This evening my friend Debbie and I hosted a bridal shower for our buddy Becky who will marry Clarence on August 30th.  Becky and I have been dear friends since I went to work at Cox in 1985 and like me, she was convinced that a nice, normal guy was never going to be on her radar.  When I got engaged to Burl she just couldn’t believe that I was making such a quick decision and that I “just knew” – but I assured her that when it’s right, she would know it.  Fortunately she was paying attention because she has found Mr. Right!

Here’s a photo of Becky showing off the red thong bikini that I knit for her as one of her shower gifts.  I had such fun knitting it for her and I think I’ve now found the perfect bridal shower gift for future events.

We had such a fun party this evening – most of the guests were either current or former employees of Cox so there was plenty of “shop talk” but while I miss the people at work, I sure don’t miss the job.  Earlier today Burl and I participated with the Cox group in the annual United Way Day of Caring.  Again, it was such fun to see friends with whom I’d worked on other such occasions and to see the fruits of our labors – we ended up power washing the front of a clinic, washing windows, pulling weeds and assembling shelves – all before noon. 

A very fun and rewarding day.

My second favorite comic strip (after “For Better or For Worse”) is “Pearls Before Swine” and after I read today’s offering, I knew I would quickly hear from Tammy who shares my warped sense of humor.  True to form, Tammy did not disappoint and neither of us will ever hear Dean Martin’s famous song without thinking of this cartoon! 

The Pearls’ website has this to say about the strip, “Stephan Pastis sketches this nuanced comic strip tale, which features the arrogant, self-centered, and totally hilarious Rat, who leads his four-legged friends through misadventure after misadventure. Joining him for the journey are Pig, the slow but good-hearted conscience of the strip; Goat, the voice of reason that often goes unheard; and Zebra and the eternally inept Crocodiles who pursue him. Together this mindful menagerie mocks the flaws and shortcomings of human nature through Pastis’s cynically biting wit.”  Most days I know I’m more Rat than Pig or Goat but I can always hope for improvement in my behavior!

Tammy also shared this blog with me today since we are both captains in the Grammar Police.  Check it out if you can handle the raw, racial truth about the majority of white Americans.  While I had hoped that Tammy inherited what few redeeming qualities I may have, it appears she received her share of sharp judgemental wit along with a healthy dose of sarcasm – but hey, at least we both got my mother’s legs!