a Happy kind of Tired!

or... random thoughts from an exhausted scrap-mama that should be asleep right now!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining several of the ARkansas Scrappers in Central Arkansas for a day trip of chit-chat, lunch and scrap-shopping! What FUN! And, now- I'm so keyed up I can't sleep! Being with friends is so invigorating! Putting my hands on new scrapbook papers has set the creative juices to flowing! Pictured above: Melissa (Mrs C), Ally & Rachel, Carol, Gladys, Sally, Wanda and Janet- thanks to Wanda for being our official photographer.

I've tossed and turned since around 2 o'clock with all kinds of ideas swirling! Ideas for themes for upcoming events: DAR (I'm the new Constitution Week co-ordinator); two State Swaps pages I've yet to finish; the Ferncliff retreat (can I even REMEMBER them now??); and of course- home decorating!

Oh, and before I forget it! I lost yet another 1.5 pounds this week-- and that was a surprise as I weighed-in at a totally different time of day (due to the parking nightmare thanks to Car Wars held at War Memorial Stadium). First of all- I've not been exercising much (cuz of the dratted leg/foot), and secondly because I ate prior to weigh; then there's always the fact that at different times of the day the body just fluctuates- so I was most pleasantly surprised to achieve this! The weight loss has slowed down in recent weeks; but, I'm still a LOSER and next will plan on breaking 75 pounds!! WHEW! What a relief!

Oh, and lunch was at one of the Hunan restaurants in NLR (and the little bit of veggies I snatched that weren't from the salad bar) were delicious! Mmmmhhhh! No fried foods- I just couldn't bring myself to do that yet. I've almost gotten this mind-set of an obsessed weight-conscious teenager.. I guess better late than never, right???

I had totally forgotten about FORTUNE COOKIES! Ahhh! Man- I miss junk carbs! Anyway-- friend, Gladys opened hers and decided I needed her fortune! Thanks, Gladys! It read: "You have a charming way with words and should write a book"! Well-- I love the word "charming" and I've read a few books.. does that apply?

Totally off the subject (but very near to my heart) is Sam and the other cats! Since Katrina has discovered "the great outdoors" and that she needn't be afraid of the DOOR to that wonderful world (or how to ask to get out and then back in again) she's gotten fiesty-er. She wallops poor old Samson when she comes back in- just pesters the bee-geebies outta him... poor Sam. But, he seems to have also accepted the newest outside-feline, "Tabby Tom", and when he comes in (which he LOVES to do!) he usually hunts up Sam and just hangs out with him! Odd cat-behavior for sure- but, I'm so glad that Sam seems to have "friends" in that weird cat kind of hierarchy.

Before I dozed off last night there was a special on TV about "Medical Mysteries" and one of the features was on these two young men that are both totally sightless but have developed "clicking" methods to allow them to triangulate (think sonar) sounds and judge what and where objects are. The really amazing thing was that they are so attuned to their surroundings that they could even determine the texture and type of building materials of new environments (such as a fence that was made of board fencing) rather than a brick structure from a distance of over six feet away. I mean to walk across a street and just by clicking the tongue and listening to the differences in how the sound returns and make path adjustments without falling down and tripping over obstacles is amazing! These two young men have never met, yet they both discovered the clicking methods on their own-- WOW!

I don't think Sam needs to "click".. but, he can sure identify a warm soft spot from a few yards away... he'd taken refuge earlier during the night (between me and Byron) when Katrina wanted to "rumble". He's followed me in here now and has claimed my lap and is purring almost loud enough that I need to turn up my iTunes.

Ah... this a happy kind of tired. Nat King Cole and Sam.