Butterflies in the Mist

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Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:16:13 -0400

Music piracy in the ’60s

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:15:42 -0400

Music piracy in the ’60s

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Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:16:57 -0400

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Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:37:36 -0400

Me most of the year: Want that. Want that. Want that.

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:36:42 -0400

Me most of the year: Want that. Want that. Want that.
Me near my birthday: I CANNOT THINK OF A SINGLE THING I WANT.

inoperant: Sunset Over Long Island (by SPO.)

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 19:34:31 -0400

inoperant:

Sunset Over Long Island (by SPO.)

That awkward moment when everything makes you remember about John Mayer:

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:31:36 -0400

Friend: I need color pencils.
Me: John Mayer is a 64-color box.
Friend: I think I love you a little.
Me: John Mayer says that anything less than I love you is lie.
Friend: I need to buy new glasses.
Me: John Mayer Loves glasses.
Friend: OMG, did you fall?
Me: Yeah, Gravity is working against me.
Friend: Let's take a picture!
Me: John Loves take pictures.
Friend: Why don't you stop with this? Stop talking about him!
Me: hey, if you want to freak out, freak out!
Friend: is that a John Mayer quote?
Me:
Friend:
Me:
Friend: Run.

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Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:20:10 -0400

ridin-elephants: HIPSTA BLOGGGG, <3

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 23:02:29 -0400

ridin-elephants:

HIPSTA BLOGGGG, <3

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Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:46:31 -0400

friedasophiejewelry: Anchor Button Pants from Convoy

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:50:53 -0400

friedasophiejewelry:

Anchor Button Pants from Convoy

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Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:56:29 -0400

It’s amazing how I’ve finally found myself to be happy single.

Mon, 07 May 2012 02:13:31 -0400

It’s amazing how I’ve finally found myself to be happy single.

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Sat, 05 May 2012 21:28:48 -0400

are you planning to go see 'the beatles: the lost concert' film?

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:30:12 -0400

I would if this was not spam.

They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie, as I looked...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:07:14 -0400

They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I’d only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn’t hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie’s advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn’t look like “Lab people,” whatever that meant. They must’ve thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn’t really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike.

I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. “Okay, Reggie,” I said out loud, “let’s see if your previous owner has any advice.”
____________ _________ _________ _________

To Whomever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can’t say that I’m happy you’re reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie’s new owner. I’m not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he’s part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn’t done it yet. Doesn’t
matter where you throw them, he’ll bound after them, so be careful. Don’t do it by any roads.

Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones —-“sit,” “stay,” “come,” “heel.”

He knows hand signals, too: He knows “ball” and “food” and “bone” and “treat” like nobody’s business.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He’s up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don’t know how he knows when it’s time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. It’s only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He’s gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn’t bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

And that’s why I need to share one more bit of info with you…His name’s not Reggie. He’s a smart dog, he’ll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn’t bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this … well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is “Tank.” Because, that is what I drive.

I told the shelter that they couldn’t make “Reggie” available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could’ve left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter … in the “event” … to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he’d do it personally. And if you’re reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he
loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that’s enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I’ll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,

Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver
Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

“Hey, Tank,” I said quietly.

The dog’s head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

“C’mere boy.”

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn’t heard in months. “Tank,” I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.

“It’s me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me.” Tank reached up and licked my cheek.

“So whatdaya say we play some ball?” His ears perked again.

“Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?”

Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.”

You were my inspiration tonight, I knew you were watching me like you do every time. You care so...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:56:21 -0400

You were my inspiration tonight, I knew you were watching me like you do every time. You care so much about me but yet you hid it from me & yourself. Is it really hard to see we were meant to be?

& I wish that the next time I see you, you won’t avoid me and my presence. Nothing more...

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:23:22 -0400

& I wish that the next time I see you, you won’t avoid me and my presence. Nothing more could hurt me more than you not liking me.

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Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:18:44 -0500

lullnightowl: Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins Popsicles Makes...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:59:16 -0500

lullnightowl:

Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins Popsicles

Makes 12 2.5 oz Popsicles

6 oz pureed strawberry (about 10 strawberries)

2 oz peach syrup (recipe follows)

12 oz tonic water

2 oz plus 3 oz vodka (divided use)

Instructions:

1. Stir strawberry puree with 2 oz. of vodka. Place three teaspoons of strawberry mixture in the bottom of popsicle form; set aside. (As mentioned in last week’s cocktail popsicle, I used cordial glasses, but any form will work.)

2. Stir peach syrup with tonic water stir to combine. Add vodka and stir to combine.

3. Pour peach and vodka mixture over strawberry mixture and stir to combine.

4. Freeze for about 2 hours or until mixture starts to solidify enough to hold a popsicle stick upright. Insert popsicle sticks and finish freezing popsicles overnight. To release popsicles run hot water on the outside of popsicle molds for a 2-3 seconds.

Peach Syrup

(You will have more syrup than you need. Save for other cocktail uses)

½ cup sliced peaches (about 4 medium size peaches)

1 cup water

1 cups sugar

Instructions:

1. Wash, peel, and pit peaches. Place peaches in a blender or food processor and process until peaches are pureed.

2. Place water, sugar and peach puree in a pot and bring to a boil and continue to boil for 5 minutes.