A is for Apple or Abigail

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

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.

And That's the Way the Ball Bounces

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.)

The Joys of a Pedicure

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.

Not Aloud

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's About a Bottle

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.

Watch --- a little poem

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

I'll Get 'Round Tuit, Really I Will

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?

And So I Wait

This is normally my day to participate in Heads or Tails but today I just can't get my head around the topic so I'm going to leave it be this week.

Instead I'm waiting. I'm waiting along with all the teachers I work with to hear the results of the brain surgery that one of our fourth grade students has/is undergoing. We probably won't hear anything until in the morning.

This child went home from school early on Friday complaining of a headache. As the story goes on Sunday he told his mom he still had the headache and couldn't see out of his left eye (or it could have been the right eye I'm sure it matters to the doctors, but not to my tale). His mom took him in to their local doctor on Monday morning. Monday evening he was admitted to Texas Children's Hospital in Galveston and there the family received confirmation that he has a brain tumor.

He was taken to surgery at 12:00 noon. We were told by family members that the surgery would last from 3 to 8 hours depending on many variables. So I wait a minor player in this child's life but as a major player in the prayers that have been said for him, his surgeons, and his family.

Please, if you pray put Rudy and his family on your prayer list. This is one of those sweet, conscientious students who has a ready smile and a willing spirit to attempt whatever is assigned him.

A Time to Shine

... the topic this week is Shine and it's heads, freedom to be creative.



When I saw the word for this week's HOT I instantly thought of a song I learned in Sunday School many years ago, one that I try to live by now. The words are simple and repetative, but the message is strong:

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm going to let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? NO, I'm going to let it shine
Hide it under a bushel? No, I'm going to let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

The song goes on with "Won't let satan blow it out" and ends with "Let it shine 'til Jesus comes."

What a wonderful thought. To be able to live so that others can see the light of Jesus in us shining through in all situations. To know that satan doesn't stand a chance against Him. I know I fall short many times, but the light is always there. I just have to trust Him to help me make ti brighter.

As we enter the Christmas season, I hope you can pause for just a moment when you feel your light is not shining and refocus on Christ and the light that he brought into the world at his birth;
the hope He gives us in troubled times.

Merry Christmas.

Day 25 Hands Can Do So Many Things

When the coin was flipped it came up heads and the topic is hand(s). Anything you can do with your hand(s). Heads means freedom to write whatever/however you feel inspired to about the topic. When I taught one of the writing exercises I had my students do was list verbs about a noun then put them into verse to form a poem. Here is my attempt at that assignment.

Hand Can Do Many Things

Hands can do many things
Applaud a job well done
Sooth a fevered brow
Point out the right way

Hands can do many things
Stir a dough for cookies
Paint a beautiful portrait
Swat the bottom of a wayward child

Hands can do many things
Dial a phone to just say, "hello"
Type a message full of news
Write a love note never sent

Hands can do many things
Wipe away all kinds of tears
Snap a warning loud and clear
Clench in rage at injustice

Hands can do many things.


Something Extra

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Ordinary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Day 18 An Autumn Memory for Heads or Tails

Heads -- An Autumn Memory

Go back in time to when our oldest son, Gene, is a senior in high school. He plays tight end or wide receiver for the local high school team. He's good. A tall, lanky boy. Full of himself and willing to put it all on the line for his team.

Dad and step mom (me) were at every game. We traveled all over the Texas panhandle usually dragging three not so enthusiastic daughters with us. We sat on cold metal bleachers during pouring rain, icy cold winds, blowing snow, and beautiful nights with full moons so close they could have been hit by a soaring footfall. We drank hot chocolate that was just barely warm, ate soggy hot dogs, and lots of candy from concession stands. And we cheered, often not being able to talk above a whisper on Saturday.

We won district, bi-district, regionals and went on to quarter-finals before being defeated. It is the regional game that I remember best. The opponents are the Hornets. My old high school. I want this game more than any other game they have played. A day or two before the game I talk to Gene and tell him how much a win would mean to me personally. He gave me a slow grin and said, "It's yours."

It was a close game. I don't remember the exact score (I'm sure Robert or Gene do.) but at half time I went across the field to visit with some old high school friends who had sons playing. I told Susan that we were going to win. Gene was going to see to it. We laughed about it and I returned to my seat for the second half. And on one of the prettiest pass plays I've ever witnessed Gene ran way down the field, stretched out his full length, pulled the ball in and landed on his stomach with the ball in the end zone to win the game.

Those were awesome autumn days. Cheering for the Bobcats, for Gene, at all those games.

Autumn is still football, I just don't go sit on those cold bleachers anymore.

Day 12 Heads or Tail Should I Wear This or That?

Head or Tails is supposed to be posted on Tuesday; I forgot. So here it is a day late. This week was, well Heads or Tails. Writers choice of either wear or where. Or if I understand the directions, both. I choose wear.

What to wear is always a delimma for me. I pride myself on being appropriately dressed for most occasion. This is sometimes hard because I don't always know what would be appropriate.

Can anyone tell me for sure what dressy casual is. That is the dress recommendation that came on the invitation to the company Christmas party a couple of years ago. I decided that it meant that Robert should wear a jacket with a nice knit tee or an open collar sport shirt. Definitely no tie. For me it was harder. I finally put on a pair of slacks (casual) with nicer fine gage knit Christmas sweater with sequins and heels (dressy). That was pretty much what everyone was wearing.

Another suggested dress that leave lots of room for interpertation is just the word casual when going to a just about anything. Does that mean jeans and a tee shirt or does that mean nicer slacks and a funky little jacket?

According to Robert I tend to over think all what I wear. He says just put something on and let's go.

Do I always get it right and wear the right thing? No, but most of the time I err on the side of being over dressed rather than under dressed and for me that is a good thing.

Here are Robert and I dancing onboard a cruise ship. We were wearing the appropriate clothing and having a wonderful time.

Day 4 Heads -- About the Crossing Guard

I join memes because I find them fun and because they give me ideas for things to blog about. I'm not the most creative person around when it comes time to write, but is you give me an assignment or an idea I can usually run with it. So the Tuesday meme that I've found to be interesting in called Heads or Tails. This is a Heads week and the prompt is Guard. On a Heads week the writer can actually let her *guard* down and write or demonstrate the prompt in any manner chosen. As I contemplated guard the school crossing guard came to mind.

Do any of you happen to remember these metal crossing guards that school used way back when. I remember, in the small town where I grew up, there was one placed in the street each morning and afternoon by the janitor, I believe, during my elementary school days. It reminded drivers to slow down and showed us where it was safe to cross the road. I don't remember having to cross that road very often. And for me there was a wee bit of a sense of envy of those who did cross by that magical metal man who kept them safe. To get to our house we just stayed on the same side of the street that the school was on and walked f o r e v er (I'm sure it wasn't as far as I thought it was). I don't think these type signs are used much any more -- or at least not here where I am.

However, each morning on my way to work I pass through a school zone. At the traffic light in the middle of this zone is a crossing guard. This woman is there every morning and every afternoon with her stop sign. There have been many times I have stopped at a red light and watched her walk to the center of the street holding her sign then motion to the group of three or four students waiting on the corner to come across. When the students are all on the far side of the road she makes her way back to her side to wait for the next group. Most times the children are across and she is back on the curb before the light changes, but there have been times when the group of children is large that she has actually had to walk back after the light for those waiting with me has turned green. I wonder if she ever feels fear of a car not staying stopped. I wonder if she would like to have that metal policeman standing there to help protect her. I wonder what it would be like to be the crossing guard for a school on a busy street.

And He Slept - Nevermore

The theme this week for head or tails is a scary story. I know this scared my hubby into believing in ghost.
A True Ghost Story

About nine years ago we lived in the little town of Canadian, Texas, in a charming (equivalent of little) house built in the early 1940s. This house came with a basement. Old, steep wooden stairs cut the basement into two sections. At the bottom of the stairs was a landing and you had to turn right to go two more steps into the basement. It was always dark and damp down there no matter what we did to lighten and dry it.

The first time my #2 daughter came to visit, a couple of months after we had moved in, she ventured into the basement for a look around. She returned very quickly and stated matter-of-factly that we had a ghost down there. I was unaware of her having any ability to detect the paranormal so the hubby and I just laughed it off. She was adamant, however, and refused to ever go back down those stairs.

We did find out several weeks later that the original owner of the house, who suffered from bouts of deep depression, had committed suicide in the basement.

Fast forward about 3 months. I had gone on an overnight trip leaving hubby at home. Now hubby can sometimes snore with the best of them. He has been known to loosen ceiling plaster when he gets into it, and on this paticular night he must have been going like a buzz saw in a lumber mill --- that is until he felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice exclaim, "Hey, Bud, you're keeping us awake."

He said he was instantly awake and saw a figure fade away as his eyes flew open. He also says he didn't snore anymore that night because he didn't sleep anymore -- that night.

We never had any other encounter with our "ghost". I have no idea if he/they left or we just never bothered them anymore. But the fact that hubby was visited has made a firm believer of him that ghost do exist and that they don't like someone snoring any better than the rest us.