My New Year Wish

The end of December

The New Year draws near

What lies before us

In the 2008 year

The end of a war

I pray in my heart

A new leader to vote in

His reign then will start

The issues before us

Illegals and such

Must find a solution

America, can't be their crutch

Americans stand together

In this endeavor

What we do now

Will affect us forever

We still are united

I hear it in talk

We do it in whispers

Now, we must walk the walk

2008 must be the year

Stand by our convictions

We have nothing to fear

Americans, to learn Spanish

Should be simply by choice

It is they, to speak English

The language of our voice

Politically correct

I guess, I am not

I stand with the soldiers

For this land, who have fought

Americans are all colors

Red, yellow, black and white

They speak English, love this country

Fly our beloved Stars and Stripes

Health Care And Insurance

Today I am thinking about Doctors and Dentists. I read some stuff from the Boomer Chronicles and found , much to my surprise that there are lots of folks out there with no Dental Insurance. They spoke of broke teeth from soft breads and other dental catastrophes that required astronomical costing trips to the dentist for repairs. My thoughts go to a dentist, in the small town we lived in for over 20 years. I think his practice was rather new when we first started going to him, but this guy could teach some of these new fangled dentists a thing or two. His concern was not what our insurance would pay for , but what our dental needs were. He never forced any procedure on us, but was extremely thorough in his examinations and conveyed exactly what he thought we needed for our dental health. I always felt totally secure in his judgments. I can honestly say, he never hurt me....not once and this man not only did fillings , he did crowns, bridges and I even had him pull a tooth for me that I had , had a root canal done on years before we moved there from an incompetent guy that DID hurt and tortured me for hours. Most dentist today are more concerned with the cosmetic part of dentistry. They make you feel that you just don't measure up if your teeth are not perfectly straight and glowing white. Now, I care about my appearance as much as the next 50 something bleached blonde female, but the health of my teeth and gums are the reasons I visit the dentist. I am sad to say that since our move we have been unable to replace our beloved dentist and we have sifted through quite a few Doctors too that don't live up to the understanding and care we recieved from the Doctors in that same said town. Our search is ongoing and I do hope that maybe there is the same dedicated dentist and doctor out there in our area just waiting for us to call and make an appointment. I will keep trying in the quest for those same kind of professionals we were blessed to have for all our years in that small town.
That's my thoughts for now. Till next time.

Back To Normal

Things are getting back to some kind of normalcy. I spent yesterday de Christmasing the house. I get great joy in taking my house back over....all the decked halls and holiday tidings are once more in their resting place in the attic. When it comes time to put it all away, less is more....ya know, what I mean? I know, most people keep the cheer going until after New Years, Christmas trees still standing and lights still burning, but for me,the 26th of December brings an end to the actual holiday celebrations. Now, don't get me wrong, I like the festivities of New Years, but here of late I find it harder and harder to even be awake when the New Year comes in. We have never been big partiers, but we did use to at least stay up until the New Year rang in........Man, we are sooooo over the hill.
I ventured out for some errands yesterday also. I took back some shoes to Sears, I had bought for Wayne. I swear, that man's feet are almost sub human. They are just about as wide as they are long and get this, he is the only person I have ever seen with a left foot larger than his right, usually it's the other way around. I always have to get a wide and did so, in this pair, but for some reason they were still too tight. He is so persnickety and hard to buy for especially in shoes, but getting him in a store is like pulling teeth. He's gonna have to go if he wants new shoes tho.....I just got my money back yesterday and thought.....I'm not gonna make a dozen trips back and forth trying to find a shoe that fits......he ain't Cinderella. From there I went to the Bank, making a deposit I have been meaning to make for a week now. My last stop was at Brookshires. I had already cooked a pot of Red Beans and was going to put hamburger in them, which I didn't have.....uuuummmmm, I LOVE Red Beans. I put them on to cook, first thing yesterday.......I was really on top of my game...... don't ya think? I cooked them with onions and seasonings first, then add two cans of Rotel and browned hamburger. I did a real NO NO too and fried Wayne and I some potatoes. I don't fry anymore so it has been ages since we had home fried taters. Red Beans and fried taters......it just don't get any better than that. A real Texas treat. I would have loved to have had a big ole piece of corn bread, but I thought that took us over the top. Wayne had his beans over a bed of rice and I ate one slice of whole grain bread with mine. Some down home cooking after all the holiday stuffing and sweets was a welcomed change. Amongst the other things I mentioned, I also got two loads of clothes washed. I feel sooooo free today. I love the feeling of being caught up on everything.
I am looking forward to 2008 and my wish is for many great adventures and lots of time spent with the ones I love. I will say for now, till next time.

Our Christmas Schedule

FRIDAY!!!!!! AGAIN!!! This one is very important.......the one right before Christmas. I woke up this morning making a list in my head. The last minute things I need to get done and today's the day. Oh, I do still have tomorrow, I guess, but I hate waiting till the very last minute. Tonight we are suppose to go Christmas light looking......I LOVE to ride around first of all, and then getting to see beautiful lights draped on big gorgeous houses is just a bonus. The trip will be topped off with a stop at STARBUCKS.....UUUUMMMMMMM!!!! GOOOODD!! Tomorrow night is the HSE Christmas party......my BIG babysitting night. This is one of the huge draw backs of everyone working for the same Co. I will have all 4 of my grandson's. The two older ones will pose no problems, but the two 3 year olds will undoubtedly make up for it. I think things will be fine until it starts drawing near bed time.....nothings worse than 2 tired and grumpy 3 year olds. I will make it thru....no doubt, just think, last year I had 2, 2 year olds and OH MY GOSH!!! before that 2, 1 year olds. It's a wonder I am still here. Anyway, after tomorrow night it will be smooth sailing. Sunday morning is the start of our family day. First, we go out for breakfast. On our return, we will open presents. The rest of the day is going to be munching on delectable tidbits, playing games and just sitting around talking. I am looking so forward to Sunday. Monday we will be traveling to spend some time with Wayne's Mom and Dad and sister Jan. I am taking home made Lasagna, hot bread, green beans, and some kind of delicious dessert. Then, we have Christmas Day.....our plan for that day is.....WORK. Yep, we had to fit it in somewhere and it just so happened that Christmas day was the best time for it. We will miss Christmas with Wayne's other sister in Tyler, but the drive was just more than we could do this year. Sounds like a pretty tight schedule to me. I am looking forward to every moment of it, believe it or not, even Wayne and I spending Christmas day alone with one another.....after our chore, we will have time to recoup from the previous days and make ready for the rest of the work week. This may be the last entry on my blog till after Monday. I wish a Merry Christmas to all. Be safe, till next time.

Texas Weather

How great is this weather??? Wow! people, you that weren't lucky enough to be born or transplanted in Texas have no idea how wonderful the weather can be. We do dream of snow for Christmas and usually don't get any, but the beautiful sunny crisp days well make up for it. I always think that a white Christmas would be just perfect, not thinking of all the turmoil that comes with it. I dare say we Texans have no clue how to drive on ice or snow covered roads.....heck, from what I have experienced most are having a hard time with their driving skills on dry roads. I am one that craves sunshine.....dark gloomy days can get me down in a hurry. Trace was just telling me yesterday, that Texans are amongst the lowest numbers experiencing depression. I truly believe our weather has a big influence on that. The one big draw back on all this nice weather is NO SCHOOL or JOB CLOSINGS. I think we all need a break, a reprieve from the day in day out drudgery. I can remember sitting in front of the TV as a child waiting to hear if my school was gonna close due to bad weather. It always seemed like my school was the last one to call in to say they would be closed, so us kids still had to get up, get dressed and sit and wait. I am really gonna date myself, but I can remember the first time I could wear pants to school.....yes PANTS people. Little girls wore dresses and boys wore pants, now when the temperature went below freezing they would permit us little girls to wear pants, now get this....I didn't even own any pants, jeans or whatever so I had to put on a pair of my brothers. OH MY GOSH!!!!! I loved them! My little legs warm and covered and just the comfort that wearing pants had over a dress. I can't remember exactly what grade I was in....maybe the fourth, sometime in the early 60's....and I can't remember when exactly the dress code changed and girls were allowed to wear pants just like the boys, but I know it was a time of celebration for us girls. Gosh, how times have changed. Well, anyhow, I do love my Texas and all it's crazy weather, be it 80 degree temps in the winter or snow falling in the spring. You can always count on NOT being able to count on our forecast. It's any ones guess what the weather is gonna be from one day to the next. A great big ole Texas, Howdy and take care.....till next time.

A Christmas Vacation

Trace and I ventured out once more to try and find an end to this present buying......good grief!!! will it ever end. Ya know, Trace and I have talked for years about polling our monies spent on presents each year and traveling off to some exotic destination for Christmas.......wouldn't that be a blast! The only shopping that would need to be done is for the new clothes we might want to take. We have dreamed of a cabin in some snow covered mountain where we have nothing to do, but play games, sit by a roaring fire drinking hot chocolate and enjoying being together......or..... some warm tropical place just might fit our fancy. We could sit on a warm beach, watching the waves roll in and out......feel the warm tropical breeze on our faces and just lax out and enjoy the atmosphere.....WOW! that sounds soooo great! I wanna do it. To escape from this money generated, over the top, carnival that has become Christmas would suit me to a tee. I know that you don't have to buy into it and that it can remain as simple as you like.....but....geez, why not spend it somewhere that totally transforms it into a wonderful vacation. I do see it in our future....maybe not next year, but sometime in the near future......I can't wait! Till next time.

Once A Year Gathering

It seems just like yesterday I was blogging about seeing family that I only see usually once a year at our annual Christmas feast.....now, here it has come and gone again. There were certainly faces I missed seeing due to illness. There was a big void from the absence of my Uncle Bud and Aunt Billie. I wish them well and hope good health is restored. It's hard for my brain to wrap around the idea that I am getting closer to being amongst the oldest generation in our family. WOW! I sometimes still feel like the young generation, like me and my cousins should still be hanging out and talking and doing the things that we did in our youth.....boy, am I delusional???? I just can't seem to convince myself that, girl, you are getting to be an OLD LADY. I have been growing my hair out long....just one more time, I keep thinking. I ask Traci, just the other day.....do I look like an old hag with this long hair? She assures me that I do not, but the reflection in the mirror tells a different story. There are days that I think I can pull it off, but then, like the day I was in a fitting room in a store trying on clothes and I thought....GOOD GRIEF! I look HORRIBLE! I so want to blame it on the lighting and of course the carnival mirrors they use in those dressing rooms didn't help my situation either. I vote for candle light and NO mirrors, we can just go by how the clothes feel and not worry about how they look. Oh Well, at least I know that everyone of my age and generation are dealing with the same issues and I am not alone. I do have some solace in that. I am just glad to still be here and healthy enough to enjoy it. I hope that the new year brings health and happiness to us all and that next Christmas all absent this year will be able to attend our once a year gathering. Till next time.

Christmas Follies

I am up this morning blogging and it isn't even 7:30.......on a Saturday morning! I really wasn't ready to get up, but Baxter was having a nature call, so when I got up to let him out, I just stayed up. I have still been shopping, tho I thought I was almost thru on my second trip out. I never seem to be able to say....OK, THAT'S IT! I still have a couple of things to get and I am gonna HAVE to say DONE!

Trace and I watched several Christmas movies this week. Our all time favorite, It's A Wonderful Life. That one touches the heart like no other and makes a profound statement. I never tire of watching the old classics. Gone With The Wind is one of my all time favorite movies....I read the book too and enjoyed it, but the extra children seemed to take away some of the romance for me. I like Bonnie Blue being the only child. She was the one true thing in their mixed up relationship......the bond, they both loved so much. I am a sucker for a good Love Story.

I don't know what this day brings. Wayne and I are suppose to go to the movies. The new one with Will Smith in it came out yesterday......the one where he is the last man on earth. We are on our own today. Trace and family have left this morning traveling to her in laws. It is their tradition to go out in search of a tree the week before Christmas. I hope the weather is accommodating for them and they find the perfect tree. I don't know what Dan and his family are doing today......I'm sure playing catch up. With both of them working, they have a lot on their plate on the weekends to take care of.

I have one more thought before I go. Ya know, I said I was gonna try my hardest to have the Christmas spirit while out and about, saying hello, Merry Christmas and such.....well, yesterday posed quite the test. There were people out everywhere. I had cars pull out in front of me, ones that would not get out of the way and countless other brain dead acts that really got on my nerves and provoked horn blowing and yelling of words like, STUPID JACKASS!!!! I tried so hard and kept telling myself....keep the Christmas spirit, Sonia.....couldn't do it, lost it. Hopefully I have renewed myself and can start again the next trip out.

Be safe and take care. Till next time.

Scrooge

I'm disgruntled this morning,

No Christmas bliss;

What used to be fun,

Is somehow amiss;

The hustle, the bustle,

I'm now in the dumps;

Who cares about Santa,

and his reindeer chumps;

The pressure, the tension,

I want to scream;

Be glad when it's over,

This nightmarish dream;

I know we must think,

He's the reason for the season;

but, what I can see,

It's not he, that we're pleasin;

Why can't we just do,

What we all want to do;

To the rest, say BAH! HUMBUG!,

Won't do it, I'm through;

I know I'll get over,

This cranky ole state;

Today's view, is quite fleeting,

It's passing, I'll wait;

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,

Who gives a crap;

The money we spend ,

All those presents to wrap;

All the time that it took,

Putting under the tree;

In seconds, it's over,

What a mess there will be;

Where is my spirit,

Where did it go;

I have always, loved Christmas,

But, this one thing, I know;

It's lost it's innocents,

The simplicity of youth;

We said Merry Christmas,

and said it in truth,

No, feelings of pressure,

Like those of today;

Just wonderment of Santa,

His reindeer and sleigh;

I want it back,

The excitement and joy;

I hate being grown up,

dealing with things, that annoy;

I want to be happy,

and have lots of fun;

I'll go back in time,

In my mind, till it's done;

I want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!,

and say it with glee;

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

Even Ebenezer and me.

Still Shopping

Yesterday, I did some private shopping......No Trace, with me. I have to have time to buy things that she doesn't know about. I started out early.....I was out and going down the road by 7:30 AM. My first stop was at Target's. I found some pretty good presents in there. It was wonderful walking around in a virtually empty store. Next, I went over to TJ Max, I saw a lot of cute things ,but walked out empty handed.......I started that, should I buy this, or should I not. In my argument with myself , I just decided to get out of that store and went to Old Navy. I picked up some more bargains in there and then I was off to Petco......No, I wasn't buying the dogs Christmas presents, but taking back a wireless fence we had bought for Gus. We want him to be able to roam the yard and limit his straying. We thought this thing was gonna be GREAT! It had such good potential, but something, be it all the trees or whatever, it wouldn't do right. The collar would shock when it wasn't suppose to and didn't when it was. I exchanged it for the in ground cable one. We are hoping for good results from it. Anyway, from there I went into the mall. I shopped almost all the stores, wore out and made my way back home. I am so happy that I almost have all my shopping done and did it in 2 outings. Now, comes the wrapping part....UGH!!!! I am always sooooo glad when that is over. I dread it so, but then love to look at all the colorful packages. I start getting anxious about this time and just want to give everyone their stuff. We use to have all our presents opened by at least a week before Christmas. I know, everyone thought we were crazy, but hey, it became tradition with us. Now, that my kids have kids they do their present opening when they want to......we are all pretty flexible on the rules and that there shouldn't be any. Anyhow, I better get up and get myself started on this wrapping thing. Till next time.

Foods And Our Health

We got a lot of running around done yesterday. We went to the Post Office, Denton Paper, Bank, Walmart.....again, and lastly Sprout's. Hey Doll, do ya'll have a Sprout's in Plano? It is really a great store to get home grown vegetables with no pesticides or any foreign stuff put on them ........finally, vegetables and fruits that taste like the ones I remember as a girl. Yesterday they had sweet yellow onions and an array of other things. This is the store that Trace gets all her organic stuff.....now, I haven't totally switched to all their products........couldn't afford to, but I do enjoy the fruits and vegetables I get there. I don't know why, we Americans put up with our vegetables and fruits having poison put on them and why we allow our meats to be filled with hormones and injected with red dye to make it look fresh when in reality, it isn't. Do we really think we are eating healthy when we are consuming all those additives. Sprout's even has a meat market.....fresh.....really fresh hamburger meat and some very delectable looking kabobs already for the grill, huge stuffed pork chops that can just be put in the oven for a quick and easy meal by throwing a few veggy's around them. I have found the prices on their meats to be very reasonable. I will also say that some of the brands they carry can be found at Wally's.....like Kashi and some others that are totally organic with no preservatives and such. The one thing I had to get use to was preparing what I bought there quicker than the things from the other
stores because without the preservatives things don't last FOREVER like what we are use to. Remember the potato cellar or having to keep things in the fridge to make them last longer.....well, that was good ole FRESH food. We have forgotten about fresh and how good it taste. We want to stock food like we are going to go into hibernation for a year or so......What's up with that????? I don't get it. I know, back in the 80's, I too was enamored with Sam's and loved the idea of going and buying enormous quantities of stuff, that first of all, I didn't have the room to store it all.....I mean, my house isn't set up like a grocery store and second of all, we tired of whatever food I had bought in abundance and usually it turned out to be a waste cause we didn't eat it, it was thrown away. I tired of that scenario very quickly......heck, just carrying in all that was like unloading a semi at a grocery store....who needs that? My sweet Aunt Jo is a die hard, go to the store every day, shopper and I guarantee her meals are as fresh as a meal from a major grocery store can be. She still lives by the old ways. Food should be consumed in a timely matter.....something that has sat on a shelf for months or even years should be tossed out....it was bad enough for us when we first bought it, I can just imagine what the months has done to break down all the foreign ingredients added to these to make us think they are still editable. I tell you, it is a conspiracy! If they can't get us to kill ourselves with their over medicating pills then they will just let us eat ourselves to death.....slowly, being poisoned with their additives. Why, we think our government is looking out for us on these matters is beyond me.....it all goes back to the old mighty dollar. If they can get more meat off of a cow that has been injected with hormones, then that's exactly what their gonna do......who cares what all those hormones do to us. I wonder, is there a study going on, on that?????, or are they still trying to find out what cow burbs do to the environment? We are the walking, talking guinea pigs of all these new money making techniques they have come up with.......no wonder we all suffer from some pretty strange things these days....aches and pains that seem to have no origin, women who cannot get pregnant, our lack of the ability to handle stress.....I think they may all have something in common........what we put in our mouths! Don't you find it ironic that with all the new ailments of today, magically there is a PILL to take for it. Tho, I have not cut out buying preservative loaded foods, I am trying to eat as many fresh foods as I can and I know that to really rid my diet of these poisons I would have to cut out going out to eat......I'm not ready to ban that as yet......but I do wish everyone from our grocers to our restaurants would demand FRESH foods, not tainted with pesticides or preservatives.....that would be the real way to help the American people stay healthier. Maybe, it is all these additives that other countries don't have that make them leaner and healthier than us. Think about it people. Till next time.

Girls Day Out

Yesterday was blissful.....Trace and I went out shopping, just us girls.....no kids....no men, YAHOO!!! We had the best time. We started out with a delicious lunch at On The Border, Mexican food.....my all time favorite. We then made our way to the Lewisville Mall, quite surprising, it wasn't crowded at all....imagine that? With only 3 more weekends till Christmas we were expecting LARGE crowds of people. I have to admit that I wound up buying more for myself, than presents for others, but I just couldn't resist some of the great bargains on some cute clothes I found. I have many gift ideas swimming around in my head....seems tho, when I get into a store my mind goes BLANK. We left the Mall and zipped back to Flower Mound to an absolutely wonderful Walmart they have just opened there.....we found the crowds of people.....who knew they were all shopping at Walmart? Oh, let me tell you, it is a Grand store, not like any Walmart I have ever been in. I was afraid that the prices were going to reflect the hoity toity atmosphere of this new giant, but as soon as we entered, I saw that yellow smiling head, with a price slashed underneath it and knew.....bargains were to be had. It was great! I can definitely see myself make the drive to shop there. Funny, but when we started our jaunt it was warm and muggy, so fittingly, I wore Capri's and a T shirt. On our way out of the Mall the wind had changed direction and was blowing MUCH cooler air. I was longing for my sweat shirt and jeans. The sun was still shining as we entered Wally's, but on our retreat it was dark and MUCH colder. Texas weather.......you never know what to wear. You can start off fine, like we did, but then in the span of just a couple of hours it's like you flew off to another country or something. Don't get me wrong, I love my Texas. I was lucky enough to be born and raised here, but I have always had a desire to be in a beautiful snow covered quaint little town for the holidays and somewhere tropical.....Hawaii would do, for the rest of the time. I can dream, can't I?

We have a long list of errands to do today......groceries to buy and a trip to the Post Office and so on and so on. I better get up and get things started. Till next time.

Hunter's Bistro

I want to tell you friends........make way for the new, upcoming, prize winning, chef. That 12 year old grandson of ours is a prodigy in the kitchen. He has an inborn talent with food. Wayne and I were caregivers of Traci's 3 yesterday. This was a late birthday present to RB.....the gift of time, ya know.......that's my specialty.......Anyway, I made a trip to the store and Hunt asked if I would buy some Avocados. He has had his own dip recipe stuck in his head for several weeks now. His prompting on this was home grown jalapenos from Dan's garden. I had told him...NO, but as always, I caved and not only bought the Avocados, but tomatoes and chilies as well. Let me tell you that boy took those ingredients added some of those superb peppers and with a few more dashes of secrets, made the BEST guacamole I have ever had.....bar none. He knows the right ingredients to put together to make a sumptuous taste. He has kneaded together some really wonderful breads, adding spices and cheeses to them, just like a pro. The best part is, that he has a real passion for cooking. To me, the idea of making money doing something you love is about the best thing in the world.......so many of us spend a lifetime working at something we absolutely hate and despise going to every day. Kudos to him.......I want to do nothing , but encourage him and be the first to congratulate him on the opening of HUNTER'S BISTRO.

I don't know what talents lay in wait from our other grand sons, but I know, they each have a uniqueness and when they find their passion and work towards it, they will be successful and have a happy work life. The possibilites are limitless, I have every confidence in each one......words from a doteting Granny. Till next time.

Families At Christmas

As I lay asleep in bed,

Dreams of Christmas,

Fill my head;

Who I'll see,

What gift to buy,

I love this day,

and I know why;

Together it brings us,

From near and far,

Our travels so distant,

Requires a car;

With packages and food,

The car is packed tight,

Start up the engine,

We're off on our flight;

Excited to see,

Faces seen once a year,

Tho, distance separates us,

We're family, that's clear;

Family's the best part,

gifts take second place,

The hugs and the kisses,

To each other, We race;

It is sad when it's over,

Back to our lives,

Till next year,

When it once more arrives.

Friday Dribble

Seems to have been a very short week. One day blurs into another. The weather has been just gorgeous. I love the crispness in the air with the bright sun shining........great for walking. This morning is dark and drab.....cool front coming in, I suppose.
Great news! My knee is back to normal.....no pain what so ever......YEAH!!! I am still pampering it and being very careful not to hurt it when doing our workout. We did Yoga using the ball yesterday.....I just skipped over the ones that put too much pressure on my knees. I sure don't want to hurt the other one. I really do love the energy and great feeling I get from exercising.......being able to do it with Trace is just the motivation I need. To me, walking is my acupuncture.....totally de stresses me. Trace and I usually use this time to do a lot of venting, which, I feel helps. It is much easier to meditate or just not think of your woes if you first can talk them out with someone.....a clearing of the mind. Helps me, anyway.
The weekend is here and I am excited. We have so many things on our agenda. I love being busy....makes me feel ALIVE! I don't mean busy, with the day in day out stuff. I am talking about going places and seeing people, busy. I know to sit and do nothing is most people's dream, but I look on it as wasted time. I am trying to get as much living done as I possibly can. I am sure there will be plenty of sit and do nothing days, in the years to come. I love the hustle and bustle of Christmas. I know it is a BIG stressful time for people and most of the joy has been sapped right out of it, but I also feel that most, still love it and get enjoyment of some sort at this time.....be it seeing old friends, being with family, cooking up goodies, decorating the house, what ever brings you happiness is in abundance at this time of year. We just have to take the bad with the good and try and make the positives out weigh the negatives.
Till next time.....be aware of your surroundings, while out shopping. Try and not shop alone....take care and be safe.

Decorations

I did my Christmas decorating yesterday. My tidings are pretty sparse, but I did what I could. I had 4 or 5 boxes of stuff to go thru and pick from, but I will admit that I only opened 2. My space is so limited that I didn't want to come off junky so what I did choose to display had to be strategically placed. I am definitely omitting the tree. My dining table is holiday friendly and I put a lit wreath on the wall for some merriment with a sign above it wishing SEASON"S GREETINGS. I did put a wreath on my outside door and placed a tower of boxes, made of some kind of basket type material, painted bright Christmas colors, with lights entwined on them to sit at the side of the door and light up the way. I am hoping for Christmas cards this year......last year was pretty disappointing. I LOVE to get Christmas cards. I always send them out. I feel it is the least I can do to reach all the people I love and let them know they are special and definitely thought of . I know the stamps keep going higher and higher, but it is still an economical way of saying HI. All who read my blog, get the word out......Sonia LOVES to get Christmas cards......Now send them.......DANG IT!

I hate to admit it, but I am still having some knee problems. I continued to work out with Trace and I think I keep re hurting it. We did a pretty strenuous work out yesterday and by the time I walked back to my house the back side of my knee was paining me. I tried working it out, but it never felt right. We did not do our walk, which probably would have worked it out. It was feeling much better by last night and I took an Ibuprofen when I went to bed......it's not bad at all this morning, but I am definitely NOT going to do a work out with Trace this morning. I am going to give it time to heal. I do intend to go on our walk tho. I really do love the stretching and slow movements of Yoga......I think it has done more to tone me and lengthen my muscles than any aerobics I have done. You don't realize how our bodies tend to get stove up and it is from nothing but the non use of our muscles that cause this. I felt sore in muscles that I haven't used in years.......flexibility is the key people......we have to keep moving and stretching.....keep our old bodies as limber as possible.

My mind has just turned off so I guess that means the end of this blog.....I will say, till next time.

Good Will To Men

Oh that Trace!!!! What A nut.....I don't know where she gets it???? Her story of trying to strike up a conversation with a stranger, puts me in mind of a Christmas several years ago. Trace and I were at the local Walmart, waiting just inside the door for a basket. The place was covered over with people....no baskets to be had. We wait patiently, till finally someone comes pushing one into the basket return.....well, before I could grab it, a woman, not standing there waiting, came walking up, snatched that basket and gave us the old, go to hell look. I was totally mortified and appalled and said......WELL, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! She never even looked back, so much for the Christmas spirit and good will to men. People are becoming less and less considerate of others.....hence, road rage and all the other moments of rage we experience in our lives. No one cares about any one else......all out for NUMBER ONE. This impoliteness knows no age. It shows up in the elderly all the way down to our youth in this country. I come from a generation where men would hold a door open for a lady.....not anymore, I have had young guys let me open the door for them, they walk in, never saying thank you or anything. I just don't get it. What happened to manners, simple politeness? That is totally becoming the downfall of this country. It is an anomaly these days to find anyone who has a smile and a greeting for you......even those that work with the public and are suppose to be friendly. We are consumed in our need and greed for the perfect present, for that undeserving person, setting aside all thoughts of consideration or compassion for the other billion shoppers out there on the same mission. It's sad, people.....very sad. With Christmas looming over us, I dare say, this is just the beginning of the encounters with disgruntled people. I, for one am going to try and be polite and use the manners, my Mother taught me. I will smile and say hello even tho, I know most of my greetings will go unnoticed and unappreciated. It's really how you feel in your heart that counts and maybe, just maybe, what I put out there will come back to me........I'm going to give it a try and will report back my findings after the holidays. Till next time.

Yoga, Cooking And Man Problems

1. 
   

I finally did it.....while doing yoga yesterday, my left knee did a LOUD POP and I am experiencing some pain in that knee, still this morning. It didn't really hurt THAT bad when it popped, but it was after that when I was getting ready to go for our walk that something happened and I got a catch in there and didn't think I was gonna be able to walk. I could bend the knee with no pain , but then when it came back to straightening it, that's when it would HURT!!! I kept working with it, bending it back and forth and putting my weight on it until it was tolerable to walk. I made it thru our walk, but I can still tell there is something not just right about it, because it still catches sometimes and is still paining me a little. I don't intend to let it get me down......onward and upward! I do intend to be more careful with it and not do anymore damage to it.

I am doing my Thanksgiving cooking today. I am fixing fresh green beans with new potatoes and a Strawberry cake......my Mother in laws favorite. I love the warm cozy feel a house gets when there is cooking going on. A cake in the oven is better than any air freshener you can buy. I am trying to get ahead of myself and do everything this morning.......when I have all day and all the evening. I guess I just get excited and antsy.

I want to rant and rave just a little........My dear husband seemed to have a personal problem this morning. Even in sleep, I could hear him slamming and banging about the house......in a few minutes in was standing beside my side of the bed and in a very angry voice asked.....WHERE ARE MY JEANS!!!!! I DO HAVE 3 PAIR.....RIGHT?????? I CAN ONLY FIND 2. Kind of startled, I said, one may be dirty and in the wash......I LOOKED THERE ALREADY, was his reply. With a quick kiss to my forehead and a BYE, with much disdain in his voice, he was gone. I was up just shortly after that, never really going back to sleep. The first thing I did after getting the coffee going was to go see WHERE his jeans could be.....Lord knows, I hide them from him. Well, I open his chest of drawers and.....what do you know, there sat, folded neatly under 2 other pair of jeans he had dug out and thrown on top of.....was the pair he was looking for. I am owed a HUGE apology, not only for being upset with me, but wanting to have this heated conversation, while I was trying to sleep. It really amazes me that the one person, he supposedly loves the most, he can be SOOOO RUDE to. I would never do that to him. I'm going to let him hear about it when he gets home today. I truly don't think he realizes how rude he is sometimes. Ya know, even if the jeans weren't in his drawer, that was no reason to get all upset and act like a spoiled child.

That's my do for the day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!! Till next time.

Good Cheer

Holidays are upon us,

They come with heartfelt cheer;

To be with the ones you love the most,

The ones you hold so dear;

Hold this time, in great delight,

A time, our love, can show;

Happy Thanksgiving!

Family and friends,

and all of those we know;

The Holiday's

I am up and moving fast this morning.....don't know why. I feel like I have so much to do, but really.....I don't. I have already made our bed, cleaned the bathroom, got dishes washing......I'm really ahead of the game. I did our washing yesterday, so no clothes to wash. I still need to get the floors cleaned and I have some errands I need to do, but it wouldn't be horrible if I don't get it all done today. I think I am already getting excited about going to Wayne's sister's house for Thanksgiving. The drive is going to be spectacular. We are planning on taking the scenic route. I guess it has been since last years holidays that we have seen Sharon and family, so it will be a nice visit. I am really looking forward to it.
Sharon was just 12 years old when Wayne and I married. I thought she was the sweetest and dearest little girl. I think we clicked right off the bat. I remember her and I giggling at my first dinner with all of them........I was sooooo nervous and very insecure, she lightened a very tense time for me. I guess for her it is hard to remember life before me. I must say, I have to think way back to get to the time before them. I still had a lot of growing up to do when I married at 18, but you know what, I think I did it, being the best wife and Mother that I could be. I take great pride in my home, my marriage, my children and now, grandchildren. Wife and Mother was definitely my calling in this life. Nothing I could have accomplished in the career world could have been more fulfilling for me. I never even considered a career, not even as a little girl. I always played wife and mother. It is such a great and significant role to play.
Well, it is already after 9:oo this morning and my work out mate still hasn't called......she must be sleeping in this morning. I am such a morning person and you know what.......I never would have believed I could be when I was a young girl....I sure am now, tho. Oh well, enough of the reminiscing.....till next time.

The Missing

My freedom has once more come to me.......yesterday being Traci and Randy's last day of their seminar. The kids were really no problem, as a matter of fact Hunt and Jay stayed at their house most of the time......heck, they slept till around 2:00 in the afternoon yesterday. I had to roust them up the day before that cause I wanted to take them to the park where we were gonna meet Katherine and Mason so Kan and him could play. Everything has gone smoothly except I had a terrible fright night before last. Wayne and I were getting ready to go to bed and I went to put Baxter in his carrier, much to my surprise he wasn't in the house. Now, the cold front had come in and it was cold and dark, VERY unusual for Baxter to be outside, most nights he beats us to bed and gets in his carrier by himself. I was quite puzzled, but thought that maybe he had ran out when Traci came over to tell us of their learning's of the day. I went to the door and nope, no Baxter. I hollered and hollered into the nights air, but there was no sight of him anywhere.......I just couldn't believe it, GONE just GONE. We went on to bed, but I got up several times thru the night to see if he was at the door wanting in. Morning came and still no sign of my little Baxter. I was heart sick. All I could think of was that a coyote or some other wild animal must have gotten him. I got myself dressed and started walking the area. The old guy that lives down the road and walks every morning was out so I asked him if he had seen my little dog. He told me, he had. Baxter was down across the street from his house and ran into the woods on that side of the street. I just couldn't figure........WHY he had done this. He had never ran off before. I got in my jeep and combed the neighborhood.......no sign of him anywhere. I got back home and walked to the back and guess what I found?????? GUS, was nowhere to be seen. The cable he was on was gone and so was he. It all started making sense to me. Gus got loose and Baxter followed him off into the night, well, this scared me more cause I knew Gus absolutely runs amok when not confined. I called and called those dummies. Finally late into the morning, I had gone back out to call some more and here comes little Baxter running towards me.......I was ecstatic.....so glad to see him. I got him in the house and tried to coax Gus to come to me, but he wanted no part of being put into captivity again. I had to just leave him alone and eventually he did come and lay in and around the house all day until he let Hunt get close enough to hang on to him for me. I had to dig up a collar cause his collar and the cable and all were gone. I walked him back to the fenced area and led him in, with only one buck of distain from him. He is safe and secure and my little Baxter, after a good bath and the cutting of stickers out of his little feet is home. We can only speculate what had happened to cause these events to occur. I started it by feeling sorry for Gus. He was in the fenced area and he only has a big carrier thing, not a real dog house and I was afraid he was going to get cold thru the night. I told Wayne he should be moved to the shed that's out back to block the cold wind off of him. So, Wayne went out and moved him and we don't know if the cable wasn't connected or what, but he escaped taking my little Baxter with him in his caper. I really do feel sorry for him.....I know he wants to be free, but he is a bad boy and would terrorize the neighborhood. Our neighbors have two little bunnies that they do let hop about their backyard......I would hate to say what would happen to those bunnies if Gus saw them. We just can't chance it, knowing he is aggresive to cats and other little animals. In my grievance of Baxter's dissapearance I wrote this poem.

Contless hours, I sit and wait,
Where have you gone, what was your fate;
I think of you, alone and cold,
I want you back, my arms to hold;
You loved me always, bad or good,
and I loved you, as best I could;
Into the night, you ran and ran,
thoughts of you scared, I could not stand;
Please find your way, back to my heart,
I do not want, this way, to part;
I pray to God, show you the way,
Come back to me, come back today;

with that I will say......Till next time.

Wonderful Travels

We are back, since Monday afternoon. Wayne had two more days of vacation so he is home with me till tomorrow. I can't seem to get much done when he is home.......at least, writing wise. It was great seeing Andy and Linda. We had a good time visiting with them and making our rounds to the numerous casinos there. I must say, none were as fun as our good ole Winstar. I did have a run of luck on the Wheel of Fortune. I won over one hundred dollars at one casino and then playing the same game at another one, won over two hundred more. I was ecstatic........YAHOO!!!! finally, I can say......I WON! We came back with almost all the money we went with......BONUS!

The trip going there was absolutely wonderful. I did see the most beautiful sights.......trees all aglow with spectacular colors. We went thru Helena, Mississippi.......which is just about the most gorgeous town, I think I have ever seen. There were BIG old houses that must have been very old and the streets were lined HUGE, towering trees..... Pecans, Oaks, Cottonwoods all in vivid colors. I know those trees were hundreds of years old. The trees grow twice as big there as what we have here in Texas.......maybe the extra moisture that they get there. I don't know, but they are GRAND!

I must tell you tho, that a menopausal woman cannot and should not try to stay in the same room with another couple. I just about burned up.....I couldn't sleep half naked, like usual and there was no ceiling fan. I thought I was gonna melt away like the wicked old witch in The Wizard Of Oz. I don't know what Linda's status is as far as menopause, but she wore long sleeved winter looking PJ's.......with me, still wearing a summery sleeveless tank top and still just dieing thru the night. I wish I could just get back to normal.....my normal, anyway.

Traci and Randy are attending a seminar in Dallas, which started yesterday. They are there from 8:00 AM till 7:00 PM. It is a three day thing, today being day 2. Wayne and I are here with the kids. It is great being so close that the kids can be at their house if they want to and just come over when they need or want something. Kannon has even done real well. I just knew he would wake up yesterday, see his Mama was gone and start crying, but he didn't. He asked where she was and definitely would have liked for her to be here, but he went on about his playing and did fine.

That's all the news I have for now so I will say......till next time.

Combo Deal

I came down sick.......ugggg! It is just the typical old cold. My head and sinuses are clogged. I have been medicating myself with the usual over the counter remedies, but I also have Hunt using some of his new worldly connotations to pray me well, along with Traci's organically based hot tea laced with, be well herbal ingredients. I do feel better than yesterday, but can't say exactly which helped the most....maybe a combination of all. I still have enough energy to do our ball routine, which we did this morning and I think we are gonna go on our walk also.....see, I'm not too sick. With the kids not going to public school, we thought we would be safe from getting most of the stuff they brought home to all of us, but alas a friend of Hunter's, a school going friend, came over hacking and sick and gave it to the kids and then I caught it from them.

Wayne and I are planning a little trip. We are leaving as soon as he gets home Friday, heading towards Mississippi. We are meeting Wayne's cousin and his wife there.....Andy and Linda. We have a great time together. We all went on vacation together year before last and had the best time ever. Our plan started out to be just a drive to see some of the beautiful colors of the leaves......my idea, of course. Wayne, asked if I would like to go on to Mississippi and invite Andy and Linda to meet us there. They will be coming from Alabama, so it's a little further for us and that's why we are leaving Friday. We should get there about the same time on Saturday. I am looking so forward to it. I LOVE to travel and then getting to be with people you love is just a bonus. I have been packing in my mind all week. It is just gonna be for a couple of days, but with this ever changing weather you never know what type of clothing your gonna need. I guess, I will take a little of everything.....just in case.

I think that's about it for today. I am making ready for our walk, guess I'll stop and say.....till next time.

Dogs and Fences

WOW! what a gorgoeous weekend we had.....couldn't ask for the weather to be any nicer. I wish I had an exciting story to tell of an adventure we had, but alas, twas quiet and most uneventful.

We spent most of Saturday getting the fenced in area secured for Gus. The fence is 6 ft and we are hoping that he has lost some of his agility over these past few years and won't be climbing out of this fence the way he did at our country home. He was a very bad boy......he would absolutely climb out of a chain link fence. This fence is higher and he is older and fatter so we hope the combination proves to keep him in.

On leaving Sunday we decided to put Baxter in the fenced area with him.....bad idea. That little booger dug his way out. Luckily Gus is not a digger, for one thing can you imagine how deep he would have to dig to get his big ole self out of there? I don't even see how Baxter fit thru the small opening....but he did.

Well, I am hoping to get the signal from Trace to go over and do our ball routine. I am raring to go. Till next time.

Friday and TheTactless Man

Good Old Friday....once again. It really does seem like these weeks are just flying by. Yesterday turned out to be a stay at home day. I got some more, putting away done. I seem to have a knack for putting things away and finding a place for everything. I have, not used very much, stuff up in the attic. I have cleaned out and stowed away till the place isn't looking too junked up anymore. Now, the over sized furniture, I can't do much about that except to get rid of it and buy new smaller furniture. The bedroom set was a Valentine gift to me from Wayne several years ago. It holds some sentimental value and I really do like it. So, who cares if the bed takes up the whole room......in the bed, is where we're at, when we are in that room.......right?
Traci and I did the ball routine again this morning.......I really do love it! I think I may have to get the tape myself so I can do it when I want to. Trace switches out and does different tapes, but those tend to be too difficult for me. We do still walk too......most every day. That is my all time favorite thing to do. I could walk and walk and walk. This is not to say that I don't get tired, cause I do, but just a little breather and I am ready to go again.
Wayne has totally dropped the ball, as far as doing any kind of exercise. He wants to lose weight so bad, but puts no effort in it.......oh now, he would beg to differ. He thinks that cutting down to one HUGE plate of food at meal times is all he has to do. He's in denial, people. He thinks he can shed those pounds effortlessly, like he did when he was a young man.....just cut back on the intake and WA....LA!!!! He really cracks me up. He was telling me the other day that he just didn't understand how I diet and exercise all the time and .....get this.....get no results. Was that a big ole slap in the face, or what??? As soon as he gets it out of his mouth he starts trying to tell me that's not what he meant, but HELLOOOO, there is no other way to take it. I told him that maybe I don't have the body that I did as a young woman, but just think what I would look like if I didn't watch what I eat and exercise the way I do. It's a dang good thing that I have as much self esteem as I do cause he sure aint no ego builder. He has never been one to give a compliment, but it seems the older he gets the less tact he has. This age brings on so many things for a woman to be insecure about. It's a time in life when a women wants to hear that she is still beautiful and desirable........I think he needs to have a chat with Dr. Phil or have a swift hit to the head with my frying pan. If I didn't know that he comes by this trait naturally I would really be offended. Doll knows who I speak of.....right, Doll? Oh well, I still love him, warts and all.
Have a GREAT weekend. Till next time.

A Ball Of Fun

Yesterday, Traci and I started yet another exercise routine.....this one is soooo fun. We have big exercise balls that we use and it is really just a lot of stretching and posing. You would never believe how much it works out your body.....I am really sore this morning. It was great fun, very low impact, but yet moves along fast enough as to not get bored with it. The lady on the tape is on a mat outside in Hawaii, the back drop being the beautiful blue ocean with waves cracking on the rocks....how calming and serene is that? That ball can pose quite a test sometimes.......have you ever tried to balance yourself, laying on your back, on a round thing, while kicking one leg in the air.....hey! this takes some real coordination. My first attempt to do a circus act like that, I found myself propelled off the ball and hitting the couch knocking it a few feet backwards. Trace and I found this quite hilarious and had to really work at getting our composer back to finish our work out. Anyway, I highly recommend it.....lots of fun and good for the ole bod.

This was another great Halloween. The kids decided to hook up to one of the trailers and pull the little ones around in the neighborhood that is right down from us. Wayne and I stayed at Traci's to hand out the candy for the little trick or treaters that might show up. She had a strobe light, fog machine and thunder cracking, to get us all in the Halloween spirit. Sad to say we only had one car to stop, but that's one of the disadvantages of living in the country. The kids returned with huge smiles and filled sacks.....seems the neighbors were very generous. I am so glad to know that there are still those out there that hold to the Halloween tradition. The giving of candy to dressed up, excited children that have no malice or wrong doing in their little hearts just the promise of candy by saying those three little words......TRICK OR TREAT!

We never made it to our historical outing yesterday. Today may hold some new and exciting things for us. I will clue you in tomorrow.....Till next time.

Flashes Of Heat Amongst The Fun Called Life

This is probably going to be short and sweet, but here goes. I must say, seems life has gone into extra fast mode these days. I am busy with the ever challenge to make it thru this menopause status that's likes to consume me every now and then. I have had some GREAT nights, where I slept the whole night thru with no awakenings to a sweaty body, but then just when I think I may be making to the end of this saga in my life, it starts up again. The last two nights have just been horrific. I know I must have woke up at least 5 times to that inner heat that makes me shed the covers. I pull my top up to my chin allowing as much of the cool air to hit my body and make the furnace within me turn off. What the heck IS THAT????? Of all the weird things for a body to do.....why would it heat up like that? I never was much of a sweater. I could run and be out in the heat and never have a bead of sweat run down my face, but now, with no physical activity I can have it pouring off of me. Weird.....really weird. I have panic attacks of wearing something that is too warm for those heated moments. I never know when they shall hit so I have to prepare and make ready for them. Winter is really gonna pose a problem for me cause I love to wear sweaters and sweat shirts, but the thought of having a big WARM thing on me like that makes me sweat just thinking about it.

Now, that I am closer to Traci we have been walking again....I sure do love it. I started a Yoga routine with her the other day.....boy, am I sore over it. We are gonna do it every other day......so today is the day. I hope it will work some of the soreness out of me.

We have down sized once again to a small 2 bedroom house. This has been quite a task, trying to make room for all the things that we acquired while we were in the 3 bedroom very roomy house. Our bedroom furniture is HUGE and does not fit into the small bedroom here. We have just our bed and the two night stands at the end of it to sit our TV on and that is it.....room totally filled. It truly is a BED room. The other two pieces of the set is in the other bedroom along with our office stuff....computer desks and book shelves. Yep, we are wall to wall. It is amazing how much stuff you accumulate and seems the more room you have the more you need. I like this down sizing and the cleansing of our junk, makes the things you keep seem new and special. I love this little space. It has so much charm and is filled with windows allowing so much of the outside in.

The setting is country....which I love. We wake to roosters crowing. I have seen deer on several occasions. We have seen the signs of wild hogs and have heard coyotes howling into the night.....even heard a owl hooting one morning. The sounds and sights of the wildlife are wonderful...we really do love it!

That's it for today....Trace will be flagging me over to start our Yoga. We are taking the kids to downtown Denton to find some the historical places and learn of the things that took place there......FUN! Till next time.

The Writer In Me

Oh My Gosh!!!! I have been gone for so long I don't even know where to begin. We are residing at a new address and are really enjoying it. I think I will just start anew for too much time has passed to start from there.

I missed my writing,
I really did;
My ideas and thoughts,
whirl in my head;
So many topics, so much to say,
to unburden my heart and brighten my day;
I almost felt postal,
no outlet I found;
I want to write,
be it light hearted or profound;
The ailments of my menopause,
I can handle with quite ease;
as long as I can express myself,
in my writing, if you please;
I am back with a vengence,
hope you readers will see;
this menopausel women,
loves the writer, within me;

Hello to everyone, know that Wayne and I are well and living a fun and fullfilling life....Till next time.

TGIF

I am so glad today is Friday.......the good ole weekend, here again. Wayne and I both seem to be pooped out. I slept till 8:00 this morning, which is highly unusual. I must admit I did a whole lotta nothin yesterday, but I just can't seem to get rested. I have been wanting Wayne to take another week of vacation.......I know he could really use the time off and I would enjoy him being home.

We went over to Traci's last night for grandson #3's birthday....that's our Kannon, three years old....doesn't seem like we have had him for 3 years already.

We stayed till a little after 8:00 and it was almost bedtime by the time we got home.......of course, Wayne napped in his chair as soon as he sat down. He was already heading for the bedroom by 9:30. He climbed right in and was OUT before I could even get in there. I had made a call to my cousin and talked with her for about 15 minutes before making my way in there. I had actually planned to watch a little more TV, just till I got drowsy, so I had turned it on before making my call....Just to find it off when I got in there. He has this thing about the TV going in the bedroom, Now, he can fall asleep in front of the TV in living room with no problem, but let me want to watch TV in the bedroom and he starts asking me to turn it down and acts like he can't get to sleep with it on.....go figure.

Not much else to talk about, maybe the weekend will bring some new exciting events that I can share with you. So I'll say, Till next time.

Man

A man with menopause,

Oh, give me a break;

Not one, of the many symptoms,

could he take;

Think of all the things,

A woman goes thru;

starting with those PERIODS,

and giving Life anew;

I have often said,

if man should have a child;

There would be, just that one,

and it would grow up WILD;

A man to HAVE and rear a child,

To this, I have my doubt;

They have no clue to what it takes,

or what it's all about;

The Cramps, the pain of giving birth,

Pains, they could not endure;

There would be no procreation,

their sex drive it would cure;

That's the thing with most men,

couldn't make it to menopause;

Here lies poor Joe, he died ya know,

His FIRST period, was the cause.

Rainy Day

I sit and drink my coffee,

I listen to the thunder;

The things I planned to do today,

may have to go asunder;

In pouring rain, is not the time,

you want to go outdoors;

All the mess that it will cause,

those wet and muddy floors;

Now, let me see, what can I do,

with time, to spend inside;

I'll wash the clothes and tidy up,

don't want to, I'll confide;

Clothes, they are a washing,

The bed, I've got it made;

Still want to do the things outside,

In bed, I wish I'd stayed;

I may just have to take the chance,

of getting myself soaked;

A little rain, never hurt no one,

No one has ever croaked;

I'll get up and I'll get dressed,

The rain, I hope, will stop soon;

If I get drenched, Oh, so what,

I'll be the creature from the black lagoon;

So, till next time, as I always say,

New things, will be on my mind;

I'll express them to you,

as best I can, with words, I like to find.

Hot Flashes And Stuff

Here we are, at Friday again. Our much needed rain must have went else where.....the sun seems to be out and bright this morning. I have stayed pretty much house bound the last couple of days. All the moving over last weekend I think finally caught up with me and I just seem to want to lax out on the couch. I did how ever get both my bathrooms cleaned yesterday and all laundry caught up the day before that. Trace and I have a Wally's trip planned for today.

I am still feeling a little drug out this morning. My nights of late are filled with countless awakenings and hot flashes that seem to be quite intense right now. I don't know if my hormones are out of whack or just what the problem is, but I get so sick of having sweat running down between and underneath my boobies....I know that sounds disgusting.....and IT IS! I will awake from a a very deep sleep, just to find that my body feels as if I just ran a 20 mile marathon.....sweat wise, that is. When does this stop???? It has been YEARS now......can't it just STOP!

I really looked forward to the time of no periods, the freedom, I thought I would have, but this all encompassing take over of my body at will is really worse than a monthly visit from the yoo hoo man. At least with it, it came pretty regularly and was gone in just a few days. My one big question is WHY do they have to come thru the night????, can't we get a reprieve for just 7 to 8 little hours. I have them thru the day also, but there is just something about night time that makes things seem so much more intense.

I went right to sleep, but just about an hour later, my eyes popped open, for no apparent reason. I fell back asleep and again, another hour had passed and there I lay with eyes open. I finally got up and took a pm pain reliever and the next thing I knew Wayne was getting up to go to work. That's the kind of sleep I like.....eyes shut and the next thing you know, IT'S MORNING!

I must tell you that I am quite the head case about pills.....I don't like them and usually refuse to take any, be it for HOT FLASHES or whatever these mounting years bring my way. I truly believe, less is more. The less pills I take the better I think I feel. There are just too many side effects to most medication. While trying to get rid of one symptom the pill brings on several worse side effects....why would anyone choose to do that? I am just making it thru, on my own accord. I'm not saying it's easy, but I don't think it would be any easier if I popped a pill. I did take a sleep aid and I take a pain reliever when needed, but all those other remedies for menopause symptoms, I feel are just hog wash......that may be why they would do no good for me. I believe the mind plays the biggest part in our health issues. If you believe something is going to help you, then it is more likely to. My lack of trust and believability in the ever mounting drugs Dr's want to give us, is probably why none will ever help me. You will find that I AM a head case about a lot of things. Till next time.

Grubby Old Woman

I looked in the mirror,

what did I see;

A grubby old woman,

starring back at me;

Hair all a mess,

bags under the eyes;

A haggard old woman,

I tell you no lies;

Who is this old crone,

looking ran over by a train;

I stare in her eyes,

do I know her name;

She is quite familiar,

tho, distorted and weird;

Someone, who's close to me,

OH NO!!!, I feared;

Maybe, some water,

to put on her face;

Will lessen the swelling,

and brighten her case;

Is Halloween near,

for it must be;

I'm scared to death,

for I know it's ME;

Moving Day

Moving Day, moving Day,

Oh what fun;

The packing, the boxes,

The aching back, to come;

Oh, the great excitement,

with everything so new;

All the work, that must be done,

Can't stop until we're thru;

Change can be so wonderful,

A breath of life renewed;

I love all new beginnings,

This poem could be construed;

It's not I, I write about,

Tho, I wish it were;

Almost my time, to change my scene,

On this we can concur;

I am eager, till it's my turn,

The boxes lay in wait;

Beloved possessions, in them go,

My moving day is fate;

There's no good byes, to what once was,

Can be no looking back;

They go amongst the things we store,

Our treasures, that we pack;

Until it's time to move ahead,

I watch my daughters joys;

Delight in all her new beginnings,

New home, with husband and boys.

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

You know the old saying.....UP AND AT UMMM, well, I am up ,but certainly not at um. I can't blame it on my night, cause I slept WONDERFULLY, deep and dreaming all night. I don't have any plans for my day as yet....I could do some house cleaning, my floors are a mess.

I've told you of my indecisive way of shopping, well, I had been thinking of buying a new car. This has been going on for a couple of weeks. First of all, I couldn't decide what kind of car I wanted. I finally narrowed it down to two, a Jeep Compass or a Chrysler Nitro. We looked and looked at several dealerships. Green was my choice of color for my new ride, so I was leaning toward the Compass. The Nitro didn't come in green. One was more fuel efficient, the other more power and FUN to drive.

I really LOVE Jeep products, I think they are well constructed, reliable vehicles. My Jeep is a 98 Cherokee Sport. It has been and still is a GREAT car. The only reason I was even looking at a new car was because mine had developed a couple of things that were driving me crazy and I couldn't seem to get my MECHANIC husband to look at for me. I have a belt that squalls when I first start it up.....I HATE THAT!!! The whole neighborhood can hear it. It just does it for a few seconds and then it is fine, but those few seconds are quite embarrassing. Next, is the hatch has a problem with it's hydraulics and won't stay up, now, this only happens in cold weather.....I have no problem with it in the summer time. So, you see, it is trivial little things.

I did get excited thinking about driving a NEW car, but I kept feeling very uneasy about it too. I know what I have in my Jeep. I can't say that in any new one I get, till I have it. I even got Traci and RB involved in my quest. Seems they have an old school buddy that just happens to work at a Chrysler dealership in Lampasses Texas. He worked and worked trying to find THE car for me. The determining factor was gonna be the monthly payment....which was THE BIG draw back on buying a new vehicle to begin with. I DO own my Jeep....no payment on it. I felt like I would really have to be IN LOVE with this new car to want to pay a payment on it for the next 5 years or more.

It got down to the wire..... credit had been approved, all he needed was my go ahead and the vehicle was gonna be put on a trailer and be delivered to my door, arriving this Friday. I just couldn't do it......the payment was more than I had agreed upon, but that wasn't the only reason.....I just got to thinking WHY in the world would I get rid of a vehicle that is mechanically sound and I do so LOVE. I mean, I kinda did the same thing back when I owned my 93 Jeep. I had driven it for years and decided I wanted a new vehicle so we went and got a new car.....sold my Jeep to my sister in law, cause again IT was mechanically sound.....I don't think I had that car for even a year and I wanted MY JEEP back. Wayne and I traveled all over the metroplex looking for me a Jeep. We found one and traded a 2000 model car for a 98 Jeep Cherokee Sport. I never regretted it for a moment.

I turned down the new car deal. Wayne has promised to give my beloved Jeep some attention and all is right with the world for me. Sometimes my indecisiveness works to my best interest. Till next time.

Learning Through Travel

Oh! My! Gosh! anything I have to say is going to be DULL in comparison to the controversial, face slapping, eye popping, topic of Traci's blog of yesterday. I stand behind her 100% and take great pride in the fact that maybe....just maybe, some of her independent, thought provoking, go against the grain way of thinking came from me. She puts into action what I just dare to think. I would have LOVED to home school....as a matter of fact, I did HOME SCHOOL to a point. The kids and I would go on nature walks most everyday.....seeing all kinds of plants, insects, animals for us to look at and discuss. We would come upon old houses and barns long since abandoned, but still having remnants of simpler times. We would see old medicine bottles, relic tools and other treasures of a by gone era. Hands on learning people is what that was. You have also heard of our family car trips.....well, there again, learning thru experience. Actually seeing places that most children just get to see in books. We have traveled to a lot of the 50 states. Our children have been to THE GRAND CANYON, PIKES PEAK, CARLSBAD CAVERNS, ROYAL GORGE, YELLOW STONE PARK, THE SMITHSONIAN, BATTLE GROUNDS, FAMOUS CEMETERIES, countless places. I assure you that they retained more of what their eyes looked upon and what their fingers touched than anything they would have read in a book. The very best part of it all is how we inner acted with each other. We learned more about each other on those trips and found out that we really LIKED each other's company. I love my children, but like them for the fun loving, good natured people that they are. You GO Trace.....I'm behind you all the way. The molding of a human being is the most important job on this planet....why would we think that strangers can do a better job than we can. We, who love these little people the most, surely can do a better job. Till next time.

ED U CAN"T SON

I have to snicker this morning after reading Traci's blog.....she is so dead on about me, now, as far as this school thing.....the verdict's still out on that. I totally agree with her about the Schools and their never ending ability to enrage her. I never liked School myself....not when I had to go, not when I had to send my kids. I think children ought to be left to be children.....more free time just to enjoy being young. When you look at the big scheme of things, is it really all that important to know when the Civil War started or how many States are in the union. I can assure you that when I reach the end of my life and death is coming to me, I'm not going to be thinking......WHO WAS THE 14Th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? I know that we have to learn to read and write and know basic Math skills and I guess, if your going to be an Nuclear Scientist your gonna need some extra schooling, but come on people most of what we learn in school is NOT retained. Countless hours spent sitting in a chair, wishing you were anywhere else on earth, but SCHOOL. I know there are those of you who are LEARN MONGERS and feel the more you can cram into a child's mind the better off they are.....Education is THE most important thing in life......does it really make a better person? Yeah, I know, they are better at answering trivia questions, but are they anymore caring or loving or CHRISTIAN simply because they had more schooling. I just don't understand all the hub bub over Education. It is really such a very minuscule part of becoming a good, solid, well rounded human being. I did my duty, went to school and graduated, then saw my children thru school. I wasn't the rebel that Traci's is, but if I wanted my kids to stay home and miss a day of school......THEY DID. I can remember when I was in about the 7TH or 8TH grade, every Tuesday, I would get up and go to school, but before lunch my Mom would come and get me out of school and we would go spend the day with my sister. I LOVED that day......looked forward to it every week. What I learned on those Tuesday afternoons did not come from a book.....I learned about love and family. Those days we shared are PRICELESS to me. Remember, my Mother worked full time and only had two days off. Her other day off was spent doing house cleaning, laundry and such, but that one day a week, we escaped together. The drugery of work and school forgotten for an afternoon. Life should be filled with moments like that. Education has it's place, but it shouldn't overshadow all the wonderful moments spent.....NOT IN A CLASSROOM. Till next time.

Jump Start Needed

Today I have an appointment to get my teeth cleaned....YAAAA HOOO...I would almost rather eat dirt. I DO NOT want to go, but feel it is a necessary evil, so I will. I don't have any other plans for my day.....maybe stop by Traci's, seeing how my Dentist is right over there by her. It looks to be a little over cast outside...could rain be on it's way??? I almost feel ashamed to want it to rain after the monsoons we had a few months ago and all the wanting it to JUST STOP RAINING ALREADY!!! Everything is getting pretty parched and trying to water it all is just a joke. It's not gonna rain tho, I can already see the sun peeping out, getting ready to scorch my lawn some more. One good thing about it.....that crappin grass doesn't grow very fast. I am going 2 and 3 weeks between mowing's now. I do try and keep the flower beds and trees thirst at bay with a little bit of hand watering. Seems that after all the flowing words of yesterday my mind is dry of thoughts. I'm not going to push it cause I know the words will come again. There will be something that sparks my ignition and I will get revved up and the thoughts will come so quickly that my fingers will constantly be trying to keep up, but for now I will say....till next time

Helping Those That Help Themselves

I got my day started off right. I didn't sit at this computer all morning.....I got myself dressed and out to Wally's before 8:30, hoping to beat the heat. I made a mad dash around the store, quickly checked out putting some cash on my Wally card to get mower gas. I was back home in a flash and headed for the back yard to get it mowed and looking nice.

The whole time I was mowing I was thinking about my yesterday's blog and how I must come off to some of you. I kept thinking....WHY am I so passionate and down right belligerent about those in our society that always seem to need help and those that are always there to make sure they do. I started thinking about it in a personal way.

I thought about my Dad, who was one that never held a job for any amount of time and throughout his entire life depended on others, be it his Mother before she passed, my Mom, other women that have no names or faces, a boyhood friend, who was always coming to his aid and last, but certainly not least my sister, who cared for him when old age and hard living had destroyed his health. I thought....if my grandmother ( his Mother) would have taught him self reliance and built his esteem to where he felt he could be self sufficient, could he have been the MAN that my Mom always wanted him to be. Instead she made sure that he stay dependant and unable to not only care for anyone else, but not even be able to care for himself. He died totally alone and I know he never felt sorrow for the way he conducted his life while he was living , but I wonder, in his last breathe, did he feel sorrow, was he remorseful that he had no relationships with his children and take responsibility that HE was the cause of it.

I had a total, eye opening, light bulb moment, in that, I could clearly see why my Mom could not stay married to him. It wasn't because of his inabilities, per say, it was she loved him enough to expect MORE from him, knew he could do better....not that he didn't do it, but rather that he chose not to do it and felt no remorse for his decisions. That's it in a nutshell. It is because I care so intently that those always seeking the help of others are doing nothing to gain self reliance or self worth. The worse they feel about themselves the more that has to be done for them. The Do Gooders, as I call them are doing the same thing to these people that my grandmother did to my Dad. I expect MORE from people, because I think they are worth it. It BURNS me up that they won't live up to the wonderful human beings that they could be. I questioned, when a woman is sitting in church and praying to God to help her, because she doesn't know where she is going to get the money to buy,...say......school supplies for her child. All the while she sits there knowing that she spent money on fake fingernails and that took president over her child's needs.....does she think that God is going to answer that prayer.... do YOU think he should????Do you think she should be helped by some charitable source? It's like the criminals that tell the outside world of their repentance, but God sees into their hearts and KNOWS the only thing they are sorry for is that they are in prison, with no thought of WHY they are there. Are they delusional to think that HE doesn't know the truth??? That they may as well say I DID IT!!!! and I don't care cause he sees what's in their hearts. I am the exact same way. I can forgive anything, if I know the person has true, heartfelt remorse and will try their hardest to do better, but to try and play on my sympathy and make me believe that they can do no better for themselves.....I will never buy. I DO expect people to carry their own loads. Be responsible enough to know that they created that load. It is they that should shoulder the heaviest burden of it. Then in dire time of need, one hands up....not hand out could come to their aid. We need to teach people to seek out their inner strength, stand on their own two feet, be responsible for their lives. That's the way God intended it to be. Till next time