Merry Christmas 2009

Ahhh....wish I was here.

Wordless Wednesday...

My Momma...

Today would have been my Mom's 73rd birthday. Would have been... what words. She passed away from vascular dementia and it's complications almost 6 years ago. And I still miss her every day.

She was such a major influence in my life. She taught me so much. Not just educational things, but about life and how to live it. She showed me not just with her words, but with her actions what it was like to truly live as a Christian. We used to tease that we never went to church by ourselves. We were always going by somebody's house and picking them up to take them to church with us. There was always that open invitation - need a ride? Give Mom a call!

Sometimes, even now after all this time, when I have an important decision to make, I stop and think "what would Mom have done" or "what would Mom have had to say about this"? There have been times that I would love to call her up and say "Hey Mom, what's going on with you today? I have something I want to talk to you about..." I think one of the things I miss most is the way she would put her arms around me, give me a big hug, and say "Ohhh how's my sweet Jeanne". Nobody fills the void that your Mom leaves behind when she passes from this world to the next.

One of the things that made an impression on me happened at her funeral. A friend from church played a flute solo and also played piano for the service. Mom had passed away 6 days before Christmas. Her service was December 23. This wonderful sweet woman played a song at the end of the service, that took me just a bit by surprise. She played, "I'll Be Home for Christmas". For my Mom, that was the P E R F E C T song! She was in her heavenly home, with her heavenly father. To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. That is what "she" would have wanted us to know and realize.

I think she was about 12 years old in the picture. Wasn't she beautiful? I think so, but then I am just a bit prejudiced about that. (I have always thought my Mom was beautiful and I have the photos to prove it!) She was riding in the back of a pick-up truck and they were moving back home to Oklahoma after living in Arkansas for a while. She wrote on the back of the photo how happy they all were to finally be coming home...

Mom was the baby of the family. Here's one of the funny things my Mom told us about her being the baby and being treated "special". She said that all the time people would remark to her parents about her being "such a pretty little girl". SO, as children do, when they are told something often enough, she would sometimes greet visitors to their home with "Hi! I'm a pretty little girl!"

Most importantly, she set a good example. I remember once when my nephew (who had CP) was not eating. Mom decided that she would pray and fast. She made up her mind that she would not eat until Eric ate! Mom prayed and fasted holding to her faith that Eric was going to eat! I believe it was about three days...And you know what - he did! She also had a burden for the country of China. It was like God just lay that country on her heart and man, she prayed every day for China and the Chinese people. Years of prayers...when Mom felt led to take something on - she did it! She was a true "Prayer Warrior"!

I could go on and on about my wonderful Mother, but I think Proverbs 31 says it best...

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Happy birthday Mom, I love you...

Cancer Sucks...

Cancer sucks... You hear people say that all the time don't you? When someone close to you has cancer - it REALLY sucks.

My uncle has been diagnosed with liver cancer (in his pancreas too). Incurable. Pretty much non-treatable, other than for pallative purposes. It sucks.

Cancer has taken too many of my family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. And I am mad! Does it do any good? No probably not, but still I am mad. Mad at the world for not finding a cure for this terrible "robber of life". Mad at God even for allowing such a horrible thing to exist. Hmmm... you might tell me that "Now Jeanne, you shouldn't be mad at God. He knows what is best, he is in control." Well, I know all this, but I am human. And better yet, God knows that. He knows that I am a human and not a perfect creature. I am forgiven that's all. Why hide my anger from someone who knows me inside out and knows what I will say and think before I do it? After all, (and this is one of my favorite quotes): He's a BIG God - he can take it!

So God, I'm mad about this. There, I've said it.

NOW, to move on. (and this next part is really just for me...to remind me. but you can read it if you want...)

God is in control. He is never late, he never makes mistakes, and he has a purpose for every time and season. I do not understand and I may not ever understand while I live on this earth. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I think that is my problem. I am a seeker of knowledge, it is built into my curious brain. I want to understand why, what, how, when, etc. And this is just beyond my scope.

Since I cannot understand, I must lean heavy on my saviour. So I will close my little rant with this:

Lam. 3:22-25 — It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Eph. 3:20-21 — Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

John 16:33 — These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Happy Anniversary!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Special Effects Video "Tilt Shifting"...

CONTENT COPIED FROM KIM KOMANDO'S WEB SITE

This video shows the power of post-processing. Keith Loutit is a master of a photographic technique called tilt-shift miniature faking. He makes real things look like photos of scale models.

Loutit carefully distorts the focus of his photos. He is able to simulate a shallow depth of field. This is an effect usually seen in macro photography. It makes the scene look small and model-like.

In this video, Loutit couples his skills with time-lapse photography. There is no trickery here. Everything you see is real. It’s just been processed with this tilt-shift technique. It’s a really cool use of technology.

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Wow - isn't that cool? I would love to learn how to do this. Better start googling "tilt shifting"!

It's about nothing...

Blah blah blah...

Uh. Wondering why I haven't been posting much on my blog lately? Hmmm... me too! I guess I have felt like I just don't have much to say lately. So I will say this: Life is busy. Sometimes too busy to lead to productive / creative writing. Hence the lack there of on this blog.

Oh and I've been totally addicted to Facebook lately. Yikes. See I even added a little Facebook badge over there. See it? Look right down there underneath my profile info. There it is. Right above my nonexistent Twitter feed.

See it's not just my blog I am ignoring lately. Please don't take it personally Mr. Blogger.com or is that Ms.Blogger.com. I'll be back - when life slows down a bit.

Spring Snow

Another one of those quiz things...

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU CHANGED IN 25 YEARS?


***25 Years Ago***

1984

1) How old were you? 24
2) Who were you dating? Nope - married
3) Where did you work? Occidental Petroleum (Cities Service)
4) Where did you live? Tulsa, OK
5) Where did you hang out? Friends, Relatives, Restaurants...
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Glasses only for reading
7) Who were your best friends? Maureen, Jo, Kathy, Cindy, Rhonda, Angie and others
8) How many tattoos did you have? 0
9) How many piercings did you have? 2
10) What kind of car did you drive? a very cool Dodge Challenger
11) Had you been to a real party? yeah... that would have been pretty sad if I said no.
12) Had you had your heart broken? not in a long time
13) Were you Single/taken/Married/Divorced? Married
14) Any Kids? Yes - 1 daughter (Jamie)

***15 YEARS AGO ***

1994

1) How old were you? 34
2) Who were you dating? Nope - Still married
3) Where did you work? Our family video store and later that year at Owasso Public Schools
4) Where did you live? Owasso, OK
5) Where did you hang out? friends and family houses
6) Did you wear contacts and/or glasses? Glasses for reading
7) Who were your best friends? Maureen, Angel, Cindy, Nancy and others
8) How many tattoos did you have? 0
9) What kind of car did you have? Eurosport Wagon (a piece of CRAP car...)
10) How many piercings did you have? 4
11) Had your heart broken? not for a very long time
12) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? Still married
13)Any Kids? 2 - 1 daugher (Jamie) and 1 son (Daniel)

****TODAY****

2009

1) Age? 49
2) Where do you work? Owasso Public Schools
3) Where do you live? Owasso, OK
5) Who are your closest friends? Maureen, Teressa, Jodi, Joni, Cindy and others!
7) How many piercings do you have? 4
8) How many tattoos? 0
9) What kind of car do you have? Infiniti I-35
10) Had your heart been broken? not lately
11) How many kids? Still 2 and they have other people with them! Along with 1 beautiful granddaughter!
12) Are you Single/Taken/Married/Divorce? STILL married (32 years this year!)

A Wee Irish Jig...

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

To brighten your day...

Another memorable Seinfeld moment.

One of those crazy answer the question things...

USING ONLY SONG NAMES FROM ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions...

Pick Your Artist: MICHAEL BUBLE’
Are you male or female: YOU DON’T KNOW ME?
Describe yourself: FEELIN’ GOOD
How do you feel about yourself: I’VE GOT THE WORLD ON A STRING
Describe where you currently live: HOME
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: COME FLY WITH ME
Your best friend is: ALWAYS ON MY MIND
Your favorite color is: “ORANGE” COLORED SKY (not my favorite color – but it is one of his songs…)
You know that: THE BEST IS YET TO COME
What's the weather like: : A FOGGY DAY IN LONDON TOWN
If your life was a tv show, what would it be called: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
What is life to you: EVERYTHING
What is the best advice you have to give: TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS
If you could change your name, what would it be: MACK THE KNIFE

Silly - yes. But I'd like to see what you can come up with. Let me know.

Festivus for the rest of us...

No, I'm not confused about the date on the calendar. And no, it's not December 23. BUT, I failed to post about this during December and came across these today, so I figured "better late than never"! If you have known me long, you KNOW that I am a major Seinfeld fan. Love that show! I love all their little catch phrases and use a lot of them regularly (as most fans do).

For those Seinfeld fan's out there you may recognize my post title. One of my all time favorite episodes! Just for the fun of it, try Googling "festivus". You will be surprised at all of the hits. It so happens I have some fellow Seinfeld fan's at work. Yippee! So, for our "Christmas" party this year we decided to call it a Festivus celebration (even though we didn't have it on December 23). Of couse we had to have shirts...
Ahh but that's not the end of it. We picked out some of our favorite lines from that particular show for the back of our shirts.

How I miss that show. Thank goodness for re-runs because "These pretzels are making me thirsty!". Later.

Lessons learned...

Just a quick note today. I went to a "podcasting" class today at the 8th Floor in Tulsa. It was fun. We are looking at podcasting for our classroom websites at school and seeing if it would be a workable tool that our teachers can use.

Today's class concerned mostly audio podcasts. We had the chance to make one in class. Basically it is simply recording your voice and saving it to a file that is posted to the web. I think that will only have limited use for what we have in mind. But fun all the same and very easy to do. But you know what - I think we all have problems listening to our own voices. Yikes! I thought to myself - do I really sound like that? Oh I know, we are from Oklahoma after all and that okie twang just comes right through.

So look out blog readers...I might throw something unusual on here in the near future and try out some of my new mad skills.

Office Live Workspace

For those of you who work at work and work at home...oh wait isn't that everyone? Well anyway. I want you to check out Office Live from Microsoft. It's a free download and set-up. If you have ever hurridly put files on a flash or e-mailed them to yourself -just in case - you need this! Here is a link to the page to download it and a nice little video telling you just a bit more.
I think this will come in very handy!

http://workspace.officelive.com/


Office Casual: How I use Office Live Workspace

Playing around...

Can you tell I've been playing again? I changed my blog background again. I have been trying my hand at designing my own. It's pretty easy and kinda cool to pick out things that I like for all of the elements. Good thing I have been learning more and more html code isn't it? It sure comes in handy sometimes.

So this one is kind of bright, but I love paisley. What do you think? Better look quickly, I may change it again soon. Since I'm playing...

TGIF...

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Sweet sentiments...

How's this for a Valentine's cake? "Huge Me?" Found this when I was browsing one of my favorite blogs to read - Cake Wrecks. Now don't click on this link unless you have a little bit time to peruse all of the hilarious cake wrecks you will find on this site. Just what is a cake wreck? Here is the definition from her blog: Cake Wrecks is about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places. Once you get started you won't want to quit.

When I first found this site, I think I spent about an hour (maybe longer - you know how computer time goes) reading old posts and looking at the crazy photos. So when you get a chance, or maybe you should just MAKE a chance - go to Cake Wrecks and check it out.

You will be laughing for hours... Happy Valentine's Day!

18,000 Days...

18,000 Days. Today, February 3, 2009, I have been alive for 18,000 days. 25,920,000 minutes. 1,555,200,000 seconds. Wow, that seems like a really long time doesn't it? In case you don't know that makes me a little past the youthful age of 49.

Some days it feels like I am about 25. Other days I feel like I am closer to 90! But I do my best to make the most of each and every day I am blessed with.

Oh, I have my moments. (Don't we all?) Moments when I stray from this Bible verse from my youth. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." That's from Phillipians and I memorized it when I was about 8 or 9. It's one of those things that I have managed to retain in my brain (aka "the jeanne files"). And yes, I have those days where I am not thinking about the good, the lovely, etc. You know, somehow it all gets lost and I feel like I am not living-doing-being the best I can.

But I keep on trying! I mess up. Then get up the next day hoping and praying that I will speak kinder, act with grace, be more patient with others, and think the best of people not the worst.
Thank you Lord for another day.

Total Weirdness...

Well, it happened again. Total weirdness in my little life. Sometimes I wonder if it is just me or do others seem to have just totally goofy stuff happen to them also.

Long story - short - or at least as short as I can get it without being too cryptic. Less than two weeks ago I had to go running into the dentist because I had a problem with a tooth. I wasn't sure what was going on. But after much poking. prodding, wiggling of my teeth, and not coming up with any reason for the strange things going on in my mouth, my wonderful dentist decided (thank goodness) to use floss on the teeth in the area of my mouth that I was having difficulty with. The floss caught on a corner of a crown and when he pulled it - I said "Hey that's it!" He said, Why that crown is loose! and then just "popped" it off with no effort. (Freaked me out just a little...) Seems when I had eaten some caramel candy over Christmas it kinda got sucked loose, but didn't come off, and when I ate it just felt really strange. So he cleaned it up and glued it back on. And WOW! It was even better than it had been in the two years I had had this crown. It seemed to fit better and was not nearly as cold sensitive as it was - so it had probably not been seated quite right for all that time! So weird right? I mean first the chewy candy making it loose, then the dentist and me having difficulty figuring out exactly what was going on, then it finally ending up being even better than before!

Now for the rest of the stupid goofy story. Last night during the Super Bowl, I decided to break my diet and eat two little pieces of this delicious sour gummy candy that was in the pantry. The first piece - the first bite - I felt this whoosshhy feeling and YIKES opened my mouth and found a lovely little crown stuck in the midst of the candy. I was just sick...I thought NOT AGAIN! My dear hubby said, What it came off again? And I had to say, No, it is a different crown!

I made a rather embarrasing call to the dental office saying "well...seems like I have another crown that needs to be glued back on." They were very sweet and I made a promise to not eat any more gooey ooey chewy sticky candy and that I would be back when it was my previously scheduled regular appointment time.

So how weird - two (2) loose crowns in less than two (2) weeks! I've have enough of that to last me a while. But now I have all of my teeth back in good order. And the rest of that delicious candy is in the trash right where it belongs.

25 Random Things...

Well - this is from Facebook. I spent a little bit of time doing it, so I thought I would copy and post it on here too. This is one of those getting to know you things...so here's just a little more about me.

1. I LOVE technology (but you probably already knew that).
2. I love to read! I always have a book (or two) on the nightstand, or in my purse, or on the table. Get the idea?
3. I have had 9 (yes - nine) different surgeries. YIKES!
4. I had a miscarriage on my birthday 24 years ago.
5. In another life, I would have been a doctor.
6. I love old music (like big band, 40's etc.) always have...
7. I love new music (rap, hip-hop, pop country,) always have...
8. I love classical music (Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, etc.) always have...
9. OK so I love music of ALL kinds!
10. I play the piano and used to teach piano lessons.
11. I would love to own my own business.
12. I love to decorate and do home remodeling.
13. I run a pretty mean power tool and I'm not afraid to use them.
14. I have a tendacy to be a little OCD.
15. I am not a great swimmer and have always had just a bit of fear of the water.
16. I once got to watch a taping of "Cheers" - It was a blast!
17. I have talked on the phone with one of Oprah's producers! (Stacey)
18. I have a pretty decent memory - if I read it or hear it - it seems to get stuck in my brain.I have a brain full of useless information. But it comes in handy when playing trivia.
19. I have always loved the English language and words themselves. I have a dream one day of writing a really great book.
20. I can recite many many lines from Seinfield and Andy Griffith - two of my favorite shows.
21. I used to be a runner - and loved it - maybe one day I will be again.
22. I have the neck of an 80 year old - I have degenerative disc disease (it seems to run in the family)
23. I don't drink because there is a history of alcoholism in my family. I have seen it be ugly - we used to have to get my grandpa from the drunk tank about once a month. So it's a choice I make. Not that I have a problem with anyone else having a drink - that is your choice.
24. I have been with 3 people when they left this earth - it is an experience that is hard to describe.
25. I love to talk... If I am quiet - I don't feel good.

One of my pet peeves...

OK. I have to talk just a minute about one of my pet peeves. I absolutely think it is the rudest thing to not even have your presence be acknowledged by the check-out person at the store. Hmmm.... I mean really. You can't even say "Hi - how are you?"

Today at the grocery store Dave and I unloaded the groceries onto the conveyor belt. All the while the sack boy is talking to the checkout girl. They are chatting away. Not ONCE did this girl look our way and say, hello, hi, did you find everything?, kiss my foot... anything. The first words spoken to me was my total for the bill. "$209." The bad news is that this is not the first time this has happened at this particular grocery store, which shall be nameless (not Wal-Mart - they are usually pretty nice there!).

I guess saying hello or acknowledging that someone is standing right there in front of you, well that is just a common courtesy that some people don't think is necessary today. I don't expect you to carry on a lengthy conversation with me, I know you are busy working. But in my book - nice matters. And that wasn't very nice.

Photo Bombing...

I thought I'd post of few examples of the latest rage around my house. Photo bombing. Someone (Chad) got it all started after sending us all a funny e-mail with some very funny examples. In case you haven't heard about this, it's when you are taking a photograph and someone unexpectedly makes a face, pops in, etc. So here are some crazy photo bombing incidents that have happened lately around here. (Where the weird can be expected!)

They have no idea what is going on behind them...

Jamie bombed me during the cruise...

and then again at Christmas.

and that is my sweet hubby's head - popping in there.

and Jamie now bombing Ryan...

So have I given anyone any crazy ideas? Watch out it can get a little crazy once you get started Got any great photo bombs from your family? I'd love to see them.

And once again...

And once again I have not posted a thing on my blog. Instead I have been playing on the evil Facebook. Well not really evil, it's kinda fun. I am still discovering lots of new things about FB. Still wanting to discover more friends out there. But right now, I am going to go to bed early. I'm pooped.

And yes, I have a Select Comfort "Sleep Number" bed. I'm a 45... Nighty-nite!

Alyssa's Birthday Book...

Every year for Alyssa's birthday I make a photo/scrap book that chronicles her past year. (Short and sweet - nothing too fancy - I'm not into fancy.) Below is this year's attempt! Hope you enjoy it...



Ohhh...also every year for her birthday I send her photo in to Channel 6 (Six in the Morning) for the family photo segment. She'll be on next week. The 29th at 6:15 a.m. And I know you will all get out of bed extra early to see her. (smile)

Star Wars

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

Facebook...

Facebook. OK - well here is something to spend more time on playing around. But after getting a few pointers from my son's girlfriend, I think just maybe I've got it figured out.

Actually it's pretty cool. Already I have found two friends who I haven't talked to in a long time! So that's great. It's an easy way to keep in touch with friends in a quick sort of way.

Now add in you can give friends little gifts, flowers, etc. You can send someone a hug, a button, and all sorts of cool little things to brighten their page. And you can get the cool little thingys for your own page.

Just last night, I found out that FB had a cool chat feature. Didn't know that. And then tonight I sat around for a while and made "flair". Ahh, don't know what Flair is? Flair is/are little buttons with pictures/sayings/words/stupid jokes/logos/cartoons/tv shows, etc. on them.

Then there are groups and pages and friends and more friends and apps and more and more... See what I mean? You can totally waste a couple of hours just messing with all of the stuff and not even realize that it is past midnight and you should have been in bed an hour ago.

It also makes a person neglect their blog. Poor little blog, no posts for days on end. OH, but then one of the coolest things about Facebook, you can link your blog to it! Then your posts magically appear there too!

Fun in computer land. Just another way of saying I didn't get the laundry done again today.

Friends...

Elephant sanctuary

Posted using ShareThis

Pity Party...

We interupt your regularly scheduled blog for this pitiful anouncement. It has been an unbelievable extremely "sucky" week for me. Well that's how Joni described it and I wholeheartedly agree! This was NOT the week I had planned.

I was really "ready" to get back to work! Since we had had the three snow days and then I had planned to take off those last two days before winter break, I have been off from work for THREE weeks. Oh I worked a couple of hours from home on some things that couldn't wait, but it was 23 days. A long time.

Monday. I get to work and am happy to there! I haven't seen everyone since before Christmas.

At 8:30 or so the telephone rings. My aunt has passed away that morning. This was my Mom's sister. Probably the one person on her side of the family that I was closest too. She had the same type of disease my Mom had - a vascular related dementia. Where it was the big "A" or not well you know. It doesn't really matter. Been there done that with Mom. It sucks. Funeral scheduled for Thursday. David had been feeling crappy for a couple of weeks - so he went to the doctor. Diagnosis: He has a severe sinus infection and needs to take some strong antibiotics. Great - maybe he will finally get to feeling better.

Tuesday. I had stayed up late the night before working on a photo video for my aunt's funeral. I was pooped. David was at the firehouse. He got called down for random drug testing. So while he was there he talked to them about his leg still hurting from way back in September. They schedule an MRI for later that night. I stayed up late again to finish the video and get it posted on the blog I started in memory of my aunt (and to refer people to for info about services, etc.). Made 6 dvds with labels for the family and such. Not particularly sucky - but tiring.

Wednesday. Drive to Tulsa at lunch to hand off the dvd to get it to the church for the pastor to preview. Talk to my brother. He tells me my Dad is not doing very well. (He has recurrent bladder cancer and was supposed to take a chemo treatment) He has another infection and is feeling so bad he is not sure if he will be able to make it to the funeral. Poor Daddy! Dave calls and says they have called him with his report. He has a ruptured/torn tendon/muscle something) in his calf. He will need to see an orthopedic surgeon to determine if he will need to have surgery to repair it or if they can do anything else. Yippee - they schedule it quickly and with a great doctor for Friday. By the time he gets home he has been sick all day with terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea. He has eaten a banana - that's all. Sick man comes home - falls asleep and sleeps till I wake him up to go ahead and go to bed. He is definitely not feeling well at all. Week getting suckier by the minute.

Thursday. Funeral day. We have both taken the day off work to attend. David is still sick. Not getting any better. We finally decide he is not well enough to attend the funeral. Still having diarrhea. Cramps worse. Stays in bed all day. Decide he better quit the antibiotics. Barely gets up to try to watch the OU game. Sick all night again. Oh just one more sucky day!

Friday. David is still sick when we wake up - he has been sick through the night. But he decides to go ahead and try to go to work. Especially because today is his important Dr. appointment about his leg. He calls me and tells me he is still sick and doesn't know if he will be able to make that appointment. After another call or two from him, we decide I need to go get him at the firehouse. He feels too bad to drive. He has called the doctor and they are very concerned and want to do some tests and try some different medication. I leave work. We talk again. Decide that he cannot go to the ortho and that he needs to go to the emergency room. He is sick, sick, when I pick him up. Long story short. IV, bloodwork, other "sample" and workup, shots, x-rays. They think he has C-Diff! (Very serious stuff) YIKES! Not good. This is more than likely caused from the wonderous antibiotics he started taking Monday! They decide he probably does not need to be admitted and send him home with four scrips and lots of rules for diet until this gets better. (Which could be another week they say!)

Friday, Continued. It's not over yet. We get him home. I clean the house with bleach solution to kill this nasty bacteria that he has. Oh, did I say this is "highly contagious"! Fire house has been advised to clean their too. Get him settled and go to pick up the scrips and some of the special things he can eat. While I am gone, I get a phone call. The house where I grew up caught fire and burned last night. Ahhh that makes me so sad. My dad moved away a couple of years ago - thank goodness. The news said it was caused by the furnace. But my childhood home - gone. Sucky, sucky, sucky.

This pity party is now over. We return you to our regularly scheduled ramblings...hopefully they won't be so sucky.

Oh and say a prayer for my hubby, I would appreciate it (and he would too)!

You've Got Mail...

I just finished watching this movie for about the 100th time... I LOVE this movie. Don't know why. It just is so cute. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan - love them both - two of my favorite actors. And of course the fact that it involves books and computers (two of my other favorite things).

I love the part in the movie where she talks about her mother and how they "twirled". Here's another favorite part (one of her e-mails to him) :

Subject: Date: 9/30/98 7:52:20 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Shopgirl
To: NY152
Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today I saw one. It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where I assume it was going to Bloomingdale's to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake. As almost all hats are.

NOW don't ask me why - but that is just adorable! I know, I know a lot of people may think this is a really cheesy movie. But I don't! It's just plain sweet and romantic in a funny way.

I think one of the reasons why I am so crazy about this movie is that we all LOVE getting e-mail, notes, cards, letters, etc. (and comments on our blogs - hint hint) It's like a little affirmation thing I guess. We all want those little pats on the back. In fact when I used to check my mail and nothing was there I would say, "well, nobody loves me today". Not really meaning that of course, but now I think about that and it makes me laugh.

Here's another favorite from the movie:

Subject: life
Date: 10/21/98 9:18:36 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Shopgirl
To: NY152
Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void.

I think we all feel small at some point. I know I do. And like this character - I love my life, but could I be more brave?

OK, OK, I will quit all this in just a minute. A couple more favorites and I'll move on. Well I LOVE books - so this quote is very fitting I think:

Kathleen Kelly (Meg's character): When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does.

Hey I even like the music in this movie. The song that plays at the opening - The Puppy Song - by Harry Nilsson. So cute and catchy. That's what is playing right now! If you want to make it stop - scroll to the bottom of this page and click the pause sign. (I promise I will only leave it playing for a day or so!)

More tomorrow - have a lovely evening! (Well I just counted... and I said "love" 7 times - oops 8 times now - in case you were wondering.)

Transcending...

Powerful words ladies....powerful - moving - heartfelt words.