Friday, December 30, 2011

Not Quite Bilingual

No, I am not learning a new language but before I get into all of that let me share a question that has always puzzled me.  Now, I really am serious here.  It is amazing the random thoughts that wander through a person's mind.  Ah heck, they might wander through a hog's mind but we will never know.   I think everyone would be in agreement that Sign Language is a recognized language.  So, if a person knows Sign Language and speaks English are they bilingual?  Or does the 2nd language have to be a spoken language to be considered bilingual?  Things that make you go mmmmm.

I am not bilingual, however, I speak in idiom almost as much as I speak English.  It is so much a part of my speech that I don't even realize it sometimes until someone will ask me what does that mean?  And it is so much a part of my manner of speaking that I am hard pressed right now to think of examples.  One that I often have to explain is "same difference".  "Same difference" means pretty much the same as "six of one, half a dozen of another".  You would be surprised at how often I have been asked, "well if it the same how can it be different?"  Another popular one in our family is (and I think ya'll may have heard me say this in previous posts, maybe, maybe not) is that "you can't un-ring the bell" meaning you can't undo what has already been done.  Goes right along with, "it is like putting an elevator in an outhouse", meaning just don't make no sense! 
Or, "that is like that seagull that started to fly off."  Meaning you started to do something but didn't do, you just started but didn't finish.

As I was pondering on this I could think of several times a conversation had been stopped for me to explain what I meant but could not really think of particular expressions.  So as I think of them or am halted mid-sentence I will try to write them down to share at a later date.  Have a great day/night!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Merry Christmas to Me

I am looking forward to the ride to Bennettsville on Sun. for the sale on Monday.  I am going to enjoy listening to the Statler Bros. while I am riding in my new to me truck.  Yes, truck.  I have been saying for a couple of months that I needed a man with a truck, think I have even mentioned it here.  A few weeks ago, I said since it wasn't looking real encouraging on the man front that I was just gonna buy my own damn truck.  So that is exactly what I did today and yes I am feeling very pleased with myself.  She is a sweet sporty looking Ford F-150, no little truck for this ole girl.  I have toyed and thought about and prayed about this for a couple of weeks now.  Had pretty much decided that this week I was going to do it.  Sure 'nuff when I went to bed last night I knew that by tonight I was going to have a truck. 

While they were finishing all the paperwork Dumbass called and asked what I was doing, so I told him that I was trading cars.  I had not mentioned this to anyone except Janelle and I called her this morning and said, "I am going to get me a truck today."  Anyway his reaction was "you are doing what?"  I told him you heard me which led to what are you getting which led to "a truck."  And bless that boy's heart he really is a smart man but for the next couple of minutes he really was a dumbass!  He asked me had I called and talked to my horse trader brother about this.  My reply was "no, why would I?"  He then, (I thought he knew me better than this) asked me didn't I think I needed my brother's advice about what to buy.  Yes, he surely did!  I very calmly (ain't ya'll just proud!?) told him that I did not need brother or anyone else's advice that I knew exactly what I was doing.  Which was followed by him saying, "I'm not gonna get any where with this am I?"  And my reply was , "Nope."   Now let me say that I know he was just being protective and I really did appreciate it and he knows that I trust this brother's opinions without question.  But still, have you met me?!  I have always been independent (bet ya'll hadn't figured that out yet).  But necessity has required me to be even more independent.  I guess.  Oh, I imagine I could always check with everybody else before making these major decisions but really, why?  The way I see it (and remember I only have one good eye) is that I am responsible for me.  If I screw up then I will be the one to fix it.  But I feel really good about this decision.  Reminds me of the song, "There's Just Something About a Truck."

TTYL (for you non texters, Talk To You Later)  I am going to bed it has been a long day.  Wish it was gonna be warm enough on Sat. to wash my truck.  hehehe

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Time For a Chuckle

However, if you had been there in person it would not be a chuckle, it was a deep from the pit of your stomach, tears streaming down your cheeks, belly laugh!

The winter after Bobby died some of my family started planning a family cruise.  I have never been on a cruise and it was a great opportunity as a good percentage of the fan damily were attending.  I waffled back and forth about did I want to go, did I not want to go.  Keep in mind at this point I am still existing on sugar cookies and brownies.  (my sisters say my grocery lists consists of 2 boxes of brownie mix and diet drinks, sometimes I fool them and buy 3)  Anyway, I digress, (remember you don't get the Reader's Digest version here).  I did finally at Christmas time decide not to go.   To be honest I was still in such a funk that it was really hard for me to imagine having fun ever again especially by July.

As cruise time approached I began to help my youngest sister get ready for her cruise.  One of the tasks was to get a base tan by going to the tanning bed.  We bought one of those 20 visit packages and split it.  Now I have never been to a tanning bed before.  Let me pause here and say that I tan very easily and usually have 25 different tan lines because pretty much all I have to do is just go outside and I start tanning.  Sister in question tans fairly easy but she did not want to spend the cruise burnt to the color of a beet.  Also, one reason that I never went to a tanning bed is that I have said it reminded me too much of a coffin.  I am just a tad claustrophobic.

So, now we have bought our 20 visit package and we arrange what time to meet at the tanning salon.  The big question so far has been how much are we going to wear or take off.  We get checked in and I tell the little boy working, "now, I have never done this before so you have to tell me what to do".  I even asked what do most people wear (I told you it was country come to town)  He tells me that most people either bring a bathing suit or just keep their underwear on and alot of people take all their clothes off.  Oh, I have just made an executive decision!  He tells us which bed we are going to be in and I tell him AGAIN!, "I have never done this before so you have to tell me what to do".  Both times that I told him this his answer was "oh, you just lay down and press start".  At this point we go to our respective rooms and I proceed to take every stitch of clothes that I have on off.  Yep, not gonna be any tan lines here.  I lay down and get comfortable or as comfortable as you can laying on a flat piece of glass.  I find the start button and press start.  The lamps come on and it gets cozy warm and I am thinking, "this is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be".  Now since this was our first visit we only tanned for 5 minutes.  So the little buzzer goes off and I get up, put my clothes on and I am feeling real proud of myself.  I step outside and am waiting for my sister to come out which she did in just a couple of minutes.  She asked me "how was it?". and I answered with, "not as bad as I thought".  She then tells me she had to keep lifting the lid off of her boobs.  I stopped right in my tracks and, kid you not, I was serious, I looked at her and said, "you were supposed to close the lid?"  You can imagine her look of dismay when she asked me, "you didn't close the lid?"  Nope sure didn't, he told me to lay down and press start, so I laid down and pressed start.  We are walking out and she is dying laughing and muttering to herself, "I can't believe you didn't close the lid."  Nope, he said lay down and press start.  I follow instruction very well, I laid down and pressed start.

Now as Paul Harvey would say here is the rest of the story.  After a couple of days of walking around scratching our asses (remember we took all our clothes off that visit, didn't make that mistake again either) we went back for visit #2.  Same little boy working and I walk up and asked him if the beds have a broil setting.  He looks at me kinda funny and Sister dearest says, "she didn't close the lid"  He looked at me like I had two heads and one of them was spinning.  He then asked, "you didn't close the lid"?  I looked at him just as straight as I knew how (cos I am still laughing about it) and told him it was his fault because "you told me all I had to do was lay down and press start, you did not say one John Brown thing about closing the lid."  He then whipper snapper that he is tells me he thought EVERYBODY knew to close the lid.  I had to remind him that I TOLD him I didn't know what I was doing so I did exactly like he told me to do.  I did tell him, "child the next time somebody tells you they have never done this before what do I do to be sure and include that step about closing the lid." 

We finished our 20 visit package over the next few weeks and each time he was working with laughter he would remind me to shut the lid.

All for a good cause, she had fun and did not get burned to a crisp on the cruise.  And, I got to add a new experience to my lists of firsts.  Have a great evening/day depending on where you are and what time it is when you read this.  Appreciate you visiting with me.

Monday, December 26, 2011

More Quotes

Heard a couple of really good quotes today that I had to share.  Author of both are unknown.

"Some people have more sense by accident than many do on purpose."  I know some of each of those, how 'bout ya'll?

"If the mountain were smooth you wouldn't be able to climb it."  Now that is wisdom!

Never Had Any Doubt

As in never had any doubt about making it through (I just love that word) Christmas.  My pastor's wife and I were talking after church yesterday morning and she asked was I ok.  I assured her that I was, but I was glad Christmas was almost over.  I shared with her, as I will share with you, I really do not like feeling this way about the holidays.  The dreading it and just wanting it to be over.  First of all, I am just too blessed to have that attitude, but I am human.  I really am looking forward to the time that it will again be a time of the year that I enjoy and not merely endure.  I do appreciate those people who tried to make it better for me and were genuinely concerned that I was ok.  As I have mentioned before, this grief thing really is a marathon and not a sprint.  Even though it is not a daily, in your face, thing anymore there are still times that it rears it's ugly head.  With that being said, I love that word through, because it means eventually you come out of whatever it is that you are in.  Oh, and I have to tell you Hannah, my pet rock, now has a companion.  I now have a pet log that I received as a Christmas gift.  Working on fixing her a little bed so she can rest beside Hannah.  Am currently working on thinking of just the right name.  My sister said I just had to name her Anna.  (as in Hannah Anna)  Will let you know when I have named her.  Have a great day!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas

And so it was, , that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:6-14 KJV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Merry Christmas everyone.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

I Promised Another Chuckle

Let me begin with a disclaimer.  This is only funny because it is so bizarre and ludicrous.  And because I choose to laugh about it. 

I mentioned in my story about when I thought I had buried Bobby in my pants that there were 2 humorous moments from that day.  Here is the other one.

I am sitting there on Sunday afternoon minding my own business, still trying to get used to the quiet of the house, when my phone rings.  As I mentioned before, this was the Sun. before he would have been dead 3 weeks the following Tues.  I keep mentioning that because it is sort of relevant to how ridiculous the following is.  I answer the phone and on the other end is a man(?) from here in town.  He asked how I was doing and as I am a polite person I replied with "I am fine and how are you?"  He proceeded to tell me the reason he was calling was to ask if I had thought about dating yet.  Now let me explain about this person in question.  He is a little slow as in "special" slow but even he ain't that damned retarded!  At this point I can't even think about what I want for dinner.  Seriously, it was such a struggle to just make a decision about what to eat that I pretty much lived off of iced sugar cookies and brownies for about 2 months!  And he wants to know have I given any thought to dating again!  I firmly (I thought) told him that no I had not and had no idea when I would, if ever.  He then proceeds to plead his cause with I knew him and his family and knew how old he was but he didn't think age mattered to me.  I told him again that I had no interest in dating at this point but thank you just the same.  He finishes with when I did get ready would I please keep him in mind.  I thanked him for calling and told him that I had to go.

Now let me interject here.  At this point if he had looked like a Greek God, had a million dollars, and would sign a pre-nup that he couldn't touch me and I didn't have to touch him, and I got all of his money if something were to happen I would still not have been interested.  But that is not the case here.  Think of one of the munchkins from The Wizard of Oz with a very nasally tone of voice.  And that STILL doesn't quite fit.  Let me just say that even now that I would like to be dating they have not distilled enough liquor or minted enough money for me to call this man.  Hell will be full of icebergs first!  But the story sadly does not end there.  The next day after I had gone to see Ethel and tell her both stories I was sitting in my office when Ethel came down to check on me.  I got a phone call and while I was talking to my client a lady from the local florist comes in with a delivery for me.  I just nodded and mouthed "thank you" at her and she left.  As soon as I hung up the phone I looked at the card and you can guess who they were from.  Yep, with a message on the card that read, "Call me when you are ready".  Ain't picked that phone up yet!  Now you might be wondering what I did with the flowers (and you may not be).  I threw them in the trash because I did not want to have to explain to ANYBODY where they came from.  The word mortified pretty well fits here.  I did not acknowledge them in any fashion what so ever!  A couple of weeks later my office phone rings and it is him again asking what time I got off work.  I told him and he then proceeds to tell me that he is coming to pick me up when I finish work and we are going to dinner.  Like I said before he is a little slow but at that point I unloaded with both barrels!  I told him that, "hell no, he was not picking me up, that not only was I not going to dinner with him that evening, but as far as I was concerned I would never be going to dinner or anywhere else with him and the best thing he could do was not call me anymore."  By this time I had told my two youngest siblings about this and a few days later my brother (the horse trader) asked had he called anymore.  I told him about that conversation and he did ask if he needed to go see him and have a "little chat".  I told him that I thought I had handled it and would let him know if he needed to.  Haven't heard another word from him and he will hardly look at me when I see him around town.

You know it is no wonder I couldn't find my pants after that.  Feel free to laugh because I certainly have many times!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Well, Just S&#t Fire and Save the Matches

I find absolutely no humor in this situation at all!!!!  Apparently my body has decided it is back on a semi-regular cycle again.  24 days and here we go again!  Might explain why when Dumbass called yesterday and I with my new phone, which I hate, tried to answer it cut him off (this has happened like 10 or 12 times) and then I called him right back and then when he answered did I say hello.  Oh no, he said hey and I immediately replied, "have I told you how much I hate this damn phone?"  Thank goodness he has a sense of humor and laughed before asking me what happened to answering the phone with "hello, how are you?"  And it also might help explain why when talking to him tonight he asked a simple question and I lit into him something terrible.  Bless that boy's heart, he laughed and when he quit laughing at me he asked "do you think you could have said that a little different instead of unloading with both barrels?"  And bitchy as I was being I had to tell him that damn it, it was his choice."  And again, bless that boy's heart he really does know how to diffuse a situation.  You will be glad to know (and maybe not), that I did apologize and start over in a nicer tone of voice.  I abhor those women who use hormonal fluctuations as an excuse for being a bitch, but it always helps to have that safe haven.  That person who knows that most of the time we don't really mean it and love us anyway.  Kinda like the Martina McBride song, "I'm Gonna Love You Through It."  A different it from the song but the it I need loving through at the time.  Will try to share another chuckle with the next post.  Right now just spreading hate and discontent which for those of you who do not know me I assure you is not my nature.  Damn hormones!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Ya'll Need a Chuckle?

Well of course you do, there is a reason that Reader's Digest had a section called "Laughter is the Best Medicine".  Actually there is medical documentation on how healthy laughter is for you.  As I have stated before I try to find humor in as much as possible so I am going to share 1 or 2 stories with you.  I have alluded to these in previous posts and these are at my expense.  As I have said before if I can laugh at myself then everybody else is welcome to join in.  Here goes and I hope you laugh till you have tears running down your legs.

When I thought I buried Bobby in my pants.  He had been dead a little over two weeks when this happened so you can imagine I wasn't seeing much humor in anything but on this particular day I had two things happen that can still get a laugh even today.  This was on Sun. afternoon before he would have been dead 3 weeks on Tues.  I decided to go to a friend's church for the evening service.  It would be the first time being back at a church since his funeral.  Now at this point having to get gussied up was just a struggle (ah, who am I kidding, it has never been easy).  Anyway, before he died he and I had actually talked about what he would be buried in.  Black pants and a brown tweedy sport coat.  So that evening I went to get my black dress pants to iron them to wear to church.  Now at this point let me say that his clothes were in one closet and mine were in another.  I went to my closet and could not find my pants.  I checked in the laundry room to be sure they had not been left in there.  Nope, not there.  Back to my closet, checked every hanger, and they are not there.  So I went to his closet to be sure they had not been mixed up.  My black pants were not there but HIS WAS!  I just sat on the bed shell shocked and thinking, "no, I couldn't have, could I?  No, there is no way, is there?"  Went tearing through both closets again still only one pair of black pants to be found.  His not mine.  I called Janelle and said, "you are not going to believe what I think I have done!"  Naturally her reply was what?  I told her, "I think I buried your daddy in my britches!"  After explaining it to her we began to laugh and laugh and laugh some more.  She told her husband who's answer was that they would have the following put on Bobby's tombstone, "I finally got in my wife's pants"  The next morning I went to see Ethel to tell her what I thought I had done and yep, it was a laugh till I had to cross my legs and run to the bathroom laugh.  Now it was no inconceivable that this would have happened because when he died he weighed less than I did and my pants would have fit him!  For two flippin weeks I went around thinking that I had buried my husband in my pants.  One day I was looking in the closet for something else (for a while I had trouble finding anything).  Hanging under a jacket were my black pants and it all came back to me.  When I got his coat out to send to the funeral home there was a button missing and I didn't have enough sense to find another and sew it on so instead of his black pants and brown tweedy coat, I picked out his grey pants and navy blazer for him to be buried in.  OMG what a relief!  And boy, oh, boy what fun I have had telling that one!  I will spread this humor out and share in day or two the other hilarious thing that happened the same day and then I will share my first experience in a tanning bed with you.  (talk about country come to town!)  Have a great day/night whatever it might be.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Tore Up!

Not me, my house.  There is trash in the floor, dishes in the sink, a missing shoe, and just (for me) a little chaos.  And it is all good.  My siblings and their families had Christmas this evening.  All this disarray says to me that a good time was had by those here.  I do not want to be remembered as the aunt, granny, or sister that got all bent out of shape about her house getting messed up.  I want them to all remember that we were here together and enjoyed being with each other.  No elaborate gifts or lots of money spent just plenty of food, fun, and togetherness.  Most of this mess will still be here for a couple of days because it most likely will be Tues. night or Wed. morning before I get a chance to tidy up and you know what the earth will not stop turning.  There will be many families that will not be able to say that they got together or that they enjoyed being together.  I am thankful that is not the case for us.  This was the first year that I have had Christmas at my house since Bobby died and I will admit to feeling sad much of the day.  One of those days of feeling sad and glad at the same time.  I guess this is a sign of healing.  Hope everyone has a good week.  Working about 3 hours at job 3 in the morning before leaving for a horse sale (job 2).  Not sure if there will be any work on job 1 tomorrow, will just have to wait to see if there are any phone calls.  Take care.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

How Did I Forget?

Well I know how I forgot.  1.  It is one of those menopausal things.  2.  It just happens and though disappointed you just deal with it and go on.  What you may or may not ask did I forget?  I have to start my count over!  I went 144 days toward the one year mark and guess what showed up.  Yep, you got it.  One full fledged period just as if it had been as regular as clockwork.  Oh well, the count started over.  I could have just cried!!!  I talk to women who say "oh one day mine just stopped, and I never had any hot flashes or anything".  Makes you almost want to smack them.  I said almost. 

Taking a couple of minutes squeezed in between several busy days to just write for a moment.  Horse sale today, family Christmas tomorrow, job 3 and horse sale on Mon.  I am not complaining because it is making these days pass very quickly with little idle time for the mind to wander.  As much as I have been griping about not looking forward to the holidays and wanting to skip Christmas I have developed a new attitude.  You know how people will ask you if you are ready for Santa Claus?  And I have shared my sentiment, "don't care anything about seeing that fat @@@."  Well, the answer has changed.  Someone asked me this week if I was ready for Santa to get here and I answered with "I sure am, cause he can't leave till he gets here."  Maybe the attitude is not so different, just the answer.  Looking forward to closing the books on this year and seeing what next year holds.  Ya'll have a great weekend and I will be back soon.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Good Morning

Nothing really to say this morning except "good morning".  Hope everyone is having a good day today.  Enjoying some warm temperatures enough so that I have walked to work (job 3) the past two days.  Getting ready for a busy several days.  It is hard to believe that Christmas Day is 10 days from now.  Listening to the Christmas song, "If We Make it Through Dec.".  I think I am going to suggest celebrating Christmas in the summer to my family.  Something to help take a little of the stress out of it for everyone.  Wonder if everyone would enjoy it more if there were not so much other stuff going on.  It's a thought.  Have a great day.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Just My Theory

It is just my own personal theory that all human beings are basically lazy, there are just some people that do more to overcome it than others.  With that being said, I am about as sorry tonight as one person ought to be.  I am not mind you what other people would consider a lazy person (I work harder to overcome it) but man, oh, man tonight it is a good thing that breathing comes natural!  While working at job 3 today I made a to do list of what I wanted to get done and so far all I have done is look at it!  Nothing is getting marked off like that!  Even playing around with the idea of just getting up in the morning and starting on it.  Even though I know that I have a client calling probably around 7:45 in the morning, but I will have about 3 hours tomorrow afternoon between job 3 and an appt. for job 1.  I can get a ton of stuff done in 3 hours can't I?  Sure I can, just talked myself into it.  Have a great evening.  Oh, and I find myself in that position of needing a free paid escort for a Christmas engagement next week that I just really can't avoid.  Ethel told me I could borrow her husband if I needed to.  Now that is a friend!  LOL!  Tootles

Saturday, December 10, 2011

How Is It Possible?

I will begin this post with a disclaimer:  I am ok.  I really am but just need to get some things off my heart.  My Hospice bereavement counselor suggested many times that I should write things down and this blog is in some ways exactly what I am doing.  I really and truly am ok.

Sometimes I marvel that the human psyche (definition; the soul personified) can possibly deal with multiple emotions at the same time.  In the past couple of years I find myself at times feeling mad, sad, and glad all at the same time.  I am sure that a great deal of what I am feeling now is intensified by the holidays.  But the prevailing emotions seem to be sadness and confusion.  Oh don't get me wrong I also still feel thankful, joyful, and optimistic but these have kinda taken a back seat.  And I also know what the most prominent fuel for this feeling right now is.  Yesterday was my wedding anniversary.  If Bobby were still living it would have been our 22nd anniversary.  And oh God, I miss him so bad.  But, I also loved him enough to rejoice that he doesn't have to live his life in pain and suffering.  My husband was a very energetic athletic man.  I sometimes would tell him that it really was ok to sometimes just sit and do nothing because he was always doing something.  To watch him over a 10 month period of time change from a big robust man to a shell of his old self who weighed less than I did.  (I even had about a 2 week period that I thought I had buried him in my pants, but that is another story.).  I believe with all my heart that he is in heaven free of pain, sorrow, and suffering so no I love him enough that I would not wish for him to be back.  But, that doesn't make me miss him any less.  I read something this week that another widow of 2 years had written and there was such truth in it.  "For anyone grieving a significant loss and especially the loss of a spouse; the first year is a year of learning to adjust and physically survive.  The second year is when profound feelings of sadness arise as the loss becomes more real."  Ya'll have heard me say that in some ways the 2nd year was just as hard as the 1st just in a different way and I think that pretty well sums it up.  I have no idea what the 3rd is going to be like.  I only know that I miss my husband and I am lonely.  It is a loneliness that has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of people around you.  It is that loneliness of the heart.  Of not having that person that knows your thoughts almost as well (and sometimes better) than you know yourself.  Of not having that person who can finish your sentence, who even at your worst appearance still thinks you are the most beautiful thing in the world to them.  Of not having that person that just senses that you need a hug and that with that person no words have to be said.  Johnny Cash said, "There's no way around grief and loss; you can dodge it all you want, but sooner or later you just have to go into it, through it, and hopefully come out on the other side.  The world you find there will never be the same as the world you left."

Thank you for letting me bend you ear.  I really am ok, I am just still trying to adjust to or maybe even find this "new normal".  And to be honest some days it just plain ole sucks.  Don't know about ya'll but I think that is pretty healthy to admit that.  That's my story and I am sticking to it.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Couldn't Have Said it Better Myself

This is for all the strong ladies who have been through a lot in life and survived!! Say this out loud "I am strong because I know weakness. I am compassionate because I have experienced suffering. I am alive because I am a fighter. I am wise because I have been foolish. I can laugh because I have known sadness. I can love because I have known loss."

Don't ya'll love this?  There is so much truth in this. Kinda goes along with my "everything we go through is helping to mold us into the person we are becoming."   Hope everyone is having a good week.  Busy, busy, busy here.  As of right now (6:00 p.m. on Thurs.) I have put in about 40 hours between the 3 jobs.  Will write more soon.  Thanks!  Remember we are strong women.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Quotes From Facebook Posts

Saw several quotes this week on different people's FB posts.  Just wanted to share.

1.  "I have learned you can't make someone love you.  All you can do is be someone who can be loved."
     While that sounds kinda like a "duh, huh" kinda of comment when you stop and think about it there are people who feel so unlovable that they foster that attitude and make it difficult to love them.

2.  "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
     Boy is there ever truth in that!  I said several times during Bobby's illness and after his death that you find strength that you didn't even know you had.

3.  "Missing someone isn't about how long it has been since you have seen or talked to them.  It is about that very moment when you find yourself doing something and wishing they were by your side."
    
4.  "Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent free in your head."
    This is so true.  It gives the other party control over you.

And my favorite:

5:  "At the end of the day all we have is who we are."
     This pretty well sums up a conversation that Dumbass and I had this week.  All that we go through helps shape us into the person that we are becoming.  We can't change the past but we can learn from it and strive to be a better person.  We might as well learn from it and learn to live with it because it will always be a part of who we are.  What we do have control over is how much it controls us and do we become a better person for it, whatever it is.  We are who we are and you can accept it or guess what guess what?  You can march your happy a@@ on and never know what you missed.  Wasn't it the Army that had the slogan, Be All That You Can Be.  Have a great day.
 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Life is Good

Today I am above ground and vertical so yes life is good.  Today is a whole new day of promise.  So let's see if we can't get the best out of it!  Sometimes I have to remind my own self that life is all about choices.  Dumbass and I had a conversation this week about this very thing.  My feeling is that I can choose to live life or just exist and watch it pass by.  And as I choose to live it then today is a new opportunity to see what I can learn (because you know that any day you learn something the day has not been wasted), who I can encourage, and what I can enjoy.  Ya'll have an awesome day.

Friday, December 2, 2011

It is Not as Bad as it Sounds

Ok Anonymous (RK), it really is not as bad as it sounds.  I will have you know that with my tree in the dining room you can actually see the tree from 3 windows, the front, back, and side, so it is even better than the living room.  It was just one of those things that I miss doing with Bobby, I always did the decorating and he kept me company while I did it.  Just feeling a little lonely but I am ok.  I don't have to worry about the outside decorations the town does a real good job with that.   But not to worry, I had a little talk with myself and I really am ok. But I really do appreciate your concern and I know you are there if I need you and that means more than you know.  Hope you have a great day.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Time Marches On

Well children, another month is in the books.  Hard to believe that in just a few short weeks it will be another year gone and a new one beginning.  I have decided that I would make a good bear.  I would looooooove to hibernate for the next couple of months.  November and December just aren't on my list of favorites at the moment.  Monday night I was thinking I should go ahead and decorate for Christmas (you know with that tree that I threatened to keep in the closet).  I sat and looked around the living room, got up and fixed a cup of hot chocolate, went back to the recliner sat and looked around, sipped hot chocolate, sat and looked around and then just said to hell with it and went to bed.  It was 6:45.  In a better frame of mind did drag all that stuff out and it took me two days but I am pleased to say that the decorations are up.  I did however put the tree in the dining room so I don't have to look at it so much.  I am trying folks but the holiday spirit just ain't hit.  I did tell my daughter that I might have enjoyed it more if alcohol had been involved.  But, alas, it was the work day so I abstained.  I should be ashamed of myself for sounding negative after 30 days of Thanksgiving and I do apologize.  You would think that this being my 3rd Christmas alone that it might be a little easier and in some ways I guess it is.  Time does march on and I promise to be in a more positive frame of mind.  I warned ya'll at Halloween I was turning into a Scrooge.  Bah humbug and all that.  Thanks for listening.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 30)

Day 30

Today I am thankful for the 30 days of Thanksgiving that have helped me to pause and reflect on what I am thankful for.

Any of us at any time if we were asked what we are thankful for can give a standard pat answer.  I am thankful for:  life, family, job, and etc.  But these 30 days of Thanksgiving have helped me to think "outside the box" about some of those things that I am truly thankful for but most of the time we just take for granted or don't even realize they are blessings to be counted.  So today I am thankful for the time that I have had to reflect on those un-ordinary things that I am thankful for.  This was probably best brought to light for me during a conversation with Dumbass.  We have been doing the 30 days during phone conversations.  On the morning that I was thankful that I like myself he commented to me that not everybody can say that.  Which led to a more in depth conversation about it.  The same thing with the being thankful for a sense of humor.  There are many people who don't enjoy that blessing.  So yes today I am thankful for the 30 days of Thanksgiving.  I wish that I could say that it will help me to stop and notice those small things all during the year and not just in November.  One young lady remarked that she is going to try to list in her journal 3 things she is thankful for each day because she had noticed that her attitude was much more positive when she started her day being thankful.  Have an awesomely blessed day.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Enjoy!

 
 Another e-mail I received and too good not to share.

      Old people R O C K !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of  myself. I've become my own friend.. 

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before  they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer  until 4 AM or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish  to weep over a lost love .. I will. 

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with  abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.  They, too, will get old. 

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I  eventually remember the important things

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not  break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken  hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will  never know the joy of being imperfect. 

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have  my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. 

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about  what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I  like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,

But while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could  have been, or worrying about what will be.. And I shall eat dessert  every single day(if I feel like it). 

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT  FROM THE HEART
 

Today I Am Thankful For (day 29)

Day 29

Today I am thankful that I live in a part of the country that has the changing of the seasons.  I know that I have moaned and groaned about it getting colder and how much I dread it but I really am thankful for the changing of the seasons.  It is hard for me to imagine living somewhere that the climate stayed the same year round.  My favorite season is probably the spring time.  After a long, dreary, cold winter being able to see new life coming out is a sign of hope.  Even with all the pollen and the sneezing and the itchy, watery eyes how can you not love seeing new growth on trees and flowers blooming.  With winter being my least favorite there is still something magical about that first snowfall.  When a blanket of snow covers everything and sounds seem to be muffled.  And to just sit and watch the snow fall.  How amazing it is that those tiny little flakes can eventually cover everything.  Then to feel the summer sun on your skin.  To just gaze into the sky and feel the sun heat you.  Yeah I know that with that comes a lot of sweating and chaffing but there are still those moments.  Then the fall to watch leaves changing colors and those days that it is just cool enough for long sleeves but no jacket.  Even though it signals that winter is on the way there is just something about a crisp fall morning.  Yes, I enjoy the changing of the seasons.  It allows me to enjoy God's creation at it's finest.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 28)

Day 28

Today I am thankful for technology.

For someone who remembers party line telephones, having to have the operator place a long-distance call for you, cameras that the film had to be developed and even then you had a choice of black and white or color, black and white tv, and no remote controls technology has advanced to an amazing degree in a short time.  Although older I am not what one would consider old (unless you are younger than 12). 

I am thankful for the technology that allows me to communicate with family and friends at any time of the day or night no matter where we are.  I can make a picture and immediately send it to someone else.  I can talk long-distance for hours and not worry about the cost.  Technology has made our world so much smaller.  And even though there are those who use it for criminal purposes for the most part it is used in a positive manner. 

I have been fascinated for some time with the concept of "6 degrees of separation" and have been heard to say that with technology I am not convinced that it is less than 6.  A few days ago there was an article on Yahoo that supported this.  There has actually been a study that proved it is now less than 5 degrees.

On another note while I am thankful for technology and instant communication I will say that letter writing has become a lost art and that saddens me.  How many of us miss the anticipation of going to the mailbox and having a letter from a friend or relative and being excited to open it to see what they have to say.  As it has been said the only thing certain is change.  So even though missing those lost arts of letter writing and card sending I will embrace the opportunities that technology has given us.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 27)

Day 27

Today I am thankful for music. It really does soothe the savage beast.

I listen to music much more than I watch tv.  Not that I am the savage beast (feel kinda like it sometime) but it really is soothing to me.  Music speaks to me on many different levels.  I love that riding in the car with the windows down and music loud feeling.  I also enjoy the quiet background music.  I love the old hymns that tell the gospel in song, old rock and roll, and old and new country.  I am glad that I am accomplished at playing my favorite instrument, the radio.  Unfortunately that is all the musical talent that I have but that does not diminish my enjoyment of music.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 26)

Day 26

Today I am thankful for my aunts. On each side of the family these are some of the strongest women I know. Love you all.

Think Steel Magnolias.  My aunts embody everything you have ever read or seen about southern women.  (minus the ignorance)  These truly are some of the strongest women that I know.  Even though we have not lived close to them in distance for most of my life you still knew they were there for the big stuff.  From attending weddings and graduations to sitting with us when Mama was in the hospital and sitting beside us while Daddy was dying their presence has always been so reassuring.  These women set the example for "the cavalry".  I am blessed to have them in my life.

Hi Ya'll

Just wanted to say hello again to Russia and Germany.  I am so glad ya'll keep coming back.  Thanks to all of you who read my rantings and ramblings.  For me just a plain ole girl in the southern USA it just tickles me slap to death that people in other countries are reading what I write.  Thank you!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 26)

Day 25

Today I am thankful that I like myself. While there is always room for growth and improvement I am happy with who I am.

Two years ago in Sept. I found myself in a situation that I had not been in for a great number of years.  Being alone with no companion.  I have said that being by yourself because of the death of a spouse is entirely different than being alone because of divorce.  In a divorce one or both partners makes a choice not to be with the other.  In the death of a spouse neither of you have a choice.  The last 2 + years have been a journey in rediscovering who I am.  I am one person now and not part of a unit.  I said that after Bobby died I probably understood the best the part of the marriage vows "and the two shall become one".

I made the comment that I had spent so many years being a wife that I had almost forgotten how to be a woman.  So I am a work in process learning how to be an individual and sometimes it is a slow process.  But I am thankful that for the most part and most of the time I like who I am and am comfortable with myself.  As the apostle Paul said, I have learned to be content with whatever circumstance that I find myself in.  Let's see what I can learn today!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 24)

Day 24
Today I am thankful for those two sisters Mercy and Grace who visit and stay me far more than I deserve.

God has shown me much mercy in my life.  He has spared my life more times than I am sure that I even know about.  He has shown me mercy when I was the greatest distance from Him and kept me in His loving care.  He has shown me the ultimate mercy when He provided for my salvation through His son Jesus.  I have learned there are so many different types of grace.  The grace to live by and the grace to die by.  I am thankful for the grace that helps me to face every day.  In my own strength I have no strength but in God's strength I am able to face anything through grace.  At my loneliest, saddest, lowest, and in the deepest valley grace has always been there.  At the highest mountain tops of my life, at my deepest moments of joy, and the happiest moments in my life grace has also always been there.  Yes, today I am thankful for mercy and grace.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 23)

Day 23

Today I am thankful for skilled nursing facilities and the caring people who work in them.

As I have mentioned before my mother has Alzheimer's.  (That is one of those other mid-life crises).  We have been dealing with this on some level for about 15 years.  Mama was able to live fairly independently until about 6 1/2 years ago.  At that point she lived with one of us until about 2 years ago.  Although no one wants to place a loved one in a long term care facility there comes a time when it is the best thing for everybody.  Mama has been in 2 different facilities during this time and we have been happy with both.  We have met some very caring people in each place.  I still have people (employees and family members of other patients) from the first facility who always ask how Mama is.  I appreciate those who work in these places because it is often difficult work and they are very much underpaid and under appreciated.  Thank you to all those who have chosen this as your life's work.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Trying to See the Problem Here

However, I am also a very independent head strong mom.  I blame this on my mother (so does my husband).  I try to handle stuff on my own first, then we will go from there.

The above was taken from Janelle's blog from Monday.  I am thinking, "and the problem with this is?"  LOL!!!  This was in reference to one of her children being sick and she tried to take care of it herself before going to the dr.  In her defense (and I guess in a way mine too) the kid was only sick one day before she took him to the dr.  But bless that kid's heart he had "ammonia"  But what is a mother to do when there is no fever and not a greatly reduced amount of activity on the kid's part.  She does a good job and sometimes feels guilty as a mom but hey, isn't that normal!  I just want to state that I do not see being an independent woman as being a character flaw.  Go Janelle!!!  There are much worse things you could have gotten from me.

Today I Am Thankful For (day 22)

Day 22

Today I am thankful for my Daddy. Today is his birthday and he would have been 79 years old. He has been gone for 11 years and I miss him as much now as ever.

My daddy was one of the smartest men that I have ever known.  He was not well educated from formal schooling and only had an 8th grade education.  However, I never saw him encounter any problem that he could not figure out.  He was blessed with a wealth of common sense.  Daddy also taught me many things.  He taught a good work ethic and what it meant to take care of family.  He could scare me to death with a look.  I have said there were times that I would rather him have beat me than scold me with a look or words.  Although Daddy taught me that a good work ethic is important he also taught me that it is also important to have fun.  Many of the things that he taught me I learned by the way he lived and not by what he preached at us.  Daddy was not without his faults and I don't mean to make him sound like a saint.  He wasn't perfect as none of us are but he will forever be one of the most influential people in my life.  Even though many times growing up I did not appreciate it God truly blessed me with my Daddy.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 21)

Day 21

Today I am thankful that Janelle and Kenneth share their friends with me.

As I have mentioned before several people that I call friends are friends that I have made through my daughter and son-in-law.  These young folks always act like they are glad to see me.  They act like they enjoy my company.  They are good kids and I am thankful to call them my friends.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 20)

Day 20

Today I am thankful for Bill and Ellen Watkins and the hospitality they always extend to us.  This is my brother the horse trader's in-laws.  They are always welcoming to any of our family.  I always have a somewhere to sleep there, for horse sales, holidays, or a "oh my god, I have got to get away" visit.  I am always comfortable walking around in my pajamas, hair a mess, and no shower.  I never worry that I am intruding because they never make me feel that way.  They are an extension of my family and I am thankful for them.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 19)

Day 19

Today I am thankful that Gerald lets me help with horse sales, who would have thought I would enjoy something that much.

Ya'll know if you have read some of my previous posts that I really do love a horse sale.  I am thankful that Gerald asked me to help him.  It happened at a time in my life that I needed that added interaction with people and needed the extra money.  Truth be told I enjoy it so much that I would do it for no pay.  I am thankful that he asked me to help and I am thankful for the new friends I have made through working at them.  I have made the comment that I must be the missing link because I really do love being at these sales.  I am thankful that I am able to find blessings in different situations and take pleasure in what to some people are the small things in life.  Have a great day folks, I am going to a horse sale later today.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 18)

Day 18

Today I am thankful for doctors and medicine.  Throughout my life I have been on the receiving end and the observation end.  I had someone ask once if I believed in divine healing.  My reply was that I thought all healing was divine healing because God had given doctors and science the knowledge to do what they do.  Over 25 years ago I had a cerebral aneurysm that was surgically repaired and I marvel now at how far medicine and medical care has progressed.  Being a caregiver for my mother-in-law, father, and husband during cancer treatment, I am thankful for those compassionate people who treat this horrible disease on a daily basis.  One of my grandsons was diagnosed yesterday with pneumonia.  He was given a breathing treatment in the office and sent home with meds.  A few years ago that would have meant a stay in the hospital and even more years ago would have been life threatening.  So yes today I am thankful for doctors and the improvement in medicines that while not always being able to heal are able to provide comfort.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 17)

Day 17

Today I am thankful for that rare jewel called common sense and even more thankful that I have a little bit of it.

Education is a wonderful thing but common sense will in the long run get you much farther than all the book knowledge in the world.  I would much rather deal with someone who has good old fashioned horse sense and maybe limited education than someone with vast knowledge who doesn't have a clue how to apply it.  It also seems that people who are blessed with common sense are better able to deal with all types of people.  Please don't misunderstand I am not discrediting a good education.  It is vital in the society that we live in and I am very thankful for those people who posses both. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 16)

Day 16

Today I am thankful for policemen, firemen, and paramedics and the families that support them in their profession. These are often thankless, underpaid, stressful jobs. I appreciate all you do and am thankful you are willing to do it.

For many of these men and women it is truly a calling and not just a job.  Just as with our military we often forget the families that are impacted by these jobs also.  With having a son-in-law who is a police officer I see first hand the missed holidays, missed school events, and the added stress that can sometimes impact the family.

In each of these professions there is always the possibility that with any given call their lives may be in danger yet they are willing to serve and protect anyway.  For all these people I am thankful.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 15)

Day 15

Today I am thankful for brother-in-laws and sister -in- laws.  These are people who became part of our family because they chose to and they are part of the family.  I always advise young people who are considering a serious relationship to remember that when you marry you don't just marry the person you are in love with but you marry the whole fan damily so you better be sure you like them.  I am blessed with a brother-in-law that is always willing to help with whatever needs to be helped with.  I am also blessed with a sister-in-law that I am proud to also consider a dear friend.  We enjoy each other's company and the time spent together.  I really do have a pretty awesome family and even other people comment on how well we get along.  Enough so that several people have asked to be "adopted in".  Even Dumbass asked a couple of times how do you get to be a member of the family.  It really is pretty cool to be part of such an eclectic group of people.  Have a blessed day.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 14)

Day 14

Today I am thankful for my brothers and sisters.  These are the core group of people my daughter refers to as the cavalry.  No matter what is going on if one of us needs something we can depend on the others to ride to the rescue.  We don't always agree on everything but no matter how aggravated we may get with each other we each know that you are there for each other.  Being the oldest of this brood of five these are also my first children, especially the younger 3. 

We don't have to be all up in each other's business to know that we can depend on each other in the big stuff.  We have held each other up through the break up of marriages, death of a parent, death of a spouse, and dealing with Mama's Alzheimer's.  In talking with other people I am always amazed at how strong our core unit is.  We may not agree with what each of us are doing but we are always there to support each other in the tough times and celebrate in the good times.  What a blessing it is that not only do we love and support each other but we also enjoy each other's company and always look forward to being together.  Have a blessed day.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 13)

Day 13
Today I am thankful that I have the freedom to go to church, the freedom to choose where I go, and that I know I will hear the Word of God preached truthfully.

I enjoy the freedom of worshiping publicly anywhere that I choose.  I enjoy the freedom to go or not to go whenever I choose.  If I don't feel welcome at one church I have the freedom to leave.  For this I am thankful.  I am also thankful that when I attend the church of my choice I know that when the preacher stands in the pulpit to preach I am going to hear the Word of God, not some one's opinion.  I am thankful that where I attend church I am with a congregation of people who do not claim to be perfect, who are compassionate, and who are not judgemental.  Today I am thankful for this freedom, my pastor, and my church family.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 12)

Day 12

Today I am thankful for my ball team and their wives. 
For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis you know that I am talking about my softball team.  This really is a group of wonderful men and women.  I never realized or imagined when Bobby started playing with this team in 2005 how much a part of my life they would be 6 years later.  These men and women have for the past couple of years "been loving me through it".  One of the amazing things is that most of the time they have no idea how valuable they have been to me.   I know that much of the time I refer to "my boys" but their wives are amazing too.  How awesome is it that they share their husbands with me and there has never been one who was even remotely jealous or felt threatened by my relationship with their husbands.  One of the wives told me one day that she thought it was wonderful how protective the team felt toward me.  Yep, I am blessed to have these folks as my friends.  I love my big brothers and big sisters.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Today I am Thankful For (day 11)

Day 11

Today (obviously since it is Veteran's Day) I am thankful for all the military, past and present, who gave of themselves to defend our great country.  Because of the sacrifice of many I am able to publicly proclaim what I am thankful for without worry of censorship.  I am able to voice my opinions, keep a gun, worship where I choose, and countless other freedoms that many people in other countries do not enjoy.  I also am thankful for those family members who sacrificed sending their loved ones into the military.  So very often we remember to think about those in the service and are reminded often to pray for them but we forget about the families that are left behind.  I am thankful for them all.  God bless America!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Today I am Thankful For (day 10)

Day 10

Today I am thankful for those small things in life that help take the sting out of the big things.

When some of the big stuff like too much month at the end of the money, the hurt of being alone, the pain you feel for someone else's problems threaten to overwhelm there are those small things that happen that remind us the big stuff ain't so big after all.  (how is that for a run on sentence)

The small things like hearing a child giggle, being in the grocery store and having someone you don't even know smile and say how are you.  Things like a friend dropping by unannounced, hearing a favorite song that you haven't heard in a while, a phone call that says I just had you on my mind and wanted to check on you.  Things like being told you are appreciated when you are feeling taken for granted.  Things like being reminded to stop and count your blessings.  When I begin to count my blessings the stresses seem to start sliding down to the bottom of the list.  When you realize that it is the small things that count anyway.  Have a wonderfully blessed day full of the small things that help get you through the day.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 9)

Day 9

Today I am thankful for a sense of humor and the healing powers of a good laugh.
The kind that comes when you can't unring the bell!


I have learned that laughter has almost the as much healing power and at times maybe even more than crying.  Not to discredit the need for tears.  There are times in all of our lives that sadness causes us to cry and there is healing in that.  There are times that I feel a little like the Reba McIntyre song, "I'm Not Gonna Cry" and hold it all back but then there comes a time when you just have to let go.  But in these 2+ years of widowhood I have also learned the power of a good ole fashioned belly laugh.  I can get the giggles and a niece will look at me and say "you can't unring the bell" (which is another story in itself) meaning she knows that once I get started it may last a while.  But oh how good it feels to laugh.  Almost the same feeling you get after a long dreary winter and then you start to notice springtime is on the way.  It gives you hope and that feeling of being alive.  So while not true in every situation, I have tried to be able to find the humor in almost everything.  And, I am learning that not only does it help me feel better but it also helps those around me.  I don't know about ya'll but I would a whole lot rather be with someone who can laugh at things and especially themselves than someone who goes around looking like they are constantly sucking lemons.  So yeah, today I am thankful for humor. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

More Detail on Day 7 & 8

Day 7 & 8 continued

On Monday I was thankful for organizations like Hospice, Shriner's, and Samaritan's Purse.

If you have ever been the recipient of services from Hospice I hope you agree that these folks are just awesome.  My first Hospice experience was with my mother-in-law.  Even though they were a new organization in the county at that time and were in their infancy we received wonderful support and help for the two weeks they were involved.  My next experience was with my daddy and I will be forever grateful to these people who touched our lives.  Daddy was in the hospice program for just a little over 6 months.  During that time I met the chaplain, nurse, and social worker.  I will never forget on the day that Daddy died I had called his hospice nurse a few minutes after 1 in the afternoon and told her I thought the end was very near.  Daddy had stopped breathing several times, sometimes for as long as a minute and then would start back.  She told me that she was finishing with a patient and would be out as soon as she was through.  She arrived a little after two and I was able to draw such strength from just her being there.  Daddy died between 6 and 7 that night and she was in the room with us when he died and stayed till probably 10 that night.  I will never forget being outside on the porch late in the afternoon and her walking up behind me, putting her arm around me and very quietly saying, "it's a beautiful day to be going home isn't it".  And it was.  My hospice experience with Bobby was just as positive even though their involvement was much shorter with his care but I did receive bereavement care for 13 months.  God bless these wonderful people!

Shriner's offers so much hope to children and their families with medical care that other wise families could not afford.  I have a niece who received care from Shriner's until she was 18.  I now have a friend whose daughter is going to benefit from care at a Shriner's hospital and for this family it is absolutely a God send.

Samaritan's Purse delivers so much hope to so many people all over the world that I cannot begin to describe it all but if you are not familiar with them check them out then pray for them.

On Tuesday I am thankful for those children in my life (some who are not children anymore) who call me Granny or Aunt Connie.  My grandchildren are of course awesome.  It is so amazing to watch them growing up.  I have said that grandchildren are our rewards for not killing our kids.  I have many children who call me Aunt Connie  those who are related to me and some that are not.  I think it is just awesome that there are those friends of nieces and nephews who also call me Aunt Connie.  These children instead of making me mourn how old I am getting actually help keep me at least young at heart.  God bless each and every one of you.

Today I Am Thankful For (Days 7 & 8)

Days 7 & 8

Today i am thankful for the many groups that reach out to others. While there are many there are three come to mind first. Hospice, Shriner's, and Samaritan's purse. Have a blessed day.

Today I am thankful for all those children in my life who call me Granny or Aunt Connie.

I am in a bit of a hurry this morning as I have to be at work at job 3 in about 40 minutes.  I will expound on these thoughts tonight.  Thanks and have a great day.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 6)

Day 6

Today I am thankful that for over 20 years God trusted me with the love of a man who loved me unconditionally, treated me as an equal, and gave me great joy in my life. Bobby would be 65 years old today and even though he has been gone for over two years still gives me great joy through all the wonderful memories that I have of him and our life together.

I have said that the day we had Bobby's funeral I not only buried my spouse but also my best friend.  We worked together, we played together, and we loved each other enough that even with all the togetherness we respected each other's need for alone time.

I have said that he was not perfect and neither am I but he was perfect for me.  I cherish the way he made me feel about him, about life, and about myself.  As I flounder around now finding my way by myself he also left me the confidence to survive on my own and hopefully one day again to have that same relationship with another man.  It won't be to replace what we had but something new of it's own that I can enjoy knowing that I have his blessing.

So far it has been a teary day but in all ways Bobby would remind me that I am a survivor.  So today I not only acknowledge thanksgivings but thanks living.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 5)

Day 5
Today I am thankful for friends, old and new, near and far.  It has been said that most people only have five real friends and if you ever got in trouble you could probably count on only two of them.  Today I am thankful for those friends who stood (and stand) not behind me but beside me when I screw up.  I am thankful for Ethel (as in Lucy and) who when I got in trouble came to see me immediately and told me I was your friend before and I don't care what you have done I am still your friend.  This is the same friend that when Bobby was sick and was not able to get out of the bed not only came to visit but climbed right up on the bed with us and held my hand.  She is also the same person that thanks to her talents as a hairdresser keeps me looking like a goddess.  You may get off of the floor now, she does her part but she only has so much to work with.  I am thankful for those long time friends like Sweet and Low and his wife, who even though old enough to be my parents are very dear friends.  I am thankful for the friends of my daughter and her husband who have become my friends also, and as strange as it is to me sometimes, actually seem to enjoy my company and want me around.  I am thankful for those clients who have become friends and always have a hug for me whenever I see them.  I am thankful for Dumbass who from the very first conversation I sensed that this was someone I could trust.  I am thankful that I can talk with him about anything and thankful that he trusts me for him to be able to do the same.  He gave me one of the greatest compliments anyone ever has when he called to talk about something confidential and told me he knew he could depend on me.  I am thankful for the men and their wives from the ball team that have enriched my life so much with their friendship.  I am thankful for the new friends I have made through working and going to horse sales and all these ball tournaments.  I can honestly say that I have more than five true friends and I really believe I could count on more than two.  More tomorrow.

Today I Am Thankful For (Day 4)

Day 4
Today I am thankful for my new energy efficient heat pump.  This means that I don't have to buy fuel oil this winter.  Someone mentioned to me that would be money I would save over the winter and my reply was more like money that I don't have to come up with.  With the new heat pump comes a new thermostat that is accurate and I don't have to play with to figure out where to set it for the desired temp.  I am not complaining about the old one, it just took some trial and error to figure out exactly where to set it.  I am also thankful for the young couple who I rent from for taking care of it so promptly.  I am late with this post because internet had a system wide outage all day yesterday so I am also thankful that centurylink has me back online.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For Day 3

Day 3
Today I am thankful for my 5 senses; seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting.

I am thankful for my sight and even though the eye doctor told me I only have one good eye, I am thankful for vision that can be corrected for me to be able to see.  I get to see the expressions on my grandchildren's faces when they see me and that still excites them.  I am able to see the beauty of God's creation.  Trees budding in the spring and leaves changing in the fall.  Flowers opening from bud to bloom, and the beauty of a clear Carolina blue sky.  To experience the flash of lightening in a summer storm and the rising and setting of the sun.  To be able to see and appreciate a full moon.

I am thankful for my hearing.  It allows me to hear aforementioned grandchildren say I love you Granny.  It allows me to hear my daughter tell me she loves me.  It allows me to be a listener for those who need someone to listen to them.  I get to hear the birds sing and the waves coming in at the ocean.  It also allowed me to hear a wonderful man tell me how much he loved me.  And, even though he has been gone over 2 years now in my mind I can still hear him say, "Hi dear" when one of us had been somewhere.

I am thankful for the sense of feeling.  To be able to feel a hug, the wonderful sensation of crawling into a bed of freshly laundered sheets, the feeling of putting on old worn out blue jeans, and to feel the touch of someone who loves you.

I am thankful for the sense of smell.  To be able to nuzzle an infant and smell that baby smell, to smell fresh baked bread, and even Aqua Velva that reminds me of my daddy.

And I am thankful for the sense of taste.  That first cup of coffee in the morning that helps me ease into the day, a slice of pound cake, and the very favorite, the taste of a warm gooey brownie.

For all of these things and the memories they leave I am thankful.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Today I Am Thankful For (day 2)

Day 2
Today I am thankful for being employed and that applies to all 3 jobs (still looking for the 4th).  I am grateful that when my regular job needs supplementing that I have the other 2 to help out.  I am thankful that I enjoy all of them and the people that I meet along the way in each of them.  I am thankful for the health to work and thankful for parents that taught a good old fashioned work ethic not so much by what they said but by what they did.  I do however remember my daddy telling me when I started working not to get too self-assured in any job.  He told me that no matter how good I was at the job, no matter how much I wanted it or needed it that there was at least 10 other people who wanted it worse than I did, needed it worse than I did and could do a better job than I could.  I still try to remember that even now.  But that old woman I work for sure makes it difficult sometimes.  She can really be a slacker if you don't stay after her.  (there is nothing unhealthy about referring to yourself in the 3rd person).  See ya'll tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Day 1 Today I Am Thankful For

Day 1
Last year on the first of November a Facebook friend challenged all her FB friends to post something each day that they were thankful for.  I accepted the challenge and after posting mine for today I sent her a message to thank her for the challenge last year and that I was starting it this year.  So with that background I am also going to share here my 30 days of thanksgiving.

Today I am thankful for memories.  No they are not all good but there are more good ones than not so good.  I am a firm believer that the things that we go through in life are constantly helping to mold us into the person we are becoming.  Because I have a mother with Alzheimer's I have said that to me one of the saddest results from that disease is losing your memories.  Today I am thankful for mine and that I can remember them.

More tomorrow.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Not All Sure When This Began to Happen

Me thinks that I am becoming the Scrouge of all things holiday.  And I really don't care what holiday it is.  Let me start with Halloween.   I mean seriously it is not even a holiday, it is more of an observance.  It is National Teach Your Kid To Beg Day.  As I live on the main throughfare of a small rural town let me just say that on Halloween night I am not at home.  I would have to take a 2nd mortgage to buy candy for all the little (and not so little) ghosts and goblins that come down through here.  And since I don't even have the first mortgage that is not a possibility.  Last year I enjoyed a bonfire at some friends of Janelle and Kenneth's but as how Begging Day came on a weeknight this year we enjoyed the bonfire on Sat. night this year.  My original plan was to sit at home in the dark and pretend that I wasn't at home.  But I have a sister who enjoys giving out candy to the multitude of children that come by her house and she invited me to come and hang out with her.  Janelle and the boys came after their few stops and we enjoyed hot dogs while seeing all the little (and not so little) children. 

Based on this experience I have come up with a list of "You probably don't need to be trick or treating if:"  These are all from observations that I made tonight as all the little darlins were coming by.

You probably don't need to trick or treat:
If the baby is too young to walk or talk, it probably doesn't have enough teeth to eat candy and needs to be at home.  Mama and Daddy ya'll ain't foolin nobody, that candy is for you.
If you cannot say the words "trick or treat" even if you have to say it in your native language that nobody understands and can only hold that plastic pumpkin, 31 bag, or grocery sack out and grunt stay at home!
If you are large enough that you may or may not get carded at a night club you are TOO BIG, stay at home!
If you have ever received Medicaid for pregnant women you don't need to trick or treat.
If you are smoking when you walk in the yard you do not need to be trick or treating!
If you have boobs bigger than training bra size then you are too old to trick or treat.

I am sure there are more but these  are the ones that come to mind right off the top of my head.  Happy November!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Do It Anyway

Found a really neat poem by Mother Teresa that I wanted to share:


Do It Anyway
Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be Kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
 
Pretty well sums it up.  Have a great day.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Gag Me With a Spoon

Hiss, gag, barf, puke ......, get the idea?  What would draw such a response you may wonder or you may not.  Being bombarded with Christmas decorations as soon as I walk in the Wal-Mart or any other retail for that point.  It's not that I don't like Christmas, I really do but dang!  There are people on FB talking about how bad they want to decorate already for Christmas.  Give me a break people!  I even enjoy decorating for Christmas but not until around Thanksgiving or around the first week of Dec.  I even bought a new (or new to me) Christmas tree last year.  I really did enjoy looking at it and looking at it and looking at it.  However, by the time I took it down and got it lugged into the closet I vowed it might be like the most secretative (sp) homosexual, it may never come out of the closet.  Yet I know just as sure as I am threatening that I will drag it out and put it up again this year if for no other reason than to holler at little boys to leave the train alone that is set up around the base of the tree.  I really don't holler at them and even let them play with it.  It is almost worth fighting that tree just to see them lay down on the floor and look at the train (which doesn't work by the way).  I really am a slow learner I could just put the train out and say heck with the tree. 

Oh well, I guess I have vented enough.  Thanks for listening.  Bah humbug!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Yipeee

New energy efficent heat pump installation begins tomorrow!!!!  No more having to buy fuel oil!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Stick a Fork in Us

Well ball season is over for this year.  We lost a hard played game tonight so we are done for this year.  Already looking forward to next year.  I really will miss seeing these boys over the winter.  I will be in touch with several of them through e-mail and will see some of them over the winter but I am already looking forward to next year.  Next year is a qualifing year for nationals so we need to have a repeat at the state level next fall.  It really makes time pass quickly when you are looking at nationals in 2013.  Wow.  As if time did not pass quickly enough.

Another Neat Quote

I read another cool quote today that I just wanted to share.  "I am aware that I am less than some people prefer me to be but most people are unaware that I am so much more than what they see."  Yep, pretty well sums it up.

Possibly the last softball game of the season tonight.  We are in our tournament for the league and already in the loser's bracket.  So if we win tonight we play again Thurs., if we lose we are done.  I am hopeful for a win since we have split with this team so far this year.  Regardless of the outcome I am still proud of these boys.

Time to get changed and get my game face on.  Toodles

Monday, October 24, 2011

You Can Run but You Can't Hide

I have said that one of the things I enjoy about living in a small town is that I don't have the stress of keeping up with my business because everybody else does it for me.  With that being said let me see if I can do this in a Reader's Digest version (condensed).

It has gotten cooler and on Fri. afternoon late I turned my heat on or I should say I turned the thermostat up.  Nothing happened.  I had measured my oil and had about 50 gallons and had ordered 100 more that would be delivered on Monday (to the turn of $343.00 for a hundred gallons, made me think it really would be a long winter).  At any rate I go down to the basement and hit the reset button cos I know to do things like that first.  It came on for about 45 seconds and then shut off.  I could smell oil so I knew the pump part was working.  I hit the reset again and it ran for about 30 seconds and shut back off.

Step 2:  Call the landlord (what I enjoy about renting) and after I assured him I would be ok Fri night he promised to have someone out here Sat. morning.  It was about 5:00 at this time. 

Step 3:  Heating and Air tech comes out Sat. morning and after spending about 45 minutes and marveling that the unit is probably at least 20 years older than he is and he has never seen one this old tells me he has to get a part for it.  He changed the filter and the nozzle but the transformer is gone.  He told me he would be back on Mon with someone else to help him disconnect the power and they would try to get it running.  I told him no problem and that I would be home on Mon.

On Sun. night around 7:30 I get a call to work Mon. morning at one of my part-time jobs.  I left home about 8:50 and he was not here yet.  Now let me interject here I did not know this boy from Adam's house cat but he was just as nice as he could be and was apologetic that he couldn't get it fixed on Sat.  So at any rate I run to the store on my way to work and as I am coming back through town I see the heating and air van at my house.  I went on to my part time job and had been there about 45 minutes when the heating and air van pulled up in front of the office.  These two little boys walked in and I asked, "are ya'll looking for me?"  And they were.  I don't know how these boys knew where to find me  but they did and had no trouble doing it.  I do have one next door neighbor who knows that I work at this job sometimes and I guess they could have asked him but nobody else close to the house would have known.

So here I was at a place I had not planned to be and these two boys who I have no idea who they are knew right where to find me when I wasn't at home.  So therefore, you might can run but you damn sure can't hide.

Oh!, and the reason they came looking for me was to get the landlord's phone number because they were going to talk to him about putting in a new unit instead of trying to repair the antique because once they got into it is needing even more work than they thought.  I am hopeful this is the case because it sure would help me to have a new energy efficent electric heat pump than the $3.00 a gallon fuel sucking old workhorse that is down there now.  Oh and that is another reason I don't mind renting.  I am thinking that is the deal because it is still not working.  Fortunately it isn't cold right now.  Oh and my little landlord and his wife stopped by on Sun to check to see if they got out here on Sat and told me if I needed to I could spend the night with them.  May not be Mayberry and it does have it's drawbacks but it has it's advantages too.  Toodles

Thursday, October 20, 2011

New Motto

With all the FB funnies and inspirational post appearing like mushrooms after several days of rain I normally just kinda glance at them.  However, one of my friends posted one last night that I got a good chuckle out of and probably just my mood at the moment sounded like words to live by some days.  "Live life like a dog, if you can't eat it or hump it piss on it and walk away." 

Article came out in the paper yesterday and the lady did a really good job.  It was a sweet article and I had to send her an e-mail to thank her for a well written article.  I really am proud of those boys.  We begin our league tounament tonight so we have at least two more games left.  Boy would I love to put my shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops on for the game but alas fall has arrived.  A nippy 42 degrees this morning with quite a bit of wind.  So it will be jeans, sweatshirt, and either tennis shoes or maybe even my boots (which happen to be as comfortable as my tennis shoes.)  I much perfer those days to just slip on a sleeveless dress and flops to work in and the aforementioned shorts ensemble.

Time to go back to work.  Had a wonderful fantasy this morning thinking about the cooler weather.  It would be nice to have someone that I enjoyed spending time with pick me up Sat. morning, ride to the beach for breakfast, and just hang around the beach and come home Sat. evening.  As I have said before a girl can dream.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Have Mercy

Probably a good thing we have had the rain we have had this week.  Other than the fact that we really needed the rain it also has my yard good and damp.  Had the yard not been as wet as it was this evening I would have been very easy to track.  In other words, if it had been dusty I would have left a very noticable trail from the car to the house where my a@@ was dragging.  Not complaining mind you just stating a truth.  It has been a very busy week and for that I am thankful.  Working on getting my house cleaned up so I can finish getting ready for the weekend.  Horse sale tomorrow!!!!  YAY!!!  Leaving early in the morning and will return Sun. afternoon.  Told my daughter and her friend maybe I will get lucky (not literally) and meet me a cowboy this trip.  Every woman has her fantasies so indulge me.  Waiting for floors to dry so I thought I would chat for a moment.

Submitted my resume today for my 4th job, we will see.  You know it is really hard to start making a list of your qualifications and stuff.  I am like, I don't know, I just do what needs to be done to get the job done, whatever that job is.

Well, if I haven't shared this before this is kinda my words to live by, "It is what it is and we do what we gotta do"  Have an awesome whatever time of the day it is that you are reading.  Happy Trails!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Sweeeeeet!

I had a first happen to me today and this is just so cool!  I knew that a newspaper in a county that borders Moore Co. (where my ballteam plays) was going to do a write up on our win at senior games.  The gentleman that sponsers the team had called me one day needing the scores from the games for the reporter that is doing the article.  So today my phone rings and it is this reporter.  She wanted to talk to me about the games and the ballteam.  The sponser had told her that if there was anything she needed to know about the team she should call me because I was the scorekeeper and co-coach.  I had an interview with her and it was just so neat.  I proved my theory that you can ask people a couple of questions and they will give you much information that you may not have necessarily asked for.  (She asked me about my involvement with the team)  Only in this situation I was the one giving all the information.  I told this young lady that she didn't realize she was getting hold of the team historian!  But what was so neat is that she told me that after our conversation that it was becoming not just a report of some scores of ballgames but was more of a human interest story.  Article should come out in an edition one day next week, can't wait to see it!  May not be much but it will still be pretty cool.  Night, night.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Update on Fowl Transportation

Huey, Dewy, Louie no wait, Einy, Meanie, Miny, Moe, and Larry made the trip just fine.  As did I.  After a few miles they really did become just background noise.  The lady who brought them to me sent me a text about 3 hours into my trip to see if I had killed them yet.  Since I was driving and on a major interstate (boy that is kinda redundant (sp)) I called her instead of texting.  I was happy to report that they were making the trip fine.  But then, let me rephrase that, in about the last ten minutes they had either gone to sleep or died because they were quiet, and I had so tuned them out that I hadn't noticed.  She assured me that as it was good and dark they were probably asleep.  And they were, because I would occassionally hear what was probably guinea snores.  All five birds made it alive and I did not smother from the smell.  But remember I am not smelling a lot of things right now, thank you ragweed.

Had a really good trip and enjoyed visiting with the family.  The cook out was great fun as always and it just tickles me slap to death that my niece's friends call me Aunt Connie.  Now I don't know about ya'll but to me that is an honor.  Enjoyed the drive home today also as it provides a good opportunity to do some serious thinking about things.  Arrived home safe and sound after making serveral errand stops once back in the county, cleaned the inside of my car, cos remember I have been hauling animals, did a load of laundry, got my walk in and now am going to get my clothes all ironed for the week.

Got a really busy week, working one of my part time jobs (I'll get 35.5 hours in) all week, have a couple of appointments lined up on my real job, ballgames Tue and Thurs.nights, continuing ed on Wed night, and get ready to head back to VA for a horse sale on Sat.  Life is very good except for this coughing my fool head off.  Which by the way, I purchased a product this weekend that I have never purchased before.  Go ahead and feel free to laugh, I have.  I bought Poise pads, for bladder leakage.  I just for the life of me cannot understand how I can go to the bathroom and pee, walk out of the bathroom and start to cough and pee on myself.  I am however reminded why I chose to wear tampons for the last 40 years.  Have a good week boys and girls.  And remember the old Indian (as in Native American) proverb:  Live to fight another day.