waltondammerung

Are peeves easier to care for than puppies?

I seemed to have acquired a few of them as pets. I named the first one, "For Your FYI". The other is called, "And Etc".

An apple a day? Maybe if it's fermented.

I hereby resolve to drink more in 2005. That's right, drink MORE. And we're not talking cold, refreshing water, here, but the fruit o' the vine. Why? Well, I'd always heard that red wine helps your heart and may allay symptoms of neurological problems, but I now know that drinking alcohol in moderation can help prevent all sorts of other problems. According to today's Wall Street Journal, having a cold one every so often can lower the risk of the following:
Heart attack 37% lower risk in men who drink five to seven days a week
Diabetes 34% lower risk of developing the disease; up to 60% more protection for diabetics at high rish of heart attack
Stroke 40% to 60% lower risk with one to two drinks a day
Dementia 42% lower risk with consumption of one to three drinks daily
Osteoporosis Women who have six or seven drinks a week have significantly higher bone density than nondrinkers

Of course, even moderate alcohol consumption seriously increases your risk of contracting oral, colon, breast or esophagal cancer. Considering I'm at much greater risk of having the problems drinking prevents than the ones it causes, I guess I'll have to err on the side of drinking more rather than less. Better go stock up on Two-buck Chuck.

Blondie

As is required by law for everyone residing in the state of California for at least two and a half years, I recently dyed my hair blonde.

I'm not sure whether Josh likes it. ;)

We three kings

John MacArthur has had a really fascinating sermon series this week about the magi. If you want to know where they came from, why, what they have to do with Daniel, and why Herod wigged out when they showed up, take a listen. All that he's missing is an explanation of where the kings got a rubber cigar.

So...

...a dyslexic walks into a bra.

Attention allergy sufferers!

I have spent the last few months unable to breathe through my nose, sleeping poorly, basically miserable. I'm pretty sure my allergies were the reason my case of the flu dragged on for two weeks (and the reason I got a sinus infection on top of it). Allegra stopped helping about a year ago. Claritin hasn't been doing much for me. Afrin helped a lot, but I could only use if for three days. I had resorted to drinking special herbal tea to try to relieve my allergies a bit, so must you understand the desperate state I was in. Along came the good fairy, my co-worker and allergy guru, Walter, who recommended nasal irrigation. I don't even like putting my head under water when swimming because I hate getting water in my nose, so pouring salt water through my sinuses twice a day didn't sound very appealing. Nevertheless, I was desperate, so I ordered the sleek, "elegant", "fits in purse or briefcase" Narial nasal cup. I've had it for a week now, and I can finally breathe through my nose again! I've stopped taking Claritin entirely, and the only problem I've noticed is that my eyes are a little red and itchy.

Do I sound like a cheesy infomercial? Good! This is one of the best things I've ever found for my allergies. Fellow allergy sufferers, buy one! Buy one now!

Puppy love

I was content with our petless life. I was happy to be free to go where I please on the weekends, with only my half-dead plants to worry about, and even those can be resuscitated after a few weeks from the realm of the living dead. Mint is good. It tastes good, it is easy to take care of, it comes almost immediately back to life after my husband allows it to be eaten by worms while I'm in San Francisco. I can even talk to it in cutesy baby talk like one might to a pet, and it sits and patiently listens. Bougainevillea is another story, but we won't go there.

I was content... until I met my friend Sharon's dog Daisy. Take a look at these adorable photos and you will want to scoop her up and put her in your purse as much as I do...

Thanks to Sharon for the pictures:

Now playing at the Roller-Rink-on-Avon

My mom forwarded me the Shakespearean version of the Hokey-Pokey. Enjoy:

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from heaven's yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.