Night-Crawler

See this?  See this guy/gal?  The picture doesn't do this experience justice.  I could throw a saddle on its back and take it down the street to pick up milk & eggs, it's so big.  He/she has been hanging out in the backyard for the past two weeks. There are spotlights on out there til about 10:30pm.  I was passing through the living room the other night, glanced in the direction of the window and saw this one strutting oh so casually through the backyard....just strolling along.  I YELPED! It froze. We locked eyes:

"Hey Rita...r-e-l-a-x..." it looked to say.  Then it gathered itself together, chest pushed out, and continued across the yard.  A little more quickly.  Now doing laps.  Like it was participating in the Olympics.  Back & forth.  A little slow on the 4th lap....Seriously? I saw him/her again the next night...."Hi Rita!".  Where do these things come from?!?!  And where does it live during the day (horror!)?  And hey - where ya headed at night?  (Can I come? Just kidding!).  When we first encountered one another I was exclaiming - "Is it a rat??  Is it a big fat water rat?  A possum??  What in flippin'  sam dam hill is it that thing???"  And yes, my leg was going up & down, arms flailing.  "Ewwwww..."  This city girl was - is - skeeved.  Yeah, I've seen this night critter and it's cousins before in my passing through this world, absolutely.  But this go around made me ponder the very existence and its close proximity to the house. Um, to me. It's size, it's strength.  Whoa - gives me chills just blogging about it!

So while the rest of the country - and perhaps world - this week is focused at night on Obama, I'll be hanging in the living room checking out Opossum!    

In My Next Life, I will be a...

When posed with this question, here are the next lives I would live:

1.) Backup Singer

- My first choice, all around. Yeah, the travelling would be a grind, but I would love to backup an artist similar to James Taylor, where I would add the soul & funk to the music, and he would give me the occasional duet with him or, even better - a solo! The other type backup? To Bruce Springsteen. Where together we would harmonize and rock the party...oh YEAH! Oh...and backup to Sting, of course. No brainer, there.

2.) Professional Athlete - Olympian

- I love keeping my body in motion. It is such a blessing to wake up healthy every day and I love honoring and celebrating it with movement (yoga being my favorite of all to do this). If I could come back and play basketball or softball, that would be fun. But I'm not a huge fan of women's professional sports. So - maybe not professional, but definitely an Olympian athlete. Yes, an Olympian. And I would perform in the track & field category.

3.) Professional Chef

- I enjoy the kitchen and being in motion there too....I love to make people smile and cooking can definitely do that. I would cook for a few years, after studying with the best, then open my own small restaurant and manage it....and in a very ideal world, work it with family, to enjoy it together.

4.) DJ in a House Club

- In Miami or in a mad crazy European dance club, on Friday and Saturday nights (the hottest gig to get)....again, the motion.........the constant good vibes from the beat - putting OTHER people in motion along with me. Join me on the ride. Denise - you can make the mojitos ;)

5.) Doctor

- I would become a medical doctor and then go volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. At the same time, I'd be researching with other medical doctors toward curing cancer. (okay - I admit that sounds like an answer on Miss America, but it's true..it's something I'd like to do).

6.) Professional Artist

- I would become a professional artist and work in oils, making museum quality paintings that might mirror the style of the art from the European Renaissance.

Though there are other lives I would like to live, these top my list today....and would always stay within my top six.

How about you? What's one thing you might be in your next life?

Per Request...

** yes - I am watching SYTYCD**

Bloggers R US, INC.

Blogtown, USA

MEMORANDUM

TO: Whom It May Concern 

(or anyone that would like to proceed beyond this point)

FROM: Rita, Jr.

DATE: 08/08/08

RE: Vacation Recap - the Highlights

_________________________________________

Saturday, July 27 - Sunday, August 3

Sun:

George Michael concert.  just as his song says, he was AMAZING.  would see him again in a heartbeat.  danced and sang like nobody's business - he and the whole crowd, that is. 

M:

chilled; got used to the idea of not being a working fool...was really nice.

T:

shopped with my brother for essentials he needs for his apartment while he's in Boston.  Target rocks. Drove him & all his stuff to downtown Boston, where he's staying

W:

trip into Boston with nephew and nieces.  we visited Paul, then met up with their mother (my sister) who was working in there.  we rode the Swan Boats and walked ALL OVER town.  visited the Copley library, shopped in the Copley & Prudential Malls and ended the night at P.F. Chang's for chinese food dinner.  we were legless but had a blast together all day.

Th:

the Police concert, with Elvis Costello and the Imposters.  incredible fun.  our seats were dead center and the screen was enormous. here is what Sting is looking like these days.  interesting look, no?  yikes!  this was also the day that Manny Ramirez was traded from the red sox.  Betsy texted me during the concert her angst over the trade.  the press here in Boston was crazed over the ordeal up until the time it happened.  it's okay - Manny needed to leave. he didn't want to be here anymore.  enter Jason Bay, #44.  Manny was #24. maybe Bay is twice the player of Manny?  so far, SO GOOD.  we're happy.

Fr:

um....i forget.  oh wait!  party at my sister's for Paul's arrival - my local brother hadn't seen him yet.  we'll be celebrating this arrival til mid-march  :)  all good.

Sat:

oh YEAH!  Bruce Springsteen concert.  weather was treacherous and he was playing at Gillette stadium.  we tailgated at a satellite lot (ironically, my cousin was tailgating three cars away from me!) and walked to the stadium.  the heavens opened upon us and we were soaked. lightening etc.  bruce delayed and finally came on at 9:20pm.  he played til 12:10am - straight.  our seats were great.  four rows up from the field, looking directly at the stage down the other end.  about 10:45 i saw my boss  - the exec. vp of our department - running up the stairs ( we had end seats).  i yelled "Jim!".  in the exuberance of the concert, we high-fived, shucked & jived and he continued on his way.  five minutes later, he was at the end of my row again, giving me the finger curl to "come here". i went to the aisle.  he asked "who ya here with?"  "my friends", i replied.  "would you like our tix up front?"...."'scuse me?" "our tickets - up front - we're leaving - you can try & use them"....i actually hesitated.  briefly.  looked at my friends, whose eyes were huge at this moment, and i replied "YES!!!!!!!  Sure!!".  what a nice gesture!  at each security point, they said "keep going, keep going, keep going.."  14th ROW!!!  Oh baby, did we have fun!  saw about 7 songs and have the memory burned into my brain.  great, great fun!  i saw this!!!!!!  Thanks, Jim!

Sun:

recovery, bacon & eggs, church, bbq at my niece's house.  my brother John was in town from upstate NY to visit for the weekend and see Paul.  we hung out with him a bit before he had to turn back to go home (there was another family party i missed saturday night cuz, you know, i was busy in the stadium).

Someone at work asked me today, "are you done?  are you done with all your concert going for the summer?"  "Heckle, yes", i replied...........til i got home tonite and my sister called asking me to go to Farm Aid, sept. 20!  woohoo!!   i need to go now - and learn the words to something by this guy :)