What a summer! Or maybe, what an August! Do you want to hear about it? Probably not, but here goes anyway! (My therapy, remember.)
First, there was the burglar alarm problem. After the 4th visit from an ADT service man, I pitched a fit! It was not one of my proudest moments, but it worked. I was switched from talking to Florida (where my alarm is monitored) to talking to Fort Worth (which actually dispatches the repairmen.) The manager there finally sent a lead technician out. After showing me the multiple mistakes of the other servicemen, he fixed my problem(s) in a permanent manner! Hallelujah! I have a much improved smoke detection system, which is a biggie.
Mingled in with those service calls was a sprinkler head problem. The sprinklers are set to run in the early morning hours, so when one malfunctions it is not evident until the next morning. By that time there was a lake in front of my house and my neighbor's house. This actually happened twice. And, yes, you should see my water bill! (I do have an excellent sprinkler guy--Kevin Jones.)
A co-conspirator on my water bill is my pool. One day I noticed that my pool guy (neighbor Scott Bradley) had the water running to fill up the pool. But...it ran and ran and the pool was not filling up. I suspected right away that I had another crack. It is a fiberglass pool which had sustained a crack once before. Sure enough here was Scott tapping at my back door to give me the bad news. I had saved the name of the excellent repair company from the prior incident. The man who fixed it before finally got here to look at it Friday and was supposed to be here to attempt the repair today. Unfortunately, he couldn't come, but I did get a call nice and early this morning informing me of that.
Then there's my electricity situation. Jack and I always patted ourselves and each other on the back for our loyalty to good old Texas Electric, or whatever name it's going by now. We had stuck with them for 50 plus years. I suppose you know how they rewarded us for our loyalty. Yes, they overcharged us! Fortunately, a 24 month contract I had signed with them expired, and I heard about another carrier charging less, at about the same time. So...bye, bye old "friend." Wish I'd booted you two years ago.
In an unrelated problem, I was sitting having lunch a couple of Saturdays ago, and I got a call from my credit card company. While I was using my credit card for an inexpensive lunch in Arlington, someone was using an actual card with my name and number on it in Orlando, Florida, buying very expensive items. Now how in the world could that happen? Well, I think it's something called "skimming," but I have no idea how it would be possible. I spent mucho time on the phone that weekend trying to find out what I needed to do, much of it to the Philippines. (Out-sourcing has to be one of my pet peeves.) They forwarded forms which my computer couldn't download properly, gave me contradictory information, etc., etc., etc. I now have a new card but still face the hassle of changing any automatic charges to the new number.
So, how was your August? I'm definitely kidding. I am still blessed beyond measure, and WAY beyond what I deserve.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say Rejoice. Let all men know your gentleness. (Sorry, ADT in Florida.) The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything (certainly not a pool), but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will be granted your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Progress Report
I know you are all waiting eagerly to hear how the "new" Charleigh-Girl is doing! It is pretty hard to believe. She has been rigorously tested by repeated visits from the ADT Security repair guy. He has been here Thursday, Friday, and twice today. (And it's still not fixed.) Charleigh-Girl has not jumped on him one single time! That has never happened before in 6 years!
I have also been able to put a stop to her idiosyncrasies--going crazy over the icemaker, the popping open of canned drinks, taking off my shoes, my answering the phone, etc., etc., etc.!
I'm not sure, however, just exactly who has been busted. I fear it might me moi. I have to really stay on my toes to be consistent. It is not permissible for me to pet her every time she requests. I have to initiate the petting, and she has to sit first, since I'm now the boss! It may be easier to teach an old dog new tricks than to teach an old owner new tricks.
I have also been able to put a stop to her idiosyncrasies--going crazy over the icemaker, the popping open of canned drinks, taking off my shoes, my answering the phone, etc., etc., etc.!
I'm not sure, however, just exactly who has been busted. I fear it might me moi. I have to really stay on my toes to be consistent. It is not permissible for me to pet her every time she requests. I have to initiate the petting, and she has to sit first, since I'm now the boss! It may be easier to teach an old dog new tricks than to teach an old owner new tricks.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sorry, Charleigh, You've Been BUSTED
I'm sure anyone reading this knows I have a problem dog. For the 6 years I've had Charleigh-Girl she has run me ragged. Even Monday of this week I put her on her leash and tried with all my might to keep her off the two nice people who came to service my air conditioning units. She pulled so hard that my poor back is wrenched and resting on the heating pad as I type. Nearly killed me.
Rob's mother, Shirley, had an angel come into her life during Zane's illness. His name is Dan Strickland, and he is a professional dog trainer. I was so impressed with what Dan did with Shirley's Sam that I asked him if he could come help me with C-G. He told me that I was out of his territory, but that his firm, Bark Busters, had a great trainer for my area. I finally got on line and checked it out. Turns out, the Bark Buster for my area lives 2 minutes from me. His name is Michael Hoskinson.
Michael had great recommendations on line. People who seemed to think their dogs were as bad as Charleigh said that within 10 minutes of Michael's arrival their dog was no longer rushing the front door! Several folks who will remain nameless actually snickered when I suggested that might happen with you-know-who.
Well, Michael came to my house this morning. Guess what? Before he left, Charleigh wasn't even approaching the front door when he went out and rang the bell! She is, however, rather morose this afternoon. She's been fired as my boss! She no longer owns a house! She is no longer allowed to bark at everything that moves on the street in front of the house she formerly owned. It's a lot for a girl to handle in one day. But...Michael says she will be a happier, more relaxed dog now that she isn't in charge of me. I know I will be happier and more relaxed!
I took "before and after" videos. They are just mahvelous, but I can't get them to copy. Stand by--I have proof!
Rob's mother, Shirley, had an angel come into her life during Zane's illness. His name is Dan Strickland, and he is a professional dog trainer. I was so impressed with what Dan did with Shirley's Sam that I asked him if he could come help me with C-G. He told me that I was out of his territory, but that his firm, Bark Busters, had a great trainer for my area. I finally got on line and checked it out. Turns out, the Bark Buster for my area lives 2 minutes from me. His name is Michael Hoskinson.
Michael had great recommendations on line. People who seemed to think their dogs were as bad as Charleigh said that within 10 minutes of Michael's arrival their dog was no longer rushing the front door! Several folks who will remain nameless actually snickered when I suggested that might happen with you-know-who.
Well, Michael came to my house this morning. Guess what? Before he left, Charleigh wasn't even approaching the front door when he went out and rang the bell! She is, however, rather morose this afternoon. She's been fired as my boss! She no longer owns a house! She is no longer allowed to bark at everything that moves on the street in front of the house she formerly owned. It's a lot for a girl to handle in one day. But...Michael says she will be a happier, more relaxed dog now that she isn't in charge of me. I know I will be happier and more relaxed!
I took "before and after" videos. They are just mahvelous, but I can't get them to copy. Stand by--I have proof!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
It Was Such a Great Idea
In 1998 I requested a blank journal for my birthday. Its purpose was to record clever, funny things that Madeline, 4 1/2, and Susannah, 2 1/2, had been saying almost since the day they were born--knowing that I would not be able to remember them. So...here is the journal today.
Yes, I got it. No, I didn't write in it. I did, however, jot down notes on various pieces of paper--just not nearly enough! I got it out today and reveled in the memories it contains. So, after all these years, I will transfer all notes to the journal.
I know you all have treasured memories like these....
I wrote, "Today, on the way home from Fielder Road preschool, the girls were discussing their upcoming birthdays. Madeline said she wanted to have boys, as well as girls, at her party. Susannah said she didn't want any boys. Madeline then told her if she didn't invite boys she couldn't invite Gaga (Jack), because he was a boy. Susannah said, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy! Mommy, can I invite Gaga? I wanta invite Gaga. I don't care..." Susan called and left us a message relating this incident, and at the end we could actually hear Susannah saying, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy!"
When Madeline was 5 we took a family trip to Disneyworld. There was a wonderful pianist who played nightly at the Grand Floridian where we stayed. One night Madeline said to Rob, "Daddy, he grew up to be a fine musician!" At age 5!
There were tears when I read this one. In August of 2002 when Susannah was almost 7, we were playing with my beautiful childhood dollhouse. She began giving me a demonstration of breakable vs. unbreakable using various plastic and ceramic items from the dollhouse. She would pick up a plastic dog and throw it down on the carpet saying, "I can throw this one down and it won't break." Then she would pick up a breakable item and say she couldn't throw it down. Suddenly she picked up the "Mimi" plastic figure we had bought. She said, "I could throw this one down," and she turned toward me with the most earnest look in those beautiful blue eyes, and said, "but I wouldn't want to."
Susan and Madeline were driving Rob's Jeep. Madeline was in her carseat and saw a pair of Rob's boots in the floor of the back seat. She asked Susan what they were doing there. Susan said, "Well, this is his car, you know." And Madeline said, "Well, it's not his closet!" (This from someone who usually had numerous pairs of dance shoes, etc. in the car.)
At age 5 Susannah asked Susan why dogs have 4 legs and people just 2. Susan tried to explain about that being the way God created them and balanced them, etc. Susannah said, "I know another reason. If I walked on 4 legs you couldn't see the front of my outfit!"
There are many stories about how much the girls liked to come spend time at our house. I realize now that there is nothing better to remember, and having specifics is priceless. Even without the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, our memories definitely do not get better as we get older. I would encourage all of you grandmothers and future grandmothers to take my great idea and develop it more fully than I did.
Yes, I got it. No, I didn't write in it. I did, however, jot down notes on various pieces of paper--just not nearly enough! I got it out today and reveled in the memories it contains. So, after all these years, I will transfer all notes to the journal.
I know you all have treasured memories like these....
I wrote, "Today, on the way home from Fielder Road preschool, the girls were discussing their upcoming birthdays. Madeline said she wanted to have boys, as well as girls, at her party. Susannah said she didn't want any boys. Madeline then told her if she didn't invite boys she couldn't invite Gaga (Jack), because he was a boy. Susannah said, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy! Mommy, can I invite Gaga? I wanta invite Gaga. I don't care..." Susan called and left us a message relating this incident, and at the end we could actually hear Susannah saying, "I don't care if Gaga is a boy!"
When Madeline was 5 we took a family trip to Disneyworld. There was a wonderful pianist who played nightly at the Grand Floridian where we stayed. One night Madeline said to Rob, "Daddy, he grew up to be a fine musician!" At age 5!
There were tears when I read this one. In August of 2002 when Susannah was almost 7, we were playing with my beautiful childhood dollhouse. She began giving me a demonstration of breakable vs. unbreakable using various plastic and ceramic items from the dollhouse. She would pick up a plastic dog and throw it down on the carpet saying, "I can throw this one down and it won't break." Then she would pick up a breakable item and say she couldn't throw it down. Suddenly she picked up the "Mimi" plastic figure we had bought. She said, "I could throw this one down," and she turned toward me with the most earnest look in those beautiful blue eyes, and said, "but I wouldn't want to."
Susan and Madeline were driving Rob's Jeep. Madeline was in her carseat and saw a pair of Rob's boots in the floor of the back seat. She asked Susan what they were doing there. Susan said, "Well, this is his car, you know." And Madeline said, "Well, it's not his closet!" (This from someone who usually had numerous pairs of dance shoes, etc. in the car.)
At age 5 Susannah asked Susan why dogs have 4 legs and people just 2. Susan tried to explain about that being the way God created them and balanced them, etc. Susannah said, "I know another reason. If I walked on 4 legs you couldn't see the front of my outfit!"
There are many stories about how much the girls liked to come spend time at our house. I realize now that there is nothing better to remember, and having specifics is priceless. Even without the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, our memories definitely do not get better as we get older. I would encourage all of you grandmothers and future grandmothers to take my great idea and develop it more fully than I did.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
An Inescapable Memory
The highway signs tonight say "Missing elderly, Dallas, TX," along with the license number of a silver Lexus. This brought a memory flooding back over me.
One Saturday morning I asked Jack to drive to the Lake Arlington branch of Arlington National Bank for me. He took Charleigh-Girl along. Suddenly I realized way too much time had elapsed, and they weren't home. I called his cell phone and heard it ringing in our bedroom. Jack had been a person who NEVER forgot his cell phone, but he had this time. Panic overtook me immediately. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to begin to look, and I hated to leave home in case they did manage to return.
I'm afraid it was as long as an hour, but the phone finally rang. It was Jack. I can hardly even type this without crying. Such a heart-breaking voice saying, "I'm lost." He told me he was at a pay phone, but he had no idea where it was. I asked him what he could see from where he was, and he was able to tell me very little. I don't know how I figured it out, but I did, told him to sit tight until I got there, and drove right to them.
Jack and Charleigh-Girl were about the most pitiful sight I have ever seen. They were sitting in his car at the SW corner of the Mansfield Highway and Loop 820 in the large parking lot of a service station. This is a corner at which Jack had stopped hundreds of times in sixteen years of traveling from our home in Meadowbrook to his office in Kennedale. There is hardly a corner with which he should have been more familiar. It is also within sight of the Forest Hill city limits where he grew up.
The amazing thing was that he either remembered our phone number or was able to look it up on a card he carried in his pocket, and that he was able to dial it.
I have no idea how he got to this location. He just as easily could have driven miles away and ended up on one of those signs. This is yet another instance of God's blessing and protection.
One Saturday morning I asked Jack to drive to the Lake Arlington branch of Arlington National Bank for me. He took Charleigh-Girl along. Suddenly I realized way too much time had elapsed, and they weren't home. I called his cell phone and heard it ringing in our bedroom. Jack had been a person who NEVER forgot his cell phone, but he had this time. Panic overtook me immediately. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know where to begin to look, and I hated to leave home in case they did manage to return.
I'm afraid it was as long as an hour, but the phone finally rang. It was Jack. I can hardly even type this without crying. Such a heart-breaking voice saying, "I'm lost." He told me he was at a pay phone, but he had no idea where it was. I asked him what he could see from where he was, and he was able to tell me very little. I don't know how I figured it out, but I did, told him to sit tight until I got there, and drove right to them.
Jack and Charleigh-Girl were about the most pitiful sight I have ever seen. They were sitting in his car at the SW corner of the Mansfield Highway and Loop 820 in the large parking lot of a service station. This is a corner at which Jack had stopped hundreds of times in sixteen years of traveling from our home in Meadowbrook to his office in Kennedale. There is hardly a corner with which he should have been more familiar. It is also within sight of the Forest Hill city limits where he grew up.
The amazing thing was that he either remembered our phone number or was able to look it up on a card he carried in his pocket, and that he was able to dial it.
I have no idea how he got to this location. He just as easily could have driven miles away and ended up on one of those signs. This is yet another instance of God's blessing and protection.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I'm Mad.
First I hear that I will be in a higher tax bracket this year because I am a widow! I certainly did not choose to be a single person instead of a couple filing jointly. Am I the only one to whom this doesn't seem to make sense?
But this morning I'm frustrated with American Airlines. I know, what else is new. As long as I can remember we have had an AAdvantage credit card whereby we get miles for every dollar spent. Those miles had to go to either Jack's advantage account or mine. I opted for him to get the miles, even all those years when he was unable to make a purchase or pay a bill. What I didn't know is that, when he died, the miles he had accumulated toward "gold" status would die with him. I got his active miles (the ones which could be used for a free ticket), but even though he was right at the threshold of gold status for life, and even though we earned all those miles as a unit, they are gone. So sorry...too bad...no, you can't talk to anyone else...bye bye.
Really, the advantages of gold status are not that big a deal...early boarding, extra bags...oh, wait, that is a big deal! I'm a world class over-packer. But mainly, of course, it's the principle of the thing! While stewing over this it occurred to me--just think how small a price AA would pay to make a loyal, lifelong customer happy. A couple of extra bags a year.
But this morning I'm frustrated with American Airlines. I know, what else is new. As long as I can remember we have had an AAdvantage credit card whereby we get miles for every dollar spent. Those miles had to go to either Jack's advantage account or mine. I opted for him to get the miles, even all those years when he was unable to make a purchase or pay a bill. What I didn't know is that, when he died, the miles he had accumulated toward "gold" status would die with him. I got his active miles (the ones which could be used for a free ticket), but even though he was right at the threshold of gold status for life, and even though we earned all those miles as a unit, they are gone. So sorry...too bad...no, you can't talk to anyone else...bye bye.
Really, the advantages of gold status are not that big a deal...early boarding, extra bags...oh, wait, that is a big deal! I'm a world class over-packer. But mainly, of course, it's the principle of the thing! While stewing over this it occurred to me--just think how small a price AA would pay to make a loyal, lifelong customer happy. A couple of extra bags a year.
Friday, June 3, 2011
A Heavy Heart Today
My cousin Sarah and her family are heavy on my heart today. Many of you have met Sarah and know how much I love her. Some of you also know that I am headed for her cabin in Alpine, Arizona, soon for the wedding of her daughter, Emily. Also, you may remember that I have been there twice in the summers for "girls' week."
What you probably don't know is that there is a terrible fire called the Wallow fire, burning out of control in Arizona. The last news I read showed it to be only 12 miles SW of Alpine. The little town was evacuated last night. Sarah and her husband Dick had left Alpine yesterday morning for their home in Tucson, where Emily is to have a shower tomorrow.
If you will click here http://www.wmicentral.com/ you will see pictures and stories about the fire. It's very hard for me to look at these. I can't even imagine how it is affecting Sarah's family. Dick built their beautiful log home and "tweaks" it constantly.
Not to mention sweet Emily, the bride-to-be. All the plans have been carefully made for a fabulous wedding on the beautiful deck of the home on June 18th. Of course, these plans have been in the works for months.
Praying friends, will you please pray for an end to this devastating fire? At this point I believe God alone can save Alpine.
What you probably don't know is that there is a terrible fire called the Wallow fire, burning out of control in Arizona. The last news I read showed it to be only 12 miles SW of Alpine. The little town was evacuated last night. Sarah and her husband Dick had left Alpine yesterday morning for their home in Tucson, where Emily is to have a shower tomorrow.
If you will click here http://www.wmicentral.com/ you will see pictures and stories about the fire. It's very hard for me to look at these. I can't even imagine how it is affecting Sarah's family. Dick built their beautiful log home and "tweaks" it constantly.
Not to mention sweet Emily, the bride-to-be. All the plans have been carefully made for a fabulous wedding on the beautiful deck of the home on June 18th. Of course, these plans have been in the works for months.
Praying friends, will you please pray for an end to this devastating fire? At this point I believe God alone can save Alpine.
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