It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

Even though I’m on an “Eagles” diet – turning them off or changing the station whenever they are played – I did find this rather funny. And true. Especially when the grandchildren play at talking on the cell phone!!!

Yet, how could we possibly get a ride when we need one that very moment? Or the answer to a question regarding creamed corn? Or the query into the current lightbulb situation at home? Or on a more positive note, chat with our loved ones, share memories, invite friends to join us, remind others of our love?

Yes – I guess prisoners if we choose to be.

This was a fairly generic and semi-inspirational meme I came across in my wanderings. Now, Pluto just does the job and that’s an important thing. Thus, I am going about my job, keeping little old Pluto as my mentor.

Currently, my role in the solar system would be to clean the countertops. Somewhere along the line I have accumulated piles which need tending. (One of the piles is my store of leftover fireworks – they will be at-the-ready for the next celebration!)

Plunging ahead with Pluto in mind.

Looking to the comics, or as my father would say, “the funny pages,” has always been a source of enjoyment and inspiration.

As a child, I religiously read them all. Prince Valiant! Hi and Lois. Li’l Amber. Barney Google. Gasoline Alley. Of course there was always Peanuts. More modern loves – Calvin and Hobbes, The Family Circus, Pearls Before Swine, Zits, Pickles. I still read them – though I have become discriminating and skip some. Especially that stupid “Big Nate.” If you’ve ever had to sell the Lincoln Peirce books you would skip that one, too.

Anyway, I was thinking that I probably learned a bit of history and culture from reading them. The comedic interpretation and story-telling was instilled in me somehow – perhaps it was from reading these hallowed strips?

Nah. It was all genetic. Thanks, ye honored ancestors o’the family tree.

Not only did I laugh, but now I want to visit the store! Of course, I need no goods of any kind, but it is always fun to traipse through and see what you don’t need.

Instead, I’ve been ambling through Home Depot, occasionally kneeling down to get a better look and asking myself, “Why don’t I bring a tape measure on these outings?”

Say a prayer for me!

This popped up and made me shiver a bit. We did get to tempt fate and fingers at a rather young age with … the paper cutter!

It certainly made a nice edge on the projects. Oh the good old days at St. Joe’s.

”The birthday cake is a great success though – a precedent-breaking, shop-bought-one – Bunty always makes our birthday cakes, their defects smothered by buttercream and stuck with candles like martyred hedgehogs.”

What a wonderful line. Sometimes you come across a novel so beautifully written you devour every word, nary skimming a sentence. “Behind the Scenes at the Museum,” kept me spellbound. Kate Atkinson nailed it, and it’s an older tome. I wasn’t familiar with it and am not sure how it came to me. “Ponna” perhaps? My “novel” friend was passing around reads and perhaps this was one? My niece, “Palysun” possibly? (Thank you, whoever gave it to me.)

That beautiful line reminded me of some of my birthday cake creations as I have used frosting to cover many a defect. (I have since learned to freeze the cake before icing to eliminate potential imperfections. Makes it much easier to swiftly frost the baked goods and doesn’t require a trip to the store for an emergency can of frosting.)

Well, there are no birthday cakes necessary for another month in this house, but I will keep that lovely visual of a martyred hedgehog in my thoughts as I bake the next one. Maybe I’ll just do cupcakes?

There is nary a pair in my home, unlike a couple of my gal pals who wear them when gardening. The thought never occurs to me that there might be some slithering friends nearby when I’m outside…and I have had to rescue a snake from the basement window well before, so you’d think I might have that passing notion?

Thus, when we were camping and I walked out to the meadow to capture a photo of the glorious paintbrush in bloom absolutely everywhere!!!!! I happened to think, “There could be snakes out here, I guess?” I was wearing my open-toed slip ons with no heel coverage either. I snapped a few photos and then expertly avoided rocks where some serpents might have thought to be sunning in the early morning dews and damps.

The photo doesn’t capture the riot of color as accurately as my eye, but it does hint at the beauty of the orange dotting the mountains and valleys. Thank you, Mother Nature.

Well, aside from a fourth appointment to fix a tooth needing a crown, I have nothing I care to elaborate on today! “Quirky and mundane” are taking a rest for the day as I baby this stupid tooth on a milkshake.

TGIF soon!

It really was a bit perplexing. Where did all of my underwear go? I knew a few items were left behind in Asia on the last journey, but I had enough to get me through a week without doing laundry. Alas, they were AWOL.

So, I threw a puny load in the machine and summoned my inner shopping warrior to head out to the unmentionables department of JCPenney’s. After carefully glancing at five pair and pronouncing them acceptable I purchased them and walked out sans my carrying bag. Everyone was privy to my purchase and polite enough to avert their eyes.

When I returned home to dry the load I’d tossed in, the mystery of my depleted undergarments came to light. They were still in the dryer from the last episode of laundry duty.

The stand I want to frequent doesn’t open until tomorrow. No fireworks here yet.

Now, the sparks may fly this afternoon at bridge, and the show will definitely be worth the while! We do have a great time playing as every time we meet it’s a celebration. I understand why my mother was in three different bridge groups in her tiny little hamlet.

Of course, Tuesdays promise severe weather alerts and decimation of my beautiful flowers. I shall endeavor to cover them before I leave and once again, drive my hail-ridden conveyance. Just another manic Tuesday…