THE JOYS OF HAVING GRANDCHILDREN




We went to Michael's football game Friday night and I snapped his photo. He looks like --- a FOOTBALL PLAYER, which he has all his life, but he's finally doing it! He is #45. I'm a proud grandmother!

Well, here's my news of the week, (YEAR!!). I'm to be a great grandmother!! Wait a minute -- I'm already that! Don't I babysit, go to football games, dance recitals, graduations, etc.? That falls under the category of "great"! But all kidding aside, Tom and Kirstin are expecting sometime in April. I'd better get my plane ticket reserved.

Having a daughter who is a grandmother makes me feel older than just being a great grandmother!

DEPRESSING BIRTHDAY COMING UP

I don't know when I've celebrated a birthday so many times (and it's not even here yet!). First, it was with the classmates in July that we were all celebrating together; then it was when Nashville Electric Service called me about my one year old picture; and yesterday it was at the nails place with a free decoration for my toe! (see picture below) Why does the whole world want to know it's my seventieth?

The July Birthday Bash was really fun, but then a picture of us appeared in the paper to broadcast our age to the rest of Nashville!

Also I'll explain about the NES thing: when I was a year old a picture of me with a birthday cake appeared in the paper in a half page ad for NES because we had the same birthday. Apparently, the company had formed the year before on the day I was born and they searched the records for a such a baby to use with their ad. So this year we are both observing our 70th!!

I doubt very seriously if anything will come of it. I mean, who wants to know that either I or NES is seventy? Also, because of the high salaries of their top people recently published, the public is down on them. So they're probably going to keep a low profile, but if anything happens, I'll let you know.

And then yesterday the lady who does my nails (Rose) insisted on giving me a toe decoration because my big day was approaching. I resisted at first because of my (ahem) age, then I thought what the heck! The granddaughters will probably like it. She put a flower on each big toe, but when I got home, Rufus jumped on my right foot and messed it up!! Thus, only the left one was photographed.

UNCLE

Isn't that what you cry when you've had enough of something? OK, I'm crying it now; I've had enough excitement.

Yesterday I was shopping at Steinmart, my favorite store, and while I was trying on clothes in the fitting room I overheard two salespersons talking. One asked the other to cover for her because she had been called to the front of the store to hang out. Someone had robbed the bank down the street and all extra hands were asked to come to the front of the store.

I wasn't too concerned since I figured those robbers were long gone, but when I got to the checkout I heard that "they" were on foot. I said, "Is there a description of them?" The checkout girl said, "All we've heard is that one of them is an older white male wearing a baseball cap."

When she said that, I pictured a man in his sixties. Then she said, "He's in his forties." So I guess that makes me "elderly"! Anyway, I was extra alert looking all around when I went to the car, but I didn't see anyone the least bit suspicious.

But I am getting a little tired of being threatened by the presence of robbers!

INTERESTING WEEKEND

The genius and I had a good time with the grandkids this past weekend while their parents had a mini vacation. It actually started on Thursday afternoon when they got home from school.

That night I stayed at their house with them and we were going to decide on Friday where we would stay that night. Friday morning I got them off to school then rushed home to get ready for bridge club. Bridge club went longer than expected and I was a little late getting back to meet Jay at his house. I had warned him I might be late so he was prepared for this. What he and I were not prepared for was the excitement going on in his neighborhood!

It seems that some robbers who were being chased by police, had driven into a field and two of then had escaped by foot. The children's school had had a lockdown for a while before they let them go home. Jay called to tell me as I was on my way.

About two miles from the turnoff to his house there was a section on Hillsboro Road that was partially blocked by fifteen or twenty patrol cars. Plus I noticed as I went by that the TV news trucks were there.

I soon arrived at the house and we decided that we would pack up and come back to our house for the night as soon as Annie got home. I wasn't that worried, but I knew they would feel better.

So that's what we did and we passed by the patrol cars again as we came back into town. This time there were not as many but there were more news trucks.

As soon as we got home, I checked the online local news and the men had all been captured. So we were safe!

The rest of our weekend was fun, but not nearly as exciting, for which I am thankful!!

SOUTHERN WAYS

I love living in the South. Just this morning I was out walking the dogs and there was a repairman working on a house up the street. He came out to his truck that was parked almost in the back, saw me and said, "Good morning. How are you?" And I said something equally friendly and then went on my way -- feeling good. And that happens all the time in Nashville. Thank goodness the carpet baggers haven't completely taken over.

Speaking of the dogs, poor Rufus was terribly sick on Sunday night. He got up at 4:30 a.m. and I heard him in the bathroom throwing up. Sure enough, he had ruined the bathroom rugs and floor going at both ends. What a rude awakening!!! Just like having kids again. Anyway, at least I knew what it was -- I had fed him some leftover steak the night before. No more red meat for him!

He's fine now and we are getting ready for our nights at Jim IV's house, looking after Jay and Annie. Jay catches the school bus at 7:00 (what an ungodly hour!) so I will be getting up early Friday morning. I'm keeping them through Sunday, so we will have to decide whether to stay there or come back here for the weekend. Jim IV and Laurie will get some much deserved R and R.

And I will get to have quality time with grandchildren!!

IT'S FUN TO BE RIGHT ... ESPECIALLY IF I'VE BEEN UNJUSTLY ACCUSED

It's interesting how long it takes a person to realize certain situations. A friend of the genius once told us that when he was a teenager, he and his father used the same toothbrush for over a year before one of them discovered it. When he was relating it to us, he said, "I did wonder why my toothbrush was always WET when I used it, but it never occurred to me that I was sharing it with someone else!" A similar situation has happened in our kitchen, although not as gross as the toothbrush incident.

I keep a bottle of hand soap and another of lotion in a little basket right next to the sink in the kitchen. Very gradually, over a period of perhaps two years, I noticed that I always seemed to be moving it closer to the sink. Somehow, the basket was always pushed a distance of six inches to a foot away from where I thought I had left it. Finally, I became fully aware of the situation and asked the genius about it.

He said indeed he had been moving it because it was always wet under the basket and he had to keep mopping up the water. So I agreed to try to keep it dry underneath it if he would refrain from moving it. It was a nuisance to have to reach a foot away from the water to get the soap.

I also began to pay attention to how I washed my hands, thinking that I was getting my hands wet before I put them under the soap and thus dripping water across the counter. But no, my routine was to turn the water on with my left hand and reach with my dry right hand for the soap. I also began noticing how I rinsed things off (vegetables, dishes, etc.) and checking to see if these actions splashed water and left the counter damp. When I clean the kitchen I always wash, then dry with a paper towel all of the counter tops.

The other night the genius went into the kitchen, washed his hands, then called me in there to show me how wet it was. I told him I hadn't been in there since I had cleaned it up from dinner and had made sure that all the surfaces were dry!! So we both decided that he was the culprit. He was sticking his hands under the water, then dripping them to the soap.

I was expecting him to pull out the little credit card I gave him this summer that stated " I am right" because I know he is saving it for a time when there's no doubt that he's wrong, but he didn't. He's saving it for a time when I least expect it, I'm sure.

ME AND NICHOLAS SPARKS

OK!! I vowed that I would never read another Nicholas Sparks book --- and I haven't! But by mistake I bought a movie on sale that was BASED on one of his novels. Now I have a NEW vow: I'll never watch another movie taken from a Nicholas Sparks book!!

The man is obsessed with BAD ENDINGS!!!

First, I read The Notebook. That was a nice story that focused on a couple's love and ended when the wife became ill with Alzheimer's. That one wasn't too bad -- a little sad, especially if you've ever had a loved one with that disease. It hit too close to home for me.

Then I read The Promise. The plot in that book centered around two teenagers' falling in love, but the girl gets leukemia and dies in the end after barely making it down the aisle to marry her boyfriend.

Sparks also wrote Message in a Bottle, the ending of which is just as bad, if not worse than the others. So I said, "No more!"

I did actually read a nonfiction by him that chronicled a trip he and his brother made, and I must admit, it was good.

Then the disaster the other night in watching Nights in Rodanthe. I think the movie producer knew what he was doing when he put the author's name on the back of the DVD and hid it in the credits. He/she must have known there were people like me out there who had refused to have anything more to do with his works.

But -- I was trapped once I got into it. Here's the basic plot: a young mother of two children whose husband has left her for another woman, but now wants to come back to her, is stuck in a vacation beach house with another man. He is a handsome surgeon who is wrestling with a patient's unexpected death on the operating table. Lo and behold, a storm comes up and their fear for their safety draws them together. It gets worse!!

In a matter of a few days, they fall in love and make some life-changing decisions. HE decides to do mission work in Equador with his estranged son for a year, and SHE chooses to end it with her husband.

During the year the woman and her new love write "wonderful" letters to each other, vowing of course to remain faithful till he returns. Knowing Nicholas Sparks, I was ready for the ending.

The good doctor, who had of course reconciled with his son, was getting ready to return, and he was KILLED in another storm!! How sad is that?!?

I was so prepared for it, I didn't even cry -- instead, I laughed because it was sooo predictable!! He really needs to stick with nonfiction!!

MUSIC AND BACK TO SCHOOL

The genius and I both love music -- all kinds -- and frequently listen to it in the car while we are driving. Occasionally, we will find a program on TV, especially NPT, that will catch our fancy and we will stop our surfing to watch (and listen). Recently, we spent a very pleasant two hours enjoying a group from Ireland, called Celtic Thunder, who were recorded live in what looked like their native country.

The main stars of this group are five men, ranging in age from 16 to 41. They all had spectacular voices and harmonized very well. The rest of the stage was filled with an orchestra that highlighted the drummers and especially four lovely young ladies who played three violens and a cello and sang some also. These girls were all dressed similarly in satin dresses and were amazing as they played their instruments superbly and were able to dance around the stage at the same time.

We were so taken by this group that we promptly ordered the DVD and one of their CDs online. Now we can sit around at night and be entertained all over again. I'm telling you, my Irish blood is stirred everytime I hear them.

Otherwise in our lives, school is beginning for the genius and also for the grandchildren. Today is the last day I will have Jay and Annie (except for next week when I will keep them for a long weekend.) We went to the annual kickoff
picnic for the faculty last night and ended up eating outside --- in the RAIN!! I kept thinking we would move inside, but no! -- people just put up umbrellas and continued to eat. Granted, it wasn't raining hard, but I'm not one to sit around getting wet when I could be inside. Needless to say, the party didn't last long.

Now with school beginning again, I can look forward to some long, lazy days!!

TRYING TO WRITE

Somedays it's just hard to sit down and write. It's not necessarily writer's block either; it's just that there's too much going on around me. I think it will be much easier once the genius is back in school --- next week. Once that happens I will have whole days to myself and not be thinking about lunchtime or running joint errands, etc.

The grandkids will also be back in school and I won't get to see them as much as I do in summer. Below are some random pictures I have taken the last few weeks.



ANNIE AND I ARE EATING LUNCH AT FIVE GUYS



JAY ALSO AT FIVE GUYS



IN FLORIDA EATING FISH THE GUYS CAUGHT THAT DAY

ONE FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE

There is one exercise in futility I have managed to avoid most of my life; it is frustrating and almost always ends in a feeling of failure for me. I'm talking about parallel parking.

The genius is a master at this. He pulls up even with the car in front of the empty space, begins backing and turning, and at just the right moment he shifts the steering wheel around and backs the car smoothly in.

On the other hand, I end up hitting the curb and having to rock forward and backward several times while impatient people waiting to go around me angrily honk their horns or at the least give me dirty looks. I'm exhausted when I get through, usually sweating and swearing, and I don't even want to get out of the car.

I cannot imagine how I was able to pass this part of my driver's test when I was sixteen. Then I had to use a car with a stick shift and no power steering!!

What made me think of this is that last week I had to go to two stores and I spotted a perfect place right halfway between where I wanted to go. The only problem was it was a parallel place, and to make matters worse, it was on the opposite side of the road from the way I was headed. Without bothering to think things through, I whipped across the road and headed in front first. That's always a mistake; I was doomed before I started. I must have gone up and back, up and back, sixteen times, trying to avoid hitting the Jaguar behind me and the Caddilac Escalade in front. Finally, I stopped when I thought I had done a reasonably good job and got out of the car. It was then I realized that I was about a yard and a half from the curb.

I quickly hurried into one of the stores before anyone connected me to the car.

BIG WEEKEND

The genius and I had such a great weekend that I've had a hard time putting it into words. But I can't go on postponing writing about it just because I'm at a loss as to how to describe such a fun time. The weekend was filled with activities that revolved around my classmates' seventieth birthday bash, and what a great time we had.

It started with Friday night at the club with the genius and me hosting the first night. We had drinks and appetizers from 5:00 to 7:00 to get the celebrating started. Because we had added the Friday night party as an afterthought, we didn't think many people would show up. But over sixty people came and saw and conquered -- the food, anyway. It was great seeing everyone.

Then on Saturday I had invited our new friends Larry and Betty along with another classmate, Gailya and her husband John to lunch. I call them new friends because although we were in the same high school class, we didn't really get to know them until after the 50th reunion two years ago. Now we correspond on a regular basis and have become fast friends. It was really pleasant and interesting to sit and talk with them without everyone else around. The genius and I have talked several times about how much we enjoyed that time.

Then it was on to Richland Club for another big night, the actual celebration. At this occasion over eighty people were gathered as we mingled, had a delicious dinner, and then sang "Happy Birthday" to each other. There was a huge cake that was not only attractive to look at but was really tasty as well. Finally, we all reluctantly said our good byes.

Later, I tried to remember how many came from out of town and where they were from. I recall the following places: Decatur, AL; Springfield, Houston, Indianapolis, several from Atlanta, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Tampa, and even San Fransisco. I appreciated everyone's efforts to get here and enjoyed seeing them all. These people have brought a new meaning to my life, especially Larry and Betty.

But -- I also enjoy getting together with the in-town folks and treasure my new-found relationship with them.

EATING OUT WITH BRENDA AND JIM IV

How I love living with the genius -- he really makes me laugh! Last night we were having dinner with Brenda and Jim IV (Laurie and the kids are out of town). We had a great time discussing all sorts of topics, one of which was movies.

Jim IV had brought over the Bourne series to watch and for three nights straight, we had watched them. Lots of mystery and action, and we were telling Brenda about it. She hadn't seen the movies, only read the books. We talked about how sometimes it got a little frantic with all the car chases, fighting, etc. Then the genius with a very straight face said, "I think all the noise and action really upset Rufus."

The three of us burst out laughing and he kept insisting, "No, I mean it, his personality changed; he just didn't act like himself."

Brenda gasped, "I can hardly wait to tell Ashley!"

We had barely recovered from that little episode when the genius announces, "I heard a song today, and I'm sure you all have heard it. But I never had, and it was the strangest song. I was riding the indoor bike at the rec center when it came on: 'Who Let the Dogs Out' must have been the title." We all started laughing all over again, and one of us started singing right there in the restaurant and the rest joined in, "Who let the dogs out, WHO... WHO-WHO."

He said, "YES, that's IT! What's the purpose of that song?" We all agreed it was a silly one.

I'm surprised the restaurant manager didn't come over and tell us to calm down, which has happened to us before (Remember, sisters?),

We had a great time, needless to say.

DAY AT HOME

My day at home yesterday didn't go as well as I would have liked. I did some things around the house, and some of them turned out well -- and some didn't.

I started out with the bright idea that I would try (again!) to get the spots out of the rug that my dear Rufus put in. I have tried so many different solutions that didn't work that I decided to get tough. So I mixed a strong concoction of carpet shampoo and bleach. I sprayed each spot with this and took a brush and scrubbed each area. Then I got out the shampooer and went over the whole area. This little exercise worked -- and it didn't work: I now have lighter brown spots with circles of white around them (whiter than the white carpet). Whether it looks better, I'll let everyone be his or her own judge. At least I know it is clean.

Then I decided to frame out the mirror in my bathroom. I had already painted the wood pieces to look like a wood frame and had gotten all the instructions and materials from Home Depot about how to glue it on, etc. So I started with one long side. It just didn't occur to me that I would have to paint the back side also, but the unfinished side shows in the mirror. So now I need to take it down and start over.

It would have been a lot easier to take the mirror down and get a new framed one, but I really like the size of this one, just not the way it looks around the edges.

One job that did go well was the cleaning out of the refrigerator, but how can you go wrong with that?

It's funny how things happen. I've been trying for months for a guy to stop by and work on my yard a little and yesterday I looked out the window and there he was, working away. This summer we had really let the yard go with all the traveling, etc. And when I did work on it, I killed the grass in spots, trying to fertilize it. So I was most appreciative that he showed up.

It still doesn't look great, by any means; I mean, the grass is still dead, but it's a good start. I would love it if he would come on a full time basis, but the genius would probably not like that at all. But it looks better than it did, and for that I'm grateful.

Today is a nice rainy day, fairly cool, and I have nothing specific on the agenda. No doctors' appointments, no shopping I have to do. I believe I'll use this opportunity to have some time to myself.

I've been reading a Maeve Binchey book, The Firefly Summer, for a while now, and it is really good. I thought I had read all of her books, which are set in Ireland, but I found this one. Like her others, it is long and involved and I'm really enjoying it.

We had a nice time eating with Brenda and her children last night at Ruby Tuesday's.

The problem I have now is that the only thing that makes me feel older than celebrating my birthday each year is for one of my children to have a birthday.

FUN TIMES

Well, I surely finked out last week on writing -- I suppose I was taking a vacation from everything. We had a really fun time, but I think all of us were glad to get back to normal again.

One of the highlights was that Mike, Tommy, Danny, and Kirstin went deep sea fishing and caught tons of red snapper which we promptly cooked that night and ate. It was yummmmmy!! That was a first for us and we really enjoyed it.

The genius and I were able to eat out at our favorite restaurants as well as enjoying Ashley's great cooking throughout the week.

At the beginning of the week (on Sunday night) I was in the dog house. I was sure that Papa Joe's restaurant was open and we drove the 28 miles there to eat without calling first. But guess what? It wasn't! And neither was anything else. We finally drove to a seafood market and brought a load of shrimp and grouper and took it home to cook. We had a late dinner that night but it was worth all the driving and wait.

I did take some pictures but they didn't turn out, so that was another reason I didn't get around to posting on the blog.

Big party plans this weekend: our classmates from high school are getting together to celebrate our 70th birthday. There will be two nights of partying and on Saturday some of them are coming to lunch at our house. I'm so excited!

And speaking of birthdays, today is Brenda's and we are celebrating with her tonight. The fun never ends !!

LIFE AT THE BEACH

We are having a wonderful time in Cape San Blas!! We arrived late Saturday afternoon following an uneventful trip in two cars. And our place is just right for us.

There's a bedroom and bath on the bottom floor right off the entry hall where Tom and Kirstin are staying. On the main floor are a huge living room, dining area and kitchen, all with a view of the beach, plus a half bath. And then upstairs are three bedrooms, two opening to a deck on the front, and 2 baths. We are right on the beach where we all spend a few hours a day usually at various times.

Rufus is loving all of it because he is getting so much attention. Yesterday I took him to the edge of the water where he played tag with the waves. Then I picked him up and took him out a few feet and let him swim some while I was holding on to him. He really seemed to like it. He loves walking on the beach until he sees another dog and then he's intimidated -- what a little chicken he is face to face -- but oh so fierce if he's behind a glass door.

Brenda and her friend Katie are staying down the road and they came by for a visit last night. We all gathered on the front porch and suddenly, a huge roach started across the floor right in the middle of us. The genius shot his foot out and crushed it and the sound was UNbelievable -- there was this indescribably LOUD pop as he squashed it, and we all went "Ewwwwwwwwwwww"!!!!

This morning Mike, Tom, and Danny went golfing and saw a baby aligator on the course.

I'll try to take some pictures today (not of the roach or gator) and post them tomorrow.

FAMILY'S HERE

Ashley and Danny have been here 2 days and the house has been rockin'. Wednesday night we all gathered here for dinner and then four of the grandkids stayed here to sleep over.

Yesterday we all gathered at Jim IV's club for a good tennis and swim time. Plus, we all had a delicious lunch. We were all back here for dinner again, then the boys spent the night at Jim IV's. Thereafter, things got very quiet and this morning Ashley and I have had fun hanging out.

This afternoon Mike, Tom, and KirstIn are arriving. We will eat Thai food for dinner and leave early tomorrow morning for our favorite vacation spot. We are all very excited.

I'll try to put some pictures online next week while we are there.

FAMILY'S COMIN'

Big day today!! Ashley and Danny arrive from Phoenix and on Friday Mike, Tom and Kirsten will get here. Then all of us, including Brenda and her two will take off for our favorite Florida spot, Cape San Blas.

So Thursday and Friday will be extremely busy having all of the family here trying to see "the Phoenix people." There will probably be lots of grandchildren sleeping over either here or at Jim's or Brenda's. I'll let them work that out, and try not to get too involved in the decisions made about that. I'll just be available with sheets, blankets and pillows in hand, if need be.

I've about got the inside of the house to my liking, just a few little items to finish until next year when hopefully, I will be able to think about new floors for the downstairs and get the stair railing built.

Then I'll concentrate on the outside. It's a real mess right now, especially since I killed a lot of the grass. I planted some grass in the spring and it was doing so nicely until I put weed and feed on it. Apparently, I used too much because we have big brown spots all over the yard. I even got some on the neighbors' yard when I made each turn with the spreader.

One of the ladies next door asked me, "What's up with these big brown spots all over the yard? Do you know anything about them?" I had to explain what had happened and apologize profusely. I'm sure they wonder what kind of neighbors they have who would not only kill my grass. but theirs too!

I'll wait until it's cooler and I have nothing else to do before I repair the damage. And they're ok with that.

Until then I'll sit back and enjoy the family!!

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Sometimes I get a little carried away when it comes to putting photos on the blog, so just bear with me. Yesterday an electrician installed some new lights for us and I thought I would share.




Kind of dark, but this is the fan/light installed in the master bedroom.





Track lighting over the kitchen sink





A shot with the light off in the dining area.





Dining room with the light on (notice the pattern on the ceiling)


We also got new ones in the bathroom and guest bedroom plus a closet light in the master. I'm very happy with the results.

LAST WEEK IS OVER, THANK GOODNESS!!

To say that last week was a rough one would be an understatement. What possessed me to make three doctors appointments in one week I don't know but I hope I have sense enough not to do that again.

On Monday I had my six months's check up where I was poked, stuck with needles, and donated four vials of blood to the cause. The reports from that visit were fine -- I'm doing well for a 69 year old.

On Tuesday I prepared for Wednesday, the endoscopy and colonscopy. Enough said about that. If you've ever been through that, you know what it's like.

Then on Wedneswday I went in for the tests -- waited two hours before I was actually rolled into the treatment room!! I was not too happy about that. Both tests were uneventful except for one thing: the endoscope scratched my throat and I'm still not over that part. It has caused me to have a tickly cough that has kept me awake nights. I'm not ever happy when I don't sleep well, as my family knows. Anyway, let's hope that passes soon.

Then on Thursday I went to the dermatologist to have a place on my chest frozen off. That's not so bad, but the place looks pretty nasty.

Oh well, I am being cheered up today because an electrician is coming today to install some light fixtures I bought over the weekend for the dining room, bathroom, kitchen, and 2 bedrooms. That should lift my spirits.

Nothing like spending a little money to improve my mood!!

SECRETS OF SUCCESS

So what has been the secret of the success of 49 years of marriage for the genius and me? I would say it is a combination of things.

First of all, we would both admit that our marriage has had many rocky places in it, some worse than others. But here we are still chugging along and not doing too badly.

We do disagree a lot and argue over unimportant things. Case in point: We pull into a parking place and realizing I have plenty of room on my side, I swing the door open wide. He says, "Look out! You're going to hit that other car! Boy, that was close!"

I can't let it go as I answer, "I had plenty of room!" and proceed to show him when he comes around the car. He grumbles "Ok, ok."

As we are walking toward the store, I ask, "Do all old couples squabble like this?"

He answers, "I don't know, but we've been doing it all along."

Then I burst out laughing and he joins in and there are no hard feelings.

That -- laughter -- is one of the keys to our success -- we make each other laugh a lot, even though we always want to be right. For Fathers' Day I gave him a card that had a little plastic credit card inside that gives him one privilige to be "right." It cannot be used in the presence of others and it's only good for one time. I'm waiting for the time when he will pull it out, probably when he knows I'm absolutely correct about something.

We're fair about it when we are wrong, though. We frequently have to say to each other, "You know when you said 'such and such'? Well, you were right."

Another reason we have lasted is that although he is left brained and I am right (there's that word again!), we enjoy intellectual conversations. We took a test once and each one of us found that to be the most appealing trait about the other. That was years ago, but it's still true today.

So that's how the genius and I made it this far, but please, tell me how we'll tolerate each other once he retires!

BOOKS AND MOVIES

What will the genius and I watch on TV now that the college baseball world series is over and the football season hasn't started yet? We just can't seem to get together anymore on what we like to watch.

We recently looked at the movie Gran Torino, which I thought I would really like. But the language was more than I could bear, and there was definitely too much violence. Now I realize the violent scenes were short and far apart, but I can't stand ANY, especially when torture is involved. The only way I can get through a movie like that is to be on the computer or read a book the same time it's going on so I don't get too emotionally involved.

And therein lies the difference between the genius and me. He can watch exciting, suspenseful, even violent movies and really enjoy them, whereas I get so drawn into the characters and their lives that I can hardly stand anything painful to occur to them. I get these horrible images in my mind and they don't go away. And sleep is impossible without medical help after I watch.

He and I are the same way with books. He is now reading some of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's books, describing the Siberian work camps, etc. I know he is a great writer and very influential in the fall of communism in Russia, but I'm content to read about him and leave his books to others. I guess I'm just a wimp but after all these years of my love affair with reading, I know what I like: feel good stories with happy endings. Just give me Jane Austen or Jan Karon and I'm fine.

I'll leave the violence and gore and misery to the macho types!

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Sometime during the spring the genius informed me that we had $2800 in our flex-spending account for medical expenses and we would lose it if we didn't spend it. So I have been diligent to make all the appointments I have been putting off.

I have set up times to see the dentist, the eye doctor, the dermatologist, my internist, and the gastrointerologist (groan!). I think that about covers it. The last one is a week from today and boy, am I dreading it. Not the appointment, but the preparation.

They sent out a huge set of instructions for getting ready for the exam. I have to cut out aspirin and Advil for a week beforehand and three days prior to the test, no fruits or vegetables. Then of course, the real prep begins -- fluids, and the dreaded medication that goes with it. I vowed five years ago I would never do this again, but here I am getting ready for it.

Needless to say, nothing else is on the calendar for next Tuesday!

On another subject, the genius and I have never really cared for baseball. Very occasionally we have watched some games when Vanderbilt or Florida games were televised, but even then we can't seem to get excited about it.

Now we are really into the college World Series games being played in Omaha. We don't really care who wins -- Texas is where our great-nieces attend, and LSU is an SEC team. But it is just fun to watch this exciting series. Every game seems to bring surprises, and the players are just so talented. So every night we have been parked in front of the TV watching the games and enduring the same old commercials.

And I'm sure we will be there for the final game tonight.

BUT --- only a little over two months and we will be completely immersed in our favorite pasttime of all -- GATOR FOOTBALL!!!!

TRIP TIDBITS

I promise that this will be the last blog about the trip West; I just had to record a few little items or incidents we saw that were interesting or amusing.

A couple of intriguing signs:

1) STATE PRISON! DO NOT PICK UP HITCHHIKERS (As if we ever would!)

2) FALLING ROCK EXISTS HERE Are they dead elsewhere? I just thought "exists" was a funny word to use.

And then there were the towns of stars that we passed through.

In Texas:

1) Roger Miller's hometown (wasn't that "King of the Road"?) (taught both of his children)

2) Astronaut Tom Stafford

In Oklahoma:

1) Garth Brooks
2) Troy Aikmann
3) Carrie Underwood

Then finally, when we were almost home, we passed a big truck with a Gator license plate. As we went by, I gave the Gator chomp with my arms, then did a thumbs up. He honked, then the genius honked and we went on, pleased to have made that small contact with another member of the Gator Nation.

Little things, but meaningful!

VIEWS FROM OUR SHANGRI LA



Here is the view we have out of the front of our house. Because the bamboo is an evergreen, it stays this way all winter.




This is another angle out of the front window.



A view from the side window. Essentially, we are surrounded by greenery until the leaves fall off the trees.





A bouquet of hydrangeas from the bush in the front yard. Both flowers are from the same bush.


These are some of the reasons we love living here. It's like being in the country even though we are in Green Hills, a section not far from the downtown. Very convenient to everything, including the interstate. But we have lots of privacy at the end of our little dead end street.

HOME, HOME, AT LAST

We arrived last night to our Shangri La, and it was great to be back. We had a wonderful time, but to quote Dorothy, "There's no place like home!" We had some glitches this morning (overflowing AC drain into the kitchen and no internet) but both are fixed now and all is well.

People have been emailing me wanting to know why we didn't get a ticket when we were pulled over last week, so here's the story: First, the trooper informed us that we were going 83 in a 70 mph zone, and asked to see the genius's license. As the genius was handing it over to him, he said (as he had been instructed to do}, "There's something I need to tell you. I have a right-to-carry license (and he whipped it out) and there's a loaded .38 in the glove compartment."

Immediately, the trooper's stern attitude relaxed and he said, "Oh, that's ok. I'll just give you a warning then. Just slow down." We were both flabbergasted! It was so obvious that he changed as soon as he heard about have the r-t-c license. We discussed it for a long time afterwards trying to figure it out. We never did work it out. If you have any ideas, please comment or email me.

Needless to say, we were very grateful. We also didn't speed (at least not much), especially after we got out of Tennessee.

We actually enjoyed our long ride, believe it or not. There was lots of scenery to see, we had some great music I had purchased for the trip, and we discovered a game to play that had us laughing a lot. We would take a name of a town (especially if it was a Native American name) and try to make up a sentence with it. Example: Tucumcari (New Mexico) -- "'two cum carry' a lot more than one." Very corny, I know, but we enjoyed it. The genius especially liked it because he would somehow work in the "peeing on foot" incident into his. We became very creative and it kept us from getting too cranky with each other. (I must admit, though, having that .38 in the glove compartment right in front of me tempted me a few times when he got testy.)

Overall, I highly recommend what we did, with the possible exception of taking a pet along. But even that was enjoyable because we could have the peace of mind that nothing could happen to our little darling. And I must admit he was a trooper on the road.

And --- by the way, it's our 49th anniversary today. Get ready for next year, everyone! There's no telling WHAT we'll do to celebrate!

PICTURES OF NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA




This is a picture of the highest mountain in Socorro, NM, where we spent two nights on the way to Phoenix. The white speck on top of the mountain is a big M painted on each year by the freshman at New Mexico Tech. It stands for miners because it was originally a school for mining engineers (and still is a major, actually).





Here is a shot of the mountains on Arizona's "scenic route" which I loved and the genius hated.





We're pretty high up (almost 8000 ft.) in the "scenic" mountains of Arizona.





If you look across the valley to the left of the sign, you can see the road where we had just been. The genius was freaking out at this point.

We had a great visit with Ashley and are now on our way back. I'm sure all of that part of the family was glad when we left because of the disturbance Rufus caused several times either with the dogs or the cats. Ash said she had never seen her overweight kitty move so fast up the steps when Rufus chased her. And I never saw Rufus move so fast when the two big dogs chased him one afternoon!

Tonight we are in Albuquerque and plan to be home Wednesday night.

ON THE BACK ROAD TO PHOENIX

The following story is true, I'm ashamed to say. I don't know why I'm telling on myself this way, but the genius thought it was funny. So here goes.

On Friday we were tooling across Arizona after having driven through New Mexico. The road we were on was the "scenic route" which translated means winding two laner with many switch backs and sheer drop-offs on the side of the road. Of course, I thought it was beautiful, and of course, the genius was cursing the whole way, vowing never to take a back road again, no matter how short it was. "Enjoy it while you can because I will NEVER do this again."

So you get the idea what kind of mood he was in. We really needed to stop and let Rufus relieve himself, and there were NO rest areas or gas stations. So we pulled off at a scenic overlook to let him go do his business. As soon as I stood up, I realized that I couldn't wait either, so opted to go in a little ditch that was hidden from the road.

I got "in the position" and was starting to go when I felt my foot being splashed. I tried to maneuver around to get the appendage out of the way but to no avail. Modest as I am and considering the mood the genius was in, I decided not to say anything and just go straight to the car and get out the handy wipes. He was impatient and was standing behind me waiting to hand Rufus to me. So I finally said, "I peed on my foot and need to clean it up, okay?"

Incredulous, he asked me, "How did you manage to do?"

When I tried to explain, he was laughing so hard he couldn't hear me.

Oh well, at least I managed to cheer him up for a few miles. The things I do for that man!

WEST, DAY TWO

The genius and I made our way across the plains today and on into New Mexico by 5:30, Mtn. Time Zone. This was in spite of lots of construction and about an hour of rain in Texas. But we love the scenery of New Mexico and enjoyed our ride.

I was struck by the color of the sky as we rode and tried to capture it in the picture below. Near the earth it is a pale blue, almost turquoise, actually, and then it gets darker blue up above us. The clouds looked 3 dimensional and were really fascinating.

The second picture is of an overpass that is painted that same light blue and also a coral color. There were lots of other artistic touches everywhere: on water tanks, bridges, buildings, etc. I tried to get a shot of a storage tank that was covered in tiger stripes and then the front had the tiger's face on it, but I was too late. (The speed limit in New Mexico is 75 and the genius was going at least that.)

The third is Rufus who was not the least bit interested in all the scenery.

Tomorrow we will spend the day here and then go over to Phoenix on Friday.

DAY ONE OF THE WAY WEST

The first day was somewhat uneventful considering that we drove 693 miles. We did get stopped by a Highway Patrolman and the genius was able to get out of it. I can't tell you how until we get back, however. Right now it is a secret that will be revealed whenever we return next week.

We left early this morning -- well, early for the genius and me. He went out and took a ride on his bike, came back, showered, and finished packing. We were still able to get on the road by 7:20. (Brenda and I have been known to leave before 6:00 on our trips together.) About an hour out we were stopped by our friendly cop.

And speaking of them, they were patrolling the highway in great numbers from Nashville to Jackson. I don't know why or what was going on. After that town, we hardly saw any all the way to our final destination.

The genius heartily dislikes Arkansas and driving through it. He began complaining as soon as we crossed the river about the construction that started and made a bet with me that there would be at least seven more construction areas to go through before we reached the OK border. So I took him up on it. There were only two very minor places that we didn't even slow down for, so I won. Then when we hit OK, a state he likes, there were miles of one lane traffic in one place and several other spots as well. He actually tried to cheat on the bet by saying that this construction counted as Arkansas, but of course, he didn't get away with it.

Rufus has been a little nervous about the whole travel thing, beginning when we were packing the car. He was very afraid he was going to be left behind -- so much so that he got between me and the back door and wouldn't move. We finally made it and he has traveled pretty well. Every now and then he would get restless and move around the car, but eventually he became used to the moving and settled down. He is now on my bed happily gnawing on a bone.

Tomorrow we are hoping to reach Socorro, NM. The distance is also over 600 miles so it will be another long day of driving.

But then we will spend a day exploring that interesting little town!

GETTING READY TO GO WEST!!

OK, I admit I have been very remiss about keeping the blog up to date. I have a semi-good reason -- we are leaving tomorrow to drive out West. The genius, Rufus, and I will trek across the country, sight-seeing along the way and ending up in Phoenix to see Ashley and family.


Last week the sisters and I spent our night at Center Hill Lake together. This is an annual affair with each one of us supplying a meal. We had a great time getting caught up on our news and generally praising ourselves for living this long. I learned from MA that she knew from years ago one of the ladies in my bridge club (the five karat diamond one).

So today I went to bridge club and told the lady and of course, she remembered MA. She was very surprised to learn that we were sisters. But then she said that now that she knew she could see the resemblance. Lucky you, MA!

I've also been busy helping to plan our high school birthday bash to be held in July. We have decided on two nights instead of one and I offered our club for the first night. They took me up on it and I've had to go round and round trying to get it just right. Remember the time I spent so much money having my bridge club there? Well, I have become quite the bargainer and keep telling them to cut it down -- cut it down. I think we are finally there. I so look forward to seeing everyone again.

Since I have done very little packing, and it's almost 3:00, I must cut this short and get to it.

I'll try to send pictures along the way.

CHANGING MY WAYS AIN'T EASY

Yesterday I met with the high school buddies to finish planning our get-together in July. As mentioned earlier (I think), we are gathering to celebrate our 70th birthday. Acually, it's just an excuse for us all to see each other again because we know we're not getting any younger.

As I was getting dressed, I was contemplating why it takes me so much longer to get ready to go anywhere than it used to. When I worked, I arose every morning at 5:30, showered, dried my hair, dressed, and put makeup on. By 6:00 I was ready to have my morning coffee with the genius and at 6:30 we both left for work. Now it takes me at least 45 minutes and often longer to do the same routine. So I began looking at how I've changed since I retired.

One thing I do differently is that I make up the bed as soon as I get up. Also, I wipe down the shower walls after I've finished bathing and this takes at least five minutes. Then I have to decide what to wear. Often, I try on several different outfits before making a decision; before, I had laid out my clothes the night before. Another little exercise I do is to put my contact lens in every morning (before I was using extended wear lenses, but the doctor made me stop). So that takes time. And I'm sure that I take more time with my makeup due to the aging process.

So! That explains it, but I must say that I operated on the old schedule for quite a while before I caught on. I would allow for only thirty minutes and then realize I couldn't make it. The genius, meanwhile, would be pacing the floor downstairs, calling up every few minutes. Then he would get the car out and have it ready to go. I would grab whatever makeup and jewelry I still needed to do and fly out the door, trying to juggle everything.

On the way to wherever we were headed, I would attempt to put on mascara and lipstick in the car. I couldn't say a word when the genius hit a bump in the road and my lipstick would hit my nose or I got mascars in my hair. I was the one who had made us late, after all.

I finally caught on and allowed more time, but it hasn't been easy.

At my age, old habits die hard!!

H WEEK

I had forgotten how much I hate this week every year. Most schools are out -- the graduations were held last weekend -- but not so with the school where the genius teaches. What's more, they drag the ending of the year out for a week!

Almost every night something is scheduled at the school. On Tuesday night was 7th. 8th grades honors/graduation ceremony. As Math Department Head, the genius must be there to hand out math awards to the deserving recipients. On Wednesday night the upper school students are honored for academic/service/athletics awards. Again, the genius is present to hand out more medals. Tonight is graduation where he must sit in his robe and swelter in the heat and humidity (unless it rains) while the seniors get their diplomas. Of course, he loves every bit of it and must work hard during each day to get ready for all the ceremonies, etc.

Each afternoon he has to rush through his meal and get back over there. This year we came up for a solution to the parking situation. I take him over and drop him off and go back and get him when it is over. Since we live fairly close to the school, this has worked well.

After graduation tonight the boys will all gather at a designated place and have an all night casino party hosted by the parents and faculty. The party is not mandatory but 100% usually attend. This keeps them sober and off the street during the night and has been very successful. The genius used to attend and run the roulette wheel for half the night, but thank goodness he has not been asked in recent years.

So, one more night and it will be over -- almost. He will have to continue his end of year/getting ready for next year tasks. But this year he has a goal: he wants to get on the road to Phoenix in a couple of weeks with nothing hanging over his head.

Here's hoping he can pull it off!!

I hope everyone had a nice and restful "holiday" weekend. I put that word in quotes because for the genius it was work as usual.

I awoke at about 9:00 to find the house empty except for me and Rufus. And no note. Of course, I was pretty sure where he was so I called him on the cell. Sure enough -- he was at work.

"It's a holiday!" I said.

"But I have work to do and you were asleep," he explained.

Well, what could I say? Anyway, he was home by lunchtime. Jim IV and Jay and Annie came by that afternoon and we went to Chef Yang's for dinner. Everyone but me loves that place, a Chinese buffet that also features sushi and hibachi bars. I'm just not that in to Asian food anymore unless it's very unusual like PM, an Asian fusion restaurant that we have been visiting lately. But the company was nice so I enjoyed it.

The genius is trying to finish up all his work in the next two weeks so he can relax on our trip out West. I'm really looking forward to it. We are taking Rufus with us so we have to be careful to find pet friendly hotels with exercise rooms also. So far I have booked the first night in Oklahoma City and the second and third in Socorro, NM. That's where the genius's father attended school while his father's uncle was president of the college. It was called New Mexico School of Mines then but is now New Mexico Tech.

We will stay there a couple of days before driving on to Phoenix to visit Ashley and her family. The trip is open ended, so I'm not sure when we will be coming back or how long it will take us. Just what we need to unwind from what's been a very busy year for the genius.

And we'll have our "baby" with us so we won't be worrying about how he's doing without us!

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

After several sunny days it's supposed to be overcast and perhaps storms here in Nashville. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted, and actually, since I sprinkled Weed and Feed on the yard yesterday, I would just as soon it rain.

I have a nice day at home after being on the go the last few days. Yesterday I went back to my old school because they were presenting the annual reading award named after yours truly and I like to go back and support that. I missed last year because of Bailey's graduation in Phoenix so I particularly wanted to be there this year.

That visit was what kept me busy the rest of the week. Of course, I had to look my best! So Monday was grocery day, but Tuesday and Wednesday were spent primping -- got the nails done and then a hair style. Then yesterday morning I spent an extra amount of time getting ready.

I must say it was worth it; got many compliments on how I looked.

"You look beautiful!"

"You haven't aged a bit!"

"I love your necklace."

"Such cute shoes."

So this is what happens when a person retires and relaxes. You look so rested."

And so on. Very satisfying to get strokes like that.

But going back to work didn't even enter my mind. I'm completely over it!

Vive le Retirement!!

THE TWIN BEDS

It seems I've come full circle in my life, at least as far as my sleeping arrangements go. I'm sleeping in the bed I first slept in as a child -- the first one I ever remember sleeping in, at least.

The twin beds I now have in the master bedroom are the very ones that BJ and I slept in from the time I was about two 1/2 or three until the upstairs were finished and they were moved into BJ's new room.

BJ and I bonded in these beds. Every night before we went to sleep we had a little ritual we went through. We had our prayers first -- our own version of "Now I Lay Me" and then there was a little chant that we recited with each of us alternating lines. It went like this:

"Goodnight" "Goodnight"

"Sleep tight" "Sleep tight"

"To wake up bright" "In the morning light"

"To do what's right" "With all our might"

And I think there was more but I can't remember it.

We whispered together every night but sometimes we were too loud. We would hear one of our parents call from the living room to settle down and go to sleep. When we didn't take heed after several warnings, we would hear Daddy's feet hit the floor from the rocking chair, and we knew we were in for it. A pop on the rear was likely. By the time he got in there, we were "fast asleep" with the covers pulled tight up to our necks. Of course, smart Daddy that he was, that didn't fool or deter him at all. That probably didn't happen more than once or twice in our entire life, but I remember it well. I wonder what they talked about after he went back in there.

Ah, such memories!!

Well, as I have said, I am back to where I started, sleeping in one of them -- with Rufus.

But we don't have our chant -- or maybe we do -- it's just in a different language.

WELL AT LAST

I am happy to report that I am feeling good again. 'Nuff said.

Sunday before last I received such a nice surprise. Tom, our eldest grandson, texted me to say that he was leading the singing at his church that morning and the service would be online. So at the proper time, I signed on and checked out the site he gave me and there he was -- on stage singing with three other people. This church is huge (about 15,000 members) and has a modern-type service where several people are on stage leading contemperary Christian songs. I could especially pick up his voice when he sang a duet with the girl next to him. I was one proud grandma!!

Who knew he could sing? He went all the way through high school and college without ever doing anything musical except saying that he would like to have my guitar if I didn't want it. I willingly handed it over to him and that's the last I heard until recently when Ash told me he was leading the singing in church. I had hoped he was going to be in that role when I was out there but he wasn't scheduled the Sunday I was there. So seeing him online was the next best thing.

Last week I played bridge twice, once with my own group and then with a group I often sub in. There are some very interesting women in each one. When I was asked to join the duplicate one, I should have had a clue about their wealth by the name of the club: Laurelbrooke. That is the name of a gated community in northern Williamson County where the houses start at a million dollars. I really didn't need that to tell -- their cars and clothes indicate money and lots of it.

Plus -- I have never seen such jewelry!!! The size of the diamonds on their hands is eye-boggling (I think I just made up a word). I finally got up the nerve to ask one of them how big hers was and she said five karats! Can you imagine toting that thing around all the time? She has two drop earrings at least 1 karat each and maybe bigger. She says she never takes it off (I tried to picture sleeping in it) except when she travels; then she locks all her jewelry safely away.

That lady is not the only one either. Several have these gy-normous rocks on their hands. But they are all very down-to-earth people and I really enjoy "hanging out" with them. And thankfully, I'm way beyond the stage in my life when I might be intimidated by such an obvious display of wealth. I just appreciate them as people and bridge players.

And since I don't have a house like the ones in Laurelbrooke that could host many foursomes of bridge, I'll just continue to have it at the club when it's my turn.

But I'll definitely bargain with the management beforehand!!

FOOD POISONING AGAIN

The genius and have spent a miserable 2 days getting over food poisoning (we think) after eating at our favorite meat and three on Tuesday night. We woke up early Wednesday sick as dogs and it lasted most of the day for both of us. Today we are both just weak and taking it easy. Or at least I am; the genius went to school for half a day to finish up his classes.

Today hasn't started off too well either. I put a load of wash in and there was no detergent left, not a drop. And I sure as heck don't feel like going to the store to get some. Then when I opened the lap top, I couldn't connect to the internet. I've had to resort to the slower computer upstairs.

I understand our own Jordin Sparks sang on TV last night. I didn't feel like going downstairs to watch but I thought I would try to find it online if I can figure out what's wrong with the laptop.

We've had great weather here until today. Sunny and 70's all week, but today it is rainy -- again! Oh, well, at least we got the grass cut last weekend and we won't have to worry about that until the weekend.

I can tell I'm rambling in my weakened state, so I'll stop!

SEPHORA

I first heard about this store several years ago when I was a chaperone for the 8th grade on a trip to NYC. The girls in my group kept saying, "Oh, we have to go to Sephora, it's right across the street!!" So one night about 11:00 (it seems nothing ever closes in New York) we ambled down the street to Sephora. (Actually, "ambled" is too strong a word for what I was doing that night due to the fact that I was exhausted after chasing after them all day,) But we entered this store that featured all types of beauty products to just browse.

I was a bit overwhelmed by all the merchandise, but the girls kept trying to get me to get a make-over. At first I resisted because I knew that I would end up buying whatever they put on my face, but I finally agreed to let someone "do over" my eyes. Sure enough, after it was over and I looked so great, I bought three different shades of eye shadow, all in similar tones of "neutral." I don't remember what I paid for them, but I know it was more than I usually pay for three outfits. But, to be truthful, I have used them throughout the years and still have some left. I don't know whether that's because I don't wear it often or a little goes a long way. I suspect it's both.

Well, now we have a Sephora in Nashville. So far I have only been in it once or twice to buy a facial cleanser (I now just order it online). But when I was in Phoenix, I had occasion to go again. I was shopping with Ashley and Jordan and they dragged me in. I was interested in a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, so I began my search for one.

Of course, someone came up to me to assist and I told her what I was looking for. She steered me to a Christian Dior (I'm sure it was the most expensive one) and together we decided on a color. Then she asked me what I put my makeup on with and when I hesitated, she gasped, "You don't apply it with your fingers, do you? That spreads BACTERIA!" I sheepishly said that I did, and suggested that I should use a tissue.

"No, no, you must put it on with a brush!" she said as she dragged me over to a whole aisle of nothing but brushes (not for hair, you understand). We finally decided on one and she proceeded to tell me that I must have a special liquid with which to clean the brush. To the horror of my daughter and granddaughter, I agreed and ended up paying $83+ for these three items.

You can understand why I do my shopping online. Otherwise, I get talked into all sorts of items to buy.

But I have to tell you, when I got back home and tried applying the moisturizer with both methods, the brush won hands down. And the cleaner works very well, also.

So it wasn't a total loss, but I believe I will stay away from Sephora for a while.

The pictures below are taken in Ashley's backyard. Two are of the back of the house, but one has the dogs, and the other is of the pool.

I had a great time seeing everyone in Phoenix, but I'm home now and happy to be with the genius and Rufus. They both missed me very much --- or so they say.

SURPRISE

Last night we made a visit to Surprise, AZ, where Tommy (oldest grandson) and his wife Kirstin live. They live in a very nice house in a new subdivision out there about thirty minutes from Ashley's house. We had a nice Mexican meal (my third in four days; I love it!) We had a very enjoyable visit.

I love this new generation. Tom and Kirsten's house has four bedrooms, 3 baths, den, bonus room, and living room. They have nice seating areas in the den and bonus where they hang out for conversation, etc. But in what we would call the living room they have a pool table and sofa. Isn't that unique? So I challenged Danny (14) to a game before dinner.

First, he had to show me how to hold that pole thingy which I think is called a cue stick. I have never done more than try a few shots so he had to tell me how to play, etc. Dan was the expert while it was feast or famine with me. I would either knock the white ball off the table altogether or just barely graze it, but then from out of nowhere would come this fantastic shot that amazed both of us.

Finally, we got down to one ball each plus the eight ball and Danny called the pocket where he would hit it. He smacked it and somehow it went up to the wrong hole and then just fell in. So I won!! That will definitely be the luckiest game I have ever won. Of course, now I love the game and want to buy a pool table, but if we did I would have to get rid of our living room furniture.

Somehow I don't think the genius would go for that!!

SUNNY ARIZONA

I hate to rub it in to all those folks back in Nashville where it has rained for several days, but it is beautiful out here in Phoenix. The temperatures are in the 80's, the sun is out, and there's a wonderful breeze. What a great place to be!!

I flew out on Friday, not a great flight until we got over Oklahoma, but the rest of the way was very smooth. It was a whirlwind from the time I arrived until today mostly because of Jordan's graduation, but also had a birthday celebration for my son-in-law's uncle. So I have seen all of his family as well as a few others.

The graduation was held in the Arizona Diamond Back baseball stadium, which is covered and cool thanks to the AC. Very pleasant. Plus there was the big screen so we could see each person clearly as he or she received the diploma. I've been to a lot of graduations, but this one was the best one ever. Of course, I took a book to read for the moments when things were a little "draggy."

I love Ashley's new house!! It is very roomy and comfortable even when there were thirty people here like on Saturday night. This morning I was able to spend an hour or two sunning by the pool which is set in a beautiful back yard. And then Ash and I went to a great lunch place called The Wildflower. Yummmm!

Ashley has two big labs, one chocolate and one Marley, named after two Mexican drinks. The former is Kahlua, and Marley is really named Horchata (a white drink and the "H" is silent). This morning Horchata lay down on his back for me to rub his tummy so I obliged with my bare foot. He promptly thanked me by peeing all over both feet. What a nice dog!!

They also have two cats who for some reason are very attached to me. One of them, Misty, leaves her usual place in Bailey's room and jumps in my lap. Everyone is very surprised to see her do that, and I am too when I look down at the fur she leaves behind on my lap. Oh well, there's plenty of room for all as long as they stay out of my room.

I'll keep you posted on my fun time here and maybe even put some pictures on!!

This has been a busy week. I'm getting ready to travel to Phoenix for yet anothr graduation. This time it is our second oldest grandchild Jordan who is graduating with a nursing degree from Grand Canyon University. So I'm spending a week with the family getting some quality time with them.

Yesterday I got my hair colored and cut; today or tomorrow I will get the nails done and then my body will be ready. All I have to do now is to pack and from what I read and hear, I will need summer clothes already. Good old Phoenix; what a hot place it can be.

We had a scary experience last night. It was about 9:00, and the genius and I had gone upstairs to start the process for bed. It was a little early for me but I planned to read my new book for an hour or two. I was passing by the window and noticed through the closed blinds some lights from a car outside. So I peeked through and there was a black pickup truck parked in front of our driveway, just sitting there with the motor running.

I called the genius and we doused the lights and watched. After what seemed like a very long time, a man got out from the driver's side and came to the mailbox and looked inside it. He was a very large man who walked with a limp, and when he started up the driveway toward the house we could see he was carrying something, but we couldn't see what it was.

The genius ran to get his pants on and I began turning off other lights so we could watch. By the time I got back to the window the man was back in the truck and was backing it up the street. But we didn't know if there had been anyone with him who might have gotten out.

The genius donned his clothes, turned the alarm off, and descended the stairs with a loaded pistol in his pocket. I stayed at the top watching the truck turn around in a driveway up the street and head out.

What we found on the front porch were two packages, both from Amazon, that I had ordered two days ago. They are usually sent UPS, which had been on our street late that afternoon and I was miffed that they hadn't delivered the books then (I had ordered them 2-day shipping and this was the second day). So our mystery was solved. Apparently, Amazon is committed to keeping their word even if it means the books are special-delivered by an unmarked pickup truck!

I don't know if the genius had trouble going to sleep, but I did. Especially since the new book is scary and suspenseful!!

THE FUTURE OF TARGET

I was reading in the news the other day an economic report on what to expect in the next few years. According to the article, there are several American companies that are likely to fold, but on the other hand, there are companies that are predicted to "pull" us out of the recession. I was particularly interested in those of the latter because it seems I am on board to help them out.

I thought surely Home Depot and Target would be on the list because I have personally been trying to help them show a profit, especially for the last few months. I wasn't disappointed with one of them: Target. I find that store above all others to be irresistible to me. It is virtually impossible for me to walk in there and walk out with nothing, or even just one or two items. (Unless the genius is with me, of course, and then it's straight to the item we're looking for and if they don't have it, straight back out again. The genius is not known for his shopping stamina.) When I am alone, however, it's a different story.

First of all, when shopping at Target, I try to find a parking place not only near the entrance, but also near the cart return. I can never go in there without coming out with a piled-to-overflowing cart of all sorts of things. There's just something so enticing about that store that gets me every time I go in. I really could spend hours just wandering up and down the aisles seeing things I've always wanted but didn't know I did until that moment.

I rarely ever buy anything to wear, but stuff for the house -- that's a different ballgame. I'm just a sucker for all sorts of things, from storage baskets to towels and sheets, and even whole sets of dishes. That long wall of kitchen gadgets can get me everytime; I just can't seem to walk away from them.

And then I nearly always stop by the makeup department for some little something (that ends up costing an arm and a leg). The CD and DVD sections are enticing as well as the latest books on display. And don't forget the pet department -- there's always something there to tempt me. And now that groceries are sold there, I can pick up something I forgot to get during my weekly stop at the grocery store.

It just goes on and on, and that's exactly what I do -- just go on and on until my cart is full and I realize I've been away from Rufus too long.

So I'm not at all surprised to see that Target is one of the stores that will pull America out of bad economic times. I'm certainly doing my part to help!!

GROCERY STORE ENTERTAINMENT

Usually I do my grocery shopping in one of two stores: Walmart or the neighborhood "market" Harris Teeter. The former is saved for days when I need to buy a lot and the latter for when I need just a few things to get through the weekend. Yesterday I chose Harris Teeter because it was Thursday (5% off for seniors) and because they had some good specials on. Shopping there is always an interesting experience.

This particular store is set right in the middle of the Hillsboro Village section of Nashville. It's an older "up and coming" neighborhood filled with all sorts of people. There are the elderly who have lived there for years, but more and more young-to-middle aged professionals are moving in, fixing up the houses (which were built in the early 1900's), and settling in. We live in between this area and Green Hills, a more affluent, established neighborhood that is about 30 years newer than the Hillsboro section. So shopping at this grocery store can be quite interesting if I'm in the proper frame of mind, and yesterday I was.

First thing I ran into were three college students blocking the entrance as several of us shoppers tried to enter. They were giggling over which oranges to pick out. Finally, they became aware of others and moved apologetically out of the way. They could have been students from Vanderbilt, Belmont, or Lipscomb, all of which are close by. And then there was the aging hippy woman with long gray hair who almost ran me down as I emerged from an aisle.

Then I really drew attention to myself (the kind you don't want!) when I knocked off a large bottle of crangrape juice. The top came off and that purple liquid squirted everywhere! So I reported it to the management and offered to pay, but they refused to let me.

As I was walking through the dairy department, a woman who was drawing the attention of all of us, especially the men, sauntered by. She was wearing white cowboy boots, extremely short denim shorts, a little yellow top that didn't quite reach the top of the shorts and a tight yellow and white polka dot sweater stretched over that. To top it off, she had on a pert little man's hat on her head. (I couldn't help but think of Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear and what a ball they would have with this one). I really got tickled at an elderly man who did a double take as she passed him. Then two men who worked at the store were laughing and talking about "looking only" as I went by them.

I finally made it to the checkout lane without spilling anything else and there was a basket full of groceries blocking the way. The cashier said, "I don't know where that lady went." And after a little wait, while I was wondering who could be so inconsiderate, here came cowboy boots, apologizing profusely, with an item she had forgotten. I just smiled and said I wasn't in a hurry. And I wasn't. Besides, I knew I would get 5% off whereas she wouldn't.

Shopping at Walmart is not nearly as much fun!!

A TIME FOR REST

The old bod is feeling its age today. It doesn't take much at this time of my life for the aches and pains to kick up a notch and I'm feeling them today!! A few days of physical labor has been enough to decide that today is a day of rest.

Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of some short periods of no rain, the genius and I did some trimming not only in our yard, but also in the areas across the street that were overgrowing to the point that we were having trouble getting the cars by them. As I've said before, that section of the street is part of the back yards of the houses on the next block and the owners don't really see what is going on back there. So we take it upon ourselves to keep it clear of the road.

So, although we did lots of cutting and hauling mostly huge pieces of dead bamboo and other junk, we were not able to cut the grass because it was too wet from all the rain. That little job I did the next day while the genius was at work.

Then yesterday I spent the day finishing up little chores around here. These involved sanding, priming, and painting some areas that needed finishing. I also went to Home Depot to get the framing for my bathroom mirror.

While there, I bought a small halogen lamp that took me hours to put together. It was obviously made in China because the English on the instructions was very poor, and it took me twice as long to straighten it all out. The lamp consisted of a round base, with a pole sticking up on it that held two lights that swivel around, if need be. What was so funny to me was that the directions called the globe that fits over each bulb a CONDOM! I was reading along and then I went back and said to myself, "Did that just say what I think it did?" And yes it did. So the Chinese have a sense of humor, or at least one does!

But today I have aches in places I didn't even know I had!!

The plan today is to take it easy and read a new book. MY BODY NEEDS REST!!

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Usually, the genius and I are able to understand each other pretty well. We spend time each day talking about what we did during the day, local and world news, and the conversations can get pretty deep. But we had a definite glitch this past weekend.

Our daily routine begins with his taking the dog(s) out whenever they awaken each morning. About 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning I staggered into the genius's office with Rufus in my arms and handed him over. The genius surprised me by saying, "I guess the little girl (meaning Jesse) is still asleep."

The only words I could get out at that time of day (or night!) were, "She's not here."

So he took Rufus out and in a few minutes came into the bedroom and said, "I'm ready to take her out."

I mumbled again, "She's not here!"

He said, "I've looked all over the house for her and can't find her, so she must be in here."

Again I said, "SHE'S NOT HERE!" That was still all I could think of to say.

He was getting very frustrated, but the light finally came on in his mind. "Ooooh, you mean he's out at Jim's!"

"Yes," I gasped, and pulled the covers over my head.

He exited the room more than a little miffed that I coulcn't communicate any better to him.

But what does he expect at 5:30 a.m.?!!

MA AND CHUN

As I've said before, there are many ways in which my sisters and I are different. But while we make fun of each other, we still respect each other's points of view. We are also able to laugh at our differences and tease each other. Today it's my turn to tease one of my sisters.

As I mentioned last week, MA and Chun were in town on Palm Sunday so we went out to brunch together. We had a great time talking and laughing as we always do. Here are a couple of stories to tell on them after a little background info.

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, we have a Scottish heritage passed down through our father's line. MA's ability to squeeze the most out of a dollar is indicative of that inheritance. If it weren't for Chun, who is more like me in spending money, she would still have the first dollar she earned.

This trait of hers was especially revealed when we were talking about where we had eaten lunch the day before. The genius and I had eaten at our favorite Mexican restaurant as we often do on Saturday mornings. She and Chun on the other hand had eaten at Sam's.

When she told me I said, "I didn't know Sam's had a place to eat; do they have one like Costco's?"

She answered and said that she had gotten a notice in the mail that Sam's Club was having lots of samples out for tasting, so they decided to eat their lunch there!!!

I loved it!! I can just see the genius who loves to sit down to a good meal doing that.

The other funny story was about Chun. MA wrote and asked me where I had gotten a special soap that I had given them for Christmas one year. It was a special type shaped and colored to look like uncut gems, and since they are quite large, they last for about 2 years. She said theirs was almost gone and Chun really liked it.

So I got online and ordered her a bar. That's not what she intended me to do, but I knew if she saw the price, Chun would never see that soap. So she wrote me when it came and thanked me, etc. Then she said that Chun was trying it out and said, "I don't like this one as well as the other; this one doesn't lather."

MA replied, "Well, I'll bet it would if you would take the wrapping off of it!"

The genius and I really laughed over that and we'll have fun with these stories on New Year's Eve when we all get together!!