Take me away... Please!

Here we are on a Thursday - of the most boring week of the Summer. (So far.)

It's been a lazy and depressing week.
Hubby has been gone a lot, and he's grumpy when he's here. We weren't able to go camping because of budgetary issues, so a happy "camper" he is not.

I myself have wandered around in a funk, because it's just too darn hot to leave the house, and I'm tired of trying to entertain myself all alone indoors.
Plus, it's been such a lazy week, that I'm as ugly as I can possibly be without getting arrested.

So, when I woke up this morning, and made the usual trek to the bathroom, only to find that something is amok with the toilet because everything has been cleared off the tank, I roll my eyes and think "Great, what's wrong with the plumbing now?"

These are the days, my friend, when one shouts to no one in particular, because, of course, there's never anyone there - "Calgon, take me away!!!"

From lack of anywhere else to go, I'm allowing my imagination to take me to what it naturally turns to at times like this - the Mysteries of the Universe.
(Not really, but wasn't that a great segue?)
...Sure beats pondering plumbing problems.

I wonder, for instance, (since it's space travel week,) is there really life out there somewhere? All those urban legends of alien life forms - is there anything to them, or is that all a product of a mind as unused and in need of entertainment as mine?

...And speaking of Space - what goes on in an astronaut's head, that allows him to submit to being hurdled thousands of miles into a void where, granted, the stars are pretty, but all other conditions are completely hostile to supporting human life?

Other questions come to mind, such as - how far can my car really go on empty, before it grinds to a halt?

...And what was in the diet of the Pharaoh's of Egypt, that made them so narcissistic that they spent (wasted) the entire extent of their reign, erecting monuments to themselves?

...And how about the slaves who had to build those monuments? - When the Pharaoh died, and a new one took his place - did they throw down their respective tools, and say "Crap, now we have to start all over."

Then deeper, more poignant questions emerge - what goes on in Cyber space on Thursdays? Where does everyone disappear to, that no one has bothered to tell me about?

I look around me and wonder; has the world's largest dust bunny ever been recorded? And I realize it's time to get up from this computer and muck my way through yet another day.

Hang in there, it's almost the weekend...
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Bumpy Ride...

Senior class portraits this week. Ouch.

I can tell already that it's going to be a bumpy year.
My baby is a Mighty Senior, and the whole world is opening up for her ...but she is also my baby, and every first for her is a last for me.

To quote a stanza from a poem that I requested my sister to write for me when she was a year old:

"There are great days ahead,
of that I am sure, but there won't be a baby at home anymore.
I hope you'll forgive
if I cling to the past, I've loved all my babies,
but you are the last."

The song I wake up with in my head these days is this one:

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
Im glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
(Slipping Through my Fingers, by ABBA)

She's well on her way to the driver's licence - passing all the tests with flying colors. She has the job, and the savings account - her plans for college, and very good friends. (And thankfully, has been resisting the boyfriend so far.)

Giving her wings, and hope she can fly...
Fasten your seat belts - it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Sunday Sojurn

Yesterday was a fairly quiet day. Jen stayed over with a friend, which is a good thing, because she attends the Sunday School classes with her age group, instead of hanging out with her old mum here. (There is hardly anyone her age in our ward.)
Hubby had to go to work very early, so it was just me at church, which makes me sad, because the choir did a fine job (if I do say so myself) and no one was there to hear it. *Sigh* I really don't like going to church by myself.

When hubby got home, we drove up the canyon to have dinner with my son & his family, who had borrowed our trailer for the weekend. He made some yummy dutch oven dishes, and we had fun playing with the girlies in the dirt. LOL

We're hoping to go back up for the holiday weekend, if we can figure out how to work it into the budget - if not, it's all good - we'll just go see the new Harry Potter flick instead.
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Somebody up there loves me...

This weekend was the Scottish festival up at the park.
Good times, with bagpipers, Scottish dancers, singers, and all kinds of manly games. (Caber toss, etc.)
They also have booths selling all kinds of Scot-sy wares (mostly made in China!) ha ha.

So, the family went up to have a look-see. We walked around until we got tired - and hungry. We found a place selling hot dogs, so we got a couple and went looking for a place to eat. The park was so crowded, that the only place we could find, was standing behind the bleachers in front of the band competition.
Great! ...Dinner - and a show!
I set my shopping bag and my purse on the ground in front of me, and commenced to enjoy my lunch.

Hubby and I had had enough after that, so we went to the car to go home.
When we pulled up in front of the house, I went to get out, and bent over to pick up my bag and my purse - - except my purse wasn't there!!!
I can't believe I picked up my shopping bag, but left my purse just sitting there under the bleachers!
I totally freaked out - there were 20 million people in town today, and I just left my purse sitting on the ground in the middle of all of them!
(I've had so many nightmares like that, I can't even tell you...)

My daughter had stayed at the park, so I called her on my cell, and told her to go see if she could find it. I was really panicky by now...
Bless her heart - she ran, and searched the area. The miracle is that she actually found it! Intact, and nothing missing.
Is that a miracle, or what?

Archie Bunker used to say that the angels watch over babies and ding-bats.
I guess that's really true!

Happy Sabbath!
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Sssshhhhhhhh!

I need a quiet day.
Celebrating all those birthdays and holidays this past week, has worn me out!
I may have to go out to the trailer to get it, but I'm in need of some quiet time.

Strange night
Yesterday morning, I woke up to find this:

My tree lost a limb in its sleep. It's really strange, because this tree is right outside my bedroom window, which was open all night (and I sleep right under it.)
I didn't hear any wind or anything during the night - and nothing else is out of place in the yard to suggest a storm.
Weird.




It's a good thing the little birdies had already left the nest, or they would have been dumped on their heads!


By the way - I do NOT have sleep apnea. I'm a little mystified why the Dr. ordered that test in the first place, because I told him I don't have those kinds of problems.
I went in for my follow up the other day, and I was told that news, and that the medication they usually start people on for the insomnia thing, is the one I've already been on for the past month!
What the heck? ...Was all that really necessary then?

Mystified, I tell you...

No more news today, so I'll just tippy-toe away...
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Book Report - Recovering Charles

Recovering Charles, a novel by Jason Wright.…

Description from the book jacket:

Luke Millward is a man who does not know he is lost. His career is going well; he has the love of close friends; and a future he looks forward to every day.

Only when the past reveals its twisted smile in a phone call and the disconnected voice asks him to come find his estranged father in post-Katrina New Orleans is Luke compelled to find out what kind of man he truly is; and who the man is that his father has become.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a sad reminder of the devastation that took place after Hurricane Katrina, but more importantly, it's a story of forgiveness between a father and son.

There is a song at the end of the book - you can go to the official website (www.recoveringcharles.com) and hear it played. It's lovely.
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Yenny Day

It's my baby's birthday today - she's progressed from the childhood stage to that of a potential responsible adult. She's got her first job, is learning to drive, and next year will be a Senior in High School.

My little bird will soon be ready to fly.


Just a little tribute to her today...

Jen is funny

She's quirky

...Sometimes, she's downright weird.

She's always plugged in to some form of media...

If you really want to freak her out - just tell her she's pretty...

Now, pardon me if I wax nostalgic and get really sappy here for a minute...

Jenny was a "caboose" child - born 8 years after her closest sibling. I prayed very hard to get her here, and she has been the answer to all those prayers. It's fun sharing a birth month with her. She is a dear, dear girl, and has been a joy in my life.


...I'll go turn myself in to the schmaltz police now...

Love you baby!
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Monday

Hubby had the whole week off last week - from both jobs!
We talked about going camping or something, but when it came right down to it, he decided he would rather just stay home and relax and piddle around the yard some.
Nice and peaceful for him - but just more of the same for me. (Yawn)

Our Fourth was spent quietly in the yard with the kids...

The girls



Oooh - Aaahh

Sorry, that's about as good as it gets here...

Non - items

Just a couple of quick little signs of the times -
I went looking for one of my favorite magazines this week, and couldn't find it anywhere, so I went online and found that it has become a victim of the economy. Mary Englebreit's Home Companion is no more. Sad.

I found this comic on Facebook and it made me laugh - thought you might like it too.


...And this little photo - my family laughs at me and thinks I'm silly, but this giant tea cup was one of my favorite birthday presents this year. I got it planted, and I plan to paint some Alice in Wonderland plant stakes to put in it.
It makes me happy.

Going in today to get the results of that sleep study, other than that, just errands.

That's all -

Happy Monday.
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Fourth of July

Favorite 4th of July memories.
My mom loved parades, and dad loved rodeos - happily, those loves usually combined on the fourth. There was always a picnic involved somewhere, and in the evening, each little community around us had their own little fireworks display, so it was just a matter of choosing which one to attend.
One year, we discovered that the roof of one of our sheds was the perfect vantage point to view them all from one spot.
Happy carefree days.

I love this song by James Taylor, and it's not available for my playlist anymore, so I will treat you with a live performance.

Enjoy!



...And for an encore, David Archuleta's "They Come To America"



God Bless America (please)


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Oldenhood

At my age, Birthdays are an unnecessary evil.
The best one can hope for, is that they will pass away unnoticed. But that was not the case this year. I had a delightful day.

I actually woke up to breakfast in bed. (I can count the times that has happened on one hand.)
Then, hubby brought me in a new outfit to wear, and said I had a big day ahead. I looked at him a little suspiciously, because it was a dark blue shirt and light pants. (Very much like the Walmart uniform.) I thought maybe he was putting me to work!

But instead, we went to Toucano's for lunch.
Wow, that is a very festive place! They beat the drums and sang to Jennifer and I in Portuguese. I sampled all the meats they brought.
One of the down sides to being deaf? It's quite possible that I ate chicken hearts.
I heard the word chicken, and gave the nod 'yes' because I wanted to sample everything, but it didn't look or taste like any part of the chicken I've ever seen...(ahem.)
My favorite was the grilled pineapple - and whatever that was with the bacon wrapped around it.
Jennifer's friend was the only one brave enough to order desert - the chocolate cake weighed in like a side of beef. Three of us shared it, and it was divine!

Next, we went to the mall and saw "The Proposal." Between us, we had enough gift certificates and coupons, that we all got in free! It was cute, we all enjoyed it (aside from those nude scenes...)

When we got home, they let me take a nap.
I needed it!
Then we had a barbecue with the family. Most of us were still to stuffed to eat much, but it was a nice way to end the day.

I told my grand daughter that I was older than dirt, but I guess she's too young for grandma's humor. She just looked confused.

I can always count on this one to help with the hard tasks.

Like I said, a pretty good day.
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Test Over

Worst night's sleep EVER!

With 90 percent of the wires and miscellaneous apparatus attached to my head, face and neck, and one arm chained to the wall (practically) how is a body supposed to sleep normally?
When I did finally get into a deep sleep, they woke me up because a couple of the electrodes had come loose.

On the plus side - the technicians couldn't have been more accommodating. I would give them all gold stars.
The room was very nice, the building was gorgeous, and is located in a beautiful area. Too bad I didn't have a better time, because I'm sure that stay will cost me the price of a cruise ticket.

I won't know what, if anything, they find out for a couple of weeks. I'm not going to stress about it though - I'm (relatively) sure everything's fine.

I'm not going to be worth much today, but I'll get through it - I can have Pepsi now!

I hope I can get all this gunk out of my hair...
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Sunday Tidbits

I noticed right off that there was a shortage of young men at church today. (All the old guys were doing their jobs.) After the service was over, I found out that it was because there was an outbreak of swine flu at the scout camp they attended last week, and they are all home under quarantine.
Yikes! That's a little too close to home for me!

Last night, someone broke into our house.
We heard comings and goings and footsteps on the stairs. We were relieved this morning to find that it was merely the Pepsi fairy (or Soda Clause?) He left two Pepsi's on the counter for hubby and I.
My son - always making sure his parents are taken care of.

Isn't it funny how the dynamic changes when the kids move out of the house?
When they're under my roof, I feel like it's my duty to try to keep track of where they are going (which is not easy) and make sure they eat regularly, (butt-in, meddle, etc.) But when they are out on their own, it becomes apparent that they are really quite capable of managing by themselves.
When they do drop by, even though it's only been a couple of weeks, it seems like they've been gone forever, and we need to "kill the fatted calf" and celebrate.
Weird.

Tomorrow night, I have to go do that sleep study. I'm pretty stressed about it. The thought of trying to sleep while wired from every limb, with people watching me, no less, is not a pleasant one.
My neighbor handed me a copy of the book that my book club is reading at church today. It's about some war in China. I was very grateful - if that doesn't put me to sleep, nothing will! (Just kidding, it might be good...)

I need to go out and go for a walk before it gets dark tonight. It's rained pretty much every day for the last 3 weeks - just long enough for me to get out of that habit that it took me so long to start. *Sigh* Back to square one.

It's the last Sunday in June - how did that happen?
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Treats

I posted the Muddy Buddy recipe, but you'll have to go to my crafty site to get it. It's yummy, and it's here: Scrapworthy
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All's Quiet on the Western Front

It's very quiet around here today.
My youngest took her dad and brother to see the Transformers flick this afternoon. Yes, they did invite me, but I declined - I'm not a fan of 'monster' cars.

I've been re-typing those family histories today.
The first one was about a lady from Canada, who came to the US to join with the Mormon church. She dealt with persecution, was driven from state to state, volunteered to go with the Mormon Battalion as a laundress. When the men were sick and worn out, and had to be sent ahead to recover - she stuck around and finished the march.
She was there at Sutter's Fort when gold was discovered, left that behind to return to the people of her faith, and with her family founded one of the towns here that still carries her family name.
She outlived two husbands, raised 3 families, including some of her grand children, taught school and helped run the post office.

Wow. Makes me feel like a wimp.

The boys are going camping tonight, so it's girls' night at home.
What that means on a Friday night, is pizza, ice cream, and Ghost Hunters on TV. Sounds great to me.

Happy Weekend.
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Book Review - Dead on Arrival

Book by Jeffrey S. Savage
It's probably not fair to start my reviews with an older book that is no longer available in stores, but there has been a lot of buzz about this one on one of the blogs I follow, and I was anxious to get to it.

This book is a sequel to "House of Secrets".
The first book does lay the background material, and introduce the main characters, but this story does stand on it's own.

I love Mr. Savage's mix of suspense and humor.
I also love the way the mystery is unraveled slowly throughout the story, and how each new twist places the characters deeper and deeper in jeopardy.
The climax is a nail-biter, and the ending was very cool, but I'm sorry to say - a cliffhanger.

I hear he's working on book 3, and personally, I can't wait to read it!
If I were to rate this one, I would give it 4 1/2 stars. (Out of 5.)
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Bumpy Night

Rough night last night - I had trouble sleeping, and so did hubby, so we took shifts on the couch all night. (But the good news is, I finished my book.)

My daughter couldn't wake me up to take her to driver's ed, so hubby had to take her. He let her drive....his truck! Wow, is he a brave soul, or what?

We spent an hour on the road yesterday, and she is rapidly improving. I'm really proud of her. All she needs now is a little more confidence, and she'll be good to go.

Smashed hopes
I found a class online through a local extension that sounded like a fun diversion, so I called about it yesterday.
When I asked what I would need to do to sign up for it, I ended up getting a half hour spiel.

1. I would have to apply to the college
2. I would have to contact the last college I attended, and have them crawl down into their dusty archives and find my transcripts.
3. I would need to contact an adviser to see if any of those ancient credits are transferable, and to plan the rest of my life.
4. I would have to pay $550.00 (!) for the one class, plus the application fee.

She went on and on, but I shut down after that. Something about coming in to the office to discuss financial aid, blah, blah, blah.

Holy Hannah! All I wanted was to improve my mind a little. I didn't want to have to activate a cast of thousands or increase the national deficit!
It was a lovely dream, but it's not going to happen. I'll just have to find a way to learn things on my own.

Housekeeping

You may notice that my blog has been whittled down to almost nothing. I've been tidying up for the literary crowd. I'll be posting book reviews for others to check out, and they don't need to see all the family "clutter" everywhere.
No worries, the photos etc. are not gone forever, just stuffed in the closet and under the bed for a while. LOL!

Speaking of clearing away the clutter, I'd better get some housework done today - I've been pretty slothful this week.

One more day of sunshine - enjoy it!
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Time to read the books...

In an attempt to fill up my Summer, and not have it look so bleak - I'm joining the LDS Publisher's Summer Reading Thing again. So, get ready to see those book reviews again.
My reding list is to the right, but is growing even as we speak...
(I got the 2nd Shandra Covington book in the mail today - Yay!)
I haven't been doing so well on my reading lately. I've started 3 books in the last month, and haven't finished any of them. Hopefully, I can push myself a little bit to get-R-done now.

Off we go...

Changing subjects -

I've grown accustomed to having the neighbors' dogs and / or cats wander into my yard at any given time. Even the occasional child.
...But where in the heck did these chickens come from?
Old Mac Donald doesn't live anywhere near here!



Sleep (or the lack thereof)
I had my consultation with the sleep specialist today.
Long story short - he thinks my symptoms are weird, and wants to go ahead with the sleep study.
He's leaning towards anxiety being at the root of my problem. I'm saying it's just in the genes. We're all like this.

Not much news today - I'm hitting the sack early.
...Only 4 more days of getting up at 6:30!

'Night.
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What Not to Be

I never finished college.
Why? Because I could never figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I tried every major I could think of at the time, and nothing seemed to fit.
My multiple decades of life experience haven't changed that. I still don't know what I want to be.
Not. A. Clue.

...But on one thing, I am crystal clear - I do NOT want to be a Driver's Ed teacher.

I've had to take that role with my youngest, and let me tell you - I am definitely not cut out for this work!
My nerves just will not take it.

I'm the only one available to take her out for those 30 hours on the road that she is supposed to get. I have left claw marks in the armrests, have nearly bitten clean through my tongue trying to keep from screaming, and the blood pressure has hit the boiling point several times, I have no doubt.

I'm too old for this!

...Come to think of it, so is my daughter's teacher.
He's over retirement age, but refuses to quit.
Why? I don't know, probably doesn't want to be stuck home with the wife all the time.
My driver's ed teacher was really old too. I mean, the guy had to be in his 80's, I swear.
My theory of why these old guys choose this path is that they don't fear death anymore. They have nothing left to lose. (ha ha)

In my opinion, they do things completely backwards these days. Why are the kids supposed to get those 30 hours in before having any classroom instruction? When they have no idea what the rules of the road are, or how to stay safe - and what a big responsibility it is to be in control of a 2 ton death machine?

Oy.

I think I may be getting the hang of it though. I'm doing a LOT more coaching, and a bit less clutching and yelling.
We may both survive this yet.

Still - not the job for me.
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Trouble in "Evil City"

I have a problem.

Only one, you say?
Well, let me rephrase that - only one that I will talk about tonight.
You see - the town my son just moved to... Hates me.

I'm serious - I have major issues with this place.
(The name has been changed to protect the innocent, if one such person can be found there.)

My husband used to run a business in this town, and I worked for him there. I had some appalling experiences, and ever since then - almost every trip I've made to that town, included some sort of disaster.

You think I'm kidding, don't you?

Well, I'm not.

Example A: I had to go to one of the city buildings once, (for a reason that evades me now,) and as I pulled into the parking spot right in front, the car groaned, shuddered, and died. It wouldn't start again.
I had to sit there and wait for hours for someone to come and rescue me.

Not convinced? That can happen to anyone you say? Well...

Example B: One day I was driving my children to a local college to check out the awesome bookstore.
We took the exit through this town, because there is less traffic that way.
Just as we were almost to the light - a golf ball came flying out of nowhere and hit us right in the front windshield.
There is not a golf course in that area, folks.
My son was so freaked out - it shattered the window right in front of his face, and he was sure we had been shot.

Oh no - that is not all - there's more...

Example C: This time, I was headed North for some rush errand, and just as I got to the previously mentioned exit - the engine of the car I was driving burst into flames! Yes - really!
A generous (and brave) lady stopped and tried to put it out with some newspapers. I had to keep yelling at her to get back, while I dialed 911 on my cell phone.
I was afraid the car would explode, and I didn't want to be responsible for her demise!
Luckily, a gentleman in a diesel truck stopped and ran over with a fire extinguisher. I say luckily, because the fire department couldn't find me, and we all would have been toast by the time they got there.

Do you see what I mean? One freak occurrence - maybe, but so many?
Something's up.

Now you see why it's a problem that my son has moved there.
I have managed to avoid going to that town for many many years - if by chance I had to go, I would sneak in the back way, and out before anyone could notice me.
But now - I will have to go, and often.

So far I've managed to get there and back without incident, but how long can this good luck last?
Could his moving there have broken the curse?
Only time will tell...

Pray for me.

(Hee hee)
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If I Had the Voice of an Angel...

I can do things. I can.
I've never coveted anyone else's talents either - except one.
I wish I could sing.

I LOVE music. It resonates in me the way that nothing else can.

When I was little, my mom taught me to sing parts with my sister, and from that day on she signed us up to sing for every church program, family reunion, and funeral that came along.
It freaked me out back then, because I had such a fear of being in front of large groups (still do), but I enjoyed it somewhat anyway, because it was something I loved to do. You could find me on warm Summer evenings, swinging on the swings all by myself, belting out a tune to the sky.
Oh for those days...

Later on, when I was in high school, my sister had the notion to sign us up for the music competition. She had been learning to play the guitar, and we practiced our song for weeks and weeks. Finally the day came for the judging. They hated the song we picked, but other than that, we would have done well - if it had been a solo. The judges had nothing nice to say about my voice. (I'll keep those comments to myself, thank you very much.)
Thinking as a child does, it never occurred to me until that moment that I wasn't any good.

Fast forward to motherhood - one of my favorite moments of the day was when I could sit and rock my babies to sleep while I crooned lullabies to them. Imagine my disappointment when my daughter (before she could even talk) would raise her hand up and put it over my mouth! (Ouch!) ...and later when she could talk, it was always "don't sing mom."

So, banned from singing in the house, my car had to become my soundproof booth. Only in my car can I belt out whatever and whenever I feel like it. I find singing such a release. I can have the most stressful day on earth, and drive around singing my brains out, and come home ready to face life again. It has that effect on me. It makes me happy.

Other than that, I have consigned myself to sing in the church choir. Not that they think I'm any good either - it's just that they are so hurting for members that I'm just another warm body to fill a chair.

You can bet that when I lay this body down, and no longer am subject to its limitations, the first thing I'm going to do is to break into song, all the way through the sky - Just try and stop me then!
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