There was quite a bit of talk the last few months about the end of the world, supposedly predicted by the Mayans. Well, obviously that proved to be untrue, or was it. There's now been talk that maybe what the Mayans really meant was that 12/21/12 was the end of an era and that a new era was about to begin. That whole idea has really intrigued me, kind of like a fresh start, a do over. We don't get many of those and we should take advantage of it if it does happen.
I've been thinking for a while now, but especially the last few weeks, of what I want to do and/or be in this "new era". Are there things I want to accomplish? Are there aspects of my life that I want to change or work on? What do I want my priorites to be? Do I try to incorporate the things that I think are important into my everyday life?
There are things that I am passionate about, animals, the destruction of our natural resources and wild habitats. I also feel very strongly about our food system, the abuse of our food animals, the way a lot of our food is grown, using pesticides and chemicals, processed foods and "frankenfoods", which is another name for GMOs, genetically modified foods. I'm a great believer in local food, farmers markets and urban gardens
and organic foods. I am even thinking of starting a small garden this spring.
I am also interested in living a more sustainable life, reuse, recycle and restore, green energy. I read a small article a few weeks ago about a woman who at the end of a year, only had a lunchbag of garbage for the whole year. She recycled everything and when she went to the grocery, if the packaging of something she wanted couldn't be recycled, she didn't buy it but made the food homemade instead. She wrote a blog about it and I wanted to check it out but I misplaced the article, dang it. I also like the idea of buying gifts in local shops and businesses.
Is this a way I can live my life 100% of the time, probably not, but if I can incorporate some of these ideals into my everyday life I will happy. Some of the things will be easy, I do recycle, I do try to frequent farmer's markets. But some things may be a little harder to always accomplish, but I want to do my best to try. Will I always be successful, probably not, but it will be a learning experience for me and hopefully for you.
Starting next week, I will be changing the focus of my blog to chronicle my attempt to make some of these changes. The blog name will still be the same, but just a more defined subject matter. I hope everyone who has been a regular reader enjoys it and I welcome new visitors. Maybe I can teach you something and if you have an idea please leave a comment and let me know what you think or give me ideas.
Here's to a new era!
Kathy
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
70 And Rockin'
Everyone's buzzing about the big 12-12-12 fund raiser for the victims of Super Storm Sandy, put on by some of the biggest names in the music industry. From what I've heard, quite a bit of money was raised so by all accounts it was a success. It has be nice the last few years that celebrities have stepped up to lend their names and talents to helping disaster victims here in the United States.
Now my musical tastes are pretty eclectic, but I have never been a fan of heavy metal or rap. As talented as they are, I've never been a fan of The Rolling Stones or The Who. I just am not partial to their music. I am more partial to country, blues/jazz with a little bluegrass thrown in. Reba McIntyre, George Strait, Sugarland, Adele, John Legend and Michael Buble being some of my favorites.
All that being said and in the interest of full disclosure, I only saw some of the concert that played on HBO last night, but some of what I saw concerned me. I saw some of the Bruce Spingsteen and Bon Jovi performances and they were excellent, of course I am a fan of theirs. It was the other 70ish year old men strutting around on stage that kind of gave me the "ick" factor.
Now I know the Rolling Stones are an institution, but just seeing Mick Jagger, who at 69, strutting and prancing around onstage like he did 40 years ago, was just kind of "icky" to me. There is nothing wrong with still performing at that age, but it seems like he could tone it down a little. It's great that he is still in such good shape to be able to do that, but letting a touch of gray show in your hair and not trying to do all the sames moves as when he was younger, in my opinion, would be much more attractive. I really don't want to see a 70 yr. old man, thrusting his pelvis. Even Keith Richards has let his hair go gray and he still seems every bit the rockin' roller he always was, it hasn't hurt him.
Now Roger Daltry, that's a whole different story. Unfortunately, I turned it over just in time to see him performing with the rest of The Who. All I can say is that someone needs to tell him that the open shirt look is not a good look for a 68 yr. old man. It was like coming upon an accident, I couldn't look away, oh I tried, but I just couldn't. Why do older men think they can still pull that off. A 68 yr. old man can only open his shirt in public if he is out cutting grass on a hot summer day and even then it's kind of iffy. It still makes my shudder to think about it. And, at the risk of making his fans upset, I think he sounded more like he was shouting, and rather badly, the song rather than singing it.
Lots of performers and previous rebels and rockin' rollers grow older gracefully and still perform and still have their fan following. There is nothing wrong with that. But for god's sake, keep your shirt buttoned up.
But despite all that, thanks to all the performers who helped with this great cause.
Kathy
Now my musical tastes are pretty eclectic, but I have never been a fan of heavy metal or rap. As talented as they are, I've never been a fan of The Rolling Stones or The Who. I just am not partial to their music. I am more partial to country, blues/jazz with a little bluegrass thrown in. Reba McIntyre, George Strait, Sugarland, Adele, John Legend and Michael Buble being some of my favorites.
All that being said and in the interest of full disclosure, I only saw some of the concert that played on HBO last night, but some of what I saw concerned me. I saw some of the Bruce Spingsteen and Bon Jovi performances and they were excellent, of course I am a fan of theirs. It was the other 70ish year old men strutting around on stage that kind of gave me the "ick" factor.
Now I know the Rolling Stones are an institution, but just seeing Mick Jagger, who at 69, strutting and prancing around onstage like he did 40 years ago, was just kind of "icky" to me. There is nothing wrong with still performing at that age, but it seems like he could tone it down a little. It's great that he is still in such good shape to be able to do that, but letting a touch of gray show in your hair and not trying to do all the sames moves as when he was younger, in my opinion, would be much more attractive. I really don't want to see a 70 yr. old man, thrusting his pelvis. Even Keith Richards has let his hair go gray and he still seems every bit the rockin' roller he always was, it hasn't hurt him.
Now Roger Daltry, that's a whole different story. Unfortunately, I turned it over just in time to see him performing with the rest of The Who. All I can say is that someone needs to tell him that the open shirt look is not a good look for a 68 yr. old man. It was like coming upon an accident, I couldn't look away, oh I tried, but I just couldn't. Why do older men think they can still pull that off. A 68 yr. old man can only open his shirt in public if he is out cutting grass on a hot summer day and even then it's kind of iffy. It still makes my shudder to think about it. And, at the risk of making his fans upset, I think he sounded more like he was shouting, and rather badly, the song rather than singing it.
Lots of performers and previous rebels and rockin' rollers grow older gracefully and still perform and still have their fan following. There is nothing wrong with that. But for god's sake, keep your shirt buttoned up.
But despite all that, thanks to all the performers who helped with this great cause.
Kathy
Monday, November 19, 2012
No Offense But..........
People who know me might find it hard to imagine, but growing up I was painfully shy. Content to stay in the background, not offer any opinions, not make eye contact, not easily making new friends. Well, all that's changed now and thankfully I grew out of being shy. As a matter of fact, there are times when I probably speak more than I should. It's a fine line between holding back and letting it all come out. Well tonight I'm letting it all hang out...maybe not all, but definitely some of it hang.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: Holiday decorations seem to run the gamut from nothing to lights on every conceivable surface and the front lawn covered. No offense to anyone, but I absolutely....strongly dislike, the inflatables. Today I saw my first Thanksgiving turkey, inflatable, on someone's lawn. I had an irresistable urge to get a BB gun and shoot it. In my opinion, Thanksgiving/Autumn decorations are pumpkins, gourds, wreaths in oranges, browns, yellows, NOT big inflatable turkeys in your yard.
Same thing with Christmas decorations. I once saw a yard, a small front yard, with inflatable Santas, reindeer, a snowman, a Grinch and the Grinch's dog all in the same yard, bunched together. Tacky, tacky, tacky.....in my opinion. Inflatable decorations seem to be all the rage the past couple of years, and while I don't care for any of them, if you have to have them, have one or two and call it a day. If you like them, then by all means go right ahead, I'll smile and nod, all the while scoping out my targets for my BB gun.
THANKFULNESS: For the month of November there is a trend on Facebook for some people to list, everyday, something that they are thankful for. People are very sincere and put a lot of thought into what they are thankful for and some of the things are very touching and emotional. I even participated in it several years back, when I first joined the "Facebook Nation".
Maybe because I am a Capricorn, maybe it's my Swiss/German ancestry (and probably a little British thrown in for good measure) I tend to me more reserved about public displays of affection, spilling my emotions. So, and I mean no offense to anyone, but I would love to post on the last day that I am thankful that I don't have to read what everyone is thankful for anymore. Does that sound mean, probably but I really don't mean it to be, but that is just how I feel.
Now I do have a facebook friend who is posting what she is thankful for and I actually love it. One day she is thankful for her seat warmers in her car, another day she is thankful for pierced earrings because no matter if she gains a few pounds or is bloated, they will always fit. She is also thankful for the PAC 10, which has 14 teams, which just goes to show that she is not the only one who is bad at math. Now THAT is the kind of thankfulness I can get behind. I tend to be drawn to the snarky and sarcastic, I love it.
JUSTIN BIEBER: Entertainer of the Year.....really.......really??? He's just a kid, a talented one yes, but a kid. What has he done to be Entertainer of the Year. There are numerous other musicians who have paid their dues, struggled, worked their way up and have tremendous talent. As a friend of my commented, it's all about the money, with all his "tween" followers, he has probably raked in the money, but is that the basis of being Entertainer of the Year? I hope not, but, in my opinion, he may better deserve that honor after he has a few more years under his belt. Please!!
Well, I'm done offending people for now but I just had to get it off my chest. Ahhhhh, now I feel better. Just remember people, do whatever you want, it's a free country. If it makes you feel good that's all that matters, but you might think twice before you ask me my opinion.
Kathy
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: Holiday decorations seem to run the gamut from nothing to lights on every conceivable surface and the front lawn covered. No offense to anyone, but I absolutely....strongly dislike, the inflatables. Today I saw my first Thanksgiving turkey, inflatable, on someone's lawn. I had an irresistable urge to get a BB gun and shoot it. In my opinion, Thanksgiving/Autumn decorations are pumpkins, gourds, wreaths in oranges, browns, yellows, NOT big inflatable turkeys in your yard.
Same thing with Christmas decorations. I once saw a yard, a small front yard, with inflatable Santas, reindeer, a snowman, a Grinch and the Grinch's dog all in the same yard, bunched together. Tacky, tacky, tacky.....in my opinion. Inflatable decorations seem to be all the rage the past couple of years, and while I don't care for any of them, if you have to have them, have one or two and call it a day. If you like them, then by all means go right ahead, I'll smile and nod, all the while scoping out my targets for my BB gun.
THANKFULNESS: For the month of November there is a trend on Facebook for some people to list, everyday, something that they are thankful for. People are very sincere and put a lot of thought into what they are thankful for and some of the things are very touching and emotional. I even participated in it several years back, when I first joined the "Facebook Nation".
Maybe because I am a Capricorn, maybe it's my Swiss/German ancestry (and probably a little British thrown in for good measure) I tend to me more reserved about public displays of affection, spilling my emotions. So, and I mean no offense to anyone, but I would love to post on the last day that I am thankful that I don't have to read what everyone is thankful for anymore. Does that sound mean, probably but I really don't mean it to be, but that is just how I feel.
Now I do have a facebook friend who is posting what she is thankful for and I actually love it. One day she is thankful for her seat warmers in her car, another day she is thankful for pierced earrings because no matter if she gains a few pounds or is bloated, they will always fit. She is also thankful for the PAC 10, which has 14 teams, which just goes to show that she is not the only one who is bad at math. Now THAT is the kind of thankfulness I can get behind. I tend to be drawn to the snarky and sarcastic, I love it.
JUSTIN BIEBER: Entertainer of the Year.....really.......really??? He's just a kid, a talented one yes, but a kid. What has he done to be Entertainer of the Year. There are numerous other musicians who have paid their dues, struggled, worked their way up and have tremendous talent. As a friend of my commented, it's all about the money, with all his "tween" followers, he has probably raked in the money, but is that the basis of being Entertainer of the Year? I hope not, but, in my opinion, he may better deserve that honor after he has a few more years under his belt. Please!!
Well, I'm done offending people for now but I just had to get it off my chest. Ahhhhh, now I feel better. Just remember people, do whatever you want, it's a free country. If it makes you feel good that's all that matters, but you might think twice before you ask me my opinion.
Kathy
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Crazily, Hopelessly, Head Over Heels In....
in love. My new love makes me feel cozy, makes me feel warm. I met my love at the JCPenny Outlet store a couple of months ago. Now, we've had a previous relationship, but I had felt smothered and constricted, but somehow this time was different. This time I felt strong and in charge, more confident.....or maybe it's because I'm turning into my mother!
You see, I am in love with "the turtleneck sweater". I've always had one or two in my winter wardrobe every year, but usually I've only liked a cowl-neck, nothing tight. If I wore one with a tighter neck, I was constantly pulling on it, it made me feel like I was choking. But all of a sudden this year I've had a change of heart. I'm likin' the tighter neck.
My Mom always says her neck gets cold in the winter and she wears a scarf around her neck a lot of times. She was always asking me if my neck was cold whenever I wore a just V-neck sweater or a collared blouse. Well, even though I am cold natured, having my neck exposed didn't seem to affect me that much, until this year. All of a sudden, if my neck is cold I am cold all over. And I've been kind of doing an informal survey of women at work and apparently "cold neck" syndrome seems to be quite common. Some wear turtlenecks while some just wear scarves around their necks, silky or knitted scarves that go with their outfits. All very stylish.
When I went shopping a few weeks ago, I bought turtlenecks, turtlenecks and more turtlenecks. Different colors, different styles, some heavy for when winter really hits and some lightweight, better for Fall weather. A few had a more relaxed neck, while the others a more fitted neck. I probably have about a dozen right now, not that I'm obsessed or anything. Even now as I'm sitting here typing this, my neck is cold, even though I keep pulling up the collar of my robe around it. Do they make turtleneck pajamas?
Oh, did I mention that I also bought a couple of scarves, apparently I'm easily influenced. I'm not obsessed with the scarves......yet. I just want a few, you know, maybe as a change of pace from the turtleneck every now and then. I want options.
Kathy
You see, I am in love with "the turtleneck sweater". I've always had one or two in my winter wardrobe every year, but usually I've only liked a cowl-neck, nothing tight. If I wore one with a tighter neck, I was constantly pulling on it, it made me feel like I was choking. But all of a sudden this year I've had a change of heart. I'm likin' the tighter neck.
My Mom always says her neck gets cold in the winter and she wears a scarf around her neck a lot of times. She was always asking me if my neck was cold whenever I wore a just V-neck sweater or a collared blouse. Well, even though I am cold natured, having my neck exposed didn't seem to affect me that much, until this year. All of a sudden, if my neck is cold I am cold all over. And I've been kind of doing an informal survey of women at work and apparently "cold neck" syndrome seems to be quite common. Some wear turtlenecks while some just wear scarves around their necks, silky or knitted scarves that go with their outfits. All very stylish.
When I went shopping a few weeks ago, I bought turtlenecks, turtlenecks and more turtlenecks. Different colors, different styles, some heavy for when winter really hits and some lightweight, better for Fall weather. A few had a more relaxed neck, while the others a more fitted neck. I probably have about a dozen right now, not that I'm obsessed or anything. Even now as I'm sitting here typing this, my neck is cold, even though I keep pulling up the collar of my robe around it. Do they make turtleneck pajamas?
Oh, did I mention that I also bought a couple of scarves, apparently I'm easily influenced. I'm not obsessed with the scarves......yet. I just want a few, you know, maybe as a change of pace from the turtleneck every now and then. I want options.
Kathy
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Election 2012
I have deliberately not weighed in on the Presidential election on any social media sights. It seems the vehemence with which people discuss the candidates they disagree with has reached an all time low. Yes, I'm glad people are passionate about what they believe in, but the name calling and personal attacks coming from each side is both distasteful and childish. Plus the fact that anyone who has professed to be undecided must be an idiot, brainless, a fool or have no love of their country.
Well, guess what, I have been one of those demonized "undecided" voters......until last weekend. I take my right to vote very seriously and while I am a member of a particular party, I always vote for the person NOT the party. I have no qualms about voting for the other side if I believe in the other candidate and in what their plans are for the country. I took a long time to decide because I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with my choice no matter who wins.
Do I think that Mitt Romney is an evil capitalist who plans on sending all our jobs our of the country? No, I don't. Do I think he wants to destroy Social Security and Medicare? No, I don't.
Do I think Barack Obama is trying to destroy this country? No, I don't. Do I think he wants to destroy the healthcare industry? No, I don't.
Of course if you vote for one man, you're labeled a racist and if you vote for the other man, you're not a Christian. COME ON NOW......really.......really?
Call me naive, but I do believe both men just have different visions of what they want this country to be and achieve. I also believe that any candidate can have plans for what they want to accomplish and depending on the make-up of the Congress and what I like to call "that big book of secrests" that each President hands off to the next, they may have to alter their vision. There is a lot more going on that they don't know about until they are behind that desk.
I studied the issues that both men believed in. There are issues on the right that I believe in and about the same number of issues on the left that I agree with. So it came down to three issues that stood out and even two of them I could go either way. So now I'm down to one issue and it's one that I am passionate about and that is how I will be placing my vote. Do I have doubts, sure, but feel I have made my decision based on issues and not by party or popularity. So remember, just because someone is "undecided" doesn't mean they aren't carefully weighing the issues and coming to an informed decision.
Tomorrow morning, no matter the winner, I will respect our President, even though I may not agree with everything he does. I will also pray that he does the job to the best of his ability and for the good the country. And remember, if you don't agree, the beauty of our way of government is we can work towards finding and electing a different man/woman in four more years.
Kathy
Well, guess what, I have been one of those demonized "undecided" voters......until last weekend. I take my right to vote very seriously and while I am a member of a particular party, I always vote for the person NOT the party. I have no qualms about voting for the other side if I believe in the other candidate and in what their plans are for the country. I took a long time to decide because I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with my choice no matter who wins.
Do I think that Mitt Romney is an evil capitalist who plans on sending all our jobs our of the country? No, I don't. Do I think he wants to destroy Social Security and Medicare? No, I don't.
Do I think Barack Obama is trying to destroy this country? No, I don't. Do I think he wants to destroy the healthcare industry? No, I don't.
Of course if you vote for one man, you're labeled a racist and if you vote for the other man, you're not a Christian. COME ON NOW......really.......really?
Call me naive, but I do believe both men just have different visions of what they want this country to be and achieve. I also believe that any candidate can have plans for what they want to accomplish and depending on the make-up of the Congress and what I like to call "that big book of secrests" that each President hands off to the next, they may have to alter their vision. There is a lot more going on that they don't know about until they are behind that desk.
I studied the issues that both men believed in. There are issues on the right that I believe in and about the same number of issues on the left that I agree with. So it came down to three issues that stood out and even two of them I could go either way. So now I'm down to one issue and it's one that I am passionate about and that is how I will be placing my vote. Do I have doubts, sure, but feel I have made my decision based on issues and not by party or popularity. So remember, just because someone is "undecided" doesn't mean they aren't carefully weighing the issues and coming to an informed decision.
Tomorrow morning, no matter the winner, I will respect our President, even though I may not agree with everything he does. I will also pray that he does the job to the best of his ability and for the good the country. And remember, if you don't agree, the beauty of our way of government is we can work towards finding and electing a different man/woman in four more years.
Kathy
Saturday, November 3, 2012
A "Hairy" Situation
My hair and I have a love/hate relationship, or maybe I should say a tolerate/hate relationship. I want long, thick, naturally curly hair. A wild mane that would be uncontrollable and hard to tame. Hair that people all over would envy and covet. But........alas, I have fine, straight, short hair. Nothing that anyone would covet.
I usally keep my hair short, I feel like it is more flattering to me, but mostly because I'm lazy. I hate to mess with my hair and I don't have time before work in the morning to do anything special to it. This way I can wash my hair at night when I take a shower and in the morning I just have to run a comb or my fingers through it....and I'm done.
But every once in a while I get a hankering to grow it out, not particularly long, maybe just to the collar and all one length. Of course if I did that it would then involve "fixing" everyday. And everytime I try to grow it out, it gets to that certain length where it drives you crazy. Hair is hanging in my eyes, not laying right or just plain looking like a big mess. I have a fantastic hairdresser, Tim, who has tried to help me when I have decided at times to grow my hair out by keeping it trimmed up and giving me different products to use, but then it gets to that certain point and I go in and tell him to cut it all off!!
Everytime I start thinking about changing my hair, I become a "hair stalker". I start looking at everyone's hair, trying to find a style that I like or that looks easy to take care of. I've even, in the past, asked several people if I could take a picture of just their hair to use as a reference. But I think my biggest problem is I'm not really sure what hairstyle looks best on me. I like my short hairstyle, but I'm always afraid it's not feminine enough and I feel the need to always wear earrings when my hair is short. But if I grow it out I don't want to look like a hot mess either.
So here I am, contemplating a change again and unsure which way to go. I really envy the African American women who can wear their hair practically shaved off and look fantastic. Maybe I should just shave my head and wear a wig. Maybe I should just keep my hair short and use products to "poof" it up, although I'm not really a "poofy" kinda gal. Is there a better way to style my hair than the ol' let it fall where it may system?
I know there are bigger things in the world to concern myself with, the aftermath of epic storms, important elections, terrorists running amok across the globe. But really, think about it, if a woman is not happy with her hair then no one is going to be happy.
Kathy
I usally keep my hair short, I feel like it is more flattering to me, but mostly because I'm lazy. I hate to mess with my hair and I don't have time before work in the morning to do anything special to it. This way I can wash my hair at night when I take a shower and in the morning I just have to run a comb or my fingers through it....and I'm done.
But every once in a while I get a hankering to grow it out, not particularly long, maybe just to the collar and all one length. Of course if I did that it would then involve "fixing" everyday. And everytime I try to grow it out, it gets to that certain length where it drives you crazy. Hair is hanging in my eyes, not laying right or just plain looking like a big mess. I have a fantastic hairdresser, Tim, who has tried to help me when I have decided at times to grow my hair out by keeping it trimmed up and giving me different products to use, but then it gets to that certain point and I go in and tell him to cut it all off!!
Everytime I start thinking about changing my hair, I become a "hair stalker". I start looking at everyone's hair, trying to find a style that I like or that looks easy to take care of. I've even, in the past, asked several people if I could take a picture of just their hair to use as a reference. But I think my biggest problem is I'm not really sure what hairstyle looks best on me. I like my short hairstyle, but I'm always afraid it's not feminine enough and I feel the need to always wear earrings when my hair is short. But if I grow it out I don't want to look like a hot mess either.
So here I am, contemplating a change again and unsure which way to go. I really envy the African American women who can wear their hair practically shaved off and look fantastic. Maybe I should just shave my head and wear a wig. Maybe I should just keep my hair short and use products to "poof" it up, although I'm not really a "poofy" kinda gal. Is there a better way to style my hair than the ol' let it fall where it may system?
I know there are bigger things in the world to concern myself with, the aftermath of epic storms, important elections, terrorists running amok across the globe. But really, think about it, if a woman is not happy with her hair then no one is going to be happy.
Kathy
Saturday, October 27, 2012
You Ought To Be In Pictures
I think I have mentioned before that I am interested in photography and I would like to explore it further. I really would like to have a nice camera, like a Nikon digital camera, zoom lenses and all that good stuff. But for now I have to be satisfied with a point and shoot camera. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice camera, I like it, and it's a good camera to practice with. I am mostly interested in taking pictures of animals and natural settings. So many times I am out and about and see something, but of course, I don't have my camera with me, but I have been trying to carry it with me when I'm out walking, going about my business and even to work.
I decided to take my camera to work because on several rare occassions I have seen deer, very early in the morning, feeding is a small clearing across the street from where I work. The clearing is at the very back of a small park that has hiking trails and playgrounds with picnic areas. It's not a big park but it's nice, set in an urban area.
When I am lucky enough to see the deer, I am absolutely transfixed since it is not something I get to see very often. They come very early and don't stay more than a few minutes, but it is beautiful. Hopefully, I will be able to get a picture of them one day.
But I may not have been able to get a picture of the deer, but since I had my camera with me I was able to capture this. This is the sunrise that I get to enjoy outside my office window. What a way to start the day!
And every sunrise is different. This is the sunrise the next day.
Makes you feel good for the rest of the day!
My dog, Lola, and I walk quite often in the cemetary. It is peaceful, pretty and lots of people go there to walk their dogs, jog, ride bikes etc. It's almost like a park! Again, I remembered to take my camera and I saw this tree and it reminded me of Halloween. The way the branches come out, the starkness of it made me think it looked like something at a haunted house.
See how the bark is all twisted, almost like someone tried to wring it out. I wonder, was it from old age or weather. I noticed that a couple of weeks ago there was a big limb broken off during a storm the night before, I hated to see that. It isn't often that something is strong enough to survive for over 150 years and is still standing.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the pictures, my first attempt at any kind of real photography as such. Hopefully they will improve and be much more interesting than sunrises and trees. But it's a start. Til next time.....
Oh, by the way, I DID NOT win the KitchenAid Mixer, surprised uh? Yeah, me too, but there will be other contests to enter!!
Kathy
I decided to take my camera to work because on several rare occassions I have seen deer, very early in the morning, feeding is a small clearing across the street from where I work. The clearing is at the very back of a small park that has hiking trails and playgrounds with picnic areas. It's not a big park but it's nice, set in an urban area.
When I am lucky enough to see the deer, I am absolutely transfixed since it is not something I get to see very often. They come very early and don't stay more than a few minutes, but it is beautiful. Hopefully, I will be able to get a picture of them one day.
And every sunrise is different. This is the sunrise the next day.
My dog, Lola, and I walk quite often in the cemetary. It is peaceful, pretty and lots of people go there to walk their dogs, jog, ride bikes etc. It's almost like a park! Again, I remembered to take my camera and I saw this tree and it reminded me of Halloween. The way the branches come out, the starkness of it made me think it looked like something at a haunted house.
or maybe it's just me.......
This tree is also in the cemetary. I tried to find some info on it but couldn't, but I've heard that it was there before the cemetary was. And there are some who have been buried there since the mid 1800's, so I guesss that would make the tree close to 200 years old.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the pictures, my first attempt at any kind of real photography as such. Hopefully they will improve and be much more interesting than sunrises and trees. But it's a start. Til next time.....
Oh, by the way, I DID NOT win the KitchenAid Mixer, surprised uh? Yeah, me too, but there will be other contests to enter!!
Kathy
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Contests, Live Tweeting And Other Such Nonsense
I have made no secret of my desire to own a KitchenAid stand mixer. I've even wrote a haiku about it in an earlier blog. Everytime I try to save up for one, and they are pricey, something else always comes up that needs repair or an extra bill that needs to be paid, yada..yada..yada... So my second best try to own one is by entering contests. I follow a blog, The Pioneer Woman. She recounts her life and experience living on a working cattle ranch, cooking, photography, homeschooling, home and garden subjects. She also has a cooking show on the Food Network that I love to watch. ANYWAY...she has contests off and on and gives away cameras, home accessories, clothing, jewelry and...wait for it........KitchenAid mixers!!!! She has one that was personally designed just for her and this weekend she is giving away TWO of them
Isn't it gorgeous, I want it....badly. Of course over 20,000 people have entered this contest. But I really don't think anyone wants it more than I do. So I am asking everyone who knows me and also those who have no clue who I am to enter this contest @The Pioneer Woman/Home and Garden, and if you win, give it to me. I don't think that is too much to ask for........do you? Then when I have my mixer everyone who is tired of me whining about wanting a mixer will be eternally grateful!!!
When I signed up for Twitter I really just did it so I could link my blog to it, I didn't have any intention to constantly tweet. There is a lot about it that I don't know or understand, "hashtags", "retweet", "instagram" and probably more things I don't know that I don't know about. But I have learned about "live tweeting", kinda. I have discovered that two shows I watch, Grimm and Haven, have been live tweeting during the broadcast. Someone, that I assume is involved in the show, tweets for Grimm and one of the actors on the show Haven does the tweets for that show. It is kind of fun to see everyone's comments and funny remarks about what is happening on the shows as they happen. I've gotten involved in the live tweets, or I think I have. I've used the correct hashtags, whatever that means, made meaningful comments and tried to have fun with it. Nobody has tweeted anything back to me so I don't know if I'm getting it right but I am enjoying it.
Now to the nonsense part, I really don't care to discuss politics and I'm not really going to get into it now, except to say that I have decided to watch the debates this time, which I don't normally do. I really wanted to pay attention and learn something, hear something new, how problems are going to be solved, but after about 10 min. all I could hear was "wawa waaa..wa wa.... (remember in the Charlie Brown cartoons, all the adults sounded like that, they had no real words). Now I am just a casual observer of politics, but one thing I have learned....no matter what side you are on and no matter what you promise, once you are in office it's a whole new world, you know things you didn't before so all the promises you made are really not important anymore. No matter who gets in office, nothing can be accomplised without cooperation from the other side. Personally, I will be glad when it is all over.
One more thing.....the best thing about this time of year is....NO MORE CUTTING GRASS TIL SPRING. You can't imagine how happy that makes me.
Kathy
When I signed up for Twitter I really just did it so I could link my blog to it, I didn't have any intention to constantly tweet. There is a lot about it that I don't know or understand, "hashtags", "retweet", "instagram" and probably more things I don't know that I don't know about. But I have learned about "live tweeting", kinda. I have discovered that two shows I watch, Grimm and Haven, have been live tweeting during the broadcast. Someone, that I assume is involved in the show, tweets for Grimm and one of the actors on the show Haven does the tweets for that show. It is kind of fun to see everyone's comments and funny remarks about what is happening on the shows as they happen. I've gotten involved in the live tweets, or I think I have. I've used the correct hashtags, whatever that means, made meaningful comments and tried to have fun with it. Nobody has tweeted anything back to me so I don't know if I'm getting it right but I am enjoying it.
Now to the nonsense part, I really don't care to discuss politics and I'm not really going to get into it now, except to say that I have decided to watch the debates this time, which I don't normally do. I really wanted to pay attention and learn something, hear something new, how problems are going to be solved, but after about 10 min. all I could hear was "wawa waaa..wa wa.... (remember in the Charlie Brown cartoons, all the adults sounded like that, they had no real words). Now I am just a casual observer of politics, but one thing I have learned....no matter what side you are on and no matter what you promise, once you are in office it's a whole new world, you know things you didn't before so all the promises you made are really not important anymore. No matter who gets in office, nothing can be accomplised without cooperation from the other side. Personally, I will be glad when it is all over.
One more thing.....the best thing about this time of year is....NO MORE CUTTING GRASS TIL SPRING. You can't imagine how happy that makes me.
Kathy
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, Sunday
All week long I have thought about several subjects to write about, TV shows, religion, parades and how much I hate them, but here it is Sunday evening and I have decided that Sunday is such a bittersweet day. It is the end of a much look forwarded to weekend. A weekend that almost everyone prays would hurry up and get here, time off from work and or school. A time to decompress and relax or to catch up on chores and spend time with family and friends. Sunday is also the beginning of a brand new week. And a new week can be new adventures, new possibilities and another chance at ....whatever.
Sundays in the summer can mean concerts in the park, Sunday dinners with family. In the winter there could be sledding in the park, a hike or just football on TV while sitting on the couch. It is sleeping late, donuts for breakfast and some go to church. Most businesses are closed, no mail is delivered and everything seems to move at a slower pace.
I have a love/hate relationship with Sunday. Of course I love the sleeping late and donut part of it, but I can't quite get a handle on the relaxation part of it. It's my own fault of course. My OCD tendencies kick in and I feel like I should be doing something, getting some project accomplished, and that everything will go to hell in a handbasket if I don't get all my chores done. Yes, most of it can be put off til another day or even the next weekend, the world won't end if I don't get the yard cleaned up or the floor mopped or the closet straightened cleaned out but I just can't seem to help myself. If I have planned to get certain things done on the weekend and don't, I start feeling anxious and push myself to get it all done.
Well today I had planned to get certain things done and I did get some wash done and made my breakfast muffins for the week, but I had also planned on doing some cleaning. Weeelllll......as the day wore on I kept playing around on the computer, watched a movie, then I caved all together and decided to not even fix dinner. I just ordered pizza just because I felt like it and didn't want to cook or clean up afterwards. Then I sat and watched some more TV, took an early shower and sat some more and watched some things on my dvr. Oh the horror!! I feel so lazy......but I liked it......a lot. Now I am getting ready to watch the Real Housewives Reunion and eat some ice cream.
I am really trying to think of Sundays as a relaxing day, a day for me. It won't be easy, it won't always happen but I really need this day for myself. I have enjoyed today but feeling a little anxious about what didn't get done so it is a work in progress. Wish me luck.
How do you spend your Sundays?
Kathy
Sundays in the summer can mean concerts in the park, Sunday dinners with family. In the winter there could be sledding in the park, a hike or just football on TV while sitting on the couch. It is sleeping late, donuts for breakfast and some go to church. Most businesses are closed, no mail is delivered and everything seems to move at a slower pace.
I have a love/hate relationship with Sunday. Of course I love the sleeping late and donut part of it, but I can't quite get a handle on the relaxation part of it. It's my own fault of course. My OCD tendencies kick in and I feel like I should be doing something, getting some project accomplished, and that everything will go to hell in a handbasket if I don't get all my chores done. Yes, most of it can be put off til another day or even the next weekend, the world won't end if I don't get the yard cleaned up or the floor mopped or the closet straightened cleaned out but I just can't seem to help myself. If I have planned to get certain things done on the weekend and don't, I start feeling anxious and push myself to get it all done.
Well today I had planned to get certain things done and I did get some wash done and made my breakfast muffins for the week, but I had also planned on doing some cleaning. Weeelllll......as the day wore on I kept playing around on the computer, watched a movie, then I caved all together and decided to not even fix dinner. I just ordered pizza just because I felt like it and didn't want to cook or clean up afterwards. Then I sat and watched some more TV, took an early shower and sat some more and watched some things on my dvr. Oh the horror!! I feel so lazy......but I liked it......a lot. Now I am getting ready to watch the Real Housewives Reunion and eat some ice cream.
I am really trying to think of Sundays as a relaxing day, a day for me. It won't be easy, it won't always happen but I really need this day for myself. I have enjoyed today but feeling a little anxious about what didn't get done so it is a work in progress. Wish me luck.
How do you spend your Sundays?
Kathy
Sunday, September 30, 2012
The First Annual.......
On the first day of autumn, a sunny day with a bright blue sky, we celebrated the life of a good friend. I wrote some months ago about my friend who was dying. He as been gone now for 6 months and has left a big whole in the lives of his wife, family and friends. After his passing, his sisters wanted to gather all his family and friends together to do something that he would have enjoyed. Volleyball!!
For years and years we all got together every Sunday and played volleyball, drink a few beers, sometimes bring some food and play ball. As soon as the weather started warming up in the Spring he would start calling people to say "We're going to the park for some volleyball". We would hardly ever miss a Sunday and we would continue into the fall until it just got too cold. We even played in pouring rain. Sometimes if it was raining we would put up a dollar apiece and whoever got the muddiest, and it had to be from falls going after the ball, would win the pot. We once had a long debate on the difference between raining, drizzling, sprinkling or just misting. We were quite the scholars.....really.
Things could get kind of competitive at times, tempers flared on occassion, people got injured, but at the end of the day, any disagreements were forgotten about, injuries soothed and we all would often sit around and shoot the breeze til dark. We played in the same spot for so many years that the grass was killed off there for a long time. There was always a core group that was there every Sunday and then there were those who would come every now and then, other friends would drop in, and as far as my friend was concerned, everyone was welcomed.
So in honor of him, his family decided to have a cookout and volleyball games at the same park, in the same spot as we did many years ago. These people are some of my oldest and dearest friends and I felt honored to be included in this event. They cooked out burgers and hot dogs, everyone brought a dish, one sister brought fried chicken. They had pasta salads, beans, macaroni and cheese, soft drinks, beer, and much, much more. It was all very, very good.
It was so nice to see everybody, and to see how everyone's children have grown into adults, I had to ask who some of them were because I hadn't seen them since they were little, plus all the new additions, it was quite a crew. The little kids played badminton while the adults played volleyball. It really was a perfect day.
And at the end of the day, his family spread some of his ashes just down the hill from the volleyball court.I think he would have liked that. It was quite moving. Everyone stood quietly, watching, lost in their own thoughts and memories. My eyes welled up with tears watching and I am sure I was not the only one.I was standing next to his son who naturally was very emotional. After a few moments of quiet reflection, one of his sisters asked if anyone wanted to say anything, but I think everyone was lost in their own thoughts. But his nephew came up with the perfect ending for the ceremony. He said "If Duke were here, he'd say 'c'mon, dammit, we got time for one more game before it gets dark". And that is exactly what he would have said. We all smiled and went back to the party. Now that was the perfect ending.
His family has talked about making this an annual event. I certainly hope so. It brings back old memories and creates new ones.
Kathy
For years and years we all got together every Sunday and played volleyball, drink a few beers, sometimes bring some food and play ball. As soon as the weather started warming up in the Spring he would start calling people to say "We're going to the park for some volleyball". We would hardly ever miss a Sunday and we would continue into the fall until it just got too cold. We even played in pouring rain. Sometimes if it was raining we would put up a dollar apiece and whoever got the muddiest, and it had to be from falls going after the ball, would win the pot. We once had a long debate on the difference between raining, drizzling, sprinkling or just misting. We were quite the scholars.....really.
Things could get kind of competitive at times, tempers flared on occassion, people got injured, but at the end of the day, any disagreements were forgotten about, injuries soothed and we all would often sit around and shoot the breeze til dark. We played in the same spot for so many years that the grass was killed off there for a long time. There was always a core group that was there every Sunday and then there were those who would come every now and then, other friends would drop in, and as far as my friend was concerned, everyone was welcomed.
So in honor of him, his family decided to have a cookout and volleyball games at the same park, in the same spot as we did many years ago. These people are some of my oldest and dearest friends and I felt honored to be included in this event. They cooked out burgers and hot dogs, everyone brought a dish, one sister brought fried chicken. They had pasta salads, beans, macaroni and cheese, soft drinks, beer, and much, much more. It was all very, very good.
And at the end of the day, his family spread some of his ashes just down the hill from the volleyball court.I think he would have liked that. It was quite moving. Everyone stood quietly, watching, lost in their own thoughts and memories. My eyes welled up with tears watching and I am sure I was not the only one.I was standing next to his son who naturally was very emotional. After a few moments of quiet reflection, one of his sisters asked if anyone wanted to say anything, but I think everyone was lost in their own thoughts. But his nephew came up with the perfect ending for the ceremony. He said "If Duke were here, he'd say 'c'mon, dammit, we got time for one more game before it gets dark". And that is exactly what he would have said. We all smiled and went back to the party. Now that was the perfect ending.
Kathy
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Last Week's TV Review
Before I talk about some of last week's TV shows, I want to mention that I am going to try to learn a new dance, the Cupid Shuffle. For those who don't know what that is, it is kinda like a line dance similiar to the Electric Slide (which I don't know how to do either) set to more of a hip hop beat. I went out with some girlfriends last night for music, dancing and beer and this dance came up and everyone jumped in, but me. It really looks like fun, but I kept thinking they were saying the Cuban Shuffle and wondered what it had to do with Cuba? My friend set me straight on the name and sent me a instructional video, so we will see if I can muster enough coordination to learn this. But I don't understand what it has to do with Cupid either :-0
Okay, now I want to talk about some of the TV shows that I watched last week. I think I have pretty eclectic taste in shows that I watch, ranging from Masterpiece Mystery on PBS to reality shows, nature shows and the History Channel and Foodnetwork. Whether comedy or drama, I love 'em all.
SONS OF ANARCHY: This is the story of a Motorcycle Club in a small town in California. These guys are a pretty rough bunch while they try to keep their small town of Charming, just that, charming. This is the 5th season for the show on FX, Tuesday nights at 10pm. I've been watching since the 2nd season. The club runs guns and other illegal activities. The leader of the club is Jax (who is hot, hot, hot). after he ousts the previous leader who was his mother's husband. His mother is Gemma, who is all motorcycle mama, she lives the life and she doesn't take any crap from anybody. Last week, one of the club members, Tig, had his adult daughter kidnapped by a rival gang, doused with gasoline and set on fire while he was forced to watch, it was quite gruesome. It was done in retaliation for Tig accidently killing the head of the rival gang's daughter.
I love this show.
REVOLUTION: This is a brand new show and I usually have a hard time watching new shows cause I am so committed to my regular shows, it's hard to make room. But his show caught my eye because it seemed like it could be along the lines of LOST. I was a HUGE fan of LOST and most people either loved it or hated it. Anyway, the previews of Revolution reminded me of that show so I thought I would try it out. I watched the first episode and it was interesting, it started out with all the power in the world going off, but then jumped ahead 15 years to how these people were living long after that. The lawlessness, living conditions, the fear. I wanted to see how they coped through the initial blackout. Maybe the show plans on show flashbacks and flash forwards but I'm not sure I want to hang around for all of that. I'll watch a couple more episodes and see how it goes. Has anyone else watched it? What do you think?
HONEY BOO BOO: I'm sorry, but I have gotten sucked into watching this show. I watched the first episode and thought, good lord, and vowed to never watch it again. But.......like when you pass by an accident and you can't help but slow down and look, that's what happened with this show. In their defense, they all do seem to genuinely love each other, they get along, their house is clean, they have fun, they do things together as a family. The little girl, Honey Boo , is funny and comes off with the best one liners and as a FB friend said, her one liners are "disturbingly accurate". This past week they had a former Miss Georgia come and try to teach Honey Boo Boo (Alana) some manners. Well, that went over like a lead balloon. Between her farting, letting food fall out of her mouth while she's eating and saying inappropriate things, it seemed to be a hopeless cause. They let it be known that they are rednecks and proud of it. I can certainly say that they do not lack self-esteem. Next week is the season finale and I have to see it through to the end.
Happy Watching
Kathy
Okay, now I want to talk about some of the TV shows that I watched last week. I think I have pretty eclectic taste in shows that I watch, ranging from Masterpiece Mystery on PBS to reality shows, nature shows and the History Channel and Foodnetwork. Whether comedy or drama, I love 'em all.
SONS OF ANARCHY: This is the story of a Motorcycle Club in a small town in California. These guys are a pretty rough bunch while they try to keep their small town of Charming, just that, charming. This is the 5th season for the show on FX, Tuesday nights at 10pm. I've been watching since the 2nd season. The club runs guns and other illegal activities. The leader of the club is Jax (who is hot, hot, hot). after he ousts the previous leader who was his mother's husband. His mother is Gemma, who is all motorcycle mama, she lives the life and she doesn't take any crap from anybody. Last week, one of the club members, Tig, had his adult daughter kidnapped by a rival gang, doused with gasoline and set on fire while he was forced to watch, it was quite gruesome. It was done in retaliation for Tig accidently killing the head of the rival gang's daughter.
I love this show.
REVOLUTION: This is a brand new show and I usually have a hard time watching new shows cause I am so committed to my regular shows, it's hard to make room. But his show caught my eye because it seemed like it could be along the lines of LOST. I was a HUGE fan of LOST and most people either loved it or hated it. Anyway, the previews of Revolution reminded me of that show so I thought I would try it out. I watched the first episode and it was interesting, it started out with all the power in the world going off, but then jumped ahead 15 years to how these people were living long after that. The lawlessness, living conditions, the fear. I wanted to see how they coped through the initial blackout. Maybe the show plans on show flashbacks and flash forwards but I'm not sure I want to hang around for all of that. I'll watch a couple more episodes and see how it goes. Has anyone else watched it? What do you think?
HONEY BOO BOO: I'm sorry, but I have gotten sucked into watching this show. I watched the first episode and thought, good lord, and vowed to never watch it again. But.......like when you pass by an accident and you can't help but slow down and look, that's what happened with this show. In their defense, they all do seem to genuinely love each other, they get along, their house is clean, they have fun, they do things together as a family. The little girl, Honey Boo , is funny and comes off with the best one liners and as a FB friend said, her one liners are "disturbingly accurate". This past week they had a former Miss Georgia come and try to teach Honey Boo Boo (Alana) some manners. Well, that went over like a lead balloon. Between her farting, letting food fall out of her mouth while she's eating and saying inappropriate things, it seemed to be a hopeless cause. They let it be known that they are rednecks and proud of it. I can certainly say that they do not lack self-esteem. Next week is the season finale and I have to see it through to the end.
Happy Watching
Kathy
Sunday, September 2, 2012
In A "Funk"
I have been in such a funk lately, restless, distracted, stressed, not being able to accomplish a task. You might say that maybe I'm depressed but that's not it. I'm not upset or angry. Actually, I think I just feel overwhelmed and I need a change. And sometimes I just need to wallow in my funk for a while, then I'll feel fine.
I think not having a car has started getting to me. Not to be able to just get up and go out on the spur of the moment, to run errands on the weekend, run to pick up something quick for supper when I don't feel like cooking, meeting friends has started getting old.
I'm tired. With my son working at nights, I can't seem to go to sleep until he leaves for work. I'm afraid he will fall asleep and be late for work, he goes to school during the day and is tired, so I can't relax enough to drift off until I hear him leave. Then 4 1/2 hrs. later it is time for me to get up for work. So on the weekends when I should be working on projects around the house that need to be done, I just don't feel like doing it. I just want to relax. So the projects are stacking up and the more I put them off, the more stress I feel about not getting them done. It's a vicious cycle.
I've had the opportunity to go out with friends several times this month and it has been so much fun. I want my weekends to be filled with that kind of fun plus relaxation at home, not always having something that needs to be done. I guess after 25yrs. of housework, laundry and cooking, the thrill is gone! But I want a clean house and I do love to cook, but I don't like to come home from work and cook everyday like I have for years. To be fair, my son mostly does his own laundry now and if I don't always have cook, he can fix himself some basic things or eat out. That does help. I'm just over it, but it needs to be one.
I have even been too exhausted to blog for the last several weeks. When I sit down in the evening to watch some TV and get online, it's not long before my eyes get heavy and I start nodding off. I haven't even had time to work on some of my other writing. And the more I get behind on things, the more stress I feel. So then I just end up doing nothing, like today. I piddled around most of the day, which is what I really wanted to do, but then my to do list keeps getting longer.
I am not a multi-tasker, I like to do one task at a time then move on to the next. That's why, as my list gets longer, I feel more pressure to get things done. And as a single mother/woman, it all falls on me, there is no one to hand off to, no one to share the load, no one to help with the decisions.
These problems I have talked about are not really "problems" in a world of wars, terrorism, natural disasters, social problems and good lord, upcoming elections, but they are what is causing my funk.
It's not the first time I've felt overwhelmed and I'm sure it won't be the last. I will wallow in my funk for a while longer, revel in my misery and then I will pick myself up and pull myself together and life will be good again. Sometimes it just takes awhile. More fun would be helpful too......I'm just sayin'.
Kathy
I think not having a car has started getting to me. Not to be able to just get up and go out on the spur of the moment, to run errands on the weekend, run to pick up something quick for supper when I don't feel like cooking, meeting friends has started getting old.
I'm tired. With my son working at nights, I can't seem to go to sleep until he leaves for work. I'm afraid he will fall asleep and be late for work, he goes to school during the day and is tired, so I can't relax enough to drift off until I hear him leave. Then 4 1/2 hrs. later it is time for me to get up for work. So on the weekends when I should be working on projects around the house that need to be done, I just don't feel like doing it. I just want to relax. So the projects are stacking up and the more I put them off, the more stress I feel about not getting them done. It's a vicious cycle.
I've had the opportunity to go out with friends several times this month and it has been so much fun. I want my weekends to be filled with that kind of fun plus relaxation at home, not always having something that needs to be done. I guess after 25yrs. of housework, laundry and cooking, the thrill is gone! But I want a clean house and I do love to cook, but I don't like to come home from work and cook everyday like I have for years. To be fair, my son mostly does his own laundry now and if I don't always have cook, he can fix himself some basic things or eat out. That does help. I'm just over it, but it needs to be one.
I have even been too exhausted to blog for the last several weeks. When I sit down in the evening to watch some TV and get online, it's not long before my eyes get heavy and I start nodding off. I haven't even had time to work on some of my other writing. And the more I get behind on things, the more stress I feel. So then I just end up doing nothing, like today. I piddled around most of the day, which is what I really wanted to do, but then my to do list keeps getting longer.
I am not a multi-tasker, I like to do one task at a time then move on to the next. That's why, as my list gets longer, I feel more pressure to get things done. And as a single mother/woman, it all falls on me, there is no one to hand off to, no one to share the load, no one to help with the decisions.
These problems I have talked about are not really "problems" in a world of wars, terrorism, natural disasters, social problems and good lord, upcoming elections, but they are what is causing my funk.
It's not the first time I've felt overwhelmed and I'm sure it won't be the last. I will wallow in my funk for a while longer, revel in my misery and then I will pick myself up and pull myself together and life will be good again. Sometimes it just takes awhile. More fun would be helpful too......I'm just sayin'.
Kathy
Sunday, August 12, 2012
School Daze
Jeez Louise.....I thought that since my son was out of high school and starting at a community college in the fall, that my involvement in "school stuff" would be minimal. I don't have to buy uniforms or school supples, no more lunches to fix, no open houses, schedules to deal with...I'm out...finished...my job is done....boy was I wrong.
Now my son is no "dim bulb", but not a genius either. A boy with average intelligence, a good boy who has never given me any problems, a hard worker, holding down a job and going to school and pays his bills...but sometimes talking to him is like talking to a wall. I have been assured by other mothers of teenage boys that his is perfectly normal, that the slack-jawed, confused look in the eyes is normal. I'll be glad when this phase is over. Girls seem to be a lot more mature at this age, for the most part.
Getting registered, signing up for classes, financial aid, books, student ID's, parking passes AND changing jobs all at the same time has been majorly stressful. Plus, his new job also pays for college and that involved a lot more forms, forms, forms to fill out and have completed by a certain time. Now all of the above wasn't anything that I personally have to do and I really didn't want to have to be involved with any of it except to offer advice and guidance. HA!
He goes for orientation, that went well. Then it came time to register for classes. He is planning on getting certified for a particular field, but he was told that class was full for the fall semester so he signed up for pre-req. classes in order to get his Associate's degree. When he got home he noticed that a couple of his classes had been scheduled for the wrong time. So, the next day he went back to fix the problem. This time he was able to talk to the guy in charge of the program he want to get into and he got to change his schedule altogether to be in this program. GREAT!! He gets home, the class times are wrong. I asked him if he looks at his schedule before he leaves registration to make sure it's right..."No, I didn't think about it". **sigh**
For the next two weeks he calls the guy in charge of the program, everyday, gets no answer but leaves a message everytime. No call back. I decide I'll try to call and find out when the guy is in, nobody knows. I ask about his schedule, they tell me my son has to call about his schedule. I tell them that I know that, I just want to know who he needs to call. They give me the number of the man he's been trying to call for two weeks. Since my son is now working nights and sleeping in the day, I tell him that I will call the guy and see if I can make an appt. for him. But first I ask him what he said in the messages that he left. He told me, then a light bulb goes off in my head.....did you leave him your phone number? "Should I have?" he asks. AARRGGGGHHHHHH!! I think it might have helped I replied. When I get to work, I call the guy, leave a message telling him the problem and give him my son's phone number, within 45min he calls my son and the problem is fixed. He's been out of town and calling in to get his messages. **sigh**
All the financial aid papers that I had to fill out were done back in February. But on the college website it wasn't showing up that it had been applied to his account. I had to call several times about that. Each time I called I would be able to talk to the "next available representative" and because of "the high number of calls they were experiencing" I waited 25-30min each time, on hold, and a couple of times it would just cut me off. It was making me crazy. But I think it is all good now. **sigh**
My son had to fill out lots of online info in order for his job to pay for his college tuition. "Have you filled it out yet" I would ask. "I will" he'd say. "There is a time limit on this". Next day, "have you finised it yet". "I did part of it" he replied. This went on for days. I know, I know, the conventional wisdom out there is that I should let it be and if he doesn't get it done, it's his own fault. But I cannot pay for his college education so these forms HAD to be filled out on time. I'll back off later. When I went to college years ago, it was a lot different and there was no internet and no online forms to fill out, it just seemed easier then.
Classes start tomorrow, now is the time for me to back off and let him take care of his schedule, classes, working at night and getting enough sleep. He says he has it under control. I am going to take him at his word. I'm, exhausted.
Kathy
Now my son is no "dim bulb", but not a genius either. A boy with average intelligence, a good boy who has never given me any problems, a hard worker, holding down a job and going to school and pays his bills...but sometimes talking to him is like talking to a wall. I have been assured by other mothers of teenage boys that his is perfectly normal, that the slack-jawed, confused look in the eyes is normal. I'll be glad when this phase is over. Girls seem to be a lot more mature at this age, for the most part.
Getting registered, signing up for classes, financial aid, books, student ID's, parking passes AND changing jobs all at the same time has been majorly stressful. Plus, his new job also pays for college and that involved a lot more forms, forms, forms to fill out and have completed by a certain time. Now all of the above wasn't anything that I personally have to do and I really didn't want to have to be involved with any of it except to offer advice and guidance. HA!
He goes for orientation, that went well. Then it came time to register for classes. He is planning on getting certified for a particular field, but he was told that class was full for the fall semester so he signed up for pre-req. classes in order to get his Associate's degree. When he got home he noticed that a couple of his classes had been scheduled for the wrong time. So, the next day he went back to fix the problem. This time he was able to talk to the guy in charge of the program he want to get into and he got to change his schedule altogether to be in this program. GREAT!! He gets home, the class times are wrong. I asked him if he looks at his schedule before he leaves registration to make sure it's right..."No, I didn't think about it". **sigh**
For the next two weeks he calls the guy in charge of the program, everyday, gets no answer but leaves a message everytime. No call back. I decide I'll try to call and find out when the guy is in, nobody knows. I ask about his schedule, they tell me my son has to call about his schedule. I tell them that I know that, I just want to know who he needs to call. They give me the number of the man he's been trying to call for two weeks. Since my son is now working nights and sleeping in the day, I tell him that I will call the guy and see if I can make an appt. for him. But first I ask him what he said in the messages that he left. He told me, then a light bulb goes off in my head.....did you leave him your phone number? "Should I have?" he asks. AARRGGGGHHHHHH!! I think it might have helped I replied. When I get to work, I call the guy, leave a message telling him the problem and give him my son's phone number, within 45min he calls my son and the problem is fixed. He's been out of town and calling in to get his messages. **sigh**
All the financial aid papers that I had to fill out were done back in February. But on the college website it wasn't showing up that it had been applied to his account. I had to call several times about that. Each time I called I would be able to talk to the "next available representative" and because of "the high number of calls they were experiencing" I waited 25-30min each time, on hold, and a couple of times it would just cut me off. It was making me crazy. But I think it is all good now. **sigh**
My son had to fill out lots of online info in order for his job to pay for his college tuition. "Have you filled it out yet" I would ask. "I will" he'd say. "There is a time limit on this". Next day, "have you finised it yet". "I did part of it" he replied. This went on for days. I know, I know, the conventional wisdom out there is that I should let it be and if he doesn't get it done, it's his own fault. But I cannot pay for his college education so these forms HAD to be filled out on time. I'll back off later. When I went to college years ago, it was a lot different and there was no internet and no online forms to fill out, it just seemed easier then.
Classes start tomorrow, now is the time for me to back off and let him take care of his schedule, classes, working at night and getting enough sleep. He says he has it under control. I am going to take him at his word. I'm, exhausted.
Kathy
Sunday, August 5, 2012
"Beer Joints"
The city is made up of lots of "neighborhoods", named for their location, which immigrants settled there long ago, what businesses surround it, and numerous other reasons. The neighborhood I live in was settled years ago by German immigrants. There are still lots of people here with German last names, and a lot of the people have lived here for generations. A couple of distinguising features of my neighborhood is shotgun houses and a beer joint on every corner.
Today they would be called bars or taverns, but when I was growing up they were called beer joints. At that time they seemed to be filled with grizzled old men, cigarette smoke and maybe a pool table. The old guys stopping by after work for a beer or two and it was a place to hang out on the weekend. Nowadays, they are filled with young and old, men, women, all ethic groups, and sometimes children are able to come in during the daytime hours if food is being served. And of course, they no longer tolerate smoking, which has been a bone of contention for quite a while, but I think the "grizzled old guys" are coming to terms with it.
Everyone has a favorite beer joint where they like to hang out, they know the owners, the bartenders and other staff. It's the same customers that frequent the place and everybody knows their names, kind of like Cheers! The food is fried, the beer is cold and sometimes there is even a jar of pickled eggs or bologna for sale sitting on the bar. Karaoke is a big attraction also.
I don't go to a beer joint very often, but when I do, there is a particular one that I like. It has been operating since before I was born, still in the original building (with added improvements) with a loyal clientele. They serve great food, fried fish, chicken, great chili and quite a few other items. The funny thing about ordering food is they take your order and when it is done, they just come out of the kitchen and holler "CHILI" or "CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES" and you motion to them that it's yours and everybody seems to be able to keep it straight. When I was in college I worked at a bakery that was right across the street from this joint and at lunch time you would see so many businessmen and lawyers coming from downtown to eat there. It seems to be pretty well known throughout the city.
Last night a friend and I went out and ended up there and it just so happens that Saturday is Karaoke night.The place was packed, which it almost always is but it was a blast. The singers were really very good, a few people got up and danced. and a lot of people knew each other and some of the people were people that I had seen the last time I was there. There was a mix of young and old, although the later it gets most of the older folks leave and the college age kids start coming in.
I love watching the old folks dance. You can tell that they have been dancing together for a long time because they mirror each other's moves and they are so smooth about it. It always gets me to thinking about how long has this couple been together, they've raised their kids, have grandkids, all the good and bad times that they have made it through, they're retired and here they are enjoying a Saturday night out at a neighborhood beer joint. Sometimes it makes me a little sad because I wish I had a long history with the same person as they have, all the shared memories and adventures and sorrows and they have made it through together. But I still love watching them together.
These beer joints also double as sports bars with multiple flat screens, sports bar munchies and large crowds supporting the local college teams. I've never been to my favorite joint to watch a game, but this year will be different. I have a friend that likes to go listen to local, live music and I have gone with her on quite a few occasions and I have really enjoyed it. She has told me several times that she would go with me to something that I really enjoy doing. So here in a few weeks when college football starts we are going to my favoritte beer joint and watch the game and I am sure it will be a good time. I am really looking forward to it.
So here is to all the local, neighborhood beer joints, let's hope they never go out of style.
Kathy
Today they would be called bars or taverns, but when I was growing up they were called beer joints. At that time they seemed to be filled with grizzled old men, cigarette smoke and maybe a pool table. The old guys stopping by after work for a beer or two and it was a place to hang out on the weekend. Nowadays, they are filled with young and old, men, women, all ethic groups, and sometimes children are able to come in during the daytime hours if food is being served. And of course, they no longer tolerate smoking, which has been a bone of contention for quite a while, but I think the "grizzled old guys" are coming to terms with it.
Everyone has a favorite beer joint where they like to hang out, they know the owners, the bartenders and other staff. It's the same customers that frequent the place and everybody knows their names, kind of like Cheers! The food is fried, the beer is cold and sometimes there is even a jar of pickled eggs or bologna for sale sitting on the bar. Karaoke is a big attraction also.
I don't go to a beer joint very often, but when I do, there is a particular one that I like. It has been operating since before I was born, still in the original building (with added improvements) with a loyal clientele. They serve great food, fried fish, chicken, great chili and quite a few other items. The funny thing about ordering food is they take your order and when it is done, they just come out of the kitchen and holler "CHILI" or "CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES" and you motion to them that it's yours and everybody seems to be able to keep it straight. When I was in college I worked at a bakery that was right across the street from this joint and at lunch time you would see so many businessmen and lawyers coming from downtown to eat there. It seems to be pretty well known throughout the city.
Last night a friend and I went out and ended up there and it just so happens that Saturday is Karaoke night.The place was packed, which it almost always is but it was a blast. The singers were really very good, a few people got up and danced. and a lot of people knew each other and some of the people were people that I had seen the last time I was there. There was a mix of young and old, although the later it gets most of the older folks leave and the college age kids start coming in.
I love watching the old folks dance. You can tell that they have been dancing together for a long time because they mirror each other's moves and they are so smooth about it. It always gets me to thinking about how long has this couple been together, they've raised their kids, have grandkids, all the good and bad times that they have made it through, they're retired and here they are enjoying a Saturday night out at a neighborhood beer joint. Sometimes it makes me a little sad because I wish I had a long history with the same person as they have, all the shared memories and adventures and sorrows and they have made it through together. But I still love watching them together.
These beer joints also double as sports bars with multiple flat screens, sports bar munchies and large crowds supporting the local college teams. I've never been to my favorite joint to watch a game, but this year will be different. I have a friend that likes to go listen to local, live music and I have gone with her on quite a few occasions and I have really enjoyed it. She has told me several times that she would go with me to something that I really enjoy doing. So here in a few weeks when college football starts we are going to my favoritte beer joint and watch the game and I am sure it will be a good time. I am really looking forward to it.
So here is to all the local, neighborhood beer joints, let's hope they never go out of style.
Kathy
Friday, July 27, 2012
Fifty Shades
ALERT...ALERT...In this post I am discussing THE BOOK, Fifty Shades of Grey. Although I will NOT be revealing the ending, or any of the plot, I will just be discussing how I feel about the the main characters, Christian and Ana. So if you are reading this book or will be reading it you may not want to read this post although I am not going to reveal anything.
As you have heard, this book has a lot of sex in it, and it is pretty essential to the character's relationship. The only thing that I'm going to say about it is that it wore me out. As far as I am concerned to each his own, whatever people want to do in the privacy of their own bedroom, between consenting adutlts, more power to you. I just know that some of it would have put me in traction.
The most disturbing thing to me was the relationship between Christian and Ana. Ana is always worried that she has made Christian mad. Is Christian mad? I hope he's not mad? He's going to be mad at me? I hate when he's mad, and on and on and on. She is continuously wringing her hands, knotting her fingers in her lap, not telling him how she really feels about things, never asking him about all the secrets he keeps.
He never wanted her to go out with her friends, have men friends, or even to work. When she was away from him, there was constant phone calls and emails about where she was, who she was with and of course he would be mad and she would be worried about him being mad. It seems she was always having to ask his permission to do anything or go anywhere. Even though she had a strong personality, she always followed his wishes, his instructions, his rules.
Now I know that some of his ways were due to trauma suffered in his childhood, but it just made me crazy. I wanted to just yell at her "for God's sake, grow a spine and say what you mean and quit worrying about him getting mad!!!!". He really didn't like for her to go anywhere without him, so he could protect her. Now there was a point in the story that she needed protection, but he was like that before that event happened.
I wonder if young women or women who are low on self esteem would take this type of relationship as the norm? This is a very popular book, would they think this is how a relationship works. Will they think that they always have to bend to their partners will? Will they think they can't express their opinion, have friends of their own, go out without their partners?
You may think that I didn't like the book, but I did. I read all three books and it really did have a good plot to it and the story is much more than what I discussed here. I just discussed one part of it that bothered me.
I would recommend it for others to read, but............FOR GOD'S SAKE STOP WRINGING YOUR HANDS AND SPEAK UP!!!!
Kathy
As you have heard, this book has a lot of sex in it, and it is pretty essential to the character's relationship. The only thing that I'm going to say about it is that it wore me out. As far as I am concerned to each his own, whatever people want to do in the privacy of their own bedroom, between consenting adutlts, more power to you. I just know that some of it would have put me in traction.
The most disturbing thing to me was the relationship between Christian and Ana. Ana is always worried that she has made Christian mad. Is Christian mad? I hope he's not mad? He's going to be mad at me? I hate when he's mad, and on and on and on. She is continuously wringing her hands, knotting her fingers in her lap, not telling him how she really feels about things, never asking him about all the secrets he keeps.
He never wanted her to go out with her friends, have men friends, or even to work. When she was away from him, there was constant phone calls and emails about where she was, who she was with and of course he would be mad and she would be worried about him being mad. It seems she was always having to ask his permission to do anything or go anywhere. Even though she had a strong personality, she always followed his wishes, his instructions, his rules.
Now I know that some of his ways were due to trauma suffered in his childhood, but it just made me crazy. I wanted to just yell at her "for God's sake, grow a spine and say what you mean and quit worrying about him getting mad!!!!". He really didn't like for her to go anywhere without him, so he could protect her. Now there was a point in the story that she needed protection, but he was like that before that event happened.
I wonder if young women or women who are low on self esteem would take this type of relationship as the norm? This is a very popular book, would they think this is how a relationship works. Will they think that they always have to bend to their partners will? Will they think they can't express their opinion, have friends of their own, go out without their partners?
You may think that I didn't like the book, but I did. I read all three books and it really did have a good plot to it and the story is much more than what I discussed here. I just discussed one part of it that bothered me.
I would recommend it for others to read, but............FOR GOD'S SAKE STOP WRINGING YOUR HANDS AND SPEAK UP!!!!
Kathy
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Odds and Ends II
1. What is it with people anymore. You can't say anything to anybody, even if it is off the cuff or just venting frustrations about a situation, without them running back and telling on you. This has happened to me several times in the last few weeks. I state my opinion and BAM, next thing I know I'm getting a phone call. I vent my frustrations about a situation and someone feels the need to run their mouth and let everyone know what I'm upset about, then BAM, I getting a phone call or text. I vent about an incident that happens to someone who is not even involved and I tell them that I am just venting and not going to pursue it, then BAM, someone comes up to me and asks if I have a problem. I've had it with this crap. From now on I am going to be very careful who I confide in, keep my opinions to myself even if asked, and only unburden myself to a close circle of friends.
2. I lost a $6800 check this week. It was an insurance check that I received a couple of weeks ago for hail damage that I received. I always put all my mail, bills, correspondence, checkbook and junk mail on the kitchen table throughout the week and then I ususlly go through it over the weekend. I put the check in that pile until I could get to the bank and deposit it. Well, last Friday I went to get it so I could go to the bank and I couldn't find it. For the last three days I have torn my house apart looking for it. I've looked in my paid bill stubs, my shred pile, my purse, I even took a weeks worth of garbage from outside and torn open the bags looking for it. I even went into my office on the off chance that I had it in my purse and dropped it there. Nothing, nada, zero. The only thing I could that I could think of that happened was when I was tearing up my junk mail I must have tore up the check by accident.
I knew I had to call the adjuster this afternoon to let her know what happend and find out what happens now. I hadn't slept well for the last couple of nights and was sick to my stomach this morning just thinking about making this phone call. Would there be an investigation, would I have to send a notarized statement, would she give me a hard time? As it turned out, she was very understanding. She will put a stop on the check tomorrow morning and issue me a new one and send it right away. Simple, easy, done. Thank you Jesus. I need a better system for my mail.
3. On a lighter note, I have had the most fun on Facebook than I have had in a long time. One of our local TV stations has been pulled off the air due to a dispute between the station, cable company and the big wig owners. I don't pretend to understand any of it. But the big wig corporate types have been giving us a feed from a CBS affiliate in upstate New York. I started kind of watching their news and it was interesting to see the local news in another city. Then I stumbled onto a local Facebook page dedicated to us who enjoy watching this New York newscast. We make tongue in cheek comments about the news stories, there is lots of good natured sarcasm and we are just having a blast. I love sarcasm and my sense of humor has a sarcastic bent to it. We all try to get on FB when the newscast starts and we comment through the whole thing. It's all in good fun and I can't wait til the next newscast. We have even caught the attention of that station in New York and they have given us a few shoutouts. Lovin' it!! I will be so disappointed when the dispute ends and we lose our northern feed but for now we keep on rockin'
4. I thought my dog was going to choke to death today. We were just sitting on the porch and she started coughing and kind of hacking. It just keep getting worse and then she was struggling to catch her breath. Next thing I know her legs are giving out and she starts to go down all the while coughing and heaving. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I stick my fingers down her throat thinking she might have someting in her mouth, no. I'm smacking her on the back, no help, and then I squeeze her middle and she starts to calm down some. After a minute or so, but it seems a lot longer, she finally starts breathing better and calming down. I don't know if anything I did helped her or if she calmed herself down. She didn't have anything in her mouth to choke on so I don't know what happened but it was definitely a scary moment.
Thank goodness tomorrow is the start of a new week and hopefully a much smoother week. But I will keep my opinion about that to myself.
Kathy
2. I lost a $6800 check this week. It was an insurance check that I received a couple of weeks ago for hail damage that I received. I always put all my mail, bills, correspondence, checkbook and junk mail on the kitchen table throughout the week and then I ususlly go through it over the weekend. I put the check in that pile until I could get to the bank and deposit it. Well, last Friday I went to get it so I could go to the bank and I couldn't find it. For the last three days I have torn my house apart looking for it. I've looked in my paid bill stubs, my shred pile, my purse, I even took a weeks worth of garbage from outside and torn open the bags looking for it. I even went into my office on the off chance that I had it in my purse and dropped it there. Nothing, nada, zero. The only thing I could that I could think of that happened was when I was tearing up my junk mail I must have tore up the check by accident.
I knew I had to call the adjuster this afternoon to let her know what happend and find out what happens now. I hadn't slept well for the last couple of nights and was sick to my stomach this morning just thinking about making this phone call. Would there be an investigation, would I have to send a notarized statement, would she give me a hard time? As it turned out, she was very understanding. She will put a stop on the check tomorrow morning and issue me a new one and send it right away. Simple, easy, done. Thank you Jesus. I need a better system for my mail.
3. On a lighter note, I have had the most fun on Facebook than I have had in a long time. One of our local TV stations has been pulled off the air due to a dispute between the station, cable company and the big wig owners. I don't pretend to understand any of it. But the big wig corporate types have been giving us a feed from a CBS affiliate in upstate New York. I started kind of watching their news and it was interesting to see the local news in another city. Then I stumbled onto a local Facebook page dedicated to us who enjoy watching this New York newscast. We make tongue in cheek comments about the news stories, there is lots of good natured sarcasm and we are just having a blast. I love sarcasm and my sense of humor has a sarcastic bent to it. We all try to get on FB when the newscast starts and we comment through the whole thing. It's all in good fun and I can't wait til the next newscast. We have even caught the attention of that station in New York and they have given us a few shoutouts. Lovin' it!! I will be so disappointed when the dispute ends and we lose our northern feed but for now we keep on rockin'
4. I thought my dog was going to choke to death today. We were just sitting on the porch and she started coughing and kind of hacking. It just keep getting worse and then she was struggling to catch her breath. Next thing I know her legs are giving out and she starts to go down all the while coughing and heaving. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I stick my fingers down her throat thinking she might have someting in her mouth, no. I'm smacking her on the back, no help, and then I squeeze her middle and she starts to calm down some. After a minute or so, but it seems a lot longer, she finally starts breathing better and calming down. I don't know if anything I did helped her or if she calmed herself down. She didn't have anything in her mouth to choke on so I don't know what happened but it was definitely a scary moment.
Thank goodness tomorrow is the start of a new week and hopefully a much smoother week. But I will keep my opinion about that to myself.
Kathy
Sunday, July 1, 2012
My Gifts From Heaven (conclusion)
During this time he had choking spells in which he would almost swallow his tongue. So the doctor put a thread through the tip of Kevin's tongue and tied the end of the thread to a small pair of scissors. This was to keep his tongue pulled forward so it wouldn't fall back into his throat. Poor Kevin! He cried so much. He must have been in great pain. I prayed that if it was his time to die that he would be taken quickly so he wouldn't have to suffer so long.
During this stay in the hospital the doctor asked my permission to perform a gastronomy on Kevin. This was a process where a rubber tube was placed in the abdomen and about eight inches of the tube protrudes outward and this had a metal clip on the end to keep it closed. When he was fed the clip was removed and the liquid food was poured into the tube, then the clip was replaced. This process took about ten minutes to feed him compared to the two hours it previously took him to eat. I was in favor of the operation because it would save a great deal of time and also Kevin was getting thin from lack of nourishment.
We visited Kevin everyday. Finally the news came that he was ready to come home. A visiting nurse came to the house to teach me how to feed him through the tube. It didn't take long to learn the technique. I suddenly had to much time to spare. Only ten minutes to feed Kevin, and Janie was feeding herself by this time.
Kevin was hospitalized so often that the nurses remembered him from one time to the next. He was there every nine to ten months.
Several months later, on a Halloween night, Kevin was rushed to the hospital again. This time for an appendectomy. It burst before the operation began. It was doubtful if he would pull through. Kevin must have a strong constitution to recover from all the serious illnesses he has had.
Mom stayed with me during the operation. John didn't want to come. A change was taking place with John. He didn't want to visit with Kevin anymore. He would come to the hospital with me, but he would either stay out in the hall or downstairs. The more often Kevin was hospitalized, the further John and I drifted apart.
Now after all our tragedies, our marriage was falling apart. John started drinking heavily and staying away from home for days at a time. How could he do this to me? After all, I'm human too. I was hurt and depressed by all our troubles, but you can't give in to them. You have to pick up the pieces and begin again.
Then in March 1961, John deserted me. Our marriage lasted ten years. We were married young. I had been seventeen and he was twenty. We had had the whole world to look forward to and now it was all over. The only thing that kept me going for the next few months was the fact that I was four months pregnant.
Sonny was born a few months later. He was normal and healthy. I thought after the baby came that John would come back home, but he didn't.
During this time I started taking Kevin to a private chiropractor. The medical doctor could do nothing more for him. He was still having numerous epileptic seizures every day and he was totally disabled due to the fact that he had cerebral palsy along with epilepsy.
Kevin couldn't hold his head up very well and had no use of his arms and legs. He had four years of chiropractic care and during this time his health improved drastically. Not one time in these four years has Kevin had any serious illnesses, compared to being hospitalized every few months before chiropractic care.
After a few years, my doctor advised me to take Kevin to Children's Chiropractic Center. This clinic is free for those who can't afford private treatments.
When we started, Kevin was given thorough examinations, a blood test, numerous x-rays and a cardiogram. All these were given before the treatment's began.
After he was given the first adjustment, there was a slight change in Kevin's seizures. Then after a few more adjustments, his seizures cut down to about twenty a day compared to one hundred or so previously. Since this time, Kevin's neck has become stronger so he can hold his head up better and he moves his right arm around, whereas before he never used it. For the first time I now have some hope for him.
During these few months of going to the clinic, several times weekly, I have become acquainted with a very wonderful doctor. She had not only helped Kevin physically, but has become a much needed friend and a great inspiration to me. She has encouraged me to look at things more positively, something which I have not been able to do these last few years, alone.
She advised me to set a goal and let nothing enter to distract me from that goal.
If I work at this and have faith, many wonderful things can happen.
THE END
UPDATE:
John never returned to his family and never helped support them and because of that they had to go on welfare. He rarely ever saw his two youngest children. He died around 1970 in a workplace accident.
His wife is alive and doing well, along with his two youngest children who now have children of their own.
Kevin passed away around 1994, he made some improvements over the years, though not many but was still totally diabled and he continued to be cared for at home by his mother.
It also amazes me how far medical care has come since that time, and how maybe some of these disabilities may have been treated somewhat differently.
As I said at the beginning of this story, I did not write it and I copied it exactly like it was given to me, although I did change the names for privacy reasons. To me, it is a story of courage, love and strength.
KATHY
During this stay in the hospital the doctor asked my permission to perform a gastronomy on Kevin. This was a process where a rubber tube was placed in the abdomen and about eight inches of the tube protrudes outward and this had a metal clip on the end to keep it closed. When he was fed the clip was removed and the liquid food was poured into the tube, then the clip was replaced. This process took about ten minutes to feed him compared to the two hours it previously took him to eat. I was in favor of the operation because it would save a great deal of time and also Kevin was getting thin from lack of nourishment.
We visited Kevin everyday. Finally the news came that he was ready to come home. A visiting nurse came to the house to teach me how to feed him through the tube. It didn't take long to learn the technique. I suddenly had to much time to spare. Only ten minutes to feed Kevin, and Janie was feeding herself by this time.
Kevin was hospitalized so often that the nurses remembered him from one time to the next. He was there every nine to ten months.
Several months later, on a Halloween night, Kevin was rushed to the hospital again. This time for an appendectomy. It burst before the operation began. It was doubtful if he would pull through. Kevin must have a strong constitution to recover from all the serious illnesses he has had.
Mom stayed with me during the operation. John didn't want to come. A change was taking place with John. He didn't want to visit with Kevin anymore. He would come to the hospital with me, but he would either stay out in the hall or downstairs. The more often Kevin was hospitalized, the further John and I drifted apart.
Now after all our tragedies, our marriage was falling apart. John started drinking heavily and staying away from home for days at a time. How could he do this to me? After all, I'm human too. I was hurt and depressed by all our troubles, but you can't give in to them. You have to pick up the pieces and begin again.
Then in March 1961, John deserted me. Our marriage lasted ten years. We were married young. I had been seventeen and he was twenty. We had had the whole world to look forward to and now it was all over. The only thing that kept me going for the next few months was the fact that I was four months pregnant.
Sonny was born a few months later. He was normal and healthy. I thought after the baby came that John would come back home, but he didn't.
During this time I started taking Kevin to a private chiropractor. The medical doctor could do nothing more for him. He was still having numerous epileptic seizures every day and he was totally disabled due to the fact that he had cerebral palsy along with epilepsy.
Kevin couldn't hold his head up very well and had no use of his arms and legs. He had four years of chiropractic care and during this time his health improved drastically. Not one time in these four years has Kevin had any serious illnesses, compared to being hospitalized every few months before chiropractic care.
After a few years, my doctor advised me to take Kevin to Children's Chiropractic Center. This clinic is free for those who can't afford private treatments.
When we started, Kevin was given thorough examinations, a blood test, numerous x-rays and a cardiogram. All these were given before the treatment's began.
After he was given the first adjustment, there was a slight change in Kevin's seizures. Then after a few more adjustments, his seizures cut down to about twenty a day compared to one hundred or so previously. Since this time, Kevin's neck has become stronger so he can hold his head up better and he moves his right arm around, whereas before he never used it. For the first time I now have some hope for him.
During these few months of going to the clinic, several times weekly, I have become acquainted with a very wonderful doctor. She had not only helped Kevin physically, but has become a much needed friend and a great inspiration to me. She has encouraged me to look at things more positively, something which I have not been able to do these last few years, alone.
She advised me to set a goal and let nothing enter to distract me from that goal.
If I work at this and have faith, many wonderful things can happen.
THE END
UPDATE:
John never returned to his family and never helped support them and because of that they had to go on welfare. He rarely ever saw his two youngest children. He died around 1970 in a workplace accident.
His wife is alive and doing well, along with his two youngest children who now have children of their own.
Kevin passed away around 1994, he made some improvements over the years, though not many but was still totally diabled and he continued to be cared for at home by his mother.
It also amazes me how far medical care has come since that time, and how maybe some of these disabilities may have been treated somewhat differently.
As I said at the beginning of this story, I did not write it and I copied it exactly like it was given to me, although I did change the names for privacy reasons. To me, it is a story of courage, love and strength.
KATHY
Saturday, June 30, 2012
My Gifts From Heaven (part 3 of 4)
Finally one day the hospital called and said Kevin was ready to come home. I was so happy, I grabbed a suit of clothes for him and off I went to bring my baby home. The nurse dressed him in his white shirt and red crawlers and white shoes and soxs. All the nurses raved about Kevin's creamy smooth complextion, his deep blue eyes, and long dark eyelashes. Along with his short blond hair, he was a little doll. When the nurse finished dressing him, she sat him on the side of his bed but he couldn's sit up, he rolled over into a ball.
Before we left for home, the doctor came in to talk to me. He said Kevin had epilepsy and was having over a hundred seizures a day. He said the convulsions and rolling of the eyes were epileptic seizures. Kevin would probably be like this for the rest of his life.
Now I had two invalid children to care for. Am I strong enough to take on this heavy load? In God's name, how can you do this to us? All we wanted was two normal children. Instead, you send us this heavy cross to bear. Please give us the strength and the understanding to undertake this great task. We cannot do it without Your help.
In the months to follow, things got worse. It took all my time just to feed the two children. Jr. ate slowly and each meal would take one hour to feed him. It took over two hours to feed Kevin at each meal. That's three hours spent at every meal just to feed the two boys. Then by the time we had our meal and washed the dishes, it was time to start feeding the first one again. My housework had to be neglected and I was tired and listless and feeling miserable because I was pregnant again and the third baby was due only a short time away.
In January, 1957, Janie was born. Our luck just had to change this time. She was the largest of the children, weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. She looked like a butterball, compared to Kevin's 6 lbs. and Jr.'s 5 ;bs 14 ozs.
At the age of two years, Janie had to have an operation for an umbilical hernia. She was taken to Children's Hospital for the operation. She came through it all without any complications. The day she came home, she climbed the back yard fence, so she couldn't be feeling too badly. Sometime after this, she had her first asthma attack. It scared me so to see her gasping for breath. This went on for about 5 days. She only had these attacks once or twice a year, but they became more frequent as she got older. Even though Janie had these problems, at least she was normal and that meant everything.
Now I had three babies and the oldest was not quite three years old. All three were in diapers and had to be bottle-fed. Did I ever know what work was? By the end of the day I was exhausted.
Then in March of 1958 tragedy struck again. There was an Asian flu epidemic and we all contacted it. Jr. was the last one to contact it. He was very sick for five days. His temperature was high and he couldn't keep anything on his stomach. He was so touchy he couldn't stand for me to touch him. I called the doctor and he said to bring Jr. to the office. I wrapped him in a heavy blanket and Mom drove us there, only a few blocks from our housse. The doctor examined him and said he had acute bronchitis. He gave me a prescription to have filled and said Jr. would be all right.
That evening I gave him his medicine and fed him a few spoonfuls of soup. He seemed to be feeling better. So I changed him into his pajamas and gave him a good-night kiss and tucked him into his bed.
My precious darling! How was I to know that I would never hold you in my arms again?
I went to Jr.'s bed the next morning to wake him for breakfast. I pulled the covers back and rolled him over to awaken him. Oh God! No! This couldn't be! My Jr. was dead. Only ten more days and he would have celebrated his fourth birthday. To think he died today, March 6, 1958, on my twenty-fourth birthday. This was to be a day of celebration and joy but now it had turned into a day I shall never forget. Nor will I ever be able to celebrate on this day again.
My baby was gone. The end of the world had come. I could not take anymore. I have borne more in these last three years than most people have in a lifetime.
I called my parents and they came to the house within minutes. John was a work so Mom called his boss and asked him to relay the news to John. They had to contact him out on his route, but within about half an hour he was home. When he came in, I could tell he had been crying. He walked right in by Jr.'s bed and spent a few minutes there alone. From the time of Jr.'s death until now, (8 years later) John was never to mention him name again.
Funeral arrangements were made and friends and relatives came by the house off and on all day.
My precious darling! I couldn't go on without him. I felt so close to him, I guess, because he was my first baby, and now he had been taken away from me. The days that followed were unbearable. I couldn't sleep at night and I couldn't stand to be alone.
Weeks passed and with each week the pain eased up some. Then I came upon a poem that seemed to bring me back to reality again. It went like this:
"God's garden has need for a little flower
That has grown for a time here below;
But in tender love, He took it above,
In more favorable climatte to grow."
After all, God did give Jr. to me for almost four years and if He loved my Jr. so much that He wanted him back, who was I to stand in the way? Goodby my precious baby, till we meet again.
Three months went by and we were just beginning to get ourselves straightened out when Kevin became critically ill. He had a fever and was having difficulty in breathing. We rushed him to Children's Hospital where they immediately put him into an oxygen tent. His breathing was heavy and labored. The doctor said his lungs were almost completely filled with liquid. He was in critical condition for two weeks before he started to show improvement.
Kathy
(I will post the conclusion to this story on Sunday)
Before we left for home, the doctor came in to talk to me. He said Kevin had epilepsy and was having over a hundred seizures a day. He said the convulsions and rolling of the eyes were epileptic seizures. Kevin would probably be like this for the rest of his life.
Now I had two invalid children to care for. Am I strong enough to take on this heavy load? In God's name, how can you do this to us? All we wanted was two normal children. Instead, you send us this heavy cross to bear. Please give us the strength and the understanding to undertake this great task. We cannot do it without Your help.
In the months to follow, things got worse. It took all my time just to feed the two children. Jr. ate slowly and each meal would take one hour to feed him. It took over two hours to feed Kevin at each meal. That's three hours spent at every meal just to feed the two boys. Then by the time we had our meal and washed the dishes, it was time to start feeding the first one again. My housework had to be neglected and I was tired and listless and feeling miserable because I was pregnant again and the third baby was due only a short time away.
In January, 1957, Janie was born. Our luck just had to change this time. She was the largest of the children, weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. She looked like a butterball, compared to Kevin's 6 lbs. and Jr.'s 5 ;bs 14 ozs.
At the age of two years, Janie had to have an operation for an umbilical hernia. She was taken to Children's Hospital for the operation. She came through it all without any complications. The day she came home, she climbed the back yard fence, so she couldn't be feeling too badly. Sometime after this, she had her first asthma attack. It scared me so to see her gasping for breath. This went on for about 5 days. She only had these attacks once or twice a year, but they became more frequent as she got older. Even though Janie had these problems, at least she was normal and that meant everything.
Now I had three babies and the oldest was not quite three years old. All three were in diapers and had to be bottle-fed. Did I ever know what work was? By the end of the day I was exhausted.
Then in March of 1958 tragedy struck again. There was an Asian flu epidemic and we all contacted it. Jr. was the last one to contact it. He was very sick for five days. His temperature was high and he couldn't keep anything on his stomach. He was so touchy he couldn't stand for me to touch him. I called the doctor and he said to bring Jr. to the office. I wrapped him in a heavy blanket and Mom drove us there, only a few blocks from our housse. The doctor examined him and said he had acute bronchitis. He gave me a prescription to have filled and said Jr. would be all right.
That evening I gave him his medicine and fed him a few spoonfuls of soup. He seemed to be feeling better. So I changed him into his pajamas and gave him a good-night kiss and tucked him into his bed.
My precious darling! How was I to know that I would never hold you in my arms again?
I went to Jr.'s bed the next morning to wake him for breakfast. I pulled the covers back and rolled him over to awaken him. Oh God! No! This couldn't be! My Jr. was dead. Only ten more days and he would have celebrated his fourth birthday. To think he died today, March 6, 1958, on my twenty-fourth birthday. This was to be a day of celebration and joy but now it had turned into a day I shall never forget. Nor will I ever be able to celebrate on this day again.
My baby was gone. The end of the world had come. I could not take anymore. I have borne more in these last three years than most people have in a lifetime.
I called my parents and they came to the house within minutes. John was a work so Mom called his boss and asked him to relay the news to John. They had to contact him out on his route, but within about half an hour he was home. When he came in, I could tell he had been crying. He walked right in by Jr.'s bed and spent a few minutes there alone. From the time of Jr.'s death until now, (8 years later) John was never to mention him name again.
Funeral arrangements were made and friends and relatives came by the house off and on all day.
My precious darling! I couldn't go on without him. I felt so close to him, I guess, because he was my first baby, and now he had been taken away from me. The days that followed were unbearable. I couldn't sleep at night and I couldn't stand to be alone.
Weeks passed and with each week the pain eased up some. Then I came upon a poem that seemed to bring me back to reality again. It went like this:
"God's garden has need for a little flower
That has grown for a time here below;
But in tender love, He took it above,
In more favorable climatte to grow."
After all, God did give Jr. to me for almost four years and if He loved my Jr. so much that He wanted him back, who was I to stand in the way? Goodby my precious baby, till we meet again.
Three months went by and we were just beginning to get ourselves straightened out when Kevin became critically ill. He had a fever and was having difficulty in breathing. We rushed him to Children's Hospital where they immediately put him into an oxygen tent. His breathing was heavy and labored. The doctor said his lungs were almost completely filled with liquid. He was in critical condition for two weeks before he started to show improvement.
Kathy
(I will post the conclusion to this story on Sunday)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
My Gifts From Heaven (part 2)
I had planned to share more of this story yesterday evening, but the season finale of The Real Housewives of Orange County was on and I had to stay focused on that.....don't judge.
I want to repeat that this is a true story, and as much as I want to write my own stories, it was NOT written by me, but I am sharing from the original manuscript. Again, I have changed the names for privacy even though most of the people in this have passed on.
MY GIFTS FROM HEAVEN (part 2)
Everything was fine for the next three days and as the time grew closer for me to leave the hospital, I noticed that Kevin's complexion had a yellowish cast to it. I spoke to the doctor about this. He took some blood tests of Kevin. The count was very high; if it went any higher he would have to have a complete transfusion. A mild case of yellow jaundice is not unusual to new babies but it could mean trouble.
I immediately called John on the telephone and let him know about the problem. He was having supper at my Mom's house. When he received my call, Mom told me later, he was in the middle of his meal and when I told him of Kevin's condition, the laughter that had been his, left, and he pushed his supper aside to go out for a lond walk, alone. He did away with the cigars he had been passing out for the last two days.
When he came to the hospital that evening he looked so dejected. The same thing was going through his mind that had done through mine. Was something going to be wrong with this baby too?
Dr. Moore came into the room to speak to us. He said they were to make further tests on Kevin, but in the past hour or two, he was showing some improvement. They would leave things go for now and see what happens.
By the time I was ready to leave the hospital, Kevin's blood count was normal so the crisis was over. John and I felt better after hearing the news. Everything was fine now, our worries were over and we felt at peace again.
I left the hospital on the fourth day, but we had to leave Kevin there for about ten days for precautionary measures. By the time he came home I was well rested and able to take care of him without any difficulty.
Kevin was a good baby, slept all the time. I even had to wake him for his 2:00 am feeding. I did this for a few months because he was so small. I felt he should have all the nourishment he could get.
John was a good husband. He worked hard every day. He left early in the morning but was always home by supper. Jr. always looked forward to seeing him come home in the evening. I would face his wheelchair toward the door, and when he saw John come in, he would give out with a squeal and draw his legs up, then kick them out repeatedly and laugh. John would take off his work cap and put it on Jr.'s head and then everything would be all right. This routine went on every evening. John and Jr. were real pals.
We didn't go out very often. If we did, it was usually to my parent's house up the street. We didn't have a car at this time and with two babies it was difficult to go on a bus, so we just stayed home.
When Kevin went in for his three month's checkup, Dr. Moore examined him and pronounced him as healthy and normal as any three month old child. When I told John that night we were happier than you could possibly imagine. Life was beautiful; everything was perfect; at long last we had a normal healthy baby.
Our two-room apartment began to bulge at the seams. We had two baby beds, our bedroom suit and a living room suit all in one room. There was a three-room apartment up the street, so we moved up there. It was still crowded but more room than what we had before. We now live two doors from my parents' home which proved to be heaven-sent in the years that were to follow.
It was Fourth of July and we had our usual family picnic. Everything was perfect. On this holiday we all gather together at Mom's for a day of feasting, fun and frolic. There was my brother and his wife and children, my sister and her husband and children, John and I, Jr., Kevin, Mom and Dad and anyone else who happened to drop by.
Mom always furnished the meat and the rest of us would bring the dish we were most noted for. I made good potato salad, so that's what I contributed. My sister made the best corn pudding and my sister-in-law the cake. After a delicious meal that we all suffered for the rest of the day, we would get out the cards and have a good poker game that usually lasted the rest of the afternoon. The only interruptions were for a quick diaper change or a feeding for one of the babies. What fun we had on these good old days that were not to last for long. How we would have held on to these fun-filled moments if we knew what the future held.
The next day, July 5, Kevin had a fever and was vomiting some. I thought it was from the excitement of the previous day. I gave him some aspirin and thought he would be all right in a day or two, but by the third day, there was no improvement. He began to roll his head from one side to the other while sitting up in his stroller.
When he slept, he would lie perfectly still but his eyes were wide open. We knew then that something was dreadfully wrong. We rushed him to the emergency room at St. James's Hospital. They, in turn, told us to take him to a specialist. We did, and the doctor immediately sent Kevin to Children's Hospital. He diagnosed Kevin as having encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
Mom drove me to the hospital as John was at work, and didn't know about this until he came home. He came to the hospital to meet me and we spent the evening there, giving Kevin's history and hoping to find out some news of him. He was put in the isolation nursery. He was behind a glass wall and all we could do was stand there and look at him. I couldn't even touch him. I wanted so badly to hold him in my arms. Was this illness going to be fatal? He was only seven months old and already was beginning his life of suffering.
The doctor wouldn't tell us anything for several days. Then one day he called us into his office. He said Kevin was having convulsions every few minutes and his head was swollen from some liquid that was accumulating there. Then the worse news of all: Kevin had only ten days to live.
While driving home, neither John nor I spoke a single word. The tears were streaming down my face and I bit my lips to try and hold it back. I knew John felt the same way, but being a man, he kept control of himself.
When we arrived hom, my aunt and uncle were at the house. They kept Mom and Jr. company while we were at the hospital. I knew they were waiting to hear the news of Kevin. I didn't say a word when I entered the house. I went up to Jr. and picked him up off my mother's lap and buried my face in his shoulder and cried uncontrollably. In the meantime, John went up to the corner grocery where my Dad worked and told him. Dad told me later, that John took it very hard but never once did he break down in front of me.
Kevin improved some but he lay near death for two months. He was still having convulsions but the liquid, that had made his head swell, had been drained. Something new was now occurring. Kevin's eyes would roll up and become fixed for a long period at a time. They would flicker and roll almost continually. How it hurt to see him suffer.
By now I was three months pregnant. How on earth could I take care of Jr. and now Kevin and a new baby on the way? Only time could answer that question.
(to be continued)
Kathy
I want to repeat that this is a true story, and as much as I want to write my own stories, it was NOT written by me, but I am sharing from the original manuscript. Again, I have changed the names for privacy even though most of the people in this have passed on.
MY GIFTS FROM HEAVEN (part 2)
Everything was fine for the next three days and as the time grew closer for me to leave the hospital, I noticed that Kevin's complexion had a yellowish cast to it. I spoke to the doctor about this. He took some blood tests of Kevin. The count was very high; if it went any higher he would have to have a complete transfusion. A mild case of yellow jaundice is not unusual to new babies but it could mean trouble.
I immediately called John on the telephone and let him know about the problem. He was having supper at my Mom's house. When he received my call, Mom told me later, he was in the middle of his meal and when I told him of Kevin's condition, the laughter that had been his, left, and he pushed his supper aside to go out for a lond walk, alone. He did away with the cigars he had been passing out for the last two days.
When he came to the hospital that evening he looked so dejected. The same thing was going through his mind that had done through mine. Was something going to be wrong with this baby too?
Dr. Moore came into the room to speak to us. He said they were to make further tests on Kevin, but in the past hour or two, he was showing some improvement. They would leave things go for now and see what happens.
By the time I was ready to leave the hospital, Kevin's blood count was normal so the crisis was over. John and I felt better after hearing the news. Everything was fine now, our worries were over and we felt at peace again.
I left the hospital on the fourth day, but we had to leave Kevin there for about ten days for precautionary measures. By the time he came home I was well rested and able to take care of him without any difficulty.
Kevin was a good baby, slept all the time. I even had to wake him for his 2:00 am feeding. I did this for a few months because he was so small. I felt he should have all the nourishment he could get.
John was a good husband. He worked hard every day. He left early in the morning but was always home by supper. Jr. always looked forward to seeing him come home in the evening. I would face his wheelchair toward the door, and when he saw John come in, he would give out with a squeal and draw his legs up, then kick them out repeatedly and laugh. John would take off his work cap and put it on Jr.'s head and then everything would be all right. This routine went on every evening. John and Jr. were real pals.
We didn't go out very often. If we did, it was usually to my parent's house up the street. We didn't have a car at this time and with two babies it was difficult to go on a bus, so we just stayed home.
When Kevin went in for his three month's checkup, Dr. Moore examined him and pronounced him as healthy and normal as any three month old child. When I told John that night we were happier than you could possibly imagine. Life was beautiful; everything was perfect; at long last we had a normal healthy baby.
Our two-room apartment began to bulge at the seams. We had two baby beds, our bedroom suit and a living room suit all in one room. There was a three-room apartment up the street, so we moved up there. It was still crowded but more room than what we had before. We now live two doors from my parents' home which proved to be heaven-sent in the years that were to follow.
It was Fourth of July and we had our usual family picnic. Everything was perfect. On this holiday we all gather together at Mom's for a day of feasting, fun and frolic. There was my brother and his wife and children, my sister and her husband and children, John and I, Jr., Kevin, Mom and Dad and anyone else who happened to drop by.
Mom always furnished the meat and the rest of us would bring the dish we were most noted for. I made good potato salad, so that's what I contributed. My sister made the best corn pudding and my sister-in-law the cake. After a delicious meal that we all suffered for the rest of the day, we would get out the cards and have a good poker game that usually lasted the rest of the afternoon. The only interruptions were for a quick diaper change or a feeding for one of the babies. What fun we had on these good old days that were not to last for long. How we would have held on to these fun-filled moments if we knew what the future held.
The next day, July 5, Kevin had a fever and was vomiting some. I thought it was from the excitement of the previous day. I gave him some aspirin and thought he would be all right in a day or two, but by the third day, there was no improvement. He began to roll his head from one side to the other while sitting up in his stroller.
When he slept, he would lie perfectly still but his eyes were wide open. We knew then that something was dreadfully wrong. We rushed him to the emergency room at St. James's Hospital. They, in turn, told us to take him to a specialist. We did, and the doctor immediately sent Kevin to Children's Hospital. He diagnosed Kevin as having encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
Mom drove me to the hospital as John was at work, and didn't know about this until he came home. He came to the hospital to meet me and we spent the evening there, giving Kevin's history and hoping to find out some news of him. He was put in the isolation nursery. He was behind a glass wall and all we could do was stand there and look at him. I couldn't even touch him. I wanted so badly to hold him in my arms. Was this illness going to be fatal? He was only seven months old and already was beginning his life of suffering.
The doctor wouldn't tell us anything for several days. Then one day he called us into his office. He said Kevin was having convulsions every few minutes and his head was swollen from some liquid that was accumulating there. Then the worse news of all: Kevin had only ten days to live.
While driving home, neither John nor I spoke a single word. The tears were streaming down my face and I bit my lips to try and hold it back. I knew John felt the same way, but being a man, he kept control of himself.
When we arrived hom, my aunt and uncle were at the house. They kept Mom and Jr. company while we were at the hospital. I knew they were waiting to hear the news of Kevin. I didn't say a word when I entered the house. I went up to Jr. and picked him up off my mother's lap and buried my face in his shoulder and cried uncontrollably. In the meantime, John went up to the corner grocery where my Dad worked and told him. Dad told me later, that John took it very hard but never once did he break down in front of me.
Kevin improved some but he lay near death for two months. He was still having convulsions but the liquid, that had made his head swell, had been drained. Something new was now occurring. Kevin's eyes would roll up and become fixed for a long period at a time. They would flicker and roll almost continually. How it hurt to see him suffer.
By now I was three months pregnant. How on earth could I take care of Jr. and now Kevin and a new baby on the way? Only time could answer that question.
(to be continued)
Kathy
Monday, June 25, 2012
My Gifts From Heaven (part 1)
The following is a true story, I did not write it. It was written about 40 years ago or so. It was a time before advanced medical treatment and not a lot was known about certain ailments. I share this story because it shows true sacrifice and courage and hope in a time of despair. I will be sharing this story over the next few posts, I have changed the names of the people involved for privacy although most of the people in this story are longer with us. I hope you see in this story, as I did, how the human spirit can handle adversity and still keep the faith.
MY GIFTS FROM HEAVEN
It was a cold snowy night on December 24, 1955, when the first pain began. My second baby was on the way. A doctor friend who lived in the next apartment told me to go to bed and that I had plenty of time. Nothing would happen before morning. Boy! Did I fool him! One hour later I was on my way to the hospital.
I had my suitcase packed three weeks in advance so as not to have to rush at the last minute.
My husband, John, who worked for a softdrink company, had been home from work about two hours. We were just finishing supper when the pains started. John walked six houses up the street to get my parents. They cam down immediately, feeling more excited than we. Mom stayed with my son, Jr., as we called him.
Jr. was two years old and had cerebral palsy. He was completely helpless and spent much of his time in a wheelchair. He was such a friendly little guy and always had a smile for everyone. Even though he couldn't talk, he did recognize people and always expected to be acknowledged when someone came into the room. If someone forgot to speak to him, he would fret and keep looking at them until they did speak. Mom was the only person I would trust to take care of Jr. because she knew his habits and he was difficult to care for.
When I felt it was time to leave for the hospital, Dad backed his car down to the front of our house. I got in the back seat with John and off we went.
We were all feeling very anxious. We wanted this baby more than anything. This baby would make up for all the disappointments we had with our first child.
Before we were married we talked of having four children. John wanted two boys to do all his work so he could take it easy. I wanted two girls to help me around the house. We often laughed and said we could retire while we were young and let the children take care of us.
I couldn't help but say a silent prayer that this baby would be normal and healthy. We had accepted the fact that our first child was handicapped, but could we possibly accept another one.
Good old Dad, he as so law-abiding. A few of my pains told me we'd better hurry, but Dad wouldn't pass a red light for anything and believe me, we made every red light between home and the hospital.
Finally we arrived there. Dad and John debated whether to go in the back door or the front. I said, "While you two are trying to decide, I'm going in the front way." Dad and John went into the waiting room and I was wheeled upstairs to the labor room.
What thoughts rush through one's mind when one enters this room. Everything so white and sterile and the odor of anesthesia throughout the hospital. Then the pains which start out so mild, then become so severe you wonder if you can bear it. Then you think of the reward you get in exchange for the pain and it seems like a very small price to pay.
By now the pains were severe, only seconds apart, as I rang for the nurse. She immediately examined me and listened for the baby's heartbeat. It took here several minutes. She called in two other nurses who tried to locate the heartbeat. They said they couldn't find one.
Dear God, I thought, please don't let anything go wrong with this baby. By now I was on my way to the delivery room. After a few minutes the doctor arrived. I apologized for taking him away from his family on Christmas Eve. As it turned out, he was at a basketball game and had to leave during half-time. I'm sure he could have blessed me.
Dr. Moore was a very kind and thoughtful person. He tried to reassure me during these nine months that nothing would go wrong with this baby, that it was rare to have two children in the same family with cerebral palsy. I tried to believe him, but, after all, I hadn't felt much movement during the pregnancy.
We carried on a conversation during the delivery, trying to ease the tension. I reminded the doctor that I had predicted this baby to be born on Christmas Eve, and that he said it wouldn't come before the first week of January.
We had hoped for a girl but Kevin came along instead. It took what seemed like eternity before they could get him to breathe. Finally after a few hard spanks on the seat, he gave out a lusty yell and everything seemed to be all right. He as my special gift from heaven. An even 6 pounds and bald as a beet, but the most precious little thing in the world.
I felt a little sad to think that I couldn't be at home with the rest of the family because Christmas was always a day of excitement. Mom always baked a huge turkey with dressing and all the trimmings. Company would come and go all day and the thrill of opening presents and the laughter of children. How I would like to be there tonight, but God had other plans and who are we to question the will of God?
The day after Kevin was born, Christmas Day, John and my family came to see me. They brought my presents with them and John gave me a pot of yellow chrysanthamums. This was the happiest Christmas I ever had - a new baby, presents, flowers, we were sitting on top of the world. The whole workd was beautiful. Nothing could go wrong now.
(to be continued)
Kathy
MY GIFTS FROM HEAVEN
It was a cold snowy night on December 24, 1955, when the first pain began. My second baby was on the way. A doctor friend who lived in the next apartment told me to go to bed and that I had plenty of time. Nothing would happen before morning. Boy! Did I fool him! One hour later I was on my way to the hospital.
I had my suitcase packed three weeks in advance so as not to have to rush at the last minute.
My husband, John, who worked for a softdrink company, had been home from work about two hours. We were just finishing supper when the pains started. John walked six houses up the street to get my parents. They cam down immediately, feeling more excited than we. Mom stayed with my son, Jr., as we called him.
Jr. was two years old and had cerebral palsy. He was completely helpless and spent much of his time in a wheelchair. He was such a friendly little guy and always had a smile for everyone. Even though he couldn't talk, he did recognize people and always expected to be acknowledged when someone came into the room. If someone forgot to speak to him, he would fret and keep looking at them until they did speak. Mom was the only person I would trust to take care of Jr. because she knew his habits and he was difficult to care for.
When I felt it was time to leave for the hospital, Dad backed his car down to the front of our house. I got in the back seat with John and off we went.
We were all feeling very anxious. We wanted this baby more than anything. This baby would make up for all the disappointments we had with our first child.
Before we were married we talked of having four children. John wanted two boys to do all his work so he could take it easy. I wanted two girls to help me around the house. We often laughed and said we could retire while we were young and let the children take care of us.
I couldn't help but say a silent prayer that this baby would be normal and healthy. We had accepted the fact that our first child was handicapped, but could we possibly accept another one.
Good old Dad, he as so law-abiding. A few of my pains told me we'd better hurry, but Dad wouldn't pass a red light for anything and believe me, we made every red light between home and the hospital.
Finally we arrived there. Dad and John debated whether to go in the back door or the front. I said, "While you two are trying to decide, I'm going in the front way." Dad and John went into the waiting room and I was wheeled upstairs to the labor room.
What thoughts rush through one's mind when one enters this room. Everything so white and sterile and the odor of anesthesia throughout the hospital. Then the pains which start out so mild, then become so severe you wonder if you can bear it. Then you think of the reward you get in exchange for the pain and it seems like a very small price to pay.
By now the pains were severe, only seconds apart, as I rang for the nurse. She immediately examined me and listened for the baby's heartbeat. It took here several minutes. She called in two other nurses who tried to locate the heartbeat. They said they couldn't find one.
Dear God, I thought, please don't let anything go wrong with this baby. By now I was on my way to the delivery room. After a few minutes the doctor arrived. I apologized for taking him away from his family on Christmas Eve. As it turned out, he was at a basketball game and had to leave during half-time. I'm sure he could have blessed me.
Dr. Moore was a very kind and thoughtful person. He tried to reassure me during these nine months that nothing would go wrong with this baby, that it was rare to have two children in the same family with cerebral palsy. I tried to believe him, but, after all, I hadn't felt much movement during the pregnancy.
We carried on a conversation during the delivery, trying to ease the tension. I reminded the doctor that I had predicted this baby to be born on Christmas Eve, and that he said it wouldn't come before the first week of January.
We had hoped for a girl but Kevin came along instead. It took what seemed like eternity before they could get him to breathe. Finally after a few hard spanks on the seat, he gave out a lusty yell and everything seemed to be all right. He as my special gift from heaven. An even 6 pounds and bald as a beet, but the most precious little thing in the world.
I felt a little sad to think that I couldn't be at home with the rest of the family because Christmas was always a day of excitement. Mom always baked a huge turkey with dressing and all the trimmings. Company would come and go all day and the thrill of opening presents and the laughter of children. How I would like to be there tonight, but God had other plans and who are we to question the will of God?
The day after Kevin was born, Christmas Day, John and my family came to see me. They brought my presents with them and John gave me a pot of yellow chrysanthamums. This was the happiest Christmas I ever had - a new baby, presents, flowers, we were sitting on top of the world. The whole workd was beautiful. Nothing could go wrong now.
(to be continued)
Kathy
Sunday, June 17, 2012
5 Things......That I Like To Watch on TV
Now there are lots of things that I like to watch on TV, I keep my DVR humming. The DVR is the best invention since sliced bread and it's wonderful to be able to go out and not miss your favorite shows. I like quite a diverse assortment of shows. Here are five of my favorite shows. This list doesn't include the Real Housewives, which I love, or shows on "regular" TV, this list is shows, on cable, that I really like.
1. DEADLIEST CATCH. I've watched this show for several years and I can't explain why I like it, but I do. I do feel sorry for the crab, but it is fascinating to see the kind of work these guys do. And of course, there are a lot of the same workers on the boats from season to season and you get to know who they are and some of their back story. The captains are an interesting bunch of guys, who seem to survive on no sleep, cigarettes and coffee for marathon hours at the helm. And the workers on deck dealing with horrific weather at times for hours and hours on end. I have to say my favorites on the captains of the Time Bandit, the Hillstrandt brothers, they are funny and the captain and deck boss, Sig and Edgar Hansen, who are brothers, on the Northwestern.
2. TRUE BLOOD. I love, love, love this show. It's on HBO and it's a campy, funny, scarey, improbable story of vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, voodoo, fairies, love, sex and dead bodies. It's too good!! There's Bill, a vampire, who falls in love with Sookie, who just found out last year that she is a fairy and that's why she can hear people's thoughts and all the vampires want her blood because fairy blood is the best. There's Sam, Sookie's boss, who is a shape-shifter and he is in love with a new girl, who just happens to be a werewolf. There is Erik who was the sheriff of the a vampire county in Louisiana, and he is also in love with Sookie, and he is hot, hot, hot!! Sook's brother, Jason, who is a normal human and a former high school football star who has bedded many a lady in their town. But now he is in love with Jessica, a young girl whom Bill turned into a vampire as a punishment. I could go on and on with all the twists and turns of the show but you need to just tune it, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
3. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS. This is another show, like Deadliest Catch, that I can't quite figure out why I like it, but I just do. It follows a group of truckers who work in Alaska and Canada and deliver food, fuel, supplies to areas of the country that can be cut off during the summer, but when the water freezes over in the winter, they can haul supplies over the "ice" roads to these remote communities. And of course there is the usual arguments, rivalries and headaches that make a reality show a reality show. We have to have some drama. There are near misses, accidents and the possibilities of accidents. Trust me, I wouldn't want to drive on some of these roads that are shown on here, hilly, icy, curvey. Maybe I like it because it is on during the summer and when it is 90+ outside it's kind of refreshing to see some snow and ice. Who knows why, but I like it.
4. SONS OF ANARCHY. Oh I know exactly why I like this show.....hot guys, motorcycles, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Well, maybe not so much the rock and roll part, but the rest, definitely. This is the stroy of a MC in California, who pretty much run the town of Charming, but unlike most MC's they want to keep their town a sleepy little place and they help the people in the town. Now, of course, they have their dark side. They run guns, deal in porn, have connections to the IRA, kill and maime their enemies, lie, steal and cheat, all the while taking care of their families and running a business. I know it sounds like there would be no redeeming qualities to any of these people, but you would be surprised. Jax (oh my goodness, he is so HOT) whose father was the leader of the SOA until he was killed, but by whom??? Jax's mother, Gemma, is married to the current leader, Clay (who had a hand in killing Jax's father). Jax has wanted out of the MC for a while now, especially since his high school sweetheart came back to town and now they are back together. He has always wanted to take the club in a new direction, but Clay is taking them down an even darker road than they are currently on, with lots of bodies in their wake. At the end of last season, Jax finds out about Clay's role in is father's death and oust him as leader of the MC. Jax had planned to leave town, but instead he takes the helm of the club. Will he make changes or will the history of the club be to big of a pull to change around. I do believe the you would like it if you watched it. It is on FX which shows some pretty edgy programming.
5. DOC MARTIN. This is a British series on PBS. I guess you could call it a "dramedy", partly drama and part comedy. It's about a surgeon who has a phobia about blood, so he is sent to a small town on the coast of Cornwall, Port Wenn, where he takes over as the GP of the town. He really doesn't like it there but as a
child spent the summers there on his aunt's farm. He is difficult to work for, rude, standoffish, has trouble showing emotion, and is just not always nice. But, he is in love with the local schoolteacher but has trouble letting her know. She is also in love with him, but can't seem to get through to him because he is emotionally distant. The townspeople are a quirky, funny, odd bunch of people and they do seem to come down with the oddest ailments, which makes it all the more fun to watch. At the end of last season, Doc and Louise, the schoolteacher, finally get together and he finally admits that he wants to be with her and live in this crazy town. I love a good British TV series and this is one of the best.
1. DEADLIEST CATCH. I've watched this show for several years and I can't explain why I like it, but I do. I do feel sorry for the crab, but it is fascinating to see the kind of work these guys do. And of course, there are a lot of the same workers on the boats from season to season and you get to know who they are and some of their back story. The captains are an interesting bunch of guys, who seem to survive on no sleep, cigarettes and coffee for marathon hours at the helm. And the workers on deck dealing with horrific weather at times for hours and hours on end. I have to say my favorites on the captains of the Time Bandit, the Hillstrandt brothers, they are funny and the captain and deck boss, Sig and Edgar Hansen, who are brothers, on the Northwestern.
2. TRUE BLOOD. I love, love, love this show. It's on HBO and it's a campy, funny, scarey, improbable story of vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, voodoo, fairies, love, sex and dead bodies. It's too good!! There's Bill, a vampire, who falls in love with Sookie, who just found out last year that she is a fairy and that's why she can hear people's thoughts and all the vampires want her blood because fairy blood is the best. There's Sam, Sookie's boss, who is a shape-shifter and he is in love with a new girl, who just happens to be a werewolf. There is Erik who was the sheriff of the a vampire county in Louisiana, and he is also in love with Sookie, and he is hot, hot, hot!! Sook's brother, Jason, who is a normal human and a former high school football star who has bedded many a lady in their town. But now he is in love with Jessica, a young girl whom Bill turned into a vampire as a punishment. I could go on and on with all the twists and turns of the show but you need to just tune it, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
3. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS. This is another show, like Deadliest Catch, that I can't quite figure out why I like it, but I just do. It follows a group of truckers who work in Alaska and Canada and deliver food, fuel, supplies to areas of the country that can be cut off during the summer, but when the water freezes over in the winter, they can haul supplies over the "ice" roads to these remote communities. And of course there is the usual arguments, rivalries and headaches that make a reality show a reality show. We have to have some drama. There are near misses, accidents and the possibilities of accidents. Trust me, I wouldn't want to drive on some of these roads that are shown on here, hilly, icy, curvey. Maybe I like it because it is on during the summer and when it is 90+ outside it's kind of refreshing to see some snow and ice. Who knows why, but I like it.
4. SONS OF ANARCHY. Oh I know exactly why I like this show.....hot guys, motorcycles, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Well, maybe not so much the rock and roll part, but the rest, definitely. This is the stroy of a MC in California, who pretty much run the town of Charming, but unlike most MC's they want to keep their town a sleepy little place and they help the people in the town. Now, of course, they have their dark side. They run guns, deal in porn, have connections to the IRA, kill and maime their enemies, lie, steal and cheat, all the while taking care of their families and running a business. I know it sounds like there would be no redeeming qualities to any of these people, but you would be surprised. Jax (oh my goodness, he is so HOT) whose father was the leader of the SOA until he was killed, but by whom??? Jax's mother, Gemma, is married to the current leader, Clay (who had a hand in killing Jax's father). Jax has wanted out of the MC for a while now, especially since his high school sweetheart came back to town and now they are back together. He has always wanted to take the club in a new direction, but Clay is taking them down an even darker road than they are currently on, with lots of bodies in their wake. At the end of last season, Jax finds out about Clay's role in is father's death and oust him as leader of the MC. Jax had planned to leave town, but instead he takes the helm of the club. Will he make changes or will the history of the club be to big of a pull to change around. I do believe the you would like it if you watched it. It is on FX which shows some pretty edgy programming.
5. DOC MARTIN. This is a British series on PBS. I guess you could call it a "dramedy", partly drama and part comedy. It's about a surgeon who has a phobia about blood, so he is sent to a small town on the coast of Cornwall, Port Wenn, where he takes over as the GP of the town. He really doesn't like it there but as a
child spent the summers there on his aunt's farm. He is difficult to work for, rude, standoffish, has trouble showing emotion, and is just not always nice. But, he is in love with the local schoolteacher but has trouble letting her know. She is also in love with him, but can't seem to get through to him because he is emotionally distant. The townspeople are a quirky, funny, odd bunch of people and they do seem to come down with the oddest ailments, which makes it all the more fun to watch. At the end of last season, Doc and Louise, the schoolteacher, finally get together and he finally admits that he wants to be with her and live in this crazy town. I love a good British TV series and this is one of the best.
KATHY
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