Catch-All

This "catch-all" has been (eh-emm) catching-all for a few years now.  It has been sitting on the table in the kitchen for awhile and has been fulfilling it's duty quite well.

The catchings include:

various rocks and smooth sea glass

a seashell ornament from Maine

an old set of keys from my grandfather

a flash drive

a cough drop

pieces of wall tile

and probably some coins

Looking at all of the things lying there together, it's interesting to sit and reflect on how they all came together.  But then again, I guess that's the point of a catch-all.  Everything just sort of comes together, and sticks that way for a bit.  I think it is a good analogy for life.  Life is a collection of random things that make up a moment, a day, and are all collected within the confines of a person's memory and experiences... the personal catch-all.

What is in your catch-all?

The Sky

My cat is afraid of going outside, and I'm pretty sure it's because there is no ceiling.  He steps out, looks up, and proceeds to walk back in, and goes to the corner farthest away from the door opening, yet close enough for him to look out, lays down, and watches (safely from the inside).  It's cute really!  You can feel his trepidation.  Even Pickles, who will walk outside and is extremely interested by everything being outside, prefers to sit in the doorway with her feet hanging out and the rest of her body in.

I think they get it from their daddy...
Not that Gary is afraid of the sky, but there is a certain waywardness when it comes to standing and looking up at the sky.  I swear one time he told me that he is afraid of the sky because at any point, something could come from the sky and grab you.  I swear he told me this!!  But he denies it.  And I'm sure it's quite possible I made it up, but the thought still remains.

I remember one of my first encounters with the sky fear was when we were down in Miami at Dadeland Station.  We were crossing the walkway from the parking area to the stores, and there was this big expanse of open air area with no ceiling.  I like the sky, so I looked up and awed.  Gary seemed to hold on firmer, kept his face straight, and kept walking.  It took me aback for a second, so we got into this conversation about how he feels like he is suspended in air, and seeing the depth of the sky, and how it makes him feel anxious to imagine being suspended up there looking down.  (And somewhere in this dialogue is where he tells me about things grabbing him up from the sky... or something).  I think it's endearing, really.  And shame on me, I'll even tease him about it a little when we are looking up into the sky.  He laughs - it's all in jest after all. 

Luckily, the above picture wouldn't bother him.
There are trees breaking up the expanse of nothingness, and as we all know, trees help keep you grounded.
Yet another reason, to hug them (trees that is)!

Basket [case]

Today, we put 16 baskets together!  On any given day, 4 baskets is a bunch, so imagine our chagrin when 16 baskets came down the line...  But, we took it on!  And we prospered!  It only took a few hours, and in the end, we sent 16 beautiful baskets on their way, while I was left with a pile of basket trimmings on my desk.  Dirt, dust, basket pieces, and zig fill!

(Voila!)

At dinner, I was talking about it and Gary called me a "basket case".  ::chuckles::

Luckily, this is also a song, and it's been in my head for years, so I feel obliged to share it here!  :)

"Basket Case" by Green Day

Do you have the time

To listen to me whine

About nothing and everything

All at once

I am one of those

Melodramatic fools

Neurotic to the bone

No doubt about it

Sometimes I give myself the creeps

Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me

It all keeps adding up

I think I'm cracking up

Am I just paranoid?

Am I just stoned?

I went to a shrink

To analyze my dreams

She says it's lack of sex

That's bringing me down

I went to a whore

She said my life's a bore

So quit my whining cause

It's bringing her down

Sometimes I give myself the creeps

Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me

It all keeps adding up

I think I'm cracking up

Am I just paranoid?

Uh, yuh, yuh, ya

Grasping to control

So I better hold on

Sometimes I give myself the creeps

Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me

It all keeps adding up

I think I'm cracking up

Am I just paranoid?

Am I just stoned?

Assumed lake living...

Today was such a nice day to sit on a covered porch right off the lake!  There was a breeze, the sun was shining, and the clouds in the sky were nice and whipsy!  Armed with rocking chairs and light conversation, spending the afternoon on the porch was just what we needed!

If I lived on a lake, I'm sure I would spend the majority of my days on the porch.  Especially a covered porch!  You could be out here almost year-round and in any weather, and just sit and watch.  So nice!

truck driver

... for some unspecified amount of time.

I had to take my Equinox to the doctor (dealer) because it was having the hiccups in the form of transmission issues. And since I've plenty of experience with transmission issues thanks to my Saturn, it was to the doctor first thing this morning! And they are going to take good care of it, and get my baby back to pristine condition! AND they gave me a truck to play with in the meantime.

Secretly, I have ::always:: wanted a truck! I love them! So, I am so excited to drive it around, and we are even taking it to the drive-in tonight! :) We are going to park it in front of the big screen, under the stars, get in the back with our picnic and chill! And we've a little group going, so it should be great fun! We just need the thunderstorms to stay away, and we will be golden!

Wonderland wormhole?

What if this were a wonderland hole? 

... a wormhole that would lead to a fantastical world of quirky and random? 

Where the caterpillars sing, there are mad-hatter tea parties, and a smiling cat...

An evil queen is surrounded by a "card" army...

And it is your purpose to complete this journey and survive.

First things first, you would need a magic bottle of potion labeled "drink me" that would shrink you down to size.  And then, just then, you could walk into the darkness, grasping the wall for security against the pool of water under foot.  And it would be as if you could sense a sudden drop-off and instead a being scared, you'd be excited!  (But is it just because you know the rest of the story... or because you just like adventure?  (You did just walk into a drainage pipe after all...))  And so you continue - until you drop - feet down, into a void of nothingness, into a world of magic and daydreams.

Lock It Up

A picture of a lock.  Random.  What could be the purpose?  Could it be something as simple as: there was a locker room that held stuff, and  if you wanted to protect your stuff, you would take said lock, close the door, and all would be well until the next time you would needed it.
And then you would enter your combination, the lock would release, and the contents of the safe would be free.'

Sure, it's plausible.

But, could it represent something else?

Could it represent a line from a fabulous comedian in a funny movie?  Could the picture claim fame to this person's wit, and embody it in sheer presence?  Could saying "lock it up" invoke a memory of the movie, and inherently, the smile that soon followed? 

Sure, it's more than plausible again.

But what if it had a deeper meaning... something more symbolic.  Could the "lock" represent the hiding of secrets/ beliefs/ ideas.  It is something that you can hide behind and protect your inner self with?  Is it really even that simple?  And if it were, is the lock that important anyways?  What is the purpose of the whole protecting-yourself-in-order-to-protect-others?  And if it were this symbolic meaning, could you stand to look at this picture for fear of others figuring you out?? 

Sure,
because it's just a picture...
Of a lock.
Plain and simple.
Short and sweet. 
:)

-----

It's been a crazy, but good week!  Work was busy and frantic at times, but conversations were good and all-in-all, it was great fun!  We've started going to the gym (which might explain the lock picture) and are enjoying everything it has to offer!  The indoor track, the pool, the classes... all are great!  I'm looking forward to the challenge of keeping up with it - and it's been nice going after work so far.  :)  I'm so looking forward to tomorrow!  I am planning on going to the coffeeshop and being there for hours going through all of my notes in my journal.  I'm planning on taking a highlighter and using that as my means sorting through the chaos.  lol.  The shower is coming up in a few weeks - it's time to finalize the details and get all of these plans rolling.  I'm thinking of doing some sort of barbeque chex mix thing to put in the little mason jars instead of the strawberry soup.  That way it could stay out the whole time, and then I could decorate each jar without worrying about ice or water messing up the ribbon.  And then instead of the soup, I might look at doing a cake or something.  Like I said, much to do!

Adieu for the evening!  Bon nuit!