At this time of year, it's amazing to be able to still play golf and enjoy the great outdoors. It was a bit cool (why can't I have a hot flash when I need it?) but it was great to be out playing again. Saturday evening, we told our other "parents" Jerry and Enid Jensen goodbye for their winter in Yuma, AZ. We love them and they love us. I've known Jerry and Enid most of my life. Jerry is a retired Army Sgt. Major who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. A lot of guys at the golf course were under his watch in Vietnam. Their daughter, Patti, dated my brother many years ago. She died of cancer in her twenties. She was a friend of ours in high school and we had some great times at her parents' Swan Valley cabin. Those were the days.

Sunday morning is my favorite time of the week. Sipping coffee, reading the paper, watching the talking heads on the news channels, listening to tunes and cooking a late breakfast are the things that I love on Sunday morning. Doing the New York Times  Sunday Crossword is always humbling. Just when I think I'm pretty good at crosswords, the Sunday puzzle gives me all I can take and more. Yesterday, I listened to Bob Dylan's "Modern Times" while working it. The second track speaks to me. Here are the lyrics. Oh my.

Spirit On The Water

(Bob Dylan)

Spirit on the water
Darkness on the face of the deep
I keep thinking about you baby
I can't hardly sleep

I'm traveling by land
Traveling through the dawn of day
You're always on my mind
I can't stay away

I'd forgotten about you
Then you turned up again
I always knew
We were meant to be more than friends

When you're near
It's just as plain as it can be
I'm wild about you, gal
You ought to be a fool about me

Can't explain
The sources of this hidden pain
You burned your way into my heart
You got the key to my brain

I've been trampling through mud
Praying to the powers above
I'm sweating blood
You got a face that begs for love

Life without you
Doesn't mean a thing to me
If I can't have you
I'll throw my love into the deep blue sea

Sometimes I wonder
Why you can't treat me right
You do good all day
And then you do wrong all night

When you're with me
I'm a thousand times happier than I could ever say
What does it matter
What price I pay

They brag about your sugar
Brag about it all over town
Put some sugar in my bowl
I feel like laying down

I'm as pale as a ghost
Holding a blossom on a stem
You ever seen a ghost? No
But you have heard of them

I see you there
I'm blinded by the colors I see
I take good care
Of what belongs to me

I hear your name
Ringing up and down the line
I'm saying it plain
These ties are strong enough to bind

Now your sweet voice
Calls out from some old familiar shrine
I got no choice
Can't believe these things would ever fade from your mind

I could live forever
With you perfectly
You don't ever
Have to make a fuss over me

From East to West
Ever since the world began
I only mean it for the best
I want to be with you any way I can

I been in a brawl
Now I'm feeling the wall
I'm going away baby
I won't be back 'til fall

High on the hill
You can carry all my thoughts with you
You've numbed my will
This love could tear me in two

I wanna be with you in paradise
And it seems so unfair
I can't go to paradise no more
I killed a man back there

You think I'm over the hill
You think I'm past my prime
Let me see what you got
We can have a whoppin' good time

That's all I got to say about that for now so, back to politics and bullshit.

 I am more convinced than ever that Barack Obama is the "man" for the future. The more I see of him and listen to him, the more I am convinced that he has the heart for this country. Can you imagine an election between McCain and Obama? It's early. I like bofum.

During the week when Richard is away from home, cooking and eating aren't big issues to me. Last Friday was a cool, stormy day and I was into making a pot of soup. It's something I haven't done for some time. Making soup is therapy to me. The soup was one of my better creations with hot Italian sausage, broth, cannelli, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, peppers, herbs and seasonings, cheese tortellini and white wine.

All weekend, we watched lots of sports. I really have no favorite in the World Series. I just enjoy watching it. So, what was on that Kenny Rogers' pitching hand, huh? College football is more appealing to me than pro football. Boise State is looking great as well as Georgia (Steph's old stomping grounds.)

I got a postcard from Steph and Joe today. They were in San Francisco for four days last week and on their way to Monterey and a tour of Highway 1 for four more days. I can't verbalize what a relief it is to know Joe is out of the hell hole and with his dear wife. 

Melanie and Jeff are busy as ever and enjoying getting to know Cincinnati. I miss them and they miss me. I don't know when we'll be able to get together. Thank heavens for e-mails and phone calls. I thought that when my children were little that I loved them as much then as I ever could or would. Love keeps growing. I love them more all the time. They teach me more lessons in love all the time. How grateful I am for them.

As much as I love taking my walks, they're just not the same without my old dogs.  My father-in-law's and brother-in-law's Labs accommodate me, but, it's not the same as having my old walking buddies. Do you think I'll ever get over my Whoopi and Booogerdogs? Probably not.

After watching Oprah today, I learned lots more about mommies around the world. That's my next blog entry. ...And the latest Netflix movie reviews. Can you handle the excitement?