I really would like to get back to blogging regularly. So here I am. Time to stop thinking about it and talking about it. Time to do it.
Just do it.
So here I am. You know, writing and all.
(Deep breath)
Dang, I think I've forgotten how to write. That's not good. No, really. You see there are a few people out there who are under the impression that I know how to write, that I AM a writer. In fact, one of them contacted me last week. She and her husband head a child aid missionary organization. They travel all over the world meeting poor children and their families. Then they come back to Maine and work double time finding people to sponsor those children.
This lady has stories - great stories - and she wants to write them. Trouble is, she's a rather mediocre writer (self-proclaimed). So she's asked me to help her. I'll be reading, editing, reformulating - basically torturing her with my ready red pen of correction. But how can I wield said pen with any authority if I'm not writing?
Facebook has stunted my thoughts into short blurbs of pithiness. Now, when faced with the task of writing an actual paragraph, I go blank!
So it's time to raise the bar. I need to write. I need to write often. I need to write well. I need to remember the finer points of communicating so that when it is time to help my friend I can feel confident that I am doing my best for her.
This will be happening here on this blog and on my cycling blog. Maybe it will even be happening on my novel(s).
Oh please let it be happening on my novels!
Keep your eyes open. Groovy is BACK!
Showing posts with label groovy trekkers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label groovy trekkers. Show all posts
15 March 2012
27 May 2009
20 April 2009
You Probably Thought Groovy Was on Vacation, But She Wasn't...
Only my typing was on vacation. The rest of me has just been caught up in a whirlwind of spring craziness.
Let's see if I can make a random list in no particular order of all that we've been doing so that you'll be impressed and will say, "Oh my! You are SO busy!", which is what folks usually say when I make posts like this which kinda makes me think so what's the point ? but I'll do it anyway because it gives me something to say and my, oh my, isn't this an intolerably long sentence?
Whew.
- Rode my bike somewhere between 52-55 miles in 7 days. That's a good start, but I'd like to get in 70 miles this week and 80-100 miles every week thereafter. You can read more about my progress, roadblocks, and a special blessing from God HERE. You can donate to the American Lung Association there as well, or in my sidebar on this blog. Thanks for all your moral and financial support!
- Mulletman and I led worship and gave a concert yesterday at a small local church. We have an old Dylan song called "Satisfied Mind" that always gets a tremendous response.
No, I DON'T sing it like Dylan! Our style is old time, hard core blues - 'cause that's what you get when you put your trust in your bank account instead of in the God of the universe!
- We practiced and PRACTICED for the afore mentioned concert/worship service.
- We had 4-H:
Girly-Girl is working on her leadership skills, so she made a poster of how to prepare for a 4-H goat show. Then she and Silly-Head and another friend taught the info to the other children.
Here are the girls with their new goatlings. These little buggers are Nigerian Dwarfs - not my favorite breed, but they are, of course, adorable when they're kids.
Silly-Head with Zoe.
Girly-Girl with Zemmaline.
-We had the requisite Easter family gathering. After a lovely Easter church service where Girly-Girl sang in the kids' choir (sorry no pics, stupid camera!), I baked a ham and some awesome herb rolls and coleslaw and GrammaJ made dessert and Grammy cooked up lots of veggies. The guest list included the four of us (duh!), all 3 folks, Uncle Grumpy-Pants, Pretty Mom and my 3 adorable and never annoying grandchildren.
It was wonderful day!
Here's Ji-Ji. He looks a maniacal, but it's the best picture I mananged to get of him during the playing-in-Gramma's-basement chaos.
This is Cookie trying out the disgustingly dusty school desk that will be refurbished for her in a year or two.
And here's Fireball in one of her quieter moods.
Oh...and Easter? That's usually when the girlies beg me to make them Easter dresses and I wimp out, BUY them shirts, and sew them skirts instead.
-This week we also went to the nursing home and had a fabulous time leading walker aerobics.
Just kidding!
We sang to the residents and doled out numerous hugs. To tell the truth, I don't think the folks there give a rat's whisker whether Early-Bird and I come, but OH how they love all the little girls we bring; my two, Early-Bird's Peanut, and two other little homeschooled sweeties. The girls make cards and tissue paper flowers. They sing and talk childish talk and hug the residents. My girl always bring a doll or stuffed animal to show off. It's great fun! I'm starting to think of it as one of my favorite activities!
-We worked on quilts for the orphans in Swaziland. We have dear friends there who run an orphanage and work with a local church. Two other friends are planning an excursion there in June, so the rush is on to get quilts made before they leave so they can take them in their luggage. This quilt is almost finished:
-This week I also did a slew of chored for GrammaJ and took her on a marathon shopping trip and had her over here to visit on both Easter and yesterday.
-I manage to contract a stupid cold. I am fighting said cold for all I am worth with vitamin C, elderberry syrup, and zinc gluconate!
-I cleaned my house.
- I had school with the girlies.
- I wrote a song.
- I prayed for North Africa.
- I researched language programs; Mulletman and I are considering studying Arabic. Anybody have any recommendations?
- Somewhere in there I cooked and planned and talked to people, bathed, brushed my teeth, lifted weights, greeted "Aunt Flo", delivered Pampered Chef from that party I may or may not have had, and slept. Happily for me, Mulletman did all the laundry!
-I noticed that Girly-Girl had a harvest to reap! (We shall eat that WHOLE green bean for lunch today!)
**************************************
Things that I did not do this past week but hope to do soon:
- I did NOT hear from Scout. I miss him!
-I did not spruce up and refine the song I wrote.
-I did not write to Misti in China or Pinky in India.
-I did not write on either of my novels.
-I didn't take a day to just "goof off".
-I didn't dig up the veggie garden.
***************************************
OK...enough about my groovy self. In between today's to-do list I'll be by to see what YOU've been doing!
***************************************
Lastly - a take away from yesterday's sermon at the church we sang at:
Every morning when you get up, ask the Lord W. H. A. T. He wants you to do that day; ask Him to be Lord of your Words, your Heart, your Actions, and your Thoughts.
Let's see if I can make a random list in no particular order of all that we've been doing so that you'll be impressed and will say, "Oh my! You are SO busy!", which is what folks usually say when I make posts like this which kinda makes me think so what's the point ? but I'll do it anyway because it gives me something to say and my, oh my, isn't this an intolerably long sentence?
Whew.
- Rode my bike somewhere between 52-55 miles in 7 days. That's a good start, but I'd like to get in 70 miles this week and 80-100 miles every week thereafter. You can read more about my progress, roadblocks, and a special blessing from God HERE. You can donate to the American Lung Association there as well, or in my sidebar on this blog. Thanks for all your moral and financial support!
- Mulletman and I led worship and gave a concert yesterday at a small local church. We have an old Dylan song called "Satisfied Mind" that always gets a tremendous response.
No, I DON'T sing it like Dylan! Our style is old time, hard core blues - 'cause that's what you get when you put your trust in your bank account instead of in the God of the universe!
- We practiced and PRACTICED for the afore mentioned concert/worship service.
- We had 4-H:
Girly-Girl is working on her leadership skills, so she made a poster of how to prepare for a 4-H goat show. Then she and Silly-Head and another friend taught the info to the other children.
Here are the girls with their new goatlings. These little buggers are Nigerian Dwarfs - not my favorite breed, but they are, of course, adorable when they're kids.
Silly-Head with Zoe.
Girly-Girl with Zemmaline.
-We had the requisite Easter family gathering. After a lovely Easter church service where Girly-Girl sang in the kids' choir (sorry no pics, stupid camera!), I baked a ham and some awesome herb rolls and coleslaw and GrammaJ made dessert and Grammy cooked up lots of veggies. The guest list included the four of us (duh!), all 3 folks, Uncle Grumpy-Pants, Pretty Mom and my 3 adorable and never annoying grandchildren.
It was wonderful day!
Here's Ji-Ji. He looks a maniacal, but it's the best picture I mananged to get of him during the playing-in-Gramma's-basement chaos.
This is Cookie trying out the disgustingly dusty school desk that will be refurbished for her in a year or two.
And here's Fireball in one of her quieter moods.
Oh...and Easter? That's usually when the girlies beg me to make them Easter dresses and I wimp out, BUY them shirts, and sew them skirts instead.
-This week we also went to the nursing home and had a fabulous time leading walker aerobics.
Just kidding!
We sang to the residents and doled out numerous hugs. To tell the truth, I don't think the folks there give a rat's whisker whether Early-Bird and I come, but OH how they love all the little girls we bring; my two, Early-Bird's Peanut, and two other little homeschooled sweeties. The girls make cards and tissue paper flowers. They sing and talk childish talk and hug the residents. My girl always bring a doll or stuffed animal to show off. It's great fun! I'm starting to think of it as one of my favorite activities!
-We worked on quilts for the orphans in Swaziland. We have dear friends there who run an orphanage and work with a local church. Two other friends are planning an excursion there in June, so the rush is on to get quilts made before they leave so they can take them in their luggage. This quilt is almost finished:
-This week I also did a slew of chored for GrammaJ and took her on a marathon shopping trip and had her over here to visit on both Easter and yesterday.
-I manage to contract a stupid cold. I am fighting said cold for all I am worth with vitamin C, elderberry syrup, and zinc gluconate!
-I cleaned my house.
- I had school with the girlies.
- I wrote a song.
- I prayed for North Africa.
- I researched language programs; Mulletman and I are considering studying Arabic. Anybody have any recommendations?
- Somewhere in there I cooked and planned and talked to people, bathed, brushed my teeth, lifted weights, greeted "Aunt Flo", delivered Pampered Chef from that party I may or may not have had, and slept. Happily for me, Mulletman did all the laundry!
-I noticed that Girly-Girl had a harvest to reap! (We shall eat that WHOLE green bean for lunch today!)
**************************************
Things that I did not do this past week but hope to do soon:
- I did NOT hear from Scout. I miss him!
-I did not spruce up and refine the song I wrote.
-I did not write to Misti in China or Pinky in India.
-I did not write on either of my novels.
-I didn't take a day to just "goof off".
-I didn't dig up the veggie garden.
***************************************
OK...enough about my groovy self. In between today's to-do list I'll be by to see what YOU've been doing!
***************************************
Lastly - a take away from yesterday's sermon at the church we sang at:
Every morning when you get up, ask the Lord W. H. A. T. He wants you to do that day; ask Him to be Lord of your Words, your Heart, your Actions, and your Thoughts.
05 March 2009
Paperwork With a Twist Accompanied by Some Shameless Begging
I love my mom. Truly I do.
She's had the flu and some eye problems the past couple of weeks, so she's put off filling out some paperwork for a new doctor she's going to see later this month. She's had 2 primary care physicians in the 16 months she's lived here. Each of them made decisions or acted in ways that broke her trust, so she's ditched them. We're hoping the third time will be the proverbial charm!
Anyhoo, she really wanted me to come over and help her fill out the papers because all those forms get confusing. So yesterday, I spent the afternoon with her. We decided I'd ask her the medical questions orally and then write down her answers for her.
It went something like this:
Groovy: Do you have any allergies to medications?
GrammaJ: Ibuprofen. They gave me that back in Florida and I went into anaphylactic shock. I almost died! That was the year I went to E.R. FIVE TIMES because of all those allergies. They said it was all those palm trees. But I'm also allergic to many other types of trees like weeping willows. I was SO sick that year; My face swelled up like a balloon! But then I moved to another state and things got much better
Groovy: OK...Ibuprofen. Any others?
GrammaJ: Any other what?
Groovy: Medications you're allergic to...
GrammaJ: Well of course there is. You know that! I'm allergic to that joint shot of whatever-it-was that Dr. T gave me. Remember? He told me all those horrible reactions I had were because of that shot. I am NEVER gonna let them do that to me again! But Dr. T was SO sweet about it. He even called me at home to check up on me. I just love Dr. T! You met him; Didn't you just love Dr. T? I wish Dr. T could be my primary care physician. Too bad he's he's just an orthopedic doctor. I TRUST him!
Groovy: How about if I say, "See attached". Then they can just look it up in your records.
GrammaJ: That'll be fine because I got all my records from Dr. Yuck and I have copies of them. I'm going to give them to this new doctor, but I'm not going to tell them Dr. Yuck's name. I certainly wouldn't want to slander her even though she was mean and hard-headed and dictatorial and made all sorts of assumptions and just wanted to give me pills. She was AWFUL! But I sure SOME of her patients like her, so I'd hate to get her into trouble. I already told this new clinic they can't have her name. Nobody can call me a snitch!
Groovy: OK...ummmmmm...next question: What herbs and vitamins and medications are you taking?
GrammaJ: Oh, I'm not allergic to those. looks thoughtful Though too much flaxseed oil will upset my tummy.
Groovy: No, no. We're not talking about allergies now. They just want to know a list of the herbs and vitamins you are taking.
GrammaJ: No...I've never been allergic to herbs.
Groovy: making eye contact Mom, we're done with the allergy part. They now want a list of what vitamins and herbs and medications you take regularly. A list. So they know if there are any contraindications for any new meds they prescribe you.
GrammaJ: I don't take any medicines! Well, except for an occasional Excedrin.
Groovy: Yes, but you DO take herbs and vitamins. They need to know which ones and how often. They need a list.
GrammaJ: A list?
Groovy: Yes, a list.
GrammaJ: Well why didn't you say so? I have a list of all my herbs and vitamins and the doses that I wrote up for Dr. Yuck. We could attach a copy to these papers.
Groovy: Where is the list, so I can go ahead and put it with these forms.
GrammaJ: blank look I...don't know. But it's here somewhere. I'll find it before the appointment.
and on and on and on...
I think they'll need to schedule GrammaJ with a loooooong first appointment!
********************************
And now, the begging begins:
Howdy folks,
My name is Groovy and I am insane. Seriously! I must be, or I would not have signed up for the Trek Across Maine yet again.
The Trek is a three day, 180 mile bike ride across the VERY HILLY state of Maine. We ride from the mountains
to the sea.
We ride no matter what the weather,
No matter what the terrain,
and no matter what our physcial condition.
photo by Michael Whitehead
The main purpose of the Trek is to raise money for the American Lung Association of Maine (ALAME).
That means - you guessed it -that Mulletman and I need to to raise funds. Each trekker is required to raise at least $500 in donations to the ALAME. If we don't, then they make us ride without any food, water or sunscreen.
Just kidding!
But I do need donations. The money you give, whether $5 or $50 or $500 will go to help clean up the air in this state of paper mills,
Help folks quit smoking,
And find treatements and cures for lung diseases like asthma (which I have), COPD, cancer, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and more.
So here's the deal: You can donate to our Trek Across Maine accounts for the ALAME by clicking the links in my sidebar. See them? They are right at the tippy top of the page.
Mulletman and I have separate accounts because we EACH need to raise $500 or more before June 1, 2009. Please help us out by helping the ALAME.
Your deductions ARE tax deductable.
If you'd rather donate by check, you can email me at: groovyoldlady (at) roadrunner (dot) com and I'll give you a mailing address, etc.
Groovy Thanks You!
If you'd like more info on what the Trek is all about, you can check out my Groovy Trekkers blog and/or my awesome Trek Across Maine Squidoo Lens.
She's had the flu and some eye problems the past couple of weeks, so she's put off filling out some paperwork for a new doctor she's going to see later this month. She's had 2 primary care physicians in the 16 months she's lived here. Each of them made decisions or acted in ways that broke her trust, so she's ditched them. We're hoping the third time will be the proverbial charm!
Anyhoo, she really wanted me to come over and help her fill out the papers because all those forms get confusing. So yesterday, I spent the afternoon with her. We decided I'd ask her the medical questions orally and then write down her answers for her.
It went something like this:
Groovy: Do you have any allergies to medications?
GrammaJ: Ibuprofen. They gave me that back in Florida and I went into anaphylactic shock. I almost died! That was the year I went to E.R. FIVE TIMES because of all those allergies. They said it was all those palm trees. But I'm also allergic to many other types of trees like weeping willows. I was SO sick that year; My face swelled up like a balloon! But then I moved to another state and things got much better
Groovy: OK...Ibuprofen. Any others?
GrammaJ: Any other what?
Groovy: Medications you're allergic to...
GrammaJ: Well of course there is. You know that! I'm allergic to that joint shot of whatever-it-was that Dr. T gave me. Remember? He told me all those horrible reactions I had were because of that shot. I am NEVER gonna let them do that to me again! But Dr. T was SO sweet about it. He even called me at home to check up on me. I just love Dr. T! You met him; Didn't you just love Dr. T? I wish Dr. T could be my primary care physician. Too bad he's he's just an orthopedic doctor. I TRUST him!
Groovy: How about if I say, "See attached". Then they can just look it up in your records.
GrammaJ: That'll be fine because I got all my records from Dr. Yuck and I have copies of them. I'm going to give them to this new doctor, but I'm not going to tell them Dr. Yuck's name. I certainly wouldn't want to slander her even though she was mean and hard-headed and dictatorial and made all sorts of assumptions and just wanted to give me pills. She was AWFUL! But I sure SOME of her patients like her, so I'd hate to get her into trouble. I already told this new clinic they can't have her name. Nobody can call me a snitch!
Groovy: OK...ummmmmm...next question: What herbs and vitamins and medications are you taking?
GrammaJ: Oh, I'm not allergic to those. looks thoughtful Though too much flaxseed oil will upset my tummy.
Groovy: No, no. We're not talking about allergies now. They just want to know a list of the herbs and vitamins you are taking.
GrammaJ: No...I've never been allergic to herbs.
Groovy: making eye contact Mom, we're done with the allergy part. They now want a list of what vitamins and herbs and medications you take regularly. A list. So they know if there are any contraindications for any new meds they prescribe you.
GrammaJ: I don't take any medicines! Well, except for an occasional Excedrin.
Groovy: Yes, but you DO take herbs and vitamins. They need to know which ones and how often. They need a list.
GrammaJ: A list?
Groovy: Yes, a list.
GrammaJ: Well why didn't you say so? I have a list of all my herbs and vitamins and the doses that I wrote up for Dr. Yuck. We could attach a copy to these papers.
Groovy: Where is the list, so I can go ahead and put it with these forms.
GrammaJ: blank look I...don't know. But it's here somewhere. I'll find it before the appointment.
and on and on and on...
I think they'll need to schedule GrammaJ with a loooooong first appointment!
********************************
And now, the begging begins:
Howdy folks,
My name is Groovy and I am insane. Seriously! I must be, or I would not have signed up for the Trek Across Maine yet again.
The Trek is a three day, 180 mile bike ride across the VERY HILLY state of Maine. We ride from the mountains
to the sea.
We ride no matter what the weather,
No matter what the terrain,
and no matter what our physcial condition.
photo by Michael Whitehead
The main purpose of the Trek is to raise money for the American Lung Association of Maine (ALAME).
That means - you guessed it -that Mulletman and I need to to raise funds. Each trekker is required to raise at least $500 in donations to the ALAME. If we don't, then they make us ride without any food, water or sunscreen.
Just kidding!
But I do need donations. The money you give, whether $5 or $50 or $500 will go to help clean up the air in this state of paper mills,
Help folks quit smoking,
And find treatements and cures for lung diseases like asthma (which I have), COPD, cancer, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and more.
So here's the deal: You can donate to our Trek Across Maine accounts for the ALAME by clicking the links in my sidebar. See them? They are right at the tippy top of the page.
Mulletman and I have separate accounts because we EACH need to raise $500 or more before June 1, 2009. Please help us out by helping the ALAME.
Your deductions ARE tax deductable.
If you'd rather donate by check, you can email me at: groovyoldlady (at) roadrunner (dot) com and I'll give you a mailing address, etc.
Groovy Thanks You!
If you'd like more info on what the Trek is all about, you can check out my Groovy Trekkers blog and/or my awesome Trek Across Maine Squidoo Lens.
30 January 2009
Join With Me Now, "Awwwwwwwww"
I woke up this morning and stumbled into the bathroom to find a neon green sticky note on the mirror. It said:
Good morning my love,
This morning as I kissed you on the head,
I thought of you as you laid there in bed
You are so lovely and sweet,
And there is no one else I'd rather greet
-Mulletman
Now ain't that sweeeeet?! *sniffle*
**************************************
Mulletman and I have indeed decided to sign up for this year's 180 mile Trek Across Maine cycling event. Consequently, I spent HOURS this morning online updating my Groovy Trekkers blog and my Trek Across Maine Squidoo Page. Please humor me by going to visit both of them!
(Warning: The begging for money will ensue as soon as I get the donation links up in my sidebar here, so SAVE UP YOUR POCKET CHANGE!)
**************************************
I am considering changing Girly-Girl's name to Contrary-Girl. She is at that exasperating stage of "maturity" that makes us occasionally consider permanent relocation of said child. (Hey Funsocksgirl, You want I should send you a long term houseguest????)
I say "black", she says "white". I say "yes" she says "no". Please observe her subtle non-logic:
GroovyMom: (In an uncharacteristically quiet voice) Hey Sweetie! It's time to get up!
ContraryGirl: (uncharacteristically glaring) I've been awake for hours. I didn't sleep ALL NIGHT!
GroovyMom: Oh...I'm sorry you had a tough night.
ContraryGirl: It wasn't tough!
GroovyMom: But you said you didn't sleep well.
ContraryGirl: I slept FINE!
um OK...Let's fast-forward to breakfast time
ContraryGirl: What's for breakfast?
GroovyMom: How about some apple oatmeal?
ContraryGirl: I want an English Muffin!
GroovyMom: (with raised brows) "May I please have an English Muffin instead?"
ContraryGirl: (mumbling) May I please have an English Muffin instead?
GroovyMom: Well, if you want to fix it yourself, you could have that and a banana.
ContraryGirl: I hate bananas!
GroovyMom: You ate a banana on your Cheerios yesterday...I didn't hear you complaining then.
ContraryGirl: I only like bananas in smoothies.
GroovyMom: So that was a Cheerio smoothie?
ContraryGirl: (glares)
Later in the day:
GroovyMom: Girly-Girl, I need you to go up and play piano now.
ContraryGirl: I hate piano!
GroovyMom: Oh you do, do you? Is that why you spend 45 minutes up in the music room every day practicing, composing (she really does compose), singing, and asking Silly-Head to come up and hear what you're learning?
ContraryGirl: (glares)
OY!!!
Of course, that's not her only face. When I specifically point out she's being rude and contrary, she's usually very contrite - genuinely so. She can be helpful and thoughtful and sweet and funny, but some days - oh mercy -she's a real buggar!
*************************************
SUCCESS IS MINE!!!!
Prevention Magazine as selected me as a Flat Belly Diet success story. :-D You can see how far I've come on my Prevention Buzz Blog. Only 10 pounds to go! Woot!
**************************************
Well, it's time for taxes. I've been doing ours ever since day 1 and usually we have our return before most other folks have filed. I'll need to do that this week. Although Mulletman keeps meaning to redo his W-4, he keeps forgetting. Consequently, we always, ALWAYS get a substantial tax return. This year it's a good thing because we have some large expenses coming up in the way of home maintenance. We have to paint/stain the entire exterior and we need to finally give in and buy a whole house purifier. Yep, the ole arsenic and sulfer are starting to get to us!
***************************************
I never really did any writing in January, even though I had planned on a lofty 50,000 words. However, I am intending to keep plugging away at my YA novels with 500 words per day in February. It should be easy what with the murder and all...
Good morning my love,
This morning as I kissed you on the head,
I thought of you as you laid there in bed
You are so lovely and sweet,
And there is no one else I'd rather greet
-Mulletman
Now ain't that sweeeeet?! *sniffle*
**************************************
Mulletman and I have indeed decided to sign up for this year's 180 mile Trek Across Maine cycling event. Consequently, I spent HOURS this morning online updating my Groovy Trekkers blog and my Trek Across Maine Squidoo Page. Please humor me by going to visit both of them!
(Warning: The begging for money will ensue as soon as I get the donation links up in my sidebar here, so SAVE UP YOUR POCKET CHANGE!)
**************************************
I am considering changing Girly-Girl's name to Contrary-Girl. She is at that exasperating stage of "maturity" that makes us occasionally consider permanent relocation of said child. (Hey Funsocksgirl, You want I should send you a long term houseguest????)
I say "black", she says "white". I say "yes" she says "no". Please observe her subtle non-logic:
GroovyMom: (In an uncharacteristically quiet voice) Hey Sweetie! It's time to get up!
ContraryGirl: (uncharacteristically glaring) I've been awake for hours. I didn't sleep ALL NIGHT!
GroovyMom: Oh...I'm sorry you had a tough night.
ContraryGirl: It wasn't tough!
GroovyMom: But you said you didn't sleep well.
ContraryGirl: I slept FINE!
um OK...Let's fast-forward to breakfast time
ContraryGirl: What's for breakfast?
GroovyMom: How about some apple oatmeal?
ContraryGirl: I want an English Muffin!
GroovyMom: (with raised brows) "May I please have an English Muffin instead?"
ContraryGirl: (mumbling) May I please have an English Muffin instead?
GroovyMom: Well, if you want to fix it yourself, you could have that and a banana.
ContraryGirl: I hate bananas!
GroovyMom: You ate a banana on your Cheerios yesterday...I didn't hear you complaining then.
ContraryGirl: I only like bananas in smoothies.
GroovyMom: So that was a Cheerio smoothie?
ContraryGirl: (glares)
Later in the day:
GroovyMom: Girly-Girl, I need you to go up and play piano now.
ContraryGirl: I hate piano!
GroovyMom: Oh you do, do you? Is that why you spend 45 minutes up in the music room every day practicing, composing (she really does compose), singing, and asking Silly-Head to come up and hear what you're learning?
ContraryGirl: (glares)
OY!!!
Of course, that's not her only face. When I specifically point out she's being rude and contrary, she's usually very contrite - genuinely so. She can be helpful and thoughtful and sweet and funny, but some days - oh mercy -she's a real buggar!
*************************************
SUCCESS IS MINE!!!!
Prevention Magazine as selected me as a Flat Belly Diet success story. :-D You can see how far I've come on my Prevention Buzz Blog. Only 10 pounds to go! Woot!
**************************************
Well, it's time for taxes. I've been doing ours ever since day 1 and usually we have our return before most other folks have filed. I'll need to do that this week. Although Mulletman keeps meaning to redo his W-4, he keeps forgetting. Consequently, we always, ALWAYS get a substantial tax return. This year it's a good thing because we have some large expenses coming up in the way of home maintenance. We have to paint/stain the entire exterior and we need to finally give in and buy a whole house purifier. Yep, the ole arsenic and sulfer are starting to get to us!
***************************************
I never really did any writing in January, even though I had planned on a lofty 50,000 words. However, I am intending to keep plugging away at my YA novels with 500 words per day in February. It should be easy what with the murder and all...
13 January 2009
Wow...Have I Ever Been an Absent Blogger!
What is wrong with me, folks?
Usually the ideas are flowing so fast that I barely have time to type them before they overwhelm me. Lately? Nothing. "Tis very weird!
I haven't really been myself since Christmas. 2 unexpected deaths in church families we love, a hip injury, peri-menopause "complications" (ie. AGAIN???? Some of you more mature gals know what I'm saying here...), a stubborn digestive virus, and so on and so forth. And right now our own computer is in the shop; I am using my in-laws' Macintosh.
I am quite thankful to have a computer to use, but I miss MY baby. You know, the one with all my writing, the one with my addresses, the one with all Mulletman's iTunes, the one with all my faves, the one where I don't have to sign-in anywhere because they all know who I am?
But we had to have it tweaked. Our Mac is three years old and our extended warranty expires later this month. Anything out of the norm needs to be fixed NOW. Fortunately, the disc drive started going wonky before the deadline, so we can get it fixed for free. That is truly a blessing!
The folks' computer is exactly the same as ours; They bought theirs a few weeks after we bought ours. However, there is one HUGE difference. Theirs is like 10 times faster! I assume this is because they rarely use theirs and have nothing stored therein except for a few family photos. Ours has a billion documents and ebooks and photos and iTunes and addresses and other importantfluff stuff.
I wonder what I have to do to speed ours up. More importantly, I wonder how I can achieve that lofty goal for FREE? Any ideas?
***************************************
In other news, my diet took a severe beating during the holidays, but I still maintained a 2 pound weight loss. You can read the gory details HERE in the two latest entries. I really need to post an update, but the link to my "new post" page is guess where? Right...on MY computer, in the shop.
***************************************
The aforementioned tummy bug has been a blessing in disguise. It has forced me to cut waaaaay back on my eating and I've lost another 2 pounds. Top that with thoughts of the Trek Across Maine coming up in six months and I am DETERMINED to lose the rest of this weight.
Hold on a minute. What do you mean you don't know what the Trek is? Sheesh, you must be new here! Check out that Trek link above and then read about my experiences last year on my Groovy Trekkers blog or catch the highlights on my Squidoo Lens.
Too lazy to do all that reading? Lemme sum it up for you: 180 miles in three days on bicycles across the hills of Maine to raise money for the American Lung Association. And yes, my asthmatic self will soon begin pestering you to donate to the ALA!! (Start saving up now. Mulletman and I must raise $500+ each in order to ride!)
So why is losing the weight so important to me? Well, I am a cyclist. I trained HARD last year, yet had a really tough time with the actual 3 day ride. A month before last year's Trek we bought me a new, lighter bike. It helped tremendously! But I still struggled with endurance. Obviously I need to do some things differently this year. So I am making some changes.
1. I will lose 15 pounds of fat. Every little decrease in weight eases the ride! (I will also be building muscle...)
2. I will be faithfully incorporating "fartleks" into my aerobic training. (Oh for Heaven's sake - stop giggling and go look it up!)
3. I will be lifting weights on a regular basis.
4. I will be cross training until bike season arrives!
5. I will be walking/running on the treadmill on any day that the weather prohibits riding.
Whew...I'm tired just looking at my list! But I only have 6 months to get ready. I'm gonna DO it this time!
***************************************
In other news, my daughter-in-law and precious grandkids are moving MUCH closer to us. Now we'll get to see them much more often. Woot!
**************************************
Even with all the difficulties since Christmas I am not experiencing the depression I felt last year. Three cheers for the grace of God and for my awesome therapy light!
**************************************
I've been approached to ghostwrite an inspirational memoir for a lady who has been through the mill and lived to tell about it. I know her story and feel honored to even be considered as her helper/writer/editor.
**************************************
As soon as I get my 'puter back want get back to building high quality Squidoo lenses, writing a guest post for Kailani, finishing up my songs, and working on my YA novels.
In other words, it's time to buckle down and focus on my writing!
**************************************
And now, my friends, it is time for me to go. This is my last, lazy oh-my-tummy hurts-so-I-have-an-excuse-to-ignore-my-house-and-my-workouts day. I need to finish big by finding some fun Valentine's day songs for our 4-Hers to sing. Now, where'd I leave my autoharp?
Usually the ideas are flowing so fast that I barely have time to type them before they overwhelm me. Lately? Nothing. "Tis very weird!
I haven't really been myself since Christmas. 2 unexpected deaths in church families we love, a hip injury, peri-menopause "complications" (ie. AGAIN???? Some of you more mature gals know what I'm saying here...), a stubborn digestive virus, and so on and so forth. And right now our own computer is in the shop; I am using my in-laws' Macintosh.
I am quite thankful to have a computer to use, but I miss MY baby. You know, the one with all my writing, the one with my addresses, the one with all Mulletman's iTunes, the one with all my faves, the one where I don't have to sign-in anywhere because they all know who I am?
But we had to have it tweaked. Our Mac is three years old and our extended warranty expires later this month. Anything out of the norm needs to be fixed NOW. Fortunately, the disc drive started going wonky before the deadline, so we can get it fixed for free. That is truly a blessing!
The folks' computer is exactly the same as ours; They bought theirs a few weeks after we bought ours. However, there is one HUGE difference. Theirs is like 10 times faster! I assume this is because they rarely use theirs and have nothing stored therein except for a few family photos. Ours has a billion documents and ebooks and photos and iTunes and addresses and other important
I wonder what I have to do to speed ours up. More importantly, I wonder how I can achieve that lofty goal for FREE? Any ideas?
***************************************
In other news, my diet took a severe beating during the holidays, but I still maintained a 2 pound weight loss. You can read the gory details HERE in the two latest entries. I really need to post an update, but the link to my "new post" page is guess where? Right...on MY computer, in the shop.
***************************************
The aforementioned tummy bug has been a blessing in disguise. It has forced me to cut waaaaay back on my eating and I've lost another 2 pounds. Top that with thoughts of the Trek Across Maine coming up in six months and I am DETERMINED to lose the rest of this weight.
Hold on a minute. What do you mean you don't know what the Trek is? Sheesh, you must be new here! Check out that Trek link above and then read about my experiences last year on my Groovy Trekkers blog or catch the highlights on my Squidoo Lens.
Too lazy to do all that reading? Lemme sum it up for you: 180 miles in three days on bicycles across the hills of Maine to raise money for the American Lung Association. And yes, my asthmatic self will soon begin pestering you to donate to the ALA!! (Start saving up now. Mulletman and I must raise $500+ each in order to ride!)
So why is losing the weight so important to me? Well, I am a cyclist. I trained HARD last year, yet had a really tough time with the actual 3 day ride. A month before last year's Trek we bought me a new, lighter bike. It helped tremendously! But I still struggled with endurance. Obviously I need to do some things differently this year. So I am making some changes.
1. I will lose 15 pounds of fat. Every little decrease in weight eases the ride! (I will also be building muscle...)
2. I will be faithfully incorporating "fartleks" into my aerobic training. (Oh for Heaven's sake - stop giggling and go look it up!)
3. I will be lifting weights on a regular basis.
4. I will be cross training until bike season arrives!
5. I will be walking/running on the treadmill on any day that the weather prohibits riding.
Whew...I'm tired just looking at my list! But I only have 6 months to get ready. I'm gonna DO it this time!
***************************************
In other news, my daughter-in-law and precious grandkids are moving MUCH closer to us. Now we'll get to see them much more often. Woot!
**************************************
Even with all the difficulties since Christmas I am not experiencing the depression I felt last year. Three cheers for the grace of God and for my awesome therapy light!
**************************************
I've been approached to ghostwrite an inspirational memoir for a lady who has been through the mill and lived to tell about it. I know her story and feel honored to even be considered as her helper/writer/editor.
**************************************
As soon as I get my 'puter back want get back to building high quality Squidoo lenses, writing a guest post for Kailani, finishing up my songs, and working on my YA novels.
In other words, it's time to buckle down and focus on my writing!
**************************************
And now, my friends, it is time for me to go. This is my last, lazy oh-my-tummy hurts-so-I-have-an-excuse-to-ignore-my-house-and-my-workouts day. I need to finish big by finding some fun Valentine's day songs for our 4-Hers to sing. Now, where'd I leave my autoharp?
19 June 2008
A New Groovy is Emerging
Time is short right now - busy morning! But I wanted to make sure that you all knew that I have gas right now.
No, wait...that wasn't it.
I am feeling good after all this working out and bike riding. So good that I have decided to do my own "remake" of myself. Today I started the Sonoma Diet (yummy, yummy!) to help me lose that last stupid 20 pounds. (Yes...the weight crept up a bit since my profile was written.) My friend Grandma Dawn has also taken up the challenge and plans on losing a few retirement pounds. Anyone else want to join us?
AND
I am going to get (gasp!) a haircut. You know, one that actually has some style to it.
You are shocked, I can tell. You should be considering the fact that my hair hasn't been cut since March 2007 and it now looks like the robins have been fighting over which area would make the best nest.
Sheesh...Next thing you know I might start wearing make-up and dresses to go to the mailbox.
Nah!
My Trek reporting has begun at my Groovy Trekkers blog. I'm hoping to have the second day up by this evening. So stop by and ooooo and aaahhh over all the food and fatigue and fanaticism and fun. See ya there!
**********
EDIT
**********
Hey...remember Wendy?
She's Ba-ack. tap...tap,tap...tap
..................
Another Edit
................
The hairdo to-do is happening Monday morning.
No, wait...that wasn't it.
I am feeling good after all this working out and bike riding. So good that I have decided to do my own "remake" of myself. Today I started the Sonoma Diet (yummy, yummy!) to help me lose that last stupid 20 pounds. (Yes...the weight crept up a bit since my profile was written.) My friend Grandma Dawn has also taken up the challenge and plans on losing a few retirement pounds. Anyone else want to join us?
AND
I am going to get (gasp!) a haircut. You know, one that actually has some style to it.
You are shocked, I can tell. You should be considering the fact that my hair hasn't been cut since March 2007 and it now looks like the robins have been fighting over which area would make the best nest.
Sheesh...Next thing you know I might start wearing make-up and dresses to go to the mailbox.
Nah!
My Trek reporting has begun at my Groovy Trekkers blog. I'm hoping to have the second day up by this evening. So stop by and ooooo and aaahhh over all the food and fatigue and fanaticism and fun. See ya there!
**********
EDIT
**********
Hey...remember Wendy?
She's Ba-ack. tap...tap,tap...tap
..................
Another Edit
................
The hairdo to-do is happening Monday morning.
18 June 2008
I am Not Here Today
*********************
I am at my Groovy Trekkers site, reporting in. Come and read about Day the First!
*********************
I am at my Groovy Trekkers site, reporting in. Come and read about Day the First!
*********************
21 April 2008
I'm Just Telling You What They Said...
Mercy me! (Not the band, just my past 83 weeks or so). I have been SO busy. The dust in the girlies' room is 3 inches deep, I have a pile of unpaid bills, I'm so far behind in writing reviews that LASR may hang me by my toes, and there's a dirty hamster cage in my dining room floor. There are 2 dismantled humidifiers on the same floor accompanied by 2 musty panniers that need to be cleaned.
What's a pannier? Ahhhhh, you really need to go read about Groovy and her panniers.
Really. Go there now and read about it.
I'll wait.
Lalalllaalallalallalaaaalaalalalala. Send Money LA lalalalalaLalalalalalallllaaaaaaaaa.
You're back now? Good. Hope you donated whilst you was over there because "Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate)!" (cited from the ALA website)
What have I been busy doing besides training and soaking in epsom salts? Singing. Yep. Groovy and Mulletman got to lead worship at a ministry conference on Saturday. It was very fun and very cool AND kinda weird when four 50-something men in the back started flapping while we sang "I'll Fly Away".
Yeah.
Anyway, that same evening Mulletman and I attended the 4th annual Knock on Wood Guitar Fest. It was totally and completely awesome, even if it did keep this groovy gal up waaaaaaaaaay past her bedtime.
During the intermission, we ran into a fellow who had attended the conference earlier in the day. He told we'd done a wonderful job with the music and that he especially enjoyed our performance songs (songs Mm and I did without everyone else singing along) because I have "a voice that conveys."
He didn't say WHAT my voice conveys.
And that started Mulletman and I to thinking, which is dangerous to do when you are rather punchy waaaaaaaaaay past your bedtime. You see, everyone of those incredible musicians at the Fest had their bio printed in the program - Bios that were thick with adjectives and quotes and descriptions. Bios like this one about Denny Breau:
Denny Breau’s rhythmically flawless and dazzlingly clear style allows him to do amazing and stunning things with a six-string guitar. He first draws in an audience with a finely arranged melody and then slides effortlessly into scorching fingerwork that sets ears aflame. The lighting fast guitar lines that seem almost humanly impossible to accomplish are balanced with those that have a quiet intimacy and wrap tenderly around his carefully crafted songs. He mixes genres with ease — folk, Delta blues, country and jazz — “creating a totally accessible musical mélange that captivates as it entertains,”
Um...WOW! For the record, I will report here that Mr. Breau certainly was wonderfully entertaining in concert, but I will refrain from repeating all those adjectives because, well, this post isn't about Denny Breau, it's about ME.
Which brings me to my point - What would Groovy's singing bio look like if we included all the descriptive quotes her fans and critics have made over the past 15 years? Perhaps something like this (and please note that these are ACTUAL quotes. Groovy does have a vivid imagination, but she did not make these up):
Groovyoldlady has been dazzling audiences with her powerful, velvety alto for more years than she can recall. Her resonance and careful choice of songs causes her unenthralled children to whine, "Do you have to sing again?" whenever she drags them off to a rehearsal. However, it is worth the endless teasing and harassment at home when she makes "weird" sounds while warming up because her fans adore her.
One man even confronted her after a concert to say, "Whenever you sing I just feel angel wings brush up and down my back." Others have said that, "You have a voice that conveys." "Whenever Groovy sings I wanna yell, 'YOU GO, GIRL!" "I get goosebumps when Groovy sings!" "You can really belt it out, can't you?" and "You're my favorite singer!" Once after she ran her supple voice up to a high A to end a special birthday song, her fellow musicians - with tears in their eyes - remarked, "WOW!"
Groovy gets alot of recognition out on the street as well, where she and her drummer husband get their meals interrupted by devoted fans, "Look! It's Mulletman and Groovy! I KNOW them!" or in Applebees, "Groovy, You gonna sing for us???" (Groovy declined graciously.) Once, an older woman and her middle-aged daughter made a beeline for Groovy across the grocery store hollering, "It's her! It's - it's THAT GIRL THAT SINGS!" She and Mulletman have also been gawked and pointed at in Home Despot and the Mart.
Other hardcore fans have made special requests of her: "Where can I buy your albums?" (She has none and no plans to make any.) "Why don't you sing MY favorite song when you're up there?" (Because she doesn't DO country!) and many people have stated, "I want Groovy to sing at my funeral." (Most of these people are Groovy's own age and Groovy is looking forward to outliving them all.)
Of course, Groovy is not without her critics. One older man who spent the church service seated about 24" from the speakers said, "You and that other girl do a nice job, but you're just too damned loud!" And a fellow actor taught her to tone it down a bit by confronting her with, "A little dramatic, aren't you?"
But critics notwithstanding, Groovy remains popular and in demand as a vocalist to the point that she rarely takes a week off from singing. Why? Because whenever she does at least a dozen people approach her and mourn, "Oh...you're not singing this morning?" Then Groovy gets the opportunity to remind them that worship is not about the people on the stages (no matter how many fans they have), it's about the God of all the Ages!
What's a pannier? Ahhhhh, you really need to go read about Groovy and her panniers.
Really. Go there now and read about it.
I'll wait.
Lalalllaalallalallalaaaalaalalalala. Send Money LA lalalalalaLalalalalalallllaaaaaaaaa.
You're back now? Good. Hope you donated whilst you was over there because "Lung cancer causes more deaths than the next three most common cancers combined (colon, breast and prostate)!" (cited from the ALA website)
What have I been busy doing besides training and soaking in epsom salts? Singing. Yep. Groovy and Mulletman got to lead worship at a ministry conference on Saturday. It was very fun and very cool AND kinda weird when four 50-something men in the back started flapping while we sang "I'll Fly Away".
Yeah.
Anyway, that same evening Mulletman and I attended the 4th annual Knock on Wood Guitar Fest. It was totally and completely awesome, even if it did keep this groovy gal up waaaaaaaaaay past her bedtime.
During the intermission, we ran into a fellow who had attended the conference earlier in the day. He told we'd done a wonderful job with the music and that he especially enjoyed our performance songs (songs Mm and I did without everyone else singing along) because I have "a voice that conveys."
He didn't say WHAT my voice conveys.
And that started Mulletman and I to thinking, which is dangerous to do when you are rather punchy waaaaaaaaaay past your bedtime. You see, everyone of those incredible musicians at the Fest had their bio printed in the program - Bios that were thick with adjectives and quotes and descriptions. Bios like this one about Denny Breau:
Denny Breau’s rhythmically flawless and dazzlingly clear style allows him to do amazing and stunning things with a six-string guitar. He first draws in an audience with a finely arranged melody and then slides effortlessly into scorching fingerwork that sets ears aflame. The lighting fast guitar lines that seem almost humanly impossible to accomplish are balanced with those that have a quiet intimacy and wrap tenderly around his carefully crafted songs. He mixes genres with ease — folk, Delta blues, country and jazz — “creating a totally accessible musical mélange that captivates as it entertains,”
Um...WOW! For the record, I will report here that Mr. Breau certainly was wonderfully entertaining in concert, but I will refrain from repeating all those adjectives because, well, this post isn't about Denny Breau, it's about ME.
Which brings me to my point - What would Groovy's singing bio look like if we included all the descriptive quotes her fans and critics have made over the past 15 years? Perhaps something like this (and please note that these are ACTUAL quotes. Groovy does have a vivid imagination, but she did not make these up):
Groovyoldlady has been dazzling audiences with her powerful, velvety alto for more years than she can recall. Her resonance and careful choice of songs causes her unenthralled children to whine, "Do you have to sing again?" whenever she drags them off to a rehearsal. However, it is worth the endless teasing and harassment at home when she makes "weird" sounds while warming up because her fans adore her.
One man even confronted her after a concert to say, "Whenever you sing I just feel angel wings brush up and down my back." Others have said that, "You have a voice that conveys." "Whenever Groovy sings I wanna yell, 'YOU GO, GIRL!" "I get goosebumps when Groovy sings!" "You can really belt it out, can't you?" and "You're my favorite singer!" Once after she ran her supple voice up to a high A to end a special birthday song, her fellow musicians - with tears in their eyes - remarked, "WOW!"
Groovy gets alot of recognition out on the street as well, where she and her drummer husband get their meals interrupted by devoted fans, "Look! It's Mulletman and Groovy! I KNOW them!" or in Applebees, "Groovy, You gonna sing for us???" (Groovy declined graciously.) Once, an older woman and her middle-aged daughter made a beeline for Groovy across the grocery store hollering, "It's her! It's - it's THAT GIRL THAT SINGS!" She and Mulletman have also been gawked and pointed at in Home Despot and the Mart.
Other hardcore fans have made special requests of her: "Where can I buy your albums?" (She has none and no plans to make any.) "Why don't you sing MY favorite song when you're up there?" (Because she doesn't DO country!) and many people have stated, "I want Groovy to sing at my funeral." (Most of these people are Groovy's own age and Groovy is looking forward to outliving them all.)
Of course, Groovy is not without her critics. One older man who spent the church service seated about 24" from the speakers said, "You and that other girl do a nice job, but you're just too damned loud!" And a fellow actor taught her to tone it down a bit by confronting her with, "A little dramatic, aren't you?"
But critics notwithstanding, Groovy remains popular and in demand as a vocalist to the point that she rarely takes a week off from singing. Why? Because whenever she does at least a dozen people approach her and mourn, "Oh...you're not singing this morning?" Then Groovy gets the opportunity to remind them that worship is not about the people on the stages (no matter how many fans they have), it's about the God of all the Ages!
18 April 2008
Diversionary Tactics and Blatant Manipulation
send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money!
I'm posting at my Groovy Trekkers Blog today.
send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money!
I'm posting at my Groovy Trekkers Blog today.
send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money! send money!
01 April 2008
Whew! What a Week!
Greetings to all my sweet and wonderful internutty internetty friends. Groovy has returned.
(That is your cue to applaud.............I'm WAITING............)
Words are flying through my head at the speed of, well, very fast sentences. Unfortunately the rate of my convoluted typing style (the Morton and Briggs Two-Handed Crisscross Applesauce approach) is more the pace of chewing a big, cold, sticky caramel. It makes for some frustrating keyboard time!
It also makes me craves sweets. Hmmmmm.
All that said, I'm just going to type the flowing verbage as well I am able and hope for the best.
First, just let me say that I probably have the most incredibly awesome and wonderful and terrific daughter and son-in-law on the face of the planet. Whe they heard that Grampy was in the hospital last Monday and things looked a bit grim, they rented a car (theirs is not safe for a long trip!) and trekked overnight from Rochester, NY to Central Maine.
And while they were here they were such a joy to all of us! They repeatedly visitied Grampy in the hospital and, at one point, got so roudy and laughed so loud that the nurses had to give them the evil eye and shush them. They went to spend long periods of time with GrammaJ and helped her organize her new home and hang pictures and make her feel loved. They played countless games of Mario with the girlies and card games with the whole family. They spoke in obnoxiously bad French accents and instituted new private family memories and jokes. They finally gave us "the rest of the story" on how they started dating and fell in love.
It was so sweet and romantic, especially the part where he gave her a Napolean Dynamite poster. Ah, young love! *sniffle*
All their ministry here freed us up to rest and recover from caring for the folks and my mom and enabled us to bless Uncle Grumpy-Pants who had foot surgery and lives alone in another town.
And we did take one day to just play together at the Children's Museum in Augusta...The museum itself is mediocre, but the company was outstanding!
By the way, for those of you who wondered about the socks, I'll repeat what I said to Corn Dog in my comments: Funsocksgirl comes by her name honestly. She has occasional bouts with mood swings and depression. Knowing she is wearing mismatched, colorful and sometimes goofy socks helps to lift her spirits.
She's a tad odd, but she brings joy to everyone in her weird, wonderful way. :-) Of course, she comes by it honestly, if you know what I mean.
As a postscript to this crazy week I will assure that Grampy is home and is TOTALLY back to his wild and wacky self, Grammy is almost over her bout with the flu, GrammaJ is 85% settled in and her hands are finally healing from her surgery (thanks to her being able to actually rest them because the kids did so much for her) and Uncle Grumpy is on the mend.
**********************************************
And Mulletman and I? Well, our 26th anniversary is this Thursday. He has some time off work, but we're not sure what we're doing yet beyond eating out and being, you know, romantic and everything. We're both rather drained right now and we celebrated in HUGE way last year (it took 2 days of blogging to report on that trip!), so I think we're fine settling for a quieter observance.
***********************************************
Just in case you weren't aware, the Long and Short of It is giving away books left and right this month. Buzz on over there and enter the contests!!!
If I did things right, there's a banner in my sidebar that will take you there if you didn't think to clink the link in the previous paragraph.
*************************************************
And speaking of Giveaways, I hope you'll consider giving away some of your money to the American Lung Association.
Mulletman and I are trying to raise $500 each for the ALA of Maine. For your donation you will be rewarded with gripping reports of all our aches and pains as we ride 180 miles across HILLY Maine in 3 days time in June. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped curb air pollution, decrease the power of the cigarette industry, and find better treatments for asthma, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis and other icky lung diseases.
All the links you need to donate are in my sidebar at the top, so you don't have to hunt for them.
I'm thoughtful that way!
And if you want to keep up with athe progress of our sore muscles and sore tushies, you can check out our training blog or my Squidoo Lens. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot there yet because IT KEEPS STINKIN' SNOWING!!!
And perhaps you're dying for more info on the Trek itself. If so, you'll find oodles of info HERE!
Lastly, a couple of you have already donated. Please forgive me for not thanking you personally. One problem with receiving online donations is that they are reported to us with your REAL names. Can you imagine? And the truth is that I don't know all your real names! That makes it difficult for me to thank the correct Matilda or Fred.
So, to those of you who HAVE already donated, my asthmatic lungs extend a heartfelt (lungfelt?) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! *wheeze, gasp*
***************************************************
(That is your cue to applaud.............I'm WAITING............)
Words are flying through my head at the speed of, well, very fast sentences. Unfortunately the rate of my convoluted typing style (the Morton and Briggs Two-Handed Crisscross Applesauce approach) is more the pace of chewing a big, cold, sticky caramel. It makes for some frustrating keyboard time!
It also makes me craves sweets. Hmmmmm.
All that said, I'm just going to type the flowing verbage as well I am able and hope for the best.
First, just let me say that I probably have the most incredibly awesome and wonderful and terrific daughter and son-in-law on the face of the planet. Whe they heard that Grampy was in the hospital last Monday and things looked a bit grim, they rented a car (theirs is not safe for a long trip!) and trekked overnight from Rochester, NY to Central Maine.
And while they were here they were such a joy to all of us! They repeatedly visitied Grampy in the hospital and, at one point, got so roudy and laughed so loud that the nurses had to give them the evil eye and shush them. They went to spend long periods of time with GrammaJ and helped her organize her new home and hang pictures and make her feel loved. They played countless games of Mario with the girlies and card games with the whole family. They spoke in obnoxiously bad French accents and instituted new private family memories and jokes. They finally gave us "the rest of the story" on how they started dating and fell in love.
It was so sweet and romantic, especially the part where he gave her a Napolean Dynamite poster. Ah, young love! *sniffle*
All their ministry here freed us up to rest and recover from caring for the folks and my mom and enabled us to bless Uncle Grumpy-Pants who had foot surgery and lives alone in another town.
And we did take one day to just play together at the Children's Museum in Augusta...The museum itself is mediocre, but the company was outstanding!
By the way, for those of you who wondered about the socks, I'll repeat what I said to Corn Dog in my comments: Funsocksgirl comes by her name honestly. She has occasional bouts with mood swings and depression. Knowing she is wearing mismatched, colorful and sometimes goofy socks helps to lift her spirits.
She's a tad odd, but she brings joy to everyone in her weird, wonderful way. :-) Of course, she comes by it honestly, if you know what I mean.
As a postscript to this crazy week I will assure that Grampy is home and is TOTALLY back to his wild and wacky self, Grammy is almost over her bout with the flu, GrammaJ is 85% settled in and her hands are finally healing from her surgery (thanks to her being able to actually rest them because the kids did so much for her) and Uncle Grumpy is on the mend.
**********************************************
And Mulletman and I? Well, our 26th anniversary is this Thursday. He has some time off work, but we're not sure what we're doing yet beyond eating out and being, you know, romantic and everything. We're both rather drained right now and we celebrated in HUGE way last year (it took 2 days of blogging to report on that trip!), so I think we're fine settling for a quieter observance.
***********************************************
Just in case you weren't aware, the Long and Short of It is giving away books left and right this month. Buzz on over there and enter the contests!!!
If I did things right, there's a banner in my sidebar that will take you there if you didn't think to clink the link in the previous paragraph.
*************************************************
And speaking of Giveaways, I hope you'll consider giving away some of your money to the American Lung Association.
Mulletman and I are trying to raise $500 each for the ALA of Maine. For your donation you will be rewarded with gripping reports of all our aches and pains as we ride 180 miles across HILLY Maine in 3 days time in June. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped curb air pollution, decrease the power of the cigarette industry, and find better treatments for asthma, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis and other icky lung diseases.
All the links you need to donate are in my sidebar at the top, so you don't have to hunt for them.
I'm thoughtful that way!
And if you want to keep up with athe progress of our sore muscles and sore tushies, you can check out our training blog or my Squidoo Lens. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot there yet because IT KEEPS STINKIN' SNOWING!!!
And perhaps you're dying for more info on the Trek itself. If so, you'll find oodles of info HERE!
Lastly, a couple of you have already donated. Please forgive me for not thanking you personally. One problem with receiving online donations is that they are reported to us with your REAL names. Can you imagine? And the truth is that I don't know all your real names! That makes it difficult for me to thank the correct Matilda or Fred.
So, to those of you who HAVE already donated, my asthmatic lungs extend a heartfelt (lungfelt?) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! *wheeze, gasp*
***************************************************
26 February 2008
Oh My Ever Lovin' Word
Hi. It's me. At least I think it is; I haven't been feeling quite like myself lately.
Hamster update: Wee little Bekah and Ruby have already beened loved within an inch of their collective lives. I knew they needed a break when Girly-Girl came out of her room all excited. "Look Mom, isn't it cute? Ruby fell asleep in my hand!"
Ruby was flat on her back, legs poking straight up, eyes squeezed tightly shut - the classic "playing dead" pose. This is the ultimate "I am stressed beyond belief" reaction.
This is not Ruby, but I wanted to illustrate the pose for you:
Poor little rodent!
**************
The new fridge came and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!
The young men who delivered it were so sweet and polite. I wanted to tweak their cheeks and bake them cookies because they reminded me of Scout...
Now I'll miss Scout every time I look at my giganticly huge, sparkling clean, not falling apart refrigerator of joy.
Sigh.
****************************************
Well, my Mom got the call today. As of this Friday she has a unit in a duplex in a senior housing neighborhood. This is totally awesome! Most people have to wait 2 years or more to get in; She's only been waiting 5 months. Praise the Lord!
Of course this DOES mean that I'm going to be awfully busy the next couple of weeks.
***************************************
Knowing my mom would be moving soon, I agreed to put together a file cabinet she bought for her.
Who knew a file cabinet had so many pieces and so many weird little doo-hooeys!!
I think I bit off more than I can chew!!
**********************
Well as some of you know, I have asthma - and I'm not alone! According to the American Lung Association:
...in 2005, it was estimated that 22.2 million Americans had asthma. Of these, 12.2 million Americans (3.8 million children under 18) had an asthma attack.
The annual direct health care cost of asthma in the USA is approximately $14.7 billion; indirect costs (e.g. lost productivity) add another $5 billion, for a total of $19.7 billion dollars. Prescription drugs represented the largest single direct cost, at $6.2 billion.
Asthma breathing problems usually happen in "episodes" or “attacks,” but the inflammation underlying asthma is continuous. An asthma episode is a series of events that result in narrowed airways. These include: swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway. The narrowed airway is responsible for the difficulty in breathing with the familiar "wheeze."
Lung function declines faster than average in people with asthma, particularly in people who smoke and in those with excessive mucus production...
On Father's Day weekend in June of this year, Mulletman and I are going to hop on our bikes and join 2,000 other totally and completely insane people to ride 180 miles across the VERY HILLY state of Maine in 3 days time.
Why are we doing this? To prove we are as crazy as you think we are.
Not!
We are participating in the Trek Across Maine in order to raise money for the American Lung Association of Maine. Mulletman and I are each hoping to raise $1,000 for ALAME before June 11, 2008. You can help us out by making a donation to either or both of our fundraising pages. The links are in my sidebar.
Every penny will go to ALAME to help fight pollution, stop people from smoking, and find treatments for lung disease - including asthma! So dig deep and donate so lunatics like moi can actually, you know BREATHE!
Hamster update: Wee little Bekah and Ruby have already beened loved within an inch of their collective lives. I knew they needed a break when Girly-Girl came out of her room all excited. "Look Mom, isn't it cute? Ruby fell asleep in my hand!"
Ruby was flat on her back, legs poking straight up, eyes squeezed tightly shut - the classic "playing dead" pose. This is the ultimate "I am stressed beyond belief" reaction.
This is not Ruby, but I wanted to illustrate the pose for you:
Poor little rodent!
**************
The new fridge came and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!
The young men who delivered it were so sweet and polite. I wanted to tweak their cheeks and bake them cookies because they reminded me of Scout...
Now I'll miss Scout every time I look at my giganticly huge, sparkling clean, not falling apart refrigerator of joy.
Sigh.
****************************************
Well, my Mom got the call today. As of this Friday she has a unit in a duplex in a senior housing neighborhood. This is totally awesome! Most people have to wait 2 years or more to get in; She's only been waiting 5 months. Praise the Lord!
Of course this DOES mean that I'm going to be awfully busy the next couple of weeks.
***************************************
Knowing my mom would be moving soon, I agreed to put together a file cabinet she bought for her.
Who knew a file cabinet had so many pieces and so many weird little doo-hooeys!!
I think I bit off more than I can chew!!
**********************
Well as some of you know, I have asthma - and I'm not alone! According to the American Lung Association:
...in 2005, it was estimated that 22.2 million Americans had asthma. Of these, 12.2 million Americans (3.8 million children under 18) had an asthma attack.
The annual direct health care cost of asthma in the USA is approximately $14.7 billion; indirect costs (e.g. lost productivity) add another $5 billion, for a total of $19.7 billion dollars. Prescription drugs represented the largest single direct cost, at $6.2 billion.
Asthma breathing problems usually happen in "episodes" or “attacks,” but the inflammation underlying asthma is continuous. An asthma episode is a series of events that result in narrowed airways. These include: swelling of the lining, tightening of the muscle, and increased secretion of mucus in the airway. The narrowed airway is responsible for the difficulty in breathing with the familiar "wheeze."
Lung function declines faster than average in people with asthma, particularly in people who smoke and in those with excessive mucus production...
On Father's Day weekend in June of this year, Mulletman and I are going to hop on our bikes and join 2,000 other totally and completely insane people to ride 180 miles across the VERY HILLY state of Maine in 3 days time.
Why are we doing this? To prove we are as crazy as you think we are.
Not!
We are participating in the Trek Across Maine in order to raise money for the American Lung Association of Maine. Mulletman and I are each hoping to raise $1,000 for ALAME before June 11, 2008. You can help us out by making a donation to either or both of our fundraising pages. The links are in my sidebar.
Every penny will go to ALAME to help fight pollution, stop people from smoking, and find treatments for lung disease - including asthma! So dig deep and donate so lunatics like moi can actually, you know BREATHE!
04 February 2008
To Do...
Well, I already had my coffee, basked in my light and spent time with the Lord. Next on the agenda is to:
1.Send my Writer's Weekly Valentines. My fellow writers are not my "one and onlies" nor my "sweethearts" (or "sweathearts", as my husband would write), but they keep me motivated and I DO love 'em!
2.Call a dozen furniture stores to see if they have affordable-swivel-rocker-recliners-in-neutral-colors-with-big-squishy-arm-rests (please say that as all one word: my mom does!) for my mom. She has a phone and a phone book, so why am I doing this? Can anyone say "Co-dependency"?
3. Call Funsocksgirl to see how her very unusual Super Bowl celebration went _ She sent me an email update, so I'm good here.
4. Call Special K to wih her a happy birthday and promise her lunch out later this month
5.Mail Special K's card
6. Launder MUCH clothing
7.School time with the girlies. I have planned a riveting lesson on Maryland and Delware.
8. Revise my essay and send it to Selma and Jenn. To Selma because she is a writer extraordinaire, to Jenn because she is hilarious!
9. Add some money to our Trek Across Maine funds. You will all be hearing about this VERY soon. In fact, you will hear about it so much that you may start avoiding me. Curious? Then you can get a headstart by perusing my Groovy Trekkers blog.
10. Write and submit my latest LASR review and request a new book.
11. Shrink some pics for the girlies lockets.
12.Eat leftover apple pie (someone has to do it) >
13.Finish the Sunday Crossword puzzle before my brain explodes I gave up on this one. They need to make newspaper crosswords for the culturally impaired...
14. Call my friend M to find out why she and her hubby looked SO glum at church yesterday
15.Workout. Today is aerobics and lower body weight lifting Done. Note to self: Getting lost in worship is a wonderful thing; Getting lost in worship on a treadmill is potential suicide.
16.Take a long hot bath and reeeeeeaaaaaaad. (I justify this as "muscle recovery" after my workout!)
17. Fix food for little people
18. Make a grocery list
19. Harass any and all Patriot's fans
20.Make some pasta so Mulletman has something yummy to take to work for lunch tomorrow. I don't have to do this because the weather is s'posed to turn ugly tonight so he's staying in a hotel tonight. (the hospital pays for him to do that. Cool, eh?)
21.Kill that darn fly in the window.
22.>Procrastinate
1.
2.
3.
4. Call Special K to wih her a happy birthday and promise her lunch out later this month
5.
6.
7.
8. Revise my essay and send it to Selma and Jenn. To Selma because she is a writer extraordinaire, to Jenn because she is hilarious!
9.
10. Write and submit my latest LASR review and request a new book.
11. Shrink some pics for the girlies lockets.
12.
13.
14. Call my friend M to find out why she and her hubby looked SO glum at church yesterday
15.
16.
17.
18. Make a grocery list
19.
20.
21.
22.
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