Grandparents Day at the Library

Today was Grandparents Day at the library. Cassidy was, of course, the only child with TWO grandparents present. This was because:

a. You are at least the 10th grandchild, or


b. You are actually the Great-grandparents

There is no other reason to have BOTH Grandparents present, during a weekday, at something as innocuous as Grandparents Day at the local library storytime. Cassidy, however is one lucky child....... as we were both there.

Cassidy is truly MY grandchild. We arrived a few minutes after storytime started. She looked around, saw us, and then acted as if she'd never laid eyes on us before. During an interlude, she went over to her mother, verified that we were, in fact, her grandparents, then went back to storytime.....


Miss Cassidy coloring her card for her grandparents during craft time.



Cassidy is proud to show-off her artwork.




Did I really allow myself to be photographed inside the library in a boat???




Cassidy blowing us a kiss goodbye.

Completion of Home Project #1 - Only A Zillion More To Do

Well, this was a month of accomplishments around here. We were suppose to put our home on the market to sell last Spring. We thought we'd take the month of April to spruce it up some and put it up for sale in May. We couldn't have been more wrong about that.

Not only did we go on a string of vacations, but the list of what actually has to be done around here is quite daunting. We've actually been getting it ready for close to two years by replacing carpets, flooring, appliances and some painting of walls and trim. But those were projects I spearheaded. They don't include projects delegated to "If it wasn't perfect when I started, it will be when I finish" Bill who can take a relatively simple project like staining the deck, and make into a project worthy of stimulus money.

I was fearful at times that he was going to replace the entire deck. Everytime he replaced a board, he would be dissatisfied with the one next to it. Eventually all the handrails, and a few steps were replaced.

Next came the staining. What a job that was. Where are the day laborers when you need them? But seriously, he did a beautiful job.

This was after he pressure washed the deck, but before he stained it. The little stand the plant and cat are on was the weathered color of our deck.



In this pic, the rails are stained but not the floor of the deck. I think Bill would rather get a root canal than stain all those rails again.




Here, all the rails are done, but the floor has not been done.



Here is the same shot, with the deck floor stained.



In this pic you can better see the color of the deck.



This is almost the same pic as the beginning, minus the little wooden stand. Sometimes I can hardly believe that's my deck when I see it. Wonder if someone out there would like to make it their deck????

A Half a Century........

Wow, I turned 50 years old on August 31st. I'm too honest to lie about my age. At least I haven't lied yet. It's hard to believe that much time has gone by because I still feel so young inside my mind. Very juvenile most times. But I have a few observations about turning half a century old......

1. Time on this earth is not forever. Life really is a vapor.

2. Don't waste precious time on relationships that are shallow.

3. If you really want it, and can buy it, do it.

4. Walk as often and as far as possible.

5. Food is your friend. Don't abuse that friendship.

6. Family is the most important relationship you will have, next to God.

7. Own a really good dog... at least once...it will enrich your life.

8. Don't keep a dog that is not a good one. Life is too short.

9. Grandchildren are the reward for surviving parenthood.

10. Take moment each day to thank God for loving you enough to send His Son to
die for you.

Nothing else really matters. Life is so short. You hear that your whole life, but suddenly you realize how short it really is. My father only lived 6 years beyond 50.....my beloved mother-in-law only lived 11 more months. I may only live another hour. It doesn't matter because for all of eternity I know where I'll be. But life is truly a gift not to be wasted. If you learn that early, imagine how wonderful your life will be?

But I can be distracted by wants, and not just needs. I never want to be that person who resents things that are not "a need." Here is what Bill gave me for my birthday. This is a "two-part" ring. The center diamond he gave me for our 30th wedding anniversary.



My daughter Julie made these cake balls for me. There was devil's food and red velvet. If you've never had one, you are missing a real treat.



The sweetest girl who ever lived. She was so excited that it was my birthday. Aren't kids wonderful? They don't care whose party it is, the fact that there is a party is enough for them.



Susan took me out for mexican food and bought me "Mastering the Art of French Cooking.". Melissa, Tommy, and Billy all gave me Bath & Bodyworks gifts. All of my family truly blessed me that day with their presence. I wish I could take that day, put it in a bottle, and open it up from time to time to enjoy it again and again. Come to think of it, I think that's called a memory.....

Moon Over South Carolina.....................

Well, we are back from another vacation to Myrtle Beach. It may be our last one of the year. It was a really good vacation. It only cost an extra $6,300 unexpected dollars, as our air conditioner/heating unit decided to go kaput the minute we pulled out of the driveway. It was a really good vacation and we had beautiful weather. Here are a few pics of our trip.

Is there anything more beautiful than a full moon over an ocean?? Well perhaps a sunrise over the Atlantic is more beautiful, but that's too early for me to snap a pic.



This was Bill's dragon kite. It actually wiggled it's hind end while in the air.



We had a great location for our RV. We were only three sites from the ocean. It was a total of 40 steps to the beach. I counted............



The view from our bedroom window. Does it get any better than this???




This is actually not a posed pic. They were playing football, and I have no idea what caught their attention.




The relaxed face of a middle aged grandma........



My two favorite guys in front of our favorite restaurant. Bill looks sort a stunned, but Billy is happy :)




My man howling at the full moon.




What a great trip we had. We were home one day and we were back to teaching the locals how to save lives with CPR. Billy starts to school on Monday, and semester classes start the following week. The summer is over. I am sad............

I find myself aggravated by common citizens......

I usually try to extend common courtesies to my fellow human beings. I smile and greet, I help if they need it, I even ask if they could use some help. But I must say something is really jerking my chain lately. lt's the people who cannot be bothered to put the shopping cart back into the proper receptacle after they've loaded their car. I've seen them just let them go, and even laugh about the carts hitting other cars. Would they give the same chuckle if the carts hit their own cars while they are inside the store shopping? At one point, as a cart was heading my way, I had to catch it, return it to the proper place, while exclaiming "loudly" that "this is where the cart belongs, it's not that hard, have a little consideration for others." I'm not even talking about the elderly or women with small children, these instances were young moms, with teenage sons. What are they teaching the next generation about responsibility and courtesy. Look out for number 1 and don't worry about anyone else? How rude is this world going to get?????

I long to live in a society where each person cares for the other. Where everyone doesn't just look out for themselves. Or blindly follow a leader, but rather judge, based on merits, whether he's doing a good job. Where government gets smaller, and small businesses get larger, where the private sector jobs are increasing 2 to 1 over government jobs instead of the other way around. Where tax cuts are the norm, and spread the wealth is a slogan we laugh about because of the absurdity of it, because the norm is each person, working to better themselves and their farmily, expecting no hand-outs from anyone.

Anyway because that is a foolish pipe dream at this time, I thought I'd show you a van I saw driving down the road. It is going 55 miles an hour so the pic is not that clear. It was all covered with polka dots and the back window had this written in it:

MY BOSS IS FULL OF MORE S#%T THAN A CONSTIPATED OUTHOUSE FLY!!!

The woman looked to be close to sixty, and I don't know what the problem was, but she was driving that polka dot van for all it's worth! A disgruntled employee for sure, I hope she wasn't married to him.




Now this is my good service is hard to find pic. I was dining at Red Robin and ordered a freckled lemonade. The drink arrived looking very appetizing, but upon closer inspection, it looked as if the employee couldn't be bothered to remove the barcode sticker from the lemon. Doesn't anyone pay attention to details anymore?

This Past Week at My House..........

I thought I'd begin with what went right at my house this past week. I had a visit from my very beautiful granddaughter. She is growing up so fast I can hardly believe it. She is truly a delight to my heart.




My retired husband Bill had worked on our deck all week long. He started with pressure washing it. Apparently it isn't suppose to be the color of gray ash. It took him a total of three washings but eventually it was clean enough to think about staining it. But first he has to replace some of the boards that have cracked. Its' turned out to be quite a project. I will post some pics of the finished deck when he's done. This pic is before it's stained. The floor was still wet, but you can see the difference in color between what the plant is sitting on versus the rails behind it.




Okay, this mediterranean diet is just not for me. I went shopping and bought lots of produce and olives and hummus. I felt very international. I could just see myself walking in the open markets of Greece, my long gray hair tied back in a ponytail, flowing, flowered skirt and leather thong sandals. But the reality of nuts, olives, and hummus was too much to bear. Or else it was the lack of diet soda. I was teaching on Saturday and when I saw that my students all had sodas I felt tears well up in my eyes and I had to call for a 10 minute break. Plus without going into all the gory details, I'm pretty sure that instead of a yellow scrunchie, I used an old pair of Cassidy's Dora the Explorer underwear to tie back my hair that day.

My daughter Susan, who is an avocado nut, was thrilled with this diet. It's okay if she could always be there to prepare something for me, but left on my own, I couldn't figure out what to make for a meal. Plus, one serving of bread a day just wasn't enough. By Sunday I was fluctuating between anger and tears. I wouldn't even go to Bible Study that night because I couldn't trust myself to behave.

This was a sandwich I made with my one serving of bread. It was 2 ozs. of chicken, spinach, and tomatoes. Pretty, but not that filling.




This was my dinner on the last night of the diet. It is avocado, red onion, tomatoes, feta cheese, and red wine vinegar. Susan made it. It was really good, but I actually thought it was the appetizer.





This is the naan bread you dip it in. That's it...Sorry, but I guess I'm a fat American. I can't just graze and pretend I had a meal.




So now I feel like the lady in the commerical where the hospital gurney is following her everywhere she goes. Bill asked what I was going to tell the Lifestyle Coach when I see her again. I told him I wasn't going back. I've decided to leave my toxins undisturbed for awhile.

I started back on Weight Watchers today. The 6 point sub I had for lunch was much more filling than three feta cheese stuffed olives.

You Know You've Crossed a Line When.........

...Your doctor of almost 20 years refers you to a "Life Style Coach." "What is that" you may ask. I'm not really sure, but her name was Dee. She was nice enough. I must admit I was a tad bit concerned when prior to my appointment these were my list of requirements:

1. No alcohol 24 hours before appointment.

2. No exercise 12 hours before appointment.

3. No food 4 hours before appointment.

4. Drink 1 quart of water 1 hour before appointment.

5. Make sure there is access to your right foot during appointment.

Access to my right foot????? I had to go and get a pedicure the day before so that I wouldn't be embarrassed to show my right foot. I must admit the words "Hokey" crossed my mind.

Apparently I'm overweight but it's not my fault. It's just that I eat the wrong foods, at the wrong time, in too much quantity. I'm so glad I paid for that bit of wisdom.

I had to bare my right foot so she could attach some electrodes to it and to my right wrist. Then an electric current I couldn't feel measured not only my body fat, but my cells and told her all kinds of things. I'm apparently water depleted even though I drink it all day long. It's not reaching into my cells because of toxins. I am evidently a toxic waste dump. But I'm not alone, because everyone else is too. Who knew?????

So I was given a diet so that my body can be put on the proper "rhythm" of eating and sleeping. Sort of like an infant, only I can burp myself. Then was I given a supplement, to help me "relax" in the evening. Just something to take the edge off. I thought that was what valium was for, but no, pharmaceuticals are bad, chinese herbs are good. Can't say I really noticed anything when I took two pills, but maybe it was a low stress night.

I go back in three weeks. I have a feeling some big cleanses are heading my way, and I don't mean the kind you wash your face with. I'm not sure I want my toxic waste dump disturbed. Maybe it is better left alone.

Meanwhile I got out my Richard Simmons "Deal a Meal" cards, which happen to have the same foods listed on them as the diet she gave me. I always knew Richard was the answer!