Missing....

from here.

You know, one of the hardest things about being separated, for me, is the lack of physical contact.  I am such a touchy-feely person.  I like to be alone a lot, but more often than not, I still crave that human contact.  It doesn't necessarily have to be sexual in nature.  It just needs to be honest and caring.  I'm lucky to have a few friends who will stop by my house just to give me a nice big hug every now and then.  But, still, that isn't always enough.  Sometimes I just want to be shoulder to shoulder with someone while watching a movie.  Sometimes I want someone to reach across the table to touch my hand while telling a story over dinner.  Sometimes I just need that hug to last longer. 

Sometimes we all just need the touch of another human. 

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Something a little different for Friday's Fantasy. 
Something breathtaking. 
These are the Multnomah Falls in Oregon. 
I imagine standing on that bridge would be quite awe inspiring. 

It's been another long week, folks.  Hopefully I'll see you more next week. 
Hope your weekend is full of Hugs and Sunshine. 

The View From My Ten Dollar Hammock

This has been a really great week. 

I had a night out with my best friend.  My brother got some really great news.  We had a dinner at my grandmother's house to celebrate said news.  I have been cleaning out and making changes around the house.  Things seem to be clicking along just fine. 

A few moments were spent basking in the late summer sun in my hammock.  I've been smiling a lot this week.  As a matter of fact, I was smiling when I took this picture of the clematis vine that drapes my porch railing. 

Everything is going to be just fine.  God's blessings are plentiful. 
I hope you are all having a great weekend. 

xoxo ~Jo~

Fall Forward

from here.

I have to tell you, I'm really looking forward to Fall this year. 

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you should know that I have a soft spot in my heart for fall.  With all the changes that have been going on in my life lately, I feel like the coming season is going to be my chance to really shine.  Something good is gonna happen, I just know it.  

I always feel more like my true self in autumn.  And now, being at this particular place in my life, without a husband or significant other, I believe God is giving me the chance to let all my personality and quirkiness come to light and illuminate the path to my future. 

No holding back.  I'm running out of time to live my life.  And standing on the sidelines and watching my life go by without me, my friends, is just not an option.  Here's to new beginnings and everlasting hope. 

Hugs and Sunshine, my dolls.  Massive hugs and sunshine. 
~Jo~

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

Sponge Bob Square Pants!!!!!


This past Friday was my niece's seventh birthday.  The little booger is totally enthralled by some Sponge Bob Square Pants.  So, my mom decided that we were going to make little mini Sponge Bob cakes for all the kids.  Thank you, mom, for being so brilliant. 
We spent most of a day working on these little sponge monsters.  And because we were short on icing, everything (even his stupid little eyelashes) had to be crafted out of fondant.  Sixteen scrawny arms.  Sixteen skinny legs.  Pants.  Shirts.  Ties.  Eyes.  Noses.  Mouths. 

I hated Sponge Bob before this project.  I really hated him by the time we finished.  But the kids thought they were pretty cool.  (thank goodness)  What I really want to know is this. Is Sponge Bob Square Pants not the stupidest cartoon ever put on television????!!!!????  I mean, seriously.  It is so damn obnoxious.  The characters are so stupid.  And then the kids who watch the show end up acting just like them!  Which is shameful, really.  We are dumbing down our future.  And would someone please tell me why there seems to be no floating going on in that show?  If they didn't point it out in the theme song, you would never guess that they were even under water.  

Ever watch iCarly?  That's another show that I just can't hardly stomach.  Same story.  Obnoxious and stupid.  I am really starting to wonder what this next generation is going to grow up to be like.  It's a scary thought, folks.  Really scary. 

But for now, I'll just hope that we can instill some good sense in our little Bob fan and hope that her future is brighter than Bikini Bottom.  Here's to being seven. 

Sing it Again

Have you ever wound up being a part of something that you really didn't know how the hell you wound up being a part of?  Well, I have managed to do just that. 

How many of you have heard of an old show called Hee Haw?  If you haven't.....well..... I guess you didn't grow up where I grew up.  Anyway.  Hee Haw was sort of a country variety show.  They had jokes and skits and lots of musical guests. 
Well.  My town is putting on their own Hee Haw show.  And guess who ended up in it?  Yours truly.  I will playing the part of June Carter Cash and singing Jackson with my pretend Johnny.   I'll be in some other skits, too, and helping out with costumes and such.  I bet you didn't know that I sing, did you?  Yeah, well, I can carry a tune every once in a while.  ;)

Some other things that you didn't know?  I'm deeply steeped in southern culture.  I can clog.  Used to be on a team when I was younger.  I also used to play in a bluegrass band when I was little.  I played the mandolin and sang.  I can't remember how to play a lick, but I'll still stand up in front of a crowd and make a fool of myself.  I know every word to Rocky Top and if I had a dollar for every time I've had to sing it, I would buy myself something nice. 

Let's just hope I can do June justice.  This is gonna be fun.  Or at least funny. 
Now, go Google Jackson, Rocky Top, mandolin, and clogging.  I know you want to. 

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Seems like a good day to be dreaming of clear blue skies, lots of sunshine, and the crystal blue waters of the Maldives. 
Here's to making it another week, my friends.  I hope you have a beautiful weekend. 

xoxo Jo  xoxo