a penny for your thoughts

Whenever you're called on to make up your mind,
and you're hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you'll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.

No - not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you're passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you're hoping.

Piet Hein (1905-1996)

My sister gave me this poem several years ago when I was caught in the purgatory of a decision. And I really did not get it. I just said, "Oh...thanks Em. That's cute." But I thought of it the other day when a new friend was explaining a predicament to me, and I totally got it. And now I love it. I mean, it's not super complex at all -- not like I couldn't have understood it years ago. I guess it just took a seat in the subconsious of my mind, not having a direct application to show itself through. And then someone needed it, and in pulling it off the shelf & dusting it off, I realized I needed it too.

Beth Ann's Christmas List

I love getting presents. No shame about that whatsoever. I decided it was time to start a list of what I'd like for Christmas this year -- undoubtedly at least my mother will ask me about it. So here it is for all the world to see! And it's almost guaranteed to grow weekly.

A capo for my ukulele. I think it can just be a regular capo, doesn't need to be special. It will get all the specialness it needs when it gets to hug the neck of my kamaka.

I've heard this book is great. I love the theory behind it, and would like to become an expert in hiding veggies in everything.http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/0061251348/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1783643-5532127?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194901703&sr=8-1


I love this lady (Barbara Kingsolver). Here's one of her newer ones, about the green & furry things I enjoy. I actually only have Poisonwood Bible & Prodigal Summer, so anything else by her would be wonderful to own. http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Year-Food/dp/0060852550/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1783643-5532127?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194554440&sr=8-1
Here's one I've been wanting for a long time: the DVD of THE GREAT RACE
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Race-Jack-Lemmon/dp/B000063K2R/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-1783643-5532127?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1194553711&sr=8-1

Walk in the Park

Unrelated to events this past weekend, but more out of a grueling work schedule, I purchased a secondary crate for my (leftover) dog, Nelson. I was always having to rush home from work to let him out, and I'm so backed up at work right now it would be better if I could stay for longer hours. I figured Nelson doesn't know whether he's crated at home or in a car (windows down of course), so now I take him to work with me everyday. I can take him for a quick walk over lunch, at my 3:30 "don't give in to the chocolate urge" time, and any other time I just need to get up off my keester & get the blood moving.

Today we went across the highway to this little completely unknown place called STREAMWAY PARK. It has a perfect walking trail & the fall colors are at least mediocre enough to make a stroll feel a little more special than usual. So we walked. It was wonderful. He loved it & so did I.

But the coolest part of this whole rather pointless story is that I SMELLED THE CATERPILLARS. Do you know this smell? I remember it most from when I was little and completely blown away by the little things. When you actually picked them up & let them crawl all over your hands, turning & turning your wrist so the thing was always on top. But they smell! They have a smell, right? I'm not just imagining this? I'm fairly certain they do. I can't describe it... someone back me up here.

I never actually saw one:


But it was easy enough to imagine with this little dude around: