I open my eyes.
There's Frankie sitting on the edge of the bed.
Me: "Don't DO that! Have you any idea how unsettling it is to find somebody sitting on a person's bed while that person is still sleeping in it?"
Frankie's brow is deeply furrowed, I know she wants to wax philosophic. It's waaay to early for one of these conversations plus I don't want to. I try to distract her in a not so pleasant voice.
Me: "Frankie, go away. Make coffee. Feed Zorro, feed CC. Turn on the heat."
I throw the covers over my head.
It's too late. Here is comes.
Frankie: "What would you do, just for the fun of it?"
I pretend I'm asleep and didn't hear her. Shoot, it's too late. My mind is already conjuring up scenarios. Dang it!
I slowly inch the covers off my face.
Me: "How much money do I have?"
Frankie: (In her not so pleasant voice) "This has nothing to do with money. If you could, what would you do just for the fun of it. Geeze, why do you always over think everything, and why does it always involve money."
Me: "Because, wealth has everything to do with everything. The more money I have, the better 'thing' I can do just for the fun of it."
By now Frankie is quite disgusted with me.
Frankie: "Know what I'd do? I'd pretend. I would pretend the 'bestest' stuff ever."
She pauses. I know her imagination is racing along at seventy-five miles an hour. At least! She gets up and walks over to the bedroom window, dreamy look on her face.
Frankie: "I'd pretend it's August, insects are making buzzing, chirping sounds. It's hot."
She turns, looks at me to see if I'm falling into her trance and continues.
Frankie: "But, not too hot. I'd throw a blanket across the lawn in a sunny spot and lie down. Puffy white clouds are meandering across the sky."
Frankie returns to the bed. "Look", she says, pointing a finger toward the window. "There's a rabbit."
"There's mushroom."
"There's a silhouette of Alfred Hitchcock." She laughs, and falls back on top of the blankets. Frankie rolls over onto her side, resting her head on her hand. "You make everything so...so...complicated."
She's right. I do. Where my mind went to a private jet and a quick trip to Paris, hers went to something simple and sweet. There's a lot of silence in the room.
Me: "Okay! I've got one!" Same August afternoon, only, I'd go to the garage and grab a big piece of cardboard. Lock up the house and head for the middle school, where the hills in back have browned. They are perfect for cardboard sliding. Oh, it's a bumpy, bumpy ride, teeth jarring. Still I'd make the trip often enough to tire myself out. Yep, I'd do that just for the fun of it."
Frankie is delighted I got into the swing of this.
"I've got one!" She says.
By now I'm out of bed and we're walking down the hall toward the kitchen.
"I'd go to the ice cream store and get myself a cone in every single flavor they have."
Me: "I'd feed the birds."
Frankie: "I'd run through the sprinkles."
Me: "I'd have a whipped cream pie fight."
...................
What would you do just for the fun of it?
Monday, February 10, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
...Oh, the weather....
I'm overcome with giggles today, and I'm not sure why.
Maybe it's because of the snow.
All I know is I'm finding things ridiculously funny.
Take Zorro for instance. All the dogs I've had, and there have been plenty, have loved romping in the snow, and if they had long fur would come back into the house covered in tiny balls of the cold, white stuff. Not so Zorro. Last night I acted all excited about going 'potty' before going to bed. He bought it, up to the door jam, where he came to a screeching halt. The snow stopped a mini-micro below the point I could push the door open.
He stared out. I coaxed.
He eventually, reluctantly, gave a bunny hop out onto the stoop, and went to the edge. He hesitated again, I don't think he knew where the step was. Again I offered encouragement telling him to hurry up, "the quicker you go, the quicker you can come back in". The snow was just about up to his back leg knees.
Boy, did he move fast. (I don't know what I'm going to do if we have more snow, and the remaining tips of plants disappear and there is nothing left to lift his leg on.)
This morning's outing was even more quick...I tell you, my dog hates the snow.
Then of course there's my neighbors 'chicken fence'. Giggle, giggle. Remember when it went up last summer and I stated it would not last the year? Well, things are not looking good. The east wind knocked it around pretty badly yesterday. It is listing southward, and the weight of the snow on it isn't helping. As I mentioned when it went up my neighbor simply used 'craft weight' wire to anchor his fence to my vinyl picket one, and at the time I thought he did a pretty good job with that. Giggle, giggle...not so much!
Now it's down to which will last longer...the chickens or the fence? Two of the chickens have already disappeared. And the fence...well...it's not looking good. Giggle, giggle, giggle.
Finally, I have to giggle at my Edukated Metrolgists. They are puffed up like peacocks this morning...oh, my word!!!!!!! Yesterday, they were right...spot on right. They said the snow would start at 11 AM, and it did. As a result, today, they are sooo confident they are forecasting this afternoon's holocaust is going to happen (around) two, and that there will be two to four inches of new snow in the metro area. See them strut! Strut, strut, strut.
Oh, and, my local news is mostly storm related. Here's the thing. Apparently I'm not the only one who questions the experts in weather related things. Otherwise, people would listen to the news anchors and weather folks and STAY HOME, OFF THE STREETS, DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE, AND WATCH THE NEWS. But, do folks listen? Noooo....instead they are clogging roads, fender bending into other vehicles, and chaining up right in the middle of streets....(seriously, I saw this incident yesterday on the news). (Apparently it takes about 30 minutes to chain up an eighteen wheeler.)
I've got my TV on, and just got a new update...now we can expect two to FIVE inches of new snow today.
I admit, if the Edukated Metrolgists get it right today I will really be impressed and I might just stop making fun of them.
At any rate, I'm having myself a jolly good time this morning, ( I believe, I believe...giggle, giggle, giggle) Seriously! See! I'm staying home, off the streets, drinking chocolate flavored coffee and watching the news.
"....Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since I've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
Giggle, giggle, giggle......
......
......
......
giggle.
Maybe it's because of the snow.
All I know is I'm finding things ridiculously funny.
Take Zorro for instance. All the dogs I've had, and there have been plenty, have loved romping in the snow, and if they had long fur would come back into the house covered in tiny balls of the cold, white stuff. Not so Zorro. Last night I acted all excited about going 'potty' before going to bed. He bought it, up to the door jam, where he came to a screeching halt. The snow stopped a mini-micro below the point I could push the door open.
He stared out. I coaxed.
He eventually, reluctantly, gave a bunny hop out onto the stoop, and went to the edge. He hesitated again, I don't think he knew where the step was. Again I offered encouragement telling him to hurry up, "the quicker you go, the quicker you can come back in". The snow was just about up to his back leg knees.
Boy, did he move fast. (I don't know what I'm going to do if we have more snow, and the remaining tips of plants disappear and there is nothing left to lift his leg on.)
This morning's outing was even more quick...I tell you, my dog hates the snow.
Then of course there's my neighbors 'chicken fence'. Giggle, giggle. Remember when it went up last summer and I stated it would not last the year? Well, things are not looking good. The east wind knocked it around pretty badly yesterday. It is listing southward, and the weight of the snow on it isn't helping. As I mentioned when it went up my neighbor simply used 'craft weight' wire to anchor his fence to my vinyl picket one, and at the time I thought he did a pretty good job with that. Giggle, giggle...not so much!
Now it's down to which will last longer...the chickens or the fence? Two of the chickens have already disappeared. And the fence...well...it's not looking good. Giggle, giggle, giggle.
Finally, I have to giggle at my Edukated Metrolgists. They are puffed up like peacocks this morning...oh, my word!!!!!!! Yesterday, they were right...spot on right. They said the snow would start at 11 AM, and it did. As a result, today, they are sooo confident they are forecasting this afternoon's holocaust is going to happen (around) two, and that there will be two to four inches of new snow in the metro area. See them strut! Strut, strut, strut.
Oh, and, my local news is mostly storm related. Here's the thing. Apparently I'm not the only one who questions the experts in weather related things. Otherwise, people would listen to the news anchors and weather folks and STAY HOME, OFF THE STREETS, DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE, AND WATCH THE NEWS. But, do folks listen? Noooo....instead they are clogging roads, fender bending into other vehicles, and chaining up right in the middle of streets....(seriously, I saw this incident yesterday on the news). (Apparently it takes about 30 minutes to chain up an eighteen wheeler.)
I've got my TV on, and just got a new update...now we can expect two to FIVE inches of new snow today.
I admit, if the Edukated Metrolgists get it right today I will really be impressed and I might just stop making fun of them.
At any rate, I'm having myself a jolly good time this morning, ( I believe, I believe...giggle, giggle, giggle) Seriously! See! I'm staying home, off the streets, drinking chocolate flavored coffee and watching the news.
"....Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since I've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
Giggle, giggle, giggle......
......
......
......
giggle.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Bits and pieces
1. I never should have put Bobby outside.
2. Apparently there is no such word as chuchle, although I have used it all my life. The meaning is 'to mix or shake things up'.
3. I've been biding my time, waiting to tell my gardener I did not want him to remove the moss from my back yard. It is very pretty. Yesterday, before I realized what he was doing he had removed half of it from my patio. Seriously...I'm so mad at myself I could spit.
4. One of my favorite shows, 'Phych' is being canceled. I will miss Shawn and Gus.
5. I've discovered Downton Abbey.
6. Bean soup is a wonderful companion to home made bread.
7. Manichewitz Concord Grape Wine and Lemon Lime Seltzer makes a pretty good mixed drink.
8. I wonder what Black Butte Porter would taste like if warmed in my microwave.
9. I'm at that point...should I cut my hair really, really short and go grey again?
10. What if Spring never comes.
11. I wish I had hot dogs and buns
12. Do I really have to play the lottery to win it?
Such are the bits and pieces bouncing round my empty head this morning. They sound exactly like a Ping-Pong Ball ricocheting off the sides of my skull.
2. Apparently there is no such word as chuchle, although I have used it all my life. The meaning is 'to mix or shake things up'.
3. I've been biding my time, waiting to tell my gardener I did not want him to remove the moss from my back yard. It is very pretty. Yesterday, before I realized what he was doing he had removed half of it from my patio. Seriously...I'm so mad at myself I could spit.
4. One of my favorite shows, 'Phych' is being canceled. I will miss Shawn and Gus.
5. I've discovered Downton Abbey.
6. Bean soup is a wonderful companion to home made bread.
7. Manichewitz Concord Grape Wine and Lemon Lime Seltzer makes a pretty good mixed drink.
8. I wonder what Black Butte Porter would taste like if warmed in my microwave.
9. I'm at that point...should I cut my hair really, really short and go grey again?
10. What if Spring never comes.
11. I wish I had hot dogs and buns
12. Do I really have to play the lottery to win it?
Such are the bits and pieces bouncing round my empty head this morning. They sound exactly like a Ping-Pong Ball ricocheting off the sides of my skull.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
It's really no secret
Last night I was in bed just in time to watch The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His first guest was Matthew Mcconaughey. While they were talking Matthew mentioned the first time he was on the show how nice Jay was when he stopped by the Green Room before the show started asking if Matthew was nervous. Apparently Matthew responded that he was, but that Jay said to him "Just want to be here."
What a simple thing to say, but how much that must have meant to Matthew, of course he wanted to be there, anybody starting out in the entertainment business wanted to be there...with Jay Leno...on the tonight show.
And, with that simple sentence, I discovered the real secret of life. Just want to be here.
As we travel this sometimes dusty, dreary road, it is not always easy. Over time we have to face ugly things. Illness, divorce, death, I don't think anybody ever said or guaranteed life was going to be pretty and that there would not be uphill struggles.
Life holds inconvenient moments and things we don't want to do. Sometimes it's as simple a thing as getting out of bed in the morning, being stuck in an airport for a couple of days because of canceled flights, or having to face a judge.
Certainly there are places we don't want to be. Jail, for instance. Or a hospital emergency ward, or along the side of a road with a flat tire or no gasoline with no repair service or gas station in sight.
Often these bumps in our life's road are unavoidable, but necessary for our growth, teaching us patience, prudence, charity, kindness, understanding, humility, and love.
We may not particularly like the taste of our 'just desserts', but they are valuable nonetheless.
Sometimes we make what we want our secret of life to be, way more difficult than it need be. I think as long as we learn from our trials and tribulations, our way through life will be crystal clear, allowing us to become teachers for our children, grandchildren and beyond. Our life is the example, the secret...and all we need to do is JUST WANT TO BE HERE.
What a simple thing to say, but how much that must have meant to Matthew, of course he wanted to be there, anybody starting out in the entertainment business wanted to be there...with Jay Leno...on the tonight show.
And, with that simple sentence, I discovered the real secret of life. Just want to be here.
As we travel this sometimes dusty, dreary road, it is not always easy. Over time we have to face ugly things. Illness, divorce, death, I don't think anybody ever said or guaranteed life was going to be pretty and that there would not be uphill struggles.
Life holds inconvenient moments and things we don't want to do. Sometimes it's as simple a thing as getting out of bed in the morning, being stuck in an airport for a couple of days because of canceled flights, or having to face a judge.
Certainly there are places we don't want to be. Jail, for instance. Or a hospital emergency ward, or along the side of a road with a flat tire or no gasoline with no repair service or gas station in sight.
Often these bumps in our life's road are unavoidable, but necessary for our growth, teaching us patience, prudence, charity, kindness, understanding, humility, and love.
We may not particularly like the taste of our 'just desserts', but they are valuable nonetheless.
Sometimes we make what we want our secret of life to be, way more difficult than it need be. I think as long as we learn from our trials and tribulations, our way through life will be crystal clear, allowing us to become teachers for our children, grandchildren and beyond. Our life is the example, the secret...and all we need to do is JUST WANT TO BE HERE.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Oh, it's a long, long time.
We had some snow flurries today...some as we were coming out of the store after shopping, and some after I arrived home and was putting my groceries away. Believe me they were brief. Less than a minute or so. I was hoping the groundhog and local hedgehog would not see their shadows, and spring would arrive with robins, daffodils and pretty, delicate purple crocus.
Guess that's not going to happen...at least for six weeks. (Insert sighing here.)
I heard the low temperatures are going to plunge back into the teens. I wish now I had not put Bobby outside. I actually looked for my Shield Bug yesterday. Of course that was wasted time. I've no idea where the poor thing might be. I just hope it somehow survives the teen temperatures we are supposed to get over the next several days.
Oh, and the East Wind is supposed to be blustering as well. Dang it.
On the up side I'm pleased to report it is staying light longer as the days go by. I've noticed it is still quite light after 5:30 now. Go slowly, please because I want to enjoy this process leading up to the longest daylight day of the year come June.
All I really want at the moment is some warm. I want that day to come that I can open my sliding door, and sit in the door frame and drink my morning coffee. I don't care if I have to wear an extra sweater, I just want that day to come.
Well, maybe I want the robins back, too. This morning there were almost a dozen starlings in my front yard looking for grubs. It's the first time since October they've been around. I guess you could say my latest passion is looking for signs that winter is on its way out. It seems sooo much longer from September to April, than April to November.
I guess I'd like to see the forsythias, marsh marigolds and willows bloom, too. But, mostly I want to be warm, deep down to my bones warm. The sun is trying hard, it the darn off the Pacific Artic cold, and dang out of the gorge East Wind that's screwing things up. Get out of here...both of you...now...right now. As you can tell, this time of year patience is not one of my better virtues.
So, I've resorted to counting the days...43 of them to be exact...COME ON SPRING.
Guess that's not going to happen...at least for six weeks. (Insert sighing here.)
I heard the low temperatures are going to plunge back into the teens. I wish now I had not put Bobby outside. I actually looked for my Shield Bug yesterday. Of course that was wasted time. I've no idea where the poor thing might be. I just hope it somehow survives the teen temperatures we are supposed to get over the next several days.
Oh, and the East Wind is supposed to be blustering as well. Dang it.
On the up side I'm pleased to report it is staying light longer as the days go by. I've noticed it is still quite light after 5:30 now. Go slowly, please because I want to enjoy this process leading up to the longest daylight day of the year come June.
All I really want at the moment is some warm. I want that day to come that I can open my sliding door, and sit in the door frame and drink my morning coffee. I don't care if I have to wear an extra sweater, I just want that day to come.
Well, maybe I want the robins back, too. This morning there were almost a dozen starlings in my front yard looking for grubs. It's the first time since October they've been around. I guess you could say my latest passion is looking for signs that winter is on its way out. It seems sooo much longer from September to April, than April to November.
I guess I'd like to see the forsythias, marsh marigolds and willows bloom, too. But, mostly I want to be warm, deep down to my bones warm. The sun is trying hard, it the darn off the Pacific Artic cold, and dang out of the gorge East Wind that's screwing things up. Get out of here...both of you...now...right now. As you can tell, this time of year patience is not one of my better virtues.
So, I've resorted to counting the days...43 of them to be exact...COME ON SPRING.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Bibbity, boppity-ing, along, along
So, there I've been, for over a year now, increasing my brain power by playing the unique games on a web site call Lumosity. I have to say I've been enjoying the challenges these games present. Some I've gotten really good at, while some are still presenting obstacles.
I mostly like I'm not competing against anyone but myself. Although there are countless others playing the games as well. The site is broken down into age brackets, I'm in the last 75+years. Occasionally I check back to younger years age brackets, and I'm pleased to report I'm holding my own back as far as the 50 years of age bracket, but lose ground with those younger.
But, that's beside the point. The point is that a year ago in November when I started this program my BPI (Brain Profile Index) was a measly 107, and over the 14 months I've been at it my BPI has grown to 1167. It's been hard work. I went through a period of about a month when I fell back...badly...and I almost quit. Figuring I'd gone as far as my brain power was going to take me.
Stubborn me...I kept at it and slowly I regained the ground I had lost.
New games have been added in all five categories. Speed. Memory. Attention. Flexibility. Problem Solving.
My weakest category is Attention. A lot of these games require quickness, combined with good vision. Since my vision is not terrific, especially the peripheral kind. I have to concentrate very hard, to see what I'm supposed to see, and do it quickly...not a good combination. Let me tell you I can get very frustrated with this.
Still, I keep on truckin'. And, I'm amazed that in all five categories I am over 95% for my age group.
However, a couple of night ago, Lumosity threw me a curve ball. They wanted me to take a test. I knew this test was not going to be like the college courses I've taken on line where I have the lessons to refer to before taking the final. Nooo, this was cold turkey, and I felt that knot in my stomach tighten up. Exactly like it did in high school, when it counted on whether I'd graduate or not. I tell you what, I did not want to take the test.
I stewed about it. I knew I didn't have to take it. But, because I believe in this program, and they are still trying to figure out how our brains work I felt obligated, and duty-minded to take the time to take the test. Buddy, I was really scared. Could this screw up my score standings? Would this test tell me although I thought I was doing well, I wasn't?
Oh, mannnnn!
The test involved all five categories, some were easy, some more difficult, and then there was the last one. It was the kind of test like we used to get on those "Standardized Tests" the state made us take in high school. You know the one I'm talking about the 'what comes next' in a series of things. Uh-oh. My brain turned to mush...seriously...it went down, down, down, dark, dark, dark...a lot like a bowl of chocolate pudding.
I did terribly, awfully, disgustingly, ridiculously horrible. With each wrong answer, a bright red X flashed onto my monitor. After a while I got a bad case of the giggles...I've no idea why...(maybe because I was quite ashamed of myself). It all seemed so silly, I felt like a Sophomore facing my very first "Standardized Test", why did those da-gone tests freak me out so.
Well, I completed the test, and got the command to get my test results. Should I? What the heck.
And there it was, my score. Average ranking for people in my age group was a good solid 100. My over all score....
Are you ready for this....
My score 117. Holy crap. Now I realize this is not a really big deal, but for me it gave me the encouragement I need to keep playing the games, and pushing my brain to its limit.
Plus, after completing the test, I got a message that this was test 1, I can take it over and over again. Whether the additional tests will be the exactly the same as the first one I won't know until I take the second. I think perhaps they will gradually get harder as my determination to improve my grey matter continues. I'll keep you posted.
I have to go now, it's time for my daily visit to Lumosity.
I mostly like I'm not competing against anyone but myself. Although there are countless others playing the games as well. The site is broken down into age brackets, I'm in the last 75+years. Occasionally I check back to younger years age brackets, and I'm pleased to report I'm holding my own back as far as the 50 years of age bracket, but lose ground with those younger.
But, that's beside the point. The point is that a year ago in November when I started this program my BPI (Brain Profile Index) was a measly 107, and over the 14 months I've been at it my BPI has grown to 1167. It's been hard work. I went through a period of about a month when I fell back...badly...and I almost quit. Figuring I'd gone as far as my brain power was going to take me.
Stubborn me...I kept at it and slowly I regained the ground I had lost.
New games have been added in all five categories. Speed. Memory. Attention. Flexibility. Problem Solving.
My weakest category is Attention. A lot of these games require quickness, combined with good vision. Since my vision is not terrific, especially the peripheral kind. I have to concentrate very hard, to see what I'm supposed to see, and do it quickly...not a good combination. Let me tell you I can get very frustrated with this.
Still, I keep on truckin'. And, I'm amazed that in all five categories I am over 95% for my age group.
However, a couple of night ago, Lumosity threw me a curve ball. They wanted me to take a test. I knew this test was not going to be like the college courses I've taken on line where I have the lessons to refer to before taking the final. Nooo, this was cold turkey, and I felt that knot in my stomach tighten up. Exactly like it did in high school, when it counted on whether I'd graduate or not. I tell you what, I did not want to take the test.
I stewed about it. I knew I didn't have to take it. But, because I believe in this program, and they are still trying to figure out how our brains work I felt obligated, and duty-minded to take the time to take the test. Buddy, I was really scared. Could this screw up my score standings? Would this test tell me although I thought I was doing well, I wasn't?
Oh, mannnnn!
The test involved all five categories, some were easy, some more difficult, and then there was the last one. It was the kind of test like we used to get on those "Standardized Tests" the state made us take in high school. You know the one I'm talking about the 'what comes next' in a series of things. Uh-oh. My brain turned to mush...seriously...it went down, down, down, dark, dark, dark...a lot like a bowl of chocolate pudding.
I did terribly, awfully, disgustingly, ridiculously horrible. With each wrong answer, a bright red X flashed onto my monitor. After a while I got a bad case of the giggles...I've no idea why...(maybe because I was quite ashamed of myself). It all seemed so silly, I felt like a Sophomore facing my very first "Standardized Test", why did those da-gone tests freak me out so.
Well, I completed the test, and got the command to get my test results. Should I? What the heck.
And there it was, my score. Average ranking for people in my age group was a good solid 100. My over all score....
Are you ready for this....
My score 117. Holy crap. Now I realize this is not a really big deal, but for me it gave me the encouragement I need to keep playing the games, and pushing my brain to its limit.
Plus, after completing the test, I got a message that this was test 1, I can take it over and over again. Whether the additional tests will be the exactly the same as the first one I won't know until I take the second. I think perhaps they will gradually get harder as my determination to improve my grey matter continues. I'll keep you posted.
I have to go now, it's time for my daily visit to Lumosity.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
My winter house guest
If you recall, yesterday as I finished my blog I mentioned Bobby was slowly meandering across my computer's desk. He/she was moving at a slow pace, and looked good. At least at that moment, I thought he/she did.
Eventually it crawled across my printer, and down onto the typing table next to my computer desk. Then something unusual happened. It sat, and sat, and sat and sat.
I thought this was pretty odd and eventually leaned over and took a really good look at it. It was listing to one side, as though it wanted to fall over on its back. Then it kind of sat down, the way insects do, and like I do when I'm very, very tired.
Bobby made no attempt to crawl away, it either stood and leaned, or sat.
Finally, I said to no one in particular. "I think Bobby's sick."
"Maybe he/she's hungry. I've nothing to feed him/her." Obviously Bobby had come from the sun room, the only room with plants, so apparently nothing in there was helpful. "I don't know what to do."
So, Bobby continued to sit, and sit, and sit. I continued to stare, and stare, and stare.
I was worried.
Quite some time later I gently lifted (between my thumb and forefinger) the Shield Bug from the table. It didn't wiggle its legs the way a bug usually does when captured, but seemed resigned that perhaps he/she was about to be flattened like a pancake.
Such was not the case. I had finally decided the only thing I could do was put Bobby outside. Even though it is still winter, there are things starting to grow, and my thought was perhaps Bobby would be better off outside than in. Still gently restraining him/her I walk to the sliding door, explaining in a soft and gentle voice, that I hoped I was doing the right thing, and although it was still winter, and cold that he/she would somehow survive until spring arrived. With that I placed Bobby on some greenery and bade him/her farewell.
Over the course of the day I thought about looking for Bobby, but the thought I might find him/her belly up where I had left him would have caused me much grief. This morning I don't quite remember exactly where I put him and I hope he crawled away and had him/herself a good healthy meal of watercress, grass, or juicy buds from my rose bushes.
God's speed, Bobby, God's speed.
Eventually it crawled across my printer, and down onto the typing table next to my computer desk. Then something unusual happened. It sat, and sat, and sat and sat.
I thought this was pretty odd and eventually leaned over and took a really good look at it. It was listing to one side, as though it wanted to fall over on its back. Then it kind of sat down, the way insects do, and like I do when I'm very, very tired.
Bobby made no attempt to crawl away, it either stood and leaned, or sat.
Finally, I said to no one in particular. "I think Bobby's sick."
"Maybe he/she's hungry. I've nothing to feed him/her." Obviously Bobby had come from the sun room, the only room with plants, so apparently nothing in there was helpful. "I don't know what to do."
So, Bobby continued to sit, and sit, and sit. I continued to stare, and stare, and stare.
I was worried.
Quite some time later I gently lifted (between my thumb and forefinger) the Shield Bug from the table. It didn't wiggle its legs the way a bug usually does when captured, but seemed resigned that perhaps he/she was about to be flattened like a pancake.
Such was not the case. I had finally decided the only thing I could do was put Bobby outside. Even though it is still winter, there are things starting to grow, and my thought was perhaps Bobby would be better off outside than in. Still gently restraining him/her I walk to the sliding door, explaining in a soft and gentle voice, that I hoped I was doing the right thing, and although it was still winter, and cold that he/she would somehow survive until spring arrived. With that I placed Bobby on some greenery and bade him/her farewell.
Over the course of the day I thought about looking for Bobby, but the thought I might find him/her belly up where I had left him would have caused me much grief. This morning I don't quite remember exactly where I put him and I hope he crawled away and had him/herself a good healthy meal of watercress, grass, or juicy buds from my rose bushes.
God's speed, Bobby, God's speed.
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