Free Country?

It is going to be a lovely day. I went to vote this morning and have no idea who I voted for. They asked me to pick a party so I did and they gave me a green paper to give to the judge. This little old guy said he was the judge and he took the paper and put something in the machine then he said I could vote. The reason I showed up was to vote for the mayor and the mayor wasn't even on the ballot. So I voted for the council members and some other offices and left. Later I learned this was the primary and I could vote again in the fall. I am glad because if picking your party meant picking the mayor I might have chosen the wrong one.

Our town wants to spend a lot of money on a downtown ball stadium and hotel and shoppping center. It seems strange that we need a baseball diamond when we have one that they give away free tickets to get the benches filled. We have been paying extra sales tax for that for years and now they want to build another one. They had a meeting where people could talk about it and they booked a lot of people to speak for it with very few against it. Sometimes I wonder if they didn't forget to schedule the people against it. The other wonderful idea is to spend millions on remodeling schools and of course raising property taxes. Soon we will have empty houses because people won't be able to afford living here. I'm sure everyone was in favor of that idea too.

Aware of ignorance

Today I decided that I would enjoy this day by being aware and awake in it. Not spend it wishing it was time for vacation or that the rain would stop, but letting things fall out as they will. I realized that I will be 64 on Friday and that there will be fewer years left for me than when I was young. Each day is a treasure and maybe after all these years I am beginning to realize that. As I was leaving for work I noticed that water was seeping under the front porch door and I knew that with the overabundance of precipitation falling the porch would be a lake if I didn't drain the puddle. This involves ramming a long stick through the drain pipe that runs under the flowerbed. Leaves get in there and clog the drain. I have a short term memory when draining this puddle. Everytime I think I can use a broom or rake which I again did only to learn for the 37th time that I need something longer. I live in delusion and think something shorter will surely work though it never does. It hasn't the last 37 times. Then I find a long stick which does work which I did. All the while the rain is puddling off the eaves onto my head and shoulders. When I saw the water begin to get away I realized it was time to be at work. I decided to forego the umbrella since it is always a hassle and I was already soaked. As I was walking into the office from the parking spot that was the farthest away from door, I actually enjoyed the rain coming down, why not I was already wet. So off to the start of a new day and trying to stay awake.

Gumbo

Well when I got out of Dodge Saturday I went to Ohio to my brothers'. His wife Barb fed me royally and we all enjoyed the conversation. She even provided carry out. She makes a mean chicken gumbo and super vegetable beef soup. Got some pics of the pond which I will post later.

Yesterday was my daughter-in-law's birthday and after waiting for her all day she made it about 7:00 p.m. She is such a busy person of late. I think she likes the bracelet I gave her. The aforementioned Barb makes them and I sell some for her. She gave me a big selection so I let Les choose one. They really are lovely.

The weather here is much improved today, sunny and warmer. There is still a nip in the air and the wind is gusty but I'll take it any day over the snow we got Saturday. Nothing much left to say.

This or that or something like it

Since no one comments lately I have decided to subject whoever reads this to my ramblings. There will be no subject or if so only by accident. Just had a great sandwich that I almost burned. Made an omelet with cheese, paprika, cayenne, cream, onion on flax toast oh yeah there was bacon too. GREAT!! Plan on going to visit my brother and wife today. They live in Ohio about 20-30 miles from me. It will be nice they have a very scenic yard which includes a pond, plan to take my camera. Yesterday took pictures of my youngest grandgirl only to find the focus had been set on manual the whole time. Little by little I am learning from the big guy what to do with it.

Now this paragraph break only indicates that I'm tired of that one. My grandgirl had a gushy number 2 accident in her training diaper yesterday and informed me, "Grandma that is gross." She pretty well nailed it. Big Guy fixed my computer speakers today and I'm listening to some great stuff. Mostly things I put on my ipod but I haven't listened to it for some time so long it's dead. My sister in Houston got her birthday present sent her a floppy soft bear and some candy. Thought she could have the bear near her on the bed since she can't pick it up. She said she feels very old and well she might.

Sick of that paragraph too. Just recharged my ipod and plan to get the hell out of dodge. Later

Chickens

I'm so unhappy about my favorite talk show being taken off the air. So he slipped a little he didn't say anything the hip hops don't say. When are we going to stop giving that segment of society special treatment. I think that in itself is racist. The rest of us get picked on and we have no where to go. He had a good show that did a lot of good which is more than you can say for most of them. MSNBC are lilly livered cowards. They want the money and fold when things get rough. I will revert to reading in the morning, there is nothing that can replace Imus.

OOPS AGAIN

It seems I did know how to delete the picture so now I will add a different one.

OOPS!!

Yeah, I know I have this picture in twice. If anyone knows can you please tell me how to delete a picture after it has been published or is that not an option.

SNOW!! IN APRIL

It is snowing again!!! It is like the weather has a snow addiction. It just needs to think about warm sunny days with soft caressing breezes. I am on vacation this week and there is no need for this snow. It probably knows I'm on vacation. Today I am having lunch with an old friend. That will be nice. He and I haven't talked for some time so we can catch up. Tomorrow my sister may be coming for lunch and Friday Curly may spend the night so there are things to look forward to despite the snow.

Read an article about the effects of meditation on the mind and physical body. You can actually control how you think with many years of meditation or maybe not that many if you practice faithfully. I am not that faithful. The more I read the more I am considering giving it more time. It is calming and gives me more quiet throughout my day. I was made aware of that recently. Someone was obsessing about something she couldn't effect and I found myself thinking how silly that was when in the past I would have done the same thing.

Life goes on and we learn a little more each day if we are aware. Awareness is the key. We can live like sleepwalkers or we can wake up and see what is there. Recently I had a talk with my 14 year old grandgirl about perception. She was avoiding an unpleasant confrontation and I was telling her that much of her apprehension was due to her perception of the situation. It involved something that would evolve as time went by and there was no way to know how things would turn out but she was sure it would work out the way she visualized it. I asked her if the way she saw things was really the way they were and reminded her that I could see the same thing in quite a different manner. Did that make my way right and her way wrong or was it simply how each of us saw it? Were either of us really aware of reality or only our conception of it. She was able to have less of a deathgrip on the future and take a different tack with the situation, for which I was grateful. We spend so much of our lives avoiding our misguided outcomes when we have no reality to base them on. In the process we miss opening up to the wonder of awareness.

Well dude I'm getting far to heavy but what you gonna do on a snow day?

Epilogue

Not sure what an epilogue is but here is what I think. Took two days to feel like not taking a nap every half hour. Not that I did but I sure could have. Yesterday I had a dental cleaning at IPFW which always takes over 3 hours. Went in at 1:00 p.m and left at 4:20. That is good time. Had a really sweet girl, Lacey, and if you are local and need your teeth cleaned ask for her, she needs business. She's speedy and efficient. Cost is 37.00 compared to 100-115.00 at your dentist where they rush through in 1/2 hour and leave your teeth a mess. Took me 2 years to get mine in good shape. Anyway you don't want to think about getting your teeth cleaned.

My sweet big guy seems happy I'm back as does Hilda(white shepherd) who has to check on me everytime she gets in the house. Big guy said she sat by the door and waited for me the first few days I was gone and now she keeps making sure I'm back. My other dog Bernie checks me too but he never knows what is going on. Dumbest dog I ever had.

Today there is sun and I am delighted. Think I will work on the backyard later. But then later could be tomorrow. I am still travel logged. New use of the word.. may have to cozy up with my new Yoga magazine instead. Get the important stuff out of the way. After all when it is all over will they look at my back yard? Will I care?

Gull Farewell

Yipee

Galveston Dawn

Back home again in Indiana

Well we are here safe and back on Indiana soil. It was a great trip and my grandgirls gave it an 8 and a 9. The 8 was a motel problem actually her problem. I thought all accomodations were great. Very clean. I especially liked the La Quinta balcony with a door accessing outside fresh sea air. Always feel claustrophobic in motel rooms with sealed windows. Tried to post Thursday night but would not enter. We had a great day Thursday, sunny and on the edge of warm. Maddie didn't have a problem, being part mermaid, she got in the pool which I tried and found frigid, then moved on to the ocean where she tried boogie boarding. She had a slight concept glitch and kept bucking into the waves. A little backward but very entertaining. Cocky got some great surf shots which I hope to put here if I get my card back from the big guy. We had a splendid lunch at Miller's Landing or something like that, great barbecue. Also The Spot was superb as always. We had linguine in our room that evening and Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia. I got some Chunky but the girls woofed the cherry. It was nice having a micro and fridge in the room. I much prefer relaxing over supper and how better to relax than stretched out in bed. We had to go to the Rain Forest Restaurant because they kept bringing it up and Cocky managed to go from 15.00 meals to, "let's split a sparkling volcano." So we did. However that requires being the center of attention because two of the staff present this giant brownie with ice cream on top and a sparkler sparking. They scream "Volcano" many times and all the animals make noises, quite a production. It is quite disney like and great for kids.

The ride back was long, 12 hours Friday counting lunch and another 8 on Saturday. We had a couple tense moments trying to find the right turns, I know I have a GPS Garmin and she did her best but I am directionally challenged and despite her efforts I could still drive past turns or turn right instead of left. Cocky was quite exasperated with me and didn't hide it. We finally devised a plan where I told her to tell me what to do and just to treat me like a total idiot. It worked well and we made it home. Now I am going to relax from the trip because I have another week off. Also Curly is coming to spend the night next week.

Sweet Rain

There is a place we can’t see
Where clouds are pink
And rain is sweet.

Where laughter sounds from the air
Much like the wind,
And bugs massage your tired skin.

There is a place where no pain lives
Where joy and peace can float
And down they come
Like a brand new coat.

Most days you sing but often dance
And when you wish you can fly

There is a place
Where distrust and hate are just antiques
Enclosed in glass upon a shelf

Jealousy a word no one can spell
Bitterness and revenge are in the dump
It is more fun to laugh and jump.

So just hang on and someday
We will find this place
And I will chase you up the tree.

Seet Rose

Ramblings from Houston

Well on the way to Memphis we saw about 5 cars and trucks and a boat trailer and pickup that were involved in a major ouchie. Looked like everyone was still alive but the vehicles would need the dents worked out. The second day we made Houston and were welcomed into my sister’s lovely home by her charming husband. They both seemed happy we were there and have managed to keep up this appearance so far. But I am sure like all visitors a sigh will emit when we drive out the driveway.

Alice still has a very sharp wit despite the damage MS has done to her body. She still laughs when you poke fun at her and she can still speak but with a very soft voice. We watched Happy Feet last night and she really enjoyed it. So did we. Yesterday was crawfish day. When we come my brother-in-law always gets crawfish and other seafood and we have a party. We got shrimp, mussels and sweet corn and along with steamed small potatoes, had a great meal. Oh yeah there was beer, apple pie and ice cream too. Not together but you get the idea.

Went out to get the water drained from the cooler which was in the trunk and when I closed the lid realized that the car was locked and the keys weren’t in my pocket. After some reflection, I could see them in the trunk. I had laid them down while moving the cooler and hadn’t picked them up. So after a call to my insurance agent and Pop a Lock we are back in business. My granddaughters just shook their heads and said something about the old folks home, but what do they know they don’t even drive yet. Meditation must be helping because I barely cussed when I realized what had happened.

Had an important aha this a.m. I was taking a walk thinking about my sister and how much trouble there is and then this squirrel ran in front of me and I swear he had a bubble above his head like in the funny papers that said, “Be here now.” Sure glad I saw him because that was where I went to, right here, right now. The rest of the morning was quite an improvement. Well onward and upward we are going on a tour of Houston or as close as we care to get.

Big Day is Almost here

Tomorrow is the beginning of our big adventure. The grandgirls and I are going to Houston and Galveston for spring break. I went to Florida once on spring break and I know how insane it is but I haven’t seen my youngest sister in 7 years and it is time. I am the sole driver and don’t look forward to that part. I will have company to keep me entertained and frustrated. (Are we there yet?) Yesterday I added traffic information to my Garmin GPS and the tech guy said he was from Houston and proceeded to tell me they do 80 on the freeways there, just what I wanted to hear. I refuse to white knuckle it. I will breathe and focus on the car in front of me.

There will be pictures and stories about the big adventure in subsequent blog entries.

Little Buddy

Well it has been some time since my little friend visited me but he is here again. I work at a preschool in the office as a family advocate. When the teacher has a problem with this little guy he comes to my room to sit on the floor and be bored. It is nap time and he prefers waking up the others rather than going to sleep. At first they were sending him home but I said that was probably his goal so I suggested he come down to my office and sit. So that is what he is doing. He now tells me that he is sleepy but I don’t see any evidence of that and he has already used that trick up.
The snow has begun to melt and we get a little sun now and then. I am looking forward to the end of March when I leave for Houston. My sister lives there and I haven’t seen her for 6 years. My two oldest grandgirls are going with me, they have spring break that week. It should be a hoot.
This has been a sad week at work we have had two people die. One of them was only 20 something. She was on dialysis but was always cheerful and active. It seems a shame to end life so soon, but then she may be in a better place.
Well it may be time for by buddy to nap he is lying down.

Cabin Fever

The weather has finally made me want spring really bad. I kind of wanted it before the cold came but I felt guilty wanting it because I thought it was warm already. Now I want it to warm up and I don’t feel a bit guilty. Hilda and Bernie are happier. (Our dogs) We have straw in their houses now and they seem quite content to sit there snuggled up and snoozing. I am getting really lonely for my grandgirls. We will have to have an overnite as soon as it warms up a bit.

The good thing about all this is that there is sun. Before it was cold it was gray a lot and rainy. We have many more sunny days now and even if it is below 0 at least it is sunny and bright. The other nice thing is that we were sent home from work Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. and didn’t have to return until Thursday a.m. Also we were paid for the time off. Now that was very nice. It gave me a glimpse into how retirement will be in the winter, unless we go south for a while.

My brother went south and likes to call me and rub it in on a weekly basis. He mentions things like he is in shorts and a tee shirt or it is going to 70 today. He said he felt trapped when the snow came because he couldn’t go home now until it melted. Poor baby!!

The forecast looks better for next week. Something about highs in the 30’s.