Stalking the Stalker

As each and every day begins, I find myself wandering the neighborhood just before dawn behind the leash of one Jean Claude Paw Paws Moreau. More commonly known as just PawPaws.

This particular morning was typical and I went along absentmindedly while I played the day's upcoming marquee in my head. I was snapped to consciousness when I realized the coyote, that we used to enjoy seeing, was now our predator! I realized that he was following us just a few yards behind. When I turned to look, he would hunker down as if to hide! As we went on, he continued behind with this hunkering attitude. Now I am alarmed. My practical brain reminds me that the coyote must weigh 40 or so pounds, while Paws is a burley 110 and the "wild-a-beast" is no match. But my reasoning decided that the coyote did not care. And so we ducked in to a neighborhood, hoping the concrete would be enough of a barrier. Well, that Wiley coyote came to the very edge of the neighborhood and sat on the corner, upright and proud, daring us to come by. Needless to say, we were trapped. I grabbed a stick as if........ it made me feel better. During this entire supposed confrontation, Paws is oblivious as he has things to smell. We are saved by the sun, joggers, golf carts and the world waking up that sends the coyote back to wherever it is that he shrinks alway to.

So I began my day today, sans Paw Paws, at 5:30 AM with my camera. I am going to stalk this curious beast until I get to shoot him. He is so bold. And I am relentless. So we are playing an apparent chess game this coyote and I.

Day in ......... Day out

It's currently day out, September 23, 2006. There was a noticeable
shift in seasons today, from summer to fall. It is so slight, but so apparent if you take a moment to notice. The world smells different - all of the sudden. From baked pavement..... to burning wood, kind of crisp and clean and new beginning ,slight coolness, wrap a sweater around and listen to jazz in the dark because it feels so good - kind of change.

AND I AM GRATEFUL

Talking to "DOG"

My inspiration today has been watching these two most innocent souls having a patio chat. These are the moments that imprint my life. She looks at his big animal form in wonder, and he tolerates her with kindness and grace. And they are both...............

talking to God.

Get the picture

IN all of our glory

With Outstretched Arms!!

For months (or years) I have had a "knowing" - even when I didn't know what it was. But in current day, I have an inkling. There is change coming, be whatever it is. An easy statement. There is always change coming. I don't depict doom. I see a portal in which some will pass and so many are preparing for (albiet with subconscious gratitude). And I can make this bold statement because the people that draw to me - or I them, are of similar mind. And it's not a voiced thought for the most part. but timid souls asking: "do you feel it too". Metaphorically speaking, we are sure at "End of Times" But this is a certain positive. These times need to end. And I embrace the changes.

ZEN DOGGIE

Dogs Days of Summer have forced Mr. Jean Claude Pawpaw's into
perfecting his yoga practice. Of this, I am so proud. I am probably one of the few that can honestly say that when we do "downward facing dog" it's more literal than just the name of the pose.

Tornado "EMMA" ripped through my house today. In her wake I have macaroni ground in to the carpet, refrigerator magnets strewn across the kitchen threatening a sprained ankle, discarded toys cluttering my closet floor, garden seeds are everywhere that I look and puddles

of unrecognizable substances are drying on every surface. But the upside of this chaos was the genuine hug at 8 AM this morning when she entered and the spontanious kisses on my arm when she became overwhelmed with delight and could not contain it.

Her laughter and amazing light of being is a my biggest joy.

No one ever warned me that becoming a Grandma would be the most enlightening experience yet in my life. At 16 months, this child has taught me more than the first 47 years have offered.

There's something to be said for that.............

However I am at a loss for words. I have to clean the kitchen.

Letting Go...........

What I nice break I've had! A small vacation from work and Mike's return to school granted some much needed freedom and mindless wandering around my house and garden. I really feel like I have re-captured my ZEN and can get on with it.

Work begins again tomorrow (suddenly and without pre-amble or precognition) with a vengeance. But I am ready to divide and conquer, even though my employees have all scattered in the wind with 3 weeks off. I'll have to coral their energies and re-focus us all. But we have been mourning our humble assembly line and I look forward to the banter, complaints and general chatter that goes on while we build boxes. Oh Bless us our "light pipes and bottom shields".

I have gardening issues that came to my attention this morning. My once well tended to sprouts are now neglected shards of themselves! I was dismayed to realize the morning glories, however glorious, have completely taken over the oleander in the corner, are threatening the pumpkins and wrapping themselves vigorously around the pool pump pipes! I spent the better part of the day disciplining them in to some sort of order. The grapevines are magnificent, but showing signs of neglect and have legions of ants marching all around them. God Bless the bamboo for their easy nature. No matter how neglected, they continue to march upward towards the heavens in all of their glory. I will take their lead and attempt to do the same.......................

NAMASTE

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE....

With the absence of work this past week, I have discovered massive ambition for tending to this house! And have new found creative juices thanks to this blogging outlet.

Angry at the men in this house, I donned IPOD and launched in to cleaning like 10,000 maniacs. And now, just prior to sunset and with libation in hand, I am reaping the rewards. This place is spotless, just the way I like it!! School starts in 36 hours and 2 minutes, so I am acutely aware of my impending freedom! I intend to start my Monday morning with nothing to do, or buy or cook or.................anything. I will spend my "back to school Monday" breathing in a sigh of gratitiude.

In the meantime, I have been manically preparing menus and documenting every ounce at my sister site, ONCE UPON A TINE and THE LUNCHBOX. Menu mania and creatitivy have me psyched! I am even considering making bread on Monday!! That is, if I can stop the gleeful dancing.

Right now, I am souly satisfied with Loverboy, Clint Black & K.D. Lang entertaining me while I watch live feed of BIG BROTHER. Life is good.

CHEERS!

"YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR HAT ON"

Phil is walking Paws, albeit with a grudging attitude. I can see them wandering the “golf”. Paws seems happy. Phil is smoking. And so our weekend begins. We’ve just completed 6 months of 7 days a week, 12 hours a day on the production line. And now that the contract is completed, I may be lost. I don’t know how we’ll function as regular people. Even Phil, who has not taken a day off this year, will stay home for 2 days. When we’re not building plastics and/or taking inventory and/or catering to employees – who are we? It should be interesting finding out what gives us reason to live.

My Spirit is soggy

Like an unimagined nightmare, our air conditioner went out – completely – today. Whereas, this is a minor setback in normal society, I suppose, for us desert dwellers, it’s more of a TRAGIC EVENT. The temps were just under 110 degrees on the outside and remained 97+ indoors. Not so bad in black and white, but the sustained drama of 24 hours in this environment has flattened my resolve. AC repair just advised us to hang on. We are on “the list”, for whatever comfort that is.

Hour 14 – Pawpaw’s is wearing wet towels. I am listening to every to every motivational speaker on tape that I own. I can do this……

Slept on the floor tonight because Pawpaw’s fan is the only one offering any comfort.

Morning: 3 swims in the pool and then a bath. It’s miserable and I cannot work or function. I abhor sweat. So I sit.

The repairman arrives. And I thought I was miserable!! He has been on call for days on end – and I am his next victim. $775 and 10 hours later – life is back to normal, for the most part; sans my checkbook. He depicts doom for my TRANE unit and admonishes me to replace the whole thing. For a mere 8K, I would have no worries – OH, except for the 8K.
Fingers are crossed, hopes are high, my spirit is however, SOGGY. Looking forward to higher ground tomorrow.

AN ounce of optimism

Summer mornings start slow in the lower Arizona desert. I hesitate to launch my day, dreading the demanding temperatures I will once again prepare to face. My mood is one of lethargy. I would like to stay curled up here until October arrives, with it's promise of "spring" and when I will again become invigorated by life. However, Pawpaw's is making his presence known with a wet nose and demanding attitude, and so we start out on our morning walk. It's 6:30 AM and 91 degrees. This cooling trend is welcome!

The air is heavy and damp but with no promise of rain. We meander past the gardening crews, coiffing the golf course. Their tools wheeze and whine and pierce this usually quiet stretch, sending us further down the path. As Pawpaw's sniffs and smells every twig and bush along the way, a lone coyote crosses the road. It has red fur and is emaciatingly thin. We wish him a big feast today somewhere on the "golf". Our next glimpse of nature is a long tall roadrunner following in the footsteps of the coyote. The comedic nature of the scene offers my day hope and promise. And so, we wander home with tongues wagging, our day looms ahead…….