It's JANET'S BELLY!!!!

After some coercing....(along with having to remove a stuck dead battery from their camera!)...I have finally received some new photos of Janet's ever-expanding baby bump!

It brought tears to my eyes as I looked at Janet's beautiful, glowing face carrying my newest grandchild-to-be!!!!!!

With the due date of around September 20th approaching, things are really moving along.

She is, in actuality, larger than this-- in that this morning, mama-to-be told me that these pictures were taken 3 weeks ago!

Now, you have to understand that my dear Janet is not a big girl to start with. She is extremely petite...actually, tiny would be a better word! So, this little (little?) baby is trying to take over any space available.

Hang in there, Janet! Before you know it, you and Jeffrey will be holding that baby in your arms!!!!!

...and, this Grammie can't wait! : )

xoxo

The epitome of "Barefoot and Pregnant"!!

Counting down the days!!!!

As I look at this recent picture of Audrey and Jenny I am smiling because I will be there with them in Minnesota in exactly ONE WEEK! More info to come....

: )

I'm going to be published!

A few years ago I read a "call for stories" from the Chicken Soup for the Soul book people. They were working on putting out a book on divorce and wanted people to send in their personal stories.

I read this at a time when I was finally moving on from my divorce...and finding a peaceful place in my heart...so, I began to write my thoughts down.

The words poured out of me as I told my story of moving from sadness and angst to a place of calmness and joy after the divorce. This was right about the time that my grandson was born...and I had made a decision that eventually allowed my ex and I to reunite as friends. While I may have initially made those decisions for the sake of my kids...these behaviors actually ended up coming back to me in so many positive ways.

The writing was so cathartic for me as I put my feelings into words...It felt so good to be able to express my own personal journey of getting through the sadness of divorce after over 30 years of being married....and landing on the "other side" of all of the pain.

I began to think that my words might actually help others finding themselves in this same position.....so...

...I decided to send it in to the Chicken Soup people.

Several months later I received a letter telling me that my story was being considered for inclusion in the book. I had to clarify some information....and send it back to them.

I was cautiously excited, but knowing that they received thousands of stories for their books I tried to remain realistic about my chances.

Well, fast forward almost two years later...and I received another letter asking me to proofread my story and sign some releases... in that I was still being considered for publication. I did this....and waited...afraid to get too excited.

Then, yesterday, I received a congratulatory letter from the Chicken Soup editors telling me that the book will be out on October 7, 2008...and that my story will be part of it!!!

Now, I am excited!

Watch out J.K. Rowling!!!!

(P.S. If any of you come upon the book when it does come out, the name of my story is "Breathe". ) : )

Blueberries

One of the perks that comes with summertime is the wonderful array of fruits that become available.

I adore a sweet peach, a juicy nectarine, a ripe cantelope, a sugary slice of watermelon and, of course, blueberries. Mmmmmm.

I always took blueberries for granted-until now. I recently found out that these deep blue-purple delicacies are actually the new "brain food".

Who knew that this innocuous little berry could hold so much power?!

Now that I am armed with the information, I have been buying them up as fast as I can eat them! Then I sit and wait for my brain to begin to function at a much higher level.

In all honesty, I haven't really noticed any differences...but, I'm not taking any chances....so, I keep on eating my blueberries.

Well, today I found out about one of the studies that was done to bring researchers to this conclusion...and, it has me doubting these "magical powers" that the blueberry supposedly contains.

It seems as if British researchers fed "a group of senior citizen rats (huh?) powdered blueberries and tested them on how well they ran a maze. Before eating the berries, the rats were only 60 percent successful. And after? Eighty-three percent."

OK. First of all....what are "senior citizen" rats (the words used in the study!)? Are these rats wearing reading glasses and using walkers to get through the maze? More importantly, are they members of AARP for rats?

Whatever.

The study goes on to say that "...the effect may be linked to the anthocyanins and flavonols blueberries contain: It's believed that both enhance brain cell communication and growth."

OK. Let's be honest here. Those "senior citizen" rats weren't doing any better in the maze because they ate blueberries.

Truth be told, after being fed the delicious sugar powdered berries, they went through the maze quicker just to look for more of the tasty treats.

Brain food?

Nah.

Just smart rats.

Exploration!

FUN!

Owen at the sprinkler park

Such reckless abandon! Such joy! How wonderful..... : )

The swim suit is a little long...and, the orange crocs....well, what can I say!?!?!...but, Owen is having an absolute ball!

My backyard cardinal....

"I don't ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising of the sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful." Pete Hamill

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song." Chinese Proverb

This beautiful cardinal hangs out in my back yard all of the time. He and the other birds give me so much watching pleasure......

(sorry for the blurriness....new camera...still learning how to use it...!)

Owen and Audrey lounging

..not the most exciting video...but, for some reason, I cannot get my photos to transfer to the blog so I'll post this instead today. Audrey just got this brand new hot pink chair...it makes Owen's old chair looks so little in comparison. A few more weeks and I will be there!

Off to college....

After a long and arduous drive from S. Florida to Birmingham, my nephew and his dad (my brother-in-law) arrived here late last night.

Armed with a suitcase full of "Alabama Roll Tide" t-shirts and other paraphernalia, Braden is getting ready to be a part of the large freshman class at the University of Alabama. Since I am only a 45 minute drive from Tuscaloosa, Birmingham was a good stopping point and place to get rested for a busy weekend ahead.

I fed them a home-cooked meal...baked some homemade "Grammie" cookies...and they got settled in. Dad Marty fell asleep on the couch almost immediately, while Braden managed to stay up late and watch the Olympics. Ah, youth!

As they got ready to head to the campus early this morning, my thoughts went back to a time when I was first leaving for the University of Florida. I nervously went to Gainesville, Florida, all packed up....and on the train. It is a huge state school and it was quite intimidating facing the large crowds of arriving students on my own.

I do remember meeting a guy that first day waiting in line for my class schedule. It seemed like we were in line forever....so, we got acquainted....and later even dated for a while (!). I also recall that waiting in line was something that I pretty much did most of those first few days...whether it was for supplies, student loan money, id cards, etc. etc. Patience was certainly a virtue those first days of being a college freshman.

As Braden left this morning carrying his backpack filled with his i-pod, a hand-held computer, and a cell phone...I had to laugh at how different things are for kids nowadays. Even this big state school that he is going to seems to be less intimidating with these 21st century necessities...and, I bet that with so much of everything computerized these days, the long lines have even become extinct!

So, as I sent them off this morning with a ziplock filled with cookies and a "Roll Tide"....my hope is that Braden will have a wonderful college experience as he begins this new chapter in his life...

Hey Owen....do you like pancakes???

(I think that the answer is "yes"!)

Todays "Blondie" comic strip says it all!

OK....I am starting to get a little bit of an "Olympics Obsession".

I have found myself staying up waaaay past my bedtime in order to see some of the events. (Of course the sponsors are going to put the most exciting events on at late prime time to increase their viewers!)*yawn*

While Michael Phelps has proved himself to be an athletic phenomenon...I have almost gotten blase' about his gold medal count now that he has surpassed all possible records...how amazing is he? If he gets a silver medal now, it would almost be like a loss for him! Watching him glide through the water so effortlessly is fascinating...and, the way he looks bears no resemblance to the other swimmers during the races. Unbelievable. I'm thinking that instead of checking him for steroids....they should look for gills on his body. (!)

But, what has really captivated me has been the gymnastics.

Watching these kids (some of the Chinese girls look like they are 10-11 years old--which is causing some controversy I have heard) jump and tumble and spin and twist and turn and hang on to those little bars while swinging around and around...etc. etc. Well, I am amazed and worn out all at the same time.

I can hardly jump up in the air these days...and, yet, they are doing triple spins before landing feet first on the ground!

You know, truthfully, I don't think that I could have done that even when I was younger. I find it astounding....

....and exhausting.

Is it naptime yet? : )

Group picture...

Sometimes it is difficult to get everyone's eyes open and looking ahead! These two pictures of my beautiful (growing) family proves that! (Check out Owen and Audrey's eyes in each photo)

What a difference a few months can make....

Because it is so cold so much of the time in Minneapolis, the malls also serve as indoor playgrounds. There are sections devoted entirely to young children where they can run around and play...go down the slides....climb....sit in the little cars, etc. etc.

One time when Owen was younger, I took him to one of these indoor playgrounds...and, he had a ball.

That is

until....

...I put him in the seat of one of those cars that cost 50 cents a ride.

He seemed happy to be sitting there.....

until....

...I put the quarters in and the car began to move up and down.

At that point, his sweet little face turned into one of total fright!!! He began to cry and reach out to me to get him out of this horrifying situation...which, of course, I immediately did.

OH, I felt terrible for having "traumatized" my grandson in this way...

Well, moving ahead to this past weekend...

Adam and Jenny took him to an amusement park and he loved the rides! The proof is below...

So, maybe I didn't do any permanent "damage" that day in the mall after all....

: )

Crabby Grass?

"If the grass seems greener on the other side, it's probably Astroturf."

I have a lawn service....sort of.

It is more of a mow and blow and go!

Once in a while I have to ask them to do some other things to my yard...like recently, when I noticed the crabgrass was beginning to overtake my zoysia grass...

I think that this may have turned out to be a big mistake as noted by the pictures above...

These pictures were taken after two treatments of crab grass killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What have they done to my nice, green front yard?

It looks like he was haphazardly spraying my yard....killing everything that the poisonous spray hit...while the crabgrass continued to flourish.

Aaack.

Challenges

Being a part of the "blogging world" has brought so much into my life.

Friendships are made with people from all over the world as experiences are shared...and stories are told.

I am especially moved by the bravery and compassion out there as everyday people share their struggles and challenges with such grace and determination.

One very special lady, JeanMac, from A Mountain Too High writes with such love as she watches her husband go through the stages of Alzheimer's.

Her warmth and devotion to this life partner of hers is pretty incredible. I know that it can't be an easy journey for her, but she handles it all with such grace....and, even a bit of gentle humor. She is such an amazing woman...even though if you asked her, she would probably say that she is just doing what anyone would do. I disagree. Reading her blog every day continues to remind me not to sweat the small stuff in life...and to continually count my many blessings....in that so many people are dealing with some really big stuff....

Another family facing a challenge, can be found in this young woman's journal . Alan Henley, a nationally-known aerobatic pilot, who lives here in Birmingham with is wife and two young children, was recently injured in a freak accident. He was outside playing with his kids on a chin up bar...the bar gave way...and Alan fell back...breaking his neck and cutting his head. He now lies in a hospital bed hooked up to a variety of machines with a 98-99% percent chance of facing a future paralyzed from the chest down with limited mobility in his arms.

The irony of this strapping man, who has delighted folks at air shows with his breathtaking, heart-stopping, aerobatic stunts (his "team" is pictured above)...ending up with a life-changing injury while outside in his own backyard simply playing with his young children.

This story just tugs at my heartstrings as I read his wife's brave and honest daily accounts of dealing with this tragedy and trying to make sense of it all. They are a very religious family, and are using their strong faith to sustain them right now. My prayers go out to them every day.

I could go on and on about the challenges that I read about in "blogland".

They all reconfirm within me the indomitable spirit that most people have deep inside...and, that when you take away all of our outer trappings...and, you stop looking for the "differences" among us.....we are pretty much the same....just going through our lives dealing with our challenges and facing them in the best way that we can.....

...some, just a little more than others...

Journeys

"Life begins as a quest of the child for the man and ends as a journey by the man to rediscover the child." Laurens Van Der Post

This quote seemed to really fit the photo that Adam recently sent to me.

Jenny is "guiding" Owen on the path as he joyfully rides on his little tricycle.

It made me think about the "journeys" that we each take as we go through life....So, as I post today I am trying to figure out why I am thinking about all of this...

Maybe it is because the "girlies" (and, my three sisters and Mom!) are beginning to plan for my upcoming 60th birthday which is causing me to focus on my age and how much of my journey has already been lived...and forcing me to look towards the future and all of the adventures still ahead of me...

Maybe it is because I am now a grandmother watching my beautiful grandchildren explore unventured paths as they begin their own journeys...with so many wonderful experiences yet to be lived.

Possibly it is because I lost Dad this year and I am finding myself reminiscing about his personal journey of almost 90 years. I miss his quiet presence in my life every day.

Maybe it is because Mom moved out of her condo and into an "Independent Living" home...where she has been starting on her new journey in life. I am so proud of how well she has adapted....even though I know that this hasn't been easy for her.

Maybe it is because my sons and their wives are dealing with their own personal journeys right now...one moving to a new home and facing those challenges...as well as happily and excitedly awaiting the birth of their first born....while the others are quickly learning about being parents of a toddler and a newborn.

Maybe it is because I am still dreaming about what I want to be when I grow up...and, all of the things that I still want to accomplish in my life...I have so many passions that I have yet unearthed.

Maybe it is because my divorce continues to be something that I think about...even though several years have passed and I feel so much stronger and more independent as the years go by.

Maybe it is because time seems to be moving so much faster at this point in my life...and, I can't do anything to slow down its progression.

Maybe there isn't just one reason for my thinking about "journeys" right now.

Maybe, I am just in an introspective mood today and this is where my thoughts are taking me...

Maybe...

A Pensive Audrey

Audrey and the new chair!!

Audrey at 7 weeks! She looks like a little doll sitting on this new (big) hot pink chair!

Move over Audrey!

Of course, big brother, Owen, wanted to get in on the fun!

and, don't forget Daddy!

Oh yeah....I can already tell that she is going to have her dad wrapped around her little finger!

: )

Chef "Boy-R-Dave" strikes again!

This delectable dish was part of my dinner cooked to perfection by Dave last night.

It was "Almond-Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Spinach, Raisins and Feta Cheese" and it was quite delicious.

He also made a wonderful raisin sauce with brown sugar, ginger, pineapple chunks,mustard, cloves, onion and raisins that was drizzled over the top of the rolled chicken.

I'm looking forward to heating up the leftover piece tonight for my dinner!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Thanks, Dave...I love when you take over the cooking duties! (hint hint) I can't wait to see what you are planning for next weekend! : )

It "Boggles" my mind....

(In order to fully understand today's post....you might want to read yesterday's post: Television "Wars" .)

In an effort to maintain my sleep and my sanity, I decided to challenge Dave to a game of Boggle last night.

The deal was that whoever had the highest number of points after 5 rounds would get to choose the station that the television was on at bedtime.

He took the bait.

I'm pretty good with words so I figured that this would be easy. (ha! I tend to forget that he is one of the smartest people that I know...)

We tied in the first round.

He won the next two with some BIG scores.

I took the 4th and 5th rounds but not by enough.

He beat me by 3 points!!!!!!

Three measly points.

So, as I laid my head down on the pillow last night I was listening to his favorite detective show... sirens, screams, gory descriptions, .... and all.

Maybe tonight I should challenge him to the best out of three? : )

Television "Wars"

Dave loves to watch all of the investigative crime shows. He finds them intriguing.

I don't.

I find them frightening at best.

Now this isn't an issue during the waking hours since I have more than one tv in my house and I can always go to another room and happily watch my reality shows, HGTV, the Food Network, Lifetime, etc. etc... : )

However, on the nights that he stays over, tv watching can become an issue.... in that Dave likes to go to sleep with the television on. It's not just that he likes the tv on....it's that he likes to watch these crime shows around bedtime.

I don't....on either count.

I prefer to go to sleep in a nice quiet atmosphere just listening to the sounds of nature outside my window (gently falling rain is the best!)....

However, that being said, after 5 1/2 years together, I have tried to accommodate his need by adapting to falling asleep with the sound of the tv in the background.

Most of the time I am way too tired to even think about it. But, sometimes it can make it a bit difficult for me to fall off to sleep....especially when the background noises are about crimes that have been committed....with frantic 911 calls....sirens....screams.....gory details of murders. "And, so, the victim's dismembered body was dug up from the farmer's field...."

Aaack!

When those nights occur, I have devised a little plan. I keep my remote right by my pillow when I go to bed. As soon as I hear his snoring heavy breathing I begin to ever-so-slowly lower the volume. I have found that if I aim the remote at my bureau mirror, it will deflect off of it and work on the tv.

Pretty clever, eh?

Not so fast with your praise....because, without fail, the minute that I attempt that-- he is suddenly wide awake!

"Why are you turning the volume down?" he asks. And, then he slowly turns the volume back up to where he can hear it again...

Within a few minutes, he is sound asleep again...and we go through the same steps over and over again.

Amazing.

The man was in a seemingly deep sleep just seconds before I made my move....and yet....somehow he manages to become totally awake as soon as I pick up my remote and adjust the volume a bit. (I think that this is a guy thing!?)

So, there I am, trying to fall asleep to the sounds of crime coming through my tv's stereo speakers!

I have now decided to go to Plan B....either buy myself some little earplugs....or purchase one of those headsets that can plug directly into the tv so that he can listen to whatever he wants without it affecting me. I think that I will go online right now and see what is out there....

Stay tuned.

Huh?

"Patience, n. A minor form of dispair, disguised as a virtue." -Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary

I received an email from Microsoft yesterday saying that my Microsoft Office trial subscription had ended and that I needed to purchase the program now if I wanted to continue using it. I had already purchased a new Microsoft Office program last March...so, this confused me.

The following are parts of the transcript from the actual online conversation that I had with a Microsoft Customer Service Representative:

Deborah: Welcome to Microsoft Customer Service Chat!

Me: Thanks, Deborah.

Deborah: May I know the exact name of your email subscription which you are referring to?

Me: The email was from msoffice.us@trymicrosoftoffice.com. It said "Your trial has ended or will end soon. It's time to purchase 2007 Microsoft Office."

Me: I have already purchased 2007 Microsoft Office and didn't understand why I received this email.

Deborah: Okay.

Me: I paid $149.00 on March 29, 2007.

Deborah: Can you provide me with the exact web link from where you purchased the Office 2007 software?

Me: I guess that it was the Microsoft Office site. I'm not sure of the exact web link....it was last year. First I did the trial...and then when that expired, I purchased the product.

Deborah: Okay.

Me: Do you see a record of my purchase?....and, should I just ignore the email?

Deborah: Sure.

Me: Sure...just ignore it? Or, "sure" you have a record of my purchase?

Deborah: Yes, please can I have the record of your purchase?

Me: ????????

Me: I am looking at my 2007 Visa bill. The charge is on there-March 29, 2007.

Deborah: Okay

Me: ????????

Deborah: The Office product which you purchased is the full version Office Home and Student 2007. Am I right?

Me: Yes.

Deborah: Okay.

Deborah: You can also contact our Support Professionals at 1-877-4mstrial. Here you can obtain automated support about Microsoft Trial versions. They will be in a better position to answer you.

Deborah: Is there anything else that I can assist you with today?

Me: Yes. Do you have a record of my purchase????

Me: I don't want or need any trial versions...!

Deborah: No, because we are Customer Support Representative and we can assist you in reaching to an appropriate support options only.

Deborah: I recommend you calling Microsoft Sales and Partner Information Team at (800) 426-9400. they are available from Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Pacific Time. this team will be in a better position to answer you.

Me (exasperated): Okay.