REJECTED!
Today we've rolled a double 13.
It's Thursday 13 x March 13....wow.

I've been rattling around the house, considering my options.
Okay... how about a list of the Thursday 13 ideas that I considered and scratched?

1. Thirteen Ways to Avoid St. Patrick's Day Parties
2. Thirteen Ways to Improve Your Rotten Attitude
3. Thirteen Ways to Track Down Dirt on the Internet
4. Thirteen Ways to React to Bad News
5. Thirteen Recipes for Meatloaf
6. Thirteen HOT Vacation Destinations for Snowbound Vermonters
7. Thirteen Excuses for Missing Speech Class
8. Thirteen Favorite Text Message Abbreviations
9. Thirteen Books I Am Willing to Trade
10. Thirteen Reasons to Elect a Democratic President in 2008
11. Thirteen Ways to Save Money During the Recession
12. Thirteen Pets I've Never Owned
13. Thirteen Ancestors I Want on My Family Tree


Was gonna explain each, but don't have time. Some are crazy. Some would just make me crazy.
What T13 categories have you considered and rejected?

Wanna swap?

Okay, I'm playing along with the Vixster. She started or continued this meme. What's a meme? Someday we delve into that. Not now. Here are the "rules"... Go to your music program (iPod or whatever) and click on "shuffle." Use the following basic list of 13 "Times of Your Life," but substitute, in order, the songs on your random shuffle list for the songs I found on mine. You can copy and paste. Easy? Sure! Add any comments you want. I usually do. Duh.

1. Opening Credits: Born Free from Henry Mancini in Hollywood -- hmmm nice sweeping opening

2. Waking Up: I Know a Place by Petula Clark (oh, soooo 60's and upbeat -- reminds me of my youth)

3. Falling in Love: Goodnight My Love by Harry Connick, Jr. (very romantic! sleep tight my love)

4. Breaking Up: The Searchers -- title number on soundtrack from the movie with John Wayne. You know... the movie where he's looking for his niece who has been captured by the Apaches. Talk about a break up... years of searching... slogging through the desert, wind, rain, snow, heat. Oy yoi yoi.

5. Life's Okay: Moon River by Henry Mancini (yeah, I have a lot of soundtracks on here.... like to write to these) Who wouldn't love life if Moon River accompanied you everywhere? Hmmm... black dresses and pearls.

6. Mental Breakdown: What I Did for Love -- from the original Broadway soundtrack of A Chorus Line. Yeah, that fits, all too well. Isn't love the catalyst for every breakdown in life. Surely.

7. Flashback: Run for the Roses by Dan Fogelberg (ah... how poignant) Tears here. Lots of tears.

8. Getting Back Together: March of the Bulls by Hugo Montenegro (very macho...very challenging bullfight scene. I see a thrilling encounter here!)

9. Wedding: Ready to Take a Chance Again by Barry Manilow (hey! how'd he get in here? jk... I love Barry.. .he has his place, and I guess, having wed three times, this is tres fitting for my life movie... oh yeah) (weird, huh?)

10. Birth of Child: All That Jazz from "Chicago" sung by Bebe Neuwirth. Good. That's a fun song. Geoff's birth is a very sunny memory. 6:30 a.m. I heard the train whistle in the distance. Sunlight through the window. A very small hospital in San Luis Obispo, CA. The same small town where I was born. And the only time I lived there was when I was born, and once again when I delivered Geoff. Never lived there any other time.

11. Final Battle: Lost in Tuscany by Rachel Portman from the soundtrack of "Only You" -- a great place to face a final battle... I adore Italy. I must have been a Roman in a past life.

12. Death Scene: Hedwig's Theme by John Williams from Harry Potter soundtrack. Oh, that's very magical. I like that.

13. Ending Credits: Cast Your Fate to the Wind by George Winston from Linus & Lucy. Perfect. I've always envisioned that piece as sailing music... sailing away. Nice soft fade to black..

Spring Has NOT Sprung
Dream on,
ye of the frozen north
(Nanuck, is that you?)

1. Yuck. The snow turns gray and melts to show ...the two inch layer of ice below.

2. Cabin Fever. I get the overwhelming urge to open the windows and breathe fresh air.

3. Birds. They return. Two by two. And wake me up before dawn. How do they know?

4. Flowers. The grocery store is selling daffodils. We will not see a real daffodil for at least two months, but we can dream.

5. Corned Beef and Cabbage. -- speaking of market displays. St. Patrick's Day becomes the front-and-center holiday. Must be the lure of alcohol sales.

6. Easter. -- okay I lied about the holiday displays. Chocolate bunnies. Decorated ggs. Fluffy yellow chicks (and I'm not talking about Lindsay Lohan and Britney) . What does this have to do with crucifixion and resurrection? Renewal? New life? Oh... that's such a stretch. Can you say.....

7. Pagan displays. I cheated and added this one because I'm not sure I can get 13. But come on... the whole bunny and chick and egg celebration, with grass and baskets is completely and unmercifully pagan. It's a Fertility Rite. I wish those rabid Christians would take a step back and SEE this.... no, they'll go blithely through the forest searching for eggs. Duh.

8. Booking. The summer vacation spot. More and more dreams of sun and warmth, further and further away from the snow. We aren't even interested in Spring Break. We want the LONG vacation. Sigh. I have booked a week at the beach. In June. So near and yet so far.

9. Grouchiness. Everyone here grumbles about the weather and itches for temperatures above 40. My WW group was hysterical. Snack attacks! And nowhere to run. Really, nowhere to go outside and run. Bummer.

10. Animal tracks. Crisscrossing the snow. More and more tracks. We need to post road signs on the trail behind the house. The rabbits have come out of their warren under the big tree stump. Lots of little paw prints all over that spot. Deer tracks. Fox. Baby squirrels and chipmunks have started running up and down tree trunks. Leaping (yes! they amazingly fly) between the highest branches. Don't they know they can just run down and over and up?

11. Salad. I'm beginning to crave large, leafy, crisp green salads. And veggies. Tricking myself into summer. Plus lemonade.

12. Exercise. Even more than flipping the calendar to January 1, with the approach of spring I get serious about my weight and shape. And bathing suits appeared at TJMaxx last week. Oh no. I am so not ready.

13. Pack the black. I am reaching for colors again. I don't want to wear any more black. Last weekend, I bought a beautiful soft jade sweater. I looked longingly at the box of my sandals deep in the closet. I brought out my spring coat. And yesterday it rained (no snow!). I brought out my umbrella. A girl can dream, can't she? (as long as she doesn't listen to the weather reports of .... more snow...)

NATIONAL PIG DAY
March 1

NATIONAL PIG DAY

I adore pigs. I do. Something about pigs always brings a smile to my kisser.
But really. Pig Day? Who thinks up this stuff?

I am back from California, where the sun mostly shined and all I did was EAT.
So.... I guess we are celebrating.... me being a "pig" day?

I'm late with Thursday Thirteen, since it's Saturday.
Vix has tagged me with a meme.
Who coined that word? Is it a word? What does it really mean?
I do not have six people to "tag" but I will attempt the Six Random Things About Me, right after my big Pig Day celebration lunch. How's that?
And no, we are not having pork or any pork products today.
But I will try a Turkey Bacon and Tomato Sandwich, just for my piggie friends.

OINK

WINTER BREAK ARRIVES!
And none too soon. Icky snow, ice, sleet, rain....

Today I'm doing the ALMOST THURSDAY 13

13 Reasons I'm Flying to California

1. Family
My entire family lives in California. Most of them live in Southern California, except my brother Hank, the maverick living in Aptos, near Pebble Beach. Ha! Maverick, you say? Never mind. Everyone else, siblings and mom and son, live in North San Diego County... except Joanne in Laguna, which is close enough to call it even. Haven't seen them, except Geoff's annual Thanksgiving trek/visit to Vermont, since July 2007.

But most of all, I get to spend some time with Mom and Geoff, two people I love most in the world (not counting Steve and Casou, #13). Mom is 83 this year and Geoff is 33 and I don't get to spend nearly enough time with them. Our relationships are GREAT, but I live 3000 miles away. You think that's why? Nah. But I do miss them so much and I'm excited to hang out and just be with them both for a week.

2. Sun
It's not that we haven't seen the sun. No. Sun was out in full force the other day -- clear and brilliant, but the temperature was -1 degree. Mother Nature's little practical joke. I'm really not going for the sun, but the residual benefits will be appreciated.

3. Beach
I probably won't go to the beach, but just being in the environs of the ocean has a wonderful quality of peace and rejuvenation.

4. Shopping
Yea, verily, I say unto you the holy word, "Nordstroms." Enough said.

5. Mexican Food
I cannot write of this without my mouth watering in anticipation. I do miss REAL Mexican food.... you know... the little hole-in-the-wall joints with the paper plates and orange/red sauce dripping down your arm from that juicy burrito loaded with guacamole and salsa that you just plowed into your mouth. Roberto's, Estrada's... hell... I'll even throw in a Rubio's fish taco or two.

6. Convertible
I went to priceline and got a deal on a Mustang convertible. Only in CA would I drive a convertible in February. I've been sacrificing to the Weather Goddess every day just for warmth. I have convertible hair. Ready to go.

7. Friends
Gotta have lunch or coffee with a few old chums. We are getting older, aren't we?

8. Pedicure
Silly, but true. I pull into my mom's and no sooner have I unpacked my bag than we head out to get a pedicure. Here in Vermont nobody will see my toes 'til after Memorial Day, but in CA anything is possible. Oh, you might ask why not get a pedicure in VT? I do when I get desperate, but pedicures here are waaaaaay more expensive than in CA. I figure they're trying to make up for the months we don't bother.

9. Flying First Class
Yeah, I upgraded. Found a great fare. Paid for that. Used my mileage to upgrade. Simple. Leg room and service. Very cool.

10. Sisters
That's sort of like "family" only with constant talking over each other and laughing. I have three sisters. And add in mom. And then we all go to Starbucks (oooh! #11) and once the caffeine kicks in, we start yapping and rarely stop for a couple hours.

11. Starbucks
I nearly forgot. We only have two (or is it 3?) Starbucks in all Vermont and none in this area. I do think Starbucks is overrated (see post below) but every now and then, it's fun to see what they've come up with to make us part with $5. I'm such a sheep. Sheesh.

12. Memories
I won't be able to escape my past. In fact, I'll probably go looking for it, right down Main Street, Escondido, USA. Maybe Mom and I will go to Cruisin' Grand night? No matter. I'll be driving through Escondido and oops! High school days will wander through my mind, and I'll remember so-and-so (probably some guy I dated) and then a story will pop into my head and run like a major motion picture until I see myself with heartbreak all over again. Hey, that is great fodder for the writing mill, isn't it? Especially since my WIP takes place in 1968. Like Geoff used to say when he was a little kid and we'd drive though Escondido and I'd start telling him a story about what used to be in "that place they just tore down." He'd moan, "it's gone. Stop dreaming, just drive." Oh well... in 1969, it'll be 40 years since graduation. Oh. My.

13. Coming Home
And I do mean the LOVELY welcome I will get when I race through the metal detectors (huh? no.... they won't check me on my way back) .... when I race through those barriers and run into Steve's arms. He'll cry. He always cries. And then I'll kiss him a zillion times and wipe away his tears and he'll hold me like he's never gonna let me go. Ah. And then, I'll get to the car and have to do the whole scene all over again with Casou who loves to kiss me and wiggle for a scratch until we're both cuddled up in the front seat, riding home where we'll all love each other and promise never to travel alone again.

CASOU GETS MAIL!

Really. He does. You know how when you go to certain sites you have to "register" -- which is a secret code word (yeah, right) for "we will send your email address to every whack job in the universe so they can send you insane emails".... right? Well, I must have "registered" at least once using my dog's name.

I've been saving up these emails for a T13. Now's the time to unload 'em. I'm not feeling particularly pithy about much else this morning after a foot of snow fell on top of the icy slush we received from the heavens the day before yesterday. One more reason I LOVE VERMONT -- ample opportunities to snuggle inside, drink coffee, and write!

1. Casou Losa, Auto Loans for ANY Credit Type

Without a working thumb, Casou finds driving a bit difficult.

2. Casou Losa, Take 30 seconds to read this email - get the Credit Card you need

He's already maxed on his credit card, but thank you. (No wonder we're having a bank melt down, huh?)

3. Casou Losa, why wait for payday?

Trust me, Casou never waits for payday. Around here, he eats first.

4. Casou Losa, Your Medical Billing career awaits!

Vix, any room for Casou at your office?

5. Casou Losa, 401(k) knowledge is power -- over your future!

If my sneaky-yet-frugal husband could figure a way to salt money into an account for Casou and deduct it from our income, trust me, Casou would have a large money market account, some stocks, and a load of tax-free municipals. Would that he could.... But you know Casou, just a playboy with a spend, spend, spend attitude about life.

6. Casou Losa, Looking for a trade school? Enroll now.

No, Casou opted for a four year degree and a life in academia and never looked back, although at times he's sorry he didn't pursue his secret love of the culinary arts.

7. Casou Losa, Secure your family - Affordable term life

The way Casou tells it, life insurance is not the way to go. He's banking on affordable squeeky toys and being carried upstairs every night and sleeping on the bed. OH. He already owns those perks.

8. Casou Losa, Easy Work

Why work? What could be easier than a dog's life? Eat, sleep, pee, poop, and repeat. A couple chew toys, a treat or two. A little classic rock, some cool jazz. Life is good. And no hassles with Medicare.

9. Casou Losa, Visit beautiful Hilton Head now!

Casou would love to go, but the Amtrak people don't allow dogs on the trains. He loves Four Seasons, because they welcome him with open arms. What's wrong with this picture? Amtrak, going broke, won't allow dogs. Four Seasons, awash in cash (despite overcharging for small rooms and even smaller items in the mini-bar). Go figure.

10. Casou Losa, Get paid to Review Products

The extra income might be handy, but Casou's not sure he can take time away from my writing to pursue his own. Just wouldn't be fair. Wake him later. Maybe he'll reconsider.

11. Casou Losa, Your Windows will look wonderful

Oh, surely you gest? Constant nose smeers. The human folks are not thrilled when they leave me in the car and I just gotta see that German shepherd in the SUV parked next to us. Gotta! Gotta! Gotta!

12. Casou Losa, Does your Valentine have the wrong sign?

No, Casou's Valentine is a dog and all she's waving is her tail, which is sign enough, believe me.

13. Casou Losa, psst, this offer will expire soon

Casou's learned that every email offer expires, only to return to life a day later. He's enjoyed the lesson in patience that email affords, and now, he's back to sleep on the big blue pillow under my desk. Yeah, what a life.

WOW!
Want to feel ENERGIZED? HOPEFUL? POSITIVE?
Watch this..... it's goosepimple time!