Engagement is for the other page - this one gets to see the Smidgen!!!

That is one fancy dog in a blanket!

A few more thoughts while I can't stay sleepy...

I'm awake. I was sleeping, but now I'm awake.

I had the epidural shots today (technically yesterday) - and my body is kind of reeling. It's much more about pain that came as a result of the procedure itself. So, at least that means that it will go away quickly... and then, I can (hopefully) start enjoying the results of this whole ordeal.

So, I woke up to pain shooting through my legs, and the feeling that my hips, lower back, and remaining torso - were not moveable, especially in directions one way from another. My shins hurt, I have pins and needles in my left foot, and the general feeling, is that I have pain racing around every part of my body below the waist. So, I decided to get up and make myself comfortable until I could relax again.

I have my laptop, a Roseanne DVD rolling, a cup of chocolate soy milk, and a heating pad that is trying to salvage the area surrounding my tailbone. Eventually... I'll get tired again.

I noticed that on my last big posts, for both blogs, I left out several photos. Actually, I kind of did it on purpose... because I felt like the few that I kept were mine. But now, I'm thinking... why?? So, I'll post them... but, because there are only a few, I will have more of a chance to comment. (Lucky you, reader.) :)

Okay... so this picture was taken on a boat while we were in San Francisco. Our hair is a little wet, as we made it on to that boat just in time before the downpour. You can also see my Dad in the background, taking a peep at what exactly is going on over there. :)

What you don't see in this picture is the large group of family that was with us, on the other end of the table. We took a group trip to ALCATRAZ! So, this was the boat that got us there, and we're on our way back, here.

I had been to Alczatraz about five years ago, but I was happy to make another trip. The tour was slightly different, plus, I knew that this was something that Josie would love. So - we couldn't miss it! It was like we got to watch the History Channel together, in person... and we loved it! I had a great time, and so did he; I love the conversation born from things such as this... we could just talk, and talk, and talk...

I cannot say... well, the words escape me when I try to explain how happy we are together. Tonight, we looked at eachother, and... our lives have once again changed together. Suddenly the timeline to my life became as clear as a calendar... and everything that I said or considered - he was right there with me, checking off the days together, one by one... What were, and what are we counting for? No holiday in sight - yet, we anxiously flipped through this figurative calendar, like children marking their way toward Christmas.

I never thought that I would be so lucky: there is no subsitute for a love like this. This kind of love makes its way through you, as if it is in every breath. And, like the air we breathe, it is both simple and necessary. Our time together has been one, small, important event after another; tiny pieces of time and life, that have come together in a way that nothing in my life ever has.

Undoubtedly, part of my happiness comes from the feeling that I have found my companion, and he has found his, in me. It is a strong statement - but its strength is built upon those tiny, familiar, "right" things. But, we bring out the best in eachother; we encourage eachother; we believe in eachother; we embrace eachother's families; we interact within a relationship that is transparent; and we relate to eachother's most deep sense of trust...

In fact, Josie has been entrusted with things that in my lifetime, have only been entrusted to one other man. That man is my Father; he is a man that I have placed utop a pedastal my entire life. No other man has even come close to reaching him... until now. Now, they share that pedastal (in my mind.) To be honest, I never thought that I would ever find someone able to reach the tower that I put my Father on; I had even forgotten about it until this week. When I remembered, I couldn't believe how quickly I mentally put them on equal footing. I was so overcome with emotion; I couldn't possibly have found this man.... sometimes it just doesn't feel real. :)

Everyday, I can sense, feel change as it happens- knowing very well that not all others surrounding me do. But I feel powerful, even when weakness chases me. And, I have been given gifts that some will never experience. And, some people will spend their whole lives wondering why everything must stay the same - because they can't see the change when it's happening.

I'm lucky. One day... I opened my eyes; I saw everything I needed to know. And, it's always there. It's like seeing the air right in front of you face... unfamiliar, there are those that pretend to be blind.

But, I choose to walk right through it: knowingly, honestly, and humbly.

Pictures galore! And, many with a man that I couldn't love more!

So... Josie learned how to iron! Woo-hoo! I just had to get pictures of that. :)

Josie attacked by the killer dog... well, I don't know if it qualified as an "attack." I think she was actually trying to do a gymnast-like hop (the intention of landing smoothly, in a position that she could sleep in.) However, she actually hopped up, did a half-spin while in mid-air (that's where the gymnastics comes in) - she then grappled to hang on by digging her paws into Josie. Oh, and of course, no botched-jump attempt by Smidgen would be complete without the positioning of her ass directly into the face. Thanks for keeping the tail down this time, Smidgen. Nobody needs to see that.

Now... we went out! Last weekend, we broke the Friday-night movie schedule to make an appearance at "Shelter," with my lovely gal Kelli. Don't believe me? I have proof!!!

See??? And we had fun, too!

So what could possibly be next??? SHOPPING!!!

But, activities that involve such large amounts of movement... they also require sleep.

Well... almost asleep, anyway.

So, those are Part 2 (following Part 1 on my other blog...) Hope you enjoyed!

Plump-etty... cheers?

Well... here is to the plump woman. Why? Because, as an attempt to heal my ailing pains, I had a second round of steroid injections into my lower-back. Now, there are a lot of cons about this whole thing... but the pros simply have to outweigh the cons.

Cons... I got fat. Pros... I won't be in pain.

Tough one.

I have had this procedure once before. My entire mid-section grew about 4 sizes the last time, and, it took the stomach flu to rid myself of the bloat. It was disgusting, and none of my pants fit... but, fortunatley I've got a man that seems to have magical powers. You see, no matter how plump, and gross, and icky I am - he seems to have the power of "beauty vision" when it comes to me. When he claims he sees beauty all of the time, I can't say that I believe him all of the time.

When I look in the mirror some days, I see reality: pimples, puff, whale-ish proportions, etc... but, I also see one lucky kitten. Past my image, this kitten still has a man made of magic standing behind me, all the way. :)

So... cheers to the vintage beauty! With one "black and white" - our language suddenly changes. Plump becomes soft, whale-ish becomes absurd, puffy leads to curvy... pancake makeup knows no zit. Suddenly, my harsh realism converts my image into "woman."

Then, as a "woman" - I immediately shame myself for not making these language modifications before!!!

Nothing yet, silly...

But I do have lots of material on its way!