Bobby Flay Throwsdown with PW....Ha! Watch out cityboy!

OMG...Bobby Flay is going to have a Throwdown with Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman!! It will be televised at Wednesday night at 8pm Central on Food TV. I can't wait.

I've been reading her blog for a long time, gave her cookbook to all my girls for Christmas last year. I've laughed at her kids, her dogs, their cats, and their ranch hands, and her very handsome husband and his cute rear end. They have kids with clear eyes, happy faces, know how to work a ranch, the older daughter has learned to drive the pickup to help her dad. They have doughnuts for breakfast and home schooling and have cousins and friends over for fun. Her love of her younger brother who hangs out at the fire station and a sister who moved to Austin has been inspirational.

They get up at 4:00 AM to work the cattle. They are a strong and wonderful family and Bobby Flay should watch out. However, I did see a sliced tomato in a picture of a burrito she posted. Lord, girl! I guess that is the difference between Oklahoma and Texas. We know tomatoes in burritos are chopped.

Joy and Pain

Once again death has come visiting among my friends. A woman I worked with passed away last Sunday from lung cancer. She was bright, witty, and full of life. She had 4 children and about a jillion grandchildren, and great grandchildren who loved her immensley. Her husband is inconsolable right now and we miss her very much already. The funeral is Thursday. She was two years younger than I.

Our kids are coming into town Thursday for their dad's birthday this weekend. It will be a mixed emotion day for sure. I've made arrangements to make up my physical therapy day next week. The youngest bought tickets to the TCU game, ranked #3 now, and so we will tailgate and enjoy the day with them and friends. I will make sure to be gentle and kind to them for their love of their dad. The oldest daughter's cat ran into the street and was hit by a car. He lost his hind leg, but so far has made it. He was climbing on the screens the other day. He will take the antibiotics, but not the pain meds the vet gave her. I guess little Chili is as hard headed as my daughter, who is a Chilihead herself. I'm a sucker for auburn hair.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Do shoes mate in the off season or what?

Good morning blog land...or at least the wonderful few who pass this way. Life is starting to return to its usual weirdness. Last night was knitting group and even though it had caused some ungodly minimal pain when I gathered my courage to work on my little pot holder/dishcloth I struggled through it and talked nearly non-stop...a habit picked up while taking pain pills for the broken arm and not having many people to talk with. I'd had nothing like that in a few days, so I dunno. Maybe I was just so glad to spend time with my fellow knitters w/o hubby. He is such a good man, but dang he has had to drive me to all meetings and he actually enjoys the knitting group as well as most of the activities I'm involved with. The
knitters are a hoot and a half for sure, and I can't imagine anyone not loving them. I offered to loan him a pair of knitting needles and teach him how to knit; however,he declined. He could pick it up pretty easily, but he felt it wasn't manly enough even though I told him it was men who figured it out in the first place ...nets and warm sweaters, etc. So, he was left at home to watch the Cowboys go down in flames. He really should have gone with me as I was from time to time not driving well. At least there were no wrecks or tickets involved last night, but I've just got to start driving more. I've gotten used to looking at the scenery while in the car and not having to pay too much attention. Those days are over. I've not driven the new car at all since he picked it up. That might be one of the better decisions we've made lately. It is Driving Miss Daisy sort of set up these days.

It is still very hot here in Texas. Yesterday it was 89F when I left to go to Panera's for our meeting and was 81F when I came out at 9pm. On the morning weather the guy said it would be 86F on Halloween. Now Texas weather is as strange as can be, and I remember wearing shorts on Christmas Eve once it was so warm. I'm ready for some much cooler weather. I've started changing shoes from one closet to the other and found shoes I'd forgotten I had....especially my Robin Hood shoes. They are Hunter Green with a little leather flower on them. I'm sure Robin would take the flower off. We rented that movie the other night and they need a few sequels to cover all they didn't cover in this one. It was a strange movie to go on with the strange year.

Since I've been taking so much prednisone I've gained a lot of weight...it is the prednisone I swear I couldn't have been the box of cookies or candy corn. So, to counteract this latest horror we went to the mall to walk. For me it is much better to be inside (allergies and flat walking surface) and it is cooler to boot. However, not being a typical mall walker I want to walk in the stores, because I find Dillard's and Macy's much more interesting than the long halls. Actually I walk much farther when I wander in the stores and I can't stress enough how BIG Costco or Sam's really are. My doc is ok with my walking choices, mainly because it is out of the elements and there are people around to call 911 if something happens. He told me to just make sure I didn't take a credit card with me. What was he thinking! I found one of those purse holder things you put on the table and hang your hand bag on so it doesn't get dirty or off with some crook. I thought it money well spent. All of this has been prelude to getting my winter clothes out, especially the shoes. My shoes have been up to no good in the winter closet. There are lots more of them than I remembered, although I do recall wearing them last year. So, all thoughts of buying any cute little shoes to go with a special outfit is pretty much out of the picture...except the purple Sketchers I bought to wear to the TCU game, my hubby's alma mater. Now I need a purple T shirt. I guess that means instead of looking for new shoes for my ensemble it is the ensemble I'm looking for. The kids are coming up to celebrate Hub's b'day that weekend, so those horned frogs better win! The tennis shoes, or running shoes came with a pair of purple shoe laces, too. Running shoes...ha! I couldn't run from here to there. Knees are shot and I'm not looking to replace them anytime soon.

Time for me to go do my stretching exercises before I go to rehab this afternoon. I didn't have time to do the sets yesterday....supposed to do them twice a day, but I was tired as a dog when I got home last night. Sleep was welcome.

A Beautiful Day

Oooo my gosh! I just was reading email and Jan Karon is releasing another Father Tim book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670022330/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I'm out of my mind with joy. I'm not as religious as some of my friends, but these books are superb. I am a better person after I read one of them. I even read the cookbook. I'm gonna make that cake one of these days. I'll have all sorts of test strips and insulin around and my husband to watch me to make sure, but it sounds so good.

My arm is getting better and the orthopedist has released me to work out at the hospital rehab place. I'll miss having my personal trainer at home so nobody could see me flub up and get so frustrated. He was the first real live person from Ethiopia I've ever met. He's been here for 20 years and we swapped stories to keep our minds off the exercises.

We went down to Hico today to see how they are bringing the town back to life. It was a fun trip and we only nearly strangled each other a few times. The town is coming back to life and that is a good thing to see. There are a lot of classy goods in some of the stores....there are some iron gates from New York that are fabulous! There will be an entire shop of antique architectural items out in a courtyard to look at, but it was too hot today for that kind of foolishness. Inside there were many goodies from church lanterns to very upscale bedding. The building reminded me of the church where we met Bossy, but this building was an old granary. At least the chute where the grain came down from the floor above looked like that.

hurricanes and tornadoes

oh mercy what a couple of days. Yesterday and last night we had a hurricane and this eve Dallas had massive tornadoes.

Chicken and Egg

I guess we'll find out now about whole that chicken and egg thing, since. the tainted egg mess. Our kids are here for the weekend. They are such good kids!

When my arm heals from the break, I'll be back. It is too painful to try to type now.

Birthday Bonanzas and 500 posts!!

About the onslought of birthdays my family seems to have a bunch of them in the summer. My grandson kicks off the summer extravaganza on August 12th, mine is August 24th, mil's is August 28th, Pyewacket Cat's is 8/29, my son's is 9/6, my grandmother's was Oct. 11, my husband's is 11/13....and I'm sure there are many more that need to be listed, but aren't.

I've noticed that families seem to be on one side or the other of the year having babies. My bunch seems to like the days around Thanksgiving and the last days of the year. Trust me on that...

This is my 500th post! My how the days have flown. Glad to have gotten to know some over the net and have met some of you irl. That was cool.

The Birthday Onslaught Begins Soon....

Our grandson's birthday is coming up soon and I talked with his mom this morning to find out was he REALLY wants. He wants a Ripstik....I've seen one before and now we have one for the gift. He won't read this or look at the YouTube about how to and all. He has friends who will show him....who have already shown him without doubt. We had a pretty good time this afternoon watching the YouTubes about how to. *L* I want to put all sorts of gear on him from helmets to pads, but apparently that is just not cool. When they go skiing he will know how to snowboard and be ready for it. Heck, he is ready for it now.

This is what he wants:





I couldn't understand why he didn't want a skateboard. Here is a picture of a really cool one. It is the largest one in the world.

The Big Giant Worms

Found a picture of "The Big Green Worm"....well, it isn't a picture of the one I found, but his cousin for sure. They really camouflage well, too. It was very difficult to spot on the leaves. I guess it doesn't hurt that "Tremors" is one of my favorite silly movies, either. Biology was my most favorite subject and still is. My kids can tell you about the Thanksgiving I dissected the turkey for them with the bonus of dissecting the heart and all the chambers...just so they would know. My kids are cool that way. Their mother is gross this way, but the lab guys get a kick out of letting me see the echo cardiogram of my heart and are impressed when I know the name of the valve and I am intrigued to see it work so efficiently. It is really cool and if you are brave and get a chance it is worth the look. Also, I've seen the inside of my eye....the opthalmologist I used to see would put the picture up on the screen and it was so beautiful. The color is a clear orange with no inclusions and perfect as can be. That was way cool.

While looking for a picture I found this poem...and I'll betcha we all learned some version of it when we were little. That reminds me to check on my grandson's learning about this subject. I'm sure I was 9 or so when I learned it.


The Worms Crawl In The Worms Crawl Out

Don't ever laugh as the hearse goes by
For you may be the next to die.
They put you in a big black box
then cover you up with dirt and rocks.

All goes well for about a week
and then your coffin begins to leak.
The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out
The worms play Pinochle on your snout.

They eat your eyes, they eat your nose
They eat the jelly between your toes.
A big green worm with rolling eyes
crawls in your stomache and out your eyes.

Your stomach turns a slimy green
and puss pours out like whipping creme.
Spread it on a slice of bread,
that's what you eat when you are dead.

Source: Cemetery Culture


It has been a very pleasant evening even with the after dinner poetry. Since walking is not in the agenda these days....swollen painful foot, I decided to catch up on some stuff. Like listen to some cds I'd ordered and not had time to get into. They are really good, but I've heard the best songs so many times...oh well. Then I started working on a knitting project I really needed to finish, because my dil had brought the throw I'd given her last Christmas to be repaired. It had come loose in some spots, a sure sign of it having been used a lot. There was chocolate gook on it, too. I told her I wasn't a very good knitter and we laughed when she said she wasn't a knitter at all, but she loved the throw. Good way to get points, girls. So, hubby opened cds and I got most of my washcloth project done. There is a little soap bag that goes with it and I thought it would be cute for a small gift and also, on the plus side it is a way for me to learn new stitches without committing to a large project. I've already put in a frantic email request for help to my mentor.

If you knit or crochet here is a link to the Lion Brand patterns. I only knit, but have plans to learn crochet. I know how to embroider...if I remember it.

Freedom

As we look forward to a long holiday here in the United States I know almost everyone who works will be delighted to have a few extra days off. I know I was when I worked. A few extra days of freedom were much appreciated.


It is going to be a quiet weekend here in North Central Texas. Alex has moved on and didn't cause us too much grief; however, it was a close call for my youngest daughter. She had to work in Houston the day Alex came in. It was pouring rain down there. As she was starting home to Austin on highway 290 her car started skidding and ran over the median. She had one side in her lane and one going into the opposite traffic. A policeman stopped and helped her out of the car. She had no injuries, Thank you Lord! and the officer told her lots of people have been killed at that place. There is a section of road by my house that everytime it drizzles someone runs up in the yard and into a tree or something. My daughter was blessed and watched over that day. She didn't tell me until last night...little goofball. Her neck is a little stiff, but otherwise she is in good health. I gotta tell ya...she was totally freaked out and she never gets scared. Thank goodness for huge company cars, a Crown Vic. The car was totaled and the undercarriage was torn all to heck, but the top didn't have a scratch on it. It will be months before she gets another company car, but that is ok with me. It wasn't her fault and nobody was injured. I haven't talked with her today, though. Correction....I did talk to her this evening and she feels fine. She is ironing and cleaning house getting ready for the long weekend.


I'm looking forward to a day of not having to do anything. Since I've been feeling better they are getting farther and farther apart. It looks like I'm going to have to start hawking my little garden for worms too. I went out to check the little vegetable garden this morning and there was a gigantic worm that had eaten all the leaves off one of my okra plants and had done a number on one of the eggplant leaves. The worm is now residing in a bag of yard clippings. It actually was a beautiful light green worm. It wasn't a tomato horn worm, but it was/is a work of art. It has "scales" that cover and protect it. Worst that happened to it here was it got dumped into a bag of yard waste. It is probably chomping away in there.


The days have been much cooler and we finally got rain from Alex. It is too bad we can't share it around so nobody gets too much or too little but we are grateful for it. We had been entering a drought before the storm. It is very unusual for it to be coolish in July in Texas! The week before the temps had been 100F.

4th of July plans are being made and they are super simple. My cousin is coming to visit and is bringing desert....after a flashing round of emails we both decided brownies would be the very best thing in the world for dessert. I have some frosting and she has something equally evil, but legal, for them. I'm going to cook a brisket and some pecan smoked sausage, sliced red tomatoes, some squash from our little garden, and some peppers from our little grocery store, and maybe some macaroni salad for them. Trust me I'll be not having carbs for a good long time after Independence Day! Also, I am going to splurge on a new Scrabble game for us. I love playing and my cousin and I used to have several games going online at Scrabulous, but they have gone by the wayside now. She plays some game that is very similar, but I haven't gotten into it yet. It is fun to play with her, her daughter who lives in Seattle and my sister.....who we think cheats with Scrabble aids. We consider that to be not as pure as going it straight, but we cut her a lot of slack.

Last night was an experience with the C Pap machine. Yikes! At first it was the devil to get set up and started and then it wouldn't work properly. I finally got to sleep with it blowing my face off, but it was sleep. Then about 4am I awoke with a start and said "What the HECK! There isn't any air!" It had just quit working and I had to take the thing off to breathe. "Saint Hubby" worked on it and got it going somehow or other. The rest of the night was uneventful and this morning we started trying to figure out what was going on with it. We finally just called them and they are bringing a new one out next week. She asked if I could manage on my own and I told her I'd managed for 65 years and I figured a few more days would be doable. I'm fixin' to give it another run and see what happens. If you don't hear from me again, it will be the C Pap turned on me and smothered me.

I ordered "Mrs. Miniver" the other day from Amazon and am anxiously awaiting the movie. I'm wanting it right now, but the postage to get it in 2 days was astronomical. So, I'll wait. They might have it at Blockbuster, though. I thought that was such a good movie.

After 9/11 I wondered if I would or could be as strong a woman as Mrs. Miniver. Maureen Dowd wrote a column about that subject after 9/11 and it got me thinking, and I still wonder from time to time. I love to read her columns, but have fallen off the wagon lately in keeping up with her strong wit. I miss Molly Ivins and Ann Richards, too. Makes me wonder where have all the strong Democratic women gone. I'm grateful to have lived while they were alive and so vibrant.

Sleep well. I'm going to go throw myself in the bed now. Night Night

Happy Father's Day to All The Dads Out There

What Father's Day is all about...really

Hungry Owl Project

My cousin sent this link to me last night and I think it is very worthwhile.

The main page is located here http://www.hungryowl.org/. This is the hungry owl project main page, and here is the webcam to watch the little owls grow.
http://ustweet.net/channel/nicasio-owl

The idea is to get land owners and farmers and vinyard owners to not use pesticides on crops incects eat and then the owl eats and then feeds to her owlets. You can get HOP boxes from them for your mama owls. But be sure to check out the webcam.

More of the story of Sick Ole Amber and Her Daughter's Encounter

Oh Lord...I don't even know where to start. It has been so long since I've posted my blog has spider webs. The past week has been full of appointments with various doctors and labs....and sleep studies. And to top it all off with a bright red cherry....I have a bright red rash that my new primary doesn't know what the hell it is. He did get me an appointment with a dermatologist for next Tuesday, but that is a long time when your body from your knees to the top of your head itch like MAD. He told me to take Zyrtec and Claritin....I thought to myself...yeah right. So I took that junk and then some benadryl and then some aloe with lidocaine in it and rubbed all over lightly and some spray Rhulihist and spray Benedryl with more of it and then a pain pill and a trank, courtesy of Dr. Elderly. I'm sure I took some other stuff. If I die it will be nobody's fault except mine. And I didn't, so, basically I'm still hanging in, but my attitude has become sort of rank lately. I was just getting ready to post about my daughter's encounter with the flash flood in Texas when I saw an email from one of my "friends". Man....my email has dropped off significantly. Just goes to show ya how much those "Love You" emails are worth. HA! I've told you I'd been back to the hospital for another round of pneumonia which my new primary described as "there was only a small amount of fluid in your lungs, so it was barely pneumonia." What a Dick. I get pretty upset about ANY fluid in my lungs. The night I went to the hospital the first time I think I cracked a tooth, if not there is something very serious going on in that area, too. Well, being unable to make an appt with my dentist I waited until the first of this week to make an appointment. I had thought it was a safe time for that...but the rash came and I will have to cancel in the morning, since we don't know if it is an allergy rash or some foreign country rash...like Ebola. I'm sure Dr. Dentist would happily see me when I'm not all spotty. Hopefully I'll be able to get it fixed another time. Upside of this is that I use the water pick and floss after every meal. Diligently!

Oh yeah...Dr. Primary told me I no longer have diabetes after talking to me for three minutes. I just looked at him and asked how did he know that. He started off on some bs rabbit trail so I told him I still use the Lantus and humalog. Those are the injectable meds. Oh, he said. In that case just use the Lantus at night. I just left the old guy doc, because he just wanted to give me pain pills and tranks everytime I came in. I guess, so I'd go away and leave him alone, and I actually wanted to feel well. I'd stayed with him for 37 years and it wasn't for the drugs, either. He really was a great diagnostician....he's so old he'd seen everything in the medical world. Now this one wants to go one on one with me instead of treating me with tlc. He just doesn't know. God forgive me but the first night I was in the ER back in April when they gave me the evil Morphine, I think I cursed out a church pastor. He was asking me to pray with him and I figured I had enough to pray about for myself and he could just pray for himself and I told him so and to "Get Thee hence and the hell out of my room!" At some point he broke into tears. I was stunned by that from someone like him. I couldn't help myself much less him! I haven't seen him since which is unusual because all the new doctors have offices at that hospital. I've run into a lot of people there when going to appointments...even a lady in my knitting group. My husband said it was the ER...I can't figure why my husband allowed him to badger me that night or allow him in my room. He said he thought he was another doctor. I wonder how long it would have taken him to figure out he was a psycho? I may just post this...except I was going another way with my life story. Changed my mind.


ps-I have sleep apnea, too and they put aside a darlin' little blue mask for me. It is to die for. Hell, won't I be a beauty? The first night of the testing I certainly was. I scared myself when I had to get unhitched to go to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My hair was standing up all over my head from the gunk they use to hold the leads to you. The guy had warned me about how hard it is to get the mess off and to get some Goo Gone to get it out of my hair. Hubby went to get some and after reading the WARNINGS it didn't seem like a good choice at all. I found some stuff they had given me at the hospital for a "dry" bath. I figured what the heck...and gave it a whirl. It all came out with no hassle. I can hardly wait to see the pulmonologist on the 21st to get my lovely mask, at least I hope he is the one who has it. After the second night in the sleep lab I was ready to cut and run and did as soon as I could get out of there.

Now to the post I'd meant to write this morning about my oldest daughter. Her fiancee decided going to the wilderness to camp would be about the funnest thing he could think of to spend time with my Her, aka The Princess. She has been a great sport about camping in the past even though she loathes it, but figured if there was a/c in the RV it was sort of ok and there was usually a river close by to swim in. So, reluctantly she agreed to go with him and a bunch of people they know to camp on the Guadalupe River, near Greune, Tx. (prounounced-Green). Very early in the morning Rman woke The Princess and said " tiWe gotta go!!" He is sort of like Tommy Lee Jones or Viggo Mortenson when it comes to man talk. He was serious and she knew it. She didn't think she had shoes with her and only flip flops. He had cut the barb wire between them and a hill with some bolt cutters he had with him. He must have been a boy scout before he was a Marine. Who else would take bolt cutters with them on a camping trip. He told her to hang on tight when they got out and she did. She told me the current was unbelievable, and trying to keep on those flip flops was a real challenge. She had charge of some children of some of their friends and was keeping them rounded up. She said it was surreal walking through a river with Lord knows what in it, climbing the hill in flip flops with kids all around her, lightning crashing on all sides and rain like crazy. Rman had gone back to help others get out safely. There were some people in a tree, but they opted to stay where they were. Wise decision. He did get some others out and one couple were staying on the river pre wedding day. She had her wedding dress, rings, and passport with her in anticipation of a wonderful wedding to remember. It will be remembered alright. All of the wedding stuff was lost. However, the next day a box was found in an upside down trailer and her wedding dress was in the box. Princess told me the box was muddy as all get out, but the dress was spotless white. The rings and passport haven't been recovered that I am aware of. She was very sensitive on the ring issue, because a couple of weeks ago hers went missing while she was cooking. She had put them on the windowsill and then they were gone. Rman only said one word and then he was ok. I told her to get a chain and wear it around her neck like Frodo. A few weeks later TP was hunting sea glass with her maid's daughter when Marti came out with TP's cell. She told her someone was ringing her....the ring was on top of the phone. There was great joy and happiness in that household that night! They have too much time on their hands for sure.

Back to the flood. Rman and TP's RV and truck were the last ones to not get damage. All the ones parked behind them were flooded and they will have to pay for the rented rvs. Worst news ever, except for the family of the gentleman who drowned. I suggested possibly their homeowners or car insurance might pay. We will see.

TP was so upset when I talked to her the next day I could hardly understand her. Actually she was still incoherent from fear and shock I thought she had a bottle of booze and laying in the back seat holding it like a baby. I'm surprised she could speak at all. They were staying with one of Rman's cousins until they could help the other friends get their stuff sorted out. Earlier that day I'd seen the awful pictures of the flood on the news and said..."My daughter was down there camping this past weekend!" I'd forgotten they had planned to stay until Wednesday or Thursday. I just figured out a way for us to save about $50,000. We aren't going to buy an RV for sure. That is also a way to know you are a native Texan, when you have a cousin to who will shelter you at anytime and anywhere. Cousins are very good things to have. God saving your loved ones is even better.

Memorial Day 2010

Today is Memorial Day and there will be flags flying, hot dogs grilling and chicken frying, parades and brass bands. Formerly this day was known as Decoration Day and relatives and friends of those who died in the Civil War to World War I would gather at cemeteries to honor those who had given their lives in the service of their country. In November we honor those who served their country with military service. On the last Monday in May we honor those who gave their lives in service to their country. Don't overlook the women who served their country from the Civil War to the present. They served and died in service to their country. She Served Too. There were civilian volunteers in Vietnam and one was a woman I tried to get information about, but nothing yet, is Eleanor Ardel Vietti. She was taken prisoner on May 30, 1962 while at a leprosarium near the South Vietnamese mountain town of Banmethuot where she was a physician.

A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries.

The rules for flying the flag of the United States of America are listed on this website:Flag Code. If you don't know or aren't sure please check the Betsy Ross website. The code and rules for flying our flag and every contingency that might ever arise is covered there. After September 11, 2001 we put up our flag...and it just didn't look quite right. That is when I found the Betsy Ross website. It is a mission of mine to help others not make mistakes with the symbol of our country.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars take donations for poppies in the days leading up to Memorial Day; the poppy's significance to Memorial Day is the result of the John McCrae poem "In Flanders Fields." gatherings, and sporting events.
Source-Wikipedia

The poem In Flanders Field was written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, soldier and poet.

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~John McCrae, 1915

During World War I, John McCrae was tending the wounded and dying in the trenches at the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders area of Belgium as the Canadians held their ground against chlorine gas attacks. When a close friend was killed and buried in a quick grave marked with a plain wooden cross, John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields.

Source:Canadaonline

God Bless Our Soldiers in harm's way today and forever.

Late Mom's Day Thoughts

During the Mother's Day festivities I wasn't feeling very well, but I just opened this in an email and it cracked me up. I'm sure small children didn't answer these questions, but they might have. There are some really smart little guys out there. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2.. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.


How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.


What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.


Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.


What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.


What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?


Why did your mom marry your dad?

1.. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.


Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.


What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them..

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.


4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.


What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic sur gery .

2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.


If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter.. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

WHEN YOU STOP LAUGHING -- SEND IT ON TO OTHER MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS, AND AUNTS.....and anyone else who has anything to do with kids or just needs a good laugh!!!

Counting Carbs in Texas...or something sorta like that

The days are going by and each day I feel a little better mostly. My husband and I are going to get signed up for diabetes classes so I can figure this mess out and my husband can know what the heck is going on with me if I do something wrong medicinewise.

We have been getting plants tidied up in their pots from the overwintering time in the greenhouse. I hadn't been able to fuss with anything in a while and didn't know why I felt so weak.

Hubby has been so good in caring for me. We are both learning the carb count on most all of our food, but it is limited. One of the finest things I'd forgotten about is Cream of Wheat and adding some frozen fruit in it, and they have made oatmeal so good I can't believe it! I made some pecan encrusted "fried chicken" the other day for dinner and enough for lunches and snacks for me. Sugar is way over rated anyway. The substitutes are tasty and fill the void when it comes to needing sweet stuff. I love the sugar free stuff you put in a bottle of cold water for a change.

There is a lot of learning going on around here regarding the steroid induced diabetes that I'm living with right now. When they are able to reduce the steroids the diabetes will, hopefully, go away. So far it hasn't been too bad, but it is getting more complicated.

Take care all you kind friends who have dropped by and left messages on my blog or emailed me. It really means a lot to me to hear from you and what is going on in your part of the world.

It is supposed to start raining here and hopefully it won't be as dreadful as it has been in Oklahoma for them, but there will be a LOT of rain in store. Our daughter is coming up to Ft. Worth this weekend to attend an annual party. This year will be particularly difficult since we have lost two others from our "gang". Life goes on, thank Goodness. I found while I was so sick that I really did not like the idea of dying at all. There is way too much to see, read, learn, and experience. However, right now it is sort of scary to think of going very far from home. That will get better as my body heals....I hope!

Back In The Saddle....well, not so much

I got home from the hospital today after a week of so much not fun. I've been trying to catch up on a few things and hope this blog now will let you post to my blog again. I've got to get in the bed now. Will try to catch up soon.

More About the Visit With Bossy

Finally I'm back without a million things to do. It has been a busy week here on our Lane. (If you listen to Garrison Keillor you will get the outright plagiarism going on). My cousin and I went to Dallas to meet up with Bossy and her friends. You were promised something...oh yes....pictures of the stained glass windows. They were truly a sight to behold!




Well, clearly this isn't what I was looking for....this is a picture of our back flowerbed.






This is one of the many stained glass windows. Our hostess has in the past made and taught stained glass making, so she knows without a doubt, a great deal on the subject. Their home is beautiful. When we first got there everyone was speaking in a very low voice...like your church voice...not you, Melli. *grin* I know you are praising the Lord to high heaven!


And another




In fact this may be different shots of the same window. I just don't remember. It was all so beautiful. On one side there was a small round table and on the other a very long table with many chairs, but the windows were the same.





I hadn't realized how old I'm getting, until I sat for this picture of Bossy and me. ps...she really isn't Bossy at all, you know. She has a very sweet temperament and is patient to a fault. We, my cousin and I, got there early...*gasp*...you can only imagine how we felt, but we were put at ease by Bossy, who had arrived just before we did, and our hostess and her helpers. Oh yes, they didn't get my badge correctly spelled. They just stopped at Amber, guessing I either didn't want my last name known to anyone or that it just didn't matter. I borrowed a pen and put an * after my Amber to make Amber*. Dangit...is my name! I have to concede that in a certain phase of the negotiations early on I did say that my cousin and I might not be ready to disclose everything with everyone, but dang it is a psyeudonym anyway!

This used to be the choir loft, but it is something else now. I didn't go up to check it out, however; I did comment that the reason people quit attending church possibly was related to stairs, aching feet/knees, and something else probably involving broken hips and such. And I didn't have one thing alcoholic to drink. Oh, speaking of that, when the margaritas started flowing so did the conversation. It was nice to have twenty or more women at the table yakking their heads off about blogging and people asking "Oh, 'You are Peel Me A Grape'!" "Love your blog, girl!".

The young woman across the table from me didn't understand it at all. I didn't understand how she had missed it, but told her what I knew, which my blogging is not a novel or a treatise on any subject. It is a journal of how I feel about a certain subject today. She seemed to understand "Stream Of Consciousness", so that was good. Sort of got me wondering if she is a journalist trying to figure out the world of blogging. There are pictures if you don't speak my language...mostly Texan. Sometimes it is from the bad place when I get mad and sometimes can be understood by everyone by my body language, but then you can't see that over the monitor, thank goodness. This blog is never going to win a Pulitzer prize or anything for that matter. It is just fun to me...except when the computer gets hosed up and I'm ready to take an axe to it. *giving it a knowing look* It has already started with me today, and she knows it! She is pointing in the direction of the den where the laptop is residing today. Yeah right!

On the opposite side of the sanctuary/family room there was a wonderfully well equipped kitchen where the altar used to be. Going up the matching stairs a la the choir loft on the other side, I came to two conclusions, one is that stairs are not good for my knees and, 2. she had some lovely jewelry making class stuff up there.

As I said before the week from the bad place came, they got take out fajitas and they were good. Added plus was there were very few dishes to be washed. Actually none for me, because I sort of disappeared about that time.

I do want you to see this picture before you leave.

The walls were painted a very soft gold. The sun shining through the windows on the wall changed the colors on the wall and in the picture. It was very beautiful, and I hope I had the flash on my camera turned off. I nearly got thrown in the carcel in Cuernavaca for taking pictures of the murals Diego Rivera painted...oh a long time ago. The museum guy told me in no uncertain terms to turn off my flash! It would eventually, with all the gringos coming and taking pictures, fade the colors. Comprende? and there was a harsh look on his face. He turned to leave and I thought I had the flash off, but at that moment I took another picture...you have to understand how powerful his, Diego's, murals are. I thought he was coming to get me for sure. But I showed him I couldn't turn the flash off. Also, just fyi, if you are ever in a submarine and want to take a picture of the fish swimming past and you have a throw away camera...hold your hand over the flash part or you will get a swell picture of yourself in the glass. Just things I've picked up on the road of life.

I won't bother you with anymore about the house and how fabulous it is and will tell you about the drive to and from Dallas with my cousin. We should never be allowed in a car together alone. There is absolutely too much laughing going on! We got lost..ok.

Also, fyi...we had a great time! Thanks for the memories. I'll send a note as soon as I can find out her name and where to send the note.

Ups and Downs and finally down and Out

How is everyone? Life has been a little on the wild side around here and after I got home from a meeting this morning I went back to bed and stayed there. I had a low temp of 100.9 so I slept most of the day.

Anyway a friend sent me a link to this page of the volcanic eruptions and how it is going on the farmers and their animals down below. It is fabulous camerawork.

You can see it here. I hope you enjoy and or freaked out as much as I was looking at them. The power of nature is unreal.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day and I can finally get my pictures up from the big Dallas meeting.

Tidal wave of commitments

Oh mercy...it has been a long time since I've posted anything. There has been a tidal wave of "things to do" and more. Hopefully I can get some pictures up this afternoon. We finally got them downloaded from the camera, but I was too tired to try to make any sense out of them.

Meeting this morning

Something in between that I can't remember..oh yes...water aerobics. *whimper*

Meeting tonight.

Hopefully some time in between...and I have a sore throat this morning. arrghh.

Bossy's Visit...

Last night we all met in Dallas for Bossy's No Book Tour and had a great time with about a dozen other bloggers from our area. Most were young women with a professional job. Some were seeking employment to compliment their husband's work. All were extremely nice women, and one had experienced exceptional recognition. She has only been on Blogger for about one and a half years and was contacted by CNN a few days ago for an interview about a "Glee" watching party she and her son are going to put on for his friends. She was very calm about it all and I don't think had taken in the full extent of what has happened to her! We, down on our end of the table, did. She is a sweet girl and I wish her all the best luck...like she needs it. :)

The home where we met is a rehabed old church that was built in 1925. When the lady who owns it now bought it there was a great deal of work to be done, and she has made a wonderful change to the lovely old building. Someone told me when she bought the church the inside had been painted a not so lovely blue in all rooms. *gak*. The floors hadn't been stripped and refinished when they bought it, but now they are beautiful. My cousin was having a hissy fit to know what stain they had used, because she wants to have that same color on her hardwoods. Back to the paint color they selected for the walls they painted it a soft gold and as the sun changed positions while setting it changed colors on the wall. The paint is such a grand color for the church.

The downside of an older building that is a church is that it has little steps where you least expect them. I know. The little step in question had been pointed out to me and I'd been warned, but as I was talking with my cousin, Pye, I walked right off that durn little thing and nearly fell. I did splash water onto the floor, but that part is stone. I was a little shaken thinking of all that could have happened, but took a minute to thank God there were no broken bones or worse.

I'm pretty sure the reason people stop going to church is that the stairs are very steep. My knees, if you could ask them, met their match last night and I'm pretty stove up today. Another joy of aging well is that stairs are no longer fun and church stairs are very steep. I think my cousin told me there are 10 bedrooms, or something like that. All of it is just beautiful and so well cared for. The sanctuary is the family room with several sofas and a conversation area. There is a small game table with really feminine colors and frills. The altar area has been remodeled well into a fabulous kitchen with a country sink that is a copper one, I think. I just couldn't go poking around into everything being a bad guest, and being asked to leave or something as horrifying.

We had fajitas for dinner and they were good! Dessert was some heavenly concoction made from nuts, coconuts, and flaky crust. Not a pecan tassie, but very delicious. There was so much to see and take in yesterday this may have to be a two day post. Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves, ate well, had a lovely tour of the home. It was something to remember for a long time.

I didn't mention the stained glass windows did I? Tune in tomorrow. Same time Same station.

Bossy is on the road today to Houston. Better her and me! I'm tired today and if I'd had to get up and hit the road...oh my. Houston bloggers hang on to your hat. The sweet young woman named Bossy is on her way. I'm so glad we, my cousin and I, went! I didn't go last time Bossy was in our area and it would have been such fun to meet up with people from then. Many had met before at the last tour. It was a fun evening meeting new people and enjoying them so much.

The Excitment is Building

My cousin and I are going over to Dallas Monday evening to meet with Bossy and her pals known as her posse. We Texans are all about posses...we know what they are. It is looking like it is going to be such fun. There are a number of us meeting at a lady's home. We are going to have fajitas...we Texans know all about fajitas, too. We loves us some tasty fajitas on a night when we are supposed to be doing some such that has nothing to do with Bossy, her posse, or fajitas.....that is a good evening in store.

Bossy is having a (No) Book Tour, because she hasn't gotten one written yet and just wanted to get around the US and meet all of us. This tour will eventually leave her too exhausted to breathe probably. She will be driving 12000 miles give or take in the little Ford Fusion, that has been christened "Harrison" and is going hither and yon to visit us. If you would like to keep up with her click the image at the top of this page and it will take you to her blog where all the pictures and fun stuff are.

My cousin, Pyewacket Cat, and I have been entering phone numbers into our cell phones to be able to contact each other...well, probably not each other...we will be in the same car, but if we get separated...well, then we will be grateful we took the time for this precaution. Driving to Dallas and one never knows about that place. We thought about getting a license to carry, but ditched that idea as not being a good one...also one fraught with extreme danger of shooting ourselves in the foot or something. So, unarmed we will be entering the land of the weird and haughty to visit our little friend.

As The Day Turns

Yesterday was one full day! Met my pack of girlfriends at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant and had a lovely lunch in the middle of the lush spring flowers. Then I was off to home hoping for some time to clean or something useful. Didn't happen. Hubby wanted to go look at cars. We've been talking about getting a new one for some time now. I don't know what I want, but comfort is really high on my list of must haves. We drove a GMC Terrain that from looking at on the internet and in magazines looked totally,cool. I didn't like it, but it would be a great little car for soccer moms. The osteoporosis in my back didn't like it, either. So now that I was totally unable to move w/o pain we decided to check out the Cadillacs. I got to tell you the CTS although very cool wasn't what I wanted, either. It felt very snug.

We then drove a Cadillac SRX which I'm not sure is it, either. Buying a car is the most labor intensive, mind wrenching ordeal next to childbirth or buying a house Ive experienced. We had an appointment with the salesman to discuss stuff, but I'm not ready to wrangle yet. Also, I want to check out some of the other brands. It has been 10 years since we've bought a car and actually I've come to like my car pretty well. For real I wish hubby would trade in his POS pickup...but I'm not seeing that happen yet. However, when we were out I saw a bad ass PU that almost stole my heart. It was black and big and a Texas version...I fell in love, but it was sort of ridiculous for me to get in and out of with my back issues. Oh well. If I had scads of money I'd be like Jay Leno and have cars and trucks everywhere. But, I am not, so I have to make the best, most informed decision possible. My Avalon has been a great car and isn't one of those that run away with you.

Hubs is on the other computer looking at Hundais and other things. It is time for me to go to water aerobics...some idiot is texting my husband...and it is time to make a break for it. I sent them a message telling them to STOP. Hopefully it will work. It did when I was working and someone started texting my work phone from Holland or something. The tech at the phone store texted them to STOP and they did. There needs to be blocking feature on cell phones.

The weather is supposed to be really nice today and for a few more days. Thank goodness the wind has died down. It has been very stong for a long time now.
Have a happy day and I'm outta here.

Busy Days

Good Morning,
It seems like this is one of those weeks where I'm running all the time. Yesterday I worked out and they really did a fine job of remodeling. Now we don't have to live in terror the a/c might fall into the pool with us. It was a relief to say the least to not to have to worry about getting fried while doing something to help my body.

After that I got my hair cut and then on the way home I stopped and got a mani and pedi. It was a me day. All the gussying up is because next Monday I Am Bossy is coming to town on her (no) Book Tour. She didn't have a new book but she wanted to get out to meet her fans. I can hardly wait. We are going to meet up in Dallas if she makes it through all those little pins on her map! Yipes...there are lots of 'em. She was in D.C. last night and NYC the night before. My cousin is excited, to meet her, too. In fact she is thinking we might spend the day in Dallas and then go to the meet and greet. I'd be worn out by then, but if she is driving...we'll see.

Today I meet with the girls for lunch...at 11:30. Guess I'd better get busy.

Which Character From Alice In Wonderland are You Most Like?

Scored as Alice

You scored Alice! You are kind-hearted and curious and give yourself very good advice, but seldom follow it, which leads you into trouble. You always try to be courteous and polite, but you become cross when people speak in nonsense to you and scold them sharply.

Alice

83%

Carpenter

83%

A Playing Card

67%

Caterpillar

67%

Queen of Hearts

50%

The White Rabbit

42%

Oyster

42%

The Dormouse

42%

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

42%

Cheshire Cat

33%

March Hare

33%

Walrus

33%

Flamingo

25%

Mad Hatter

25%

If you wish to find which character you are most like go here:
http://quizfarm.com/quizzes/new/milelk/which-alice-in-wonderland-character-are--you/

Today is workout day again. The Y has been closed for two weeks to work on the pool. It will be a good thing to get started again. Ooops...didn't make it today. Have a wonderful day.

Storytime

Kat_RN from from A Kats Cornerhas tagged me. Actually, she was tagged several days ago and just got around to tagging others.

The rules to this one are fairly simple;
• Open your first photo folder and select the 10th photo
• Publish it and tell the story of the photo
• Link back to the person who tagged you
• Tag 5 friends and inform them.

This photo was taken a couple of years ago in Port Aransas when my husband and I took some time away for R & R after many days of caring for the inlaws. Those days were glorious fishing and resting days. Our condo was on the second floor so we could see over the sand dunes. The temperature was just right.

Later in the fall when the cold fronts start coming through it gets a lot colder there than you would think. A couple of years before we had planned out a short get away and the first Saturday night after we got there was a HUGE cold front that came in Sunday morning. On the island news isn't as important as it is farther north in Texas where we live. We have a couple of weather channels and 24 hour news channels and they are all on very early, even on Sunday morning in Fort Worth. Not in Port A. Nope. That was when I decided I'd never be able to live there. Not only was there no weather channel there were NO channels being broadcast at 6am. I thought ok...I maybe understand the television people not working on Sunday, so decided to try the radio. They had a recording on that was playing old band music. I really like The Benny Goodman Orchestra, but not when THERE IS A BIG WIND AND IT IS REALLY COLD type weather. The wind was blowing so strongly it was blowing the outside trash cans around and they were clanging. My husband slept through most of this racket.

Finally I decided there wasn't a tornado in the area and that the wind was probably just a gust front. A very strong gust front. I got up and to shower and get ready for the day. Hubby did, too after a bit. We went to the island cafe for breakfast and Lord Have Mercy it was cold. We stayed out the few days we had, but he didn't catch any fish and I finished my book.

The 2008 trip was so much different. It was lovely and warm. We had the nice condo right on the ocean and a kitchen for breakfast and/or dinner. That saved some money and a lot of hassle by not having to go out for breakfast. Out on the balcony we had lounge chairs and a picnic table. It was pleasant to sit out in the morning with a cup of coffee or at night watching the moon shine over the water, walk on the beach, and to sit at the picnic table and have a beer to end the day. It was a very pleasant trip, but my husband forgot his long sleeved fishing shirts so we had to go back to the mainland by ferry to a store to pick him up a long sleeved heavy shirt. He has fair skin and burns easily. He looks sort of odd when he comes out to fish. Other people just start fishing right like they ought to, but he has to have a hat, sunblock, long sleeved shirts, and long pants. I fish in my bathing suit. However, I'm not so fair as he is. My gift from my Indian, feathers, ancestors is skin that tans very easily and so far Thank You, Lord I've not had any ill effects....or melanomas. We returned from this trip relaxed and happy because most everything went well. We didn't catch a lot and I only bought a one day fishing license and read the rest of the time. When we go down there it is my time to rest and relax and do whatever enters my head. Corpus Christi is just over the bridge on the other end of the island, so if I decide to shop...there it is.

One afternoon we drove out on one of the highways, I can't believe there is more than one, but anyway there was a pottery shop of Mexican Talavera Pottery that was having a sale. We spent a good deal of time shopping and looking there. The night before we had caught some fish we had filleted and cleaned at the dock and we took some to the restaurant and they cooked them for us. That fish was a noble fish who gave his life for our dinner and it was very much appreciated.

As you might have guessed we love the ocean and the laid back lifestyle of the small island of Port Aransas, even though it has grown so much since the kids were little and we would go there and throw crackers into the air for the sea gulls to catch. Those were good days.

See, you got two stories for the price of one.

Now for the tagging of friends who will probably not love me after this, here we go.

This top photo is my tenth photo, in the first folder of my pictures on my computer, and the following are the chosen ones to share a story with us.

I tag Kate just for the fun of it, girl.
I tag Judy who has some of the best stories.
I tag Melli who really has some grand stories.
I tag Arkasas Patti because she has SOME stories you would love to see.
and I tag Carol if she ever gets back from wandering the country with her husband and I can't remember if she took Luckie or not.
Anil P. do you have a story from the 10th picture from first folder of pictures on your computer.

If these people don't have time to share a story go to their blogs and read the wonderful things they have to share. Hopefully they will drop by your place, as well.

That is more than 5, but one may falter and not make it. If you want to tell us a story just let me know! I love 'em.

Family Togetherness

The Easter Egg hunt and dinner was such a fun time. We went to our son and daughter in law, and grandson's home. Some of their friends came over for dinner with us. My dil had prepared a prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans. There was also a salad with an excellent dressing her friend made. She is from Germany and had the nicest children. They were very open and happy kids who really enjoyed the Easter egg hunt, held at their house, a lot. We, the women, went over and hid the eggs in their huge yard. I'm about half dead today from the pollen. I looked at pollen.com yesterday and before and it has been pegged out for weeks. The highest is 12 and we have been at 11.8 all that time and again today.

Our son has a fantastic camera and got pictures of the kids running that were so sharp their hair was flying behind them and their feet were off the ground. Katcha had put quarters in her eggs! They had fun finding those along with the ones stuffed with candy. I took some cupcakes with jelly bean eggs and Easter stuff on top. I'd say they were plenty sugared up before we left to come home. That is something parents love for guests to do for them. *angelic smile*

While we were down there we looked at a new sub-division with waterfront lots. There weren't many houses built, but some were very nice. The thing is if we moved down there I'm sure the kids would move somewhere else. My family is in a shuffle mood right now. The one who lives on the coast is tired of hurricanes and is thinking when she moves to come more toward the center of Texas. The youngest only has five years left to work...which astounds all of us, and she has told me she and her guy are going to go to chili cookoffs and ride motorcylces. My little family is sort of odd, but we love them. Our son still has 20 years left to work and he is older than the youngest, naturally...duh.

Happy Easter

Woo Hoo...it is a busy evening! I put eggs on to boil. They are not for dying, but for deviling. We are going to our son and dil's home. We are going to have Easter dinner at their home and then go to their friend's house for the kids to hunt Easter eggs. I'm sure there will be a bunch of little jazzed kidlets zooming around in a sugar haze.

Earlier this evening I went to get my mil a new outfit for Easter. The outfits are pretty darn cute and I'm tempted that some might want to stay here with me. They can all be mixed and matched and are cute as can be. It would have been fun to buy TJ his first suit for Easter, but I'm not sure they are attending church these days. The pastor they loved moved on and my son cannot abide the new one. We are a family of strong emotions...for some weird reason. I have no idea where they got it. *angelic grin*

The in laws are doing well. I hope she likes the outfits and they fit. We went with a major part of clear blues and white tops and ,matching blue slacks, white pants, and navy ones. Most of her clothes have worn out. She was unable to get out to shop and when we bought clothes she put them away. I got out the put away ones and got them washed and ironed. As soon as we can get her size settled it will be easy.

Hope everyone has a Blessed Easter filled with fun, family, and food. Watch out for too much chocolate.

Don't forget to go by and click on the "Babies" post over on Fever. All about just below.

Run to this Blog

If you have time go, run, get to a blog named Fever! The owner of the blog is a social worker of the best kind and is working on a promotion of a movie in order to get free stuff for her clients who really need it. The movie is wonderful and I smiled and laughed at the promo.

Go here and read the instructions and she has a link to the movie promo for "Babies".
http://www.afever.com/2010/03/community-service-project.html

It is a noble thing to do.

Happy Easter and Passover

Hope everyone has a special and wonderful holiday weekend.

We are going to be busy as everything, so be safe and have fun with your families.

Crazy in Texas

Oh rasslesnassle...the durn computer is running so slow even I could beat it. Isn't it always the way when you want to go to bed and read and this thing won't cooperate.

The pollen count around here is about a gabillion parts of pure misery per 100. This is the worst I've seen it in a while...or I forget from year to year. It could happen. Everything outside is covered in yellow pollen. Everyone's throat is sore and eyes are burning. Once again Fort Worth is one of the worst in the nation on pollen.com. Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner. That is another one of those sayings that has crept into my mind. It is from a movie where all the students had to learn how to count cards in Las Vegas. Sometimes I think I waste a lot of time watching movies, but then how would I know what that meant?

I got stumped by the "Runaway Scrape" this evening! It was part of Texas history and I didn't know! Oh arrggh! Please don't let Diane find out. Some of the ladies in my knitting group are retired teachers and they just come out with the dangdest things from time to time. Monday night it was who all was at the Alamo and the ones you think were there..well, they weren't. I'll have to get a list and study it. The reason they said most people didn't know is that the actors played the same role in differnt movies and people just get confused. I know I was.

Talked with my older daughter this evening and she has laryngitis and bronchitis and she only traveled to Austin last weekend. We all usually come home from Houston with allergy related junk, but this time she got it. HA! She called the other day and wanted to know when we would want to come down to visit. She was filling out her schedule for the year!?! and thought it would be nice if we scheduled now. So we fell into lockstep with her. She is a good kid...and has no idea how weird she is. I called today and reserved a couple of days with her. Then we are going on the road for a while. It has been a long time since, well especially my husband has had a break, and myself, too. So we are gonna hit the road sometime this summer and we may not come back. Sometime this year I was ready to move off and not tell anyone and see how long it took them to notice we were gone and to start looking for us...and maybe we would answer our cell and maybe not. They would never know.

Have a goodun tomorrow. I've already thought it was Thursday today when it was Wednesday when I started typing this...so that is how crazy its been around here this week.

Oh Gah! I forgot...today is the third anniversary of my quitting smoking! That is NO April Fool Joke, either! I'm sort of proud of that three years and I know I've saved a LOT of cash on it, too!

Slow Day

Gotz some problems with muh back and sciatic nerve today. Hopefully better tomorrow, and hope you enjoy this LOL Cat for the day.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Oh dear...I just read that the H1N1 virus has come back and is
widespread and severe in Georgia. Here is the link for that
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20100329/severe-h1n1-swine-flu-up-in-south?ecd=wnl_day_033010

I'd hoped it had gone away or fizzled out. Wash your hands well when you are out in public and when you get home again.

Oh My Aching Parts

The Food Bank expedition went well. There were 6 of us...the high school bunch, and 4other kids. Two girls and two boys helped...actually they did their part and were friendly enough. They looked like TCU students, but somehow or other I would have bet money they were doing community service, which is ok with me. Extra hands came in very handy.

There were lots of cans that had to be washed off and checked for anything that might split at the welds. That would result in some very bad food...and very bad for anyone who ate it. It didn't seem to be hard work, but the repetition of lifting one can after another and ultimately putting it into a box until the box weighed 42 pounds was cumulative and agonizing. Last night my parts ALL hurt. I'm a biggo whiner, but I was up very late last night trying to sleep without much success until about time for my husband to get up. It is Sunday and there is going to be a big dose of rest prescribed for me today. We have done our good deeds for a while and I can tell you for sure I'm extraordinarily happy I don't have to work like that everyday.

Another thing that added to the general inability to sleep was that I got the email from Bossy about her trip and that she will be in our area before long. I now remember what it was like to be a kid. I couldn't sleep or stop thinking about it or do much of anything but have my mind run wild about meeting her and the other bloggers in my area for real. I've been reading her blog for several years and she is very funny. I just called my daughter about a place that would be fun to meet with her. On the east coast they went to a bowling alley and had a really good time.

My cousin had emailed about the Bossy thing and she is as excited as I am, and she is trying to quit smoking. I gave her a lot of tips that helped me when I quit. I hope they help. Smoking is an ugly taskmistress. On April 1st, I will be smoke free for three years. She is a strong woman and I'm pretty sure she will beat down that old thing.

My sister is going to be able to go with us, too. She doesn't have a blog, but I keep nagging her about it. She is funny as all get out and one of the few people in the world who can get me so tickled I pee my pants. I'm ready for her now though. PK do your best to get me laffin' that hard again. She uses the screen name PK, and I think it should be Possum. Possum is a pretty funny word in itself.

If you live near the Fort Worth/Dallas area go quick to I Am Bossy's blog and join us! I think it will be so cool to meet some women from my area who like blogging. It is like going to Blog Her without all the hassle.

It is time for my nap....oh man!

Super Saturday

Today we are meeting the High School class to help at the Food Bank and I'm looking forward to it. It will be fun...and is close to Angelo's Barbeque so we will have to stop after work for a quick sandwich for dinner so I don't have to cook tonight.

Since I won't be here to amuse you I want to leave this to tickle your inner kid.



Oh yes...I just signed up to meet Bossy while she is on her "(No) New Book Tour". I hope my sister and cousin can come, too. Super Saturday rocks so far and I'm still on my first cup of coffee.

Dry Shampoos

While shopping at our local Ulta the other day I saw something that was like a timewarp whiplash. It was dry shampoo. For real it was right there in front of me and I still couldn't believe anyone would be so gross as to use it.

Dry shampoo was around when I was a girl and it didn't really work well. It was gross because it didn't really get your hair clean...it just put powdery stuff in your hair and then you brush it out. That is just so not cool. If people think it is a time saver think again. It took forever to brush the mess out and it still looked icky. However, there is a generation born all the time that just doesn't know and they think this is some new wonderful invention that nobody has ever thought of. Blech is all I have to say on this subject. Here is a place to read about the junk...just in case you have forgotten or were in the generation, "gen no powdery hair" and never heard of it.

http://www.doublex.com/section/health-science/do-you-really-have-wash-your-hair-0

I guess they probably have some powdery crap to put on your body so you don't really have to bathe. What is the world coming to? I'm heading for the shower to wash my hair and my other parts so I'll be clean and get this out of my mind.

Hershy's Better: Blog Hop

This Easter season, Hershey is celebrating it’s new Easter products sold exclusively at Walmart and their legacy of making a difference and Hershey’s will donate up to a total of $5,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network together with bloggers.

How can we do this together? It’s simple:

Participate to Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop of giving away virtual Easter Baskets by creating a blog post with specific rules described here.

Hershey Company will donate $10 per each blog post to CMN, up to total of $5,000.
One blog post per URL counts towards the donation, but you can give as many virtual Easter baskets as you want.

The Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop will officially begin at 12 AM EST on March 18th and end at 12 PM EST on April 4th, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted for.

The blog post link has to be submitted to us for the donation to be counted.
In addition copy and paste the following text in your blog post:

Melli gifted ME with an Easter Basket by tagging me!





~ the Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop is Here ~
HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES

◦Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
◦Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
◦Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
◦Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
◦Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
◦Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
◦Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.



I am tagging

Judy of Living On The Other Side of The Hill
Nit Wit 1 of Coward's Corner with Luckie
Arkansas Patti of The New Sixty

Or anyone who would like to play, all the info to post your link is here and on the Hershey website. It is a good thing!

PS-Mr. Bunny Rabbit is sure grumpy looking, but I guess if you had just laid a plastic egg the size of a hand grenade filled with chocolate candy you might be a little unsettled, too.

Today Was Much Much Busier Than I'd Planned

Early this morning when I posted below that it was going to be a busy day...I had no idea how busy. I spent a great deal of time yesterday gathering up my mil's clothes because I knew there were more...they were just in that hidey hole somewhere. I found them with their assorted stains and such. Their washing machine and dryer left a great deal to be desired, and I think she forgot the clothing had been worn. She would hang it up or fold it and put it away dirty. Also, her stain removal tip must have been straight bleach. There were holes in some of the cotton clothes. However, I did get a nice assortment of more summery things clean and ready for her. I was helping hubby get them into his truck to take over to the nursing home when he didn't come back. I started wondering where he was and came back into the house to find him. He was on the phone with the nursing center about his dad. They were having him taken to the hospital. After lunch he had been taken to the common room where his head fell over onto his chest and they couldn't wake him. So off we went to get her clothes out of his truck so he could meet them at the hospital and I could grab a shower and get dressed. I'd been ironing her clothes all morning. As it turns out he has a very severe kidney infection and they have put him on IV antibiotics and have admitted him to the hospital. He was stable enough for me to leave for a dental appt., I've been biting the side of my tongue from time to time and wanted to make sure all was ok. It was.

I called hubby on the way home to tell him I was going on home, if all was well. He said it was and that they are going to get hospice to come out to help care for him at the home. After I hung up I started crying about it all. I know my husband would like to have a good cry from time to time. This is hard work caring for them and she is so far gone that she never is grateful for anything that is done for her. I hope I die before I get like that. So anyway, it was a busier day than I'd thought it would be and a sadder day than I had any idea that it would be. Right now I have a sinus headache and my tooth hurts, but I only have a callous on my tongue. I guess I really do yap too much. Also, I've been clenching my teeth today and lately all the time and owie...that isn't a good thing to do. It is time for a quick nap and some recovery.

Melli, I'll get that chocolate thing up tonight later. I just gotz to sleep for a few minutes while the a/c is going. Today is hot...bet you already knew that one. *shaking my head*

ps-lemon mixed with salt and rubbed into a rust stain then hang the white cotton garment in the sun over a shrub, is a good tip for the big giant rust stain on one of her a white dresses.

I am not in the mood for John wassis..looks like it should be pronounced Boner and his junk or the silly tea party that I call the teabag party. I'm in a mood for NO more stress. And what is the big deal...the world is going to come to an end December 12th, 2012 anyway. That is before most of this insurance stuff will go into effect. Just let me alone for a little while. My sister and cousin are all freaked out they are going to lose their jobs, because they work in small business and the owners can't afford insurance for all of the workers....some of whom are from other countries south of us....you know. I'm putting myself out of my misery right now and going to sleep....'tis naptime for AmberStar.

Weather gadgets

Busy days...hope you likes de LOL kittehs. This one is a sure fire way to tell when it is going to be a fair day...maybe not so much for kitteh, though.



see more Lolcats and funny pictures

It was a close call

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

It is snowing here in Texas!

'Tis the first day of Spring here in Texas and it is snowing. How weird is that! The weather guy said we would probably get an inch or so of the white stuff. Maybe...oh maybe after this it will finally be spring for real.

The Princess Project

Yesterday I was reading Pioneer Woman's blog, well because it is just so good. In her Home and Garden area there was a post about "Punjammies" from the International Princess Project. Their mission is to help women and girls who have been forced into the sex trade in India. due to poverty, and the lack of knowledge of how to work, and some have been kidnapped. and sold into the sex trade. The foundation provides a warm home, food, and teaches the women to sew and learn to care for themselves, through the sales of Punjammies. The monies from the sales of the punjammies goes into the program and into savings accounts for the women giving them the ability to live free. After they have broken free they can go back to their friends to tell them there is a way out of slavery and degradation in which they are trapped.

Right now, unless you are an XS they are out of punjammies, but will be restocked on April 1st with all new clothing.

The punjammies are made of very beautiful fabric and they have cotton t-shirts to go with them. The cost is reasonable and the pay off is enormous if one woman is brought out of the hell of prostitution.

The character, Sara Crewe in the book A Little Princess said, "I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"

My Aunt gave me that book when my dad wasn't around for about a year while I was growing up. I have no idea if she knew the story in the book or not, but I think she probably did.