Rhode

It only took me an hour and a day but I got another favorite added. This one is for my friend Rhode. We have known each other since...um...er its been well over ten years now and we have never met face to face. We met through a FM support site (turns out I do not have), which we both quit and became a support for each other. We were a little more positive than the rest and could only handle so much negativity. In a time in my life when I felt so utterly alone and miserable Rhode was a voice in the dark that gave me a life-line.

Thinking back on it, I'm not sure Rhode realizes how much of a rope she was for me. I had just lost my job due to political bullcrap, I was in pain, Hubby and I were just starting out (So we know whats that like) and I was living in a town I hated. It was not a good scene any way you looked at it. Rhode was like a breath of intelligent fresh air. Our conversations on Chocolate and cooking (I know your hubby cooked but you can too)(this an age old discussion between the two of us), kept me at least sane. We discussed ways of keeping it cheap and of course cats. Rhode's help was invaluable at that point with three cats and one who was hostile. Rhode was one of the first to suggest I try getting some of my work published and said I should look at it seriously. (She is still a voice in my head over it at times)

Rhode won't tell you but I will, she did this amazing web-site. It had a little house that when you clicked on the door it brought you to another page and all kinds of things like it. For me who knows where the on button is, what she did was something my brain still has a hard time wrapping around. Hubby the computer technician and all that other stuff with puters guy was impressed. If he was impressed then I know Rhode did one hell of a job. And honestly Rhode any suggestions to help mine out would be greatly appreciated. She has hidden talents that she is very humble about. Personally I think there is an artist of some kind lurking beneath her shadow just waiting to explode.

Rhode was also the first person on the face of this earth to take me as I was. She never judged me. In a point in my life when that's all I faced doubled with criticism (I will add at this point some of it was my own stupidity but I take only a small part and not the entire thing) Rhode didn't care. She took me and all my quirks, called me friend without judgement.

We have never met face to face, I have heard her voice over the phone and we even tried the Christmas card thing but people move and life happens. We lapse in time in between contact, that's when life is happening, but then a little note or an email and the time doesn't matter. None of it does. You don't need to be sitting beside someone to feel their hand on yours or a hug. We send each other lots. The life-line throughout the years became a ribbon between the two of us. Gently tied yet strong enough to be holding together a package called life. We will always be interwoven, its what happened through chocolate talks and cups of coffee. Well...at least on my end. Oh yeah, I had my coffee addiction even then.

Welcome aboard Rhode. You'll find your groove and when you do, I may need your help on one of my stories.

Happy New Year

So like now I'm stuck in that awkward position of what do to about the unsent Christmas Cards. It is really much too late now to send anything but a letter with apologies. I have done that in the past. I got thinking about my dilemma and thought of what I should do. Then a bright idea came to my head. Valentine's Day is coming so I am going to pick up cards and send them with an apology and explanation.

I did a really stupid thing. I decided one afternoon two days ago to rearrange and clean out the bed room. My arms, as I keep saying feel like noodles. Not firm ones either, but the really mushy ones. Then the following night I decided to give Hubby a massage. He was a lot tenser than I thought and so the muscles went from mushy noodles to a quivering mass of jello. Today we are back to mushy noodles. Carrying a coffee cup requires more effort than usual. And I want to attack the dining room tomorrow. ..... Maybe I'll rethink that plan until I can lift a cup to my mouth without wincing.

My mom gave me a hint for cleaning glass. I had been complaining that what ever I use leave streaks. She poured about two-thirds of a cup of water into a bowl then added a drop of dish soap and proceeded to clean her french doors using a soft cloth. She dipped an end of the cloth and washed the window then dried it. Does it ever work. My french door and cabinet door of my secretary desk has never looked so good. It took a bit of extra time but the streak free shine was worth it. Plus its now one less cleaner I have to buy. I admit I'm getting cheaper as I get older.

I didn't make any New Years Resolutions. I figure I'm past that and besides, I never stick to them any way. Things like losing weight or giving up caffeine (Yeah tried that once. Man never again) I can't adhere to, I'm not that disciplined or have the will power. I admit it, so this year I just reaffirmed my quest of living a joyful life along side of Artist. She and I are partners in this. Who else is going to keep my insanity in check. Hubby tried once but gave up. He is not very good at therapizing like Artist and I are. He tries but he can't wrap his mind around our thoughts as quickly as we can. Its becoming an art with the two of us.

Even the dogs recognise the signs and settle in for our sessions. The persistence of the Beagle usually results in him laying down after a disgusted sigh at our chatter. One friend was witness to one of our sessions and turned to Hubby asking how he could stand it. Hubby just told him to nod and smile a lot and he'll survive.

On that note, May you all Nod and Smile your way through the New Year. I know I plan to. I think I'll add a laugh or two just to shake things up a little.