Monday

This is just a quick visit to say "hello".

There is nothing much going on here at the moment.  My weather pixie shows rain in our area, but it isn't raining here and hasn't since Saturday.  We are supposed to have a very hot and humid week (perhaps B should try frying that egg on the sidewalk this week). 

Eler Beth is getting into the hang of doing lessons every day, but we're still taking it easy.  School here starts on the 9th, but Andrew's Prosser classes don't start until the 15th.  There are lots of great back-to-school sales going on this week, and I am going to try to take advantage of them without overdoing it.  After all, I don't need as much as I used to.

I'm going to set a timer and give myself about 90 minutes to read and comment in journals today.  Whoever I don't get to today I'll have to visit tomorrow.  I'm trying to get myself back into some good cleaning routines while I get the kids back into school routines.  I think I need to visit the FlyLady again.  I've let things get a little cluttered this summer.

Goodbye for now, and I hope everyone has a great week!

Hot Enough

During dinner at our house, Eler Beth's friend, B, announced to us:

"You know, it isn't true that it's hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk!  D and I tried it, and it didn't work!"

I thought Thomas was going to choke on his roast.

Spammers

I feel so honored!

I logged on and read my comment alerts last night and found that 9 or 10 of my last entries had been comment spammed by some guy wanting to plug his website.  At least, I assume it was a guy.  I hope he doesn't decide he wants to come back to my journal and leave a real comment, because I blocked his ability to do that.

I'm sure I wasn't the only special one he singled out!

Tags: comment spam

I Rang The School Bell Today

Local schools start the 2007-2008 year in only 16 days.  I had planned to start Eler Beth's lessons at the same time.  But I got to thinking that it might be a good idea to ease her into it a little bit early.

Last year we took her out of school halfway through the year to begin home schooling her.  She was already in the school "mode", so there really wasn't much transition shock.  But I started thinking over the weekend that perhaps it might be a bit of a shock and stresser to her and to me to suddenly start our home school routine.  It was always a bit stressful to get the kids off to school on those first few days, but once they were out of the house, I wasn't feeling the stress the rest of the day; or, at least, until time for homework!  So since this weekend I was working on her curriculum, anyway, I asked her how she'd like to do a few lessons each morning this week, just for an hour or so to start getting back into the right mental condition.  She thought it sounded like a wonderful idea.

Well, that was yesterday.  Now she thinks it stinks! Ha Ha!

But I can see from how our morning went that it was a very good idea.  It is going to take her a while to be able to sit still and keep her mind on the work she is supposed to be doing.  It is going to take her a while to get into the habit of doing something  quickly, instead of whining and comlaining and wasting time.  And, let's be honest, it is going to take me a while to get back into that kind of patience to lead her studies without pulling out my hair or hers!  By the time area schools start their classes we should be able to put in the 3-4 hours of school we have scheduled daily without stressing Momma to the limit.  Plus, I assured her that while the other kids are in school, she will occasionally be able to take a day off, or run off with me to the park or zoo, or even take a whole week's break.

She's been doing a summer reading program anyway, and just started a new book, so I built reading lessons around that book.  We did that and some math, and then we did some science.  Her science unit will include the anatomy of cockatiels, in particular the different types of feathers and wings.  I thought that would be a fun thing for her since she has cockatiels.  Later we'll use the cockatiels unit to do reading, language arts, and composition.  I really didn't give her much to do today; it was more a lesson in re-learning how to sit and follow directions for a sustained amount of time. 

I was right.  I really didn't want to jump into the deep end of a full days' worth of school on August 9.  Wading into the shallow end and testing the water today proved that without a doubt.

We'll do another hour or 90 minutes tomorrow and for the rest of the week.  But I'll also reward ourselves with a trip somewhere on Friday.  My little sixth grader will deserve it by then -- and so will I!!!

Tags: home schooling

Spending Time On The Waterfront

I don't know why my sleep was so messed up.  I went to bed early on Thursday and slept in a bit on Friday.  Then Friday afternoon I took a nap, so I guess I messed myself up.  I did finally get some rest today.  I slept from about 7 to 10 a.m.; then Eler Beth and I spent a few hours at Waterfront Park.  I took another 2-hour nap this evening, and I think I'll be able to go to bed on time tonight.

I enjoyed our time at Waterfront Park.  It is a really pretty park on the Louisville waterfront that includes walking and biking trails, picnic tables, and a wonderful playground for the kids.  They have it layed out beautifully with gentle little hills and a nice variety of plant life.  We picked up lunch at McDonald's and ate it there, then we walked and talked.  She's getting a bit too old to take a lot of interest in the playground, although I am surprised she didn't at least swing for a few minutes.  But she saw lots of birds (even red-winged blackbirds), and there were ducks on the river.  We watched several impressive barges and other watercraft going upriver.

And, she just happened to have a fishing pole in the car! lol  She has never fished in the Ohio, and she was determined to do so.  We don't eat anything out of the Ohio.  Thomas' saying is that any fish you catch in the Ohio can be cooked in its own oil!  But she wanted to see if she could catch anything and then she'd throw it back if she did.  She didn't catch anything, though.  It was pretty windy and the river was choppy.  She didn't have any live bait with her, only some artificial bate in the tackle box in the car.  She had a great time, though.

It was the perfect weather.  Sunny and breezy and not too hot at all.

I'm About To Be Bad Again!

I know I'm going to crash, but I just can't get to sleep.  I did lay down about 2:00, but then Thomas got up at 3.  I had just barely begun to drift off, and then I couldn't go back to sleep.  I got up right before he left at 4, and then got right back on the computer.  At least I'm getting caught up with reading some journals. 

Andrew spent the night at a friend's house, and Eler Beth was up late, so she'll sleep later than usual.  I'm going to eat breakfast, and then if that makes me sleepy I'll try to get 3 or 4 hours' sleep.  If it doesn't make me sleepy, then you may be forced to bear with a few more entries this morning.  Hmmmm.

And what do I want for breakfast?  I have a craving for biscuits and gravy.  But I don't want to make them myself.  There's a Dairy Queen just a little ways down the highway, and I happen to know that they serve very good biscuits and gravy.  So I think I'm going to sneak off and get me some and come home and eat them.   Sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?  I don't indulge in such things very often.

I'm also going to log off and restart my computer, because it has been on for so long.

I hope everyone has a beautiful Saturday!

If You Don't Already Know Katie . . .

Then drop by and give her a read, particularly this entry here!

She's a riot!

Another Late Night Meme

This one is from Traci:

What curse word do you use the most?

I don't, if I can at all help it!

What time is your alarm clock set to?

In our bedroom it is set for 3:00 for Thomas.  Then I have my cell set for 3:05 as a back up.  When it goes off I either re-set it for myself if I need to get up at a certain time, or I don't.

Do you remember where you were on 9/11/01?

I was at home.  I didn't have the TV or radio on, but when I went to have lunch with Thomas at work, he told me what he'd heard, and we turned on the car radio.  When I got home I stayed glued to the TV for the rest of the day.

Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?

Take the picture.  Definitely!

What was the last movie you watched?

Shrek The Third

Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep?

No.

Has anyone told you a secret this week?

No.

When was the last time you had Starbucks?

Months ago. 

Can you whistle?

Yes.  But I was an adult before I learned.

Did you watch cartoons as a child?

Oh yes!  Saturday morning cartoons!

What will you be doing in one hour?

Hopefully going to bed!

What was the last song you heard?

Feelin' Alright by Joe Cocker

Last time you cried? 

Yesterday.

What’s the weather like?

Cool, with clear skies.  Very nice for July.

What did you do before this?

Read journals.

When is the last time you slept on the floor?

Last year, when my sisters and I had a pajama party at our Mom's house.

Do you eat breakfast daily?

Yes.

What did you do last night?

Not much.  I think we watched a little TV and I went to bed early.

Do you use sarcasm?

Yes!  Much more than I should.

How old will you be turning on your next birthday?

42!!

Are you picky about spelling and grammar?

Hahahahahahahahah!!!  Did you read my entry from a week or so ago!!  Yes!!!

Have you ever been to Six Flags?

Yes.  Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom

Do you watch the news?

Too much!

How did you get one of your scars? 

While working as a layout artist for a weekly newspaper I picked up an exacto knife too quickly and it flew up out of my hand, came back down, and stabbed my right hand in the muscle under my thumb.  It still aches when it rains, and also sometimes when I've been using the computer mouse too much!

Who was the last person to make you mad?

A stranger on the road who was driving very recklessly.

What is the last thing you purchased?

Cranberry Juice, this evening.  I feel like I may have the beginnings of a kidney infection.

What side of the heart do you draw first?

The left.

Can you dive without plugging your nose?

I do not dive.  I have never liked diving.

What color is your shaving razor?

Blue

What is your blood-type?

I don't remember!  I'll have to look at my records.

Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?

My hubby, of course.

How do you feel about carrots?

I like them.  But I'm not sure they feel the same way about me.

How many chairs at the dining room table?

Four

Do you know what time it is?

2:22 a.m. (!!!)

Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song?

Yes (should I be embarrassed?)

What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?

Try very hard not to panic while hitting whatever alarm button was in there and calling 911 on my cell phone!

What’s your favorite kind of gum?

I don't like gum.

Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings Time?

No.

What’s something you’ve always wanted?

A huge old house with lots of rooms, including either secret rooms or secret passages or tunnels.  Strange, huh?

Do you have hairy LEGS?

No, thank goodness, not today.

Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?

Lake

Describe your hair:

Long and blonde.

Do you have a tan?

No

Are you a television addict?

No.  Just a computer addict.

Do you enjoy spending time with your mother?

Yes!  Very much!

Are you a sugar freak?

No.

Do you like orange juice?

Yes, once in a while or when I'm sick, but not on a daily basis.

What sign are you?

Aries

Tags: Memes

Bad Me! Very Bad Me!

I don't know what's wrong with me tonight.  I swear I had decaf a few hours ago.

Oh well, some nights you just can't sleep, right?  But I did a very bad thing.  I was sitting here reading journals and all of a sudden I had such a craving for a grilled cheese sandwich.

And I made myself one.

Ouch! (That was Martha slapping me on the wrist!)

I know, eating anything at midnight is a bad idea, and eating a yummy, gooey, grilled cheese sandwich is especially bad.

But I did it anyway.  So There!

And now, I'm going to go back to reading more journals.

Stocking The Pantry

Donna, at This And That And Hockey, wrote an entry about her son's new apartment with his girlfriend and their move.  Donna helped them out by buying them some groceries, and she asked her readers if we could remember our first grocery shopping/stocking the pantry experience when we first moved out.

Well, I didn't move out until I was married (age 21).  When we got to our apartment after returning from our honeymoon, it was late and we were very tired.  We planned to do grocery shopping the next day.  Well, Thomas woke before me (which is still typical), and he went to a nearby Winn-Dixie to get "fixin's" for breakfast -- but he had no idea what to get.  Here is a man who, at 26, had practically raised himself from the age of 16, and he had no idea what I would consider a proper breakfast menu!

So he grabbed a passing store clerk and told her that he'd just got married and wanted to surprise his new wife with breakfast, but didn't know what to get.  (I have no idea what he'd been eating for breakfast all those years.  Cereal?  Take out?)

She laughed and told him he was sweet and then led him around the store.  He bought bacon, eggs, bread for toast, butter, jelly, grapefruit, milk, and orange juice, under her direction.  He also bought me a beautiful coleus plant.  And I still have the glass Tropicana jar that contained the orange juice.

He started breakfast when he got back to our tiny apartment, and of course that woke me up.  I thought he was so sweet and cute doing all that.

Later in the day we went out and bought groceries for the week, and I felt so really married then!  What a good memory!

Cool Down

We've had steamy days this past week until we got a thundershower yesterday which brought in a "cold" front.  Today was much cooler; it felt like Fall this morning.  The humidity was waaay down.  The best part is that the whole weekend is going to be like that.  The bad part is that next week is going to be steamy again.  I guess that means I need to make the most of this weekend, doesn't it?

I don't have much to say to catch up on the week.  It has been a pretty typical late summer week at our house.  There are a few schools in Louisville that are "year round" schools, and they actually started their new school year on Wednesday of this week.  Andrew goes back to school August 9, so Eler Beth and I will probably start her sixth grade year about the same time.  I did actually spend a little time this week working on her curriculum.

One of the things I want her to do this year is learn the proper way to write letters -- friendly and business, but mostly friendly.  Good letter-writing is going out of style, so I thought that would be a fun thing to do, and I can incorporate other lessons into the letter-writing.  I'd like to find her a few people in other parts of the country (or world) for her to correspond with the old fashioned way.  Of course, I have family in Kentucky and in Florida, with whom she can trade letters, but I'm playing with an idea for a letter swap with some students her age in other states, where she can also do a little questionaire to learn about their school, city, and state.  (I may be emailing you, Bea, for some assistance with this!)

I also have an idea for a math lesson, incorporating fractions, percents, ratios, and pie charts!  I had to take Thomas to work and pick him up one day this week while he was having some work done on his truck, and I noticed as I was waiting for him, that the stop sign in front of where he works was not being very effective in stopping traffic.  Out of a dozen vehicles that I counted only one driver "sort of" came to a stop.  Most of the drivers just slowed a bit and then rolled on through.  Some didn't even really pretend to slow a bit.

So I got the idea to sit there one day with a camcorder and video tape the vehicles for a set period of time (say 15 minutes), and then we can do all sorts of things with the data we get, including making pie charts or graphs.   We could even do it at different times of the day for comparson, or on different days of the week. 

Well, anyway, I thought I'd pop in to say hello.  I have found this week that I have so many journals on alerts (or feeds) that I need to do some re-ordering of them again.  I can't read them all each and every day; I'm going to have to assign some to certain days of the week.  Yeah, I REALLY need to do that.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The "I" Survey

Martha just did the "I" survey and had this to say:

 

Remember the "I" survey?

I remember doing this one a long, long time ago -- It's an old one but still fun. 

I have to go back to work in six days. I won't be around J-Land on a regular basis much longer! Come on, humor me and do it too, please, pretty please, for me!

So I'm going to humor her and do it, too.  Here goes:

I Live: in Indiana, USA

I Work: no longer outside the home

I Talk: more than I think I do

I Wish: I had the energy I had when I was 18

I Enjoy: my kids

I Look: like my dad

I Find: that I waste too much time on this computer!

I Smell: coffee (decaf)

I Listen: when you talk

I Hide: things from myself unintentionally

I Pray: daily

I Walk: more than I used to

I Write: during every spare moment I can find

I See: my computer screen (??)

I Sing: a lot!

I Laugh: as often as I can

I Can: recite the alphabet backwards very quickly (and sing it, too!)

I Watch: my kids growing up too fast

I Yearn: to be published!

I Daydream: too often

I Fall: in love with my husband every day

I Want: health and happiness for my children

I Cry: more often than I used to

I Burn: easily in the sun

I Read: voraciously

I Love: my family and friends

I Rode: a camel at the zoo

I Sometimes: get too picky about little things

I Hurt: when my family hurts

I Fear: heights

I Hope: that we can retire in 20 years

I Break: bread (??)

I Eat: mostly what I want

I Bathe: daily (?!)

I Drink: tea

I Stop: at red lights and stop signs  

I Save: too much stuff

I Hug: my husband and kids every day

I Meditate: not as often as I should

I Play: not as often as I should

I Miss: my Dad 

I Hold: my computer mouse (??)

I Forgive: probably way too easily

I Drive: a Honda

I Learned: more from my mother than from anyone

I Dream: of retiring with my hubby in 20 years!

I Have: "nothing to fear but fear itself!" (??)

I Don't: have to do anything I don't want to do (so there!)

I Made: coffee a few mintues ago (??)

I Believe: in Almighty God

I Wait: pretty patiently, most of the time

I Need: more money (so we can retire in 20 years!)

I Owe: more money than I'd like to

I Hate: people who say hurtful things to children

I Feel: like I am still 18 inside my head

I Know: that you can accomplish anything with time and the right tools

I Wonder: if anyone is still reading this list

I Applaud: people who keep on keepin' on when all the world seems to be against them

I Love: being able to write things like this in my journal!

Tags: I survey, memes

A Smelly Story

Something someone said to me today reminded me of a funny story, so I thought I'd share.

A girl I used to work with told a story about working for a paving company several years ago.  It was wintertime, and since the sales office she worked in got a little chilly, she and the other girls there often kept a small space heater turned on while they were working, in addition to the central heating.

This particular snowy, cold day she had returned from lunch and had just settled in at her desk, when one of the men who worked at the company came into the office for some reason.  This particular employee was sort of an all-around handyman for the company, and he was working on something inside the office, maintaining a steady flow of chatter while he was there.  All of the sudden, my friend, P, realized that she was smelling burning rubber.

She said something about it aloud, but no one else smelled it.  So the male employee checked electrical outlets near her desk, her computer, an adding machine, her phone, etc., but couldn't find anything that smelled "hot", although when he was near her desk he could smell it too.  Her desk was near a window, and they thought perhaps it was some smell coming in from outside.

Well after a few minutes the smell didn't disappear but actually got worse.  Others in the office smelled it; it really did smell like burning rubber.  Once again, the male employee and the females, too, checked every outlet, light switch, any and all electrical equipment, felt the walls to see if there was any part that felt warm, and they particularly checked the space heater, even turning it off.  Nothing seemed to be hot, and the smell kept getting worse.  The strange thing was that it was strongest near P's desk.

P said she doesn't know what made her think of it, but all of a sudden it flashed into her mind what it was she was smelling.  When she'd come in from lunch, she had taken off her sneakers because the snow and cold had gotten her feet cold while she'd been out.  What did she do with her shoes?  She'd set them on the heating register near her desk.

She said she was so embarrassed she hated telling everyone else what it was, but they were frantically trying to find the source of the smell and were on the verge of calling the fire department!  She told them, and they all had a good laugh.

The soles of her poor shoes were slowly melting, but she wore them home and then threw them away.  Don't you just hate when you do something silly like that, forget about it, and then have to admit to everyone?

No Superman Lately

I got a lot of comments recommending that I be careful of our neighbor who was masquerading as Superman earlier this week.  I guess maybe I should explain a bit more about him. 

He can be rather strange.  He suffered from several things, physically and mentally, after having served this country in Viet Nam.  I know he is on medication.  Most of the time he is rather eccentric, but normal otherwise.  He is friendly to us, talks to Thomas when he's out, asks for help with mechanical or home projects,and offers the same kind of help.  But you can always tell when he's having a "strange" day; when he's feeling a bit off or maybe is off his medication.

Those are the times when he starts talking about someone being out to get him.  Have you ever seen a brick house that is settling, or a brick house that's foundation is maybe not settling "right", and it gets those stair-step lines along a portion of the brick?  Well, he has that on a part of one side of his house, and although we tried to explain to him what it was, he swears up and down that it was some neighborhood boys who made those marks.  He keeps a security camera trained on the street in front of his house (and therefore in front of ours too), and either watches it on his TV or records it.  That's why I say he's a good neighbor to have watch your house if you're gone.

He's extremely intelligent, but not always very bright.  And he does have a rather strange sense of humor, so I'm pretty sure that was just his weird humor asserting itself when he donned the Superman shirt and the beard and glasses.

Anyway, he is a "known" oddity, which is never quite as dangerous as the unknown one. 

What, No Cape??

I had to run out somewhere a little while ago, and I had gotten only a little way down our street when I met a bicycler coming toward me.  The first thing that caught my eye was the big "S" on his shirt; it was an actual Superman shirt, with the Superman S and all.  That didn't really startle me, but as my eyes moved up to the guy's face I was rather startled to see that he was wearing an obviously fake gray beard and glasses (along with his white bike helmet).  And I think he's our neighbor from across the street!  (His disguise didn't fool me that well, you see.)

Yes, he is rather strange.  He suffers from paranoia; he's always thinking people are after him, in particular the government.  I'm afraid his little red caboose has gone chug-chug-chugging around the bend with this one, though.

Nothing Much On A Monday

I stepped outside this morning and was appalled by the appearance of my front porch!  Here's what I found there: 2 glasses and 2 cups, 2 pair of rubber boots, a tackle box, a glove, a plastic bag, a dog brush, and an empty plastic planter, and a container holding some creek water and a couple of tiny little crawdads!

A little girl I know had a great time playing with her friends yesterday, but didn't do such a great job cleaning up after herself! lol  The 2 pair of rubber boots were the unusual items there; they had worn them to wade in the creek and catch the crawdads.  The glove is the one she uses when she is handling Lucy (the cockatiel that only lets me handle her without gloves), and I don't know what the plastic bag was for.  The rest is self-explanatory.

It is a nice sunny day here so far, and I have got several things done all ready this morning (including straigtening the porch -- I know, I should have made her do it, but I didn't want to wait until she got up before it was tidy.  I'll give her an extra chore to do to make up for it!).  I have no plans for the day, so I guess I'll just do a little housework, read some journals, and maybe do some other reading as well.

So this is pretty much a "nothing" post.  Maybe I'll be back later with something of more substance.  Until then, here's wishing everyone has a great day and a great week.  I think I'll go sit on that clean porch and sip some coffee and maybe read a book.

  Graphic by Donna

Dust Bunny Club

I'm sure many of you read Dorn's journal, but just in case you missed her last entry (or if you don't know Dorn), I just wanted to let everyone know that she has just found out that her mother has colon cancer. 

Her mother has a wonderful attitude and outlook on things, the way Dorn describes her, and will meet this situation head on.  But of course, it is stressful for Dorn, particularly when telling her children and keeping her own spirits up and remaining positive.  Her mother will be having surgery today.  Please call around if you'd like.

Please Call 'Round

Carlene at Horseshoe Bend has lost her chihuahua.  Precious  passed away during the night, unexpectedly, and Carlene is having a very hard time dealing with the loss right now, as can be expected.  Please call 'round to offer support if you can.

Cracklin' Bread

Has anyone else out there ever had cracklin' bread?  Or know what crackling is?

A couple weeks ago Thomas told me he'd enjoy having some cracklin' bread if he knew where to get some crackling.  Last week before we left town, Eler Beth and I actually found crackling in a little grocery near our house.  We weren't looking for it; I was actually looking at hams when the package of crackling caught my eye. 

Thomas' father always killed a hog every winter, and if you were raised on a farm you will know that all of a hog is consumed except the oink!  Well crackling is the rind or skin.  (Think packaged pork rinds without the air.)  You cut the rind into small pieces or strips and cook it.  I assume they boiled them first and then perhaps they baked or fried them.  I really don't know.

I didn't grow up on a farm, although my parents did.  We did live in the country, have gardens, and horses, and goats, and etc., but we didn't raise cattle or hogs.  But I can remember one time Daddy bought a hog and had it butchered, and I remember how wonderful the fresh bacon and hams tasted.  And I can remember cracklin' bread.  Like I said, I don't remember exactly how Mom prepared the crackling, except I think I remember her baking it for a while.  The cracklings were hard and crunchy, but it was fun to eat them, crunch and all.   Then she made corn bread, using her usual recipe, stirred some of the cooked crackling in it, baked the bread, and voila!  Cracklin' bread!

So yesterday I made a big pot of green beans with new potatoes and ham, and a pan of cracklin' bread!  Sooo delicious!!!  I just used my usual corn bread recipe that I usually use, but I was curious as to what I could find online, and I found these -various - recipes - for cracklin' - bread.  Some of them are simple, and some much more involved.  I don't use a mix for my cornbread, but make it from scratch, using both white and yellow meal.  I don't see any reason to fool with a good thing and go changing recipes, but I thought they were interesting.  Anyone else out there ever made cracklin' bread?

Tags: cracklin' bread, crackling

Wandering The Neighborhood

I have been walking lately, around the neighborhood.  I set out walking in one direction or another, and I walk for at least 15 minutes before I turn and come back home.  That way I get at least a 30-minute walk a day.

Eler Beth is my companion on these walks, but she rides her bike while I walk.  If she were to walk with me, it would interrupt my stride; I'd have to forever be stopping to look at this or that or she'd be calling me to wait for her or to hurry up and catch up to her.

When I walk, I walk fast, and I set a pace and keep it.  I heard her tell Andrew after the first of our recent walks, "Mom walks fast even when she's going uphill!!"  So riding her bike is the perfect way to keep me company without cramping either my style or hers.  And she keeps me entertained, too!  I thought I knew a lot about our neighborhood, and the streets on the outer edges of our neighborhood, but she knows everything there is to know.  She knows where each cat we encounter belongs; which dogs are nice and which ones rush their fence when you walk by; she pointed out to me where the lady lives who owns a cockatiel and who enjoys talking to Eler Beth when she's walking Lucy (Eler Beth's cockatiel); she pointed out to me where "the girl lives that I met at Science Camp"; and she showed me where "usually there's a really fancy car parked here.  They rarely ever drive it."

Yes, I've been enjoying my walks with Eler Beth.

Finally Settling In

We had a great time over the weekend, and got in late Sunday night.  We didn't go too far away (just a couple of hours' drive), but we stayed in a really nice hotel (jacuzzi rooms!), with live entertainment in the hotel lounge and a wonderful hotel restaurant.  So we didn't even have to leave the hotel for entertainment!!  (Well of course not!)

Anyway, we had a wonderful time, and it was good to get home.  Monday I slept a lot and didn't do too much of anything else.  Unpacking, a little cleaning, and a little cooking, and that was about it.  Yesterday it rained most of the day, so the yard work that I had planned for me and the kids had to be postponed.

Today has been beautifully sunny and warm, so we got a little yard work done.  Andrew will be finishing that up this evening when it gets cool.  I've managed to get some laundry out on the line, and I have even sorted through some things that Eler Beth has outgrown and found a new home for them.  I've also managed to visit some journals and clear out my email inbox.

In local news, the body of the 4 year old missing boy, "Ivan" Cana, was found Saturday morning in a garbage bag in the back of a garbage truck.  I was sickened when I got home Sunday night and heard it on the news.  I wasn't really surprised that he'd been found dead, though.  He'd been missing so long, with no sightings, that I'd thought it would be a miracle if he'd been found alive.  The authorities are saying that his family are not considered suspects, but this morning a local news station obtained a copy of a search warrant issued for a house near the boys' family's home; the search warrant was for the home of a convicted sex offender.  Authorities are saying that he is not a suspect at this time, but then they have to say that.  I just hope they find whoever did it, and that the person is prosecuted justly.

I log on to our state's sex offender web site at least a couple times every month to check who on the list is living or working in our neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods.  I also subscribe to Family Watchdog, which sends me an email everytime someone moves in or out of our vicinity.  I think it's a good idea to just stay informed, especially when I have an 11-year old daughter who plays in and rides her bike all over the neighborhood.  What's sad and scary is that there are offenders out there who have never been caught or prosecuted.  My heart goes out to little Ivan's family.

Tags: Ivan Cana, Family Watchdog, Sex Offender Registry

Ready For The Weekend

Good Morning!

I am trying this morning to take a bit of time to go visit everyone's journals.  I have not read or commented in any journals for about a week now, which is very unusual for me.  But I'm ready to get caught up with everyone now. 

 

Thomas and I are going away for the weekend (our little anniversary gift to ourselves), and I think I just about have everything packed and ready.  So while I'm finishing up I thought I'd drop in and out of journals throughout the morning.  I hope I get by to visit you! [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v679/helmswondermom/MeMe/mz_030406_10012882138.gif[/IMG]

Thank you to everyone who indulged my Posy of Deputies entry.  I just want to assure everyone that I don't take much notice of any grammatical or spelling errors in journals.  I enjoy everyone's own personal style of writing, and so many of you out there write in such a nice conversational style that makes it easy and enjoyable to read.   Yes, I'm picky about grammar and such, but that is just pertaining to myself when I write in my own journal.  (And I do feel horrified whenever I am caught out in a mistake!)  But my sisters like to tease me and I tease them, and sometimes it makes for some interesting exchanges of letters or emails.  (My sister, Barbara, and I used to write one another in Latin as a means of practicing our translation, but, sad to say, it has been so many years now that I doubt I could do that anymore.  But that should give you an idea of how we interact! lol)

I do have a few things I'd like to write about.  We have had several shootings, suicides, and other tragedies in our Louisville, KY/Southern Indiana neighborhoods in the last few weeks, and I'd like to mention a few of the things that have happened.

First of all, one of those 9 firemen who died in that Carolina fire was from a little community near us, so our community felt some effect from that.  Around the same time as that tragedy we had a couple of Sheriff's Deputies in a county bordering ours who, while answering a call to a domestic dispute, were shot.  One of them was killed; a husband and father of a two-year-old girl.  The young gunman, a 15-year-old, straight-A student, then killed himself.  He'd been having an argument with his mother over his marijuana use.  The officer who was not killed is still in rehab right now, but is expected to be going home soon.  Almost immediately following that tragedy there were a series of shootings and murder/suicides in our community and across the river in Louisville, including a father who killed his wife and her daughter, and wounded a stepson before killing himself.  Yesterday or late last night an Indiana State Trooper who stopped to aid what he thought was a stranded motorist was shot and killed by that motorist who then turned the gun on himself.  Why do these suicidal people have to harm someone else before taking their own lives? 

And lastly, a young 4-year-old Hispanic boy who disappeared from the Churchill Downs area of Louisville has been missing now for a week.  I don't think police have had any real leads in finding him yet.  So yes, we have had quite a tragic series of events in our part of the world over the past 6 weeks or so, and unusually so, it seems to me.  Perhaps these things are going on more often everywhere, and it just seems like we're having more of them in our area, I don't know.

I may be back today with another entry, but, regardless, I'd like to wish everyone a very good weekend.  I hope no one is suffering in the areas flooded by heavy rains or in the areas where the temps are topping 100.

A "Posy" of Deputy Sheriffs

Be duly warned that this will be a long post, but I think it will be so excessively worth it if you read the whole thing.  You'll be rolling on the floor laughing by the end.

I used to be a proofreader, and my editor was the master of all proofreaders.  He and I used to try very hard to find a mistake that the other one had missed.  It rarely happened for either of us.  I still proof automatically, but I don't usually point out mistakes to people, just to be pointing them out.  My sisters know that when they write me I am going to be editing mentally, but I only bring their attention to a mistake when it is something so very spectactularly, deliciously funny that I have to bring it up, knowing that they'll get as big a kick out of it as I will.  And they love to be able to crow when they catch me out in a mistake.

I particularly enjoy my sister Maxine's occassional goof-ups, because she is an atrocious speller, and she is an elementary school teacher.  She's a wonderful teacher, she just can't spell worth a hoot.  The "pity party post" I made earlier was originally an email sent to Maxine (aka Midge), and her reply to me was long, warm, and very loving.  It was full of family news, a story about a speeding ticket she had gotten, and lots of encouragement and cheer.  It was also full of mistakes.  Only a few of them stood out and gave me a good laugh, and I had no plans to point them out to her in a return email, although I was going to tease her about a couple of them the next time we spoke by phone.  Well, she tried to head me off by sending me a second email entitled "Corrections!!!???" in which she brought all of her mistakes to my attention, and either explained them or asked for advice on correcting them.  This wonderful email from her had me rolling on the floor laughing.  I had tears rolling down my cheeks.  I was shouting and gasping and holding my sides.   Thomas and the kids were a little worried for a few minutes.

I took this second email from her, broke it apart, added commentary and/or answered her questions, and basically responded as a smart-ass little sister would!

Warning!!  Do not have anything in your mouth when you read this, and if you think you might have to pee, go to the bathroom now!  It may only be a little bit ha-ha funny in the beginning, but as it rolls along those chuckles will turn into guffaws!

And so now, dear friends, for your very much reading pleasure, I give you .....

CORRECTIONS!!!??? REVISITED

Midge, below is your absolutely wonderful email where you point out all of the mistakes you caught when you re-read your letter to me.  I have added a bit of commentary of my own.

Sorry Lori for the amount of trauma you must have experienced with my last e-mail.  Spell check only catches sooooo much.  I was in a hurry to send it before my appointment and did not read it until later.  Sorry, sorry, sorry....

I actually didn't experience much trauma from it.  I usually just automatically proof and edit as I read so that my brain is reading it correctly, and therefore stays trauma-free.  I did, however, get a kick out of three mistakes, and you mentioned none of them!

In the third paragraph, I noticed I used "are" in the sentence about Evonne's family, should have been "is"??  Right or not??

Yes, it should have been "is".  Family is singular.

In paragraph six toward the end, "that that I was" strike one "that".

I did mentally, and again when I read it aloud to Thomas.

The seventh paragraph, fourth line; "had began" to "had begun" or just "began" strike the "had"?

This is really funny, because it is the SIXTH paragraph and the THIRD line!  Of course, it may be the fourth line on your screen, but I'm pretty sure it isn't the seventh paragraph for you.  And, yes, it should be either "had begun" or simply "began".  (And you left the "d" off of "awakened")

Same paragraph where I quoted the last sentence of the days text; I had typed in two of the word "the" and when I went back to correctly make one of them a "to", I incorrectly corrected.  Instead of it saying "to the" I made it say "the to" which makes no sense.  I'm sure your brain figured it out anyway.

I'm sure it did, too, and probably wasn't even bothered by it.  I'm glad to know, however, that it came about honestly from your endeavor to correct a mistake.  That makes it just precious somehow!  (And it is "day's" text, with an apostrophe, not days text.)

Last paragraph last sentence should read, "Tell Eler Beth Cousin Evonne was in the 7th grade before I would let her shave her legs."  Not the way it is written!  It actually might have been the eight grade.  I'll have to ask Evonne.

Really?!  It actually might have been the "eight" grade?  Are you sure it might not have been the "eighth" grade?  You are so funny!  I automatically removed the second "e" in "here" to make it "her", so no matter about that.  I'm surprised you were worried about such a little mistake.  But "eight" grade??  (And does it really matter enough for you to go to the trouble to check with Evonne if it was the seventh or the eighth grade?)  I had tears rolling down my cheeks when I first read this email!  Are you really that worried about my editing you?  I mentally edit everything, you know.  I can't help it.  And I only bring something to your attention if it's excessively funny or if I'm just in the mood to tease you.

These are only the few mistakes that I caught when I did go back and read it.  Perhaps we don't really want to know the others....

Well, you are going to have to know three of them at least, because they are my favorites.  The funny parts are highlighted in red:

First of all, I was so very interested to know that you, and I quote, "left my house driving as usual and, low and behold, they had a posy of deputy sheriffs sitting in wait for me."  Now I would like to have seen that!!  Do you think Barbara could draw for us what a "posy" of deputy sheriffs would look like?  I think you meant "posse".  A posy is a small bouquet of flowers.  And I believe it is simply "lo" when you mean to call attention to an amazing sight.  And did you know that my Oxford English Dictionary says that the phrase "lo and behold" is "a formula introducing a surprising or unexpected fact"?  A "posy" of deputy sheriffs certainly would qualify for that!  Okay, I guess I've bugged you enough about that one.

The third one that I got a kick out of you typed not once but twice in your second paragraph and then again two more times in your fourth paragraph.  It was the fourth paragraph that really "did me in", because in that paragraph you were giving me advice.  You recommended to me that if I "go for a message" I should do so before my chiropractor visit so that I can be good and loose.  You gave me this advice based on the fact that having your own "message" on Tuesday afternoon before having your adjustment on Wednesday did you a lot of good.  I will follow your advice, and make sure that should I ever want a "message" of any kind, I'll have it before I go to the chiropractor.  And what's equally funny is that in the second paragraph you actually spelled it right the first time, then wrong every time after that.

Okay, I think I have finished.  I feel a bit guilty about this very sarcastic letter I have written to you, but I console myself with the fact that I would not have even thought of writing it if you hadn't brought your mistakes and corrections to my attention first.  Now I probably would have teased you about the "posy" and the "message", but I wouldn't have gone to a lot of trouble to send you an email specifically pointing them out to you (like I'm doing now).  However, I am very glad that you did, because I have immensely enjoyed reading it and being able to respond to it.

Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

Your loving littlest sister,

Lori

Scalzi Sighting

A couple of days ago I was trying to decide whether to use "proved" or "proven" as a past participle in something I was writing, so I googled "grammatically correct proved or proven", and one of the things that came up was Whil Wheaten's web site; the very first post on his page when it came up, and practically the first sentence, gave John Scalzi as an example of a great writer.  I thought that was interesting.

Anyway, apparently either is correct, although some grammar experts maintain that one should use proven if it comes after a linking verb. 

Tags: Whil Wheaton, John Scalzi, Grammar, Proved or Proven

Another Note Of Appreciation

I wanted to thank everyone for their comments and emails wishing me well after my "pity party" a few days ago.  I have made an appointment on the 11th to have a full lab work up done.  Then on the 13th I will see my doctor for the results and to get the rest of my physical.  So we'll go from there.

My sister Dee emailed me in response to that email (on which my post was based), and told me to make sure I had my doc really do a good job of checking my heart, because she had experienced some of my symptoms right before they discovered that she had an aortal aneurysm.  She was also waking up in the night with chest pain, though, and I don't have that, thank goodness.  But I will tell him about it and see what happens.  (This was about sixteen years ago, by the way, and about 4 years ago she had surgery to repair it.  It had grown and got to the point where she had no choice but to have surgery.)  Her email was cute, though.  She closed it with this:  "You do a wonderful complaining letter.  You're an idiot, you know.  Love ya, Dee"

I told her she was right, and that I take after my big sisters. :)

A Note Of Appreciation

I didn't send out my usual "get your mammogram" reminder yesterday on the first day of the month, like I've been doing.  I simply forgot.  I got an email a couple days ago, though, from a fellow J-Lander who said that because of my emails regarding mammograms, she had gone to get hers for the first time in 14 years, and this after having pocketed the past two physician's orders for mammograms without following through on an appointment.  I really appreciated her letting me know that.  It made me feel like I had done something good.

I know mammograms don't always catch lumps, but I still think it's better to be safe than sorry.  When my mother was in her sixties she found a pea-sized lump in one of her breasts.  She had never had a mammogram.  She went for one and was immediately sent to a specialist.  A biopsy revealed cancer; thankfully a slow-growing one.  She opted for a mastectomy.  Her left breast and some lymph nodes were removed, and she began a very rapid recovery from the surgery.  The lymph nodes showed no spread of cancer, thankfully, and she is still going strong today at age 83.

I had my first mammogram last year, and have already scheduled my next one.  It's little enough inconvenience to put up with to be on the safe side.  So don't be a boob!  Get your yearly mammogram!

The Breast Cancer Site didn't quite get their 6 million clicks last month, although I think they were very close to 90%.  But their main sponsor has extended the challenge into this month, and they are now at over 93% of the goal.

Tags: Mammograms, Breast Cancer Site