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She's here!!!!!!!!! 8/19/2010 She's captured my heart! My first grandchild!!!!!!!! Simone Jean Tobin weighed in at 6 lbs. 7 oz. on 8/9/10. That's 6-7-8-9-10. She's a winner in our book!! Rachael and Cory are the proud parents. Lorren and I are the proud grandparents!!! Welcome to our world, Simone Jean. Mid-summer update... 7/29/2010 Well, my experiment in trying to "wean" myself from my dependence on the computer has been semi-successful. The not-so-good news is that I still spend too many hours in front of my screen. The very good news is that I managed to step away long enough to give most of my basement a much-needed cleaning!! (Yay for me!!) My daughter, Rachael's, pregnancy has progressed text-book-smooth. Our first grandchild will be arrving in about two-or-three-weeks...Yikes!!! Austin, Texas here-I-come!!! And, just so you know...if you are running out of ideas for what to read the rest of the summer, I just added a LOT of titles (fourteen to be exact) of my newest favorite books. Check them out on my "Roxy Reads. . ." page. Happy mid-summer!! Let summer begin!! 6/23/2010 For those of you who follow my blog on a regular basis I have good news: No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth. But I am sorry about not blogging as regularily as I have in the past. Let me explain: I've been frustrated at how much time I spend at my computer. I check e-mail much-too-many-times a day. I scan my Facebook account almost just as much. I drop by the blogs of friends (and strangers) just to make sure I don't miss anything. And then, at the end of the day, I look up in a fog and wonder, "Where did the day go?" I've been pondering on that for awhile. I don't like wasting time, but many days, at the end of the day, that's exactly what I've done. Nothing ever changes unless we make a change. So, I've been making a concerted effort to live-life a little more, rather than viewing life through a computer screen. Which means staying away from my computer and my keyboard. Change doesn't come easy. And I have to remind myself of that several times a day as I head to my office and start clicking away on my mouse. All that to say, I hope you'll bear with me (and maybe join me) as I attempt to enjoy this summer by looking and living outside my office. Oh, don't worry, I'll check in now-and-then. . .and I hope you'll stop by my website every now-and-then. In the meantime have a WONDERFUL summer! Working-out woes~! 6/3/2010 Question of the week: What is a fifty-six year old woman (namely "me") doing with rug burns on her elbows??? Ouch!! They hurt~! Who in the heck knew doing a new exercise routine would take me back to childhood? I've been a dedicated "walker" for several years, but recently I was looking for an inside-exercise I can do when the weather doesn't cooperate. . .or I just feel like doing something different. (Like watching an afternoon talk show. Exercising-while-watching seems like a good alternative to sitting on the couch for a lazy hour feeling like a complete slug.) So, I consulted a personal trainer (a one-time session) and she introduced me to an exercise ball. Wow! For the most part it's like "playing" again. Balancing on the ball. Moving my limbs and trying NOT to fall off. I was really going-to-town on that thing. Push ups. Sit ups. Some exercises that I have no idea what they're called. It's actually fun to work out. Until I noticed my elbows acting up~! Good grief. I knew there were all kinds of aches and pains associated with middle-age. . .but I never suspected rug burns (of all things) as topping the list~! I'm off to massage some lotion on my tender skin. . .and then I might just have to take it easy for a few days. Heaven forbid I should over-do things. . . "Life" Happens. . . 5/26/2010 Sorry for not blogging the past two weeks..."life" has sort of taken over. My mom and step-dad are in the process of down-sizing in preparation for a move this fall, and since I live in the same town (only a couple blocks away) my "volunteer" job has been to help Mom sort through her fifty-some-years-in-the-same-house belongings. We've uncovered some fun things (like a fancy-schmancy matching dress and coat my mom bought in the '50's in California), and sent more than enough stuff to the landfill, and bags and boxes of things to goodwill. And, there's still a house full on things to be moved or sold (at an auction this fall). You can probably understand why I've been busy. But my time hasn't been all work and no play. . .this past weekend my mom and I flew from North Dakota to Austin, TX to attend a baby shower for my daughter, Rachael, and her husband, Cory. Daughter, Tegan, was there, too. Oh my, we had FUN!! It was great to see familiar faces, and to put faces together with new friends of theirs I'd heard about but not met. We did some eating-in (Cory is a fabulous cook!) and some eating out (a Cuban cafe, a deck over-looking Lake Travis--which reminded me of Italy!), and a smoked chicken risotto at Whole Foods--an eco-friendly grocery store that is worth a stop just to experience the ambiance. Then, alas, it was time to come home. Sigh. . . I'm looking forward to some extended reading time over the Memorial Day weekend. Then it will be more sorting at Mom's and a couple early-June speaking engagements. And THEN I will completely and totally be ready to call it SUMMER!!!! Have a wonderful weekend remembering those folks who have passed through your life and left you the better for their love and friendship! Mom's Day 5/9/2010 My Mother's Day started by sleeping in just a teeny bit, then a couple cups of coffee and a perfectly ripe pear (yum!) and off to church with hubby. We went out for lunch (strudels and roast beef) with my mom and step-dad then came home and took a little nap. Calls from both my girls (and a really nice gift that arrived on Thursday). A walk on the treadmill. And now my husband is in the kitchen making Venison Stew and cornbread for supper. The only way my Mother's Day could be any better is if my daughters and their guys were right here with me. But, alas, that is not-to-be, so I'll be perfectly satisfied with the day I've had. Here's to mothers everywhere!! And they're OFF. . !!!!! 5/2/2010 I wish I could tell you that I'm a "horse person." But the fact of the matter is. . .I'm not. Oh, don't get me wrong, I think horses are beautiful animals. . .from afar. But up close, they are, well. . .B-I-G and a little unpredictable. . .and did I mention. . .B-I-G??!! But, that didn't stop me from enjoying the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Oh, no, I wasn't anywhere near Kentucky, but we got together with friends to watch the race. Yes, we women did it up right, we wore (mostly goofy) hats to get into the spirit of things. We each picked a horse to win. (Our criteria only depended on how much we liked a "name". . .the actual horse had nothing to do with it. Ha.) And, just like "that!" they were off. . .and just like "that!" the race was over. One person in our group picked the actual winner, so she was riding high (in her chair. . .NOT on a horse!). My eighty-something mother watched the race, too, and here's how she summed it up: All that hulla ba loo and it is over in a couple minutes. They should use horses that can't run so fast. Now there's an idea! And my laugh for the week. Have a great one! Singing in the rain. . . 4/26/2010 I went to sleep to the sound of raindrops last night, and woke up to them this morning. What is it about a rainy day that makes a house feel oh-so-cozy?? The weatherman says we're in for a whole week of off-and-on showers. Which, by weeks end, might be a little-too-much in the cloudy day department. But, for today, the weather (in my mind) is perfect. How I wish I could seize the day and do nothing but curl up with the entertaining book I'm reading. Instead, I've got loads of laundry to do. The normal stack of mail to plow through. Some straitening up that needs doing. And two meetings (count them: two) at my house later today. But, I'm going to do my best to carve out maybe a half-hour to do what I'm longing. Tuck myself into my favorite reading chair and do exactly that: read. My favorite Bible verse (Psalms 118:24) was made for a day just like today: "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." I plan to do just that! I hope you do, too! An ordinary day. . . 4/12/2010 It's just another same-old Monday at my house. Two loads of laundry to do. Ironing to get to. (Yes, I'm one of the old-guard who still irons my husband's shirts each week.) I've got some volunteer work to do for the library. (I've been on the board for not-quite thirty years.) I need to get a package wrapped and in the mail. Some birthday cards ready to send out. And then, later this afternoon, my book club partner will stop by for our monthly get-together. Oh, I suppose I could yawn and tap my mouth. There's nothing too much out-of-the-ordinary about today. Yet, over the years, when friends and family have been wrapped in illness or turmoil, I've come to know how unsettling certain days can be. So, I've learned to appreciate the same-old, same-old kind of days. There's something deeply comforting about a same-old Monday. I'll leave you with this anonymous quote I ran across: "Once the sun has set and dusk slowly settles in, my you look back fondly on what an awesome day it's been." Here's wishing you the pleasure of the ordinary. May it be an awesome week for you! Our miracle. . . 4/4/2010 Easter, the time of new life, re-birth and miracles, seems like the perfect time to tell you. . . Well, let me back up. I knew our daughter, Rachael, had an obstetrician appointment on Wednesday. She was going to have an ultrasound and just possibly find out the 'sex' of her baby. I was on pins-and-needles at the time of her appointment (which was far away in Austin, TX) but needed to run an errand. The first thing I did when I got home was to check the answering machine. ONE MESSAGE! I quickly pushed 'play' and heard Rachael say, "Call me, I have ne-ww-ss!" So I did. She practically sang. "It's a girl!" Ah, sweetness. All things pink. Perfect. And so here I am on Easter Sunday, thinking about the miracle of Christ's resurrection, and wondering how anyone can possibly NOT believe in God when they contemplate the utter miracle of a baby being born. Tiny fingers. Tiny toes. A perfect little nose. And a heart set in motion by God. Rejoice!! Wise Words. . . 3/22/2010 A few days ago I picked up a book (that has been lying on a stack of books by my bed) that I’ve meant-to-read for much-too-long. It’s a collection of quotes by Fred Rogers. . .you remember “Mr. Rogers,” right? The “won’t you be my neighbor” man?? When my kids were having one of those much-too-noisy days, I would sometimes turn on the Mr. Rogers show and park them in front of it. There was something soooooo calming about his quiet and gentle manner that seemed to infuse all of us watching (and, yes, sometimes I needed calming down, too). Anyway, a friend gave me his quote book and I dip into it every now-and-again. Last night I came across this: “It’s the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest. . .and the maddest! . . .It’s a different kind of anger from the kind we may feel toward strangers because it is so deeply intertwined with caring and attachment.” I can just ‘hear’ Mr. Rogers saying those words: “It’s the people we love the most who can make us feel the gladdest. . .and the maddest!” Ain’t-that-the-truth?!! I don’t like being ‘mad’ at any of my friends or family. . .but sometimes I am. But, like Mr. Rogers said, those same people can make me feel the ‘gladdest.’ And I love that! Seek out the folks who make you the ‘gladdest’ and have a great week! Time change. . . 3/14/2010 Last night before I went to bed, I turned all six clocks in the main part of our house ahead one hour. All except one. The one on on the DVD player by the TV. (That clock always takes a bit of figuring-out and I decided to wait until morning to work on it.) And, besides, my husband was sort of dozing in front of the TV and I thought I'd just let him enjoy some down time as he'd worked at his desk (at work) most of the day. And he needed to up-and-at-'em early Sunday morning as the Lions Club was having a community breakfast and hubby was on pancake-flipping duty. After I got all the other clocks turned (including the clock on hubby's side of the bed), I crawled under the covers and went to sleep. Hubby joined me who-knows-when. But, sometime during the night he got up and went back downstairs to the couch. This morning I slept in a bit and got up about eight-fifteen. I noticed my husband was already up and gone. I found it hard to imagine that I hadn't heard him getting ready, but. . .oh, well, I got to sleep a few extra minutes. I went into the bathroom to get ready for church. Just about then my husband came into the bedroom still in his p.j.s. "I thought you had to be at the Civic Center at eight," I said. Very nonchalantly he said, "I do have to be there at eight. I'm going to take a shower and then go." "It's eight-thirty," I said. "No, it's seven-thirty," he said. I pointed to our bathroom clock and said, "It's eight-thirty." His eyes got as wide as fifty-cent pieces as it dawned on him what happened. . .the whole Daylight Savings Time business, you know. "You're right!" he said as he kicked it into high gear. Of course he's "blaming" me for not turning that ONE clock ahead. I'm still chuckling. . . Random Thoughts. . .and some very special news! 3/8/2010 There is nothing I enjoy more than a small dinner party...which my husband and I hosted last night. Good food (the main dish--Pheasant Pot Pie--cooked by my husband), good friends, and lots of laughter. Is there anything better than that? I'm pretty sure Heaven will have dinner parties because, in the Bible, Jesus was sure at a lot of them. I think He likes them, too! - - - - - We've had almost a whole straight two-weeks-worth of fog around here. . .and another weeks-worth in the forecast. I feel like I'm living in a science fiction movie, one where gloomy skies set the weird-vibe mood. Once this past week I called to my husband, "Look quick! What is that shiny-round-thing in the sky?" By the time he could look the sun (at least that's what I thought it was) was gone. Sigh. . . - - - - - Ever wondered what's inside a Snow Globe? I found out last night. I was pushing a metal-mesh bin of sweaters onto a shelf and ran it right into a snow globe I had stashed in the back corner of the shelf. Snow globe "juice" ran all over the shelf, along with not-quite-a-million beady-like snowflakes. It was a bit of a soggy blizzard in my bedroom closet. I "shoveled" with a towel and a vacuum cleaner. - - - - - And, saving the very best for last. . .I'm going to be Grandma Roxy in a few short months!!!! I hear my life will change and I can't wait! (More "grandma-thoughts" in the weeks/months ahead!) Road Trip Take Two 2/28/2010 As promised, here is the day-by-day account of my daughter, Tegan, and my (and her cat, Bruce Lee’s) road trip from Chicago to Austin. We drove one-thousand-one-hundred-and-fifty-three miles in two long days. I’m handing over my blog this week to Tegan…here is “her” account of the trip. (But before I turn the tale completely over to her I have to add, Tegan did admit to a slight exaggeration here-and-there for literary purposes. Guess she takes after her mom more than she knows!) Enjoy! - - - - - Day Zero: Well, I picked my mom up at the airport tonight...if the events of her getting here are any indication of how this trip will go, I can't wait (read: sarcasm). To start, her flight out of Bismarck was delayed. A bummer, to say the least. She arrived late, just in time to get in on a Chicago snowstorm. After 3 spins around the airport arrivals gate (mom was waiting for me in the taxi line and missed all five of my calls trying to find her) we were off. In the first 30 seconds of being in the truck, in what is surely some kind of record, my mom was screaming for me to "Look out!!!" for the airport bus in front of us that I was already breaking for. Here we go... Since it's snowing, our early start has been postponed and we'll be "officially" hitting the road for Austin as soon as the snow lifts. Wish us luck! - - - - - Day One: I must thank my Aunt Kim for suggesting this Diary-of-the-road-trip-across-the-country-with-my-nag-a-gator-mom idea. Really. Every time I thought she was about to say something nag-ish I would say, "Do you want this to end up in the diary? And sent to the whole family?" That usually worked and we got along splendidly today. Of course, I had to work on keeping my mouth shut too...when Mom suggested we listen to her i-pod, I thought, "how bad could it be?" After singing along to the 3 hour American Idol soundtrack we returned to silence. We made it all the way to Tulsa and are safely snuggled in our cat-friendly hotel room with the Olympics on. We have a 7 hour drive ahead of us tomorrow so we plan on sleeping in. Continue to pray for safe travels and the ability to bite our tongues. -tegan Oh, and my mom wanted it noted for the record that she was better than the cat on this leg of the trip...but, really, the cat is only 4, in a cage, and has no clue what's going on so she gets a free pass. - - - - - Day Two: (Imagine first paragraph set to dreary music...in literature, this would be called "foreshadowing") As we rolled out of bed this morning and turned on the weather report we were shocked to discover a prediction of snow for the exact route we were set to drive. Thus, the morning began with a pep-talk.... I explained to my mom that 3 inches of snow in TX is totally different than 3 inches in ND and we'd have nothing to worry about. She just (predictably) rolled her eyes (after all, there is always something worth worrying about). And so, with mom's nag-a-gator finely tuned, we set out to the truck. After choosing to take the back roads, as opposed to the well-traveled freeway, we began the final leg of our journey. "Are you sure this is still the right road?" "This just doesn't feel right." "Did you see that sign that says 45mph?" It was about this time I informed my mom that (the cat) Bruce Lee was winning the Best Behavior award for day 2...and explained to her that when the speed limit sign is posted in yellow (the 'proceed with caution' color) it's just a "suggested speed" and not actual law. She didn't seem to believe me so I slowed down just to settle her down (and I'm pretty sure I saw a cop up ahead and didn't want to test the theory). By the time we hit Dallas small flecks of snow, barely visible, began falling and the driver (which would have been me for all but 2 hours of the trip) was henceforth forbidden from eating, drinking, and holding conversation about anything other than directions or traffic conditions. My mom, on the other hand, had her foot firmly planted on the imaginary brake on the passenger side and kept me informed of every "watch for ice on bridge" sign between Dallas and Austin. By some miracle, we made it to Austin without having any major incidents/accidents/arguments and, actually, had a really good time. Rachael & Cory were waiting with dinner and we are settled in for the night. And now the real adventure begins! Welcome home, me. - - - - - (Roxy, again) We made it! Tegan loved her first two days at her new job! I had a great time seeing Rachael and Cory’s Austin duplex, and checking out some shops, cafes, and simply hanging-out with the “kids.” What could be better than that? Then it was a hop-and-a-skip flight back to North Dakota. And now, it’s ‘welcome home' to me, too! Road Trip 2/20/2010 Ah, life has been hectic these past days. My hubby had meetings in Arizona and since they spanned the date of our thirty-sixth anniversary, it seemed like a great idea to tag along. It was a quick trip and in the blink of an eye I went from gazing at palm trees out our hotel window, to slogging through snow banks back at home. Sigh. . .I want to go back! But first, I need to take another trip. My youngest daughter, Tegan, took a job in Austin, TX! (If you remember my oldest daughter and her husband moved there a few months ago.) Tegan’s husband is going to stay back in Chicago for a few weeks to finish up some work projects, so guess who volunteered to ride/drive along with Tegan?? Me!! I’m flying to Chicago tomorrow (Sunday) and Tegan and I will head out in their new pick-up truck early Monday morning. We hope to make it to Austin (with an over-night stay somewhere along the way) by Tuesday eve. Okay, so you need to know, I am a nervous-Nellie when it comes to driving/riding in lots of traffic. My husband calls me “The Nag-agator.” I bite my tongue. I really do. But, I just can’t help it, words seem to leak from between my clenched lips. “Ooooooo, slow down!” “You better not pass here!” “Are you trying to talk to a cop? If not, s-l-o-w down!!!” I’m prayed up and ready to go. Tegan asked if there were any special things I wanted her to bring along for the road trip? I had two suggestions: pretzels and duct tape. Both for my mouth! Next week I’ll let you know how the trip went. Prayer appreciated. Yee-owwww-ccchhhh~! 2/7/2010 I distinctly remember my mom telling me, "Don't run with scissors!" And I'm guessing she probably also warned me about being careful with sharp knives. I should have listened better... A few months ago my niece started selling Cutco knives. I'm always on the lookout for the "perfect" knife and her sales pitch sold me. So...I bought a large knife that quickly became my favorite knife. It had just the right heft and was super-sharp! What more could I want in a knife? Fast forward to Tuesday. I was getting dinner ready. Cutting up fresh broccoli to steam. Now you need to know that my dog, Gunner, LOVES fresh broccoli. It's one of his favorite human foods (along with bananas--go figure). He was sitting at my feet, right under my pull-out cutting board, doing his usual whining in dog-talk, that translates into, "Please! Please! Please! Give me some. NOW!!" I made the mistake of looking him in the eye to tell him, "Be patient," and just then is when I used my extra-sharp Cutco knife to slice off a pretty good hunk of the end of my thumb. Gunner quit whining and I started. OUCH!!! Man, that hurt~! Honestly, it's been years since I've bought Band-Aids. There was a time when the kids went through them like Koolaid. But, ever since my kids grew up. . .well, let's just say it's been a long time since I've seen a skinned knee. . .or the end of a thumb that just wouldn't quit bleeding. . .and bleeding. . .and bleeding. . .and, well, you get the idea. I scrounged around in the cupboard, keeping a tourniquet-like Kleenex pressed to my wound, and lo-and-behold I unearthed some ancient Band-Aids. It took about six of them to stem the tide. It's now the start of a new week and I've got a new box of Band-Aids. A very sore thumb. And a new appreciation for my extra-sharp knife! Stay safe this week! Check this out! 2/1/2010 Hey! Here's a heads-up...if you have a "teen" in your life. . .kid, grandkid, neighborkid. . .or if you are a 'kid' yourself. . .or simply young-at-heart, check out this brand NEW website (as of today) launched by my good friend, Deb Raney's husband, Ken. http://www.clashentertainment.com/ It's got TONS of great info. Music. Movies. Sports. And a LOT more. My favorite section (so far) is the "comics." (Check out "Mankind"...funny stuff!) Enjoy! Something to think about. . . 1/31/2010 I found this quote on Facebook (don't know who wrote it) and it's been flitting in-and-out of my thoughts ever since: "Your temptations are a handy way to find out who the devil really thinks you are." My temptations? Hmmmmmm........?????????? Spending too much on books??? (Is that really a 'bad' thing?) What about those times a friend has entrusted me with a "secret?" Oh...it would be SO tempting to tell someone. But, I've learned from hard-won experience that the small thrill of gossip is NOT worth the guilt of breaking a confidence. Who does the devil think I am, anyway? If I gave it much thought I could go on-and-on. Instead, I'll toss the ball into your court. . .what are your temptations?? Who does the devil think you are? Snow Day 1/24/2010 I remember Snow Day's back-in-the-day. There was something down-right thrilling about waking up to hear the wind howling and to look out the window and see snow blowing horizonally past my bedroom windows. "No school today," my mom would report. . .and I'd have to listen to the radio announcer read through the school closing just to make sure with my very-own-ears that Wishek didn't have school, either. And then...then...the whole luscious long day lay before me. Time to read another Nancy Drew book. Time to torment my younger sisters. Time, if the wind went down, to bundle up and head outside to climb snowbanks and toboggan down the hill near the cemetary. I was kind of thinking we'd have one of those days today. Afterall, the weatherman had been warning us ALL week of the coming storm. No travel advised. Everyone stay home~! Well, the weather isn't quite as bad as predicted, but due to freezing rain, fog, snow, and sleet there are many snapped poles and power lines in our area. . .but hubby and I are just fine. We're pretending we're snowed in. Instead of playing in snowbanks, we're going to eat dinner in front of the roaring fireplace. In the meantime, there's a book I need to read. Ah. . .Snow day!! A Heart for Haiti 1/17/2010 It was such a simple thing. And I did it without a second thought. . . I had some ironing to do yesterday and to get started I needed to fill the steam reservoir of my iron. I've got this plastic, cup-like-funnel-thingy that came with the iron to make it easier. I filled the cup and then the iron but, as usual, I had too much water in the cup and I had to dump the extra water down the drain. With a flip of my wrist it was gone. . .and that was the moment it occurred to me that there are people in Haiti who would savor those couple swallows of water. And then. . .I couldn't stop thinking about all the things I take for granted that the people in Haiti lost this week. As I climbed into bed between my white cotton sheets I wondered where those displaced by the earthquake were sleeping? More than likely on the hard, unstable ground instead of in a bed with a pillowtop mattress. If they have a pillow it's probably a bundled-up piece of clothing, not ticking filled with soft down feathers. And my list-making goes on. . . I've never been to Haiti but I have a special connection there. For many years I've supported a young girl (through the Compassion organization) who lives in Haiti. I've sent money that's used to send her to school and to help her buy clothes and books. A month or so ago she wrote and told me they didn't have enough to eat. . .I read that letter at my kitchen table surrounded by cupboards and a fridge filled with food. And now, with the earthquake, food must be even harder to come by. If she's alive, at all. I haven't heard a word. We have so much we take for granted (like water flowing freely from a faucet to fill an iron). . .they have lost even the little they had. I've been praying a LOT. For my young girl. For her family and schoolmates. For the Compassion workers. And all those helping in the rescue efforts. And I'm asking you to please pray, too. A quiet Sunday. . . 1/10/2010 It’s down. Sigh. . . My Christmas tree is packed up and put away for another year. I kept it up a bit longer than usual this season. Part of me didn’t want to let go of the fabulous family Christmas we had this year. (Plus I enjoyed the little lights shining at night during a waaaaaaaay below zero temperatures week in North Dakota.) And, to be honest, part of me was just a little bit lazy to tackle the project. But, it’s done. I rewarded myself by sitting down and watching two Netflix movies back-to-back. (While I did two loads of laundry.) Now my husband is running out to pick up a pizza for supper. There is much to do and look forward to in this brand new year. . .two-thousand-and-ten. (I still have some Christmas gifts to put away, and I need to vacuum and rearrange the furniture where the Christmas tree stood.) But, all that can wait. For tonight I’m just going to be content to enjoy some quiet moments on a lazy Sunday night. Have a wonderful evening. . .and week! Happy New Year! 1/3/2010 We’re only three days into the New Year and I can already tell you it is the BEST year EVER. . .let me tell you why. . . On the 27th our daughter, Rachael, and son-in-law, Cory, were on their way from “our” little town in rural North Dakota, to Austin, Texas (their new hometown) after celebrating a Christmas the kids and cousins declared The. Best. Christmas. Ever. We’d been stormed in by a three-day Christmas blizzard that our warmer-climate family found cozy and exciting. It was. We’d gone to church. We’d opened gifts. We ate ourselves silly. We laughed (a LOT) during our No-talent-talent show. But, all good times must come to an end. And so, we said our good-byes and wished everyone a safe trip home. Somewhere in southern South Dakota Rachael and Cory hit an ice patch that sent their vehicle swerving from side-to-side on the Interstate and then. . .it rolled. Several times. Landing them nearly upside down in a snow-filled highway median. Windows had popped. Shoes and clothes and even their dog got twirled around. Their vehicle was totaled. But their seatbelts held!! They were a little stiff and sore, mentally shaken, but safe-and-sound!! Whenever my kids travel anywhere I always pray for safety. This time my prayer got answered in a way I wouldn’t have chosen, but reminds me that sometimes we need to realize how quickly (in the blink of an eye, or the tap of a brake pedal) that life is fragile and precious. I started the New Year in the same way I ended the old one. . .giving thanks to GOD for sparing my kids’ (and their dog’s) lives. Happy New Year! May this be your Best. Year. Ever. It's over. . . 12/28/2009 Yesterday, as I sat in church with most of our company on-the-road heading home, I found myself thinking, "Well, it's over." I looked down the pew at my sister and her husband. They'd be leaving for North Carolina as soon as the service was over, and my daughter would be on her way to Austin, Texas. I gazed at the large, beautifully lit Christmas tree at the front of the church, the poinsettias, and candles. Even though we had a wonderful Christmas, I was tired from all the cooking and commotion. Somehow the 'magic' of the holiday had dimmed. And then our pastor got up to read the scripture, a passage from Luke (after the manger story)about Jesus being taken to the temple for his dedication and it struck me. . .Christmas isn't over. . .in fact the story has just begun. The birth of that baby was just the beginning of a life-changing, world-changing story. The Good News isn't just that of His birth. The Good News is that He still lives! And that news should have us rejoicing all year long! Out of the mouths of babes. . . 12/20/2009 A long time ago I learned that children's sermons aren't just for kids. They are short and to the point and can drive home a lesson that even us big kids can understand. And then there are those moments (like today) when what the pastor planned to say gets upstaged by the wisdom of a child. Our pastor started the children's sermon by telling them they should pretend they were in school. She was going to ask them a fill-in-the-blank question and wanted the kids to complete the sentence. "Okay, here it is," she said. "Love is. . ." The kids were silent. So silent that she again said, "Love is. . ." More quietness. In the meantime I found myself filling-in-the-blank with what I thought the kids would eventually come up with. Things like, love is a new X-box. Love is a new bike. Love is getting lots of presents. "Come on you guys," our pastor urged, "certainly you can think of something. Love is. . ." And then, across the circle a young boy whispered something. "What did you say?" Our pastor leaned forward to hear. It seemed everyone in church was straining to hear, too. Softly, just loud enough that those of us near the front could catch what he said, he whispered again. "Powerful," he said. "Love is powerful." And that is all the sermon I needed to hear today. Amen. - - - - - Have a wonderful Christmas! Tis the season. . . 12/13/2009 The holiday hurry has hit with a vengeance. I’ve just spent the past two days addressing Christmas card envelopes, trying to make it an enjoyable task by sipping on tea and listening to carols in the background. I’ve been wrapping gifts as they arrive (I’ve done most of my shopping on-line. . .that’s what we do here in rural North Dakota) but even so I’ve found they tend to pile up and get away from my good intentions. I baked my annual fruitcake (oh. . .it’s SO good—honest!) and a big batch of Pizzelles (and, yes, for those of you wondering after my last week’s post, I did get them to the bake sale on time!) The tree is up and decorated. My Snow Village people are going about their never-ending Christmas tasks. And the stockings are hung. Even so there’s more to do. I have my whole side of the family arriving for Christmas in about eight days. Twenty-some in all, with my house as “headquarters” for most of the meals. Over the phone my sisters and I have planned our menus, but most of the grocery shopping needs to be done by “me”. . .the only one of us who lives here. I’m fretting about having enough chairs for everyone to sit on, and enough bowls to serve Taco Soup that first night everyone arrives. And speaking of Taco Soup. . .when will I make it??? Oh! Back to the Christmas cards. The envelopes are addressed, my annual letter is written, and our family photo is ready, but I still need to fold the letters, stuff the envelopes, put on stamps, and l-i-c-k them shut. (I see more tea in my future.) And just an hour ago my doorbell rang and there stood my neighbor holding out a plate of home-baked cookies. . .which reminded me that I usually give her one, too. It seems like the more I do the ‘behinder’ I get. Which is why one line from the unison prayer in our church bulletin was a balm to my hurried soul this morning. Here it is: “As your children, we are not expected to perform miracles in our daily lives—not even at Christmas.” Wow! Tis the season of miracles. . .but they don’t have to be done by me! Whew! What a relief to be reminded that I don’t need to be perfect. I don’t need to reinvent-the-wheel this season. All I really need to do is bask in the Good News of a baby’s birth. He was born. . .and in the midst of a busy season that news alone is all I need to make the season perfect. Good Intentions. . . 12/6/2009 A couple weeks ago in church our pastor announced a couple "giving ideas" that our congregation could participate in over the holidays. One was to sew Christmas stockings for kids spending the holiday in a group home. Another opportunity was to stuff those stockings with fun goodies for the kids. Since I don't sew (except for loose buttons and a sagging hemline), I decided I would head to our local drug store and buy some stocking stuffers. . .shampoo and conditioner in a fun scent, maybe some lip gloss, and candy, too. I had good intentions. I really did. I even kept the church bulletin on the kitchen counter to remind me. . .and then I forgot. Completely. Until today, when I showed up at church and saw the festive holiday stockings hanging in the foyer, and baskets and boxes over-flowing with of all kinds of things kids would like. I almost did one of those V-8 commercial head slaps on myself~! Sure I could blame my forgetfulness on being super-busy. But, really, who isn't super-busy this time of year? Somehow all these other people had found the time to think of others. . .while I was busy putting out fires in my own little neck of the world. I was convicted. (Which is exactly what church should do to a person. . .right?) There is a Sunday School bake sale coming up next week. Guess what I did right after church? I got busy and baked a few dozen Pizzeles (the speciality cookies I make every year around this time). No more excuses. I will have cookies to bring to the bake sale. Who knew that the best lesson I would learn in church today would be sitting right smack-dab in the church foyer? This was one Sunday where I didn't even have to sit in the pew to hear God nudging me. More than thankful. . . 11/29/2009 I had the BEST Thanksgiving!! It had nothing to do with the fact that I got to jet to Chicago for the holiday. Nothing at all to do with the live theatre production I went to downtown in the Windy City. Oh sure, it was fun to walk along Michigan Avenue and peek into Macy's holiday-decorated windows. And it was a bit surreal (in a very good way) to listen as two young men (dressed in Salvation Army garb) played Christmas tunes on their trumpets right on the chilly sidewalk in the early winter darkness. I enjoyed a bit of shopping. A fair amount of eating--Latin food, Mexican food, and a superb chicken-cranberry salad at Nordstrom's. But the thing that made my visit the very BEST was spending those days, doing all those fun things, with my daughter and son-in-law!! Tegan and Dave went all-out serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal with ALL the trimmings. . .including a Cajun-spiced, deep-fried turkey. (Dave and I shared crispy pieces of blackened skin as he carved the bird. . .yum!) But, it wasn't the food that made it special (although it was super-tasty), it wasn't the things we did (although they were fun, too). . .it was simply hanging-out. . .spending time. . .together. I will sleep well tonight, at home in my own bed, knowing I am more-than-thankful. T-h-a-n-k-s! 11/22/2009 It's time once again for my annual T-h-a-n-k-s-g-i-v-i-n-g report. Each year I like to take some time this-time-of-year to think of things I'm thankful for. It's funny, I've noticed that as the years go by, it's not so much the BIG things I'm thankful. . .it's more-and-more of the little things. Here's my list for this year: T-the Telephone. I'll admit, I really don't like talking on the phone all that much (maybe it stems from over-talking on it when I was a teenager~!). . .but the telephone is my instant connection to family I love (who live much too far away). My daughters. My two sisters. My mom. My cousin. In those cases I LOVE my telephone! Need I say more? H-Home. Mine. My house isn't BIG. It's not small. In fact, for me and my husband, it's "just right." There are times I wish it was a little roomier (and one of these days I just might get that dining-room addition I've always dreamed of). But I love my house. It's warm. It's welcoming. And most everyone who comes to visit says, "Your house is so cozy." I love that! A-Ann (my sister). I admire her creativity and her casual sense of style. I also marvel at her tenacity when life isn't smooth sailing. N-Night. Oh, don't get me wrong. . .I like nothing better than my morning cup of coffee. Or lingering a bit over the morning paper with a second cup. But there's something about night-time that I love. If the day hasn't been all-that-great, night time is when I can put the bad day behind me and look forward to a new start in the morning. And, if the day has been stellar, I can look back on a day well-lived, and relax knowing for at least today "I-done-good." K-Kim (my other sister). Talk about a killer sense of humor! No one can make me laugh quite as much or as hard as my sister, Kim. I also value her way of cutting-to-the-chase when I'm contemplating a problem. And, her constant advice when I'm holding on to a problem, "Let it go-o-o-o-o..." S-Smiles. In my humble opinion, one of the all-time great movie lines is when Elf (in the movie by the same name) declares, "Smiling is my favorite!" I LOVE that line. I love smiling. I love people who smile. I think smiling is my favorite, too! There you have it. . .my thankful list for 2009. Now it's your turn. . . Surprised by life. . . 11/15/2009 My life isn't so predictable right now. After years and years spent at home in front of my computer, doing pretty much the same thing day-after-day-after-day typing away, I've been called in off-the-bench so-to-speak to pinch-hit at our family business to help out during a staffing shortage. I'll admit my first two weeks on-the-job have been an adjustment. For one thing I "have" to be up-and-at-'em first thing every morning (expect Saturday and Sunday...Ahhhh.....) In my former life as an author, if I wanted to linger over the morning paper with a cup of coffee (or three) no one would know...or care...as long as I got my manuscript off to my editor on time. (A date that was MONTHS away and made paper/coffee/lingering all too easy to do.) All of a sudden I find myself heading out the door (without a second cup of coffee) and working elbow-to-elbow with real, live people!! Carrying on actual out LOUD conversations with people who talk back! Amazing~! I sort-of like working with real life folks. Although I'm still trying to figure out when I can go grocery shopping or stop in at our local drugstore. I mean in my previous life I could tell my fictional characters to take a nap while I ran out and did some errands. Those folks in my made-up town were very cooperative. They never did a thing while I was away and they'd perk right up whenever I sat down at my keyboard. French author, Marcel Proust, said, "A measure of disquiet is a divine gift." I'm learning that's true. Sometimes I need my boat rocked a bit to keep me from getting too complacent. . .too entrenched in my comfortable rut. The surprise of disquiet is that it truly does hold divine gifts. Oh sure, I sort-of miss my days alone at home with my fictional friends (after all, I've spent ten solid years with them). But I've also found there is another dimension to a life with real, live co-workers. It's fun to talk a bit while we wait for another customer to walk in. Or to catch-up on Monday after a busy (or lazy) weekend. I like talking to the customers as I wait on them. And learning how to navigate this brand new twist in my life has been an interesting challenge. I'm wishing you a wonderful week with just a tiny bit of 'disquiet'. . .just enough so you see the divine gifts in your life. Mary or Martha?? 11/8/2009 Most Monday's start the same at my house. I get up, get dressed, get a load of laundry going and then sit down to do my devotions. I read a short inspirational reading to get started and then open my Bible. At this point in my life I've read the Bible through many times. I start at the beginning and ever-so-slowly make my way from Genesis to Revelation. One time I read the Bible in 90 days (a challenge I found left little time for thinking. . .and one I probably won't do again). Most times my reading plan takes a year, or two-or-three (if I read all the study notes along with the passages). I try and pick up different versions of the Bible to keep my study fresh but, I'll admit, there are certain parts that are oh-so-familiar and the verses seem to go in one ear and right out the other. (Sorry, Lord~! I really try to pay attention but, as You know, I'm all too human.) I've found that I can read the same Bible passage over-and-over and then one certain time a particular thought will jump out at me. This past Monday I was reading about Mary and Martha. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet taking in his teaching, while Martha loudly huffed-and-puffed because she had to do all the work. Ah, yes, I can identify with Martha. There have been many occasions when I've been banging my way around the kitchen while the rest of the family is visiting and laughing in the other room. But what caught my eye this time was a phrase in the study notes of my Bible, it read something like this, “Don’t get so busy doing things for Jesus that you forget to spend time with Jesus.” I think back to the many years I spent (when my kids were little) teaching Sunday School and serving as the Sunday School Superintendent. I helped out with the Christmas programs and baked cookies for Youth events. I drove kids to camp and picked them up again. I was so busy running that I didn't take time to study God's word OR take much time to talk to Him. Back then there really wasn't time. . .or so it seemed. Now that I look back, I can see I was most often busy being "Martha," taking pride in all I was "doing." Instead I might have taken a lesson from Mary and just "sat" sometimes listening to what He might have to say to me. Ah, well, the kids are gone from home and now I have the time. . .and make the time to learn and listen. I'm still not even close to being a Mary. Instead, I'm still mostly-Martha. But, I'm trying... Happy November! 11/1/2009 Once upon a time there was a blogger named 'Roxy' who sat down at her computer and realized that she had been blogging (with a few rare exceptions) every week for seven YEARS. And then one day (today) she sat down and found her mind b-l-a-n-k. Oh sure, she could write about the special All Saints service at church that morning. But the touching ceremony made her miss (a lot) her Aunt who died a month ago (along with missing a whole bunch of relatives and friends who are waiting in Heaven). She could write about the extra-special benediction song the choir sang. . .but it's hard to hum a tune over the internet. She could even write about the convoluted housing fiasco her oldest daughter and husband had trying to complete their move to Austin, TX. . .but in the end, it all turned out just fine. So. . .she decided to simply wish her readers a Happy November. . .and leave it at that. Have a great one! ; ) Bewitched 10/26/2009 Okay, I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to Halloween. It’s not that I begrudge the little tykes their candy, what I don’t like is answering the door over-and-over-and-over with my dog barking as if Satan himself was at our front door. (Or the UPS man, who he barks at just as fiercely.) And don’t forget, in North Dakota, most Halloween nights are accompanied by a frigid blast of air (and sometimes s-n-o-w) every time the door opens. It’s no wonder I could just as well dress myself up as one of the Seven Dwarfs and wear a sign that says, “I’m Grumpy~!” But, I’m not that old. I remember the days when Halloween was the highlight of October. Most years I invented a costume by myself (with a little help from Mom). It seems like I was a Gypsy more times than anything else, using canning jar metal rings as earrings (draped over my ears with a piece of string), lots of necklaces, and a ‘twirly’ skirt of my mom’s that made me feel quite exotic. It was rumored that an old gentleman in town handed out fifty cents pieces in place of candy, but I never could muster the courage to walk up the dark, tree-lined path to his small house which was far away from any street lamps. Instead my friends and I stood on the curb, daring each other to go up the walk. We could have just as well dressed ourselves as chickens! We never did find out if the rumor was true. And then there was the year I was going to be especially smart about rationing out the candy I had collected. I figured out that I had a plastic orange pumpkin filled with enough treats to last me for MONTHS if I only ate one piece a day. So. . .that’s what I planned to do. I hid my stash on an upper shelf of my closet to keep my pesky sisters in the dark. Imagine my surprise when the following year I went to grab my candy-collecting pumpkin and found it half-filled with old, stale candy~! I’d totally FORGOT that I had hidden the candy from my sisters and, obviously, myself. Sheesh! Out-of-sight, out-of-mind. My only consolation is knowing that I was just as forgetful at age ten as I am now. Proof positive that my mind really hasn’t given up the ghost. (Pun intended!) Eat some candy. Hand some out. Have a great week! Tis the Season. . .already??? 10/18/2009 Maybe it's the first snow fall of the season we had this week (even though it's already shoveled...and melted). Or maybe it's the fact that this has been declared a "Wishek-Christmas." (Which means everyone in our extended family will be heading "home" come the end of December.) Whatever it is. . .I'm finding myself in an early holiday mood. I find myself thinking about putting out my Snow Village as soon as I can get around to it. I've hummed snippets of Christmas carols in my head. I've wondered just which holiday cookies I should make for the home-bound 'crew.' I've done some on-the-phone menu planning with my sister. I've found myself browsing through catalogs thinking, "Would ______ (insert name here) like this?" I've even visualized my Christmas tree all decorated and lit at the end of a cold, snowy day. Oh, yeah, I've got the Christmas spirit! And then part of me thinks, "Wait-a-minute~! Halloween hasn't even come-and-gone, yet!" The way I see it is. . .is there anything wrong with having the Christmas spirit just a little bit early this year? Not a thing!! And, so, let me be the first to say it, "Merry Christmas!" And now I'm off to ponder what I'll hand out for Halloween treats. . . Just another manic Monday. . . 10/12/2009 Once again it's Monday and I find myself short on time. . .at least this week it's NOT because I over-slept. (Yay for me!) I was gone at a speaking event in Williston over the weekend (Thank you Williston ladies for a grand time!) and now I'm home with a to-do list a mile long. And at the very TOP of that list (right after updating my blog) is to spend the day at my mom and step-dad's helping them organize a few things. . .well, make that a LOT of things. So, in the effort to save time (you and me both) I'll leave you with a quote to ponder. It was in our church bulletin yesterday and I've been chuckling about it ever since I read it. Chuckling and marveling at the truth contained in that one sentence. Here it is, courtesy of Mark Twain: Most people are bothered by those passages of Scriptures they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand. Well said. And "Amen." - - - - PS: This coming Wednesday is a 'national holiday' in my little town. It's Sauerkraut Day!! Come one. Come all. Free kraut, wieners, mashed potatoes and 'fixin's.' And some German music, too! I can't wait. Home. . . 10/5/2009 I’m late. . .I’m late!! I over-slept by an HOUR this morning and, do you know what?...I didn’t care! Normally when I over-sleep I open my eyes, look at the clock and then JUMP!! out of bed. Today was different. After being away from my own bed for five nights it felt deliciously good to be back in my own bed last night. And when I finally pried my eyes open this morning all I really wanted to do was to roll over and go back to sleep. But I didn’t. . .I had way too much to do. My husband and I spent most of last week in northern North Dakota at Hostfest. A HUGE festival celebrating all things Scandinavian. You might ask how a good German-Russian like me ended up there? Well, the fact of the matter is I’m half Finnish and Danish, and since I write books set in North Dakota I was invited to participate in the Hostfest book store. It was a wonderful week. A time when I met TONS of people. Reacquainted with some old friends. And actually discovered a distant relative, or two. I couldn’t quite bring myself to try rummegrut (or however you spell it), or lutefisk, but the waffles with hot blueberry’s on top (whipped cream, too) were fabulous! And when my husband discovered a church booth selling cheese buttons topped with buttered, toasted bread crumbs and cream gravy, why, I was in food heaven. All good things must come to an end, and now I’m home playing that ever-popular game of “catch-up.” While laundry, bill paying, and cooking my own meals aren’t nearly as exciting as a week at a Hostfest, there are little pleasures that come with being home. . .like my own blend of morning coffee, eating my homemade granola for breakfast and, best of all, getting to sleep in my own bed. Ahhh. . .home! Too little time. . . 9/28/2009 I am running behind. Waaaaaaayyyyyyyyy behind. But it's the good kind of behind. That's what happens when my girls come home for a long weekend (from Austin, TX and Chicago) and my sister flies in from Raleigh, NC. It was a weekend of giggles, belly laughs, and a few tears (my 96 year old step-Aunt died over the weekend--she's long wanted to go "home" so her passing was bittersweet for those of us left behind.) We attended a wonderful Alumni event at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND (my alma matter) on Friday night. Saturday the girls caught up with home-town friends, while I gabbed with my sister. Sunday we all attended a super-special church service celebrating a multi-church merger thirty years ago. What made it extra-special was the solo my 85 year old step-dad sang and the words he spoke as he summed up the power of Christians working together toward a common goal. We were all blinking back tears of joy and pride. . .and a little sadness since my girls would be flying out later that afternoon. And now it's Monday and I have laundry to do, beds to remake, two meetings today, a dinner invite at our local cafe, I'm trying to cram in some last-minute visiting with my sister (who leaves tomorrow) and I'm getting ready to attend an almost week-long festival where I'm hoping to get the word out about my books. Which is why this quote that I have pinned to my bulletin board is so appropriate today. It's by the famous conductor, Leonard Bernstein. Here it is: To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time. I've certainly got the not-quite-enough-time part, I've got a little bit of a plan. . .so all that's left is to achieve something great. Here I go. . . Requiem for a Fridge 9/21/2009 My fridge died on Sunday. It has lived a good life (twenty-plus years!), but it finally decided to call it quits. Of course I didn't discover this until I went to grab some ice and stuck my hand in a ice bin filled with coolish water. Yuck~! Luckily, we caught it in time to save the package of salmon I had in the freezer, and the milk in the fridge. But I took the fridge's demise as a sign from "Above" that it was time to clean out my condiment shelf. (Please tell me you know what I mean~!) Honestly, how long had those three containers of French's mustard been there? And the Poupon was almost empty (and possibly a little crusty around the edges). And then there were the nuts I had in the freezer for. . .how long? Who knows??? If they weren't yet rancid, they certainly had freezer-breath. Since I live in a little town without an official appliance store (and 100 miles from the place that would have them) there was no way I was going to be able to buy a new fridge before I flew out to a business conference on Wednesday. So. . .the repair man came on Tuesday and managed to resuscitate the motor for a short time. He declared the compressor "tired." And I don't blame it. Running non-stop for two decades could do that to anything. I'm hoping my fridge limps along for another week, or three. By then I may have a bead on a new-and-improved model and my old, trusty fridge can finally take the rest it deserves. Ode to a Fridge I think that I won't ever see A fridge as trust-wor-thy as thee. Through the years you've done The Chill, Now...BIG sigh...you're over the hill. I'm sorry to say, "This is good-bye." I must move on...another BIG sigh. And so it is I pull the plug. Have you checked out the cost of a new fridge? Ugg!!! Final words to my fridge: Hold your shelves high. . .you served us well. Oh, Happy Day! 9/13/2009 She was born on Friday the 13th. . .which turned out to be our lucky day. Our daughter, Rachael, turned my husband and me from a simple “couple” into a family. That was thirty-five years ago. . .today. Sigh. . . Today I’m remembering all the birthday parties I hosted through the years. There was the ‘famous’ surprise birthday, the year Rachael was in fourth grade. She thought she was just coming home from piano lessons and found the kitchen crammed with her little friends. Was she surprised? Yes! And she was also FURIOUS~! She slammed the door and stomped straight up the stairs to her bedroom and slammed that door, too. When I got her calmed down I found out the reason she was so mad was that all her friends had kept this birthday-party “secret” from her all day long. She didn’t like the idea that they knew something she didn’t. That was the last surprise party I ever threw. But, there were lots of other regular-parties. Crepe-paper streamers above the kitchen table. A homemade cake with candles to blow out. Ice cream, too. Games and presents. Today my “little girl” is several states away from here, celebrating her actual birth day in an airport (on her way to a business meeting). But in my heart it’s her special day all-day-long. . .no matter where she is. Happy birthday, Rachael! Love, Mom Dog-Gone-It 9/7/2009 Here's a tip: If someone asks you to have your DOG autograph a book. . .don't do it!!!!!! It all started when a reader (and dog trainer) from Canada e-mailed me to get an autographed copy of my latest book. She's been an e-mail pal for awhile and follows my blog. She knows I'm in love with my English Cocker Spaniel, Gunner. So...she asked for not just "my" signature in the book, but Gunner's, too. Now, I'll admit, this was a first. But she gave me some tips on how to do it and she made it sound deceptively easy. I had a stamp pad, but the last time I'd used it was for Christmas cards, so my first attempt to get Gunner's paw print imprinted left nothing but a faint smudge. Ah, I could solve that. I inked the stamp pad up good. Really good! By now Gunner was on-to-my-trick and he refused to come when I called. "Want a treeeat?" I coaxed. His ears perked up. "Treat" is his magic word. Reluctantly, he moseyed my way. I pulled him close, grabbed a paw and pressed it onto the stamp pad and then (quickly) onto the book page. Then, in the flick of an ear, Gunner pulled his paw away and took off!! I had ink ALL OVER my hand, AND the kitchen floor, AND a smudge on my living room carpet. Permanent ink. Did I mention ink was on my hand, kitchen floor, AND my living room carpet? The good news is: the autographed book is on it's way to Canada. The bad news is: Gunner will NEVER sign another book. Ever! At the Post Office, when I had to declare the value of my book-package, I should have written, "Priceless." It's a one-of-a-kind. Watch for it on e-bay. ; )
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