Tidbits

Catch-up.

Sunday--there was a mass shooting in Las Vegas.  Monday, I sat and watched the coverage all day.  The Chief of Police in Vegas is now saying, they don't think the shooter acted alone.  Some people are coming forth telling that they heard shots at ground level.  Fully automatic rifles have been illegal to own for years.  The Bump Stock he used is not illegal, as the last Administration, who had a chance to make it illegal, didn't.  I assume it will be now.

Monday night, as I was looking at my only 2 week old hair cut, I saw strands of hair coming out from behind my ear.  These strands were 5-6 inches long.  The top of my head, the hair seemed too long already.
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Tuesday, I figured I would take a chance and call the salon I used to go to.  I know their hair cuts are $35.00.  For the last 10 months, I have been going to Fantastic Sam's = $17.00.

I called and asked the receptionist if I could get a hair cut by "someone who knows how to cut short hair."   She suggested Lauren.  I said, "The only Lauren I know there is the girl that used to shampoo my hair."

"Yes, that's her."

"I didn't know she was a stylist?"

So I went in and sure enough.  Everyone was so glad to see me back and I hugged Lauren!

"The reason you didn't know I was a stylist is because when you came in to see Tracey, I worked that day as her assistant and shampoo girl.  On the other days, I worked as a stylist."

Well, she got to it.  I could hear "hm-mm" noises coming from her.

"Tell me," I said.

"It looks like the last stylist you had just trimmed along your hair line in back and didn't shave your neck.  Plus there are these long hairs coming out from behind your ears.  On this side--your hair is an inch and a half, on this side it is two inches.  The top is several different lengths."

When she was finished, it looked just like it was suppose to look.  I didn't care if this was going to cost me $35.00, I would just not eat one day to defray the cost.

We got up to the desk to pay and the receptionist said, "Seventeen dollars, please."

"Wait.   What?  I has to be more than that!"

She showed me the ticket.  So I paid and gave Lauren a five dollar tip and made another appointment for 6 weeks.  Hugs all around and I drove home, happy as could be.
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Wednesday--I made out a list and got on my way.
Gas station was my  first stop--put in the usual $20.00 and on up to the Meijer store.

Got everything I needed and was only $147.00.

On over to Walmart where I picked up two prescriptions and got my Flu shot.  I did not get the "enhanced" Senior vaccine, just the regular one.

Isn't it cute?  They stuck this on me, it is covered with a thin film of plastic.  They stick the needle in the middle of the "target" and when they retract the needle, the film seals, with no bleeding and no chance of infection getting in.  No band-aid needed.  Better than I would have received at my doctor's office, where I usually get it.

As you can see, even though I am on a blood thinner, there was not one teeny drop of blood.  

I had rubbed my arm before the injection and afterwards, I massaged my arm downward and I had no pain at all--that day or the next.
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Thursday--I started working on digging up my Iris and cleaning out the perennial garden in front.

Oh my!  There is so much grass in there that it looks like part of the lawn, with flowers growing up through it.  What a mess!  

I got my wheelbarrow, garden fork, shovel, rake, clippers and hauled them out front.  I worked for a solid hour--loosening the soil with the fork and then sitting in my canvas chair while I pulled grass and its roots out of the soil.  What a mess!

My back and shoulder hurt so, that I decided to quit and continue today.  I had not heard the weather forecast, so I loaded all my equipment back into the wheelbarrow and because I hurt so bad, decided to just park the wheelbarrow behind the porch, instead of putting it all back in the shed.

I awoke this morning to a nice rain and a wheelbarrow filled with water, and my nice shovel, garden fork, and hand clippers laying in a puddle of water.  I could just see the rust starting to work its way into the metal.  What a mess!

As I only got about 1x3 feet done in the garden, I expect this project will take another 4-5 days.  ARGGH!

I have never put wood mulch on my perennial gardens.  Maybe it is time I did?  Will the Tulips and Daffodils grow up through the mulch?
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Tomorrow is our inter-state rivalry football game.  Michigan State versus University of Michigan.  Played at University of Michigan this year.  With their strong defensive line and our strong offensive line, we just might end up in a zero-zero tie.  LOL.

I would hope it would end like this one back in 2015.

An interesting theory

I wondered how an out of shape man would fire a heavy, hot, rifle for that long.
The link is here.

I'm not liking anything right now--so you might want to move on...............

A cool, crisp Saturday--perfect football weather.  The University of Michigan Wolverines, have a "bye", which means they won't play today.  My Michigan State Spartans do play, but not until 4:00 this afternoon.  They play the Iowa Hawkeyes and will probably get beat.   This is not a good year for my Spartan football team.  

But--who really cares?   Well, yes, a lot of people, but in the whole scheme of life--does it really matter?  I watch--because I always have and it gives me an excuse to sit in my recliner and cross stitch all afternoon.

I'm still fighting depression.  I get the occasional God Moments, which bring joy, which lasts a few days.  Then the loneliness and worries come back, nibbling along the edges of my mind.  

If you have never experienced depression, you wouldn't--or you couldn't, understand how it feels. Even I don't understand it.  

Keep busy, they say.  Yes--I do, but my busyness now consists of putting the gardens to bed, which means sitting in my canvas chair, weeding, and pulling and filling up yard waste bags, which leaves a lot of time for thinking or remembering.

Cleaning house, vacuuming--every chore is so automatic that I don't have to think about it, which...leaves a lot of time for thinking.

Get out and do something, go somewhere, visit someone.  Lovely idea too.  But, my major worry is how to get through the month on the money I have.  I am allowed $20.00 for gas a month.  I can't just get in my car and drive to places for the fun of it.  I can drive "up" to visit my sister and have lunch with the Old School Gal Pals once a month.  Even then, I worry about how much lunch is going to cost--not something I have built into my budget.

I have my budget all set up in an Excel spread sheet.  On the left are my expenses, with a total at the bottom.  On the right, my income, with a total at the bottom.  Then a space that reveals how much is left over.  That space is in red, every single month.

There is no room for emergencies.  That is my biggest fear.  The "what ifs".

So the beginning of each month, when I print out my budget, the depression begins all over again.

It also makes me angry because I don't know how I ended up this way.  Well, that's not entirely true--I do know.  But that makes me angry too because it wasn't my fault and then I have a pity party in my mind.  "Woe is me.  I don't deserve this.  It's not my fault!"

Shut up and live with the cards you were dealt!

When I worked and got $1,000.00 a month wages, I was sitting pretty.  Now, that amount doesn't even cover my expenses.  

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I haven't had a genealogy to do in 4 months.  That little extra bit I was making really helped.  I had tucked $600.00 away and used $100.00 a month to balance my budget.  Then I had to get my computer repaired = $200.00 and two months later, another $200.00 repair and cleaning or get a new one for $375.00.  At the time, a new one seemed the smartest choice.  If I am doing genealogy work, I need a good computer with enough storage and one that has the latest updates Windows, etc.  There went my "stash" and haven't done a genealogy since.

I had thought of putting a red light out on my porch--turn it on at night and make a little money that way.  Except, for every dollar I made, I'd have to give the guy 75 cents in change!!!  Besides that, with my old hips, I don't think I'd be a very active participant.  So no money in being a "lady of the evening."

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So--it is a GOOD thing that I have my Spartan football to watch and my cross stitch to do.  It makes me concentrate on something other than myself.

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Sorry for the downer--who wants to read such a negative blog post as this!!!  It's just that I would never tell someone this in "real life", verbally, so I guess you have to take the brunt of my feelings.  Or you could just move on to a more positive blog writer--they are posted on my right side-bar--that might be best for your mood!!

Reminiscing

Homecoming week at my old High School, brought to mind these memories.  Same High School.

 1955

 1967

1976

1986--Sophomore-Jennifer

1988-Queen

I was in the 1st Homecoming.  Note--our crowns were silver painted cardboard with gold sequins pasted on in a star pattern.   At that time, a girl could be Queen, no matter what grade she was in.  Our Queen that year was a Freshman--which seems like kind of a waste to me because she has four more years to achieve.  That wonderful time should go to a Senior girl.  But.....the Queen was chosen by the teachers.  It's a small wonder I was even on the Court.  The Court was chosen by photos of us that were sent to the visiting football team.  My Mother encouraged me to send in my photo or I never would.  I had no self confidence at that time.

My boyfriend at the time--later husband--the Homecoming dance our 3rd date said, "You may not be Queen, but you'll always be my Princess."

I think that was the last nice thing he ever said to me.

Susan, a Junior at the time, and Daddy--back then and still today, Daddy's walk their daughter out onto the field.

Karen was a Sophomore and Jennifer was in Kindergarten and was chosen to be the little girl to carry the flowers that were presented to the Queen.

I made the girls dresses that year--pink Velvet and white lace overlay.  Jennifer had a little white fur coat and bonnet to wear over her dress.

first and last time I ever sewed on Velvet!

I guess Jennifer was the lucky one.  She got to be in the Homecoming festivities 4 times.  In Kindergarten, Sophomore and Queen when she was a Senior and then back the next year to crown the next Queen.

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 Another memory popped up on Face Book this morning:
Six years ago--- my youngest grandchild--Evan

I mailed out his 6th birthday present on Monday.

My goodness, so many things have happened in the last 6 years.

When I saw this photo pop up on Face Book, I gasped.  That very healthy, handsome man with me would be gone in 3 months and 4 days.  We just never know, do we.  
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Sometimes, like today, seeing this photo, I am so lonesome for him.  As I drove on up to Walmart to pick up my prescription, I drove by the lake--has a little parking space off the road--and thought of Fred.  He loved to stop there on his way up to Walmart or on his way back home. That's where he'd sneak one forbidden cigarette.

He always took his camera, because, he said, "You just never know if you might see a Swan or Blue Heron or something."

As I drove by today, I said, "Oh Fred.  Where are you, Sweetie?"

I think I get more nostalgic this time of year.

What a change...........

............in weather that is.  A 20 degree drop in the temperature and the absence of humidity, almost makes it feel cold in here.  I had to put my socks on...after opening the door and all the windows!

My precious Buddy is enjoying a nap and the cool breeze from the bedroom window.

While Maggie is enjoying the same, acting as door stop for the front door.

While I sit in my recliner, enjoying my Soap and starting on my last Shepherd.

I had to take a break from this cross stitch to do another one.  Darling Della's 1st birthday is fast approaching.  Talk about a quick year!

When my grandchildren were born, for their 1st birthday, I made an Acrostic prayer/poem for them.  The first letters of their name go down the left side, and a rhyme for each line.  Some have been challenging like: A.N.D.R.E.W.  C.H.R.I.S.T.O.P.H.E.R.

Even more so, A.L.E.X.A.N.D.E.R.  C.H.A.S.T.O.N., personally I think Jen did it on purpose to challenge me to start a line with an "X".
how about, "Xtend to him a happy life."

That was a long one and took a big frame.  E.L.I.S.E  A.N.N. was easier, as was E.V.A.N.  E.R.I.C..

At one time, I begged Karen to think of shorter names for her kids. I had just finished, S.T.E.P.H.E.N.  C.H.A.R.L.E.S.  She assured me, they were having no more children.

Then 5 years later, along came--M.A.D.E.L.E.I.N.E.  S.O.P.H.I.A. 

I figured, because I had no money to spend on a present for Della, and wouldn't know what to buy if I did have money, I'd make her one of these prayer/poems.

I already had the cross stitch fabric and of course the floss.  Everything is free-hand, which leads to a problem of hoping it fits into a regular sized frame.

Difficult to see.

D  ear God, in Heaven above,
E  nfold our sweet girl with love.
L  ord, we pray, near you'll keep,
L  et her days be happy and sweet,
A  lways guard her while she sleeps.

H  elp her grow in truth and light,
E  ager to seek what is fair and right.
L  et no harm come and no strife,
E  ver near, to protect her, all her life.
N  ow we ask all this will be,
E  ternal Father, we pray to thee.
                                           Amen

Sometimes, it's difficult to come up with a rhyme--especially when the names are not an even number of lines.  Like, Della is 5 lines--I had to add an extra line that still rhymed. Then I end up with 3 lines with the last word rhymimg.  Upsets my OCD.  HAH. 

Looks like it will fit a 10X12 frame or if I mat it, 12X14.
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Flags, Football and Feelings

I hear a rumor that a cold front is headed this way and we "may" have cooler temps by Wednesday evening.  I dislike having to be closed up in the house--just like we are in winter.  We should not be, this time of year.  I had to go to the store today, with my car A/C that works--intermittently.  Today it worked--at least for half the drive.  ARGGH!!
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I got yelled at today, on FB, by my cousin.  I posted:

Well, that does it! I've never liked him. I didn't want to vote for him, but I hoped, along the way, he could become Presidential.
Although, I will never change my support for the values of a Moderate Republican Party, I have lost what little respect I ever had for this President.
I can no longer tolerate his loud, arrogant manner and especially his crude and vulgar language; in a public forum, in front of our Country and the World.

She commented that I should keep such thoughts to myself as this kind of talk makes our country divided.

I commented back, that President Obama divided our county, but that at least he never used vulgar language in public, anyway.

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To my way of thinking, if you purport yourself to be a Christian, your way of life, and your language should support your words.  If you claim it, you better walk the walk.

He doesn't.  Okay, benefit of the doubt, maybe he's a baby christian==small "c", and he is working on trying to correct his bad habits?

It doesn't appear that way.

Whatever he is, I wouldn't allow that kind of language in my house, so I don't have to listen to or watch him.  He is disgusting, in my opinion, and an embarrassment to me and our Country.

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Like Hillary Clinton stating that her Methodist upbringing and faith are what her life is based on.   From observing her language, her belief system and all the crookedness she had done--I take offense.  She in no way represents any Methodist I have known, nor my church tenets.  She gives Methodist's a bad name!

I can't stand her!

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Well, there isn't any President we can believe.  After watching the PBS documentary on the Viet Nam war, that is apparent.  Every single one of them lied.  Every single one of them gave false numbers to the press, trying to make it look like we were winning, when in reality, every single one of them AND the Generals knew and said, it was an un-winnable war.

They all make me sick.

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and as for those overpaid, entitled, spoiled brats that play professional football?  The rules set forth for the NFL states that teams should stay in the tunnel while the National Anthem is being played, BUT if they are on the field, they "should" stand, hold their helmet with their left hand and place their right hand over their heart.

Apparently they are using the "should" clause to get away with displaying their disrespect for the many men and woman who have died to give them the right to play professional sports.

They all make me sick.  (even though I don't watch their games.)

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and if any one in my family didn't?  None of them are too big or too old, that I still couldn't box their ears! 

I'm real hard nosed about these kinds of things.  I was once seated in the high school gym watching a basketball game and at half time, the band played the School Song.  There was a big kid sitting down beside me and I scolded him and then shamed him into standing for school song.

"You go here to school?"

"Yeah."

"Then stand up for your school song."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Miller."  and he sheepishly stood.

I attended a Michigan State basketball game that Karen and Mark had taken me too.  At the beginning, I stood (and sang) the school song, as did they.  During the game, every time the Pep band played the school song, I stood, but noticed Karen and Mark didn't.

I asked, "Why aren't  you standing for the school song?"

"Oh Mom...they play it so many times at basketball games."

"Then you stand, so many times.  You're an Alumni.  Show your respect for your school--every time the song is played."

could be why they haven't taken me to another MSU basketball game?   

So--I am boycotting NFL football and President Trump.  Just like i did President Obama.  When he appears on TV, I click to another channel.  It tends to make watching the National News a lot more positive experience.  

Heat, Umbilical Cords and Turkey

It has come to the point of being ridiculous!!

Never--well I shouldn't say never because, once eons ago it was 91 on a late September day in Michigan, but never in recent history--like over 100 years, has it ever been that hot.

I'm not just talking hot--humid too.  

Just 8 days ago, we had our furnaces on, all night and half the day.  Then...because Hurricane Jose', out on the east coast was preventing a cold front from moving to us, it zoomed up to day time temps of 91 degrees.  

Michigan.  With red, orange and golden leaves falling gracefully to the ground, looking for all intents and purposes like autumn outside, we are closed up in our homes with the A/C running night and day.

It is ridiculous!!!

If we can wait until Wednesday evening, the temp is suppose to drop 20 degrees.

I hate it!  I want to have my door and windows all open and feel the coolness and sense the autumn spells.  I also want rain, of which we have had none in a couple of weeks.

As far back as I can remember, except last year, we always had 3 days in the middle of September where it rained--almost constantly-- for 3 whole days.  My Mother explained to me that we needed that fall rain so the spring flowering bushes could store up water.  So, with no rain, I have a feeling that my Lilac bushes, are not going to be very full of blooms, next April.
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Saturday, I had another God Moment, or what I perceived it to be.

Pearl's grand daughter was expecting a baby in October.  When I found out last spring, I got busy crocheting an afghan for the wee babe.  I finished it up Friday night and Saturday, took it up to Merle and Pearl's.

I walked in their house and there sat their daughter and grand daughter--who was holding a baby girl.  I just stood there, mouth hanging open.

The grand daughter said, "Surprise!"

The tiny baby was only 36 hours old.  She weighed a mere 5 pounds.  I have never seen one that tiny.  All wrinkled up and eyes closed.

"She's barely opened her eyes," said Pearl.

"I don't think she knows she's born yet," said the grandma.

I sat down and momma came over and laid the precious girl in my arms.

I brought her up close and whispered a prayer/blessing in her ear.  Then eased my arm back down.

She opened her eyes and looked at me.  Then, she laced her teeny fingers together and just stared and stared at me.

Her momma, coming back from the kitchen noticed and said, "Oh my Gosh.  Mom come look.  Look at how she has her hands...like she's praying.  Look.  She is just staring and staring up at Judy!"

She got behind the chair we were sitting in and took photos of the baby, with laced fingers and open eyes.

"The grandma said, "I saw you whisper something in her ear.  What did you say?"

"Ah.....I just whispered a blessing and asked God to protect her all her life."

The Momma looked down at me, "I think she understood what you said!  She's staring at you because she thinks you are an angel!"

"I doubt that," I laughed.  "She probably just decided to wake up for a bit."  and I handed her back to her momma.

I have to admit, sitting there alone with that baby, while all the others were talking amongst themselves, having her lace her fingers like that and stare at me, was kind of a strange feeling.  My chest got all warm and my stomach tightened.. It was weird and I still haven't forgotten how I felt.

I always whisper a prayer/blessing in my grandkids ears, the first time I get to see them after they are born, but I never got that reaction from any of them.

It WAS...a moment.
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The baby girl's name is, London.  I rather prefer children that have names so, just on hearing the name, you know the gender of the child, but....that's just me.  I don't like being confused.
"So, how is your son Markey doing?"
"Oh...Markey is my daughter.  Madigal is my son."
You know what I mean?

Anyway, this momma has an 11 year old daughter, named Brooklyn.  No Daddy around.  They lived with Pearl's daughter for many years.  Now the grand daughter has purchased a manufactured home, up in the new part of our Park, about two blocks from her Mom.

The young momma and her daughter have always been close.  A bit too close I always thought because she reacts to her 11 year old daughter, like they are sisters.

So, I found out the 11 year old was in the room with momma and grandma, during labor and delivery.  She even got to cut the baby's umbilical cord.  

Now, I know I'm old fashioned, but.............?

I was 13 when my little sister was born and not only did I not know HOW she was born, but I had no clue how she got in my Mother's tummy!!!!

When my own were born, I was glad father's were not allowed in the delivery room and I kept my eyes closed tightly so I wouldn't see my own baby born!

EYUCK!  comes to mind!  

Karen was born in the labor room, just her and me, and I did see the umbilical cord and marveled at how long it was, but I quickly averted my eyes while the nurse cut it free.
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I suppose, their thinking was how the 11 year old will remain close to her little sister because she helped her be born?  TMI for that kid is my way of thinking.
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Sunday, at 5:00, I did my duty, left my comfortable recliner and air conditioned home and walked the 150 hot and humid steps up to Sheila's for the new neighbor, supper.

I observed no cats on the table or counter tops, so I was a bit more comfortable eating there.  Nine of us. Dar, her Dad, her sister-in-law (i don't know why she was there), the two new neighbor's and their parents, Sheila and me.  The new neighbor kids live in the house next to Sheila's and have been gutting and re-doing the whole house.  Their parents are helping.

It was actually lovely and the food was quite yummy--except she puts sugar in everything, including the dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, which seemed odd to me, but then..I'm no gourmet for sure.

I was kind of a noisy table, which is unusual for me and I sat next to Dar and her loud voice.  She kept trying to communicate with her Dad at the other end of the table.  That poor guy.  She corrects almost everything he says, or if someone asks him a question, she answers for him.

Which she used to do to me if we were with other people, until one time I said, "I am perfectly capable of answering for myself, Dar."

The man is very sharp minded and can hear well and can answer for himself, if she lets him.  After dinner, I sat in the chair next to him and we had a good conversation.  Dar was sitting across the room on a couch, puffing on her e-ciggie, and I could see, she was straining to hear what Dad and I were talking about, but her sister-in-law was yakking at her, so she had to lend her a bit of attention.  HAH.  


I walked back home around 7:30.  It was nice and I'm glad I attended.
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I found out later.  Dar's sister-in-law, who lives 3 hours  north of here, came down to take Dar to an appointment today.  I guess they thought it best as--did I tell you--how Dar and her GPS, got lost trying to get to the same place, a couple of weeks ago.