Youngest granddaughter Isabelle’s 4th bday party today, featuring Mirabelle from Encanto.
Isabelle being presented with a plaque declaring her an honorary candle protector. (Have you seen the movie?)
On Isabelle’s 4th (and many more to follow):
“May she be happy. May she be healthy. May she be safe. May she be at peace and live her live with ease.”
Happy Birthday, Isabelle!
A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
Robert (wearing his flashy shirt) and … a gigantic skull.
Pointing at his own skull. To give a sense of perspective, I suppose.
1. HR’s pizza! Oh my. Goodness.
2. Waking up to a brand new day each morning. What an incredible blessing! (Especially after the picture above.)
3. Elephant Ears.
Stop it! On the plant, not on me!
One of my top three favorite plants in the whole wide world. Here’s an old post about the reasons why …
4. The sleek new white chairs in my therapist Rubi’s office
I am a firm believer that therapists ALWAYS strategically place items in their waiting areas with hidden (HA!), underlying (probably-childhood related) purposes. Here’s my theory about the photo above.
On second thought, I’ll just let the redecorated room itself—and the therapists whose clients wait in the room—speak for itself and themselves:
“Hi there. And welcome back! Look at how fresh and clean everything looks in our, we mean YOUR, waiting area. A tabla rosa-ness to it, don’t you think? This session you’re about to have can be a new beginning to your mental health. But remember we have to do it in 50 minutes. Sit down and make yourself comfortable.”
“The slanting brown legs on the chair? We’re glad you noticed, but come on, you get that, we’re sure. No? Being grounded of course. Connecting to Mother Earth. Therapy doesn’t go straight down and to the point all at once, for goodness sake. It has to slant, meander, hiccup around for a spell. Sometimes quite a spell. Over MULTIPLE 50-minute sessions. And the FOUR legs? Why earth, wind, fire and water, of course.”
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I’m sorry but I need to interrupt the room and the therapists for a second here. I took the above photo three weeks ago when the room was just being redone. Look closely at the seat part of the chair. See sort of a crack or opening? I did. And since Rubi had not called me back yet, I looked around to make sure there were no hidden cameras and did what comes naturally to me. I snooped. And, lo and behold, when I placed my hand on the seat part, it was loose. I hoisted it up. It had not been screwed down yet! Okay, again sorry, back to the room and therapists’ spill.
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“You might notice the chair is a bit wobbly. That your butt moves up and down and side to side while you’re sitting. No worries. You won’t fall out of it. Just steady yourself. After all, you’ve just got a few loose screws. WE MEAN THE CHAIR HAS GOT A FEW LOOSE SCREWS!!!”
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“Hi Neal,” Rubi greets me at my session three weeks ago. “Come on up.” I follow my therapist to his suite but quickly look back at the chair. And it seems to wiggle and wave a bit. I can’t tell if it is taunting or encouraging me.
5. Clouds.
I hope clouds bring you joy this weekend.
A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.
So I was minding my own business, sitting in my study chair …
… meditating on why the Kardashians are still “a thing,” when Robert, who had been in the kitchen working on his ice cream sundae, barreled into the study and shoved this in my face …
“OoKaay,” I said, but really concentrating on Kim’s issue with her bangs.
“No, look, Neal!” (R only calls me by my name when he is animated). “LOOK.”
“Uh, that’s the top of the fudge jar,” I observed.
“No, no,” he squealed, “your Artful Dodger blog category. LOOK.”
Then I saw him! A cute little brown puppy!
Aww. Isn’t he adorable?!
Going into a bathroom in New York recently, I saw these notices …
No? Don’t throw toilet paper into the toilet?
NO? DON’T FLUSH ANYTHING DOWN THE TOILET?!
To throw or to flush—that is the question!
A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
We may be back in Slow-vannah after our week trek to New York, but I’m still NYC remembering.
One night we were hanging out at Hush, a tremendously cool gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen.
After wearing out our welcome, we headed to nearby Lucky’s for burgers.
For some reason (the hour at Hush?), Robert was particularly expressive as we awaited our food. Here are half a dozen HR looks.
“Tired”
P.S New York-ing can wear you out!
P.S. 2. HR loves to take awkward pics of me when I don’t know he’s doing so.
Daily nerdy notes on our New York getaway.
French Crème Donut and coffee for a beautiful quick breakfast.
In an attempt to see just how embarrassingly touristy two people from Savannah can get, Robert and I hopped on the Roosevelt Island Tram and headed over to Roosevelt Island.
And enjoyed the greenery beside the East River.
Grandson Daniel, who you may remember just finished a run as Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” here in Savannah, is at a three-week drama camp.
I have been sending him silly cards of encouragement. Here is my latest. In order to understand it, you must know that the family dog is named Coastal. (We live in Savannah, next to the Atlantic Ocean, and my daughter’s medical company is called Coastal Care Partners.)
Puppy dog Coastal …
And here’s the card …
Grandfatherly Fun!
NealEnJoy 