Tribulations of Playing School

Been a day. Indy has been sick for the last two days, throwing up. I feel so sorry for the little tyke but there appears to be nothing we can do for him but wait it out. It is some stomach bug going around (which means I will probably be next).

The Princess is a little put out about it since he is getting all the attention. Yesterday I told her I would play school with her today if Indy was feeling any better. She didn't believe me. I even taped a note up on my computer desk at eye level so I couldn't miss it and she still didn't believe me. I have no idea where this is coming from.

Anyway, as it turns out, I picked her up from school before Bombshell dropped off Indy so she did her homework and then I sat at the dining room table and played school with her. I was very attentive and paid strict attention to her. After 15 minutes though, she was tired of it and wanted to go play with her friends.

One of the things she had me do as a "student" was to write a short story on two short phrases she had given me: "little boy" and "wild cats" and it had to include a game. I got an A on my story so decided to share it here.

Little Boy and the Wild Cats

Little Boy was little, very little. He liked to play with the Wild Cats, but they didn't like to play with him. He was just too little.

This made Little Boy very sad. He wanted to be a Big Boy so he could play with the Wild Cats.

He was a very smart boy though and he decided that he would make a Wild Cats game on his computer. It turned out to be a very good game and he would play it for hours at a time.

It wasn't long before the Wild Cats realized Little Boy wasn't around anymore. They searched everywhere for Little Boy. "Where could he be?" they wondered.

One of the Wild Cats suggested they check his room. There was Little Boy sitting in front of his computer.

"What are you doing?" asked the Wild Cats. "Playing my new game," replied Little Boy. "Can we play?" the Wild Cats inquired. "No," said Little Boy, "this game is just for little boys."

Okay so it is hokie, but she liked it and as I said she gave me an "A".

A Book of Meme Tribulations

My gracious Blog Grandmother, Bou, has tagged me with the following post. Read it carefully as at the end you may find you have been tagged too.

1. A Book that changed my life:
There has been no one book that has changed my life. I feel that every book has in some way affected my outlook on life.

2. A Book that I've read more than once:
It would be easier to say which book I haven't read more than once and that would either be Billy Bud or Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Okay, I have not re-read either of them.

3. A Book I'd take to a desert Island:
The Tontine by H.C. Wolford or the Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart

4. A Book that made me laugh:
Any of the M.Y.T.H. books by Robert Asprin

5. A book that made me cry:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

6. A book I wish had been written:
"How to Avoid Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth for Dummies."

7. A book that should have never been written:
Anything by Herman Melville.

8. A book I'm currently reading:
"Ishmael" a Star Trek book by Barbara Hambly

9. A book I'm planning to read:
Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Malory (new rendition by Keith Baines)

10. Five people I'll send these questions to:
Amanda at Brandon's Puppy
The Colonel at On Duty
Lee Ann of Lee Ann's View
ArtcMom of ArtcMom's Musing
Jamie of Worlds Collide

Tombstone Tribulations

Blog Prompt: For what would you like to be remembered after you have gone? If you died tomorrow, what could they put on your gravestone?

Hopefully they would put that I was a wonderful mother and wife with a great sense of humor. At least I hope that is what they would put. If the kids have anything to do with it though, it would probably read something like:

NavyNuke: My computer is going to be better than yours now.
Scamp: Mother, wherefore art thou Mother? Under the dirt, sleeping with worms.
Bombshell: Can you watch the kids tonight? Oh, I guess not.

Oh, I know they wouldn't do that, but it sure would be funny.

Tribulations of a Must Read

If you don't read Alan Boyle's Cosmic Log, you should. I subscribed to the newsletter to let me know when he updates and have been since, well quite a long time. He has changed it over the years, but I really like the format now, especially the Weekend Field Trips on the Web.

This past weekend one of the places he directs us is to The Economist and Fatherhood. Take a moment and go read it.

Tribulations of Love

Blog Prompt: What do you do to let others know you love them? What do others do that make you feel loved?

It is always the last thing I say to them before parting, hanging up or going to sleep, be it Pan, the grandkids, the children or extended family. I guess I just want to make sure that in the event something happens this is what I leave them with. I know there must be other things, but each one is, I am sure, going to think of something different. Maybe different than what I think, so I'll just leave it at this.

And how do others show their love for me? For starters they tell me. But it happens in little ways too. Letting me sleep in a little, trusting me, believing in me and letting me just be me. Of course with the grandkids, it is a hug and a smile that melts my heart.

Tribulations of Life Encounters

Blog Prompt: Has there been anyone that you've encountered in your life (however briefly), that you wish you had gotten to know better?

I am sure there have been some throughout my life that I would have preferred to know better, but at this point I can't think of who they might be. In order to answer this question it would seem that I would have kept up with the ongoing affairs of the person in question.

For me it is a far better question to ask, has there been anyone who wished you spent more time with?

That question is a lot easier to answer because yes, there are several I wished I had spent more time with or had taken more time with. People who have enriched my life and made it all the more better for having been a part of it.

A Forgotten Tribulation?

What, are you telling me I forgot to post something today? What in the world can you be talking about? I never forge..... Oh, I guess you are right.

It must be because of the dreaded disease that seems to be permeating throughout my house. Or it just could be because we (the kids) spent the day out in the whale pool in the backyard that we can now see.

Whatever the case may be I can post about the conversation between bug and I today. We were talking about.... (can you guess?)..... words and I was explaining that next week I would not be using the one I had intended as I remembered another that is far more interesting. Well one thing let to another and what should come up but the pint.

For years bug always referred to a pint as a pent. (Not entirely her fault, it was the way her teacher said it.) Mine was adament (you know long a, dam, ent). Hey I was a kid and got to say a bad word. ddpup isn't left out either. Her's is executive; only pronouce it as execution with ive instead of ion.

And while it is not a pronounciation error, but a spelling error we will never let our mother forget "Quiet, I said Quiet... Q U I T E--- Quiet." Love you mom.

Word of the Week - ZARF

After talking with the bug this week about kids and words, I'm going to try and post a new word each week. Something a little out of the ordinary. Something you just are not going to use every day.

Today's word is one of my most favorites. I can't remember when I first came across it in the dictionary (okay, I'm enough of a geek that I actually 'read' the dictionary from page 1 to the end from time to time), but I loved how many different movements of the face and mouth had to be made in order to just say the word.

All the words I post are going to be from the 1968 version of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. Why? Because I happen to have that one handy. Although if I ever find one of my older ones, I will switch to that.

zarf (n.) [Ar., a saucer] a small, metal, cuplike holder, usually ornamented, used in the Levant for a hot coffee cup.

If you have watched "The Hunt for Red October" you have seen one. When Ramius' uncle receives the letter he is holding one.

Now you have the word and what are you suppose to do with it? Use it in a sentence, look it up in another dictionary, find a picture of one, write a short story using it as the jump start or nothing. But if you do decide to use it, post it on your blog then leave a link in my comments so I can see what you did with it. If it is a just a sentence or short definition you can leave that in my comments.

Pluto's Tribulations at an End?

Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has been classified as a planet (nineplanets). It has a satellite, Charon, plus two additional smaller satellites. I grew up with Pluto being a planet and cannot imagine thinking of it in any other light. Now my grandchildren may not know the thrill of trying to locate this smallest of planets in a telescope. Sure they can still look but it just won't be the same. But then again they may still have include it in their list of planets.

"I'm embarassed for astornomy," said Alan Stern, leader of NASA's New Horizon's mission to Pluto and a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute. "Less than 5 percent of the world's astronomers voted." -Space.com

I think I have to agree with Mr. Stern. Let's get a more objective vote before we start changing the science books.

Controlling Tribulations

From Ogre's View another quiz which I believe he got from Tammi's World.

You Are 40% Control Freak

You have achieved the perfect balance of control and letting go. You tend to roll with whatever life brings, but you never get complacent.

Are You A Control Freak?

Nice to know I'm balanced. Now if I could just keep my balance.

Kindly Tribulations

Blog prompt: If you were able to, what 3 random acts of kindness would you do where no one would know that you did it?

This one is a poser for sure. It is hard to think of some act of kindness that know one would no about.

One would be to have a dinner catered for an elderly couple unable to get about anymore, complete with china, flowers, music, candles and a personal matre'd.

Second I would like to purchase a welfare child's complete school supplies and have them delivered a week or so before school.

Third, make a generous anonymous donation to any local program that benefited teenagers, both smart and not so smart kids. I guess what I would like to see is a teen center. Most of the bases I lived on during my life had one; yet I have not seen anything comparable in towns and cities outside of a base. The ones I use to go to had a patio; a dance room; a small diner and a game room.

HAPPY BLOGVERSARY

to my baby sis & sometimes blog mom: vw bug. (which was yesterday, btw). So head on over and wish her a very happy blogversary.

Done good kid and look forward to reading more.

Lively Tribulations

Blog Prompts: What do you like best and least about where you live?

There are probably a lot more things I dislike about the place I live than actually like, but here it goes.

I like that I live far enough away from "home" that friends and relatives have to call before they visit. I like our dock space and being able to sit on the boat and watch the sun go down (or up) over the bayou. I like that there are plenty of parks to take the kids to, to play especially for such a small town.

I dislike that everything closes at 9 p.m. I dislike the "I am better than thou" attitude that permeates throughout the town. I dislike that just because they have a church on every corner they feel they have to have the above attitude. (We have more churches per capita than a major metropolitan city).

Tinnitus Tribulations

For my favorite blog grandfather. This is going to be phonetically as I do not have a Latin book handy any longer.

Tinnitus, tinnitus
Semper tinnitus
O tatum est gaudium
Dem vehemor in traha.

Like I said, my Latin spelling is really atrocious. But I think you might get the gist of it.

Courses, Study and Tribulations

Blog Prompt: What did you study in school, or what was a favorite subject? Did you receive your education somewhere other than school?

And the winner is...... Okay, I'm really going to have to think on this one.

Elementary school was the basics so I guess I can pretty much leave this one out. Junior high is where things really began to change. I really liked German, Chorus and Literature. I remember in Lit one year we got to divide up into groups and then we had to act out our favorite story. My best friend and I did ours on a Japanese story we had read. She had blonde, blonde hair so we dyed her hair black with that spray dye you could buy. Boy was her mom mad. Now I can understand why, lol.

When it comes to high school, I can't think of much I didn't like. Gosh, I can't think of any I didn't like. Though I think my absolute favorite subject was Latin. There was just something fascinating about the subject and even if I can't speak it anymore, I can, at least, still sing Jingle Bells in it. I would love to take a refresher course in it now, if it was still offered anywhere around here.

UPDATE: After reading Heather's post it reminded me of a course I had to take in my senior year. I mentioned it in Loonyhiker's comments a day or so ago too. It was called recreation and we took it instead of P.E. In rec we learned hiking, biking, chess, darts, canoeing, sailing, fishing, shuffleboard and ballroom dance, among others. It was definitely different and a lot of fun.

Trading Places Tribulations

Blog Prompt: If you could trade places with someone, who would it be and why?

Well let's see, there's... Ah no. Maybe? No not them either. Possibly? No, no, no.

Who would I trade places with? Me, of course. And why? Boy, where do I start? Of course, I have had my trials and tribulations throughout my life, but then I got to travel half way across the world and meet all kinds of exciting people. Including some pretty famous ones too.

I have three great children, of whom I am very proud. Three beautiful grandchildren, of whom I am just as proud, two sisters I love being around, a mother who is practical and still has a great sense of humor and in-laws that I wouldn't trade for all the gold in the world. And then there is Pan. Dear, wonderful Pan, who takes me for what I am and not what he thinks I should be.

I have a great life, why would I trade it with anyone? They might mess it up.

Tribulation of Lost Brain Cells

Pan use to work as a government contractor. He always spoke with reverence when talking about his immediate boss, Mr. C. I finally got to meet Mr. C and he is a sweet, soft-spoken man. But Mr. C has the mind like a 500G memory chip. He doesn’t forget anything. He can tell you the number of a document you worked on 5 years prior. And notice I said “you” not “he.”

People would get so flustered when he would ask them about such & such a document and they couldn’t remember. Then he would pull out a newspaper clipping he carried around with him. In essence it stated that having sex improved your memory. But it left out a part.

I am a fairly intelligent person. I studied astronomy, worked as a legal assistant for an attorney, wrote building contracts and then worked as an office manager for a newspaper. So I guess it is fair to assume I am not stupid.

So it was odd that after I married Pan, I started doing stupid things. The worst of which was to get in the car without looking to see if there was anything on the seat. One time when it happened it was something rather uncomfortable that I sat on and I made a nasty comment about people leaving things on the seat. Pan just looked at me and asked why I didn’t look before sitting down. Still being snappish, I glared at him, telling him in no uncertain terms, “That while having sex may improve his memory, it was because he was sucking my brain cells out.”

Tribulations for a Fantasy Camp

Blog Prompt: From racecar driving to rock stars, Dodgers camp to tossing a football with Joe Montana or playing in the Super Bowl, fantasy camps for adults make dreams come true. If you could design your own fantasy camp, what would it be like?

It would probably be a geeky type of Fantasy Camp with the lastest computer updates, a planetarium and observatory, plenty of astronomy experts to give lectures throughout the day. I would also have one section set aside for archeology. A private dig site for visitors and lectures.

I would locate it on a lush private island so there would be no outside disturbances. There would also be a variety of 5 star restaurants where you definitely find something you liked. An IMAX theater within walking distance of the restaurants.

Yep, that would be my fantasy camp.

Thank You All

For making my 50th birthday one of the best I have ever had.

To Richmond, Quality Weenie, Pamibe, ArtC Mom, Glynisb, Catherine, Carmen, Loonyhiker, ArmyWifeToddlerMom, Heather, Lisa W., AmadaDufau , Ogre and Mrs. Who, I didn't realize there were so many ways to say Happy Birthday and I loved each and every way. A big smooch and hug your way. Thank you.

Tammi, no birthday would be complete without cake, flowers and balloons. Thank you so very much. They added to the ambiance of the festive occasion.

Sticks, my favorite blog sister (okay my only blog sister), I send a big thanks for the cake (it was yummy), the party decorations, the huge bottle of wine (of which I drank to much and couldn't crawl into the glass), and the dalmations (I didn't have the heart to send the delivery guys home so they helped with the wine).

Thanks to Writersblock, Michel, Oddybobo (blog cuz) and Bou (blog grandmama), my house still looks like a fire station. Woooooo Hoooooooooo.... My turn on the pole next guys. Oh wait a minute, hey, no, nooooooooooooooo, nooooooooooooooooo, put that hose down now.

To That 1 Guy, what can I say. Wine and Jarhead Red don't mix, LOL. And I did finally get to see a Nekkid network administrator thanks to both. Thanks Guy for helping to make my 50th such a special occasion.

Birthdays and Tribulations

Okay today is my 50th birthday, yup the big 5 0. Pretty cool.

Last night Bombshell took me to dinner at a Japanese restaurant with Pan and a friend of hers who had a birthday last week. I was at a loss as to how to refer to Bombshell's friend until our chef decided for me. He kept calling her LuvBucket all evening so that is what I will call her as well.



(Bombshell is on the left, LuvBucket on the right.) We had a great time, a funny and clever chef and a wonderful meal. I had shrimp which is always delicious. But then there were the vegetables. They have added broccoli since the last time I was there. While it was good, I really would have preferred more zucchini and yellow squash. They are also now offering a chose of soups and salads. I always liked the egg drop soup and tossed salad with ginger dressing. Guess I could have had Pan order the miso soup and cucumber salad just to taste it, but didn't think of it at the time.

vw bug sent me a present which arrived yesterday. Boy was that a story in itself, but I think I will leave it to her to tell, since she was the one most involved. BTW bug I did find an envelope from you from a couple of years ago and you had the right zip on that one.



According the shipping label the package contains: A Tinker Bell dinner plate, 1 each of a hot pink fork & spoon, Tinker Bell cup, Princess Beaded Mirror Activity ( this is the white mirror, beads, ribbon and glue), 1 Tinker Bell thank you note, 2 Tinker Bell lunch napkins, fairy wings, 1 Tinker Bell invitation, 1 Tinker Bell sticker sheet, silver tiara, 1 Tinker Bell blowout, 1 favor box, 1 pink brush, 1 mini silver star wand, 1 roll-on body glitter, 1 purple goblet, 1 Tinker Bell dessert plate, 1 feather ring and 1 heart mirror. Very sweet gift, so I thought until Bombshell made the observation that is it possible but thought that once you reached 50 you were to old to party with anyone else? Ummmmm.

Stories and Tribulations

Want to try your hand at writing but were afraid? Here's your chance to add two paragraphs to an ongoing and interesting story. Just head on over to Not Exactly Rocket Science's Two for Tuesday.

The Tribulations of Shirts Your Mother Hates

Blog Prompt: What was one of your favorite outfits when you were a kid? Considering our different ages, this might be fun!

I don't remember too much about what I actually wore as a kid. Other than most times it was made by mom and was pretty comfortable.

It wasn't until I got into my teens that I remember really getting "store bought" clothes. I babysat so occasionally I would buy something I really liked. One item in particular stands out. A shirt. It was like a peasant blouse almost, but it had tie in the front that when it was tied left a circle open right around the cleavage area. My mom hated it.

At this point I can't tell why I liked it so much (maybe because mom didn't, but I don't think so) or why mom disliked it so much. Probably I thought it made me look cool and mom thought it made me look like a PWB. She was probably right.

Tribulations of That 1 Guy

Okay, T1G, plugged my interview and I just found out his interview is just one day before mine. So you need to head over to Basil's and find Drunken Wisdom then click on 'Ask Your Questions.'

I'm on my way now to think of really stimulating questions to ask this stand up Marine.

Half a Century of Tribulations

Not really my story to tell... but I snuck over to let Tink's readers know... she is turning 50 tomorrow. The big FIVE ZERO. FIFTY.



Please stop by and wish her a Happy Birthday. I love you Sis!!! Enjoy turning a half a century. ** Hugs **

I Want/Need Tribulations

Blog Prompt: Start 5 sentences with "I want..."
Start 5 sentences with "I need..."

I want all my children home to visit at the same time. Right now, this minute, you hear me. Okay maybe that is asking too much, LOL. But I would like them all home at the same time occasionally.

I want to be my perfect weight, right now, immediately. Again, not going to happen but I could wish can't I.

I want my children and grandchildren to be healthy and have happy lives. Unfortunately I only have a little control over that, the rest is up to them.

I want (okay this is getting tough now) to take lessons to use my camera more efficiently. To be able to get the best photographs I can.

I want to eventually go back to college and earn my degree in astronomy.

I need to count my blessings more often than I do.

I need to exercise more in order to obtain my ideal weight.

I need to remember that my children have their own lives now and not to interfer to much. I'm pretty good about it, but occasionally I tend to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong.

I need to listen more carefully to Princess, especially at this crucial age. And make sure I let her know when she is right.

I need to talk to my mother every day or every other day for me; not just for her. She is a great source of inspiration and advice. She can make me laugh and she can make me see what I do have that is important.

I guess I could have put in that I wanted a new computer, new television, etc., but those are things I know I will get in the next year or two, so where I am concerned they really are not 'wants.'

I, also, could have wanted world peace, and believe me I do, with two boys in the military I would be crazy not to want it. But that is going to take a lot more than an "I want."

Now I am going to go sit on the bed and watch "Sharkboy and Lavagirl" with Indy before we have to get dressed and leave for the photo shoot I have to do.

Bed List & Tribulations

Blog Prompt: What are the last 10 things you did last night before bed?

I may have to work this one backwards

10. Removed the decorative pillows and pulled back the comforter and sheet.
9. Turned on the ceiling fan and bedside light.
8. Played a computer game while I finished drying.
7. Took a shower.
6. Watched Babylon 5 with hubby.
5. Took a look through a scrapbooking magazine while eating.
4. Cooked dinner. One for me; one for Pan.
3. Decided on what to cook for dinner. (no easy task since I have to cook two different dinners).
2. Sat and relaxed for a few once Bombshell picked up the Indy.
1. Got bunches of good-bye kisses from Indy.

Grocery List Tribulations

Blog Prompt: What's on your grocery list right now? Anything unusual?

What better time to start my grocery list and I just hope I remember to look at it next time I go shopping.

1. Spaghetti Noodles
2. Folger's French Roast Coffee (don't drink it much, but it is nice to have a around for those coffee moments.
3. Water packed mozzarella cheese.
4. Slim Fast Blueberry bars (I don't like to eat breakfast but have found that I can manage one of these in the mornings)
5. Diapers
6. Apple juice
7. Prudhomme's cajun spices
8. Gerber's toddler dinners
9. Tyson hot wings
10. ground round

Geotag Tribulations

Several weeks ago, I had heard about tagging digital pictures with a gps. Then recently we got the September issue of Popular Science which had an article about geotagging your photos by uploading your photos to a free account at flickr.com.

I was wondering if anyone had tried this and how it worked, before I took the jump. So if you have or know anything about it I would appreciate the information. In the meantime, I will continue to monitor Pop Sci's site to see if they put the How 2.0 guide for this up.

Attainable Tribulations

Blog Prompt: List 10 attainable goals for you and/or your family that can be accomplished within the next year.

1. Not to strangle Indy when he spits apple juice on the Princess' laptop.
2. To work with the Princess consistantly on her homework each week.
3. To be a cheering squad for Pan as he clears out the jungle we have in our backyard.
4. To make it to Hawaii in December so we can see Scamp and Honey renew their vows.
5. To tell my family, all of them, how much I love them every chance I get.
6. To lose weight for my sake; not to please anyone else.
7. To get as many photographs scanned in and organized as possible.
8. To take more day to day pictures of things I love.
9. To be more conscientious about cooking dinners ahead of time and freezing them.
10. To spend more time with those I love.

I love .... Tribulations

Blog Prompt: Start 10 sentences with the words "I love..."

I love my grandchildren. All three of them. Ballerina is the jewel in my crown; Indiana B is the Excalibur at my side and Princess Z is my heart.

I love my children. They have made life worth living, especially once they reached their teens.

I love Pan. He gives meaning, humor and joy to my life. He is my soul mate in the truest sense of the word

I love my extended family; mom, sisters, brothers-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, etc.

I love turnips greens with scallions.

I love mom's chicken and dumplings.

I love cantaloupe with salt and pepper.

I love waking up each morning.

I love spending a day on the boat with a good book, a thick steak and a glass of wine.

I love Me.

A Fontly Tribulation

This post is basically for my scrapbooking pals, but may be of use to others as well.

I know when I am scrapbooking via the computer, it is always difficult to decide what font to use. Well I have found a site to make that choice a little easier. You need to check out Will Harris' Esperfonto page.

On the right hand side of the page is a form to fill out. When you have filled out the info that is applicable to your page design, click on submit and you will get a list of fonts that are appropriate to your design. Pretty Cool, huh?

EEGs and Tribulations

I have never had one. Both of my sisters and one of my boys have. Some interesting stories there and it all starts with vw bug. Actually it starts with ddpup but I don't recall any funny stories about her and EEGs. Maybe it is because we are too close in age.

But onward with vw bug and her tribulation with EEGs. She was only about 2 or 3. We were living at Beale AFB in California and she had to go to a hospital further south (I think it was to Travis AFB) for her EEG test. So we get there and, of course, being only 2 or 3, laying still is not an option. To calm her down they gave her a tranquilizer to put her to sleep, no go. I know they gave her at least one more before they could get her to sleep and after the test as we were leaving, the doctor was telling mom and dad that she would sleep for several hours because of the tranquilizers.

No sooner than mom and dad put her in the car did she wake up and all the way home we had a drunk toddler to deal with. She was hilarious to watch.

Similarly the same thing happened with Scamp but with a CAT scan. Although when he would not go to sleep after they gave him as much tranquilizer as they could they had to call me in to sit with him. As you know doubt know, only the person being scanned is suppose to be in the room (something about x-rays) but they had to bend the rules here in order to get the test done. After that little fiasco, the doctors decided to let me hold him during his EEG.

Morning Telephone Tribulations

As if I had mentioned it before, Bombshell has been working some really horrendous hours. Like until 2 in the morning, making it nearly 3 before I get to bed. Normally I am up by 7:30 as I want to be somewhat awake when she drops off Indy at 9.

But today is Saturday, her day off. So I was going to sleep in (since I didn't get to sleep until 3:30). No such luck. At a little before 9 the phone rings. Now there is a phone on Pan's side of the bed, but does he hear it? NO (and then he wonders why I can sleep through his alarm). So I stumble out of bed and into the living room to get the telephone.

It is JS. "Good morning Tink!" In a voice that is way to cheerful for that time of the morning, especially from one who is normally still slurring his words at that time of day. "Did I wake you?" Duh, do I sound awake? "Oh sorry, I seem to be making politically incorrect choices." Actually this time he didn't, normally he calls at 6 in the morning and, for a change, he actually wanted to talk to Pan. Two minutes in to the conversation though we were disconnected. I'll let Pan call him back when he gets up.

JS and Pan went to school together, ran in the same circles and generally did dumb boy stuff together. Pan went of to become a computer/technology guru while JS graduated from law school. Maybe therein lies the "problem." See, when Pan and I married, I worked for an attorney. I loved my job and adored my boss. He was one of the best men I have ever had the occasion to know.

Still it was at this time that JS decided that I was his new best friend. He would take me out to lunch and then come over to our house on the weekends to visit. That is until he made his most heinous politically incorrect statement. For a period of years he was banned from the house. We had no contact with him. But about a couple of years ago he called and actually apologized so we have been seeing him again periodically.

And I am still his new best friend. The one he calls at 6 in the morning or at midnight. He is still politically and morally incorrect. So why do I put up with it? Because below all the rhetoric he really does have a heart the size of Texas. Of course, he has an ego the same size, lol.

So now I am up and semi-conscious (and he just called back. I gave it to Pan), and trying to decide what I can do in such a catatonic state.

Island Tribulations

Blog Prompt: You are going to live on this absolutely amazing island with stunning surroundings, a white beach, magnificent trees, waterfalls, no poisonous insect on it (hahaha, so no spiders or ugly thingies)...it's a real paradise this island. Rich in food and water as well, so no worries on that front either.

You are allowed to bring only three items from your home (something you already have).

Now: what would they be and what would you do with them and what do you imagine you might create????

I'm going to be good here and really stick to just three.

The first, of course, would be my camera so that I would have a visual journal of time spent on this island.

Secondly, a good pair of walking shoes (maybe two pairs). Aha, you thought I would say computer didn't you? Well, Pan would be along with me and he doesn't go anywhere without his, so I could download and journal on his.

Lastly, a good sunscreen.

And what would I create? Well a wonderful memory, of course.

I originally started this as if it was a deserted island, but went back and read the prompt and no where does it say it is deserted, so I picked the three things I know I will be taking to the paradise island I am heading to in December.

Is Project Child a Tribulation?

I think not. Last night I attended the Project Child Parent-Teacher conference. Bombshell use to be in it and now the Princess is. It is an interesting concept wherein each child sets his/her own goal and then works to reach that goal through a variety of "stations."

From the Child brochure: there is a computer station for technology based learning; a textbook station for written work; a challenge station for activities in game-like format; a construction station for creative expression; an exploration station for hands-on activities; and finally, a teacher station for additional instructional support.

After homeroom the students start their rotation through the three classrooms in their cluster. Then after some group lessons from the teacher, the students break up into the station they have decided to work on during that period.

While the brochure has the list as a reading class; a writing class and a mathematics class, the cluster the Princess belongs to has a Language Arts class; a social studies/science class and a reading/spelling/mathematics class.

According to her language arts teacher they will have written a five paragraph essay by the time Christmas vacation rolls around. Right now in Social Studies they are learning about laws and how they affect our lives. At one of the challenge stations they get matchbox cars to drive around; if they go to fast they are issued a ticket and after three tickets their license is revoked and the car confiscated.

In reading if their achieve their point goal, their reading level goal and 85% or better on their AR tests, they get to have a candlelit lunch with the reading teacher.

I guess what I really like about this is that the Princess is not going to be held back because someone else in the class is slower than her; nor will she be subjected to ridicule if she is lagging behind in something. I was most grateful to hear about this since last year she was told not to read advanced books as it would put the other kids at a disadvantage.

In addition to being about to contact any of her teachers, Bombshell, ex1 and I will be able to check her grades on-line.

She seems to be enjoying, especially since the teachers don't believe in a lot of homework, lol. Though they send the week's worth of homework on Monday, she can't turn it in until Thursday so she has plenty of time for it.

Shhhh. I was informed that the Princess topped her spelling test. Of course, that means her teachers will be expecting more from her. But I know she is cut out for it.

Tribulations of the Illness Prone Part II

A couple of days ago the blog prompt was about accidents and illnesses. At the time I could not remember any serious accidents that had happened to me. Thank goodness for mothers, as mine promptly called and reminded me a few.

The first was many years ago in a time far away. (So melodramatic, don't you think?)

Walking to the base library, a field mouse ran up to me. I picked it up. It bit me. Mom rushes me to the hospital and I was just darn lucky I didn't have to go through the rabies shots. Tetanus shot.

Then one summer day, while in shorts, I backed into the muffler of a motorcycle that was still running. OUCH.... More than ouch, I didn't tell anyone what I had done. It turned out to be a pretty serious burn and then to top it off, it got infected. I ended up at the hospital where, I swear, they used steel wool to clean it. It was years before the scar disappeared. Another tetanus shot.

And what about the time I stepped on a rusty nail; another trip to the hospital and more tetanus shots. Or the time I got a tack in my wrist. And one more tetanus shot for the road.

Then there was the time (and I have no idea why I didn't remember this one) I had been bitten by a brown recluse spider on my ankle. This time it wasn't a matter of that I didn't want to tell anyone what I had done but I just didn't realize it, until I started getting sick.

I called my mom and dad to take me to the emergi-care center down the road from us. It was packed with people, but I signed in, sat down and then passed out. Needless to say I was bumped to the top of the list.

I was sent to a specialist who very callously told me I only had a 20% chance of living since I had waited so long for treatment. Duh! Like I knew I had been bitten by a poisonous spider. After I proved him wrong about that one, then I had a 75% chance of losing my leg. I'm still walking around on the ones God gave me folks. (and that reminds me there is another story to blog about this particular doctor that I need to write.) My ankle still shows the signs of the bite and will also do so and I still occasionally twist my ankle as it gives out. But I have learned to live with it, which is probably why I didn't recall.

So much for having an accident free life, LOL, though I probably had enough tetanus shots to last a lifetime.

Materialistic Tribulations

Blog Prompt: What is your most favorite thing? (No people! You have to be at least a little materialistic here!)

My absolute most favorite thing is something I no longer have. My telescope. But after 25-30 years of almost constant use, it finally fell apart. Eventually I will replace it.

But right now, my most favorite item is my camera. Nuke sent it to me for Mother's Day this year. It is a Sony Cybershot DSC-707. It was his 'old' one, lol. His friends could not believe that he would send me a "used" camera. He knows me too well though and knew I would much prefer his "used" camera to anything else he could have bought me. Now all I have to do is wait for a couple of years for him to buy another one so that I get his Canon SLR, LOL....

2nd call for Interviews and Tribulations

Repost of request posted this past weekend:

Okay, because it really sounds like it would be fun I have asked to be interviewed by Basil. Wherein I now need your help. There is a possibility that I will be interviewed sometime in September but to be sure I have to have a lot of questions to answer. And those questions, dear folks, come from you.

So I really need for you to go to Basil's Upcoming Interviews, scroll down to my blog name, click on email your question and send a question or two or more to Basil that you would like to know about me. The more questions submitted the more likely I am to be interviewed quickly.

So be a good sport and ask those questions, please.

"Healings" and Tribulations

Blog Prompt: Use the word "healing" however you want/need. What do you do to find it? Who helps you with it? Are there activities that you do to work towards healing or to heal yourself emotionally?

The images that raced through my mind with these questions, but we won't go there as I was taught that you do not discuss religion, politics or sex in polite company. Although some of these may come up later, lol.

It seems that when I was in first grade I came down with every childhood disease imaginable: chicken pox, mumps, measles, name it and I probably had it. It may not have necessarily even been during my first grade year, just feels like it. My mother is more capable of responding to that than I am.

But, back to the 'healing.' As a normal red-blooded child, I bounced back from these illnesses with ease. And bounced is right. I remember that we (ddpup and I) would get to sleep in the living room occasionally when we were ill and there were times of bouncing on the sofa. You know, I think bouncing in the living room will heal most ills.

As I become an adult, I found that in order to heal physically, I needed solitude. Maybe I need it because I can't get it. First children now grandchildren intrude on that solitude.

As far as emotional healing goes, I talk to my mother. She is a fount of information and I value her input (even if I don't use it).

Tribulations of the Illness Prone

Blog Prompt: Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.
Not accident prone? Someone else's illness/accident that significantly affected your life.

I am sure I have had my share of illnesses or accidents (the most vivid being a boat and pier crushing my little finger), but nothing that approaches the serious stage (yet). And you already know about Scamp and his reaction to his asthma medicine, which only leaves NavyNuke and Bombshell.

Other than the normal course of colds, flues and idonwannas, Bombshell is probably as healthy as they come.

So that leaves NavyNuke, at about 9, who really did scare the tar out of me the day I found him curled in a fetal position. He would scream everytime you tried to straighten him out. But there seemed to be nothing else wrong.

I took him to my mother's to watch that day, as I had jury duty. While we were going through the questioning phase, a clerk came and got me. My mother had called, Nuke was getting worse. I raced home, literally. Called his doctor then grabbed him up and headed for the hospital.

Needless to say, I was terrified. I had no idea what was wrong with my little boy. He was in excruciating pain and there was nothing I could do to alleviate it. His doctor met me at the hospital and started running tests immediately. He spent two weeks in the hospital and the outcome? He had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

He was one of the lucky ones, he outgrew it. Nowadays he just has my problem, lol. How to lose weight.

In-Laws are not Tribulations

Blog Prompt: How did you first meet your in-laws? Impressions?

I first met my mother and father-in-law when I was invited to their house for dinner. And I fell in love with them.

I could sit and listen to them talk for hours. I still can. They have the best sense of humor and have wonderful stories to tell of their lives.

I definitely have been blessed to have them as part of my life.

Pan's Laundry Tribulations

Recently Pan sent out an e-mail with the following heading in the subject line:

Dang!!! I wish I'd of thought of this before my wife found out I could do laundry!

And this in the body of the message:

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his Sweatshirt.

Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "University of Oklahoma."

Now the question is: Does he live or die?

Interviews and Tribulations

Okay, because it really sounds like it would be fun I have asked to be interviewed by Basil. Wherein I now need your help. There is a possibility that I will be interviewed sometime in September but to be sure I have to have a lot of questions to answer. And those questions, dear folks, come from you.

So I really need for you to go to Basil's Upcoming Interviews, scroll down to my blog name, click on email your question and send a question or two or more to Basil that you would like to know about me. The more questions submitted the more likely I am to be interviewed quickly.

So be a good sport and ask those questions, please.

Tribulations of being a SAHM

Blog Prompt: What do you dislike the most about being a housewife(SAHM)or housework in general? What are the best things about this challenging job? (Motherhood and/or housework)

I was both. Well at least a stay at home mom. I didn't start working, in the "real" world capacity until my daughter was in kindergarten. I will probably piss some off but if you really want to make an impact on your kids you need to be with them until they are at least 3 years old and you need to breast-feed.

In my humble opinion, once they start school it is too late. I know there are a lot of mothers out there who have no choice and those I have met have played both mother, father and social worker to their children and deserve all the praise they can get. But I have also met others who think it is the schools who should be teaching their children not only Reading, Writing and Arithmatic but all the niceties of socialization as well. All those parents I hope rot in .... well you get my drift.

Now onto ... what was the second? House something? Something work? House work? Arg!!! Shouldn't that be deemed a 4-letter word even though it is a total of 9? I HATE housework. I need a maid. But before I can hire one I need to clean house.

Buggy Birthday Tribulations

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bug!!!!!

Today is my sister's birthday. She is FORTY TWO (42) today! If you get a chance pop over to One Happy Dog Speaks and leave her some well wishes.

Seems everyone got you everything I was thinking about, but I have something that most will not have.

They are all set up for the perfect 6x4 1/2" printing.

Tribulations of the Semi-Nudist

Blog Prompt: Do you have a favorite item of clothing? Why do you like it? How about the rest of your family? If we showed up on your doorstep, what would everyone likely be wearing?

My Greeneville T-shirt that Nuke bought for me while he was on the "Greeneville." I wear it around the house all the time. It is big and long and very comfortable. Although now it is getting full of holes, lol. I also have a cross stitch T that goes down to my knees that I like wearing too.

Pan is partial to his towel wrap and if the kids are not here when he gets home, he heads to the back to undress and put on his wrap. Though if the wrap is in the wash, he is just as likely to sit around in the nude. If the kids are here, he either wears shorts and T or his pajamas (he doesn't usually get home from work until 6 or 7 at night).

And if you showed up, this is most likely what you would find both of us in, so my advice, don't show up unannounced or you may be likely to see something neither of us would want you too.

Tribulations of a Life's Journey

Blog Prompt: If you could tell the story of your life by taking someone to a half dozen places, where would you go?

1. Rapid City, South Dakota. That was where I was born and I would like to see it again myself.
2. Blytheville, Arkansas. Where I spent a good deal of my childhood and where I have many fond memmories.
3. Guam. I was a teenager while we lived in Guam. Interesting memories eminate from there. Some good, some not so good, but all interesting.
4. If we could go back through time as well, then Foley, Alabama, where my grandfather's family lives(ed). But taking you there now would not be the same.
5. Alaska. Even though I have never been myself, it would show just what a cold-weather person I really am.
6. Florida. All of it. This is where I am spending my adult life, from Palm Beach to Pensacola, all of it I can call home and do.

Oh Sweet Tribulations

I feel so guilty for not blogging at all yesterday. What can I say?

I had a day off, so to speak. Kind of. Bombshell didn't get home from work until 3 a.m. (last minute influx of people) which meant I was up until 4 or there abouts. She told me that she would not have to work that day or night, but needed me to watch Indie while she and ex1 took the Princess to school for orientation. So I was up to watch the wee one for that.

Actually he was quite good and wanted to lay in bed to watch television. Go figure. I wasn't about to argue the point with him, lol. And it was for only about 45 minutes.

I did tell you we have a disfunctional family didn't I? Well, ex1 says we do. He's right. After the orientation, he and Bombshell went shopping together. They talk all the time and are best friends. Good thing for Princess, but it is weird. When he needed a new car he called Bombshell to go with him. They also talk to one another about their currents. Strange, strange, strange.

Oh, back to the sweet tribulations. After Indie was gone, I figured I would try to take a nap. No way was that going to happen. The telephone kept ringing. Finally I gave up, got up and put in a movie. I vegged. No computer, just watched a movie.

Indulgent Tribulations

Blog Prompt: In what way do you indulge yourself? In what way do you wish you could indulge yourself?

I'm late, I know. And yet this is a pretty cool set of questions. So off to answer them.

Indulging: Turning my a/c down to 60°F if I so chose. Having a glass of wine with dinner (or two). By not talking if I don't want. Reading a book when the dishes need to be done and playing on the computer when I should be vacuuming. Playing on the floor with the kids instead of dusting. Yep, I indulge myself daily.

I can't really think of a way that I would indulge myself if I could. Oh wait, maybe buy a hot tub for the backyard and put a sliding glass door in my bedroom to get to it. Other than that, Pan usually indulges my every whimsy whether I want him to or not. (I am Soooo lucky).

Blog Prompt, Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Describe a childhood game you used to play. Who did you play with? Any special (ie. made-up) rules?

For the most part growing up, I lived on Air Force bases. I don't know how they are now, but back those many years ago, it was a pretty close knit family of kids. It was Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, and the game was hide and seek. We played it every change we got, I think. Right up until dark a lot of times. Funny though I don't remember where we would hide. Oh well, guess that is a sign of age.