They say, "You can never go home again."

One's home is like a delicious piece of pie you order in a restaurant on a country road one cozy evening - the best piece of pie you have ever eaten in your life - and can never find again. After you leave home, you may find yourself feeling homesick, even if you have a new home that has nicer wallpaper and a more efficient dishwasher than the home in which you grew up. ~Lemony Snicket

I started this post before I left for D.C. Tyler really touched my heart as we had driven by our old Madison house. Brian loved it for the garage, Tyler loved it because it was his home and I... Well, I felt no ties to that house and couldn't wait to get the hell out. The current owner has really let it go to the shits. It's trashed. The brick stoop Brian and I did - is falling to pieces, the retaining wall - all the pavers are stacked up into columns. There's junk galore in the carport - landscaping is gone. We kept the fence line clean of weeds and such - they have now grown over the top of the fence by 5 feet.

Seeing this really hurt Tyler's feelings. (I wished I hadn't waited so long to write as I have forgotten his exact words as they were really mature feelings.) If Tyler had it his way - we'd move back and he would attend Westview (his favorite school). Tyler loves that house because it was his "childhood home" he "grew up there" and "was born there". And here I thought we were doing something better for him by moving to a newer neighborhood with kids so he'd have tons of friends to play with. He "loved the way the sunshine came in his windows of the morning" and "the birds singing" and "the way the sun came in the living room in the evening". Yes, I too have fond memories but my memories lie within my heart and not those walls. To me home is with family no matter where you are.


My sister from another mister, Stacey, thinks it would be fun to have a reunion of all the kids that grew up on our block. There were tons!!! We had a great time growing up. Friday night you could catch us playing hide & seek, red light - green light, mother may I, & etc! Our parents were either outside drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and shooting the shit or inside playing cards or dominoes (in which they still do to this day!) I remember we'd bother them and they'd tell us to hit the road (in which we literally did and came back and asked, "what now"). Or it was "go fly a kite"! We'd kill June bugs whiling sitting under the street light. Or yank off the "glow" part of the firefly adhering them to our fingers with the bodily goo and make wedding rings. On the 4th of July we'd light our fireworks with cigarettes. I remember having an endless supply of drywall (our chalk) and we'd graffiti the street with drawings. We were never bored! Rode bikes, made up clubs, had yard sales, lemonade stands, played house & school. Hid in a deep freeze (you mean to tell me that was dangerous?!)

All & all, I would be afraid that if we did have a reunion, the feelings we once felt wouldn't be there. Every one is grown now and has their own family. Would those memories matter to them as much as it does to a few of us? Which leads me to believe - you can never go home.

A New Family Member?

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet. ~Edith Wharton

Remember Piper? I think she doesn't look like a bat so much anymore. Linds is right on schedule to get her, and is she ever super excited. If you remember I told you it was a mix of a Chihuahua and a Pug. My sis and I decided to name the breed Puhuahua or Chug. Which leads me to this.

This is Piper's brother - he doesn't have a home yet and I think he is adorable! I've already named him Chug! ; ) I asked Bri if we could take him and of course his answer was "No!" How can someone resist this cute little guy? My sis was even pulling for me. But Bri still refused. Really - if I brought this boy home - how is Bri going to deny him? Last night on the way home and this morning I was working on him to actually say 'yes'. In all honesty, I don't think I could bring a dog into the house against Bri's wishes. Although he did! Did I ever tell you about how dOg (thanks Dom - I like how you did that {and yes, he's a kisser}) came about? I mentioned to Brian that I wanted a puppy. PRESTO! Enter dOg. I went up to Q-Lube where Bri was managing at the time and this dog was there. One of Bri's employees comes over to me and hands me a bag of peanut butter flavored dog biscuits while saying, "He like these best. Take good care of him. And don't wash his coat or else it won't stay the way it is now." - Excuse me?!?! Not really what I was thinking - but ok. He wasn't a puppy - but he needed a home as his current owners couldn't keep him any longer. And there you have it - the story of how we obtained the best dog. At least I am giving Brian a couple weeks notice and it IS a LAP DOG - something HE wants. I think it's quite fitting for a Father's Day present. We laughed as he doesn't like his gifts I give him such as his own Bible or the inversion table. Or the few ties I've given him in the past. He said, "At least I wear the ties!" ---This aint over yet!---

National Treasure 2 - I liked it, we saw it in the theatre and then watched it again with the neighbor kids that hadn't seen it before. They too thought it was good. (ages 12 & 14) It's Indiana Jones adventure turn American history style scavenger hunt. I'm enjoying American history a little more as I age (not that I'm old, ok Dom? ;) and you are ONLY a year older than I) and it has little bits & pieces they add in the movie. I would like to see there be a NT 3 as in this movie the reference a mysterious page 47 in the president's diary (which is handed down from pres to pres by pres and for pres eyes only). It's only talk right now and nothing has come about.

I meant to tell you yesterday that I learned how to play SNAPS - "Snaps is the name of the game and the name of the game is Snaps". The game played in P.S. I Love You. The first time they played - I thought to myself, "I don't get it." Then for the short time Bri was watching they played it again and he said, "I don't get it." - which made me laugh!!! Once I figured it out - we played and it wasn't so fun. He did however try to play when telling me "NO" re: Chug! LOL!

Also, I checked on a movie that I am waiting for to come out, Nights in Rodanthe. First it was scheduled for June, then Sept, now Oct. I even seen somewhere it mentioned Dec! For Pete's Sake - pick a date and stick with it! They aren't even teasing me with a trailer yet. I suppose I shouldn't be to upset. I truly enjoyed the book. And they say, "Never judge a book by its movie." - although I have been happy with the movies that have came about from Nicholas Sparks novels. Those being, Message In A Bottle, A Walk To Remember and The Notebook. He also has another one in pre-production, Dear John. I used not to be a sucker for love stories but my hardened walls have since fell. Maybe I'll entertain you one day with my 'thugish' days.

Take care!

Real Quick...

Drama is life with the dull bits cut out. ~Alfred Hitchcock

I've been super busy here at work and haven't had much time to write (or is it type?)... I'm trying to get all I can done before I head to D.C. next week. It's our annual International Telecommunications Week. I'll be entertaining the Asia Pac region.

This weekend was so-so. We attended a graduation on Sunday, started power washing the deck and fence and watch a few movies.

Deja Vu
Dan in Real Life
National Treasure 2
P.S. I Love You

They were all great. Bri and Ty couldn't like P.S. I Love You - thank goodness!!! I was able to use all six tissues in private! ; )

Catch you later...