My Day

Robert had a meeting to attend today so I decided this would be the day to do those little things that get put on the list of *I'll Get to That Tomorrow* things to be done. None of them took more than 5 minutes (well they wouldn't have taken more than 5 minutes if I hadn't kept side tracking myself).

The list looked something like this:

1. Put new boards on top of the dresser so pictures won't keep falling.

2. Put platter used last Saturday back on the top shelf.

3. File the stack of paid bills and other paper.

4. Put the Christmas sweaters back in storage.

5. Rehang the pictures over the pantry door in the kitchen.

6. Cut the material for the bathroom curtain.

(notice that didn't say make the curtain, just cut the material)

7. Scour the kitchen sink. (I promised myself I'd keep it sparkling white when I bought it)

8. Put the tag on the window of the mustang.

9. Hunt for the earring I know I lost in the mustang two weeks ago.

10. Glue the decorative cover back on the bathroom scales.

Of those ten things four or five of them still need doing, but I'll get to them tomorrow (this is where I break into singing, "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. You're only a daaaaaaaay away." from Annie)

The things that kept getting me sidetracked were things like --- having to go over the construction sites and look for some wood to put on the top of the dresser. I thought I had what I needed, but I didn't so that took part of my five minutes. Then when I was putting the platter away, I decided I needed to rearrange the dishes that sit in front of the platter so they are better displayed.

I also was doing some laundry and the dryer kept hollering that the clothes needed attended.

The frustrating part was that I did hunt for the earring I know I was wearing in the mustang and the only place it could be in in the mustang, but I searched all around --- even did the CSI thing with the small, bright flashlight and couldn't find it --- and darn that was a favorite pair of earrings --- I'll hang on to the one I have just in case the other one shows up some day. (I have several pair like that.)

I did meet the new neighbors to be. They were over at the house putting paint samples on the walls. They came over to my house then to see what we have done since we have the same floor plan. Dave and Debbie seem like very nice people. I haven't met who will be moving into the other two new houses, but they both have SOLD signs on them also.

And I roasted the turkey that Thomas gave us at Thanksgiving for watching he kitten while he was gone.

All in all it was a full day and a fulfilling day. I still have little things I need to do, but the list is shorter for the moment.

This picture was taken at the Houston Zoo Easter weekend 2003 whn Carrie and Paul came down for a visit. Robert said he was smiling.

Memories

I read two blogs today that made me smile and brought back memories.

The first was from by nephew's wife (does that make her my niece-in-law?). She was writing about how proud she is of her second grade daughter who is in Brownies and selling Girl Scout cookies. She went on about all the cookies Emily has sold and I couldn't keep from smiling.


I too had daughters who sold Girl Scout cookies. Carrie and Amy were big in that department. Carrie, I think, just went door-to-door with Amy because the buddy system was firmly in place at our house, but they managed to sell many cookies. I was very proud of them for their determination to do a good job and win prizes. The only problem was when the cookies came in ---- boxes and boxes and boxes of cookies that had to be delivered to customers who were home and willing to place an order, but didn't ever seem to be home to receive the order and pay up. The vision of cases of cookies stacked in the garage still haunts me.


The second email that made me smile was by Carrie. She was going on about her non-coolness. I smiled because to me she has always been a cool kid. I didn't however realize she had ever had to give up a date because of a piano recital. Guess that wouldn't have sounded too cool. Sorry, Carrie, if I had known I would have invited the gentleman to the recital. Now how un-cool would that have been?


I wonder if this tiny bundle of joy will someday sell Girl Scout cookies? This is Abigail at just a few days old, and one of the first pictures of me holding her in Feb. 2002

"Read This," He Said

My last post was about how I have an ordinary life with some highs and some lows. This week-end is an example.

Robert and I attended TAF&E Convention in Austin. (And for those not in the know, that is the Texas Association of Fairs and Events. I didn't even know such a thing existed until about two years ago.) On Saturday at noon a member of our group wanted to know if R and I would be interested in going in on a Calcutta Ticket with her and two, maybe three others. Well a $20 or $25 donation to the scholarship fund that two or three Matagorda County kids have received scholarships from sounded pretty good to me. They were only going to sell 200 tickets at $100 apiece. A one in two hundred chance at winning aren't the best odds but certainly something worth putting the money in on to win a part of $5,000.

Fast forward to dinner. The foursome sat together to eat. We had dubbed ourselves ABC& F. The first letter of each of our names. As we ate we joked about what we would do if we were one of the last ten number drawn from the hopper. No one dared mentioned winning. It was decided I'd be the one to go sit in the hot seat on stage if we got that far, since Tina had registered us. The first 70 number that had been drawn out while we ate were read out. Our number wasn't called. Now we had a 1 in 130 chance. That looked a little more promising. We sat through the first set of the dance and began to entertain ideas of maybe getting into the top ten.

The next 70 numbers were called out. We all listened closely, thinking after each pause to give out a *loser* prize, our number would be called next. My breath catching on each number that began thirty (our number was thirty-eight). Still we were in -- now only 60 numbers to be called. A 1 in 60 chance, WOW. The next drawing wouldn't be for about an hour and one member of our group said, "Y'all make the decisions, I'm going to the room."

The dance continued -- we laughed, I squirmed, we waited. Finally they began calling the last group of numbers and we listened intently, I heard the words, "Okay now, the last number that is out, leaving our ten finalist, is ___." It wasn't thirty-eight, IT WASN'T THIRTY-EIGHT. I'm not sure if I screamed or not. The announcer was telling those who thought they were still in the running to please go check in with the official at the flip charts. Tina, Robert, and Barry began hollering at ME to go; so go I did and we were in. WE now had a 1 in 10 chance of winning $5000. The longest set of dance music I've ever sat through began. At 11:30 her set was over and it was time to get down to business.

The ten finalist came to the dance floor in front of the stage, drew numbers and took our seats (I drew a 4 -- and for some reason felt this was a good omen since I represented 4.) The bidding began -- someone could buy your number if you wanted to sell. You would get 90% of the bid and the scholarship fund would get 10%. This explained why we drew numbers for seats. We were asked in order if we wanted to sell, the first one to take it got the money and the rest were still in. We redrew number each time someone left. I was amazed at how nerve wrecking this all was. Even though we had decided to ride it to the very end, I found myself looking to R, T and B to make sure each time the bid came to me. One was gone, then two, then three, then four, then five and we were still in.

I was so excited and nervous and hyped that I could barely stand up to change places each time. Robert looked so cool standing out in the audience. I was wishing it was him up here instead of me, but it was nice to look out and see him. The bidding took place and if I was asked I turned down the money that was averaging about $1000 each time. Then there were only two left -- Brian and me. OMG I was in the final two!!!!! We are going to win either $5000 or $500 (I didn't know there was a second place prize until just then.) Then I heard the announcer saying that Brian and I could split the $5000 each taking $2500 and walk away. "Wait we hadn't discussed that, what do I do?" is the thought going around and around in my head. My heart was pounding and I couldn't get a grip on the number or how that would divide up. I had no idea what I was supposed to do -- Frantically I looked to Robert. He was talking with Barry -- Tina just had her head in her hands --- What was I supposed to do? Brian was talking -- "No we want to go all the way I heard myself say to him."

He looked back to his group of supporters and I looked at R who was saying, "Go for it." So a decision was made, we were going to draw a canister out and see who's number was inside. One winner, one loser, no draw. Slowly the helper turned the wheel (like these two remaining canister weren't mixed enough), opened the hatch, reached in and picked a canister. I held my breath as it was opened -- The announcer walked over to us and stood by me. I just kept say, "Hand it to him, please, hand it to him."

He handed me the slip and said read this. (Harder to do than it sounds; Robert had my glasses.) I took the slip and could just make out the name, but it wouldn't compute -- I finally mumbled, "It says him," as the fog slowly began to clear and I realized we had just won. Then I jumped up and did a little victory dance as I squealed "I won, I won." I think the announcer was talking, but I have no idea what he was saying because I was running, yes running, across the dance floor toward Robert who was coming toward me about as fast. That is the first time I ever remember him picking me up, but he did and he swung me around. As he sat me down, the announcer was saying we had to pull out the final canister just to make it official. Of course, it was ABC & F. It was us, Arlitt, Bain, Cumbie and Fry!

WE WON! I now own one-fourth of whatever Uncle Sam doesn't take. We'll get the money after all the paper work is done. But the amount doesn't matter anymore. Winning was the high -- not the amount -- just winning. Tina and I did a lot of junior high squealing after that.

We called the room of our group member that had left to give him the good news. I don't think he really believed Robert until he heard Tina and me squealing. He didn't come join us for a victory drink even though we kept encouraging him to.

This morning I enjoyed the congratulations of those who had been there last night and those who had read it in the *Fairs & Events News* this morning before breakfast. I may never get the chance to win like that again, but I'm glad I got to sample a little of what the contestants on Deal or No Deal and other such games feel.

This is the picture of me that appeared in the news flier this morning. The jacket I'm wearing is the one I bought at the silent auction just before the dinner -- I call it my lucky jacket. A woman who also had been bidding on the jacket came in to raise my bid just seconds after they called out for everyone to step away from the table because the auction was closed. I was there in the room just looking to see if I was going to get anything. I wouldn't have raised her bid if she had made it earlier. But I had won the auction and I won the calcutta. What a night!

Life -- Drama or Simple

I'm trying to decide if I'm just a very lucky person because there is no drama in my life or if my life is just boring!

I really think I like my life. It is a simple life. I go to work, I come come to do some small chores, I watch TV with my husband, I play around on my computer and then I go to bed. All the drama between these activities really doesn't amount to much and I think I grateful for that.

Right now there are no big worries in my life. I have all I need and more than most. The bills always manage to get paid and we are even planning a couple of trips in the not to distant future. The distant future will take care of itself because even thought we haven't saved bunches of money; we have saved some and so even that looks okay right now.

I've made a decision. I LIKE MY LIFE. It isn't a boring life; it is a normal life.

This is a picture of Grandma Britton. I'm not sure how old she is in this picture, but I love her Mona Lisa smile. As I've gotten older, I've come to admire her. She faced a lot in her life and as far as I know she faced it all with a certain amount of *grit* that all her family can be proud of.

Pictorial Review of 2007

First let me say Happy New Year to my small audience. I hope all your hopes and dreams become realities for you this year. I've been musing over what to write as the first blog of 2008. It has taken more than three days, and I'm still without anything exciting or profound to write about. Below are a few pictures for 2007 --- A review of the good times one might say. This is me in my new mustang purchased the end of January. The 8 year old Lunina left me stranded at school one day and that was the end of it. I love these new wheels. :)I visited Amarillo and played with Ben and Abby for several days the first of March. They are a true joy in my life. I wish I could be closer to spoil them more, but it is probably just as well that I'm far away and only visit on occasion.

The end of March is when the daughters and I got together in Fort Worth (Roanoke really) for *girls weekend.* We had fun visiting, getting pedicures, having our pictures taken, going to the zoo.
Here are my parents, sisters and me as we celebrated Mother and Daddy's Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary in April. What fun we had planning them a party and then carrying it out.
When I got home from the "Girls Weekend" I discovered my house had been sold and Robert and I were homeless for a few months.. Here is the house we bought in May -- although when we bought it, it was still being framed.
June came and a cruise with Billie and Lydell was just what the doctor ordered, so to speak. We always have a great time with them.
In July, Amy and Dave brought Abby and Benjamin for a visit. Here are Abby and I playing on the beach. It rained the entire week they were here, but Abby and I were determined to go to the beach and a lot of rain didn't dampen our spirits much. I was back in Amarillo for Abby's first day of pre-school 4 in late August. In September we journeyed to Jamaica for Matt's wedding. A location wedding has a lot to be said for it. I was sceptical at first, but really it was beautiful. I would even recommend it to those wanting a small private affair. After the trip to Jamaica Robert was busy with the Rice Festival Parade. Here he is on the float that ends the parade. As parade chairman he was glad to see October over, but is already gearing up for the *bigger/better* parade in 2008.Robert, Donna and Paul with Carrie on his lap zone after Thanksgiving dinner and too much football. We had a great time with all three girls and theirs here. Donna's cats even had a room of there own --- it may have just been a garage, but they seemed to enjoy it okay.2007 ended in Amarillo. We had Christmas on the 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. It was wonderful to get to be home with family and very hard to choose just one picture, but presents under the tree and little folks ready to tear into them was the best part of a lot of fun!