Word of the Week - SWARD

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

sward(n)
grass-covered soil; turg.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Generational Tribulations

Fri 8/10 blog prompt: Friday Aug. 10 is the anniversary of the Smithsonian Institute. If you could put one item in the Smithsonian (national Museums in Washington DC), what would you want preserved for future generations?

Oh, this one is tough. I am sure that just about anything I would put in there is probably already there. Though if I could, I would probably put a piece of United Airlines Flight 93 in a glass case with pictures of the those who attempted to retake the plane; as a reminder of an awful day, but also of the courage that was spawned in the face of adversity.



Partytime Quick Click, ©2007 Meryl Bartho; The Blues Backpack, ©2007 Jamie Rousselle; March 6, 2007 Word Stamps Freebie, ©2007 Tina Chambers; Doodled Family Title Stamp, ©2006 Suzanne C. Walker; Swirly Frame Stamp, ©2006 Lauren Bavin; Wood Tag Alpha, ©2005 Marcee J. Duggar; Sun Doodles Brush Set 1, ©2005 Suzanne C. Walker; Font: Beautiful ES

Days, Weeks, Current Events & Tribulations

Wed 8/8 Blog Prompt: What is your favorite day of the week?

Well, I really like Saturday and Sunday as Pan is home all day then; and every other Sunday is the only time we really get to spend with Indy now that he is in daycare. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are kind of neat too. Those are my days with the Princess and we go to the pool, out to lunch, etc. Tuesdays and Thursdays are kind of a break in the week as I go to work on those days. Most times I really enjoy it; right now I am still trying to catch up from when I was out for two weeks. So it is a little stressful.

All in all, I think I like each and every day the same. No favorites here.

Thurs 8/9 Blog Prompt: I'm in the mood for some "current events" today and would love to hear what the weather is like in your part of the world. Also, how much did you pay for gas the last time you filled up your car?

The weather is hot..... Right now, my weather pixie says 79ºF; by desktop and local weather say it is 82º, but feels like 93º. The high for today is suppose to be 97º. What a time for our a/c to stop working, huh? And we will probably have some thunderstorms before the day is over. They don't last very long, unfortunately. As far as gas goes, the last time I filled up, I think it was around $2.76 per gallon for regular, which is what I use in my truck. Beats the $3.50 we were paying last year, I guess.



Papers by Tink; Fonts: Doodle Crayon, Doodle Outline, Teddybers Too

Morals, Hands and Tribulations

And the moral of the story is: Two out of three people prefer Cheerios.

Tues 8/7 Blog Prompt: Look at your hands. Why are you grateful for them?

The first thing that comes to mind is that I am grateful I can hold my loved ones. Then look at all the great things you can do with hands; type on the computer, write a letter, paint a portrait, the list is endless. Still the best thing is to be able to hold someone close to you; catch them as they fall (or jump).


Scraplift of "Fun" by PurdueLiz; Sand & Water Paper Pack, ©2006 Valeri Brumfield; Brad from Denim & Sunshine, ©2006 Elizabeth Weaver; Chunky Wood Alpha, ©2007 Lauren Bavin

Jokes, Laughter & Tribulations

Mon 8/6 Blog Prompt: Aug. 6 is Lucille Ball’s birthday. I thought she was a great comedienne so in honor of her birthday, I thought we could tell a joke.

Wow, this one is going to be a hard one for me. I don't really tell jokes, not well anyway. But let's see what I can do... I think I got it. But a little background may be beneficial here.

Back 15 years or so when Bombshell was only 12, she had decided she wanted to be a comic. She made up her own stand-up routines, many of which featured her as superhero "WonderWear" with her faithful sidekick "Underbra." Though the following is about neither, it is one of the routines she did tell us one night at dinner. (My sister also posted it on her blog years ago, but maybe you didn't see it). So on with the show and I hope you can make it through without falling asleep:

Once upon a time in a city far, far away in a little pink house lived a little lady. She spent her days tootling around in her little pink car and cleaning her little pink house.

On one eventful day after eating her meal in her little pink dining room, the little lady took a bath in her little pink bathroom with its little pink sink, little pink toilet, little pink tub and little pink shower curtain. After her bath she put on her little pink robe and little pink slippers and brushed her teeth with her little pink toothbrush. Since it was still fairly early the little lady decided to go down to her little pink den and read a book. When she got to her little pink den, she walked across her little pink rug to her little pink chair and sat down. She took off her little pink slippers, curled up in the little pink chair, turned on her little pink lamp and proceed to read.

She was about a quarter of the way through the book when her doorbell rang. She put her book on her little pink table, put on her little pink slippers, walked across the little pink rug to the little pink foyer and opened the little pink door. On the little pink doorstep was a man dressed in blue. He said that his car had broken down and did she have a room for the night.

The little lady invited the man into her little pink foyer and walked him to her little pink stairs. Once upstairs she showed him to the first pink door on the right. In the room was a little pink rug, a little pink dresser, a little pink night stand, a little pink lamp, a little pink bed with little pink sheets, little pink blankets, little pink pillows and a little pink comforter. Little pink curtains hung from a little pink window.

After showing the man to his room, the little lady decided to go back downstairs and finish her book. When she got to her little pink den, she walked across her little pink rug to her little pink chair and sat down. She took off her little pink slippers, curled up in the little pink chair, turned on her little pink lamp and proceed to read.

She was about half of the way through the book when her doorbell rang. She put her book on her little pink table, put on her little pink slippers, walked across the little pink rug to the little pink foyer and opened the little pink door. On the little pink doorstep was a man dressed in green. He said that his car had broken down and did she have a room for the night.

The little lady invited the man into her little pink foyer and walked him to her little pink stairs. Once upstairs she showed him to the second pink door on the left. In the room was a little pink rug, a little pink dresser, a little pink night stand, a little pink lamp, a little pink bed with little pink sheets, little pink blankets, little pink pillows and a little pink comforter. Little pink curtains hung from a little pink window.

After showing the man to his room, the little lady decided to go back downstairs and finish her book. When she got to her little pink den, she walked across her little pink rug to her little pink chair and sat down. She took off her little pink slippers, curled up in the little pink chair, turned on her little pink lamp and proceed to read.

She was about three quarters of the way through the book when her doorbell rang. She put her book on her little pink table, put on her little pink slippers, walked across the little pink rug to the little pink foyer and opened the little pink door. On the little pink doorstep was a man dressed in yellow. He said that his car had broken down and did she have a room for the night.

The little lady invited the man into her little pink foyer and walked him to her little pink stairs. Once upstairs she showed him to the third pink door on the left. In the room was a little pink rug, a little pink dresser, a little pink night stand, a little pink lamp, a little pink bed with little pink sheets, little pink blankets, little pink pillows and a little pink comforter. Little pink curtains hung from a little pink window.

The little lady decided she would finish her book in bed, so proceeded down the little pink hall, she entered her little pink bedroom, with the little pink rug, a little pink dresser, a little pink night stand, a little pink lamp, a little pink bed with little pink sheets, little pink blankets, little pink pillows and a little pink comforter, where little pink curtains hung from a little pink window. She put on a little pink nightshirt and hung up her little pink robe and put her little pink slippers in her little pink closet. She turned on the little pink lamp, pulled back the little pink comforter, little pink blankets and little pink sheets and crawled into her little pink bed, pulling the little pink sheets, little pink blankets and little pink comforter up over her and finished her book. She laid her book on her little pink nightstand, set her little pink clock, turned off her little pink lamp and went to sleep.

When her little pink clock went off in the morning, she got out of her little pink bed, dressed in her little pink jeans and little pink blouse, putting on little pink sandals. She put her little pink nightshirt into her little pink hamper and made her little pink bed by pulling up the little pink sheets, little pink blankets and little pink comforter and placing little pink pillows along the little pink headboard. Now it was time to exit the little pink bedroom, go down the little pink hallway and down the little pink stairs and through the little pink archway to the little pink kitchen, with its little pink refridgerator, little pink stove, little pink sinks, little pink drawers and little pink cabinets. She opened one little pink cabinet and took out three little pink bowls and put them on the little pink table. Then she opened a little pink drawer and took out three little pink spoons and put them on the table.

The first man in blue came down to the little pink kitchen and sat in a little pink chair at the little pink table. The little lady asked him what he would like for breakfast. He said Cheerios. So she poured the Cheerios in to a little pink bowl, took a little pink jug of milk from the little pink refridgerator and poured some over the Cheerios and set it on the little pink table in front of the man in blue, who proceeded to pick up a little pink spoon and eat.

The second man in green came down to the little pink kitchen and sat in a little pink chair at the little pink table. The little lady asked him what he would like for breakfast. He said Raisin Bran. So she poured the Raisin Bran in to a little pink bowl, took a little pink jug of milk from the little pink refridgerator and poured some over the Raisin Bran and set it on the little pink table in front of the man in green, who proceeded to pick up a little pink spoon and eat.

The third man in yellow came down to the little pink kitchen and sat in a little pink chair at the little pink table. The little lady asked him what he would like for breakfast. He said Cheerios. So she poured the Cheerios in to a little pink bowl, took a little pink jug of milk from the little pink refridgerator and poured some over the Cheerios and set it on the little pink table in front of the man in blue, who proceeded to pick up a little pink spoon and eat.

And the moral of this story is..........................(to be continued tomorrow, if you don't figure it out today)

Polaroid Frames by Andrea Rascaglia; Fonts: Euphorigenic 5, Earwig Factory; Paper & Element Tutorials: Tied Ribbon by Tbogm, Using Shape Templates in PSE3 by Jaklouie, Wax Seals in PSE3 by Jaklouie, Basic Washers--PSE 3.0 by ScrapperFL, How to make a glossy slide mount by Michelle Pieters

Word of the Week - SWEVEN

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

sweven(n)
[archaic] a dream or vision.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Bugs, Birthdays and Tribulations

With a new kitty that seems to think Pan's works schedule of leaving at 6:30 a.m. is the mark of a wake-up call even on the weekends, is at least is giving me the opportunity to wish the Bug, my baby sister and very HAPPY BIRTHDAY. She turned 43 today. Getting old there sis.

Hope you have a good one today and will try and call you later.

Lost, Found & Tribulations

Fri 8/3 Blog Prompt: How would you spend a found $20 bill?

First I would see if I could find who it belonged to. Then being just $20 (face it, it just doesn't buy what it use to); I would probably use it to take the Princess to lunch so we could sit and talk and do silly things that an eight year old likes to do.

Sketch, (c) Robin Cabana
Signa kit, (c) Jessica Bolton
Word art, (c) Laurie Garza
Doodle, (c) Angie Briggs
Font: Army of Darkness
Poem by Michelle Gregory

Picnics, Activities & Tribulations

Thurs 8/2 Blog Prompt: If you could plan the ideal picnic for your family, what would it look like? Be sure to include the following: Food, Location , Activities


This could actually be a twofold question for me. Since our children are all grown up we could, in essence, just have a picnic for two. That being the case I will address both picnics.

With the kids and grands here, the ideal picnic would be held at one of the many parks we have around here. There would be time for playing on the playground or splashing around the water for the little ones and tables, seats and plenty of shady trees for all the adults to sit around and talk. Dinner would consist of fried drummettes, potato salad, deviled eggs and plenty of fruit. Water, tea, soda and beer would be available to quench any thirst.

But if we are talking about just Pan and myself, the picnic would be held on the boat just at sunset. Pan would be qrilling steaks; while I fixed a salad or tomatoes and mozzarella slices splashed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Pan would probably be sipping on a beer while I had a glass of red wine to compliment the meal. We would watch the sun go down and the stars come out as we consumed out meal. Afterwards, we would either talk or if we brought some books along, read. What better way to end a day or a picnic.

In a Spot QuickClick Template, Club Digital; (c) Lauren Bavin

Spirit of Summer kit, SNL 27; (c) Rachael A.H.

Font: DSP Rachael

www impact & tribulations

Wed 8/1 Blog Prompt: Happy August everyone! According to the website "Daily Holidays of 2007", today is the anniversary of the World Wide Web. Blog Prompt: Tell how the internet has made an impact on your life.

I sit here and stare at a monitor screen thinking how to write about the impact the internet has made upon my life. And draw a complete blank. Oh, it has made an impact, no doubt; but what to write is eluding me.

Most importantly it has allowed family members to keep in touch. Even when I couldn't call Nuke and Scamp, I could email them. When they were in a war-ravaged land or below the ocean waves, it was important to let them know they were being thought of.

It has allowed me to continue learning, book learning that is . Keep current on news that is important to me; not necessarily what newscasters think is important to me. It has allowed my creative juices to flow; given me to opportunity to try new skills I would have never thought I possessed.

Sketch, ©2006 Tina E.J. Raparanta

Poppy kit, (c) Tracy Collins

Summer Picnic alpha, (c) Tracy Collins

Photos, Scrapping and Tribulations

Tue 7/31 Blog Prompt: Take a photo you've been meaning to scrap and write your journaling for it here.

There are so many. Digital photography has really changed how I take pictures. I take hundreds of them at a time. What surprises me is how many of them really come out excellent. But in the vein of today's prompt, how about I journal about the scrapbook page below where I left off the journaling.

I titled the page "Cousins" even though the word does not appear anywhere on the page. The two young ladies, the Princess and the Ballerina are, in fact cousins. But to look at them together one may mistakenly take them for sisters. Even they will call one another sister, furthermore confusing those who do not know them.

Still, the Princess is half Filipino; while the Ballerina is half Japanese. So while they may look similar, their heritage is not. And I wonder as time progresses, if their appearances will become more similar or will each take a different path. Only time will tell.

Template, (c) Michelle Coleman
LimeTea Page Kit, (c)2005 Nancie Rowe

Twenty-Seven Tribulations

Scraps of Mind has a new scrapbooking challenge up and it really sounded interesting so here is my take on the black and white trend surfacing among scrapbookers these days:

Swirl from New Year kit, (c) Rhonna Farrer
Alpha from Springy Step kit, (c) Atomic Cupcake

Hats Off to Tribulations

Mon 7/30 Blog prompt: How many different 'hats' will you wear today? Will you be mom, grandma, employee, employer..etc. How do you balance all of it?

Today I get to be Tink. The Princess will be here soon and I am sure we will be heading to the pool for a quick (2+ hours) dip. Then we will head home for lunch and a bit of rest and relaxation. She will probably watch television in the living room while I either watch it in the back, work on the computer or re-read Harry Potter.

This evening I will spend with my spouse of 18 years. Yep, today is our anniversary. We actually went out to dinner last night since he wasn't sure how his work week would be seeing that it is the end of the month. I asked him if it felt like 18 years and his reply was no, we were still on our honeymoon. He is a darling Pan and I really do love him with all my heart.

A new layout for summer using pieces from the SNL #27 kit.

Falling Quick Click Template, SNL #27, (c) bentrdr
Papers, SNL #27, (c) brkforcoffee
Alpha, SNL #27, (c) karen_76123
FlipFlops, SNL #27, (c) Ethyl
Stitches, SNL #27, (c) tjmuse

Wild, Free & Spontaneous Tribulations

Okay, maybe not wild, free or spontaneous, but the fact that I actually am trying to catch up on the blog prompts is (isn't it?).

Mon 7/23 Blog Prompt: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Younger self as in a child or younger self as in a young mother? Oh not designated? well how about I just respond to both then. I would tell child self to pay more attention to my parents. They really did know what they were talking about and could have saved myself a lot of heartache along the way.

If I am talking to young mother self, it would be the same as any other mother would tell her younger self... hug them every day, listen to what they have to say, tell them you love even when you are angry. Oh, I did all these things, it's just now I wish I had done them even more.

Tue 7/24 Blog Prompt: Find a proverb or saying that you think is true.

Tis easy here. My mother had a saying that she wrote in the front pages of her bible when she was younger. Something along the lines of:

"God never closes a door without first opening a window."

And whether you believe in the same God I do or none at all, it still is appropriate. There are always alternatives, sometimes you just have to look for them.

Wed 7/25 Blog Prompt: Stand in a favorite spot in your house, garden, wherever and describe it for us in detail.

Actually I'm not standing but cuddled with legs beneath me and a comforter wrapped over my upper legs. If I look up I can see the sky and an occasional bird that decides to see if there are any bugs in the seams of the skylight. Still above and just forward a little is a 56" ceiling fan with bamboo leaf shaped paddles. Probably a little to big for the room especially since you can reach up and touch it while kneeling on the bed.

Behind me is the leather headboard of my kingsize sleigh bed with 3 or 4 pillows propped up against it. The footboard is also leather but is usually covered by a rich red & gold booster pillow my mother made for me.

To my right is Pan's side of the bed. His side table currently is a drafting table. The window is also on that side of the room and the wall is covered with silky moss green and light gold curtains to make the window look larger.

Again looking in front of me is another wall. To the right on that wall is the door to Pan's bathroom. Directly ahead is the flat screen LED television. Below it is the cutout in wall to house the new receptacles and cable wires which he ran in the wall so they wouldn't be hanging everywhere. There is also a shelf on the cutout to put the cable box and Pan's x-box, with room for his games. It needs some more work since Indy tried swinging on one of the brackets holding the shelf up. One of these days I need to put something else on that wall. It is just too bare.

To the right is door to the hallway and the door to the walk-in closet (which isn't walk-in anymore since so much stuff is in it). And next to my side of the bed is a round table with two levels. Both tables have lamps (which match) and clocks (which don't). There are books and magazines on the bottom level of my table, so many I need to start moving some of the out. There is also a dark red brocade stool on my side of the bed.

The floor is cork and is cork colored. It is soft to walk on and easy to clean. Indy has a box of his toys on the floor, normally they are not in the box but on the bed. And if I bother to move the decorative pillows currently residing on the bed around I would probably find more that needs to go into his box.

Thur 7/26 Blog Prompt: Make up a great excuse why you can't work today.

Funny that this prompt should fall on Thursday, especially since it is just one of the two days I do have to go to work. But my excuse would have been that it was just to nice and I needed to get the exercise lounging at the pool would provide. Somehow I don't think they would buy that though.

Fri 7/27 Blog Prompt: What was the last movie that made you really laugh? Or do you have one you've seen over and over and still makes you laugh?

I am not much of a comedy type watcher. And although I don't like the movie and won't watch it, when Pan is, I have him call me in for one particular scene in Porky's. It is when the two coaches, the principal and Ms. Ballbreaker are in the principal's office. Each time I watch it, it will have me rolling on the floor. Not because it is particularly funny; but because the two coaches aren't faking their laughs. Or if they are, they are darn good. There laughter is just so infectious and I will invariably end up holding my sides while watching them.

Now how about another scrapbook page. This time flowers from mother's backyard.



Template, (c) Pattie Knox, Digital Designers
Gold & Blue papers, (c) Lisa Whitney
Marigold Fields paper, (c) Katie Pertiet
Flowers, (c) Sande Krieger
Brushes, (c) Mary Ann Wise
Font: Dirty Finger, (c) Harold Lohner

Word of the Week - PEDAGOGUE (PEDAGOG)

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

pedagogue, a/s/a pedagog(n)
a teacher; often specifically a pedantic, dogmatic teacher.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Tribulations of the Blahs

I just can't seem to get going on anything these days. Not for very long anyway. Well except maybe finishing the new Harry Potter book, but I read it on the way to and from visiting Pan's family on Saturday.

I know I am getting older (51 next month); but I really am not getting the normal aches and pains one associates with age, it's my hair. It's driving me nuts and I really need to get it cut. Only thing, once I start I have to have it cut every 3 weeks and that can get a bit pricey. I have hair to die for, waist long, thick, silky, luxurious, black brown with a tad of silver flittering through. And yep, it is going to be the death of me. With it this long it gets in the way, no matter how I try to put it up. It is hard to wash (takes at least an hour) and takes forever to dry. But the worse is when I am trying to sleep. Putting it up gives me headaches and leaving it down it is all over the place, including my ears, eyes, nose and mouth.

Also I seem to be just roaming from one thing to another without ever really spending time doing one thing. At least since the surgery. I just seem to have the Blahs. Maybe soon I will get over them and set out on a journey of exploration to share. Until then, how about a scrapbook page I actually did finish:




Template, (c) Misty Cato, Treasures to Scrap
Day Dreams kit, (c) Carrie Stephens, Scrapbook-Bytes
Shine On brush, (c) Lynn Grieveson, Digital Designers
Compass brush, (c) Katie Pertiet, Digital Designers
Circle Grunge brushes & Watch frame brush, (c) Kellie Mize, Digital Designers

Word of the Week - PELAGE

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

pelage(n)
the coat or covering, of a mammal, as hair, fur, etc..

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Eight Random Tribulations

While not specifically tagging me on her blog, the bug called to tell me I was tagged. (Talk about tribulations.) Anyhow, I guess I am suppose to tell you eight random things about myself.

1. I ran out of the house naked when I was little. I think I was in trouble.
2. I talked ddpup into helping me paint the trailer we were temporarily living in with turpentine. I definitely was in trouble.
3. I once put my favorite shirt over a lamp to create a fairytale mood and forgot about it when mom called us to lunch. It started smoking and mom called the fire department. Boy was I in trouble.
4. When we lived in Arkansas, mom, ddpup and I would lay out on the lawn and name the constellations. Didn't get in trouble for that.
5. I wouldn't finish my classwork in first grade so I wouldn't have to go on the playground.
6. In California, I had a choice for my birthday. A small telescope that I could take home immediately or wait for the bigger one. I waited.
7. Soon after getting my driver's license, ddpup, a friend and I were driving on the base in Illinois, when a mouse jumped out of the wiper well. Scared the tribulations out of me.
8. When my ex failed his journeyman's test the first time, he brought the test home and read the questions out to me. I got them all right.

It's up to you if you want to do this random 8 meme.

A Handful of Tribulation

At 10 months


Handprint, (c) Katie Felix
Serendipity kit, (c) Atomic Cupcake
Fonts: Helinda Rook

Word of the Week - QUODLIBET

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

quodlibet(n)
1. an academic debate or exercise in argument, esp. on the theological question
2. a humorously incongruous musical medley.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

A Star, a Birth and No Tribulations

I had really intended to do a scrapbook page a day for each of the grands; but somehow never got it done. And I failed to start it with the Princess but maybe I can rectify that now. So in honor of a precious girl who turned 8 yesterday and whose birthday is being celebrated today at the pool, here is the start of the a Star Attraction...

Page Template, © 2005 Monica McGill
Baby of Mine Kit, Atomic Cupcake
Fonts: 101!Star Lit Night; Escrita; Blackadder ITC
Poem by Larry Barretto

The Princess turned 8 years old Today

Happy Birthday Honey,
from Tink, Pan, Uncle Nuke, Uncle Scamp, Aunt Honey and the Ballerina

Template, (c) Misty Cato Designs
Pity Party kit, (c) FernLili of FernLili's Digital Designs
Fonts: PonytailSSK; ZephyrScript FLF

A Long and Lazy Tribulation

Haven't been posting much. Don't really know why. Lazy, maybe.... Or just a reaction from the surgery. Just can't seem to get into anything this last week. Blogging, scrapbooking, cross stitching or even crossword puzzles. I just kind of float from one thing to another, not really completing anything. Except the dishes, LOL.

I really have no reason not to go back to work, but I left with the indication that it might be 2 weeks so got nearly 2 weeks worth of work done before I left. I really was going to go in this morning. I didn't sleep well last night. It was the first night I went without the pain medication. Oh I have some, it was only suppose to last me two days and nearly two weeks later I still have half a bottle. So after getting to sleep after 2 a.m., I decided I wasn't going in this morning either. Of course, I woke at 7:30 a.m. to the sound of thunder and of rain pelting the skylight over the bed. Another excellent reason for staying home don't you think?

Maybe tomorrow I will go back in for an hour or two. Maybe.

Word of the Week - RECHERCHE

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

recherche(adj)
1. sought out with care; rare; choice; uncommon
2. having refinement or studied elegance
3. too refined; to studied.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Beauty in a Make-Up Tribulation

Fri 7/6 Blog prompt: Do you wear makeup? Love it or hate it? If you do wear it, is it for you or other people?

Me in make-up? You have to be kidding. Even as a teenager I wasn't particularly fond of it (although I wore it because in my mind I was rebelling, go figure). It makes my face itch and feel yucky.

That isn't to say I never wear it. Occasionally I do. Like to big dinner parties or formal parties. Nowadays, we don't have those as much. On that note, I guess I wore it more for other people than myself.

A Beautiful Change of Tribulations

Thur 7/5 Blog Prompt: How have your ideas of what is beautiful changed since you were a child?

I don't think they have much. Though I probably didn't think about art and artists much when I was little. Back then a field full of clover, a night full of stars, getting up close and personal with a bumblebee caught in a bottle, clover necklaces and a Christmas tree covered with angel hair were beautiful. They still are. And the memories are beautiful.

Being a Patriot is No Tribulation

Wed 7/4 Blog Prompt: Do you have a favorite patriotic song? Share it with us...we'd love to hear it!

First I guess you should know that I am fiercely patriotic. I believe in my country and my military and just about any song which extols the virtues of one or the other or both will make me swell with pride and get all teary-eyed. But being a military brat, it is the military songs that are dearest to my heart.

The Marine Hymn
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

The Navy Hymn
Lyrics by Reverend William Whiting and Music by Reverend John B. Dyke

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep,
Its own appointed limits keep.

Oh hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea! Amen.

Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To
those with wings who fly thro' space,
Thro wind and storm, thro' sun and rain,
Oh bring them safely home again.

Oh Father, hear an humble prayer,
For those in peril in the air! Amen.

Oh Trinity of love and pow'r,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them where so e'er they go.

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea! Amen.

Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
Words and Music by Captain Robert Crawford, ©1939 as the "Army Air Corps Song."; renewed 1977 by the USAF

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one heckuva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder,
How they lived God only knew!
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings ever to soar,
With scouts before and bombers galore, Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

Here's a toast to the host of those
Who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message
Of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar
to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the US Air Force.

Zoom!

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true!
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder,
Keep your nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more,
In echelon we carry on! Hey!
Nothing'll stop the US Air Force!

10 Tribulations & Counting

And the Princess will be 8 years old. Where has the time gone?

CREDITS: Two Peas, January 2006 Freebie kit, ©2006 Anne Langpap
Two Peas, Floral Stamp from Flowers Are Beautiful kit, ©2006 Rhonna Farrer
Two Peas, flower stamp from A Little Pizzaz, ©2007 Sande Krieger
Scrapartist, Elements from Avec Amour, ©2006 Isabelle Cyr aka zazou
Scrapartist, Love & Affection word art, ©2006 Daniela Peuss

A Beautiful Tribulation

Tue 7/3 Blog Prompt: Define the idea of beauty -- physical, artistic, natural, whatever...just talk about what you think is beautiful.

"Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates
them."

~David Hume's Essays, Moral and Political, 1742

Physical: To see a child laughing. The sparkle of happiness in a person's eye. Two people holding hands, no matter what the ages are; a child and parent, an elderly couple; a couple contemplating their life together....

Artistic: Resilient Wanderer, Clyde Caldwell; Passion, Sir Frank Dicksee; The Sailing Signal, Arthur Hughes; On the Terrace at Rolleboise, Daniel Ridgway Knight; Arthur Steps Up, Don Maitz; High Cross of Clonmacnois, Mary McSweeney; Greeting the Dawn, Keith Parkinson; On the Terrace, Sir Edward Poynter; The Cherry Bonnet, Emile Vernon; Passage: The Avatar, Michael Whelan; Lunar Celebration, Wyland; are but a few of the many.

Natural: Watching the waves lap upon the white sand shore. To stand beside a redwood and see a deer peering from behind another. Gazing down at the Grand Canyon, either from edge or from a plane. Rolling black clouds of an impending storm. A sunset from the boat.

Waves lapping

Sunset

Tribulations and UFOs

Mon 7/2 Blog Prompt: Today is World UFO day. What do you think UFOs are? Do you believe in little green men?

Today Ordinary Days starts leading the blog prompts again and she has started with a doozy.

Well, I think UFOs are exactly that... Unidentified Flying Objects. And no, I don't believe in little green men. But that doesn't mean I don't believe in extraterrestrial life.

I think Jodie Foster expressed it best in "Contact" when she said:

"So if it's just us... It seems like an awful waste of space."

Word of the Week - REFULGENT

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

refulgent(adj)
shining; radiant; glowing; resplendent.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

High School Graduation Tribulations

Fri 6/29 Blog Prompt: What were your high school colors? Team names? Clubs you belong too? Did you graduate? What do you remember most about your graduation day?

I went to two different high schools. John F. Kennedy in Guam and Mascoutah Community High in Illinois.

JFK's colors were green and gold. That was also the name of the teams. Green and Gold. There were no other high schools on the island so we had to play against ourselves. It was there I belonged to the Latin Club. I really wasn't much into clubs anyway. I had too many other things I wanted to do.

Mascoutah touted maroon and white as the school colors. And, you know, I can't recall the name of their team. But then again, I was only there for my senior year. Shoot, now I will have to see if I can locate my yearbook and find out. It's going to drive me nutso.

Graduation day was great. It was a small class and the ceremony was being held outdoors, hurridly as there was a thunderstorm brewing on the horizon. Someone tied a bunch of balloons to my cap and it kept trying to fly away. Finally I took them off and tied them to the car. It wasn't long after the ceremony was over that the storm struck. It was a fun day and a fun time.

NOTE: I'm heading for gallbladder surgery in just under an hour so if I don't fell up to snuff for the next couple of days, the Bug may do some posting for me. If she doesn't, well, you will hear from me when I get back. (Look what happened when she was suppose to be posting for me while I was on vacation in December, LOL.)

Tribulations at the Evening Meal

Thu 6/28 Blog Prompt: What typical evening meals did you eat as a teenager? Did your mother or father prepare them or did you? What was your favorite? Least favorite?

Chicken and dumplings were always a hit. Spaghetti, mid-week and steak on the weekends. Then there was always meatloaf, yummmmm. Mom makes the best meatloaf and chicken & dumplings & spaghetti. Dad always cooked the steaks out on the grill.

In fact here is a picture of him grilling way back in 1968
www.ImageShack.us"

I just named all my favorites; but my least favorite food growing up was green peas. Ugh, yuck, nasty. I still don't care to much for them, but can eat them now without gagging :).

The Tribulated Music of Teens

Wed 6/27 Blog Prompt: Did you listen to a lot of music as a teenager? Did you have a stereo, radio, cd player or reel to reel? Who was your favorite music artist? Favorite song? Which one still moves you today?

I probably listened to music as much as any teenager in the late 60's/early 70's did. Herman's Hermits, the Beatles, Guess Who, Chicago, Santana, Shawn Phillips, Black Oak Arkansas and so the list goes on. I probably had nearly a hundred albums. But I had to. While in Guam, I used my babysitting money to buy a JVC stereo with am/fm radio, record player and reel-to-reel. And I still have it. Doesn't work now, but I still have it. Maybe one day we will be able to find a needle for it and replace the reel-to-reel with a cd/mpg player. Maybe.

My all time favorite artists were Chicago with "Colour My World;" Bread's hit "If;" and Guess Who with "American Woman."

Childhood Television Tribulations

Tue 6/26 Blog Prompt: Television.... Where would we be without television? Seriously though. Did you have a tv set while you were growing up? If not, did your neighbors or friends? If you did, what were some of the shows that were on and what were your favorites?

Yes, yes, yes, we had a television. At least since I was 5 or 6. Prior I couldn't tell you. As a young'un, my sister and I would watch Shirley Temple, Tarzan and Jungle Jim on the weekends. Couldn't wait for them. I do remember that the Flintstones came on Wednesday evenings and Batman on Thursday nights.

By high school, if I was at home, I would sit and watch golf with dad. That is until I discovered Saturday morning cartoons. Then I would have to watch Journey to the Center of the Earth. In all honesty, though, we never watched much television. I still don't though I will turn it on for background noise.

Tribulations of Teenage Jobs

Mon 6/25 Blog Prompt: Did you have an after school job as a teenager? What kind of job was it? What were you paid? What is your best and worst memory of the job?

Not a leave school and go to work job. I worked as a babysitter and made pretty good money at it. Of course, this was back with you only charged 50 cents and hour, LOL. Boy is that dating it. Still I was pretty good at it and had my regulars that usually paid more than what I was charging.

My best memory was watching two children, who for convenience sake, I'll call Ben and Robin. Robin was the sweetest little 6 year old, an angel with a severe case of mental retardation. She was well loved by her family, especially her 8 year brother, Ben. Ben was also a sweetheart, but whereas Robin had to be handled like a 6 month old, Ben was a genius. A real true genius. I would love to know what happened to them now. I really enjoyed my time with both of them.

They are also my worst memory. It was painful to see little Robin and realizing what her life was going to be like. And how hard it was going to be on little Ben being so smart.

Word of the Week - WEIR

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

weir(n)
1. a low dam bilt in a river to back up or divert water, as for a mill; milldam
2. a fence, as of brushwood or stakes, built in a stream, channel, etc., for catching fish
3. an obstruction placed in a stream, diverting water through a prepared aperature for measuring rate of flow.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

More Teenage Driving & Tribulations

Fri 6/22 Blog Prompt: Did you have your own car as a teenager or did you have to use the family car? What kind was it? If a family car, were you responsible to pay for the gas when you used it? How often were you allowed to use it? What restrictions, if any, were on it? If your own, did you purchase it yourself or was it a gift? How much did it cost and who paid the insurance on it?

Didn't own my own car until I had been married a few years, then I bought a Chevette. So back in high school, I used the family car... a Buick Regal. Big is all I can say about it. But maybe that is why I like trucks now.

I don't remember ever having to put gas in it. Dad was probably afraid I would break it, LOL. But then I didn't use it all that much either. Most things were within walking distance or I had friends with cars.

Teenage Drivers & Tribulations

Thu 6/21 Blog Prompt: Did you learn to drive when you were a teenager? Who taught you? If at school, what kind of driver's ed was it? If a friend or parent, where did you go to learn? What was the worse part about learning to drive?

I'm with my folks on this one, let someone else teach them and me. I went to driver's ed in high school. I really liked it as we had simulators to practice in. I remember going into the room and having the lights dimmed for the "movie" that we would be using to practice with. Into our boxy car simulators and off to where ever the movie took us that day. After several weeks of simulated driving then we got to try the real thing on real roads. No specified driving courses around at the time I was learning. And 70 miles an hour on the freeway.

I think the thing I had the most problem with was the 3-point turn. I can do them now, if I have to but I still prefer not to have to do it.

Tribulations & High School Friends

Wed 6/20 Blog Prompt: Did you have a lot of friends in high school or just one or two very close friends? What did you and your friends do for fun? Are you still in contact with any of them?

Yes and no. I had a lot of friends, but didn't. I know it doesn't make sense. We didn't so much as have a clique as to have a group. A lot of us hung out together, going to movies, shopping, etc., but there were only a few really close friends. Lillian, Keiko, Susan and a few more.

Being an Air Force brat entailed moving every couple of years so I had to learn how to make friends fast. Fortunately I have a very outgoing personality, even if I am an introvert.

In Guam, just about the only thing to do for fun was to go to the beach, the pool or the outdoor walk-in theaters. But I had fun. I loved it. Back stateside, there definitely was more to do, evenings at the park in O'Fallon. Shopping at real malls. Real movie theaters :).

I did keep in touch for many years, but as the time passed so did the letters and phone calls. Susan and I still keep in touch from time to time, even that is far between. Maybe one day, I'll run into them all again.

Visitation Tribulations Part 4

Part one
Part two
Part three

This time we are doing the visiting, at NavyNuke's new home in South Carolina. He closed on it the 25th of May and we were there to see it June 1. This, of course, starts with the journey there and the arrival.

The car trip includes: myself, my son (driving), a 4 year and a 3 year old, both of whom had been given digital cameras by the uncle we are on the way to visit. Have you ever noticed that children like to take self portraits? Well they do. The unfortunate thing is that Ballerina figured out how to delete pictures so a lot of hers were lost. Indy on the other hand figured it out but left it to me to delete them, within reason.

We'll start with Ballerina's pictures first. She was after the "guest."


How do you like this picture of me? I think I'll let her takeall of my pictures from now on.


They each had subjects in one another. More on that in a moment.


Had to get a picture of her daddy driving.


She ends with a self-portrait. Okay so it is a picture of her shirt.

Now onto Indy's.


He starts his with a self-portrait.


Then he must have a picture of his yellow crocs to save for prosperity.


Now is the time for more on that matter. Pretty as she is, Ballerina just didn't like to be photographed by Indy. We got to listen to hours of her telling him to stop. Like he would really listen! Not!!!


Finally something else to focus on... Booboos.

YaaaHooo we made it, only what 9-10 hours later. We're here... But where is Nuke. Pull out the cell and start making a call. He's at his apartment just finishing his shower. It's not like we didn't call when we got into town. Oh well, it is just a few minute wait and the kids are having fun.


Playing on the front porch


A picture from the road


The back patio and looks that need to be watched.


Hey look it comes with its own jail cell for kids.
Maybe I should move there. Nah, we get along, but that might just be pushing it, don't you think?

Teenage Tribulations

Tue 6/19 Blog Prompt: Moving on in life, as a teenager what do you feel were your greatest achievements and worse mistakes? Have these achievements and/or mistakes helped to make you a better person? Or did they hinder you as you proceeded into adulthood?

Whoa. Greatest achievements as a teenager? What in the world was I thinking about? As with most teenagers I know or have known, it seemed to be a way to stay out of trouble.

All kidding aside though, I don't know if I would consider them achievements, more like strengths, and they would include good grades in school. I loved school, especially science, history, P.E., English and Latin. Oh, that just about covers them all doesn't it? Suffice it to say, I really liked school. I would have been a perpetual student if it didn't mean failing to do so.

As to mistakes, what teen doesn't manage to do that one occasionally. But I think the most embarassing one was when I asked one of my favorite teachers to participate in the Roman slave day we were having. Not thinking and not making the connection when I asked, I was most humilated when I realized why she declined. You see, she was African-American. It was a case of mouth before thought and had I taken the time to think about it, I would have never approached her for this particular event. She definitely was a better person than I that day. No she didn't hold it against me and was most understanding when I figured it out and apologized. Still it was devastating to me.

Did I learn from my achievements and mistakes? I like to think so. I have never stopped loving to learn. And each day brings forth a new discovery. And I now try to think how what I say may affect another before opening my mouth. I still fail on this one, but I try.

Visitation Tribulations Part 3

Part one
Part two

Onto the 3rd installment of Ballerina and Indy's photo journal. After a hard afternoon of playing H2O invading aliens, it was time to decide what to do for dinner. Pan had considered suggesting we go to Bombshell's restaurant but opted out as it was Memorial Day weekend and he was pretty sure the traffic was going to be horrendous.

Scamp and I had to run up to the store (for the guns, of course, and some crocs) when we noticed that there was hardly any traffic at all.

So after playtime was over, we dressed the chitlins in their Dr. Suess shirts and jeans and headed out to Bombshell's. Who, by the way, is now known as Aunt DoDo (like the bird). Ballerina was having a hard time saying her name (funny when we asked her to say it, very clearly it came out "I can't say Aunt Bombshell." She did the same with ddpup too, LOL). Anyway I may have to change Bombshell moniker to DoDo, just because.



Taking a break from work
Aunt DoDo takes Indy and
Ballerina down to the pond
to feed the baby ducks.


Waiting on dinner can
be such a pain. Must
find something to do
to entertain ourselves.


Remember how I told
you that there was a
year's difference in
their ages? Indy is
the younger of the two.


After dinner came the
free face painting, only
the artist, very wisely
chose to put it on their
arms. Indy wanted a spider
(go figure) and his name.


The Ballerina opted for
a unicorn and a cry
baby on her arm.

Look for installment 4 tomorrow

Childhood Pets = Tribulations

Mon 6/18 Blog Prompt: As a child did you have any exotic (i.e. those not indigenous to your area) or unusual pets? If not, did you have any pets at all? What kind? Did you give them standard pet names or come up with unusual and unique names?

Actually I came up with this prompt after being reminded by someone (I can't recall who) about some of the unusual pets my younger sister and I had throughout our life. Recalling their names at this time is going to be a bit hard as I just don't remember any except the Persian Pan bought me when we first married. Her name was Mini-Mutes and was named after the program he was working on. Very appropriate too, as she never weighed more than 5 lbs., even as an adult. She hardly ever mewed and when she did it was very soft, almost a whisper.

Oh, I've gotten off subject haven't I. Unusual or exotic pets. Actually I have had both.

Back when I was about 6 (maybe 7) mom took ddpup and I shopping just before Easter. There in the store they had the cutest little chicks that were dyed in bright Easter egg colors. Naturally we begged for one and mom, being mom, said no. (I can so relate now). I guess after getting tired of hearing us whine, she said that dad wouldn't let us have one and called him. Dad said yes (I'm surprised she ever talked to him again). So home we go with two little chicks. One a bright blue and one a bright neon pink. I don't recall how long we had them, but it couldn't have been for to very long. We were living on a AF base in AF housing and I am sure that chicks were not deemed appropriate pets. So off to a farm they went.

Later when I was about 10 or 11 and we were staying with my grandmother, my uncle brought home a baby alligator. This was before it was illegal to own them. It was put in a huge wash tin outside and ddpup and I were responsible for feeding it. Being that it was so young this meant hand-feeding. I held its jaws open while ddpup shoved the meat down its throat. At the time, I thought I was in the safe position; but now that I think on it, both jobs were probably not to safe. Even baby alligators have a bit of a bite.

While not unusual or exotic we did have a rabbit while growing up. Cute little thing that would hop up to the fridge to look in when it was opened. It also really liked to help out dad when he was working under the car. I don't think dad appreciated it though.

Most of my other pets growing up were parakeets, cats, dogs, a squirrel here or there, fish, gerbils and so on. You know, typical childhood pets.

Visitation Tribulations Part 2

More photo journaling of Ballerina and Scamp's visit. (If you missed Part 1, you can find it here). While it appears that Indy and the Ballerina got along just fine, most of the time they were arguing about one thing or another, LOL. I can laugh now, but it sure wasn't too funny then. They are exactly one year apart in age with Ballerina being the oldest at 4 years. And I am not kidding about the exactly one year. Ballerina's birthday is May 16; Indy's is May 13.

Being a very confident and outgoing little girl, Ballerina expected Indy to obey her every command. She is definitely an "A" personality. Indy on the other hand has an older sister (the Princess) and has perfected the knack of ignoring and brought it to a whole new artform. Needless to say it was an interesting two weeks.

Still there were times they got along perfectly and it was a joy to see them running, playing and laughing together.


Scamp decided that water guns were needed for the outside play. Indy thought catching the water in his mouth while the Ballerina shot him was most amusing. So did the Ballerina.


But soon the showdown had to commence. Indy shot back.


The Ballerina retaliated and chased Indy into the forest.


Indy gives up; but Ballerina decided it wasn't soon enough and shoots him anyway.


Close-up of Ballerina


Close-up of Indy

Word of the Week - COMATE

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

comate(adj)
hairy or tufted.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Visitation Tribulations Part 1

I've been busy. With guests, with traveling and with doctor's visits. But for now let's focus on the guests and traveling. Part one starts on May 25, when my son, Scamp, and granddaughter, the Ballerina, stepped off the plane and into my open arms. I know we just saw them in December. Still it seemed a lifetime away.

And it is just as well we met them at the airport (he asked us to because he wasn't sure he could find his way to Mawmaw's house), as they didn't have his rental car ready. So over to mom's house we head, with a quick call from the Bombshell to see when we would be back home. When she found out it wouldn't be until later, she decided to drive over with the kids too. A whole houseful. Lucky mom, .

On to the pictures.


The Ballerina


The Princess, Indy and Ballerina


Cousins


Cousins outside

Comparative Tribulations and More

Mon 6/11 Blog Prompt: How about we start out this week with a little research by finding the cost of a week's subscription to a newspaper, a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, a pound of chicken or ground beef, a gallon of gasoline, the average cost of a house, the average cost of an automobile and one item of your choosing when you were born, as well as at ages 3, 5, 10 and now.

1956: bread - 18¢/loaf; milk - 97¢/gallon; gas - 30¢/gallon; avg. cost of home - $17,800; avg. cost of car - $2,100; avg. income - $5,341/year.

1959: bread - 20¢/loaf; milk - $1.01/gallon; gas - 30¢/gallon; avg. cost of home - $18,400; avg. cost of car - $2.250; avg. income - $5,976/year.

1966: bread - 22¢/loaf; milk - $1.11/gallon; gas - 32¢/gallon; avg. cost of home - $23,300; avg. cost of car - $2,410; avg. income - $8,395/year.

2007: bread - $1.97/loaf; milk - $3.06/gallon; gas - $3.10/gallon; avg. cost of home - $221,000; avg. cost of car - $23,000; avg. income - $34,334.96/year.

Tue 6/12 Blog Prompt: Did you collect anything as a child? Why or why not? What was the significance of your collection and where did you procure it? Do you still have any or all of the collection now?

I didn't really have a "collection" per se as a child. There were, of course, the Barbies and Barbie houses. Comic books and books. But most were lost (or thrown away) in moving from place to place. When I got to be a pre-teen, I started collecting lions. I am a Leo and the idea of having lions just appealed. Some of those I still have. Like the stuffed lion and clay lions my dad gave me.

There is a picture at my Improvement Tribulations post where you can see some of the lions on the top shelf.

Wed 6/13 Blog Prompt: Did you have specified chores as a child? If so, what were they? Were you given an allowance for completing them? How much? What chores did you feel were unfair? Which ones did you enjoy the most?

You know, I can't remember ever being assigned "chores." I know we had to make our beds and clean our room, but I don't think I ever considered it a chore, just something I hated to do. As we got older, my sister and I had to clean the dishes after dinner. One would wash the other dry. As for the bathroom, everyone was responsible for cleaning up after themselves. After a bath, we had to clean the tub and pick up the towels and put them in the hamper. And, of course, we were responsible for putting away anything we took out. As for which I detested the most... I think all of them equally.

Thu 6/14 Blog Prompt: Did your mother and father work outside the home when you were a child? If not which one stayed home with you? Or did you have a sitter come in or did you attend a day care center? Whether a parent stayed home, you had a sitter or attended a day care, how do you feel that affected your life, if at all?

My mom was a stay at home mom, for the most part. Although while I was in elementary school I do remember her working for a while.

We had a babysitter, Linda. One of the teenagers in the neighborhood who would watch us. We like Linda and didn't feel the least bit slighted by the fact that mom worked.

But for the most part she was home and available for us at anytime. I remember her making Barbie furniture out of milk cartons and beer cans or sewing intricate Barbie dresses for us.

Dad on the other hand, wasn't home alot. He was in the Air Force and was gone on TDY or some other thing.

I wish I could have been more like my parents; but I divorced my first husband so ended up having to work while my children were little. Fortunately I didn't have to start that though until they were all in school.

Fri 6/15 Blog Prompt: You are 10 years old. What are your thoughts about growing up? Were you anxious to be an adult or did the prospect scare you? Did you give any thought to what you wanted to be when you grew up? What was it and did grow up to your dream job?

First off, let me say I haven't realized my dream career... Yet.

At 6, 10, 20 and beyond my dream career was to be an astronomer. It was what I majored in, in college. That is until I decided to get married.

One day.... my name will be among the stars.

My Tribulations as Albus

You scored as Albus Dumbledore, Strong and powerful you admirably defend your world and your charges against those who would seek to harm them. However sometimes you can fail to do what you must because you care too much to cause suffering. Albus Dumbledore 90% Hermione Granger 85% Remus Lupin 80% Harry Potter 75% Severus Snape 65% Ron Weasley 60% Sirius Black 60% Draco Malfoy 55% Ginny Weasley 50% Lord Voldemort 20% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

Word of the Week - ZAFTIG

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

zaftig(adj)
having a full, shapely figure; said of a woman.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

A Frog's Tribulations

For those who asked.....

Warning: Never give vague instructions to a child. They take you literally. Honestly, they really do.

I didn't use the story of the frog in the prompt, because I actually think I was older than 3. I could be wrong, maybe a 3 year old can catch a frog. Okay, probably could catch a frog. OKAY... can catch a frog.

But a three year old usually doesn't have the whereforall to ask what you do with a frog that you catch. Again I could be wrong (and I am sure my mother will correct me if I am).

Back to the story. I caught a frog. Couldn't have been a very big one, but I was proud of this frog and asked my folks what to do with it. They told me that frogs like water.

Naturally to a young child any liquid can pass for water, right? RIGHT????? Well, no but the only "water" I could find was my grandmother's ice coffee. PLOP, in goes the frog. Looking back I shutter to think what must have been going through that poor frog's mind. Caffiene rush....

And fortunately for the frog, my grandmother decided she needed a drink soon after instead of 10 or 15 minutes later. Then the result would have probably been a dead frog at the bottom of her coffee cup instead of a frog jumping out of the coffee at her.

Well, maybe I was three after all....

Memory Lane Tribulations

What with the trip to South Carolina and having Scamp and the Ballerina home for two weeks, it seems I don't have time to do anything anymore, LOL. But since I am providing the prompts this month, I thought I might be a good idea if I also did the posts. Maybe next week will be better.

Tue 6/5 Blog Prompt: You are between 5 and 10. You are going on vacation (or moving). What form of transportation was used to get there? Did it take long? And what did you do to entertain yourself while traveling?

Although we did travel by plane, most of my memories are in the car. And being carsick. Something that I, fortunately, have outgrown. With dad in the Air Force we moved around quite a bit.

Mom and dad always bought the newest Superman and Archie comic books for us to read (can you imagine what they might be worth today, lol). And we had car games like license plate bingo. You actually use to be able to buy the bingo cards with windows that slid over when you got it. I tried to do a search but was unable to locate any. Shucks.

Wed 6/6 Blog Prompt: As a child did you have your own bedroom or did you have to share? What was it like? Did you spend a lot of time playing in there or was it reserved for sleeping?

Being an Air Force brat there were times when I would have my own room and times when I would not. Most time I had to share with ddpup. I didn't mind. She was just a little extension of me. I rather thought of her as my baby doll most of the time. We were always playing Barbie's or house in the bedroom. But we spent more time outside when the weather was good, making clover necklaces, playing hide and seek

Thu 6/7 Blog Prompt: Let's move up to elementary school. What school did you attend? What was it like.. big, small, etc.? Did you ride a bus or walk? Take a lunch or buy? What was your best memory there and what was your worse?

As stated above, I'm an AF brat and went to several elementary schools. Spend the longest time in the one in Arkansas; but also went to elementary school in Florida and California. In both Arkansas and Florida I rode a bus; but occasionally in Ark. I could walk to school.

I am sure there were occasions when I actually took my lunch to school; but the lunches I recall the best are hamburgers on Wednesday and fish sticks on Friday.

While there may have been some bad memories (like the year, my dad made the paddle for my teacher in third grade and when I wouldn't finish my work in first grade so I didn't have to go out on the playground, or in 2nd grade when all the kids gathered around the open restroom window to try and watch me tinkle, etc.), most of them are fond and funny. Giving a Valentine card to my favorite guy in 4th grade; my fifth grade teacher telling us that paper was made with worm guts so we would stop chewing it in class; being a TOT (teacher of tomorrow) in 6th grade and having a teacher whose birthday fell on February 29.

One day in sixth grade my uncle brought my telescope up to the school and we all got to watch a solar eclipse through it. I was pretty proud that I was the only one in the class that had a telescope and one with a sun filter at that.

Fri 6/8 Blog Prompt: As a child, did you have any imaginary friends? What were their names and what did you do together? If not, do you wish that you had and why or why not?

I didn't have any imaginary friends so to speak, not like the bug anyway. I had a another little sister who I could play with and we did. Although one year I convinced her that at night I would shrink very little and visit the little people who lived in a hole in the ground in the backyard. During the day, we would gather small rocks and make furniture for the little people.

But bug was another matter all together. She had an imaginary Alligator. She also scared the pants off mom, when on the interstate on time, she started crying about leaving something on the top of the car. I'll leave it to her to complete the story.


From the FP camera that Nuke bought Indy... a picture of the Ballerina.

Tribulations of What to Title This

Since today's Prompt is about travels, I wanted to make sure I didn't give them the same titles.

We are back from South Carolina and seeing Nuke's new home (and his old rental). He already has big plans for changing it. Ripping out carpets and putting in hardwood floors. He was hoping that the two of us could go check them out but there just wasn't enough time.

Spent more money that I should have making sure we had something to entertain the kids on the way home. The cameras were loosing their luster after 10 hours up there, LOL.

It is nice to be home and back to my own bed; but it was more than wonderful to see the Nuke. We are already planning on going back sometime this summer and taking the Princess since she didn't get to go.

More later.....

Stories of Tribulations

Mon 6/4 Blog Prompt: We all have had stories told to us about our younger years. Fun, silly or embarassing things we have done. So today, think about a story that you were told about yourself that happened before you were 3 years old.

I remember one that my mom use to tell me about when we went to visit we were going to visit some friends of theirs once. I was just at that age where babies start to walk. And my parents, being the proud young parents they were, wanted me walk before getting over there. No amount of incentive could convince me that walking was worth my while.

Still happy being proud young parents, my parents took me over and proudly showed me off, when I started walking.

Word of the Week - COLLOP

Disclaimer: All words that I choose come from the 1968 edition of the Webster's New World Dictionary, 2nd college edition. It's nearly 40 years old so we may come across some words that are no longer in general use or have completely changed definitions. But that is part of the fun.

collop(n)
a portion or piece; esp. a small slice of meat.

Why not take a moment and see what you can do with it. Use it as a jump start for a short story; if applicable, find a picture of it; let us know how you would incorporate it into your daily life. Whatever you do, post a comment or a link so I can check it out and put a link back to your post. And have fun.

Travels & Tribulations

We finally made it to SC and NavyNukes new house. Ballerina and Indy were pretty good on the way up. For the most part. Though I am not sure I am looking forward to the return trip on Monday.

The Nuke's house is similar to mom's on the outside; but I think that is pretty much the only place. I love the taupe color on the walls in the kitchen, dining and living rooms. The main bath is long with the sink on one side and a deep tub/shower on the other with the toilet at the end. I just realized all the rooms are taupe with white trim except the hallway which is light yellow with gold feather dusting.

You can tell he is a bachelor by the very fact that is furnishings consist of a mattress to sleep on; excercise machines and computer chairs.

Well, I think while everyone is still asleep, I may go out and give my sister a call.