THE FRENCH QUARTER AT LAST
We had a rather interesting experience trying to reach our hotel in New Orleans last night. We rolled into the city a little before 7:00 and just before we reached our exit, we made a wrong turn. That’s when the pandemonium began.
The genius was driving and the other five people all had maps trying to direct him how to get to where we were going. Finally, we reached Lee Circle which was familiar to us, but because of the one way streets, the genius and Paul, MA’s husband, decided to stop in at a little convenience store to get directions. Meanwhile, I was frantically searching on the map to see if I could figure it out.
At about the time I saw the light, the genius and Paul came slowly out the door and were standing there talking in a worried way. MA said they were looking up as if seeking divine help, or maybe hoping to see an angel drop out of the sky. Right away I knew that they didn’t get any satisfactory directions.
And sure enough, they didn’t. Paul had approached a man who had a coke and packages of crackers in his hand. It soon became obvious that the man was very inebriated because he kept dropping the crackers and he had difficulty talking. But it was too late; Paul had already asked him for directions. The man was so smashed that all he could tell them was “Oh, yes, there’s the hotel right over there” while pointing to Robert E. Lee’s statue. All this while he was trying to hold onto the crackers.
The genius and Paul began to feel uneasy and decided to exit the place even though there were others there who might have been able to help.
I could see they were distressed and yelled to tell them I had worked out the directions, one way streets and all. We reached the hotel a few minutes later.
We had a good laugh about it afterwards, but for a while there, things were tense.
Today we rode the street car out to the Garden District for breakfast then returned to the fairly new WWII museum. Going through all the exhibits was a remarkable experience and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. The genius has been reading a book about D-Day that he had gotten from his school library, so he was particularly interested. We ended up staying for over two hours.
So far, no math experiences, but the day is yet young!!! I’ll report more tomorrow.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
ON THE WAY TO NEW ORLEANS
The genius and I are on our way to the Big Easy today to study the mathematics of some bridges, reservoirs, and the famous levees. And of course, we will find time to eat a few good meals.
When my sisters and their husbands heard we were going, they asked to tag along at their own expense, of course. So we are happy to have them with us.
On the way down we stopped in Batesville, Mississippi, to help our Aunt Fay celebrate her 107th birthday which is on July 1st. As I’ve said before, she is my father’s twin sister and is the second of his fourteen siblings to exceed 100 years. (The oldest sister, Aunt Bertha, lived to be 104.) One other remaining sibling, Tommie who is 94, was there, also.
Seventy relatives attended the fete as the two sisters held court at their table. Many pictures were snapped and a huge cake was unveiled. Aunt Fay had no trouble blowing out the three candles.
But most of us there agreed that for the first time Aunt Fay did not look as chipper as she had in the past. I really would be surprised if she makes it to 108.
Tommie, on the other hand, looked great! She was all dressed up in a pink dress with long pearls around her neck. She told me she was so “proud” that the genius had come down with me. It has been many years since he has been to Mississippi to see my relatives, and like Tommie, they all seemed pleased to see him.
We will be staying at a quaint hotel in the French Quarter so we should save on gas at least to eat our meals. Hopefully, we will not have to drive too far to see all the “math” sights.
Hilda, one of our cousins who has the family sense of humor, said she was afraid that we would get into trouble, knowing us, but if we get arrested, to call her and she would come bail us out!!
The genius and I are on our way to the Big Easy today to study the mathematics of some bridges, reservoirs, and the famous levees. And of course, we will find time to eat a few good meals.
When my sisters and their husbands heard we were going, they asked to tag along at their own expense, of course. So we are happy to have them with us.
On the way down we stopped in Batesville, Mississippi, to help our Aunt Fay celebrate her 107th birthday which is on July 1st. As I’ve said before, she is my father’s twin sister and is the second of his fourteen siblings to exceed 100 years. (The oldest sister, Aunt Bertha, lived to be 104.) One other remaining sibling, Tommie who is 94, was there, also.
Seventy relatives attended the fete as the two sisters held court at their table. Many pictures were snapped and a huge cake was unveiled. Aunt Fay had no trouble blowing out the three candles.
But most of us there agreed that for the first time Aunt Fay did not look as chipper as she had in the past. I really would be surprised if she makes it to 108.
Tommie, on the other hand, looked great! She was all dressed up in a pink dress with long pearls around her neck. She told me she was so “proud” that the genius had come down with me. It has been many years since he has been to Mississippi to see my relatives, and like Tommie, they all seemed pleased to see him.
We will be staying at a quaint hotel in the French Quarter so we should save on gas at least to eat our meals. Hopefully, we will not have to drive too far to see all the “math” sights.
Hilda, one of our cousins who has the family sense of humor, said she was afraid that we would get into trouble, knowing us, but if we get arrested, to call her and she would come bail us out!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
IDIOSYNCRASIES, CONT’D
Some of you may have thought I was pretty hard on the genius yesterday, but just to set the record straight, he actually helped me make a list of his unusual ways. And yesterday when I read him the blog, he laughed out loud in several places.
Today I want to talk about two of his compulsions. The first is his strong desire to be organized. Every morning after rising and getting dressed for the day, he gets his coffee and sits at his desk. Without fail he does two things: he makes calls to the bank to check out his accounts, and he makes out his to-do list for the day.
This list is extremely important to him and he sticks it inside his pocket calendar and carries it everywhere he goes. And I do mean everywhere!! Even when he goes into the post office to pick up the mail and I am in the car waiting, he puts it in his pocket. Maybe he thinks I will steal it while he is gone (as if I wanted it!). I have actually been tempted to hide it sometimes, but I’m afraid he will have a heart attack, so I resist the temptation.
Every day when he makes up the list, he carries some items over from the day(s) before which didn’t get accomplished. Many times I have asked him to do something for me around the house, and he informs me that it is on the list. It may remain on the list for days, weeks, or even months, but “It’s on the list!”
Because he is so goal oriented, he takes great pleasure in marking off each “done” item at night before he goes to bed.
And speaking of bed, of course he has his own pillow if it can be called that. The genius likes a very thin affair, and he has had three throughout our marriage. The first one that he brought to the marriage was one of the ugliest flowered throw pillows I’ve ever seen. But he put a pillow case on it and used it every night. Sadly, we left it in a motel once and he had to get used to another one.
That one lasted over twenty years when he again left it at some hotel. The one he has now is actually a worn out bed pillow that is so flat, I wouldn’t even feel it under my head. But he loves that little bit of shabby fluff covered by a pillow case and he’s happy with it.
And --- he will carry it on a trip that we are soon to be taking, so let’s hope he doesn’t leave it. Maybe an outlandishly colored pillow case will help!!
Some of you may have thought I was pretty hard on the genius yesterday, but just to set the record straight, he actually helped me make a list of his unusual ways. And yesterday when I read him the blog, he laughed out loud in several places.
Today I want to talk about two of his compulsions. The first is his strong desire to be organized. Every morning after rising and getting dressed for the day, he gets his coffee and sits at his desk. Without fail he does two things: he makes calls to the bank to check out his accounts, and he makes out his to-do list for the day.
This list is extremely important to him and he sticks it inside his pocket calendar and carries it everywhere he goes. And I do mean everywhere!! Even when he goes into the post office to pick up the mail and I am in the car waiting, he puts it in his pocket. Maybe he thinks I will steal it while he is gone (as if I wanted it!). I have actually been tempted to hide it sometimes, but I’m afraid he will have a heart attack, so I resist the temptation.
Every day when he makes up the list, he carries some items over from the day(s) before which didn’t get accomplished. Many times I have asked him to do something for me around the house, and he informs me that it is on the list. It may remain on the list for days, weeks, or even months, but “It’s on the list!”
Because he is so goal oriented, he takes great pleasure in marking off each “done” item at night before he goes to bed.
And speaking of bed, of course he has his own pillow if it can be called that. The genius likes a very thin affair, and he has had three throughout our marriage. The first one that he brought to the marriage was one of the ugliest flowered throw pillows I’ve ever seen. But he put a pillow case on it and used it every night. Sadly, we left it in a motel once and he had to get used to another one.
That one lasted over twenty years when he again left it at some hotel. The one he has now is actually a worn out bed pillow that is so flat, I wouldn’t even feel it under my head. But he loves that little bit of shabby fluff covered by a pillow case and he’s happy with it.
And --- he will carry it on a trip that we are soon to be taking, so let’s hope he doesn’t leave it. Maybe an outlandishly colored pillow case will help!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF THE GENIUS:
AND THERE ARE PLENTY!
Picture this: a girl who has been raised to think (i.e. worry) about what other people think, and pair her up with a guy who doesn’t care in the least and who also has some very strange habits to boot, and what happens? Either she bails out of the relationship quickly, or she elects to grin and bear it --- over and over and over again. I chose to do the latter and here I am forty-eight years later still doing it. But it has become somewhat easier; I pray a lot and consequently, have become more tolerant.
Where do I even begin in describing the genius and his idiosyncrasies? Some of them I have already related, but it was just the tip of the iceberg. So here goes with an attempt to describe more and this may take several days’ worth of writing.
First of all, he is extremely goal-oriented, which he says began when he was in the Boy Scouts. I can just imagine him going after all those badges, even the ones he wasn’t good at. For instance, he tells about the time he was going for the fitness badge and he had to do a standing jump of a certain length. He kept trying and trying in front of his scout master, and finally the man told him to go home and keep at it until he got it; he would trust him to tell the truth. The genius tried all summer long every day until finally one day toward the end of the season, he did it! Of course, he went on to persevere on all the other badges as well, until he reached the Eagle level.
And that trait of reaching goals has remained with him. I have mentioned before how consistent he is about riding a bike every day, either outdoors on the street or on one indoors. For over seven years he hasn’t missed a day and quite frankly, this has not been easy for me. I would like to get an early start on trips we take, but no, the bike riding comes first. And that’s just one example where it has interfered with our schedules. But, over the years I have learned to become more understanding about his workouts.
I’ll tell about one other thing he does that is not like most people and that is the way he parks the car. First, he likes to back into every parking place he possibly can (I call his method “nerding” it in). This would be fine if he just backed it in quickly, but noooo, it takes him forever. Then before he turns the motor off, he has to switch everything --- AC, heater, seat warmers, radio --- into the off position. Many times I am out of the door while the car is still running, which I know is dangerous, but I get so tired of waiting for him to finish all his little duties!
As I said, this will take a few days, so stay tuned for more. BTW, it is his birthday, so I feel obligated to begin this series on him on his special day of all days.
AND THERE ARE PLENTY!
Picture this: a girl who has been raised to think (i.e. worry) about what other people think, and pair her up with a guy who doesn’t care in the least and who also has some very strange habits to boot, and what happens? Either she bails out of the relationship quickly, or she elects to grin and bear it --- over and over and over again. I chose to do the latter and here I am forty-eight years later still doing it. But it has become somewhat easier; I pray a lot and consequently, have become more tolerant.
Where do I even begin in describing the genius and his idiosyncrasies? Some of them I have already related, but it was just the tip of the iceberg. So here goes with an attempt to describe more and this may take several days’ worth of writing.
First of all, he is extremely goal-oriented, which he says began when he was in the Boy Scouts. I can just imagine him going after all those badges, even the ones he wasn’t good at. For instance, he tells about the time he was going for the fitness badge and he had to do a standing jump of a certain length. He kept trying and trying in front of his scout master, and finally the man told him to go home and keep at it until he got it; he would trust him to tell the truth. The genius tried all summer long every day until finally one day toward the end of the season, he did it! Of course, he went on to persevere on all the other badges as well, until he reached the Eagle level.
And that trait of reaching goals has remained with him. I have mentioned before how consistent he is about riding a bike every day, either outdoors on the street or on one indoors. For over seven years he hasn’t missed a day and quite frankly, this has not been easy for me. I would like to get an early start on trips we take, but no, the bike riding comes first. And that’s just one example where it has interfered with our schedules. But, over the years I have learned to become more understanding about his workouts.
I’ll tell about one other thing he does that is not like most people and that is the way he parks the car. First, he likes to back into every parking place he possibly can (I call his method “nerding” it in). This would be fine if he just backed it in quickly, but noooo, it takes him forever. Then before he turns the motor off, he has to switch everything --- AC, heater, seat warmers, radio --- into the off position. Many times I am out of the door while the car is still running, which I know is dangerous, but I get so tired of waiting for him to finish all his little duties!
As I said, this will take a few days, so stay tuned for more. BTW, it is his birthday, so I feel obligated to begin this series on him on his special day of all days.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
MY FAVORITE CAR
Yesterday I was tooling along in my car and I couldn’t help but think, as I often do, how much I like driving it. It is by far my all time favorite car and I just hope that it lasts a long time. I also liked the way we acquired it.
I cannot stand to bargain with car dealers. Usually I let the genius do all of that, but I will end up getting a car that is lacking something I wanted on it just to end all of the bickering. This time it was different.
When it was obvious that my eleven year old Rodeo was giving out, I began to search online for a new car. The genius suggested that I decide just what I wanted in a car and then write all the Honda dealers in Nashville and surrounding areas and ask them to give me a price. So that’s exactly what I did.
I decided on an Accord LX with everything I wanted on it. It was to have four doors, leather heated seats, a great sound system, a voice-activated GPS and all the other extras that good cars have. I then emailed each dealer and requested their best price (no trade in) and told them I was taking the lowest offer. Interestingly enough, the prices ranged from $1000 up to $5000 difference. I took the best offer and emailed them and said I would take it. On a certain date we drove out to finalize the deal and I was the proud owner of a lovely new car.
It gets pretty good gas mileage so that is the car we usually pick to drive on long trips. It has twice been to New Mexico and back and we even drove it to and from San Francisco. On the latter trip every day about 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon we would begin to think about how far we would get that day and then look in the AAA tour guidebook for motels. We would call the motel for a reservation and then put the address in the GPS. Then we could relax for the rest of the day and just follow the directions of “The Voice.” And that voice lady never erred.
I highly recommend both the car and the method of buying it. As I said above, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to spend many more years in it.
Yesterday I was tooling along in my car and I couldn’t help but think, as I often do, how much I like driving it. It is by far my all time favorite car and I just hope that it lasts a long time. I also liked the way we acquired it.
I cannot stand to bargain with car dealers. Usually I let the genius do all of that, but I will end up getting a car that is lacking something I wanted on it just to end all of the bickering. This time it was different.
When it was obvious that my eleven year old Rodeo was giving out, I began to search online for a new car. The genius suggested that I decide just what I wanted in a car and then write all the Honda dealers in Nashville and surrounding areas and ask them to give me a price. So that’s exactly what I did.
I decided on an Accord LX with everything I wanted on it. It was to have four doors, leather heated seats, a great sound system, a voice-activated GPS and all the other extras that good cars have. I then emailed each dealer and requested their best price (no trade in) and told them I was taking the lowest offer. Interestingly enough, the prices ranged from $1000 up to $5000 difference. I took the best offer and emailed them and said I would take it. On a certain date we drove out to finalize the deal and I was the proud owner of a lovely new car.
It gets pretty good gas mileage so that is the car we usually pick to drive on long trips. It has twice been to New Mexico and back and we even drove it to and from San Francisco. On the latter trip every day about 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon we would begin to think about how far we would get that day and then look in the AAA tour guidebook for motels. We would call the motel for a reservation and then put the address in the GPS. Then we could relax for the rest of the day and just follow the directions of “The Voice.” And that voice lady never erred.
I highly recommend both the car and the method of buying it. As I said above, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to spend many more years in it.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
SHOPPING WITH BAILEY
Last week we had a nice three day visit with Bailey before putting her on the plane to Phoenix when it was still dark outside. Just kidding --- but it was very early in the morning on Sunday when she departed.
One of the days was spent shopping at the Green Hills Mall. We began our little journey around the mall by eating at the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious, but soooo much food!! Three people could have shared my meal. There was no way I could have eaten even a bite of cheesecake for dessert. I told Bailey that the only way I could eat cheesecake at the factory is to order that and nothing else.
After lunch we started on our rounds. Let me say right now that Bailey is a super shopper!!! I used to be, but like most things physical in my life, that has gone by the wayside. We went from store to store comparing prices on makeup and other items and then went back to the original store and bought what we saw at first.
She wanted to go into Victoria Secret and since I was afraid someone I knew would see me go in, I went to the shop next door. But I finished my purchases and after making sure I didn’t see anyone I knew, I scooted in the door. All around me were little bits of lace and nylon that I assumed women wore, but I tried not to look at as I frantically looked for Bailey. I soon saw her in the sweat pants department and was very relieved to see they had such mundane things.
When she went back to try on several items of clothing, I went also to wait outside in the hall of the fitting rooms. Some nice salesgirl, who looked twelve years old and wore a size 0, took pity on me and brought me a stool from one of the rooms to sit on while I watched Bailey’s fashion show. She finally made her choices (I was encouraging her to try on as many as she could, so I could continue to sit) and we left to continue on our journey.
We wrapped it up after what seemed like five more hours, but was probably about 30 minutes, and I was fading fast. I was becoming very aware of the generation gap between us as she cheerfully walked beside me through the mall to the car.
Then the gap was emphasized even more when she pointed out a lady attired in leggings and a cute short skirt. She said, “Why do older women dress like that, trying to look young?” I looked and it was a lady from my bridge club.
I thought she looked cute, but I quickly came home and assessed the clothes in my closet to make sure they were age appropriate.
Last week we had a nice three day visit with Bailey before putting her on the plane to Phoenix when it was still dark outside. Just kidding --- but it was very early in the morning on Sunday when she departed.
One of the days was spent shopping at the Green Hills Mall. We began our little journey around the mall by eating at the Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious, but soooo much food!! Three people could have shared my meal. There was no way I could have eaten even a bite of cheesecake for dessert. I told Bailey that the only way I could eat cheesecake at the factory is to order that and nothing else.
After lunch we started on our rounds. Let me say right now that Bailey is a super shopper!!! I used to be, but like most things physical in my life, that has gone by the wayside. We went from store to store comparing prices on makeup and other items and then went back to the original store and bought what we saw at first.
She wanted to go into Victoria Secret and since I was afraid someone I knew would see me go in, I went to the shop next door. But I finished my purchases and after making sure I didn’t see anyone I knew, I scooted in the door. All around me were little bits of lace and nylon that I assumed women wore, but I tried not to look at as I frantically looked for Bailey. I soon saw her in the sweat pants department and was very relieved to see they had such mundane things.
When she went back to try on several items of clothing, I went also to wait outside in the hall of the fitting rooms. Some nice salesgirl, who looked twelve years old and wore a size 0, took pity on me and brought me a stool from one of the rooms to sit on while I watched Bailey’s fashion show. She finally made her choices (I was encouraging her to try on as many as she could, so I could continue to sit) and we left to continue on our journey.
We wrapped it up after what seemed like five more hours, but was probably about 30 minutes, and I was fading fast. I was becoming very aware of the generation gap between us as she cheerfully walked beside me through the mall to the car.
Then the gap was emphasized even more when she pointed out a lady attired in leggings and a cute short skirt. She said, “Why do older women dress like that, trying to look young?” I looked and it was a lady from my bridge club.
I thought she looked cute, but I quickly came home and assessed the clothes in my closet to make sure they were age appropriate.
Friday, June 20, 2008
SEEING IS BELIEVING
Last night I realized that I am down to my last contact lens. I go to the eye doctor about every three years and return when I run out of all the lenses he gives me. I use the extended wear version and make them go as long as possible. But thinking about my eyes reminds me of how I began wearing glasses in the first place.
When I was in the fourth grade and BJ in the seventh we would find any excuse to get out of class. We both had teachers whom we didn’t like, so one time we decided to pretend to be sick at the same time so we could go to the “clinic,” which consisted of an army cot in the main hallway. Somehow we were able to pull it off; I told my teacher I had a headache, and I don’t know what excuse she used. But we both ended up on the cot at the same time.
I think we were able to pull this off twice if I remember correctly, and it proved to be so effective for me that I used it several more times without BJ.
Well, of course, this tactic to get out of class was not going to last forever, and the principal or teacher told my mother that perhaps I needed to have my eyes examined. I felt very guilty about Mother’s taking me to the ophthalmologist but I was stuck --- either I admitted I was lying or I had to go along with the scheme.
So off I went, (hopefully during school hours so I could miss more of her classes) to undergo all the eye tests. And you guessed it!! I did need corrective lenses; I was slightly nearsighted with astigmatism in both eyes. I’ll never forget the first time I put on my new glasses --- I could see the outlines of the leaves on the trees!! I was so surprised; I had had no idea that I couldn’t see perfectly.
But I hated wearing glasses. I only wore them to read or watch movies and later to drive. When I began to play tennis at aged 30, the glasses were really a pain with all the steaming up, etc., so that’s when I started on the contact lenses. Then I turned the magic age of 40 when everyone’s eyes suddenly shut down, and I went to one contact for distance and my other eye needs nothing. To read I wear reading glasses that I buy at the Dollar Store. My eyes have not changed in 28 years and I expect them to be the same when I go back next month.
I wonder how long I would have gone without being able to see if I had had a teacher I liked in the fourth grade!
Last night I realized that I am down to my last contact lens. I go to the eye doctor about every three years and return when I run out of all the lenses he gives me. I use the extended wear version and make them go as long as possible. But thinking about my eyes reminds me of how I began wearing glasses in the first place.
When I was in the fourth grade and BJ in the seventh we would find any excuse to get out of class. We both had teachers whom we didn’t like, so one time we decided to pretend to be sick at the same time so we could go to the “clinic,” which consisted of an army cot in the main hallway. Somehow we were able to pull it off; I told my teacher I had a headache, and I don’t know what excuse she used. But we both ended up on the cot at the same time.
I think we were able to pull this off twice if I remember correctly, and it proved to be so effective for me that I used it several more times without BJ.
Well, of course, this tactic to get out of class was not going to last forever, and the principal or teacher told my mother that perhaps I needed to have my eyes examined. I felt very guilty about Mother’s taking me to the ophthalmologist but I was stuck --- either I admitted I was lying or I had to go along with the scheme.
So off I went, (hopefully during school hours so I could miss more of her classes) to undergo all the eye tests. And you guessed it!! I did need corrective lenses; I was slightly nearsighted with astigmatism in both eyes. I’ll never forget the first time I put on my new glasses --- I could see the outlines of the leaves on the trees!! I was so surprised; I had had no idea that I couldn’t see perfectly.
But I hated wearing glasses. I only wore them to read or watch movies and later to drive. When I began to play tennis at aged 30, the glasses were really a pain with all the steaming up, etc., so that’s when I started on the contact lenses. Then I turned the magic age of 40 when everyone’s eyes suddenly shut down, and I went to one contact for distance and my other eye needs nothing. To read I wear reading glasses that I buy at the Dollar Store. My eyes have not changed in 28 years and I expect them to be the same when I go back next month.
I wonder how long I would have gone without being able to see if I had had a teacher I liked in the fourth grade!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
BAILEY AND JORDIN
If you’ve been reading the blog from the beginning, or if you know our family well, you will remember that we have a granddaughter who is best friends with Jordin Sparks, the 2007 American Idol. Bailey and Jordin have been very close since kindergarten and Jordin’s fame has not changed that. For the past week Bailey has been “on tour” with her famous friend and having the time of her life.
But the good news for us is that last night the tour was in New York City in Madison Square Garden, and tonight it is in Nashville!! The tour bus left after the show last night and is now tooling it toward our city. Bailey will leave the tour this afternoon when she comes to spend a few days with us.
This part of her trip was unexpected – she had thought she was flying home to Phoenix from NYC. But when she heard that Nashville was the next stop, she changed her plans.
The genius and I are very glad for this opportunity to spend some quality time with our grandchild. Also, I am looking forward to hearing about Bailey’s experiences with the life of a star, our own little Jordin!!!
If you’ve been reading the blog from the beginning, or if you know our family well, you will remember that we have a granddaughter who is best friends with Jordin Sparks, the 2007 American Idol. Bailey and Jordin have been very close since kindergarten and Jordin’s fame has not changed that. For the past week Bailey has been “on tour” with her famous friend and having the time of her life.
But the good news for us is that last night the tour was in New York City in Madison Square Garden, and tonight it is in Nashville!! The tour bus left after the show last night and is now tooling it toward our city. Bailey will leave the tour this afternoon when she comes to spend a few days with us.
This part of her trip was unexpected – she had thought she was flying home to Phoenix from NYC. But when she heard that Nashville was the next stop, she changed her plans.
The genius and I are very glad for this opportunity to spend some quality time with our grandchild. Also, I am looking forward to hearing about Bailey’s experiences with the life of a star, our own little Jordin!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ANNIVERSERY
Forty-eight years ago the genius and I walked down the aisle to bind ourselves to each other for life. And what a life it has been!
I have recorded many of our experiences and won’t add to them today except to say that for the first five years we had fourteen different addresses. For the last forty-three we have had three. So things kind of slowed down, at least in the moving department.
Last night we celebrated with a dinner at Sperry’s; tonight we will continue to do so at the club.
When you’ve been married this long it takes two nights to celebrate!!
Forty-eight years ago the genius and I walked down the aisle to bind ourselves to each other for life. And what a life it has been!
I have recorded many of our experiences and won’t add to them today except to say that for the first five years we had fourteen different addresses. For the last forty-three we have had three. So things kind of slowed down, at least in the moving department.
Last night we celebrated with a dinner at Sperry’s; tonight we will continue to do so at the club.
When you’ve been married this long it takes two nights to celebrate!!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
LOSING FRIENDS
I remember that my mother-in-law once said that living a long life meant having to suffer through the loss of many friends. We’re now getting to that age. This past weekend we attended a memorial service for a man whom the genius had known since college days and whose wife I have known since childhood.
The man had been the quarterback at Vanderbilt during the fifties and had also been the engineering lab partner of the genius. His wife, Dot, had attended church with me as a child and was a year ahead of me in high school. At one time after we had both married she and I had taught a Sunday school class of four year olds together. But when we joined our “new” church several years ago, she and her husband were one of the first couples to welcome us. Over the past few years we have become close again, going out to brunch after church and sitting together at the Wednesday night dinners. So it has been very sad losing a friend.
My sister MA and her husband live in a community with many other retirees and it seems like they lose someone all the time. When they first moved there about ten years ago and then BJ and her husband followed suit two years later, they tried to talk us into doing the same. But one of the first things I thought about besides leaving my children and grandchildren was getting to know people and then losing them to death or a debilitating illness. That may sound selfish, but I just didn’t want to put myself through that.
Besides, as I told her at the time, “This place has too many old people, too many Yankees, and too many UT (University of Tennessee) fans.”
Of course, I was kidding, so if you are old or live outside of the South (that’s the true definition of a Yankee), don’t take offense. I don’t care if I offend UT fans.
I remember that my mother-in-law once said that living a long life meant having to suffer through the loss of many friends. We’re now getting to that age. This past weekend we attended a memorial service for a man whom the genius had known since college days and whose wife I have known since childhood.
The man had been the quarterback at Vanderbilt during the fifties and had also been the engineering lab partner of the genius. His wife, Dot, had attended church with me as a child and was a year ahead of me in high school. At one time after we had both married she and I had taught a Sunday school class of four year olds together. But when we joined our “new” church several years ago, she and her husband were one of the first couples to welcome us. Over the past few years we have become close again, going out to brunch after church and sitting together at the Wednesday night dinners. So it has been very sad losing a friend.
My sister MA and her husband live in a community with many other retirees and it seems like they lose someone all the time. When they first moved there about ten years ago and then BJ and her husband followed suit two years later, they tried to talk us into doing the same. But one of the first things I thought about besides leaving my children and grandchildren was getting to know people and then losing them to death or a debilitating illness. That may sound selfish, but I just didn’t want to put myself through that.
Besides, as I told her at the time, “This place has too many old people, too many Yankees, and too many UT (University of Tennessee) fans.”
Of course, I was kidding, so if you are old or live outside of the South (that’s the true definition of a Yankee), don’t take offense. I don’t care if I offend UT fans.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
FATHER GENIUS
Since this is Father’s Day I thought it appropriate to offer some praise for the genius in that role. He has always felt a great responsibility in the area of parenthood and taken his part very seriously. The children I am sure thought at times that he was a little over-the-top, but the efforts he put forth were remarkable.
I can remember one incident that is funny, but does show how careful he was always to try and cover all the bases when called upon to be a good father. Jim IV was playing in a tennis tournament at Centennial Tennis Center, located in the midtown section of Nashville. He had forgotten to bring new tennis shoes and asked me to call his father and get him to bring him some when he came into town to watch the match.
So I called the genius on the phone at home. I told him that there was a big carton box of numerous pairs of shoes in the dining room that Jim IV was going to take to the pro shop to sell. I related to him what size to get out of the box and then mentioned that his match had already been called and he was warming up on the court.
“IN HIS SOCK FEET?!?" the genius blurted out. I assured him that Jim IV had on some old tennis shoes but wanted the new ones. He replied that he would be right down.
The match was held on a court farthest away from the entrance and the rest of the family were sitting beside it watching when we looked up and saw the genius way down the walk coming toward us. He was staggering under the load of the big carton box containing about a dozen pairs of shoes, each pair in their smaller boxes. He wanted to make sure that he had the right size so he just brought all of them. The rest of us could hardly watch the match we were laughing so hard.
And it was funny, but in reflecting back over the years, I realize that the genius did indeed do an excellent job of everything relating to parenting. He was careful, sometimes to an extreme, but always with the best of intentions as his motive.
I will always be grateful that he has been the father of our children. And may I say to you younger parents out there that parenting doesn’t change just because the children leave the nest. We still rejoice when there are victories and suffer when there are disappointments. Just as much, if not more so, as we ever did.
Since this is Father’s Day I thought it appropriate to offer some praise for the genius in that role. He has always felt a great responsibility in the area of parenthood and taken his part very seriously. The children I am sure thought at times that he was a little over-the-top, but the efforts he put forth were remarkable.
I can remember one incident that is funny, but does show how careful he was always to try and cover all the bases when called upon to be a good father. Jim IV was playing in a tennis tournament at Centennial Tennis Center, located in the midtown section of Nashville. He had forgotten to bring new tennis shoes and asked me to call his father and get him to bring him some when he came into town to watch the match.
So I called the genius on the phone at home. I told him that there was a big carton box of numerous pairs of shoes in the dining room that Jim IV was going to take to the pro shop to sell. I related to him what size to get out of the box and then mentioned that his match had already been called and he was warming up on the court.
“IN HIS SOCK FEET?!?" the genius blurted out. I assured him that Jim IV had on some old tennis shoes but wanted the new ones. He replied that he would be right down.
The match was held on a court farthest away from the entrance and the rest of the family were sitting beside it watching when we looked up and saw the genius way down the walk coming toward us. He was staggering under the load of the big carton box containing about a dozen pairs of shoes, each pair in their smaller boxes. He wanted to make sure that he had the right size so he just brought all of them. The rest of us could hardly watch the match we were laughing so hard.
And it was funny, but in reflecting back over the years, I realize that the genius did indeed do an excellent job of everything relating to parenting. He was careful, sometimes to an extreme, but always with the best of intentions as his motive.
I will always be grateful that he has been the father of our children. And may I say to you younger parents out there that parenting doesn’t change just because the children leave the nest. We still rejoice when there are victories and suffer when there are disappointments. Just as much, if not more so, as we ever did.
Friday, June 13, 2008
SLEEPING IN A BED OF ROSES
My mother used to say: “Marriage is not a bed of roses.” But I tend to disagree with her; marriage is just that; it’s just that we don’t anticipate all the thorns when we walk down that aisle. And speaking of beds reminds me of all the couples I know who have had trouble getting a good night’s rest while trying to sleep with their spouses.
The genius and I have had quite a time with that part of our marriage. Before we married he told me that he couldn’t sleep with another person in his bed, so at the beginning of our union we slept in separate beds; they were close together, but they were still separate.
After we had been together for about ten years, we bought a king sized bed and began the thorny path of trying to sleep in one bed. There were all kinds of obstacles, of course: children waking in the night, bathroom breaks, snoring, wiggling, cover battles, etc. But we stuck it out until we moved into this house thirteen years ago. Then began the sometimes nightly pilgrimage to the guest room. First, I would be the one to go, mainly because of his snoring, but it was so much trouble because I had to take my noise maker with me. Then I bought another noise maker for the guest room and could just turn it on if I had to depart.
About two years ago, the genius left the king sized bed and somehow just never returned. About that time we acquired Rufus, and because I had the big bed to myself, I allowed him to take the genius’ place. The dog, unlike my husband, likes to cuddle up and that doesn’t bother me.
Well, we have been discussing the matter and have decided to try sleeping together again. However, there are now three of us, and things are still a little rocky at this point. Rufus was so overcome with joy the first night we were all together that he awoke the genius in the middle of the night to give him a good face washing with his tongue. And then many mornings the genius gets up about 4:30 or 5:00 which wakes Rufus, who then wants to go out, etc.
I think we are about to get it right. If the genius gets up early, he takes Rufus out, feeds him, then leaves the bedroom door ajar so Rufus can come back in and not try to scratch the door apart. They both then let me sleep until a decent hour, (although one morning I awoke to find that Rufus had completely taken apart one of the pillows).
As I said at the beginning, this is not an unusual problem for couples, especially at our age. Many pairs I know either have separate beds or rooms. And one couple even sleeps on different floors!!
I am flexible and can do any or all of the above, but please just let me have my own bathroom --- there I draw the line!!
My mother used to say: “Marriage is not a bed of roses.” But I tend to disagree with her; marriage is just that; it’s just that we don’t anticipate all the thorns when we walk down that aisle. And speaking of beds reminds me of all the couples I know who have had trouble getting a good night’s rest while trying to sleep with their spouses.
The genius and I have had quite a time with that part of our marriage. Before we married he told me that he couldn’t sleep with another person in his bed, so at the beginning of our union we slept in separate beds; they were close together, but they were still separate.
After we had been together for about ten years, we bought a king sized bed and began the thorny path of trying to sleep in one bed. There were all kinds of obstacles, of course: children waking in the night, bathroom breaks, snoring, wiggling, cover battles, etc. But we stuck it out until we moved into this house thirteen years ago. Then began the sometimes nightly pilgrimage to the guest room. First, I would be the one to go, mainly because of his snoring, but it was so much trouble because I had to take my noise maker with me. Then I bought another noise maker for the guest room and could just turn it on if I had to depart.
About two years ago, the genius left the king sized bed and somehow just never returned. About that time we acquired Rufus, and because I had the big bed to myself, I allowed him to take the genius’ place. The dog, unlike my husband, likes to cuddle up and that doesn’t bother me.
Well, we have been discussing the matter and have decided to try sleeping together again. However, there are now three of us, and things are still a little rocky at this point. Rufus was so overcome with joy the first night we were all together that he awoke the genius in the middle of the night to give him a good face washing with his tongue. And then many mornings the genius gets up about 4:30 or 5:00 which wakes Rufus, who then wants to go out, etc.
I think we are about to get it right. If the genius gets up early, he takes Rufus out, feeds him, then leaves the bedroom door ajar so Rufus can come back in and not try to scratch the door apart. They both then let me sleep until a decent hour, (although one morning I awoke to find that Rufus had completely taken apart one of the pillows).
As I said at the beginning, this is not an unusual problem for couples, especially at our age. Many pairs I know either have separate beds or rooms. And one couple even sleeps on different floors!!
I am flexible and can do any or all of the above, but please just let me have my own bathroom --- there I draw the line!!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
READER CHALLENGE
I’ve had a hard time finding time to write what with all the healing process and the dog grooming and grandchildren sitting. The healing is ongoing and the latter two events took place yesterday, so I was busy most of the day, The medical report of the day is that the genius is much improved and is now seeing quite well. Thank the Lord! We were both a little worried about the outcome.
So yesterday Annie and I spent a special time at the nails spa, getting the works. I should have taken a picture of that tiny girl perched on the edge of the big massage chair getting her toes painted blue with flowers on both big toes. It was a fun day for us both and a good bonding time.
Jay, on the other hand, spent time at school with the genius, hanging math plaques and going over old math tests. Jay is a math whiz kid and the two of them can spend hours working tests and going over them together. It’s a math match made in heaven!
Now for my challenge to you: A friend wrote me that the last time he visited his eye doctor, she was escorting him back to the waiting room and on the way she whacked a female assistant on the rear end with his chart. When the assistant turned around, the doctor said, “He did it!” and pointed to my friend. He was interested in knowing what a good come back would have been. I’m sure you will not let me down and will come up with an appropriate retort.
Maybe this one will generate as much interest as the movie blogs did.
I’ve had a hard time finding time to write what with all the healing process and the dog grooming and grandchildren sitting. The healing is ongoing and the latter two events took place yesterday, so I was busy most of the day, The medical report of the day is that the genius is much improved and is now seeing quite well. Thank the Lord! We were both a little worried about the outcome.
So yesterday Annie and I spent a special time at the nails spa, getting the works. I should have taken a picture of that tiny girl perched on the edge of the big massage chair getting her toes painted blue with flowers on both big toes. It was a fun day for us both and a good bonding time.
Jay, on the other hand, spent time at school with the genius, hanging math plaques and going over old math tests. Jay is a math whiz kid and the two of them can spend hours working tests and going over them together. It’s a math match made in heaven!
Now for my challenge to you: A friend wrote me that the last time he visited his eye doctor, she was escorting him back to the waiting room and on the way she whacked a female assistant on the rear end with his chart. When the assistant turned around, the doctor said, “He did it!” and pointed to my friend. He was interested in knowing what a good come back would have been. I’m sure you will not let me down and will come up with an appropriate retort.
Maybe this one will generate as much interest as the movie blogs did.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
THE GENIUS AND SURGERY
Yesterday was the big day for the cataract surgery and what a day it was!! So many things went wrong that what could have been somewhat of an ordeal turned into almost a catastrophe.
The day began with a workout for the genius (so what else is new?). Then after having nothing more than water to drink (“seven swallows” he told the nurse. The anesthesiologist who was listening in wanted to know how big the swallows were), he was ready to get prepared for the surgery. Right away he told the doctor he wanted no amnesiacs or sedatives. He wanted to be alert to everything that was going on. When he learned that he would be put under for five minutes while they injected his eye with numbing solution, he said, “I thought it would only be thirty seconds.” You can get an idea from the conversations he had with the medical people what kind of patient he is.
The operating room was scheduled for 12:30, but the one he was signed up for had three different surgeries that morning and all ran late. So he was 1½ hours late going up to the OR. I quickly grabbed a lunch and ran home to let Rufus out, and then it was back to the hospital.
The operation that was to take about forty-five minutes became a two hour nightmare with apparently many things going wrong throughout. The cataract itself was very difficult to break up and get out because it had hardened. Then the nurse couldn’t understand what instruments the ophthalmologist wanted (she usually operates at another hospital but was at this one at the genius’ request because of insurance). And to top it all off, the genius couldn’t see out of his new lens that was dropped into place just before the patch went on. You can imagine what kind of mood he was in when I was finally called back to recovery.
The good news is that this morning he can see much better, even though there is a slight “white haze” over everything. I am sure that will dissipate soon and he will be able to see much better than before.
An added footnote: we just returned from the ophthalmologist and she confirmed that everything was all right.
When the genius told her that he had measured the focal distance of each eye this morning (one was 14 inches, the other was 8), she remarked, “You’re the only patient I have who would check that before you came in.”
Yesterday was the big day for the cataract surgery and what a day it was!! So many things went wrong that what could have been somewhat of an ordeal turned into almost a catastrophe.
The day began with a workout for the genius (so what else is new?). Then after having nothing more than water to drink (“seven swallows” he told the nurse. The anesthesiologist who was listening in wanted to know how big the swallows were), he was ready to get prepared for the surgery. Right away he told the doctor he wanted no amnesiacs or sedatives. He wanted to be alert to everything that was going on. When he learned that he would be put under for five minutes while they injected his eye with numbing solution, he said, “I thought it would only be thirty seconds.” You can get an idea from the conversations he had with the medical people what kind of patient he is.
The operating room was scheduled for 12:30, but the one he was signed up for had three different surgeries that morning and all ran late. So he was 1½ hours late going up to the OR. I quickly grabbed a lunch and ran home to let Rufus out, and then it was back to the hospital.
The operation that was to take about forty-five minutes became a two hour nightmare with apparently many things going wrong throughout. The cataract itself was very difficult to break up and get out because it had hardened. Then the nurse couldn’t understand what instruments the ophthalmologist wanted (she usually operates at another hospital but was at this one at the genius’ request because of insurance). And to top it all off, the genius couldn’t see out of his new lens that was dropped into place just before the patch went on. You can imagine what kind of mood he was in when I was finally called back to recovery.
The good news is that this morning he can see much better, even though there is a slight “white haze” over everything. I am sure that will dissipate soon and he will be able to see much better than before.
An added footnote: we just returned from the ophthalmologist and she confirmed that everything was all right.
When the genius told her that he had measured the focal distance of each eye this morning (one was 14 inches, the other was 8), she remarked, “You’re the only patient I have who would check that before you came in.”
Friday, June 6, 2008
CHURCH SEARCH
Over the years of our married life, the genius and I have had quite a wild ride in an effort to find a spiritual home for us and our family. In order to explain I’ll start at the beginning.
We were both raised in the same denomination and as we grew older, we both began to have doubts about our faith. In effect, we were questioning the beliefs we had always been taught and trying to find answers for ourselves. Eventually, we both became agnostics even though we continued to attend church, especially after the children were born.
At age thirty-one I had a spiritual experience that convinced me that there is a God, One who cares for us and watches over us in every aspect of our lives. Someday I will share that experience on the blog, but it’s not time yet. For me it will be the most important blog I’ve written to this point.
A few years later, the genius gradually began to believe somewhat the same as I did and although our beliefs are not exactly alike (what two persons’ are?), the fundamentals are the same. So we began a search for a church home that would suit both us and the kids. Sounds easy, right? Wrong --- it took us thirty-three years.
What in the world were we looking for that took us so long? Well, at the top of the list was the sermon giver. This person had to be grounded in the Word, but intelligent enough to appeal to us in his sermons. Secondly, the music is very important to us also. We both like the old hymns, but I also like the contemporary Christian songs that have become so popular over the years. Neither one of us likes mournful music that makes us feel sad. And while the children were still with us, we wanted a strong youth program. Last on the list was a feeling of camaraderie with the other members or guests attending.
The first church we joined had all but the music. The choir director liked loud, somber pieces that made me feel like I had been to a funeral. I remember telling him once that I had really liked the anthem that day (it was a joyful number that had uplifted me). His answer was, “Oh well, I have to please the young people some of the time.”
So we didn’t like the music, but we stuck with that church for a few years until they had a huge split and half of the congregation left to start a new church. We attended both churches to see what they were like and we ended up not liking either one. The search was on again.
By this time, Ashley was in college and Jim IV soon to go, so we started attending an old church on the other side of town that was a lot like the denomination we were raised in, but they were stricter in their beliefs. We loved the service – the pastor was good and the music was really great. However, (there always seemed to be a “however”) we knew very few of the people. And since it was on the other side of town, it was a chore to drive there.
After attending for about five years but not ever joining, I had begun teaching at a Christian school that was connected to a church. It was actually the same church that had broken away after the split, but there were now many more people added to the mix. We ended up joining that church even though we were not crazy about the preaching. We remained there a few years and then when we moved from the house that we had raised the children in, we quit attending. Once again, it was too far to drive.
So on to the next one. This was a much more contemporary group that we visited and was anything but traditional. The people met in a school building and most of them were much younger than we were. We loved the preacher, but the genius was uncomfortable with the informal and charismatic worship. Plus, they hardly ever sang hymns.
Finally, we found what we were looking for. The genius attended a funeral at a church and came home raving about the service and the minister who performed it. I was very willing to try it and we did soon after the funeral. As soon as we walked in and looked at the people, we both felt like we were right at home. For the first time ever, all of the qualifications were met. The sermons, the music, the people, the traditions --- all were what we had been looking for. And it is five minutes from our house!!
So I can look back at all those years, and the journey we had just makes me appreciate all the more what we have found now. I am truly grateful!!!
Over the years of our married life, the genius and I have had quite a wild ride in an effort to find a spiritual home for us and our family. In order to explain I’ll start at the beginning.
We were both raised in the same denomination and as we grew older, we both began to have doubts about our faith. In effect, we were questioning the beliefs we had always been taught and trying to find answers for ourselves. Eventually, we both became agnostics even though we continued to attend church, especially after the children were born.
At age thirty-one I had a spiritual experience that convinced me that there is a God, One who cares for us and watches over us in every aspect of our lives. Someday I will share that experience on the blog, but it’s not time yet. For me it will be the most important blog I’ve written to this point.
A few years later, the genius gradually began to believe somewhat the same as I did and although our beliefs are not exactly alike (what two persons’ are?), the fundamentals are the same. So we began a search for a church home that would suit both us and the kids. Sounds easy, right? Wrong --- it took us thirty-three years.
What in the world were we looking for that took us so long? Well, at the top of the list was the sermon giver. This person had to be grounded in the Word, but intelligent enough to appeal to us in his sermons. Secondly, the music is very important to us also. We both like the old hymns, but I also like the contemporary Christian songs that have become so popular over the years. Neither one of us likes mournful music that makes us feel sad. And while the children were still with us, we wanted a strong youth program. Last on the list was a feeling of camaraderie with the other members or guests attending.
The first church we joined had all but the music. The choir director liked loud, somber pieces that made me feel like I had been to a funeral. I remember telling him once that I had really liked the anthem that day (it was a joyful number that had uplifted me). His answer was, “Oh well, I have to please the young people some of the time.”
So we didn’t like the music, but we stuck with that church for a few years until they had a huge split and half of the congregation left to start a new church. We attended both churches to see what they were like and we ended up not liking either one. The search was on again.
By this time, Ashley was in college and Jim IV soon to go, so we started attending an old church on the other side of town that was a lot like the denomination we were raised in, but they were stricter in their beliefs. We loved the service – the pastor was good and the music was really great. However, (there always seemed to be a “however”) we knew very few of the people. And since it was on the other side of town, it was a chore to drive there.
After attending for about five years but not ever joining, I had begun teaching at a Christian school that was connected to a church. It was actually the same church that had broken away after the split, but there were now many more people added to the mix. We ended up joining that church even though we were not crazy about the preaching. We remained there a few years and then when we moved from the house that we had raised the children in, we quit attending. Once again, it was too far to drive.
So on to the next one. This was a much more contemporary group that we visited and was anything but traditional. The people met in a school building and most of them were much younger than we were. We loved the preacher, but the genius was uncomfortable with the informal and charismatic worship. Plus, they hardly ever sang hymns.
Finally, we found what we were looking for. The genius attended a funeral at a church and came home raving about the service and the minister who performed it. I was very willing to try it and we did soon after the funeral. As soon as we walked in and looked at the people, we both felt like we were right at home. For the first time ever, all of the qualifications were met. The sermons, the music, the people, the traditions --- all were what we had been looking for. And it is five minutes from our house!!
So I can look back at all those years, and the journey we had just makes me appreciate all the more what we have found now. I am truly grateful!!!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
SURPRISING REWARDS
I mentioned a few days ago about the free breakfast we received from the parent of one of the genius’ students. We were very grateful for his gift and appreciated his gesture of kindness. For parents to show their gratitude over the years has been a continual blessing for both of us.
Once at the end of the first semester several of us teachers decided to go to lunch at a nice restaurant nearby to celebrate. When we arrived, we noticed that other teachers from our school had had the same idea. There were several tables scattered throughout filled with men and women from our staff enjoying a last meal before departing for the Christmas break. I also noticed a table of mothers, one of which was the wife of a very famous country music star.
We had a great lunch, albeit a little expensive for that time of day, and when we got ready to leave we learned that our meals had already been paid for. That lovely lady had paid for the lunch of every teacher in the place! What a nice surprise and early Christmas present that was.
And just this spring another nice thing happened to the genius. He had bought a car a few years ago with a GPS system in it, and just after the warranty ran out, the system went down. He took it to the dealership where he had bought it and they informed him it would cost $4000 to replace it!! He said, “I didn’t pay but $2000 for it to start with!” But they remained firm about the price.
A few weeks later he was working out with an alum from his school where he teaches who owns another dealership of the same brand of cars he has. So while they were conversing, the genius mentioned the situation. That kind man told him to bring it out to his place, and long story short, they fixed it for free. I’m sure we will buy every car from that man from now on!!
These are just two examples of how parents and alums have been generous to us over the years. And believe me, we have been very grateful for their generosity.
Teaching certainly has its rewards that are not monetary, and they are many, but we certainly appreciate receiving the other kind, also.
I mentioned a few days ago about the free breakfast we received from the parent of one of the genius’ students. We were very grateful for his gift and appreciated his gesture of kindness. For parents to show their gratitude over the years has been a continual blessing for both of us.
Once at the end of the first semester several of us teachers decided to go to lunch at a nice restaurant nearby to celebrate. When we arrived, we noticed that other teachers from our school had had the same idea. There were several tables scattered throughout filled with men and women from our staff enjoying a last meal before departing for the Christmas break. I also noticed a table of mothers, one of which was the wife of a very famous country music star.
We had a great lunch, albeit a little expensive for that time of day, and when we got ready to leave we learned that our meals had already been paid for. That lovely lady had paid for the lunch of every teacher in the place! What a nice surprise and early Christmas present that was.
And just this spring another nice thing happened to the genius. He had bought a car a few years ago with a GPS system in it, and just after the warranty ran out, the system went down. He took it to the dealership where he had bought it and they informed him it would cost $4000 to replace it!! He said, “I didn’t pay but $2000 for it to start with!” But they remained firm about the price.
A few weeks later he was working out with an alum from his school where he teaches who owns another dealership of the same brand of cars he has. So while they were conversing, the genius mentioned the situation. That kind man told him to bring it out to his place, and long story short, they fixed it for free. I’m sure we will buy every car from that man from now on!!
These are just two examples of how parents and alums have been generous to us over the years. And believe me, we have been very grateful for their generosity.
Teaching certainly has its rewards that are not monetary, and they are many, but we certainly appreciate receiving the other kind, also.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
THE SISTERS’ ANNUAL GET-TOGETHER
I just returned from my yearly visit to a state park to spend a night with my two sisters, MA and BJ. We had a great time, as usual, spending most of yesterday lounging at the pool and solving all the world’s problems. We love talking to each other, but visiting with them always emphasizes to me how different I am from them, especially in a domestic situation.
For one thing, they are both very thrifty and watch their pennies carefully. I, on the other hand, am just the opposite and I’m sure that I spend much more on groceries than they do even though the genius and I eat out a lot. On this outing I was again reminded how unlike we are in this respect.
Each one of us prepares a meal and brings it with us. This time I brought yesterday’s lunch, MA brought the dinner, and BJ the breakfast that we ate before departing for home. I had brought paper plates and disposable drinking cups so we wouldn’t have to wash as many dishes (I’m always looking for ways to make housekeeping easier). After we finished lunch and I was starting to clean off the table, MA said to leave her paper plate where it was; she didn’t get it dirty and she could use it for dinner. I am accustomed to this kind of behavior from her and said OK. (The genius has jokingly accused her of going through the trash cans after our annual picnic to look for plastic cups to take home and re-use.)
Last night I looked over at her as she finished up the dinner and did a double take. She was pouring dishwashing liquid into a zip lock bag, then water, and washing it so she could take it home and use it again. When I couldn’t resist making a comment, BJ informed me that she did the same. And one of them, I can’t remember which one, said she had brought something wrapped in aluminum foil that was recycled. And of course, all the disposable plastic cups were washed by hand so they could be used again.
The key word for me here is “disposable.” Why use plastic cups when you’re going to wash then afterwards? Why not just use glasses or fine crystal? The joy and beauty of using plastic things and aluminum foil is so I can throw them away after I use them.
Ah well, as I said before, if I didn’t look like these two, I would think my mother and father had picked me up off the street someplace. I guess we had an ancestor somewhere back in our lineage who was like me in this way, but so far I have found no evidence of that.
The good news is that in spite of our differences, we accept each other the way we are and have a great time together.
I just returned from my yearly visit to a state park to spend a night with my two sisters, MA and BJ. We had a great time, as usual, spending most of yesterday lounging at the pool and solving all the world’s problems. We love talking to each other, but visiting with them always emphasizes to me how different I am from them, especially in a domestic situation.
For one thing, they are both very thrifty and watch their pennies carefully. I, on the other hand, am just the opposite and I’m sure that I spend much more on groceries than they do even though the genius and I eat out a lot. On this outing I was again reminded how unlike we are in this respect.
Each one of us prepares a meal and brings it with us. This time I brought yesterday’s lunch, MA brought the dinner, and BJ the breakfast that we ate before departing for home. I had brought paper plates and disposable drinking cups so we wouldn’t have to wash as many dishes (I’m always looking for ways to make housekeeping easier). After we finished lunch and I was starting to clean off the table, MA said to leave her paper plate where it was; she didn’t get it dirty and she could use it for dinner. I am accustomed to this kind of behavior from her and said OK. (The genius has jokingly accused her of going through the trash cans after our annual picnic to look for plastic cups to take home and re-use.)
Last night I looked over at her as she finished up the dinner and did a double take. She was pouring dishwashing liquid into a zip lock bag, then water, and washing it so she could take it home and use it again. When I couldn’t resist making a comment, BJ informed me that she did the same. And one of them, I can’t remember which one, said she had brought something wrapped in aluminum foil that was recycled. And of course, all the disposable plastic cups were washed by hand so they could be used again.
The key word for me here is “disposable.” Why use plastic cups when you’re going to wash then afterwards? Why not just use glasses or fine crystal? The joy and beauty of using plastic things and aluminum foil is so I can throw them away after I use them.
Ah well, as I said before, if I didn’t look like these two, I would think my mother and father had picked me up off the street someplace. I guess we had an ancestor somewhere back in our lineage who was like me in this way, but so far I have found no evidence of that.
The good news is that in spite of our differences, we accept each other the way we are and have a great time together.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
MEMORIAL DAY BREAKFAST
On Memorial Day the genius and I decided to go out for breakfast. We chose The Waffle House, a favorite of ours, especially now that there’s no smoking there, and it’s not too far from our house.
When we walked in, I noticed a nice man dressed in pants and a blue Waffle House shirt walking around, making sure that everything was all right. I supposed him to be the manager although I had never seen him there before. When he reached us, he asked us if all was well and we assured him it was. Then the genius surprised me by sticking out his hand and introducing himself and then said, “I taught your son this year.”
You can imagine my astonishment when he said this because all I could think was “How in the world does a Waffle House manager afford to send his son to that school ($18,000/year)?”
Then the genius asked him what he was doing working “in the trenches” on that day and turned to me to say, “He’s the CEO of Waffle House.” It turned out that he sometimes dons his W.H. uniform and goes around to different restaurants to oversee things, etc.
It was then that I noticed the servers, particularly ours: She was as nervous as a cat. When she brought me my sausage, she dropped one off of the plate onto the table. Also, when she told the genius that the OJ machine was being cleaned and he would have to wait a while for the juice, CEO jumps in and shows her where some more is. I felt really sorry for her and could understand why she was edgy.
The rest of the story is that after we had left a generous tip and were standing at the register to pay, CEO reaches over and grabs the ticket, saying the breakfast was on him.
As I’ve said before, “Teaching can have its rewards in more ways than one!!”
On Memorial Day the genius and I decided to go out for breakfast. We chose The Waffle House, a favorite of ours, especially now that there’s no smoking there, and it’s not too far from our house.
When we walked in, I noticed a nice man dressed in pants and a blue Waffle House shirt walking around, making sure that everything was all right. I supposed him to be the manager although I had never seen him there before. When he reached us, he asked us if all was well and we assured him it was. Then the genius surprised me by sticking out his hand and introducing himself and then said, “I taught your son this year.”
You can imagine my astonishment when he said this because all I could think was “How in the world does a Waffle House manager afford to send his son to that school ($18,000/year)?”
Then the genius asked him what he was doing working “in the trenches” on that day and turned to me to say, “He’s the CEO of Waffle House.” It turned out that he sometimes dons his W.H. uniform and goes around to different restaurants to oversee things, etc.
It was then that I noticed the servers, particularly ours: She was as nervous as a cat. When she brought me my sausage, she dropped one off of the plate onto the table. Also, when she told the genius that the OJ machine was being cleaned and he would have to wait a while for the juice, CEO jumps in and shows her where some more is. I felt really sorry for her and could understand why she was edgy.
The rest of the story is that after we had left a generous tip and were standing at the register to pay, CEO reaches over and grabs the ticket, saying the breakfast was on him.
As I’ve said before, “Teaching can have its rewards in more ways than one!!”
Saturday, May 31, 2008
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE CLUB
The genius and I enjoy Friday nights at the club probably more than any other night of the week. And last night was no exception. The lounge was almost full of people doing the same as we were, just hanging out and relaxing. Occasionally, people glance over at the news on TV, but mostly we just visit with each other and eat.
Last night I noticed two women whom I didn’t know sitting at one table. One was a forty-ish and attractive blond and the other a white-haired slightly stooped older lady. They conversed with each other over a glass of wine almost the whole time we were there. The older one finally got up to use the bathroom and I heard someone call her by name. I realized then who it was: Jim had grown up across the street from her and her family. She was a young bride when they moved in and she and her husband raised several children in that house.
So the genius and I decided to stop by their table and speak to her when we got ready to leave.
Here’s the kicker. She is in her late 70’s and still a principal at a local public elementary school. I was astonished! Here I am at 68, retired, and having absolutely no desire to be otherwise, and here is this former “Lady of the Bracelet” at Vanderbilt (a very high honor), living in Belle Meade most of her life, and she is still thriving as a principal!! My hat (if I had one) is off to her. I’ll bet she goes until she is in her eighties.
She and the genius are cut from the same mold!!!
The genius and I enjoy Friday nights at the club probably more than any other night of the week. And last night was no exception. The lounge was almost full of people doing the same as we were, just hanging out and relaxing. Occasionally, people glance over at the news on TV, but mostly we just visit with each other and eat.
Last night I noticed two women whom I didn’t know sitting at one table. One was a forty-ish and attractive blond and the other a white-haired slightly stooped older lady. They conversed with each other over a glass of wine almost the whole time we were there. The older one finally got up to use the bathroom and I heard someone call her by name. I realized then who it was: Jim had grown up across the street from her and her family. She was a young bride when they moved in and she and her husband raised several children in that house.
So the genius and I decided to stop by their table and speak to her when we got ready to leave.
Here’s the kicker. She is in her late 70’s and still a principal at a local public elementary school. I was astonished! Here I am at 68, retired, and having absolutely no desire to be otherwise, and here is this former “Lady of the Bracelet” at Vanderbilt (a very high honor), living in Belle Meade most of her life, and she is still thriving as a principal!! My hat (if I had one) is off to her. I’ll bet she goes until she is in her eighties.
She and the genius are cut from the same mold!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
SUMMER SCHEDULE
I can tell already that this summer is going to be different in several ways from my usual peaceful, sometimes boring, life of the other three seasons. My time is not “my own” now; I have to share it with the genius who has a different schedule – an unpredictable one! And I can see that writing the blog may be a little difficult, also; we will just have to see.
Besides having the genius at home at various times during the day, Rufus has decided that 5:30 or 6:00 is a good time to wake up each morning. I think I can solve this problem by doing what I did yesterday: stagger outside with him in tow while he does his business, feed him his breakfast, and grope my way back to bed, leaving the door ajar so that he can come back in if he desires. That way I can get an hour or two more shut-eye.
Today I was up at 6:15 with the idea of doing the same, but remembered that the “bugman cometh” this morning and I knew it was no use to even contemplate more sleep. So I arose and had coffee with the genius before he went in for his “final” workday. I put that in quotes because I know he will go in all summer for some reason or another. (When he retires for good, we will have to rent an office somewhere so he will feel like he’s still going to work --- and I will have some time to myself!)
Those who know me well know that I require a lot of time alone. Payton, our fourteen year old grandchild, is the same, spending hours by herself in her room. It’s not that I don’t enjoy other people around – I do – very much! But I also like my alone time where I can read or spend time on the computer. That’s one reason why I usually take a nap when I’m on vacation (I can see my family saying, “Uh-huh!” on that statement because I also like to nap at home.)
All of this to say that during the summers it’s not the same. The next few months are chock full of different events: cataract surgery for the genius, a trip to Toronto for him, then both of us to New Orleans with the sisters, Ashley’s visit, vacation to NC mountains with some of the family, then to Cape San Blas, FL for the genius and me and other family members if they desire, and I will finish out the summer going to San Antonio with BJ for a week. All that and I didn’t even include the overnight stay that the sisters and I will do alone next week at a Tennessee state park about an hour away, something we do every year. You would never know that gas prices are high as far as our family is concerned, the way we tool around all over the country. I guess we’ll just cut corners somewhere else.
Vive les summer!!!
I can tell already that this summer is going to be different in several ways from my usual peaceful, sometimes boring, life of the other three seasons. My time is not “my own” now; I have to share it with the genius who has a different schedule – an unpredictable one! And I can see that writing the blog may be a little difficult, also; we will just have to see.
Besides having the genius at home at various times during the day, Rufus has decided that 5:30 or 6:00 is a good time to wake up each morning. I think I can solve this problem by doing what I did yesterday: stagger outside with him in tow while he does his business, feed him his breakfast, and grope my way back to bed, leaving the door ajar so that he can come back in if he desires. That way I can get an hour or two more shut-eye.
Today I was up at 6:15 with the idea of doing the same, but remembered that the “bugman cometh” this morning and I knew it was no use to even contemplate more sleep. So I arose and had coffee with the genius before he went in for his “final” workday. I put that in quotes because I know he will go in all summer for some reason or another. (When he retires for good, we will have to rent an office somewhere so he will feel like he’s still going to work --- and I will have some time to myself!)
Those who know me well know that I require a lot of time alone. Payton, our fourteen year old grandchild, is the same, spending hours by herself in her room. It’s not that I don’t enjoy other people around – I do – very much! But I also like my alone time where I can read or spend time on the computer. That’s one reason why I usually take a nap when I’m on vacation (I can see my family saying, “Uh-huh!” on that statement because I also like to nap at home.)
All of this to say that during the summers it’s not the same. The next few months are chock full of different events: cataract surgery for the genius, a trip to Toronto for him, then both of us to New Orleans with the sisters, Ashley’s visit, vacation to NC mountains with some of the family, then to Cape San Blas, FL for the genius and me and other family members if they desire, and I will finish out the summer going to San Antonio with BJ for a week. All that and I didn’t even include the overnight stay that the sisters and I will do alone next week at a Tennessee state park about an hour away, something we do every year. You would never know that gas prices are high as far as our family is concerned, the way we tool around all over the country. I guess we’ll just cut corners somewhere else.
Vive les summer!!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
SUMMERTIME!!
Well, as you’ve been able to see, I’m back home after getting Bailey officially “grajitated” and now the summer begins. The season doesn’t officially start, of course, until June 21, but the weather doesn’t know that. It has suddenly turned hot and sticky over the Memorial Day weekend.
In Arizona they had the strangest weather I’ve ever seen. The day before I arrived it was 110° and by the time I got there, the temperature had dropped 30° with winds at 25 mph. When I left four days later it was still cloudy/rainy and cooler than it was in Nashville. I was very grateful for the low temps, but was disappointed that there was very little sunshine the whole time I was there. Of course, the locals loved it and talked about how coooold it was and how nice the rain was. Since I had had this type of weather all spring, I was ready for a little sunshine. I’m not complaining, however; it was very comfortable.
The spring here has been very wet, and as a result, everything is green and lush. All around our house is solid green; we can no longer see any houses down the street, it’s so grown up next to our driveway. It feels like we are in the middle of the country. Very nice and private.
And today is the first day we get to keep Jay and Annie while Laurie works. We always keep them one day a week during the summer, and it’s a great way to stay in touch with them. Jay is eleven and Annie almost eight. They are the youngest of all the grandchildren and a pleasure to have around.
I do have to wait in line for the laptop, however. They both like the games I have on it, and even though I have plenty on the desk top upstairs, that’s not the same. So I finally had to kick them off so I could write my blog this morning. At the moment, they are not too happy with me.
Next Monday I will be spending a day and night at a state park about an hour’s drive north. The sisters and I have met there for several years to spend some time together just hanging out and catching up on our news. At the end of June we with our husbands are spending several days in the French Quarter in New Orleans. As I’ve written before, this is a favorite spot for us and we want to do it one more time at least.
Let’s hope we can behave ourselves this time!!
Well, as you’ve been able to see, I’m back home after getting Bailey officially “grajitated” and now the summer begins. The season doesn’t officially start, of course, until June 21, but the weather doesn’t know that. It has suddenly turned hot and sticky over the Memorial Day weekend.
In Arizona they had the strangest weather I’ve ever seen. The day before I arrived it was 110° and by the time I got there, the temperature had dropped 30° with winds at 25 mph. When I left four days later it was still cloudy/rainy and cooler than it was in Nashville. I was very grateful for the low temps, but was disappointed that there was very little sunshine the whole time I was there. Of course, the locals loved it and talked about how coooold it was and how nice the rain was. Since I had had this type of weather all spring, I was ready for a little sunshine. I’m not complaining, however; it was very comfortable.
The spring here has been very wet, and as a result, everything is green and lush. All around our house is solid green; we can no longer see any houses down the street, it’s so grown up next to our driveway. It feels like we are in the middle of the country. Very nice and private.
And today is the first day we get to keep Jay and Annie while Laurie works. We always keep them one day a week during the summer, and it’s a great way to stay in touch with them. Jay is eleven and Annie almost eight. They are the youngest of all the grandchildren and a pleasure to have around.
I do have to wait in line for the laptop, however. They both like the games I have on it, and even though I have plenty on the desk top upstairs, that’s not the same. So I finally had to kick them off so I could write my blog this morning. At the moment, they are not too happy with me.
Next Monday I will be spending a day and night at a state park about an hour’s drive north. The sisters and I have met there for several years to spend some time together just hanging out and catching up on our news. At the end of June we with our husbands are spending several days in the French Quarter in New Orleans. As I’ve written before, this is a favorite spot for us and we want to do it one more time at least.
Let’s hope we can behave ourselves this time!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
THE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN
The genius is a perfect example of the true Southern gentleman. He always takes my elbow when we walk up or down stairs and stays between me and the traffic when we are on sidewalks. You can count on him to stand when a woman comes into the room and pull chairs out for them when sitting down to a meal. I must admit that it is very nice to me to be treated in such a respectful manner.
Some women would resent being taken care of in this way, but I like it; however, I do agree that being married to such a man can have its downside at times. For instance, especially when we first married, there was a very clear difference between the two genders. I was expected to do all the housework with very little help from him. His job around the house has been to take out the trash, do the yard work, and handle any business relating to the cars.
The kitchen was off limits for him except to eat in it. I well remember the first time he said to me, “I’m really thirsty; do we have any juice in the refrigerator?”
My answer was, “I’m sure we do.”
Long pause with an expectant look on his face. (At home he was accustomed to having his mother or grandmother jump up and get him a glass filled with whatever he requested.) I wasn’t going there, however, and he reluctantly began getting his own drinks.
Over the years he has mellowed about the housework: he does laundry, occasionally vacuums, and often helps me clean up the kitchen after a meal. One thing he still does not like to do, however, is to go to the grocery. So yesterday when he offered to go with me to the store, I was very pleased and said I would like his company. Off we went to buy a few items.
It was raining so he let me off at the door and went to park the car (a mistake, as it turned out). We did the “divide and conquer” approach to getting the groceries and soon we were checking out. It was still raining when we went outside and when we got to the car, I saw that he had backed it in, something he usually does no matter where we are. So we had to load it into the back seat around the open car door because there was no room to push the basket to the other side of the door. There we were, standing in the rain, loading the groceries in this awkward manner that took twice as long.
On the way home, I said, “I feel a blog coming on.”
He replied, “Hey, if you start making fun of me, I won’t be inclined to go to the store again.”
But the incident was too much to resist.
The genius is a perfect example of the true Southern gentleman. He always takes my elbow when we walk up or down stairs and stays between me and the traffic when we are on sidewalks. You can count on him to stand when a woman comes into the room and pull chairs out for them when sitting down to a meal. I must admit that it is very nice to me to be treated in such a respectful manner.
Some women would resent being taken care of in this way, but I like it; however, I do agree that being married to such a man can have its downside at times. For instance, especially when we first married, there was a very clear difference between the two genders. I was expected to do all the housework with very little help from him. His job around the house has been to take out the trash, do the yard work, and handle any business relating to the cars.
The kitchen was off limits for him except to eat in it. I well remember the first time he said to me, “I’m really thirsty; do we have any juice in the refrigerator?”
My answer was, “I’m sure we do.”
Long pause with an expectant look on his face. (At home he was accustomed to having his mother or grandmother jump up and get him a glass filled with whatever he requested.) I wasn’t going there, however, and he reluctantly began getting his own drinks.
Over the years he has mellowed about the housework: he does laundry, occasionally vacuums, and often helps me clean up the kitchen after a meal. One thing he still does not like to do, however, is to go to the grocery. So yesterday when he offered to go with me to the store, I was very pleased and said I would like his company. Off we went to buy a few items.
It was raining so he let me off at the door and went to park the car (a mistake, as it turned out). We did the “divide and conquer” approach to getting the groceries and soon we were checking out. It was still raining when we went outside and when we got to the car, I saw that he had backed it in, something he usually does no matter where we are. So we had to load it into the back seat around the open car door because there was no room to push the basket to the other side of the door. There we were, standing in the rain, loading the groceries in this awkward manner that took twice as long.
On the way home, I said, “I feel a blog coming on.”
He replied, “Hey, if you start making fun of me, I won’t be inclined to go to the store again.”
But the incident was too much to resist.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I'm sorry that I haven't posted for a few days, but I've been getting ready for a trip to Phoenix, AZ, to be present at our third child's graduation from high school. And now I'm here waiting for Bailey's big night.
I flew in yesterday on kind of a rough flight. The wind was 25 miles per hour on the ground and that landing was something else! A few years ago I would have been using the barf bag, or crying, or begging for a parachute. But I'm happy to say that that did not happen and I will be flying again in a few days.
I got off the plane, expecting to see Ashley alone, but to my surprise there was Tommy, our oldest, standing there with her holding a bouquet of flowers. After hugs, he handed them to me and said they were a peace offering for all the grief he has given me in his comments. He is none other than T squared on the comments section, and he has made fun of his blogging grandmother on occasion. Of course, I've loved every minute of it because it shows his sense of humor and his love for me. Anyway, I was very touched and the flowers are now on prominent display at Ashley's house.
We had a great meal last night which we cooked in the center of the table on a new grill they had purchased. The nine of us were kept busy throwing meat and veggies on the grill and eating each piece as they were done. Not only was it fun, but the food was delicious. Ashley and Mike are both superb cooks.
And I am getting to sleep late!! I slept until 10:20 Nashville time this morning and feel very refreshed. Of course, Rufus won't let me do that at home. If I can sleep until 7:00, I feel like it's a good night.
I'll try to keep all you readers informed while I am here in Phoenix. Meanwhile, pray for the genius and Rufus that they won't miss me too badly!
I flew in yesterday on kind of a rough flight. The wind was 25 miles per hour on the ground and that landing was something else! A few years ago I would have been using the barf bag, or crying, or begging for a parachute. But I'm happy to say that that did not happen and I will be flying again in a few days.
I got off the plane, expecting to see Ashley alone, but to my surprise there was Tommy, our oldest, standing there with her holding a bouquet of flowers. After hugs, he handed them to me and said they were a peace offering for all the grief he has given me in his comments. He is none other than T squared on the comments section, and he has made fun of his blogging grandmother on occasion. Of course, I've loved every minute of it because it shows his sense of humor and his love for me. Anyway, I was very touched and the flowers are now on prominent display at Ashley's house.
We had a great meal last night which we cooked in the center of the table on a new grill they had purchased. The nine of us were kept busy throwing meat and veggies on the grill and eating each piece as they were done. Not only was it fun, but the food was delicious. Ashley and Mike are both superb cooks.
And I am getting to sleep late!! I slept until 10:20 Nashville time this morning and feel very refreshed. Of course, Rufus won't let me do that at home. If I can sleep until 7:00, I feel like it's a good night.
I'll try to keep all you readers informed while I am here in Phoenix. Meanwhile, pray for the genius and Rufus that they won't miss me too badly!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
THE GENIUS AND HIS FINANCES
Even though the genius and I have been married almost forty-eight years, I am constantly learning new things about him. The other day we were running some errands and he had some business at his bank. So he whips out a check to deposit and also a check for cash made out for $294.00. Of course, I had to ask why such an odd amount.
His answer was that he ALWAYS makes his checks for odd amounts – no even numbers for him! I’m still not completely sure why except that he wants different types of bills in his wallet and that he’s always done it that way.
He never rounds numbers up or down. If you ask him, for example, how many people were at a function, he will say “Oh, probably twenty-two.” Numbers ending in zero have rarely been in his vocabulary.
Now, I can envision my checkbook if I had all those uneven numbers to add and subtract; it’s hard enough with the numbers I have, but to make it worse is beyond me. But the genius is not at all daunted by all that, of course. Every night he empties his pockets and counts how much money he has and he knows exactly where any cash he spent has gone.
Every morning without fail, he calls the automatic number at the bank and gets an update, including check numbers, amounts, etc. He is aware at all times exactly how much money is his account, as well as our joint account.
One reason I have my own little account is so I won’t have to answer to everything I spend or what’s worse, I don’t have to record. I too know how much I have in the bank. I go online and look at it and get the same info he does. Before online banking, however, I had to rely on the ATM when I withdrew money. You can see why I don’t handle the finances in our family.
The “his, mine, and ours” bank accounts work just fine for us. He can keep his complicated books to the penny and I have the freedom to manage my small amount anyway I want.
I can only hope and pray that I go first or I’d have to move to a nursing home where there are no bills except the rent every month.
Even though the genius and I have been married almost forty-eight years, I am constantly learning new things about him. The other day we were running some errands and he had some business at his bank. So he whips out a check to deposit and also a check for cash made out for $294.00. Of course, I had to ask why such an odd amount.
His answer was that he ALWAYS makes his checks for odd amounts – no even numbers for him! I’m still not completely sure why except that he wants different types of bills in his wallet and that he’s always done it that way.
He never rounds numbers up or down. If you ask him, for example, how many people were at a function, he will say “Oh, probably twenty-two.” Numbers ending in zero have rarely been in his vocabulary.
Now, I can envision my checkbook if I had all those uneven numbers to add and subtract; it’s hard enough with the numbers I have, but to make it worse is beyond me. But the genius is not at all daunted by all that, of course. Every night he empties his pockets and counts how much money he has and he knows exactly where any cash he spent has gone.
Every morning without fail, he calls the automatic number at the bank and gets an update, including check numbers, amounts, etc. He is aware at all times exactly how much money is his account, as well as our joint account.
One reason I have my own little account is so I won’t have to answer to everything I spend or what’s worse, I don’t have to record. I too know how much I have in the bank. I go online and look at it and get the same info he does. Before online banking, however, I had to rely on the ATM when I withdrew money. You can see why I don’t handle the finances in our family.
The “his, mine, and ours” bank accounts work just fine for us. He can keep his complicated books to the penny and I have the freedom to manage my small amount anyway I want.
I can only hope and pray that I go first or I’d have to move to a nursing home where there are no bills except the rent every month.
Friday, May 16, 2008
FOLLOW-UP ON MISSISSIPPI
I received an email from MA about yesterday’s blog. She was bemoaning the fact that she had missed out on some fun by staying in town with Juanice (pronounced Wa-neese with the accent on the second syllable) instead of out in the country with us. When she was younger, she actually did stay out there and slept at Uncle Sidney’s across the pasture from us. She said that she and our cousin Hilda slept on a quilt on the hard floor.
On Saturdays Uncle Sidney paid MA and Hilda a nickel each to clean out the little church in preparation for the Sunday services. She wrote, “We used to walk barefoot on the dirt road, open the church, sweep it out, open windows and try to get all the wasps out, and dust the benches.” They thought it was fun and were glad to get the money to spend.
However, she also had some very interesting experiences by staying in town. One day when they were teenagers, she and Juanice were walking down the dirt road into town (about 2 blocks from their house) and they saw some boys they knew. They decided to follow them and see what they were up to. The boys were not aware that they were being followed and when they came to a swimming hole, they stripped down to their birthday suits and jumped in. Still not knowing they had an audience, they continued to get out and jump back in over and over. The girls, who “saw EVERTHING,” became embarrassed and “ran like crazy” but not before the boys spotted them. MA said that night they went to church and all the guys were there. She was too embarrassed even to speak to them.
So sliding down a haystack seems pretty mild and boring when compared to watching nude boys swim. I believe that BJ and I missed out on a few events ourselves by staying on the farm!!
I received an email from MA about yesterday’s blog. She was bemoaning the fact that she had missed out on some fun by staying in town with Juanice (pronounced Wa-neese with the accent on the second syllable) instead of out in the country with us. When she was younger, she actually did stay out there and slept at Uncle Sidney’s across the pasture from us. She said that she and our cousin Hilda slept on a quilt on the hard floor.
On Saturdays Uncle Sidney paid MA and Hilda a nickel each to clean out the little church in preparation for the Sunday services. She wrote, “We used to walk barefoot on the dirt road, open the church, sweep it out, open windows and try to get all the wasps out, and dust the benches.” They thought it was fun and were glad to get the money to spend.
However, she also had some very interesting experiences by staying in town. One day when they were teenagers, she and Juanice were walking down the dirt road into town (about 2 blocks from their house) and they saw some boys they knew. They decided to follow them and see what they were up to. The boys were not aware that they were being followed and when they came to a swimming hole, they stripped down to their birthday suits and jumped in. Still not knowing they had an audience, they continued to get out and jump back in over and over. The girls, who “saw EVERTHING,” became embarrassed and “ran like crazy” but not before the boys spotted them. MA said that night they went to church and all the guys were there. She was too embarrassed even to speak to them.
So sliding down a haystack seems pretty mild and boring when compared to watching nude boys swim. I believe that BJ and I missed out on a few events ourselves by staying on the farm!!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
MORE MISSISSIPPI MEMORIES
BJ reminded me of an event that happened to us as children when we were visiting our relatives in Mississippi. As I’ve said before, every summer we would stay a few weeks with our grandparents out in a rural part of the state and live a very primitive existence --- which we loved.
MA always stayed with our cousins in the one horse town of Toccopola about three miles away, so we usually didn’t see much of her once we got down there. Mother, BJ, and I bedded down in the tiny bedroom of the very small house that belonged to our grandparents.
I wonder sometimes what our relatives thought of us. When we visited them we always wore shorts and T shirts or tops except on Sundays. Our female cousins, on the other hand, wore only dresses all the time. Also, we were very ignorant of “country” ways.
One time we rode into Toccopola to pick up something at the general store, and I distinctly remember walking down the wooden sidewalk past the usual contingent of old men in overalls sitting around. One of the men said, “Hello, boys.” We didn’t even look at them as we kept walking, but I said, “Girls” in a pleasant voice as we passed them. They must have thought that we were pretty snobby, and I guess we were, but even now I’m glad that I wasn’t embarrassed by their comment.
But that’s not the incident I was going to relate. Our grandparents’ tiny shack sat on my Uncle Howard’s property out behind his barn, but the property was adjacent to another’s uncle’s farm also. We could see their rickety old house across the pasture where Aunt Mary and Uncle Sidney lived with numerous children and grandchildren.
BJ and I loved to roam the land down behind the little house out of sight of the adults playing all kinds of games. One time when we were about seven and ten, we were exploring and came across a big haystack. For some reason we thought it was perfectly all right to climb on top of it and slide down, which we did --- over and over again. We really had a ball.
That night after supper when it was still light, we were playing out on a huge tree stump in front of the little house while the grown ups sat on the front porch. Our cousin James who was much older than we were came riding across the pasture on his horse. He was going down into the back pasture, he said, to check things out. Pretty soon he came back and said, “Well, it looks like the cows got into my haystack today. I guess I’ll have to put up a better fence.” BJ and I looked at each other and never said a word. I really believe that was the first inkling we had that we had made a mistake in assuming the haystack was for anything other than our pleasure.
As I said, I wonder what they thought of us city children who were so different from them. Some of them must have dreaded our coming and were glad to see us leave.
BJ reminded me of an event that happened to us as children when we were visiting our relatives in Mississippi. As I’ve said before, every summer we would stay a few weeks with our grandparents out in a rural part of the state and live a very primitive existence --- which we loved.
MA always stayed with our cousins in the one horse town of Toccopola about three miles away, so we usually didn’t see much of her once we got down there. Mother, BJ, and I bedded down in the tiny bedroom of the very small house that belonged to our grandparents.
I wonder sometimes what our relatives thought of us. When we visited them we always wore shorts and T shirts or tops except on Sundays. Our female cousins, on the other hand, wore only dresses all the time. Also, we were very ignorant of “country” ways.
One time we rode into Toccopola to pick up something at the general store, and I distinctly remember walking down the wooden sidewalk past the usual contingent of old men in overalls sitting around. One of the men said, “Hello, boys.” We didn’t even look at them as we kept walking, but I said, “Girls” in a pleasant voice as we passed them. They must have thought that we were pretty snobby, and I guess we were, but even now I’m glad that I wasn’t embarrassed by their comment.
But that’s not the incident I was going to relate. Our grandparents’ tiny shack sat on my Uncle Howard’s property out behind his barn, but the property was adjacent to another’s uncle’s farm also. We could see their rickety old house across the pasture where Aunt Mary and Uncle Sidney lived with numerous children and grandchildren.
BJ and I loved to roam the land down behind the little house out of sight of the adults playing all kinds of games. One time when we were about seven and ten, we were exploring and came across a big haystack. For some reason we thought it was perfectly all right to climb on top of it and slide down, which we did --- over and over again. We really had a ball.
That night after supper when it was still light, we were playing out on a huge tree stump in front of the little house while the grown ups sat on the front porch. Our cousin James who was much older than we were came riding across the pasture on his horse. He was going down into the back pasture, he said, to check things out. Pretty soon he came back and said, “Well, it looks like the cows got into my haystack today. I guess I’ll have to put up a better fence.” BJ and I looked at each other and never said a word. I really believe that was the first inkling we had that we had made a mistake in assuming the haystack was for anything other than our pleasure.
As I said, I wonder what they thought of us city children who were so different from them. Some of them must have dreaded our coming and were glad to see us leave.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
HAIR, FIFTIES STYLE
The subject that I have chosen to write about today is one that will probably gross out anyone not of my own generation, but I’m doing it anyway. I believe it represents an era that is no longer around, and unless we go back to a form of primitive living due to a catastrophic event, we will not see this type of living again. What I’m talking about is “hair” and how we used to take care of it.
I remember the first time I mentioned to the children that we girls washed our hair only once a week when we were little and on up into our married years. They were totally disgusted. But let’s think about what equipment we had to work with and how we had to go about it.
In the first place, there were no hair products except shampoo. No conditioner, no mousse, no waxes, or even hair spray. Secondly, there were no hair dryers except in the “beauty parlors” and they were the kind on a stand. So we were reduced to washing our hair, usually rolling it wet and sleeping on the uncomfortable curlers all night. I distinctly remember rolling the ends up into little flat curls against my head and clamping a clip in to hold it. (Many times I woke up the next morning only to find one of them had come down during the night and I had curls everywhere and one straight piece.) You can see why our hairdos were so flat on top of our heads.
Right after we washed our hair was the worst time to do anything with it. It was so soft and fine that the curl would fall out during the day. It was always more manageable and looked better a day or two later. Most of us had to continue to roll our hair each night so the “set” would stay in. Amazingly, our hair was accustomed to this type of cleansing and it didn’t get oily until maybe the last day. I promise! I’m convinced that hair can get used to this type of treatment, but we are so determined to wash it everyday (or more!) that it can’t get into that cycle.
This is the way BJ did hers when she was in college. She would change her sheets every other Thursday night and wash her hair every Thursday night. During the first week of clean sheets, she slept on one side of the pillow and the next week, she turned her pillow over and used the clean side for her clean hair. Now that’s organized!
All that changed with the hand held dryer, plus curling iron, plus hot rollers. Also, we have all sorts of hair products that helps hold our “do” in place all day. And then we do the same process all over again the next morning.
I guess it’s worth it, especially after a remark I received last summer at the high school reunion. A wife I had never met said to me after looking at my 1957 picture, “You look much better now. The hairstyles were just not becoming back then!”
The subject that I have chosen to write about today is one that will probably gross out anyone not of my own generation, but I’m doing it anyway. I believe it represents an era that is no longer around, and unless we go back to a form of primitive living due to a catastrophic event, we will not see this type of living again. What I’m talking about is “hair” and how we used to take care of it.
I remember the first time I mentioned to the children that we girls washed our hair only once a week when we were little and on up into our married years. They were totally disgusted. But let’s think about what equipment we had to work with and how we had to go about it.
In the first place, there were no hair products except shampoo. No conditioner, no mousse, no waxes, or even hair spray. Secondly, there were no hair dryers except in the “beauty parlors” and they were the kind on a stand. So we were reduced to washing our hair, usually rolling it wet and sleeping on the uncomfortable curlers all night. I distinctly remember rolling the ends up into little flat curls against my head and clamping a clip in to hold it. (Many times I woke up the next morning only to find one of them had come down during the night and I had curls everywhere and one straight piece.) You can see why our hairdos were so flat on top of our heads.
Right after we washed our hair was the worst time to do anything with it. It was so soft and fine that the curl would fall out during the day. It was always more manageable and looked better a day or two later. Most of us had to continue to roll our hair each night so the “set” would stay in. Amazingly, our hair was accustomed to this type of cleansing and it didn’t get oily until maybe the last day. I promise! I’m convinced that hair can get used to this type of treatment, but we are so determined to wash it everyday (or more!) that it can’t get into that cycle.
This is the way BJ did hers when she was in college. She would change her sheets every other Thursday night and wash her hair every Thursday night. During the first week of clean sheets, she slept on one side of the pillow and the next week, she turned her pillow over and used the clean side for her clean hair. Now that’s organized!
All that changed with the hand held dryer, plus curling iron, plus hot rollers. Also, we have all sorts of hair products that helps hold our “do” in place all day. And then we do the same process all over again the next morning.
I guess it’s worth it, especially after a remark I received last summer at the high school reunion. A wife I had never met said to me after looking at my 1957 picture, “You look much better now. The hairstyles were just not becoming back then!”
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
MORE ON MOVIES
I certainly enjoyed all the comments on the movies. Obviously, they are a big part of our lives and we all have our favorites. Before we move on to another subject, I remembered a few more that I have enjoyed watching over and over.
How could all of us forget the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers? When his fake nose began to melt off, I laughed until I cried. And I distinctly remember watching that with my children after they were grown and we were all “in pain” over laughing so hard. So I would have to add that one.
Also, I totally forgot The Sting --- a great one with an interesting plot besides being funny in spots. I am surprised that no one put down Gone With the Wind. That was certainly a classic. I’m sure that we have forgotten some, especially those of us who have not been so organized to keep a list and rank them!
I trust that all the mothers out there in readerland had a good Mother’s Day. I surely did and it always makes me realize how blessed I am to have three such great children. Being and a wife and mother was my true calling in life and I couldn’t ask for any other.
Thanks again, everyone, for sharing all your favorite movies with us. Now I think I’ll go watch a movie about mothers!!
I certainly enjoyed all the comments on the movies. Obviously, they are a big part of our lives and we all have our favorites. Before we move on to another subject, I remembered a few more that I have enjoyed watching over and over.
How could all of us forget the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers? When his fake nose began to melt off, I laughed until I cried. And I distinctly remember watching that with my children after they were grown and we were all “in pain” over laughing so hard. So I would have to add that one.
Also, I totally forgot The Sting --- a great one with an interesting plot besides being funny in spots. I am surprised that no one put down Gone With the Wind. That was certainly a classic. I’m sure that we have forgotten some, especially those of us who have not been so organized to keep a list and rank them!
I trust that all the mothers out there in readerland had a good Mother’s Day. I surely did and it always makes me realize how blessed I am to have three such great children. Being and a wife and mother was my true calling in life and I couldn’t ask for any other.
Thanks again, everyone, for sharing all your favorite movies with us. Now I think I’ll go watch a movie about mothers!!
Friday, May 9, 2008
MOVIES!!!
Yesterday the genius was telling me about his day. He has basically finished his AP math class for the year since the AP test was this week and was talking to his class about what they could do for the remainder of the semester. One of the students asked him what kind of movies he liked. In typical genius behavior, he whipped out his list of his all time top twenty-one (?) movies and proceeded to read them off.
I can just imagine the faces of the boys when he did this. They asked him why he would list out his favorite movies and WHY did he carry them around with him in his wallet?!? Then he told them that he has them saved on the computer also. They couldn’t believe it --- they’ll be talking about this one for some time.
What followed was a discussion of his list: #1 is Stand and Deliver, #2 Shawshank Redemption, and that’s all I know of the actual rankings. I do know that Hanoi Hilton, Chariots of Fire, Cool Hand Luke, Schindler’s List, and The Long Walk Home are all on the list. Of course, most of them the boys had never heard of many of them. But one of them mentioned The Sandlot and the genius agreed that maybe that should be on his list, also.
As for me, I can’t list mine in a certain order. I could probably come up with a list of about twenty, but even then I’m not sure. I always say when asked that I like “feel good” movies like the ones made from Jane Austen novels or You’ve Got Mail or My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I certainly watch the Austen movies over and over, but I also have a few favorites that the genius is continually surprised about: The Godfather movies I and II, Tombstone, The Scent of a Woman.
All of these have bad language and most are very violent. But what I like about them is the superb acting in each one. I am continually amazed at Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duval, and Robert DeNiro in the Godfathers and Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer in Tombstone. So I guess these three would top my list, but I too would have to add The Sandlot --- that’s a classic.
I’m interested to hear some of YOUR favorites and invite you to do so by leaving your comments.
Yesterday the genius was telling me about his day. He has basically finished his AP math class for the year since the AP test was this week and was talking to his class about what they could do for the remainder of the semester. One of the students asked him what kind of movies he liked. In typical genius behavior, he whipped out his list of his all time top twenty-one (?) movies and proceeded to read them off.
I can just imagine the faces of the boys when he did this. They asked him why he would list out his favorite movies and WHY did he carry them around with him in his wallet?!? Then he told them that he has them saved on the computer also. They couldn’t believe it --- they’ll be talking about this one for some time.
What followed was a discussion of his list: #1 is Stand and Deliver, #2 Shawshank Redemption, and that’s all I know of the actual rankings. I do know that Hanoi Hilton, Chariots of Fire, Cool Hand Luke, Schindler’s List, and The Long Walk Home are all on the list. Of course, most of them the boys had never heard of many of them. But one of them mentioned The Sandlot and the genius agreed that maybe that should be on his list, also.
As for me, I can’t list mine in a certain order. I could probably come up with a list of about twenty, but even then I’m not sure. I always say when asked that I like “feel good” movies like the ones made from Jane Austen novels or You’ve Got Mail or My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I certainly watch the Austen movies over and over, but I also have a few favorites that the genius is continually surprised about: The Godfather movies I and II, Tombstone, The Scent of a Woman.
All of these have bad language and most are very violent. But what I like about them is the superb acting in each one. I am continually amazed at Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duval, and Robert DeNiro in the Godfathers and Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer in Tombstone. So I guess these three would top my list, but I too would have to add The Sandlot --- that’s a classic.
I’m interested to hear some of YOUR favorites and invite you to do so by leaving your comments.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
WRITING ACCORDING TO PEG
The amazing thing about my writing this blog is that I never enjoyed writing!! Whenever I had to write any type of paper in high school or college, I would struggle to put on paper the ideas I wanted to convey and when I was through, I was exhausted. So how in the world am I able to keep this up on an almost daily basis and what’s more, enjoy it thoroughly?? The answer for me lies in what kind of writing it is.
When I was in school, I had to read and research and basically put down in my own words what others had said about the subject. I really didn’t have that many creative notions on my own. What’s more, I had to follow all the rules of grammar and that can be soooo tiresome when you’re striving for perfection (or an A).
And the students now have no idea how tedious it was to type a paper on a typewriter back in the fifties. First, if you made a typo, you had to erase with a special type of eraser that never really got rid of the original mark. Secondly, the notes all had to be at the bottom of the page of the quote or idea you had borrowed, so you had to be really careful to leave enough room to get those in. There was no foolproof way to do this, either; many times I had to do a whole page over because I had misjudged how much space to leave. It’s no wonder I didn’t like to write.
My sisters and I were blessed in one way, however; we had a grammar “tyrant” for a mother. She never let us get away with mistakes like “to you and I,” “where is something at,” or “me” as a subject of a sentence. She corrected us until we got it right. Now whenever I hear these mistakes, I want to do the same, especially after teaching grammar for eighteen years. Alas, my own children (and even most English teachers I know!) make some of the same mistakes, so somehow I failed in that area.
But NOW when I write, I am free to put my thoughts down and not worry about the errors. Oh, I know when I make them (for instance, I should never use the word “you” the way I do; I would have counted off for that no-no). I am not as careful about commas either. But I have noticed when I read novels, that authors are not very particular about that either. So I just put them in when I think I need a pause rather than follow the rules. One rule I DO follow just out of habit, I suppose, is that commas and periods ALWAYS go inside the quotes. But then I notice in England they don’t follow that rule, so it’s probably not that important anyway.
In fact, WHO DECIDES what is correct and what isn’t? Who made the rules in the first place? So I’m just going to continue to write for enjoyment and try not to be hampered by rules and regulations.
AT LAST --- I’M FREE FROM GRAMMAR LAWS!!
The amazing thing about my writing this blog is that I never enjoyed writing!! Whenever I had to write any type of paper in high school or college, I would struggle to put on paper the ideas I wanted to convey and when I was through, I was exhausted. So how in the world am I able to keep this up on an almost daily basis and what’s more, enjoy it thoroughly?? The answer for me lies in what kind of writing it is.
When I was in school, I had to read and research and basically put down in my own words what others had said about the subject. I really didn’t have that many creative notions on my own. What’s more, I had to follow all the rules of grammar and that can be soooo tiresome when you’re striving for perfection (or an A).
And the students now have no idea how tedious it was to type a paper on a typewriter back in the fifties. First, if you made a typo, you had to erase with a special type of eraser that never really got rid of the original mark. Secondly, the notes all had to be at the bottom of the page of the quote or idea you had borrowed, so you had to be really careful to leave enough room to get those in. There was no foolproof way to do this, either; many times I had to do a whole page over because I had misjudged how much space to leave. It’s no wonder I didn’t like to write.
My sisters and I were blessed in one way, however; we had a grammar “tyrant” for a mother. She never let us get away with mistakes like “to you and I,” “where is something at,” or “me” as a subject of a sentence. She corrected us until we got it right. Now whenever I hear these mistakes, I want to do the same, especially after teaching grammar for eighteen years. Alas, my own children (and even most English teachers I know!) make some of the same mistakes, so somehow I failed in that area.
But NOW when I write, I am free to put my thoughts down and not worry about the errors. Oh, I know when I make them (for instance, I should never use the word “you” the way I do; I would have counted off for that no-no). I am not as careful about commas either. But I have noticed when I read novels, that authors are not very particular about that either. So I just put them in when I think I need a pause rather than follow the rules. One rule I DO follow just out of habit, I suppose, is that commas and periods ALWAYS go inside the quotes. But then I notice in England they don’t follow that rule, so it’s probably not that important anyway.
In fact, WHO DECIDES what is correct and what isn’t? Who made the rules in the first place? So I’m just going to continue to write for enjoyment and try not to be hampered by rules and regulations.
AT LAST --- I’M FREE FROM GRAMMAR LAWS!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
OBITUARIES REVISITED
As I have mentioned before, I daily read the local obituaries mainly to see if anyone I know has died, but I also find it very entertaining at times. Last week I came across one that had both elements, and I had to share it with you.
This was about a man named Bobby whom the genius and I had known for years through the tennis world. He played himself and also had a son who played with Jim IV. Bobby, who was somewhat of a character, also set several records as a Gator quarterback, (one broken only this year by Tim Tebow), so we had that connection also. I feel strongly he would have approved what his family wrote about him in his obit.
Besides listing all of his achievements as an athlete, the article had this to say:
“Bobby died in the company of friends Thursday afternoon on the tennis court, leading 5-0 for the match. What a perfect way for this amazing competitor to go.”
I believe that Bobby went out the same way he spent his time on this earth --- in a colorful way, living life to the fullest!!
As I have mentioned before, I daily read the local obituaries mainly to see if anyone I know has died, but I also find it very entertaining at times. Last week I came across one that had both elements, and I had to share it with you.
This was about a man named Bobby whom the genius and I had known for years through the tennis world. He played himself and also had a son who played with Jim IV. Bobby, who was somewhat of a character, also set several records as a Gator quarterback, (one broken only this year by Tim Tebow), so we had that connection also. I feel strongly he would have approved what his family wrote about him in his obit.
Besides listing all of his achievements as an athlete, the article had this to say:
“Bobby died in the company of friends Thursday afternoon on the tennis court, leading 5-0 for the match. What a perfect way for this amazing competitor to go.”
I believe that Bobby went out the same way he spent his time on this earth --- in a colorful way, living life to the fullest!!
Monday, May 5, 2008
PUTTING ON THE DOG
Yesterday Brenda and the kids and I took Rufus with us to the Tennessee Arts and Crafts Association Fair at Centennial Park. It is a semi-annual affair that we attend and always enjoy it. It’s not your country “artsy-craftsy” stuff that you see at some fairs --- these items are really unusual and very pricey.
Everything is hand made: lots of yard art sculptures, jewelry of all types, stained glass, copper items, wooden bowls, etc. etc. Brenda bought a beautiful set of wind chimes made of solid cylinders of red glass; I bought a turquoise colored stained glass cross for my window. We rarely ever come away empty handed.
It was a gorgeous day --- low seventies and low humidity, couldn’t have asked for a better one. As a result, there were crowds of people there. And lots of dogs.
I gave Rufus a bath before we went and he was all fluffed out, looking his best. After all, I knew there would be plenty of attention and I was not wrong. Many people ewwwed and ahhhhed over him and wanted to pet him. He was unusually docile except occasionally when he would see another dog and then he would bark his high pitched yap. He also wanted to be carried a lot, a sign he was overwhelmed at times. Mostly, he behaved very well and did me proud.
I overheard one girl ask another if she wanted to buy anything and the other answered, “No, I only come to see the dogs.”
Yesterday Brenda and the kids and I took Rufus with us to the Tennessee Arts and Crafts Association Fair at Centennial Park. It is a semi-annual affair that we attend and always enjoy it. It’s not your country “artsy-craftsy” stuff that you see at some fairs --- these items are really unusual and very pricey.
Everything is hand made: lots of yard art sculptures, jewelry of all types, stained glass, copper items, wooden bowls, etc. etc. Brenda bought a beautiful set of wind chimes made of solid cylinders of red glass; I bought a turquoise colored stained glass cross for my window. We rarely ever come away empty handed.
It was a gorgeous day --- low seventies and low humidity, couldn’t have asked for a better one. As a result, there were crowds of people there. And lots of dogs.
I gave Rufus a bath before we went and he was all fluffed out, looking his best. After all, I knew there would be plenty of attention and I was not wrong. Many people ewwwed and ahhhhed over him and wanted to pet him. He was unusually docile except occasionally when he would see another dog and then he would bark his high pitched yap. He also wanted to be carried a lot, a sign he was overwhelmed at times. Mostly, he behaved very well and did me proud.
I overheard one girl ask another if she wanted to buy anything and the other answered, “No, I only come to see the dogs.”
RUFUS AND Y'MOMMY AT THE "DOG" FAIR
Thursday, May 1, 2008
GAMES AND PUZZLES
As I’ve mentioned before, I have enjoyed puzzles and games ever since I was a small girl. Someone made a picture of me working a puzzle and according to the date on the back, I was three years old at the time. So I have enjoyed this activity for some time (no wise cracks, please).
This love of games continued on into my teenaged years and I especially remember playing Rook with BJ and my father often. We were all three very competitive, but Daddy could be reckless at times. We used to have an end table in the living room that had a drawer full of photographs the backs of which we kept score on and recently I discovered some of these in my own picture collection. I laughed when I saw that many times Daddy had the lowest score because he would over bid his hand.
We played all kinds of card games; Rook was just one of them. I remember crazy eights, casino, rummy, war, slap-jack, I doubt it, and the old favorite, go fish. We had a game called authors that was like go fish, I think, except that it had pictures of famous classical authors. It was a great way to become familiar with some grand old names.
When I was a sophomore in high school, MA got married. Before her wedding, someone gave a bridge party for her, and of course, BJ and I were invited. We had a crash course in the game before the party, but it didn’t help us much. She and I finished dead last, and I know some of the partners we had would like to have thrown the cards at us. I liked the game, though, and continued to hone my skills with some other friends throughout high school.
Then, as I’ve said before, I played a lot of bridge when I went off to college, many times at the expense of going to classes.
When I met the genius, I learned that he also was a card player. His specialty was really poker, but he liked bridge and played it often at his fraternity house. After we married, we continued to play.
When he was in the Army, we began playing duplicate bridge, which is a little more competitive than contract bridge, which the majority of people play. Duplicate is not dependent on what kind of cards a person is dealt since everyone plays the same hands and competes with other players that way. Later, after we moved back to Nashville, we were in a duplicate bridge club and enjoyed it thoroughly.
And then we stopped playing. Every so often I would join in a game, but it has only been since I retired that I have picked it back up again. And there are new rules!! Many people now bid entirely differently than what I was taught, so I have had to struggle in the clubs I have subbed in.
And then it came last week --- an invitation to join a duplicate bridge club!! I was surprised because I don’t bid like everyone else and they have looked at me a little askance occasionally. But, I have fared well in scoring and I already knew some of the women, so I guess that’s why they asked me. I told one of them that I feel like I did when I was asked to join a sorority.
So I hope I don’t embarrass myself, and I do look forward to being a part of this group.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have enjoyed puzzles and games ever since I was a small girl. Someone made a picture of me working a puzzle and according to the date on the back, I was three years old at the time. So I have enjoyed this activity for some time (no wise cracks, please).
This love of games continued on into my teenaged years and I especially remember playing Rook with BJ and my father often. We were all three very competitive, but Daddy could be reckless at times. We used to have an end table in the living room that had a drawer full of photographs the backs of which we kept score on and recently I discovered some of these in my own picture collection. I laughed when I saw that many times Daddy had the lowest score because he would over bid his hand.
We played all kinds of card games; Rook was just one of them. I remember crazy eights, casino, rummy, war, slap-jack, I doubt it, and the old favorite, go fish. We had a game called authors that was like go fish, I think, except that it had pictures of famous classical authors. It was a great way to become familiar with some grand old names.
When I was a sophomore in high school, MA got married. Before her wedding, someone gave a bridge party for her, and of course, BJ and I were invited. We had a crash course in the game before the party, but it didn’t help us much. She and I finished dead last, and I know some of the partners we had would like to have thrown the cards at us. I liked the game, though, and continued to hone my skills with some other friends throughout high school.
Then, as I’ve said before, I played a lot of bridge when I went off to college, many times at the expense of going to classes.
When I met the genius, I learned that he also was a card player. His specialty was really poker, but he liked bridge and played it often at his fraternity house. After we married, we continued to play.
When he was in the Army, we began playing duplicate bridge, which is a little more competitive than contract bridge, which the majority of people play. Duplicate is not dependent on what kind of cards a person is dealt since everyone plays the same hands and competes with other players that way. Later, after we moved back to Nashville, we were in a duplicate bridge club and enjoyed it thoroughly.
And then we stopped playing. Every so often I would join in a game, but it has only been since I retired that I have picked it back up again. And there are new rules!! Many people now bid entirely differently than what I was taught, so I have had to struggle in the clubs I have subbed in.
And then it came last week --- an invitation to join a duplicate bridge club!! I was surprised because I don’t bid like everyone else and they have looked at me a little askance occasionally. But, I have fared well in scoring and I already knew some of the women, so I guess that’s why they asked me. I told one of them that I feel like I did when I was asked to join a sorority.
So I hope I don’t embarrass myself, and I do look forward to being a part of this group.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
ANOTHER LUNCHEON
Last week the ’57 “girls” got together again for a luncheon, this time traveling all the way to Gallatin for our get together. We had another wonderful time gathering at Fairvue, an antebellum plantation home that had a restaurant in the back of it. Actually, it was a club house for the country club and subdivision that had been built around it. (Trust us Americans to do that to a beautiful old home.) The house itself is occupied, so we couldn’t go inside, but we had a wonderful time catching up with each other again.
Lou had the most interesting experience to tell us. She and her son and his wife and two children had just gotten back from a three week visit to China to get an adopted baby girl. She had brought pictures of the baby, of course, who was precious, and also of the city Quanjo where they had spent most of the three weeks. I was particularly interested because Quanjo is the one city in China I had visited when I had gone to Hong Kong. They stayed in the very same 5 star hotel we had eaten lunch in, the one where we had to ask for napkins and they brought us one for seven people! Lou said they never brought them one and some places even charged for napkins, so they just learned to take their own packages of tissues when they ate out.
Again I was very pleasantly surprised at myself because I enjoyed seeing everyone so much, even those whom I thought I didn’t particularly like in high school. Or to be really truthful, those that I thought didn’t like me. I hope all of you readers don’t wait fifty years like I did to put any petty experiences you had at that age behind you. Words can’t express how free I feel from a burden I apparently carried around with me for years!
Below is a shot of us gathering in front of the club house.
Last week the ’57 “girls” got together again for a luncheon, this time traveling all the way to Gallatin for our get together. We had another wonderful time gathering at Fairvue, an antebellum plantation home that had a restaurant in the back of it. Actually, it was a club house for the country club and subdivision that had been built around it. (Trust us Americans to do that to a beautiful old home.) The house itself is occupied, so we couldn’t go inside, but we had a wonderful time catching up with each other again.
Lou had the most interesting experience to tell us. She and her son and his wife and two children had just gotten back from a three week visit to China to get an adopted baby girl. She had brought pictures of the baby, of course, who was precious, and also of the city Quanjo where they had spent most of the three weeks. I was particularly interested because Quanjo is the one city in China I had visited when I had gone to Hong Kong. They stayed in the very same 5 star hotel we had eaten lunch in, the one where we had to ask for napkins and they brought us one for seven people! Lou said they never brought them one and some places even charged for napkins, so they just learned to take their own packages of tissues when they ate out.
Again I was very pleasantly surprised at myself because I enjoyed seeing everyone so much, even those whom I thought I didn’t particularly like in high school. Or to be really truthful, those that I thought didn’t like me. I hope all of you readers don’t wait fifty years like I did to put any petty experiences you had at that age behind you. Words can’t express how free I feel from a burden I apparently carried around with me for years!
Below is a shot of us gathering in front of the club house.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?
Yesterday we had Jesse for the day and the dogs had a good time, as usual. I’ve written before about the hall window upstairs where I killed a thousand plants before filling it with colored glass. Rufus took over the bottom shelf as his lookout and now Jesse has too. Below are two pictures of the little cuties.
Monday, April 28, 2008
DESCRIBING RUFUS
Last week at church another Maltese owner and I were discussing our dogs. Hers is five years old and a female, whereas Rufus is two (still an adolescent) and a male. I could tell that she was surprised when I began describing his behavior to her; obviously, there is a big difference between the two.
He has such a mind of his own!! That’s the biggest problem!! Here’s an example: It’s time for him to go outside, so I say “Rufus, let’s go outside.” Most dogs (Jesse is a good example) run to the door, tail wagging, ready to go. Here’s what Rufus does. I stand at the door with the leash looking out and say, “Let’s go see Joe or Izzy” (two dogs up the street). Rufus slowly saunters up to the door and if he gets in front of me, I know he’s willing. I can put the leash on. However, I cannot try to put it on anytime before that or he will run away. If he happens to be asleep on my lap, I can just pick him up and take him out, a ploy I use often.
One morning he didn’t want to go out first thing, so I fed him his breakfast (white chicken meat and dog food). After breakfast he always has a greenie (a ridiculously expensive green dog treat shaped like a tooth brush that all dogs love). I told him he couldn’t have one until he went outside. I took the treat with me and got the leash, and he understood immediately. Out the door he went and I have never seen him do his business so fast. But I’m not about to give him one of those every time I want him to go out. For one thing, they are expensive, and for another, he’s not supposed to have more than one a day, according to the box. I do give him a small treat when we get back inside (something that looks like a miniature potato chip, but it’s called a chicken chip), so as smart as he is, you would think he would remember that.
And here’s another thing: he’s a very picky eater. Jesse will eat any kind of dog treat you give her; not so with Rufus. I have found maybe two types of treats that he will eat and one of those he grew tired of and won’t touch. That is, unless Jesse is here and then he will eat anything just to keep her from getting it. Right now I have at least three bags of dog treats in the pantry that he turned his nose up at and walked away. And it’s so embarrassing when I go through a drive through bank or drugstore and he is given a little dog biscuit. He just looks at it and refuses to take it. How ungrateful is that?
When I began wanting a dog and planning for one, I really thought I would have a sweet, pliable little one who would love me and obey me on command. Well, that’s not what I got; instead, I have a little rascal with his own personality who wants to play all day and sleep right up next to me at night. The sleeping part was exactly what I had in mind, so that’s okay, but I surely didn’t bargain for the independent cuss I got.
Now that I have him, however, I wouldn’t take anything else; he keeps the genius and me so entertained that we are amazed we did without him for so long.
Last week at church another Maltese owner and I were discussing our dogs. Hers is five years old and a female, whereas Rufus is two (still an adolescent) and a male. I could tell that she was surprised when I began describing his behavior to her; obviously, there is a big difference between the two.
He has such a mind of his own!! That’s the biggest problem!! Here’s an example: It’s time for him to go outside, so I say “Rufus, let’s go outside.” Most dogs (Jesse is a good example) run to the door, tail wagging, ready to go. Here’s what Rufus does. I stand at the door with the leash looking out and say, “Let’s go see Joe or Izzy” (two dogs up the street). Rufus slowly saunters up to the door and if he gets in front of me, I know he’s willing. I can put the leash on. However, I cannot try to put it on anytime before that or he will run away. If he happens to be asleep on my lap, I can just pick him up and take him out, a ploy I use often.
One morning he didn’t want to go out first thing, so I fed him his breakfast (white chicken meat and dog food). After breakfast he always has a greenie (a ridiculously expensive green dog treat shaped like a tooth brush that all dogs love). I told him he couldn’t have one until he went outside. I took the treat with me and got the leash, and he understood immediately. Out the door he went and I have never seen him do his business so fast. But I’m not about to give him one of those every time I want him to go out. For one thing, they are expensive, and for another, he’s not supposed to have more than one a day, according to the box. I do give him a small treat when we get back inside (something that looks like a miniature potato chip, but it’s called a chicken chip), so as smart as he is, you would think he would remember that.
And here’s another thing: he’s a very picky eater. Jesse will eat any kind of dog treat you give her; not so with Rufus. I have found maybe two types of treats that he will eat and one of those he grew tired of and won’t touch. That is, unless Jesse is here and then he will eat anything just to keep her from getting it. Right now I have at least three bags of dog treats in the pantry that he turned his nose up at and walked away. And it’s so embarrassing when I go through a drive through bank or drugstore and he is given a little dog biscuit. He just looks at it and refuses to take it. How ungrateful is that?
When I began wanting a dog and planning for one, I really thought I would have a sweet, pliable little one who would love me and obey me on command. Well, that’s not what I got; instead, I have a little rascal with his own personality who wants to play all day and sleep right up next to me at night. The sleeping part was exactly what I had in mind, so that’s okay, but I surely didn’t bargain for the independent cuss I got.
Now that I have him, however, I wouldn’t take anything else; he keeps the genius and me so entertained that we are amazed we did without him for so long.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
EVALUATING THE FIFTIES
I recently ordered two books from Amazon that came as a package deal. The titles were Ninety Minutes in Heaven and Twenty-Three Minutes in Hell. And no, they were not by the same author. I decided to read the “heaven” one first and it was very interesting. One thing that struck me as I read it has made me take a look back at the fifties and perhaps re-evaluate my opinions about the era.
What the author said was that when people look back at “the good old days,” they tend to forget the bad things about the times and just remember the good. I had already suspected that I was guilty of this very thing, so I began trying to think of what might have been bad about the era.
First, I do recall that I thought people were not as sincere as they should be; there seemed to be a false veneer behind which we hid. In doing so, we were always trying to conform to others’ opinions of us rather than being true to ourselves. It was very important to us to be one of the crowd and we were brought up to the old adage of “What will people think?”
Also, there was definitely a double standard between boys and girls. It was okay for boys to wear jeans to school, but the girls couldn’t. Men could smoke; women were “common” if they did. (Of course, that didn’t stop us from doing it.) Many times the girls were at the top of the class, but usually the only jobs open to women were teaching, secretarial, and nursing.
In the area of churches, it seemed to me that people were not really very spiritual; it was more a works-oriented type of religion that was prevalent. Oh, I’m sure there were some people who were deeply committed Christians who were acting out their faith, but there also seemed to be many who just went to church because it was expected and their “piety” didn’t extend past Sunday at noon. (And I suppose you could say the same about today’s Christians.)
In addition to the above examples, I could add that there were subjects that were strictly taboo to discuss. I learned about the “birds and bees” from my sisters and friends and I can tell you that there was a lot of information missing. I remember that the lack of being open about that subject frustrated me at the time, but talking about it just wasn’t done.
Of course, all that changed with the sixties. All the views and beliefs we had held sacred went up in marijuana smoke. In an effort to change the world, we went way overboard and now, looking back at the fifties, they seem heavenly compared to what came afterwards.
In an effort not to seem too pessimistic, I can name many things I like about today’s world that we didn’t have back then: computers, cell phones, washers and driers, dishwashers, AC, GPS, and on and on.
I suppose what’s really important is that we try to appreciate what we have today and do our best to continue to grow spiritually in this crazy mixed up world. According to Don Piper, the “heaven” author, we have a beautiful experience ahead of us.
Now I’ll see what the “Hell” book is all about.
I recently ordered two books from Amazon that came as a package deal. The titles were Ninety Minutes in Heaven and Twenty-Three Minutes in Hell. And no, they were not by the same author. I decided to read the “heaven” one first and it was very interesting. One thing that struck me as I read it has made me take a look back at the fifties and perhaps re-evaluate my opinions about the era.
What the author said was that when people look back at “the good old days,” they tend to forget the bad things about the times and just remember the good. I had already suspected that I was guilty of this very thing, so I began trying to think of what might have been bad about the era.
First, I do recall that I thought people were not as sincere as they should be; there seemed to be a false veneer behind which we hid. In doing so, we were always trying to conform to others’ opinions of us rather than being true to ourselves. It was very important to us to be one of the crowd and we were brought up to the old adage of “What will people think?”
Also, there was definitely a double standard between boys and girls. It was okay for boys to wear jeans to school, but the girls couldn’t. Men could smoke; women were “common” if they did. (Of course, that didn’t stop us from doing it.) Many times the girls were at the top of the class, but usually the only jobs open to women were teaching, secretarial, and nursing.
In the area of churches, it seemed to me that people were not really very spiritual; it was more a works-oriented type of religion that was prevalent. Oh, I’m sure there were some people who were deeply committed Christians who were acting out their faith, but there also seemed to be many who just went to church because it was expected and their “piety” didn’t extend past Sunday at noon. (And I suppose you could say the same about today’s Christians.)
In addition to the above examples, I could add that there were subjects that were strictly taboo to discuss. I learned about the “birds and bees” from my sisters and friends and I can tell you that there was a lot of information missing. I remember that the lack of being open about that subject frustrated me at the time, but talking about it just wasn’t done.
Of course, all that changed with the sixties. All the views and beliefs we had held sacred went up in marijuana smoke. In an effort to change the world, we went way overboard and now, looking back at the fifties, they seem heavenly compared to what came afterwards.
In an effort not to seem too pessimistic, I can name many things I like about today’s world that we didn’t have back then: computers, cell phones, washers and driers, dishwashers, AC, GPS, and on and on.
I suppose what’s really important is that we try to appreciate what we have today and do our best to continue to grow spiritually in this crazy mixed up world. According to Don Piper, the “heaven” author, we have a beautiful experience ahead of us.
Now I’ll see what the “Hell” book is all about.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
QUENCHING MY THIRST
I never was much of a water drinker when I was growing up. Our family used to keep a cold bottle of water in the refrigerator, and in the summers I would pour from it, but I really preferred to mix Kool Aid in it or just drink a coke. But the best thirst quencher for me by far has always been iced tea.
When we were very small, we had to drink a glass of milk before having the tea, so I would quickly drink it down so I could have my tea. I would put several spoonfuls of sugar in it, squeeze a slice of lemon in, and stir for half an hour to get all that sugar dissolved. How sweet it was, and how great it tasted, especially when I got down to the bottom of the glass with all that lemon flavored sugar still left!!
Nowadays, if you order tea in a restaurant in the South, you’re usually asked if you want sweet or unsweet. I always order unsweet and dump some Sweet’n’Low (not Equal or Splenda) in addition to the lemon. I feel almost sacrilegious doing this because most Southerners order the already-sweetened-with-sugar stuff. The reason is that they like sugar and don’t want to have to stir for thirty minutes. (I’m sure that I will hear from BJ on this since she makes her tea at home and sweetens it while it is warm so the sugar will dissolve quickly.)
When I played tennis, I had a famous concoction that I made to drink while I was playing the match. I filled my thermos jug up with ice and then poured a mixture of 1/3 tea, 1/3 lemon Gatorade, and 1/3 orange juice over the ice. I tried many different drinks on the tennis court, including water, but this one worked best for me and thus was my drink of choice for many years. Also, it was very popular with my tennis friends.
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t particularly like water, but that has all changed with the bottled water we now drink at home. We had a choice of three different types and sampled all three before deciding on distilled water. There is nothing tastier to me now than to drink a glass of that ice cold water the first thing in the morning; I even take my pills with it. We get no iron or minerals from the distilled water, but I figure we get enough out to eat or otherwise, so I don’t consider that a problem.
However, I may have to go back to tap water exclusively. I read the other day that they have found all sorts of drugs in our drinking water, and I certainly don’t want to miss out on that!!!
I never was much of a water drinker when I was growing up. Our family used to keep a cold bottle of water in the refrigerator, and in the summers I would pour from it, but I really preferred to mix Kool Aid in it or just drink a coke. But the best thirst quencher for me by far has always been iced tea.
When we were very small, we had to drink a glass of milk before having the tea, so I would quickly drink it down so I could have my tea. I would put several spoonfuls of sugar in it, squeeze a slice of lemon in, and stir for half an hour to get all that sugar dissolved. How sweet it was, and how great it tasted, especially when I got down to the bottom of the glass with all that lemon flavored sugar still left!!
Nowadays, if you order tea in a restaurant in the South, you’re usually asked if you want sweet or unsweet. I always order unsweet and dump some Sweet’n’Low (not Equal or Splenda) in addition to the lemon. I feel almost sacrilegious doing this because most Southerners order the already-sweetened-with-sugar stuff. The reason is that they like sugar and don’t want to have to stir for thirty minutes. (I’m sure that I will hear from BJ on this since she makes her tea at home and sweetens it while it is warm so the sugar will dissolve quickly.)
When I played tennis, I had a famous concoction that I made to drink while I was playing the match. I filled my thermos jug up with ice and then poured a mixture of 1/3 tea, 1/3 lemon Gatorade, and 1/3 orange juice over the ice. I tried many different drinks on the tennis court, including water, but this one worked best for me and thus was my drink of choice for many years. Also, it was very popular with my tennis friends.
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t particularly like water, but that has all changed with the bottled water we now drink at home. We had a choice of three different types and sampled all three before deciding on distilled water. There is nothing tastier to me now than to drink a glass of that ice cold water the first thing in the morning; I even take my pills with it. We get no iron or minerals from the distilled water, but I figure we get enough out to eat or otherwise, so I don’t consider that a problem.
However, I may have to go back to tap water exclusively. I read the other day that they have found all sorts of drugs in our drinking water, and I certainly don’t want to miss out on that!!!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SADS AND CLOTHES
Every winter I suffer from SADS (seasonal affected depression syndrome), but this winter has been worse than usual. I think I finally figured out why: this is the first time in many years that I haven’t had to be somewhere every day or at least several times a week. Even last year after I retired, I tutored several days a week, but this year I’ve been as free as a bird. As a result, SADS hit me harder than usual.
I finally began to come out of the worst of it on the trip to New Mexico. The weather out there, especially in south NM was bright and sunny and I just soaked it up. As I said, I began to climb out of the pit.
So now every sunny day or even just a warm day, I try to sit outside for 30 minutes or so to try to get the endorphins that the sun apparently gives me built back up in my brain. I feel much better as a result.
I felt so good in fact that I switched my closets around again – swapped winter clothes out for summer ones and once again I have come up with a huge pile of clothes that I haven’t worn in a year that I need to give away. I think I must be wearing the same old clothes over and over and just forgetting about most of the others.
Or I’m just buying too many and can’t possibly wear them all. This need to have lots of clothes dates back to my childhood. Because I was the youngest, many of the clothes I had were hand-me-downs, and had that worn look about them. Also, people just didn’t have the amount of clothes we have now. But the desire for me to have lots of them started early.
That’s one reason I learned to sew. Mother encouraged us to do this and as soon as I was in high school, I began making many of my skirts and dresses. Thus, I could build up my wardrobe without having to spend lots of money.
You would think that with three girls in the family, we would have been able to borrow each other’s clothes. And BJ and MA did just that; however, they wouldn’t let me in on this unless I signed my life away. Now why would they be so stingy? Actually, they had a good reason because I tended to step out of my clothes each day and leave them on the floor when I undressed. No matter whose it was. You can understand why they cut me out of the deal unless I swore a blood oath to be careful with whatever I borrowed.
I still tend to not hang up my clothes at night, and instead put it on one of the two chairs in the bedroom. But I’m getting better, even in my old age I am learning the old adage: “a place for everything and everything in its place.”
At least I don’t throw them on the floor anymore.
Every winter I suffer from SADS (seasonal affected depression syndrome), but this winter has been worse than usual. I think I finally figured out why: this is the first time in many years that I haven’t had to be somewhere every day or at least several times a week. Even last year after I retired, I tutored several days a week, but this year I’ve been as free as a bird. As a result, SADS hit me harder than usual.
I finally began to come out of the worst of it on the trip to New Mexico. The weather out there, especially in south NM was bright and sunny and I just soaked it up. As I said, I began to climb out of the pit.
So now every sunny day or even just a warm day, I try to sit outside for 30 minutes or so to try to get the endorphins that the sun apparently gives me built back up in my brain. I feel much better as a result.
I felt so good in fact that I switched my closets around again – swapped winter clothes out for summer ones and once again I have come up with a huge pile of clothes that I haven’t worn in a year that I need to give away. I think I must be wearing the same old clothes over and over and just forgetting about most of the others.
Or I’m just buying too many and can’t possibly wear them all. This need to have lots of clothes dates back to my childhood. Because I was the youngest, many of the clothes I had were hand-me-downs, and had that worn look about them. Also, people just didn’t have the amount of clothes we have now. But the desire for me to have lots of them started early.
That’s one reason I learned to sew. Mother encouraged us to do this and as soon as I was in high school, I began making many of my skirts and dresses. Thus, I could build up my wardrobe without having to spend lots of money.
You would think that with three girls in the family, we would have been able to borrow each other’s clothes. And BJ and MA did just that; however, they wouldn’t let me in on this unless I signed my life away. Now why would they be so stingy? Actually, they had a good reason because I tended to step out of my clothes each day and leave them on the floor when I undressed. No matter whose it was. You can understand why they cut me out of the deal unless I swore a blood oath to be careful with whatever I borrowed.
I still tend to not hang up my clothes at night, and instead put it on one of the two chairs in the bedroom. But I’m getting better, even in my old age I am learning the old adage: “a place for everything and everything in its place.”
At least I don’t throw them on the floor anymore.
Monday, April 21, 2008
HONG KONG VISIT
In the last blog I mentioned my trip to Hong Kong with Brenda. Ashley, Mike, and children had been there about a year when we made the decision to fly over and spend a week with them. I had my doctor give me some medications to calm me down enough to make the trip, (remember my terror of flying) so armed with valium and another tranquillizer, away we went.
We arrived in Hong Kong after a 25 hour journey (that I barely remember) and were driven to Ashley and Mike’s apartment on the twelfth floor of a modern high rise. They had three bedrooms and two baths with another bedroom suite in back of the kitchen for their live-in nanny, Merly. But best of all, some friends of theirs on the sixth floor were gone for the month and Brenda and I were able to stay in their apartment.
There were several experiences I remember about that fascinating city. The first was that even though I was hung over and jetlagged, I enjoyed the different ethnic restaurants we ate at each night. Next was the shopping. There was a section of town where shop keepers had one booth after another of clothes, purses, furniture, etc. for fabulously low prices. I bought so much I had to buy another suitcase to get it all home.
Another incident that stands out in my mind was the tennis match. For the first time ever Ashley beat me 7-5 in the one set we played (after I had been ahead 5-2). She said will never play me again, and it’s just as well since she now plays all the time in a very high league and I haven’t played in 10 years.
I also remember our train trip into China to visit the city of Quanjo. The bathroom in the train consisted of a hole opening onto the tracks with handles to hold onto. As we rode along, we watched farmers plowing with oxen and very primitive equipment. And everywhere we looked we saw houses and buildings that needed paint.
While in Quanjo, we went to lunch in a beautiful hotel that looked to be at least 4 stars. There was an enormous jade carving in the lobby that must have cost a fortune and the bathrooms were something to behold also. The seven of us settled ourselves at a table and ordered our food. Everything was delicious, but expensive. One thing they forgot to bring us was napkins so we asked for them. They brought one very nice white cloth napkin for the seven of us to share!
Also what I remember about that city besides the fact that it looked very drab and dirty were the hundreds of bicycles everywhere, many of them loaded with broken down cardboard boxes. I never did figure out what that was about. At the zoo, many Chinese people stared at us and one woman even came up to Jordan (who was 2½) and rubbed her hand across the freckles on her shoulder. Jordan had lots of freckles when she was that age and I guess that was unusual in China.
We had a wonderful time while we were there, but soon it was time for us to leave. Our plane took off with me drugged to the hilt and then when we were almost to Taipai, the pilot informed us that there was a typhoon (translated hurricane) there and we would have to turn back. Our new flight plan included landing for an hour in Alaska, and Brenda and I walked around outside so we could feel better about saying we had visited that state. Finally, after a stay overnight in LA at the expense of the airlines, we arrived home, feeling very tired, but happy.
When we got back to the house, Brenda gave me a T shirt that Mike had asked her to give me that read: HONG KONG: I CAME, I SAW, I TOOK A VALIUM. The only thing untrue about that was I took MANY valium.
In the last blog I mentioned my trip to Hong Kong with Brenda. Ashley, Mike, and children had been there about a year when we made the decision to fly over and spend a week with them. I had my doctor give me some medications to calm me down enough to make the trip, (remember my terror of flying) so armed with valium and another tranquillizer, away we went.
We arrived in Hong Kong after a 25 hour journey (that I barely remember) and were driven to Ashley and Mike’s apartment on the twelfth floor of a modern high rise. They had three bedrooms and two baths with another bedroom suite in back of the kitchen for their live-in nanny, Merly. But best of all, some friends of theirs on the sixth floor were gone for the month and Brenda and I were able to stay in their apartment.
There were several experiences I remember about that fascinating city. The first was that even though I was hung over and jetlagged, I enjoyed the different ethnic restaurants we ate at each night. Next was the shopping. There was a section of town where shop keepers had one booth after another of clothes, purses, furniture, etc. for fabulously low prices. I bought so much I had to buy another suitcase to get it all home.
Another incident that stands out in my mind was the tennis match. For the first time ever Ashley beat me 7-5 in the one set we played (after I had been ahead 5-2). She said will never play me again, and it’s just as well since she now plays all the time in a very high league and I haven’t played in 10 years.
I also remember our train trip into China to visit the city of Quanjo. The bathroom in the train consisted of a hole opening onto the tracks with handles to hold onto. As we rode along, we watched farmers plowing with oxen and very primitive equipment. And everywhere we looked we saw houses and buildings that needed paint.
While in Quanjo, we went to lunch in a beautiful hotel that looked to be at least 4 stars. There was an enormous jade carving in the lobby that must have cost a fortune and the bathrooms were something to behold also. The seven of us settled ourselves at a table and ordered our food. Everything was delicious, but expensive. One thing they forgot to bring us was napkins so we asked for them. They brought one very nice white cloth napkin for the seven of us to share!
Also what I remember about that city besides the fact that it looked very drab and dirty were the hundreds of bicycles everywhere, many of them loaded with broken down cardboard boxes. I never did figure out what that was about. At the zoo, many Chinese people stared at us and one woman even came up to Jordan (who was 2½) and rubbed her hand across the freckles on her shoulder. Jordan had lots of freckles when she was that age and I guess that was unusual in China.
We had a wonderful time while we were there, but soon it was time for us to leave. Our plane took off with me drugged to the hilt and then when we were almost to Taipai, the pilot informed us that there was a typhoon (translated hurricane) there and we would have to turn back. Our new flight plan included landing for an hour in Alaska, and Brenda and I walked around outside so we could feel better about saying we had visited that state. Finally, after a stay overnight in LA at the expense of the airlines, we arrived home, feeling very tired, but happy.
When we got back to the house, Brenda gave me a T shirt that Mike had asked her to give me that read: HONG KONG: I CAME, I SAW, I TOOK A VALIUM. The only thing untrue about that was I took MANY valium.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
THE FIRST GRANDCHILD
My mother-in-law used to say that there is something special about the first grandchild --- it wasn’t that she loved Ashley more than the others --- it was just that because she was first, there was something about her that made her different from all the others. I would have to agree with her, and because my beloved T² has taken so much grief in the comment section lately from his mom and aunt, I decided to write about him today.
(By the way, I hope all the readers are checking the comments as well as the posts because the various members of the family are putting wonderful ones on sometimes several days after the blogs are posted. The one I referred to above occurred after I wrote about the NT Club.)
When Ashley first told me she was pregnant, I was not happy, not because I didn’t want grandchildren, I longed for them. The reason I was sad was because they lived in Tulsa and I thought it would be torture for me to have a grandchild I couldn’t see whenever I wanted. (And it was!)
Ashley called me early on November 19 to tell me that her water had broken and she was waiting for Mike to get back into town to drive her to the hospital. He was driving back from somewhere in Arkansas and would be there soon. She was in labor all day and finally the doctors did a C section and delivered a 12 pound 4 ounce boy, a hospital record. How I wanted to be there, but I was in school and would have to wait a week until we could drive out for Thanksgiving weekend.
That little boy was so fat and had such dark hair that he looked like a Native American baby. He grew out of that look and became tall and slim, but at that time he was all folds and fat, so much so that he could hardly open his eyes. But all I wanted to do was to hold him and never put him down.
I was to see him at Christmas and several other times during that first year and every time I couldn’t stand for him to leave. He was the cutest, sweetest baby I could ever hope for. The first big heartbreak came when he was about a year old and Ashley told me they were moving to Phoenix. Tulsa was a one day drive, Phoenix was three. At that time I absolutely hated to fly, so I began investigating ways to get there that were not by plane. Twice I rode cross country by Amtrak, an experience I really enjoyed, even though long and tedious. But it was worth it to see my Tommy at the end and also Jordan, who was two years younger than he.
Then came the time that Ashley and Mike told us they were moving to Hong Kong for a few years. If I thought I was heart broken before, I didn’t know what the word had meant. I remember taking Tommy, who was about three, outside where we looked at the moon together while I taught him the song,
“I see the moon, the moon sees me,
The moon sees the one that I want to see.
God bless the moon and God bless me,
And God bless the one that I want to see.”
I told him that when he got to his new home to just look at the moon and remember that I was looking at it too and we could think of each other. If this sounds sad, it was. It was a very difficult time for me. I had always thought that the ideal life for me was to raise my children and have them all settle nearby where I could see the grandchildren often and be on hand to help out whenever I was needed.
But that’s not the way it worked out, and I have had a very full life going to school and teaching. And I never would have gotten to see Hong Kong! Yes, Brenda and I did fly out to see all of them and it was a great experience. We even went into China for a day. But the best part was being able to see Tommy, Jordan, and Bailey, (the latter I had never seen before because she had been born in Hong Kong). And after three years, they came back to Phoenix where they have been ever since.
All of my grandchildren are unique in their own way and I enjoy them immensely. We have all taken trips together and have had many wonderful shared times. But I say it again, there is something I cannot explain about my feelings for Tommy; I love all of them dearly, but he just happened to be the first and that was special.
My mother-in-law used to say that there is something special about the first grandchild --- it wasn’t that she loved Ashley more than the others --- it was just that because she was first, there was something about her that made her different from all the others. I would have to agree with her, and because my beloved T² has taken so much grief in the comment section lately from his mom and aunt, I decided to write about him today.
(By the way, I hope all the readers are checking the comments as well as the posts because the various members of the family are putting wonderful ones on sometimes several days after the blogs are posted. The one I referred to above occurred after I wrote about the NT Club.)
When Ashley first told me she was pregnant, I was not happy, not because I didn’t want grandchildren, I longed for them. The reason I was sad was because they lived in Tulsa and I thought it would be torture for me to have a grandchild I couldn’t see whenever I wanted. (And it was!)
Ashley called me early on November 19 to tell me that her water had broken and she was waiting for Mike to get back into town to drive her to the hospital. He was driving back from somewhere in Arkansas and would be there soon. She was in labor all day and finally the doctors did a C section and delivered a 12 pound 4 ounce boy, a hospital record. How I wanted to be there, but I was in school and would have to wait a week until we could drive out for Thanksgiving weekend.
That little boy was so fat and had such dark hair that he looked like a Native American baby. He grew out of that look and became tall and slim, but at that time he was all folds and fat, so much so that he could hardly open his eyes. But all I wanted to do was to hold him and never put him down.
I was to see him at Christmas and several other times during that first year and every time I couldn’t stand for him to leave. He was the cutest, sweetest baby I could ever hope for. The first big heartbreak came when he was about a year old and Ashley told me they were moving to Phoenix. Tulsa was a one day drive, Phoenix was three. At that time I absolutely hated to fly, so I began investigating ways to get there that were not by plane. Twice I rode cross country by Amtrak, an experience I really enjoyed, even though long and tedious. But it was worth it to see my Tommy at the end and also Jordan, who was two years younger than he.
Then came the time that Ashley and Mike told us they were moving to Hong Kong for a few years. If I thought I was heart broken before, I didn’t know what the word had meant. I remember taking Tommy, who was about three, outside where we looked at the moon together while I taught him the song,
“I see the moon, the moon sees me,
The moon sees the one that I want to see.
God bless the moon and God bless me,
And God bless the one that I want to see.”
I told him that when he got to his new home to just look at the moon and remember that I was looking at it too and we could think of each other. If this sounds sad, it was. It was a very difficult time for me. I had always thought that the ideal life for me was to raise my children and have them all settle nearby where I could see the grandchildren often and be on hand to help out whenever I was needed.
But that’s not the way it worked out, and I have had a very full life going to school and teaching. And I never would have gotten to see Hong Kong! Yes, Brenda and I did fly out to see all of them and it was a great experience. We even went into China for a day. But the best part was being able to see Tommy, Jordan, and Bailey, (the latter I had never seen before because she had been born in Hong Kong). And after three years, they came back to Phoenix where they have been ever since.
All of my grandchildren are unique in their own way and I enjoy them immensely. We have all taken trips together and have had many wonderful shared times. But I say it again, there is something I cannot explain about my feelings for Tommy; I love all of them dearly, but he just happened to be the first and that was special.
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