was so happy to see Vivian get along so well with her cousins.  It made me sad that we don't see our relatives more often for her to have playdates.  Living away from your family is not always easy.  I have my good and bad days about it.  Still, I feel like where I am is home -- where I'm supposed to be. 
  
  
• Spiritual thoughts and questions often pop into my head.  I wish I had an unbiased person to speak to about my disconnect -- someone who won't influence me but help me.  Like my own private religious guru who doesn't care what I think or what choices I make.  This is an area in my life that I want to explore and dig deeper into.... but how?  Why is it that I love to be uplifted by things of a religious nature -- music, books, poems, etc.  Yet I myself don't live a religious life?   I have a hard time believing in it....  But why does it bother me so?  (Note -- I'm not really looking for answers here -- just posting my thoughts out loud....)
  
  
  
• Confession: I began to like the songs by Justin Bieber after hearing my eleven year old niece play them over and over and over again for four days straight.  I even bought her his CD and a t-shirt.  It reminded me of my infatuation with teen idols when I was her age.  NKOTB -- holla!  (That's New Kids on the Block for any of you who don't know or don't remember.... and for that, shame on you!!)
  
  
• I cannot cook seafood.  Especially fish.  I've never been able to get it to come out right.  That's okay though.  Because it's one of my favorite things to order at a restaurant.  Last week I had the most amazing grilled redfish that was stuffed with lump crabmeat, served with a side of angel hair pasta and grilled shrimp.  Do I have your mouth watering yet?  Oh yeah!  It was like an orgasm on a plate folks!  So good.  If you ever visit New Orleans, visit "New Orleans Food & Spirits" the one located in "Bucktown" off Hammond Highway and you won't be disappointed. 

That's it.  That's all I have for now in my little corner of the universe.



Tell me something random about your week or a random thought about your day.