“Hot” date

I don’t believe it’s only the 8th and I’m pulling this far for the “hot” topic.

Oh well, maybe things will get better.

Anyway — hmmmm perhaps I should have made this private since this is about such a “hot” date.

Crem (my best bud) and I have a standing — not so much “date” as “check in” on Friday nights.  *IF* neither of us has a previous engagement and *IF* both of us are up to going out then we’ll likely grab dinner or go hang out at a bookstore or some other such thing.

On Thursday though, I got a call from a gal pal down the street (KidNye’s mom) asking if I could sub with her Bunco group on Friday night.  If you know what Bunko is then you know, and if you don’t know it’s basically a game of luck involving dice, no skill, and (sometimes) tequila.  At least with this group.  Well, tequila or wine or some kind of spirit.  It’s a fun diversion and I’ve been lucky to get to sub with this neat group of ladies a few times.

So — since Friday is usually my night to at least touch base with Crem, I figured I’d see if there was a particular reason for me not go to play Bunco.  And Crem said “yeah whatever go have fun.”  About this time Spouse wandered home (to get ready to go out to play tennis) and I hung up the phone “Love ya, see you later, bye.”  Of course, when I say that at the end of a phone call it does narrow down who I’m talking to to about a half dozen people or so (family or close friends — I’m pretty generous with my “love yous” figuring it’s better to say too often than not enough).  So I was catching up Spouse on stuff and finally said “yeah here I am saying “love you” to another man (note — it’s not the first time, won’t be the last, and that’s not an issue around here).  Spouse is (not really) wondering if he should worry and I mention he should only worry if I go into another room and close the door before I say that.

Shortly thereafter Spouse left, and Chip comes home.  He had spent the afternoon at a friend’s house.  About 10 minutes later the friend comes over to ask if Chip can stay overnight so Chip and I dig some leftovers out of the fridge, pop them in the microwave, and Chip hops the fence to spend the night at the neighbors.

This leaves me and the Princess home to fend for ourselves, and it does not escape my notice that I have a “buy adult meal get a kid meal for $0.99” for Sweet Tomatoes.  So I tell the Princess that we’re heading out to Sweet Tomatoes.  Of course, Princess thinks that it would be great to invite her G-dMum and her family out but I knew they had other plans for the evening, and then Princess suggests we invite Uncle Crem (who I’d just gotten off the phone with 30 minutes earlier).  I call him and invite him out (and change to the precious “buy one adult meal get one free” coupon) and I do have my hot date with the “other man” except, of course, my 7 year old daughter is along for the ride.

Yeah — it’s no wonder I’m having trouble figuring out “hot” topics.  My wild night is out with a single guy and a 7 year old — after a morning of “pass the baby.”  I guess I really don’t have all that interesting of a life.

But did I mention that Crem has the body of a god???

FAILED!!!! (another happy tail)

You may remember my friend, Crem, who has done some fostering for dogs. His neighbor is actually involved in animal rescue, he has done some “overflow” fostering. One dog he fostered nicknamed Licorice found a wonderful family as detailed in this post. Another dog, Belle, also found a home as detailed here. Great dogs that found wonderful homes.

A few weeks ago, the local animal rescue got a call from a shelter in southern Indiana. There was a fabulous dog that was not getting adopted out. I guess with shelter workers every now and then they find a dog that really touches their heart, that they feel a need to work extra hard to find a home for. So she call Crem’s neighbor, and Crem’s neighbor forwarded information on this dog to Crem.

Ain’t he adorable?? Well, Crem took Bear in as a foster. Bear, Crem, and Fuzzforbrains (Crem’s dog) were hanging out as three old bachelors.

And last week, I was talking to Crem and found out the news — seems that Bear totally FAILED the foster dog process. See, he entered the foster dog system, but he did not graduate from the foster dog system. NOPE — no way, he’s no longer up on the available list on the rescues’ website. He’s not passing through the foster system, he’s staying put right where he is.

As for Crem’s neighbor and I — so not surprised.

And I have found me a home
I have found me a home
You can have the rest of everything I own
‘Cause I have found me a home

Crem de la Creme

If you know my latest theme (gratitude), and if you’ve known me a while you knew this was coming sooner or later

Today I’m grateful for …

Crem – my best friend (and pseudo kid brother)

Crem is one of those kind of friends that everyone needs, and hopefully a lot of us have. One of those people that you can text, email, or call anytime with any issue, large or small. And, like a “true” friend (as opposed to an agreeable pal) he tells it like it is, and not how I want to hear it (which I complain about to no end but I still keep going there so I do know the value).

Some of the things I appreciate (with expanded explanations below)

1) He knows how to, and is willing to fix things.*

2) Of all our friends, he’s the only one that drives a pickup truck.**

3) He has power tools.***

4) He’ll babysit. For FREE****

5) He’ll let me vent, and he’ll tell me when I’m off base about it.*****

There are things in this world that go together (chicken broth and noodles) (ice cream and chocolate :} ) (must be lunchtime) and things in this world that seem incompatible. When I look at Crem, and I look at myself, I think “what the”?? Okay – I’ve gotten over the fact that he was born with an unfortunate chromosomal abnormality (he’s got one of those “y” chromosome things — poor kid), and he’s a bit younger but when you hit the “adult” years that’s not so important. But then he’s single and doesn’t have kids. I sometimes think “we have nothing in common.”

But then I take a moment and look past all that at the really important things.
A) He can FIX things (unlike Spouse or myself) B) He has a pickup (the only person we know that does) c) He has POWER TOOLS!!! D) He appreciates a well poured Guinness

And when you get there, you just stop looking further.

* It’s a fact, I’m really really GOOD at taking things apart. Hand me a screwdriver or two and I’ll get anything into pieces. Some of my readers were with me the last time I had lobster — you know I got all that I needed out of that shell. I’m not, however, the best “putter togetherer” in the world. And Spouse — while not incompetent he’s NO Norm Abrams.

** We all know how important the “friend with the truck” is — I have told him that I don’t just love him for his truck, but the value of the truck was noted the day that, at 10:00 at night, we’re sitting grabbing a VERY LATE dinner near an Ikea before driving home in the snow. Yeah – a lot of buds will help you out with deliveries – but late at night – in January – in the snow. And THEN he helps bring the king size mattress in and drag it up the stairs. And then there have been the trips to Ikea followed by the furniture putting together (and then the time he pick up the really cool movable shelves and helped me put them together as a Christmas surprise for Mike).

We’ve been known to buy him dinner. How much does it cost to rent a pickup truck? How much does it cost to hire a mover?

*** And, in my office I have made to order shelves that fit the exact length of my table and fit very nicely over the milk crates — I mean file boxes.

**** but only in DIRE straights.

*****Sometimes I vent his way about Spouse, we have some issues (let’s face it, like 99% of folks that are in a long term relationship and live in the same house and raise kids together have issues – it goes with the territory). I know that some folks (why is a picture of Dr. Phil popping into my head) might tell you if you have issues with your partner, you should talk to your partner. I vent to Crem, sometimes he reminds me it’s not worth it. (Thus saving bad feelings between Spouse and myself). Last summer we had the fun of replacing the roof on our 30something house. We managed to get through all the bits, finding the contractor, picking the type and style of roof we wanted, and even figuring out where the money was coming from (okay – so if his folks continue to live, we have to pay them back, and if something happens to them well, we’ve already spent part of our inheritance :} ). Finally the day came when we had all these guys crawling all over our house. Spouse says “we” (meaning ME) need to stay home. I’m like “I want the heck out – it’s too noisy and they’re bonded and insured.” But instead of venting this to Spouse, I call Crem (who used to be in roofing). He’s like “okay you’re right BUT this is only one day — is it worth arguing about — pour some lemonade, grab a chair in the yard, and enjoy the view.” (yeah yeah — so some of the roofers weren’t hard on the eyes, and as they day got warmer the layers of clothing …).

Then there’s also the issues that he reminds me that I can’t ignore, and some things are worth pulling up to the surface and examining, no matter how much simpler it is to stick with the status quo.

Occasionally I buy Crem a cup of coffee ($2). How much does a marriage counselor cost???

Now, THAT’S a friend

Today I wasn’t feeling well. All the sudden around mid afternoon my stomach said STOP and I sat still for a while and felt okay — but moving around wasn’t a good plan. So I did manage to sit still and watch some videos I’ve had out for too long.

However, another problem presented itself. Wednesday nights is “class” night. I take fuzzybutt to his obedience class, and Crem takes his own fuzzybutt to class (also sometimes known as “my favorite nephew” :} — don’t tell my human nephew that).

So — tonight the spouse and son (a/k/a Chip and “the old block”) went to class for me.

It was an interesting evening I understand. After class the instructor called me AND Crem stopped by. Quite the excitement with a little bit of an almost dog tussle and then, well come to find out I’m not the only one in the family with stomach upsets.

A friend will take a class with you.

A good friend will help you out in class.

A *REALLY REALLY GOOD* friend will clean up when your fuzzybutt has diarrhea in class.

(Gotta hand it to Crem — usually I’m in charge of bringing the roll of paper towels and cleaner to class — I’d completely forgotten to send it with my boys – but Crem brought his own and then cleaned up).