I've been doing a lot of visiting & traveling on weekends. I haven't been home much except for week nights. It's been fun. I plan on going back to Ocracoke for Labor Day weekend to see my favorite band Island Time. I think I've become a groupie. It wasn't on my list of things to do, but it's been fun! I missed my family reunion up at Lake George. That was disappointing, but a new "opportunity" came up at work & I really needed to be at work that week. I missed seeing everyone. I know they understood, but when you don't get to see your loved ones often enough it makes it even more disappointing. I love my family very much. They are my blood & I am theirs. We don't have a choice about who our family members are, but thank goodness I happen to love mine!! Whether they agree with your life choices or not, I know they have my back. I am forever grateful for how they all showed up for me at a critical time in my life. It is just so hard to explain the bond we have. We came up together in one those dysfunctional families. I know what you're thinking, who doesn't come from some sort of dysfunctional family?! Well, this one is ours & our experiences have bonded us even though we have some large age gaps in the six of us. We are threaded together by our mother though each had a different relationship with her. We can all understand & relate to each other. Did I mention that I love them dearly?
I'm getting to my new adventure even if I'm taking the long way. Tonight I completed my registration to college...AGAIN!! I've been a professional student since 1970 when I first entered the halls of Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. It's time to finish & get a degree. My goal is a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. I am going to Strayer University where I have my choice of campus classes or on-line classes. The campus is less than 15 minutes from work - the closest one I could find. My first 2 classes are on campus: CIS 105 Intro to Information Systems which believe it or not, I've never taken and looking forward to & Bus 309 Business Ethics. I am really looking forward to Business Ethics. What a field day I can have with that!! They do offer testing out in certain classes; however, I've already completed & gotten credit for those. Strayer has accepted 81 credits from all five schools of higher learning that I've attended. That is so awesome!!! So this will cut down on some of my travels perhaps, but I really need to do something other than watch TV and eat. I think this will fill the bill.
This adventure is certainly in line with finding out who I wanna be!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
What happens in Ocracoke stays in Ocracoke!
Ocracoke is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's south of Nags Head if that means anything to you. I've been there a few times, but this past weekend was the best visit yet. I was with some family - a younger brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, younger sister & brother-in-law. And then there were my brothers' Island Time band mates & their wives. It was a very short visit, but I have to tell you that all it took was a few glorious hours on the beach at Ocracoke & I was in heaven!! I didn't even have to get wet. Just sitting on the beach, waves crashing, wind blowing our umbrella down........yes, there was quite the sea breeze goin' on....the sun shining, people watching, laughing, talking & all around feeling great was enough to eliminate the stress. Island Time was in rare form. They played 5 pm to 10 pm at SmacNally's. We had a great time with me even dancing the limbo. No I actually can't do that really, but the guys holding the limbo stick, disguised as a broom, were kind enough to lift it for me as I ha ha went under it. It was a fun night at SmacNallys. There was other Ocracoke favorite places like Howard's Pub & Dajio. Great shrimp at Dajio's. I did a little shopping too. Didn't break the bank, but enjoyed the shops. Oh & I rode a bicycle for the first time in years!! And I mean lots of years. It was so funny. Today my hips were sore. How embarrassing is that right? All in all, it was a really great weekend.
It gave me another idea for my list. Little brother & leader of the Island Time band hasn't heard this idea yet, but I want to sing a song with him at a show. I've always wanted to sing in a band you know back up singer or be the drummer. I always liked the drummer. So I'm going to ask him. Shhhh, don't tell. He'll freak when he hears this. Wish me luck! Maybe I wannabe the singer in the band when I grow up!!
It gave me another idea for my list. Little brother & leader of the Island Time band hasn't heard this idea yet, but I want to sing a song with him at a show. I've always wanted to sing in a band you know back up singer or be the drummer. I always liked the drummer. So I'm going to ask him. Shhhh, don't tell. He'll freak when he hears this. Wish me luck! Maybe I wannabe the singer in the band when I grow up!!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
New Adventures
I haven't felt inspired to write for awhile, but I came up with a new adventure. Are you ready for this? I put a profile out there in the land of computer dating. Hmmmm....I bet y'all are thinking that this might not be the kind of adventure I should seek. However, since the "theme" (a nod to my cousin) is getting out of my comfort zone, this definitely fits. So what do you know, I contacted some one. I didn't have a picture out there, but I took the chance & we are now emailing. But he did ask if I would send pictures & as some of you know, I have no clue how to do that. That was also on my list of things to conquer.
Today I invited a friend from Richmond to come down & she was kind enough to bring her digital camera. It was pretty funny since she was not an expert at this but we managed to get it accomplished & we got a few laughs out of it too. Fortunately she has a good sense of humor & apparently, a lot of patience. So I'll keep y'all posted as to whether or not this worked out.
I do actually have another adventure & that is school. I am going to Strayer University starting in the fall quarter 2011. My major will be Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. My youngest son actually got me thinking about that & it so appealed to me, that I found exactly what I was looking for at Strayer. Strayer offers both on-line & classroom courses. There is a Richmond campus that I can get to easily from work. But I also like the option of on-line courses as well. This seemed like the perfect match. I've already been given 10 credits from 2 of the many higher educational institutions that I have attended. That was very encouraging to me. So hopefully when the 2 community colleges send in my transcripts, I will have enough credits to finish up a B.A. very quickly. I am so excited about this!! I am so glad the desire for a degree has returned. I am feeling so much better about so many things. Amazing!!
I am still looking for that girl who had dreams so long ago & I'm still in search of who I wannabe.
Today I invited a friend from Richmond to come down & she was kind enough to bring her digital camera. It was pretty funny since she was not an expert at this but we managed to get it accomplished & we got a few laughs out of it too. Fortunately she has a good sense of humor & apparently, a lot of patience. So I'll keep y'all posted as to whether or not this worked out.
I do actually have another adventure & that is school. I am going to Strayer University starting in the fall quarter 2011. My major will be Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. My youngest son actually got me thinking about that & it so appealed to me, that I found exactly what I was looking for at Strayer. Strayer offers both on-line & classroom courses. There is a Richmond campus that I can get to easily from work. But I also like the option of on-line courses as well. This seemed like the perfect match. I've already been given 10 credits from 2 of the many higher educational institutions that I have attended. That was very encouraging to me. So hopefully when the 2 community colleges send in my transcripts, I will have enough credits to finish up a B.A. very quickly. I am so excited about this!! I am so glad the desire for a degree has returned. I am feeling so much better about so many things. Amazing!!
I am still looking for that girl who had dreams so long ago & I'm still in search of who I wannabe.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
Today's reflections are for the many, many men & women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. My father died during the Korea "conflict", but let's call it what it is, WAR. He did not die in action but was in the military at the time. He shouldn't have died, but for whatever reason, which I won't make any judgements on, his jeep overturned & he died of a broken neck. No roll bars on military jeeps in 1953. So I think of him & honor him in memory today.
What does it take to go wherever the military, our government, tells you to go? How do men & women make the choice to enlist? What kind of courage does it take to know when you are shipped out or deployed or whatever the correct word is, that you could die during your tour of duty? Is it a sense of honor, duty, or even a bond so strong to your fellow men/women in arms that makes you strong enough to endure a possible fate of not coming home? Just how do they do it?
Living in a largely military area of the country, I see men & women in uniform quite often. My former husband was in the military & I lived in the military community from 1977 to 1999. They have their own language, as any profession does, they have their housing, their own clothing, their own stores, & they are a very tight-knit group of military & civilians. They take a great deal of pride that their loved ones serve their country even if they don't always agree with the politics, they have a different mentality. Their only concern is to protect in whatever way they are asked. I think no matter what your reason for joining the military, it is an honorable way to show, in this case, live your patriotism.
How patriotic are you? What kind of pride do you take in our country? Right or wrong, do you participate? I get very uncomfortable with my apathy that I sometimes feel as I grow older. Not that I'm not still voting or have an opinion! I've got lots of opinions, but it's the politics that really get me down. But I digress here from my point.
I am thoughtful of so many who have died for their country. The losses during all the wars our country has fought. It's not just about today's wars, but Vietnam, Korea, WW I & II, & so many other wars.
May they rest in peace.
What does it take to go wherever the military, our government, tells you to go? How do men & women make the choice to enlist? What kind of courage does it take to know when you are shipped out or deployed or whatever the correct word is, that you could die during your tour of duty? Is it a sense of honor, duty, or even a bond so strong to your fellow men/women in arms that makes you strong enough to endure a possible fate of not coming home? Just how do they do it?
Living in a largely military area of the country, I see men & women in uniform quite often. My former husband was in the military & I lived in the military community from 1977 to 1999. They have their own language, as any profession does, they have their housing, their own clothing, their own stores, & they are a very tight-knit group of military & civilians. They take a great deal of pride that their loved ones serve their country even if they don't always agree with the politics, they have a different mentality. Their only concern is to protect in whatever way they are asked. I think no matter what your reason for joining the military, it is an honorable way to show, in this case, live your patriotism.
How patriotic are you? What kind of pride do you take in our country? Right or wrong, do you participate? I get very uncomfortable with my apathy that I sometimes feel as I grow older. Not that I'm not still voting or have an opinion! I've got lots of opinions, but it's the politics that really get me down. But I digress here from my point.
I am thoughtful of so many who have died for their country. The losses during all the wars our country has fought. It's not just about today's wars, but Vietnam, Korea, WW I & II, & so many other wars.
May they rest in peace.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A Daughter's Love
Friday, May 20 I had my barnacles removal surgery. The doctor made a fairly small cut along my hair line & removed the two lumps that had grown on my skull. Everyone said they really didn't notice them until I pointed them out. However I noticed them & they bothered me. So I had them removed. I went in at 8 am & left at 1 pm. No excitement to report. All went well. Recovery has been easy although my forehead is swollen & I look like a creature from Avatar since today the swelling moved down between my eyebrows. I'm taking tomorrow off from work & I hope the swelling will be gone by Tuesday when I return to work!!
The best part of Friday, Saturday & Sunday has been the love my daughter has shown me. She was with me the whole time & took very good care of me. She was the best. We actually had quite a few laughs along the way which I think helped my spirits. She was very prompt with making sure I took my post surgery medications & she checked on me every hour while she stayed with me the rest of the day. She helped me Saturday as well. The best part of Saturday was she & her family came over. She & hubby brought & made a great dinner while the kids played. Grandchildren always raise your spirits. I could really feel how much she wanted to help me & how much she loves me. It was funny watching the two of them working in the kitchen together. It was a hoot, but they did a good job turning out a delicious dinner. Great team work. They also brought over Gulliver's Travels with Jack Black. I hadn't seen it so it was fun to watch. A really perfect evening.
What a wonderful thing to have happen. She showed me the best of herself with compassion, caring, & love. She's been taking college classes to become a nurse & I think she really will make a good one. She's so smart she could do anything. Nursing is a great choice for her. I'm so proud of her.
She's inspired me as well. I am looking into Strayer University's program for a Business Administration degree with a concentration on Human Resources. I already have a lot of credits for the degree so maybe I'll be able to get my bachelor's degree a little quicker. We'll see. But the bug to get my degree is back.
This has been a very successful experience all around. All to help me find out who I wannabe.
The best part of Friday, Saturday & Sunday has been the love my daughter has shown me. She was with me the whole time & took very good care of me. She was the best. We actually had quite a few laughs along the way which I think helped my spirits. She was very prompt with making sure I took my post surgery medications & she checked on me every hour while she stayed with me the rest of the day. She helped me Saturday as well. The best part of Saturday was she & her family came over. She & hubby brought & made a great dinner while the kids played. Grandchildren always raise your spirits. I could really feel how much she wanted to help me & how much she loves me. It was funny watching the two of them working in the kitchen together. It was a hoot, but they did a good job turning out a delicious dinner. Great team work. They also brought over Gulliver's Travels with Jack Black. I hadn't seen it so it was fun to watch. A really perfect evening.
What a wonderful thing to have happen. She showed me the best of herself with compassion, caring, & love. She's been taking college classes to become a nurse & I think she really will make a good one. She's so smart she could do anything. Nursing is a great choice for her. I'm so proud of her.
She's inspired me as well. I am looking into Strayer University's program for a Business Administration degree with a concentration on Human Resources. I already have a lot of credits for the degree so maybe I'll be able to get my bachelor's degree a little quicker. We'll see. But the bug to get my degree is back.
This has been a very successful experience all around. All to help me find out who I wannabe.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Purple Haze
All those who remember Jimi Hendricks, raise your hands! Oh put your hands down, you just look silly. (hee hee ~ heard that one on the radio station I listen to) Which is where I heard his song again. I haven't heard it for a really long time. A flood of memories came rushing back. I could picture him with that guitar, Afro, open shirt or no shirt, crazy hippie clothes but not really crazy so much since we all wore the bell bottoms and were oh so cool. But man could he play that guitar! Purple Haze was really big. It was new & the music was so impressive at the time. It's like, where did he come from? Couldn't get enough of his music. Then he was gone. But we all kept smoking the weed. Janis Joplin checked out but we all kept drinking. That happened a lot, too much I think. I didn't really make the connections at the time. I just kept on listening to the music & dancing.
I loved to dance when I was a kid. First it was ballet. When I was really small, and yes I was actually tiny at one time, I loved ballet. I loved it with all my heart. I felt special when I danced & no one could take that away from me. For that hour I was on my own away from my mother, in the studio with a flamboyant teacher & a class full of pretty little princesses all wanting to grow up to be ballerinas. I don't remember the other kids at all. My memory is like it was just me & the teacher, Roya Curie & her teaching assistant, Barbara Rhodes. I loved them. I loved the classical music. I love the wood dance floor. I loved the toe chalk flying up in the air like little clouds of white dust. I loved the ballet barre (I think that's the French spelling for it) Anyway you get the idea. It was a really special place for me.
Of course that all changed with our on-going family drama. I know there's a book to be written somewhere in there. I wasn't able to dance for about a year and a half, but I missed it so much I asked if I could start again. It was sometime in the summer after 4th grade. My mother said she wouldn't drive me to the studio anymore since it was "downtown" & too far away I think that was the reason . So I don't remember if she came up with it or I did, but there was a ballet studio in our neighborhood, but she still wouldn't drive me. Now I was only 9 I guess but I wanted it badly enough that I said I would ride my bike there if she would pay for the lessons. And so she did & so I did. I think that summer through 7th grade or close to it I rode that big old bike down & back. Or maybe I took my sister's bike. I'm sure she wasn't using it by that time. : )
Why did I stop dancing you ask? A number of things contributed. I couldn't get there regularly without any parental support. I started to get discouraged. I started getting really really awkward around 7th grade since, you know, it was the "blossoming" time of a little girl's life. The winter's were hard to ride your bike in the snow. It got dark earlier in the winters & I was afraid to be out in the dark after the lesson. Just a lot of stuff.
The dancing didn't actually stop. Just the ballet lessons stopped. My sister had a record player, I'll explain what that was at some other time, and she used to play 45's & 78's?? I can't remember what the bigger vinyl records were now. Senior moment. Anyway, she had all the new cool music. She taught me to dance in our basement. This was something else altogether. Certainly not ballet. But I liked it. It was fun. I love to play the records over & over. I'd sing with Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet, Frankie Avalon's Venus, Bobby Rydell's Volare. Even Shelley Fabrares had a big hit record. She was the sister on the Donna Reed Show. Man, that's when my love for dancing & music really went wild. I couldn't get enough of it. To this day, I still love music. Everything. Oldies from the early 60's all the way up to today's music.
And all this because I heard Purple Haze on the radio tonight when I was driving home from work. Hmmm...remember when the music died? Well, it didn't for me. The old & the new I take with me wherever I go. Even on my way to finding out who I wannabe.
I loved to dance when I was a kid. First it was ballet. When I was really small, and yes I was actually tiny at one time, I loved ballet. I loved it with all my heart. I felt special when I danced & no one could take that away from me. For that hour I was on my own away from my mother, in the studio with a flamboyant teacher & a class full of pretty little princesses all wanting to grow up to be ballerinas. I don't remember the other kids at all. My memory is like it was just me & the teacher, Roya Curie & her teaching assistant, Barbara Rhodes. I loved them. I loved the classical music. I love the wood dance floor. I loved the toe chalk flying up in the air like little clouds of white dust. I loved the ballet barre (I think that's the French spelling for it) Anyway you get the idea. It was a really special place for me.
Of course that all changed with our on-going family drama. I know there's a book to be written somewhere in there. I wasn't able to dance for about a year and a half, but I missed it so much I asked if I could start again. It was sometime in the summer after 4th grade. My mother said she wouldn't drive me to the studio anymore since it was "downtown" & too far away I think that was the reason . So I don't remember if she came up with it or I did, but there was a ballet studio in our neighborhood, but she still wouldn't drive me. Now I was only 9 I guess but I wanted it badly enough that I said I would ride my bike there if she would pay for the lessons. And so she did & so I did. I think that summer through 7th grade or close to it I rode that big old bike down & back. Or maybe I took my sister's bike. I'm sure she wasn't using it by that time. : )
Why did I stop dancing you ask? A number of things contributed. I couldn't get there regularly without any parental support. I started to get discouraged. I started getting really really awkward around 7th grade since, you know, it was the "blossoming" time of a little girl's life. The winter's were hard to ride your bike in the snow. It got dark earlier in the winters & I was afraid to be out in the dark after the lesson. Just a lot of stuff.
The dancing didn't actually stop. Just the ballet lessons stopped. My sister had a record player, I'll explain what that was at some other time, and she used to play 45's & 78's?? I can't remember what the bigger vinyl records were now. Senior moment. Anyway, she had all the new cool music. She taught me to dance in our basement. This was something else altogether. Certainly not ballet. But I liked it. It was fun. I love to play the records over & over. I'd sing with Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet, Frankie Avalon's Venus, Bobby Rydell's Volare. Even Shelley Fabrares had a big hit record. She was the sister on the Donna Reed Show. Man, that's when my love for dancing & music really went wild. I couldn't get enough of it. To this day, I still love music. Everything. Oldies from the early 60's all the way up to today's music.
And all this because I heard Purple Haze on the radio tonight when I was driving home from work. Hmmm...remember when the music died? Well, it didn't for me. The old & the new I take with me wherever I go. Even on my way to finding out who I wannabe.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
It's Been Awhile......
I'm back. Both literally & figuratively. I just returned from the Wild West. Well, maybe not so wild anymore, but definitely the West. I spent the week with my youngest son & his beautiful bride. I had such a wonderful week. The weather didn't actually get super hot till the last 2 days. That was a bonus. The sunshine was awesome since it's been kind of a rainy Spring here at home. I really needed the sunshine. For people who have depression, sunshine is like the light in your soul gets turned back on. You feel like you've been recharged & can face life again. Before I left, I have to admit to being a little down...well, a lot down. This last week really helped.
I enjoy the company of all my "kids" & their families so it came as no surprise how much I enjoyed these "kids". Sunday was Mother's Day & we were joined by my daughter-in-law's grandma, aunt & uncle. All three of us are mothers. We had a great Bar-Be-Que lunch. And I do mean great. Grilled steak, grilled asparagus, grilled corn-on-the cob, big pasta salad, big green salad, vegetable shishkabob, pineapple shishkabob & for dessert, yes that's right, she made dessert too, a fabulous pineapple/cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top. Holy Moley, what a spread. My son manned the grill & out-did himself. He looked right at home. They both love to entertain & I can see why. It was a lovely mother's day. Really, really great.
Monday was a quiet day, daughter-in-law at work, son finishing a final for a class. Me in front of a huge flat screen HD TV to die for with recorded episodes of Oprah. Well, pinch me did I go to heaven?? It was great to relax for a day & settle in, but not for long. I did say they love to entertain, right? Well, a very small group of girlfriends whom my daughter-in-law, that's tough to keep typing so for anonymity, let's call her JFS, were was I? Oh yes, JFS won't see them for awhile so we had a nice little gathering for them to make plans & say goodbye just for a little while. Once again, son manned the grill & girls brought some food & we had a really fun night.
Then the next day, my son took me to his community college where he studied until this past December. I was able to meet the person who was the most help to him with getting the support he needed at the school. He brought a thank you card to all in the office staff as well as some cookies for them to all share. What a nice thing to do! I wonder where he gets his good manners & lovely sweet tender heart??? Personally I think he was born with it, but since this is my blog, I'll take the credit.
One of the reasons for taking this particular week to visit was that he was going to "walk" for his graduation. He had the gold sash for Phi Beta Kappa Community College Honor Society. He had a gold medal hanging from a ribbon for being an officer of the afore-mentioned honor society. And he wore the gold "ropes" (I don't think they are called that, but will suffice for my purposes) for high achievement. All in all, a lot he & his bride, not to mention his mother, could be very, very proud. That happened Friday evening & JFS & I had a lot fun too. Some very nice gentlemen sat next to us. One of them had a wife graduating which is why he was there & two friends attended for support & friendship. I thought that was very nice especially since they all seemed to be, well mature individuals. The two friends were dressed a little, ah casual shall we say. I asked one if he rode a motorcycle, get the visual, & he cutely said, oh no no. Then smiled & admitted they all rode together. We talked to them during the evening, okay I admit it was mostly me that talked to them & they were so nice they even cheered for my son when his turn came. I'm sure to hear what sounded like a crowd cheering must have been quite the surprise. One of them even got up to get a bottle of water & brought back one for each of us. Very nice. So that little experience just added to the over-all joy of the night.
Let's see, I'm getting ahead of myself. The graduate also took me to tour his new college campus where he has continued his undergraduate studies in Construction Management ~ Arizona State University. What a great place. We took some pictures, which somehow I have to learn how to down-load to the computer & then place them on my blog, but don't expect that too soon. But what? Another adventure to add to Ms. Wannabe's list!! Yes, that is a very good challenge to add. I've got to get "with-it" with all this technology & the advantages that it brings. I'm in the dark ages compared to the rest of the world & it's keeping me from being the best of all that I can be!! I digress but a good idea none-the-less. We went looking for an ASU mom's shirt, but they were wiped out since the preceding Sunday had been mother's day. So I finally found a "sticker" for my car window that says ASU MOM. Perfect. They can get the shirt for Christmas ~ hee hee. We also looked at rings for his graduation next year. That was fun. There were two reps there, one from Josten & the other, Balfour. They each had some options the other did not have so that gave my son variety to choose from. We took the information home to show his wife & help make the decision. The next day, back at the school, he ordered the ring. Now that was special for me to be a part of.
Let's see, then there was another entertaining opportunity. This time the party was for my son who is leaving in a week for Texas for his PAID internship at a big construction company. I hope they don't mind me telling all their business like this, but it was such a fun week to be a part of. Guess who manned the grill? I just love being around all the young people. Lots of couples starting out with their careers, marriages & yes, there were some young kids too! It was a great family oriented party with lots of good wishes & THE BEST cake I think I've ever had! Good Golly Miss Molly!! So awesome I can't do it justice. Let me just say chocolate to die for. Okay, 'nuf said. Another thing that made it special for me was seeing the kids from home that have also moved out West near my son. In fact, that reminds me I have to call their mother!! All in all, a very nice evening.
Well, there's more like JFS looking in my mouth, professionally speaking of course. Now there's something you don't see every day. A dental hygienist daughter-in-law who willingly gives her mother-in-law a little look-see for advice about what to do or not do with dental issues. Now she's good at what she does, I mean really good, so I was not sure she would want to look at me especially since she works so hard with maybe up to 15 patients a day!! But she's a sweetheart though & there I was in her chair getting the once over. It was something else to see her in action at her job. I had enormous respect for her before, but there is something about seeing someone do their job & be in their world that makes you see them in a whole new & different way as a professional. It was a very good experience. Even the dentist she works with came in to talk to me, which I really wasn't expecting, but I got to meet him & most of the rest of the office too! And it gave me another challenge for my list. Yes, she helped me to finally decide to do something about my teeth that I have longed to do for some 15 years or more. And that is get the baby teeth removed, replaced & get braces to spread & straighten my teeth. Besides for aesthetic purposes, it will help prevent the receding gums & any future problems I may have due to these imperfections. I'll have to plan it for next year so that I can put the money away in case the insurance won't cover it although there are health reasons that they may accept....or not. Either way, I'm doing it!
Well those are a few highlights of my vacation with the "kids". I had a very very good time with much needed rest & away from the office time. I think I will be able now to write about some of the things I had on mind this past couple of months. Don't panic, not now. I'll save it for another time!!
So that's two things to add to my list of adventures: computer skills/computer technology AND dental work to include braces. YAY!! What a fun way to discover more things that will help me find out who I Wannabe!!
I enjoy the company of all my "kids" & their families so it came as no surprise how much I enjoyed these "kids". Sunday was Mother's Day & we were joined by my daughter-in-law's grandma, aunt & uncle. All three of us are mothers. We had a great Bar-Be-Que lunch. And I do mean great. Grilled steak, grilled asparagus, grilled corn-on-the cob, big pasta salad, big green salad, vegetable shishkabob, pineapple shishkabob & for dessert, yes that's right, she made dessert too, a fabulous pineapple/cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top. Holy Moley, what a spread. My son manned the grill & out-did himself. He looked right at home. They both love to entertain & I can see why. It was a lovely mother's day. Really, really great.
Monday was a quiet day, daughter-in-law at work, son finishing a final for a class. Me in front of a huge flat screen HD TV to die for with recorded episodes of Oprah. Well, pinch me did I go to heaven?? It was great to relax for a day & settle in, but not for long. I did say they love to entertain, right? Well, a very small group of girlfriends whom my daughter-in-law, that's tough to keep typing so for anonymity, let's call her JFS, were was I? Oh yes, JFS won't see them for awhile so we had a nice little gathering for them to make plans & say goodbye just for a little while. Once again, son manned the grill & girls brought some food & we had a really fun night.
Then the next day, my son took me to his community college where he studied until this past December. I was able to meet the person who was the most help to him with getting the support he needed at the school. He brought a thank you card to all in the office staff as well as some cookies for them to all share. What a nice thing to do! I wonder where he gets his good manners & lovely sweet tender heart??? Personally I think he was born with it, but since this is my blog, I'll take the credit.
One of the reasons for taking this particular week to visit was that he was going to "walk" for his graduation. He had the gold sash for Phi Beta Kappa Community College Honor Society. He had a gold medal hanging from a ribbon for being an officer of the afore-mentioned honor society. And he wore the gold "ropes" (I don't think they are called that, but will suffice for my purposes) for high achievement. All in all, a lot he & his bride, not to mention his mother, could be very, very proud. That happened Friday evening & JFS & I had a lot fun too. Some very nice gentlemen sat next to us. One of them had a wife graduating which is why he was there & two friends attended for support & friendship. I thought that was very nice especially since they all seemed to be, well mature individuals. The two friends were dressed a little, ah casual shall we say. I asked one if he rode a motorcycle, get the visual, & he cutely said, oh no no. Then smiled & admitted they all rode together. We talked to them during the evening, okay I admit it was mostly me that talked to them & they were so nice they even cheered for my son when his turn came. I'm sure to hear what sounded like a crowd cheering must have been quite the surprise. One of them even got up to get a bottle of water & brought back one for each of us. Very nice. So that little experience just added to the over-all joy of the night.
Let's see, I'm getting ahead of myself. The graduate also took me to tour his new college campus where he has continued his undergraduate studies in Construction Management ~ Arizona State University. What a great place. We took some pictures, which somehow I have to learn how to down-load to the computer & then place them on my blog, but don't expect that too soon. But what? Another adventure to add to Ms. Wannabe's list!! Yes, that is a very good challenge to add. I've got to get "with-it" with all this technology & the advantages that it brings. I'm in the dark ages compared to the rest of the world & it's keeping me from being the best of all that I can be!! I digress but a good idea none-the-less. We went looking for an ASU mom's shirt, but they were wiped out since the preceding Sunday had been mother's day. So I finally found a "sticker" for my car window that says ASU MOM. Perfect. They can get the shirt for Christmas ~ hee hee. We also looked at rings for his graduation next year. That was fun. There were two reps there, one from Josten & the other, Balfour. They each had some options the other did not have so that gave my son variety to choose from. We took the information home to show his wife & help make the decision. The next day, back at the school, he ordered the ring. Now that was special for me to be a part of.
Let's see, then there was another entertaining opportunity. This time the party was for my son who is leaving in a week for Texas for his PAID internship at a big construction company. I hope they don't mind me telling all their business like this, but it was such a fun week to be a part of. Guess who manned the grill? I just love being around all the young people. Lots of couples starting out with their careers, marriages & yes, there were some young kids too! It was a great family oriented party with lots of good wishes & THE BEST cake I think I've ever had! Good Golly Miss Molly!! So awesome I can't do it justice. Let me just say chocolate to die for. Okay, 'nuf said. Another thing that made it special for me was seeing the kids from home that have also moved out West near my son. In fact, that reminds me I have to call their mother!! All in all, a very nice evening.
Well, there's more like JFS looking in my mouth, professionally speaking of course. Now there's something you don't see every day. A dental hygienist daughter-in-law who willingly gives her mother-in-law a little look-see for advice about what to do or not do with dental issues. Now she's good at what she does, I mean really good, so I was not sure she would want to look at me especially since she works so hard with maybe up to 15 patients a day!! But she's a sweetheart though & there I was in her chair getting the once over. It was something else to see her in action at her job. I had enormous respect for her before, but there is something about seeing someone do their job & be in their world that makes you see them in a whole new & different way as a professional. It was a very good experience. Even the dentist she works with came in to talk to me, which I really wasn't expecting, but I got to meet him & most of the rest of the office too! And it gave me another challenge for my list. Yes, she helped me to finally decide to do something about my teeth that I have longed to do for some 15 years or more. And that is get the baby teeth removed, replaced & get braces to spread & straighten my teeth. Besides for aesthetic purposes, it will help prevent the receding gums & any future problems I may have due to these imperfections. I'll have to plan it for next year so that I can put the money away in case the insurance won't cover it although there are health reasons that they may accept....or not. Either way, I'm doing it!
Well those are a few highlights of my vacation with the "kids". I had a very very good time with much needed rest & away from the office time. I think I will be able now to write about some of the things I had on mind this past couple of months. Don't panic, not now. I'll save it for another time!!
So that's two things to add to my list of adventures: computer skills/computer technology AND dental work to include braces. YAY!! What a fun way to discover more things that will help me find out who I Wannabe!!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Musings of Mad Woman
I've decided that my next adventure should be home improvement. Did I hear a big sigh of relief out there? What, nothing dangerous you ask? Yeah, I know what all of you are thinking. I think you will approve of this next project. I have always been afraid to try to fix things or paint things around the house. I am definitely not a do-it-yourselfer fixer upper. I would really rather pay someone to do it than try to do it myself. So in the spirit of getting outside my comfort zone, I am going to attempt to paint all my upstairs rooms & my downstairs bathroom. Now I thought I should start with the bath rooms, but my daughter-in-law says they are actually the hardest rooms to do. Shows you how much I know. So maybe I'll start with my "guest" room upstairs. That will thrill my cousin since right now it's her room as much as it is mine. Not sure what color I'm going with, but it has to go with the very light shade of green honeycomb shades. I don't really want to paint the walls green because I want to paint my bedroom a shade of green. So I'll go to Lowe's to get some ideas, supplies & will go from there. My next step is to find out what supplies I need. I know I'll need a drop cloth, roller brush, paint brush & pan, what else though? Some of that blue tape I was thinking so I don't paint the places I don't want to paint. So anyone out there who wants to give me a list of must haves, please do so. I know I'm going to need a ladder, but when I went looking for one they were all over $100 & there were so many to choose from that I got overwhelmed & left without any ladder. Now my son says they got a ladder for $25-$30 & for the life of me, I can't find a cheap one, so please enlighten me. They're not at Lowe's or Walmart in da 'burg that's for sure. Maybe I'll look at K-Mart. Funny enough, I've been finding some pretty good deals there lately. Anyway, that will be my next adventure.
But first it's off to the wild hot west!! I'm going to see #3 child graduate from his community college. I am thrilled to say the least. Even though he is already at the state university on his way to a 4-year degree, he is going to "walk" at the graduation. I am just so proud I cannot stand it. And I'm not just proud of him. His bride has a lot to do with this accomplishment & I am over joyed that she has done everything to help him accomplish this important goal. Love to both of them for working as partners.
I think I have come a step closer to figuring out why the weekends are tougher for me than the week days. Unless I have plans to travel, where I am so comfortable in my car which is another whole thing, I really have trouble getting myself out of the house. Weird, huh? I think it's that comfort thing, safety thing, control thing I've got going on. I just don't want to go "out there". There may be a little aggraphobia going on, I don't know, but I've had this feeling before. When I did full-time family home day care many, many years ago, there were times I didn't leave the house except to go to the commissionary or to church. Some of it was because I didn't have any appropriate clothes & I was extrememly self-conscious about my weight, but I think it was also a feeling of being unprepared & fear really. I just put so much energy into keeping everything else together that I guess I was exhausted & afraid. I remember that is when my migraines started. I didn't really know what a migraine was until I felt the pain so badly I couldn't move my head. I needed a wet washcloth across my eyes, the room as black as night & total quiet. I had to lay motionless & pray the pain would go away. I had the worst nauseous feeling but never got completely sick. What a nightmare. The migraines continued for many years even when we moved to the 'burg. I can't remember though when they stopped. But I haven't had one in a very long time. I just thought about that. I can't remember the last time I had one. But the problem of leaving the house has raised it's ugly head again. I couldn't leave the house today. I missed Easter. I missed the fun of my grandchildren running around looking for Easter eggs. I can't explain it. And tomorrow I will get up & go to work to start all over again. Incredible. Every time I think I'm one step closer, I fall back 2 or 3. I can at least say, now I'm starting to recognize these things. I guess that's a step in the right direction. I guess it's time to make another appointment. Honestly sometimes I think I'm making progress and other times, not so much. Today was a not so much day.
Today Ms. Wannabe doesn't have a clue.........
But first it's off to the wild hot west!! I'm going to see #3 child graduate from his community college. I am thrilled to say the least. Even though he is already at the state university on his way to a 4-year degree, he is going to "walk" at the graduation. I am just so proud I cannot stand it. And I'm not just proud of him. His bride has a lot to do with this accomplishment & I am over joyed that she has done everything to help him accomplish this important goal. Love to both of them for working as partners.
I think I have come a step closer to figuring out why the weekends are tougher for me than the week days. Unless I have plans to travel, where I am so comfortable in my car which is another whole thing, I really have trouble getting myself out of the house. Weird, huh? I think it's that comfort thing, safety thing, control thing I've got going on. I just don't want to go "out there". There may be a little aggraphobia going on, I don't know, but I've had this feeling before. When I did full-time family home day care many, many years ago, there were times I didn't leave the house except to go to the commissionary or to church. Some of it was because I didn't have any appropriate clothes & I was extrememly self-conscious about my weight, but I think it was also a feeling of being unprepared & fear really. I just put so much energy into keeping everything else together that I guess I was exhausted & afraid. I remember that is when my migraines started. I didn't really know what a migraine was until I felt the pain so badly I couldn't move my head. I needed a wet washcloth across my eyes, the room as black as night & total quiet. I had to lay motionless & pray the pain would go away. I had the worst nauseous feeling but never got completely sick. What a nightmare. The migraines continued for many years even when we moved to the 'burg. I can't remember though when they stopped. But I haven't had one in a very long time. I just thought about that. I can't remember the last time I had one. But the problem of leaving the house has raised it's ugly head again. I couldn't leave the house today. I missed Easter. I missed the fun of my grandchildren running around looking for Easter eggs. I can't explain it. And tomorrow I will get up & go to work to start all over again. Incredible. Every time I think I'm one step closer, I fall back 2 or 3. I can at least say, now I'm starting to recognize these things. I guess that's a step in the right direction. I guess it's time to make another appointment. Honestly sometimes I think I'm making progress and other times, not so much. Today was a not so much day.
Today Ms. Wannabe doesn't have a clue.........
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Day 2
Did I mention how heavy a motorcycle is? Wow, it's heavy & I was on a smaller Buell model. My 2nd day was all on the bike outside on the "range". I still get a kick out of that. We started very early, for me anyway, 8 am, on the bike to learn where everything is & went through a few drills to make sure we could turn it on & off. No problem. Then we put the bikes in Neutral & lined up single file & went to assigned spots to start the next drills. No problem there except the bike was in neutral & is very heavy. We were "pushing" it while sitting on it. Did you know you actually need leg muscles to do that? So I was at a disadvantage & thought to myself, all the days you have been putting off going to the gym or even walking!! I paid for it. The only consolation was that everyone else felt it too. The drills were okay, didn't exactly ace them. We went to 1st gear & let the bike do most of the work, but we were still keeping our feet on the ground & were "pushing" it. I didn't quite let the engine do all the work but maybe I did a little did which was not the point of the drill. Next drill, I bombed. We were supposed to go to 1st gear then do the feet on the ground thing, give it a little gas with the clutch & throttle & ride the darn thing. What were they thinking?!! Give it gas & ride it?? Well, I could not quite get through that particular fear. I tried believe me I did give it all I could. I even fell over, don't freak, I hit the pavement & they ran over & picked up the bike, notice I said picked up the BIKE. I wasn't hurt in the least actually & was even laughing a little since it was more embarrassing than painful. So I got back on the bike & tried again & again & again. No more falling I'm proud to say, but I did almost run the instructor over. He got a little scared. Oh, & I wasn't the only one to fall ~ just wanted to go on record that I wasn't the only one! So, I really had to admit I could not do the next drill since obviously each drill builds upon the one you were suppose to have mastered. I didn't master it & they encouraged me to do it & maybe it would come while doing the drill, but as I said I could not over come the fear of hurting someone else due to my inability of controlling the bike in 1st gear & having control of the clutch & throttle. The drill was single file going in short distances in 1st gear then safely stopping. I just did not feel comfortable with that. I honestly accessed my skill level & the possibility of hurting someone. Couldn't take that chance. The worst part was that I started crying. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't control my emotions. I felt like a wuss. I felt the passion to accomplish my goal, but my doubts & fears could not be overcome so I was disappointed in myself. I was mad, embarrassed, sad & totally at the mercy of my emotions. So they took me aside & let me work on my drill a little more to see if I could work it out. I just couldn't quit. But they couldn't give me all day to master my emotions as well as the bike. They "suggested" I was done. Although the instructor said it much more nicely & diplomatically.
This happened all before lunch!! 8 am to 11:30 am. I stayed & watched until lunch time & came back. I was not about to skulk away with my tail between my legs. I went back to say goodbye & shake every one's hand. I wanted to show a little class & dignity at least. It isn't a bad thing to know & accept your limitations & be proud of what you did accomplish. I wanted them to know I wasn't going to let this get me down.
So I did not complete the class I'm sorry to say. I couldn't write about it yesterday when I got home. I was too upset...and sore! Man, I was sore in places I did not know could get sore. So in the queen's chair I went for a good pity party.
I do allow myself to have those (pity parties) but I won't let myself get carried away with that particular emotion. Okay, I couldn't do it. So what. I tried & I'm proud of that. It met my goal of getting out of my comfort zone. And believe me this was way out there. Sometimes you just have to know your limitations. That's a good thing. Sometimes you really don't know what your limitations are unless you try. I tried. I loved it. It was awesome. Am I disappointed? Sure. Will I try again? Maybe, but it is now not quite a priority or even a need. It may be just a wish that it could have turned out differently. That's okay with me.
Today, I'm even more sore which I didn't think possible. I let myself sleep for a good long, well deserved night's sleep. My ego a little bruised, but not insurmountably so. This little ego thing will definitely pass & I will certainly live another day on my journey to find out who I wanna be.
This happened all before lunch!! 8 am to 11:30 am. I stayed & watched until lunch time & came back. I was not about to skulk away with my tail between my legs. I went back to say goodbye & shake every one's hand. I wanted to show a little class & dignity at least. It isn't a bad thing to know & accept your limitations & be proud of what you did accomplish. I wanted them to know I wasn't going to let this get me down.
So I did not complete the class I'm sorry to say. I couldn't write about it yesterday when I got home. I was too upset...and sore! Man, I was sore in places I did not know could get sore. So in the queen's chair I went for a good pity party.
I do allow myself to have those (pity parties) but I won't let myself get carried away with that particular emotion. Okay, I couldn't do it. So what. I tried & I'm proud of that. It met my goal of getting out of my comfort zone. And believe me this was way out there. Sometimes you just have to know your limitations. That's a good thing. Sometimes you really don't know what your limitations are unless you try. I tried. I loved it. It was awesome. Am I disappointed? Sure. Will I try again? Maybe, but it is now not quite a priority or even a need. It may be just a wish that it could have turned out differently. That's okay with me.
Today, I'm even more sore which I didn't think possible. I let myself sleep for a good long, well deserved night's sleep. My ego a little bruised, but not insurmountably so. This little ego thing will definitely pass & I will certainly live another day on my journey to find out who I wanna be.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Rider's Edge
It was 1st day of my New Rider Course at the Colonial Harley-Davidson dealership. Awesome!! Today was all classroom & getting on a bike to familiarize yourself where everything is. No we weren't outdoors riding it. That's tomorrow! Ya hooo! Can't wait. Did I say it was awesome? I am so excited about this I can't even describe it. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. There were 2 instructors for 10 people & tomorrow we will have a 3rd with us when we go on the "range" aka the parking lot driving course. There are 5 women in the class from short 5' to maybe 5'10" and age anywhere from 58 (me obviously) to 25. Good mix. Guys were 3 military, 1 college student & I can't remember what job the last guy had. All nice people. The instructors were great. It was all good. So far, as I took a peek in the dealership, how could you not, I like the 883 Sportster. Just my size. We'll see. I told them I couldn't buy a bike from them because my brother works at a Honda dealership. Are you reading this bro? You KNOW at the end of the class the dealership guys are going to be all over us about selling us something. They did give us a tour & we got to go in the maintenance/repair shop where they don't allow the public to see. Very clean. I was impressed. Very organized & orderly. We talked to the Parts manager & of course clothes & bikes. Besides learning why wearing the motorcycle gear is important & not necessarily Harley gear just gear in general, I learned that this is a VERY expensive hobby. This is not a fly-by night whim. But somehow the dream of riding a bike on a beautiful autumn day with the feeling of freedom, exhilaration & power is really irresistible.
So now that I have you all worried about what is she thinking? has she lost her mind? how are we going to talk some sense into that crazy woman?!! Everyone calm down. This is just a destination, not the entire journey to get me on the road to who I wanna be.
So now that I have you all worried about what is she thinking? has she lost her mind? how are we going to talk some sense into that crazy woman?!! Everyone calm down. This is just a destination, not the entire journey to get me on the road to who I wanna be.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
This & That
Thank you for all your posts! I can't believe I got my daughter-in-law's school loyalty wrong!! Big faux paus. I don't know about the before & after pictures of my forehead cysts. Y'all are just going to have to take my word for it. They are there & the surgery is for me, no one else.
Don't tell anyone, but I've signed up for the Colonial Harley-Davidson's motorcycle 3-day instructional class. I'm taking it April 8 to 10th. If I can actually learn how to ride it, I may then take the DMV's 2-day class & get my license. HOWEVER, if I decide that the class was enough for me, then that will be the end of it. So to my loved ones, I know y'all are looking out for me, but it's just something I have to do.
I'm looking forward to going to Ocracoke Easter weekend. I'm driving down Saturday & will drive back on Sunday. I am hoping it won't take more than 4 hours to drive down. But I haven't driven there before by myself so we'll see. I keep forgetting to make my hotel reservation at the Little Pony motel (that's not the real name of it, but I can never remember the real name-it's my CRS disease). My brother's band - Island Time - is playing Saturday & Sunday nights, but I can only see them on Saturday. I was going to take Monday off, but the vacation calendar at work is full, so short road trip.
Let me preface this little tidbit with the fact that this section of Ms. Wannabe's blog does NOT in any way shape or form, relate to my closest friendships with my dear cousin, sisters or daughters. (Yes, I know that daughters is plural & it is not a typo) This is strictly about non-related people. So, with that in mind, I don't actually have a lot of friends, not real true blue friends. Not the kind I see all the time & hang out with to go shopping or watch movies with or go to lunch/dinner with. Not the kind you talk to about guys in or not in your life. For me it's usually the lack thereof, or say things that make you both crack up even if it really isn't that funny, but you laugh together because you just get silly. It bothered me for a long, long time especially since I know so many people here. But when it comes right down to it, there isn't anyone I connect to & can just hang with. Then tonight I had dinner with my friend from work. I realized she is my friend. YAY! I have a friend!! She is having back surgery next week & I felt scared for her, nervous & worried. She's had a liver transplant & I am very concerned about any kind of surgery for her. But she really needs this done because she's been in a lot of pain & the back surgery will relieve it. So it has to be done. I'm sure all will be well, but I realized that we have been friends since we worked together downtown. And we do hang out when we plan it since she lives an hour away. Well, not to get all gooey, but when I realized how we make a point to have dinner once a month (we don't work together any more) & when I got all worried about her surgery & we still managed to laugh at dinner & get silly, that's when I realized we are "buds". So here's to my friend. Please say a little prayer for her surgery on the 5th.
So I went to see Picasso Saturday, right? I had the best time but I also realized (apparently I should have titled this realizations) the friend I went with was a big part of why I had such a good time. We laughed at silly things, mostly the New York sarcasm kind of humor that everyone does not get & he let me take as much time as I needed which was very generous. It was very comfortable & fun. I think since this is really a new friendship, even though we've known each a long time, it will grow. I like being friends with him.
So this & that is done for today. I think these thoughts are examples of how I will get to be the person I wanna be.
Don't tell anyone, but I've signed up for the Colonial Harley-Davidson's motorcycle 3-day instructional class. I'm taking it April 8 to 10th. If I can actually learn how to ride it, I may then take the DMV's 2-day class & get my license. HOWEVER, if I decide that the class was enough for me, then that will be the end of it. So to my loved ones, I know y'all are looking out for me, but it's just something I have to do.
I'm looking forward to going to Ocracoke Easter weekend. I'm driving down Saturday & will drive back on Sunday. I am hoping it won't take more than 4 hours to drive down. But I haven't driven there before by myself so we'll see. I keep forgetting to make my hotel reservation at the Little Pony motel (that's not the real name of it, but I can never remember the real name-it's my CRS disease). My brother's band - Island Time - is playing Saturday & Sunday nights, but I can only see them on Saturday. I was going to take Monday off, but the vacation calendar at work is full, so short road trip.
Let me preface this little tidbit with the fact that this section of Ms. Wannabe's blog does NOT in any way shape or form, relate to my closest friendships with my dear cousin, sisters or daughters. (Yes, I know that daughters is plural & it is not a typo) This is strictly about non-related people. So, with that in mind, I don't actually have a lot of friends, not real true blue friends. Not the kind I see all the time & hang out with to go shopping or watch movies with or go to lunch/dinner with. Not the kind you talk to about guys in or not in your life. For me it's usually the lack thereof, or say things that make you both crack up even if it really isn't that funny, but you laugh together because you just get silly. It bothered me for a long, long time especially since I know so many people here. But when it comes right down to it, there isn't anyone I connect to & can just hang with. Then tonight I had dinner with my friend from work. I realized she is my friend. YAY! I have a friend!! She is having back surgery next week & I felt scared for her, nervous & worried. She's had a liver transplant & I am very concerned about any kind of surgery for her. But she really needs this done because she's been in a lot of pain & the back surgery will relieve it. So it has to be done. I'm sure all will be well, but I realized that we have been friends since we worked together downtown. And we do hang out when we plan it since she lives an hour away. Well, not to get all gooey, but when I realized how we make a point to have dinner once a month (we don't work together any more) & when I got all worried about her surgery & we still managed to laugh at dinner & get silly, that's when I realized we are "buds". So here's to my friend. Please say a little prayer for her surgery on the 5th.
So I went to see Picasso Saturday, right? I had the best time but I also realized (apparently I should have titled this realizations) the friend I went with was a big part of why I had such a good time. We laughed at silly things, mostly the New York sarcasm kind of humor that everyone does not get & he let me take as much time as I needed which was very generous. It was very comfortable & fun. I think since this is really a new friendship, even though we've known each a long time, it will grow. I like being friends with him.
So this & that is done for today. I think these thoughts are examples of how I will get to be the person I wanna be.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Picasso
Picasso's art is not for everyone. It is in your face, demanding art. It's out there. Honestly, I have never understood his art. I'm not an art expert by any means, but I have always been an art "appreciator". I love to go to museums. I find it stimulating, entertaining & most of the time relaxing. I never thought of Picasso's art as particularly relaxing though. Bottom line, I didn't take the time to understand it. I just didn't care much about it because it didn't appeal to me visually & I didn't realize how really important Picasso's art is. So I didn't learn, grow or even try to make attempt at. I simply disregarded it.
So why all this about Picasso? A good friend of mine invited me to go to the Virginia Fine Arts Museum in Richmond where they presented the only east coast exhibit of Picasso's personal collection. It was fabulous!! I cannot remember when I have ever been intellectually challenged through art. This was really a long needed experience to get back to my true interests. I never knew how angry Picasso was as he depicted artistically the wars he lived through. I knew he had many lovers & wives, but didn't know what their personalities & relationships truly meant in his art. I could never figure out the 3 faces! Well, as we know women have many hats to wear but also many faces to go with them. These women influenced his art just as the wars did. We saw sketches, paintings, sculptures, quotations & photographs. How amazing it all was! My friend didn't rush me through & I could take my time to read everything which is a significant act of friendship since I am a V E R Y S L O O O W reader. Many if not all of the times I've been to any kind of museum, I have felt intimated about taking my time to read everything I wanted to because I seemed to always hold up everyone. This was so different & enjoyable. It was an awesome experience.
Now, a quick shout-out to Kentucky & UVA for making the final 4 in March Madness!!! Kentucky for my daughter-in-law & UVA for my son who did his 1st year of college there as an art student...and for me since I work in Richmond.
Also sympathies to my BYU family in Utah.
So, my experience this past weekend has definitely contributed to my search for who I wannabe!!
So why all this about Picasso? A good friend of mine invited me to go to the Virginia Fine Arts Museum in Richmond where they presented the only east coast exhibit of Picasso's personal collection. It was fabulous!! I cannot remember when I have ever been intellectually challenged through art. This was really a long needed experience to get back to my true interests. I never knew how angry Picasso was as he depicted artistically the wars he lived through. I knew he had many lovers & wives, but didn't know what their personalities & relationships truly meant in his art. I could never figure out the 3 faces! Well, as we know women have many hats to wear but also many faces to go with them. These women influenced his art just as the wars did. We saw sketches, paintings, sculptures, quotations & photographs. How amazing it all was! My friend didn't rush me through & I could take my time to read everything which is a significant act of friendship since I am a V E R Y S L O O O W reader. Many if not all of the times I've been to any kind of museum, I have felt intimated about taking my time to read everything I wanted to because I seemed to always hold up everyone. This was so different & enjoyable. It was an awesome experience.
Now, a quick shout-out to Kentucky & UVA for making the final 4 in March Madness!!! Kentucky for my daughter-in-law & UVA for my son who did his 1st year of college there as an art student...and for me since I work in Richmond.
Also sympathies to my BYU family in Utah.
So, my experience this past weekend has definitely contributed to my search for who I wannabe!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Barnacles
Interesting title, yes? I've been feeling more & more self-conscious about something, more than usual anyway. I've got these two hard bumps on my forehead that have appeared in the last 10 years maybe. I had no idea of what they were or why they just appeared. So I asked my doctor about them, finally, a couple of years ago. She didn't think all that much about it, but did a CAT scan which apparently didn't show anything or at least anything serious. Well I had my yearly physical this month and I brought it up again. She said she would refer me to a plastic surgeon. So today was the big day. I go & a very nice doctor comes in, pushes my forehead bumps & says sure I can get rid of those. He says they are ... just fill in any big, long, unpronounsable medical term here ... and he can cut along my hair line & take them out. He said they are like barnacles on the bottom of a boat. Sometimes you just have to take the boat out of the water & blast the barnacles off. So this very nice doctor likens me to a boat..with barnacles...n i c e....... Basically, they are nodes or cysts that grow on your skull.
Long story short, sometime in May the barnacles are blasting off into the sunset. It's outpatient surgery. Nothing too extreme, but still surgery.
And that is why the BLOG title is barnacles and one more thing off my list so I can concentrate on who I wannabe!
Long story short, sometime in May the barnacles are blasting off into the sunset. It's outpatient surgery. Nothing too extreme, but still surgery.
And that is why the BLOG title is barnacles and one more thing off my list so I can concentrate on who I wannabe!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The 13th
I'm not really superstitious. Friday the 13th has no meaning to me. I usually don't even remember when the day arrives. It's just like any other day. So why title this entry the 13th? Well, read on.
Sunday, the 13th, was a bad day. I don't know why or what happened, but I fell into the darkness again. It was not the deep, deep kind, but still something wasn't quite right. Honestly it's gone now. It passed. I don't have a clue as to what or why. Still I was so sad. I was sobbing really. Then out of the blue my daughter called me. I tried to talk but at some point in the conversation I said I couldn't talk anymore & I tried to hang up. My daughter stepped right up to the plate & hit a home run. She said not to go, that I didn't have to talk, just listen. What a gift she gave me. I stayed on the phone & listened trying not to cry but not really. But as she talked gradually she engaged me into the conversation. She didn't panic or seem nervous. She just talked as we might normally do. I was trying to stay with her, her voice was calm yet deliberate not like she was just running on about nothing. She was talking to me & before you know it, we were actually talking to each other & if I remember correctly we may have had a couple of chuckles there at the end. I felt so much better. One, because she didn't let me go, she didn't give up on me, she wouldn't let me give up on myself, she wouldn't allow me to be alone. I don't know if she intuitively knew what to do or she's been reading up on depression, but what ever caused her to keep me on the phone it was the right thing to do. I think I would have just gone on my bed & had a really good cry, but afterward I didn't need to. I felt better.
Not everyone knows what to do. I think because it's awkward. I think fear has a part in there too. And ignorance about the illness. The people who love you don't want to make it worse or they think they can't help or don't know what to do. But doing nothing is not a good idea. Sometimes I don't even know what will help. But my daughter knew. Maybe the bond is still there. I thought maybe I had lost it completely-the bond between us. Now I think differently. Maybe she was just inspired to call me which grew into a prompting to not let me go. Maybe a combination of things. Whatever it was, I am grateful.
No reporting on stretching my comfort zone tonight. Although I think about it every day. One major theme with those that read Ms. Wannabe seems to be don't do the motorcycle thing. It's too dangerous. Just so no one worries too much, I just want to try it for one day. I'm not planning on becoming a biker chick or something. Not joining any motorcycle gangs. Not buying a motorcycle. So relax everyone. At this point the motorcycle is on the back burner & has been replaced with the wind surfing courtesy of my brother.
So rest easy, no worries, just dreams of who I wannabe.............
Sunday, the 13th, was a bad day. I don't know why or what happened, but I fell into the darkness again. It was not the deep, deep kind, but still something wasn't quite right. Honestly it's gone now. It passed. I don't have a clue as to what or why. Still I was so sad. I was sobbing really. Then out of the blue my daughter called me. I tried to talk but at some point in the conversation I said I couldn't talk anymore & I tried to hang up. My daughter stepped right up to the plate & hit a home run. She said not to go, that I didn't have to talk, just listen. What a gift she gave me. I stayed on the phone & listened trying not to cry but not really. But as she talked gradually she engaged me into the conversation. She didn't panic or seem nervous. She just talked as we might normally do. I was trying to stay with her, her voice was calm yet deliberate not like she was just running on about nothing. She was talking to me & before you know it, we were actually talking to each other & if I remember correctly we may have had a couple of chuckles there at the end. I felt so much better. One, because she didn't let me go, she didn't give up on me, she wouldn't let me give up on myself, she wouldn't allow me to be alone. I don't know if she intuitively knew what to do or she's been reading up on depression, but what ever caused her to keep me on the phone it was the right thing to do. I think I would have just gone on my bed & had a really good cry, but afterward I didn't need to. I felt better.
Not everyone knows what to do. I think because it's awkward. I think fear has a part in there too. And ignorance about the illness. The people who love you don't want to make it worse or they think they can't help or don't know what to do. But doing nothing is not a good idea. Sometimes I don't even know what will help. But my daughter knew. Maybe the bond is still there. I thought maybe I had lost it completely-the bond between us. Now I think differently. Maybe she was just inspired to call me which grew into a prompting to not let me go. Maybe a combination of things. Whatever it was, I am grateful.
No reporting on stretching my comfort zone tonight. Although I think about it every day. One major theme with those that read Ms. Wannabe seems to be don't do the motorcycle thing. It's too dangerous. Just so no one worries too much, I just want to try it for one day. I'm not planning on becoming a biker chick or something. Not joining any motorcycle gangs. Not buying a motorcycle. So relax everyone. At this point the motorcycle is on the back burner & has been replaced with the wind surfing courtesy of my brother.
So rest easy, no worries, just dreams of who I wannabe.............
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Invisable Disease
I'm taking a risk here but it does fit my focus this year. I suffer with depression. I talk the talk about how no one wants to admit they have it but yet if we don't, we may never conquer the prejudices that are facing us every day. I keep saying this country doesn't talk about it, it's the invisible disease which isn't getting the funding or attention it needs. But am I talking about it myself? Well hello, no I'm not. I am just as afraid of those prejudices as every one else. So I guess this is step #1. Talking about it where I feel safe with my family. Who knows who else by read this? But that's okay too. I know there is a stigma that's probably not going away any time soon, but if I am going to face my fears I guess this is as good a place as any to start.
Depression runs in my family. I think at least 5 generations that I'm aware of. Genetics is part of the puzzle. So I guess it makes a lot of sense that I have it. I don't know when it started but looking back, I may have had it since I was in high school. Not severely, but I think it was there. I'm sure it was there from my 30's on, but did not recognize it until around 1998 or 1999. I didn't take it very seriously though. I took a very, very low dosage of medication & I thought that was enough. It was just enough to, as they say, take the edge off. It fought off the dark cloud over head & kept me in reality...pretty much. I didn't realize that it could progress and/or get worse. But it did & now I'm taking it seriously. I'm really taking care of myself much more seriously in general these days. So it's a learning process. I have tortured my family with the affects of my disease. I certainly didn't do any of it intentionally & they know that. In fact, they have all shown me compassion & love. It made a great deal of difference. For me my depression alienated me to the point where I could not see what was important & I couldn't remember that my family loves me. Depression is so hard to explain. I was thinking about that this week. How would I describe it?
This is what I came up with....
Imagine you're in a big box, like when you were a kid & some big appliance was bought & so the kids all played in the empty box. So at first the flap is open & you see outside the box, but your sight is limited. Then your younger sibling comes by & closes the flap so you can't out. You get scared & start screaming & eventually he/she opens the flap for you. So you kind of go in & out of the box because it's still there & hasn't fallen apart yet so you go back in from time to time. Then you start feeling comfortable in there, but suddenly the flap closes, just a little but not like when your sibling wouldn't let you out. You feel okay because you know you still can go out. You can still see the light. But every day the flap closes a little more & a little more. You feel something is wrong, but you don't know what it is...and your sibling is not around so you can't figure out why the flap continues to close. But your eyes start adjusting to the increasing darkness so it's okay. I mean afterall you can still see, right? Then the flap closes completely & you panic. You start having anxiety attacks because you can't get out & you know something is wrong, but you can't figure out what's wrong. Remember your eyes have adjusted to not being able to see the light. You are in the dark. It's very dark. You feel scared. You feel troubled. You feel something's not right, but you start getting use to it. Now the darkness in the box is your home. You don't fight it anymore. That's just the way it is. But every so often you think you can see something, maybe a little light is coming through the cracks of the box flaps. You feel a moment of clarity & you try to fight the darkness & get out. You start screaming & fighting the darkness, just like when you were a kid, but you just can't do it so you go back to letting your eyes adjust to the darkness. You are there & that's where you are going to stay until you absolutely cannot stand it anymore. You just hate the darkness. You hate not being able to figure anything out. You feel like a failure. You feel desolate. You feel alone. You feel confused. You feel lost. So many negative feelings. You think that really there is no hope of ever getting out of the box. So you don't want or really you can't take it anymore. So you do things to yourself that are so unthinkable & destructive they are unspeakable.
That's what depression is like for me. It's not everything, but it's as good as I can give you today. I googled the word depression & found some information. I have put it at the end of the blog. I'm trying to learn about my disease. I thought some others would find it interesting.
Depression is a serious biologic disease that affects millions of people each year. An estimated 33 to 35 millionU.S.
From: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
There's a lot more to these articles, but you can find them if you are really interested. I think everyone in our family should familiarize themselves with the symptons. Knowledge is power after all.
I love my family. I am glad we are all looking after each other just a little more. It really helps me figure out who I wannabe.
There is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors.
Depression runs in my family. I think at least 5 generations that I'm aware of. Genetics is part of the puzzle. So I guess it makes a lot of sense that I have it. I don't know when it started but looking back, I may have had it since I was in high school. Not severely, but I think it was there. I'm sure it was there from my 30's on, but did not recognize it until around 1998 or 1999. I didn't take it very seriously though. I took a very, very low dosage of medication & I thought that was enough. It was just enough to, as they say, take the edge off. It fought off the dark cloud over head & kept me in reality...pretty much. I didn't realize that it could progress and/or get worse. But it did & now I'm taking it seriously. I'm really taking care of myself much more seriously in general these days. So it's a learning process. I have tortured my family with the affects of my disease. I certainly didn't do any of it intentionally & they know that. In fact, they have all shown me compassion & love. It made a great deal of difference. For me my depression alienated me to the point where I could not see what was important & I couldn't remember that my family loves me. Depression is so hard to explain. I was thinking about that this week. How would I describe it?
This is what I came up with....
Imagine you're in a big box, like when you were a kid & some big appliance was bought & so the kids all played in the empty box. So at first the flap is open & you see outside the box, but your sight is limited. Then your younger sibling comes by & closes the flap so you can't out. You get scared & start screaming & eventually he/she opens the flap for you. So you kind of go in & out of the box because it's still there & hasn't fallen apart yet so you go back in from time to time. Then you start feeling comfortable in there, but suddenly the flap closes, just a little but not like when your sibling wouldn't let you out. You feel okay because you know you still can go out. You can still see the light. But every day the flap closes a little more & a little more. You feel something is wrong, but you don't know what it is...and your sibling is not around so you can't figure out why the flap continues to close. But your eyes start adjusting to the increasing darkness so it's okay. I mean afterall you can still see, right? Then the flap closes completely & you panic. You start having anxiety attacks because you can't get out & you know something is wrong, but you can't figure out what's wrong. Remember your eyes have adjusted to not being able to see the light. You are in the dark. It's very dark. You feel scared. You feel troubled. You feel something's not right, but you start getting use to it. Now the darkness in the box is your home. You don't fight it anymore. That's just the way it is. But every so often you think you can see something, maybe a little light is coming through the cracks of the box flaps. You feel a moment of clarity & you try to fight the darkness & get out. You start screaming & fighting the darkness, just like when you were a kid, but you just can't do it so you go back to letting your eyes adjust to the darkness. You are there & that's where you are going to stay until you absolutely cannot stand it anymore. You just hate the darkness. You hate not being able to figure anything out. You feel like a failure. You feel desolate. You feel alone. You feel confused. You feel lost. So many negative feelings. You think that really there is no hope of ever getting out of the box. So you don't want or really you can't take it anymore. So you do things to yourself that are so unthinkable & destructive they are unspeakable.
That's what depression is like for me. It's not everything, but it's as good as I can give you today. I googled the word depression & found some information. I have put it at the end of the blog. I'm trying to learn about my disease. I thought some others would find it interesting.
Depression is a serious biologic disease that affects millions of people each year. An estimated 33 to 35 million
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply "snap out" of. Depression is a chronic illness that usually requires long-term treatment, like diabetes or high blood pressure. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or other treatment. By Mayo Clinic staff
From: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
What Is Depression?
Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better.There's a lot more to these articles, but you can find them if you are really interested. I think everyone in our family should familiarize themselves with the symptons. Knowledge is power after all.
I love my family. I am glad we are all looking after each other just a little more. It really helps me figure out who I wannabe.
There is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Good Times
If you ask different people what the term good times conjures up, I'll bet you get many different answers. And if you ask the same person at different times of her life what that terms means you'll get different answers. Right now, last night & today would be defined as good times.
Last night I met one of my three beautiful children at the local Target with her family. The occasion was her youngest's birthday. The little guy was 5! and of course I am speaking of MY grandson. This year we or I rather, decided to let him pick out his own gift. I wasn't sure how this would work out, but it was great seeing him going back & forth between aisles of toys. It was funny to watch, but he took it very seriously. His Dad was with in the aisles with him trying to guide him with fatherly wisdom. Sometimes he would pick up something that wouldn't be quite the toy the little guy thought it would be, so Dad was there to point him in the right direction & appropriate age section. After much thought he finally picked his gifts & lucky for Grandma, he picked something on sale & something I would have picked anyway. It was fun being with them in the store.
Then the best part was going back to the house for cake, ice cream & presents. He may not have unwrapped them, but he sure did enjoy the heck out of ripping the box apart. So fun. My daughter made a delicious cake & some more family join us. It was really good times.
It didn't end with last night either. We have 4 family birthdays in March. My daughter & son-in-law (parents of the 5 year old) also have birthdays. So I was able to give them their presents as well. Then today I took MY big girl to lunch. We had a wonderful afternoon. We had wonderful weather warm & breezy. The sun was actually shining!! Love it. Our waiter looked like Sam Elliott. Who could complain about that?! The food was out of this world. And of course the company was fabulous!!
I was also able to get the birthday package in the mail to the special little girl who lives far away from Grandma. She's the 4th March birthday we celebrate. The package also has a little something else in there. Grandma always likes to put a couple of surprises in her packages.
So even though the weekend is not over, good times so far. Good times for Ms. Wannabe.
Last night I met one of my three beautiful children at the local Target with her family. The occasion was her youngest's birthday. The little guy was 5! and of course I am speaking of MY grandson. This year we or I rather, decided to let him pick out his own gift. I wasn't sure how this would work out, but it was great seeing him going back & forth between aisles of toys. It was funny to watch, but he took it very seriously. His Dad was with in the aisles with him trying to guide him with fatherly wisdom. Sometimes he would pick up something that wouldn't be quite the toy the little guy thought it would be, so Dad was there to point him in the right direction & appropriate age section. After much thought he finally picked his gifts & lucky for Grandma, he picked something on sale & something I would have picked anyway. It was fun being with them in the store.
Then the best part was going back to the house for cake, ice cream & presents. He may not have unwrapped them, but he sure did enjoy the heck out of ripping the box apart. So fun. My daughter made a delicious cake & some more family join us. It was really good times.
It didn't end with last night either. We have 4 family birthdays in March. My daughter & son-in-law (parents of the 5 year old) also have birthdays. So I was able to give them their presents as well. Then today I took MY big girl to lunch. We had a wonderful afternoon. We had wonderful weather warm & breezy. The sun was actually shining!! Love it. Our waiter looked like Sam Elliott. Who could complain about that?! The food was out of this world. And of course the company was fabulous!!
I was also able to get the birthday package in the mail to the special little girl who lives far away from Grandma. She's the 4th March birthday we celebrate. The package also has a little something else in there. Grandma always likes to put a couple of surprises in her packages.
So even though the weekend is not over, good times so far. Good times for Ms. Wannabe.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Hat Day
I know you thought today was St. Patrick's Day, right? Well, it is of course & I did wear my green shirt, Irish shamrock earrings with the perfect St. Paddy's Day socks today. Just about everyone had green on at work. It was kinda fun walking in a sea of green everywhere. So I gave them my best top of the morning greetings & waited for the big event. Yes, it was HAT DAY at work. I know you are all jealous that my department had fun team building, morale boosting & eating green foods day all while wearing a hat. The big competition was for the team with the most spirit, creativity & team participation all wearing hats hence Hat Day. We had leprechauns, hats from around the globe, silly hats, career day hats, & so much more. Yes, what a glorious day it was. My team had career day hats. We had African Safari Hunter, Cowgirl, pirate, fireman, "King" of industry (Burger King would be so proud), Redskins Coach (maybe that's why they lose so much), Sunday school teacher & the financial planner money hat. Oh, & I was the Hawaiian Beach Bum. I wore my Myrtle Beach hat, lei, Hawaiian shirt & looked the part believe me. I wish I could tell you who won, but they will announce it tomorrow. The winning team gets 2 hours off the floor to watch a movie of their choosing, must be PG-13 or PG, & eat popcorn. The 2nd prize is the "spirit stick". Yes, you heard that right ladies & gentleman. The coveted spirit stick. Ooooh, who will win that?? You'll just have to come back tomorrow to find out.
How can I top Hat Day? I don't think I can. Maybe I really wanna be an Hawaiian Beach Bum??!!
How can I top Hat Day? I don't think I can. Maybe I really wanna be an Hawaiian Beach Bum??!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
End of an Era
Those who know Ms. Wannabe will understand why this is an end of an era. I will no longer subscribe to People magazine. Yes, I know this is shocking but I don't think I can stand one more article on the number of plastic surgeries Heidi whoever has had in one day or how many times she's married the same man. Nor am I interested in the current fab recipes of the stars. Stars? Are they kidding? The famous people who have no talent but make lots of money by allowing the public into their lives with cameras rolling 24/7. Who cares? Well I guess someone does since they keep making more housewives shows. Will we have a show in every city across America? Gee I can't wait!! Or how about more rantings from the depraved Charlie Sheen...now that's a piece of work right there. But what I am saying, he's not a "winner". No I think that should be wiener. He's a wiener. I guess I may be too old for this pop culture boring sensationalized journalism. Maybe journalism is giving them too much credit. I still like doing the crossword puzzle though. The cost of the subscription just doesn't justify getting that magazine for just the crossword.
You know I noticed that I have several crossword puzzle books around here. Have I ever told you the story of the how the crossword puzzle interest came about? Well boys & girls, get comfortable because you are in for a treat!
Once upon a time, there was pretty princess who had three beautiful children. She loved her children very, very much. She loved spending time with them, reading to them, dressing them, teaching them how to organize their toys...okay you didn't need to know that. One day the grumpy ogre who lived in the castle with the pretty princess & her three beautiful children said, "You must go out & find gold coins to support my bad spending habits". Well, the poor, pretty princess was surprised to hear such things from the grumpy ogre. That was not the plan. She had no idea how to go off & find the gold coins since she had no college degree & had not been in the search for gold coins for many, many years. What was the poor, pretty princess to do? It made her too sad to leave her three beautiful children. They were so young only 2 years old and 4 years old and 6 years old. Who would teach them how to organize all those GI Joe's & Strawberry Shortcake toys? Who would teach them how to make lists and wear turtlenecks? The poor, pretty princess could not leave these important lessons to anyone else. So she thought & thought. Then a brilliant idea came to her in a dream. The poor, plucky, pretty princess would have the gold coins come to her!! She opened her own business in the castle so she could stay home with her three beautiful children. If you build it they will come. And so they did. The poor, plucky, pretty princess soon had more children to care for then she ever thought possible. With all her pluck, she read articles about how to take care of these children and organized a plan. She became very successful but really thought she would lose her mind if she didn't find someway to think of something other than potty training & how to make really good mac & cheese. One day the poor, plucky, pretty princess sat down to read the Washington Post, the local towne crier, when all the children were taking their required afternoon naps. Lo and behold there was a daily crossword puzzle. A grown up activity. Something to stimulate the brain. My, my thought the poor, plucky, pretty princess, why not try this. After all, how hard could it be? Do you know what happened next? The poor, plucky, pretty princess could not find the words to all the clues. She was so perplexed. So the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess did what she always had done. She found a way to figure out the words she didn't know. Yes that's right boys & girls she dug through her old books & found her dictionary!! Every day the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess looked up new words to increase her vocabulary and soon the puzzles became easier. She did them in pen & was quite proud of herself. The proud, perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess was no longer perplexed. And her love of crossword puzzles continued to this very day!
And what happened to the grumpy ogre? Well, that boys & girls will have to be saved for another day. In the mean time I continue to on my search to find out who I wannabe.
You know I noticed that I have several crossword puzzle books around here. Have I ever told you the story of the how the crossword puzzle interest came about? Well boys & girls, get comfortable because you are in for a treat!
Once upon a time, there was pretty princess who had three beautiful children. She loved her children very, very much. She loved spending time with them, reading to them, dressing them, teaching them how to organize their toys...okay you didn't need to know that. One day the grumpy ogre who lived in the castle with the pretty princess & her three beautiful children said, "You must go out & find gold coins to support my bad spending habits". Well, the poor, pretty princess was surprised to hear such things from the grumpy ogre. That was not the plan. She had no idea how to go off & find the gold coins since she had no college degree & had not been in the search for gold coins for many, many years. What was the poor, pretty princess to do? It made her too sad to leave her three beautiful children. They were so young only 2 years old and 4 years old and 6 years old. Who would teach them how to organize all those GI Joe's & Strawberry Shortcake toys? Who would teach them how to make lists and wear turtlenecks? The poor, pretty princess could not leave these important lessons to anyone else. So she thought & thought. Then a brilliant idea came to her in a dream. The poor, plucky, pretty princess would have the gold coins come to her!! She opened her own business in the castle so she could stay home with her three beautiful children. If you build it they will come. And so they did. The poor, plucky, pretty princess soon had more children to care for then she ever thought possible. With all her pluck, she read articles about how to take care of these children and organized a plan. She became very successful but really thought she would lose her mind if she didn't find someway to think of something other than potty training & how to make really good mac & cheese. One day the poor, plucky, pretty princess sat down to read the Washington Post, the local towne crier, when all the children were taking their required afternoon naps. Lo and behold there was a daily crossword puzzle. A grown up activity. Something to stimulate the brain. My, my thought the poor, plucky, pretty princess, why not try this. After all, how hard could it be? Do you know what happened next? The poor, plucky, pretty princess could not find the words to all the clues. She was so perplexed. So the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess did what she always had done. She found a way to figure out the words she didn't know. Yes that's right boys & girls she dug through her old books & found her dictionary!! Every day the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess looked up new words to increase her vocabulary and soon the puzzles became easier. She did them in pen & was quite proud of herself. The proud, perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess was no longer perplexed. And her love of crossword puzzles continued to this very day!
And what happened to the grumpy ogre? Well, that boys & girls will have to be saved for another day. In the mean time I continue to on my search to find out who I wannabe.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I was thinking......
Yes, I do that occasionally. I have always loved music. I've never been out of my comfort zone with music since I like just about everything. Saturday I bought two CD's, Kid Rock's new one & Cindy Lauper's Memphis Blues. How's that for eclectic taste. I saw Kid Rock being interviewed by Piers Morgan & I was actually impressed. Don't tell but this is my 2nd Kid Rock CD. He's growing on me. Now Cyndy Lauper the queen of Queens, NY, she's really something else. I loved her voice with the old time blues & she definitely did them justice. I'm a fan. I was thinking about the first time I heard Andrea Bocelli. It was a duet with Celine D.... singing "The Prayer". What a voice he has. So naturally I bought his CD that was out at the time. Have you ever cried listening to someone sing in a language you don't understand? That is what happened when I heard this CD. I can't explain the feeling but it seemed like he touched my soul or something. It was like I knew what emotion he was trying to convey but didn't actually know what the emotion was except it was touching, moving & very eloquent. How can anyone have that good a voice? I wish I could really be more descriptive since it was & still is an amazing thing that happens to me when he sings. I guess or I hope that is what happens when you go to the opera. I think going to the opera is on my bucket list somewhere. I'm adding learn Italian now. Not that I need to understand the words he sings, since it so emotional just to hear the voice & music, but because I'm Italian. More about that another day.
I have so many lists these days. One for groceries, errands, things I have to do around the house, who I should call or email, lists for presents & March has a lot of birthdays in our family, then of course doing the things that are out of my comfort zone, the bucket list, lists for work believe it or not. This week I'm bringing in some dessert for the SPCA bake sale and NO it won't be home-made for those of you that thought I still cook & bake. And of course the list includes "hat day" don't ask, but I need to put it on my list so I don't forget the hat!! And I signed up to bring paper plates for the PotLuck breakfast we are having on hat day. So you see, I need lists, lots & lots of lists.
I've been thinking about this new phone I bought a few weeks ago.... This is so embarrassing but I could not figure out how to answer it. Yes, you read that correctly. Did I mention that I am technically challenged? I didn't realize that the little puzzle piece with the phone receiver on it, had to go into the empty space. But I did figure out & get addicted to Angry Birds!! You can see where my priorities are. I'm hoping my friends & my youngest son can give me some pointers. I love the phone, but it really would be advantageous if I knew how to answer it. My Droid, ah yes I'm out of my comfort zone, definitely.
I have this charm bracelet my daughter-in-law gave me with all 7 of my grandchildren's names on separate "charms". I love the tinkling sound it makes. I was thinking it reminds me of the Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". The Angel says everytime you hear the tinkling of a bell, an angel gets his/her wings. I've always loved that movie & that thought. I think of it when I hear my bracelet making a sweet little tinkling noise, but with a twist. I hear the sound & think of my 7 grandchildren who are all little angels in my heart. It's a sweet thought & makes me happy throughout the day.
Enough thinking for now. I'm ever pondering if I can get this life right & discover who I wannabe.
I have so many lists these days. One for groceries, errands, things I have to do around the house, who I should call or email, lists for presents & March has a lot of birthdays in our family, then of course doing the things that are out of my comfort zone, the bucket list, lists for work believe it or not. This week I'm bringing in some dessert for the SPCA bake sale and NO it won't be home-made for those of you that thought I still cook & bake. And of course the list includes "hat day" don't ask, but I need to put it on my list so I don't forget the hat!! And I signed up to bring paper plates for the PotLuck breakfast we are having on hat day. So you see, I need lists, lots & lots of lists.
I've been thinking about this new phone I bought a few weeks ago.... This is so embarrassing but I could not figure out how to answer it. Yes, you read that correctly. Did I mention that I am technically challenged? I didn't realize that the little puzzle piece with the phone receiver on it, had to go into the empty space. But I did figure out & get addicted to Angry Birds!! You can see where my priorities are. I'm hoping my friends & my youngest son can give me some pointers. I love the phone, but it really would be advantageous if I knew how to answer it. My Droid, ah yes I'm out of my comfort zone, definitely.
I have this charm bracelet my daughter-in-law gave me with all 7 of my grandchildren's names on separate "charms". I love the tinkling sound it makes. I was thinking it reminds me of the Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". The Angel says everytime you hear the tinkling of a bell, an angel gets his/her wings. I've always loved that movie & that thought. I think of it when I hear my bracelet making a sweet little tinkling noise, but with a twist. I hear the sound & think of my 7 grandchildren who are all little angels in my heart. It's a sweet thought & makes me happy throughout the day.
Enough thinking for now. I'm ever pondering if I can get this life right & discover who I wannabe.
Monday, March 14, 2011
1st Edition
Today my son suggested I start a Blog & of course I had no idea how to do that. His instructions seem easy enough but time will tell. My 2011 theme is to try things that bring me out of my comfort zone. I hope to take you along on my journey although it's hard to believe anyone would be interested in the life of a 58 year old divorced empty-nester such as me. So I'll give you a little background & if you can relate, great! Please come along on my adventures.
Married three times does not define me, but it is part of my life. I have three remarkable children who are all married & thriving. You'll probably hear a lot of bragging about them & I'm not the least bit ashamed to say all the great & wonderful things I can think of about each one. My oldest son with his fabulous bride have given me three grandchildren. My daughter & her amazing husband have even given me four grandchildren. My youngest son is finishing college with the support of his beautiful wife & I suspect one day there will be more grandchildren! There may also be a bit of bragging about them from time to time. My cup runneth over.
I grew up in New York State not too far from Brooklyn where I started this crazy life. I didn't stay too long in NY though having moved to Boston , New London , Panama City, Groton , Silver Spring & finally the place I've lived the longest & enjoyed the most Williamsburg
Now I'm still working at my career with the same company for the last 22 years, but can't seem to get use to the empty nest. The kids have been out & on their own for many years, but I still miss them. And so the reason for the 2011 theme & this new blog. I want to share my adventures with anyone who might feel the same way...plus it will give me something to do!!
Over my Christmas vacation, I decided the first thing I should attempt is firing a gun. That might not seem like a big deal to you, but let me say it is the last thing I ever thought I'd do. I've always been afraid of guns. I grew up without a father so I didn't know about the "manly" side of life. Guns were never part of my world. When my kids were younger, they actually went to a firing range with trusted friends to get a short lesson. It seems the boys still have interest in this sort of activity & I asked one of them to teach me. Yes, I who has always been afraid & honestly quite anti-gun went to a firing range to see what it was like. Could I overcome my fear? That was the real question. At this tender young-at-heart age, could I change my mind about guns or at least touch one? It really surprised me when my son so carefully went over gun safety, parts of the gun, how it worked & was very sensitive to not push me into the next step of actually holding & firing the gun, unless I was ready. He really looked out for me both physically & mentally because he knew this would be difficult for me. So I felt I was in good & trusted hands which enabled me to take the next steps. I watched. Okay, then I held the gun & even took some shots at the targets. My son was so wonderful & was a great teacher. It was a different feeling after raising him & teaching him, now the table was turned. Here I was being taught by my son. I hope I was as gentle & caring with him as he was with me. He's a very good son.
So, what happened? He said I was a natural!! Was that just some buttering up hoping to get Mom to buy him lunch? Nope. I actually shot a hole inside the previous hole I made. The whole thing was sooo exhilarating & empowering. The adrenalin was flowing through every part of my body. I couldn't get enough of it & probably would have stayed much longer if it had been possible. WOWEE! I actually shot a gun & liked it! I tried two different sized Glocks & a small Sig. All I can say is unbelievable. Who knew?!! That was not enough so when I got home, I went to a local firing range & took an all day class. It was excellent & other than getting my index finger caught in the slide, I did pretty darn good. Don't worry, it only bled for two days. So now I have a certificate of completion & I can apply for a concealed pistol permit if I so desire. I don't think I'll really be doing that, but I may go back on Tuesday night's since it is "Lady's Night".
My first adventure completed. Check. But still on the list to continue. I'll let you know how that works.
Some other things on the list..........learn to wind surf, learn to ride a motorcycle, learn how to use this hi-tech Droid Fascinate phone I just got, travel by myself, explore different religions and I may attempt more or change my list at any time. No rules. Just whatever strikes my fance on any given day. Afterall, I'm young at heart and still trying to figure out who I wannabe!!
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