Every time. Every time I watch Extreme Home Makeover, I cry like a baby. Yanno, the hyperventilating, crocodile tears? Tonight the home builder told the story of his own son who had a brain tumor at 2 years of age. He said, "It changes your life and you're never the same." Yeah, that's true. It does. I didn't cry yet though. It was the end of the show when he said, "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me (building the house for another family of a child with Leukemia). It has changed my life." He caught his breath and I caught mine. People struggle every day. And yet, they get on with life. We all get on with life, no matter what comes our way. I've gotta remember that when the weather is turning rainy, the sellers of the house we want to buy are fixated on a set price that is not even close to the value of their house, I feel yucky with the flu... Life ain't that bad! Bring on fuzzy kitties, a warm and dry house, and Extreme Home Makeover. You really can't feel sorry for yourself when you watch that from under your fleece blanket with a kitty purring like a lawn mower on your lap.
Last night, J and I were both propped up with pillows, blankets and steamy tea in our mugs on the couch, nursing our icky flu bodies, when Duckie sauntered over, jumped up on the couch, and dropped a Kleenex packet on J's legs. He looked up at J and nodded like he was urging J to blow his nose. We laughed and loved him, then put the Kleenex on the coffee table. Duckie ran over, picked up the packet in his mouth and jumped back up on the couch to drop it in J's lap again. That cat is our little golden child. Such a sweetie! He is now busy shredding the junk mail - what is it with this cat?
Holland is obsessed with black licorice ("Drop") and Anise-flavored-pretty-much-everything. They consume more Drop each year than any other country. That's pretty impressive for a country of around 16.4M people. And it's very special for a girl who can't be in the same room with someone eating it. When a baby is born in Holland, the parents invite visitors to come by and see the baby and enjoy "Musijes" - melba toast with butter and pink or blue speckles of Anise sugar. And the love of black licorice in Holland begins. I love babies. I could do without the Anise celebration. Of course, I eat it with great joy when babies are born. And I brush my teeth the minute I get home. Tonight I went to the dentist for my 6-month cleaning, and you know what she cleaned my teeth with? Anise toothpaste. WTF? Whatever happened to the dentist asking me which flavor of floride I wanted? Honestly, the Anise is probably the best tasting floride I've had. That should tell you something about floride.
Have you ever read a 817 page book that you wanted to burn since page 10? I realize that borders on blasphemy, coming from a girl who loves literature. But, for God sake people! Leo Tolstoy had WAY TOO MUCH to say about Anna Karenina. So she had an affair and ruined her - very boring - life. I don't condone it - certainly am not a fan of infidelity. But for the love of Allah, Leo. Your story would have been returned by my creative writing professor with a "Redo" and "Try Tightening Up a Bit" in bright red letters on the front page. I'd put money on it. Surely, there were not editors in those days. My question for myself is, "How did I ever get through 817 pages I didn't like?" I suppose I had too much pride in myself that I wanted to finish a classic. Maybe I was just desperate to read a book in English. Life is too freakin' short. I am celebrating finishing the book by reading my US magazine cover to cover. Trash should fix 'er right up.
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