Beach Ball Belly

It rained this morning - hurrah! There are a couple of things Bob misses living here in the desert and rain is number one. We are in a drought situation here so when we do have a few raindrops I do a dance hoping it rains all day. Maybe I should stop dancing because we haven't had a all day rain in years at least not in our neighborhood.

We've talked about moving to areas of the country where there are four seasons. When that melancholy mood comes over him I like to remind him of those rainy and snowy days we experienced on the farm - not that we would raise crops again but the thought provokes the desired effect I strive for in our discussion. Mud and shoveling! I remember many occasions of him saying "I don't want to shovel snow" and he couldn't wait to move out west. Are some people never happy? Truce, compromise, solution. After we sell our big home and move into a tiny place easier to keep clean and tidy, we'll travel, and stay weeks on end in those places that have snow and rain, then we'll come home to the desert and enjoy the dry air.

Not much happening here today - all is quiet on our home front since everyone is still sleeping. Bob and I got up early to watch our CBS Sunday Morning program which we have watched for years. We'll just hang around and I may pack boxes to ship off to Soldier Tom for the holidays. He wrote last night and mentioned he is working on another promotion. He's got it in him - I am glad he has found his place - you know sometimes we don't know what will bring out the best in us. We're all challenged differently. We're proud of him and he's doing a great job serving with the U. S. Army in Iraq.

Ms. Alexandra has moved into a new phase of childhood - the era of makeup. Suz gave Alex some mascara and Alex already had some eye shadow. She came out her room a couple of days ago and I was shocked to see her with make up on - she looked too grown up for me!!! I told her that her dad wouldn't like it. Although I didn't quite approve, I know it was a day she would be inside, I didn't have her take it off, but we did have a talk about the proper time to wear makeup and how much is acceptable at her age. Well, yesterday since it was Kevin's day off, they were going to the big park on the other side of town. Alex has great taste in fashion and usually wants to wear inappropriate clothes to casual events so when her dad raised his voice as they were getting ready to leave I thought that was the reason. I was reading the newspaper at the kitchen table and raised my head to ask what was going on and Kev explained about the too much makeup and the over dressed look. It's all just beginning. He said she was only seven but she said "I'm eight!' although that's not really true - she has a couple more weeks for that. She did leave the house without makeup on and none too happy.

Too soon!!! Everything is too soon for the children today - they have too much too soon. Back in the day when we were raising our kids the competition wasn't as strong as it is today. I don't understand why today's parents strive to make their kids grow up so fast and give them things they should either earn or receive when they are old enough to be responsible for what they receive. Isn't this an age old question? I could say I am glad I don't have to raise anymore children as a 64 year old grandmom, but actually, I am responsible on some days when my son is at work and I have to care for her. I know a lot of grandparents are in the same place today as I am and that's a whole other blog.

Hope you have a blessed Sunday.

Nineteen years ago today

This day marks the nineteenth anniversary of son Brian's accident while he served with the U. S. Army in Stuttgart, Germany. The accident left him with severe brain damage and respiratory problems.

Housecleaning

For as long as I can remember, Saturday has always been housecleaning day because it was the day off from school and work. After I was married and became a stay at home mom, I still did the main job of housecleaning, maybe because Sunday was the day of rest and company and cooking dinners, so the house needed to be clean. Today, it's just a matter of routine and it seems to fit.

Aside from that, I have a couple of books I've started reading and a knitting project which is extremely easy - no counting required. I will probably never finish it and I can legitimately say that because I started it last year as a Prayer Shawl for my Aunt in Ohio and I've only completed about 20 rows or 4 inches and I need lots more than that for a decent length shawl. I am not a committed knitter but it is good therapy.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? I am feeling poorly these days and I am not sure I'll cook Thanksgiving dinner. As I was typing this, I remembered the first Thanksgiving Bob and I had together. We lived in Woodland Hills, California, in an apartment. I worked at a bank which was across the street from the apartment complex and he worked at the Sears store in Canoga Park. He was fresh out of the Air Force and couldn't find a job in Las Vegas where we had met and married. I lived in Vegas with my parents, had graduated high school and went straight to work at the telephone company after graduation, and within a year promoted to supervisor. I realized soon that Bob had wanderlust and we would travel a lot in our first 10 years of marriage.

At our apartment, our dining room table sat by the large picture window. We both had shopped for the food for our first Thanksgiving meal. I had some knowledge of cooking since my mom was a super cook and tried her best to teach me - any failures were my fault because she tried and I resisted because I had other things to do but I did observe and didn't know it. I can't remember exactly what we had for our first Thanksgiving dinner but it must have been traditional as that is what my family had. The table was set with china and the good silver and tablecloth too - we didn't have a lot of money, but I had been prepared with a Hope Chest of dinnerware and pots and pans when I married.

With everything cooked, table set, and the candles lit, we were ready to enjoy the fruits of our labors and we were hungry. Bob sliced into the turkey and what we found was very puzzling - weird, and ugly! Yuck! Can you guess? Are you still wondering? I wonder how many times this has happened to young brides when they cook a turkey for the very first time. It seemed as though all was lost - there it was, that bag, yes, that bag of gizzards, uncooked, with yucky juices running out all over my beautiful Thanksgiving platter. Oh, woe is me! I can't remember anything else, but thinking our dinner was ruined!!!! That is only one of the many "tragic" happenings that was to occur in our marriage, and one of those things we just don't seem to forget but can laugh at years later.

What can't be forgotten is the memory of the event and the thanksgiving we shared for finding each other and for our life together - that was back in 1964.

"Coming Around Again"

Ever since the first time I heard Carly Simon's song "Coming Around Again" I loved the beat and the words. It is the theme song for a really good movie with Merle Streep about a marriage trying to survive with social complications - work, raising a child, and family problems. Ms. Streep is one of the best female actresses, although, Sophia Loren is my choice for all round most beautiful actress.

I received a comment from another Grandma who lost her son a couple of years back - I guess we are soul sisters! She expressed her hope that "my spending spree" would be helpful and my reply is that we did have a great time. Perhaps it's just getting out with my boyfriend, lover and best friend, my husband.

Woke up at 4 AM this morning, I don't know why - but coffee in the morning always is our temptress and entices me awake for some dumb reason. We automatically turn the TV to channel 21 - we are committed to Fox Network News - I'm throwing a fit because of the overwhelming negative McCain campaign coverage from the other cable and local news stations, we give our faithful allegiance to Fox. They have everything we require and give us what we expect from a news reporting channel.

Our nation is in a financial mess. It showed most every store we were in. We went to the mall yesterday to Bath and Body Works - my very favorite place for body lotion and smelly good stuff. I belong to the Blue Star Mom's association and the local group will be putting together Christmas stockings for deployed soldiers. We went to Bath and Body Works to get some things for the female soldiers on the list. I hope they like what I picked out.

We have a new small local mall being built about two miles from the house. The stores that are already open are Target and Hallmark, and a big sports store. I thought maybe the Hallmark store would have a Nativity set for Tom. I've always enjoyed going into the Hallmark store because there's so much stuff to look at - and "buy." Regretfully, they didn't have a Nativity set like I wanted but Bob came up with a great idea - he found an ornament that was precious and it was small so not to take up too much room which is a big consideration when buying for Tom since they don't have a lot of space in their rooms on the base. I'm glad Bob picked this out because we didn't find anything comparable anywhere else. I'm finding the pickings slim and although there seems to be a lot of "stuff" the merchandise is limited and a small selection - the slow economy is apparent everywhere. A good thought - choose wisely when making out your Christmas list.

The highlight of the day was making the acquaintance of the two salesgirls in the Hallmark Store. They were both very helpful and courteous but the icing on the cake was their personalities - they were both hilarious. It was early in the morning so Bob and I were the only customers. One of the girls was about the age of our youngest son, and the other about the age of our oldest grandson. I had told the girls about our situation here at home with our adult children and granddaughter living here, and they both immediate in unison blurted out the name of a movie and they were laughing hysterically saying the movie is so much like our home life and that "we just had to watch it." I cannot remember the name of the movie - but Sarah Jessica Parker and Matt McConnehey were the stars of the movie. These girls were a "riot." They made us laugh so hard - they were so much fun. Oh, and the husband of one of the girls is serving with the Air Force and is in Korea.

Shopping whether I spend lots of money or a couple of bucks is good therapy. The news about the economy is bleak and is reflective of the people not shopping. There weren't a lot of people shopping at the mall but Costco was packed and always is - I don't get it. Today is another box packing day for Soldier Tom and house cleaning too. It's a beautiful day outside too - great fall weather here. How about all that snow up north in the Dakota's?

I'd better get busy - so you all take good care and God bless.

Diagnosis to heal stress and disappointment: Spend some money

I can think of several ways of healing the blues - drowning our sorrows by downing a couple bottles of wine; playing tiddlelywinks with man-hole-lids; scrubbing the garage floor with a toothbrush and comet cleanser and spending money. Which one would you choose? Can you guess which one we selected?

It was another nice fall day here in southern Nevada. After packing a box to mail Soldier Tom in Iraq, I took a shower and did my hair and even put on makeup. My husband has been suggesting I needed a new hairdo since my current one is obviously very un-done purposely - but since I haven't left the house in five days now, what's the point of a new do or make up - who's going to notice? No kidding!

Depression can be a pretty iffy thing and between Bob and I we have various means of solving that mood - and there are different strengths of depression. The depressive mood is as a result of last night and is politically motivated which leaves us with few alternatives because we can't change anything except our attitude. So our solution to our depressive disposition was to visit the malls. With coupons in hand we hit the road this morning.

Actually, our main shopping purpose was to get stuff for Soldier Tom for the holidays. I am looking for a small Nativity set to send him. I don't want anything too expensive or large or even breakable and I have found nothing to date - but I will keep looking. Tom is pretty independent and doesn't want us to send him any gifts. They don't wear civilian clothes so that eliminates that area, and he buys his own games and DVDs, etc, so I haven't come up with much except one thing that I won't mention - and lots of goodies. I hear from other military moms some of the things they send their Soldiers who are deployed and that helps.

The stores I have visited this week seem disorganized. I would have thought the Christmas stuff would be in order, but either they are cutting back on their merchandise due to the stock market turn down or everyone is late (or maybe I'm early!). We'll be going back out tomorrow and check out other stores we have had good luck with in years past. These are very inexpensive odds and ends I'm looking for to send Soldier Tom for Christmas decorations so it's not something extravagant from a speciality store. There is a deadline to send boxes to the military with APO addresses so I don't want to drag my feet now - you know how time gets away all too quickly.

We had a good relaxingly day today and bought a few things. This old senior citizen feeling is for the buzzards because we wear out after walking around only a couple of stores. Some days are better than others but we do the best we can, but we do have fun while we're at it.

Let us all keep our new President-elect Barack Obama and his family in our prayers. May God bless and keep him and guide him in his decision that are best for our country not for any one's selfish opportunity. Please, God, help us to accept the decision the majority of voting Americans have made because we have prayed Your will be done. Thanks you God, for our many blessings.

Hope you have a very nice evening and pleasant dreams.

It's over and the voters have spoken...............

We are quiet here in our home tonight, solemn, sad, remorseful and disappointment, but sort of expectant and a little bit prepared for the news. We have a new leader - President-elect Barack Obama not John McCain as we had so hoped.

We know both John McCain and Sarah Palin will go back to their respective jobs as Senator and Governor - but we will miss them. They both became part of our daily household. I want to tell them how sorry I am they didn't win. I wanted to see more of their families - their beautiful families.

Our prayers and best wishes are with each of them - and yes, we really will miss them.

Election Day

The voting polls close here in Nevada at 7 PM tonight and that's approximately 10 hours from now, but the final decision for who won the nomination for President may be decided before that time and someone may concede.

I recall when Senator Bob Dole was running against Bill Clinton. I had to wait until election day evening to vote and until my husband got home. He went straight to vote when he got off work. It was dark as I parked my vehicle near the grade school voting station. I was listening to a local radio station and as I turned off the engine they made the announcement that the one I was voting for was conceding and proclaimed Bill Clinton the winner. I was devastated. I hadn't even voted yet - I wanted to scream at them, to wait, there were still more people voting. But no, all that business with the TV stations tallying up the percentages and possibilities either made people stay home, and they projected what came to be the inevitable. It was a very destructive experience to me.

I went into the building to vote anyhow and there was still a long line even as late in the evening as it was. I met people I had never seen from our neighborhood before, it was very crowded. I was there for a couple of hours. I already knew the destiny of my vote, but I did vote, and I would do it again because it is my duty, my right, and my responsibility as an American citizen to let my voice be heard.

Faith

For us Catholics - it's All Saint's Day. and tomorrow All Souls. I have to admit, I have failed to be a faithful follower of my Church. I don't mean rejecting the beliefs, I mean following the rules as I should - I am a halfway follower right now. A situation happened at the church we are donating parishioners of and the action of that person of high stature in our church changed my attitude of attendance. I am not without guilt and I do have hope of return. Having attended Catholic school all my life, I cannot ever lose the attachment to the values I was taught, nor do I want to. Being away from my Catholic family in Ohio for so many years has probably played a role in my feelings too because when I go home, it's all back to normal there. Moving to a place where there's no "sharing" and "comfort" it's easy to slide away too.

One of my life's disaster caused the Faith in my Father to be strained and it was when my son died. At that time, I had deep deep hope and enormous trust and I gave my son all my strength caring for him. As a mother, I think, we feel as though we can do anything for our children because we gave birth to them - after all we brought them into this world. And, when something bad happens to them, we think we can solve their every problem. I took this challenge on when we brought Brian home from the VA hospital. The medical team there said Brian would be dead within a short time - he wouldn't survive outside the medical environment. I proved them wrong and healed him of the awful bed sores he had developed in the VA hospital, helped his contracted limbs to straighten out to some degree and he gained weight. He looked so much better. But as in all things and those things which cannot be answered, he wasn't to survive or recover from his brain injuries and other health problems. He lived for nine years after we brought him home from the VA hospital. He died at home.

My faith changed when Brian died. All the strength I had I gave him. Not only Brian, but right after we bought Brian home, we discovered our daughter had a mental disability and then we raise her son because of her inability to accept any responsibility for herself or her son. We had our other children who were having problems, and then my husband - he was always first in my life and now this time we had to share the commitment and still try to make quality time for each other. We made it but it wasn't an easy task. I know we were both Blessed with an abundance of love for each other and our convictions.

I've been through many trials and tribulations, but losing Brian tarnished my faith and hope. It's been eight years since Brian passed away and it has been a battle to get to the place I was in my faith before his death. I may never reach that place again, but in my heart where even I find complete faith I hope that I find comfort. I have not stopped praying for our needs and the needs of others, I know He hears my prayers and I know that it is I who is not Feeling - I know that God is always there - I know it is I who hasn't reached out and maybe because I haven't "forgiven" Him for taking Brian from me. Please don't give me the argument that Brian is in a better place - - I KNOW that, I wouldn't want him back to what he was, I know that he is better, but I miss him so. I know what a difference he would have made in our family. I know what a good person he is and he would have helped Tom and he would have been a good influence on his brothers and sister when they had problems. He would have given us beautiful children, he had a wonderful girlfriend who was devoted to him. Those thoughts are all my unattainable dreams. Today I go on everyday attempting to deal with the problems at hand and seeing joy in the people around me as they bring their presence to me daily.

A mother never gets over the loss of a child. When a child dies, so does a part of her. The child is always alive in her, but words are not exchanged. No matter how long ago they pass away, the tears never go away.

Brian's accident was on November 8th, 1989. He was serving with the U. S. Army in Stuttgart, Germany. That day changed the course of our life forever.

Happy Halloween!!!

Boo to you too! Busy day today. Good cool day for Halloween here. I remember when the kids were young and we lived in the midwest, Halloween was cold and they had to wear their coats under the costumes. And, the costumes weren't as elaborate as they are today.

Have fun and be safe!

Morning

I've always been an early bird, waking up at the crack of dawn and sometimes earlier depending on the season. Lately, I've been sleeping in and I accept that as a blessing. I opened up the two windows here in my office and pulled the lace sheers back to expose the outside so I can both hear and see the hummingbirds as they are feeding on the feeders Bob put up outside my windows. Most of the time I enjoy the quiet so I can hear nature outside my window. Sometimes I enjoy listening to music, but hearing nature is a more restful type of music. Since we live in the desert, it was surprising to me that I have become more familiar with birds and their habits than I did when we lived in the country on the farm. I guess the reason I wasn't a bird watcher in the country was because we had lots of cats and very few birds. I do love cats too and we don't have one here. On the farm, they took care of patrolling the barns and especially the corn cribs where the corn for our chickens and cows was stored. And, the cats also took care of the bird population. So, I never saw a hummingbird until we moved to this home and Bob put up feeders. We also have a variety of birds that pass through - I call our place the "Bird Motel" and it is seasonal - we don't charge a "tree" fee, our payment is the reward from the enjoyment we receive of their "visit" and the joy they bring with their songs. We do have hummingbirds that stay all season because of our mild winters. In our neighborhood, we have quails - no shooting please - doves, mockingbirds, finches of all sorts, ravens, woodpecker, an occasional chicken hawk and a few other varieties of beautiful birds.

We did have feeders in our front yard, but duh! we couldn't figure out why our grass was looking crappy until it dawned on us - the birds were scratching beneath the feeders. Once we moved the feeders to the back, we finally have a green front lawn.

I hear the vehicle traffic picking up now as they are driving their children to school. My peaceful solitude is broken by the sound of the children's voices as they pass by the house. Their voices bring another type of peace and joy only children can bring to a grandmother's heart. I watch the children check out the thingies we have in our trees - some twirly things, the fake squirrels Bob put in several of the trees, and we always put some type of modest holiday decorations out too. It's fun to see their reactions as they are walking to school. By the way, have you noticed the size of the backpacks today - Holy Cow - I remember carrying my books in my arms, but my granddaughter's bag is so heavy I'm afraid she will break her back!!!!

Well, it's almost time for school to start. The school is just down at the end of our block. We can heard the school bell ring and the voice of the teacher on the loud speaker giving out a report. It's not annoying, and how loud the voice sounds depends on how the wind is blowing - or not.

It's a peaceful day today. When the weather is cool, the birds seem to be happier as their singing is louder and more frequent. The hummingbirds are playful and chase each other from one feeder to the other or they compete for the space in the flowerbed of red flowers.

I hope you have a peaceful day today. Take good care and God bless.

Quiet day

Being alone, is that a positive need? Today our two adult sons and granddaughter who live with us each went to visit friends and we were left on our own. Perhaps to some who relish their children visiting and being around, they may not understand how we cherish our alone, quiet time in our home. We are generous souls and open our hearts to help whenever the need presents itself, but as senior citizenship and some health problems have sneaked into each of our bodies, we yearn for the quiet and solitude. I reminded the younger who has the granddaughter that we are retired on fixed income and he acknowledged, but I wondered if that generation really understands what that means.

When we were living in Kentucky on the farm back in the 70s and 80s, we would often make the trip to Bob's parents who lived in southern Illinois. We passed homes of people who were very poor and I felt deep compassion for them. It is an emotion I have never forgotten. At the time we were struggling, with four kids and one salary, but we always had food on the table and the bills were paid and a good roof over our heads. I do remember my boys saying after they grew up they would never buy another pair of Sear's Toughskin jeans because that's the only brand I ever bought. They were very active boys and we lived on a working farm. Those jeans were tough and lasted a good long time through many rough and tumble days and farm jobs. It was a good buy and all I could afford at the time.

I am afraid sometimes that what we have earned and saved for retirement won't sustain us through our old age. The times are questionable and yet our kids don't realize the worry we have. We also never stop worrying about our children or grandchildren regardless of how old they get. The economy here in Southern Nevada requires two paychecks to sustain a home whether that is living in an apartment or renting a home - buying a place is more attainable today, but without golden credit it is impossible.

But, aside from the worries about the economy and the campaign, Bob and I did enjoy the peace and quiet of the day and we are are thankful for what we have, we are blessed. We do treasure our time alone even if we did spend our day doing the same ole routine except without interruption.

I hope you have had a good day too. God bless you and yours with a pleasant day tomorrow.

Granddaughter

I just read another Grandmother's blog and I thought I would mention about one of my special granddaughters. This granddaughter lives with us. She is a happy child even though her parents are separated. She is pleasant and always has something nice to say. She spends the majority of her down time drawing and they are always about family and friends and are positive. When we say our bedtime prayers, she has a litany of people she prays for, some she hasn't seen for years, including all the people of a church she once attended far away.

When her dad drives her to school in the morning, we stand outside and wave goodbye and throw kisses - this is a routine I've had since I sent my own kids off to school thirty years ago - and as I sent my husband off to work too. As my son is driving away, you see only her sweet smiling face looking out the back seat window. She is saying things like "have a great day" and she is throwing kisses too. It is one of those unique mental photos which is embedded in my memory and as I recall this sight, it bring tears to my eyes. Her smile and good humor is contagious. She is even more special to me because I was there when she was born. God has certainly blessed me.

Chicken Soup

I am in the mood to make chicken soup. I know it is good for us and we all enjoy the flavor. I shortened my cooking and prep time by buying roasted chickens from the Costco. Our Costco has the biggest and most delicious ones in our area and they are less than $6.00 each as compared to our local grocery story where their roasted chickens are small and puny and cost over $7.00. I usually make chicken salad with the chicken breasts. No part of the chicken goes unused. I also started using chicken broth since I'm not boiling a regular chicken all day. It's my next job after this blog. I'm going to try and bake up a batch of cornbread too - now I don't do so well with that even with the pre-pared mix that you just add water to. Bob doesn't like the consistency. So, if any of you have a good cornbread recipe - please email me. I'd appreciate it.

Bob's out painting the exterior of the back of the house. I have some dishware to pack while the soup is cooking. These are things I can do without now and won't need to use. They are my Polish dishware I bought a few years back - they are beautiful pieces. We're making headway although slow but sure with the packing and organizing downstairs.

I am getting excited about moving. I've decided to look into newer developments even though here in our valley the newer homes have less land, but we'll check around. Bob's getting to the point he doesn't want a lot of yard work to do and we'll probably go with desert landscape. Both of us enjoy green and would love to buy a farm in Texas but we've decided with all this time on our hands, we can travel to other places, stay for a few months and enjoy the lush green landscape but not worry about the upkeep. I can't wait. We're hoping the economy will have a turnaround by spring and the housing prices will stabilize so we do get a decent price for our home. Regardless, we have to move, this place is too much work for both of us. It's a wonderful home for a family. It was purchased for Brian and handicapped remodeled for his needs.

We are having another beautiful day here in southern Nevada. There's a forecast of rain later in the week and I pray that God brings us several days of a good downpour. We really need the rain. I thank God for all my blessings that are many and for my dear friends and family. I pray for you also as you are reading this blog, and I thank you for visiting.

Take care and have a special day.

Time for Christmas packages

The chatter I am picking up on the military blogs is about sending Christmas packages to the troops. I received an email from our local Blue Star Mother's group about the addresses of the troops, so I know they are getting their stuff together. I don't know what the latest date is to send, but I know I will be sending Tom's boxes out within the next couple of weeks. He has admanently told me not to send him anything, but then in second breath he knows that falls on deaf ears.

Although Tom and I have been emailing and iMing (instant messaging) I hadn't actually written to him via snail mail since September before his birthday. I've been down in the dumbs then I fell and hurt my leg. So, now I think my brain is as active as its going to get right now. Yesterday we took four envelopes to the post office for Tom. If an envelope weighs over a pound then you have to do that customs slip, but one postal worker made me fill one out when the postage was less but I used a large envelope and I only had newspaper clippings and a long letter. So this time I separated everything and included a Halloween card. I would send Halloween decorations but I'm not sure how that would go over in Iraq with their traditions. We are going to send him Christmas stuff though and I'll also send Thanksgiving decorations too. Suz will send him a tree and I will find other stuff from the crafts store to send him so he can decorate his room.

This will be Tom's first Christmas away from home. He did come home last year when he was at Ft. Bragg. It will really be lonely without him. He's so much fun to be with. We love and miss him so much.

Well, this day is almost over. The weather has been fabulous. I finished reading 99% of the newspapers and magazines that have stacked up. I have made a pact with myself not to watch much of the news - only Brit Hume and maybe Bill O'Reilly. I don't want to be upset this week, I've been all tore up over the campaign stuff. I do love Sarah Palin and really hope McCain wins.

I really do hope you have a very good week and things go your way. I'll say a prayer for you. God bless you always. Take good care.

It rained in Iraq

I received an email from Tom this morning. Tom said it rained for 4 -5 hours straight and there was lots of mud and puddles. He said it has also cooled off. Can you imagine in that desert environment getting that much rain at one time and not having drainage ditches like we have in the states. He is doing well. It's quiet in his area right now. He'll be home in five months. His notes are always upbeat.

Another week has passed and it seemed to wiz by again. Today is a day of rest. The infection in my leg has finally gone away but I'm weak in both legs because of having to be off my feet all this time. Our weather is beautiful and cool right now so I'm hoping we can start walking again even if only a short distance. We have Alexandra today and she needs to get outside and away from the TV and computer too. We usually go out into the driveway while she rides her bike or scooter, we'll blow bubbles or caulk draw on the driveway. There is a terrific park at the end of our block by her school and it will make a nice walking adventure today. They went to a Halloween party at her school on Friday. She has a cute outfit. When she got home, she counted and made note of every piece of candy she got - I guess she'll be an accountant when she grows up.

Hope you have a lovely day and take good care.

Music

One of my favorite things is listening to music and I appreciate sharing some of my favorite songs available on playlist. I know you can either listen to the selections or mute it, or you can chose another tune from the list to listen to. I am glad you have that choice of listening or not since the sound of music can be annoying to some individuals. I have select a couple of Ricky Nelson's songs to play because Ricky was my very favorite singer when I was a teenager. At that time everyone else was in love with Elvis - I've always been independent and think outside the box.

I also enjoyed watching the Nelson family show Ozzie and Harriet with Ricky, his brother David and his mom and dad. The TV shows in those days of the 50s were very wholesome. There was no violence or sex stuff. A lot of good humor and good acting.

Miniature Tootsie Rolls

The sun has set here and its getting dark outside but my family is out in the driveway making noises doing something. I was thinking about Lightning Bugs. I grew up in the midwest, Ohio to be precise, and during the summer evenings when there was a bunch of kids together in the neighborhood, we'd get a glass jar with a lid and catch all the lightning bugs we could but we don't have them here and catching lightning bugs is something my grandkids have missed growing up doing. My kids did have that experience when we lived on the farm in Kentucky. I wonder if kids back in the midwest and east still do those things?

One thing I do like about this desert climate is the dry air. There's something peaceful about it in the evenings. I remember once when I flew here to Vegas from Kentucky to see my dad who had had a heart attack and my mom needed help. It was in January and I left the bitter cold and two feet of snow, it was a bad winter in Kentucky and surrounding areas that year. When I arrived in Las Vegas, I only needed a light jacket. There's something in the evening air that I can't quite describe but I am at ease with how I feel once the summer heat has left and the fall season finally brings the cool temperatures. We really do enjoy sitting outside after the sun goes down, it's peaceful.

What is your favorite snack food? Are you a chocolateholic? We had to pick up a few things at Wal-Mart today. I've been wanting something when I get the munchies as we are watching the TV and the program is driving me mad with tension and excitement. At the end of one of the aisles I zeroed in on a huge bag of miniature tootsie rolls. Bob had taken a quick detour as we entered the store and he headed to the powder room leaving me alone to shop for a few minutes. There was no hesitation and I quickly grabbed the big bag of tootsie rolls, hiding it under my large handbag and swiftly moved down the aisle to find a Halloween card for Tom in Iraq. When Bob was unloading the groceries on the conveyor belt at check out he never said anything about the huge bag of miniature tootsie rolls but placed them in line right along with all the other healthy (ha ha) food we selected. I did notice this evening he was enjoying the handful of miniature tootsie rolls I left for him on the table by his TV chair in the living room.

Another day pit the dust, where does the time go! I'm glad I have dyed hair so I don't have to count the grey hairs! Hope you have a pleasant evening. Take good care.

Today's great accomplishment

If you've ever planned for a long time to do something and the day finally arrives that you can fulfill the responsibility, then you'll know the self-gratification I feel today. Bob and I early voted. I am so thankful we have completed this wonderful privilege we have here in the United States. It was very busy at the voting poll although was very organized and no waiting in line for a voting machine. It is an honor that I treasure with all my heart.

It was an absolutely beautiful day. We didn't accomplish very much today. After we voted we went to lunch to celebrate, then to Costco to spread the wealth, and came home. I cooked salmon patties and buttered noodles for supper. Now some of you may say - "yuck" but that combination is a staple meal for a Midwesterner's Catholic Friday fish meal back in the days when we couldn't eat meat on Fridays. Salmon patties are also a poor man's protein - for lack of a better phrase which wouldn't come to me!!!! I love buttered noodles and my mom made them from the time I was a little girl so it is a very old timey side dish.

Bob likes my cooking and he is easy to please. His mom and grandmothers were excellent cooks. What was amazing to me was that each had their own method and neither were fancy cooks but very practical. My mom was a wonderful cook too and I learned a lot of basics from her, then after I married Bob, I picked up his family's recipes. My mom taught me the basics for vegetable and types of soup and the Midwest style of chili soup and which is nothing like what cooks make out here in the west. I love to make all kinds of soup and I never make the same type twice. For example, my chicken soup never has the same flavor the second time around, I'm always tweaking it.

I know that's one reason Bob kept me around. His mom and grandma's spoiled him with their good cooking, and I knew one of the best way around a man and to keep him happy was through his stomach. Forty-four years of cooking proved that.

Have a restful evening and pleasant dreams. See ya tomorrow.

Pack rats - call the exterminator!

I wonder how many of us are there - those who just can't part with greeting card, colored pages from a child, concert tickets or stacks and stacks of graded college papers? Yesterday I finally finished folding and packing away two huge boxes of clothes I kept from I think about 20 years ago. They were time tested outfits but didn't fit my out of shape body. My suits were like Chanel's and would never go out of style I have to face it, I would never either be in the situation to wear suits again or most likely never be able to fit into them at the pace I'm not moving. So, off they went. I surprised myself (is it possible to surprise yourself, really?). I thought I would be depressed to let them go, I had such high hopes but now all I have is the memory and photos of those days gone by and the high heeled shoes I wore. I think I miss that fashion most of all - wearing high heels, not the pointy pencil heel ones, those I gave up after having the second baby. I don't know how women walk a long time in high heels.

Once those boxes were packed and moved out of my space, I began on another group of unfinished packed boxes dated in the 80s. Ahh, the memories floated around the my mind of the good times and I smiled as I sorted through the many pieces of notebook paper, conference books, and newsletters. I found stacks of dot matrix paper from the first dot matrix print we purchase around 1987 and on those pages were instructions how to operate the DOS computer. I don't remember how now, Bill Gates made it easy to work computers when he developed Windows. I took a computer class in 1985 and was taught on a Radio Shack Tandy - it was DOS and it was brain work. I was hired for a job with the union at Hoover Dam in 1986 as a office manager/gal of all trades to put their files together. Everything they had was in boxes and what was remarkable was the documents that dated back to the beginning of the Boulder Dam that were signed marking the agreement of service. It was ancient and awesome.

I was provided with a Mac Plus computer to use for data input. I was shocked at the ease of use of this computer after learning the complicated system of the DOS computer. I remember thinking what a piece of cake - and it was. We have come a long way since 1987 and since I purchased my first computer shortly after that, a DOS machine too. And, there it was remnants of computer paper from that old computer that we got rid of a long time ago. I had arranged three boxes of disposal for the stuff that I find in the boxes - keepers, shredders, and garbage.
Can you guess which box the dot matrix paper went into - if you guessed the garbage, you are right. Although, maybe it would be a good torture tool for who ever goes through my stuff when I die, maybe the paper deserves to be in a museum, nah, don't care!

I am a sentimental fool so I know this is why I am a pack rat. I know I have to do a better job of sorting and getting rid of stuff because we are downsizing. We have lived in large homes because we've had four children and now grandchildren living with us. I am looking forward to our next place to be only two of us - and one temporarily - our soldier boy. I know he won't want to live with his old grannies for long once he is out of the Army. I have to put the others out and on their own. Bob and I have never been on our own unless we take a vacation. So, I must put my self control in gear and push ahead to do some serious throwaway exercises.

Oh, I wanted to ask, do you have something you like to collect? That's something else that's difficult to get rid of - collectibles. I like fountain pens, paper weights, china tea cups, books, tablecloths, cookbooks, and well, the list goes on, thus there's the problem of space. I hope I can rise up to the challenge of strict organization. I'll keep you informed. It is a challenge.

I hope you have a good day today. I hope you meet someone special who brings a smile to your face and love to your heart. God bless.

"And on the seventh day, He rested"

Today is Sunday and has always been our day of rest. I am glad Bob adheres to this belief not only because God has told to do so, but because Bob really does work physically hard and he needs this day of rest.

To back up a couple of days, earlier in the week I asked Bob if he thought he knew everything about me there was to know - keep in mind that we have been married over 44 years now. Of course, he was confused I would ask that kind of question - there's one of those "women" questions, I am sure he was thinking and I know we do have a way of catching men off guard. I was serious because this is something I had realized a few years back but didn't know if he was aware of this fact especially since we have been together so long. I also have the idea that other marriages I am familiar with seem to not have as much fun as Bob and I do and I wondered if it was because they don't realize each other's needs change. Now, I'm not saying that everyone must joke and tease to be happy, but there is an aura of familiarity of comfort between two people when their relationship is in harmony.

I came to the conclusion some time back that we never stop learning something new about our partner. When I was 20 and met Bob, I was instantly bowled over by him, even his charming proposal of marriage in the form of an offer to do his laundry for the rest of his life was one I couldn't turn down. We didn't know anything about each other when we decided to get married so I guess we were both pretty gullible and naive to take each other's word for whatever we said. It was a "feeling" for me and I was open to learn and I was an adventuous person and yes, a very naive, stubborn, sheltered 20 year old. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have always had a lot of guy friends, and guys I had been serious about, but worldly not so much.

Now I realize that I was gifted with a preception of myself and my choice. It has to be that gift from God and my faith and Bob's faith too, that has also kept us together. Today I am in awe of the traits I see in him that I know as a young person I took for granted. My father and mother were very hard workers and so was Bob - maybe it was something that I just expected from the man I chose but I know today that I lucked out. I would rather think that it was God's hand in my choice and He gave me a beautiful gift. Today I see what Bob needs to be content, I knew this some years back when we made the huge decision to bring our son Brian home from the VA hospital to take care of him. Brian was a total care patient requiring round the clock care. We worked it out as a family how we would share the care.

Bob couldn't give up his job at Hoover Dam to help me during the day so not only did he come home from the long hours at work exhausted, he needed some time to relax too, but after dinner, he was ready to give his time to Brian so I could rest a bit. Our kids pitched in for a couple of hours too. Bob used his down time to either do things around the house - yard work, always planting flowers, mainly roses, tending the grounds, or building things. Working was his therapy to help against the stress and agony of our son's condition which was a result of the accident while he served with the Army in Germany.

Today he has slowed down his pace of physical work and he has had to do just that - pace himself and it is a struggle to change something that has been so inherently ingrained. I recall too when I first met him he told me about his dream. He wanted a farm in Kentucky. I'll tell you here and now - I was raised a city gal, but I had great-grandparents who were farmers in Ohio, so somewhere in my genetic background must have been a dormant farm gal ready to be energized. Talk about how God works in strange ways, after almost six years of marriage and four kids, we were living in Massachusetts, when we got the call from Bob's grandma that the farm next to her's was up for sale. Well, Bob quit his job at the Mass. Air National Guard on the Cape, and we sold our home, and moved to Wickliffe, Ky, where we did buy that farm and Bob also went to work at the Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, as a welder and he was farmer, too.

My life with Bob has been a variety of unexpected surprises and journeys. It is a comforting thought to know there will always be something new to learn and life will never be mundane.