Bits and Pieces

1. Item A
I have a sci-fi-themed license plate--aka "tag" in Florida. Those nuts! Ha ha!

If it please the court
Today, as I headed straight through the intersection at Cayuga and Clinton, a guy in the car turning left beside me hollered "I LOVE LUKE!"

2. Also today, I had (among other things):
Salmon!
Chocolate!
Not together!
A banana!
Pear juice! (settles the stomach, dontcha know)
Honey O's! (Cheerios' organic bastard brother. Or maybe Cheerios are the bastard. You pick.)
And now I am about to partake of two flaxseed waffles. With syrup! AND SMART CHOICE!

Update
BALANCE! IT'S CALLED SMART BALANCE!

SOUP FOR ME!

Every Tuesday there's a farmer's market in the park almost across the street from us. Today I was feeling well enough to go soup-hunting, but not till after 2, and I didn't know how late the market went. But I knew it was my best chance for a healing-a-lactose-riven-belly soup.

Belly Soup! My favorite French children's cartoon character. "Oui oui, ma'am'selle, je voudrais du chocolat!"

As I headed across the wet, chilly park, I noticed that the soup people seemed to be breaking down souptown. I hurried. "Am I too late for soup?" I asked as I arrived at their souptable. A man dressed as a chef started telling me what they had left. I asked questions, having lactose belly and all. I didn't want a soup full of hurty things.

He described the zucchini and the tomato soup. I pondered. He suggested I take both.

But he meant TAKE both! He gave me soups for free! TWO SOUPS! FOR FREE!

(That just reminded me of two scoops of raisins in each box of Kellogg's Raisin Bran. "TWO SCOOPS!" And from there my '70s-commercial-addled brain moves to "Two great tastes in one candy bar -- Reese's -- Peanut Butter Cups! TWO SCOOPS!")

So a man dressed as a chef gave me two free soups today. I suspect they really wanted to get going and I was holding them up, but next week, I will buy many things from them, for they gave me soup-succor when I was in hurty town.

Thank you, nice soupman!
Love,
Cree

soup-succor: clearly the origin of the word "soupcon."

Ow. Ow. Ow.

Being on your own might be worst when you're sick. I'm sure I can argue differently myself at other times, but presently I am mildly ailing.

Fortunately I don't get sick often, beyond mild headaches, but yesterday I very very misguidedly thought I could handle sheep's milk cheese without a problem (for the uninitiated, I am lactose intolerant). I had some decent stomach cramps the rest of the night, lasting through today too. Yesterday I couldn't really have driven anywhere, evidenced by the fact that I could barely walk upright. Today I did go to Wegmans late in the afternoon, but only because I needed a few bland things and some ginger ale, and it's really not so bad anyway. Just like an iron hand is gripping my stomach, but not squeezing so much as it was last night. I can breathe better, at least. (I watched the Emmys and oh, it hurt to laugh.)

(Ginger ale, by the way, has no ginger in it. I know, it's very upsetting, but keep your panties unbunched at least till you hear the bourgeoisie taking to the streets. Their first words will be "BRING ME CANADIANS! BOTH DRY AND WET!")*

So my body really didn't want to be at Wegmans, and I was kinda hunched over my shopping cart, but fortunately I HAD a shopping cart, and I often hunch over them anyway. So if someone at Wegmans is paying attention to the way I shop, that alone wouldn't be a tip-off that anything was wrong.

Of course I'm at an age/stage when I don't talk to anyone on the phone regularly, either, so I would have had to call someone up and ask for help, had I needed it that bad. And I know Melissa or Jenny or Mary or Chris or Chris or Chris would have helped in a flash, but it's not the same as having someone in-house, onsite, who will automatically bring you crackers and something carbonated to help you burp. Feed the cats for you and give them fresh water and bury or scoop out the poo you can smell from the couch.

It's OK. I'm just sayin'. It woulda been nice to have someone get me a bagel. And I know Salem would have had he known how to get my money out. So appreciate your Other, there, watching TV right now or mowing the lawn or feeding the kids or pointedly not folding the laundry. And once in a while, milk it for all it's worth.


*Oblique Canada Dry reference. They makes the ginger ale, see.

Tea for Seven

Now it's time for tea
Dress the piggies in wee hats
Rooibos for them.

Is the painting done?
Sweet birthday gift that would be
Piggies want some CAKE!

Kitties claim the land.
Who knew you would find yourself
Back where you started?

Happy Happy, Melissa!

The higher, the fewer!

Don't need space-show stress
But aboard Galactica
Is there birthday cake?

Colonel Tigh will drink
Starbuck will win your money
Boomer? Well, which one?

Happy Kidney Stone, Nog of the Mountain

Milady Rogue-in-pants

August 19 was six years since Miss Girl showed me her pink and pregnant belly and I snatched her up and said "You're all mine, Girly Girl!" And just look at all the love she brought.

Chatty swirly girl
Black and white and sweet all o'er
Snuggle up with me.

The whole gang

$300 worth of pudding?!

I'm all yours, Buttum.

But back to men: It's more than just the num-nums.

It's their voice in your ear, low and deep and resonant. It's their smell--not cologne, but them, their skin, their sweat. It's the feel of their cheek, just shaved and smooth or stubble growing in. It's the way they look in jeans, in a white T-shirt, in shorts and hiking boots. It's the way they walk, the muscles in their arms, the span of their back and shoulders, the bend of their neck. Above all it's their darkness, the undefinable duskiness inside them that bespeaks Man, Man, Man.

That
is what I want.

Yes thank you, I will have a blackberry.

One person's "never did before" is another's "just haven't yet."

Euky

Soft snowy puppy
big brown eyes and happy soul
rub my earses, please

All the years we shared
Puppy kisses, joy and love.
We won't be the same.

But in the very very best way. We love you, Euky, and always will.

Tomorrow

"I have syrup, but you'll get my germs if you use it," she said.

"There are worse things," he replied.

"I'm putting that on my family crest," she said. "'There are worse things.' Right over the monkey with the blueberry pie."

HOW early?

Go, Mary! Swimmin'
Across Cayuga Lake
Really early. Psych!

On shore will we cheer
Jumping spinning and eating
You can when you're done.


http://www.womenswimmin.org/

Belated

Whirling dervish Deb
Dancing wild around the world
Stars light in her hair

Where will she land next?
Egg tempera lasts only
so long. Then she's gone.

Dancey year to you
Deb and Peanut, together
Smiling. Happy days!

Trent-deux

(emphasis on the Trent)

"I'll build that for you"
Gallant in Hawaiian shirt
What? I AM dressed up!

Dancing monkeys; cake;
No shopping for a month, plus
Beer -- there; GOOD birthday.

I know you are sad
Without me there. Celebrate
As if I were. BEER!

Let the games begin

I came upon two old photo albums in my room in Orchard Park today, so start preparing for Cree's Teenage Years: A Photo Odyssey, coming soon to a ninja monkey blog near you.

Know what I'm really good at?

Being alone.

Like it's a superpower.

POW! Watch her spend a whole weekend at home reading and watching Battlestar Galactica!

WHAM! Marvel at her complete inability to talk to cute guys she doesn't know! And even some she does!

THWIPP! See--wait, no, that's Spider-Man.

EA DAY!

"O, Albert," she said,
"'Tis such a fine thing to have
Mine own butler! W00t!"

A meal worthy of
Kings, queens, monkeys and Ealish
Hope Trent liked it too.

My wishes for you
Disney days and moonlit nights
30? Naught but joy.

And Happy Birthday to Harry too!