Marshmallow Man

Yesterday afternoon I found Newman in the possum trap on the side of the yard. Originally this trap was the one that had the burned marshmallow in it. On Friday, John added some wet cat food to this trap for the possum hunt. Apparently Newman only learns one trap at a time because in he went. He ate all of the wet cat food during his incarceration and somehow got marshallow all over him. I have been cutting out marshmallow out of his fur since yesterday. Washing him isn't going to happen and I am trying to brush some of it out but he doesn't enjoy that at all. Luckily he has long hair and I am easily able to cut the matted pieces out and this he doesn't mind too much.

Possum 0 Newman 2

NIPSA

Not in Public Site Areas - NIPSA.

My flickr account was reviewed by their staff and marked "safe". I am good at moderating my own content is what it means. HMMMM...is that like being boring? Maybe I will add some unsafe shots just to mix it up a bit so I can be on a watch list.

Good Word

One of my favorite words. Try to use it over the next few days.

quag·mire
Pronunciation: 'kwag-"mI(-&)r, 'kwäg-
Function: noun
1 : soft miry land that shakes or yields under the foot
2 : a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position : PREDICAMENT

Not Just Another Monday

I woke up today to discover the passing of 2 folks.

Bill I didn't know - I knew his wife though. Last week I received an email about Bill falling on his driveway in a freak accident and hitting his head. He spent several days in a drug induced coma but didn't make it. Hard to send your husband to get the mail and not return to you.

Kelley. I did know Kelley. And I knew that today was coming. Kelley has battled a nasty beast - breast cancer that metastasized into her bones. When I first met Kelley about 6 years ago, she had already been through a great deal and the cancer had already settled in her bones. I won't go through the details about how difficult the years have been for Kelley dealing with the broken bones and the treatments. It isn't what Kelley was about - not by a long shot - and she wouldn't like that at all. When you were with Kelley you were with her - regardless of the pain she was in or how bad she felt - she was right there with you never complaining. I hope no one will say she lost her battle with cancer because she didn't. She is someone who beat that disease - because she lived and she did so on her own terms even with the worst of what she endured - she made choices. And she lived with great joy.

So here I sit with strong coffee on one side and the Newman on the other side showing me quiet love. I have sneezed no less than 10 times during the course of these writings - thanks, pollen. I have a meeting today that is an important one. I should be brushing up on the file. I am sitting here fighting the urge to sink into the melancholy hole and wishing I could inject caffeine directly into my veins and wondering where the morning has gone. And the friggin ants are back in the laundry room. I can mark spring with the return of the pollen and the damn ants.

I am lucky really. I have these amazing amazing friends in my life - my girl fight clubbers. We have gone through some shit together. Some heavy shit. When we leave each other be it in a large group or a small one, we say love you. We say it all the time - on the phone, in emails, texts & in person. It is always there. Always known. And sometimes it is with an accent because we don't separate love and funny. But we have learned to enjoy life - the day to day moments. And that is what life is really about - the day to day moments. And I suppose that includes the return of the ants and the passing of people.

2 Great Flicks with Guns

Watched "The Departed" last night. Great flick and worthy of the Oscars it won for best picture and best director. I like to watch movies before I sleep - a wind down from the day. WOW - this movie kept me completely on the edge of my seat but it was worth the stress on my heart. My favorites were Leonardo, Martin Sheen, & Mark Walhberg . I liked other folks too, but these guys were my were just my favorites. Jack scared me - a lot - part of his job. Martin Scorse did a great job telling the story - except for that closing shot with the obvious in the frame. (Spoiler alert) Didn't need to see the rat. I wish I had seen the flick on a big screen ....gotta get one of those soon. Real soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Earlier in the week I watched "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels".
This movie came out in 1998. It appeared in Brad's tiers of his favorite movies - don't remember which tier but near the top. So I thought - "hell, I am gonna put that on my Netflix list." So I did. And it arrived. I watched it. AND I really liked it! It is a well told story with funny throughout. If you are squeamish - you should know there is a bit of violence in the flick - but it is necessary part of the story so get over it. And I really enjoyed the ending - it wraps things up as they should be! And Guy didn't use a rat in his closing shot. That was a good move. Martin should have followed his lead. shout out for Brad - good one!

"Being Julia"

You probably all were smart and saw this film when it actually came out. I just saw it. Really great flick. High on the enjoyment rating - at least a 4. maybe creeping towards a 5 (the best).

"Being Julia" stars Annette Benning who is outstanding in the role. And it is a well written piece. Do I spoil it for you? I think not - just get it. No, just do it. Especially if you are an actor and a woman who has been dumped at sometime. A great way to get even (not really a spoiler just a teaser). Just get it, will ya?

1 for Newman

I watched from window today as Newman approached the trap with the wet cat food...the one he did time in yesterday. He put about 8 inches between him and the trap but kept looking and smelling. Trying to work out how he could the food but not loose his freedom. He looked and smelled some more - never entering the 8" free zone. Finally he turned and walked away. 1 for Newman.