Foreign LOVE Affair

Maybe we can blame it on the humidity. 'they' always say its the humidity not the heat. Personally, I think its the combination. Your head is overheating and you're sweating, really dripping. It's not so pretty. Let's not forget how bright the sun is...blinding even through your shades. Then you see the being who steals your heart in an instant.

Shall we say, blindsided? At first there is the typical denial. (Good luck with that). Then there is some tentative eye contact. A bit of silent communication. A private "hello".

In a very short time you are quite relaxed and amazingly comfortable with each other. What is happening here? You end up spending everyday together.

Life is sooooo much fun. You cross over into believing this could work! We can do this....we could be together! Why not? All obstacles to 'being together' fall away. You see yourselves 'together'...it looks good. The decision has been made. You commit. This is not just a foreign affair. This is the real thing. This is a foreign LOVE affair. This is how it happens. ...and they lived happily ever after... (in South Dakota, USA of all places)

Crime Scene

I am in a mooooood today. Should be depressed, but I'm not. Actually verging on uber-happy. Got me thinking about the last mexi vacay I took with a pal of mine. She is such a good friend. I know this for a fact because she allowed me to keep these photos of her. Knowing that I might share them.

I remember the time we spent meditating, exercising and cleansing toxins from our overloaded systems. Hence the peaceful sleep that followed.

The intensity of self-discovery and the letting go of pretenses was profound. Feeling safe to really expose our true selves in a safe, caring and intimate environment was very liberating.

The freedom to just let go and not be anything but the beautiful, delicate flower that we keep hidden inside. (Clearly evident here) Some memories are forever and oh so sweet. Love you JJ.

MEANWHILE...

....back on the metaphorical farm, so to speak, we are in our full winter white. At the risk of stating the obvious, I must say, it is snowing a lot. Yes, still LOVE it. Yes, still gaga at how the world is transformed. Yes, still love the challenge of negotiating a life on ice. So the trick is to get outside EVERYDAY. Of course, with PonyGirl that is a given. My skinny, mexican mutt is really a snow dog. There is no hesitation on her part to get out there and just dive in. Once she figured out what x-country skis were, she became a great companion on outings. . That girl can run and basically swims through deep snow. A great workout for us both. We also usually pick up one or two of her friends to come with us. On this day it was her BFF, Koda. Embracing the winter opens up an enchanting world. Going to Mexico has nothing to do with disliking winter. Au contraire, I just don't want to miss 'the winter' in Mexico.

Some do's & dont's for my Mexican Adventure

Must get some of this whatever it is.

Need to avoid this guy.

May have to update my lingerie.

This place looks like fun.

Okay, all right...I'm sorry...I won't do it again.

Be reminded that color is NOT a bad thing.

So pretty in the details.

Must remember to look up.

Wanna come?

Its official. I'm going to Mexico!

Going to meet some new friends. Going to become politically involved.

Going to dine in some fancy restaurants. Going to buy something ridiculous.

Going to see some real cute kids.

Going to dress in weird 'vacay only' outfits.

Going to go to the beach.

Going to hurt myself (mysteriously). Going to P-L-A-Y with puppies.

It's official. I'm going to Mexico! Going to dine at fine establishments. Going to shop for a new dress. Going to dress up in weird outfits. Going to play with puppies Going to go to a fiesta.

My Own Personal Day of the Dead

December 30th

Today is a beautiful, sunny, cold and crisp winter day. She was such a good dog. Even when she was bad. My baby girl.

Helpless

Helpless in the face of adversity, aka... the holiday tables... laden/loaded/heavy/groaning with delicacies of every description. All the pretty little poppers that just fit & fill your mouth and take their time disolving. Insert full body moan here. I like the savoury ones the best. Appies so wonderful you are barely civilized. Then of course there is the holiday fall from grace, the turkey. Let's talk turkey. The aroma alone causes me to forgo all pretensions of being a non-meat eater. I know, I know, there was that disturbing incident with the elk salami, but this one is even more visceral. There is a bit of the 'honour & adore' syndrome at work here and a lot of salivating. I am happy to know it was free-range, organic etc., but in reality, I really don't care. I eat it anyway. There, I said it. Father forgive me my trespasses and pass the gravy. I am pleased that we seem to have passed into a phase of celebrating Christmas more with edible excesses, rather than with 'gifts' and I am very okay with that. The few gifts that are received tend to be very meaningful and so delightful in their unexpectedness. So, 'cheers to that' and 'may the wind be at your back', and 'may you live longer than you imagine' and 'may all good things come to pass' and 'sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite'...oh...we can't really say that one anymore, can we?

Seeing No Evil

So anyway 'tis the season of fantasy. Let us put on our 'PPE' (Personal Protective Equipment) and forge on into the holiday fray. I love this season of indulgence. I am a top competitor in throwing caution to the wind. I dive into that holiday buffet table at party after party with no regard for calories or even ethics...yes, guilty. I recently ate and enjoyed several types of, godforgiveme, elk salami (!) the other night and would have eaten more if only there were no other pesky guests around. Next was a hearty hello to the salmon/goat cheese pate-filled marinated cherry peppers that were, how you say, to die for? Then, I heard rumours of a fig/goat cheese appie that was making appearances at parties here. My dental hygienist was describing their deliciousness to me while she was scraping my teeth and hosing out my mouth. I was moaning and spitting at her in agreement...yes, yes, yes, must have some of those. Soooo, yesterday there they were at a little afternoon getogether sitting innocently on a tray, each one in its own tiny pastry shell. So pretty. I think I ate an embarrassing number of them. To be continued...

Six Weeks Crash Course

i learned to drive in the snow. i remembered how to pump my own gas. i entered a grocery store and actually shopped. i used up most of the 'back-up' basement food. i slept like a zombie. i spent less time cleaning the house. i checked in on myself. i trained the dog to be polite (mostly). i thought a lot about the future. i spent time with friends. i forgot to pay the stupid credit union and got a delinquent notice. i skied in the woods and enjoyed the quiet of that. i learned how to make charcoal out of eggs.* i knit for good.** i believe that being alone is not the same as being lonely. i am not lonely. i had a birthday. i read some really good books. i like to cook for myself. i am looking forward to having Mr.Big back. *place eggs in pan to hard-boil, turn burner on and go out on the trail to ski for 2 hours. **the Nelson Knitting Co-p where we all 'knit for good'...it's our motto.