I have this vague recollection of journal entries that made people laugh and cry. They seemed to abound in this proclaimed month of love. Bitter old hags tend to find annoyance in false declarations of love, the assumption that love must be shown with candy and flowers, and that we can make up for a whole year of missed opportunities on one solitary day in the month of February.

I don't want to lead any of my readers astray. I am still bitter about some things, and I would never deny anyone the right to give me candy. (I adore Godiva's raspberry chocolate bar and Russell Stover's French chocolate mint, in case you feel the need to test this assertion.) I just marvel at how many people don't take advantage of the chances we are given in the average day to show that we love and admire someone else. I know I don't tell the people around me how impressed I am with the things they accomplish every day. From the mothers who go the extra mile for their babies to the artists in cloth and words who bless my life, I must admit that I have a lot to appreciate in the world around me. Add to that a husband who loves me and makes me very, very happy (even when he isn't showering me with candy) and I don't think I could possibly be grateful enough.

So I was thinking about the fact that I am not grateful enough, and I thought I should do something about that. So what should I do? Should I ask my readers to enjoy my grateful initiative. For the next couple of weeks, I think I shall send some letters or cards, depending on what stationary gets under my pen first, to some of the deserving people in my life. Such a note is a little more personal than an e-mail but still provides the benefit of being there when the recipient is ready without taking away from a nap, a meal, or an attempt at solitude. You never know what other people are up to at the precise moment you decide to call them. If you have ever had a telemarketer call, you know what I mean. So how about we whip out some paper and brighten the lives of some of the people we love...

Have you written a letter today? Have you mailed some love to a long lost friend? I have. I decided to accept my own challenge and send out a few cards this week. I hope they are received with the same love and anticipation with which they were written.

Anyway, I was reflecting on how wonderful some of my friends are. You know the kind of friends that I am reflecting on. They are usually not the ones who think they are the best friend ever. They don't try to control you or take credit for your life. They quietly wait in the wings, reveling in your happiest moments, and lending support in your darkest hours. You can go years without seeing them in person and still get gifts in the mail that are just perfect for you. You miss them terribly sometimes, but you always know that you'll get back in touch and it will seem like no time has passed.

Anyway, that is my attempt to fix the world for today. I have a quilt to work on and I am trying to make a quick post for the readers of my fiction journal to post about. Can I do it?

The evening was spent appreciating the enthusiasm and energy of those who do not claim to be 711 years old. My husband and I offered moral support to the cub scouts as they finally got to have their pinewood derby. My hubby was even nice enough to help one of the boys glue some coins to his car. As none of the cars was quite up to my standards of lickable, I may have gotten distracted by the curtains opening and closing on the stage behind me, the little boy rooting enthusiastically for his brother, and the little girls who had tails made of pipe cleaners. I was confused about what was up with the last one until one of the girls was enthusiastically showing off her tail to anyone who would listen.

Aside from that, I posted to my fiction blog, bought some presents for my first wife, and added a link to my guestbook to the links at the bottom of the page. I haven't got any feedback on my attempts to organize this particular section better. Is anyone out there? Give me some feedback. It's only fair (and it will encourage more and better posts--you know you want them).

I am still waiting for some papers that I am supposed to fill out. It has been three weeks and the person who is supposed to give them to me keeps forgetting. It doesn't help that I forget to ask for them when I see her. I am hopeful that they might arrive tomorrow. I just hope she realizes that I meant it when I told her she should call first. I tend to not like answering the door when I am sweaty and gross and I need to exercise. We all know it.

In other news, I am working on my story submission for this month. Since I can't remember the last time I actually submitted, I should probably motivate myself. When I finish that, I can encourage myself to write another post for my fiction blog.

Some day, I will talk less about what I want to do and just do it. For instance, I will finally get around to learning to maneuver and stop while ice skating. My ice skating prowess is still somewhat lacking.

TOP TEN REASONS HOBBITS SHOULDN'T ICE SKATE

10. Hobbits are not shaped for graceful movement on the ice.
9. It burns off second breakfast.
8. Hobbits would rather eat ice than bounce off of it.
7. Flashbacks to being chased across a snowy mountaintop could ensue.
6. It cuts into snack time.
5. With names like Rose and Violet, do they sound like they should be on ice.
4. Hobbits aren't known for speed.
3. Too much work.
2. Big feet...
1. Foot coverings...

I've done better. I have also received feedback in the past.

I'm looking for motivation in the bottom of this cup
I can't believe how much life is looking up
Yet my rhymes don't seem to flow and I know
That someday soon, I'll have to go
Back to a world of silent introspection
Though I hope I'm wrong and this projection
Of the past is gone before I give in
To allowing pain to rule my life again

Cups are wonderful things. You can fill them with water or cocoa or cereal or fruit cocktail. It is much harder to fill them with words or dreams. Even if we could fill them with abstract things, how would we get them out?

What I should be doing right now is tapping out a few more pages of genius for the story I need to submit by next Sunday, but my muse is taking a midday nap, again. I really need to work on waking her up, don't I? After all, without my muse this poor journal is dry and crusty and my fiction blog gets no love from me. She used to be more motivated around this time of year. I guess being disgustingly in love isn't as fun to write about or read about, huh?

My brain didn't want me to sleep. It continuously babbles until I finally leave my nice warm bed. This results in a very sleepy husband coming to make sure I am alright. I sent him back to bed and tried to make myself sleepy. How? As my brain was trying to convince me to draw some pictures. I followed my brain's promptings and was completely reassured that I am not hiding some latent drawing ability. I may post some of my "artwork" on the photo blog when I have slept. For those who are curious, I was drawing some pictures to go along with the following gratuitous top ten list.

TOP TEN ANIMAL INSPIRED SWEET NAMES FOR YOUR SWEETIE

10. Funny Honey Bunny
9. Witty Pretty Kitty
8. Funky Hunky Monkey
7. Edgy Hedgie
6. Fuzzy Wuzzy Buzzy
5. True Blue Moo
4. Norse Force Horse
3. Oh La La Baabaa
2. Sparky Barky
1. Flirty Dirty Birdie

Some of those are more romantic than others. I admit that lack of sleep may be corrupting my judgment. We'll see when I decide whether or not to post this.

~~~

The day has progressed. I managed to wake up early enough to spend some time in Joanne's. Anyone who knows me, knows that my house is full of things I bought there. Today's purchases included some little critters that look a little like Dust Puppy of userfriendly fame. They're rather adorable. I hope my husband likes them. They are decorating for our pre-Valentine's Day table along with some chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with candy heart picks in them.

I did post a picture of my childlike artwork, so feel free to check it out. If you haven't subscribed yet, send me a message with your address so you can see the photo blog. I am working on another picture as well. Wish me luck...

So I attended a celebration of the birthday of the boy scouts. I couldn't go wrong with the colors blue and gold to lure me, right? This means that I spent a lot of time crossing my arms tightly across my chest as I turned my head back and forth to watch the masses of people shorter than me displaying an abundance of energy. I wish I had a sixth of that energy. I'd accomplish so much more, wouldn't we all?

To no one's surprise, I was the only adult who showed up in costume. The little girls kept gaping at me. My husband assures me that this is because they thought I was a Disney princess. I was thinking Cinderella. He was thinking Ariel. Did I mention the lengths of red hair that I grew just for the event.

As always, I found some of the planning to be somewhat lacking in some areas. Luckily, I wasn't in charge of planning. My synapses may not actually survive any more events that I plan. Some people may know what I mean.

I felt an update was in order since I have been such a slacker. That means I only have room for improvement. I must work on my motivation, devotion, and notification.

I pride myself on not following current trends, particularly when it comes to clothes. I like to buy my clothes off the discount rack which we all know means it is last season's fashion. Even then, I think I succeed in picking items that probably wouldn't appeal to your average person. I have also been known to make my own clothes. Since most of the patterns I buy tend to be for costumes, so that might explain some of the looks that I get.

Anyway, I always seem to find myself looking at the pictures from the red carpet. I don't devote the time to actually watching the Oscars despite the promises of laughter, but I have to look at pictures of people in sometimes ridiculous outfits. Many of this year's gowns made me think of eighties prom dresses. Are huge bows and brightly colored satin popular this season? Should I find a nice fashion blog to wear? What is the new pink?

When I have solved those mysteries, I can move on to solving another great mystery. I did try to solve the mystery of how to get my husband to eat more than meat and potatoes. I coerced him into eating some tacos by using less of the seasoning. He didn't seem to be completely disappointed with dinner. I may have to reward him tomorrow with a meal I know he likes--pizza.