The Dackel Princess

I took a bath. I know, you are all glad that I finally climbed in the tub and washed my limbs, right? But you know, I think in America, at least, most people are in a hurry and so they shower and go most days. On Sunday, I put on some nice music, locked the doors (Hubby was out) turned off my cell phone, got a hot cup of chamomile tea, filled my tub up and sank in!

Oh how wonderful that felt! Hot water, all around me, while I slowly sipped my tea. I was on the verge of falling asleep right there in the tub, when I heard the pitter patter of little feet entering the bath room.

Yes, I had the great company of Arnie and Anneliese. They love it when I take a bath and come and visit me. I think part of them is really curious as to why I am happily sitting in a tub of water? So they come and see me each time.

Fritz figures the safest place for him is in the other room. He watches me, but from a ten foot distance. I’m sure he thinks he can outrun me if I decide to put him in the tub for a bath!

Greta sits on a bathmat across the room (the bathroom is actually pretty large) and usually takes a little nap while I’m relaxing.

Eventually I started to look like a dried up old prune and the water began to cool off, so I got out and toweled off and dressed.

I’ve just got to plan more tub time. It’s just the best way to relax!

After a week where I saw the bad side of a few people in my town and the surrounding area, at our local School Budget Meeting, today I was able to go out and just see the beauty around me. This was something that I really needed to do.

I took Anneliese and went to get the mail. Now on Saturday, almost everyone goes to pick up their mail in the late morning before the Post Office closes for the day. We saw so many wonderful people. Older neighbors and young families. I spoke to everyone I saw and I smiled. Boy, did that feel good!

My wonderful little town has not been so wonderful during this election period. There has been back stabbing, lying, cheating and empty, smiling, promises. I know, this is common in “Politics”, however it has not been the case in my sleepy little town, until this election. A woman who moved here just over a year ago has managed to take a group of people who had been working well together over the years, and has turned everyone against each other. She has also found her “John Edwards” pretty boy candidate, and gotten him in place to take over the school board, despite the fact that his wife is a teacher with a great deal of power in the system.

The pretty boy candidate is also a Bully. Yes, he is the Bully I served notice to the other day. I do not like liars, cheats and people who take advantage of others. This man and his crew are the epitome of small town evil. No joke.

Most of the week I was feeling very depressed about all of this. If you wondered why I was not writing much, this was it. I have just felt sick about all of this.

So today I needed to get out and walk around and speak to people and remind myself why I love this town and most of the people who live here.

I was not disappointed. They’re still here, the good people of my town. They are the ones who are born here, work here, live here and die here. They may not be the richest people, but they are good, hardworking people.

They are why, I am running for Library Trustee, and also why I have joined a community service club.

The other night I actually got up and spoke for the lower income families in my community, in front of over 500 people. Anyone who knows me, will tell you that is way out of my comfort zone. But I did it for the little children that I have worked with in this town, whose families have very little, and whose voices aren’t being heard right now. You simply have to keep taxes down, or these families will be forced out of our beautiful town.

I am all for good education, but not if it forces families out of our community.

Anyway, today was my day to fall in love with my town again and to find the goodness, and I was not disappointed. It was there, right where I knew it would be.

Home!

I have never been good with politics. I take things far too personally and I worry that people will not understand the true meaning of what I say or think. So, why am I running for office in my home town? Well, I guess because I really believe I can do a good job.

Tonight is a “Meet The Candidates” gathering. I need to go and shake a few hands, say hello and introduce myself to some of the people in this town that do not know me.

I have done my hair, put on full make-up and changed my clothing three times  (why did Hubby have to mention how big my hips looked in that first blouse?), until I was finally satisfied that I wouldn’t scare little children and the elderly.

I’m feeling very nervous, but I know that this is part of what one does during election times. My term will be for three years, so if I win, I won’t have to go through this again for a while.

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I’m back from the meeting. Basically, because I am running unopposed, all I had to do is stand up and wave! Window candy! LOL!!!

So I made it through tonight. All I need to do is make it through Tuesday, and I will be all set. Wish me luck!

I heard that the Weatherman from our New Hampshire television station (we only have one TV station in the state) was going to be giving a talk at a library in a town not too far from my own on Tuesday morning. I’ve always like Josh Judge, and he is the best forecaster that Channel 9 has. So, I planned to go to the gathering and listen to Josh give his program.

I got there early (because I am always early) and got a seat right down in the front. I wanted to be sure to see and hear everything. The room was large and as it turned out, I was glad that I had gotten there a little early, as the places filled up quickly and had I been seated in the rear of the room, I wouldn’t have been able to read the things on the screen which he demonstrated.

Josh has been in New Hampshire at our station since 2001. He has earned the “AMS Seal of Approval” (American Meteorological Society). The AMS has now created a NEW higher tier level of the seal called the “Certified Broadcast Meteorologist” and Josh is the only meteorologist in New Hampshire to have this.

I’ve always liked Josh’s on air personality, and I wasn’t disappointed when I met him in person. He is just as much of a New Englander as I am (this is good!) and has a wonderful way of communicating with people.

Josh explained how he prepares the forecast each day. How he gets information from around the state, and region and tries to make a good predication of the weather to come.

Then he explained about how he uses the “Blue Wall” where the weather information appears behind him.

The program is called a “Chroma Wall”. Channel 9 has a Blue one. This means that when they project the weather maps onto it, the computer looks for anything Blue, and broadcasts on that. So, no blue clothing for Josh at the station. But to show how it would work if he did wear blue he showed us this slide of him wearing a blue t-shirt.

The morning flew by and before I knew it he was done with his program. Josh has written a book called “Weather Facts and Fun” for kids at the second grade to fifth grade level. The book has been very popular here and I bought one and had him sign it for Makenna. I also asked if he would pose for a picture with me and he said yes!

Thank you Josh!

It’s March 1st! I cannot believe that this year is going by so quickly. In one week (March 9th) we have our Town Elections, and as you all know I am running for Library Trustee, a position I have been holding temporarily, since last December. I love the work, and I love the people I am meeting. Most of all, I love that I am making a difference in my small town.

I have my day all planned, next week. I will get up before daylight and do my hair and make-up and put on all my long underwear and warm clothes, as well as my cute jacket and gloves, and then I will go and stand a respectful distance from the polling place, where I can welcome voters and introduce myself. It’s important for me, that people know who they are voting for, and don’t just see an impersonal name on a paper ballot.

In fact it makes me think of the old theme from the TV show “Cheers”. It’s how I feel about living in this town and knowing the people that I do.

“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.”

I have even made a cute “Vote for Me”, name tag to wear on my coat. I think I am ready, and that’s a good thing, because…

TODAY IS MARCH 1ST!!!!!

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March 9th is also a special day. It is Greta’s birthday. She will be 6 years old that day. I’d better plan on getting her a small doggy cake!

Oh you know what Greta did to me on Sunday? She climbed up in my lap and sat up with her paws near my neck, almost hugging me. She didn’t grumble at me, she did, in fact smile. She cuddled with me, like this, for about an hour, before she went off to watch the birds outside of the window.

It was special because of all four of the dogs, Greta is her own gal. She is independent and lets us know, all of the time, that she is in charge and aside from opening her dog food can, she doesn’t need anyone. Then there are those moments, when she loves you and you see, that the strong girl is just a mask that she puts on to fool the other dogs. She is in fact, a sweet and loving girl!

Happy Monday!!!