Have you seen those word clouds that are popular right now? Basically a jumble of words--with the most "popular" being the biggest in the middle?
Anyway -- I'm in a jumble/whirlwind of stuff to do ... like I'm caught up in a tornado ... here's my word cloud:
school kids laundry TWITTER facebook SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT baby shower cleaning CALORIES the daily plate scale haircut dvr'd shows stress family flights vegas RTNDA sleep backpacks bills springclean paint newbathroom blogging copyediting discipline NEWS weather travel LISTS dietdrpepper nocoke WORK love relationships reviews schedules organization specials TIGERS lateshows messes baseball soccer friends
and that's not even everything.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Taking a Break from the Happy for a Moment
So, I'm here in Lafayette for a funeral.
Let me back up. For the longest time, Ryan and I have had all our grandparents...and for me, that included an "extra" set. My mom's parents divorced and remarried -- but, for all my life, I just had 3 sets of grandparents - didn't know it any other way. Just telling you this for background.
I lost my very special Popaw on September 11, 2007.
And last Saturday, the man I always just called "Red" died. He's my mom's step-dad. He lived in California most of my life. So, I wasn't terribly close to him. My best memories are of talking to him and Grandma on the phone as a kid -- and having him always ask me "You been kissin' dem boys! I know you been kissin' boys!" (Didn't matter if I was 8 or 18.)
So anyway, I've come home for his funeral...and was doing pretty good. Then we get to the cemetery, and outside the mausoleum is a group of men -- old men -- in their American legion uniforms, waiting to salute Red as he's brought in. I am so touched by these older men ... standing in the cold ... waiting to salute this fellow soldier.
Then, we go into the mausoleum, and then back of it is just glass - a big window where you can see out into a pretty grassy area ... and there's men standing there. Again. old American Legion men, in uniform and in formation - - all holding rifles or flags.
And then, one of those men who is on the inside with us, begins a formal flag presentation to Grandma Jane. And it wasn't whispered, like you see in the movies. He talks about a grateful nation, and other patriotic things that have my throat constricting and head pounding, and then hands over the flag on "behalf of the US Government." Wow. You can NOT not cry after seeing that. Then, those men, outside -- still standing proud, but for pete's sake, none younger than 60 standing in the COLD ... gave Red a 5 gun salute.
While I was so proud of those men, and the nation and brotherhood they all stood for -- I couldn't help but wonder ... these men are the last of their generation. Who's going to do this when they're gone?
Let me back up. For the longest time, Ryan and I have had all our grandparents...and for me, that included an "extra" set. My mom's parents divorced and remarried -- but, for all my life, I just had 3 sets of grandparents - didn't know it any other way. Just telling you this for background.
I lost my very special Popaw on September 11, 2007.
And last Saturday, the man I always just called "Red" died. He's my mom's step-dad. He lived in California most of my life. So, I wasn't terribly close to him. My best memories are of talking to him and Grandma on the phone as a kid -- and having him always ask me "You been kissin' dem boys! I know you been kissin' boys!" (Didn't matter if I was 8 or 18.)
So anyway, I've come home for his funeral...and was doing pretty good. Then we get to the cemetery, and outside the mausoleum is a group of men -- old men -- in their American legion uniforms, waiting to salute Red as he's brought in. I am so touched by these older men ... standing in the cold ... waiting to salute this fellow soldier.
Then, we go into the mausoleum, and then back of it is just glass - a big window where you can see out into a pretty grassy area ... and there's men standing there. Again. old American Legion men, in uniform and in formation - - all holding rifles or flags.
And then, one of those men who is on the inside with us, begins a formal flag presentation to Grandma Jane. And it wasn't whispered, like you see in the movies. He talks about a grateful nation, and other patriotic things that have my throat constricting and head pounding, and then hands over the flag on "behalf of the US Government." Wow. You can NOT not cry after seeing that. Then, those men, outside -- still standing proud, but for pete's sake, none younger than 60 standing in the COLD ... gave Red a 5 gun salute.
While I was so proud of those men, and the nation and brotherhood they all stood for -- I couldn't help but wonder ... these men are the last of their generation. Who's going to do this when they're gone?
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Oh Happy Discovery!
Look what I found in the backyard today:
Evidence of Spring!
We found all sorts of buds popping out today too .. but to see actual real flowers made me very happy!! Funny to see these new pics of the boys playing ... compared to the pics in my "fun day" blog from just a couple days ago! From 6 inches of snow ... to taking pics of flowers and swinging!
Evidence of Spring!
We found all sorts of buds popping out today too .. but to see actual real flowers made me very happy!! Funny to see these new pics of the boys playing ... compared to the pics in my "fun day" blog from just a couple days ago! From 6 inches of snow ... to taking pics of flowers and swinging!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Thoughts when School Calls
It's amazing how many thoughts one can have in a matter of seconds. Like today, the phone rang and I looked up to see it was the school. So, in a matter of like 2 seconds - from seeing the Caller ID to lifting up the phone and saying 'hello' I managed to think:
-Who's calling?
-Oh, it's school. I better answer.
-Oh no, it's about Jack. Because of his coughing.
-I feel bad, I knew he was coughing bad. Should he have gone to school?
-Do they think "what kind of parent sends a kid to school with a cough like that"?
-I'll have to go get him.
-Hm. I could use this to my advantage and take a sick dependent day.
I answer. It is Jack. I manage to think a few quick thoughts after he says "Hi Momma" and before he continues:
--It's Jack
--The nurse probably told him to call me so I can assess his "illness" and whether he should come home
--Ok, I'm ready: got my gauge on, let's go.
Then Jack continues, "I have student council tonight so Daddy will need to pick me up."
Now, only ONE thought: YOU CALLED ME TO SAY THAT??
"Yes Jack, Daddy knows. "
It's amazing I can have all those rational thoughts, in rapid succession, and prep myself to handle whatever's coming ... yet, I'll get up from my desk to head to the break room for my dinner and forget what I'm doing and where I'm going half way there.
-Who's calling?
-Oh, it's school. I better answer.
-Oh no, it's about Jack. Because of his coughing.
-I feel bad, I knew he was coughing bad. Should he have gone to school?
-Do they think "what kind of parent sends a kid to school with a cough like that"?
-I'll have to go get him.
-Hm. I could use this to my advantage and take a sick dependent day.
I answer. It is Jack. I manage to think a few quick thoughts after he says "Hi Momma" and before he continues:
--It's Jack
--The nurse probably told him to call me so I can assess his "illness" and whether he should come home
--Ok, I'm ready: got my gauge on, let's go.
Then Jack continues, "I have student council tonight so Daddy will need to pick me up."
Now, only ONE thought: YOU CALLED ME TO SAY THAT??
"Yes Jack, Daddy knows. "
It's amazing I can have all those rational thoughts, in rapid succession, and prep myself to handle whatever's coming ... yet, I'll get up from my desk to head to the break room for my dinner and forget what I'm doing and where I'm going half way there.
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