Christmas greetings from Lorlee!

First the good news
So here we are – late December 2006. Time for the annual recap of life at 3211 Culver Street accompanied by the annual proviso to feel free to throw it in the trash NOW if you so desire.
And the good news, right up front. I just had my 2 year check-up and it was “negative for any findings of breast cancer.” I have decided that “negative” is my favorite word in the English language.
I have been at the same job now for almost 10 years (the longest tenure of my career). I try to punctuate the work days with trips and play days since I won’t be able to retire any time soon.
Twice to Amarillo, TX – and you may wonder why anyone would go once, let alone twice. Amarillo is the home of the Panhandle Plains Museum where my photo “Closer Than They Appear” was included in a show of works inspired by Palo Duro Canyon.
There it was – on the wall with works by real and famous artists – with its little plaque “Lent by the Artist”. What a heady experience. Adrian and I took a 4 day meandering jaunt to see it in June taking in scenic canyons and gardens on the way. She had been with me when I took it and was almost as proud as I was. I flew there in September just for the day with a Dallas arts group. So I got to feel like a jetsetter as well as an artist.
October in New England is simply breathtaking and I was pleased to be able to spend 5 days visiting there with David and Joan. Mystic Seaport, Edith Wharton’s house, Deerfield, Litchfield and lots of other “too cute for words” towns. On the last day, we were only 20 miles from Vermont so decided to make it a 3 state day by driving those 20 miles, crossing the river and coming back through New Hampshire. When you live in Texas, a three-state day is a rarity.
Overnights to Patsy and Joe’s ranch at Gustine are wonderful breaks from the City. 125 miles and you feel like you are in a different world. Always good food and good times and I can find pecans and vegetables fresh from the source – though a late freeze wiped out the peach crop – Darn.
A weekend in Minnesota (in January) to visit family for the infamous Christmas Bingo. I was lucky to get in and get out without freezing or getting snowed in --- and ended up with some pretty nice things rather than the absolute leftovers they send me in years I am not there.
Day trips to the museums in Fort Worth, gardens in Mineral Wells and the picturesque town of McKinney….and at my doorstep, several visits to the Great State Fair of Texas where I make good use of my season pass.
Next year, when I will have completed my 6th decade, I will be able to get in free every Thursday. There are some perks you get with age.
The bathroom is finished – new window, fabulous large banana leaf wallpaper (you feel like you are in a jungle) but most wonderful is the new towel cabinet, deep enough to store things rather than tall, very shallow drawers that fell on your feet. I have signed on to work on the 2007 Dallas Mayor’s race so there will be continued progress since those fees go to remodeling. Next on the agenda is to rewire the rest of the house and perhaps refinish those wonderful 1927 oak floors.
The drought made gardening a challenge, but didn’t deter a gardening fool like me. Exercise is recommended for survivors so I take that as my prescription to try and do it every day. (Hmm – maybe I will have to write off all the expense as a medical deduction). I just ordered paw paw trees and am going to order olive trees when their new shipment arrives in January. When there isn’t enough gas to ship food thousands of miles – I will be ready.
Kito’s (the bird) vocabulary continues to expand, but my favorite is “I love you” in response to “Kiss Kito”. One is never sure what they will mimic. I am trying my best to teach it “You are My Sunshine” without success, but it picked up “I’ll have to put you back” after I said it just once after a particular hard nip to my neck.
There is no Frog report this year (Kiss a Thousand before you find your handsome Prince). The bird can say “I love you” and the cats nuzzle me at night, so who needs the perfect frog – I mean prince.
After just a year and a half, my nephew has gotten a promotion and will be leaving the Dallas area for Atlanta – so there goes my plan for having someone to push my wheelchair in my old age. His mother (my sister) and his brother and wife visited Dallas over Thanksgiving on a whirlwind trip. Next year, we all may head to Atlanta.
I won’t gloat over the election since I think both parties are corrupted by lobby money, but -- face it -- it can’t get any worse. I have hopes that with respect to energy and pollution, science rather than special interests will once again prevail..
So, I wish you health, good luck and love. I wish all of us and the world - peace.
Lorlee