ONE FISH, TWO FISH, THREE FISH, MAYBE MORE FISH

Today I decided to carry out my plan of emptying the pond in the backyard. Since we have not seen a fish for at least a month (we think the heron got them), we thought this would be a good time to empty the water and clean off the bottom.

I got into old clothes and got all my supplies. The best thing I bought this year is the second pump. I put the pump in and sat back. I cleaned out the filter so it would be sparkly clean when the new water was put in. Then I saw it. A fish! A white and orange fish.  He poked his little head out from under a cylinder block.  Then another fish!  A white, orange and black one.  It took me about 10 minutes to catch them. They are fast.  I put them in a bucket of water.

When the water was low enough I put on my Wellies and began scooping muck off the bottom. Muck consists of dead things and decomposing leaves, branches, fish food, and other stuff.  I pulled about one quart of muck out of the pond. Hopefully that will help with keeping the pond clean.  Then out of the corner of my eye I see it.  Another fish!  An orange fish! He moved very fast. Too fast for me to catch.  

A few more inches of water came out and then it was time to refill. Gallons and gallons of water later the fish went back in. The water looks clearer but the fish are nowhere to be seen. Hopefully they are happier with their cleaner home. 

Are there three fish, or more? Who knows? At least we know we still have fish in the pond!  

Until tomorrow...

TAKING CARE OF A FRIEND

Today I helped out a friend. We have a famous musician in our neighborhood. I helped ask him to perform at a celebration service. It was really only an introduction. After the introduction, the musician performed a short impromptu concert for us. He was so sweet. He played about five songs for us out on the sidewalk. Our own private concert.

Then my neighbor, who lost her husband recently, invited me over to her home. I stayed for a few hours looking at photos, reminiscing about old times in her life and talking with her sister.   It is heart wrenching that she lost her husband so unexpectantly and at such a young age.  I am glad I can be there for her.

Until tomorrow...

HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT

Occasionally I get hooked on a show.  Usually it is a crime show like CSI or a funny show like Mike and Molly.  This time I am hooked on a game show.  I am hooked on Hollywood Game Night.  It is on NBC Thursday nights and it is hosted by Jane Lynch.  It has some famous and some not so famous actors doing funny things.  

My favorite game is when they have young children's artwork of famous people and the actor's have to guess who it is.  I look at that art work by 8 years olds and I swear I can't figure out who they are supposed to be.  That picture is supposed to be Justin Timberlake??  

Then they a game they call DooDoo where they have to sing song lyrics using only the word Doo.  The rest of the team has to guess the song.  It gets funny.  Let me tell you it isn't easy.  You try it.  Doo Doo.

Then they have a game where they have photos of a celebrity at different stages of their career (such as Oprah) and someone has to put the photos in order of time in the shortest amount of time.   The team is yelling and sometimes the other team is trying to trick them.  

I just find it interesting since it isn't the same old game show.  Since there are new celebrities each time, it keeps it fresh.  There are always just enough comedians to keep it funny.  And Jane Lynch is a riot as a host.  I didn't mention that there is a "regular" person on each team and if their team wins the regular person could win $25,000 and the celebrity could win $10,000 for their charity.  

Anyway, I like to have a laugh every now and then.  THEY say it will make me live longer!  

Until tomorrow...

EAT YOUR TREES

I read an interesting article today about the benefits of eating BROCCOLI. It was on CNN.com. Broccoli Could Help Prevent Arthritis.   The point of the article is that broccoli has some things in it the could possibly fight inflammation in people with osteoarthritis.  I figure if it can help those with OA why can't it help those of us with RA??

When my brother was a kid he called broccoli "trees". It kinda stuck. In my house we still call broccoli trees.

I am going to eat my broccoli!!

Until tomorrow...

BUSY BUSY DAY

Today I got a new client. I am really excited and a little nervous. It is a subject matter that I have not worked on before. I like a challenge!  This new client is on reason I am happy that my knee is okay. 

Tonight I have to finish a huge project. I have been working on this project since the end of July.  Tonight is the finale!

Gotta go finish it.

Until tomorrow...

FRIENDS HUSBAND PASSES AWAY

I just found out that a friends husband passed away.  She is not a close friend, like we talk every day but she lives in my neighborhood and is in my book club.  I found out by email.  It is weird to find these things out by email.  Mostly because it is uncomfortable to respond asking questions.  Not that it is really any of my business but when I hear that someone passes away unexpectedly my first response is "did something happen?"  and then "What can I do to help?"  It feels so cold to send an email condolence note. 

Hearing this was so shocking.  It makes me wonder if our neighborhood grapevine is not working as it should be. 

Until tomorrow...

GARAGE ORGANIZATION PART ONE

Today I went to The Container Store to buy containers to begin clearing out the garage. I got six containers.  I also went to REI and looked at ways to hang a bike on the wall. 

Once I got the containers (and some PF Chang's) I drove home to begin the project. I cleared out SIX boxes of Brenda's stuff. Mostly sweaters and hats. They are all now in clear plastic boxes on her shelf in the closet.  Now all her clothes are put away. I have about 10 boxes of crap to go through. It is all Brenda's stuff. Things like jewelry, letters, photos, and other crap.  Oh, I also found a box with an old computer that I thought I had already given away.  That will be another thing to get rid of. 

This makes me so happy. Clearing out the clutter.

Until tomorrow...

INTEGRITY

Have you ever had someone question your integrity?  Think you did something that you didn't?

Today I had a client send me an email accusing me of doing something I had not done. I was so shocked, I did not know what to do. People have called me a lot of things but no one has ever questioned my integrity. I wrote a response to the email and before I hit send, I called a friend and read her my email. She talked me off the edge. Then she helped me rewrite the email. 

I received a very nice apology in return. I was told it was a mistake in how the email was written. Okay.?! 

It is business so I will continue on as before.  But I am not sure if I will be able to trust this person again.  Like The Donald says "it's not personal, it's business".

Until tomorrow...

DOG FIGHT

This morning Happi and Lucky got into a squabble.  I don't know how it happened. It took a second.

See, little Lucky was not feeling well. She had curled up on my towel. Happi was laying on the bed also. All of a sudden a look was exchanged and chaos ensued. Teeth were bared, growls, and bodies were thrown against each other.  I can pick up the little dog, so grab Lucky.  Somewhere in the middle someone's teeth dig into my finger. Not deep just enough to draw blood. Probably not hard enough to even do anything to each other with their thick fur but I jumped in with my soft human skin.  Now I have a throbbing finger.

Until tomorrow...

WALKING

Now that I know that my knee is "okay", I walked the dogs for the first time since my accident. They were beyond excited. They could barely contain themselves. They ran down the stairs and started barking at the new puppy across the street.  They sniffed everything on our walk around the block.

Now I am contemplating buying the bike. I have been given the okay to ride a stationary bike so it is not a stretch to ride a real bike.  I need to clean out the garage to make room to put a bike. One step at a time. This weekend may be a trip to the container store to buy some containers to put some of Brenda's sweaters away in her closet. Then I will put away the tons of shoes she has and that will clean out about four boxes from the garage. 

Until tomorrow...