Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year's EVE






Good bye to 2009.



Hello 2010.



Today was cold and rainy here in the valley. I didn't leave the ranch, despite having Windy here to help take care of Stan. Joan, the physical therapist, came this afternoon to put him through his paces. He did very well.



The threat of a snow shower is looming over the area. I don't know what the family is/are doing at their various domiciles for celebrating the end of a decade and the beginning of the next. But, the night is dark [no blue moon evident here. 30 for the low tonight].



I can remember the Green Parrot on a snowy New Year's Eve in 1968. I wore a black velvet dress with cap sleeves. The Green Parrot is an empty lot now and the dress is long gone (imagine that - I tossed it out sometime in the 1990's or early 2000's), but, I still have that piece of jewelry I got that night at midnight. [big emerald cut diamond ring set in platinum.]



Time to change the calendar.
I am looking back at some personal/important dates in this decade:

10-30-2000;

7-2-2001;

9-11-2001;

9-11-2005;

11-24-2005;

9-24-2006;

2-14-2007;

6-22-2007;

11-6-2009;

Some dates are memorable, some are forgettable -or I wish they had never happened. but they did and here we are...

Not looking back - always looking forward. That's my resolution for the year 2010!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Tuesday - 29th of December in the year of our Lord 2009


Another day in Paradise: the snow has stopped; the sun came out; the roads are now fairly clear. These are BIG things in my life, these days, because they mean I am mobile. If I have the help of Sandy and Linda, I mean.

Saturday Dad and I watched Night in the Mueseum 2-- Battle in the Smithsonian. Funny.

Sunday or sinday, as I mistyped it first, I returned the toy that didn't work (to WM) and I grabbed a couple pounds of ground round to make some meat dinners. [I miss protein, and we eat a lot of fish. I hate vegetables - i imagine because I don't season them properly.]

We watched Star Trek and imagined William Shatner as the young Kirk. Leonard Nimoy had a cameo part, but i missed the real Scotty and loved the new Uhura - but hated the love angle with Spoc.


Yesterday is really a blur. I got Dad a couple of long-sleeved t-shirts for Christmas at Jacques Penna~s. We ate red meat. We did stay up late and watch a movie and laugh [Major Pain]


Karen the physical therapist visited today. Her mission was to get Dad up on the side of the bed and let him do bendover exercises. He didn't want to; he's been so stiff and generally non-responsive to most cajoling; however, he did and now (at 4:30pm) he's sleeping.


I've been threatening to get my hair cut before I go back to school on Monday. Tomorrow is my last chance (I figure) because I will have to stay home (I've been to wally world and Krogee's often since the thaw) and get some work done soon.

I enjoyed listening to the Comedy CD Tracy and Keith got me for Christmas; I drove around with the heat on the seat ;+) and listened - shocked somewhat by what passes for comedy in the elite places of the world [I get my culture from TV, random video discs, and NPR - when I get the chance.] But, it WAS funny, and I laughed; and I listend over again...


I've talked to Cousin Susie and Cousin Leah, and Cousin Sandy - Eddie's cousin- and Nephew Joey ... I've waited by the mailbox to get info. Not much happening there.


So, it's time to get out the new lamp I bought. I don't change overhead bulbs at all -- and they all seem to blow out at once. Therefore, I need lamps - I can reach burned out bulbs in lamps. [Any excuse of a new piece of furniture.]

You see the picure I post is a clue to the kind of lamp I bought. See if you can figure it out.

Happy New Year, too.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Finally, I learned how

The Blizzard of December 2009









Hello again,

This is the most posting I have done in ages.


Well, I finally learned how to upload my 500 or so images (from my camera to the computer) so, lookout world! I plan to show and tell a lot!


Now if I can just get these pictures of the Blizzard of 2009 to show up in an orderly fashion.


This is the new deck at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning - and it is STILL snowing.



The second picture is a view of the ramp to the left of the front deck and the snow has drifted a little under theeve at the base of the picture window.

But there's more.







The trees are in Mr. Vance's backyard as seen from the back porch of our house. Still snowing...





Let's see what else caught my eye:






This is our truck at the edge of the patio. I didn't even try to dig it out Saturday. I waited until 11 am on Sunday to attempt the snow removal. Look how far I got by 4 PM before Bill came the first time.














Today, Linda parked her truck on the basement door side of the patio - in 15 inch leftover snow.

And she shoveld the mailbox out from the snowplow piles. And she and her grandson, Caleb, built and dressed Ms. Snowperson.
And tomorrow I go back to work, and tomorrow we are expecting a skift of snow... to be followed by rain on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas.






Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sunday night - Tomorrow is a SNOW DAY


Hello again folks,

I know I've been spending my two snowstorm days on FACEBOOK - updating every two hours as I battle the 15 inches of snow in the driveway on the patio and on the steps. Just trying to communicate with the outside world and let some one know I'm still upright. But, as I succumb to the aches and pains of snow shovelling and, of course, old age, I will share with only blog readers - who probably know me best ;)

Bill did come down with the snow blower this afternoon at 4 and I thought - we are going to get this driveway cleared finally - hurrah.... But, evidently as I slathered Aspercreme on my joints, Bill's snow blower met with difficulty - he got one track up the blacktop, with many missteps, and pushed his machine back down the hill and into his truck and was gone, before I could get out there for my 5 o'clock shovelling detail....

I took the shovel as a walking stick to the newspaper box (I can't get to the mail box - snowplow put 5 feet of snow in front of it.) and realized what a foolish thing when I almost fell - picturing me freezing to death down there at dusk, because you know I can't get up off the floor, let alone get up from a slippery surface. There. Now I've vented. I am careful; but I am ashamed that I can't do what I've always done. I cleared that driveway last year and the year before a couple of times (and Bill helped, too, occasionally.)

I called Linda and told her hubby to tell her not to come tomorrow... I don't have a place for her to park and Taylor county has finally called for a snow day. Yippee.... She is Christmas shopping. I'm making a list, but I don't foresee going out for several days - unless I get hold of Jeff. Which reminds me, I should call him tonight..... most problems can be solved if there is enough time and or money.

So enough of my whine... labels for this post should read: Rants, Whines and other TMI stuff.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

God is smarter than the school board.



Dearest Readers,


It's been snowing since shortly after dark on Friday night, here in north-central West Virginia. This morning, around 8AM, the deck sports at least 10 inches of non-blowing slightly wet frozen precipitation. We were warned, but I didn't brave the crowds at Kroger's last night on my way home from school.


Never fear, we have a tenderloin just waiting to be fixed; pepperoni and frozen bread; lots of sliced bread for grilled cheese and soup; fresh golden cauliflower; miscellaneous cans of beans, fruit, and packages of cornbread mix; and eggs - glorious eggs (and potatoes).


I'll have to search to find the chocolate for drinking, but the coffee will hold out until Christmas...


This puts the end to my plans for Christmas shopping. But I am constantly reassured that "it doesn't matter" - it only matters to the children who can't figure out how to play with money... and to adults who say money doesn't take the place of thoughtfulness.


The weather does make me wonder if I will see any family for Christmas besides Daddy. The last time we had 24 inches of snow we were home for a week (I lived at Park Blvd and Daddy was in California. I dug the car out of the snow with a cooking pot, because I didn't have a snow shovel at the time. This must have been in March or April or perhaps December of 2004 - I remember everyone was isolated in their far-distant homes -- Grandma and Grandpa too.)


If the roads are still snowcoverd and icy, we will have no school [fingers crossed] on the Monday and Tuesday that KIDS have to report in most counties around here. The school boards should have foreseen that no one wanted to be in classes the days before the holiday! The roads may be clear for us teachers to go to work on Wednesday - do you think?! I think this is a no brainer! All those little kids praying for no school and snow for Christmas... powerful. And smarter than the school boards!


Windy called to see if she could get here today, if our road was plowed. I have seen trucks go down the road, no plows. Our driveway is impassible. I did not sweep nor did I shovel. Now it's too late. Charleston WV has 11 inches according to the weather channel. And it's still snowing here. On the good side, it's not too cold - only about 28 degrees. And we have electricity - or I would go bonkers with no tv, no computer solitaire, no Christmas caroles on the radio.


So - God is on our side. This is the Christmas Present I can really use. And it doesn't cost money: Rest and Peace.


Merry Christmas to you all. And hugs all around.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Too few shoppping days til Christmas


Greetings family and readers.

I was made appropriately aware that there are too few days (shopping or otherwise) until Christmas.

Time - like the days of our lives - runs out -- like sand through the hourglass.

For an English major, that is a trite expression, but I've been using the social studies part of my education for so long, I can barely remember English... Just ask my students... spelling has gone to heck, personal reading is non existent, this blog is as close to (P) (O) (E) (M) as I have been in a long time. But I digress.

How do I KNOW that time is running out, you say.

First, Blanca Skaggs' neice, Grecia, stopped by yesterday to thank me for letting her sit in my 7th grade class for a couple of weeks at the beginning of school to brush up on her English.

She is about 19 and speaks English very well, but she wanted to hear the language and try to figure out how we speak with our accent (I'm guessing - there are very few interesting activities for her at the middle level, but she did/does have an active social life with the daughters of teachers who live in the area. Grecia is from Venezuela. Her Aunt, Blanca, told me she would be happy to take Joey to Venezuela next time she goes home so he could live with her family for 6 weeks and have the total immersion experience in the Venezuelan Spanish language. They are very nice people.

But back to my rant: Grecia brought me a gift - chocolate. (Thank you) Now, is the season for thinking of others. I have one week left to get Santa giftee thingees for my friends at school and cards. Grecia has gone back home - she left this morning (Saturday).

Second, I created my "something to look forward to" calendar at school. Something is the Christmas break. Kids are wired already - asking for movies instead of classwork: Polar Express, A Christmas Story - with Ralphie and the b-b gun, my favorite short video "Our favorite toys" by the History channel, etc.
Along those lines, Linda and Sandy are going to their family Christmas dinner today (Saturday) and of course, they are cooking and baking and whatever it takes gifting. And they are ready (done shopping for this event) and it will happen.

Third, I noticed teachers are taking a day off from work to get their own personal shopping started/completed during the DAYLIGHT hours. [I, on the one hand, have only the time between 3:30 and 5 oclock daily minus drive time, to do anything other than work. I don't plan to do much and I have no energy to do regular life stuff - let alone celebration stuff, but I want to - I used to be able to, now I have to hire help, involve someone else and hope that I can get it together and don't miss that window of opportunity that I have right then.] Don't worry, I can stop by Rite Aid and CVS for the "special" presents...
So, I should take a day off from the job. And maybe I will... after I go back to bed and take a nap.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

12:25pm on Saturday in December in the Valley


Hello again,

I'm takin' a break from cleaning out stuff, packing pills, washing laundry, and making lil'smokie rolls on this wintry da'.

There are 3 -count 'em - three inches of heavy wet snow on the ground here in West, by God, Virginia [in the area called Mountaineer country - by the advertisers]. Every city in the area has temperatures around 33 degrees and snow.

You'd think (from the weather channel coverage) that we have never experienced snow before.... hahahahah

L8tr people...

Ok so I made a mistake - I can't get rid of Happy Thanksgivng blinking gif







Yes, dear family and friends, I cannot get rid of that darn blinking gif in the heading of my blog. Oh, woe is me. Too much time it takes (said Yoda) to figure out the thing.




On the othr hand, it is SNOWING here in the valley (at 9:30 am on Saturday) just a bit of snow about an inch by now on the deck - but not the road I think.

Friday, November 27, 2009

just what i'm looking for...









The Day AFTER...


Greetings family and friends,

A little snow flurries are predicted on the weather shows, but so far - not much here in the valley. I've decided to choose the print I can read w/o my glasses. Does it bother you? These postings will be short, I promise.

We've spent the day eating: breakfast takes a while... then it's time for lunch - which I have to figure out from the frozen food I bought last week... tonight we will feast on little smokies while we watch WVU beat the hell out of Pitt at 7 on ESPN2 and cabbage.

Barbara told me to look for some stuff in the files to expedite the estate settlement, I did, I found it; and so we are on our way to settlement... in February I imagine. These things can take up to a year; but, I don't anticipate that.
I found a picture of a cute smaller house on line. I'd like to see inside it. I wonder if any of you recognize the location... It's a mystery you can solve if you have good skills ... hehehe.
If I can get it to post on this page, I'll send it up; if not, I'll make it anouther post by itself ( and it will be another mystery unless you've read this post. hehhehe)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Greetings family and friends,

Happy Holiday and Count Your Blessings Day! This has been a busy week (and it's only Thursday.)


First, I am thankful that my children and grand children came to visit on Monday of this week! I couldn't have wished for a more pleasant surprise than to see both daughters, et al. (I knew Trisha was coming - but, I hadn't planned to see Tracy until after all the hoopla was over this week. Much better this way however!) Had my DEXscan, too, and everything looks ok - results later...

Delia was the major architect of our Walls' Christmas tree which is sitting in front of the picture window now - just right for celebrating any holiday in style!

Zoey is as curious as a kitten and into LETTERS - recognizing and repeating their names! She's walking all over; she's just tall enough to reach into the tall kitchen garbage can to retrieve interesting straws...- gotta get a lid on that pretty soon! (If I can get out of the house on Saturday, I'll try to get a pack n play so she can entertain herslf and take a nap when needed.)


And of course, there was the obligatory stringing of the lights outside on the deck and along the handrail. And thanks to Keith and Tracy, we now have TWO holiday deer, lighting up the front lawn to show Santa where to graze his herd.


I, for one, am thankful that Barbara and Ed came to WV to help get the paperwork started on all this legal work that has to be done before the end of February. We went to the courthouse on Tuesday (where I forgot my photo ID - and that's another reason I'm thankful for good friends - Jan Warner Bozarth went out of her way to get me the message I left it there and get it back to me.) And on Wednesdy, we went to the BANK to get accounts closed and opened - and to FBW, then to the Post Office... business, business, monkey business.


Daddy and I met the new occupational therapist, Joe, who has shown us some new tricks to keep Dad movin' and groovin', and who gave us some ideas for getting him out of the house to dr appointments related to his hand.

I met the new physical therapist, Karen, who will be visiting at least two times a week to help Dad with his Ninja skills - she brought a big stick that seems to be a good part of his action hero practice.

Sandy and Linda have been big supporters. They have their own family gatherings today but they were here Monday and Tuesday to cheer up the place and give me time to go grocery shopping, get monkey business done, and check the mail. And I'm thankful that Kim Sandy called me to offer to come and help me get out of the house to go Christmas shopping etc. this weekend. I'm gonna call her [smiley face insert here]

Of the many little and BIG rituals that come to mind at this time of year, we, here in the valley, enjoy seeing the smiling faces of our families -- close and far away. So, post those dinner pictures! I'm sure there will be a variety of settings, food choices and new rituals that each and every family group can show us.

I'm going to try to post a picture that Jerry Hovatter sent us yesterday, which I thought expressed the "new" way we can look at these holiday rituals - like holiday lighting, for example: [see photo]

I call it WV Christmas...

Hope you all enjoy a very restful Thanksgiving. I know we will! Love ya all!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Friday the 13th in November


Greetings Gentle Readers,

As you all know - the last two weeks have been a series of a life changing circumstances beyond anyone's control.

All I did was try to hang on.

You all did marvelously. Thank you for your patience.

Today, Friday the 13th - the dishwasher finally stopped spraying water on the dishes in its care, so Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ed and I went shopping for a new one. Needless to say, but I will, we shopped several places, talked to several salespeople and finally:

We purchased a dishwasher from SEARS and it will arrive in town on the 17th of November, to be installed sometime after that.

On a personal note: the Rhumatologist visit worked out fine - I have a DEXscan on Monday 11-23. This will not interfere with anyone's plan to help clean up some of this space I live in ;-) Furthermore, Aunt Barb and Uncle Ed will be here that evening, but will help with paperwork on Tuesday and Wednesday.

So you can see, we are getting back into a routine: Daddy had fish for dinner and now we are waiting for the WVU - Cinncinati game @ 7:30, not 6:00 as advertized....

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Thursday night - no snow ;+) tomorrow in the 60's


From weather forecasts to geographic information -- the world is FULL of interesting stuff: personally, Grandma is doing better than expected, Daddy is resting and getting ready to sleep the night away, and I, who have just consumed a huge slice of pumpkin pie, am settling down to sleep - knowing I won't go to school again tomorrow. This is not the most blog worthy materila, but I don't think its stuff to post on facebook either....

here goes my blog attempt anyway...
The photo is the Ethiopian Rift in the heart of EAST Africa soon (10k to 100 thousand years) to open and create another Ocean in the midst of the desert... I love stories like this in the news. Much preferred over shootings and murders followed by Fox News in such great detail. I saw not one main news agency report this sort of interesting science/geography story except the internet and of course, aol.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

No news is good news; we have some sad news...


It's Halloween, which is usually a fun and games types of Autumn day and night. However, for the Walls clan, there is sad news.

Aunt Gertrude passed away this morning at here home in Independence. She was ninety. The family had had a party for her earlier this summer, as I recall. Gertrude was Grandpa Howard's other sister. (Juanita, Aunt Neat-ce, died in the 1970's.)

There was little known about the arrangements this afternoon.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world." Buddha >|<


Just another day in the Valley. NOT. The season has changed appreciably - there is coolness in the night air. Dampness, too. The grass has been leveled. It's dark and shiny with rain. It's time to replace the outdoor light bulbs...
It's Friday. My three lives are going strong. Yes, I say: Strong!
Stan is in a good mood. He's having shrimp for dinner. Grandma is enjoying her stuffed green pepper. I am munching Oreo cookies and coffee (having partaken of a classic Burger King sammy and fries earlier this afternoon as I waited for the bank to cash the "girls'" paychecks.
Today was Denim Day: the wearer can donate 5 dollars and wear jeans (to support breast cancer awareness) and I did; so did my student teacher, whose appearance drew comments from his female students like: Is this dress-down day?
Last night must have been the FULL MOON because my 8th period class was unbelievable! They were so BAD. I'm dividing them for the next 10 days - I thought about dividing heads from bodies, then decided to just separate the bodies...
I heard that MaryAnn Merrifield is retiring at the end of this year. She'll be in Hilton Head by next Christmas... if all goes well... Cousin Susie is dealing with Life As We Know It on Boggy Creek (developers moving in to destroy LAWKI and she wants to fight them, but Hell - she's 7 years older than I am (old) so she leaves the meeting-bitching and fighting to someone else...) and I love to get her letters and read them to Grandma.
I still have to RSVP Aunt Donna and Stanley and get a 90th BD card for Uncle Ed -before the 20th of October. But before I write to them, I read the blogs and smile, laugh out loud and wish I could see you (gentle readers) every day.
We are eleven days into Autumn and about 80 days til Winter. Time to get the catalogues out and shop for comfort clothing. Or maybe I'll just go to Wally World and buy the usual, until the urge to shop goes away again... till next pay day...

Monday, September 7, 2009

Rainy Days and Holidays-all the news that's fit to PRINT


,





Greetings gentle readers,




It's another day in the valley, at the ranch, or beside the lawn [which reminds me of FOREST LAWN, not a happy association]. Forest Lawn aside, the day is unfolding in its usual manner: a 24 hour NCIS marathon on USA channel 29, the Jerry Lewis telethone on WBOY, and the rain falling consistently in the world outside our door.




I bought another printer yesterday at Staples - wifi, energy star rating (no tax) with independent ink cartridges - so I can replace just one if I need to. Ink was 88 bucks (just a tad bit more than th ink for my deskjet 6540 - 66 bucks...) MOney just grows on trees around here, ya know. But, this acquisition will allow me to work on the computer in the living room or Stan's room at night and keep the printer away from the living space (and I won't have to move it every time I move.)



Now I'm going to pay bills at the desk in the bedroom.



It's close to 11:00 and I imagine Uncle Ed and Mary will be here in an hour or so... I'll catch you all up on the news this evening.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Monday - the first day of a 5 day week at school


I went with Grandma Freda to the ER last night right after dark. I rode in the Emergency car. She was holding her head repeating "I'm sick." Linda followed after us later, in her car. She called Sandy to stay the night with Daddy.


Linda stayed with us all night.


Kim called off this morning, she hurt her back helping her husband build the shed for their outdoor equipment. Brenda thought she didn't have to work today. At around 9am, I called her to come in and she got there around 10 ish, so Sandy could come and pick me up and then go home. I showered picked up a few things and got back here in time to see Dr. Woofter. Linda will be back to stay over at 9 til I get here tomorrow morning. I will miss another day of school. I need to call school right now to get intouch with my "team" about tomorrow.


Grandma is sleeping. Not eating or drinking much - will have iv fluids, her mastoid bones checked by an ENT, her pacer checked and a finger stick every day for coumadin. Grandma was right about the torture chamber being on the 4th floor. I'll tell you more later.

Friday, August 21, 2009

August 20 - My first day back in 2009-2010


He ho he ho, it's off to work I go...

I rearranged my entire room today. I reassembled 3 computers and cleaned a plethora of surface dirt off everything. (that's the sound of my hand slapping my own back.)

Tomorrow -Saturday - I will get my roster out and make my roll and absence lists.


to do list: school stuff and home stuf and shopping. I hope the Bayer holds out.

Wisgh me luck.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of Nixon's resignation


Reminiscence: I remember 1974, August, 8th - oh, what a night ;-). Our near midnight delivery at UHC. I know she was born before midnight! But I didn't wake up until early next morning and get to hold her. Doctor Mamoodian had been ok with no drugs for pain, but the girls in delivery didn't get the message... and I got knock out gas.

Dad and I had discussed names and decided to give her a name that didn't remind me of students I had had in class these past 4 years - Tracy was an easy choice - no one had it yet and it meant "strong" -Suzanne was not as easy since I had a Susanne - but it fit ;-)

That night Nixon was on the verge of resignation. (But I didn't know that until after our drama was completed.) It was a hot summer. Dad and I were going to bring her back to a one bedroom 1st floor apartment in Hartland with iffy electric in the bathroom and a galley kitchen.

Happy Birthday, Tracy Suzanne.


This past week has been full of interesting guests and activities: Wednesday Grandma got a visit from her brother (Uncle Stanley and Aunt Donna from Vero Beach, Fl.) They had a nice visit and Uncle Stanley talked a blue streak about what they have been up to - travelling up north here... what their son and daughter are doing in Fla. Donna's volunteering at church to sew; she's working one day a week at the local hospital They brought us good news that Uncle Ed is doing well, but his family is not encouraging him to drive to C-burg alone. Harriet came with him the last time so maybe someone will accompany him when he gets the itch to travel.

Thursday and Friday our neighbors (Doug and Sally) had a household sale on the Boulevard for the remnants of Mrs. Rogers' things. Sally showed me some interesting items: a gasoline powered iron (circa 1930-?) complete with instruction book and original box...used by someone as evidenced by the scorch marks on the side of the iron...; a camelback trunk with a big lock mechanism and square wooden nails on the carved lid; a little spinning wheel and a wool wheel; there were other trunks, but none as nice as the camelback; an armless rocker; remnants of depression glassware; some Ravenswood pottery that reminded me of McNicol; a blue ball gown sewn especially for Isabell (Mary) in England when her husband was a pilot in the air force during WW2; wool suits sewn for Isabell while she was in England; 2 sets of leather lederhosen from Germany. She had an interesting life. Doug and Sally sent a box of her things - her nursing pin and cap, etc - to Jeffery. Jeffery said his Dad Ray didn't have the money for the shipping, but he (Jeff) would pay for it.

Friday - Barbara flew to CA to meet Ed and drive to Yellowstone. (Tonight they are in Twin Falls Idaho.)

Saturday - today - I helped celebrate Jean's 85th birthday by eating lunch at Eat n Park with her and Joy. She was born August 7. Her sister is living in Arkansas now - they were from Oklahoma in the old days...

Monday, July 20, 2009

Cool, cool, Monday - July - mid way til Labor Day




Good evening gentle readers.


It's another rainy Monday. Yes, we are still here, if anyone asks.


The first image I saw this morning: the cat caught a bird (found its remains on the back porch this morning.) Now I have renamed her "Killer" and she will stay outside until she gets rid of the remains in her tummy.




Forty years ago tonight we saw the men walk on the moon. Stan and I were lying on the floor (there was no carpet on the floor at that time) in front of the TV in this very house. Mom and Dad had gone to bed. It must have been after 10 o'clock. We heard Walter Cronkite repeat: "One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Or, at least, that's what I thought we heard... Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and who was the pilot of the circling craft?




Thirty-one years ago, I was in United Hospital giving birth to my second child. It was supposed to be a "natural" event... no drugs. By the time she arrived, we had quite a cheering section: the nursing class from Alderson Broaddus College waited to see her born - their shift ended sometime around 11pm. The official date is July 21, 1978 so I'm guessing she arrived after midnight on the 21st (or I have the day confused ;-) and all this happened 31 years ago tomorrow and she arrived just before midnight...)




I made it to my Dr's appointment in Salem and tomorrow I have a fasting blood draw: thank God for insurance. She made several suggestions and all of them involve more tests - I got some x-rays of my knees and ankle and we are going to see if this pain has a name...


If the pain goes away with movement-stretching or activity, it is not rheumatoid. blood tests will help nail the name we will be treating.




Norma will be coming tomorrow around 11 or so for a visit -


Brenda is in the hospital with an angina scare (over night) so Linda and Sandy will work three days day shift instead of two this week.


Kim came to work today and brought Emmie, her little girl. We were glad to see them. Emmie and Delia played together last Friday, too.




Stanley stayed in bed all day [I didn't get him into the "electric chair" or out of the house - due to my Dr's appointment] and now he's not too engaged - he's watching NCIS and Linda is frying zucchini that Bill Kerzak brought over today for supper - too bad I have a fasting blood test tomorrow morning...






Wednesday, July 15, 2009

July 15 - payday - one month to the Anniversary - and who knew we would be doing this!?


Welcome back gentle readers...

It has been a fabulous day, here in the valley: First, the sun is /was shining in a bright blue sky w/ fluffy but none too numerous clouds. The hum didity was nonexistent and the wind light and variable along with the temperature [near ninety.]

Then, the ladies that help on Wednesday showed up - no excuses.

Next, I escaped to the market and to the bank, and the boulevard to check my mail, and just generally walked around the mercantile world looking for yard gnomes to place atop the lights beside the front door ( a picture should be placed here for those of you with no clue for what I am looking. )

Grandpa Stan [Daddy to some of you] has been in training to get back into the electric chair [power chair to those of you in the physical therapy business] and we will have one more day of PT on Friday to get this done. I've cut his happy pill in half to give him some desire to be part of the action and I hope it works.

Grandma Freda [Great grandma to some of you] is enjoying the attentions of her care workers and the phone call from Marg, who remembers all the fun they had with the husbands playing cards, eating popcorn and just hanging out. She said she remembered that I made brownies... who knew I baked at one time???
A mysterious knock on the door and a "Howdy Miss Freda" led us straight to Bill Kerzak whio brought Mom some snap sugar peas and blue lake greenbeans straight from his garden. Bill told me how to fix them to eat with out cookin' em. And told us about Frances and the trouble walking w/o her cane. She can't do the steps or she would be here to visit. He's been working w/ a friend to put down a floor. We are all getting too creaky to do much of that kind of work ;-)

The Fiery Red petunias on the deck are in dire need of water - two straight days of low humidity.

The Chrysler Garage fixed the LHS (power steering pressure hose and return hose) to the tune of **$%^&*#@# - but after research with a knowledgeable fellow - Linda's husband, I discovered that the repair is very difficult on LHS because the works are hard to get to - ergo the gigantic-enormous bill.

I'm going to Charleston tomorrow to be informed about retirement. Richard is driving and Pam and Val maybe coming along. I'm looking forward to it. We are also going to the State History Museum.

Monday, July 6, 2009

July 6, 2009 Sunny fluffy clouds Monday



Greeting fair readers wherever you are.



Last night I took pictures of the moon from the deck. Some one has set the camera for flash - I'll have to get the book out to find out how to set it for time and nighttime pictures ;-) But I stil don't know how to get the pictures off the camera into the computer - duh... so, this photo will have to do.


Good news: Daddy went out on the deck today and I cut some of his hair. I wouldn't call it a hair cut, just a trim. But it was warm and sunny (we slathered on the sun screen and sat in the shade - or we would not have been able to stay our for two hours!) :) We drank lemonade. We made jokes. I trimmed his fingernails and we squinted at the sun. Got lots of vitamin D today.





Good news 2: Jeff, our grass cutter, and his family came by today and took care of the acres of grass and clover that cover the estate. He's been busy putting in a new kitchen for a retired nurse, but he'll be back to help us [with the boardwalk, gates and maybe a deck out back???? ]





Note to self -- (I have to figure if we have the money for such an extravagant project before I set to doing anything about it. I would also like to paint inside and CLEAN... help does not seem to be at hand however. When I get my youthful strength and wisdom back - oh, I know that's a faint hope , I can do it my self!)





He said he would do the job of weatherizing the deck, but we don't need to do it this year. He will power wash it and prepare it for the stain and all when we decide to do it - maybe in the spring - we'll need about a week of good weather...





Good news 3: Joy called. She and Jean are coming to visit me on Friday - the 10th - for lunch their treat ;-)





Health nurses will visit tomorrow to check the coumadin levels of Grandma and Daddy. The PT lady's last day is tomorrow. Unless I can figure out how to keep her coming...

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Sunday, July 5, 2009 - A BEAUTIFUL Day in the Valley


You guys don't know what you are missing.
The air was cooler today(about 70) the sun was muted but shining.

It is a typical Sunday in the valley.
Flowers fragrant on the deck. Sunday newspaper. Sleeping later than usual.
On the way to retrieve the paper, I discovered the remains of the chipmunk, who thought living in the patio drain was a good idea. Wrong! His tail and entrails tell the story. Kitty has been sleepin somewhere in the house most of the day... the balance of nature at work.

Daddy and I watched Oceans 12 after breakfast. Windy took good care of Grandma while I went for a drive to get Daddy Taco Bell and Grandma butterfly shrimp @ the fabulous seafood in the mountains shop : LJS.

I've printed several pictures today: Barb n Ed in the wine country; Ronin and Zoey, etc. Please post more so I can share them!!!!!

Linda is fixin Grandma's supper, and I have to quit this missive to get Daddy's ready.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

July 2, 2009 Rainy day -- again!


If this is Thursday, this must be Paris...
Today I will recount only the successes.Tracy (the physical therapist) and I got Daddy out onto the deck in his rolling chair. Yippie! and Horray for us.
The temperature never rose above 64 degrees today, but it was quite comfortable (although a tad bit wet). He did his therapy on the deck wrapped in sheets (the wind was breezy) and when the sun shines I'll bring out the cowboy hat we got in Yellowstone. I'm sure he's like his Tony Llama boots too.

The table looks good for checkers.

The ramp needs a little whittlin' at the top. There's a little bump, but it's big if you are pulling a wheelchair. And, I want Jeff to finish the boardwalk around the house with a platform at the bottom of the ramp so we can turn if we want to...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

July 1, 2009


Wednesday - a new month. a new year in the insurance business.

It rained in C-burg today.
I went to Mo-town.
I also did business w/ the accountant, the drs' assistant, and thought about acquiring more office stuff, but I already have enuff stuff, just need to use the space better...
Dee has a new kitten named Jack (the mitten kitten)
All's well in Mo-town.
I have a new bog to follow; but I don't know the author...
too hot in here after the rain - need ac.
gotta go now.
Love, Yo Mamma

Friday, June 26, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009 - A sunny shopping day



Instead of my usual boring recitation, today I shall include the contents of an e-mail I got from a friend...

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:


Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. H ence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.


Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..


Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs.


There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.


The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor.


The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.


(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)


In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. T hey would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold ov ernight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old...


Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..


Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.


Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.


Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.


England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night the graveyard shift to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell, or was considered a dead ringer.


And that's the truth....
Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! ! Educate someone.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009



What is it about beautiful weather that demands I write about it?


Today is Wednesday - powerball night - I forgot. I guess I'll never be the millionaire.


I am looking for a project to keep me occupied. /Flower growing - potting is going slowly. I should take some pictures of the deck to show you - looks like Lowes garden spot ;-)

Anything is better than the "work" I have weighing on my feeble mind. the accountant's bill, I need the advice of an accountant... the guys who did Mom's taxes, not just a random accountant... The doctor's appointment I must make.. not any Dr. but a specific one. aughhhh

work: the retirement board phone call. double aughhhh.

The weather is looking better and better.

Dr. Isha is going on maternity leave to have her daughter who is over due.

Random thoughts from jack Handy are lookin good to me too right now. Who has a book of quotes I can borrow?

Tomorrow is Thursday - I need a new photo for the header - some one send me one please.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

If this is Tuesday, this must be Istanbul...

Hey, y'all. The sun was shining today. And then, it rained.
But we are all well [read that dry and well fed]
Nothing to report. I just wanted to change the photo at the top of this bog [to something summery.
Post to y' later.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

FYI: Addendum - Fiesta Sale June 25, 26, 27


JUNE TENT SALE!
The Homer Laughlin China Retail Outlet Tent Sale will be
JUNE 25th, 26th and 27th.
20% Off First Quality Fiesta® and Accessories

Retail Outlet will be closed JUNE 24th and 28th!
NO BULK SALES!

Warehouse Sale Rules and Regulations:

1. Tickets will be given out each morning of the sale beginning at 7 AM.

2. Each person must be present to receive a ticket. No one under 16 permitted in warehouse/tent.

3. Customers will line up according to ticket number.

4. The sale will start at 10:00AM and run till 7:00PM each day of the sale.

5. The gate will be closed at 6:30 PM to allow us to get everyone checked out.

6. You must stay in line until you receive a ticket and be in line when your number is called.(We have port-a-johns and a concession stand you can visit after you receive your ticket.)

7. We ask you to bring your own dollies. Retail Outlet dollies will not be available during the tent sale.

8. Once you have checked out you must go to the back of the line and receive another ticket.

9. If you are not in line when your number is called you will be passed over and must go to the back of the line.10. We will be closed the day before (JUNE 24th) and the day after (JUNE 28th) the tent sale.
NO ONE WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE SALE WITHOUT A TICKET!

NO OVER SIZED DOLLIES OR WAGONS WILL BE PERMITTED IN WAREHOUSE/TENT.

WE HAVE PUT THESE RULES IN EFFECT FOR THE GOOD OF EVERYONE.

Thank You, The Management
Now available!75th AnniversaryPlatter in Fiesta® Marigold
Fiesta® Marigold Baking Bowls will be retired as of 09/01/2009.
Fiesta® Ivory seconds will be available for the first time

Yes, it's really June 10, 2009

I can't believe I kept writing June 10Th on all the checks I wrote Monday and Tuesday... I am wishing my life away...

The weather is soggy. If air conditioning goes bad, I am in trouble. I hate the sog...

This is my first day of summer vacation: I sold it for @ $125, before taxes, and went to meetings at GHS. And the same tomorrow. One of the door prizes (today) was a Fiesta Tea pot - the big one, in pink. I covet it. But I know I don't need it, nor do I have a place for it. And the teacher who got it is a friend of mine. She could use some cheering up. Her husband died this past April 2009 of an infected tooth. Cheery bog tonight...not!

Also, I could hardly keep awake during meetings today. I know it's time to do something else with my time here on the planet. I have a to do list: I won't bore you with it tonight, but Charleston and the social security office are on it. Can I live on 50% of my working income? I have to see what the real numbers are.

Stan is tired. Too tired, I think. Hard to wake up in the morning; too tired to raise his hands for most things... He's a paraplegic now; but not yet a quadriplegic - he still feeds himself. He asks for "dill pickles" often - it's a joke we have - since pickles and pills have similar face movements. He gets pickles, hot sauce, mayonnaise and anything else he asks for if I can buy it.

We haven't been on the deck yet. It's been a week. Too rainy and I'm not sure I can get him through the hall and over the threshold. The threshold is a bump I think I can take out, I just haven't, yet. It's stil rainy out there most evenings anyway.

We haven't many visitors ever. It's like we live on the outer ring of the solar system. Jerry and Ruby are the last people who actually talked to Stan and me (in the kitchen) for more that 3 minutes. Stan doesn't seem to want to come out of the room, or maybe he feels it's
too much trouble" - who knows - I can't get into discussion/arguments over that - there's too much effort involved in trying to communicate "why and why not".

Well... that's the top of my mind tonight. For good or ill, that's what I chose to write about. On a happier note: the dryer is fixed, and now the bel is ringing. I gotta go.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

June 10, 2009 Remembering our Yellowstone vacation

Today I was browsing the Internet and remembered that Stan and I went to Yellowstone a few years ago. The header is a recollection of that vacation. I hope you all get the chance to see the park for yourselves. (I know Joey has been there...)

I'm at school - on lunch break right now - but I will write more after lunch...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

a discovery i made today

"Marginalia"
WV Poet Laureate Irene McKinney
By Irene McKinney

Download MP3
May 22, 2009 · West Virginia Poet Laureate, Irene McKinney talks about "Marginalia."
The word sent us to the dictionary. "Marginalia" has a few meanings, the first: handwritten notes made in the margins of books.

For librarians this is may be considered a capital crime, but if you own the book and you become famous, your "marginalia" may become the fascination of future scholars.

The second meaning of the word is flourishes and drawings in illuminated manuscripts. Either meaning could apply to this essay.
Irene McKinney, West Virginia's Poet Laureate, lives on her family farm near Bellington. This occasional series of essays is produced by John Nakashima. Her latest book is "Unthinkable: Selected Poems 1976 to 2004," published by Red Hen Press.

May 26, 2009


I remember a time when I was perfectly happy. I remember it because I said to myself: this is a beautiful day - the weather is sunny and warm; the family, including the extended family, is healthy, safe and for the most part outwardly happy. I am healthy and I feel good about myself, my life, my job and my past, present and future.

I can only remember the setting now; I can't remember the date. I was driving west on route 50 from Grafton, toward home - looking into the sunset. But, it's nice to even remember the feeling once in a while.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

It's the same the world over


Below is a post I copied from Hobo teacher. I love it. We are into testing now and have finished the 3rd day. I have so many things to share about this week, but I would be finished in the profession if I wrote them now instead of in my memories book (I kant spel memwarse)


Gone in Sixty Seconds
The administrative assistant from the front office e-mailed us to let us know that someone left a note in her box with a message that the scriber was leaving campus at noon. That person didn’t sign the note, and the administrative assistant wanted to know who left the note.


That’s not the only thing to be worried about. The end of the year is so crazy that the note could actually be a resignation letter. I could see myself being that frustrated—except it would most likely be attached to something ablaze.

That’s how I envision things going down for me.

Monday, May 18, 2009

WESTEST begins


It's 5 am edt and I haven't been to sleep since 3. I have been tossing and turning. I can't get this test ing thing out of my sleep. I have 40 unsharpened pencils in a basket in my room at school and a very poor pencil sharpener on the wall there. I know it sounds like just a little thing but little things are buggin me these days. Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves?


i couldn't remember where I put the key to my room... I got up and found it again...


i am going to hit the shower now. maybe things will be clearer when I get out...


also, i bought another pair of reading glasses so i can see the computer screen... if i can just find them...


Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Room of One's Own

Because I have not mastered the art of linking to another post, I have copied this, again - I copied yesterday's also. I liked the title " A Room of Our Own" that is a similar one to Kate Chopin's short story of ages past -- "The Awakening".
Because my bell is ringing, I will have to tell you why I chose this to blog about - later...
Read and enjoy.


A Room of Our Own
By: Diana Butler Bass
Monday May 4, 2009
Categories: Christians, Defining Progressive, Religion in the Public Square
My family lives in a typical 1960s house in the Washington DC suburbs, and I work at home. "Typical 1960s house" equals small and no closets. As a result, my books were taking over and there wasn't much space to write. We decided to move my job to the backyard. Thus was born "Mom's writing cottage," a 150 square-foot white clapboard house with green trim and a window box. In recent weeks, my daughter and I planted flowers all around making the tiny house literally bloom with creativity--not to mention a plethora of purple pansies.
About two weeks ago, I posted pictures of my cottage on Facebook. What happened next truly surprised me--my wall and my inbox were literally flooded with comments. "Oh, it is so cute!" wrote a good number of my friends, "I want one, too." Strangers requested copies of the building plans. Indeed, the envy factor ran so high that I apologized for causing so many people to break the 10th Commandment--Thou Shalt Not Covet.
As I read my these notes, I began to realize that they represented a powerful spiritual impulse in our culture--to have a place, a cozy place of retreat, to think, read, reflect, and pray. A little place to do good work; a room to call one's own (many people quoted Virginia Woolf's famous line back to me).
The really odd thing about this is that many--if not most--of my friends self-identify on Facebook as "liberal," "left," or "progressive" when asked about their politics. They are activists, justice-oriented, politically engaged, non-profit do-gooders, and most of them live in cities. They are busy people working to make the world a better place. They feed hungry people; they lead marches at city hall. Frankly, their response to the cottage reminded me a little of the kind of thing that Thoreau might hanker for--a tiny corner of the world where one might better encounter the spirit in order to feel the ethical heartbeat of the universe.
There's a bumper sticker that says: "If you want peace, work for justice." I think that is true. New progressives, however, may want to turn it around: "If you want justice, seek out peace." Historically understood, progressive faith has always insisted that activism springs from prayer; that ethics must be grounded in devotion. Thus, the way to social transformation is a way that knows when to retreat--not escape--but retreat to connect with the God who is justice, and whose beautiful dream of justice shapes the political imagination.
When I was a teenager, I read a book by Elizabeth O'Connor called Journey Inward/Journey Outward (no longer in print). In it, she argued that the greatest mistake of 20th century religion had been to sever the relationship between spirituality and social justice. She pled for the inner of devotion and outer life of activism to be reunited.
With all the difficult challenges we face with international relations, the economy, and the environment, it is a good thing to remember that fixing the outward circumstances isn't the entire goal. A more complete progressive goal is to help bring about a world in which all people might experience the profoundly human journey of loving God and loving neighbor. We have to pay attention to the inner life as well as the outer one. Journey inward. Journey outward.
Many thanks, Facebook friends. You reminded me that progress often involves retreat--the right kind of quiet pause to grow deeper as we reach further. And if you are ever in DC, come by the little house for a cup of tea. We'll talk about changing the world.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A twenty-first century encounter


This is copied from Hobo teacher blog/log
What the hell is BFF?
I know ROTFL
I’m lost at MAOWPIMP
Help!

***********************************************************************************

Friday, May 15, 2009
The Text Best Thing
I had to ask a student to put away her cell phone during class, but she justified her actions by revealing that she was texting a student who has me later in the day what the assignment was because she was absent today. Since she was sharing with me, I decided to do the same. Beginning with recognizing her desire to help her friend, I went on to tell her that perhaps our absent student’s school work might be a matter that needs to be discussed between her and myself only. A third party may not be called for.
I loved her response: “But you don’t have her cell number. You can’t text her.”
The next hilarious thing that came out of her mouth might have been my fault because I reminded her that I wouldn’t contact her BFF by her cell phone.
“You don’t have a MySpace page because that would just be gross.”
ROFLMAOWPIMP
- H.T. at 7:00 AM

Sunday, May 10, 2009

And a Happy Mother's Day to you too!


Yes, evening has come to the mountains. The photo above is one of green and cool WV, so I thought it best to switch headers to invite summer to come along soon!


We, here at the farm, are full of oatmeal cookies (Thank you Tracy). And enjoying the brief pause between getting ready for work tomorrow and getting ready for bed tonight.


Tracy, Keith and Delia stopped by to wish us all a happy Mom's Day and give gifts: Grandma Freda her Birthday card and cookies, me a lovely storebought card and bamboo ring freshner.


Grandma enjoyed their visit and so did Grandpa Stan who wolfed down the Subway sammy that Keith brought at my behest. ( I thought no cooking was a way we could all enjoy the day with no clean up either...I was informed that Subway was subpar inthe sammy department -- and we won't do that again...)


In retrospect, we had a nice time and everyone survived this meeting limbs intact. Yes, Tracy got her Mom's Day gift from Trisha (Thank you) and her card from Me.

School will be over for the summer soon. Delia has a fieldtrip to Prickett's Fort on the 22nd of May. And I will be finished sometime after June 9 - there is an "academy" on the 10 and 11 or the 11 and 12...I'll check my calendar later. And so it goes... whether we want it to or not.


Happy May, gentle readers.