Kitty Knows Best

In case anyone was wondering why I haven't been posting, let's just say I've had limited access to Internet, thanks to the recent changes at work. Not that I would ever blog on da clock, but my time THERE has been cut just short of half (25 hours vs 40), and in an effort to economize, I shut off my home Internet to save on the monthly bill (at least while the reduced income persists). So for now, you'll just have to take what you get & be content with it!

Now, for the REAL purpose of this post-- a paean post to honor (belatedly) my very own bestie best gal pal, Barb. She celebrated her birthday on 11/17, and I had the great pleasure of chatting with her a bit (never long enough) that night. In addition to the good news she was calling to share (svelte creature that she is), we had a few minutes to take verbal pot shots at multiple targets-- some of the travails of the past year (for both of us), and allusions to both our shared and separate past hurtles. We nattered on for at least 15 minutes, during which time I repeatedly caught Steve looking at me and making amused, bemused / confused faces over my remarks.

The confusion was understandable, considering he was only hearing my side of the conversation & lacks much of the inside info needed to follow our convoluted convos. What's noteworthy is that I doubt there are many other people on the planet who would follow our conversations smoothly. Barb is one of the few people who has wandered across my path to whom I can say damn near anything & from whom I can expect nearly flawless comprehension (NOTE: so don't feel bad, you folks who have told me I speak in riddles-- Barb holds the only special secret decoder ring!)

Anyone who has visited Barb's blog o' joy during the past year (FYI: she recently celebrated her first blog-a-versary) will have some insight into the strange trip (in the good, Grateful Dead sense) that she's been on... As someone who has been a close (albeit, from afar) observer of her journey, it has been a beautiful and sometimes painful ride, sharing the soul-searching and chrysalis shedding.

Barb is blessed with both the artistic and verbal dexterity to express herself in ways that take my breath away. From practically the first day we met, she has been my litmus for what I want to be "when I grow up"-- little did I know early on, that Barb has patently refused to do so (grow up) herself, and that I'm left to find my way sans role model.

Not being a woman who wants the kleig lights aimed in her direction, I'll keep this tribute concise out of respect to her (hell, she's already had to wait two freakin' weeks as it is). Barb is a woman of honor, who tells it like it is and is not afraid to launch a flying bitchslap where needed. Even if I don't end up just like her someday, I'm proud to call her friend & I look forward to the day when we are both ensconced on the porch of the Renaissance Ranch, sipping Patron and comparing sagging tattoos and looking back happily on our salad days.

If I recall correctly, we both like croutons AND bacon bits on our salads, right?