Pledge by Red Skelton

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

School supplies

I was going through things I had from school. I decided I would hand them out to the neighborhood kids ~ first come first serve. Had almost enough for them all.
I have an idea... Being a teacher for 30+ years, I found that supply lists were created by teachers in hope that students would arrive at school with everything they needed for the school year; however many times the students seemed to lack enough supplies. Many times students couldn't afford what was on the list or at least all of it. Many times there are more than one child coming from a home. Teachers, out of their own pockets, spend money on student supplies so NO student has to go without.
Here's your part, go to your local school and ask what supplies are needed. Get a group of people together and gather those supplies. Pass them out at no cost to students when they come to register. Remember this would be on a first come first serve bases. You cannot discriminate against students whose parents may have the income to purchase supplies.
There should be a tax break for your donation,but talk to your tax person first about this.
Teachers spend much more than the $250 tax break they get. The cost of supplies for an average classroom should be around $1000.00.
I know this, as I supplied everything for my students as I knew many of the parents had a hard enough time trying to purchase clothing to start the school year off.
Like I said, get a group together. See what you can do...

I think...

I think my younger sister is excited that I asked her to help with the baby shower. She is out spending her hard earned cash purchasing items for the shower. I knew she would like to help as she loves giving parties!

Lazy, Hazy days of summer...

Lazy, Hazy days of summer...Where have they gone? I read an article today about kids and summer.
I remember how much fun our summers were. We would get up, me I got up very early ~ I can't seem to waste a minute sleeping, eat some breakfast, brush my teeth, get dressed and out the door. Couldn't wait until I could jump in the pool to swim, play some baseball with the neighborhood kids, or ride bicycles to the where ever our hearts would lead us.
When I was a kid everything was closed on Sundays except a few restaurants and some gas stations. We would go to church, pick up our grandparents, How we all fit in one car is beyond me, and go out into the country side and look for wild flowers for our grandmothers to have bouquets.
I watch my granddaughters today, they have such busy schedules; softball games 2 or 3 nights a week, practices, tournaments on the weekends in who knows where, roller skating races in who knows where, nations in skating and softball... very little time to relax and just be kids.
My one granddaughter will be over to the house and her cell phone will get a text. "Grandma my friend Becca wants to play? Can you take me home? We hardly ever get to play any more." Twenty minutes later she is home to play with her friend.
It saddens me to think that activities have begun to take up so much time in my grandchildren world.
Two of my grandchildren that live an 8 hours drive away, love to swim, fish, ride jet skies, but they also spend way to much time on their xbox playing games with people they don't even know.
Two of my grandsons, love being outside. I must say that this daughter loves taking them out and teaching them about nature. Teaches them about taking care of and the habitat that the animals and insects live in. It is always fun to listen to them "spill" their knowledge when they see something they know about. However they both have Ipods with many games. Sometimes they too spend to much time with the technology.
I am not against technology in any way; however I do think kids need to spend more time being kids.
Kids do not have any imagination today. They aren't happy with a broom for a horse and a finger gun. Maybe all the bad stuff that is happening in America right now is a way of telling us to enjoy the little pleasures of life. Learn you don't need so much television, computers, etc. Maybe paper books will make a come back. My grandchildren all love the library... My youngest grandson got so excited last summer when we went to the school I taught at (retired now) when he saw the library... He wanted to go see the library. How many 4 years old get so excited about the library? Not many I bet.
Lets turn America around, I don't want to be like third world countries with children starving, but I want us to take more time to look at things, quit thinking money is the only important thing. I often say, "I don't know why people have to have so much money. They can't take it with them when they die and many of their children loose their fortune for them to drugs, alcohol and a fast paced life."
How many of you remember the song...
Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer lyrics

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you're set
And on the beach you'll see the girls in their bikinis
As cute as ever but they never get 'em wet
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer
Don't hafta tell a girl and fella about a drive-in
Or some romantic moon it seems
Right from the moment that those lovers start arrivin'
You'll see more kissin' in the cars than on the screen
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here
You'll wish that summer could always be here
You'll wish that summer could always be here

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Some police ...

(story linked) Some police need to pick their battles. I could understand a ticket and suspended license if this was a case of just speeding for the heck of it. Why didn't the first officer give an escort? Bullies... I have often said many people become police officers because they are bullies or abusers or both... this gives them "legal" rights to bully or abuse others. To bad people don't roll over and play dead any more... they get caught (the officer). :)

I read...

I read in the paper the article about the accident where the 12 years old died. Someone online stated that we should have the community pay for his funeral... Well if he escaped from a locked down facility, I am pretty sure the facility will have to pay for the funeral and other costs.

Isn't it about time?

Isn't it about time that we as Americans start making the rules. The United States was built by the working class. We fought for our freedoms from a ruling party that did not let us have a say, that taxed us unfairly, that took the products we produced, shipped them back to the mother land and then made us purchase them back.
Americans let's have some back bone...
1. You are here to live... Speak American, act American, Fly the American flag
2. Don't boo the national athem... if you don't want to be here...move!
3. Every Congressional member that doesn't act in ways that MOST Americans want, should be out of a job, when you don't get reelected you are fired... no pension, no benefits... that's what happens to REAL AMERICAN WORKERS.

Let's FIRE CONGRESS!

The downfall of CONGRESS...

The downfall of CONGRESS is because they are a bunch of overeducated, smartasses. They think they are above everyone else. I would really like to see what universities they all went to...Rich kids everyone of them I bet.

A Lawsuit waiting to happen....

A Lawsuit waiting to happen....
Yes the story is becoming clear... the 12 years old boy was in a hospital for evaluation... must be mental evaluation... So sad that he was able to escape and try to get away... He picked up his friend in Danville or someplace along the way and then he got into the second accident. He had already had one in a stolen vehicle.
What is the liability of the hospital in this case? Negligence at least... I will bet there are lawyers already knocking down the families door....
Probably a few politicians from CONGRESS too since most of them are lawyes.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

How?

How? Why? Where were the parents?
The twelve year old boy's name was Travis Messenger. He passed away today. I have not heard anything more about the fourteen year old.

Tragedy. Where were the adults? What was a 12 and 14 year old doing stealing not one car, but two. Not only did they steal two cars, but they wrecked two cars. Where were the adults? Why were they out at that time of day? Why, why, why!

8:52 PM, Tuesday; Update: I am not sure, but the comments I am reading make me believe that the 14 years old has passed also. I know he was in surgery this afternoon.
His name is Logan. That is all I know right now.

Like I stated earlier, where were the adults?

Just who do they really think...

Just who do they really think believes them that they are doing what they are for the people? No we don't see what you are doing as for us. We see it as trying to sway votes for the next election. Congress you are a bunch of FOOLS! We are becoming the laughing stock of the world.
You act just like spoiled brats.... me, me, me.
You all are acting like you are so much better and smarter than everyone else. I think you all need to let US the real people help. We could do as well as you.
I see you as a bunch of racist. You are against the President because he is biracial. Yes biracial. He is both WHITE and BLACK. He has white roots.
Why don't we become wise enough to start doing what is right for Americans. Not big business.
That's right... big business, banks... INTEREST RATES ON CREDIT CARDS will RISE if an AGREEMENT is not FOUND! INTEREST RATES=BIG BANKS!

Baby Shower announcements

The baby shower announcements have arrived. Cathy, Lara's mother-in-law, did a great job. Now I need to get them addressed and mailed out.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Weeds, weeds and more weeds

This long hot spell has made the weeds come out. I spent one and a half hours working in the garden. Cannot wait for fall to come so I can dig, rearrange and transplant the garden. I am thinking I want to have some grass again. Joy joy. My husband might not like that since he is the one who mows.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Hello anyone out there

Hello, how are you today? Great I hope. I am busy planning my menu so I may go grocery shopping. Have a great day.

73 degrees

Wow the rain has forced the temperature to go down; 73 degrees outside right now. How comfortable is that? I love it. We can turn off the air for a little while and just use fans. I love it.

Oh no it's his senior year!

Wow it does not seem possible that our oldest grandson will be a senior this year. Where did time go? I know that Robert will be looking forward to graduating soon... I know he will be missing his girlfriend. She is younger than him.
Robert, just where did time go? You grew up too fast.

Two of my grandsons

Two of my grandsons were here to visit this week. Their great-grandmother, on their father's side, passed away and they were here to visit me while arrangements were made for the funeral.
The youngest one's first request was "hamburger" balls. Now to most people those are meatballs or porcupine balls. Not two many months ago he would not even try them. He had to eat one bit the last time he visited or we wouldn't go get ice cream. Well he tried them, we called them hamburger balls because he likes hamburgers, and he ended up eating his whole ball. His brother asked him if he liked his meat ball, he replied no. So then he asked do you like your hamburger ball? The answer this time, yes. So now we eat hamburger balls and hamburger loaf.

July?

This weather makes you think we are in August. I sure hope it is cool when school starts or that all classrooms have air. It is miserable when it is this hot and humid. It makes it very hard for students to concentrate and the teachers get a little cranky.
I remember what it was like in the classroom when I was a student... the teacher would open the window as wide as they could, turn on the fan and probably prayed for the final bell of the day to ring.
Today those big old windows are gone in most schools, replaced with tiny ones that open about 8 inches... all in the name of energy saving.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Action in the ole neighborhood

Action in the ole neighborhood tonight. I guess we had a felon in our neighborhood. Living just a little ways down from us. Kind of scary when you think how many times you have been outside after dark, door maybe not shut tight, the grandchildren and neighborhood kids playing... Don't know what he was wanted for, however I do know that he has a life sentence in another state, that the family members of whoever he was holding hostage were all waiting for the swat team to get him. I do not know if there is anyone else involved. I do know that his daughter turned him in after they had a disagreement. When he came out of the house it was like you see in the movies, get on the ground, on the ground now. Then they cuffed and stuffed him.
I don't know if any one else is there as the swat team has not left yet, the road is still blocked by squad cars. This has been going on for about 4 hours now. My husband and I did not even know anything was going down, Sirens from police, fire and ambulance are common in this town. (Usually ambulances from other cities using our hospital and fire trucks going to help the ambulance crews with medical calls.), until we went out to change the cars around in the drive.
Checked a few minutes ago and the scene remained the same. Oh well going to bed. Night all.

Two Memorials today.

Today we are having two memorials services. One is for my Uncle and the other for my son-in-laws grandmother.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Lost another one.

Tonight we lost another one of our family members. Uncle Merle. We knew it wasn't going to be long. My cousin has been home since last Thursday tending to his care.
These last few days, hours have been hard.

We now have two graveside services to attend. Uncle Merle, Aunt Beverly and you will be painting Heaven Red.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Update

We have lost one of our hospice people. My son-in-laws grandmother passed away at 7:15 their time. The funeral arrangements are incomplete at the present time.
My Uncle Merle only has hours left. My cousin was called back to the nursing home today, so it is just a matter of time.
We have not heard anything from my husband's aunt. So we are not sure how much longer his cousin has.

Rachel

Rachel went to a swimming/team party last night. She got home around midnight...
She did pretty good at getting up. We have done much running around today.
We went with mother to the grocery store and to Sally's to purchase a perm. Then we came home. Rachel got ready to take a shower and it broke, so off to Lowe's we went. Came home fixed the shower, ate some lunch, she took her shower, watched a little TV and then it was time to get ready for her game.
She had to be there to watch the other game, older girls, and so I took her, dropped her off and will go back soon. It is just too darn hot.

Sure wish it would rain.

I sure do wish it would rain. It is so uncomfortable outside. My list of chores for myself is growing longer. Ugh!

I know that when we are in a rain spell we are wishing for dry weather.
Poor weather just can't get a break. LOL.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Here I sit

Here I sit, 11:05 p.m. and Rachel is not home from the team party. Where or Where can my granddaughter be?

I guess this team likes to party pretty hardy. I know it is the end of the year type stuff, but their season still has a few weeks left. I think they should all be home in bed since they have a double header tomorrow.

Heat, little sleep and a double header equals wore out.
Rachel has nationals in roller skating on Saturday. I wonder how many hours of sleep she will need with this party tonight.

I have to get up in the morning. I wish she would call in the next couple of minutes since I have to met up with her ride.

Planning baby shower

Any good ideas for a baby shower. If so let me know.

Retirement: The thought of not having to go back to work.

I am beginning to realize that I have retired. As I sat tonight and listened to my sister and cousin talking of school chatter, you know teachers don't really get the summer off as some folks would like to believe.
They are talking of getting their classrooms ready, class list... Oh boy do I not miss that. I would be making lesson plans already, preparing worksheets for reinforcement, making power points to help present lessons, and the list goes on.
I found myself today at Walmart looking at classroom supplies (teachers always love the beginning of the school year sells.) I caught myself picking up things I would need, crayons, markers, erasers... I put most of it back... I DON'T NEED TO FURNISH SUPPLIES THIS YEAR!
I may talk to my husband about donating some to local charities that are collecting supplies to make sure kids they service will have supplies.
I know I will have the "need" to purchase supplies in my brain. STOP brain I don't have to do that this year.
Here is a hint to folks that think teachers don't do much... I purchased each year at the beginning 500 to 600 dollars in supplies out of my pocket. You would be surprised at how many kids don't have basic supplies. I always had pencils, pens, crayons, color pencils, folders, 3-ring binders, notebook paper by the cases, poster board, glue, glue sticks, paint brushes, erasers, pencil sharpeners (they wear out because students want to sharpen colored pencils in them, which ruins the blades) pens, spiral notebooks by the cases, rulers, calculators (they all seem to walk out by the end of the first semester), highlighters, markers (every kind you can imagine), and my list goes on as I find little things for the students.
So if you are reading this, be a friend to local teachers, purchase supplies and donate them to their classrooms. Believe it or not this is a donation. Check with your tax consultant to see what all you can donate and get a tax credit for.
You can also help all those school fundraisers by donating the money instead of purchasing stuff you don't want. They get to keep 100% of this donation, where on the product they get a small percentage. (Just a thought.) Also check with your tax consultant about donating time in classrooms helping to grade papers, read to kids, help kids who are falling behind, to serve snacks... ask your school if there is anything they need a volunteer for.

Class Reunion

My class just celebrated our 40th year. I was unable to attend with all of the family obligations this year. Maybe the next one I will be able to attend.

It is great to see all of the pictures of people I went to school with and graduated with. We were a very large class for our high school.

You all look great in the pictures. It looks like you had a really great time.

Monday, July 18, 2011

What is hospice care?

All three of our people are now in hospice care.
My daughter called and asked me what it was as her husband's grandmother was in hospice care at the hospital. I have a definition for her and others that would like to know:
Hospice care, provides humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of an incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.

Uncle Merle has one or two days left. He has not been able to eat or drink for at least 4 days. The average person can go 5 to 7 days without eating or drinking.

I know this has to be hard for my cousin. She is in the medical field and understands what is happening. It has been a battle with the nursing home to do as my uncle's living will states. The nurse's aids have given her the toughest time.

My husband's cousin has been with hospice for a few weeks now. Stage four cancer is not pretty. She was a heavy smoker. I know this does not always contribute to lung cancer, however it does in many cases. She was also one of those people who believed smoking pot did not damage your lungs. Well it does.

My son-in-laws grandmother is now in hospice care. I have to say that the one daughter of hers is very strong and stated we will follow her wishes. One son is having a hard time accepting his mother's prognosis and the fact she will be passing soon also.

Guilt makes it hard to let go of someone. Especially when you could have done more or paid more attention to them. Sometimes we get so hung up in our own Little worlds we forget the most important things of all: 1. show your love for your family ~ financial security is okay, but doing small things like visiting even when you don't feel like it, makes a big difference in someones day. (Just don't act like you don't want to be there.) 2. Do not be so worried about finances that you forget that maybe a homemade card, a game of catch, you cooking a special meal for another individual ~ that's love. It can't be bought with cash. (You can't take money with you when you die, so just enough to make life comfortable is all someone needs.)

I know how tough it is to watch a loved one die. My father passed away when I was a teenager from cancer. We didn't notice the small changes at the time, but when we look at old photos, we can see the things we thought were just life changes.

I prayed to God one night, when my father was still at home, that God would take him and release him from this pain if he couldn't be healed. That was the last night my father spent at home. He died 35 hours later.

I knew I had been a good daughter to him. We played ball together, swam, went on vacations, spent as much time together as life would allow. I didn't want him in pain, I wanted him to be in the safe arms of God and Heaven.

Do I believe in Heaven? I do. I believe my father is our family's light. That he is the one that greets others. Why do I believe this? My cousin talked to my dad before he died, my grandmother talked to my dad before she passed, my older sister talked to my dad~ she kept saying, "Daddy I can't see the light." When she saw the light she smiled and peacefully passed on.

Yes I believe there is a Heaven and God. Yes I believe hospice is the best program that has ever been created.

Prayers to our loved ones. Prayers of a peaceful passing to their new lives.

Up date

Uncle Merle is hanging in there. EB's mother now has a feeding tube. Not sure this is her wish, however she is in a hospital and they forgot to take her living will with them.
We have not heard from my husband's family so not sure how his cousin is doing. We will call this week.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Health

The family is having some health problems. Looks like we will be having a few funerals in the next month or so.
James' cousin is in stage 4 cancer. It is now in her liver and brain. It is so painful that they basically keep her sedated.
Uncle Merle had a good day yesterday morning, however by the afternoon all of his vitals were beginning to crash. My cousin says he probably won't make it through the weekend.
Our son-in-laws grandmother had a stroke. She was air lifted to the hospital in Indy. She is unresponsive at the time. Massive amount of blood in the left temporal lobe. Not good.
Prays and thoughts go out to our family. Thoughts and prays to my friends who are also facing some sort of tragedy themselves.

Two loads done...

Two loads of laundry done. Getting things ready for a rummage sale. Helping my daughter with the sorting of her children's clothes and getting them ready for the rummage sale.
I have been to the store already, have the meat ready to cook for spaghetti sauce, have meat for some other crock pot meals.
My break is over now so I need to head back to work. Cleaning this huge house takes too much time. Can't complain, don't know what I would do with less space.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Two pictures

Two of my husband's aunts.

James and Aunt Judy

James and Aunt Alice

Heat Wave!?!

Getting prepared for the next round of heat wave. Air on full blast... Cooling before the heating. Cookie baking tomorrow and meal prep that takes heat. Crock pots ready to go. Cool meals... Well I don't know. Maybe diet time.
I have my meals planned and I am going to start tonight. I do not want to heat the house any more than I have to.
Tomorrow I plan to get all house work done... run to the library and get some good books to read. Get some cross-stitch or some sewing things. It is going to be a long hot week!... This is suppose to start Sunday at 7 a.m. and go through Friday 7 p.m. I will not be on the computer any more than I have to be.
I guess I should go change some of the water in the pond for the fish. If it gets that hot they could die... don't want to loose any of them. Hopefully Rachel's game Wednesday will get cancelled due to heat.

Have a great week... stay cool... stay safe....

We went on our vacation 1

This past week we took a weeks vacation to Tennessee. We had a really great time. Only thing that could have made it better if some of the grandchildren were with us.
Lara, my hubby and I started off by going to the Monkees concert with my sister and our son-in-law, Chris.
The morning after Chris took off for Germany and we headed back home with Lara and my sister.
The next day we just lazy around and got prepared for the trip. Off we went. First we stopped at Cathy and Darrell's house. Lara stayed the night there while we headed to a hotel up the road. The next morning we went back and picked Lara up.
Our next stop was at our son's house. Visited for 2 days there. Then we headed to my husband's sister's house. We visited them 2 days and then we headed to Pigeon Forge. Stayed a night there. Then we went back to Knoxville and visited two of my husband's aunts. I had never met the one, and the other we have not seen in too many years.
My husband's one cousin had had a stroke, but seemed to be doing well. His other cousin (we visited) is in stage 4 lung cancer. It is in her liver and brain now.
We took off from there and headed back to Darrell and Cathy's place. We stayed the night there as we were going to a Stampin Up party. It was really fun and I learned techniques I thought were going to be hard. Thanks Cathy. I really enjoyed the party.
After the party we packed up and headed home.
Lara stayed the night, visited her grandma (my mom) the next morning and then my wonderful husband took her home.
When will the next trip be?
Hard telling. My uncle is very ill and not expected to last much longer and we plan to go to my husband's cousin's funeral when the time comes.
Not a good way to end a great trip, but life is not always fair.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Weather

It seems to be a little cooler today. Only 77 right now. Wonder if we will get storms or not. The girls had games last night. I did not go because it was soooo hot. I don't know why they didn't cancel those games. Oh well they survived and they are over.
Can't complain too much as winter will be here soon and we will be wishing for warm weather.

TSA

Okay someone got through security with a stungun, however small children are being sexual abused by these people and old women strip searched because they are wearing a depend diaper... I think this is a crock and we should do away with TSA screening. They pick on children, old people, and people whose plane doesn't come in and have to be transferred to a different airline. I just wonder who it was that carried that stungun onto the plane... a friend of a TSA person?

TOO HOT!

It is just too hot to do anything. The air conditioners are going full blast. Sure hope we get a break soon. I need to get out in my garden to do some much needed work.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Vacation

We are home once again. Visited many relatives. Some we haven't seen in too many years, others we see each time we go.
Our one grandson will be graduating from high school this coming school year. He is growing into a wonderful young man. Of course we share the passion of family history.
I met an aunt of my husband's that I have never met before. She was so funny. Loved meeting her. She has many stories to tell. I can't wait to go back and hear them.
I am so lucky to have a wonderful family. I will post a few of the pictures of the grandchildren on here soon. Still trying to get motivated after the trip.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

More Monkees

This is all the pictures I am going to post of the Monkee's concert. Hope you enjoy them.
I will be posting vacation pictures in a few days. Have too much laundry to do.










































Saturday, July 9, 2011

Need a vacation...

I need a vacation to recoup from our vacation. Will write and post pictures in a few days.

Friday, July 1, 2011

More pictures...

I will be posting more pictures tomorrow of the Monkee Concert. Check back.

Those Monkees can still ROCK!!!!!

Wow those Monkees can still rock. I found myself, and most of the crowd, singing right along with them. This concert was well worth the wait.
These guys are true entertainers.





"Don't treat someone like a priority when all they are willing to treat you like is an option." -- Unknown