The State of the Lake Address

So many of you have been kind enough to inquire

how I am faring here on the banks of Lake Arlington.

I am blessedly free of flooding problems.

I personally have never seen the lake this high before.

It was even higher, I believe in 1990, but

Jack and I were in Atlanta, where he had a

problem job.

I believe several houses north of us did flood,

and our kids (or more likely Jack!) 

were beginning to talk of moving furniture to

our second floor.

Thank goodness that was not necessary.

The water never even got in our back yard.

Jay and Rob did put sandbags in front, as the

water was running at least curb deep on our street.

Because of that prior event, I was never really

concerned about my place flooding.

I didn't even have second thoughts about

having dropped my flood insurance!

So, thank you for all your concern.

I am blessed, grateful, more blessed, and more grateful!

And heart broken about the tragedies the

storms brought about.

I only had two very minor problems.

The first: pesky and difficult-to-find water leaks.

My poor Sam-of-all-trades has just about

stopped answering my calls!

The second:

People are pigs.

Yes, that's my second problem.

Let me show you.

This dock belongs to my neighbors, 

Scott and Coral Bradley,

and her picture shows the extent of the nastiness

better than mine.

 

There were hundreds of styrofoam and plastic cups,

bottles, even coolers.

Hmmm.  At least there wasn't a single tire this time!

But...

even my minor irritation has a happy ending.
Much of the debris in that first picture is
behind the home of my neighbors,
 Heather and Myron Martinson.
When I got home from church today, 
they had become the lake clean-up squad.
When the water receded a bit, a ton of trash
was left on the rocks.
And that's about how much they gathered up
from their lake footage--
and that of this widow lady next door!


I took some pictures of their results, but
my computer has been "upgraded,"
which has set me back!
I can't find the pictures I took of the
four giant recycling bins from the
city of Rowlett, which Heather and Myron 
pulled from the lake, two of which they filled 
with debris, along with several
garbage bags.


Now we only need Joey Bradley to once again
work his magic and make all the tree limbs
and logs disappear!


P.S.  Be sure to click on my pictures so you
can get the whole nauseating effect
of what we were greeted with!

 

 

"What's It All About, Alfie?"

"Is it just for the moment we live?

What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?"

So is it just for the moment we live?

Not for me.

But, do my actions bear out my belief?

Not always.

Does my heart?

Yes, I pray that it does, because

that's the part of me at which God looks.

At this age and stage in my life, this is a battlefield.

I've said that I want to be able to sign God's

name to the end of my day.

Too often, however, I see my name there.

I do too many things that furnish me only

momentary pleasure.

And too few things that store up treasure in heaven.

I find comfort in these words of the amazing

apostle Paul:

"I do not understand my own actions.

For I do not do what I want,

but I do the very thing I hate."

Romans 7:15

Oftentimes, I just fail to pick up the phone and

call someone who needs to hear from me.

I procrastinate and find excuses not to go visit

someone who is lonely.

Just in general, I fulfill my own needs first

when I have claimed,

"I am Third."

(God first, others second, myself third.)

Guess what I find brings the most true joy?

Definitely NOT living "just for the moment, Alfie!"

Something specific caused me to wax poetic

on this subject today.

Last night I went to Sam Houston High School

to hear their choirs in concert.

I had committed to being there, but--you guessed it--

at the last minute I was tempted to be lazy and selfish.

However...

supporting these kids is a project

of the Fielder Church choir.

A project in which I wholeheartedly believe.

(And, it helped so much that Susan and Rob

offered to pick me up!)

So...I went, and

I whooped and hollered after every number!

What a simple way to add to my heavenly treasure.

Lovin' on these kids just with my presence

and enthusiasm.

And a hug from one of the darling choir

members on the way out made it very 

rewarding in the moment, too.

Everything I try to hold onto I will lose.

Only the things I give to God will be mine for eternity.

 

 

Speaking of Jeopardy!...

My VCR is set to record it daily.

I've always liked the show, but cousin Sarah is

actually the one responsible for adding it to my queue.

Even though she left, it stayed.

I don't know exactly why I like Jeopardy.

I guess it challenges my brain, but

those moments when I can come up with an answer

are few and far between.

Approximately once I have jumped

out of my recliner and shouted out the answer to

the "final Jeapordy" question when the

contestants did not know it!

I sure wish I could remember what it was, cause

I'm even suspicious of this myself!

I have discovered one thing from all my Jeopardy watching.

If any answer pops into your mind, you might 

as well give it a try.

Often, it will be right.  Well, maybe occasionally

might be more like it.

But...this brings us to Alex.

Heaven forbid that you are wrong.

Alex might just laugh you out of the studio!

"Wrong continent, hahaha!"

Or shake his head somberly and say,

"Ohh, noo.  Wrong century!"

(And you'll be able to sense the unspoken "you dummy!"

at the end.)

 Alex is very handsome and evidently very smart.

And full of himself IMHO.

Sometimes he expounds on the subject--

just to let us know how knowledgeable he is,

not content to simply supply the correct answer.

I would never be able to be on Jeopardy.

There are a few lot of frequently used subjects about

which I know absolutely nothing.

For example:

Greek Mythology

Astronomy and Astrology

Shakespeare

World History

U. S. History and Presidents

Okay...All History

Pop Music Stars

Literature Classics

Okay...that's all I'm willing to admit.

What am I expert upon?

N.o.t.h.i.n.g.

In high school days it was English grammar.

I've told you before I was a grammar nerd.

The only problem is that I've never seen

English Grammar

as a category on Jeopardy.

I like to think I know a good bit about the Bible.

Of course, I feel terrible pressure when

a question about the Bible comes up, 

absolutely panicked that I will not know the answer.

And I would be so crushed and embarrassed

if I missed it!

And John Grisham.

I've read all his books enough times that 

I should be an expert on him.

But...it's very easy to get confused... 

The Apprentice, The Associate, The Brethren, The Broker...

Hope there's a good hint in the clue.

My travels have definitely expanded my world

and do allow me to come up with an answer occasionally.

Again, I wish I had some examples to provide,

but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it!

And then there's "buzzer style" to be considered.

If you've watched Jeopardy much you'll

know what I'm talking about.

Some contestants are so hysterical about pressing

the little handheld buzzer that it drives me nuts.

Jumping around all wide eyed 

and punching it frantically over and over

 even after someone else has beaten them to it!

Others are so subtle and suave 

that you never even see them "buzzing in."

I would hope I could be the latter, but I'm not sure

I would be willing to risk being suave.

I have discovered a way I might be able to be

a successful contestant on Jeopardy.

If I could become real famous, I might be able

to compete on Celebrity Jeopardy.

This special edition was on all last week,

and the questions were so dumbed down that

even I could answer most of them!!!

And Alex is a lot nicer to the celebrities! 

The problem:

I just may have waited a little late to start

becoming famous. 

 

 

I Took One For The Team Today, Mates!

Now be truthful.

Who among you has not wondered what the

"5 ways to reduce belly fat" or the

"5 foods you should never eat" are?

Have you ever relented and clicked on one of those

tempting sites?

 If so, you've probably discovered the

answers are so buried in gobbledegook 

that you've given up before being enlightened.

(I know this because I did one time.)

Until yesterday.

I couldn't resist checking this email out--for you.

The sender: National Health Solutions
The subject line:
Urgent: Milk worse than smoking?
Now my friends, don't you agree that I did
you a favor by checking this out???


So...I settled in to catching up with my missed recorded
episodes of Jeopardy (I was up to about 20),
started the stop watch on my phone,
and chose the "Read Transcript" version of
this Urgent video.
I would glance at my computer screen off and on
and make notes occasionally.
All for y'all!


Well, as it turns out, milk can not only be worse than
smoking, it can be worse than smoking
4 packs of cigarettes a day!!!
Not 2 packs, not 3 packs, but 4 packs.
(Personally, I would hate to be the attorney
trying to prove this in court.)


After many minutes spent trying to convince us
that smoking is bad for us, 
we finally get to the particulars about milk's badness.
We were to go to our refrigerators and check to
see if our milk has the letters
rBST
on the carton.
If so, you best be calling your mortician.
It comes from genetically modified cows
(or something like that.)
Of course, there is no milk (or anything else)
in my fridge.


Then, you need to know that milk is not the only thing 
you're killin' yourself with.
Just know that almost everything else you eat is
GM too.
The description of genetically modified corn was
so gross that it may take me a day or two
before I'm able to eat it again.


Anyhoo, after about 50 (fifty!!) minutes, we
get to the crux of the matter--
you need a monthly subscription to
Brad Henley's Natural Health Solutions.
It will set you back the bargain price of 
$49 per year (billed automatically to your credit card
and automatically renewable, of course!) 


But...wait...you also get 4 books free!
One of them shows you how you can gain
"food independence" with your own
garden in a 4' X 4' plot.
(Please trust me.  Don't plant corn.)
Another is Sin Foods for Healthy Living.
(Don't be expecting any ice cream.)
A third book will give you
77 Censored Cures.
(A cure was promised for absolutely everything.)
 


Oh, I almost forgot. 
This info is based on 44,000 pages of
"internal government files that they never wanted
you to see!!"
And this video could be withdrawn at any time!
Yes it could.  Are we you not the lucky ones?


Okay, about 5 commercial free episodes of Jeopardy later,
I shut off the stop watch.
One hour and twenty three minutes!
Who in the world would really watch this stuff
that long?


There was one thing that caught my attention,
but of which I have no knowledge.
One of the books promises to eliminate
man boobs from the comfort of your couch.
If this is of interest to any of you, contact me.
I haven't deleted the email yet. 


You're so very welcome.
Any time never again.




  

Cataract Surgery, Part II...

was a piece of strawberry cake!

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition fork!

We arrived at 6:30 A.M., and we were home by 8:30!!!

I had a different nurse, but just as sweet and

just as good as last Monday.

My blood pressure was still high, but

no one expressed great concern.

(I had to explain to my nurse that there was

actually a good reason for my blood pressure to be high.

Charleigh-Girl Stovall escaped from the back yard

AGAIN

and Susan and I had to track her down

before we could leave. 

She bought it!)

I also had a different anesthesiologist.

And a quite different trip home.

I remember far less about the surgery 

than I did last week,

even though my nurse said I would probably

remember more.

I remember being wheeled into the laser room and

 obediently focusing on the ring of

lights over my right eye,

 and I remember being at home.

That's it.

Absolutely nothing between.

When I called Susan to relate, oh I'd say,

about my fourth story, she told me

(very nicely and kindly)

 that I had told her all these things on the trip home.

 So I guess this anesthesiologist was a

bit more zealous!

One of those stories I was telling was that 

"My cataracts were probably not all that bad yet,

since I don't see a drastic difference in colors

or brightness."

Of course, I might need to take into

consideration that I was "testing" myself with

my sunglasses on and my eye still

hugely dilated!

My left eye is abrasion free and seein' good!

I can't wait for the right to get "undilated."

I'm totally optimistic!

Only one mountain left to climb.

NO EYE MAKEUP FOR ANOTHER WEEK!!!

Nooooooooooo!

Friday night I go to Madeline's Ransom Notes concert

in Austin!

Sunday is Mother's Day!

This is one of those times when I think it 

would have been better to

"ask for forgiveness not permission!"

 

Cataract Surgery, Part 1

It was a piece of cake.

Sort of.

My left eye, which takes care of my closeup vision,

was first.

My appointment time was 11:05 last Monday.

Susan and I were early.

We had been told to expect to be there from

1.5 to 2 hours.

When I signed in the first question by the 

receptionist was, "Please confirm that we are

operating on your right eye today."

"Well, I can't do that because

it's supposed to be the left."

After a little stutter stepping and attempt at

explanation, I'm good to go--just

hoping the doctor is not similarly confused. 

Being needlephobic, my main concern was the

insertion of the IV.

It was the best, easiest, most painless EVER!

My prayers were definitely answered in that regard.

All geared up and ready to go...

well before noon I would guess.

I had no watch or clock, but I remember someone

outside my cubicle asking what time it was.

1:10.

At some point the anesthesiologist came in

and briefly introduced himself.

And I waited.

And waited.

  And waited.  

I prayed.  I breathed deeply.  I lectured myself.

Then repeated the above sequence.

My blood pressure didn't get the message.

Finally, the curtain was thrown back and it was my turn!

Nothing to the surgery!

Then Susan was there, and we were on our way.

It was after 2:00.

And we carried a note instructing us to have my 

blood pressure checked!

When we got home, my eye was killin' me!

Like a rock was in it.

But I am a sucker for anesthesia, so I dozed all afternoon.

And took Advil.

And, blessedly, slept all night.

When I went in for my post-op visit early the next

morning, I found out that I had an abrasion on my eye.

Oh, goody!

The doctor applied a "bandage" in the form of

a contact lens.

Blessed relief.  I was then fine!

So...here is my situation and request for you,

my dear friends.

This was a piece of cake--

but maybe fruitcake!!!

Perhaps I could use some prayers for this Monday

as I go in to have my distance vision corrected.

(At 6:30 A.M.!!!--sorry, Susan!)

Please pray that this time will be a piece of

strawberry cake--

my favorite.

P.S.   My blood pressure is now fine.

 

Special, More Special, Most Special

It was yesterday.

 I thought it was special because I allowed myself

to sleep in, and on a real pillow.

(That means I was throwing caution to the wind

 and not trying to keep my hair looking perfecto.)

But it got more and more special!

I didn't get up until 8:52!

Before 9:00 Susan called and asked what

days this week I might be able to visit

Susannah at Baylor.

I had not been down to see her all year!

A last minute trip is called for!

Well, I couldn't go Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

That left only Tuesday (when she couldn't go)

and Monday--TODAY!!!

Well, my first excuse was that my hair wouldn't

look good enough.

My second?  Charleigh Girl.

Her response: "No one will see you, and

Rob will come let C-G out."

So...she gave me a short window to get myself together!

THE DAY WAS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!!!

We arrived before Susannah was out of class.

We opted to have lunch in the Student Union Building,

which is the same building as in 1956 outside,

but quite different inside.

I felt so cool!

After lunch Susan took me up to see the beautiful

drawing rooms on the SUB's second floor.

I spotted a wall of plaques picturing donors to

Baylor and was sure my uncle and aunt,

Ralph and Bessie Mae Lynn,

would be there.  What I didn't know was

that there were hundreds of these plaques down

several halls.

We would never have found theirs had it not

been for a lady (Baylor employee) who passed by

 and asked if she could help us.

She knew Ralph (and Bessie Mae!) and

found this plaque for us in short order.

 Our new best friend then asked where we were headed next.

Susan told her that we were going to Pat Neff to see

the hall down which I worked when I was there.

She told us that the President's office was now in

that location, but that if we would wave at

the people on the other side of the "white doors"

we might be able to go in.

The "white doors" were quite formidable looking,

but brave Susan waved, turned the handle,

and we timidly walked in.

A young man approached, and he became our

second new best friend.

His name was Luke, and he is one of two special

assistants to President Starr.

He asked us if we would like to see the 

President's office.

Oh, yeah!

We saw the conference suite, then were ushered

right in to Judge Starr's office.

(He had just left for Houston an hour earlier!

Perfect timing!)

It sat on the spot where the Dean's office was

in 1956, where I worked to earn my

room and board.

(My uncle Ralph and aunt Bessie Mae paid

my tuition.)

Next step in the chain of our wonderful day:

I told Luke that I had lived in Alexander Hall when

I was there.

Alexander now houses honors men students.

But...Luke had lived there and offered to

walk across the street with us and see if we could

 get a look at my old room!

This is Luke and me standing under my window.

And here I am in front of 209 Alexander!

Unbelievable!!!

 Many things had changed.

This study area was formerly our dining hall.

 But one thing we observed that probably

had not changed was this stairway,

which ended right in front of my door.

That exit door to the left in this picture was

certainly not there!!!

Not that easy to escape in my day!

 

We left Luke and picked up what I didn't know was

an equally good tour guide:  Susannah!

The first stop I requested was her dorm room.

She lives in Collins with a darling roommate named

Aimee.

Next stop:  Common Grounds per Mimi's request.

This iconic coffee shop is practically right

across the street from Susannah's dorm.

It is so quaint.  And fun.

I had a "Lake Waco" to drink.  Yum.

We are sharing our drinks on the back patio.

To say the furnishings are "ecletic" is an understatement!

Then Susannah took us on a tour of Cameron Park

(with many questions from her mother about how she

knew this park so well!  It was from Baylor Line Camp!)

Cameron Park is huge and very beautiful.

Here we are at Lover's Leap.

We then proceeded to the new essential stop in Waco...

Magnolia.

If you don't know, this is the shop owned by

Joanna Gaines from HGTV's Fixer Upper.

The little shop!

Doesn't take long to see it, but I loved it.

Love the new (to me anyway) picture spot in Waco:

  

 Returning to the campus,

we were needing a pit stop, so 

Susannah Metzger, tour guide, suggested

that she take us to the Baylor Law School!

She informed us that she had toured

there extensively--alone--and that there were things

she wanted to show us! 

(I call Susie "mini me," but I think I'm wrong.

I'm not nervy at all like this girl.)

We walk in, down the beautiful hall, and she

punches the elevator button!!!

Noooo.  We don't belong here!

Quoting Susannah Metzger...

"I'm a Baylor student, so this campus is mine."

On the second floor we find what she wants to show us.

Courtrooms, with all the trappings!

And a big sign (yes, which we walked right past,) saying

"Quiet.  Court is in Session."

(Which it wasn't, thank goodness.)

I was fascinated.

We walked across the fabulous pedestrian bridge to

the beautiful stadium. 

Sic 'em Bears!

Look what Susan insisted that I must purchase from

Magnolia!

She had seen my prolific roses before we left.

I LOVE THIS!!!

I will always cherish this as a memento of a very

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

day.

Thanks to all for the memories.