some June photos

June 22, 2007

My calendar says today is "Take Your Dog To Work Day". How about that bit of trivia?
Check out the attached photos of yours truly and partner as well as my partner with his new hair cut. I had a grand time yesterday with my Brandon, VT family who came over to my sister's house for a swim and picnic. I could not believe the changes in my grandchildren whom I hadn't seen since last Sept. They are all tall and slim. My daughter who is their mom is 6' tall and their dad is at least 6' tall so I guess the height is to be expected.

Here are some pics of Manchester, Vermont where I lived for a few years. I went down there the other day for a hair cut and managed to shoot some nice pictures. Bash and I always seem to have our hair cut around the same time. I will post a picture of him with his new do in a separate post.

We have been having lots of rain, hail, wind and cool temperatures. I heard 40's tonight. My gas furnace is on. When I lived in Vermont, we always told people that we had two seasons, July and Winter. Certainly seems that is the case so far this summer.

I opened my lovely desk today in Bearfoot. I feel like painting again. Think I will set up my stuff tomorrow. I hope this is a sign that my creative energies are returning after a lengthy period of what appears to be plain old exhaustion. Aging is not for wimps. Slowing down is part of the natural process of aging but I haven't felt the effects before this year. Now as I approach my birthday and begin to feel chronic pains in some of my joints, my energy level has dropped, I find I have come face to face with age. If only there was a sweet elixer of youth available, I guess we would go to great lengths to get it. Some already do so through tucks, lifts and augmentation, creams, lotions and supplements. I guess I have never really given my own aging much thought 'til now. I have greeted each milestone in my life if not with gusto then certainly with an anticipation of adventure. This new chapter will take a bit of attitude adjustment - and work!

June 19,2007

The graduations have been completed. Bash and I had a lovely although short visit with my daughter and family in Albany. We stayed overnight since driving for me since the botox injections has been a true challenge. These symptoms will pass in another week. For some reason, the treatment causes the BEB (Benign Essential Blepharospasm) to worsen for a couple of weeks. Other people with this disease don't seem to have this type of reaction. I also lost all sense of smell with the botoxin injections but I never met a doctor who will acknowledge that as a side effect. I still think it is worth it even though I only actually get about 2 mos. of relief from the spasms.

I have the ideal site here at my sister's. I have wireless internet, cable tv, acres of green lawn, laundry and a heated pool just outside my door. Bash loves it here since he gets to run free. I do watch him however. There is a large Rottweiler who lives across the street and Bash is very curious. Bash and Rose, the minature poodle, chase chipmunks. Rose is an avid hunter of all small creatures. She inspected the underside of Bearfoot by standing on her hind legs and dancing from front to back. She came out spotted with grease. Bash had a grooming today and even though he has a butch cut (they call it summer cut), he is very clean and handsome.

I rode for 9 miles over the hills and through the dales but think I have destroyed my 2nd gear. I really need to get it in for repair. Probably going to need new gears. When I broke my chain this past winter in Naples, they suggested I would need gears very soon. I like my bike and maintaining it is just part of the package. Speaking of maintaining - I have to have the oil changed in my little "toad" car. There is a local guy who works on cars in his barn. I usually try to give him my business while I am in the area. He plugged a tire for me 3 yrs. ago and it is still fine.

I have been looking for a more private web site but there doesn't appear to be any freebees such as this one. I would like to be able to post more personal pictures but don't feel comfortable doing so on this site. Anyone have any ideas?

Sebastian had two "massages" from the plant devas who live under the trees and shrubs. He cannot find a place in FL where they live so he is making up for all those lost rubs. The devas are Beings of Light and Energy, fairyies if you will. Native Americans call them the Little People. Sebastian has always been friends with them. Watching him move in slow motion turning and twisting his body so they can reach all sides with a glazed look in his eyes is a sight to behold. It will make a believer out of the most skeptical person. Having many devas in the yard is a sign of a healthy yard. One time in my yard in VA, after Bash came out from the bush, I lay down under the same bush to see what I could feel. I didn't get rubbed but I was able to hear them and learn their names. I was encouraged to build several fairy houses around my yard with the help of my then young granddaughter, Ann. We had a fun day.

Pictures later--