When I lived in Mpls. I was one of the lucky few who lived along the 5 urban lakes near downtown. The wise old city planners ringed each lake with a road so no one lived on the lake, they were for all to share.
Many a lovely summer evening a lone bagpipper would show up about an hour before sunset and practice in front of my house. He would always face the setting sun and ALWAYS ended with Amazing Grace, just as the sun slipped away.
When I moved to this city I bought my little house and started fixing it up. One nice spring evening I'd worked myself to exhaustion and fell asleep on my bed with the window open. I woke up just as the sun was setting to...you guessed it! Bagpipes, playing Amazing Grace. A fraternal lodge about a block away practices their marching and playing every wed. night. Crazy...but nice.
They are playing right now.

I guess I feel small. So much happens around this great big world. I guess sometimes it feels like it's all happening so fast, and to other people.
Again with the reality check...I have plenty of food to eat...a roof over my head,etc. But am I doing what I'm supposed to? Is this the life I'm supposed to lead. I know we all feel this way sometimes. I guess it's my turn.

Up hills and down. It was good to work those tired winter muscles. Got my first tick. Have to remember to do a complete tick check before bed. AAAAhhhh spring.

I sloshed thru the red clay mud to get an early spring photo of my favorite waterfall. I want that warm blooded LUNA to see it in all seasons. The water here is all from snowmelt, we haven't had much rain. If we would get any quanity of rain this time of year the creek would really flow! The ground is still frozen solid so it has nowhere else to go.
Happy Sunday to all...I'm off to brunch.(it's in the contract)

I've been feeling rather"circle of life" lately. This time of year I often wonder what i can do to make more of the gift of life I've been given.
Every day i get up and stretch and breath and TRY to remember to be appreciative of all the gifts that surround me. Perhaps this is why I sometimes have a short fuse around people who are just hopping mad at their cell phone reception or some other such shit.
I've become more and more convinced that you really can't tell anyone anything. We are all products of our own enviroments. We all need to learn each and every life lesson on our own. I'll waddle my way through this lesson, and I'll emerge into the bright light of spring a little wiser and hopefully a little more appreciative.
On a completely different note, I had a nice talk with MDGuy the other night. Such a sweet, melodic and slightly hesitant voice. When he decides to rise up and be all he is meant to be....well...lets just say that will be a force to be dealt with. I see nothing but bright skies ahead for him.
I took this picture today. I saw no signs of the rest of the deer. Ashes to ashes...dust to dust.

Those of you you who are gardeners will understand this...
I've waited all year for my favorite amaryllis to rebloom. As I'm getting ready to leave for Mexico I see the buds getting bigger and fatter (down Boy, down) and I beg my beauty to wait. Daddy will only be gone a week. Well...she waited, and this is the result.

I wish I had wild stories of mexican sin and vice. Just my fat ass lazing on the beach all day and sitting in great resturaunts every night.
wish you'd been there!

Much beauty, much joy, much fun. Just one little pic for now of a beautiful doorway (thanks dawn) The house spilling down the hillside behind the door wasn't bad either!

Hi S.
I was just getting my hair cut, trying to put on another pretty face for the boys of mexico. With my glasses off I thought for a moment I saw you...the bouncy, balls of the feet walk and that same casual swagger. I knew it couldn't of been you, that didn't stop my heart from shifting gears and my mind from racing.
I miss you. I don't know what happened to make this distance between us. I feel like I've been nothing but open and honest. I know you know me too well for me to try otherwise. Well, there are probably other words for it but...I miss you.
I miss the late night vodka tours and the creshendo's. I miss the "did you ever try's" and the drive arounds. I miss the "who do you think lives there?" and the delicate art of getting lost.Most of all I miss being needed,and your warm large embrace.I can't hear that slow southern cadence without a little tear in my heart,that jumble of words that showed your love.
I don't know if I'll be here this time. That 3 am call and another tattered love affair. There never seems to be enough in it for me. I'm like that kid that sits on the bench in basketball, the one they send in when they are so far ahead they can't loose. I just sit, hoping. Picking up the dirty towels and sweeping.
You could talk me out of this feeling with one sentance.
I wish to god I didn't want you to.
Oh well

A little ways to the west of here the current wind chill is minus 42! I'm not complaining, I'm just glad to have some real winter. And thanks to everyone for the warm up last night!
I love this photo because it reminds me of a link to another world. Stay warm you happy naked people.

It's going to be BUTT MUNCHING cold here for the next few nights.
Without the wind chill lows are predicted 20 to 30 below zero. Thats a little nippy. I'm not complaining... I look foreward to paying the corprate welfare gulzing oil companies more and more money. I think their profit should be measured in the trillions not Billions. They bought this president...they should get their monies worth.
So as for volunteers....I only have a queen size (naturally) bed. I think 5 or 6 will do. I'm not picky about sex or size or race or creed but frequent urination is frowned upon. That cold gust of air as you climb in and out is not what I need. Better hurry...the sun is going down.
I think I'll call in "cold" tommorow.