I have been laminating newspaper fotos and things that feature my kids, especially my oldest. I intend to use them for decorating on graduation. Lately I’ve been thinking about protecting some of the things that pertain to Master.

I already laminated some of the pictures we took while he was here.I think I may take a few of these posts and laminate them, as well. Sometimes I need to remind myself of the words I’ve written.

When I write, I often think things through and organize my thoughts more clearly. (Or at least I try to.) If I have something I think is important to say, I will make it into a post. Some of those things I think I need to have handy and review once in a while. I have already gone back and looked things up.

Maybe I should laminate them and keep them with Master’s pictures. They go well together. The face and the words that inspire.

I took a walk through a cemetery on Sunday. I’m kind of strange. I like cemeteries. They tend to be peaceful, quiet and well-maintained. I am not frightened at all. Like I explained to my kids, if you were a ghost, why would you choose to hang out in a cemetery of all places? Wouldn't you be more likely to be in the places you were in life? With the people you loved in life? I sometimes think a cemetery is the most UNLIKELY place to find a ghost.

Sometimes cemeteries can make me feel lonely. I see the gravestones of people who have lived a long life, but are not buried beside a spouse. Did these people live and die alone? What a sad thought.

Cemeteries also give me a feeling of connecting with some truth larger than myself and my world. Death has been called the great equalizer. No matter who you were in life, what you had or didn’t have, what you did or accomplished (or not) the end result is the same. I find in cemeteries the representation of the entire spectrum of human experience. From a long and fruitful life, to those whose lives were cut short; from those whose poor choices brought them to bad ends, to those whose lives were lauded and celebrated, they are all in the cemetery, seemingly a part of the same plane of existence now.

I have been talking with Master about a new computer, and it is time. I have to put in an order this week. I have worked primarily with Macs, but I am thinking of branching out. So what do I choose?

I decided to start with a list of things I want to do with my new computer:

Surf the internet.
Use email.
Word processing.
Webcam (especially for Master.)
Photos-digital camera.
Kids would like ability to make movies/ music.
Burning CDs and DVDs?

Questions to ask:

What sort of support do I have?
What software do I need?
What antivirus software do I need? I want something GOOD!
Should I consider a laptop?

Anything else I should consider? I am open to suggestions. I will be talking to a couple of different places Monday and Tuesday night. By Wednesday, I intend to be writing up my order.

My brother is visiting. He arrived Friday and will be returning home today. You know how sometimes visitors drive you crazy? You know how you have little quirks to you family and how you do things around your house? And how it throws you off if someone changes things?

I won't go into details for a couple of reasons. First, I don't want this to become a list of how he can drive me crazy. After all, I'm sure he could easily come up with a list about me! Second, I don't want this post to become a rant. Suffice to say it's time for him to return home.

An interesting point: I never felt that way when Master Bennet was here. Master stayed for 10 days, not just three, and it felt so natural, so right for him to be here. I don't know how else to describe it. Although my routine was changed, it didn't feel awkward or wrong. That's because Master is not a visitor or guest in my home. He is a part of it.

On Fridays, I often try to do something special to remember Master. Yesterday I chose a new, pink bra that I had bought, and decided to go without underwear for the day. I love those reminders of Master.

Also, we were doing some meetings at work and we were supposed to put a “symbol” on an envelop, something that would identify to us who the envelope belonged to. I wanted that symbol to be something related to Master. There are several bdsm symbols, but I didn’t consider myself enough of an artist to draw them. The rose is often used, but that was way above my abilities. I finally settled on a ying/yang symbol. It would be nice if Master and I had a symbol of our own, maybe something that I could get as a tattoo at some later date. Perhaps I will ask Master’s permission to work on that.

And while I was at the store, someone noticed my collar. It is a rubber arm band that says “Property of ....” and Master’s initials. Master’s initials also happen to be the name of a local convenience store. The checker laughed and laughed. Of course, she didn’t know the true meaning of the band.

So Master kept popping up all over on Friday. Just the way I like it.