Zoom, Zoom

Is anyone else having a hard time functioning in this pandemic-centric world?  I am a social person so the whole "social distancing" and "no hugging" thing is NOT okay with me!  

Not only that, but the technological work-arounds to satisfy the social distancing guidelines are something of a struggle.  Have you all seen the Progressive Insurance commercial where they are trying to have a Zoom meeting and Flo has her nose right up against the screen and someone else's dog is barking and another person is muted?  

I've lived that.  Invariably, I am the one who is muted but talking a mile a minute.  Then I figure out I'm on mute and I lose my train of thought and can't even start over.  It's good that we have these electronic tools to use, but I wish I was more savvy about it.  What happened to me; I used to be kind of tech savvy?

I remember when we were kids and VCRs were the new thing.  My dad always like to have the newest thing, so when my parents bought one, it was top of the line and expensive.  My brothers and I were told in no uncertain terms that we were not to touch that VCR because of it's expense.  That was on Sunday.

Fast forward to Friday--so five days later--and Dad wanted to record Dallas but couldn't figure out how to program the machine to do that.  What to do but ask one of the kids to do it.  

Fast forward another 40 years, and I have an expensive tablet that I use for entertainment, and Cubby--who just turned 6 years old--is the one I turn to for advice.  It's amazing to me.  

There are other things that Cubby is teaching me.  She can have her CrabbyPants on when she goes to bed on a given night, but without fail she wakes up smiling and happy to greet the day.  I need to remember that each day is a new opportunity to be happy and grateful.  

She teaches me to find joy and awe in the most simple of things.   A bubble, a flower, and a hummingbird in flight can make her eyes go wide and her hands cover her mouth in pure delight.  I often forget that in my busy days of work and obligations so much that I don't even find the joy in something as monumental as good health or gainful employment.  

What do I teach her?  I teach her how to put her finger in her mouth and make that popping sound like a champagne cork releasing.  Not quite so impressive in the grand scheme of things.  

She teaches me patience, especially when I'm trying to explain something to her that seems simple to me but is completely alien to her.  "Gramma, I'm only 6 years old...I don't know everything you know."  Wow, cut off at the knees by a kindergartner.  Sometimes the truth stings.  

But most of all Cubby constantly reminds me that unconditional love is the epitome of the human condition.  If she hears me being judgmental or what she terms as "mean" to or about someone, she will look me in the eye and ask, "Does Jesus think that way?"  Whoa Nelly, can we can mature thought process?!

There is a long-lived saying about the wisdom of children that goes "Out of the mouths of babes," and it rings true generation after generation for a reason.  

May we never be too old to relearn lessons of love and tolerance.  

Images used:  www.society6.com

Accentuate the Positve

Image courtesy of sayingimages.com

Hello friends, I hope this finds you well and healthy and surviving these challenging times.  I know that it is getting scarier by the minute. 

Amid the fear and unknowns ahead of us, there are two things emerging from this crisis that give me hope. 

One is how much deserved recognition is going to the trades as "essential industry."  Those who followed a vo-tech path rather than an undergraduate path.  And no, I'm not dissing people who have an undergraduate or higher degree.  I'm saying it's high time that those working in a trade get the recognition and appreciation they deserve.

Think about it.  Truckers, assembly line workers, farmers, welders, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, grocery store workers.  Careers that for far too long have been looked down upon by many as less worthy than others.  Doctors and medical personnel along with emergency services professionals have always been held in high regard for their service to their communities.  Your local Kwik Trip or Hy-Vee truck driver getting the goods to the place where you can buy it...not so much until now. 

I remember a school superintendent telling me once during a time when budget cut talks were centering around the vo-tech/shop/ag curriculum.  He said he would fight hard to keep those classes and teachers because "someone needs to know how to fix the toilet." 

So, kudos to our blue collar citizens who are holding us together right now!

The other thing I've found heartening is how people are now using social media to connect and to build each other up instead of arguing and tearing each other down.  Whether it is tips and tricks to fight cabin fever (let me just say that I could have used those before I stooped so far as cleaning the bathroom) or family-friendly activities that parents and kids can do together for exercise and for education. 

The musicians who are performing on YouTube and Facebook to keep peoples' spirits up is amazing whether it is Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, or a small police force in Spain going out into their city and singing to neighborhoods. 

Will it get worse before it gets better?  Yes, I'm quite certain it will.  Will we start seeing some of the worst behavior of mankind?  Probably.  For right now, I'm going to embrace the positives that I can find and pray that this is over in as little time as possible, please God. 

Hugs to you all (and yes, check on the huggers in your world...we are NOT okay right now!)

Shelter in Place

Image courtesy of wisdomquotes.com

After our family trip to Spokane, Washington, last week for a family funeral, Bigger had to be in quarantine for work purposes.  Given that Mama Bear works for the same company, Bigger couldn't quarantine at home, so he is temporarily living with us.

We should be used to this since we raised him for 18 years.  Please keep in mind that it has been seven years since he has lived here plus we have been full-fledged empty nesters for five years.  We are kind of set in our ways at this point!

There are some things I had forgotten about having Bigger under our roof.  One is that he eats a lot of cereal.  I don't know as we have actually purchased cereal since he left home other than to make rice krispie bars or crunchy chocolate chip cookies.  Malt-O-Meal needs to thank me for our recent spike in purchasing because I think I made their quota for this quarter.

All that cereal requires a lot of milk.  We don't usually have a lot of white milk on hand.  Chocolate milk, yes.  White milk...usually goes sour in our fridge before it gets used.  Don't judge; we eat six times our body weight in cheese every month so we are doing our part to support the dairy farmers.

I had also forgotten how much he likes to sing at the top of his lungs when he's taking a shower.  And how bad he is at it.  But he's enjoying himself so I don't say anything.

Bigger likes to watch movies and has gotten me hooked on the Marvel movies.  So far we have watched Captain America, Iron Man, and Iron Man 2.  I'm trying to convince him to watch Hidden Figures because I think he would enjoy the historical aspect of it, but so far he is resisting.  Captain doesn't watch movies, so he retires to the couch in the basement to watch ME TV on channel 47. 

I have been getting a lot of crochet done while we are self-quarantining.  The crochet-a-long I've been doing has been keeping me busy along with several other projects I have going simultaneously.  Bigger asked me what would happen when I ran out of yarn and I laughed and laughed and laughed! 

This forced separation from his family is hard on Bigger, who is very much a homebody and family man.  But technology is wonderful.  Every night at bedtime, Bigger video calls with Mama Bear and Cubby.  He reads a story (Mama Bear holds the book up to the phone so he can see it), they say prayers, and settle Cubby in for the night.  It is incredibly precious to see and hear this nightly routine.  We are finding ways to cope in new and challenging times. 

We hope and pray that you and your loved ones survive this pandemic unscathed.  I think we will see some of the very best of humanity over the next weeks; that's my hope anyway. 

Stay well and healthy, my friends!

A Different Perspective

On Saturday, Captain and I went to Whitewater State Park to try out our new snowshoes.  Captain got his from Molly at Christmas, and I got mine from Captain for my birthday.  They are matching...isn't that precious?

We have been to Whitewater countless times over the past 30-plus years, but never in the winter.  Everything looks completely different covered in snow!  

As we tromped along places we've tromped many times before, I got a little disoriented because all of the familiar landmarks weren't what I was used to.  

Still, it was a beautiful day--warm and sunny after horrific winds the night before.  I had to stop every so often to (1) rest muscles that I wasn't used to using because snowshoeing is completely different than plain old plodding along and (2) actually look around at the scenery instead of at my feet.  Apparently I can't walk and look at the same time.  

As I followed Captain along the trails and marveled at how different it all was, I realized I could apply the same theory to life in general.  Sometimes a different perspective makes a familiar situation a little brighter, a little more appealing, or a little more whatever it is you need it to be more of.  

Speaking from personal experience, that different perspective is often just going from my perception of how things should be to trusting God to take care of things in his own way and time.  

After months of prayer--which could accurately be described as screaming, crying, wailing, and gnashing of teeth--asking God to change my situation and not seeing any results from that, I had an epiphany standing in the snow that maybe what I needed to pray for was a change in myself instead of the situation.  

This isn't actually a new epiphany; I've been down this road before.  I must be stubborn or stupid or both because it's a lesson I have to keep relearning.  You'd think if I passed the test once, I wouldn't fail it the next time it came along.  But, no; history keeps repeating itself.  

Luckily for me, the Teacher is patient and loves me unconditionally while I learn and relearn.  

I'm thankful that God used an outing with Captain amid nature's beauty and serenity to help me study for the test.  

Nesting at Loon's Landing

Y'all...we had the BEST VACATION E.V.E.R last week!!

Anybody want to guess what we had to do before we could leave?  Anybody?  Yes, you, the young man in the back row, what is your guess?  CORRECT:  chasing steers, so that sucked, but it didn't delay us too badly.  Plus Captain drove like a maniac so we made good time.

Some friends of ours own a resort on Jessie Lake north of Deer River, Minnesota, called Loon's Landing.  For four days and three nights, we stayed in one of their three cabins.  Our cabin had three bedrooms and a pull out sofa so there was room for all seven of us.  In addition there was a full kitchen (spotless, I might add), satellite TV, and a spacious bathroom with tub and shower.  This is the view we had from our deck.  Are you jealous?

Molly, Bigger, Mama Bear, and Cubby all rode up together while me, Captain, and Gammy rode up by ourselves.  There is no way we could have all ridden together because our vehicle was crammed to the gills with stuff and no one inch of extra space was available!  I do remember much of the drive up because I had my headphones plugged into my tablet so I could get last week's crochet homework for the crochet-a-long I'm doing.  It worked out okay because Captain and Gammy kept each other company in the front seat while I was otherwise occupied.

The kids arrived before we did so got to call dibs on the bedrooms before changing into water gear and heading to the beach below the cabin.  When we got there, they were just coming out of the water.  Cubby was in her heyday and full of information.

Captain grilled brats for supper, and then we retired to the porch for libations and conversation.  After dark, our friend, Addy, popped over to welcome us and visit.  I had tapped into the bottle of Basil Hayden bourbon that James and Herman had gifted us on their recent visit, and I am told I had a good time but that I get louder by the sip when I drink.  Memo to me:  drinking half of the bottle at one time is too much!!

Lucky for me, I rarely get a hangover so on Tuesday morning Captain and I were up by 6:30.  We got our coffee mugs filled up and then strolled down to the beach and out on the dock to watch the sun come up from the end of the dock.  I really can't think of a much better way to start the day.

We got back to the cabin as everyone was starting to stir.  Gammy had put an egg bake together the night before so she got that going in the oven.  I was regaled with tales of my drunkenness from the night before.  Man, I hate it when people tell me stuff I did that I don't remember!!  Glad none of it was terribly embarrassing.

After breakfast was cleaned up (the person who cooks does not have to do dishes), we headed for the beach.  Captain and Bigger went out in the fishing boat we rented for the day while the rest of us hung around the beach.  When Bigger and Captain came back in mid morning, they asked if I wanted to go out for a bit.  Why not, said I.  Alas, we had no luck, but not for lack of trying.

We headed back in to have lunch which was just cold sandwiches and chips.  As Cubby was standing out on the deck eating her sandwich, she started hopping around like a crazy person.  Turns out she had a leech attached to the top of her foot and she wanted it off NOW!  In order to tone down the hysteria, Bigger and Mama Bear told her the leech had just kissed her.

I'm not sure what Bigger told Mama Bear about the leech he found in her belly button...but that's neither here nor there!

A bit later, Bigger, Mama Bear, and Molly headed out to do some bait drowning while Captain, Gammy, me and Cubby were on the beach.  I eventually had to take a nap and went back to the cabin.

After a good snooze, I meandered back down to the beach just in time to find Captain standing in the sand dripping wet.  Cubby ran over and told me, "Grampa tipped the boat upside down."

WHAT?!

Not a boat, but a kayak.  Please keep in mind that he has never--not once--been in a kayak in his life.  But he decided to paddle this kayak out about 200 yards from shore where there was a pontoon platform with a slide on it.  He managed to climb out of the kayak onto the platform, where he dangled his feet in the kayak to keep it moored while he dropped a line.

It must have been a hot spot for the fish because he pulled in 3 or 4 nice perch for supper.

However.

When he went to step back into the kayak, he was off center or something and the kayak capsized, and he floundered into the water.  Thank GOD he was wearing his life jacket!  However, he did lose his fish pole and his fish except the one he'd been holding in his hand.

I ask you:  if you are in danger of possible drowning...do you hang onto the fish or let it go to swim for your life?!  Whatever.  He got back onto the platform and waited for someone to notice him and rescue him.

That's where I came on scene--right after he'd been rescued and brought back to dock.  He went up to change into dry clothes and check for leeches.  By the time he came back down in his swim trunks, I was in the water with Cubby and Gammy.  Captain had a good time chasing Cubby and making her squeal and laugh.  Pretty precious memories right there.

After Cubby got tired of the water and wanted to swing, we left her and Gammy to that and Captain and I used the paddle boat to go out to the pontoon platform.  We were much more careful about getting on and off the thing, and we did both catch a perch before we headed back to shore where we dropped off the fishing gear and picked up Cubby for a paddle boat ride.

I just want to interject here:  MY FIRST FISH EVER!!

It wasn't long before the kids came in from fishing with tales of the ones that got away and a secret cove they'd found where fishing was easy.  No amount of whining, cajoling, wheedling, or begging from Captain would get the secret out of them.  Not for lack of trying!

We all headed for the cabin to take showers and lounge before supper.  Bigger challenged Captain to a rousing game of Battleship, Gammy relaxed in the recliner, and I was crocheting on the couch.  Cubby came over and asked if she could do a stitch.  You betcha, climb on up here!

Mama Bear made spaghetti and garlic bread and we had bag o'salad as well.  Once the supper dishes were cleared, Bigger decided we needed to play a game of horseshoes, so it was kids against parents.

I"m pretty sure we weren't following league rules, or any rules really, but in the end the parents prevailed because that's how it is supposed to work!  The skeeters were coming out in full force by that time so we headed into the safety of the cabin.

Bigger asked for a game of 500, so Gammy and I were partners against him and Captain.  This is another game where we are pretty loosey-goosey with the rules, but it must have been my night to rock because the girls demolished the guys in cards!

By 10:30 or so, we were all in bed for the night.  Boy, resting and relaxing will take it out of you!

Wednesday morning no one was moving very early except Captain and Bigger who went out fishing before anyone else was stirring.  That was okay because it was my turn for breakfast, and it took me awhile to get the camper eggs all put together and cooked.

Once breakfast dishes were cleaned up, the kids headed out to try their luck.  Captain went solo with the paddle boat out to the pontoon platform and by golly, he caught himself a mess of bass with a couple of perch and a sunny!  You go, Captain!

He hauled those in and went to the fish cleaning shack to clean them.  Cubby went along until she decided it was much too stinky in there.  She kept waiting for the kids from the cabin next door to come out so they could all play in the water again.

When the kids did come down, Addy was with them.  She gathered all the kids at the picnic table for an activity.  This is the joy of a small resort...personal attention!!  

She had the kids make homemade ice cream by putting the ingredients into a quart Ziploc bag and sealing that shut.  Then in a gallon Ziploc bag, she put in ice and rock salt.  Finally, the quart bag went into the gallon bag, sealed the gallon bag, and then the kids (or Gramma/mom) had to shake rattle and roll for five minutes to churn the ice cream.   When the consistency was right, she passed out spoons and straws to enjoy their product.  It was fun watching the kids sharing and learning together.

When the kids came back in for lunch it was with stories of catching weeds (Molly) and fending off biting insects unsuccessfully.  Mama Bear got a bite on her foot that caused some concerning swelling, although she declined a trip to the emergency room.

They all decided to lay low on the beach for awhile so Captain and I went out alone.  As he is trolling away from the beach, he comments, "I'm not really sure I know how to drive this."

WHAT?!  And then I see the impish grin; what a goober.

We motored quite a distance from the resort before Captain told me to drop anchor.

Ten minutes later I'm hauling the anchor up because he wasn't satisfied with our spot.

Repeat times three.

During one of those times, as I was tying the anchor off, I hear behind me, "You've got a bite!"  Well, dude, I'm a little busy here!  So he grabbed the pole and reeled in the fish.  A nice little walleye that should have been tossed back but had swallowed the hook up to its tail fin and was bleeding too badly to throw back.  Technically my second fish ever caught, although I never laid a hand on it.

Now I was pumped.  Captain re-baited my hook for me and I was into it, my friends.  Suddenly, as I was jostling the pole trying to entice a fish to gobble the bait, my hook jerked.

OMG!  Now what?!  I set the hook and started reeling.  And reeling.  And I watched my pole bend into a U-shape.  Lord almighty, I have caught the monster of Jessie Lake.  I am envisioning a whopper of a muskie or some other impressive scaled beast.

Then I couldn't turn the reel anymore.  Captain came over, and he couldn't turn the reel either.  Suddenly, he handed me the pole and started hauling in the anchor line.

Now in my head is the scene from Jaws where the shark takes the bait and then takes off with the boat.  Oh good heavens!

Nope.

Captain kept hauling in the anchor and, sure enough, about halfway down there was my hook embedded in the yellow nylon rope.  I'd caught myself an anchor.  Go me!  Yeesh.

That was enough excitement for me and we headed back to the beach.  As we motor in, we can see some sort of commotion going on at the beach, but we didn't pay a lot of mind as we docked and tied up the boat.

Turns out there was a water balloon launch contest going on.  I didn't know it, but there was apparently a $100 prize up for grabs if anyone had been able to thunk us with a balloon in the boat.  No one did, by the way!

 I must have gotten too much sun out on the lake and I was feeling a little light-headed, so I headed to the cabin to be in the cool and quiet.  Captain, Molly, and Bigger went out in the boat, and Gammy and Mama Bear stayed on the beach to watch Cubby play with the big kids.

When Bigger, Captain, and Molly were heading back in from the lake, Captain convinced them to stop by the pontoon platform to fish awhile.  He got up out of the boat onto the platform without mishap, but Molly gashed her thigh and was bleeding profusely.

When she said, "Dad, this is really bleeding, maybe we should go in." Captain looked at her and said, "It is really bleeding.  Drop your line."  Can you feel the love?!

When they finally did get back to the cabin, I took her over to the resort office because one of the owners is a retired RN.  He proclaimed she didn't need stitches (I told you so, Mom!) and gave her antibiotic ointment and band aids for it, stating she would probably live.

Our last night was a quiet one in the cabin given the various cuts, scrapes, and injuries we had.  We had a rematch of the 500 game, and this time the guys won so that was a wash.

Addy came over to say goodbye as she would be gone in the morning when we left.  It was a typical Minnesota goodbye that took about 2-1/2 hours.  We reminisced and visited and laughed and laughed and laughed.  It was awesome.

Thursday morning no one was moving very quickly.  When I finally rolled out of our bedroom to get coffee, the first thing Bigger told me was that Captain has spent the night sleeping in the recliner in the living room in nothing but his boxers, holding the 2-gallon container of cheese balls in his lap...and snoring away.  Can you believe no one thought to take a picture of this tableau??  Opportunity missed. 

We had an easy breakfast of cheerios before starting to pack up and do the check-out housecleaning chores.  Everyone pitched in, so it wasn't long before we were ready to check out and hit the road home.  We settled our bill, bought some T-shirts, and had a family picture taken with the lake as a backdrop.

We were a 2-car caravan to Grand Rapids, and then we veered east while the kids headed south.  Captain knew how much I missed seeing Lake Superior last fall, so he detoured to Duluth on our way home.

We stopped in Canal Park and had really excellent pizza at Old Chicago Pizza, and then wandered down to the lift bridge.  There was a ship way out on the lake that would be coming in, but we didn't have time to wait for it.  But, I'd had my glimpse of that wonderful water, so we headed home.

We had one last detour to Jay Cooke State Park to show Gammy the swinging bridge and the stacked slate stones underneath of it.  We checked out the visitor's center and one last potty break before really hitting the road for home.

I dragged out my crochet and plugged in my audio book until we were well into the Cities traffic.  I"m so glad Captain was driving because driving in the Twin Cities makes me crazy.  Didn't seem to faze him at all, though.

As much fun as we had at Loon's Landing with Addy and her family--enough fun that we are definitely going to do that again--it was nice, as always, to pull into our own driveway.

Here's to your summer adventures being memorable and much, much fun!

Ag Education 101

One of the reasons that I do this blog--other than poking fun at Captain--is to inform the general public about the ins and outs and ups and downs of farming.  Believe me, we will use any opportunity as a teachable moment in order to raise public awareness about agriculture.

Even better is when that education can be done in person.  Such as the other night when my good friend, James, and his husband, Herman, came to visit.

James was the first physician I worked for when I started at Mayo Clinic.  He was in his residency then and we sort of learned the Mayo way together.  We've stayed close over the years even though visits have been rare but precious.

Usually when James is in town, I meet him for lunch, and we catch up which is what we did several months ago.  At that time, I told him the next time he was in Rochester, he and Herman should come out for supper because then Herman and Captain could get in on the fun, too.

That day rolled around on Wednesday.  They got here early enough that we took a leisurely tour around the Brogan Ranch to peruse Calf Country, the flower beds, and the vegetable garden.  Bonus round in the vegetable garden was identifying all the weeds that they don't have in Phoenix:  quack grass, lamb's quarters, and water hemp.

After that we expanded our tour, and Captain drove us around some of the back roads so James and Herman could see soybean fields, corn fields (which all look like crap right now), and hay fields.  We rounded out the tour at a neighbor's dairy farm where Captain helps out several days a week.

They got to see a different Calf Country, some chickens, Hamilton the 500-pound pet pig, a free stall barn, and a milking parlor.  Herman even got to strip out a quarter on one of the cows!

You know how sometimes when you are introducing someone to something that is well outside their wheelhouse, and they ask questions but you can tell it is just for form's sake?  Not so this time at all.  They asked intelligent and thought-provoking questions and were genuinely interested in the answers and learning more about where food comes from and what it takes to get it from farm to table.  I love when that happens!

By the end of the tour, we were all hungry so we headed back to our house.  I went in to finish getting supper ready while Captain gave a Farm Machinery introduction class outside.  James and Herman now know everything about corn planters and AgCo Allis tractors!

We had hoped to be able to enjoy the evening on the deck but rain showers changed those plans so we simply visited around the table.  Herman had hit up the farmer's market in Rochester and put together a wonderful salad that was A-MAZE-ING!  Captain even had seconds of that for two reasons:  (1) he really likes salad and (b) he really doesn't like meatballs.  We all pretty much gorged ourselves over much laughter and good conversation.

The meal was rounded out with some of what I told them was half-assed mousse (not moose, eeeuuuwww).  It was a recipe I had tested for Cook's Country, and I had biffed it up a bit by folding the chocolate into the eggs instead of folding the eggs into the chocolate.  Didn't matter; it still tasted okay.  Looked a little funny, but tasted just fine!

After we waved them good bye at almost 10:30, Captain said to me, "I hope they enjoyed hearing and seeing all the farm stuff."  Sharing our knowledge with others is always a positive thing, but when we can share it with good friends, it's even better!

She Shed Shennanigans

Image courtesy of  WordsOnImages.com

Ladies, have you ever been so upset with your significant other that for your own sanity--and his physical well-being--you have needed some space to cool down? 

Yeah, I didn't think I was the only one.  Even Cubby is on board this train.  She stayed overnight last week, and during the course of the evening when I was not home, Grampa took the tablet away from her so she couldn't watch YouTube anymore. 

When I got home from my meeting (and kudos to Grampa for Cubby-sitting in my absence), she comes running to the door to tattle on him. 

"Gramma, Grampa was being a putz!"  She put on a little pouty face and said, "He took away the tablet." 

Cry me a river, honey bunny; you'll live.  Did you have fun anyway?  Of course she did.  

On the same note, my friend, Marcie, and I were talking about this the other day, and we decided that a Shared She Shed for Shelter from Shitheads is a must in any community.  What say y'all?  

Am I right?  Men have had their gentlemen's clubs and Man Caves for years.  As if they need to take a break from the wonderful women that they are married to; I mean, come on!

The S.S.S.S. would only be open and available to those citizens not burdened with a Y chromosome and would be open 24/7 as a Her Haven. 

Image courtesy of ravishly.com

Some of the perks would include:

• Endless supplies of wine, chocolate, caramel, and coffee.  
• There would be no calories in anything that is eaten.  
• It would need to have comfortable seating for those all-night gripe and grumble sessions.  
• Sleeping accommodations for when someone tried to deplete the wine supply.
• It would automatically clean itself.  
• There would be a meditation garden for that Zen feeling.
• No cell phone reception.
• No clocks.

I am not saying we don't love our guys, because we do.  I'm just saying that sometimes we all need to recharge our girl power without XY interference.  

Because this isn't feasible (damn and double damn), we have to find other ways to decompress.  For some, that means immersing themselves in music or other fine arts.  For others, it is physical activity.  Yes, I am talking about beating the rugs and imagining it is your man. 

Image courtesy of WomenWorking.com

For me, it's crocheting.  I know enough simple patterns that I can sit down and do by rote without having to think about it, leaving my mind free to empty out and rejuvenate itself.  It's an activity I can be alone and enjoy or have company with other happy hookers and do a little venting while creating.  

Whatever it takes to help us maintain our relationships is good because at the end of the day, it is our relationships that will get us through anything.  

But wine and caramel don't hurt.  Just saying!