We have a beautiful bedroom set. It's got a high head board and is very heavy wood and very old fashioned looking.
Years ago Claude and I went to a new furniture store in our neighborhood in Maryland. We walked through the entire store of beautiful furniture and only found one thing we liked at all, this wonderful bedroom set. We both really, really liked it but walked out of the store without even trying to purchase it.
Later that year, after the tax refund came, we returned to the furniture store to look at that bedroom set again. It was still there and we determined we would get it with our tax refund. We purchased and set a delivery date.
Claude was home for the delivery. The guys struggled to get that furniture up the stairs. We lived in a town house. They had to come in the front door and make a turn up the stairs to the second floor. The furniture was extremely heavy. One piece wouldn't come up the stairs and they ended up hoisting it through a sliding glass door that would have gone to a balcony if one had been built there. After getting the pieces together, they put the mattress and box springs on it. These were new also and much deeper than our old set.
When they got the mattress and box springs on the bed frame, Claude looked at it and shook his head. He said to these poor delivery guys who worked much harder than they thought they were going to, "My little wife will never be able to get into that bed. It is way too tall."
To this the very unsympathetic delivery man said, "She can run down the hallway and jump!" Claude and I have reflected on that statement and laughed often over the years.
Fast forward to our move to Kentucky. I was here and Claude was in Maryland. He had not quite retired yet. I took delivery of our furniture the day after I arrived in Kentucky. The movers set up the beds for me and put the mattresses and box springs on them for me. I did not notice thy put the old mattress and box springs on our bed and the newer mattress and box springs on the old bed in the guest bedroom. For six years we have left the mattresses on the wrong beds.
The past few years Claude has complained about his side of the bed being uncomfortable. We have talked about changing the mattress and box springs between the two beds but never done it.
Tuesday night we took a couple to have ice cream with us. Even that night we had a discussion with these people about the poor quality of the mattress. They shared how uncomfortable their mattress was. Claude commented that he was waiting to catch me changing sheets so I didn't have to replace sheets after moving the mattresses. I had a chuckle and told him I changed the sheets on the guest bed that morning and put them in the washer. They were flannel and I wanted cotton sheets on that bed for the summertime. We laughed at the silliness of this.
Wednesday morning Claude and I took the older mattress off our bed and leaned it against the loveseat in the living room. Then we went to take the box springs off the frame. Our bed is made like an older bed and has a deep wood side rail that the box springs sits down in. As soon as we looked at the box springs sitting inside this deep wood frame we knew Claude had been sleeping in a hole. There was a big indented place on his side.
Claude lifted the box springs out of the deep wood frame and I immediately noticed a piece of wood sticking out of the cloth lining on the back of the box springs. The wood support across the middle of the bottom was broken. No wonder my poor hubby has been so uncomfortable these last few years.
We got the newer mattress and box springs on our bed. Claude found the right piece of wood to repair the older box springs. Both beds are now made and ready to use again. Whew!!!
I just have to add that I feel like I'm sleeping on some kind of altar or platform. I'm not used to being that high in the air again. It takes a bit of effort to hoist myself up onto the top of this bed. But I do think my hubby is now able to rest a might easier.
Friday, April 29, 2011
An Early Easter...
Friday night, after the Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Claude and I drove on to LaGrange. The Marx family was already in bed, so we quietly entered their home and tiptoed up the stairs to the guest room and curled up for some rest. There was lots of thunder and lightening all night long.
Hayden and Bailey knew we were coming on Saturday to play but they did not know we spent the night. In the morning I awoke to Hayden coughing. He had been home from school the previous two days. A little later I could hear Andie talking with Hayden in his room. I knew then Hayden was really awake.
I climbed out of bed and went to his bedroom door and tapped on it. Hayden thought it was Bailey wanting to come in. He gave the okay to enter his room. I quietly opened the door and entered. He looked up and saw me and was shocked. Then he fell face forward onto his bed. Then I got all those lovely hugs that only a six year old grandson can give. Good stuff.
It wasn't long before Bailey made her presence known. That meant it was time to go in and wake up Pa (Claude).
I assured Andie she needed to go back to bed and I would watch the Mini's while she got a bit more sleep. What a treat for me to be able to spend time with these two little characters that morning. We left Claude to sleep in and we headed downstairs to have some breakfast and play for a bit. Cushions came off the sofa and love seat and great places to play were made. Trampolines were played with. Cereal was eaten. I brought plastic Easter eggs that I put the sticky foam letters in that would spell 3-letter words. The kids stayed in the family room and I hid the eggs in the play room. Then we opened those eggs and made words. It was great fun.
Andie came downstairs first. We had to check out her 'worm farm'. Andie is trying out a tier container set-up that creates mulch out of your food scraps. The contraption is full of red worms. They process the food into mulch. Quite a set-up.
Michael joined us next and then, eventually, Claude came downstairs. We had a very nice morning.
Look carefully in the giraffe tent on Claude...you'll find Hayden curled up in a little ball.
Bailey is peeking out of the giraffe tent in this picture.
When we got to Sadieville and pulled into Eagle Bend, the Eagle Creek was way over its banks. Ususally the dam keeps it to a meandering stream by the water station tower. You can see in this picture it was all the way over the banks and up the land. The other picture is where the dam is. You can see that the water was high enough you can't even tell there is a dam under the water. By the time it was just about dark, Claude went back to check on the bridge. Last year it flooded over the bridge. Saturday night it was right under the bottom of the bridge.
We were happy to make it home between storms and be on our side of the bridge. It is the only bridge in and out of our subdivision. If it goes, we have to wait for the creek to go way down and then the Jeep could get us across.
We have been greatly blessed. We have only had two times that the warning siren for a tornado has sent us to our basement. We are grateful we have a basement to hide out in during these storms as needed.
Hayden and Bailey knew we were coming on Saturday to play but they did not know we spent the night. In the morning I awoke to Hayden coughing. He had been home from school the previous two days. A little later I could hear Andie talking with Hayden in his room. I knew then Hayden was really awake.
I climbed out of bed and went to his bedroom door and tapped on it. Hayden thought it was Bailey wanting to come in. He gave the okay to enter his room. I quietly opened the door and entered. He looked up and saw me and was shocked. Then he fell face forward onto his bed. Then I got all those lovely hugs that only a six year old grandson can give. Good stuff.
It wasn't long before Bailey made her presence known. That meant it was time to go in and wake up Pa (Claude).
Both Hayden and Bailey are curled up in the giraffe tent this time. What a Mighty Pa!!!
Michael went out in the storms to get groceries. He was kind enough to stop at Big R's BBQ and get us dinner. Claude and I purchased two Groupon's for there and we used one of them.
Andie got egg decorating stuff together. After quiet time we colored Easter eggs. She had white crayons for the kids to write on them and the dye won't stick on them in those spots. She also had rubber bands to wrap around the eggs. The dye doesn't adhere to the spots that are rubber bands. Then you can leave the eggs that way or drop them in another color. That changes the color of the stripes as well as the original color you dipped the eggs in. The kids had a fun time.
We were watching the weather to see when the best time to leave might be. They actually showed Sadieville on a weather map. LaGrange is in the Louisville news area and Sadieville is totally out of their region. Their weatherman was telling the viewers he knew this was not in their area but he also knew there were family members and friends of people in his viewing area that should tell them to seek shelter. We found a break in the weather and headed to Sadieville. The creeks were flooded between LaGrange and Shelbyville. The water was pouring out of the rocks along I-64 near Frankfort. We have definitely had more than our share of water this spring.
We have been greatly blessed. We have only had two times that the warning siren for a tornado has sent us to our basement. We are grateful we have a basement to hide out in during these storms as needed.
Let's See How Much We Can Put In A Week...
Do you ever just feel like the days are so very full and you might like to say, as the old farmer did to his mule when the reached the end of a row of plowing, "Halt Rebecca, pivot, proceed!"
The week would be one of those. We realized we had somewhere to be every evening of the week. We had lots of places to be and things that needed to be done during the week. Fortunately, not all weeks are like that and you really appreciate the slower weeks after having full, busy ones.
Tuesday, Apr. 19th, Claude had himself double-booked. He needed to help with the Scott County Planning Commission's presentation as they try to prepare the next master plan. This is the same time he and Papa usually cover a shift at the Family History Center. I covered the Family History Center shift with Papa. Claude covered his Planning Commission presentation. We were fortunate to be able to connect for a quick dinner together in Georgetown. I was supposed to go to a Relief Society function in the evening. I just couldn't. I really needed and wanted to be in my home. So home I went.
Wednesday was one of those weirdly scheduled days. With gas prices at $3.89 per gallon we try very hard to combine our trips. The 20th that was not to be. Claude had a meeting in the morning. I sing at the nursing home with Papa on Wednesday afternoons. Then we had a special choir practice later in the evening at church in Georgetown. No way to do this day but three trips to Georgetown in one day.
Claude had meetings all day on Thursday (22nd). I worked on my Sunday School lesson and things in my home. In the evening we attended the wedding reception of James and Megan Jenkins. They held it in Lexington at one of the huge old homes there.
Friday (22nd) I finished my Sunday School lesson preparation and prepared to make a trip to LaGrange on Saturday. In the evening Claude and I headed to Lexington to attend the Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
We were happy to learn that one of our neighbors was Valedictorian for the Scott County High School class. They honor all of these seniors at the Chamber Banquet. This happened last year as well. I told our table mates that there was something special in the water in Sadieville that produces great minds.
We have had sooooo much rain this Spring. This Friday was no different. As we headed into the Embassy Suites in Georgetown for this dinner, the rain was pouring. Claude pulled to the front door and let me out under the cover of the building. Claude went to park the car and as he parked the rain stopped long enough for him to get inside.
The emcee for this event is always Sam Dick, the news anchor for our local CBS channel. He assured us there were tornado watches out. He also assured us that the news station knew where he was and we would have first word if anything developed that we needed to know about. Applause went up through the audience.
We made it through the weekdays of this busy week and earned the prize of a play date with our two youngest grandmonsters. Yippee!!
The week would be one of those. We realized we had somewhere to be every evening of the week. We had lots of places to be and things that needed to be done during the week. Fortunately, not all weeks are like that and you really appreciate the slower weeks after having full, busy ones.
Tuesday, Apr. 19th, Claude had himself double-booked. He needed to help with the Scott County Planning Commission's presentation as they try to prepare the next master plan. This is the same time he and Papa usually cover a shift at the Family History Center. I covered the Family History Center shift with Papa. Claude covered his Planning Commission presentation. We were fortunate to be able to connect for a quick dinner together in Georgetown. I was supposed to go to a Relief Society function in the evening. I just couldn't. I really needed and wanted to be in my home. So home I went.
Wednesday was one of those weirdly scheduled days. With gas prices at $3.89 per gallon we try very hard to combine our trips. The 20th that was not to be. Claude had a meeting in the morning. I sing at the nursing home with Papa on Wednesday afternoons. Then we had a special choir practice later in the evening at church in Georgetown. No way to do this day but three trips to Georgetown in one day.
Claude had meetings all day on Thursday (22nd). I worked on my Sunday School lesson and things in my home. In the evening we attended the wedding reception of James and Megan Jenkins. They held it in Lexington at one of the huge old homes there.
Friday (22nd) I finished my Sunday School lesson preparation and prepared to make a trip to LaGrange on Saturday. In the evening Claude and I headed to Lexington to attend the Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
We were happy to learn that one of our neighbors was Valedictorian for the Scott County High School class. They honor all of these seniors at the Chamber Banquet. This happened last year as well. I told our table mates that there was something special in the water in Sadieville that produces great minds.
We have had sooooo much rain this Spring. This Friday was no different. As we headed into the Embassy Suites in Georgetown for this dinner, the rain was pouring. Claude pulled to the front door and let me out under the cover of the building. Claude went to park the car and as he parked the rain stopped long enough for him to get inside.
The emcee for this event is always Sam Dick, the news anchor for our local CBS channel. He assured us there were tornado watches out. He also assured us that the news station knew where he was and we would have first word if anything developed that we needed to know about. Applause went up through the audience.
We made it through the weekdays of this busy week and earned the prize of a play date with our two youngest grandmonsters. Yippee!!
So Sadieville...
I'm behind...again!!! Let me being with Monday, April 18th.
Claude determined some time back that he wanted our elected officials to come to Sadieville for lunch and a tour. Monday, April 18th was the date everyone agreed on.
Claude had his dental appointment in the morning for his cleaning. When he returned home he was carrying a picture in his hand of his mouth. I did not take that as a good sign at all. We had no time to discuss it because our guests would arrive soon.
Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer, Kentucky State Representative Ryan Quarles and Scott County Magistrate Stewart Hughes arrived.
The lunch I prepared was chicken salad on croissant, fruit salad, veggies and dip and chocolate cake for dessert. We served it buffet style off the island in the kitchen.
Everyone was so relaxed. We had a lovely visit while we ate. The guys were very comfortable going back to the island for seconds. I found it very nice to have these good men in our home for a bite to eat and a bit of conversation.
When we finished lunch, Claude and the boys headed over to Sadieville. They all got in my car and he drove them around Sadieville to see the buildings we have refurbished, the historic buildings we are working on restoring, the streets that need repair, etc. Then Claude came back to the house and picked me up.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at City Hall in Sadieville. The city commission was having their monthly meeting. Since our city clerk was on vacation, I agreed to go and take the minutes for her. I typed lots of minute information on my laptop.
In the evening we caught up on poor Claude's dental cleaning visit. He had to make an appointment with an oral surgeon. That was done this week. He now is assured he has an absess and must have a root canal. Yuck!!
In the evening we left a vocal rendition of "Happy Birthday" on Jake's cell phone. This time we did a lot better than when trying to sing to other family members this year. There may be hope for us yet!!
Good, full start to the week.
Claude determined some time back that he wanted our elected officials to come to Sadieville for lunch and a tour. Monday, April 18th was the date everyone agreed on.
Claude had his dental appointment in the morning for his cleaning. When he returned home he was carrying a picture in his hand of his mouth. I did not take that as a good sign at all. We had no time to discuss it because our guests would arrive soon.
Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer, Kentucky State Representative Ryan Quarles and Scott County Magistrate Stewart Hughes arrived.
The lunch I prepared was chicken salad on croissant, fruit salad, veggies and dip and chocolate cake for dessert. We served it buffet style off the island in the kitchen.
Everyone was so relaxed. We had a lovely visit while we ate. The guys were very comfortable going back to the island for seconds. I found it very nice to have these good men in our home for a bite to eat and a bit of conversation.
When we finished lunch, Claude and the boys headed over to Sadieville. They all got in my car and he drove them around Sadieville to see the buildings we have refurbished, the historic buildings we are working on restoring, the streets that need repair, etc. Then Claude came back to the house and picked me up.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at City Hall in Sadieville. The city commission was having their monthly meeting. Since our city clerk was on vacation, I agreed to go and take the minutes for her. I typed lots of minute information on my laptop.
In the evening we caught up on poor Claude's dental cleaning visit. He had to make an appointment with an oral surgeon. That was done this week. He now is assured he has an absess and must have a root canal. Yuck!!
In the evening we left a vocal rendition of "Happy Birthday" on Jake's cell phone. This time we did a lot better than when trying to sing to other family members this year. There may be hope for us yet!!
Good, full start to the week.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Clean up, Clean up, Everybody Does His Share...
Last Saturday morning, April 16th, was Sadieville Clean Up Day. We have done this in April the last 3 years.
This year we combined the forces of the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance and the Sadieville City Commission to do the clean up, while also inviting the citizens the join us.
We were very blessed that the county sent the inmates on Friday to pick up Pike Street (Hwy 32) through Sadieville. Thank you Scott County!!
We were to begin at 9am. When Claude and I got to Main Street at 8:30am to prepare for the clean up, Detta was already there. This lady is amazing. She walked from her home on the hill cleaning up the streets of her neighborhood as she came down. That meant we only had Vine Street and the other streets on the Main Street side of Pike Street to pick up. We could do this!!
With rain clouds moving in quickly, we disperse garbage bags and reflective vests to the participants, took our assignments and the lovely sticks Claude made to pick up paper without bending over and headed out to our assigned streets. My was Vine Street.
I walked Vine Street last time we cleaned and felt it would be easy to do that one again. As I started up the hill on Vine Street it started to sprinkle. I just kept on moving up the street. The biggest item I found was a deflated basket ball. As I got over the top of the hill and started down the hill it really started to rain. I just pressed on. Rain or no, I was cleaning my assigned street.
We had two trees that fell across Hwy 32 at either end of Sadieville the day before and Claude was in the Jeep making sure all the debris was off Hwy 32. As he came back into town he saw me come down the last leg of Vine Street. He pulled up to pick me and my bag-O' Garbage up. As I climbed into his Jeep, soaked through, I just looked at my dear hubby and said, "I'm a 'y'ittle wet, Pa." He just chuckled at me.
We had some of the members of Eagle Creek Baptist Church participate this year. One of them was a little girl maybe 6 or 7 years old. I spoke to her after we were finished and told her what a great job she did and what a good thing she did by helping to clean up her town. She said, "Well...part of this belongs to my church so it is our 'responsibility'." What valuable lessons this young lady learned Saturday morning.
Sadieville's streets are picked up for this spring. Thank you to everyone who willingly participated. It was a good sense of community, even if it did rain on us!!
This year we combined the forces of the Friends of Sadieville Renaissance and the Sadieville City Commission to do the clean up, while also inviting the citizens the join us.
We were very blessed that the county sent the inmates on Friday to pick up Pike Street (Hwy 32) through Sadieville. Thank you Scott County!!
We were to begin at 9am. When Claude and I got to Main Street at 8:30am to prepare for the clean up, Detta was already there. This lady is amazing. She walked from her home on the hill cleaning up the streets of her neighborhood as she came down. That meant we only had Vine Street and the other streets on the Main Street side of Pike Street to pick up. We could do this!!
With rain clouds moving in quickly, we disperse garbage bags and reflective vests to the participants, took our assignments and the lovely sticks Claude made to pick up paper without bending over and headed out to our assigned streets. My was Vine Street.
I walked Vine Street last time we cleaned and felt it would be easy to do that one again. As I started up the hill on Vine Street it started to sprinkle. I just kept on moving up the street. The biggest item I found was a deflated basket ball. As I got over the top of the hill and started down the hill it really started to rain. I just pressed on. Rain or no, I was cleaning my assigned street.
We had two trees that fell across Hwy 32 at either end of Sadieville the day before and Claude was in the Jeep making sure all the debris was off Hwy 32. As he came back into town he saw me come down the last leg of Vine Street. He pulled up to pick me and my bag-O' Garbage up. As I climbed into his Jeep, soaked through, I just looked at my dear hubby and said, "I'm a 'y'ittle wet, Pa." He just chuckled at me.
We had some of the members of Eagle Creek Baptist Church participate this year. One of them was a little girl maybe 6 or 7 years old. I spoke to her after we were finished and told her what a great job she did and what a good thing she did by helping to clean up her town. She said, "Well...part of this belongs to my church so it is our 'responsibility'." What valuable lessons this young lady learned Saturday morning.
Sadieville's streets are picked up for this spring. Thank you to everyone who willingly participated. It was a good sense of community, even if it did rain on us!!
Toyota Stakes...
Every year Toyota, a major employer in our area, hosts the Toyota Stake during the two weeks of races at Keeneland in the spring. Claude, as Mayor of Sadieville, receives an invitation for us to attend. We enjoy this opportunity to watch the horses run those races.
This year it was a rainy day. We were very grateful to be in the Lexington Room above Keeneland's race track. It was also a bit colder than usual for this time of the year. I looked out the window at the open seating below us and marveled at those wrapped in blankets to watch the horses run. That is really no different that football fans sitting out in the snow to watch the sport they love.
We had wonderful tablemates this year. Vice Mayor of Lexington, Linda Gorton and her hubby Charlie were our tablemates. This was my first time to meet her. Claude has attended meetings and met her briefly before. She is a lovely, outgoing lady, warm and friendly. Charlie was delightful also and was more reserved and quiet. They actually reminded me a bit of Claude and I. Claude is by nature shy (some might not know that is his real personality). He, quite often, has an 'economy' with his use of words. So we fit quite nicely with these two good people.
We each get a program book with the horses, their stats and information, and instructions on how to bet. I read the information and pick my choices but never place a bet. That, it turns out, is a good thing. I clearly would NEVER win.
But I do enjoy studying that information and watching the horses run. My favorite view is of the track while watching the huge monitors out there of the horses running. You can actually look up and see the horses or you can watch the monitor to see them as well. One of the monitors has a cartoon like image that shows colored squares of where the horses are in the race. It is actually easier for me to tell where my horse is on that diagram as those squares move forward and back on the monitor.
Claude and I learned that we could pick a horse that starts well but didn't finish well at all, usually in the final couple of places. We seemed to do that consistently, even when there were only 5 horses in one race. Good thing we aren't the betting types.
It was a fun afternoon and we thank Toyota for providing us the very nice opportunity to meet new people and get to know them better and to enjoy the beauty of those well-bred horses running their races
This year it was a rainy day. We were very grateful to be in the Lexington Room above Keeneland's race track. It was also a bit colder than usual for this time of the year. I looked out the window at the open seating below us and marveled at those wrapped in blankets to watch the horses run. That is really no different that football fans sitting out in the snow to watch the sport they love.
We had wonderful tablemates this year. Vice Mayor of Lexington, Linda Gorton and her hubby Charlie were our tablemates. This was my first time to meet her. Claude has attended meetings and met her briefly before. She is a lovely, outgoing lady, warm and friendly. Charlie was delightful also and was more reserved and quiet. They actually reminded me a bit of Claude and I. Claude is by nature shy (some might not know that is his real personality). He, quite often, has an 'economy' with his use of words. So we fit quite nicely with these two good people.
We each get a program book with the horses, their stats and information, and instructions on how to bet. I read the information and pick my choices but never place a bet. That, it turns out, is a good thing. I clearly would NEVER win.
But I do enjoy studying that information and watching the horses run. My favorite view is of the track while watching the huge monitors out there of the horses running. You can actually look up and see the horses or you can watch the monitor to see them as well. One of the monitors has a cartoon like image that shows colored squares of where the horses are in the race. It is actually easier for me to tell where my horse is on that diagram as those squares move forward and back on the monitor.
Claude and I learned that we could pick a horse that starts well but didn't finish well at all, usually in the final couple of places. We seemed to do that consistently, even when there were only 5 horses in one race. Good thing we aren't the betting types.
It was a fun afternoon and we thank Toyota for providing us the very nice opportunity to meet new people and get to know them better and to enjoy the beauty of those well-bred horses running their races
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Night About the Museum...
Georgetown & Scott County have a museum located in Georgetown. It is in the old Post Office building on Main Street. Each year they have a dinner for the members and board of directors and officers. We attended this year's dinner last Friday, April 15, 2011, held at Georgetown College Leadership and Conference Center.
The same caterer usually provides the food when you attend a dinner at this conference center. It is alway good home cookin'. This year we had salads, roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans (love these, they are always a little sweet) and cheese cake for dessert. This is the only caterer in Georgetown and they do a really good job.
Seated at our table for dinner and the program were the Suffoletta's (they own the furniture store in town), Sue Toncray (she is widow who owns property in Sadieville and her husband was a founder of this museum), Betty Lou Graves (she plays lovely piano music while we arrive and mingle) and another couple (I can't remember their names). These were delightful dinner companions and we had fun conversation.
The Annual Meeting followed the dinner. The new officers were introduced and the new board members were introduced. Claude is now a member of the board of directors for the museum.
Then the program was introduced by Joe P. Rhinhart. He sat at our table last year and is a fun character. The program focuses each year on something about Kentucky. This year Joe arranged a special guest speaker, Nick Clooney.
If that name sounds familiar, it is because he is the brother of Rosemary and Betty Clooney and the father of George Clooney. His assigned topic was the childhood of himself, Rosemary and Betty before anyone was famous.
They all grew up singing together from the time they were little bitty kids. Nick freely admits that Betty and Rosemary were the world class singers. He can sing well enough but he was never in the world class catagory that Betty and Rosemary were. His life led him to the broadcast business. He has a wonderful speaking voice and I could easily see where it would be great for the broadcast field.
He spoke of their grandfather who was a true character and touched their lives in a profound way. One of the stories he told use was how his grandfather took them to the river. They are from Maysville, Kentucky along the Ohio River. He had the three kids put their hands in the river and feel the water with their hands. Then he told them how the water that touched they hands would take a part of them down the river, eventually to the ocean and around the world. These are my words but his intent. Then he told them to always remember where their hands went into the water. Like...remember where you came from, stay grounded and remember you are a part of the world. It was a tender story and he ended his remarks with the comment "Remember where each of you put your hands in the water."
I was impressed with his love of his sisters. Betty passed away in her forties. He assured us her voice was always a great as Rosemary. He also stated that as long as he lived and was able, if anyone asked him to speak about Rosemary, he would do so to honor her. I was impressed with the true love and care he had for both his sisters. No jealousy or envy, just pure love and care.
I could have listened to his stories for a lot longer.
The final portion of the program was a vocalist, June Williams, singing some of the most popular of Rosemary Clooney's well known hits. A couple we were asked to join her in. I love music and found this little program a total surprise and an absolutelyy delightful evening.
The same caterer usually provides the food when you attend a dinner at this conference center. It is alway good home cookin'. This year we had salads, roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans (love these, they are always a little sweet) and cheese cake for dessert. This is the only caterer in Georgetown and they do a really good job.
Seated at our table for dinner and the program were the Suffoletta's (they own the furniture store in town), Sue Toncray (she is widow who owns property in Sadieville and her husband was a founder of this museum), Betty Lou Graves (she plays lovely piano music while we arrive and mingle) and another couple (I can't remember their names). These were delightful dinner companions and we had fun conversation.
The Annual Meeting followed the dinner. The new officers were introduced and the new board members were introduced. Claude is now a member of the board of directors for the museum.
Then the program was introduced by Joe P. Rhinhart. He sat at our table last year and is a fun character. The program focuses each year on something about Kentucky. This year Joe arranged a special guest speaker, Nick Clooney.
If that name sounds familiar, it is because he is the brother of Rosemary and Betty Clooney and the father of George Clooney. His assigned topic was the childhood of himself, Rosemary and Betty before anyone was famous.
They all grew up singing together from the time they were little bitty kids. Nick freely admits that Betty and Rosemary were the world class singers. He can sing well enough but he was never in the world class catagory that Betty and Rosemary were. His life led him to the broadcast business. He has a wonderful speaking voice and I could easily see where it would be great for the broadcast field.
He spoke of their grandfather who was a true character and touched their lives in a profound way. One of the stories he told use was how his grandfather took them to the river. They are from Maysville, Kentucky along the Ohio River. He had the three kids put their hands in the river and feel the water with their hands. Then he told them how the water that touched they hands would take a part of them down the river, eventually to the ocean and around the world. These are my words but his intent. Then he told them to always remember where their hands went into the water. Like...remember where you came from, stay grounded and remember you are a part of the world. It was a tender story and he ended his remarks with the comment "Remember where each of you put your hands in the water."
I was impressed with his love of his sisters. Betty passed away in her forties. He assured us her voice was always a great as Rosemary. He also stated that as long as he lived and was able, if anyone asked him to speak about Rosemary, he would do so to honor her. I was impressed with the true love and care he had for both his sisters. No jealousy or envy, just pure love and care.
I could have listened to his stories for a lot longer.
The final portion of the program was a vocalist, June Williams, singing some of the most popular of Rosemary Clooney's well known hits. A couple we were asked to join her in. I love music and found this little program a total surprise and an absolutelyy delightful evening.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
And This Little Chair Was Just Right...
Recognize that line? It is from Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The other night Claude and I were watching Frasier re-runs on TV. One of the episodes was Frasier buying his father a beautiful recliner to replace the cloth one patched with duct tape that his father brought when he came to live in Frasier's expensively decorated apartment. Frasier's dad was grateful for the effort but really wanted his old, worn out lounge chair. He listed all the memories he had while sitting in that chair.
This cause me brain to go into memory overdrive. I looked at my hubby stretched out on the sofa and me curled up on the loveseat feverishly crocheting while we watched TV at the end of a very long day. Then I remembered...
During our 41 years of wedded bliss Claude and I have each purchased for the other a chair as a gift. I reflected on those two chairs and how they really fit our personalities. Claude and I are each very different people. Through the years we have learned that our differences add strength to the other person. These two chairs really illustrate those differences in our personalities.
I've blogged before about the rocking chairs given to me and to our daughters at the birth of our children. Therefore, this blog will not contain those stories. Instead, I'm going to focus on other chairs in our life starting with these 'chair gifts'.
Claude gave me my chair years before I gave him a chair. It is a beautiful wingback chair that has always sat in our bedroom. I just loved the look of a wingback chair. Always have and always will. They are usually not the most comfortable chair and, to me at least, present a more formal feel. In our lives I believe I'm probably the more strict one. More prone to be careful about what I do and say and the mannerisms I choose to use.
The chair I gave Claude is an overstuffed brown leather chair with a big automan.
Years ago Claude took me for a medical procedure. It was an outpatient thing. When we arrived, the doctors office was 1 1/2 hours behind schedule. We curled up on a big, brown overstuffed leather love seat and promptly feel sound asleep. We awoke when they told us it was time for me to go back for the procedure. It was some of the best sleep I've ever gotten in my life. Claude felt the same way.
Father's Day rolled around and I told Claude he needed a chair like that for his Father's Day present. I also told him he needed to help me pick it out so it fit just right. We found one and have enjoyed it to this day. It sits in our basement with an enormous afghan I crocheted for Claude across the automan. It is just a truly comfortable chair to snuggle into.
My hubby is a comfortable kind of guy. He is much more laid back about life than I am and he does love to take naps. He is also a big guy.
I really love our chairs and how they fit our personalities. I never thought of that until the Frasier episode. But it is just logical, really, since we bought them for a gift that fit each others likes.
Then, my brain kept up its thinking about chairs in our lives. I thought of a few other chairs that touched my life.
When I was a little girl, before I even started to school, we lived in DeRidder, Louisiana. My parents lived in a white house and down the street lived Mr. Willy. He loved to make things out of wood. He made us a beautiful rocking horse and two little rocking chairs. One rocking chair was smaller and light in color. The other rocking chair was a little larger but still very kid-sized and was darker in color. Those were wonderful rocking chairs.
When Claude went to Utah to get married, he and I walked down the road to his grandmother's home. Claude grew up out in the country. There was an acre field between his parent's home and his Gramma Chris' home. I entered Gramma Chris' home for the first time with my soon-to-be hubby. Gramma Chris was sitting in a wonderful chair. She only walked with a cane and didn't stand. She held out her hands as she sat in that chair and called me over. She took my face in her hands and gave me a sweet kiss. Claude told me before we left Louisiana to get married that this was how Gramma Chris would greet me. He was exactly right.
The chair Gramma Chris was sitting in was made for her by her hubby. It is very, very study and has a neat feature. The arm rests extended out the back of the chair. Each arm has three knotches cut out of the back behind the back of the chair. There is a wood piece that fits across the back of the chair and rests in a set of the notches. By moving this wood piece farther back the chair can actually recline a little with each moving of the wood. I'm not sure that describes it well, but it is a neat feature of this chair so lovingly made for Ruby by Earl.
While we lived in Maryland, Bonnie and Evan, Claude's parents determined we should have this family heirloom. They created a crate and found a way to have it shipped from Utah to Maryland. It sat in our family room in Maryland and not sits in Claude's office. I love this sturdy chair and I'm particularly happy it is where Claude sees and enjoys it every day of his life.
There is another chair in our home that has a lot of sentimental value. This chair belonged to my mother, Mimi. She got it from her mother, Gramma Fisch. We had it in Mimi and Papa's apartment when they first moved here. However, Mimi was not using it properly with her Alzheimers and we traded it for a sturdy chair we had in our home. We brought Mimi's rocking chair to our home for safe keeping. It had a cracked leg that Mimi and wrapped with a strip of old fabric to try and secure. Claude took the legs apart and fixed a new piece for the broken one, stained the chair, and recovered the seat. It now sits in our guest bedroom.
The last chair I have a picture of is a chair that is currently in Papa's apartment.
Years ago Papa's career was driving long haul moving vans. He worked for Mayflower Van Lines first. He had his girls nicknames painted on the cab of his truck: Sana Dee (Sandra Darlene), Doogie (Arliss June) and Neffie (Laurel Lyneth). Later he drove for United Van Lines.
On one of his runs to the New England area, the people were going to leave a chair Papa knew his wife would love. They gave it to Papa and he carefully brought in back to Louisiana as he made moving runs. Mimi did love the chair, she took it apart and reupholstered it.
Junie, Neffie and I all loved this chair. It is a very comfortable chair and I think it reminds of us that part of our lives when Papa was gone a lot of the time.
Mimi actually put up a huge map of the continental United States on the wall of the dining room. Then she got a ball of yarn and some nails. Every destination Papa was assigned she would note with a nail in that map. Then she would take the yarn from his last stop and pull it to the newest nail and wrap it around that new nail. The end result was a map showing where our father was going and where he had traveled. It was a wonderful visual way to keep our family together even with many miles between us.
I do remember one other funny chair story. While I do not have a picture of this chair, I do have its history. Claude and I finally were able to purchase our own little dinette set. We lived in a 2-bedroom apartment in Sunnymead, California. This cute little dinette had a white table top on a yellow metal pedestal stand. It had 8 sides to the top. There were 4 bright yellow naugahide chairs that swiveled on their pedestals for this table. I loved this first little dinette set of ours.
One day my hubby was kneeling in the seat of one of these chair facing the back of the chair. He determined he would spin while in this position. Now, he was also talking on the phone at the time. We didn't have cordless phones in those days. This phone was a wall phone. As Claude spun the chair went out of control, Claude went out of control, I started to laugh as they spun around and separated company. Claude left the chair and rolled onto the floor. During all of this hilarity he never missed a bit of his phone conversation. The person on the other end had no idea what was happening in front of me. I can still see it all clearly today.
So there you have it. A bit of my personal history in chair-ese.
The other night Claude and I were watching Frasier re-runs on TV. One of the episodes was Frasier buying his father a beautiful recliner to replace the cloth one patched with duct tape that his father brought when he came to live in Frasier's expensively decorated apartment. Frasier's dad was grateful for the effort but really wanted his old, worn out lounge chair. He listed all the memories he had while sitting in that chair.
This cause me brain to go into memory overdrive. I looked at my hubby stretched out on the sofa and me curled up on the loveseat feverishly crocheting while we watched TV at the end of a very long day. Then I remembered...
During our 41 years of wedded bliss Claude and I have each purchased for the other a chair as a gift. I reflected on those two chairs and how they really fit our personalities. Claude and I are each very different people. Through the years we have learned that our differences add strength to the other person. These two chairs really illustrate those differences in our personalities.
I've blogged before about the rocking chairs given to me and to our daughters at the birth of our children. Therefore, this blog will not contain those stories. Instead, I'm going to focus on other chairs in our life starting with these 'chair gifts'.
Claude gave me my chair years before I gave him a chair. It is a beautiful wingback chair that has always sat in our bedroom. I just loved the look of a wingback chair. Always have and always will. They are usually not the most comfortable chair and, to me at least, present a more formal feel. In our lives I believe I'm probably the more strict one. More prone to be careful about what I do and say and the mannerisms I choose to use.
Years ago Claude took me for a medical procedure. It was an outpatient thing. When we arrived, the doctors office was 1 1/2 hours behind schedule. We curled up on a big, brown overstuffed leather love seat and promptly feel sound asleep. We awoke when they told us it was time for me to go back for the procedure. It was some of the best sleep I've ever gotten in my life. Claude felt the same way.
Father's Day rolled around and I told Claude he needed a chair like that for his Father's Day present. I also told him he needed to help me pick it out so it fit just right. We found one and have enjoyed it to this day. It sits in our basement with an enormous afghan I crocheted for Claude across the automan. It is just a truly comfortable chair to snuggle into.
My hubby is a comfortable kind of guy. He is much more laid back about life than I am and he does love to take naps. He is also a big guy.
I really love our chairs and how they fit our personalities. I never thought of that until the Frasier episode. But it is just logical, really, since we bought them for a gift that fit each others likes.
Then, my brain kept up its thinking about chairs in our lives. I thought of a few other chairs that touched my life.
When I was a little girl, before I even started to school, we lived in DeRidder, Louisiana. My parents lived in a white house and down the street lived Mr. Willy. He loved to make things out of wood. He made us a beautiful rocking horse and two little rocking chairs. One rocking chair was smaller and light in color. The other rocking chair was a little larger but still very kid-sized and was darker in color. Those were wonderful rocking chairs.
When Claude went to Utah to get married, he and I walked down the road to his grandmother's home. Claude grew up out in the country. There was an acre field between his parent's home and his Gramma Chris' home. I entered Gramma Chris' home for the first time with my soon-to-be hubby. Gramma Chris was sitting in a wonderful chair. She only walked with a cane and didn't stand. She held out her hands as she sat in that chair and called me over. She took my face in her hands and gave me a sweet kiss. Claude told me before we left Louisiana to get married that this was how Gramma Chris would greet me. He was exactly right.
The chair Gramma Chris was sitting in was made for her by her hubby. It is very, very study and has a neat feature. The arm rests extended out the back of the chair. Each arm has three knotches cut out of the back behind the back of the chair. There is a wood piece that fits across the back of the chair and rests in a set of the notches. By moving this wood piece farther back the chair can actually recline a little with each moving of the wood. I'm not sure that describes it well, but it is a neat feature of this chair so lovingly made for Ruby by Earl.
While we lived in Maryland, Bonnie and Evan, Claude's parents determined we should have this family heirloom. They created a crate and found a way to have it shipped from Utah to Maryland. It sat in our family room in Maryland and not sits in Claude's office. I love this sturdy chair and I'm particularly happy it is where Claude sees and enjoys it every day of his life.
Years ago Papa's career was driving long haul moving vans. He worked for Mayflower Van Lines first. He had his girls nicknames painted on the cab of his truck: Sana Dee (Sandra Darlene), Doogie (Arliss June) and Neffie (Laurel Lyneth). Later he drove for United Van Lines.
On one of his runs to the New England area, the people were going to leave a chair Papa knew his wife would love. They gave it to Papa and he carefully brought in back to Louisiana as he made moving runs. Mimi did love the chair, she took it apart and reupholstered it.
Junie, Neffie and I all loved this chair. It is a very comfortable chair and I think it reminds of us that part of our lives when Papa was gone a lot of the time.
Mimi actually put up a huge map of the continental United States on the wall of the dining room. Then she got a ball of yarn and some nails. Every destination Papa was assigned she would note with a nail in that map. Then she would take the yarn from his last stop and pull it to the newest nail and wrap it around that new nail. The end result was a map showing where our father was going and where he had traveled. It was a wonderful visual way to keep our family together even with many miles between us.
One day my hubby was kneeling in the seat of one of these chair facing the back of the chair. He determined he would spin while in this position. Now, he was also talking on the phone at the time. We didn't have cordless phones in those days. This phone was a wall phone. As Claude spun the chair went out of control, Claude went out of control, I started to laugh as they spun around and separated company. Claude left the chair and rolled onto the floor. During all of this hilarity he never missed a bit of his phone conversation. The person on the other end had no idea what was happening in front of me. I can still see it all clearly today.
So there you have it. A bit of my personal history in chair-ese.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Ma's Gift...
Last year the Mini-Marx's gave me a beautiful handcrafted flower pot for my birthday. They painted it purple, my favorite color, and put their hand prints on the outside with a bit more art.
This winter I used it to hold things through the Christmas season.
This spring I wanted to find a nice houseplant and use my beautiful container for its real purpose. Today I accomplished that goal. While at Lowe's this morning, I found the perfect plant and brought it home.
Here are some pictures of my beautiful plant in its lovely container. Thanks Marx family!!
This winter I used it to hold things through the Christmas season.
This spring I wanted to find a nice houseplant and use my beautiful container for its real purpose. Today I accomplished that goal. While at Lowe's this morning, I found the perfect plant and brought it home.
Here are some pictures of my beautiful plant in its lovely container. Thanks Marx family!!
Mother Dear I Love You So....
Mother dear I love you so
Your happy smiling face
Is such a joy to look at
You make the nursing home a lovely place.
These are the words to a very old Primary song at Church. I've taken a little liberty with the words on the last line. But I heard this in my head to day and wanted to start this entry with the delightful song performed many times for Mother's Day by the Primary children.
I've mentioned often that my mother has Alzheimer's. Today I went to the nursing home to spend time with her while Claude had a meeting with Judge Lusby.
Claude took me to DQ first for a biscuits and gravy breakfast. Yum!! Then he dropped me off and the nursing home while he attended his meeting and picked up his prescription.
I found my mom in her bed but awake. The CNA was had just finished working with her. They keep her bed as low to the floor as they can get it just in case she rolls then she won't fall very far.
I walked around the end of her bed and she looked up and made eye contact and grinned. Mom is in the final stages of Alzheimer's and eye contact is not something we get all the time. It is a delight when it happens.
I sat down and gave mom kisses. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and grinned again. She doesn't ever use our names. But today, it was a definite, she knew she had a visitor she wanted to see and she was happy I was there. This kind of welcome does not happen a lot anymore and it brought joy to my heart.
The CNA raised mom's bed as high as it would go and asked me to be sure I put it back to the ground if I left her.
I sat on the side of mom's bed and took her thin hands in mine. She almost squeezed them.
Then she started talking. Now, talking at this stage of her Alzheimer's journey is most often gibberish with an occasional 'yes' or 'no' being clear. Today, my mom wanted to talk. And she talked a lot.
A week ago when I was with her she was in the multi-purpose room. That day she held my hand so tight. It was like she needed to be close to me and to tell me something. Her vocabulary that day was really just gibberish. I left aching, knowing she wanted and needed me to understand something and I just couldn't get it.
Today she would get the first 2 or 3 words out clearly and then go to gibberish. I would repeat the words and her eyes would light up. I'm not sure what she was telling me about but our conversation today was more satisfying for her than the one a week ago.
At one point she was talking loudly and then she began to whisper, just like she was telling me a secret. I couldn't believe it. I leaned closer to be a part of whatever her secret was and she continued to whisper to me. Such girl talk in Alzheimer fashion.
As I felt the closeness with her today that I remember as a young girl, I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I really didn't want to cry in front of mom. But sometimes tears just come for many different reasons. These were tears of joy and of remembering and of longing to have what I won't have with mom until after our earth lives are complete.
I reached for my purse with my free hand and found a tissue. I dabbed my eyes and then looked at mom. Bless her 'little pea pickin' heart'...she had a look of motherly concern. I'm telling you it was like we were both on the same wave length at minimum and really communicating at maximum. It was just profound and wonderful.
I reached up to touch her soft face and rub her cheek. As my fingers came down her cheek I felt moisture. There was a tear coming from her eye. Oh my, I welled up with tears again as we shared a tender moment, mother and daughter.
It is not often I feel like the daughter in this situation. I usually feel like I am a 60 year old mother of an 80 year old daughter. Today...life was back like it is supposed to be and I was undeniably her daughter again.
I was wearing a black t-shirt. One Alzheimer's book I read explained that perception is often very different for someone with Alzheimer's. For instance, if you have a dark rug on the floor, they perceive it as a hole and will not step on it. I was wondering how mom was perceiving my black t-shirt. Then I realized I was wearing a gold chain necklace. My chains are always at least 30 inches long so it was hanging down the front of my black t-shirt and I think she was seeing it. I took the necklace chain in my hand and put it in mom's hand. She seemed to like the difference in the feel and played with it for some time. Her coordination is not good, very shaky. But she liked touching my t-shirt and necklace and chattering on.
Eventually she wore herself completely out. The CNA came in to take the braces off her legs. This not a fun experience for mom. So I held her hands so the CNA could get the braces off. These braces are to try and keep her legs extended as long as possible. Mom is starting to curl up with muscles and ligaments that don't get used.
When the CNA left, I pulled the covers up to mom's chin and sat in the chair by her bed, pulled out my Ensign (Church magazine) and read two articles to her while I patted her head. She fell asleep.
I used the rest of my visit to coordinate her clothes and straighten the socks in her drawer.
It was a most pleasant visit today. I felt strong connections that give me strength as we continue our Alzheimer journey. Today was definitely another 'tender mercy' from a loving Heavenly Father.
This afternoon I also read the next update from Alan Arnette. He is a climber who is raising money for Alzheimer's research by climbing mountains, really BIG mountains. Right now he is climbing Mt. Everest. Alan's mother died of Alzheimer's in 2009. His experience is amazing and provides a place to comment. I'm hoping the link below will show up when I post this. It is a very worthwhile cause and his climbs are a powerful experience to enjoy via his Blog. I thank my son, Jacob, for sharing his discovery of Alan Arnette with me.
http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Under the Awning...
Yesterday was Wednesday, April 6th. I needed to be in Georgetown three different times during the day. With gas prices soaring and nearing the $4.00 per gallon mark, I really didn't want to drive into Georgetown and home three times. Added to this gasoline conservation concern was the fact that Claude had to be in Georgetown one time totally different than my three times.
After careful consideration, I determined I would carry all possibilities of things I could do between appointments and fill my day living out of the little red Buick. I got up early and prepared my bags of possibilities, literally, and loaded my car. It felt something akin to going on a short trip with luggage.
My first meeting was at Frisch's Big Boy. It was the day for my monthly Countryside Homemakers meeting. It was to have been at Anne's home here in Sadieville. She fell ill and didn't feel she could handle readying her home and preparing the main course for our little group. When these times come, we use Frisch's as our backup location.
We had a great meeting and lunch. I carried my bag of embroidery thread to this meeting. We were to have had a craft on cross-stitch and were to bring our embroidery thread. Since the meeting was in the restaurant, we didn't do the craft. Back out to the car went that bag. I do enjoy meeting with these ladies. The lessons are always about something of interest to us and I usually learn a thing or two. The conversations can be fun and entertaining. It's just nice to be out and about with other ladies.
This finished about noon and my next appointment was with Papa at the nursing home at 3:30pm. I had quite a bit of time to fill. I really needed to do some more reading and preparing for my Sunday School lesson this week. If I went to Papa's apartment it would be a might too loud to concentrate. Ah-hah...the perfect plan.
I drove to Sonic, pulled up under their awning at the farthest away and least used spot, pressed the button and ordered a large Dr. Pepper. The nice young man came to my window with my purchase. I asked him if I could sit at this location for a LONG time and study my Sunday School lesson. He assured me that would be fine and he would even bring me refills for my Dr. Pepper as I needed them. I assured him one large Dr. Pepper a day was my limit.
I rolled down my windows to let a bit of a breeze through, pushed my the drivers seat as far as it would go, pulled out my next bag with my Sunday School materials and scriptures and put them on the passenger seat.
For the next 3 hours and 15 minutes I enjoyed that nice breeze, reading my scriptures, making some notes, reading Talmage's book "Jesus the Christ" and pondering what I was reading. It was just so very pleasant that the time passed very quickly.
I had worried about how I was going to get this bit of study time. My first plan was to try the library. But I have to say that my 'Sonic Office' was even better. I still have to make a lesson plan and get my visuals together. But sitting there in the air and studying was, as Kim Mansfield used to say to us, "a slice of heaven".
The young boy came to my window two times during those 3 hours and 15 minutes to see if I wanted a refill or anything else. I assured him each time I was fine.
Thanks Sonic for being such a gracious host in my hours of need. I'll keep you in mind next time I need a quiet spot for a bit of time.
My third bag was my craft bag to take into the nursing home. I crocheted between Papa and I singing while Mimi enjoyed the straps on my purse (maybe that could be counted as another bag).
After the nursing home I gave a call to the Sadieville reporter for the Georgetown News-Graphic. She is doing a report about Sadieville's clean-up day this month and needed some information. Then I used Papa's computer to work on a possible Groupon need.
Claude picked me up at 6pm at Papa's apartment. We left my car there and Claude took me to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's followed by a drive into Lexington to see Menopause the Musical.
It was a full day. All bags were used to some extent. Lots was accomplished and I was quite ready for a good night's rest.
After careful consideration, I determined I would carry all possibilities of things I could do between appointments and fill my day living out of the little red Buick. I got up early and prepared my bags of possibilities, literally, and loaded my car. It felt something akin to going on a short trip with luggage.
My first meeting was at Frisch's Big Boy. It was the day for my monthly Countryside Homemakers meeting. It was to have been at Anne's home here in Sadieville. She fell ill and didn't feel she could handle readying her home and preparing the main course for our little group. When these times come, we use Frisch's as our backup location.
We had a great meeting and lunch. I carried my bag of embroidery thread to this meeting. We were to have had a craft on cross-stitch and were to bring our embroidery thread. Since the meeting was in the restaurant, we didn't do the craft. Back out to the car went that bag. I do enjoy meeting with these ladies. The lessons are always about something of interest to us and I usually learn a thing or two. The conversations can be fun and entertaining. It's just nice to be out and about with other ladies.
This finished about noon and my next appointment was with Papa at the nursing home at 3:30pm. I had quite a bit of time to fill. I really needed to do some more reading and preparing for my Sunday School lesson this week. If I went to Papa's apartment it would be a might too loud to concentrate. Ah-hah...the perfect plan.
I drove to Sonic, pulled up under their awning at the farthest away and least used spot, pressed the button and ordered a large Dr. Pepper. The nice young man came to my window with my purchase. I asked him if I could sit at this location for a LONG time and study my Sunday School lesson. He assured me that would be fine and he would even bring me refills for my Dr. Pepper as I needed them. I assured him one large Dr. Pepper a day was my limit.
I rolled down my windows to let a bit of a breeze through, pushed my the drivers seat as far as it would go, pulled out my next bag with my Sunday School materials and scriptures and put them on the passenger seat.
For the next 3 hours and 15 minutes I enjoyed that nice breeze, reading my scriptures, making some notes, reading Talmage's book "Jesus the Christ" and pondering what I was reading. It was just so very pleasant that the time passed very quickly.
I had worried about how I was going to get this bit of study time. My first plan was to try the library. But I have to say that my 'Sonic Office' was even better. I still have to make a lesson plan and get my visuals together. But sitting there in the air and studying was, as Kim Mansfield used to say to us, "a slice of heaven".
The young boy came to my window two times during those 3 hours and 15 minutes to see if I wanted a refill or anything else. I assured him each time I was fine.
Thanks Sonic for being such a gracious host in my hours of need. I'll keep you in mind next time I need a quiet spot for a bit of time.
My third bag was my craft bag to take into the nursing home. I crocheted between Papa and I singing while Mimi enjoyed the straps on my purse (maybe that could be counted as another bag).
After the nursing home I gave a call to the Sadieville reporter for the Georgetown News-Graphic. She is doing a report about Sadieville's clean-up day this month and needed some information. Then I used Papa's computer to work on a possible Groupon need.
Claude picked me up at 6pm at Papa's apartment. We left my car there and Claude took me to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's followed by a drive into Lexington to see Menopause the Musical.
It was a full day. All bags were used to some extent. Lots was accomplished and I was quite ready for a good night's rest.
Menopause...
I was beginning to feel those lovely experiences called 'hot flashes' in 1999 and 2000. I knew it was about time for the next phase of my 'femininity' to manifest itself in all its splendor.
February 16, 2000 I culminated some medical issues with a complete hysterectomy. After the surgery, I remember laying in the hospital bed and those little 'hot flashes' I had been experiences were now full blown heat waves. I was miserable. It amazed me how quickly that happened. The evening after my surgery, my doctor came to the room to see how I was doing. I told him I really needed something to get rid or lessen these hot flashes. He understood, didn't seem surprise and the speed and ferocity with which they came, and immediately prescribed Premarin.
I loved these little pills. I do not take medicine unless it is really, really needed. I have no daily medicines I take now except my vitamin, calcium and a Tums each night to complete my calcium for the day and help with a reflux issue inherited from my father's genes. However, there are times when you really, really need to take the meds and Premarin became a dear friend. With it...no hot flashes. I was happy.
The end of 2002 and beginning of 2003 there were lots of news stories about the effects of women taking hormone replacements resulting experiencing an increase in breast cancer. I looked at my Premarin and determined I would rather 'flash' than increase my risk for breast cancer. Premarin and I parted ways. The 'flashes' returned with a vengence.
Two months later in January 2003 during my routine mammogram, a little mass was found that was a concern. I was sent immediately to get an ultrasound. This confirmed the need to have this little tiny mass removed. Yuck!!!
I visited the surgeon, he explained what would happen, and we scheduled the surgery.
February 26, 2003, I went to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland for my surgery. They did another mammogram, determined where the mass was and placed a needle there. Leaving the needle in, they did another mammogram, left me in the mammogram device while they read the first mammogram, came back, moved the needle and took another mammogram. It was less that pleasant but the purpose was to have an exact location of where to cut that mass out and be sure they got everything in one surgery. Well worth the pain I assure you.
My lobular neoplasia was gone. They had clean margins after the surgery. However, to be extra sure I was prescribed Tamoxifin for the next 5 years. Tamoxifin helps to assure you are free of those bad cells which is good. However, not so good is the fact it intensifies your hot flashes and causes you to gain weight. Oh joy!!!
My belief, for the next 5 years, was that when I completed my obedient taking of Tamoxifin, that drug would eventually leave my system and I would be past the hot flash stages of my feminine journey. Wrong!!!
March 14, 2008 was the last day I took Tamoxifin. I had that date emblazoned in my memory and was anticipating the cessation of hot flashes, the stopping of easy weight gain, and movin' on with my life. I put that date in my Palm Pilot so I would and could rejoice when it arrived.
It arrived. I rejoiced. I stopped taking Tamoxifin. The hot flashes have continued to this day.
Then I heard about the interestingly named play..."Menopause the Musical". I just remember talking to someone, can't remember who, and they saw the play and loved it.
When we went to Las Vegas in January of this year, it was playing at one of the hotels in Vegas. We opted to see other shows.
When we got home, I got an eMail from the Lexington Opera House with listings of upcoming shows with the opportunity to purchase tickets before actual sales opened to the public. To my surprise "Menopause the Musical" was on the list.
I hurried upstairs and shared with Claude my desire to see this play and have him accompany me...hmmmm... He agreed and I hurried downstairs to purchase tickets.
Last night we went to see "Menopause the Musical". Claude was a good sport being there. There were other men, but not many.
I laughed a lot. So many aspects of this are now or have been a part of my progression through this phase of being a female. It was great to poke fun and find humor in those things that can be a struggle. It was great to know other women go through the same steps you are going through. It was great to all join in the humor one finds in looking back at those little trials that make up the menopause experience.
The four ladies that make up this cast were clearly comfortable with this point in their own personal lives. Which put all of us at ease with the play. The music was great music that we had loved years ago and now had lyrics put to it to tell the story. Stage set up was simple and added to and did not detract from these four great women performing.
I'm very happy I saw this fun play. I'm grateful my hubby went with me. And I truly look forward to the day when there are no more hot flashes!!!
February 16, 2000 I culminated some medical issues with a complete hysterectomy. After the surgery, I remember laying in the hospital bed and those little 'hot flashes' I had been experiences were now full blown heat waves. I was miserable. It amazed me how quickly that happened. The evening after my surgery, my doctor came to the room to see how I was doing. I told him I really needed something to get rid or lessen these hot flashes. He understood, didn't seem surprise and the speed and ferocity with which they came, and immediately prescribed Premarin.
I loved these little pills. I do not take medicine unless it is really, really needed. I have no daily medicines I take now except my vitamin, calcium and a Tums each night to complete my calcium for the day and help with a reflux issue inherited from my father's genes. However, there are times when you really, really need to take the meds and Premarin became a dear friend. With it...no hot flashes. I was happy.
The end of 2002 and beginning of 2003 there were lots of news stories about the effects of women taking hormone replacements resulting experiencing an increase in breast cancer. I looked at my Premarin and determined I would rather 'flash' than increase my risk for breast cancer. Premarin and I parted ways. The 'flashes' returned with a vengence.
Two months later in January 2003 during my routine mammogram, a little mass was found that was a concern. I was sent immediately to get an ultrasound. This confirmed the need to have this little tiny mass removed. Yuck!!!
I visited the surgeon, he explained what would happen, and we scheduled the surgery.
February 26, 2003, I went to Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville, Maryland for my surgery. They did another mammogram, determined where the mass was and placed a needle there. Leaving the needle in, they did another mammogram, left me in the mammogram device while they read the first mammogram, came back, moved the needle and took another mammogram. It was less that pleasant but the purpose was to have an exact location of where to cut that mass out and be sure they got everything in one surgery. Well worth the pain I assure you.
My lobular neoplasia was gone. They had clean margins after the surgery. However, to be extra sure I was prescribed Tamoxifin for the next 5 years. Tamoxifin helps to assure you are free of those bad cells which is good. However, not so good is the fact it intensifies your hot flashes and causes you to gain weight. Oh joy!!!
My belief, for the next 5 years, was that when I completed my obedient taking of Tamoxifin, that drug would eventually leave my system and I would be past the hot flash stages of my feminine journey. Wrong!!!
March 14, 2008 was the last day I took Tamoxifin. I had that date emblazoned in my memory and was anticipating the cessation of hot flashes, the stopping of easy weight gain, and movin' on with my life. I put that date in my Palm Pilot so I would and could rejoice when it arrived.
It arrived. I rejoiced. I stopped taking Tamoxifin. The hot flashes have continued to this day.
Then I heard about the interestingly named play..."Menopause the Musical". I just remember talking to someone, can't remember who, and they saw the play and loved it.
When we went to Las Vegas in January of this year, it was playing at one of the hotels in Vegas. We opted to see other shows.
When we got home, I got an eMail from the Lexington Opera House with listings of upcoming shows with the opportunity to purchase tickets before actual sales opened to the public. To my surprise "Menopause the Musical" was on the list.
I hurried upstairs and shared with Claude my desire to see this play and have him accompany me...hmmmm... He agreed and I hurried downstairs to purchase tickets.
Last night we went to see "Menopause the Musical". Claude was a good sport being there. There were other men, but not many.
I laughed a lot. So many aspects of this are now or have been a part of my progression through this phase of being a female. It was great to poke fun and find humor in those things that can be a struggle. It was great to know other women go through the same steps you are going through. It was great to all join in the humor one finds in looking back at those little trials that make up the menopause experience.
The four ladies that make up this cast were clearly comfortable with this point in their own personal lives. Which put all of us at ease with the play. The music was great music that we had loved years ago and now had lyrics put to it to tell the story. Stage set up was simple and added to and did not detract from these four great women performing.
I'm very happy I saw this fun play. I'm grateful my hubby went with me. And I truly look forward to the day when there are no more hot flashes!!!
General Conference...
The blessing of my being ill last weekend was that I planned to be home all weekend anyway.
Twice each year we have General Conference for our Church meetings. This conference is held in Salt Lake City. There are five session. If you were on Mountain Standard Time they would be at 10am and 2pm for everyone with an evening session at 6pm for the Priesthood (all the boys and men). Then Sunday there would be 10am and 2pm sessions for everyone. These conferences are always held the 1st weekend in April and October. Often Easter falls that first weekend in April. I've wondered if the community wonders why in the world there is no big Church service going on Easter in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the land. Really, we are attending Church, just in our own homes and for a lot more hours than just the Sunday meeting schedule.
As a child, I can remember being able to finally receive the broadcast over the radio. Our family would gather in the living room around the radio and listen to any session we were able to get. Then we would write letters to the radio stations so they knew there were people listening to these broadcasts and they might feel inclined to broadcast again the next time we had General Conference. You often didn't know until right close to the time of General Conference is a radio station in our area would be broadcasting conference.
Then they were able to send a 'feed' to the meetinghouses and we could go there to actually see, on a movie screen at the front of the chapel, the faces of those speaking. It was truly a marvel to be able to get that kind of broadcast.
Now we can watch General Conference via BYU-TV on satellite and cable. Most people stay home conference weekends and view these broadcast (except the priesthood session) in their own homes. Although all sessions are also available at the meetinghouses for those who don't get satellite or cable.
When Claude was called as Bishop in Maryland, we were given tickets by our stake president to seats for a session of conference in the tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It so happened that Cordell, Claude's brother was also Bishop in his ward in Utah at the time. He and Julie, his wife, also got tickets and the four of us went to two session of conference together. It was delightful to sit in that old building with them as our Prophet at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, announced the building of a LOT of new, smaller temples around the world.
This broadcast not only goes to the members of the Church in the United States but across the world. Now things are done so quickly you can hear the messages given again by going to lds.org and clicking links to get to them in a few days after the conference. It is truly amazing.
I love General Conference. We curl up in front of the TV, I keep my tablet and pen by my side, I make notes of who spoke and their topic and any quotes I want to remember. This year I had two quotes that really touched me. Here they are:
During one of the talks Pres. Harold B. Lee was quoted as say, "Apparently the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." This elicited a nice chuckle from the congregation.
Another quote was stated by the speaker as follows: "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."
In May and November we receive the Ensign, the Church's magazine, with each talk published in print. I read these cover to cover and highlight quotes and ideas and stories I want to remember. Can't wait for the May Ensign this year to re-read all those wonderful talks.
I'm happy, if I had to spend a weekend not well, it was General Conference weekend where I could be filled with that 'healing balm' of gospel doctrine plain, pure and simple.
Twice each year we have General Conference for our Church meetings. This conference is held in Salt Lake City. There are five session. If you were on Mountain Standard Time they would be at 10am and 2pm for everyone with an evening session at 6pm for the Priesthood (all the boys and men). Then Sunday there would be 10am and 2pm sessions for everyone. These conferences are always held the 1st weekend in April and October. Often Easter falls that first weekend in April. I've wondered if the community wonders why in the world there is no big Church service going on Easter in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the land. Really, we are attending Church, just in our own homes and for a lot more hours than just the Sunday meeting schedule.
As a child, I can remember being able to finally receive the broadcast over the radio. Our family would gather in the living room around the radio and listen to any session we were able to get. Then we would write letters to the radio stations so they knew there were people listening to these broadcasts and they might feel inclined to broadcast again the next time we had General Conference. You often didn't know until right close to the time of General Conference is a radio station in our area would be broadcasting conference.
Then they were able to send a 'feed' to the meetinghouses and we could go there to actually see, on a movie screen at the front of the chapel, the faces of those speaking. It was truly a marvel to be able to get that kind of broadcast.
Now we can watch General Conference via BYU-TV on satellite and cable. Most people stay home conference weekends and view these broadcast (except the priesthood session) in their own homes. Although all sessions are also available at the meetinghouses for those who don't get satellite or cable.
When Claude was called as Bishop in Maryland, we were given tickets by our stake president to seats for a session of conference in the tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It so happened that Cordell, Claude's brother was also Bishop in his ward in Utah at the time. He and Julie, his wife, also got tickets and the four of us went to two session of conference together. It was delightful to sit in that old building with them as our Prophet at the time, Gordon B. Hinckley, announced the building of a LOT of new, smaller temples around the world.
This broadcast not only goes to the members of the Church in the United States but across the world. Now things are done so quickly you can hear the messages given again by going to lds.org and clicking links to get to them in a few days after the conference. It is truly amazing.
I love General Conference. We curl up in front of the TV, I keep my tablet and pen by my side, I make notes of who spoke and their topic and any quotes I want to remember. This year I had two quotes that really touched me. Here they are:
During one of the talks Pres. Harold B. Lee was quoted as say, "Apparently the gospel is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." This elicited a nice chuckle from the congregation.
Another quote was stated by the speaker as follows: "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."
In May and November we receive the Ensign, the Church's magazine, with each talk published in print. I read these cover to cover and highlight quotes and ideas and stories I want to remember. Can't wait for the May Ensign this year to re-read all those wonderful talks.
I'm happy, if I had to spend a weekend not well, it was General Conference weekend where I could be filled with that 'healing balm' of gospel doctrine plain, pure and simple.
The Birthday Song...
Last year I struggled with birthdays. I'm usually ahead of the game and ready to mail packages in plenty of time for birthdays. Not last year. I just couldn't get it together. Everyone got their gifts but I always felt slow and behind in getting the gifts and getting them mailed.
This year I wanted to not be in that position. Girl Scout cookies were purchased. I picked them up and wrapped them and put them in the box in the order the birthdays occur.
I was ready for Bailey before her birthday in February.
March we have four birthdays. Gifts were purchased and ready to be mailed in plenty of time to be there on Aubrey, Andie, Nissa and Paul's birthdays.
For April, Todd got his present today (his birthday) and called to thank us. Jake's is ready for me to box up to mail.
Papa comes in May. Claude and I looked at giving him a steamboat ride during the Great Steamboat Race that is a part of Derby Days in Louisville. After several phone calls about the particulars of this event, we decided it would be more fun to just get the steamboat ride at another time. Then Claude suggested the lunch or dinner train that begins in Bardstown Kentucky. I talked with Papa yesterday and gave him his choices. He has chosen well. He will be riding through the Kentucky countryside on the Bardstown lunch train in May.
So birthdays are runny much better for me this year. This makes me happy.
The pitiful part, an trust me, pitiful is the best word for it, is Claude and I singing "Happy Birthday" to our family.
Now, Claude and I know a little about music. We play instruments and we both sing. We are not professional musicians by any stretch of the imagination but, come on, "Happy Birthday" is not the most difficult piece of music to sing. And yet...we have managed on two occasions this year, while trying to sing "Happy Birthday" to our family members over the phone when we called on their birthday, to butcher, truly butcher, that well known little ditty.
The saving grace was calling on Aubrey's birthday just as the family was getting ready to light the candles on her birthday cake and sing to her. Nissa put us on speaker and we chimed in quite nicely for Aubrey with the family in Michigan. Today Todd called us and I sang by myself so it went fairly well.
Jake...steel yourself...you are next. Will it be a rendition you can even recognize? One can only hope!!!
This year I wanted to not be in that position. Girl Scout cookies were purchased. I picked them up and wrapped them and put them in the box in the order the birthdays occur.
I was ready for Bailey before her birthday in February.
March we have four birthdays. Gifts were purchased and ready to be mailed in plenty of time to be there on Aubrey, Andie, Nissa and Paul's birthdays.
For April, Todd got his present today (his birthday) and called to thank us. Jake's is ready for me to box up to mail.
Papa comes in May. Claude and I looked at giving him a steamboat ride during the Great Steamboat Race that is a part of Derby Days in Louisville. After several phone calls about the particulars of this event, we decided it would be more fun to just get the steamboat ride at another time. Then Claude suggested the lunch or dinner train that begins in Bardstown Kentucky. I talked with Papa yesterday and gave him his choices. He has chosen well. He will be riding through the Kentucky countryside on the Bardstown lunch train in May.
So birthdays are runny much better for me this year. This makes me happy.
The pitiful part, an trust me, pitiful is the best word for it, is Claude and I singing "Happy Birthday" to our family.
Now, Claude and I know a little about music. We play instruments and we both sing. We are not professional musicians by any stretch of the imagination but, come on, "Happy Birthday" is not the most difficult piece of music to sing. And yet...we have managed on two occasions this year, while trying to sing "Happy Birthday" to our family members over the phone when we called on their birthday, to butcher, truly butcher, that well known little ditty.
The saving grace was calling on Aubrey's birthday just as the family was getting ready to light the candles on her birthday cake and sing to her. Nissa put us on speaker and we chimed in quite nicely for Aubrey with the family in Michigan. Today Todd called us and I sang by myself so it went fairly well.
Jake...steel yourself...you are next. Will it be a rendition you can even recognize? One can only hope!!!
Sick...AGAIN!!!
Last week I read on Facebook when a friend, Tricia, needed help hemming a dress for her daughter for a formal dance.
I shortly received a phone call from Katelyn who read the same Facebook post. She wanted to be sure I read that one and she really thought I could help with hemming that dress. I shared with Katelyn I had read that post also and wondered if I couldn't help but was concerned about the fabric of the dress and whether my machine and hands could take that hem up and not mar the dress. Katelyn and I talked for a long time after that catching up on her life and sharing what we were each multi-tasking at as we talked on the phone. Just love talking with young people filling their lives with school, a new job, etc. Lots of energy, even if they are tired, and lots of hopes and dreams to fill each day.
Later I checked Facebook again and found that Nissa had commented on Tricia's post by saying she was sure her mom (me) could help with that hem. Tricia thanked Nissa and said she would message me.
Tricia did message me and I responded with my hopes that I could help and my concerns about the fabric.
We set up Saturday morning at 8:30am for Tricia to bring her daughter and the dress to my home to have a look.
Saturday morning, April 2nd, I was awake at 5am and did not feel good at all. I spent the rest of my early, early morning hurling. This was NOT good. At 7:30am I sent a comment back to Tricia on Facebook that she really shouldn't come to my home to let me look at the dress. Concerned she wouldn't get the message, I called Nissa and got Tricia's phone number and called and told her I was very ill and we couldn't work that day. She understood completely as her family went through this the week before. We left it that I would call when I was well again.
Monday I left Tricia a message that I was back in the game and we could look at the dress Tuesday or Thursday this week. Her kids are on Spring Break from school so today is the day and we'll see Tricia in about an hour.
I cannot believe how sick I have been this winter. This has to be, bar none, the worst winter I have ever had with being ill in my 60 years on earth. December I had bronchites. January I had Influenza A, February was okay, March I got something unidentified but it was like have bronchitis and the flu again. I did not go to the doctor but stayed inside my home for a full week trying to recuperate. Then this last weekend with some stomach bug.
I say, "Enough already". I think the thing that gets me about this winter is I am keenly aware I am not the only person dealing with sickness multiple times through the winter. It just seems to be the winter has gripped us all with is microbial, viral fingers and wouldn't let go.
I'm healthy once again and looking forward to warmer weather and feeling healthy all the time...except that those pesky pollens that create allergy havoc are descending on us as I write. Maybe this won't be as bad a spring with allergies since I paid my dues during the winter with illness. What do you think? I think that thought has promise.
I shortly received a phone call from Katelyn who read the same Facebook post. She wanted to be sure I read that one and she really thought I could help with hemming that dress. I shared with Katelyn I had read that post also and wondered if I couldn't help but was concerned about the fabric of the dress and whether my machine and hands could take that hem up and not mar the dress. Katelyn and I talked for a long time after that catching up on her life and sharing what we were each multi-tasking at as we talked on the phone. Just love talking with young people filling their lives with school, a new job, etc. Lots of energy, even if they are tired, and lots of hopes and dreams to fill each day.
Later I checked Facebook again and found that Nissa had commented on Tricia's post by saying she was sure her mom (me) could help with that hem. Tricia thanked Nissa and said she would message me.
Tricia did message me and I responded with my hopes that I could help and my concerns about the fabric.
We set up Saturday morning at 8:30am for Tricia to bring her daughter and the dress to my home to have a look.
Saturday morning, April 2nd, I was awake at 5am and did not feel good at all. I spent the rest of my early, early morning hurling. This was NOT good. At 7:30am I sent a comment back to Tricia on Facebook that she really shouldn't come to my home to let me look at the dress. Concerned she wouldn't get the message, I called Nissa and got Tricia's phone number and called and told her I was very ill and we couldn't work that day. She understood completely as her family went through this the week before. We left it that I would call when I was well again.
Monday I left Tricia a message that I was back in the game and we could look at the dress Tuesday or Thursday this week. Her kids are on Spring Break from school so today is the day and we'll see Tricia in about an hour.
I cannot believe how sick I have been this winter. This has to be, bar none, the worst winter I have ever had with being ill in my 60 years on earth. December I had bronchites. January I had Influenza A, February was okay, March I got something unidentified but it was like have bronchitis and the flu again. I did not go to the doctor but stayed inside my home for a full week trying to recuperate. Then this last weekend with some stomach bug.
I say, "Enough already". I think the thing that gets me about this winter is I am keenly aware I am not the only person dealing with sickness multiple times through the winter. It just seems to be the winter has gripped us all with is microbial, viral fingers and wouldn't let go.
I'm healthy once again and looking forward to warmer weather and feeling healthy all the time...except that those pesky pollens that create allergy havoc are descending on us as I write. Maybe this won't be as bad a spring with allergies since I paid my dues during the winter with illness. What do you think? I think that thought has promise.
Let's Blog...
Realizing this will appear at the end of today's entries...I, nonetheless, begin with this Blog entry.
Blogging takes time, so to do it, you must 'take time' out of your schedule to spend the 'time' needed to write or type. Many a day it is just tooooo busy to Blog for any period of time. Other days you just are under the weather physically or emotionally and can't sum up the energy and direction needed to complete a Blog entry. I've experienced all of these situtations in the past week. Hence, I haven't Blogged in a while.
I have read the Blog entries from my family that I follow. I'm always happy when someone has made a new entry and I can read, and/or see pictures and/or video. They may have a link to something that I'm really interested in and needed a nudge to go read that item. I love finding out what is happening with my family.
Some have not Blogged in a while and I wonder if they miss my Blog entries, like I miss theirs, when I don't get them done regularly. Then I usually chuckle I because I know can be very 'wordy' in my entries. Like, who really has time to read all that stuff I write anyway.
I'll keep Blogging, even if I get behind for whatever reason, because this is my journal of sorts. I hope my family keeps Blogging also.
So here I sit and I'll now make several entries of things that have happened over the last week.
Blogging takes time, so to do it, you must 'take time' out of your schedule to spend the 'time' needed to write or type. Many a day it is just tooooo busy to Blog for any period of time. Other days you just are under the weather physically or emotionally and can't sum up the energy and direction needed to complete a Blog entry. I've experienced all of these situtations in the past week. Hence, I haven't Blogged in a while.
I have read the Blog entries from my family that I follow. I'm always happy when someone has made a new entry and I can read, and/or see pictures and/or video. They may have a link to something that I'm really interested in and needed a nudge to go read that item. I love finding out what is happening with my family.
Some have not Blogged in a while and I wonder if they miss my Blog entries, like I miss theirs, when I don't get them done regularly. Then I usually chuckle I because I know can be very 'wordy' in my entries. Like, who really has time to read all that stuff I write anyway.
I'll keep Blogging, even if I get behind for whatever reason, because this is my journal of sorts. I hope my family keeps Blogging also.
So here I sit and I'll now make several entries of things that have happened over the last week.
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