Thursday, February 28, 2008
Leap Day
I had not realized that it was Leap Year until Toby mentioned it the other day. When I told Jesse she could ask someone to marry her, she did not understand. So I googled Leap Year, and sure enough, there is an old tradition, even a Scottish law that says a woman can propose to a man on Leap Day. And they are suppose to say yes. So all you single women who have been waiting around for Mr. Right to pop the question, now is your chance.
Comic Relief
With Toby and Jesse both trying to get off to work in the mornings we stick to a routine that works well for everyone. Toby showers and gets his bathroom business done before Jesse gets up. Then we have a cup of coffee together and discuss our plans for the day, while Jesse showers. She tends to hog the bathroom the rest of the morning. I fix their breakfast or lunches or both while they get dressed. Sometimes I have to iron a shirt or something, but I try to get that done during the day while they are at work. Toby leaves the house first, and then Jesse leaves about twenty minutes later. I get on the computer and relax with my coffee and morning reads.
This morning, during our coffee time, I was planning their lunches. I mentioned to Toby that I had some leftovers from supper (I had made a new concoction with green-chili enchilada sauce and hamburger. It had not worked out quite like I had expected, but it was tasty). I was about to ask him if he wanted the leftovers for lunch, but he said, "You mean that wasn’t Alpo?" Those of you, who know me, know my reaction. I believe I said something like, "So much for your breakfast or lunch." Toby just hooted. He had gotten the rise out of me that he had been aiming for.
I got up to let the little dog out and the big dog in, since both were whining at the door. Jesse was coming out of the bathroom as Zoe Dog came in. Jesse said, "Oh, hello, big dog!" Then she looked at me and said, "I was talking to Zoe, not you." Another direct hit! She laughed and laughed at her joke. I live with two comedians.
A
fter Toby and I get out of bed, we immediately throw the covers over the pillows,because if we don't, the dogs will be in the sheets. I make the bed later - after the dogs take a little morning nap.
This morning, during our coffee time, I was planning their lunches. I mentioned to Toby that I had some leftovers from supper (I had made a new concoction with green-chili enchilada sauce and hamburger. It had not worked out quite like I had expected, but it was tasty). I was about to ask him if he wanted the leftovers for lunch, but he said, "You mean that wasn’t Alpo?" Those of you, who know me, know my reaction. I believe I said something like, "So much for your breakfast or lunch." Toby just hooted. He had gotten the rise out of me that he had been aiming for.
I got up to let the little dog out and the big dog in, since both were whining at the door. Jesse was coming out of the bathroom as Zoe Dog came in. Jesse said, "Oh, hello, big dog!" Then she looked at me and said, "I was talking to Zoe, not you." Another direct hit! She laughed and laughed at her joke. I live with two comedians.
A
fter Toby and I get out of bed, we immediately throw the covers over the pillows,because if we don't, the dogs will be in the sheets. I make the bed later - after the dogs take a little morning nap.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Hidden Garbage
Rather than garage sales, or estate sales, it is popular here in OK to have auctions. There are several auction companies that come in and organize sales for a percentage of the take. Most of the time the auctions are dealing with older people who are downsizing, maybe moving from the farm to town or to a rest home. Many times someone has died and the family hires the auction company to take care of the estate. One time, we went to one of these auctions way out in the country. The house was an old trailer house with a couple of old sheds surrounding it. All were full of furniture and junk. The auction company had placed other sale items in long rows in the yard. The amount of junk and the size of the house were so disproportional that it made me sick. Seriously, I could hardly breathe. Here was this person’s life laid out on the lawn with people milling about looking through it. Every jar and tupper-ware bowl, every clothes pin, every gift sack and wrapping paper, every piece of useless junk imaginable was there – saved for what purpose? It was overwhelming to me. I told Toby, "When I die, please don’t lay my life on the front lawn for everyone to see."
On the one hand this made me want to go home and get rid of junk around my house, but some of you might recognize that this has a deeper spiritual meaning. I certainly recognized it. Along with the physical need to clean out my life (get rid of the unnecessary junk), came the realization that I need to clean out the spiritual junk too. The garbage that we hide from others – the hate, the envy, the bitterness, the procrastination, the laziness, the busybody, the spite, the guile, the malice, etc. all needs to be thrown out. If you don’t rid yourself of these things, they will be shown to the world someday. What is in your heart will be laid bare. You may think you have it well hidden or even controlled, but it comes out your mouth and maybe your nose.
Alison, over at the Lollipop Tree, posted about moving her mother, also. She mentioned the sentimental things that she kept for her mother – storing them away because she could not part with them. She had this great line about keeping things for her mother: after all, she kept them for so many years it would be like a slap in the face to just dispose of them...
I understand perfectly. Some things are of value. So much of Mom’s house was the letters, the history, and the sentimental and precious things. It was difficult to go through those things. I, too have those things in my home. But we do need to stop every once in a while and go through the garbage that we hang on to - thinking that someday we might use it again – like the 26 plastic butter dishes with lids. If we don’t clean out our junk, someone will have to someday. Sometimes I envy Buck with his RV and movable life.
On the one hand this made me want to go home and get rid of junk around my house, but some of you might recognize that this has a deeper spiritual meaning. I certainly recognized it. Along with the physical need to clean out my life (get rid of the unnecessary junk), came the realization that I need to clean out the spiritual junk too. The garbage that we hide from others – the hate, the envy, the bitterness, the procrastination, the laziness, the busybody, the spite, the guile, the malice, etc. all needs to be thrown out. If you don’t rid yourself of these things, they will be shown to the world someday. What is in your heart will be laid bare. You may think you have it well hidden or even controlled, but it comes out your mouth and maybe your nose.
Alison, over at the Lollipop Tree, posted about moving her mother, also. She mentioned the sentimental things that she kept for her mother – storing them away because she could not part with them. She had this great line about keeping things for her mother: after all, she kept them for so many years it would be like a slap in the face to just dispose of them...
I understand perfectly. Some things are of value. So much of Mom’s house was the letters, the history, and the sentimental and precious things. It was difficult to go through those things. I, too have those things in my home. But we do need to stop every once in a while and go through the garbage that we hang on to - thinking that someday we might use it again – like the 26 plastic butter dishes with lids. If we don’t clean out our junk, someone will have to someday. Sometimes I envy Buck with his RV and movable life.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Pac Man
My dad was a creature of habit. He was as predictable as the tide. Sometimes he surprised us, but not often. The structure of his life made for strong memories. It wasn’t just his radio setting on a shelf. It was the radio he listened to every morning while drinking his coffee, reading the paper, and smoking a cigarette. What do we do with it now? My brother and I laughed as we thought about how Dad would have taken this move. There would have been lots of coffee breaks and lots of "thinking" about what we would do next and how best to do it.
He was a letter writer. He wrote letters to everyone – most hand written, but sometimes typed on his old manual typewriter. He never made the switch to a computer. What a blogger he would have made! He would send clippings out of newspapers – anything that he thought was interesting. He would often write a short note on the clipping – sometimes not. Sometimes he sent the whole newspaper and you had to search for what he had found interesting. He was also a packrat – saving lots of those letters and clippings. Most of his collection of clippings and letters had to do with history, family or friends. What do you do with stuff like that? Some of it is pretty awesome stuff. Some of it is silly.
He often made copies of the clippings and made notes on the copies and sent them to everyone he thought would be interested. He copied old photos and wrote out the story explaining the photo. He was the family historian and his collection is priceless. But what do we do with this stuff now? I guess I need to make an album...
Jesse took these photos one of my grandfather’s military papers (the Bernecker papers) and one of things Dad kept for whatever reason – like the letters that I wrote back to him. I don’t know if my brothers wrote letters to Dad, but there were lots of my old letters. I can’t believe he saved letters from a silly little girl. 
Better Late than Never
My blogging is getting later and later these days. Between chores, art, and phone calls, real life sometimes takes over. Just reading all my favorite blogs takes up lots of time. I will get to my post. I promise.
Monday, February 25, 2008
And the Walls Came Down
In Biblical times, cities built walls to keep the enemy out. Take a look at Buck’s photos to get the idea of how strong the walls were and how they were used. The Bible has stories of the Israelites rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem upon their return to the city after being enslaved by Babylon. The Israelites worked on the walls day and night often with tools in one hand and a sword in the other. Walls were important for defense.
I’m not going to say that the move this weekend was easy. It went smoothly in the physical sense. My brothers and sister were great to work with.
My cousin Patti, who was my best friend growing up and maid of honor in my wedding, came to help. 
We all worked hard and had lots of laughs. Yes, there were some tears. My sister, Kathy, broke down when she saw Dad’s shoe-shine kit. I understood perfectly - Dad used to shine his shoes and us kid’s shoes getting us ready for church or school. It was a kit he had made himself. There were some things Mom wanted to throw out, but we could not part with - like the rocker that is older than all us siblings. There were no serious fights over any of the stuff. I did tease Kathy (the baby) that she could not have anything that Mom and Dad acquired before she was born, and that they had not bought much after she was born. At one point Kathy and I were digging through a drawer with all sorts of junk and lots of loose dominoes. I found the boxes for the dominoes and told Kathy that we should check to see if there were full sets - if not, we should throw them out. I collected white dominoes while she collected black. I found all but one domino for my set. With double meaning she said, “Looks like you are one domino short of a full set.” We both laughed until we had tears. Then I pointed out that she was several dominoes short of a full box, and we laughed some more.
The “not so easy part” was the decision making - what was to be kept, what was to be thrown out, what went in the garage sale, etc. It was also hard on Mom to get going, she just couldn’t seem to get started and make decisions. Although she was excited about her new house, and knows this to be a good move, the whole job of moving, the getting started, was just overwhelming. She had been sick recently and was still not up to par. Being the donkey that I am, I just start working and keep at it until the job is done. My sister is much the same, and we dove in.
We started packing things to be moved and stacking “garage sale” items in the living room. We threw out anything that we thought was just garbage. My brothers and Toby were great and just jumped in too. 
Toby pointed out that it was obvious that my Dad had put in lots of time on my brothers because they looked around for what needed to be done and they did it without lots of questions or standing around.
Sometimes Mom did not agree with our decisions - several times we “discussed” decisions - sometimes she dug in the trash for something we had thrown out. Sometimes her decisions seemed just stubborn and unreasonable. It got where no one wanted to ask her if they could have something or keep something or throw something out for fear of making her mad.
Example: my brother wanted an old stove that had set outside for years. It had no sentimental value to us, but he said he had a friend named Buck (look closely at the photo) who restores old stoves and would love to have the stove. My brother was afraid to ask Mom for the stove because she had been so obstinate on some of her decisions. We had one of those “you ask her, no, you ask her” moments. Craig finally asked her and she said no, she wanted that stove. I pointed out the reasons why Craig wanted it and how someone could make this a nice, useful stove again. Her answer, “I painted that stove twice.” I kept my mouth shut, but my thoughts were, “What the hell does that mean?” which was pretty much the way I was feeling about most of her decisions. When I start cussing, it is a sure sign that my walls are crumbling.
Sunday afternoon my walls were pretty much down.
We finished moving things from the old house and went through the store house. Then we headed to the new house. While we unpacking at the new house, Toby asked if I was hungry, did I want something to eat, and I nearly broke down. Was I hungry? Should I stop and go eat? Should I stay and help Mom put away things in the new house? It seemed every decision I was making was wrong and I was just making Mom mad. She seemed so needy and yet she seemed so angry. So I stopped and went to eat with Toby. I cussed and repented. Then I decided that it was time for me to go home and let Mom fix her own house for a while. I will go back next weekend for the garage sale and help again. We all need to rest. She needs to adjustment. And I need to rebuild my walls. 
I’m not going to say that the move this weekend was easy. It went smoothly in the physical sense. My brothers and sister were great to work with.
My cousin Patti, who was my best friend growing up and maid of honor in my wedding, came to help. 
We all worked hard and had lots of laughs. Yes, there were some tears. My sister, Kathy, broke down when she saw Dad’s shoe-shine kit. I understood perfectly - Dad used to shine his shoes and us kid’s shoes getting us ready for church or school. It was a kit he had made himself. There were some things Mom wanted to throw out, but we could not part with - like the rocker that is older than all us siblings. There were no serious fights over any of the stuff. I did tease Kathy (the baby) that she could not have anything that Mom and Dad acquired before she was born, and that they had not bought much after she was born. At one point Kathy and I were digging through a drawer with all sorts of junk and lots of loose dominoes. I found the boxes for the dominoes and told Kathy that we should check to see if there were full sets - if not, we should throw them out. I collected white dominoes while she collected black. I found all but one domino for my set. With double meaning she said, “Looks like you are one domino short of a full set.” We both laughed until we had tears. Then I pointed out that she was several dominoes short of a full box, and we laughed some more.The “not so easy part” was the decision making - what was to be kept, what was to be thrown out, what went in the garage sale, etc. It was also hard on Mom to get going, she just couldn’t seem to get started and make decisions. Although she was excited about her new house, and knows this to be a good move, the whole job of moving, the getting started, was just overwhelming. She had been sick recently and was still not up to par. Being the donkey that I am, I just start working and keep at it until the job is done. My sister is much the same, and we dove in.
We started packing things to be moved and stacking “garage sale” items in the living room. We threw out anything that we thought was just garbage. My brothers and Toby were great and just jumped in too. 
Toby pointed out that it was obvious that my Dad had put in lots of time on my brothers because they looked around for what needed to be done and they did it without lots of questions or standing around.Sometimes Mom did not agree with our decisions - several times we “discussed” decisions - sometimes she dug in the trash for something we had thrown out. Sometimes her decisions seemed just stubborn and unreasonable. It got where no one wanted to ask her if they could have something or keep something or throw something out for fear of making her mad.
Example: my brother wanted an old stove that had set outside for years. It had no sentimental value to us, but he said he had a friend named Buck (look closely at the photo) who restores old stoves and would love to have the stove. My brother was afraid to ask Mom for the stove because she had been so obstinate on some of her decisions. We had one of those “you ask her, no, you ask her” moments. Craig finally asked her and she said no, she wanted that stove. I pointed out the reasons why Craig wanted it and how someone could make this a nice, useful stove again. Her answer, “I painted that stove twice.” I kept my mouth shut, but my thoughts were, “What the hell does that mean?” which was pretty much the way I was feeling about most of her decisions. When I start cussing, it is a sure sign that my walls are crumbling.Sunday afternoon my walls were pretty much down.
We finished moving things from the old house and went through the store house. Then we headed to the new house. While we unpacking at the new house, Toby asked if I was hungry, did I want something to eat, and I nearly broke down. Was I hungry? Should I stop and go eat? Should I stay and help Mom put away things in the new house? It seemed every decision I was making was wrong and I was just making Mom mad. She seemed so needy and yet she seemed so angry. So I stopped and went to eat with Toby. I cussed and repented. Then I decided that it was time for me to go home and let Mom fix her own house for a while. I will go back next weekend for the garage sale and help again. We all need to rest. She needs to adjustment. And I need to rebuild my walls. 
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Move
Toby and I took the horse trailer to WF on Friday morning. My sister was already in WF due to her work schedule. My sister and I started packing while Toby did some work at the new house – shelf building and such. 
The Move started in earnest. My little brother and his family live in WF and were able to start helping soon after they got off work on Friday. My big brother showed up Friday night. 
All four siblings together to move Mom – pretty wild! Jes wanted to put a caption on this photo - "Ain't gonna fit."
Saturday we hit it hard all day long. The weather was very cooperative. We worked all day and came home late last night. Later, I will write more on my thoughts of the move, but know that we "got ‘er done." There were some intense moments and some tears, but for the most part things went well.
Jesse showed up and was a ray of sunshine as was my niece who turned 13 on Friday. Jesse took the camera and made some memory photos, some artsy photos, and some just plain silly photos. You can go to her blog and check them out when she gets them posted. She let me post a few to show you how the day went, and I may post more photos later. This morning we are headed back to WF to do some unpacking and clean up work.
The Move started in earnest. My little brother and his family live in WF and were able to start helping soon after they got off work on Friday. My big brother showed up Friday night. 
All four siblings together to move Mom – pretty wild! Jes wanted to put a caption on this photo - "Ain't gonna fit."Saturday we hit it hard all day long. The weather was very cooperative. We worked all day and came home late last night. Later, I will write more on my thoughts of the move, but know that we "got ‘er done." There were some intense moments and some tears, but for the most part things went well.
Jesse showed up and was a ray of sunshine as was my niece who turned 13 on Friday. Jesse took the camera and made some memory photos, some artsy photos, and some just plain silly photos. You can go to her blog and check them out when she gets them posted. She let me post a few to show you how the day went, and I may post more photos later. This morning we are headed back to WF to do some unpacking and clean up work.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Past Posts
Toby is taking tomorrow off and we are going to WF to start the packing and moving process at my Mom's house. I may not have much time to blog, but I wanted to tell you that tomorrow is my blogOversary. I have been blogging for three years. Part of my purpose in starting a blog was to keep up with the world of computers and internet. Although I have learned much in my three years, I am still not a computer techie. But that is okay, I have enjoyed my blogging. The journaling has been an unexpected treat. I really enjoy going back and reading earlier blogs and being reminded of past moments. The biggest treat has been making blogger friends. I thank each one of my readers and commenters for their friendship and input into my blog and into my life. You make blogging worthwhile.
I thought I would share some funny stories from that first year of blogging. Most of my early blogs had to do with farm life and construction. Here are a few posts:
Ground Breaking March 12, 2005
Today we are breaking ground on our new house on our new land. We have bought 75 acres not to far from where we live now. The land has a large pond and lots of pecan trees. We are building a "studio" (or as my husband says "the shack") first. We will live in the studio for a while and build the "big house" later. I am just so happy because it will be mine to build as I want, and I do love to build. There is just something about swinging a hammer and putting things together - very satisfying. I am a framer at heart. Unfortunately, my husband thought I was a farmer. We have spent the last 8 years on large parcels of land doing large farming along with our ranching. Going round and round on a tractor does not take a rocket scientist. Although farming has provided me with lots of funny stories, I won't miss it. This piece of land is plenty big for all my critters and a few cows and horses, but I won't have to go round and round anymore - famous last words.
Funny things April 2005
I have heard people say that they would probably get a divorce if they had to work with their spouses on this or that - like building a house. Even Toby and I have our moments, but for the most part we do very well together on making decisions and building the house. One of the things I love about Toby is his sense of humor. He laughs at my silly jokes and my smart-aleck answers. Setting the windows and getting them level was a particularly trying time. Toby was getting a little impatient and irritated with one window and me, and he let me know about it. I was standing inside holding the window which ever way he told me, and he was outside with the level and hammer and nails. When we finally got the window nailed in place, he said, "Are you happy now?" The smartmouth in me answered, "You mean with this window or my marriage?" Toby hooted with laughter. That is why I love him. Later when we got home, there was a message on the recorder from some unidentifiable woman (girl). She sounded very young, and she said something that sounded like, "Toby, call me back at this number." We could not figure out who it was or what they were saying exactally, and there was no number to call back. I played the message over and over trying to hear it better and giving Toby "the questioning eye" since it was a girl's voice. Finally, Jesse said, "Dad, I think you need to get a smarter mistress." We all hooted.
Murphy's Law May 2005
First off, the trailer has to be cleaned out after we hauled cattle to the sale barn last week. For those of you who know cow manure after being on wheat pasture, I am sure you will understand the difficulty. For those of you who don't know cows, you don't want to know. It turns out that we left the good flathead shovel and broom at the new house, but no problem, we can use a hose to get it wet, and then shovel it out. This meant hooking up to the trailer and backing to the barn since one tire has a slow leak (why don't we get that fixed?) to air it up before pulling up close enough to a water hose. Most of these things needed doing anyway. Here is where the mission got impossible. Jesse and I put the special nozel on the water hose to create the pressure needed to wash out the manure, but no water would come out. Jesse unscrewed the nozel and out fell some sort of giant bug. Jesse screamed and dropped the nozel. We got a good laugh out of that, and put the nozel back on. Still no water! We banged around on the nozel, but nothing came out. So I poked a screw driver up in it, and sure enough there was something stuck in the nozel. After I figured out how to take the nozel apart, I saw the bug guts wedged in the whole at the end of the nozel. I poked these out with my screw driver - not so bad. Then I poked the screwdriver back into the nozel - hmm, more bug. It took me quite a while to get the entire bug out of the nozel, and it was gross! As I worked to get the bug guts out of the nozel, I began to think, "Do other wives do this? I cooked his breakfast, packed his lunch, and I am driving the truck to pick up roofing. Did I sign on for bug gut duty?" I was really working myself into a tizz. With all the bug guts out of the nozel I took it the nozel to Jesse who was waiting with her mud boots and gloves to wash out the trailer (she is a good kid). This time the nozel worked great. I told Jesse I was going to clean the kitchen and get the bug guts off the counter. She responded with, "Are you going to put them on Dad's pillow?" Hmm, not a bad idea!
I thought I would share some funny stories from that first year of blogging. Most of my early blogs had to do with farm life and construction. Here are a few posts:
Ground Breaking March 12, 2005
Today we are breaking ground on our new house on our new land. We have bought 75 acres not to far from where we live now. The land has a large pond and lots of pecan trees. We are building a "studio" (or as my husband says "the shack") first. We will live in the studio for a while and build the "big house" later. I am just so happy because it will be mine to build as I want, and I do love to build. There is just something about swinging a hammer and putting things together - very satisfying. I am a framer at heart. Unfortunately, my husband thought I was a farmer. We have spent the last 8 years on large parcels of land doing large farming along with our ranching. Going round and round on a tractor does not take a rocket scientist. Although farming has provided me with lots of funny stories, I won't miss it. This piece of land is plenty big for all my critters and a few cows and horses, but I won't have to go round and round anymore - famous last words.
Funny things April 2005
I have heard people say that they would probably get a divorce if they had to work with their spouses on this or that - like building a house. Even Toby and I have our moments, but for the most part we do very well together on making decisions and building the house. One of the things I love about Toby is his sense of humor. He laughs at my silly jokes and my smart-aleck answers. Setting the windows and getting them level was a particularly trying time. Toby was getting a little impatient and irritated with one window and me, and he let me know about it. I was standing inside holding the window which ever way he told me, and he was outside with the level and hammer and nails. When we finally got the window nailed in place, he said, "Are you happy now?" The smartmouth in me answered, "You mean with this window or my marriage?" Toby hooted with laughter. That is why I love him. Later when we got home, there was a message on the recorder from some unidentifiable woman (girl). She sounded very young, and she said something that sounded like, "Toby, call me back at this number." We could not figure out who it was or what they were saying exactally, and there was no number to call back. I played the message over and over trying to hear it better and giving Toby "the questioning eye" since it was a girl's voice. Finally, Jesse said, "Dad, I think you need to get a smarter mistress." We all hooted.
Murphy's Law May 2005
First off, the trailer has to be cleaned out after we hauled cattle to the sale barn last week. For those of you who know cow manure after being on wheat pasture, I am sure you will understand the difficulty. For those of you who don't know cows, you don't want to know. It turns out that we left the good flathead shovel and broom at the new house, but no problem, we can use a hose to get it wet, and then shovel it out. This meant hooking up to the trailer and backing to the barn since one tire has a slow leak (why don't we get that fixed?) to air it up before pulling up close enough to a water hose. Most of these things needed doing anyway. Here is where the mission got impossible. Jesse and I put the special nozel on the water hose to create the pressure needed to wash out the manure, but no water would come out. Jesse unscrewed the nozel and out fell some sort of giant bug. Jesse screamed and dropped the nozel. We got a good laugh out of that, and put the nozel back on. Still no water! We banged around on the nozel, but nothing came out. So I poked a screw driver up in it, and sure enough there was something stuck in the nozel. After I figured out how to take the nozel apart, I saw the bug guts wedged in the whole at the end of the nozel. I poked these out with my screw driver - not so bad. Then I poked the screwdriver back into the nozel - hmm, more bug. It took me quite a while to get the entire bug out of the nozel, and it was gross! As I worked to get the bug guts out of the nozel, I began to think, "Do other wives do this? I cooked his breakfast, packed his lunch, and I am driving the truck to pick up roofing. Did I sign on for bug gut duty?" I was really working myself into a tizz. With all the bug guts out of the nozel I took it the nozel to Jesse who was waiting with her mud boots and gloves to wash out the trailer (she is a good kid). This time the nozel worked great. I told Jesse I was going to clean the kitchen and get the bug guts off the counter. She responded with, "Are you going to put them on Dad's pillow?" Hmm, not a bad idea!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Blog Topics
Okay, okay, I get the hint. I will change topics since no one wanted to discuss life-changes and hardship. It seems to me that apples don't fall too far from the tree, but every once in a while a crab does crawl out of the bucket. I'm not sure what has to take place to make that sort of change, but I have my thoughts.
Sometimes I wish my blog was some important political/economical interesting blog, but it is not. I just can't stay serious for long. While reading Lt Nixon's blog, someone mentioned "corporate socialization". Without making my eyes roll back in my head, could someone explain that terminology or thinking? I like the Lt's blog because he throws out some interesting thoughts and he is a smart aleck. Reading the Lt's blog lead me to this blog, but it may be too liberal for me even though he seems awfully cute. While I am tossing out blogs, be sure and check out Jesse's photos of her trip to Scotland.
We are moving Mom this weekend. If anyone wants to help, come on down. If anyone wants to look through the junk before the big garage sale, you are welcome. If anyone wants to drink a beer and watch, I am sure it will be entertaining.
Sometimes I wish my blog was some important political/economical interesting blog, but it is not. I just can't stay serious for long. While reading Lt Nixon's blog, someone mentioned "corporate socialization". Without making my eyes roll back in my head, could someone explain that terminology or thinking? I like the Lt's blog because he throws out some interesting thoughts and he is a smart aleck. Reading the Lt's blog lead me to this blog, but it may be too liberal for me even though he seems awfully cute. While I am tossing out blogs, be sure and check out Jesse's photos of her trip to Scotland.
We are moving Mom this weekend. If anyone wants to help, come on down. If anyone wants to look through the junk before the big garage sale, you are welcome. If anyone wants to drink a beer and watch, I am sure it will be entertaining.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Unclear
In my post earlier today I may have been unclear. That may be because I have lots of thoughts rolling around in my head. Maybe I didn't really know where I wanted to go with this or how to get my thoughts out there. I was just so awed by Jim and Barbara's love for each other and for their children and grandchildren. They are great people and have certainly done better in life than their parents did. For all the changes that they have made in life, for all that they have come through together, their family seems doomed to hardships.
I will think on this and get back to it again - later.
I will think on this and get back to it again - later.
Food for Thought - Easy Life or Not
Most of you know that for thirty-something years, my father was a public school administrator. He once told me that his philosophy on education was simple: There are those kids who will make it no matter what. There are those kids who will not make it no matter what. There are those kids who are somewhere on the border of making it or not making it, and those are the ones you need to work to save.
Dad never spent much time in the classroom. He went straight into administration as a principal. Many of his high school students were not much younger than he was, and in later life he was good friends with many of these students. His ex-student and friend, Jim was probably in the second group listed above – he wasn’t going to make it in school, but Dad was determined to put him in the third group and save him. Jim had had a hard life with alcoholic parents in a rough oil field town. Education was not his cup of tea. He was determined to drop out of school. Dad stayed after him constantly – no telling how many times Dad busted Jim’s bum! Jim went to a Navy recruiter and told him that he would sign up if the recruiter would promise to get him out of town before the sheriff of Mr. Barker could find him. So Jim joined the Navy (keep in mind that this was the early 60’s) and made a career of it. The Navy did what Dad had not been able to do and made a man of Jim and gave him an education and a career – it saved him.
Another thing that "saved" Jim was Barbara, his wife. Barbara had not had an easy life either, but she thought Jim hung the moon. She loved him and supported him and raised their four children the best she could on a Petty Officer's salary. My dad was not wrong about Jim. He was a smart man and he recognized Barbara’s love for him, and he loved her in return. Their life together was still not easy or perfect, but they were happy. A lot of that was because Barbara was the type of person to be happy – to try and make everyone happy.
After Jim retired and moved back to the area, he and Dad found each other again. Jim credited Dad with having tried to do what was best for Jim when he was younger. He understood Dad’s love for him - Dad’s way of caring – and he loved Dad for it. They became great friends in their older age. Every Sunday Dad and Mom would drive out to the lake where Jim and Barbara had a fishing barge. They would drink coffee or have a beer together. Dad continued to try and give Jim "a better life" for his family with wise counsel and good friendship. When Dad got sick with cancer, Jim and Barbara were right there for Dad and Mom. They came and visited every week. They brought little things to Dad and did all that they could do at a pretty hard time. I loved them for that.
Two days ago, Barbara died unexpectedly – probably a heart attack. Yesterday, I went with Mom out to the lake to comfort Jim and his family. There were several things that gave me food for thought while visiting with Jim and his family. They were not "well-educated" people. They were simple people. They had had a hard life. Their children had had hard lives. Hardship may have been normal to them. The Navy helped, Dad helped, and Barbara’s love helped. Their lives were probably much better than their parent’s lives, and yet, not great. Did they know that it could have been even better – probably not – they were happy. I’m not judging their life. I’m only making observations about the differences in people’s lives.
Jim and Barbara were not what people would call religious (in fact, most people would have considered their life pretty wild). Jim said that when he prayed he only prayed The Lord’s Prayer because that was how Christ said to pray and it was the ultimate prayer that said it all. But in times of real or specific problems, he would ask Barbara to pray. He said that there was nothing as powerful as a mother’s sincere prayer. This made me see how much he loved Barbara, how he thought of her, and how much she did for him. They had a good life together. And yet, could it have been better? Could it have been easier?
Dad never spent much time in the classroom. He went straight into administration as a principal. Many of his high school students were not much younger than he was, and in later life he was good friends with many of these students. His ex-student and friend, Jim was probably in the second group listed above – he wasn’t going to make it in school, but Dad was determined to put him in the third group and save him. Jim had had a hard life with alcoholic parents in a rough oil field town. Education was not his cup of tea. He was determined to drop out of school. Dad stayed after him constantly – no telling how many times Dad busted Jim’s bum! Jim went to a Navy recruiter and told him that he would sign up if the recruiter would promise to get him out of town before the sheriff of Mr. Barker could find him. So Jim joined the Navy (keep in mind that this was the early 60’s) and made a career of it. The Navy did what Dad had not been able to do and made a man of Jim and gave him an education and a career – it saved him.
Another thing that "saved" Jim was Barbara, his wife. Barbara had not had an easy life either, but she thought Jim hung the moon. She loved him and supported him and raised their four children the best she could on a Petty Officer's salary. My dad was not wrong about Jim. He was a smart man and he recognized Barbara’s love for him, and he loved her in return. Their life together was still not easy or perfect, but they were happy. A lot of that was because Barbara was the type of person to be happy – to try and make everyone happy.
After Jim retired and moved back to the area, he and Dad found each other again. Jim credited Dad with having tried to do what was best for Jim when he was younger. He understood Dad’s love for him - Dad’s way of caring – and he loved Dad for it. They became great friends in their older age. Every Sunday Dad and Mom would drive out to the lake where Jim and Barbara had a fishing barge. They would drink coffee or have a beer together. Dad continued to try and give Jim "a better life" for his family with wise counsel and good friendship. When Dad got sick with cancer, Jim and Barbara were right there for Dad and Mom. They came and visited every week. They brought little things to Dad and did all that they could do at a pretty hard time. I loved them for that.
Two days ago, Barbara died unexpectedly – probably a heart attack. Yesterday, I went with Mom out to the lake to comfort Jim and his family. There were several things that gave me food for thought while visiting with Jim and his family. They were not "well-educated" people. They were simple people. They had had a hard life. Their children had had hard lives. Hardship may have been normal to them. The Navy helped, Dad helped, and Barbara’s love helped. Their lives were probably much better than their parent’s lives, and yet, not great. Did they know that it could have been even better – probably not – they were happy. I’m not judging their life. I’m only making observations about the differences in people’s lives.
Jim and Barbara were not what people would call religious (in fact, most people would have considered their life pretty wild). Jim said that when he prayed he only prayed The Lord’s Prayer because that was how Christ said to pray and it was the ultimate prayer that said it all. But in times of real or specific problems, he would ask Barbara to pray. He said that there was nothing as powerful as a mother’s sincere prayer. This made me see how much he loved Barbara, how he thought of her, and how much she did for him. They had a good life together. And yet, could it have been better? Could it have been easier?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Off to WF
I’m headed over to WF today to spend some time with Mom doing "mom things". I'm taking my camera to take photos of her new house. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can get her moved next weekend.
I thought I might post some pictures since I do not have much time to blog today. Saturday was so rainy and cold, we stayed home.
Here is Toby helping me make green chili, chicken enchiladas. They were yummy!
Here are two photos of our Dunnottar Castle hike.
I thought I might post some pictures since I do not have much time to blog today. Saturday was so rainy and cold, we stayed home.
Here is Toby helping me make green chili, chicken enchiladas. They were yummy!
Here are two photos of our Dunnottar Castle hike.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Icey February
The pasture is frozen and so are the windows on the north side of my house. I made the following comment on Buck’s blog:
Ah the Februarys of our lives – one of the things that made me crazy in NM. February would start having these really great days, and then BAM it would turn really cold and snow. The good news was that it helped the ski areas immensely because they quit making snow in the spring and needed these Feb and March snows to get to the end of the ski season. But for me, who was already tired of snow, Feb. was the doldrums. It made me feel like my life was on hold due to the cold. I don’t know why I didn’t feel that way about March – maybe because the spring snows were not so cold and made for great skiing. Here in OK it is August that makes me crazy when I am so tired of the heat.
That truly is how I feel about February, but not so much here in OK as I did in NM. I remember the first year that Toby lived in NM. When Feb rolled around we started having some nice springish days. He got excited that spring was finally there. I remember telling him to not get excited yet; that we would still have lots of winter. And I was right. Cold, dreary days in Feb had a terrible effect on me. I could hardly make decisions in Feb due to my lack of enthusiasm. March was not so bad with wonderful spring skiing. I think we could see the light at the end of the tunnel or the end of ski season, so March was better. April was a dead month in NM. Everyone in town took off to see family or go on vacations to someplace warm. May was the month to begin getting ready for the summer season – switching out the winter for the summer, cleaning out, ordering the new, etc. Life in Red River was lived around the seasons and tourist industry. People worked hard through the ski seasons and summer seasons. They had to get it while the getting was good, and there is not much time for family and friends. But there are those months of down-time – I loved those times - very peaceful, quiet times in the fall and spring - with good friends.
Today is a sweatpants day – one where you might as well wear sweatpants and curl up with a good book. There is no point in getting dressed to go out. Outside is miserable, but it does not bother me like the Februarys of NM. It will be a good day to get some things done here at home and spend time with Jesse – Yes, she is stuck at home with us old fogies. She is matting a picture – which reminds me that I need to do some matting also. Springtime is just around the corner. I can handle this February of my life.
Ah the Februarys of our lives – one of the things that made me crazy in NM. February would start having these really great days, and then BAM it would turn really cold and snow. The good news was that it helped the ski areas immensely because they quit making snow in the spring and needed these Feb and March snows to get to the end of the ski season. But for me, who was already tired of snow, Feb. was the doldrums. It made me feel like my life was on hold due to the cold. I don’t know why I didn’t feel that way about March – maybe because the spring snows were not so cold and made for great skiing. Here in OK it is August that makes me crazy when I am so tired of the heat.
That truly is how I feel about February, but not so much here in OK as I did in NM. I remember the first year that Toby lived in NM. When Feb rolled around we started having some nice springish days. He got excited that spring was finally there. I remember telling him to not get excited yet; that we would still have lots of winter. And I was right. Cold, dreary days in Feb had a terrible effect on me. I could hardly make decisions in Feb due to my lack of enthusiasm. March was not so bad with wonderful spring skiing. I think we could see the light at the end of the tunnel or the end of ski season, so March was better. April was a dead month in NM. Everyone in town took off to see family or go on vacations to someplace warm. May was the month to begin getting ready for the summer season – switching out the winter for the summer, cleaning out, ordering the new, etc. Life in Red River was lived around the seasons and tourist industry. People worked hard through the ski seasons and summer seasons. They had to get it while the getting was good, and there is not much time for family and friends. But there are those months of down-time – I loved those times - very peaceful, quiet times in the fall and spring - with good friends.
Today is a sweatpants day – one where you might as well wear sweatpants and curl up with a good book. There is no point in getting dressed to go out. Outside is miserable, but it does not bother me like the Februarys of NM. It will be a good day to get some things done here at home and spend time with Jesse – Yes, she is stuck at home with us old fogies. She is matting a picture – which reminds me that I need to do some matting also. Springtime is just around the corner. I can handle this February of my life.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Great Day
My "older ladies" art class started at 10:00 AM. It was an exceptional art day with my girlfriends. We got some good painting and good conversation done. 
The ladies finally left around 1:00 PM. At 1:30 my next art class started. Ashley was my only student, but it is always nice to have some one-on-one time with my girls, and Ashley is always fun. At about 5:00 PM, Toby came home from work bringing GBN1 with him. She hit the door talking and never quit. Ashley was entertained, but had to leave to have a Valentine’s Dinner with her family. Toby wanted to take GBN1 and me out to eat also – just because it would be fast and easy. It was such a beautiful afternoon – warm and calm. He took GBN1 out to feed the horses while I cleaned up after art and got myself ready. As they walked out the door GBN1 grabbed her toy binoculars. I heard this conversation as they left:
Toby: I can see the horses.
GBN1: Where? (looking through the wrong end of the binoculars)
Toby: Here, turn those around (he turns the binoculars around and hands them back to GBN!)
GBN1: I can’t see anything! (she turns the binoculars back around).
Toby looked back at me, and we both started laughing.
The ladies finally left around 1:00 PM. At 1:30 my next art class started. Ashley was my only student, but it is always nice to have some one-on-one time with my girls, and Ashley is always fun. At about 5:00 PM, Toby came home from work bringing GBN1 with him. She hit the door talking and never quit. Ashley was entertained, but had to leave to have a Valentine’s Dinner with her family. Toby wanted to take GBN1 and me out to eat also – just because it would be fast and easy. It was such a beautiful afternoon – warm and calm. He took GBN1 out to feed the horses while I cleaned up after art and got myself ready. As they walked out the door GBN1 grabbed her toy binoculars. I heard this conversation as they left:Toby: I can see the horses.
GBN1: Where? (looking through the wrong end of the binoculars)
Toby: Here, turn those around (he turns the binoculars around and hands them back to GBN!)
GBN1: I can’t see anything! (she turns the binoculars back around).
Toby looked back at me, and we both started laughing.
I was ready before they came back to the house, so I started out across the pasture to meet them. GBN1 hollered, "Here I am, Booboo!" and she continued to talk non-stop about all sorts of things including how Crew-Craw (her name for Toby) made a mess by spilling his Dr. Pepper. Sure enough, Toby had a big wet spot on his shirt. It seems they never made it to the horses, but played "house" in the horse trailer where GBN1 instructed her granddad "You knock! I’ll be watching TV,"
We loaded up in the car to go to the Chuck Wagon for supper. GBN1 was a bit concerned that we were taking her home or to church, and was much pleased that we did not do those things. We saw Ashley and her family at the CW and sat with them. Most of the conversation was about our recent trip to Scotland, but GBN1 occasionally threw in some way-out observation to keep us laughing. She was relieved again, when we came back to the house and did not take her home. She insisted on a bath in my big sink when we got home. I pretty much let her have her way – it is just more fun. Lindsay came home with Jesse after playing walleyball – more people for GBN1 to entertain.
I think Lindsay has found her match in "loud and rowdy" with GBN1. We looked for a movie to entertain GBN1 until her parents came to get her, but there was nothing a soon-to-be four-year-old would want to watch. PBS had a John Fogerty concert – so we watched that. That is when the dancing started. Who could not dance and rock-out to Fogerty? GBN1 really got into the dancing. She can really shake her little booty. Like an aerobics instructor, she directed us on how to dance including patting your belly while you danced. We had a blast. Then she got into a "sword fight" with Crew-Craw and became very dramatic stumbling around, rolling her eyes back, and falling over to play dead. I did not capture it on film, but I see an actress in the making. I did capture some of the dancing on video. When GBN1’s parents showed up, we were all wound up and having a big time. We showed all the new tricks (dancing and sword fighting) to her parents. I am sure they were impressed with all that we had taught their daughter.
As Toby and I got ready for bed, I told him it was the best Valentine’s Day I had ever had. GBN1 reminded me of her father when he was little. Sometimes you forget how fun your own children were. It was nice to be reminded.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Romantic Scenes
It’s Valentine’s Day! I always think that I am going to do something really romantic, but then the day sneaks up on me, and I find that I have done nothing. While at Wal-Mart, I did look around at all the VD stuff. Nothing jumped out at me, and I certainly don’t need a box of candy around here. Instead of fancy candy, I bought fancy cookies from the bakery. Toby loves cookies – so it is something special for him. When I came online this morning, MSN had an article on "Sexiest Screen Kisses" and other articles like "What a Boy Wants: Romance for Men". It reminded me of the old joke that went around the internet on how to please a man vs. how to please a woman. After giving a long complicated list on how to please a woman, to please a man, it was just "show up naked and bring pizza". So I took a look at the "Romance for Men" article, and yes it was about the same as the punch-line of the joke.
I also looked at the "Sexiest Screen Kisses," but was not impressed with the list because I have not seen most of those movies. MSN’s list was very politically correct making me gag at some of their choices for sexiest kiss. I would like to see the old movies on the list – Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman or Lauren Bacall and Humphry Bogart. I have seen "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monre and Tony Curtis. Still, none of these movies were my choice. The beach scene in "From Here to Eternity" stands out in my mind. As for my favorite romantic movies, well, anything with Cary Grant or Gary Cooper. One of my more modern day favorites is "Always" with Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss. I know that I have other favorite romantic movies and kiss scenes, but it is early. I might have to consider this for a while. What are your favorites – stir my memory.
I also looked at the "Sexiest Screen Kisses," but was not impressed with the list because I have not seen most of those movies. MSN’s list was very politically correct making me gag at some of their choices for sexiest kiss. I would like to see the old movies on the list – Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman or Lauren Bacall and Humphry Bogart. I have seen "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monre and Tony Curtis. Still, none of these movies were my choice. The beach scene in "From Here to Eternity" stands out in my mind. As for my favorite romantic movies, well, anything with Cary Grant or Gary Cooper. One of my more modern day favorites is "Always" with Holly Hunter and Richard Dreyfuss. I know that I have other favorite romantic movies and kiss scenes, but it is early. I might have to consider this for a while. What are your favorites – stir my memory.
Not bad for old-timers!Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Strange Day
Several times today, I tried to post a video of our trip to Scotland. Maybe it is just too big or not in the right form or something. If anyone has any ideas on how to post it, email me.
I have had all sorts of brain rumblings today on what to write, but nothing stands out as great. Yesterday was such a strange day at art, that it sort of blew my mind. It all started out normal enough. Only two students showed up which is par during cold and flu season. I was working with D whose mom and sister had shown up early to pick him up, and we were talking. M got up to go to the bathroom. Then she said that she did not feel well. Not being the overly concerned type, I did not say or do anything. D’s mother asked M if she were okay. About that time M hit the floor. I still did not get upset. I just went to M and saw that she was not out cold. She could talk and was coherent. She had no serious damage from her hitting the floor. She was clammy so I took a cool rag to her head and neck. D’s mom asked if we should call 911. Both M and I together said, "No." I knew she was okay. We got her off the cold tile floor and she settled in on the couch with a blanket over her where she stayed for the next two hours. Her mother came immediately, but M just wanted to stay on the couch. It was all good with me. I hate being sick and I really hate being sick in front of others, but what is really the pits is when I’m sick and I’m not in my own house. But if M wanted to lie on my couch until she felt better that was okay. Through all of this, I did not get excited or crazed, but it was sure a different art day. It kind of clouded my mind.
Later in the evening we went to supper with my good friend Dawn and her husband, Shaun. It was really a nice evening of talking and laughing. Shaun grew up in Homer, Alaska. He has some great childhood stories. Dawn also grew up in Alaska. They have eight children and life is never full around their house. If you have not been to her blog, it is a good read. Dawn mentioned her magnetic poetry words on her fridge. Her family likes to make different sentences using the magnetic words. Dawn wrote down the sentences which made nice poetry - read it on her blog. Then she broke all the words up for a new set of poetry. I have a few magnetic words that I got in some junk mail from American Express. They can be lots of fun.
Since I could not post the video, here is a pic of GBN2 taken last weekend. She is now old enough to run around the farm, and she loved it.
I have had all sorts of brain rumblings today on what to write, but nothing stands out as great. Yesterday was such a strange day at art, that it sort of blew my mind. It all started out normal enough. Only two students showed up which is par during cold and flu season. I was working with D whose mom and sister had shown up early to pick him up, and we were talking. M got up to go to the bathroom. Then she said that she did not feel well. Not being the overly concerned type, I did not say or do anything. D’s mother asked M if she were okay. About that time M hit the floor. I still did not get upset. I just went to M and saw that she was not out cold. She could talk and was coherent. She had no serious damage from her hitting the floor. She was clammy so I took a cool rag to her head and neck. D’s mom asked if we should call 911. Both M and I together said, "No." I knew she was okay. We got her off the cold tile floor and she settled in on the couch with a blanket over her where she stayed for the next two hours. Her mother came immediately, but M just wanted to stay on the couch. It was all good with me. I hate being sick and I really hate being sick in front of others, but what is really the pits is when I’m sick and I’m not in my own house. But if M wanted to lie on my couch until she felt better that was okay. Through all of this, I did not get excited or crazed, but it was sure a different art day. It kind of clouded my mind.
Later in the evening we went to supper with my good friend Dawn and her husband, Shaun. It was really a nice evening of talking and laughing. Shaun grew up in Homer, Alaska. He has some great childhood stories. Dawn also grew up in Alaska. They have eight children and life is never full around their house. If you have not been to her blog, it is a good read. Dawn mentioned her magnetic poetry words on her fridge. Her family likes to make different sentences using the magnetic words. Dawn wrote down the sentences which made nice poetry - read it on her blog. Then she broke all the words up for a new set of poetry. I have a few magnetic words that I got in some junk mail from American Express. They can be lots of fun.
Since I could not post the video, here is a pic of GBN2 taken last weekend. She is now old enough to run around the farm, and she loved it.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Small Stuff
Old Neighborhood:
Mrs. Bear mentioned that her grandmother as well as Annette Davis’ (another friend of ours from RR) grandmother lived in the same neighborhood as my mom’s old house. It is an old neighborhood with the houses probably built before WWII. The streets in that neighborhood are named after presidents - Monroe, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Buchanan, Grant, Hayes, Taft, and Garfield – all old obscure presidents. Does that tell you how old the neighborhood is? Just kidding! But it does make you wonder why the town chose those presidents. Notice that there is no Lincoln. In fact, in the South you rarely see streets or schools named Lincoln, and yet, they named one Grant. Go figure!
Storm:
We had quite a thunderstorm last night around 9 PM. It started off as rain and grew to thunder, lightning, and hail. Jesse has class on Wed. nights and drove home in the middle of the storm. As a typical worried mother, I was watching for her. When she pulled in, I was ready to open the door so she could run into the house. The dogs were ready too; they all ran into the house. It was a chore to get them out. We needed the rain, so I’m not complaining, well, maybe about the dogs. Toby was already in bed and left me to drag the dogs out.
Arguement:
I have to ‘fess up again. Toby and I have been fighting over something silly. While we were in Scotland, his boss drove us around Aberdeen showing us the city and giving all sorts of interesting commentary. He said something about a whiskey festival and lots of Germans showing up for the festival because they like a more earthy, strong taste in their food and drink. Then he said something about the Scots using "beets" to make some whiskeys or did he say "peat"? That was the word that started the fight between Toby and me. With his strong Scottish brogue and our loss of hearing, it is a wonder we understood anything he said. I thought he said "beets". Why would they make whiskey out of "peat" for Pete’s sake? Toby said I was crazy, and that the Scots use peat to make their whiskey, and "beets" did not make sense at all. "Beets" makes more sense than "peat" if you ask me. The fight raged on. After googling "beet whiskey", it turns out that there is such a thing, but not in Scotland. The Scots use peat fires to heat their brew, and it gives it a special taste. Gosh I hate it when I’m wrong. I think I will mix/match his socks again.
Cousin Jim News:
Here is the latest on my Marine cousin, Major Jim Lively. He recently received a Bronze Star at a ceremony in DC. He is pictured with his lovely wife, Ariel; Brig. Gen. Regner, who presented the award; and Congressman Vic Snyder, who Jim is currently working for on the Hill.
Mrs. Bear mentioned that her grandmother as well as Annette Davis’ (another friend of ours from RR) grandmother lived in the same neighborhood as my mom’s old house. It is an old neighborhood with the houses probably built before WWII. The streets in that neighborhood are named after presidents - Monroe, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Buchanan, Grant, Hayes, Taft, and Garfield – all old obscure presidents. Does that tell you how old the neighborhood is? Just kidding! But it does make you wonder why the town chose those presidents. Notice that there is no Lincoln. In fact, in the South you rarely see streets or schools named Lincoln, and yet, they named one Grant. Go figure!
Storm:
We had quite a thunderstorm last night around 9 PM. It started off as rain and grew to thunder, lightning, and hail. Jesse has class on Wed. nights and drove home in the middle of the storm. As a typical worried mother, I was watching for her. When she pulled in, I was ready to open the door so she could run into the house. The dogs were ready too; they all ran into the house. It was a chore to get them out. We needed the rain, so I’m not complaining, well, maybe about the dogs. Toby was already in bed and left me to drag the dogs out.
Arguement:
I have to ‘fess up again. Toby and I have been fighting over something silly. While we were in Scotland, his boss drove us around Aberdeen showing us the city and giving all sorts of interesting commentary. He said something about a whiskey festival and lots of Germans showing up for the festival because they like a more earthy, strong taste in their food and drink. Then he said something about the Scots using "beets" to make some whiskeys or did he say "peat"? That was the word that started the fight between Toby and me. With his strong Scottish brogue and our loss of hearing, it is a wonder we understood anything he said. I thought he said "beets". Why would they make whiskey out of "peat" for Pete’s sake? Toby said I was crazy, and that the Scots use peat to make their whiskey, and "beets" did not make sense at all. "Beets" makes more sense than "peat" if you ask me. The fight raged on. After googling "beet whiskey", it turns out that there is such a thing, but not in Scotland. The Scots use peat fires to heat their brew, and it gives it a special taste. Gosh I hate it when I’m wrong. I think I will mix/match his socks again.
Cousin Jim News:
Here is the latest on my Marine cousin, Major Jim Lively. He recently received a Bronze Star at a ceremony in DC. He is pictured with his lovely wife, Ariel; Brig. Gen. Regner, who presented the award; and Congressman Vic Snyder, who Jim is currently working for on the Hill.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Junkfood and Junk
Hello, my name is Lou and I am a carb-oholic. I love chips, potatoes, bread, etc. Unfortunately, I have the metabolism of a snail (I don’t really know if that is slow or not, but you get the picture). I have the bone structure of a football player and the height of a midget. Does that seem a little unfair? Despite my size, I am able to walk far distances, run across airports, and climb mountains. I am a donkey – not in the way you think. Well, maybe I am an a$$ sometimes, but I am talking about my continued plodding along, my sure-footed-ness, and some stubbornness. This morning on GMA I heard that drinking just one diet drink a day could make you gain weight rather than lose weight. Some doctor did tests on rats to show that fake sugar could mess up your mind. No one knows how or if it really does this, but some of the rats gained weight. Maybe I am a rat. Whatever! It is just not fair.
Today is a dreary day. I treated myself to a pedicure, if that can be considered a treat.
My mom is feeling better and thinking clearer. She was pretty sick with some flu/bug. If you talked to her this last weekend, you might want to call her again, because she was pretty out of it last weekend. Today would have been her 53 anniversary. I'm not sure she thought about it. None of us were ever good with birthdays and anniversaries. Mom has lots on her mind these days - she told me that someone had put a contract on her old house – yeha! It would be great if she were rid of that albatross. It would also put pressure on us to get her moved – I work well under pressure. Many of you wrote and were concerned with moving Mom after 31 years in the same house. It won’t be easy, but it will be good. The new house is light, airy, and bright. It is a good size and can hold her stuff, but it will be a good reason to clean out the old junk. It is a good time for it too. If things get sentimental, we will just make Jesse help. She will hold up some junk and say, "Is this important to you? When was the last time you used it? Let it go!" Jesse is good. In fact, I think she should hire out as a de-junker.
Speaking of Jesse, take a look at her new blog and then visit Ashley’s blog for a younger view of the world.
Today is a dreary day. I treated myself to a pedicure, if that can be considered a treat.
My mom is feeling better and thinking clearer. She was pretty sick with some flu/bug. If you talked to her this last weekend, you might want to call her again, because she was pretty out of it last weekend. Today would have been her 53 anniversary. I'm not sure she thought about it. None of us were ever good with birthdays and anniversaries. Mom has lots on her mind these days - she told me that someone had put a contract on her old house – yeha! It would be great if she were rid of that albatross. It would also put pressure on us to get her moved – I work well under pressure. Many of you wrote and were concerned with moving Mom after 31 years in the same house. It won’t be easy, but it will be good. The new house is light, airy, and bright. It is a good size and can hold her stuff, but it will be a good reason to clean out the old junk. It is a good time for it too. If things get sentimental, we will just make Jesse help. She will hold up some junk and say, "Is this important to you? When was the last time you used it? Let it go!" Jesse is good. In fact, I think she should hire out as a de-junker.
Speaking of Jesse, take a look at her new blog and then visit Ashley’s blog for a younger view of the world.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Revenge of the Nerds
I would like to think that when I make a mistake that I am a big enough person to 'fess up and make it right. I do make mistakes. Some are bigger than others. Some are funnier than others. When I see Toby wearing one brown sock and one black sock, it just makes me laugh.
Heard at art on Thursday: Someone in Lawton robbbed a Payless shoe store. They didn't get away with much cash. There is a reason they call it Payless.
GBN1 on walking out to feed the horses: That's a big horse poop! It is like turtles!
Heard at art on Thursday: Someone in Lawton robbbed a Payless shoe store. They didn't get away with much cash. There is a reason they call it Payless.
GBN1 on walking out to feed the horses: That's a big horse poop! It is like turtles!
Out with the Old
Toby took Friday off, and we went to WF to see Mom. Before Mom left for Scotland a few weeks ago, she made an offer on a little house closer to my brother’s house in WF. She was supposed to close on the new house yesterday.
She has lived in the same house for 31 years, so this was no easy decision. If you count up the years, you will know that I did not grow up in this house. In fact, the family joke is that Mom and Dad sent my brother and I off to college, and then they moved hoping we would not find them. When we came home at Thanksgiving, they had a new house. After 31 years, though, it is the family home, the place my kids think of as Grandma’s house, and it is quite comfy. Mom’s old house is in an old neighborhood with big trees and cobble streets. It is pretty neat, but the neighborhood has gone down. It is not something we really notice, but if you notice the tall fence with barbed-wire on the top around my parent’s backyard or if you read about the big drug bust across the street from Mom’s house a couple of years back, you might also worry about her. Every once in a while, the news reports a drive-by shooting somewhere in the vicinity. This has been worry-some for a long time. When Dad died, we all encouraged Mom to find a new place. Sometimes, she seemed so settled and happy in that house, that I could almost overlook the neighborhood. Last summer she saw a little house that she really liked, and it pushed her in the direction of putting her house on the market and looking for a new house. Now she has found one. She signed the papers yesterday. The celebration was a bit small since she seemed to have some sort of flu bug. We will just have to celebrate later.
My brother, Pete, was also at Mom’s yesterday. He is the pesky little brother. Normally, when we get together, we take turns torturing Mom – doing our best Heckle & Jeckle routine. We were a bit more subdued since Mom was not at her best. It takes all the fun out of teasing her when she does not respond.
In the next few weeks, I can see that we will be working to get Mom moved into her new house and get the old house cleaned out. It will be out with the old and into the new. We will have a heck of a garage sale. Toby and I worked in Mom’s storehouse yesterday going through Dad’s junk, taking what we wanted and setting stuff aside for the sale. I know I married the right man. There were so many times that Toby was as moved as I was finding things of Dad’s that reminded us of special times. Toby would hold up some piece of worthless junk and say, "I have to keep this. I remember your dad …" When we came across Dad's old Converse tennis shoes, Toby said that Dad had loaned them to him on several occasions when Toby had forgotten his own tennis shoes. Unfortunately, the rubber on the toes was hard and cracking. I’m glad that Toby and my dad loved each other and had good times together. I want a husband like that for Jesse someday – someone who will fit into the family, who will work side by side with us, who will take a snort of Wild Turkey even though it is not his favorite, who will laugh with us, and who will be strong enough to make a family of his own with my daughter. Someone who can say this is my family and we will serve the Lord.
Last night Toby and I went to "An Evening of Shorts" which was several small one act plays put on by the Duncan Little Theater. Lindsay was suppose to play a part, but she had gotten sick, and her sister Reagan had taken Lindsay's role. Reagan was excellent. I laughed until my jaws hurt. It was such a funny little skit. I will have to find photos and post them soon. The last skit was audience participation. Five men from the audience were chosen to read a skit on stage. They put on wigs, hats and women's accesories. It was hysterical. Toby was one of the men chosen as was Lindsay's dad and Shay, Linday's boy friend. They were suppose to be a church committee - funny stuff. Once again, I will post photos when I can.
She has lived in the same house for 31 years, so this was no easy decision. If you count up the years, you will know that I did not grow up in this house. In fact, the family joke is that Mom and Dad sent my brother and I off to college, and then they moved hoping we would not find them. When we came home at Thanksgiving, they had a new house. After 31 years, though, it is the family home, the place my kids think of as Grandma’s house, and it is quite comfy. Mom’s old house is in an old neighborhood with big trees and cobble streets. It is pretty neat, but the neighborhood has gone down. It is not something we really notice, but if you notice the tall fence with barbed-wire on the top around my parent’s backyard or if you read about the big drug bust across the street from Mom’s house a couple of years back, you might also worry about her. Every once in a while, the news reports a drive-by shooting somewhere in the vicinity. This has been worry-some for a long time. When Dad died, we all encouraged Mom to find a new place. Sometimes, she seemed so settled and happy in that house, that I could almost overlook the neighborhood. Last summer she saw a little house that she really liked, and it pushed her in the direction of putting her house on the market and looking for a new house. Now she has found one. She signed the papers yesterday. The celebration was a bit small since she seemed to have some sort of flu bug. We will just have to celebrate later.
My brother, Pete, was also at Mom’s yesterday. He is the pesky little brother. Normally, when we get together, we take turns torturing Mom – doing our best Heckle & Jeckle routine. We were a bit more subdued since Mom was not at her best. It takes all the fun out of teasing her when she does not respond.
In the next few weeks, I can see that we will be working to get Mom moved into her new house and get the old house cleaned out. It will be out with the old and into the new. We will have a heck of a garage sale. Toby and I worked in Mom’s storehouse yesterday going through Dad’s junk, taking what we wanted and setting stuff aside for the sale. I know I married the right man. There were so many times that Toby was as moved as I was finding things of Dad’s that reminded us of special times. Toby would hold up some piece of worthless junk and say, "I have to keep this. I remember your dad …" When we came across Dad's old Converse tennis shoes, Toby said that Dad had loaned them to him on several occasions when Toby had forgotten his own tennis shoes. Unfortunately, the rubber on the toes was hard and cracking. I’m glad that Toby and my dad loved each other and had good times together. I want a husband like that for Jesse someday – someone who will fit into the family, who will work side by side with us, who will take a snort of Wild Turkey even though it is not his favorite, who will laugh with us, and who will be strong enough to make a family of his own with my daughter. Someone who can say this is my family and we will serve the Lord.
Last night Toby and I went to "An Evening of Shorts" which was several small one act plays put on by the Duncan Little Theater. Lindsay was suppose to play a part, but she had gotten sick, and her sister Reagan had taken Lindsay's role. Reagan was excellent. I laughed until my jaws hurt. It was such a funny little skit. I will have to find photos and post them soon. The last skit was audience participation. Five men from the audience were chosen to read a skit on stage. They put on wigs, hats and women's accesories. It was hysterical. Toby was one of the men chosen as was Lindsay's dad and Shay, Linday's boy friend. They were suppose to be a church committee - funny stuff. Once again, I will post photos when I can.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Scotland Painting
This is a small watercolor that I did before we left Scoland of the North Sea near Dunnottar Castle. Once again, it is a small painting. I really feel the need to do something different. Inspiration and action are often two separate things. But when they come together, it makes a world of difference. Today is all day art classes - that will certainly give me the action, but not necessarily the inspiration. I guess I will move over into the other side of my brain now.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Plans Awry
My plan today was to stay home and get some things done. That ain’t happening. It turns out that I will have to make a trip to town after all. In the meantime, I need to do a few things at home first, but I am having one of those frustrating days where nothing is working as planned. I put together a package for my soldier (Soldier’s Angels) but I can’t find her address. I searched my desk. Then I searched my computer. I found a SA website that might help me, but I needed my password. Now, I only use a few passwords, but none of them worked. Geeze Louise, my day is wasting away. So, I sent for SA to send my password. I am still waiting. It all makes me feel so unorganized. Some of you may be saying, “But, Lou, you are unorganized.” Yeah well, not so much as I am today. I hate searching for something that should be there. Just ask my kids.
Some of you may have noticed The General on my comments yesterday. He is a new blogger that I came across recently. Drop by and give him a read and leave a comment welcoming him to the blog world.
As you know, I love playing volleyball. Jesse plays wallyball (volleyball on a racquet ball court) every week. This week she has been asked by some coworkers to play volleyball. She said she would - ‘cuz she loves it, but then she came across this poster.
It is kind of appropriate in this case to be aware of the danger. She does not think her coworkers are jerks, but they are competitive. I think they are just showing off.The plan has changed again. I will go to town and pick up GBN2 for a few hours - yeha!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Phone Calls
In 1976 I voted in my first Presidential primary. I voted for Jimmy Carter. My, how times change. Probably my Dad, the yellow dog Democrat, was a big influence in my life. I just thought that was the choice of the day. Now, I am headed off to vote in this primary, but I have not made a final decision. It will be a conservative vote.
Jesse said that she got a call from John McCain. She assured him that she would vote for him. Then she got a call from ex-governor Keating, who also wanted her to vote for McCain. She assured him she had already made her choice. Yesterday, I got a call from Mrs. McCain wanting me to vote for her husband. I also got a call from Mike Huckabee. It will be a tough to choose between the two.
Jesse said that she got a call from John McCain. She assured him that she would vote for him. Then she got a call from ex-governor Keating, who also wanted her to vote for McCain. She assured him she had already made her choice. Yesterday, I got a call from Mrs. McCain wanting me to vote for her husband. I also got a call from Mike Huckabee. It will be a tough to choose between the two.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Order in the House
Our luggage arrived Sunday night about 10:15. I had given OKC my telephone number, but I had given them my son’s address, because it is easier to find his house than it is to find mine. I expected them to call first, but they just showed up with the luggage scaring my son and family who were not expecting someone to ring the doorbell after 10 PM (made me laugh). I was just happy to know my luggage was here. When I went to pick up my luggage this morning, I also picked up GBN1 and took her to Wal-Mart with me. She chattered non-stop. To keep her busy, I handed her my grocery list. Very business-like, she looked at it and said, "It says we need to look at bikes."
Several times as we shopped, GBN1 mentioned the helium balloons around the store. So, as we checked out, I bought her a helium balloon. She was thrilled. She laughed and squealed all the way to the truck saying her balloon was "wild". Our next stop was to the Finance Center to see Toby at work. GBN1 entertained Toby’s coworkers with her balloon. She chattered away to everyone and had a big time. When I took her home, she made a grab for the little ceramic tea set that I had brought her from Scotland. She dropped several pieces and broke the lid on the sugar bowl. I felt bad for her, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. When I got home, I unpacked our luggage to find that two of the teacups that I had bought for myself were broken. Very disappointing!
The rest of my day has been filled with laundry duty since I refused to spend another forty bucks doing laundry in the UK and brought all of our clothes home dirty. It may take me a while to get my life sorted out and cleaned up. Although several of my little art students asked me about starting art class again, I think I may wait until next week. I want to get back into the routine, but I need to get things put in order.
With the Scotland trip behind me, I have been doing some thinking about what I want next – where I want to go from here – New Year’s resolutions a month or so late. I still want to build my house soon, but I also want my art to change. I have spent the last year doing my little paintings of the week, and that was good. But now, I would like to concentrate on bigger work. The little watercolors were kind of quick and easy. It would nice to do something more challenging. Doing portraits has always been my first love, and I feel that I have lost that somewhere along the way and would like to get back to people painting. I would like to do more pastels. I would like to take a workshop. I would like to work more on my teaching - especially adult art classes. I want continue my blog, but not let it take over my life. And of course, I would like to lose weight. What else is new?
I may have waded into a fight on someone else's blog, but then I haven’t had a good fight in a long time, and I seem to be spoiling for one.
Is anyone else having trouble with their spell check?
Several times as we shopped, GBN1 mentioned the helium balloons around the store. So, as we checked out, I bought her a helium balloon. She was thrilled. She laughed and squealed all the way to the truck saying her balloon was "wild". Our next stop was to the Finance Center to see Toby at work. GBN1 entertained Toby’s coworkers with her balloon. She chattered away to everyone and had a big time. When I took her home, she made a grab for the little ceramic tea set that I had brought her from Scotland. She dropped several pieces and broke the lid on the sugar bowl. I felt bad for her, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. When I got home, I unpacked our luggage to find that two of the teacups that I had bought for myself were broken. Very disappointing!
The rest of my day has been filled with laundry duty since I refused to spend another forty bucks doing laundry in the UK and brought all of our clothes home dirty. It may take me a while to get my life sorted out and cleaned up. Although several of my little art students asked me about starting art class again, I think I may wait until next week. I want to get back into the routine, but I need to get things put in order.
With the Scotland trip behind me, I have been doing some thinking about what I want next – where I want to go from here – New Year’s resolutions a month or so late. I still want to build my house soon, but I also want my art to change. I have spent the last year doing my little paintings of the week, and that was good. But now, I would like to concentrate on bigger work. The little watercolors were kind of quick and easy. It would nice to do something more challenging. Doing portraits has always been my first love, and I feel that I have lost that somewhere along the way and would like to get back to people painting. I would like to do more pastels. I would like to take a workshop. I would like to work more on my teaching - especially adult art classes. I want continue my blog, but not let it take over my life. And of course, I would like to lose weight. What else is new?
I may have waded into a fight on someone else's blog, but then I haven’t had a good fight in a long time, and I seem to be spoiling for one.
Is anyone else having trouble with their spell check?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Brain Dead
Okay, I have been a little brain-dead lately. Sleep comes at odd times and hits hard. Hopefully, things will get back to normal – whatever normal may be. Toby and I got up before 5 AM today. We should not have taken such a long nap on Saturday afternoon, but we were both so dang tired. So, we got up and got our coffee and sat in our recliners to read – me with a new art magazine and Toby with his laptop. Toby read my post where I mentioned that the UK folks "had a skewered view of America." He very "kindly" pointed out that I had used the wrong word. He said I should have used "skewed" not "skewered." He went to the internet dictionary to prove his point. He laughed. He snickered. He said that I should draw a cartoon of Americans on as skewer to show the BBC’s viewpoint. Then he laughed and snickered some more. I told him that it was really not that funny, but he continued to giggle. He will be getting his own coffee this morning.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Home At Last
With over 24 hours spent traveling, we finally made it home about 12:30 AM Saturday morning. When our first flight of the morning was delayed, the rest of our trip was totally messed up. There was apparently some sort of storm in Amsterdam causing all sorts of delays. We waited in line for over two hours in Amsterdam just to rebook our flight out. We had to take a number and wait for KLM personnel to rebook the flight. Our number was 75. The line was moving along fairly well until about 12 PM, when the KLM employees started packing up and leaving. I hoped that they were leaving on flights and not just going to lunch. Finally at one PM it was our turn to rebook. We were booked on a plane leaving at 1:15, but it was delayed too. We were able to go and have some lunch which included a beer while we waited on our flight home. The good news was that our luggage made it to Detroit with us. We had been told there was a 75% chance that our luggage would not make it with us to Detroit. Once at Detroit, you have to gather your luggage to go through customs and then re-check it. I have to say that the Americans have the most convoluted, repetitive, stupid customs of any place I have ever traveled. Once we had our luggage through customs, we had to rebook our next leg of the trip to OKC and then re-check the luggage and then go through security - again! As we came through security, the lady who looked at our boarding pass said something about hurrying. We had not even looked at our pass yet. The current time was 7:50 PM and our flight was at 7:40 PM! We took off running across the Detroit airport which was up and down stirs and escalators. With sweat pouring off our bodies, we arrived to find out that our plane had been delayed. We had time to go potty and buy a bottle of water before loading onto the small plane for OKC. We made it the last leg of the trip, but our luggage did not. Hopefully in the next day or two, someone from OKC will bring our luggage. We rented a car and drove on home arriving after 12:30AM. It was so good to see my dogs and sleep in my own bed.
You may think that all of that was wild and crazy, but it was really okay. There was not much point in getting crazed by the delays. There were lots of people in the same boat or worse. We met lots of fun people while waiting in line and had some good laughs - like the couple from Kansas City, the man from Aberdeen going to Uganda, and the family trying to get home to Michigan for a funeral. The only really downside was that we were just so tired.
After having a nice breakfast with Jesse this morning, we headed into town to return the rental car. We went by to see the Grand Babies who were doing well and were highly entertaining. We went to Wal-Mart for some groceries and to TSC for horse feed. We took a big nap this afternoon and later walked the trail across our property. It is good to be back in OK doing normal, everyday stuff.
You may think that all of that was wild and crazy, but it was really okay. There was not much point in getting crazed by the delays. There were lots of people in the same boat or worse. We met lots of fun people while waiting in line and had some good laughs - like the couple from Kansas City, the man from Aberdeen going to Uganda, and the family trying to get home to Michigan for a funeral. The only really downside was that we were just so tired.
After having a nice breakfast with Jesse this morning, we headed into town to return the rental car. We went by to see the Grand Babies who were doing well and were highly entertaining. We went to Wal-Mart for some groceries and to TSC for horse feed. We took a big nap this afternoon and later walked the trail across our property. It is good to be back in OK doing normal, everyday stuff.
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