Ramblings From While You're Up

100 Word Challenge -- Ferocity

2010-03-25T19:39:00.004-05:00

The 100 Word Challenge is exactly a that --- a challenge to write 100 words centered around a one word prompt plucked from the work of an author being read by or having been read by our host. This week's word is ferocity.

Nature’s Fury

Dark clouds gathered in the distance. A slight breeze stirred the air and a soft rumble of thunder signaled the storm’s pending arrival. A shadow fell over the area as the sun was hidden by the black clouds. Wind whipped through the yard sending loose items flying. Deafening claps of thunder sounded in unison with electrifying flashes of lightening. The few drops of spattered rain turned to a torrential downpour creating a river where the street had been. Hail began pounding the roof threatening to break through skylights . Then silence. Nature’s ferocity passed; replaced by the gentle sounds of spring.

100 Word Challenge -- Unspoken

2010-03-18T07:09:00.004-05:00

The 100 Word Challenge has long been one of my favorite memes. It has passed into new hands temporarily and can be found here. The theme word this week is "unspoken". Upon reading the prompt this story came to mind.

He sits with the remote in his hand flipping through channels. She sits across the room consumed by the computer on her lap. Each comfortable with the silence between them.

He looks over at his bride of many years and a boyish grin fills his face as he says, “Guess what?” This is an old game they have played for years and she can’t keep the twinkle from her eyes.

She smiles back knowing what she is to say and what his answer will be, but she never grows tired of this game. “What?”

“I love you.”

Some words should never be left unspoken.

100 Words -- Give

2009-11-28T20:46:00.004-06:00

From Velvet Verbosity comes the 100 Word Challenge. The challenge is to produce 100 words on the given one word prompt. This week's word is "give". What would you give?

Slowly he circled the old pick-up truck. “Whacha want for ‘er?”

“Whacha give me for ‘er?” came the slow reply.

“Looks like she’s in pretty good shape.”

“Yep, runs alright, got nearly new tires too.”

“Want ‘er for my son to drive.”

“Yep, kids these days need somethin’ to drive.”

“Boy ain’t got a lick of sense.”

“Most of ‘em don’t. Least that’s what I hear. Never raised one of my own.”

The two men stood staring at the truck for several minutes each with his own thoughts.

“What’d ya say ya want for ‘er?”

“Whach give me for ‘er?”

100 Word Challenge -- Material

2009-11-22T00:47:00.005-06:00

The challenge this week from Velet Verbosity is 100 words on "material".

It had been a long time since he had been in this room, but there before him was all the materials he needed. He savored the aroma of the oils as he squeezed dabs of paint onto the pallet and tested the weight of each brush in his hand as he studied the form of the bristles. He turned to the blank canvas and paused. Swiftly he made the first stroke of paint on canvas and time stood still and raced pass at the same time. Joy filled his soul and he wondered why he had been away so long.

100 Word Challenge -- Examine

2009-11-13T07:00:00.002-06:00

From Velvet Verbosity come the challenge to write 100 words on examine. The following is what came to mind.

Each year I stand clothed in a hospital gown opened down the front in a room so cold I'm shivering reading posters on self examinations while trying to ignore “the machine.” The always cheerful lab tech asks if I am ready.

I have stood in an examining room like that every year for the past 20 years. Each year I have endured the torture of having each breast placed on a cold plate of glass, squeezed flat twice and x-rayed while standing on my tiptoes holding my breath.

Each year I have passed the exam cancer free. I am ready.

God Smile

2009-11-12T14:16:00.003-06:00

I have received this picture several different times via email. I always love getting it, because it is an amazing shot. Because of this photo I have begun to look for other places that God is smiling as us and remembering if God can smile for us even with the mess we have made of things then maybe I should smile a little more often.

Not long ago when drying after a shower I noticed that grass from a pair of socks had gotten shaken into the bathtub. I was having grumbly thoughts about having to clean up that "mess" then I saw it --- a smile. The pieces of grass were laying there in a smile. Well, I could no longer be gumbly about that grass, it was smiling at me. I didn't clean it up right then. I left it a day or two just to remind me to smile.

So my challenge to you is to look around --- God might have a smile just for you hidden somewhere in a cloud, a flower arrangement, or even the dirt on the garage floor.

100 Word Challenge -- Writ large

2009-11-07T18:00:00.004-06:00

The challenge this week from Velvet Verbosity is writ large. The idea was slow coming; the following is my effort.

The teacher’s words had rung in her ears as she worked, “If you put your best effort into you paper, your effort will pay off.”

She hadn’t been sure what that meant exactly, but she had a feeling it meant if she worked hard she wanted to get an A. That’s what she wanted more than anything because her sister said that she was dumb and that she could never get an A.

The teacher walked up and down the aisle passing back papers. There it was writ large at the top of the page for all to see.

Warning: Tampering Will Cause Garment to Be Ruined

2009-11-03T20:21:00.004-06:00

On October 24, Robert and I attended the wedding of a friend's son. The wedding was held in the hometown of the bride 350 miles from our home.

I had purchased a new dress for this occasion a week before the wedding. The dress fit nicely and the sales clerk who checked me out was kind enough to place the dress in a garment bag where I left it until we were getting dressed to go the ceremony.

As I pulled the dress on over my head, I felt it. There on the seam of the sleeve was the security tag. You know that heavy white device with a warning about ink squirting on the dress (and you) if you tamper with it. The device that is supposed to sound an alarm if you shop lift the article.

What to do, what to do? The motel was next to strip shopping mall with several chain department stores in it. We decided to leave a little early for the wedding to see if maybe someone could remove the tag for me.

I made Robert go in the store with me. I figured I looked less guilty of shop lifting if he is standing embarrassed by me than if I just went in by myself. I know a kazillion words were coming out of my mouth as I stammered and stuttered to get my story told. The young sales girl chuckled, but was unable to help. They used a different kind of system for their security, but suggested a store they were pretty sure used the same type device as on my dress.

Here I went in alone with my rambling story about buying the dress some 350 miles away and blah, blah, blah. The sales clerks didn't seem interested in my tale at all, but just said for me to come around the counter so she could see if it would work. I had to do a little contortionist act because the removal system was mounded in the center of the counter.

The security tag was successfully removed so I didn't have to walk around all evening with my elbow glued to my side, then ramble on endlessly about how this had happened.

100 Word Challenge -- Falter

2009-10-31T23:45:00.004-05:00

From Velvet Verbosity comes the 100 Word Challenge. And from the challenge, with the word falter as the prompt, came the following.

If I falter what will happen?
If I break down will they be able to carry on?
I’m so tired of trying to figure it out.

The news hit us all hard.
It wasn’t what any of us wanted to hear.
It’s not fair to anyone.

I just want to sit down, quit thinking.
It’s too much weight for me to bear.
Can’t you see I’m hurting too?

Life will go on
I know that so well,
But I can’t help but ask, “Why?”

I will continue to stand strong though.
I will not turn from God
He is my strength.

100 Word Challenge -- Place

2009-10-22T22:08:00.004-05:00

From Velvet Verbosity comes the 100 Word Challenge each week. A one word prompt, a few loose rules and a wonderful writing exercise. This week I created a piece of fiction that probably could be found in be a very poor romance novel, but yet a scene that is played out in various forms in real life or so I imagine.

“My place or yours for coffee?” he asks as he gently placed his hand in the small of her back to guide her out of the noisy restaurant.

A million thoughts race through her mind, tumbling over each other, and making no sense at all. Did I clean the kitchen, pick up the bathroom? I wonder if his closets are cluttered or ultra neat like him. Do I even have coffee! What if he doesn’t like the décor of my place? If we go to his place I can leave when I want, but what if he doesn’t ask me to stay. Did I….

“My place or yours?” he repeats closer to her ear this time sending her heart racing with his heavenly musky scent.

“I know a quiet little all-night diner over on twenty-third,” she smiles. “They serve great coffee.”

“Chicken,” she thinks.

HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!

2009-10-19T20:37:00.005-05:00

This is my blogoversary. I've had this little space for two years now. I started a lot stronger than I am now. I fell into doing daily memes and then I moved away from them and then I almost quit blogging altogether.

But my blogspace has remained true to me. It is always there waiting for me to turn paper from white to speckled.

Shhhhh! Robert went on a job interview today with a local company. They are looking for a CFO (that's bank talk for Chief Financial Officer).

When he came in from the interview he felt really good. As a matter of face his comment was, "I'll be surprised if I don't get that job."

Excited, apprehensive, hopeful. So more when we hear more.

100 Word Challenge -- Rain

2009-10-15T14:38:00.004-05:00

Velvet Verbosity, whose name I just love, has issued the new challenge for this week. The word to spark the imagination this week is RAIN. My mind went a thousand places but my fingers typed the following.

Farmer: “Man, we need rain before my crops all die.”

Woman: “The ground’s so dry my flowers are withering from lack of rain.”

Child: “God, grandpa and momma say we need rain. Could you send some, please.”

God smiled and sent the rain.

Farmer: “I can’t get in the fields to farm; the rain needs to stop.”

Woman: “This rain is nice but it must stop soon, the ground is turning into a bog.”

Child: “Thank you for the rain, Dear God. Can it stop? I want to go outside and play.”

God sighed and stopped the rain. He knows children need to play.

100 Word Challenge -- Lemonade

2009-10-07T22:38:00.004-05:00

Velvet's new word is Lemonade. She said it was not really the season, but she wanted something to "bring some cheer as we begin the decent into winter." Sorry Velvet, but this piece just wrote itself.

One can of frozen lemonade concentrate. That was all I had wanted. Was that so hard? It wasn’t supposed to end like this. One can of lemonade. Oh, why hadn’t I just told her I make that silly pie tomorrow after I’d had a chance to go to the store? Why had I let her go by herself? So proud of that new license; so eager to be the driver. One can of frozen lemonade. “Not the pink kind,” I had cautioned. Now it didn’t matter. Now it would never matter. For one can of frozen lemonade my world has ended.

100 Word Challenge -- Bear

2009-10-01T21:45:00.007-05:00

Velvet Verbosity has returned and my creative juices are wanting to flow again. The word we were given this week is BEAR.

He was hungry. Winter had been long and food scarce when he had gone searching.

With the return of warm weather; however, he knew he would find sustenance carefully packed and stored inside their flimsy tents. One swipe of his paw would gain him entrance to a feast far different from his usual fare. Easily accessible, sweet, and filling.

A mighty roar escaped his throat before he turned to lumber back up the side of the mountain. Experience had taught him not to linger. Their fear of him brought the burden of danger. A danger he was willing to bear --- for Twinkies.

Memories of 9/11

2009-09-12T10:01:00.003-05:00

Yesterday there were a lot of tributes and remembering of 9/11. I've been sorting through my memories since.

I do remember exactly how I found out and my reaction. The school secretary come to my room and told me that the first tower had been hit by a plane. They (the new media) wasn't sure if it was and accident or done deliberately at that point. Scary, but I had class to teach, then she came back a few minutes later with, "We are under attack the second tower has been hit by a plane. This is awful....."

The TV in the school library was turned on and teacher and classes began to gather there to watch and wonder. Replays of the planes hitting the buildings and live shots of people running and the chaos. Teachers were crying, apprehension filled the air and I just wanted to go back to my room shut the door and get back to teaching.

I couldn't do anything about what was happening, I was helpless and I wanted it get away from hearing about it. I gathered my students up and took them back with me. "Class we have to learn this was," my attitude. Nouns are more important than what is happening to our country. Not really I know, but I couldn't stand it --- I couldn't do anything --- I couldn't even watch.

That evening I attended a prayer meeting like many around the country to pray for the victims and their families, pray for the men and women who were searching for survivors and bodies, pray for safety for all of us, and pray that those responsible for this would be found and made to pay.

I remember --- and the feeling that is still with me is how helpless and defenseless I felt.

Wordless Wednesday -- Making a Face

2009-09-09T14:31:00.002-05:00

Sometimes there are no words to explain why.

A New Ride

2009-09-05T19:42:00.003-05:00

So I say to the husband, "I'm thinking I'd like a car a little bit bigger than the mustang, and one that is quieter than the convertable is."

So hubby says to me, "What did you have in mind? 'Cause I was thinking we should get a hybrid in a couple of years."

I say to the hubby, "I don't really want to wait two years, I was thinking maybe now because it really was not much fun to drive the 'tang all the way to Amarillo and back with Abigail and Heidi. I really got tire."

So hubby says to me, "Look at the hybrids on the internet."

And from there we decided that we liked the size of the Ford Fusion best. I went to the local dealer who didn't have a hybrid in his showroom, but did have a Fusion that I could drive. It fit --- the one they found in the area for me though was way more car than we were looking for. We didn't want the moon roof package, but that seemed to be the only Fusion Hybrid that Ford is making right now. We haggeled a little because haggeling just isn't in my blood --- I was able to make a deal I could live with and I now own a new car.

Well own might be a stretch, but I do have the papers saying that I will eventually own said car.

Taking Stock

2009-09-01T12:03:00.003-05:00

This time last year I was wondering when I would start my tutoring job because the money from that job was going to be used for a family vacation. Beginning another year (all my years are counted in school years -- old habit, hard to break) with Robert with First Ag Credit and wondering if he would ever get the respect he so deserved. Wondering if Donna had made a wise decision about school and career. Planning trips and enjoy life.

Now I'm glad I don't have to wonder about tutoring. Robert's job or Donna's decision.

My decision not to tutor this year and be tied to a strict time schedule has me feeling like I own the world. I can do things as I want to do them. Of course I am on the sub list and will do that, but I don't plan to work more than two days a week or if I do then I'm free to skip a week.

Robert's job loss which seemed so devastating when it happened now seems more like a blessing. He is happier than I've seen him in a long, long time, almost since Texline days. Sure the uncertainty of steady employment haunts us, but we are fine financially and by being just a little more frugal and I do mean just a little we can live just as we always have without an unhappy husband who didn't even realize how unhappy he was.

Donna seems to be making things work. Working two part time jobs has caused her to lose some practice time with school, but she is able to pay her bills without my help or with very little help from me. There is the test in November for licensing then she'll have more decisions to make. Hopefully about where to take a job.

Other things in life feel good. I will always be on a diet needing to lose anywhere from 10 to 30 pounds depending on the day and my mood. My hair will grow and then be cut. I have lots of friends to cheer me on, my daughter is having me a grand baby. Yes, I'd say life is good.

Not a Hero to Me

2009-08-31T16:26:00.004-05:00

Today I'm going to post an opinion. Something I seldom do because I don't like to offend others. I feel pretty certain those involved won't read this and none of my few readers are kin in any way to the three men I'm going to refer to.

On August 24 three local area men went missing in the Gulf. They had gone out fishing and were reported missing at about 9:00 by family. The Coast Guard and other search parties spent a week looking for these men. On Saturday August 29 they were rescued after being spotted by a man on a boat out fishing. Their boat had capsized and drifted for 7 days. They survived because they stayed with the craft. They were able to salvage some crackers which they rationed and they drank water from the well used for cleaning the boat. I was among those praying for these men and their families and I'm glad they were found and all is well.

Now here is the rub. These men are not heros. They have done nothing heroic and yet the local media has treated them as such. They have been interviewed and wined and dined for two days now. I think that is enough.

As the story has unfolded and I've picked up bits and pieces about what happened I just want to know what kind of IDIOTS are you? You should be acting very sheepish instead of bragging about how you survived. You should be thanking those who spent untold dollors to try and find you and looking for ways that you can repay that debt.

You went out in the Gulf, out of sight of the shore line in a small craft without any kind of radio or GPS system. Personally I think you need to be given a sign to wear that says I'm an idiot not paraded around for all to see like a hero. No you are no one hero.

Twenty Years Ago

2009-08-27T16:02:00.004-05:00

All of these people sending children off to college has me remembering. The following happen twenty years ago almost to the day.

"Mahhhhm, we can't take Donna to school then. That's when we have the big pep rally for the boys and I HAAAAAVE to be there. I am A CHEERLEADER afer all and I HAAAAVE to be there!" she whined and flounced off.

Just one of the minor/major problems of juggling the schedules of the oldest daughter ready to go off to college at San Angelo State and youngest daughter going into her eighth grade year as one of the cheerleaders in a small school where the junior high and high school cheerleaders did a lot of things together.

There was a lot of discussion on what to do and how to do it.

I knew I needed to be there for Amy. She had worked hard to become a cheerleader and this was their first big event. But my Miss Independence, who suddenly didn't want to go, was reluctantly heading off some 450 miles to college and I really needed to be there too. What to do, what to do?

It was finally decided that we would pack Donna's Mercury Linx and she accompanied by Carrie, the middle daughter going into high school, would drive down during the day and that Robert, Amy and I would leave after the pep rally driving all night with the rest of Donna's stuff to unload when the dorms opened the next day.

They left early enough that they could arrive just before sun down in San Angelo and check into a motel at which I had made room reservations. Little did I realize that the motel wouldn't let them check in as minors or some nonsense like that. In the days before cell phones it took Donna calling the sheriffs office to contact me at the pep rally to call the motel to okay them checking in on my credit card and that I would be coming.

The pep rally, bond fire, ice cream social and clean up ended about 10:00 PM and we
headed out on our six or seven hour drive. We however didn't make it to San Angelo. As we passed through Brownfield about 3:00AM I felt the car slow and stop. I opened one eye to ask why we were stopping and Robert announced he couldn't drive any further.

He had pulled in to a very seedy looking motel, got out and checked us in. Sleepily I walked behind him to the door of the motel room knowing we were only going to be there a few short hours and then on our way again.

I didn't sleep in that motel room, although Robert did. When he turned on the light the orange carpet and bed spread suddenly disappeared under the face boards. I didn't even step in. Amy and I just went back to the car and curled up to sleep in less than total comfort.

Four hours later, Robert came out and our journey continued. We met up with Donna and Carrie.

The rest of moving her in is a blur. I'm sure we did some unpacking and arranging of items. I'm sure I gave more input than necessary or wanted, and I'm sure there was hugging and tearful good-byes when we left. I don't remember those.

I do remember thinking though, "How can this be? Where has the time gone since I gave birth to that little red haired girl?"

Twenty years later, I'm still wondering, "How can this be? Where has the time gone since I gave birth to that little red haired girl?"

Wandering Thoughts

2009-08-19T13:44:00.005-05:00

I drove home over two days, Sunday to Donna's in the Fort Worth area and then on Monday on home. Both days of driving were uneventful for the most part. There were big trucks on the highways, so I did have to be alert. There were also a pick-up pulling a stock trailer who wanted to share the same portion of the road as me, but a toot of my horn awakened him to my presence and when I went on past him, he had a very sheepish apologetic look -- and of course there were the out of state cars who thought the Texas high ways are the autobahn with no suggested speed limits.

Even with all of these distractions needing my attention my mind did wander in strange directions at times and I began wondering about the expected grandchild. The thought process went something like this.

Said child is expected March 1. How many days is that? 30 days has September, April, June and November. So I need September and November so that is 60 day. Then October, December, and January have 31 each so that is that is 93 more for 153. Then you add in February with 28 for 181. Since the day I was driving was August 17 I had to add 14 more days to come up with 195 days until I'll be a Grammar again.

That was one of the random things I did to keep myself entertained while driving.

I'm excited --- a new grandbaby!

Thirteen Days -- Really? Thirteen Days

2009-08-13T23:18:00.000-05:00

It has been thirteen days since my last post. It is hard to grasp that two weeks have gone by. When I last posted Robert and I were headed to the Bain reunion.
It was a good reunion this year. I enjoyed catching up with his cousins and there were a few in attendance who hadn't been in several years. There were surprises and disappointments, but for the most part things went smoothly.

Abigail got to go home with me. This was the first time I've had her at my house without the parents. What a fun trip home that was. Robert and I usually make the trip in about 10 hours. With Abby and Heidi it took about 14. Yes, we stopped a lot.

This was one of the best weeks of my summer! I learned a lot about my little princess granddaughter. Not all pretty, but none of it bad. She is very smart and very independent. She is a combination of my oldest and middle daughters. Ahhh, the memories that brings back. More on that visit when I can post pictures.

Then Robert got a part-time job. As we drove home he got a call that they wanted him to come out the the nuclear plant to work the outage --- when safety checks and maintenance is done on the reactors. (Only he isn't really working the outage. He is working pre-outage.) It will only last 6 weeks, but the pay is awesome and there is the slighest chance that it will turn into something semi-permanent. I don't fully understand what he is doing. He is called a Lab Facilitator, meaning he will teach a class he is being trained to teach then test and rank people based on aptitude and abilites.

I brought Abigail back to Amarillo by myself. We made this trip into a two adventure, stopping in Fort Worth to spend the night with Aunt Donna -- owner of two large cats which made Heidi look very small. Fortunately the cats paid little to no attention to Heidi and her barking. She is such a brave noisey dog unless you take a step toward her.

My father-in-law had knee replacement surgery on Wednesday so I have spent several hours at the surgery center with Robert's siblings. Praise God that everything is going good there and on Saturday he will be moved to a rehabilitation center then in five to seven days will be released to go home. The goal is for him to be able to basiscally care for himself at that point. But home health will come by two or three times a week to do therapy.

I'm missing my home and hubby -- I think I'll journey back south on Sunday afternoon or Monday and again make it a two day trip.

A Time to Gather

2009-07-30T21:15:00.003-05:00

In the morning - late morning - I'm headed to the panhandle.

It is time for the annual Bain Family Reunion.

The reunions started about 30 years ago as birthday parties for Robert's grandfather, George Omah Bain, and were attended by just his sons and their families.

Then the reunions grew bigger. G.O.'s brothers and cousins began to come and then Aunt Norma went on a quest to find every Bain in the country that might be kin to G.O. At times there were to 150 or more people there all claiming to be kin to us in some way.

There were years that I skipped the reunion. I could always find little things to have to be doing on that Saturday. And the Great State of Texas helped out a few years by making that very week-end tax free for school supplies and back to school clothing. Well, I had to go shopping didn't I!

Now there are only two brother still living, Robert's dad, Gene, and his Uncle Joe. The numbers have dropped greatly with the deaths of these patriarchs. Extended families don't make the effort to come anymore.

The Bain Reunion is now more a gathering of Gene's and Joe's families with a few of the other first cousins and some of their children there.

I expect to see familar faces and wonder which cousin's child is newly married, or divorced, or expecting. Gossip about the how much weight so and so has gained or lost and wonder why someone else is not there. I have wonderful pictures of the fantastic cruise we took our crew to show and I have a picture album of Bain Reunion past to share.

I will take pictures and enjoy another year of being with family that I only see once each year. It seems more important to be there now. I'm not sure the reunions will continue much longer and in a way that makes me sad.

Wordless Wednesday --- Family

2009-07-29T10:40:00.002-05:00

All the people I call mine --- soon to be one more.

I Don't Want to Miss the Boat

2009-07-28T15:14:00.003-05:00

Today has been a positive day at the Bain house.

There is a story that I've read on the Internet about a man who was in a flood. Oh, he knew the flood was coming, but he didn't evacuate. He said, "God will take care of me." He didn't leave when the waters were up over the roads and a rescue truck came by. He said,"God will take care of me." He didn't leave when the water was in up to the second floor of his house and a boat came by. He said, "God would take care of me." He didn't leave when the water was up to his roof and a helicopter came by. He said, "God will take care of me." The man drowned and when he got to heaven he asked God, "Why didn't you take care of me?" God answered, "I sent a warning, a truck, a boat and a helicopter --- what did you do?"

As Robert is looking for a job we have been asking God to lead us where he would have us go, to open doors for him, to show us the way. Our prays have also centered around wanting to stay here in BC.

We found out a couple of weeks ago that the job with the bank here that we just knew would hire him isn't going to. They sited economic difficulties, etc. as reason for not hiring, but they wished him well in his pursuit and said whoever hired him would be lucky to get him.

That hurt. I must say Robert took the new better than I did. Then we were looking online at job opportunities listed with Farm Credit Bank of Texas. (Big outfit over all the land banks and old pca's) Anyway, back to my story -- and right there online the first job listed was for a loan officer/office manager in Muleshoe, Texas with Capital Farm Credit --- the group that had just let Robert go and who had actually told him that the position as Muleshoe was not going to be filled. Now I really was upset. Three different times the Muleshoe position has been open and three times that door has been shut --- got it God we aren't going to Muleshoe.

I don't want to miss the warning, the truck, the boat or the helicopter, God, I want to do hear you --- I want to do what you want me to.

On Friday Robert was approached by one of the men in our church who runs a real estate office. It happens to be the one we used to buy the house we live in. Erwin offered Robert a job. He said he needs a man in his office --- someone who knows land and could represent clients who where wanting to sell land or buy land --would Robert be interested.

As Robert and I discussed this, we weren't sure. Real estate -- really God, real estate. No we hadn't thought about it. But he is pursuing it now. This could be the warning, the truck, the boat or heck even the helicopter. Is this the answer to the prayer to get to stay in BC?

I guess a little time will tell.

Did You Notice

2009-07-27T19:57:00.002-05:00

Did you notice my blog is back to normal? Thanks to a true knight who was willing to come to my rescue.

Three or four emails back and forth and he had the problem pinpointed and repaired.

I ~~think~~ know he is an amazing slayer of dragons large and small.

Thank you Lou for taking time from your busy schedule to figure out my mistake and then correcting it. Your genius in matters of computer programs and language made quick solution to my dilemma.

When you looked at the html codes, you were able to read and understand what was being said. I on the otherhand looked as said codes and had a since of what it must be like for first and second graders as they learn to read. They have been taught all the symbols, can recite what each is and the sounds they make, but putting them together to form words and those words together to make sentences and sentences together to answer a question as simple as who is this story about. Well, let's just say I have a whole new respect for the struggling reader now.

I'm going to keep reading and working on some of the how this all works --- but be patient with me..... old dogs and new tricks are still hard to put together.

Help, I've Messed Up and Can't Fix It

2009-07-23T15:39:00.004-05:00

There are some people who think I know a lot about a computer by which they mean the Internet. These few people are sorely mistaken. Oh, I know how to chase rabbits around and can usually find the information I want. I know how to shop online and I do a lot business online. I can make a book of stamps last so long that I don't even know that the cost of a postage stamp is anymore.

But there is so much I don't know about using a computer. And with this blog it has become frustratingly obvious. I'm sure all of my few readers have noticed that the information that used to be on the right of the blog text is now below it. I don't know how that happened. I can tell you when, but I have no clue as to what I mistakenly did to make it happen and I have no clue as to how to make it go back the way it was.

I need a guru to repair the ~~damage~~ mistake I've made. (See that nice strike. I went to a site and studied html codes and learned that. So I am willing to learn. Just can't find where it says if you did this then you now need to do that.)

If you think you can help let me know ---- I would definitely appreciate it.

Wordless Wednesday -- Look What I Caught

2009-07-22T08:29:00.010-05:00

Four month old Heidi with a bird she caught on the patio.

The Beach in Cozumel, Mexico

2009-07-19T23:26:00.007-05:00

The last port we visited was Cozumel. No one had booked excursions for Mexico -- it was a day we were all just planning to hang at a beach. So about 10:30 we all gathered in the hall outside our rooms and headed out with towels, sunscreen and bottles of water.

We got two van taxis or taxies (both are correct according Webster) to take us to a free beach Robert and I knew about called Mr. Sanchos's.

After the short $80 taxi ride, we struggled across the hot sand looking for a place with tables and umbrellas that the 19 of us could get. Finally we snagged one small table with an umbrella. Amy told the waiter that came over that there were 19 of us and we would be ordering losts of beer and food and could he please find us more tables and umbrellas. He did and we did. I must add that he took very good care of us. The beer was good and cold and the food hot and spicy. Perfect for the beach.

Matt and his boys had brought their snorkleing gear so they got to snorkle around and the rest of us who were interested in playing in the ocean got to play in the waves, which were perfect gentle waves. The kids discovered they could buy tubes to ride in and had fun linking together and riding back to shore.

At some point two older Mariachi type musicians showed up and entertained us by having Carrie play some turtle shells they strapped on her and then dressing Paul in a wig and animal nose of some sort --- He was a good sport and played the maracas along with them for one song. Perfect photo op.

Abby got her Uncle Gene to take her way out to the deep water because he was the strongest swimmer in the group and also the easiest touch. I thing before he got back to shore with her he was about ready to take her water wings off and use them himself. He discovered that swimming against the current pushing a little girl wasn't as easy as he thought it would be --- well, as easy as any of us thought it would be for him.

We went back to the ship tired and sandy and for some sunburned, but cool showers and short naps revived everyone for an evening of ship life.

The Thrill of Victory / The Agony of Defeat

2009-07-18T07:51:00.006-05:00

Amy and I had heard about a synchronized swimming event that was going to be held in the pool on the ship and had laughed about it as we swam around with the kids. When the girls were little we would pretend to be synchronized swimmers and work up little routines --- but our faces never went underwater.

I was off reading a book away from the hustle and bustle -- catching some quiet time when Robert came rushing over shouting, "Come quick Gene and Amy are in the synchronized swimming."

Well, rush over I did trying to figure out if they were on the same team and laughing at that picture --- Gene is 6'3" and Amy 5'2" -- but finally realized the competition was between a men's team of four and a women's team of four.

Each team had 5 minutes to work up a routine (out of the water) and had certain tricks they were told to perform (I think).

The ladies went first. We laughed at these women who obviously were not swimmer putting on their little show. I was proud of my youngest for being out there even if I was laughing my butt off the whole time. Then the men performed.

Of course they put on quite a show. They could all swim, and they obviously had had a lot of experience watching this event even if none of them would E V E R admit it. They actually were very entertaining.

Amy won the dreaded participation ribbon. Agony of defeat. Gene won the coveted 24 caret plastic piece of sh-- as the activity director called it. It is a plastic replica of a cruise ship. The thrill of victory.

But the ladies, great sports that they are walked by the men as they stood on the edge of the pool celebrating, arms raised in victory and with heads held high in defeat and sweetly pushed them in the pool. (Sorry girls, didn't know that was coming and had quit videoing.)

What fun it was to watch the oldest and the youngest compete. And the ladies get such fun revenge. The following videos are them in action. Amy, I forgot about videoing until you guys were well into your routine. Gene, I got it all you are now on YouTube.

Tea for Two --- Make That Three

2009-07-16T14:09:00.008-05:00

Each day on the ship at about 3:30 tea time was observed. I had noticed it on the daily itinerary and wondered about it. When visiting with two women at lunch on Thursday they happened to mention that they had been to the tea previous day and what fun it was to pick a tea and be served desserts and hors d'oeurves.

Ahhh, the perfect "Tea Party" for Abigail and me to attend. So that afternoon we went to tea.

The tables were perfectly set with tea cups, dessert plates and napkins rolled to look like candles. We chose our place, twice, and settled in for the music and tea. We were joined by Amy to make this a perfect tea party for three generations.

Our server came by with a choice of teas --- I chose lemon and Amy and Abby chose an orange tea. Then a second server came by with a little kettle of hot water for each of us. All was going lovely up to this point.

I had my tea steeping and was assisting Abby with hers. The aroma that came up from the cup was wonderful and I lifted it as I continued to pour water into her cup so she could get a whiff. As I did I touched her bare shoulder with the kettle --- a shriek escaped from her and then a loud cry.

We had every one's attention. I got the cup and kettle down without spilling any and then began to rock Abby. Three waiters came to see what had happened. "I'm so sorry, I touched her with the tea kettle. She's okay, just startled, could we have a little ice please," came rushing out of my mouth.

There was barely a red mark -- thank goodness -- I felt horrible but ice was brought and in just a few moments she was back to preparing her tea, and admonishing me about being very careful when little kids are around. The sweet lady with the dessert cart showed up about then and we selected our treats. Thin sliced salmon on a baguette for me, a flavored cream filled biscuit for Miss A, and a blueberry torte for Amy. We sipped our tea and enjoyed ourselves while we listened to the beautiful music from the piano.

Several times during the tea different servers would come by and ask how things were and if we needed any thing. The gentleman who had gotten the ice for us directed his question to Abigail asking how she had enjoyed the tea. Her reply has become my favor line of the cruise. "

"Oh it was fun, except for the screaming."

Wow, What a Trip

2009-07-15T11:18:00.004-05:00

We are home from eight days of fun and adventure. It was so awesome to be with all of the kids and their families. I've been trying to organize my thoughts now for three days and have failed miserably. Everything is still running around in my head with no organization. So I've decided to just type a few things as I think about them. Tell the stories that mean the most to me, how I remember them. No order, no rhyme or reason.

First let me say that I was very anxious about this trip. The dynamics of our combined family means we have two oldest, two middle and two youngest. The girls are protective of each other and the boys are a tight band of brothers -- you know the kind -- we can beat each other up, but you'd better leave us alone or you deal with all of us. How would they blend for that long was the question that kept tormenting me. I couldn't help but recall all the times when they were younger when I felt like WWIII had arrived --- they didn't seem to like each other much back then, and we were putting them on a ship together for seven days and nights. Deep breath.

All my worry and anxiety was for naught. These are adult children who know how to handle themselves and others. Everyone was accepting of the others --- it worked. I have proof that it worked two ways: 1. No one threw anyone else overboard and 2. I heard that the kids are planning on doing it again in about 5 years.

Just getting everyone on the ship took a little planning. Five family members chose to come to Bay City on July 3, eight people chose to fly into Houston on July 4, and four were doing their own thing by coming in on July 2 to visit other family. So we had to figure out the most economical way to get everyone and their luggage from Houston to Galveston in a Suburban, a 4-door pick-up and a Chevy Cobalt.

We managed and the following are photos of part of us taken by Amy and me as we waited in line outside the terminal to board the ship.

I've Never Done That Driving

2009-07-01T14:36:00.005-05:00

I was out and about this morning and of course that entailed crossing one of several sets of railroad tracks that cut across our town. Most of the crossing have flashing lights and barrier arms to keep everyone safe. This morning there was no train so I sailed right across the tracks. No flashing light, bells clanging or arms decending as I crossed, but a childhood memory came flooding back. A memory of flashing lights, bells clanging and arms that had decended.

My grandparents lived in Amarillo and attended Grand Avenue Baptist Church. To get from their house to church meant driving over a set of thriple tracks. These tracks were protected with the same kind of flashing lights and barrier arms as the double track I cross many times a week here.

On this particular Sunday I was riding home from church with Granny. I remember she was in a hurry to get home because the services had run long and the roast in the oven was probably burning. When we got near the RR crossing the lights began to flash and the bells were clanging. The red and white barrier arms were coming down fast.

But to my horror, Granny didn't slow down. She sped up. Yes, my Granny sped up. She said, "Don't you ever do this when you drive," and she whipped over into the left-hand lane going around the barrier then back into the right-hand lane.

I'm sure my eyes were the size of saucers when I heard the train whistle, and my short life passed before me. It seems like it was inches from us, while as an adult I like to think it wasn't.

The only other thing I remember about this whole incident is her saying, "It would be better not to mention this."

Oops, I just did.

Good Bye to Three Icons

2009-06-25T21:32:00.003-05:00

I'm sitting here watching a tribute to Michael Jackson. I was a casual fan. I've watched him grow into the super-star that he was. He gave us much over the past 40 years. He changed music and dance (and his appearance). He will never be forgotten.

Farah Fawcett -- Charlies Angles -- wings -- The Burning Bed -- Lee Majors -- huge smile --those are the things that come to mind when I hear her name. Again an actress who seemed to have it all. I know she will be missed by those who were close to her.

Ed Mcmahon, you never knocked on my door with a million dollars, but that's okay. I enjoyed watching him with Johnny Carson. He was the perfect straight man. Then hosting Star Search. He was the perfect host for that show.

It is hard to believe we lost thee icons in one week.

Just So You Know

2009-06-21T19:18:00.002-05:00

And so ---

The letter to hubby may have been a little harsh, but that was me being me. I can't be all sunny and happy all the time. My blog is to share me --- the good, the bad and the ugly. I guess that letter was the bad and the ugly.

Robert and I have talked. I was gentle with him and come to find out he was embarrassed by his appearance also. He said he was in a hurry and just didn't think about it until he was asked to make the presentation.

He has learned from his *mistake* and we are moving forward. Does he do everything my way? No, and that is probably a good thing.

Letter to My Husband

2009-06-19T13:05:00.008-05:00

Dear Husband,

Here we are jobless, verbally you say you are wanting to get hired. So you've taken your resume in, you've talked to the right people, and now you wait. But what do you do while you wait. Well, it is different from what I would be doing that is for sure.

Oh, I don't mean I would actively do anything different from what you are doing, but I would be dressed so differently. See everywhere you go there is a potenial boss. Some one who might see you and think -- "Hey, you know that Robert might be just the guy we are needing, but why is he dressed like a bum?"

The shorts and Hawaiian print shirt with your beach sandles just doesn't scream hire me or professional anything.

Sure we were running late to the Chamber Mixer yesterday evening because you had forgotten about it, but for heaven's sake it was at the very bank you are hoping will hire you and there you are looking more like you are on your way to the beach rather than to a function of professional people. It would only have taken a minute to change -- slacks with a shirt tucked neatly in and closed toed shoes! Is that asking too much? And to boot your picture will probably be in the paper because who presents the Certificate of Appreciation to the bank's manager --- yep, mister, "I don't give a sh_t about how I look. Take me or leave me."

Every time you step out of this house you are going to an interview. Yes, dressing for success is important --- it might just make a difference. Right now I'm thinking you don't really want to get that job.

You really need to think more about the book cover. It is what people read first.

Sincerely,
Your loving, but exasperated wife

Wordless Wednesday -- Curious

2009-06-17T11:24:00.007-05:00

Shhhh!

And the Beat Goes On

2009-06-10T11:25:00.004-05:00

I've had several people ask about how we are doing since that fateful day in May when we found out that there was no joy in Mudville.

I have a puppy, a man and no pressing issues on my hands. We get up each morning and walk, we sit on the patio, we visit and we play with our puppy and we wile away the day.

We decided that this is just going to be an at home vacation for now. A preview of what real retirement might be. (I say real retirement because Robert was able to start drawing his company retirement.) So that is how we are treating each day. We have gone to the beach a couple of times to work on tans before the cruise in July. We have gone out with friends for meals and been to committee meetings. But mostly we are just taking life as it comes, doing the things that need to be done, and the things we want to do.

We are waiting to hear if the job with the bank will come through. If it doesn't then we know we will have to make a lot of decisions that neither one of us wants to make right now. We have time, and I think we are going to take advantage of the time we have before any of those things have to thought about.

Haiku Friday --- Facebook Frustration

2009-06-05T13:37:00.004-05:00

For my Facebook friends
I want to upload pictures
Something isn't right

Done this many times
To be exact, eleven
Never a problem

Today no such luck
My knowledge too limited
Words with no meaning

Active X Control
Or try Simple Uploader
Neither one will work!

All ideas tried
Need someone smarter than me.
Reboot try again.

Frustration is high!
Facebook not my friend right now
GRR RRR RRRR RRRR RRR!

Wordless Wednesday -- Trip to the Beach

2009-06-03T10:10:00.005-05:00

First trip to the Matagorda Beach beach for Heidi.

Life Is Full of Adjustments

2009-05-31T14:57:00.004-05:00

I knew when we decided to get a dog (okay truth when I decided I wanted a dog and Robert consented) our life would be different. Then before this sweet puppy could join us POW Robert is terminated from his job.

Yep, life is full of adjustments.

We are adjusting to having a wee one to look after, worry about, fret over and play with. She seems to consume a lot of time and energy even when she is sleeping, which she does a lot of except at night when we want her to be sleeping.

After the first night of literally getting very little sleep because we put her in the kennel/carrier/crate/room/den/home/bed that we got her right there in our room. She whined, cried, whimpered, and begged to get out all night. The next night Robert insisted she sleep with us. Wonderful idea. No whining, crying, whimpering or begging. Only problem, Robert slept because puppy was up against me all night. Pushing and sighing. Then I had the best idea ever -- put her in the guest bathroom. Small, nothing she can hurt (except maybe the back of the door), tile floors -- yes, a perfect solution.

The first night in the bathroom she cried and whined quite a bit, but being across the house from us and behind two closed doors the whining and crying didn't seem so loud nor did it last as long. The next night we decided we still want her to think of the kennel as her place to sleep so we put it in there and I sat with her until I thought she was asleep. Oops she wasn't, then I decided to leave the door open so she could come and go as she wants. That seems to have worked. She only seems to be crying now when she needs to go out.

We have had to make several adjustments as to what we are doing, and I'm sure we have several more that we will have to make before Heidi reaches adult dog. And even though I have a book to help with things, there is no teacher like experience.

Starting tomorrow we make another adjustment in our life. Robert doesn't get up and go to work. It will seem strange. We have decided to look on the next few weeks as a vacation. Time for him to relax and refresh. He should hear something about the job at a local bank before the end of June. If that doesn't work out then we'll adjust our hopes and expectations and decide what path we will follow.

Thing is we'll just keep adjusting because life is full of adjustments.

New Addition Is Now With Us

2009-05-28T10:07:00.006-05:00

I picked Heidi up yesterday afternoon from the breeder, my friend Anita. My what chaos that puppy was used to. Five adults and eight puppies climbing over each other and playing. Anita seemed perfectly at ease as the we walked in and was greeted by all this. She opened the sliding glass door into the back yard and said,"Big dogs out, little dogs stay." The were was confussion as the big dogs went out and the puppies were trying to decide what to do. Some went out (I guess they thought they were big) and some stayed in. After a few more seconds they were all sorted.

Anita scooped up Heidi and handed her to me as she scooped up a couple of other pups sweet talking to them while all the time giving me instrustions about my little miss. And telling me how this dog and that dog acted.

I then signed a couple of papers for her. Wrote a check, wrapped Heidi in her snuggle blanket -- a gift from Anita to all her pups as they leave and headed out the door.

Heidi was secured in her carrier which we call her den and away I came. I was serenaded by a whining, crying puppy nearly all the way home -- a 30 minute drive.

It was a rough start for us --- We both had a long night and I'm a little concerned because she isn't eating or drinking like I think she should and right now she is just curled up sleeping but shivering. Is that normal puppy? Should I be concerned? Oh, so much to learn and that darn book doesn't answer these questions. I think we'll be fine, but this is much like bringing a baby home from the hospital. No matter how prepared you think you are ----- YOU AREN'T.

Wordless Wednesday -- I Celebrated a Big Birthday

2009-05-27T12:55:00.005-05:00

My birthday was May 22 so I began the celebration on the 21st with my sister. Lunch then shopping.
Then on Friday there wasn't much celebrating going on. The big plans were for Saturday. Lunch, pedicures and more shopping with my girls.

Finally the big surprise. Supper with ALL the family. Here are three of my favorite members Preston, the oldest grandchild, Holliday and Abigail. Twenty-five people helped me feast on Mexican food, margaritas and ....

of course birthday cake. Mine was a triple chocolate beauty! Thankfully they forgot the candles.

A is for Apple or Abigail

2009-05-26T17:18:00.012-05:00

Heads or Tails the Tuesday meme (it is still Tuesday isn't it?) has the theme of *A* today, and because it is heads the writer can post anything about *A* that catches their fancy. *A* may be for apple, but the apple of my eye is my granddaughter Abigail. Also known as Abby, Abs or Miss A.

This little girl captured my heart a six and a half years ago.

Meet Abigail Marie just a few moments after she was born. She was the first child I had actually watch be born. (My girls were each born when mom's was half out of it and presented to the mother in a state of near clean.) I found the whole process of birth and her fascinating.

This is Abby one year later on her first birthday. By then we were pals. She knew I was hers. She was happiest when I was sitting in the floor with her and she had my undivided attention. Yes, I indulged her every whim whenever I got the chance and today I indulge as many as possible.
This is Miss A as you might find her today. Riding bikes and being all of six. Ready to graduate from kindergarten. She is in the top of her class, an eager learner and a ready reader. She still likes for me to play with her and we spend time with books, at the park where she wants to swing higher and higher, or doing girly things like her giving me a make over or doing our nails. Tom boy and princess rolled into one.

A Mother's Brave Acts

2009-05-19T01:00:00.003-05:00

May 19th edition of Heads Or Tails

This week the coin landed on "Tails" and the topic is brave. The assignment tell about a time when you felt brave or showed bravery. (This is TAILS so it needs to be a true/real post from your own life.)

Bravery is being able to stay calm in the face of adversity. To make rational decisions when those around you are falling apart. Bravery is what firemen exemplify and what soldiers are. I am neither a fireman nor a soldier but I am a mother and I have had to be brave on numerous occasions.

The day I heard my daughter's blood chilling scream as the door slammed on her finger. When I saw the arch of blood arch across the ceiling where she had yanked it out of the door slicing the tip of her right index finger off on the metal weather strip. Calm kicked in. I grabbed her, insisted she stop screaming, then wrapped her finger in a clean wash cloth and ushered her out to the car while giving directions to her two younger siblings to go stay with the neighbor until I got back, and to tell Debbie to call Robert.

Those evening when lighting would flash and thunder sounds right on top of it and you can feel the electricity in the air. When I want to scream and cry because I hate thunderstorms like that, but instead I gather three little girls up and hold them then laugh when they start to cry and sing silly songs and talk about how pretty the candle light is. And secretly cringe with each rumble and crash.

When a big icky spider crawls across the ceiling or down the wall and stops to survey the room and one person in a room of 20 spots it and begins to point and then the room burst into squeals of fright or laughter, but chaos has gained reign. Even though it is a small, but really ugly spider I face it down. I take a shoe and smash it when I would have rather it just crawled away.

When everyone in the house is sick. Every trash can has been a receptacle for vomit. When every toilet is splattered with diarrhea and the only one to do any cleaning is Mom. Mom is calm. Trash cans are cleaned, toilets are cleaned, beds changed. Brows are smoothed, medicine is dispensed. Quiet is restored, health is regained.

I'm not a fireman nor a soldier. I'm just a mom, but I can be brave when facing the challenges of all those little things in my role as such.

Life Sucks Sometimes!

2009-05-16T08:44:00.004-05:00

For the past eight years I've had a very contented life. I got up each morning to go to work or not depending on the time of year. That has always been my joy in teaching --- that summer vacation. It has always been my time of rejuvenation -- but that is a whole different subject and not what I going to focus on and make myself write today.

Life has been good to me. I have had no complaints that are serious. Yes, we have had minor things happen -- Robert's hair all fell out, but has grown back. We burnt the well house down, but we built a new one. We sold a house, but moved into a better one. We have worried over our children and grandchildren, but they are solid strong young people whom we see surviving. We have been able to help others in times of need. We have offered up prayers for the health and well being of others.

See our life was rocking along very pleasantly, no major problems, no major worries, almost boring or mundane. Then Thursday happened! Robert came home for lunch as was becoming our custom and I cheerfully asked, "How are you?" fulling expecting the answer "Fine." which I usually got, but instead I got, "Unemployed."

Shock, disbelief, then reality hit full on. We knew that with the merger of the company he worked for and another there would be people let go, there were would be offices closed and people moved. We knew it, we had even played the game where others were given that notice --- selecting those we thought would be gone first --- we just never figured ourselves into that picture.

Now we are playing another game -- the What the Hell Are We Going to Do Now -- game.
We played this game fifteen years ago, have weathered three mergers and four name changes and aged since last played. I don't think any of the rules have changed though. The rules: send out resumes, think carefully before spending money, pray a little differently, and try to keep a cheerful outlook.

Oh, and keep in mind all the cliches
Life isn't fair
Hard work isn't always rewarded
When God closes one door, He will open another
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade

Got any other? I am fresh out at the moment.

And That's the Way the Ball Bounces

2009-05-12T09:14:00.006-05:00

My thought went to basketball when I read the challenge. We are in the midst of the NBA playoffs, with the Houston Rockets holding their own against a more touted Lakers team. My heart is with the Rockets, but I have doubts as to their ability to match step with the Lakers for much longer -- but who would have thought the 50 to 1 Mine That Bird would have pulled off that upset at the Kentucky Derby.

Then my thought travel back to my own days as a basketball player. I played three years. Two years in junior high and one in high school. They were fun years, trying years, years that left an impression on me.

I learned about team work, about being a part of something that mattered and I learned that hard work isn't always fairly rewarded.

Here's the story and yes, I'll still sound a little bitter as I tell it.

My freshmen year we had an awesome team. Those junior and senior girls were just awesome. We all took to the court and worked out each day. The junior varsity and varsity worked together side by side. Coach would pull his jv aside each practice for a few minutes after warm-up drills and go over plays that the varsity opponents would be running. We would then work out against the varsity trying to give them the competition that would prepare them for the next game.

These were hard workouts for a bunch of girls who were also playing jv games of their own two times a week. But this was the sport, this is what you did, this is how you got better ---- That and the fact that we didn't know any different.

The varsity won, and won, and won. They won district and were going on. The school was excited, the town was excited. Our girls had made it to Regional Tournament for the first time in many years.

I can remember how proud I was to be a part of that team. Even though I had never suited up for a varsity game I felt like I was a big part in their getting where they were. I had sweated with them everyday. I had stood my ground and been laid out more than once -- I had learned to rotate the ball almost the same way Springlake did, I had learned to shoot a little jump shot almost like the girl from Kress I had done everything Coach had asked of me to the best of my ability. Granted it wasn't exactly like those other teams but I had worked hard!

Then the news came -- Only the varsity would be going to the tournament to be held in Lubbock, only the varsity would be getting any accolades for all the hard work THEY had put in. Never mind the rest of us who had worked hard, never mind the fact that we had a part in it. I couldn't believe it -- all year long Coach had gone on and on about how we were all part of the team, how each of us played a vital roll in winning. Then this. To be snubbed, to be left out because we weren't members of the varsity.

I didn't get to go to Lubbock and watch any of the games. My parents didn't travel and follow the team like many parents did. I really don't remember if they won the first game of regionals or not. I do know they didn't advance --- and deep down a little part of me was silently happy about that. (You know, if I can't be a part of it I don't want you to win thing going on in the mind of a 14 year old.)

That was the end of my basketball career. I still love to watch the game. But when I hear names of big time players who get all the credit for a win (be they at the high school, college, or pro level) I can't help but think --- okay the rest of you guy just sit down and let them do it all by themselves. If you can't get some of the glory then just let them do it without you! You are a team, it is a team sport and it takes everyone working hard to win! So there.

And here's the to group of girls who didn't get to go to the tournament. We were an awesome bunch. (In case you're wondering I'm second from the left on the back row.)

Six, Yes, Half a Dozen

2009-05-11T10:04:00.004-05:00

I have six grandchildren.Yes, I really do have half a dozen grandchildren. You have only seen pictures of two of them because in all honesty we don't see the older grandchildren as often nor do their parents send send regular up dates through pictures. This past week, however, I received via FaceBook pictures of two of the older kids. (And hopefully will get even more.)

The first is of Preston, the oldest grandchild, and his date for the Junior/Senior Prom. Preston is a great kid who is shall we say all boy raised in too adult of a world. He is his Grandpa's pride and joy and would be defended to the hilt by said grandfather. Spoiled, yes, but worth spoiling.

The second is Holliday, the first granddaughter. She is the sweetest, most patient, spoiled girl on the planet. It is easy to spoil her because of her easy disposition and loving, polite manner. I hope she never loses those traits.

I had a wonderful weekend. Got these picture plus had an impromptu date with Hubby on Saturday which was just a movie and dinner, but it was fun. Star Trek was fun, pure entertainment. All through the show we kept whispering to each other -- "Oh, that is this one or that one from the TV days." Then Sunday we had "our gang" over for grilled burgers after church. It was fun to visit without the roar of a restaurant in the background.

Haiku Friday --- A Mark on Life

2009-05-07T20:26:00.010-05:00

It's time once again
To write of life in haiku
In three line segments

A topic is found
Then the syllables counted
The perfect words scribed.

What feelings were felt?
Happy, sad, excited, mad?
What was in the gut?

What lesson is learned?
What insight of life to share?
All answered in haiku.

Choices before us
Stretch as endless as the sea
What course shall we steer?

The impact not known
Until you turn and look back
And see your life's wake.

I know I've used these two pictures before but everytime we go on a cruise I stand and look out at the ocean and can't help but marvel at it's vastness, the seeming endlessness of the horizon which never seems to get closer. Then I stroll to the rear of the ship and watch the wake and again marvel at how our little ship on that vast ocean has left a mark that can be seen for several miles. It is just like life, isn't it. We have choices that stretch before us and as we steer through life we impact those around us, we leave a little wake,a mark. It might be swallowed up again, but we left our mark, we made a difference. We were there.

Hidy Ho, Neighbor or Just Heidi

2009-05-07T00:46:00.004-05:00

Meet Heidi a full blood miniture dachshund. She is my soon to be new puppy. The runt of the litter and the only one with the pie-bald marking (white) and the ticking (small black spots on the white). I picked her because I thought she was the cutest, and even very early seemed to have more personality than her larger syblings. I have met her twice and she is a sweety.

I'll be getting her the end of May. Yes, she will be one spoiled puppy.

The Joys of a Pedicure

2009-05-05T11:46:00.005-05:00

I'm joining back in with the folks over at Heads or Tails. Since this is my first time back in several months I was fortunate to find Edge as the *side* selected with the toss of the coin. With Edge the writer can go back and select any theme they might have missed or one the just want to revisit. Perfect for me. I scrolled through the list of things I had missed and happened upon this from January 20, 2009

HEADS
*OR*
TAILS
Feet *OR* Feat

Now in January my feet are usually tucked inside closed toed shoes or boots to be protected from the cooler weather. I would say cold weather, but since I'm here on the coast I'll opt for the word cooler because so many of you experience temperatures much below what I experience. A story posted about feet in January would have had to have included something about different styles of boots to keep your feet toasty and probably the different kinds of socks available to not only keep your feet warm, but to whisk away the moisture that can build up and then cause more problems for feet.

But here it is spring. The time when the toes are coming out of hiding, the time when shoes are less about service and more about style. Where less is more. But before those feet can be shown in public they really should be spruced up just a bit. That is why I went today and had that all important pedicure.

Ahhh, that wonderful time when your feet are soaked, scrubbed, massaged and pampered by an expert. Yes, there is a certain amount of tickle involved for those of us with sensitive feet. An involuntary jerking away when certain parts of the foot are rubbed, but it only caused the technician to smile and me more determined to have power over my feet.

The end results are always worth it. Smooth heels, calluses all diminished and pretty, perky color of the nails. Yes, the pedicure --- the feet's best friend.

Saved by a Smart Mouthed Child

2009-04-30T19:40:00.003-05:00

Sometimes when I managed to get out of a ticket on the side of the road I wasn't alone and actually the ones with me could be credited with actually having the comment that saved Dear Mom from a ticket. Such was this time.

Senerio #3: The side of the road between Boys' Ranch and Dalhart one Saturday night after being in Amarillo with the girls and Robert all day. Lights flash.

Officer: Evening folks. Where are you headed?

Me: (nervous laugh) Home. Long day.

Officer: Ma'am I need to see your license and proof of insurance. You do realize you were going over the posted limit? (At this point he talks with his partner who had walked up on passenger side of the car.) Also ma'am did you realize you license tag has expired?

Me: (astonished) What? (Whipping around to look at the girls in the back seat. Highway parolman now totally forgotten.) Carrie I told you to put the sticker on the plate. Why didn't you do it?

Carrie: Yea, Mom, blame the kid.

Robert: Where is the sticker?

Me: In the glove box is where I put it. Carrie is it still there?

(Robert looks in the glove box, retrieves the sticker and exits the car.)

Officer: (stifling a smile or was that a laugh) Ma'am I'm just going to step back to my car. Wait here.

Officer: (back at my window) Ma'am I need you to slow down for the rest of your trip to keep this family safe. This is just a warning, please sign and slow down.

Our family was evidently highly amusing to this patrolman or this was the first time he had seen anything quite like the display of Mom, smart mouthed child and calm Dad.

I Interrup the Stories to Bring You .....

2009-04-29T18:52:00.004-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Miss A and Mr. B say *cheese* for the camera.

An Unusual Emergency

2009-04-27T19:27:00.005-05:00

Before he joined the narc unit and then retired my brother-in-law was a highway patrolman. He once told me that if you can ever give a hi-po an original reason for speeding you wouldn't get a ticket. I never tried to come with anything original, I just told the truth, but I did leave a few patrol men chuckling and a warning in my hand more than once.

Scenario #2. We lived in Texline, a small rural community in the northwest corner of Texas. The closest *big* town with a decent size grocery store was thirty miles away. One day after work I was headed there to buy groceries and get home before tip off time of the basketball game. Lights flash and I pull over.

Officer: (a short round man) Ma'am I need to see your license and proof of insurance. (Pause as I gather things and hand them to him.) Is there an emergency that warrants your speeding?

Me: Well, I don't know about you but my family considers it an emergency. You see I'm on the way to buy groceries because there is no food in the house and they think I should fix supper tonight.

Officer: Well, I can understand that. I'll be right back.

(He walks away and returns grinning a few minutes later.)

Officer: Ma'am I'm just going to give you a warning this time. Sign here and slow down a bit so you can get those groceries and get home safely.

Me: Yes sir, and thank you.

I guess to the short round cop buying groceries was either an emergency or I had given him something new to discuss when the other highway patrolmen because according to the B-I-L they do discuss such things.

I Had to Get Home

2009-04-25T14:39:00.007-05:00

If you have read my 100 Word Challenge -- Situation then you know I have a love for driving fast, and that love has gotten me into several situations that I had rather not have been in -- on the side to of the road showing my license and proof of insurance to an officer. I have paid my share of tickets (and rightfully given) and I have received several warning. My thought is to share three times I got warning. One a day. If I get on a roll I might tell more --- I do have several.

Scenario 1: Driving the family van home from Amarillo to Dumas alone, 10:00pm ish. Hubby was in the hospital to have yet another back surgery, but the doctor had not been in to let us know exactly when it was to be. The girls (approx. 13, 9 and 8) were home alone. I was very stressed because they were home and had expected me earlier, but I had been delayed from when I called them last. I did not have things ready for a sub for the next day at work, and I didn't know what time I needed to be back at the hospital. I was driving on a four lane road and yes, my speed had crept past the legal limit - at least 15 miles above the legal limit. I saw the lights come on behind me.

Me: (Unpleasant thoughts.)

Officer: Ma'am is there a reason for your speeding this evening? I'm going to need to see your license and proof of insurance.

Me: My husband is in the hospital and I'm trying to get home to see about my children.

Officer: Are they with someone?

Me: (I begin to cry.) No, I didn't know I was going to be so late getting home. I called them, and . . . I don't know. My husband is going to have surgery but the doctor didn't come in and I've got to . . .

Officer: Ma'am (He interrupts me) Ma'am how old are your children?

Me: (Still crying. More like sobbing.) They are seven and eight and ... and no eight and nine and the oldest is eleven ... no twelve, no thirteen ..... I don't know how old they are I just need to get home. I've got to call my principal and its late and ....

Officer: (He interrupts me again.) Ma'am I'm just going to step back here for a moment and check this out and then I'm going to let you be on your way. But you have to promise me you'll slow down. Everything is going to be okay. Are you okay? Do you understand?

Me: (A little embarrassed but still sniffling.)Yes, I'm so sorry. Yes,... (He walks away.)

Officer: (Returning to my window.) Ma'am I want you to sign here. This is just a warning. Everything is going to fine I'm sure. Just slow down and get home to those girls safely.

I think the poor man thought that if he gave me a ticket he would also have to call for someone to take that blubbering mess home and he didn't want to have to be the one to sit and wait with me.
And he was right. The girls were fine, Robert called right after I got home to say the surgery wasn't scheduled until 10:00 am. My principal was very understand and had actually already lined up an experienced sub so I didn't have to make detailed plans. Everything worked out.

But I Was Just Fixin' to Do That

2009-04-23T00:55:00.005-05:00

Where does the time go? I was just fixin' to post to my blog. I have ideas to write about. Then I sit down at the computer and check my email. First check for something that looks like it might actually contain information that is truly important -- reminders of things that need tending or news from family or friends. Then I look for through the stories or jokes that have been around or along the same lines as many others -- mostly checking who they are from and giggling because many are from people who know I get them from the same person who sent it to them in the first place. And then I find myself looking to see if anyone has commented on my blog, or something I've posted on FaceBook, and now there is Twitter to think about.

Once I've checked my email, I hop over to FaceBook. I scroll through the status updates of my friends. Maybe take one of the *what kind of _____ are you* quizzes just to see how I'm like or different from those who have taken them before me. Then I go to YoVille -- yes I'm pretty much addicted to YoVille and I must say that I have met some interesting people there. I hang out decorating my house and my apartment. Go to the Widget Factory, collect my money, stop by all my friends places leaving them messages to collect the money then play a few rounds of Rock,Paper,Scissors or Tic-Tac-Toe to collect to coins. Punch click I check out any new items in the stores I might want then I head back to my the home page to see if anyone has posted something new. Maybe play a word game.

I got an invite to Twitter from my great-aunt the other day. So I signed up for Twitter. I drop by there after FaceBook becomes a little boring --- not much happening at Twitter for me though because I really don't know much about Twittering. I only follow 4 people and I think only 3 are following me --- Poor people their lives must be sadder than mine.

Now I switch over to Blog land. There are certain ones of you that I must read and comment to. I do enjoy you and somedays I read the blogs before I do other things. I'm always thinking, "As soon as I finish this or that, I'll type up that blog." Then I look at the clock and it is 10:15 and Robert is headed to bed.

He wouldn't care if I sat at the computer, but I always thought it a good thing for couples to go to bed together. I heard in a movie when I was still a teenager a wife respond to the question "How do you keep your marriage strong?" with the remark that she got up when her husband did and went to bed when he did -- For some reason that just made sense to me and it has been something I've always tried to do.

My really good ideas to write up still aren't written, but it is late so I say
tomorrow. What have I not written about you ask --- Taking all three girls bra shopping, a tribute to my late husband, another mouse story, how shoes and coats can take over a house, stuff like that, and there are pictures and fun things that have happened with the grandchildren and so much more to my life than just a twitter or a status.

100 Word Challenge -- Situation

2009-04-18T14:01:00.004-05:00

Velvet Verbosity issues a weekly writing challenge. This week's word is situation. I've found myself in this situation too many times, not always for this much speed, but for speeds beyond the legal limit.

The highway, long and straight. The traffic, non existent. The speedometer climbs to 90, 100, 110, 120. I feel the governor kick on and the speed begin to drop so I back off just a little and settle for 115. I feel powerful. I feel in control as the scenery flies by the side windows. My eyes are fixed on the road ahead. There are no thoughts, just the road, just the power. Then I see him and know it’s too late. Lights flash behind me. This isn't the situation I want. Indulgence comes with a price.

I'm Still Here -- Just Tired

2009-04-17T16:02:00.004-05:00

I'm fine, really I am. I've just had a very hectic two weeks that left me drained and to baffled to post. I got an urgent call from Mom on the 6th saying I needed to come to Amarillo -- they were putting Daddy in the hospital so off I went. I was there a week (he is doing fine, home now, getting stronger) and then this week has just been racing from one thing to another as some weeks can be. Hopefully things are calming down and I will feel like reading and writing again.

Thank you for continuing to lurk out there and for those who have asked about me or sent well wishes. You are great. Really you are! You are great. :)

My last day to work is May 1. I hear those memes a calling, yes they are calling my name. So you will be seeing lots of me shortly I'm sure. :)

I Was Accosted by a Monster Mouse

2009-04-05T15:28:00.005-05:00

Several years ago --- I just realized that several years ago I must have had a life because most of my stories come from *several years ago* --- Anyway, as I was saying I was class sponsor for 7 seniors in a small rural school in the Texas panhandle.

One of the ways we raised money to take a big trip at the end of the year was to run the concession during basketball games. Of course at the beginning of the season we had to clean said concession stand even though it was supposedly cleaned by the previous years group.

On the day we had decided to do this cleaning we found thing in pretty good shape except for the evidence that mice had been playing around in the store room --- fortunately there had not been any food stuffs stored in there, just some equipment that could be cleaned with bleach water.

The kids were troopers and put on the rubber gloves and did a great job pitching in, working and getting things done.

But --- there is always a but isn't there --- they got to playing around and visiting and their language became a little less than appropriate with several mild curse word being tossed around. I went into lecture mode about appropriateness of language. About how the language they used was a reflection on them, their family, the school.

It was at this exact moment that one of those dear little rodents decided to make an appearance and ran across my foot. Yes, it ran right across my foot. And as it did in a blink of an eye, I jumped back as if a huge monster had just accosted me, and squealed, "OH SHIT!"

The kids all started laughing and repeating my lecture back to me about using cuss words. All I could do at then was to laugh and assure them that that was an appropriate time to use such language (even though it wasn't).

"Rats" I Needed a Hug

2009-04-03T19:48:00.005-05:00

Earlier this week while teaching a reading lesson a student looked at me and asked, "Does it hurt when a rat bites you?"

I was caught totally off guard because we were not discussing anything remotely close to rats. I'm not sure what I answered or even if I did. (I've learned to just ignore some random questions -- I think you can understand why.)

But that question has had me thinking about rats and mice. Those rodents haven't been a big part of my life and for that I'm thankful, but they have on occasion played a part.

One incident was many years ago when a mouse was caught in one of those old fashioned mouse traps that closes on the mouse's head and kills it, but leaves the mouse and trap there for you to deal with. I was a young mother at the time with a very ill husband.

I remember hearing the trap spring and knew I would have to remove the mouse. When I first looked under the sink the mouse was still moving and that in itself really *wigged me out*. So I decided I could let it just wait a bit before I did anything.

After about an hour I looked again and the mouse was still so I got the dust pan and the broom and was going to sweep the mouse into the dustpan and take it - trap and all - out to the trash can in the ally. I put the dust pan down and started to sweep, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Try as I may each time I reached for that mouse with the broom I would start shaking and gag. I couldn't do it. I could not sweep that mouse up. All I could do was cry. I had three little girl, a sick husband, and a dead mouse. I could deal with the girls, and I could deal with a husband who was going through radiation after having a kidney removed because of cancer, but I could not deal with that dead mouse. I just couldn't do it.

Finally I went next door with the story of my dilemma and this sweet little lady came over to help. She of course, swept the mouse up disposed of him and then did something that has stayed with me for all these many years.

This dear lady wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. That is what I needed more than anything. It was that hug that gave me strength to deal with so much more. Whenever I think I can't deal with anything more. I think of her and that mouse and that hug.

Beautiful Days

2009-03-29T15:31:00.004-05:00

This is one of those days. A day when you have to be outside. A day that calls for a cold drink and a good book and the sun. Substitute the computer for the good book in this case.

I'm sitting outside in the sun letting my body sock up as much of the warmth as it wants. I know it is bad for me, that skin cancer is one of the leading cancers, but right now I don't care. (This must be why smokers continue to smoke even when they have watched someone close to them struggle to breath. So I don't need that lecture right now.) I need to enjoy this peace this serenity.

The sounds of a peaceful Sunday afternoon. I lay and listen and watch as the bees swarm in the Mexican heather. Enjoying the warmth of the sun on my back and legs. The coo of a dove reaches my ears. And the chirp and twitter of birds.

In the distance I hear the whirr of some one's lawn mower. Not to close to be disturbing, but a comfort that others are about. Voices drift in and out as people go about chores in their yards. The sound of children playing occasionally can be heard, but nothing disturbs the peace.

I watch as a butterfly flutters across the meadow as I sit and soak up rays on my chest and arms. The warms of the sun piercing to my heart and putting pleasant smile on my lips.

Cars slowly drive by. The usual rushed pace seems to have slowed for the beauty of spring. One solitaire bike rider makes his way around the corner.

A breeze stirs my hair above the visor I wear to protect my eyes from the brightness of the sun refreshing my mind and spirit.

I welcome you, spring, with your promise of summer and heat and busy hectic days. But until then I'll enjoy you.

100 Word Challenge -- Myself

2009-03-27T06:01:00.003-05:00

For Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge this week I produced a bit of nostalgia -- the memories of raising independent daughters -- that stubbornness that turned to determination in all three of my daughters which seemed to have served them well as they pursued education, career --- life.

“Do it myself,” were the words used by my two year old as she pulled her shoes out of my hands and flopped on the floor to stuff her chubby socked feet into her boots.

I watched trying not to look at the clock because I had started late getting her ready. We went through this battle regularly. I know she wants to do every thing on her own. Why had I pushed her so, why hadn’t I kept her a baby?

However, as I watched her determined face I felt a certain pride knowing it was that determined stubbornness that was going to carry her far in life.

Here's to March

2009-03-25T16:13:00.005-05:00

When teaching in a regular classroom I always had certain bulletin boards that I put up each year. Ones that just seemed timeless -- and since I had a new group of students each year the bb was new to them even if I had seen it for 5 or 6 years.

One such bulletin board was a monthly calendar -- for the month of March I always put up the little poem *Here's to March
And Good St. Pat
And winds that blow
Both kite and hat.*

A simple little poem that captured the essence of March in the panhandle of Texas. The wind is going to blow at least 20 of the 31 days if not more. Forget flying a kite though. The wind will be blowing 20 to 30 mph not the gentle breeze needed for kite flying. Hats and hair are impossible. Hats don't stay on and hair is always going to look messy.

I've decided this poem would actually be good for the entire state of Texas since moving to the Gulf coast region. We have had so much wind this year. More than I remember in the previous 5 or so years we have lived here, and I've heard the daughter who lives in Fort Worth complaining of wind more this year. I won't even talk about the daughter who is in Amarillo who mentions wind a lot. I'm sure if I had family out west (Midland to El Passo) they would have the same complaints.

Wind, wind, wind. I'm so tired of wind!

Google It I Did

2009-03-23T17:25:00.003-05:00

My friend Lou over at LouCeeL posted a blog title Slowly I Turned, Step by Step. I mentioned to him in the comment that I had heard that experession before, but couldn't put my finger on why and that I should Google it. Well Google it I did and the following is what I found.

"Slowly I Turned" is the most common name associated with a popular vaudeville sketch that has also been performed in cinema and on television. Comedians Harry Steppe, Joey Faye (1909-1997), and Samuel Goldman each laid claim to this timeless classic of show business, also commonly referred to as, variously, "The Stranger with a Kind Face" (by clowns and clowning aficionados), "Niagara Falls" (by fans of The Three Stooges), "Pokomoko" or "Bagel Street" (by Abbott and Costello lovers), and "Martha" (by fans of I Love Lucy).

The routine has two performers pretending to meet for the first time, with one of them becoming highly agitated over the utterance of particular words. Names and cities (such as Niagara Falls) have been used as the trigger, which then send the unbalanced person into a state of mania; the implication is that the words have an unpleasant association in the character's past. While the other performer merely acts bewildered, the crazed actor relives the incident, uttering the words, "Slowly I turned...step by step...inch by inch...," as he approaches the stunned onlooker. Reacting as if this stranger is the object of his rage, the angry actor begins hitting or strangling him, until the screams of the victim shake him out of his delusion. The actor then apologizes, admitting his irrational reaction to the mention of those certain words. This follows with the victim innocently repeating the words, sparking the insane reaction all over again. This pattern is repeated in various forms, sometimes with the entrance of a third actor, uninformed as to the situation. This third person predictably ends up mentioning the words and setting off the manic performer, but with the twist that the second actor, not this new third person, is still the recipient of the violence. (However, in some variations - as in the Three Stooges short Gents Without Cents - the newcomer may be the attacked party.)

Abbott and Costello did a version for their television show which ended with Costello’s troublesome lawyer entering the scene. Costello asks for the lawyer to take the case of the storytelling stranger, and the lawyer says, "Help him out? I don’t know anything about him! What’s his name? Where is he from?" Costello whispers in the lawyer’s ear, to which the lawyer says aloud, "Niagara Falls?" Then he, of course, is immediately attacked.

And then I watched this YouTube clip.

Drifting with No Direction

2009-03-21T21:19:00.007-05:00

I must get back to this --- this familar friend here. My blog. It has been very negelected. Life seems to have gotten in the way. Well life and nothing that seems to be worthy of writing about.

That makes me wonder -- what is worthy of being written about. My life -- it is a wonderful constant. It has the usual little worries and concerns about the family, health, wealth, work. Nothing that everyone else isn't feeling. Some feel it more in one area or another, others may feel it less.

I guess I'm just feeling blessed right now. I'm content with where I am, what I have and who I have to share this all with.

I may have to get back to the memes I enjoyed last summer. I miss the people I visited and the people who dropped by to see what I had posted. Except for a very few who still drop by for this little bit of writing most have fallen away due to the lack of posts. I really don't blame them.

Those who have kept coming back waiting for something thank you. "Soon," I keep saying, "soon I'll be posting pictures and joyfully sharing all the bits and pieces of my world."

I think I need some sort of challenge. I seem to be able to meet challenges such as the 100 Word Challenge. Maybe I should post a picture a day for however long about something, or a story a day about something. I'm just drifting here not finding direction. I need challenge but I can't seem to put my finger on what I want to do.

Until I find something here are a couple of picture of A and B from when I was there a couple of weeks ago which seems more like a couple of months ago.

Abby riding her bike down the sidewalk. (Training wheels in place.)

Ben prefers to *walk* his tricycle along. Those pedals are still too hard to manage.

100 Word Challenge -- Snapped

2009-03-14T22:35:00.006-05:00

There are two things I've heard about writing. The first is you should write about things you know about and the second I've heard more recently is sometimes the story just writes itself. The second is what happened with me as I began to write for Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge. This is not what I had intended to write. Maybe it has something to do with last weeks challenge and I'm still a little hung up on tragic, or Lou's post last week or what has been in the new this past week. But let me assure you that this story is fiction, I have not "Snapped" which is the challenge word for this week.

She snapped her jacket and looked in the mirror. She looked ready. Everything about her said professional.

Her hands glided over the latches of her satchel and snapped them closed. The papers were all ready. Each one had been marked.

Her heels echoed as she walked down the hall. She paused at the door before reaching for the handle. She drew one deep breath and slowly exhaled, her mind racing.

As she reached the desk the bell rang. The noise grew to a deafening level. She steadied herself for a moment.

She reached into the satchel drawing out the pistol --- She had snapped.

100 Word Challenge -- Tragic (And only a little late)

2009-03-09T22:00:00.004-05:00

Velvet Verbosity host the 100 Word Challenge each week. This week's topic is tragic. The writings are supposed to be posted by Sunday. I was a wee busy this past week but wanted to post my writing a little late, just for the challenge and late is better than never (Sandy). Below is a fictional account of a one bride's entrance at her wedding. A true tragedy bordering on comedy.

The bride took a deep breath and stepped onto the landing at the exact moment her cat darted in front of her. To keep from stepping on the cat she did a quick side step, catching the heel of her shoe on the plush nap of the carpet causing her to lunge forward. Luckily she was able to grab the banister throwing her leg over as she began her head first slide. Slick satin glided over polished hardwood. Her squeal preceded her into the grand hall where the guest awaited a disheveled bride.

The tragedy of a ruined entrance that would turn to comedy as the years passed.

Lunch Date with a Younger Man

2009-03-05T15:00:00.005-06:00

I'm having a lovely time here in the windy panhandle of Texas. I got here a little before noon yesterday and got to spend all afternoon with A and B. I took them shopping for a present for a birthday party Abigail was attending later that afternoon. The the three of us had a snack and wrapped the present and waited for the time to pass for the party.

While Abby was at the party Ben and I got to play jungle with toy animals Gran has here at her house. What fun to watch the imagination of a three year old as the tiger and camel are best friends, but don't like the lion and giraffe. But in the end they all came together for the big singing presented by the panda bear.

Then we planned our lunch date for today. As Ben was leaving with his dad, I reminded him of the our *date* and asked him who was going to pay, him or me. He put his finger on his chin and gave it some serious thought then with the biggest grin a three year old can give he stated, "The Daddies." I love that boy!

Today I had that lunch date. Of course we went to McDonald's because according to Mr. B they have the best chicken nuggets. I'm not sure about that, but I do like their "chicken select" so had not problem with he choice of dining places.

After eating (three of the 4 nuggets and about the same number of french fries washed down with half a chocolate milk) he spent a good hour in the playroom with an assortment of other preschoolers there with grandparents and parents. He had a wonderful time and I snapped a few pictures.

We then picked Abigail up from school and headed to Gran and Granddaddy's for a much needed rest.

Tonight we will be having pizza before going back to their house -- Amy and Dave are going to be busy all evening at the preschool where Amy teaches. This is their night to have the *Texas* program. I'm so glad I get to be here and be the grandmother who gets to babysit. It doesn't happen often in my world.

100 Word Challenge -- Pleased

2009-03-01T15:16:00.003-06:00

Velvet Verbosity is back with a her wonderful 100 Word Challenge. Velvet, I missed this challenge, but why did you make this weeks so hard, or was it just me??? The following is what rattled around in my brain for several days. Welcome back VV. Here's my take on "Pleased."

“Pleased to meet you.” I take your hand in mine just like I’ve been taught and say, “Pleased to meet you.”

I wonder, “Am I going to remain pleased with meeting you?” We’ll have small talk that comes before a friendship can be formed. All the usual questions will be asked and answered.

Meaningful small talk, but not what I really want to know. What I’m really wanting to ask is, “Are you going to judge me or will you accept me as I am, faults and all?”

I want to be “Pleased to meet you.” I want to be your friend, no strings attached.

It's Just a Name

2009-02-28T06:57:00.005-06:00

I could be sleeping. It is Saturday morning -- not early by any stretch of the imagination, but earlier than I have to get up this Saturday.

That said, I've been laying in bed a wake for the past two hours just mulling over things I could write about in a blog. Thinking about the 100 Word Challenge over at Velvet Verbosity and putting ideas together for that little bit of writing.

And I was thinking about names and how the sir names of the children I teach now are so different from the sir names of the children I grew up with.

That took me on a whole different train of thought about how things in our country have really changed and then I was really wide awake so I decided to stop thinking and just get up and write.

Now back to those names. In my class at school there were names like Jones, Baker, Nix, Bellar, Drake, Brown. Then there were Patterson, Cartwright, Flemming, Harper. I think you are beginning to get the picture. We were not a very diversified community.

Oh, we had a handful of Hispanic names. Garcia, Hernandez, and Cantu (ah Frank and his brother. I had wee bit of a crush on Frank. I remember at one school dance . . .that's a different blog) Back to names that was about it.

There were three main churches and several smaller ones, but most people went to the Baptist, Methodist or Church of Christ. There was a Catholic church, but only the Mexicans went there or at least in my little mind's world that is who attended there.

I grew up very WASP. Although I had no idea what that meant and to this day don't know for sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. It is just a label to me that says all our names were easy to say and spell.

Where I taught in the '70s and '80 was a wee bit more diversified and I learned to pronounce and spell a few more Hispanic names and learned a smattering of Asian names.

The shock came when we moved to the coast. The names here have thrown me for a loop. Not longer is the norm Smith, Jones, Brown, Garcia and Hernandez. Now I've learned a whole new world of names. More Hispanic names and a whole new world of bohemian names. My favorite is Hrncir. For me there just aren't enough vowels. I've learned to ask people to repeat that please and would you mind spelling that. Most don't -- they've been spelling it for you their whole lives. And you notice I haven't listed any names here --- the reason being is I can't spell them and I'm too lazy to go get the phone book.

Now the morning grows late. The hubby is up and distracting me -- I've totally lost my train of thought if there was actually ever one here.

One Dark Stormy Night or Creative Teaching

2009-02-21T15:31:00.004-06:00

On Thursday I had one of those teaching moments that really make it all worth while.

I was in the reading group I have each day. This group of three boys and one girl are not usually interested in what we are doing and just go through the motions to more or less humor me or to keep me from growling at them.

On Thursday we were discussing the *author's purpose for writing*. We had covered the basics boiling reasons for writing down to three -- inform, entertain, or persuade. The kids were doing pretty go telling the differences but ran into a snag when I asked (or rather the worksheet asked) if an article that was entertaining had to be funny and light. They all said yes.

At that I began to tell a story and when I finished all four students were leaning forward with their little mouths slightly open and eye huge. The story went something like this:

One dark stormy night I was driving home. Lighting flashed all around me and the road seemed unfamiliar.

Suddenly the car went clunk, clunk and died. I rolled to a stop just managing to get the car off to the side of the road. Then the headlights went out and I sat in total darkness.

A bright flash of lighting highlighted an old two story house off to the right even though I didn't remember having ever seen a house there before. The loud clap of thunder that followed spurred me to action. I jumped out of the car, pulling my coat up over my head to protect me from the rain and ran toward the house hoping someone would be there that could help me.

As I ran up the steps onto the porch I took a big breath to steady myself and shake the water from my coat. I heard a strange cackling laugh coming from behind me. It wasn't a friendly laugh. It was the kind of laugh that means you are in big trouble.

I was to scared to turn around. I raised my arm to pound on the door but as soon as I had barely touch the door is slowly opened with a soft creak. The laugh behind me was getting closer. I didn't wait to be invited in; I shoved the door open rushing in and slamming the door behind me.

Here I just stopped leaned back and said, "Okay what was my purpose?" I swear every head nearly hit the table. They were that into the story. They laughed and giggled and told me it was to entertain. Then I asked, "Was that story funny and light. Of course they all had the correct answer to that one too.

They were also able to decide that this was just a fiction story and I had not had that experience.

One boy did ask what happened next and to that I had to say, "I don't know. I was just making it up as I went along." They were impressed. Yes, they were impressed.

I love teaching moments like I had Thursday.

Dialogue of Two Idiots

2009-02-16T21:04:00.004-06:00

We pulled up to the house after the Credit Union Stocker Holders' Meeting.

"Where's my purse?"

"You didn't, did you?"

"I never do that."

Robert begins backing out of the drive headed back the five miles to the Civic Center.

"We should have grabbed my cell phone. Then we could have called your purse."

"I'm sure they've picked it up."

As we pull up to the CC.

"Just like I thought, everyone is gone."

"Let me just check."

"We should have grabbed my phone."

On the way back to the house, we drive by the Credit Union.

"Looks like they brought stuff back up here."

"Yes, maybe we should stop."

"No, let's just get home and you can call them."

Back at the house there is a message on the answering machine.

"Mrs. Bain this is Irma from the Credit Union. We have your purse here and will wait for you to come pick it up."

"I told you we should have stopped."

I drive to the Credit Union.

"I'm sorry to make you late getting home. Thank you very much."

"Don't worry about it. I happens to all of us at some time."

I still feel like an idiot for leaving my purse behind. I think that is the first time I have ever done that. I've left my credit card in a couple of restaurants before but never the whole purse. Hummm I must be getting old.

Enduring Love -- A Valentine Theme

2009-02-15T01:51:00.005-06:00

I had a wonderful time tonight at the Valentine Banquet hosted by our church. The meal was catered by one of the local restaurants and was excellent. The youth of the church labored as our waiters and waitresses for tips to be put in the youth account for this summer's mission trip. All the decorations were excellent. The after dinner speaker brought an uplifting message that was both humorous and challenging about making love endure. I'm truly enjoyed all aspects of this evening.

Were there problems happening? Probably so, but I didn't have to deal with any of them. I merely got tea and water for the table then sat down and enjoyed conversation with my guest. Robert played host with the utmost elegance. He made sure we all were well taken care of; calling over our waitress a couple of times for tea or water as he noticed our guest needed it. I didn't even know he knew how to do such thing. And then when everyone was through eating he personally got them all the dessert of their choice. (The man never ceases to amaze me.)

This is the table I was in charge of decorating. It turned out much as I had envisioning it, and of course it received great compliments and raves from all at the table and those who were wandering by. People are very kind.

A close up of a place setting. The silver is from my mother. This is the silverware that we used while I was growing up. I love getting it out now for special occasions although then we used it for every day. Oh, and Donna, every one loved the idea of using the luggage tags as napkin rings/place cards. You were given credit each time.

We have a very active group of young singles -- men and women ranging in age from about 24 to 35 -- in our church. This was their table done by them because the wanted to be together. It was colorful and fun. This photo doesn't do it justice.

This is another of the tables, just to show some of the variety of what the room looked like. It was awesome to see so many different ideas played out in one room. It truly is a fun way to decorate. There were 24 tables done by 24 different ladies with 24 different ideas.

This is the only picture I have of almost Robert and me this evening. The girl in the middle is Brittany our server. She did an excellent job. Her smile was just as big at the end of the evening as it was for the photo. She got a good tip, and part of it was because she got Robert back really good once when he was teasing her.

Paul and Gennie Vela were wonderful guest to have seated with us. They have traveled to several different places and I enjoyed hearing their stories about their adventures. We also compared our experiences cruising. Here Stan places a kiss on Nan's cheek. Robert and Stan are in Lions Club together and we have had the pleasure of being with them for two dinners this past week. Always a delight. They plan to go on the trip to Israel next December also. Nan and I have already started planning what mischief we can get into.

Plans for Saturday Evening in Haiku Form

2009-02-13T02:07:00.004-06:00

Valentine Banquet
To be held this Saturday
A table I'll host

Each hostess can do
Whatever she wishes to
For her guest of eight

I've chosen a theme
*Two Hearts Travel Together*
Romance without pink

Things are all ready
For the table to be set
China and silver

An aged looking globe
Greenery and tall candles
Make the focal point

Tablecloth, napkins
Are a rich dark chocolate
Something quite different

Colored luggage tags
To be used as napkin rings
And serve as place cards.

I hope all things work
And match what I envision
You will see Sunday

It's All About the Dress and Unconscious Mutterings

2009-02-10T19:54:00.006-06:00

Growing up my mother made most of my sisters and my clothes. Most things I really don't remember, they were just the clothes we wore. I can actually remember 3 outfits very well though, partly because they were special to me or because the legend of them has been kept alive by the retelling.

One was a pink dress with gray polk-a-dots on it trimmed with gray rick-rack. That was the dress I wore in third grade to the UIL story-telling contest (which for those unfamilar with Texas story-telling it should be called story retelling since that is actually what you did; not make up a lie to tell). I felt very special in that dress the day of the contest and even more so when I won first place. Many things about that day are etched in my mind to be treasured always.

Another outfit I remember well was a vest and skirt made from a linen type material in a great apricot color. I was a freshman in high school and I just felt so dressed up when I wore it. There are no other special connection with that outfit, so I'm thinking I just felt good in it and it was probably the start of my obsession with being fashionable.

But the dresses in the picture below are the ones my sisters and I all talk about to this day. They were red and white striped and were made for us to wear to the 4th of July fireworks display held in Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo, Texas. This was big doings back in the mid 1950s. Mom said the reasoning behind dressing us all alike was so that if any one of us got separated from the rest she would only have to point to the girls with her to tell what we looked like.

To the best of my knowledge none of us ever got lost wearing those dresses.

I'm the one on the far right with her chin tucked down looking like she is about to hurl!

The I say :: You think meme which comes out on Sunday, but can be done anytime.

Cups :: saucers

Brilliant :: genius

Disobey :: defiant

Abstain :: from

Daily :: grind

You make me :: laugh

Hurl :: puke

Intensify :: increase force

F#$%! :: "Excuse me, that will not be said here."

Race :: run

Ready, Set, Dine

2009-02-08T16:03:00.006-06:00

Once a week isn't too often to bore you is it???

This past week was very busy with work, planning, doing and not much else. There weren't any great inspiring stories come from this week or anything especially funny. My dialogues with children have begun to feel mundane which is a sign of January passing and February in full swing without a break scheduled until March. I sigh.

The routine is broken up with busy-ness away from the job. Robert and I have several dinners to attend. We went to the first of these last night. It was the Junior Service League Charity Ball. An annual event where everyone gets to dress up and pretend for one brief moment we don't live in the boonies where the normal dress is jeans, tee shirts and boots. A picture of us taken quickly before leaving the house is posted below.

The next events on the calendar make this next week hectic also. A quick trip to Victoria on Monday after school for a dental appointment for Robert and a search for some small glass salt and pepper shakers to use at the church Valentine Banquet.

We are (I'm) hosting a table at the banquet so I'm responsible for decorting said table including having salt, pepper, sugar and sweetner for eight. Not a big problem, but I thought it would be nice if I had at least two sets, maybe four. Then I also have to finish designing and printing the place cards for the guest who will be sitting at my table. I know who two couple are because I invited them to sit with me. The fourth couple is an at large or random couple who plans to attend, but either wasn't invited by a hostess or chose to sit random. I'm actually looking forward to this --- hopefully the table will look like I envision it. All this will be set up Saturday morning -- Feb. 14-- Next Saturday.

The other dinner we have to attend actually happens this week also. It will be Thursday evening. It is the Lions Club annual Ladies' Night. A nice time will be had and all I have to do is show up. Of course, my delimma is what to wear. Smile -- that is always my delimma.

I think I will have to be very serious about dieting the 15- the 28th if I'm to lose my 4 pounds this month.

A Useful Tidbit and Unconscious Mutterings

2009-02-01T11:24:00.011-06:00

Every once in a while I get something in an email besides a joke that has been around a dozen times or a picture of something foolish someone has done or something that is politically incorrect, racist, sexist, or improper, or something that will bring me good luck or rich blessings if I pass it along. Those are not things that I usually send along. However, today I received the following from a dear friend. It is something I hadn't seen before and gave me pause to wonder -- *Well, why hadn't I thought of that?* The answer doesn't need to be stated aloud, and you really don't have to write back with why. Just read them and pass along or use or ignore.

Coffee filters ..who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
Oh, and they are great for using in your coffee maker, too.

And moving right along it is time for Unconscious Mutterings. The *I say :: You think* meme I enjoy each Sunday.

Check it out, click on the icon

Take :: it on the chin

350 :: an incomplete circle

Stand :: amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazerene and wonder how He could love me a sinner condemned unclean (corrected after my smarter than me sister commented, thanks Jo)

Raspberry :: blowing on a baby's belly

Turnstile :: counts you going in or coming out

Infomercial :: too loud, too long

Dejected :: depressed, rejected

What’s the word? :: Well, everybody knows that the bird is the word!(http://www.rockabilly.nl/lyrics4/s0130.htm)
Awestruck :: totally blown away by the magnitude of the event

Smashed :: inebriated

Number Crunching Blues

2009-01-31T01:43:00.003-06:00

Can I just say now I hate income taxes. I've just finished working on our 2008 income taxes. I can't believe all the numbers.

We are simple salaried people so our taxes are pretty straight forward. We don't have anything complicated about our lives. No wind fall income from royalties or foreign investments. So Turbo Tax and I do the paperwork. I have on occasion called an accountant friend to make sure I've entered a thing or two correctly (which I always had when I asked) so for the most part I don't find this hard to do.

I have all the W-2s, the 1099-R, the 1099-Misc., and several other numbered forms sent to me by various persons with whom I receive money from or give money to. There is one form missing though that I have to find out about. A matter of winning a raffle and getting a nice little sum. The winning was at the beginning of the 2008 and the paper I think I got is no where to be found. I'll continue to search, but I have a feeling it isn't going to show up. Some one will be getting a phone call to find out what I should do.

We are healthy people so we don't have huge medical deductions, we got a good interest rate on a small home loan, and our property taxes aren't all that much. Our biggest deduction will be charitable contributions, and although it looks good on paper, it isn't even over the limit so that we have to kick part of it forward to next year.

For the past several years we have had to pay Uncle Sam a little more when all this paper work is done. This year isn't any different except the amount we underpaid through the year is considerably higher --- I'll figure on this a bit longer just to make sure I haven't overlooked something, but I have a feeling what I have in the computer is correct.

That said, Uncle Sam won't be hearing from me very soon. It will probably be more like April 14 before the *check* is in the mail.

Scattergories Shared

2009-01-29T21:09:00.003-06:00

This is a little game that is going round on facebook right now. Thought I was share it with anyone who hasn't played it.

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own site, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. . .nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question. HaveFun!

1. What is your name: Patsy
2. A four Letter Word: poem
3. A boy's Name: Paul
4. A girl's Name: Penny
5. An occupation: prostitute
6. A color: pink
7. Something you wear: panties
8. A food: pasta
9. Something found in the bathroom: powder
10. A place: Paris
11. A reason for being late: Piddling
12. Something you shout: PEOPLE GET QUIET!
13. A movie title: Pirates of the Caribbean
14. Something you drink: punch
15. A musical group: Pink Floyd (maybe not a group, but the best I could do)
16. An animal: panda
17. A street name: Palmetto
18. A type of car: Porsche
19. The title of a song: Patches (http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4612)

Not Aloud

2009-01-27T19:56:00.003-06:00

Heads and the topic is LOUD. I have a little story about homophones -- those words that sound alike, but have very different meanings and spellings --which cause problems for non-native English speakers and native English speakers alike.

There is a Mexican food restaurant that we love to eat at whenever we are in Albuquerque. One evening as we drove up to the restaurant with its overflowing parking lot, we had to go around behind the building and we thought we spotted a place to park. However when we got the space there was a large sign written by hand stating *NO PARKING ALOUD*. We thought that if we just whispered it would be ok to park there. What do you think?

It Tickled Her Funny Bone & Unconscious Mutterings

2009-01-25T17:08:00.005-06:00

I wouldn't say my life is dull, but it is very routine. We do much the same thing each day of the week. Monday through Friday is work with various things happening to keep us entertained, but nothing all that exciting. We share with each other many of the funny or cute things that happen and because I have shared with him I often forget that some of it would be stuff I could write about here. Here is one such story that I haven't shared with Robert. I'm not sure he would appreciate it.

Yesterday while at a meeting of the Women's Ministry Steering Committee, which I still can't figure out why I'm a member of, Carolyn our leader got a phone call. Now you need to know that Carolyn is a very quiet woman who has one of those sweet soft voices and who is lot of fun while being proper at all times.

When she gets off the phone she begins to laugh and I'm talking laughing to the point of crying. We were a little concerned. I've seen Carolyn laugh before but not like this.

It had been her husband on the phone. He just called to tell her he was going to the store to buy bread. That was it --- She looked at us and asked, "How was I to respond to that?" It tickled her funny bone and ours that he felt it necessary to let her know. We weren't sure if he was asking permission, letting her know he knew were the grocery store was, or if it was his way of chastising her for not having bought bread the day before.

Men -- and they say women are hard to figure out.

The I say :: You think meme

Unwanted :: News

You’d better :: do it now

Woman :: man

Weighed :: rejoice (the scales have gone down the past couple of weeks)
Upright :: piano

I feel :: pretty, oh so pretty and witty and bright
(edited because I have friends who help)

Ill :: sick

It’s like :: you know

Poor man :: rich man

Great :: excellent

Give Me an H

2009-01-22T22:47:00.004-06:00

Annie over at Hootin Anni's posted a little game that sounded like fun. Here is how it goes. You are assigned a random letter of the alphabet. You then post ten things you love that begin with that letter. If you read this blog and want to play leave a comment and I'll give you a random letter. Others read you and comment. You assign the letter and on and on it goes. That simple.

Ten Things That I love That Start with *H*

1. Home – I’m much like Dorothy form the Wizard of Oz who said “There’s no place like home.” The problem I have is deciding exactly where home is. Whenever I’m going to see my parents I say, “I’m going home.” But when I leave them I’m going home also. Home is where I’m comfortable, where I’m loved, where I can be myself.

2. Honey—This is nature’s perfect food. I don't eat honey often, but I do enjoy it with peanut butter on toast.

3. Hot Dogs—This is another favorite food that I don’t indulge in often. I can eat a hot dog any way you want to prepare it. It can be grilled, boiled, nuked, split open and fried (a favorite from my childhood) or even cold from the package (although that is no longer recommended according to the package). I will eat them with a bun or bread. I like mustard, sweet relish, and a bit of chopped onion. Chili and cheese are optional.

4. Honesty—The virtue I look for and expect in people. I don’t think “Honesty is the best policy “ is just a trite saying. I think if more people (especially those in high positions) would take that thought to heart then we all would be better off.

5. Hair—I have good hair, and I’m proud of my hair. I work hard to have stylish hair. Over the years I’ve had many different hair styles from long to short, curly to straight, bobbed to stacked and the current spiky do. Robert is willing to let me do whatever I want with my hair which is probably a good thing since I would have done it anyway.

6. Hope—The hope for the future is something we have heard a lot about lately from politicians, but I think the hope for the future lies with the children of our nation. That is one reason I do my job. The hope for us, for the world, is through education.

7. Happiness—The *H* word that makes me smile. I think that happiness is a state of mind. You can choose to be happy or unhappy. Except for the occasional day when I have a pity party I choose to be happy.

8. Health—I am lucky to have good health. Well, actually Robert and I both have good health and for that I praise God. I have many friends my age that take a handful of pills every morning to regulate all kinds of things from blood pressure to allergies. I do have to take a weekly Fosomax and Robert does take Crestor, but that is it for us. Sure we have slowed down little, heck we are 60 years old, not exactly spring chickens.

9. Helping – I can help. Just give me a call. I’ll offer, but until you ask I’ll pretty well leave you alone. I know there are people who just show up and get the job done. I wish I were one of them, but I’m not. I have tried to change, to become that person, but to no avail.

10. Hydrangeas—A beautiful flower that starts with *H*. I was given a beautiful hibiscus plant by a couple that I helped a couple of years ago. They were broken down on the side of the road, and were walking away from their vehicle. I knew it was a long way to town, they were nicely dressed in a new model vehicle and something in me just said stop. They had run out of gas, couldn’t believe that I had stopped and actually lectured me on the dangers of what I had done. I drove them to a service station where we got gas then back to their vehicle. Two days later a beautiful plant and thank you know were left sitting by my garage. I planted them in a flower bed there at the house and enjoyed them until we moved.

A Day in the Life

2009-01-21T21:05:00.006-06:00

Every once in a while a student will say something that just tickles me. Such was the case on Tuesday.

I work with a group of second graders for about 30 minutes each day and have to rush from them back to a fifth grade group. When it was time for the boys to leave I was rushing them out explaining that I had to get back to the main building to teach a group of fifth graders. At this point on little looked at me and said, "You teach fifth grade too? You must be smart."

Yep, I'm smart enough to teach fifth grade too.

As I was nearing home today, driving through a school zone I saw light flashing behind me and then heard the sierne of a police car. I moved to the far right as he raced by. I pulled back into the left lane to make the turn to go home when I notice the police was turning just one block on up the road, so I did something I don't normally do. I went on down the street and turned behind him. I was curious about what had our local police in such a hurry. I soon found out. There had been a wreck at the corner I needed to turn on to get to my house. There was a car upside down in the ditch right at the corner. I'm not sure how the driver of the car had managed to accomplish that feat, but he had. I had to back track back up the street and take a long way around to the house. By the time I drove back by the ambulance was there. I have no idea if anyone was hurt but it did have all the neighbors out gawking. Gotta love small towns.

I would have walked down and gawked with them, but Robert called about that time and reminded me that I was supposed to be at the house closing. No, we didn't buy a new house, but we did refinance the one we are in. Talk about writer's cramps. I lost count of the number of times I signed my name or initialed but we did get a great rate 4.75 fixed for 20 years.

Then I cooked supper -- yes, I actually cooked a meal. Robert gets a meal at least once a week.
Then off to choir practice. Now a little TV and blogging. Life is good.

Unconscience Mutterings & The Interview

2009-01-17T19:22:00.009-06:00

The I say :: You think meme

Arrival :: departure

Vomit :: puke

Fit :: too tight

Stutter :: stammer

Lifestream :: family

Tread :: lightly

Desire :: lust

Freezing :: cold

Permit :: allow

Crinkle :: wrinkle

THE INTERVIEW

This is a meme where you get to be both the interviewee and the interviewer. I guess it started with Maria at Immoral Matriach, who asked Maggie some questions, who then asked Lou some questions, who asked Julie some questions who then asked me some questions that I've answered below.

1. What is your earliest childhood memory? My earliest childhood memory is the birth of my youngest sister. Well, I don't actually remember her being born and I think the memory is really me wanting my mother. I was three. The memory came more like a dream than a sharp clear picture. I remember being in a dark park. Dark because the sun was blocked by all the big trees. I remember being scared, but it was okay because Daddy was with me. We were looking up at a very large building with dark red bricks and lots of windows. Way up at the top was my mommy. Her blond hair was shining because she was above the trees where the sun was shining and she was waving to me, but she wouldn't come down. That is what I remember. When I described this scene to my mother she said that what I pictured was the old Saint Anthony's Hospital (edited because of Ida's comment) grounds in Amarillo and it was right after Ida was born. At the time children were not allowed in the maternity ward of a hospital and she was holding the new baby up for us to see. I don't remember there being a baby, but I have a very clear image of my mother in that window.

2. What is your dream vacation? Where would you go if you had unlimited funds and were excused from all responsibilities? Wow, unlimited funds and no responsibilities and since you didn't specify I'm going to assume no time limit. I'd start by going back to Ireland and Scotland. There is so much more of those two countries I want to experience. The trip we took in '08 has whet my appetite to see and do more. I would rent a car (and possibly hire a driver just to be safe) and drive everywhere. Stopping where I want, spending as much time as I want in each place, soaking up the beauty of the country and the pace of the people. Then if I hadn't grown weary of travel I would venture back into England, hey it's right there, and do more of the same.

3. Where is your favorite place to be? After pondering this for some time I've actually decided my favorite place to be is home. Yep, right here in my house with my stuff and my stuffy, but lots of fun hubby. We are just a nice fit. We like to do much the same thing. We both love to just sit -- him in front of the TV and me at the computer but we are in close proximity to each other. We comment on what the other is doing. We like to poke around in old shops looking at things from decades before -- too much of which we know what is and have actually owned our used in our lives. We like to travel together, but neither of us has ever suggested a trip without the other --- well, let me correct that we take lots of side trips alone -- me to see the kids, him for the job or Lions. But vacation type travel is always together. And he is a good sport and takes me to things where I get to dress up. My favorite place to be is with Robert. Yes, that's it.

4. Tell me about your favorite book or movie or song or something. The song by Enya Only Time is probably one of my all time favorites. The words, her voice, the music -- it moves me each time I hear it. Actually the entire CD is a favorite. wild child tempus venum one by one -- They are all favorites for different reasons. That being said, I will read about anything you put in my hand, I listen to a variety of genres of music with enthusiasm, and movies are just not my cup of tea, but I'll watch one if you want to.

5. If you were the supreme ruler of the universe, what petty little pet peeve would be a capital crime? And what would be the punishment? (Like, would people who suck their teeth at the table be banished to the outer rings of Pluto? Or maybe people who drive for miles with their left turn signal on might be allowed to only ever make right turns...) SUPREME RULER OF THE UNIVERSE PATSY says if you drag your feet you will be made to walk 100 miles through a maze made with bars set three inches high so you CAN NOT drag your feet. This comes from walking students to and from sessions each day and then being in the hall during class changes. These are elementary kids who are just to lazy to pick their feet up. It drives me crazy!!!

Want to be part of it?

Follow these instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (Patsy adds leave an email address if your not sure I have one all ready or I'll leave your questions in a comment.)

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

and 6. Link to this post and all the previous post.

Haiku Friday -- Grandma and Grandpa's Legacy

2009-01-16T16:25:00.010-06:00

Recently my mother sent a photo of her mother and one of her father. Separate photos taken either shortly before of after they were wed. From those photos sprang these thoughts.

My mother's mother
Beula Elizabeth Deaton
I called her Grandma
My mother's father
He's Henry Alvin Britton
I never met him
Wed 1914
Ten children were born to them
Only eight survived

Auto accident
When Grandpa was 47
Five children still home

Aunts, uncles, cousins
Filled my live for many years
Now in reunions

Sometimes I wonder
Would this family please them
This their legacy

Ghost of Christmas Past or Just a Memory

2009-01-15T15:59:00.007-06:00

I was tagged by Hootin' Anni to participate in a little 6x6 meme. The directions are simple.

1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or where ever you stor your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th folder, then pick the 6th picutre in that folder.
3. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes with the picture.
4. Tag 5 people you know (or don't know) to do the same.
5. Leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

When I opened My Pictures the sixth folder was titled 2006-12-30. Ahh, Christmas 2006.
The sixth picture happened to be one of one of my mostest fovoritest people in the whole world.

Meet Abigail aka Abby and Miss A at age 4. This smiling face is because she is getting to ride with Grammar and Grandpa over to Uncle John's house for Christmas in Sunray. This was one of the first times she had gotten to go with us on a trip more than just a few blocks. I do want to take time to explain that what looks like food on her face is actually a bruise that is in the yellow phase of healing. She had taken a nasty fall a few days before and dinged her chin pretty hard.

We usually spend our Christmases in Amarillo since there and in close by towns is where most of the family resides. In 2006 our second son, John and his wife, were hosting the *clan* for a fish fry, shrimp boil, present opening, made house. When we are all together we number 19 and this Christmas all 19 were going to be there. Yes, fun and noise.

Robert and I stay at my mom and dads whenever we are in Amarillo because they have a large house with two extra bedrooms. The day before we were to head for Sunray for our *clan gathering* it was decided that Abigail would be allowed to ride with us. She was very excited about getting to go in Grammar's car and hopped around wanting to know when starting early that next morning.

When we finally put the car seat over in the suburban and told her to climb aboard she became all grins. We picked up the only other granddaughter, Holliday, and away we went. Holliday was in Amarillo with her mom but was getting to go back to Sunray for the evening to be with her dad and the rest of her family. (I must add here that Kim has always been very generous to let us see Holliday even when it cuts into her time to have her.)

It was a fun trip traveling with them. Holliday was 8 at the time and was just wonderful with Abby. She talked to her and showed her the things she had in a bag she was bringing and in general entertained her for the 6o miles we traveled.

We had a wonderful time that afternoon/evening/night. We didn't leave until late and when we got Abby home she was sound asleep in the car seat, and didn't even wake up when she was taken in the house and put to bed, clothes and all.

And here is a second picture from that Christmas. It shows all 19 of us. This same group will be going on a cuise this summer. Yep, all 19 of us on one big ship. It should be fun.

Now the hard part; to tag five people. Here are five places I like to visit and who know me if not by sight, by site. Tag -- Your it.
Donna
Carrie
Julie
Ida
Jo Ann

It's About a Bottle

2009-01-13T16:54:00.005-06:00

The flip of the coin this week was tails. Freedom to express one's self as desired. The topic or theme is bottle. At first I was going to write an essay on the history of the bottle, but that sounded to much like an assignment in school, and then I was just going to write a little diddy about how I use bottles, but when I began writing the poetry muse that seems to be wanting to express itself had another idea. The following is what happened. Pretty elementary, but I didn't say it was a great muse --- just the one wanting attention right now.

Genie in a bottle,
Message in a bottle,
Capture our imaginations.

Bottle of lotion,
Bottle of shampoo,
Practial things we use.

Bottle of milk,
Perfume in a bottle,
Things for babe and mom.

Bottle of beer,
Soda in a bottle,
One for dad and one for son.

Made of glass,
Made of plastic,
Many shapes and sizes.

New Little Computer Talk

2009-01-12T18:38:00.007-06:00

Here I sit on the couch by hubby, watching TV and typing my blog on the little acer computer I got us for Christmas. Actually I got it for us after Christmas, but in my world that is very much beside the point. I really don't like buying presents for Robert --- I never know what to get him and he really isn't all that exciting a person to give a present to.

I like for the recipient of presents I give to react with joy and glee. I usually put thought into the present -- worrying over it, hoping to get something they will a least appreciate. My girls learned early how to react. Shouts of, "Look what I got!" whether real or fake could be heard along with "Thank you sooooo much." Or just a laugh and a "Look at this." something, some reaction.

Robert doesn't react nor does he even act curious about a gift. If something shows up under the tree for him he doesn't try to figure out what it is or pester anyone about it. It's as if he doesn't care. He says he likes things, and he says, "Thank you." but something is usually just missing.

So back to getting us this little computer. I knew I wanted it so I could sit on the couch and blog or facebook or any other thing I was into if I wanted to. But I also wanted to have a second computer in the house. One that Robert could play free cell, spider or hearts on instead of on the desk top when I'm itching to be on the computer working on photos and other things.

A friend told me about this little computer she had seen that was the size of sheet of paper and only cost about $350. I couldn't believe it -- a laptop for so little. Granted it doesn't have tons of memory or a cazillion things fancy about it. It came with Windows XP and wireless Internet ready. Beyond that not much that I've found, needed or wanted. That may be all it is capable of
doing but for my purposes it is perfect.

For Robert there is hearts, spider and free cell. Yesterday evening he even went on line and found out were the closest Men's Wearhouse is located. I would have been doing that for him if
Little Ace weren't here.

Now back to Robert and reaction on receiving gifts. I've learned with him that he really needs to have something in his possession for a bit before he can appreciate it. He doesn't like to have things thrust upon him and to immediately get into it. This little gift has been well received, but it had to win him over.

Buy him some new clothes and he doesn't have to have a fashion show. Heck, they may hang in the closest for two or three days before he even tries them on.

Such is my life. I want enthusiasm -- I've got Robert.

100 Word Challenge -- March & Unconscious Mutterings

2009-01-11T14:36:00.009-06:00

The 100 Word Challenge word issued by Velvet Verbostity this week comes from A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeliene L’Engle and is March. When I think of March I think of wind. I grew up in the Texas panhandle and I remember standing on the playground with a strong wind blowing, back turned to protect the eyes and hunkering down to protect the legs from the sting of the blowing sand.

March

A gentle March wind stirs
Softly, gently as the lamb
Hope of spring then summer fills the heart
Too long held hostage in winter’s icy grip

A stronger March wind rises
By the breath of lamb and lion.
Tender buds on trees are tossed to and fro
As the air and soul are warmed

Gusty March winds roar
Loudly, furiously as the lion
Blue skies change to the dusty brown
Plunging the soul into despair

March with ever changing winds
From winter’s cold to summer’s heat
The heart and soul are carried along
Never sure of what will be

I say :: You think

Resolution :: ending

Break :: ruin

Tied :: shoestrings

Suffering :: pain

Instead :: option

Slash :: cut

Divorce :: remove from

Cough :: cold

Happy :: elated

Sniffle :: cough

Catching Up

2009-01-10T15:57:00.005-06:00

It is time to write. Not think about writing, not whine about not knowing what to write, not try to impress with writing, but to just write. I have neglected this blog long enough and to my few readers I apologize. Not that I've ever written all that many things to brag about, but I do have a couple of things in the *bank* that I'm really quite proud of. A couple of stories well told, a couple of poems well written and a few really awesome pictures.

First an up-date on Rudy, the fourth grader at our school who had a brain tumor removed shortly before Christmas break. He is now having radiation treatment daily. He is in great spirits and wants to be back at school, but of course the doctors won't let him. To much risk of taking all that is going around in a school with his weakened immune system. He is doing home bound work. The prognosis isn't really all that good. I've heard a couple of numbers but they aren't from truly reliable sources. No one has ever said that this is terminal, but it hangs there filling the air anytime Rudy is mentioned. We still pray for the miracle of life for him. So I guess you could say that right now we are all living in a world of not knowing and denial.

My other friend Winnie has had three rounds of chemo for breast cancer and has one maybe two left. She will be having a mastectomy in about a month and is dreading that. Please pray that God will calm her nerves and bring her through that procedure as he has the chemo. The cancer she has is called HER2. I have no idea what that is and to be honest I don't want to know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Her hair is all gone now, and her hubby shaved his head in total support. That is quite a sight I'm sure. This is a man with wonderful snow white hair and a beard. She didn't mention if he has shaved the beard, note to self, ask about the beard.

Now on a lighter note. I'm sure you all know the term maverick, but are you aware of where it comes from. Yesterday I was teaching a lesson in reading and the paragraph we had to discuss was about the man Sam Maverick. It seems that Sam Maverick was a cattleman/politician here in Texas in the 1800s. The paragraph went on to tell how Maverick didn't brand his cattle because *branding hurt the cattle*. As we read that I thought, "Uh, first of the PETA people. Boy would Robert have a hay day with that one." Of course I didn't say any of that. The term maverick, according to this article, comes from this man who didn't follow the conventional idea of the day. A maverick is also said to be any unbranded cattle found roaming.

Well I had to check this out. I didn't doubt the article about the term maverick coming form Sam Maverick, but it seemed a little far fetched that in the 1800's he didn't brand cattle because it hurt them. Following below is a quote from Wikipedia with the link to the complete article here for those wanting to read all about this man who actually played an active role in Texas history.

Maverick steadfastly refused to brand his cattle. As a result, the word maverick entered the English lexicon, meaning both an unbranded range animal as well as a slang term for someone who exhibits a streak of stubborn independence.[75]
Maverick's stated reason for not branding his cattle was that he didn't want to inflict pain on them.[75] Other ranchers, however, suspected his true motivation was that it allowed him to collect any unbranded cattle and claim them as his own.[75]

So there you have a bit of trivia. Teaching reading is a great source of bits of trivia. Now if I can just remember this tomorrow.

This is a picture of me (at the top in the plaid shirt) with my sisters. I'm not sure of the date. Guess I should have asked Mom. I'm going to say 1959 though since that is the date written above TEXAS.

Tough Choice to Make & Unconscious Mutterings

2009-01-04T16:16:00.004-06:00

The meme of I say :: You think

Confirmation :: affirm

Verse :: chapter

Authorize :: okay

Blog :: write

Thirty :: forty

Heir :: descendant

What are you doing? :: what's up

Complaint :: disgruntled

Leave :: go away

Tune :: song

A Bit of Musing
The news for the Gaza Strip is a bit unsettling. I haven't followed it closely. But I do know there is war, unrest, rioting, murder and mayhem in the Holy Lands right now. That all makes the choice about going in December of this year even harder.

The Holy Lands has never been high on my list of must see places, but I would like to take advantage of the opportunity since it is making itself available.

The people we would be traveling with are all good friends and people we really enjoy.

Money isn't a big issue. We always manage to have what we need when we need it.

But that silly fight (okay silly is my word. I'm sure those who know much more than me would choose a different word) has me nervous about committing to this trip. Should a person plan a trip to a war zone? Should a person be excited about the possibility of putting himself in harms way? I'm going to have to wrestle with this a bit longer.

Tonight we go to the first actual meeting about going. Our pastor is the one putting the trip together. I'm sure he will have much information that can calm the nerves, maybe even persuade me that all will be safe. No money has to be exchanged just yet --- and maybe, hopefully by the time it must be things will be better.

Hope --- And a Resolution

2009-01-03T10:26:00.005-06:00

The theme for this week's is simply hope. I have hope that the bathroom scales will continue to registar a lighter weight each time I step on them. And that has become my New Year's Resolution. I'm determined or resolved to be a slimmer, trimmer, more fit person at some point in 2009.

I got a jump start on the resolution just before Christmas. December 22 I woke up with a nasty stomach bug. At first I thought I didn't feel well because I had imbibed in a few drinks the evening before while celebrating Christmas with two of the boys and their families, but after a bit I knew it was so much more than a slight hangover.

I could stay awake only long enough to get to the bathroom and then right back to bed to sleep. I was that way for a good 36 hours.

After that I was much better. I was able to function in the world of Christmas and enjoy giving and receiving gifts and help Mother prepare food for the holiday feast. But, and this is a happy but, I wasn't interested in eating. All the wonderful sugary foods that usually call my name weren't --- and when I nibbled them they just didn't appeal

So a jump start on what I hope is a down ward trend. :)

Haiku Friday -- Ode on a TV Screen

2009-01-02T08:51:00.007-06:00

(click on the icon for more particiapants)

Ode on a TV Screen

All this week and next
Battles will be won or lost
On hundred yard fields

Twenty-two young men
Eleven make up each force
Face to face in war

Proud parents will watch
Fans will cheer in wild support
Glad to be a part

The prize to be won
Is pride and the right to brag
Now and for all time

That day we were best
Will be told for years to come
Spectaular play

As years in the past
2009 has begun
Football on TV

100 Word Challenge -- Doorway

2009-01-01T17:43:00.004-06:00

After taking a couple of weeks off I've once again created for the challenge from Velvet Verbosity with 100 Words for doorway.

Slowly, I walked down a long, door lined corridor. I was looking for something, some place that I was supposed to be. Each door had a sign on it, but none of them was what I was looking for. On I walked past doorway after doorway stopping briefly at each trying to decide if it was the right one, if it was the one I was supposed to enter. I looked back up the empty hall at all the doors I hadn’t opened. I hesitated on the threshold of the last door then with one hard push I entered.

2008 in Review

2009-01-01T09:24:00.006-06:00

According to my sister over at Losing Myself Thrusday Thirteen has been dicontinued because of an illness in the family. Seems I missed the official blog about that. Miss two weeks and the world changes. Different individuals are picking up the slack and hosting from their sites -- one such place is at jayadee.

I was all ready to post a wonderful Thursday Thirteen, but when I clicked on the link to said meme it wasn't there. That in itself sent my world into a tizzy. I went to a couple of blog sites that I knew usually participated in the TT world hoping to find the link to where ever TT had moved, but to no avail. I can't find it. I Googled it, but to no avail. Where has it gone?

The list I was going to leave is a look at 2008 month by month. I know there are only 12 months so I was going to be one short --- I really feel everyone would be relieved or would have quit reading by month 6 and would never miss the fact that there was no 13 or I would have figured out some happy quirky thing to add for 13.

Since there is no Thursday Thirteen I'm just going to post my list anyway and hope someone stumbles upon it and get a smile from my ramblings.

January -- The Texas Association of Fairs and Events Convention was held in Austin. The highlight of the convention was winning the $5000 ($1250 of which was my share) calcutta raffle. You can read about it here.

February -- Robert and I attend the Junior Service League's annual Charity Ball. We were dressed to kill, as seen here.

March -- I went to Amarillo for a short visit, Robert went to Kerville with the Lions for a work day at the camp and we hosted two young ladies and their sponsor from India. You can read all about March here.

April -- We got the call that Robert's mom was really going down hill and that hospice was being contacted. Of course we traveled to Amarillo to be with family, but traveled back home knowing that Helen's days were going to be short. I attended a Women's Retreat hosted by our church. That was a refreshing time for me. Of course, I blogged about it here. The gripping news that Preston had been in an vehicle accident came right at the end of the month. He has survived and is doing well --- a miracle from God.

May -- I attended the Britton Family Reunion with Mom and Daddy. What fun to visit cousins I hadn't seen in years and then had my sister, Jo and her husband come visit me for my birthday.
And then I went to Albuquerque to visit #2 daughter. It's all recorded here.

June -- The big trip to England, Ireland and Scotland happened the end of June. It was an awesome trip and I've posted about it several times.

July -- Our friends Peter and Mary (or Merih as it is actually spelled) were married and I helped her put her wedding together and then hosted the small reception. Here is an account of that event. Amy came down for a visit, but it was cut short by the passing of Robert's mom.

August -- I don't think I did a blooming thing in August. There is nothing on the calendar that made that month special.

September -- Robert and I went on the Chamber Cruise the sixth through the eleventh. We got back to town just as Ike decided to rev up his strength and head for Galveston. It was an exciting couple of days as we waited for --- well were we are -- nothing.

October -- I started by tutoring job, helped Robert (very little this year) with the Rice Festival Parade, and attended the Women of Faith conference. Just check out the month of October for blogs about all of those.

November -- The highlight of this month was the trip to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving. What fun we had. I recorded part of it here.

December -- This month has just past. I was busy all month, doing what I'm not sure. I went to practices for handbells and choir and participated in the programs each performed. I hosted a small Christmas gathering for the leadership team, and I had Christmas with my family. It was a wonderful month.

There you have it a quick look at the year just past. We were blessed in many ways. Robert and I are both in good health, we both have jobs that are secure, and we have a wonderful friends around us and family we love. All I can say is, "Life is good. Yes, life is good."

Wordless Wednesday -- When the Present's Just Right

2008-12-31T08:07:00.002-06:00

Watch --- a little poem

2008-12-30T17:35:00.007-06:00

Somewhere it says *better late than never*. That is what my blog is today; late. When the coin was flipped it came up heads and the topic/theme is watch. There are many times in life when all we can do is watch.

WATCH by Patsy

Watch
A tiny baby smiles

Watch
I don't need your help

Please watch
I will make you laugh

Don't watch
This is embarrassing

Watch
I'm going to get it right

Watch
I'll wear this white dress

Watch
I can't stop the pain

Watch
Life is much to short

Watch
It's all a mom can do

You'll Always Be My Baby

2008-12-29T03:38:00.010-06:00

I've been catching up on blog reading and was over at Secret Agent Mama where she had posted a lovely letter to her youngest, her now 2 year old son. Today, one day later than her wee one's birthday, is my baby's birthday.

Amy was a huge surprise to me. I thought I was through having babies when I found out I was pregnant with her. I'm glad I wasn't. She has filled my life with so many happy, exciting and wonderful moments.

We love to tease her. She has always been so trusting and gullible that jokes were easy to pull on her. But though she might storm and rant for a few moments, she also smiled and joined in the fun quickly.

There are many Amy stories to tell. How the puppy English bulldog treed her when she was 5, or how she had her sister order her a Guadalajara (a chalupa made only with guacamole) but hold the guacamole. How when she was in kindergarten she got an F on a paper because she chose to not follow the directions (What's the big deal if the teacher says use red and blue and you use black and orange because that is the school colors?). And scary funny that I heard about -- asking Donna how to drive around a curve while actually driving down the highway approaching a rather dangerous curve at full speed. The list could go on, but each story always end with me loving you more, with me being blessed because you are in my life.

All your successes: hitting a home run in softball, being in the *Olympics of the Mind*, being a cheerleader, being the best welder in shop class, being 2nd runner up in the Miss something, something Fair, running cross country, playing basketball, being annual editor, raising that silly pig, finishing college in 3 1/2 years, getting your teaching degree, and giving birth to two wonderful children. I know I have left many things out, things that were important at the time, things that helped make you who you are today.

Now you are a grown woman, one I am so very proud of. Working as a pre-school teacher with 4 year olds, being Mom to A and B and wife to Dave, being active in your church and having a gift for scrap booking the most simple yet beautiful photo albums. (Don't scoff people, it isn't as easy as it sounds.)

Happy Birthday, Amy. I hope you have a wonderful day. And as you start living year 34 of your life (yes, you just turned 33 which means you are starting on year 34) I hope you can continue to reach the goals you have set for yourself.

Always
My

Youngin'

To Bow or Not to Bow

2008-12-18T21:03:00.006-06:00

The other night with the group of women here one of the ladies commented on the stack of presents I had arranged under the window in the dining room. (They were just stacked there, because I don't have a tree up to put them under.) She said she liked the old fashion paper I had used and the fact that I did not have bows on the packages.

I explained that all the presents had to be packed in the car to carry with us to Amarillo for the holidays and bows always just got smashed or knocked off. So I had learned they were a waste of time when they had to travel.

She went on to explain that in her family they never put bows on presents, but that her husband's family always had the fancy paper and fancy bows on theirs. She said she wasn't used to all the paper and bow fuss even after 30 years, but she was getting better at it.

That go me to thinking about Christmases past. I've done packages many ways. Some years the bows were more important than the present in the package. I spent hours making fancy ribbon bows in colors to co ordinate with the paper. Other years I have just wrapped the present and stuck a tacky star bow on them. The past few years since we travel with presents *across the river and through the woods* to the grandchildrens' house I've gotten away from bows entirely.

How about you? Do you use bows? Do you make your own or buy them? Are your presents all color coordinated with ribbons and bows? Or is the pile under your tree a menagerie of paper, star bows, pretty shiny paper with pretty ribbons and the every popular Christmas bags with tissue poking out the top?

Post script about Rudy. Today Rudy visited the school. It was good to see him up and about, but it broke my heart to hear the report that was given after he left. He will be receiving radiation and chemo treatment. The cancer is advanced, the prognosis not good. Please continue to pray for him and his family. They are people of strong faith who know that God will answer their prayer how He knows it should be answered.

I'll Get 'Round Tuit, Really I Will

2008-12-16T20:15:00.010-06:00

Tuesday and time for a flip of the coin. Ahhh, heads and the topic is "anything round." Round like a ball? Round like a circle? What thoughts come to mind?

Does 'round toit? Pictured on the left is a 'round tuit' offered on line for a mere $25.11.

Boy could I have used this a few zillion times in my life. Like just about everyday. I'm a procrastinator -- the one who puts things off until crunch time. I have very good intentions. I plan to get things done but I find that many times I just don't get 'round tuit. If I only had one of these coins things could have/would be so different.

The round tuit seems to have played an important part in history also, as evidenced by the following copied articles.

Egyptian Round Tuit History
A long time ago, in ancient Egypt…
Procrastination is not a modern problem - even in the time of the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, people found it hard to get things done.
Take Queen Neffatuit, for example. She would put off even the most trivial of tasks, but the great Pyramid of Neffatuit must be her most famous legacy.
Such was the concern at the time that the great pyramid would not be completed, a beautiful gold plaque was crafted and given to her for her 40th birthday. This round ‘Tuit’ was a sign from her people and her son, Tuitkharmen, that she needed to pull her finger out and finish the project. The completed pyramid stands as a reminder to all that procrastination can affect us all - but can be overcome with the right help.
Over 3,000 years later, the gold round ‘Tuit’ that had been presented to Queen Neffatuit was discovered in a hidden tomb at the Valley Of The Kings. Now you can own a beautiful miniature of the round ‘Tuit’ that helped a famous Egyptian overcome her procrastination.

Roman Round Tuit History
A long time ago, in Roman Britain...
Meet Procrastinatus. He was a Roman, who lived in Britain some two thousand years ago.
Although many things were different with life in those times, Procrastinatus had one thing in common with many of us today - he liked to put things off.
"Why do it today, when it can be done tomorrow?", he asked.
There was one particular task which Procrastinatus would not do for several years, much to the distress of his wife - fix the under-floor heating. In fact, after a couple of freezing winters, she was so fed up she was ready to pack her bags and return to Rome.
Finally, Procrastinatus saw sense and repaired the heating system.
His wife was so pleased she had a special, round, bronze plaque commissioned to thank him for finally getting around to it.
And so, nearly 2,000 years later the Round Tuit was discovered at an archeological dig in Somerset, England, alongside a rather splendid (but obviously lifted and repaired) mosaic floor.

King Arthur & the Knights Of the Round Tuit
In Medieval times, the legendary King Arthur had assembled twelve chivalrous knights of the realm to protect the kingdom from evil and harm. Unfortunately, there were two problems within the ranks: infighting over status, and chronic procrastination.
Thus, King Arthur asked the wizard Merlin to fashion a finely crafted, large round table (known as a Round Tuit) to be used for the assemblage of the twelve knights. The round table ensured that no single knight sat at the head of the table and, being a Round Tuit, it also stood as a symbolic reminder to go out and get the job done.
Later, as the knights ventured further from Camelot, King Arthur had twelve gold medallions minted, depicting the Round Tuit, and reminding each knight of his duty to never falter.
The medallions also showed King Arthur and the twelve knights of the Round Tuit. As time passed, the medallions themselves became known as ‘Round Tuits’ – to serve as a reminder to get around to it and complete the task in hand.

Yes, if I had only had a 'round tuit' earlier in my life I wonder where I would be today?

Ramblings From *While You're Up*