It ain't all pizzas and cream

Day 333:

Oh there's a lot of stuff I could say. About work. About my own scattered brain. And missed obligations. About rain. About money (or lack thereof). And unexpected changes in plan. But I'm trying to be optimistic. So, to that purpose... SMILE!

Day 332: Turkey Sunday

Decided to take advantage of the weather and take Ruby out. Tori came along (yes, Ruby has a safety seat). We went to a nice park where Tori could play and I could watch trains. Hope all enjoyed their Sunday.

Someday, she'll look back on this photo and smile.

Day 331: Tooth of the matter

Dog park. Work. Dinner. Movie. A pretty good day. Then: horrific toothache out of nowhere. I'd say I feel an extraction in my future...but I don't even know which tool I'd tell my dentist to pull. It's as if they ALL hurt on the left side of my mouth.  Well, by the time my dad was my age, he'd been dead 6 months. And 3 years before that, he had a full set of dentures. So I guess the fact I have any teeth at all is a good thing. Right?

Day 330: Meet Canny, or Belle, or Pinky or...

Yes, we did. Oh yes. We adopted another dog. Canny. The dog we met last week. She's been in foster care for the last few months, and has gotten glowing recommendations from her foster mom. So far, so good. She's great with us and with Tori. Tho she doesn't quite know what to make of salty old Annie. She tried a play stance but Annie just gave her the stink eye. I think she believes Annie is a sorceress. She may be right.

Not sure the name Canny is gonna stick. She was called "Cannon," which really doesn't fit her at all. Tori, in her princess-fixated mode, suggested Belle. I like Belle. She's a girly girl. We even got her a pink collar. Tori just called her Pinky. So now there's another name in the running.

So, here she is... get a load of them ears...

Day 329: Parade fail & Good company

Today was a poem with two stanzas and a long breath pause between. Today was a poem that began with an obscure reference and an awkward tense change. Today was a horse that stumbled out of the gate. Today was a boxer knocked down in the first. Today was morning fog and evening sun. Today was a horse that found its legs. Today was a boxer who beat the count and rallied. Today was about momentum. Today was about starting over. Today was about second winds. Good friends. Delicious food. Today was about laughter. And new beginnings. Today was a poem with two stanzas and a punch line that left them roaring.

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Hope all had a safe and joyous Thanksgiving.

Day 328: Thankful

Tori's Thanksgiving performance was today. Made a point of being there, given that we forgot last year's. Actually, we didn't forget. We were never told.  Last year, Tori attended preschool on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Unfortunately notices were handed out on Thursdays. So we missed almost everything. Except Christmas. And Tori cried all thru that one.

We also wanted to go because we've yet to meet that parents of any of Tori's friends. And with the long Christmas break looming, play dates are a must. 

Fortunately, things went well. Tori was a trooper and didn't cry. She even sang.  And got to sit with one of her best buds. We also got to meet the parents of her friends and give them our number. So success on all fronts.

So today I am thankful for health, family, home, good friends, and community.

Day 327: Random

1. Watched a Flyers game last night for the first time since the lockout season 5 years ago. And tho the names have changed, the team still finds the same heartbreaking way to lose a game. Namely, bad passing and failure to elevate the puck when the opposing goalie is down. Fortunately they can still fight.

2. There are a few horrible trends afoot in men's fashions this year. 1. Argyle. Which may look good on children but not on anyone over 12. 2. Prison Orange. Which doesn't look good on anyone. Not even on Death Row. 3. Plaid. Unless I take up squirrel hunting, I'll pass.  I should be happy.  The awful fashions combined with my recent weight loss mean I can just get out all those sweaters from 1998 again. Call me when the summer panel shirts are out. Fuckers.  

3. Overheard some girl in line at the Panera tell her friend "Oh he's old...he's like 30." I don't know who they were talking about. But on that scale, I'm not only old, I'm dead.

4. Tomorrow is Tori's big Thanksgiving performance at school. Should be a smile.

5.  Recent economic crunch plus lots of bills due simultaneously means: bye bye life insurance; switch car insurance from semi-annual to monthly payments; and beg health insurance not to drop us while we scramble to come up with our last month's premium.  

6. Even tho money is always tight, we've managed to attain most of the things we used to dream about. And face it, nobody dreams about life insurance.

Day 326: Dab it. I hab a code.

Not much of a post today. One of those colds that flattens your energy level. Wake me when it's 2010. Or if I win the lottery.

Day 325: West and Wewaxation at Wast

Cecily took Tori swimming at an indoor pool & water park (thanks Jo!) and gave me a day to catch up on work. Even had time for a drive into the city. Hope all had as pleasant a Sunday. Tomorrow, back at 'em.

 

Day 324: I'm really ready for this fucking year to end, can you tell?

 

Someone burned

all the apple trees. A cop

with bad breath says,

“We’re not holding you,

but don’t leave town.”

 

Two drunks share a bottle

outside the Mercy Hotel

where Champagne sells herself

for pennies on the dollar.

“Cripples,” she tells me

“always make better lovers.”

 

Math has always fooled me,

but this somehow makes sense.

We are all paper birds

in a fire storm, the smoke

from our wings stretching

across the sky.

 

The traffic light

goes from red

to green.

Nobody weeps

for lost apples.