Chicken Soup

I'm a little embarrassed to write this, but I am engrossed in a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book. In case you havent heard of this cliche'd literary phenom, each Chicken Soup book is a collection of heart-rending, tear-jerking, make-you-wanna-live-your-life-better stories. Truly, it's like reading 101 three-to-five page condensed versions of "It's a Wonderful Life." I cant read these books in public because 1. tears will be shed and 2. Kleenex will be used copiously, followed by loud, honking sessions of nose blowing.

Though I'm convinced there is more sap in one of these books than in the entire state of Vermont (and wherever else syrup is made) my overly sentimental heart succumbs to the "awwWWW!" factor each and every time.

I havent read them in probably 10 years (thinking I had outgrown them and become a little more sophisticated) but then came across this:



Bring on the Puffs, the Kleenex and the generic stuff my Dad buys. Chicken Soup AND pets? There's no way I can get thru this with dry eyes. This stuff could expose the soft underbelly in hardened criminals on death row. I'm toast. Or maybe more like toast, dipped in milk, and fallen apart into gooey nondescript globs. A milk sop, if you will.

House Hunting

This is not based on scientific fact, but intuitively, I believe that houses have personalities, and therefore each house has something of merit to offer. House shopping feels somewhat like lining up the all the sweet little puppies, knowing only one will leave the litter and be your faithful companion.

Fortunately, S. had a few stipulations for our new abode, one of them being the house must increase in value while we're enjoying it. It is also extremely fortunate that we agreed upon which house would do that for us.

As soon as our offer was accepted, I felt a little sorry for the houses that fell by the wayside. Is that weird? It was like I got to know them a little, like a person, and then said: "I know you tried really, really hard, and I like you. But this is where we part. Sorry."

Poor little orphan houses. I hope they find someone to love them.