My Life is a Country Song

Saturday - Valentine Weekend

2012-02-11T13:00:00.000-05:00

Snow flurries in the air.

Work has piled up higher than my head.

Boy, am I good at avoiding, then feeling ill. But I digress.

Happy Valentine's weekend familia. The new picture in the heading is for you.

I'm watching "Enchanted" and crying. How's that for odd?

I guess I'm just wishing for a simpler life and time.

Here's hoping that "the man who holds your heart in his hand" knows what a lucky fella he is.

Happy Valentine's Day, Trisha.

Happy Valentine's Day, Tracy.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mom. I think of you often.

I just wanted to say...

2012-02-04T19:53:00.000-05:00

The weather has not been pretty today: dreary, cold and wet. My mood matches the weather. The stuff my "internal self" tells my "awake self" is not very nice either. bitch, bitch, bitch. Now I hope THAT is out of my system. But probably not.

I have done some things that needed to be done: score 1 - changed out the filters in the humidifier. Now that doesn't seem like much, but for the technically challenged, me, it was a major score. Next, I worked on the laundry almost all day: washing in cold, hanging to dry, rewashing the favorite shirt with the ugly food stains you-know-where - these stains never did come out. Alternately, stripped the bed sheets, washed 'em and remade the bed. My sensitive smeller appreciated that.

Jeff and JJ came by and collected for the roof repair at Park - 5 nails and a couple of paintbrushes full of tar.

After running the sweeper and dishwasher (aw, poop, I forgot to buy more vinegar to use in the dishwasher), I drove the newly inspected car to the post office, Lowe's and Kroger's. (no brake sounds now, no fan belt screeches from the ac system either and best: no charge) History Bowl entry is late but mailed; Minard's in the frozen food section is a lifesavor. Maybe the Lowe's purchase will stop the rising water bill when I get some help fixing the tank leak ;) One can always hope.

Now, I have more choices: search for the records I need to renew the driver's license, or start working on "school work" ohhhh I feel sick (too much candy or too much stress* that's a story for another day.) I think I'll go lie down... or pay the bills I picked up at the boulevard today... or get the tax records together and prepare for the tax guy... I know everyone has to do these things, but I am (as Mrs. Clinton has said before) "tired, I just don't know HOW tired I am"...

I need a vacation.

Or an icy drink.

Or a good long laugh.

Or all of these...

I am so glad I have a loving family. They make me happy when I am sad. I love them all

Let the word go forth from this place...

2012-01-22T19:32:00.001-05:00

Sunny Sunday in the valley: the day started with icy snow all over the ground and cars and roof-tops, but by noon, all powerful Sol had changed all that. Car washed; groceries stored away; mail and newspaper recycled; all systems are "go" right now (6:49pm)

This is the weekend of (friends') birthdays 20, 21, 22 - Mel 'Butch' Smith, John Linder. Stan's was earlier this month. Wynne says her brother, Gary, has retired as of Jan 1.He was Stan's friend all through high school and college until Gary married and moved to Huntington. And we moved to Vienna.

Leah's is this next weekend Jan 27, if I remember correctly. We have a date next Saturday if the weathr permits, to see Stephanie Plum catch the bad guys in a movie version of the book by Janet Yanovich. (I'm close to spelling that correctly)

John and Trisha are planning a party for John's 33rd birthday. Joey will turn a year older, too, this month. Bea, Howard and Norma all were born in January.

I don't send cards or have a book like Mom did. I am such a slacker. But when I made that decision, I was too young to know what keeping in touch meant. I have always lived with in a few hours of home, for good or for ill.

Tracy shared this coffee story with me via the facebook today. I really liked the stained glass monk with his coffee cup so I borrowed it for the blog. Nice, don't you think?

It's been a rather lonely weekend (except for that phone call from Marietta - thanks, Trisha.) That's given me a lot to think about. Freezing rain forecast for Pocahontas and Randolph counties for tomorrow - Monday - 1-23-12 - Be careful when you walk to work where ever you are...(7:31pm)

The end of another snow day in WV

2012-01-20T17:59:00.000-05:00

Saw the story of the designers who made this on the History Channel. There are also stamps of Eames designs. This is so cool.

Again Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T12:40:00.000-05:00

A snow day is a good excuse to play on the blog-o-sphere. Please check the other two additions to the blog I did today. (Since I am not talented enough to combine these random things into one posting.)
I notice that some facebookers have cleaned and shined their homes and are now ready to make cookies. I, on the other hand, am still in my p.j.'s handily avoiding the 18 degree temps outside and the icy driveway. It's like I'm "on the moon" far away and no one can see me.

This is Dad in front of the Remington Museum in (I think) Cody, WY, summer of 2006. I hope you all get to visit there some day.

Well, I'm off to find my shoes... they must be around here somewhere...

"It's Viral!" The Movement to Overturn Citizens United Swamps the Internet

2012-01-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

Friday the 13th

2012-01-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

I found this as I was playing on this snow day. We don't have very many pictures of Dad and, although it's a little blurry, I like it. He's in Custer, SD looking for the resting place of the ancestor who left WV after the Civil War.

One of my favorite recent photos.

I see a long 4 day weekend stretching before me. 18 degrees outside; skift of icy snow coating everything - more snow expected Saturday. Hummm what to do? Clean? Clean out? Eat Oreo's and milk? Happy MLK Birthday weekend.

New Year's Eve 2011

2011-12-31T14:23:00.002-05:00

Work or Play?
Resolutions or Bucket list?
Keep to yourself or Share?

Isn't it odd the things that are floating around on the interesting net?

To Be or Not To...

Happy New Year Everybody.

Choices

2011-12-29T19:50:00.000-05:00

Choice #1-make a slide show of things that happened to us during 2011. Put some music to it and remember what it was like to be alive on the planet in 2011. [ no longer than 5 minutes please. I have things to do.]

Choice #2-make a Fabulous Bucket List for 2012. Remember the Mayans have foretold the end is near (next winter's solstice day) so, why not achieve (the ideas and items on the list) in a fabulous fashion?!

Hey. Did you think this post would be about mundane things like the choices from the dining room table: pay the bills, grade the papers, make a shopping list???

Easter 2011

Hey. I think I need a calendar...

The third of three posts today.

2011-12-28T18:45:00.000-05:00

November 2011 Trisha and Delia begin our decorating.

A little later, we are adding ornaments.

All of us are happy to be decorating, right?!

Everyone in the living room to decorate the tree. Pronto.

I'll get the sweeper out later.

This decorating is serious business.

Before Christmas Photos (still fun)

2011-12-28T18:25:00.000-05:00

Crafting in Sun Valley 2011 November

Christmas Eve 2011 at the Miller's; Zoey's note and Santa's cookies

Her cute Christmas Jumper is Green

Some fun photos of Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T18:12:00.000-05:00

Let the vacation begin...

2011-12-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

Today is the First Day of Winter.

It is also a day of work for me (paid of course) and a half day of "time on my own" stolen from a previous incarceration and doled out by powers-beyond-my-control to me today. So why do I just want to sleep?

Dr. Oz suggests "wear yellows and white"; lose the "red" and "black"; sit in front of the light for 30 minutes in the morning or go outside and watch the sunrise. Sleep (only) at night; eat figs for the minerals they possess, and tart cherries at night for the melatonin they create.

He didn't say "run the sweeper, clean up the kitchen, pay the bills, get the work done I've been avoiding; do the laundry, wash the car, get the brakes checked, change the light bulbs, " and the list goes on and on and on. I won't even list the Christmas things I have not done. But YOU know what they are. The choices that I make may be the right ones for now, and not the correct ones for later; but "choices they are," says Yoda.

The following photos are keeping me "focused" during the happiness of the season. And, on a different note: My friend and co-worker, Lynn, has suffered a loss this week. Her husband, Bill, died yesterday of a heart attack - while she and her daughter were at school, teaching. The memorial service will be next week.


We are missing the photographer; however, she is standing on the porch of the Pretty Penny taking this snapshot of Our Great Watoga Adventure. The porch pillar didn't hide me as I had hoped it would.

This would have made a great Christmas Card photo. Consider it so, says Yoda.

Another Weekend on the horizon: Shopping Saaturday

2011-12-16T19:58:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas Shopping Saturday. Tomorrow. I'm glad the weather is clear, even if it is cold.
Big plans: Get up early (always a tough goal); get on the road to the shopping arena; purchase every thing on the list and in the back of my mind.

Suddenly Sunday

2011-12-04T22:45:00.001-05:00

It's suddenly Sunday (night, that is) and I am gearing up for another work day tomorrow. I'm sitting in the "office" watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (for the first time - I don't pay much attention to the Potter World generally - but, I saw the others this weekend and I wanted to see this one.)

I tried a new pot roast (today) and it was good. Cooking has never been my strong suit, but clean up is something I usually do pretty well. I am just so slow at doing everything it seems like. When I finally go the car out of the garage, I drove to the cemetery, then to the stores. I got another pair of jeans and a t-shirt to wear to school. I'm into my "other" wardrobe now. I stopped a Kroger for butter n eggs. Got a PeCAN pie too.

Yesterday was a good day for cleaning and straightening up: car wash, mail pick up, laundry.

Yesterday, the sun went too quickly for dusting, but the little houses got their dusting of "snow" and all's right in their world.

I talked to Leah. She's doing well. not to go back to doctor for a while. They'll take the pic line out tomorrow. Check her low grade fever and send her out into the world.

Today, I've been out to the cemetery to change the flowers on Grandma and Grandpa's headstone/bronze plaque. Evidently, the owners of the land held a candlelight ceremony on December 2 (Friday night) and the luminaries have not yet been picked up. I didn't get out there in time to make the Christmas bouquet for the ceremony; but someone had rearranged the Fall flowers and moved the flag (we need a new flag anyway)

I can't get it to turn upright. Just tilt your head ;)

Zoey remembered...

2011-11-27T22:24:00.001-05:00

We had family pizza-giving this afternoon.

Trisha, John and Zoey arrived first with a bunch of food [non pizza] and lots of hugging and conversation. Zoey and Trisha saw all the "stuff" set out to decorate and things swung into motion: Zoey went to play with the village people (and all her toys that she brought to Grandma Pat's house scattered across the rug...) And Trisha declared "don't talk to me until I get something to eat!!" John left to get the pizza's from Pappa Johns - special order - veggie pizza, peppers and pepperoni one, and then a little cheese one. In a little while, Keith, Tracy, and Delia popped in with the last minute decorations I ordered from JO ANNE's and the kitchen brigade decided to set out nibbling food and await John's return.

When the pizza arrived, the girls sat down and began to eat and talk and eat and talk. John offered to bring me a plate (I was in the living room dragging out decorations) but I said I'd come in and eat at the table.

I was not even aware of being hungry. I was barely aware that I was sitting at a table with only 5 chairs and the boys were walking around eating pizza from their hands... And we chatted away about stuff. and then Zoey ask, "Where's Grandpa Stan?" She was looking up and to the right to remember his name. But she remembered.

And we stopped. And we were unprepared / hesitant/ afraid to answer her. He's not here. He's in the basement (true). And we never did tell her anything else.

We haven't stopped feeling the loss we suffered with this death. No one can take away the pain of loss a girl feels about losing her Daddy no matter how old the girl. All of us have special memories that we would like to share in love with our Zoey and Delia, but we are unprepared/hesitant/unaware that this could-should be appropriate. The boys are more stoic. Girls carry their feelings so very close to the surface. We all miss him. We talk about him ( your Dad did this, Daddy did that) but it was a surprise to hear Zoey use his name.

Our family gatherings are infrequent and hurried; maybe if we can remember to be aware of why we come together, we will have a better answer if she ever asks again.

Holidays in 2011

2011-11-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

Good Sunday Morning!
This is another attempt at avoiding the things I should a, mus ta, have ta DO. But, it gives me the opportunity to update (a little) the events of my life - here in the 21st century.

VACATION: from Saturday morning last to Sunday morning today -

1. I drove to Trisha and John's in Marietta after 4 PM on Sunday in the (driving) rain. [Why they call it driving rain, I do not know. It was not a pleasant experience to be on the road, in the dark in the rain.] But, the time I spent with the familia Miller was fabulous, fun and fortunate. We ate dinner with the grandparents after I got there. Then, when Zoey got ready for bed, I did too. Zonk. Out like a light. Monday. Trisha went for her neck biopsy and I stayed with Princess Zoey and enjoy her. When Trisha got back, we went to the 3rd Street Deli and had lunch, then on to JO ANNE's for the shopping/cultural self-definition experience. OH, The Christmas Spirit has entered the scene. [home by sunset]

2. On Thanksgiving Day I fooled around until afternoon; then, I loaded the chairs on the truck, picked up the shrimp ring, the camera and the plates and headed out to Morgantown. After Keith unloaded the truck and Tracy parked it up the street (special treatment, I assure you), the Festivities were beginning. Warm greetings from Delia, fragrant smells from the kitchen of the Strother family: turkey, ham and homemade (squash) dinner rolls, and offers of many kinds of libations... Friends began rolling in bout 5PM and brought much good food and fellowship. After dinner, Delia, Audry and Naomi let me participate in Telestrations and we had a ball. A very family Thanksgiving. I drove home thru the patchy fog and slept in my own bed.

3. I started to dig out the Christmas decorations with the far off promise from my kids to help finish the job today (Sunday). I found lots of stuff and found we are missing some stuff I remember we used to have. When I was breaking up housekeeping on the Boulevard, I didn't think we'd ever set up the houses again. But, I changed my mind. So I'm learning to electrify the village in a new way. Looking for parts that are missing, making choices as to whether spend more money on the village or "adapt" my vision to fit the circumstances... It's not perfect and not complete, far from it, but it's twinkly. And maybe that's all we need this year.

All that stuff is better than the work I have to do from school and life. Every day I'd sleep til 9 and not get dressed until 11, then I get into the truck and find something to do that was not here. Can you say depressed?! The first of the week was rain, fog and blah. Guilt that I didn't work at the house was overcome by not thinking about the house...until I picked up the mail and saw that the garage roof was losing the tar paper roof along the edge of the garage doors...that water was blowing under the side basement door, that the gutters were full of plants and the water was running over the edge of the roof, and on and on and on...

I got a card from Susie (thank you, Susie. You make me feel so much better knowing that you know what I'm going through.) I got a call from Joy. Barb n Ed are in DC this Thanksgiving, resting up for the big family trip to AZ in a few weeks. They invited me to spend some time in the big city, but I just didn't have the energy. The world keeps turning, I'm still here. Thankful that I can walk, talk, scratch where it itches, hug my kids and grandkids, have a roof over my head, pay my bills, and a few people who would notice if I dropped out of sight.

As Daddy used to say, "Every day is a good day as long as you are above ground."

This was taken last year 2010 between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Birthday Girl born in October

2011-10-30T20:43:00.000-04:00

A birthday party-slumber party for my 11 year old granddaughter, Delia, was held at Edge Hill House on Saturday evening. What fun they had: a scratch chocolate birthday cake made by her Mom, that's my daughter Tracy, the baker. the cake had delicious icing and a filling that was out-of-this-world (thank you Grandpa Stan for teaching this kid how to make caramel from canned milk)

All these girls had fun painting their fingernails, telling big stories, eating pizza and drinking extra chocolate milkshakes throughout the evening. I left shortly after the presents were opened, but I heard that a good time was had by all.

Pictures of the present opening are posted above. In the wrong order as usual. I am so glad I got to witness this event and be a small part of it. Life doesn't get much better than this. Family, friends and a reason to celebrate!

Family

2011-10-23T18:25:00.000-04:00

Sunday evening- procrastinating again.

There is a small amount of Chocolate Fudge Ben N Jerry's (left) in the freezer; the pizza is half gone; the air is warm and the breeze is cool. The light is slowly fading.

Leah and I talked this afternoon. She is in the "house" at Ruby awaiting her cancer treatments. On the first day of "treatment", the shunt or pick line, the nurses wouldn't let her take it unless she had someone to stay in her room overnight.The motel nearby was her first night stay; then they moved her from the motel to the "house". Jay stayed with her overnight. Then he went home.

She has a shunt or a pick line in her chest which she will cover up with "glad peel and stick" wrap when she showers. The doctors take a small amount of blood daily and then they shoot her up with blood builders. At night, randomly, the blood builders start to work and give pain in the long bones (thighs, mostly, and sternum). Her appointment tomorrow is at 8:30am and she will ask for a ride from house safety/security teams; she tried to walk it the last time and it was too hard (stopping to rest every once in a while, and getting lost along the way).

Tomorrow is the same thing: draw blood, then add blood builders to the body. I forget when she said the infusion will start.. I'll have to call Mindy. My mind just whirls when I get into the tough stuff now.

But that's just me.

She said the common room at the "house" has a piano and as soon as Mindy brings her computer glasses, she'll be out there playing some of her sheet music. Mindy is also bringing the wheelchair from home.

She ate lunch today with her friend from work. They ate in the cafeteria.

Sounds familiar, but it's not familiar. Oh God, I wish I didn't know so much. I wish time could be turned back. But, this time, it's not "all about me"... I'm just so worn down that I can hardly move, or think, or act...

Our family vacation - October 14-17, 2011

2011-10-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

We went on a Family vacation to Watoga State Park in Pendleton County, WV. We rented Cabin Seven! It had a fireplace for heat, and a loft with steps for family upstairs. We made several lists of things we forgot or should have brought camping (this was our (Trisha and Me) first time in a cabin in the woods, so far away and in such a steep valley.)

Here are some of our photos.

October - three months

2011-10-08T19:53:00.001-04:00

Another beautiful day here in the country.
Reds, golds, greens -- all over. And such a sunny cloudless day.

JJ came yesterday and cut the grass here in the valley; today he came to the boulevard and did the same. He says he has a buddy that can come help move stuff from the boulevard over here if I want. I'll have to clear a spot. I emptied the filing cabinet at Park of all its papers; left the hanging files inside. Spent about 4 hours over there. Brought home 5 boxes and threw away 4 bags of papers...

Leah went to The German Restaurant today. Her treatments won't start until they run tests in the next couple weeks...and then draw the platelets

I got energy about 11:30 to go out and work. I still have much, too much, to do for school and all the other stressful paperwork I must do. But, I have a new alarm clock (and if I can get the correct batteries) and I'm almost set for restful snoozing... just as soon as I wrestle the mattress pad back on the bed...

Tuesday night as I watch Letterman

2011-09-28T00:21:00.000-04:00

Hey! I just spent hours cutting out aluminum foil hearts for LINKS class tomorrow. No more procrastination for me! I learned my lesson. Even if I couldn't get to the copy machine to make the handouts, I made the hearts (for cyber-bullying: the lesson) ** New Idea #1: LINKS is one 30 minute class in the top of the morning, one day a week. an adviser-advisee thing... the more things change, the more they stay the same. I am loveable and capable (1970's style). I handed out Warm Fuzzies, too, back then but the school bought them.

Now, new idea #2: I now guide my homeroom through PE exercises or supervise them at play in the gym while they earn PE credits, unless they are choir members (who are excused 3 days a week for choir, of course, or kids who are remanded to study hall because they are failing math, science or English.) With a little help from my friends, I'll get 'er done! Sandy and her family made a CD of music to exercise by: YMCA, The Chicken Dance, etc. Too Bad the school didn't think of that; it wouldn't cost 'em much, but this new assignment does take personal resources to make it successful (and we don't even know if it will count for PE credit) I took bowling for PE credit in college... probably should have taken kick boxing (they didn't offer that in the 60's)

At school, and across the area evidently, the internet is "down"; two days now. Frontier is trying to fix it, but now that my lessons are pinned to some use of the interesting net, it is really unreliable. And of course, I'm gonna be "evaluated" on the times I use it anyway - working or not. We have a mock on-line gubernatorial election tomorrow - couldn't do it any earlier, the internet wasn't working!!!!

Personally, I'm gonna get a flu shot tomorrow after school. Leah will be vulnerable since she's going to get the transplant sometime in the next two months. Doctors say her chances are really good for long term success against this multiple myeloma. She's going to the German restaurant on Saturday the 9th and then to Ruby for the stem cell extraction on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Wednesday... two times a day at 7am and 10 at night... what a schedule... my life is not tough when I think of that.

Gotta love that VW commercial for the Passat: and the little Darth Vader. I smile EVERY time I see him and his exasperation at not moving that doll...

Punchey? Not me, I've been drinkin' coffee for 4 hours - since NCIS and its little brother (NCIS-California) and whatever that was while I was writing the checks to pay the bills...

NOW, I gotta go set the alarm clock - Jack Hanna is terrorizing Dave with a BIG snake and now he's talking about Zebra Butts. What is the world coming too?

I'm gonna try and print this. Wish me luck. Dave is almost over and I gotta get some sleep.

I'm Baaa-a-a-ck.

2011-09-25T10:17:00.000-04:00

Autumn is officially underway. Today is Sunday, appropriately named, and life is slow and sedate.
Trisha is hosting a baby shower for Amy. John is in Columbus - will he make it back in time to baby sit? Tracy is musing over the computer in Morgantown. The "Big Game Saturday" is on the books the already; WV lost to LSU.
The second time I woke up this morning, Indiana Jones theme Song from Temple of Doom was emanating from channel USA, where I was surfing early to find the final score to the Big Game - since I turned it off before half time and went to bed...
Around here the grass is growing; the cat is keeping the mouse population under control; every day is a good day at Taylor County Middle School; the laundry is calling my name... you get the picture.
I've lost a lot of spunk since I last blogged.
I'm feeling OLD.
I'll let you know what the miracle cure is when I find it.

Half of 2011 Gone in Sixty Seconds

2011-06-30T18:03:00.000-04:00

Well, it will be official - tonight is the last evening in the first half of Twenty-Eleven.

            This has been an extra-ordinary summer day: sunny, warm - not too hot (no AC required) and lazy. Not stress free, but then when is life and death ever stress free?

             I've learned that Celexia can be compounded into a cream. That antibiotics come in liquids ( I already knew that). That the Parkinson's meds could/should have slowed down the "arthritis"...

   If I learn anything more today, I'll be sure to share ;-0 always looking for interesting things to learn.

Happy Birthday Grandaughter Zoey and other stuff

2011-06-22T21:18:00.000-04:00

A summer day in West Virginia: Happy birthday, Zoey.
I enjoyed the day even though there were a few reasons to be glad I'm me and not anyone else. But those reasons are no being discussed here ;-)
I drove to Morgantown. I saw my eldest daughter and family; I bought a loaf of wheat bread with sunshine seeds.
I saw my cousin,Leah, and her family - seem to be doing ok. I'll go back and see her again on Friday.
I keep reading the blogs to get the pictures of Zoey's party. And I know I'll get to see them soon ;+)
My Seester and her hubby are in Juneau, Alaska today - enjoying the extended daylight.
Outside right now the sky is covered with big grey puffy clouds. Looks like a storm is coming. There are no lightening bugs out (yet tonight) I saw one or two before the storm last night - wind was warm and humid and swirling leaves from the ground up. Just like it is tonight... warm, humid, darkening way before the normal hour...


I borrowed this from a blog I read last night, but I'm pretty sure it's a google image ;-) This is a popular summertime activity here in the hills: watching and catching lightening bugs. I wish my grandkids would see these fellows in person.

Stanley is sleeping in front of the TV - NCIS is rerunning (again) on channel 29-USA. Linda, Sandy and I are trying several "tricks" to get liquid and some food into him. But I am having no luck at all with the crushed medicine...
Fireflies-lightening bugs- they are just beginning to rise out of the lawn. Yippee. I'm going out and sit on the porch until the rain comes or the light goes.

Wish me luck.

Happy Father's Day 2011 from West Virginia

2011-06-19T17:27:00.000-04:00

It's a warm and overcast day, here in the valley.

I am amazed at the way time flies when I'm not lookin'.

Who can say if we'll be this way again... Zoey's birthday celebration was yesterday in Marietta. I'm glad it was a joyous occasion. Leah broke her arm yesterday by throwing a CD case across the room. Her arm broke just above the elbow.After a trip to Fairmont's ER, on to Ruby by ambulance. Today they scanned: MRI, questions, CT scan, more questions, down to pre-op, back upstairs, more questions. Dr.s are looking for cancer tumors.
I'm tired, very tired. Stan won't eat, barely drinks. He's so thin. But he opened his eyes when I told him about Leah. So, I'm going back in to try to get him to eat while we watch 'Men in Black II'; we saw 'I am number four' and 'the King's Speech' yesterday.
Happy Father's Day, ya'all.

Sunny Sunday in the valley

2011-06-12T11:27:00.000-04:00

Waiting.
It's really hard.
I have much to do. I need an energizer. or maybe a health club/exercise plan.
Maybe I'll pay the bills. Wow what a novel idea.

No, I think I'll take a nap.

Being rich is not having a lot of money; it's having options.

2011-06-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

Good news.
Trisha and John (and Zoey) stopped by on their way back home yesterday. We had a lovely visit. I am so looking forward to summer and a little bit of unstructured travel time ;-)
Tracy and Keith are having car trouble and are staying close to home. But, f/b post show a lovely time at the farmer's market and great goodies for breakfast.
The rains came last night and the grass had been cut by Jeff's family before noon yesterday. Jeff also took the old laser printer off the front porch to the e-recycle at the VA park. One down, several to go (things on my bucket list)
Stan is still sleeping (I'm watching Sunday Morning on CBS). He slept most of the day yesterday, too.
I watched the stories on CBS Sunday Morning: Dr. Kevorkian's last euthanasia, Gunsmoke's hero-James Arness, Herp Alpert (he's Russian) of A&M records...and famous in the 60's and forward.
Now, I'm off to get the day's work started. The sun is hiding behind some soggy low-lying clouds.The deck is slowly drying out. I'm very slowly moving to sanity. I think I am. But then again, maybe I'm delusional.
Time will tell.
Happy 1st Sunday in June 2011.

Just another day in Paradise

2011-06-04T06:16:00.000-04:00

     Whilst I reminisce, you may want to get coffee and a donut. I can't sleep.
It's probably the same ol' same ol' but I can't put my finger on the reason.
I've been awake a while - checking for new material on f/b and cleaning up the kitchen (too tired last night - achy and feeling soooo tired) but that's a nuther story.

     Currently, I'm being serenaded by the public access channel on TV. The show is a black n white montage of b/w scenes from southern WV during the early part of the 1940 - 50's, it appears to me, involving the coal mining industry. The scenes from the shopping in the hardware store really caught my eye: the kitchen stove - just like Mom n Dad's that is still in the basement, the woman in pedal pushers and checkered blouse, the women with shirtwaist dresses, short sleeves and hairstyles of the 50's, standing in front of the butcher's counter being handed their choices by men in aprons. Then, of course, there is the music - folk music before it was popular - telling the stories of coal barons raping the land and labor unions trying to hold life together in face of incredible odds in the time before social consciousness.
     Now, I see some balding guy tell the story of how he was brought to folk music in 1963 by watching on TV MLK's march on Washington with his Mother... Now, this same guy is singing his poetry to piano music in a folk music kind of way. 'The Room at the Top of the Stairs' is his poem/song. John McCutchen music for acoustic guitar and banjo.
     It's nice to hear polite discourse. I've been monitoring the ways of the scofflaws in the 7th grade for the past two days. It seems like a nice easy job: 18 kids in one room, no real work to do (for them) that counts toward the final grade/goal; hormones raging; evidently no idea how to entertain themselves w/o violence, sex or mayhem being involved... just a little chunk of society. 'Jobs' is the answer, even if you haven't asked the question or have no idea that there is even need for a question. Everyone needs meaningful work to do.
That's why I have to keep going with the job. I need something meaningful to do. Even if I am constantly self assessing my performance and constantly finding it lacking. Maybe that's why I can't sleep.

     And on to the mundane details of our current existence: the LHS has more problems that now amount to @ three thousand dollars, now... and the garage charges interest on the unpaid balance, of course... I finally paid the other 2k. The prevailing wisdom is Get It Fixed; pay the man; drive it; trade it later when incentives are in place. Hummmm...
     Linda didn't come on Friday - she went to see her kids in Ohio. Sandy came, God Bless her, and will be back on Monday, if she doesn't go to Pittsburgh with her brother's family. [brother tried to commit suicide earlier this week, is being transferred from the VA here to the VA in Pittsburgh to treat 'pain' associated w/heart. Long/short: nobody in bros family can drive in Pittsburgh traffic, so Linda will probably take them all...] I can send my grades over the interesting net...but who will see to it that my room is not trashed by raging hormones, Vandals, and scofflaws?
       It's time to 'make the donuts' as they say in the business... I gotta get dressed. I don't really wish I could sleep in on a Saturday, but sometimes I wish I could rest...

The End is near ... a.k.a. Judgment Day 6p.m.

2011-05-21T09:42:00.000-04:00

Something to look foreward to; the flowers are out, but not ready for cutting. Hope the rain holds off another two days and then we will have fragrant beauty inside, too.

From the rumours on f/b and conversations w/ my co-workers, the end is near - if not even here already (and just passed me by.) So, what did I do with the last 24 hours of life (as we know it now)?

Went to work so that I could help reward the chillin's for their Westest performances which were polite, if not stellar... that's a whole'nuther story, if you've ever seen a middle school after days of politeness and following the rules.
Came home in the sprinkling rain, after stopping to get the mail from Park and stock up the ol' stomach w/ Mickey D's double cheeseburger, coffee and, of course, I got fries with that.
Stan and I had dinner together, watched something funny on CMT, and after trying to find the websites for Joey's graduation pics which were gone from my aol mail; sometime after 9, we called it a night and slept like babies (up ever few hours...)

The sun peek'd out last night before sunset and promised a better day today. And so it is!
There is nothing artistic, funny or even pleasant to report.
And that's the way it is, May 21, 2011, here in the valley.

Saturday in the Valley again...

2011-05-07T19:07:00.000-04:00

Words cannot describe how lovely this place is in the spring.
When the lawn is manicured, the place looks cared for and loved.
The guy at the garage, Jeff, reminded me how clean Dad kept his cars and his house. Jeff said, "I was in your Dad's basement once or twice to set his automatic garage door opener on the Chrysler. The basement was cleaner than most people keep their houses.'
I hope I haven't let Dad and Mom down. The place is not the same. I know that.
The LHS looks good since the boys at the garage washed and waxed her (even polished up the chrome on the wheels). They found my seatbelt, too, when I took it back last week. The buckle was inside the console (which they had removed when they fixed the A.C.)
I saw on the interesting net that the Fiesta outlet SALE is again in June with a Carnival atmosphere (some days in the 20's - I don't remember exactly. Now the company is selling sets of Fiesta with Java Mugs (instead of tea/coffee cups) finally 28 bucks right now on line in most colors - but not in hunter green - must have been discontinued - I have a mug but it was chipped, by Judy, who left her gum on the Haywood-Wakefield china cabinet.
Now, why do I remember THAT and forget so much more important thngs?...
I changed the settings on the I-phone so that the photos can't be traced by google - to protect the kids from stalkers. Now, there is a location sticker on this blog post creator... what IS going on?
Norma called.
I gotta go get something for dinner from the freezer. Hot and Sour soup would be nice if someone delivered out here. Maybe tomorrow...

It is a glorious day here in the valley!

2011-04-30T19:56:00.000-04:00

Saturday - the last one of the"vacation"... sunny, warm to cool... grass green and trim... no bunny guts on the back porch today (I swept them off yesterday).

Stan slept until 4 PM - we got cleaned up and he ate something around 6:30 (P.M.)

The days n nights are turned around.

Exxon in the news is a good topic for the blog.

The stress has not lessened. However, when the sun shines, I think there is hope for time...

Time to get a haircut: I cut Stan's hair today. I saw Oprah has a bob that makes her look 20 years younger. I want to look 20 years younger, too. Mebbe I will get a bob tomorrow... mebbe not....

Life looks do-able when I'm feelin' good; not so do-able when I need aspirin, or I'm sweatin' as I walk around...

All the tax checks have been cashed - the government got its share. Exxon stocks have been advertised in our paper as being VERY profitable this quarter. I guess that doesn't mean much to us as we drive gas-guzzlers - money in money out - the AC is fixed in the LHS - yes almost 1k. So that's @ 2k so far this year to keep it on the road. I couldn't get much of a car for 2oo a month payment, so I'm lucky.

In the idle moments, I think about decorating our living space.
It makes me happy to think about it; it makes me sad to know I can't afford much to anything for decorating. Whenever I hear a lawnmower, I think of $$$.Whenever I see a commercial for an electrician switching out receptacles, I think $$$.

I used to consider the money; now I see money first, then the choices.

Good times: the girls cooked and cleaned up. The kitchen is vintage.

Good times: Delia drew the solar system and Zoey walked on the Moon.

It's hard to get good pictures of my family. But I did manage these. ;-)

And so it goes.

We're gonna be in pictures...

2011-04-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

We have Easter/Spring Hats!

We also had a lot of fun things to play with and things to do, but Grandma got tired of waiting for this old computer to load the pictures and she quit for tonight.

Tomorrow, perhaps, she will have better luck with the technology and with her patience.

Life is a highway.

2011-04-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

with parts under construction...
Never mind; when the road ends, that's where you are!

The trees are leafing profusely. Green is just popping out - even as I type. Grass, cut last Monday, is lovely, neatly clipped on top, growing longer as we converse, and shows only a few of those yellow-headed dandylions of last week.

I've changed my profile pic on Facebook to a Peony. (Patricia - pink peony. I didn't think pansy was appropriate with my "personality"... don't go there.) I hope the rain stops before the peonies are in bloom. They smell so good and look so good for such a long time, if they are not drowned by the rain.

Sandy sent me a n Easter Lilly. It was here at the house before I got back from shopping yesterday. The lilly shows 5 blooms now and several for later. But it doesn't have much of a fragrance. Susie sent me a card for Easter. She echoes my thoughts every time she writes. I hope her situation is easier in the coming months. Butch is out of sight; Larry visits more often now.

The rain is intermittent - drizzle, pouring, sun-like, overcast, wet, wet, wet.

Stan is still asleep. I am guessing he doesn't want to wake up. It is now almost 11:30. The mail has come to the box by the road. The rain is lighter. I may as well get the newspaper when I get the mail.

Purple Irises might work. I like them too.

More than likely the poppy gets my vote, too, considering Memorial Day is close at hand. Lots of 'P' flowers in the spring.

Easter Plans?

2011-04-16T22:32:00.000-04:00

Vacations, and the holidays attached to them, come and go without much fanfare here in the valley. We seem to have misplaced the joi de verve of these traditional days.

Next Sunday is Amanda's birthday. Happy Birthday Amanda. I haven't forgotten. I was thinking about you, and that momentous occasion, when I read your blog just a few minutes ago. Enjoy and do something you've decided is celebratory: something different from the normal day.

That date is shared every year with Grandpa's birthday in 1917 and , this year, with Easter.

Maybe we will have some "ship loads of gold" to celebrate or pickled eggs. I'm sure if Delia and Zoey get over here, there will be CANDY and some outdoor egg hunt. If it happens, they will bring the celebration, like they bring the sunshine when they come to visit. With just us, there is no energy to do anything extra.

I have done all the required things - paid the taxes, closed old accounts, prepared for the next go-round of medical activities... It's all just tiresome.
I hope Spring Break is more fun, but realistically, I don't expect it.

L8tr, Sports Fans.

Shopping

2011-04-09T20:37:00.000-04:00

I stole some time to stop at Elder-Beerman on Thursday on my way home.
Of course, I passed through the little girls' dresses department on my way to women's feminine frilly things.
I saw hats and Easter dresses.
I did SO want to buy my granddaughters each a nice dress for Easter. But I've learned that girls don't want their OLD grannies to buy dresses for them. Or hats. Heavy Sigh.

Spring is in full swing here in the valley.
daffodills are growing from the OLD plants on the hillside. Squirrels are leaping from tree to tree. We also saw bluebirds, and little wrens, but the cardinals are not around today, nor the robins.

Not your average Easter Bunny, but much more current.
Thank you Charlie Sheen!

April Showers and snow and wind and chill-in-the-air

2011-04-02T15:57:00.000-04:00

Hey family - We are watching the fabulous Ghost Busters on TV this afternoon. Wow, I knew I liked it, but the soundtrack is really fun. I guess it's one of my favorite mooovies.

...and everyone looks so YOUNG.

The sun is out, finally. And it is around 4 o'clock.

Laundry in progress; water filter changed; garbage out; dishes clean; ho-hos in plentiful supply.

Zoey Elizabeth Miller last year 2010 in April.

All's right with the world.

Why?

2011-03-19T18:12:00.002-04:00

Why?

Spring is sprug; the grass is riz - I wonder where the daiseys is?

2011-03-17T19:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, it IS update time again. We, in the country, have jumped foreward in time - one hour.
Delia has visited the dentist in a successful feat of bravery and you have to go-ness. I only heard about this on the interesting net yesterday or today. Joey if off to CaNaDa - Montreal to be exact. Barbara has tomorrow off to watch workers work in her condo. And next week she goes to a cOnFeReNcE in downtown D.C.

End of the 9wks is coming. I am so-o-o-o tired.

End of February - Beginning of Spring?

2011-02-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

I'm going to have a tooth pulled tomorrow.
I'm not looking forward to that.
This being a Gr'up is not what I thought it would be.

I'd prefer tooth fairy flights of fancy/fantasy.

It's ALIVE!! !$#?@!!

2011-02-26T07:42:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning... February...26th...2011.
I'm alive.
Yes, I'd hoped to survive the combination of amoxicillan, stress and Wendy's chipotle chicken wings. Evidently, I did.
It only took 72 hours... many of them sleepless, or dream filled, and achy.

I'm dropping the amoxicillan - the tooth appointment is Monday. I need to have control of all my body before I sit in that chair. The stress continues. But the chicken wings are gone with the first, second, third, fourth, fifth ... flush.
Who knows? Maybe these days away from the job will help with the stress - probably not.
Looking forward to news from the Internet... send some, please.

Friday night in the middle of a sudden spring thaw...

2011-02-18T21:52:00.000-05:00

Here I am again.
Just blogging to kill time.

This time last year in 2010 - February toward the beginning of March

I have had a rice cooker several times in my past life. Some one either thinks I need to use one or that rice cookers make great (read that cheap) gifts. I threw them away - both times.

Dad is doing ok tonight. He didn't eat the salmon I brought home - too tough to chew and swallow. Since I have a broken tooth, I cannot chew on that side and everything goes to that side... so I know the food was not the best tonight. I fixed cheese manicotti from Hormel's selection of 90 second marvels. He ate a little, but soon got tired of waiting for me to stop watching the History channel's Modern Marvels: something to do with electricity, wiring Tessla, Cisco and the Internet.... I quit watching a while ago. And he got his meds and literally slumped into a sleeping/coma...

I got more 1099 forms this week - letter says: maybe more to come - until March 15; should I wait that long to ask the accountant to file the income tax?

The weather is windy and warm, not for long, I'm told - maybe snow next week.

I have to stay at school until 5:30 Monday next week. But I don't have to be there until 11. Maybe I can use that time to wash the car, or to lay in provisions for the coming storm --or shop.... the courthouse will be closed-it's Presidents' Day - so I can't do much business. I wonder if the lawyer got the faxed documents? I have never heard. No one ask for more money. The paperwork should have been filed Tuesday by the fudiciary, and no one has asked for more money... except the plumbers and the Culligan man has yet to send the bill although I know the cost already... I am so tired.

Tracy is coming to sit with Dad while I go necessity shopping on Sunday.

If I had a little unstructured time, I fear I would sleep it away.

A favorite photo from 2007?

Later...

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-14T21:10:00.000-05:00

Monday. Sunrise 7:01

I don't usually talk about work, but today is Valentine's Day and I don't have much to say about the Saint of whatever he's the saint of... (He's not Cupid, not Mercury, Not Eros, who, then, IS he?)
Went to work driving into the SUN- mailed the bills on the way - not too late - parking space available again - broke up hallway groups on my way into the room - same 'ol same 'ol...

The school day begins:
Student teacher working with projector attached to laptop computer (same was 'stored' by the science teacher) so we arranged to show map on the wall above my desk... later we got the powers that be (the custodians) to put in a work order to get my projector screen moved over the whiteboard behind my desk... I've been here for 20 years and never had the equipment to use the screen... not very aggressive, am I...
The Day Moves Right Along. Lunch from my very own fridge. Computer work on Lesson plans for studying Canada at lunch - when else do I get 15 minutes alone to think?

6th period is brought in on "the challenge to beat 4th period on the Canada test"... Mr. McCarthy offers to "do lunch" for the class with the highest average on the test. (2 weeks away) 8th period - to put it mildly - was a tough sell... We didn't invite them to the competition: they listened @ Trevor's story, but they returned to social aggravations to avoid the lesson... Some of these same kids are in my homeroom.

tonight's homeroom is the "book throwing" brigade inside and the "tearing up the Valentine flower" brigands out in the hall. No good deed goes unpunished. These kids are too big for such immature behavior, right?

Too pooped to pop, I drive home in the daylight and cold windy evening after 4:30... stop at the Pantry store to fill up the tank... get stuck behind some guy cleaning out his car by the tank.. decide to fill up if the hose will reach the 10 feet back to my gas thingy. It does for 1 minute, then chokes over and over $3.13 later I drive toward the Boulevard to get the mail, then to Rosebud to pay the cable bill, buy the Rx, a Mylar red balloon that says:I Love You and a few get well cards -which I will space out over several days - for Trevor. And arrive at the valley at 6pm - an 11 hour day for the caregivers, who informed my they have dinner dates at Texas Roadhouse...

I'm glad there's still that skunky cherry wheat 'soda pop' in the back of the fridge. Happy Valentine's Day

Life is like smoke through a keyhole...

2011-02-06T00:06:00.000-05:00

Bet you can't tell me what movie that line is from.

We've been watching movies all day long (if the day started after noon and drifted into the night) It's now 15 til 11 on Saturday night. We've seen Robert Culp and that English guy I recognized but can't remember his name in some 1970's weir-devil movie reminiscent of Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom only set in England, of course. Gold bullets, not silver, too. It was campy and fun.

We've watched Sandra Bullock in Speed 2. And it was very entertaining.

We've rehashed every Saturday rerun of NCIS until I can say the lines for the entire show myself. And I flipped the channel to see the movie I'm watching now...

I've done some laundry. Washed some dishes. Listened as the water explodes into the toilet tanks because the waterlines are full of air. No real cooking: I wanted some brownies but had to settle for really old Oreo cookies. The air is cold. The sky was so grey today that the entire day looked like early evening (and it didn't begin to get dark until 6 o'clock...go figure.)

I walked the garbage to the garbage bin three times this afternoon. Great exercise. I'm glad I wasn't the guy who fell on his way back from the mailbox and got covered in snow by the snow plow (as was on the aol news today.) He was frozen, but rescued by his nosey neighbors.

I heard from one of my oldest friends, Jean B., last week. She's a heart surgery survivor and now has got vertigo that has stopped her from driving. Her son, David is staying with her at night. His wife, Louella, is staying with HER mother at night. Louella was in the first senior class I had at Flemington High. David was a year ahead of her. Jean is the age of my Mother, 89, and has dealt with her Mother (who lived briefly with her) in a nursing home and her husband with Alzheimer's - both gone now and these were events of her early retirement years...Since she retired, she has driven all over the country in her RV to visit relatives. I know she misses her independence - she's still in her own home.

I went grocery shopping last night after school. I had some of the energy I've been missing these past few years. Maybe that's because I have a student teacher to take my morning classes, maybe it's because the light is better as the days get longer, maybe I'm not as depressed (nae, that's not it), maybe it's because I ate a salad instead of hot pepper cheese bread for dinner on Thursday... [anyhow - I took a look at myself in the mirror and decided I need to get a haircut and lose some weight - when I get world enough and time. Maybe in the summer.]

For stress relief: I still have those little bottles of wine with the screw off tops... I did order some jeans and t-shirts from LLBean in two sizes larger that the ones I have now, for wearing just until I get WEAT. I want to buy REDS when I get to the store next time. It stars all those old stars like Helen Mirren (sp) and Bruce Willis... and should be a hoot!

Stan perks up when there is something to interest him - the phone call from Barbara tonight got him interested and he stayed awake for another hour to watch a tv show he liked.

I'm going to dose up with asprin and go to bed. Last night I forgot the asprin and I regretted it.

The movie is almost over... Pea soup still sucks...(do you know the movie yet?) and those lemon swabs - they are ubiquitous. And the coffee story generates a genuine laugh!

Funny how the years fly by...

2011-01-27T18:07:00.000-05:00

This Blog was a great way to record the passing of days last year. When SNOW DAYS happened, I really got into this writing/blogging thing. I took pictures and posted them here. I woke up every morning checking every one's blog in the family (hoping, of course, for new pictures, new stories, or just contact.) It was so cool.

Now, however, I'm enrolled in facebook. The social Network. yeah.

I check for new messages daily - and it takes forever...... I scroll down to see what posts have happened to my family and friends.... it takes forever.... We've had something like 10 snow days this year and I haven't blogged much at all. I've been too busy saying"when will they call it off?" and waiting for an answer - any answer.

This photo is from our Yellowstone vacation a few years ago probably in 2006 when we went to Cody, WY and the Remington Museum where all the GUNS are. It was cool. We never did tell anyone how much fun we had, nor did we share the photos. But they're on the web, now, buddy!!! and I will be pulling them off occasionally to reminisce. You bet 'cha.

Our lives, here in the Valley, haven't changed all that much. I'm still going out to work daily - unless I get a better offer( snow days) and he is still lying in that bed watching the mind numbing television programs on the Big Screen.

Yes, our children (young adults now) and grandchildren are growing up. And moving on. Time Flies no matter how much fun we are having. And that is how it is. And that is how it must be.

Norma and Dave are leaving tomorrow for a short time -3 months or so - in Florida. They had no power last night due to the storm outages and will probably have no power tonight. They are using gas logs in the fireplace and gas stoves on the porch; and oil lamps. They are in their 80's.
Good for you, family.

Here are some nice winter pictures I stole from my friend Dot. These were taken in her backyard. She's taken these birds to raise this winter. We have no color like this in our yard this winter. Our birds are spring young families (Bluebirds) Their nests are still here from Dad's birdhouse building days. Thanks, Dad.

I have really used these two days to rest and reconsider what I'm doing on this planet. I've tried to get my stuff together, then I forget where I put it literally and figuratively.

Preston, Randolph, Upshur are closed already for tomorrow 5:45 on Thursday evening.1-27-11 Snow will fall in time for tomorrow's commute...

Did I mention that the nurse tried to get up the drive in her two wheel drive car and stopped before she got to the patio - almost spun into the yard, but recovered and stayed in the drive to back down later. I shoveled with the long handled flat shovel - the snow shovel wouldn't get under the ice well enough to suit me... but I quit before I uncovered much of anything. Heart attack snow if there ever was some...

Linda and Sandy came today from 9 - 3 going home before the roads froze again... They always help BigTime. Linda's daughter in law will be the notary for my signature on Tuesday for the estate final papers. The clerk will mail them to me soon and I'll forward them to Barb. No worries. Just more red tape.

Snow Days giveth and taketh away...

2011-01-21T18:38:00.000-05:00

The sun has gone behind the hill. It's cold as the proverbial Hell. 'twas 16, now it's colder; 'twill be 4 tonight I'm told. Weather Watchers Beware: every part of the patio I swept at noon was clear of snow by three and full of ICE at 5:30. But too many vehicles on the patio and fear of death by freezing, made me stop before I cleared too much of driveway or patio.

caption: the 500 dollar chair

We've been visited by Health Nurse Julia, Speech Therapist Sierra, and numerous phone calls: Bragg's office girl, Hospice Lady, my seesta, my friend Val -- and that's about all. Can you spell E X C I T E MENT?

We ate sushi for lunch.

Yes, we had a "snow day" - no school in most WV counties; however, we have lost the 27th of January as an Instructional Support 1/2 Day and have gained it as another Instructional Day. yippee!

The tests I should be grading are still on the dining room table, but the clothes are in the washer/dryer...I'm not taking pictures on these days - looks pretty much like last year: A solid 6 inches of the white stuff on all flat surfaces.

Tomorrow starts the weekend: Just the Two of Us. You can insert music here...
Catch you up later.
I didn't even get a nap. (but I do have a stock up pack of screw top wine bottles...)

Martin Luther King, Jr holiday

2011-01-17T10:09:00.000-05:00

I'm off to the mall.
The health nurse will be here after 12:30 so I'll be back...
I found the info on Grandma Bea

Laurel Beatrice Walls

January 7, 1905 to December 9, 2002

97 years young

She would have been 106 years old this month.

Happy Holiday!

I don't like being a grown-up.

2011-01-16T21:08:00.000-05:00

The middle of the month of January.

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun.

Nothing much to report here. We did have sushi again this weekend for Sunday dinner. I think I've found something easy to fix, small enough to serve and have no leftovers (I eat all leftovers immediately or at least the next day) That sticky rice and soy sauce w/wasabi and ginger is pretty good.

The weather was warmer today; I tried to break up some ice on the driveway with a hoe, on my way to the paperbox. The blacktop heats from the bottom up and if I had been successful, I would have cleared the whole dang thing... but, I was more interested in staying upright (and getting the paper.) Maybe tomorrow's warmer temps (after the morning 9 degrees - predicted) should get to 20 something and sunny again... will clear the whole thing. At any rate, the rain is coming (and the cold at night - aughhhhh) my science is shakey - probably icy on Tuesday and Wednesday and who knows what from then on.

          My friend Janet wrote on f/b that her (newly diagnosed Parkinson's) Father, 86, was on his way to hospital for dehydration due to unable to swallow [syndrome] w/ complications from Alzheimer's, too.
          Dehydration is a real threat. I woke Stanley around noon and tried to get him to drink - he is very hard to awaken on the weekends. I get up @5 or 6 and try to give him water and pills, sometimes that's ok, sometimes not. At 9 he was still sleeping. I watched CBS Sunday morning. At 11 he was still sleeping; so finally, I got him awake and we had breakfast juice, eggs and fruit. And after 12 we got the morning pills. We watched BET and the Rosa Parks story. Pretty good.
          Around 5 we got the afternoon pills. And he fell back asleep at 8 so there are no evening pills tonight. We'll start the coumadin again tomorrow night - 3 mg, until we get it checked in a couple weeks - no one seems to be alarmed, or cares... no one is following the case yet. I have hired Hospice, so I can get a blood draw for the coumadin check and get a urine draw for the infection check. But these things are slow to happen, and wouldn't have happened if I hadn't called these guys in. They will probably come once a week, and call to check every so often...
          Stan is very thin. His hands are crippled by what looks like arthritis. But his mind is still sharp. He smiles and sorta laughs at stuff on TV. He looks at me when I talk about family and problems at home. He ignores me when I ask "Are you in pain? Do you need something?"
          Last night, we had a good time watching the Steelers play the Ravens (started at 4:30). Earlier, Linda and Sandy came over and cared for him while I went to the store. I will have to get back in training for shopping. It's like running a marathon, if you haven't done it for a while. I could only last from 10 til 2 - go figure... Now that I think about it, that late night is probably why he slept in today. Don't worry; we've got it under control.

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandma Bea

2011-01-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

Trisha reminded me: Laurel Beatrix Lemmon Walls would have been 100 today. She was a grand ol' gal as her husband, Howard would say. I had the good fortune to know her during the last half of her life. She was in her forties when she birthed my husband. I met her some 20 years later in 1964 or 65. She was a Christian, school teacher, briefly, a beautician, an artist, a carpenter, a college graduate-Glenville, and a home maker, who welcomed her mother-in-law into her home where they cared for Howard together for the remaining years of Grandma Icie's life.
She always celebrated Christmas with a party. She invited all of her large extended family and friends. She made the best oysters (I had never tasted fried oysters before these parties) And, Howard always made her a "relaxer" to drink as she settled down to enjoy the festivities.
She lived on her own, alone, after Howard died unexpectedly of aneurism surgery gone wrong in 1977. (almost 15 years or so) That is until she fell, and then she met a neighbor/caretaker who wanted to help her. The family figured out how to get her care and give the neighbor some employment. So, she lived in Jan's Personal Care Home until she died in December of 2004, if I remember correctly.
I think of her often - how strong she was and how she looked out for the future life of her son, my husband.

No School Today in Taylor County

2011-01-07T06:01:00.000-05:00

I can remember when I loved to hear those words.

Hey, family! Make some new blog posts, please. I need to hear from you. Looking for your posts is no fun if you make no posts.

Family

Time to turn the page

2011-01-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

A new year has begun. It's time to turn the page.

Family Christmas - Sunday, December 26

2010-12-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

Delia is ten this Christmas and Grandma tried to find something she could use to make an experiment. Those pickle jars will come in handy now... Ho,ho,ho!

Every ten year old should get soap for Christmas, right? They made me stop buying socks...

Fiesta makes its annual appearance at our festivities. I got a cinnabar mug, too. Thank you, Tracy.

Just try to slow down a two-year-old when she sees something interesting. She will really work up a sweat.

More of our decorating strategies: cards, photos and don't forget the Christmas lights around the walls.

Dad is slightly suspicious of the peanut pillow or is it the photographer?

Tracy explains all: the peanut pillow will help with the neck ache. Pillow is washable and hand made. Good job, Tracy.

One of our favorite photos of 2010. I can still feel the love.

The Kids.

The Parents.

A gift certificate for yarn at The Nest. I know what makes these girls happy.

We had a GOOD time.

Strother Elves Christmas 2010 Update-Preparation for Christmas

2010-12-29T21:05:00.000-05:00

It's cold, but there is no snow. Can Christmas be so far away?

the Strother Elves contemplate the work to be done. Oh yeah. Delia and Tracy decorated the tree before they went outside to scout the deer location.

Make that KEITH and Delia went outside; it appears that Tracy had some catching up to do. She donated the jacket Delia wore outside.

This picture of Stan was taken by Linda or Sandy during the week before Christmas when I had to be in school. He is sitting in the recliner enjoying USA network programs -see the wvu snuggie on his left?

Traditions. And photos. We got lots of them!

The Christmas Tree at Sun Valley 2010 - complete with vintage tree skirt and stockings to be hung by the "chimney" with care...

Just the facts, Ma'am. And, of course, the pictures!

The Blessings - Alabama

2010-12-23T18:18:00.000-05:00

I stand here lookin' up at the stars tonight,

how can one man have so much in life

As I look around me, what a picture it paints,

I'm much more than lucky, I oughta give my thanks

There's food on the table, a log on the fire,

and in my woman's eyes there's love and desire

The blessings, sent from above, oh, the blessings, a life full of love

When I look around I can see, all that's been given me,

so lift my eyes up to the sky

I wanna give my thanks for the blessings

Sometimes I fall asleep at the end of the day

and I forget to thank you, I'm ashamed to say

But as I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep

I know you can hear me here on Earth,

thank you for giving me more than I deserve

The blessings,

sent from above, oh, the blessings,

a life full of love

When I look around I can see, all that's been given me,

so lift my eyes up to the sky

'Cause I wanna give my thanks for the blessings

Blessings,

when I look around, I can see, all that's been given me

So, I lift my eyes up to the sky,

'cause I wanna give my thanks for the blessings

The blessings, oh, the blessings...

Merry Christmas 2010, Family!

I love ya all!

Solstice

2010-12-21T11:53:00.001-05:00

Gentle readers.
Today is the official beginning of Winter here in the northern hemishpere.
Also, the last day for students at my school (until next year - about two weeks).
I'm going to post some photos from my school computer, since the computer at home is acting up.

Saturday - The last reeealy good shopping day before Christmas.

2010-12-18T16:54:00.000-05:00

Yo.

We are watching Sorcerer's Apprentice, instead of another endless Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean.

I tried to get the cork out of the Merlot. No luck. Drinking Kahlua instead. So, if this is slightly disjointed or out of focus, I won't be able to tell until I read it tomorrow.

Best belly laugh of the day: The Miller's Christmas Card - you kept the best photo. I want to pass it along. Please, send it to me either on the blog or by email. You have inspired me to make the obligatory Christmas letter. I have some Christmas stationary... I also have Maxine's "It won't matter in 100 years, and it barely matters now!" stationary. Guess which one I pick for this year's letter to friends and relatives...

On the national scene: DADT has passed the Senate by 65 to 31 with Manchin not there to vote and Rockefeller voting yes.

On the homefront: Kim will come tomorrow.
We are cocooning. Did the chores: garbage, laundry, obligatory TV and facebook, dishes, ignored the bills, the letters to answer, the cleaning...

Predictions:
Forecast for tomorrow: Sunday -December 19 - regular winter day, nothing special. Shop, if ya can...
Monday - regular school day - awwww shucks...
Tuesday - maybe some snow - school again...
Wednesday - I gotta go no matter how high the snow gets...
Thursday - Freedom

Friday - Christmas Eve

Hope to hear from all of you before too long. Marietta, Mo-town, NYC, Phoenix and of course D.C. and any other place you lurkers are lurking... North Pole, etc.
See ya.

Snow Day - yippee!

2010-12-06T09:26:00.000-05:00

Lake Effect Snow... what other kind is there? The weatherman should have called it "heart attack" snow - heavy, wet, good for snowmen and snow ball fights. 6 inches on the deck accumulated from the weekend... about 3 inches on the driveay at 9a.m. today. I swept and it was slush underneath. Too heavy to brush away. Still falling in big wet flakes.
Linda and Sandy may come, if they can get out of their respective roads - this morning the word was "icy" - not coming until roads get better... I don't blame them. This old 50 has been scraped. The plow flew by @ 9a.m.
I'm going to take a nap (or I wish I could take a nap) Depends [how punny I am.]

Later.

Snowy Sunday in West Virginia

2010-12-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

Dad's Christmas Tree with Dad in the mirror December 5, 2010

Our front door with the porch lights on. Thanks Strother Elves for figuring out how to hang the lights AND open the door.

Our Deer welcoming the neighbor's deer - they are far away, over the hill in the next lawn...

Our front door w/o the porch lights on.

The deck before the snow started falling again, tonight.

.. .. .. Hours and hours of Harry Potter today on ABC family. Augh! (For those of us who have memory and can remember the details with out seeing it over and over and over. But I digress.)

Delia: putting the tree together after Thanksgiving.

.. .. .. This weekend has been very nice: Trisha and Zoey came "over" from their home "on the River" and had a nice long visit. We enjoyed Zoey's discoveries - or rather re-discoveries: the "Wheel", the purple letters on the refrigerator, the toys, in the cabinet, the Christmas truck and the Christmas Radio-Flyer wagon, Grandpa Stan's church, trinkets in the dish on Grandma's dresser... you get the picture. Who can keep up with a two year old? Her Mom did very nicely. Me? I just enjoyed them.

... .. ..Trisha gave me a precious hour and a half - that stretched into two, to get some shopping done: Rx and mail pick-up, groceries - by then I was worn out. She stayed with Dad and did some Elf stuff to cheer up his room and make my decorating easier. We'll continue that later on this month ;-)
.. .. .. It's snowing again. The sun set about an hour and a half ago, then I took some photos with out the flash so I could post them. Now I'm waiting for the battery on the camera to charge.
.. .. .. .. The little tree from Grandma Freda's Christmas looks pretty good on those lamp tables. Our caregivers thought we needed a topper, so they put the angel on top. But we'll change that when Delia finds the appropriate star. The Dickens Village is partially appearing - the rest is still in the closet. I haven't decided on the best venue for their display. No drilling in the bookcases! Therefore, no lights in the village. Poor lamplighter, can't even set fire to the thatched roofs; I haven't found him. (I wonder if I gave him away??? He was always the last to leave the shelf in its old home.)
. . . . . Zoey really enjoyed the "three little people" - she put them on the "mountain" under the tree. That old VCR ate the VCR tape that Trisha was going to use to entertain the Z-miester. I will have to get my minions together- then we can create a"fireplace with fake fire" and entertainment center [a.k.a DVD/VCR music and place to show sideshows] under the living room Sharp aqueous. We can hang stockings from the old TV there too... Ah - world enough and time...elves and money...duck tape and ingenuity...
. . . . Doesn't appear, at this time, to be enough wintery weather to keep us home for a snow day. Although we can always hope ;)
. . . . I'm looking forward to the posting from Edgehill House to see the Strother's Christmas Tree. Perhaps the rest of you will take the hint?
I'm going to get the battery from the wall and hope I can load a picture or two now. Wish me luck.

The Traditional Thanksgiving Day is coming to a close.

2010-11-25T23:05:00.000-05:00

Rain. That's how the day presented itself. Grey. Foggy. And totally too warm for November.

My one foray into the daylight was a short trek to the newspaper box. Red umbrella, light jacket and me, huff'n puffin' back up the driveway.

Leah, who called yesterday, Trisha, Susie, Kim, and Barbara who all called today - had gobble, gobble wishes and stories. Tracy sent her love via f/b, too.

Yesterday, Sandy helped me rig up some colorful lights on the deck and set up the bk porch for Saturday's overflow... Today, Trisha called, still ill with the bad sore throat and coughing. Maybe not coming Saturday. She really feels bad and sounds bad. We'll know more tomorrow and Saturday morning.

Dad suffered through the day in good spirits despite the fact that I was his sole caretaker. We didn't do too badly - We watched the Parade, the Dog Show and random Burn Notices. I crock potted some meatballs and sauce - which we eventually ate for dinner.

I picked the wrong day to dust and run the sweeper - too dark, too soon. Better luck on another day.

Cold air is on the way. I swear it snowed on the deck Wednesday evening already.

I've decided. I want to be famous like Sarah Palin!

2010-11-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

Oh boy. Things must really be crazy for me to post that in my title. Or not.

Think about it: I am a woman. I am registered Republican. I vote regularly. I speak to my students, colleagues, administrators and the public when called upon. I could get a soap box (the internet) and do some free advice giving...

I have children (who also have children.) I am a college graduate with a degree in education w/ majors in English and social studies, too. I have a Master's Degree in Social Studies education. I could write a BOOK.

I have had the same husband for 41 years. I have experiences in LIFE and death. I know what life is like in nursing homes. I have experience with our private health care system and our government run health care. I've dealt with Medicare, funeral homes, and insurance companies. I know what it's like to be management and union. I'm still in the workforce.

I've flown in commercial airplanes, but not since 911. I know what its like to be comfortable in life and to be on the verge of losing everything. I have travelled across the country a couple of times - east to west and back north to south and back.
I have shot a gun. I have driven on mountain roads, back roads, superhighways and crowded highways. I read magazines: Saudi Arabia World, National Geographic, occasionally Newsweek. I read newspapers (mostly local.) I can be outspoken. I may take up a cause and raise money to find a cure.

My home state is beautiful. From my front porch, I can see West Virginia. And from my desk, I can see anywhere in the world.

Now, why wouldn't I make a good contrast to Sarah Palin? The media could put me right up there on TV every time they give her three minutes of free attention. I could talk about IMHO anything: Parkinson's, stem cell research, caregivers, parenting, religion, and oh yeah, the government. Also I have opinions on "flying after 911", education and America, testing in America, just get me started.

Currently, my kids don't dance; but they can learn. They do other fascinating things and are polar opposites - much more publicity for me....
The BOOK could be one like Hilary's or "W"'s - it really won't matter, because the media will push it and I'll be out of debt.
BTW, I went to the basement (of the Estate) to get out the seasonal decorations. I put them back after 2 out of three strings of lights didn't work. Time to rethink this decorating stuff.

In case you didn't notice the passing of time...

2010-11-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

Another week has gone. [Work has its positives, but this week, I did not get the work completed I must do - the stress is delayed until tomorrow - Monday - when I must go hide somewhere and DO THE WORK.]

Friday, after school, I stopped by the old house to check out the mailbox. I saw from the curb - the curtains pulled back and the blinds open. So, I ventured inside. There I discovered, pleasantly, that Jeff had pulled down the old ceilings and replaced them with our stockpile of new ceiling - very white and very nice. We have three new lights - two in the living room and one in the dining room. New ceiling, new lights now the reverse needs care - pack up old lights and get the old ceiling out-a-there... A never ending cycle of w-o-r-k... I didn't go to the attic to get stuff for the tree.

Saturday -- Saturday, Dad and I stayed home and I did little chores: washed laundry, fixed food 3 times, cleaned up the kitchen again, again again... carried the garbage to the curbside. Paid Jeff for putting up the ceiling. Jeff says he has a contact in the fire department that may help with the basement stuff. We'll see. Thinking all the time: how will we celebrate the holidays this year.. maybe I'll go to the attic on Sunday ...

Today, however, the day was splendiferous: sunny, temps in the 60's, no too much wind, enough shiny sun to dry the newly washed car (formerly a Sunday tradition, here at the Estate.)
Kim came - what a God Send. She turned Stan twice... washed his hair and fed him, although he didn't eat much. And I tried to get some outside work done. I got the Rx from Rite Aide, shopped for some little stuff, tried to screw-up the courage to spend money on another tree.. just can't seem to justify the outlay. Nothing fits my criteria: cheap, pretty, easy to assemble and put away.. already got that.

I couldn't go to the attic. I got stopped on the second floor by an overwhelming sense of doom. I am going crazy trying to figure out how to empty that place, keep from losing anything of "sentimental" value, and repurposing that stuff over here for a while...

tonight, Sandy's daughter dropped by with food for dinner - Sandy's family had T-Day today. Sandy asked me Friday if that would be alright. Thank God for random people.

I think of Cousin Susie daily. I hope things are ok there. I will write (to her) this week. I will! No one should have to struggle alone - unless he or she is the Unibomber...and they caught him.

I think I have a case of SAD. Don't worry, I know how to stop it. I'm just wallowing right now - it is the season, you know. Pecan Pie, Bread n Butter and applebutter, you get the picture.

I don't sleep through the night - ever. Last night I dreamed about the student whose Mother told me she needed an extension on her 7th grade geography project completion date, because she had been "molested" and Mom could give me the paperwork from the hospital if I needed it. I was standing in the cafeteria trying to get into the office to check in, when she and her two kids stopped me... for real.

And that's only one of the nightmares related to work. I don't want to think about what my brain deals with at night when it thinks about "home". But, everyone has problems and mine are mine. I don't want yours. No fair asking to trade. However, if you are inclined to share, I'll listen. I probably can't DO anything, but I can appreciate the struggle. And time just keeps on zipping by.

Due to an ice cream spill in the kitchen...

2010-11-15T05:29:00.000-05:00

Due to an ice cream spill in the kitchen, yesterday's post of mundane things has been cancelled. Technology hates me. Even plastic bags are plotting against me. Maybe today will be ?better?

Part 4; More intriging stuff from our trip to Moundsville

2010-11-13T15:41:00.000-05:00

Some of our gang, with the docent, outside - standing on the bridge just below the mound.

Same gang, different perspective.

The diorama inside the museum - big plexiglass container.

More description of the mound - inside out...

Kids love skulls.

Nice view of the tree beside the mound, don't cha think.

I have proof that Mrs. Cooper was on the job that day. Thank you Pam for walking to the top with all those guys. I don't know how you got back down... there were no handrails and the steps sloped down...

Peck's bad boyz.

Part Three: The HLC pictures from the Moundsville Museum

2010-11-13T15:05:00.000-05:00

The fancy gravy boat may be like the one left in Mrs. Skidmore's too-tall-to-reach kitchen cabinet by her heirs. The cup and saucer may be the pattern on Grandma's under-the-sink-to-catch-the-scouring-pad crockery. I used to think that was just one odd cup, but I have discovered others...

A plethora of designs. I did not see a tall tea pitcher with a stick handle (like the creamer with the stick handle).

Just a sampling of designs from HLC. There are many more in the plate room at the factory. I wonder if...

I know that platter. I've taken pork chops from it at New Year's many times. It's still in Mom's cupboard.

More pictures to follow...

Part two of today's posting @ Moundsville's Museum

2010-11-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

Costumes through the century is, I think, the name of this exhibit. Dolls dressed in period clothes with props, like the bicycle and the umbrellas.

There were so many of us, the museum called in more volunteer docents to help us understnd what was in the exhibit hall.

Too bad my group didn't get to see this exhibit up close. Kids love marbles and this would have made interesting reading for them. Maybe a feature in Golden Seal Magazine? I'll have to check.

More Dolls. Up close and personal.

Diorama: village or housing of early inhabitants of the Ohio Valley. Also a display of early weapons oand tools: fishing nets, spears, atlatl, bow and arrow...

I'll post the Homer Laughlin China pictures on the next posting...

Photos from the Moundsville trip - Inspired by this beautiful Autumn Day

2010-11-13T13:46:00.000-05:00

On the way, before we were lost and too hot and tired.

The computer is running too hot. I can't get it to upload anymore.

I'll quit for now and add some later.

Bye.

Trip to Moundsville on a sunny Autumn day

2010-10-27T22:13:00.000-04:00

Just a note to let you know: We took the 8th grade on an archaeological field trip to Moundsville today.
What an experience! maybe I got cottage cheese for brains but, I've been on lots of trips and none like this.

Now I remember why I don't go on these educational excursions anymore...

I'm getting too old for this stuff - climbing into and out of the bus, sitting on plastic seats for hours in a sweaty bus, lunch on the fly, kids borrowing money b-cuz they don't have any of course, listening to an adhd student chatter the entire way home because the meds are wearing off..

Ask me about the buses getting lost on Route 250 in Moundsville. 90 degree turns on the two lane highway 11%, 7% grades, ridge top views...

Ask me about the wonderful exhibits at the museum (free) at the Grave Creek Mound site. Hint: Fiesta ware et al., costumes through the ages, Marble King, some weaving stuff they wouldn't show us...and of course, the early inhabitants - their homes, a diorama, bones, arrow heads... gift shop, and of course THE MOUND and the climb to the top, the Indian garden at the bottom - so much stuff, so little time...

And, then - The Prison - 90 minutes of scared straight, ghost lore, weapons and Halloween decorations.

Thank God for rest areas on the Interstate.

We got home (back at the base to drop off our charges) at 6 p.m. I got home after 7.
And I'm so TURD (tired) I could FART (faint).

That is not to say that you shouldn't go; it really was fun and educational (even the unintentional lessons). I'm just saying, NO School Buses!!!

I will post some pictures soon. They are still on the camera; and the camera is still in the car. I'm too tired (turd) to go down and get it - besides the computer won't let me add any photos now for whatever reason.

It's an easy trip for the inspiration, if you go in a car, and not on Mondays.

L8TR fans.

It's been a strange weekend.

2010-10-18T00:19:00.000-04:00

For all you attendees to the Thanksgiving Dinner held by Grandma (and Grandpa) Walls: it is official.
Come on down on Saturday [after Turkey Day] around 4PM and bring your leftovers from Thursday (if you ate a big meal on Thursday)
We will exchange leftovers and gourmet cheese sammies, hang [paper] ornaments on the tree, light up little houses, take pictures, draw pictures, hang pictures, whatever else you can do to pictures.
There will be no traditional Uncle Bill sleeping on the couch - we have no couch.
There will be no traditional football - we hate football.
If you have relatives who would like to come, bring 'em.
Friends are by invitation only.
We have abandoned tradition: there is no room for one more box of stuff to be kept from year to year, so OUT with the OLD and in with the temporary, momentary, accidental and transitory.
When faced with the dilemma of paper or something sturdier, choose paper: snappier and quicker to dispose of.
Be creative.
Be festive.
Be cost conscious (I would have said - be cheap, but that's the spirit.)
Now that we have a plan, I hope the weather holds out so you all can drop in.
We'll be lookin' forward to seeing you.
I hope this is enough warning.
Don't expect the same ol' same old.
We are movin' into the twenty-first century and we are movin' fast.
We'll post a picture of the day or the day after, just to let the on-lookers see our NONTRADITIONAL Thanksgiving Celebration.
Bon Appetite

Oh, yeah. The weekend... water problems on the Boulevard; medical mystery w/ Dad; shopping spree for me [JC Penneys 50% off sale] junk removal plan in effect; visits and phone calls from the chillin' and of course, no rest for the wicked. As you can see, some good, some bad. A typical weekend for someone who leads three lives.

Are we gonna get rain?

2010-10-13T19:19:00.000-04:00

Who can tell what tomorrow will bring? The weatherman says there is a Nor'easter coming to the area - bringing colder weather and maybe snow in the northern parts. But now [Wednesday evening] it looks far to the north and east, with just a tail of wind coming our way. Heavy sigh.

Happy Anniversary daughter, Trisha, and son-in-law, John. I'm glad to read you had a pleasant dinner and night out away from cares and responsibilities.
Happy visiting daughter, Tracy, and son-in-law, Keith, and granddaughter, Delia. I hope your baker-boss gets you a baker-buddy soon.

I finally got rid of all the black 5 gallon cans beside the driveway.
I got through the parent-teacher conferences on Monday night.
I found a note written by a student: Life sucks... and a paragraph about a boy who fell out a window and died. I forgot to give it to Maryanne. But, I wrote a post it and stuck it on the note with all good intentions...

I had a good chuckle reading the face book comments from all your f/b postings.

It seems odd to me to think about "things" so much these days. Dad doesn't have much to say now. He's asleep since 4 o'clock and still sleeping @ 7. I'll have to wake him soon to give him dinner and meds.

The sewer line company [fairy] must have visited Monday night - the front lawn has been seeded and covered with straw.
The porch had an unusual pile of fluff on it tonight: I discovered a hole in the corner of the porch (a loosen'd piece of trim let some small critter make a nest under the deck on the front porch - and something dug out what was under there... oOoOowwww. wonder what it is/was?

When this part of my existence is over, I wonder what I'll do?...

The graphic is a homage to all citizens in Arizona, NYC, DC, and WV who have the choice to vote It's happier that I thought I was at the start of this rant/blog. Hope your week is turning out well.

Making Chicken Soup

2010-10-02T18:11:00.000-04:00

It's 5:30 on Saturday. The pleasing smell of chicken soup is wafting through the house.
The day has been gorgeous.

Joy called to check on us. She's having a good year. She went to the north-west to Hallie's wedding, rafted the Rough River and really enjoyed herself.

The health professional came to draw a sample from Dad to check for another UTI. She said it will take a couple of days - maybe until Wednesday, before we get the results. UHC is moving patients to the NEW hospital today. Tomorrow the lab and ER move. Change makes all things new again.

I walked to the mailbox, only to find Walmart fliers and nothing of importance there.
I put the laundry to wash. Later, to dry. The furnace came on by itself this morning about 8:30. I left the front room window rolled out last night and the breeze must have hit the thermostat. I could hear the "little man with the heat bucket" tinkling away at the hot water heaters.

There were two bucks with nice racks in the backyard today - Oh, where is my bow and arrow?

I've been online with the nefarious Edline. I will try to do more with that usurper of time later.
Dad watched "Unforgiven" and Miami CSI, ate breakfast and a little lunch. It's now time for some meds. Past time actually. So, I must go.

PS i've enjoyed reading the blogs and seeing the pictures and also reading the comments. Keep 'em coming.

The last day of September 2010 - Good-bye

2010-09-30T21:10:00.000-04:00

Life just moves so fast.

I think I have developed ADD.
I can't get things finished.
My brain is full of holes.

My hair is growing longer, not too grey. But fuzzy.
Sleep comes to me and erases the troubles of the day.
Unless I wake up.
Dreams/nightmares of the day interrupt my sleep.

My body is betraying me.
An expected event; an unexpected time.
The technology is saving me.
How long can/may I continue?

Realities are changing.
Focus deteriorates along with the machines of the past.
Life is inside out.
Where is the center?

Do you believe in Eternity?
Maybe that's why I'm so 'out of focus'
Maybe
I'm just tired.

October is tomorrow.
If tomorrow ever comes...

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

2010-09-19T15:02:00.000-04:00

Just a quiet day in the valley.
Warm, sunny and breezy.
I am getting ready to grade the allmighty stack of papers (and hope edline will work for me tonight ;-)
I found the checkbook (and the stack of bills)...

and I'm thinking...

A Day In The Life Of ________________(your name could go in that blank also... )

Ordinary People.

Have a great week, everyone.

9-11-2010

2010-09-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching Fmr First Lady Laura Bush and First Lady Michelle Obama speak at the Shanksville Memorial location (on C-Span). They are inspired speakers. There are lessons here that need to be taught.
And learned...

September will always be the month of memories...

Happy Labor Day

2010-09-06T13:56:00.000-04:00

I couldn't resist this Maxine I lifted from Sue Wolfkill. Enjoy!

And then, of course, there is a traditional graphic.

Happy Holidays.

Fall is here (in spirit)

2010-09-05T18:46:00.000-04:00

Back to the routine. Sunday's are for lesson plans and catching up.
I wish we had "a dial-up deli". Stan is getting tired of Crock Pot meat balls and sauce. Who can eat EGGS for every breakfast? Why didn't I learn to cook?
Trisha, John, and Zoey were here yesterday. Zoey weighs 30.5 lbs and is 37 inches tall.
Tracy decided to cook in her own kitchen today, so the Strother family stayed in Mo-town today.

I've barely used the AC these two days. Open windows are in an invitation to fall. Soon, I will have to shop for the fall essentials so we can survive if we have "a bad winter" but that is a work project for another time.

Too bad we don't have a pumpkin vine in the garden this year.

I hope this weekend "turning point" finds you all healthy and energized.

I really enjoy reading about your painting projects, new school schedules, reshaping your homes, and jobs, and lives...

So, Bloggers, get busy telling the tales. We can use the energy you can pass along :)

Third post on Saturday (don't forget to check them all)

2010-08-28T19:05:00.000-04:00

I thought you might like to see the cave I live in for 10 months of the year.

The custodians painted it light blue. First time in 20 years this room has been painted. (It was a dirty beige with table and beige chairs, mauve accents - on the cupboards and drawers.)

The trees are remnants from a trip to Muir Woods ;-)

The big screen tv was a group purchase - faculty senate money.

My new chair - my purchase -Staples - it's environmentally friendly.

I'm trying to set up a preferential seating location: away from distractions. The seat is behind the tables, beside my computer and desk, and in front of that pink sign. I built a wall of books. The kid is supposed to face front and not interact with his peers. He pushes the books onto the floor when I'm not looking. (And I am blind at this point.)

My students - nothing else needs said.

Second post on Saturday

2010-08-28T18:41:00.000-04:00

Some photos from July - Trisha's week long birthday celebration!!!!

Are we having fun, yet? As soon as we cut the cake we were fine.

I love you girls.

Saturday - follow up on the pond in the yard

2010-08-28T18:29:00.000-04:00

Wonder what they use this for? They keep moving it up the road as they dig...

This was the last pile. I don't remember having so much grey rock down by the road. Was a clay like substance when they dug it up for the "pond"...

Sure doesn't look like this now... this is where the grass is skinned off and the existing drain goes under the road.

Gotta love a man in a BLUE Hat Hat. He must be "the boss"...

Or is the guy lookin on "the Boss"...

At any rate, it's Saturday. The yard has a mudd flat in it with a big pipe sticking up (and a nodescript stake) and all the equipment has moved on to the west - up the valley.

I wonder what comes next?

Saturday - the end of July

2010-07-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

I bought a new academic calendar. I am "officially" turning pages - toward the end of the year.
This will be a very busy time.
If you don't hear from me, I'm taking a break from the interesting net.

Random Thoughts on Tuesday

2010-07-27T15:59:00.000-04:00

My life really IS a country song. It changes depending on the day.
Today is Tuesday. Sandy called at 8 to say she and Linda wouldn't be in to work today: she had things to do around the house, and Linda had her grandchildren [boys btw the ages of 7 and 15] to care for. Besides, the state is putting a closed til 4:30 sign on her road, to stop traffic while someone fixes something.

So here we are. I decided not to bath or shower. H***, I'm on VACATION for two more weeks...
Besides being a beautiful day, it's senior discount day at the market.

But I am keeping house today.

I began to run the sweeper; it's amazing what kind of dust I can see when the sun shines. I'm getting sweaty and "in the mood to clean". Then, I hear the beep of the answering machine. I've missed a call. It's from Madeline, the speech therapist. (If we don't answer, HomeHealth mightnever call back.) So I hear she will call again in 5 minutes, so I sit w/o turning on the sweeper... Then I get tired of waitnig, give Stan the BELL and say, If you hear the phone, ring the bell. LSS: he doesn't ring, but I get finished and hear the phone: she's coming in three hours. Yay, I have time to clean something....
[sounds of me dumping stuff into the middle bedroom, smells of me with Orange oil wiping things, sounds of me "ooofing" and tugging on furniture] Hey, there's something besides dust under this bed... I can't get down to look... I could move the bed.... or not. I'm pretty sure I know what it is, but I have no place to put it so it stays right where it is.

We get a visit from Madeline, the speech therapist, who told us to use lemonade to encourage muscles in the throat to swallow. He perked up for Madeline, listened attentively and seemed to enjoy her visit. She's coming back next week, for her follow up.
We have not heard from the blood work taken yesterday, but I will call.

So, there you have it. I'm cleaning, tossing and re reading or re-stuffing 'stuff ' I found last time I cleaned, but could not find a place for. I need a new hairstyle. (I also uncovered the scales...) All this could be blog topics for future days.
Hope you day was productive.

Saturday promises to be the hottest day of the year so far.

2010-07-24T08:17:00.000-04:00

Greetings gentle readers,

We are in the middle of Summer and I can feel it: warm and muggy - wonderful humid continental climate.

Nothing much to report here.

Progress is stopped -for the moment - on the move to Sun Valley.

It's 8 AM and Stan is sleeping. He's been up, got his meds, turned off the O2 and motioned to turn off the tv, the lights and let him sleep.
I'm going to get dressed and get the paper.
It's Saturday. Whooppie!
I'd rather be sleeping (but it's gonna get hot, so I'd better prepare...)

Tuesday - Forty Years Ago Tonight

2010-07-20T22:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Everybody
I'm glad I'm not related to Mel Gibson or the mother of his little girl. Talk about STRESS. I'm watching Joy Behar on HLN and the chatter/gossip channel. It's 9:30PM.

This has been one heck of a day.

I was late getting up again. This weather seems to be drawing all of the strength out of me.
After some delay, I started out to the "Other House" (like "Your Other Mother" of Coroline fame...) and watered the flowers there before I left to get gas @Kroger and the Electrolux hose in NutterFort. La, la, la, la... I talked to Timbuck about the basement and whom to hire.

Now, I'm watching the NASA channel - much more appropriate: The anniversary of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. 1969 - 2010. They say 40 YEARS. (I think it's 41. What do you say?) Congratulations again, Apollo Astronauts!

Then I get the call from Linda: the nurse thinks Stanley needs a chest x-ray. So, I okay the trip to the ER via EMS and now its 1:15... He got there about 2 and when everything was done we were dismissed @ 7:15 - so much for the "couple hours" I had hoped for. Durn Dr kept leaving to save lives...

Linda and Sandy stayed with us; then, they went home to prepare for his arrival; then they took care of settling him in. And, they cooked our dinner. Boy, do I feel cared for.

Tomorrow - I'll try to take care of "Park Boulevard" again.

Oh yea, I saw a cool desk at a yard sale (in the rain) probably won't be there tomorrow. Or it will be ruined by the water... Just what I need - - - more stuff...... Guess what kind of furniture it was?! if you are the first correct guesser, you may get a surprise!!!!!

5:30PM and rain (heavier now) is falling through the sunshine

2010-07-18T18:16:00.000-04:00

Dearest readers,
I am trying to live my best life: I am enjoying the beautiful summer that waits outside the door. But I need a purpose to get moving. So these are my random thoughts as I wait for something else to happen - something that lurks or looms or hovers or waits until conditions are in their proper order to proceed.

These huge drops of rain are falling from the sunshine. Although it was temporarily darker for a moment inside (I've kept the lights off to conserve, of course), this is a true summer shower. It's only 5:30 or so and it's over as fast as it came here. Not the case however, in southern WV and the eastern edge of Ky. I've been watching the weather - floods abound in those deep valleys in the southern mountains.

On Friday, Sandy and Linda gave the flowers a hair cut. Trimmed up the flower boxes, so they wouldn't be so scraggly. Stan got a make-over, too. Now, I would like one - but I will wait to cut this hair until I have to go back to work. Aughhhhhhhh! A month less a few days... (maybe that's it, but I don't think so.)

It's been a typical Sunday: lounging around, watching the History Channel - same old Shroud of Turin, again, or The Mayan Calender End of Time Theory - or USA character action/detective stories. Took the garbage to the edge of the driveway in my truck! It's so hot (not as hot as Phoenix, of course) but the stuff smells and the bag melts in hand as soon as it is in the truck waiting for its ride to final destination!

Am avoiding paying bills. Must pay bills.(Maybe that's it.) Aughhhhh. Eat a cookie. The lawn looks great. Step outside again - heat blasts. Inside now: Read the paper. Coffee and a cookie. Sleep in the chair. Eat a cookie. Avoid paying bills. Sleep in the chair. Fix lunch. Eat lunch. Make meatballs for supper (to be eaten later tonight). Eat a cookie. Sleep in the chair. Avoid paying bills. Call home health - Stanley's right big toe is infected. She calls back (Jen) says have a Doctor look at his toe (and his chest x-ray if needed). Until then, put gauze between the toes. (Not necessary for this infected spot) And so it goes. Call the Dr in the morning.

We loved having the Miller's with us yesterday. We shared food, cake'n ice cream, Zoey's presence. A good time was had by all. Maybe we'll see them in September. (Maybe that's it. One never knows...)

Wednesday - not currently raining; in over my head again.

2010-07-14T15:55:00.000-04:00

Wish I were witty; wish I were pretty - that goes a long way in some quarters - but no wishin' can make it so, Roy.
I'll just have to settle for clever and smart!

Friday's News: Rain in massive amounts, sporatically appearing on the scene.

2010-07-09T19:20:00.000-04:00

Mundane details of the day: Humid, ocassionally overcast, but sunny, no rain before noon here in central WV.

Linda and Sandy went to breakfast and WalMart before coming here at almost 10 o'clock.
I called Leah to get our brunch date rearranged. We changed plan to get to Bob's about 11, now.
I decided to go to the boulevard to water the flowers and see if Jeff is working there today.
I do and "No"; then to the bank.
Call Leah and tell her I'm coming - but she's in C-burg, not Fmt. TG I called ;-) we'd have missed each other.
Mindy got her "new" car [Gold PT Cruiser] and had the oil changed - They met me at Bob's. Girls' lunch out. Yeaaaah!
After, I decide to drive to Mgt to get the sink and lights at Lowe's, but first the faucets at HomeDepot.
I noticed the time. It's short. Can I make it? I try. Wreck #1 on I-79 at Goshen Road. Time lost 15 minutes or so.
At Lowe's, sky is dark. I find the stuff, get a guy to load it for check-out and a guy to put it into the truck (sink and petestal in the bed, w/bungees; lights and med cabinet in cab w/me.) TG for VISA.

Thunder rolls, sky opens up and dumps inches of rain on the truck and me. I wait 15 minutes then try the interstate for home ... rain, traffic... (but first a stop at SEARS in C-burg for the microwave [Sharp and stainless] in the front seat...
Wreck #2 on the other side of I-79 after I get on at the Meadowbrook Mall exit... But I'm coming home and it's raining again... again.. again... Linda unpacked the microwave. Sandy carried it up the stairs.

Will the chair lift man come this evening? He's supposed to...
He did. Chair lift is fixed. Paid for, too.

And the rain still falls...

If this is Tuesday, this must be Switzerland.

2010-07-06T19:12:00.000-04:00

Well, that's close. People used to call this part of the country (USA) "Little Switzerland", I suppose, because it had "mountain" sports like skiing, and the requisite snow, an area that made cow's milk into cheese, beautiful scenery, friendly people, and a tad bit of isolation. Same kind of things could make it "Little Italy", too.

West, by God, Virginia is a beautiful place to live, (despite the current heatwave which registered 100 degrees on my car thermometer in the parking lot at Lowe's this afternoon.) Nevertheless, I find myself here, wondering if I will ever be able to sell my house on the Boulevard, which currently holds the equity of my life's savings. As I drove around my old neighborhood today, I saw a few more houses with "for sale" signs in the yards. I have scoured the interesting-net to see what the asking prices are... it really doesn't matter. I can only afford to "fix" part of the problems. (That number is yet to be determined.) Someone else must take on the rest... After I empty it and clean it.

Today's progress: I made a command decision to use mold and mildew resistant drywall in the bathroom, paint it and move on. Jeff has already removed all the pink (and some red) tile that lived there for 40 years, removed the sink (anyone want an ancient cast iron porcelain one bowl bathroom sink with chipped drain area and rusted overflow?), taken to the porch the pink toilet we got from Mom n Dad 15 years ago (goodbye pink flushing machine.), removed the "no emotional attachment" medicine cabinet which left a hole 13 1/2" by 26" in the wall above the missing sink. Now - my excursion to Lowe's has revealed 1 American Standard Restoration pedestal sink and pedestal can be found in Buchannon for @200 bucks, then the American Standard toilet , if I get the 15 inch height will be @220. the faucets for said sink are on 8 inch centers @ 152 w/o tax. (They have little porcelain roundels marked hot and cold, which match the fixtures on the bathtub, which are X's with porcelain roundels.) And I haven't settled on the flooring... nor the medicine cabinet... nor the paint... But, the window - double hung, cheap replacement @200. w/o installation and trim. And Don't Forget Everything needs TRIM. $$$$$

But, I am not the only one involved in this renovation. I report back to Stan every day. I tell him; he tries to tell me. He's feeling about the same. He's having trouble with phlegm. And swallowing.

Tomorrow, I can't work in the heat over at the boulevard; I have a Dr's appointment in Mo-town. Friday, I'm having lunch w/ Leah - place to be determined. Next week, JJ and his football buddy will help me move the big stuff from the first floor, over here - temporarily, of course, until I need firewood in the winter... LOL
Well, that's what they do in Switzerland isn't it - make a fire, roast marshmallows and keep warm.
Keep warm, gentle readers.

Live for today, for tomorrow may never come...

2010-07-01T20:47:00.000-04:00

Does that mean - spend it while you've got it? You can always count on the government to bail you out...

The weather has been perfect this week. Low temps in the 70's and low humidity. Sunshine and breezes.
What luck - it's not too hot to work in the old house. I cleaned the window sills when I opened the windows downstairs yesterday. I turned on the fan, not the AC. The chestnut tree has stopped smelling up the neighborhood and the purple petunias I bought are fragrant enough to change the "old, empty-house smell" to something less odiferous.

I'm still emptying the ocean - one teaspoon at a time. Yesterday, Jeff found the leak in the bathroom at 230. It turns out that the 100 year old drain pipe was 8 inch cast IRON (which ran across under the floor from the place where the tub and commode came together to drain) and ran up above the library doors toward the outside wall. He cut out many feet of ceiling in both rooms to get to it. Dusty - black coal dust.
Today he inserted plastic pipe with some kind of deal at each end to seal the pipe to the old one. No water leaked.

Tomorrow we will try to finish the basic repalcement of commode and sink and mebbe floor -sheet lineoleum, and window - we only have three hours...; then there's the wall treatment to cover the holes left by the iron sink... (We-I'm buying the big stuff, Jeff installs or tears out and replaces.)

I ordered the replacement ceiling today - it will be here in 21 days. I picked out the floating floor - something a little cheaper than Pergo -SwiftLoc. But we won't install until the ceiling is up. (And the furniture is OUT.)

Until then, the plan is to keep working. Window in the bathroom. - Move to another room. Empty it. Maybe the window (looks like three more after the bathroom...) then the walls in the office/bedroom upstairs... $$$$$$$$$$$$$ It's only money. And to get back my "investment" I need to clean the ducts on the furnace and price AC for the furnace...

Still, too many things left to carry out of there. SIX weeks til I have to go back to work.

On the 4th of July, we are having a picnic her in the valley. You are all invited to attend. RSVP ASAP.
Leah and Jay are coming. As are Keith, Delia and Tracy. And maybe John, Zoey and Trisha. A good time will be had by all. 90 degrees is forecast - hot "as the fourth of July" as they say.

Pictures from Zoey's 2nd Birthday Party

2010-06-29T22:30:00.000-04:00

This is our little girl - fascinated by balloons!

She doesn't stop moving as long as balloons fly overhead.

Dad is grilling the brats and steakburgers. We love the Indy Hat.

Momma spent a lot of time on this creation. And we loved it! She decorated it with Wilton tips and plastic bags (just like Grandma Freda, I might add.) And kept it out of harm's way in the her very own hiding spot: the cool oven.

Happy 2nd Birthday Zoey

The pennants are Momma's idea. We loved the colors and the Sesame Street Characters.

Neighbors stopped by, too. And Uncle Jim and Caroline came to celebrate with Grandma Joyce and Grandpa John and Bill (and me).

I think Zoey looks a lot like Joyce.

A good time was had by all.

One picture before the battery ran out.

2010-06-27T20:52:00.000-04:00

Dearest REaders -
This computer has the lazy summertime virus. I'm just guessing - but, the darn thing is slow to load and the operator is slower to remember how to get the pictures off the camera. And the battery on the camera needs charging. So here is the only picture I got loaded before disaster...
It's a testament to Trisha's artistic ability. And wait til you see the CAKE. More to come, I promise.

Sunday and rightly so!

2010-06-27T12:14:00.000-04:00

The sun is heating up our universe. Thank God, Eddie, and Sears for Air Conditioning. Life, here in the valley is interrupted sledom by excitement, adventure or news.

However, later today, I'll post some pictures of Zoey's birthday.

I have a sink full of dishes to figure out. They have scum/film on them from the dishwasher. Just another mystery to solve while I ponder the Meaning Of Life here in our little corner of the universe.
Gotta get back to the job.

See ya all in (after) the funny papers.

Summer with a Vengence

2010-06-23T18:01:00.000-04:00

What day is this anyway?
When on "vacation" dates don't matter. Just tip me off to the weekend, so I won't miss enjoying Saturday.
I'm guessing this is Wednesday - only because I shopped yesterday and got my Kroger senior citizen discount...
Stan and I just watched Secondhand Lions. I wish I still had the book - it was much better than the movie, but ya can't keep EVERYTHING. Do ya think!
I'm still dipping the ocean out with a teaspoon.
Of course, the temperature inside an unairconditioned room is 90 plus. I remember where I used the extension cord that attached the ac in the bedroom of 230 to the wall. Tomorrow I will find the cord and reconnect it to the ac. Tomorrow I will put on the porch more bags of my cultural self definition - gathering dust in the rooms since 2005.
I have a plan; I am reluctant to spend money executing the plan. Rather, I have given in to whims and am enjoying the results immensely.
As I look outside, the sky is overcast - no rain yet, here in the valley, but some is expected. It's 6 pm and I'm going to heat up something for supper.
If you are a blog follower, write and say how things are with you.

Tuesday - A Business Day

2010-06-15T16:21:00.000-04:00

Tuesday is a Busy Day. I am doing business!

I began the change in insurance for this place. The policy will insure it (coincidentally) for the appraised value - which is more than Mom and Dad had on their policy in 1960, of course, increased by about 65k.

I began the change in utilities (not all, just water, right now...) .
I called Jim to repair the chair lift - he'll come by tomorrow...
I got groceries.
I changed the medical device.
I sent the car to have the engine light checked.

This picture illustrates my theory about cleaning up around here - until today! New leaf. Another page. Fresh Start. Oh, I feel the urge to lie down....

I have decided to get off the computer after this hour and not log on again until Sunday! - I'll spend my time in other pursuits until then. Hopefully I can restore order to my brain, and the rooms around my confused psyche.

Leave me a message. I'll get back to ya.

Suddenly Sunday

2010-06-13T08:54:00.002-04:00

This week began with much promise: I promised myself that I would begin clearing out the old house on the Boulevard.
Monday was the last day for kids at school where I endured yet another movie marathon with 30 - 40 kids choosing to sit infront of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. We all know their intention was NOT to watch the "flick"-that's old school for "movie"- but rather be social with their buds. (I only lost control - of myself- once.)
Tuesday was a work in your room day, meetings and lunch on your own. We ate at a charming place in Grafton called Gourmet's Delight, on Rt. 50 east, after you cross the replaement for the "blue bridge" into the clusters of homes and buildings that make up the outskirts, not too far from Dr. Moore's office (the dentist). Turns out, the place is a renovated two story house, with overflow seating on the second floor. Wide oak steps with a turn at the top and plenty of handrails ;) got me to a table. Food and company were excellent. (Thanks, Pam and Dot and Val.)
Wednesday was another work in your room day and check out for the summer. I had help from Camey M. who is a this year's 7th grade student and daughter of the school nurse. [the kid's a sweetheart, even though she didn't learn anything from my class this year by her sworn statement.]
Susie wrote another great letter. We have so much in common and so much to share. "Does all this clutter make my butt look fat?" by Peter Walsh. And again "It's All Too Much" by the same guy... gotta get to the library and see if these are on the shelves...
Thursday, my first day of freedom, was spent shopping, wandering between Penney's and Walmart. It was raining so I didn't get out of the car at WallyWorld. Got a few items at Lowes. Thank you Linda and Sandy for coming at 9 and leaving at 3. Things worked out well for my mental state.
Friday, I returned to shopping - my only escape that doesn't involve packing up and/or throwing away. Bought shorts: it's hot and muggy here. Didn't try them on. Sandy was here again from 9 til 3. Had to return one pair on Saturday.
Saturday, Sandy came from 9 til 3 to give me time to work at the Boulevard, or do something else. I returned the shorts (got 81 cents extra - there was a doorbuster sale on Saturday) I met the new neighbor, Mike Riley, and put some "garbage" in a can at the curb. And I brought some photos to the Valley in between the rainstorms and showers.
I can see the sun is coming out; it's almost 8:40 and I'm still in my PJ's (another goodie from the shopping escape).
And so goes the life, modified as it is, in the Valley. Looks almost livable if you don't talk about the psychic pain and the physical pain and the phone calls from relatives (Maxine - Joe's heart attacks, trip to the VA in DC in the ambulance and the stents) describing the nature of health and life in their worlds, too.
NO, I didn't get the house "cleaned out", but I have the rest of my life to do that, if my health and the money hold out...

Monday - Last Day of school for students

2010-06-07T10:04:00.000-04:00

Everyone anticipates this day, but no one thinks it will come.

It's good to have friends.

If it ain't broke, don't FIX IT.

2010-06-05T15:36:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to change My blog background.
Nothing is working like I think it should.
I've made some changes in another blog I write and they turned out to be UNIVERSAL. Go figure!
I may never get this thing back up and running.
I'm hungry. I'm quitting for a pork chop.
L8tr.

Memorial Day Weekend and Celebrations

2010-05-29T07:16:00.006-04:00

Looks like a nice weekend lies ahead.

Tracy and Keith are celebrating their wedding anniversary. They are going camping in the hills of WV. (I have no pictures from those early days or I'd put 'em up here.)

John is helping his Dad with the machine gun shoot; Trisha and Zoey may visit us today.

Most of the school kids are finsihed with work - some are looking forward to graduation, some are just looking forward to the END of classwork for this year. My students are partying next week: awards day with movie and popcorn, trip to Wheeling, move-up day and clean out your lockers, R&R picnic at the Lake. Then next Monday... The Last Day for This Year... all day, with kids. We, of course, have two days after that to clean up loose ends.

The county messed up our direct deposit. Who knows if my check stub matches what I'm supposed to get this time? No good deed goes unpunished.

I am enjoying all the trip pictures, Barbara and Ed. Looks like you'll be spending The Big 31st in the midwest somewhere.

Hope you all enjoy this fabulous weather and memorable week end.

Time to Update the Blog

2010-05-22T15:07:00.006-04:00

Not a very creative title today. That's because I'm lazy. The rain pours from the heavens about every twenty minutes. Big fast falling drops. Then, the clouds move on - there is respite - and rain begins again. The sky is a deep gunmetal gray.

Stan is sleeping; the History channel showed the story about connecting all the ancient pyramids all over the world to ancient astronauts. We lived through that story in the 60's when the books were written. And we know it by heart. And we were bored today.

I have the AC running to keep the humidity down somewhat.

Zoey is ok - I'm assuming. Trisha said she would e-mail the details, but that crisis is over. And we move on. No harm, no foul.

Barbara is in Sacramento - she and Ed are driving through the Sierra's toward the east, when the snow stops up there in the high country.

Norma called. She has had pnemonia these past two or three weeks and is just now taking her last meds.

Tracy overslept her alarm one day this week. The summertime sunshine tricks us into going to bed later than we should.

I am really tired. We had reward for good Westesting yesterday. Kids were remarkably good: no yelling, no girl-on-girl fights; they played well together during the movie, and in the gym in the afternoon, and then, we went home. I could hardly wait to get home and lie down.

The garage charged me again for looking for the squeek in the brakes. I called Kevin; he took Friday's charge off.

I discovered that school starts the 16th for teachers next August, and the 19th for kids. I haven't looked to see what day we begin. Early. Who know how or when it will end...

Just taking Life One Day at a Time...

Sunny Saturday in the Valley

2010-05-15T16:06:00.005-04:00

Fantastic Day!

Sunshine.

Warmth.

Green leaves, green grass.

Yesterday the weather forecast described an evening of thunderstorms with 60 mph winds, hail the size of quarters and cloud to ground lightning.

We got rain, after 6PM.

Yesterday, Linda and Sandy planted the flowers from the High School greenhouse in last year's leftover containers. Multi color flowers in odd sized containers abound around the edge of the deck.

The mail today revealed a note from the Parkinson's Support Group and a Letter from Susie.
Susie got her license. She can see to drive; claims she just can't drive: Butch inherited her skill - like Mr. Toad's wild ride in Disney. (story included)

My mental state is "mental": I wonder if I should try to make my (our) parents' home into our (Stan and my) home ...even for a little while.
Sunshine cleaning makes me want to "decorate" - "plant flowers" - which makes me want to "clean house".- "change the curtains"..... aughhh Not ready, yet.

I tried to take photos and post them; I got the photos - I can't remember how to get them off the camera - again. Duh. Trial and many errors.... trial.... try again... L8tr.

Election Day in West Virginia

2010-05-11T21:37:00.008-04:00

I'm sad.

The weather was rainy and cold today: A typical election day.

This was to have been a day off from the constant struggle to get-it-together I find myself in every working day.

The things I have to do list got modified and some things never got finished.

We almost lost NCIS to the election reporters on Channel 5 - Dumb guys. That's a story for another day, too. Election Day in November!!!!

I read the blogs about the grandmothers.

I reflected upon the fact that I, too, have grandmothers (and I know many grandmothers now that I am one myself.) My grandmothers were STRONG women. I loved and feared them at different times in my life (for different reasons.) I will have to look for a picture of my Grandmothers to post, but the generic picture above will do for now.

I didn't know her when she had any other hair color than gray. Her hair was long and she kept it braided. She was so heavy that I could not get my arms around her to give her a hug. And she always gave me one. Amanda Olive Wright worked hard and, with my Grandpa Clem beside her, she raised her sons and daughters: Erse, Red, Buss, Ray, Eveline, Louise and Marg (and there was at least one baby whom I didn't know about as a child, who died soon after birth). Even while raising her family, she took care of my great grandparents (her in-laws) who were bed-fast toward the end of their lives, in her country home. Columbus, I believe, and Mary were gone before I got on the scene.

At Thanksgiving time, Clem and the men of the family would butcher a hog and she would "put it up" - make sausage and put sausage patties in crocks with fat poured on top, to set in the cellar house..., and then there were the pickled pigs feet - I didn't eat that. When the butchering was finished, she would roll out her famous (chicken) noodles - I DID eat that. She rolled out dough on the porcelain top table under the window in her kitchen, and cut them in long strips to boil in the chicken broth. We had farm killed chicken every weekend. I saw eggs inside the chicken, heart, gizzard, liver, too. I loved chicken livers and still do. (and I ate her fried chicken even though I saw her pluck the feathers and cut up the chicken ;)

Clem and Mandy didn't have indoor bathroom until I was big enough to remember (4 or 5)the shower and toilet in the very back of their one story, three bedroom home, with the cellar house up the hill almost under the garage. By that time, her daughter Marg, had died of cancer, and we saw our cousins from in and out of state in the summertime at Grand Dad's birthday on the 4th of July.

One weekend, in the winter, I stayed over in Wetzel County, with out my parents. I slept in the middle bedroom - it had at least three double beds at the time and was heated by gas space heaters....They slept in the back bedroom near the kitchen and bathroom. I heard her tell Grandpa as they were getting into bed that I was a handful. I didn't like the sound of that - I didn't know what a handful was... and I brooded about that for a long time, but never asked.

She was a big fan of Eisenhower. She had a little plastic statue of Ike about two inches tall, sitting on the radio in the "parlor" (living room with the big red velvet couch and chair.) That's the same couch that Uncle Jake flaked out on after every Sunday meal at Grandma and Grandpa's. We always had a big family meal there.

She and Grand Dad got me something to plant in the garden one summer. I dug into a burned patch of ground with my shovel ( a spoon) and planted elbow macaroni... what great fun.

When she died, she was in the hospital. The doctor had "opened her up" to see if he could fix whatever it was that was hurting her. She had told him: if it's bad, just sew me up. At 86 or so, she had lived a long time and she had never been bed-fast. He did just what she ask.

He daughter, Louise, came in the room to help care take her after the surgery. Louise had many children, by then, most of them grown men by 1970's, and she lived nearby outside of Mannington. She was one of the best caretakers and God fearing women in the little country Christian church she and her family attended. Grandma complained of her legs aching and Louise massaged them to ease the pain. Grandma Mandy died that evening in the hospital.

On the other side, I hardly knew my Grandma Jessie Pearl. She took care of my Grandpa Harry during the 1st five years of my life - he had Lou Gehrig's and we seldom stayed at her house. When I did, I slept upstairs in the room with the maple chest of drawers, but not in the spool bed in the front room. Their house was a two story with a bathroom - and a claw foot tub, on the second floor. The furniture was dark and heavy - a round claw-foot oak table, a big heavy rocker, a metal knight statue at the top of the stairs....kitchen in the back of the house, grape arbor and chicken coop out back... the basement with the dirt floor and cold storage room and that huge garage out back....

Grandpa's bed was downstairs, in the original parlor. I didn't know why at the time. Someone remodeled the house to make the dining room bigger - more of a living area. Come to think of it, I never saw my Grandpa Harry in his bed the whole time I visited Burt Town Hill (that's what we called the homeplace). I can't imagine my Grandma caretaking him, but she must have.

Jessie Pearl was a shorter stout woman. She always wore dresses. Sometimes a hat. She went places - to town, to church and to visit relatives in other places. The Straights were Baptists. She and Grandpa Harry raised five children Elba, Roy, Edward, Freda, Stanley. All the kids went to college. Mom is the only one who didn't graduate. They travelled on vacations.

She collected salt shakers and porcelain statues.

Grandpa died when I was little -- 5 or 6 mebbe 7. Grandma Jessie came to live with my Mom and Dad when she was unable to live by herself -- just after I got married ( 20 or so years later). I was gone from my parents' home, but I have stories from that time that I will never forget...

It's time for me to go to bed. I'm not so sad now. At least my mind has something new to think about.

And, oh yeah, Mollohan has conceded to his opponent - I should have changed my registration so I could vote in the democratic primary. That is where the decisions are being made. Another hi-jacked vote. Chicanery!

Blustery Day in May - Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T07:39:00.005-04:00

These are photos that make me happy. After all, it IS Happy Mother's Day!

Random thoughts

Happy Mother's Day, family.

It's gonna be cool this weekend. No sweat!

The grass has been trimmed. Looks great!

Cook out or grill? Wear a sweater.