My New Hobby!!!

Every girl can use another hobby, right?

So I'm going to adopt flower arranging as my newest and latest!

I've spent way too much time this morning trying to find a class.
(Thank you, Lord, for your gift of time to me!)

Just knew Central Market would have one, but no!

So what's the obvious answer?  You Tube, of course!

I have watched several tutorials, but the things they taught were things I already knew--like cutting the stems at an angle.

I did learn that my flowers will last much longer if I change the water daily or every other daily!  But they didn't tell me just how to accomplish that.  I think I need a big suction thing to get the water out without ruining my "flower do." (Get it--as in "hair do.")

I am going to be very brave and show you some of my beginning efforts.

      

That is the front door you see in the pictures, and the second is taken from the stairwell.  Won't it be wonderful if I can keep fresh flowers there to greet my (few) guests.  Better than Charleigh-Girl's greeting!

This one is in my kitchen.  Can you see the rocks in the bottom of the vase (no!) and the three butterflies? (Probably not!)  

  Somehow doesn't give the proper effect, but here's a closeup of a butterfly. 
 

 I remember being very proud of this one.  I left the daisies fastened together.  The plaque is a gift from cousin Sarah.  It says, "The measure of love is to love without measure."
 

 This was an accomplishment for me!  I actually planted it meself for Easter!

These were beautiful flowers (from Costco, I think) that I arranged for a luncheon and cards Sarah gave in honor of my visit to her home in Tucson.  Looks pretty good, if I do say so myself, and I do!

Incidentally, the gorgeous vase used in the first and third arrangements is mine because of Jennifer Dean.  It was on her wish list when she and Ryan married, and I loved it so much I bought one for myself, too.
  

I'll try to update you with progress reports as I develop my "skills!?"  One thing about it--flowers are so beautiful that even I can't mess them up completely!

  

My Sabbath Peeve

So here's the scenario.  I live quite a distance from Fielder Church, where I worship every Sunday.  For a reasonable, prudent (pokey-tail) driver, the trip should take about 20 minutes, I would guess.  I, however, do not usually (ever) have that much time to spend.  So, what I do is go into "Suga' Mama" mode.  Now I don't really know who "Suga' Mama" is, but I was given this name by Madeline and Susannah when they rode with me in their car-seat years.  I do suspect it has something to do with the speed I drive.

So...back to Sunday morning.  My "pettest" pet peeve of all is anyone who gets ahead of me on two-lane Shorewood driving the speed limit or less when I'm on my way to church.  This morning I was forced to pass this old codger in a pickup truck, and would you believe he honked at me?  If I hadn't needed both hands on the wheel, I would have picked up my Bible and waved it at him to let him know it was for a good purpose!

What adds insult to injury (cause I usually can't or don't pass!) is that when pokey-tail turns onto four-lane Perkins Road, it's like he's been shot out of a cannon!  BOOM!  I can finally pass, but...he's off like a rocket!

Now, don't send me any cards or letters suggesting that I might consider leaving home a little earlier.  I'm planning to do that next Sunday.  Oh, no!  I just heard this morning that next Sunday is time change Sunday--the bad way.  What do you think the chances are that I'll be needing to wave my Bible again? 



 

The Pet Peeves of My Exclamation Point Life

I couldn't decide whether to do a "my favorite things" or a "my pet peeves" blog first.  I'm afraid it says something negative about my personality that I chose the latter.

Here we go.  I just can't stand litterbugs.  Whether it be someone disposing of an old sofa under the I-20 bridge or someone throwing a sack of fast food remains out of their car--it drives me nuts!  I won't even throw a peppermint wrapper out the window! We should not have to have crews out constantly picking up after slobby people!  And I should not have to step over this as I exit my car at Arlington Memorial Hospital!

Coming in at #2 has to be anyone who kicks the back of my seat.  I am unreasonably rabid about this!  One year we got seats directly in front of what must have been the tallest man attending the Fort Worth Symphony Pops.  His foot was constantly in contact with my seat back.  At intermission we moved!  And I asked for different seats the next year. 

I can't stand commercials that feature mouth noises.  Like people biting a Twix or a pickle or chomping DORITOS.  I reach for the mute button as fast as possible.  Didn't their mothers teach them any manners?

I seriously can't stand speed traps on access roads.  This might have something to do with the fact that (I know you will be shocked by this) I have been stopped for speeding three (3) times in my life.  All three were on access roads.  In my humble opinion, the PoPo's time would be better spent on the nearby I-20 where there is an accident almost every day of the world.  I have NEVER seen an accident on the access roads where I was stopped.  Oh, in case you were wondering...I got two tickets.  I smiled my way out of one!

I don't like drivers who can't make good square left turns.  You know, the ones that come within an inch of clipping the front of your car if you are stopped waiting at a signal.  Or if you see them coming, you stop way back.  Not me...I make a nice 90 degree angle left.  Well, most of the time anyway.

This one really shouldn't be so far down on my list.  It is:  people who sneeze or blow their nose just as loudly as possible in public.  It seems as if they're going for the Guinness record for loudest "a-a-A-CHOO" or nose honk!  I just can't think of anything else acceptable to say about how gross this is and how peevish it makes me. 

You probably already know this one if you know me very well: folks who sneer at Judge Judy really get my dander up.  She is smart, people, and very funny.  She tells it like it is, often saying "Get a J.O.B." since the majority of her litigants seem to be on welfare.  Yes, you'll see your tax dollars at work.

I've actually been working on this very important (not) list for several days now.  I remembered one that only happens when traveling.  People who let their hotel room doors close, bang, SLAM, as noisily as they can make me fume!  Some feel called upon to do it over and over in the wee hours of the morning.  I or we usually got up early, and considered returning the favor.  But we didn't.  Yeah, too nice.


I have one other peeve which is sooo BIG that it demands its own blog.  Stay tuned--it's coming soon to a computer near you.








 

  

 



 

You Haven't Met Bozo

And I just can't believe it!  I've been sharing my life with you for over two years now without introducing him to you. 

I don't know exactly when I got my buddy, Bozo.  I think it was after Jack went to Silverado, when my mind was clearer and my days less restricted.  (Read all about our rescue on November 22, 2008, by my beloved Silverado here.)  I began to see my life in Bozo's personna and from his perspective before that, but there was not enough time to crystallize my thoughts and search him out.

So...please meet Bozo.

You will notice he is standing all nice and tall.  This would represent a day when everything is going fairly well.  No giant upheavals.  Yes, we can handle this.  We will survive.  This too will pass, etc., etc., etc.

Then...WHAMMO!  Something comes along and Bozo is down for the count!  (Actually, it is a misrepresentation that Bozo is still smiling!)

One of the most lethal blows to Bozo came in October of 2009.  Jack's birthday was October 26th, so I planned a very nice family birthday party for him at Silverado.  We had a lovely formal dining room there, and the staff was more than willing to prepare any food I wanted and serve it beautifully and elegantly.  I asked that the chef prepare Chicken a la King.  It was one of my favorite things that he served.  We were all set.  Miracle of all miracles, everyone could come!

Several days before the scheduled party, Jack got into a little tiff with another male resident--the ONLY time this happened in 17 months at Silverado.  It was horrifying to me at the time, but actually rather humorous now.  Jack did a lot of walking around at night, and this night he went into what he thought was his room.  Another resident was asleep in the bed, so Jack evidently proceeded to let him know in no uncertain terms that he was in the wrong place.  The man must have came up swinging, and the tiff was on.  Poor Jack got the worst of it.  He had a most gruesome looking black eye. 

We could not let Madeline and Susannah see "Gaga" like that.  It would have broken those sweet, soft hearts, although it looked worse than it was.  The party had to be cancelled.  I was sooo disappointed. 

By the way.  Neither of the guys was in the right room!  It was an unoccupied room!  

I know Alzheimer's Disease is not the only illness which produces ups and downs in coping.  If any of you wishes to borrow Bozo, he might provide a good way to vent your frustrations.  Just remember...sometimes it takes longer than others, but he DOES pop back up.




  

 

Hello! My Name is OCD...What's Yours?

It is my belief that all of us have obsessive-compulsive behaviors to some extent or another.  I suppose I would place myself at least slightly toward the "extreme" end of the scale!

As I sit here blogging I am drinking coffee--coffee which is very hot.  I do not like lukewarm coffee, and I have already reheated this cup umpteen times.  Can one die of microwave infusion into one's coffee?

I guess it would be obvious if I didn't mention my hair right away...now wouldn't it?  I am a slave to my hair, and I admit it often.  But did you know it's Biblical?  Yes, Proverbs 16:31 says "White hair is a crown of glory!"  So I must keep my crown lookin' good!

One of the more ridiculous aspects of my OCD is the arrangement of the $$s within my wallet.  They must be in descending order, with all faces forward and upright.  What?  You mean you don't do this?  What's wrong with you?

I am a passionately slow eater.  (Shut up, family.)  If I can't chew my food 150 times or so, I just won't eat.  Yes, I am always and ever, now and forever, the last one to finish a meal.  And it is not usually very popular.

I read the same way I eat.  You will never hear me say I read a book in a record amount of time--unless it is record slow!  I have even been known to write out a list of characters with identifying info so I will be able to recall each for sure as I slowly progress through the book.  The bad part of this action is that when the book is finished, I probably can't remember any more about it than the speed reader can!

You will not find ANYTHING in my recycle bin that does not belong there.  You would think the "recycle police" inspect my bin every week.  If the free newspaper is wrapped in plastic, I take the plastic off before putting the paper in for recycling.  Oh, and I religiously save plastic grocery bags and take them to Mission Arlington for use with their food distribution.  (Except that I've finally gotten with the program and take my own reusable bags for groceries, etc.)  (When I remember!)

I ALWAYS look back over my shoulder before making a lane change in my car.  I understand that most people trust their rear view mirrors, but this is how I was taught, and I insist it's the only way to roll. 

This obsessive compulsive action of mine is my most treasured:

 That's a photo album (or two) and a file folder from each and every one of the cruises Jack and I took together!  There are actually more albums and there is another chest of folders!  There is probably nothing else in my life I was so disciplined about!  Or so OCD'd!!  And I love it!


So what are you a little OC about?  Surely there's something!!!




 

 

  

Basking in Memories...Again

My plans for this foggy day fell through, so I'm going to take advantage of my extra time by sharing another treasured memory.  It took me a while to discover this, but I can actually see how many folks view my blogs.  The one with the most views so far is this.

Many times I am asked what my favorite cruise was.  I always say I loved them all, which I did!  However, I must admit that the one I'm reminiscing about today always pops into my mind--for several reasons.  It was certainly our most unique.

It began at the Long Beach, CA airport on March 6, 2003.  Now I DO have a favorite ship, and we were cruising on it--the Crystal Harmony.  And it was a Big Band Cruise.  Jack loved big band music. Oh, and the destination?  Tokyo by way of the Hawaiian Islands!

The timing was a little questionable--there were lots of rumblings in Iraq.  This made Jack more nervous than it did "the eternal optimist."  In the lounge where we waited to board the ship, it became very obvious that we weren't going to have a big crowd on board!  Well, that was an understatement.  This ship holds 954 passengers (love the size), but there were 90 on board as we sailed away.  There were many more crew members than passengers.

(Hot Chocolate out of my Crystal Harmony mug as I blog!)

When the 7 longs and 1 short sounded for the life boat drill and we opened our door, there was not one person in our hall!  (It is usually a mob scene--at that time with everyone in his or her life vest!)  It was downright eerie.  Here we are at our first formal dinner

 After asking the first couple of nights for one of these much sought after "tables for two by the windows," we noticed the maitre 'd was snickering as he granted our request!  We looked around and realized everyone was sitting by the windows!  Just lined up along each side!

Here was our Big Band--Ted Herman.  The singer is Beryl Davis, an amazing 85 years young!  Her signature song from many years ago was I'll Be Seeing You sung with the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

This was a 16 day cruise.  I think our kids were worried about our ability to stay busy and entertained for that long.  The main reason that was not a problem is that Crystal has more activities than any other cruise line I have ever been on.  In addition to the big band, we had a physician whose lectures we never missed, a darling little Japanese girl who taught us to speak a few phrases and write our names in Japanese, something called "Repertory at Sea," like mini plays, and more.  I took a John Grisham book to read and did not even finish it as I remember.

One of my most fun memories of the trip involves a special live camera set up in the Harmony's computer lab.  We coordinated times with Jay and Terri (the Metzgers were out of town), went to the lab, and J & T were able to see us!  Of course, it wouldn't do for us to just hold up our "Aloha" sign, I had to have us dress up!  We put on our life jackets and our old dead leis.  My humor did not transmit well, and J & T couldn't imagine what was goin' on!  (Neither could the few fellow cruisers who saw us!)

Here we are in Hawaii at the Pali Lookout, then my favorite picture from Tokyo.  Crystal's theme song is What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.  And it is!   

P.S.  The captain told us during the trip that the assault on Iraq had begun.  I'm glad that didn't keep us from going! 
 

The State of my Heart

I think I have a very soft heart.  As the years have gone by, I believe it's become even softer.  I have never been able to watch commercials about starving children.  I grab for the mute button and turn my head when that sad music and those pitiful animals come on.  You know the one I'm talking about.

I can't pass beggars on the streets without giving them money.  Yes, I know they may not buy food and water with it.  Oh--and just let them have a poor old dog with them, and I'm really hooked.  I might just empty out my billfold.

My current problem is: I don't think I can stand it if Mr. Bates is mistreated and unfairly accused  ANY MORE!!!  (This will only be meaningful to those of you who watch Downton Abbey.)  It's bad enough that he's falsely imprisoned.  I just can't take any further unfairness toward him, and I feel it coming.

Well, that's just problem #1.  Problem #2: I haven't seen Les Miserables yet.  Am I going to be able to withstand its sadness?  I know it's wonderful.  I must see it.  How bad is it when one must gird her loins and steel herself to see a movie, for goodness sake.

I'll let you know how I do.  I think I can...I think I can.