Lady's Slipper Orchid
Originally uploaded by talekinker

Today's Joy: Anticipation. I have waited all week for this, Reader. Tomorrow is the Batavia Orchid Society's Annual Orchid Show. Mom, Aunt, a few friends and I will descend upon the Dupage County Fairgrounds tomorrow to drink in all the glorious orchidness. Reader, I am an orchid junkie. Phalaenopsis, Lady Slippers--the more zany and colorful, the better!

There is a photography competition involved too. The winning shot will receive web publicity and earn a free subscription to Orchid Digest. Wish me luck! My fingers are already itching to hit the shutter on my trusty Olympus. Will have plenty of orchid joy to share with you tomorrow!

Photo: Paphiopedilum: Paph. Hsinying Majukun 'Dennis Choice' x Paph. lawrenceanum 'Tradition'

Today's Joy: Spelling Bees. Tonight I got to fill in as a judge at the regional elementary-middle school Spelling Bee. What a joy, Reader, to watch the kids work thru words that would stump most adults! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Today's Joy: I Still Got It. Reader, these things always happen when I'm minding my own business. After work, I stopped at Culver's to satisfy my deep-fried cheese curd craving and somewhere between leaving the drive-thru and getting stuck behind a chain-smoking Grandma on busy Randall Rd., I must have stolen a man's heart.

There I was, tootling along behind Iron-Lung Granny and snarfing cheese curds, when I realized I was boxed in and driving under the speed limit. There was an electric blue cross-over riding side-by-side with me in the left lane. I looked over at the driver--a fairly attractive man, clean-cut, mid-30's, wearing wire-rimmed glasses. He was smiling widely and waving at me. I squinted but he didn't look familiar. Then I thought, oh, poor guy. He thinks I'm someone else. I'll just ignore him.

Silly woman, making eye contact only spurred him on. At one point, he was in front of me and waving in his rear view mirror. Eventually I got around Puff Granny and my Road Romeo. But he wasn't giving up yet. He followed me when I turned off on a side road and followed me closely to my final destination. By now, I was getting a little freaked out. I figured he couldn't be anyone I knew--people I know don't tail you down a 4-lane highway for miles and then sit on your bumper at every stoplight.

Once I pulled into my final stop, he paused at the entrance and waved at me before driving off. Tremendously relieved (I was having visions of locking my door and calling 911), I went on with my day.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my good hair day and fabulous red scarf had done their job and I must have been quite the temptress in my Dodge Ram pickup, snarfing cheese curds. You must understand, Reader, I'm not used to this sort of attention and usually respond to that kind of scrutiny with alarm. But as my Road Romeo caused no harm, I'm now feeling pleased with myself and inclined to swagger a bit. Evidently, I still got it. Thank you, Road Romeo, for the boost of confidence. Perhaps next time, you could be a little less creepy. Just a thought.

Today's Joy: Positivity. Well, Reader, it has been one of those days. The kind that makes it hard to keep smiling. The kind that requires a teensy glass of Riesling when you get home. Not surprisingly, I'm a bit tired & cranky.

But I'm also proud of myself. Despite a variety of obstacles popping up throughout the day, I did not lose my composure. I did not let other peoples' negativity or agendas wreck my positive attitude. Or, at least, not entirely. It would be untruthful to say I didn't struggle. But in the end, I got to help a few people today and projected the change I want to see. An uphill victory is better than none at all. I'm big on silver linings.

Today's Joy: Primroses. All week, as I come and go to and from work, braving the frigid temperatures outside, one little reminder of spring has kept me from falling into a winter malaise. These darling primroses.

A gift from Brother to welcome me home, four different colors of the happy little plants were presented to me. Not sure which one you'd like, he said. I love them all, of course.

Now they're clustered on a little tray in the kitchen where I can pass by several times each day and inhale the fresh scent of live, growing things. It's like having my own little spring indoors. And seeing as the real thing is still at least a month off, what a blessing! Reader, if you haven't already, go get yourself a little live color therapy. Happy Tuesday!

Today's Joy: My Partner in Crime is Back in Town. My cousin, the horse shoer, is up from southern IL for the week to take care of her northern customers. Each time she's in town we get together for dinner, drinks and generally have a great time. We also usually get into some kind of mischief. None of which is appropriate to recount in my lovely little blog, Reader. My apologies.

Tonight, we are having home-cooked pot roast with the family and watching that most excruciating of reality TV shows--The Bachelor. What a nightmare. I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Here's to sharing the little things with the people you love!

Today's Joy: Valentine's Day. I have to admit, Reader, I am not feeling very valentiney today. I realize, however, that this is due more to my recent lack of valentine than to any fault of the holiday itself. Were I a few more days (or months) removed from my last relationship, I'd be happy to be happy for all my good friends who are fortunate to share each day with their valentine. For them, I am so glad that love blossoms every day. For myself, I am just happy to share a home-cooked dinner with family tonight. Speaking of which, Mmmm! Just discovered the joys of Polenta. Can delicious mooshy corn stuff be a valentine? I think so! I heart Polenta! Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours, Reader.