Catch Up

My Lia Sophia party went well! The person who I thought was here to "check me out" did so...under the watchful eye of my sis-in-law. Nice to know she had my back!

Spent all day yesterday operating the kitchen for a 50th wedding anniversary. It was time well spent, but man are my dogs killin' me now! I can only say, again, how thankful I am that I workout. I made so many trips up and down stairs, carrying huge coffee pots and trays of food that the old Annie would have had a heart attack and died right there. Of course, I also had a terrific team, who helped to make everything run very smoothly.

Last Sunday, my sis-in-law brought the Game Master and Master Smiley for a visit. I'm not ashamed to tell you that I almost cried when Game Master made a bee line for me and hugged me tight. I've missed these two so much that my heart hurts! A bonus to the visit was that our other nephew, Crazy Legs, came along too! He's a hoot and always keeps us laughing.

Me and the Game Master


Boy and Mister Smiley


Crazy Legs - he is so funny!


Cousins!


Everyone loves Legos

I would ask that you remember to pray for Game Master and Mister Smiley's mom, Soldier Mommy. I saw a photo of her on top of her army vehicle, machine gun in hand. Made.Me.Shiver.

Fort Hood

Another radical shooting by another radical muslim.

Gee, I'm just shocked.

Aren't you?

Pray for the survivors.

Pray for the families who lost a loved one.

Pray that this country figures a few things out before the religion of peace starts blowing up our citizens at farmers markets and on buses.

Amen.

Party Planning

You should see my desk. No. Really. It's so clean. Super clean. Company clean.

If you've been my friend for a long time, you've seen the flip side of my clean desk. She's the evil, littered desk; the ugly sistah of clean desk.

You see, I've got company coming over on Friday.

My wonderful sistah-in-love will be here. She's a peach and so friendly that I know she'll make everyone feel comfortable. The Writer will be here too. She's here to watch my back and protect me from...dum dum dum...the strangers!

People I don't know very well are invading attending my little jewelry party. They've never been to my little, unfinished (in oh so many ways) farm house. They may not understand about that barnyard smell or about my psycho cat, Dingo. Do you think they'll mind that while the ceiling is finished, it hasn't all been textured?

On the upside my Beloved installed a spankin' new outdoor light. At least now they won't be wandering around in the dark, tripping over the dog, or falling into a cow pie.

Red will be here too. She knows some of the strangers that are coming and will help to keep things fun.

I've decided, with your help, to serve appetizers and finger foods. Grilled baguette with feta and garlic, marinated bocconii, meatballs, cream cheese with jalapeno pepper jelly, warm asparagus dip, sliced veggies, maybe some fruit, a sour-cream cheese cake and an apple Kugal, should do nicely. Most of this can be made the day before, which makes my life oh, so much easier.

Especially when you consider I have to be at work at 5:00am.

I want perfection...but I know me...I'll end up with whatevah.

Even though I know the house will be clean, the food will be good, and the company will keep things fun, I am still transported back to my childhood.

Funny how one really bad experience can mess with you for the rest of your life.

We lived in a fairly well-to-do neighborhood and one day, in the third grade, a pretty little girl named Lisa invited herself over to my house. I was so excited! She was the popular girl. GASP!

Her visit to my house lasted a grand total of fifteen minutes. She got the tour, stuck her little pug nose in the air, flipped her blond, perfectly cut hair over her shoulder, and asked to call her mother.

The next day, there was plenty of pointing and laughing. I've been weird about inviting people over ever since.

So, Friday looms before me and I quake, just a little, when I consider those who will attend my party.

Shiver

Now, I'm off to vacuum underneath the couch, cause ya know someone's going to look there!

The Underdog

I have a thing for the underdog.

The defeated.

The victim.

That sad, sorry lot who have been abused or neglected gets me every time. I love to see them win. I adore the idea of them finding that strength they didn't know they had and changing their life.

When they stand tall, shake it off, and start again.

I just love it.

Which is why I bristle at the abuser. Those loud mouth, over-bearing, rude, pain in the neck types. They make me crazy.

We have one such lady (okay, maybe we have a few of these) at the gym. She's a wise-crackin', center of the universe kinda girl. I knew she was going to be a problem the first time she opened her mouth and made me feel small.

I just hate that.

You may remember her. I've written about her before. She's the one who was so shocked that I didn't believe in Karma.

Karma?

Carma?

Did I go to school with her???

Yesterday, this woman was in rare form.

Loud

Angry

She went out of her way to involve everyone in the building in her temper-tantrum. I wasn't on the clock, but I made the effort to calm her down, tell her I would address her issues with management, tried to explain why another gym member acts the way she does.

Loud Mouth was having none of it. She just complained louder and more violently.

Psycho

For my part, I didn't lose my temper, but I was steamed. Really steamed. The poor girl who was on shift was freaked out. My daughter, who was working out, was furious. Several of other ladies were uncomfortable and one even thought that SHE was the problem!

I suppose I should explain that in circuit training there are times when the person in front of you, may move slower than you and other times there will be someone right next to you, waiting for you to move. It happens. It's not the end of the flippin' world.

There are ladies who cannot use certain machines for health reasons. Some of our ladies have MS. Some are going through chemo. Still others are elderly or very obese. And yes, there are some who simply come to socialize. We even have a member who is totally blind.

Be that as it may, the gym is a place for everyone and when I say everyone, I mean ladies of all ages and body types. It is a place to grow stronger and more confident. It's a place that, for me at least, has always been judgement free. Or at least it was until yesterday.

I know I did and said the right things, but I'm left with this nagging urge to beat the snot out that loud mouth, earth worshipping, zen mama.

Which brings me back to Karma.

I really don't know much about it. I believe it has something to do with your actions in this life reflecting on your next life. So, if you are a mean, nasty, foul mouthed, pain in the neck in this life...won't you come back as a slug or something?

I mean, if the universe has that kind of power, shouldn't you mind your P's and Q's? Wouldn't it behoove you to steer clear of adversity, to help the down-trodden, and spread love, joy, and peace around your neighborhood?

I'm just sayin'.

Burning Down the House

Last night I met a lady who is in the middle of some trauma. Her adult son's home burnt down a couple of weeks ago. They are all devastated, and rightly so.

I pictured the harrowing scene of her son, lifting his three-year-old daughter out of bed and running for the door. A bathrobe hastily thrown on, bare feet, a blanket wrapped around the baby, and eyes watching from a safe distance as their lives went up in smoke and flame. It makes me shiver.

I remember the scene of another house fire from years ago. I recall seeing fire trucks and police cars lining the road, the nosy neighbors, blackened siding, shattered glass, and the realization that nothing would ever be the same again. I found my mother, always a rock during any emergency, sitting in her Firebird which was parked away from the crowd. I burst into tears as I climbed into the passenger seat and asked aloud where my brothers were.

Fire is a destroyer and its cousins, smoke and water; ravage anything that the flames leave undigested.

I’ve been a bit odd about “stuff” ever since.

Don’t get me wrong, I like my material possessions, but it’s just stuff. This is why I use my good china every time I can, why I don’t truly own anything of real value, and why I am baffled at other peoples obsession with bits and pieces.

Yet I look around this house and see SO MUCH STUFF! Why do we have so much stuff! It boggles the mind. It truly does.

A house fire is a terrible, devastating thing. It changes you. I am more afraid of fire than perhaps anything else. The smell of burnt, wet, timber dredges up old fears and memories I’d rather forget. Yet, having lost so much I have come to value the things that truly matter more.

Relationships
Laughter
Friendships
Time well spent

Everyone gets caught up in materialism. It’s simply a part of the American dream, but you can’t take it with you.

And really, in the end, it’s all just gonna burn anyway.

Good Things

*Boy is home again to continue his recovery.

*I wore a top last night that I haven't been able to fit into. Yay me.

*I've caught up on all my review materials.

*I bit my tongue off instead of telling someone that her husband is a butt head.

*The yard is winter ready.

*My grading and planning are up to date.

*Met nice people at church last night.

*Got a raise!

*Haven't had to deal with any family drama all month.

*Finally figured out why we still live on the farm - see below.



This my friends is a Kyocera tape deck which was manufactured in the 1980's. My beloved is addicted to ancient stereo equipment. When this little beauty became available...well, let's just say there was a near stampede to get to it before it sold.

Sigh.



And here he is checking out his new girlfriend toy. I know he'll never leave me for another woman...unless she has better stereo equipment...

The man is going to nickle and dime me to death.


What good things are happening in your life?

Winner!

Well, gee, this was an easy one to pick!

LOL!

Congrats Island Rider you've won a copy of The Swiss Courier.

Happy Sunday ya'll.