What I Say...

1) Damn it!

2) Damn it!

3) Damn it!

4) What a nightmare!

5) What the HELL are you people THINKING????!!!!

A Few Hours of Sun

Ha Ha Ha

Another Milestone

This week marked another milestone for my youngest. She graduated from Middle School. As I sat in the auditorium so many things were going through my mind. Those kids looked so BIG! One looked like a business man. Seriously, he had a suit and business shoes on. The "girls" looked like women, in their sundresses and shoes, graceful as they walked across the stage. It was stunning and disturbing at the same time. 14 is not what it used to be. No way.

Both of my daughters are taller than I am now. How did that happen???

I have been dreaming, often, of my youngest at the age of 2 or 3, and it has been lovely, poignant and at times deeply saddening. I would not have thought that I would be one to succumb to "middle age crisis" or "empty nest syndrome", but the truth of the matter is that the people for whom most of the last 18 years of my life have been dedicated, directed and swallowed up whole are growing, growing, gone! And it is a process of joy tinged with sadness. I am so proud of both of them!!! And while I will not miss the cat fights over the hair straightener or the slamming doors and yelling "Bitch!", I will definitely miss watching movies and eating popcorn, the giggles, the "Goodnight, I love you's", and the feeling of having our threesome of a family intact.

I want one...

My friend, Tim plays guitar...see?

Filling in the Spaces

I have been in a very quiet place lately. Sometimes, I just find myself in a place of needing more privacy than others. I have been examining my life, my path, my relationships, my needs and desires. It has been a very complex process, but one which seemed to have insisted on my attention, thus my relative silence here at Keen Things. Frankly, I have not been feeling very Keen. Added to that is a change in a medication which I take, a change which has made me need a lot more sleep than I usually get. Having higher blood pressure than my doctor would like me to have, the change was made to a certain drug I take, and the result has been mostly that I feel like I am slugging through mud a great deal of the time. And I have a very dry mouth. Other than that, though, I am doing okay. I hope to be back to my more Keen Self soon.

This is me, kissing my friend, Jeanette. Scott took this picture of us a while ago, but just sent it to me. I love the smile on her face.

Here is the Graduate!!! Congratulations to the graduating class of 2009 North Andover High!

And this pretty dress was under that big red gown! I am very proud of my daughter. She had a very tough year, and made it through after her big kidney infection, losing time from school while healing. And now, off to college in the fall!!!

All Before Noon...

Feed all the animals.
Walk Lux.
Scoop Litter.
Take out trash and recycling.
Go to CVS
Go to Market Basket.
Walk Lux again.
Walk dogs for two hours.
Email (4).
Call orthodontist.
Call Primary Care Md.
Call kid's college.
Switch laundry around.
Unload and load dishwasher.

Zip. Zoom. Zowie!

Your Morning Joe

Because, clearly, the coffee beans harvested from WILD civet poop are definitely yummier than those harvested from CAGED civet poop I bring you:

Doi Chaang Civet Coffee

Left, Right, Left...

I could write witty paragraphs here about why I have not been blogging. I could. But, the truth of the matter is that at present, all I can manage is to put one foot in front of the other. Perhaps the existential angst will abate in a while, but for now, I am a mother, an animal owner, a worker, and otherwise leading a very contemplative life over here.

Finding the Silent Truths takes silence.

Back at a later date.

The A La Carte Menu

Okay. So...yesterday I turned 50. For most, that is a 90 degree turn day into the dark tunnel of the Abyss of The Last Half, a milestone magnifique. And thusly I offer unto you the dating pond which is considered by some who browse craigslist. I mention, as an important edification, that I have found some wonderful things on CL. I found Andrea, and my chef job, many wonderful people, a hand drum, business clients, photography clients and computer equipment...so, take this as a Certain Segment of the CL Population (Thai massage enticements aside, of course).

According to the above I should have many traits (or "trates" , eh?) I should be young, intelligent, thin, hip, cool, submissive, coffee drinking, web savy, computer literate, chattable with webcam, loyal, loving, small, white, shy, into oral, into Brittish slang, carbohydrates, and robots ( and for the record the mensch one required that I own at least one pair of black boots). I should be a little, sparky, running Gal. A reader, who is liberal minded and into black men. A breezy sorta of girl with a metaphysical side who Just Wants to Have FUN!!!!


Damn.

And I thought *women* were picky about men.

But, when I think about it, yeah, that pretty much defines the Perfect Woman for a few guys I know.

Sad, that.

Also sad that I do not own a pair of black boots.

So, um, yeah...

It is JUNE!!! Holy Mack!!! How did *that* happen?????

It is my birthday month, thus the self aggrandizement on the masthead. It happens that that picture of me is one of my mostest favoritest, and it accurately reflects the magical child I imagine myself to have been. When I get *stuck* in my world, and I am not sure which way to turn, I sometimes ask myself "What would SHE do?"

Life is really amazing right now. Busy, Scary, Wonderful, Stressful...all sorts of flavors in one bag of beans.

My eldest is graduating from high school on Friday.

Time? She flies. Like pigs with wings, jet propelled through the air, she flies faster than a speeding bullet.

Catch it in your teeth.

Take a bite out of life today!