"An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions."
~Proverbs 17:24 (GN)
Showing posts with label Eat-Pray-Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eat-Pray-Love. Show all posts
Monday, May 2, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
God Is So Good!!
Wow...Five years ago today, I was living right in the midst of this storm!
Thankful to still have a roof over our heads, albeit a damaged one, and also thankful that the Lord had spared D/H after his (supposed) tumble from our roof.
Today, I am meeting the contractor to begin purchasing supplies for the first of many home improvements! I am super excited!
Well, not exactly the first. The porch, completed last week, came first. It is exactly as I had imagined it. I have been enjoying these balmy Spring evenings, just sitting on the steps, breathing in the earthy smell of new wood, and watching cars whiz by.
God is so good!
Thankful to still have a roof over our heads, albeit a damaged one, and also thankful that the Lord had spared D/H after his (supposed) tumble from our roof.
Today, I am meeting the contractor to begin purchasing supplies for the first of many home improvements! I am super excited!
Well, not exactly the first. The porch, completed last week, came first. It is exactly as I had imagined it. I have been enjoying these balmy Spring evenings, just sitting on the steps, breathing in the earthy smell of new wood, and watching cars whiz by.
God is so good!
Friday, January 29, 2016
Real Men Cook
One of the great things about dating again is, well let's be honest, eating out!
Everyone knows that I really HATE, I mean H A T E cooking and, worse yet, cleaning up after it's done.
But Lord love a man who can cook.
I think I mentioned having dinner a few weekends ago at Gun's (high school friend mentioned in this post) . It was pouring rain, yet he braved the elements to grill some pretty yummy chicken.
Everyone knows that I really HATE, I mean H A T E cooking and, worse yet, cleaning up after it's done.
But Lord love a man who can cook.
I think I mentioned having dinner a few weekends ago at Gun's (high school friend mentioned in this post) . It was pouring rain, yet he braved the elements to grill some pretty yummy chicken.
Last night, he called to invite me to dinner with him and his son again.. Their home is on the way to mine, (only about 10 minutes away) so a slight course correction had me there by six.
This time it was some pretty tasty burgers topped off with grilled poblano peppers! MMMM!!
Finding out that I have a gluten intolerance (which I had to explain meant no buns for me) meant I got to eat mine on a plate surrounded by yummy vegetables instead.
He told me that he had taken some culinary courses back during his short time in college, and it had sparked his interest. He has loved to cook ever since,
Gotta love a man who can cook! Sure beats Hamburger Helper!
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Great Beginnings!
I had another great date with John! Trying not to get my hopes up. He has only been divorced for a year. Guys seem to sow their wild oats during the first few years after a divorce. He knows how I have been hurt and he understands that I have SERIOUS trust issues now. But he gets my quirky sense of humor. We truly enjoy each other's company. We laugh.... A LOT! We like a lot of the same things. We listen to the same music. He's much taller than me, even when I am in heels. Okay....he's a bammer ( for my out of state friends, in Alabama, there are Auburn fans like me, and then there are ....not...) but not in that militant, "name-your-kid-Bear" (yes, seriously) kind of way. I think what I like most about him is that he invented his job. He left one really successful career, to fill in a niche with another. He has a very strong work ethic, and for that he is successful.
We went out for barbeque and then went bowling. The local bowling alley was taken over by new management and completely remodeled. The only thing that was familiar was the lanes. The game is completely automated so the tables that used to be by the alleys were gone. replaced with cushy sofas. that meandered along the backside of the lanes. The hardest part for me was having to tell the shoe guy what my shoe size was. I always have to tell them I wear an 11 in women's, that translates to a 9 in men's, because they NEVER have women's size 11 shoes. I shared that I was embarrassed that I had such big feet. John replied "Oh Yeah?' and loudly asked Shoe Guy for a pair of size FOURTEENS! They were the biggest shoes I had ever seen. I could almost put both feet in one!
I bowled the worst game that I have ever bowled in my entire life, including when I was big pregnant with Julz. But we laughed and shared strategies. I tried really hard to tone down my fierce competitive streak, but the disappointment with myself was evident on my face.
When our games were over, we sat in the lounging area of our lane and talked. For an hour. Then he walked me to my car, and we talked some more.
Really looking forward to seeing him again
=)
We went out for barbeque and then went bowling. The local bowling alley was taken over by new management and completely remodeled. The only thing that was familiar was the lanes. The game is completely automated so the tables that used to be by the alleys were gone. replaced with cushy sofas. that meandered along the backside of the lanes. The hardest part for me was having to tell the shoe guy what my shoe size was. I always have to tell them I wear an 11 in women's, that translates to a 9 in men's, because they NEVER have women's size 11 shoes. I shared that I was embarrassed that I had such big feet. John replied "Oh Yeah?' and loudly asked Shoe Guy for a pair of size FOURTEENS! They were the biggest shoes I had ever seen. I could almost put both feet in one!
I bowled the worst game that I have ever bowled in my entire life, including when I was big pregnant with Julz. But we laughed and shared strategies. I tried really hard to tone down my fierce competitive streak, but the disappointment with myself was evident on my face.
When our games were over, we sat in the lounging area of our lane and talked. For an hour. Then he walked me to my car, and we talked some more.
Really looking forward to seeing him again
=)
Sunday, November 15, 2015
"Lord, Please Remove Those Who Have No Business In My Life..."
In my morning prayers, as I send up prayers for protection over my children and other family, I always ask the Lord to remove those from my life who have "no business" in my life or the life of my family. I implore Him to remove those "who seek to use us and abuse us." I feel like this simple request has spared me from a great deal of heartache.
Today, in the final sermon of his "Blessed Life" series, our pastor shared an idea that I never thought of before, but one that makes a lot of sense.
"Those who are focused on PEOPLE, will use Money to help other People. But those who are focused on MONEY will use People to get more Money"
This struck me: I had lived this very truth.
For the better part of two decades, I was used for my resources.
Now I know the Lord won't let that happen again.
Today, in the final sermon of his "Blessed Life" series, our pastor shared an idea that I never thought of before, but one that makes a lot of sense.
"Those who are focused on PEOPLE, will use Money to help other People. But those who are focused on MONEY will use People to get more Money"
This struck me: I had lived this very truth.
For the better part of two decades, I was used for my resources.
Now I know the Lord won't let that happen again.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Food, Glorious Food.....
Wow!! Who doesn't love food festivals!
I am looking forward to hitting more than a few of these!!!
~EnJOY
I am looking forward to hitting more than a few of these!!!
~EnJOY
Thursday, November 20, 2014
It's An Esteem Thing
Right now I an loving this song.
(ya gotta love the guy in the pink shirt!)
This little ditty is the brain-child of 20 year old rising star (or future one hit wonder...who knows) Meghan Trainor. It's catchy beat, doo-wop undertone and Meghan's baby doll voice has made this song a hit. Throw in the "love your body" message and this one keeps everyone humming.
How much healthier would my self-esteem be today if ths song was around when I was growing up?
Even when I was thin, there was someone pointing out things I shouldn't love about myself. When I became a big girl, I just wanted to hide and become one of those people that you read about when they are cutting the wall out of their house to remove their dead bodies with a forklift. Now Miss Meghan is far from what I would call "fat." As a matter of fact, the only person in the whole video who would possibly benefit from that description might just be the fella in the pink shirt, and he is getting his groove on like nobody's business.
It took me nearly my whole life to decide to be happy with myself and it took just that action.
Deciding to be happy.
Now don't think that I am going to let myself go or anything. I am having to watch what I eat for my ticker, and to keep my diabetes in check because Lord help me, I will NOT be put on dialasys when I am old. I am just more forgiving of myself. The added dilligence has rewarded me with a much smaller pants size and a surprisingly younger-looking, healthier appearance. Many have commented about how much better I look now than I did ten years ago. And trust me, I am getting no complaints.
Of course, there is a "bass" worthy girl trapped inside, screaming for cake, cookies and bread. She and I dance on a daily basis. She wants to fudge and eat bbq and white cheddar cheese dip every day. I take her Whole Foods and shut her up with steamed kale and grilled portabello mushrooms.
The struggle is real.
All About That Bass (single) - Meghan Trainor - Epic 2014
(ya gotta love the guy in the pink shirt!)
This little ditty is the brain-child of 20 year old rising star (or future one hit wonder...who knows) Meghan Trainor. It's catchy beat, doo-wop undertone and Meghan's baby doll voice has made this song a hit. Throw in the "love your body" message and this one keeps everyone humming.
How much healthier would my self-esteem be today if ths song was around when I was growing up?
Even when I was thin, there was someone pointing out things I shouldn't love about myself. When I became a big girl, I just wanted to hide and become one of those people that you read about when they are cutting the wall out of their house to remove their dead bodies with a forklift. Now Miss Meghan is far from what I would call "fat." As a matter of fact, the only person in the whole video who would possibly benefit from that description might just be the fella in the pink shirt, and he is getting his groove on like nobody's business.
It took me nearly my whole life to decide to be happy with myself and it took just that action.
Deciding to be happy.
Now don't think that I am going to let myself go or anything. I am having to watch what I eat for my ticker, and to keep my diabetes in check because Lord help me, I will NOT be put on dialasys when I am old. I am just more forgiving of myself. The added dilligence has rewarded me with a much smaller pants size and a surprisingly younger-looking, healthier appearance. Many have commented about how much better I look now than I did ten years ago. And trust me, I am getting no complaints.
Of course, there is a "bass" worthy girl trapped inside, screaming for cake, cookies and bread. She and I dance on a daily basis. She wants to fudge and eat bbq and white cheddar cheese dip every day. I take her Whole Foods and shut her up with steamed kale and grilled portabello mushrooms.
The struggle is real.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Super Busy
Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I have been super busy!
Some things going on in my world:
The Boss is back at work for half days this week. Yea!!!
The body found up the street from the office, was a gentleman who apparently lost control of his bike, fell off and hit his head and died of head trauma. The police suspect no foul play.
A Coke bottle, bearing my son's name in the cooler at Wallyworld, caught my attention. I really miss him. Speaking with his sisters, they miss him too. He is not responding to anyone's text. That is very uncharacteristic for him. We know there are dark influences there. I am praying diligently that he can break free from it. I pray that he does not inherit the dishonesty, mistrust, faithlessness, and negativity he has been surrounded by since he has moved. Precious Father, please surround my boy with a hedge of protection that no evil will penetrate. Amen.
Things with W are moving right along. But proving that I wasn't going to to tie myself down, accpeting a dinner invitation from a friend, lit a fire under him. After radio silence for the past few weeks, he has started calling again with renewed vigor. He admitted that he missed me. It's nice, because I really kinda missed talking to him too. I would catch myself thinking "Oh, I've gotta tell W about this..." or "I bet W would get a kick out of that..." He says that he did the same thing.
If anything, that "date" proved to me that while I chose to be alone, I am not actually lonely. I really like my life right now, and don't really need anyone to make me "complete." I am weeding out the drama-mongers. Ain't nobody got time for that! I let those into my life who I enjoy being around. And I am not so desperate that I would glom onto the first person that came along. I happen to be looking for a decent, honest, faithful, quality companion.
Cotton is currently in the hospital with an infection. Major IV antibiotics on board. Kit-Kat is severly stressed from the whole situation, and was nearly unconsolable. Julz and I did get her to eat something last night and I hope she got some rest last night.
Speaking of the girls, both are enrolled in college. I am excited for them, and very proud that they are so independent. Both are working steadily, and managing to keep rent and bills up to date. I am glad that they learned from the mistakes they witnessed growing up. Currently trying to figure out the car situation. I signed her car, currently dead in my drive way, over to her so that she can sell it for parts. Praying dilligently for that.
My toes seemed to be almost healed, I am going without taping them and wearing my Ace sock. I still have a bruise on the sole of my foot and it huts if I step just right, but I am back in regular shoes. I still can't curl any of my toes, despite my best efforts. I guess writing with my toes has become a thing of the past. Oh Well.
I am really looking forward to football season and now I may actually get to watch some games! I refuse to acknowledge the "jinx" that someone convinced me that I was under, that would affect my Tigers when I watched. I am thinking positive thoughts!
Lastly, since I have chosen to be happy.....I AM!!! I am focusing on the positive and the Lord is allowing positive things to start happening. How refreshing! Isn't there real power in positive thinking?! When I no longer chose to focus on the negative, positive things started happeneing. When I started thinking about how lucky I was, my "luck" improved! When I focused on the good things, more good things came my way!!
In closing, I remind you to be observant of the good things happening around you, be happy for your friends and family, pay kind deeds forward, share a smile with a stranger, encourage someone today, focus on what you have rather than what you lack, give thanks to the Lord for the blessings He has bestowed on you and witness the added blessings He will pour over your life.
It works...I promise you!
~EnJOY!!
Some things going on in my world:
The Boss is back at work for half days this week. Yea!!!
The body found up the street from the office, was a gentleman who apparently lost control of his bike, fell off and hit his head and died of head trauma. The police suspect no foul play.
A Coke bottle, bearing my son's name in the cooler at Wallyworld, caught my attention. I really miss him. Speaking with his sisters, they miss him too. He is not responding to anyone's text. That is very uncharacteristic for him. We know there are dark influences there. I am praying diligently that he can break free from it. I pray that he does not inherit the dishonesty, mistrust, faithlessness, and negativity he has been surrounded by since he has moved. Precious Father, please surround my boy with a hedge of protection that no evil will penetrate. Amen.
Things with W are moving right along. But proving that I wasn't going to to tie myself down, accpeting a dinner invitation from a friend, lit a fire under him. After radio silence for the past few weeks, he has started calling again with renewed vigor. He admitted that he missed me. It's nice, because I really kinda missed talking to him too. I would catch myself thinking "Oh, I've gotta tell W about this..." or "I bet W would get a kick out of that..." He says that he did the same thing.
If anything, that "date" proved to me that while I chose to be alone, I am not actually lonely. I really like my life right now, and don't really need anyone to make me "complete." I am weeding out the drama-mongers. Ain't nobody got time for that! I let those into my life who I enjoy being around. And I am not so desperate that I would glom onto the first person that came along. I happen to be looking for a decent, honest, faithful, quality companion.
Cotton is currently in the hospital with an infection. Major IV antibiotics on board. Kit-Kat is severly stressed from the whole situation, and was nearly unconsolable. Julz and I did get her to eat something last night and I hope she got some rest last night.
Speaking of the girls, both are enrolled in college. I am excited for them, and very proud that they are so independent. Both are working steadily, and managing to keep rent and bills up to date. I am glad that they learned from the mistakes they witnessed growing up. Currently trying to figure out the car situation. I signed her car, currently dead in my drive way, over to her so that she can sell it for parts. Praying dilligently for that.
My toes seemed to be almost healed, I am going without taping them and wearing my Ace sock. I still have a bruise on the sole of my foot and it huts if I step just right, but I am back in regular shoes. I still can't curl any of my toes, despite my best efforts. I guess writing with my toes has become a thing of the past. Oh Well.
I am really looking forward to football season and now I may actually get to watch some games! I refuse to acknowledge the "jinx" that someone convinced me that I was under, that would affect my Tigers when I watched. I am thinking positive thoughts!
Lastly, since I have chosen to be happy.....I AM!!! I am focusing on the positive and the Lord is allowing positive things to start happening. How refreshing! Isn't there real power in positive thinking?! When I no longer chose to focus on the negative, positive things started happeneing. When I started thinking about how lucky I was, my "luck" improved! When I focused on the good things, more good things came my way!!
In closing, I remind you to be observant of the good things happening around you, be happy for your friends and family, pay kind deeds forward, share a smile with a stranger, encourage someone today, focus on what you have rather than what you lack, give thanks to the Lord for the blessings He has bestowed on you and witness the added blessings He will pour over your life.
It works...I promise you!
~EnJOY!!
Sunday, August 3, 2014
So ...A Funny Thing Happened ....
Okay, so I went on my date with The Tech Guy last night. The more I had thought about it over the week the more I felt I needed to drive my own car. We met at a really nice restaurant and had a really nice meal. We talked. Well, some of us talked more than the other. And the other was distracted by all the big red flags.
Way Too Nice = Red Flag, Trying too hard to point out all the things we have in common = Red Flag Talking about us as if we were already in a relationship = Red Flag. Saying that he would "always be honest with me" Big... RED... FLAG!
The realization that, although on the surface, it seemed like he was different, something about him, especially that last "flag" mentioned here, was very much the same as the effusively insincere glad-handing manner in which D/H had used to win me over. I was not falling for that again.
The main thing I realized is that I like my life right now. No entanglements; no commitments; no one to answer to; hell....no one to clean up after, but myself. If I want to go to Wallyworld in the middle of the night, I go. If I don't want to eat dinner, I don't, If I get a wild hair and decide to drive to Waffle House for breakfast at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, I do just that.
I know that I can get a little lonely sometimes, but that passes. When it comes right down to it, I don't like being stuck up someone else's hind quarters all the time anyway. Maybe that is what D/H could not understand, primarily because he can't seem to be alone. He has moved from one woman's house into the next his whole life. Never truly being out on his own, with the exception of a very brief time in the Army, and the two years that we dated. But I am a loner, and right now, I am really enjoying being alone.
So no "Love Connection". Nice guy. Gonna make that "special someone" really happy one day. Just won't be me. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board, as they say.
But the funniest thing happened when I got home.
After a week of not talking to W, there was a message from him wanting to know how my date went. I responded that I had a nice time. He replied that I deserve something nice. I told him thank you. And then he admitted that he had missed me. That was a big surprise from the "let's take this slow 'cause it is going too fast and let's not define it, 'cause I am not looking for a committed relationship" guy.
We wound up talking into the wee hours of the morning.
Back to the starting point
In more ways than one
~EnJOY your Sunday
Way Too Nice = Red Flag, Trying too hard to point out all the things we have in common = Red Flag Talking about us as if we were already in a relationship = Red Flag. Saying that he would "always be honest with me" Big... RED... FLAG!
The realization that, although on the surface, it seemed like he was different, something about him, especially that last "flag" mentioned here, was very much the same as the effusively insincere glad-handing manner in which D/H had used to win me over. I was not falling for that again.
The main thing I realized is that I like my life right now. No entanglements; no commitments; no one to answer to; hell....no one to clean up after, but myself. If I want to go to Wallyworld in the middle of the night, I go. If I don't want to eat dinner, I don't, If I get a wild hair and decide to drive to Waffle House for breakfast at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning, I do just that.
I know that I can get a little lonely sometimes, but that passes. When it comes right down to it, I don't like being stuck up someone else's hind quarters all the time anyway. Maybe that is what D/H could not understand, primarily because he can't seem to be alone. He has moved from one woman's house into the next his whole life. Never truly being out on his own, with the exception of a very brief time in the Army, and the two years that we dated. But I am a loner, and right now, I am really enjoying being alone.
So no "Love Connection". Nice guy. Gonna make that "special someone" really happy one day. Just won't be me. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board, as they say.
But the funniest thing happened when I got home.
After a week of not talking to W, there was a message from him wanting to know how my date went. I responded that I had a nice time. He replied that I deserve something nice. I told him thank you. And then he admitted that he had missed me. That was a big surprise from the "let's take this slow 'cause it is going too fast and let's not define it, 'cause I am not looking for a committed relationship" guy.
We wound up talking into the wee hours of the morning.
Back to the starting point
In more ways than one
~EnJOY your Sunday
Friday, August 1, 2014
T-Minus 28 Hours
T-Minus 28 hours and counting until my date with The Tech Guy.
I am a little nervous, a little excited, but also kind of dreading it. Why?
Well, he is older than me. He had been a Senior when I was a Frosh. Everyone else who you have been reading about here have been younger than me (W is the closest to my age by a mere 6 weeks, but is still younger). That is not bothering me so much as this next little factoid:
He's a grandpa.
Yeah, I know. I would give my eye-teeth for a grandchild, not that any of my children are at that point right now. But I would love a little someone, who would adore me, whom I could spoil, and then give back to their parents.
Every time I think about it, I think of little old men with canes and wrinkly skin. Yeesh! Nothing sexy about that. But he is a nice guy, and if nothing else, we will have a nice time.
And there is something else about him being a grandpa that brings me face to face with another little fact:
I am old too.
(Shhhhh! We will not be convincing ourselves that we are old!! That begins to make us look old! I have seen the horrific damage that starting to think of oneself as old has done first hand, and it will NOT be happening to me!!)
He has a lovely evening planned (or so he keeps telling me) at a restaurant so ridiculously expensive I am not certain what to do. I certainly won't know how to act.
With the exception of that first dinner in Mississippi with L/G, I really haven't been "out" to dinner with a man. L/G cooked the rest of the time I was there, and W and I don't really eat, as much as we snack.
D/H would only take me out after we had our taxes done. Otherwise I would have to pay for it. Always. As a matter of fact, I have had to pay for my own dinner for so long now, I would just be happy with a 12 pack of tacos from Taco Bell if I didn't have to pay for it myself.
So with that, wish me luck. If anything I will get a really nice, expensive dinner, and interesting conversation.
...Oh, And....
I have saved the very best for last.
Happy 55th Birthday to Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott
Regardless of how much time passes Joe, I will always remember you just like this
~EnJOY!
I am a little nervous, a little excited, but also kind of dreading it. Why?
Well, he is older than me. He had been a Senior when I was a Frosh. Everyone else who you have been reading about here have been younger than me (W is the closest to my age by a mere 6 weeks, but is still younger). That is not bothering me so much as this next little factoid:
He's a grandpa.
Yeah, I know. I would give my eye-teeth for a grandchild, not that any of my children are at that point right now. But I would love a little someone, who would adore me, whom I could spoil, and then give back to their parents.
Every time I think about it, I think of little old men with canes and wrinkly skin. Yeesh! Nothing sexy about that. But he is a nice guy, and if nothing else, we will have a nice time.
And there is something else about him being a grandpa that brings me face to face with another little fact:
I am old too.
(Shhhhh! We will not be convincing ourselves that we are old!! That begins to make us look old! I have seen the horrific damage that starting to think of oneself as old has done first hand, and it will NOT be happening to me!!)
He has a lovely evening planned (or so he keeps telling me) at a restaurant so ridiculously expensive I am not certain what to do. I certainly won't know how to act.
With the exception of that first dinner in Mississippi with L/G, I really haven't been "out" to dinner with a man. L/G cooked the rest of the time I was there, and W and I don't really eat, as much as we snack.
D/H would only take me out after we had our taxes done. Otherwise I would have to pay for it. Always. As a matter of fact, I have had to pay for my own dinner for so long now, I would just be happy with a 12 pack of tacos from Taco Bell if I didn't have to pay for it myself.
So with that, wish me luck. If anything I will get a really nice, expensive dinner, and interesting conversation.
...Oh, And....
I have saved the very best for last.
Happy 55th Birthday to Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott
Regardless of how much time passes Joe, I will always remember you just like this
In honor of your birthday
Pour Some Sugar On Me ~ Def Leppard 1988
~EnJOY!
Friday, May 30, 2014
He's A Little Bit Country....
My relationship with W reminds me a little of the Donny and Marie Show:
I stumbled on this revelation several weeks ago when he made a song reference that I didn't get, which is pretty rare, because to me, everything is a song reference.
I'm one of those people who can come up with a song lyric for almost any word you throw at me. (Further evidence that I may be a undiagnosed Aspie) But I don't do "country."
I don't remember what the song was, but he said, " You know, Blah Blah Blah Country Song by Blah Blah?"
Crickets.
"Is it a country song?" I finally asked, "Cause you know I don't 'do' country."
Though it didn't really help, he sang me a little bit. Still nothing.
"Well," he said, "that'll change if you ever ride in the truck with me."
I was relieved to learn that he does enjoy the now-classic rock that we both grew up with, so we do have some common ground.
Having been in the band, I was exposed to music of all types. I'm not strictly Anti-Country, it's just not my first choice. I tolerate it.
A recent FB post about how much I love Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst (seriously, the man makes my teeth sweat) drew a "like" from W. That surprised me, because if anyone is the total polar opposite of Country, it's Fred Durst.
That being said, today's post comes to you in honor of one of his favorite country stars, the beautiful and talented Sara Evans.
"Perfect" ~ Sara Evans 2003
Restless - RCA Nashville
And one of my favorite songs, from the extremely handsome, teeth-sweat-inducing (despite being overly tatted, which really ain't my thing, but in HIS case, I will make an exception) Fred Durst
"Behind Blue Eyes" ~ Limp Bizkit 2003
Results May Vary - Flip/Interscope
Apparetly 2003 was a really good year
~En-JOY!
Friday, May 23, 2014
Graduation
It is the end of an era: Kit-Kat graduated.
The day was not without the usual amount of drama. It just seemed to be a little more than usual, but I don't know why.
I will try to list these in order:
I had a dream that I was choking to death and woke to find out that I actually was. Because I didn't have to work, I slept late, apparently sleeping through my allergy meds. I dreamed I was back in majorette camp, with all the girls I had been a majorette with and our trainer. One thing that may seem odd to some, but made perfect sense to us, was running. She would make us run laps around the outside of our bandroom/gym building. It was for endurance and in the end, helped more than I ever imagined. I always hated it though and would develop a nasty stitch in my side about the 3rd lap. Thing was, if you didn't complete the lap, she would add another for everyone. I start hacking and coughing right away and I stop. Everyone running by me is asking if I am okay, I can't tell them that I am choking, They are trying to help me run. I finally manage to tell them I am choking and then I wake up to find that I was! I had coughed to the point that I couldn't stop and my nose was so stopped up no air was getting through. I thought I might pass out before I got to the sink for some water. Scary.
"W" was sent with his crew to the furthest corner of the state to work on a new site. Sent early...like earlier than he should have been up. I can only imagine how groggy he was with so little sleep, despite our best efforts to both be in bed early. He called me from the road, a very pleasant surprise. I never get to speak to him first thing in the morning. He said he thought he'd surprise me, but I know keeping him awake had something to do with it. After his frustrated little rant earlier this week, he was ready to put his hands around the neck of one of two less than stellar employees, quite possibly the yahoo that dropped a wrench off the top of a 300 foot tower just a few days earlier. I reminded him that I got paid this week if he needed bail money.
After I spoke to W, I called my Mother, who is still recovering from her ablation. We talked for an hour. Ten days out of a surgical procedure on her heart and she is doing great! She gets tired easy right now, but is getting stronger and stronger. We talked about all the funny things she said after her procedure...bless her heart.
After our hour long conversation, I debated on going to get coffee, but am really glad that I did. I ran into an old majorette pal at Waffle House! We talked for an hour there at the counter, over coffee and an All Star breakfast. I brought her up to speed on what had been happening in my life and she brought me up to speed on hers. As I reconnect with more and more people from my past, I am beginning to wonder if this is the "life flashing before my eyes" that everyone speaks about when they are about to die and I am getting mine this way.
Then I went to Wallyworld. I had a few things like soap and shampoo to pick up. As I got in the car twenty minutes later, my phone went off and it was Kit-Kat who had been at my house for the past thirty minutes! She was threatening to break in since I had not answered any of her calls. She was coming to retrieve her graduation gift from Mother. When I arrived, she, her boyfriend Cotton, and two friends, were sitting my driveway. She was grateful for the generous gift Mother had sent. Because her cap hung off her head at baccalaureate like it was stapled to the back of her head, I gave her advice on a simple way to alter it so the mortarboard laid flat. A pet peeve of my own Senior sponsor when I was in high school. I was her teacher's assistant then and she ranted for the whole month before graduation about how girls never wear their cap properly with the point between their eyebrows and the mortarboard flat on top, not the back, of their heads. I showed her a quick fix for that. She wanted to know what I was wearing. I told her that I needed her help identifying W's niece, because I had not seen her since they were park league cheerleaders in 6th grade. She asked why I needed to know who she was. Oops. I had not planned on telling anyone about W just yet. Things are still new and undefined. I tried to explain without going into any detail. She squealed, grabbing me and hugging me tight: "I'm so happy for you! You deserve someone who will treat you nice for a change"
Before long, it was time to start getting ready for graduation. I was a little apprehensive, given the date, and how I would be in the presence of D/H (which no longer stands for "Darling Hubby" by the way, but in the interest of continuity, I will continue to call him that for the purposes of this story). Just as I was putting on my new (size SIX) LBD. my phone went off. It was The Boss calling to verify that she had the only spreadsheet with the pre-orders of the Nationally Known Coffee Shop customer that I manage. I get this spread sheet every six weeks from the Production Manager that contains the customers forecast for the upcoming six weeks. I key all the "production stocking" orders so that they pop up in production report to be filled. Then every week the buyer from the Nationally Known Coffee Shop sends me the actual order, which I adjust accordingly and submit to the warehouse for pick up. Each forecast is submitted with a job number which I use to match the pre-orders to the actual PO's. The problem with this is that the job numbers didn't match a single pre-order. I couldn't answer any of her questions without seeing it and everyone else involved had gone home. I could not explain the discrepancy and the Production Manager offered to call some people at home to straighten it out.
Time was ticking, so as I dashed out of the house and jumped in the car, I had only 30 minutes to make it down the valley to the church.
Still plenty of time, I kept telling myself. Everything was going relatively smoothly
until
my gas light came on
Great.
I could see myself on the side of the road, missing Kit-Kat's graduation because I had forgotten a very important errand....to buy gas.
Julz called to find out where I was. The church was filling and they were holding my seat. I quickly explained my dilemma. When I panic, my Drama Queen gene rears it's ugly head. (Try not to cry, try not to cry...) "Calm Down Mother" was her reply. "If you run out of gas, I will come get you, it's going to be okay." I prayed for what seemed like ten miles (but was actually only 2 or 3) that the Lord drop a gas station on this curvy country road. A block from the church, a gas station appeared and I happily pulled in. As I pumped my few dollars worth of gas, young man tried to sell me some very expensive meat from a freezer in the back of his truck. "No thanks," I replied, "I'm a vegan" (Forgive me Lord for lying to that young man that I really had no time to deal with)
I pulled up at the church, parked my car, and dashed inside. I walked into the sanctuary, along with the graduates. We were seated in the balcony, on two rows. My former in laws, Julz and "Ricky Martin" and me on one row, The First Wife, her husband and boys, Cotton, Tigger and D/H behind us. From our vantage point, Kit-Kat seemed very far away. By now, several classmates had bedazzled their caps, some with their initials, some with little designs. One with an intricate gold design that covered the entire surface of the cap. But it made them easily identifiable.
All the graduates carried a little plastic ball, that they handed the principal as they shook her hand. Last year, at Tigger's graduation, the teachers were scrambling to find something to put them in. This year, they came prepared with a basket, but it wasn't quite big enough. By the time Kit-Kat handed her ball off, there were several rolling around the stage, hers included.
We left our seats during the singing of the alma mater, my former father-in-law anxious to beat the rush. I took only a moment to hug Tigger, remind him that I loved him, that he would always be my son, no matter what happened, and that I would always be there for him. I teared up, turned, and walked away.
I called W as I walked back to my car. He was still on the job site and not very happy. His crew had gone to "motivate" the crew from another company. The other crew sounded completely bumfuzzled as to what needed to be done and had pretty much left all the difficult work for W's gang. It was nearly 8:00 pm and he was having to spend the night. Not a happy camper, but my call came at just the right time and he could focus on me instead.
He asked if the graduation went well, to which I replied that it did. "Are you okay?" he asked. He knew what the other significance to the day had been. It was weird, but I realized not only had I not thought about it, I didn't really care. D/H had looked uncomfortable, and unhappy, and for the first time in a really long time, I didn't really care what he was thinking. For the first time since all this had happened, I felt sorry for him instead of me. "Yeah" I responded " I'm good."
W promised to call me back when he got settled into the hotel. That gave me time to get home as well. I sent him the picture of Julz and me after graduation that was taken with my phone. He shot back "His loss, my gain."
And with that, I graduated.
The day was not without the usual amount of drama. It just seemed to be a little more than usual, but I don't know why.
I will try to list these in order:
I had a dream that I was choking to death and woke to find out that I actually was. Because I didn't have to work, I slept late, apparently sleeping through my allergy meds. I dreamed I was back in majorette camp, with all the girls I had been a majorette with and our trainer. One thing that may seem odd to some, but made perfect sense to us, was running. She would make us run laps around the outside of our bandroom/gym building. It was for endurance and in the end, helped more than I ever imagined. I always hated it though and would develop a nasty stitch in my side about the 3rd lap. Thing was, if you didn't complete the lap, she would add another for everyone. I start hacking and coughing right away and I stop. Everyone running by me is asking if I am okay, I can't tell them that I am choking, They are trying to help me run. I finally manage to tell them I am choking and then I wake up to find that I was! I had coughed to the point that I couldn't stop and my nose was so stopped up no air was getting through. I thought I might pass out before I got to the sink for some water. Scary.
"W" was sent with his crew to the furthest corner of the state to work on a new site. Sent early...like earlier than he should have been up. I can only imagine how groggy he was with so little sleep, despite our best efforts to both be in bed early. He called me from the road, a very pleasant surprise. I never get to speak to him first thing in the morning. He said he thought he'd surprise me, but I know keeping him awake had something to do with it. After his frustrated little rant earlier this week, he was ready to put his hands around the neck of one of two less than stellar employees, quite possibly the yahoo that dropped a wrench off the top of a 300 foot tower just a few days earlier. I reminded him that I got paid this week if he needed bail money.
After I spoke to W, I called my Mother, who is still recovering from her ablation. We talked for an hour. Ten days out of a surgical procedure on her heart and she is doing great! She gets tired easy right now, but is getting stronger and stronger. We talked about all the funny things she said after her procedure...bless her heart.
After our hour long conversation, I debated on going to get coffee, but am really glad that I did. I ran into an old majorette pal at Waffle House! We talked for an hour there at the counter, over coffee and an All Star breakfast. I brought her up to speed on what had been happening in my life and she brought me up to speed on hers. As I reconnect with more and more people from my past, I am beginning to wonder if this is the "life flashing before my eyes" that everyone speaks about when they are about to die and I am getting mine this way.
Then I went to Wallyworld. I had a few things like soap and shampoo to pick up. As I got in the car twenty minutes later, my phone went off and it was Kit-Kat who had been at my house for the past thirty minutes! She was threatening to break in since I had not answered any of her calls. She was coming to retrieve her graduation gift from Mother. When I arrived, she, her boyfriend Cotton, and two friends, were sitting my driveway. She was grateful for the generous gift Mother had sent. Because her cap hung off her head at baccalaureate like it was stapled to the back of her head, I gave her advice on a simple way to alter it so the mortarboard laid flat. A pet peeve of my own Senior sponsor when I was in high school. I was her teacher's assistant then and she ranted for the whole month before graduation about how girls never wear their cap properly with the point between their eyebrows and the mortarboard flat on top, not the back, of their heads. I showed her a quick fix for that. She wanted to know what I was wearing. I told her that I needed her help identifying W's niece, because I had not seen her since they were park league cheerleaders in 6th grade. She asked why I needed to know who she was. Oops. I had not planned on telling anyone about W just yet. Things are still new and undefined. I tried to explain without going into any detail. She squealed, grabbing me and hugging me tight: "I'm so happy for you! You deserve someone who will treat you nice for a change"
Before long, it was time to start getting ready for graduation. I was a little apprehensive, given the date, and how I would be in the presence of D/H (which no longer stands for "Darling Hubby" by the way, but in the interest of continuity, I will continue to call him that for the purposes of this story). Just as I was putting on my new (size SIX) LBD. my phone went off. It was The Boss calling to verify that she had the only spreadsheet with the pre-orders of the Nationally Known Coffee Shop customer that I manage. I get this spread sheet every six weeks from the Production Manager that contains the customers forecast for the upcoming six weeks. I key all the "production stocking" orders so that they pop up in production report to be filled. Then every week the buyer from the Nationally Known Coffee Shop sends me the actual order, which I adjust accordingly and submit to the warehouse for pick up. Each forecast is submitted with a job number which I use to match the pre-orders to the actual PO's. The problem with this is that the job numbers didn't match a single pre-order. I couldn't answer any of her questions without seeing it and everyone else involved had gone home. I could not explain the discrepancy and the Production Manager offered to call some people at home to straighten it out.
Time was ticking, so as I dashed out of the house and jumped in the car, I had only 30 minutes to make it down the valley to the church.
Still plenty of time, I kept telling myself. Everything was going relatively smoothly
until
my gas light came on
Great.
I could see myself on the side of the road, missing Kit-Kat's graduation because I had forgotten a very important errand....to buy gas.
Julz called to find out where I was. The church was filling and they were holding my seat. I quickly explained my dilemma. When I panic, my Drama Queen gene rears it's ugly head. (Try not to cry, try not to cry...) "Calm Down Mother" was her reply. "If you run out of gas, I will come get you, it's going to be okay." I prayed for what seemed like ten miles (but was actually only 2 or 3) that the Lord drop a gas station on this curvy country road. A block from the church, a gas station appeared and I happily pulled in. As I pumped my few dollars worth of gas, young man tried to sell me some very expensive meat from a freezer in the back of his truck. "No thanks," I replied, "I'm a vegan" (Forgive me Lord for lying to that young man that I really had no time to deal with)
I pulled up at the church, parked my car, and dashed inside. I walked into the sanctuary, along with the graduates. We were seated in the balcony, on two rows. My former in laws, Julz and "Ricky Martin" and me on one row, The First Wife, her husband and boys, Cotton, Tigger and D/H behind us. From our vantage point, Kit-Kat seemed very far away. By now, several classmates had bedazzled their caps, some with their initials, some with little designs. One with an intricate gold design that covered the entire surface of the cap. But it made them easily identifiable.
All the graduates carried a little plastic ball, that they handed the principal as they shook her hand. Last year, at Tigger's graduation, the teachers were scrambling to find something to put them in. This year, they came prepared with a basket, but it wasn't quite big enough. By the time Kit-Kat handed her ball off, there were several rolling around the stage, hers included.
We left our seats during the singing of the alma mater, my former father-in-law anxious to beat the rush. I took only a moment to hug Tigger, remind him that I loved him, that he would always be my son, no matter what happened, and that I would always be there for him. I teared up, turned, and walked away.
I called W as I walked back to my car. He was still on the job site and not very happy. His crew had gone to "motivate" the crew from another company. The other crew sounded completely bumfuzzled as to what needed to be done and had pretty much left all the difficult work for W's gang. It was nearly 8:00 pm and he was having to spend the night. Not a happy camper, but my call came at just the right time and he could focus on me instead.
He asked if the graduation went well, to which I replied that it did. "Are you okay?" he asked. He knew what the other significance to the day had been. It was weird, but I realized not only had I not thought about it, I didn't really care. D/H had looked uncomfortable, and unhappy, and for the first time in a really long time, I didn't really care what he was thinking. For the first time since all this had happened, I felt sorry for him instead of me. "Yeah" I responded " I'm good."
W promised to call me back when he got settled into the hotel. That gave me time to get home as well. I sent him the picture of Julz and me after graduation that was taken with my phone. He shot back "His loss, my gain."
And with that, I graduated.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Baccalaureate
Today is Kit-Kat's baccalaureate.
This is what I am wearing for it. I bought it as an alternative to the blue Easter dress. Love Cato: found everything but the shoes there. I've gotten lots of compliments on it and the day hasn't even started.
In two days, my "baby" will be a high school graduate.
I can't believe the little girl that I fell in love with all those years ago, is now at the jumping off point for adulthood. Heaven help us all!
Here we are at Baccalaureate.
She "bedazzled" her graduation cap. You can't see it in this photo, but she made a really pretty design with white pearls. (Okay, so maybe some of my pageant-diva rubbed off on her...giggle) As she came down to stand with the other graduates, everyone in the congregation was straining to see what it was.
Only Kit-Kat.
As for graduation, I guess I will have to sit by myself. I was going to sit with"W". As luck would have it, his neice is a classmate of Kit-Kat's. But he just just told me that he doubts he will be back in town in time for the graduation ceremony. A new job site he is working has been installed incorrectly and they are having to take it down and start over. He's a little mad, because he had mentioned this event tothe powers that be, when he got the invitiation, but no one expected this site to be so problematic. He said they don't have a set finish time. They have to stay on site until it is complete. His neice is going to be disappointed ,but if it starts at 6:00 p.m. there is little he can do. Maybe it's just as well.
Somethings ya gotta do on your own
My daily scripture today was this:
How about that for a wake-up call?
The message from Joel and Victoria goes on to say:
The promise of victory: a constant reminder that I am a winner, no matter what life has thrown at me.
Yeah, things are definately looking up
This is what I am wearing for it. I bought it as an alternative to the blue Easter dress. Love Cato: found everything but the shoes there. I've gotten lots of compliments on it and the day hasn't even started.
In two days, my "baby" will be a high school graduate.
I can't believe the little girl that I fell in love with all those years ago, is now at the jumping off point for adulthood. Heaven help us all!
Here we are at Baccalaureate.
She "bedazzled" her graduation cap. You can't see it in this photo, but she made a really pretty design with white pearls. (Okay, so maybe some of my pageant-diva rubbed off on her...giggle) As she came down to stand with the other graduates, everyone in the congregation was straining to see what it was.
Only Kit-Kat.
As for graduation, I guess I will have to sit by myself. I was going to sit with"W". As luck would have it, his neice is a classmate of Kit-Kat's. But he just just told me that he doubts he will be back in town in time for the graduation ceremony. A new job site he is working has been installed incorrectly and they are having to take it down and start over. He's a little mad, because he had mentioned this event tothe powers that be, when he got the invitiation, but no one expected this site to be so problematic. He said they don't have a set finish time. They have to stay on site until it is complete. His neice is going to be disappointed ,but if it starts at 6:00 p.m. there is little he can do. Maybe it's just as well.
Somethings ya gotta do on your own
My daily scripture today was this:
| “The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain.’ ” |
| (Deuteronomy 1:6, NIV) |
How about that for a wake-up call?
The message from Joel and Victoria goes on to say:
| TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria |
Have you been facing a mountain for so long that you
feel like you are just sort of stuck there? Maybe at one time you knew you would
break that addiction. You knew you would beat that sickness. You knew you would
get married. But, you’ve gone through disappointments. It didn’t happen the way
you thought.
Today, God is saying to you what He said to the people
of Israel. “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” It’s time to move
forward. God has new levels in front of you, new opportunities, new
relationships, promotions, breakthroughs. But, you’ve got to stir up your fire.
You’ve got to get a vision for victory. The dreams, the promises that you’ve
pushed down and thought, “Oh, it’s not going to happen. I’m too old. I don’t
have the connections. I don’t know the right people,” God has it all figured
out. If you will start believing again, start dreaming again, start pursuing
what God put in your heart, God will make a way where you don’t see a way. Press
past the mountain and move forward into victory!
|
 |
The promise of victory: a constant reminder that I am a winner, no matter what life has thrown at me.
Yeah, things are definately looking up
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Easter 2014
Had a wonderful Easter Sunday! The weather could not have been better!
I dashed out Saturday afternoon at the very last minute to buy my Easter dress. I found this great navy dress at Cato (full price $29.99 = frown...see what I mean about paying more when I'm unprepared) but it was a size SIX so that made up for it. My "Easter bonnet" you may recognize from last year's Easter outfit.
I went to church with Mother. The 8:30 a.m. service (groan) It is always decorated so nice From the floral Easter cross out front...
After church, we had lunch at the Irondale Cafe. Now some of you may know that the Irondale Cafe is the basis of Fannie Flagg's book "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." According to the Birmingham News, the Irondale Cafe is among the top ten places for Easter lunch! And when I arrived, it was obviously true. At 11:00 a.m. the line snaked out the door and around the corner! Of course, I was having the fried green tomatoes, a menu staple, regardless of how they were breaded. Gluten be damned! But the line moved quickly and we were seated in one of the newly acquired dining spaces.
Kit-Kat overslept and missed the event, but Julz and her new beau, David, met us there for lunch. Because he was meeting us for the first time, he brought me and my mother flowers. Nice touch.
"It was his idea!" Julz had squealed.
He was tall and very handsome, dressed in a nice suit. I learned that he owned his own business, which prompted me to ask his age: an eyebrow raising 31.
Though only six years older than Julz, there is still something that sounds so old and mature about 31. I later learned that his oldest sibling was my age. My mother turned to look at me, eyes wide, her expression saying "what do you think of THAT?!"
He too appeared to have been in the habit of treating the ladies in his life with good manners and respect. He reached for her tray to carry it for her, but the waitress in her took over, and she took his instead. I noticed that he pulled out her chair for her.
We took these photos after lunch at the train platform across from the cafe.
Many other families followed suit. My Facebook was filled with similar photos of all my friends' families in the exact same spot.
I still had a great deal of the day left after lunch. Benefit of being the early bird.
I called L/G, who was home from the first week of his project. Fourteen schools. About 200 more to go. But the project brings him close enough to home this week for him to sleep in his own bed. We talked about the week's challenges and what we did to overcome them. He is better at that than me.
"Can you control that?" speaking directly to the Control Freak in me, "If you can control it, then change it. If not, let it go." Easier said that done. He reminded me that it could be done. My visit had proved that.
His philosphy is to live in a drama-free bubble: don't create drama where there isn't any; don't invite it into your life; and to hell with those who try to bring it into your life. I laughed. I would say I am The Drama Queen, but that most definately is my grandmother. I am just a Drama Princess comparitively. He told me that he hasn't met a woman yet who didn't have some level of drama. Indeed.
He reminded me once again to let drama go, then wished me a good week and was off to work on the boat.
Oh, I forgot about the boat. He enjoys woodworking. He has made a few pieces of furniture and is currently building a 16 foot canoe in his garage. Yeah, kinda like Gibbs from NCIS. It is impressive. Most guys wouldn't even know where to start. He had explained how each board must be shaped and glued and clamped down to the board underneath and then sit to cure. Eventually he will fiberglass it and it will be ready to paddle around the Rez.
Maybe I will get to go too.
~En-JOY
I dashed out Saturday afternoon at the very last minute to buy my Easter dress. I found this great navy dress at Cato (full price $29.99 = frown...see what I mean about paying more when I'm unprepared) but it was a size SIX so that made up for it. My "Easter bonnet" you may recognize from last year's Easter outfit.
I went to church with Mother. The 8:30 a.m. service (groan) It is always decorated so nice From the floral Easter cross out front...
to the Easter baskets on the entrance doors....
everything was beautiful and welcoming.
This year, instead of the traditional Easter lilies, the memorial flowers were mulitcolored hydrangeas. Their varied and colorful blooms were just the right touch.
After church, we had lunch at the Irondale Cafe. Now some of you may know that the Irondale Cafe is the basis of Fannie Flagg's book "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." According to the Birmingham News, the Irondale Cafe is among the top ten places for Easter lunch! And when I arrived, it was obviously true. At 11:00 a.m. the line snaked out the door and around the corner! Of course, I was having the fried green tomatoes, a menu staple, regardless of how they were breaded. Gluten be damned! But the line moved quickly and we were seated in one of the newly acquired dining spaces.
Kit-Kat overslept and missed the event, but Julz and her new beau, David, met us there for lunch. Because he was meeting us for the first time, he brought me and my mother flowers. Nice touch.
"It was his idea!" Julz had squealed.
He was tall and very handsome, dressed in a nice suit. I learned that he owned his own business, which prompted me to ask his age: an eyebrow raising 31.
Though only six years older than Julz, there is still something that sounds so old and mature about 31. I later learned that his oldest sibling was my age. My mother turned to look at me, eyes wide, her expression saying "what do you think of THAT?!"
He too appeared to have been in the habit of treating the ladies in his life with good manners and respect. He reached for her tray to carry it for her, but the waitress in her took over, and she took his instead. I noticed that he pulled out her chair for her.
We took these photos after lunch at the train platform across from the cafe.
Many other families followed suit. My Facebook was filled with similar photos of all my friends' families in the exact same spot.
I still had a great deal of the day left after lunch. Benefit of being the early bird.
I called L/G, who was home from the first week of his project. Fourteen schools. About 200 more to go. But the project brings him close enough to home this week for him to sleep in his own bed. We talked about the week's challenges and what we did to overcome them. He is better at that than me.
"Can you control that?" speaking directly to the Control Freak in me, "If you can control it, then change it. If not, let it go." Easier said that done. He reminded me that it could be done. My visit had proved that.
His philosphy is to live in a drama-free bubble: don't create drama where there isn't any; don't invite it into your life; and to hell with those who try to bring it into your life. I laughed. I would say I am The Drama Queen, but that most definately is my grandmother. I am just a Drama Princess comparitively. He told me that he hasn't met a woman yet who didn't have some level of drama. Indeed.
He reminded me once again to let drama go, then wished me a good week and was off to work on the boat.
Oh, I forgot about the boat. He enjoys woodworking. He has made a few pieces of furniture and is currently building a 16 foot canoe in his garage. Yeah, kinda like Gibbs from NCIS. It is impressive. Most guys wouldn't even know where to start. He had explained how each board must be shaped and glued and clamped down to the board underneath and then sit to cure. Eventually he will fiberglass it and it will be ready to paddle around the Rez.
Maybe I will get to go too.
~En-JOY
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Great Day!
I had the best time at Opening Day!
It was so great to see all our players today, as well as meet the new ones.
Miss Mary signed up several new players and they are all precious, especially the little ones!
I came home beat and burnt! I can barely move enough to type this.
Oh and an even brighter note, someone thinks that I am worth crossing the state line for! How do you meet someone nearly 30 years ago and make such an impression on them, that they never forget you? I wouldn't let him, of course, because I had so much to do today, but the fact that he was willing to do so and all the prospects that brings, is nothing short of thrilling!
Can't wait to see where that goes.
Another blog buddy to nickname...LOL!
Until then,
~En-JOY!
It was so great to see all our players today, as well as meet the new ones.
Miss Mary signed up several new players and they are all precious, especially the little ones!
I came home beat and burnt! I can barely move enough to type this.
Oh and an even brighter note, someone thinks that I am worth crossing the state line for! How do you meet someone nearly 30 years ago and make such an impression on them, that they never forget you? I wouldn't let him, of course, because I had so much to do today, but the fact that he was willing to do so and all the prospects that brings, is nothing short of thrilling!
Can't wait to see where that goes.
Another blog buddy to nickname...LOL!
Until then,
~En-JOY!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Nothing's Gonna Steal My Joy!
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-13
New International Version (NIV)
Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Coach and A Little Good News
Last night was a "date" night with a new fellow I've met. The friend of a mutual friend. I didn't want to talk about it before hand because I didn't want to talk myself out of it. But I was excited at the prospect of meeting someone new. A welcomed respite from the drama of the last few days.
He is a p.e. coach and a history teacher, (and an Auburn fan = score!) so I will call him Coach. Cute, witty, and really smart. And talkative! More so, even than me. I didn't think that was possible.
We chatted through emails for several days, and exchanged a few snapshots, before deciding to meet in person. He had a sporting event that put him in a particular area of town, so we agreed to meet in the cafe of one of the local bookstores nearby. He reminded me that he had been through a back-ground check. I reminded him that my brother was a cop on the SWAT team.
Coach cautioned me not to be too dressed up, because he would be in typical coaches attire: khakis and the school-logo'ed golf shirt. When I saw him, he reminded me of a coach or two from high school. Even if he had been in regular street clothes, I would have pegged him as one. Is there a class in college on how to look like a coach? He was thinner and much more fit than I expected. I was taller than he expected.
He was confident and authoritative, I'm sure from years as an educator. In the two and half hours we sat there talking, subjects ranged from politics to what c-store sold the best coffee. I felt like I should be taking notes because there may be a pop quiz later. It is obvious that Coach enjoys his job, taking interest in all of his students.
He has a son who is around 10, that he loves to pieces. I told him about my children, all of them, and how much they all mean to me. I showed him the latest picture of Julz, the one of her in her scrubs on her first day of clinicals.
He teased me about not knowing how to operate my cell phone. He had asked what kind of phone I had and I told him it "was a black one." (Because it is) I told him that my phone was strictly for taking calls and making calls, and on a good day, the occasional text.
He told me of his years working an inner-city school, before obtaining the job of his dreams, teaching in the school system he had grown up in, an affluent school system in our area. The contrast was stark: going from having to be on his guard every day, to being expected to write up students for the most ridiculous infractions. He had to over see detention that morning, and his detainee was in trouble for not paying the minor fee to attend some event.
We talked about the rising incidents of school violence. He said that he would expect violoence more from the mousy, quiet kid, than from any bully he'd ever encountered. The inner-city kids that were in school, knew they had a chance to make their lives better. The affluent kids just expected their lives to be better.
Before long it became obvious that the bookstore was closing. Employees cautiously swept and picked up around us.
He hugged me and we said our goodbyes.
This "meeting people" thing is getting easier.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In other news, my visit to the cardiologist reveals that I have lost THIRTY POUNDS!
Everyone was super excited for me. My blood pressure was still high ( 180/90!!) but the sinus meds I am on, could be the contributing factor.
I celebrated by buying a new dress, in a much smaller size.
~En-JOY!
He is a p.e. coach and a history teacher, (and an Auburn fan = score!) so I will call him Coach. Cute, witty, and really smart. And talkative! More so, even than me. I didn't think that was possible.
We chatted through emails for several days, and exchanged a few snapshots, before deciding to meet in person. He had a sporting event that put him in a particular area of town, so we agreed to meet in the cafe of one of the local bookstores nearby. He reminded me that he had been through a back-ground check. I reminded him that my brother was a cop on the SWAT team.
Coach cautioned me not to be too dressed up, because he would be in typical coaches attire: khakis and the school-logo'ed golf shirt. When I saw him, he reminded me of a coach or two from high school. Even if he had been in regular street clothes, I would have pegged him as one. Is there a class in college on how to look like a coach? He was thinner and much more fit than I expected. I was taller than he expected.
He was confident and authoritative, I'm sure from years as an educator. In the two and half hours we sat there talking, subjects ranged from politics to what c-store sold the best coffee. I felt like I should be taking notes because there may be a pop quiz later. It is obvious that Coach enjoys his job, taking interest in all of his students.
He has a son who is around 10, that he loves to pieces. I told him about my children, all of them, and how much they all mean to me. I showed him the latest picture of Julz, the one of her in her scrubs on her first day of clinicals.
He teased me about not knowing how to operate my cell phone. He had asked what kind of phone I had and I told him it "was a black one." (Because it is) I told him that my phone was strictly for taking calls and making calls, and on a good day, the occasional text.
He told me of his years working an inner-city school, before obtaining the job of his dreams, teaching in the school system he had grown up in, an affluent school system in our area. The contrast was stark: going from having to be on his guard every day, to being expected to write up students for the most ridiculous infractions. He had to over see detention that morning, and his detainee was in trouble for not paying the minor fee to attend some event.
We talked about the rising incidents of school violence. He said that he would expect violoence more from the mousy, quiet kid, than from any bully he'd ever encountered. The inner-city kids that were in school, knew they had a chance to make their lives better. The affluent kids just expected their lives to be better.
Before long it became obvious that the bookstore was closing. Employees cautiously swept and picked up around us.
He hugged me and we said our goodbyes.
This "meeting people" thing is getting easier.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In other news, my visit to the cardiologist reveals that I have lost THIRTY POUNDS!
Everyone was super excited for me. My blood pressure was still high ( 180/90!!) but the sinus meds I am on, could be the contributing factor.
I celebrated by buying a new dress, in a much smaller size.
~En-JOY!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
A Great Weekend!
What a great weekend!
I was treated to a trip to a sweet little B&B, just a 45 minute drive from the house, Blue Springs Manor.
The change of scenery, even ever so slight, was exactly what I needed!
The house was enormous and the grounds were beautiful.
In my opinion, our room, "The Columns" was the prettiest in the place,
After wandering through the gardens...
\
...and feeding these little guys...
...it was time to head out to the hot tub! Mimosas anyone?
The water was just right!
While hanging out by the pool I kept hearing, what sounded like a rousing game of Marco Polo, but since we were in the pool, I wasn't sure where it was coming from.
That was when I was introduced to Renee, the parrot in residence, who promptly asked if I wanted a peanut, and creamer for my coffee!
During the course of the day Renee would mimic ringing and whistling cell phones, tell people to "Hush!" or "please be quiet" and remind everyone that there was "coffee, hot chocolate and tea, Cups were under the cupboard." He also tried to start up Marco Polo....calling out one or the other as people went by.
Dinner was a fantastic! I had salmon on a bed of couscous with asparagus. For desert I had a slice of cake and home-mad ice cream, drizzled in chocolate sauce.
Hard to believe this yummy slice of cake is gluten free! (Thank you again for remembering)
Then off to swing off the calories on the front porch swing.
The bed was super comfy!
Named 2011 Best Bed and Breakfast and it was easy to see why! The staff was very friendly and courteous. The food was amazing!
I especially loved the home made (and gluten free...thank you again) orange breakfast muffins!
~En-JOY!
~ feeling appreciated ~
Monday, March 10, 2014
300th POST!!
Welcome to my 300th post!
Now I know what you are thinking...."Joy, if you've been blogging for seven years, you would be at your 3000th post, not just 300. "
And you'd be right. But unlike "before," when I had a family to look after, I seem to have a lot of free time on my hands now.
With that thought in mind, I have been looking into burning up some of that free time with self-improvements. I realize that my definition of "self improvements" may be a little broad here, but there are so many things around town that one may take a class on:
COOKING
I've been looking at some cooking classes that are being held around the city. They are a little pricey, but should be well worth the effort. I'm told that I "don't know how to cook." Not knowing and not wanting to are two very different things. And when your new loved one's very first words to you on the subject are "Oh, but I love Hamburger Helper! I am a pro at making that", one chalks it up to luck that the boy can cook for himself and moves past it. Now is my chance to expand my palate. I mean, really, there are only so many ways to cook a pork loin, right?
PAINTING
Pictures, not walls. Though I do have a few painting projects around the house that I need to look into also. I have a classmate who hosts one of those "drink wine and paint pictures" kinda deals. Also pricey, but I understand they are pretty fun. And you wind up with something neat for your walls. Not really my thing, but I will try anything once, right?
BOOK CLUB
How "old lady" is that? But I've always loved to read. That was something me and UPS Guy had in common. We were both avid readers and could discuss/debate our (often opposing) views on various topics. Though he did agree with me on my "why limit God because he could have created aliens too" theory. I will never forget his reaction to that statement. It had caught me so off guard it startled me "EXACTLY!" He had kept me on my toes the whole time we dated. Perhaps I will meet another smart guy like him.
GUN SAFETY
A local gun club here offers all sorts of classes. Now that I live by myself again, I really need to get comfortable with my firearm. I am especially interested in "Machine Gun Mondays!"
PHOTOGRAPHY
A first love, almost as old as the writing. Of course, I will need a good camera for this one. Maybe one for next year.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
I am seriously considering going back to Toastmasters. I had really enjoyed that, and it was an extension of my writing, that I can apply in my everyday life.
There are also some things I would love to do, just once, to say "Hey, I've done that."
CAGE FIGHTING
I can think of many practical applications for this skill, can't you?
POLE DANCING FOR FITNESS
Yes, there are pole dancing classes for fitness. I understand that it really focuses on your core. But there are practical applications as well. Not only could I get fit, I could also learn a trade and pick up a little extra money. An improvement for my financial well being as well!
FLYING LESSONS
I am a control freak. A lot of the reason that I do not fly is because I have to surrender control to the unknown, for the purpose of travel. While the unknown is possible in every scenario, the possibility of plummeting from the sky in a large metal tube, is currently not one I have to worry about. But how cool would it be if suddenly all the flight crew became unconsious and they needed someone to fly the plane, and I could say that I knew how?
BALLROOM DANCING
The beautifully choreographed dances are both romantic and inviting. There is something about the discipline and structure that appeals directly to my obsessive complusive nature. The only problem is that one needs a partner, of which I am woefully without at the moment.
SCUBA DIVING
I was on a swim team. I was a lifeguard. Never really thought about SCUBA lessons, but hey, anything once right?
IRISH STEP DANCING
(I'm starting to sense a theme here)
I think I'm too old for the curly wig and ornately embroidered costume, but how cool would it be to know something from my heritage? (Yes Mother, I know your side is English, but they don't offer English step dancing now do they?)
As I ponder what avenues to explore, I ask that those readers who are faithful, praying people, please keep me in your prayers. I have been through so many changes already: self-examination, facing and coming to terms with some hard truths, making the necessary changes toward improving, growing as a person.
2014 is the year of a better, stronger, more self-reliant Joy.
Praying for God's providence over my life. Please join me in that prayer.
~En-JOY!
Now I know what you are thinking...."Joy, if you've been blogging for seven years, you would be at your 3000th post, not just 300. "
And you'd be right. But unlike "before," when I had a family to look after, I seem to have a lot of free time on my hands now.
With that thought in mind, I have been looking into burning up some of that free time with self-improvements. I realize that my definition of "self improvements" may be a little broad here, but there are so many things around town that one may take a class on:
COOKING
I've been looking at some cooking classes that are being held around the city. They are a little pricey, but should be well worth the effort. I'm told that I "don't know how to cook." Not knowing and not wanting to are two very different things. And when your new loved one's very first words to you on the subject are "Oh, but I love Hamburger Helper! I am a pro at making that", one chalks it up to luck that the boy can cook for himself and moves past it. Now is my chance to expand my palate. I mean, really, there are only so many ways to cook a pork loin, right?
PAINTING
Pictures, not walls. Though I do have a few painting projects around the house that I need to look into also. I have a classmate who hosts one of those "drink wine and paint pictures" kinda deals. Also pricey, but I understand they are pretty fun. And you wind up with something neat for your walls. Not really my thing, but I will try anything once, right?
BOOK CLUB
How "old lady" is that? But I've always loved to read. That was something me and UPS Guy had in common. We were both avid readers and could discuss/debate our (often opposing) views on various topics. Though he did agree with me on my "why limit God because he could have created aliens too" theory. I will never forget his reaction to that statement. It had caught me so off guard it startled me "EXACTLY!" He had kept me on my toes the whole time we dated. Perhaps I will meet another smart guy like him.
GUN SAFETY
A local gun club here offers all sorts of classes. Now that I live by myself again, I really need to get comfortable with my firearm. I am especially interested in "Machine Gun Mondays!"
PHOTOGRAPHY
A first love, almost as old as the writing. Of course, I will need a good camera for this one. Maybe one for next year.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
I am seriously considering going back to Toastmasters. I had really enjoyed that, and it was an extension of my writing, that I can apply in my everyday life.
There are also some things I would love to do, just once, to say "Hey, I've done that."
CAGE FIGHTING
I can think of many practical applications for this skill, can't you?
POLE DANCING FOR FITNESS
Yes, there are pole dancing classes for fitness. I understand that it really focuses on your core. But there are practical applications as well. Not only could I get fit, I could also learn a trade and pick up a little extra money. An improvement for my financial well being as well!
FLYING LESSONS
I am a control freak. A lot of the reason that I do not fly is because I have to surrender control to the unknown, for the purpose of travel. While the unknown is possible in every scenario, the possibility of plummeting from the sky in a large metal tube, is currently not one I have to worry about. But how cool would it be if suddenly all the flight crew became unconsious and they needed someone to fly the plane, and I could say that I knew how?
BALLROOM DANCING
The beautifully choreographed dances are both romantic and inviting. There is something about the discipline and structure that appeals directly to my obsessive complusive nature. The only problem is that one needs a partner, of which I am woefully without at the moment.
SCUBA DIVING
I was on a swim team. I was a lifeguard. Never really thought about SCUBA lessons, but hey, anything once right?
IRISH STEP DANCING
(I'm starting to sense a theme here)
I think I'm too old for the curly wig and ornately embroidered costume, but how cool would it be to know something from my heritage? (Yes Mother, I know your side is English, but they don't offer English step dancing now do they?)
As I ponder what avenues to explore, I ask that those readers who are faithful, praying people, please keep me in your prayers. I have been through so many changes already: self-examination, facing and coming to terms with some hard truths, making the necessary changes toward improving, growing as a person.
2014 is the year of a better, stronger, more self-reliant Joy.
Praying for God's providence over my life. Please join me in that prayer.
~En-JOY!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Yes, Lord...I Hear You!
Well believe it or not, I made it to church this morning, despite having stayed out until after 3:00 a.m. with my friends. No sin in that. I am not a drinker. I just enjoy dancing and hanging out and having a good time.
When I got in, and saw how late it actually was, I thought "there is no way I'm making that 9:30 service!" But I not only got up in enough time to make the service, I had enough time to stop by the local barbeque joint for breakfast too.
We began the service with Holy Communion in preparation of Easter. Jesus had used elements from the Passover meal to give the first Holy Communion. This event is more commonly known as The Last Supper.
This communion was different than I was used to. In the Baptist church, the deacons pass out trays filled with little cups of "wine" (i.e.grape juice, cause we all know Baptist don't drink, right?) and little crackers that kind of taste like uncooked macaroni ( due to the lack of yeast because when the children of Israel fled Egypt, they didn't have time to let the bread rise) The deacons would past the trays up and down each pew. In all the years I have observed Communion, I know of one instance where the "wine" tray was dropped, causing quite a mess and a portion of the congregation to miss out on "wine" part of the service.
This church practices communion by tincture, Each congregant would go to the front, where the piece of bread (the Body of Christ) pinched off a large loaf is dipped into the "wine" (the Blood of Christ) in one common cup before consuming. It was very quick and efficient.
I think the Lord is trying to get my attention. Today's message was even more timely than the first!
I couldn't wait to get home and share what I learned today.
Jesus showed us seven things while his earthly body was dying on the cross to remember:
Forgive those who are causing you pain. Pray for them! They are all children of God, even those who have been led astray by satan.
Help others who are experiencing your same struggle. You are not alone in your struggle, whatever it may be, and there are others who are experiencing it too!
Take care of those closest to you. Give those closest to you your best first. I was guilty of not doing that, and thus. am paying for that now.
Acknowledge your needs. Reach out to others to seek help when needed. Before it's too late.
Realize that you are not going to understand everything (here). But all our questions will be answered to our satisfaction in Heaven!
Be assured there is a purpose. Seek out and live your purpose!
Surrender your day to God, and let it go. Give Him everything. This is the hardest for me. I know that I have mentioned before that I am OCD. I must be in control of everything that touches my life. When I can not control everything in my life, it makes me a little nuts. The idea of surrendering anything fills me with a terror that I can not explain. But I must trust God and let go, knowing He is sovereign and in total control.
The message spoke directly to me! I can't even explain how great this makes me feel!
~En-JOY and God Bless!
When I got in, and saw how late it actually was, I thought "there is no way I'm making that 9:30 service!" But I not only got up in enough time to make the service, I had enough time to stop by the local barbeque joint for breakfast too.
We began the service with Holy Communion in preparation of Easter. Jesus had used elements from the Passover meal to give the first Holy Communion. This event is more commonly known as The Last Supper.
Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper
This communion was different than I was used to. In the Baptist church, the deacons pass out trays filled with little cups of "wine" (i.e.grape juice, cause we all know Baptist don't drink, right?) and little crackers that kind of taste like uncooked macaroni ( due to the lack of yeast because when the children of Israel fled Egypt, they didn't have time to let the bread rise) The deacons would past the trays up and down each pew. In all the years I have observed Communion, I know of one instance where the "wine" tray was dropped, causing quite a mess and a portion of the congregation to miss out on "wine" part of the service.
This church practices communion by tincture, Each congregant would go to the front, where the piece of bread (the Body of Christ) pinched off a large loaf is dipped into the "wine" (the Blood of Christ) in one common cup before consuming. It was very quick and efficient.
I think the Lord is trying to get my attention. Today's message was even more timely than the first!
I couldn't wait to get home and share what I learned today.
Jesus showed us seven things while his earthly body was dying on the cross to remember:
Forgive those who are causing you pain. Pray for them! They are all children of God, even those who have been led astray by satan.
Help others who are experiencing your same struggle. You are not alone in your struggle, whatever it may be, and there are others who are experiencing it too!
Take care of those closest to you. Give those closest to you your best first. I was guilty of not doing that, and thus. am paying for that now.
Acknowledge your needs. Reach out to others to seek help when needed. Before it's too late.
Realize that you are not going to understand everything (here). But all our questions will be answered to our satisfaction in Heaven!
Be assured there is a purpose. Seek out and live your purpose!
Surrender your day to God, and let it go. Give Him everything. This is the hardest for me. I know that I have mentioned before that I am OCD. I must be in control of everything that touches my life. When I can not control everything in my life, it makes me a little nuts. The idea of surrendering anything fills me with a terror that I can not explain. But I must trust God and let go, knowing He is sovereign and in total control.
The message spoke directly to me! I can't even explain how great this makes me feel!
~En-JOY and God Bless!
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