The Dilemma of Who and Whom

I learned the rule long ago, but still go by the sound of the ear -- I found this link and loved the last part --

...If you apply those two rules, and you are still not sure, apply the all important Rule #3.

Rule #3: Give it a sincere and honest effort to determine if it's "who" or "whom." If it takes more than 30 seconds to figure it out, pick the one that sounds best to the ear (read it aloud) and move on. Why? Because even grammarians are likely to squabble over which to use. But always - always - apply rules #1 and #2 before using Rule # 3.


And of course, the dilemma of spelling 'dilemma' ...
(I'm sure I was taught to spell that word incorrectly back in the day)

The Hallmarks of August 2007

This August 11th our band got together again. Seldom Seen and the Remainders. The girls accompanying them, well, we call ourselves The Unknown Legends.

We had a great party this year. There were 38 family members and 16 guests. We must have had 40 songs on the set list, but we played and sang until about 1 AM, so I am sure we topped out at over 100.

The band mates:

Don (Sir Seldom Seen)- lead guitar, lead singer/songwriter, my baby brother, and originator of the whole shebang, and important to the discipline and scheduled practicing of the band. ( Life hasn't been the same since we formed the band. We love it. It's been a working progress for 10 years now.)

The Remainders -
Gene - lead guitar, singer, important to Don and new material and Neil Young expertise, and my brother in law
Sean - lead guitar, singer/songwriter, important to bringing in new material and exceptional good looks (haha - that's my son)
Des (my Mr. B)- the newest bass player in the stratosphere, who is also the sound man, tech man, purchase advisor, overall equipment advisor, set up man, lighting man, singer, husband of this blog poster (also, father of Sean)

The Unknown Legends - Sheila, Shannon, Nan, and me, and whomever is brave enough to jump up to the microphone and join in! My mother has been known to sing a chorus or two of Take It Easy.

One of the highlights of that night was Kim's brother in law Terry who sat down in front of a mic around 11 PM , picked up a guitar and played like a fury! He was fantastic and like Who Knew!?! So now we do, next time - he'll be up and playing a lot earlier in the evening.

Other things of August -

My sister Nanette - August 10th birthday

My nephew Corey - August 11th birthday

My first born Bill Joseph Scott - August 8th. This child was born the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year his father and I were married. Ha! I couldn't have done that on a bet!! He's such a great son, a wonderful man, good sport, great uncle, just an all round really good person. I feel blessed to be his mother. Well, I am blessed to be his mother!!

My Wedding Anniversary - 25 years married I am this past 28th of August to Desmond who lived across the street from me. We were friends for a year before we dated. We are still friends! To bad we don't take time for to many dates any more!

That same day this year, a friend of ours passed away. My niece Shannon's Aunt Janice. May The Lord reach out his arms and hold her close for eternity.

August 30th marks the anniversary of the passing of our most special and good, good friend Jimmy Ryan. Jimmy taught Des so many things - and he taught Des that Des knew many things he didn't realize he knew. Jimmy and Des enjoyed music! Loud music! They could just get lost in the music, and there is nothing wrong with that. We loved Jimmy from the day we met him, and we will always love Jimmy and his family.

On August 9th we reached a time line in our moving adventure, as we have been officially in our new little blue house for one year on that date. We had spent most of the year moving down here by way of a storage shed and my sister in law's house in Lakeland. She moved here, too, last year.

August 15th marks one year for Des at his new job. New career. He retired from having his own business for 20 years and picked up something new. He was concerned about relocating and finding a new job in a field he enjoys - electronics - but didn't know that much about, just had a huge interest in --

So my son Bill has a list made up of all the Electronics places in the nearby areas that might be possibilities - This particular place, he took Des to one of the first weeks we visited in July of this year, and then on the 14th of August, Des went in and applied for a job and they said, "Can you start tomorrow?" So cool beans!

On August 20th my three and a half year old nephew Jacob started preschool this year after my taking care of him 5 days a week for one year ...He goes three days a week now to his little Dinosaur School. Which he calls his New Big Boy School. Now, I just have him two days, and I miss him! Kids at that age are so priceless and funny. It's a fast time passing. You gotta run and listen quick or you will miss it!!

What else? Oh, I can't recall at this moment. But those are some of the highlights, and I wanted to get them posted before August of 2007 was officially over! So there ya' go!

Becoming Jane - The Viewing

I have to say, I enjoyed it. It took about 45 minutes, I think, to get into the feel of the movie -I found myself putting into the movie, pieces of her stories, then after another 30 minutes of doing that , as you recognized the parts and felt certain you recognized the scenes, you begain to give thought about how much of herself goes into her books...and now you can follow the movie.

The truthfulness of the story? I question.

Jane, daughter of a Chaplain, and Thomas Lefroy, a lawyer, from some kind of money, were not matched and could never be together.
The story alludes to the fact that Jane was going to run away to Scotland and elope with Thomas Lefroy. And she was all set to do so. They had declared it, journeyed together to the next town, when Lefroy happened to find himself in a honorable spot of being helpful to someone, and Jane holding his wallet - which, of course, like any woman (????), she would go through...and find a letter from his sister thanking Tom for sharing his income from their uncle with them and how they couldn't make it without.

Jane, of course, understanding about woman and their not being able to get on with depending on someone, realizes, that if Tom marries her, he will no longer have access to giving money to people who depend upon him. So, Jane, clearly seeing the dilemma, calls off the marriage. Tom argues. Jane is adamant. She goes home leaving him standing in the street.

There is a lot of underlying story in all of the story. Her stories, the stories of the times, her own personal story, Tom's story and situation in life, a cast system existing at that time that women were trapped in, and I wonder, did Jane's books help change any or all of that?

Jane, herself, never married. And bless her heart, she died at a little over 40 years of age. But she certainly made some great points with her stories. And I happen to love her happy endings.

I'll be looking for the reviews of those who loved Jane Austen.

I have more questions now. One is - Why did her sister (and it all appears to be her brother as well) encourage her to remain anonymous after she was famous?

But, I give it a thumbs up.

I was secretly hoping for something that gave us some insight into the woman of Jane and what caused her to think differently than the dictates of the times? Maybe that will come next ...

A 24 Hour Garden

Going to Home Depot used to be, to me, worse than having oral surgery. Now, I don't mind at all (Home Depot, not oral surgery). I spend all my time in the garden section whilst Mr. B doth fitter away looking at electrical fittings, tools used for wiring things that involve electronics, and such like that -- whatever --

The other day I was reading though the books there and found a suggestion for your garden - plant plants that bloom at different times of the day and night! There are catus, that have flowers that are just beautiful, there is a photo of one here, that bloom at night only, and different flowers are suggested for a night garden effect, like Moonflowers, and then there was a mention of different flowers that bloom in the brightest sun, and those that bloom only in early morning ...I really need to post photos of my own blooms.

I mean, it's all stuff that I probably knew, but you know what? I didn't realize it. And now it's dawned on me - and yes, this will be fun.

I've already noticed that gardens have a Monet kind of effect to them because depending on what time you go out to view, it will show you different colors, as some are sleeping late and some are rising early. I don't have any that bloom at night yet.

I'll probably make a trip to the library for a book on night plants before I head back to Home Depot for some more plants.

Right now, I need more dirt. Today I put down 160 pounds of dirt. My back is reminding me of that. I had to move two Rose Bushes that were stabbing me when I needed to go in and trim the Mandevillas. And I have been encouraging the Mandevillas to grow over this space I want them to cover by using fishing line to show them their direction. The roses didn't care for my intrusion on their space to work on the Mandevilla plan. So, today, I put them front and center -- Maybe they will be happier now.

Becoming Jane

I haven't read any of the reviews of this movie yet, but I'm going to see it anyway. I really want to see it before I read anything.

Becoming Jane is a movie about Jane Austen and her affections for Tom Lefroy. Leave it to Hollywood to only focus on love like they did with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice in the Keira Knightly version, but love is great, you know, and some people find stories of it so appealing.

I would have loved the Hollywood Pride and Prejudice if I had not been totally spoiled by the A & E version with it's 6 lengthy parts of pure pleasure of a story.

Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll be sitting through the 2 hours of Becoming Jane.

I hope when I'm 90...

My father in law is out mowing the grass, and my mother in law is yelling at him for not doing it right. He's 90. I hope when I'm 90, someone is yelling at me for cutting the grass wrong.

My father in law washes the dishes every night. My mother in law is yelling at him for putting certain dishes back in the wrong place. I hope when I'm 90 someone is yelling at me for putting the dishes back in the wrong place.

My father in law works on his car. He left the keys in them the other day. My mother in law yelled at him. I hope when I'm 90 I get yelled at for leaving the keys in the car.

My father in law always laughs when he answers the phone and finds out it's you! I hope I'm that happy to talk to people when I am 90.

My father in law loves to sing. I hope when I'm 90 I love to sing, and am able to sing as well as he can.

My father in law goes to church every Sunday. He doesn't want to go to the breakfast at the church afterwards. My mother in law gets mad at him. I hope I am going to church every Sunday when I am 90 and someone is yelling at me for not wanting to go to the breakfast afterwards.

When my father in law wants things done, he wants things done _right now_. Anyone he asks to do the thing right now, gets a little impatient with him at times, and asks, "You want this done right now, don't you?" He says, "Yes." When I am 90 I hope I understand that all time is right now.

My father in law has worked hard all his life. He still works hard. He says hard work is good for you. Well, I would say he might be right, looks like it's worked for him. After all, he is 90, out mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, working on his car, answering the phone, singing and spouting off his own philosophy on things....

I can only hope when I am 90 I still have some sense of a philosophy about life. Oh well, seriously, I hope I just have some sense, when I am 90!

From Annie Sullivan

" I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built upon the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must taught to think. Whereas if the child is left to himself, he will think more and better, if less slowly. Let him come and go freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself, instead of sitting indoors at a little round table while a sweet-voiced teacher suggest that he build a stone wall with his wooden blocks, or make a rainbow out of strips of colored paper, or plant straw trees in flower pots. Such teaching fills the mind with artificial associations that must be got rid of before the child can develop independent ideas out of actual experiences. "

-- Anne Sullivan

The School Schedule 2007/2008

I won't pretend last year wasn't difficult. We moved last year and whew! -- We are still finishing up a couple of things.

I thought about just going on the entire year, but that was just too much, so we took about three and half full weeks off -

My usual plan is that when school in my area officially starts, that's when I sit down and finalize everything, and we usually have school through the end of July. This year I had Madam Blueberry sit down with me to make up the schedule. I thought she was old enough now to do that --she is 17. (Wow!)

Basically I am just missing our math book -- Oh Madam B is all broke up about that (hahaha) --I'm going to order Geometry through Singapore Math --

We decided which books we would do together and what days. She helped me count the pages and divide them up - and we decided which books we would finish this first term...One is an economics book, "What Ever Happened to Penny Candy?" by Richard Maybury.

I'll write that all out later - I have to transfer my handwritten notes onto the computer and print out the schedule.

I'm using this journal. It has a list for notes on the right side of the page, and a calendar in each page. So, I'll have her write in the notes section what she read for each day, and make whatever notes I need regarding doctor appointments, etc., in the calendar. Now, to make sure I don't lose the thing every 45 minutes - there's a secret formula somewhere!!

From last year we are finishing the Book of Job, and our History (This Country of Ours) --My mother has suggested that Madam B read an autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. I didn't realize my mom really liked her.

Oh well, it will be about two weeks before things are running smoothly (if ever, maybe), but we'll give it our very best!

" Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. "
-- William Butler Yeats

" What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child. "
-- George Bernard Shaw

First day of Middle School

...for my oldest great nephew. And doesn't he end up sounding the alarms on all battle stations when he doesn't get off the school bus upon it's arrival to his destinated stop?

Yes.

Oh, Nathan, our hearts did sink today when we got the call that you weren't on the bus this afternoon.

Nate is 11, I think, oh my gosh is he 12? My, how the time has flown ...I remember when he was 4 months old and I began helping to take care of him. I did that, having him in my home almost every day and several nights for a few years, until he started school. (Then we missed him not being there.)

Now he is in Middle School! How did that happen?

My friend Leslie gave him his first copy of Beowulf, which he had his mom read to him over and over from the time he was in kindergarten, he loved that story as he thought it was so exciting. Leslie met him on line, as Nathan would sit on my lap while Leslie and I chatted on the AOL IM. He loved it that she would write words that he asked her to write, like *Lightsaber*! That was so cute. I can remember that so clearly, like it was yesterday. (Wasn't it yesterday?)

But all turned out well. My sister and the Mother of the little boy that Nathan was supposed to be with, went down to the school - the school called the bus drivers and told them that 2 boys were missing - one driver reported he had two boys that weren't getting off the bus (LOL) , and so that driver found out where they lived and brought them home.

It turned out an okay cute story - but, not while no one knew where they were!

But Alls Well that Ends Well!!

(Thank you, God)

How does my garden grow?

My garden attacked me today. I made a huge mistake. I neglected to have a presence of mind that would reveal the fact that one must be able to get into a garden to weed and nurture it, and not plant bushes _with thorns_ that will prick you, and not real gently, should you get in their way!

Then I dropped the loppers on my knee. Nice big chunk of knee out.

Then my hat got caught in the Saw Palmetto.

The my back went into a spasm because I decided I could move a 40 lb bag of dirt.

So there I was sitting on the ground, and thinking to myself, "Who are you kidding? You are like a third grader in this project!" Actually, maybe a third grader would have planted some nice little seeds in a row and some bulbs in order of height and fared better!

But that's okay. It's all good, and it's all a learning experience.

I shall continue to learn and as the years roll by, there will be something out there for the neighbors, walkers, and whomever to enjoy. That is why I began the project anyway. Well, not really -- I began the project for privacy.

I live in a tiny house on a small lot on the corner of a dirt road and a regular road. The lot across from me will never be developed (60 feet of it anyway - but we'll see who comes up against the zoning board as one never knows about these things.) Across the street from me are houses that seem very close, and so I decided I'd make for myself a really nice area to build a privacy barrier.

Then it got into a feeling of, well, if people are going to walk by here or drive around this corner, they really should have something nice to look at ...

And, another influence was the image that Helen Keller gave me in her autobiography when she describes the foliage around the cottage where she played. I loved that. I want that. So in order to get that, you have to plant things and get them going!

One friend said, "Wow in 5 years, this will be great!" Okay, I'll take that. I'm in for 5 years for sure. If I had my way, I could get into gardening as a career, but right now, it's just a hobby, as I don't have the time for it (nor the money) I would love to put into it. It's so much more fun to be outside! (I have learned that from my three year old nephew who brought that feeling back to me.)

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done. ~Author Unknown

(I could address that as truth! I tried to get things done in the house today, but I ended up outside with the dirt, and my hands are rough, and my back is sore, but it feels good.)

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns

(My garden is small, but I can see the bigness of it. I can see it spread wide and tall with color. I've never seen anything that far ahead before.)

"The Mind is Refrigerated by Interruption"

~~Samuel Johnson.

I found the quote on this site. Read down just a bit, and you'll see where the heading for the topic is. It's about translating Shakespeare - or not. Interesting article, I thought. Translating Shakespeare is good, I think, but as the article says, not all needs to be translated, however, you get into that whole 'what they meant at the time thing', and it's helpful in the understanding of the whole deal.

Actually, what happened was being interrupted by someone in particular was becoming increasingly annoying to me. So I decided to look around on line to see if I could find some deep rooted, psychological fault in this person's emotional psyche, and ended up looking around for what Shakespeare might have to say about it --just for fun.

And I found that link. And I thought the phrase was great - so I posted it. So back to my original thought --

I am beginning to think that one of the reasons people like me is that I am a good listener. But, I think then, to a fault, which makes me a person who would like to be listened, too. But as I see the world occasionally, there is balance and each positive thing is, well, balanced by a negative. Especially if one should think good of oneself about something - Zap! -because if you are any kind of seeker, your fault will be like a huge beam in your eye. Razor sharp.

My point is, the ego will get you every time. Watch out for that. As long as I think I'm a great listener, people will continue to interrupt me. I'll be working on that.

The Daze of School Days

And so, for our county school begins next week. As per always, that is when I begin, with the help of Madam B, to get my school schedule together. That doesn't mean I haven't ordered some books or thought about the cirriculum, that just means --
Now it's time --
to place the books together in a row,
as my friend Luke in Tennessee has alluded to me in a different conversation -
now is the time "to tie the strings together"
I have many of my parts and bits - here and there -
Come Monday, we will put things in their special place, and have a closer look at them to attempt to make out our schedule.

I have learned that the holiday months are difficult for us to concentrate on school - so basically, I just take those out from the beginning and plan on enjoying them. Life is, after all, short. Family is important, and these days of youth and enjoyment of family are fine, fine learning experiences and fill the treasure memory box with laughs and sentiments that are wonderful to glance at in later life. I wouldn't neglect these times for the worlds.

I fill those days with baking and gifting wrapping and organizing, and of course, visiting and singing. Madam Blueberry has talents in certain areas that surpass mine. She's one of these people that when you tell her to do something, or give her a list, a while later you come in and see her sitting and reading a book, and you say, "What about your blah-blah-blah" (read:things from list), and she looks at you and says, "It's done." My oldest son is that way also. A list to them, it's like power and direction. Give it to them and they see freedom!!

My middle son, whom I dearly love with all my heart, would be the one to say, "Oh yeah, what happen to that list? I saw it here somewhere...Mom, do you have any milk?"

Special is as special does. These children of mine give me such great joy, and here I am sidetracked off my orginal post!

Oh well, I'm sure things will circle back in my head soon. Right now, I better get rolling or I'll be late to pick up Jacob!

(I'm going to be posting some photos soon...)

Take care -
1. Forgive someone today
2. Smile randomly at people and plants
3. Thank God for every thing great and small
4. Email a friend -- actually, that comes from a little thing I read that said, 'today reach out and tell someone that you love them."

(Note to Mel - your emails are bouncing back!)

Help was on the way

Yesterday was one of those days for me. We have all had them -- Out of sync and annoyed with yourself. Even so, I would think I would have learned by now not to get all tied up in that thought because the universe is so neatly tied up together. Getting agitated makes it really hard to see where the strings are all connected, but they are - and many times in a good way.

I went to my brother's house to cut my nephew's hair, and didn't I forget my scissors? Normally, I would have said, "well, I'll just do it tomorrow," because I go over there 5 days a week. But this time, after I was there for about an hour, I decided to run back home and get them.

I pulled up in my driveway, hurriedly got out of my car, and then heard someone yell, "Hey!" I looked around for someone and saw one of my neighbors, that I hadn't met, sitting down in the grass in his front yard.

Long story short, Bill is 84 years old, uses a walker and had decided to spray the front yard where the red ants were. He fell and couldn't get up. He said he had yelled at a couple of cars that came by, but there wouldn't be many where we live during the day, and also, as hot as it is, everyone would have their windows up. I know they couldn't have heard him.

I called 911. The fire department came out, and this was the kicker - don't laugh - but out of the fire truck came three of the most handsome firemen I had ever seen! I thought of my daughter and my two nieces - I said, don't laugh - I mean, here are three great looking guys, just as nice as can be, cool, calm, collected....
anyway,
They locked arms and hoisted Bill up -- did I mention Bill is the size of a football line backer? He's a huge man! -- but they hoisted Bill up like he was a marshmallow floating to the top of a hot chocolate drink...

Did I mention it was hot! And Bill had fallen in an area that was not shaded, and he was sitting in red ants. He didn't want to go to the hospital, as the firemen asked him that first thing -- but they did ask him the standard questions:

1. "Do you know where you are?" Bill said, "Yes, I'm sitting on my butt in my front yard."

2. "Do you know what day it is?" Bill said, "Yeah, it's Tuesday."

3. "Do you know who the President is?" Bill hung his head and said, "Don't ask me that."

The firemen were silent and each stared at him with concern. And then Bill said, "I can't stand that guy."

One of the firemen said, "Well, I think he answered our question. I think he knows who the President is."

The ice was broken, we all laughed, and the handsome firemen gave me permission to go home. ( At that point I had begun to give them motherly advice, and I think they didn't need me 'helping them' with their job!)

But they thanked me for doing such a kind thing. I had told Bill that God was, indeed, watching out for him that day, as I don't usually make that trip back home.

Isn't life just so interesting? I love the little connections, and I am still working on understanding the big ones. I'll probably never get there, but somehow, I don't think that really matters.

5 Things that I don't do that I should

1. Exercise my eyeballs. Yes, really. It is supposed to help you improve memory, reduce eyestrain and keep your eyeballs healthy. I'm not really sure what a healthy eye ball is (Is eye ball one word or two?), but I know I could use the memory thing.

Just so you know, the memory technique is not mentioned on that link. But here is what you are supposed to do - close your eyes, relax and focus on nothing -- then make your eyeballs trace out the alphabet. Really. I read this in a yoga book a while back. The thing is, I can't do it. I can do some of the letters, but I find *A* really difficult.

2. Keep on task for keeping organized. See that planner featured there? First, I would never pay $99.00 for a planner. I have already lost/misplaced/buried two of the cheap ones. I even had a great big one (so I wouldn't loose it), and it got so heavy I couldn't carry it. I keep stuffing it with stuff so I wouldn't loose the stuff - but I knew where it was!

Something inside me is not conquered yet by the system of doing things correctly. I am rebellious and live on the edge of laundry reaching the hallway. I always have a task going (like painting the bathroom) while I am replanting plants in my garden, and washing the car. That's why I dropped my pedometer in the wash machine and locked myself out of the house with no shoes on. That only happens to pirates and rebels and people with a to do list as long as the Yucatan Peninsula.

3. Clean out my car. That plan doesn't work well for me. Sometimes my husband goes out to the car and puts everything in there in a bag and leaves it on the dryer in the laundry room. He figures I will find it there because I am always in the laundry room. (Matter of fact, I was thinking of putting my computer in the laundry room).

When he does this, I freak - once I found a pair of shoes that I bought and just could not, for the life of me, find them! Welllllll ~ nice to have a pair of new shoes!

Really, though, I must address this area, and I know it's easier than I think. I need a "thing" that catches all the stuff I fling in the back seat (like a laundry basket!). I need a trash bag in the car, and I need to put the trash in it. (Wonder if that counts as exercise?). And, for smell, I've heard a dryer sheet under the seat works well. But I am very suspious of dryer sheets -- what is in them? I think maybe I'll just spill some lavender oil or something. But maybe that would make my eyes water, and I would run into something. Forget the smell thing. I'll work on that.

4. Set my clock to the right time. Right now, my bedroom clock is over an hour fast. You see, when there is a power outtage, my clock flashes. And when I'm in the bedroom, I don't really know what time it is, so I just hit the clock to stop the flashing and usually I'm ahead.

I don't concern myself with this. But my husband almost had a heart attack the other night when he went to bed - I heard him yell from the bedroom - "IT"S THAT LATE!?" -

I know I shouldn't have laughed.

My clock is a cheap special that I gave to my father in law for Christmas and my mother in law gave it back to me. I wasn't quite sure why. It has great big, huge red numbers - but the alarm! Oh my gosh, it could wake up the fire department. My husband and my kids _always_ offer to get me up, regardless of what time I need to get up, if I say I'm going to be setting my alarm, it's that awful.

My mother in law giving gifts back to me? That is something that used to bother me. I finally learned to just buy stuff I liked a lot.

5. Go to bed on time. This is suppose to be the answer to everything. Every problem is solved by more sleep. Have you been reading this lately? Weight Loss. Stress. Memory. Prevents heart attacks. Boosting your immune system - I'll bet the list goes on - Less Housework! (think of it, if you are asleep, you are not making a mess) ...but, alas, I never manage to do it. I try. I do. But it just doesn't work for me.

6. Exercise on a regular basis. I'm not sure which word I don't understand. Regular or basis. Or maybe just the words "on" and "a". I just fail at this in the most miserable way. Sometimes I think it's all overrated. Well, I wish it was anyway, but it's not. It's very important, and, trust me, I do know this. As soon as someone is complaining to me about something, I say, "Well, are you exercising?" They usually say, "No." I say, "Oh well, you really should." That usually ends the complaining. See? It's a good therapy tool to say the least.

In summation:
I am not perfect, yet, somehow, I have survived. I don't like to get all wound up in these things I don't do. Actually, it's always given me a goal whilst I remain imperfect.. If I reach perfection, well, why would I need to be here?

When you think of it, it's a contradiction, really, to think that you should be perfect and live in this world where there is no perfection. I mean, the world is not even perfectly round!

What we want is inner peace, peace in our souls - to always want to be perfect is to always struggle and feel frustration ...

My mother's advice to me, at the points of my biggest frustrations was always, "Work with what you've got." I did. I have. I am. And so far, I've always made it work.

My mother the yogi - who knew?

Talking isn't for Everyone

I can’t be inside someone else’s mind.

I have graduated from trying to figure people out
Why they say things that they don’t know anything about
The why
They pass their opinion along.

As if,
As if they knew you
As if they knew something about you
Or yours

When they don’t.

They’ve looked on
And formulated, at best,
An opinion.

An opinion that they should,
By rights inalienable
Keep quietly to themselves

But no…
Alas, no…

The world being partially possessed by shallow minds
Staggers along with people’s biased
Opinions.

Spoken out loud
And spoken, if I may boldly add,
Wrongly.

But alas, again,
Alas,
They don’t mind that.

Their only need is to fuel their own side of the argument
To bad
So sad
Their opinion spreads
Along with hurt

The words were spoken
The hearts were broken
And all for,
All for,
The notice of their
So, they think,
Their
Most important
Opinion.

~~Miss Roxie

Notes on today - Part 37 A

1. I got insulted by someone who doesn't know me very well. It's really a very difficult thing to have happen, but I walked through the chaos without karate kicking down a wall. So. I thank God for my maturity and view of life. I thank God that I have learned about forgiveness; that to give and receive forgiveness is a constant flow and you never know when and where; you only know - just always.

We can and will rise above this day and feeling. I've learned to let this stuff pass. People are really strange with their judgmental comments and remarks. If they don't know us, ....well, what can you do? You have to deal with it. And I choose to let it go. And learn what I can. That's all I can figure out to do.

2. Jacob was sick today. And he is such a good boy when he is sick. He played so nicely all day, we read, played with trains (I love Thomas the Train. The track is so much fun; it's such a great toy for kids), and it was just a lovely day. Yesterday I cut his hair. He looks so cute!

3. I locked myself out of my house this afternoon. I had given my mother in law an extra key, but she had put it back on my key hanger place because she said she would never need it. Yep, she was probably right. (It would be me that needed it, not her.) But, my resourceful husband, who also didn't have a key, came home, and found a way to save the day!

4. I am so glad I wasn't cooking something when I got locked out of the house! I had things all set to go but never got it in the pan. How lucky for me.

5. All my kids are away. Sean and Madam Blueberry are together in Orlando along with their cousion Shannon. I hope they have fun. My oldest is in Miami on business (He was in a business meeting when he got the message that his mama was locked out of the house! Yikes!)

6. I ordered Chinese food because I don't feel like cooking now.

7. I have decided I need to take vitamins. Especially the B vitamins. I function much better when I take them on a regular basis. I have experimented for years now with this so I know. What I don't know, is why I can't just stick to it regularly. I guess I just get tired of swallowing pills (and that deep inside,---Pirate!.)

8. May tomorrow be a sunny day for you.

~~Miss Roxie

Overhelmed time again-The Need for Balance

I know it looks like it should say 'overwhelmed', but I feel like I've been thrown overboard -- again! These feelings I am so used to because somewhere I work my way into another mess while I'm backing out of one. Very frustrating, indeed! I'm doing a major imbalancing act!

I have so much I want to do. And, of course, that list of 'things to do' --long, long, long ---

I want more flowers/plants/shrubs for my garden, but the places I frequent and know about buying plants from don't have anything new. A friend suggested I buy them on line. Okay, that might save a little gas, I suppose. I do love my garden project.

I have much cleaning. I know. I know. It's all waiting for you - but messy stuff - like we moved _everything_ out of the laundry room and now _we_ (hahahahaha) have to put _everything_ back. But before I do that, you know I'm going to wash and swept the floors in all the spots you can't get while stuff lives there, and you know, if you know me at all, you know I am going to paint the walls. But that's done. I'm just working on getting all the stuff back in. And restoring stuff in new places - I've found a few new restoring places that look pretty good.

You know, I remember reading whiles back about 4 tips for balanced living.

One was Sleep. More sleep makes you less stressed, yes, but this suggested that you get up at 6 AM. Yes, it did. The suggestion was that to sleep any later was out of sync with the sun rising and you would always to rushing and behind the entire day.

Now, my mom gets up at 5 AM every morning. She's 78. She does it so she doesn't feel rushed all day. So, there may be something to it. Or maybe my mom is a wise old yogi!?

Two was Foods. Your body needs Good Food in a timely manner. The entire body does well with meals not only of substance, but meals on a schedule and eating your fullest meal at noonday, and your lighter dinner in the evening and never, ever, do anything else when you are eating, but eat! No TV - No reading - (If you are eating a cookie, Put It Down!)

Three was Exercise. You know that was in there somewhere, didn't you? The old standard of 30 minutes 5 days a week, and if you can't do that, then the broken up 10 minutes 3 x's a day at least 5 days.

But I will say. I agree. I didn't say I get my correct amount of exercise, but I totally agree with the philosophy of it.

Four was systematic relaxation. I have found that this will work. I've learned to do this. I just step out of the chaos and relax. Sometimes I take 5, sometimes 10 and, oh, heaven, if I can steal 20! I have a cold compress I apply to my eyes (I love it), I've learned to let my jaw drop and allow my body to relax. It works for me!!

I would really put this one in the exercise place if I could and
oh, well, probably,
more like actually,
I might already do that!

But with my gardening, I'm hoping that will count as exercise? It sure is relaxation.

Oh my gosh! I just looked at the time! I've gone and blown rule number one! Sleep!

Goodnight my friends in cyberworlds,

I hope tomorrow your day is bright and
sunny,

~Miss Roxie