Has anyone seen my pants?

It's really hard to find just the right khaki pants. The color is either too tan or too gray or too greenish. Some are soft cotton but wrinkle too easily. Add some polyester and they're not as comfortable. Khaki can't be expensive, lined or dry-clean-only. And so many come with those weird, unattractive pockets that stick out on the sides.

I finally found the perfect pair of khaki pants. The perfect fit and even the perfect length and style to go with my favorite shoes ever. Only problem is...I can't find them. I've looked everywhere reasonable for pants to be. I've looked places no respectable pair of pants would be kept. It just doesn't make sense. And I'm sure I would remember leaving the house with pants but returning without them.

I have a pretty good memory but, try as I might, I can't remember when I last wore the Perfect pants. If so, I might be able to track what's become of them. Perfect is subjective when it comes to pants, so asking everyone to be on the lookout isn't likely to work. But just in case...please let me know if you find my pants.

Erica's golden birthday

My little Erica just turned 12 on the 12th...her golden birthday. Soon the braces come off and then...look out world! She just keeps getting cuter.
I love you, Munchie!

Miss Laura is 15

This middle child of mine is so beautiful...inside and out.

Happy birthday, Laura! I love you!

Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

- The Fray

"Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence."

~ Sydney Smith

18

Jared has now turned 18. I still can't believe it. This birthday of his was tougher for me to face than my own 40th. My little boy...legally considered an "adult." But he will always be my baby.

Through all the ins and outs of this growing up process, I still believe what I've always told you, Jared:
You are fabulous! I love you, Bear.

The persistent plastic bag...

One year ago, a white plastic bag lodged itself in a tree in my backyard...within view of my favorite seat in the living room. I had to look at it all winter (it was too high to get it down) and was happy when the leaves came back and hid it. Well the leaves are now gone, but the bag still remains. It's a bit worse for the wear, but still hanging on. It can't last forever...can it?

"Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives."
- C.S. Lewis

"We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."

~Paulo Coelho

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
~Benjamin Franklin

Smashmouth quote...

Line from the Smashmouth song "New Planet"...

We need a new planet
You were a rock but I took you for granite

Just kind of clever and I like it.

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
~ Dr. Seuss.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. ... You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

~Eleanor Roosevelt

New spot?

I think I may have found something to replace Bean Tree Bistro (as if that's really possible). Yesterday I tried Camille's Cafe. More of a restaurant than a coffee shop, not enough dessert choices, but they do have a good looking menu...and they have outdoor tables, which are even on the west side of their building (same as Bean Tree) so I can go there in the evening and see the sunset. Of course it's not quite the same, but I'll give it a try.

Farewell Bean Tree

My favorite coffee shop, Bean Tree Bistro, is open for the last day today. No other shop in town has the ambience this one does or tables outside where you can watch the sunset. I went there last night and had many recollections of times spent there with friends and family. Among the fondest were memories of long and varied conversations with my dear Jeanne, who I miss so much. Makes saying goodbye to Bean Tree sort of feel like another goodbye to her. So now I have my memories, my souvenir mug and (thanks to Laura) a plate from the shop showing two friends talking.

More and more lately I'm seeing that things change, children grow up, people leave and life keeps moving on...that's just the way it is.
*sigh*
I know there are good things in change, too...they're just hard to spot sometimes.

It would appear from the looks of this weblog that in the past month I've had nothing to say. For those who know me at all...seems hard to believe, doesn't it?

I still remember these lines from the prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." Had to learn it in English Lit, with Mrs. Oosterhart - who is still at GHS, I might add. See? It hasn't been *that* long since I was in high school!

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

If none of this makes much sense as you read it, that's because it's in Middle English. Let me know if you'd like me to translate. What got me thinking of this is that the "Word of the Day" on Dictionary.com is virtu.

virtu (vuhr-TOO) noun:
1. love of or taste for fine objects of art.
2. Productions of art (especially fine antiques).
3. Artistic quality.

"You have shown me more wonders than are known in the whole of heaven."

- Out of the Silent Planet
C. S. Lewis

I happened to be talking to a young man about this book yesterday. Haven't read this series in years...but I think I should pick it up again.

Quotation for April 27, 2006:

"The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are."

Selected Literary Essays
C. S. Lewis

New York City

New York was fabulous! Went to a Broadway show ("Odd Couple"), strolled Central Park, watched the sunset from the top of the Empire State building, visited the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero, ate at several great restaurants, had hours of rehearsal and, best of all...SANG IN CARNEGIE HALL!