Puppy Love

My brother made my day... sending me a "Hi, Aunt Lyndy!" text.

I love these babies!















Archie is the big, gold boy. He is two, with a birthday around Thanksgiving. He's a Rotweiler-Lab mix, and sturdy! His head seems as big as a basketball.

To the right is the German Shepard, Shadow. He is the ADHD child of the family. But what a lover, he is! His birthday is in February, that good Aquarian boy. He's also two years old. Justin and Nic got the boys pretty close together.

Baby Bella is in the forefront, on the left. She's a sweet Australian Shepard, helping ease the loss of Miss Lily last year. I'm glad she's young, and needs the exercise. She and Shadow can chase each other around to keep busy. Archie's getting too cumbersome and lazy to be much of a challenge for Shadow.

Brother Crash is the newest dog to the clan. Justin found him down by the shops one night, injured and abandoned. He took him to the vet with the intent to post "found" signs. Knowing my brother and his open heart, once he got home, that was all she wrote! I'm not sure how old Crash is yet, or his breed. Justin told me once, and I've forgotten already.

As his family grew so quickly, my brother wasn't sure how to transport them all. Because when we have a family function, the babies have to come, too! Although I told him he deserved to drive a minivan (he was contemplating getting one), he found a truck topper.

Those doggies are also spoiled rotten by Grandma. My mom spoils all of us, though. For Easter, not only did the puppies get a basket of goodies from Grandma, Bella even got her own little purse! My mother cracks me up.

It's Darren's Day!

Happy birthday to my lovely boyfriend, rather, fiance'!


He gets 13 more hours of adoration... then it's MY turn! : P

The Making of A Good Day

This song popped up on my iPod today... I love absolutely everything about it. The lyrics, Art's voice, the blend of orchestra with amplifiers... just everything. Although the album received lukewarm promotion and success, it is by far my favorite overall album.

It also reminds me of the west coast, making me want to get back to the beach.

Everclear's "A Beautiful Life", from the album Slow Motion Daydream

You seem to make the same mistakes everyday
Sometimes it’s hard to open your eyes
You wanna be the only cake on the table
Yeah, you say you don’t like surprises
You wanna find a pretty place you can stay
Yeah, you just don’t want to live in LA

I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down

I just wanna be with you

(Oh)

I really hate the way you push me away
I do not like it when you shut me out
I say I love you but I don’t really know you
I wanna change you but I don’t know how
I wanna leave when it gets ugly and cold
I wanna leave but I got nowhere to go
(Oh yeah)

I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
(Yeah)
I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
On a beautiful life
I just wanna find a beautiful life
I wanna be where the sun shines down
I just wanna find a beautiful life
I don’t care where we go
I don’t care what we do
(Oh)

You seem to make the same mistakes all the time
Sometimes it’s not so hard to understand why
You say you hate the things that you have done
Yeah, you have been running with your back to the sun
you wanna find a place you don’t have to hide
You say you’re happy just to be alive

I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
(Yeah)
I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
(Oh yeah-ee-yeah)
I just wanna be
Where the sun shines down
On a beautiful life
I just wanna find a beautiful life
I wanna be where the sun shines down
I just wanna find a beautiful life
(Oh)
I wanna be where the sun shines down
(Oh)
I wanna be where the sun shines down
(yeah-ee-yeah yeah)
I wanna be where the sun shines down
(Oh)
I wanna be where the sun shines down
(yeah-ee-yeah yeah)

I don’t care where we go
I don’t care what we do
As long as I can be with you
I just wanna be with you

The Goddess Loves Me, This I Know...

... for I get little signs all the time she is looking out for me.

At Christmas time, I thought of sending a card to her mama and family. Just to let them know we were all well, thinking of them, and update on how big monster boy has become. For fear of upseting them or making the holiday harder than necessary, I refrained. Today, thisclose to 20 years from the day that changed everything... Mama J called me at work!

It was hard not to cry-- thankfully this time from joy, rather than sadness. She felt the same. Mainly, she just wanted to catch up, and had some things for me. It was wonderful to hear from her. She said her family was well, and she and papa were leaving the 'dotte to move closer to the grandbabies. As all retirees would love to do.

Unfortunately, Camille's cute boy has not been handling her absence well at all. I was afraid he wouldn't. While quite loving and supportive when she needed that most in a man... he is not strong of will on his own. He succumbed to the stress of her illness in those last days, and apparently has fallen even further.

Part of me feels guilty for not watching over him... but I knew at the time I couldn't take on that responsibility. Not only am I too far away, with my own family responsibilites, but I'm also not a very good enabler. Fortunately, he wants to feel better, and is willing to move back with his family. I'm glad mama won't have to continue to babysit him. Hopefully it will begin a happier chapter of his life.

One Year Later

Although it pains me use a country music reference... there is a Reba McEntire song titled "For My Broken Heart". Its lyrics say to the effect that no matter how sad we are, or how painful life has become, the world is not going to stop.

The sentiment commemorates my sadness on the first anniversary of losing Camille. It has been a year since I last saw her, and had to say goodbye to her. The pain is not as acute, and I will always be extremely grateful I felt compelled to go visit her that day. Yet it still takes very little to start me crying over her.

Over the last year, there have been several times I wished I could have called her up for advice. No one else has been able to tell me the perfect balance of what I want to hear, what I NEED to hear, and the humour to make the smartest decision possible. Her pride in my progress made me all the more devoted to her.

While I wonder if there will ever be another person in my life like her… I almost don’t want there to be. Truth be told, it is probably more likely due to the fact I’ve needed to move on from the past. Last week, I went for a tarot reading. Overall, I’m still not sure if to believe the reader was just as accurate or gifted as Camille. Certainly, she told me several accurate things during the reading. And she could connect with Camille, which provided much comfort and reassurance. It was just odd, to have a different perspective after 10 years.

So today, for my goddess—I will drink a lovely coffee drink, buy a sassy book, and torment the cute young boys. When I grow up, I still hope I can be like her.

Giving Thanks

As I had to put on my iPod this morning, to drown out two blathering coworkers wasting time chatting over the wall... I was reminded of those things for which I should be thankful. And not only because the first song playing was the Renholder mix to A Perfect Circle's "Judith" (thank your god).

Lyndy's 2006 List of Superficial Things To Be Thankful For:

Diet Sunkist soda-- when you feel like cheating on Diet Coke

Peanut butter M & Ms-- even more addictive than the Kissables heroin

Southwest airlines Ticketless Travel funds and Rapid Rewards-- no longer need I worry about eating a penalty for changing airfare. And after only eight roundtrips in two years, I get free flight!

Munchos chips-- and thank you, Frito Lay, for not making them in a bigger bag. Otherwise, I'd always have a sodium headache.

Bath & Body Works body cream-- extra thick, and super smelly. Bonus on getting free stuff coupons in the mail all the time!

Hip vampire movies (like Underworld)-- beyond the cuties in black leather and corsets, for introducing me to new music. While it's heavier than I'd seek out or listen to for long otherwise... it does fit a need to suit a mood.

Ethnic Gourmet's Pad Thai with tofu-- thank you for reminding me of fun thai lunches with the Goddess

Working with a crew all younger than me-- has made me feel fun again... and also affirmed that I haven't turned out half bad!

and lastly, thank you, iPod-- for keeping me from wanting to strangle idiot people!

I Am Spoiled

Yet again, I do not deserve my bestest boyfriend in the whole world.

For he has made me a happy girl.... buying tickets to



EVERCLEAR THURSDAY NIGHT AT GRANADA!!!!!!!

And the most awesomest part? He's my date!!! We haven't been able to go to a show together for some time.

This is going to totally rock!

Happy Anniversary, Sissy!

Hard to believe... but only eight short years ago, my sister was made an honest woman. Congratulations, Aunt Shortey!

In your honour, I've complied my "The List" of men I'd like to *know*. Should one of these gentleman also meet with your approval, you know I'd share. With spousal consent, of course! Or even without... since you're my sister, and all, and you know I'd cover for you! : P

1. Steve Young, former NFL quarterback
2. Bruce Willis -- Yes, I realize he's a Republican, and pretty arrogant. He's aged well.
3. Art Alexakis, lead singer of Everclear -- Oh yes, I DO realize he's an Aries male and would annoy the crap out of me over time.... but always a sentimental favorite.
4. Tommy Lee -- Oy, I'm getting worse at having to explain, here!
5. Pierce Brosnan -- Always a classy and safe choice.
6. Orlando Bloom -- He's so cute. And young!
7. Craig Montoya, former bassist for Everclear -- Again with the sentimentality, and the fact he's hubba hubba!
8. Neil Peart, drummer for Rush
9. Timothy Dalton --not my favorite Bond, but made Prince Baron so handsome!
10. Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) -- it may take both of us and some of our girlfriends for that boy!

Alternates are writer Neil Gaiman (oh, the handsome whimsy of his mop-top hair!) and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl (another of those adorable shaggy boys).

Despite common belief... I HAVE been completing work today as well. Yet mostly I'm just killing time until I can go home and watch my Season 4 La Femme Nikita! It arrived in the mail yesterday. Happy girl, happy girl... I'm a happy girl!

Though now I totally need to add Roy Dupuis to The List!

Update: Good lord... I can't believe I forgot Gary Dourdan!


This hunk of scientific crime-fighting goodness is part of the reason I only watch the Las Vegas CSI. Warrick, I'm sorry, baby. You were working such long hours at the lab, I forgot about you!