Ryan and Rhiannon are almost home -- I can't wait to see them. We haven't talked to Ryan since his trip to Haiti. And its been a WHOLE WEEK since we've seen the peanut. I know, I know -- I should be thankful right? She's just so fun. We got a picture this week of her with TWO piggies (ponytails) It was cute.
But while I wait I'll fill you in on our week:
It was a long several days. I am convinced that what Randy had was food poisoning. Talked to a number of people and did some Googling too. He was pretty classic case. About 4 days to get back to himself after that. The throwing up finally quit late Sunday (if I remember right).
Nick got sick too - same type of symptoms, only not as long in duration. The reason I think (I'm Dr. V you know) was that he didn't actually eat the turkey. But he did hear people behind the counter when he went to Subway at lunch time talking about the way the turkey looked. He had a salad. But one of the things that bugs me about Subway (being a vegetarian) is that they use their little plastic covered hands to touch my vegetarian sandwich and also the meat people's stuff. Ewww! I think they were touching the bad turkey and then made his salad. It hit him really hard too - but like I said it wasn't as long lasting.
I wasn't feeling so hot late Saturday and on Sunday - but I truly believe it was from watching the 'cookie tossing' here! Again, Ewww!
This has been a busy week. Lots to do at work - though I believe I have things under control now. (That's asking for trouble, don't you think? To say that?) Been working on a special project too. I think that's almost done now.
I've been asked to create some advertising stuff for a local acting group - The Pearl City Players. So am looking forward to using some creativity toward something useful (??). Volunteer of course!
Mom had her birthday this week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I think we might do Mexican Sunday afternoon. I haven't heard back from her on that yet. She's a busy woman too!
Randy said he saw mom at Hib's this afternoon. She and dad were just getting back from Iowa City from a dr. appointment for dad. Sounds like the surgery did what they are hoping - but the foot still isn't healing too well. Please add him to your prayers that he heals soon. It's been so long!
Kinda got my house presentable after (ahem) my daughter helped clean out some cupboards last week. Don't get me wrong - I TRULY appreciated her deep cleaning. But it's been sort of funny this week. There were some things that still needed put away - and Randy and I are like "uhm? where do these go?" AND she sorted out our good forks/knives/spoons from our daily ones. Problem is that there are only a few each of those things (like 2 or 3 spoons -- I dunno where they went -- maybe Nicky has been digging in the back yard again like he used to when he was little). So we've been in a quandry of how to eat our food. Last night I ate some applesauce and the only spoon I had was a tiny little plastic spoon of Jaimee's. *tee hee*
BUT IT IS NICE to have things straightened up at least in a couple of spots in our house. The hall closet is another story! Wonder how long she is going to be home this time? Hmmm?
Ahh -- I should say good-bye and go wait with the dogs at the door until our little family walks in the door. They have to be close!
Friday, March 26
Sunday, March 21
Saturday, March 20
ANOTHER SUBWAY EXPERIENCE ...
Assuming the train we rode in the Chicago area could also be called a 'subway' -- we had a 'subway' experience of a different sort last night. Still are actually.
Rhiannon was still here. It was nearing Sabbath. We were all hungry. Randy went to Subway near us.
Within an hour after he ate his turkey breast sandwich and literally minutes of when Rhiannon left - Randy started to say how he didn't feel so good. He got sicker and sicker. Pale white, throwing up, thought he was going to pass out from dizziness ... repeat ... repeat ... add in diahrea (sp?) at some point and repeat the whole ordeal all through the night.
This morning he still feels nasty though the throwing up seems to have calmed down into alternate cases of burping and hiccups. Still has the diahrea (sp?).
I wanted to take him in last night to the emergency room or at least the Urgent Care place down the street. But he refused. He was sick enough he didn't want me to go to bed an leave him down here alone. So I stayed. He's not normally like that.
When we got up to our bedroom it was FREEZING in there. We'd had some nice weather and the window was open and last evening the arctic blew back in and dropped the temps 30 degrees. So he was horribly chilled (he had a fever to boot) for a time.
Take away what I just said about the throwing up going away -- 9:56 a.m. and it's back.
Needless to say he isn't going to church. I stayed home from SS to be with him. I was going to go to church. Think now I'll run drop some stuff off and come back.
Rhiannon was still here. It was nearing Sabbath. We were all hungry. Randy went to Subway near us.
Within an hour after he ate his turkey breast sandwich and literally minutes of when Rhiannon left - Randy started to say how he didn't feel so good. He got sicker and sicker. Pale white, throwing up, thought he was going to pass out from dizziness ... repeat ... repeat ... add in diahrea (sp?) at some point and repeat the whole ordeal all through the night.
This morning he still feels nasty though the throwing up seems to have calmed down into alternate cases of burping and hiccups. Still has the diahrea (sp?).
I wanted to take him in last night to the emergency room or at least the Urgent Care place down the street. But he refused. He was sick enough he didn't want me to go to bed an leave him down here alone. So I stayed. He's not normally like that.
When we got up to our bedroom it was FREEZING in there. We'd had some nice weather and the window was open and last evening the arctic blew back in and dropped the temps 30 degrees. So he was horribly chilled (he had a fever to boot) for a time.
Take away what I just said about the throwing up going away -- 9:56 a.m. and it's back.
Needless to say he isn't going to church. I stayed home from SS to be with him. I was going to go to church. Think now I'll run drop some stuff off and come back.
Friday, March 19
Post #4) TODAY'S FINALE ... finally! WINDY CITY, huh?
Driving and talking is profitable.
It occurred to me on the drive that if I would empty out under my buffet (and get rid of a few things), move my games to that spot, I would have an EMPTY useable shelf in my pantry. (Which was really crammed packed with stuff and more stuff.)
So having taken off Wednesday as well as Monday and Tuesday - I decided that I would do just that. I pulled out the initial seeds for a yard sale (from under the buffet).
Then Rhiannon got going. Here is where the story began all those posts ago -- how does she do it all -- where does she get the strength and stamina?
It is/was a case of one thing leading to another and then another. She kept pulling stuff out, washing, attempting to organize (my house is CHAOS - dirty filthy CHAOS -- I'm so embarrassed, though in my defense I have said it has been in need of a deep clean -- so I knew it was dirty filthy CHAOS).
Her plan was to leave on Thursday. She decided to spend another night because of the enormity of the task. Of course I'm back at work so she is tackling this all herself. We did paint a pantry last night, and I putzed a little. After being at work since 7:30 a.m. I was tired. She was tired.
BUT IT IS LOOKING SO MUCH BETTER. She says she is staying until 6-ish today. Then she heading to Omaha to pick up her hubby from the airport for a joyful little family reunion.
PUBLICALLY let me state a HUGE thank you to my daughter. Love you as much as all of the 'gross' you found. And you KNOW that's a lot!
It occurred to me on the drive that if I would empty out under my buffet (and get rid of a few things), move my games to that spot, I would have an EMPTY useable shelf in my pantry. (Which was really crammed packed with stuff and more stuff.)
So having taken off Wednesday as well as Monday and Tuesday - I decided that I would do just that. I pulled out the initial seeds for a yard sale (from under the buffet).
Then Rhiannon got going. Here is where the story began all those posts ago -- how does she do it all -- where does she get the strength and stamina?
It is/was a case of one thing leading to another and then another. She kept pulling stuff out, washing, attempting to organize (my house is CHAOS - dirty filthy CHAOS -- I'm so embarrassed, though in my defense I have said it has been in need of a deep clean -- so I knew it was dirty filthy CHAOS).
Her plan was to leave on Thursday. She decided to spend another night because of the enormity of the task. Of course I'm back at work so she is tackling this all herself. We did paint a pantry last night, and I putzed a little. After being at work since 7:30 a.m. I was tired. She was tired.
BUT IT IS LOOKING SO MUCH BETTER. She says she is staying until 6-ish today. Then she heading to Omaha to pick up her hubby from the airport for a joyful little family reunion.
PUBLICALLY let me state a HUGE thank you to my daughter. Love you as much as all of the 'gross' you found. And you KNOW that's a lot!
Post #3) PIAZZA'S HIT THE SPOT .. and yet more!
By the time we walked to Piazza's which wasn't all that far from where we were, we were ready to eat. BUT not before we added a bit of hilarity to our diary of events!
They had a revolving door. We had 3 adults and one baby in a good sized stroller. I revolved through. Randy followed with the stroller sort of folded up. UHM, but not folded up enough. He got wedged in the revolving door unable to go forward or backward. He had an amused "oh know, now what" look to him! And Rhiannon was outside laughing her head off and I was inside laughing my head off.
Finally he pushed through and got back OUT. They opened a door to the side and let him in through it. Oh my it was funny.
After we were seated - Rhiannon almost caught her hair on fire (seriously) in the table candle. Thankfully she didn't, but following the episode with the revolving door - it seemed funny that another 'near tragedy' had occurred.
Meal was divine. Company was MARVELOUS. Baby stayed cute. We wandered back to the train station (several blocks away) and proceeded back to the car and headed home. I don't remember what time we got home. I know that it was after Tuesday became Wednesday!
FUN TRIP.
They had a revolving door. We had 3 adults and one baby in a good sized stroller. I revolved through. Randy followed with the stroller sort of folded up. UHM, but not folded up enough. He got wedged in the revolving door unable to go forward or backward. He had an amused "oh know, now what" look to him! And Rhiannon was outside laughing her head off and I was inside laughing my head off.
Finally he pushed through and got back OUT. They opened a door to the side and let him in through it. Oh my it was funny.
After we were seated - Rhiannon almost caught her hair on fire (seriously) in the table candle. Thankfully she didn't, but following the episode with the revolving door - it seemed funny that another 'near tragedy' had occurred.
Meal was divine. Company was MARVELOUS. Baby stayed cute. We wandered back to the train station (several blocks away) and proceeded back to the car and headed home. I don't remember what time we got home. I know that it was after Tuesday became Wednesday!
FUN TRIP.
Post #2) THE FUN CONTINUES ...
Sunday we (Nick, Rhiannon, me and Jaimee) went to their house to pack up some stuff in a truck that Nick had borrowed. I was pathetic little help, I'm ashamed to say. For some reason every joint in my body over the last week feels like it is atrophied (is that the right word?) STIFF. Can barely move. I'm talking toes, ankles, knees, hips, elbows, shoulders ... EVERYTHING. It's really disturbing.
Anyway, even though I didn't do as much as I had wanted to - the other 3 were amazing. They moved all manner of super heavy stuff. The truck got loaded to the gills and then Rhiannon rented another small U-Haul and we still have a couple of vans ful of stuff to bring to the house. But Randy and I can take our van up a couple of times and load it full. (The garage is packed -- needless to say -- whoo hoo for spring so I can park outdoors again!)
The next adventure of Rhiannon's visit was that we were going to go to IKEAon Monday (in Schaumburg a Chi. suburb) and Chicago on Tuesday. Randy decided to join us. He wasn't all that hep on the IKEA visit. We found a Tiger Direct for him on Tuesday which he wasn't able to spend nearly enough time in.
He held fast to his vow not to whine though and it was fun to have him with.
We rode the train downtown. It wasn't nearly as 'scary' as the first time we rode it. The first time, it was like we were suddenly on a different planet or something that first time. It was crowded with all kinds of people who did not look, act, or smell like us. We loved it though. It was super interesting to see a different culture.
This time there were less people and more 'like us'. That doesn't sound nice, I don't mean it in a bad way, but at least for me I felt like a fish out of water the first time.
None-the-less the train ride was fun, SO much less hectic and nerve-wracking than driving the car downtown would have been for those of us driving. (Mark and Bellie went out the week before and fared well driving into town. But he's a former "professional driver" ... ) anyway, we caught a bus to Navy Pier where we walked around and rode the GIANT ferris wheel (it's not a wheeee kind of ride, but rather a leisurely 7 minute ride so you can see the view).
They have a children's museum so we took Jaimee there. The lady at the front desk said "if you wait 35 minutes it is only $4, right now it will cost you $10). So we decided to wait.
Shortly before it was time to get in at the discounted rate - we heard a woman yelling. I'm not sure what she was yelling - probably "help". She and her little girl were riding up the escalator just outside the door. The little girl's clothes or arm or something got caught in the escalator and the escalator kept going. Randy and Rhiannon raced over, got the emergency button pushed and the escalator stopped.
Both mom and little girl (Britney) were shaken. Britney appeared to have a pinch that sort of skinned the top layer of her skin. I got a bandaid from the desk clerk which she didn't really need, but you know how bandaids miraculously cure stuff!!
Once mom recovered she told us she had a pass that she could take 3 people in with her for FREE. So three of us got in FREE with our new friends, and we only paid $4. Jaimee's favorite thing were the water things. She fished and splashed. Didn't have nearly enough time for her.
Then we wandered around downtown. I love that. I wouldn't want to live in it on a day-to-day basis, but the experience is fun. We didn't shop anywhere because -- well, it was a budget concious trip for me anyway!
We were getting hungry. Started looking at the different places to eat. Asked a nice man in Borders (we weren't shopping - but going potty!) about a good place. He recommended a restaurant in an old hotel. We walked there and it LOOKED fancier than we were and the menu confirmed it! So we left.
Finally asked a couple of policepeople (one girl/one boy) on bikes where a good place was. They recommended PIAZZA's. As it turned out it was the same exact restaurant Rhiannon and I went to a few years ago (after we stopped a cop and asked for a recommendation). It was SO yummy. At least mine was!
Baby J was the most perfect child through the whole ordeal of traveling and being lugged around. She took everything in stride and we loved her all the more for that!
Taking my OWN potty break ... see ya in another blog-post!
Anyway, even though I didn't do as much as I had wanted to - the other 3 were amazing. They moved all manner of super heavy stuff. The truck got loaded to the gills and then Rhiannon rented another small U-Haul and we still have a couple of vans ful of stuff to bring to the house. But Randy and I can take our van up a couple of times and load it full. (The garage is packed -- needless to say -- whoo hoo for spring so I can park outdoors again!)
The next adventure of Rhiannon's visit was that we were going to go to IKEAon Monday (in Schaumburg a Chi. suburb) and Chicago on Tuesday. Randy decided to join us. He wasn't all that hep on the IKEA visit. We found a Tiger Direct for him on Tuesday which he wasn't able to spend nearly enough time in.
He held fast to his vow not to whine though and it was fun to have him with.
We rode the train downtown. It wasn't nearly as 'scary' as the first time we rode it. The first time, it was like we were suddenly on a different planet or something that first time. It was crowded with all kinds of people who did not look, act, or smell like us. We loved it though. It was super interesting to see a different culture.
This time there were less people and more 'like us'. That doesn't sound nice, I don't mean it in a bad way, but at least for me I felt like a fish out of water the first time.
None-the-less the train ride was fun, SO much less hectic and nerve-wracking than driving the car downtown would have been for those of us driving. (Mark and Bellie went out the week before and fared well driving into town. But he's a former "professional driver" ... ) anyway, we caught a bus to Navy Pier where we walked around and rode the GIANT ferris wheel (it's not a wheeee kind of ride, but rather a leisurely 7 minute ride so you can see the view).
They have a children's museum so we took Jaimee there. The lady at the front desk said "if you wait 35 minutes it is only $4, right now it will cost you $10). So we decided to wait.
Shortly before it was time to get in at the discounted rate - we heard a woman yelling. I'm not sure what she was yelling - probably "help". She and her little girl were riding up the escalator just outside the door. The little girl's clothes or arm or something got caught in the escalator and the escalator kept going. Randy and Rhiannon raced over, got the emergency button pushed and the escalator stopped.
Both mom and little girl (Britney) were shaken. Britney appeared to have a pinch that sort of skinned the top layer of her skin. I got a bandaid from the desk clerk which she didn't really need, but you know how bandaids miraculously cure stuff!!
Once mom recovered she told us she had a pass that she could take 3 people in with her for FREE. So three of us got in FREE with our new friends, and we only paid $4. Jaimee's favorite thing were the water things. She fished and splashed. Didn't have nearly enough time for her.
Then we wandered around downtown. I love that. I wouldn't want to live in it on a day-to-day basis, but the experience is fun. We didn't shop anywhere because -- well, it was a budget concious trip for me anyway!
We were getting hungry. Started looking at the different places to eat. Asked a nice man in Borders (we weren't shopping - but going potty!) about a good place. He recommended a restaurant in an old hotel. We walked there and it LOOKED fancier than we were and the menu confirmed it! So we left.
Finally asked a couple of policepeople (one girl/one boy) on bikes where a good place was. They recommended PIAZZA's. As it turned out it was the same exact restaurant Rhiannon and I went to a few years ago (after we stopped a cop and asked for a recommendation). It was SO yummy. At least mine was!
Baby J was the most perfect child through the whole ordeal of traveling and being lugged around. She took everything in stride and we loved her all the more for that!
Taking my OWN potty break ... see ya in another blog-post!
Post #1) HITTING THE BIG CITY & OTHER FUN STUFF -
Well, if you follow my daughter's blog - you know that Ryan has been in Haiti this week. We've really enjoyed reading his emails and are grateful for the invention of the INTERNET. It would be really scary to have him far away and not have any contact.
So while he has been away, our precious wonderful HARDWORKING daughter has been at our house. I don't know how she does it all. Good thing she is physically fit.
She went to her house in Coralville on Friday to work on packing stuff up. That day I had to work but took off in the afternoon to go up and get Jaimee. (You get more done without a baby!!)
Jaimee and I went from there to the Veteran's Hospital to visit my parents, and got home about the same time Rhiannon did Friday night. Jaimee was a little peach. Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Joe brought in some Kentucky Fried Chicken and there were some biscuits in it. The biscuit Jaimee ate was a great help to her ability to handle a long hospital visit.
Dad had surgery that morning. He has had a bad foot that has an open wound that won't heal. The situation was such that they were/are considering removing toes and/or part of the foot in order to help it heal. They ran tests the week before and decided to do angioplasty (?) on the vein of his left leg - with the possibility of a stent. We were quite concerned as dad wasn't feeling well and the scary thing was we don't want him to get infection.
What they ended up doing was to put a little do-hicky in a vein in his RIGHT leg and ran it across his body and down the left leg. Found a 'rock solid' something in it (kind of like coral they said). Ended up cutting a piece of his vein out and reconnecting it. Surgery took from about 7:30 a.m. to well after 2 p.m. The good news was that the blood flow was much improved.
Thanks to all the relatives who came up to visit and be with mom! You're the greatest.
I think I'll pause and let you take a potty break or something before I continue!
So while he has been away, our precious wonderful HARDWORKING daughter has been at our house. I don't know how she does it all. Good thing she is physically fit.
She went to her house in Coralville on Friday to work on packing stuff up. That day I had to work but took off in the afternoon to go up and get Jaimee. (You get more done without a baby!!)
Jaimee and I went from there to the Veteran's Hospital to visit my parents, and got home about the same time Rhiannon did Friday night. Jaimee was a little peach. Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Joe brought in some Kentucky Fried Chicken and there were some biscuits in it. The biscuit Jaimee ate was a great help to her ability to handle a long hospital visit.
Dad had surgery that morning. He has had a bad foot that has an open wound that won't heal. The situation was such that they were/are considering removing toes and/or part of the foot in order to help it heal. They ran tests the week before and decided to do angioplasty (?) on the vein of his left leg - with the possibility of a stent. We were quite concerned as dad wasn't feeling well and the scary thing was we don't want him to get infection.
What they ended up doing was to put a little do-hicky in a vein in his RIGHT leg and ran it across his body and down the left leg. Found a 'rock solid' something in it (kind of like coral they said). Ended up cutting a piece of his vein out and reconnecting it. Surgery took from about 7:30 a.m. to well after 2 p.m. The good news was that the blood flow was much improved.
Thanks to all the relatives who came up to visit and be with mom! You're the greatest.
I think I'll pause and let you take a potty break or something before I continue!
Friday, March 5
IT IS SAFE TO ENTER MY HOUSE ...
No, didn't clean (wishful thinking though!) - but thanks to some warmer days and NO SNOW for a change - we no longer have several inches of slippery ice lingering outside our door. I think it leaks over the gutter there and drips, drips, drips and then freezes, freezes, freezes.
I have some plans for some warmer weather. One of the first (work related) things I want to do is take some chairs, from my Fulton Place building, on a trip to the car wash. I was looking at them yesterday and ewww! - they have pee-pee (I love that word - say it ... "pee-pee" ... it's fun to say, isn't it!) spots all over them. They are metal chairs with fabric seats and backs.
I figure a good high pressure car wash isn't going to hurt them. And if it does - they won't be any worse than now. AND if it works, I have devised a new way to take care of this on-going issue. Many of my residents have pee-pee problems. They'll be sitting on a chair and when they get up ... it's wet/damp. Ewww!
And also, as soon as I see my first robin (not cousin Robin) but bird robin. I think I need to haul everything out onto my front lawn ... empty my house and clean it from top to bottom. Then SELECTIVELY move things back in. I figure by the first snowflake I'll have it back in. Seriously -- I don't think this will happen. Who has that much energy? But I do have to start geting rid of clutter or I'm going to go berserk.
Ever feel like you've lost control of your life? Sometimes I feel like my college roommate, gasping for breath and wriggling helplessly on the floor. (One of my college roommates was a goldfish who jumped out of it's bowl onto the floor a lot.) Like my roommate I find myself thinking about solutions -- if only I could leap back INTO the bowl. Maybe if I ... but in the end it doesn't seem to work! (Boy do I sound pathetic!)
WAYS I'VE THOUGHT OF TO GAIN CONTROL (or feel 'in control'):
Maybe the getting rid of the clutter 'brainstorm' (see above) would be some form of control. Organized (which my complete mental picture of the 'brainstorm' includes) always feels more controlled, wouldn't you agree? Albeit, that type of control requires, like I mentioned, more ambition than I have (shoot!).
Jelly beans seems like another good way to gain control. I don't really know why. But there is something wonderful in knowing those little colorful (and tasty gourmet) beans are totally helpless against me! What can they do to me?! I'm IN CONTROL of them. CHOMP. (Oh wait - could it be that my pants had to be sized UP to accomodate THEM? Those little rats!)
Speaking of little rats. Another place I could gain control would be to shave both of the dogs totally bald. It's "that" time again - coat blowing. How in the world can you have one compact little being that could fit in a Walmart bag (I didn't try it you guys --) blow enough hair to fill up a couple of TRASH bags. Times that by 2 dogs and you'll see why everything I sit on, wear, look at, walk on, etc. is covered in dog hair. To control that situation I bought TWO of the roller things with stick 'em on it to take hair off my clothes at least. UGH.
And there are some things I just don't have a clue how to control.
ROAD TRIP!! I'm so looking forward to taking a few days off from work March 15-16-17. At my evaluation here at work - I was told I need to take some of my vacation as I have over 6 weeks of time to take. SO ... while Ryan is in Haiti ... Rhiannon is going to come here and then off we go on a mad-dash to Chicago. IKEA here we come! I think we're leaving on the 15th and coming back on the 16th.
I may not have control. But God does. And oh how glad I am that He does. Here's an example Nick told me about a couple of days ago. He said he almost died that day. Yeah, sure. No - seriously.
He was on his way to work. He started to pull out onto the by-pass (4 lane road). There was a car coming toward him from the opposite direction. That car did something goofy - which made Nick hesitate. At just that time a semi whooshed by Nick's car - blowing through a red light - and missing his car by INCHES. He said he was so shook - he sat through the entire rest of the green light. PRAISE GOD that He is in control. I couldn't stand if something happened to my boy.
MARY ANN - thanks for calling. Recipe needs - I would love to have more one dish casserole type (easy to prepare) main dishes. And loaf dishes. Don't get me wrong on the other loaf - it WAS good. Not one bite went to waste.
DEB - I appreciated the GLOG info -- now to put my head to it. Think I would need more than one session, don't you? How many sessions would you suggest?
I have to run -- Blogged you into the ground today, didn't I?
I have some plans for some warmer weather. One of the first (work related) things I want to do is take some chairs, from my Fulton Place building, on a trip to the car wash. I was looking at them yesterday and ewww! - they have pee-pee (I love that word - say it ... "pee-pee" ... it's fun to say, isn't it!) spots all over them. They are metal chairs with fabric seats and backs.
I figure a good high pressure car wash isn't going to hurt them. And if it does - they won't be any worse than now. AND if it works, I have devised a new way to take care of this on-going issue. Many of my residents have pee-pee problems. They'll be sitting on a chair and when they get up ... it's wet/damp. Ewww!
And also, as soon as I see my first robin (not cousin Robin) but bird robin. I think I need to haul everything out onto my front lawn ... empty my house and clean it from top to bottom. Then SELECTIVELY move things back in. I figure by the first snowflake I'll have it back in. Seriously -- I don't think this will happen. Who has that much energy? But I do have to start geting rid of clutter or I'm going to go berserk.
Ever feel like you've lost control of your life? Sometimes I feel like my college roommate, gasping for breath and wriggling helplessly on the floor. (One of my college roommates was a goldfish who jumped out of it's bowl onto the floor a lot.) Like my roommate I find myself thinking about solutions -- if only I could leap back INTO the bowl. Maybe if I ... but in the end it doesn't seem to work! (Boy do I sound pathetic!)
WAYS I'VE THOUGHT OF TO GAIN CONTROL (or feel 'in control'):
Maybe the getting rid of the clutter 'brainstorm' (see above) would be some form of control. Organized (which my complete mental picture of the 'brainstorm' includes) always feels more controlled, wouldn't you agree? Albeit, that type of control requires, like I mentioned, more ambition than I have (shoot!).
Jelly beans seems like another good way to gain control. I don't really know why. But there is something wonderful in knowing those little colorful (and tasty gourmet) beans are totally helpless against me! What can they do to me?! I'm IN CONTROL of them. CHOMP. (Oh wait - could it be that my pants had to be sized UP to accomodate THEM? Those little rats!)
Speaking of little rats. Another place I could gain control would be to shave both of the dogs totally bald. It's "that" time again - coat blowing. How in the world can you have one compact little being that could fit in a Walmart bag (I didn't try it you guys --) blow enough hair to fill up a couple of TRASH bags. Times that by 2 dogs and you'll see why everything I sit on, wear, look at, walk on, etc. is covered in dog hair. To control that situation I bought TWO of the roller things with stick 'em on it to take hair off my clothes at least. UGH.
And there are some things I just don't have a clue how to control.
ROAD TRIP!! I'm so looking forward to taking a few days off from work March 15-16-17. At my evaluation here at work - I was told I need to take some of my vacation as I have over 6 weeks of time to take. SO ... while Ryan is in Haiti ... Rhiannon is going to come here and then off we go on a mad-dash to Chicago. IKEA here we come! I think we're leaving on the 15th and coming back on the 16th.
I may not have control. But God does. And oh how glad I am that He does. Here's an example Nick told me about a couple of days ago. He said he almost died that day. Yeah, sure. No - seriously.
He was on his way to work. He started to pull out onto the by-pass (4 lane road). There was a car coming toward him from the opposite direction. That car did something goofy - which made Nick hesitate. At just that time a semi whooshed by Nick's car - blowing through a red light - and missing his car by INCHES. He said he was so shook - he sat through the entire rest of the green light. PRAISE GOD that He is in control. I couldn't stand if something happened to my boy.
MARY ANN - thanks for calling. Recipe needs - I would love to have more one dish casserole type (easy to prepare) main dishes. And loaf dishes. Don't get me wrong on the other loaf - it WAS good. Not one bite went to waste.
DEB - I appreciated the GLOG info -- now to put my head to it. Think I would need more than one session, don't you? How many sessions would you suggest?
I have to run -- Blogged you into the ground today, didn't I?
Friday, February 19
OH I FORGOT ONE OF THE BEST PARTS!!
After we got done at Chuck E Cheese we went to Josh and JoDe and Reese's new house. It was fun to see their home. I know when you guys are done putting all of your own touches on your house - you will find much happiness there.
They've got Reese's room so cute - with browns and pinks and its such a great 'girly' room ... one that she'll enjoy for many years to come!
We will surely pray for your situation -- they just bought this house and moved in a few weeks ago. ONLY 8 MINUTES from where Josh works. Then this week they found out that they lost a government contract to make military cabs. Unless something changes it may be that Josh is layed off ... we pray that does not happen.
Put your trust in Jesus. Tell him Lord - we can't do ANYTHING about his ourselves, it's in YOUR hands. Commit yourselves to doing His will and set back and watch him sustain you in ways you never thought possible. (Not every means of sustanance is financial gain - but it is sustaining and you'll be AMAZED!)
They've got Reese's room so cute - with browns and pinks and its such a great 'girly' room ... one that she'll enjoy for many years to come!
We will surely pray for your situation -- they just bought this house and moved in a few weeks ago. ONLY 8 MINUTES from where Josh works. Then this week they found out that they lost a government contract to make military cabs. Unless something changes it may be that Josh is layed off ... we pray that does not happen.
Put your trust in Jesus. Tell him Lord - we can't do ANYTHING about his ourselves, it's in YOUR hands. Commit yourselves to doing His will and set back and watch him sustain you in ways you never thought possible. (Not every means of sustanance is financial gain - but it is sustaining and you'll be AMAZED!)
AHA!! - Just when you thought I had gone away for good ...
Right during and immediately after the last post to my Blog I got a gift from my little grandbaby Jaimee. It was big and impressive. A real 'show stopper' ... she gave me her illness.
She had been here the week before. Sick and sorry little tyke. Fussy, fidgety, runny nose, red cheeks - on Sunday morning (as well as other times) I sat and held the little peanut who probably drank less than 6 ounces all weekend and ate even less - I held her while we watched Public Television.
We watched the Electric Company and Martha Knows and ... I don't recall all. She seemed content to sit there in my arms in the big blue chair. She drifted off to sleep for a bit. For a couple of hours we were sitting there. And all the while I was inhaling and absorbing germies from her tiny body.
It was about Friday-ish, when I got the first hint of a cold. On Sabbath I was clearly in the throws of a cold. Blowing and dripping and avoiding people so as to not infect them. By Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday - I was out of it. (Somewhere in there was the whole "you didn't get the job thing ...)
I went to work on Wednesday because I was afraid they'd think I was FAKING if I took more than that off. The rest of the week was better but not 100%. I felt so bad for little Jaimee who could not tell us how she felt. If WE had been sick first we would have known how her throat hurt, her head hurt, and all the other aches and pains.
Toward the end of the illness, I was fed up with my hair -- (again) -- and decided to go to Regis here in town. NEVER, I repeat, NEVER again! I took a picture. I told her what I didn't want. I told her what I did want. I ended up with a too short haircut with bangs cut straight across (one thing I did NOT want) and birdie wings. I swear a good stiff wind and enough hairspray - I'd be up there fluttering about with the Flying Nun. UGH. That was a week ago and already it's grown out a little bit and I'm hating it less. I guess it is back to Coralville for my haircut in the future. Bah-humbug. (I will still keep my eye open for a cute cut here and ask, ask, ask -- "where did you get your hair cut?")
Going back to work after being sick was crazy. It was like I had been gone for a week with all I had to do. The pace has continued, but that first rush has subsided a bit.
I went to stamping at Tammy's house. I probably infected them - but it was fun to go make some cards. Fun-FUN! On this past Monday when we had it off for President's Day - I went in the basement and Sharon W came over. I cut vinyl and made cards and ... it was a good way to unwind.
Pharr's came back over last weekend. We started with a small plan to go to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate her 1st birthday. As it turned out - we had about 20 people show up. Our little girlie was so adorable (in this grammee's eyes!) when she experienced her first full piece of cake! It really hyped her up - we took her home afterward and she was SO tired, but she jabbered and stayed awake the whole time. We threw her in a sink of warm water for a quick bath to get the residual sticky off of her and then she was ready for night-night!
JAIMEE EATING BIRTHDAY CAKE (Steve you better show this to Kim, okay?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkKviSBScSI
(Isn't that sweet? - pun intended!)
I bought a new Bible and then returned it. I wanted a New King James Version, mine is falling apart. I wanted one that is indexed (the little indentations for your thumb). As I continue to think and learn about the translations, I think I want an New American Standard Version. The things I am learning about it is that it is the most literal translation available these days. Info says:
•Recent research on the oldest and best Greek manuscripts of the New Testament has been reviewed, and some passages have been updated for even greater fidelity to the original manuscripts.
•Parallel passages have been compared and reviewed.
•Verbs that have a wide range of meaning have been retranslated in some passages to better account for their use in the context.
Randy got some sad news about his little dog. Rooney tested positive for Lyme's disease. Now that we know, she is taking some antibiotics. She has lots more pep and is more like the 'old Rooney'. We thought she was just getting a little older and more mature. Now she is annoyingly perky at times! I guess when someone/thing gets Lyme's they always have it. It goes under control, but it is still there. So we will have to watch for her symptoms and get her back on the antibiotic treatment when it shows up.
I'm sure there are lots more (NO VONDA ... NO!!!!!) things to tell you. For one - I MIGHT go to the Longaberger Basket Bee again this summer. They are offering it for a super discounted price. Plus one of my Viners told me that NEXT TIME I come to the Bee I had to stay with her (instead of a motel). So I think that might be the option I choose. I touched base with her and she said YES!! Now just need to work on the other details!
Okay -- I'm going to let you go. I PROMISE!! Take care all of you. Gloria I have been thinking about you and yours a lot lately. Miss you, call me when you are around next time. Hope your computer shopping goes well Deb. Randy is a fount of info, right?
Keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you in ours ... we're marching to the same goal, right? Heaven bound!
She had been here the week before. Sick and sorry little tyke. Fussy, fidgety, runny nose, red cheeks - on Sunday morning (as well as other times) I sat and held the little peanut who probably drank less than 6 ounces all weekend and ate even less - I held her while we watched Public Television.
We watched the Electric Company and Martha Knows and ... I don't recall all. She seemed content to sit there in my arms in the big blue chair. She drifted off to sleep for a bit. For a couple of hours we were sitting there. And all the while I was inhaling and absorbing germies from her tiny body.
It was about Friday-ish, when I got the first hint of a cold. On Sabbath I was clearly in the throws of a cold. Blowing and dripping and avoiding people so as to not infect them. By Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday - I was out of it. (Somewhere in there was the whole "you didn't get the job thing ...)
I went to work on Wednesday because I was afraid they'd think I was FAKING if I took more than that off. The rest of the week was better but not 100%. I felt so bad for little Jaimee who could not tell us how she felt. If WE had been sick first we would have known how her throat hurt, her head hurt, and all the other aches and pains.
Toward the end of the illness, I was fed up with my hair -- (again) -- and decided to go to Regis here in town. NEVER, I repeat, NEVER again! I took a picture. I told her what I didn't want. I told her what I did want. I ended up with a too short haircut with bangs cut straight across (one thing I did NOT want) and birdie wings. I swear a good stiff wind and enough hairspray - I'd be up there fluttering about with the Flying Nun. UGH. That was a week ago and already it's grown out a little bit and I'm hating it less. I guess it is back to Coralville for my haircut in the future. Bah-humbug. (I will still keep my eye open for a cute cut here and ask, ask, ask -- "where did you get your hair cut?")
Going back to work after being sick was crazy. It was like I had been gone for a week with all I had to do. The pace has continued, but that first rush has subsided a bit.
I went to stamping at Tammy's house. I probably infected them - but it was fun to go make some cards. Fun-FUN! On this past Monday when we had it off for President's Day - I went in the basement and Sharon W came over. I cut vinyl and made cards and ... it was a good way to unwind.
Pharr's came back over last weekend. We started with a small plan to go to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate her 1st birthday. As it turned out - we had about 20 people show up. Our little girlie was so adorable (in this grammee's eyes!) when she experienced her first full piece of cake! It really hyped her up - we took her home afterward and she was SO tired, but she jabbered and stayed awake the whole time. We threw her in a sink of warm water for a quick bath to get the residual sticky off of her and then she was ready for night-night!
JAIMEE EATING BIRTHDAY CAKE (Steve you better show this to Kim, okay?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkKviSBScSI
(Isn't that sweet? - pun intended!)
I bought a new Bible and then returned it. I wanted a New King James Version, mine is falling apart. I wanted one that is indexed (the little indentations for your thumb). As I continue to think and learn about the translations, I think I want an New American Standard Version. The things I am learning about it is that it is the most literal translation available these days. Info says:
•Recent research on the oldest and best Greek manuscripts of the New Testament has been reviewed, and some passages have been updated for even greater fidelity to the original manuscripts.
•Parallel passages have been compared and reviewed.
•Verbs that have a wide range of meaning have been retranslated in some passages to better account for their use in the context.
Randy got some sad news about his little dog. Rooney tested positive for Lyme's disease. Now that we know, she is taking some antibiotics. She has lots more pep and is more like the 'old Rooney'. We thought she was just getting a little older and more mature. Now she is annoyingly perky at times! I guess when someone/thing gets Lyme's they always have it. It goes under control, but it is still there. So we will have to watch for her symptoms and get her back on the antibiotic treatment when it shows up.
I'm sure there are lots more (NO VONDA ... NO!!!!!) things to tell you. For one - I MIGHT go to the Longaberger Basket Bee again this summer. They are offering it for a super discounted price. Plus one of my Viners told me that NEXT TIME I come to the Bee I had to stay with her (instead of a motel). So I think that might be the option I choose. I touched base with her and she said YES!! Now just need to work on the other details!
Okay -- I'm going to let you go. I PROMISE!! Take care all of you. Gloria I have been thinking about you and yours a lot lately. Miss you, call me when you are around next time. Hope your computer shopping goes well Deb. Randy is a fount of info, right?
Keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you in ours ... we're marching to the same goal, right? Heaven bound!
Monday, February 8
A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT ...
Just had a fairly long visit with the lady who left the message about not hiring me - and it was a good visit. Her reasons for not hiring me were fair.
First, she said she was willing to not consider the Saturdays and do the Saturday programs (1 to 2 per month). But when she realized I would not be available for evening programs for Friday night things, that was harder. She depends on her staff to help with those things and to have to shoulder all of that herself was difficult.
Secondly, the person they did hire has come and done programs at the library in the past. She is currently working at the Art Museum in children's programming.
So I'm shaking it out in my head the best I can -- and probably to some extent the way that is easiest for ME to handle -- I am pretty sure that she was saying that had I been available for even the Friday night portion -- I would have been offered the job.
I can be disappointed. But I don't feel like I can be mad. Their job was to hire the person who would best suit the position and their needs. She said they would like to hire me as a contract person to come back and do programs such as teaching GLOGS (Deb!!) or craft type things for the summer programs.
Guess I'll keep my eyes open for anything else that looks interesting WITH BENEFITS!! If you have paid benefits be thankful!
First, she said she was willing to not consider the Saturdays and do the Saturday programs (1 to 2 per month). But when she realized I would not be available for evening programs for Friday night things, that was harder. She depends on her staff to help with those things and to have to shoulder all of that herself was difficult.
Secondly, the person they did hire has come and done programs at the library in the past. She is currently working at the Art Museum in children's programming.
So I'm shaking it out in my head the best I can -- and probably to some extent the way that is easiest for ME to handle -- I am pretty sure that she was saying that had I been available for even the Friday night portion -- I would have been offered the job.
I can be disappointed. But I don't feel like I can be mad. Their job was to hire the person who would best suit the position and their needs. She said they would like to hire me as a contract person to come back and do programs such as teaching GLOGS (Deb!!) or craft type things for the summer programs.
Guess I'll keep my eyes open for anything else that looks interesting WITH BENEFITS!! If you have paid benefits be thankful!
THE CART CAME LOOSE FROM THE HORSE ...
... can you see it rolling down the hill and away .... ????
Yup! Just got a call from the library and they offered the job to someone else. Lots of great words about how it was SO hard and blah-blah-blah ... but bottom line is that I still don't have paid benefits.
GOD? What do you have in mind anyway?
Thanks for going on the horse and cart ride with me - AGAIN! *wink*
Yup! Just got a call from the library and they offered the job to someone else. Lots of great words about how it was SO hard and blah-blah-blah ... but bottom line is that I still don't have paid benefits.
GOD? What do you have in mind anyway?
Thanks for going on the horse and cart ride with me - AGAIN! *wink*
Thursday, February 4
I'M NOT IN YET ... :(
Okay - here's the scoop for today. I received an email first thing this a.m. asking for clarification on the Sabbath issue. They understood Saturday, but did I say Friday night too? My heart sank. But I responded that yes, that meant from at least sundown Friday (which fluctuates of course).
In the same email I found they have invited another interviewer to come observe a class tonight (or today sometime). More heart sinking. I guess that was rather big-headed of me to assume I was the only one. But it all went SO fast from the time I left the interview to when she was calling to ask me to come yet that night.
Later I looked at the library schedule and this is the hours, so I don't know why Friday night would be the issue so much. It wouldn't be for most of the year anyway.
Mon.-Thurs. 10am - 9pm
Fri. 10am - 5pm
Sat. 10am - 5pm
Sun. 1pm - 5pm
Anyway - while I really REALLY want the full time with benefits, well ... if I am to have this job, the Lord will work it out for me. And it will be all that much better to go in with all of this already on the table and not have to 'work it out later'. So please continue pray.
Last night I had a hard time sleeping. I think I planned children's programs all night! *tee hee* I think I would work on phonics things ... with songs and activities. Hmmm?
In the same email I found they have invited another interviewer to come observe a class tonight (or today sometime). More heart sinking. I guess that was rather big-headed of me to assume I was the only one. But it all went SO fast from the time I left the interview to when she was calling to ask me to come yet that night.
Later I looked at the library schedule and this is the hours, so I don't know why Friday night would be the issue so much. It wouldn't be for most of the year anyway.
Mon.-Thurs. 10am - 9pm
Fri. 10am - 5pm
Sat. 10am - 5pm
Sun. 1pm - 5pm
Anyway - while I really REALLY want the full time with benefits, well ... if I am to have this job, the Lord will work it out for me. And it will be all that much better to go in with all of this already on the table and not have to 'work it out later'. So please continue pray.
Last night I had a hard time sleeping. I think I planned children's programs all night! *tee hee* I think I would work on phonics things ... with songs and activities. Hmmm?
Wednesday, February 3
CART BEFORE THE HORSIE? -- I dunno, but---
Long day - but a good day! (I think.)
I interviewed at Musser Public Library at 10:30 a.m., finishing at about 11:15 a.m. or so. By 12:15 p.m. I had a voice mail asking me to resend the link to my GLOG, and wondering if I would be willing to come observe a children's program tonight. AND could I be prepared to lead out in a couple of kids songs (with actions).
I had to hark clear back to my Cradle Roll leadership experience to find a song that I could modify for a more secular environment. The kids liked the songs. I can't believe I sang in front of 20 adults and as many little kids. GULP!
I explained about Sabbath and not being available from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. And they still asked me to provide my GLOG link again and also to come do this. Continue to pray that God's will be done -- if I don't get the job, then I will accept that He is leading and that this is not what He wants me to do.
AND TODAY - thank you to Vonda's Vine we have reached the goal of $$ that Ryan needed for going to Haiti (if he is chosen). Again, it feels like God is leading in this trip. He still hasn't heard if he is accepted to go, but with these wonderful sponsors, he has reached the goal the college set. If he is not selected the college will return the money to the donors. If he is selected they get a tax deductible receipt. GOD IS GOOD! I ask your prayers in this - that God's spirit will flood my son's body, mind and soul in a way that he (Ryan) could never imagine.
NIGHT -- I'm beat! Thank you my family of friends and relatives ... for your prayers!
I interviewed at Musser Public Library at 10:30 a.m., finishing at about 11:15 a.m. or so. By 12:15 p.m. I had a voice mail asking me to resend the link to my GLOG, and wondering if I would be willing to come observe a children's program tonight. AND could I be prepared to lead out in a couple of kids songs (with actions).
I had to hark clear back to my Cradle Roll leadership experience to find a song that I could modify for a more secular environment. The kids liked the songs. I can't believe I sang in front of 20 adults and as many little kids. GULP!
I explained about Sabbath and not being available from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. And they still asked me to provide my GLOG link again and also to come do this. Continue to pray that God's will be done -- if I don't get the job, then I will accept that He is leading and that this is not what He wants me to do.
AND TODAY - thank you to Vonda's Vine we have reached the goal of $$ that Ryan needed for going to Haiti (if he is chosen). Again, it feels like God is leading in this trip. He still hasn't heard if he is accepted to go, but with these wonderful sponsors, he has reached the goal the college set. If he is not selected the college will return the money to the donors. If he is selected they get a tax deductible receipt. GOD IS GOOD! I ask your prayers in this - that God's spirit will flood my son's body, mind and soul in a way that he (Ryan) could never imagine.
NIGHT -- I'm beat! Thank you my family of friends and relatives ... for your prayers!
Tuesday, February 2
REMEMBER ME AT 10:30 a.m. TOMORROW!
I have an interview lined up for the Library Assistant position that I put in for. They called me yesterday. Its a bit awkward because they scheduled it during my morning work hours -- so I just wrote up a leave slip for an "appointment" and used vacation time for it. It was approved. I'll run over for the interview and come right back to work.
Thank you for your prayers. Thanks also to my sister in law Deb for suggesting a GLOG for my 'out of the box' resume presentation. http://vondarae.edu.glogster.com/vondas-world/ This is what I came up with. It was fun to play with! Not sure if it got me the interview or not -- but will see!
Also, for those of you who do not know - Ryan has applied to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Union College is well known for their student mission program. They had a trip to Belize planned - Ryan was not planning to go on that trip. However, when the earthquake happened the school re-thought the trip and the students are now going to Haiti. They opened up 10 more places on the trip - for persons with medical experience. Ryan has spent several years in intensive care units - and has always thought a mission trip for medical reasons like this is something he would like to do. He will know within a few days if he is chosen to accompany the group or not.
Got my birthday present from Nick tonight. He got a rug for our livingroom:
Thank you for your prayers. Thanks also to my sister in law Deb for suggesting a GLOG for my 'out of the box' resume presentation. http://vondarae.edu.glogster.com/vondas-world/ This is what I came up with. It was fun to play with! Not sure if it got me the interview or not -- but will see!
Also, for those of you who do not know - Ryan has applied to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Union College is well known for their student mission program. They had a trip to Belize planned - Ryan was not planning to go on that trip. However, when the earthquake happened the school re-thought the trip and the students are now going to Haiti. They opened up 10 more places on the trip - for persons with medical experience. Ryan has spent several years in intensive care units - and has always thought a mission trip for medical reasons like this is something he would like to do. He will know within a few days if he is chosen to accompany the group or not.
Got my birthday present from Nick tonight. He got a rug for our livingroom:
THANKS KIDDO!
And while I'm 'membering my birthday ... here is a card I got from Keith.
Never heard my name with such an accent before -- and surely never from a squirrel!
PRAY FOR ME PLEASE!
Friday, January 29
AS SANDS THROUGH THE HOUR GLASS, so are the days of our lives...
This has been a week with some obvious indications of passing time! On Wednesday I enjoyed another birthday! Nothing spectacular happened. I had been given a $25 gift certificate for Christmas by my afternoon employer. So I still had that. It was to Salvatores. So Randy and I enjoyed a meal there. I had something called Sophia's ziti. Was pretty yummy. Randy had an Italian beef sandwich with aux jus.
Then tonight I attended a retirement party for one of my friends from the City. Kathy Chalupa's last day with the parks department was today. She was a very versatile employee with multiple talents. Not afraid to work hard. When I walked into the party, I was immediately struck by how many people my life had been enriched with just by virtue of knowing Kathy. The 'card club' girls -- such fun people, Geri, Cheryl, Chelsea and more.
The stories were many, I'm sure. I got in on a couple. One co-worker gave a gift signed Edward ... her real name is Annie. But she was a worker extraordinaire and Kathy dubbed her Edward Scissorhands - tied somehow to her shrub cutting abilities! On the table of gifts was a little clear plastic tray. You know the type. You pick them up at the dollar store. They look 'fancy', but aren't really. At first glance it looked like some type of fixy little petit fours intricately displayed. A closer look revealed Little Debbie Brownies, each cut into 8 pieces. Placed in between the Little Debbie cubes were little cherry licorice pieces, about the same size. Seventeen years ago one of the parks guys didn't bring a dessert to something he was supposed to. He ran to the nearby convenience store and returned with a very similar looking 'dessert tray'. A fun reminder!
I didn't take my gift yet. It is a consumable gift. I will make it and take it to her probably next week. A casserole she enjoyed at our house ... Redi-Burger Casserole. She really liked it. It's sure to put some wind behind her sails as she heads into retirement! She knows! *wink*
Kathy -- I feel like you are a good friend. I know everyone else in your world feels the same. Best wishes to you as you march into new adventures!
Then tonight I attended a retirement party for one of my friends from the City. Kathy Chalupa's last day with the parks department was today. She was a very versatile employee with multiple talents. Not afraid to work hard. When I walked into the party, I was immediately struck by how many people my life had been enriched with just by virtue of knowing Kathy. The 'card club' girls -- such fun people, Geri, Cheryl, Chelsea and more.
The stories were many, I'm sure. I got in on a couple. One co-worker gave a gift signed Edward ... her real name is Annie. But she was a worker extraordinaire and Kathy dubbed her Edward Scissorhands - tied somehow to her shrub cutting abilities! On the table of gifts was a little clear plastic tray. You know the type. You pick them up at the dollar store. They look 'fancy', but aren't really. At first glance it looked like some type of fixy little petit fours intricately displayed. A closer look revealed Little Debbie Brownies, each cut into 8 pieces. Placed in between the Little Debbie cubes were little cherry licorice pieces, about the same size. Seventeen years ago one of the parks guys didn't bring a dessert to something he was supposed to. He ran to the nearby convenience store and returned with a very similar looking 'dessert tray'. A fun reminder!
I didn't take my gift yet. It is a consumable gift. I will make it and take it to her probably next week. A casserole she enjoyed at our house ... Redi-Burger Casserole. She really liked it. It's sure to put some wind behind her sails as she heads into retirement! She knows! *wink*
Kathy -- I feel like you are a good friend. I know everyone else in your world feels the same. Best wishes to you as you march into new adventures!
Friday, January 22
PLAGIARIZING (a wee bit?) -
Rhiannon shared this FACEBOOK 'thought' from Joannie (hope you don't mind me sharing it, I thought it was very poignant):
I started crying in the car on the way home from work tonight. I was thinking about Scarlett going to Kindergarten and I was thinking back on when I went to Kindergarten.
My Mom would walk me half a block from home and accross 4th Street (the busy street) and then I was on my own to walk to Jefferson by myself.
I just can't imagine my little Scarlett walking all that way by herself. She just seems too little. Did Mom's heart clench up thinking about me walking all that way by myself or did she think 'Whew, one more out of the house. One more to go.'
Did Mom feel fear for me getting made fun of or picked on by the other kids like I fear for Scarlett?
Did she worry if I'd make friends or not?
I know I have to let Scarlett go and grow and mature and learn to handle things on her own and become a young lady. But I don't have to like it. Did Mom feel that way with us kids?
I really miss Mom at these milestone points of my life. The questions I have that will remain unanswered.
I can't speak for your mom with 100% authority, but my own mom heart tells me that her heart most certainly clenched up as she thought of each of her tiny people walking all that way alone ... every time she had to walk one of you that 1/2 block to cross 4th Street and watch you tromp off on your own from there toward the big brick school building!
No doubt each time your precious little fingers let go of hers, you were sent with a prayer and a sigh.
Prayers that you didn't get picked on or made fun of. Prayers that your classwork would be the perfect mix of easy and challenging so you'd remain interested and engaged; but not so much you got discouraged. Prayers that you would find friends that would be good for you. And a sigh as she thought how little you were in such a big world.
And like you will soon see - she also rejoiced with you over every 'pretty picture' and page filled with big awkwardly drawn letters as you learned to put them together into words. She laughed with you and at you. Her heart sang with joy, broke in sorrow and watched lovingly all along the way.
How much more we as adults/parents, appreciate our parents. Mom (Ludke) used to ask me all the time "what cute thing did ... Nick or Randee Rae ... do?" At the time I thought it was funny she asked. Now I can't wait to hear the next thing that my own grandbaby does. It makes me chuckle to think about it.
The Bible tells me that God is my Father and He loves me; more than I love my own children. That kind of love - honestly - is hard to fathom, if you think about it.
Earlier this week I put out an 'all call' for some of you who have known me forever to help me remember things I've been involved in organizing and implementing. I wanted pictures. This on-going quest has led me to find a few old pictures. So thought I'd share some of those with you as I said good-bye for this Ludke-ville.
These are (mostly) from Christmas 1999 at Jill and Mike's Farmington, MN home. If you hover your mouse over the picture you will see the caption.
Please keep in touch with us -- Ludke-ville is supposed to serve as my communication with you, such as it is. Please let us know what is going on in your world.
Thanks Deb for the heads-up on the ideas for my resume/portfolio.
I started crying in the car on the way home from work tonight. I was thinking about Scarlett going to Kindergarten and I was thinking back on when I went to Kindergarten.
My Mom would walk me half a block from home and accross 4th Street (the busy street) and then I was on my own to walk to Jefferson by myself.
I just can't imagine my little Scarlett walking all that way by herself. She just seems too little. Did Mom's heart clench up thinking about me walking all that way by myself or did she think 'Whew, one more out of the house. One more to go.'
Did Mom feel fear for me getting made fun of or picked on by the other kids like I fear for Scarlett?
Did she worry if I'd make friends or not?
I know I have to let Scarlett go and grow and mature and learn to handle things on her own and become a young lady. But I don't have to like it. Did Mom feel that way with us kids?
I really miss Mom at these milestone points of my life. The questions I have that will remain unanswered.
I can't speak for your mom with 100% authority, but my own mom heart tells me that her heart most certainly clenched up as she thought of each of her tiny people walking all that way alone ... every time she had to walk one of you that 1/2 block to cross 4th Street and watch you tromp off on your own from there toward the big brick school building!
No doubt each time your precious little fingers let go of hers, you were sent with a prayer and a sigh.
Prayers that you didn't get picked on or made fun of. Prayers that your classwork would be the perfect mix of easy and challenging so you'd remain interested and engaged; but not so much you got discouraged. Prayers that you would find friends that would be good for you. And a sigh as she thought how little you were in such a big world.
And like you will soon see - she also rejoiced with you over every 'pretty picture' and page filled with big awkwardly drawn letters as you learned to put them together into words. She laughed with you and at you. Her heart sang with joy, broke in sorrow and watched lovingly all along the way.
How much more we as adults/parents, appreciate our parents. Mom (Ludke) used to ask me all the time "what cute thing did ... Nick or Randee Rae ... do?" At the time I thought it was funny she asked. Now I can't wait to hear the next thing that my own grandbaby does. It makes me chuckle to think about it.
The Bible tells me that God is my Father and He loves me; more than I love my own children. That kind of love - honestly - is hard to fathom, if you think about it.
Earlier this week I put out an 'all call' for some of you who have known me forever to help me remember things I've been involved in organizing and implementing. I wanted pictures. This on-going quest has led me to find a few old pictures. So thought I'd share some of those with you as I said good-bye for this Ludke-ville.
These are (mostly) from Christmas 1999 at Jill and Mike's Farmington, MN home. If you hover your mouse over the picture you will see the caption.
Please keep in touch with us -- Ludke-ville is supposed to serve as my communication with you, such as it is. Please let us know what is going on in your world.
Thanks Deb for the heads-up on the ideas for my resume/portfolio.
Tuesday, January 19
MY LEFT BUN HURTS ...
Not as much now as it did a day or so ago. I backed the car out the garage door on Sunday morning. Then realized I'd left something in the house. So I left the car running, got out, went in the house -- as I whipped around the front of the car, my feet decided to continue in the direction I HAD been traveling and my body was headed to the van door.
And, you know how it is when you fall ... it's fast, but yet somehow it is still S-L-O-W enough that you have time for all sorts of thoughts:
By night time when all my family and fun and distractions left I could feel my knee was wrenched and my ankle a little tender. In the a.m. I was hobbling and the knee had me a teensy bit worried. Toward late evening and certainly by the time I got up the next day -- I was all reset and ready to head out and try manipulating around on NEW ICE!
We had such fun on the weekend. Ryan, Rhiannon and Jaimee came for the weekend. They came on Friday evening (relatively early) and stayed until about 7-ish on Sunday.
Saturday night Wynter and Andy came over. Andy and Randy worked on "Frank-N-Puter" - a rebuilt computer they were working on for Wynter. Randy enjoyed himself. Wyn, Rhiannon and I stayed upstairs and played Boggle, Taboo, Backseat Drawing, Farkle, and probably more. Of course we didn't have enough for teams - so we did the best we could.
Mixed throughout the evening was soup and rolls and ... rocky road ice cream. Can't go wrong there!
Now it is back to work - and another full week on tap. I'm so fortunate to have these extra few hours - but please keep my resume in your prayers for the new job I have put in for. That would be so helpful. Got my eye on a couple of other opportunities, but I don't think I will be applying for them.
Randy brought home some Dominos pizza tonight. Cheese. You know they have been advertising that they have 'new and improved' the taste. It's pretty good! I would eat it again.
So now it's getting to be close to bed time -- and I better get myself up those stairs!
Here are some pictures of our little Lego-Lovely! Her Crazy Uncle Nick has said from the beginning that Jaimee would only be fun AFTER she was able to play Legos with him. I think we're there! She had fun. Nick is very gentle and nice with his little niece. He always says "such a cute baby".
We have a little 'wager' on when she will walk. We're not betting, but just guessing. I don't have my phone here by me and I'm too lazy to get up and get it. (Otherwise I'd fill you in on those projections.) With the progress she made yesterday at their house -- I think Randy (who guessed the earliest time) will be the winner.
HOVER OVER THE PICTURES FOR THE WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
And, you know how it is when you fall ... it's fast, but yet somehow it is still S-L-O-W enough that you have time for all sorts of thoughts:
- oh no ...
- I'm falling ...
- I can't believe I'm doing this again ...
- we should have sprinkled 'ice melt' ...
- I hope I don't break an arm ...
- I hope I don't break a leg ...
- shoot! I'm old enough - I hope I don't break a hip ...
- what if I crack my head on the cement and have to lay here until someone misses me ...
- YIKES! they're mostly asleep still ...
- I think I'm going to die.
- Hey! I'm alive ...
- what's broken?
- am I bleeding?...
- wonder if I can call 9-1-1 myself ...
- nuts! my phone is IN the car ...
- do I hurt anywhere?...
- can I get up?
- ugh ... I'm getting up ... hope no one sees me.
By night time when all my family and fun and distractions left I could feel my knee was wrenched and my ankle a little tender. In the a.m. I was hobbling and the knee had me a teensy bit worried. Toward late evening and certainly by the time I got up the next day -- I was all reset and ready to head out and try manipulating around on NEW ICE!
We had such fun on the weekend. Ryan, Rhiannon and Jaimee came for the weekend. They came on Friday evening (relatively early) and stayed until about 7-ish on Sunday.
Saturday night Wynter and Andy came over. Andy and Randy worked on "Frank-N-Puter" - a rebuilt computer they were working on for Wynter. Randy enjoyed himself. Wyn, Rhiannon and I stayed upstairs and played Boggle, Taboo, Backseat Drawing, Farkle, and probably more. Of course we didn't have enough for teams - so we did the best we could.
Mixed throughout the evening was soup and rolls and ... rocky road ice cream. Can't go wrong there!
Now it is back to work - and another full week on tap. I'm so fortunate to have these extra few hours - but please keep my resume in your prayers for the new job I have put in for. That would be so helpful. Got my eye on a couple of other opportunities, but I don't think I will be applying for them.
Randy brought home some Dominos pizza tonight. Cheese. You know they have been advertising that they have 'new and improved' the taste. It's pretty good! I would eat it again.
So now it's getting to be close to bed time -- and I better get myself up those stairs!
Here are some pictures of our little Lego-Lovely! Her Crazy Uncle Nick has said from the beginning that Jaimee would only be fun AFTER she was able to play Legos with him. I think we're there! She had fun. Nick is very gentle and nice with his little niece. He always says "such a cute baby".
We have a little 'wager' on when she will walk. We're not betting, but just guessing. I don't have my phone here by me and I'm too lazy to get up and get it. (Otherwise I'd fill you in on those projections.) With the progress she made yesterday at their house -- I think Randy (who guessed the earliest time) will be the winner.
HOVER OVER THE PICTURES FOR THE WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
Monday, January 11
IMPUT???????
This is a little thing in the great realm of "things", but I keep hearing people say "imput" ... I keep thinking THEY ARE WRONG.
But just like seeing people wearing jammie pants around town, I started wondering if maybe I'm wrong. It still bugs me (the jammie pants AND the word IMPUT). But I am becoming desensitized to it.
But today -- I was dealing with the local newspaper to get an advertisement placed for work. When I got an email from the Journal's employee saying something about figures being "imputted" in the computer ... I got super perturbed.
I IMPUTTED http://www.google.com/ - and then IMPUTTED the word IMPUT into the search box. I wanted to see. Was I the one who was wrong all this time when I simply INPUT things into the computer?
Well, guess what ... I am RIGHT - RIGHT - RIGHT!!!! Here is what I found,
imput — input
Idiot's version of "input."
I'd tell you the website so you could look them up, but I told you the website you'd be able to call me out on my mistakes. *LOL*
But just like seeing people wearing jammie pants around town, I started wondering if maybe I'm wrong. It still bugs me (the jammie pants AND the word IMPUT). But I am becoming desensitized to it.
But today -- I was dealing with the local newspaper to get an advertisement placed for work. When I got an email from the Journal's employee saying something about figures being "imputted" in the computer ... I got super perturbed.
I IMPUTTED http://www.google.com/ - and then IMPUTTED the word IMPUT into the search box. I wanted to see. Was I the one who was wrong all this time when I simply INPUT things into the computer?
Well, guess what ... I am RIGHT - RIGHT - RIGHT!!!! Here is what I found,
imput — input
Idiot's version of "input."
I'd tell you the website so you could look them up, but I told you the website you'd be able to call me out on my mistakes. *LOL*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
