THE MEN IN ORANGE
First of all, let's have a moment of silence for the men in burnt orange, the University of Texas Longhorns, who lost to Kansas State 45-42 last night in a nailbiter. K State injured our quarterback in the first drive, and with our inexperienced backup taking his place, UT had little chance to pull it out. [cue Taps playing softly in the background...]
In soccer news, today is the day! This afternoon the Houston Dynamo vie for the title of MLS Champions against the New England Revolution (Beth, Zach will totally know what I'm talking about :). Thousands of Houstonians have made the trek to the Frisco, Texas, Pizza Hut park to watch the game. We were almost among them, but decided to stay home and watch the game for free on TV. (Plug: ABC network, 2:30 p.m. CST. Tune in and cheer for the orange team!)
In order to send some good mojo their way, our family is having an "orange" party. We're all wearing Dynamo and/or orange shirts, we spread out an orange blanket to cover the couch, and we're partaking of orange foods and beverages. Among the latter:
Oranges
Carrots
Squash soup
Sweet potatoes
Grilled cheese sandwiches made with cheddar, which is closer to orange than American cheese
Cheetos
Nacho-flavor Goldfish
Chips and queso (close to orange, right?)
Orange Fanta for the kids
Diet Sunkist for the adults
Oops, game's about to start. Go Dynamo!
Edited at 5:34 p.m. CST - THEY DID IT! THE DYNAMO WON THE MLS CUP! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Saturday, November 11, 2006
THUS QUOTH THE VICHY, "NEVERMORE"
To all who asked how Pey's party went, let me just lay it out there for ya: No more slumber parties at my house. Well, none that include one particular friend of Pey's. Just for fun, let's call her Brat. Brat is nine years old.
She started off the evening by walking into my house for the first time and approaching K, who was playing his guitar. I thought she'd say something like "cool, you play guitar!" Instead, we heard, "My aunt plays better than you do."
Thinking I must have misheard her, I sat there with my mouth open. Then she turns to me and says, "Really, my aunt DOES play waaay better than he does."
K later told me that he really wanted to say "wanna bet?" but he held back. I totally would have given him a pass for saying that.
Other fun with Brat:
1. At my friend's house (where we were scrapbooking), Brat was constantly running all around the house, despite the fact that she'd been told to stop because, among other things, Laura's baby was sleeping. I even caught her looking under door jambs to see what was behind closed doors.
2. After eating pizza, I told all the girls they needed to wash their hands so that they wouldn't get grease on their scrapbooks and pictures. Here's how that conversation played out:
Brat (whining): I don't neeeeed to.
Me: Yes, you do.
Brat (smearing pizza grease on her jeans): NoooOOOooo. I don't either.
Me: Get into the bathroom and wash your hands.
Brat: (stomps and grunts all the way to the bathroom) I'm just going to use water.
Me (sighing heavily): No, you're going to use soap.
Brat: I don't need it.
Me: Yes, you do.
At this point, she stops responding and just rinses her hands off, looking in the mirror and nonchalantly glancing toward the door to see if I'm still there. Knowing that the minute I turn my back she'll try to get away without using soap, I fold my arms, lean against the door, and just stare at her. Eventually I have to tell her again to get some soap, which she finally does. This process took nearly five full minutes.
3. Laura had borrowed a chocolate fountain for last night's crop, which was a big hit with everyone there. I took the girls into the kitchen so they could get some, and I handed them each a small plate. Three of my girls took a few marshmallows and strawberries, but Brat grabbed a big bunch of everything and then announced, "I need MORE chocolate." Then she stuck her plate under the fountain. OMG, what a mess - and a waste of chocolate. I gathered everyone up, let them eat what they had, then told them that was it for the evening. At this point it was nearly 9:00 anyway, and the last thing they needed was more sugar.
4. As it turns out, Brat is one of those sneaky-type girls (I hate that personality trait). Several times throughout the evening, she'd slip from her chair and disappear. I always found her in the kitchen dipping into the fountain again, even though I'd told her no more. She knew what she was doing was wrong, because she'd jump every time she saw me. I herded her back into the living room to work on her scrapbook time after time. (At one point, Laura noticed that I was getting frustrated and quietly offered me a beer. I graciously declined, as I figured "Pey's mom drinks!" would be the story that would get back to Brat's mom.)
5. Near the end of the evening, Brat started chasing Laura's two beautiful dogs around the house. She'd been told repeatedly to stop running, and as I sternly told her to get back to her chair, Laura, quite frustrated by this point, said "You need to go sit on the couch NOW." Now two adults were disciplining Brat, so she complied. She went to the sofa and laid down and went to sleep.
6. Only, no, she didn't. She faked being asleep. About ten minutes later, we had packed up and were ready to leave, and Brat wouldn't get up. She even did the heavy-breathing thing to try and fake us out. I leaned over and sat her up, and she flopped her head to one side, still "sleeping." Then I quietly said, "Well, if you're sleeping, I'll just take you home instead of to my house." Magically, her eyes popped open and she grinned and said, "I want to go to your house."
Darn.
The rest of the night was a blur to me because I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. We put all the girls down on sleeping bags in the living room and rented "Garfield II", and I set myself up a little bed on the sofa (much to Brat's chagrin - which is scary, now that I think about it). I was awakened a few times during the night, but this morning was wonderful because Brat's mom called two hours before everyone was supposed to leave and said that they needed to pick her up early. Oh heavenly bliss.
The other girls, by the way, were terrific. Pey has told everyone that she had a "great" birthday. She is very proud of her scrapbook, and even though I know I'm biased, I have to agree that it's beautiful.
This afternoon I (jokingly) asked Pey if she wanted to have Brat over to spend the night again tonight. She rolled her eyes, sighed, and said "No way." I think she was just as frustrated (and maybe a little embarrassed) as I was over Brat's antics last night.
Some good news - During K's soccer game today, he scored TWO goals! That's the first time he's ever scored a goal during a game, and we couldn't be prouder of him. I wish everyone could have seen the grin on his face; it was awesome.
I think I'll go take that nap now. I have a feeling that the fatigue I feel from last night is going to stay with me for a few days.
To all who asked how Pey's party went, let me just lay it out there for ya: No more slumber parties at my house. Well, none that include one particular friend of Pey's. Just for fun, let's call her Brat. Brat is nine years old.
She started off the evening by walking into my house for the first time and approaching K, who was playing his guitar. I thought she'd say something like "cool, you play guitar!" Instead, we heard, "My aunt plays better than you do."
Thinking I must have misheard her, I sat there with my mouth open. Then she turns to me and says, "Really, my aunt DOES play waaay better than he does."
K later told me that he really wanted to say "wanna bet?" but he held back. I totally would have given him a pass for saying that.
Other fun with Brat:
1. At my friend's house (where we were scrapbooking), Brat was constantly running all around the house, despite the fact that she'd been told to stop because, among other things, Laura's baby was sleeping. I even caught her looking under door jambs to see what was behind closed doors.
2. After eating pizza, I told all the girls they needed to wash their hands so that they wouldn't get grease on their scrapbooks and pictures. Here's how that conversation played out:
Brat (whining): I don't neeeeed to.
Me: Yes, you do.
Brat (smearing pizza grease on her jeans): NoooOOOooo. I don't either.
Me: Get into the bathroom and wash your hands.
Brat: (stomps and grunts all the way to the bathroom) I'm just going to use water.
Me (sighing heavily): No, you're going to use soap.
Brat: I don't need it.
Me: Yes, you do.
At this point, she stops responding and just rinses her hands off, looking in the mirror and nonchalantly glancing toward the door to see if I'm still there. Knowing that the minute I turn my back she'll try to get away without using soap, I fold my arms, lean against the door, and just stare at her. Eventually I have to tell her again to get some soap, which she finally does. This process took nearly five full minutes.
3. Laura had borrowed a chocolate fountain for last night's crop, which was a big hit with everyone there. I took the girls into the kitchen so they could get some, and I handed them each a small plate. Three of my girls took a few marshmallows and strawberries, but Brat grabbed a big bunch of everything and then announced, "I need MORE chocolate." Then she stuck her plate under the fountain. OMG, what a mess - and a waste of chocolate. I gathered everyone up, let them eat what they had, then told them that was it for the evening. At this point it was nearly 9:00 anyway, and the last thing they needed was more sugar.
4. As it turns out, Brat is one of those sneaky-type girls (I hate that personality trait). Several times throughout the evening, she'd slip from her chair and disappear. I always found her in the kitchen dipping into the fountain again, even though I'd told her no more. She knew what she was doing was wrong, because she'd jump every time she saw me. I herded her back into the living room to work on her scrapbook time after time. (At one point, Laura noticed that I was getting frustrated and quietly offered me a beer. I graciously declined, as I figured "Pey's mom drinks!" would be the story that would get back to Brat's mom.)
5. Near the end of the evening, Brat started chasing Laura's two beautiful dogs around the house. She'd been told repeatedly to stop running, and as I sternly told her to get back to her chair, Laura, quite frustrated by this point, said "You need to go sit on the couch NOW." Now two adults were disciplining Brat, so she complied. She went to the sofa and laid down and went to sleep.
6. Only, no, she didn't. She faked being asleep. About ten minutes later, we had packed up and were ready to leave, and Brat wouldn't get up. She even did the heavy-breathing thing to try and fake us out. I leaned over and sat her up, and she flopped her head to one side, still "sleeping." Then I quietly said, "Well, if you're sleeping, I'll just take you home instead of to my house." Magically, her eyes popped open and she grinned and said, "I want to go to your house."
Darn.
The rest of the night was a blur to me because I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. We put all the girls down on sleeping bags in the living room and rented "Garfield II", and I set myself up a little bed on the sofa (much to Brat's chagrin - which is scary, now that I think about it). I was awakened a few times during the night, but this morning was wonderful because Brat's mom called two hours before everyone was supposed to leave and said that they needed to pick her up early. Oh heavenly bliss.
The other girls, by the way, were terrific. Pey has told everyone that she had a "great" birthday. She is very proud of her scrapbook, and even though I know I'm biased, I have to agree that it's beautiful.
This afternoon I (jokingly) asked Pey if she wanted to have Brat over to spend the night again tonight. She rolled her eyes, sighed, and said "No way." I think she was just as frustrated (and maybe a little embarrassed) as I was over Brat's antics last night.
Some good news - During K's soccer game today, he scored TWO goals! That's the first time he's ever scored a goal during a game, and we couldn't be prouder of him. I wish everyone could have seen the grin on his face; it was awesome.
I think I'll go take that nap now. I have a feeling that the fatigue I feel from last night is going to stay with me for a few days.
Friday, November 10, 2006
FRIDAY NEWS
Pey's birthday party starts in about two hours, when the other three girls arrive and we head out to the birthday crop.
Kim's son, Trey, is out of his coma, but has apparently lost the ability to speak. He's had two MRIs, and another is scheduled. Please continue to pray for the family.
Not much else going on right now. I'll post more tomorrow, if I survive the slumber party tonight, that is! :)
Pey's birthday party starts in about two hours, when the other three girls arrive and we head out to the birthday crop.
Kim's son, Trey, is out of his coma, but has apparently lost the ability to speak. He's had two MRIs, and another is scheduled. Please continue to pray for the family.
Not much else going on right now. I'll post more tomorrow, if I survive the slumber party tonight, that is! :)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
IF YOU'RE A PRAYING PERSON, PLEASE READ THIS
My "amazing" Target finds mean nothing (see post below).
You guys may remember my sister Tnk and her near-fatal accident from earlier this year. She went through several surgeries and months of agonizing physical therapy, but I am happy to report that she is back at work on the police force and doing well.
Tnk made some good friends over the past few months, particularly with her physical therapist, Kimberly. Kim was with her through the whole ordeal, and pushed Tnk hard to get her hands working properly. The fact that Tnk made an almost perfect score on her shooting recertification was in no small part due to Kim's help and support. I had the privilege of meeting her when I'd take Tnk to and from PT.
Two days ago, Kim's 8-year-old son was hit by a speeding car. He was crossing the street near his home - in a 15 mph zone - when a woman doing 50 mph ran over him.
He has been in pediatric intensive care in a coma ever since the accident.
My heart is breaking for this family. They are a wonderful group of people, and they need our prayers.
Thank you.
My "amazing" Target finds mean nothing (see post below).
You guys may remember my sister Tnk and her near-fatal accident from earlier this year. She went through several surgeries and months of agonizing physical therapy, but I am happy to report that she is back at work on the police force and doing well.
Tnk made some good friends over the past few months, particularly with her physical therapist, Kimberly. Kim was with her through the whole ordeal, and pushed Tnk hard to get her hands working properly. The fact that Tnk made an almost perfect score on her shooting recertification was in no small part due to Kim's help and support. I had the privilege of meeting her when I'd take Tnk to and from PT.
Two days ago, Kim's 8-year-old son was hit by a speeding car. He was crossing the street near his home - in a 15 mph zone - when a woman doing 50 mph ran over him.
He has been in pediatric intensive care in a coma ever since the accident.
My heart is breaking for this family. They are a wonderful group of people, and they need our prayers.
Thank you.
TAR-JAY RULES
At least, their clearance sales do. I went there this morning because I was a doofus three months ago. Allow me to elaborate...
Sometime back in August or so, I was browsing Target's clearance racks and came across an electronic journal which was marked down from $24.99 to $6.98. Thinking this would be something cool for Pey, I picked it up.
When I went to wrap it the other day, I flipped the box over and read the back: "For use with FLY pentop computer." We-elll, I knew I didn't have one of those lying around, so I google'd it. Imagine my surprise when Amazon.com told me it would cost $125.
Yeah, that's gonna happen.
I knew that Target wouldn't feel obligated to take back the journal that they'd clearanced three months ago, so I resigned myself to getting back into ebay and trying to sell it for Christmas. I really didn't want to do that, but there was just no way I was going to drop a C-note now because I jumped the gun then.
Then glorious, glorious Target, unbeknownst to itself, came to my rescue. Today I was again browsing the clearance racks, as apparently I am wont to do, and I came across a FLY pentop computer, complete with charging stand. I could hardly believe my eyes as I beheld the lone remaining box. This $129.99 set had been marked down to - are you ready for this? - $31.98.
I swept the box up in my arms and placed it gently into my cart. My spirits were soaring, and I'm pretty sure Snow White's little birds were aflitter about my shoulders, too.
Pey will get her journal after all. Thank you, Target, for making a little girl's birthday happier, and making her mommy look a little less doofish today.
At least, their clearance sales do. I went there this morning because I was a doofus three months ago. Allow me to elaborate...
Sometime back in August or so, I was browsing Target's clearance racks and came across an electronic journal which was marked down from $24.99 to $6.98. Thinking this would be something cool for Pey, I picked it up.
When I went to wrap it the other day, I flipped the box over and read the back: "For use with FLY pentop computer." We-elll, I knew I didn't have one of those lying around, so I google'd it. Imagine my surprise when Amazon.com told me it would cost $125.
Yeah, that's gonna happen.
I knew that Target wouldn't feel obligated to take back the journal that they'd clearanced three months ago, so I resigned myself to getting back into ebay and trying to sell it for Christmas. I really didn't want to do that, but there was just no way I was going to drop a C-note now because I jumped the gun then.
Then glorious, glorious Target, unbeknownst to itself, came to my rescue. Today I was again browsing the clearance racks, as apparently I am wont to do, and I came across a FLY pentop computer, complete with charging stand. I could hardly believe my eyes as I beheld the lone remaining box. This $129.99 set had been marked down to - are you ready for this? - $31.98.
I swept the box up in my arms and placed it gently into my cart. My spirits were soaring, and I'm pretty sure Snow White's little birds were aflitter about my shoulders, too.
Pey will get her journal after all. Thank you, Target, for making a little girl's birthday happier, and making her mommy look a little less doofish today.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES
Tomorrow my baby is turning 9 years old. I think I'll reserve my freak-out for when she hits double-digits. For now, I'm just glad to still have kids in elementary school. That makes me feel young.
Today I went shopping with my MIL. We were on a mission to pick up some gifts for the birthday girl. Pey has been keeping a wishlist in a spiral-bound notebook, so we didn't have much trouble knowing what she wants. The only problem was choosing from the hundreds of things on the list. Her list is five single-spaced pages, plus about a half-dozen sticky notes inside the front cover. The funniest thing on her list: her cousin El, whose mother is selfishly not allowing me to have her. But she is letting me borrow El this weekend for Pey's party, so that will have to suffice.
Speaking of party, Pey is going to have a good one. Her two best friends, plus El, plus Pey, natch, will be there. My friend Laura, who is a Creative Memories consultant, is hosting a scrapbooking crop for the girls. Pey is pretty excited about it! All the girls need to bring with them are about 40 pictures each, and Laura will be there to guide them through setting up their pages and journaling. She's even going to let them use all her tools. It's going to cost me around a hundred dollars for supplies, but the four girls will get to be creative and have some really cool albums to take home with them at the end of the night.
Only they're not going home that night. Pey's having a slumber party after the crop, so now the question is, where is everyone going to sleep? IF they sleep, that is.
Now I've got to get busy straightening up the house. Tomorrow is Pey's actual birthday, and we're having the grandparents over for dinner and presents. Friday = crop. Man, I've got a lot to do. Toodles!
Tomorrow my baby is turning 9 years old. I think I'll reserve my freak-out for when she hits double-digits. For now, I'm just glad to still have kids in elementary school. That makes me feel young.
Today I went shopping with my MIL. We were on a mission to pick up some gifts for the birthday girl. Pey has been keeping a wishlist in a spiral-bound notebook, so we didn't have much trouble knowing what she wants. The only problem was choosing from the hundreds of things on the list. Her list is five single-spaced pages, plus about a half-dozen sticky notes inside the front cover. The funniest thing on her list: her cousin El, whose mother is selfishly not allowing me to have her. But she is letting me borrow El this weekend for Pey's party, so that will have to suffice.
Speaking of party, Pey is going to have a good one. Her two best friends, plus El, plus Pey, natch, will be there. My friend Laura, who is a Creative Memories consultant, is hosting a scrapbooking crop for the girls. Pey is pretty excited about it! All the girls need to bring with them are about 40 pictures each, and Laura will be there to guide them through setting up their pages and journaling. She's even going to let them use all her tools. It's going to cost me around a hundred dollars for supplies, but the four girls will get to be creative and have some really cool albums to take home with them at the end of the night.
Only they're not going home that night. Pey's having a slumber party after the crop, so now the question is, where is everyone going to sleep? IF they sleep, that is.
Now I've got to get busy straightening up the house. Tomorrow is Pey's actual birthday, and we're having the grandparents over for dinner and presents. Friday = crop. Man, I've got a lot to do. Toodles!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
THINGS THAT BUG THE VICHY, PART DEUX OR TROIS OR SO
Things I've noticed in a forum I frequent. I've posted my pet peeves here before, so excuse the duplicated idea.
Things I've noticed in a forum I frequent. I've posted my pet peeves here before, so excuse the duplicated idea.
1) ........................ - Ellipses include three periods and no more. Get your finger off the key already.
2) I had more that I needed. - It's than! It's THAN!
3) waa laa! - [sigh]
4) "dealio" - The word is "deal." Why make it longer?
5) get em' - The correct abbreviation is 'em. I wonder what word is she trying to shorten.
6) !!!!! - Why would someone need that many exclamation points????
7) :) :) :) :) - Overkill. We get that you're happy. Or psychotic.
8) "envie" - It's not cute to shorten envelope. It sounds dumb and I cringe when I read it.
/end rant
Of course, you guys know I'm not talking about you, right? You, my friends, are perfect in every way....................!!!!!
Monday, November 06, 2006
WHAT GOES UP...
...man, I don't want to finish that sentence.
It started off with a wonderful birthday on Friday. In addition to a delicious dinner and two cakes, I was gifted with scrapbook supplies, a Real Simple magazine subscription, and a KitchenAid stand mixer. All good.
On Saturday, hubby took me out shopping and we watched our favorite football team win. We shared two pitchers of beer and a lot of laughs. Even better.
Sunday we were in the stands when the Dynamo took home the Western Conference championship. K even caught a hat thrown into the stands by one of the players. At this point I was on a real high. What a wonderful weekend!
Then last night I was told that my biological father ("B"), whom I cut off all contact with six months ago, had called my in-law's house on my birthday. He left a message on their answering machine. And of course, being the sweetheart my FIL is, he called him back. Damn.
In typical "B" fashion, he obeys the letter of the law, but not the spirit. I can't believe he contacted my in-laws to talk about me. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway.
This may not seem like a big deal to a bystander, but OMG I am so angry right now. I have repeatedly told everyone that I am no longer speaking to B and that I don't want him to know anything - ANYTHING - about our family. I can't even begin to tell you how dead serious I am about this. And this man himself has been told point-blank to stay out of our lives and that we want NOTHING to do with him.
With all my heart and soul, I just wish B would just stay the hell away. I am very concerned because I know how he operates - you give him an inch and he'll take a mile. He will see that returned phone call as an invitation to contact my in-laws anytime. That is not what they want, and it is something I just could not handle.
I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown. I am honestly in physical pain right now. If you've ever felt like your heart was literally going to break, then you know how I'm feeling.
It is taking all the strength I have to not type out every awful detail about my life growing up with B right now. I want everyone to understand where I'm coming from and not think I'm overreacting. Trust me, I am not.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
ORANGE RULES
First of all, I'm sure you all know that the University of Texas football team whupped up on Oklahoma State last night. Hubby and I were out on a hot date, so we parked ourselves at a table at Hooters and stayed for three hours to watch the game on not one but TWO Hooters' tv sets. Two other tables in our section also held UT fans watching the game with us. It was a blast. Hooters has lots of tv sets. (I think I just like saying Hooters. Hooters. Mature.)
In other orange news, tonight is the Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids playoff game at Robertson Stadium. We have five tickets paid for and awaiting us at Will-Call. Naturally, it's about to rain.
We went to Dollar Tree earlier today to purchase some cheap rain ponchos. Frugal tip: Dollar Tree sells them in a pack of two for a dollar (duh). There are only five of us, but we went nuts and bought six anyway. So much for the frugalness.
And one more orange thing: I'm sitting here snacking on leftover birthday cake. I actually got two cakes this year - one white/chocolate checkerboard, and one carrot cake. In order to "keep it orange," guess which one I'm eating?
Go Dynamo!
Edited to add: They did it! Dynamo beat Colorado 3-1 and with that, clinched the Western Division title! What a game!
First of all, I'm sure you all know that the University of Texas football team whupped up on Oklahoma State last night. Hubby and I were out on a hot date, so we parked ourselves at a table at Hooters and stayed for three hours to watch the game on not one but TWO Hooters' tv sets. Two other tables in our section also held UT fans watching the game with us. It was a blast. Hooters has lots of tv sets. (I think I just like saying Hooters. Hooters. Mature.)
In other orange news, tonight is the Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids playoff game at Robertson Stadium. We have five tickets paid for and awaiting us at Will-Call. Naturally, it's about to rain.
We went to Dollar Tree earlier today to purchase some cheap rain ponchos. Frugal tip: Dollar Tree sells them in a pack of two for a dollar (duh). There are only five of us, but we went nuts and bought six anyway. So much for the frugalness.
And one more orange thing: I'm sitting here snacking on leftover birthday cake. I actually got two cakes this year - one white/chocolate checkerboard, and one carrot cake. In order to "keep it orange," guess which one I'm eating?
Go Dynamo!
Edited to add: They did it! Dynamo beat Colorado 3-1 and with that, clinched the Western Division title! What a game!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
NABLOPOMO DAY FOUR
Last night my in-laws hosted a birthday celebration for me. It was family-only, which was nice, although I do sometimes wish I'd had a party with friends sometime over the years. As it stands, I'm not planning to have any more birthdays, so I guess I'll die without knowing how it feels to have friends at your birthday party. Ah well.
I almost forgot to post today - Saturdays always throw me off. But since NaNoWriMo is not going to happen, I figured I could come up with something to write about every day for a month. This is a good month for that, too, as we have two birthdays and Thanksgiving this month. Lots to chat about.
Right now, however, I don't have time for a long chat. Hubby is taking me out tonight on a post-birthday date. We're supposed to go shopping for me, then go to Hooters to watch the UT game. But that game starts in two hours, hubby is not home from dropping the kids off yet, and when he does get here, he still has to shower and change. I don't predict much shopping tonight, but I may be wrong. I'll keep you posted.
Yay, something to blog about tomorrow!
Toodles.
Last night my in-laws hosted a birthday celebration for me. It was family-only, which was nice, although I do sometimes wish I'd had a party with friends sometime over the years. As it stands, I'm not planning to have any more birthdays, so I guess I'll die without knowing how it feels to have friends at your birthday party. Ah well.
I almost forgot to post today - Saturdays always throw me off. But since NaNoWriMo is not going to happen, I figured I could come up with something to write about every day for a month. This is a good month for that, too, as we have two birthdays and Thanksgiving this month. Lots to chat about.
Right now, however, I don't have time for a long chat. Hubby is taking me out tonight on a post-birthday date. We're supposed to go shopping for me, then go to Hooters to watch the UT game. But that game starts in two hours, hubby is not home from dropping the kids off yet, and when he does get here, he still has to shower and change. I don't predict much shopping tonight, but I may be wrong. I'll keep you posted.
Yay, something to blog about tomorrow!
Toodles.
Friday, November 03, 2006
NOBEMBER TURD
That's how my grandpa used to say that I said "November third" when I was a toddler. Eventually that evolved into people calling me a November Turd. I'd be offended, but hey, sometimes it's probably true.
My EMTsis took me out to lunch today at a restaurant called Hasta La Pasta. If you like Italian cuisine, you'll like this place. I had their signature dish, which is basically fettucine alfredo with cilantro cream sauce and grilled chicken. It was delicious, but man am I full. I couldn't even eat the free cheesecake they brought out for me. On the up side: Leftovers!
As we were finishing up our lunch, our waitress dropped a plate from the table next to us. It shattered all over the place, and I am pretty sure that the pain in my forehead is from shrapnel. I'm glad I was wearing jeans, because pieces of that plate hit me and my sister in the legs with enough force to make us wince. Fortunately, my leftovers had already been boxed and bagged, so they were safe from the fallout. The waitress had no idea the broken plate pieces had travelled that far, and in retrospect, we probably should have said something. If we'd still been eating, we definitely would have, as little pieces of white ceramic were all over our table and on our plates. As it was, we were finished and getting ready to leave.
That said, however, if I should start bleeding from the forehead, I'll be making some phone calls. Hasta La Vista, baby.
That's how my grandpa used to say that I said "November third" when I was a toddler. Eventually that evolved into people calling me a November Turd. I'd be offended, but hey, sometimes it's probably true.
My EMTsis took me out to lunch today at a restaurant called Hasta La Pasta. If you like Italian cuisine, you'll like this place. I had their signature dish, which is basically fettucine alfredo with cilantro cream sauce and grilled chicken. It was delicious, but man am I full. I couldn't even eat the free cheesecake they brought out for me. On the up side: Leftovers!
As we were finishing up our lunch, our waitress dropped a plate from the table next to us. It shattered all over the place, and I am pretty sure that the pain in my forehead is from shrapnel. I'm glad I was wearing jeans, because pieces of that plate hit me and my sister in the legs with enough force to make us wince. Fortunately, my leftovers had already been boxed and bagged, so they were safe from the fallout. The waitress had no idea the broken plate pieces had travelled that far, and in retrospect, we probably should have said something. If we'd still been eating, we definitely would have, as little pieces of white ceramic were all over our table and on our plates. As it was, we were finished and getting ready to leave.
That said, however, if I should start bleeding from the forehead, I'll be making some phone calls. Hasta La Vista, baby.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
DANG
I didn't know I had to officially sign up to do NaBloPoMo. I've officially missed the deadline by eight hours and fifty-six minutes. Fifty seven. Oh well, I'm going to give it a go anyway, mostly because I like their graphic:
Today my dad and his gf are taking me out for an early birthday lunch at Chuy's. I love this place for one reason: their jalapeno ranch dip. When I die, I want my casket to be filled with me, a big jar of this dip, and a bag of chips. I'll definitely get into heaven when the angels see me coming with appetizers.
Then again, maybe I've had too much caffeine this morning.
More later!
I didn't know I had to officially sign up to do NaBloPoMo. I've officially missed the deadline by eight hours and fifty-six minutes. Fifty seven. Oh well, I'm going to give it a go anyway, mostly because I like their graphic:
Today my dad and his gf are taking me out for an early birthday lunch at Chuy's. I love this place for one reason: their jalapeno ranch dip. When I die, I want my casket to be filled with me, a big jar of this dip, and a bag of chips. I'll definitely get into heaven when the angels see me coming with appetizers.
Then again, maybe I've had too much caffeine this morning.
More later!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
NOVEMBER 2006 - Post One
So here it is, the first day of November. I'm going to try and accomplish not one but TWO superhuman feats this month: One blog post per day (thanks, Robin), and NaNoWriMo. I'll tell you right now that I'm much more likely to accomplish the former than the latter, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.
Decisions I've made in the past 24 hours, not all of which are earth-shaking:
So here it is, the first day of November. I'm going to try and accomplish not one but TWO superhuman feats this month: One blog post per day (thanks, Robin), and NaNoWriMo. I'll tell you right now that I'm much more likely to accomplish the former than the latter, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.
Decisions I've made in the past 24 hours, not all of which are earth-shaking:
- Okay, this first thought is huge: Normally I hate halloween with a true, unbridled passion. But halloween was actually fun this year.
- I can't believe I admitted that I enjoyed October 31st. That has never happened.
- Houston weather is weird. Today is cool and beautiful, with a high of 67*. Yesterday, not so much - it was hot, humid, and mosquitoey just in time for trick-or-treat.
- Much to my chagrin, doing laundry does not become more enjoyable just because I opened a new bottle of great-smelling fabric softener.
- My dog has a tendency to run by outlets and accidentally unplug stuff. For awhile I thought we had a ghost, but it turns out we have a Scottie.
- I like hubby's new job because he has to wear a suit and tie every day. He is unbelievably hot in a suit and tie. Rowr.
- I can write, truly. I just need to set my mind to typing out about 2,000 words per day. Jiminy Cricket, that's a lot of writing, y'all.
I guess I haven't made as many decisions as I thought. But at least I've got Post Number One under my belt. Just twenty-nine more to go! Now, off to NaNoWriMo...
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
ALL HALLOW'S EVE
Pictures!
Here are the kids all ready to go trick-or-treating. L-R: K is a stick figure (more on that in a moment), Pey is a High School Musical cheerleader, and Ry is Landon Donovan of LA Galaxy fame:
Pictures!
Here are the kids all ready to go trick-or-treating. L-R: K is a stick figure (more on that in a moment), Pey is a High School Musical cheerleader, and Ry is Landon Donovan of LA Galaxy fame:
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Here are a couple of pictures of K when we turned off the lights. His costume was the hit of the night. :)
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Hope you all had a great pumpkin day, too.
Updates
Good
Good
Girl Scout meeting went well. We even completed all the requirements for a patch. Before our next meeting, I need to make sure I purchase those patches so that the girls will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Halloween candy bowls are fully stocked (I bought eleven bags of Snickers, Butterfingers, etc. - no cheap stuff this year; thanks Grocery Game).
Kids' costumes are pretty much ready to go. Pey will be a cheerleader from High School Musical, Ry will be Landon Donovan, and K will be a stick figure. Y'all, if his costume works out, I'll be posting pictures all over the place tomorrow. SO neat.
I made Rachael Ray's Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches last night. Yum-O.
My birthday is this Friday.
Bad
Friday I will be thirty-nine. Next year I shan't have a birthday, I think.
I have to take a CPR class on Friday. For Girl Scouts. It's not a requirement, but a "suggestion." I've noticed GSA has lots of "suggestions."
Speaking of Girl Scouts, Fish's comment on my last GSA post was right on the money when she talked about dealing with parents. I could go on for pages, but I'll just give this little anecdote:
At the parents' meeting, we talked about dues. It was decided that dues would be $2 per child, per meeting. Grand total of $20 for the year. Cheap, right? When it came to payment, I said that whatever the parents decided on how to pay would be fine with me, but that we had to come to a consensus - either everyone pays up front, or everyone sends two dollars with their child on meeting days. Anything else would become a financial headache for the Leaders. With God as my witness, I promise that every parent said they'd prefer to pay for the year in advance.
Jump ahead to the GS meeting on Friday: one parent brought me a check for four dollars for her two daughters, "just in case she decides they aren't going to be in Scouts for the whole year." One parent brought ten dollars in cash. Ten. No one else paid at all.
Well, isn't that special. I just can't wait until February cookie sales come along.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
YO SE LA VOY, LA VOY AL NARANJA!
Houston Dynamo, you rock. Between you guys and the University of Texas Longhorns, my new favorite color is definitely orange.
Doesn't hurt that we're in the finals and DALLAS IS NOT! Woo!
Next weekend will find us in the stands at Robertson Stadium.
Nuff said.
Houston Dynamo, you rock. Between you guys and the University of Texas Longhorns, my new favorite color is definitely orange.
Doesn't hurt that we're in the finals and DALLAS IS NOT! Woo!
Next weekend will find us in the stands at Robertson Stadium.
Nuff said.
Friday, October 27, 2006
IT'S FRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIDAY
A local DJ always says "it's Friday" all spread out as in the title of this post. I wish you could hear it; it always makes hubby and me smile.
This particular Friday is not going to be as relaxing for me as your typical Friday. That's because Pey's Girl Scout troop, of which I am the leader, is meeting here at our house right after school today. We already had the requisite Parent Meeting last Monday, which was only slightly more fun than a root canal.
Actually, no, it wasn't.
Our troop consists of eight girls, at least two of which I'd happily boot out if I were given the opportunity. Am I awful for not loving every child I meet? Seriously, shouldn't Scout leaders be blessed with Jesus-like patience when it comes to dealing with the little lambs? If so, then I need to turn in my Pin.
In all fairness, I cannot completely fault the girls for their behavior at the first meeting. My co-leader, who had agreed to lead the girls in a craft or two while I met with parents and had them fill out paperwork, completely ignored her job. She stayed with the parents and chatted while a bunch of eight- and nine-year-olds ran amok in my dining room. Not only that, but she was completely unprepared for the meeting - I'd given her all of her daughters' paperwork ahead of time (two of her kids are in this troop). Alas, she hadn't filled out a single page.
So at this meeting, I was pretty much on my own - corraling the girls while simultaneously trying to keep them quiet enough that I could hear their parents' questions and answer them. By the time all these people left my house, it was after 8:00 p.m. The kids and hubby were hungry and tired, and I was all that plus aggravated. It turns out that while the girls were coloring printouts of the Girl Scout Law and the Girl Scout Promise, they took advantage of the fact that they were pretty much unsupervised to flip the posters over and draw pictures of people committing suicide. One girl said that when she grew up, she was going to be a "Sui-side-kick."
OMG.
Co-leader hears about this after the meeting, and gets upset because her daughters didn't yet know what suicide was, and she didn't want them to learn about it from other kids.
Um, yeah, ya think? Where were YOU when the girls were doing all that? Not where you were supposed to be, I can tell you that.
Typing this out is making me upset again. I just hope today's meeting goes better than the first one. Lord, give me strength.
A local DJ always says "it's Friday" all spread out as in the title of this post. I wish you could hear it; it always makes hubby and me smile.
This particular Friday is not going to be as relaxing for me as your typical Friday. That's because Pey's Girl Scout troop, of which I am the leader, is meeting here at our house right after school today. We already had the requisite Parent Meeting last Monday, which was only slightly more fun than a root canal.
Actually, no, it wasn't.
Our troop consists of eight girls, at least two of which I'd happily boot out if I were given the opportunity. Am I awful for not loving every child I meet? Seriously, shouldn't Scout leaders be blessed with Jesus-like patience when it comes to dealing with the little lambs? If so, then I need to turn in my Pin.
In all fairness, I cannot completely fault the girls for their behavior at the first meeting. My co-leader, who had agreed to lead the girls in a craft or two while I met with parents and had them fill out paperwork, completely ignored her job. She stayed with the parents and chatted while a bunch of eight- and nine-year-olds ran amok in my dining room. Not only that, but she was completely unprepared for the meeting - I'd given her all of her daughters' paperwork ahead of time (two of her kids are in this troop). Alas, she hadn't filled out a single page.
So at this meeting, I was pretty much on my own - corraling the girls while simultaneously trying to keep them quiet enough that I could hear their parents' questions and answer them. By the time all these people left my house, it was after 8:00 p.m. The kids and hubby were hungry and tired, and I was all that plus aggravated. It turns out that while the girls were coloring printouts of the Girl Scout Law and the Girl Scout Promise, they took advantage of the fact that they were pretty much unsupervised to flip the posters over and draw pictures of people committing suicide. One girl said that when she grew up, she was going to be a "Sui-side-kick."
OMG.
Co-leader hears about this after the meeting, and gets upset because her daughters didn't yet know what suicide was, and she didn't want them to learn about it from other kids.
Um, yeah, ya think? Where were YOU when the girls were doing all that? Not where you were supposed to be, I can tell you that.
Typing this out is making me upset again. I just hope today's meeting goes better than the first one. Lord, give me strength.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Mom
As of today, it's been exactly eight years since you left us. I still remember that last day at the hospital like it was yesterday...when the doctors turned off life support, it felt as if they turned off my own heart.
Every time I see a yellow butterfly, I think of you. In a way, I feel that the yellow butterfly is you, watching over us from time to time. I almost always see a yellow butterfly at the soccer fields, and it warms my heart because I know how much you loved to watch K play.
I hope that you can see how wonderful your grandchildren are turning out. K is a very talented guitar player now, Pey loves Girl Scouts and animals, and Ry is incredibly smart and creative - and he gives his dad and Tree a run when it comes to Star Wars trivia. You wouldn't believe it.
I know we didn't always see eye to eye, but you were my mom and I loved you very much. I still do.
I'm heading to the florist to pick up some of your favorite purple flowers, then I'll take them to the cemetery afterwards. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about with you when I get there.
Rest well, Mom. You are deeply missed.
As of today, it's been exactly eight years since you left us. I still remember that last day at the hospital like it was yesterday...when the doctors turned off life support, it felt as if they turned off my own heart.
Every time I see a yellow butterfly, I think of you. In a way, I feel that the yellow butterfly is you, watching over us from time to time. I almost always see a yellow butterfly at the soccer fields, and it warms my heart because I know how much you loved to watch K play.
I hope that you can see how wonderful your grandchildren are turning out. K is a very talented guitar player now, Pey loves Girl Scouts and animals, and Ry is incredibly smart and creative - and he gives his dad and Tree a run when it comes to Star Wars trivia. You wouldn't believe it.
I know we didn't always see eye to eye, but you were my mom and I loved you very much. I still do.
I'm heading to the florist to pick up some of your favorite purple flowers, then I'll take them to the cemetery afterwards. I'm sure I'll have more to talk about with you when I get there.
Rest well, Mom. You are deeply missed.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
PRODUCT REVIEWS
I was just reading a post on a board that I frequent (rhymes with "Rocery Rame") regarding Tylenol Go Tabs. Reviews are mixed, although the general consensus is "yuck."
So anyway, I started thinking about things I've been using around the house lately. Do I like Glade Air Wisp or not? How's that Oust Air Sanitizer working out? What are my feelings on the Tylenol Go Tabs? What the heck is that on the carpet?
And so it goes.
Tylenol Go Tabs - Convenient; no water required. But not as tasty as Tums (and yes, I know they serve different purposes - I was just making a taste comparison). Jury is still out on how effective they are on headaches.
Glade Air Wisp - Smells a room right good when it's set on high. But it beeps this annoying little high-pitched "where the heck is that beep coming from?!?" beep that irks hubby. Probably not enjoyable for the dog, either.
Glade Plug Ins - Can't tell you how much I lurve these things.
Stayfree Pads - Come on, they're pads. Not bulky, but awfully fold-y. (Women will totally get what I mean by that). Awful necessity. Hate them. Need them.
Vive Pro shampoo/conditioner - I got tons of this stuff for free. To me, the shampoo is just shampoo. If I'd had to pay for the Vive Pro, I'd have saved a couple of bucks and bought Suave. As for the conditioner, I've never met one that beats Pantene for detangling my frizzy mop.
Pantene Ice Shine shampoo/conditioner - Lordy, if this lived up to its promises, I'd buy stock in the company. But the only diff between the Ice Shine and regular Pantene is about two bucks a bottle. Again, if it wasn't free, I'd ... well, I'd still have tried it, as I am an advertising budget's dream, apparently. But I wouldn't buy it twice, so there!
Senseo Coffee Maker - Rocks.My.World. If anyone can tell me where to buy cheap pods, I'd be rather grateful.
Pizza Hut lasagna pizza - Sinfully delicious cholesterol on crust. We ordered it a lot. So why the heck did Pizza Hut stop selling it here? Don't even tell me that PH is concerned about my cholesterol...
Wacky Mac pasta - Turns the water red when you cook the noodles. That might be appealing to children younger than mine. Otherwise, they're just noodles, which basically means that the sauce is all that matters. I paid five cents a bag for this stuff. Worth every penny.
Oust Air Sanitizer - Kills poopy smells in the bathroom air. Can't complain.
Chex Mix chocolate & peanut butter - Oh my gravy, as Rachael Ray would say. Bad bad bad for me. Good good good for my taste buds. It's reminiscent of puppy chow (you know, that stuff you make with Chex and melted chocolate and peanut butter and powdered sugar at Christmastime). I could easily gorge myself on this stuff. And have.
Dyson - There are not enough adjectives in the English language to describe this insane vacuum cleaner. I have had mine for almost exactly a year now, and the honeymoon is still not over.
Carmex - Bliss in a tube. Or stick. Or tub. Carmex is all about choice.
Advil PM - Be sure you're already in bed when you take this stuff, is all I'm saying.
Cottonelle Fresh Wipes - There oughta be a law that every bathroom in the free world has these readily available. Sometimes I even use one to wash my face. A new cloth, of course; don't be gross.
Mary Kay oil-free hydrating cream - Little. Purple. Different. Very good for wearing under Everyday Minerals-type makeup.
Everyday Minerals makeup - Let me put it this way: I'm never going to put cream foundation on my face again. If you try EM, be sure to get Original Glo finishing dust. You won't believe the radiant glow you'll have. M'kay, I'm a freaking commercial. Moving on...
Pledge dusters - If these had existed when my mother was around, her house would have been much cleaner. She hated to clean, but these things almost make dusting fun. I said almost. Let's not get crazy.
Day Runner - Seriously, why so pricey? I've got a terrific At-A-Glance planner that cost six bucks. Day Runners of the same size and capabilities? $40 on clearance. I don't get it. I really don't.
Snapfish.com - Excellent photo developing and uber-cheap prices. They're quick, too. If you want to try them out, your first roll of film developing is free. If you tell them I sent you, I'll get a free 4x6 or somesuch. Drop me a line and I'll give you my email addy. (Shameless plug. Just shameless. Apologies all around.)
That's about it for now. The kidlets are due home from school in a few minutes, and I still have not identified that spot on the carpet.
I was just reading a post on a board that I frequent (rhymes with "Rocery Rame") regarding Tylenol Go Tabs. Reviews are mixed, although the general consensus is "yuck."
So anyway, I started thinking about things I've been using around the house lately. Do I like Glade Air Wisp or not? How's that Oust Air Sanitizer working out? What are my feelings on the Tylenol Go Tabs? What the heck is that on the carpet?
And so it goes.
Tylenol Go Tabs - Convenient; no water required. But not as tasty as Tums (and yes, I know they serve different purposes - I was just making a taste comparison). Jury is still out on how effective they are on headaches.
Glade Air Wisp - Smells a room right good when it's set on high. But it beeps this annoying little high-pitched "where the heck is that beep coming from?!?" beep that irks hubby. Probably not enjoyable for the dog, either.
Glade Plug Ins - Can't tell you how much I lurve these things.
Stayfree Pads - Come on, they're pads. Not bulky, but awfully fold-y. (Women will totally get what I mean by that). Awful necessity. Hate them. Need them.
Vive Pro shampoo/conditioner - I got tons of this stuff for free. To me, the shampoo is just shampoo. If I'd had to pay for the Vive Pro, I'd have saved a couple of bucks and bought Suave. As for the conditioner, I've never met one that beats Pantene for detangling my frizzy mop.
Pantene Ice Shine shampoo/conditioner - Lordy, if this lived up to its promises, I'd buy stock in the company. But the only diff between the Ice Shine and regular Pantene is about two bucks a bottle. Again, if it wasn't free, I'd ... well, I'd still have tried it, as I am an advertising budget's dream, apparently. But I wouldn't buy it twice, so there!
Senseo Coffee Maker - Rocks.My.World. If anyone can tell me where to buy cheap pods, I'd be rather grateful.
Pizza Hut lasagna pizza - Sinfully delicious cholesterol on crust. We ordered it a lot. So why the heck did Pizza Hut stop selling it here? Don't even tell me that PH is concerned about my cholesterol...
Wacky Mac pasta - Turns the water red when you cook the noodles. That might be appealing to children younger than mine. Otherwise, they're just noodles, which basically means that the sauce is all that matters. I paid five cents a bag for this stuff. Worth every penny.
Oust Air Sanitizer - Kills poopy smells in the bathroom air. Can't complain.
Chex Mix chocolate & peanut butter - Oh my gravy, as Rachael Ray would say. Bad bad bad for me. Good good good for my taste buds. It's reminiscent of puppy chow (you know, that stuff you make with Chex and melted chocolate and peanut butter and powdered sugar at Christmastime). I could easily gorge myself on this stuff. And have.
Dyson - There are not enough adjectives in the English language to describe this insane vacuum cleaner. I have had mine for almost exactly a year now, and the honeymoon is still not over.
Carmex - Bliss in a tube. Or stick. Or tub. Carmex is all about choice.
Advil PM - Be sure you're already in bed when you take this stuff, is all I'm saying.
Cottonelle Fresh Wipes - There oughta be a law that every bathroom in the free world has these readily available. Sometimes I even use one to wash my face. A new cloth, of course; don't be gross.
Mary Kay oil-free hydrating cream - Little. Purple. Different. Very good for wearing under Everyday Minerals-type makeup.
Everyday Minerals makeup - Let me put it this way: I'm never going to put cream foundation on my face again. If you try EM, be sure to get Original Glo finishing dust. You won't believe the radiant glow you'll have. M'kay, I'm a freaking commercial. Moving on...
Pledge dusters - If these had existed when my mother was around, her house would have been much cleaner. She hated to clean, but these things almost make dusting fun. I said almost. Let's not get crazy.
Day Runner - Seriously, why so pricey? I've got a terrific At-A-Glance planner that cost six bucks. Day Runners of the same size and capabilities? $40 on clearance. I don't get it. I really don't.
Snapfish.com - Excellent photo developing and uber-cheap prices. They're quick, too. If you want to try them out, your first roll of film developing is free. If you tell them I sent you, I'll get a free 4x6 or somesuch. Drop me a line and I'll give you my email addy. (Shameless plug. Just shameless. Apologies all around.)
That's about it for now. The kidlets are due home from school in a few minutes, and I still have not identified that spot on the carpet.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
In Memoriam
Hubby's grandmother, Arthelia, who would have turned 96 years old this coming Sunday, passed away last Saturday morning. She was a remarkable woman who traveled the world, gave birth to five children, and supported her family while her husband fought in WWII. She was a schoolteacher for many years, and in general just a smart cookie!
As she aged and her body slowed down, she still kept going. Art never let her physical limitations keep her from experiencing life. We'd sometimes offer to take her out to lunch, or to the park, or to a movie, knowing that despite her creaky knees, she'd always grab her walker and say, "Well, that'd be nice."
To the very end, her mind was as sharp as a tack. The ever-present crossword puzzle books she carried around helped with her memory retention capabilities, she said. I constantly marveled at the way she was able to keep up with hubby's sharp wit. Not many people were as quick as she.
Saturday afternoon, we sat the kids around the kitchen table and told them that GG had gone to heaven. They were devastated. The last close relative to die was my mother in 1998, and the kids were too young to remember much about her. But they have many more memories of GG, which made it that much harder to let her go.
We are all comforted by the fact that at least she is no longer in pain. And that she is finally reunited with her beloved little sister, Bliss, who died in 1918 when she was five years old. GG is also being greeted by her husband of fifty-plus years, who predeceased her in 1991. I can hear him now - "Art, what took you so long?"
In addition to dozens of other long-lost relatives that she is now reconciled with, she is probably most thrilled to see her firstborn child, who died the day he was born. At the time of his birth, I'm not sure the nurses even let her see the baby, so being able to at long last will be especially wonderful.
For those of us left behind, we say Godspeed to you, Art. We will miss you very much, and will try to live our lives the way you lived yours - with passion, adventure, and love.
Hubby's grandmother, Arthelia, who would have turned 96 years old this coming Sunday, passed away last Saturday morning. She was a remarkable woman who traveled the world, gave birth to five children, and supported her family while her husband fought in WWII. She was a schoolteacher for many years, and in general just a smart cookie!
As she aged and her body slowed down, she still kept going. Art never let her physical limitations keep her from experiencing life. We'd sometimes offer to take her out to lunch, or to the park, or to a movie, knowing that despite her creaky knees, she'd always grab her walker and say, "Well, that'd be nice."
To the very end, her mind was as sharp as a tack. The ever-present crossword puzzle books she carried around helped with her memory retention capabilities, she said. I constantly marveled at the way she was able to keep up with hubby's sharp wit. Not many people were as quick as she.
Saturday afternoon, we sat the kids around the kitchen table and told them that GG had gone to heaven. They were devastated. The last close relative to die was my mother in 1998, and the kids were too young to remember much about her. But they have many more memories of GG, which made it that much harder to let her go.
We are all comforted by the fact that at least she is no longer in pain. And that she is finally reunited with her beloved little sister, Bliss, who died in 1918 when she was five years old. GG is also being greeted by her husband of fifty-plus years, who predeceased her in 1991. I can hear him now - "Art, what took you so long?"
In addition to dozens of other long-lost relatives that she is now reconciled with, she is probably most thrilled to see her firstborn child, who died the day he was born. At the time of his birth, I'm not sure the nurses even let her see the baby, so being able to at long last will be especially wonderful.
For those of us left behind, we say Godspeed to you, Art. We will miss you very much, and will try to live our lives the way you lived yours - with passion, adventure, and love.
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