Another Fortune Cookie

I was cleaning out my purse the other day... looking for a fresh prescription that I needed to drop off for Mac. And in amongst the canceled checks, alfalfa pellet receipts and general debris, I found a fortune cookie fortune. Don't know how I could have lost this one, as it was a particularly good one. It said...."You will have good luck and overcome many hardships"

The first thing that jumped out at me was OVERCOME. It was like some huge reassurance that I would survive all this. It felt very nice.

Then it occurred to me that having good luck didn't necessarily insure that I wouldn't have hardships. Then of course, I had to wonder if my good luck would include the lotto and paying off my bills, because that would be very nice indeed.

My fortunes are like my lotto tickets. Hanging on the front of the fridge under a magnet. A diminutive billboard for hope. There hangs the belief that not only can I change my own fortune but also change the tide in the world for good. Who knows, maybe some day I will have enough money to help replant the rain forest. Maybe I can make micro business loans to women the world over. Maybe I can help house the homeless. Maybe, maybe, maybe.....

First, I must overcome many hardships. Then we will see what happens.

Louie

Fortune Cookie Says.... again

We couldn't really afford it. Bit of a splurge, really. But it was so hot. We were just going to get out of the heat so off we went to the chinese buffet.

I have my preferences. I always start with crab rangoon and the hot and sour soup. Then try to find the hottest dishes. Though there are never hot dishes on small town chinese buffets. Actually, I don't think there are hot dishes on a large town chinese buffet either. I digress.... I usually settle for the pork with mushroom. Then finish with tapioca and the fried donut, which isn't really a donut, is it? It's a fried tube biscuit. Besides some family always comes in and the kids clean out the fried donuts and I end up with just tapioca, which isn't really chinese. Hmm, interesting.

As you know the best part, my favorite part, is the fortune cookie. And this time the fortune cookie said, "You are vigorous in words and action". Not exactly a glimpse into the future, is it? But, I think it is true. Now what do I do with it? How could I make this work for me?

Suggestions will be accepted.

Louie

Yet another fortune cookie

Last night as I was getting ready to call it a day, one of my fortune cookie fortunes somehow got caught in a breeze, wafted around in front of my face and landed at my feet. I considered this a sign. The fortune cookie read, "You will obtain your goal if you maintain your course". Yeah!!! some good news!

Day one was actually just half a day, so I was disappointed in myself. But the first days project was taken as far as I could take it right now anyway. And, that was doing a bunch of earth moving by hand and trying to get an area clean flat and ready for grass seed. I won't be able to seed until fall but I know that will come up incredibly fast. It always does.

Day two was marred by the mental battle with bills. I have decided that for right now I won't be trying to do it all at one time. I'll pluck away at it in smaller, less grueling bites..... at least for right now. But I also did some important contact work on the computer, and hopefully, as of today I have met some of the right people to get some things done. While I didn't get the arbor done, I did finally commit to the design I wanted. The posts were already in. They are now painted a brilliant, happy red. I'm getting some small supports up that will help me to hang onto the first crosspieces so that, hopefully I can get those screwed in. After it is together and solid I will go back and screw in a huge bolt. Aligning holes and getting the bolt shoved in while holding a six foot long 2x6 is just a bit much for me. So, in some respects, this day was altogether exciting, horrifying and a little short of the goal.

Today is day three in the great "Can She Do It?!" marathon. Today is back to basics.... I will be digging ... again .... with a shovel. The good news is that this is the last big digging day. It is for footing prep for the outdoor fireplace, oven and grill wall. Again final design has been elusive. But I can't be indecisive anymore, especially after about ten o'clock this morning. One hole has to be three foot by six foot by four foot deep. That 's for the fireplace, though it does sound like the perfect shallow grave. I do have to say here that you should never dispose of a body in an outdoor fireplace footing. Bodies do not provide proper freeze and thaw support... your concrete will crack. The project will need to be re-done and then the jig will be up. (moving on) The next hole will be for the wood fired oven and it will be three foot by four foot and four foot deep. Last hole will be the easy one, the grill wall, a mere 2x4 and four feet deep. This is a huge task today and it will mark turning a corner in the projects department. Hard to believe. If it is possible for all to go according to plan, after today, all my digging will once again be recreational.

The last I bothered listening to the weather, it was projected that there would be rain after midnight. I hope they stick to that. Have to say that it looks like it is clouding up already ....YIKES!! I guess it doesn't matter much. I have in door projects as well. Lots and lots of indoor projects.

Oh crap! Gotta run! I forgot the weed eater is out!

louie

Fortune Cookie says......

I love fortune cookies!! They are like lotto tickets. They are tiny bits of transient pleasure that inspire hope and keep us going for a bit longer. I save my fortunes. I don't think I have ever had one actually "happen" but I'm patient. I think my favorite fortune cookie was one I received about twenty years ago. It sticks in my mind... obviously. The fortune said, "You will be the next one in your place of business to be promoted." I got laid off that week. That's okay. It was a foundry and I think the only way up was out. So, maybe that one was right.

I have a small stack of fortunes telling me that I will be a success. That I have creative Ideas that will turn the tide. I have special abilities that will see me through. Oddly enough, most of my fortunes seem to be business related. I wonder if that is normal? I only recall one about my love life and it told me that I would soon meet my soul mate. Considering that I was already married and had three kids, I kind of thought that one could be trouble. I saved it anyway.

I'm looking at a fortune on my desk that says,"This year your highest priority will be your family" Got that one right after Mac's leukemia recurred.

Yesterday, we made a trip to Des Moines for an extra blood test. In total defiance of financial responsibility, we went to the China Garden for lunch. Mac loves their pho soup. I ate looking forward to the fortune cookie. The tough decision is always which one to take. Which one is destined to be yours? I usually take the one farthest away from me. Yesterday I had to take the one that was closest and no, I don't know why I did. My fortune read, "Appreciate every moment, especially this week" To be honest, it kind of scares me. It didn't help that I put the fortune in my pocket to save it and when I got home it was gone. I realize that I probably pulled it out when getting my keys out of my pocket but it just makes it feel that much more weird and eerie. I am fully aware that any given day can change your life forever, but to have it written down and brought to my table gave it additional weight.

This weeks goal is to appreciate every moment and I will try to not cringe too much as the days tick off. You never know with fortune cookies.

louie