Unfinished

Donation box and un-hung towel racks and pictures

Unfinished.

This one word describes pretty much every aspect of me and my life at the moment.  There must be a lesson somewhere in all of this because I like things to be completed.  Perhaps I’m supposed to learn patience.  Or maybe the state of unfinished is meant to make me look at what’s really important in my life.  I don’t expect to fully grasp how “unfinished” has changed me until time has passed and I’m looking over my shoulder.

I moved into my house a month ago.  Everywhere I turn, I’m greeted by reminders of what I haven’t gotten done.  As a person who likes neatness and order, this is difficult to deal with at times.  I have broken towel racks that need to be replaced.  I have no artwork hanging on my walls because I need to finish painting first.  I have fabric I bought 3 years ago for window valances I never made for a house I no longer own.  I would like to make them here.  I need more time…

I want to write, but the things I need to do creep into my consciousness and strangle my creativity, like weeds in a vegetable garden.  I struggle with darkness more than I would like, but I avoid sharing what I’ve written in this state because it’s depressing.  I want to read blogs, but I get overwhelmed by the number of unread emails so I give up (which makes it worse!)

I am unfinished.  

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we’re complete masterpieces until we’ve exhaled our last breath.  I’m somewhere in between who I was and who I will be… but I don’t know what that means yet.  Uncertainty has allowed me to exist in this state of flux for quite some time.  I didn’t live last year.  I breathed in and out, even when I didn’t want to, and woke up each day with the single goal of getting through it.  It seems I’ve forgotten how to look forward; how to dream.

I hope words will come and allow me to write my way through this.

Unfinished is a process…

… closer to finished than the day before

At least this post is finished 🙂

Have a wonderful Monday!

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Purple Nails, Sleeping Kitties & Ugly Sweaters… Life Is All Over The Place!

There is something I really want to write about, but I’m forcing myself to sort of stay focused.  There are some things that I need to close the loop by updating you about what has happened, and I’ve heard that loose ends should be tied up quickly before readers lose interest.

Uh oh.  I waited too long, didn’t I?

I could tease you like they do on the evening news, when they give you a little tidbit that seems interesting, and then follow it by adding “after the break.”  But I won’t do that because that’s annoying!  So I’ll get right to it…

In this post way back on October 24th, Timothy asked in a comment if I decided what color I was going to paint my nails.  I cringe when I look at the date and see that it’s taken nearly 2 months, but yes, Timothy, I have!  And a picture’s worth a thousand words:

My most favorite color- purple! Is it just me, or is “purple” fun to say? Never mind…

In my last post, I previewed my ugly sweater creation, and a couple of you were curious about the results of the contest.  SO, for the two of you who were interested, or feigned interest, haha, here’s a picture (another thousand words… this post is getting long):

I won the ugly sweater contest and received a generous gift card. Now that I think about it, I hope the votes were just for the sweater and not my hair!

In this recent post, I stated that I was on a mission to find out how many pictures one could take of sleeping cats.  In the time since that post, I’ve added several to my collection (photos… not cats- yet!)  Here’s my favorite one:

This is how I feel as I wrap up writing this post. Nighty-night!

There is lots going on, and so much more I want to write about, but I think this post has been random enough.  Until next time, have a wonderful week!

Crazy Cat Lady

It’s strange but several people, upon hearing of my crumbled marriage, have consoled me by offering responses along the lines of “you’re still young and you’ll find love again.”

What?!

I’m not certain, but I think the involuntary look that flashes across my face is something like my expression when I catch a whiff of my older son’s socks after a cross country meet, or when I remove a lizard from under the couch once the cats are done playing with it.

My gray hairs contradict the “young” statement, but that’s beside the point.  I know they are well-meaning and trying to make me feel better, but it doesn’t make sense.  It’s like telling a shark attack victim that they should get right back out there and swim.  Or, after walking through poison ivy, following the exact same path.  Or, taking a person to a bonfire after they are rescued from a burning building.  Or, after someone has gotten sick from fish tacos, serving fish tacos for dinner the next day.

Okay, I’ll stop- I think you get the point.

My response is always the same: “Oh, I’m ready to embrace my new life as a crazy cat lady.”

They always laugh.  They think I’m kidding.  They have no idea!

I’m serious, and I have some cell phone photos I’ve taken over the last ten days to prove it:

I call this “kitty pretzel”, although it was more a matter of Sammy refusing to move, and Lizzy laying on top of her because she wanted that nap spot

I was holding down the couch… the cats were just making sure I did it properly

Don’t be deceived, Lizzy does NOT want her belly rubbed (she bites)

I’m bored, can we be done already?

I think I have a knack for this crazy cat lady gig.  What do you think?

I don’t know how many pictures one can take of sleeping cats… but I’m on a mission to find out! (Don’t worry… I don’t plan to share them… well, not all of them, at least 🙂 )

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

Moments Passed, Moments Noticed

Recently, I went for a walk in the evening to clear my head.  I emerged from my thoughts long enough to look up and notice the illumination of the clouds in the eastern sky.  I snapped this photo with my cell phone:

This got my attention!

I walked a hilly cul-de-sac and upon heading east again, I looked up, anxious to see how the sunset light show had changed.  I thought maybe I would be blessed with an even more beautiful display.  I was surprised to find this:

Seven minutes later….

In the span of seven minutes, the glow had disappeared.  The beautiful display obviously intended to be brief, and only for those who paused long enough to take notice.  Of course, this got me thinking (and dashed all hopes of clearing my head, haha.)

It made me wonder how many moments like this in life I miss because I’m wrapped up in the unimportant stuff that I allow to consume me… those worries that seem so large.  The funny thing is, these thoughts that occupy my mind are often things that no amount of obsessing over will resolve because the variables are completely out of my control.  I’m finally starting to learn that maybe, just maybe, being outside my head is a happier place 🙂

Sometimes taking notice of things around me takes a more humorous turn.  I’ve told the kids countless times not to leave their cups on the table.  Aaaand, their cups are always left on the table.  One day, within forty minutes of each other, I took the following photos:

Sure, there are 3 water dishes, but “forbidden” water tastes better

Well if she gets “forbidden” water, I want it too!

That day, my younger son got home from school and refilled his water cup.  After he took a drink, I showed him the photos thinking maybe he would see why he shouldn’t leave his cup on the table.  He did turn a little green so I got all smug, thinking my point had been made and the table would now be cup-free.

Nope.  Cups are still left on the table; the only difference is, they each use 5 cups a day instead of 1. Oh, and they always leave fresh water in them for the cats- “because it’s cute.”  (Um, no it’s not…)

Sigh. I didn’t see that one coming.

5 Reasons Cats Rule (My House)

Last week, my blogging friend, Debbie wrote of some abhorrent cat behavior that led her to write a post entitled “5 Reasons I Hate Cats.” While I don’t think I can change anyone’s mind about felines, I thought it would be fun to share some reasons why I adore cats.

Their “purrs” relax me. 

Some people listen to CDs that play sounds of nature- waves crashing onto the shore, birds chirping, rainfall- you get the idea.  Me?  Nothing is more soothing that a cat snuggled up to me purring.  Some nights, Cybil chooses to sleep on my face head which isn’t the most comfortable.  After some push and pull on positioning, she often ends up curled against my neck and shoulder purring.  This is how I like to fall asleep.

They can grow on non-cat-people (like a fungus)

I first saw this with my mom.  I’ve always been drawn to cats and she was never a fan, but after I adopted every stray cat in the neighborhood, she relented and I got my first kitty.  How disappointed I was to find that cat liked her better than me.  Misty was an indoor/outdoor cat and disappeared.  I was heartbroken.  We got another kitty and that one loved me- she was my cat.  Abby also wormed her way into my mom’s heart.

My husband is a self-proclaimed dog person.  He makes this known regularly.  I smile when he grabs a cat when he goes to bed, but I don’t say anything.  One morning last week, I walked into the bedroom and found Lizzy wrapped around his foot.

No one told Lizzy he’s a dog person!

Of course, I had to snap this blackmail adorable photo as evidence that he may be just a little bit of a cat person 🙂

They like company, but they don’t need constant attention

Some say cats are aloof.  Maybe they are; but I think they just need less assurance of my love for them than a dog.  Our dogs need constant ear scratches and head rubs- if we’re sitting on the couch, we must be petting them.  The cats curl up next to me and snooze- they are content just being near me.  I “get” them… I like to have my space, too.

While my son is at school, Sammy is my “desk cat”

Oh, and they keep me company while I work, curled up on the other side of my desk.  So cute!

Even when they don’t feel good, cats can strike a pose

Kitties hide their illnesses well, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.  Often, by the time we pick up on something being off, they are really sick.  When Bulwinquel (our Yorkie-Poo dog) was around two years old, we took her to the vet because she wouldn’t walk on one of her legs- she kept lifting it up like it was hurt.  After the second visit for the problem, the vet did an x-ray and confirmed there was no injury.  He told us that if we babied her, she may never walk on it again!

Cybil is sick, but always ready to be admired.

And finally:  they know how to relax!

I don’t think I really need to explain this one – I have so many snoozing cat pics because they sleep… a lot!

Relaxing 101… take notes, and practice!

I can sure take come cues from them 🙂

Here it is – your chance to share your thoughts (nicely.)  Let me know why you like or dislike cats!