More confessions on this Leaping Thought Wednesday

Gypsyatheart Dictionary Unabridged (v 1.1)
blog hop . per [blog hop-er]
–noun

1.	a person that hops from blog to blog.

2.	Informal. a person who skips frequently from one blog or on-line diary to another.

1. That's me, I'm a blog hopper. Depending on how I'm doing for time daily, I dedicate about an hour of my everyday on-line time budget to visiting and discovering other people's blogs. Over the last year or so, I've amassed quite a collection of favorites under a variety of different interests. Many of the ones I frequent you will find on the left hand column of this blog under labeled headings. Nevertheless, I have to confess that I have been holding out on you. There are some blogs I enjoy so much that up until now, I've been unable to share. I'm the Silas Marner of found blogs... would you go figure? What's the motivation? They're my secret indulgences. Still, in an act of sheer generosity I will feature from now on in every Leaping Thought Wednesday, one blog from my secret stash. The stash that I've labeled under a folder that I titled Visit Again. I call it so because I have visited again, over and over again. Perhaps you will too once you get to know them.

First up is a blog named Heading East by blogger Raul Gutierrez. He is a professional photographer (as you will immediately ascertain) and writes with true heart. The stunning photography (his own and other's) is an extra draw. Take a look at the very first post of Raul's that I ever saw. And here's another one for good measure.

2. I am a Costco addict. I've been a member since 1995. First through my parents and then on my own. That place is like Ali Baba's cave for me. I love going there. When I used to live in DC, I had to cross over into the state of Virginia to get to one. Over here in Houston, I have a Costco only 5 minutes away from my home. That's the reason you can find me there almost every second day. Sometimes I walk out with just some organic eggs or milk in hand. Others with a cart-full of goodies. I can lose a good hour walking up and down its aisles whenever I go. Costco is my secret vice. My husband hates the place. He's Mr. Exclusive and Mr. Unique. To him, Costco is the Toys R' Us of food and housewares. Nothing exclusive or unique about a Costco experience for him. He also dislikes how big it is and the eternal crowds. No cart-jostling for the hubby. Now me, I thrive on that. I'm the master of polite jostling. Out of my way.

Photo by Michael Shattuck

3. I discovered my kid practicing crying faces in front of a mirror the other day. He would scrunch up his eyes and curl up his lips until he looked sufficiently pitiful and then he would wail a bit. All fake mind you. I came up on him silently and was thus able to observe my miniature Olivier in action. You should have seen him! He was phenomenal. Every second or two he would stop, take stock of the previous attempt and then modify for greater effect. I left him to his own devices and backed out quietly from the room. In a twisted kind of way, I'm sort of proud of him. What an enterprising little fellow. I don't think I'll ever forget it. The husband laughed and laughed when I told him about it.

4. The following pretty much answers the question of whether people look like their dogs or if dogs look like their people?


5. I get a professional manicure and pedicure every twelve to 14 days. It is the kind of indulgence I don't think I will ever give up. Frivolous I know but I'd rather do without other things than forgo this vain pleasure.

6. Handshakes are a defining action for me. I invariably end up disliking people who plop their hand into mine expecting me to carry its weight. A firm but gentle squeeze, preferably no clamminess to distract from the shake's value and then you let go. How you handshake says a lot about you.

7. As I am on a roll with the body extremities here, I'll also admit to paying much attention to people's hands. Short-clipped and clean nails. I've often found this is a hallmark of bodily neatness. Not always an achievable state for me, especially as we are currently into sculpting with Play-do at my house, but I do try.

8. I believe Legos and puzzles are superb toys for children. They teach patience, they show that you get tangible rewards for your efforts, foment critical and spatial thinking, and engage the imagination. I hope my son loves both as much as I do. He's getting to the age where we can start moving into some more complicated Lego constructs and puzzles with smaller pieces.

Photo by Tomeppy

9. The one household cleaning item I cannot do without: Paper towels. Some environmentalist will probably have my hide for admitting this but I go through a roll every two days. I've tried to quit using so much but have found it impossible. Any good ideas from those of you who manage without it?

10. Lastly, I found this photograph on the internet and have decided to post it in honor of Hillary's near swan dive but successfully choreographed comeback in the Texas and Ohio primaries. Great bit of Photoshop work was done on this one (too bad I didn't do it myself).


Goodbye and until the next post everyone. I'm headed off to Costco.