3 red cups and a dog...

Summer is 2/3 over. Hard to believe that school starts in less than a month. If you have walked into any retail store in the last few weeks, even if you don't have kids in school, you have probably fought or gave in to the urge to buy new underwear. Back to School will do that to you, forever. Yes, me and mine have already been down that road.

Yet, there is more summer to be had. The kids and gkids leave on a little vacation starting tomoroow and Papa and I are in charge of the granddog. We are also in charge of his mental well-being, one that we don't take lightly. This year, we add continuing education for Banjo and the shell game, that was started last week.

You remember the shell game? You put something under three shells, mix them up and your opponent has to figure out which shell holds the prize. As mommy and daddy were enjoying their anniversary time, we decided to see if Banjo could find the treat under red solo cups. I thought this might be You Tube worthy, landing him and the kids on Ellen and perhaps, great fame and fortune. I was wrong.

Dogs have a great sniffer and I thought Banjo would have no trouble picking the cup with the pepperoni under it. He seems to be more successful with cheese but it could just be that he rammed the cup into the baseboard, and then, grabbed it. This entertained us for a long time until I decided he might have had too many snacks due to our experiment. Our past attempts with too much food and Banjo is not pretty. Nobody wanted Banjo to sleep with them that night, enough said.

It is our experience that Banjo will go into a deep depression when his family leaves. He doesn't eat or sleep, and won't play. He sits on top of the couch, staring out the window or by the door, waiting for them to come home. We have come to accept that he will always be this way and our only goal is to keep him alive until his family gets back. We will try the shell game this time, hoping for a different outcome. Just a tiny bit of a rally would do. If not, a professional dog counseling whisperer may have to be called in, and he has his work cut out for him...

chiropracter...

He is a devout Christian, but does not use his faith to promote his business.

Despite this warning statement, I chose him as a place to start. Needed a new chiropractor, found him and thought, will give him a try. It has been a week and a half. He thinks he has found the problem, I am not too sure but will play along for a bit more.

We will have a conversation about this statement. I just can't let it go. I just can't.


I don't believe that one can separate faith from Real Life. With this statement, he has already promoted his business. He has even told you how much his faith means to him. It is a kind of advertising that makes me, walk away. He is a straight-forward guy. Tells you whatever pops in his mind which could bring problems of its own but faith, whatever it looks like on you, does affect your business, personal life and the way you deal with people. Faith can not be separated out and corralled. Not true faith, true faith always comes shining through. Always.

Dr D and I will have the talk sometime this week. I will tell him I chose him, despite his web site words. Don't be ashamed of your faith, let it come out naturally. don't define yourself by your narrow field, God is so much bigger than we are. Go with it...

under construction...

We all know the drill. As soon as the weather turns warm, they start tearing up the streets with hopefully, the equipment and know how, to make it better. This one by my house, appears to involve some kind of emergency. Like following the trail of a leak, this one got dug up, went around the corner, in no way that made any sense. When they found the problem, they were done. After a week of this, it appears, whatever it was, is repaired to its original state.

In the mean time, we all were gracious and spent the week taking turns, using the one lane available. Yes, I did try to take a shortcut but it was an epic fail. To avoid the construction completely and go around the whole thing was a price I was unwilling to pay so wait in line, was the option chosen.

We were all very civil as we waited our turn for the flagger to turn the sign from Stop to Slow. It was obvious to anyone paying attention that while we can pretty much agree on the definition of stop is, there is a lot of wiggle room on the meaning of, slow. It didn't appear or was it reported that any flaggers were hurt during this job but I find it hard to believe. Whatever their pay and retire package is, I am all for it. I wouldn't take their job for all the benefits in the world. Heat, orange vest and the general public, they deserve everything they get, and more.

One can't help but see the similarities to road construction and Real Life. Maybe we do have flaggers when we are under going personal construction.

Nothing to see here, Just keep moving and keep it slow. Maybe we will never know to what extent someone is looking out for us at great personal peril. I sure like to think so. So maybe next time you see someone who is going through a heavy deal, remember to Slow down. If you can help, do. If not, just keep going. Don't add to the confusion. Watch where you are suppose to go, go slowly and be on your way. Do unto others...

Bridal shower...

The instructions are given by best friend/hostess for the first game.

Write one memory of you and the bride, do not say your name.

Further instructions would include, don't sweat it. Something easy.

Immediately I had mine. It always comes to me quickly, it is the Blink theory by Malcolm Blackwell. Fits me to a tee. Basically those like me, process information instantly and come up with an answer. It is not always right, true, kind or just but it comes in an instant.

The bride has been in school in Portland for the last few years so my exposure to her has been hit and miss yet I still feel a bit of a connection. FB, info from her mom and others, you get the picture but in an instant I knew what my card would say.

You will always be Miss M to me... She guessed me instantly. When we have history with someone, it never really goes away and obviously can be recalled, in an instant. She connected almost everyone to their comments. We even learned about shenanigians she and her friends pulled in high school, never revealed until the shower. Why you would a small someone in a dryer and even turn if on, seemed like something that would be shared as an oops. I think it might have been.

Interestingly enough, the one comment she could not connect the dots to was the person with whom she has had the shortest history with, her almost new MIL. Like it or not, we run a tight ship in our memories and they take time to mature and then, recall in a Moment's Notice.

It was a beautiful shower. The food, the decorations, the laughs... It was a great time. Congrats M&M. May your memories be tight, may you travel light and hold on to each other. Love and be loved. Share, play, dream and bake. Wish you all the best, Miss M...XO

prayer...

Prayer is so fluid. There are guidelines but no way is right or wrong. I remember being told that you had to get up one hour early in the morning, before the day's activities. It was implied that any other way or time frame would be less effective. There are lessons on proper prayer positions, and how to start and finish. I use to read everything I could get my hands on about prayer and then tried so hard to do it, that way. These days, to me prayers looks and feels so different. None of the many things I have read are incorporated in my prayer life today. I go on a wing and a prayer and am as fluid as fluid can be.

I love, love night prayers. It is dark, and cool and the noises have all settled in for the night. I am left alone to pray or really worship, as I like, except when it goes off in another direction and I am all up for that. Last night's prayer was not new and I love this one. It isn't about anyone I know or may know. It is about everyone who breathed today. Young and old, rich or poor. Born in the USA or anywhere else. Big city, tiny village. Man, woman, boy or girl. Healthy or sick. Everyone who took a breath today. Everyone.

Those who said Thank you to You, bless them.

Those who cursed Your name, bless them

Those who lost a bit of their faith today, bless them.

Those who said Hello, as they said took their last breath, bless them.

Those who accepted Your Grace today, bless them.

Those who walked away again, after hearing Your Knock, bless them.

Those who are so lost, they can not hear, bless them.

Those who are cold, hungry and tired, bless them.

Those who took a breath today, bless them.

campless...

So Mommy and Gage left Monday afternoon and the rest of us had to fend for ourselves until Friday afternoon. There was some prearranged time where we had tutoring and swimming lessons but the rest of the time, we were free to fend for ourselves. You might imagine that it would be hard to temper time with a 8 and 14 year old but surprisingly enough, it was a non issue.

We hit the snocone and ice cream establishments, as needed. I was not responsible for 2 of the 3 ice creams portions on Wednesday. We tried to stay cool and out of trouble, both had their own issues but in the end, it was a wonderful week. Did it look like their regular week, of course not. Whenever you add or subtract people from any given situation, the whole view changes and we must change with it. We each gave 100% and it could not have gone better. I got to cook, they got to eat. Everyone did their chores and then some. There was kindness and sarcasm, at every turn. I got to see their personalities as they are growing into their own persons. I loved every minute of it.

I am always a bit misty for a day after one of these weeks. Tired but a good tired, life will slow down again and I will be ready to go another round. They are wonderful little creatures and I miss them so...Suck it up, Nancy...you know who you are...

Oh, the possibilities...

This is a gorgeous patch of lavender. It could be in the middle of a large field of flowers or it could be a 2 foot flower bed at Sonic.Beautiful photo of lavender. What we see isn't always what it is. The older I get the more I understand how fluid life is and how I need to be aware of what is possible way more than what is. What is, satisfies the now, the small snippets that calm or signal the storms and make us feel safe or that the sky is indeed, falling. We do not have the luxury of being more than one dimentional. That is our lot in life and try as we may, always will be. Being able to understand that there is more than we can see, brings in a whole different mind set which brings in different choices, which changes our lives. That is what we can control, to understand there is More...


Ok, it is Sonic. My view with a Route 44 Diet Coke. Standing by the trash can, loving the light and the colors.

Have Keaton and Morgan duty next week as momma and Gage go to summer camp. Ice cream for dinner, one night. See you in a week. Oh yeah.................................................................................

14...

14 years ago today, this guy came bouncing into our hearts and has given us more than we could ever have asked for. We could not be more proud of this boy, he is the kindest soul I know. His heart has no boundaries. His love of music, is one we share. His love for God is unmistakable. He is the best big brother, son and grandson anyone could ask for. You know how we feel about you, and it just gets bigger everyday.


Happy 14th Keaton, we love you to infinite and beyond.XO

part time...

What comes to mind when you here, part time? Job? These days, it seems a lot of jobs are part time. For a variety of reasons, there is a negative connotation associated with a part time job. Most of us are looking for a full time, with benefits jobs, this day and age, they are harder to come by. We are living in an age where part time is starting to be the new normal.

I don't know if this sigma is fair to part time. Maybe it isn't all doom and gloom. Except anywhere else you apply it, it just gets tougher. There is the impressions that one is not giving it, all one has. That we are holding back, not living up to our full potential. We wouldn't want part time pay or part time 401k anymore than we want part time parents or friends. We are either all in or, waiting to be all in. Living with part time until The Ideal, full time comes along.

So what happens to us as a society if part time does take over? Is it possible that there is a positive in there, anywhere? I don't have the answer just my personal bias that may or may not, be accurate. I am a all in or all out, kind of girl. Right or wrong, I am driven by passion and whether a novel, or the way the light hits on of my favorite faces, I am semi-crazy and committed. I am 100% in everything I do, no reason that part time could not work for me. Need to keep that in mind, as the world changes, I don't want to miss a thing...

50% off...

Had to run into Walmart on the 4th and as I grabbed my needed items, the manager comes on over the loud speaker and proclaims that for the next few minutes, lounge chairs would be reduced from $55 down to $15. I had been waiting for the markdowns to start but thought I had at least 3 weeks to go. Today, Target's outdoor furniture was all marked down 50% and there was little left. In less than 10 days after summer officially starts, we are already in the 50% summer markdown and on to fall. The school supplies are already out, looks like have about a month to refill my pens and paper before the Halloween candy is out.

No wonder we are obsessed in our lives. We are a 50% world, living on the edge all the time. Summer is for thinking, dreaming, enjoying the warm sun. There is no time for Thanksgiving centerpieces and Christmas decorations. It is up to oneself to protect brain from this kind of overload. While I did cruise the school section just to see... I did not buy anything. Will I hold firm? Would like to say I would but I am under no illusion as to my weaknesses. I made myself a promise to use my powers for good and am trying desperately to stick to it, for myself if for no other reason. To prove a point. I do this often, part of the fun of living in Me Land.

So I am going to enjoy my $15 lounge chair, prop my feet up, grab my iPad and live summer like no body's business. I might not have all the answers but I have the ones I need for right now and that my friend, is huge...

looking up...

We humans spend a lot of time, looking up. For many reasons and most of them are related.

We look up at the skies to see things we never see on the ground. Maybe if the things that we were looking up were on the ground, we wouldn't be too interested but is Something we never know. We look up for a reason. It is not our default. Something draws us away from our normal and comfortable stance of looking ahead or down. There is a promise of Something way bigger than us, something that is off scale and needs to be, up high. Whether you are religious or not, looking up has that kind of quality. It is one that for a brief moment, we give it our full attention and expecting a reward for said attention. It may come in the form of an affirmation, either visual or perhaps, just an emotional response. We are giving ourselves up to Something higher than what we normally see. Something that commands we stop what we are doing and look up instead. Never miss an opportunity to look up. Another thing common to us all, we hate to miss anything...

4th of July...

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more. John Adams.

Can not think of any place I would be on the 4th of July. The older lady at Walmart who was in front of me had her whole 4th of July, right there. There was some deli chicken nuggets, bottle of white milk, one ear of shucked corn and a 25' hose. I made up a Story about all her purchases and it made her smile. Even if you don't have a family around, or a big shindig to go too, you can celebrate the wonderous nature of America's birthday. For as young as we are, we sure know how to throw a party, imagine we always will.

summer reading...

There are few things that explain summer more than summer reading. It has a different pace than winter reading. It is slow, and outdooresy. The words hang over you like the heat, slow and steady.

I have a few books that I purposely read on in the summer. Madeleine Engle's, The Summer of the Great Grandmother, is one of my favorites. This year, Barbara Robinson's, The Worst/Best School Year Ever, is my new favorite. Telling another Story of the now famous Herdman's family, from the The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, The Story of a sister and brother family who are all familiar to us, in some way or another.

Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie and Gladys - were the worst kids in the history of the world... I know them because they use to live next door to my daughter's family. They were the spiting image of the Herdsmans children. You could never convince me that this book was not a biography.

In Real Life, we would be appalled. Who could let their kids grow up and purposefully become, hoodlums? It happens all the time. We laugh at the antics of the Herdmans.

There were right there in the Woodrow Wilson School, all six of them, spread out, one to a class, because the only teacher who could have put up with two of them at once would have to be Miss King Kong. My father said he bet that was in the teachers contracts along with sick leave and medical benefits: only one Herdsman at a time.

Something magical about summer reading. Any other time of the year, it would not be as funny. It would not ring, so true and those chuckles that escape my lips, would never be. I spent many summers at the library, soaking up everything Nancy drew, that I could. Summer leands itself to a complete change of lifestyle. Even after all these years, the art of summer comes back to me, just like riding a bike - you never forget. The same applies to fall and buying new underwear but that is for a different season.

Grab yourself a book, pull up a chair and see if it isn't magical. Read something you have never read or a familiar one. Makes no difference, the reward is in the way you see it...