The Birthday Gift

This weekend my daughter, grandson Jacob and I are going to visit our dear friends B & H. It' s H's birthday and every year since Jacob has been old enough, he has been the one to pick out H's very special birthday gift. They are not your run of the mill birthday gifts. Each one is hand picked with love by Jacob who is 5 years old and loves H more than anyone deserves to be loved...just kidding.

This year is no different. We already have one picked out, it's just making certain we can get it this time of year. So, the other day I said to Jacob, what are you thinking about H's birthday gift. He thought for a moment and said...I know. I think he needs more soap. Well, I thought it was something to do with washing their hands, but no. It's much more scientific than that. Last year in their garden deer were eating some of the vegetables, and as a deterrent H would hang a bar of soap and hopefully save the veggies. Jacob remembered this and thought soap for H's birthday would be right on target. Now I just need to know the brand, cause I don't want to come empty-handed, or with Ivory when it should have been Dove.

Political Talk Show Hosts

Who is this Rachel Madow or Maddow person? and, how did she get her own talk show, and why does she have her own talk show. She talks out of the side of her mouth. and she has a disgusting little laugh. And, in her eyes the new president is the second coming, and in case things don't go his way she will most likely blame a republican. All of this slightly amusing til last night and she jumps on Eric Cantor's case. Then it gets personal. He's one of the few people i actually voted for this election.

Changes...they are a-coming

Wow, so much going on I don't even know where to start. The partnership here has dissolved, there's a new "silent" partner (with megabucks), we are moving to a new location. Our hours have been cut back, but hopefully that won't last too long. That's it in a nutshell, but that's nothing compared to what's going on in my insides. My grandson Jacob has a hard time with change, and if I was a five year old I think I would be kicking and screaming now too. I don't do that because I have learned how to bury everything inside and instead of kicking and screaming I have headaches and neck aches and stomach pains-all socially acceptable.

Merry Christmas and Thank You Bek.....

This is my brand new stove. It arrived yesterday morning, a Christmas gift from my daughter. My old one gave out about a month and a half ago, so I've been cooking with my microwave and crock pot and George Foreman grill. It really hasn't been terrible except there was no baking for the holidays which I usually do. All my major cooking for Thanksgiving and Christmas was done at my daughter's house. I don't know how to thank her. I've already said it, but it doesn't seem to be enough..not for me anyway. So many times she has just taken care of what I needed and never complained.

I love her and that crazy kid of hers with or without the stove. Thank you Bek. I love you more than you can imagine. Mom

The Big Bailout

First there was the Wall St. bailout, then the Main St. bailout, now the auto industry bailout. Well, how about My Bailout. I think I speak for millions of us who get up everyday and go to work (thank God) and try to do the right thing. We pay our mortgages and car payments and credit card bills on time, we pay our share of taxes and then some. But all these billions of dollars are not going to help me or people like me if our little company goes under. Who is going to say here is your share of the bailout money? We want your company to succeed.

The owners were talking this morning, and if we don't get just a little more business I honestly don't know where we'll be this time next month. And, to tell you the truth I don't think I can go through this again. In two months I will be 60 years old. Who in their right mind would hire a 60 year old woman. I don't believe I have the emotional, physical or financial strength to start over one more time. I just don't have the heart for it. I know it would mean I could file for foreclosure and bankruptcy all in the same day.

I'm not ordinarily a complainer, but everyday on the news they talk more money than I can even imagine and I wonder when and if some of that will filter down to those of us who really need it to survive. Tonight my prayer will be for the strength to know that God will get me through this as always.

Doing my part for the economy....

This morning I got up, did a load of laundry, walked the dog, had some breakfast, then headed out to pick up a few things. I stopped at the grocery store last night on the way home, so I didn't have that chore on a Saturday morning.

My first stop was at the library to get a new card. Everything is high tech today even the library and I knew it had been several years since I had checked anything out with my own card. The lady was very nice and welcomed me back and was kind enough to show me where the books for new readers or wannabe readers were located. I may take Jacob up there this evening.

Then I headed to a new store my daughter told me about. Five & Below. It's just what it sounds like. Everything in the store is five dollars or less. Well, my favorite store is The Dollar Tree, so I was excited to see what they could do for me. They had toys and games and CD's and DVD's and socks and hats and food. They even sold dumbbells. I paid for my purchases, but they just didn't have quite the variety that The Dollar Tree has, so that's where I went next. A gift bag here and pencil sharpener there and I'm headed to Ukrop's cause by this time I'm hungry. One slice of pizza and some peas I forgot last night and it's home for me.

Now, the truth is none of these stores will stay in business if they depend soley on my spending money in them, but if we all stick together we can get through this.

Jonathan

Jonathan is my newest grandson. He was born on Oct. 1, 2008. Happy and healthy and cute as a button. When mom and dad took him for his one-month check up the doctor noticed that he was having problems breathing. Very shallow and many many breaths, so he was sent to the emergency room. Seems he had RSV which can be deadly in infants. He was given a breathing treatment while they located a bed for him to stay the night. Once you get a breathing treatment in the hospital you have to stay for at least 12 hours (didn't know that). Anyway, he came home the next night and is doing much better. I will say thank goodness the doctor was on top of his game and paid attention.

Nags Head

You can see how windy it was and how rough the ocean was. Very angry that day.

Bodie Lighthouse

Sparkling like diamonds.

I'm posting some photos of my trip to Nags Head, NC with my bff last weekend. We had a great time despite the rain on Saturday and 45 mph winds on Sunday. Those things just didn't seem to matter. We had a cute cottage by the sea. It had two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bath and a screened in front porch. It was perfect.

Election...

It seems to me that this campaign has taken on a life of it's own. I'm so amazed that almost everyone is so certain that his/her candidate is going to save our country's economy, social security, insurance, jobs, housing, taxes, and on and on. I wish that it was so easy. I go on faith every day of my life and have for many years now. Faith that if I wake up in the morning I have a new chance for a new day. I look back on my last 20 years and realize without that faith I would have given up many times. Jobs were lost, money was all but gone. It's funny though, everytime I thought about where was the money going to come from to pay bills or buy food, something unexpected would happen, and I knew I was going to be taken care of.

The point of this, if you're wondering, is we are going through tough times now and they no doubt will continue for a while. I believe we will make it through and become stronger people if we have a little faith. Faith in God, faith in our Country and its leaders, but more importantly faith in ourselves that we can get through this and come out on the other side wiser, maybe poorer, but definitely wiser.

Now to the election. I've decided that because the rest of the nation is so sure; I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to allow all of you to choose my President for me. I'll go to the polls and vote all the other candidates and issues we have in our state, but leave the big one for my fellows Americans. And, I promise not to complain. (too much anyway)

First Sleepover

Friday after work I picked up JJ, one of my grandsons, then we picked up Jacob at his after school place. From there we went to my house so I could change clothes and walk the dog. While I was getting ready the two of them played a while. Then we went to Wendy's, grabbed dinner to go and off to Deep Run Park where we ate our chicken nuggets and gulped down the chocolate milk. Afterwards we walked around the lake, said hello to a few dogs, and played on the playground til almost dark and the park was getting ready to close. Then it's off to Jacob's house for their first sleepover. JJ's mom and dad had just had a new baby which now makes 3 boys in the house.

The boys are so funny together. They don't see each other very often but boy when the do, they make the most of it. The are so different, and yet because they are both boys and five-year olds they are also very similar. I forgot what it was like to have everything you do a competition. First to the car, first to buckle up, first one out of the car, first one to the house, first one to finish dinner, and on and on and on.

Anyway, we got to Jacob's house, fixed the beds, got pj's on and watched a movie. Bedtime is where it got interesting. Jacob's mom had put a mattress on the floor beside Jacobs' bed for JJ. They went to bed, but before long one comes out and says "I'm scared" followed by you guessed it the second one, "I'm scared too". So, I thought ok JJ sleep with Jacob in his big bed, that should take care of it. Oh no, too close, too easy to get in trouble. So, back to separate beds and the final warning of "don't make me come in there again", and finally asleep.

Saturday morning they got up and went to the fair. I stayed at my house and did my normal Saturday routine, but they called in the afternoon and asked if JJ could stay at my house Sat. night with Jacob. Oh why not. So, that's what they did. I think it was a great first sleepover. I told Jacob's mom it would be the perfect thing for them to do again in a few weeks when mamaw is out of town.

I love these feet....

Don't you just love these feet? You can look at them and almost know they belong to a 5 year old who has just had a great day. I love these feet because they are attached to a little boy who stole my heart 5 years ago and hasn't let go yet. These feet love to walk through water, sand, climb on rocks, look for bugs, and worms and turtles and lightening bugs. And, as on this day spent fishing and crabbing and walking and talking with his buddy Herman.
Occasionally they even serve as brakes when he forgets he's not wearing tennis shoes while riding his bike and needs to slow down quickly.
They walk with me at night and we look at the sky and track the moon and try to be the first one to find a star even though we both get to make a wish.
Yes, I love these feet.

Mandatory Company Meeting....

Tomorrow morning we have a mandatory company meeting. We don't have these with any regularity. Usually after someone does something illegal, immoral or just plain stupid, then we call everybody together and say....oh by the way don't do that again.
The agenda for the meeting is accidents or injuries on the job: if you get hurt, stop what you're doing and call the office and get to an emergency room or Patient First so you can be checked out and file workman's comp if necessary. Don't try to work through it cause you're a tough guy and wait til the end of the day to call us and say by the way I hurt my back today. Next on the hit parade: accidents in a company vehicle. This one you would think goes without saying, but if you are involved in any type of accident while driving a company vehicle, stop what you're doing and call the office. If anyone is injured make sure they are attended to and on and on. Of course, if you are currently on probation and are not legally eligible to be driving anyway and you hit a parked car and then leave the scene of said accident, that's ok, we'll cover your ass and pay extra to make sure that no one knows it was you behind the wheel and not your partner. And, we'll even lie to the other vehicle owner and tell them that yes you did leave them a note on their old non-licensed van and it must have blown away.
So they are the main topics of our meeting tomorrow. I do love these boys. Never a dull moment.

Happy Accidents....

Spotting a deer - after he's already spotted us - running through my suburban townhouse community. Watching bats dance around at dusk coming close, but not too close. Taking a walk and finding a live snail who actually comes out of his shell to try to get away. And, on that same walk find a turtle wandering around. We take him back to the house for a little photo session. Jacob thinks I'm keeping this turtle forever as a new pet. I'm sorry Jacob, he was just another one of our happy accidents.

Good Bye Erma....

This is Erma.

One Saturday morning 16 years ago my daughter said
"we have to go today. We have to go to the pound today because Erma will be there." Who is Erma and how do you know she will be there today, I asked. She had a vision, a dream that night that Erma (an already namedblack and white kitten) would be at the SPCA that morning waiting for us. So, I said OK and we took off for the SPCA. There were so many kittens I remember. Gray ones, orange ones, striped ones. But only one black and white one. My daughter immediately went to her cage and said Hi Erma, you're coming home with us. I thought we should at least look at all the kittens, but it didn't matter how many we saw, Erma was coming home with us.

And, with us or at least me, is where she's been since that day. She had a long happy life and I know she's ready for a well deserved rest. Remember - All Dogs (and Cats) Go to Heaven.

Goodbye Erma...rest in peace. We love you.

Dinner - a la Rachel Ray

Tonight I tried a recipe I saw Rachel Ray make one night last week on her 30 minute meal show. I don't usually try them, but this one seemed like a no brainer to me.
In a big saute' pan heat olive oil and garlic. In another pot you're boiling water for pasta. Baby spinach goes into the garlic/oil,til it all wilts followed by your pasta of choice. Toss that together along with 4 or 6 oz of Asiago cheese. If it's not cheesy enough for you throw on some Parmesean. Toss in about a dozen cherry tomatoes cut in half. Mix it all up and yum yum.
It was delicious.

Now, the other part of my day. Got home, no TV. Can't freaking believe it. So, I'm thinking did you pay the bill fool? Well, yes I did. Never as much as they want and never when they want it, but yes. So, I called Comcast and said my TV's cable is not working. I have an appointment on Wed between 2 and 5. Wish I could fix it myself. Now I'm going to miss The Closer tonight. That really sucks. This has been a great season.

Lewis Ginter..

This afternoon I went to Lewis Ginter Botantical Gardens with my sister-in-law. I hadn't been in a while and they had recently planted a new rose garden with hundreds of varieties of roses. One of the donors of the rose gardens is an artist and some of her work was hung in the library.

The rose garden was beautiful and there are still so many things in bloom. This is where I take most of my photographs of flowers. In Spring I think the tulips are my favorite, then the peonies bloom and they are my favorite, and then the hydrangeas. You see where this is going, right? I just love them. And, they have a terrific Children's Garden with a huge treehouse and sprinklers on hot days.

I really love the garden during the Holidays with the million lights. That may be my very favorite.

Take a peek at lewisginter.org. It's worth the trip.

Birthdays...

I called my daughter-in-law on Sept. 1 to wish her Happy Birthday. I didn't get to talk with her, so I just left a message. On Sept. 2 she called me back to thank me and let me know that her birthday is Sept. 3, but she appreciated the thought anyway. I have such a hard time remembering the date, I can usually hit on the correct month, but then I'm lost. The good news is that last year when I sent her card late it actually arrived right on time. Life is good.

Forgiveness....

Years ago I taught a Sunday School class of 6 and 7 year olds. My daughter was in the class, but I don't know if she even remembers it. One Sunday morning the topic of the class was "forgiveness", especially God's forgiveness. I opened the class with the question
"who knows what to forgive means" . One little boy raised his hand and said "it means letting go". It almost brought tears to my eyes that morning as it does now just remembering it. After church that day I found his mother and told her what he had said in class. She just smiled and nodded her head and told me he had been in therapy for several years because he had been sexually molested by his grandfather and he was working on forgiving. The mom of course was having a harder time forgiving than the little boy.

red sunflower

Working Girl.....Again

I know it's been quite a while since my last posting, but I'm happy to say that I am indeed working full time and have been at my current job for about 16 months now. I'm working for a heating and air conditioning contractor as a dispatcher. It is a busy little office - family owned and operated. The owners are a man my age and his son-in-law, in his early 30's. The younger one, we'll call him AJ for short, has the master's license and Tim, the older one has the business savvy. Gina and I are the driving force of the company and keep the wheels turning.

Family owned companies are great and I admire anyone who puts their heart and soul as well as their financial well being on the line to make it work. It's also not a democracy with a private company like this one and sometimes venting about management is...well next to impossible, cause who you gonna tell? I know who signs my paycheck every week. And, now the wife of the young one has started to work with us because she got angry at her job and gave her notice before she had another job to go to. We were told it's a temporary placement for her, but I haven't seen her leave for any interviews yet.

Anyway, enough about the job. It's good to be back.