Living out near the ends of the earth reminds me of days long gone when Sundays not only included Sunday School and church, and maybe if we were lucky getting to eat out at the cafeteria or the El Patio Mexican restaurant, but most Sundays when we were younger included a Sunday afternoon drive. To my brother Doug and me, B.O.R.I.N.G! To my mom, a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. My dad would drive us all around the surrounding countryside on the Farm to Market Roads Texas is so famous for. If we were to travel those very same roads today, we'd be smack dab in the middle of First Colony, New Territory, and Cross Country Ranch. It seems like there is always a historical marker on most roads and my dad usually wanted to stop and read the marker out loud to us... But my mother would usually say, "Can't we just see it from the car? That became one of our favorite family sayings. Funny as time has gone by and my sense of adventure has lessened and my knees make it difficult at times, I find myself thinking or saying the same thing, "Can't we see it from the car?" I almost missed out on seeing the model home that won our hearts last January because I was tired and said I would wait in the car while Roy and Peggy went inside the house. So glad I changed my mind.
My mom made occasions fun. She always baked our favorite cake for our birthdays. At Easter she made a cake that looked like an Easter Bunny and she encouraged us to help her decorate it. If she baked a pie, somehow there always just happened to be extra dough. She would roll out the dough, put butter, sugar and cinnamon on it and roll it up like a jelly roll and cut the dough into bite size pieces and bake them along with the pie. My mom also had a great recipe for iced sugar cookies that we made every Christmas. Even after I was married, my mom would help me bake those cookies to give as gifts when money was tight for Roy and me.
Last Sunday when we ate Chinese food with Bill and Peggy, we all remembered eating chop suey at home, out of a can, made by Chung King. You made rice, heated up the contents of the can and put crunchy noodles on the top. For the longest time my brother Doug and I didn't like chop suey. We learned not to mix everything up but keep the rice and noodles separate from the junk we didn't like. We couldn't leave the table until our plate was clean. We'd wait till Mom got busy in the kitchen and Dad was reading the paper. Carefully, Doug and I would put the chop suey back in the serving bowl and then eat our rice and crispy noodles. No one was the wiser until much later in life, when we told Mom what we had done. She wasn't too happy to be told of this and other dinner hijinks. Doug and I were not fans of oatmeal for breakfast. Mom didn't serve it very often, but when she did, we would put up quite a fuss. We called oatmeal boo after awhile. Why, because when we'd ask what's for breakfast, she say oatmeal and we would cry boo.
My mom had a quirky side. She loved her church and her women's Sunday School class. There were several years she had a teacher that didn't talk very loud and my mom complained she could not hear her. This teacher participated in the fine Baptist tradition of giving out verses to different ones in the class to read out loud and always called on my mom. My mom never cared too much to read verses aloud. She told me once she had a dream that she was in Sunday School and the teacher asked her where they were in the reading of verses out loud . In her dream she answered, "How in the hell would I know?" My mother never cussed. I never heard her let a bad word slip. In fact the one and only time I heard her say anything that remotely would be considered a bad word is when she called me a jackass. Truth is I was probably acting like one but come on, I was in junior high and who wants to take their younger brother with them. I was going to Astro World with friends and we just might meet some cute boys! Oh one other thing that kind has to do with church and church attendance. I will never forget the Sunday lunch that mom had stayed home from church to cook and prepare for the crowd of family and friends that were coming over after church. We had all sat down, my dad sat at one end of the table, my mother at the other end (closest to the kitchen) and the rest of us were squeezed in at the table. My dad asked my mom to say the blessing...she began her prayer and in the course of praying she thanked the Lord for the good services at church that morning. In the midst of that sentence, she realized she hadn't been to the good services at church that morning, so she did a mid prayer correction and added, I wasn't there but You were,so I am sure they were good."
Friends were very important to my mom. She has had good friends all through her life. As a child I was intrigued to hear the story of my mom and her three friends who had borrowed a car and the car's brakes didn't work. So when they came close to her home, they slowed the car down as much as they could and my mom jumped out of the backseat onto the grass. I've mentioned before what a prolific letter and card sender she was. She had friends she talked on the phone with everyday and friends that she went shopping and to lunch with. One time, Roy had rented a convertible for me and I went over to take my mom on a ride. She said, let's go get Mary Jo. Mary Jo was in her robe and had curlers in her hair. As I drove the two of them they hooped and hollered like teenagers as we drove around the neighborhood and they made sure we went past all their friend's homes.
It seems to me after writing this, the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturdays
When one is not an early riser, it is sometimes difficult to be married to one who loves the early morning wake up. Around 6:40 am I heard a noise and it awakened me from deep sleep. Silly me, I thought it was in the middle of the night and either our ice maker was working late into the night or maybe it was the noise of someone breaking in. Neither, it was Roy. What? He got up early because we had discussed going out for breakfast the night before. I asked if he would wake me up around 7:00 and finally I hit the floor at 7:15. He is taking off all of next week and already has plans to go to Life Time for early morning work outs. This schedule is going to totally throw me off.
Yesterday we went to the memorial service for my friend Patty. She was a friend from my tennis days. She was lots of fun, enthusiastic and one of the friendliest people I had ever met. Roy and I sat with her tennis friends. I was glad to have Catholic friends to the left of me and Roy, former Catholic altar boy, on the right. This way hopefully I wouldn't faux paux. Lots of standing and kneeling, singing songs that had different words to very familiar Baptist tunes, and closed communion. Only Roman Catholics could participate. It was a beautiful service, actually it was a Mass. Later on Roy commented that it was one of the sexiest dressed services he had ever gone to. I didn't notice, I was concentrating on everything that was taking place with the functionary disciplines of the service. There was a reception afterwards at the Houstonian, but we didn't go. Instead we went to the Nord to meet Dena for dinner. We all had a great time, great conversation and great food. Ah, strength will rise when we go into the Nord, we will go into the Nord. Afterwards, Dena and I perused the cosmetic and shoe departments while Roy headed over to the TVs in men's shoes.
When we left the Nord, we made a stop at the Play Grocery Store. It seemed so strange being there. I don't think I have been there since August. How are they functioning without me? Probably very well, since I only played there. We picked up a few of their holiday specials and I think our total bill came to $57.00 and some change. Everything fit into a paper bag. As we got closer to home we realized we needed to make a HEB stop and since it wasn't very crowded...we stopped. We bought about $57.00 worth of stuff and we had bags upon bags. So if you want to stretch your shopping dollar, don't go to the play grocery store.
A Man Called Peter was on TCM last night. It has been some time since I last saw it. This is a movie about Peter Marshall, a preacher from Scotland. His wife is Catherine Marshall and she wrote several books. Kind of corny but the Gospel was preached in that movie. Loved all his sermons. Kept me up past my bed time. Thus this brings us back to why I wasn't so happy about being an early riser. Lot of energy expended yesterday.
So, Roy and I went to breakfast and then he headed on into Houston for Celebration practice, a hair cut and run a couple of errands. I did some damage at Target and then went to La Centerra for a bit. I don't have anything to wear for my mom's service. I could wear what I wore to Patty's, so I found a back up outfit just in case. Also found a top I can wear to a couple of holiday lunches I've been invited to.
Just for fun here are a couple of pictures that are a blast from the past. I tried to get them in order but something must be out of order in my understanding so....
First picture-high school graduation and mom's big hair. She could only hope her daughter would tease up her hair too, but I chose the long hair hippy look.
Second picture- Easter 1956 or 57
Third picture- Mom bringing me over to meet the grandparents, I think. Could be just a load of laundry that she wanted to take care of while visiting with my grandparents.
Fourth picture- Family portrait in the early 1960's
Fifth picture- lovely 70's. Mom and me and she made the dresss.
Yesterday we went to the memorial service for my friend Patty. She was a friend from my tennis days. She was lots of fun, enthusiastic and one of the friendliest people I had ever met. Roy and I sat with her tennis friends. I was glad to have Catholic friends to the left of me and Roy, former Catholic altar boy, on the right. This way hopefully I wouldn't faux paux. Lots of standing and kneeling, singing songs that had different words to very familiar Baptist tunes, and closed communion. Only Roman Catholics could participate. It was a beautiful service, actually it was a Mass. Later on Roy commented that it was one of the sexiest dressed services he had ever gone to. I didn't notice, I was concentrating on everything that was taking place with the functionary disciplines of the service. There was a reception afterwards at the Houstonian, but we didn't go. Instead we went to the Nord to meet Dena for dinner. We all had a great time, great conversation and great food. Ah, strength will rise when we go into the Nord, we will go into the Nord. Afterwards, Dena and I perused the cosmetic and shoe departments while Roy headed over to the TVs in men's shoes.
When we left the Nord, we made a stop at the Play Grocery Store. It seemed so strange being there. I don't think I have been there since August. How are they functioning without me? Probably very well, since I only played there. We picked up a few of their holiday specials and I think our total bill came to $57.00 and some change. Everything fit into a paper bag. As we got closer to home we realized we needed to make a HEB stop and since it wasn't very crowded...we stopped. We bought about $57.00 worth of stuff and we had bags upon bags. So if you want to stretch your shopping dollar, don't go to the play grocery store.
A Man Called Peter was on TCM last night. It has been some time since I last saw it. This is a movie about Peter Marshall, a preacher from Scotland. His wife is Catherine Marshall and she wrote several books. Kind of corny but the Gospel was preached in that movie. Loved all his sermons. Kept me up past my bed time. Thus this brings us back to why I wasn't so happy about being an early riser. Lot of energy expended yesterday.
So, Roy and I went to breakfast and then he headed on into Houston for Celebration practice, a hair cut and run a couple of errands. I did some damage at Target and then went to La Centerra for a bit. I don't have anything to wear for my mom's service. I could wear what I wore to Patty's, so I found a back up outfit just in case. Also found a top I can wear to a couple of holiday lunches I've been invited to.
Just for fun here are a couple of pictures that are a blast from the past. I tried to get them in order but something must be out of order in my understanding so....
First picture-high school graduation and mom's big hair. She could only hope her daughter would tease up her hair too, but I chose the long hair hippy look.
Second picture- Easter 1956 or 57
Third picture- Mom bringing me over to meet the grandparents, I think. Could be just a load of laundry that she wanted to take care of while visiting with my grandparents.
Fourth picture- Family portrait in the early 1960's
Fifth picture- lovely 70's. Mom and me and she made the dresss.
Finally, I had to end with the coolest 8th grader around. Notice I have my camera and I am ready for any photo op.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I Stills Gots the Fog Brain Thing
I still feel a little foggy brained. Think foggy brain is being prolonged because we haven't had my mother's service yet and grieving (and I'm grieved to have to use that word) has been put on a delayed pause. So we make the long march to next Friday with an interruption of Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong we are full of thankfulness that my mom is in heaven, with her right mind, free and whole but it is the unusual aspect of having to think of what we might do. Roy and I went to the zoo last Thanksgiving and Roy is hoping upon hope that we will go again this year. No one is there, of course most everything is closed but he is there to take pictures. I wrote about it here. I also have to think about the lunch after my mother's service on Friday. There is no way I will have the energy to do two meals in a short turn around period. Today I went and ordered chicken pot pie, salad and several desserts. Then we will need to fill in with some other side dishes and such. This is not in my natural or spiritual giftings to have to think about this kind of stuff and then pull it off. Thankfully, Roy is taking off next week and will be able to help me sort through all the plans and logistics.
Thank God for my therapist Cheryl. She is in the life saving business... I had an appointment with her today. Christ centered counseling at its best. Before my appointment I had about 20 minutes, so I decided to stop at Walgreen's and pick up a prescription. Fog brain here dropped my credit card on the pavement...hello wide window drawer. I had to get out of the car and believe you me there wasn't much space between the building and Sequisha, bend down, not an easy thing for me with tons of space, pick up the card and get back into the car. I was praying the whole time because you know I didn't want to get stuck.
Even after moving, the people who sent tons and tons of worthless mailings to my mother in law have caught up with our new address. We get off several mailings each month by using their postage free envelopes or emailing them and asking that her name be removed. There are days all the mail is for her. One thing I have noticed in these mailings, whether it be about money or health, it is all based on fear. Fear has to be the biggest marketing tool used against senior adults. I don't consider myself one except for any instance where it is beneficial, discounted meals or close in parking. Or the marketing is geared toward, everyone else gets __________ and you are being left out. Send me money and I will tell you in my newsletters how to get everything you have coming to you and more... it is really, really sad to read all these scare tactic letters and know there are people duped by them every day.
More fog brained things, I put my cash back in the bag that had bananas when leaving the grocery store. Thankfully, it was all there and hadn't blown out of the bag. I've been that lady that aggravates me. I have been parking Sequisha all over the place...anywhere but between the lines and I have not corrected my parking. I've just walked away thinking, they'll deal with it. Yea, big scrape on the side of the door if I don't watch out.
It is already crowded in the parking garages at The Galleria. I had to stop and pick up some gifts. People are crazy in parking garages. I of course am only crazy in how I park not in how I drive.
Maybe I should go take a little nap and listen to the sound of the fog horn sounding forth in my brain.
Thank God for my therapist Cheryl. She is in the life saving business... I had an appointment with her today. Christ centered counseling at its best. Before my appointment I had about 20 minutes, so I decided to stop at Walgreen's and pick up a prescription. Fog brain here dropped my credit card on the pavement...hello wide window drawer. I had to get out of the car and believe you me there wasn't much space between the building and Sequisha, bend down, not an easy thing for me with tons of space, pick up the card and get back into the car. I was praying the whole time because you know I didn't want to get stuck.
Even after moving, the people who sent tons and tons of worthless mailings to my mother in law have caught up with our new address. We get off several mailings each month by using their postage free envelopes or emailing them and asking that her name be removed. There are days all the mail is for her. One thing I have noticed in these mailings, whether it be about money or health, it is all based on fear. Fear has to be the biggest marketing tool used against senior adults. I don't consider myself one except for any instance where it is beneficial, discounted meals or close in parking. Or the marketing is geared toward, everyone else gets __________ and you are being left out. Send me money and I will tell you in my newsletters how to get everything you have coming to you and more... it is really, really sad to read all these scare tactic letters and know there are people duped by them every day.
More fog brained things, I put my cash back in the bag that had bananas when leaving the grocery store. Thankfully, it was all there and hadn't blown out of the bag. I've been that lady that aggravates me. I have been parking Sequisha all over the place...anywhere but between the lines and I have not corrected my parking. I've just walked away thinking, they'll deal with it. Yea, big scrape on the side of the door if I don't watch out.
It is already crowded in the parking garages at The Galleria. I had to stop and pick up some gifts. People are crazy in parking garages. I of course am only crazy in how I park not in how I drive.
Maybe I should go take a little nap and listen to the sound of the fog horn sounding forth in my brain.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday Morning Catch Up
It's an overcast morning out here on the prairie. The house behind us is ready to be bricked and another house on that block is at the really noisy stage of building. Buddy has finally settled into her early morning nap and I sit here at the computer catching up on blogs I read and answering some email. There are several items on the to do list for the day and I hope I get those taken care of this morning.
It has been a roller coaster this week. Emotions running the gamut. Crying at the strangest times. Remembering things about my mom and writing them down. I've experienced kindness and thoughtfulness from friends. Words of encouragement, flowers and expressions of love have been gratefully received. These expressions have made the week and the start of this new chapter a little less scary.
The mental fog is lifting. It is getting back into the routine of daily life. I realized I missed the nation wide emergency testing last week. Doesn't sound like I missed too much. The 11-11-11 day passed and we didn't mark it in any special way.
On Saturday Roy and I went back out to Brookwood and got some more roses and a beautiful bougainvillea. The bougainvillea is not listed on the HOA's official roster of acceptable plants, so that puppy is on the back patio. On Sunday Roy planted the roses for me and I re potted the geraniums and supervised the transferring of the bougainvillea into a planter. My mom loved her garden and worked it all the time until she couldn't remember how to do it. I am not going to plant any type of garden or do any extensive landscaping at this time, but I do feel a little closer to and honoring of my mom with these meager floral additions.
Saturday morning, instead of going out to breakfast like we normally do, Roy made pumpkin pecan pancakes. They were delicious! Later on in the day Roy started his fence project. He has already sealed the wood but he is fighting like crazy to keep the fence from turning gray. The stain Lowe's mixed up for him wasn't quite right. Too yellow. He went back and they reformulated the mixture and it is just right. Roy was so playing the Tom Sawyer bit telling me how much fun painting the fence is. Uh, yea....I will let you have all the fun Roy.
Well the day awaits and Buddy is here meowing at me for her morning snack. Ah, the little things of life.
It has been a roller coaster this week. Emotions running the gamut. Crying at the strangest times. Remembering things about my mom and writing them down. I've experienced kindness and thoughtfulness from friends. Words of encouragement, flowers and expressions of love have been gratefully received. These expressions have made the week and the start of this new chapter a little less scary.
The mental fog is lifting. It is getting back into the routine of daily life. I realized I missed the nation wide emergency testing last week. Doesn't sound like I missed too much. The 11-11-11 day passed and we didn't mark it in any special way.
On Saturday Roy and I went back out to Brookwood and got some more roses and a beautiful bougainvillea. The bougainvillea is not listed on the HOA's official roster of acceptable plants, so that puppy is on the back patio. On Sunday Roy planted the roses for me and I re potted the geraniums and supervised the transferring of the bougainvillea into a planter. My mom loved her garden and worked it all the time until she couldn't remember how to do it. I am not going to plant any type of garden or do any extensive landscaping at this time, but I do feel a little closer to and honoring of my mom with these meager floral additions.
Saturday morning, instead of going out to breakfast like we normally do, Roy made pumpkin pecan pancakes. They were delicious! Later on in the day Roy started his fence project. He has already sealed the wood but he is fighting like crazy to keep the fence from turning gray. The stain Lowe's mixed up for him wasn't quite right. Too yellow. He went back and they reformulated the mixture and it is just right. Roy was so playing the Tom Sawyer bit telling me how much fun painting the fence is. Uh, yea....I will let you have all the fun Roy.
Well the day awaits and Buddy is here meowing at me for her morning snack. Ah, the little things of life.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Joy and New Mercies, They Come in the Morning
Yesterday morning I woke up early and I was fully awake when Roy called to tell me my mom had passed away. Even when you know that this news is not unexpected, I don't know if you are ever fully prepared. My dad was there with her when she made her transition from this earthly life into her inheritance and future. I sat at our island counter and bawled. The tears were a mixture of sadness, relief, and joy. I did the 2011 thing and posted her passing on Facebook. One friend texted me back the verse, joy comes in the morning. Yes! What a word, my mom had found her joy that morning. She was free from that hateful, conniving, thieving world of Alzheimer's. She was overwhelmed with joy being in the presence of her Savior and Lord. Mom was greeted and welcomed by her mom and dad, friends long gone on before her and new friends she didn't even know. Maybe she is even getting to sing a duet with one of her favorite Gospel singers, Vestal Goodman. I like what Cassi wrote, your mom and my mom are meeting for the first time and that just blessed me because Cassi means so much to me. His mercies are new every morning...and my mom experienced the greatest new mercies of the morning and of her life.
Monday, November 7, 2011
You've Made Your Bed, So Don't Lie or Lay in It.
My mom has the greatest sense of humor and sense of playfulness. She was always doing something funny. One Sunday afternoon while my dad was taking a nap, she got out the fingernail polish and painted his nails on one hand. We all had a great laugh until we found out, she was out of nail polish remover. Back in the day on Sunday, NOTHING was open, no stores, nothing...so she went to the next door neighbor we had never met and asked the lady if she had any remover. My mom tends to the shy side, so this was a huge deal for her to go next door.
Mom is not a big game player and the only time she would play board games with us was when it stormed. She hated storms! She was afraid of lightning and thunder. So playing a board game with us helped her take her mind off of the weather. She never really sat down and played with us but she did help us make some great forts out of blankets. She would let my brother and I play in the sacred living room, but only if we would promise to have everything picked up before my father got home. Oh yeah, she said that a lot...wait until your father gets home. She sent me to my room a lot to think about what I had done but being ADD, my attention span on my wrongs and what I could do to make them right lasted only a few minutes. The next thing you'd know, I had stuff pulled out and I was playing or I would be reading a book. When she'd come back to my room so that I could tell her where I went wrong and apologize, she'd be a little miffed that I had gone onto other activities and hadn't given my wrong doing too much thought. When my nieces were into Barbie dolls, we were playing Barbie's one night. My parents had recently unearthed my 1960 Barbie and the girls had theirs. It was a rare occasion that my mom joined in to play. You know what playing Barbie is like, they hop around to everything, you make them talk in falsetto voices, and other than driving Barbie's car, Barbie and her friends just shop and take naps. We could tell this whole Barbie lifestyle was not sitting well with my mom. She stood up and announced that until we could play Barbie's in a way that had some focus or direction or schedule that didn't include shopping and naps, she would be back to play. That whole memory just cracks me up because maybe somewhere deep inside her she had once had more focus, direction and schedule but two kiddos and a husband sometimes messes up that whole scenario.
My mother was my first audience. I was always putting on some type of production where I played all the parts. My best thing was lip syncing to her records. She had some great records both 78 and long play. Only those above the age of 50 are going to know what I am talking about. The rule, if you used her records, you had to be very, very careful with them. Once my brother broke one of her records, so she went into his bedroom and broke one of his. I think it was Scruffy the Tugboad. My brother and I were speechless because this was so out of character for my mother. It is ironic that my mom who had great music disliked, no really hated musicals, especially Oklahoma. I would sing songs from it when I wanted to tease her or maybe even aggravate her. My mom's take on musicals, they are telling a perfectly good story and then they have to ruin everything by singing songs.
I think I get my love of writing letters and sending cards from my mom. We would go to the drug store and read the cards to one another and laugh ourselves silly. She was known for giving great birthday cards. They always fit the person. She would see a card and say, I'll get this and send it to __________ for their birthday. My mom corresponded with her mother religiously and she had childhood friends who kept up with each other through life. My mom would be so delighted when she had received a letter or card in the mail.
Even though Alzheimer's has taken so much from my mom, there is one thing she did everyday until almost the end of living in their home, she made the bed. She really didn't like an unmade bed and making the bed was one of the first things she had us do when we woke up...make that bed. To this day, rarely a day goes by that I don't make the bed. It just sets a completeness to the beginning of the day or something.
I'm not too sure about this, but I think I wasn't that pleasant to be around when I was in junior high. Seems like there was a lot of angst and tears. The battle within still wanting to be a child yet at the same time I was feeling all grown up and like all 12-14 year olds, I believed I knew quite a bit and had all the answers. Funny how as we mature most of us grow out of being a know it all. Since this back in the olden days where girls had to wear dresses or skirts every day to school, I suddenly fell in love with wearing skirts. Why? Because my mom would kiss me goodbye and watch me walk down the sidewalk, but once I was out of her sight, you got to know I was rolling that skirt at the waist band so I would be in fashion with all the other cool and yes, we were all insecure girls. I also would get my socks off to complete the total complete cool look. At the end of the school day I did the whole process in reverse so that once I arrived home, my mom would see me just as she had when I left in the morning. Years later she told me she knew I was rolling my skirts and ditching my socks. Seems like I had an inordinate amount of blisters on my feet during those years.
During junior high I had to take two semesters of home ec. I did ok in the cooking and foods semester but I did horrible in the sewing semester. I got the mumps and missed quite a bit of school that semester. Since the home ec teacher and I didn't see eye to eye, what me be a smart Alic? Anyway, she let me take the dress I was working on, probably more like butchering, home one night to complete it. Mom to the rescue. She made that dress and only made a B. Unfortunately, her daughter had forgotten to bring home the facing pieces and thus my mom made due with what fabric we had. The B came because we didn't have the required 3 inches of facing around the arm holes.
I just had this great thought...if a kiss doesn't wake her up maybe I will go over there and sing some songs from Oklahoma. Nah, I don't want her leaving this world thinking...Nancy, you and I were having a perfectly good visit...you talking and sharing your heart with me...we were remembering some of the most wonderful stories of our lives and then you have to go ruin it by singing songs.
Mom is not a big game player and the only time she would play board games with us was when it stormed. She hated storms! She was afraid of lightning and thunder. So playing a board game with us helped her take her mind off of the weather. She never really sat down and played with us but she did help us make some great forts out of blankets. She would let my brother and I play in the sacred living room, but only if we would promise to have everything picked up before my father got home. Oh yeah, she said that a lot...wait until your father gets home. She sent me to my room a lot to think about what I had done but being ADD, my attention span on my wrongs and what I could do to make them right lasted only a few minutes. The next thing you'd know, I had stuff pulled out and I was playing or I would be reading a book. When she'd come back to my room so that I could tell her where I went wrong and apologize, she'd be a little miffed that I had gone onto other activities and hadn't given my wrong doing too much thought. When my nieces were into Barbie dolls, we were playing Barbie's one night. My parents had recently unearthed my 1960 Barbie and the girls had theirs. It was a rare occasion that my mom joined in to play. You know what playing Barbie is like, they hop around to everything, you make them talk in falsetto voices, and other than driving Barbie's car, Barbie and her friends just shop and take naps. We could tell this whole Barbie lifestyle was not sitting well with my mom. She stood up and announced that until we could play Barbie's in a way that had some focus or direction or schedule that didn't include shopping and naps, she would be back to play. That whole memory just cracks me up because maybe somewhere deep inside her she had once had more focus, direction and schedule but two kiddos and a husband sometimes messes up that whole scenario.
My mother was my first audience. I was always putting on some type of production where I played all the parts. My best thing was lip syncing to her records. She had some great records both 78 and long play. Only those above the age of 50 are going to know what I am talking about. The rule, if you used her records, you had to be very, very careful with them. Once my brother broke one of her records, so she went into his bedroom and broke one of his. I think it was Scruffy the Tugboad. My brother and I were speechless because this was so out of character for my mother. It is ironic that my mom who had great music disliked, no really hated musicals, especially Oklahoma. I would sing songs from it when I wanted to tease her or maybe even aggravate her. My mom's take on musicals, they are telling a perfectly good story and then they have to ruin everything by singing songs.
I think I get my love of writing letters and sending cards from my mom. We would go to the drug store and read the cards to one another and laugh ourselves silly. She was known for giving great birthday cards. They always fit the person. She would see a card and say, I'll get this and send it to __________ for their birthday. My mom corresponded with her mother religiously and she had childhood friends who kept up with each other through life. My mom would be so delighted when she had received a letter or card in the mail.
Even though Alzheimer's has taken so much from my mom, there is one thing she did everyday until almost the end of living in their home, she made the bed. She really didn't like an unmade bed and making the bed was one of the first things she had us do when we woke up...make that bed. To this day, rarely a day goes by that I don't make the bed. It just sets a completeness to the beginning of the day or something.
I'm not too sure about this, but I think I wasn't that pleasant to be around when I was in junior high. Seems like there was a lot of angst and tears. The battle within still wanting to be a child yet at the same time I was feeling all grown up and like all 12-14 year olds, I believed I knew quite a bit and had all the answers. Funny how as we mature most of us grow out of being a know it all. Since this back in the olden days where girls had to wear dresses or skirts every day to school, I suddenly fell in love with wearing skirts. Why? Because my mom would kiss me goodbye and watch me walk down the sidewalk, but once I was out of her sight, you got to know I was rolling that skirt at the waist band so I would be in fashion with all the other cool and yes, we were all insecure girls. I also would get my socks off to complete the total complete cool look. At the end of the school day I did the whole process in reverse so that once I arrived home, my mom would see me just as she had when I left in the morning. Years later she told me she knew I was rolling my skirts and ditching my socks. Seems like I had an inordinate amount of blisters on my feet during those years.
During junior high I had to take two semesters of home ec. I did ok in the cooking and foods semester but I did horrible in the sewing semester. I got the mumps and missed quite a bit of school that semester. Since the home ec teacher and I didn't see eye to eye, what me be a smart Alic? Anyway, she let me take the dress I was working on, probably more like butchering, home one night to complete it. Mom to the rescue. She made that dress and only made a B. Unfortunately, her daughter had forgotten to bring home the facing pieces and thus my mom made due with what fabric we had. The B came because we didn't have the required 3 inches of facing around the arm holes.
I just had this great thought...if a kiss doesn't wake her up maybe I will go over there and sing some songs from Oklahoma. Nah, I don't want her leaving this world thinking...Nancy, you and I were having a perfectly good visit...you talking and sharing your heart with me...we were remembering some of the most wonderful stories of our lives and then you have to go ruin it by singing songs.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Mom, I Need Some Help With My Hair
My mother loves the sun, sitting by a pool getting a tan or a trip to the beach. She hated and feared getting near the water. One summer we had a pool membership to a place called Hawaiian Village. My brother and I loved the fact there was a snack bar right there by the pool because the city pools didn't let you have any food or drink near their pools. I believe I was in the second or third grade the summer we had that pool membership. My mom would sit there on the edge of the pool and tell me to be careful because she couldn't swim. There were life guards. That is the summer I taught myself to swim because you had to know how to swim to be able to go down the slide. Most days mom packed our lunches but we always got to have an ice cream bar or Popsicle from the snack bar before leaving for home. I think my mom loved that pool membership because she would take us to the pool in the mornings and by early afternoon we were beat and would take a nap when we got home. Let's just say that my brother and I were like most other siblings and could find any reason to fuss and fight with one another. When I was in high school my mom joined the YWCA and took a beginning swimming class. She didn't finish the class because they were using empty coffee cans to keep them above water and I don't believe my mother believed that two coffee cans would keep her afloat enough to learn how to swim. I loved that about my mom because she was always sympathetic when I began some class and wanted to quit after just a few times. She would let you quit, my dad would make you go in order to build character into us.
I really don't know if I can decorate for Christmas this year. It might be too difficult. Most of the ornaments we have, my mom made or she would always pick out ornaments when she and my dad would go on trips. We found the ornaments in our Christmas stockings that she had made for us when we were kids long into adulthood. Up until several years ago, she always made peanut butter cookies for my brother and gingerbread men for me. Even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's she'd bake Christmas cookies for us but my gingerbread men became ginger snaps because she could no longer remember how to use a cookie cutter. I have one of the last gingerbread cookies she ever made for me. She did a self portrait.
Another thing my mom tried to really get me interested in was sewing. Never had the patience for it. She made my Barbie some beautiful outfits and she made me some beautiful outfits as well. Being tall in a non tall world, her sewing made slacks and pants for me so I didn't have to wear high waters. While packing things up this summer I put away some pillows and other fun things she had made for me through the years.
I'm sure I will have a few more blog posts about her. I want to remember the real and raw emotions during this time. Just for fun tomorrow I might just spray some hairspray on my hair, really nice and thick. Never learned how to tease me hair, so maybe I can just dry my hair upside down and then spray it. Yep, my mom would get a good laugh out of that and then she would try to smooth it down so at least I would be presentable.
Friday, November 4, 2011
What the Beep?
Our world at the condo was kind of quiet. Our appliances were so dated. They were so 14 years ago. Never, no not once, did they ever let us know their cycle was completed. Neither our washer nor our dryer announced the clothes were done. The only way you knew the dishwasher was finished is, you could hear the TV clearly. Once the dishwasher stopped we had to be quick to turn the sound down as not to disturb any of our condo dwelling neighbors. Our microwave had a ding sound but it never repeated itself to remind us we had cooked food ready to be consumed. I faintly remember the few times we used the oven, there was a loud and obtrusive buzzer that went on with infinitude until someone rushed into the kitchen to turn the blasted thing off.
Here in Katy we have been introduced to the world of beeps. Both the washer and the dryer have a series of beeps to announce completion. Because of Roy's, Paul Revere, mishaps with the alarm system, many a time we jumped to find the remote control to shut the thing down. Now that we are veterans, the washer and dryer beeps don't quite move us the way they used to. The dishwasher beep still alarms me since we usually run it later in the evening. I used to head toward the laundry room thinking, I don't remember starting a load of laundry...but now I know, dishes are ready to be unloaded, that is if we chose to do so. Then sometimes we have the I will wait you out and use every clean dish in the dishwasher before I officially unload this thing. That doesn't happen very much, but I'm sad to report, it has happened in the past, but not the recent past. Our refrigerator beeps if the door has been left open. The microwave continues with intermittent beeps if we don't retrieve the contents in a timely manner. The oven timer beeps loudly. Yes, I have used the oven, but not as much as the microwave. The entrance doors to our house beep every time you open one.
Now, wearing a heart monitor, I beep. When I take a recording there are a series of beeps. If the monitor is full, it beeps. Or if the batteries need changing, another series of beeps. Can you imagine my surprise when I started to beep intermittently in the Hobby Lobby. Roy and I had gone to lunch and we stopped in at the ol' HB to pick up some picture hanging wire and hooks. When I beeped in the frame department, I wasn't too alarmed because it was just us. Since Roy is the faster one, he began a hurried jaunt to the check out...because there is always a line or a price check or a return gone bad. When I finally caught up to him in line, I was one continuous beep. You know like the beep in movies right before a bomb goes off? At that moment I had to decide whether to toss all modesty aside and get to that monitor to shut it off or be swarmed by HB security because they're thinking maybe I'm one of those crazed people that strap bombs to themselves. I glanced up to see the reaction and situation around me. There were some intense looks and a lot of heads scanning the area to see who the beeper was. Thank goodness there wasn't a TSA agent buying craft supplies behind me. I would have been subject to a pat down and of course after that much touching, I might have to ask for a cigarette. So as not to draw attention to myself, I calmly reached under my t-shirt and sweat shirt to unhook the monitor and get it out where I could see it. Success...so far. Then I unattached the monitor from the wires. Of course I'm standing there with a set of wires and electrodes coming out from the bottom of my sweatshirt. So I think, well maybe it was a bad connection and I reattach the wires into the monitor. Nope, beeps start up again. Quickly I rip the wires out of the monitor. It is then I decided before anyone could announce a Code 3 on register 2, to just go on out to the car. When Roy catches up to me at the car, he asks, "what the beep is going on?" Now that was pretty funny. Once I got home I found the source of my beeping. One of the electrodes had come loose and beeped to warn no readings were going on.
So that's the whole beepin' story out here on the prairie.
Here in Katy we have been introduced to the world of beeps. Both the washer and the dryer have a series of beeps to announce completion. Because of Roy's, Paul Revere, mishaps with the alarm system, many a time we jumped to find the remote control to shut the thing down. Now that we are veterans, the washer and dryer beeps don't quite move us the way they used to. The dishwasher beep still alarms me since we usually run it later in the evening. I used to head toward the laundry room thinking, I don't remember starting a load of laundry...but now I know, dishes are ready to be unloaded, that is if we chose to do so. Then sometimes we have the I will wait you out and use every clean dish in the dishwasher before I officially unload this thing. That doesn't happen very much, but I'm sad to report, it has happened in the past, but not the recent past. Our refrigerator beeps if the door has been left open. The microwave continues with intermittent beeps if we don't retrieve the contents in a timely manner. The oven timer beeps loudly. Yes, I have used the oven, but not as much as the microwave. The entrance doors to our house beep every time you open one.
Now, wearing a heart monitor, I beep. When I take a recording there are a series of beeps. If the monitor is full, it beeps. Or if the batteries need changing, another series of beeps. Can you imagine my surprise when I started to beep intermittently in the Hobby Lobby. Roy and I had gone to lunch and we stopped in at the ol' HB to pick up some picture hanging wire and hooks. When I beeped in the frame department, I wasn't too alarmed because it was just us. Since Roy is the faster one, he began a hurried jaunt to the check out...because there is always a line or a price check or a return gone bad. When I finally caught up to him in line, I was one continuous beep. You know like the beep in movies right before a bomb goes off? At that moment I had to decide whether to toss all modesty aside and get to that monitor to shut it off or be swarmed by HB security because they're thinking maybe I'm one of those crazed people that strap bombs to themselves. I glanced up to see the reaction and situation around me. There were some intense looks and a lot of heads scanning the area to see who the beeper was. Thank goodness there wasn't a TSA agent buying craft supplies behind me. I would have been subject to a pat down and of course after that much touching, I might have to ask for a cigarette. So as not to draw attention to myself, I calmly reached under my t-shirt and sweat shirt to unhook the monitor and get it out where I could see it. Success...so far. Then I unattached the monitor from the wires. Of course I'm standing there with a set of wires and electrodes coming out from the bottom of my sweatshirt. So I think, well maybe it was a bad connection and I reattach the wires into the monitor. Nope, beeps start up again. Quickly I rip the wires out of the monitor. It is then I decided before anyone could announce a Code 3 on register 2, to just go on out to the car. When Roy catches up to me at the car, he asks, "what the beep is going on?" Now that was pretty funny. Once I got home I found the source of my beeping. One of the electrodes had come loose and beeped to warn no readings were going on.
So that's the whole beepin' story out here on the prairie.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Stress Shows Itself in so Many Unbecoming Ways
Stress is a like one of those lizards that changes color. Not like the Boy George song, but I'm comparing the continued changes and shapes stress takes on ones body. And you'll notice I had to give a description because between my misspelling and Blogger spell check, we could only come up with comedian. A couple of weeks ago a stress related rash rocked my neck, upper grandma arms and hid in the cellulite on the back of my legs. That rash was annoying. Stress manifests itself with a rapid and racing heart beat. Even at times the heart that beats to a different drummer with the regular beats and then a long pause before the beats resume. That's always a lot of fun. My latest manifestation of stress...vampire pimples. On my chin, my 57 year old chin so this should not be happening, I have too big ol' zits perfectly spaced and resemble the bite mark of a vampire... Now on Halloween night handing out candy to the little children, the look came in handy. Now that I am back to ordinary life, the vampire zits are annoying and they are annoying on so many levels.
I love all the thankful blog posts and the FB status'. I am thankful for many things, but today with the lingering vampire zits and as "twilight" hastens, I am thankful for Perricone MD tonic that dries up zits. It has taken a while, but the stuff is finally beginning to work.
I'm just hoping that any new stress related symptoms don't result in connect the dot zits or a big ol' Bozo the clown zit resting at the end of my nose.
I love all the thankful blog posts and the FB status'. I am thankful for many things, but today with the lingering vampire zits and as "twilight" hastens, I am thankful for Perricone MD tonic that dries up zits. It has taken a while, but the stuff is finally beginning to work.
I'm just hoping that any new stress related symptoms don't result in connect the dot zits or a big ol' Bozo the clown zit resting at the end of my nose.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Almost Missed It and Living Life Like a Tree
Wow, I almost totally missed the Half Yearly Sale at Nordstrom. Not that I went there today, but saw it on Facebook. This is an event that normally makes it onto my calendar. Guess I have been distracted. I did get online once I got home today and got several sweet deals.
I believe in 5000 mile check ups with my therapist. It has been just over a year since I had my last one and with everything we're facing on the horizon, it seemed to be a good time to check in with Cheryl. So, I had an appointment this morning and as always, life saving and life guiding thoughts were generously poured out. She has saved my life in so many ways. I felt so encouraged when I left her office. It is said that timing is everything and the timing of my visit coincides with some drama that has reared its head today. Nothing new, no surprises, at least the drama is consistent and no curve balls are thrown in.
My mom is holding her own. She was heavily sedated last night, so this morning she wasn't able to participate in physical therapy. She needs to get up and walk. Now, I don't know if she'll be taking up her mat and walking like the guy in John 5, but she needs to get up and walk. She is still able to swallow, so that is very good news.
I wasn't too sure if I would be able to host the Phase 10 group which is formally known as the Bunco group on Monday night. I have decided to follow Jesus yes, and I have decided that I can have everyone over for dinner. It is not going to be a cool night but we can still drink hot chocky or Diet Cokes by the outdoor fireplace. I ordered the chicken pot pie today and plan to mix up a little dough in the bread maker. I am so happy to have these friends over for my first official social event.
Last week I was reading about the verse that says, the heart is deceitful above all else. Who can understand it? The commentary in my study Bible said that mind would be the better word instead of heart. Yes, that makes much more sense. The mind is so deceitful. No wonder Romans 12 tells us to renew our minds. Who can understand the twists and turns of a mind deceived? That's the whole thing about being deceived, the deceived one has no idea that they walk in duplicity.
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
I do not want to live as a stunted shrub in the desert, with no hope for a future. Who would want to live in an uninhabited salty land? A couple of weeks ago I bought a pendant of a large and mighty oak tree. I've been wearing that necklace a lot to remind me that if I put my hope and confidence in the Lord, I will be like a tree, planted by the river and such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit. Goes along with Psalm 92. This is how I desire to live.
On a comical note, I almost became Mrs. Paul Revere today. Somehow I had set the alarm while in the house and when I went to leave all the warnings were going off and counting down till the alarm would sound. Fortunately, I never had to let anyone know one if by land, two if by sea. This was my first alarm near mishap. So glad it didn't develop into anything major.
I believe in 5000 mile check ups with my therapist. It has been just over a year since I had my last one and with everything we're facing on the horizon, it seemed to be a good time to check in with Cheryl. So, I had an appointment this morning and as always, life saving and life guiding thoughts were generously poured out. She has saved my life in so many ways. I felt so encouraged when I left her office. It is said that timing is everything and the timing of my visit coincides with some drama that has reared its head today. Nothing new, no surprises, at least the drama is consistent and no curve balls are thrown in.
My mom is holding her own. She was heavily sedated last night, so this morning she wasn't able to participate in physical therapy. She needs to get up and walk. Now, I don't know if she'll be taking up her mat and walking like the guy in John 5, but she needs to get up and walk. She is still able to swallow, so that is very good news.
I wasn't too sure if I would be able to host the Phase 10 group which is formally known as the Bunco group on Monday night. I have decided to follow Jesus yes, and I have decided that I can have everyone over for dinner. It is not going to be a cool night but we can still drink hot chocky or Diet Cokes by the outdoor fireplace. I ordered the chicken pot pie today and plan to mix up a little dough in the bread maker. I am so happy to have these friends over for my first official social event.
Last week I was reading about the verse that says, the heart is deceitful above all else. Who can understand it? The commentary in my study Bible said that mind would be the better word instead of heart. Yes, that makes much more sense. The mind is so deceitful. No wonder Romans 12 tells us to renew our minds. Who can understand the twists and turns of a mind deceived? That's the whole thing about being deceived, the deceived one has no idea that they walk in duplicity.
Wisdom from the Lord
5 This is what the Lord says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
I do not want to live as a stunted shrub in the desert, with no hope for a future. Who would want to live in an uninhabited salty land? A couple of weeks ago I bought a pendant of a large and mighty oak tree. I've been wearing that necklace a lot to remind me that if I put my hope and confidence in the Lord, I will be like a tree, planted by the river and such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit. Goes along with Psalm 92. This is how I desire to live.
On a comical note, I almost became Mrs. Paul Revere today. Somehow I had set the alarm while in the house and when I went to leave all the warnings were going off and counting down till the alarm would sound. Fortunately, I never had to let anyone know one if by land, two if by sea. This was my first alarm near mishap. So glad it didn't develop into anything major.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
My First, My Last, My Everything
It has been a long time but we experienced our first trick or treaters last night. All the kids were so cute in their costumes. Most of the kids were 5 and under, but there were a few older ones mixed in. We opened our gate, turned on the fireplace and sat outside waiting for the kiddos to come. At first we thought no one would come down our block because we are on a cul de sac and away from the main hub of the neighborhood. It took a while but finally the trick or treaters arrived.
Sunday afternoon we had our last snow cone of the season. Bahama Mama closed on October 31 and we will have to wait until April to have our next delicious treat.
As many of you know my mom has Alzheimer's. I HATE that disease. All diseases are cruel, painful and steal, but Alzheimer's steals the heart and personality and leaves the person a shell of their former selves. Mom has been in the hospital because she no longer remembers how to swallow. As we spent time with her over the weekend, she was anitmated, a little more lively and talkative. Granted, we don't understand a lot of what she says but here and there you can actually hear words. She even played a game of pulling her blankets up so that her toes were exposed. She would laugh when we covered them and waited a bit before she pulled her blankets up off her toes once again. Sunday evening she was evaluated by a hospice nurse. Monday, we had an appointment with the people from Memorial Herman Hospice. When Roy and I arrived my dad had a happiness about him, my mom could once again swallow. She passed the speech pathologists tests and had eaten quite a bit of her lunch. Of course we were so excited to learn of this news, yet we are some what apprehensive because the Alzheimer's journey is full of twists and turns, forward moving and back stepping. The Dr seemed quite satisfied that she could go to skilled nursing and so last night around 5:00, she was transferred to the place my dad has picked out. We are hopeful and we trust God. Even though I slept in today, those new mercies were there waiting and God's new mercies were waiting for my mom when she woke up. You know I have written this before, but when we sing the Doxology at church, I have to change the words from "early in the morning" to "early mid morning my song shall rise to Thee."
It is difficult seeing my full of life mother like this, but in all of this, she still has a sense of humor. I was singing a hymn to her on Saturday and she looked at me and began her way of singing, I hope. It just happened to sound like a dog howling when something hurts their ears. Hopefully, that wasn't commentary on my singing. She still knows how to give kisses.
Saturday evening I realized I had never seen my mom's hands. She kept them under the covers. My mom has always had the most beautiful hands. Always soft to the touch. Starting as a child she had me using hand lotion after every time my hands had touched water. Saturday as I was praying for my mom and dad, I asked the Lord to see my mom's hands once again. God gave me such a gift! On Sunday, we couldn't keep her hands under the covers. She held my hand and even did that little swingy thing you do when you hold hands with the ones you love. There they were those beautiful hands, with a few more age spots, but those age spots only enhanced their beauty. I always look at people's hands even though they say that the eyes are the window to the soul, I think hands tell the story of a persons kindness and gentleness.
Late Saturday afternoon, Roy and I stopped at Brookwood to buy some plants. We got two rose bushes and some geraniums. My mother has always had such a green thumb and I wanted to honor her by planting the roses in the front flower bed. HOA flower rules be danged! When we mentioned buying and planting plants to her yesterday, she had a moment that seemed to say she knew what we were talking about. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought, oh I need to call Mom and ask her about this plant or that tree.
The roller coaster will continue it's wild ride and we know that God knows every thrill to be experienced and every scary moment that will happen. His grace is sufficient. I have experienced the peace that passes all understanding. I figured since I am wearing this heart monitor for the month that this weekend my readings would be all over the place and that I would have more episodes than usual. I've not experienced one while being with my mom. I am thankful for that.
If you think of us, please continue your prayers for our family.
Sunday afternoon we had our last snow cone of the season. Bahama Mama closed on October 31 and we will have to wait until April to have our next delicious treat.
As many of you know my mom has Alzheimer's. I HATE that disease. All diseases are cruel, painful and steal, but Alzheimer's steals the heart and personality and leaves the person a shell of their former selves. Mom has been in the hospital because she no longer remembers how to swallow. As we spent time with her over the weekend, she was anitmated, a little more lively and talkative. Granted, we don't understand a lot of what she says but here and there you can actually hear words. She even played a game of pulling her blankets up so that her toes were exposed. She would laugh when we covered them and waited a bit before she pulled her blankets up off her toes once again. Sunday evening she was evaluated by a hospice nurse. Monday, we had an appointment with the people from Memorial Herman Hospice. When Roy and I arrived my dad had a happiness about him, my mom could once again swallow. She passed the speech pathologists tests and had eaten quite a bit of her lunch. Of course we were so excited to learn of this news, yet we are some what apprehensive because the Alzheimer's journey is full of twists and turns, forward moving and back stepping. The Dr seemed quite satisfied that she could go to skilled nursing and so last night around 5:00, she was transferred to the place my dad has picked out. We are hopeful and we trust God. Even though I slept in today, those new mercies were there waiting and God's new mercies were waiting for my mom when she woke up. You know I have written this before, but when we sing the Doxology at church, I have to change the words from "early in the morning" to "early mid morning my song shall rise to Thee."
It is difficult seeing my full of life mother like this, but in all of this, she still has a sense of humor. I was singing a hymn to her on Saturday and she looked at me and began her way of singing, I hope. It just happened to sound like a dog howling when something hurts their ears. Hopefully, that wasn't commentary on my singing. She still knows how to give kisses.
Saturday evening I realized I had never seen my mom's hands. She kept them under the covers. My mom has always had the most beautiful hands. Always soft to the touch. Starting as a child she had me using hand lotion after every time my hands had touched water. Saturday as I was praying for my mom and dad, I asked the Lord to see my mom's hands once again. God gave me such a gift! On Sunday, we couldn't keep her hands under the covers. She held my hand and even did that little swingy thing you do when you hold hands with the ones you love. There they were those beautiful hands, with a few more age spots, but those age spots only enhanced their beauty. I always look at people's hands even though they say that the eyes are the window to the soul, I think hands tell the story of a persons kindness and gentleness.
Late Saturday afternoon, Roy and I stopped at Brookwood to buy some plants. We got two rose bushes and some geraniums. My mother has always had such a green thumb and I wanted to honor her by planting the roses in the front flower bed. HOA flower rules be danged! When we mentioned buying and planting plants to her yesterday, she had a moment that seemed to say she knew what we were talking about. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought, oh I need to call Mom and ask her about this plant or that tree.
The roller coaster will continue it's wild ride and we know that God knows every thrill to be experienced and every scary moment that will happen. His grace is sufficient. I have experienced the peace that passes all understanding. I figured since I am wearing this heart monitor for the month that this weekend my readings would be all over the place and that I would have more episodes than usual. I've not experienced one while being with my mom. I am thankful for that.
If you think of us, please continue your prayers for our family.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Cool and Monitored Days
It is a beautiful morning here on the prairie. The wind is blowing from the north, it is overcast and the temps are hovering in the 50's. I'm waiting for a furniture delivery and for a grill to be delivered later on in the afternoon. I think we are at a stopping point on furnishing and little extras. We need to take a rest, save some more dollars and then start again. I'm still looking for a cabinet or some other piece of furniture to use as nightstands. I've seen a few things online, but wasn't too sure of the color or we felt it was just a little too pricey. We still need a trundle mattress and a few other comforts of home for the casita bedroom. On Thursday the two bookcases we ordered for Roy's office were delivered. They are beautiful and the fragrance of Amish wood fills the room. Last night Roy moved a few things around in his study and he unloaded the last of the boxes because the books now had someplace to go. Things are shaping up nicely.
We flipped between the World Series and the U of H/Rice game on TV last night. What an exciting baseball game. We turned it off tied in the 9th and went to sleep but when I woke up in the night I got on FB to see who had won. I like both teams but think the sway of loyalty leans towards the Cardinals. My grandfather loved the Cardinals and I spent many a Saturday rooting them on to victory with him. They were my first love in baseball.
I'm wearing a wire, so don't say anything around me that you don't want recorded. OK, it isn't that kind of deal, but I am wearing a heart monitor for the next month. My appointment with the cardiologist was extensive and time intensive. I was poked and prodded by several doctors and my heart was listened to and analyzed. Had an echo cardiogram and this one was different because not only did they do the heart thing, but also the top of my stomach. Never had that done before. So this heart monitor thing...seems like it could be a lot more advanced. I'm hooked up and when I have a heart episode, I push the record button. Then at some point I call in and by using a phone, they get the reading. Yesterday I kind of had button record fright. The one time I had a really lightheaded moment I couldn't get to the recorder in time because I was driving and I pushed the send button instead of record. I thought for sure with the ups and downs of the game last night, surely I would have something to send. This morning I had an episode, got to the button and was able to record it. So, now I just need to call it in. I didn't get as good of report as I would have liked and everything indicated that I have a few more issues than at my last check up. The Dr has a plan but I know God knows the plans for my life. I put my hope and my trust in Him.
Blood work was in order on Wednesday afternoon and I found the Lab Corp on Grand Parkway.
Easy to get to and a really nice medical building. The parking lot was jammed packed. Me thinks that medical buildings are like restaurants in Katy, not enough for the growing population.
I had to leave Bible study early yesterday because Scott and his assistant were close by in the area to deliver the bookcases. It is probably good I left early because I was extremely exhausted and fatigued. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my feet elevated. Got in a lot of reading and some Buddy in my lap time. Buddy is getting quite adventuresome with interest in the garage. She actually got into the garage yesterday and thankfully the garage door was closed. With the house door slamming behind her, she got a little skittish and wanted back into the house right away. She's also showing more interest in the front door and what lies beyond. Oh goody, she said sarcastically.
Sadly, there are some other things happening in life that I don't feel should be shared to all the world. But if you think of my mom while you are praying, you would not waste a prayer on her.
We flipped between the World Series and the U of H/Rice game on TV last night. What an exciting baseball game. We turned it off tied in the 9th and went to sleep but when I woke up in the night I got on FB to see who had won. I like both teams but think the sway of loyalty leans towards the Cardinals. My grandfather loved the Cardinals and I spent many a Saturday rooting them on to victory with him. They were my first love in baseball.
I'm wearing a wire, so don't say anything around me that you don't want recorded. OK, it isn't that kind of deal, but I am wearing a heart monitor for the next month. My appointment with the cardiologist was extensive and time intensive. I was poked and prodded by several doctors and my heart was listened to and analyzed. Had an echo cardiogram and this one was different because not only did they do the heart thing, but also the top of my stomach. Never had that done before. So this heart monitor thing...seems like it could be a lot more advanced. I'm hooked up and when I have a heart episode, I push the record button. Then at some point I call in and by using a phone, they get the reading. Yesterday I kind of had button record fright. The one time I had a really lightheaded moment I couldn't get to the recorder in time because I was driving and I pushed the send button instead of record. I thought for sure with the ups and downs of the game last night, surely I would have something to send. This morning I had an episode, got to the button and was able to record it. So, now I just need to call it in. I didn't get as good of report as I would have liked and everything indicated that I have a few more issues than at my last check up. The Dr has a plan but I know God knows the plans for my life. I put my hope and my trust in Him.
Blood work was in order on Wednesday afternoon and I found the Lab Corp on Grand Parkway.
Easy to get to and a really nice medical building. The parking lot was jammed packed. Me thinks that medical buildings are like restaurants in Katy, not enough for the growing population.
I had to leave Bible study early yesterday because Scott and his assistant were close by in the area to deliver the bookcases. It is probably good I left early because I was extremely exhausted and fatigued. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my feet elevated. Got in a lot of reading and some Buddy in my lap time. Buddy is getting quite adventuresome with interest in the garage. She actually got into the garage yesterday and thankfully the garage door was closed. With the house door slamming behind her, she got a little skittish and wanted back into the house right away. She's also showing more interest in the front door and what lies beyond. Oh goody, she said sarcastically.
Sadly, there are some other things happening in life that I don't feel should be shared to all the world. But if you think of my mom while you are praying, you would not waste a prayer on her.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Random Thoughts, Volume 14
Autumn is my very favorite time of year and living where there isn't much fall doesn't diminish my fallish feelings. One just needs to get creative in creating a short if almost nonexistent season around here. Not being the type that goes overboard on decorating for the seasons, I do have a couple of mums, gourds, and fake fall foliage in and around the house.
Last week we did experience the miracle of cooler temps. In fact we sat around the outdoor fireplace a couple of times. Friday, Dena came out in the afternoon. We had lunch and then hit a couple of the cute little shops around here. Since she hadn't seen Brookwood in a while, we made a stop out there. Came back home for a bit and Roy suggested we try Dekker's Grill in Fulshear. We got there a little before 6 and the wait was 35 minutes. It was worth the wait and honestly the weight (gain) since the menu is a cornucopia of comfort food. I know Roy would love a return trip and we'll have to go all senior citizen and go around 5:00. We're hungry but not proud people. Before going to Dekker's, we called Peggy to see if they would like to meet us there. Wasn't going to work out but we'd check in later. Peggy came over later, then Bill and his antiquing buddy. Bill offered to give us a late night shopping experience at K T Antiques. What a great time we had, well except for Peggy jamming her middle finger on the door. Bill is such a fount of knowledge when it comes to antiques. He pointed out various items and talked about the history of each one. Roy opted out of the shopping experience. Dena and I got home around 10:30. We had such a fun day.
I was worn out and on Saturday morning, I opted out of the going out to breakfast experience. Roy decided he would go to this place in old Katy and check out their breakfast. I was happy for him to do that since I imagined this place to be full of stale ciggie smoke and he mentions every time we pass the place he would like to try it. Roy said breakfast was really good, especially the grits. That man knows the way to my breakfast heart, grits. I asked if they were as good as Biltmore grits...his reply, no one does grits like the Biltmore. Selah...and amen!
Peggy and I did toesdays that afternoon. I didn't really keep up with caring for my feet like I usually do. So the pedi girl had a whole lot of extra work to do. I will do better because I don't want to be banned from the nail salon.
Sunday morning on our drive going to church, Roy and I had an interesting discussion. Actually it wasn't a discussion, it was more like Roy expressing some very relevant and deeply insightful thoughts. I mentioned an article I had read about women's ministry. The woman writing it was asking for less cupcake decorating seminars and the like. She wanted more in depth conversations about scripture. She mentioned in the article that sometimes women's ministry forgets that there is more to ministry than just to marrieds and mothers. There are others to consider, single, single mothers, women who want children but can't have them, women in the workplace etc... The author though most ministry went to the married and moms. I mentioned to Roy that when Peggy and I have done our Spring Thing, Salad Fling as Mildred and Gertrude, we get the most feedback. So many women come up to us afterwards to tell us that they have never felt like they fit into women's ministry. Back in the day, it was pretty exclusive...women's ministry. Seemed like you had to have a look, a vocabulary and come across as "having it all together." Thank goodness we have come a long way from that. Roy then said something very profound. He talked about women in the work place and that more women are executives or are major players in company decisions. He said women are more than admins and somehow the church hasn't caught up with that. He added, it was more the men in charge at churches that didn't seem to realize how many women run the show in their areas of expertise. Roy said, I feel for these women who are in high positions, there isn't any women's ministry for them. He gave an example of a woman who was the CFO of a company and she was pressured to cook the books by the CEO. She felt pressure from all sides, job and she was the bread winner for the family because her husband was unemployed. That woman is now in prison. He said that woman could have used something more than cooking or crafting or hearing from a speaker how to keep her husband happy. There isn't enough space or time to tell y'all his thoughts and concerns. I will tell you this, I have never been prouder of Roy than I was Sunday morning in the car. He expressed an insight and forward motion that many in church work don't even have vision for the difficult road ahead for women who are in positions of influence in business. Also, by writing this I am in no way saying the women's ministry at our church is not good, it is. Roy is in a unique place to see a void for an increasing and growing segment of women. He is also married to a woman who really has no interest in learning to craft or cook. If I happen to go to an event that involves these things or table decorating, it is only to see and have fun with friends. I will mention I did cook dinner last night. The move out here to the prairie has increased the frequency of meal preparation.
Sunday at church was eventful. A fire alarm went off and we all experienced a dismissal to lives of service, early. It sounds like the whole fire drill preparation in the building went smoothly. Uh, the parking lot was a whole other story. We all seem to lose some of that holiness once our feet hit the pavement of the parking lot. It was a stand still free for all. Hopefully the powers that be will extend the preparation out to the parking lots for a more efficient and better exit plan.
Tomorrow morning, I have to leave early for my appointment with the cardiologist. I'm looking forward to getting some answers and a plan for further heart improvement. They have been changing my meds and this last combination seems to have brought some relief from the extreme fatigue and low blood pressure I had been experiencing. Like the Dr said, I'm facing an ever changing new kind of normal everyday.
The rest of my Revelation homework is calling. I also hear the faint call of laundry....we'll have to see about that.
Last week we did experience the miracle of cooler temps. In fact we sat around the outdoor fireplace a couple of times. Friday, Dena came out in the afternoon. We had lunch and then hit a couple of the cute little shops around here. Since she hadn't seen Brookwood in a while, we made a stop out there. Came back home for a bit and Roy suggested we try Dekker's Grill in Fulshear. We got there a little before 6 and the wait was 35 minutes. It was worth the wait and honestly the weight (gain) since the menu is a cornucopia of comfort food. I know Roy would love a return trip and we'll have to go all senior citizen and go around 5:00. We're hungry but not proud people. Before going to Dekker's, we called Peggy to see if they would like to meet us there. Wasn't going to work out but we'd check in later. Peggy came over later, then Bill and his antiquing buddy. Bill offered to give us a late night shopping experience at K T Antiques. What a great time we had, well except for Peggy jamming her middle finger on the door. Bill is such a fount of knowledge when it comes to antiques. He pointed out various items and talked about the history of each one. Roy opted out of the shopping experience. Dena and I got home around 10:30. We had such a fun day.
I was worn out and on Saturday morning, I opted out of the going out to breakfast experience. Roy decided he would go to this place in old Katy and check out their breakfast. I was happy for him to do that since I imagined this place to be full of stale ciggie smoke and he mentions every time we pass the place he would like to try it. Roy said breakfast was really good, especially the grits. That man knows the way to my breakfast heart, grits. I asked if they were as good as Biltmore grits...his reply, no one does grits like the Biltmore. Selah...and amen!
Peggy and I did toesdays that afternoon. I didn't really keep up with caring for my feet like I usually do. So the pedi girl had a whole lot of extra work to do. I will do better because I don't want to be banned from the nail salon.
Sunday morning on our drive going to church, Roy and I had an interesting discussion. Actually it wasn't a discussion, it was more like Roy expressing some very relevant and deeply insightful thoughts. I mentioned an article I had read about women's ministry. The woman writing it was asking for less cupcake decorating seminars and the like. She wanted more in depth conversations about scripture. She mentioned in the article that sometimes women's ministry forgets that there is more to ministry than just to marrieds and mothers. There are others to consider, single, single mothers, women who want children but can't have them, women in the workplace etc... The author though most ministry went to the married and moms. I mentioned to Roy that when Peggy and I have done our Spring Thing, Salad Fling as Mildred and Gertrude, we get the most feedback. So many women come up to us afterwards to tell us that they have never felt like they fit into women's ministry. Back in the day, it was pretty exclusive...women's ministry. Seemed like you had to have a look, a vocabulary and come across as "having it all together." Thank goodness we have come a long way from that. Roy then said something very profound. He talked about women in the work place and that more women are executives or are major players in company decisions. He said women are more than admins and somehow the church hasn't caught up with that. He added, it was more the men in charge at churches that didn't seem to realize how many women run the show in their areas of expertise. Roy said, I feel for these women who are in high positions, there isn't any women's ministry for them. He gave an example of a woman who was the CFO of a company and she was pressured to cook the books by the CEO. She felt pressure from all sides, job and she was the bread winner for the family because her husband was unemployed. That woman is now in prison. He said that woman could have used something more than cooking or crafting or hearing from a speaker how to keep her husband happy. There isn't enough space or time to tell y'all his thoughts and concerns. I will tell you this, I have never been prouder of Roy than I was Sunday morning in the car. He expressed an insight and forward motion that many in church work don't even have vision for the difficult road ahead for women who are in positions of influence in business. Also, by writing this I am in no way saying the women's ministry at our church is not good, it is. Roy is in a unique place to see a void for an increasing and growing segment of women. He is also married to a woman who really has no interest in learning to craft or cook. If I happen to go to an event that involves these things or table decorating, it is only to see and have fun with friends. I will mention I did cook dinner last night. The move out here to the prairie has increased the frequency of meal preparation.
Sunday at church was eventful. A fire alarm went off and we all experienced a dismissal to lives of service, early. It sounds like the whole fire drill preparation in the building went smoothly. Uh, the parking lot was a whole other story. We all seem to lose some of that holiness once our feet hit the pavement of the parking lot. It was a stand still free for all. Hopefully the powers that be will extend the preparation out to the parking lots for a more efficient and better exit plan.
Tomorrow morning, I have to leave early for my appointment with the cardiologist. I'm looking forward to getting some answers and a plan for further heart improvement. They have been changing my meds and this last combination seems to have brought some relief from the extreme fatigue and low blood pressure I had been experiencing. Like the Dr said, I'm facing an ever changing new kind of normal everyday.
The rest of my Revelation homework is calling. I also hear the faint call of laundry....we'll have to see about that.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday Catch Up
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Construction on the house next door is finished and the young couple purchasing that house closes on it today. No longer will our cul de sac be filled with various sizes of construction trucks. The new adventure of having construction in our backyard began in earnest this week. Almost every morning we are awakened by trucks making deliveries and at the dawn of first light, the hammering and sawing begin. It might be awhile before sleeping in late with quiet will be an option. I'm not complaining at all, it is just the noise of the season we find ourselves in. Once the two story home that is being built behind us has sturdy enough stairs, we're going to go in it and inspect to see how much one can see into our living room. We may have to adjust the roman shades a little.
Yesterday the maid came. She called me later in the afternoon and told me never, ever to open the windows again while there is so much dust and construction in the air. I told her I had cleaned up quite a bit of the dust and dirt that had blown in, but somehow I don't think she believed me. It was so nice to come home to a clean house yesterday afternoon. Last week Abel and the lawn guys didn't show up to cut the grass. So, we didn't know if they would show up this week. Ah, it was music to my ears to hear the sound of lawnmowers, weed eaters and leaf blowers filling the air yesterday afternoon.
I am blown away by the study of Revelation in CBS. The questions have been thought provoking and we have such a good core group, that discussion is lively, animated and dare I say it, deep. Even our bunny trails were on subject and mattered. We studied Revelation 7 this past week, the pause between the opening of the 6th and 7th seal. There is so much we don't understand, but those things that we kind of grasp are amazing and awesome. The fact that God has so much going on in the throne room, yet He personally wipes the tears from the eyes of the martyred ones. I hope my ADD doesn't make it with me in my glorified body in heaven. My goodness, there will be so much to experience and take in. The lesson was also empathic in letting us know we will all have jobs and work to do. After Bible study Peggy, Kathleen and I went to lunch at Panera Bread. That is a happening place. I don't think I have ever been there when business was at a lull.
Last night Roy and I had dinner at T Jin's. It is located next to the HEB and a grocery run was in the plans for the evening. I can't believe that I am going to say this, but their orange chicken is better than at Fu's Garden. We picked up a couple of to go menus on our way out, one for home and one for Roy's car. He passes by this place on his way home from work and can make the stop to pick up dinner. I have actually fixed dinner most nights this week. I've not branched out too much from basic stuff, but like Roy said last night, you don't hear him complaining.
Yesterday the maid came. She called me later in the afternoon and told me never, ever to open the windows again while there is so much dust and construction in the air. I told her I had cleaned up quite a bit of the dust and dirt that had blown in, but somehow I don't think she believed me. It was so nice to come home to a clean house yesterday afternoon. Last week Abel and the lawn guys didn't show up to cut the grass. So, we didn't know if they would show up this week. Ah, it was music to my ears to hear the sound of lawnmowers, weed eaters and leaf blowers filling the air yesterday afternoon.
I am blown away by the study of Revelation in CBS. The questions have been thought provoking and we have such a good core group, that discussion is lively, animated and dare I say it, deep. Even our bunny trails were on subject and mattered. We studied Revelation 7 this past week, the pause between the opening of the 6th and 7th seal. There is so much we don't understand, but those things that we kind of grasp are amazing and awesome. The fact that God has so much going on in the throne room, yet He personally wipes the tears from the eyes of the martyred ones. I hope my ADD doesn't make it with me in my glorified body in heaven. My goodness, there will be so much to experience and take in. The lesson was also empathic in letting us know we will all have jobs and work to do. After Bible study Peggy, Kathleen and I went to lunch at Panera Bread. That is a happening place. I don't think I have ever been there when business was at a lull.
Last night Roy and I had dinner at T Jin's. It is located next to the HEB and a grocery run was in the plans for the evening. I can't believe that I am going to say this, but their orange chicken is better than at Fu's Garden. We picked up a couple of to go menus on our way out, one for home and one for Roy's car. He passes by this place on his way home from work and can make the stop to pick up dinner. I have actually fixed dinner most nights this week. I've not branched out too much from basic stuff, but like Roy said last night, you don't hear him complaining.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Fall Has Arrived!
Fall is blowing in and in a big way this morning. The wind is gusting from the North. I have gone out a couple of times to pick up trash that has blown about from our tumped over containers. The trash service just came by and picked up the recycle bin stuff. That will help.
Yesterday I went to the land of sugar to meet Lisa P for lunch. Before meeting her I stopped at the bike shop that I had visited and went all old lady in last week. I was very thankful that I felt much better yesterday than I did last Monday and because of that was able to stay on task and not drift in and out of senior adulthood. I decided on the purple bike and had them add a couple of extras. While they were doing that, I met Lisa at Post Oak Grill. We sat outside and had water side seats. Lovely. We got caught up on everything that is going on in our lives especially hers, with so many big changes. I returned to the bike shop after lunch and everything was installed and the bike was good to go.
Last night Roy and I took a ride around the neighborhood and on some of the trails to test it out. I have not ridden a girl bike in a long time and it took some getting used to. But, I feel like I do much better on this bike. Love sitting upright and the handlebars and seat have shock absorbers built in. All I need is some spiffy little bike bell or horn. I did have a small bag put on the back of the seat to hold keys and the like. Since the bike is purple and we seem to be all things LSU these days, think I will name the bike Tiger.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday Recap on Saturday Afternoon
We are experiencing a wonderfully, cool morning out here on the prarirre. The timing couln't be better for our little street because every house on our block is either occupied, finished or only has inside work to be done. Now moved to another block, another street, another home; concrete trucks, brickers, landscapers, and the like. Last night when we pulled onto our street it had a very different feel to it. Ah, home.
I ain't gonna lie but these past two weeks have been some of the most difficult ones in recent days. It seemed my health took a nose dive in so many ways. I have been fighting off different infections and my immune system is weakened. Low blood pressure and a heart wanting to pump to the beat of a different drummer has left me quite exhausted. No stamina, low strength and no appetite. Now that is kind of a blessing in disguise, the no appetite thing but it plays into the no stamina. To be honest, there is a situation lurking in the shadows that brings a whole lot of stress. We don't have to deal with it daily but we never know when the phone call comes if it sets off a downward spiral of circumstances. It takes so much energy to deal with this person. Not only energy and patience, but they will bring up a long ago,a perceived slight or hurt that one hasn't thought about since they were 6. Well no one except maybe the stressor. The past couple of days I have begun to feel better and that is a welcomed return. Of course that happens when one has a few tests run on them and a DR appointment that will go through some options available. More importantly it is asking the Great Physician to step in and take control.
Only have one more delivery of furniture and I think we are about done for a while. This week Crate and Barrel delivered the Bedford chest and today the last shade was hung in the living room. Next week Pottery Barn will deliver the small couch for our bedroom. Of course I am keeping my eyes open for a splash of red for the living room. I may have found what I am looking for but will keep my options open.
We founds some vintage/retro amber glass lamps for the living room. They look great and they are lamps I normally wouldn't look at twice but I'm asking for eyes and spirit to see things a new. We assembled them and pronounced them good looking in the living room.
The above was Friday and now it is Saturday afternoon. What a beautiful day! Roy and I went out to breakfast and then he went into Houston for a costume fitting, a haircut and a Costco run. I came home and looked up the directions to take the back way to Brookwood. What a beautiful and relaxing drive. I only went to Brookwood for a couple of plants and I came home with so much more. How does that happen? I can't believe how much the store has expanded and all the wonderful treasures they have.
On the way home I was listening to Sirius XM radio, Enlighten. Heard a moving story about hope and experiencing God in the tough times. It was very encouraging. There is no rhyme nor reason for the cyclical aspect of the ups and downs of my strength strangling days. It can be so frustrating at times. Two weeks of absolute pain and weakness and now into day 2 of actually feeling good. Don't know but I have determined on the days I feel good, I am going to go and enjoy life and not try to save up lots and lots of energy for the really difficult times. A little manna gone bad, ey Nancy?
We are so hoping that tonight it cools off enough to sit around the fireplace outdoors.
I ain't gonna lie but these past two weeks have been some of the most difficult ones in recent days. It seemed my health took a nose dive in so many ways. I have been fighting off different infections and my immune system is weakened. Low blood pressure and a heart wanting to pump to the beat of a different drummer has left me quite exhausted. No stamina, low strength and no appetite. Now that is kind of a blessing in disguise, the no appetite thing but it plays into the no stamina. To be honest, there is a situation lurking in the shadows that brings a whole lot of stress. We don't have to deal with it daily but we never know when the phone call comes if it sets off a downward spiral of circumstances. It takes so much energy to deal with this person. Not only energy and patience, but they will bring up a long ago,a perceived slight or hurt that one hasn't thought about since they were 6. Well no one except maybe the stressor. The past couple of days I have begun to feel better and that is a welcomed return. Of course that happens when one has a few tests run on them and a DR appointment that will go through some options available. More importantly it is asking the Great Physician to step in and take control.
Only have one more delivery of furniture and I think we are about done for a while. This week Crate and Barrel delivered the Bedford chest and today the last shade was hung in the living room. Next week Pottery Barn will deliver the small couch for our bedroom. Of course I am keeping my eyes open for a splash of red for the living room. I may have found what I am looking for but will keep my options open.
We founds some vintage/retro amber glass lamps for the living room. They look great and they are lamps I normally wouldn't look at twice but I'm asking for eyes and spirit to see things a new. We assembled them and pronounced them good looking in the living room.
The above was Friday and now it is Saturday afternoon. What a beautiful day! Roy and I went out to breakfast and then he went into Houston for a costume fitting, a haircut and a Costco run. I came home and looked up the directions to take the back way to Brookwood. What a beautiful and relaxing drive. I only went to Brookwood for a couple of plants and I came home with so much more. How does that happen? I can't believe how much the store has expanded and all the wonderful treasures they have.
On the way home I was listening to Sirius XM radio, Enlighten. Heard a moving story about hope and experiencing God in the tough times. It was very encouraging. There is no rhyme nor reason for the cyclical aspect of the ups and downs of my strength strangling days. It can be so frustrating at times. Two weeks of absolute pain and weakness and now into day 2 of actually feeling good. Don't know but I have determined on the days I feel good, I am going to go and enjoy life and not try to save up lots and lots of energy for the really difficult times. A little manna gone bad, ey Nancy?
We are so hoping that tonight it cools off enough to sit around the fireplace outdoors.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I'm Ready for My SAS Shoes Mr. DeMille
It happened yesterday, it took over like a plague, I knew what I was doing...yet I just couldn't stop. I remember my grandmother doing the same thing at the grocery store. She'd be having a perfectly normal conversation with a store clerk and before you could diagram it in a sentence, she'd go off subject and begin giving details that didn't interest anyone. No One! She had to see those faces turning indifferent. The glazed look overcoming everyone's face. Probably the look you have on your face right now because I haven't moved on with the subject matter. After my own personal incident I should have Googled SAS shoes and then Google comfort clothing. No, Googling would be way too cool, I should have asked that nice tattooed man in the bike shop for directions to such places in the land of sugar. That would have been completion.
My hair appointment needed to be rescheduled so I was in the land of sugar early yesterday. How ironic that I have my old lady incident right after being in one of the coolest salons ever. In fact, they were holding a training class with their staff and the coolness factor had gone to the tenth power because of the instructors from other salons leading them in the latest techniques in color. So you know the vibe was on. After my haircut, I went to the new Nord Rack that just opened and as I was leaving the Rack, I saw the bike shop my friend Kathleen had told me about. So, I stopped. The "young man" who assisted me was pleasant, but he didn't have need of any conversation, other than relating to the particular bike we were looking at. Sitting upon that bike, in that shop, making everyone nervous due to the lack of balance on my part, childhood memories rushed in and instead of keeping them to myself, I did it...I began telling them. Truthfully, I must tell you that I don't have very many good childhood memories and when a good memory happens, it surprises me. You see, I began telling this backward cap wearing, tats up the arms showing, long haired nice looking rugged outdoorsman about my first bike. My first bike was a three speed bike, but back then they were called English racers. I was in kindergarten when I was given this black, prim, proper and way too big of bike. So as I learned to ride a bike and did so on an adult sized bike. There are so many metaphors of life in that last sentence for me. So when I rode my bike I could either stand up and pedal or sit on the seat and coast. The bike in the shop was a Raleigh; my first bike was a Raleigh. No one cares....they just want to sell me a new bike without a lot of storytelling...yet I continued on telling the young man more details about that first bike. Thankfully I stopped before going on into the wooden blocks on the pedals story. I am blaming me being a chatter box old person yesterday because my body was behaving like an old person. I was racing on borrowed time and knew getting home quickly to rest was really the priority. The assurance that I was coming back with my husband to look at the bike assuaged all his fears of being trapped with an old person again...
I got to practice stealth reconnaissance this morning. Sitting here in the office working on this post and I see a parade of workmen with wheel barrels and shovels marching through our back yard. My mission, should I decided to accept it was to get back to our bedroom without being seen. Good thing I had on my stealth jammies.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Youse Get to Behooving
Patty and I have had interesting conversations throughout the years we have known one another. One conversation in particular had to do with her choice of college. She told me she hadn't planned on attending where she went and I asked her, so what made you change your mind. She said my uncle came to me one day, took me on a walk and told me it would behoove me to attended the family's beloved Alma mater. I must have had a strange expression on my face because she added, when an Italian man expresses, it would behoove you...you get to behooving. That was my friend Patty. We played some pretty tough tennis together but we always had the most laughs along the way. Roy and I loved it when we were invited over to her home for homemade Italian dinners and her parties were legendary. There are so many times of conversation that would be stopped with the serious warning, so serious, she would be pointing her finger at me and say, what I'm about to tell you, you take it to your grave. I'd protest, I didn't want to know anything or have knowledge of anything that I might need to take to my grave. One time she invited me to this fancy schmancy fund raising gala. She picked me up in her silver drop top Mercedes. She handed me some sunglasses that looked like they might have been owned by Jackie O and a long black thin see through scarf. She told me to put on the sunglasses, even though it was night, and wrap the scarf about my head and have it drape off my shoulder. She told me with those two items, I would fit in much better in the gala than without them. She was right.
My friend Patty died Saturday after battling mesothelioma cancer for several years. At one point we all thought she had it beat, but it came back with a vengeance. She began looking to get into experimental studies and never gave up hope.
Patricia Elaine Calamari
Although we only ran into each other at the Play Grocery store from time to time since I quit playing tennis, I thought and prayed for her often, I will miss her.
My friend Patty died Saturday after battling mesothelioma cancer for several years. At one point we all thought she had it beat, but it came back with a vengeance. She began looking to get into experimental studies and never gave up hope.
Patricia Elaine Calamari
Date of Birth:
Monday, February 13th, 1961
Date of Death:
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
Obituary:
Calamari, Patricia Elaine of Houston, TX formerly of Glen Head, NY on October 8, 2011. Loving mother of Ross and Patrick McLauchlan. Beloved daughter of Leonora and the late Raymond Calamari Sr. Dear sister of Kathleen Daly, Barbara Calamari, and Raymond Calamari. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Visiting Wednesday 1 – 5 and 7 – 9 pm, Whitting Funeral Home 300 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head, NY 11545. Funeral Mass Thursday 10:00 am, St. Mary’s R. C. Church, Roslyn, NY. Interment Locust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, NY.Although we only ran into each other at the Play Grocery store from time to time since I quit playing tennis, I thought and prayed for her often, I will miss her.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Wanderings and Thoughts
This could be a good or bad thing, but Roy just left with a list and he's on his way to HEB via the cleaners and Lowe's. He does great with a list but he loves to free lance and he brings home all kinds of surprises. Unloading sacks today will prove quite interesting, Roy has gone to the store because physically I am having a really bad week. It has been a while since I have felt this bad. My heart keeps going out of rhythm and when that happens my energy is totally zapped. It hit me hard on Wednesday and today is the first day I've have felt like doing anything. Only because the maid came on Thursday did I go to Bible study. They gave the treasurer's report at the beginning of the lecture time. I was asking God why did He hate me? It was tough to endure that. I was going to go straight home afterwards but Peggy and Kathleen persuaded me to go with them to Lupe's. I only drank ice tea. Didn't even eat a chip or salsa. That is a very revealing look into how I am feeling. Never, well hardly ever, pass up some good chips and salsa. I came home and dropped into bed. Friday wasn't much better. That brings us to today. We got up early and went out for breakfast and then picked up a couple of things at Target. Didn't have it in me for the trifectta, HEB. The oxygen levels in my blood are down a little. It has been almost a year since my Chaka Khan procedure and I had forgotten how bad I feel when the ticker is racing and working too hard.
On Thursday night I moved into the guest room to sleep. I was restless and had a fever. I learned a lot about Buddy's nocturnal wanderings. She was all over the washer and dryer. She rested for a bit in the mud room area of the laundry room. I have never once seen her be interested in anything in the laundry room during the day, well other than her litter box. I think she has to touch everything so it becomes hers. She was not one bit happy that I had taken over the bed in the guest room. She has claimed it as her very own. I have to say, that guest room bed is one very comfortable rest.
Since I have been resting and sleeping a lot, I have learned quite a few things from the TV noise in the background. The TV is rarely on during the day when I'm at home. For a bit of time there I became like a loved one who frets over non existent health issues...a lot. They have been in remission for over 10 years from cancer but yet every time they have a hangnail, flu, ear wax...anything on a much smaller scale, they jump to the conclusion, "my cancer's back." Don't get me wrong, we are sympathetic but after several fiascoes, dramatics, and the like, when they announce "my cancer's back," we react pretty have to remain somewhat indifferent cause we used to jump right in to help and soon we found ourselves overwhelmed with unnecessary drama and some senior adult hi-jinks. So all these commercials for treatment centers, medicine and the like are rotated non stop on the commercial circuit. In a span of 48 hours I began to believe, yep, I have lymphoma. No, no make that pancreatic cancer. It could be the heartbreak of phriesis. I need lunestra. I be needing all the medicines they advertise on TV. Finally, common sense got a hold of me, shook some sense back into me and then reminded me...do you know you are sounding like your loved one? That got my attention.
That's it for today. Happy footbal weekend! Rooting for LSU today and the Texans tomorrow.
On Thursday night I moved into the guest room to sleep. I was restless and had a fever. I learned a lot about Buddy's nocturnal wanderings. She was all over the washer and dryer. She rested for a bit in the mud room area of the laundry room. I have never once seen her be interested in anything in the laundry room during the day, well other than her litter box. I think she has to touch everything so it becomes hers. She was not one bit happy that I had taken over the bed in the guest room. She has claimed it as her very own. I have to say, that guest room bed is one very comfortable rest.
Since I have been resting and sleeping a lot, I have learned quite a few things from the TV noise in the background. The TV is rarely on during the day when I'm at home. For a bit of time there I became like a loved one who frets over non existent health issues...a lot. They have been in remission for over 10 years from cancer but yet every time they have a hangnail, flu, ear wax...anything on a much smaller scale, they jump to the conclusion, "my cancer's back." Don't get me wrong, we are sympathetic but after several fiascoes, dramatics, and the like, when they announce "my cancer's back," we react pretty have to remain somewhat indifferent cause we used to jump right in to help and soon we found ourselves overwhelmed with unnecessary drama and some senior adult hi-jinks. So all these commercials for treatment centers, medicine and the like are rotated non stop on the commercial circuit. In a span of 48 hours I began to believe, yep, I have lymphoma. No, no make that pancreatic cancer. It could be the heartbreak of phriesis. I need lunestra. I be needing all the medicines they advertise on TV. Finally, common sense got a hold of me, shook some sense back into me and then reminded me...do you know you are sounding like your loved one? That got my attention.
That's it for today. Happy footbal weekend! Rooting for LSU today and the Texans tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
It's Beginning to Look Quite Autumnal
Last night the temps began cooling down early and I thought what a great time to do a trial run of our outdoor fireplace. So after dinner we went outside, flipped the switch and all we heard was the clicking noise of electric ignition and no fire. We left it on for longer than what you'd think it would take to light. No go, so disappointed. The fireplace people come out on Friday to take a look at it. They called this afternoon asking about our non come on baby light my fireplace experience to better know how to fix the problem.
Half the workmen of the world will be at our house on Friday afternoon. Drainage engineers checking on our side yard, lighting engineer to check into the dinning room light problem, fireplace, a landscaper looking into the dead grass of the side yard and several others of which I can't remember. It is slowly but surely getting done. David Weekley Homes has been wonderful on follow up. Our builder Adam has been....dare I say it when I hardly ever do? Amazing, amazing...that's how good he is at his job. Amazing, amazing is what totally and awesome was to the 80's and 90's. 'Like' remains a constant to all generations as well as 'you know' which is not to be confused with, ya know what I'm saying...
I am getting ready for the maid to come in the morning. Think I have bought all the products on her list. So now, it is just straightening up everything and moving a bag that has set in a chair for a couple of weeks so that she doesn't know it has been sitting there unattended and un-looked after for all this time.
Dinner was delicious last night. Oh my the homemade bread was a huge hit. Now I have dough enough to make 4 more little loafs in the next two weeks. Maybe I will try to go solo tomorrow afternoon after Bible study. No, that's not a good idea, the house will be really clean. Maybe a loaf shall be prepared over the weekend.
I've been reading a book about Gone With the Wind. The book goes into great detail all that it took to be published and how Margaret Mitchell did not deal well with fame nor public speaking. I'm just about a third of being into the book and it has just now at the point where it is being released. No wonder, other than for the obvious reasons, a first edition Gone With the Wind is worth so much. Hardly any editing was done by the publisher on the first edition, trusting the author and her husband, PR guy for a railroad, had done an adequate job since everything in the process has been burdened with delays. Interesting read and as true to form, I cannot remember the title and I don't want to walk across the house to look it up.
Crate and Barrel delivers a chest next week and I called Pottery Barn checking on the couch ordered for our bedroom. Eureka! We can still be mad and one of us doesn't have to go that far to sleep on the couch. Nope, neither one of us could sleep on this small settee. PB had sent an email that they shipped on the 23 yet I haven't heard anything from the delivery company. So I was checking on it, still in process of shipping and should be in our home around Oct 20.
Today I made a stop at KT Antiques because I had seen some dried gourds there and now I have a bowl to arrange them in. The gourds are beautiful. I also picked up two pumpkin decorative pieces. Oh the living room is looking quite autumnal.
Half the workmen of the world will be at our house on Friday afternoon. Drainage engineers checking on our side yard, lighting engineer to check into the dinning room light problem, fireplace, a landscaper looking into the dead grass of the side yard and several others of which I can't remember. It is slowly but surely getting done. David Weekley Homes has been wonderful on follow up. Our builder Adam has been....dare I say it when I hardly ever do? Amazing, amazing...that's how good he is at his job. Amazing, amazing is what totally and awesome was to the 80's and 90's. 'Like' remains a constant to all generations as well as 'you know' which is not to be confused with, ya know what I'm saying...
I am getting ready for the maid to come in the morning. Think I have bought all the products on her list. So now, it is just straightening up everything and moving a bag that has set in a chair for a couple of weeks so that she doesn't know it has been sitting there unattended and un-looked after for all this time.
Dinner was delicious last night. Oh my the homemade bread was a huge hit. Now I have dough enough to make 4 more little loafs in the next two weeks. Maybe I will try to go solo tomorrow afternoon after Bible study. No, that's not a good idea, the house will be really clean. Maybe a loaf shall be prepared over the weekend.
I've been reading a book about Gone With the Wind. The book goes into great detail all that it took to be published and how Margaret Mitchell did not deal well with fame nor public speaking. I'm just about a third of being into the book and it has just now at the point where it is being released. No wonder, other than for the obvious reasons, a first edition Gone With the Wind is worth so much. Hardly any editing was done by the publisher on the first edition, trusting the author and her husband, PR guy for a railroad, had done an adequate job since everything in the process has been burdened with delays. Interesting read and as true to form, I cannot remember the title and I don't want to walk across the house to look it up.
Crate and Barrel delivers a chest next week and I called Pottery Barn checking on the couch ordered for our bedroom. Eureka! We can still be mad and one of us doesn't have to go that far to sleep on the couch. Nope, neither one of us could sleep on this small settee. PB had sent an email that they shipped on the 23 yet I haven't heard anything from the delivery company. So I was checking on it, still in process of shipping and should be in our home around Oct 20.
Today I made a stop at KT Antiques because I had seen some dried gourds there and now I have a bowl to arrange them in. The gourds are beautiful. I also picked up two pumpkin decorative pieces. Oh the living room is looking quite autumnal.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tremendous Tuesday
CourtneyS and Joesph came over this morning. They arrived bearing gifts, house warming gifts. I got a hands on in person cooking lesson from CourtneyS on making artisan bread. A little dyslexic Titus 2 going on. Oh my, the bread we (she) made is delicious! In fact after they left I snuck a little sample. With such delicious bread, supper must be prepared, so even now as I type hamburger is being defrosted for spaghetti.
When our nieces would come and spend a week with us I would have a blast with them but would tell my brother, I don't know how y'all do this day in and day out. He reminded me that Roy and I had been dropped smack dab in the middle of things, he and Nancy had time to acclimate to the attention needed and pace required. I was reminded of this again today. Joesph was so good and he and I had a blast shooting our popper gun but my energy drained quickly. I didn't even have enough to go grab some lunch with them. Buddy is still napping. Think she was undone by the fact there was someone small enough to reach her underneath the bed. What a fun way to spend a morning with friends.
This week's homework in CBS has been especially thought provoking which has morphed into a great thankfulness in the realization of what Christ has done for us. Sometimes we hear the same words and phrases so much we give a deaf spiritual ear to them. This week it is as if I have heard them anew.
Last week when I made my stop in at Pottery Barn, I brought home a beautiful reddish clay vase. In the display there at the store they had an arrangement of fall foliage that looked absolutely stunning. Only thing, I wasn't willing to pay $45.00 a stem to have some fake leaves in a jar. That is where our Saturday morning trip to Micheal's came in and I don't think we did that bad of a job. When we got home Roy just put them in the vase and went about business. They looked beautiful but price tags were still attached. Finally this morning, since CourtneyS was coming over, I decided to trim off sale tags from the vase, the fake fall foliage and some pillows on the pew. Some things just take time around here. Things that should really bother me but don't.
Finally, I found the Bed, Bath and Beyond here in East SanAntonio. It is in Katy Mill's Mall. They had sent us a welcome to the neighborhood coupon which was 20% off everything. Don't you know that I got a supply of Keirug coffee cups in for the winter. Also found a valance for over the kitchen window that compliments the roman shades of the breakfast nook and living room.
If you haven't "joined" Kings Lane, you should. Oh my, there is so many pretty things to view. I had even contemplated buying some furniture from them, but the shipping rates are way too high. I've bought a few things for around the house from them. Some of it came today. There are so many of these type of things one can join and if one doesn't have any boundaries, one could go into the poorhouse furnishing and decorating the home.
Guess I should go make dinner and bring in the trash cans. Neither one of those two chores has anything to do with the other.
When our nieces would come and spend a week with us I would have a blast with them but would tell my brother, I don't know how y'all do this day in and day out. He reminded me that Roy and I had been dropped smack dab in the middle of things, he and Nancy had time to acclimate to the attention needed and pace required. I was reminded of this again today. Joesph was so good and he and I had a blast shooting our popper gun but my energy drained quickly. I didn't even have enough to go grab some lunch with them. Buddy is still napping. Think she was undone by the fact there was someone small enough to reach her underneath the bed. What a fun way to spend a morning with friends.
This week's homework in CBS has been especially thought provoking which has morphed into a great thankfulness in the realization of what Christ has done for us. Sometimes we hear the same words and phrases so much we give a deaf spiritual ear to them. This week it is as if I have heard them anew.
Last week when I made my stop in at Pottery Barn, I brought home a beautiful reddish clay vase. In the display there at the store they had an arrangement of fall foliage that looked absolutely stunning. Only thing, I wasn't willing to pay $45.00 a stem to have some fake leaves in a jar. That is where our Saturday morning trip to Micheal's came in and I don't think we did that bad of a job. When we got home Roy just put them in the vase and went about business. They looked beautiful but price tags were still attached. Finally this morning, since CourtneyS was coming over, I decided to trim off sale tags from the vase, the fake fall foliage and some pillows on the pew. Some things just take time around here. Things that should really bother me but don't.
Finally, I found the Bed, Bath and Beyond here in East SanAntonio. It is in Katy Mill's Mall. They had sent us a welcome to the neighborhood coupon which was 20% off everything. Don't you know that I got a supply of Keirug coffee cups in for the winter. Also found a valance for over the kitchen window that compliments the roman shades of the breakfast nook and living room.
If you haven't "joined" Kings Lane, you should. Oh my, there is so many pretty things to view. I had even contemplated buying some furniture from them, but the shipping rates are way too high. I've bought a few things for around the house from them. Some of it came today. There are so many of these type of things one can join and if one doesn't have any boundaries, one could go into the poorhouse furnishing and decorating the home.
Guess I should go make dinner and bring in the trash cans. Neither one of those two chores has anything to do with the other.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Consistency
Consistency is a difficult commodity to come by these days. Our minds are bombarded with different messages from the TV, podcasts, magazines, books, Nooks, Kindles and iPads. Almost everyone has some kind of opinion on how to live life. There are so many articles now about fall decorating and the trends both in furnishing a home and furnishing a wardrobe. Are military jackets in again this winter? Is gray still the rage in wall treatments? When did we trade in perfectly good words like material, drapes, floor, accent furniture and such to describe what's happening in the decorating scene, which the career formally known as decorator is now being re purposed with the title of designer. When I was right out of college I went to a church where the pastor referred to sidewalks and parking lots as artificial Terra ferma. If he were still alive, he would fit in the vernacular of today's culture. Sunday School has had yet another name change. Within the last week our church's location is now referred to as The Loop location because we now have a downtown location...which is all fine and good, love that we are going back into the city, but the branding changes and the hope of those running the show is for us, the congregation, to pick up on the lingo and mimic what we hear without really giving it another thought. Classic marketing, it works every time. So glad we have some of the best in the church world working at our church. But it is going to take some time for everyone to refer to our church as the church at the loop, CATL or if 'the' isn't used, CAL.
Wait, I didn't even intend to go into that subject. I was writing about consistency. And really, I was attempting to give a global view to the subject matter but in reality I'm really writing about consistency in bathroom fixtures. In the post modern world we can find every kind of plumbing from the basic flush it yourself, turn on the water, pump some soap, get a paper towel from the familiar dispenser or use the air hand dryer of the 20th century to the 21st century version of human identification to get the necessary products for clean hands. Toilet height is all over the place, even in the handicap bathrooms. Last night at a very popular restaurant I found myself in the stall looking down, way down to the shortest toilet I have ever seen. It should have belonged in a preschool area. I will save you from any descriptive of this 6' woman with really, really bad knees trying to maneuver into some kind of position to take advantage of the opportunity. I would have been better served just to use one of those troth like things they have in the bathrooms in the middle east. There is no consistency on whether the thing is going to flush itself or if we have to do it the old fashioned way. If a bathroom has one of those it will take care of things itself...why don't they make the whole system consistent with that theme and install faucets and soap dispensers that do the same thing. Don't even get me started on the paper towel dispensers....do you just put your hand over a light? Do you push a button to make the paper move? Do you pull on a towel and the machine does the rest, do you turn a crank? I cannot tell you how many times I have stood in front of a sink trying to get the water to run by passing my hands over the sensor just to find out you push that thing for water... Same thing for soap, sometimes you put your hand under the spout and here comes the soap, sometimes you have to pump it and many times the soap dispensers are empty. That gives me a wonderful feeling in eating establishments.
No place is immune, schools, movie theatres,and malls. Even the bathrooms at church are all over the place. Downstairs neccitariums have been updated with all the "everything takes care of itself" plumbing. Second floor, you're in a time machine and you are transported back to the vintage sinks, toilets, and soap dispensers of the 70's. Except now, the hot water has been turned off and there is only cold water to wash your hands. Again, that wonderful feeling of cleanliness washes all over me. I do miss the little stickers that used to be affixed to the second roll of toilet paper in the stalls. It said, "Conserve tithe dollars, use other roll first." I have yet to understand the logic of those instructions.
None of this is of any informational value whatsoever. It is just me venting about the state of our bathrooms, public bathrooms. Some are frustrated by all the changes coming with Facebook. Doesn't bother me, I will adjust or use Twitter more often. I would like some unity of plumbing fixtures that's all. Isn't that's what is all about at church especially? Consistency in our daily walk with the Lord and when we need to take a respite break, couldn't the fixtures be unified as well? Yep, the church at the loop; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 28 different styles of carpet throughout the building.
Wait, I didn't even intend to go into that subject. I was writing about consistency. And really, I was attempting to give a global view to the subject matter but in reality I'm really writing about consistency in bathroom fixtures. In the post modern world we can find every kind of plumbing from the basic flush it yourself, turn on the water, pump some soap, get a paper towel from the familiar dispenser or use the air hand dryer of the 20th century to the 21st century version of human identification to get the necessary products for clean hands. Toilet height is all over the place, even in the handicap bathrooms. Last night at a very popular restaurant I found myself in the stall looking down, way down to the shortest toilet I have ever seen. It should have belonged in a preschool area. I will save you from any descriptive of this 6' woman with really, really bad knees trying to maneuver into some kind of position to take advantage of the opportunity. I would have been better served just to use one of those troth like things they have in the bathrooms in the middle east. There is no consistency on whether the thing is going to flush itself or if we have to do it the old fashioned way. If a bathroom has one of those it will take care of things itself...why don't they make the whole system consistent with that theme and install faucets and soap dispensers that do the same thing. Don't even get me started on the paper towel dispensers....do you just put your hand over a light? Do you push a button to make the paper move? Do you pull on a towel and the machine does the rest, do you turn a crank? I cannot tell you how many times I have stood in front of a sink trying to get the water to run by passing my hands over the sensor just to find out you push that thing for water... Same thing for soap, sometimes you put your hand under the spout and here comes the soap, sometimes you have to pump it and many times the soap dispensers are empty. That gives me a wonderful feeling in eating establishments.
No place is immune, schools, movie theatres,and malls. Even the bathrooms at church are all over the place. Downstairs neccitariums have been updated with all the "everything takes care of itself" plumbing. Second floor, you're in a time machine and you are transported back to the vintage sinks, toilets, and soap dispensers of the 70's. Except now, the hot water has been turned off and there is only cold water to wash your hands. Again, that wonderful feeling of cleanliness washes all over me. I do miss the little stickers that used to be affixed to the second roll of toilet paper in the stalls. It said, "Conserve tithe dollars, use other roll first." I have yet to understand the logic of those instructions.
None of this is of any informational value whatsoever. It is just me venting about the state of our bathrooms, public bathrooms. Some are frustrated by all the changes coming with Facebook. Doesn't bother me, I will adjust or use Twitter more often. I would like some unity of plumbing fixtures that's all. Isn't that's what is all about at church especially? Consistency in our daily walk with the Lord and when we need to take a respite break, couldn't the fixtures be unified as well? Yep, the church at the loop; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 28 different styles of carpet throughout the building.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
A Fine Morning and a LSU T-Shirt
Roy took the day off on Friday. We planned to go into Houston, have breakfast, Roy getting a haircut and a trip to Costco. None of that happened because of the reaction I had to the flu shot. With Roy being home, I was able to go back to sleep and rest because the fear of the moment is workmen ringing the doorbell. So daily I am up and dressed at the crack of dawn or at least by the crack of 8:00 am. This morning we got up and went to the Black Walnut Cafe for breakfast. BWC was much more crowded than when we went a couple of Saturdays ago. Cool temps, yep the long awaited October, the break from triple digit heat had everyone rising and going this morning. More joggers and bike riders than we have seen in a long time. We were finishing up our delicious breakfast and Roy had gone back to the Coke machine where you're given choices of making all kinds of combo drinks. He did Diet Coke with Rasberry. It tasted like cough syrup to me. Anyway, I was sitting there checking Twitter when someone says to me good morning and it's a beautiful day! The gentleman speaking to me was wearing the coolest LSU game day shirt. He went on talking to me explaining he just liked to talk and he was waiting on the rest of his family to arrive. I began asking him about his t-shirt and just about then Roy returned and the two LSU alumni began talking football. Before we left I went over to their table and asked him for the .com address for the t-shirt. Got it! Ordered up some t-shirts for Roy and me. Even though I have cornered the market on t-shirts I believe one can never have enough cute and fun t-shirts. Roy is lucky that I don't feel the same way about real jewelry.
After all the rearranging of the garage last Saturday we came to the conclusion we needed to get rid of our small freezer that we had in the garage. Our refrigerator has a huge freezer much bigger than the condos and we weren't using it. So after our delicious breakfast and our quick trip to Target and the agonizing decisions on fall foliage in Michael's, we loaded up the freezer and took it over to Katy Christian Ministries along with a couple more things. When we got home we rearranged the bikes and a few other things. I think we can get Roy's car inside the garage on a more regular basis. It was only fair that we stop at the Tractor Store on our way home since Roy had so patiently bore with me at Michael's. Really, like I know what I'm doing arranging stems of fall foliage for the urn I got at Pottery Barn.
Tonight we had dinner with Bill and Peggy. We had such fun and ate way too much.
I told Roy when he got home from working out that I had ordered t-shirts and then I told him about this one:
Guess I will be ordering one more t-shirt for him. He loves it!
After all the rearranging of the garage last Saturday we came to the conclusion we needed to get rid of our small freezer that we had in the garage. Our refrigerator has a huge freezer much bigger than the condos and we weren't using it. So after our delicious breakfast and our quick trip to Target and the agonizing decisions on fall foliage in Michael's, we loaded up the freezer and took it over to Katy Christian Ministries along with a couple more things. When we got home we rearranged the bikes and a few other things. I think we can get Roy's car inside the garage on a more regular basis. It was only fair that we stop at the Tractor Store on our way home since Roy had so patiently bore with me at Michael's. Really, like I know what I'm doing arranging stems of fall foliage for the urn I got at Pottery Barn.
Tonight we had dinner with Bill and Peggy. We had such fun and ate way too much.
I told Roy when he got home from working out that I had ordered t-shirts and then I told him about this one:
Guess I will be ordering one more t-shirt for him. He loves it!
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