Sweet Emotions

Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it. ~Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion. ~Dale Carnegie

I've discovered a new level of fatigue. The fatigue of many people around you. I'm not a person who has been around a lot of people during a day in the past, and now I am.

Everyday. New Emotions.

I'm not saying it's bad. I'm not saying it's good. I'm just saying, it's different, and it affects me.

The ages of the people range from 90 to 3 years old. There's a few generations in all of that. And I am a relational type of personality which is good, but I am, also, a private person, which is -- well, not easy to be right now.

I do get on with people just fine; I make jokes usually about things, but I am super sensitive, also. I make jokes to keep people at ease, but I am very attuned to pick up any oddities in emotions. And this is becoming a pull on the center of my own emotional gravity. That probably doesn't make sense to some people, but it makes a whole lot of sense to me.

I'm like a person that really needs to get up and go to the beach by themselves, you know, to regroup what is clashing around inside. And, I have to make myself do this, because I am also the type that will do that one more load of laundry just to get ahead of tomorrow. I'm am not my own best friend. I am not the type that takes care of me first.

I have to learn now how to be here. I can do this.

To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart. ~Francesco Guicciardini

Tuesday, then Wednesday ....quickly it seemed

So it's Wednesday. Again. And somewhere else, it's Thursday.

I suppose to blog, one must blog about what one knows, or pass along information one has found out and think now they know something more than they knew before. I, for one, am still often astounded at what I think everyone should know and then find that someone obviously does not know and causes a huge ruckus with their lack of knowingness. Like left turns or simple right turns, or how to function at a four way stop, and not every place is a right turn on red, and your cell phone use while driving can interfere with your thinking.

When I am on my cell phone in the car, which is more these days then I prefer, if I'm in traffic, I just say, 'left turn' and put the phone down. Some people who call me don't even realize I have put the phone down.

Today the car in front of me was making a right turn into a parking lot area. Then. Out of the clear blue sky, the car in front of him decided he was making a right turn, also, into the same parking lot area without any warning or thought of anyone behind him. There was much honking and screeching of brakes. They were both turning into the exact same piece of road. Both were in little gray cars. Maybe they thought they were the same car. It was strange to watch. I was, apparently, the only one of the three of us paying attention.

Then it was funny to watch them try to figure out who should go, now that they were practically on top of each other. It was like a video game. Like someone was pressing a control button as one would edge forward and brake, and then the other would edge and brake. I think they were afraid to look at each other.

Down the street from me, on an electric wire, are a couple of pairs of sports shoes. They are tied together on a string - I think Madam B photographed them - they are not old shoes. Funny, that someone came home without their shoes, and I wonder what they told their parents. I've seen two other people taking pictures of the shoes.

Monday night my sister in law and I took both her parents to the emergency room. What a long day that was. My mother in law passed out at 8 AM. I told her to go to the walk in clinic.

"No, I'm fine now," she says. (She's 80 - did she forget?). I had a really long day with my nephew that day, as my mother had had surgery on her feet and I needed to keep Jacob from 9 AM until 6 PM.

I talked to my mother in law and sister in law a few times during the day and couldn't convince anyone to go to the doctors. I was sure she was dehydrated.

So I get home a little after six, and go over to their house (which is right next door to mine) and I hear my father in law coughing. And that was not a cough to fool with,

"You really should get that checked out," I said.

"I'm fine," he said ~ (He's 90 - did he forget?)

so finally, at around 7 PM ~ it took my husband, my sister in law and myself to convince them - you really need to go to the doctors. (Where is Mr. Rogers when you need him? "Can you say 'stubborn'?)

Long story short, we got home around 9:30 PM. My mother in law is dehydrated, but the passing out thing is something she has been doing for awhile. She probably has the same thing my husband (her son) has - neurocardiogenic syncope .

But. I've never been 80, and I've never been 90. I have not a clue what it's like to try to read your body signs that far down the road. My own aging body is tricking me now and again, and I'm not sure what is going on. A weird thing this aging stuff, but I think I can tell you - it's safe to watch your diet carefully, and drink water! (Yes, she was dehydrated, and my father in law has acute bronchitis, which I found out is something that just comes on quickly and is contagious), get exercise, and don't stress. It's just not worth it.

My mother in law will probably end up going to a cardiologist for further checking out Maybe she has a slow heart rate.

My father in law is supposed to get plenty of rest, but he just doesn't get that. He is sure that he should be walking every day. And I don't blame him one bit. He's wrestling with wanting to fall asleep and go for a walk. Mr. B says, 'you know, it's his life, and he should just make his own parade.' I tend to agree, but find myself reminding them of the doctors advice.

I did go to the library and check out about 6 movies for them, and got some books and some magazines for them to read.

I, myself, am tired. Just plain old fashioned tired. I should follow my father in law's parade and just go walking anyway.

Note to self

por1. Make a list of all you have to do.

2. Do not loose the list.

3. Do not loose the pencil.

4. Do not forget what you are supposed to write down.

5. Find Paper.

6. Find Pencil.

7. Or pen.

8. Gather thoughts.

9. On second thought re: #8 --
Better to let mind run random and remember things at will. Better to have more on the list than less.

10. Good Luck.

11. Do not loose the list.

Sweet little thoughts

Over the years I have been faithful to making my kids write letters and thank you notes.

Tonight my mother in law brought over a pile of them, and what a treasured time it was looking through them! There is no way anyone would remember these things without having them right in front of them. Just looking at the spelling and the formation of the letters and the grouping of words becoming sentences was one thing from the 'teacher' point of view in me, but the sweet sentiments of my kids! I just got welled up with tears reading them.

Sean wrote this letter to his grandma when he was 10 --

Dear Grandma,

When I think of you, I think of your fun spirit, working outside, eating raisins bread (my favorite) and best of all, you just being here. We also love Grandpa being here.

See, when you're here, I can sometimes skip school!! ha! ha!

Hope to see you soon.

Love,

Sean

I lauged so hard at this. It's in cursive, and you can read it. I'm not sure you can read his handwriting now that he's 20! There are words crossed out and replaced - like 'jest' crossed out for 'just', and 'hear' crossed out for 'here', and 'bear' for 'being' and 'raisins' has a big fat S on the end. But it's precious as all.

And my mother in law did the sweetest thing! On each of the cards and letters, she has written a comment! Like on that letter she wrote, "Sean, you are such a great writer. I love getting your letters." I guess she intended on giving them back one day.

So that's an idea for us. When we get those special little notes and cards from the special kids in our families, we can write a little message for them to have when they look at them when they are all grown up.

It funny about those things, that sometimes at the time, there might be a little fussing about the doing of it, ‘Oh, I already said thank you do I really have to write a card?’ …I held my ground, “Yes, you have to write a card. People need to know that you care and appreciate them.”

I am so glad I followed through. I have such trouble following through on so many things. Ask my closest, closest friends, and they will tell you – but with my children, I know deep in my soul that these are the things of importance. They involve love ever after.

Look up in the sky.....

Friday night Mr. B and I went to the beach. We took a couple of chairs and made ourselves comfortable. Just felt like looking and listening to the ocean for a while. It's got to be a good thing.

The moon rising was unreal. It was a red moon! It was about 8'ish in the evening, I think. Mr. B says it was earlier, but close. We thought we saw a ship out on the water, and it looked like it was coming closer and closer, first slowly and then moving very quickly. We thought, 'gee that's a weird light for a ship to have' ... then Mr. B realized that it was the moon rising. I thought we were being attacked by a UFO.

It really was an amazing thing. There is such power in the earth. People yell and argue and scream at each other and their kids and start wars and steal cars and swindle old people ... but they can't stop the moon from rising red over the ocean. Sometimes I wish the moon would crash down on the heads of bad people. And then just get up and rise back up in the sky.

Saturday we watched the launching of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from our front yard. Very unique feeling to go out into the front yard and see people being shot into space. I hope it does us, as a people, as the earth, some good. I really don't know about these types of things. It does give the mind something to do, I suppose, you know, going out into space. That's a lot of planning. I go crazy thinking about 16 people coming to my house for the weekend; I can't imagine planning to launch them into space! Ummm. Maybe I should.

Video Tapes

The list of things to do to keep my life from exploding right under me is growing beyond my minutes in the day.

For some reason, I was just thinking about my home movie video tapes. I did a little search on line to make sure I was storing them properly (not that I can find them at this moment, they are in a box somewhere), and I realize there is a great chance that I am not.

First, the tapes must be stored like book ends - straight up.
Second, tapes must be exercised. You should run your tapes, on fast forward if you don't watch them, periodically. We did this when the kids were younger, but it's been awhile since I've watched the home movie video tapes.

And lastly, copies of your orginals. Which I do not have.

If this were a test, I have failed.

A Challenge to all School Age Children

Dear Any Parents of Any Child of School Age --

(This challenge is being 'tongue in cheek' put out there because of the information in this post.)

I would like to initiate a challenge to you. The challenge is in two parts:

1. Give your child a Four Digit Number to memorize. This number must be known everyday for 100 and 80 days. If your child CAN successfully remember that number, your child is making a step toward independence of the common thinking.

2. Teach your child how to handle change. This might involve learning to get change out of ones pocket or bag and give this in payment for a service of say, about $2.85 will do. And I extend this challenge to add that the child also be able to know if he/she is given the correct change. You can consider that a bonus part of the challenge. And you can consider your child on his/her way to another form of independence, if this part of the challenge is mastered.

If you and your child/children should take and participate in this challenge, I would very much like to know if your child/children have been successful.

I thank you. And one day, America will thank you.

Sincerely,

Miss Roxie

And are you kidding me?

How did I survive the lunch line as a child?

This link is for a news story telling of the latest move regarding technology being misused for the continued dumbing down of our children.

In one of the states in our union, they have been given permission to switch to a scanning system of using a finger to pay for lunch at school. BECAUSE -- and I quote from the television interview I heard with my own ears, "It's easier than having the child fumble for change, or to have to remember a four digit number."

*Fumble* for change? Oh heavens. Can you imagine living in a world where children actually *fumble* for change in a lunch line? (Oh dear, they might learn about money and become responsible!)

And having to *remember* a *FOUR DIGIT* number? Oh heavens again! How could we inject such cruelty to the mind of a child. And in a SCHOOL no less? Oh how outrageous. Thinking! Who’d ever thunk it? Actually, remembering a four digit number? How can you require that from a child? (Oh dear, they might actually learn to think for themselves!)

I think the people, who came up with this idea, didn't look around and notice -- They were in a SCHOOL.

I can't, for the life of me, figure out what is wrong with a child learning about money and change. What is wrong with memorizing a FOUR DIGIT number? What about addresses and phone numbers? Is it out of fashion and requirement for children to bother memorizing such things? (Did all sense and logic die with Mr. Rogers?)


And while I'm asking questions, why are people - in schools no less - allowed to make children into blooming idiots? Are there really so many people in the world, so busy, that no one can take the time to assist a child in learning about how to buy his lunch?

Maybe I'm not seeing something wonderful and logical in this action of finger scanning. I just see stupid people doing stupid things, taking away more responsibility and desire of thinking and making more people more stupid and neglectful of personal responsibility.

One day 4 years ago

Two separate sides of the door.

My side:

I am in the laundry room while my daughter is in the
family room folding clothes.  The rooms are adjacent
separated by a door that is not closed all the way. I
am singing with enthusiasm while I rearrange some
things on the shelves. 

I come across a full  box of
laundry detergent that I hadn't realized was there.
It falls with a load thud.  I stop singing to pick it
up and hope it didn't break in the fall. A moment of
silence passes and I hear hysterical laughter from
behind the door.


My daughter's side:

She is in the family room folding clothes.  She hears
her mother singing loudly from behind the door:

"I get knocked down
but I get up again
they're never gonna keep me down,
I get knocked down
but I get up again
they're never gonna keep me down,
I get knocked down..."

*THUD*

silence....

she breaks out into hysterical laughter.  She is
picturing a great video in her head.

Jacob and The Giant Library

Tuesdays and Thursdays are library days for Jacob and I. It’s Story Time with Miss Vanessa. Jake is very friendly to everyone. Very touchy, huggie, sweet little fellow ~ most grown-ups find it charming...but some little girls just don't like it.

There is one little girl in attendance each week that wants nothing whatsoever to do with Jacob's friendliness. If he smiles at her, she complains, 'Mommy he's looking at me!'. If he touches her shoulder – (and he does this to just about any child he goes up and talks to) -- she yells, "Mommy he's touching me!"

In a way, I applaud the little girl for loudly and clearly protecting her space. But it’s difficult to explain to Jacob that some people just don’t appreciate ones friendliness.

The little girl’s mother said last week, "She has issues." Today her mom said to me, "He's fine, she's just like that. I don't know what's wrong with her."

I told the mom, I really didn't think anything was 'wrong with her', that someday that attitude might serve her well.

But it is all very confusing in the early stages of life, isn't it? All the 'having my space stuff'.

I do think that Jacob does not have an awareness of any ones *space*. It's all his space after all, and you just happen to be in it!

But he's like a doctor; he means no harm. He looks people in the eye when they talk to him, if he has met you once before, he’s liable to put his arms around you while you are talking to him, he's just that socially comfortable.

I told the mom of Miss Don't-Look-at-Me that both her daughter and Jacob have something to learn. These two just happen to be the extremes of all the Respect My Space problems in the world (and there’s no *we* in My Space). Perhaps they can learn much from each other. Such cute little grasshoppers they are. Maybe they will grow up and get married.

It is difficult having Jacob over at my house right now because everything is not neatly put away and organized enough for a two year old to just boldly go from room to room. And he’s a boy explorer who needs to learn about *space*…and because it was raining outside today and our park plans were squashed, all playing space was limited, and Madam Blueberry was trying to concentrate on her math, I decided to take Jacob home an hour early and finish out our play there.

On the way home, just in conversation, I asked him if he was happy. He said, “No.”

I asked him why.

He said, “I’m mad at you.”

“At me?” I said, “Why is that?”

He said, “Because you are taking me home.”

Silly as this may sound, this made me smile. Only because I was wondering, did he like me and want to be with me for 5 hours every day. I think his little bit of anger answered my question.

Soon the weather will get nicer, and Madam Blueberry will get better at her math. (She was even looking forward to going to the park with Jacob today.) Soon everything will blend nicely and find a place to be in my house, and so soon things will be so that Jacob won’t have a reason to be mad at me anymore.

The Standard

I spent a good part of the day in Home Depot. I don't enjoy Home Depot. I whine when I am in Home Depot.

We had to buy some shelving. There is a lot of math involved in shelving projects. But now, THERE is a homeschool project that could kill the proverbial birds with the one stone. Have your child put up shelves. Hopefully, they won't make as many holes in the walls as Mr. B did.

However, there is no guarantee in that. You see, contractors say - the studs are placed at 16" --and ha, ha, ha on the measurements of contractors. We had a stud-finder that says contractors rulers are off a tad.

Do you know what a 'standard' is? I didn't. But that strip that holds the supports that holds the shelves is called a 'standard'. How about that? I would have called it a support strip. Or in short perhaps, a strip. - but if you click on this, you can see what a standard is.

Live and Learn.

Tunneling through it

I feel like I have nothing new and/or intelligent to report.

I couldn't sleep last night, and I was to tired to read, so I just tossed and turned. I ended up sleeping in this morning, and was tired all day, then a most unusual thing for me, I went out looking for rugs. I need one that I can tolerate.

I have realized I don't like looking for things. Or maybe what it is, is that, I really need to get some more of this unpacking done before I can feel comfortable going out to look for things.

I need a computer desk. Unless I order it on line, I doubt it will come to me. I have to go out, and look for it. Why do I hate that? I must be lazy.

People ask me, 'have you checked on ebay?' I never check on ebay for anything. It's like in my world, there is no ebay. What does ebay stand for anyway?

I have no idea what is going on in the world. I sat down at my inlaws today for a cup of tea, and they had the television on. There was President Bush talking tough about Iran. And I thought, 'oh you have got to be kidding me, please don't let us go to war with Iran.' I hate the whole war thing.

We all decided to order pizza tonight. I dialed the pizza place and got my mother-in-law.
What?
What is your number?
She gave me her number.
Her number is one digit off the pizza place number!! She just got her phone Friday!
What are the odds of that? Now really!

What is more important - the longevity of life or the quality of life? Do you live like one of those is a real choice to you? Or do you just get up, and there goes a day?

This is only a Text

Today ~ more rain. Still Ernesto? I don't know!

We finally got cable uphook, and I didn't miss it a bit, and kind of wish (no, do wish) we had not bothered with it. My husband even said, "I was getting used to not having a television. There is really nothing on here." If you know him, you would be like, standing with your mouth open to hear this from him. I used to say, "there is really nothing on here" and he would say, "Yes there is, you just have to know how to look!" Too funny.

It's been said it takes about two weeks to change a habit, or make a good habit ~ actually, that is probably still being disputed ~ but I know it takes about that, and it takes _longer_ than that to undue a bad habit for a new habit, or just plain undue a bad habit ... but can you undue a bad habit without replacing it with something? What just happened to my brain right then? I got off point ...

Point was, we've been a month or more without television! So maybe Mr. B has developed a new good habit!

Found out - you can change your driver license address on line (and renew). That was cool; no waiting in line. They send you out a new license (if you have one with a digital photo which mine has), or a sticker, depending on what type of license you have. You need a credit card handy as they charge you $10.00. Someone told me it costs $15.00 when you go in, but I don't know.

Also found out, that to get any money back from overpayment on your homeowners insurance after you sell your home, you have to send them a copy of the HUD statement. Even if the Closing People tell you they will take care of it, according to the Homeowners Insurance people, they don't ever do. But I knew I hadn't signed anything regarding that, so I took care of it myself.

I know I haven't been blogging as much lately as I have been thinking about blogging. But I have interacted with more people lately than usual, and I have to say, it does kind of wear me out. I'm not used to this much socialization. I'm really a recluse.

Raindrops keep falling....somewhere

We got more rain here after Ernesto than during.
You see these huge black clouds forming in the sky,
and you know it's going to just pelt you a good one.

You run out of the grocery store with your few bags, in the torrential downpour,
and get totally drenched, and you fret for a second or two about your favorite shoes getting wet,
throw your groceries in the back seat,
which became saturated before using while you had the door open for that 12 seconds,
slide yourself into the driver's seat, and you are literally sitting in a puddle of water,

you wipe the hair back out of your eyes that is stuck to your head so you can focus better through the what looks like an ocean of water on your windshield that the wipers don’t seem to be able to move,

you try not to lean back in the seat because your clothes are soaked and you are freezing,
you make sure your shoes are not slippery before you take off...

The steering wheel is covered with water, along with your keys and you,

so then slowly,
you drive home ...

less than a quarter of a mile...
only to realize…
it's not rained a drop in your driveway.

They do take it seriously

It's been awhile since I've been in South Florida. Even though I was born here, I haven't lived here since 1983. And the hurricanes weren't as brutal, that I can recall, in those days.

But now, they take it very seriously.

I'm in Martin County. For Tropical Storm Ernesto, they closed the schools on Tuesday and Wednesday. And a lot of people are out of work for Wednesday. They respect the time to prepare and try to allow everyone a day. Course, we don't get paid ... some people do, but we don't, but anyway, the storm is supposed to come in tonight with a bunch of rain and more rain. I don't have flood insurance yet. And they won't sell it to you now. You have to wait for a specified period of time before it's good.

The gas stations have run out of gas. Publix has run out of water and ice yesterday. Walmart still has water, but I don't know about ice.

It's about 11 PM and the torrential rain and hail is starting. I have no idea if the power will hold through the night.

I am less than a mile from the beach. At a time like this, someone might say I am crazy. I might say I am crazy. On a normal day, to live near the beach is brilliant.

But God in Heaven controls it all. You must be wise when you live in a hurricane zone. Don't let your car get half empty. Keep your favorite can goods on hand. Know where your candles and matches and flashlights and batteries are at all times, not just when you catch the alert warnings. Take your shower while you still have power.

Ernesto is kicking it up a notch. I'll be turning off the computer now.

You all take care. I think all will be well here, but we are about to find out about the grade of our property. It was just finished and we weren't finished discussing with the contractors that we didn't quite agree on the grading. Tomorrow we will know more about it.

Tu tranquilo!

Miss Roxie

The evening closes as the storm approaches

The day turned out well and busy. Tropical Storm Ernesto has everyone in this little town and the towns near-by at the gas station - lines are going out into the street - and the grocery stores are out of water and ice. Guess people do want to be prepared this time! School has been cancelled for tomorrow - public and college.

I don't have Jacob tomorrow, but it isn't because of the storm. I really need some time to work on these -- should I say the word? _BOXES_. My life surrounded by cardboard. I did well over the week, I think, and unloaded about 8 boxes, and brought 5 more from the shed. (Gosh, I feel like I am starting to repeat myself...)

Anyway, Jacob's nana was going to be taking him to a place where they are putting in a new mobile home. He absolutely loves these construction sites and large trucks. What a good Nana!

My time with Jacob is passing better than the first week. He is just into everything right away, no hesitation, no boundaries, no fear –I have been doing much watching, much talking, much observing, of his actions, I should say. I spent the first week mostly observing him, and checking out how quickly he would obey my commands. Not too, too quickly I found out. But an almost 3 year old boy can get into his own world easily!

I began to speak with his parents, in front of him about things, and speak to him before a situation occurred, and have found he is so much better if he knows what is expected of him. And if he forgets, he will take the reminding into good consideration and usually control himself. Each day he has been better and better. I think he really wants to be good. That’s so helpful.

I made a nice tenderloin for Mr. B. Served with baked potatoes and broccoli which Madam Blueberry, and I love together.

I had two great smoothies today, too – Mango, banana and spinach, and Strawberries, grapes, banana and lettuce, just delicious. I’ve noticed that there is a Natural Smoothie place at the large mall here that makes Green Smoothies! I guess they are catching on. Or maybe they have also been on and I have never noticed.

So tomorrow and tomorrow night, we should have a lot of rain. I wish I had more boxes from the shed now. Maybe there will be a change of the weather though, and this storm will dissipate into nothing dangerous. Just majorly aggravating. Everyone is on watch..

Today is my anniversary

I really haven't had the private time to concentrate on my blog. Every day is filled with people at my door. Not only my family, but the fellows that are finishing up the 'punch list' for the houses - the construction people who are dotting the *i's* and crossing the *t's* as it were.

I also think that talking about boxes is getting boring. I am, after all, getting bored with it. It could make me crazy, if I allowed such thinking. But I live near a beach. It's foolish to think about going nuts, when you can drive to a beach and look at the ocean. That puts our little aggravations right into their proper perceptive.

Good news is that I found Madam B's math book and I found my Latin Program! --Since many things have disappeared into the vat of unlabeled boxes -- I didn't do such a great job on the labeling as my 80-year-old mother in law, who managed to label EVERYTHING! How cool is that!--

anyway,
I'm off to pick up Jacob at 10 today. I don't know what we will do. Or should I say 'what he will do" ...

So Mr. B overslept this morning, as he forgot to set his alarm, didn't take his coffee, even though I had it made and ready to go, and so he didn't see my little note wishing him a happy anniversary. He did call after he was in the truck for a few minutes because he knew I would be concerned that he rushed out of the house before he even lost his morning voice. He had forgotten it was our anniversary, but I'm really not a tad bit upset about that. There is just so much going on, it's silly to even worry over such a thing.

I didn't get a card or a gift for him, as things are tight, but I'll think of some dessert and a dinner that he would like.

I hope he's okay today. It's awful just jumping out of bed and heading off for a 30-minute drive when you've had no coffee or a few minutes to clear your morning head. We threw a banana and two protein bars in a cooler, and I had about 4 bottles of water on hand, so hooray on that, and I'm sure he will be able to grab some lunch. Seems silly to worry about, but I do worry about it because he is the kind of person who would never ever want to inconvenience anyone for himself, and would do without all day if the others he works with never stopped.

At the end of the day, I’m sure all will be well.

I’ll be off now to attend to my daily duties. I hope anyone reading this has a blessed and most glorious day. Focus well. Make good choices.

May God bless you today. And may you know that.

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

Those strings on the blinds

What do you do with those? They are long and skinny and get tangled up anytime you pull up the blind. Does anyone know some magic little thing you can buy to solve that knotted up string of the blind problem? Hahhaah. I just thought this is a post about the *blind leading the blind.* Okay. Well. Not exactly. More like the blind needing a blind thingie.

Oh. Never mind.

A Meals ME-ME

I was tagged by Tim’s Mom at Bona Vita Rusticanda Est to play this quiz created by the Apprentice.

It's not the _most_ interesting one I've ever done, but I think the meme's are kind of cute. I mean, it's just a wee bit of a distraction, and not really so harmful to know that someone has a thought or a favorite thing that's their own.

What was the best ___ you ever had?

1. Pasta/spaghetti?

This was my favorite meal as a child. My mother made “the best” spaghetti sauce in the world! She said she got it out of a home ec cookbook. I remember fondly the nights she made spaghetti.

2. Best chocolate chip cookies?

Many people think mine are fairly decent and close to excellent. I love them. I use the Nestle Toll House Cookie recipe, but do not use any white sugar. I use one cup of brown sugar. The cookies are moister than most. I usually put them in the freezer right away. We love them straight out of the freezer.

3. Birthday cake?

I am not really a cake fan. I like the icing better than the cake. But. If I am going to have cake, I love chocolate with nuts and cherries. I don’t care for boxed cakes.

4. Chicken burger?

I don’t really care for chicken burgers. I used to. Now they all taste like rubber burgers.

5. Hamburger?

I don’t think I eat them now. They taste funny to me, too. Sometimes I want one. But I pass. Or I might take a few bites to satisfy the craving. When I chew meat, it always ends up leaving the taste of cardboard in my mouth.

6. Pumpkin pie?

Not a favorite.

7. What's your favorite food, and who made it?

There is a pasta dish I like at Outback. And there are two ladies at my former church, Hamen (pronounced Hey-min) Yang, and Kathy Ferrell. Anything they made was to die for! I mean *anything*. Such Great Cooks they are.

When my husband was ill and our church assigned us meals, I was so glad that those two ladies volunteered! (They know I love them!)

8. Name three people you'd like to join in.

I don’t know anybody any more. I don’t think any reads my blog now.

So I guess this is all about 'meh' .....

Being there

My moments of clarity come in the early morning hours.

I know I have but little time before the needs of those I love wake up and show presence.

Then I must answer.

My life will then revolve around them, helping, assisting, being there, listening, driving, picking up, dropping off, feeding, shopping, going, going, going.

I must answer because it is my calling.

My life would be empty without them.

All of them.

My husband,

my children,

My family,

My friends.

Even the cats.

I love them all.

Just call me.

I’ll be there.

I want to be.

DES, Inc.

My husband planned on getting a job here, but didn't expect to be employed after the very first interview last week.

The first place he went was called Definitive Electronics Systems, Inc. The hired him. He is doing wiring.

The company calls itself DES, Inc. My husband's name is Desi. We thought that was kind of entertaining.

The sky at night....

It is just so beautiful here. I love looking at the sky change while the sun is setting. Does anyone else love watching the sky change?

I'm tired of talking about moving. and boxes.

Monday I begin to take care of my nephew Jacob. I think we will go to the beach for our first assignment. Monday Mr. B looks for a job. Monday Madam B will start school. Out of a box! LOL. I'm sure her math is around here somewhere!

I haven't cooked a meal on a stove in months. I don't know if I remember how to cook. I can't remember a lot of things. I can't remember the last book I read. If it wasn't for my blog and scattered notes, I'm not sure I would remember me.

My house in North Florida still has not sold. What a heaviness that is. All the family prophets say, 'oh it will sell'. I hope the prophets are right. But God has his timing. It will all work out in the long run.

My sister in law had sold her house, and the deal looks like it's going south. Ooops~! Going South? Is "going south" an expression for things gone bad? Holy cats! I've 'gone south'. What does this all mean? Hopefully, nothing.

Our youngest cat James has gone missing. Very sad indeed. I shall post about their moving expedition adventure. I'm sure they will be holding it against us for a very long time. James is a very timid, sweet, spoiled cat. It's Harley, the cat with the mr-mean-genes, that needed to go missing, I mean, if a cat in the universe needed to go missing for all things to stay zen, I feel it should have been he. But apparently, I have been voted out of choices in these matters.

And speaking of choices, I mentioned recently that I should like to have been present at the counsel of beginnings, when it was decided upon, that cats should be domesticated. That group is probably still out there somewhere laughing at the prospects of cats being tamed by people. Not gonna happen.

Moving saga rages on

Now we are south and traveling north. I'll be glad when the settling dust lays about my shoulders.

This coming Wednesday, I should be here as a permenant resident.

My oldest son's birthday is Tuesday ~ a birthdate he shares with the son of my best friend in Tennessee -- Happy Birthday, Tim; I'll be looking for your birthday adventure post --( funny to meet someone you totally click with and their oldest son and your oldest son have the same birthday. Maybe not funny, maybe cosmic, or spooky, but, nonetheless, but *cool* above all else.)

Anyway, my oldest son is disappointed that we will not be here. I asked him if he'd like us to stay and go after his birthday, but he said no. So just a little sentimental thought popped out. We love him so much; we'll make his birthday last through the weekend.

Will tell my traveling tales in a later entry.

I will say the road and the sky collide here in a very beautiful portrait of what God has to offer in glances of his world. I love the view here.

later,


Miss Roxie

Among the boxes...

They are piled high. They are half full. They are taped, they are broken, and they are protruding with kitchen utensils. They hold all my precious photos, my memories, my scraps of paper I will not relinquish, my ticket stubs, shell jewelry the children made for me, all my little 'i love you mommy pleese forgiv me' notes', (I saved them all).

We went through some 'do you really need this?' to each other with the distress in the voice of the asker, or some other kind of tone.

I feel sadness when I see one of my schoolbook put in a box and taped away wondering how long will be it before I find it again and can get it on a schedule. I don’t want to loose the year, Madam B did so well last year.

This year I am going to need some inventive things until I can get my schedule together.

I want to talk a friend of mine into doing Madam B's yearly assessment. But what I'll plan are quarterly visits! And then on the beach in the morning, she can go over the work for that quarter and make her assessments while sipping some lovely morning drink like mimosas! And eating grapes, and strawberries and watermelon.

I have a huge large bag of things to through out, but who knows what is enough?

I'm sure I'll sort more when I get there.

We did get an extra little blessing today when we went to get the truck. They didn't have the size we ordered, so they gave us the bigger one at no extra charge. That's very cool.

Our feet are so tired. They hurt. All three of us; and our neighbor/friend/son Bobby has been helping today and will be back tomorrow. We need to leave on Friday, as the truck is due back on Saturday.

So enough of that. Tomorrow I am going to cut a friend of mine’s hair. I think I’ve mentioned her before. She has been a friend for 21 years, and this may be the last time I cut her hair. She’s homebound now. Not her style, but what the doctor has ordered. She’s already lived longer than he said she should.

We are looking to not only be totally packed tomorrow, but have the house clean because we are having an open house over the weekend while we are gone. Since the original deal fell through, we’ve got to keep going!!

Time for rest now. Tomorrow is a busy, busy, day!

Tu tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

In a nut shell

That would be a coconut shell ~

I'm here in Tally right now, going back down South on Friday. Don't know if this will be the last trip. But. Fitting a 2100 sq foot house into a 1300 sq foot house is very interesting to say the least! Our book shelves will be on the ceilings. Our beds will be nailed to the walls. And there's a train every day, every night, every, every, you can think of, as we live near the train tracks. This is the price that a poor white girl from the south must pay, if she should want to live near the beach. 3/10 of a mile from the beach.

From my front porch I can see the most beautiful blue sky. And at night, crisp and clear, you can see the stars.

What did I do this week? I interacted with boxes. Open and closed. And ran away. From boxes. I did get some things accomplished.

By the end of the week, my house was full of kids. I feed 5 kids last night. All, but my daughter, are from broken homes. Sad. So, I made pizza (from scratch, so easy) and french fries and fish sticks. Easy peasy for 5 teenagers at the last minute. (I put some carrots and dip out just for the balance of it.)

I saw The Turtles in concert Friday night. Does _anyone_ remember them? My daughter said she didn't realize they were still living. They sang so many of their hits, and the audience was full of fans because everyone sang along! It was fun. The Turtles said they were already rich and really only toured because it was fun and they enjoyed it. Their voices were immaculate, I was surprised, and they didn't mess up on one line! More than I can say for one Jackson Browne! But he is forgiven by his fans because he is still so handsome.

My sons live next door to me now. Tell you what. That was weird. It was like being on
vacation and living in the past, all at the same time. They were over for coffee and borrowing milk...but, I borrowed so much more from them, I have to admit.

I was all over the place with visiting and unpacking and doing some basic shopping and car tag straightening outting and keeping track of my daughter's new friends. And I am here to say that I thank God in Heaven that my home is one that the kids don't mind hanging out at because if my daughter was hanging out at the homes of people I didn't know, I would be freaking out.

There is so much to thankful for. My cup overflows.

Disconnected

I'll soon have limited computer access. The phone and cable will be turned off. It's going to be a busy, crazy couple of weeks. And lots of rain is predicted. That's always fun for a long drive, isn't it?

I'll pop in when I can to remind myself I'm around.

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

Flying time

I just spent 90 minutes going through years 1996 to date. Sorting through old papers. My gosh, we are captive to paper! I wish I could make a big fire. Who keeps all this stuff besides me? I can't let go of my little letters. Found three more boxes of books ....oh golly, but did settle on two boxes of books for the library. And have lots of homeschooling books to donate. What a job this is. I am a pack rat.

Last days around here

It's coming to an end.

We are packing more stuff and *discussing* what can be given up. Isn't that always an interesting conversation.

It was hot today and then we lost power. And it rained. A very big and mighty rain. It's nice though because we really needed the rain. My plants needed that extra fertilizer from the sky.

We feel like we are moving incredibly slow. We do take little breaks now and then, but these last two days have lasted so long.

The television news is full of chaos and I am waking up in the morning thinking of Hezbollah and how I wish this mess over in the middle east would end, and knowing that it won't. I think about those people over there, and think how small my problems are, and why would I fret for a second about leaving behind a dresser here.

It has always amazed me how the world is set up, and that the problems of others bring about such clear focus to the fact, that in fact, we have no problems; we may think we have, but's it all relative .... all relative to the story of telling God that your cross is too heavy to carry, so he allows you into a room to choose another. And you look in and see all those other crosses, so huge, and you think, oh well, I'll just keep the one I have.

Thank you, God, for my problems. Thank you, God, for giving me the family and the friends that I have. You have chosen wisely for me.

Be careful what you wish for and other things

Well. I said I might need a trip or two to get used to moving? I should have kept my big mouth shut because it looks like it will be that. Several trips. Oh I'm about dizzy.

Wednesday I think I started having a panic attack. I got double vision. And then by Thursday I had to whopping headache. And then Thursday night, I felt like a horse was standing on my chest there was so much pressure. But I thought, 'you know what, you?' you're having a panic attack.' So I took two aspirins and went to bed and wished for things to be different..

Today my niece called me. Seems she was attacked by a raccoon this morning. She lives is a regular neighborhood, quiet little place near a lake...and she went outside at 6 AM to smoke a cigarette. And yes, we all tell her she shouldn't smoke and she knows it, but she has a real problem with her nerves and says it's the only thing that helps...
anyway,
She saw something out of the corner of her eye at the cat's food there, but didn't pay it much mind until it ran up a tree there in her front yard, Big tree really.

The thing hissed at her, and she said, 'don't you be messin' with me this morning.' And apparently that was the wrong thing to say to a hungry raccoon. He charged at her! Hissing the whole time!

She freaked and ran inside and it was a fight to get the screen door closed! He was trying to get in and had his paw in the door.

There are 3 adults and 3 kids asleep in the house. She didn't scream because she didn't want to wake them up, and she didn't want to let go of the screen door because that raccoon was serious about being angry.

But she finally got the screen door closed, and the big door, and woke her husband. Who got his rifle and came out and killed the raccoon.

Now here is the weird part to me. He fire 28 shoots to kill that raccoon. And no one came out (except her mother who is my sister, and she thought he had gone stark blooming crazy and was shooting her cat out of a tree because she saw it fall and didn't think for a second that it was a raccoon that had just attacked her daughter.) But not one neighbor came out!

They called the animal control. And the animal control said they don't handle things of this nature. Nor do they come out regarding animals unless someone is hurt or in danger. And being that the said animal was now deceased, it was their said problem.

My morning didn't start out that way. And I am glad.

The Separation Anxiety

I think it's finally here. Thursday is my husband's last day of work. That must be a strange feeling for a bread winner. Jobless. He says he's planning on just packing it all up and moving south, so he can be about the business of finding a job.

It's not that I didn't *know* we were moving; it's just that I wasn't as ready for it as I thought I would be. I think I needed another trip or two. Thought maybe I could get my home down there set up at least before I moved in. But instead, I feel like I might throw up!

After tomorrow, he's coming up with a plan.

Our house is not sold officially, really ... I'm feeling like that contract isn't even *real* ...

So basically, I have let go and given it over to God. Because there is not a thing I can do about it.

I miss my school schedule. I miss school with my daughter. I can't imagine what it must be like to really go through the total empty nest thing. Like dropping out of the sky.

Time's a wastin'

I can't believe it's been such a long time since I posted on my blog. I've had hardly a private moment to myself, as of late. My thoughts have been stuck in my head with no way to release them. And then, when I get near a writing source, and they are gone ….that does sadden me, but I have to let that feeling go and move onto the next thoughts.

Since the 4th of July, I've been packing and throwing things out, and planning my most recent trip South.
I just returned yesterday. Well that would be the day before now because it’s taken me so long to finish this!

I took many more boxes to the new house, and I really, still, have no idea what's in them, as I am functioning here just fine without whatever is in those boxes. Scary thought! Could I just - throw them all out when I get there? Ummm. Just load them up and take them to Goodwill? Ummm. I know I have to find all my keepsakes and get them in a special place, but after that ...Ummm.

The days there were busy. Always are. I helped with my nephew again. He's a hoot. Thank goodness he's a good little boy. But I get paid and that helps finance my trip, which is quite costly these days; I don't have to tell that to anyone who is traveling.

I took a boat ride along the intercostal Saturday and had lunch. It was beautiful and relaxing.

I went to see Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest.

I went to Shakespeare on the Sea. They were doing Julius Caesar in a bit of an updated version. They killed him by shooting him instead of stabbing him to death. Oh dear! Did I give away the ending? Sorry.

I had to leave before the play was over, not because of the shooting, but because I had an allergic reaction to the bug spray! LOL. Bug spray was recommended in the program there, so I put it on, and I began to itch and my arms and legs welted up! Very annoying. It was fine after I got it washed it off. But never again.

My son Sean made his singing debut! That was such fun to watch. He sang a song he wrote and he sang a couple of other songs. A Sister Hazel song – Starfish – it’s cute, I liked it. I’d never heard of it before. He even sang "Take It Easy" and asked could he get any help from the audience to sing it.. LOL. He was being funny because I'm a Jackson Browne fan and that's the one Jackson song that their band sings. They need to learn a different one.

The name of their band is Seldom Seen and the Remainders.

I spent yesterday recouping a bit, but I'm going to be back to packing and planning on making another trip down to the house around the last week of July.

Our house still isn’t 'officially' sold yet in my opinion. There's a signed contract on it, but it's one with a contingency in their favor. The people have to sell their home before they can buy ours. And, well, who knows how that is going to go. God only.

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. ~Jane Howard

Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a family….George Bernard Shaw

Easy Peasy Tea Delight Sandwiches

When one makes a perfect pot of tea, one does like to have a special treat along with it. It's nice to serve guests little finger bites of snack. Sandwiches are actually just one course of tea with the second course being scones, and the third dessert. I've shared here three delightful sandwich ones.

You always need little breads. But if you have none, cut your bread into little squares, or just cut off the crusts, OR use a little glass to make a circle shape ... However, one should think about making the sandwiches first, before doing all the decrusting and fancy slicing and shaping. I've tried it both ways ~

Cucumber-Dill Sandwiches (Makes 12)

1 tsp fresh dill (it works best, but you can use the other)
2 TBS butter, softened
1/2 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
6 thin slices of white bread (doesn't have to be, but it does affect the taste - bread tastes come through)
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the dill well with the butter, and spread each slice of bread with a thin coating. Place the cucumber slices on 3 slices of bread, making sure each slice is well covered with probably about 6 to 8 slices. Then salt and pepper each sandwich. Cover with the remaining slices of dill buttered bread. Trim the crusts and cut each sandwich into 4 sections. (You choose the shape)

Cheese Walnut and Pear Sandwiches (Makes 12)

1/2 cup walnuts
4 TBS cream cheese
2 TBS blue cheese
1/2 pear, cored
6 thin slices 7-grain bread
Butter

Toast the walnuts and chop fine, very fine. Place the cheeses in a small bowl and blend together well (mashing is more like it),
Slice the pear into very thin slices, you will need 12.
Spread each slice of bread with a thin coating of butter. Divide the cheese equally among 3 slices of bread and then gently spread the cheese. Sprinkle the walnuts, about a heaping tbs, on each slice. Place four slices of pear on each sandwich. Top with the remaining bread slices, pressing them each firmly down.
Trim the crusts and cut each sandwich into four sections.

Ham Salad Sandwiches (Makes 12)

1/2 cup of a good flavored Ham, finely sliced
1/4 cup red pepper, finely diced
1 TBS scallion, finely sliced
2 tsp sweet pickle, minced
3 TBS mayonnaise
1 tsp honey mustard
6 thin slices dark bread, such as pumpernickel
Butter

Put the ham, pepper, scallion, and pickle in a small bowl and toss to combine will. Add the mayonnaise and mustard and mix together well.
Spread each slice of bread with a thin coating of butter. Divide the ham mixture equally among the remaining bread slice.
And as always, trim the crusts, and cut the sandwiches into 4 sections.

Tidbits of advice:

1. Plan on serving each person 6 to 8 sandwich pieces. Little sandwiches are deceptive and sometimes guests are unaware of how many they are popping into their mouths

2. Be sensitive to your guests tastes. Serve more than one choice. Also, don't forget you can always choose to serve an open faced sandwich, use a cracker instead of bread, or even the small pita breads available.

3. Make sure you spread your butter thinly regardless of which filling you are choosing.

4. Whatever you do, don't forget to have fun! And did you know that cream is not recommended with tea? Milk is considered best because it does not overwhelm the flavor of tea.

Enjoy your tea!!

Tu Tranquilo,

~Miss Roxie

Interesting concept

The further one grows spiritually,
the more and more people one loves
and the fewer and fewer people one likes.
-Gale D. Webbe, clergyman and author  

(1909-2000)

Happy Birthday Sean

End of the Dirt Road is a song written about my son Sean. He's the guy in the white hat.
He's with my brother in law in the top photo, and that's my brother in the second.

In May of '05 I wrote a post on a Message Board about Sean. A friend of mine on the board, Doug Barnett, is a song writer and a singer, and all 'round general good fellow. He took my post, and he turned it into a song! Incredible, I thought.

He put it on one of his CD's and in honor of today being Sean's birthday ~ I shared a link up there so everyone could hear Sean's song. It's called End of the Dirt Road. The whole vision of the post was my little boy was now driving off the dirt road and headed out to the highway --I do love that boy. He is a most fun child, the one that made me laugh every time I tried to discipline him! Take a listen to the song; you might like it.

If you like the song and wish to listen to some more of Doug Barnett's music - here's his homepage and information on the cd that I bought.

It's funny, how no matter what happens in your life, you never forgot the day you gave birth to your children. Their birthday. You beginning the most important assignment in your life. Never just another day.

Sean had a good day today. He's with his brother and my brother's family, and my parents, and my great nephew Nate, who looks at my boys like they hung the moon. And that is cool beans.

Happy Birthday, Sean! We love you, today, always, and forever.

The night is passing

"Count no day lost in which you waited your turn,
took only your share and
sought advantage over no one."
-Robert Brault

I'll post the tea treats tomorrow.
I'm living here amoung the boxes,
and I think
I have located the correct one.
I look forward to posting them.


Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

And so the proper pot of tea

For Athena in the minivan ~

The proper way to make Tea –

Fill the kettle with cold water and bring it to a boil. Use the cold water because it has more oxygen and it makes a better brew.

While the kettle is heating, run hot water through your teapot to heat it. Once your teapot is heated, pour that water out, and place in the pot your loose tea or your tea bags. When you use loose tea, it’s always suggested that you add one more teaspoon for the pot.

Once the water has boiled, and some authorities suggest allowing the to water to boil for one minute to dispense with the proper amount of oxygen (really, I think it’s a mute point, but I’m sure someone might disagree on this), pour the water into the teapot, put the lid on the teapot, and allow the tea to brew for 3 to 5 minutes.

Don’t pay regards to the color of the tea. This can be very deceptive and leave you with a weak brew should you choose to regard the color over the proper timing.

When the brew is ready, remove your tea bags by placing them in a spoon and wrapping the strings around the spoon so as to squeeze out all the excess of the lovely tea.

For just a cup, you follow the same rules, heating your cup before you pour the water for your tea.

I also have tips for serving the tea and some delightful recipes for Tea Snacks.

Tea Quotes:

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. ~Bernard-Paul Heroux


If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you.
~Gladstone, 1865

Tea should be taken in solitude.
~C.S. Lewis


If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.
~Japanese Proverb


Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you. Now tell me about hundreds of things. ~Saki

Flying lower than the radar

Man I hate when this happens. It's one of those days, I just can't get going. It's not an energy thing, it's a mind thing. This state of limbo is like a scrabble game, trying to pull letters up to spell a word. You can see them all there, you keep moving them around, and you know you must have something, the letters are good letters! - but you wish you had the blank ..

I should listen to some music. What I would like to do is go walk on the beach for a few days - or be like Forrest Gump and just start running, but my ankle is no good and I'd probably fall down after a quarter mile ... Rambling ~ It's a fidgety day. I think I want a cookie.

So I baked some cookies and they turned out badly. Trying new or different ingredients doesn't make Mr. B happy, he's always saying, "Please! Do not mess around with the chocolate chip cookies!"

So I settled for some yogurt and bran cereal with blueberries. Blueberries are good with just about anything. Bran cereal is for old people like me so they can have a healthier constitution even with a bum ankle.

A few people came to see the house this past week, no takers, someone is coming tomorrow night. Things gotta be right soon. My husband and I just finalized the selling of his business, so on July 1st, he doesn't own it any more.

I am very proud of my husband for building a business after being dumped out of another one ~ it was a sad deal the way it was handed over to him, but he made the best of it and built it up with a fine reputation. So that part's done, all's right there, now just the selling of the house part. Really need to get that done.

But she'll be right, mate. I'm ready to turn and face the change. Time will turn it the right way. Faith in the unseen.

We're hanging in ....

Hope you're having a good day.

Tu Tranquilo,

~Miss Roxie

Abigail Adams

"If you complain of neglect of education in sons, what shall I say with regard to daughters, who every day experience the want of it? With regard to the education of my own children, I find myself soon out of my depth, destitute and deficient in every part of education. I most sincerely wish ... that our new Constitution may be distinguished for encouraging learning and virtue. If we mean to have heroes, statesmen, and philosophers, we should have learned women."

Abigail Adams (1744-1818). U.S. matriarch; wife and mother of United States President. [In a letter to her husband John Adams, who was away at war. She was reacting to his letter of August 3, in which he lamented his 'countrymen's' lack of 'art and address' and 'knowledge of the world.'] Letter (August 14, 1776).

The Family Tree

The Family Tree
by Carole Cadwalladr

If anyone is interested, I wrote my rickety review here.

If you are not interested, have a really nice day. May there be blessings reigned upon you. May you do a kindness to another because a kindness done out of no other reason than kindness, multiplies and circles back to you.

The beginning of a better world begins with you.

Tu tranquilo,

~~Miss Roxie

Father's Day

The fifth largest card selling holiday. I'm not sure the top four - Maybe Birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day and Easter? I don't know.

I have a problem every year picking out a card for my dad. I always go with a character from Peanuts. You just can't go wrong with Snoopy.

Snoopy doesn't talk. But says everything. I believe the secrets of the universe are held captive in Snoopy's doghouse.

Snoopy is a Beagle. Beagle's are independent thinkers. They can be stubborn and can learn how to manipulate you. A Beagle would take over the complacent Charlie Brown. Perfect.

And by the way, I just found this out recently, Snoopy's birthday is August 28th - according to the comic strip, Charlie Brown brought him a birthday cake that day - my anniversary is August 28th ... Perfect.

An Irish Blessing

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Truth, stories, and old laundry tales

What is true and untrue?

I read stories about people collecting money from their wash machine and taking vacations to ~ oh say ~ Hawaii. I have been collecting money from my wash machine since January 1 this year ~ and I have $37.82. I don't think that will even get me to Miami. It's about $67.00 on a bus to get to West Palm Beach.

I have 27 socks; I just counted, with no mates. (They are my husband's work socks. they will graduate to Rags now. An honor truly.)

I have 8 Tupper wares with no tops. I have 22 tops with no bottoms!! I just put them in a bag and put them in the closet and will wait to see if the bottoms return.

None of my silverware matches any more and I don't know where all this silverware in the drawer has come from. When I met my husband, in 1981, I had one single set of silverware that matched.

I counted my drinking glasses. I have no complete sets of anything really ... The only sets of *four* I have are some three ounce juice glasses my sister in law bought me when I said I was looking for a small glass and couldn't find one. She sent me a box of twenty.

That was a couple of months ago and forget it ... I can find seven. I have heard no broken glass ... so, what did they do? Run away with the socks I suppose.

My very nicest sheets are the ones that the elastic is too loose on. The old Walmart standbys are still hanging on. However, I have no matches. This is not a big deal, but I am downsizing so ...ummmm, decisions, decisions - which ones to keep?

Oh well, I'll continue on "with my maps and my faith in the distance, moving farther on" …*

*(Farther On by Jackson Browne)

Living with the decisions of others

In this post I mentioned my great nephew's experience in viewing a rated R horror film at a children's birthday party. A party for a 10 year old.

His nightmares didn't end. And he hears voices. My sister promised him she would take him to the doctor. She did.

The diagnosis is Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and counseling has been suggested.

The pediatrician said that movie (Nightmare on Elms Street) is horrible and could give any child nightmares for the rest of their lives. My sister told him that other children had viewed the film and not reacted this way. The doctor said all children are different, but he wouldn't guarantee that they weren't affected by it in some way.

My sister will be seeing the careless parents at a wedding soon. She plans on telling them what has happened.

"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."
-Anonymous

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

Flashback ~ Madam B and the Wild Bunnies

Tis the season of Wild Bunny Rescue
Posted by roxie on Mar-12-03 at 10:57 PM

So the year is about the first quarter gone. Do you remember what your New Year's Resolutions were?

I don't know about any of you, but life has a way of hijacking me into constant movement of activity, and I forget about long-term plans. I really have to refresh my memory from time to time about what is really important. I get caught up in the never-ending list of daily dues as my so-called life keeps jumping up and down in front of me demanding my attention. Ever so demanding schedules and deadlines that aren't often forgiving.

I was caught today in the headlights of a child's view on things. It pinned me still.

For the last two days, one of our cats has brought home three baby bunnies. There was so much activity involved with this. Finding a box to keep them safe in, making a bed in the box, while in the meantime they peed on everything creating more laundry, going on line for information about what to feed them and how to care for them as the first two were found around 9 at night and I didn't want to run off to the Animal Hospital till morning.

Oh and by the way, going on line to search for the bunny info ... my husband said to my daughter, enter "wild bunnies" ... I said, 'no wait! Don't enter wild bunnies. Better try wild rabbit care (Who knows what she would come up with entering 'wild bunnies!' and I didn't want to know.)

Anyway, so for two days in a row I have had to drive over to the Animal Hospital, which is the drop off for the St. Francis Wildlife Refuge, and it's _not_ right around the corner. And there's so much to do, and gas prices are high and whine and blah, blah, blah going on in my mind ...

And I heave a great sigh just before we got out of the car to drop off the third bunny ~ and my daughter says, "I hope we find another one today".

And I am like, "Huh? We have been here twice. Why would you hope we find another one?"

To which she replied, "But I love this! This is so much fun!" And she spends 5 minutes telling me of the joy that comes with finding wild bunnies. And she brought me back from my pit of overwhelment to a place where I could smile and not feel bad about all the things waiting on the edges. They will still be there tomorrow.

Tonight she went out to follow the cat to see if she could find the burrow he has been snatching those bunnies from. She didn't find it. But she surely did enjoy the looking.

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

2001 ~ a day that December

Between the life that we expected and the way things have always been...

I am not sure what I expected.

And I am still trying to figure out what I have got going on in my brain, that causes me to create these situations I do. But it seems to be, that's the way it's always been. I just never noticed it early on. I mean, I am painting my house, 14 days before Christmas! What kind of insanity is that?! And, I swear, my house keeps getting bigger!

The reason I know I am stressed --oh, did I mention I was stressed just a tad? --- is that, I just cut my hair this morning. I am a (retired) hairdresser. And I cut my hair at times when it really doesn't need cutting, and I have realized, through the years, that this (power) works as some kind of therapy for me. My husband comes home,.. looks at the sink, says "you cut you hair again"... with the little knowing smile (fear)...

next, will be finding the milk in the pantry and the eggs in the cupboard with the mops and the beans or, forgetting to put the coffee carafe on the hot plate part of the coffee maker and wondering, 'just_what_is that brown line coming down the counter?' -- which I did yesterday. Very confusing site, that. It never reached the floor, just kept traveling along the counter towards me. Eerie. Like a Stephen King movie.

I didn't expect living la vida loca in the ebb and flow of my daily comings and goings. But, here I am. Painting my house a color that I am not crazy about 2 weeks before Christmas! Ha!

Last night I had a moment. I was painting away and made a star, accidently, on the wall. I got carried away with making things - I was using a roller - and felt peaceful at the moment and into what I was (or thought I was) creating there, and didn't realize that I was tilting the paint tray. Towards me. I was covered with globs of paint running down my left sleeve. I didn't want to yell out, didn't warm to alarm anyone -- it's only paint on my favorite knockaround old sweater -- so I laughed out loud.

In my house that always works to get attention because everyone is always saying, 'what is so funny?' Not that I laugh at my family all the time, but certain things strike me as funny, that maybe they don't think are so funny... So, when I began to laugh hysterically, I heard the cries of 'what is so funny?' (you have to say this with a tad bit of annoyance to appreciate it)...but someone came to help me.

Now. I was in a corner. Stuck. Behind a computer desk and another desk that had been pulled out about, oh say, 3 feet. There was no place to put the paint tray or roller down. (I said I was 'painting'; I never said I was a 'painter who might know what they are doing')

Well, once paint is on a roll, it doesn't stop, even when you straighten the tray. Does life get like that? We start a way of living and it just keeps rolling? And then by the time we are mature enough, or enlightened enough, to look at it...we are just *there* -- not 'getting our act together' anymore, but instead, 'this is our act' --in Scene XXXXXLMIV - enter assorted relatives at holiday crunch time... etc?

Oh well. In the hard light of an angry sun, no one 'mentions' what was said or done, I suppose, if we are just tender...tender to ourselves through the mess-ups we make, tender to the people who help us make the mess-ups and the ones who help us through the mess-ups, tender to the people who don't even know they are making us crazy enough to throw paint or cut our hair off, then I suppose we can say, All is Well.

I hear a paint brush calling. It will have to wait until I get back from the Chiropractor. (Actually, I think the paint brush said a bad word.)

That's all for now.

~~ Special Thanks to Jackson Browne for the Song Tender is the Night ---

Exercise your Brain

You need your brain. I think we all know that without further research.

However, did you know that there is research available on the fact that your brain needs your body to exercise to help it build and fire it's (very important) neurons correctly? And you say, well sure, that makes sense.

Well listen to what Arthur Kramer, a PHD professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Illinois says

~~"We examined brain structure before and after fitness training and we found increases of brain volume in a number of areas." ~~

and you might say, "and so?"

And so, if this is true, why has funding for physical activity been taken out of schools? Why is not the funding for physical education important, if it has to do with the good functioning level of our brains? Someone is being very dumb and not reading the research.

So here’s how it’s dealt out – fact is fact. Your brain needs your body to work out! -- Do anything -- move around quickly and fastly, roller blade, play volleyball, play softball, just move!

Parents, it all falls on you. If we can’t change the legislation of funding for our schools, then we have to get our kids out there to move. And homeschool parents, you are responsible for the same thing. Our kids have to move, also.

Move America!! Move away from the TV and video games!! You’re your brain that’s at stake here. And consequently, what affects one person in the world is going to somehow, someway, affect us all.

Getting your heart rate up can increase blood flow to the brain which is a good thing. This will help with an improvement in memory and overall brain function, so say the studies. The studies also say for this to happen, all you need is 30 minutes of something as little as walking 30 minutes a day.

No one is asking anyone to run a marathon. Just remember the old motto, Move it or Lose it – and now, guess what folks, that includes Your Brain!

An Onion Tart

...is not a sassy little girl who smells like feet. An Onion Tart is pretty and can be served to company. I surprised myself with this delightful thing!

I found the recipe in one of Madam B's Vegetarian Cook Books. She avoided this one, because really, young people just aren't favored to onions ~ but Mr. B loves onions. And the other night, while out at dinner, someone else commented how much they love onions, and Mr. B's sister loves onions, so I gave this a try.

And a big thumbs up! It's pretty and it's tasty and onions are good for you. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients for the filling~

2 TBS butter or olive oil
2 onions sliced thin
1/2 tsp fresh or dried thyme
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 tsps poppy seeds
1/4 tsp mace or nutmeg
salt and pepper

Ingredients for the pastry~

1 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 TBS cold butter
4 TBS Milk

The tart is a perfect size for a pie plate. It serves 6. Here's what you do to make it.

(I did the filling part because Madam B just can't handle onions yet. Her eyes just won't take it! We've tried all the old wives tale remedies I know; I'm sure one day she'll just build a tolerance....Madam B did the pastry part, so, of course, it was pretty and perfect)
anyway...

Step One ~ Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan and add your thinly sliced onions and cook over a low heat about 10 to 12 minutes until soft and golden looking. Add the thyme and some salt and pepper to taste, set them aside and let them cool while you do the rest.

Preheat the oven to 425. Depending on how fast your oven heats will depend on when you turn your oven on!

Step Two -- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Using a pastry blender (which we don't have yet, can you imagine!) or two knives, cut the butter into the ingredients until the mixture resembles crumbs. Then add the milk and stir lightly with a wooden spoon to make a dough.

Step Three -- Turn out the dough on a floured surface and knead lightly.

Step Four -- Pat the dough into an 8 inch round pan of some kind. (It calls for a deep one, but I think a pie plate will do.) Press the dough evenly and then pour the onion mixture on top.

Step Five -- Beat together the egg and the sour cream or yogurt. (I used the dough bowl so I didn't have to dirty another bowl). Spread that evenly over the onions. (Vegetarians like things 'even' apparently.)

Sprinkle with your poppy seeds and mace (I didn't use mace) or nutmeg. (I have no idea what mace is, never used it before, so good luck with that should you choose it.)

Bake the Tart for 30 - 35 minutes until the egg topping is puffed and golden.

Step Six -- Let the tart cool for about 10 minutes. Slip a knife between the tart and the pan/plate/thingie to loosen, then, unmold onto a plate and serve. (I am not so formal and served it up in the original plate I baked it in.)

But it was tasty!!