Thirteen Thursday: Got the Picture?
1. The downside of country life in Floyd? My friend, Doug, thinks it’s having no Chinese take-out. He also said this at lunch recently: “You have to work twice as hard for half as much money, but it costs 1/3 less to live here.” You do the math. I’m hoping it all balances out.
2. After my friend Katherine told me about a tea she tried because it was “good for you,” I said to her, “I don’t do anything anymore because it’s good for me. It has to taste great and be good for me. It’s just like clothes, they have to be comfortable and look good.”
3. I have dyscalculia. I can’t decide if my standards have gotten higher or lower.
4. Well the weather’s getting weirder, and The Red Sox have won a World’s Series for the first time in over 80 years, and my brothers, Jim (a novice weatherman) and Dan, (lifelong Red Sox fans) aren’t here to enjoy it. Since they died, in 2001, I see everything through their eyes along with my own.
5. Lately (and after having so many personal losses over the last few years), I assume everyone is dead. When I called the Harris Baker Furniture Store recently to ask about a possible warrantee on my kitchen floor, the man who answered the phone didn’t know a thing. He said, “Oh, Vernon would know about that.” “Is he…not there…right now,” I asked cautiously and was pleasantly surprised when he answered,” Vernon will be back on Monday,”
6. Not long after that, the phone rang. It was one of my girlfriends asking me if I wanted to go hear Richie Havens at the Lyric in Blacksburg this weekend. “Richie Havens!” I exclaimed. “Yeah, I’m surprised he’s coming to The Lyric,” she answered. “I’m surprised he’s still alive! He had no teeth when he played at Woodstock,” I remembered.
7. On two occasions recently I’ve served at an interviewee for my husband’s Masters in counseling assignments. The last interview was on sexuality. My interview alias is Ann.
8. Sometimes it feels like I spend all my time following the threads of thoughts that run through my mind and trying to decide which ones to pull, which to weave into the mix, and which to tie off for later.
9. I used to be physic with my mail. I frequently could intuit what letters where in the mailbox. Now it’s happening with the blog. When I dial-up and hit refresh to check my comments, I frequently know how many there are or aren’t. Sometimes I can feel when someone has visited. Like Monday, I was downstairs emptying the dishwasher when I thought of Deana at Friday Night Fish Fry. Later, when I got back to my computer, sure enough, she had left a comment right when I was thinking of her. Of course, now that I’ve put this in print, it probably won’t happen anymore.
10. The pots in the first photo were Christmas gifts from my potter son, Josh, this year. The one on the left is mine, and the one on the right is my husband’s. I named them “The sexy couple: The Next Generation.” The first “Sexy Couple” (earlier gifts that Josh also made) are posted here. Can you see how they got their name?
11. My favorite 13 Thursday last week was this one from Open Book, a chronicle of her effort to quit smoking.
12. The best zinger of last week on Dick Cheney’s infamous hunting accident came not from Jon Stewart or Jay Leno or any of the late night comics but from a fellow Republican, Senator of Nebraska, Chuck Hagel. “If he’d been in the military, he would have learned gun safety,” Hagel was quoted as saying.
13. When the weather gets warmer, my husband thinks about changing the oil in my car and I think about painting my toenails pink. Painting my toenails is my version of the groundhog seeing his shadow, or not. I haven’t painted them yet.
Post Note: Visit Nicole at Just the Girl Next Door to get the bigger 13 Thursday picture. My other 13 Thursdays can be found here.
February 23rd, 2006 8:58 am
I love the picture on the wall (“From a Distance”)behind your pottery — and even have a copy myself. It’s one of many I have by Bob Tuckwiller from Newport, VA. He’s a talented artist, good friend and his paintings and prints help make my house a real home. So glad to run across a fellow Tuckwiller fan!
February 23rd, 2006 9:04 am
great List! I do the toe painting thing when I feel spring is close. I have not done it yet either.
February 23rd, 2006 9:09 am
Yes, it is a Tuckwiller photo! I’m glad we’ve given him credit now. I love it, and it looks just like that right up the road from me.
February 23rd, 2006 9:46 am
Love the pottery! It’s beautiful. I do the toenail thing as well but sometimes I like to do mine manicure style. It goes with everything. 😉
Happy TT!
February 23rd, 2006 10:34 am
I’m sure the job opportunities are limited living in the country. But it’s so quiet and beautiful.
Thanks for visiting my 13.
February 23rd, 2006 10:38 am
Another great list.
As I read through I wanted to comment on each, but I won’t now because it’s # 9 that floored me the most. I have the same thing going on!
I get fewer comments than you do though, so does that indicate that my sixth sense, in this regard, is more profound than yours? Or less?
Oh well…I can’t decide which way it goes. Must be my dyscalculia!
February 23rd, 2006 10:48 am
I’ll say it again: I love your blog. Nice list today, like a little silver thread tying it all together… happy 13, mine are up!
February 23rd, 2006 11:56 am
A great list, as always. How much fun is it to be Anne?
I can’t wait to paint my toenails. I prefer lilac.
February 23rd, 2006 11:58 am
I feel the same way about my shoes. If they look good, I really don’t care. If the shoes don’t feel like old, broken in, comfort shoes when I first put them on in the store, I don’t get them. (unless they were originally $400 shoes and now they want $2 for them, then I’d at least consider it) 🙂
February 23rd, 2006 12:16 pm
I have always wanted to live in the country… cleaner air, peace, and a less rushed lifestyle. Perhaps someday. 🙂
I completely agree with the clothes have to fit and feel good thing to. Until recently, I never applied that to my shoes. I do now and my feet have never been happier!!
Got my TT up!
February 23rd, 2006 12:46 pm
Ok – I just did my first Thirteen – the next step is to visit others and also tell them I did one, right?
Hope so cause that’s what I’m doing….
In storage I have one of Josh’s creations and I really miss it – especially where I’ve been decorating my new place.
Luv ya
February 23rd, 2006 12:53 pm
Lovely picture! I’ll have to check out your link to dyscalculia.org. I took a quick look and could relate to some things. Loved your nr. 9 , it is special! and liked you mentioning your favorite TT , nice thing to do. Thanks for visiting my TT , great expression of yours: I am thirteening! I just MUST adopt it!
February 23rd, 2006 2:32 pm
Love that #12!! My 13 are up!
February 23rd, 2006 2:51 pm
Jimmy And Danny died in 2001…
The Red Sox did win in 2004, which is two years ago.
love & peace
February 23rd, 2006 3:21 pm
I haven’t had my spring pedicure either. I wait until there is no possibility of snow…..lol.
Love the pots! Especially the first 2.
February 23rd, 2006 4:37 pm
great 13,
the pots are beautiful.
February 23rd, 2006 6:56 pm
“Since they died, in 2001, I see everything through their eyes along with my own.”
Wow. Very well said. Never realized (until now) that I do the same with my dad who died in 2003.
February 23rd, 2006 7:41 pm
Always love everything you write, Colleen..And today is no different…interesting, imformative, touching and funny! You’ve got it all, my dear!
Love the pottery…
No Chinese takeout??? OY!
February 23rd, 2006 8:48 pm
Sometimes I think I can do the same with the comments. Sometimes I get the feeling that I should check and see if I have a new comment. Then when I see that I have one, I sometimes think I already know who left it before I check to see who it is. Isn’t that wierd? And yet I never know who’s calling on the phone.
February 23rd, 2006 9:51 pm
I love the “Sexy Couple”. Your family is talented.
I thought of you last week after you read my 13…celebrating my brother’s birthday. I felt guilty because you lost both brothers. I felt terrible that you visited me and cried. But I do love him so…and because of you I will cherish him even more.
Thanks for visiting today.
February 23rd, 2006 9:56 pm
Love those pots! They’re cute and so ethnic-looking 🙂
Happy weekend 🙂
February 24th, 2006 1:15 pm
I understand how you see things through your brothers eyes as well as your own. I do this with my Dad all the time.
February 24th, 2006 6:16 pm
“Sometimes it feels like I spend all my time following the threads of thoughts that run through my mind and trying to decide which ones to pull, which to weave into the mix, and which to tie off for later.”
I just love that. Love it.
I liked all your 13 this week.
February 25th, 2006 7:08 pm
Seeing as your 13 are nearly always my favorite ones every week, I’m awed by the mention here. And also? It elicited the best comment ever, from your one and only. So, thank you for that. Sincerely. 🙂