Gillian, please explain...

Beck & Fergus:
Is it just me?

A Very Hannah Sign

Gwen & Gavin announced their baby boy's arrival on August 21 ♥
Zuma - Our favorite beach, the first beach to receive Hannah's Ashes
Nesta - Bob Marley's first name, we sing Bob whenever we think of Hannah
Rock - "...I'm a Rock"

THAT is all the way cool!

I'm a Winner!

...says at least one Quinn ♥

Today we are giving out a very special award on this here blog!

The Funniest Most Bizarre Comment Of The Month Award.

The winner of this highest of highest honors is non other then our own Diana!

"... speaking of the poops, er, Pope's hat, if you put a jock strap on your head upside down and begin to bless people who walk by... well, it's great entertainment until the guys with the matching jacket shows up."

For this very odd comment you win the best prize of all, an approving nod and stern handshake.

The comment is an ode to Big Joe; hands-down *the* most entertaining boyfriend in my soul's entire existence. The jockstrap/triple bless feat was the most fun, though it wasn't his only trick. I tell ya, those New Jersey Catholics take their blessings very seriously; if they'da thought he was joshin them, he'da been beaten on the spot. He couldn't laugh until he was outta broom's reach, after they'd accepted the blessing from his drive-by-jockstrap-headed-ness. He'd yell "Pasta e Fagioli" (pasta fa-ZUhl) with incredible vehemence and a shaking fist; no one in South Dakota suspected he was screaming "Macaroni & Beans." Everyone suspected he was crazy, though, while they peed themselves with laughter. He loved just calling out a random "Old Lady Name" and wave frantically until someone took pity and waved back; there never was an actual Mabel or Esther on the streets, and yet he always got a wave and brilliant smiles. Probably because on his last visit to town, he'd wolf-whistled at them.
So Thanks Big Joe, for checkin' on funnels that night with Chuck which led us to the brown van adventures & Thanks Quinn for giving me a chance to remember. Joe was really funny. I'm sure the jacket was comfortable ♥

Protocol for Phone Calls with Christine

I remember the days when calling long distance was a financial commitment. Our calls were budgeted. We shopped for the lowest long distance deal. There was a ring-ring-hang-up code with my mother-in-law. She'd call us back on her phone card. Seems as ancient a process as a switchboard, anymore. I moved away from Christine when she had two small children and a volatile marriage. We'd recently carpooled and worked in the same office. Ours was a huge separation experience. So I agreed to earn the long-distance expense of a desperately needed connection... by doing the dishes each and every time we spoke. I hate doing the dishes. This was a huge testament to my need for this call. I have free long distance now, so I tend to ignore her call, then return her call. Then I get to work. On something. Somewhere inside me, this policy has become ingrained. I. Must. Act. While. Talking.
Joyfully even.
This collection flew up just the other day. It's one of those few remaining moments when I hear Mitch's voice in my head.
I know he'd giggle at the lingering of his influence, at the depth of his impact, at the remembering of his Self. And as always, at Christine... for being Christine ♥ along with a muttering of Gratitude for Being, once again, an inspiration to diana ;)