Life’s a Game but Very Tiring

I’m back!  Remember me?

My name is Pichu and  I am visiting these strange old people again.  They think I am absolutely the most wonderful, adorable, sweetest, cutest pup in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (or maybe even further afield).

I am theirs for a day (and a night too) but this day is speeding by since I am very busy having fun.

First they gave me a cup of Frosty Paws (doggy ice cream).  Wow!  I wonder if there are more of those around.

Then the lady and I went for a short walk so I could explore the grounds.  I have been here before but the smells of the wild are always different you know.

Then it was back inside for a bone chewing marathon.  It took awhile butI won!

Some of my old squeaky toys are here too, and some new ones, so I figured she wanted to play.  And I was right.

Then the man said, “Let’s go OUT!”  We all went out and I ran as fast as I could around all that grassy space.  I ran so fast the lady started laughing and that made me want to run even faster.

I ran so fast I got pretty worn out.

They had their dinner and gave me little bites of yummy chicken since they could tell I needed more energy.

But a nap is definitely in order now, even if it is before bedtime.

 

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A Kaleidoscope of Memories in Germany

Need a Dress for Octoberfest?

12th Century Interior Door

Park/Cathedral Garden in the City of Speyer

Flowers on a City Street

Christmas Store Soldiers

Standing on a 12th Century Floor

Padlocks Pronouncing Love Along a City Bridge

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Farewell Pichu!

Ellie came to get him this morning – her sweet perfectly well behaved dog, Pichu.

I did not cry but if he had been here one more day I think I would have.

We were just getting to know each other well and made great strides this morning.

Frame #1: Pichu – “I know this is my bed, but I would rather be on yours!”

Frame #2: Pichu – “Is this really o.k.?”

I Have a Feeling I am Not Supposed to be Up Here!

But we gathered up his belongings,

the toys he ignored in favor of new donations,

his food and snacks,

and his bed he may or may not have slept in.

We do not know where Pichu decided to sleep but he never made a sound all night and left us to our own slumber undisturbed.

Like I said, Pichu is a perfectly well behaved dog.  Ellie and her family deserve accolades.

He is also the softest dog ever and a great hugger.

Anyway, we loved having a golden visitor who made us laugh and almost cry for other lost canine loves.

Farewell Pichu!

And we mean it when we say, “Come again soon.”

 

 

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Getting to Know You

Bill and I made a new friend today.  I think he likes us.

He was a little apprehensive at first but loosened up after a snack and conversation.

His name is Pichu and we will be dog-sitting soon.  Today was just a day to see if we liked each other.

I think Bill and Pichu may have made a connection don’t you?

And we were both delighted to have a furry critter in the house once again!

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It Was a Very Good Day

The Daily Post Photo Challenge

Today Was a Good Day

Show us what makes you happy.  Share your ideal day, recount a memorable day in the past, or share your favorite things.

This photo was taken here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  It was at a time when our grandgirls were little and loved the joy of a ride on a tractor.

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The Cook is Not in Love

“The cook is not in love.”

That’s what my unforgettable Hungarian Dad used to tell us (with a smile) at the dinner table.  He claimed it was a popular saying from the old country that meant the cook (in this case, my mother) did not put enough salt in the food.  I have never heard that again but I always taste and re-taste to avoid the label “not in love.”

Lately, I have been thinking of all the sage words of wisdom my parents offered us kids growing up.  The parents are long gone now but many of their beliefs and admonitions live on.  And surprisingly, I think much of my life is still parent-directed (or maybe mis-directed as the case may be).

Dad used to say,

“Never visit a person’s home without bringing a gift – bread, wine or candy.”

Yep.  I do that.  If you were thinking of inviting me over, you may be in for a treat.

“Never borrow.  Never go into debt.  Pay CASH.”

Do credit cards count if I pay them on time?   Always do.  No debt here Pop.  Nope.  No debt here.

“Do not get FAT.  Your husband will divorce you.” 

Uh oh.  Well Dad, I am  “pleasingly plump” and  still married.  However, due to that warning I am always a bit worried about a slimmer woman taking over.

.

“Do not sit by an open door or window during a thunder storm. And do not pat a dog.  Dog’s attract LIGHTNING!” 

No wonder I head for the closet!  Used to blame it on the dog’s fear though.

 “Allow for cross ventilation in a hurricane or the wind will take the roof off.  Be sure to open two windows.”

We lived in Florida and had hurricanes.  Dunno if Dad’s observation was true but a roof is important right? I don’t live in Florida or even in a hurricane prone area, but still keep two windows cracked just in case.

“Only FOOLS sing at the dinner table.” 

Does humming count?  I can’t carry a tune, so maybe he invented that one to ensure silence.

But Dad wasn’t the only one who came up with interesting cautions and observations.

Mom said,

“You are not really old until you are 60.  It’s all downhill after that.”

Uh oh.   Thanks A LOT Mom.  It’s  definitely a steep decline.

“Always carry a dime for an emergency telephone call.”

Huh?  I suppose now it would be, “Don’t forget your cell phone!”

“Don’t be an OMELET!” 

Can you guess what she meant by that?

“He’s a big Butter and Egg man.” 

How about THAT?

“There is no excuse for bad manners.”  

Agreed.

“Don’t be a doormat.”

(Stand up for yourself)  Agreed.

After a cursory revisit to the words of wisdom of my parents, I have concluded it may not really be the sins of the fathers or mothers that shape our lives, but the sayings.

What did your parents say to influence your life today?

Note:  The cartoon of the woman on a scale is from an unknown source.  It came to me in an email and I cannot make out the bottom credit.

 

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A Tale of Two Rings

Weekly Photo Challenge:  Half and Half

Yesterday I was doing something with my left hand that caused two fingers to cramp.

Not knowing what else to do, I began to shake that hand.

And my wedding ring flew off and wound up clear across the room!

I noticed my ring finger was miraculously slim.  It was evidently too skinny to hang onto the wedding ring.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO A TALE OF TWO RINGS!

Once upon a time there was a couple who thought they were in love.

They planned to marry and purchased two wedding rings – a little one for her and a bigger one for him.

Time went on but they did not marry.   I guess they were never meant for each other.

But there was another couple who planned to marry.

They bought the two almost-used wedding rings from the first couple.

They got two rings for $25.00.  What a DEAL huh?

DOR AND BILL WERE THAT SECOND COUPLE.

Wedding Day
Note: Dor’s Dad Not Happy

Dor’s Dad objected to the union and predicted “the bum” (Bill) would divorce Dor as soon as he graduated from college.

Nevertheless, they were married by a Justice of the Peace, and Bill said that thing about, “With this ring I thee wed.”

And they agreed to share all their worldly goods,

which of course, were nil.

And even though Bill never wore his Big Ring, Dor wore her Little Ring forever;

well, for years and years and years anyway.

Half of $25 is $12.50 (the cost of Dor’s wedding ring).  What a DEAL huh?

I am very good at math.

But, one day when Dor was a grandparent and still married to the same “bum”, her finger began to ache.

Arthritis maybe?  Naw.

Why would arthritis hit only one finger?

And why just the ring finger?

Bill had graduated from college and was long retired from work so it wasn’t Dor’s father’s  curse coming back to haunt them.

Dor finally noticed her aching finger was miraculously FAT!

Before you condemn Dor as a weight gaining sloth, please remember the time lapse.

It is likely that a child bride’s finger might grow bigger over time.

FINGER WEIGHT PROBABLY FLUCTUATES.

But Dor’s ring  was cutting off circulation, was leaving a deeply imbedded ringlike scar, and the only way to get the ring off was with soap and water!

So Dor took Bill’s original Big $12.50 ring to a jeweler where it was then reduced in size to fit an aging, slightly overweight bride.

At least it was a half of the original pair right?

And that is the happy ending (or beginning) of the Tale of Two Rings.

The groom’s ring is the one that flew off Dor’s finger and wound up clear across the room!

DOES THAT MEAN DOR LOST WEIGHT?

Y  E  S  S  S  S  S  S!!!

Well, maybe a little.

And Dor now has two rings that make a whole marriage.

There is the BIG ring that fits a fat finger

And the LITTLE ring that fits a slim finger.

And this marriage was meant to last forever.

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Mortifying Memories in Music

Have you ever heard the song, The Little White Cloud that Cried?

This is the cloud I am sure.

And it brings back embarrassing memories.

I was almost a teenager when that song was a teenage rage, and I saved up and rushed out to buy my first record.  Trying to impress some cool teens at school, I told them how much I loved the voice of the girl who sang that song!  They laughed and said, “Johnnie Ray is a GUY!”

To this day I still recall the acute embarrassment of not being “with it” or “cool” enough to know such a vitally important fact of life.

From en.wikipedia.org

And have you ever heard the song,  Unchained Melody?

I was a young girl once with a new boyfriend named Bob.  We only dated for about two weeks when he moved away.  He wrote tear stained letters that made me cry and I wrote emotionally charged letters back.  That was before texting, emails, and Skype of course.  Bob’s letters were heart-wrenchingly poignant (written in cursive and in ink) and I had no idea the words were not his own.  And then I discovered he copied them from a song!  AND  he wrote the same letters to another girl who was just as smitten.  Each stanza was a new letter.

Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me…

I wonder whatever happened to Bob. 

From en.wikipedia.org:  “The Little White Cloud that Cried” is a popular song written by Johnnie Ray and published in 1951.  The biggest hit version was recorded by Ray and The Four Lads in 1951.  It was a #2 hit on the Billboard magazine chart that year and one side of the one of the biggest two-sided hits, as the flip side, “Cry,” reached #1 on the Billboard chart.

 

From en.wikipedia.org :  “Unchained Melody” is a 1955 song with music by Alex north and lyrics by Hy Zaret.  North used the music as a theme for the little known prison film Unchained, hence the name… since become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some estimates having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages.  

 

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A Foolproof Diet

I have been on a “diet” most of my life and am always shocked at how many different approaches there are to achieving a slim profile.   I think my slimmest profile was probably at birth because the search for a foolproof diet has never ended.

Well imagine my delight when looking through a box of old memories I stumbled upon forgotten words of wisdom from my long-departed mother.  The yellowed crackly piece of paper inspired my imagination.  I had found a long lost treasure on how to lose weight.

Talk about excited!

I was so thrilled I immediately began retyping the whole thing – for you, my friends, who may also be in search of a diet with a guarantee. And I graciously accept your words of gratitude (in advance) for sharing this with you now.

A WEIGHT LOSS DIET GUARANTEED TO WORK

BECAUSE MY WISE OLD MOM ONCE TOLD ME SO:

Monday

Breakfast – Weak tea.

Lunch – One bouillon cube, half cup diluted water.

Dinner – One pigeon thigh, 3 ounces prune juice (gargle only).

Tuesday

Breakfast – Scraped crumbs of burnt toast.

Lunch – One doughnut hole without sugar, one glass dehydrated water.

Dinner – One fish egg – shad or sturgeon (minced).

Wednesday

Breakfast – Shredded egg shell skins.

Lunch – Belly button from navel orange.

Dinner – 3 eyes from Irish potatoes (diced).

Thursday

Breakfast – Half ounce strained unflavored jello with one peeled grape.

Lunch – Half dozen poppy seeds.

Dinner – Bee’s knees and mosquito knuckles sauté with vinegar.

Friday

Breakfast – Two lobster antennae.

Lunch – One guppy fin.

Dinner – Fillet of soft shelled crab claw.

Saturday

Breakfast – Four chopped banana seeds.

Lunch – Broiled butterfly liver.

Dinner – Jellyfish vertebrae a la bookbinder.

Sunday

Breakfast – Pickled hummingbird tongues.

Lunch – Prime ribs of tadpole and aroma of empty custard pie plate.

Dinner – Tossed paprika and clover leaf (one).

Notice:  All meals to be eaten under microscope to avoid extra portions.

Good luck with this diet my friends.

You have now met my Mom, whose sense of humor was one of her most remarkable traits.

She is long gone to her better place, but comes back to me in strange and wonderful ways.

Silhouette of successful weight loss figure from www.fatlossmentality.com .

 

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Five Photos, Five Stories: From Inside and Out

This is Photo Story #5 for the Five Photos, Five Stories challenge.  The rules are to post a photo a day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo.  It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph.  Oh yes,  and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge.  Today I nominate Debbie of The Mountain Kitchen, a place to learn a whole lot of wonderful things about food, delicous-ness, and mountain living.

It is an odd thing,

a windowless view

of a landscape unseen

and a sky never blue,

of lovers inside

with an old lovers’ kiss

but no more to hide

of a sweet lovers’ tryst.

It is an odd thing,

a windowless view

From both inside and out.

This is my final submission for the Five Photos, Five Stories challenge.  In a way, it felt like cheating because two of the five were poems.  But I learned  from this exercise that poetry is my automatic first response to sights and sounds and photographs are particularly inspirational.  Thank you to those who followed along with my “stories” and thank you if you joined in on the fun. The results have been spectacular.

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