Raise Your Hand!

Good morning everybody!!  It is a foggy, overcast day in lovely 'Minnesnowta' and I actually slept in...but enough of me.

I had to smile as I was reading emails this morning as one of my faithful followers, Sue, took the time to respond to my blog from yesterday by sending me a picture that continues the theme of Snowman Humor and I had to share this with all of you.

I've known Sue for most of my life as we grew up together, graduated high school and then far too many years have passed by until we reconnected through Facebook this past summer and I am blessed to have this reconnection again.  Thanks Sue for taking time out to send me this picture.  I wouldn't be surprised  after this snowy week throughout the U.S. that the 'raised hands' have increased tremendously after getting slapped by another snow storm. 

Have a great day everyone wherever you are!!

Snowman Humor

Being a creature of habit (isn't everyone?) I have a few Internet newspapers I run through every morning just to get a flavoring of what's happening in different parts of the world.  Of course I have to check on what's happening in the Red River Valley so on most days I check out the Fargo Forum online.

The Red River Valley is an area that has seen multiple springtime floods back to back and sadly Mother Nature has not forgotten them nor a large part of this country with more snow and storms that haven't been seen in decades.  Predictions are again pointing towards yet another flood which may be of devastating proportions.  But those who live in the Valley or grew up there like me flooding in the springtime isn't an unusual event and coming together to fight Mother Nature really is just a given.

I had to chuckle this morning as I viewed this picture of two snowmen peeking out from a snowdrift in Horace, ND taken by David Samson/The Forum.  I found this picture hilarious...of course I am also a huge fan of Calvin & Hobbs and this is very reminiscent of that humor...warped as it may be at times!! 

I don't know about you but I find the human spirit amazing especially when facing trying times and I find myself appreciating the 'tongue in cheek' humor even more as I grow older.  And really...who can't appreciate this snowman humor?!

Wherever you are reading this blog I hope you have the spirit within you to thumb your nose at life's adversities and celebrate the human spirit.



From the Calvin & Hobbs Comic Strips By Bill Watterson



Two Weeks & Counting...

I cannot believe that I am down to two weeks and counting before I board a plane and start on the trip of my life time!!  I am probably becoming unbearable to be around as I know I'm continuously saying "Australia this..." or "When I get to such and such I'm going to..." but I just can't help myself so please bear with me for the next two weeks.  Oh yeah...and probably for weeks during and after too!  Too bad I don't have enough suitcases to bring everyone along who have asked if they could sneak into my suitcase.

When I was in Montana my niece Mary Ellan was quite humorous as she went over to my suitcase and twisted this way and that to see if she could fit in it.  I didn't have the heart to tell her that that wasn't the suitcase I was using and, yes, she would easily fit into the one I'll be using.  Not sure I would have gotten out of Montana without her in tow then!! 

Both she and her older sister Linda Jo in the past have both proven that they can fit in amazingly small spaces as they have both scrunched themselves into one or another of the portable dog kennels we use that are one size up from small.  Not so sure either were able to breathe very easily but they still proved their point!! 

Somewhere I've pictures of them doing this but have my doubts that they'd appreciate those being posted.  Not sure what it is with dog kennels and kids but I have numerous pictures of the nieces and nephews in one or another kennels playing and thinking it was just great fun!  Kinda hard to convince the dogs all the time that going into their kennels is such fun but...time to go and start really organizing for the trip instead of just talking about it...

Hi ho, hi ho...it's off to Oz I go!!

(I know...I know...that was really sad!!)

Wherever You Are...

It is February 2nd...Groundhog's Day here in the U.S. and does it really matter that Puxatony Phil did not see his shadow and so predictions are for an early spring?  Not really as we are in the shadow of chaotic weather and global strife occurring throughout the world at this very moment.

In Queensland, Australia they are experiencing the cyclone of the century.  Cyclone Yasi is currently at a Category 5 level poses serious threat to life and being compare to Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans, LA in 2005.  The photo to the left was taken in Cairns - the business owner has a great message for Cyclone Yasi!

In Egypt the political crisis is erupting into violence as I blog with breaking news from CNN reporting molotov cocktails flying from the tops of buildings into Cairo's Tahir Square as pro and anti- government protesters clash.

And here in the U.S. a massive winter storm is hitting the upper Midwest, Ohio Valley and heading towards New York and the New England states that have been battered by multiple winter storms this season.

Through all the trials and tribulations many are experiencing on this 2nd day in February 2011...wherever you are...may you be safe in your little corner of the world.

Let The Countdown Begin!!!

Day 17

February 1, 2011!!  I didn't think the month of February would ever get here but it has finally arrived - 17 days and counting down and I've already started to obsess over when is that new suitcase going to be delivered via UPS?  What have I forgotten to get for the trip to Australia?  Do I have the right clothes to take? What if...should I?...maybe not...

Is there any question I am excited about this trip??  Time to make that final check list...okay...time to make the list that I'm sure will be revised multiple times as I come up with this or that I should take or maybe take or I'd best not take that as I can get that there...

Okay...time to make that list...actually it's more like time to go obsess over the list I should be making...did I mention there is only 17 days before I leave? 

Oh good grief!!!

My Bestest Four Legged Friend

Nothing spectacular here for a Monday morning...just another day of snow and winter advisories for here and pretty much throughout a major portion of the country though I dare say we're getting the least of the wintry lash out.  I, along with a huge portion of the population, are so over this season called winter and spring fever is going to be raging everywhere if it's not already. 

Yesterday was cold but sunny so I took a bit of time to play with my Jack Russell 'Terror' (Parsons Terrier as they are now called), Gertie, or rather she was running around and I was trying to snap some pictures.  Here she is getting snow kicked into her face from my German Shepherd, Maggie, as she tries to keep up with the 'big' dog!! 

She is an extremely obsessive compulsive little dog with a heart of a lion and when a ball is in your hand she will run and run and run til near exhaustion.  We tried playing ball outside yesterday but it became more of a 'search & forget' when she couldn't locate the tennis ball buried in the snow but every time I 'fetched' the ball from the snow she was ready to keep trying as she shivered from the cold.

She is such a joy to have around and adds much comical relief to the family.  Unlike the common belief of a Jack Russell being a complete 'terror' at all times Gertie's favorite thing to do (other than play ball) is to snuggle in your lap.  The minute I settle into my recliner she will leave any lap she is currently in and come over to get cozy with me.  Sometimes you wonder if, in a past life, she might have been a cat as her ultimate goal is to get under the lap blanket even if it is only for a few minutes.

But...true to her breed she is not a kid's dog.  The other two dogs in the household can be put in with a roomful of kids of all ages and will allow themselves to be mauled, grabbed, dragged, mugged or dressed up in kids' clothes...not Gertie.  She deals better with  older kids so knowing this we just never let her be with young kids...no reason to set anyone up for failure.

One of her sweetest traits is her never ending love for me.  Whether I am gone for a night or a week she just has to jump into my arms when I first come in the house, snuggles as close to my face as possible, and literally starts to 'whine cry' as if to say 'where have you been?'  I'm not so sure how she'll deal with my being gone for a month in Australia but I guess we'll find that out soon. 

I'm guessing she will do her 'whine crying' and when she's done with that will snub me in true dog fashion and punish me for daring to leave her.  Only time will tell but I'm guessing that it won't take all that long for her to forgive me and snuggle back in.