Glad...

You know how sometimes you don't want to do something, but then you do it anyway. But afterwards you are glad you did it, even though really didn't want to do it. Just wondering. :)

Growing Old, but Gracefully :)

Ok, before anyone gets ready for some smart comments about me growing old...this AIN'T about me, so save it ;)
Anyway, I will say that recently my grandmother had knee replacement surgery and had a slightly difficult time bouncing back from it. However, despite her pain and discomfort she was more worried about being a burden to the doctors, nurses and family. Silly girl. But, that is her mind set. She has never been concerned about herself, but always concerned about the welfare of others. Even when age began to plague the ease of getting in and out of a car, grandma was still visiting friends, bring them Daily Breads, cooking dinners and ramming around to watch all of her grandchildren play sports. She's made it to just about every monumental moment in my life and that goes for the rest of her children and grandchildren and now...great grandchildren. She has made her life about other people and has shown grace, humility and a love for God that few achieve in life. Even now, while she is so sore and uncomfortable she went on and on about how sweet the nurses were and how thankful she was to have a bed by the window. So, now as age keeps creeping in, the love she has spread to others will be returned. She has children that love her and want to help her, she has great-grandchildren who want to see her and her grandchildren respect her.


















What a legacy! So, if nothing else, she has shown those after her, what growing old gracefully and beautifully is all about. Her love for the Lord is evident and her love for family and friends is abundant. What a gal:)

I Just Want Spring

Ok, so this is the part of the year where I start going a tiny bit crazy with the weather. The snow has lost its Narnia-like wonder and even cute hats and scarves need to find time to rest and let flip-flops and tank tops have a turn.
Seriously, at least today is sunny, but the cold is unrelenting! ( I seriously can hear you southerners snickering) whatever! The best part is, I know snow storms are possible in March and even April, I am just pretending it will not happen this year.
I think I am just going to buy a bouquet of Daffodils today at the store, put them on my counter and stare at them while I think spring. I'll blast Faith Hill's "Sunshine and Summertime" and make myself some sweet tea. That's a start right? Winter can just go away now:)

Why…You Are So Welcome!

Ok, so I was in Borders (again) two days ago. And I bought a book (again) and following my purchase the cashier dude asked me if I would like a bag. I said, no as I already had a bag. He looked at me and said,
“Why thank you for saving a bag today.” It wasn’t so much what he said, but HOW he said. Seriously, he was so appreciative of my bag-saving efforts that I left the store feeling like I had seriously made a huge impact on the Green Economy. “Why you are so welcome!” I smiled and grabbed my book (without its own bag) and put it in my other bag.
“Hey, every little bit helps.” He finished. I mean it almost made me want to go through the store and remind everyone to just “SAVE A BAG” today because that cashier guy will TOTALLY thank you and make you feel like you are the greenest of the green people.

Also, in my effort to read more classic literature I had was excited that a whole table of classic books was marked down to like $5 and $6 each! So….like I could resist. I am only a third of the through Jane Austen’s Emma, but will reward my efforts by watching the movie when I am done. Once I am done with that, it will be a big decision what to start next…:)

One more thing! More of a complaint….really. There should be a separate register in all convenient stores for those who would like to purchase NY Lotto tickets and cigarettes (those purchases seem to go hand in hand). Why a separate register? Because sometimes there are people who just want to pay for their gas and a coke and leave! But nooooo….THOSE people get stuck behind the woman with an envelope FILLED with tickets to cash in. Then, once she cashes in, she decides to purchase more and pay for them one-by-one. The next step is to ask for cigarettes that are not available behind the counter and the cashier has to go in the back and find them. Awesome. Now the person wanting to pay for gas and a coke has a warm coke and is a lil grouchy :)
Separate cash register please.
Oh
But save a bag!

Facebooking For Your Health

A gazillion people have found the enjoyment, amusement and slight addiction of Facebook. It IS a phenomenon that has swept the world and people of every age have been attracted to the cyber social network.
Every person has their own reason for liking to be on Facebook especially when you are flipping around and then (GASP) you see someone’s name and your like “HEY! I KNOW them! I’ve been wondering where they have been!” Quickly, the world has gotten a lot smaller.
I say Facebooking for your health because despite the addicting effect of spending perhaps too much time in cyber-world I think for many people its healthy to get in touch with friends and family they otherwise don’t really see.
For example, I remember talking to a couple of moms whose kids have grown (including my own) who felt very isolated as stay-at-home moms in the days of newborns and toddlers. Just recently one of my friends posted here Facebook status as saying “It’s 4a.m. and I’m awake with my baby!” . Following her status were several comments acknowledging her weary state as a new mom. It may seem like a small thing, but I know it totally boosted her attitude to have other people know her frustration and say something.
In addition, my friend Lacey and I actually talked on the phone a little while ago. We both agreed that a phone conversation was a phenomenon when children, work and life tend to take over just about every minute of the day. We both laughed and completely agreed on two things. Sometimes when we have a moment of solidarity in our day, the last thing we feel like doing is picking up the phone and trying to catch up with everyone. We love our friends and each other dearly! But, the peace and quiet a few moments sometimes outweighs every other options.
So, we talked for a little while and concluded our conversation by saying “I love you! See you on facebook!” (we both laughed, but it was true!) It’s a perfectly passive way to remain in touch with so many people that have come in and out of your life. Family pictures, daily “status messages” and “wall posts” all give us a glimpse into each other lives without a lot of time and effort and at your own pace.
So, especially for the moms who have decided to stay home with their babies or the ones who have taken on the role of working and being a mom, I think Facebook seriously allows a healthy dose of communication. I say that only because it seems to be a consistent issue with moms (especially social ones), is that they lack adult conversation or at least knowing what is going on the world beyond diapers, feedings and toddler fiascoes  We post our children’s insane behavior and our own insane moments and realize that other people have had the same or near same experiences. That connection is priceless at times when isolation can take over and leave some people feeling depressed or frustrated.
People like knowing about people. Feature stories in my newspaper sell more because people enjoy reading about other people. God made us to be social creatures, even the introverted and quiet personalities still enjoy a few close friends. So, despite the there are probably employers everywhere trying to figure out how to block Facebook at the work place, I think the whole idea is kind of profound.
Plus, does it get any better when your friend posts that they are taking a hip-hop class and will be mistaken for Brittany Spears! (Sorry Cheryl). Mistaken for her moves that is…nothing else about sweet Cheryl is Brittany;) So happy facebooking…here’s to your health. ( hee hee). Oh and Happy V-Day..spread the love y'all ;)

Sports snaps for 2008

Just some shots from 2008. I was clearing out some of my photos and decided to post some here for the fun of it. They are not all my favorite, but they interested me for random reasons. I think most of them of them were printed in the paper I work for at one point. But, anyway, some of ya asked about seeing some of them...so here ya go...


I liked this one just because you can see how far the keeper was in the air. If you are wondering, he got his fingers on the ball and tipped it just enough off course to go over the goal instead of in it.





I only like this photograph because of their faces. No crazy athletic shot here, but their faces are interesting at least.



This game was played in the POURING rain, the New York State regional finals in Oneonta, NY. I will only mention that I was completely soaked, hungry and really trying to care who won.



I have more baseball pics somehwere. It's the most difficult to photograph only because the action is so stop-and-go. A great catch or hit takes like a half a second, but all my spring stuff has already made it to a CD that I just didn't feel like getting out :)

No Stereotype Here...

Ok, I was in Panera Bread a little while ago....yum. In addition to getting my favorite French Onion Soup and some sort of sandwich, I enjoy people watching. I say "people watching" because it sounds a lot less sinister than "stalking", but in reality it is more like stalking. It's a problem. Perhaps it could be labeled as "detailed observation." Anyway, so as I sat down with my friend a guy came and sat diagonal from me and whipped opened his laptop. He was the classic coffee shop guy on a business lunch. Three piece suit, business spectacles, and cell phone attached to the ear.
He never stopped talking on his phone while he ordered, sat down and started in on his lunch while working on his laptop. Props to his multi-tasking ability btw. Anyway, so now I am intrigued beyond the fact that he ordered the same sandwich I did. (see stalker) I was trying to NOT listen in on his conversation, but it was hard because he kept rambling on about numbers and concepts I didn't understand and he was speaking just above the volume that is acceptable for close tables in an eating area.
So, now I am intrigued to actually SEE what is on his computer...I KNOW..its a problem. Before I head up to get a drink I try to imagine fancy graphs, scrolling numbers, html mumbo jumbo..ya know the stuff people work on during their business lunch. He was obviously talking with work and I was interested...ok...slightly nosey...whatever.
So, I took the long way to the drink fountain and lo and behold discreetly peered at his computer screen. When I saw Mr. Businessman scrolling along on his Facebook page, I could barely manage to hold in a giggle. Ah, silly me to fit Mr. Businessman into a stereotype of numbers, graphs and important business data. He was just a classy facebooker hidden under the mask of cell phone calls and random verbal jibberish. I mean, seriously, what a surprise..someone on facebook when they should be working! PFFT!

I Had A Date….

That’s right. A date. My son has been begging me to come to school and eat lunch with him. Apparently, other cool super moms make the stop every once in awhile to eat in the elementary school cafeteria and chill with the Kindergartners and lunch ladies. So, how could I say no to such a request? It was all good and what a throw back to childhood. I didn’t see any Rainbow Brite or Smurf lunchboxes….they have been replaced by High School Musical where Vanessa Hutchinson has widely gained the popularity vote over Smurfette.
However, it was a blast to be in Andrew’s world for a little while and I didn’t dare tell him that other moms came in solely to scope out the kids. Not that I WOULD EVER think things like…Whose kid is good enough for my kid to hang out with? Who behaves and who doesn’t? Who seems like play date potential and how in the world do elementary schoolteachers remain sane? It sounds slightly sinister to admit those thoughts fire rapidly while you sit there with your own child unknowingly making quick judgements about someone else’s. I only admit it, because well, I KNOW I am not the only one. I think it all stems from the natural parental protection agency we all emerge from once we have had children. That incredibly strong and defensive desire that sparks like a wildfire for our kids….it might be one of the most internally powerful characteristics a person develops. Thankfully, Andrew does have a lot of sweet friends who are losing their teeth and still need help with their juiceboxes.
It was just amusing to sit there among so many six year olds and try to remember what it was like to be them. The trays looked so big in their little hands and all the giggles and laughs that stemmed from the slightest amusements. So, lunch with Andrew will have to happen a little more often. In all of my wisdom (haha) I know he and his friends won't always clamour for the attention of their parents, so now's the time to heed to their attention and maybe when they are older they won't think we're too bad;)
Despite the quick overview of the kindergarten class, Andrew’s smile made it all worth it when he saw me waiting for him in the cafeteria. Mission accomplished.

Fast forward…can you see his face at 16 when he walks into his high school cafeteria…and mom is sitting at his table just waiting to have lunch? Hee hee.