Outrage!

I am shocked at the news of the shootings in the Amish school. That was a sick, sick man. I have read his turmoil over the molestation of his young relatives. I read his grief over losing his daughter. But to kill the most innocent of all children when they have done nothing to him? It's the most horrific of crimes.
I have visited in the Amish community near my in laws home. I have a deep respect for the Amish, their pure living, their love and respect of God. These young girls have not been exposed to the violence of TV, music and movies. They more than likely had not heard of the recent school shootings in our country. They were the most innocent of innocents.
My heart breaks for their families, friends and community. It breaks for the intrusion of our maddening world into their quiet, gentle lives. I cannot imagine what those 5 surviving little girls will have to suffer with for the rest of their lives.
I question my own faith at times like these. How would I be able to forgive someone who did something so horrific to innocent children? Why does God let this happen? An Amish grandfather quoted in our paper said it best. "We think it was God's plan and we are going to have to pick up the pieces and keep going. A funeral to us is a much more important thing than the day of birth because we believe in the hereafter. The children are better off than the survivors." How true.
I pray for them, the survivors, the families. I pray for the shooter's family. I pray for our country to be given the answer to these outrageous crimes against our children. I pray to find forgiveness in my own heart.
Somehow this all has to stop. Our answers need to come soon.

:J

I Challenge Him

Often when I need to really hear it, I ask my DH "Why do you love just me?" His answers vary, and sometimes when he tells me, I tell him "Nope, heard that one before, you have to give me a new one." It's a game we play, a silly one.
Mostly he says, "Because you are you" or "Because you are here for me everyday." But I know it's also because of things I do for him and that I let him watch football all day without complaining. Sometimes he tells me, "Because love is an unexplainable emotion, it just happens." But even without hearing it, I know he loves me.
My favorite answer was, "Because you challenge me." That answer developed into one of those all night conversations where we giggled ourselves silly long into the night. So I continue to challenge him.
DH is a puzzle nut. He loves puzzles of any kind. Sukodu, Crosswords, Scrabble, Mechanical puzzles, and yes jigsaw puzzles. He's tried many different kinds of jigsaws. The shapes, mosaics and photomosaics. I found this one at Hobby Lobby and used my coupon for it instead of much needed (HA!) scrapbooking supplies. It's called "The Games We Play" I thought I had challenged him. But I didn't. He cursed a few times at it, but finally got it together in 10 hours. I guess I will have to continue to be his only puzzle, his only challenge.

:J

Happy 57th Anniversary Wally & Kathy! my in laws 

Six and a half

Six and a half is such a fun age to be. I think of all the family reunion attendees, Ben had the most fun. What boy wouldn't? He had plenty of woods to run around in. Plenty of Uncles & cousins to play with, more food, cookies and soda (or Pop as we call it) than any Six and a half year old boy could possibly eat, and grandma and aunts who just couldn't do enough for him. Yes, Ben was loving life at the reunion.
Ben loved the wax teeth brigade. That was his first experience with that. He got the act down quite well don't you think?

Ben was my walking buddy every day he was there. We walked "around the block" 2 miles everyday. One day we picked roadside flowers and I showed him how to make "forest crowns" He proudly wore his and we deemed him "King of the Pines" There was quiet time too. He concentrated intensely to put his first model together. He was thrilled when his BIG cousin, Pat helped. He was so proud.
Ben even tried to show us tricks. Like balancing a ball of his Grandpa Moe's head while Grandpa tied his shoes.
Oh to have a boy so small again! I tried to talk his mom and grandmom into letting me squeeze him into my suitcase and bring him back home with me. His mom was all for it, but for once, Grandma said no.
I guess I will just have to be happy with our yearly visits, talks on the phone and Where's George tracking expeditions. I just wish he wouldn't grow up as fast as my boys did. I think Peter Pan had the right idea.

:J 

This is the Family I Married Into

I sometimes question things I have done in my past. Truth or Dare games, bellyflops for cokes, skipping school to clean horse stalls. And now this, the family I married into, or at least most of them. Sad to say I bore one of these people, he is my flesh & blood. This is what we do for fun at a family reunion in Wisconsin. We dress the old people, the babies and a few others who may have had a drink or two, in ridiculous wax mouths and take group pictures.
I could blame alcohol, but most of them don't even drink. I can't blame genetics as a few of them aren't related by blood. So it must be something about spending time in the woods of Wisconsin with 30 members of your immediate family for more than a few days. It does something to your sanity.

Family traditions continue on, lets hope it's the last we see of the wax lips.

PS Mine is the one in the brown jacket on the right side. Right in front of the little one who is attending the first reunion he will remember. He probably thinks this side of the family is a little wierd and will kick and scream not to go back to the woods to visit them.
Some days I wonder.

:J 

Patrick Learns Patience

He was the one who didn't like little kids. They are too noisy, too demanding and too messy. What did he think he was at that age? He says he doesn't want to have children. But if he does, he says he is only having one. That was until he met Ben.
Ben & Patrick have always hit it off. Patrick doesn't know it, but Ben is him, when he was Ben's age. Smart, funny and very inquisitive. ALL BOY! Ben is Patrick's 2nd cousin, son of Patrick's cousin, Sarah. Ben is also quite taken with Patrick. He warmed up to Patrick quicker than he did any of the other cousins the first time they met.
One day while I was shopping with Ben & his mother, we found a snap together helicopter model that Ben just had to have. He had never put together a model, but I knew he could do this one with a little help. So in the cart it went.
The model went untouched for a few days when suddenly in the middle of the family reunion, Ben decided he wanted to put it together. Patiently he asked everyone to help him. "No, not now" "Wait til everyone else leaves" "The little ones will ruin it" were several of the answers he got from us adults not wanting to leave our fun.
That's where Patrick came in. "Come on Ben, we'll go in the house and do it."
So this is where I found them, at the table, intently working, Patrick's hands quideing Ben's.

It's one of those moments when I realized my little boy was grown up. He does have patience with little ones, he will be okay as a dad. Not once did he raise his voice in frustration, as a matter of fact he barely spoke above a whisper. Quietly and patiently explaining to Ben how to put the model together, step by step, letting Ben do the work., telling him how well he was doing with this model. I wanted to hug him so much right then. Tell him he was also doing a great job! Just when I thought it wasn't possible, he does show me he is maturing.
Then not an hour later, I caught him back being Pat, as he and his brother roughhoused with Ben the way their uncles did them when they were that age. "Holding you ransom by your toes!" or "We'll pull you apart and eat your ribs!"

Boys will be boys. From one generation to another family traditions continue. It's just too bad sometimes that little boys have to grow up. But when they do, it's good to know there's still a little boy left inside them.

:J 

Football, Fundraising and Mind Wandering

It's been a busy day for me. I was up and at it early this am. The morning was a cool one, which makes it hard for me to go to work. I love fall weather. Usually I take that first cool morning off work, just to stay home, sit on the deck and enjoy the day. But today didn't allow that, it was too busy to call in sick.
I am about caught up at work from my "vacation". Tomorrow is file and attendance day. I need to get some records ready to send downtown to get microfiched. That will give me tons more room in the vault.
I had a football game to work tonite. Had three great helpers. Cheyenna is an old (Ha! she's a baby) buddy of mine, we help each other out on various projects, Doug who is a newbie and Tish, who is older, but new to our school. We had a blast. I blew Doug's mind when I asked him where he went to college and he said, "Grand Valley U" and I replied, "Michigan!" He was awestruck, surprised I knew that. I had to confess it's where my best friend went to college. I asked him if he knew what the old college letters GVSC (Grand Valley State College) stood for. "Give Virgins Second Chances" He said no he had never heard that. He's a great kid and signed up to volunteer more! YIPPEEE!
Our team didn't have so much fun, they lost 18-14. Poor guys, just can't seem to win a game. They are young, JV team, so they have time yet. I missed the whole second half as I have to take the money to the bank.
After that I ran by Chik-fil-a, the girls soccer team was having a fundraiser there. Since Cheyenna's future husband, and my other son, JW, is the coach. I felt I had to support him. That and I wanted to see him dressed as the Cow!!! What a hoot! They had a great turn out so I hope they made lots of money.
Grey's Anatomy did not disappoint tonite. WARNING! Do not read further if you don't want to know what happened.
My heart broke for the man who was quarentined and lost his wife. Miranda did an awesome job with him. I was sobbing!
McDreamy is an ass. I am so not liking him. Maybe because I love Finn, he seems like such a great guy, wonder what's lurking in his past.
Did your heart not break for Izzy? Anyone who has loved and lost felt her grief. I balled like a baby for her too.
George, oh George, you are still such a backward farmboy. I gotta love ya!
Okay, am I the only one who sees this, my prediction, look for an Alison/Alex pair up! I'm telling you it's gonna happen! But I also see Alex/Izzy coming back together, to really put a twist in things. We'll have to see what happens. I love that show!
It's midnite at the Western Gate, and tomorrow is an early day. Which means off early, which means I'm heading to Michael's to see about Cricut cartridges. I have vacation money left, so I think I might spring for two cartridges!
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much,
:J

I'm Baaaaack!

What a trip it was, it was a trip! Took tons of pictures, hugged lots of people, counted turkeys and deer, shopped til I dropped, scrapped my heart out, traveled miles of country roads and ate way too much food! I loved every minute! I don't even know where to start to tell you about it all.
Plane trip days were panicky, I worried about the boys flying too and from, but as usual I worried for nothing. My sister gave me a scare when she called and said Patrick wasn't at the airport when she went to pick him up, but it was all for naught. His plane was just delayed! I wish she would have checked that before she called! I was in the middle of shopping when she called and had no access to computers, tv or even my hubby to check to see if all was okay. So that was a panicky moment!
I love small little towns. They are so clean and landscaped, at least the ones I went through are. I told DH we really need to go visit Wisconsin in mid-February, so that I can experience the cold blowy snow again and remember why I moved south. The pull to move back there was so strong this time.
It was good to see family again. The little ones have grown so much! It was good to see my boys become kids again with the little ones. Patrick helped his second cousin Ben put his first model together. They did a helicopter. I'll have to post a pic later of that! Ben loved my boys, Kevin played football with Ben, every one chased each other thru the Pine trees.
I must get going, it's back to the land of data and students. More later, after I unload the camera!

:J

My Bags are Packed, I'm Ready to GO!

Alot has come together in the last 24 hours. The bags are packed. The golf clubs cased. The nuts shipped, and the boys know what they are doing. Or so they are telling mom.
DH and I sat down again with DS3, the virgin flyer, on what to do and how to get to the plane on time. Thankfully, my sister will be here to get him up and to the airport. We've gone over the check in process, what to put in your bag and what NOT to carry. He knows that no matter how funny he thinks it may be, pretending to talk foreign languages while looking crazed is not a good idea in an airport. Nor should he say words that may lead authorities to handcuff him and haul him to jail, for his parents to hear his name on the nightly news. He has been told he will rot there if he does! I realized the conversation was sinking in when he asked if it would be okay to take a book.
We are all excited, can't wait to get to the woods with family. Can't wait to count our blessings one by one in person. Hug, kiss, laugh, eat, drink, snuggle, and just be relatives. What will be the big "cousin's secret" this year? Every year the younger generation gets together to catch up with each other and they tell "cousin secrets" Happy secrets, sad secrets, dreams and wishes, they are all shared one night real late around the campfire after the older adults have gone to bed. It used to be a kid thing, but now our youngest kid is 19 and another generation will be telling cousin secrets around a campfire in a few years.
We are so blessed with this family. So many good times and some sad. This will be our first reunion without Rick's brother, Steve. He died in February of complications from Parkinsons. Our reunion this year is dedicated to his memory, on his 55th birthday. Steve loved a good time, and I know he will be smiling down on us.
So blessed. Good family, good times, in a good place. I will be sure to thank MIL & FIL for all they have blessed me with. Especially a good husband, I will let them know again, they have done well.
I feel like a kid on Christmas eve, I can hardly wait.
I will miss you all, count your blessings, tell everyone how special they are to you. Live like there is no tomorrow, Love each other.
:J

Getting Down to the Wire

First of all, I have to say GO FSU! It was so nice to see them beat Miami last night! GO NOLES!

Enuf of that. It's crunch time. It's have you packed this? Did you order your mom's pecans?
Do you know your brother's flight number and what time he gets in? Does he know yours?
I feel like the ringmaster at the circus. DH needs to order pecans for his mom, 6 pounds of pecans. She uses them to bake cookies for the church bazaar and gives 3 pounds to friends. It's his mom, he works just around the corner from the pecan place. He can do this. Has he yet? NO! One day left to order the pecans.
I took 3 phone calls from my middle son today while I was at work. When is Patrick's flight? That was call one. We have that squared away. Call two was, "Who is paying for Patrick's third of the rental car?" Okay answered that one. Call three, "Can I get directions from the airport to Grandpa & Grandma's?" How would I know this? I have never flown into Milwaukee! "Call your grandfather" was my answer.
MY clothes are ready. Tomorrow night I will do ONE load of laundry, then I will place everything in the suitcase. DH still has to get clothes ready for my approval. (If he had his way it would be all ratty shirts and greasy pants) Which is fine for most of his time. But he does have to have clothes in case we come out of the woods for something.
My only quandry is what scrapbooking stuff to take that won't raise the eyebrows of airport security. And, do I need to go buy a bigger bag to fit all of it in? LOL! I guess if DH is taking his golf clubs, I should be allowed a bag the same size of scrappin' stuff, right?
Why did it seem so much simpler when I had three small boys, packed it all myself, and loaded them in a van for a 22 hour trip?
Back to packing.
:J

Counting Days, Counting Blessings

It's no long weeks, but days till our big trip to God's Country. I remember our first visit to my in-laws house in the woods. We left the interstate about 45 minutes from their house and almost immediately smelled the pine scent. From then on, that was the signal to my sons that we were almost to Grandpa & Grandma's house.
Nothing changes there, life is at a standstill. No new superstores, no traffic, billboards or unsightly hurricane debris piles, sitting on the side of the road. If we are lucky, and we usually are, we will get to see the Amish go by in their buggies. If we aren't, Grandpa will always take us to the Amish bakery, for treats to eat.
I think we are the first to arrive, followed by the Colorado family, then my boys on Friday and Rick's sister from Sheboygan. On Saturday the cousins come, just for the day. I feel like a kid at Christmas, I am so excited about this trip. Our family always has such fun, just hanging together. I know I will come home 10 lbs heavier and with new recipes we love.
I can't wait to walk around the block every morning, of course their block is over a mile long. But that's okay, I can do it! Cool air, no humidity, walking that mile will be a breeze! Of course in the evening we will all pile in the car to go deer hunting. Wait! before you think I am a Bambi Killer, let me explain. Our family tradition is to pile in the car after dinner and drive around til dark looking for deer. Just to see them, nibbling on their evening meal of grass and clover. The Deer Hunt continues every time we get in the car, wether it is 8 am or 8 pm. We are always looking for deer. Besides, when you hunt deer, you have to be quiet, which is a great activity for the little ones! I will be sure to have my camera with me to nab a few shots. Which will be the only shots I take.
Our family is blessed with such a wonderful place to come home to. We never take for granted the quietness of the woods, the smell of the pines or the sight of a deer. God has blessed us richly. Every day.

:J

You Have Been Replaced!

All my friends know the adventures I have had with my youngest son these past few weeks. Like true friends, they flung poo at him for his deeds. Last night I got him good.
To begin, my friends, Doyle & Elaine, needed to go car shopping since Elaine was rear ended a few weeks ago minutes after leaving my office. So yesterday Doyle calls me and asks if I would mind picking up their son, Bryan, after football practice and keeping him here till they were done. No problem.
Well I was not prepared to feed the boy at the house, so I asked him if he'd like to go to Sonny's BBQ, where my youngest son works. Sure! So arrangements were made for DH to meet us there.
Bryan & I walked in together and DS was there, "how many at your table? he asked" It is not unusual for us to all go and meet 12 football friends at Sonny's. "Just 3" I replied.
After he seated us and found out the third was DH, he looked at Bryan and asked, "Why are YOU eating with MY parents?" Before Bryan could answer I teased, "I've traded you in"
"Bryan is a good kid, respects my scrapbooking supplies and answers all my questions about school and his life" "Gotta love a kid like that" So all night long we bantered back and forth as he took our order, and delivered our meal. I think he got the message. I also think he was a bit jealous. When he got home he asked, "So where's the angel child" "oh I said, he did his homework, watched some tv and went to bed" and I thought Pat's eyes were going to come out of his sockets. That's when DH spoiled my fun and said, "his parents picked him up"
Oh well, life goes on, fun while it lasted.
:J

Random Wonderings

I am all over tonite, lots of thoughts, and no thoughts. So here it goes.
Thank all those who flung poo at the DS. Wanna know something? My missing scissors mysteriously were found, in his room, today while I was at work. A M A Z I N G! and who said a little mommy tantrum is not good for the soul.
Thank goodness Ernesto was nothing more than a good rainstorm. We had bunches of lightning and rain tonite, no relation to Ernesto. It will be good for the green grass and flowers.
We watched "Madea's Family Reunion" Great Flick! I love that Tyler Perry, he is talented. I am amazed that he got Lynn Whitfield, Cecily Tyson and Maya Angelou all in the same movie. The later two give amazing speeches on family and love.
Speaking of Family Reunions, 5 days and a wake up til we fly to ours. I am like a kid at Christmas I am so excited! We will visit with DH's family the first weekend, Watch the Packer/Bear game with the entire family! then visit Lambeau Field on Monday with his dad and our two younger sons. Then chill out all week before heading to my brothers house for two days. We will attend a Chicago Cubs game with him, also taking my FIL. But I am so excited as some old dear friends are having their family reunion that weekend. It is a Moore (my family) tradition to crash the Williams (their family) reunion. I haven't seen my friend Vaughn in 20 years! He lives in Alaska, and is my dad's godson. I was Vaughn's 5th birthday present, born 2 days before his 5th birthday. He is like my big brother and I can't wait for him to meet DH. His mom is the last living best friend of my mom's. Auntie Mary was the school librarian, and my mom was the school secretary. Mary lived just across the alley from us and still does! Her husband was killed on a train when Vaughn was little, so my parents helped raise him too. He had a dog, Shadow, that followed us everywhere, EVERYWHERE!
I love being with family, it really is the best vacation!
Done Wondering for now,

:J

Why I Scrap

I had posted the first page of this 2 page LO I did for a CJ on the Monkey board. Someone remarked they would like to see the second page. I'm not one for doing this normally, I think CJ's should be a surprise to the owner first. So Peggy, don't read farther if you don't want to know! But, for everyone else, here is page two.


My journaling reads, "Scrapbooking started for me as an "add on" to another hobby I have, genealogy. My mother worked many years on our family genealogy, on both her family and my dad's. I would sit fascinated when ever the relatives would gather to talk about old times and family. I loved to help her track through cemetaries, old pictures, and family history for few years before I left home. (awful sentence I know!) It was our hobby together.
She left me many pages of information and photos, and scrapbooking has helped me stay close to her now that she is gone. Scrapbooking is my gift to her, and her grandchildren, my sons, just as her and my dad's stories were their gift to me.
I remember her telling me her genealogy group traveling in the early 1990's to a scrapbooking store many miles away and spending the day. Mom was excited about all the colored papers, pens and scissors she saw there. A few years after she died I came across some a few supplies she bought that day, pens, templetes and some plain colored cardstock. If only she could see my room and the supplies I have accummalated.
I know together we would have had many great times preserving family history together. I hope that one day my sons and families understand the bond that has been shared in our family. The papers, the ribbons, embellishments, fonts and flowers and all that goes into a page are fun to add. But to me, even with all that, it is still about the pictures telling their story. It is about passing on the stories of our lives."
So that's it, now you know. Why do you scrap?
Wondering,
:J 

Here We Go AGAIN!

The Weather Channel has joined ESPN and the NFL channel as the most watched stations on the TV. At 10 after the hour we check TWC for our "Update from the Tropics", watching as Ernesto develops and makes his path.
A hurricane in the gulf always makes life interesting here on the coast. At our weekly trek this morning to the base for groceries, activity was busy. In the commissary, carts of water, batteries and staple food items were piled in carts. The commissary itself was busier than normal. The base gas station was also busy, the guy ahead of us filled up 3 five gallon gas cans. We have all learned from Ivan, Katrina, Dennis and their cousins. Be prepared if you are staying. Leave early if you are going.
It's understood in our household that a Category 2 or stronger hurricane will see me in the car headed to safe ground. My husband and son see it differently than I do. It must be a man thing. Two days before local landfall, I will pack the car, load the dog, say my good byes and leave them to fend here. It's not that I don't like storms, they fascinate me. But I deeply respect the power they have and know that I am no match for them.
So what will I do if Ernesto makes his way here? I tease and say I am headed for my in laws in Wisconsin. But in reality I will probably stay as close as I can out of harms way. I watched the destruction of Ivan from my son's apartment in Tallahassee. I worried for a few days until I got through to home. The sight of the I10 bridge in pieces made me wonder if I ever would get home.
Hurricanes are not to be taken lightly, the past few years have taught all of us in Florida and the Gulf Coast that. Recovery is still not finished for many of us. People ask how we can tolerate what we go through, where do we find the will to go on. Some of us don't. We move away, far inland. Those of us who stay, and those of us who return, think even with what we go through, it's still a small price to pay to live in Paradise.
Stay Safe,
:J

Something Childish Again

I got a day off work today thanks to my DD, (Darlin' Doc). I woke up night before last with a bit of pain in my ear. It felt like I had been sleeping on my ear wrong. I rolled over, and went right back to sleep. Yesterday while at work, I noticed I was dizzy, so I made a Dr. appt. Ear Iinfections and dizzyness are nothing new to me. But I have had more of them since I turned forty than I had the first 40 years of my life.
It was cute when they first started. I was working in a PreK classroom and had 3 in one year. The doctors talked about putting tubes in my ears, and DH teased me about regressing to my childhood like the kids I worked with. The ear infections were cured for the year and talk of tubes disappeared too. Now every year since, as soon as football season starts, I get an ear infeections. No pain, just pressure and dizziness. It must be something in the air, pollen maybe. All I know is this has to stop. When I go in October for my annual checkup, we are going to revisit this earache stuff. Tubes, Tonsils, I don't care, but these ear infections have to go!
Thanks for listening,

:J

So Today May Have Been a Better Day

It didn't start out so hot. I cried all the way to work, fumed all day and prayed. DS2 informed me as I was walking out the door for work that he "wants to take a semester off". Not the end of the world, but not the news a mom wants to hear from her child.
We, as a society, place a huge emphasis on a college education. Not everyone has to have a college education, I'm not saying that. I work in vocational education. I know the demand for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, nurses and mechanics. I guess it is different when your child who was devastated at his first B in 8th grade, now wants to "take a semester off" Just pray he goes back.
It was a busy day today, with lots of little interuptions. The lack of communication continues, and frustrates me know end. I think every sports schedule this fall, except one has had major last minute changes, something I have never had in the 6 years of being the Athletic secretary. But I am rolling with the punches.
I am finally to the point that I can start filing. Plus I get a new student assistant on Monday, I didn't even have to ask for one!
Tomorrow is the first home football game of the season, it's 9th grade, so should run smoothly.
AND I had a talk with that DDS2 (damdarlingson) when he got home from work this evening. Told him I was disappointed, and asked him to take just one or two classes to stay in the practice. He said he would do that.
AND my back doesn't hurt quite as much, I walked my mile & a half this afternoon, and even tho I had to look a little harder today, I did have blessings and it was a better day after all.

:J

Wonderings & Blitherings

I'm in one of those moods. I guess it's because I don't feel well, I've been so swamped at work and I haven't had much ME time. So I'm unloading, if you care.
First off, I have to say something about lack of communication. It frustrates me. I don't like not knowing, not that I want to know everything, but if I have to deal with the public and answer their questions, it would be nice to know what to tell them. I don't like not knowing the answers because it makes me look like an idiot and it makes it look like my employer unorganized. I don't like finding out two days before an event that things have changed and people have known for over a week, but didn't let us know so we could adjust.
I guess that's my politically correct way of saying "Why didn't you let us know you changed the game from an away game to a home game?" "Do you think it's going to run itself?" "Are you not going to charge admission or have a concession stand??" "Can you think outside the lines of the playing field?"
There that feels better.
Is anyone still reading? Okay I will write a good thing. I sent my deposit off for the cruise I am going on in May. I am looking sooooo foward to this. I'm going with a great group of women whom I have never met IRL, but feel I've known forever. Creative women, fun women, been there done that, what's next women. GAWD this is going to be a riot! We will probably all come home with monkey tails tattooed on our rears. But ya know what? I don't care! I've done my job here on earth, it's time for me to have fun!
Which brings me to Blithering number two. I love the men in my life, I really do. But some times I wonder. Do they know we women just sit back and silently chuckle at their idiocy? Sometimes I swear! I don't even know where to start. Sometimes I am so frustrated with them I can't even type. I have to stop thinking about this and go back to something else, my blood pressure is rising.
I guess with men and with life in general, you have to take the good with the bad, sift through it and sometimes dig deep to find the good stuff and keep that. It's what being a family and a community is all about. Sometimes you feel good, sometimes ya don't, sometimes you are on top of the world and sometimes you feel like the wallpaper on the wall. Life isn't always a bowl of cherries and anyone who claims it is, is lying to you. Learn not to take it so personal, so seriously, pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and get ready for another day. That way it can always get better.
Okay I think I am back to my confused state of life and can go on about my day. Thanks for listening, if you did.

:J

It's Always a Good Day!

Whenever two or more of my boys are here, it's a great day at the Western Gate. Having DS2 here from Tallahassee has been a treat. I love listening to the boys do their brother stuff together. The challenges, the comments, discussions and yes, even the picking & namecalling. Although now it is very good natured, not like it was when they were younger.
DS3 took off work early yesterday to come home and spend time with his big brother, only to find out big brother had made dinner plans with friends. That left poor Patrick home with Mom & Dad, and although I cooked him a huge steak dinner, I could tell he was disappointed that he wasn't invited to go with Kevin. Some things never change!
This morning was great, we watched the Packer game on TV. I made them my special occasion hash brown casserole and we had a great morning. Before Kevin went to lay down for a nap, and Patrick left for work, they harassed me for saving the sausage grease for the dog and for cooking him his own egg. But like I told them, he (the dog) is my most obedient child, loves me unconditionally, comes to my defense EVERY time, and never sasses me!
This afternoon when Kevin & Erica pack to leave will come to soon. I want to go wake them both up and tell them I don't want to waste a second they are here.
In a few weeks we all will fly to Wisconsin for the family reunion. It will be Erica's first big meeting of the whole family. We have prepped her on what to do and not do. She knows she has to take a turn washing dishes at least once during her visit or she will be talked about for eternity. We just can't convince her to put on that Bears tshirt for the Bear/Packer game. Smart girl, I think we should keep her!

:J

Chow Down

Last night was that annual tradition in Southern High School Football, the ChowDown. A ChowDown is held usually the week before the first football game of the season. It's usually held in the High School cafeteria or gym with all the coaches, players and parents gorging themselves on food. "Parents bring enough food to feed your family and 3 hungry football players", is how our invites read. It's an evening to meet other parents, the coaches, boosters and the players. A good time will be had by all.
Last night I got the job of tea pouring. Me, alone, for 105 players and coaches, parents, siblings, coaches wives and boosters. If it had not been for two lovely little elementary school girls who iced the cups for me, I would still be there this morning. Thanks girls!
It amazes me still after raising 3 boys, how much food a boy can eat. They came by me with plates piled 6 inches high with food, and another plate piled high with deserts. Most of the boys with plates piled high were the scrawny kids. I don't know where they put all that food!
The Food! OMG! One mom brought an eleven pound roast that was out of this world! A large pan of mostacolli (sp?) went almost untouched and it was delish! I snagged that for leftovers after. There was enough fried chicken to feed an army, homemade lasagne, stroganoff, steak (yes someone brought steak!) veggies and salads of all kinds, a 10 foot sub and 4 sub platter trays, two different types of chili, beef stew, and every kind of roll and dessert you can imiagine. As you can imiagine, the food was awesome and we got stuffed!
It was hard to hear the speakers, but I fault that with coaches who didn't control the boys or parents not controling their children. That was kind of rude I thought. Why is it when a parent gets in a crowd of people and kids are acting up, most of these parents sat idly by and let their children talk and be rude while ADULTS were speaking. It made me glad mine had graduated, he would have NOT been able to act that way!
I hope every parent in attendance signed up to volunteer for concession just one game! I hope they bought an ad for the program. Finally, if nothing else I hope they joined the Quarterback Club! High School is the best time to be involved with your kids, know what they are doing and know the parents and kids they are running with!
Have a wondermous day!

:J

Mundane Monday

There's nothing exciting going on here at the Western Gate. It's just another Monday, not the first day of school, nothing to look forward to, just another day. I scrapped a bit this past weekend, mostly heritage photos, which always gets me thinking about the lives my ancestors led. What would they have been doing at my age?
My mother at 45 had two young children. I was 7 and my brother 5. I can't imagine! How did she do it? At that time she was a stay at home Mom, and our house was spotless. Mom usually took an hour off a day to sit with her neighborhood friends in the kitchen for coffee. Mom didn't drive, so she had to wait for my Dad to take her to "town" for groceries and shopping. A big exciting day meant a trip to the "City" 20 miles away for shopping at smart!
My maternal grandmother had passed away by the time she would have been 45. She didn't get to see her daughters grow up or to know any of her 4 grandchildren. She died at age 32 while having an operation. She was a pretty woman, I wish I could have known her.
My paternal grandmother was a simple farm wife. She and my grandfather farmed and raised 4 children. Her house was simple, with no running water or indoor plumbing. She had a garden she tended every day, a house she kept spotless, laundry she did by hand and didn't drive or ever leave the county she was born in. She walked 7 miles one way every day to take her husband's lunch to him at the family dairy. Her excitement for the week was going into town on Saturday for items they needed, not wanted.
So while I think my life is mundane, my ancestors one or two generations before me would probably be flabbergasted at a simple day in my life. I travel more in one day then they probably did in a week. I have modern conveniences to help me with my mundane chores and still I gripe about not having enough time to do them. If I don't feel like cooking there is a plethora of places I can go to to eat or even have delivered. Yet sometimes I sit back and wonder, which of us really had it all?
I'd like to trade, if only for a day.

:J

One Month, but I'm NOT Counting!

One month from today I will be in America's Dairyland. Home of the Cheeseheads, more importantly, HOME! Alright, I wasn't born or raised there, but my hubby was, and since we have been married I love going there.
Actually I could almost be a cheesehead. I grew up 30 miles south of the Southern Cheesehead border. The area I grew up in looks like the Dairy State. Most of the people talk like the cheeseheads. Some of the old locals in my hometown are even smart and cheer for the right football team, the Green Bay Packers!
But one month from today, one month from right this minute, I will be sitting on my in laws huge screened porch, enjoying the peace & quiet, listening to the woods go to sleep for the night. I love visiting my in laws. It's so far out in the country, in the woods. It might be hours before a car passes by. The evening excitement is to get in the car after supper and drive around looking for and counting deer as they come out of the woods for their evening meal. We look until our eyes hurt from straining in the dark to see them. If we are lucky enough, we end up close enough to town to go to the drive in for Ice Cream.
Life is so much slower there. Days blissfully pass by, until the last few days of our vacation, when they go so quickly, as if to catch us back up to the hurried pace we usually live at.
One month from today, but I'm not counting!

:J

Back to School!

School starts this week for Kiddies in our county. Kids in the neighboring county went back last week. In honor of the occasion, I made this journal to donate to my MIL's church bazaar. I have to admit, I cheated and used a Paper Pizzazz Almost Done kit.


I always loved the first day of school. New challenges, new friends, sometimes even a new school. The smell of chalk and freshly waxed floors, a clean notebook and a new desk with your name on it. I think the first thing I did was to open my reading book and see what new stories we would be reading. I loved a good story, still do.
Some things were always the same. Same bus stop, same driver, every year. Same cafeteria food. I had the same elementary principal, art teacher and music teacher every year.
We didn't have computers, or even tv. I remember when something important would be on TV we would all crowd into the music room and watch it. EVERYONE, the whole school! It wasn't a big TV either, just a small TV on a roll cart. But it was color!
I hope everyone has a good first day this year and a good school year too! Study Hard! Meet the challenge! READ everyday!

:J 

I Have Lived for Days Like Today!

It wasn't the weather, or the fact that I had all my housework and laundry done by 11 a.m., it was a phone call. In the middle of the day, that interupted my scrapping and it was a call that made me smile, inside and outside, one of those deep in your soul, satisfying, giggly smiles.
The phone rang and it was DS2, Kevin, calling me from Tallahassee. He never calls on Saturday afternoons. He always has more important things to do then, like playing Madden 2006, excersizing or doing his laundry. But he called and I asked, "what's up?"
"I just called to say I love you and to thank you for raising me the way you did." Hmmm, my head spun as I picked my jaw up from off the floor. "Oookkaaaay, what's up??" I asked again. Expecting bad news, I need bail money news, I lost my apartment news, you know the news you know you will hear when you never hear from them and then they call.
"Well, mom it's a long story, but ya know, you did raise me right" (Thank you GOD!) someone noticed. I had to know, "So what's the story?"
"Well, it's Justin, (his roommate of 4 years, and best friend for 7 years) He wrecked his car last night, put it in the ditch, (2006 Mustang Convertible, his 3rd mustang I know of) and then after he called road service, he came back to the apartment and left the car in the ditch" Btw, it isn't even his apartment anymore, his lease was up in July.
"Oh really" I said. "Why didn't he stay til the wrecker came?"
"Well mom, you know him, he said he had a drink, one drink, and that he was afraid the cops would come and he would get a DUI"
"Oh I see, I don't think that he would get one for one drink, do you?"
"Well mom, I dunno, but after he got to the apartment, he and his frat buddies continued to drink, then the tow truck guy called and said he couldn't move the car until they filed a police report." "So Justin was going to just let them impound the car and go get it tomorrow."
At this point none of this was making any sense to me. Why would he do that?
"So at that point his buddies decided to call a cab and head down to the bar that they were headed to when they wrecked." "They asked me to go, but I didn't" (Thank you GOD!)
"About that time the police showed up and wanted to know what had happened. I told Justin to tell the truth, even tho his buddies said not to."
Okay and........
"Well he got a ticket for careless driving." "But that's not all of it, he had called his parents, (the ones who continue to buy this guy new mustangs to wreck) and they went psycho on him."
Well duh what did you think would happened?
"They told him he was worthless, and that the only way he continue to live in their house, would be with no car, no cell phone, and no credit cards."(Which they pay all of)
Well hello, he is a 23 year old college grad, who has never worked a day in his life! It's time!
"Well Kevin, that's their perogative, they pay his bills."
"I know mom, but even when I do the stupidest stuff, you & Dad have never said I was worthless"
"Well Kev, it's time for Justin to grow up and find out what the real world is like, maybe this is what he needs to do it." "He isn't working?"
"Nope"
"Wow"
"So that's why I called, to tell you thanks for making me work for everything, not handing it all to me, and for never telling me I was worthless, even when I probably deserved it." "Your psycho moods are nothing compared to his mom's." "I love you mom!"
And that's when I smiled, that big inside the soul, satisfying, giggly smile. Because I had those doubts. When "everyone else" was doing it, and Kevin wasn't allowed. When "everyone else" got brand new cars for graduation and he didn't. When "everyone else" was so important and I didn't care what "everyone else" thought. He was going to do it our way. So this is one of those days I waited for. I knew they would come, other parents who didn't bend to "everyone else" told me they would. It felt so good. Even tho my job with them is not ever done, and even tho not a one of us is perfect, that inside the soul, satisfying, giggly smile felt so good.
I love my boys!

:J

Questions from My Sister in Law

She sent me this via email, but I'm sharing with you. Won't the family be shocked when they find out about me after 20 years! Now I challenge YOU!


Things you may or may not have known about me.....

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Stripper
2. Gas Station Attendant/Pumper
3. Grocery Cashier
4. Data Specialist

B) Movies you watch over and over:
1. Field of Dreams
2. Hope Floats
3. Top Gun
4. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

C) Four places I have lived:

Illinois
Indiana
Virginia
Florida


D) Four TV shows I love to watch

Fox NFL PreGame Show
Who wants to be a Millionaire
Unwrapped
Made in America

E ) Four places you have been on vacation

Colorado
Pennsylvania
Key West Florida
Wisconsin

F ) Web sites you visit daily

Monkey Friends Chatter
Packers.com
Various Friends Blogs
PensacolaNewsJournal.com

G) Four of my favorite foods

Manny's Pizza
Fried Chicken Dinner with Collard Greens & Yams from Coles
Bratwurst
Seafood

H) Four places I would rather be right now

Visiting any of my family
Lambeau Field watching the Packers beat the Bears (or anyone else)
Key West Florida
Scrappin' with my friends


I) Four friends I think will respond

All my Monkey Friends
MLF
Erin
Ms. Karate Kid herself

Are YOU Ready for Some FOOTBALL!??!

Yes this is the Man, the Iron Man of football. I can think of no better way to spend an afternoon than watching him lead the Green Bay Packers to victory! 16 years! This man has given this game his all for 16 years!
Brett Favre is an awesome player, on and off the field. He holds numerous records in the NFL, more than anyone else. The record I most admire is his record for consecutive starts. He plays hurt, sick, cold, hot, any day, everyday. And he plays hard!
I am ready for football season, I live for football season, I am a fanatic! I love High School football. I am a lifetime member of our High School Quarterback Club, and it was an honor to receive that membership! Our friends are all football parents, we even get together in the off season, even tho some of us have kids who graduate. We have made so many great friends through this game. School doesn't start for me really until that first Friday night of football season. The players, coaches, cheerleaders, band, concessions and crowds, that is my Utopia. I would be down on the sidelines if they would let me. One of my greatest thrills was to be on the "Chain gang" on the sidelines for an All Star High School Football game. So fun!
I was blessed with 3 sons who loved to play the game. I was blessed with a husband who was tolerant enough to teach me the rules, the plays and the positions on the field. I have loved football for as long as I can remember, I even watched practices when I was in High School.
Some would say I have no life, but to them I say, "FOOTBALL is life!"
Go Pack!

:J 

See Mom Does Know Everything!

This evening after dinner, DH, DS3 and I were sitting around enjoying conversation at the dinner table. DS3, Patrick's cell phone rang, he looked to his father for permission to answer and since we were done eating, he nodded yes.
At this point I have to back up to this afternoon when I got home from work. I asked Patrick what his plans were for the evening and if he would be home for dinner. He told me yes he would eat with us, but he was going to a baseball game after. Okay fine.
About a half hour later he said his plans had changed, that he probably wouldn't go to the ball game but was going to Barnes & Nobles. HUH? WHY? Who are you going with? Katrina? (his latest GF that I knew about). No, he was going with someone else. Who? He wasn't telling.
Fast forward back to dinner. After the person on the other line must have asked what he was doing I heard him tell that he had just finished dinner with his parents. Then he said "No I am not going to tell her hello for you!"
Aha! I thought, someone I know! All the kids from school, especially the girls, want to say hi to me when they call. DH said "I bet it's that redheaded girl, the one you didn't like, who skipped school to come over here when no one was home, I bet that's who he's talking to"
By then Patrick had left the room, but said, "I'll tell you who it is after I hang up" and to which I told him I wanted 3 guesses first.
Well after he hung up DH guessed the red head, to which Patrick disgustingly said "NO!"
(thank you God) I prayed.
So I guessed, "____, (the girl you work with and used to date)"
His eyes got as wide as saucers and his mouth dropped. "How did you know???"
"Mothers know everything and don't ever forget it" I replied.
Actually between you girls and me, It was a very lucky guess!

Left him wondering tho!

:J

For A Friend

I have a project that has been keeping me busy for the past few months. I wanted to make a special gift for a friend's daughter. Something to track her high school memories, and where she is in life right now. It's been fun watching her grow to this point, and over the summer she has grown from that sweet, sassy little girl into a confident young woman. I'm going to give her Lunch box photo album this week, right before school starts, I hope she likes it! To read more about it, continue below!


The box honors Courtney's high school and it's mascot, the Jaguar. She is in the class of 2008. The first few "pages" are for recording school life, a special dance, sports (she is a soccer player) "Girl!" is what her mom & I say to her when Courtney says something to shock us.
Courtney is a family girl, She's the baby in a family of 3 girls and one boy. She is spoiled by her daddy (and momma) and loves her neices & nephew, and the family dogs, Scooby, Tinkerbell, and Teddy(bear). Courtney's school interests include theatre so I created a section for that. Courtney has never been a girly girl until this summer. I find that funny because I actually had the girly girl pages done before she went through this transition. Now she loves shopping and dressing up. Last week she had her eyebrows done and hair streaked. Look out world!
I hope her next two years are memorable for her. I always tell her, "IF you can't be good, Be good at it!"
I hope you enjoyed my collage.

:J 

Weekend Ramblings

It's a gorgeous day here at the Western Gate. There is a promise of showers this afternoon, but we get used to that here.
This morning we are headed to the beach for a walk and to enjoy the waves. Last night we lounged in the pool, which was a balmy 92 degrees. Our pool has never been that warm in all the years we have had it. The sun doesn't even hit it most of the afternoon. Swimming last night was so relaxing and I could have fallen asleep there. Instead we came in and watched "Failure to Launch" funny movie! I have yet to have a son who stayed at home to long. The youngest is still here, but is only 19, so we have a few years til we have to hire someone to chase him off.
Speaking of him, he cleaned his room! Unbelievable. Maybe it's because the dog wouldn't even sleep in there anymore. LOL! Anyway, it's clean and looks so good! HE even vacummed!
Maybe he is finally growing up? Speaking of the youngest child. He has now decided to go to the family reunion with us. So yesterday I had to go get his ticket. I am excited he is going. He will only stay the weekend, but that's okay, he'll be there! My hubby's family has not had everyone together in quite a few years. Not everyone will be there, but probably the largest number of people we have had in awhile.
Other great news! In talking with my brother who lives 3 hours from the inlaws, I mentioned we were going to be there. I of course invited him to the reunion, but he asked what we were doing the following weekend. He has tickets to the Cubs game and wanted to know if we wanted to go! HOW COOL! I can hardly wait. This should be such a fun trip!
Well, speaking of tripping, I need to get moving around here to get to the beach.
Have a sunny day!

:J

Surprises are Nice!

My first day back to work after my four day weekend, I came into work to find this on my desk. My dear friends, JW & Cheyena, had been to Key West and brought me a souvenier, this mug from Margaritaville! It is a great size for my get me going coffee in the morning.
JW is one of my adopted sons, a history teacher at our school. Before he met Cheyena, a science teacher, he was a bachelor boy far from his Mama in Nebraska. JW always got my dinner leftovers, since he told me all he could cook was spaghetti. So he would make a big pot of spaghetti and ate off it all week.


Cheyenna and I met when DS3 was a junior. I helped her sell tons of Poinsettia's to help fund WFHS's 2nd prom. She is a bundle of energy and like a daughter to me. This year Chey and JW "hooked up". They are such a cute couple! I'm glad they have each other now. I just don't know what I will do with my leftovers now!

:J 

It was NICE!

I could tell a definite difference in the humidity level this morning when I let the dog out. It almost felt cool. No blanket of warmth the minute your face hit the outside of air conditioning.
The day started lazy. We had planned to be at the base at 8 am to do grocery shopping as soon as the store opened, but I didn't even wake up until 8:30! After grocery shopping we had planned to hit the beach, but it was still so nice when we got home that we decided to just enjoy the yard and pool for the day.
After I got the groceries all put away, lunch eaten and the Sunday paper read, I was exhausted and napped for two hours! WOW! Couldn't believe that! I finished up a paper bag album I had been working on, and cleaned the scraproom up. Decided it it was time for a swim. DH & I lounged around the pool for a few hours and had just gotten out when DS3 came home for dinner between the double shifts he is working today. He gave us a hard time for being "lazy" and I replied with the typical teenage reply, "Sucks to be U!" LOL!
DH grilled Bratwurst on the grill and we accompanied it with broccoli salad, macaroni salad and sweet tea. YUMMY! Pre meal while he grilled were fresh bing cherries. YUMMY!
After dinner, he and I got reading material and sat on the back patio reading and enjoying the breezes for about an hour. We took turns throwing the ball for the dog, so he would be happy too. So nice, So peaceful. Days like this is what makes it worth living.
Tomorrow he heads back to work, while I have a day planned browsing Michaels, HL and Jo's. Like I tell him, if I don't use the coupons they send, they will quit making them! Hopefully my new Cricut will be delivered and I will stop by work to pick it up also.
But today was nice. I needed that!

:J

Happy Birthday Mom!

This is my Mom, Martha Carroll Henke Moore. Today she would have been 84 years old. She was born on July 22, 1922 at home on Wheeling Island, West Virginia. She was the oldest of 3 children in her family.
My mom had a long, eventful and at times, tragic life. Her youngest sibling, Albert, died in infancy. Her mother died when she was 7 or 8 and she was sent to live with Aunts and Uncles. She was seperated at times from her younger sister, Norma because of this. Her dad died when she was 13. This picture was taken on the front steps of her grandparents home when she was 3.

After graduating High School, she moved to Chicago to go to Business College. She became a secretary, eventually a school secretary at the elementary school in my hometown. She worked for many years there. She also was heavily involved in the PTA, even serving on the Illinois State PTA Board. She also knew how to have a good time, loved a good joke and laugh.

Mom gave up her career to have my brother and I. She was a stay at home mom for quite a few years after we were born. My first day of school she walked me back up to the elementary school where she had worked for so many years and made sure I was okay before she left. I still remember the crisp, cool morning as she took my hand and we walked down the street. This is us as we left for my big adventure.


Mom was always there for us as we grew up. She went back to work, sometimes working at night so she could be there when we got home from school & to cook our dinner. After my brother and I grew older, she opened her own antique business and became a well known and respected authority on primitive antiques. Many people would travel many hours from Chicago to buy from her shop.
Even while she worked, she was always there for us, even when we didn't want her there. She gave good advice when we didn't want to listen. Mom let us learn the hard way if that's what we wanted to do.
I miss her alot. But I know she is with me every day. My mom was also very spiritual, possessing a gift of foresight and very strong intuition. Her faith led her to overcome many obstacles in life.
Happy Birthday Mom!

:J 

Yes, I'm Losing my Mind

I feel like the kid who has just gotten to the school yard and realized I've missed the late bell.
Or when I get to a store in time to see the last great sale item go out the door.
Or like when I open that carton of Chocolate Marshmallow Ice cream to realize all that's left is the funk on the lid.
What has got me so down? Why am I heartbroken? Cause I can't get on my favorite Scrapbooking site!!!!! It must be down. Maybe some left handed wrench fixed it for good. AHH! I feel hopeless, lost and alone!
I miss my sisterhood. The laughter, the tears, the encouragement, the enabling and the inspiration. Come back to me! Let me in!
I need the fix! I need my candy! Please! Before I need a drink!
What's going on? Does anybody know? HELP!

Don't leave me wondering!
:J

Silly Husband, Just Doesn't Understand!

Yesterday my darling husband and I ventured out to the WM that's across town. We needed various things and shopping at that WM as opposed to the WM down the street, is a much more pleasurable experience.
I like the craft dept on that side, and while we were at the WM over there, I picked up two boxes of buttons to use in my crafts. I had full intentions of paying for them with money I had saved, but when we got to the check out counter my darling husband said to put them up there with the rest of our purchases.
Well this morning DH & I went back to that side of town for breakfast at one of our favorite spots, The Reef. While we were eating breakfast, I mentioned I wanted to go back to the WM since we were on that side of town again. He looked at me like I was nuts and asked "Why?"
"Well it's like this, last week I had $36 dollars. I told myself that if I had $20 left by Saturday then I would treat myself to those two boxes of buttons. Well, I had $20 and intended to pay for them last night, but YOU INSISTED on paying for them. SO I still have $20 to spend on buttons and there's one more box I don't have. SO I want to go by WM and buy those buttons."
He looked at me like I had grown 4 ears. "I guess there is logic in that somewhere," he said.
"Well dear, you don't have to go in, I will only be a minute, and then we can go on with what we have planned for the rest of the day," I said.
As we pulled up to WM, I asked if there was anything he needed and he gave me that look. I told him I was going to get a bottle of water and asked if he wanted one. He gave me that look. So then I asked him if he wanted me to put money on the WM card so we could get gas while we were there. He gave me that look. So I jumped out of the car, got my buttons, my water and the gift card and then hopped back in the car. We got gas and went on with our merry way. I'm happy. But was feeling guilty for some reason or another. So when we got to the Navy base I told him he should go ahead and get the golf clubs he has been eyeing all summer every time we go in the store. And he did. I figure that gives me rights to spend as much as he did on the clubs right? Silly man, he just doesn't get it.
Left him wondering,

:J

Week 5 & Jules July Challenge 

It Rained!

This morning DH & I were sitting in the living room, shades closed, drinking our morning coffee and discussing the progress of the day, when suddenly it dawned on me that there was an unfamiliar noise happening. Then I realized it was the sound of rain hitting the leaves outside the window! The most amazing thing about the rain was there it was sunny out and we had no thunder or lightning. We watched it rain a few minutes and figured with the sun shining, and the steady rainfall, that this was one of those Florida humidity showers that briefly interupts whatever it is you are doing. Finally after about 20 minutes DH said he needed to head to the bank and get back as he wanted to work on both the cars today. Off he went and an hour later I peeked out the back door to see this.
It was still raining pretty hard. The dog and the cat acted like two kids who had been trapped in the house for days. Chasing each other all over the house, tearing up rugs and each other. After about an hour and 45 minutes, the rains stopped, the sun came out and life returned to normal. As usual, a daytime shower in Florida is followed by unbearable humidity so I'm in the house for the day. Until time I can hit that pool for my afternoon swim.

watering at the westerngate,
:J 

Buckle It Up & Be Careful!

It's the second time in as many weeks that our day at school began with horrid news, another group of teens in our school family killed or badly injured in a car wreck. In both wrecks the factor was, someone wasn't wearing a seat belt.
All the kids involved were "good kids", honor students, involved in their communities, ball players, homecoming court, student council, our bright & caring future. Right now 6 of these "best of the best" kids lay in hospitals with severe injuries that will change their futures, one is dead, setbacks that they weren't thinking about as they were beginning the best years of their lives.
Both accidents happened in the late afternoon, on the interstate. Two of the kids were on vacation with their parents, the other five were on their way to a championship baseball game to cheer on friends of theirs. Good clean fun. No drinking, no drugs, no seat belts.
Please buckle up, pound it into anyone who gets in your car, buckle up! Yes, seat belts are uncomfortable. Yes, it seems okay to remove it as you are just cruisin' on down the interstate. But as Lindsey, Jonathan, Naomi, Tyler, Josh, Jordyn and Brianna would now tell you, Buckle Up!

Another Week Begins

I count Tuesday as my week beginning because in the summer I am fortunate enough to work 4 day weeks. That gives me 3 day weekends, with Monday being my day off. I love this schedule, and wish I could do it year round.
Today, Monday, my mother in law called me. I love it when the phone rings with out DH home and it's their number. It means they are calling to talk to ME! I always talk to them when they call but it's not the same as when they know their son is still at work and I know they want ME!
I love my in-laws and I'm very blessed to have good ones. Especially since my parents are both gone, and I still NEED parents! LOL!
Ma called to tell me she got my Blueberry Pineapple Cobbler recipe, but I needed to explain to Pa that no she didn't need to mix the cake mix, she just needed to dump the cake mix. So I set him straight! She also told me how excited she was that we would be staying so long when we visit them in September. She has "boutique workshop" on Mondays, so I will get to go with her two Mondays! Boutique workshop is the get together every Monday to make crafts to sell at the "Christmas Boutique" at her church. It's quite an event. I wish I were going to be home for it.
Apparently Pa is excited that we will be there so long also. He has a list of things he wants DH to help him with, mostly thinning out the trees on their 5 acres of Pine forest. DH loves working outdoors, especially when it's not in Florida heat. The guys will work and we girls will craft shop. Sounds like my kind of vacation!

:J

Lazy, Boring Me

It's been one of those weekends, lazy & boring. Even tho I have a list of things I SHOULD do, I'm thinking it can wait. Usually when I have this lazy, boring feeling, shortly after that my life gears up exploding with something and makes me glad I took a lazy, boring weekend to charge up.
Yesterday was a lazy day. Even tho I cleaned and did laundry, I also watched my all time favorite movie, Field of Dreams. I don't know why it's my all time favorite. I certainly like football better than baseball. But FoD just appeals to me.
Maybe because it's Iowa, and when I watch it I can smell the corn growing in the fields and feel the twilight evening of a good baseball game.
Maybe it's because we took the trek to the middle of nowhere in Iowa where there really is a Field of Dreams in the middle of a cornfield. We played ball on the field with a bunch of other people of all ages and walks of life. Every one took turn in the field and a turn at bat. No one argued balls & strikes, no one debated whether you were safe or out. We just played. It was awesome.
Maybe it's because it takes me back to my childhood & memories of my dad and his love of baseball. He had offers to play farm league ball, and didn't because of family commitments. He listened to the Cubs game no matter where he was, or what he was doing. He took us to the local ballpark. My brother played, and on the nights he didn't play, my dad just wanted to go watch. Some nights we just played ball in the backyard, my dad pitching to everyone in the neighborhood.
Maybe because Field of Dreams is about making your dreams happen. Crazy as they sound, maybe we should make more of our dreams happen. Believe. Go out on a limb. Risk.
But for today I'm lazy. I may watch a movie or two, scrap some, and then tonite I will fix steak with baked potatos and blueberry cobbler for dessert. But for right now, I am a practicing slug.
Off to nap,

Today's Big Wave Goes Out to Savanna, IL!

Well hello from the Western Gate! Savanna is my hometown, where I spent the first 19 years of my life. So Savanna, stop by say HI! and tell me who you are and how you found me.

:J

Happy Independence Day!

What Were They Thinking?

Seriously? Have you ever stopped to wonder about the actual creation of our country? I think if John Adams, George Washington, Ben Franklin and their cronies were around today trying to start this country, we would think they were a bunch of crazies!

They didn’t really do it for their own personal gain. They created a country for all, one nation under God. Freedom, for anyone and everyone. Sure it was slow going. It took awhile to get women’s rights and black's rights. Even the Irish, the Polish, the Japanese and the Hispanics have gone through their rough times here in America. But everyone is a lot better off in the United States of America than anywhere else in the world. It’s mind breaking when you think about it. Did Ben & John and George think it would come to this? We are Free, free to be, anything. AWESOME!


Freedom, to be me, to be you, to agree or disagree. Men & Women of all races have died, side by side to protect what our nation was founded on, Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness. Thanks to them too! Raise one to them this weekend & remember those in less free countries standing watch over us as we celebrate our freedom.

This weekend after I exercise my freedom of speech on this blog, I’m exercising my freedom to travel where I want, (my sisters) eat what I want (shrimp, corn on the cob, melons of every color, triple berrry, apple rubarb pie and more food than could feed a small village somewhere), and shop as long as my money lasts. I will probably read a book of my choosing, listen to my kinda music and dance to my hearts content.

So thanks guys! 230 years ago you founded this wonderful country I was born into. Thanks for doing something for someone other than your self. I’ll raise one to you this weekend. Thanks. Now if only you could come back and teach the current Fathers of our Country a thing or two.

Happy Independence Day from the Western Gate!

My Favorite Reads So Far This Summer

I am an avid reader, if it stands still long enough I read it! I subscribe to several magazines. I read while cooking, waiting, outside, in the bathroom, in bed, at work, you name it I've probably read there. Okay, not then! I love to curl up with a good book and lately I've hit the jackpot.

I'm not a big reader of scary books, but I do like crime books. I'm not a big reader of historical romance books, but I love biographies of famous stars. I've been known to enjoy a good spy novel and even a war novel or two. Lately my favorites have been books about growing up and enjoying life as a woman whose kids have left the nest. Coming of age books for us women who have learned a lesson or two about life.

My favorite author this summer is Kris Radish. I've read three of her books. My first and favorite was Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. It's a story about a woman who dies and then sends her 4 best friends on a journey around the country to scatter her ashes. First of all the book appealed to me because I have always said when I die I want my friends to take my ashes and scatter them in their favorite place. And this is what Annie did, only she sent her friends to places she had been. On the journey they learned about Annie's life, while growing within themselves. I highly recommend this read! She did an awesome job telling of the bonds women have, with themselves, their girlfriends, and their many journeys they travel.

The second book I read of Kris' was Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn. I enjoyed this about a woman who after a long marriage finds her husband in bed with another woman, watches, and then leaves him and begins her life over after being the loving, dutiful wife and mother and she does it successfully, finding happiness and mending fences as she goes. It was a great book on Life, love and friendship while learning to be true to yourself and not society. Another Awesome read!

Her third book touched my heart, set in rural Wisconsin, one of my favorite places, a women's study group decides one night to go out for a walk that lasts several days! They walk the roads of rural Wisconsin, refusing to talk to most anyone but themselves. Their story grabs national attention as they walk. They live off the kindness of other women they meet on their journey. Women who feed and house them while protecting them from the outside world. Along the way they talk about their lives, learning from each other and the women who help them. I loved this book, and assure you, the next time DH & I are in Wisconsin, he'll be watching for me to take off on my walk.

There you have it, I think Kris is an awesome author and I think I am going to check out another of her books, Birth Order Effect. I think there's alot to be said about birth order. I can't wait to read her take on it. If I have your curiosity up, check out her website, www.krisradish.com Enjoy your summer reading and tell me about it!

:J

Mid Week Meanderings

Well here it is, Hump day. Two days til my 4 day weekend. What's going on with me?

I have taken off most of my fake nails. I have 3 left on my right hand, that's it. Debating on whether or not to get a new set tomorrow or give my hands a few weeks rest. It is wierd typing with no nails. I have had them for about 5 years. Usually in the summer I give them a two week break and get a new set. But with it being a holiday weekend, and going to my sisters, I'm debating to put them back on right away. HMMMM! My sister has gorgeous natural nails. She always says that I got the brains, beauty and the boobs, but she got the nails. Darn!

Office Air. Let's just say I have not had flowing air conditioning in my office all year. It's a choice, and my office isn't really sweltering hot. It's a big office and I get air from the hallway, and the office next door to me. I don't have it on because my office becomes a deep freeze with it on. But with our 90 degree+ heat lately, I asked our maintance guy to go ahead and turn on my air vents. We go through this every year. He turns them on, I freeze and we turn them off. So this year we sealed off the two vents above my desk, and left two open. Well, by 3 pm my office was a deep freeze. I guess tomorrow we will shut them back off. UGH! there has to be a happy medium!

Fourth of July plans. DH and I leave Saturday morning for the 4 day weekend at my sisters. It will be good to get away. I may take my new bunco game, just for fun. We will spend the weekend shopping and I hope to help her set up her new craft room.

My excitement so far this week, other than getting all my classes scheduled for the upcoming year, is that I am signed up to go to the Creepover on Halloween weekend. I could do cartwheels I am so thrilled! It's at a great state park here in Florida. I haven't camped there since DS3 was about 3 years old (he's 19) but from the pics it still looks the same! I love it there!
I will get to meet a few of my fellow monkey girls, so I know we will have an awesomely havoc wreaking time!

Teenagers! He wants to be an adult but can't follow simple instructions.
Me: What time do you work today?"
Him: 4:45
Me: "Good, here's $20, take those two packages on the desk and mail them for me to your cousins"
Him: "Okay"
I come home from work, and what is still sitting on the desk? You guessed it! But he had time to mess up my kitchen, and play on the computer.
Ugh Kids!

Enough meandering, If you are looking for a few good books to read, Check out Kris Radish's books! "Annie Freeman's Traveling Funeral" "A Elegant Gathering of White Snows" and "Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn" Great coming of age stories for us lively women! Start with Annie's or Dancing Naked. You will love them! More on that later,

For now,
:J

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for ME!

He promised to show me where Johnny Depp was! I didn't care about hidden treasure, gems or his pieces of eight. I wanted to see Johnny Depp in his Pirate finery! Can't wait to see the new movie, I was so captivated by the Pirates of the Carribean! I was not a Johnny Depp fan until I saw that. Matter of fact, I didn't understand the hype of JD. But once I saw PoC, I was hooked. It was the role he was born to play! What little girl doesn't dream of being captured by pirates and the adventures that hold? I was! That movie fulfilled all my dreams. Now, guide this ship to find Johnny!
:J 

Happily Ever After

Here they are the Bride & Groom! Jen & John have been sweethearts for about 6 years now. They were High School Sweetharts, College Sweethearts and are now Mr. & Mrs.! I'm so excited for them. DS2, Kevin (the dark haired one) was a part of the wedding party. All three have been friends since HS when John was the Quarterback & Kevin was his reciever.

John and Kevin played football and baseball together growing up. Later they worked at the same restaurant at the beach, Zeke's. John is an English teacher now and a Coach. Jen is a nurse. I wish them many years of happiness. It's been great watching them grow up!
I leave them with this piece of advice,
"A great marriage is not when the perfect couple comes together. It is when an imperfect couble learns to enjoy their differences." - Moorer.
Enjoy each other!

:J

 

Another Challenge

Another Challenge from Kip.

I WANT: One more day, So that my words will be spoken and my feelings known.
I HAVE: Many, Many blessings!
I WISH: That people would see they don't need "things" to be happy.
I HATE: Nothing, it's a waste of energy
I MISS: my Parents, being with family
I HEAR: Nature sounds, Some of God's greatest songs
I WONDER: If I have done enough to make my sons better men.
I REGRET: Not finishing College
I AM NOT: As independent as I think I am.
I DANCE: Deep in my soul, every moment I am.
I SING: Too my heart's content, too bad it's so awful!
I CRY: At the National Anthem playing anywhere.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: As outgoing as people think I am.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: A home for my family and crafts to satisfy my creativity!
I WRITE: to remember, so those who come after me will know me.
I CONFUSE: Myself easily, (it's not hard!)
I NEED: to be healthier!
I SHOULD: be healthier!
I START: With good intentions!
I FINISH: Not near as many things as I should!
How about you?

What are YOU looking for?

Lately I have had quite a few hits from people blog hopping, looking for goings on about a few MBs I belong to. If that's your case, you can make this your last visit. While I agree with my fellow monkeys, I won't waste my time, breath or blogspace on how you have ruined a great community. I won't give you fodder for your bashing me or my friends. I'm so over what has happened to what was once a great and caring place. I've packed my bags and moved to a new community and behind us we have locked the gates to keep the riffraff out.
So consider this my one and only post concerning you. If you want to know what's going on, you know where to look and can read my comments on their blogs. You are welcome to keep looking here to read about my life, but nothing will ever be mentioned about CK, ELMB or you! So if that is your mission. GO AWAY!
:J

You Aren't Considered a Couch Potato If......

you aren't sitting on the Couch! This is DH taking it easy on his Father's Day. At least he started out that way. He has since given up and has vacummed the pool and washed the car. He just can't sit still.
I remember the days when we longed for weekends like this. Nowhere to go, nothing on the agenda. We had baseball, football, soccer, scouts, camping, field clean up days, school activities and then there were the weekends at the beach. It seemed we were always somewhere with our 3 sons.
I wouldn't have had it any other way. You came into my life when I already had two sons. You knew from the start it was a package deal and that I was a hands on, involved parent. You jumped right in from the start, taking on the Dad duties. The boys will tell you who their Dad is. I thank you so much for that, and I thank your dad for that too. You learned from him, you are both a couple of great guys. You didn't have to.
So sit for awhile and enjoy your day. You deserve it, this one's for you!
all my love, from the deepest part of my heart,
:J

This says SUMMER!

Nothing says summer like a new set of toes! These are my new toes, pedied and fresh from the salon! I love the color! It matches all the coral I wear, and had enough red in it that I don't look funky when I wear red. (two of my fav colors!) The flowers are a new thing Patty talked me into, and the centers are even jewels! Can you believe it! New toes make me feel so good!
I'm ready for summer, are you? What says summer to you?
Wondering from the Western Gate,

:J 

Sweet Days of Summer, the Jasmine's in Bloom

There is something about the smell of Jasmine that signals the beginning of summer. In the north it is the smell of Lilacs, but here, in the south, it's the jasmine. It fits in with the cooling evening breezes, the mockingbird's call, and the hum of the cicadas.
Last night we sat on the patio until the jasmine was in full bloom. The smell was captivating. As the street lights came on, like children we retreated into the house, away from the breezes, the cicadas and the mockingbird. Back to the reality of life, the dinner dishes, air conditioning and TV. As for me, I take the outdoors.
All of my hard work in the garden is finally paying off. Let's hope we don't have a summer visitor that blows it all away!
Enjoy your day!

:Jayne 

Happy 95th Birthday Dad!

It's hard for me to believe, but if my Dad were still on this earth, he would have been 95 years old today! It's hard to also believe he has been gone almost 13 years. Dad saw so many changes to this world in his lifetime. He was a good man, with a kind and generous heart. He knew no enemies, and had a community of friends.
This is the earliest picture I have of my dad, taken when he was 4 years old in 1915. The baby next to him is his brother, Ned. My Dad was born on a farm in Northwestern Illinois in 1911. His parents were farmers as where their parents before them. He went to a one room school house for his education and only went as far as 8th grade. I still have his report cards, on which he earned all A's and A+'s. You never would have guessed he only had an 8th grade education.
The picture below is of him and Ned again. The are a little older and my dad is still the taller one. They also had an older sister and brother, but I don't have a picture of them together as children. My Dad loved the outdoors and sports. He was a tall and lanky young man who was quite a ball player and runner. He loved to hunt and fish and always had a garden.

This is my dad and I at my High School Graduation. I always looked up to him. He was always busy puttering with something, and never turned down a request I had to fix or build something for me. He took us hunting and fishing. He took us to the ballpark. He played Hide and Seek. Many nights he would read to us at bedtime mostly "The Happy Hollisters" mystery stories. On rainy days we would gather on the front porch and he would tell us stories of his childhood and Navy days. He loved to talk about his first car, a 1929 Model A. He would sing us the craziest songs. Many nights we would pile in the car for a trip to Bimm's for Ice cream, the real, handdipped kind.
All the kids in the neighborhood would gather in our backyard after dinner to play baseball. My Dad would pitch to each and everyone of us. He taught us to play fair and to play with together as a team. He was the greatest Cubs fan in the world.


Sorry I don't know how to do pictures right. This is a photo of my Dad and Mom with my boys. Many of my Dad's grandsons carried his name, Owen, as their middle name. He had 10 grandsons, 8 granddaughters and two great grandchildren.
I miss my Dad. I miss his smile, his jokes, his guidance and even his snoring. He was a great man, well respected by everyone who knew him. I see parts of him in my brother, my sons, and even my husband. His legacy lives on in all of us.
Happy Birthday Dad. You said it yourself when you told me you were dying of cancer, "I have lived a long, wonderful life."

:J