Time for a Change--2011 to 2012

The rush at the end of the year escalates now. Reading, writing, watching, traveling and planning are all the multi-tasks I can manage. The house, the bills just have to wait.

1st READ: "So many books, so little time," was my mantra in 2011. Maybe because twice a week I handled hundreds of titles when I worked the stacks at two libraries. The covers, the titles, the authors, the thickness or thinness--something unexplainable would draw me to skim the back or blurb, read a page or two, and inverribly I would take three or more home each time. Of course, I could not read them all. Some I would renew several times--they were such good friends. Others I would carry around and sigh at them, apologize and take them back.

2nd WRITE: I try to write every day; I really do want to write, but the writing just does not come to me. My finished efforts sound like drivel, crap, dull and ordinary. I go to meetings, I talk to writers. I admire them; I want to emulate them, but I struggle with every word. Some times I write for hours, days, and then I put it away, toss it, trash it or hide it away so that just my daughter may some day resurrect in memory of me.

3rd WATCH: Pay attention to the details: the people, the actions, the words, the meaning behind big events, and every thing is a big event..

December's Reel Book choice -- The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo

    First, read the book by Eric Larson before the movie opens on December 21.
    After the holidays are over, everyone can meet at my house for a discussion of the Reel (film), Book (print or audio) or both.
      I received word after Thanksgiving from Judy that she had read this book and recommended it for the Book Club to read and see the movie this month. Not much time, but I have checked it out of the library and have to finish it before next week.
     Have a look at the trailer (at the side of this story); it looks very interesting, but I have read enough in the book to know that information. I just have no idea of the rest of the book.
     We have never had a killer mystery on our book list . . .until now
Keep reading and watching the Reel Books.

Book Review -- Ah, to be 29 once Again

Everyone regrets growing old. When you celebrate 75 years of life, would you wish to be 29 years old again for just one day?

In Adena Halpern’s book 29 she presents the fairy tale of a woman who takes that risk, changing her attitude about not only her life, but of her granddaughter, daughter, and her oldest friend.

This bittersweet tale starts with 75-year-old Ellie’s birthday wish. She is jealous of her 25-year-old granddaughter. Oh, she loves her only granddaughter, but Ellie is jealous of the youthful appearance, the independence and actions of this new generation. Through a continuous internal conversation with herself, she cusses and discusses how her life turned out for her, primarily due to “following her mother’s advice” instead of making her own decisions.” Now she has regrets and complaints about how she wound up as a “wrinkled, saggy and misunderstood”  widow.

Through a bit of birthday magic, her wish to be 29 for just one day is granted. The next morning when Ellie wakes up, her ailments and pains are gone; she has the youth and beauty that she took for granted 46 years ago. That’s when the problems start. How does she tell her closest friend Frieda, her daughter Barbara and granddaughter Lucy what and how this has happened?

 At first in a frightened frenzy she rushes to buy three cakes and 75 candles to wish her back to the comfortable, predictable old life. The doorman doesn’t recognize her, so she has to lie to get back into her own apartment. She lies to her best friend Frieda, who always checks on her every morning.  She has to have someone’s help in dealing with this dilema, so she can’t lie to her granddaughter Lucy.

Ellie and Lucy plan the perfect day together: new clothes, hair, and meeting men at nightclubs. They have to evade Barbara. Ellie’s daughter and Lucy’s mom is too overprotective. She and Frieda believe that Ellie has been kidnapped, and Lucy is being manipulated by this new young woman who looks like her twin.

 The race is on-- against time, old family and friends, and old memories. The next morning Ellie has to go back to her 75-year-old body and life. Her wish and decision affects the lives and futures of all of her family and friends.

This book is not a tearjerker, nor is it a loose morals scamp like Sex in the City for the older generation. Instead it is a subtle look at the way people treat older people. Also, it is a reminder that we all take for granted our youth, independence in little things as well as major events., but in old age we can see the beauty and meaning behind each of those experiences.

29 tries to capture that old age “stand-back-moment” of looking at life and determining what really was important—then and now, and accepting what is reality and what were dreams. 

Reel Book Club 2nd Book Choice

As the year dwindles down to the last 30 days, the Reel Book Club has discussed only two books this year.

But we are a busy group of ladies, and we shall prevail--Next year we will read and watch more!

Both Water for Elephants by Sara Grun and The Help by Kate Stockett were wonderfully surprising.
In November my friend Judy wanted to know what the club was reading next. Unfortunately I never got back to her until this month. So she started the proverbial ball rolling.

She has read The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, and the movie starts Dec. 21. That may be our last book of the year, and we can discuss it in January. If any one else has a suggestion, let me know.

I know I was pushy in May and August for the two books we read and watched, but they were good choices. Now I am pushing for another "good" book. Janet Evanvich's book One for the Money is a favorite of mine from the 1980s. It comes out in January. It is getting rave reviews; I hope it lives up to the hype and expectations of all of us Stephanie Plum fans. That is the name of the main character.
Gotta go check out the movie trailers and wait another month.

Bass Hall tour, Ft. Worth, Texas

After a week and half of traveling to Texas, Oklahoma, and back to Texas, I have settled into my grandmother routine at my Daughter’s house—until yesterday.

Nine-year-old granddaughter Jane and I dressed in our best planned to see Bass Hall before strolling Sundance Square and having lunch with members of Hope Church who arranged the two hour tour through the “fourth finest Performance Hall” in the USA.

While I was on the guided tour, I expected to buy postcards or a booklet with pictures of all the architectural designs presented I only took three pictures with my iPad; two of them of Jane and one of the Dome. Unfortunately, on this Saturday the bookstore was closed; therefore, I went home with no images except in my memoires of the beauty of Bass Hall.

Since I had never driven downtown, of course I got lost. I just followed the I-35 signs and exited to Lancaster Street. Lucky guess. It took us right through the almost deserted 6^th and 5^th streets blocks which I circled four times looking for Bass Hall parking building. Looking up Jane and I noticed the awesome Angel statues over the main entrance, so we turned the corner and parked. We were only 15 minutes late.

We tried to slip in quietly, but everyone knew Jane and smiled at our whispered apologies. A tall, gray-haired be-speckled guide in his muted maroon sports coat with an embroidered emblem of angel wings paused in his formal speech to the small group of CVVC members circled around him in the elegant emblazoned West Entrance foyer. He asked if we were the last of their group, and without waiting for an answer he stepped forward to ask sternly to me, “How old is the child?” The church bulletin stipulated that anyone “7 and older” could attend, so I spoke up, “She will be 8 years old in one week.”

His watery gray eyes stared at me as though he could see through my semi-lie. She would be eight in two weeks, but I returned his look boldly. She glanced up with a familiar correcting look. I took her hand and raised my chin to show this man, Jane was with me, the reason I was there, and I was not about to be stopped from taking her on the tour. He turned his attention back to the others in the group who were vouching for Jane’s maturity, and that she would be very attentive.

This guide expounded a long narrative of his experiences yesterday when they had over 100 youngsters in the hall for the annual Children’s Concert. He made it very clear that their behavior was quite improper for a formal performing center such as this. He repeated his triad two more times during the tour, each time when more church people joined us. including three more young girls aged 8-11.

Jane was the best dressed and best behaved of all. After all of that in the beginning, Bass Hall tour was well worth our attendance.

Next chapter--the Hall's design elements. 

A great idea for Christmas 2011

 Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition 
 
                  As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! 

                    It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? 

                    Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? 

                     Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. 

                    Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. 
 
                   Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. 
 
                  There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. 
 
                     How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? 

                     Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services  local cleaning lady for a day.
 
                     My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. 

                    OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. 

                  Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. 

                 Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. 

                 Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. 

                 You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. 

                  THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.  
This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Family Funeral facts

When you move away from your childhood home and state, you have to go home to different people and memories.

I had to fly and drive from Colorado back to Oklahoma for my first father-in-law's funeral this week. The trip alone took two days with plenty of time to recall memories of growing up, marrying my high school sweetheart, losing him to Viet Nam, remarrying, having all my children loved by my first in-laws as well as  my family and second in-laws.

I have been blessed with so many people who cared and shared their love equally to me and mine.

But each funeral has brought its unique quirks and events that you never forget. Lon's was no different. Of course we had more time to prepare and plan. We had traveled back last month to visit him when he went home from the hospital in hospice care. He wasn't expected to live for one week, but he made an amazing recovery. When I greeted him for the last time (I thought), he smiled and his eyes sparkled with recognition when he said, "Well, hey there, Miss Brenda!" He knew me and asked about the kids and how things were going.

For three more weeks he sat up and recognized each family member, talk and smile, and even watch his son and grandsons work around the farm. We had come to help, so now we didn't want to be a bother. Byron and I drove back home, to let them enjoy his recovery that the doctors said, "If he does not eat, he won't last a week. If he can eat, he could last two to three weeks." I checked every day by phone, and the news was "he is still doing good," or "he is maintaining." Of course, we knew that could not last. The cancer was eating away at his body, but not his spirit.

 When my sister-in-law called, I knew before I heard her tear-filled voice, "He's gone." It was Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at 7:35 Oklahoma time. Exactly one month since he had come home from the hospital.

The article "The Help: film dividing America" by a British reporter really torqued my tongue

This morning my Facebook messages posted a criticism about the book and movie by Kate Stockett, The Help. I really liked the book and the movie, but the article torqued my nerves. 

This is my response I shared on Facebook.

What's the concern really about?

1) A white woman writing in the voice of a black woman? Really, whites have written in the voice of Native Americans for years. Granted, those voices probably did not give exact wording or depth as the live witness account, but those books, like Stockett's have given awareness and enlightenment to the events and feelings that were "swept under the rug" and not talked about. 

Stockett also wrote in the voice of the ALL women who were bound in the traditional roles of sexism, verbal plus physical abuse, and social prejudices. Her book and movie could not emphasize all of those, so instead she presented the strengths and determination of THE WOMEN who dealt with their own personal civil rights in their own way.

2) The viewers were insulted by how the help was treated, and how “. . . it undercuts the real heroes of the era by ignoring the real horrors.” Kate Stockett’s characters were the real heroes going through their real horrors, which may not have been the lynching, the assassinations, but the indignities, abuse and loss of jobs to support their families were real horrors to them at the time.

Yes, the treatment was insulting and mean and cruel, but it was as real as could be to make the point that THE  Help and The WOMEN struggled and survived; ALL of them in their own way. Kate Stockett gave the help the voice to say what most of the women of that Era could not say or did say without stronger consequences then.  In the book and movie, Skeeter is telling her story while letting Viola, Minnie and others tell their stories to her. The white woman is not their savior; she is chorusing the voices so their stories will be heard.

Big List of November Holidays

I found this article on ASK.com, and it is interesting that the title said November holidays, but starts with
Month of October
• Apple Month, National US -- 
Source: ButlerWebs.com
• Family Literacy Month  -- 
Source: National Center for Family Literacy
• Fragrance Month, National  -- 
Source: Gone-ta-pott.com
• Adoption Month, National  --  Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway
• AIDS Awareness Month, National  -- 
Source: Proclamation 5892
• American Indian Heritage Month  -- 
Source: Crayola
• Authors' Day, National  -- Source: edHelper
• Vegan Month  --  
Source: Fruits and Veggies More Matters


November 2
• Traffic Director's Day, National  -- Source: Traffic Directors Guild of America
November 3
• Election Day  --  
Source: Wikipedia
• SOS Distress Signal Adopted  -- 
Source: Wapedia
November 5
• Men Make Dinner Day, National  -- Source: Momlogic
November 10
• Young Reader's Day  -- Source: Brownielocks and the 3 Bears
November 11
• Veterans Day  --
Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management
November 13  
*      World Kindness Day  -- Source: World Kindness Movement
November 15
• American Recycles Day, National  --  Source: National Recycling Coalition
November 17
• World Peace Day  -- 
Source: ButlerWebs.com
• Homemade Bread Day  --  Source: Brownielocks and the 3 Bears
November 20
• Great American Smokeout  -- 
Source: Quit Smoking.com
• Universal Children's Day  -- 
Source: UNICEF
• Name Your PC Day  -- 
Source: HolidayPedia
November 21
• World Hello Day  -- 
Source: Wikipedia
November 22 - 28
• Family Week, National  -- 
Source: ButlerWebs.com
November 22 - 29
• Bible Week, National  --  Source: Christianity Today
November 27
• Thanksgiving  -- Source: Wikipedia
November 30
• Computer Security Day  -- 
Source: Association for Computer Security Day
*      St. Andrew's Day  -- Source: Wapedia

" The Kitchen Daughter" by Jael McHenry

I like books that entertain, challenge and enlighten me about a topic. THe Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry does all of that. I enjoyed learning new recipes, the challenges of Asperger's disease, and the traditions behind funeral food preparation. When a young woman with loses both her parents, she wants only to keep everything the same--her home, her cooking, her habits,her routine. Her sister starts pushing to sell the house and come live with her family.The only way Ginny learns can cope is to escape to her kitchen. There she finds that deceased family members come back to life whenever she cooks their handwritten recipes. With the help of these ghosts, Ginny learns many secrets that her family has protected her from learning about Asperger's syndrome. Ginny has help from living friends as well to change Amanda's plans. The book has a bittersweet ending that symbolizes Ginny's loses and her personal strengths to become independent. I can't say I "enjoyed" it. I learned from this book.

Retirement Reality. . Really?

"Life for me ain't been no crystal stairs. . ."

     
     After a year I finally feel that I have retired from teaching. I still need money—who doesn’t.  I have bills above and beyond my retirement salary, a kid still in college, long distance grandkids two states away, and I just find things that I NEED.
       But, money is tight for everyone; thus, I am facing the reality of watching my pennies, nickels and dimes. Those quarters and dollars disappear too quickly to watch. 
       So this is my blog journey. Hopefully, my trials and efforts can help others (at least give them a laugh or sigh) that we are all going through this journey called life together separately.
       First in this reality is the fact that I need a part-time job; not full time and not back in teaching. Why? Because I need the extra time to relaxed, creative and healthy. Three reasons why I had to retire in the first place. 
      Teaching high school English is a mentally and physically demanding job, especially in the 21st Century. With all the pressures placed on the student, teacher, and school to have them challenged, prepared and critically reading and writing not just for the NCLB standardized tests, we also have to create a desire for each one to be life-long learners. 
     Also, I got into teaching in the 20th Century when we taught them responsibility, respect and self-displine. In the last ten years of my career, those three traits were expected, but since they were not measured by the grades and test scores, they were not supported by the community.
     Enough of my soap-box opinions of my past job. Now my job is making retirement successful. How do you do that? That's what this new blog chapter is going to present. I'm living it as I try to find the answers. Follow my journey.  
Give me your views, thoughts and helpful advice, and I will be giving you mine.
Watch your step.

It Really Happened on Oct. 15!!

I was there. I saw it, but I can't explain it. My father-in-law was sent home from the hospital to hospice care. They stopped his meds because, "They won't do any good. His organs are shutting down." His kids called all the family members to come saw your good-byes.

He looked terrible, just wasting away from his original big, strong healthy frame. He wouldn't eat, couldn't get any thing out of his system. He barely recognized different people or could talk to them.  After three days, he was sleeping fitfully most of the time, and his skin dulled to a yellowish hue.

The hospice nurse came to check Lon's progress; the prognosis was not good. Without eating, Lon would be gone in a week. If he starting eating, he might last two to three weeks. All of us were devastated. As we were emotionally struggling with this news, the male nurse went back to talk to Lon. He must have over heard the prediction. When Deb took some cream of wheat in to Lon, he said he was hungry and ate all of the half cup. Later he ate some peanut butter on toast, and for dinner he had tuna salad.

All of us were elated but cautious about his appetite. Other signs of improvement were noticed. When we first arrived back on Friday, he seemed impassive and unclear in his actions. Now he became alert and knew everyone who came into his room. When I checked in on him late that Wednesday afternoon, he smiled and said, "Well, hello, Miss Brenda." Lon appeared to be another person. Jeff, Deb and I sat around the room and asked Lon if he wanted to watch the baseball game. He said sure, and paid more attention to the tv set than we expected to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Milwalkee Brewers. He kept dozing off a few times, but he awoke when he heard Jeff and me making a bet that involved who would go get some ice cream. Lon spoke up and said, "I'd like some." Jeff lost the bet and had to get the black walnut ice cream for everyone, including his dad.  Jeff didn't mind though; he just laughed and said, "It is a win-win situation for me. I get ice cream whether I win or lose."

Byron and I left for home the next day. We didn't want to be in the way while Lon was getting better, and we hoped that he would continue getting better and better each day. Each day I call Deb to check on how Lon is, and she too keeps saying, "Can you believe it? Today he is sitting up. We put him in his wheelchair, rolled him into the sun room facing the fields and now he is watching the guys (Jeff and his son) move the cattle from one field to another."

That was Friday, Oct. 14. Today on Oct. 20 Lon is still doing well. All I can say is, it was an amazing comeback from the edge of death. Hope he keeps improving for a long time.

Sad Time to be Back in Oklahoma

After all my waves of company came through in September, we got the call to come back to the Cherokee Hills of eastern Oklahoma. My first father-in-law was not doing well; we were needed at home to ready things and say good-bye.

Going home is never easy any more. The 20-hour drive gets longer each time, for Mom's, for Mary's, for Dad's and now maybe for Lon's. Plus, I never relish driving the flat tree-less plains of eastern Colorado and  western Kansas. Once back in the rolling hills around Tulsa, I feel like home, but different--older, changed, sadder.

Tears cloud the memories as well. Nothing is clear. I stumble through blurry, watery images of my once big, strong father-in-law shrunk to fit in a hospital bed. I look down into his pain-filled eyes dimmed by pain-killers and lack of recognition. Every touch is sharp and hard; there is no softness in the room even though the scene has been designed for his comfort. We each hug and brush away our lack of emotional control.  Be strong for Lon, don't let him see you cry. Don't break down. But sisters-in-law rush to step outside to "grab a smoke" or "have to make a call."  The puffy faces and soft smiles belie why they had to leave the bedroom.

"What can I do?" Each person offers retorically, knowing that we can do nothing to help Lon get well, or feel better. Yet we offer. Then we stay and wait.

October 1st -- new month; new events

Really, I am not trying to write a blog a month, but that is what happened. September started off with several planned events that ballooned into weeks of company coming, things happening and I look up at the calendar to see October started. Now October is starting to fill up with new expected and unexpected events. I will post more later==about September and the growing fall happenings.

September 1st--TGIS

Thank God it's September. August was so long, and now it looks as though September will be even longer. School starting, new movies opening (THE HELP was great!), hurricane Irene and politicians blowing in, messing everything up, i.e. the debt debacale, and president is still campaigning in big, black buses.

Now, it is a new month, and on the first day we have almost the same strange stuff happening: schools starting (somewhere), new movies (I just have to find them), hurricane Lee is building up to hit the Gulf and New Orleans, plus politicians are stirring everything up by debating, scheduling speeches on top of each other. Who cares if it interrupts political debates or physical NFL debates? Most Americans won't watch either one.

Okay, enough of my impetuous outbreak. I'm glad it is September. #1 It is my birthday month. #2 I have lots of family company coming to visit, so I'm too busy cleaning and arranging repairs and furniture to worry about elections or football season. Now baseball, that's a sport of a different color. I'm glad the president nor the debate is not breaking into my Colorado Rockies time. Of course not, everyone knows in this time and age, viewers have cable or satalite or even computer viewing. Politicians can't bump onto all the channels any more, like they used to. (Wait, am I showing my age with that statement?)

Oh, well, I am proud I made it to this many years. I said it before, and I will say it again, loud and strong, "THANK GOD!"

Reel Book Club Members Will we have August meeting?

Hello Friends and Readers,
When I first thought of the REEL BOOK club, I never imagined all the sources of information on the Internet about this topic. I have been amazed, and genuinely grateful for the information.
Now that we have read/watched and discussed Water for Elephants in May, and some of us read/watched and slightly discussed The Help, we need to collaborate on what next to read/watch and discuss in the future.
What books have you been enjoying over the summer? Or what movies did you see that made you want to read the book? Or a book that you would like to see made into a movie—it was that good?
I’m sending you my blog address, so you can respond or reply to any of the above questions. No one reads my blog, so you don’t have to worry about your comments being blasted all over the world (unless my blog becomes super interesting to the world).
1st – let’s talk about when we can meet in the next two weeks—August 25-Sept. 12. We can discuss THE HELP book or movie, and what you have been reading and what you want to read or see in the coming months.
2nd – I’m copying or attaching (whichever works for me) some lists or websites that present books that are, have been or might be coming out in film.
Please let me know if you get this message, your suggested meeting times, places and books we might consider. Remember the books do not have to be a certain genre—western, Christian, romance, science fiction, non-fiction, short story, etc. Contact me.

Plans Change. . . and Change. . . and Change.

One set of grandkids started school last week. Hubby starts teaching on Tuesday, and youngest son counts the days before he leaves for Seattle to college. Un-offically, summer is over, but I'm still preparing for family visits.

Visitors were coming in waves, starting next Saturday (the last of August), then the next week and then the week after. First change--family started shifting the dates. Byron's cousin who was coming 2nd week emailed that they can't come until a week later. His Uncle called and said he wouldn't be there until the cousins arrive. When Byron emailed and called back that everyone would be here on the same dates, Uncle Joe replied, "You will just have a houseful then."

Byron will be working; I will be volunteering and writing while Westley will be off to college, yet we will have too many people at one week to enjoy enough. But who knows, things may change again before they get here.

The Help movie was GREAT!

Saw the movie THE HELP twice! Both times I enjoyed it. On the second time around I started noticing the period props: I had a necklace like Skeeter's when I was fourteen (remember, the solo pearl hanging at the end of a diamond baggette), they were the trend in the 60s. I had a flowery dress just like Hilly's in the photograph (the one that Skeeter picked up just before typing commode in the newsletter rather than coats. Other scenes and props made me remember growing up in Oklahoma, not Jackson, Mississippi (Yes, Oklahoma is considered part of the South).

But we were poor but proud, so we didn't have any "help."
I learned how to cook all those dishes just like Minny, but I also learned how to kill a chicken with a flick of the wrist, not with an axe.

I, like Skeeter, wanted to "be a journalist, or a novelist, or both." I left my little home town after college, but I am still trying to be a writer.

Ah, loved the book--I want to read it again, just to see what Tate Taylor changed in his screenplay. I think I will.

Missing those Grandkids

It has only been a month, but not seeing my eight grandkids for that long is terrible.
I'm missing all the funny moments, changes, discoveries and summer-time adventures.
So far in June and July, Brenan and Taher had birthdays, 3 and 6 respectively; now Ron will have his sixth birthday on Wednesday. I send presents and messages, but it's not the same.

School is starting, and now they will be back in a home-bound routine, and not able to travel or visit with grandparents until holidays.

REEL BOOK Club August meeting!

I know I'm pushing it, but THE HELP is a great book. AND the movie comes out Aug. 10th.
I hope everyone got a chance to read the book; if not, that's okay.

Let's plan a movie meeting. Let me know what day, afternoon or evening is good for the majority of us to go see the movie in the first week of its opening.

Respond, call, write, text or walk across the neighborhood. Let me know a date. If you can't make it to the movie, plan on coming to the discussion meeting of the book and/or movie.

Bring your reading recommendations for the next few months. Did you read any good books that the group would enjoy reading or watching? Let us know!

Where did July go?

If anyone out there noticed, I have not posted anything in the month of July and even most of June.

It was summer. I was out visiting and indulging my senses of fun, family and new experiences.
BUT now I'm back. Ready to write and get things published.
First off, I am a wife, a mother, a long-distance grandmother (all eight grandkids live in Texas), a retired high school teacher of Language Arts, a reader and writer of many genres, and still trying to get published, a close friend and a long distance friend to many.

It still feels like a teacher summer with school out and travels, and all. But this is my second retired school year coming up in 17 days, and I don't feel any pangs. I may not even go school supply shopping this August. (
Last summer I did because my son started college. So I bought books, paper, pens, pencils, notecards and miscellaneous supplies which I didn't want, but they soothed my soul.) I don't think I will this year. I've already tossed aside the Back to School Teacher Appreciation weekend sale flyer, so I can't tell you when it is.

I'm sticking to my books, though. I have read so many good books, and am struggling through one good one, but hard to stay involved in. The local library summer reading program has/had a contest for adults as well as children this summer. It ends this week and I have read over 3200 pages. THat has kept me busy, but I would have read them any way.

THE REEL BOOK CLUB -- starts back in August
My book club didn't meet this summer; we read and watched WATER FOR ELEPHANTS in May. Then we decided to just enjoy the summer, reading and thinking about what books we want to share and enjoy with other club members.
THE HELP by Kathleen Stockett comes out in movie format on August 10th. I am still pushing for the club to get together for that one in August. Then meet and talk about others that they have read. (If anyone is reading this blog, send me some other great books to read and watch).
THanks.

Texas Tough Tee-ball Players

Yes, I am still talking about my Texas grandchildren. Just picked up the photos yesterday, and looking over those smiling faces, I recalled every moment of the hot, funny games of the 4 & 5 year old grandsons.

Baseball players and fans have to be "Texas Tuff" in order to suit up and practice or play a game in the hottest part of the day twice a week. But these little athletes wear the biggest smiles and can't wait for practice or game day.

Long Distance Grandma

Can a person buy stock in the U.S. Postal Service? If so, tell me where to buy. The Post office is making so much money from just me. I have those eight grandkids and four children who live so far away. Between all the family members we have a birthday almost every month (okay only nine months out of twelve). Therefore, cards, emails and packages must be sent.

Oh, don't get me wrong. My children and their spouses try hard to keep us in the loop.

Good Grandchildren come from Good Parents

My daughter is so patient and kind with her children. As a stay-at-home Mom she is doing a great job with her four kids: Jane, 7; Ron, 5 (soon to be six in August); Peter, just turned 4 in May; and Susan, who was 2 in March. I don’t remember being so patient with my four children, so I don’t know where she learned such good parenting skills.
The kids are not perfect little angels, but close enough to be called angelic—most of the time. For example, yesterday Rebecca and the kids treated me to lunch at their favorite restaurant, “Olive Garden.” Yes, that is the children’s choice, and we had a lovely time. Each one was well behaved and didn’t give any of the other dining customers concern. In fact, the large groups of six and eight adults made more noise than my grandchildren.
I know I sound biased because they are mine, but the credit is due all to my daughter and “favorite” and only son-in-law, Phil. I hate to use the word “trained” but it is appropriate here. They have set the behavior rules and carried the discipline through repetition in everything they teach the children. Every day in all aspects, the kids have specified chores and expectations of behavior that are reinforced each day, not with yelling or lashing out, but with repetition, discussion and reasoning. All six of them (kids and parents) are doing a great job.
This is not a put down of my oldest son L.J. or his family. They too are raising four children with manners, patience and responsibility. I admire their parenting skills as well; I am not around them daily as much as Rebecca’s, but the brief visits of a week, weekend or even a few hours are just as enjoyable. When we get to put the two families together, it is quite the clan. Rebecca with her four mixes with L.J. and Nicole’s four: Corban, 6; Taher, 5 (next month); Brenan, who turns three this month; and Daycia, who was 1 in March. We have a fortunate Evers-Sherwood reunion.

Cool Days --Summer Fun

While shopping in Oklahoma and Texas, I kept finding new fabrics called "Cool and Dry" or "Cool Days." Some how these clothes are suppose to "draw out the heat and sweat" away from your body so you will be cooler or at least drier on your skin.

Well, I don't know about that, but I do believe the "Cool Days" label applies to my summer trip so far. I am having a COOL time in Texas with grandchildren and grown children. They are so funny in what they say and do; just ordinary events (my grandchildren, not the grown-ups). There is so much activity and laughter, I can't begin to remember it all or even write it down. I have used up my camera battery, so now when someone does a cute face or looks adorable, I just have to say, "No picture, just a memory now."

To let you know, I have eight grandchildren all under the age of seven--four in each of my two oldest children's households.
I tease them about they started late and then it became a contest. Rebecca had a girl; L.J. had a boy three months later. Rebecca had a boy; L.J. a girl. Rebecca had a boy; L.J. a girl. Rebecca had a girl; L.J. had a girl. Rebecca said she was done; L.J. says they want as many as God gives them. We'll see.

It was cool when L.J. brought his family up to Rebecca's house Memorial weekend. Then we had a big campout in the house; six adults and eight kids in four bedrooms. It was fun while it lasted. Grandpa went home to Colorado; L.J. and family went home to Houston, Rebecca's husband went on a mission to Canada, so now it just me, my daughter and her four kids.

It is still Cool Days in the Summer Fun.

Back to Texas

Well, I made it to Tulsa, Wagoner, and Hulbert and back to Texas. What a trip!

Saw more family, did more things and drove all the way by myself. With nothing to do but watch the scenery and search my soul, I talked and talked to myself. In my mind I fixed the family budget, gave my opinion on all current events, but especially, I remodeled my Colorado house completely--at least three times.

Now I can't wait to get back home to do all those plans. If I remember them by then.

Until then I have plans to enjoy the grandkids, enjoy the Texas heat, and most of all enjoy watching my daughter manage everyone and everything so beautifully.

Tulsa instead of JuCO this year

Usually each Memorial Day I am in Grand Junction going to the Junior College World Series or listening to it on the news or wishing I were at the field. This year I am in Tulsa, enjoying the beautiful Oklahoma weather. Having a great time, wishing the rest of my family were here. BYron is up on the mountain getting the cabin ready for summer visitors. Westley is working hard at the Monument, making money for college, I hope.

So here I am watching more than helping my sister-in-law and her husband redo their kitchen cabinets, but we are still having fun.

We bought flowers for the cemetery, went out to the country, rode a "mule" (atv truck thingy) out to the new pond, saw a new calf, and watched The King's Speech--all on Saturday.

I'm relaxing and trying to write on my book or stories. But I head back to Texas on Thursday. Going to Dillard's tomorrow!!

Today's Blogs

I love to surf through the "Next Blog" offerings. Today it seems that all the blogs are about writers, poetry and prose. I too am trying to be a writer, so I saw many a familiar face on other blog pages.

Decisions, decisions, Sometimes Decisions Surprise You

Okay, we made it to Texas to see oldest two children and their spouses and four children in each family.

Great reunion and fun, fun, fun. We expected to catch our plane at 7:55 tonight to go home back to Western Colorado. We got a phone call, "Your flight was canceled." Byron had to be home by tomorrow morning at 8:15 Mt. time, so I got his ticket exchanged to get back by 9:35 on United, BUT. . .

American would not exchange my ticket to fly home in June. I had been vacilating between staying three more weeks or going home for two weeks and coming back to stay with my daughter and the kids while her husband was on a mission.
I had decided on going home.

The weather (tornadoes, storms, high winds, etc.) made that decision change

Now I am going to cancel my existing return ticket and buy another one when I'm ready to fly back in June. Meanwhile if the weather clears up, I plan to drive up to Oklahoma and spend Memorial Day with other family members (not my children; they don't live in Oklahoma). I may make it home to Colorado in June. Whatever--it is SUMMER!

Mini-Vacation time

Between the end of college semester and the start of Summer session, we get to go on our annual mini-vacation . . to TEXAS!

Yes, hubby and I are headed to Ft. Worth to see the two oldest kids and grandkids. Sounds great to me, but I'm not ready to go.

Mentally I am hurting because I keep applying for library jobs, and I keep not getting chosen for the job. So I will have to keep on applying.

REEL BOOK Club -- next book your choice in August!

Water for Elephants--the book and movie was discussed last week at our first ever REEL BOOK Club meeting. Two of us had seen and read the movie and book. Two had not, but we had a grand old time. We enjoyed marsh mellow peanut candy (remember like we had in the 1960s?) Lemonade, but not 30 gallons like Rosie the elephant, popcorn and chocolate lace cookies.

I learned so much about my friends--about their adventures: one spending each summer living in an amusement park; one who has traveled the world, at least where I have not gone, and about their political views: thoughts about Trump as president and Palin as vice-pres ("Trump could pay for his campaign and not be obligated to any one or any group, and Palin could feel free to say what she wants because she is in power"--isn't that what was said?

After the refreshments and discussion, we had to decide on our next book. Guess what we could not decide.
Most of us will be traveling in June and July, so we suggested everyone read and come to the August meeting with some good books that are coming out in movies, soon!

Suggestions: THE HELP by Kathleen Stockett (movie opens in August)
LITTLE BEE by ??? (I'll get back on that one) (Movie coming sometime. Nicole Kiddman bought the right to film it.)
FREEDOM by Jonathan Francis (No news about a movie, but she said it was a good book.)

If anyone is reading this, make a comment and talk to me. Keep reading Yall.

Borrowed Resolutions

While surfing through the blogs today, I came upon the following blog and felt it reflected my own desires to do better this year. Apologies and thanks to the one writer who entered this on his/her blog spot on Tuesday, January 4, 2011:

:) This will be my new year resolution:

1) Time management
learn to manage time. Instead of playing while studying, allocate time for studying (more) and playing (less) separately. Must be punctual for everything. Learn that it's okay to wait for people. :).

2) Learn to be more disciplined.
Must try and adapt healthy lifestyle, sleep before 12am and wake up before 7am.

3) Studies
Must study effectively, not blindly. Live to learn, not learn to live. :)

4) Money
Must learn to manage money better, control expenditure and not give in to luxurious indulgence (like bubble tea, dresses). And save money to buy the things I really need (books!) :)

5) Health
Must do sports at least once a week!
Eat fruits daily!! Eat more vegetable! and take chicken occasionally!!
Stare less at the computer to save my eye sight!

6) Piano
Must learn new classical songs instead of playing pop music randomly by ear.

7) Home
Try and go home as often as possible, whenever I have time.

8) Room
Maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of my home, regardless of what I would rather do for fun.

9) Friends
Try and love my friends more. not hate them. (ops!)

10) Patience
Be more patient in everything I do.
Act more rationally. :)

The Movie is Not as good as the Book

One member of my REEL BOOK Club went with me to see Water for Elephants tonight. Maybe I'm just a purist, and I don't want to spoil it for any one else, BUT the book was better.

Easter Weekend

Quiet weekend. Started out by finishing up the toilet troubles on Friday. Lots of money went in and down that drain. But Saturday was quiet rain and staying in the house, cooking and watching tv, reading and thinking. My son L.J. called from the plane as he was leaving for his mission trip to Ethiopia. I pray for his safety and his family back home in Houston, but it is in God's hands.

Sunday was church services and Easter dinner; the best Easter surprise--Westley, my youngest, came back early from his airsoft games in Colorado Springs. All is well with him. He was happy, full of talk and smiles. It is great when kids come home even from just five miles away at college. It made my day so happy.

God is good. All day long God is good.

Toilet Trouble

Lost this Monday--spent it all inside mopping up the overflowing water from the downstairs toilet. This started last THursday. Stayed up most of the night grabbing towels, rugs, wash cloths, anything fabric to tide the flow. Spent Friday hanging the wet stuff up, and buying a wax ringy thingy that Byron said I had to have to fix it. Late that afternoon, after he and the boys had to take down the broken Cooler and then put up the new cooler and get it connected, ready to work on the next hot day.
Shall I say that we got everything fixed and working. . .No. Got the cooler down and up. Got the toliet stool disconnected (after all the water removed and turned off), my job. Got too dark and too late, so Josh came over on Saturday afternoon to finish up. (HaHa). All that got finished was cleaning up the toilet overflow again. Clean up again for me. Sunday was suppose to be a day of rest. Tell that to the toliet. If I washed clothes, it flooded. If we used the bedroom bathroom, the bottom one flooded. I had to completely stop using water.
I ran out of towels, rugs, wash cloths, so I was mobbing the tv room at least three times on Monday. i Kept trying to spin dry the wet stuff in time to use them again. Of course, I forgot to watch the washer spin dry enough and had to mop up the excess mess again.

A Quote a Day

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
-- Goethe

"Listen for the underlying/hidden cords and make music with them." -- Charlie Parker, Jazz Musican

"If you cannot hear another's dreams,

you are likely to meet him on the battlefield."

---Author Unknown

The King's Speech - Official Site

The King's Speech - Official Site

REEL BOOK Club 1st book -The King's Speech

Today, really last night, I finished reading The King's Speech by Mark Logue, a biography of his grandfather Lionel Logue. In February I took two friends on different occasions to see The King's Speech. Yes, it was that good.

From that experience I have decided to start a new book club. Notice the title. No, it is not a misspelling. I love to read, and I love to watch movies.

After the movie won so many Oscars at the Academy Awards show, I had to read the book.

It was good; not as good as the movie, but that's because the screenwriter presented the "truth" with a very different approach, emphasis on certain characters and added dialogue. While the author wrote the story based on the diaries and scrapbook clippings that Logue kept. Both were interestingly different styles.

That's when I discovered my idea of READing a book, WATCHing the movie (or vice versa), and having the group discuss which they preferred and why.

Ah-h-h April!

Even though I'm retired now, I know that April and May are the two hardest months of a school year. What with testing, prom, spring sports, Senior skip Day, all the regular holiday breaks, and graduation one week before the rest of the school gets out, it is no wonder that I call last semester the "Wholly Semester," not anything religious about it. Just a bunch of holes in the calendar that we can't seem to fill up with knowledge.

Oh, well that's over for me. My new adventure is turning out to be different than I planned. I have gotten to travel more than I usually do, but the money is tighter than I expected it to be. Probably all the economy woes--gasoline prices, grocery prices, just all the prices. Gosh darn it! These are the "Golden Years"! I feel that it is fool's gold or just "Copper Penny" years.

I need some "retirement survival" tips, and I need them NOW.

April Snow

Funny about snow in April, it comes down in beautiful white lace pieces landing on green grass, budding trees, and surprised lovers of Spring. By April everyone expects soft warm gentle showers for the flowers, but that's not what we got in Utah.

Byron and I took off for Salt Lake City yesterday, leaving sunny Colorado behind us. Boy were we surprised to drive through rain, slush, snow, sunshine patches, more rain, hail before clear but gray skies in the mountains. Then of course while we were in the Family History Center it really began to snow, which stopped, until we woke up this morning to see it snowing in steady but strong waves. Oh well, it is what it is.

Byron published his book on the Evers family history last year, and we had to donate one copy to the Family History Center yesterday before he attended a Society of Professional Journalists awards luncheon today on the University of Utah's campus. Thus, our April jount to this state.

Planned to be a fun trip, but that did't quite happen. We are not familiar with the Utah Campus, so of course we got lost and lost and lost. U of U I think may be larger than WSU, and it is laid out with weird street designs. Every one we stopped and asked for help was friendly and tried to be helpful, but even they couldn't explain how to get to the LNCO site. Byron called it LOCO for Language and Communication Building. We were driving all around the stadium and basketball center, but could not find the North side streets that were the only ones leading to the conference site. Byron was two hours late (we started looking at 8:30 and finally stumbled into the right parking lot at 10:30.

But the good points are--1) we are in time for the awards luncheon, and 2) it is in the Student Union building as well as there is a Traditional Social Powwow setting up in the same building. Out of the April snow and campus driving we will enjoy awards and Indian dancing.

"Everybody ready for some baseball?"

As of Friday, April 1st (no fooling), the Colorado Rockies season is under way. 1st game--they lost; 2nd game--they WON! 3rd game--snowed out!

I didn't make it to any of them, and I can't get over the mountains when they play the Cubbies on April 15-16. BUT, I do have plans to be there on the 29th. Who are we playing then? Who cares; I'm going to see the ROCKIES.

Any way with the Rockies playing in April, that means the National Junior College World Series is coming to town at the end of May. Can't wait for that either. Everyone should come to little, old Grand Junction just to see the best of the Junior College teams play great baseball.

We call it JuCo out here. My favorite team has always been the Trojans from Seminole State College in Seminole, OK. I know, I know. I'm a little prejudiced because my oldest son played for them when they came out here in 1997. That was under the coaching of Lloyd Simmons. Since he retired and went to that great training field in Phoenix, Arizona (no, he did not die) to be a training coach for the major league teams, Seminole has made it back to JuCo only three times. Oh well, my son moved on and doesn't play baseball any more, but he is into coaching his son the fine points of little league Tee-ball.

Book Banter

I finished the book, Water for Elephants, just in time to see a trailer for the movie. The book was excitingly good; I hope the movie doesn't change it too much. So then I got the strong idea to start a book club called, The REEL BOOK Club.

Want to join? I am going to invite my friends to read Water for Elephants before April 22. We will make a date to see the movie, and afterward meet for a discussion about the book, the movie and both. Then we will decide on the next book and movie for next month.

While I researching Water for Elephants, I found a list of books made into movies for 2011. Check it out:

Adjustment Bureau	Selected Stories of Philip Dick	Phillip Dick
Adventures of Tintin;	Secret of the Unicorn	Herge
Breaking Dawn		Stephenie Meyer
Cowboys & Aliens		Scott Mitchell Rosenberg
The Eagle	Eagle of the Ninth	Rosemary Sutcliff
Game of Thrones		George R.R. Martin
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo		Stieg Larsson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows		J.K. Rowling
The Help		Kathryn Stockett
I Am Number Four		Pittacus Lore
Limitless	Dark Fields	Alan Glynn
Lincoln Lawyer		Michael Connelly
Mildred Pierce		James Cain
Mr. Popper’s Penguins		Richard Atwater
Red Riding Hood		David Johnson
The Rite	Rite: The making of a Modern Exorcist	Matt Baglio
Something Borrowed		Emily Giffin
Thor		Stan Lee
Water for Elephants		Sara Gruen