This may be significant - or not so much....

Bad picture (cell phone) of a beautiful berry-laden tree I parked my car under today. I sat there listening to "Bring the Rain" on my iPod and stared at it for at least 10 minutes before I went in for an appointment. I'm not sure why, but it really caught my heart, my brain, my wonder. I sat under it for a few minutes on the way out, too - I have no idea why.

Tea tonight: Spring Cherry Beginner's Mind

Weather Fit for a Dog

They say animals know more than we think they do. If the truth is known, they probably know more than we do. Usually on nice days, Lucky likes to be outside for prolonged periods, but only if someone is within sight of him. Go around the house with the pruners in hand, and he's a barking, whining, canine fool.

But not yesterday. Or today.

By 0800 he knew it would be a beautiful warm fall day. He had already been outside 4 times. Either he didn't get his business done, or he forgot he'd been out. Whatever, he just stood by the back door looking back at me expectantly to let him out again,while I was perusing all the good wishes from him friends at Doggyspace. People who blog may have their quirks, but dogs who blog are really special. (OK, I know how stupid that sounds, but stick with me - see for yourself - he does!)

I let him out yesterday afternoon while I baked cookies (OK, now my friends think I've really lost it! Me? Cookies?). He literally sat in the yard, wandered the length of his cable, laid under the crab apple tree, sniffed the wind, pinned his ears back - for about 45 minutes. Today I made a chop-a-lot salad for an exciting tailgate tomorrow, and there he was again. Sniffing. Wandering. Lounging. For over an hour.

Thousands of thoughts went through my head as my Kitchen Aid twirled the dough, I chopped away (knuckles in perfect position) and I watched him from the kitchen window. Is he taking in these beautiful days, thinking they are among his last? Is he looking for the entrance to the Rainbow Bridge? Why is he so content out there all by himself for the first time ever in his long life? If I unhooked him from his cable, where would he go?

I couldn't risk that. He's nearly blind and deaf. But oh, how I wondered.

He knows I'm writing this. His nose is resting on my leg as I'm typing, almost as if he wants to tell me what to say.

Perhaps if I trim his nails, he can say it himself. I'm the Lucky One.

Tea today: White cantaloupe

Blessed Are They ....

...who do not see and yet believe! But this is seeing and believing! Oh joy, what a miracle God has done once again.

Tea today: Harney & Sons green with citrus

"Not me! "Monday

I absolutely did not innocently crouch down in front of a standing patient to look at what he told me was an infected leg wound (thinking he meant lower leg) and have him DROP HIS PANTS so when I looked straight ahead, all I saw was "Jockey" ...and shadows of "the brothers." I did not nearly die of embarrassment. And this did not happen in front of a room full of patients. Jaws were dropping a-plenty at the sight of the whitie-tighties. I did not maintain a perfectly professional demeanor (35 years of practice!) and get those pants back up as quickly as possible - then die laughing when the coast was clear. Whoa.

I did not eat an entire container of chipotle hummus with pita chips in one sitting. I called it a "healthy meal," just to justify it. Oink.

I did not tearfully grieve the loss of a dear friend this week; the gentle man who gave Ron Burgundy his first real job. His work remains here on earth through all the lives he touched personally and professionally; his soul is with our Lord. Heaven in Hi-Def, and cameras in His Courts.

I did not maintain my composure on the outside (but bubble like a total groupie on the inside) when I got to visit with Tom Brokaw this week while they were airing "Meet the Press." Just another guy who puts his pants on one leg at a time...oh yeah. And his dog is so well-behaved. Gotta love a guy who loves his dog.

I did not stay up waaayyy after a normal bed time last night doing the Law and Order marathon because I am on vacation, and for the first time in many months have absolutely no reason to get up before noon. And I did not pop a Benadryl, just to prolong the the blessed sleep. And I did not wake up at 0700, only to be bright-eyed and bushy tailed (ok, I'm half right) and not be able to get back to sleep. I'm an old dog; this "sleeping in" is a new trick.

Now where's MckMama's Mr. Linky? Please continue passionate God talk for her and baby Stellan this week. This is the week of his birth!

Tea today: Yogi with triple echinacea

I AM Better Off Than I Was 4 Years Ago...

And it has nothing to do with politics, government, the President, the war, the economy (duh!) or the country at large.

It's all about me.

OK, so my retirement fund hit the skids, my bonus from work was worth less than the "Jelly of the Month" Club, my fitness level and core strength really took a nose dive, and most of the old clothes I took to the consignment store were rejected for "lack of style and excessive wear" - so they went back in my closet.

But oh, my heart is better. And my soul. I've become more faithful. I trust God implicitly to take care of things (like retirement funds, family. friends) and He has, I worry less, I pray more, I've really given Him a huge load these past couple of years and am trusting He will continue to carry it for me.

No matter what the outcome of this election, despite all the promises of CHANGE by both parties, I'm confident in my God who is the same, no matter who rules the country, no matter what the stock market does, and no matter if I have a job when I return from vacation. He never changes, and I'm so grateful.

He's got me - right where He wants me. Wouldn't have put myself here, but His plans are wiser than mine.

I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I rush down like a groupie this morning to see "Meet the Press" where Ron Burgundy was allegedly to get an interview with McCain, but got the classic brush-off and a stern warning from the Secret Service to "hold it up here, sir" as he tried to chase him down. But the most exciting groupie part was seeing our friend Tom Brokaw again after 20 years. He hasn't changed a bit. Still as kind, professional, and ordinary as ever. Graciously signed his book "A Long Way Home" for us. Couldn't pass up the photo-op. And I even got kisses from his dog Red who came along for the trip so they could go hunting.