Saturday Slightly Sloppy

Often Facebook users get accused of sugar coating life with perfect pictures of the perfect family, the most exquisite flowers, the best of the best, etc. 

Wouldn't it be revealing if Facebook took a day off from all the good stuff and displayed only the realities of each person's daily life? 

Door slamming, dishes banging in the cupboards, stinky dog logs in the garage?  How 'bout photos of household items like plates or spoons, pizza slices or even expletives flying through the air, catbox duty, you name it-----there's a lotta stuff that doesn't show up on Facebook to provide at least a little some balance to everyone's "perfect life."  

I admit that I shouldn't get too carried away because some  users do proudly post their bodily blood and guts or their half-necked-in-front-of-the-bathroom mirror self portraits. 

Whenever I see pictures of that stuff, I groan, sometimes utter "YUUUCK!!!," send the scroll button in fast forward and think to myself, "Yep, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder."

Along with that thought comes the assumption that some people might not have been wearing their glasses when selecting graphic images of their personal lives for wide viewer consumption.  

To each his own, they say.

Well, this morning, as a guilty Facebook user and blogger, I'm trying to create some balance in the material I share with the world.  

I'll be the first to confess that I really do prefer to share the ideals of each day. Happily, my life has been blessed with so many intangible riches that it's downright fun sharing these blessings with others. 

But, as mentioned a time or two before, life in North Idaho and at the Lovestead ain't all purty, especially this morning and especially among the animal population.  

My usually adorable CB looks disgusting.  

I had to do a double take when I saw him yesterday and realized that it was a first to see CB in his dirtiest state ever.  Now, for Lefty and Lily, that's never a surprise. 

But "the Greatest Entertainer" who usually dazzles all eyes when racing around the barnyard with those flashy white stockings and tail in the air, performing with his colorful ball. 

No, not my CB. He couldn't be that ugly!  But he is, and his appearance will probably get worse before it gets better as the rain falls, the mud takes over and winter horse hair starts letting go. 

There will be a day ahead, when this ugliness all passes, and CB's slick hide shines like gold and those white stockings add a touch of welcome chrome. 

For now, though, we'll have to endure, just as I've been doing every day for several days in late afternoon when dirty, dirty Liam stands at the hose for his bath. 

Yup, it's not all ideal, but we aren't too inclined to dwell on the ugly stuff.  Thank God.  

As noted above, it's much more gratifying to post the good stuff AND to see everyone else's ideals.  Much more inspiring and pleasing to the eye that dirty horses in muddy corrals or filthy Border Collies running the fence. 

In the "Have you heard enough about the coronavirus yet?" department, this morning I stole a photo off from one of the "outlaw's" Facebook walls.

Thank you, Judy!

I didn't even have to read the caption to think "what a perfect way to avoid the virus?"  After all, we're not supposed to touch our faces.  

If an Elizabethan collar works to keep dogs and horses and cats from licking their surgery incisions, it seems like it could be a perfect deterrent for people to avoid spreading germs to their face. 

How long will it be before Elizabethan collars are no longer on the shelves?

By the way, Annie flew from Seattle to California yesterday afternoon, well armed with Purell and sanitary wipes.  

Once there, she figures she's safe cuz she'll be geocaching in Death Valley.  

Hmmm, I've got to ponder that for a minute.  

Finally, my Northern Ireland artist friend Billy Austin posted a powerful image yesterday, depicting another tough moment in Irish history:  the famine.  

Pretty much speaks for itself. 

Happy Saturday to all.  Wash your hands.  Go pick up an Elizabeth collar and stay safe from those germs.

After all, we hope another epidemic of March Madness is just around the corner.