Wouldn't You Think...

Went to a Sun. School class party last night. We drove several miles north of our home, out in the country, into a neighboring county, in the daylight. The roads were unfamiliar to us and only lit by our weak headlights. Suddenly, the road took a 90 degree turn. Had a sign warned us? If so, we didn't see it. So on the way home, we encountered the sharp turn again. There, in the lights of the car, were about 8 crosses of varying sizes indicating that people had died when they did not make the curve. Wouldn't you think the county road commissioners would post signs more visible and more true about the 90 degree curve ahead?

Navigation Error Turned Bonus

While trying to look up a word on dictionary.com, somehow it turned up dictionary reference.com. So I checked out the page, looking for a place to type in the word I needed. Somehow (I've used this word already in this post, but when working on the internet, "somehow" is appropriate in many situations.) I found a blog cite by a teacher in Colorado named Bud the Teacher. As fellow teacher, the cite is of interest to me, and a well-written one. Ok, I enjoy writing my blog, but have no desire to publish it as "the Teacher." Too much pressure. For teacher advice/help refer to Bud.

Cat Banquet

Our new dining table with chairs are prominently displayed in our dining room, complete with hand-crafted lace tablecloth from Europe. I beamed with pride and satisfaction, unbelieving that they are actually mine and in my dining room! After admiring the set, I sat down in the living room, when I heard a familiar sound. H's white cat jumped up on the table, walked around the perimeter, strolled to the center and laid down. Her other cat was quick to jump up on a chair and proceed to walk across all of them. I screamed and shot into the dining room to catch them leaping off. I'm sure if I looked carefully, I would find deep punctures in the edges where they exited the furniture. So I won't be mad, I won't look. The cats have been banished to upstairs for the remainder of their visit. They are not pleased, but then they don't rule my house nor is it my desire to please them. Sorry H.

New Furniture!

My husband and I just celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. During those years we have purchased only one dining room table with chairs in 1973. When that finally wore out/broke, we got a hand-me-down table and chairs from a friend. After a while, the table was so worn that it was completely smooth on top. My daughters decided to do a "Trading Spaces" idea by painting the top of the table. Turned out very nicely. But now the chairs have all given out and we are using the metal ones left behind in one of H's moves. We went shopping yesterday for a dining room set, not knowing if we would buy or not. After visiting 4 or 5 places, we stopped at the most expensive store, sure we would not find anything in our price range. We found a beautiful all wood table that with the leaf makes a 54 inch square. After much discussion and many tries, we chose 8 chairs to match. We intend to keep it at the full size. I will really believe it when the set arrives Thurs. My husband said I could have another new set in 34 years. And I'm going to hold him to it.

Christmas delight

It was so much fun to open our gifts on Christmas morning. We passed them out so that one person at a time opened a gift. So each time our granddaughter opened a gift we were able to enjoy completely. At the age of two, she was not as excited about the actual gift as she was about tearing off the wrapping. At one point she tipped back too far and rolled gently onto her back. Because we laughed so much, she did it again and stayed on her back to open the present. When she opened her step-stool, she had to use it each time to open the next gift, even though she did not need it. When she opened the small motorized car that she could ride and drive, the appeal of the other gifts went by the "roadside." H bought it, and it goes a maximum of 2 mph. Do you know how fast 2mph is on the hardwood floors with furniture all about? Fortunately her rammings by the vehicle left no major damage. Sure wish it had reverse as we spent much time redirecting her. At one point she wouldn't put down a toy in her left hand so she drove one-handed. How young they learn!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

Stores opened at 6:00 a.m. today for those after-Christmas bargains. Early bird specials were offered to entice people to come and get it. I decided that I have all that I need. I have no desire (at least at this moment) to go back into that jungle. After the big celebration that we had here, I need to stay home and clean up the clutter. Hope your Christmas celebration was good.

Time to Open Those Gifts

Packages are all purchased, wrapped and stacked around the Christmas tree. Three of the four in the house are up and awaiting the arrival of the granddaughter and her mom and dad. Christmas traditional coffee cake is ready to go in the oven. It won't be long before the house will be a wreck with torn wrapping paper scattered about and newly opened treasures piled nearby. Smiles will be shared as well as "Thank Yous!" for wishes satisfied at last. Merry Christmas!

Happy 34th Anniversary

Just wanted to wish my husband a Happy 34th Anniversary. We have endured 9 moves, 4 births, 3 children, 1 granddaughter, 15 jobs, 3 periods of no jobs, living on half our income for two lengthy periods, 7 pets, several deaths of family members, 3 cancers and other serious health issues, numerous cars, vacation trips??!!, and several pounds gained. All has not been easy, but we have made it because of our committment to God and to one another. My our love endure many more years together and may our list continue to grow.

Family Christmas

Well, we had our get-together with the entire family last night to celebrate Christmas with my father. Wasn't bad except that several were sick with colds and didn't feel much like being around people. Dad enjoyed himself very much, as he always does. He raked in the presents as well as handed out the stuff. All in all it was a successful evening. Merry Christmas to all.

Come, They Told Me

This Christmas song takes on new meaning when you think about shopping. I peruse the ads hoping to find the best bargains. I have noticed that a particular department store is advertising "The Biggest Sale of the Season" or "the Year." Funny how the percentage off is the same as it has always been the whole year on picture frames. Perhaps the biggest sale of the season/year is only on a few items while everything else stays the same. Didn't read that in the fine print with my magnifying lens.

Hustle and Bustle

Just returned from 7 hours of marathon Christmas shopping. Some of you may think this is late, but actually we've been later. As we shopped with the "millions" of other late shoppers, the term hustle and bustle took on new meaning. Just step out into the walkway and hang on. You will be carried along with the crowd, whether you want to or not. And shopping with a cart is like driving around a huge city on the interstate loop. I think people should have to take cart pushing classes and pass before they are allowed to get behind the wheels of any cart. Several times I braved the aisles without a cart only to be stalled by an abandoned vehicle or run over at the crossing. I feel a song coming on that would parody "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" only it would be "The Shopper Got Run Over by a Basket." Dig out my flannel shirt, put on my sweat pants, and allow my hair to become stringy and greasy, then I would be ready to take the song on the road and make millions. Only then I could pay someone else to shop for me!

Open your present early

A few posts back I had written my Christmas wish list for this year. Some of the suggestions were serious while others were wishful thinking. My hubby has been on vacation this week and has undertaken the wish list. He began cleaning the house, room by room. This place looks unbelievable. He tackled the kitchen first, even moving the refrigerator to clean under and behind. (The thing will problably quit working now that it has been cared for.) He revealed that he found H's two cats and my cat's favorite toy underneath. The toy, a rubber thumb for sorting papers, provides hours of fun until batted under the fridge. He found 17 of them there. No wonder I am always searching for the one I left out with my school work the night before.

Work Christmas Party

Just came from the annual Christmas party for our work. With 36 people in attendance we had a very good time. It is always fun to be in a relaxed situation, eating good food, and laughing about ever so silly things. At one point in the evening, I was wearing one of the ornate bows from a package. Now if that photo is ever circulated in public, no one will believe that we had that much fun with no stronger drink than tea.

More fun with the grandchild

Our granddaughter came to spend the evening with us while her parents went to the office Christmas party. Again, she assisted me as we continued to decorate the Christmas tree and other parts of the house. I opened a ceramic snowman musical figurine which she wanted to hold. I allowed her, after winding it up to play. She played with it off and on the rest of the evening without ever dropping it. I have millions (almost) of ornaments, most hand-made, some hand-made from my children when in elementary school, some giving to us, and some commercial. I decided not to put all of them on the tree this year. But she wanted them all on. Fortunately I was able to hide some or we would still be at the tree. Later in the evening, she soiled (Don't you just love that word? Didn't look like dirt and certainly didn't smell like dirt.) her diaper. I said to tell Papa. She climbed up beside me on the loveseat, put her face right next to mine, and so sweetly smiled and said, "No, it's Mimi's turn." Oh, she is too smart for her own good!

Do you know who I am?

A co-worker of mine was sitting in the hospital surgical waiting room with family while her mother was undergoing heart bypass surgery. A man, dressed in blue scrubs, walked in and sat down. He proceeded to make fun of people who walked through the waiting room. He continued with his tirade, unconcerned about the stares he received from those seated around him. When he mocked the blind man, my friend could not contain herself. She stood up to him and told him he was rude and inconsiderate and needed to stop it. The man asked if she knew who he was (as if he were someone of great importance). She promptly answered, "Yes, a blue Smurf who is rude." Meanwhile, my friend's father went for security. Seems the rude man was a crazy man who had stolen the scrubs from a children's hospital nearby. Little did he know that he was messing with a lady who had years of experience dealing with children while on recess duty!

Interpreting songs

As a sign language interpreter at church, I have numerous opportunities to interpret. It is always a challenge to do Christmas hymns. In order to translate words into signs, you must first know what the word means. For instance, the start of one song says, "Hark, the herald Angel sings..." Hark means to listen, herald is not the angel's name but means announcing. So the song is signed, "Listen, the announcing angel sings". "The First Noel, the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay..." would be translated, "The first Christmas, the angels said was to assure poor shepherds in fields as they rest." This is only the beginning of our pain as interpreters. The rest of you get to sing, on key or off key, never giving another thought to what any of the words mean. I'll be pleased when Christmas songs have past.

Decorating

Tree is up and falling apart from old age. Lights are strung, 1000 total. Garland looped in two colors. Animated Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a bear sitting at the base of the tree. Decorations found and sitting on the table. 20 days left to get it all put together. Should I wait for the granddaughter to come help? She will probably be more excited than my other family members who never seem to get into the decorations.

Easy homemade ornaments

A parent sent a box of three kinds of foam ornaments for my class to make for this Christmas. Each had a place to glue the child's school photo to it, adding to the value of the ornament. Well, one of my students helped me sort all the pieces and place them in the appropriate piles. Then each student was called back to choose from the three, then collect all the pieces necessary to make that ornament. No instructions were given, only colored pictures of the finished products. Must say that some of the ornaments are very original, sharing only the pieces used for it with the picture. And the students would not wait for them to dry. "Teacher, mine keeps coming unglued." Teacher is coming unglued if you don't take your hands off of them and allow them to dry completely. It will be a miracle if the ornaments hold together long enough to survive hanging on the tree in our room, then the journey home in those cavernous backpacks.

Christmas Shopping/Watching

Went shopping with my sister-in-law yesterday. Really, I had a few things I needed for myself, and I was shopping for a few Christmas gifts. (No, H, I did not get a gift for you.) With a major migraine, I spent some time just sitting and watching the crowd. It is unbelievable how people were dressed. One young woman was wearing a dress with 4 inch spiked heels. I don't know how she walked in them, let alone shop! Another teenish girl was wearing flip flops. (And I had on two pairs of socks plus tennis shoes. I'm always freezing.) Many men and women were in sweat pants and ratty shirts. Even saw some middle-aged men and women in shorts! As one woman, problably in her 40s, approached, I saw what looked like sign language on her t shirt. Yep, it was. One hand was flipping the bird while the other hand imitated a hand gun. I would have expected to see this shirt on someone much younger or of the opposite gender. I shouldn't pass judgement though. Perhaps each was shopping for clothing for himself or herself. And maybe they didn't think to put on those items after the purchase. If that is the case, then sell me another pair of socks!

Staying overnight at Grandma's

I had the great pleasure of keeping my granddaughter overnight last night. I could blog for days about the cute things she has done in just a short time, but I'll just give a few. As her mother walked out the door, "Toots" wanted to hold the hot pad gloves that are made out of that new-fangled stuff that look like rubber. They are green and look like long mittens. As she put them on (they reached almost to her shoulders) she declared, "I cook!" We didn't. As the evening progressed, she asked me to read to her. She selected a few books, about 15, and climbed up beside me on the loveseat. She allowed me to read the first few pages, then turned to the back of the book and proceeded from back to front. She pretended to read, complete with expression and appropriate pauses. Later in the evening, she pushed her chair into the living room (we have hardwood floors, but I guess those scratches aren't that important) and asked me to bring in her desk so she could color. Her idea of coloring is to use her Crayola WASHABLE markers to mark solidly on the front of the coloring book as well as all over her desk top. Hope that desk is washable. As I talked her into going to bed, she wanted to feed the indoor cat, Pepe', who is not that fond of Toots. She found him in his window seat and demanded that he "come on!" Pepe' was not impressed. So I showed her the trick of rattling his cat food to interest him in coming, and he did. I swear he has gained 3 pounds since she has learned to feed him. We crawled into my bed, without a nightlight because we old people don't need one, and I realized it was a bit dark, especially when she was feeling for my face so she could continue to TALK to Mimi. A few times of those little fingers up my nose should have been a clue to get that nightlight turned on promptly. But I didn't. She kept calling the cat to come sleep with us, but he didn't. Smart cat. We made it through the night without incidence, AND she is still sleeping. Hope the cat doesn't decide he wants seconds so that he climbs on the bed to awaken her, knowing she will heap his bowl for a few more pounds. Being a grandma...there's nothing like it!

Mission Accomplished

We did it! In just 3 short evenings, a crew of ladies and one gentleman made 200 large Christmas stockings out of felt and 50 preemie diapers from flannel. Thank you, Lord.