Sandals

I love shoes........but I guess if you would take a survey, many women do. When I was growing up I went to Catholic high school. Yup, you guessed it, uniforms....regulated shoes. Now that I look back on it, it is a good idea. Ok, ok, think about it.....one less pressure applied to kids, no name brand frenzy, no keeping up with the Joneses (man I had to think about the plural for Jones......yikes), once the initial cost is over with, it's done unless you are still in a growing period in high school and I know some young people still are, and it just plain alleviates the daily drama of "what do I wear today".

I can't blame my love of shoes on parochial schooling, nope, even in my youth I loved shoes. I was fortunate enough to be in a family that could afford my whims, and had matching shoes for many outfits. I wish I could remember the name of the little leather flats (quite like the ones that are in style now) that we soooooo popular in my high school years..........I had EVERY color!!

I don't know why I am so hooked on my high school years today, because my blog today is about sandals. I love going into shoe stores, outlets, department stores with a shoe section, and all of the discount stores and looking at sandals. Now that I am living in such a warm climate (trust me it has been unseasonably warm here - high 90's this whole week) we can wear sandals from about April until mid October. Isn't that cool? I mean it's like dream come true for me. Yet something strange has taken place this year..........I haven't looked for sandals at all this year!!!! Oh I did purchase one pair in Why-oh-ming when I was there......we had two days of sun and I paniced that my feet would be stuck inside solid leather!!!!, but other than that, I haven't looked or drooled over open toe, backless leather foot wear at all!!!!! One is that I haven't been shopping at all.......zilch!!!! I have a very generous and kind friend, that sent me this HUMUNGOUS box of clothes that no longer fit her and it was like manna from heaven to me. I had two days of trying things on and feeling like a princess.............thank you Miss C! The other reason of course is $$$, man it is just plain tight............so if I don't go out shopping for clothes, I don't wander into the shoe section, thus eliminating any pressure "Buy, no be good, buy, remember your budget, oh go ahead, they're sooooo cute".

I am rambling again, huh? It's ok, if I type and ramble it keeps my mind off of what I feel is cruel and unusual punishment........ the lack of shopping. Oh let's not kid ourselves SHOE SHOPPING - no SANDAL SHOE SHOPPING! I am brave, I am woman, naw, who am I kidding, I am broke and I truly looked at my shoe rack and KNOW that I have enough sandals........oooooo, those little red things are cute, huh? Oh, get control Mary Ellen, get control!!!!!!!

Working fast and furious

I think that I have shared that I truly believe that both of my daughters have been blessed with wonderful mother-in-laws. In my opinion these two ladies are true examples of what the word Christian means. Now trust me, they are on opposite ends of the personality charts, but both care and do for others all of the time.
This leads me to the generosity of one of them...........she has offered to have a home jewelry party for me. Can you believe it? I would never have thought of doing this, let alone ask someone to do it for me.........and she just up and offered. I was blown away.
Soooo, guess what I am doing..........oh man, it was way to obvious. Yup, I am beading and stringing and trying my darnedest to get some inventory together. It is hard deciding what ladies would like..........(a little tongue in cheek on that one). I want a good variety, I want different colors in the same styles, I want bracelets, necklaces and earrings...........man I want it all!!!! I sure wish that my computer would get fixed, so I could share what I have available right now, so I could get some opinions.........I like feedback, I need feedback!!!! Oh I know that I will get the computer back before I have enough inventory.........so be prepared for an invasion of snapshots and I hope you will comment and help me out with choices............
I have to find my list of email addresses, I do so miss reading emails..........I use Outlook Express, so I can't carry that over to either the laptop or the kid's computer..............but if you write to me at my regular email address, I think I can read it through Yahoo mail.........someone please email privately and lets see if it works...............pleeeeeeeze. Thank you.

Crunch..........

I am really feeling the crunch.........of $$$$. I am on a fixed income and I have always tried to be careful..........shoot now I am almost paranoid about my spending. Every two weeks I set aside a certain amount for gas.........and usually I have had $$ left over......what I consider my mad $$..........yeah, well it's mad $$ now for sure............mad as hallifax that all of it's going into my tank instead of either into my bead inventory or my savings!!!!!! I am trying really really hard not to go anywhere that isn't necessary..........or(and this is nothing new, as I have always practised this) mapping out the places I want to go and doing them in little clusters..........you know, the stores that are close together, that type of thing. I have a friend on the other side of town and I would love to go and do a girl day with her...............but it is 45 minutes one way to go and visit........plus then all of the gas that would be used to go and do whatever we decided to do..........so sadly I haven't seen her in, hmmmmmmm, over 2 months!!!!! Now all of that time isn't due to gas, some of it is just due to people coming and going, family responsibilities and life, but in the last few weeks, it has been gas.
Are you feeling the squeeze? How are you tightening up your budgets? I am sooooo open for suggestions and ideas............HELP!!!!!!!

Weather

Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation.
Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930)

Think about it......how many times do you talk about the weather? We talk about it to family, friends, total strangers..........if it weren't for the weather, how would we open up a conversation, continue one that we don't want to end.......fill in uncomfortable silences in conversations. I remembered seeing this quote somewhere and then of course I didn't save it, so I had to go on a mini hunt to find it again, but I am glad I did.

Sorry for no graphics........since I am borrowing my family's computers and laptops, I don't feel comfortable downloading graphics and pictures..........hey I only have 7 days left(that is, if the 10 days included Sunday or Monday and I know Best Buy was open both days.) Keeping my fingers crossed.............

Memorial Day's Remembered

First, I don't know how often that I will be able to post........the Geek Squad said a minimum of 7 to 10 days before I can get my machine back!!!!!! I played the ole' Nana taking care of little grandsons, with no life other than my computer..........then I put on my really scariest face and said something about postal workers.........either way the young man didn't look impressed!!!!!
To get to the post of the day..........many Memorial Days have come and gone and trust me spending quite a few of them in Wyoming, they were either spent freezing or hoping against hope that the sun was going to stay.
The one Memorial Day that I want to share with you, happened many many years ago, I think I was either 8 or 9. It was the year that I marched in the Memorial Day parade with my baton twirling group. Now being the younger group, we weren't required to throw our batons or do any fancy steps......just march in out little white pleated skirts, our sequined blue vests, and white boots with the tassels on them. Oh we looked sharp......and we marched....I have no idea how long we marched, but we marched. Now as all of the other girls were joined with their parents, Mary and George couldn't find their precious little only child, Mary Ellen. They must have panic ed royally and rightfully so...........off they went to the cemetery, and I am sure it wasn't at any slow pace either. They found me........sitting on a headstone ( I am sorry, I know it was disrespectful and I was given a stern lesson on that also), but there I sat.......baton in hand, boots off and this horribly sad and forlorn look on my face .........my first words to my parents was a declaration "That was it.............no more..........I am sorry to disappoint you..but I just can't do this marching thing again." I didn't. In fact, I don't think I continued on with my baton twirling career much longer after that.
I can remember that day so vividly, and it brings such a smile to my face each time.........hope you enjoyed it too........
I am writing on my grandson's laptop.............man it is different than the computer, keyboard thing........again, it's what you are use to........right now it is a challenge for me..........so I will try and persevere and conquer............

House Mouse

Being a house mouse in the first grade is the most wonderful thing. It is the sound of the cork popping on a most expensive champagne

it is like the cherry on the top of your most favorite ice cream sundae, it's like having your birthday and Christmas all rolled into one day (hmmmm, having a child who has birthday two days after Christmas, that probably isn't the best analogy to use, huh?). House mouse gets to be the line leader, gets to be the weather person for the day, holds the flag, helps pass out and pick up papers for the teacher, and helps the teacher in any way that she or he asks..........it is being prince or princess for a day.

Now for a Nana, hearing the following was even better.......it was like being told that I had won the lottery, not only for myself, but for all of my family and close friends (which honestly would take sooooooooooo much pressure off of me........trying to decide how much to share with each family member and close friends).........here is how the conversation went yesterday.

" I hope Tommy gets to be house mouse today" said Daniel.

"You hope Tommy gets to be house mouse, instead of you?" Nana replied with a question in her voice.

"Yes Nana, I think Tommy was sad yesterday and that would make him happy."

Oh man, I felt like this, I felt like these wonderful bubbles floating up into the sky............

what a wonderful little boy to have such caring feelings for his friend............man if that doesn't make you want to cry and smile at the same time, well write to me and tell me.........but for me, it was one of the best moments I will hold close forever.

Now to get the technical stuff out of the way......the mouse drawings were "borrowed" from this sitehttp://mouse.webby.com/

Now here is another share.........I am thinking that I am going to take my computer to the computer store and have it worked on...........man, I am not happy about it........and if they can't promise to have it back by this week-end, then I will think twice about it.........as the kids are going to go camping and I could spend some serious time on the computer with them gone......so if I post tomorrow, you know I couldn't get it back this week-end and have postponed the inevitable until next week.........no post...........then I was given a promise and let's hope for their sake that they can keep it.................

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning,Looked in the mirror,And noticed she had only three hairs on her head.Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"

So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up,Looked in the mirrorAnd saw that she had only two hairs on her head."H-M-M," she said,"I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"

So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up,Looked in the mirror And noticed that she had only one hair on her head."Well," she said,"today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."

So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up,Looked in the mirrorAnd noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head."YEA!" she exclaimed,"I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

I found this on my email .........now it wasn't a recent email, shoot it was from 2006.........so for once I can prove that saving old emails are worth it.........I thought it would help me swim through this jell-o and who knows, maybe help someone else too...........

I'm back..........

Well I hope it's good news that I am back..........

I do seem to be in a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep funk.

Main Entry:
3funk
Function:
noun
Etymology:
perhaps from obsolete Dutch dialect (Flanders) fonck
Date:
1743
1 a: a state of paralyzing fear b: a depressed state of mind2: one that funks : coward3: slump 1

For me, it's like I am swimming in jello......hmmmm, or just even hint to the word sleep and I could and would do just that. I know, sounds like depression, but truly not thinking that way.........it's just this funk............good gravy I haven't even touched my beads.........not even thought of opening up the cases and touching them....scary, huh?

Today I am going back to the gym for the first time......this could be a good thing (thank you Martha for that phrase.) Walking on the treadmill and doing some unwelcomed excersise could be just the "think" to perk me up............and trust me, going to the gym IS NOT my thing. I did not come from a family of gym-nics!!!! If you see the word sedatary in the dictionary, well that picture is probably one of my relatives..........the end.

I did spend Sunday with my daughter making cards to send to Iraq, to friends of hers that are still there..........that was fun. I do like making cards, sometimes the ideas just tumble out of my head, other times, and trust me on this one, you can tell I was just grabbing for any idea that floated by. She is more of a scrapbooker, but I think she enjoyed it too.........

Ok, so I am going to try and get back into the swing of things

Happy Mother's Day

A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.--

Agatha Christie (1890-1976), English novelist and playwright.

Happy Mother's Day......to all those women in my life. I am thankful for each and everyone of you..........some have taught me humility, others courage........many have boosted my confidence, others have at times brought me back to earth with a better view of the lives around me........thank you for being who you are.............and for sharing with me.

Solitaire

Certain things are just timeless........it happened just this week. My oldest grand daughter (10) just learned how to play solitaire, between her daddy and I. Now no, it isn't that hard to teach her, but this household has this revolving door attached to it and people are in and out, phone ringing - so I would jump in while he was off talking on the phone or visiting with people that drop by. Oh man, did it bring back memories to me.

I grew up in the 50's. I truly believe that the 50's was the last of the "safe for children" eras. Honest. I lived on a maple lined street, where the trees gave us all the shade and protection you could ask for. We rented our home at the time from a wonderful, wonderful family who had a daughter that was 2 years older than and I, and we were inseparable.....totally. I mean, we dressed alike, we had baby dolls alike, we took swimming lessons together, 4-H together, and during the summer........man it was rare the nights that we didn't sleep at each other's home. It was truly a wonderful and totally idyllic childhood. Then the summer of solitaire hit. We learned to play together, and sadly I don't remember who taught us..........but who ever it was.........well they created monsters. We played morning, noon and night. We played on the picnic tables under the maple trees, we played on the blankets spread out at the lake, we played on the porch floor, we played on our beds, and then we discovered double solitaire and we really went to town. It was a good summer..........but most of my childhood was good.

I'm glad I was here to see my grand daughter learn how to play, will this be her summer of solitaire? No........things have changed........and change is good and necessary, in some areas. I wish that little boys and girls at the age of 10 could have a summer of solitaire though............but then I also wish for many things...........

I'm alive

I know that title is rather odd...but not to me..........I thought I was going to die!!!! I have been sicker than a dog (now this expression has always made me wonder....can a dog be sicker than a human? a horse? an alien?) and wanted to die a few times in these last few days. It hit me the minute I got to my daughter's home. I started to get cold.......but I didn't think much about that, as the change in temperatures and the snow..........but I went to bed at 8 and didn't wake up until 7 the next morning...........and from there it went down hill..........I truly thought I had an ulcer..........my stomach was doing the wave dance big time..........whoa! I was actually thinking of calling my trip short and going back to Texas.................but after 2 days of this nastiness, I woke up this a.m. and feeling quite close to myself..........whatever that is. So where ever I picked up this nasty little germ, I want to thank that person from the bottom of my heart for sharing.......

I'm here

I arrived............safe and sound. I had my handsome son and three beeeeeeee-u-tee-ful grandchildren waiting for me at the airport.......who could ask for anything more? Ok, let's get to the weather........landed in Rapid City, SD.........and trust me on this one..........they had snow.......not just a wee bit, but I am talking drifts everywhere. On the way home, (2 hour drive) there were almost as many cars off the highway as there were on the highway.........yikes.

Of course when I arrived, the airlines had lost one of my suitcases........man I can't figure this out........two hours lay over in Denver and they still couldn't get both pieces of my luggage transferred???? Hello? They did deliver it this a.m., which I am grateful for. Of course I wasn't here for more than an hour, hour and half and I just started with the shakes and shivers, went to bed around 7 and didn't get up until 7 this morning. Ate 2 piece of toast and a small piece of Canadian bacon and right back to bed I went..........yowzers.............got up around 1 and do feel better.

Will be driving my girls and possibly my grandson too, to the school bus and then taking my sil to cardiac therapy.........hope to visit with friends and maybe do a few luncheons or dinners with them........go to my old quilting guild one day and hopefully visit my old place of work..........so take care until tomorrow...........

It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.
— Anonymous

Just prattling away this morning..........

First, whoever anonymous is/was, her or she is just one smart person.........

Second, I am leaving tomorrow for two weeks...........visiting family.........actually going to go and help out my daughter and sil..........he had 5 bypasses a few weeks back and I am going up to WY to help drive him to and from cardiac therapy..........that way she can put a full day's work in and not have a paycheck that is short............trust me when i say that these kids will be medically in debt for ever.........and they do have insurance too.

Not sure if I can blog on my daughter's computer.......going to try........if not, well here is a recipe that I love............and since Mother's Day is fast approaching, and many families get together to celebrate this special day, it can be used as a salad or a dessert...........

Pretzel Salad
2 ½ cups coarsely chopped pretzels 3 tbsp sugar
¾ c. melted butter
mix and press into 9 x 13 pan and bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes
Beat together:
1 8oz cream cheese 1 egg
1 cup powdered sugar 1 12oz cool whip
spread over cooled crust and chill until set.
Make 1, 6oz strawberry jell-O as directed, but SUBSTITUTE 3, 10 oz boxes of frozen strawberries instead of 2 cups cold water. Chill until syrupy and pour over cream mixture. Chill…..keep refrigerated……….
I think this is more of a dessert, and I know that whatever it is , it likes, naaawww it LOVES my hips =-).

Well off to do laundry and get things ready to pack.........leaving dark thirty in the morning.......man, not liking this early morning flight thing, but was trying to make it easier on my kids picking me up...................

another one that I like

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.
— Andy Rooney

I do this a lot..........just smile at some mental image, memory, fantasy.......whatever.......drives people crazy, or nervous........try it.........you'll like it........trust me.