The Ice Box

A Day that Will Live in Infamy

2011-12-07T13:30:00.001-07:00

Now that she has returned home, I can announce this. Just two weeks ago, my daughter and her high school bandmates were here, in Pearl Harbor, representing our state at some of the events commemorating the bombing of Pearl Harbor 70 years ago. They played solemnly and proudly at the USS Arizona memorial and at the USS Missouri, and they marched in the Waikiki Holiday Parade the day after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving took on new meaning for these thoughtful and appreciative teenagers. They have a newly found thankfulness for the blessings in their lives, blessings paid for by the sacrifices made by those entombed in the wreckage at Pearl Harbor.

God bless our military and their families.

Happy Birthday!

2011-11-10T09:03:00.003-07:00

I'm Not Sure Why I Did It

2011-11-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'm still nose deep in the chaos surrounding marching band season. The competitive season ends this coming Saturday, but the days leading up are making us all crazy. I'm in charge of the souvenir program for the upcoming state championship, and my deadline is looming.

I'm not sure why I volunteered to take on this project. It has been incredibly nerve-wracking.

I shall return. I promise. I can't guarantee, however, that I'll be sane when I do.

The Mean Streak

2011-10-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Recently I confided in a couple of close friends of mine that for months.......*sigh*.......(and I dreaded admitting aloud)...........the song has been dead in my heart.

"Horror of horrors! Say it isn't so, Songbird!"

Yes, sadly, it had been. Of late, however, the ember has started to smolder. About a week or so ago, I burst into song spontaneously, belting out Schubert's Ave Maria with all of the emotion I muster during a stirring high holy Marian mass.

I was at home. Alone. I was showering.

Perhaps it was in gratitude for making it through my surgery alive. Perhaps it was, as my more charismatic friends would say, "the spirit moving me." Regardless, I found my song again.

My iPod is being used again, and my vocal chords have been worked extensively.

Still, I am not yet returning to the choir loft at church. At my parish, I don't feel welcome there, and the choir director seems to have forgotten me. At my friend Jim's parish (where he became the music director after leaving our parish), I am welcome, but I don't feel ready yet to make the switch.

I have fallen away from the church of late, but when I DO attend, I sing only a few of the songs, usually quietly rather than robustly.

So, why oh why, did the green monster raise his ugly head when I read on another friend's Facebook status that she was asked to sing at weddings and funerals at our parish, a position that I used to hold but was forced to give up due to circumstances not of my choosing? I'm happy for her, but in my heart of hearts, I am angry and envious.

I loathe this side of me. Ugh.

I should swallow my pride and move on, right? Continue the work I have started on my CD and not look back.

Ahead, the road looks much brighter.

Later daze........

I'm Sure I'm Not the Only One.........

2011-09-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

.......who has made this observation, but I'm going to say it anyway. I truly believe that the best way to find out the best (and maybe the worst) things about your marriage/relationship is to go through a challenging time. The past few weeks have been an eye-opening time for me, and I can honestly say, that 20 years ago, I made the right decision: I married the man I call my husband, partner, and father of my children.

On the 17th of August, I had major surgery (which had been months in the planning). During surgery, I suffered some blood loss, which meant I needed a transfusion of two units of blood as well as two units of iron. I spent a total of four days and nights in the hospital, which coincided with the first days of school. Since then, I have not been able to lift anything heavier than a utensil, I can't bend over easily, and I am only now driving short distances. I have not resumed driving the school carpools, I have yet to attend a high school football game, I have not gone grocery shopping, and I tend to sleep A LOT. I have not yet cooked a meal, washed a load of laundry, nor loaded a dishwasher. Despite this, my house is clean, the kids are on track with homework (mostly), everyone's clothes are clean, and no one has missed a meal.

Long ago, my kids learned that being a part of this family means being part of a TEAM, and every member has a role. My daughter learned years ago how to cook a meal and wash clothes, and my son learned how to gather trash and load and run the dishwasher. So the fact that they have picked up the slack doesn't surprise me.

What HAS surprised me, and maybe it shouldn't have, is the way my husband has picked up the "mom" duties so readily. He checks the online school system nightly to oversee the kids' assignments; he's driven kids to and from school and band practices; he's made sure lunches were made and packed, and he's driven me to countless doctors' appointements. In short, life has barely skipped a beat around here. Although I have had to skip all of my volunteer duties for the past several weeks, life continues pretty much as normal, allowing ME the ability to do what I need to do, which is HEAL. Granted, my husband had much "comp" time due him from work, so he had the time available to step in and take over some of my duties, but I am amazed at how much time I have to myself.

Which, as I have discovered, is sorely needed (pun intended). I am as weak as a baby, and my emotions are all over the map. One day I begin to feel normal, and the next day and for days after, I feel as if I have been used as a punching bag. I am trying to use my Vicodin at night only to help me sleep, but even during the day, I have found myself reaching for the Tylenol.

Time is what I need. Time to heal, time to sleep, time to cry when necessary, and time to laugh.

And after all this time, I've learned how much my husband truly loves me.

I am a fortunate woman.

Later daze, y'all............

I'm Still Standing

2011-08-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a crazy few weeks leading up to the start of school this week. I think the week before is as busy as the starting school, with all of the prep work that needs to be done (papers to be signed, supplies to be purchased, meetings to attend, etc.) Oy vey, I need a break already, and it's only two days into the school year!

I'm going to be offline for the next week or so, for reasons I would rather not discuss, but if you are a Facebook friend of mine, you can find updates there. I know I have been absent from here quite a bit, but perhaps when I return, even amidst the clamor of my hectic band parent schedule, I'll be a bit more prolific here.

In the meantime, have fun, don't get caught, and stay out of jail. The bail fund is empty.

Later daze.........

The Times They are A'Changin'

2011-07-16T00:09:00.001-07:00

Just when I thought that things might be settling down, more changes are occurring. See? I knew resistance was futile!

I mentioned that the day after school was over, my daughter received word that her choir director had resigned and taken a job at a rival high school. Then just a few weeks ago, word came that the grade school principal was promoted to a directorship at the district level, leaving us without a principal for the second time in three years. You might remember the debacle that surrounded the departure of my friend Greg the teacher and the subsequent ouster of that principal. Getting the principal we've had for the past three years was the answer to a prayer. She is extremely bright, innovative, and a staunch children's advocate. She genuinely loves kids, and every day stood at the front gate before and after school, greeting the over 800 students BY NAME as they began and ended their school day.

Two weeks ago, I was given the privilege of sitting on the interview panel to pick the new principal. There were four candidates in all, and while they all had the requisite qualifications, there was one candidate who was, in my opinion, the most logical choice. She subscribes to the same philosophies about education that the current/immediate past principal does, and they have worked together on special projects for the past several years. Much to my pleasure, it was confirmed this past Tuesday night that this woman was indeed chosen to be our next principal.

So now we are a mere month away from the beginning of a new school year. My daughter will be a sophomore in high school, and my newly minted 12-year-old son will be in the seventh grade. This summer, with no trips or summer camps on the agenda, my children and I have spent our time sleeping late, staying up late, having picnics on the living room floor, taking trips to the local Italian ice parlor, watching DVDs, reading (both for fun and school), sharing long talks about this and that, and exchanging affection. Often. *smile* I must admit, while I missed going to the beach this year (*sob*), I can honestly say that this has been a wonderful, blessed summer. Next summer, I anticipate my daughter either working a job or spending more time with friends, so having her home (working an online class) this summer has been a true joy. We've share lots of laughs, hugs, confidences, and stories, and it has been blissful. Treasure them while you got 'em, as I've been told often.

So, yes, the times are a'changing, but I would be lying if I didn't say they are a'changing for the better.

Resistance is Futile.........

2011-06-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

............at least when it comes to handling the hurdles of Life and the roadblocks that get assembled at a moment's notice. Some things are unavoidable, some others need only be endured, and still others are thrown at one before the chance to duck arrives.

Still, I look upon those incidents as learning experiences, and at the age of 49, I think I've learned a lot. *wink* I'm open to more learning, of course, and I hope that at the end of my newest learning opportunity, I will emerge stronger and wiser. Jobs have come and gone, my husband has had to be away from home from days and weeks at a time, I've had medical "issues," and still my children have grown and thrived, as have my husband and I. We are a family who loves fiercely, laughs frequently, and stands by each other through all challenges and accomplishments.

I'm not a parent who "bubble wraps" my kids. I think that makes them weak and also fosters a sense of entitlement. Having my children grow up in a neighborhood amongst families with a certain amount of money, they are exposed enough to those kind of children. You know the kind, the ones who for Christmas received not only a 52" flat screen LED television for their bedroom, but also the latest model iPod as well as the most expensive smartphone. And the kid is only 13. Yeah, those kids.

The day after school ended last week, my daughter received news that upset her greatly. She found out that the choir director at the high school resigned and took a job at a rival high school. To most people that might not sound that dreadful, but if you understand how important music is to my daughter and me, you begin to understand how crushing this news was. The high school my daughter attends not only has the state's second best marching band (of which she is a member), it also has enjoyed a reputation of having one of the best choirs in the state. I never had the opportunity to have private voice lessons when I was young, and since my husband and I can't afford those for our daughter, we felt so blessed to know that our daughter would have the benefit of excellent music education at a public school. So to lose her beloved choir teacher at school on the heels of losing a beloved music director at church just months earlier was a blow that sent my daughter seeking the refuge and solitude of her bedroom for a few days.

Enter mom. Of course I wanted to take away the pain and anger she felt, but it's not as if I had some spare cash to pay a private voice coach $100 an hour for lessons. So, I did what I do naturally: I proposed a deal, one that would involve my daughter WORKING for her prize. Being the mediator I am, I helped her broker a deal: she works for our friend Jim (our previous church music director) as an assistant at his new parish, filing music, making music folders for the coming week, etc., for three hours a week, and in return, she earns an hour private lesson. It's a win-win for all involved; he gets an assistant, she gets work experience and private lessons.

Yay me. Go mom. Nothing is free in this world, kids, but if you're willing to put in some sweat, you might just get some gold in the end.

Later daze, y'all..............

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

2011-05-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

Perhaps. Perhaps you've just written me off as a total slacker. I can understand that.

I haven't really felt compelled to write much here. I could blame it on the fact that with only 13 days of school left, I'm more interested in helping my children finish final projects, study for exams, complete last minute homework assignments, and attend final band and choir concerts of the year. I could also mention that I've been intently helping my son prepare for his three black belt tests, the second of which will be this weekend. I could also note some other life-changing events that have happened, but...............I won't.

I just............don't feel much like writing. I was on a roll, writing stories, chapters, and song lyrics. And then I hit a wall. I was caught in a maelstrom of life events, and my enthusiasm for the written word waned. I became disinterested in the interaction between my fingers and the keyboard. Eh. It happens.

Truly, though, this interest ebbs and flows, as is evident if you've read this blog for any length of time. The tide will rise again, as it has many times, and I will again indulge in the tickling of the keyboard, but for now, I will continue to enjoy my hiatus.

A side note: You've probably noticed that I rarely share photos on my blog any more, especially ones of my family. I decided long ago that I did not wish to have others see my children or family and our activities. While my children have gotten older, they are still vulnerable to the lunacy of idiots, and I will continue to protect them the best that I am able.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and Mothers' Day. I will enjoy the melodies and harmonies of my children's bands and choirs over the next two weeks, and I am completely confident that a week from this Saturday, I will be watching my son receive his First Recommended Tae Kwon Do black belt. It's been a 5+ year journey, and I couldn't be more proud of my amazing son.

Later daze, y'all................

Hello, My Name is Slacker............

2011-04-07T09:20:00.003-07:00

.............and I used to write a blog.

That's not to say I haven't been writing anything. In fact, I am hard at work on song writing. Yeah, you read that correctly. I was, and still am, working on a book/manuscript, but I have tabled that for now in favor of song lyrics. It happened while working on my book. Go figure. Anyway, I tend to write and create in short bursts, and something I thought was a "poem" turned out to be a song, at least according to a friend of mine who happens to have more musical talent in the tip of his pinkie than I do in my entire soul. Regardless, if my friend (who, incidentally has produced hundreds of CDs) says they're songs, then songs they are. While I am the lyricist, my friend is the composer, and I hope to get into the studio shortly to start work on bringing the two together. Weird how life happens, especially when one is quickly (but not too enthusiastically) closing in on 50 years of age.

As you've no doubt surmised (if you are a longtime reader), I was also preoccupied with the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament of late. Yes, March Madness was in full swing in our home, with both my husband's alma mater playing as a number 1 seed (and having been ranked #1 in the nation for a good portion of the regular season) and my beloved Bulldogs of Butler University making another assault on the mountain. Heartbreakingly, although my Dawgs lost again in the championship game, their appearance in the final game in two consecutive years puts them in an elite club. Other schools with consecutive Final Four appearances include Duke and North Carolina. Not too shabby for a school whose student population is less than 5,000. While I shed quite a few tears after their loss on Monday night, I quickly lifted my head with pride while reading about their accomplishments. My friend and fellow hoops fanatic Travis over at Trav's Thoughts endured my rants and raves and allowed me to both moan and glow throughout the tournament.

I could be wrong in assuming this, but I think many of us, at one time or another, have been a bit embarrassed, if not downright ashamed, of something in our background. I don't mean about decisions or actions; those are things over which we have at least a modicum of control. I'm talking about being born into poverty, or having been raised by a grandmother because parents were in prison, or growing up in a trailer park, or some other "blemish" that we wish we didn't have to posses.

I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. That large city with the small town feel located in the heart of the Midwest, surrounded by corn fields. Yes, that place. I was born there and raised there until the age of 11 years and six months, at which time my parents moved me to South Florida where I spent my junior high, high school, and early college years studying hard, playing harder, and luxuriating on the beach, my Midwestern roots far removed (at least in my own mind).

In the mid-1970s, everyone in South Florida was from somewhere else, and most of those folks hailed from snow-belts places like Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and New York. I heard my share of "India-No-Place" cracks, though, enough for me to admit rarely that I was born and bred a Hoosier.

I tried to forget the sight of acres and acres of corn swaying in the heat of a humid summer afternoon. I tried to forget the smell of frying "elephant ear" pastries at the state fair. I tried to forget lazy summer days spent climbing maple trees and sending maple seed pods spinning to the ground like tiny helicopters. I tried to forget the sound of neighborhood moms calling for their kids to come home for dinner as dusk fell and crickets chirped and lightning bugs did their luminescent dances.

I tried, and failed, and now at the age of 49, with my college alma mater having risen in both victory and defeat in basketball's final showdown, I revel in the the smells and sounds and sights that made me a true blue Hoosier.

I was born a Hoosier, I lived as a Florida beach baby, I've spent years as a desert dweller, but my heart and my soul will always be in the heartland.

Sweet Home Indiana. Where the skies are Butler Blue.

Go Dawgs.

Later daze, y'all......................

Life Lessons.........

2011-03-10T14:30:00.003-07:00

............or How I Spent My "Mom Unplugged" Vacation.

Recently, I returned from five days in South Florida, visiting and partying with friends from high school. I went alone. That's right, I left the husband and kids behind and went for several days of rest, relaxation, and ridiculous fun.

Last summer, my high school class celebrated their 30 year reunion, but I was unable to join in the festivities. Honestly, I wasn't all that interested in going, until just before the weekend in question. See, I had heard that a couple of the people with whom I really wanted to reconnect would be there, and that made me question my decision to skip the events. Alas, circumstances dictated that I stay home, and all was well because Facebook allowed me to reestablish contact with my long lost friends.

Now fast-forward several months, and all the cards fell into place for me to make an actual visit to my "other" home. I received word that a gal pal with whom I was tight throughout high school (and who has lived in England for 20 years) was going to be in Florida visiting her father. Then I remembered I had a free plane ticket that I had to use before it expired this week. Then a friend who had been residing in Saudi but had recently moved back to Florida agreed to let me stay with her for free and drive me around since she doesn't work (therefore, negating my need to spend money on a rental car). Then another treasured friend, and then ANOTHER said that if I came down, they would put aside their normal "hermit-like" life and come out for a night of frivolity with me.

Well! I studied my calendar diligently, finally coming up with five days where I could miss some of my mom-duties and headed south. Bags packed, and with heart full of anticipation, I boarded a jet last week and headed to South Florida. This is what I learned from those five days:

Sometimes I can't go home again. Then again, sometimes I can.
There may be people I don't remember, but somewhere along the way, if I've paid them some kindness, they WILL remember me and want to do something special for me like organize a dinner or two with friends.
There will be people who you always liked and apparently liked you, and they will show you great kindness even if you have not seen them in 30 years.
There will be people that I had forgotten I missed. And that I miss them very, very much. I shall now NOT forget them again.
There will be people you never knew back in school, but when you meet as adults, you ask yourself, "Why didn't I bother to get to know them when we were in school?"
That charming snake-in-the grass whom I thought shed his skin and learned to walk upright? Um, yeah, still a snake and even more venomous now that he's reached full adulthood. And I found out that my snake charming skills are a bit weak from living in the suburbs. Dammit.
I really needed to be away from my husband and children for a bit in order for us to remember how much we all love and cherish each other.
Five days is not enough time to catch up with long-lost friends, and yet.....it's just right.

I didn't get nearly enough toes-in-the-sand time, but I did breathe in as much sea air as I could in between all of the to-ing and fro-ing. It was hectic, it was chaotic, it was fun, and it was joyous.

It was wonderful to go. And it's great to be home.

Later daze, y'all............

Admittedly, I Haven't Been a Parent That Long.........

2011-02-23T23:14:00.002-07:00

............but there are few things that today, my daughter's 15th birthday, has taught me about being a mother. Here are some of my thoughts in no particular order of importance:

No matter how organized you are, there are bound to be surprises. Not all of them will be pleasant, but they will all be learning experiences.
Just when you think you've got your kid/s pegged as to their musical preferences, food loves, learning styles, fashion choices, etc., they will throw a curve at you. Remember to duck and throw back the pitch.
Regardless of a mother's age when she gives birth, the first time she holds her child will be terrifying and exhilarating and humbling. And regardless of her child's age, she will ALWAYS think of her child as her "baby."
Teenagers don't feel the cold. If they do, they're far too "cool" to show it.
If you insist that your teen take a jacket to school as they leave for the day (because the morning temperature is hovering just above 40 degrees F), be prepared for said jacket to lose it's way home.
Kids might do chores without complaint, do homework with little whining, and eat food they don't want with little fuss, but they WILL piss off their older sister JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT and get upset when she HITS him for getting in her face.
A mother will be most tired just as the kids get home from school, even though she did not have to change any diapers, put any kids down for a nap, or clean up any vomit.
Even though my kids are fairly self-sufficient, this mom does need to teach them how to do more than cook pasta, bacon and eggs, or soup. Dinners can be pretty routine when mom is in bed and the kids are in charge of cooking.
Cooking meals in advance and freezing them in preparation for mom's absence of several days is pointless. Dad will inevitably tell the teen girl not to bother heating up the food since they're all going out for pizza. Again.
Mom's Getaway Trips are even more vital as the kids get older.

There you have some of my more random thoughts this day, the day my motherhood came to full fruition. I do no claim that these are universal truths, but they seem to hold true in the Songbird household.

At least for today.

Later daze........................

I Got Called into the Office............

2011-02-11T22:40:00.002-07:00

................and I didn't even do anything! Seriously, though, it's quite disconcerting to have someone say, "Do you have a minute?" and then have them lead you into their office and lock the door behind you after you've entered.

My older sisters would laugh to read this, but it seems that I have a reputation as a mediator. A calm voice in the storm as it were. Apparently, my counsel is sought by people on both sides of an issue because my thoughts are viewed as intelligent and unbiased. I seem to make others feel at ease, and I have the ability to show others how a seemingly-impossible situation can be a win-win for all involved. Or, at least, a NOT lose-win situation.

The art of compromise.

Not something with which I was gifted as a child. Quite the opposite, in fact. I was an award winning manipulator, as youngest children can be. As the years went by, however, I learned that manipulating was no way to win over people. I cultivated the art of contemplation. I studied before uttering. As I approached my 40s, I noticed that I also rejected my extroverted nature and embraced my inner introvert. So imagine my surprise when I was told by a former supervisor that I was a "leader." Me? A leader? No way.

She said to me, "You are a true leader. You lead from within."

Huh?

I was clueless what she meant by that.......but a few years later, I understood what she meant. And I learned to embrace it.

Which leads me to the "locked door" conference I just had with a professional associate, someone with whom I work in my volunteer endeavors. A person whose opinion I respect, even when I disagree with her.

This person lead me into the locked office and shared her confidence in me for being the port in the storm, the voice of reason amidst the cacophony of clamoring voices.

I guess it's not so bad being the rock in the hurricane.

A river in a time of dryness

A harbour in the tempest

A Promise.............

2011-01-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

.............that I will return with a legitimate post soon, but for now, I would ask that you visit a new blogger. She is someone close to me, and she is a budding photographer as well as a mother and artist of various media.

Please check out her blog HERE, and tell her I sent you. :)

More Laziness.....

2011-01-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

.....because I'm copping out with another meme. This is the Alphabet Meme, taken from a meme blog.

A is for Age:

Old enough

B is for Beer of choice:

Don't drink it. I'm a vodka gal myself. :)

C is for Career:

What I do is sing and write; what I AM is a mom.

D is for favourite Drink:

Soft: Arnold Palmers Hard: Vodka and pineapple

E is for Essential item you use everyday:

Anti- perspirant

F is for Favorite song at the moment:

The one I'm writing

G is for favourite Game:

Don't really have one

H is for Home town:

Indianapolis, Indiana

I is for Instruments you play:

My voice

J is for favourite Juice:

Pineapple

K is for Kids:

Two. One of each.

L is for Last kiss:

I don't kiss and tell.

M is for marriage: .

On the second one. This one is for keeps; going on 20 years this May.

N is for full Name:

Desert Songbird

O is for Overnight hospital stays:

Several, none of which I want to remember except for when I gave birth

P is for phobias:

Snakes, Heights, Airplane Take-offs and Landings

Q is for quotation:

Live Well. Love Much. Laugh Often.

R is for biggest Regret:

Don't really have one.

S is for sports:

Football, Basketball, Figure Skating

T is for Time you wake up:

When my eyes open and my brain is engaged.

U is for colour of underwear:

Underwear?

V is for Vegetable you love:

Artichoke, Sun Dried Tomato

W is for Worst Habit:

Eating out of boredom.

X is for X-rays you've had:

Who can remember all of those?!

Y is for Yummy food you make:

Everything I make is yummy! Geez......

Z is for zodiac sign:

This is the dawning of the Age of................

A Meme.......

2011-01-06T00:01:00.001-07:00

...........because I'm too lazy to come up with original material right now.

1. What curse word do you use the most?

I never met a cuss word I didn't like, but if you have to ask which one is my favorite, I should remind you that I am the ex-wife of a former Marine. 'Nuff said.

2. Do you own an iPod?

Yup

3. Do you still remember the first person you kissed?

Yup

4. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?

Depends on the photo content

5. Has anyone ever called you lazy?

Aquarian, remember?

6. Has anyone told you a secret this week?

More than likely; also likely is that I've already forgotten what it was.

7. What is the first thing you notice about the someone to whom are attracted?

His brain. Or his butt. Whichever he shows first.

8. To what are you looking forward?

Trips I'm hoping to take in March.

9. Do you own any band t-shirts?

Haha! You have to ask?

10. When is the last time you slept on the floor?

Before I switched to vodka.

11. What did you do last night?

Slept.

12. Do you get along better with the same sex or the opposite sex?

Opposite. Definitely.

13. Who was the last person to make you mad?

I'm a wife and mother. Any guess you make is probably accurate.

14. To whom would you want to be tied for 24 hours?

Adrian Paul. Or Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Or Coby Bell. Or................

15. T or F: All’s fair in love and war?

Love IS war.

16. What’s something you’ve always wanted?

A tight butt.

17. Do you enjoy spending time with your mother?

Only during sleeping hours. I'd freak out if I saw her during waking hours.

18. Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 Mustang?

I'd prefer a '11 royal blue Shelby Cobra with silver stripes.

19. Where is/are your best friend(s)?

In my heart.

20. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?

Again, fairly obvious if you know me.

Do or don't do; I don't tag.

Later daze, y'all.

Compare and Contrast

2010-12-28T19:57:00.003-07:00

Several weeks ago, I attended a campus improvement team meeting in which team members participated in an activity designed to affirm each other's "gifts." We each wore a placard on our back, and then we took turns writing on each placard, thanking that person for their "gift of...." The entries were anonymous, but it wasn't difficult to determine who wrote what, given that many of the members have served together for several years.

One entry on my placard, written by a woman teacher who has two young children, said, "You are the mother I aspire to be."

And that got me thinking.

I'm not saying I shortchange myself in the motherhood department; at least, not as of this writing. ;-) Most of the time, I recognize my abilities and my shortcomings, and either strive to do better or admit that I'm not super mom and do the best I can on any given situation. This affirmation by a this woman, however, gave me pause for thought, and I wondered how I measured up by my own standards.

What I do: I buy cupcakes from the grocery store the night the morning of an party or birthday recognition at school.

Other mothers: Go to Krispy Kreme and get fresh, hot-off-the-rack donuts.

What I do: I sit in the stands in 109 degree temperatures, watching and cheering my daughter and the rest of the high school marching band as they perform during halftime of the football game.

Other mothers: Sit in the band section and walk up and down the stands as they serve water to the band kids, making sure they stay hydrated.

What I do: I drive two hours to watch an out-of-town marching band competition in the pouring rain, returning home around 11:00 p.m.

Other mothers: Load equipment trucks, ride the school bus with dozens of rowdy teenagers to the competition, haul equipment around the performance field, and reload equipment trucks afterwards, arriving back at the school well after midnight.

What I do: Work at the concession stand at a basketball game (inside in a temperature-controlled environment) when it fits into my schedule.

Other mothers: Work at the concession stand of football games (in the heat) and at volleyball AND basketball games, sometimes several times a week.

What I do: Stay up to midnight, helping to type up band competition programs days before the program is due at the printer.

Initially I looked at my contributions versus what others have done, and I truly felt as if I didn't pull my weight. I'm not the only mother who has more than one child, and I'm certainly NOT the only mother who has to get dinner on the table while getting each child to their respective extracurricular activities while also ensuring that homework is completed and housework is as well. Still, I felt inadequate to my friend Laura, who, like me, is a stay-at-home mom and full-time volunteer. She does many of the "other mother" duties I described above, and I feel like she does more than double what I do.

She did, however, stress to me that many times what I see as "settling" on my part is actually the maximum that I'm able to do, given my physical challenges. True, my current course of medicines has increased my breathing ability and energy levels to near normal, but the truth of the matter is, I still DO have limitations. Walking up and down the football stands in extreme heat, repeatedly, would probably be tempting fate for me.

And for the sake of "measuring up," it's just not a risk I'm willing to take.

So, I will continue to drive to the high school at dismissal time each afternoon, giving rides home to anyone that will fit in my minivan (usually other band kids and one choir kid); I'll continue to volunteer for computer work that I can do from the comfort of my own bed; and I'll continue to work in the grade school office three times weekly as a volunteer photocopier, filer, and phone answerer.

And I'll remind myself that my teenage daughter still thinks I'm "cool," and my 'tween son still thinks I'm "the best mama in the entire universe."

And I'll be more than okay with that.

Nuthin'..............

2010-12-20T00:34:00.003-07:00

............is about what I got. I got no pearls of wisdom, no funny jokes, no quaint quips, nada. Zilch.

This week was filled with final exams for both kids as well as strep throat for one of them, Christmas parties, and also........oh yeah........the call from one of my sisters-in-law informing me that The Engineer's younger brother had suffered a massive heart attack while at work on Monday. So, you know, just a tad on my mind of late.

My BIL is now home and resting after a surgery to insert three stents; the child with strep throat is on antibiotics; and all final exams have been taken, with both of the offspring earning Honor Roll honors.

Now to get the Christmas cards in the mail, the remaining gifts purchased, the food for Christmas dinner purchased, and the cookies made......

Merry Christmas to all, and to all later daze...............

Cleaning the Lint.....

2010-12-01T10:54:00.006-07:00

.....from my cranium. I haven't felt much like writing, either here or on my novel, lately, so I decided to do some cleaning.

Do you ever wonder who the wrecker truck driver calls when his truck breaks down?
Paying bills online and using a debit VISA to make purchases have made me nearly incapable of writing an actual check. I need to do only about three a month, and each time, I have to stop and think about how to actually DO IT. Weird.
Why do teenagers think that wearing a hoodie over their t-shirts while still wearing shorts and flip flops will help ward off the 30 degree temperatures on a winter morning? And they wonder why they're shivering? Duh........
I can't write in cursive to save my life. God help if me I actually get this novel written, get it published, and it becomes a best-seller, because I can't manage to scribble my name legibly for any contract or autograph. Ergh.....
My husband lost his job.....and then got another one within nine days. I've lost count of how many times he's been laid off in our 22 years together, but I think this made number six. Or seven. Whatever.
I think paying $1200 a month for health care insurance is obscene.
I'm in total denial that it is December 1st. I have not done one bit of shopping, have not given much consideration to Christmas cards, and there is not one decoration adorning the inside nor outside of the abode. I HAVE, however, pondered making Christmas cookies. Now what does that say about my priorities? *giggle*
I think it's time to clean out my shoe closet. Again. It's ridiculous in there.
My daughter is now the tallest member of our family. She bends down to hug me. Ridiculous.
It's been a disappointing football season for me. Sigh. I hope college basketball season shows more promise, but I doubt it can top last year, especially since Gordon Hayward turned pro.
Jennifer Grey looks amazing. And she's older than I am, which makes it ridiculous.
If I have to call the medical device company ONE MORE TIME to order my C-PAP replacement gear, I will SCREAM. Can't ANYONE get a simple reorder correct? Sheesh....seven calls later, I'm STILL waiting for the most important piece: the actual headgear. Grrr.........
I've been getting really good use out of the gorgeous quilt my wonderful mommy-in-law sent me back in September. :)
Went to Vegas last week to see a friend from high school whom I have not seen in 20 years. She just moved back to Florida from the Middle East, and she was in Vegas to spend Thanksgiving with family friends. While I was there, I got a Facebook friend request from TWO more high school friends that I have not seen in 30 years. Then, this week, I got a call from a high school friend who is stopping by to pay me a visit in the next few weeks. Weird........
Oh, and that photo above? I spent much of the holiday weekend sleeping and cuddling with my kids. :)

I think that cleans the lint trap for now. Later daze, y'all...................

She Lives!

2010-11-15T18:59:00.004-07:00

Marching band season is finally over, and I survived. :) There are several things I learned in my metamorphosis as a band mom, but I won't share them with you because those of you who are my Facebook friends have already heard my pearls of wisdom, and the rest of you probably don't want to hear them. I will say that whoever said that sleep is highly overrated needs to be committed to the nuthouse.

One thing that I will share is that my son, without realizing it, took a rather artsy fartsy photo at the recent band parent night. I thought it was pretty creative, and he wasn't even trying!

I like the blurred effect and the lighting. I know it was an accident, and he wanted me to delete it, but I rather liked the photo, so I'm keeping it. :)

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my daughter's high school marching band finished second in the state, and first in their division. :) :) :)

So after all this back and forth-ing, here and there-ing, and to and fro-ing, I'm taking a quick 24 hour "mom unplugged" trip this week, flying out on the worst possible flying day (Wednesday before Turkey Day), and returning in time to put the bird in the oven. Gonna hang with a friend of mine from high school that I haven't seen in 20 years and spend the night with my cousin whom I have not seen in five years. Not sayin' where I'm going, but what ever happens there will stay there. *snort*

I reckon photos will be taken, but they will not be used as blackmail material, and they will most definitely NOT be posted here. I might, however, share them on Facebook, so if you are...ahem..."privileged" enough to be a friend of mine there, you will be able to view them and submit your derisive comments.

Meanwhile, back to the grindstone of work in the school office, not to mention a long overdue date with my manuscript.

Later daze...........

BlogBlast for Peace

2010-11-04T00:01:00.002-07:00

I get to spend the day with hundreds of elementary and middle school children raising their voices in song. And, really, what a wonderful way to bring peace to my heart, right?

November is............

2010-11-01T10:49:00.004-07:00

Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month. Do YOU know what PH is?

I wrote the following post four years ago when my blog was brand new, and though some of the details have now changed, the fact remains, this condition is incurable. I continue to make progress, and a few months ago, I added an inhaled medication that helps take some of the pressures off my heart and lungs and helps me battle the chronic fatigue. I feel reborn, but the fact remains, I am not cured.

Please, consider giving just a few dollars to help find a cure for Pulmonary Hypertension. The life you save might be mine.....or your own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diagnosis

As I write this, I'm sitting at my living room window, watching the leaves flutter gently on the Australian bottle tree in my front yard, bees buzzing the honeysuckle plants, and the sunlight playing cat and mouse tricks with the lantana. I think about how quickly this year has passed, unable to comprehend that my children are already three months into the school year and that winter break is only a few weeks away.

Two (now 6) years ago, I remember sitting at this same window gazing outside and wondering why I couldn't walk down the block to the mailbox without feeling as if an elephant was planted on my chest, forcing me to gasp for a simple breath. Just months earlier I was doing 45 minute workouts at the YMCA four times per week, and within weeks I couldn't walk a half a city block.

Two (now 6) years ago, I sat in my family practitioner's office, begging for answers as to why my chest hurt so bad just because I had walked from my car into his office. I remember lying on the exam table of the hospital while they ran numerous tests to determine if I had suffered a heart attack. I remember thinking that I was so stupid for not taking better care of myself when heart disease and diabetes are as much of a part of my family genetics as are dark skin and slanted eyes.

For months I struggled to catch my breath, with fatigue, and with crushing chest pain. Still, I gamely went about my duties as a wife, mother, church volunteer, and friend. My family practitioner prescribed asthma medication, told me that there was nothing else wrong with me, but recommended I consult a pulmonologist and perhaps a hematologist (since my blood tests seem to indicate some "oddities") just to be safe.

I remember mentioning to my rheumatologist, as he was administering cortisone shots in my wrists to help with my carpal tunnel syndrome, that I was having trouble breathing without pain and no one seemed to know what was wrong with me. He asked me to describe all of my symptoms, and he dutifully noted them all in my chart, despite it not being part of his treatment. Solemnly, he took out a piece of paper, wrote something down, folded the paper, and handed it to me. He told me not to look at it but to keep it tucked away for future reference. "I have an idea of what might be wrong with you, but I hope I'm wrong. Consult the pulmonologist, have him run the tests, and then when he's made his diagnosis, look at this paper and see what it says."

Six months later, after two heart catheterizations, two echocardiograms, and a full lung capacity test, I looked at that little slip of paper. It said "Pulmonary Hypertension" -- the same diagnosis I had received from my pulmonologist and the cardiologist. I sobbed.

Sixteen months have passed (now five years and three months) since I was diagnosed with Ideopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. It is a rare disease, affecting approximately 100,000 worldwide. It is progressive and potentially life-threatening. The arteries that feed blood from the heart to the lungs become compressed, restricting blood flow and oxygen distribution to the lungs. The blood backs up to the right side of the heart, causing it to become enlarged. Death occurs when the patient suffers right heart failure. There is no cure for PH, only treatment. Luckily for me, treatment options number in the handful; 10 years ago, the only option was death.

Additionally, I was diagnosed with Protein S Deficiency, an even more rare condition. A lack of Protein S means that my blood clots much too easily. Until I became "therapeutic" on anticoagulants, I was required to go to the hospital weekly to have phlebotomies, or blood-letting sessions in order to help thin my blood. After about six weeks of this, I no longer needed to go for my weekly "leeching" sessions.

Today, I am stable on my PH medications. In addition to an anticoagulant, I take a vasodilator to help "open up" my arteries (now, 2 - one oral, one inhaled), an endothelin receptor antagonist (endothelin is a natural chemical in the body that tightens (constricts) blood vessels and increases inflammation), a diuretic, and potassium. ~~I also use an asthma inhaler as needed, a necessary component in my purse these mild winter days when our air is filled with pollutants.~~

Although I have a handicapped tag on my car, I refuse to let this disease define who and what I am. I continue to live my life as I did before my diagnosis -- no, that's not quite true. Since my diagnosis, a few things have changed. I pray more, I laugh more, I sing more, and I write more. I hug my kids more, kiss my husband more, and tell my friends I love them more often. Some days I spend sitting in bed, conserving the paltry energy I have that given day, and other days I'm in my fifth-grader's class helping 10-year-olds master the intricacies of persuasive writing. (Now I volunteer 2-4 hours three times weekly in the grade school office. I have not spent a day in bed in months.)

I share my story today because it's what writers do, they write and share. It's what I need to do because November is Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness month, and you all need to know that if it could happen to me, that one in a million, it could happen to someone you love. And I share it because today I woke up, breathing and alive, and I am so very grateful that I did.

If you'd like to know how you can help, please visit The Pulmonary Hypertension Association. I thank you in advance for your support.

An Homage - Redux from October 2006

2010-10-25T00:01:00.001-07:00

She was born October 25, 1924 into a family of privilege. She lived a comfortable life until war broke out and the invaders placed her and her siblings in prison camps. Her father died a broken man, and she was left to care for eight younger siblings and a distraught stepmother. Before her father died, she promised him she would do whatever it took to make sure her stepmother and siblings survived.

She sacrificed her body and, ultimately, her soul to honor her promise.

Eventually, freedom came, and she married a young man she had met in prison camp, a fellow detainee who had been tortured by their captors. They began their life together. After the birth of their second daughter, they were forced to flee with the clothes on their backs and their babies in their arms because their blood wasn't "pure" enough to live in the newly independent nation.

Many years, two countries, and four children later, they made their way to the United States, where they began their lives anew yet again. Ten months after their arrival, their fifth daughter was born, American by birth and a symbol of hope for their new life.

To honor the sacrifices they made for their children, that youngest child, their brightest hope for a happy ending, earned her master's degree. On graduation night, she wept, knowing her parents, by then long gone, were walking along with her as she crossed the stage and accepted her diploma.

Eighty-six years ago this week, a girl was born into privilege. She lived amid tears and died at peace. It was a privilege for me to call that girl Mom.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I miss you still, and I'll love you always. "It's you when I look in the mirror... You're the reason why the opera's in me, " and I sing for you.

Four Years and Still Running....

2010-10-13T08:38:00.004-07:00

....like a hamster on a wheel. A friend reminded me that four years ago yesterday (the 12th) I started blogging. I totally forgot about it, but I'm glad he reminded me because it gave me a chance to look back and see where I was back then and compare it to my life now.

Four years ago, my parish was beginning to search for a new music director, and I was on the interview team. It's now four years later, and our beloved music director informed us last week that economic necessity has forced him to take a job at another parish, and so the search begins again for his replacement. Sigh. This is a painful reminder that one should never get too comfortable in any given situation.

Four years ago, I was the mother of a 10-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. We were dealing with fifth grade and second grade issues like mean girls, persuasive writing assignments, a teacher who really shouldn't have been a teacher, and bathroom accidents. Now I have a teen and a 'tween, and our issues are, well, you can imagine. *eye roll*

It's been a four years filled with a lot of tears but even more laughter. Blogs have come and gone; some of the writers have revealed their real names to me, and I now connect with them on Facebook. My children have lived and learned and loved and laughed, as have my husband and I. We've had family vacations, family arguments, and family prayers. Friends have gone, and treasured ones from the past have come back into our lives.

It has been an incredibly enlightening journey these past four years, and I've tried to share some of it with you. Peace be the journey for another four times fourteen. :)

Later daze.............

Uhh....Uhhhh......Wha'???.....

2010-10-04T07:07:00.001-07:00

....I think I passed myself on the street the other day.

I'm in a blur right now, and can't remember what I've done and what I still have to do. So, I will be away for a bit longer as I try to catch my breath.

Later daze..........

I Think the Universe is Trying to Tell Me Something...

2010-09-26T23:05:00.004-07:00

....but I don't speak that language. Lately, it seems as if people from my past have been crossing my path much more frequently than they have prior, and they seem to be doing so in greater numbers. Some if it I can equate directly to the fact that my 30 year high school reunion was this past summer, but just this evening, I ran into a friend from graduate school that I had not seen since my son was born over 11 years ago. We ran into each other at Trader Joe's, and she mentioned that she had seen me at my parish several months ago but didn't get a chance to talk to me.

Weird.

Are the planets aligning in strange new formations? Are there pigs flying outside my window? Oh geez.......does this mean the Apocalypse is imminent? If so, does that mean that the ghosts of boyfriends past will come knocking me on the head late at night was I slumber. Criminey......I hope not. Not that they're bad guys; in fact, I'm still friendly with most of them, including my ex-husband. Still, I'm not sure I want to have a reunion with them in the wee hours. Imagine the shock that would give my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a completely unrelated note, I came across this photo from our vacation to Washington, DC this summer. I took it because it made me chuckle; see, this sign is located on a back road located between Frederick, MD and Dulles International Airport, and is surrounded by..........farmland. The building in question doesn't appear to exist any longer, but they felt the incident in question still needed a marker. It's a take off of the proverbial, "George Washington slept here" gag.

That's all I got. I know, it's rather lame, but it's all I got. The coming weeks are jammed full of band rehearsals, choir auditions, and band competitions, not to mention lots and lots of martial arts classes. Little Man Warrior has been "promoted" to a higher level of training, and now it really gets intense with more classes, more weapons, and practices with the extreme martial arts team. Wish me luck with maintaining my sanity.

Later daze............

It's a Rock and Roll Kinda Life Here in the Suburbs/Five on Friday

2010-09-22T13:17:00.004-07:00

Did I ever mention that I think in colors? I don't mean that I dream in color. Lemme 'splain: whenever I'm in a certain mood or am having a deep emotion, I live that emotion as a color. For example, when I went into labor with my firstborn, I was panicked. My pregnancy had been a difficult one from about the fourth month, and I had to take medication to prevent pre-term labor from developing into full-blown, take-this-baby-now-or-she'll-die syndrome. As I lay in my hospital room getting prepped for delivery, I felt and saw everything as dark blue. When I was told that I needed to have a cesarean section, everything felt and looked black. When my daughter emerged healthy and screaming, the room around me became bright yellow.

Does that make sense now? So, as my colors run the spectrum, my taste in music varies. For the most part, I'm a rock girl; I grew up listening to it, and that's how I roll. There are times, though, when the type of music shifts to classical, jazz, blues, rockabilly, inspirational, instrumental, etc. given what's happening in my life.

When I'm in a clean-up-this-crap mood, I play either dance "stuff" or even metal-type rock because it gets me motivated.

Lately, because I've been immersed in my manuscript, reliving the late 70s and early 80s, I've been feeling the music of the times. So, in homage to my high school and early college years, I give you the colors of my music of late:

What's Beyond Exhaustion?

2010-09-15T22:23:00.004-07:00

Is it death?

School is only one month old, and I am tired beyond belief. I'm talking TO. THE. BONE.

And marching band season is just starting to hit its stride. October will be a frakin' nuthouse.

And did I mention that I'm working on a novel, too? With a collaborator who works insane hours and lives 3,000 miles away?

Um...yeah.

My mind is fried. And it's only mid-September.

Geez, I need a beach vacation already.

Later daze (and confusion).................

Just a Quickie....

2010-09-09T16:45:00.002-07:00

....to elicit a giggle or chuckle from you:

Little Man Warrior: Sissy, you have a big head.

Bonnie Lass: I WHAT?!

LMW: Well, you do, because it's so full of smarticles.

The Popcorn is Popping, Take off Your Masks

2010-09-02T10:47:00.008-07:00

It has been several years since I even felt like writing anything of substance. Seriously - ANYTHING. As a self-proclaimed writer who actually has been published, that is NOT procrastination, that is akin to languishing, which in writing terms means The Dead Sea. That's a hella writer's block with rebar twenty feet down and reinforced with bunker-type protection.

When I had a regular gig with a magazine, I had to write nearly every day to produce 50-100 word daily reflection pieces. Then when I was writing a feature article, I could whip out a 5,000 word article in nothing flat, but that was after many, many weeks of pondering and formulating.

My kids were younger then, and life came at me in snippets. I had a writing professor in college who produced her first volume of award-winning short stories by writing during cycles of laundry and when her children were napping. I could relate; I was so much more productive when I had only 30 minutes here or 15 minutes there.

But now, I have a high school freshman and a sixth grader, so my days are more my own, and other than chauffeur duties, more of my late afternoons and evenings are mine, too. Well, when I'm not attending this or that meeting or dealing with other nonsense like flooded laundry rooms and broken water softeners. After pressure from several of my peers (who KNEW that I would succumb to peer pressure at age 48?!), several months ago, I joined a popular social networking site.

Of course, friends tried to tell me how wonderful it was because there I could reconnect with friends from high school, share photos with family members, and generally stay plugged in with others. The first was NOT a selling point for me, given that I possessed no romantic, gilded memories of how high school was for me. I met some good people, stayed in touch with those I wanted to keep, and moved on.

Initially, I started out with less than a dozen contacts on said site, flying low under the radar so as not to draw fire. I made my profile private, and only my contacts could see my info and posts. Then, as is known to happen, fate intervened. I should say, she bit me on the ass. HARD. I was discovered by someone in my past, someone with whom I didn't mind reconnecting. One thing lead to anther, and then the floodgates burst. More people from my past, some with whom I did NOT share a personal history other than being high school classmates, connected to me. Suddenly, I was interconnected with the popular/cool kids, the beautiful/rich folks, and my clan, the geek artistic types. We were one big, internet-talking circle of fools.

I had no idea that one contact would shake me from my dearth of writing creativity. This person was definitely NOT a person with whom I was friends in school, my not being part of the cool/rich/beautiful crowd. And yet.....here we were as middle-aged adults sharing laughs and discovering that we really weren't that different from each other. In fact, if either of us had bothered to drop our masks back then, we wouldn't have wasted the past 34 years NOT being friends.

Why did I never bother to know that this person, who was popular, from a wealthy family, was in a steady relationship with another popular person, was shy like me? Was a lover of art and music and theater like me? Was just trying to fit in and finding it difficult to break out of a pre-shaped mold made up of expectations handed down from family.....JUST. LIKE. ME?

We can't expect that 14/15-year-olds are going to be as inwardly astute or keen to the complexities of interpersonal relationships and communication, but.......if we could have been just a bit less self-centered, we might have noticed that we weren't alone in our angst and awkwardness.

So, this person, this ONE person has personally and single-handedly brought the popcorn of my writing imagination to full pop mode. In just two days, I have written more words than I have in the past two years. Thanks, my friend, for taking off your mask. And for making me feel comfortable enough to take off mine, at least for just a little bit. I'm enjoying the feel of this new ocean, and I'm glad you're going to tread it with me.

Later daze...................

The Making of a High School Mom/EDITED TO ADD

2010-08-26T08:25:00.005-07:00

If you are a long-time reader here, you know by now that my children are my #1 priority in life. Pretty much every decision made is formulated on what's best for my kids. Thankfully, my husband shares the same value system, and raising our children is definitely a two-parent operation. This value system is not, however, shared by some others that I know, and that has caused friction. Friendships have been dissolved over this, but more mundanely, many hair appointments, lunch dates, and social engagements have been canceled because one or both of the progeny has a practice, a lesson, an obligation at school, or has fallen ill and had to miss school that day.

And I'm fine with that.

Let's back up for a moment, shall we? Many moons ago, when I was a young 18-year-old entering college, my dream was to become a singer doing chorus lines in Broadway shows while working hard on getting my rock band ready to "hit the big time." I entered music school with that dream firmly in my mind and implanted in my motivational drive. I pressed the accelerator and drove onward, believing I would be successful.

It didn't take long for me to realize that not only did I lack the talent to take this dream and make it come to fruition, I didn't really have the motivation to stick with the plan. So, I changed my dream to fit reality, and decided to become a writer.

Never once did my dreams include becoming a full-time, stay-at-home mom, and yet, here I am thirty years later, content in my life, and fully acknowledging that the most important thing I will ever do in this life is to be a mother to my children.

I found it humorous that just weeks before my daughter was to begin her high school career, my high school class held it's 30 year reunion. While she was looking forward, I was gazing backward, reminiscing with high school pals on Facebook about times past and smiling about past exploits while cringing at the mistakes.

How is it that I have now become the mother of the girl perched on the threshold of her future, contemplating how she will plot her course through high school in order to achieve her dreams? How does she lay the ground work in these four years in order to provide a springboard to launch her to the next level?

The future is set for no one. As technology grows and advances in ways that mere mortals cannot fathom, how do educators and parents help our kids become ready to seize opportunities and make them their own dreams and goals?

I don't know the answers, but the fun is in the trying. And the doing. And the failing. And in the perseverance. And we'll do it the old-fashioned way....with love, patience, support, and lots of laughter.

Best of luck to you, my baby songbird. May you become the best YOU you can be. I'll be here to catch you if you fall, and I'll be the first one to prop you back up. Go forth, and take the world by storm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

****At the request of The Palm Springs Savant, I've added a track from our parish's Christmas CD of two years ago. The singer at the opening and the lead singer of the children's verse is my daughter, The Bonnie Lass. If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, there is a video of my daughter filmed this past May of her singing the National Anthem. Enjoy. :) ***

My Life is a Snow Globe

2010-08-16T21:01:00.003-07:00

You know how when you look at a snow globe everything is still and quiet? And then you shake the hell out of it, and chaos rains in the form of all the "snow" falling everywhere? Yeah, that's how I feel about now.

School started today. TODAY. And already I'm in a whirl. Actually, the maelstrom started weeks ago with twice nightly band practices, meetings every night for this committee or that, and tae kwon do four nights a week. I will be doing the school volunteer duty three times weekly again this year, and then there's the inevitable marching band parent duties and choir mom assignments. I had to give an emphatic "NO!" to the new officers of the grade school PTO when they asked me to chair another committee this year. When in the hell would I find the time?! As my husband said, our family budget no longer subsidize another unpaid activity on my part. ;)

It seems I'm always making excuses for not blogging, writing, or visiting your blogs, and I realize that my "excuses" do not explain my absences, but I just don't seem to have it in me anymore. I will say, however, that lately I've had a book idea germinating in my head, so perhaps soon......when I get the "time".........

Oh, and given that I no longer take daily photos as I used to in the "olden" days of blogging, I've included a gratuitous photo that I took back in Ohio. ;)

Did You Ever Get the Feeling......

2010-08-03T00:01:00.005-07:00

......that you just didn't fit in anymore? That groups in which you used to fit like an egg in an egg carton no longer provide the cushion you had? That people with whom you used to laugh freely and talk at length no longer stimulate your conversational appetite?

It's disconcerting. And I don't like it.

I get invited to go out for drinks with friends, and no longer do I feel like their conversations engage me. I am surrounded by women with whom I no longer feel a connection; whose goals and values seem to........run opposite to mine.

Am I imagining it, or am I just getting older and pickier and more cynical, the way I was when I was a mere 19-year-old, no longer fascinated with the world around me and jaded before my time? Perhaps it's just because I prefer the company of my family............

A Time to Let Go

2010-07-28T22:35:00.002-07:00

This has been a season of letting go: a school friend had to let go of her older son (an 8-year-old whose life was cut short by a terrible accident); a sister has to let go of her home and a younger son who is shipping off to join the military; and my husband has to let go of the fact that his only daughter is no longer a little girl.

As do I.

I tell my children that regardless of what age they are, they will always be my "babies," as I'm sure many of you have said to your own offspring. Yet, the enormity of my daughter starting high school in just a few short weeks is hitting me finally. She started marching band practices last week, and this weekend she is headed off to the mountains for four days of intensive marching band camp.

Sigh.

This isn't the first time she has been gone from home. In sixth grade, she and her classmates went to Sea World in California for three days, and she regularly attends church youth group retreats for three days in the mountains.

And yet.........somehow............this is different.

Soon, she will be caught up in juggling marching band practices, football games, choir practices, honors classes, cafeterias so crowded that buying lunch will be impossible without being late for class, and homework like she's never had before. My son will be beginning his middle school career, with no slack on the homework deadlines, a crew of all male teachers, and greater expectations placed on him.

My children................are growing so fast. And I can't stop the clock. I can't stop time.

My babies are not babies any more.

Time to let go.

Washington, DC - A Photo Tour

2010-07-16T00:01:00.001-07:00

If you are interested in viewing some of the photos from our trip to Washington, DC, check out my photo blog HERE.

If you missed the brief recap of my trip to Washington, be sure to read THIS POST HERE.

Some more reflections from our family gathering in a separate post still to come.

Thanks, Food Network!

2010-07-12T00:01:00.004-07:00

One of the side benefits of having taken a vacation was that I got to relax quite a bit at my in-laws' home. With all of the parties and festivities, Mom and I rarely had to cook, and since I'm not all that enamored of cooking (nor is Mom), that suited me just fine.

I do, however, love to eat and I love travel, and I've always been a fan of The Food Network. I have lots of shows that I like, but I can't really say one is my favorite, so don't ask. ;) Usually I'm just content to watch the cooking and make comments such as, "Wow, I would never make that!" and, "What the....???" I also like to hear about the favorite restaurants of the celebrity chefs, and if we're going to be visiting one of the cities where these are located, we try to find the restaurants and eat there.

It is a rare occasion that one finds an Indonesian restaurant, though, and never have I seen one showcased or even mentioned on The Food Network. I lament the fact that there is not one near me, and I don't cook that much Indonesian food (the cuisine of my childhood) because my family has never seemed to like the dishes that were presented to them.

Things on all fronts, however, have taken a slight upturn since our trip back east. First and foremost, I FINALLY got to eat some authentic Indonesian food at a fantastic restaurant in Alexandria, VA. This restaurant is not one that has a few dishes that are Indonesian or pale imitations; this restaurant serves ONLY Indonesian food, and the owners are Indonesian. NOW we're talking!

My nephew Jason has been there many times in the past, and because he has been transferred back to Maryland, he met the family and me there while we were in DC. My family? LOVED IT. My husband was nodding and stuffing his face, my daughter gamely tried everything and found several things she loved, and my son even tried new things. Now they're asking me when I'm going to cook some of these dishes!

Now for the reason I'm thanking Food Network (I KNOW - took me long enough!): because I finally started paying attention to how people cook and what makes cooking so enjoyable to some people, I decided to test my newly found knowledge and "experiment" with my cooking. The results? My family gave my two tries resounding thumbs up!

So, I guess I can cook when I put my mind to it, and it's not all that difficult. Now it's time to crack the binding on the Indonesian cookbook and get started. :)

If You Thought I Was Back....

2010-07-07T15:31:00.006-07:00

The Capitol at dusk - photo by ME!

....and then gone again, you were right! And to be honest, it's been a slow re-entry back to my "normal" life. After spending two+ weeks back east on vacay, adjusting to my home time zone has been a bit bumpy. I fall asleep early, wake up in the middle of the night, and then sleep late. Ergh. It's a good thing that school isn't in session or I'd be in Barney. (Extra points if you get that movie reference *wink*.)

The family packed their bags and flew to Ohio only to load up into the rental car and drive the seven hours (six with an hour construction delay on the d@mn PA turnpike!) to Washington, DC. We'd promised the Lass that we would take a family trip there to make up for the fact that we couldn't afford to send her on her 8th grade "graduation" class trip. We saw as much as we could in three and a half days, including a couple of drive-by monuments tours, one day in the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum (the newer one by Dulles International Airport), and a day a half at the Museum of American History. We also squeezed in dinner at an Indonesian restaurant in Alexandria with our nephew (now stationed in MD), dinner at an Italian restaurant in Alexandria with a long-time friend of mine, and dinner and visiting with long-time friends who live near Baltimore. Then we crammed back into the rental Corolla (along with our 11 bags!) and drove the six-hour drive back to Ohio to get ready for my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary festivities.

Whew! Are you tired yet? I know I still am, and we've been back nearly a week. ;)

Here are some things that I observed, realized, and/or contemplated. And before any of you reminds me of the incredible subway system in the DC area ("the metro"), let me say now, yes, I know about it. Yes, it's great, and yes, I've ridden it. And no, we didn't use it because we had places to be every night so taking it was not feasible. Now, on with my list:

People in the DC metro area love their small commuter cars. Our rental Corolla with the VA plates fit right in. It was odd not seeing the high numbers of SUVs, pick-ups, and mini-vans that roam the streets here.
If you are still parked on a through street in downtown DC at the start of evening rush hour, they will tow your car, but they will not impound it. They will tow it to the nearest available open spot not on a high-traffic street and leave the parking ticket for you to pay by mail.
If you are in possession of a handicapped plate or parking placard, you are entitled to park for double the time stated on free parking spots before having to move your car. For example, if the sign says "Free Parking for two hours" you can park for four if you have the plate or placard. Remember that at 4:00 p.m. rush hour begins, though, because you will be towed if you are parked on the "wrong" street. :)
We really do have dry heat here in the desert. Triple digit heat with single digit humidity is definitely more comfortable than 92 degrees F with 87% humidity. I'll take the desert summer anytime. Thank goodness the museums were like ice boxes; I had to wear a sweater. :)
I was emotionally overwhelmed at the sight of the original star spangled banner, much more than I imagined I would be. And I've seen it before!
The Air & Space museum near Dulles gets two emphatic thumbs up from me; it's well laid out, has an enormous amount of space, is easy to negotiate with a wheelchair, and has fantastic exhibits.
I'd forgotten how much thunderstorms can freak me out.
I'd forgotten how adorable four-year-olds are. :)
I'm in awe of the fact that my beloved parents-in-law have been married 50 years. And knowing that they have been together that long makes me sad knowing that my parents never got to celebrate 50 years together here on earth.

Our trip was filled with lots of laughter, tears, newly discovered facts, hugs, food, and family time. I hope your summer has, so far, been the same.

Later daze..................

So, Did You Miss Me?

2010-06-05T11:55:00.003-07:00

I'm back! Well, in a matter of speaking. The school year has ended, and the related craziness is gone, but my June is shaping up to be a bit busier than anticipated. We returned from several days in SoCal in time to discover that we are expecting an overnight visit from a family member. Then Monday begins summer camps for the kids (the Lass is attending music camp while Little Man is attending science camp). In a few weeks, we're off to Ohio and Washington, DC. Whew!

The beach was relaxing and wonderful as usual. It was a much needed respite for me as planning and executing the 8th grade promotion activities wore. me. OUT. The party was a huge success; over 70% of the promoting class attended, and the deejay played music the kids loved. They actually danced - woohoo! Many of them repeatedly thanked those of us on the planning committee, which makes all of the hectic craziness worth it. A good time was had by all, including the chaperons and the teachers. Our principal even made her way out to the dance floor a few times. :)

Still trying to finagle my way out to Atlanta in several weeks to meet up with some friends from the blogging community. I say finagling because I'm trying to secure a gratis plane ticket, and I'm trying to coordinate with Bond in order to mooch a ride from him and his lovely bride. We shall see if the pieces all fit together.

Ironically enough, the weekend I chose to go to Atlanta conflicts with my 30th high school reunion in South Florida. Normally, this would not be an issue for me, but a friend who lives in the Middle East will be attending, and it would be wonderful to see her and catch up with her. If my friend from England was attending, I would be really hard pressed as to whether to go to the reunion or see my pals in Atlanta. So, I'm getting tugged out by the friend from Saudi Arabia, and I'm getting pulled in the opposite direction by friends in Portland, Santa Cruz, and Memphis who are meeting in Atlanta. Sigh........decisions, decisions......

I think I need to go back to the beach. ;)

Character DOES Count

2010-05-17T19:18:00.003-07:00

Each quarter, our school has a large “pep rally,” and at the end of the year, that pep rally morphs into an awards celebration. For several years, our school has been awarded the “Excelling” label based on standardized test scores (I know, I know, they are an instrument of evil; nonetheless……), and for the past two years (since we’ve been under the leadership of our fabulous principal), we have earned the District Superintendant’s Award of Excellence (for “Providing instruction using differentiation, tiered instruction, and appropriate research-based interventions and a school-wide writing portfolio system, building strong student, parent, and community relationships, and implementing the first Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Academy which includes a rigor and relevant curriculum and the use of emerging technologies, Desert School sets the bar above minimum requirements needed for future success.” ) and the Red Carpet Service Award (“for modeling exemplary customer service.”) This is the first time in our district that a K-8 school has won these last two awards back-to-back.

Additionally, our school was awarded the A+ School of Excellence by the state's Educational Foundation, an award that is based on a multi-page application process and site judging. The process took place over several months, and for the first time in our nine-year history, we were awarded this designation, a label that we can proclaim for the next three years.

I tell you all this to give you the context for what I’m about to tell you. Because this year’s award celebration was so incredible given all of the accolades, a huge assembly was planned. We had the city’s vice mayor there, three district superintendents, two state senators, and other special guests. The band played, the chorus sang, and the cheerleaders lead the kids in a cheer. It was a raucous and proud moment for our school. As you know, we went through a “rough” patch a few years ago, but we are now on the path to continued excellence, which is what our kids deserve.

One of the awards that is presented quarterly is a character award. The principal herself handpicks an eighth grade student whom she feels exemplifies the six pillars of character: respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship, fairness, and caring. She keeps the name of the recipient to herself until the moment the name is announced at the assembly. I think it is one of the greatest honors that a student can be awarded at our school because it goes beyond academic and/or athletic excellence. This award signifies that this student has outstanding character and lives to “fill up others’ buckets” on a daily basis, both visibly and (more importantly) without being noticed or seeking attention.

This quarter’s recipient of the Outstanding Character award is my beautiful, talented, highly intelligent, loving, and most excellent daughter, Bonnie Lass .

And yes, thinking of this still makes me teary. Her dad and I couldn’t be more proud. And did I mention that she was chosen to sing the U.S. National Anthem at her promotion ceremony next week? :-)

Thanks for letting me gush.

Our school teaches and upholds the lessons contained in the Character Counts program. (For more information, click on the link.)

Just Checking....

2010-05-09T22:58:00.003-07:00

.....are all y'all still there? Is this thing still working?

I'm still alive, and still very, very busy. I've read some blogs and commented, so you know I'm started to see the top of the pile, but it's slow going.

I'll be back. Sometime.

Maybe after May 26th.......maybe before. Who knows?

Race to the Finish

2010-04-29T10:12:00.003-07:00

It is, without a doubt, the month that has sped by the fastest. I think my vision is blurred from the speed at which the days have raced by. In the past few weeks, I have spent countless hours volunteering at school both in the office and in the classroom (not to mention a full day of adult mentoring on a field trip). I have eaten my fill at picnics and festivals (evidenced by the "Navajo Taco" at left, a concoction of ground beef, beans, lettuce, onions, and salsa on Indian fry bread). I have tried, tirelessly, to get my computer to cooperate as I attempt to finish end-of-the-year PTSA paperwork (that I have postponed completing for months). I have planned various 8th grade promotion activities, like trying to secure food and monetary donations for the party and breakfast. I have helped my daughter buy "the perfect" promotion ceremony dress, bolstered her confidence as she auditioned for the right to sing the national anthem at next month's promotion (she earned that right....*smile*), and shuttled her back and forth to numerous early morning chorus rehearsals. I have cajoled my son into finishing dozens of homework assignments and long-term projects, while trying to juggle dinner preparations and countless trips to the martial arts academy.

In between the mindless back and forth obligations of this mom turned volunteer, I have gone back to singing at church again (after a three month hiatus). And yet, most of the chaos in my life has revolved around the kids. This is not unusual for mothers, but this time of the year seems to be more hectic than most of the months preceding. Not having my usual toes-in-the-sand respite next month to look forward to has made me a bit.....well, shall I say.....bitchy with my family the unfortunate recipients of my sniping.

Happily, I can say, however, that my children seem to be in good spirits despite the impending end of a very successful and even enjoyable school year. My husband and I, as we prepare to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary next week, are also enjoying the ride even in the face of seeing our baby girl grow into a high schooler.

My blogging visits have been sparse, I know, but given this post, I hope you can see just why that is fairly understandable. By the end of May, I should be able to take a deep breath, sleep late in the mornings, and take some time to enjoy the beauty that is revealed in all of your blog treasures.

Until then.....later daze...................

Random Observations

2010-04-20T10:48:00.004-07:00

Just a few things that have crossed my mind lately:

Have you ever noticed that whenever you go into the store with absolutely NO preconceived ideas about what you might want (e.g., a shoe store), you find just that....NOTHING?
I kept getting notices from a favorite online retailer about this sale or that sale. I hadn't had the money to get some things I needed. Finally, a really great sale popped up, and having money to purchase the two things I wanted and needed, I pulled the trigger and made the purchase. Today I opened my incoming e-mail and saw.......a notice of an even better sale. It figures.............
My husband forgot his wallet yesterday, so I offered to drive down to his office to give him said wallet. Because I had no other appointments, and because the distance between his office and our house is about 50 miles each way, he said he'd buy me lunch while I was down there. Even though there was virtually no midday traffic (considering the metro area has about five million residents), the trip took me one hour down and one hour back. I was exhausted when I got home. Why?
My wireless computer keyboard performs beautifully whenever I am typing personal correspondence, writing my blog posts, or playing around on Facebook. Whenever I go to do data entry for my PTSA records, it starts misbehaving by skipping keys or doubling and tripling letters. I think it's possessed. Or anti-paperwork.
I do believe I over-scheduled myself again tomorrow.
My regular exterminator abruptly resigned from the company after nearly 20 years. He's been my "bug guy" for the past ten. It was weird letting someone new into my house, even though he was pretty nice looking.
I hadn't seen my new neighbor/good friend since he and his family moved in down the block. Today, as I was taking The Lass to school early for chorus, I remembered it was his birthday. After I dropped her off, as I passed his house, he was coming out of the garage to leave for work. How fortuitous that I was able to deliver my birthday greetings in person. :) I like those kind of coinkydinks.
My daughter and I went shopping this weekend to find her a nice dress for 8th grade promotion next month. We found a really cute one, and seeing her in it made me teary. Actually, we found two cute ones, so I bought her both. She's such a great kid; she deserved it. :)
Only 26 more days until my daughter officially is a freshman in high school. In 27 days, my son officially will be a 6th grader.
I was watching a television rerun last night, and one scene took place at the beach. Seeing that expanse of blue ocean made me sad that we won't be making our annual trek there next month.
As much as I love music, sometimes I sit in my house alone and listen to the sounds outside. So far this morning, I've heard one emergency vehicle siren, two commercial jets, a handful of F-16s, numerous birds, and a flock of geese.

I think I'd better get back to my paperwork. *sigh*

Later daze..............

Doldrums....

2010-04-10T13:45:00.005-07:00

I've heard of winter doldrums, but springtime? We're actually having a lovely spring here in the desert, that is, if you can stand the sneezing and coughing and watery eyes caused by all things blooming. Ergh. We're all too quickly approaching the end of another school year, and I'm caught up in the ensuing whirlwind. I'm on the planning committee for the 8th grade promotion activities (party, breakfast/award ceremony, promotion ceremony), and my head is swimming in details.

Because the weather has been so mild, there are school carnivals, church festivals, martial arts festivals, and company picnics to attend every weekend between now and the beginning of May. The kids will be taking the state-standards test all next week, so my volunteer skills will not be needed in the school office until those are completed. It's a welcome respite for me because, as I began by saying, I'm in the doldrums.

I can't really explain it. Life is awash in wonderful weather, fun activities, brilliant accomplishments by my kids, and I'm feeling.......blah. Just blah. If I were to colorize my mood, it wouldn't be gray. More of a........an absence of color.

We've booked our flights to Ohio this summer. My wonderful in-laws will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and after a weekend of partying with family, the four of us will be driving to Washington, DC to show the kids some of the monuments and museums. In late July I hope to spend a few days in Atlanta meeting up and partying with some fun friends who I have met online. THAT should be a wild time; someone start a bail fund for us, would you? ;)

Until then, I'm kinda floating like a leaf in a babbling brook. I'm just moving along at a clip, being buffeted against rocks and creeksides, enjoying the ride but wondering what drop off will come next.

Hope you all are having a glorious spring. Later daze........

(Oh, and the photo above? Not indicative of my mood, really. I just got a good chuckle out of it and thought I'd share. *grin*)

Thoughts on a Random Afternoon/EDITED TO ADD

2010-04-05T16:56:00.003-07:00

Last week I had the....ahem...."pleasure" of observing 1,100 junior high schoolers in their natural environment: lunchtime on their campus. (I use the term "junior high school" because in my day, schools with only 7th and 8th grades were called junior high schools, NOT middle schools, and I'm stubbornly sticking to that, so THERE! Middle schools have 6th, 7th, and 8th or, rarely, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades.)

I was the guest of a friend of mine at her son's school during their cultural arts week, and I went to enjoy the Chinese dancer. These are my observations from that afternoon:

Armed police personnel are required not only on the high school campuses in our district but on the campuses of junior high schools, too.
12-14 year old boys will wear diamond stud earrings in BOTH EARS, and the carat size of a single stud is more than all of the carat weight of the diamonds in my wedding band and engagement ring COMBINED.
Apparently, dress code violations are not given. Girls wear shorts that show their butt cheeks, muffin tops are in proud display, and spaghetti straps are not covered.
When given free reign at lunch time, junior high schoolers will freely have public displays of affection and not pick up their trash after eating.
There are no punishments for cussing in the halls because, again, there were no lunchtime monitors or teachers in attendance (thank you, budget cuts.....sigh.....)

I'm so glad my daughter opted to stay at our little K-8 school. She'll have enough cultural shock come August when she starts her freshman year.

~~~~~~~~~

I am SOOOOOOO proud of my Butler Bulldog men's basketball team. Excellent championship game. Well planned, well executed, exciting albeit disappointing.

Way to go Dawgs!

Watch for Flying Bullets

2010-03-30T09:24:00.004-07:00

Don't really have time to compose a lengthy missive, but I thought throw some random things out so that you know what I still live and am paying attention.

Thanks to all who voted for me in the recent photo contest.......I WON!
I've been worshiping at the Hoops Temple, as have most of you, but, unlike most of you, I have a been engaged in very intense prayer. As if you didn't already know, MY BULLDOGS ARE PLAYING THE FINAL FOUR AT HOME IN INDY! Sorry for the shouting, but....you know....I'm just a bit excited. ;)

My pal Bond over at Big Leather Couch has been, for a few weeks now, hosting a Blog Talk Radio show on Monday nights designed to showcase musicians who are making music without much mainstream exposure. I've come across some great new (to me) groups, and I thought I'd share one with you now. I've been starting my mornings of late, listening to this song from Shayna Zaid & the Catch:

My son is testing for his primary black belt tonight. Can I have some crossed fingers, please?

That's all for now, friends. Kids had Spring Break, and now we're back into full swing, pushing full steam ahead towards the end of school on May 27th (May 26 for The Lass who is promoting out of 8th grade - YIKES!)

Later daze....

Crossing Paths

2010-03-23T00:01:00.003-07:00

First, let met say thank you to everyone who voted for me in the photo contest. As of this writing, I do not know who won, but I am grateful to you all for kind words and support.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have always been a firm believer in the notion that friends come and go into your life whenever you most need them. For the most part, I have few close friends, and one of them has been a friend for nearly 40 years. I have other good people who have come and gone in my life, and whenever they come back across my path, for the most part, I'm grateful for their "re-entry" and enjoy them for whatever time they are around.

I've been having fitful dreams lately and not sleeping well, and one morning I realized that I had been having dreams about a friend with whom I had been close for about a year but who drifted away due to our having differing schedules and various situations. I chalked the dreams up to nothing, but then I remembered my black cat, twitchy feeling of last week.

Today was the first day back to school from spring break, and since our weather has been glorious, I drove home from picking up the kids with the windows down. The kids and I were laughing about this and that, when just a few houses down from our own, I spied someone standing on the side of the road talking to a neighbor. I got that twitchy feeling, as if I knew that person, but I shook it off. Just as we passed, my daughter turned to me and asked, "Hey, Mom, isn't that Mr. P?"

I quickly made a U-turn to confirm my suspicions because my daughter expressed aloud the very thought that had crossed my mind unspoken!

As I pulled up towards the two men standing by the side of the road, the man who I thought was my "long-lost" friend turned to face me, grinning from ear to ear. As I got out of the car, he walked across the street and embraced me in a crushing bear hug.

As it turns out, as of this week, he and his family will be my new neighbors just down the block. I suppose this was the reason for my black-cat feeling, but rather than it being a message of foreboding, it was one of foreshadowing. I look forward to greeting my new neighbors; he's already promised to put up a hoop and shoot baskets with The Lass. She's looking forward to it.

May you find new treasures, or rediscover lost ones, in your lives, my friends. Later daze.....

An Island Life March Photo Contest - "Springtime"

2010-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Once again, I'm entering a photo contest hosted by Kailani at An Island Life. The theme for the contest this month, as expected, is "springtime."

VOTING IS NOW OPEN! So, once again I am cajoling you, my faithful readers, into voting pour MOI. Here is my entry (morning dew on a springtime rose):

You have until March 22nd to vote; I'm not sure how often you can vote (it might be only once; it might be once a day). Regardless, please click HERE and VOTE for ME, The Ice Box.

Thank you!!!!!

Was That a Black Cat?

2010-03-16T22:07:00.002-07:00

Starrlight calls it her black cat feeling. You know of what I speak? That feeling that makes you unsettled, that something, anything, is not quite right. That something is a bit......hinky. It makes you, again to quote the Celestial One, "twitchy."

This feeling bothers me. At the end of Day Two of Spring Break 2010, I take an assessment and feel as if I'm missing something. As if I've forgotten something or that something will happen.....something for which I am unprepared.

The weather has been glorious here, but I will refrain from gloating to spare the feelings of those of you wading through flood waters or lamenting the lack of solar relief. I've nearly recovered from the nasty "bad cold" (pharyngitis), save for some lingering ear and eye problems and a nagging cough (not to mention a lack of singing voice - NO!). I've been able to sleep in, watch movies with the kids, and catch up on relaxing after a hectic last two weeks of school. My daughter spent the afternoon at a friend's house this afternoon, and my son helped at a junior tae kwon do class, so I had some time alone today.

And that's when the twitchiness began. It started as a niggling feeling in the back of my mind. I looked over my checklist of things to do, and I realized that taxes needed to be paid, my daughter's retreat permission slip needed to be filled out and turned in (and accompanied by the requisite fee), and my son's martial arts testing application needed to be filled out and turned in (also accompanied by the requisite fee, which is somewhat atmospheric considering he is testing for his primary black belt - yikes!). For the record, yes, I'm very proud of my son, but you really DON'T want to know what the testing fee is. And it will be DOUBLE when he actually tests for his First Recommended Black Belt in November - oy vey.

So now, as I write this at 10:18 p.m., the twitchiness has not dissipated, and, in fact, has taken on a new life as I battle a rolling stomach and nurse a budding headache behind my eyes.

I wish someone would take this damn cat and drop kick it over the back fence into oncoming traffic, or at least put it in someone else yard.

Later daze............

Milestone March

2010-03-05T07:52:00.003-07:00

The first week of March elicits so many emotions in me. March 3rd is the anniversary of my mother's passing, and this year marks 25 years since that day. It's also a week past my daughter's 14th birthday, and in some ways, I'm still struggling to comprehend that one.

March 7th is the anniversary of the day my parents and older sisters arrived in the United States. In 1961, the six of them arrived in Hoboken, NJ and began the process of becoming Americans. How ironic is it then that 49 years later, today, in fact, that my sister #4 was sworn in just moments ago in Orlando, FL as a United States citizen. I couldn't be there, but my heart is with her. I'm very proud of her and happy for her and her family. It's been a long and wonderful journey.

Speaking of milestones, today, March 5th, is also the six-month wedding anniversary of my friend Vinny over at Big Leather Couch and his lovely bride, Nancy. If you have the chance, pop over there and send him good wishes. Tell him I sent ya!

I've been home now for about two weeks or so, nursing what's left of this dumb cold that knocked me flat. Most of you know that my chronic health condition makes any illness a potential minefield, so we were lucky this one did not send me to the hospital. Still, not having a fully functioning mom the last two weeks means that the cupboards and refrigerator are bare, and the teen girl has cooked as many meals as I can eke out of her. A few more days of rest for me, and then it's back to the mommy grindstone. I've been getting e-mails from the school secretary with little frowny faces telling me that they miss me up there and to get better SOON! so I guess I can't dawdle too much longer. *grin*

Other milestones this week of note:

Saturday is Tiggerprr's birthday. Be sure to click over here and send her some good wishes. She's had a rough year, so any good karma you can send her way would be appreciated.
Sunday is Jay's birthday, he of the Cynical Bastard blog and the rockin' Viking horns. Be sure to click over here and send him some birthday wishes. Gratuitous cheesy shots of stacked bimbos are optional. *grin*

And so, with these random thoughts, I leave you. I hope to return to regular blogging very soon. Now that the Olympics are over, my cold has been beaten back, and my kids are in control, things might start calming down for me. Then again.....

Later daze.................

Eh.....It's a Party!

2010-02-23T19:30:00.007-07:00

....so.....here I am. Seems I stalled at post #900, and since I didn't want anyone to think I'd fallen off a cliff, I thought I'd put up a pithy post to say I'm still alive. At least, by medical standards. My brain still functions, as do my heart and lungs, but I'm bedridden with a bad cold that feels more like the flu. Ick.

So on with the pith. Today is my daughter's 14th birthday. My first born, multi-talented, hard working, studious, helpful, and giggly daughter is the light of my life, along with her brother. Happy Birthday, Bonnie Lass. May we have many, many more celebrations together.

I apologize for not being around much lately, and in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that I cleared out my Google Reader to zero so that I can start fresh. I hope to be around much more, if only I can tear myself away from my cafe' in Facebook..................

Ruby Tuesday - Valentines

2010-02-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

Got Nothin'....

2010-02-09T22:11:00.002-07:00

....so I thought I would share this little chuckle that I received from Sister #1. Enjoy, and..

Later daze.............

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee.
The first Catholic man tells his friends, "My son is a priest, when he
walks into a room, and everyone calls him 'Father'."

The second Catholic man chirps, "My son is a Bishop. When he walks into a
room people call him 'Your Grace'."

The third Catholic gent says, "My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a
room everyone says 'Your Eminence'."

The fourth Catholic man then says, "My son is the Pope. When he walks
into a room people call him 'Your Holiness'."

Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four
men give her a subtle, "Well.....?"
She proudly replies, "I have a daughter,

slim,
tall,
38D breast,
24" waist and
34" hips.

...When she walks into a room, people say, "Oh My God."

Ruby Tuesday - Welcome

2010-02-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you ever come to visit me here in the desert, this is what will you will see just above the doorbell. Ding Dong! Anyone home????

Chip off the "Old" Block

2010-01-31T16:22:00.003-07:00

I got this note from my son's fifth grade teacher this weekend:

I just remembered...Little Man corrected my sentence the other day on the math test...he said it should say "soda with lunch" instead of "soda for lunch." I laughed and said "so you did get your mother's language brain after all!"

*sheepish grin* What can I say? I'm so proud of that kid!

You Would Think....

2010-01-28T08:44:00.003-07:00

...that with age at least a modicum of wisdom would be obvious. I'm not saying I'm not wiser about most things, especially when it comes to the huge mistakes I've made in my past. I mean my expectations about how people would act or react to a situation. It's been an historical fact that each year my husband refuses to wish me a happy birthday on my natal anniversary, waiting for me to say something first. And yet.....and yet.....I continue to be disappointed when he leaves for work and hasn't said anything, and I did NOT remind him. And this year, even my CHILDREN didn't say anything until I mentioned it FIRST. I mean, c'mon, how difficult is it, really, to remember what day it is when there are calenders all over the stupid house?! Sheesh.......

*****Okay, scratch that. Hubby just called me to say he was sorry that he left for work without saying Happy Birthday. He said he can't believe that he forgot. All is upright in the world again. *grin* ********

Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I really don't have anything to share. *sheepish grin* You all will notice that I've been a slacker (or as Starr would say, "slacquer") when it comes to blogging. So many things have been happening, and yet......nothing really. Do you know what I mean?

Since December 21st, a few people in my life have passed away. I already mentioned earlier about Wendy, my support group leader. Since then, my second sister's FIL passed away back in Indy (a mean, grumpy bastard, but still a member of the family, and one of the last remaining connections to my parents), and just yesterday I heard about the death of a youth group leader at my parish. I know that death is a part of life, and as a Catholic Christian, I truly believe in a better life after death. It's just.....surreal that these losses seem to come in bunches, and this latest loss is shocking in that this man was not much older than I am. A larger-than-life personality, our community will be at a loss without him, and our youth will be impacted the most. Here is the cruelest irony, however: he passed away while attending a funeral for a friend. Weird, to say the least......

So, birth and death - is there a point to this post? Ummmmmm.....not really. *grin* I suppose I could be cliche' and say, "Tell those to whom you are closest that you love them. Tell them often," but you already know that, and I'll assume you already do that. So here's my point: Remember to laugh. Remember to smile. Remember to be grateful. Remember to be happy. Remember to dance. Remember to be silly. Remember TO BE.

Later daze...............

Here We Go Again!

2010-01-24T16:29:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit: The Indianapolis Star

Aging Ruminations/EDITED TO ADD

2010-01-08T12:59:00.006-07:00

The thing about having a birthday near the end or beginning of a calendar year is, instead of making resolutions, one tends to get nostalgic about things done (and not done) during a year or even a lifetime. Or maybe it's just me, I dunno.

Anyhoodle (*grin*), at 3:30 this morning when I still could not sleep, I started thinking about milestones and stepping stones over the course of my 47 years. Perhaps this was generated, in part, by the fact that I had attended a "future freshman" night at the local high school for my first born. Regardless, I was left wide awake in the wee hours today, swimming in thoughts of my past and hopes for my daughter's future.

So, journey with me, if you desire to learn about me, into my sojourn to the past:

Age 18 - with hopes for a career in musical theater, started college

Age 19 - realized that, while I possessed some modicum of talent, I did NOT possess the drive nor the motivation to attain my lofty goals for entertainment glory

Age 20 - earned associate's degree in performance; left Florida for Indiana to begin university to study arts administration

Age 23 - took a detour to get married; lost a mother to cancer; left Indiana for Washington to begin life as a Marine Corps wife; nearly widowed (save only for the fact that I pried the gun out of his hand in time)

Age 24 - moved back to Indiana; separated from nearly suicidal spouse; moved in with father; lost father to heart disease.

Age 26 - FINALLY earned college bachelor's degree; divorced first spouse; started career; purchased very first brand-new car

Age 26.5 - met new man

Age 29 - moved to the desert; married life-long partner

Age 34 - bore first child; left career behind; became full-time, stay-at-home mom

Age 36 - earned master's degree; began staff position (from home) writing for a family magazine

Age 37 - bore second child

Age 38 - assumed management position in a national women's ministry, working with several hundred women in the metropolitan area; lost job with magazine when magazine ceased publication

Age 43 - received diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; resigned position with women's ministry

Age 44 - began extensive volunteer position at childrens' school, volunteering four days per week

Age 47 - remembered, by studying my milestones, that I LOVE my life!

There you have it; my life in bullet points. Not too bad. I think I'll keep on plugging away. The rewards are in the minutiae; the payoffs are immense.

Later daze, y'all.

Just to clarify: My birthday is not until the end of the month; I've just been thinking about where I've been and what I've done versus where I want to go. I blame it, in part, on my daughter's impending high school career and also, in part, on the passing of an acquaintance. Additionally, I am turning 48 years old (yeah, it's taken me a bit to admit that), so, consequently, I currently AM 47 years young. Thanks for the good wishes, though!

A Life Lived Well

2009-12-29T23:14:00.008-07:00

It's not often that I receive news that brings me to my knees. News that is so earth-shattering, so heart-stopping, that I collapse in disbelief, shock, and pain that rocks my very core.

I opened the letter, making note of the return address and thinking briefly, "Oh, the new support group meeting dates for 2010. Great!"

What I read instead was the tale of a heartbroken husband, informing those of us in the area Pulmonary Hypertension community of the passing of his wife.

Part of her obituary on the national PHA website reads as follows:

Wendy at the time of her passing was the Support group leader for two groups in XXXX. Her role was to promote Hope, Support, Advocacy, Awareness, in the communities of City A and City B. She assumed the Support group leadership role in 2007. She was co-chair of the first two charity golf tournaments and chair of two more. November 2009, Pulmonary Awareness month, she set up a Casino Night Fundraiser that in a bad economy raised $20,000 for the PHA. She received many accolades for an outstanding job organizing that event and was proud of exceeding her goal of $10,000.
She has touched so many people in XXXX and given them a sense of hope that they would not die in 6 months to 2 years, a time line many cases are given being diagnosed with a terminal illness. She was highly regarded on the national level also by the leaders of the PHA. Her motto was she is living with PH, not dying from it."

Wendy was a force. She always wore a smile and possessed a laugh with which she greeted anyone who came to a meeting or an event. She had a wry sense of humor, and she was a cheerleader for all her suffered from this terrible condition.

I did not know Wendy well, but her loss to our community has left me bereft and in mourning. Living with a chronic, life-threatening illness becomes a way of life, not a way to die, and most of the time I live in a state of acceptance. Death is a reality that I know can occur at any time, and yet.....the very idea of death seems an improbability.

Until Death takes one of our own. Then....then, I face my mortality.

And I scream, "Go to hell, Death! You can NOT have me too!"

RIP, Wendy. Godspeed. Take a deep breath, and feel no more pain.

Christmas Cheer

2009-12-20T14:31:00.006-07:00

I won't be around much this week (if at all), and I might not be around much during the entire Christmas school break. My kids are home, my husband is home, and we're doing lots of fun family stuff together.

My FB friends will find me there as usual, perhaps a bit more there than here. In the meantime, I leave you with the following video to send you a smile and a giggle. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and a Peaceful and Joyous New Year.

Did You Think I Was Dead?

2009-12-13T22:58:00.003-07:00

I'm sure some of you did, and some of you might even wish that I was (*cheesy grin*), but I'm still here luxuriating in my slackerdom. It's an art, you know? The Christmas lights are on the house, and the tree is decorated. We even managed to get a few interior decorations placed: a couple of light-up cartoon characters greeting neighbors from the windows; some brightly lit reindeer lounging in the family room; and some festively dressed rubber duckies guarding the flat screen television. Other than that, my Christmas preparations have involved nada. No cards are written or addressed; in fact, I may not even get them out this year. I have not yet taken the annual kids' photo for the card, and I'm refusing to write a newsletter this year since life in the Birdcage has been SOS. (Look that one up if you don't know nor can infer a meaning.)

I HAVE been attending Christmas concerts of late. Thursday night, the Lass sang with her school chorus at school, and last night they performed again at a local shopping center (think: outdoor market or plaza). We also had the pleasure of hearing the local high school honor choir, and they Knocked. My. Socks. OFF. My daughter had stars in her eyes as she envisioned auditioning for an being accepted into that choir next year. Tonight I tagged along with my friend LD and her family as we went to her mother's church to hear their choir. It was, as expected, wonderful. Tuesday night, my daughter wants to attend the high school's chorus concert as a result of hearing the honor choir. I think we might be able to work that one in the schedule.

So, while no Christmas prep taking place, lots of soaking in of the sounds and sights of the season. I suppose that's a start, right?

After spending lots of time editing documents, I've had very little motivation to write blog posts. To rest my brain, I'd much rather take in an NFL game or a college hoops game on the boob tube. Speaking of, did anyone catch either the IU/Kentucky basketball game or the Butler/Ohio State game, both of which aired AT THE SAME TIME on Saturday? Yeah, thank goodness for DVRs and split screen viewing. I was able to enjoy the Hoosiers try to hang tough with the UK Wildcats, and I was overjoyed to see my Bulldogs defeat my hubby's Buckeyes *grin*. On the NFL front, my Colts are STILL undefeated as of this writing, and they have secured home field advantage through the playoffs (provided they can finally shake off that damn Charger albatross - *sigh*). It's a great time of year for a sports junkie like me. (I'm sure Travis agrees, too!).

Not much else happening around here. I'm trying to keep up with reading blogs, but even that has been spotty at best. I'm not ignoring you all; I'm just lazy. Too busy having fun with my kids, and too distracted by other things to be tied down at the computer for long.

As you all get mired down with To Do list priorities this holiday season, let me leave you with this thought:

Later daze.........

Cheap Trick...

2009-12-04T19:20:00.003-07:00

....just to get a laugh, snort, guffaw, or chuckle out of you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning..

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph.. (Remember, the Pope is German..)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: ' A senator?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'

Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who is it?'

Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'

Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

Just Another Reason....

2009-12-01T18:28:00.004-07:00

....that I love football (and some football players!). These top two are tops in my book.

(taken from Sports Illustrated, December 2, 2009)

Ruby Tuesday - Hello...

2009-12-01T00:01:00.002-07:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a more serious note, today is World AIDS Day. On this day, several Product (RED) merchants will increase their contributions to help fight AIDS in Africa. Visit these merchants today and see how they will help make a difference:

Starbucks: 5 cents for every hand-crafted beverage in US & Canada, and 5p/5 Euro cents for every espresso-based beverage bought in UK & Ireland.

Gap: 1% of all revenue at participating US and Canada stores.

Dell: Doubling their contributions on DELL (PRODUCT) RED™ products in US and Europe. Until December 2nd.

Bugaboo: As always Bugaboo will be contributing 1% of their total revenue to the Global Fund.

Click here to see all (RED) partners.

Go (RED), and make an impact.

Treasures and Blessings

2009-11-29T20:13:00.002-07:00

I discovered some golden nuggets over this holiday weekend:

We had a brief rain storm today, and while I missed being outside in it, I DID get to see the gorgeous DOUBLE rainbow that was the result of the storm.
My daughter made homemade chocolate chip cookies while I sat on the couch enjoying my Colts win another close game.
Trader Joe's prepared side dishes made my Thanksgiving feast easy to prepare, and they were absolutely delicious, too. I had dinner prepared and on the table in 20 minutes! Oh, the smoked honey-glazed turkey breast from the Honeybaked Ham store helped, too....*grin*
Hubby and I had a long overdue discussion about some things we've been putting aside, and I came out of the conversation with a very peaceful heart.
My son FINALLY finished his long-term project - whew!
I did not worry about having the Christmas tree up, decorations up, or cards written and addressed. And I didn't care that I hadn't done it yet, either.
I did not do one bit of Christmas gift shopping.
I did very little cooking after Thanksgiving day.
My daughter and husband did most of the laundry.
My stress level was non-existent most the entire weekend.

So, I'm fairly certain I have lots of things for which I am grateful. How about you?

Ruby Tuesday and Other Assorted Nonsense

2009-11-23T17:44:00.005-07:00

The photo above was taken at my kids' school on Friday, November 6th. The gentleman wearing this shirt proudly told me that he was at the school's Veterans Day celebration at the request of his granddaughter. The granddaughter wanted her grandfather to be thanked and recognized for his service in the US Marine Corps.

Semper Fi.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of school, I'm wondering why if I haven't been a student now for xx years, why am I stressing over incomplete homework assignments? Yeah, I know, the responsibility should lie with my son, but as bright as that kid is, he sure is obstinate about doing the actual work. Sigh. I just wish all of his assignments and tests could be turned in verbally; he'd be a straight A student!

It's difficult to comprehend how quickly time has been flying. We're facing Thanksgiving in just a few days, and soon thereafter it will be Christmas. When the kids go back to school in January, we're halfway to my daughter completing her final year in grade school. She and I are both having trouble contemplating the thought of high school next year.

A few weeks ago, I was asked specifically by our school principal to proofread and edit some important documents, one that will set the tone for our school's direction for the next few years, and one that is an application for a special recognition for our school. In the midst of all that, I've had friends who have suffered with health ailments, the possible loss of homes, the death of a parent, and other less tragic but still difficult challenges.

I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed emotionally, but I stiffened my back and weathered on. Then came a comment on a very old post, one that accused me of only wanting people to feel sorry for me and that "sooooooo many people know the real truth about the kind of person you are."

Really?

Do I seem pathetic to some? Do I really appear to want sympathy from all? Hmmm....let's take stock of my life:

I have been happily married for over 18 years to a highly intelligent, loyal, funny, and trustworthy man who is a fabulous father to our kids.
I have two healthy, extremely bright, affectionate, and compassionate children.
I am educated and have ample opportunities for personal growth.
My health is stable.
I live in a very comfortable home in a safe community.
I have fantastic friends who love me, trust me, laugh with me, and give me strength.
I have sisters who drive me nuts but who love me nonetheless and would be by my side if I needed them.
I have an outstanding relationship with my mother-in-law and father-in-law.
I am a perfect creation and daughter of God.

What more could I want?

Never Forget...

2009-11-11T14:43:00.002-07:00

...what they've done for us.

Never forget their sacrifice.

Dona Nobis Pacem

2009-11-05T00:01:00.004-07:00

Peace is...embracing the goodness in oneself...and in each other.

Bear with me for posting this repeat from November 2007; this is for Mimi:

Are You Ready?

2009-11-02T14:38:00.003-07:00

BlogBlast for Peace is coming up on November 5th! Is your peace globe ready to fly?

It's NOT?!?!

Go HERE to get your globe template. Share your message of peace.

And while you're at it, send some peaceful, warm thoughts to Mimi as she continues to grieve on the loss of her beloved daddy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry I haven't been around much. I'm having a minor health issue, and it's really kicking my butt. I'm resting up, but I'll be posting on November 5th, and I hope to make blog rounds even sooner.

Virtual Reality

2009-10-27T16:05:00.005-07:00

Their joy is my joy. Their pain is my pain, too.

One has a daughter who continues to fight fever after fever. Another one has a daughter who has migraine after migraine and now fights a kidney infection in a hospital. And yet another friend had to say goodbye to a dearly loved, dying father.

I "stood" by my friend as she sat in her father's hospital bed. I "sit" by my other friend as she sits with her daughter in the hospital, waiting for her pain to go away for good. I laugh with yet another friend as she nurses her daughter through another fever.

How did this happen? How did these people transcend the written words on their blogs to living, breathing friends whose lives are important to me?

It begins simply enough. You find a blog and start reading it. They start reading yours. You comment, they comment. You find common ground in their words. You trade e-mails. You trade stories. Then you trade "real" names.

There. That's it. When you know a person's given name, then the transformation is complete.

I have names, home addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers. I've talked on the phone with them, laughed and cried, been invited to their weddings and to their homes. All of these pieces complete what I know about someone that I first met through the written word.

And it makes the picture three dimensional. The face on the page, the avatar, breathes life.

It has broadened my world and my perspective.

It is my new reality.

Also thinking about and praying for someone with whom I once was close as he fights pneumonia in the hospital. I still care. Of course.

Who is This?

2009-10-21T00:01:00.005-07:00

So last week I posted this photo and asked if anyone could guess who it was. What started this was a simple conversation The Engineer and I were having while watching Sunday Night Football last week. We were talking about different players throughout the years, their strengths, their weaknesses, their college careers, etc. The subject then came back to a player that I had THOUGHT was from my hometown in Florida. Turns out I was incorrect, but the search for details on that person led me to this photo.

This photo was in my high school yearbook. So was this one.

This man was a member of the school's soccer team his freshman year and played in the band. As far as I could tell, I had no activities in common with him, and I certainly never had class with him as I was a senior when he was freshman.

Later I went to the alumni site for my high school and came across this photo. This man was awarded an Alumni Recognition Award in 1997. (Recognize him yet?)

Still don't know who it is? Okay, here's the last clue. This is a fairly recent photo of him.

Figured it out yet? Those of you who are National Football League fans should know who it is by now. It's John Carney, kicker for the New Orleans Saints, graduate of the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!), and my high school, Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Newman Crusaders' own claim to fame, and I never even figured it out.

Until now.

Can they take away my fan membership card for this infraction? *hanging head in shame*

Later daze, y'all...

Ruby Tuesday - Pinwheels for Peace

2009-10-20T00:01:00.004-07:00

On September 21st, the kids at our school took part in the International Day of Peace by participating in Pinwheels for Peace.

Kids participating in a peace movement? Why not? And why not you?

Join the BlogBlast for Peace movement on November 5, 2009. As Mimi of Mimi Writes says, "We will speak with one voice. One subject. One day."

Won't you join us?

Go HERE for details on how to get your Peace Globe, and on November 5th, fly your globe. Peace starts with a dream in your heart and spreads from person to person.

Blog Blast for Peace - A Meme

2009-10-19T00:01:00.001-07:00

BlogBlast For Peace Meme ~ Join The Revolution

Here are the rules and the story.

Copy this into a post and tag as many people as you'd like.

The Peace Globe project began in the fall of 2006 with a simple post from one blog, Mimi Writes. The post ignited a flame in the blogosphere. The flame became a passion. The passion became a movement. It amazingly traveled from blog to blog to blog across the globe. Bloggers wrote passionate articles on what peace means to them, along with the promise of three Latin words scribbled on a globe - Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace) - branded with the integrity of their names or blog names. It was positively inspiring to watch. And it began to happen all over the world - from Singapore to China to Afghanistan to Brooklyn.

It was simple. And powerful.

We will speak with one voice. One subject. One day.

Won't you join us?

On 5 November 2009, DISPLAY YOUR GLOBE IN A POST. Title your post "Dona Nobis Pacem". This is important. The goal is for all blog post titles to say the same thing on the same day. Write about peace that day or simply fly your globe.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE TAGGED TO PLAY.

Please consider passing this meme through the blogosphere.

This is Mimi Pencil Skirt reporting from the lovely land of the Peace Globes.

Memeing the Movement.

End quote from Mimi Writes...

You're all tagged. Everything you need to know about how to participate can be found in the links at the top of my sidebar. And once you've created your Peace Globe, email it to blogblastforpeace@yahoo.com so it can be included in the Gallery.

This is a worthy thing. It's a community thing. It's a blog thing. It's a human thing.

Do it. Post your globe on 5 November. And visit Mimi on that day. Sign Mr Linky and click on the hundreds of other links to travel through the bloggosphere and see other Globes, and read heart felt words about Peace.

Be a Peace Blogger.

Dona Nobis Pacem.

This and That

2009-10-14T20:47:00.005-07:00

I've been running in all sorts of directions of late (which, as you all know, is nothing new), and for the last two days, I've spent hours in bed, utterly exhausted. So I've got just some bullet items to bring up here:

The Ice Box is officially three years old now. Yeah, I missed my bloggoversary this past Monday, but my friend Bond over at The Couch did a super job highlighting not only my bloggoversary but also a cause near and dear to my heart (and lungs). Check out his post HERE.
My son got another cast put on his arm. When he went for his three week check up last Wednesday, the doctor said the break was healing nicely, but it still needed some more time to finish the process, so off with the red cast and on with the blue one. Oh well, best to play it safe.
My daughter battled a bad cold and sinus infection, which resulted in her getting another ear infection. Ugh. Yes, at near 14 years old, she still gets those dreaded things.
Basketball tryouts for the school team are in two weeks, and the Lass is getting in shape for that. Wish her luck!
Our school was featured in a segment on a local morning show last week. We had a visit from the helicopter, and the kids got lots of on-air time.
BlogBlast for Peace is coming up on November 5th? Are you ready? Have you completed your Peace Globe?
Next Tuesday night, I'll be movin', groovin', and rockin' out with Bono and Da Boyz. Woooooooo! Can NOT wait!!!!

That's all for now. Oh, wait....just for kicks and giggles, can you guess who this is? More on this later in the week.

I Can't Outrun a Tagger

2009-10-09T00:01:00.003-07:00

And no, I don't mean the spray-paint can carrying kind. I'm talking about the illustrious, the luminous, the certified crazy mistress of the stars and dark, Starrlight of Here Comes a Storm fame. She tagged me for this list a while ago, and I'm just now getting to it. So here goes; my answers are bolded:

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? An ice cube

2. Where was your profile picture taken? The parking lot of the martial arts academy where my son trains.

3. Can you play Guitar Hero? Hell no.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today. What was it about? It was...you, darling Starr, and I shall not divulge what the subject content was.

5. How late did you stay up last night and why? Only until 10:00 p.m. because I was freakin' exhausted!

6. If you could move somewhere else where would you and why? Coronado, California. It's all about the beach, baby.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? Kissed by what?

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? Laura, about a five minute drive from here. Two, if there are no cops in the neighborhood.

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends? With benefits? Yes, and yes

10. Do you like Dr. Pepper? Blech

11. When was the last time you cried really hard? Really hard as opposed to just sniveling? Yesterday, when I heard that my son would have to endure another three weeks with a cast.

12. Who took your profile picture? I did.

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? My baby boy

14. Was yesterday better than today? Why? No.

15. Can you live a day without TV? Yes, absolutely. That's why man invented DVRs. *grin*

16. Are you upset about anything now? Nope.

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? Yup.

18. Are you a bad influence? Depends. Ask my BlogFest friends. *evil grin*

19. Night out or night in? Depends on my mood.

20. What items could you not go without during the day? Blackberry, laptop, wallet, lip balm, iPod, house keys

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? Hmmmm...myself? Doesn't count? Well....dunno then.

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? "thank you!" (from my daughter, thanking me for buying her ice cream at the store)

23. How do you feel about your life right now? Pretty peaceful

24. Do you hate anyone? Not really. I get pissed at people who hurt my loved ones.

25. If we were to look in your Facebook inbox, what would we find? Old messages all read.

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? Depends on for what they were screening. I take a boatload of medications.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? Yes, but only once. He learned.

28. What song is stuck in your head? The Ramones, "I Wanna Be Sedated." Thanks a lot, Starr.

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2 a.m., whom do you want it to be? Santa because he's a wish granter and he's waking me up to tell me that Adrian Paul is waiting in the kitchen with a surprise...

30. Do you (or did you) want to have grandkids before you’re 50? God, I hope not! That would mean my daughter was a mother by age 16!

31. Tell us your Saturday night. Don't remember it.

32. Do you think too much or too little? Depends on the time of day, what the kids are doing, if I'm in the midst of an invigorating e-mail convo, how I'm feeling.....

33. Do you smile a lot? Yes, I think so.

I Need to Fire my Scheduling Secretary

2009-10-07T12:24:00.001-07:00

Whoever scheduled me to run back to front and back to front starting at 7:30 a.m. today needs to be fired, shot, hanged, and quartered, because I'm the proverbial chicken. Sigh. The good news is that one thing on my calendar which was to have me away from home from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. has been canceled, I musta done something good somewhere. With any good karma that might be leftover, and by the grace of the Big Guy Upstairs, my son will get his cast off today. That is, they ARE removing it to do an x-ray; we're hoping that they won't need to put on another one.

I doubt that anyone who knows me as a parent would accuse me of being indulgent of my kids. In fact, I've been called too strict by others who like to softsoap their progeny. Maybe it's because I'm old-fashioned, but I think kids should have excellent manners, work hard, play harder, and laugh often. Because I'm pretty strict, I felt bad about breaking my daughter's heart a week ago - I had to tell her that her father and I just couldn't afford to send her on her school trip to Washington, DC. Now before you go yelling at me and say that I should get off my lazy ass, get a job, and find a way to finance the trip, might I remind you that a) I'm disabled and not able to get a job at the drop of a hat, and b) (and more importantly) because we live rather far away from the East Coast, a trip of this magnitude involves an amount of money that equals a year at community college. Yeah, see my point? Bus trip = not possible; therefore, must fly on airplane. Sigh. The upside is that now we're planning a trip to DC for the entire family which will cost in the ballpark of what we would have spent for just the girl to go. I know it won't be quite as fun for her, and we won't go to nearly as many places as the tour would have taken her, but since it will be her last summer before she starts high school, I figure it might be our last chance to take an extended vacation as a family unit. Wait...did I just admit to having a daughter who will start high school next year? Oy...

Some where in the midst of planning for next summer (yes, I know the school year is only seven weeks old, but a mom always has to plan ahead), in addition to Washington, DC we are working on plans to visit OH to celebrate the in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary, and I'm trying to work out a trip to Atlanta to meet some friends. All that needs to be squeezed between voice camp, basketball camp, martial arts training, etc., etc., etc.

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And even the best laid plans by a Super Mom wannabe get knocked askew....

The call that every parent doesn't like getting. The one that makes you sigh and think, "Oh, great." Yeah, that one. I had been at the school this morning for my usual stint, which was after arriving an hour early in order to participate in the filming of a segment for a local news morning show, when after only an hour home I got...The Call. The one where the voice says, "Hi, Songbird. It's Tracey. Wanna come back to get your daughter?" Tracey, as in the school nurse. [insert heavy, mournful sigh here] Seems a fever of 101.5 was enough to stop Bonnie Lass dead in her school-spirited tracks, even though she tried to tough it out until noon, which was when school ended for today. The call came at 11:10 a.m., by the way.

I think my cape order has been put on hold.

Later daze...

Happy One Month Anniversary...

2009-10-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

...to two people who (almost) make me believe in fairy tales.

Now go HERE and wish the two love birds a happy one month.

My Soul Lies in...

2009-09-30T00:01:00.003-07:00

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.

You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

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Ruby Tuesday - At the Wall

2009-09-29T00:01:00.001-07:00

Once a Marine (wife), always a Marine. Semper Fidelis.

Soakin' It All In...and Appreciating

2009-09-28T00:01:00.007-07:00

Some people are experts at letting life happen to them. You know the kind: the ones who always seem to be the victim; the ones for whom nothing seems to go right (when you know they've done nothing to help themselves.) I'm not one of them. Usually, I know when to push the accelerator and when to let up on the gas. I don't give up, and I don't like to give in. Others are experts at allowing Life to happen, not TO them, but AROUND them. They absorb and enjoy the smells, sights, and sounds of events.

A few weeks ago, I decided to play the leaf to Life's riverflow. I cast myself into the current and allowed Life to happen around me. I wanted to see what would happen when I allowed things just to unfold.

Here are some of events that were presented to or around me:

My son broke his arm at martial arts training;
I was a chaperon at the eighth grade field trip to see the replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall;
A neighbor mysteriously disappeared and was found several days later in a neighboring county...with a bullet in his head;
A person near and dear to my heart married the love of his life, and now his lady love is special to me for the love she shares with my friend. Sadly, I couldn't be there for the celebration, but I was most definitely there in my heart;
I enjoyed many, many lunches with my friend, Laura;
My daughter revealed to me (and others around her) that I am a trusted adult in her life, someone in whom she can confide and trust. She can be herself with me;
We bought a new piece of furniture because we decided we are WORTH IT;
I shared many humorous, enlightening, and revealing conversations with friends, newly made and long-time ones;
I discovered a new, locally owned Greek restaurant that has baklava I crave and freshly-made pita that "tastes like buttah;" and
I shared lots and lots of laughter, hugs, and kisses with my incredible son and amazing daughter.

I learned that I need to play the leaf a bit more often. It's not always necessary to drive the fastest race; sometimes a trip in the slow lane is just what is desired. And needed.

Peace, joy, and later daze....

Sticking My Head up To Offer Apologies

2009-09-04T18:04:00.001-07:00

Just a brief appearance to apologize if you got an e-mail from me asking you to "view my photos." A friend's e-mail address book got hijacked, I answered the e-mail, and the problem escalated. If you get the message, DO NOT OPEN THE SITE.

My sincerest apologies for this error. Now, back to your regularly scheduled hiatus....

Later daze....

Hiatus

2009-08-25T19:23:00.002-07:00

Thank you to those of you who visited my friend over HERE; I'm sure she welcomed the warm thoughts and good wishes you sent to her. Keep her in your prayers over the next few weeks as she makes a gut-wrenching change in the lives of herself and her kids.

I'm going to take what I hope will be a temporary blogging hiatus. I have too many things that are wreaking havoc in my life right now, and the beginning of the new school year (now in the middle of week 2) is getting intense.

I have been trying to keep up with reading your blogs, but that's been tough, and I haven't commented on some in weeks. I haven't abandoned you; I'm just...not myself lately.

I'll return when I've gotten a grip on things better.

Later daze....

Reach Out and Touch Someone

2009-08-23T22:39:00.003-07:00

This is a shameless plug for you to click HERE and give my friend some hugs, positive vibes, and prayers. She could use some genuine affection right now. Additionally, she has a warning that all of us should heed. Trust me.

Where Was I Again?

2009-08-18T20:03:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, talking about the beginning of school. Yes, I'm still alive, two days into the new school year. Two days. And I'm already exhausted. I missed an important meeting at church tonight. AGAIN. My brain is not yet functioning properly.

Um....I think I'll go back to bed. I'll return when....well....you know....

Later daze...

Standing in the Middle of Life/ADDED TO EDIT

2009-08-14T18:14:00.005-07:00

So, did I mention that school is starting on Monday? And that I have assumed some "official" PTSA duties? Oh, and now that there are restrictions on just about everything related to photocopying, my volunteer duties at the school office will probably involve doing things like cover phones when staff is at lunch and other such routine office sh...stuff?

Damn. I'd forgotten how FREAKIN' PAINFUL it is to stand on my feet for hours at a time while at school. I didn't sleep well last night, so I was exhausted to start, and then I helped out (as little as I could, since our PTSA president is a dervish) setting up lunch for the teachers as they worked to prepare for a new school year. Then we cleaned up after lunch and had a brief PTSA pow-wow. I came home limping. My back and feet are screaming at me even now. How the hell will I get through until next May?!

Okay, let me clarify a few things here based on comments received thus far: 1) Yes, I can sit while at school, but since we were setting up a luncheon, it's difficult to stand when you have physical "here and there"-ing to do; 2) Once most of the teachers were eating lunch, we took a break to eat lunch, but there was no place to sit since they were all using the break room, so we just stood in the hall with our plates, eating, and waiting to serve them more food and then clean up; 3) When I volunteer at the front office on a normal day, I'm able to sit if I'm doing things like paperwork, but to make copies, it's not all that feasible because it's a lot of getting up and moving around, and 4) Yes, I could take stuff home to do if I am doing something for the teachers or if it's a lot of routine work like cutting, stapling, assembling, etc.; I can also sit in the break room and do it - but answering the phones (while it IS a sitting job) cannot be done at my house, nor can photocopying. Did I clear up any of the confusion?

My body feels so frackin' old. I hate it. It makes feel guilty, which then makes me feel worse that I swallowed the pity pill.

Thank God my mind still works. I think.

(Hey, even though only one of you has mentioned a thing about my music player inclusions, and I was going to omit them, I've putting one here anyway. 'Cause, you know, I feel like it. So there.)

Have a good weekend, and Later daze....

One Week and Counting...

2009-08-10T00:01:00.003-07:00

One week. A week from today. Next Monday, my 13-year-old daughter enters the eighth grade. My son will officially be a fifth grader.

*heavy, mournful sigh*

Some summers, I'm like the Staples commercial parent, celebrating the beginning of the school year.

After my son had the most horrendous third grade year that a child could possibly have, I relished that summer. It was a chance to decompress and gather the shreds of what was left of my sanity. (That was also the year that my husband was working in California, my friend Greg was booted out of school, and we parents led the revolt against our then-principal.)

This summer, however, my feelings are different. Believe it or not, I'm not really excited about my kids going back to school. I actually LOVED hanging out with my kids this summer. We went to the library, we had indoor picnics in the family room, we watched movies while snuggling in my bed. We slept in, we ate ice cream and popsicles, and we just hung out together.

My daughter is still really cool to be around. Now that she's maturing, she and I have more interesting conversations. We share shoes, we laugh at the same things while watching NCIS, and she'll even listen to my music.

My son continues to make me laugh. His imagination is a wonder to behold, and his LEGOS creations are marvels. He giggles at the classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry, and he'll make up silly dances to commercial jingles.

The irony of this summer is that my daughter, who normally is ecstatic about the start of school, is moody and panicky, contemplating her last year at the only grade school she's ever attended. My son, normally the one who bemoans the start of the new school year, is very much looking forward to the start of the new year. Dare I say, he's even....*whispering*...excited! He's heard so many incredible things about his teacher, and he's anxious to start the fun.

As for me, the new school year will bring about another item for my To Do List. Thanks to some sweet talking by my dear friend, Laura (who is the newly elected PTSA treasurer), I am the new chairperson for the PTSA membership committee.

Sigh.

A concerned mom's work is NEVER done.

Take a Walk On the Wild Side

2009-08-05T22:09:00.003-07:00

You wouldn't know it to look at me now. I mean, I'm a respectable suburban mom who drives a minivan, volunteers at her kids' school, and makes dinner (most nights). I sing in my church choir. I wash my family's dirty clothes, I soothe their wounded feelings, and I cheer the loudest at their accomplishments.

I live a very comfortable life.

Long ago, however, I was a good girl with a penchant for the wrong thing. I loved bad boys. I mean, I LOVED bad boys. Not "rob a bank, murder innocent people" bad, but leather wearing, pot smoking, hard drinkin' bad boys. They drove hot cars very fast, lived life on the edge, and listened to music really, REALLY loudly. They had long hair and a disdain for authority. They had friends who were the same. They had friends whose minds were fried from dropping too much acid.

And they loved me. I mean, they LOVED me. For some reason, those bad boys were attracted to me. I think secretly, some of them wanted to tame their wild ways, and dating me was their way of trying to walk the straight and narrow. They never smoked pot around me, they never did drugs around me, and they refused to let me have a drink if they were drinking so that I could stay sober to drive them home and keep them from getting into too much trouble.

Back then, you would usually saw me wearing jeans with chains for a belt, boots that would kick the shit out of you, and very tight concert t-shirts. That is, unless I was at work or church. *grin* I had hair down to my ass, and I ALWAYS wore makeup. Lots and lots of makeup.

One Saturday night, a boyfriend who was a giant teddy bear of a former Marine who lived life hard and fast asked me to go for a drive with him. Surprisingly, he was reasonably sober, and all we did was hang out at a pool party at one of my friend's. As he was driving me back to my apartment, he passed my street, and decided to make a U-turn. The turn was legal, but it was done in front of a bar, and the cop that was staked out on a nearby street thought my boyfriend had just come out of the bar and suspected a DUI. The cop pulled us over. After running the plates on the car and my boyfriend's license, the cop decided he needed backup (did I mention that this boyfriend was a bad boy?). SIX MORE COP CARS pulled up. When the original patrolman decided he had sufficient back up, he came to the car window, he decided to ask my friend if he'd been drinking. After my boyfriend had said no, the cop replied, "Well, if I were you, I'd lie to me, too, given your record. Where you headed?"

I quickly spoke up that we were headed to my apartment where we would BOTH be staying for the remainder of the night. The cop returned my boyfriend's license, and then proceeded to "escort" us back to my apartment. I think a patrol car camped out in my apartment parking lot the rest of the night.

Once we got to my place, my boyfriend admitted to me that he'd been glad we hadn't been pulled out of the car and searched.

Turns out, he had a bag of pot with him.

Sigh.

Years later, I saw my then ex-boyfriend, and he'd straightened out his life. He had a wife and three kids, and he'd given up the pot. He saved his drinking for weekends, and contained it to strictly beer; no more Jack Daniels for him.

I guess we all turn away from the wild side at some point. Still, sometimes I look back on those days and get a sly smile on my face. It's fun to remember.

But I'm sure my daughter would NEVER believe I had it in me. *grin*

There's A Hole in My Heart

2009-08-05T00:01:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not in the market for a new pet. I'm just missing her, that's all.

Your Ideal Pet is a Big Dog

You're both energetic, affectionate, and a bit goofy.

And neither of you seem to mind very slobbery kisses!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

Wishes DO Come True...Sometimes

2009-08-03T14:17:00.002-07:00

September 1988. It's been nearly 21 years since I met my husband; just over 18 years since I married him. I can honestly say that the journey has been challenging, rewarding, compelling, mundane, and numerous other adjectives I don't care to share.

I learn new things about him. Still. I really do. Like it took me until this year to figure out that he doesn't like orange juice. Who knew?

He's now officially the most conservative person I know. I knew he hailed from a conservative father and a liberal mother, making him a moderate, but now he's positively righteous in his right wing attitude. Weird.

He's very intelligent, not exceptionally creative, can't carry a tune in a bucket, extremely opinionated, and softhearted when it comes to his kids. With me? Not so much.

Or so I thought.

Last night, we were watching an interview that I recorded last week. Bono and The Edge (of U2 fame, for those NOT in the know) were guests. They showed a clip from a recent concert in Barcelona, and after the segment was over, sitting there with a very forlorn expression on my face, I sadly and casually mentioned, "I can't believe we're not going to see them this year. They're playing just down the road, and we're not going. I can't believe it."

Knowing each ticket would pay for my daughter's orthodontia for a couple of months, I figured it wasn't worth pursuing.

But something about the interview triggered an impulse in my husband. The fact that CHEAP tickets in the nosebleed sections were being sold since the new stage was designed to enhance viewing as well as audio was enough for my husband to check out the possibility of purchasing said cheap tickets.

And purchase he did. Let me say that again. MY HUSBAND BOUGHT US TICKETS TO THE U2 CONCERT THIS FALL!

I can honestly say, he has surprised me once again. Not as much as he did when he handed me a diamond and emerald ring for Christmas, but surprised me nonetheless. I'm still holding a tiny glimmer of hope that plane tickets to my friend's upcoming wedding might be next.

Hey! A girl can dream, right?

Later daze...

Star Struck and Other Miscellany

2009-07-28T20:37:00.006-07:00

I'm not often caught dumb by celebrity, but tonight I just couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to call in to the blog talk radio show while HE was on the air. I typed my questions into the chat room, and hoped for the best. Who is he, you ask?
Ah.....Adrian Paul. Man of my fantasies. And as Katherine said to me, "not just another pretty face." The man is intelligent and has been busy with producing as well as running a charity that benefits a group of people who are probably the most deserving, children. Check out his charity by clicking on the banner below.
Speaking of stars, you all are that. Why is that you ask? Because of you, I won the "I Love Summer" photography contest over at An Island Life. Wooooooooo! You guys RAWK. Thanks so much for all of your votes - you did it!

Now, to send you on your way, enjoy a little mood music. Later daze...

Manic Monday - Final

2009-07-27T12:00:00.001-07:00

After 131 consecutive weeks, in which I posted 130 times (I missed last week), Mo's Manic Monday meme will come to an end this week. All good things must come to an end, it is said, and so it is with this weekly theme. To find links to other Manic Monday posts, click on the graphic above.

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I kept mulling over idea after idea about what I would use for my final Manic Monday post.

I can remind you that Monday, July 27th is the final day to vote in the "I Love Summer" photography contest over at An Island Life. If you have not already cast your vote for The Ice Box, click HERE and scroll down to the poll. Click the box next to "The Ice Box" and then hit "Vote." Thanks for your support!

This weekend, I wrote a post that many of you have not had a chance to enjoy. I got in, what I hope are, my final words on this subject. For the person or persons to whom it is addressed, I hope the message hits home. To read this post, click HERE.

Finally, here is a video that I think speaks volumes about the quality of education in California, and probably in many school across the country. Now you know why I feel strongly about my role on my campus improvement team!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

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"I Love Summer" Photo Contest - VOTING IS OPEN!

2009-07-27T00:01:00.002-07:00

This is a sticky post that will stay on top until voting closes on July 27th. For newer posts, please scroll down.

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Kailani at An Island Life is running a photo contest to see what people love about summer. Contestants are to post an original photo that illustrates what they love about summer (obviously), and then link back to her blog.

As most of you know by now, summers around here are a time for hibernation, and my family likes to escape the heat by heading to the beach. So, here is what I love about summer:

What I love about summer are sunsets at the beach.

Beginning, July 21st, and continuing through July 27th, please go over to Kailani's blog and vote for me. You may vote only once per computer, and all votes are GREATLY APPRECIATED! Remember, click HERE to vote!

Thanks, and Later daze...

I Spy

2009-07-26T00:00:00.005-07:00

I have spies. That's okay; my blog is open and available to anyone to read and enjoy or not. I don't really care for the most part. It's my blog. I use my words to vent, to think, to reach out, to reveal.

Although I've never divulged my real name or hometown here, if someone knows me, it's not difficult to discover that this is my blog. I have photos of my family and me on here. Occasionally, one or more of my commenters will slip and use my real name. But there is a reason I don't use my real name, my hometown, my children's names, or the name of their school. It should be pretty obvious why.

Still, when someone in my life uses my words as ammunition to discredit me, it is only normal for me to react. Any normal person, especially one with a sensitive soul, would be hurt and pained.

And then, like most people, my reaction would be to become angry.

I contemplated shutting down this blog or making it private. I wanted to take away any ammunition that could possibly be used as fuel for discord.

And then, reason prevailed. This is my corner, my world, and my words. Yes, it is an open forum posted on the Internet for all to see. But the opinions and feelings that are stated here are mine, and I will not apologize for feeling what I feel or thinking what I think.

I try to be a good person, I try to do the right thing. I have a deep love of God and family and a humble gratefulness for blessings. I do not willing try to hurt people's feelings, and yet, like anyone, there are times my words and/or actions are misinterpreted by others.

This is my blog. This is my world. You are welcome to share this corner with me, you are welcome to disagree with me. But you are NOT allowed to take my words and my feelings and use them to sling mud.

Because I will not bow to you. I will stand tall and proud.

And I will not apologize for who I am.

Your Gift is Sensitivity

You are easily moved, and you have a strong emotional reaction to almost everything.

Your sensitivity helps you get a lot out of life. You appreciate every moment more.

It's hard for you to divorce yourself from your feelings. You notice every little thing around you.

You're the type of person who finds empathy and compassion easy.

What's Your Gift?

Reflections

2009-07-22T00:01:00.001-07:00

You Are a Bay

You are a blissful, peaceful person. Some might call you spiritual.

You are easy-going and tranquil. You take solace in life's sweet moments.

You are sentimental and open-hearted. You love many people, places, and things.

You try to live an enlightened life. You are benevolent, noble, and intuitive.

What Body of Water Are You?

The Heretic Meme

2009-07-20T21:41:00.003-07:00

Got this from the Sunday Stealing blog; I read it every Sunday, but I have yet to do the memes. That is, until now. I just thought I'd give it a go for something to do on this sleepy summer night. Bear in mind that I did not write the questions; otherwise, they would not have ended in a preposition. *cheesy grin*

Sunday Stealing: The Heretic Meme

1. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you lay in a bed with? My hubby

2. Where was the last place you went out to eat? Wendy's

3. What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed? Stoli and pineapple juice

4. Which do you prefer - eyes or lips? To do what?

5. Medicine, fine arts, or law? Fine arts

6. Best kind of pizza? White sauce, lots of seafood (shrimp, crab, scallops, lobster)

7. What is in store for your future? Teen angst

8. Who was the last band you saw live? U2

9. Do you take care of your friends while they are sick? They prefer that I don't so that I won't catch what they have; it could have unfortunate consequences.

10. How many songs are on your iPod? 552

11. Where is the last place you drove to? church

12. Where did your last kiss take place? I'm not one to kiss and tell.

13. What were you doing at 11:59 PM on Monday night? Since it's not yet 11:59 MST here on this Monday night, I assume you mean last week. I'll say....probably in bed.

14. Are you a quitter? Depends on the situation.

15. Who was the last person you had in your house? You mean visitor or non-resident family member? That would be the cleaning staff.

15. What do you think about people who party a lot? Better them than me; I had my day.

16. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable? Not usually; depends on with whom I am conversing. *grin*

17. What was the last CD you purchased? No Line on the Horizon

18. What are two bands or singers that you will always love? U2 and John Mellencamp

19. Which of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of? All of them, but I endeavor to be a better person and not give into temptation....much.

20. How is your last ex doing? He's fine. Still living in our hometown, twice divorced and raising teenage twin daughters. Ha! Better him than me...

Musical Interlude for Your Weekend

2009-07-16T22:07:00.003-07:00

Not really into writing anything now; just thought I'd share some music with you. Enjoy!

Seeja Monday. Later daze...

I'm So Excited....Yeahright....(EDITED TO ADD)

2009-07-14T23:11:00.009-07:00

Hey, did you notice that I provided a soundtrack for this post? Yippee! Thanks for your help, Vinny. You RAWK.

....really I'm just apathetic. Physically, I'm not feeling 100% these days, and except for the fact that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens in US theaters Wednesday (yippee!), I'm not really feeling it either. You know what I mean? Those of you who live in climates where there is snow and ice and dark clouds in the winter months will know the feeling - that feeling of.....well, blah. Summers in the desert, as I've said, are times of hibernation. We haven't even had a good storm to stir things up.

Now that Bonnie Lass is done with her summer camps, the only reason to leave the house is to run back and forth to the martial arts academy, get blood draws, or go grocery shopping. We did go see the new Transformers movie this weekend; like the first one, I enjoyed it more than I expected. My days are spent in bed resting, watching lots of television and reading blogs. The kids are getting loads of down time, too, but there are books to be read for school and board games to be played as well. I'm also directing them in the sorting out of outgrown clothes and shoes. Ah, the life of a mother is never dull, is it?

Here are some "highlights" from my past few weeks:

I'm still trying to convince hubby to let me go to Memphis in a few months. Gotta make a decision quickly, but it's not looking good.
I made an appointment for my daughter to get her braces, FINALLY!
I got a new battery for my laptop because my old one bit the dust.
I finally upgraded my crackberry Pearl for a Curve. Didn't want to wait for the second generation Storm; I'm having enough challenges working the touch keyboard on my iPod. I tend to fat-finger a lot.
I got beat by my son in a very close game of Battleship this afternoon. Surprisingly, he was a gracious winner. And a gracious loser when I beat him TWICE at Connect Four.
I passed down my ice skates to my daughter. I finally owned up to the fact that I'll never hit the ice again. Sigh.
I cleaned out my Google Reader of blogs that have gone away. Some have been gone quite a while, others have changed addresses, and still others have gone private. Oh well, now I can read other things. Like books, you know?

See? I told you my life was quite boring lately. Mundane and monotonous and blissfully uneventful. Hubby still has a job (thank God for the defense industry and missile defense), the kids are healthy, and I'm not in the hospital. So all is well, right? Now, if I didn't have to go to choir practice Thursday night, I'd be in good shape. Our music director is on vacation, and I'm not really enamored of our assistant music leader. Eh. Oh well...could be worse. Practice could be led by his wife.

Aaaaaaaack! Run for your lives!!!!!!!

Manic Monday - Fountain

2009-07-13T11:58:00.005-07:00

Click on the banner above to find links to other Manic Monday posts

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Like you, I often get jokes and other "touchy-feely" forwarded e-mails. Most of the time I give them a quick perusal and then I delete them. Once in a while, a gem comes through. This video clip came to me from my church music director. He's such a font of knowledge and humor; our weekly rehearsals often include quick history lessons on a piece of music or a brief scripture lesson. They also include invaluable instructions for vocalists and instrumentalists alike.

Today I toss this video as an offering into your personal fountain; may you appreciate the donation.

Shuffling Along

2009-07-10T00:01:00.001-07:00

I don't have access to a program that will allow me to post audio clips the way Bond does, but just for kicks, I thought I would post the first ten songs that come up on my iPod when I shuffle play:

U2, "Another Time, Another Place" - Boy
Genesis, "Illegal Alien" - Genesis
John Mellencamp, "Again Tonight" - Whenever We Wanted
John Mellencamp, "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." - Words & Music
The Pretenders, "Cuban Slide" - Pirate Radio (Digital Version)
Van Halen, "Right Now" - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Peter Gabriel, "Shock the Monkey" - Security (Remastered)
Wild Cherry, "Play that Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
The Power Station, "Some Like it Hot" - The Power Station (Limited Edition)
The Pretenders, "Day After Day" - The Singles

So, what's playing on your music player of choice?

Thursday Thoughts - 7.9.09

2009-07-09T00:01:00.007-07:00

A few things have been zipping through my mind lately:

What would possess a man in the year 2009 to sport a mullet? I was never that enamored of the cut when it was considered the thing to do; now? It just seems pathetic. A father at basketball camp sports one, and every time I see him, I have to stifle my giggles.
How is it that a 13-year-old girl does NOT know what her father does for a living? My daughter's best friend was hanging around with us us one day last week, and when I asked her what kind of work her dad was seeking (after she said he was looking for a new job), she replied, "I don't know. I just know he uses a computer for his work." Huh? Both my kids can tell you not only that their dad is a software engineer, but they can also tell you some of the projects on which he has worked and/or the industries in which he as worked. Are my kids the norm, or do kids just not care what their parents do for a living anymore?
Stove Top stuffing is sooooo bad for me (laden with sodium that it is), but it is sooooooo good. Ditto for Nacho Cheese Doritos.
I think I could live on strawberries, peaches, watermelons, and cherries.
Mark Harmon is still one of the sexiest men on television. (Don't believe me? Check out his photo on the right there.) He could carry a gun for me anytime. Of course, the fact that he played football at one time is just a plus. *grin*
To answer a question from Jay, yes, our heat is a "dry heat" - our average humidity levels this week are under 20%. But when it's this hot, it's just plain hot. The fact that sweat evaporates immediately really seems inconsequential. This is hibernation season; hence, the reason I'm watching massive amounts of NCIS.
While watching television, I've taken to shouting the word "demon!" whenever I spy someone who has played a demon on the now out of production television show Charmed, a show for which Starrlight and I share a not-so-secret addiction.

Okay, just for kicks, I have to include one more gratuitous shot of Mark Harmon. *big cheesy grin*

Photo credits: Sports Illustrated, TV Guide

Later daze....

Wednesday Wonderings - Volume 2

2009-07-08T00:01:00.004-07:00

So I've been wondering where my brain went. I mean, my kids' schedules are so empty these days, and I've been very relaxed all summer. It makes me wonder if I've gotten too lazy about things. Nothing seems to spur me to action these days. It's probably just the heat. Take a look at the forecast for this week.

Extended Forecast

DAY	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed

SKY
HI TEMP (F)	104	106	108	110	110	109	108
LO TEMP (F)	83	81	83	83	84	83	82

Nice, huh? No wonder no one wants to come visit.

I was a bit tetchy Tuesday. bemoaning the fact that we rarely get visitors. In fact, the only visitors we get are my in-laws, and they don't come every year. Granted, hubby and I chose to live so far away from our long-time friends and family, but for years I've heard, "Oh, I've always wanted to visit out there! Now I have someone who can show me around!" And then what happens? Nothing. No one comes. I've heard all the excuses: "I don't get enough time off from work," or "It's too far to fly out there!" or, "It costs too much!" Sigh. Sorry; just blowing off steam. Could be worse; I could live in Hawaii where everyone really does want to visit, but no one can afford!

Anyway, just to chase away the blahs and for sheer shits and giggles, click over to this article that hubby sent me. If you're not too squeamish, watch the video. It's all just tooooooo bizarre.

*evil grin*

And for one more giggle fest, I offer this:

Friday, July 03, 2009

MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities say two professional wrestlers found dead in a low-rent hotel in the capital may have been drugged to death by female robbers.

Autopsies are being performed on the two midget wrestlers, one of whom went by the name "La Parkita" — or "Little Death" — and wore a skeleton costume in the ring. The other was known as "Espectrito Jr."

Authorities say two women were seen leaving the men's hotel room before the bodies were discovered.

Prosecutor Miguel Angel Mancera said Wednesday that gangs of female robbers are experienced at using drugs to knock men out and rob them, but they may have used too strong a dose.

That may have been because of the wrestlers' small stature, although larger men have also died in similar crimes.

Later daze...