2012, 2013 & Resolutions

Today marks the end of year 2012. It has been a most interesting year. Some events we enjoyed, others we would prefer to forget, as with all years. By means of technology in all places in the world we are exposed to more than we some times want to see. Some of that which we see is amazing and some simply horrifying and mortifying. While it helps to document events and happenings, sometimes there is just too much information for an old mortal to digest!
As I write this, it is already 2013 in some areas of the world. It is 7 PM in the evening and fireworks are going off all around my home in a suburb subdivision. My doggie girls get terribly upset with the sounds of the popping and cracking. Not certain what kind of evening this will be if it continues into the wee hours of the morning.

Ah, well.....Happy 2013 Everyone!!

So....here I am again on New Year's Day back to add some more to this entry. We survived all of the fireworks for the moment. It must be time to cook the black-eyed peas, collards and pork, I think! I know the greens represent money but I can't remember the symbolism for the other items.

I think we are "supposed" to make some resolutions to break for the year of 2013. I am so old I can't even remember any I made for last year. That is what I call OLD -- when you can't even remember something so important. Oh wait, when did THAT get to be important.

Hmmm...let's see....resolutions...for 2013...that would be...
1. Perfect procrastination
2. Procrastinate
3. Become more Tech Saavy
4. Rewind Ambition and Energy
5. Have Fun
6. Enjoy Life

That's it Folks!! Surely hope I don't forget numbers 3 and 4 this year.

Pronounmonia

Do you remember those English lessons most of us endured in school about pronouns?
We learned about possessive pronouns, personal pronouns, and all of their cousins and family members. Well, apparently it didn't take or to put it another way, those lessons kind of went in one ear and out the other!

If you do not believe me try looking at some of the posts on social sites. Soon you realize that either folks do not proofread what they write or that they do not know which or what is correct. Sometimes you see nicely prepared signs or sayings with incorrect pronouns posted by your friends.
Do you ever wonder why they would post them if they know they are not grammatically correct? Am I the only one who wonders?

Short Days

These short days are almost more than one can stand!! Seriously. Today is supposed to be the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar but since it doesn't seem to be, I will continue to lament, complain, grouch, whine, whatever because I hate them so!! So..today is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.

Soon --- perhaps in a few days.....the day will start to lengthen. It can not come any too soon for me. My Dad always told me we added one minute to each day and by the end of January I could usually tell by the length of the days that he was correct.

Will anyone we as happy as I will be????

School Security Measures

The horrendous tragedy in Connecticut brings forth anew the question that schools hassle with on a consistent basis. How do you keep schools safe? As an educator I can truthfully say that we worked at it daily every minute of the day. Our students and their safety was always in the "forefront" of the mind.

I worked in public schools for too many years to confess and the longer I worked the tighter security within and around schools became. That should be an all telling factor of our society and its problems. This past school year I worked as a volunteer in a middle school media center in a school system other than the one in which I worked as an employee. Security measures were tight in the middle school, as well, with a full-time security officer on duty at all times.

I read a news report last evening which contained the letter written by the principal of the Newtown, Connecticut school concerning security policies and measures for the school year. It was detailed and set forth policies to be followed. Doors locked at 9:30 AM each morning. To gain access to the building you had to go through an identification process. This young man (killer) forced his way into the building and killed the principal and guidance counselor on his way to the classrooms to murder these children and teachers.

Who has the answer to this question? School systems and administrators work at policies for keeping students safe within the constraints of their budgets constantly.
Of course, the first thing you hear are calls for gun control which is a political hot button not necessarily divided by political party. The constitution guarantees the right to bear arms.
Interpreting the meaning of that right is another issue!!

Would states have the money to fund a security officer for the door of each school in this nation to better guarantee the safety of students? What is the answer to this huge, huge issue?? Any viable suggestions?

TS.....Again

I have got to be the oldest old person in town. I just can't come up with any appreciation for certain young singers. In the last few days I have heard all of this "twitter" about TS coming to town for a concert. One news person was all in a twitter about the tickets being sold out. I couldn't help but wonder what they did with the tickets --- pay someone to take them and attend.

So much has been written about the young blond who claims to be a singer in the past few months concerning her so-called romance with a certain young Kennedy. I am not certain that he knew (for sure) that he was in a romance. Then she hauled off and bought a house across the road from his family in Hyannis. Next there was the fiasco at someone's wedding when she came with so & so Kennedy and according to the news was dis-invited. Is that a word?? Twasn't too long before the supposed romance ended.

Anyway Raleigh residents should be forewarned that she is coming to town to sing those songs she made up about all of her romances and anything else that has happened in her short life. Don't know for sure but 'tis said that she reveals all in her songs. Soon she will be polluting the air with her latest -- something like--- Just sloshin' in the shower, washing off my funkies, wishing I had the power, to summon my rubber duckies.

Run, Raleigh, Run!!

Life is a Gift

I always enjoy the Tabernacle Choir Broadcasts. The music is wonderful and the messages uplifting and so often appropriate for needs whether spoken or not voiced. I enjoyed this recent message. Perhaps anyone reading or snooping on this blog might also. I am copying it to my blog for my own benefit.

“One Simple Gesture”

Have you ever received a gift that you could tell was made just for you? Not something that was mass produced and purchased from a department store, but something a loved one caringly crafted with you in mind. Maybe the craftsmanship wasn't perfect, but you were more than willing to overlook any imperfections because you could sense the love of the giver in the gift.

It has been suggested that “if we thought of life as a gift, we might not demand nearly as much from it.”1 One family who sees life as a gift started a tradition that before eating their family dinner, they would take a moment to express a prayer of gratitude. It's a little thing, but it reminds every member of that family to look heavenward and acknowledge the source of their good fortune.

No one's life is perfect, but everyone's life is a gift. One woman who was experiencing many of life's challenges and sorrows decided that she would set her alarm five minutes early and spend those extra minutes lying in bed thinking of all the good things in her life. She has followed this ritual for many years now, and though she gets a little less sleep every night, the spirit of gratitude starts her day off right. Not only does it help her recognize her blessings, but it also helps her enjoy them more fully.

Perhaps we ought to be a little more deliberate about seeing the simple goodness that surrounds us. Some days it's not easy to count our blessings, but those are the days when it's most important to try. Think of the air you breathe, the beauty of the earth, the loving people you know, and the good things that fill your days. Look for them and be grateful for them. Rejoice in the gift of life, and you will begin to feel the love of the Giver of the gift.

Just Like TS

As I sit here this evening listening to 60 Minutes doing a story on Taylor S_ _ _ _ _ I grit my teeth. I can't believe people think she is a great song writer --- or singer, no less. From the first time I heard her I could not stand that sound -- her music and her singing. The accompaniment for all of her songs sounds just alike, the melody line always sounds just like the last one she sang. And then there are the words--- supposedly she sings about everyday happenings. Well, who wants to hear about her doings??????????? Only some screaming teenagers, I suppose.

Let's see, maybe I could write a song like Taylor. " I am sittin in the floor, cleanin out the closet, found some old clothes, think I will give them awwwwwaaaaay on tomorrow if tomorrow ever comes." Sounds pretty good -- now let me put it to one of those same ole, same ole melodies of Taylor's.

Now I must stop dissing this girl and give her some credit. It is said that she lives a clean wholesome life and is a great role model for young girls. If this is so, she indeed
deserves this credit in a world where many entertainers are certainly less than clean and wholesome.

I expect no one to agree with me -- probably a good thing!!. These are just the thoughts of an old, old woman who appreciates a more melodic flowing musical sound.

Incidentally, earlier in this same 60 Minutes broadcast they featured a friar monk with a fabulous voice who is preparing to make an album. Interestingly, he can earn no money because of the vows he has taken with his priesthood, thus all proceeds from the recordings will go to charity.

All of these thoughts written by an individual who gave up on this blog and writing several weeks ago. Duh!!!!!

I Called Him Daddy

I thought I really had a tremendous case of writer's block but then I realized that Sunday is Father's Day. I need to write about my Dad to remind myself of how incredibly grateful I am to be his daughter. First, I owe him tremendous thanks just for choosing to be my Dad.

My Dad, like all other earthly Fathers, was less than perfect. He had his faults but blood run pretty thick, you know. We want no one else to know our fathers have any faults. When we are teenagers we sometimes disagree (with them) when their judgment and our choices do not match. As we grow older we may realize their weaknesses but our tolerance grows greatly and we instinctively become protective of our parents. Tolerance as in, perhaps, their political opinions or the sports teams they favor. Protective as when they grow older, are sick, or even may be widowed. (At least, I found that to be true.) I think my Father mellowed a lot with age.

My Dad was a really hard worker. He did not mind getting up early and toiling through the day on difficult tasks, and in doing this day after day. He was extremely neat and very organized whether it was his tools or his clothing. It was just the way he was and the way he preferred to operate.

He was a truly honest man. When I think of my Dad, that is the first character trait that pops into my mind--honesty. He was extremely responsible and dependable. He taught these values by example. He modeled them each and every day of our lives. As his children we have no excuse but to be the same if we learned by example.

My Dad was a mathematician. I am sorry to say that I do not think any of his living children inherited this trait. Sometimes he lacked the patience, although he could be a patient man, to put up with my inadequacies when trying to help me with Math. Upper level Math is not my strength. I could never be a statistician!!

Daddy was not much of a talker. Often he would not offer advice or even his thoughts unless asked. If you asked him, he might tell you what he thought but he wasn't much at nosing in anyone's affairs. Sometimes he just had nothing to say about a situation so he didn't talk. On the other hand, he could talk a big bunch about baseball!!
He liked to spend his evenings tuned in to a ball game until the bitter end. He liked all sports and watched all of them. However, baseball was his favorite.
My Dad was not a UNC basketball fan. I think that had its roots in Dean Smith's era of holding the ball rather than keeping it in play to win a ball game. Daddy despised that Carolina "slow-down ball!"

From my Dad I inherited my love of reading the daily newspaper. My Daddy and Mother would read the newspaper and discuss so much of its contents almost daily -- even the editorials. I developed that same habit. Ken and I both were newspaper readers and we frequently discussed the happenings, words and thoughts --- just like our parents.

My Father was the ultimate gentleman. Today's kids wouldn't know what to think as he would (always) rise to his feet when a lady entered the room, would yield his seat, or remove his hat when entering a building, just to name a few. He had been taught those courtesies at an early age and they followed him all of his life.

These are but a very few of the memories I have of the man I call Daddy as I remember him on this Father's Day 2012. My Dad died a few weeks short of his eighty-second birthday. He really wasn't ready to go and as he told a neighbor he didn't want to leave his family. One January day, after some months of decline, his heart just wore out and quit in spite of that little pacemaker he had.
I Love my Daddy.

Could This Be "The End"

I haven't written anything on this blog for at least a month. I never expected to have writer's block but I think I have a very serious case. Just do not seem to have a thing on my mind worth expressing through the written word.

Perhaps I am just tired or perhaps my brain has taken a "leave of absence" a condition of which some might believe I have always been afflicted!!

So....until I feel so inspired.....my last entry has been written.

But then again.....I might feel inspired tomorrow. Who knows???

Not An Ordinary Day

Today, May 6, a day, that after 1998, will always have a special significance to me. I can not seem to regard it just as another day on the calendar or in the case of this year, just another Sunday.

At 11:45 pm, May 6, 1998, my Ken breathed his last breath on this earth and passed beyond the veil. He left that mortal body behind and his spirit went to dwell in the next stage of existence. Throughout his entire sickness I was stunned as we moved from day to day, stage to stage of the most bizarre deterioration of a healthy body that one can imagine. I was stunned and bewildered as I sought a cause and a cure from the best medical help that I could find. About one dozen doctors together tried to find the cause, each with their own specialty comparing symptoms, medications, tests, and results. They, too, were frustrated.

I watched as an otherwise healthy man went down to a brain wasting disease in the most cruel way imaginable. My hands seemed tied. From week to week he seemed to lose functions like being able to tie his tie, a task he could always do beautifully, having learned as a very young man and having served in the military (where it had to be perfect.) That is just one example.
He thought he was depressed and told me perhaps a thousand times that "the old devil" was trying to destroy him. To this day I have never figured out what he was trying to say. But as a result, I never left him alone. Either I was with him or a relative or friend if I absolutely had something I had to do. I even took him to school with me every day. He read in an area where I could keep my eye on him.

He went through many, many physical changes as this dreadful disease progressed. Eventually he had to be hospitalized and developed pneumonia. His primary cause of death is listed as pneumonia. However, after his death, the conclusion of those professionals who treated him is that they had witnessed a rare case of a prion caused case of CJD -- some type of variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. There is no cure -- once the disease manifests itself the individual has little time left.

For a long while I felt paralyzed by what I had seen and experienced. To say it broke my heart for him is but a trite expression. This was a terrible, horrible thing to watch and not to be able to help. We always want to think we can help. This time, I couldn't. I couldn't help the man I loved most -- my soul mate.

Just a few of the reasons May 6 is not an ordinary day -- for me --- ever again.

Are We Resilient?

Do you ever wonder how many times you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again? And isn't it wonderful that we can do that and not have only one try at things??

The following message is from a recent "Music and The Spoken Word" broadcast. I enjoyed it and have reproduced it on my blog so that I can return to it when I need to be reminded. Hope you enjoy it as well.


A little bit of living teaches us that we often learn more from our setbacks than we do from our successes. Not long ago, Dr. Benjamin Carson, noted professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, encouraged university students to learn from the past. He pointed out that heart transplants, kidney transplants, and other such surgeries, in the early years, often failed.

“By continuing to accumulate knowledge from those failures,” he explained, “we are able to do those things quite routinely today. And that’s a general principle about life. Learning from mistakes, learning from things that didn’t work, not only on an individual basis but on a national basis, there have been things we’ve done that have been wrong . . . , but we have learned from those things and made progress.”

For a moment, ponder your own life or the lives of those you know. In many cases, you will find that we learn just as much from our trials as we do from our triumphs—perhaps more. We learn how to persevere, how to get up, “dust ourselves off,” and try again. Think of all the growth, achievement, and learning that can come by continuing to “accumulate knowledge,” by sustained effort, by a willingness to stay the course of life.

Sometimes success is right around the corner; we need only stay on the path a little longer, turn the corners that present themselves, and persist. If success doesn’t always come, then learning and growth can. And that in itself is great success.


Strong nations, vibrant communities, and wise individuals very often share one common trait: they are resilient. They learn from the past, grow from their setbacks and mistakes, and move forward with a resolve to make things better.

So.....What's In A Name????

OK, I wrote this blog several days ago and entitled it, "What's In A Name?" The entry got a significant amount of extra hits from many areas of this great country. I am not sure why. What were you people looking for? Some scientific study done on the subject? Or research to say what is the best name to have or even worse, what is the worst name to have? My entry was a simpleton's complaint...I wrote to complain about my own given name --- the one chosen for me. Still am having trouble figuring out why so much interest in the topic.

Not a single soul who read what I wrote made a single comment. Stalking without comment leaves one with lots to wonder about. Someone could have at least commented.....BORING!! or something even more complimentary like..."be glad you have a name and not just a number!"
Just sayin".....

Who is Getting Hitched???

What is with all of the excitement with the engagement of a certain high profile "star" couple this week? A couple who has been living together as if man and wife for some time now and have about seven children some of whom are adopted and some their natural born children. I assume they have been practicing at being married with family. Would that be a correct assumption?
The press is telling that the children pressed them into an engagement and pending marriage "because their little friends have married parents." Children being children did not want to be different and one can only assume wanted what seemed to be a family. Something about the current relationship didn't provide the security they needed?? Am I just assuming too much or inserting my own thoughts here??
There are lots of unanswered questions in this for me.

I remember a few years ago when a certain popular late night host married his "friend" with whom he had a child because the child insisted that it happen. Something about "so-called arrangements" do not provide what these children need and they ask for more when they are old enough to do so.

Am I the only person who finds this interesting?? Do kids have better judgment than their parents on some issues? Wow, that opens a bees nest of angry bees.

I Believe....

He is not there.....for He Is Risen.... That line from a song has reverberated in my head for a few days during this Easter season. That empty tomb... as the ladies found it. Some regard the Garden Tomb as possibly the one referred to in the scripture.

Some question whether the Garden Tomb is the actual spot of Christ's entombment. But none can dispute the power of the message of hope conveyed by the symbol of this empty tomb.

It requires faith to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was resurrected following his brutal and inhumane execution. It requires faith to believe that his resurrection paved the way for humankind's immortality. But once that seed of faith is planted, the message of the empty tomb places significant requirements on us, requirements of hope and charity.
But because of what led to an empty tomb on that first Easter Sunday, all can have genuine hope that what has been lost in this world — even life itself — can be lustrously restored in a better world.

Some have felt that this transcendent message of hope, that the soul will live forever, can somehow justify mistreatment and exploitation in this life. What a strange contortion of the message.

If anything, the message of the empty tomb intensifies one's obligations to behave ethically by universalizing and making eternal the reverberating consequences of behavior here and now.

If existence ended with the natural biological span of the body then the span of ethical obligations would feel similarly truncated. Although it might make sense to improve the immediate material and moral conditions around oneself while the body lives, why think beyond immediate kin and community?

But Jesus Christ, understanding the immortality of the soul, taught that being a neighbor was not about the proximity of our dwellings, but about how we treat and care for one another. He taught that charity was not about community recognition, but instead about quiet genuine acts of love to the least among us, and even to enemies.

If the soul lives forever, then what genuinely matters is how souls relate to one another, not what they possess or command. If the soul lives forever, then not only might we have to account for our indifference to strangers or mistreatment of enemies, but we may actually have to interact with them as distinct beings, then with the recognition that they possess the same worth and dignity as friends and family.

I am left giving serious thought as to how I, as an individual, can move forward and live a life more actively engaged in love, faith, hope and charity.


*Excerpts from Deseret News, April 24, 2011
Message of Empty Tomb

Ramblings About Thangs!!

A "serious observation"....this blog has received so very many hits from odd places ( not friends) since posting the last installment on hating my name that I have concluded that there must be a tremendous interest out there in "blog land" about names or the meaning of names. I titled it "What's in a Name" more because of being teased about being called a "battle maiden" than anything else. Not because I was writing about there being some serious and real meaning and depth to the whole issue of "name meanings." Lots to ponder about that. Still don't like my name any better!!

Further, I finally have my taxes finished and filed -- and it isn't even April 17th yet. I had worried so much about taxes this year due to the capital gains calculations that I had myself in a real southern tizzy!! Maybe my stomach can relax back to its normal whatever! My shoulders are a bit better without the burden of that worry. Don't know why I let taxes worry me so.

And lots of worry tonight about strawberries freezing. With all of the warm weather we have gotten ahead by some weeks on planting and harvesting. I have loved every degree of the mildness of the weather so I can't complain. However, I do hope the strawberry crop can be saved. NC has such delicious strawberries!!

My final thought for tonight is gas prices. We have arrived at that magic threshold when many of us are forced to look at our travel practices. Maybe we should notice how we drive as well, and not speed up only to have to slow down so very much. Four dollars or more a gallon gives the system a startling shock.

Signing off for the night......

What's in a Name?

What is in a name? Probably more than you have ever considered......especially if you have a given name that everyone likes or one that is especially timely and popular in our day. But what if you did not luck out and your parents named you Hilda, or Fanny, or Bertha, or Gwinivere (Guinevere or how ever you want to spell it) or Aloyushius, or Sadie???

Were you or have you ever been teased about your name? I mean really teased until you wanted to escape, hit someone in the face, or cry? I have heard enough about mine during my life. I have been called Hildegard, Hildy, Hulda, Helga, BattleMaid (due to the fact that the name meaning is something about the Germanic maiden leading into battle), and a host of other things. I wonder if my parents even considered how much I would be teased about the first given name they chose or how much I would hate it. And hate it, I do!!! Why couldn't I have been named some common name that everyone respects or likes? Why did it have to be Hilda????

I went to school with a very pretty girl whose first name was Fanny. Believe it or not her name was Fanny Regina. She was called Regina but when the boys in school found out what her first name was she could not escape their harassment. The teasing did not stop even when she was a senior in high school.

It has been particularly interesting to me that folks seem to be going back to some of the old names that were used many years ago. Names such as Cornelia, Phoebe, Gertrude, Clementine, Chloe, Harriet, Juanita, Olive, Olivia, Sophie, Isabella, Nora, among others are being used more often as given names for children. I always wonder why people want to name their children strange names or to spell them in odd ways. It is the child who will carry this "burden" all through their lives. It is the child who will be teased, bullied, and even abused because of the name their parents chose for them. Studies have been done on the influence a name has in how individuals are regarded or treated. I always am interested in what they indicate because of my name. While I was in college and away from the South I noted that many professors preferred to call me Jane my (middle name). I suppose they, too, could not believe anybody would name their child something as disgusting as Hilda.

My Little Canine Heathens

Remember my struggle back in February trying to get the monthly maintenance meds down my canine girls??? What a pain!! I was still perplexed with the entire ordeal and it was time to do the ugly deed again. So I decided to put together all of the advice given to me by those "who should know!"

So......tonight I went about tricking these heathens into taking their monthly meds and never knowing what I had done.

One of the most frustrating thoughts was that the Comfortis tablets were supposed to be "doggie flavored." But not for these little ones of mine ....they were not having that flavoring, thank you. Therefore, this evening I broke the tabs into small parts, rolled them in nice fresh creamy peanut butter and then in nice flavorful shredded cheese!! And guess what.....they loved it to the extent of eating the whole thing!!! Success!!! I am so happy but at the same time wondering how long I can fool them. But for now.....I am riding the success train and am one happy girl!!

Isn't it funny how the little things in life can derail your whole attitude about a task???
Maybe part of the reason was knowing that 6 tablets of Comfortis costs just over $100.00 and these Babes were refusing to take it.

TAXES...we got taxes!!! Tons & tons of taxes!!!

Taxes, taxes, taxes!! How I hate this part of the year....or maybe that is not stated correctly. I do not like having to spoil my enjoyment of Spring with the worry and disgust of doing my taxes. That would be Taxation Without(_______).....don't know what goes in that blank just yet. Anyhow....this year my taxes are quite complicated -- for me, anyway!! I stopped using the CPA I used for some while when Ken was sick and there after. She charged me what I thought was an unrealistic amount for one hour of conversation----thus I dropped her services. Now, on to find someone to help with "my task" --- my taxes. Don't know which way to turn in finding someone to trust with this task!!!

So... I stuck my handy Turbo Tax disc in this computer and have already done my regular annual income tax. That part I have finished on my own.... no problem there.....Turbo is good. But the sale of property, some of which was inheritance is a great big pain in the posterior!!
More later when I finish this tax----hopefully!!!

"Ode" to Oreos

Do you love, love, love Oreos? Do you like to dunk them in milk and savor their sweety goodness?
I must be the only person in the whole-wide world who can't stand Oreos. Nowadays -- or is it now days --- they come in many different seasonal varieties having different kinds of fillings in them. One variety exists that is thin and has a mint filling, or peanut butter, or chocolate, I think. Don't like those either!

Why don't I like Oreos? I don't know the exact reason except the cookie part is made of that dark yucky chocolate. Then they have that filling that you can scrape off and if you get it in the right place between your teeth (or your fingers, for that matter) you can feel the "grainy-ness" of the sugar as in confectioner's sugar. Yucky, yuck!!! I just can't stand them --- as in can't tolerate them!! The world can have every one that has ever or will ever be made --- for my part!!!!!

My nephew has a 4 year old who loves cookies! Most likely because his mother will not let him eat them at home. When he comes to my sister's to visit he heads straight for the cookies that she keeps stored for him like any good Mimi does. His real love is Oreos, of course. How he chooses to eat them is another story. You break them apart and eat the filling out. Leaves the cookies part for someone else to throw away! I would just throw it all away.
Yucky 'ole Oreos!

Real Honesty

Ever wonder whether anyone is looking? I recently found myself in a grocery store situation of receiving too much money back. I simply handed the extra bills back to the clerk with a quick explanation. She thanked me and I was on my way. I never thought about modeling an honest behavior I just know what I learned about my father in my young years .... honesty was just a part of his fiber and being.

I enjoyed this message with last week's Tabernacle Choir presentation. Hope you do, as well.
Not my words but those of their spokesperson.


"The Power of Example"

A young student sat at his desk, beaming as his teacher praised his perfect score in front of the rest of the class. But when the tests were handed back, he realized he had actually made a mistake and didn’t truly deserve his perfect grade. He debated with himself whether to tell the teacher or just let it go.

His conscience won out, and after class, he told the teacher. She was so impressed with his honesty that she let him keep his A+. That evening he told his mother of the inner battle he faced once he realized the error. He was so proud of his perfect score that he was tempted to remain quiet.
But then he remembered, a few months earlier, riding with his mother as she drove back to the grocery store to return a few coins the clerk had overpaid her by mistake. Once he remembered his mother’s act of integrity, the battle was over, and his decision was made.1

The way you live your life is the strongest sermon you will ever preach. Our children tend to repeat our actions whether we like it or not, just as a mirror reflects our smallest detail. If we want to change what we see in the mirror, our efforts are best spent not on trying to change the mirror but on improving ourselves. It follows, then, that if we’d like our children to be more courteous, patient, or selfless, we must strive to make sure those qualities are clearly visible in our own lives.

Of course children make their own choices—some of which seem to have no clear origin in their heredity or their upbringing. But it’s also true that the best advantage a child could ever have is the loving example of a parent who—though imperfect—is honestly striving to model virtuous living.
Someday someone may say to your children, “You’re just like your dad” or “just like your mom.” And if you’ve done your best to set a good example, it will be high praise indeed.


1.See Azriel Winnett, “When ‘Everybody Does It!’ Comes Back to Haunt You,” http://www.hodu.com/parenting-education.shtml.

Being Irish

"Ain't" it amazing how many people are Irish today??? Or rather, isn't it amazing how many people claim to be Irish today? Being Irish must be a truly great heritage. Or is it?
How is it different from being say Italian?? Does any one know or have the answer to this?

In the meantime, for those of us who trace our genealogy back to somewhere in the Isles,

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

My Granddaddy Daugherty died when I was about five. I only remember a little about him. He is my link to St. Patrick's Day and the beautiful land that is Ireland.

Middle School & Math

Seems my writing "vessel of ideas" is rather empty of late. Guess that means my head is rather empty as well! Not surprising, huh?!!
I travel a bit back and forth to the southernmost coastal area of this, the "Tarheel State." And each weekend as I return home I observe interesting things and happenings many of which I have written. I observe middle schoolers as I volunteer in the media center of a middle school while I am there. What I observe with these "kiddles" serves to remind me that with all of the modern inventions and technologies available to them today, kids haven't changed much. Can't say that I have observed any behaviors there that I did not see in my days of teaching which must have spanned at least 100 years!!! Teenagers are just teenagers!

This past week was Book Fair time. Interesting observations were how students shared their money with one another. My sister (the media specialist in this school) kept a container of change with lots of pennies on the table near the register for assisting youngsters with tax money in case they had forgotten that book purchases were taxed. I observed that students often just dropped their change into the container as they finished their purchases.
This school has lots of students who really do not have much money to spend. One female student came to book fair with $5.66 that her friend had given to her to spend. She was very frugal with her choices and was certain half of what she bought was for her friend. I observed that she was so happy to be able to shop but that she was very unkempt reflecting her need for assistance from her friend. I found it touching as I helped her figure what she could buy with her money as she made the choices.

That thought brings me to another point of concern. Many of these children do not know how to do mental math well enough to calculate their purchases. They often asked, "if I buy this and this, how much money will I have left, if I have this much money to start with?"
Some knew how far their money would stretch with the exception of the tax but were prepared for possible taxing. Perhaps it was mainly the sixth graders who were having the "$$$ figuring struggle" but having taught Math to students of this age I knew they should have previously mastered these skills. Knowing that EOG's are not far away, I mentioned this to one of the Math teachers who accompanied her students. She acknowledged that money was a difficult concept for some, although SHE tried to link all of decimal instruction back to money to enhance students' understanding.

Reflecting on this ......it seems that parents could really help with this situation by working with students at home with money. I'm certain that there are days when, "I have no homework," is heard at home. With a few resources one could come up with problems buying items with a certain amount of money and having children make change and even count it back. Or am I being too practical about this?

Wish I knew some magic that would help me understand why some mathematical concepts are so difficult for some to learn!! As a matter of fact, I would use it on myself!!

THE Needy

It warms one's heart to hear the response of this community to a story of a couple in dire need and living in their car having been evicted from their home because they could not pay the rent.
According to the news story, local agencies were trying to help this couple. With the little they received, they were able to buy a little food and were washing up in the Food Lion bathroom facilities. At night they were sleeping in their vehicle and moving from parking lot to parking lot for safety's sake. It was a sad, sad story and the couple appeared to be trying to help themselves. The husband had recently gotten a job and was trying to work. Someone people, including the news reporter, had given them money for gas so they could keep their car running.

After the story aired on the early news yesterday people had called and donated money for the couple to be able to stay in a motel last night. By today, they had money for the next four nights. In the meantime, agencies were getting donations to help them secure an apartment. They had already helped them move their belongings from their former residence into storage.

Perhaps more will be shared as to how this couple became so destitute. The social workers at local agencies, as well as the news reporter,s kept referring to the fact that there are many living in their cars at a given time. It really makes me sad to think of these people and their plight. I will continue to follow this story.

Lazy

Are we entitled to lazy days? I have just taken one (all day) today on President's Day. Actually I could give a long list of reasons (for being lazy) but that really isn't necessary because I am in charge in this house. I just always feel intensely guilty when I do this. I should have been anxiously engaged in cleaning and washing clothes. I also could have been busy doing my income taxes....but I wasn't! Instead I did do some indexing for the 1940 US Census that will be released in the near future.
Being lazy today means I will have to pay tomorrow and the next day to make up for my "badness."

Today has been really cold but the sun has shone brightly all day. The bit of snow that fell last evening soon melted away but not before there were about fifty car accidents creating lots of damage and heart ache. Another among many reasons that I do not like that white stuff.

My doggie girls ran in and out of the house for a while but soon settled down to "lazy" just like their humanoid Mom. They have now snuggled down in their doggie beds like good girls.

I wish the snow that we had last evening could be the last and only one for this winter. We have had mild weather but I still hate it so badly that I am ready for Spring to arrive and just take over. We are only 19 days away from DST and I am pretty happy about that. I have loved the lengthening of the days minute by minute. It just makes me feel so much better.

Dawg Stuff!

After the fiasco earlier in the week with "my heathens," I finally came up with a random plan that worked to get the rest of their monthly maintenance meds down them. As I fed them this morning I incorporated what was left of those medications into their chicken and kibble. Some how this worked for the most part. Now in my mean mind I have to figure out how best to get it down the "little demons" next month.

Just like raising children...always looking for the best or a better way.

Feeding my dogs has always been somewhat of a concern for me ---- don't know why but...!
All three of my schnauzers have come through the same bloodline from Tennessee. These people all feed their dogs Flint River Food. I have tried to maintain them on that food but it has not been easy and for the most part has not worked for long. I, then, find myself trying to find an appropriate diet -- one that agrees with the dogs and the vets. That may sound like a simple task but nothing could be further from the truth. My vets are weight conscious and stay on my back constantly about the doggie girls gaining weight. Sassy was always too heavy; now Piper Kensleigh is considered too heavy. I should walk them more but I don't know that that would be enough!! Sassy had digestive issues and wound up on a prescription food which Piper has continued to eat. Kami got tired of Flint River and refused to eat so I switched her over. She now eats the Rx food or another Royal Canine formula. But, they also get canned chicken breast (packed in water) with their kibble (1/3 cup or less of kibble).

I belong to an online group of canine owners who feed raw. I also had a teacher assistant work with me at LR who fed raw. Those who feed raw are convinced that is better. You can buy raw frozen food at local suppliers. Most of these people supplement with various vitamins and minerals. I read their "stuff" but have never been convinced to switch.

Ahhhh, problems of being a doggie parent.

Canines For Sale.......in my threats!!

WOW, I am distressed or is it stressed?!!!! Have you ever tried to get medication down the throat of a resisting canine? Such was my plight this morning.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love these "hounds" of mine. But this morning I almost threw them out to the "dawgs", er I mean the wolves! I was trying to get two things that they really need down their resisting little schnauzer throats. I dreaded it because I had gotten resistance the last time I tried with Comfortis.

Let's go back in history(???) a few months. Last summer we seemed to have a little trouble with the effectiveness of Frontline Plus so the vet had me also using Comfortis. Comfortis is anything but cheap --- can't remember the true cost but it seems to me in my pea-sized brain that it averaged about twenty dollars per tablet depending on the strength and comes in tablet form. As luck would have it, these two girls of mine are definitely different sizes, therefore, I need to buy two different strengths. (Tablets are different sizes.) When I picked up a new script at the vet (last week) I also picked up a package of Pill Pockets. When my Sassy was so, so, sick I usually could use these plus cheese cubes to get meds down her when she would really rather not. I also purchased a pill shooter in the process as I worked with her. Sometimes I could succeed with getting them in the back of her throat and stroking it to get her to swallow before that wallowing tongue could force the medication forward and out of her mouth. But this morning there was no winning with these two!!

These tablets are supposed to be chewable and a "doggie" flavor but I learned early K & P didn't like that. So I broke the tabs into parts, clothed them each in a piece of pill pocket and with all of the faith of a Sunday School girl tried feeding them to first Kami. She spit it out, played with it, put it back in her mouth and spit the pieces out again. So next I try it with Piper. Kind of the same....ate the pill pocket somewhat but ending up spitting the pill parts out coated with pill pocket. So next I try crushing the pill parts up, put it in the pill pocket and feeding it to these ungrateful domestic hounds! They smack it all around their mouths enough to get it all really sticky and out it comes. By now, I am truly frustrated but I pull out a new package of Peanut Butter Zuke's Little Training Treats and break up the Pill Pocket mess and add the training treats to see if I can make a go of this. As one would expect "we" will eat the training treats but "no, thank you" for what we should be swallowing.

I kept at "it" until I got most of "the mess" down each of them such that I felt my forty dollars or whatever wasn't totally wasted! Next I try to get their Heartgard chewables in their little tummies via the mouth. Piper was good, chewed hers up and swallowed it just like always. Kami bit it into, spit it out, and each time tried to get it down her she turned her smart little head away -- would not have it. It is in a bowl awaiting my next assault on her.
Such a fiasco!

As I write this these two mongrels are stretched out in a doggie bed pretending to snooze 'cuz I still got murder in my eyes!!!! Meantime, being the conniving humanoid that I am----I am doing research on how to approach this next. Any helpful ideas??

Ever Had CC????

-Ever had the creepin' crud??? I am certain you have heard of it --- periodically it afflicts quite a few of us. Somehow I was of the mistaken opinion that if you got your flu shot on a regular basis it would lessen the chances of getting this monster or help enough that you might not have a severe case. Wrong!!!

Twice now this season CC has taken over my life!! I had a mean case in December but tried to bumble my way through it without antibiotic treatment. That is probably why it took me so long to get over the mess. Just when I think I have "weathered the storm" here comes CC for another visit. This time I gave in after coughing all night for three nights when I should have been resting. So....off to the doctor's office I took my ailing self yesterday! Must have been obvious to the staff there including the doctor that I needed plenty of help. After an exam the doctor decided I first needed to turn up my rump for a shot on each side! (It always helps when the nurse administering the shot is the mother of a former student! Who better to show your fanny-bottom to, huh??) He then called in a rx for antibiotics and cough "stuff." I still crouped a great deal of the night. I never understand why one will croup for hours and then finally get to sleep when it is time to get up again. Why is that??????

So, it is Saturday morning. A nurse from the doctor's office called to check on me. She reminded me that the doctor had given me refills with the antibiotic due to the fact that people were having trouble kicking this stuff with one round and were needing another. She also insisted that if I were not better soon to show up in the doctor's office again! My "infestation" of CC is all upper respiratory relating specifically to the sinuses! Soon I will send it all packing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Confused ......Autism is Truly What???

My ears perked up last week when listening to a news item about changes in the definition and service of those diagnosed with Autism. For some while I have found the growing number of those given the autistic label disturbing. The disturbing question in my mind was, "How could this many children born within a given number of years be afflicted with autism?" What is really going on in how we "grow babies" that so many could be autistic? It made absolutely no sense to me. As a seasoned educator having seen any number of children with developmental delays and having worked with and among many levels of special education, all of these diagnoses of autism seemed suspect. For some years I worked in an area that served students with the Asperger's diagnosis. I am very familiar with these characteristics. I can understand readily that area being removed from the autistic label. Children with Asperger Syndrome show little to no linguistic or cognitive impairment. Quite to the contrary....they do show some fixation or fascination within some subject areas that they find particularly interesting. Sometimes they are physically clumsy thus achieving high levels of success in sports may be difficult. And I have worked with some students with Asperger symptoms who were less than patient with their peers who were slower to achieve. Their nonverbal cues and lack of empathy with fellow students sometimes caused them trouble. But all in all......these children generally improve as they grow up, age and learn to cope with their own limitations which can be considered minimal compared to developmental impairments and delays found in others. I can see where some would consider them "quirky" or unusual... but people are so different that if we allow for individual differences we make no issue of these developmentally.

With all of this being said I continue to believe that the Autism label is being muddied. It causes me to wonder ....which delays, developmental differences, behavior disorders, and voids are considered autistic??????? For years we have had levels of Special Education (students who were leveled according to their cognitive impairments), and some for behavior disorders. How are these two areas being confused or meshed together? Does it appear that it is easier for parents to accept the autism label rather than the labels given to cognitively impaired children? or behaviorally / emotionally impaired children?
Somehow, I have believed that truly Autistic children were wired a little differently neurologically and processed a little differently..... in a manner quite unlike Special Education children. But....I am now believing...that I am totally confused.

Time For CLASS

Do you recognize "Class", or better do you have "Class?" Back in 1989 Ann Landers re-published her own definition from the "Ann Landers Encyclopedia." I thought it was truly "classy" and referred to it often after that publication. Take a look and see what you think of it today.

WHAT IS CLASS?

Class never runs scared. It is sure-footed and confident in the knowledge that you can meet life head on and handle whatever comes along.
Jacob had it. Esau didn't. Symbolically, we can look to Jacob's wrestling match with the angel. Those who have class have wrestled with their own personal angel and won a victory that marks them thereafter.
Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps and learns from past mistakes.
Class is considerate of others. It knows that good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices.
Class bespeaks an aristocracy that has nothing to do with ancestors or money. The most affluent blueblood can be totally without class while the descendant of a Welsh miner may ooze class from every pore.
Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is already up and need not strive to look better by making others look worse.
Class can "walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch." Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class because he/she is comfortable with himself / herself.
If you have class you don't need much of anything else. If you don't have it, no matter what else you have, it doesn't make much difference.

ANN LANDERS

Genteel Sweetness

How far do good manners and kind words go in today's world? I doubt that many if any of us truly know. I love this message from last week's Tabernacle Choir broadcast. They either reinforce what we have already been taught, give us a gentle reminder, or teach us a much needed lesson.--------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ "The Greater Courtesies" Nineteenth-century American writer Christian Bovee once said, “The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater, ennoble it.” Sometimes, with the pressures and stresses of life, we might forget that in many cases, the small things are the big things. The lessons of good manners we learned as children—to say “please” and “thank you” and “excuse me”—may seem outdated in today’s demanding adult world. But politeness is never out of style, kindness is never old-fashioned, and we never outgrow courtesy. And it goes much deeper than polite words. As one commentator noted: “Making people feel important is part of courtesy, so it’s important to remember that whether or not people remember what we say or do, they do remember how we made them feel. . . . Always be kinder than necessary because you can never be too kind.” Helping people feel respected and loved takes more effort and, at times, more self-discipline than just remembering to say please and thank you. But it’s the mark of a great soul. This type of courtesy focuses more on how we make people feel than just what we say to them. It springs more from sincere love for others than from a mere sense of social obligation. It measures not the size of the courteous act but the size of the heart behind it. A smile, a returned phone call, a thank-you note, a word of congratulation on a special occasion, verbal and nonverbal responses to those who need our attention—even these seemingly small things, if inspired by genuine love, can turn out to be the greater courtesies, the big things that both sweeten and ennoble the life of the giver and the receiver.

Advertising

Why do I let advertisements on tv bug the heck out of me??? I am not sure, but they do!! I have complained about that in a previous blog. And about the same ads. The one that just slays me is the Amor Vie or whatever ad. This is the one where the dames are all telling about what this hormone therapy has done for their lives and their relationships with their dudes / husbands. Like we are all gonna run out and try to get some of this magic potion, gulp it down immediately and start yelling through the house, Come on honey, I am on Amor Vie now!" Who the heck cares????? They have added some new chicks to tell the story and it seems they have bought a WHOLE bunch of air time of late. Bugs me out!! But, Hey, I need to get a Life, don't I !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Traveling and Colors....

We gypsies made our weekly sojourn to the southern coast and back over the last few days. Each week to break the monotony I try to enjoy some part of the scenery by observing particular details that interest me or amuse me in some way. Last week, as you may have read, it was the cows and "cow farming." While I noticed them today, I particularly observed the colors that folks paint their houses in the southernmost county of my sojourns. For some time I have taken notice of this and wondered why people choose to paint their homes some ridiculous color and whether the color has some significance. Now, you are probably aware that some subdivisions in our town control the colors that you can paint on your homes. So....I wondered and wondered....were these colors an act of rebellion or just a preference.

Several homes that I see along the way are colors in the purple family. True purple, lavender-like purple, violet-like purple ..... you get the picture. It would seem that I might be traveling through grape country but nay, not so. That would be up in Duplin County. However, one of the homes really lets you know why theirs is in the purple family. They have an East Carolina flag in their yard. I got that one!! I guess the purple ones were the first to catch my eye. Folks, I couldn't believe it initially!! Then more and more purple shades started popping up. There was one I saw today-looked like new paint...was some shade of turquoise-like aqua. Truly bright ---- eye-catching!! Then as I drove along I saw one that was a mauve tone with black shutters. Ummm-hmmmm. I am sure some of you reading this think I am making this up but...I am really "truthing."
Of course, most of these homes are old 40's and 50's homes just located along the highway and not a part of a development.

As I drove on up the state I again noticed that farmers and landowners are clearing land and burning the refuse. With the rains the cover crops are really plush and green. Cattle seemed to be enjoying having that to nibble on. It started to rain as we neared our home county and the traffic was heavy so I concentrated on getting us home safely. So much for our travels of this week. The weather was dreary and rainy when we got home so we have snuggled up at home grateful for a home that isn't purple!

Cow Farming

Did you know we have "cow farming" in North Carolina? I had never given it a lot of thought until I was driving up I-40 returning to Raleigh on Saturday. I know that I see fields with cattle west of Raleigh as I go across the state. But I had never given it much thought for the eastern part of the state -- perhaps I had never noticed.

As we / I drove along on Saturday it was a beautiful cold day with lots of sunshine. The fields along the interstate were easy to view as the trees had thrown their "clothes" on the ground about two months ago and were bare. Many of the fields had cover crops and were lush and green. Some fields were interesting in that they had cotton crops last year that had been undercut and cotton still remained on the ground. One field was full of black angus cattle. I saw several fields full of cattle -- don't know what kind of moo-cows they were. I could not help but wonder if some farmers were converting former tobacco fields to cattle farms. I see less and less tobacco in the summer.

I travel 40 most every week. Most often I don't have time to enjoy the scenery because the traffic is especially heavy or I am traveling when it is dark. I was kinda happy to see cattle in the fields. Our climate is quite warm in the summer. I hope they have plenty of shelter from the heat and water for those moo-cows.

Spoiled Canine Children

I must admit I am really quite guilty ...... of spoiling my children.....my canine girls. Among the many lessons I learned when Sassy Schnauzer became mine was how to soothe an upset doggie stomach. As instructed by her vet I would cook a pot of white rice for her, add some canned chicken (packed in water, of course) and feed it for several days. Usually this did the trick....problem was trying to get her to eat her regular food after rice. She LOVED the rice feedings!!

As time went on I became aware of a group who fed raw. Then I learned you could actually cook food for your dog which was different from the demeaned feeding from the table. For a while I just couldn't take this in. Feeding raw, cooking for your dog! How could this be???

Having Sassy taught me much. She was the sweetest girl ever but she had numerous health issues. She kept my pocketbook empty and me learning new things about being a canine parent.

Eventually I came to realize it was quite OK to buy very lean ground beef, heat it until it changed colors in a frying pan, spoon it onto paper towels to dry it out and absorb the water and oil, and feed it to my canine children. What could be more appetizing to a canine child. My how they love it .....just a touch of schnauzer heaven. Having learned these great gems I practice spoiling my children when they are "ailing" and sometimes when they aren't and just need a treat.
Thus it has been for the last few days. I know in the next few days as I try to change them back to regular food I can expect the stalking off and refusing to eat for about 24-48 hours.

What's a Mom to do???

Colors.....and Me!

Do you like colors? Which color(s)are your favorite(s)? I like color but I am a little weird about it....I am a little weird period (if I can be honest). This means I have "odd" ideas about some things.
You see I am really old, I mean really very old, thus I have strange thoughts.
Like about color(s).

I really don't like car colors. I am certain my reasoning is nothing like yours about car colors. The only car colors I find acceptable are black, white, red, and perhaps green. I am not sure about green.....don't think I would ever want a green car.
Since cars are known to be the instrument causing death for so many folks that could be the influencing factor for my weak brain.
All of the car colors (with the exception of Black, white, red, and maybe green) are the colors used for coffins. I know white is sometimes used for coffins but less often than the other colors. I can't stand that thought. Look at all of the metallic colors on cars......colors of coffins..that's what they are. How morbid is that???
I can't stand to think about it! Guess I better go for now. I need to spend some time thinking about another acceptable car color.

Choosing the resolution word!

Bloggers are supposed to choose a word for the year that works with our resolutions for the year. My word is: Purge

For this year I will attempt purge my life of that which pulls me down or holds me back. That includes all of this "junk" I have which needs to be thrown away or dispersed to another owner who knows what to do with it. I have tons of legal papers that need to be shredded and no longer take up space. I have tons of clothing that I no longer need or wear. These items could probably help somebody somewhere. It is up to me to find out who and where and purge.

I will attempt to keep up with my efforts and this meaningful word.

Teaching Success / Teaching Outcomes

So.....the N & O ( or Daniel's Bugle as Ken used to call it) carried an article recently about modern teaching techniques plus the need to pay teachers more. {How New Teaching Merits Higher Pay}. Two letters to the editor followed that I found to be interesting. The writers of the letters admitted that they were older educators in their comments --- but older or not they were pretty much on target.
Initially I had not read the original article; reading those letters sent me back to find the article and read.
Of course, I was more than interested in what this/these new teaching technique(s) could be. As I recall, first there was a discussion of how teachers (today) were recording their lectures so that students could listen at their convenience or re-listen to the lecture to get or clarify information imparted by the teacher. As the article progressed it discussed how teachers were becoming more of facilitators for students' groups and student assignments or work.
Now as I recall the facilitator role came about with what was sometimes referred to as the discovery method as opposed to lecture.

Hhmmmm. thinks me. So what is new about this. It has been going on for years. Acceptance and validation for this type of teaching varies. Certainly lecture doesn't warrant any A+'s from any one I know. But some find fault with the facilitator role saying it lacks enough teacher input. I am forced to do a reality check at this point because I look at teaching through an elementary teacher's glasses all too often. Teaching Reading, for example, is altogether different from teaching one of the sciences.
Good points made by the writers include pointing out that using more technology would work well for students affluent enough to have high speed Internet access at home or those being able to afford tutors if required. Mention was made in the original article of raising class size with new teaching methods. With the size of classes increased it was mentioned that some might need tutor type help.
Face to face interaction time with the teacher, interaction electronically with the teacher, teacher motivation and counsel were all mentioned as student needs.
A comment was made about our best schools serving our most affluent communities were as good as any anywhere. Think for a moment with me ---- why would schools serving our most affluent communities not seem like our best schools if we are using test data to determine best schools.

Then the crowning comment which I cannot validate at the moment states:
Studies show that the two most important predictors of a student's success in school are 1) mother's educational level and 2) family income. Further noting.."Until we come to grips with that, everything else we do is simply tinkering about the edges and will have little real impact."

What think ye folks?? Is it really true? Are these predictors the two most important of student success.

I'm So Excited.....

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! Cold weather has arrived. I get to have frozen fingers and toes. My flip-flops will look great with my sockies with toes on. No more getting hot and wearing out my deodorant just after I put it on. Greggie Boy on WRAL is excited, too. Temperatures are dropping and noses are red and dripping! Such fun... we may be down to 15 degrees by morning.
Haven't had so much fun since last February or whenever we had temps like this before.
There will probably be frost on my windshield and I will get to scrape and scratch it until I can get my car to melt it. I will get to wear my gloves and wipe my nose with the back of my hand 'cuz I can't get to my Kleenex with my gloves on.

If you go outside you can blow your breath and see it in the air. That is soooo fun.
I hurried out today, unscrewed the hoses from the house connections so they wouldn't freeze. I also put these little "foam ditties" over the outside faucets. Oh, and then I covered the connections to the irrigation system with a big bale of pine straw and a plastic container so they would be safe. Can't you tell I am so excited I am about to lose control....and I think I like it? !!!!!!

Don't you just love the cold, cold fingers and toes, wearing your gloves, sockies with your flip-flops, your nose dripping in the cold, scraping ice, and paying more for your heating bill? Aren't you just pumped?

I am really quite excited.