It's been a busy evening here. Also, an exciting one for Mandy and me but even more so for Maya.
Our lovely little cat -the supposedly male one named Jorge but who it was discovered about a day or two after it came to live with us that Jorge is not a male but rather a female - had kittens today.
I was out in the kitchen, cooking spaghetti sauce and all of a sudden, Mandy let out a shriek, calling to me, "Oh! MOM! Oh my God!"
She about scared the living daylights out of me and my first thought was that one of the kids had gotten into something, eaten some forbidden substance or well, who knows what.
I turned to look at her and she had hurried across the dining room to where Jorge was trying to kind of stretch out a bit and about that time, Jorge let out a fairly loud cry which then told me what Mandy was so excited about as she cried out to me "It's happening! It's happening!"
She hurried up and found a fairly large box in my room that had a couple of old towels from my Aunt's house that we had used to wrap and cover some of the dishes we got there and she brought it out into the foyer between my room and the dining room. Got Jorge all positioned in there and before we knew it, we had one little black striped kitten. That was about 6 p.m.
Although many autistic children do the hand flapping and it is something Maya did a great deal of back when she was about 2 years old, she rarely does it now unless she is really excited about something. Well tonight was full of hand flapping from her along with lots and lots of squeals from her too as she watched in astonishment as the first kitten showed up and then, for the next three hours or a little better, we all kept watch until now Jorge is apparently through adding to our family as she is all stretched out, reposing nicely with her four little babies.
Two are black with stripes and the other two are grey-striped and all four are nice sized and cute as the dickens. I know, I say that now but in about 6-8 weeks from now, when they are old enough, big enough to go on to other homes, I'll probably be so anxious to move them out that I'll even be considering fixing up a dowerysfor each one of 'em. (What would a dowery for a male kitten be called anyway? And, what would be appropriate gifties to put in a kitten's dowery too for that matter? Just wondering here.)
It was really difficult at first to keep Maya back from the box but finally, she brought out her little green camp chair and set it up beside the box so that way, she could sit and gaze in at these sweet little creatures.
With the first kitten, Maya was full of questions but the main one was why was Jorge licking the kittens? Mandy explained to her that Jorge was cleaning them, making them all soft and clean, cuddly, etc. Maya thought that over for a minute or two and then announced that "Jorge is scrubbing them, isn't she?" Yep, she's scrubbing them really good, kiddo!
After the third kitten arrived and Maya was trying to take a good peek at it, she discovered there was something else in the box with Jorge and her babies -something I really was hoping she wouldn't spy and WOULDN'T ask any questions about it. But, unfortunately, my luck had run out by that time. She kept pointing to this and asking about Jorge's "red poopie." She also noticed very quickly that Jorge was licking away at this too and it really put my mind to the test to figure out what to tell her this stuff was. Finally, I told her it was special vitamins that Mama cats have when each kitten is born and they then have to eat this to make sure the kittens are healthy. Thankfully, she bought that line. Explaining afterbirth to a four-year-old wasn't on my list of things I really wanted to do today.
Oh, and since I'm in such an exposure oriented mood -well, sort of -tonight, I may as well share Maya's other tidbit of the day too.
After a long drawn out process of her "getting her poop out" (as Maya calls her own body function in that realm), and after Mandy had taken her back and got her cleaned up, etc., she proceeded to come out and tell me she'd had a "nice big oval poopie."
Don't we just have some lovely pre-dinner time discussions here though?
Anyway, I think Jorge's family is now complete. I HOPE so anyway. And I will be posting some pictures in the near future of my new "grandkittens." Katie had planned to name them -regardless of the sex - Enrico, Estevan, Jose and now, neither Mandy or I can remember the fourth name Katie had picked out. Why the Spanish names? Kate insists that since she named the mother cat Jorge, these kittens are "legal Spanish immigrants" and therefore, must all have Spanish names. Don't ask me why or what possesses her some days. What causes a lot of the thought processes most 16-year-olds have anyway? Answer that question and I betcha we have the solution to Kate's name choices and ideas about the kittens ethnic status too.
Now, I have to go back and check on our new babies again. Just to make sure they're all ok, ya know. Uh huh. Sure I do.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Bedtime Blues
Right now - as I type this - the sounds floating down the stairs, emanating from Miss Maya's room -are not pleasant, not in the least. It's bedtime and a certain little four-year-old has been relegated to retire a bit earlier than her normal time due mainly to behavior issues.
What can I say other than "Them's the breaks, kiddo!"
I think it is more than safe to say that Miss Maya pushed not one but several buttons too many this evening with her mother and as a result -well we have one very unhappy camper, to say the least.
THe other little camper here isn't overly happy either but his issues pertain more to the problems he has from his allergies - itchy eyes, nose and the like -so he's had his evening meds, just needs his last evening bottle and hopefully those meds will all kick in and send him off, peacefully, to dream land.
This evening, one of the things Maya did earlier that started the ball rolling that ended up getting her into deep doo-doo with her mother was to take puzzle piece -from a wooden puzzle belonging to Kurtis, and place said piece under his chin and then, not very gently, push on it again his chin, throat area, ultimately kind of flipping it up and off his nose and face. Of course, Kurtis wasn't in the least bit impressed by his sister's skills -nor was her mother.
Warnings were given to no avail. A time-out was issued that got a loud response of "NO, NO! NO TIMEOUTS!" from Maya. Push finally came to shove and Miss Maya found herself being led, not in the friendliest of manners, and plunked down on the sofa. Tears were shed, loud crying ensued which was echoed then by Kurtis -who does not like it AT ALL when Maya is upset and crying as it just upsets him then too! Wonderful, huh? Stereo screaming! Just what every household should have.
A few more sassy answers and then, Mandy announced very firmly that she'd finally reached her limit and Maya was going to bed.
The instructions were given for her to come over and give Gram a hug and kiss, nite-nite, to which Maya started to weep, saying she couldn't do that because "Gram is mad." No there was a first! First doggone time she ever recognized that Grammy got angry! Not that she hasn't seen it happen, just that it was the first time it dawned on her that this might just be a really convenient excuse for a little extra leeway.
Unfortunately, that ploy didn't work. She did end up coming and giving me a hug and a kiss, went upstairs grudgingly -with a bit of noise -and now, she's in bed and having a royally loud hissy fit.
The only one this will actually upset might be the 16-year-old if she isn't yet asleep. However, if she's asleep, it most likely will never even phase her. She can sleep just exactly like her Dad - like a log!
I should be so lucky!
What can I say other than "Them's the breaks, kiddo!"
I think it is more than safe to say that Miss Maya pushed not one but several buttons too many this evening with her mother and as a result -well we have one very unhappy camper, to say the least.
THe other little camper here isn't overly happy either but his issues pertain more to the problems he has from his allergies - itchy eyes, nose and the like -so he's had his evening meds, just needs his last evening bottle and hopefully those meds will all kick in and send him off, peacefully, to dream land.
This evening, one of the things Maya did earlier that started the ball rolling that ended up getting her into deep doo-doo with her mother was to take puzzle piece -from a wooden puzzle belonging to Kurtis, and place said piece under his chin and then, not very gently, push on it again his chin, throat area, ultimately kind of flipping it up and off his nose and face. Of course, Kurtis wasn't in the least bit impressed by his sister's skills -nor was her mother.
Warnings were given to no avail. A time-out was issued that got a loud response of "NO, NO! NO TIMEOUTS!" from Maya. Push finally came to shove and Miss Maya found herself being led, not in the friendliest of manners, and plunked down on the sofa. Tears were shed, loud crying ensued which was echoed then by Kurtis -who does not like it AT ALL when Maya is upset and crying as it just upsets him then too! Wonderful, huh? Stereo screaming! Just what every household should have.
A few more sassy answers and then, Mandy announced very firmly that she'd finally reached her limit and Maya was going to bed.
The instructions were given for her to come over and give Gram a hug and kiss, nite-nite, to which Maya started to weep, saying she couldn't do that because "Gram is mad." No there was a first! First doggone time she ever recognized that Grammy got angry! Not that she hasn't seen it happen, just that it was the first time it dawned on her that this might just be a really convenient excuse for a little extra leeway.
Unfortunately, that ploy didn't work. She did end up coming and giving me a hug and a kiss, went upstairs grudgingly -with a bit of noise -and now, she's in bed and having a royally loud hissy fit.
The only one this will actually upset might be the 16-year-old if she isn't yet asleep. However, if she's asleep, it most likely will never even phase her. She can sleep just exactly like her Dad - like a log!
I should be so lucky!
Interesting Evening!
Ok, I did it! I went to the school board meeting tonight. It's the first time I've been to a school board meeting I think since about 1975 I think. Back then, a group of about 9 mothers of early elementary aged students went to a meeting and being novices, didn't know about the board and their "Agenda" so when the board president recognized the group of us there and asked who we were and our interest(s), he quickly shut us down at the pass when he found out we were not the happiest parents in the school district with the way certain things were being handled with our kids.
My older daughter was then in 2nd grade and was having a lot of problems with reading. Her Dad and I had told her if she needed more help, to bring her reader home with her and we would read with her. However, she told us that the kids were not permitted to bring their readers home. Hmmm. My initial thoughts were that no 7-year-old was going to start to buffalo me at that early an age so I called the school and spoke to the principal about this. He really shocked me when he informed me this was true. The kids weren't allowed to bring their readers home for two reasons: One, they didn't have enough books to go around and Two, they found if kids did bring readers home, they then tended to read ahead!
Now, I may not have liked the idea of their not having enough books, but I could somewhat understand the restriction based on that. However, to not allow kids to bring the books home they are working with because "They would tend to read ahead" was a piece of logic I didn't comprehend then, nor do I to this day!
The upshot from that visit by eight other parents and myself was that daughter #1 got enrolled in a special summer reading program -in which she learned to read thermometers indoors and outdoors, took several special trips with the kids in her group -including a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo (and trust me, I'm all for educational things like the zoo trip as well as the others they had too) but they did very little of what she was supposed to be doing in that group - reading! I ended up having my aunt - the one who just passed away three weeks ago - tutor my daughter, two days a week for the last six weeks of the summer so when she returned to school in the fall, to third grade, she was actually taking an interest in reading and doing much better. Sadly, because of the system they were using at the school at that time, by the end of the second grading period, her interest, her grades too, were both starting a backslide. She didn't become interested in reading again until she was forced to read every day by her 5th grade teacher but she always had problems with reading after that. She loves to read now but in comparison to her brother and younger sister, she is a much slower reader and still has "issues" in pronunciation and comprehension of the words at times.
So, ok -now you know -I've not always been a big fan of some of the methods employed in our school district from early on with my kids. My son had no problems with reading but math -and holding his attention were his downfalls. The younger daughter -no reading problems, some math problems but most of the issues with her were simply that she -like her brother, in high school -didn't like to be bothered much with homework. (Although she would at least do the homework and submit it, whereas her brother rarely bothered even doing that. It's a miracle either of them ever graduated ya know!)
I went to the meeting tonight with a lot of trepidation because I hadn't written anything up -if it looked like there was a chance of the drama club issues being discussed further this evening and I didn't want to risk "ad libbing" my issues with what had taken place there two weeks ago.
I walked into the library where the meeting was to take place and the first person I see there, seated at a front table, is the 15-year-old grandson of my cousin! Yep! My favorite young person cousin who has been grooming himself for several years now in anticipation of eventually running for President of the United States! He's quite a character, believe me! A very savvy young fellow who I love to talk to, to joke around with too as he and I both share ver similar traits pertaining to humor -as well as our political beliefs! If I'm still around the planet when he is old enough to run for office, he can count on me to try to garner votes for him from the geriatric crowd at the nursing home then!
I was really glad he was there and that he invited me to sit by him too as he went and got me a copy of the board's agenda for the evening and even signed me in as a visitor for the meeting this evening. However, the only mention about the Drama Club was that there apparently had been a misunderstanding coming out of the last meeting and that the current director of the Drama Club is still in that position! Ok -I'll save my remarks for another meeting then if my young cousin keeps me informed as to when they might be engaging in another discussion along those lines or about "literature" or "the Arts" or disbanding any other really good programs the school has going at this point in time.
I haven't posted anything for some time about Maya or Kurtis -not because they haven't been doing anything -far from that! But really because they've both been pretty well behaved, all things considered.
However, I thought you all might appreciate this one little story from Maya.
Yesterday, Mandy and Maya went to church with Mandy's best friend and her children to a neighboring church in our area. Mandy said Maya did very well with the service there, sat relatively still, was quiet, etc. However, at one point during their service they had a man playing a guitar which completely enthralled Maya -definitely caught her eye and her interest. After church, at home, Mandy was questioning her about what she'd seen at this new church, who had talked to her, etc., and she questioned her about this guy playing the guitar. She asked Maya who it was that had been playing the guitar and her response - "It was God!" To bad we don't know who the guitarist was or we could call and tell him that Miss Maya apparently thought quite highly of his musical abilities.
She's been busy of late on days when it's been nice - sunny, not too chill or anything -and if someone is available to be outside with her -she's been practicing riding her two-wheeler bicycle. She got this bike a year ago Easter from Aunt Carrie and Uncle Robert but last year, though she was interested in the bike, she couldn't quite figure out too much about how to make it move. (It has training wheels, so don't go thinking we were trying to get a three-year-old to ride a two-wheel bike alone!) However, this year, she still has some problems with the pedals but after a little working with them, she can usually get herself moving and she does love it.
So, here's a picture of Maya last week -out on the road in front of our house -riding her bicycle!
And, that's all for tonight, folks! I think little boy's sleep-time antics, of trying to stay up half the night, fussing, fighting trying to go to sleep and such, have rubbed off on me. Now, he's been going to sleep between 9:30 and 10 p.m. -usually - not waking up during the night and sleeping till about 9-10 in the morning whereas I may be feeling like I am going to fall asleep while at the computer but as soon as my head hits the pillow, the eyeballs seem to pop wide open and I can't fall asleep then till 4 or 5 a.m. Then, within 2 hours, I'm awake in need of visiting the bathroom, back to bed again to sleep for maybe another 2 hours if I'm lucky. So, come early evening, most of the time I can't stay awake then and fall asleep which of course, feeds on the I can't fall asleep then when I need to go to bed! Sheesh! Wish my system would finally settle down, ya know!
My older daughter was then in 2nd grade and was having a lot of problems with reading. Her Dad and I had told her if she needed more help, to bring her reader home with her and we would read with her. However, she told us that the kids were not permitted to bring their readers home. Hmmm. My initial thoughts were that no 7-year-old was going to start to buffalo me at that early an age so I called the school and spoke to the principal about this. He really shocked me when he informed me this was true. The kids weren't allowed to bring their readers home for two reasons: One, they didn't have enough books to go around and Two, they found if kids did bring readers home, they then tended to read ahead!
Now, I may not have liked the idea of their not having enough books, but I could somewhat understand the restriction based on that. However, to not allow kids to bring the books home they are working with because "They would tend to read ahead" was a piece of logic I didn't comprehend then, nor do I to this day!
The upshot from that visit by eight other parents and myself was that daughter #1 got enrolled in a special summer reading program -in which she learned to read thermometers indoors and outdoors, took several special trips with the kids in her group -including a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo (and trust me, I'm all for educational things like the zoo trip as well as the others they had too) but they did very little of what she was supposed to be doing in that group - reading! I ended up having my aunt - the one who just passed away three weeks ago - tutor my daughter, two days a week for the last six weeks of the summer so when she returned to school in the fall, to third grade, she was actually taking an interest in reading and doing much better. Sadly, because of the system they were using at the school at that time, by the end of the second grading period, her interest, her grades too, were both starting a backslide. She didn't become interested in reading again until she was forced to read every day by her 5th grade teacher but she always had problems with reading after that. She loves to read now but in comparison to her brother and younger sister, she is a much slower reader and still has "issues" in pronunciation and comprehension of the words at times.
So, ok -now you know -I've not always been a big fan of some of the methods employed in our school district from early on with my kids. My son had no problems with reading but math -and holding his attention were his downfalls. The younger daughter -no reading problems, some math problems but most of the issues with her were simply that she -like her brother, in high school -didn't like to be bothered much with homework. (Although she would at least do the homework and submit it, whereas her brother rarely bothered even doing that. It's a miracle either of them ever graduated ya know!)
I went to the meeting tonight with a lot of trepidation because I hadn't written anything up -if it looked like there was a chance of the drama club issues being discussed further this evening and I didn't want to risk "ad libbing" my issues with what had taken place there two weeks ago.
I walked into the library where the meeting was to take place and the first person I see there, seated at a front table, is the 15-year-old grandson of my cousin! Yep! My favorite young person cousin who has been grooming himself for several years now in anticipation of eventually running for President of the United States! He's quite a character, believe me! A very savvy young fellow who I love to talk to, to joke around with too as he and I both share ver similar traits pertaining to humor -as well as our political beliefs! If I'm still around the planet when he is old enough to run for office, he can count on me to try to garner votes for him from the geriatric crowd at the nursing home then!
I was really glad he was there and that he invited me to sit by him too as he went and got me a copy of the board's agenda for the evening and even signed me in as a visitor for the meeting this evening. However, the only mention about the Drama Club was that there apparently had been a misunderstanding coming out of the last meeting and that the current director of the Drama Club is still in that position! Ok -I'll save my remarks for another meeting then if my young cousin keeps me informed as to when they might be engaging in another discussion along those lines or about "literature" or "the Arts" or disbanding any other really good programs the school has going at this point in time.
I haven't posted anything for some time about Maya or Kurtis -not because they haven't been doing anything -far from that! But really because they've both been pretty well behaved, all things considered.
However, I thought you all might appreciate this one little story from Maya.
Yesterday, Mandy and Maya went to church with Mandy's best friend and her children to a neighboring church in our area. Mandy said Maya did very well with the service there, sat relatively still, was quiet, etc. However, at one point during their service they had a man playing a guitar which completely enthralled Maya -definitely caught her eye and her interest. After church, at home, Mandy was questioning her about what she'd seen at this new church, who had talked to her, etc., and she questioned her about this guy playing the guitar. She asked Maya who it was that had been playing the guitar and her response - "It was God!" To bad we don't know who the guitarist was or we could call and tell him that Miss Maya apparently thought quite highly of his musical abilities.
She's been busy of late on days when it's been nice - sunny, not too chill or anything -and if someone is available to be outside with her -she's been practicing riding her two-wheeler bicycle. She got this bike a year ago Easter from Aunt Carrie and Uncle Robert but last year, though she was interested in the bike, she couldn't quite figure out too much about how to make it move. (It has training wheels, so don't go thinking we were trying to get a three-year-old to ride a two-wheel bike alone!) However, this year, she still has some problems with the pedals but after a little working with them, she can usually get herself moving and she does love it.
So, here's a picture of Maya last week -out on the road in front of our house -riding her bicycle!
And, that's all for tonight, folks! I think little boy's sleep-time antics, of trying to stay up half the night, fussing, fighting trying to go to sleep and such, have rubbed off on me. Now, he's been going to sleep between 9:30 and 10 p.m. -usually - not waking up during the night and sleeping till about 9-10 in the morning whereas I may be feeling like I am going to fall asleep while at the computer but as soon as my head hits the pillow, the eyeballs seem to pop wide open and I can't fall asleep then till 4 or 5 a.m. Then, within 2 hours, I'm awake in need of visiting the bathroom, back to bed again to sleep for maybe another 2 hours if I'm lucky. So, come early evening, most of the time I can't stay awake then and fall asleep which of course, feeds on the I can't fall asleep then when I need to go to bed! Sheesh! Wish my system would finally settle down, ya know!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Catch-up Ball
As my title above says, that is pretty much what I have been doing all this week and for much of last week too!
Just seems I can't get through reading blogs and then, trying to think of something to post, nothing seemed to come forward for me.
Not that there aren't plenty of things going on -on the world stage, nationally, even some local stuff that's caught my eye and ear, but trying to sift through this stuff and post something even remotely intelligent much less also -hopefully - interesting, just wasn't in the hand I've been dealt of late.
I mentioned I think in my last post my concerns about the teacher friend here and the issues that presents with our illustrious school board. I spoke to her again the other day and she suggested that perhaps I could write a letter to the Board or even speak before them.
I was at that time, trying to think of how to word a letter in support of her, of the drama program and not being very successful in my thought process either. The idea of speaking before the board would only work for me if I can pull the words together and have it as a written speech to use. I do NOT do ad lib, under circumstances of this nature, well at all! I would get way too emotional, lose my cool and do more potential harm then than good I'm afraid so it would have to be that I write something and have it all rehearsed, well prepared.
Right now though, I need to sit and talk to her, to get all the details straight as to what they have done, said, what she said, the union rep too so I know too then what I am "allowed" to know. Since the meeting she had was an "executive" session of the Board, it is possible that NONE of what was discussed was to be discussed further. I'm just not sure how things like that operate and the last thing I want to do is inadvertently say something that would dig a much bigger hole for her than the one already sitting there, yawning at her, just kind of waiting for someone to jump the gun, enter and screw EVERYTHING up, ya see.
I think this is probably best called a bit of a sticky wicket, isn't it?
On the home front, in other things, Mandy is yes, officially "laid off" but the reason given was that the restaurant didn't have enough hours/business to keep her on the schedule. Ok, that's nice in that it would allow her to sign up for a really paltry unemployment check and yes, even a check for $15 or $20 a week is still better than absolutely nothing. However, the whole thing basically hinges on he -the owner -doesn't want to have to deal with the amount of doctor appointments, therapist visits and such that are often necessary for Mandy to attend to with Kurtis. That, plus last month, she had requested off a Monday and Friday in the same week because she had an appointment that MOnday with the allergist in Pittsburgh and then, that Friday, I had an appointment schedule with my surgeon in Pittsburgh. As things played out, she ended up cancelling the appointment for Kurtis as she had no one to go with her and no way could she manage him, alone, for a 3 1/2 hour drive, one-way, plus waiting in the office, the visit, etc., a meal for him, for her, and trying to change him and manage to go to the bathroom herself with him in tow and then, drive back home again too -alone! She then contacted our GP doctor here and asked if they could find him an allergist a little closer to home which they did find him one in Altoona which is only an hour a way and then, I could go with her as it was during the hours Maya was in school too. That deal, plus the fact that my appointment that week was then cancelled by my doctor as he was going to be out of town so the boss wasn't too pleased about all that. Especially when she had to request two more days off, back to back (last Thursday for Kurtis and Friday for my appointment in Pittsburgh) and add to that, Saturday nite off if possible to attend the church dinner to meet the new prospective pastor for our church. Well, that, in our opinion, is the crux of the deal for removing her from the schedule.
However, since then, she did contact a former employer -a home-health care agency she had worked for in which she performed basic needs for elderly or handicapped people that would enable them to stay independent in their own homes and it seems that two of the people she had previously worked for are again in need of an aide so it looks like she will at least be able to get 12 hours a week working at that job again. And, of course, there's always the possibility of getting another client and hours then that would be flexible enough to fit with her ability to maneuver around.
The son-in-law though -well, it appears he is going to forge ahead with this partnership idea. All I can say there is I just hope and pray -for his sake, for my daughter and the grandkids -and yes, for my peace of mind too -that it all works the way he thinks it will. I just wish he had been able to do a lot more study of what is really necessary to go into business for himself before taking this big a step. That or if only he had been willing to apply for one of the two jobs, at least, that my son had called and told us about - both that paid well above what he had been earning at the shop position where he's worked for the past almost two years -or is it three years - now. So, cross your fingers, get out the rabbit's foot too, find some four-leaf clovers too while you're at it and most of all, say some heavy duty prayers that this all works out for the best for him, for the family.
And finally, before I close for tonight and go get my shower so I will have that done and won't be holding up the bathroom line-up in the morning so we can all get ready to go to church, there is some really good news in this little coal mining, mountain top community this week!
Our church got word on Friday from the pastoral candidate that she will accept our offer and WILL be coming here sometime in June to start as our new minister! And for that blessing, I am very, very happy and also, very, very grateful!
So, here's to Pastor Carrie Anderson from someplace out in the boondocks of Wisconsin, from a seminary in Iowa, as she makes her way east and moves into the parsonage belonging to our church and especially as she takes over the duties of this position to minister to the needs of our parish! Welcome, Pastor Carrie! And I pray that you find this area as beautiful, serene and peaceful as I do and the people to be as friendly, loving, hard-working and just plain good folks as I have always believed exist here too.
Just seems I can't get through reading blogs and then, trying to think of something to post, nothing seemed to come forward for me.
Not that there aren't plenty of things going on -on the world stage, nationally, even some local stuff that's caught my eye and ear, but trying to sift through this stuff and post something even remotely intelligent much less also -hopefully - interesting, just wasn't in the hand I've been dealt of late.
I mentioned I think in my last post my concerns about the teacher friend here and the issues that presents with our illustrious school board. I spoke to her again the other day and she suggested that perhaps I could write a letter to the Board or even speak before them.
I was at that time, trying to think of how to word a letter in support of her, of the drama program and not being very successful in my thought process either. The idea of speaking before the board would only work for me if I can pull the words together and have it as a written speech to use. I do NOT do ad lib, under circumstances of this nature, well at all! I would get way too emotional, lose my cool and do more potential harm then than good I'm afraid so it would have to be that I write something and have it all rehearsed, well prepared.
Right now though, I need to sit and talk to her, to get all the details straight as to what they have done, said, what she said, the union rep too so I know too then what I am "allowed" to know. Since the meeting she had was an "executive" session of the Board, it is possible that NONE of what was discussed was to be discussed further. I'm just not sure how things like that operate and the last thing I want to do is inadvertently say something that would dig a much bigger hole for her than the one already sitting there, yawning at her, just kind of waiting for someone to jump the gun, enter and screw EVERYTHING up, ya see.
I think this is probably best called a bit of a sticky wicket, isn't it?
On the home front, in other things, Mandy is yes, officially "laid off" but the reason given was that the restaurant didn't have enough hours/business to keep her on the schedule. Ok, that's nice in that it would allow her to sign up for a really paltry unemployment check and yes, even a check for $15 or $20 a week is still better than absolutely nothing. However, the whole thing basically hinges on he -the owner -doesn't want to have to deal with the amount of doctor appointments, therapist visits and such that are often necessary for Mandy to attend to with Kurtis. That, plus last month, she had requested off a Monday and Friday in the same week because she had an appointment that MOnday with the allergist in Pittsburgh and then, that Friday, I had an appointment schedule with my surgeon in Pittsburgh. As things played out, she ended up cancelling the appointment for Kurtis as she had no one to go with her and no way could she manage him, alone, for a 3 1/2 hour drive, one-way, plus waiting in the office, the visit, etc., a meal for him, for her, and trying to change him and manage to go to the bathroom herself with him in tow and then, drive back home again too -alone! She then contacted our GP doctor here and asked if they could find him an allergist a little closer to home which they did find him one in Altoona which is only an hour a way and then, I could go with her as it was during the hours Maya was in school too. That deal, plus the fact that my appointment that week was then cancelled by my doctor as he was going to be out of town so the boss wasn't too pleased about all that. Especially when she had to request two more days off, back to back (last Thursday for Kurtis and Friday for my appointment in Pittsburgh) and add to that, Saturday nite off if possible to attend the church dinner to meet the new prospective pastor for our church. Well, that, in our opinion, is the crux of the deal for removing her from the schedule.
However, since then, she did contact a former employer -a home-health care agency she had worked for in which she performed basic needs for elderly or handicapped people that would enable them to stay independent in their own homes and it seems that two of the people she had previously worked for are again in need of an aide so it looks like she will at least be able to get 12 hours a week working at that job again. And, of course, there's always the possibility of getting another client and hours then that would be flexible enough to fit with her ability to maneuver around.
The son-in-law though -well, it appears he is going to forge ahead with this partnership idea. All I can say there is I just hope and pray -for his sake, for my daughter and the grandkids -and yes, for my peace of mind too -that it all works the way he thinks it will. I just wish he had been able to do a lot more study of what is really necessary to go into business for himself before taking this big a step. That or if only he had been willing to apply for one of the two jobs, at least, that my son had called and told us about - both that paid well above what he had been earning at the shop position where he's worked for the past almost two years -or is it three years - now. So, cross your fingers, get out the rabbit's foot too, find some four-leaf clovers too while you're at it and most of all, say some heavy duty prayers that this all works out for the best for him, for the family.
And finally, before I close for tonight and go get my shower so I will have that done and won't be holding up the bathroom line-up in the morning so we can all get ready to go to church, there is some really good news in this little coal mining, mountain top community this week!
Our church got word on Friday from the pastoral candidate that she will accept our offer and WILL be coming here sometime in June to start as our new minister! And for that blessing, I am very, very happy and also, very, very grateful!
So, here's to Pastor Carrie Anderson from someplace out in the boondocks of Wisconsin, from a seminary in Iowa, as she makes her way east and moves into the parsonage belonging to our church and especially as she takes over the duties of this position to minister to the needs of our parish! Welcome, Pastor Carrie! And I pray that you find this area as beautiful, serene and peaceful as I do and the people to be as friendly, loving, hard-working and just plain good folks as I have always believed exist here too.
Getting Ahead? Maybe.
All Right! I'm determined that I will start this week out with a bit of a schedule or some sort of game plan at the very least. So, with that in mind, here's the Bushisms for the coming week!
Monday, May 19, 2008 - 246 days left
"First, let me make it very clear: poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."
--Washington, D.C., May 19, 2003
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 245 days left
"Government can hand out money, but government cannot put hope in a person's heart, or a sense of purpose in a person's life. Government happens when a loving neighbor puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "'I love you' and 'Can I help you?'"
--Sioux City, Iowa, 2004
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 --244 days left
"I recently met with the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority, was very impressed by his grasp of finances."
--Washington, D.C., May 2003
Thursday, May 22, 2008 -- 243 days left
"If a person doesn't have the capacity that we all want that person to have, I suspect hope is in the far distant future, if at all."
--Washington, D.C., Hispanic Scholarship Fund briefing, May 22, 2001
Friday, May 23, 2008 -- 242 days left
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
--Greece, New York, May 2005
Saturday and Sunday, May 24/25, 2008 - 241 days left and 240 days left
"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."
--Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004
As always, interesting, to say the least, aren't they?
Monday, May 19, 2008 - 246 days left
"First, let me make it very clear: poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."
--Washington, D.C., May 19, 2003
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 245 days left
"Government can hand out money, but government cannot put hope in a person's heart, or a sense of purpose in a person's life. Government happens when a loving neighbor puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "'I love you' and 'Can I help you?'"
--Sioux City, Iowa, 2004
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 --244 days left
"I recently met with the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority, was very impressed by his grasp of finances."
--Washington, D.C., May 2003
Thursday, May 22, 2008 -- 243 days left
"If a person doesn't have the capacity that we all want that person to have, I suspect hope is in the far distant future, if at all."
--Washington, D.C., Hispanic Scholarship Fund briefing, May 22, 2001
Friday, May 23, 2008 -- 242 days left
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."
--Greece, New York, May 2005
Saturday and Sunday, May 24/25, 2008 - 241 days left and 240 days left
"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."
--Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004
As always, interesting, to say the least, aren't they?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Worry, Worry -Everywhere!
This month is rapidly developing into one that is soon going to erode all the positive effects of the anti-depressants I'm taking, if things keep on at the rate they are presently tracking.
For better than a month now, Maya has been telling us every night at supper and prior to going to bed that she doesn't want to go to school the next day. Then, in the morning when Mandy gets her up, she often has the same message coming at her from Maya about how she doesn't want to go to school. However, when we try to question her about this, if we say "Why don't you want to go to school?" all we get for an answer is an echo of "Why?" Trying to figure out ways to re-word that question so as not to use the word "why" in it is not an easy task either, let me tell you that! And, apparently Maya doesn't understand the use of that word yet either. So, it leaves us in a bit of a quandry here, trying to convince her every day of reasons why she should want to go to school, what she will miss out on and all the good things we know she enjoys there. Prior to this, the only day we experienced any difficulty getting her ready for school and on the van was back in January and that was the day Mandy had taken Kurtis over to the hospital to have the tubes put in his ears.
So, that's worry number one but since we've been able to get here ready and on the van without any really major meltdowns -yet -it's a concern but not a full-scale, full-blown one at the immediate moment. Just one of the background noise things, if you know what I mean.
Worry number 2 -began last week when Mandy got her work schedule for the week and was only schedule to work last Monday and Tuesday. She could have also worked on Thursday but wasn't scheduled for that day. Wednesday, she always has asked off for because there is a therapy session at the Agency office that day for Kurtis plus one at the house in the afternoon and frequently, that has been the day the Specialist tries to come for conferences with her too. Last week though, she had also asked off for Friday due to my doctor's appointment and while she was at it, since they had adequate staff to cover, she had requested Saturday night off too. Apparently the owner of the establishment was put out at her because she had told him she really couldn't pick up all the hours of a girl who had quit a few weeks ago -mainly due to the kids and their therapy and class schedules and doctor appointments -plus the occasional ones of mine that require her presence. So now, she has been taken off the schedule completely. The story, from other workers there is not that she was fired but that she is off the schedule due to lack of business. So, since she only worked there part-time, does that make her eligible for a pittance of unemployment benefits she could sign up for? I think it does, but my knowledge about those things is pretty rusty now so I'm not really sure about that.
Then we have the really big worry, #3 on the list but probably should be #1 simply because it involved the son-in-law who is, of course, the major breadwinner in the household.
He was laid off last summer from his full-time job and although some weeks he only collected a partial unemployment check because the owner of the shop would have him come in and work maybe a day or two here and there, he was told about a month ago that he would be going back on full-time -even given a nice raise too -and then, after about a week of full-time work, he was back to part-time hours and such. Of course now, with part-time hours and his unemployment having run out, that is not near enough for all of us to manage here.
He's been doing some odd jobs, helping a friend of his establish a shop (he's an auto mechanic) in a town about 13-14 miles from here and the thought has been they would open this garage together, etc. However, both Mandy and I know he hasn't crossed all his "t's" nor dotted all the "I's" to this venture and they have no cushion to fall back on either so this idea, right now, is extremely risky business. EXTREMELY SO! I hate to say anything to him at all about these things because I know he feels I am just an old stick in the mud who doesn't want him to get ahead, get a business of his own, "his salvation," as it were, is how he is regarding this venture. And I would dearly love to see him be able to do that BUT only after he has shown he has the full ability to cover things in the start-up process. I'm not trying to rain on his parade, nor is Mandy but there is just so much at stake right now and no capital at all for them, for the family, to fall back on that I can't really see it as the great move as he is anticipating it would be. Not at this point in time anyway.
My son called this afternoon and told me of two jobs he heard about in his travels yesterday and that he forgot to mention to the son-in-law when he talked to him this morning -both have very good potential. One would be with a utility company as a "company mechanic" with union wages and benefits. The other would be with a smaller, private company but the guy who owns it is local and has a reputation for paying very good wages and being a very fair employer too. The latter might possibly be the easiest for the son-in-law to fall into if we can show him that this route would be immeasurably safer right now and he can still work towards his own business by building up some cushioning then with the security of a stable, better job right now.
And my last real concern right now is about the teacher/censorship problem I mentioned in my post the other day. In speaking to the teacher involved, it was suggested to me that perhaps I could write a letter to the Board or even speak at the next meeting. I would be happy to do either however, I am concerned about how to word a letter or a prepared speech (I don't do ad lib type things very well, as my voice and words get all discombobulated then) because I am not sure about how much I can say without digging a deeper hole perhaps for the teacher embroiled in this nasty situation. Because this all took place at an Executive Session at the School Board, how much of this information would be acceptable then for the general public to have wind of, you know? Is all of this supposed to have been kept ultra-secret from the public or what? By writing a letter or speaking up, am I going to further endanger the teacher's position then?
I hate -no, I loathe, abhor and despise the antics here -the censorship thing. I think it is absolutely despicable for any one person, any group, to dictate what others may or may not read, view, listen to, enjoy, etc. To label drama, the plays, etc., as "not being literature" to me shows a totally backward stance, one that I might have expected and understood had this taken place 50 some years ago when I was a kid -but it didn't! Now, in the 21st Century, when we are "supposed" to be a much more enlightened society, I feel these select few individuals -who in my opinion are totally ignorant of full learning -are trying to take us back even before the Victorian Era. As someone commented here on the other post -and as my son said too -would they say this about Shakespeare and judge his works as not being "literature?" Heaven forbid the kids would think of putting on something like "MacBeth" which is really murder and mayhem, isn't it?
I just do not understand how people can even think of doing something like this. And as much as I would like to help the teacher here, I am afraid because maybe I know too much and then again, maybe I don't know enough here either.
The whole thing worries me though because I just don't understand why on earth someone who is supposedly working to ensure the best education possible for the kids today would even think about destroying a wonderful program that has been developed in our school. One that has won numerous awards too through out the area for the plays they have put on over the past 6-7 years now and has provided so much valued experience for all the kids who have participated in these events too.
Just mind boggling isn't it?
And that, combined with the other things in my life, all has me in a very upset, depressed and worried frame of mind!
For better than a month now, Maya has been telling us every night at supper and prior to going to bed that she doesn't want to go to school the next day. Then, in the morning when Mandy gets her up, she often has the same message coming at her from Maya about how she doesn't want to go to school. However, when we try to question her about this, if we say "Why don't you want to go to school?" all we get for an answer is an echo of "Why?" Trying to figure out ways to re-word that question so as not to use the word "why" in it is not an easy task either, let me tell you that! And, apparently Maya doesn't understand the use of that word yet either. So, it leaves us in a bit of a quandry here, trying to convince her every day of reasons why she should want to go to school, what she will miss out on and all the good things we know she enjoys there. Prior to this, the only day we experienced any difficulty getting her ready for school and on the van was back in January and that was the day Mandy had taken Kurtis over to the hospital to have the tubes put in his ears.
So, that's worry number one but since we've been able to get here ready and on the van without any really major meltdowns -yet -it's a concern but not a full-scale, full-blown one at the immediate moment. Just one of the background noise things, if you know what I mean.
Worry number 2 -began last week when Mandy got her work schedule for the week and was only schedule to work last Monday and Tuesday. She could have also worked on Thursday but wasn't scheduled for that day. Wednesday, she always has asked off for because there is a therapy session at the Agency office that day for Kurtis plus one at the house in the afternoon and frequently, that has been the day the Specialist tries to come for conferences with her too. Last week though, she had also asked off for Friday due to my doctor's appointment and while she was at it, since they had adequate staff to cover, she had requested Saturday night off too. Apparently the owner of the establishment was put out at her because she had told him she really couldn't pick up all the hours of a girl who had quit a few weeks ago -mainly due to the kids and their therapy and class schedules and doctor appointments -plus the occasional ones of mine that require her presence. So now, she has been taken off the schedule completely. The story, from other workers there is not that she was fired but that she is off the schedule due to lack of business. So, since she only worked there part-time, does that make her eligible for a pittance of unemployment benefits she could sign up for? I think it does, but my knowledge about those things is pretty rusty now so I'm not really sure about that.
Then we have the really big worry, #3 on the list but probably should be #1 simply because it involved the son-in-law who is, of course, the major breadwinner in the household.
He was laid off last summer from his full-time job and although some weeks he only collected a partial unemployment check because the owner of the shop would have him come in and work maybe a day or two here and there, he was told about a month ago that he would be going back on full-time -even given a nice raise too -and then, after about a week of full-time work, he was back to part-time hours and such. Of course now, with part-time hours and his unemployment having run out, that is not near enough for all of us to manage here.
He's been doing some odd jobs, helping a friend of his establish a shop (he's an auto mechanic) in a town about 13-14 miles from here and the thought has been they would open this garage together, etc. However, both Mandy and I know he hasn't crossed all his "t's" nor dotted all the "I's" to this venture and they have no cushion to fall back on either so this idea, right now, is extremely risky business. EXTREMELY SO! I hate to say anything to him at all about these things because I know he feels I am just an old stick in the mud who doesn't want him to get ahead, get a business of his own, "his salvation," as it were, is how he is regarding this venture. And I would dearly love to see him be able to do that BUT only after he has shown he has the full ability to cover things in the start-up process. I'm not trying to rain on his parade, nor is Mandy but there is just so much at stake right now and no capital at all for them, for the family, to fall back on that I can't really see it as the great move as he is anticipating it would be. Not at this point in time anyway.
My son called this afternoon and told me of two jobs he heard about in his travels yesterday and that he forgot to mention to the son-in-law when he talked to him this morning -both have very good potential. One would be with a utility company as a "company mechanic" with union wages and benefits. The other would be with a smaller, private company but the guy who owns it is local and has a reputation for paying very good wages and being a very fair employer too. The latter might possibly be the easiest for the son-in-law to fall into if we can show him that this route would be immeasurably safer right now and he can still work towards his own business by building up some cushioning then with the security of a stable, better job right now.
And my last real concern right now is about the teacher/censorship problem I mentioned in my post the other day. In speaking to the teacher involved, it was suggested to me that perhaps I could write a letter to the Board or even speak at the next meeting. I would be happy to do either however, I am concerned about how to word a letter or a prepared speech (I don't do ad lib type things very well, as my voice and words get all discombobulated then) because I am not sure about how much I can say without digging a deeper hole perhaps for the teacher embroiled in this nasty situation. Because this all took place at an Executive Session at the School Board, how much of this information would be acceptable then for the general public to have wind of, you know? Is all of this supposed to have been kept ultra-secret from the public or what? By writing a letter or speaking up, am I going to further endanger the teacher's position then?
I hate -no, I loathe, abhor and despise the antics here -the censorship thing. I think it is absolutely despicable for any one person, any group, to dictate what others may or may not read, view, listen to, enjoy, etc. To label drama, the plays, etc., as "not being literature" to me shows a totally backward stance, one that I might have expected and understood had this taken place 50 some years ago when I was a kid -but it didn't! Now, in the 21st Century, when we are "supposed" to be a much more enlightened society, I feel these select few individuals -who in my opinion are totally ignorant of full learning -are trying to take us back even before the Victorian Era. As someone commented here on the other post -and as my son said too -would they say this about Shakespeare and judge his works as not being "literature?" Heaven forbid the kids would think of putting on something like "MacBeth" which is really murder and mayhem, isn't it?
I just do not understand how people can even think of doing something like this. And as much as I would like to help the teacher here, I am afraid because maybe I know too much and then again, maybe I don't know enough here either.
The whole thing worries me though because I just don't understand why on earth someone who is supposedly working to ensure the best education possible for the kids today would even think about destroying a wonderful program that has been developed in our school. One that has won numerous awards too through out the area for the plays they have put on over the past 6-7 years now and has provided so much valued experience for all the kids who have participated in these events too.
Just mind boggling isn't it?
And that, combined with the other things in my life, all has me in a very upset, depressed and worried frame of mind!
By "Popular" Request
Because so many people have left comments requesting recipes -ok, maybe two did that -I decided to go on a search and destroy mission here and find the recipe I wrote down a few years back for the Ham and Bean Potpie mentioned in my last post. I may have mentioned this recipe a time or two before because it is a favorite with my kids and it's the one I generally make to take to church pot luck dinners too. (Mostly because I rarely come home with more than maybe two-three tablespoons of the stuff left over and I really hate dealing with certain types of leftovers that somehow manage to get lost in the fridge until they have begun to grow a really think coating of green-gray fur, if you know what I mean.)
This particular dish is one that was served every Thursday as the dinner special at the truckstop where I worked from 1989 to 1991. I don't know what the origins are for this recipe but I'm guessing it is probably a Pennsylvania Dutch type dish. If you notice I didn't give amounts of the onions, celery, carrots to cook with the ham, as this varies for me depending on the size of the ham I ham using. It can also vary with individual tastes too as some people don't like a heavy onion flavor, others may not want or only use a smattering of the carrots and celery. It is pretty much an individual thing there. The same can be applied to the "dumplings" or noodles -whether you want to use more or less, it's up to you to determine how you like that.
It really isn't a difficult dish to prepare -a little time consuming here and there -but the flavor is well worth the effort. This recipe will make enough to fill a five quart (not 5 gallon as I had originally stated in my earlier post) casserole dish. I use the large oval shaped visions casserole dish -with a nice big lid to it too that makes transporting it a whole lot easier too.
If you want to make a smaller batch to try it out, you'll have to adjust your portions of ingredients as you see fit -again, it's a very individualistic dish and can be adjusted for a smaller portion or easily increased for a very large, large pan full too if you wish!
Try it. If you like bean soup, I'll bet you - and your family - will love it!
Cousin Jen’s Favorites
Ham and Bean Pot pie
Chopped celery
Chopped onion
Chopped carrots
Parsley
Dash of celery seed
Salt and pepper
Add celery, onion and carrots, seasonings.
Bring to boil and let slow cook then for 1-2 hours.
Dip carrots, onion and celery from broth and add to beans and ham.
For Noodles:
Slice rolled dough lengthwise, then cut slices into small squares or triangles.
Drop these pieces of dough into broth brought to a boil and cook until dough pieces rise to top of broth.
Remove dough from broth and add to bean mixture.
Stir mixture from time to time to keep noodles from getting hard as they bake.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Wonderful Weekend!
After feeling really euphoric upon arriving back home Friday from our trip to Pittsburgh - and the grand tour Mandy and I sort of accidentally took when we got lost in the Steel City -I have to say the rest of the weekend, for the most part was all very nice too!
Saturday, I made a 5 gallon casserole of ham and bean pot-pie (with the homemade noodle/dumpling like things -two smaller dishes of an old Swedish favorite called "Panakaka" (it's sort of like a plain baked custard) and Mandy made a small orange-cranberry-nut cake to take out to the pot luck supper held Saturday evening at our church. The purpose behind this event was to give the parishioners a chance to meet and greet Pastor Carrie Anderson, from Wisconsin, the candidate we have for the pastoral opening in our church.
Mandy had briefed me a couple weeks ago after she got to meet Pastor Carrie at the church council meeting during which the council interviewed Pastor Carrie, and they then offered her the position on behalf of the church. She accepted the offer then which puts things in gear now to where this past Sunday, she did the service and sermon at our church after which the congregation then voted whether to accept her or not. Thankfully, the vote came down to 79 in favor and 3 not in favor of her so it was a pretty overwhelming vote by the membership. She now has asked to have a little time to think a bit more on this move, what it will entail for her, etc., to pray over her decision too and she will notify the congregation before this coming Friday as to her final acceptance - or not - of our church's offer. And I will definitely be saying prayers of my own, crossing my fingers, holding the rabbit's foot too maybe - whatever it takes -but hoping very much she will decide to come and lead our parish forward. Can you tell I was very highly impressed with her ability, her personality, etc.?
Sunday morning was quite an experience for Mandy and me as we had to take both the kids to church with us! The reason being Bill went to some kind of auction yesterday and normally, we just let Kurtis sleep in as long as he wants on Sunday morning and Bill is generally at home with him so we don't have to disturb the little fellow and deal with trying to teach him some behavior and manners with respect to being in church - and QUIET too -for at least an hour's time!
We sat in the same pew as our neighbors - sisters, Shirley and Kate and Kate's daughter, Karen. Maya decided right off the bat that she did NOT want to sit between Mandy and me but she wanted to sit half-way between Shirley and me. THis meant there was a fairly large gap of space then between her and me and her and Shirley too. Prior to the beginning of the service, Maya was busy coloring on some papers she had with her but when it came time for the opening hymn, as we all stood to sing and she realized everyone was standing, Maya hopped up and stood with everyone. She then reached for the large green hymnal and started leafing through it, which I thought was a nice gesture on her part. About a quarter through the first stanza of the hymn, I glanced down at her and was shocked to see she had the hymnal open to the very song we were singing! (After services, I asked Shirley if she maybe had helped her and opened the book for her to that page but she said she hadn't so we figured that she had seen the Hymn number on the board in front of the church and since she can read numbers fine and dandy, had managed to find that page in the hymnal.) After that, she then wanted to follow along in the liturgy of the service and was fumbling for the correct page number there that Pastor Carrie had announced, so I leaned down and found the page for her and then pointed out to her which line of the liturgy the congregation was on at that time. She again really amazed me and her Mom very much as she tried her level best to follow along with the service. She doesn't "read" in the full sense of the word but she can pick up enough words here and there that she could actually follow the service which we both feel is really an amazing feat for a 4 year old child to do! (Her old sister, who is 16, still can't or won't do that!)
After church, we stopped and picked up the Sunday paper so I could get my weekly crossword puzzle fix with the Sunday puzzle, then we all took a little nap too while the scalloped potatoes and ham I was fixing for supper cooked away in the oven.
The older daughter, Carrie, her fiance, Robert and older grandson - my Prince, Alex, came by, bringing me a new pair of the knee length casual pants and a beautiful top to go with them in a shade between a pale peach and pale coral. Very pretty color at any rate and it goes perfectly with a couple shirts I have that have a shade in them like that too!
The grandson gave me a card which, if my scanner were working, I would scan it in here for you to see but instead, I'm going to have to write in here about this card.
On the front, is a cartoon type animal -either a dog or a bear -kind of hard to discern that part -but it says "Grandma! Happy Mother's Day from y our Intelligent, Good-looking, Talented Grandchild!"
Then, when you open the card it says "And that's not conceit, it's Heredity!"
I read that and howled laughing, telling Alex that was exactly right too! Yep - no conceit in our family left cause Alex and I are sharing it all!
The only downside -to me -of this weekend was learning the other day that the young lady who is the head of the Drama Club at our local school here was getting a lot of flack apparently from several members of the school board, even to the point of dictating to her what topics MAY NOT be in any future plays the kids put on -if she is even retained as head of the Drama Club.
In previous years, the kids (and not just high school kids here either) at our school have worked and worked really hard to put out some fantastic productions - such as "Annie" - "Guys and Dolls" - "Fiddler on the Roof" - "West Side Story" and this year, it was "Pajama Game." The director, I know, puts in very, very long hours for 3-4 months in directing not just the kids but the choreography, all other production issues, etc., for a salary that is extremely meager, considering the number of hours she puts into these plays. And now, these people on the school board -of which not one single member had seen the most recent production or any other ones for that matter -took it upon themselves to criticize her judgment in the selection of these various plays the kids did! She had to explain to them about these plays, what the play was about, etc., and in the process apparently made a comment to the board that this is all important because it is "literature." To which one school board member retorted that to him, this was most certainly NOT literature! Gee willikers! Makes me wonder what on earth rock these supposedly intelligent people who are in charge of leading our school district forward just crawled out from under, ya know?
By the end of the grilling of the director, she was told the kids could continue to do a play but it could not contain ANY of the following things: no kissing; no foul language; no criminal activity, no references even to rape or murder or homosexuality and no mention of smoking of any type or any kind of drug usage!
When my son called home yesterday to wish me Happy Mother's Day, I told him what I knew of what was going on and he was livid. Keep in mind, my son was never what one would call a "student" -he was more of just a person who showed up and the school and if anything sunk in via osmosis, that was fine by him. But, the one class he did generally enjoy and did well with was English and as such, he really went on the offensive about the school board's attitude here. "Geez, Mom! If they are going to ban any of those things then what would they do if they had something by Shakespeare -or Edgar Allan Poe or who knows how many other greats from the literary field?"
It made me really, really proud to hear him speak up and out like that and the understanding he held of why this was censorship of the worst degree and should be fought against these actions too, long and hard! I don't have to tell anyone here, I'm quite sure, where I stand too on this issue, do I?
Apparently the school board feels by keeping these works out of the hands of the students they will be protecting them, but from what? In my opinion, they are not protecting them at all but allowing them to come full force in the face of reality and not fully understand it either then! What a ridiculous stance! How ludicrous is this attitude any way?
I'd love to hear your thoughts -ideas and suggestions too -on this issue so feel free to comment away!
Hope everyone had as great a Mother's Day as mine was as well as a great weekend too!
Saturday, I made a 5 gallon casserole of ham and bean pot-pie (with the homemade noodle/dumpling like things -two smaller dishes of an old Swedish favorite called "Panakaka" (it's sort of like a plain baked custard) and Mandy made a small orange-cranberry-nut cake to take out to the pot luck supper held Saturday evening at our church. The purpose behind this event was to give the parishioners a chance to meet and greet Pastor Carrie Anderson, from Wisconsin, the candidate we have for the pastoral opening in our church.
Mandy had briefed me a couple weeks ago after she got to meet Pastor Carrie at the church council meeting during which the council interviewed Pastor Carrie, and they then offered her the position on behalf of the church. She accepted the offer then which puts things in gear now to where this past Sunday, she did the service and sermon at our church after which the congregation then voted whether to accept her or not. Thankfully, the vote came down to 79 in favor and 3 not in favor of her so it was a pretty overwhelming vote by the membership. She now has asked to have a little time to think a bit more on this move, what it will entail for her, etc., to pray over her decision too and she will notify the congregation before this coming Friday as to her final acceptance - or not - of our church's offer. And I will definitely be saying prayers of my own, crossing my fingers, holding the rabbit's foot too maybe - whatever it takes -but hoping very much she will decide to come and lead our parish forward. Can you tell I was very highly impressed with her ability, her personality, etc.?
Sunday morning was quite an experience for Mandy and me as we had to take both the kids to church with us! The reason being Bill went to some kind of auction yesterday and normally, we just let Kurtis sleep in as long as he wants on Sunday morning and Bill is generally at home with him so we don't have to disturb the little fellow and deal with trying to teach him some behavior and manners with respect to being in church - and QUIET too -for at least an hour's time!
We sat in the same pew as our neighbors - sisters, Shirley and Kate and Kate's daughter, Karen. Maya decided right off the bat that she did NOT want to sit between Mandy and me but she wanted to sit half-way between Shirley and me. THis meant there was a fairly large gap of space then between her and me and her and Shirley too. Prior to the beginning of the service, Maya was busy coloring on some papers she had with her but when it came time for the opening hymn, as we all stood to sing and she realized everyone was standing, Maya hopped up and stood with everyone. She then reached for the large green hymnal and started leafing through it, which I thought was a nice gesture on her part. About a quarter through the first stanza of the hymn, I glanced down at her and was shocked to see she had the hymnal open to the very song we were singing! (After services, I asked Shirley if she maybe had helped her and opened the book for her to that page but she said she hadn't so we figured that she had seen the Hymn number on the board in front of the church and since she can read numbers fine and dandy, had managed to find that page in the hymnal.) After that, she then wanted to follow along in the liturgy of the service and was fumbling for the correct page number there that Pastor Carrie had announced, so I leaned down and found the page for her and then pointed out to her which line of the liturgy the congregation was on at that time. She again really amazed me and her Mom very much as she tried her level best to follow along with the service. She doesn't "read" in the full sense of the word but she can pick up enough words here and there that she could actually follow the service which we both feel is really an amazing feat for a 4 year old child to do! (Her old sister, who is 16, still can't or won't do that!)
After church, we stopped and picked up the Sunday paper so I could get my weekly crossword puzzle fix with the Sunday puzzle, then we all took a little nap too while the scalloped potatoes and ham I was fixing for supper cooked away in the oven.
The older daughter, Carrie, her fiance, Robert and older grandson - my Prince, Alex, came by, bringing me a new pair of the knee length casual pants and a beautiful top to go with them in a shade between a pale peach and pale coral. Very pretty color at any rate and it goes perfectly with a couple shirts I have that have a shade in them like that too!
The grandson gave me a card which, if my scanner were working, I would scan it in here for you to see but instead, I'm going to have to write in here about this card.
On the front, is a cartoon type animal -either a dog or a bear -kind of hard to discern that part -but it says "Grandma! Happy Mother's Day from y our Intelligent, Good-looking, Talented Grandchild!"
Then, when you open the card it says "And that's not conceit, it's Heredity!"
I read that and howled laughing, telling Alex that was exactly right too! Yep - no conceit in our family left cause Alex and I are sharing it all!
The only downside -to me -of this weekend was learning the other day that the young lady who is the head of the Drama Club at our local school here was getting a lot of flack apparently from several members of the school board, even to the point of dictating to her what topics MAY NOT be in any future plays the kids put on -if she is even retained as head of the Drama Club.
In previous years, the kids (and not just high school kids here either) at our school have worked and worked really hard to put out some fantastic productions - such as "Annie" - "Guys and Dolls" - "Fiddler on the Roof" - "West Side Story" and this year, it was "Pajama Game." The director, I know, puts in very, very long hours for 3-4 months in directing not just the kids but the choreography, all other production issues, etc., for a salary that is extremely meager, considering the number of hours she puts into these plays. And now, these people on the school board -of which not one single member had seen the most recent production or any other ones for that matter -took it upon themselves to criticize her judgment in the selection of these various plays the kids did! She had to explain to them about these plays, what the play was about, etc., and in the process apparently made a comment to the board that this is all important because it is "literature." To which one school board member retorted that to him, this was most certainly NOT literature! Gee willikers! Makes me wonder what on earth rock these supposedly intelligent people who are in charge of leading our school district forward just crawled out from under, ya know?
By the end of the grilling of the director, she was told the kids could continue to do a play but it could not contain ANY of the following things: no kissing; no foul language; no criminal activity, no references even to rape or murder or homosexuality and no mention of smoking of any type or any kind of drug usage!
When my son called home yesterday to wish me Happy Mother's Day, I told him what I knew of what was going on and he was livid. Keep in mind, my son was never what one would call a "student" -he was more of just a person who showed up and the school and if anything sunk in via osmosis, that was fine by him. But, the one class he did generally enjoy and did well with was English and as such, he really went on the offensive about the school board's attitude here. "Geez, Mom! If they are going to ban any of those things then what would they do if they had something by Shakespeare -or Edgar Allan Poe or who knows how many other greats from the literary field?"
It made me really, really proud to hear him speak up and out like that and the understanding he held of why this was censorship of the worst degree and should be fought against these actions too, long and hard! I don't have to tell anyone here, I'm quite sure, where I stand too on this issue, do I?
Apparently the school board feels by keeping these works out of the hands of the students they will be protecting them, but from what? In my opinion, they are not protecting them at all but allowing them to come full force in the face of reality and not fully understand it either then! What a ridiculous stance! How ludicrous is this attitude any way?
I'd love to hear your thoughts -ideas and suggestions too -on this issue so feel free to comment away!
Hope everyone had as great a Mother's Day as mine was as well as a great weekend too!
Whittle The Days Away
Yes, I know -late again. Better late than never ya know and how many more times am I gonna be telling you that too is what my readers no doubt are thinking. But gee, yesterday was Mother's Day and I was on vacation -sort of, anyway. But now, without further adieu, here's the Bushisms for today and the week ahead.
Monday, May 12, 2008 - 253 days left
"We're working with Chancellor Schroeder on what's called ten-plus-ten-over-tens $10 billion from the U.S., $10 billion from other members of the G7 over a ten-year period, to help Russia securitize the dismantling--the dismantled nuclear warheads."
--Berlin, Germany, May 2002
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 252 days left
"Like you, I have been disgraced about what I've seen on TV that took place in [Abu Ghraib] prison."
--Parkersburg, West Virginia, May 12, 2004
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 -- 251 days left
"For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America...And we're going to do something about it."
--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2001
Thursday, May 15, 2008 -- 250 days left
"We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator."
-- Moscow, Russia, May 2002
Friday, May 16, 2008 -- 249 days left
"After all, a week ago, there were --Yasser Arefat was boarded up in his building in Ramallah, a building full of, evidently, German peace protestors and all kinds of people. They're now out. He's now free to show leadership, to lead this world."
-Washington, D.C., May 2002
Saturday and Sunday, May 17/18, 2008 - 248 days left and 247 days left
"The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens, and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic opportunistic society."
--Santa Clara, California, May 2002
I'll leave the comments WIDE open to whatever you care to add to these lovely statements!
Monday, May 12, 2008 - 253 days left
"We're working with Chancellor Schroeder on what's called ten-plus-ten-over-tens $10 billion from the U.S., $10 billion from other members of the G7 over a ten-year period, to help Russia securitize the dismantling--the dismantled nuclear warheads."
--Berlin, Germany, May 2002
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 252 days left
"Like you, I have been disgraced about what I've seen on TV that took place in [Abu Ghraib] prison."
--Parkersburg, West Virginia, May 12, 2004
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 -- 251 days left
"For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America...And we're going to do something about it."
--Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2001
Thursday, May 15, 2008 -- 250 days left
"We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator."
-- Moscow, Russia, May 2002
Friday, May 16, 2008 -- 249 days left
"After all, a week ago, there were --Yasser Arefat was boarded up in his building in Ramallah, a building full of, evidently, German peace protestors and all kinds of people. They're now out. He's now free to show leadership, to lead this world."
-Washington, D.C., May 2002
Saturday and Sunday, May 17/18, 2008 - 248 days left and 247 days left
"The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens, and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic opportunistic society."
--Santa Clara, California, May 2002
I'll leave the comments WIDE open to whatever you care to add to these lovely statements!
Friday, May 09, 2008
Dancing The Night Away!
Yep, that's what I should be doing tonight - dancing and dancing and then dancing some more too on top of that. Only problem here is I have two left feet. Besides, if I tried to dance even if I could do a half-way decent job at that, it would be killer time on my back -then my legs too. See what happens when you get old, gray and senile to boot?
But really, I am celebrating tonight. Yes indeedy, I sure as heck am!
Mandy and I made it down and back to Pittsburgh today for my wonderful appointment with my most favorite surgeon -best looking one too, I MUST add -and I am really pleased with the way the day went. Yep! I most certainly am!
Even though we arrived at Dr. Hughes office at UPMC (Presby) a little late -oh, about 8-10 minutes late -the lateness was caused not near as much by my missing the exit we should have taken to cross one of the oodles and oodles of bridges across the lovely Allegheny River as it was by having to drive around and around -and around some more -in what seemed to be never-ending circle in the parking garage in our quest to find a place to park Mandy's buggy!
She asked me about mid-way down to Pittsburgh if I had printed out any directions from Mapquest or whatever map site I could have found and used on the computer but I'd never even given it a second thought this morning that maybe, just maybe, printing out at least the route numbers, just in case the senility factors happened to kick into gear on me. Na! Tarzan no need road map, ya know!
However, karma wanted to put my excellent sense of direction skills to good use today. Yep, sure did give that aspect a workout on me, it did.
We missed the exit for the first bridge (don't have a clue as to the street name or the bridge name but I do remember from previous trips the bridge we should have taken is painted either blue or green and the one we ended up going across was yellow. However, I told Mandy never fear, mother is here and I can get us there! I got us through from wherever it was that we were lost, down to Forbes Avenue, then to Atwood Street, hung a left there and up to Fifth Avenue and presto magic, we were a mere block away at that point from Lothrup Street -which just happens to be the street where Dr. Hughes office at Presbyterian Hospital (UPMC) is located in the Digestive Disorders region of that place! I was happy! Mandy was happy too! We weren't lost -just slighly misplaced for a little while, ya see!
Although it had been close to 18 months since I last saw Dr. Hughes, gotta tell ya'll this - he doesn't look any the worse for wear, not a day older! Just as nice looking, handsome, low-key, great personality and the ability to tell a fat old lady just the very words she wanted to hear today too!
NO SURGERY RECOMMENDED! YAY~! YAY~! Totally made my day!
He said since at this time, the hernia is not bothering me at all and since the colostomy is functioning fine and dandy too, it was his opinion that we should leave well enough alone then! He really feels to do a reversal of the colostomy, with the damage that has been done over the past five years to my pelvic floor, he wouldn't recommend that at all. And, his advice -besides to come back and visit with him in another six months -was to be cautious as to my actions and if I start having a lot of discomfort and nausea, to NOT treat it as just the flu but to call him immediately and then, head out the door for Pittsburgh! Cause then, surgery would be necessary but until and if that ever happens, I am one very, very happy camper with his theory tonight!!! YES. I. AM! Can you tell?
We left his office about 1:25 this afternoon and headed down to Forbes Avenue and I was sure I knew how to "exit" that area of Pittsburgh, get us back to finding Route 28 and heading back east to home. Yeah, sure I did!
Once again, my sense of direction or memory of what turns to make -not sure which -intervened here and this time we did get lost! But, in the process of finding our way out of the city, we did manage to drive along Beechwood Drive and saw loads and loads of beautiful, mostly brick, homes and plenty of really pretty landscapes and flowers, blooming trees too -even passed by Frick Park! Which was definitely a tip-off to me that we had gone awry in our travels then!
We drove around, trying to find our way and I told Mandy to just look for any routes that pointed they were heading north and when we came across one, to take it in the northerly direction cause I knew, sooner or later, it would lead us to a Route number I knew and most likely, one going east too!
And yes, in fact, that is exactly what happened too. Although it took us about 30 some miles of wandering around until we stumbled on Route 837 North, then Route 51 north and finally, thank the Good Lord above, we saw a sign that said ROUTE 79 North! Man, we jumped on that one!
Up at Grove City exit, we stopped at the Country Fair store there to say hello to my ex-sister-in-law - the kids good old Aunt Lou Ann - who was just going into work when we arrived there. Probably scared the living daylights out of her as Mandy kind of barreled across the parking lot, tooting the horn and she was probably wondering then too, who the hell were these crazy rednecks that seemed to be driving right for her -until she finally recognized Mandy and started laughing!
After visiting with her for about 10-15 minutes, we had to -yes, I mean we HAD TO go over to the Grove City Outlet Mall. That Carter's (kid's clothing) store there was just beckoning to us, calling our names to come in and visit. We bought the kids some clothes, much needed (Ha, that's a joke as Mandy has enough clothing socked away for these to yardbirds that as long as they stay this size for the next 2-3 years at least, she could probably wear a different outfit on them almost every day. Ok, maybe not quite THAT many outfits but sometimes, looking at the piles of clothes in the laundry baskets, it does kind of seem that way. But we dropped a few coins at the Carter's Store as well as down at the Oshkosh place too and then, headed for home.
But, along the way home then, since neither of us had anything to eat all day and the one cup of coffee I was able to get before leaving this morning had long since worn off, we stopped in Brookville then and had a very nice, leisurely supper at the Buffet restaurant there -Pyler's -before then rushing to get to the Walmart in Clearfield before the pharmacy closed there so I could pick up my prescription and Mandy could get the prescription the doctor had called in today too for Bill -his meds for his migraines because, shock of shocks, can you imagine this but spending the day with Kurtis -quality Dad to son time ya know for about 6 hours, then the rest of the afternoon and evening with this sweet, innocent, so very well-behaved and definitely quiet four-year-old, he who has been saying it is a piece of cake to stay with these kids all day and night had suddenly after only four hours with his son, developed a severe migraine! Can you believe that? I mean, really? Hmmm. Me thinks the next time he gets a wild hair up his butt about what a piece of cake it would be to watch these two and try to get anything else done, Mandy and I should just conjure up a doctor's visit to Pittsburgh and leave him here alone again -all to his very own devices!
Yes, I know - we are evil, oh my yes, indeed that we are, for sure!
And you know what, we laughed and laughed about that very thing too much of the way home!
But the topper for the day was when Mandy called her Dad out in Nevada after we left the Walmart in Clearfield to fill him in on my doctor's visit and such and she gleefully told her Dad about how much fun she and old Mom here had, with our "Outing" (which is a term old Dad likes to use for events like this -especially ones in which you get lost traveling but end up making a good time of it all after all.) And can you believe this but her Dad said that she deserved a day to herself, away from the kids, getting out of the house and such cause these two hooligans can be such a handfull ya see.
Funny thing though -he must have always thought our kids were total angels cause he never thought I needed a day away, a break from them!
See what aging and maybe a dose of senility does for a person!
Certainly does change one's perspective, doesn't it?
After he said that, I then told Mandy her dad was still a "peckerhead" - one of my favorite descriptive words.
Yeah, it fits!
But I'm still basking in my good news for today regardless.
Hope you all had a day even half as pleasing as mine was today!
An early Mother's Day present, for sure!
But really, I am celebrating tonight. Yes indeedy, I sure as heck am!
Mandy and I made it down and back to Pittsburgh today for my wonderful appointment with my most favorite surgeon -best looking one too, I MUST add -and I am really pleased with the way the day went. Yep! I most certainly am!
Even though we arrived at Dr. Hughes office at UPMC (Presby) a little late -oh, about 8-10 minutes late -the lateness was caused not near as much by my missing the exit we should have taken to cross one of the oodles and oodles of bridges across the lovely Allegheny River as it was by having to drive around and around -and around some more -in what seemed to be never-ending circle in the parking garage in our quest to find a place to park Mandy's buggy!
She asked me about mid-way down to Pittsburgh if I had printed out any directions from Mapquest or whatever map site I could have found and used on the computer but I'd never even given it a second thought this morning that maybe, just maybe, printing out at least the route numbers, just in case the senility factors happened to kick into gear on me. Na! Tarzan no need road map, ya know!
However, karma wanted to put my excellent sense of direction skills to good use today. Yep, sure did give that aspect a workout on me, it did.
We missed the exit for the first bridge (don't have a clue as to the street name or the bridge name but I do remember from previous trips the bridge we should have taken is painted either blue or green and the one we ended up going across was yellow. However, I told Mandy never fear, mother is here and I can get us there! I got us through from wherever it was that we were lost, down to Forbes Avenue, then to Atwood Street, hung a left there and up to Fifth Avenue and presto magic, we were a mere block away at that point from Lothrup Street -which just happens to be the street where Dr. Hughes office at Presbyterian Hospital (UPMC) is located in the Digestive Disorders region of that place! I was happy! Mandy was happy too! We weren't lost -just slighly misplaced for a little while, ya see!
Although it had been close to 18 months since I last saw Dr. Hughes, gotta tell ya'll this - he doesn't look any the worse for wear, not a day older! Just as nice looking, handsome, low-key, great personality and the ability to tell a fat old lady just the very words she wanted to hear today too!
NO SURGERY RECOMMENDED! YAY~! YAY~! Totally made my day!
He said since at this time, the hernia is not bothering me at all and since the colostomy is functioning fine and dandy too, it was his opinion that we should leave well enough alone then! He really feels to do a reversal of the colostomy, with the damage that has been done over the past five years to my pelvic floor, he wouldn't recommend that at all. And, his advice -besides to come back and visit with him in another six months -was to be cautious as to my actions and if I start having a lot of discomfort and nausea, to NOT treat it as just the flu but to call him immediately and then, head out the door for Pittsburgh! Cause then, surgery would be necessary but until and if that ever happens, I am one very, very happy camper with his theory tonight!!! YES. I. AM! Can you tell?
We left his office about 1:25 this afternoon and headed down to Forbes Avenue and I was sure I knew how to "exit" that area of Pittsburgh, get us back to finding Route 28 and heading back east to home. Yeah, sure I did!
Once again, my sense of direction or memory of what turns to make -not sure which -intervened here and this time we did get lost! But, in the process of finding our way out of the city, we did manage to drive along Beechwood Drive and saw loads and loads of beautiful, mostly brick, homes and plenty of really pretty landscapes and flowers, blooming trees too -even passed by Frick Park! Which was definitely a tip-off to me that we had gone awry in our travels then!
We drove around, trying to find our way and I told Mandy to just look for any routes that pointed they were heading north and when we came across one, to take it in the northerly direction cause I knew, sooner or later, it would lead us to a Route number I knew and most likely, one going east too!
And yes, in fact, that is exactly what happened too. Although it took us about 30 some miles of wandering around until we stumbled on Route 837 North, then Route 51 north and finally, thank the Good Lord above, we saw a sign that said ROUTE 79 North! Man, we jumped on that one!
Up at Grove City exit, we stopped at the Country Fair store there to say hello to my ex-sister-in-law - the kids good old Aunt Lou Ann - who was just going into work when we arrived there. Probably scared the living daylights out of her as Mandy kind of barreled across the parking lot, tooting the horn and she was probably wondering then too, who the hell were these crazy rednecks that seemed to be driving right for her -until she finally recognized Mandy and started laughing!
After visiting with her for about 10-15 minutes, we had to -yes, I mean we HAD TO go over to the Grove City Outlet Mall. That Carter's (kid's clothing) store there was just beckoning to us, calling our names to come in and visit. We bought the kids some clothes, much needed (Ha, that's a joke as Mandy has enough clothing socked away for these to yardbirds that as long as they stay this size for the next 2-3 years at least, she could probably wear a different outfit on them almost every day. Ok, maybe not quite THAT many outfits but sometimes, looking at the piles of clothes in the laundry baskets, it does kind of seem that way. But we dropped a few coins at the Carter's Store as well as down at the Oshkosh place too and then, headed for home.
But, along the way home then, since neither of us had anything to eat all day and the one cup of coffee I was able to get before leaving this morning had long since worn off, we stopped in Brookville then and had a very nice, leisurely supper at the Buffet restaurant there -Pyler's -before then rushing to get to the Walmart in Clearfield before the pharmacy closed there so I could pick up my prescription and Mandy could get the prescription the doctor had called in today too for Bill -his meds for his migraines because, shock of shocks, can you imagine this but spending the day with Kurtis -quality Dad to son time ya know for about 6 hours, then the rest of the afternoon and evening with this sweet, innocent, so very well-behaved and definitely quiet four-year-old, he who has been saying it is a piece of cake to stay with these kids all day and night had suddenly after only four hours with his son, developed a severe migraine! Can you believe that? I mean, really? Hmmm. Me thinks the next time he gets a wild hair up his butt about what a piece of cake it would be to watch these two and try to get anything else done, Mandy and I should just conjure up a doctor's visit to Pittsburgh and leave him here alone again -all to his very own devices!
Yes, I know - we are evil, oh my yes, indeed that we are, for sure!
And you know what, we laughed and laughed about that very thing too much of the way home!
But the topper for the day was when Mandy called her Dad out in Nevada after we left the Walmart in Clearfield to fill him in on my doctor's visit and such and she gleefully told her Dad about how much fun she and old Mom here had, with our "Outing" (which is a term old Dad likes to use for events like this -especially ones in which you get lost traveling but end up making a good time of it all after all.) And can you believe this but her Dad said that she deserved a day to herself, away from the kids, getting out of the house and such cause these two hooligans can be such a handfull ya see.
Funny thing though -he must have always thought our kids were total angels cause he never thought I needed a day away, a break from them!
See what aging and maybe a dose of senility does for a person!
Certainly does change one's perspective, doesn't it?
After he said that, I then told Mandy her dad was still a "peckerhead" - one of my favorite descriptive words.
Yeah, it fits!
But I'm still basking in my good news for today regardless.
Hope you all had a day even half as pleasing as mine was today!
An early Mother's Day present, for sure!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Changes -Over Two Decades
Mandy, Kurtis and I went to Altoona today for Kurt's appointment with the allergy/immunology doctor there. We were under the impression the little guy was going to have to have all those lovely allergy tests -with the needles all over his poor little back and such- but when Kurtis not only flinched but flailed and kicked with a lot of force when the doctor put the stethoscope to his chest, that doctor told Mandy he didn't think little guy would be too receptive to the tests today. Very observant doctor this was! He did study Kurt's records, the information sheets Mandy had filled out about him, etc., and gave her a prescription for cingular (or is that spelled "singular") -the allergy meds, any way. She has to bring him back in three months, and depending on how these meds work, he may want to do more blood work, tests maybe following but not for a while anyway.
After we got home, we decided to go out to eat tonight and the choice made was to head down the interstate to the next exit east of us to the truckstop where I used to work, many, many moons ago. As a matter of fact, it was 19 years ago around this time in May when the owner of that lovely establishment fired me! Yeah, I've been canned a time or two over my work life, ya know!
But going back there tonight, seeing how much the place has changed over time, brought back lots and lots of memories of working there.
This truckstop was one of the best place along Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania. It had a good business there consisting of a lot of support from locals, tourists and plenty of truckers who used to stop there with regularity. There is a smaller truckstop/restaurant across the street from the one where I worked which never did near the business as this place did. Most of the truckers who frequented the place across the road tended to be steel haulers and meat haulers or independent drivers. The bigger place was often referred to on the CB as "Freight hauler Heaven" because the majority of the truckers who frequented the bigger place, the one where I worked, were drivers for Yellow, Roadway, Preston, CF during my last years there but had also been a haven for the P.I.E., Interstate and other companies that went down the tubes before 1988. It was known primarily as being a "Union" type or company driver's truck stop.
When I first started working there back in 1981, I worked the midnight shift. The other waitresses I worked with couldn't get over how I came to know so many of the drivers by their name or cb handle and what company they drove for too but I made it a point to learn as much of that as I could because those guys were our bread and butter, you see. I would watch when I saw a truck pull in the lot, what company the truck belonged to. Then, when the driver came in (provided I had paid attention to which truck he got out of) I would then watch to see what, if any, other drivers he would sit with. Occasionally, drivers from different companies would sit together but as a general rule, they would tend to sit with other drivers from the same company and usually drivers from the same terminal too.
The days I spent working at "The Shoe" as this truckstop was frequently called, were hectic, hard -lots and lots of running to keep the customers happy -not always all that profitable, sometimes maddening, but almost always, they were fun days. Go figure that out now!
The last time I had a job that I could work really hard at the tasks and still laugh, enjoy pulling practical jokes, listening to loads and loads of jokes too, and just have a great time getting to know some really terrific, but often also really crazy people, was at the job I'd had back in the late 60's, early 70's, down in D.C. This place -the truckstop -really kept the help on their toes, not just from the hard work but also, trying to keep one step, one practical joke, ahead of the drivers.
Back when I worked there, we ran with three waitress on the graveyard shift and generally, at least six watiresses on day and second shift except for major holidays and deer season when we would have three waitresses on the truckers/counter side and anywhere from four to six waitresses in the dining room on the ultra busy days.
When we walked in tonight, the first thing I noticed was a sign on the front door stating new hours for the restaurant: closing at 11 p.m., reopening at 7 a.m., daily. When I worked there, there were the three shifts and the only days the place was closed then was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!
We sat at a table in the back of the dining room along the windows overlooking the trucker's parking lot. I glanced across the dining room and saw a lady waiting on a youngish couple across the room and was wondering who she might be. Then, as she stood up straight and started to walk away, I was almost in a state of shock and told Mandy, "Oh my gosh! That's Barb!" Back when I worked there, Barb always worked day shift -never filled in on any other shifts -ever! When she started towards our table with the menus in hand, she did a double take too upon seeing us, recognizing both me and Mandy too. When I worked there, I used to joke with the drivers that I would probably go down in history as being the oldest truckstop waitress but I think maybe Barb might end up holding that record. I asked her how long she'd been working there now and she said "Thirty One Years!" Considering she is probably at least nine, maybe even ten or eleven years older than me, you do the math and figure out how old she is. However, if you were ever to stop there and if she were to wait on you, there is no way you would ever, ever think she is in her early-to-mid-seventies! So, just in case some old truckers who used to run I-80 through Pennsylvania back in the 70's and 80's happen to find this blog and this post, yes, guys - Barb from dayshift, is still alive, still working at "The Shoe."
When I worked there the last three years of my time at the place, I worked the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. (second) shift and the hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on most any day of the week would almost always find us very busy. Tonight, not busy at all! Quite a shock to my equilibrium to see how little busy the place had. I think the entire time we were there, they had a total of 19 customers in the dining room occupying a total of 7 tables! Peanuts compared to the numbers that used to float in and out of there back in the 80's.
One of the specials today just happened to be liver and onions (with mashed potatoes and gravy), a vegetable, salad and rolls and butter - and that meal just happens to be one of my favorites from that place (as well as other small restaurants around here that offer it on the menu). It's a meal that I could make for myself at home but only the 16-year-old and I will eat it so it gets relegated to a meal I will often order when eating out. So, I had the liver and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots and pepper slaw for my supper tonight. Pepper slaw is one of my personal favorite salad type dishes too and The Shoe makes their own pepper slaw, which was, as always, delicious!
When we left, Maya wanted Mandy to drive home -although we had to take an extended route to get home as we had to come up towards the house and then go 25 miles further over to Clearfield, to the hospital, so I could pick up a cd or dvd from the radiology department with my films and medical records for the past 18-20 months from that hospital on it to take with us to Pittsburgh tomorrow so the surgeon there can compare my most recent cat scan to the ones done back in October of 2006.
While riding over to the hospital and then home, having been back for a meal at my old stomping ground, got me to thinking, remembering some of the things that went on at that place, some of the many drivers I knew over the years too and so much of the fun times that were had while working there.
My kids came to know a goodly number of the drivers over my seven years there because from time to time, some of them would stop at the truckstop about four miles from where I live and call me, asking me to come up and have coffee with them mainly so they didn't have to spend their meal break eating alone. And frequently, my kids went with me too.
Some of my favorite drivers of all time were based in the Poconos and drove for Consolidated Freightways -or CF. Those guys almost to a man were often the craziest, zaniest people you'd ever hope to meet. I used to tell other drivers if they said they were going to the Poconos that if they knew what was good for them, to not drink the water over there because apparently there was something in the water supply in that vicinity that affected people - made them slightly crazy!
Some of the drivers from that terminal whose names and cb handles -or other nicknames they had -that come to my mind right now were Walter, aka Jumper; Stanley, aka Happy Man; Bobbie O or Zero or Moving Violation. Then there was the Green Rooster who later married one of the cashiers from the Shoe and Problem Child, aka Jolly Jack. Definitely can't forget my old friend "Oink, Oink" -the Pig Farmer (Gerry) and his former best friend Tommy, known as "Ragpicker or simply just "Picker." Also Charming Chuck the Cheater! Chuckie looked a lot like one of the musicians in the group "Alabama" and was very much the ladies man too. Would you believe it but at one time, because someone at work had made a comment about how many drivers I could identify, I came home and made up a list of drivers from all the different companies who stopped frequently at the Shoe. I listed them by company and then by terminal too and when I was finished, I had a list of over 600 drivers who I knew either by name or cb handle -and in many instances, by both!
Jumper (Walter) from CF's was really a character and used to take great pleasure in trying to see how quickly he could get our attention while we were busy trying to wait on other people, especially families, and then he would flip us off - shoot us the bird, ya know! The object then was for whoever he did that to that the waitress would then have to find a way to return the gesture to him without the people being waited on being any the wiser to our antics.
I remember in particular one day when the girls I worked with and I were getting ready to go back and punch in and one waitress came to the clock area announcing that Walter was out in the trucker's room and had already flipped her the bird. So, we all clocked in and then lined up, single file and walked through the truckers' room, each one of us calling a greeting to him and politely giving him the finger in the process too. It just so happened that day was the first day for a really nice, very attractive waitress and even she followed our lead so that after we went through, Jumper announced "Geez, they even have the new girl against me now too!"
Those were some silly days, some hectic days, some tiring days, some sad ones too as we learned of accidents that claimed lives of some of the drivers we knew, or news of this driver or that one in a serious accident and even the loss of at least four drivers I knew from suicide too.
I have never been one to hold grudges except in one area and that is to get even with anyone who pulls practical jokes on me. Then, under those conditions, I will go to all lengths to get even! (So did the drivers, I must add, too though so this was a necessity of survival in the world of truckers and truckstop humor.) I once told one of the CF drivers, after he had pumped me and pumped me asking me if I kept a diary, that no, I didn't keep a diary but I did have a notebook in which I recorded many of the things the drivers would come in and tell me that went on at the other end of their runs -where they would sleep and then get a return trip home. You have to realize a lot of these guys were anything but angelic on the road and for some odd reason or other, they often would come in and tell me what they did at the "away" terminal or what other drivers did. I had this particular driver believing I was in the process of writing a "tell-all" type book about truck drivers and their on-the-road antics -something that put the fear into a whole lot of drivers from one particular terminal for close to a year!
Most of the time nowadays, I'm really relieved not to be working there - or anywhere, for that matter but there are many times when I sit back and think, remembering this or that driver and the stunts we used to pull on each other, the fun, the camaraderie we all enjoyed at "The Shoe" and times like those, then I really do miss the place -and especially those drivers -very, very much!
Here's to every last one of those drivers who ever tormented me -or I did the same to him -while I worked at "The Shoe."
Ya'll know who you are. Ya'll know I loved ya then, still do and yes, I miss each and everyone of those drivers very much too!
After we got home, we decided to go out to eat tonight and the choice made was to head down the interstate to the next exit east of us to the truckstop where I used to work, many, many moons ago. As a matter of fact, it was 19 years ago around this time in May when the owner of that lovely establishment fired me! Yeah, I've been canned a time or two over my work life, ya know!
But going back there tonight, seeing how much the place has changed over time, brought back lots and lots of memories of working there.
This truckstop was one of the best place along Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania. It had a good business there consisting of a lot of support from locals, tourists and plenty of truckers who used to stop there with regularity. There is a smaller truckstop/restaurant across the street from the one where I worked which never did near the business as this place did. Most of the truckers who frequented the place across the road tended to be steel haulers and meat haulers or independent drivers. The bigger place was often referred to on the CB as "Freight hauler Heaven" because the majority of the truckers who frequented the bigger place, the one where I worked, were drivers for Yellow, Roadway, Preston, CF during my last years there but had also been a haven for the P.I.E., Interstate and other companies that went down the tubes before 1988. It was known primarily as being a "Union" type or company driver's truck stop.
When I first started working there back in 1981, I worked the midnight shift. The other waitresses I worked with couldn't get over how I came to know so many of the drivers by their name or cb handle and what company they drove for too but I made it a point to learn as much of that as I could because those guys were our bread and butter, you see. I would watch when I saw a truck pull in the lot, what company the truck belonged to. Then, when the driver came in (provided I had paid attention to which truck he got out of) I would then watch to see what, if any, other drivers he would sit with. Occasionally, drivers from different companies would sit together but as a general rule, they would tend to sit with other drivers from the same company and usually drivers from the same terminal too.
The days I spent working at "The Shoe" as this truckstop was frequently called, were hectic, hard -lots and lots of running to keep the customers happy -not always all that profitable, sometimes maddening, but almost always, they were fun days. Go figure that out now!
The last time I had a job that I could work really hard at the tasks and still laugh, enjoy pulling practical jokes, listening to loads and loads of jokes too, and just have a great time getting to know some really terrific, but often also really crazy people, was at the job I'd had back in the late 60's, early 70's, down in D.C. This place -the truckstop -really kept the help on their toes, not just from the hard work but also, trying to keep one step, one practical joke, ahead of the drivers.
Back when I worked there, we ran with three waitress on the graveyard shift and generally, at least six watiresses on day and second shift except for major holidays and deer season when we would have three waitresses on the truckers/counter side and anywhere from four to six waitresses in the dining room on the ultra busy days.
When we walked in tonight, the first thing I noticed was a sign on the front door stating new hours for the restaurant: closing at 11 p.m., reopening at 7 a.m., daily. When I worked there, there were the three shifts and the only days the place was closed then was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day!
We sat at a table in the back of the dining room along the windows overlooking the trucker's parking lot. I glanced across the dining room and saw a lady waiting on a youngish couple across the room and was wondering who she might be. Then, as she stood up straight and started to walk away, I was almost in a state of shock and told Mandy, "Oh my gosh! That's Barb!" Back when I worked there, Barb always worked day shift -never filled in on any other shifts -ever! When she started towards our table with the menus in hand, she did a double take too upon seeing us, recognizing both me and Mandy too. When I worked there, I used to joke with the drivers that I would probably go down in history as being the oldest truckstop waitress but I think maybe Barb might end up holding that record. I asked her how long she'd been working there now and she said "Thirty One Years!" Considering she is probably at least nine, maybe even ten or eleven years older than me, you do the math and figure out how old she is. However, if you were ever to stop there and if she were to wait on you, there is no way you would ever, ever think she is in her early-to-mid-seventies! So, just in case some old truckers who used to run I-80 through Pennsylvania back in the 70's and 80's happen to find this blog and this post, yes, guys - Barb from dayshift, is still alive, still working at "The Shoe."
When I worked there the last three years of my time at the place, I worked the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. (second) shift and the hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on most any day of the week would almost always find us very busy. Tonight, not busy at all! Quite a shock to my equilibrium to see how little busy the place had. I think the entire time we were there, they had a total of 19 customers in the dining room occupying a total of 7 tables! Peanuts compared to the numbers that used to float in and out of there back in the 80's.
One of the specials today just happened to be liver and onions (with mashed potatoes and gravy), a vegetable, salad and rolls and butter - and that meal just happens to be one of my favorites from that place (as well as other small restaurants around here that offer it on the menu). It's a meal that I could make for myself at home but only the 16-year-old and I will eat it so it gets relegated to a meal I will often order when eating out. So, I had the liver and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots and pepper slaw for my supper tonight. Pepper slaw is one of my personal favorite salad type dishes too and The Shoe makes their own pepper slaw, which was, as always, delicious!
When we left, Maya wanted Mandy to drive home -although we had to take an extended route to get home as we had to come up towards the house and then go 25 miles further over to Clearfield, to the hospital, so I could pick up a cd or dvd from the radiology department with my films and medical records for the past 18-20 months from that hospital on it to take with us to Pittsburgh tomorrow so the surgeon there can compare my most recent cat scan to the ones done back in October of 2006.
While riding over to the hospital and then home, having been back for a meal at my old stomping ground, got me to thinking, remembering some of the things that went on at that place, some of the many drivers I knew over the years too and so much of the fun times that were had while working there.
My kids came to know a goodly number of the drivers over my seven years there because from time to time, some of them would stop at the truckstop about four miles from where I live and call me, asking me to come up and have coffee with them mainly so they didn't have to spend their meal break eating alone. And frequently, my kids went with me too.
Some of my favorite drivers of all time were based in the Poconos and drove for Consolidated Freightways -or CF. Those guys almost to a man were often the craziest, zaniest people you'd ever hope to meet. I used to tell other drivers if they said they were going to the Poconos that if they knew what was good for them, to not drink the water over there because apparently there was something in the water supply in that vicinity that affected people - made them slightly crazy!
Some of the drivers from that terminal whose names and cb handles -or other nicknames they had -that come to my mind right now were Walter, aka Jumper; Stanley, aka Happy Man; Bobbie O or Zero or Moving Violation. Then there was the Green Rooster who later married one of the cashiers from the Shoe and Problem Child, aka Jolly Jack. Definitely can't forget my old friend "Oink, Oink" -the Pig Farmer (Gerry) and his former best friend Tommy, known as "Ragpicker or simply just "Picker." Also Charming Chuck the Cheater! Chuckie looked a lot like one of the musicians in the group "Alabama" and was very much the ladies man too. Would you believe it but at one time, because someone at work had made a comment about how many drivers I could identify, I came home and made up a list of drivers from all the different companies who stopped frequently at the Shoe. I listed them by company and then by terminal too and when I was finished, I had a list of over 600 drivers who I knew either by name or cb handle -and in many instances, by both!
Jumper (Walter) from CF's was really a character and used to take great pleasure in trying to see how quickly he could get our attention while we were busy trying to wait on other people, especially families, and then he would flip us off - shoot us the bird, ya know! The object then was for whoever he did that to that the waitress would then have to find a way to return the gesture to him without the people being waited on being any the wiser to our antics.
I remember in particular one day when the girls I worked with and I were getting ready to go back and punch in and one waitress came to the clock area announcing that Walter was out in the trucker's room and had already flipped her the bird. So, we all clocked in and then lined up, single file and walked through the truckers' room, each one of us calling a greeting to him and politely giving him the finger in the process too. It just so happened that day was the first day for a really nice, very attractive waitress and even she followed our lead so that after we went through, Jumper announced "Geez, they even have the new girl against me now too!"
Those were some silly days, some hectic days, some tiring days, some sad ones too as we learned of accidents that claimed lives of some of the drivers we knew, or news of this driver or that one in a serious accident and even the loss of at least four drivers I knew from suicide too.
I have never been one to hold grudges except in one area and that is to get even with anyone who pulls practical jokes on me. Then, under those conditions, I will go to all lengths to get even! (So did the drivers, I must add, too though so this was a necessity of survival in the world of truckers and truckstop humor.) I once told one of the CF drivers, after he had pumped me and pumped me asking me if I kept a diary, that no, I didn't keep a diary but I did have a notebook in which I recorded many of the things the drivers would come in and tell me that went on at the other end of their runs -where they would sleep and then get a return trip home. You have to realize a lot of these guys were anything but angelic on the road and for some odd reason or other, they often would come in and tell me what they did at the "away" terminal or what other drivers did. I had this particular driver believing I was in the process of writing a "tell-all" type book about truck drivers and their on-the-road antics -something that put the fear into a whole lot of drivers from one particular terminal for close to a year!
Most of the time nowadays, I'm really relieved not to be working there - or anywhere, for that matter but there are many times when I sit back and think, remembering this or that driver and the stunts we used to pull on each other, the fun, the camaraderie we all enjoyed at "The Shoe" and times like those, then I really do miss the place -and especially those drivers -very, very much!
Here's to every last one of those drivers who ever tormented me -or I did the same to him -while I worked at "The Shoe."
Ya'll know who you are. Ya'll know I loved ya then, still do and yes, I miss each and everyone of those drivers very much too!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Doctor, Doctor!
Sometimes over the past five years there have been times when I thought I never wanted to see any more doctors -of any type -ever again. Not many of those thoughts occurred between March 17, 2003 and the spring of 2004 though as then, I just wanted to see whoever I could who was doing whatever possible to help my system heal. Nowadays, I am much more inclined to thing along the lines of not wanting to see any more doctors though.
However, this coming Friday, Mandy and I will be going to Pittsburgh for me to see the surgeon who did the colostomy on me 18 months ago. I've tried to weasel my way around this visit but unfortunately, the local surgeon here has handed me off -back to the doctor in Pittsburgh so I don't really have any choice in that matter. Suck it up and go is about all that I can do right now.
Don't get me wrong here. I like this surgeon very, very much -he's very good, great bedside manners, straight-forward, precise and what's more, he's excellent "eye candy" too. Yeah, even at my advanced age, he looks darned good! REALLY DARNED GOOD! I just don't want to deal with a 3 1/2 hour trip each way -to Pittsburgh and back -and truth be told, I really am not looking forward at all to the prospect of more surgery either, but then, who does look forward to that part of doctor stuff anyway?
Tomorrow though, I have to go with Mandy -over to Altoona -so the allergy-immunology specialist there can check Kurtis over and the poor little guy will then be subjected to those nasty allergy tests. I've never had to have the full series of allergy tests -thankfully. But he is going to have that according to what Mandy has been told and I'm fairly certain they will find various things he is allergic to in the process as well.
But, the good side to that is by getting a good solid diagnosis, ruling various foods and other factors out, maybe he will also respond easier and better then to the therapists, to us, sleep better at night (now there's a really pleasant thought for me!) and who knows what else getting this diagnosed and hopefully treated will help for him.
We're trying to figure out how to do this trip on Friday now though. Mandy doesn't want to take Kurtis with us as he will most likely still be upset, uncomfortable I would imagine from the tests tomorrow. His aunt here is willing to watch him -along with her four-month-old baby and eight-year-old son except that she is anticipating she will have to go to Altoona and pick up her Dad and bring him home and there's no way she can handle a baby, a toddler and a 73-year-old in not the best physical condition all at the same time.
However, she has said if her brother, my son-in-law, will go over and pick up their Dad at the hospital and bring him home, she will gladly watch Kurtis as well as get Maya off the van too at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. That's the big question here right now -whether my son-in-law will go pick up his dad so his sister can watch his children! Seems like a no-brainer to me but he can sometimes be pretty good at weaseling out of things too -like taking that kind of responsibility, ya know.
We've been having issues for about the past two weeks now with Maya in that she tells us everynight that she isn't going to go to school the next day. Why, we have no idea! But apparently there is something going on somewhere that is upsetting her. The thing is anytime we try to ask her a question, those questions are generally asking her "Maya, why don't you want to go to school?" And her response then is always "Why?" We can't figure out a way to pose a question to her without using either the word "Why" or "What" to try to find out what is upsetting her. If anyone has any suggestions of other words we can use that would take the place of "Why" or "What" please, please, please, let me know!!!
So, with the day tomorrow pretty well used up with Kurt's appointment, Friday being very full with the trip to Pittsburgh; Saturday is a pot-luck dinner at church for members of the parish to meet the new pastoral candidate; Sunday is the candidate's service after which the congregation will vote whether to accept her or not, as well as being Mother's Day and the only Sunday in the whole year that the restaurant where Mandy works is open, which means getting to church, getting dinner ready if the other daughter, her fiance, and older grandson are coming up for the afternoon all up to yours truly to see that it all gets taken care of is gonna once again probably put me way, way behind again in my blog reading and posting too.
Just say a prayer that all goes as easy as possible for the little guy tomorrow, that our trip Friday is safe and pleasant, that I can get a nice big casserole and hopefully some fresh bread baked for the pot-luck dinner Saturday and that I survive the two little ones while trying to cook a family dinner on Sunday!
That's not too much to ask is it?
However, this coming Friday, Mandy and I will be going to Pittsburgh for me to see the surgeon who did the colostomy on me 18 months ago. I've tried to weasel my way around this visit but unfortunately, the local surgeon here has handed me off -back to the doctor in Pittsburgh so I don't really have any choice in that matter. Suck it up and go is about all that I can do right now.
Don't get me wrong here. I like this surgeon very, very much -he's very good, great bedside manners, straight-forward, precise and what's more, he's excellent "eye candy" too. Yeah, even at my advanced age, he looks darned good! REALLY DARNED GOOD! I just don't want to deal with a 3 1/2 hour trip each way -to Pittsburgh and back -and truth be told, I really am not looking forward at all to the prospect of more surgery either, but then, who does look forward to that part of doctor stuff anyway?
Tomorrow though, I have to go with Mandy -over to Altoona -so the allergy-immunology specialist there can check Kurtis over and the poor little guy will then be subjected to those nasty allergy tests. I've never had to have the full series of allergy tests -thankfully. But he is going to have that according to what Mandy has been told and I'm fairly certain they will find various things he is allergic to in the process as well.
But, the good side to that is by getting a good solid diagnosis, ruling various foods and other factors out, maybe he will also respond easier and better then to the therapists, to us, sleep better at night (now there's a really pleasant thought for me!) and who knows what else getting this diagnosed and hopefully treated will help for him.
We're trying to figure out how to do this trip on Friday now though. Mandy doesn't want to take Kurtis with us as he will most likely still be upset, uncomfortable I would imagine from the tests tomorrow. His aunt here is willing to watch him -along with her four-month-old baby and eight-year-old son except that she is anticipating she will have to go to Altoona and pick up her Dad and bring him home and there's no way she can handle a baby, a toddler and a 73-year-old in not the best physical condition all at the same time.
However, she has said if her brother, my son-in-law, will go over and pick up their Dad at the hospital and bring him home, she will gladly watch Kurtis as well as get Maya off the van too at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. That's the big question here right now -whether my son-in-law will go pick up his dad so his sister can watch his children! Seems like a no-brainer to me but he can sometimes be pretty good at weaseling out of things too -like taking that kind of responsibility, ya know.
We've been having issues for about the past two weeks now with Maya in that she tells us everynight that she isn't going to go to school the next day. Why, we have no idea! But apparently there is something going on somewhere that is upsetting her. The thing is anytime we try to ask her a question, those questions are generally asking her "Maya, why don't you want to go to school?" And her response then is always "Why?" We can't figure out a way to pose a question to her without using either the word "Why" or "What" to try to find out what is upsetting her. If anyone has any suggestions of other words we can use that would take the place of "Why" or "What" please, please, please, let me know!!!
So, with the day tomorrow pretty well used up with Kurt's appointment, Friday being very full with the trip to Pittsburgh; Saturday is a pot-luck dinner at church for members of the parish to meet the new pastoral candidate; Sunday is the candidate's service after which the congregation will vote whether to accept her or not, as well as being Mother's Day and the only Sunday in the whole year that the restaurant where Mandy works is open, which means getting to church, getting dinner ready if the other daughter, her fiance, and older grandson are coming up for the afternoon all up to yours truly to see that it all gets taken care of is gonna once again probably put me way, way behind again in my blog reading and posting too.
Just say a prayer that all goes as easy as possible for the little guy tomorrow, that our trip Friday is safe and pleasant, that I can get a nice big casserole and hopefully some fresh bread baked for the pot-luck dinner Saturday and that I survive the two little ones while trying to cook a family dinner on Sunday!
That's not too much to ask is it?
Of Anniversaries and Such
Yesterday, at different stages of my life was a day of great importance.
May 6th -ah yes, that's the date that this year should have marked my 36th Wedding Anniversary. Well, it was 36 years ago on that date that I got married but unfortunately, we were very lucky to have survived living eight LOOONNNGG years together. Definitely was not marital bliss, that's for sure.
There have been times over the past 28 years since we divorced that I have questioned my sanity because I took that big leap of faith on May 6, 1972 to begin with. Whatever was I thinking? Whatever had I been drinking could easily enough have been asked back then too.
I realized several years back but a goodly number of years after our wedding and divorce all took place that we probably were ill-fated from the start. Too many differences in expectations and too little knowledge of those factors as well. Add to that, the impatience that one could perhaps say came with my generation of women who many felt were incomplete if not married. (Heck, there's a lot of that still going on today as well though.) I do feel, in my case, that may have played a very important part on my decisions, my logic which was, in retrospect, pretty unlogical back then too.
But then, as I look around me now, I realize had I not taken those ill-fated steps of marriage, I wouldn't have the family I have today. I have three of the most fantastic children that I can call my own and had I not married their Dad, who knows what I might have ended up with, ya know.
I'm blessed now too with three gorgeous grandkids, three great step-grandkids too!
And, add to that, since my ex quit drinking almost 15 years ago now, the kids all have pretty darned good relationships with him and even he and I can converse, joke, tease each other about lots of things too these days.
That's not to say that I don't have times when I am remorseful that our marriage didn't pan out. I see my good friend down the street from me who has now been married for almost 43 years, another childhood friend and her husband just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary while other neighbors of mine have been married for 52 years now as has a cousin of mine too. My grandparents were married for 56 years before my Grandpa died but my parents were not near as lucky as even I was as they were only married for 14 months before my Dad died. I do marvel at people who can adjust to living together as man and wife for so many years and still be able to appreciate each other.
I had thought too of posting a picture of my ex and me on our wedding day however, my disc drive isn't working now and those old pictures I have saved all on those old type discs so they aren't currently accessible for me with my computer. Probably a blessing in disguise too for you, my readers eyes as well, come to think of it.
The other reason this date was one of importance in my life is because one of my Dad's three sisters was born on this date 100 years ago as a matter of fact. She was seven years younger than my Dad but was the oldest of his sisters - my Aunt Lizzie. And she passed away two years ago on this date as well. Enter and exit on the same date -just 98 years in between.
She was quite a character in her own right too. A fighter from the time she was a toddler as she had polio sometime back then -not sure of her age at the time but I think she was 3 maybe 4 years old at the time. The doctor who treated her though advised my grandparents to purchase a tricycle for her to try to help her leg that had been affected and somehow, on a poor coal miner's wages, with by then, seven other children to feed, they managed to acquire said trike for my aunt and as a result, although her one leg was still shorter than the other, she managed to hide this factor quite well over the years.
She was a reader, a lover of crossword puzzles (as I am too) and a teacher. She taught first grade for many, many years and people who can teach kids at that age have my deepest admiration! She was also very feisty at times in her later life. My Aunt Mike, the baby of the family, commented to me on numerous occasions about how Aunt Lizzie would sometimes say things that seemed a bit on the sharp side and I remember telling Aunt Mike then that someday, when she too was over 80 years old, she would be able to do the same thing -tell people exactly what she wanted to say, you know. And darned if Aunt Mike didn't take me at my word too once she passed that 80 year mark!
My aunts -these two sisters especially -were devoted to each other and for more years than I can think of they always had supper together too. They lived about 4-5 miles apart and always would have supper together at Aunt Mike's house. Even if the weather was atrocious - snowing, sleet, even freezing rain - if Aunt Lizzie couldn't drive down to Aunt Mike's house - the family homestead - herself, Aunt Mike would drive in and pick her up and then, take her back home after supper! It was a crazy thing for her to do because of the risk factor involved but they were both that determined to spend quality time over a meal with each other every day it was somehow possible to do that.
Just counting the blessings I have had in my life - both of which made May 6th a very special day for me.
May 6th -ah yes, that's the date that this year should have marked my 36th Wedding Anniversary. Well, it was 36 years ago on that date that I got married but unfortunately, we were very lucky to have survived living eight LOOONNNGG years together. Definitely was not marital bliss, that's for sure.
There have been times over the past 28 years since we divorced that I have questioned my sanity because I took that big leap of faith on May 6, 1972 to begin with. Whatever was I thinking? Whatever had I been drinking could easily enough have been asked back then too.
I realized several years back but a goodly number of years after our wedding and divorce all took place that we probably were ill-fated from the start. Too many differences in expectations and too little knowledge of those factors as well. Add to that, the impatience that one could perhaps say came with my generation of women who many felt were incomplete if not married. (Heck, there's a lot of that still going on today as well though.) I do feel, in my case, that may have played a very important part on my decisions, my logic which was, in retrospect, pretty unlogical back then too.
But then, as I look around me now, I realize had I not taken those ill-fated steps of marriage, I wouldn't have the family I have today. I have three of the most fantastic children that I can call my own and had I not married their Dad, who knows what I might have ended up with, ya know.
I'm blessed now too with three gorgeous grandkids, three great step-grandkids too!
And, add to that, since my ex quit drinking almost 15 years ago now, the kids all have pretty darned good relationships with him and even he and I can converse, joke, tease each other about lots of things too these days.
That's not to say that I don't have times when I am remorseful that our marriage didn't pan out. I see my good friend down the street from me who has now been married for almost 43 years, another childhood friend and her husband just celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary while other neighbors of mine have been married for 52 years now as has a cousin of mine too. My grandparents were married for 56 years before my Grandpa died but my parents were not near as lucky as even I was as they were only married for 14 months before my Dad died. I do marvel at people who can adjust to living together as man and wife for so many years and still be able to appreciate each other.
I had thought too of posting a picture of my ex and me on our wedding day however, my disc drive isn't working now and those old pictures I have saved all on those old type discs so they aren't currently accessible for me with my computer. Probably a blessing in disguise too for you, my readers eyes as well, come to think of it.
The other reason this date was one of importance in my life is because one of my Dad's three sisters was born on this date 100 years ago as a matter of fact. She was seven years younger than my Dad but was the oldest of his sisters - my Aunt Lizzie. And she passed away two years ago on this date as well. Enter and exit on the same date -just 98 years in between.
She was quite a character in her own right too. A fighter from the time she was a toddler as she had polio sometime back then -not sure of her age at the time but I think she was 3 maybe 4 years old at the time. The doctor who treated her though advised my grandparents to purchase a tricycle for her to try to help her leg that had been affected and somehow, on a poor coal miner's wages, with by then, seven other children to feed, they managed to acquire said trike for my aunt and as a result, although her one leg was still shorter than the other, she managed to hide this factor quite well over the years.
She was a reader, a lover of crossword puzzles (as I am too) and a teacher. She taught first grade for many, many years and people who can teach kids at that age have my deepest admiration! She was also very feisty at times in her later life. My Aunt Mike, the baby of the family, commented to me on numerous occasions about how Aunt Lizzie would sometimes say things that seemed a bit on the sharp side and I remember telling Aunt Mike then that someday, when she too was over 80 years old, she would be able to do the same thing -tell people exactly what she wanted to say, you know. And darned if Aunt Mike didn't take me at my word too once she passed that 80 year mark!
My aunts -these two sisters especially -were devoted to each other and for more years than I can think of they always had supper together too. They lived about 4-5 miles apart and always would have supper together at Aunt Mike's house. Even if the weather was atrocious - snowing, sleet, even freezing rain - if Aunt Lizzie couldn't drive down to Aunt Mike's house - the family homestead - herself, Aunt Mike would drive in and pick her up and then, take her back home after supper! It was a crazy thing for her to do because of the risk factor involved but they were both that determined to spend quality time over a meal with each other every day it was somehow possible to do that.
Just counting the blessings I have had in my life - both of which made May 6th a very special day for me.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Emerging Talent
There's a politician in the works in the family!
No, I haven't seen Maya or Kurtis doing anything that might show they have an early inclination towards serving the people through our government but who knows, perhaps many years from now, it could be possible.
I'm referring here to the grandson of one of my cousins. He's been interested in politics since he was about eight years old and now, at the ripe old age of 15, he's starting to show this side to more than just family and close friends.
Last week, he had a letter to the editor published in our local newspaper. He stated in this letter than although he's only 15, not old enough yet to register and vote, he is declaring himself as being a Democrat and a Clinton supporter no less. But the letter wasn't intended to try to drum up support for her or anything like that. Rather, it was addressed to the other students in our local high school as well as students all over, that he would like to see them take an interest in the political scene. At least learn about what's happening, who's running for election for what seats, what their goals are and of course, for the young people to have a better idea of what is needed in the country today and in the future.
As I read his letter, all I could think of at the time was how proud my one uncle especially would have been had he been around to see this. He might not have been to crazy about the party or his candidate choice (my Dad's family has always been pretty straight Republicans) but my Uncle Arch had been involved in county politics back in the 40's, 50's and 60's, as County Commissioner for several terms, Prothonotary for a few terms too and had even ventured out to try running for State Representative from our district once as well. (He was defeated in that election.) I said for many years the only Republican I would ever vote for without a question about his integrity and goals was this particular uncle of mine. (I have on a few occasions over the years, I will confess, voted for a stray Republican at times although I generally lean towards the Democrats.)
I hope my young cousin's letter and the message it contained may possibly have touched someone else and gave a little "lightbulb" moment of realization that learning, taking an interest in the electoral process is a very important part of life, of maintaining our freedoms, our government, our society today and in the future. Congrats to Pj for a really great letter!
Now, at home, we have noticed some more potential for an emerging artist or home interior decorator perhaps. Here's the artist - you probably already guessed it was Maya, didn't you?
And here's her latest bit of handiwork! She's always trying to find new materials to work with. However, considering how much her Mother hasn't been overly appreciative of her efforts to adorn the walls in the house, be thankful you weren't here when Mandy discovered this masterpiece on the loveseat cushion!
Yesterday -and again today -she decided she needed to perk up her own body a bit too. Sorry, but I have no photos of her talent there. But she used lovely marker and for some reason, apparently has a thing for the word "Happy" as she printed it, in big bold marker, on her legs, yesterday and again today. Today, she also colored the entire sole of her right foot with black marker and the palm of her left hand too. Looks fantastic. (NOT!) But then, it is perhaps better than drawing on the walls, the sofa cushions and stuff like that, isn't it.
Gotta pick our battles here I guess.
I'll go for the body painting at this stage of the game. Bathing a child is a whole lot easier than scrubbing walls or couch covers, ya know!
No, I haven't seen Maya or Kurtis doing anything that might show they have an early inclination towards serving the people through our government but who knows, perhaps many years from now, it could be possible.
I'm referring here to the grandson of one of my cousins. He's been interested in politics since he was about eight years old and now, at the ripe old age of 15, he's starting to show this side to more than just family and close friends.
Last week, he had a letter to the editor published in our local newspaper. He stated in this letter than although he's only 15, not old enough yet to register and vote, he is declaring himself as being a Democrat and a Clinton supporter no less. But the letter wasn't intended to try to drum up support for her or anything like that. Rather, it was addressed to the other students in our local high school as well as students all over, that he would like to see them take an interest in the political scene. At least learn about what's happening, who's running for election for what seats, what their goals are and of course, for the young people to have a better idea of what is needed in the country today and in the future.
As I read his letter, all I could think of at the time was how proud my one uncle especially would have been had he been around to see this. He might not have been to crazy about the party or his candidate choice (my Dad's family has always been pretty straight Republicans) but my Uncle Arch had been involved in county politics back in the 40's, 50's and 60's, as County Commissioner for several terms, Prothonotary for a few terms too and had even ventured out to try running for State Representative from our district once as well. (He was defeated in that election.) I said for many years the only Republican I would ever vote for without a question about his integrity and goals was this particular uncle of mine. (I have on a few occasions over the years, I will confess, voted for a stray Republican at times although I generally lean towards the Democrats.)
I hope my young cousin's letter and the message it contained may possibly have touched someone else and gave a little "lightbulb" moment of realization that learning, taking an interest in the electoral process is a very important part of life, of maintaining our freedoms, our government, our society today and in the future. Congrats to Pj for a really great letter!
Now, at home, we have noticed some more potential for an emerging artist or home interior decorator perhaps. Here's the artist - you probably already guessed it was Maya, didn't you?
And here's her latest bit of handiwork! She's always trying to find new materials to work with. However, considering how much her Mother hasn't been overly appreciative of her efforts to adorn the walls in the house, be thankful you weren't here when Mandy discovered this masterpiece on the loveseat cushion!
Yesterday -and again today -she decided she needed to perk up her own body a bit too. Sorry, but I have no photos of her talent there. But she used lovely marker and for some reason, apparently has a thing for the word "Happy" as she printed it, in big bold marker, on her legs, yesterday and again today. Today, she also colored the entire sole of her right foot with black marker and the palm of her left hand too. Looks fantastic. (NOT!) But then, it is perhaps better than drawing on the walls, the sofa cushions and stuff like that, isn't it.Gotta pick our battles here I guess.
I'll go for the body painting at this stage of the game. Bathing a child is a whole lot easier than scrubbing walls or couch covers, ya know!
Sunday, May 04, 2008
The Odd, Strange and Curious
Terry at Terry's Playpen is responsible for my writing this post. Why is that? Simple. Because he tagged me and since I'm already behind in responding to other tags right now, I figured I'd best do this one right now, while I'm still partially awake and maybe I can recall six little-known facts about me!
2. I knew how to read before I started first grade because my grandfather had been reading to me from very early on and by the time I was four years old, I could read all my "Golden Reader" books.
3. I lived apart from my Mom for almost 18 months -bouncing from living with my grandparents, to living with my grandparents with my Mom's older sister and her husband, then back to the homestead here with my grandparents and another short stay again with my aunt and uncle all while my Mom lived in Niagara Falls with her younger sister and worked up there until my grandparents refused to leave their home again and someone had to stay with them so my Mom returned back here.
4. When I was in second grade, I took a "Reader's Digest" to school. To my teacher's surprise, I read from it. She told me years and years later I was the only second grader she ever had who brought the "Reader's Digest" to school and could actually read it.
5. When I was in 4th grade, I read the novel "Not As A Stranger." I re-read it again when I was in 8th grade and another time after that when I was a senior in high school. It was amazing how much more I understood of that book with each subsequent reading. Also amazing that my Mom never tried to stop me from reading it either.
6. I took piano lessons as a child for about 3 years total. I took Violin lessons too from the time I was in 4th grade through 6th grade. Never got very good at that instrument. I took French Horn lessons too for a year and the school music teacher even put me in the marching band with that instrument after I'd been learning it for about six months, which was a very big mistake on his part. It's really difficult to learn to march in steps and patterns when you can't really walk and chew gum at the same time. I'd have been lucky if I could have played a piece on the French Horn simply in a seated position but trying to do all the other maneuvering and playing the correct notes too -I soon gave up that venture -probably to the pleasure of the music teacher and band director too I would guess.
Now -I'm supposed to select six other bloggers and tag them. Gosh, I hate doing that but this time, I will follow through and here are my six tagged bloggers:
Beth
OH Mommy
Dottie
Sandi
Rick
Terri
Have fun and now, have a good day or good night -whichever one applies -as I am going to bed and at a somewhat decent hour no less! (It's not even 12:30 a.m. here as I sign off for tonight.)
The Rules:
1. When I was a kid in elementary school, every report card I ever brought home always had a checkmark in the "Whispers" column. Do you suppose that was the start of my long-winded posts?1. Link to the person that tagged you (that's me!).
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about you in your blog post.
4. Tag six people in your post.
5. Let each person know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.
2. I knew how to read before I started first grade because my grandfather had been reading to me from very early on and by the time I was four years old, I could read all my "Golden Reader" books.
3. I lived apart from my Mom for almost 18 months -bouncing from living with my grandparents, to living with my grandparents with my Mom's older sister and her husband, then back to the homestead here with my grandparents and another short stay again with my aunt and uncle all while my Mom lived in Niagara Falls with her younger sister and worked up there until my grandparents refused to leave their home again and someone had to stay with them so my Mom returned back here.
4. When I was in second grade, I took a "Reader's Digest" to school. To my teacher's surprise, I read from it. She told me years and years later I was the only second grader she ever had who brought the "Reader's Digest" to school and could actually read it.
5. When I was in 4th grade, I read the novel "Not As A Stranger." I re-read it again when I was in 8th grade and another time after that when I was a senior in high school. It was amazing how much more I understood of that book with each subsequent reading. Also amazing that my Mom never tried to stop me from reading it either.
6. I took piano lessons as a child for about 3 years total. I took Violin lessons too from the time I was in 4th grade through 6th grade. Never got very good at that instrument. I took French Horn lessons too for a year and the school music teacher even put me in the marching band with that instrument after I'd been learning it for about six months, which was a very big mistake on his part. It's really difficult to learn to march in steps and patterns when you can't really walk and chew gum at the same time. I'd have been lucky if I could have played a piece on the French Horn simply in a seated position but trying to do all the other maneuvering and playing the correct notes too -I soon gave up that venture -probably to the pleasure of the music teacher and band director too I would guess.
Now -I'm supposed to select six other bloggers and tag them. Gosh, I hate doing that but this time, I will follow through and here are my six tagged bloggers:
Beth
OH Mommy
Dottie
Sandi
Rick
Terri
Have fun and now, have a good day or good night -whichever one applies -as I am going to bed and at a somewhat decent hour no less! (It's not even 12:30 a.m. here as I sign off for tonight.)
"Have I Died?"
I had hoped to be back on track earlier than this -but didn't get through reading post after post (via my reader) until late tonight. Today was a difficult day to try to finish my reading too because when I awoke this morning, my left eye was very bloodshot and sore too. Not the eyelid, but the eye, itself -so I don't think it is pink-eye or something like that but anyway, it didn't help my appearance one iota added to the fact that my vision wasn't quite up to par either so I ended up skipping church. So did Mandy and of course, Maya. I don't know why Mandy didn't go as she never mentioned her reason to me but Maya questioned her about it.
"We go church, Mommy?" - Response -"No, Maya, not today."
"We should go church, Mommy. I want go church!" -Response -"No, baby, not today.
I thought it was interesting that Maya is taking more and more interest in going to church with us -even to the point of insisting that we open the hymnal to each page as we proceed through the liturgy and to the readings and the hymns as well. I know she can't read, in the regular sense, but she wants to try to learn to follow along to the best of her four-year-old ability which I find quite commendable. (My Grandmother would be extremely proud of this little girl!)
I have a little story for you tonight though - one that I figured I'd best share now or I might forget to post about this and I just thought it was way too good to let it pass.
My daughter Mandy's father-in-law is in the hospital -has been there for about 2-3 weeks now I believe. He had surgery a few months back in which they did something or other with the veins in his legs pertaining to cleaning them out, improving his circulation, etc. And, when he was admitted back into the hospital this time, it was because of a blood clot in his leg, added to the heart problems he has been dealing with now too for the past 3-4 years or so.
This week, Mandy had contacted "Pastor John" the minister at a nearby church who has the position of vice-pastor at our church until we get a new full-time minister. Along with handling or overseeing the Church Council and other affairs of our parish, in addition to his own church's needs, he also visits sick, elderly, shut-ins from our parish or relatives of members as well. Although Mandy's father-in-law has no church affiliation whatsoever, probably hasn't had one for a very, very long time -if ever -she had asked Pastor John if he would add "Pap" to his list as she thought maybe, since it is really difficult for Bill or his sister to get over to visit him very often (he's in a hospital in Altoona which is a 55 mile drive, one-way) that it might make him feel good just to have someone stop in and check in on him.
Last night, Pap called Mandy and thanked her for sending Jesus to see him.
Mandy realized he meant Pastor John but she asked him about the visit and here's what happened.
Pap said he was napping and was awakened by someone standing by his bed, speaking softly to him - saying "Walter, Walter?"
He said when he opened his eyes, there stood this very tall, bearded man with a tee shirt on that said across the chest "Jesus."
And Pap's first words to him were "Have I died and gone to heaven?"
Needless to say, Mandy and I both howled laughing as we could just envision the look in Pap's eyes, on his face, as he focused in on the sight in front of him!
"We go church, Mommy?" - Response -"No, Maya, not today."
"We should go church, Mommy. I want go church!" -Response -"No, baby, not today.
I thought it was interesting that Maya is taking more and more interest in going to church with us -even to the point of insisting that we open the hymnal to each page as we proceed through the liturgy and to the readings and the hymns as well. I know she can't read, in the regular sense, but she wants to try to learn to follow along to the best of her four-year-old ability which I find quite commendable. (My Grandmother would be extremely proud of this little girl!)
I have a little story for you tonight though - one that I figured I'd best share now or I might forget to post about this and I just thought it was way too good to let it pass.
My daughter Mandy's father-in-law is in the hospital -has been there for about 2-3 weeks now I believe. He had surgery a few months back in which they did something or other with the veins in his legs pertaining to cleaning them out, improving his circulation, etc. And, when he was admitted back into the hospital this time, it was because of a blood clot in his leg, added to the heart problems he has been dealing with now too for the past 3-4 years or so.
This week, Mandy had contacted "Pastor John" the minister at a nearby church who has the position of vice-pastor at our church until we get a new full-time minister. Along with handling or overseeing the Church Council and other affairs of our parish, in addition to his own church's needs, he also visits sick, elderly, shut-ins from our parish or relatives of members as well. Although Mandy's father-in-law has no church affiliation whatsoever, probably hasn't had one for a very, very long time -if ever -she had asked Pastor John if he would add "Pap" to his list as she thought maybe, since it is really difficult for Bill or his sister to get over to visit him very often (he's in a hospital in Altoona which is a 55 mile drive, one-way) that it might make him feel good just to have someone stop in and check in on him.
Last night, Pap called Mandy and thanked her for sending Jesus to see him.
Mandy realized he meant Pastor John but she asked him about the visit and here's what happened.
Pap said he was napping and was awakened by someone standing by his bed, speaking softly to him - saying "Walter, Walter?"
He said when he opened his eyes, there stood this very tall, bearded man with a tee shirt on that said across the chest "Jesus."
And Pap's first words to him were "Have I died and gone to heaven?"
Needless to say, Mandy and I both howled laughing as we could just envision the look in Pap's eyes, on his face, as he focused in on the sight in front of him!
Coming Up!
Phew! I never, ever, want to get that far behind EVER again with my blog readings! After the events of this past week, it took me from Thursday until now to finally make my way through reading all the blogs I have listed on my reader! Four days! That's the first time since I started using the reader that I have not kept up with the blogs on at least an every 36 hours type basis and I hope it's a good lesson learned here to not get that far behind again.
So now, starting off the coming week -here's the Bushisms for it!
Monday, May 5, 2008 - 260 days left
"The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany."
--Washington, D.C., May 5, 2006
May 6, 2008 - 259 days left
"You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone."
--Washingtonm,D C., May 2006
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 -- 258 days left
"And one of the things we've got to make sure that we do is anything."
--Washington, D.C., May 7, 2002
Thursday, May 8, 2008 --257 days left
"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a seven and a half pound largemouth bass in my lake."
--In German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag about the best moment of his presidency, May 2006.
Friday, May 9, 1008 -- 256 days left
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft's birthday, 1942
"24/7 - 24 hours a week, 7 months a year."
-- John Ashcroft
Saturday and Sunday, May 10/11, 2008 - 255 days left and 254 days left
"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead."
--Washington,m D.C., May 11, 2001
And that's all -for now, folks!
So now, starting off the coming week -here's the Bushisms for it!
Monday, May 5, 2008 - 260 days left
"The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany."
--Washington, D.C., May 5, 2006
May 6, 2008 - 259 days left
"You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone."
--Washingtonm,D C., May 2006
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 -- 258 days left
"And one of the things we've got to make sure that we do is anything."
--Washington, D.C., May 7, 2002
Thursday, May 8, 2008 --257 days left
"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a seven and a half pound largemouth bass in my lake."
--In German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag about the best moment of his presidency, May 2006.
Friday, May 9, 1008 -- 256 days left
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft's birthday, 1942
"24/7 - 24 hours a week, 7 months a year."
-- John Ashcroft
Saturday and Sunday, May 10/11, 2008 - 255 days left and 254 days left
"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead."
--Washington,m D.C., May 11, 2001
And that's all -for now, folks!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Slowly Returning
I'm slowly trying to sort through things of the past week -along with loads of things that go back over the years too -and as I'm doing that, I'm going to try to get back into the blog stuff once more.
I haven't read but only a few blogs since Sunday really so I'm way behind on that task. Haven't blogged either since Sunday or Monday and after the past five days, I'm kind of taking a bit of a breather, of sorts, today and easing back into all this as I still have a lot of stuff here to take care of now.
I did posterboards with photos arranged on them in a collage type for the viewing yesterday for my aunt. It took two large tri-fold posterboards as well as two good sized single posterboards to even begin to display from the wealth of photos I had to go through. Talk about a difficult time trying to find pictures that would, hopefully, show almost everyone of her nieces and nephews as well as many of the great and great-great nieces and nephews she had was something else! I didn't get the last display finished until about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning and boy, was my back ever happy when I did get that last one done!
After standing in the funeral home for over two hours yesterday, then thankfully we were seated, of course, for the service, but then the interment and dinner following that, by the time I got back home about 3:15 yesterday, I was totally whipped! My back and legs felt like the best cure would be to cut things off at about my waist, ya know! But a nice restful nap yesterday afternoon for me, Kurt, Mandy and Maya too and we were all feeling much better then by evening.
Last night though, I finally got around to trying the organ that my son and future son-in-law managed to get brought down to my house from my Aunt's home on Monday. Boy, did I get a scare though because I couldn't figure out how to get the darned thing to turn on and get the keys to work. I was worrying then that something had happened to it and I would have to call someone in to check it out and repair it.
However, I went online last night looking for information about Hammond organs, operating instructions and the like and finally, this morning I found a page with lots of information along those lines and in the process, I found out then how to turn one of the puppies on too! The nice thing is that it has two switches - a start and a run switch and both have to be activated in a certain time manner, etc., so that means I won't have to worry about certain little fingers going and messing with the organ at any time now! I have a new, big, beautiful "toy" that has very special meaning and purpose just for me, all to myself (selfish brat only child that I still am ya know)!
Now, in addition to trying to figure out how I am ever going to get all these many photos I have here now from my Aunt's home scanned in and save to dvds or cds and then finding a place to safely store the photos too till I can check with my cousin as to where he wants them or what he would like for me to do with them, I also have to start trying to figure out what I should cook to take to a special church dinner this coming Saturday evening. It is a pot luck dinner to give the congregation an opportunity to meet with the pastoral candidate we now have before she preaches her first sermon this Sunday morning after which the congregation will then vote whether to accept her or not. Mandy has already met her at the Church Council meeting about three weeks ago now and she was very highly impressed with the young lady. So, I'm just hoping all goes well Saturday and then Sunday and that we will soon have a new full-time pastor for our church again. The last time we had a vacancy here it too the church almost four years before we were able to get a replacement and many of us were worried that we might have the same problem again. It's very difficult to get a pastor willing to relocate to a rural and somewhat economically stressed area so it is quite a blessing that we received a candidate interested in our parish this quickly.
As to the dinner Saturday evening, I am a little worried about how I'm going to manage to get out to church because Mandy has to work that evening and I KNOW I can't fix a covered dish, get it and the kids and myself ALL out there and manage the kids alone there for a meal! Just ain't in the cards, ya know! So that's going to take a bit of manipulation on my part, for sure!
And now, I'd best get my fanny moving -while it's still able to move and my back and legs haven't started to act up on me again -not yet, anyway! Lots to do to get the house looking half decent again what with all the new items in the living room, just for openers and that says nothing at all about working with all these photos too! Anyone want to come help me scan pictures?
But I'll be back and forth with the blog again. I feel much better now about many things that had been really wearing on me for quite some time. Especially all the issues with my aunt.
Much as my cousins and I -my kids and grandchildren too -were saddened by her passing, we all realize she is in a much better place now with no pain, no suffering, and for that we can be and are very grateful. In so many ways, she had left us, piece by piece, over the past five years or so as her mind started to fade from over that time.
I'm just so grateful to have had her as such a large part of my life for as many wonderful years as she was with all of us. My grandson, Alex, who is ten years old, is really having a difficult time with this as it is probably his first experience with losing someone he for whom he cared very deeply and who had returned his love so often and with so much mutual adoration they had for each other. It was very difficult yesterday to watch him, to see him hurting so much and so little any of us could do to help him cope right now. He does understand how sick she was, how much she had endured and that it was indeed time for her to rest but it is still much harder for children at times like this. Thankfully though, he too has many wonderful memories of her and we have many, many photographs of Aunt Mike with Alex too.
Now, time to get to work!
I haven't read but only a few blogs since Sunday really so I'm way behind on that task. Haven't blogged either since Sunday or Monday and after the past five days, I'm kind of taking a bit of a breather, of sorts, today and easing back into all this as I still have a lot of stuff here to take care of now.
I did posterboards with photos arranged on them in a collage type for the viewing yesterday for my aunt. It took two large tri-fold posterboards as well as two good sized single posterboards to even begin to display from the wealth of photos I had to go through. Talk about a difficult time trying to find pictures that would, hopefully, show almost everyone of her nieces and nephews as well as many of the great and great-great nieces and nephews she had was something else! I didn't get the last display finished until about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning and boy, was my back ever happy when I did get that last one done!
After standing in the funeral home for over two hours yesterday, then thankfully we were seated, of course, for the service, but then the interment and dinner following that, by the time I got back home about 3:15 yesterday, I was totally whipped! My back and legs felt like the best cure would be to cut things off at about my waist, ya know! But a nice restful nap yesterday afternoon for me, Kurt, Mandy and Maya too and we were all feeling much better then by evening.
Last night though, I finally got around to trying the organ that my son and future son-in-law managed to get brought down to my house from my Aunt's home on Monday. Boy, did I get a scare though because I couldn't figure out how to get the darned thing to turn on and get the keys to work. I was worrying then that something had happened to it and I would have to call someone in to check it out and repair it.
However, I went online last night looking for information about Hammond organs, operating instructions and the like and finally, this morning I found a page with lots of information along those lines and in the process, I found out then how to turn one of the puppies on too! The nice thing is that it has two switches - a start and a run switch and both have to be activated in a certain time manner, etc., so that means I won't have to worry about certain little fingers going and messing with the organ at any time now! I have a new, big, beautiful "toy" that has very special meaning and purpose just for me, all to myself (selfish brat only child that I still am ya know)!
Now, in addition to trying to figure out how I am ever going to get all these many photos I have here now from my Aunt's home scanned in and save to dvds or cds and then finding a place to safely store the photos too till I can check with my cousin as to where he wants them or what he would like for me to do with them, I also have to start trying to figure out what I should cook to take to a special church dinner this coming Saturday evening. It is a pot luck dinner to give the congregation an opportunity to meet with the pastoral candidate we now have before she preaches her first sermon this Sunday morning after which the congregation will then vote whether to accept her or not. Mandy has already met her at the Church Council meeting about three weeks ago now and she was very highly impressed with the young lady. So, I'm just hoping all goes well Saturday and then Sunday and that we will soon have a new full-time pastor for our church again. The last time we had a vacancy here it too the church almost four years before we were able to get a replacement and many of us were worried that we might have the same problem again. It's very difficult to get a pastor willing to relocate to a rural and somewhat economically stressed area so it is quite a blessing that we received a candidate interested in our parish this quickly.
As to the dinner Saturday evening, I am a little worried about how I'm going to manage to get out to church because Mandy has to work that evening and I KNOW I can't fix a covered dish, get it and the kids and myself ALL out there and manage the kids alone there for a meal! Just ain't in the cards, ya know! So that's going to take a bit of manipulation on my part, for sure!
And now, I'd best get my fanny moving -while it's still able to move and my back and legs haven't started to act up on me again -not yet, anyway! Lots to do to get the house looking half decent again what with all the new items in the living room, just for openers and that says nothing at all about working with all these photos too! Anyone want to come help me scan pictures?
But I'll be back and forth with the blog again. I feel much better now about many things that had been really wearing on me for quite some time. Especially all the issues with my aunt.
Much as my cousins and I -my kids and grandchildren too -were saddened by her passing, we all realize she is in a much better place now with no pain, no suffering, and for that we can be and are very grateful. In so many ways, she had left us, piece by piece, over the past five years or so as her mind started to fade from over that time.
I'm just so grateful to have had her as such a large part of my life for as many wonderful years as she was with all of us. My grandson, Alex, who is ten years old, is really having a difficult time with this as it is probably his first experience with losing someone he for whom he cared very deeply and who had returned his love so often and with so much mutual adoration they had for each other. It was very difficult yesterday to watch him, to see him hurting so much and so little any of us could do to help him cope right now. He does understand how sick she was, how much she had endured and that it was indeed time for her to rest but it is still much harder for children at times like this. Thankfully though, he too has many wonderful memories of her and we have many, many photographs of Aunt Mike with Alex too.
Now, time to get to work!
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