Thanks be to

Dinner at the newly-fledged adult son's house.
He is hosting, at his new home, and courtesy of his girlfriend's cooking prowess, providing all the eats for, a family Thanksgiving!
Which means that my kitchen is cool and dark, and I will not witness the freak show turkey frying antics of the husband, phone and fire extinguisher in hand.
Yep, it's quiet here.
I hope you all have lots to be thankful for ...if not today,  then soon.

Life's a bear!

or...the bear that was really a mountain lion. My oldest son was enthralled with bears when he was just a tot. He had a beautiful coffee table book called "Bears" that had great photos in it. From one of those photos, I decided to paint a bear for him to hang on the wall of his room. Only it didn't quite work out. As I was paging through the book, a Mountain Lion jumped out at me! I knew better than to fight this creative difference. This is the end result. It was painted in acrylic on a scrap of cowhide stretched on a hoop. Feathers and strips of suede were added. Painted in 1992.

Hang up and...

Here's a little insight, a hint or tip. Whether it's a personal call, or a business call: step away from the distractions in front of you, computer, game, other people's conversations or if you're driving, pull over. You cannot possibly give the respect and consideration reasonably due your caller unless you are available for that call. By available, I mean listening and not browsing the web, updating your Facebook or Twitter. It's so easy to multi-task these days. In my opinion, these layers of activities takes away from the general quality of life. If you are unable to focus on your phone call, you have a few options: let it go to voice mail and promptly return the call as soon as you are able, or answer it with a promise to return the phone call as soon as you are free. With all of the tools and messaging options, there is no real excuse to dilute your focus on anything except that phone call. My stepmother was a stickler for manners, and while she arrived in our lives a little late for all of it, I have her to thank for general courtesy. She instilled in me a consideration, which I generously ignored as a teen, but understand and try to follow as an adult.