For those of you who are kinda new around here, Bob is my Dad and he is a mess. I have written about some of his more hilarious moments in a series I call the Bob Chronicles. You can catch up on Episodes 1 - 16 of the Bob Chronicles on my old blog "Simply Writing Out Loud" which I will link you to below. You may need to read some of those just to see what kind of trouble Bob finds himself in on the regular.
Bob Chronicles - Sixteenth in a Series
Bob Chronicles - Fifteenth in a Series
Bob Chronicles - First in a Series
For the latest seventeenth story in the series, which I will just call the Tuna Fish story, I was lamenting with Bob over how I was finding myself unable to recall words that I know. I can be right in the middle of a conversation and a word just will not come to me. It is the most frustrating thing! Twice last week I was talking on the phone to some young little thing I work with and could not recall a word. I finally said "I am going to have to play my 52 year old card, and just keep talking without saying the word I know I should know. If you know it from the context clues I am giving you, please shout it out. If you don't know it, be prepared for me to shout it out when it comes to me - even if we have moved on to a different topic. Getting old is hard."
As I went on about it, Bob just chuckled. He said "Every damn day. Every single day. I understand completely. In fact, I have a pretty recent story for you. Just yesterday I was craving a tuna sandwich. I told your mother I was running up to Subway to get a tuna sub and asked her if she wanted anything. She wanted a turkey sub. I went to Subway and placed our order and came home with the subs in a bag. When I pulled them out at home I noticed they had written tuna on the outside of my sandwich and I thought to myself "Well that is nice so I don't have to open them to know which one is tuna." I took my sandwich into the other room and started eating and after just a couple bites, your mother comes into the room and says "Why are you eating my turkey sub." After all of that tuna talk, I had picked up her sandwich and was eating it! What in the world? The whole event was around me wanting a tuna sandwich and I was just chowing down on a turkey sub without any recollection of the tuna sandwich. So, I understand daughter. I understand."
Then we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. It probably means we have early onset Alzheimer's or something, but we also have a wicked good sense of humor.
Bottom line, I apparently come by this absent thinking honestly.
Thanks Dad.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Sweet and Crafty Weekend
Friday night I shared a lovely evening with my friend, Lori. We chatted over soup and caught up without our furry beasts to interfere! She is still in recovery mode from surgery on her fractured tibia, but making progress and doing all the things she can to get back on her own two feet! It was a really nice visit.
Saturday morning I was up early and started my day off doing some crafts for a Fall Festival that YMSL is hosting in October. I was making mystery boxes to hold different kinds of squishy, squirmy things that kids stick their hands in and try to figure out what it is in the box with out using their eyes! I had so much fun!
Look at these cuties:
I also made one of the necklaces we will have at one of the stations so the kids would have a sample to go by. Pretty cute!
I also put together sixty of these bat necklaces that will hold full size candy bars which will be one of the prizes at a station.
I had paint and glue all over the place and could not have been happier. My house looks like a tornado blew through Hobby Lobby and dumped Aisles 6 - 11 in my dining room, but that is a small price to pay for all the fun I had.
Then I watched a ton of college football, made a big pot of chicken and dumplings and another one of red beans and rice. It was damn near a perfect Saturday in my book.
I woke up this morning and didn't feel great. Just a little off. Nothing I can put my finger on. So just laying low today and even had a nap.
Monday rolls around again tomorrow. For those that haven't heard the latest on Lana, she is having a second biopsy and a port put in on Wednesday morning. Ready to get on with the treatments so cancer can be in her rear view mirror sooner, rather than later! Your prayers are very much appreciated.
I have a great Bob story about a tuna fish sandwich, but I am going to save that for this coming week when I need a laugh! It will make you laugh too, I promise.
Peace Out.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Life Lesson
My darling, neglected Blog. I am so sorry I have dropped you like a hot potato while life is swirling all around me. Let's rewind to my last post, where I clamored on and on about what a busy weekend it was and how happy I was to have such wonderful people and events in my life. The very last thing I wrote in that post was for Monday not to kick me in the teeth and steal my joy. Guess what happened? Monday did that very thing and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were also very, very jerky!
Most of my hours have been spent working. Things have cranked up in a big way for me and I have lists on top of lists on top of lists. Meetings every day, back to back to back. I am rotating my cordless phones on the charger regularly because I keep draining the batteries! It is a fine problem to have and I know that things will settle down. They always do.
Consuming lots of my brain and heart power is Lana's new breast cancer diagnosis. She had her first appointment with her oncologist on Tuesday and initial test indicate Stage II breast cancer with a few more tests to do. She will start chemotherapy soon and then have a single mastectomy. Decisions about radiation will be made after those steps are complete. The good news is my momma comes from some sturdy Polish stock and is healthy and will give cancer more than it bargained for. I didn't ask her if I could post this here, but let's be real...I have about eight loyal readers and two of them are my parents! Also, I had a great reminder last week from my friend Lori that sharing our burdens and worries makes them lighter. So let's all pick up a piece of this cancer burden for my momma and make her load lighter. If you could put her on your prayer list I would be forever grateful! I will keep you posted as she starts treatment and if there are any specific prayer requests she needs. In the meantime, she feels good and she left me with this sweet little nugget of encouragement..."This is the last day of my life. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life".
Bob also has a few medical things on his plate and will be having cataract surgery on both his eyes in October. Hopefully, his surgery goes perfectly and he ends October with much better eyesight and no complications. We do not need any complications!!
This week I also mourn the loss of a beautiful young momma that lived in our neighborhood. She has a son that is Chip's age and we have been on field trips and shared field days and crossed paths on early morning walks for years. She heroically battled melanoma for two years and I wouldn't dare diminish her bravery by saying she lost her battle to cancer, because she lost nothing. She was a light and a joy in this world until her last breath on this earth. She left a mark on this world - she was loved hard and she loved hard. We should all be so blessed.
In and amongst the worries and the sad, there are so many fabulous things happening. How about this for some amazing news?
I have two good friends, who were friends long before I met them. They both became first time grandmothers on the same day this week. Actually, about twelve hours apart! Melt my heart. They both shared pictures of their beautiful grandchildren and my heart just soared. I can't imagine what a moment in time that is...to lay eyes on your first grandchild and to see your own child become a parent. I am covered in goosebumps as I type. Congratulations to Jenny and Diane who have so much more to love this week!
And finally, this.....
My Aunt Gail sent Harry a graduation gift this week. It was epic! It put my crazy money hiding gifts to shame! She is officially dubbed The Queen of Crafts! Look at this....
It arrived looking like a cute little dog with a graduation hat.
Harry also later found more money in the head and the chest and the butt! Five giant rolls of dollar bills were hidden in this dog!
Sadly, the dismantling of this poor dog to get to the cash was borderline disturbing! He was just a shell of his little puppy self by the time Harry got all the cash out!
Most of my hours have been spent working. Things have cranked up in a big way for me and I have lists on top of lists on top of lists. Meetings every day, back to back to back. I am rotating my cordless phones on the charger regularly because I keep draining the batteries! It is a fine problem to have and I know that things will settle down. They always do.
Consuming lots of my brain and heart power is Lana's new breast cancer diagnosis. She had her first appointment with her oncologist on Tuesday and initial test indicate Stage II breast cancer with a few more tests to do. She will start chemotherapy soon and then have a single mastectomy. Decisions about radiation will be made after those steps are complete. The good news is my momma comes from some sturdy Polish stock and is healthy and will give cancer more than it bargained for. I didn't ask her if I could post this here, but let's be real...I have about eight loyal readers and two of them are my parents! Also, I had a great reminder last week from my friend Lori that sharing our burdens and worries makes them lighter. So let's all pick up a piece of this cancer burden for my momma and make her load lighter. If you could put her on your prayer list I would be forever grateful! I will keep you posted as she starts treatment and if there are any specific prayer requests she needs. In the meantime, she feels good and she left me with this sweet little nugget of encouragement..."This is the last day of my life. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life".
Bob also has a few medical things on his plate and will be having cataract surgery on both his eyes in October. Hopefully, his surgery goes perfectly and he ends October with much better eyesight and no complications. We do not need any complications!!
This week I also mourn the loss of a beautiful young momma that lived in our neighborhood. She has a son that is Chip's age and we have been on field trips and shared field days and crossed paths on early morning walks for years. She heroically battled melanoma for two years and I wouldn't dare diminish her bravery by saying she lost her battle to cancer, because she lost nothing. She was a light and a joy in this world until her last breath on this earth. She left a mark on this world - she was loved hard and she loved hard. We should all be so blessed.
In and amongst the worries and the sad, there are so many fabulous things happening. How about this for some amazing news?
I have two good friends, who were friends long before I met them. They both became first time grandmothers on the same day this week. Actually, about twelve hours apart! Melt my heart. They both shared pictures of their beautiful grandchildren and my heart just soared. I can't imagine what a moment in time that is...to lay eyes on your first grandchild and to see your own child become a parent. I am covered in goosebumps as I type. Congratulations to Jenny and Diane who have so much more to love this week!
And finally, this.....
My Aunt Gail sent Harry a graduation gift this week. It was epic! It put my crazy money hiding gifts to shame! She is officially dubbed The Queen of Crafts! Look at this....
It arrived looking like a cute little dog with a graduation hat.
Harry could see something through the belly of the pup and after some dissecting, he discovered two rolls of tightly wound dollar bills. He was finally able to start pulling on one of the rolls and it just kept coming, and coming, and coming and coming! So many dollars! There were two rolls in the belly.
We called my Aunt to laugh and congratulate her on this clever way to give cash. I asked her where she bought the dog and y'all....she modified this regular dog from Walmart. Took it apart, modified it and put it back together again. She is a nurse, but maybe should have been a surgeon!
She sent these pictures of the process which was an absolute labor of love. All the taping and rolling of dollar bills alone makes my hands ache!
Harry also later found more money in the head and the chest and the butt! Five giant rolls of dollar bills were hidden in this dog!
Sadly, the dismantling of this poor dog to get to the cash was borderline disturbing! He was just a shell of his little puppy self by the time Harry got all the cash out!
We mummified Harry with one of the rolls to commemorate all the cold hard cash spilling out in our house! It went on for days!
What a generous and thoughtful gift and the unwrapping and discovery will be forever remembered! My gift giving of money rolled up in drinking straws seems so elementary! Glued inside walnut shells? Come 'on...so basic! This is next level! It brought us all some much needed joy, laughter and happiness this week. Perfect timing!
I have a few things on my "To Do" List today, but for the most part I plan to start the day with a nice breakfast, tidy up the house a little bit and watch college football like it is my job. Doesn't that sound perfect?
Life Lesson....even when you get kicked in the teeth, you can still find something to smile about.
Monday, September 10, 2018
What a Weekend!
Hello, my people. I am just coming off a super busy weekend that leaves me feeling nothing but blessed this Monday morning. Let me give you the highlights before this Monday ramps up and the work week tries to steal my joy!
Friday afternoon, I went with my friend Missy to visit The Settlement Home where our YMSL group will be throwing a Fall Festival next month. We stopped for a coffee on our way home to do a little strategy and planning to make sure it is a fun event and because late afternoon coffee is the best! ALERT: Pumpkin Spice is back and I am NOT mad about it! So good! Bring on Fall!
The boys went to Houston with their dad for the weekend, so I spent Friday night roaming all the aisles of Hobby Lobby. I went up and down each aisle twice and could not have enjoyed that more.
Saturday morning, our Love Box group hosted a pancake breakfast at my house for our sweet Love Box family! It was absolutely wonderful! Fill your house up with good food, good people and some fun toys and crafts and that is a recipe for happiness!
Friday afternoon, I went with my friend Missy to visit The Settlement Home where our YMSL group will be throwing a Fall Festival next month. We stopped for a coffee on our way home to do a little strategy and planning to make sure it is a fun event and because late afternoon coffee is the best! ALERT: Pumpkin Spice is back and I am NOT mad about it! So good! Bring on Fall!
The boys went to Houston with their dad for the weekend, so I spent Friday night roaming all the aisles of Hobby Lobby. I went up and down each aisle twice and could not have enjoyed that more.
Saturday morning, our Love Box group hosted a pancake breakfast at my house for our sweet Love Box family! It was absolutely wonderful! Fill your house up with good food, good people and some fun toys and crafts and that is a recipe for happiness!
Saturday afternoon I took a nice nap and watched a little college football! It was intentional recovery so I could stay awake in the movie on Saturday night. Me and Sheri went to see Crazy Rich Asians and it was great. A lot like Pretty Woman - but with an economics professor instead of a hooker.
Sunday, I headed down to Lakeside with my friend Mary for Lakeside church! We served up some coffee and breakfast and then sang some songs and heard a great message about communion. I was belting out the songs and was completely unaware of an incident in the back of the room with a woman who came in that had been in a fight in the lobby and she was holding a can of carrots. Isn't that an unusual thing? The police came. A loose dog wandered into the lobby and was licking things off the coffee table. I was completely unaware. The room is not that big. I had to catch up on what went down after it was all over. It all ended fine, but I may need to adjust my radar of awareness.
After church, the regular volunteers went to Matt's El Rancho to have lunch. We got to chat and visit and I had the most excellent tacos. Asadero Tacos - Named by TEXAS MONTHLY as "one of the 120 Tacos you must eat before you die!" - Beef Tenderloin Tacos with Grilled Asadero Cheese, Onions & Rajas in Corn Tortillas. Super Yummy! It was my first time to Matt's and I don't want it to be my last! Also, what are the other 119 tacos I must eat before I die? I need that list!
Sunday afternoon, I did a little crafting and made some paper flowers to put on a gift I was wrapping. It involved a glue gun and scissors and some patience - but I thought they turned out adorable. What do you think?
I also slipped in another short nap that really seems to go a long way to recharge me! Wrapped up my Sunday evening attending a wedding shower! I did not know many people at the shower, but I felt so welcome and had a great time. So much young love! It was precious!
My boys got home about 9:00 and we caught up for a bit, watched a little football and then hit the sack! My weekends are not normally quite so busy, but this one was just packed with goodness! I have such great people around me feel so lucky that I get to spend time with them. This is the good stuff. Relationships. Having them. Appreciating them. Sharing life. Talking about hard and real and celebrating the good and having some fun doing it! It is the BEST!
Now, Monday....BE NICE! Do not kick me in the teeth today with any hard problems! I want to savor this joy filled weekend for just a little bit longer.
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