This year comes with a warning....

Do it now. Live it large. Time's A Wastin' ...

Remember that song? Time's A Wastin'? No? It's an old song. June Carter Cash wrote it back in, in, some year - long ago - in a galaxy where my parents lived in that crashed into mine because my father loved music and June Carter Cash was one of his favorite people.

But I'm not thinking about the song, really. The lyrics are not very deep on a word to word level, but the meaning of Time's A Wastin' - My friends, it is absolutely true.

If you have a plan, if you have something in your life that you think you want to, ought to do, heavens - get to it.

Got a book you want to read? My gosh, don't hesitate - go buy it, or check it out of the library, but please do yourself a favor and read it.

Got a bridge to mend? Mend it. It's not worth another day of struggle to let a heart be torn. Make the call. Write the letter. Fix the fence and life will get better. Love. It’s the binder and the fixer. It will glue your bridge. Goes on clear, shows up pretty in the later years.

Hug your friends. They need it. I promise. It's "4 hugs a day for survival. 8 hugs a day for maintenance. 12 hugs a day for growth." Did you get that many today? No? Well, get busy! You need to survive and grow and maintain, don't you?

That's one positive perk in taking care of a three year old - they hug you, no questions asked. Everyday I can count on Jacob for at least one hug.

Give a thumbs up when the fire fighters ride by even if they are on a regular ride. You'll see them smile and wave if they see you. The serve us. They are sworn to save out lives. Let them know, we see them. Thumbs Up. We appreciate you are there for us.

Smile. Some folks might not act like they deserve it. Like the lady who butted into my turn at the drug store...I still wish I had handled that differently, but it's over now, and I learned that next time, I will say what I want to say, but I will make sure my voice is kinder. As in kinder nicer.

I wasn't meanly when I spoke to her; I was generic. It's was not a helpful tone. It fed her idea of what she was doing was right, and that's not helping anybody. Next time, I'll say what I have to say with a Smile. Even though, some times, I really like raising my eyebrows! I'll smile when I raise them.

Serve your community. I'm here in a new town and haven't done anything to get involved. It feels funny. Kind of selfish. But what's happening is, I'm letting myself fill that slack with something else like laundry or sweeping the porch. I know I haven't washed the car in 5 months.... but really, we each need to give - in some way -- to our community and it's needs.

I did take Jacob to the fire station. Maybe that could count for a tiny thing. I didn't hug them though. I did take cookies. Maybe a fireman thinks that's a good as a hug.

Have any dreams? I do have one. I want to write a book. I don't know if it's a book I would publish, but I sending my sister and my niece a short piece of it for judgment. I know I need to work on it everyday. And I don't. Because I don't see the dream real.

What I see is that everyone needs me in some way, and I have to wait for that moment to be there for them. I'm standing by for them. I leave a time slot open for them always. There's a sign on my heart door that always says, 'come in' ....Always, Everyday I do that. Maybe I have to figure out a way to do that and write my book, too. At least I have the dream. That's good right? But I don't ever want to say to my family, 'I'm too busy, you can't come in because I’m working on my dream."

Here’s an interesting idea for you -- Look at things from the inside out. Seriously. For example, I have a niece who is in prison. I'll tell you the story someday, but not now - but I will say that her sentence for what happened was way over the top.

I go to visit her, and I think about her being in there and feeling locked up and feeling the loss of things as the awareness of prison everyday grows in and around her, and I think, I don't ever want her to feel that she has nothing to lose and cross over to the dark side –

Could we find a way to survive if we happen to make a mistake or a horrible choice that could seal our fate for life? I think, do people in the free world (that's what those inside call 'us' - 'people in the free world') know what we each really have inside of us?

I know many people suffer from a crisis in their lives now and then, but they pass, and then we go on and soon are taking our lives for granted. Most of our days leave us untested for what's really inside of us. Mostly our days don't require us to even have to think about what real strength we have inside.

When I started going through this episode with my body going into pain for unknown reasons and spent 3 months seeing doctors and no diagnosis, and then yesterday, I get a diagnosis that begins with "I'm betting this is...." I felt frustrated and wanted to raise my eyebrows, but for someone reason I not only thought of my niece in jail, my mind began to think of women in concentration camps and how something like this would not stop them from continuing on with their efforts of survival. I will not be a wimpy. I will take my steroids, anti-inflammatory, and the quest is to get better so I can be better and use myself to serve those I love with love.

Yes, I know, you have to have yourself in order to serve your house, and I will do that. My mind thinks about my niece a lot, and I think, "what would I be and what would I value inside those walls? What would I do with my time? What am I doing with my time now?" -- someone who works at a prison posed those thoughts.
Just get up in the morning. Make your list, make your coffee or tea, and your beds if you're anal, kiss your kids, say something positive to them, feed them love with their oatmeal (throw out that junk cereal, really – my eyebrows are raised, but I am smiling) tell them and your husband, and the rest of the assorted relatives who are in your life to tease you into thinking you have got to be sane because you can't be them, or could you? Oh the depths of relationships can very well get confusing….

Which brings me to being a pirate – and what Captain Jack Sparrow said ….

”The only rules that really matter are these: What a man can do, and what a man can't do. For instance: You can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man, or you can't. But piracy is in your blood boy, so you'll have to square with that someday. Now, me, for instance, I can let you drown, but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesies, savvy? So, can you sail under the command of a pirate, or can you not?”

So. Can you sail your ship with yourself in command and live out your life as your calling demands?

You need to decide because, you see, “Times A Wastin’” and you are at the helm of your ship.

Made any promises that you haven’t kept? I have a promise outstanding that I am going to get on it and keep it. (Leslie, I’m working on it.)

And then I’m going to follow through on the nagging list of emotional things I’m working on. I will get better. I may not shine in 2007, but I plan to glow a little.

And here’s another thing I’ve observed…Old people fighting. What is that? I mean, gosh, what is left to fight about by then? That has got to stem from some kind of seriously unresolved issues!

I shall have no issues unresolved. They shall be let go, set free, they will not remain around to come back to make me angry when I am 80. Not a freakin’ chance on that – I am leaving this world in a state of Tu Tranquilo.

If God still recognizes me immediately, I will pass over to the next world in peace and calmness. If God’s vision of me is blurry, and He has to look up things, or ask Jesus if he remembers me so I can get a reference, (Heavens, please don’t send Satan!), I feel I’ll pass over, but maybe God will be having me feel some of that tinge of regret that gets me sometime in the night, before I complete my journey home. I'm trusting he won’t but, I think I’ll take care of as many things as I can while still here- so I can sail under the command of My God easily. (My heart surged when I heard Billy Graham say he was 'hoping' he was going to heaven...hoping? If he is Billy Graham and he is 'hoping' ...I truly am hoping God recognizes me!)

So you see? Time’s A Wastin’. Go get ‘em Tiger. Let this be your year for the Glow – or the Shine! Just know this, you will never make the basket if you don’t shoot.

Time's A Wastin' ..... Love's A Waitin' ....

And remember, always, .

Love conquers All

I love my family.
I love my friends.

I love the God that gave me the things I love

With opportunities for more Love..

He taught me Love Conquers All.

I’ve been in the presence of that.

I’ve seen the saddest thing bloom love.

More than one time.

I’ve seen the tragedy become the joy

I have seen the joy come from the tragedy

Grow to love Him – Grow to love God

On more than one occasion, I have seen it,

And I have been amazed by the miracle of it all

And just quietly say to myself,

“It’s true. Love conquers All”

Love is Action

Love is Healing

Though

Love Hurts

Love Knows

When to stay

And when to go
without leaving,

just waits, quietly
for someone to believe.

Love Frees

Love Binds

Love does not know math

And doesn’t count the times

We failed, lost, lied, cried,

Love just waits for us to let it back inside.

Love needs Us
To release Love
to do that thing that
Love can do

Because WE are the power of love

Gifted to us by the Almighty.

Love plants,
We are the reapers.
Those around us sow.

Is your heart ready?

Love brings that peace that passes all understanding,
While living and basking in Love

Love is fast
Love is slow

But

Is Love tough?

One thing I know, it’s always strong enough.

And it’s always there. Always.

Love conquers all
because
Love Bears All Things.

Best dreams to you in 2007.

Make it a wonderful year.

~~Miss Roxie

Sweet Christmas After All

It seemed to come so fast and pass so quickly.

I hope your memories are fond.

I hope all love you have lives on.

I hope your sorrows pass quickly,
and the hurts they burrow
allow love to plant deeply.

I hope the smiles from your children light brightly
those places in your heart where shadows somtimes fall,
and make all their smudges and bad moods
fade a fast distance from memory,

And it is Love that you remember
After All

May you have a most wonderful and God loving, fearing, believing, receiving, miracle believing
New Year ~

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

So this is it - 2007 next

Did you feel it? It was that thing that put a little weight on you. It was that thing that made your bones a little stiffer. It left your hair a little grayer, and maybe there are a few more lines in your face that were gifted to you. It was that thing that left you a little broke in that bank account of yours and maybe brought up the numbers on your credit card balance – (yes, I have a balance on my credit cards, and as much as I try, it still remains). So - That was the year passing.

But hopefully, it didn’t take your smile. It didn’t come to do that. If you lost that, you did that on your own. Go look in the mirror and get it back, if that was the case. You need it. It’s going to be the thing that keeps you beautiful.

I'm always amazed, somewhere inside, when I get here. I'm always thinking, “okay this is a great time for a do-over”, and then, next thing I know - I'm here again!! Another year – gone in 60 seconds!

I always have Resolutions. And this year I gave a few out to other people that they should have! Boy, have I become bolder and bolder in my OTJB transportation through the time zone.

I gave my 80-year-old mother in the law the resolution that she will stop fussing at and scolding her 53-year-old daughter for dumb stuff. Totally dumb freaking’ stuff!! I mean, come on, you are 80! It's over, mom.

Message to mom: She is who she is and she's a damn good woman you got there for a child, now leave her alone. Rejoice in all her positive attributes because she has so many. After all, it is she who will decide your nursing home.

I told my father in law he must resolve that he will get paid attention too. It’s just the way it is in this family, and he is really fortunate that that is the case. Please stop acting like your children are doing something so awful because they remember your birthday and buy you so much at Christmas. It’s annoying. They love you. Let them.

I told my own kids to resolve to understand that I am getting older. I can’t out run them anymore, nor do I wish too. I burn things now, my cookies aren't always perfect any more (wah), I don't make your favorite foods like I used to because I can't even remember what they were, and besides I don't use a lot of those ingredients anymore because we have learned they will kill us. (Ummm, you guys seem just fine though...ummmm?). But I do remember that I was (and am) always happy when you came in the door and when I see your face, each of you, I always know there is a heaven.

And boys, if you date a girl that has a name close to your last girlfriend's name, I will call your new girlfriend by your old girlfriend's name. Deal with it. It's not the end of the world.

I told my mother she must resolve to come to terms with the fact that I am no longer 14 years old, and I told my father - I'm no longer 12. And yes, I make mistakes - (didn't they?) - and yes, my children WILL make mistakes, and WILL make a bad grade now and then in school - and they will lose things - and show up late for dinner once in a awhile. In case you hadn't realized it, mom and dad, my kids are human.

However, I love my children and support them –

No.

Matter.

What.

Period.

Amen.

I love my kids, dad and mom, and feel like I have no reason to talk badly about them. And will not. I have good kids. End of story

Okay. So that’s all I think I should say about that. Enough boldness for now.

I hope you all make the most out of the days that are presented to you. I am going to try.

I hope your days are good and prosperous. I hope you lean out of your comfort zone and make a day now and then, good and prosperous for someone else. I’m going to try that too.

My best to you, each and every one. Happy New Year to you all.

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

Short clips

1. I still have not checked out this 'new blogger' thing. I'm just so afraid that I will do something that will just mix it all up. I have to find a day to get with Leslie over at Bona Vita Rusticanda Est. She's my main source of computer teaching. My kids go to fast for me. Leslie is patient. (Oh and if you click on that link, you will see a happy banana. But not for long, I know it's headed for that blender.)

2. My father in law turned 90 yesterday. He was in a bad mood that anyone was paying him any attention about it. I'm not clear on the reason. But he has been this way every since I have known him. He gets kind of 'mad' at me, because I tell him, 'every year you say you don't want it, but every year you know this is going to happen, so why get angry?' I'm not sure I should have said that.

We went out to dinner for his birthday. He did not want to go. We had a cake and sang to him and gave him presents after dinner at his house. He did not want the cake or the presents. I don't know what to make of it.

What do you do? If someone says, 'don't do anything! I don't want it.' Do they really mean it? His daughter is afraid that if we ignore it that his feelings will be hurt. She says, 'he says he doesn't want anything, but he really does.'

Why do people do that? It must be some kind of fear of rejection or disappointment issue.

He gets around really well. He has really great legs even though he says they are weak and he doesn't trust them. So maybe he feels unnerved going out, not sure what his legs are going to do.

We are decided on getting a cane for him for a gift, but we didn't come through because we didn't find one that was cool enough.

3. Christmas here was good. One of the sweetest Christmas' I have ever had. I have some photos that I will eventually post. Madam Blueberry loved her rain boots. They are so cute!!

4. Tonight my sister's here with Nathan and he sleeps over here while she and her husband Gary sleep next door at Bills'. It works out great.

They are here for the preNew Years' party on the 30th. Should be fun. My sister sings well so it's always fun to get her up there to sing.

And at the party we were going to announce Steve's 90th birthday and drink a toast to him, and I wonder, will he get angry? Should we even worry about it? The man deserves a toast. Right?

Tomorrow I am cooking for things I'm taking to the party. Spinach Balls (really good), a taco dip platter (really good and easy), and finger sandwiches. Oh yea, and I think I'm cooking meatballs too. It'll be fine. It's the Spinach Balls people really, really like.

Here’s the recipe for those few who might be interested --

1 box frozen spinach thawed and water pressed out of it really, really well.
1 cup cheese - and kind you want
1 box of stuffing - any flavor you like (I mix cornbread and savory herbs)
2 eggs for each frozen box of spinach
1/2 cup chicken bouillon flavor
1 TBS flour

Mix everything to together really well. Make sure the stuffing is moistened by whatever it's in.

Form the balls - about an inch in size. Now I let mine sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before I cooked that. But anyway, I transferred them to a tray and cooked them for 35 minutes. They are good and they hold together well.

They are the type of recipe that if you don't have one thing, you can find another thing and it will be well.

4. So Saturday +Seldom Seen and the Reminders+ are playing at my brothers. They got some rehearsal time in, not as much as they might love, but it all seems to work about well from the vantage point I have.

It's all about family. And having fun. And working together.

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~Paul Pearshall

The lack of emotional security of our American young people is due, I believe, to their isolation from the larger family unit. No two people - no mere father and mother - as I have often said, are enough to provide emotional security for a child. He needs to feel himself one in a world of kinfolk, persons of variety in age and temperament, and yet allied to himself by an indissoluble bond which he cannot break if he could, for nature has welded him into it before he was born. ~Pearl S. Buck

Family -
Fam i lee
Fa mil y
Fam i ly
F am I ly

We are connected before we are born to those people of whom we don't know and most often will never know. Maybe once, at Aunt Cleo's wedding, will cousin Bobbie come with Callie Mae and sit in the back and smile all knowingly, probably the only relative willing to give out all the answers to the unanswered questions about Charley, Uncle Buck and the covered wagon from Mr. Marshall's barn. We say nothing and the story is all is lost.

Family - we loose the little parts of the stories all the time. What difference does it make if we fill it up with a really good story instead of one so sad? Could it really do all that damage for little Kelley to know that Uncle Joe went to jail for shotting craps on the side of the milk barn? Life goes on. What fear would be realeased if we just went ahead and told all the stories?

Give them the proper light and the proper love. Love conquers all. God's in control. Truth is truth is truth.

There is craziness in every mix of people. You can bank on it. And if everyone seems sane, well guess what? Look around and count the statistics ~ ummm, maybe it's you.

Pursuit of Happyness

In the movie, Chris Gardner says something about Thomas Jefferson writing in the Constitution that we have the right to the pursuit of happiness because

"Maybe happiness is something we can only pursue; maybe we can never have it."

Very interesting thought. I’ve never looked it that way.

I think everyone should see this movie. One good review I read was here.

a quote from that review:

"In many ways, this movie is perfect for our economic moment—a time when "getting ahead" seems less and less plausible and more and more people feel the nip of creditors at their heels. With the middle class squeeze, the line between making it and poverty is increasingly thin. A prolonged illness. A lost job. Unexpected bills. It's not that hard to identify with Chris, so it's uncomfortable to see him and his son sleeping in homeless shelters and bus stations. Still, his determination to be a loving and providing father never wavers."

When I went to the theater to see it, I knew nothing about it. I just watched this guy continue. Continue, and continue, against incredible odds. While taking care of his small son, he just seemed to be able to hold it together because I think he believed that if you are committed to taking care of your child, all will be well.

I can’t imagine being evicted from my apartment and have no where to live, with my child...
I can't imagine my life coming down to such desperate measures that I really need the $14.00 a friend owes me...
I can't imagine riding on the subway all night because I have no where else to go, with my child...
I can't imagine sleeping on the floor of a bathroom in a subway station, on a hand made toilet paper bed, while someone bangs on the door, with my child....
I can't imagine running across town and standing in line at the homeless shelter, hoping to get in because there is a limit for head count, and there are many homeless, and knowing that maybe I won't get in, with my child.....

I wonder how many people in this world would do, or could do, what this guy did to survive in order to honor the responsibility of taking care of his child?

Our attitude reigns. Our attitude rules not just our outcome, but also those around us.
It could change the world if minds would just focus on that.

This father's dedication to take care of his son may be the thing that actually saves him from drowning in a sea of despair and poverty. One never knows what God will send one for the necessitations of one's survival. I know my children gave me a great sense of purpose.

During all Chris Gardner’s trials, I kept thinking, “where is his family?” I still don’t know the answer to that question, but it sure renewed a whole appreciation for the relationship I have with mine.

Simplex arguo

Today I took care of both my nephews. Zack is 7 and Jake is 3. They were very good, actually, and I was quite happy about that because I'm feeling a tad bit under the weather.

When I was making lunch for them, Jake had his feet on the counter.

I said to him, with my eyebrows raised and pointing to his feet, "Young man, what is this?"

He said, "This my feet."

I said, in a very serious tone," And what are you going to do with them?"

He said, "I'm going to walk on them."

Three year olds. Can't get any easier than that.

The How Angry Are You Quiz

I looked up an Anger Quiz after my episode in the drugstore today ~ and seems to me, I'm okay!!!

You Are 9% Angry

You're so laid back, no one could ever accuse you of getting angry. While there are a few little things that may annoy you, you generally play it cool. In fact, your calm attitude tends to provoke people with anger problems. They may think you're screwing with them, but that's just the way you are!

How Angry Are You?

Just wait your turn.

I usually roll with the punches and just make a joke later when people are rude in public. At least what I consider rude, and maybe I was brought up in an era of to much politeness. I just do not know anymore.

I do know that I try hard, when I'm in public to be nice, patient with others, and wait my turn. Thus far in my life I've been able to keep enough control that I have not run with scissors.

This afternoon I had a small encounter at the drugstore.

I was in line. I was buying one thing. Cough medicine.

I had waited my turn behind people who had many more purchases than I. I wasn't thinking anything in particular, just waiting. Then my turn came up, and the cashier began the simple transaction.

From behind me I hear a voice speaking. I turned because I was not sure if the voice might be talking to me, but she was talking to the cashier. The cashier that was completing my transaction.

I looked at the woman speaking and said, 'would you mind waiting just a minute until she's finishes with my transaction? I do need to go somewhere.' I didn't say it meanly. I just said it. I didn't say it sweetly. I just said it.

I turned back around and the woman behind me that had been speaking before said, 'Well, that was not very nice."

I paused for just a second. That second of making a choice. Surely, I would just let it go. Surely I would.

Nope. I did not.

I turned back around, and said, "Excuse me?"

And she said, "That was not very nice."

At first I was thinking, she was meaning herself ~ that she was not very nice to interrupt the transaction in progress. But then I realized she was not. She was saying I was not very nice in asking her to wait her turn. I was not very nice in asking her to wait until I had finished being waited on before she could ask her questions about the CD man being on duty.

I said, "You interrupted the cashier during my transaction."

She said, "It didn't take up that much of her time. It didn’t slow her down that much."

At this point I thought to myself ~ there is no point in talking to this woman.

What was she thinking about? That it was okay to interrupt someone else’s turn if you are going to ask about the CD man being on duty yet? It would be okay to interrupt to ask for an outside line should you need to call 911. That would be okay. I’d even give you my phone. Heavens, I have lent people my car!

Was she so blind as not to see that the cashier –stopped- waiting on me so that she could address the woman’s question?

I was surprised enough at myself that I had said "Excuse me?" but now I hear myself attempting to explain to this woman that this was my turn, and that she had interrupted during a transaction of business and it was not her place to do so. I thought to myself, "Self, you are an idiot. Just quit talking."

So the husband wished me a nice holiday, and I wished the same to him.

Then I got to thinking. How will this woman play back the story to her friends and family? Will she tell how this lady raised her eyebrows at her and said “Excuse me?” with her eyebrow raising voice because she interrupted the lady’s turn in the drugstore line with her question about the CD man being on duty? And will she also be upset that I interrupted her being able to ask any more questions of the cashier until I got my change and was able to leave and she actually had to wait until her actual turn?

No one enjoys confrontation. Especially ones of this nature. Ones involving total strangers and cough syrup. I probably should have let it go. But for some reason, this day, I could not.

I’m sorry lady, but you were in the wrong. You need to learn to wait your turn.

When in doubt -- Socks!

It's practically Christmas. And I am practically out of ideas for gifts and the ones I have purchased are pretty much very practical which makes them, in my opinion, a tiny bit boring. I don't want to have a boring Christmas (selfish silly me). I want a little pizzazz for everyone!

And I am not a materialist. I just like to have fun with watching people open their gifts and smiling. Okay. I get some self-satisfaction if I choose something that a person really, really likes. I'm human, so sue me.

I did come up with a gift for Madam Blueberry, which I had to laugh about since I hadn't intended on posting about it at all, but the Thread of the Shoes (- which I learned about here at Leslie's -), I found hysterical since it so related to the gift I got her, but I can't tell you, just in case she reads my blog ~ but I think it's the coolest idea I came up with. Maybe not *ever* ~ but in the cool catagory nonetheless especially from someone who didn't have an idea in the first place.

And I do know and relish the true meaning of Christmas. I do know that I have many, many, many blessings to count, and I am very happy with my life and my family, and we are planning a fun time together during the two weeks of holiday time, -- I think the true meaning of Christmas is Love Conquers All because Hope was delivered and Forgiveness pronounced as a top requirement for Complete Living. Can't get better than that, the way I sees it.

But, I want to find some pizzazzy gifts! I'll continue to keep my mind open. But I am running out of time, aren't I? And my mind is running out of space.

I looked to see if there was a Pizzazzy gifts.com and there was not. Mostly florists with 'pizzazzy' used as an adjective.

My oldest son has me hooked on perusing Overstock.com ~ they have a way to help you find everything for everybody and anybody which would be easy and lovely to do should one have no budget. That budget does get in the way.

It requires us to be sensible in our frugalnessitates of the frugalness. Very hard job, that. It's difficult to find those three gifts that give joy, represent and provide hope, either together or by themselves, and make people smile.

What I find I've done in the past, is buy people what I would like to have. It seems to work well ~ as far as I know. I've never keep track of how many people have regifted items I have given them.

There was a time in my life I would have felt an offense had someone regifted a gift I had given to them. But that time has passed by me now. I have regifted many things, and I totally understand ~ it's the thought that counts.

I do try to get things that the individual person would like. But let's face it, we all can't do that for everyone, now can we? But when in doubt ~ SOCKS are the perfect gift!

There are some pretty cool socks out there! As a matter of fact, there are so many socks, it makes it really hard to choose.

One can totally express themselves through their socks! Get out there, take your shoes off, and show your socks!! Support the troops socks, handbag socks, cat socks, cow socks, wine socks, martini socks, monkey socks, oh how I wish I'd found this site sooner socks.

I think socks are so cool, that whoever said they need to match, is wrong. As long as they feel comfortable to you, what does it matter? Wear one red and one green this Christmas. Buy two different pairs and switch them over. It'll be trendy!

So this week will find me at the mall, looking around for some really cool socks for everybody on my list!


I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. ~Author Unknown

Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. ~Author Unknown

The Parable of the 9 cookies

It was doggedee rainy here today. Just pouring. It looked like it might be snow at first, that slow falling and each piece looking so defined. But no, it was water as in rain. I got soaked. Head to pretty much toe.

I took Jacob to the library, and he used the umbrella. He's 3 feet tall. I am not. He also has a radar that causes his feet to pounce in every puddle.

One of the ladies in the library today has a very mobile 16 month old. He's like a little wind up toy. She sets him down, and he just walks in a direction till he comes to something and then grabs that something and turns and moves on...it's so funny to watch. I said something to her about him being just the right height to grab things off the Christmas tree. But the mom told me they don't put up a Christmas tree because they don't believe in them.

She said something about she and her husband being Catholic and Jewish. I have friends and family who are Jewish, and they put up Christmas trees, so I was interested and curious, because I am about others beliefs and cultures - in a good way -- but she said it was because they do not want to celebrate the commercialism of Christmas. They give their child one gift. I wanted to hear more about what she had to say, but it was difficult talking while children are running around and not listening to Miss Vanessa. Maybe I can talk with her again sometime, but it's doubtful I'll see her again before Christmas.

My sister in law told me about another lady who said they give their children three gifts only. Three gifts because the Christ child received three gifts. And the three gifts they give represent (somehow) gold, frankincense and myrrh. I remember as a kid having to look up what 'frankincense and myrrh' were.

I am still not overwhelmed with the Christmas spirit. And to that, I do not fault Christmas. I love Christmas.

I baked cookies. They were so good. I ate 9 of them last night. At this rate I'll gain 20 pounds before the 25th. I freeze mine right away, and then they are marvelous!

I baked banana bread. Two kinds. One with All Bran cereal in it for those who may need to increase their fiber with good tasting stuff, and one with applesause instead of oil so as not to clog any more arteries than necessary. My 20 year old said, "Please, Mom, stop already with the changing of the receipes. Let us have our fat and good tasting stuff. We're all going to die anyway."

I still have shopping to do. But not because I haven't been shopping. But only because I can't think of what to buy!! Or what I really want to spend money on!! I am not a very good consumer.

When I reach these weird blue funky moves, I reach around all over for words -- The Bible and Shakespeare are my favorites --

"Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none." (All's Well That Ends Well)
-- William Shakespeare

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
-- 1 Peter 4:8

But it remains about love
and love conquering all,
and giving regardless of how you feel,
and tolerating that one more thing you thought you couldn't tolerate,
and be sensible
and take a walk after you eat those 9 cookies,
and oh yes, probably make that phone call you've been thinking about making,
and address that card you were thinking about addressing,
and, yeah, go ahead and say I'm sorry ....

In an old movie they said, "love means never having to say you're sorry."
That's a nice sentiment. But love means go ahead and say it. Then you don't ever have too.

The following is about Saying you are Sorry being a good thing. It's a 5 page read, but it's good. Here is an excerpt ....

"Far and away the biggest stumbling block to apologizing is our belief that apologizing is a sign of weakness and an admission of guilt. We have the misguided notion we are better off ignoring or denying our offenses and hope that no one notices.

In fact the apology is a show of strength. It is an act of honesty because we admit we did wrong; an act of generosity, because it restores the self-concept of those we offended. It offers hope for a renewed relationship and, who knows, possibly even a strengthened one. The apology is an act of commitment because it consigns us to working at the relationship and at our self-development. Finally, the apology is an act of courage because it subjects us to the emotional distress of shame and the risk of humiliation, rejection, and retaliation at the hands of the person we offended.

All dimensions of the apology require strength of character, including the conviction that, while we expose vulnerable parts of ourselves, we are still good people."

This article is not from a spiritual stand point at all. It's kind of like - just the facts, 'mam. So be sure you take that into consideration should you decide to read it all, and it is showing some wise insight, which really to me, is nothing more than common sense from a worldly perspective.

In my opinion this ~
love means, say you are sorry, bake the cookies, eat 9, take a walk, and admit to yourself you are sorry that you ate them. Then all will go better with the world.

Protons jiggle in the sun

I had my MRI yesterday. I'm sure it will turn up nothing of consequence, but before my doctor will sign off so I can exercise at the gym, I had to have one --
anyway,
After it was over, I told the tech that I felt like I was on a ledge the whole time and falling off to the side. He said, that made sense because actually what he was doing was separating my protons and that could make you feel lopsided.

The protons are like first made crazy and then they calm down and chill, emitting "radio signals" that enable the computer to pick up the image they form.

Protons are most abundant in the body in the hydrogen atoms of water ...
Water content...
Water ...

That got me thinking ...

We are all a large percentage water. Some books say 70 some still argue it less, but nonetheless, we are _all_ a large part WATER.

Somehow that makes us more the same than different. The only thing different about water is how it's taken care of, as to how pure it is, you know, drinkable or contaminated or pure or polluted. Meaning to me, it's something we have power over - taking care of the water in our body.

We are always looking at the outside for differences instead of in the inside for samenesses.

Water affects everything. There is nothing on the earth that water does not affect. Think about it. Even just a little puddle of water somewhere is affecting something.

Kids jump in them. Cars run through them. They dry up and other things get dumped in them, they never go away, they just move somewhere else.

Where am I going with this? I'm not sure. I'm just thinking out loud.

. .... .. .... There’s no clear dawning yet.

I did think for the minute that people who are in good health are generally in good spirits, but then I thought, ummmm, I know people who take really good care of themselves and some people don’t really want to be around them, so what’s that all about?

Another dimension of the being – that third dimension, that one that does the non judging, non dictating, non reacting part of us – is that one always there? Do we all even have that part, each of us?

Ooops, sorry, I have slipped over in that black hole area where all thoughts are allowed, but not necessarily connected quite clearly enough. I shall quiet that area now. There will be more to connect later on.

Good night, all.

Share this

Restful Thinking

I have always written. Just as a means of survival. I have never been diligent about saving my stuff. But it shows up here and there.

My mom was going through some old pictures and found one of my old poems from 1980. I was a widow then. My oldest son was just about four. I felt like I was handling a lot, yet handling nothing.

It’s funny now, how reading this poem brings back the memory of each and everything I mentioned in it ~ this was a real day in my life ~

Restful Thinking
~~Miss Roxie

When you see a mommy resting,
Leave her be.
Because she deserves a break today,
You see ...

She fixed your breakfast
Washed four loads

Mowed the lawn

And folded clothes

Cleaned the bathroom

Darned two socks

Untangled all your shoelace knots

Sewed up Ernie

Washed the dog

Saved you from ‘the great big frog’

Fixed your lunch

Wiped up your drink

Washed all the dishes in the sink…

And now, as the clock rounds one,

She wonders about what’s left undone,

But ‘tis of little matter now,

Because as the angels watch and smile,

Mommy needs to rest awhile.

There just may be some value to this

Three minute angels ....

Relief of tension and stress from head, shoulders, and next -- who couldn't use that in the course of their work day?

Mi Hat Su Hat ~ Be prepared

Regardless of a blue funk or not, one must shop for Christmas. I did some online shopping this morning. Gosh, I am just amazed as to how close to Christmas we really are!!

I went to the mall this evening. I decided to wear my Santa Hat. While I was in line at Bath and Body Shop, a little boy in a stroller asked his mom, 'why does she have Santa's hat?' -- His mom, a young woman, shushed him.

I'm an old woman, so I just smiled and said to him, "This is my hat." He asked me could he try it on. His mom, the young woman, said, 'no, no, that's her hat.' But I was already handing him the hat. I guess she wasn't too upset with that, as she let him try it on.

I didn't ask for it back.

You should have seen him. He was so cute. He actually had put it on backwards, but no one said anything. I just stood there smiling at him. He was smiling just looking so pleased with the moment.

His mom was the one to decide he should give it back to me. I didn't ask for it back because I wanted to make sure he had it on long enough to feel whatever it was he thought he was going to feel wearing that hat. One never knows the power of a Santa Hat, does one?

I'm going out again on Thursday. And again, I'm going to wear my hat. Matter of fact, I've got an idea. I have a couple of extra hats here, I may put one in my bag and take it with me. Just in case someone else might find some power in the hat.


Wisdom alone is true ambition's aim � Wisdom the source of virtue, and of fame� Obtained with labor, for mankind employed� And then, when most you share it, best enjoyed.
--Alfred Whitehead

I miss my friends

Friendship

I think a while of Love, and while I think,
Love is to me a world,
Sole meat and sweetest drink,
And close connecting link
Tween heaven and earth.

I only know it is, not how or why,
My greatest happiness;
However hard I try,
Not if I were to die,
Can I explain.

I fain would ask my friend how it can be,
But when the time arrives,
Then Love is more lovely
Than anything to me,
And so I'm dumb.

For if the truth were known, Love cannot speak,
But only thinks and does;
Though surely out 'twill leak
Without the help of Greek,
Or any tongue.

A man may love the truth and practise it,
Beauty he may admire,
And goodness not omit,
As much as may befit
To reverence.

But only when these three together meet,
As they always incline,
And make one soul the seat,
And favorite retreat,
Of loveliness;

When under kindred shape, like loves and hates
And a kindred nature,
Proclaim us to be mates,
Exposed to equal fates
Eternally;

And each may other help, and service do,
Drawing Love's bands more tight,
Service he ne'er shall rue
While one and one make two,
And two are one;

In such case only doth man fully prove
Fully as man can do,
What power there is in Love
His inmost soul to move
Resistlessly.

By: Henry David Thoreau

found on Poet Seers, kind of a cool site ....

Look! Up in the sky ....or just around

Space Shuttle lights up the sky today --

the National Geographic photo of the day ...not your average run of the mill reindeer?

Can you tell what we have here? Maybe. big things. in the water.

This is cool. Reminds me of a story called Roxaboxen. I want to send that book to Miss M.

These are all just cute - little bunnies, little penquins, and I am fond of polar bears ....

Blue Funk

I have been in a kind of weird mood - not of the holiday spirit kind - and I was searching around online for nothing in particular and came across something - The Astronomy Picture of the Day site --

If only my Blue Funk did look like this!!

This was taken on my anniversary two years ago. Is that not phenomenal? Who can believe that is real?

or this ...

Super Earths?

Rosette Nebula?

The Eagle Nebula?

Some beautiful stuff, that.

Heaven is so far of the Mind
That were the Mind dissolved—
The Site—of it—by Architect
Could not again be proved—

'Tis vast—as our Capacity—
As fair—as our idea—
To Him of adequate desire
No further 'tis, than Here—

~~Emily Dickinson

Parts of December till now

“Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together….”

Carl Zwanzig.

So many of the blogs offer up opinions of politics and such - I might start doing that -- it seems a tad boring to post about personal things only, but this is my blog and I do use it as a diary for my life ....so that will always be part of it

On the 5th I had to go to a place and choose some grout for some outdoor tile work that's to be done at my front door. It's seems, that when, the house was under construction, the plumber was working here and did not realize that the concrete crew had just poured concrete around the porch (which is two sides).

The plumber threw a big bucket of water out the front door and then proceeded to walk out. So it looks 'weird' with water lines through it and two huge footprints going out. That's at my front door. Very attractive, yes?

The plumber felt bad, even though I still maintain it's not entirely his fault -- someone should have alerted him to the fact that concrete was being poured -- but never thee mind -- he says it's his fault and is footing (haha, no pun intended) part of the bill for the new tile walkway.

anyway, while I was there at the tile place, I was with Jake and have now realized that these people at Floors Direct think I am crazy. Jake did this little thing where he gets right smack dab behind me, and I can't see him; you see, I turn and he turns. he thinks it's delightfully funny, in a three year old kind of a way.

So, I'm all like calling, "Jake! Jacob!" (and his brother's name is Zack - and sometimes (all of us) call things like 'Zake', instead of Jake --) And he's not answering, just turning when I turn - and smiling - and then one of the clerks comes from around the counter to say, "mam, the little boy is right there."

Did I feel like a crazy person? Yes.

Moving along. the next night was my sister in laws birthday. We went to a great restaurant on the water. Just so lovely, beautiful sky, just wonderful eating outside....

After two glasses of Merlot I realized I really didn't even need dinner, the great company, the view, the wine, and all was wonderful, such laughter a family can make. Maybe an appetizer or something, but really, I didn't need any food. I felt full with enjoyment. Well, on that, and the two big pieces of cake I ate - haha. Oh yeah, Madam B's sweet young boyfriend's little sister Jazzy turned one today - so more cake!!

Other big incidents in a Day-in-the-life-of-Jacob-and-me - I made a hopscotch and played terribly. You try it_ anyone_ 60 or up! Give it a shot. You others, better try it before it too late! I felt like I was carrying a 50 pound weight we won't say where!

I also tried a hoola hoop! How almost embarrassing! I need much more practice. I did well with making a chalkboard road though. I even had a train track and stop lights and everyone who came home and parked on it got scolded by Jacob! LOL. He was only made happy if they promised they would move their car before the sun came up.

Next week is my MRI - on my back. I joined the gym and because I had physical therapy here, they suggested I get the doctor to sign off on which exercises I might have to go easy at. And well, he says, 'exercise? you can't exercise. you have to have an MRI."

Well. like I didn't move to China, WHEN were you going to tell ME about this? (Oh, only if I joined a gym? What a way to work this. I'm not sure yet, who knows what they are doing regarding the doctors in this town. I've had three different diagnoses from three different doctors for whatever it was that put me in the emergency room twice, still have a numb leg, and no one knows what happened really.)

On the list - shopping for the two charities we choose.

Wonderful thing - Came home from work today and Madam Blueberry had the tree done and it looks so wonderful. It's a lovely tree all by itself. She choose it. I was impressed. It's impressive. And simply decorated, I like that. And there was Christmas music playing. It was great.

She is peachy.


”The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.”
~~John Locke

What is the real price?

I know this is a capitalistic society, and I know that's in some ways supposed to be free and good, but it seems to me, it's getting a little crazy ...

Having just moved down here, my sister in law, and ourselves, have a need for some furniture, and have decided to look around for awhile at the really, really expensive furniture stores. Just to familiarize ourselves with quality, etc.

Well, last weekend, my sister in law fell in love with this beautiful dining room table. Really, really gorgeous wood and just an elegant design but too pricey at the sale price of $2789.00.

here's the table -- you can click to enlarge.

So, Wednesday she got a call from the salelady who had helped her and the message was, 'call me, I've got some news on your table.' That's all she said. Sis didn't bother to return the call, but we went back in there today, as a friend was visiting and we wanted to look again ...

Seems the table is being taken off the market and they are selling --in this beautiful place called Arhaus -- this table for $750.00.

She got that table for

Seven hundred and fifty freakin' dollars. I do believe that is a lot less than two thousand seven hundred and eighty nine dollars!

They have 17 left.

Now. Don't that make ya' wanna just slap somebody? I mean, my sister in law was so drooling over that table, she was close to writing a check if the woman would have come down just say $200.00 the first week -- and now the price is like $2000.00 less??

I find that just incredibly weird!!

I know, I know, be grateful and happy that she's getting the table at a great price. We did jump up and down like idiots in the store ...but still ~ is that game playing or business or what? Are there any kind of rules about this stuff, or is it all just the luck of the draw -- like where you find yourself and when?

Oh yes, and I realize I'm getting a little hostile lately -- I think I might join the gym tomorrow to get out some of this aggression!!

The Holy Yerba Basil Matte Life Experiment

This is a new herb to my knowledge but there is much information about it and seems it has been around for a very long time. Sometimes I wonder about how we ever get as sick as we do when these old remedies are available ~~ I mean, isn't our cancer and illness rate higher than other countries where they use these old fashion herbs and remedies?

But the one I am using is called Holy Basil. It's promises are good. I have a 30 day supply so I'll let you know how it goes. Of course, no one will know if it prevented any cancer in me, so what can we tell? Maybe I might be less stressed? I don't know.

Perhaps I'll be looking for that calmness and sense of well being that it talks about.

I will tell you this ~ I had window of time yesterday in which I could do 4 fours of work -- work that usually boring to me. But I was able to sustain it. I did rest twice with a cup of Yerba Matte - which I love and think I possibly crave now -- so I suppose we have to put that into the scenario , also.

I wonder does that interfer with my study as Yerba Matte is suppose to lift your alertness neurons as well.

Oh well. Let's call this a study on adding things of Well Being and Alertness. If I find anymore, I'll add them too. Hope altogether, they don't give me cancer. haha. Just kidding.

So, I have daily devotional and meditation with God.

Deep breathing.

And today I will be adding the Bar Method Workout.

I have been walking, but want to add more walking --
as in walking without breaks in order to tell Jacob,

'no Sweetie, you can't pet that kitty,'

'no, honey, you can't open their mailbox',

'no, Jacob, you can't knock on that door,'

'come out of their yard, Jacob,'

'what do you have there, Jacob?'

'no, dear, that looks like .....'

'no, Jacob, goodness don't touch that!'.....

Oh shoot.

"Let's go home, Jacob, and wash your hands."

Such a small thing for some

My bedroom is clean. Top to bottom, side to side, clean floor, clean sheets, clean furniture, etc, and all at the same time!!

I still need bedroom furniture, but I am not really concerned about that right now. That's a someday, and I'm sure it will help to have some nice furniture, but having it totally neat in there right now for the FIRST time since I moved in LAST August is just phenomenal!!

Let's see how long it lasts....

It was a major accomplishment for me. I focus on my needs last. Yes, well, isn't that just like most moms anyway...We become people we don't recognize because we don't put time into ourselves, and then society tells us things like 'we are out of touch', 'we are overweight', 'we need a makeover', we need an update in our wardrobe', but nobody makes banana bread like we do, and nobody makes chocolate chip cookies like we do, or whips up a spinach quiche that is our favorite, or makes spaghetti sauce that is to die for, or mends a torn lovely, or lends that perfect ear and makes that great cup of tea or coffee ....

no one.

Mom.

I'm glad I'm one. It makes me happy.

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted. ~Paul Pearshall

Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie
Which we ascribe to heaven.
~William Shakespeare,
from All's Well That Ends Well

Bold, bold young people

Last Saturday night, Mr. B went to run an errand up at Ace Hardware, less than a mile from here. It was about 6:30 PM.

As he was coming out of the store, he noticed some young girls together laughing loudly. No big deal. They got in their car and backed up at a speed not intended for parking lots with other cars parked nearby. And, yes, they did it ~ they ran into his truck.

He was approaching them by this point and spoke to the young woman on his side of the car. "You know you hit my truck," he said. The girl looked at the driver, saying nothing.

He walked around to the driver, who rolled her window down and said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said, "You're not leaving are you?"

She rolled her window up and sped away. But not just straight away.

She ran over a curbstone. Backed up at such a speed she almost hit a man walking on the median. Ran over the median, shot forward, and then took off.

Mr. B called 911. He had the license number of the car and gave them the number on the phone.

They came out. Martin County's finest. I say this with tongue in cheek. I have other stories about this particular force of policemen.

The officer that came out knew that the car was from Miami. But he said, "Well, there's not much you can do. If you report this, your insurance will go up." ---excuse me? Her insurance should be paying for this, not ours ---

and basically he said, 'let it go.' But our vehicle is damaged. In my opinion, that is one lazy police officer.

We have a smashed truck and are left with just calling back everyday to this officer to see what he has found out. Somehow that doesn't seem quite fair.

When Mr. B called back the next day, the officer said, "What do you want me to do?" He had made no effort to call about the vehicle.

I'm thinking about those girls. Why would they run? Was the car stolen? Did they have drugs in the car? Did mom and dad not know they were out with their car? Surely, they wouldn't just take off because they thought they didn't owe anything at all for what they did because it was an accident, did they?

I don't know much, but I know this. This will catch up with them somewhere, somehow. Your sins always find you out, or find you and dump themselves on you again. Silly, silly, careless girls. They are in for quite a surprise about life if they don't mend their ways.

Meanwhile, somewhere in America, a hardworking, honest man has a damaged truck for no good reason other than he needed a part at Ace Hardware. I've got to think that this is just part of a chain of events. And somehow, someway, that girl won't forget what she did. She looked right at my husband. She saw the face of the man whose car she damaged with her carelessness. Will that forever mean nothing to her?

This makes me angry, but more than that it makes me sad. What kind of a world is this that young people can't own up to what they do?

What are they thinking -- 'my parents are going to kill me?' -- 'I'm too embarrassed to get into trouble?'

Do they think they will never, ever do any wrong? Are we so judgmental as a society that we scare people into not owning up?

My hair will forever stay fluffy with all the head shaking I do about things that happen in this world.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28.13.

Just a Monday in 2006

Thrown back into the portals of no more holiday for a month....

I did terribly badly on my diet, if you want to call it a diet, my eating plan, I suppose. I did well this morning and afternoon, but I think what happened was I didn't eat enough food for lunch, matter of fact, I don't think I ate any lunch, and that's what did it -- I got home late and ate a nice dinner, and then I kept picking and picking and picking - ham and donuts. For heavens sakes! Just a bite here and a bite there ...not a good plan. And not enough water either! Oh well, tomorrow is another day. I did mess up today.

Sean went to Tallahassee to see the Florida State/Florida game, which the gators won, and he was on television! Not just him, but him and his two friends! The boys have known each other since, well, since they were born actually. He was on the Sunshine network. Very cool.

Today Madam Blueberry told me about lobsters. How their claws don't match, and the lobsters are actually either right handed or left-handed. I thought that was fairly amazing.

I had a very racing day today. I went to pick up Jake, and then walked over to my sister in law's house. She needed to run an errand, which was about 45 minutes away to pick up a television set for her parents. It was at this place called Brand Mart or Brand's Smart or something like that. It was supposed to be a very good deal.

She had gotten a call from a salesman there that they were holding a tv for her. So, we go there. All the way there. And they can't find the salesman. And the two other salesman she spoke with are more than willing to cut the other missing salesman out of his commission, which my sister in law didn't want to do since he was good enough to call her. So there's a little commotion going on about that.

Jake and I watched the movie Cars on one of the televisions.

Then they told her, after about 20 minutes, that there were no televisions left. Then she said, well the other salesman told me there were 17 of them that had come in. Then the cut-the-guy-out-of-the-commission-salesman said, 'oh well let me check again.' He checked.

Then he said that he would go and 'put his hand on one.' She was like, 'huh?'

Jake and I watched Cars and he danced to a music video that was playing very loudly on another television. He's a very good dancer, that Jacob.

We waited some more. Cut Salesman comes back. Says, 'well there aren't any more.' Sis-in-law says, 'well, the other guy said he was holding one for me. Do you want to hear the voice mail? It's on my phone.'

'Oh,' says he now. 'There is one there with someone's name on it. What is your name?'

He goes back down, and then comes back and says, 'no, there aren't any more.'

Weird. Very bad business. Hour and a half to save $500.00 they didn't manage to save. However, $500.00 is a very big savings and maybe that's why there weren't any more televisions. I think the employees took them and sold them for a profit themselves.

“Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate." ~ Bertrand Russell

"History suggests that capitalism is a necessary condition for political freedom." ~ Milton Freeman

Today and last week

I count myselt in nothing else so happy
As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends.
--William Shakespeare 

I've been away from posting too long. It's gets out of reach very quickly. Now, I come on and see that something is ready to switch me over to New Blogger? With new things? How am I ever going to learn it, or catch up, or anything? ~ Well, I don't want to be a whinger, so, I'll plug on ...

It's Sunday night. Our company has gone. My sister and family were here for four days.

For Thanksgiving, 22 people got together to eat at my son's house. That's a lot of people.

We had the standard fare of too much food - Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie, stuffing, gravy, green beans, carrots, asparagus, brussel sprouts, spinach quiche, peas, rolls, chocolate cake, cherry cheese cake, apple pie, and I think that's all, oh no, cranberries cooked from scratch that were just so good and pretty, and the canned stuff also.

We ate for two days. Had a birthday party. I went with my sister, mom and great nephew to the jail to see my niece, which was a very nice visit, even though it is a two hour drive, and it’s takes forever to actually get checked in, and today I was just exhausted.

I watched again Pride and Prejudice, the A & E version, and watched the new version, which Mr. B says is a total waste of time. He panned it so badly, the new version that is, that my sister wouldn't watch it and went home with my A & E version! I never imagined Mr. B would become such a fan!

Tomorrow I'm going to return to my healthy diet that I came home with when I went to visit Tim's Mom! You see, I am one of the statistics for getting e-coli from the spinach that was recalled, and I was on my second antibiotic and had a horrible reaction to it while I was visiting.

I was put on a good diet by Leslie and feed only green smoothies, fresh vegetable juice, very big salads, (although I pinched a little homemade bread and muffins) along with some radical new tea, which at first, I thought she was crazy to suggest, but turns out I love it ~ and I felt so much better! So, in the end, I had a wonderful visit! It was like going to a personal retreat.

It's good to have a friend get you back on track. I shall be forever grateful.

Then I got home, and faced Thanksgiving, knew I would fall the wayside with my diet, and so I did with the best intentions to get back straight tomorrow. There is no more cheesecake in the house so that's fine and good.

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the 
fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  
I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving

  --Erma Bombeck

I’ll be great until Christmas and probably do a back flip again. But hopefully, I’ll be a little more ahead of the game.

Nobody can go back to the beginning and make things perfect again, but we can always start over!

At least this isn’t on my new eating plan –

Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing, For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

--William Shakespeare Witches in Macbeth 

Just filling in the gap

This blog has temporarily been neglected. Not out of anything but time ~

I've been away. Before I left I had trip preparation and then returning, have to address the Thanksgiving weekend, which is 4 miles long.

I lost my shopping list. So I was hopeless to remember what my part was supposed to be. But you know what? I haven't been to one Thanksgiving dinner that I was not privileged to find very much to feast upon. So I'm not really worried about it.

I had two doctor appointments waiting for me, the grocery store, my little nephew, #2 sons laundry (Okay, I volunteered for that one) and just the general catching up that goes with life when you leave the ones you love.

So my solution? ~~ I declared this week a week off from school! I'm a genius.

I shall be back to post about my new discoveries and my week at my retreat!!

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words. ~

Similarities create friendship's while differences hold them together. ~

~~both quotes from the famous unknown writer. Whom I really think is just ourselves

Brief flight notes:

First flight to connection was delayed. I made it to my gate, however, in time to find out my gate was changed. Ran over to that gate and was told the flight was conmencing to board but I made it on time. We boarded the plane and sat for about 45 minutes. Very warm in a small plane like that.

On the way home, my carry on was searched. I had a water bottle. Not allowed. And I thought I knew the rules!

My bags left together but did not arrive together at my final destination. I knew, just instinctively knew, that someone had taken my larger bag because my smaller bag was there, and there, on the carriage go 'round was a bag very similar to mine.

Even though I had put colored ribbons on mine, it didn't make any difference.

A little old lady took my bag. She called the airport the next day and they delivered it to me.

And there were notes inside that one of my bags was searched. The one with all the dirty underwear. Oh well.

The fellow who delivered my bag said that people put all kinds of things on their bags and they still get taken. He said he remembers delivering a bag that had the owner's picture on the outside of it! One bag he said was pink and had a purple ribbon around it. How could you think those bags were yours if they were not! Honestly. Just look at the little numbers and make sure before you leave. It just seems like just a simple thing to do. Again. Oh well.

I'll be back.

Have a very good day in the meantime.

Tu tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

The Terror Diet

Doesn't it make sense that the writer of this diet would be Stephen King?

I enjoy reading Mr. King's articles.

Read here for his Terror Diet Advice.

So it's better

...or 'betta's', as Madam Blueberry used to say when she was little.

You can actually _walk_ into my laundry room. Really. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but after the cookie sheet attack, I decided to fight back with some organization of my own. It's holding....I can see the floor.

We still haven't found the time to put up the cabinets we bought from Home Depot. They are making themselves at home in my dining room up against the kitchen cabinets. I've had to dust the top of the boxes; they've been there that long now. This cabinet project will involve Madam Blueberry as I have decided she should learn to use a power drill.

And you can see the floor in my green room. But don't try to open the closet door. Because where do you think all the stuff that was on the floor in the green room is?

I have put some things and books on the shelves in my closet. We doubled shelved in there, so now it's just deciding what will go where in there, then when. That will take me awhile. I probably need the month of January to do that and maybe a new piece of furniture to hold my home school stuff and I still need a desk.

I went for a walk on the beach tonight and it was so beautiful! It looked like a Dan Mackin painting (Mr. Mackin lives about 3 miles from me). The beach kind of reflects some things going on in the earth, like sometimes it just looks all gray and murky, but not tonight ~ it was a beautiful, captivating ocean.

My sister in law and her dog, Buddy, walked along with me. He does know how to enjoy himself!

The boys got back from Gainesville about 5 or so. They went to the Gator/South Carolina game and it was a close one!

I'm just finishing the book Hoot, by Carl Hiassin, a local Florida writer.

It's a movie now. It's been described as 'blandly generic family film.' But it's gotta be cute. I'm reading it because my great nephew is reading it, and so my sister and I decided to read it with him so we can discuss it. I thought that would be fun. It takes place in Florida, and has some Jimmy Buffet in the sound track (who has something to do with it's production along with playing the teacher Mr. Ryan), and since we live in Florida, we thought, oh well, we'd read it, too.

There are reviews of the movie Hoot that just panned it badly because of the behavior of the kids, taking actions in their own hands in a less than get-a-permit-for-a-petition-way. One review admonished parents to keep their kids away from this film. (But I checked out all the films this person did like, and oh well, to each his own.)

And I suppose, if your children are going to learn how to act in this world from a film, you shouldn't take them or rent it. But I look at it as, well, just a movie.

But like a lot of movies, the reviews I read didn't really follow the book's story many times. I think they do that with movies. Ooops, did I give away anything about how the world works? (LOL)

The good old days

This is proof I save everything ~ I'm still sorting out papers and notebooks.

I found a skinny yellow theme notebook with barely the 70 pages. But on one of them I found a note written by Sean, who is now 20.

It says, "run away tomorro at 7:15 AM". It is dated 8-17-98. That's the only thing on the page.

This must have been in the middle of my teaching the lesson on organizational skills!

Learn to support your Core

I had my last session of physical therapy because that's all my insurance would cover for me. I probably could use more, but oh well ...

The therapist really recommended the ball as the best work out tool for Core Strength training. She has been using this only, she says.

I found a couple of sites for the exercises - one gives what they call a slide show, and the other shows some photos.

I will be trying these as I already have a ball. What I didn't have ~ so I thought ~ was the time to take care of myself. So basically what I have done, is spent on hospitals, doctors and pills, the same amount of money I could have spent on a two year membership at the gym for my whole family. And. Probably could have thrown a personal trainer in there, also.

So, if I was allowed to give anyone who wants to listen some advice today it would be this:

The strength of your body is more important than you would ever think it is. You have to do something to keep yourself fit. You don't have to be really buff or married to a gym; but you need to take all this stuff seriously.

All the wrong things you have done to your body over the years, regarding bad posture (and who has perfect posture while carrying all those babies? whether in your arms or into the world?), exercise neglect, sitting wrong, straining your shoulders for reading or washing dishes, or baking, or whatever pulls us forward,

and stress~! Dealing with stress can also do damage.

Stop right now and look at your schedule. Can you fit at least 20 minutes in a day to work on Core Strengthing? Can you fit another 15 minutes a day in for weight bearing exercise? (If you are like me, you are thinking .....ummmm, I could lift weights while I, uh, do this 'other thing'!)

I do regret that I put myself in this situation and neglected my body the way I did. I knew I had something wrong with my spinal column for 20 years. I took care of it until I got involved in this moving project, and then I took advantage of it by totally neglecting it and thinking everything would hold together for just a little while longer. Reflecting back now, it was not worth the price.

What's it worth to you to take the chance that you could end up in my situation?

Please find a way to fully take care of yourself. I'm sure a lot of people depend on you.

~~Miss Roxie

PS ~~ Madam Blueberry is walking almost everyday, but she has tapered off her exercise so I made it a part of her school assignment. She has to exercise for at least 20 mintues everyday. This is apart from her walking. We don't consider school finished until the an exercise is done.

When we get the finances straightened out, we will join the gym again. Unless we manage to get in shape first! I am looking at this wall behind me and thinking ....ummmm, I wonder if a bar would work there!

Miss Dickenson

All but Death, can be Adjusted—
Dynasties repaired—
Systems—settled in their Sockets—
Citadels—dissolved—

Wastes of Lives—resown with Colors
By Succeeding Springs—
Death—unto itself—Exception—
Is exempt from Change—

~~Emily Dickenson

Belly up to the bar in a new way

I was doing a search on the flat back ~ as those seem to be the main muscles I have damaged and found this Bar Method of exercise. I think I like it. I just need a bar.

Today a Post it moment

I learned today that the muscles across your core are for posture only. They are paper thin. They are like the plastic around the six pack of soda. Once they are stretched, they may not go back, or they may with time.

I don't know. I'm trying to play by the new rules and undo the damage I have done. I feel like I'm in a Neil Young song.

I just came home from physical therapy. I reached up to get some ibuprofen and someone had not tighten the bottle. Probably me. And there are probably about 50 or more ibuprofen pills all over my kitchen.

I bought Jacob a garbage truck today. He picked it out. He loves it! It comes with two little garbage cans and they empty right into the truck, and he kept asking me today for 'more garbage! I need more garbage!' Too funny.

My mom made me a grill cheese sandwich today. I mean, what's a grilled cheese sandwich? Bread spread with butter and cheese in the middle, right? Well, let me tell you - this was the best grilled cheese sandwich I'd ever had!! "MOM," I said, "Why is your grilled cheese so good?" She gave me a look, piercing, I thought, at first, and she said, "I'll tell you what I tell everyone else who compliments my cooking. It's made with love." Okay, then. I'll take a grilled cheese any time.

Did you vote today? Go ahead and get out there if you haven't! Every vote does count. However, I do wish they would word the amendments a little simpler. Like just say, 'we want to take your money and spend it on this,' _not_ -- and if we thusly find thatly so wasn't there in the last place after the first place of the party that was removed on a 3/4 to a 66th percent vote of a majority of county men who must be elected by the sherriff's brother Carl, after January 1st of the following year closest to the moon's latter day phase of counterproductive and negative balancing of the swale area near the river or within a 5 mile radius of said such roadway of the contact with the pizza palour on 32nd avenue....--- you get my drift ....

Have a nice day.

~~Miss Roxie

Face value

What a weird way I've felt all day. Don't know what it is. But yesterday I did get whacked in the face pretty hard.

I was cleaning out a closet that was packed with stuff from the moving, and in the meanwhile was alternating with rearranging things in the laundry room, and I placed a heavy cookie sheet and a cooling rack in a place that I thought temporarily would work, only thing I didn't realize was how temporarily it would be, as it came flying down in my face! Whacked me square in the center of my nose and right between the eyes as well! Couldn't have asked for a better hit had they been aiming! Two places of sensitivity.

Now I have a swollen nose and a bloody mark on my face. I'm trying out some scar therapy, as I don't think I needed a stitch, but well, when your skins apart in the center of your face, you feel a little self conscious. However, no one noticed. Bunch of blind people out there.

I found Emily Dickenson in a Book about ADD

A thought went up my mind to-day
That I have had before,
But did not finish, some way back,
I could not fix the year,

Nor where it went, nor why it came
The second time to me,
Nor definitely, what it was,
Have I the Art to say.

But somewhere in my Soul, I know
I've met the Thing before;
It just reminded me--t'was all--
And came my way no more.

~~Emily Dickenson

So what about you?

Your Hidden Talent

You have the power to persuade and influence others. You're the type of person who can turn a whole room around. The potential for great leadership is there, as long as you don't abuse it. Always remember, you have a lot more power over people than you might think!

What's Your Hidden Talent?

It's overcast and warm and What do the neighbors know?

Again, today, to much on my To Do list ... It's just a time thing.

I know there are the same amount of hours for each of us, and I don't know what I am doing with mine that is wrong, but I am unable to complete things by the end of the day. It's very frustrating.

I have put back into my life some of the time that I wasn't spending with Madam B in the mornings. I needed that. It's a calming sensation in my day having spent some relaxed one on one time with her. She has things she likes to read to me that she has discovered in her books. It's a habit she has that I don't want to break.

My 80 year old mother in law, and my 90 year old father in law are outside mowing the lawn. On Halloween night, one of the neighbors stopped by my son's house to say that he should not be allowing them to do that. I felt bad for him being accused of some sort of elderly abuse because I am here to tell you, it is not his fault! We have tried everything to not get them to do the lawns, but they are just out there no matter what we say or do. Why? Because they like it. They love lawn work. They are from Ireland. It's in their blood.

Now, just recently, my mother in law thought she was having some problems with her heart. She was so very tired and had passed out a time or two. This was all during the moving extravaganza last summer.

She had her appointment with her cardiologist yesterday. Do you think he told her you have problems with your heart?

No.

He said he'd never seen a heart so strong in someone her age. So what's her problem? She doesn't know how to process regular stress. She doesn't know how to separte the different kinds of stess in the world; she calls them all the same. One can't do that. Some things you've just got to take in stride.

Like the remark the neighbor made to my 30 year old son. She has no idea of the situation, yet has put an accusation on him. He can't let that bother him.

Tonight is a rain storm. See how fastly things can change?

November 2006 - Times a/wastin'...

Sometimes there is no next time, no second chance, no time out. Sometimes, it's now or never...

Take a look at that calendar! HOW did it get to the end of the year so quickly!

I am grateful to my blog because I would doubtful remember a day in the order of which it happened had I not had it logged in here. Reminds me, I better back some of this stuff up .... I am so bad at that. It's like I trust something in the universe unseen to keep me covered. I should know by now that’s not a fact.

I keep writing posts and then hitting 'save as draft', and I really don't know why. I get lost thinking 'I'm not finished.'

Well, woman, no, you are not finished. Of course, you are not finished. You are never finished nor are you going to be! Get over it.

Today I spent a great time talking with Madam Blueberry about Vermeer. She is reading a book about him from this series. I can't really explain it all to you, but she is hilarious with her opinion of things. I love her opinion of things. That's really what I miss the most about leaving everyday to take care of my nephew. It's like she's in a correspondence course now. I read over her material, and I write up questions. Then later we discuss her answers. She is just so funny.

I made some cookies this morning, and then I took them and Jacob, my three-year-old charge, to the Fire Department. I've never seen him at a loss for words before. But if I ever wanted to shut him up, I'll take him there again! I mean that in a funny way. He was just so overwhelmed!! The trucks ~ and he loves trucks, all kinds of trucks ~ were Huge! And the two Firemen who showed us around were Huge!! He'd never been there before. And I didn't tell him we were going because I wasn't sure what would be going on. I just, on a whim, decided I would go.

They let him sit in the truck, but he couldn't really stay there. He wanted to be in the seat, but he got down quickly. It was so high! The Fireman, Robert, was going to start up the truck for him, but I think he might have freaked had we done that. Maybe next time.

The Fireman found a little hat for him, some badges, and gave him a coloring book. They were extremely nice.

We also visited my sister in law. She's remodeling and painting and the place is a real mess. An organized mess, but a child's dream of wondering about in search of anything/something/everything. At one point he got himself stuck in the maze of boxes and couldn't find a way out. He was puzzled, but thought it was cool that I rescued him.

Her place is all a make shift of things for tables and counters. No drawers and no regular furniture in most of the rooms. It's like a really huge playhouse. Jacob said all the things were his, and he lived there. I do have to watch him closely, but my sister in law and I get to visit while she paints, and we talk and watch Jacob explore.

He had such a fine day. He got a little upset with me, you might say, as he realized we were rounding the corner to go back to his house, and he threw a little truck at me while I was driving. I’m not really sure quite what to make of that.

Things on a Plane

According to the FAA regulations of today - when you fly, you can take in your carry on luggage:

Aerosol Cans
Cigar Cutters
Corkscrews
Cuticle cutters
Gel Filled Bras
Knitting needles
Nail Clippers
Safety Razors
Scissors (Yes! Scissors! Metal with pointed tips, but blades no longer than 4 inches. But I would not dare take a chance with mine. They are too expensive)
Toy Transformer Robots
Toy weapons, but only if they are not too close to the real thing.

Hmmm, well, can’t do any damage with any of those things, right? I think I’ve cut myself with everything on that list except the Aerosol can and that I sprayed in my own face because sometimes I just can’t see that little black dot. That’s why I don’t use it any more. Thought sure I would go blind or get cancer from breathing that stuff in.

But you cannot take a

Saber
Meat Cleaver
or a
Sword (drat!)

You also cannot take, just about any sports equipment no Hockey sticks, Lacrosse sticks, baseball bats, pool cues, Bows and Arrows, Spear guns, Cricket bats, Ski poles, or Golf Clubs. Guess they have figured out what most moms and dads have not figured out and that’s that Sports are Dangerous! (Wonder why they left out Cleats?) And I can attest to the fact that the Actual Lacrosse player is dangerous – one of them ran into my son during a practice and that broken collar bone was no fun, still isn’t, and will always bother him when it rains.

Now, this also means you cannot take your Billy clubs, your black jack, your krubatons (I’ll be goggling that later, as I have no idea!), and likewise a resounding no, on your Nunchakus, Night sticks (thought that was a Billy Club?), stun guns, shocking devices, and Throwing Stars (drat! I love my throwing stars! One of them has a picture of Bruce Lee!)

And, I know you are not surprised at all but your guns are out. All of your guns, your BB guns, your pellet guns, your hand guns, even parts of your guns separated in a zip lock won’t get on, your starter pistols, nor your flare guns may board. You can only take your toy guns, as long as they don't look to very much like a real gun. So, best to leave all your guns and gun parts at home.

And all of you carpenters have to ride the bus unless you check your tools; your axes and hatchets, your cattle prods, and crow bars, and wrenches and screwdrivers – it’s a nope. Not even in the zip locks. However, if a lot of your tools, like the scissors are shorter then 7 inches, you will be able to carry them on. Oh. How comforting. But at least they are required to be ‘sheathed and securely wrapped to prevent injury to the baggage handlers’ (no mention of the people on the plane. Hmmm.)

The list goes on, but just so you know, they do allow Jello and Pudding and Whipped Cream, duty free alcohol, but not Cheese in a pressurized container! Gotta watch that Power of Cheese thing, I guess.

Many of the things they didn’t allow after that last terror thing in that airport in Britain, they allow now, if it’s in a teeny tiny little container. Itty Bitty, teeny tiny, and also, put your teenies in a Zip Lock Bag. Only the Quart Size.

Now – here’s your stock tip ~~

ZIP LOCKS! You gotta have a zip lock to get on a plane. Especially the quart size. You heard it here first. And me, I think I invented using zip-lock on a plane! But it was more for protecting my things from being gnawed over by strange mitts! Oh well, now it will be to protect my little teenies.

Story of the Week

Three year olds have to be watched every minute, don't they? As much as we'd like to think they are okay for just a sec....

This little guy was not only a fan of Sponge Bob with the Square Pants, but my guess is that he's also watched a little bit of Rug Rats, or maybe his dad has taught him his way around tools.

Whatever the reason, he saved himself with the assistance of the Fire Department of Antigo. The story is here. I'm just glad to hear he's okay.