bad bad leroy brown

This is Elijah. He is what is commonly known as "teacup Persian," meaning that he was specially bred to be tiny ..... which he is. He weighs about 3 pounds soaking weight ... and he's soaking wet a lot more often than you'd think.

Given his genetics (and the frou-frou name we gave him), you might reasonably expect that Elijah lounges on satin pillows and prefers his fresh salmon served on a crystal platter -- that's certainly what we expected when we got him.

Instead, we have a fearless nighttime hunter who recently killed a squirrel that weighed more than he does. Elijah disappears about 7PM every night and doesn't reappear until early morning, damp with dew and covered in a huge variety of vegetable matter that has embedded itself in his thick, luxurious white coat. We consider ourselves quite lucky if he hasn't brought home a freshly-killed animal.

Eli (which is what we call him now that we realize how horribly inappropriate the name Elijah is) isn't real concerned about personal hygiene -- and don't even think about approaching him with a brush -- so once or twice a year we have him professionally shaved just to get him good and clean. You can see the contrast in the above before-and-after pictures.

I tell you, though, Eli has taught me a lot about self-image and the way we perceive ourselves. When we look at him, we see an ultra-prissy-looking white Persian with a snooty expression who looks like he wouldn't lower himself to chase a mouse.

But when Eli thinks of himself, he sees a lion -- and the truth is, he's more right than we are.

love child

Of course, the 60's and 70's were the height of the hippie movement and as anti-conventional, anti-establishment, anti-commercial and anti-anything-phony as the hippies were, the trappings of their culture still seeped into the advertising of the time as this ad from the March 1971 issue of Mademoiselle illustrates. Part of the ad copy says, "Be a blonde Pocahontas or a gypsy moonchild." Really, all you need is "Age of Aquarius" playing in the background.

It is doubtful that many true commune-living hippie-type women would lower themselves to do something as superficial as bleach their hair, so this ad is clearly directed at women who loved the cool and unconventional attributes of the hippie "look" while still being able to be a faux blonde, paint their lips with Yardley Slickers and shave their armpits.

Lest anyone think I'm being cynical or unkind let me make this perfectly clear: I was one of those women (which is probably why I love this ad so much)!

bad blood

Although they certainly aren't babies anymore, I'd like to introduce you to my other two grandsons: that's Justin on the left and Jeremy on the right -- they're the offspring of my oldest daughter, Caitlin, and her husband, Dave. The squirrelburger sitting between Justin and Jeremy is my son, Morgan, who -- believe it or not -- is their Uncle even though he is younger than both of them.

Because they are normal teenage boys, it's very hard to get a photo of them in which they aren't exuding "attitude" but don't let them fool you -- you won't find three more pleasant or well-mannered young men anywhere. I'm so proud to have all three of them in my family.

you light up my life

Further updating, perhaps the most significant news of the past two years is related to this post from January, 2008.

Meet Mr. Benjamin Tate Campbell, my third grandson, born August 31, 2008 to my daughter, Erin, and her husband, Lee. Grandchildren are amazing -- it's as if they open up a whole new compartment in the heart and fill it with a different kind of love than you've ever experienced before.

Ben is the spitting image of his Dad and has the considerable brain power of both of his parents -- in fact, he may even be a little too smart for his own good. And I absolutely adore him.

you keep me hangin' on

I should be embarrassed to admit that I've spent a considerable amount of time pondering this 7up advertisement from the September 1962 issue of Seventeen magazine.

Clearly, the girls are all in a dorm and they're waiting in line to use the communal telephone (thank goodness that by the time I hit college, each room had it's own phone!) Now three of them are apparently sipping on bottles of 7up and the tag line implies that if they just polish off those bottles that they'll not only suddenly be as "brightened" and "fresh" -- and well-groomed and well-dressed! -- as the girl who is currently hogging the phone.

My question is when does this transformation happen ........because the girl in the yellow sweater is next in line and it doesn't seem to be close to working for her yet. And where did the girl in the blue dress stash her empty 7up bottle? I don't even want to go there ......

stayin' alive

I know that at one time I had a number of people following my quit-smoking journey and I know that many of them were traveling the same road. I hope that we all ended up in the same happy place.

I'm immensely proud to be able to say that I still have not had a single cigarette since December 19th, 2007 -- 29 months! For a 35-year smoker, that's an accomplishment. I only wish I had done it much, much sooner.

I'm a bit of a rare animal in that I successfully quit on my very first try -- I had to, you see -- I know me and I know that a quit attempt that resulted in failure might mean that I'd never even try again. Having said that, I'm far from cocky. I know that in order to maintain my smobriety I must never, ever have that first puff. As long as I don't do that, I'm home free.

.

too much heaven

So .... where were we before I so rudely disappeared?

I had just announced that, Megan, my 3rd oldest daughter had just become engaged .... and then I promptly evaporated into thin air. Life has gone on in the interim and I plan on (eventually) bringing everyone back up to speed. But let's start where we left off .....

Megan and Hunter were married on February 21, 2009 and it was a breathtakingly beautiful event for all -- it was held at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Orlando and rich, jewel-like colors dominated the color scheme. We are so happy to have Hunter in the family!