I've always loved Norman Rockwell

I started wondering if Norman Rockwell was alive today and painting what his paintings would look like? For instance, maybe he'd paint a setting in an airport with sleeping travelers whose flights had been canceled. A big red headed guy sprawled out in an airport seat, sound asleep with his mouth wide open, I can see that.

Or perhaps a painting of a check out line in Walmart with all the customers with that weird bluetooth contraption hooked to their ears......that would be about right.

Perhaps an older woman, frumpy in her curlers and robe, sitting at her computer quite confused.

Maybe he'd paint a group of teenage girls comparing their new cell phones in various colors of blue and pink and purple.

How about a couple sitting on the couch with the remote flicking through a million chanels they are able to get on television these day?

And maybe, just maybe, he could capture the scene in our office yesterday. A 30 something lady, with a tatoo on her neck, waiting to see the Doctor. She had an ipod in her ear and she was singing out loud (much to everyone's distress) to her music.

Yep, if Norman lived today I believe his paintings would be quite different but hold the same charm as always and he'd capture life as we know it today, just as he did when he lived.

Old Man Winter is Visiting South Georgia Tonight...

...and it is rainy and cold and I'm settled in until Monday morning, I hope.

JOY came in the form of Mocha Java Coffee with very good quality white chocolate shavings in it when I got home........it is yummy! And warm. And rich. And in my favorite mug, even though I'm not a Navy Mom anymore, I used to be. Wish you could share some with me.

I have a new pasta to try. Going to make pasta salad with it tonight.

Neighbor Donkeys

I love to see these little guys when I stop to get my mail from the mailbox.On the afternoons they are close to the fence they make me smile. So....they are what brings me JOY today. Go figure!

Hell Hound

Meet Ching. A couple of years ago my parent's Chow got hit by a car. Missing her a bunch they found a dog in a "foster home" that had had a hard time finding a home. They went and met her and decided to adopt her. Sounds nice huh?
I'm a big animal lover, have been around dogs all my life. The first time I met Ching she made me a little nervous. I tried to make friends with her but all at once this look came in her eyes and she lunged toward me, growling like a mad dog. She was on a leash at the time and my stepfather controlled her that time.
I tried a few other times but she'd always do the same thing. I became concerned but they assured me she was nice to them and a really gentle dog. And then she attacked my little dog.

Sweetie suffered tooth marks in the top of her head before my stepfather got Ching off of her. That was it. I was done and convinced this dog was not a safe pet for them but they assured me she was.

They keep her outside in a huge pen, they have "Beware of Dog" signs out and I guess she is the kind of dog they want. After she attacked Sweetie a second time, I've learned to be careful letting Sweetie out if I'm not sure she is penned up. And my parents have acknowledged she is not to be trusted around other people or animals but they love her and have kept her.

I live on the same property as they do and this afternoon when I came home there Ching is, out and my parents nowhere in sight. I figure they are around some place so I just sit in my car and wait. In the mean time, Ching barks and growls and jumps up on my car in attack mode and foams at the mouth. Finally they realize that she is down here in my yard and that I can't get out of the car and they drive the golf cart down to get her. They think it is so funny. I AM not amused very much.

Life as We Know It

Today was just an ordinary Thursday except for the fact that we had a store visit at work from our district manager. It was all good. We had a good report basically, she has to find something to suggest or change, it is her job but it is all mostly little things.

My parents called me before I got off work to invite me for supper as my mother had cooked a pot of spaghetti and that was nice not to have to cook or worry about what I was going to eat.

Joy came to me in just the fact that I'm alive, have a job, live in a wonderful country, have healthy parents, healthy children and grandchild and that I am warm tonight, have food in my house and clothes to wear.

I read recently these facts:

Electricity: About 2 billion people in this world have none. That's 30 percent of the world's population.

Food: Worldwide there are 840 million people starving.

Water: 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water and 2.6 people lack basic sanitation.

Energy: On average 1 American uses as much energy as 531 Ethiopians. (This one really blows me away!)

Think about how we come home, flick a switch for instant light, can't decide if we want fish or chicken for supper and take a bath in a tub full of hot water.

I've decided to be more aware and try and not take anything for granted.

Lance Armstrong put it well, "I take nothing for granted. I now have only good days or great days."

I'm so excited.....

...because I have a new camera. I've needed one for a long time and it's had to charge up, so I've not had a lot of time to play with it. (Actually, I keep bothering it and it's taking longer because I keep using up whatever charge it gets.)

I really need to go to sleep now. OH.....I almost forgot, it is snowing in Atlanta tonight. We only have rain down here, not even sleet.

A Nice Wednesday

It's been a cold and rainy day and it was also my day off. I like cold and rainy days if I don't have to get out in it and I didn't so it was a good day.
JOY came in the way of a box in the mail full of good things from someone who loves me. That's always a good thing. The box was nice but it's the love part that brings me the JOY.

And.....today was another special day for someone in my life. One of my associates at work has a little girl named Winter Hope and she turned two today!
"Happy Birthday, Winnie!" I love you.
Maybe her Mom will email me a picture so I can post it. (hint, hint).
Seems like nearly everyone in my life has a December or a January birthday!

Another Special Day

She turned seven today. She is my best friend's daughter, my little namesake and even though I didn't get to see her today, I got joy in buying her a pair of cowgirl boots and I can't wait to see her with them on.
"Happy Birthday" Little Robbin with two b's. I love you and hope you had a great day and I cannot believe you are growing up so fast!

Thank Goodness

Yesterday was quite a day. We were at the hospital from 11 o'clock a.m. until after midnight and by the time we got home it was 1:30 in the morning. Since it is Tuesday I had to be up and ready for conference call by 7:30 this morning, so needless to say, I'm a little out of it. BUT......the good news is my stepfather's heart is fine. No big blockages and that relieved him and my mother. So I'm grateful for that.

I have to work today but don't go in until noon, so maybe I can sneak a little nap in. Happy Tuesday to all!

Matters of the Heart.......

.......at least those of my stepfather's heart. He has to have a heart catherization today and my mother asked me to go with them. She is afraid of what they may find and if he has to have heart surgery, they'll do it right there and she is afraid she'll be too upset to drive home. Plus she just wants some company during the whole waiting game at the hospital. So, I'm taking a personal day to be with them.
My stepfather is really a young man, only 59, my mother married him 30 years ago when she was forty and he was 29. He was in a terrible accident before she met him and they think all the meds he had to take after that time may have weakened his heart. He is having shortness of breath and has no energy, so they decided to make sure things are ok and if they aren't, they can take care it before it gets worse.
SO, sent some good thoughts and prayers our way if you will.

A SPECIAL DAY.

Today is her birthday! She is the wife of my son, the mother of my granddaughter and someone I love dearly. She and I share a lot of the same interests, a lot of the same thoughts, (which is really scary for one of us). In the almost ten years that I've known her, she has grown into her own and is a caring, thinking, very conscious person of all things in her world and the world around her. I consider her my friend, a confidant, and she couldn't feel more like a daughter if I'd given birth to her. I hope her day is just perfect and she feels every bit as special as she really is! It is my joy to have her in our lives.
"Happy Birthday, Amy!"

A Nice Day

A perfect pot of vanilla nut coffee.
A nice quiet day off.
Hot air pop corn and a good movie.
A nice long nap.
ALL JOY to me today.

A Resting Mind Day

Normally my mind moves so fast, my body has never been able to keep up with it but every once in a while, it slows down and I swear I don't think much at all. At least not about anything too important. And for me that's a good thing, it gives my poor brain a much needed rest.

For all I know, every one's thoughts race around a million miles an hour like mine do, but the only brain I can see inside of is mine, so I can only speak for it. Today has been one of those days. The truth is when you can stop from thinking so much, you don't have to worry about what is going to happen tomorrow, or what happened yesterday or even what is actually happening now. You just let it happen and you have no opinion one way or the other. That's the way I am today.

I have in fact been thinking about what makes certain people like certain kinds of music. And is it a clue to how they feel inside because music reaches your very soul you know, if you listen to it and allow it to.

Music was such a part of my father's life. He loved bluegrass and whining Kitty Wells type country music. And that kind of mirrors his life.

Music was never really that important to my mother and when she does listen to it, it's nothing very heavy, and the lyrics mean much more to her than the actual music.

I go through stages of different types of music and at times it has meant more in my life than at others.

My ex-husband loved heavy duty hard rock and maybe that's how he felt inside. In fact I'm pretty sure that's how he felt inside.

See what I mean about not thinking about anything. My mind wonders, it thinks of things that really mean nothing. And I let it because soon enough it will be flying a million miles an hour again, worrying about things and remembering a million other things to think about all at once.

Just another Saturday

Today was a hard day at work. Not a bad day, just hard. Nothing came easily. But still we were busy and that's a good thing and the day went fast.

I have to admit my "complaint free world" bracelet got swapped several times from one wrist to the other.

And somedays Joy is easy to find, somedays I have to look for it.

So, what made my heart sing today? What was a moment? Well, it is this moment, relaxing with a nice cup of tea and some Maria cookies.

Sometimes JOY is right in front of you when you least expect it.
I discovered Maria cookies or biscuits at the dollar store last week. Never heard of them before that, but they are thin and crispy and not too sweet and go great with tea or coffee. I need to go back and stock up.

I have two movies to watch but maybe not tonight. I'm off tomorrow so I have time then. Tonight I'm thinking my bedtime will come soon. I'm tired.

A Great Story

At the end of the ABC news tonight, they named this boy their person of the week. If you have time, read this. It inspires me and I bet it will you too. (and yes, it is where I found JOY today.)

A Miami Shores sixth-grader is behind a bill that would help restaurants and hotels donate leftover food to the homeless.

By JENNIFER LEBOVICH

Jack Davis, 11, was told by a buffet manager to eat up one morning because any food that was left uneaten would have to be thrown out. That idea didn’t sit well with Jack.

As a fifth-grader, Jack Davis learned about how government works, even drafting pretend legislation in his social studies class.

A year later, 11-year-old Jack is pressing for a real law—one that could help feed Florida’s homeless.

The sixth-grader is being credited for inspiring a bill that will allow restaurants and hotels to donate leftover food to places like homeless shelters and not face legal liabilities.

For years, many eateries and other places have simply thrown the food away, rather than face a lawsuit if someone got sick.

‘’I kind of used my social studies teacher’s advice,’’ said Jack, a sixth-grader at Ransom Everglades School. ``She told us to make a difference.’’

Jack, with the help of his attorney dad, Jeff Davis, got in touch with a friend, Miami attorney Stephen Marino. Marino, a board member of the Florida Justice Association, a statewide association of consumer advocates, brought Jack’s idea up a few days later during lunch with State Rep. Ari Porth, the bill’s House sponsor.

‘’I’ve never been contacted by someone so young about an idea for a bill,’’ Porth said. ``I think it’s highly unusual and very impressive.’’

It all started one summer morning after breakfast as Jack and his family finished eating at a buffet in Chattanooga, Tenn.

He was one of the last at the buffet line—a typical spread of biscuits, bacon and eggs—and a manager told the family to eat as much as they could.

Jack asked why? The manager told him the rest would be thrown away.

‘’He explained to me if they gave the food to a homeless shelter they could be sued for sickness or food poisoning,’’ Jack said.

The thought of throwing away food bothered Jack, who had taken trips to Peru, the home country of his mother, Yasmin Davis. Traveling through the country, he had seen the poor begging for food.

A school trip last year to a homeless shelter also made him think about those in need in Miami.

‘’I thought: Is there anything we can do?’’ said Jack, who aspires to be a lawyer and who over the summer attended a leadership conference in Washington, D.C. ‘He said, `You’d have to change the law.’ ‘’

He talked it over with his dad, an injury lawyer, who helped him understand what the manager said.

‘’It actually affected him,’’ said Jeff Davis, of Miami Shores. ``It was something he thought was just a crime to waste.’’

BROAD SUPPORT

After Jack got the ball rolling, Porth contacted the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association to see what stood in the way of restaurants donating food.

‘’Sure enough, it wasn’t because restaurants didn’t want to—it was because of the liability issue,’’ said Porth, a Coral Springs Democrat.

The restaurant association supports the bill, said Jennifer Garner, director of communications for the association that represents 10,000 restaurants and hotels in the state.

Because of increased litigation against restaurants, the association had been seeing a decrease in donations, she said.

‘’A lot more restaurants are concerned about the liability issue,’’ Garner said. ``There has been a decline in restaurants that are donating to homeless shelters. This is something that will definitely help. We know a lot of our members are interested in doing something like this, but with the concern over being sued it’s always a little bit harder.’’

A change in the law to give restaurants and hotels additional protection ‘’would be superb,’’ said Frank Ferrara, food services director at Miami’s Camillus House, which prepares about 1,500 meals a day for the homeless. ``Look at how much food is wasted every day; picture a brunch at one of the major hotels.’’

Ferrara said Camillus House doesn’t get many donations from restaurants or hotels because they are concerned about liability.

‘’The major hotels and restaurants are too frightened,’’ Ferrara said, adding that the shelter does occasionally get leftovers from private catering jobs.

On Tuesday, the Florida Restaurant Lending a Helping Hand Act was presented to the state Legislature. The Senate Business Regulation Committee approved the bill unanimously.

Said Sen. Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican: ``It’s about time.’’

It has only one more stop before it moves to a full vote in the Senate.

`A REAL ROLE MODEL’

That the idea came from an 11-year-old is ‘’the best part of the bill,’’ said Sen. Nan Rich, a Weston Democrat, who presented the bill.

‘’It was exciting to me that a young person would take time to do this,’’ Rich said. ``He’s a real role model for young people.’’

Rich sent an e-mail to Jack on Monday, saying she hopes the bill passes and that he can be there when the governor signs it.

His fifth-grade social studies teacher is delighted Jack took her lesson to heart.

‘’I pretty much want all my students to be as much as they can be and to go for it,’’ said Deborah Rogero, a fifth-grade teacher at Saint Thomas Episcopal Parish in Coral Gables. ``It’s their responsibility to make the world a better place.’’

Jack said he hopes his involvement encourages kids his age to help others.

‘’I can really believe in myself because I’m just a kid, and kids are usually not the ones who change the world,’’ Jack said. ``I thought it would be a change.’’

It's Nice to be Appreciated

One small action by one single person can cause a trickle down effect of joy and that is what happened today in my life.

As the manager of our little optical store, customer service is a big issue to me. I've been in retail sales more years than I can say and in optics for 13 years and in our store we are all about caring for our patients. We love big sales, we love to meet sales budgets but mostly we love to help our customers. We try to sell from our hearts, we try to listen to the customers to find out just what would be best for them.

Yesterday one little lady took out the time to call our company's customer service number to brag on our store and on the associate that waited on her. The customer service rep went on and on to tell me all the nice things she said about Vicki, who gave her the best customer service she could offer. She in fact went above what is expected of her and there is where the difference lies.

And as a bonus, the customer rep told me that the customer service Vicki gave said a lot about management. She said, "I can hear your spirit in your voice and even though I don't know you, I can tell customer service is important to you."

And that's what the lady said about Vicki too, that she was genuine and took the extra time to explain things to her.

So there you go, in a world where complaining is prominent, one little lady happened into our store, acknowledged our good service, brought joy to the customer rep, brought joy to Vicki, my associate and brought JOY to me.

Think about that next time you receive excellent customer service and let it be known. You will never know how much it means!

How to Cure a Headache

My day off! I like the sound of that. Only thing is I have to do laundry and such and run a few errands. But I woke up with a killer headache. Not sure why but after taking something for sinus (thinking maybe it is just a sinus headache) I am so drowsy, I'm not able to do much but sit in the recliner and doze in a drug induced dreamy state of mind.

My little dog decides she must go out. No, not later, it has to be NOW, right NOW! "COME on Woman!" she seems to say, "Get up, let me out, I have business to tend to, urgent business! There are squirrels out there to chase, new smells to sniff, I MUST GO OUT RIGHT NOW!"

And so I drag myself out of the chair, she dances with excitement at my feet, and I shuffle to the door and open it. She shoots out like a cannon. I know from experience she will not want to stay out long so there is no use in settling down again comfortably.

I busy myself washing a few dishes, going through some mail, and peek out the window to see if she is waiting patiently to come back in. She is no where to be seen. "Um, I say to myself, she must have caught a very interesting scent."

I eye the chair and want so much to plop back in it. I know as soon as I do, she will be barking those quick little yaps she does to come back in, so I resist the urge and start sorting laundry.

After that chore, I can't believe she is not yet ready to come back in. I open the door and call out her name, she doesn't appear. She never wanders off very far so I am a little concerned.

I slip on my shoes and walk outside to get a wider view of the yard and then I see her. She is just a little ways down the driveway and she has her back to me, sitting comfortably watching something quite contently. She completely ignores me when I say her name. My eyes try to follow what she is looking at so contently but I'm not where I can see straight in front of her. I walk closer and call her name again but it is as if she has suddenly lost her hearing.

A little irritated now, I walk up and turn to get a straight view and and then I see it. Down the driveway, about 100 yards from where she sits is a rabbit, staring right back at her.

It's as if they have each other hypnotized. I stop, charmed myself by this sight but then suddenly the rabbit shoots off in the woods and Sweetie, my little dog jumps up, turns around and runs as fast as she can towards me, past me, and straight to the door of the house, where she looks back at me, a bit impatiently, as if to say, "Hurry up Woman, I'm ready to go in now, come on!"

When we go inside I realize my headache is completely gone. And I no longer wish to just vegetate in my chair. Sweetie, on the other hand is completely exhausted now and jumps in her little basket bed and is snoring away, probably dreaming of magic rabbits or such.

And yes, it is my little dog Sweetie who brings me JOY today and mostly everyday. Without her my life would be very dull sometimes and I may have spent my day off in a recliner with a killer headache. Thanks Sweetie.

The Written Word

A couple of things brought me JOY today, like I said before, a reader left a comment that meant a lot to me, and then when I got home from work, an email from my little namesake who will turn 7 years old next week. It read like this:

Dear Aunt Robbin,

Thank you for the Shirley Temple stuff,
I loved it!
Especially my doll!

Did you have a good Christmas?
I did!

I've been in Florida with my cousins for Christmas Vacation.
But I'm back!
Love,
Robbin

A special thank you from a special little girl that I love, doesn't get better than that!

A New Book

I started a new book yesterday by a new author(for me) and although I barely got started it is beckoning me, I think I'm going to enjoy it. There is so much I'd rather be doing than going to work. I've not been able to do any jewelry making for some time now and I'm itching to make some. I sold about 200 dollars worth for Christmas (ok, mostly my mother sold it for me) but it was stuff I had made up. I didn't even give jewelry much for gifts like I mostly do. (Some people may be glad of that).

I'm grateful I have a job, and a good job it is too. I love the company I work for and I surely must work but somehow I've got to find some balance again so that I can get back to doing what I love. Balance is hard to find, I've never been too good at it and by the time I figure I'm all out of balance, it's hard to regain it but not impossible. I shall persevere!

Tuesday Morning Ramblings

With this being the first really normal week after the holidays as far as work goes, our conference call was rather interesting this morning. With our meeting in Atlanta and then the holidays we've not had one for three or maybe even four weeks. So we had a lot of pent up comments I guess and it was quite lively. Sometimes we do have a lot to share and discuss and funny thing is on these occasions our leader, our district manager kind of gets lost in it all. That is what happened today. Although of course she knows the operations of things, she no longer actually works in a store and is lost to some of what we discuss. That frustrates her a little I think but she understands and she just lets us go to a certain amount of time but then she has to gain control again and we go back to listening to numbers and goals and that sort of thing.

I work late tonight so I don't go in until noon thirty.

And I have a thought on my "Complaint Free World" bracelet. Although I know I am ultimately responsible for what I say and think, the challenge here lies in being around other people who are not on this campaign with me. I have to dodge agreeing with complaints that come from others, and that is hard. Sometimes I think I agree with complaining people to be nice. Does that make since? For example, a customer says "This weather is terrible, cold last week, hot this week." and I smile and say, "I know it." ok, I just complained too. I guess I should learn to say something like "Oh yes but isn't it wonderful that the sun is shining?"

What sounds like a simple thing to do is simple when you are alone, or at least it is for me but we seem to feed each other with complaints and negativity. I wonder how that happened and when that happened and maybe it has always been that way? And so this is the whole concept of the bracelet I know, but it dawned on me that complaining spreads like wildfire and I've got to learn it stops HERE, with me. I refuse to let other people's complaints become my own. If I have to swap my bracelet from one arm to the other, it is at least going to be from my own complaints!

And a pleasant bonus this morning already. A reader commented on my finding JOY every day blogging and it so brought me JOY today already. She told me I was spreading JOY by doing this, and that makes me happier than anyone can know.
Thank you so much Teri for taking the time to say that.

Ok, off to have a good day, I hope the same for you.

All the Little Children of the World

Today was a pleasant day at work and when I thought about blogging I first intended to blog about a little kid I had the opportunity to have a conversation with while his mom was getting her eyes checked. I thought back though and it was not just he who brought me JOY today but three or four little children that visited the store.


There was the little girl, nine years old, who was getting glasses for the first time. She was able to carry on a conversation much better than some adults I've come in contact with. With her pecan colored skin and long braid down her back, her beauty was breath taking.

And then there was the little two year old girl who peaked at me while I was in my little office and smiled and waved and flirted with me. Big bright blue eyes and short curly hair that would bring a smile to the grouchiest person.

A five year old little boy came in to get his glasses adjusted and played with my squishy stress ball while I worked on his glasses, his giggles were contagious.

And last but not least, the cute little six year old that was foremost in my mind. He was quite interested in a case we sell for glasses that starts out as blue and gray and opens all the way and ends up being gray and black. I asked him if he liked our magic case and he proceeded to inform me that it was not magic. He explained to me in detail how it was made to work like it did. A budding engineer I think. When I told him I really thought it was magic he said, "Well, you can believe that if you need to."

And so today all these different children, each so beautiful in their own way, made me smile and brought much JOY to my life.

JOY today came in the form of oranges,
tangerines,
grapefruit,
and kumquats
not too many days off the trees in Florida. Like eating sunshine!

Long Work Day

Today was a very long day for me. I left home this morning at 7:00 A.M. and just got home at 7:00 P.M. Saturday is usually not that long of a work day but this morning we had our store meeting and I have to close on Saturday so, that is the way it came down.

But it was not an unpleasant day, we really had a good meeting and a good day. But I am glad to be home at last and I don't have to work tomorrow. So that is a good thing.

On my way to work this morning the sun was rising behind me and what a show it made. I never actually saw it rise but I saw the preparation for its spectacular entry in those beautiful shades of color that only nature can furnish. So, JOY was in the sunrise this morning.

And I am also thankful that my parents raised me to be able to have respect for all kinds of people and not to be afraid of them if they are different, or in this case, quite bizarre. We are after all , creatures of the universe and deserve to be treated well by others.

Not Complainin' but my lips are chapped!

Back in October I told you I'd heard about "A Complaint Free World" campaign by a minister I saw on the Today Show. You can read about it here. Well, today I got the rubber bracelet. So I'm starting my 21 day try to not complain period. It's very timely too because I'm having a store meeting early in the morning and we've gotten a little negative about our customers. I'm including myself here.

And this is what brought me JOY today.

And I'd like to say that I have chapped lips. Now this in itself is no big deal probably but the fact is, I've never had chapped lips before. Not that I remember. Not that I knew and I know they are chapped for sure. THEY hurt! Chapped lips HURT! And now I understand why they make chapstick and why people use it.

This is the chapstick I bought and it is very soothing. Thank you Chapstick for making chapstick.

Bread! The Staff of Life

Remember that Panini maker sandwich press thing my mother bought me last week? The one I really wasn't even sure why she thought I'd want one? Well......I've had fun with it this past week. I've had a steak and cheese pita bread panini, I've had a Reuben, I've had grilled chicken and cheese and brocoli.

Tonight I am carmelizing onions for a roast beef panini. And the best part is I'm having this luciuos yummy sandwich on homemade whole wheat bread!

And that is the JOY I've experienced today because it was a whole loaf delivered to me at work, still a little warm, by my mom's cousin's wife. It is crusty on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside~ my oh my!

I wish my digital camera wasn't dead. I'd take a pic!

It's Cold in Georgia Tonight

Tonight it will be in the teens here, single digits in some parts of the state but listen to this

........snow flurries predicted for Daytona Beach Florida tonight!

One of my most favorite places in the world is a town in Florida called Plant City. It is the strawberry capitol of the world. They have a huge strawberry festival in February where you can get the best strawberry shortcake you've ever had in your life.

The berries could be in trouble tonight, but I saw on the news where the farmers run sprinklers on them and that way they will freeze inside the water and stay at 32 degrees. If the temp goes lower it won't hurt them, maybe. AND that is where I find JOY today. I love those strawberries and I hope they survive!

WOW!

Ok, my new look is a little bold but I am needing color in my life so I hope it doesn't knock you out. If you have a minute and are interested, I found this Cherokee writing. It is "The Legend of the Cedar Tree". It appeals to me because of my love of American Indian heritage and because the Cedar Tree has a special meaning for me.

Finding "Joy"

I forgot to say in the post below that I am going to post something I found joy in every day. My best friend's name in grammer school was "Joy". There's name you don't see used much anymore. It's a beautiful name. It should come back in style.
Ok, what made my heart sing today, what did I find JOY in? I found it in the pictures of my granddaughter's birthday party her mother posted on her blog today.

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature."
Anne Frank

I am seeking for the year to come, pure joy in everything I experience. I need JOY! I've lost it along the way and I want it!

Some people believe that happiness is simply a state of mind. Some people find it spiritually, some people believe it can only come from helping others.

I can not answer the question right now what it would take to make me happy but I know of things that are making me unhappy at this odd time in my life. Some of these things I can change, some I can't.



That sort of reminds me of a Chinese Proverb I read once. I'm not quoting it right probably but it goes something like,

"The bird sings not because he knows the answers but because he has a song."

I've got to find my song!

Well would you look at this. We have a new year.
2008!

Can't wait to see what it will bring to us.

I know without doubt it will be a year of change for me.

I read somewhere that things happen in the even numbered years and that the number eight stands for infinity.

I wish for all of you a wonderful year full of love and peace and happinesss.

"Happy New Year!"

Love,

Robbin

Confession

I absolutely adore the movie " The Sound of Music" and if you don' believe me, just ask my grown sons to sing "Doe, a deer, a female deer......"! Ok, they probably wouldn't sing it for you but I promise you they both know the words and the melody!

It is on tonight, I am watching! Even though I've seen it a million times, doesn't matter, I love it.

Friday Morning Ramblings

My car decided he needed some attention during the holiday season and he went to the shop yesterday and had some brake work done. Thank goodness he didn't need shoes but only pads and that saved me a bundle.

My parents went to a doctor's appointment in a nearby bigger town yesterday. When they got home my mother told me she had a surprise for me and to come up there. The day before, after our shopping spree she and I had lunch together. Because I couldn't face the same leftovers we'd eaten for the past few days, I made us what was basically a grilled cheese with some of the ham in it. I told her we were having a panini.

I guess that made her think I'd like to have a panini making machine. So that was my surprise. Alrighty then. (My mother has a weakness for small kitchen appliances and since she has no more room for anymore, she thought I needed it.) It's a cool little machine and I'm sure I'll use it.


I go back to work today after being off three days. I'm working today and the weekend and then have a few more days off. Finally we'll get back to normal after next week. I can't believe it's going to be 2008!

I'm not sure where 2007 went but I'm not sad to say goodbye to it. In a lot of ways it has been a rough year for me, at least emotionally. Turning the big 50 knocked the wind out of me and age usually never bothered me before. Trying to figure out just what I want to do that will make me happier has been a hard thing. So...I'm hoping 2008 will bring changes that will affect me positively. I'm ready for change. So we will see.

As Promised

Ok, I said last week I had lots to share and here's one thing. I attended our company's year end conference in Atlanta weekend before last. I always dread going to these things for a number of reasons but without fail I usually enjoy them once I go. This time we were surprised by finding out that Randy Jackson of American Idol has designed a line of frames and our company will be selling them exclusively for the first few months they are out. It helps that American Idol will start its new season in January. At our banquet we got another big surprise and that was that Randy was actually there to meet us. He was very gracious and went to each table and shook everyone's hand and talked to each of us for a moment or two. There was probably over 400 people there.

So.....in January, if you are an American Idol fan, pay attention to Randy's glasses because those are the very same frames we are selling. It was all very
exciting.



I also wanted to mention the last meeting we had.

It touched me in ways I could never really explain and for many reasons.


First of all, it was unlike anything I've ever witnessed before. Another reason is that if you knew me well or spent any amount of time around me, you'd know I have a "thing" for the country of Africa. And yet another reason I was blown away is because of the message it brought to me.


We all met up in a big room the last hour and as we filed in, we heard music, drums really. When we entered, up on stage in beautiful African garb were 5 people playing drums. And in each of our seats were beautiful hand carved, traditional African drums, all different in size and design. They were beautiful! As we filed in, the musicians kept right on playing and smiling. As we sat down it was only natural for most of us to start pounding on our own drums.

After we were all seated, the only lady in the group put her drum down and jumped up and started dancing. Before long she was communicating with us only with her hands. Without a word from her this huge group of people followed each beat she gave us in unison and before long we were actually making music.

It is their purpose to show a group of people what can be accomplished if they listen to each other and support one another. If you click here you can read about them and even hear the music we heard when we first saw them.

I really, really wanted to keep one of those drums! Great stress relievers you see and fun too! Not to mention how beautiful each one was.

It was great to meet Randy Jackson but this impressed me so much more. I wish everyone could experience it! I hope maybe I can bring back to my own store some of the energy and unity that this experience gave me.

Afterwards

My mother loves to shop the day after Christmas and since she found out I am off work today, guess who is going with her at this very early hour? Yep, that would be me.

She buys all her Christmas paper and ribbons after Christmas. And since she always insist I use what she has during Christmas, it is the least I can do to go with her. So I'm drinking coffee and eating toast and getting ready to meet her at seven o'clock for what is always an adventure!

Just Wondering

Back in the spring, just before my 50th birthday, a wonderful lady by the name of Linda commented on my blog. She too was feeling some of the things I was feeling about becoming 50. She became a regular reader through out the rest of the spring and summer but early fall she disappeared.

She never had her own blog and so I had no way of checking up on her. I do know that she was from Southern California.

I was just thinking of her and hoping wherever she is,she is fine and having a wonderful Christmas. I miss her.

Sometimes in life you can see things so clearly. I think this is the times you give. Other times you need to stop and listen. This is when you learn.

I am in the learning stage at the moment.

Without fail in the past when I have been in this spot someone comes and touches my life and I learn valuable lessons. Someone crosses my path that I may or may not know and shares with me an action or words or maybe just a look. And then suddenly I know answers that I'd forgotten or maybe never even knew.

The tricky part is that I think these people cross my path more often than I know and I miss it. Today I'm going to quit fighting my own pride and open my heart to whatever it is I'm suppose to learn and I am going to remember this lesson could come from the least likely person I come in contact with.

Merry Christmas,
Love,
Robbin

Just call me Scrooge

My oldest son is home for Christmas, he came in last night and then promptly left to go meet some people he went to school with and left me babysitting his dog Buddy. Buddy has an attachment problem with his father. He never ever settled down. He cried and moaned and paced the whole night. Oh well, at least I didn't have to change diapers, he is potty trained.

I have to work today and tomorrow. Tomorrow we are only opened from nine until three so it won't be such a long day.

Christmas is hard for me sometimes and this year is for sure. Living so far away from my granddaughter is no fun during Christmas. Being single and not having brothers or sisters, I sometimes feel sorry for myself and feel left out of the gift thing. I know Christmas is not suppose to be about the gifts but it's hard to hear people say what their husbands got them or their brothers or sisters. Some people do stockings and I would have to fill my own stocking if I wanted one. My stepfather always asks me to wrap my mother's gifts.

Ok, enough of that! Christmas is hard for lots of people for different reasons. If it's about giving then I've done my part but found no joy much there. Next year I think I will find a place to go where people really need things and maybe I can help them.

Something is missing here and I need to search for the true meaning of this season because I am really and truly lost!

Out of the Mouth of Babes

On the afternoon local news there was a story on how the Sheriff's department sponsors a "Shop with a Cop" for children that are from poor families.

It always amazes me that when someone takes a child Christmas shopping that might not otherwise get anything, there's always one that says, "It's not about me, it's mostly about my family."

He picked out presents for his family first.
We could learn a lot from kids if we'd only take the time to listen.

Two Days with my Mother and I live to tell about it!

I have spent the most part of the last two days making Christmas gifts of food with my mother. It's been fun even though she tells me what to do every step of the way and if I venture off to do something my own way it's not a good thing. She and I think so differently that if there's a question about a recipe, we never agree on what the answer is. But anyway, we did good and we got a lot done. And laughed our way through some of those moments where one of us could have gotten our feelings hurt.

Tomorrow our store is having a little Christmas party. I'm off but I will go in for the party. I kept seeing Rachael Ray make this fudge wreath, so I had to try it and it is what I will be taking to the party. It's enough pure chocolate to kill somebody. I put pecans in it. But it's pretty and it was simple to make. And so...one more little thing to make tomorrow and I'm done with my Christmas gifts.

I have so much to share........

....but not enough time to blog it all right now. So in the meantime, let me show you what I spent my time doing last night. These are gifts for my employees at work. They are a lot of fun to make. My mother has a book with the recipes and it includes the recipe card which you tie to the jars. I hope they will like them. I'd like one!





We had a hard time coming up with enough large mouth jars but we finally did! You can't buy them this time of the year.


All the recipient has to do is add the liquid ingredients and stick in the oven.

I think I'll tell them they have to bring me a taste of whatever they make.

As soon as things slow down I've got lots to say so don't give up on me.
Wishing everyone Happy Holidays! I hope you all get whatever it is your heart desires this year.
Love,
Robbin

Dentist Visit & a Hair Cut TOO!

Six months ago when I went for my cleaning, my teeth turned against me. I ended up spending nearly all summer having teeth filled, having a root canal and having one pulled.

Today no cavities, thank goodness!

I had my haircut too. I'm not fond of being touched, prodded and poked, so it was a big thing to have a dental appointment and a hair appointment on the same day!

I spend my days in a retail environment, serving customer's needs.

It can be challenging some days to say the least.

SO what computer game am I so into at the moment? A game called Fashion Fits.

I'm running a clothing store and trying hard not to lose my customers. I have to offer gift wrapping, fitting room service, and keep the shelves stocked, all the time hearing customers complain!

I must be nuts!

An Odd Experience

Sort of an odd thing happened Saturday night when I was spending some time with my best friend's daughter, Robbin. I can't seem to get it out of my head, and of course it could have been just coincidence but things like this always make me wonder.
To explain why it affected me the way it did I first have to tell you about my Grandmother whom I called Granny Jo. She died over twenty years ago and she was very very special to me. I didn't really get to know her well until I was 15 and from that time on I spend a good deal of time with her. Back in the seventies, you may remember a song by Jesse Colter called, "I'm not Lisa". It was sort of a mournful ballad and once you heard it, it was hard to get it out of your brain. My grandmother was not a singer in anyway and I don't even remember her listening to much music at all and so when this happened it stuck in my mind. She and I were in the car going somewhere and she started singing this song. It cracked me up because I'd never heard her do that and so I kidded her about it a lot. She liked the lyrics, even found them sort of funny. And so this is just one of those things I remember in the back of my head about a short moment in our lives. And something I'd not thought about in years.


Now, that said, here's what happened Saturday night with little Robbin. She and I were shopping for a gift for her to give her mom for her birthday when she announced she was hungry. I asked what she wanted and she told me maybe a hot dog. She then proceeded to tell me that close to her daycare is a place where they have great hot dogs. I knew she was talking about the pool hall here in our little town. For years they've sold hot dogs that some people go nuts over. I told her that my Granny Jo used to work in the building next to her daycare a long time ago and she sometimes enjoyed a pool room hot dog too. She sort of giggled and then proceeded to talk about the hot dogs a little more and then out of no where she sang, "I'm not Lisa". I nearly fainted. I looked at her and I said, "Where do you know that song from?" and she just giggled and said she heard it from some of her Daddy's music.

She and I sung that song the rest of our time together that night. I didn't mention to her why I was so surprised to hear those lyrics come out of her mouth during the time we were talking about my grandmother. Coincidence? Maybe, but I prefer to think that somehow the love Robbin and I share and the love my Grandmother and I shared was a catalyst for a tiny little communication between my grandmother and myself. All because of pool hall hot dogs and a really old song. Who knows!

Life....not so simple anymore!

I really like to keep my life simple. It comes from years of raising kids and having to be here and there, do this and that, and so I am somewhat of a hermit now and don't do or go anywhere much I don't really want to do or go.

Since early November, I can't seem to get "simple" back. I can't get caught up with things that really need doing. Things I've wanted to do have become complicated in one way or the other. And then there are things I don't want to do but have no other choice.

I have to go to Atlanta this weekend for a business meeting. I still have to get a haircut, find "cocktail" attire, (shopping for clothes is my least favorite thing in the world to do!) My car needs servicing since it looks like I'm going in my car with a passenger. (I hate driving and especially with a passenger). There's the usual end of the year pressure at work to make budget and of course the company chooses this time of the year to send out projects on new frame pricing and that sort of thing.

Oh well, I suppose I will survive but I can't wait for things to calm down a little.

Today is Steph's 40th birthday. We celebrated it last night. I'd been working on her present for months and it was worth it, she enjoyed it. I found a big hat box with roses on it and filled it with some of her favorite things. It was a hit and then her husband took her out to eat and her daughter and I made her a birthday cake. We had a nice night.

I have to work today but am off tomorrow. I have a dentist appointment just for a cleaning and then I suppose I'd better get some shopping done and get my hair cut. I'm off again on Friday but my mother has asked me to help her prepare for a Christmas Party she is giving. And then I go to Atlanta on Saturday afternoon and will not be back until Monday.

Oh well, "tis the season" as they say! But I'm looking forward to my simple life again.

A Very Productive Morning....Right!

My schedule this week is a little different and I'm closing tonight which means I don't go in to work until 12:30 so I have a little time to do some things I need to do.

I've some jewelry I need to make, but I'm not really in the mood at the moment, so maybe not that.

I need to vacuum the dog hair on the rug but I don't really want to do that either at the moment.

Come to think of it, I don't really want to do anything but sit here and drink coffee. GO Figure!

In Seventeen Years.......

...a lot can happen. During that span of time your marriage can end and you can face the pain of explaining why it seems two little boys got divorced too. You can survive financial problems which includes garnishment of wages, being evicted, and losing your job. You can completely raise two very young boys to grown men. You can survive teenage rebellion and all that goes with that which might include the dangers of drugs and alcohol. You can lose your pride and slowly gain it back, you can face embarrassment and ridicule from the people that you thought cared about you. You can work three jobs and miss sports events where someone else's parents are cheering your kids on.

You can also experience the joy of having two boys who without doubt love you and survived it all side by side with you. You can stand proud beside those two little boys as men and know without doubt it was all worth it. You can experience the joy of becoming a grandparent and feel the warmth of that child's love and devotion. You take what you've been through and become a different person and you look back at all you learned and realized that it was all ok.

So....why does the person who walked away from our family seventeen years ago need my forgiveness now? And am I a big enough person to tell him I forgave him a long time ago for the pain he caused my children? Is forgiveness really forgiveness if you don't tell the person you forgive him, if you just know it in your heart? And what would he think if I told him his children forgave him a long time ago too and now they really just feel nothing for him? NOTHING is so much worse than anything I can imagine and I don't want to have to tell him that because he should already know that. But I'm sure he doesn't.

We've moved on, the three of us, my sons and myself are not the same people he knew then but he is the same. And that is the sad part. Mostly for him, not us.

Seventeen years is a long time in the span of a lifetime, especially in the life of a child. And you can't just say "I'm sorry" and it be alright. Those years are lost. I wish I could just tell him the best gift he could give to his sons is to leave them alone now. Just like he's done for the past seventeen years. It's a good gift. And it's one he chose to give so don't take it back now.

Tuesday Morning Ramblings

It's Tuesday which means I am up early for Conference Call. UGH!

It is cold here this morning but nothing bad like a lot of the rest of the country is having. (Am I nuts thinking of moving to the Pacific Northwest?)
Most people move to warmer places when they get older, I'm of course doing it backwards. But then I was always a little backwards!

I saw the sunset yesterday and the sunrise this morning and I can't decide which was more beautiful. They were both the kind that look as if the whole sky is on fire. I think it was a toss up.

Happy Tuesday!

Three Phone Calls

One I'm ignoring, hoping he'll go away and I'm mad because how can he possibly think anyone wants to hear anything he has to say after all this time! He thinks its ok to turn up every ten years or so but he doesn't know what havoc he plays with two lives. He's too self centered to know that and though for years I've tried to understand it, I am mad now and if you think a mother stops protecting her kids when they are grown you are wrong! It's too late!

The second one coming from my oldest son who once again needs help in the money kind of way. I help as much as I can and the money isn't what bothers me but the hope that this time he will be able to make it on his own is dampened. But its ok.

The third one I wanted and one that makes me smile and the voice on the other end always calms me and makes me know somebody cares for the right reasons. Just because I am me.

We Interrupt this program.....

...for a special presentation going on out my window this morning. There is quite a lot going on. In fact, from my seat here, its like watching a special presentation produced by nature herself!

First of all there's a troop of squirrels gathering nuts furiously from the pecan tree closest to the window. They are like acrobats! It is amazing how they go out all the way to the end of a limb and grab a nut without falling.

At the same time, the wind is blowing and golden leaves are dancing around in a circle, like ballet dancers. As the wind blows the tall Georgia Pines are swaying back and forth in a dance and in perfect unison. In the background for all this activity is the fog that is lingering this morning.

I catch sight of two little birds with bright yellow breasts that are sitting way out on a limb of the pecan tree chattering to the squirrels as they busily gather their nuts.

My goodness! How lucky am I to witness all of this going on all at the same time this morning? SO much better than the TODAY Show!

Catching Up a Little

My blogging, which I love to do, has suffered in the last few weeks. It's been our big Contact Lens Event again at work and it takes a lot out of me. This time with the economy a little weak, we had to work so hard to get what we could and even then we were short of our budget which is disappointing but its over now and we can get on with things. I am glad.

Also I'm working on a few projects for Christmas gifts and so my spare time has been devoted to that.

This morning I'm up early for no particular reason, I certainly could have slept late if I'd wanted but it has become my habit to get up when I wake up and lately that's been early even when I don't have to work.

Thanksgiving was so strange to me this year, first my mother deciding we would go out to eat, me deciding I'd rather not, no big deal to me, I cooked my own Thanksgiving lunch and was perfectly happy but then my mother on Thanksgiving day calls me to say they're not going out to eat after all and she was cooking and to be there by three o'clock. (I had already cooked myself and was not hungry at three o'clock) Whatever! I haven't figured out that whole thing yet, but I went up, picked at some food, visited and came home. The good thing is I've had my own leftovers all week.

So, that's about it for me for now. Hopefully I'll be back to my normal blogging rate soon. Hope everyone's holiday was a nice peaceful one.
Love,
Robbin

Enjoying the Moment

As I experience this journey towards menopause with all the ups and downs, I've mentioned before of the mood swings, the depression, the fogginess of the brain (sounds fun, huh?) but only once or twice have I mentioned the period I go through sometimes of complete and utter calmness. Today was one of those days. As intense as the other things can be, this tide of calmness is just as intense.

It's like nothing could upset me. My heart beats slower, and my mind and body are in sinc and it like utopia. Of course on the downside, it could end as fast as it happens but I've learned to enjoy it while it lasts. There are no tears, no bad thoughts, no anxiety, just peace. I like it. I can't think of what to compare it with except maybe a very calm sea before the storm. UH OH.

Just another Sunday

I was off today, which is good. I like off on Sundays. I slept late, until seven thirty, maybe would have slept longer but I forgot to unset my alarm. It was ok, I was done sleeping anyway.

I did a little housekeeping, had a pot of coffee and watched three movies. None of them very impressive. I slept through one and I'm not interested in it enough to go back and see what I missed.

I'm at the moment cooking brown rice that is suppose to cook in ten minutes in the microwave, we'll see how that goes, and I'm going to have tuna salad with onions in it because, well, I like onions in my tuna salad.

I have a book to read but I'm not in the mood to read.
I have other things to do too but I'm not in the mood.
I am actually sort of, kind of, in the mood to make jewelry. Maybe I will.
Right now I'm going to make my tuna salad and try it with my brown rice.

The Spoiled Child

This painting was done by Jean-Baptiste Greuze in 1765 and is commonly known as "The Spoiled Child".

The reason I am posting this work of art is because I am the spoiled child this week. I was really beginning to look forward to Thanksgiving this year and more to the point the meal my mother usually prepares. And then.....she calls me and very cheerfully informs me that this year she is not cooking, we are going out to eat. And to add to my disappointment they've chosen the one place I am not very fond of.

So, I'm pouting and kicking my foot at the dirt. I could cook for myself but that's no fun. So, my Thanksgiving is up in the air!

A Rare Girl's night out!

Steph and little Robbin and I had a night out last night. We ate out, saw a movie and had a very nice time. We hardly ever get to do that and it was fun. We saw Bee Movie and it was great!

Apparently Oprah is filming a show in Macon Georgia today. It is 27 degrees in Macon this morning and there are lots of people standing in line waiting to see the taping which won't be until one o'clock this afternoon. Now, that's saying something for Georgia people, we can't take standing out in cold weather for very long.

Confession

I adore Shirley Temple. I loved her as a child, I love her now. And so.....now that my granddaughter and my little namesake are both old enough finally to appreciate her movies, that is what they are getting from me for Christmas. I've found each of them a Shirley Temple tote bag which I am gathering DVD' s and a few other things with the same theme to fill it with. Isn't it amazing that a little girl that made movies in the 1930's can still capture the full attention of a little girl in 2007? (and a big girl too?)

A Squirrel of a Different Color

I saw a black Squirrel this morning. I wasn't able to get his picture but this is exactly what he looked like. I've never ever seen a black squirrel. He was gathering nuts all alone early this morning. I hope I'll see him again!

Dinner Time

Last night my friend, who is working in New Orleans, ate at a French restaurant and had a Mediterranean Pasta Dish. As he does sometimes, he snapped a picture of his dinner with his phone. Here's what it looked like.



Now, because I had gotten some lovely whole wheat pasta myself and because this sounded so yummy, I made the poor man inspect the dish both with his eyes and his taste buds and tonight I made my version. Here's how it looked.



Now I can't tell you how his tasted but mine was wonderful! Oh, and I had a spinach salad with apples and toasted walnuts with cherry balsamic. It was good too.

Moving Forward

When this year started and I looked out my window at the leafless trees and the brown grass, I was in such turmoil about exactly what I wanted at this time in my life.

When Spring came and the leaves reappeared and flowers bloomed, my birthday neared bringing with it the fear I faced of turning 50. I still struggled with the fact that I was unhappy with where I was both physically and mentally.

Feeling alone and isolated from pretty much everything and everybody I knew I had to understand myself again and get a true answer. My head and my heart argued and fought and went to bed mad at each other many nights!

The leaves are gone again and green has been replaced with gold and brown outside my window and two things have happened. I know I must first take care of me, physically and mentally. And second, sometimes you have to follow your heart and go where it leads and I've decided to do just that.

Tuesday Ramblings

I've been so out of it for the last few days. I woke up Saturday morning with a cold out of the blue. Sore throat, congestion, fever, the whole works. Not until this morning have I felt human again. Still I'm a little weak and shaky but I'll be fine as the day goes on I think. I took two sick days and I usually do not do that, but I'm glad I did. I don't think I would have made it through the days if I'd tried.
Because it is Tuesday I've had conference call this morning. Same old thing of trying to convince people who don't have money to buy themselves a pair of glasses.
WHATEVER! Its like a broken record to me.
Nothing much new or exciting.
Hope you all have a good week!

As promised......

...here's the details of the party.
My youngest son left last night and I'm alone again. And a little more settled down from it all.
The party was pretty. It fit my vision pretty well, full of apples and roses. I put some pretty picture frames on the tables with pictures of my mother at different times in her life. As you can see, it was really RED. Most of the guest wore red (the invitation asked them to if they wanted.) That helped too.








We did surprise her. She sort of walked around in shock the rest of the afternoon and she kept saying "I can't believe everybody knew about this except me."
Right after this moment, her husband handed her those dozen roses, I handed her my dozen and our little Robbin handed her four roses. And then her grandsons came in and handed her a dozen roses each, so she ended up with over four dozen roses. Red of course. I'm hoping someone got pictures of this moment. I didn't.
After we let her mingle a little and people ate, I read my list of "70 things you may or may not know about my mother." That was a lot of fun and went over well. And then we had someone bring the cake in. We sung happy birthday and she attempted to blow out the 70 candles, (took two tries) and then she opened her presents.
It couldn't have worked out better, I was proud and it was nice to see family members we'd not seen in a while and get to visit.


This is my mother in the center with her sisters. My Aunt Ellen on the left and my Aunt Betty on the right. Notice how close my mother came to wearing Red herself.

IF you're thinking.......

......its hard to get good pictures of your little boys now, just wait until they are all grown up and responsible young MEN......



Their ability to make faces reaches a whole new level!

Red Stang!

My son who is visiting from Washington rented a car. He's so good too. Staying with the RED theme of his grandmother's party, he was given a red Mustang. I wish he could leave it here, I'm kind of fond of it.

Doesn't Anybody like Anyone Anymore?

I seem to be drowning in negativity. It is constantly surrounding me. Everyone around me is constantly complaining about someone else. I'm tired of it. I try to always see the positive in everyone. In the last month or so , all I've heard from anybody is negative things about someone else. Not ONE positive thing can I remember. Not "I really like Jim, he's a good person!" Not "Rose is so good at her job!"
MY GOODNESS! Doesn't anyone I know have anything good to say about anyone???
I am overdosed on NEGATIVITY and I've got to separate myself from it somehow. I think I'll run away!

My Daughter In Law...

...wasn't able to come to 0ur party but she sent me a little something for after the party. She's a good girl, I love her.

A Success!

I'm still sort of in a daze, but we made it through, surprised my mother for sure, had a great time with family and friends and I couldn't be more pleased. With the help of my Aunt, Steph(my best friend), and my two wonderful sons, and my stepfather everything was perfect. And I'm so glad it is over!

We're hoping somebody got some good pictures and will send them to us. My camera needs replacing, the pictures I got were grainy and dark and plus, I was sort of in the moment and didn't take too many at all. I got some of the preparations and a good one of the cake which was yummy by the way, and the sign but other than that, nada.

I promise to write more of the details and how it all came down when I settle down some. One of my sons is still here and I'm going to enjoy some time with him because he'll be gone before I know it and I don't want to miss a minute.

For today, I'm taking it easy, visiting with my son and basking in my glory.

Tomorrow's the Big Day

I can't believe the day is almost here. Tonight I should have both my sons sleeping in my house, that alone makes me smile.

As far as I know My mother still hasn't a clue. She is in fact planning on attending a gospel sing tomorrow afternoon. She doesn't know she is not going to get there.

I've got lots of last minutes things to do today and some shopping for a few more things and have to stock my fridge for the boys.

I'm up early to get started and I hope the fact that I just put the coffee on but forgot to add the water isn't a preview of how my day is going to be today.

Happy Friday guys, see you after the party!

My Poor Mother

My Stepfather tells me that my mother has come in contact this past few days with a few people that are coming to the party and of course they say to her "What are you doing for your birthday?" and he says she tells them "Oh, nothing special, we are going to wait until my 75th and have a party. HAHAHA! She says this because I told her that a few weeks ago when I apologized for not being able to have her one.

You see, back in January I asked her if she wanted a party this year or wanted to wait until her 75th and she said, "This year, I may not be here on my 75th." So that was all that was said about it until a few weeks ago when I told her I'd not been able to do it.

Because she is so sharp, and ah, NOSY, lots of people have told John and me that we'd never pull this off, but I do believe we are going to do it. John says she told him last week, "I guess I should have planned my own party!".......HAHAHAH! (She has so little faith in me.)
Anyway, I have two more days and I am ready for this to happen! I'm excited too because my son is coming in tomorrow night.