I'm still here.....

As the title says..... I'm still here and kicking. I may be weighed down with worry and despair, but it won't defeat me. I came into this world kicking and screaming with no plans to quit. Not yet, anyways.

PAST ....... we had the annual Friends of the NRA banquet last Saturday. We all had a good time. We raised $7,000 more than we brought in last year. It was a good evening.

My long-lost childhood friend was in town the past 2 weeks to see her kids and grandkids. Her and I had a good time together this past week. We talked and reminisced for hours.

Penny [on the right] and me

Friday she came over early and Bob took us out for lunch. It was a dreary, rainy day and, of course, we both got a little damp when we went out, but I still wanted a picture. Bob did pretty good with my camera. At least he's learned how NOT to cut off our heads. Yesterday, Penny got on a plane and went back home to Florida.

PRESENT ...... we started out having a quiet day. There's so much I should be doing, but that lazy feeling I'm so familiar with, has hit me again. I took my vitamins but they don't seem to help much on the "lazies". Bob decided to go out and mow. It's hot and humid so I have to keep an eye on him and keep his glass full of cool water. I told him not to do any of the trimming today. That can wait. I went out when he'd finished to sweep off the patio and steps, then began pulling some weeds. About 20 minutes was all I could take. We put things away and came back inside.

FUTURE .... this next week is the last one for this August. Where has the summer gone? My calendar for this next week doesn't look too bad right now. Our grandsons head back to school on Monday. I think 2 of them might be just a little bit excited and ready to go back to see their friends. Then Thursday our county fair starts and runs until after Labor Day. I used to like fair week but now it just means that summer is almost over and winter is fast approaching. We may go out to the fair once. I have to have my elephant ear.

NOW FOR A BIT OF TRIVIA....  do you know what this is?

I hope you're having a great weekend. 

Until next time.......... 

Tired Thursday

What a week we've had!! Right now, most of it is just a blur to me. I know I don't want to repeat any of it.

Monday morning I got an email from a family member wanting an update on our cousin's condition. He has had liver cancer and the chemo had shrunk down the cells enough that the surgeon thought he could operate to remove the small ones that were left. John got through the surgery and was doing well until they found out his colon had been nicked and he was full of infection. The surgeon had to be responsible for that. Or his doctor that did the colonoscopy. I called his wife and she said he was finally up in a chair and had some jello and juice. He seemed better. I was then on the phone with several family members all day that wanted to know the latest and me having to repeat everything over and over, I became mentally exhausted.

Tuesday was Grandson #5's birthday. He's now 10, going on 16. Teresa baked him a cake and we went over that evening to have cake and ice cream with him.

Yesterday morning (Wednesday) I got a text from our daughter Teresa that she was at Urgent Care with severe abdominal pain. They were running some tests. All those tests came back normal so they wanted her to go over to Memorial Hospital and have them run more tests to see where the pain is and have an ultrasound. We took her to the hospital and checked her in at noon. We didn't leave until 8:30 pm. The only thing they could guess was a broken cyst. She's still in pain today, but feeling a little better.

Today I got word my cousin John has taken a turn for the worse. He's now got pneumonia. It doesn't sound good. I haven't tried calling his wife. She has her hands full. She hasn't left his side in over 2 weeks. I'm afraid the next bit of news isn't going to be good.

I'm trying to catch up with laundry and other chores today. Tomorrow I have my friend from Florida, Penny, coming over to chat. This may sound awful, but I'm really not looking forward to it. I don't do well under those kinds of situations.

Now, for those who are "owned" by their adorable feline furbabies  .... I have a special video to share with you. It's full of information I didn't know. Enjoy.

Wednesday Hodgepodge 8-12-2014

Another week has flown by, so we have another edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, Joyce.

Joyce stated today that she's going to take a little break next week, so "no HP August 20th, but we will return to our regularly scheduled programming the following week-August 27th". You have a good week, Joyce. We'll "see" you when you get back.

1. The best part of waking up is_______________________.

Folgers in my cup. Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Seriously, the best part is my ability to get out of my bed, put my feet on the floor and being able to thank God for giving me another day.

2. Given a choice, which animal interaction would you most like to experience (or for those non-adventurers ... which would you dislike the least?) - Swim with the dolphins at one of several locations in the Florida Keys, a lion encounter ten minutes from Victoria Falls (Africa), or a day at a remote base camp high in the Big Sur wilderness via the Ventana Wildlife Society helping track California condors?

The older I get, the less adventurous I become. Years ago I might have been able to say 'yes' to swimming with the dolphins. But now, I'm afraid I wouldn't want to do any of those things, but the one I'd like the least would be the lions. Beautiful cats, but no thank you.

3. What is something you fear about 'old age'? What is something you look forward to?

I'm knocking on that door right now and with the changes I'm experiencing, my worst fear is not being able to take care of myself. Or losing myself to Alzheimer. Something I'm looking forward to is the birth of my first great-grandchild this coming October.

4. Hot sauce ... are you a fan? If you answered yes, what's something you make/eat that must have hot sauce? On a scale of 1-10 how hot is too hot?

I've never been a fan. I don't like spicy foods and now my stomach has taken a very strong dislike to it.

5. It's been said that children learn what they live. What do you think children learn at your house?

Respect..... for their elders and for other people's property. I see children in the stores with their parents and I'm appalled at the lack of respect they have. They scream, hit and swear at their parents and they play with everything they can get their hands on. No one stops them. I'm not going to see my grandchildren do the same. Their mothers (my daughters) do a great job and I just reaffirm those teachings.

6. What's your favorite movie with a number in it's title?

I have a few .... The Ten Commandments, 101 Dalmatians (I used to watch this with my grandson. He loved the movie and never got tired of it), and 50 First Dates. I just think it's cute.

7. Saturday (August 16th) is National Tell a Joke Day...share one here.

I'm the only blonde in our family so my younger brother loves to rub it in with blonde jokes for me. As they say -- I've got a million of them. hahahaha 

"There was a blonde, a redhead, and a brunette. They were all trapped on an island and the nearest shore was 50 miles away. The redhead, trying to make it to the other shore, swam 15 miles, drowned, and died. The brunette swam 24 miles, drowned, and died. The blonde swam 25 miles, got tired, and swam back."

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My nephew is coming this afternoon to work on my computer. I've done all I know to do, so hopefully he can get my "baby" back to good health. Plus we have the 2 youngest grandsons coming today to spend the afternoon with us while their mother goes to see some of her Hospice clients. 

I hope you're having a great day. 

A Little Throwback-A Little Now

In pictures, I have a little throwback for this Thursday, plus a small bit of the current happenings. Let me know if you enjoy it. I thought it was good.

Picture #1........ The Beatles with Little Richard. I'm not sure of the date, but I'd say it was the early 60's.

Photo #2 ...... Dean Martin, Shirley MacLane and Elvis. Again, I'm not sure of the date, but it looks like they are celebrating her birthday. Maybe not. I don't think there's enough candles. 

Photo #3..... A rare shot of Elizabeth Taylor with Princess Diana

And last but not least...... Photo #4.... Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Barak Obama 

Hope you have a great day. 

Hodgepodge for 8-6-2014

Welcome to another edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge. Our questions this week are about "keys" .....

1. What would you say is the key to success?

I believe success is not measured by the amount of money you have in the bank or the material objects you may own. God gave each one of us a life to live and if He is part of that life and you have the love of others, then you're successful.

2. Have you ever been to the Florida Keys? Any desire to visit that part of the US of A?
I've never been to the Florida Keys... I've never been to Florida. I would love to visit that part of our country some day.

3. When and where did you last see a real live donkey? Monkey? Turkey?
The last time I took my grandson to the zoo we saw a real live monkey. As for the donkey, I saw one on a TV show last evening. The turkey.... I don't remember seeing one except for the ones in the cases at the grocery store. A live one? Don't remember.

4. An old Portuguese proverb says, 'Beware of the door with too many keys.'What do you think this means? Share an example of how this has proven true or false in your own life. I don't know what the Portuguese mean by that, but my first thought was how it applies to the Christian faith. We are all sinners -- there's a penalty for that sin -- Jesus paid the penalty for all of us -- whoever calls on Him in faith will be rescued. It's that simple. Other religions make it complicated and confusing. So, beware of that door with too many keys. It was a dear friend, many years ago, that told me how easy it was and due to him, I now have a personal relationship with my Lord.

5. Besides your home, vehicle, and special jewelry, what is something you keep under lock and key?
Edited: I had an answer for this question right away, but a friend pointed out that it might not be a good idea to post about some things we have under lock and key on the world-wide-web. 

6. When did you last get keyed up about something?
The day my hubby failed his stress test and was rushed to the hospital for a heart cath and stents. 

7. Who thinks we need an easy one right about now? Key lime pie ... yes please or no thank you?
No thank you. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.
We had dinner with Hubby's brother and his wife this evening and somehow we got on the subject of nightmares. He's been put on a new med and it's causing him to have nightmares that he physically acts out. He's hurt her and she's thinking of moving into the other bedroom. I could tell it made them both sad, but she's not sleeping for fear of what he might do in the middle of the night. 

I had to make that decision a few years ago, but not for the same reason. My hubby snored and I couldn't sleep. It got so bad, I was exhausted, I had to do it. He's better now, doesn't snore like he did, but I'm so used to being alone, I can't go back now. If I have trouble sleeping, I read or watch TV. When I made the move, our daughters immediately got worried that our marriage was over, so I have just one question: do you think it's unhealthy for a married couple to have separate bedrooms?

Until next time.......... 

Monday blahs

I thought I'd check in today after a long absence. I still don't have anything to report though. You'd figure I'd be full of news, but sadly I'm not.

All is well here and that's all that matters.

I have been having a rough time the last couple weeks with my (silent) migraine. I've been light-headed and having vision problems in my right eye again. It doesn't seem to be getting any better. I wish, and pray, there was something that would make it all go away and not just lessen the symptoms, but then I remember that there's a lot of very sick people that are saying the same thing. My problems seem so small when I think of them.

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet” -- Helen Keller

My calendar for the next 2 weeks is filling up fast. We have a baby shower for my grand-daughter Hollie this weekend. I need to go shopping for baby gifts. That's going to be fun. I haven't bought tiny clothes in a long time. I was hoping I'd get to buy little pink things, but "his" mother said no. hahaha

It's also Hollie's 22nd birthday Sunday. Then we have our 2 youngest grandsons next week. The oldest of the 2 will have his 10th birthday on Tuesday. I need to get a gift for him. Friday, my girlfriend in Florida, Penny Jo, is coming up to spend 2 weeks here in town with her son and sisters. She'll call me when she wants to come down. I can't plan anything with her because of all the other activities going on.

Bob has meetings all through the next 2 weeks which means I have to put dinner on the table early each night for him. Next Saturday is the annual NRA banquet at the Elks, which is the reason for all the meetings and the set-up that afternoon. I may go out and help them, if I feel up to it. I am going to the banquet. There will be several friends there that night. We all went last year and had a great time.

I hope all is well with you. God bless.

My Photography Career

I was talking to someone recently about this subject and I thought I'd share it with you. Don't let the title mislead you because this "career" was short-lived due to an illness that almost destroyed my eyesight. But I had a few years of study and lots of enjoyment.

I practically grew up with a camera in my hands. My first one was a Brownie box my mother gave me. I was always taking pictures and now I wish I had saved them. After I got married, Bob gave me a camera for my birthday and I was at it again.

The winter of 1976, a local store had a photo contest. I was talked into entering, so off I went to get some pictures. No one had to tell me twice, even tho' I had doubts of ever winning. This one, however, did win and got me a third place prize..... free photo developing on my next roll of film and the photo was on display in the store.

In 1978, the local camera club sponsored a photo contest at the county fair. Hubby, daughter #2 who also shared my love of photography, and I entered our photos of the hot air balloons. We took first, second and third place, plus our pictures were put on display in the Arts Building.  

The following year my father bought me a nice 35mm SLR and I slowly but surely decked it out with other lenses, filters and lights. That's when I signed up for a photography class. This photo was one of my assignments. My teacher didn't like it, because the subject was outdoor lighting on an architectural structure. I chose the grade school near us. She said I should have left out the swings. 

The photo below was a study in macro. I love the colors in a pile of jelly beans. The object of the lesson was focal length, keeping the surrounding objects sharp and not blurry.  I almost got it.

Then one day I got a call from a friend of a friend that said she saw some of my work and asked if I'd take pictures of her daughter with her prize winning horse. I met up with them at the fairgrounds and took several shots. This is the only one I kept for my portfolio and she bought the rest 

Also that same year we had a dare devil-slash-evangelist come to town. His name was Gene Sullivan. He would put on shows for the locals, then afterwards he would talk to them about the Lord and their salvation. Several of us became good friends while he was here. The night he did his final stunt, the ring of fire, I was determined to get up close and personal, so I could get some pictures. I got into position and waited. When he came through the ring, the burning paper started flying in all directions. I was concentrating on my focus and angle of each shot. After it was all over, I went to walk away when I noticed burning paper on the ground in a complete circle around me, but not one piece ever touched me. Later, when I showed Gene the pictures he asked to use this shot in his advertising. I was so thrilled that he wanted one of my photos. He took it with him and used it all over the country.  My photo was even displayed in Hawaii and Canada. 

I'm glad you stopped by and read my story.

Until next time..........