No, thank YOU.

We've been enjoying Sue and Steve's company while here near Ajo.  They live in a Very Cool Place, and their place is also very cool.  Sue made this for us and framed it;  we have a spot in mind where it can live in relative safety:

I want this on a t-shirt.  So do you.

You might accidentally remember this rock:

Charlene turned it into this:

Two perfect little cabochons.  And a hand.

Remember when the Duck wasn't solarized?  So do Darlene and Nicole.  This was not the first time they got us out of a power jam.

She actually said "I am Han Solar."  Could I make that up?

My friend Pat, back in Florida, took pity on my ragged complexion and gave me not one, not two, but three facials.  The results discouraged her as you can imagine, but I was happy as an exfoliated, moisturized, massaged Duck.

You do a "thank you" post, you're setting yourself up.   You forget that people also drove a distance to visit you, invited you for meals, gave you great camping suggestions, shared their water and ideas, told you things you needed to know, and said nice things to you repeatedly that made your day brighter.  You neglect to mention how many times you've laughed at a joke or been touched by another's loss that felt a little like your loss.  Those are the things that are buoying you up day-to-day.   Those are the things that are buoying me up day-to-day.

You do a "thank you" post without thanking your wife, you're setting yourself up for heartache and cereal-bowl suppers.  This Duck only looks like this.

Keep this to yourself.

Everyone has a family secret.  I'm just not sure how to describe it.  It's like ... you know how you ... sometimes it doesn't ...

• You're at a hockey game and a hug breaks out.
• Traffic slows on the interstate for a four-car picnic.
• A policeman in riot gear approaches you with a lavender-peppermint spritz.

How was I unique at this gathering?  I brought my wife, and everyone else in the house was my cousin somehow.

Cousin Savannah (shown with her mom, Cousin Jennifer

Savannah

Cousin Colin, Cousin Jennifer, and cousin Savannah.  High on "Chicago."
Just say NO to musicals.

Cousin Ian, who is indifferent to the camera.

Cousin Savannah, who is not.

My new Cousin Aaron (his new Cousin Annie in the background)

Cousin Ellis and her GG, Cousin Lori

Lori is my straight-up first cousin,  and the matriarch of ... OW!  I'm just kiddi ... OW!  SHE'S NOT THE MATRIARCH!  OW!  SHE'S NOT EVEN A GRANDMOTHER QUIT IT!  

"Drop the fifth ace or I will cut you ... another slice of pie."

Cousin Jonathan, and

Cousin Cynthia

Cousin Annie and Cousin Roxi

Lori is Jennifer and Jonathan's mom, and Cynthia and Ellis are Jonathan's daughters, and Colin, Ian and Savannah are Jennifer and Aaron's kids, so Jonathan and Jennifer are my first cousins, once-removed and Ellis, Colin, Cynthia, Ian, and Savannah are my first cousins, twice-removed, and ... ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?

Did you correctly identify the:

• Mormons 
• anarchists
• Buddhists
• atheists
• agnostics
• libertarians
• liberals
• New Age-ers
• centrists
• homeopaths
• allopaths
• orthomolecularists

Hint:  it's not easy;  no one was only one thing.  No one is ever only one thing.

Before: ♥

After: ❤

As Heard At Our House™, Thanksgiving edition

[holding cat]  Tucker just became intestinally-comfortable.
~~~


Okay, that's two bottles of wine for the party, two bottles for Thanksgiving, one bottle for us ... that's almost $10 worth of wine!


We wish you all sort of comforts for the body and spirit.

Roxi and Annie