Thursday, December 29, 2005

Home Again!


Once again I have made the trip to North Louisiana and back again. I am so, so, so tired of driving that stretch of highway. I have started taking baby steps to move there. I have begun the search for a home there in the Shreveport/Bossier area. I just need to be closer to my aging parents so I can care for them without having to drive so far and stay at their home when I go there. The decision has been made. I will move as soon as I find a suitable place. I will start getting rid of things here this week in preparation for a life- changing move. I haven't moved in 30 years and really dread doing this. I don't want to have a negative attitude about this and I won't because it will be fine after the move is made and I am settled in a new place. The main thing that I was concerned about (Texas Network doctors) has been solved. My insurance sent me a directory of doctors in North Louisiana that are in the network. It's just overwhelming to think about all the things that moving to a different state involves....not to mention leaving friends of many, many years!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

C-Ya on the Flip Side!



Gone for the Christmas Holidays!

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

A golfing kind of day....NOT!




Today I played golf for the first time since August. Only morons play when the temp is not predicted to rise out of the 40's today.....yep, I'm a moron, but it was fun. We only played 9 holes, but there was not another MORON on the course. We could do whatever we wanted. The Pro even gave us our cart for free because he said even he doesn't play in weather this cold!!! It really wasn't too bad and we plan to do it again after Christmas. We didn't lose feeling in our hands until the last two holes!!

Sunday, December 18, 2005

My new favorite movie...



I cannot believe I had never read this book or seen the movie. That all changed last night when I turned on the movie and got ready to go to sleep ( I always go to sleep during the movies). This was at 1 A.M. I watched every minute of this movie. It was such a beautiful story.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

I'm easily amused!

Very cool illusion

Popcorn and Chocolate peanuts...



That's my usual choices when I go to the cinema, which I do rather frequently since retirement 3 years ago. Today was a movie type of day even though I usually don't watch movies at home. It was rainy, dark and cold....a perfect day for movies. I started off watching Cold Creek Manor on Encore Mystery channel, but half way through the movie snakes started appearing everywhere tormenting the family who bought Cold Creek Manor. I just can't watch snakes, so I had to stop watching that one. Later, I started watching Something To Talk About and it was a great movie. It had a line in it that I just loved: Him: "You Southern women sure are easy to please." Her: "It's from keeping our expectations so low." You go, Julia Roberts!

Friday, December 16, 2005

My mom....


I have blogged so much about my mom lately. Most of my friends have never met her so here she is. She is a beautiful lady inside and out.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Mission Accomplished!


The stockings are hung by the chimney with ca.......wait, I don't have a chimney! The gifts are all bought and wrapped or shipped....whichever the case may be! I don't have many people to buy for, but I love buying for others. I should be a personal shopper although I only like to do it when I want to do it.....and for as long as I want to do it....so, I guess I wouldn't be a very good personal shopper. ALL DONE! I'm not one who buys just to get it done. I really want to buy something for the other person that she/he will really like. I try really hard to do that, but sometimes it is very difficult to get the right thing.
I love Christmas!

Monday, December 12, 2005

I Love You MO!


As a teacher I had several students who I really became attached to and just sort of adopted. I still call them "my kids". Last Thursday as soon as I got home from my mom and dad's, I got a frantic email from one of "my kids" telling me that her Godmother died and would I please call her. She told me she really needed me to go to the funeral. I did not know the lady who died, but I know Jessica loved her dearly. Her name was Sandy as is mine. Jessica told me that we two were the only ones who kept ALL her secrets. Of course, I went to the funeral to support Jessica. Some things I just gotta do!!!! She just needed a long, hard hug!

Best Buy or Circuit City?


I got that answered once and for all today. I had not used my Ipod in several weeks because I haven't been to the gym. Today I plugged it in the computer to charge it up to get ready for exercise. It did something crazy and went into diagnostic mode and I couldn't get it to do anything. I couldn't even turn it OFF!!!! I went to Best Buy and asked their Geek Squad. They had no clue. Here's their answer: "Send it back to Apple. It may need to be replaced." Well, no help there and I did buy the Ipod there. I know they are not authorized to work on them, but, Geez, they ought to know something! On a whim, I went by Circuit City and asked if they had an Ipod guru. Yes! He punched a few buttons, all of which I had already punched.....but he got the thing working immediately. He told me honestly he didn't really know what he did. I was very grateful. I'm addicted to my Ipod and cannot work out without it!!!

Friday, December 09, 2005

Home, Sweet, Home....yet again!

Tada! Getting to spend time in my own home has become a commodity in the past 5 months due to my mother's failing health. I just spent another week with Mom and Dad so my brother could go on vacation to Branson. He was on his way back home yesterday due to snow in Branson, so I came back to my home. He sees Mom and Dad everyday and is close enough physically to them that he can be there in a minute. Recently, Dad had to call him in the middle of the night because Mom had fallen and broken a rib and Dad could not get her up. She had been on the floor for 5 hours when dad found her. Due to situations such as this my brother and I believe that one of us should be nearby at all times now. I am even beginning the search for a place to live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. I really do not want to move, but I have to do what is right!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Let it snow!

If I had a yard, it would be sporting one of those plastic blow-up snow globes. They are just awesome. Inside the globe there are snowmen and it is constantly snowing on them. There is a bright light inside so it really shows up beautifully. I just love these things. Of course, I also just love snow globes, snow and snowmen!! I need a yard!

HO, HO, HO!


Today I did something that I have never done before. I bought a bunch of toys and candy and took them to the Salvation Army. I am troubled that so many kids don't even have a home after the hurricanes, so how can they have a wonderful Christmas? The things that I took to the Salvation Army will go to children right here in Orange, Texas. It will make you feel good to do this, so go do it!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Yet another.........


BIRTHDAY! My friend, Joy, always takes me to lunch on or near my birthday. This has been a tradition for many, many years. Today was the day even though my birthday was last week. For the last couple of years, we have made it a point to stay in our own town and support the local economy. This year it was very important that we do that because of Hurricane Rita. Local businesses just need our business. We went to the Bread Box, which is owned by someone we both know. It is a little boutique type of establishment that has very good food. We had a nice lunch and a nice visit. Friends are just awesome! I am very lucky.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Soooo Soooo Tired......




I am just too tired to do anything. Today was a sleep all day kind of day.....dark and rainy...and I was in dire need of that kind of rest. The past few months have drained me emotionally and physically because of my mom's poor health and the amazing amount of miles I have traveled between Orange and Shreveport helping to care for her. She is an amazing woman, but she is tired of not feeling good. At a time like this I cannot help but think of my life without her in it. The inevitability of it always brings tears to my eyes. I have started the first steps in searching for a place to live that is closer to my parents. It is scary to think about having to move to a different city after being in the same place for so long. There are so many things to think about even after finding a new place to live, which I haven't done yet. The main concern is my health insurance through the Texas Retired Teachers. All the doctors listed in the network are Texas doctors, so I have to make baby steps to find out if there are Louisiana doctors in the network since Shreveport is so near Texas. I know those Northeast Texas retired teachers must see doctors in Shreveport since it is the nearest city to many of them. So much to do that I just don't want to do!!

Monday, November 21, 2005

Saturday, November 19, 2005

The saga continues...


My brother called early Wednesday morning and told me he had an ambulance coming for our mom. I threw stuff in the car and headed for the hospital, which is 4 hours from me. With her history of heart problems, we just knew it was her heart once again. Thank goodness, it was not! Turns out her nausea and dizziness was caused from vertigo and after one night in the hospital, I brought her home. Due to committments I had at my home, I rushed back to Texas yesterday. This morning I got a call from my mom. Seems like she fell in the night and was unable to get up for several hours until my dad came to check on her (he sleeps in the other end of the house). He had to call my brother to come pick her up. She is pretty sure she has a cracked rib now. She is such a wonderful woman and Mom that I just hate to see her have to endure so much. There is really nothing that can be done for a cracked rib and it is really quite painful. A pain pill will just make her even less stable. Every moment she is in bed just continues to rob her of her strength so she stays up most of the time in a chair. She is so tired of being weak and tired!!! If it continues much longer, I'm afraid she may give up. I need my MOM!!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Uuummm...NO...not so much!




Not the same caliber as a Finding Nemo or Madagascar...not even close!

Monday, November 14, 2005

AArrrrgggghhhhh!


Let's just say Time Warner sent a MORON to get me back on line. That man spent an hour toying with my computer and told me some spyware on my computer caused the problem. Well, I doubted that because the computer was working fine before the hurricane. He fumbled and fumbled trying to justify his diagnosis. He put anti spyware on my computer....ok, not a problem. I'm ok with that, but he didn't ask me. He also changed my homepage to the Time Warner Road Runner website. I immediately changed it back to where I had it. The kicker is that he messed with so much stuff that after he left and I started working on my computer, I found things were really messed up. My printer wouldn't print. He had done something with the driver. My Picasa, which I use a lot for pictures, wouldn't work at all. I had to do a complete system restore dating back to before he came and screwed things up. In the end he told me the network adapter inside my tower was bad. He changed it out and got me immediately back on line. Why didn't he try that first instead of trying to blame it on my computer and some obscure spyware? I'm so happy to have my Road Runner back and so happy that I had the common sense it took to get my computer back operating correctly that I couldn't even really get mad at the man!!! I am too blessed to be stressed!!!

Saturday, November 12, 2005

In my part of Texas on Election Day, we only had ammendments to vote on. Normally, I wouldn't have a clue what they were about. I must say that held true on 8 of the 9 ammendments, but the one that got my butt out of the recliner was defining marriage as between one woman and one man. Well, Duh! Why do we have to define this? It just isn't right to hear one woman call another woman her wife!! I am not opposed to civil unions, but, please, call it what it is-not marriage-and leave the rest of us alone!!!

I love Road Runner!

Today I got my Road Runner restored which had been down since the hurricane blew in on September 24th. I missed it way more than the cable TV. During that time I was using a Walmart Connect dial-up program and it sucked big time!! I am so happy to be back on line. This was the last thing I needed to get my life back to normal. WOOO HOOOO!

I'm back!

Wow! What a ride these last two months have been! While I was in Louisiana trying to help Mom recover from triple by-pass, Hurricane Rita hit my hometown with a dead- on direct hit. I live across the street from the golf course and it lost 450 trees. The mess is still being removed on a daily basis. Fortunately, nothing was touched at my home. The windchimes are still on the patio and not a shingle is missing. Since I didn't have a chance to remove any valuables, I fully expected to come home to nothing. I had seen the pictures posted on the internet of my street and I just knew there was no chance for my home. I just could not worry about the THINGS that I might lose to Hurricane Rita because I was too worried that I might lose my mom. I think God knew that I didn't care about THINGS at the moment and nothing mattered to me but my mom getting well. Fortunately, my mom is much better and I have a home. I learned that THINGS don't matter.....people do! God Bless Texas!

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Brief Update!!!! :)

AS soon as I get my road runner back from Hurricane Rita, I will be up and running again and really catching up here. I am just not in to Wal Mart Connect......a dial up program. I pity anyone who is still on dial-up! Later!!!

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Just my freakin' luck........


I waited a year to buy my Ipod; as soon as I bought it....... a new, smaller, improved model is released!!!!

Saturday, September 17, 2005

I live in one nation UNDER GOD!





Unfortunately, my nation has some MORONS in it that are judges!!!!

Monday, September 12, 2005

Friday, September 09, 2005

Everyone needs their mommy!


I am profoundly aware that at 62 years old I am very lucky to still have my mother and father. Their days on this Earth are growing shorter quickly. Unfortunately, my mom had her third heart attack 2 weeks ago and a subsequent triple bypass. She is in rehab now, but still in the hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. Because visitation is very limited while in rehab, I took this opportunity to return to my home in Texas and re-group and get some "downtime" if that's possible. While I was staying with Mom one of those nights soon after surgery, she told me she saw the angels. I told her that I wasn't ready for her to see the angels. She can describe those angels to this very day.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Life Religions.....

Taoism -shit happens
Confucianism -confucius says, shit happens
Buddhism -if shit happens, it isn't really shit
Zen-what is the sound of shit happening?
Hinduism -this shit happened before
Islam-if shit happens, it is the will of allah
Protestantism-let shit happen to someone else
Catholicism-if shit happens, you deserve it
Judaism-why does this shit always happen to us?
Atheism-i don't believe this shit
Agnosticism-what is this shit

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

More Gentle Thoughts....


This makes me laugh!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Ipod Update


The Band (The Weight)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (Give It Away)
The Doobie Brothers (Listen to the Music)
Starland Vocal (Afternoon Delight)
Atlantic Starr (Always)

Big Boo HOO!!


Mark Consuelos.....Not a familiar name to most people, but he is the hunky, handsome husband of Kelly Ripa. I used to watch him on All My Children and I just think he is one beautiful, male speciman. Well, he is in the new movie, The Great Raid. It's a war picture based on a true story....not really my kind of flick, but I went to see it just to see him! It's a fairly good movie, but he is barely in it. He has very little dialogue, so imagine my disappointment! I will get over it. I can find many more things than that to occupy my feeble little mind.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Gentle Thought!!!

Here's my message to the following: Cindy Sheehan, The U.N., Barbra Streisand, Rosie O'Donnel, Michael Moore, Bill Mahr , Alan Colmes, Howard Dean, etc.

WoooooHooooo! Finally.....



My bathroon has been finished! It's been over two months since someone drove through my wall. There were weeks when nothing at all was done toward completing this re-construction project. My incessant whining finally worked!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Two Thumbs Up!!




OK, I am not Ebert OR Roeper, but March of the Penguins is an awesome documentary. I know some sperm donors (fathers) who could take some pointers from these male penguins. Take your children to see this movie. They will love it and so will you.

Monday, August 15, 2005

GRRRR!!!


Since gas prices hit $2.49 here, my running the roads is going to slow dramatically. Unfortunately, it is I who will suffer the most from not going as often to work out. My gym membership is a 50 mile round trip away. I will not be going every day and I will have to plan my trips more carefully to coincide with other plans. Tomorrow I have an eye doctor appointment in the same city, so I can combine the workout with the doctor. I just live in my car and it is going to be quite a change for me. I used to think nothing of slipping over to Houston for the day, but that won't be happening very often.
Today I finally finished my 100 things post!!

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Slug in a coma........


That's the only way to describe me all day yesterday. The only thing I can attribute it to is being too hot on the golf course on Thursday. I was either in the recliner or the bed sleeping all day long. I almost never sleep in the recliner, but yesterday was a BIG exception. I never even walked the few steps outside to the mailbox.....that's just how sluggish I was!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2005

HOT and STUPID!


Once again I thought I could handle the heat on the golf course. Due to several incidents of "things going fuzzy" for me, I had to quit after 7 holes. I thought perhaps it was low blood sugar because I had not eaten before going out. It was not that. I checked my blood glucose level when I got home and it was 130. That is not a low reading or a high reading. I guess it is just Texas heat and humidity. I should know better by now!!! Duh! I am sure I'll be back out there next Thursday! I'm a slow learner.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

I could not resist!!!!

http://www.dr-joe.net/quiz.html

Dukes of Hazzard


This is not a movie that I would normally choose to see, but I like Jessica Simpson so much that I wanted to see her. I hope the movie is a hit because of her, but it was nothing more than a long, loud car chase. Jessica didn't have many scenes, but she was just as cute as could be in them. I wouldn't give this movie any more than 2 stars and that is stretching it. If it hadn't been so loud, I would have gone to sleep. Next, I am going to see March of the Penguins.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Home sweet home....yet again!!


Once again I have returned to MY home after a short (4 days) trip to check on my elderly parents. They are fine......I am tired!!! Today I drove down to the beach to visit my friend Joy, who is down there with her family. I mostly went to see her dad, whom I am quite fond of and rarely get to see. The bottom line is that I have missed my exercise for the past two weeks and I am anxious to get back on a schedule for working out. I haven't hit a lick since my yoga class ended 2 weeks ago. No excuses.....I could have done yoga at any of the places that I have been, BUT I DIDN'T!

Wedding pic!


Two of the bridesmaids, who I love a lot, at Janis' wedding last weekend!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Home, SWEET, Home!



It's always good to get away a few days, but it is good to be back home! I left on Thursday and spent the night in San Antonio to revisit the River Walk. On Friday, after dropping a few bucks at the Outlets in San Marcus, I went on to Austin. Met up with friends and went out to dinner at Posada's. The hotel was filled with hometown folks in for Janis' wedding, so we had a good time visiting. Janis and Keith got married at 2 P.M. in a sweet ceremony at a catholic church in Georgetown. Then the fun began.....which is the whole point of weddings anyway, I think! It was a very long reception that included dinner. Janis was a beautiful bride and is a very special person to me. She is one of MY girls. We stayed until the bride and groom left at 9:30. We were gone from the hotel a total of 9 hours!!!! Wow!

Monday, July 25, 2005

Profound TRUTH!

I learned yesterday that........Prayer is not a part of your relationship with God.....It IS your relationship with God!

Saturday, July 23, 2005

New Ipod stuff...


I worked out a long time today and the reason is MY IPOD! It's a magical thing! Recently added artists are:
The Band
The McCoys (Hang on Sloopy)
Rascal Flatts
Alan Jackson

Friday, July 22, 2005

Texas heat stroke!


I don't know why I continue to go out and try to play golf in dangerously high temperatures and high humidity. Yesterday we played 9 holes and ever since then I have been totally drained. Today was just a hang out at home in the recliner kind of day. I can't even blame my slothfulness on rain today because there was none. I see other people playing 18 holes with no problems. I want to do that as well, but it just isn't happening.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Friendship revisited...


Tonight was a night for re-connecting. My friend, Joy, called and asked me to come over for a gin and tonic. She said she could really make a good one. Her husband was off on some golfing outing with the men, so we sat for 3 hours and just talked and talked. It seems we just haven't taken the time to do that in recent years although we used to do it a lot. I must say that it was very enjoyable and the gin and tonic was GOOD! We never need to lose contact with our dear friends. They are a treasure!!

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

100 things about me..a work in progress!

I started this about 6 months ago after seeing lots of blogs that included this. It is hard to come up with 100 things and some of the original ones have changed!!

1. I am a Christian

2.I am a faithful friend
3.I have very few REAL friends and lots of acquaintances
4.Love bubble baths
5.Enraged by drivers who drive in the passing lane of the interstate!
6.Do not like to see people chew gum
7.Value my family greatly
8.Love chinquapins (a small chestnut type nut that grows in Louisiana)
9.Staunch Republican
10.Could never marry a smoker or a Democrat
11.Love anything SWEET!
12.Love to work in yard
13.Love to smell coffee
14.Love mountains
15.Enjoy playing golf (although not well!)
16.Favorite TV show of all times...Friends
17.Favorite CD is Michael Crawford sings Andrew Lloyd Webber
18.Favorite book is Gone With the Wind
19.Lost virginity at age 27
20.Have a Master's Degree in Education
21.Undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech (great time there)
22.Scared of snakes and lizards
23.Love rain
24.Hate hot weather ( so why am I still in Texas?)
25.Will drive to Houston (90 miles) just to go to Central Market, a grocery store!
26.Hobby is making scrapbooks
27.Have had 8 surgeries
28.Favorite movies are The Big Chill and
Somewhere In Time
29.I am allergic to cats, but I really do like them!
30.I have no pets
31.Voted for Jimmy Carter...What was I thinking? He was the worst!!
32.Cannot stand to hear people popping gum; it is just plain rude!
33.Love to eat "bloomin' onions"
34.The only states I have not been in are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Maine, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Michigan, Alaska
35.Favorite state is Colorado
36.Listen to Sean Hannity on the radio
37.Have one brother and no nieces or nephews! (To whom will I leave my millions?)
38.I am a diabetic
39.Basically shy
40.Very reserved--don't make friends easily
41.Very anal about my car--it must be clean inside and out!
42.Favorite food is my mom's! She's an awesome cook.
43.Love fresh garden tomatoes and tomato sandwiches in the summer
44.Dream home would be on a mountaintop in Colorado
45.Never been on a full-scale cruise-just a little one from Florida to Bahamas
46.Someday will go on an Alaskan cruise
47.Still friends with my high school best friend..class of 1960! That's a LONG time!
48.I started watching reality TV with Real World and Road Rules on MTV
49.I watch Survivor and Big Brother. No, I don't know why!
50.I like Kelly Ripa
51.I won $300 on a scratch off once! Why can't I win the lottery!!
52.The only charity that I give to consistently is St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
53.I believe in ghosts.
54.I like Reggae music
55.I love CATS, the musical. I have seen it 3 times, once on Broadway.
56.My favorite wine right now is white zinfandel - subject to change at any moment
57.Favorite color - purple
58.Greatest honor...feted by former students with a surprise retirement party!
59.I long to be more involved in religion
60.I want to know more about the Bible
61.Great appreciation for nature. God's canvas
62.Have zero musical ability
63.Actually a pretty fair artist
64.Have a creative streak
65.I have actually piloted a plane (for a very few minutes)
66.I once owned a motorcycle!
67.Enjoy helping people-altuistic
68.Do not like discord--Can't we all just get along?
69.Negative people are annoying!
70.Impulsive
71.Love to travel
72.Have no desire to go to Europe, especially France..Traitors!
73.Can stay for hours in Barnes and Noble
74.I miss Jake and Megan
75.I have not prepared for Long Term Care..it worries me now.
76.I look my age, but I don't feel it. 62
77.May 3rd, 2004--my worst day in recent years
78.My middle name is Llynita, a combination of Lloyd and Vernita, my parents.
79.I never watch scary movies or read scary books...no Stephen King for me!
80.My favorite song of all times is Mustang Sally
81.I never, ever wear sandals.
82.I never, ever wear anything sleeveless unless there is a jacket over it that NEVER comes off.
83.Have attended 37 weddings of former students
84.I have an ipod and I love it!
85.Number 75 is no longer true...I now have long-term care insurance
86. Yoga is awesome!
87.I love new socks

88. Very independent (to a fault)!
89. To be continued....
90. We are political opposites, but I really enjoy The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He makes me laugh out loud!!
91. I cry very easily. It's annoying!!
92. I record Regis and Kelly and All My Children everyday! Yes, I'm a dork!
93. I cannot sleep without being covered...even in the summer.
94. I would move to Austin in a heartbeat.
95. I watch the Travel Channel a lot.
96. #83 is now changed to 38 weddings
97. I believe O.J. is guilty!
98. I believe M.J. is guilty!
99. I cannot stand being late to anything! It's ridiculous!
100.I always sleep with a fan blowing directly on me.
Whew! I finished on August 15, 2005!

Slothdom...is that a word?


My 3 day descent into slothdom ended today. I guess I can remove the "lazy" icon from my blog today. Maybe it was due to the rainy weather, but I have done nothing but sit in my recliner and sleep for 3 days. I hate feeling that way. It just makes me want to do even less the longer it goes on. I think it officially ended last night after I went to my Yoga class, which always makes me feel great.

Today I had a good workout while listening to my Ipod, then went to a movie. Saw Wedding Crashers and had some good laughs. It wasn't very realistic, but it was entertaining for a couple of hours. I like Owen Wilson. He's a Texas boy who attended UT.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Ipod update......

Did I mention that I LOVE my IPOD! Recently added artists are:

Bob Marley
Pink Floyd
The Righteous Brothers
Dr. Hook
Vanessa Williams
Junior Walker
Commodores
Wilson Pickett
Wild Cherry (Play That Funky Music, White Boy)
Brewer (One Toke Over the Line).. a one hit wonder!
UB40
Outkast

Saturday, July 09, 2005

Pleased as punch!


As a former school teacher, it swells my heart to see former students and their families being so successful. Last night I had the privilege of attending a party held in honor of one of those families. About 70 people showed up just to say "hello" to Denise, who was visiting Texas after a long absence. It was wonderful to see the children of all these students and to see what wonderful parents they are.
Tonight I had the honor of attending a wedding of yet another of those students. I have attended 37 weddings of former students and am always pleased and honored to be included in such joyful occasions. In some of these weddings, both the bride and the groom were former students. In 2 weeks, I'll be going to Austin for yet another of these wonderful events. I very much look forward to it. Yes, I am just the social butterfly!!!!!:) I'm not really, but it seems that way this

month!!!

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Duh!

I can't figure out how to get this in the links template, but this is a really fascinating blog. It is only updated on Sunday.
http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 24, 2005

Music

I am always curious about what all those people at the health and wellness center with the earphones in their ears are listening to. It is my belief that one can really tell a lot about another person by the music they listen to. That being said, there are now 46 songs on my Ipod and these are the artists:

Aretha Franklin
The Beatles
Bee Gees
Bette Middler
Elvis Presley
The Four Tops
Garth Brooks
The Impressions
The Isley Brothers
Janis Joplin
Jimmy Buffett
Josh Groban
The Judds
LeeAnn Rimes
Liza Minnelli
The Lovin' Spoonful
Mark Chesnutt
Martha Reeves
Marvin Gaye
Michael Crawford
Michael Jackson
Michael W. Smith
Smokey Robinson
Three Dog Night
Vanilla Ice
Now, judging from this list, I am not at all sure I would be able to tell anything about me if I didn't KNOW ME!

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Things that make you go, "Huuummmm"!!!!

Can atheists get insurance for acts of God?

If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why are there still monkeys and apes?

Why do they sterilize the needle for a lethal injection?

If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it #2?

The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard!

If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

When it rains, why don't sheep shrink?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Sunday, June 19, 2005

WOOHOOOOO! I GOT IT!!!

A mini-ipod, that is!!!! I have wanted one of these gizmos for months now and I finally broke down and spent the $200 bucks. I have been playing with the thing for hours now and finally have some awesome music downloaded on it ready to go to the gym tomorrow. My tastes are so varied that I have music on it from Michael Jackson (I know, I know, but the guy can sing!!), LeAnn Rimes, Beatles, Elvis, Phantom of the Opera, Garth Brooks, Tracy Chapman, Bob Marley, Jimmy Buffet, Barbra Streisand (I hate her politics, but I like her voice....as long as it's singing and not pontificating on stuff she isn't qualified to pontificate on!) and Mark Chesnutt. Tomorrow I will add others from CD's that are in the car. I didn't want to go get them out tonight. I can tell already that I REALLY like this gadget. Hey, Queen Elizabeth has an Ipod, so why shouldn't I? I wonder what she listens to......Queen, perhaps, or maybe Prince!

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

HELLLLLOOOOO!

Imagine my surprise when I walked downstairs this morning about 9 and noticed the wall of the bathroom knocked completely in and crap all over the floor. Stuff was knocked off the walls and the heavy plug for the phone recharger was knocked completely out of the opposite wall. I started to walk outside and look at the outside, but the front door would not open. The entire wall had moved enough to jam the door. The big question is, "Why didn't I hear this?" I guess someone could come in and remove everything downstairs and I wouldn't hear it. The reason is that I have a ceiling fan and another fan going at all times. They work REALLY well at drowning out noises! I didn't know how well they did work until last night. Right now everything has been removed from the bathroom and we are waiting for the insurance adjuster to show up. Police have already been. Looks like someone who had obviously had a little too much to drink tried to back their truck into the parking area by my apartment. Apparently, there was a trailor hitch on the truck that did the most damage. What am I thinking!!! Of course, there was a trailor hitch....this is, after all, TEXAS!!! There could possibly be some good to come out of this. I may actually get a new floor, which I have asked for many times before. I should have gone in there with a sledge hammer and done some more damage before I informed management and they came to take pictures!!

Monday, June 13, 2005

Yoga

I just returned from my very first yoga session. I am absolutely relaxed and feel very flexible. I think this is going to be something that I really like. Four days a week I still go to the health and wellness center for cardio and resistance training, but this is something so totally different. The sessions are twice a week for one hour each, but I think I will be doing this some at home as well. My fitness center offers Gentle Yoga, but they offer it at 7:15 AM. I'm not sure how "gentle" anything is at that hour!! Maybe when I really get into it, I will get up and go to that class as well. This one goes through July. I have wanted to try yoga for a long time and just happened to learn that the local college was offering it at a reasonable time and fee. I'm very glad I found this class!! Fortunately, there are no young cheerleader types in there to show us all up and intimidate us with their flexibility!

Saturday, June 11, 2005

The Honeymooners

LAME MOVIE!!!

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Madagascar

Cute movie!

Kidnapped!

Sitting home eating a bowl of watermelon and minding my own business at 9:30 last night.......when bang,bang,bang on the door and people yelling, "Sandra, Sandra, come out and go with us!" I didn't recognize the voices, but they knew my name so I assumed it was alright to answer the door. Much to my surprise, there were 3 ladies in their pajamas....Robin, Amanda, and Michelle....all former co-workers (young co-workers) to get me to go back with them just down the street to a bachelorette party for Delisa.....another former co-worker. I went and had a great time. It's been a long time since I have done something like that......OK....not so long. Just a few weeks ago I hooked up with some other old friends and went out. Seems strange after all these years. I am ALWAYS the oldest one there. I guess all the others my age are home in bed! That's probably where I should be, but I totally enjoyed the evenings.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

100% Chick Flick!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants .....I just adored this movie!

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Good Explanation!

A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

3 weeks post CK procedure...

If my vision doesn't improve soon, I'm afraid I can't recommend this procedure to others. I can close my right eye and see distance fine;likewise, I can close my left eye and read fine. The problem arises with both eyes trying to see. My brain just hasn't adapted to this one eye thingy! I'm not very optimistic right now!

Sunday, May 22, 2005

Dang! It's HOT!

I love Texas, but 99 degrees in May is just too much! The last two days broke 100 year records by 5 degrees. Now we get used to HOT gradually and usually don't see temps this high until late July or early August. Hello!!!! This is May....a time when we should be able to play golf without a complete meltdown. I just want to be on a mountain somewhere!!!!.......................... Stepping down now from my soapbox!

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Recap

Well, everything that broke last week is now fixed. The windshield has been replaced at a cost of my deductible, and the tooth has been crowned at a personal cost to me of $600.00. Dental insurance is the one thing I miss most about working!!! My friend, who is a dentist, told me I would never have to pay for any dental work again. Unfortunately, she lives in Dallas.....just too far away. I would never impose on her anyway, but it is good to know!!!