Man Oh Manatee

When our Kiwi kin visited us last year in Florida, they really wanted to see the elusive manatees that inhabit the warm waterways there. Boo hoo. Nary a glimpse. So this year to celebrate the cutest Kiwi turning five, the DH and I went to see the manatees......in captivity......in Texas....in Dallas

And we found them. So we're sending pictures across the ocean to the birthday boy.

Look at me! I'm swimming upside down! The manatee may not be the most beautiful creature under the sea, but it most definitely is one of the most graceful. According to African folklore, the gentle giants were thought to have been human at one time. Big, non-aggressive herbivores? I think not.

So, to our friends down under (I know. I try), hello

and good-bye.

High Five

I don't need to tell you that this is not rush hour in Big D, but maybe I do have to mention that you're looking at the infamous high five. Did you notice the Texas stars it's sportin'. Every time I approach (positively intimidating from the other direction), I am amazed at the engineering stupidity of it all. OK. I confess. I know nada about engineering, but shouldn't some place as HUMONGOUS as Texas not have to stack its roads all on top of each other and scrunch them together like that? And, of course, it's a national news event when the elevated levels with those amusing ninety degree loop-de-loops ice up. The semis get cold feet at the top, and the smart-ass SUVs go sliding into each other like bumper cars. Yep, drivin' ain't for sissies in the Lone Star State. Yee haw.

Ma Cousine, Mon Amie

I have a million cousins (well, not a million, but you get the idea). Oddly enough, my kids only have one. Not one each, but one total ...... that they have to share. Talk about down sizing.

One of my cousins passed away earlier this month. Growing up we were BFFs, and even into advanced adulthood we had much in common. We shared a love of books and flowers and paper dolls and pies and Granny and .....

I spent a week every summer at her house, and we romped and yapped like two young puppies. We didn't exactly run wild, but there were only so many minutes in that week and we were determined to live the hell out of each one.

We had our differences. She was the girly one; I was more of a tomboy. She liked Debbie Reynolds; I preferred Liz Taylor. She lived in a small city; I grew up in a small town. She went to a small college, I graduated from the largest university in the country.

We were family, but we were also friends. We never had an argument or exchanged harsh words. Not many people can manage that feat and still have interesting conversations.

So RIP, cousin o' mine. You are still in my heart, and our memories are still in my head.

I'm Not Irish

Faith n' Begorra ... it looks like the Chicago River sloshing around in that goblet, and I thought I was toasting St Patrick with a glass of green beer. Thank God, I'm not that young anymore.

Spring Forward

The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting (aren't y'all?), the sky is blue ....... I love spring ..... maybe more than summer because it's not all hot and humid, but, people, people, people, I really really hate DST. It's already later than I want it to be (in more ways than one). After all, it's not like we're all twelve and just can't wait to turn thirteen.

We're Off to the Future

Seems like just yesterday I was off to kindergarten, and today ......... well, we won't go there. Now it's the kiwi cutie's turn to venture out into the world. He set off on his scooter on his first school visit (so I was told) all suited up in his helmet and his backpack. I don't really remember my first day at school. Like so many of my generation, I loved school mostly for the social opportunities it presented. I got A in math and F in effort, which was OK with my parents. In retrospect, perhaps they should have set higher standards. Academics were easy for me, but I never learned to push myself beyond the edges. You know that army slogan "be all that you can be?" I don't think I am; but I'm still working at it. So ....... my little grasshopper (do they have those in New Zealand?), enjoy your new adventure and take all it offers and more.

fashion note: didn't I just see this outfit in the Neiman Marcus catalogue ..... in my current size??