What Season is it?

Here's the KU Jayhawks football team as they beat Florida International by a score of 40-10. Yet, also on tap today were two basketball games in Canada. The Jayhawks Basketball Team are in Ottawa, Canada playing exhibition games against two or three Canadian teams. They won their first game and just barely won the last one tonight by only 1 point!

We listened to some of the first game on the radio while traveling to Wichita. But for some reason it wasn't on a Wichita radio station. We caught the game on AM Radio on WIBW out of Topeka.

Remember AM radio? The buzzing when you pass by the electrical lines. The unclearness of the station itself. Turning the volume up all the way. Remember the stations we used to get? Late at night we could get WOAI out of San Antonio or KOMA out of Oklahoma City or a Mexican station that once featured a disc jockey by the name of Wolfman Jack or even WLS out of Chicago. Ah, those were the days of fuzzy sounding broadcasts before FM. It was always a treat to tune into AM radio just to see how far you could pick up a station with your little antenna.

Getting back to my subject...what season is it? On the calendar it's still summer. Schools, except for the west coast, have started. It should be football season. It's also Cross Country Season and Girl's Tennis Season.

This reminds me of a cartoon with Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd/and Daffy Duck. Elmer is confused is it rabbit season or duck season? Bugs Bunny holds up a sign and Elmer gets more and more confused. Is it rabbit season, duck season, fiddler crab season or what? Finally Bugs conceeds that it's baseball season and Elmer goes down the road shooting a baseball. See link of cartoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epWoNmDZH6g

Last year I waited too long to get a calendar and had to settle for something entirely different. Today I picked up my new 2009 calendar at Wal-Mart. The stores are now ready for Halloween too. I did go to a store just last week and saw Christmas trees blinking.

Now, I'm confused what season is it?

Water Does A Body Good, however..

it is no good to an MP3 player. This morning while I was rushing off to school and work, I was rushing a little too much. I had just got a 16 oz cup of water from the faucet when my hand tipped the contents over and it wasn't toward the sink area. It flooded onto the countertop where my MP3 player was along with my purse and other important items.

First I had to swallow my pill or I would have wasted that medication, which I cannot afford to do. Then as quick as I could I picked up the soaked MP3 player and dried off the countertop, floor, and kitchen cabinets. I am such a klutz!

So I wiped the water off of the player thinking it was okay. I didn't think about the milk plus the cell phone accident this past year. Milk does a body good too, but milk plus the cell phone equals death for that electronic instrument.

While I worked I turned the player on and couldn't see the screen. The water had scrambled up the writing. I could hear my tunes, but I wondered for how long? I wanted to switch songs, so I pushed the up button the screen this time was completely blank. So now it's hard to go from the Carpenters "Close to You," to Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon," without seeing anything on the screen. The same way about turning it off. How do I know if it's really off?

I've had this MP3 player for only a year as I bought it before my operation nearly a year ago. After the operation, I listed to my songs and it kept me calm. I'll have to purchase another one someday when this one no longer plays.

So students remember this lesson: Cellphone + Milk = Death to the Cell. MP3 Player + Water = Blank Screen and possible death to player. It's just a case of simple mathematics!

Stock up on Bread!

This morning I woke up to find that we were out of bread. I needed to make J a lunch and we were out of bread. L couldn't find time before heading out to work to go to the Kangaroo or Doms. So I had to get up early. Groan!

I talk to S who was waiting on the bus and she told me that they didn't have bread at either one of those stores. WHAT?? Isn't that what a convenient store is all about. It has stuff that you need in a pinch.

I travel a block north to the Kangaroo store. I parked on the side so I could make an easy exit. I discover that I'm wearing my old glasses (thankfully I can still see out of those). I walk in and of course they have icees, hot dogs on the grill, chips in bags (Yeah, I'm going to need this NOW!). Then they had oil, all sorts of candy, but no bread was to be found. I look in the freezers and discover little sandwiches are packaged. One was built on a hamburger bun. I had hamburger buns at home, but this wasn't going to cut it. Finally I reach for a turkey club on the top shelf hoping J will eat it. The sandwich was $2.80. I could have gotten bread cheaper than that at Target IF I would have stocked up.

I always thought those little stores had bread on the shelves. I guess that was back in the dark ages when they had bread in convenient store or is it just life in a small town.

So I bought my little sandwich. There was a kid in line who wanted a pack of cigarettes. I thought "is he even eighteen?" The clerk didn't card him. Kids are looking younger everyday, this is a sign of "old age," on my part.

I get to my car and some truck is parked right next to my left bumper, leaving me hardly any room to back up. What a jerk! I say quietly, "Umm, somebody move your truck." I figure the driver was talking on his cell. So I back out a little, with only 5 inches between us and whew! got out of the area. I guess I'm a little claustrophobic.

This little lesson has taught me that maybe I should buy two loaves of bread instead of one in a week. Because convenient stores around here aren't so convenient!
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We went to the Middle School open house. The speeches were the same as before when S was there. Nothing had changed. I do wish that the band teacher was there but he wasn't. That was disappointing and the singing teacher was a no-show too. Whatever. But I guess these two individuals live out of town and had other committments. The PE teacher talked about her class. L said that her rules were based on "negatives." You start out at an A and if you don't do such and such she takes off points. We have to put up with this teacher until 9th grade...ugh! This would be one reason to consolidate (maybe we would have a better PE teacher). Our principal talked about Saturday school and kids receiving zeros. J is very aware of that and will strive not to do that.

Another teacher talked and we were like "huh?" I think it is time for this one to pass the torch to a new younger teacher and I was surprised that she didn't last year. I heard that her student teacher was excellent! Since she lives around here I am sure that whenever this teacher leaves A.H. will be taking over. We need some new energetic teachers in the classrooms.

The open house for the middle school wasn't well attended. I wish that they could conduct it like they do at the HS. It would be nice if we could just walk into the classroom, introduce ourselves and look around the room. Instead they have the teachers talking about what they do to the group of parents who decide to show up. Maybe, it would be nice to entice people to come. The cookie thing worked last year at the HS but not this year. Maybe it would have worked at the Middle School. Who knows?

Open House at the High School

This year it was a little different open house at the HS. The new principal told about her background and introduced the staff. That was really nice. I didn't know what some of them looked like or taught. Then they did a computer presentation about powerschool and a test group. Anyone who knows me, knows that I want to be part of that test group. Then they presented a program about renovation in the high school/grade schools. Nothing about closing down either school but renovating them and the costs involved. It didn't sound too extravagant.

Then she said we were free to go around to visit the classrooms and teachers. Well, last year I liked how we followed the schedule and saw who was in S's class. This year anybody who wasn't in the class could walk in. It was sort of confusing. The teacher didn't just address the ones who was taking Desktop Publishing. He had to talk to the ones who taking keyboarding as well.

The new teacher taking over Desktop Publishing was very nice to meet. He has a very enthusiastic personality! He seemed like he enjoyed his subject as I asked him what they were doing in class. It sounded really interesting! We need more teachers like him. Someone who has a passion for teaching.

We visited with the Biology teacher. She had a lot of animals for the kids to adopt out. I really don't want to as I have an indoor cat. Most of these critters were guinea pigs and mice! I could see those mice and my cat. No. I think not. I haven't heard any thing negative about the Biology teacher, so we will see how this subject goes as the year goes by.

Then we conversed with our friend Kim at the library. It's always nice to see people who know you and know you well. We could just talk to her so easy. She really has a lot of great books in her library. She's good at what she does and I hope the HS keeps her forever! :) Or as long as she wants to stay, whichever comes first.

We went to the History Teacher's classroom who is married to the Debate/Forensics teacher. She asked if S was a good student. It was like, "Well yes, with the exception of math. (and even then she's a better math student than me). " I will be scrutinizing the History teacher every chance I can get, since I studied to become one.

The English teacher is nice as well. She looks to be a very energetic person and young. I told her that S likes English. The teacher knows S from student council and noted that S doesn't talk very much. I told her just wait she will when she gets used to the class. One of the mom's in there was expressing how tough it was to get her son to read. I laughed and said, "My son is the same way. So we will sound like you in a couple three years." Not liking to read must be some kind of boy problem. Although, I have known of a few guys who have liked to read (my brother is one).

We finally found the Geometry teacher, clear down the hall! He asked us how she liked the class and I said, "Well, it's MATH!" So he told us what he told the kids that he's not the bad guy and that the state requires them to take 3 years of it for graduation. I just feel for S, as math was my least favorite subject of all time. S wishes she lived back in my time where I only had to take 2 easy years of Math. If I lived during her time, I wouldn't survive Math without a tutor or something. I just hope S can pull a good grade out of this class. It is my biggest concern.

Our last class was Spanish. My mind was thinking, "Parlez vous Francais." I shook my head, thinking this is Spanish not French. Quickly walking in I said, "Hola!" (I got it right!) The teacher answered me back "Hola!" She talked about Spanish for this year and how happy she was. I thought, "Hmm. I know that S said that the teacher had a new boyfriend...yeah, I remember those days too. No wonder she's happy. Happy for the class and her life in general."
So while we were conversing, this gray headed man appeared and sat down. The teacher asked him who he was. He said, "H." I knew that last name. S's ex-bf's dad. So the teacher says, "Ah M!" My eyes grew big. Mr. H didn't know that M's ex gf's parents were in the same room. Thankfully the teacher didn't mention this fact either.

We quickly left the room and snarfed down some delicious cookies before going into the coaches meeting. We had no idea where we were to sit. So we had to move as we were sitting near the Vollyball team. S is on the Tennis team this year. Our coaches seem really nice as we've met them over the summer. The head coach is hoping to get a middle school tennis team up. I'm going to have to push J to be on the team, if this happens. He took tennis camp and liked it.

What I would like to see is Tennis courts on the school's campus. As is, the team has to drive to Anthony to practice. They have two different practices because one of the courts in that town is getting a "makeover." Perhaps in this bond issue to renovate our schools, they could add some tennis courts too. I'll be blogging about this particular subject soon!

I am hoping that the school year will be great for S. Now today, we get to have a small open house at the grade school.

Missing Floyd aka UPS

Today I was waiting from a shipment from DHL. Now, normally we get our stuff that we order from Floyd aka UPS. Floyd is our local delivery person and he is a real gem compared with the new bozos nowadays.

So the delievery guy knocks on my door. I run through the house as I am in the back of the house. And upon opening the door, he's closing his truck says "Hello." And off he goes in his little yellow truck.

Could they at least help me get the box in the house? No. He couldn't do that. Oh how I long for Floyd! He used to bring huge boxes to the house and ask me if I got it okay. Or if I needed help carrying in the house. He brought packages and good service. He was always nice to talk to. He was so good to us.

I guess he's around still driving for UPS. But companies need to have good people like Floyd working for them. If there was a complaint to issue I would certainly have no good things to say about DHL. I like most of the guys at UPS. But Floyd was the best.

So I struggle getting the box into the house, with no one but an overweight cat to help me. It's a good thing I'm not in bad condition, but I am a little limited to how much I can pick up. It's only 25 pounds, plus the box itself. I look disgusted at the yellow truck as it rounds the corner. I am thinking, how rude! It's all about how quick they can make their deliveries. There goes customer service right out there along with my back!

The Church Task

Today after Sunday School I was offered to take over the position of Church Historian. I had at one time expressed an interest in it. I talked with the current Historian and I got scared out of doing it. Then.

So today I talked with T. and told him that was a lot of work. He said that no one else seemed interested in the task. He told me to think about doing that job and to let him know by next Sunday.

I thought about it all right. Before worship, during worship, during quiet time and prayer. I kept thinking about the archive room. I had been there many times and know how hard it is to track records down there. I started to think about my ideas. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's that "dog with a bone syndrome." I just can't let things go. It was really on my mind.

I love History and genealogy. At one time I got to transcribe obituaries on "MennoBits." I was sent out some hard re-copies of "The Gospel Herald," Mennonite newspaper and typed in obituaries online. Then I found "The Gospel Herald" books in the library and transcribed the entire 1950's. I LOVED doing this. It is not work. Another time I went out to our local Mennonite Cemetery and transcribed the headstones (only to find there is a copy in our archives on this). I put this information together and put it online.

So this afternoon L and I went to the archive room. We looked through countless of pieces of information. It was exciting!! We read about the "history" of our local church. However, I did find looking through these archival materials that it does need some order. I have some ideas what I'd like to see be done.

I contact T. tonight through email telling him I would take the position. It will be a lot of hard work (harder than being a custodian) but I sure would like to try to do this. At last, I am using my major after 35 years!

I Can See Clearly Now

Yea! My eyes feel so much better today! It could have been a number of things that caused my eye to go "crazy." Stirring up dust in my own house; dirt at church; or pollen could have made it bad. I talked to BS last night and even he had something wrong with his eyes. So I wasn't the only one with problems. The air is full of dust, dirt, chenopods, and my favorite, ragweed. I've had problems with ragweed ever since I can remember. So on these days I should stay in. Ha, I can't do that! I looked at my lawn in back and guess who get to mow it? Yep...now if I could just find some goggles around here.
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I wrote my friend Becky YS who visited my friend M. A. K. from College back in May. M has been in a nursing home in St. John, KS. So Becky mentioned at one time she had a pic. She sent the pic to me yesterday and I was amazed how old M looked. Her circumstances had aged her. M is the same age as I am, over 50 but under 55. Please continue to send prayers for M. K. Pray that God can help her get out of her situation and that she can eventually come out of there. If she could do this, I think what a testimony that she could share with the world. But her future doesn't look bright.
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Been watching the Olympics. My favorite sport is the girl's gymnastics (unevens, beam, floor, and the vault). Nastia Luiken and Shawn Johnson have been fun to watch. I've also watched those "teenagers" from China. One of them looks to be 14. So there is an on going controversy on exactly how old she really is. The Government of China claims she is over 14. Yeah, right. Their Chinese government can say anything they want to. Other sports I like watching is the diving, the running, and that BMX bike course. Hard to believe that is an Olympic Sport. Maybe next time they could include Golf and Indy Car too in the Olympics.
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Looking forward to the class meetings next week. I like the way that the high school has the parents go through the different classes just like their student. This way you see the parents of the children who are in class at the same time as yours. It's always nice to hear the teachers tell you what will take place. This year I'll meet S's teachers. Everyone of them are new except her Debate and Forensics teacher, we had him last year. As for J's teacher's, we know all of them with the exception of the music and band teachers. Here's to a great school year! :)

What a morning!

I think I should go back to bed. Anyway, this would sure help my eye. I have a case of conjunctivitis. I am squinting and blink my eyes as I type. I've done everything to do (that I know of) to get over it. I cleaned my eye with a lid scrub, used my artificial tear drops, placed a warm compress over my left eye. Everything. It was so bad that I didn't attempt to drive J to school. It still burns and is tearing constantly. I just may have to give up the computer until my eye is back to "normal." Whenever that could be.

I stirred up the dirt yesterday on my back porch area. That was probably what did it. Usually when I mow the previous day it does this too. I have sensitive eyes. Or weird eye lids, or weird eye lashes. I'm just trying to get my eyes to water hoping this will push out the foreign body or whatever the problem is.

J calls me before he starts class. No he didn't want to come home. He was looking for a paper with a drawing on it. He asked me if I took it out of his planner as he couldn't find it. I told him emphatically that I didn't remove it at all and to look in his bag again! He is probably the most disorganized person I know when it comes to school work. I checked his homework last night, except the math, to make sure things made sense. I questioned if he was done with his homework too as I saw a half-done work sheet. I just checked to make sure everything is turned in, etc. I found a music slip and wondered why he didn't turn that in. Then I thought, oh yeah, he didn't have music class yesterday. Anyway, he told me to bring that paper to school before 11. I again reiterated I do not have it. I said over and over "you check for it." I feel bad for him if its for a class and he'd have to do it over.

I always check his school work because he won't tell me how much homework he has. I have to always remind him to do it. I never had to nag S into working on her homework, she just does it.
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Hope everyone else is having a better day and I can get over this stuff with my eye before the day ends.

Trying to Make Sense of Things

I can remember when Roy Williams told the KU faithful that he was leaving the University of Kansas for North Carolina. We were all stunned and shocked. After all this was his first head coaching job and he wanted to go home.

Home means a lot of different things to people. In the case of Roy Williams, this was where he grew up; went to high school; went to college; met his wife and got married. It was where his children were born. It was where he was born and where his father and sister lived. It was where his wife's family was from. It was where his grown adult children were living. Home held strong memories for him. He missed home. He had an aging father and his sister was ill at the time. Kansas was special to him too. This was where he first started his coaching career. But Kansas was just a stop along the way for him. KU offered him everything and anything just to get him to stay. But his mind was made up. Wanda (Roy's wife) longed for home and so did Coach Roy.

People were shocked and worried. They wondered who would the University find to lead the basketball team. Finally a search committee was formed and they offered the job to Coach Bill Self, an Oklahoma native. At first it wasn't easy for people to get used to his coaching style and him to get used to the team. People questioned whether he was the right person in the first place. He recruited his own players and he formed his "dream team." The kids would rely on Coach Self because he was more than just a coach, he was their friend, someone the kids could count on.

Coach Self and his team won the National Championship this year. Many people worried that he would leave after winning a national championship. T. Boone Pickens offered him a huge deal if he would come back "home" to coach the Oklahoma State Cowboys (his alma mater). But Self had other ideas. He was "home." Lawrence became home. He might not have grown up there but this was where he and his wife met. His children calls Lawrence home. He was "home" to stay.
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I thought about this when trying to make sense of what happened at church. Our pastor has resigned from leading our church to go "home." I related the Williams/Self story to him. Williams wanted to go home as does our pastor. Some people are still in shock and I'm still trying to make sense out of things. But I can understand the pull some people have of returning to their roots or going back home.

I think about our church too and how we are needing a search committee to find the right person to lead our church. Someone who may have a young family who would call H town their home; someone who has a passion for contemporary worship and youth fellowship; and someone who could make our church really special. A Pastor who would be a kind spirit to talk with and would get along with everyone in the church. Those people are hard to find. But I am sure there is someone out there that will fill the void here.

Not What I Thought

I was wrong. Today, I assumed that J was "sick" over PE. I was wrong. He was getting done with Music and going into Social Studies class.

I asked him. He wanted to know why I wanted to know which class it was. Because I was trying to psychoanalyze why he was sick. I just can't accept the fact that he actually felt crummy because well, it is only 4 days into the new year and I just know how he has been in years past.

He did make through the day thanks to the wonderful medicine called "Tums." He seemed okay tonight as he ate normal.

Here We Go Again!

This morning when I was taking J to school he coughed and I asked him if he was okay. He said he wasn't feeling good. So sure enough I got a call from the school nurse.

I've heard this song and dance before. It happened in 4th grade and for some reason it didn't last year. He did all he could to get out of PE class. He likes sports (basketball and tennis) but for some reason does not like PE. I blame this on the teacher. I have watched her in action and wasn't happy with how she treated her students. He has had this PE teacher since kindergarten. Whenever grades comes out PE is his lowest grade. I don't have to worry about his academics just PE. Especially when typically he "doesn't feel good," around that time period. It's terrible to think that my kid is faking an illness (when he could be feeling quite bad) and I just can't accept it. It's the cry of wolf. We've been down this merry path before. In 4th grade it got so bad that I had to talk to the Principal about the problem.

We have only been into the school year for a whole 4 days and this is going on. The nurse did tell me that that type of thing was going around at school. But I know how things go at school, if you don't like a class you do feel sick. Same thing happened to me at 3rd grade and when I made the transition from 6th to junior high. There really shouldn't be a problem with him going to middle school as it is in the same building. He knows most of his teachers with the exception of the Math teacher. Math isn't in the morning either. So that's not the problem. He's got English and the next class is either PE or music. My guess its PE.

I have been against combining the middle school forever. However, if it meant a change of PE teachers or different teachers I MIGHT change my mind. J has to put up with this teacher for another 3 years. Then he'll have high school PE. I'm thinking he will like that better as he knows the teacher there.

The nurse did say this was going around and that he did look green around the gills, but she would give him some tums to see if this would clear up the problem. He's not coming home until he does "earp." He didn't have a fever. So that to me is an indication that it is the class not the sickness.

I never had this problem with S. She loves school and when she is sick I know she isn't faking. She might not like some things that has gone on, but she stuck it out. There were times when she didn't feel good and she still made it to school. I have such opposite children.

S was lucky though, she only had to put up with that particular PE teacher for 2 years.

Hopefully after this particular class is over with he will feel a whole lot better. It is unfortunate that this has to happen only 4 days in the school year! :(

3 keys

Yesterday as J and I drove home from church we thought we could get home and eat, relax before everybody else. I got out of the van and up to the door. The had like a V8 moment and said, "That's right S has the key!" S was gone to a friends house and didn't attend church yesterday.
So J and I waited for L to come home after checking on everything in the church.
This morning, I locked up the house and took J to school. When I got back I looked at my key ring. I had two keys my car key and the key to my mom's house in another town. I forgot to get the other key from S. So I had to go out to L's work and get his key.
S has been wanting a duplicate key forever. Whenever we go places that she doesn't want to go to she stays home, but needing to get in the house if she leaves. Today, I remembered to get a copy of the key made. Now we are a 3 key family!
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J was getting ready for school today. I saw what he was wearing. After 2 days of school last week he decided that he would go back wearing his old clothes. Nope. This isn't going to fly with me, especially after getting a "wardrobe" update over this summer. He needs to stop dressing like a 5th grade student and start dressing like a middle school student. So I made him change his shirt and his shorts. He was rolling his eyes. He didn't care how he looked. I think he is just waiting for winter when he has his coat on and I won't see what kind of horrible fashion statement he is making.
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The Church Announcement

Today at church after a short sermon from our Pastor, which was rare, he usually delivers a longer sermon that that. He got up and started to talk to the congregation. Immediately my mind started thinking, "This is not an "I'm staying speech." No, our Pastor wasn't going to announce that he had signed a new 10 year contract like Bill Self. He was announcing that he was stepping down.

He explained that he had a new calling to become a teacher. Also that he had aging parents to consider and his grandchildren.

It was a shock and I was at a loss for words. We had seen this many times before. Back in 1995, Weldon Martens (my first pastor at our church) resigned after being here for at least 10 years or so. Then we had an interim pastor for a year while selections for a new pastor were talked about throughout that year. Then Royce V., came to PV in 1996. Well then things happened (that I care not to bring up again) and we left for another church in another town. We stayed there for a while until 3 years ago. By that time, Pastor Bob was leading PV. I met him through a Youth Friends Meeting. It was his first year to be in that group and I ended up not participating as a Youth Friend that year. Well apparently he took to it right away and therefore, he is now called to become a teacher.

My mind started thinking about the processes that the church goes through to find a new pastor. When changes occur either the church falls apart or stays together. Some people may feel hurt or betrayed when a change like this happens. But this is just life. People want to pursue other careers or feel more comfortable doing other things. We have to let them go. It is hard. But we as a church must go on.

Late night post

Yep, I probably should go to bed as I am a greeter tomorrow. But after reading flute's blog about school, I have to add my two cents.

S is in her second year of HS and kept talking to her advisor about her schedule. She wasn't sure if she should take an Art class or whatever. So he reassured her she would do fine. The first day of class she found out that she wanted to make a few changes. Hopefully she can do this because I think that she'll enjoy school so much more. She was planning to take Desktop Publishing, but didn't find anyone she liked in class. She really wanted Yearbook, so she wants to jump to that. She's not 100% sure about the Art classs and wants to switch to another class. I suggested that she takes a History class. She's a little apprehensive about that, but in my opinion, History would be very interesting. This coming from her mom who majored in History and wanted her own class to teach in HS.

People have such a hang up on History. Even I had a hang up on it. I think it is worthless to memorize the order of the Presidents of the US.; it is worthless to memorize the Gettysburg Address; it is worthless to memorize dates in History. But it is important to know what happen during a certain year. Lets take 1968 for an example. The Vietnam war was going on, the hippie movement, kids getting shipped off to the war, or escaping to Canada. The music, the Presidential elections. ALL of this is important...but to know what culturally went on during a certain period of time is far more important than learning about a lot of dates. That's what makes History come alive and that's how I wanted to teach it. But I never got the chance. So I love it when S tells me what the teacher is doing in class. (okay, I'll get off my soapbox now).

J is having to take different subjects. We are watching how he is taking his work home. S commented that he needed to bring his folders home, because that's what keeps everything organized. He got homework the first day and yet he told me he was bored. I turned around and told him to do his homework then he wouldn't be bored. Some kids just need more direction.

I'll see how he does after a few assignments from the various teachers and see what his homeroom teacher thinks about him.

Tidbits from Today

Today I found a new discovery. Okay, I didn't find it but I was in the pest extermination area of Wally World. This one woman was pondering over mice killing products. So I picked up a sticky trap and thought about purchasing it for the church. She told me that she was loading up on the 409 because that stuff will kill about anything. She told me that she sprays it around her baseboard and it will kill wasps and spiders. I like that idea! So I used it tonight at church and it really does work! Wonder what it would do to a mouse?? I'd be too afraid to be that close to one to find out!
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J discovers a musical instrument. We went to Wichita today and told him we were going to a music store. "No, no," he said, "My teacher will get around to me about what instrument I should play." L told him to tell his teacher that L used to play trombone and wanted J to do the same. I got to thinking that maybe his teacher would just try him out on brass. I have a thing for him not to play clarinet. Actually, it was the same with S. Anything, BUT clarinet. I played clarinet for 3 years and was switched to bassoon. I would go through a lot of reeds and know they can be pricey. So I wanted them both to find an instrument that doesn't use reeds. We took him to the store despite his protests and he tried blowing through a clarinet mouthpiece, he was awful. When he got to the trombone, he could do it. L can help him through the trombone basics.

It's funny when I was in band I despised the trombones, because there was a bunch of bone-headed teenage boys who played that instrument. I would sit in front of them and they would take their slides poking at my rear end. Now, that would be sexual harrassment in this day and age, but then they were having "fun" at my expense. I REALLY hated those trombonists. So now my husband used to play and so does J. I told J if he EVER did that to anyone I would personally come down to school and get so mad!! I don't think he'll do that. He better not!
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There are so many books that I would love to read but I just can't find the time. I picked another one up at the church library. I need to get through my current book "Travel Team," then maybe a Kingsbury novel, and the latest novel "Remember to Forget." I need to put another one back in the church library. They've got some great ones there. Somehow I just need to balance reading, playing DS games (Brain Age), and working/blogging/reading on the computer.
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I'm enjoying my facebook connections. I just re-connected with a couple of old college friends today. It's nice when they remember you right off or they pick you up as a friend quickly. It makes you feel pretty good about that person. The ones that you request and they don't bother to pick you as a friend, I can't help but feeling a little rejected. But I am delighted with all the facebook friends I currently have! Thank you and you know who you are! :)

We need to get out more!

L and I celebrated our 20th anniversary, 8 miles south of town. Now, normally we just get pizza to go there and haven't dined in for the longest time.

For example, we sat down and we thought it was "Buffet Night." Every Wednesday night it used to be buffet night. Well, they did away with that and they only run the buffet at lunch time. So we looked at the menu. They didn't have Cavitini or Spaghetti listed. They always had this on the menu. Nope, not this time. They had some new pasta dinners on there instead. So I had to settle on a mini pizza and L got a new pasta dinner.

Remember when Pizza Hut had a jukebox in the dinning area? Not anymore. No longer can we get a couple of quarters and pick out our favorite tunes. We had to listen to whatever the workers were listening to.

Then they used to have those placemats where you could doodle on when you waited on your food. I remember when they used to have a blank diagram of the United States and you had to figure out the states by its shape. That was fun and dare I say it? Educational.

Our table had no placemats. I looked at it and wished I would have brought my checkers or a chess set to play on it.

Then we took a tour of our local lake. We hadn't been out there in years. The lake people put up nice sidewalks and posts with lights. It looked really nice.

I can't believe how things have changed around here.

Old Original Filters

Hexachlorophene Filter...What?? This is what our friend Spike found in the registers at church. He pulled one of these filters out of the heat registers yesterday. We dug around and found more of these same kind of filters.

Looking at the filter it was old! We probably figured at least 45 years old! Never has been changed. But yet, on the filter it said "change every 3 months." I look for the size and it was some odd size that I'll check at the WIFS. It was the writing that signified it looked old. Maybe it's new and has that retro look, I doubt it. It was made in Toledo, Ohio and it was a Hexachlorophene Filter.

Maybe my friend, the Reformed Angler, could enlighten me on this particular subject. I wonder if this Hexacholorphene filter is safe to remove and should we use extreme caution when removing. R.A. knows A LOT about science, etc.

I found it fascinating to look at this ancient filter but yet a little apprehensive upon reading about hexachlorophene.

The church is in need of some serious updating!

When We Were Young

By request...flute wanted to see a pictures of these thirty year old people. I loved my contacts back then and long for that girlish figure! I made L get a tie and cumberbund to match my bridesmaids dresses...dusty rose. I know everybody is saying "ick." Maybe I should have had him wear a nice blue one instead. But I wanted everything to match. The dress is at my mom's house. I have no room for it here. I had to purchase it because I was out on my own. It is a JC Penny's original, I liked the lace! I am not wearing shoes either. I wore these soft slippers, so I look a lot shorter than L. I am holding my bouquet of daisies. I love daisies and carnations. When I tossed my bouquet the person who caught it never got married. She was just a good outfielder!

That's us...the way we were! Sigh!

School is in Session!

Ahhh...the house is quiet except for an occasional meow from my cat or barking dogs outside. No more "Guitar Hero," music searing through my house. No more, "Turn it down!" Or no more, "I'm bored!" comments. No more, "When are you going to get off of the computer?" I am one happy mom to see school start again! I get my computer back and my house with the peace and quiet. I can watch whatever TV shows I want to watch during the day. I can turn on the radio and listen to oldies music. I can CLEAN!!!

I was planning to mow today but because it rained, I'll have to postpone that either for later in the day or tomorrow.

There is so much to do at home. I just don't know where to start. I'll probably end up making their favorite dinner tonight and maybe the next day I'll bake cookies. Yes...its great to have the kids in school.

J is starting middle school and I hope that he'll be organized and will read more. I am hoping that he'll like his teachers as well. I'll have to ask him today after school. But probably he will say, "Eh, it was okay." That's all I'll get out of him, if that.
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It's hard to work at church because of the two different construction going on simultaneously, it is hard to figure out what to clean and when to clean it. Once this week I vacuumed the basement, only to find out that workers got it dirty again! GRR!! How am I supposed to get any work done??
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I don't like lazy people. I wasn't appreciative at all with the "present" all wrapped up in a trash bag in my closet. Here's a word to the wise, if you want to keep your environmental specialist (aka custodian) happy, then tie up your trash and put it in the proper place outdoors in the dumpster. Don't put it in my closet ever again. It makes for hard feelings.

The Music of our Wedding

Here is a You tube video featuring Atlantic Starr singing "Always." We watched a lot of VH1 in 1988. Listen to the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTF97_ve118

It was 20 years ago today!

That L and I "tied the knot." I remember planning for the day exactly. When we were first engaged in May of that year, we were planning to be married on August 20th. That was the day when my vacation was. So in our announcements we said the 20th. Then, a nice person, at my job, asked if I would like to trade vacation weeks with her. I jumped for the chance and said, "OH YES!" So we moved the marriage date up a week.

We had a hard time figuring out where we should get married. I was living in Wichita and he was down here. I thought about my "home church," but my parents were no longer going to the Presbyterian church where I grew up. I didn't have a church home in Wichita either. L was attending a fellowship just north of town and I didn't want to be married there. So we compromised. We would be married at the Mennonite Church where his parents were members. The next order of business was to obtain a pastor. I thought about using my parents' pastor, but he didn't know me. Then there was the Mennonite pastor, Weldon M., and he couldn't do because of his wife's troubled pregnancy. So again we compromised and used Randy O, who had led the fellowship that L attended.

Every chance I had we would go out to the church and I would figure how I wanted my taper lighters to enter the sanctuary or how I wanted my bridesmaids and the groomsmen to come into the church.

My pianist, Joan W., former music teacher at Harper Gr. School, was practicing the pieces of music we wanted at our wedding. Music that we liked didn't go over to big with his parents and they didn't want to hear "secular music," at their church. Finally L played the pieces of music the way it was supposed to sound (for his parents) and then they agreed to it. I remember it being touch and go for a while. I was bundle of nerves anyway, and didn't need this kind of problems.

Finally the day before the wedding hit. We did a rehersal and I kept messing up on the words. I was just too nervous. My brother, G, made sure that nothing happened to L the day before the wedding. I couldn't sleep very well that night at the "H motel."

The day of the wedding we all ate breakfast at Myers Cafe in downtown H. Our florist was Cindy Myers E.. The flowers looked great!!

I was still a bundle of nervous and bought a bottle of Pepto Bismol. My bridesmaids (all 2 of them, my sister-in-law and niece) were getting ready. I also had a flower girl, L's ten year old niece. My matron of honor fixed my dress just so, she was a great help! My niece, K, who was 15, was helping the flower girl get ready. Then "ripppp!" I turned around and there was a small hole in K's dress. So we asked our "cake person," Marie B., who was seamstress to help us. We taped the hole with scotch tape.

The wedding started as my taper lighters (our nephews) lit the candles. Then Law, my best friend, sang "He has Chosen me for you." I love that song, to this day!! When she first sang a sample of it once I said, "That's the song." Then the music started. KR the flower girl came down the aisle, followed by my niece K and a groomsman. Then my sister-in-law P with L's brother. Each time we would have our people come down the aisle when there was a "beat." In our tape L is nodding for each person to enter.

Then it's my turn. L said that the sun glowed around me. I was STILL nervous. In the middle of the ceremony R.O. and Debbie A. sang the song "Always." Oh they did such a great job of it too! My family really liked it. I wasn't sure how his family liked it.

After the "big kiss," Randy O., presented us and we walked down the aisle.

Many of those people who attended the wedding have since died. That's the sad part of watching the wedding tape. But what cracks me up (and it sure didn't at the time) is when our camera person said that he had our wedding on it, but taped the Harper County Fair Parade on the same tape!! So there wasn't the duet "Always," on the tape...I'll just have to rely on my memories of it.

We had a simple wedding. A nice simple cake and lemonade to drink at the reception. It was a small wedding. It was hot that day too. They threw rice and wheat at us. That stuff just stuck to my skin! I was still flicking off the wheat when we went to KC for our honeymoon.

But that's not the thing to remember 20 years later. I remember the marriage throughout the years that L and I have shared. The ups and the downs. The children's births and the tragedies. And how much in love I still am with L. Happy Anniversary L!! This one is for you!

A Mouse Adventure

Twenty-one years ago when L and I were dating I owned a house in Wichita. My laundry room was in the garage and ever so often I would hear something skittering in the room. I also had a dog who would try and track down the "noise." The skittering noise was a mouse. In fact, two mice!

So one night L would stand on a ladder and I would sit on top of my washer and or dryer trying to make the mice come out of their hiding place. L would turn off the light and then I would bang on my washer/dryer and then we would turn on the light and see them running around. We would attempt to kill the mice with a shovel and a broom. Oooh!! How I hate mice to this day!!

Tonight while I was checking the church. The back door was left open. Then I walked by the west bathroom and turned on a light because I saw something brown on the floor. Immediately I turned on the light and Mickey scampered under the heat register. I SCREAMED!!! I told L of my findings. He looked around and couldn't figure out where Mickey was. So I ran downstairs and got a yard stick. L saw him finally. I offered to bring him a broom, or a shovel. I would have given him a hammer just to kill Mickey. I looked in my closet and there was bug killer. I don't think that would have done him in. I thought about the sewing ladies coming in tomorrow morning. No, we had to capture Mickey tonight.

So L placed the trash basket down near the register and took the yardstick to move the mouse into the basket. Then he immediately took an old tile from outdoors to capture Mickey. He wasn't sure at first that he had the mouse. So he searched the trash basket and the mouse jumped! By this time I hear L screaming. It surprised him. I was scared. What if Mickey would have bit him?

L could have killed Mickey, but being the true Mennonite, he released Mickey out in a field, north of the church, unharmed. I was hoping if there was a snake out there in the field that maybe Mickey could be his food.

As we turned to go inside the church, I laughed and said, "Well the last time we killed a mouse was before we got married." Then I added, "Oh, happy anniversary!" ;)

Catching up

Today (after church) we have been cleaning up rooms, it has been long overdue. S is cleaning clothes and sorting through which clothes she can wear and which ones we will use in a garage sale. I would like to have the garage sale sometime in September or so, but we will see. I went through J's clothes and have been washing the old; tossing the ones with holes; saving the cute clothes; and getting ready for the supposed garage sale in another bag.

We've been buying new clothes for school for the past 2 weeks. We found a sale at Penny's yesterday for boy's jeans. While we were there we got some more dressy shirts for J to wear. He needs to change his image being a 6th grade middle school student. He needs to start looking older (clothes wise). He'll probably wear his new stuff the first two days and then he'll be back to his old clothes. I hope that he doesn't go back to his old stuff.
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I've been doing a lot of Facebook posting these days. Networking with old high school friends and decided to start two new Facebook groups. One is for my high school class (only have 5 people on there) and then other one is for PV church (at last count I had 13 who have joined). I appreciate whoever it was who got 3 people to come on this group (Vanessa, Jeremy, and Laurel). These are 3 people who grew up in the church and now live in different parts of the country. Thank you to whoever passed on the invitation for them to join the group!! Anyway...on both groups I have some topics for people to answer and hopefully I can get some discussion up as I don't want to be the only person discussing whatever topic.

On the high school class, a former classmate, said that she was shy. What? And I am not? She wondered if I would ask such and such to be on their facebook. The other person wanted me to ask them to be on their facebook too. It worked out. Now they are mutual friends. Cool. I love to network with people!!
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This week will be busy!! Tomorrow, is going to be kind of dead (if you call my work at church dead!). Then the next day we visit our orthodontist about second phase treatment and the economics involved in that. Wednesday, S suggested that we L and I go to a special place to eat out on our Big 20 anniversary. Then S has a meeting at school that day. Thursday school starts for J and S helps the freshmen around the school. Then Friday everyone has their first day of class. Whew!! Tomorrow, I'll have to exchange J's folders for notebooks. It is complicated!

I'll have to keep regular hours too. I've been going to bed late and waking up late. So now, I can't stay up and watch "Ozzie and Harriet," on ION TV (at 1 AM) and get up after 8. :( Summer has now come to an end!

Our County Fair

L and I went down to check out the action at the HP county fair. One of the banks in town held their annual feed and drew a lot of people. I think that you had to purchase a button, so we didn't go. Then there was the annual pedal pull. A little boy named Malichi was participating. We said hello to old friends, who we normally only see in passing on the streets.

The farm kids show their animals for prizes. Plenty of pigs, horses, cows, goats, and chickens. There is even a little kiddie barn. With a donkey, goats, and probably some kitties for sale. We didn't go through there either.

Then we went to the big blueish greenish fair barn where booths are located, businesses, and some of the open enteries are shown. We knew that PV had a booth and proceeded to walk over there. Before we reached the booth we saw a booth for the HP county courthouse celebrating 100 years in November. They showed the clock tower and we both thought of "Back to the Future," movies. Then we saw the Harper Historical Society's booth. This one should probably take a blue ribbon. I was very impressed with all the old newspapers of the town covering the booth. Then we came to the PV booth. Someone from our church had a collage of pictures showing what we do at church, plus a few ads for the cookbook and an informational pamphlet about our church. Of all the churches, ours was the most informitive.

Then we looked at the entries. There were a lot less kids entering art projects this year. In years past we have had someone who taught art over the summer. But that person got into some personal criminal problems and wasn't there to help direct the art program this year. The photography entries were good...especially flutes pictures. Someone entered a picture of a cat in black and white and the same cat in color...pretty redundant.

The sewing enteries had the most. I guess HP county is famous for their sewing.

In the area of foods there weren't too many either for the 4 H kids and the open class. Same way with the photography area, next to no one entered. In the 4 H sewing, it was pretty sparse too as well as the crafty area. Not a lot of people entered things this year.

The carnival with rides opened later in the night and you could see the glow of the Ferris Wheel looking north on Central. It looked pretty. The parade for the fair will be on Saturday. Usually that is a big noisy draw with the Midian shrine bringing their tiny motorcycles and featuring equipment from business in the county. Flute will probably be posting pics in the inky paper for next week and these will be shown for at least 3 weeks if not more.

Mysterious Call Part 2

Well this caller called last night. I looked at the Caller ID and (duh) decided to pick up. Only I didn't really answer I stayed on the line and listened. It was some woman. I hung up the phone only to have it re-ring again. This time I didn't answer, I let the machine pick up.


The caller (woman) said that she was looking for a "LB" and wondered if this could be him. She knew him "a while back." She instructed what phone number she was calling from and hung up. She didn't leave her name. By this time, I am not liking it. Not at all. How would you like some mystery person (woman) calling your husband? I told him it would be like I called one of my ex-boyfriends looking for them. Yuk, no way would I do this EVER! So I went on and one about it. I did not like it at all. He was pretty sick about hearing how mad I was. Then I "googled" the number on google...like I said "dog with a bone" syndrome I have. I mentioned a name that the phone number was connected to and he said, "Well it could be such-and-such but why would she be interested in calling me?"


S gets home and hears the message. It "creeps her out." What if this person was some kind of wacko and stalks us? L reassures her not to worry. She was creeped out and I was just plain angry. So now I have looked into getting call blocker and some other tricks of the trade to get this person to just go away.


Word to the wise...never call a person you know "from way back." Never call if you are a woman to a man, it upsets the family. Always identify yourself. Your call MAY BE picked up. Otherwise, if you think you know someone, leave the past in the past.

The Mysterious Morning Phone Call

Today while I was trying to catch up on my sleep, I received a call on my phone. I knew it was pretty early. I run upstairs only to see it was unknown name but caught the phone number.

I screen all of my calls and wondered who would call me at the early hour of 7 AM from area code 719 in Colorado. Who would DARE to call me that early?! I knew of one person who lives in the area. I started to think/worry about her. I searched for her number and couldn't find her listed. I was doing all of this searching without the use of my glasses. Do you know how hard it is to read on the computer when you nearly blind. It's pretty hard! So I strained and looked for like 15 minutes. I was so tired. I needed to catch up on my sleep. So I headed back to bed. But before that I shot an email at my friend just to see if that WAS her calling me.

I head downstairs to bed finally relaxing and trying to forget about the call. I am like a dog with a bone (as one of my friend's has told me). I just can't quit and I just pursue and pursue until the mystery is solved. This afternoon my friend told me it wasn't her. Whew!!

I didn't think that telemarketers would be calling me at 7 my time and 6 their time. Maybe it was a wrong number. Maybe they weren't wearing their eyewear either.
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I really like my friends but I do wish that they would refrain from sending me political emails. Some of you guys know what party I belong to and I don't find any of those jokes the least bit funny.

How hot was it??

It was so hot today you probably could fry an egg on the manhole cover as shown in the inky paper today. When it is this hot it makes it too hot to go out to an un-airconditioned church to work. But L and I did work tonight during the little rain we got this evening. It felt great outside but AWFUL inside. It was only 85 degrees in our fellowship hall, whereas in the sanctuary it was a warm 94 degrees.

I can't recall the temperature even being this hot for the past two years. I do remember back in the 80's when I worked for the phone company and temps would go up to 110 degrees several days straight. One May I went to the NW for a vacation and when I flew back into Wichita the pilot told us it was 110 upon landing. UGH!!
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We had a primary election in Kansas today. We have these new computerized voting machines now. No more paper ballots, pencils to make an "x" on or black marker pens to fill in the circles. Nope. That's a thing of the past. Today I walked in looking for my ward, which had moved because of the new voting machines. The election workers found my name, told the other one my party affliation and then gave me a white credit card to vote with. I stood in line watching the elderly voters struggle with learning the new system. Then it was my turn. I placed the credit card in the slot until it made a click and my voting instructions appeared on the screen (for just my party). It was pretty easy to do...I had only a couple of votes to make and I was done. The other party had more positions to vote for. So after I submitted my ballot out popped the little white card. I handed it back to the worker and said, "Here's your credit card back." Then I got a "I Voted" sticker to wear proudly on my shirt.

I have always come from a family of voters. Not to be a voter just seems strange. But it happens. Some people don't vote for various reasons. I keep trying to convince this one person but he never has voted and I doubted that he ever will, unless a school bond issue would appear someday in our county. Then he might vote that one time. One thing since he doesn't vote we don't get into political arguements and that is good, since I am married to a non-voter.

From the Duh Files

Today I was either half asleep or something when I was enrolling J at school. Here's a question that one of the secretaries asked, "Is your son a Native American?" I looked at him and thought, "Well, yeah he was born in America, so sure he's a native American." The secretary blinked her eyes and said, "Look at him again." Then it dawned on me. DUH!!

Then I answered, "Ohhhhh...you mean Indian!" Of course the answer was no. How stupid can I get? I guess I was sleepy this morning. Next time I won't leave the house without a can of caffeine and my thinking cap tied securely tied on. I must have picked up the wrong cap today. Duh!

Waitresses, Restaurants, and Age

Yesterday we went Olive Garden. I was greeted by a nice young guy and told him 6 in the party and non-smoking. Then I watched the waitress pick up 5 menus and 1 child menu. J was 12 yesterday and I know that this particular restaurant you have to be under 10 to get a child's menu. I whispered quietly to the waitres (or server), "We don't need a child's menu."

At some restaurants, such as TGI Friday's, the server would try to guess S's age. The lowest age to get their child menu was 12. So the server was sizing her up and asked me about a child's menu for her. I shook my head no that she couldn't get one. When we got to the table S would growl under her breath, "Don't I LOOK older than 12? What do I have to do to look OLDER?" S did look older. She was nearly as tall as me (when this happened), the server was a poor guesser. Now she's a little taller than me and no longer gets a child menu. But J, still hasn't got his growth at 12 and the server always sizes him as way younger. Once we had a waiter who said, "Hey buddy! How 'bout a refill on that drink?" It made him feel like a little boy of 9 or younger. Because the waiter certainly wasn't his buddy! Or he hates it when they call him "sweetie" or "partner." Waitresses should realize this that boys do not like this at all.

I like the servers who ask if we need a child's menu or not. Very polite and very professional in their manner, I would like to tip these people.

Although there are times when we DID want to pass them off younger than 12 or 10 just to get a cheaper bill. I remember times when I was younger going to the movies and how I passed under a certain age. I would get in the cinema and laugh. I pulled a fast one on them! It cost a whole lot less. Then there are times, I remembered being older and I didn't look eighteen. I had to whip out some identification. I remember going to the State Fair where they had a "guesser." He could either try to guess your weight or age. I opted for the age and he guessed me younger than I really was! I loved it!

Speaking of age, often times I look for that "senior citizens" discount wondering how old you have to be for certain service to kick in. For instance, when we go to a hotel, I try to get a 50 plus rate on the hotel. Someday we will be pushing 60 and will want to take advantage of the "benefits" of being older. But then again do I WANT to look older at 60?

I think when you are over 12 you want to look older. But if you are 60 plus you don't want to look older. Funny, how that works out! ;)

The Birthdays!

We drove back up to Wichita to celebrate the birthdays. S took two of her good friends. She was planning to take another girl, but she couldn't come with us.

We stopped off at Olive Garden to have some of that great Italian food. While we were there, we heard that another customer was having his birthday. The boy was 9. L asked the waitress what they did for b-days. "Well you can purchase a cake with buttercream frosting for $5.99." Nothing free? No, we had to pass on that. If we would have gone to TGI Fridays then I know that the waiters/waitresses would sing to that person. Ah, maybe next year we will do this.

While we were eating we noticed this man and apparently his elderly mother sat down at a booth not far from us. She had a straw hat on and took it off. So we went back to eating. The waitress brought their drinks. The man was drinking a coke and here was this old granny sipping her beer! The girls noticed this and we all laughed quietly. Thoughts came up about my mother NEVER drinking a beer, nor my MIL, and not my other grandmas too. NO WAY, would they be chugging a beer. We are all a bunch of non-drinkers. It just struck me as funny watching "Granny" having a beer on a Sunday and her son having a coke. I whispered and said, "He must be her designated driver." J thought she was drinking tea. We explained tea doesn't have foam on the top like beer does.

We went to Towne East and shopped half of the day there. The girls did their shopping and I followed the guys. They were done 2 hours before they were! I was lucky, I got J to shop for school clothes (besides the t-shirts he normally wears). I explained to him he should dress nice for the girls as he will be entering middle school.

Then to top it off we stopped at Burger King where S and J picked up their "crowns."

Now...they have school to look forward to in a week a half! Wow! How time flies!

Pre-Birthday Celebrations

Today we went to Wichita to get J a new bike. He had been riding around on a small 20" bike that belonged to S. He was pretty embarassed to ride that around. This was his first bike. It took him a while to learn, but he did learn. We saw a bike at Wal-Mart for like $80. I thought we could be that price. HA! Always go with your first instinct. Then we went to Target and found a great one for $149. Then we went to a used bicycle place on Central (Bicycle Exchange), I wasn't overjoyed at the neighborhood and was hestitant to go in the place. He had OLD bikes...it looked like he had a ten-speed that I owned in high school (so some of those bikes were at least 36 years old or more). But he did have a bike that J could use...yeah, for like $120ish. While we were on the "east" side I suggested that we go to Toys R Us. That's where I got my bike a while back. We found a couple at $89 plus they added $10 for assembly. So we nixed that idea. So we drove back to the west side, going through Eastbourough. I saw a political advertisement for someone running for judge and I knew him! He went to SC like I did.

Then we got back on the west side and decided to get a frosty and eat supper. It was a long day. We got back to Wal-mart and the bike was parked on the floor. We looked around and wondered if anyone was going to buy it. Then we took it to the front and bought it. Then the trick was to load it in the back of the van. Finally with a lot of pushing and shoving we got it in.
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We went to a store this afternoon called "Bookaholic." They have really old and new and used books from history, to comedy, to fiction, religion, and cookbooks! Cookbooks! So I found used cookbooks from all over! Churches and other fundraisers. I would open up and book and say, "Oh yeah, G R publishing did this." I could tell by the typesetting. There were cookbooks from Pennslyvania, Protection, KS, Washington, KS (I thought about Elderberry then), Texas. Then interesting names such as "Gastronomical Dishes," was one title. Old cookbooks and someone put in one from Morris Cookbook company! I laughed, it was the sample copy they send out for promotional material. I thought to myself, that I could have done that!! It was interesting. I thought some day our new Mennonite Cookbook will be in there too, you never know.
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We had cake and cards tonight. I only had 24 candles but needed 27. So S put 6 on hers 1 + 5 and J 1 + 2. We unvailed the cakes and S's cake looked really great. But J's was not. His frosting on the cake slid off the cake and instead of saying, "12 Happy B-day J" it ended up looking like "BOW." I had never seen frosting slide off a cake. I did cool it down before applying the frosting. So, no pictures of the cakes this year! They both tasted great. S had Spice and J had chocolate.

Tomorrow is the true b-day! Happy b-day!

Double Birthdays

Today I am baking two birthday cakes for S and J as their birthday is this weekend. Everyone thinks that is unique that both of them share the same birthday. I didn't plan it this way at all. It just happened.

Both had different due dates. J was supposed to be born in July and came a week later. With S, I was supposed to have her the middle of August. Maybe there is a reason why both of them share a birthday. I was induced on August 2nd for both and they took their time arriving. When I was in labor with J I asked them was there anyway he could be born on August 2nd. The doctor and nurses shook their head no. He arrived a little bit after midnight. S now shares her birthday with J.

For me it is double the cake, double the presents. When they were young my mom would comment that their birthday party seemed more like Christmas. When they were young we used to buy their birthday cakes at Dillons. When they got older I got cheaper and made their cakes. They aren't fancy, but they are at least edible. They pick out their own flavor of cake and I whip them up. S prefers spice cake and J liked lemon, but is going with chocolate this year.

I remember from birthday's past (plus watching VHS tapes) of them getting balloons from their grandmother, having family and our friends to celebrate. My friends have now moved and my mom cannot drive out to H town for their birthdays.

It's hard to believe that S is 15 and J is 12...my how time flies! :)

Wal-mart Politics

The following came from Yahoo news regarding Wal-Mart employees:

Wal-MartStores Inc is mobilizing U.S. store managers to lobby against Democrats in November's presidential election, fearing they will make it easier for workers to unionize, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

In recent weeks, thousands of Wal-Mart managers and department heads have been summoned to mandatory meetings at which the retailer stresses the downside for workers if store workers unionize, the paper said.
About a dozen employees who attended meetings in seven states said executives stressed employees would have to pay hefty union dues and get nothing in return, and might have to go on strike without compensation, and warned that unionization could force the company to cut jobs as labor costs rise, the Journal reported.
The Wal-Mart human-resources managers who have run the meetings didn't tell those attending how to vote in the November elections, but made it clear that voting for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, would be tantamount to inviting unions in, the Journals said.
Wal-Mart could not be reached immediately for a comment.

Talk about infringing upon the rights of the others. The Wal-Mart managers are doing the "smear and fear" politics to their own employees. The Wal-mart employees should at least have the freedom of choosing to vote for whomever they want for President or to unionize.

I have belonged to a union and find nothing wrong with being a member of the union. They keep management in line and look out for the employees through certain benefits. I have also known of people who didn't belong to a union. It was their choice. When I worked for the telephone company we would have strikes for better benefits and walk the picket line. My friend, who wasn't a member of the union, would cross the lines. Granted we weren't too happy about that, but it was her choice to either join or not.

Then there are companies out there who have good bosses. They actually look out for their employees. I can't imagine any of these bosses saying that they would be against Democrats. No. There is that freedom of choice.

Without that and having a one party political system would make the US look like totalitarianism. The US is supposed to be a democracy where we can still make our choices, voice our opinion, and make the two-party system work.

I may be shopping at a different store very soon if this is how Wal-mart REALLY is.