Back in the Swing

I'm back in the swing of things....kinda.

With my new found mobility, I have returned to some of the smaller tasks at home. You know, cooking a simple meal, rotating laundry, loading the dishwasher, wiping counters, etc. Nothing ground breaking, but definitely progress. The absence of my cast has made those things a little easier. But the space boot I now don makes things a little tricky. The boot and slippery surfaces are seething enemies, and if I'm not careful, I'll be caught flat on the floor as a victim of circumstance!

Not only am I able to do a little around the house, I'm back to my small, "home business," more affectionately known as...Avon.

Now readers, I have to say up front, I have been an Avon customer for most of my adult life. I believe in their products because I have tried their products. There was always someone I knew selling it, and I made myself available to buy it. But I have to be honest. Avon ladies don't last very long. Or at least none that I purchased from lasted long. Fortunately, there are new representatives cropping up everyday, so it's never impossible to get the products. After my last Avon lady stopped selling, I decided that I would take up the gauntlet. Even if I didn't make a dime, I could purchase their great products at a discount.

I have been selling for almost 2 years, and I'm not exactly what Avon Corporation would call successful. I don't make loads of money; I would have to sell much, much more to do that. But I like my pace, and the good thing about Avon is that you can move up any time you want to.

Unfortunately, all of my Avon endeavors took a back seat to my health issues this year. My first surgery in March made it impossible to do anything. Then my injury in July only extended that impossibilty. I have been "off my feet" for nearly half the year. To clarify, being "off my feet" consisted on either being on crutches, in a wheel chair, or under strict doctor's orders to keep my foot elevated for most of the day. So you can imagine why Avon was put on hold.

With Christmas approaching, I wanted to get back into selling, if for nothing but the discount for myself. I received my first shipment today, and it's just about as fun as a kid at Christmas! I love sorting my orders, filling bags, looking through the new books. I've really missed it.

Since I have trouble walking for any length of time, I have bought quite a bit of Christmas gifts through Avon. This has made "shopping" easier. Unfortunately, they don't sell the X Box 360 Elite. Go figure....they have just about everything else!

So, I'm back in the swing of peddling my wares and having a fun with something I have had to set aside for a loooong time.

I'm glad things are returning to normal...at least a quasi norm!

The Cast is Off, Now the Boot

I have got to post some pix of this space boot I now wear. Just think of "Lost in Space."


But Hooray!! The cast is gone! I've never been so excited about a doctor's appointment in all my life. I waited with much anticipation as the Dr. Assistant sawed my cast off. The unveiling of my puny, atrophied calf was a welcomed sight. The space boot is easier to walk in, but it will take some practice. At least I can take the air cast off when I bathe and sleep. And I'm just tickled pink about that! It is no more stylish than my red cast, but the dull gray walking boot allows me more ease of mobility.


Now the next phase. I will wear the air cast for 4 weeks. I am still unable to drive or play the piano, but 6 weeks of this process is behind me...I'm almost half way through this ordeal.


After the air cast, I will "transition" into a brace and begin my physical therapy. That will last another 4 weeks. *sigh* Sometimes I think this will never end. As much as I want to rush this and get it behind me, I am very much aware of how careful I must be. Even though I am 6 weeks into this, I still can't move my foot left to right. It is painfully stiff, and trying to move my ankle in any direction other than up and down could result in the ligaments detaching from the bone. And I really don't want that.


I have to be grateful. At least I won't spend Christmas and New Years on crutches!

And you think ground chuck is expensive

Even though it's Christmas time, Kevin and I are trying, really trying, to diet. It's not easy, but it's not impossible either.

Here's our reward for one another. It's a stimulus, if you will.

For each pound we lose, we get $10 for new clothing. At 10 bucks a pound, it's seems expensive, but if either of us shed 15 pounds, we will need new clothes.

Hehehehehehe....I have an advantage. Hehehehehehehe....my cast comes off Monday, and I'm sure it doesn't weigh 5 pounds, I'm sure it weighs at least 1 or 2. SCORE!!!!

I'll keep you updated!

Counting.....

Hehehehehehe.....

My husband and I had lunch together today. Among the things we discussed was the fact that Christmas is only TWO weeks away.

AACCCKKKK!

This is the crucial point where the parents start counting down the days and the dollars. Less than 2 weeks of shopping days left and a LOAD of shopping left to do!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Tis done....I have my tree up and aglow! The other 4 crates are going to have to go back into the storage room. I haven't the energy to spend to strategically place all those things in my home. Pity...I did so last year. Oh well, my greatest feat was getting my tree up, and that have I conquered.

Now it's time for Christmas dinnerware. I have two choices...my pink christmas tree dishes or my square Christmas plates from Linens and Things. Hmmmm....I have a hard time deciding because I absolutely LOVE dishes. I had some snowman dishes, but I gave them away last year. I could use my plain white trimmed in gold but I'm looking for a more festive look. Of course, I can always interchanged and swap things around a bit.

Let's see...the next biggie is presents! There will be more of those to come, but I can't post about it. My kids read my blog!

In the Christmas Spirit...sort of

I'm a little weary....it's December 5Th and my Christmas tree is still in my storage room. Technically, it's only about 35 feet away from where it will hopefully soon stand, but it might as well be on the other side of the earth right now.

Behind the window unit air conditioner, behind the crates of hardback Reader's Digests, underneath the storage totes of quilts and bedspreads lies the emblem of Christmas home decorations. On top of it is piled my outside lights, wreaths for the windows, boxes of village scenes, all waiting to adorn my humble abode. In that dark storage room, they have no life. But here in my living room, they radiate the ambiance of Christmas.

My recent surgery has almost zapped me of my Christmas spirit and will. I'm not going to be a bah-humbug about everything, but the preperations for the season are twice the challege they would normally be.

I yawn just thinking about it. Maybe that's because my sinus meds are fast at work ;>

I have made one step of progess. My love, Kevin, took me to Dollar General on his lunch break yesterday. I found a couple of sets of net lighting that I had been wanting to use on my bushes in front of my porch. Great. But when I got home, I realized, those crazy bushes need to be trimmed. Fortunately, I have two teenage boys who love to work outside. Even though it was raining, Jordan trimmed all the bushes. Hugs to my sweetheart!

So tonight, yes TONIGHT, we are dragging that tree out, throwing those wreaths on the windows, and getting this place looking like it's actually December!

Disclaimer: The term "We" should not be interpreted to include the author, Rita. "We" solely represents the elbow grease of Daniel, Jordan, and Savannah. The author is simply acting as director and decorator, NOT box mover or light hanger.

The Countdown

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the countdown has begun.

You know, the countdown?

The one just about every single parent in the world knows about...the countdown to Christmas. And if you have over eager children like mine, the countdown started before Thanksgiving. It kinda starts somewhere in August. Funny thing. There's never a countdown to the first day of school. Wonder why?

Yes, the countdown starts earlier every year, or so it seems. It's getting downright ridiculous. Christmas decorations sit along side the halloween stuff. Thanksgiving is just a day to eat turkey, and many times, just a prequel to the now infamous Black Friday. I look for all these holidays to eventually be one huge conglomerate...something like Laborhallowgivingmas. After all, everything is "Holiday Season." Now, I won't fight you over Labor Day or Halloween, but I want Thanksgiving and Christmas to stand on their own!

Suppose we go to conglomerate holidays...let's see...aside from Laborhallowgivingmas that would give us Newvalenspatrick and Eastmemorialpendence. Can you imagine the greeting cards?? Comglomerates just don't have an appealing ring to their names. Hmmmm....

I know. Let's just keep all the holidays separate. Let's enjoy each one for their own worth. Let's stop bypassing Thanksgiving as a time of thankfulness. It's terrible when shopping has become the Thanksgiving Day icon.

I want to enjoy all of this, not roll it into one big event.

So, I'm gonna slow it down a bit. It will be here before you know it. Then it will be too late to relish all the joys that come with Christmas.

Carpe Diem!

Thanksgiving at the Whitman Home

Thanksgiving Has Gone and Gone and We're Still Giving Thanks

What a wonderful day it was!


Kevin beat the roosters up by rising at 5:30 AM. He had a BIG day ahead of him, with a BIG menu to live up to. When I woke up at 8:00 AM, the pumpkin pies were already in the oven. My hubby is so good to me! ;p Most of the morning, I sat in the recliner with my foot propped up. I enjoyed the sale ads and for once, I was glad I was unable to do Black Friday shopping. This wicked little surgery will have me held back a looooonnng time. But again, that's o.k. I was treated like a queen on Thanksgiving Day; how can I complain??


The menu changed....it grew and expanded to include the following: Turkey breast, Spiral Honey Baked Ham, cream corn, speckled butter beans, baked macaroni & cheese, dressing, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and that WAY good pumpkin pie. Umm, ummm, good! With only 5 people in our family, we had alot of leftovers. All the better the next day, I say!


I did manage to set my table. I decided to use my Wedgwood India China, Godinger tea goblets, and my Wallace Queens flatware. Fresh tablecloth, cloth napkins...it was so nice. After we ate, my family and I sat around the table and had coffee with our pie. We have such a good time "dressing up" the table and eating with our finest settings.

All in all, the day was relaxing and fulfilling. Yet, these are not the things I'm most thankful for. I'm thankful for the great salvation I have, and for the great God who imparted it. I'm thankful for my children, all of who now know the Lord as their personal Saviour. I'm thankful for a loving husband and the marriage relationship we have shared for over 15 years. I'm thankful for my Church where I can worship the Lord, and I'm thankful for the freedom to do so.

I'm also thankful for safety, a home, and 2 vehicles. Everyone in America doesn't have those things. I'm thankful for the good health care I receive and the ability to pay for that care. I'm thankful to live in America, the beacon of freedom to the rest of the world. I enjoy freedom that other people in other lands know nothing about. Even with the problems we are having in the USA, we are still a great land, and I'm thankful for that great privilege.


Up next will be some photos to kinda let you see inside the Whitman Home in preparation for our big day. Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving on the Way and the Tradition Still Holds

Thanksgiving is almost here, and I have to say, it's one of my favorite holidays! I love the menu planning, the cooking, the cleaning...as much work as it is, Thanksgiving dinner is so rewarding.

Ah, yes...Thanksgiving dinner. How I love all that it entails. But this year will be different. Kevin dearest will be manning the kitchen. Since my ankle surgery is still dictating my life, my wonderful husband will prepare the feast.

Mind you, it would be sooo easy to just run up to my Mother's house in NC. It's even a little tempting. But Kevin and I have been trying to make a tradition of our own, and that's Thanksgiving at home. Our home.

I have to give Kevin proper adulation, for most men would be making a B line to their Mother-in-Law's house. After all, he's preparing a meal for a couple of teenage boys, a tween daughter, and a precious but persnickety wife! But he's very serious about our traditions. To be honest, this isn't the first Thanksgiving meal he has thrown on the table.

The first Thanksgiving supper (not the one with the pilgrims) was in 1998. I had to have my gal bladder removed the day before Thanksgiving. At that time, our tradition was to go to my Mother's home. There have been many medical advances, and even though they don't saw you in half anymore when they remove your gallbladder, I was unable to travel. We had all the food, but no cook...so I thought! Kevin prepared a wonderful spread, and was right proud of himself for the good job!

Some may say, "Oh, you were just really hungry. That's why it tasted so good. Appreciation is a great seasoning sauce." No. The man can flat out cook. And that's one of the reasons I'm looking forward to Thursday.

Wives, imagine. Sitting back on Thursday morning while your husband prepares a feast! Turkey, Honey baked ham, cream corn, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls, and last but not least, Kevin's home-made pumpkin pie. He has that one mastered. I will relish every single bite. I've got it sooo good. ;p

It will mean alot of work for Kevin and the kids, but it will be a wonderful day. I hope all of you have a wonderful day, and please, never cease to be thankful.

Family Slideshow

Compliments of my lovely daughter, Savannah!

Many of the colored pictures are from our summer vacation. Yes, the one that started this whole foot surgery mess. So, I watch this slideshow with mixed feelings. ;-)

Returning to My Roots

I have found my way back.
It's been a long journey, but like a beaten, prodigal daughter, I have returned to what I know is right. It has taken the "recession", but I have come back to my penny pinching, coupon clipping ways.

Actually, I'm not sure I believe we are in a nation-wide recession. As long as the X Box 360 is being manufactured, I feel sure that we aren't. After all, if countless numbers of Playstation 3's and X Box's are being shoved under Christmas trees this holiday season, I feel confident that our economy will survive.

What? You don't believe me? Last time I drove past the factory outlets near my house, the parking lot was swelling with cars. Honey, they don't sell groceries at those places! The last time I tried to eat out at Cracker Barrell, the parking lot was so full, my family and I went elsewhere. Unless C.B. takes food stamps, all those cars represented paying customers. So, no. I don't think we are in a "Nation-wide" recession. But no doubt, we are all feeling the pinch.

When Kevin and I first got married, every month his precious Grandmother would send me an envelope full of coupons (and a little bit of money). Talk about spoiled!! I didn't even have to clip those things! Sweet Grandma Olivia did it for me. She did this on her own volition out of sheer desire to help me. So I took full advantage of her tedious labor. She always sent the best coupons. There was nothing like looking at the bottom of my receipt and seeing how much was decucted in coupon savings.

I was full blown. I had a pendaflex coupon holder with dividers and subcatergories. I was eager to use my money saving prowess, and I L-O-V-E-D stores that doubled their coupons.

Some of my greatest savings were from the coupons the hospital gives you after you give birth. You know, Enfamil, Baby wipes, diapers. Manufacturers are good to new mommies. Those were the best deals, and many times, they gave Buy One Get One Free Coupons.

But once my children were out of diapers and old enough to eat table food, my need for coupons seemed to shrink. And I guess that's when I sort of lost my way. Grandma Olivia still sent them, but I didn't use them. I put the pendaflex coupon organizer in storage, never to be found. I eventually told Olivia, "Don't bother with the coupons."

Now, 10 years later, I find myself wondering how I could have ever walked away from the "bargaining table", so to speak. Gas and groceries are huge expenses, and they have to be purchased at least weekly, sometimes more frequently than that. Don't get me wrong. I've always used coupons to Pizza Hut and Arby's. I never became a coupon reprobate! But I have forgotten the joy of saving money each trip to the grocery store.

I do have to add, I have a friend who is an avid couponista, Amber. I have a link to her blog. Well, after seeing all the stuff she had on her blog, I was inspired to go back to what I had done so long ago. Thank you, Amber, for being a beacon of light on this subject!

I started out by going to free online printable coupons. Not for me. Too much involved. And you can forget the freebies. Time is money for me, and I can't sit around all afternoon entering my personal information just so I can get a trial size product in the mail, which usually takes about 6-8 weeks.

No...I'm a coupon purist. Some merchants frown on downloaded coupons, although I have saved alot on my perscriptions by going to the manufacturer's site and printing the available coupons. (I received a $126 medication FREE because of a manufacturer's coupon! SCORE!) But by and large, I like the old fashion coupons. That's right, the one's you have to clip. I even started a newspaper subscription so I could get my hands on the coupon inserts. The sound of scissors clipping have been filling my home. And when I get back on my feet, I plan to use these babies!

I'm back to what I once knew, except now, I'm not so spoiled. I have to clip my own. Even though gas is going down (hopefully, it will stay down) I want to save that hard earned money Kevin brings home. Hey, I've gotta make my $11 per month savings quota...that will pay for the newspaper subsrciption.

I guess I will be shopping for another coupon pendaflex folder. It makes me feel a little old. I always envision granny's with coupon holders holding up the line at Walmart while they shuffle through their coupons. If coupons are a sign of aging, I've been maturing for a long, long time.

Agony of de Feet!

I hate to be a whiney baby...but this whole recovery thing stinks. I mean, people keep bringing me food every day. I haven't been able to do the housework that I so love to do. Someone else is carting my kids all over creation. People are calling me every single day to say, "How are you? I've been praying for you. Feel better soon!" My husband has to help me up, down, and into bed. I have to have my foot propped on three thick pillows. I have been robbed of the privilege of doing laundry.(Please stand by while I regain my composure.) I have been stripped of my God given right to go to the bank, to dash in and out of Wal-Mart, to stroll to the library and return books that are 6 weeks overdue, to make a last minute run to the grocery store right before it closes. Is anyone shedding a tear for me yet??? It's rough, I know, but some how, some way, I will survive.

A little tongue in cheek humor there. Actually, all of the above represent the beautiful side of recovering from a major surgery. Of course, if you don't have a strong network of family, church or otherwise, you might not have the wonderful help I do.

I can't thank the Jefferson Lighthouse Baptist Church enough for all their sacrifice and help during this time. The family of God has stood by my bedside many times, whether it be hospital bed or my bed at home. It's been a thick and thin relationship that has never given way under the pressures. I can only hope to return the blessing to each of the ladies. God knows my heart. I want to, more than anything I want to.

However, there are some agonies of de feet that I have to come to terms with on my own. With all the positives, there are some negatives I have to deal with, and to be honest, I don't have an easy time dealing with them. For instance, I am immobilized to the point that I can't even do a simple task. That greatly aggrevates me. I was sitting here last night with our dinner guests, (they had brought us all the yummy fixins for tacos and stayed to dine and clean up) and I noticed this enormous cobweb. Under normal circumstances, I would have done all I could to detract any attention from what seemed to be obvious. But instead, I just sat there in my wheelchair helplessly awaiting the cobweb's debut. I don't know if my dinner guest noticed it, but all I could think was, "Some creature sure was busy during this past 2 weeks!" Doesn't make a homemaker feel too good.

Although I don't miss grocery shopping, I miss being able to drive. I won't be able to drive for another 4-6 weeks. That's a real bummer because I really dislike asking people to run errands for me. And with Kevin's busy schedule, it makes it double hard on him.

It sounds fun to ask someone to hand you something that is 6 feet away from you, but after a while, you just want to be able to do it yourself. However, getting it yourself is not that easy. My foot is supposed to be elevated above my heart. So in order to get something even six feet away, I have to remove the leaning tower of pillows, de-recline the recliner, pull myself up on my crutches, and hobble the few steps away to get whatever it was I wanted, find a way to carry it back to the recliner (hopefully in my mouth or under my arm squeezed beside my crutch). And then if I drop it! AACCCCKKK!!!!!! To sum it up: I have to really want it bad to get it myself. It's just so much easier to ask someone else to get it. But asking someone else comes with a twinge of guilt. ;> Vicious circle, I know.

It's not only the guilt of always having to ask someone else to do a simple task for you, it's also the fact that you like the way you do it better. Oh boy, this is a real issue for me. As I wheel through the kitchen in my wheelchair, I am at eye level with my countertops. When I see crumbs, microscopic though they may be, I ask, "Dear Lord, where have I gone wrong? I have shown these kids time and time again how to clean this counter. Where's a dishcloth...." Now this is where I get in real trouble with my husband. As he wheels me out of the kitchen, I am wiping the counter as I go, just a'pitchin' a hissy fit. Then I start in about the microwave, and the refrigerator, and the sweeping, and the mopping. Oh, wait...that's how I am even without surgery! Seriously, I want to reclean what my husband and children are trying to clean, and it wouldn't be so bad if my hands, or in this case, my feet, weren't tied.

Another form of agony I feel is my restriction from the piano. My surgery was on my pedal foot, so I can't play the piano for at least 6 weeks. Now that makes me sad. I have tried crossing my legs and using my left foot on the pedal, but it is too awkward. I will enjoy hearing the choir from the pew for a change, but I will greatly miss my place on the piano bench.

Yes. The agony of defeat, or de feet. Either way, I'm experiencing it. I know I'll come out on top, but arising as the Victor takes alot out of a person. It most definitely takes a lot out of their family. I'm thankful for their help, and I'm thankful to God. Without them, I could never be victorious at all.

Above all, I want to be thankful that my condition is very temporary. I'm not permanently confined to a wheelchair, and my prognosis is great, of course. Lest I should be seen as unaware of how great I've got it, I want to say I see sunny days ahead!

Have I Failed to Mention....?

Some pets are called, "the dog with a thousand faces." I am the "person with a thousand matter-0f-fact facts", one of them being that I suffer from insomnia. So, in case I have previously failed to mention that, don't let the time stamp on this post freak you out.

I have survived the Lateral Ligament Reconstruction with the Arthroscopy. In fact, the surgeon was pleasantly surprised with what he found. I had no cartilage or bone fragments floating around. However, I did have two ligaments on the right side of my ankle that had to be repaired. All in all, I will survive.

Now for the recovery part. I know, it seems like the easy part, but this ankle hurts. In case I didn't mention it, the surgeon attached my torn ligaments to my ankle with anchors, which means he had to drill into the ankle bone. Ouch. It's just a wee bit sensitive. Actually, it's "alot" sensitive. The Percocet is barely knocking the edge off the pain. I'm doing my best to keep my foot elevated, but to be honest, no postition is comfortable.

I have a 12 week recovery ahead of me and alot of time on my hands. It's not that I don't have anything to do. It's just that I can't do anything that requires my feet! As soon as I can get past the pain and grogginess, I hope to devote some time to my homeschool lesson plans. I know my children will greatly appreciate that!

I had a dear friend stop by today. I thought she was coming to see me....you know, the poor, post-op Pastor's wife, but she had come to see my daughter. She had bought Savannah some yarn and a crochet needle and she wanted to dart in this house and show Savannah how to crochet in like 5 minutes. I said hold on! These kids have work to do! All the while, I'm trying to figure out if I can think clearly enough through the Percocet fog to learn how to crochet in 5 minutes myself! You see, I may have failed to mention it, but I have always wanted to learn.

Annette, my dear friend, said, "It won't take but a minute. I just want to show her how to start her chain. Then I will teach her the rest." Y'know, I kinda wanted to say, "Hey, I'd like to learn!" But I refrained. I sat there with my foot propped up trying to absorb what she was showing my daughter. Every now and then, Annette would turn to me and tell me how to do what she had just told Savannah. My chance came later in the day when she brought the boys home from Christmas play practice. The sweet gal even went to Wal-Mart at 10:30 p.m. to get the colors of yarn I wanted. She even returned with Reese Cups. What a Friend!

So, the Leftie is finally learning to crochet. Did I fail to mention that every time I asked someone to teach me to crochet they backed out once they found out I was left handed? They always said, "You're backwards. You won't be able to understand." Actually, I didn't have any problem translating what Annette did with her right hand into "lefthandedness." It came pretty natural. As soon as I can add to my chain, I will post a picture.

It's been a lovely late night chat, but even insomniacs get sleepy. Now I must carefully hobble back to my bed. In this home, no further injuries on my behalf are permitted!!

Surgery....And a few other things

Well, in just a few hours I will be leaving my house to go to the surgery center. I should be in bed sleeping, but I always have trouble sleeping before surgery. This will be number 11. Incredible.

I wil have a 12 week recovery time, but hopefully, I will be up on my feet within 2-3 weeks. This isn't what I was hoping for, but we don't always get what we want in life. And it's better on us if we just go ahead and deal with that fact.

That leads me to the election.

I'm very disappointed. I wasn't a big McCain fan, but I absolutely detest Obama's policies. It is a historical moment that we have elected an African American as the President of the United States. It is shameful that blacks were ever treated the way they were, and it is a proud moment that an African American has been elected into the highest office in the world.

It is also historical in that Obama is the most socialistic president ever to serve. This greatly concerns me. But again, we don't always get what we want. Historically, after two terms of any given political party, the other party regains control. So the bright side?? Not sure if there is one because the Republicans have fallen away from conservatism .

Yes. There is a bright side. God is still God. Jesus still saves, and He is still Lord! I am so thankful that no matter who is in the White House, I know Who is on the Throne!

The Notebook

It was guarded with our dear lives. It was courriered daily via a backpack slung over one shoulder, as was the 80's custom. (Only a complete geek would carry his/her backpack over both shoulders.) To the incognizant, it was just a pretty little something Sherrie and I were always scribbling in. But to us, it was The Notebook.

It was Sherrie's idea, and what an idea! Our senior year, we had so much to share. We were best friends. Part of our circle, Rachel, had moved away, so we were down to two. We had so many thoughts, so much we wanted to express, but who wanted to get caught passing notes? We both were conscientious students....well, for the most part. We decided to class up the traditional note passing by purchasing a decorative notebook. It's purpose was two fold: 1) we could quickly discern The Notebook from all others at a casual glance, 2) when we wrote in it, it looked like we were doing class work. Now granted, this idea is no longer new, but I can't help but feel that we pioneered this new method of the age old form of classroom communication.

I still remember the very first notebook. It was white with large black polka dots all over it. It was so near and dear to us, we did not scribble on the outside of if it like other notebooks. I didn't use it for anything else, nor did I whip it out and use it casually for fear of someone sneaking a peek at the contents.

We were faithful to our regiment. Sherrie and I met every morning at 7:30 am. We would sit in her car (sometimes mine) and before we would go to class, we would pass the notebook. By third period, we would pass it off again. And again by lunch, and usually, again by the end of the day. Naturally, someone would take it home. This routine lasted our entire senior year. To be honest, I'm not sure how many notebooks we went through. Sherrie, do you know? And if you do, do you have any of them?

Now I know some of you are thinking, "Big deal. A whole post on a notebook? All teenage girls write notes." That's true. But I was that teenager. And there's nothing like a trip down memory lane!

Within those pages, so many stories were told. Sure, we talked about shallow things, like, "Could her clothes be any tighter??" Or "He is Muy guapo!!!!" We were silly at times. We had the goods on other people and we knew it! That notebook held enough explosive secrets to fill a tabloid for a month!

But, it also contained painful confessions of two teenage girls trying to find their way in the world in which they lived. There were times we were crying to each other about our family problems. At times, we were "crying" about the problems we had with each other! Though I don't have the notebooks with me now, it would pang me to read some of the words I vaguely remember writing. What am I saying?!?!? I'd have a fit if ANYBODY read them now...except Sherrie of course.

There were a few times we both went into panic mode because one of us misplaced the notebook. Afterall, who would be comfortable with the thought of someone in the high school having access to your deepest, darkest thoughts? Talk about becoming the laughing stock of the school! Fortunately, it was always quickly recovered, usually shoved in Sherrie's or my locker.

Oh...The Notebook. I kinda wish I could get my hands on it. It would do my heart good to see what I said in my youth. If nothing else, it would serve as faithful reminder that age and growth isn't always a bad thing.

I've Found a Long Lost Friend

Rita and Rachel, March 1987, Beta Gamma Sorority-"Cup Cotillion Ball"

I searched long. I prayed oft. I wondered many times what happened to my dear old friend Rachel.

We were best of friends in High School. We were co-Feature Editors for our high school newspaper, the Palmetto Leaf. We were twins in mind, spirit, and even looks. She was more petite and prettier than me, but if I had a dime for every time someone called me "Rachel" and someone called her "Rita", we'd both have a nice little lump of shopping money right now. We shared ideals, goals, music, you name it. We shared mutual friends, like Sherrie. Our circle was small, but it was the making of a happy little group. Then she moved away.

I still had Sherrie, but our wonderful threesome of carefree souls was broken up, and in my heart, I never lost track of her. I could never find her on the map, but in my heart, I always wondered where she might be or what life had brought her way.

Many times, I would do free people searches. I managed to find out that at one point she was living within 100 miles of me. I nearly had a heart attack I was so excited. I wanted to dig and dig, but I didn't know how without going through those really questionable sources. You know, the companies that make you feel like a dirt bag for "investigating" your friend. Sheesh....these shady places offer info on social security numbers, traffic violations, divorces....basically, a rap sheet of sorts. No thanks. I just wanted to know where in the world my friend was, and if there was any chance we could still be friends.

I had become a Christian in 1990, and one of the first people I thought of was Rachel. But I didn't know where to find her. I so longed to tell her of what had happened in my heart, but all my searching came up empty. Until recently.

Being a 1988 graduate, 2008 marked my 20 year high school reunion. Thankfully, someone in my graduating class was resourceful enough to start a web page where all the alumni could share personal info. This allowed all of us graduates to set up profiles, so we could catch everyone up on their lives. I was excited about this website because I thought to myself, "Maybe Rachel will have a profile...just maybe..."

To my great delite, she had a profile. I cried tears of joy as I read her first email to me. We have since exchanged many emails and many pictures of our families. I can't believe we have finally reconnected, but we have. And through all of our conversations, I have found that we share the same God, the same love of our family, and the same love of writing. She is the very inspiration for me starting my blog.

Through the years, I have come to a greater understanding that friendship is not just who you run to Wal-Mart with; it is longevity. I'm so grateful to God for bringing my friendship with Rachel back to full circle. We don't get to chat every day. We don't even email as much as we did when we first found each other. But I know if I need her she will be there. And I believe in my heart, she always was. And no matter where your friends are on the map, in your heart, you are always there for them.

Unfortunately, neither one of us got to make it to the reunion. I wish I could have seen her and reminisced in person. But now that we are in touch, we can take our time. She has helped us with craft ideas, and my daughter interviewed her for a history project. We're both just living our lives and staying busy. (She's an amazing woman!) But at least we have a little part of each other now.

News Flash: Right Foot Now in Protective Custody!

It could be worse. Really it could. I could be strictly off of my feet for 12 weeks. But I am ever so fortunate, and I do not say that lightly, to have a reduced sentence.

I'm having the dreaded ankle surgery. Lateral Ligament Reconstruction with Arthroscopy to be exact. And you know what? It ain't so bad.

Don't get me wrong. I came through a whole lot of dread, tears, and prayers to be able to even peck that four word sentence. When I found out on Wednesday that the MRI results weren't, shall we say in my favor, I cried all afternoon. I'm not talking about a dainty weeping that a single kleenex could handle. I'm talking about a lock yourself in the bedroom, lay across the bed, ask God why, bury your face in the pillow, ask God for Grace, deep moaning, ask God why again, fingers locked in your hair, who-cares-about-your-makeup-red splotchy- faced cry. I was in bad, bad shape. If any of you have ever thought I am given to exaggeration, had you seen me that day, you would call the above an understatement.

For a moment, I thought, "Goodness, Rita! Get yourself together!" Then I immediately resolved, "No. This is exactly what I need to do. Get it all out!!" It was a catharsis, one that was much needed. I had built up so much anxiety about the pending surgery.

Can any of you understand what I mean? So much changes with surgery. First of all, there is always, always, always, a financial burden. Even when the insurance is paying at 100% (Praise God), there are always other expenses. Guess what? When Kevin shops, it cost more! When the kids are on auto pilot for breakfast and lunch, the kind of stuff they need to eat cost more. I wish I could submit a claim form for these things, but BC BS would laugh me out of Georgia. As a believer, I know God meets my needs, but I want to be transparent here. I'm a wife and a worrier. And I feel like my lousy health is always costing us money.

Other things that change with surgery are homeschooling, church, housecleaning, bill paying, driving....you get the picture. How many of you mothers can afford (not just monetarily) to be out of commission? Can I get a witness?? You know the old saying...A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done! So, you can see why I need the nervous break down, I mean the good cry?!?!?!?

When my appointment rolled around Friday, I had resolved in my heart that I was going to be a soldier brave and true and face this battle head on. And then I got knocked flat on my hiney.

How bad can a sprain be, you ask? I tore that joker up! I tore the ligament very close to the bone, severing it in two. I ripped my deltoid tendon on the inside of my right ankle. I have a severely bruised bone and severe bone swelling. Not to mention loads of other medical terms that I have never heard of. I need the arthroscopy just to make sure I don't have cartilage floating around in there.

Unlike 90% of the ligaments that heal on their own, my ligament has formed scar tissue on both of the severed ends and is pretty much anchoring down right where it is at. No hope of meshing back together. Sheeesh....this sounds like a bad love story.

With surgery being the only solution, I bravely asked the Doctor to tell me how long my down time was and how difficult the surgery would be. I told him, "Tell it to me straight, Doc. I like my Doctors like my Preachers, straight and honest."

And here's the good news for me. After the surgery, I will be in a splint for 10 days. I will then have a cast for 4 weeks, but I can walk in the cast. This is what made me soooo happy! Walking within 2 weeks?!?! I was ecstatic! Then I will progress to a boot, which I will wear for another 4 weeks. Then I will finally wear a brace for a couple of weeks while I do physical therapy. 12 weeks total. I know, I know. It's a long time. But I was thinking I was going to be completely off my feet for 12 weeks. This is really thrilling news for me.

No doubt, it will still be a long road. Thankfully, the ladies of my church will step in and cook and clean for me. They are a God send, whom I thank in advance. And I thank God. I should be able to at least stand without the aid of crutches at Thanksgiving dinner. I may even get to do a little shopping. That is, if I can get Kevin to drive me around. This is my driving foot (and my piano pedal foot).

So much will have to be altered while my right foot is in protective custody. By the time this terrible crime against my own body has passed, my right foot will be ready to walk again, play again, drive again. I can't wait. Until then, it will have to get used to being sequestered. Actually, I will be the one that will have to make the adjustment!

It's Not Just the Debates....

Ok...I might not be the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to politics, but I do know experience when I see it. I'm talking about John McCain. Although I think McCain won hands down, I still think there is more to the picture than an hour and a half of questions launched in a controlled atmosphere.

Let me preface the rest of the dialogue with a few clarifying statements:

1. McCain was not my pick. My guy didn't make it very far.
2. Palin may have energized the conservative base, but I personally don't like women in politics. She's a far sight better than what most have expected, and she's incredibly intelligent. But for this humble little blogger, Palin did not win me over.
3. For those who haven't guessed by now, I am a conservative. No apologies here. I am proud of my conservative views, even when they aren't popular. I still have to abide by my God given conscience, and that almost completely prohibits me from voting for a Democrat.
4. I have carefully watched the debates this year (cnn.com is a great place to catch up on these AND to watch live streaming), and I have tried to stay inform. I have to say that even though I don't agree with Democrats, I have come to the conclusion that many of them are patriotic. They just believe the government should play a much larger role in our personal lives than what I believe they should. Republicans used to be the party of smaller government, but that's becoming less and less true.

To sum up why I believe McCain will make a better leader, I offer two words: Damage Control. I don't like all of McCain's ideas, but I believe that with his leadership, government will shrink instead of grow. Government has become the source of supply for every one's wants and needs. I want to help the elderly and the sick, but somewhere down the line, personal responsibility has been left out of the equation. And somewhere up the road, it has got to be added back in!

I'm way out of my league here, talking about politics, but I am passionate about my rights and my country. I'm just a homeschooling mom who wants her children to see the beauty of the country they live in. I want the freedom to homeschool without government interference. What are they afraid of? That parents can successfully teach their children without the help and aid of the government?

What about my freedom to worship? I want my children to raise their children with the same freedom. But more and more, we hear of preachers being locked up for preaching on the streets. In this age of "tolerance", folks sure are intolerant of Christians. This greatly concerns me, because under the wrong leadership, these freedoms will quickly erode.

And what about our protection from terrorists? God help us. George Bush has left alot to be desired, but we haven't had another attack on our own turf. He has kept us safe. Liberal foreign policies can be a great threat to our safety.

I've been on my knees. My prayer is that America will receive mercy. God knows, our country needs it. It's not just about who did well at the debates. It's about having experience to lead. It's about shrinking the government instead of expanding it. It's about protecting the freedoms we still have. There's so much at stake. I hope and pray America will vote for the man most prepared to keep my liberties in tact. If not, we all have much to lose.

I Once Had Beautiful Feet

My Nemeses....my arch rivals...these beauties I
must trade for beasts! Is this worth foot surgery?
No. A thousand times No!




It is with sadness and heaviness that I write today. A dark reality has blanketed my day, and I must share it with my readership. I just returned from a follow up appointment with my Orthopaedic Surgeon, and I may have to have yet another foot surgery.

I wince.

You see, I have just now recovered from my first foot surgery. The surgery I had 7 months ago-a "simple" bunionectomy and cystectomy on my left foot. HA! The surgery that very nearly made me question whether I had a purposeful existence. Ladies and gentlemen, I wanted to die. (And I am not using hyperbole) That surgery was the most painful experience of my life, and of all the surgeries I've had, my foot surgery was the most unbearable.

Now, I won't go into all the medical jargon, but I will say this...the foot is nerve rich. Let me put it this way: I would rather relive my hysterectomy than have another foot surgery. But here I sit today, facing a possible and very likely surgery on my right ankle.

I was lucky enough to sustain a severe grade 3 sprain on my first day of our family vacation. Let's hear it for Rita the clutz! It changed the family vacation, to say the very least. I was equipped with an arsenal of Percocets and Lortabs, along with crutches and a very stylish splint. Not. The hiking plans were nixed, along with the tour of the Biltmore House. Instead, we played Scategories and Uno in Marathon-ish proportions.

But being the forever optimist, I simple thought 2-3 weeks in advance. You know, I visualized myself back at Curves with sweat glistening on my brow. I envisioned shedding my tacky splint and tossing those crutches aside. In the midst of my racking pain, I assured myself, "This will be over in a couple of weeks. Sprains aren't as bad as surgery...you'll be over this in no time."

Long story short; ten weeks post injury, my ankle is extremely loose. The swelling is still plaguing me, and there is an ever-present discoloration that resembles a bubonic blue. I would be lying if I said this ankle were pain free. And now the feet that were once dainty and pretty, (even my critical sisters would have to confirm this as fact) look like a crime scene. Or at least the left one does. And the right foot may be soon to follow!

We have a name for the way my feet look....FrankenFoot. A left foot defined by hideous keloid scars; a right foot defined by an eerie discoloration and swelling. Keloids of all things! I've got at least a half dozen surgery scars on my body, but none of them can be seen. None except the lovely keloids sitting atop my foot. My cute summer sandals can't mask the ugly feet that have taken on a life of their own. I would post photos, but it would be too graphic.

Alas! Am I, at 38, doomed to a life of orthopaedic Dr. Scholls footwear and knee high socks? I love my Clarks, but come on! They don't go with everything! I once had beautiful feet, but those feet will never return. It's just the plain hideous truth.

Before I appear overly vain and narcissistic, let me say that a potential ankle surgery holds more than just ugly scars. It also holds a great deal of pain and a long road of recovery. And that gives me the greatest sense of dread.

Let's face it: I have to laugh to keep from crying. My MRI next week will tell the tale. Hopefully, I will escape the pending doom of surgery. But if not, recuperation time means more time to write. Plus, I will readily admit, the Royal Treatment of a woman off her feet for 6-8 weeks is a nice way to recover!

Driving Through the Concrete Jungle with My Little Monkey

For most people, April 15th holds a huge significance. For me, it's October 15th-the real last day you can file your federal income tax return. Just call me the Queen of Income Tax Extensions.

I, your humble blogger, am solely responsible for getting together a year's worth of tax clutter and getting it safely (and accurately) in the hands of a capable accountant. And lucky me, my accountant is located on the other side of Atlanta.

Why the long drive, one might say? Why not go to H & R Block? Well, if you know anything about Minister's taxes, the question is a non sequitur. But if you are unfamiliar with how complex the tax codes are for clergy, let me give you an analogy I use for the difference between men and women: normal tax return=mouse; clergy taxes=keyboard. No offense to anyone that uses the services, but I don't trust my taxes to a "Block" head.

A typical appointment with my accountant last approximately 3 hours, excluding the drive there and back, which adds another 3 hours. An all day event, indeed! But the most dreadful part is the drive through what we local yokels call the "Concrete Jungle"-Atlanta to all others.

I was accompanied by my youngest son, Jordan. He was bored to death sitting at the accountant's office for almost 5 hours today, but his presence allowed me to zip through the HOV Diamond lane, restricted to 2+ passengers. (Thanks son!) He munched on salt and vinegar chips while I chain-chewed my Orbit gum. He constantly chided me for chewing 4 pieces of gum in one hour, but I can't stomach the stuff when it loses it's flavor.

So....it was me and the little guy, all the way there and all the way back. He kept calling out the names of cool cars that passed us. He would point to cars and say, "That's a......" "I want one of those!" He's a source of perpetual chatter. So much like his Mom, God love him!

We enjoyed over an hour of Rush Limbaugh. Even at the age of 13, Jordan has more political sense than many adults. He knows why Obama would be bad for us, and he knows why McCain isn't the best the Republican party had to offer. He asked why money was such a problem when we can print more. I had a hard time explaining that answer. Hearing all this gloom and doom about the stock market has this kid thinking!!

But he was also getting tired of riding. He kept asking, "How far is it to this place?!?!" And boy was he ever ready to get back in that car after sitting in the accountant's office all day. We thought we would surely hit alot of traffic, so we grabbed a bite to eat before we hit I-75. My little monkey loves Krystals. I opted for Chic-Fil-A. Once again, we listened to talk radio. Herman Cain....now there's a guy I would vote for! And Jordan loved hearing him.

So there we were, on our merry way, at 7:15 p.m., trekking back through the Concrete Jungle on the edge of darkness. Atlanta is a scary place in broad daylight, so night time makes me really nervous. Now I know that the 95 pound boy sitting next to me would have been no match for a mugger. He wouldn't have been able to assess any car problems had they arisen. But there was such a comfort in having him in the seat beside me. I felt protected even though logic would dictate that I was the protector.

Have any of you ever felt that way about your son or your child? Just their presence brings comfort and assurance. Just the everyday conversation, hearing them tell about the world as seen through their eyes, can produce an intellectual conversation that can't be parallelled by a member of Mensa.

There is something so profound about children. It's masked with simplicity, but make no mistake; connecting with your children is always deep. It's overwhelming when I think about this relationship that requires constant cultivation. God has given us only one opportunity to raise our children, yet I'm afraid that opportunity is squandered by looking for opportunities. I have found the most opportune times to cultivate are during the drives to the grocery store or while running errands.

It was just an ordinary day, but it became so much more. A drive I dreaded was enriched by the presence of my little monkey, Jordan. My curious Jordan. I'm so thankful to the Lord that my son can be my friend!

Family Pixs

Me and my wonderful husband and our precious daughter.
Mom and the kids goofing off!

The Men in my life!!!

Mom and daughter-BFF!!!!

I'm on a roll!! Just wanted to post some family photos we took this weekend. I love the black and white!

More Poetry

Ok, ok, ok...I've slacked off a little (embarrassed smile), actually alot, on my blog. I guess that's what I get for making such a big declaration about emerging from the corner. Blah, blah, blah....let's face it. Mom's get really busy. And this homeschooling year is going to be very time consuming and hectic. So, I thought I'd bulk up my number of posts by adding another poem.

FYI....I will be posting about the wonderful Anniversary trip Kevin and I took last week. Complete with pictures and description! Ta Ta For Now!

The Purging Fire

Oh, Saviour that I may love thee more

and upon thy bosom lean

May I ever cherish my feiry trials

that purge this vessel clean

The dross the trials doth take away

though my aching heart may cry

yet refines in a likeness still

that shall forever be as thine

Do not the beautiful trees so green

forfeit their colors with time

As coldness creeps across the sky

leaves fall with dismal sigh

Oh, they seem to die in weary trodden paths

that upon them no mercy unfolds

Yet as the lush green has faded away

The leaves now have traces of gold

Their trials brought forth the better

and the beauty that only could come

from a season that forces change

and a mercy that will overcome

So harsh, yet so merciful

are the trials that burden me so

Yet in them the dross fades away

And the Saviour I more lovingly know!

Fall is Nearing

I try my hand at poetry from time to time. I wanted to add this to my blog because fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. It has a poignant beauty...all nostalgic and such! Enjoy!

Fall is Nearing

Fall is nearing,
thus my heart is in deepest thought
Gone is whimsical summer
and all the joys it has wrought.

The lush green will be on it's deathbed
And the fireflys will escape away
The languor of the hammock's creak
Will succumb to the approaching days.

The darkness of night swells with length
And the shadows become more intense
The brisk air whispers a foreboding tale
Of a season that holds no pretense.

Sprightly summer days must go,
Their cruel escort is the Autumn wind
And upon my deep introspection
Lies a reality buried within

Fall is nearing,
and my heart sinks with the thought
That I shoud fail to glean
from the lessons I'll be taught.

Remembrance

It is with bitter sting that all Americans are forced to look back in time to September 11, 2001. We all remember what we were doing when the tragic news came to us, when the harsh reality fell upon us.

We were assaulted-emotionally raped. Families were severed, friends became friendless, and the void that engulfed us brought us to our knees. It was a senseless act of diabolical hatred that served to remind us of the constant evil that permeates our world. And without the strength and power of God, we would be swallowed by this evil that desperately wants to prevail.

My hope, my prayer, is that my fellow Americans will turn to God in this time of remembrance. Had He not sustained our Country, we would have surely been overtaken. If He is not your Saviour, call on Him today. Make this time of remembrance a time to repent. May our Country make this time of remembrance a time to return to the God this nation was founded upon. God has been merciful. And God has certainly blessed America.

The Secrets of Sisterhood

My "Sisterhood"- Sandy, Melissa, Mom, Roni, Rita



Blood is thicker than water, but blessed be the ties that bind female friends! Much like a mother's instinctive love and care, lady friends will lock arms to defeat any foe that barges against the "sisterhood." And you know what? That sisterhood doesn't even have to be biological.

God designed women with such an intense loyalty to those they love. Take for instance a woman's automatic defense mechanism over her husband. Just let a person cross a loyal wife's husband, and that person won't live to regret it! A loyal wife can calmly lace the coffee with arsenic, serve it to the offender with a smile, and hum a little tune while she waits for him to croak. Do I even need to deal with a Mother's fierce love? It's a love that will stop at nothing to protect. And until a woman is a Mother, she can't even begin to comprehend what I'm saying.

But everyone of us knows about our deep devotion to our "sisters". Whether they be sisters in Christ, sisters by blood, or sisters by association, once there is an established bond, all the dynamite in the Kentucky coal mines can't break it. It's part of our nature.

But there may be a few other reasons why women bond so intimately. A connection that is exclusively "female." Science can't explain it, and men can't fathom it. However, women know these reasons as fact. Although the following is borrowed, it expresses my sentiments exactly!

Top 10 Things Only Women Understand

10. Why it’s good to have five pairs of black shoes.
9. The difference between cream, ivory, and off-white.
8. Crying can be fun.
7. FAT CLOTHES.
6. A salad, diet drink, and a hot fudge sundae make a balanced lunch.
5. Discovering a designer dress on the clearance rack can be considered a peak life experience.
4. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made.
3. A good man might be hard to find, but a good hairdresser is next to impossible.
2. Why a phone call between two women never lasts under ten minutes.
AND THE NUMBER ONE THING ONLY WOMEN UNDERSTAND:
1. OTHER WOMEN!

Intimidation of Inadequacies

Well, this is only my second day of blogging, and boy, do I feel inadequate.

I've been looking around in the vast blogosphere, and I shrink with intimidation. There's crafting blogs, quilting blogs, cooking blogs, political blogs, feminist blogs. I'm not sure of all the classifications, but I don't seem to fit in any particular category. To be honest, I'm not focused on one single thing. I'm just.....a blog.

I have varied interests, but can I actually blog on any of them? Let's see....I could take a picture of my sink full of dishes, write about the process, and then post another picture showing my finished product. Perhaps I could blog about the neverending battle I face with my laundry. No. That wouldn't work. I would have to post a panoramic photo of the laundry that has yet to be folded. I'm not in this for shame.

A homeschool blog? I'm not exactly an authority. I have the same struggles as anyone else. A Mother's blog? Well, I do have experience, but my end product isn't tested and tried just yet. Wait. I can do a blog on being a wife! I can posts pictures of me ironing my husbands clothes and cooking his supper. Hmmmm......Those candid photos would be hard to come by.

I'll just stick with what I know. That endless dialogue in my head. Constantly driving me to pen, or peck, those thoughts down. So what if I'm not a pro at any given talent? What do I have to prove? Plus, it's very unlikely that I will have a huge audience. I have a place in the blogosphere, even if it is a corner of Whitsinn.

The Rita Everyone Knows-And the One Some Don't!

The word "everyone" in the above title is not meant to be all inclusive. Of course, everyone doesn't know me. It's really just an expression to convey that everyone that does know me is aware of certain things about me. Even those that know me, and some know me very well, don't know everything about me.

I'm not talking about tabloid trash here. I don't have an alien baby. I don't have extra limbs that I conceal under loose clothing. I'm talking about uneventful, common facts that aren't exactly news worthy. But these facts are part of who I am.

Let's start with the known. I'm a mother of three and a wife of one terrific guy! I married my highschool sweetheart in 1993. I must say, I have enjoyed the journey! I'm 38 years old and rapidly graying. I have had this gray streak since I was 17, but it has gradually spread out over the years. As of the past six months, my streak looks to be sprinting as fast as it can in a race to cover my whole head.

I am a born again believer who is happy with life and happy about God. My husband is the pastor of The Jefferson Lighthouse Baptist Church. We are fundamental, independent Baptist who believe the Word of God. I am the piano player at my church, and I sing as well. Christianity has never brought me one ounce of misery, only joy.

I homeschool my children and have done so since kindergarten. It can be quite a task, but I will quickly say, it's one of the greatest joys of my life!

There are some unknown things, that is, unknown up to this point. Nothing earth shattering. It just reveals who I am and what drives me.

I love E-Bay. I purchased the textbooks for school this year on E-Bay and saved about 73% compared to the publisher's price. Score! I also love flea markets, though the one near me is toooo crowded so I never go. I love antique stores. In short, I love a good deal!

One of my favorite things to do is buy something at an incredibly low price and then turn around and resell it for profit. It's funny, sometimes Kevin (my love) says, "I can't believe you are going to sell that! I thought you liked it?" I tell him, "This was strictly a purchase for resale. Yes, I like it. But I like the profit I can make from it better." I can be pretty savvy when it comes to turning a profit. But only on a small scale. The stock market is waaaayyy out of my league.

I love sudoku! One of the best strategy games out there. I love games period. Scrabble, Yahtzee, Free Cell, Oregon Trail, Bejeweled....you name it. I like Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. I even have it on my cell phone. There's nothing like losing a game designed to show you how dumb you are!

I write poetry. Unfortunately, I don't do it enough. Inspiration doesn't always strike me, and I experience writer's block quite often. I will probably post some of my poetry on here when time allows. My favorite poets are Robert Frost, Amy Carmichael, and William Wordsworth.

Let's see....I read the dictionary and absolutely love doing so. I have several house plan books by my bed. One day, we will build. I read and read and read. I have stacks of books by my bed. In fact, reading is like a sleepy tonic for me. It's how I relax. How I learn. How I get my mind off of things.

I love taking tests and quizzes. I've taken umpteen I.Q. tests, with the highest score of 132. The lowest is noone's business but mine!

I sew, especially window treatments. I do alterations and easy stuff like that. I love classical music AND classical theatre. Shakespeare is the stuff! The greatest play of all time is Fiddler on the Roof, and I would love a shot at playing Yenta.

I'm terrified of heights. I'm talking about a paralyzing fear of heights. I'm afraid of guns, but I sure do believe we have the right to own one! If you want to see me get beside myself, show me a snake. YIKES! I hate the disgusting things!

You know, I could go on and on. But this serves as a general introduction, and as I write more, my personality, fears, and dreams will come through. Writing is a perpetual motion: it doesn't end with the writer, and hopefully, doesn't end with just one reader.

Emerging from the Corner

I'm no prolific writer, I can tell you that now. But I do experience a constant stream of dialogue in my mind. I often pen down the dialogue on the imaginary pages of my mind, but as we all know, those pages are never read by anyone else. So, I decided to actually take a stab at this modern notion of blogging. No, it doesn't replace the feel of a hardback book in your hands, but let's face it; Jane Austin would have risen to greater levels of fame if the internet had been available in her life time!

I love to write. I'm not the best, but expression is a passion for me. I've tried keeping journals and failed miserably. That clean sheet of paper invokes so many thoughts. The crisp white paper screams, "Create me! Make me something worthy for the eyes of the readership!" It also says with snearing glee, "All those ideas are much better in your head, aren't they?"

My biggest drawback to journals is the physical act of writing. My handwriting becomes sloppy after a short while (arthritis-and at such a young age!). I ashamedly admit, though not as "romantic" as beautiful cursive handwriting in a tea-stain colored journal, pecking on the keyboard is the fast track to expressing your thoughts.

So, here I am. I'll save the introduction and personal profile for another blog. I just wanted to announce that I'm emerging from the corner. And from the pages in my head.