It's Always Something

How can I distract myself? Let me count the ways.

Julie Sucha Anderson

I have a new distraction. I don't know that it's a distraction per se as I don't really know what else I should be doing. I could say writing my book, cleaning my house, watering my plants, spending time with friends, finishing an abundance of unfinished projects, reading the long piles of books in my stash. You know, making the world a better place --volunteer service and all that jazz.

Seems like I did that crap for years. Not interested anymore.

Do you feel like I'm setting myself up for an excuse? You betcha baby. A few months ago I was hooked on Scrabble. Now I play only a few games with three people, but I also added a couple of Words with Friends games. I know, I know. I'm ashamed. I know I'm a hypocrite, but Scrabble wouldn't load and WTF would and there you go. Impatient and fickle, I go with what works.

Since I only play with a few family members and a couple Canucks I met in my more active Scrabble days, I no longer seek random partners in word building throughout the world to distract me and occupy my time.  I've discovered a much better opportunity. Pinterest. So fun and so brainless. Look at a picture. Decide if you like it. Repin it to your boards which are very easy to make up. Couple clicks here and there. Only takes five minutes a shot.

 They even offer a few boards already made to get you started, but it only takes a couple hours of perusals to figure out that what they originally offer will not suffice. Hence, you create your own.

Very sick Halloween decorations
Weirdest Animals in the world
The "Okay, I could live there" or
"I want to go there" pin.
Or
I went there
Or maybe I do like birds or
I'd like that hat and that cat and that pizza pie on that grill lodged on top of the Taj Majal. Wait!!!

Suddenly an entire scenario comes forth as you choose from this massive mosaic in front of your fingertips. Patterns emerge and  the opportunity to shore in on what you really like organizes your life right before your eyes. You can plan your perfect day - or week - or trip - or life.

For instance - how about a trip to Alaska?

Like those? Pin them on your Alaska album. Or maybe you like motorcycles --

Or you like flowers -- 

Or views from windows--

Or blue water

Or lakes or oceans --

Let's do a dream trip.

Dear Mr. Pinterest,

I have made my decisions based on what you presented on your website. I appreciate your assistance in making my dream fly.

I want to go to Iceland and stay in that snow cave hotel and when I'm there, I want some conch tacos shipped in from Providenciales. And that hat that's shaped like a peacock. Oh, and don't forget my husband - but if you can't find him, get one of those young muscular guys leaning on some car who has his shirt off. Really tan. About 35. Nice pecs. Any of those guys will do. And the car - don't forget the car. You know, right next to the really big tree you can drive your car through. Yes, that one - the VW bus.

Oh, oh, oh, don't forget to bring some flowers and pretty dresses and teacups for afternoon lounging and a clothesline. Have to have a clothesline or else all the clothes will smell like people who don't have a clue about clotheslines.

Bring the Mystery Date and Twister games from the past and the Yardley lipstick. Leave Chatty Cathy at home. Find a Merry go Round.

Bring all the weird looking animals and the cute ones, too. Make certain all the amazing bugs are in cages. Don't forget to pick up the Airstream for the ride home.

What else...

Food - everything on my pin, plus drinks. Which means we'll need a cook and a bartender. Okay, you have all this? Because I need to get back to planning my next trip. Hmmmm. I think Machu Pichu. Don't forget the wheelchair for that one.

Hey, if you want to share in the fun, just type in Pinterest.com and in a few days you can be a member too. You can waste time just like me, yet see the coolest stuff. You can see the desert in bloom, baby animals, cool insects and sea life, recipes, cabins, oceans, dreams.

Even better part? You run into some of your blogging friends and even your neighbors.

Dreaming. Putting dreams together or not putting them together. Just seeing them. Fun.

Come join me. There's a pin right there in red on the right side of my blog that will get you there. You can see what I like and see if it is for you. Addictive pleasure, but, hey, beats crack, channel surfing, and cleaning toilets.

(I feel like Pinterest should pay me for this advertisement.)

At Last

Leisure tends to corrupt, and absolute leisure corrupts absolutely.

Edgar A. Shoaff

Flying Studs

It is in his pleasure that a man really lives; it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self.

Agnes Repplie

For the past week, I've been in hibernation at the cabin. Lying dormant, holed up, withdrawn, retreating. Cocooning in my hammock.

School's out. No teaching to be had. A brief respite before the last two giant activities of the spring - freshman disorientation at my youngest's university and an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. I'm living the life of a vacationer with a few putterings along the way. Hiding in my hammock with five library books and a beer. Occasionally rising to put in another load of laundry or wash up dishes. Sweep the floor. Water a plant. Grab another drink or a handful of strawberries before retreating back to my cloistered abode.

How lucky I feel. But the week hasn't passed without excitement. Our Internet has been sporadic at best, so much easier to read without the distraction of the computer. I had thought it might be a week to catch up with everyone, but, alas, my emails either take forever to send or don't go at all. Library books prevailed.

Perfect Summer Reading for a someone who hasn't had a brain that might concentrate on words on the page for many, many months. Here's my accomplished list for the week.

Jane Green - To Have and to Hold
The condition - Jennifer Haigh
The Story Sisters - Alice Hoffman
The Cottagers - Marshall N. Klimasewiski
Songs Without Words - Ann Packer

My youngest son joined me most of the week. We ate frozen pizzas and he made spaghetti one night. Green chili macaroni and cheese another. Middle son came home on his day off from his new job 3 hours away. And one morning, my oldest, now married son showed as well. He's working out this way two days a week. Came by to use the bathroom and invite me to lunch. How fun was that - lunch at the Bluebonnet Cafe with all three of my sons. Can't tell you when the last time that happened.

But, life does have it exigencies as well. Wednesday night I sat reading on the front porch as a cold front blew in. The wind changed direction and gathered speed. My hanging plants rocked back and forth, then began to swirl. The sky filled with ominous shades of blue and those marshmallow-like clouds you imagine reaching up and plucking.

I gathered the chairs and took them inside, the wind gaining in force with each re-entry to the porch. I picked up the hanging plants and as I came around to the breezeway of the porch, the wind's power almost knocked me over. I recalled Auntie Em, hand on forehead, screaming for Dorothy.

Safe in my big blue reading chair looking out over the lake, my chair began to shake. The entire cabin shook. Then, flying at my window was the roof of the neighbor's dock. Smashed into the railing on our porch. Rattled the crap out of me.

The rain arrived, and the thunder, and my son and I watched the remainder of the neighbors roof flap in the storm, wondering if that, too, might join our yard. As the storm subsided, the neighbor rushed over. We viewed the damage, thankful no one was hurt.


Yes, that is a two by four slammed into the wood. The wind, an unforgiving force at times.

The missing roof section.

The storm passed and this most beautiful sunset took its place.

Had to leave the stud in the wall for a few days - at least until my husband, my stud, arrived to see it. And all the neighbors who came down for the weekend had a chance for a view. Always something to fix at the lake.

Now, two New Yorkers left to catch up on and then I'm back to my bookclub selection of the month - The Speckled Monster - A Historical Tale of Battling Smallpox. Fun summer reading. (Searching my shelf for smut.)

Tomorrow, back to reality and all those piles of paperwork requiring my attention. I stuffed them all out of sight before the graduation party. I wonder where?