Bring Home Baby

My husband submitted an application on behalf of both of us a five days before our 25th Wedding anniversary on August 19th, 2013; I did not know what we planned to give to each other until he handed me a piece of paper with a face of a tiny puppy with the name HOLDEN underneath. It took me a few moments to realize what he was telling me- and then the next morning, he played a message for me... we were approved for adoption by ALAQUA ANIMAL RESCUE, In Freeport, Florida- a mere 20 miles north of us! We were flabbergasted and so very excited! We were going to become parents to a dog again! And then, all the anxiety and nervousness settled into a pit in my stomach and I began to nest. I cleaned and moved this around and that around (wasted time, looking back), I even bought a small play toy for the little one and a box of training treats! We woke up on Saturday, August 17th prepared to drive out to ALAQUA ANIMAL RESCUE and bring home HOLDEN but there was rain rain and more rain. Not just rain, but buckets and buckets of the stuff that caused flooding. ALAQUA ANIMAL RESCUE called and left a message asking us to stay home, for our safety. Watching the news that evening , we also discovered another reason- a woman had been arrested earlier that day for hoarding and neglecting over a hundred animals including 97 dogs, many of whom had resorted to cannibalism for survival. Horses and donkeys were found with oozing, gapping wounds- the mental image alone should frighten most people. And the rains continued for days! We decided to wait until Saturday, August 24 and with donations of collars, leads, dog food, laundry detergent, trash bags in tow, we headed north to Freeport. We first looked at some pigs- we even attempted to discussed the idea, but my husband reminding me that my idol, Lou Diamond Phillips has a pig and could we really see ourselves with a pig- that will grow five times the size of the cute piglets before us, but the thought faded quickly as the barks of dogs calling us to come look at them was too overwhelming- we were there to bring home a dog, hoping and praying that HOLDEN was still available. Apparently it echoed in both of our minds. Finally we came to the puppy pens, there was HOLDEN and his brother HIDALGO, a mixed breed of an assumed to be basset hound and beagle, with perhaps a little greyhound or whippet thrown into the pot for good measure, in one pen and in the other was HAWKINS, their brother and another puppy named RITTER. hen we inquired about HOLDEN, we were disappointed to hear that both HOLDEN and HIDALGO and their sister, HARLOW were adopted! We also learned about the history of the litter... About nine weeks ago, four puppies- a female and three males were found in a gunny sack on the side of the road and were brought to ALAQUA ANIMAL RESCUE, where they were bottle-fed and nursed back to health, and they named them HIDALGO, HOLDEN, HARLOW and the runt of the litter, HAWKINS. When we heard that, my husband asked to see HAWKINS, who wrapped both his paws around Bear's hand and wrist and clung onto him for dear life, climbing up as high on his chest as he could. Then it was my turn to hold him. He climbed my chest as well, but wrapped both his paws around my neck and gave me a tiny kiss. That sealed the deal. As we were taking care of the paper work, he fell asleep in my arms! We had our first family photo taken and home we went, HAWKINS clinging to my chest and frightened of his future, but during the trip home, I kept assuring him, whispering calming words into his ears and softly stroking his back, cradled in my arms like a baby, but watch and listening to all the new sounds-a radio and the click-click-click-click of the turning signal and seeing all the things he had never seen before! Flying birds, boats, cars, trucks and in a moving vehicle with strange smells too! It was frightening for him, I am sure, as he shivered the entire way home! Once we got home, Bear carried HAWKINS to the top of the steps and attepted to let him walk about. I panicked and told him to pick him up immediately, which he did, but then set him back down and quickly then picked him up once again, when I told him that the deck's railings were too far apart to keep him retained on the deck!! We looked at each other as I quickly unlocked the front door and we stepped HAWKINS into his new home...

To be continued...

The King and I

(NOTE: For 31 years, I have been a major fan of the actor/director/producer, Lou Diamond Phillips and for the last three years, I have been FOLLOWING him on the social network known as "Twitter". I began following him and his wife, Yvonne, during his appearance on NBC's "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!" and a year later, wound up being FOLLOWED by him!

Since then, he has been quite gracious to me and we have tweeted back and forth with each other- with general observations and comments to various topics and discussions- in as much as one can fit into 140 characters! When I contacted him and informed him that Hubby and I would be attending the Wednesday night show of the King and I, and asked if we could have a chance to meet up with him, he quickly replied, asking if we could join him following the performance backstage AND for drinks! I passed out and when I came to and changed myself, I still had trouble to conceive that the event would actually happen!

We contacted his cousin, Michelle and her fiance, Rich and told them we would be in KC for a few days and asked if could we see them and would they join us for the performance? Unexpected circumstances, however, just before departure made it impossible for Hubby to travel with me. I was prepared to cancel the entire trip but Hubby insisted that I go...)

Following a couple of rather ordinary flights to KC, I arrived on Tuesday morning and checked into the Intercontinental at the Plaza and settled myself in. When I woke up yesterday morning, June 8Th, I tried to pretend it was just another day- I tried to occupy my mind throughout the day by taking a swim, visiting the World War 1 Museum and trying to relax, but deep in my stomach was a undeniable excitement and apprehension knot.

I dressed and waited patiently for Michelle and Rich to join me, although I began to get apprehensive when they ran behind on time. It was when not one, but TWO limousines showed up, that I suddenly became very nervous! (It seems Hubby had ordered one, as did I!) The problem was quickly resolved and we were off to the Starlight Theater and an evening of entertainment... little did I know how much the evening's events would have an impact on me...

We arrived at the theater, which is a beautiful outdoor venue with fountains and natural floral surroundings,and multi-kiosks offering everything from popcorn to pizza, but we chose to grab a beer and settled into our seats just as the stage curtain rose, revealing a beautifully designed set dressed by two very authentic-looking Siamese dancers/elephant panels on either side of the stage. The play began with "Mrs. Anna and Louie" arriving by ship in Bangkok... and from there on, I was lost. I found myself whistling to "A Happy Tune" and wasnearly brought to tears as Rachel Bay Jones sang "Hello Young Lovers". I took delight when the King of Siam took the stage- describing his dilemas in "A Puzzlement" and explaining the facts of life (as he knew it) in "Song of the King". I loved watching "Little House of Uncle Tom" and wished I was in the arms of the King as he guided Mrs. Anna aroud the ballroom floor. I even found myself shedding a couple of tears when the King of Siam dies and leaves Mrs. Anna in charge of completing his children education of "things scientific".

Following the performance, we went to a designated area and gave our name to the host, who led us to a waiting area with a handful of other people waiting for the cast and ensemble to drift out of the stage door. Then finally, Lou Diamond appeared and began chatting with some other people before he approached us, looking directly at me as if to say..."And you are?". I stuttered my name and something stupid. Then suddenly, felt two wonderful, strong arms wrapping themselves around me. Somehow, I managed to wrap one arm around his neck and the other around his very strong and muscular torso and we held each other close! He held me tightly for a moment and then, pulling away, he gave me a gentle kiss and said, "Hello, Frith!" I was gone. I struggled to remembered to introduce my guests, stuttering and stammering slightly as I introduced Michelle and Rich, whom he greeted and shook hands with. He then invited us to join him for beers at a bar called Turner's Grille.

We arrived about 45 minutes at the bar before Lou did and wound up chatting with two wonderful men, Eric and Damon, who were also meeting up with him. Damon had us in stitches with his "militant African-American" humor until Lou arrived and a small intimate group began to form that included Brian Mathis, who played the ship's Captain as well as the orchestra's conductor, Eugene Gwozdz- who, it turns out, went to school at the University of Texas-Arlington with Lou! I manage to ask Lou a few personal questions about Yvonne and his daughter, Indigo- got to hear about of a couple of projects he has coming up and we shared some banters and some personal notations back and forth before we looked up and noticed that it was getting very late (nearly 2:00AM!) and my guests had to go to work in just a few hours. He signed my ticket, took a couple of pictures with us, giving us all mutliple hugs before we parted and as we climbed back into the limousine, we got lost in the high from the night's events, talking all the while back to the hotel. We all agreed that it was truly a wonderfu, magical evening.

When I got back to the room, it was nearly 2:15 but I had to call Hubby and tell him about the night! I woke up at 6:00AM and had to get out of bed and got down on my knees in thankful prayer-for last night was a blessing and I could not let another moment pass by with out acknowledging all the Blessings that I received and have always had...

Last night, I met someone who is not only a terrific actor, loving husband and father but is a very remarkable man and human being. As a result of this experience, I feel just a little closer to a man whom I once only thought of as " a celebrity and movie star". I now feel safe and proud to call him... a friend. I hope he feels the same.

The Christmas Adam Story

This year, our annual Christmas Adam party is at two places this year and I cannot help but reflect on the 24 years that have gone by since I invented the damned party! The party and I have evolved and have come a long way since the first one I threw in Colorado Springs that last winter I lived there, way back in 1987...

I had filed for divorce from my volatile husband of nine months and due to Colorado laws at the time, we had to live apart for a minimum of three months before consideration before the court. Unfortunately, I was the one who had fled my condo that horrible night and stayed with some (military and well-armed) friends for protection (and self-preservation). I had to get a court order and a restraining order just to get back into my own property but I eventually did return, only to find that the son-of-a-bitch had either burnt, pawned or destroyed just about everything in the place including family heirlooms.... but, I digress...

I was anxious for a celebration and a holiday party was definitely called for-it was also the first year I could not go home due to the uncertainty of my divorce dates. Knowing that most of my friends (who, at that time were an average of 10-15 years older than I was) had kids or grand kids due in town and would be busy Christmas Eve and Day... I chose to have a cocktail party at my condo and invited a few people over. We had a great time-wound up playing poker until way too late (or way too early)! And spent most of Christmas Eve with a severe hangover, as I recall. Again, I digress... But the event became known then as Christmas Adam (because Adam came before Eve-get it)?

By the following year, I had moved back to St. Louis and had married my husband, Brad. As we approached our first Christmas, we wanted to celebrate our happiness with our friends. That first year was a small gathering as we had eloped and many of our friends still did not know we had married so quickly after we met! (Love can and does occur at first sight!). The second year, we were in our rental house in Brentwood and the house was filled and beaming bright with food, lots of alcohol (and other weapons of mass destruction)... I know... I'm digressing AND might be incriminating myself! Then we moved to the house in Ladue and the party really had some great times! Magicians, musicians and tons of festivities... many will attest to the grand times!

There were a few years when the Christmas Adam party went dormant-when we lived in Southern Illinois and when we first moved to Florida but it has been the last three years that this party has really taken off! That first year at Sally's Backside Bar was the place to be that magical night! Redd started singing and we all joined in as we drank beer and wine and danced the night away! There was probably about 50-70 people there throughout that wonderful evening. Last year, we moved it over to Johnny McTighe's Irish Pub where the libations followed freely and we had a larger venue to accommodate the nearly 150 people that passed through its doors while Redd entertained the early evening crowd and Marc Harris entertained the late evening crowd with the bagpipers of the 23rd Highlander's piping throughout the night! I know I had a good time because many people said that I did, they seemed to have remembered having a good time and they hoped that we would do it again this year.

Well, we are really into physical and mental infliction of pain (which explains why we are married to the other!)-so here we are on the eve of another Christmas Adam and now we are taking over both places-Sally's Backside Bar will feature Redd making the holiday season bright with her voice and songs of good cheer and then upstairs the bagpipers of the 23rd Highlanders will serenade us and Marc Harris will delight us and bring us some great cheer with his fabulous music...

I hope everyone has a great time and makes it home safe and sound... Depending on when the fog in my brain from the party disappears, I will let you know... BTW... Other than the usual Bloody Mary, Mimosa or the likes-does anyone have any suggestion for hangover recovery... I got a feeling I'm gonna need it!

The Wormhole in My House

I have come to the conclusion that somewhere in this house, is-a wormhole. A volatile and vast wormhole that sucks things in-important things. This monster of a wormhole has managed to suck up the strangest of objects too! Things like: the original set of keys to my truck, an expensive diamond ring, the left shoe to my only really great pair of dress shoes; the cute black ones that dresses up any outfit. Other things too-a favorite blouse, a pen and a brand new notebook that I was sure I had left in my office supplies-have magically disappeared.

Not only have these objects disappeared (although they are merely that-objects), but this devastating wormhole has sucked all my creative juices regarding this damned story I am writing, out of my brain! So I trying to avoid it by NOT thinking about it. Inevitably though, someone will ask me, "How's the book coming?"-especially while running into everyone during the holiday parties and impromptu gatherings at the Pub. I then spend the next few hours or days fretting that I should be concentrating on writing the story- and less on partying! Usually my characters like to come and talk with me but they, too only seem to be distant shadows in my dreams-although... last night I did hear a chant as I stood before a hogans door with smoke billowing gently from behind the deer skinned entrance and to the night skies above so... perhaps there is hope on the horizon.

As Daddy would then say to me... "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, How did you enjoy the play?". I sigh a deep sigh as I hold my hands and head up into the air to the powers that be and say, "What can ya do?! I could use a little of your help down here!" Waits for reply. "I know! I know... it's Christmas... I know… but I'm trying my best down here to do thing here so... So, thanks for listening. Amen..." I sigh another deep sigh, give one more pleading look to the heavens as I publish this and switch over to my MS Word.

If nothing happens, I might be back here... otherwise you can probably find me in my usual spot... at the Pub!

I dreamed a dream back in 2009...

In March of 2009, I spent a great deal of time trying to occupy my mind and the new found freedom the unemployment brings and was racking my brain trying to decide what in the hell could I do to occupy my mind, to allow for my creativity to 'flow' and... keep me from drinking at 11:00 in the morning while watching television!

It was one night in April, that I dreamed a foggy and shadowed dream about two couples- a modern day couple and a couple from the late 1700s and early 1800s- and they began to tell me their story! I could hear the men and the women as they all seemed to speak at me either very fast or over each other, across each other and to each other. I could not see their true images but I could hear their voices...

What I really thought was odd was though was where we were... we were in some sort rounded hut~ a Navajo hogan! I have never seen the inside of a hogan nor have I ever really traveled to the Navajo Reservation. The only person I ever recall and that I knew was of true Native American heritage, was Nick, whom I met shortly after I had moved to Colorado Springs. He died suddenly and tragically before I could ever really get to know him... I did not really pay any attention to the dream and had forgotten about it until...

In May, an ad came across the television announcing a network program called "I Am A Celebrity! Get Me Out Of Here!" and heard the name "Lou Diamond Phillips"! I have been in fantasy lustful relationships with several actors, including LDP, for many (thirty-something) years and had not heard about him nor seen any of his work for a while. I ventured out and googled his name. Across the top of the page came about 6 or 7 random publicity 'head shot' photographs of Lou Diamond; as a young man in "La Bamba" and another from "Young Guns" and yet another from "Stand and Deliver".

There was another one of him leaning his arm against a post shirtless (Phrrrrrr!) and one with his lovely wife, Yvonne (pangs 'o jealousy!). I was amazed as I studied those photos- I noting the subtle changes in his face and physique in each photograph and I was struck by two things: I had forgotten how good looking Lou Diamond was... and that life passes by quickly and photographs, stories and memories help to formulate a story- any story- whether it is a true story or... a fantasy story. It triggered me to look at photographs of my husband through the years- photos of him as a young man, as a teenager and then our married life and saw those changes in him, too. I then looked at photos of myself and saw my life change from the young wife I once was into... me today. I was amazed!

I went to sleep that night and as soon as I had finally settled my brain into sleep mode... I was "transported" out into the desert and found myself sitting on the edge of a rocky ridge, watching over a herd of sheep grazing in a meadow- not far from me. With a warming gentle breeze, I then heard someone from behind, approaching me.

I turned to see a small boy with coal black hair walking towards me. He was telling me his story; he came towards me with a devilish, handsome smile beaming across his face, and spoke at first like a child- his voice aging as he aged. By the time he was by my side, he was my age- a man approaching his fifties and retrospective of his life. He sat down next to me and continued- he told me his name... and his story. "Benjamin 'Teddy' Edwards, United States Marine Corp", he said. I fell in love with him instantly and admittedly... passionately.

He told me about his childhood, his wife, their children, his career, his life as a Navajo man and warrior but he kept insisting that it was not his story but rather his wife, Maurrey's story, that needed to be remembered and told and that through her story, his story and the story of "the early seeds" would also be told. Cryptic and confusing, to be sure, but I woke up the following morning and began my adventure of following a dream and seeing where it goes, how far will it take me and... I can only dream and hope... for now.

Since then, my "Teddy" has introduced me to several characters- including his wife Maurrey. She and I are dear friends and she does not mind when I "borrow" her husband for his point of view for my stories... or for other moments... like when my imagination tries to picture the feeling I will feel when I finally sit in the desert and watch a beautiful sunset. Teddy is with me and pointing out the beauty in everything around me. I guess, in a sense, I am having an affair with my lead character. Is that cheating? I'll have to ask Dr. Phil, if I ever get to meet him.

As for Lou Diamond Phillips... I began following him and his wife, Yvonne on Twitter later that month. I was something like #384 under Lou's Twitter "Followers" and I can't even remember on Yvonne's... I watched the show dilengently and even got my husband to watch with me. He seemed to be the kinda guy that one could probably sit down with, enjoy a pitcher of beer, throw some darts or shoot a game of pool and would walk away a great friend for a long time. He wound up winning that show and I have seen him in quite a few television shows and movies since then.

One day, late last year and in a silly mood... I tweeted Lou a funny little ditty that I can't even remember what it said (probably sexual in connotation, I am sure!). My email inbox the next day sent me an alert stating the following: "Lou Diamond Phillips is now following you on Twitter"! Since then he has sent personal reply tweets, commenting on something I have submitted or sharing a photograph of his family. He even took a picture with a twitter friend of mine (and mutual Lou Diamond Phillips fan!) with a personal note to me to raise money for autism AND sent us anniversary wishes and birthday wishes. I can't help but remember the scene in Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles where Madeline Kahn leans up against the door as Cleavon Little exits and she says: "What a nice guy!"

I hope to meet him one day and share with him how he helped inspire my fictional character... who knows, maybe if Maurrey's story actually makes it to press... he can produce, direct and star in the screen version! I can only dream a dream and follow where it goes...