January 30, 2008
If you wondered...
...about the girls - they went to the doctor today and the older 2 have another new virus that's going around.. the little one has Strep. Grr.. another round of antibiotics for the munchkin and cough meds for the bigger girls.
Okay, I'm ready for winter to go away now!
January 29, 2008
Mom's Birthday!
We met at Ryans for dinner, and boy did we have a good time. Everyone ate good, and the servers came and sang a "Happy Birthday" song to Mom.
After dinner we went to Lisa's for Ice Cream Cake, it was so pretty! And mom opened her presents. I think she had a good time!
Joel
He only let me take one shot tonight - the others he just turned his head and said NO!
Tristan Today
He's growing so much! Smiling, jabbering.. he's trying to butt-scoot now, it wont be long and there'll be no stopping him! Look how pretty!
January 27, 2008
January 25, 2008
Premonitions?
I don't know. Maybe just Intuition. Hindsight and all that. The last year that Dad was alive, I started telling Dips, Hey, we have to go see Dad, I've not seen him in a couple of days. Let's get Dad some tickets and take over there. I want to go see Dad, I want to slip him some Lottery buying money. I made sure to talk to him on the phone every day. I just started doing things with Dad in mind, things I'd never done before. Like for his last birthday. It was SO importtant that that birthday was different, that it was special for him. When I talked to Lisa and Mom about it, they agreed and we had him the Hawiian themed party, Lisa and Nick danced a hoola dance with the rest of the family and Dad sitting there laughing his ass off, enjoying it thoroughly. The girls sang a song for him, they looked like dolls and he just clapped and applauded for them. He had such a good time, an earnestly good time. Then next, it was Father's day. I remember Mom coming in to sit down with us at the kitchen table for a few minutes to eat, then she wanted to go outside and eat with the others. Dad didn't want to go out, he said he wanted to eat inside, so I just stayed there with him.. I remember telling Mom I'd rather stay in and have Father's day dinner with him. I remember looking at his plate, he was eating, trying hard to eat, but I saw his pork chop, untouched, he was just eating the mashed 'taters with light bread.. how he loved Mom's mashed taters. I remember thinking, poor dad, that perfectly beautiful pork chop, one of those big ones Mom makes - fried to perfection, and I knew he liked them, but just accepted that he must not have wanted it. I kept eating, the meal was sooo good. He kept eating his taters. That was another good day. I have so much to be thankful for, I got to be with him, talk to him, right to the bitter end. I just wish I could have done more for him. He never expected more, he never expected anything, and was happy with the smallest thing we did for him. Today, 6 months ago was the magical day in the hospital when we thought it was going to be alright. His very last day with us. A very very good day. Maybe somehow something nudged me to be there. Nudged me to stay with him on Father's day.. his last one.. maybe something urged me to make his last birthday special.. maybe it was just a coincidence. I just read somewhere that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous. I don't remember where I read it, but I like that. Jana, I want to thank you for listening and for the pep talk. You're wonderful..I just wanted to let you know that.
Okay, I'm out of here, I have to get up early and get some birthday shopping done. Mom's birthday is Sunday. G'nite world. I love you all.
January 21, 2008
No School Today
It's raining the coldest thickest rain, almost ice. Yikes, keep warm everyone!
Nothing Much New Tonight...
Everyone's sleeping, there's school tomorrow, (weather permitting) lunches are made, and we're ready for tomorrow. Lisa, Mom and Nick came over tonight and brought the girls some candy, and brought back the toddler bed. It's in the den now and Maegan immediately claimed it for her own. Maybe she'll take her naps in there.
Tomorrow's their 100th day of school, so they're supposed to take 100 pieces of snack candy to share with their classes. Mik, for some reason, had to take a box of Cheerios too. It's all packed and waiting in their backpacks.
Sarah called last night. She said the reason we've not heard from her in a while was because their trucks were broken down and where they're staying there's no service on her cell phone. Now they have the old one fixed but the newer one isn't running. She talked to Mikyla and Mallory but Maegan was sleeping. She said she was going to call back to talk to Maegan later, but she didn't. I bet her truck tore up again because she didn't call today either.
Okay, I'm tired, it's been a long 3 day weekend. I'll be glad when the weather is pretty again so we can let the kids play outside more. G'nite, world, I love ya!
Feather Death Crowns
Isn't this the neatest thing? I never heard of it before tonight. Take a peek... and check out those old feather pillows, see what's in there!
Death Crown Phenomena Still Evoke Amazement
January 19, 2008
And Now... *big drumroll*...
...the pièce de résistance!
The girls danced tonight.
I couldn't help it, I had to get pictures, but they don't do their dance justice. Even Maegan got in the act. They put two kitchen chairs there for us to sit and be their audience and they sure cut a shine. Very Nice performance girls! I was in awe!!
When Mik was slinging Mal around, that was funny, but when Mal didn't know what to do next, so started to climb up Mikyla like an orangutan, I couldn't believe I got the shot - I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold the camera still!
Mom bought Mallory the Leotard, and I got the other two theirs. They've been wanting some for a while. While Sarah was in she'd told Mikyla she called about signing Mik up in gymnastics again, for Mikyla to watch the mail, that the lady would write to her when there was an opening. So far, we've not heard from them. I think maybe Sarah fibbed. I could be wrong tho. We'll see. :) Speaking of Sarah, we've not heard a word from her since the 12th. I sure hope she's alright.
Oh!
Hillary won the primary in Michigan and Nevada! Could she be the first woman president? I don't know. It's exciting to watch, for me, anyway. I don't know how anyone else feels, okay, I know how Mom, Lisa and Jana feel, but I'monna vote for her. :) Clinton for president. Again. *laughs*
And Bonnie, Xena is a perfectly wonderful hero. You go, girl! hehe. Love ya.
I Forgot...
A few weeks ago, we got snow.. I found these pics and thought I'd post them..
New Clothes
They decided they needed new clothes yesterday, so today Mom, Dips, Nick, the 3 girls and I loaded up into the van and we went and got them some. Mom bought them some beautiful outfits and so did we. I only took pics of the Hannah Montana outfits this evening, that's all they'd try on for us once we got home. Those were gifts from Dippy. I'll get pics of the things Mom got for them tomorrow to post. Thanks Mom, that was nice of you.
It was fun having you with us too.. your face was priceless when Dips dropped us off in front of Walmart and I got out and opened the door for you and the kids and Nick.. the lot of you just kept climbing out of the van, and you tried so hard to pull off getting out of it right in the front of Walmart with people watching, with dignity. *laughs!* I was just a little shocked when you cheerfully looked around and said, "We heard the savings were so good we brought a bus!"
I'm equally delighted to report here tonight, that we got Mom to go to Sonny's to eat dinner with us. Yes! Inside a sit down restaurant! That was an hilarious experience too, let me tell you - she ordered the ribs.. and the waitress said, "would you like the whole slab, or a half slab?" Mom shook her head no.. "No, a half a slab would be plenty..." But.. I interrupted her and said, "Oh no, they're not that big, bring her the whold slab..." Mom just started nodding, "Okay, yes, bring me the whole slab... " Then the waitress interrupted her and said, "They're really good, if you can't eat it all you can always take it home in a box..."
Dignity. It's Mom's thing. In all things, dignity comes first. Well, usually.
The waitress brought everyone's meal and saved bringing Mom's for last. Here she came a few minutes later, after Mom had already hit the salad bar.. *laughs* with this platter, not a plate, but a big oval, at least 16 inch platter with the biggest slab of ribs on it I ever saw! Surrounding the ribs was a huge mountain of french fries and a couple of big slices of Texas toast. I looked at Mom, her face went beet red, she said "dang, that's a lot of food, I don't think I can.." I interrupted her again.. "Sure you can, they're good!" She eyed me and quietly asked why I would let her order a meal that big and have it delivered to her right there in public like that. I tried not to laugh as I cut into my chopped steak, and I made it for as long as the waitress was at the table.
I ate my dinner glancing from time to time at Mom and she was busy on those ribs and the slab got smaller and smaller and the bone pile got bigger and bigger and I looked at Nick who had stopped eating his chicken to watch Mom make light work of those ribs, he was quietly rooting for her.. I knew he wanted to shout, "go.. Go.. GOOOOO!" And when she finished all but 2 of the ribs on the slab he just couldn't help himself, mesmerized he said sooo softly to her, "Go ahead, there's only 2 left, you can do it!"
And she did it!
When she was finished, she reached out for a drink of her pop, and wasn't watching - Stan was across from her - she picked up his glass and took a long draw from his straw, and when she tasted Root Beer (she can't abide Root Beer) she slammed the cup down and as if he were at fault because she drank his pop, she tried to stiffle a gag, "Stan, get your pop on your side, YUCK, oh God I'm going to be sick!"
She tried to clean it up, so Dips didn't think she was as grossed out because she'd just drank after him, by exclaiming she can't stand Root Beer (true but not entirely) - she doesn't drink after ANYone, much less a tobacco-chawin' son-in-law. So much for dignity. Not many stand a chance of being dignified around me and mine. I couldn't help it, I cracked up.. can't remember laughing that hard in a loooong time. Poor Mom. I'm sorry you drank after Dips, I'm sorry he dropped us off looking like illegal immigrants in front of the doors at Walmart, and I'm sorry I embarrassed you by talking you into that whole slab of ribs. *laughs* NOT! That was too funny, thanks Mom for going with us and for buying the girls some more school clothes. :)
I'm Fat.
Mallory let it slip. A commercial came on for some diet product or the other yesterday and Mallory said "Oh Mammy! You need that!"
I glanced at her and watched as she stammered and squirmed, afraid she'd hurt my feelings, and she said, "I don't mean that you're fat, I only mean that wherever you are things there get smaller. What I mean is that... s.. space that was big gets little-er when you go there. I'm saying that you're not fat, not at all, I mean when you stand someplace, where it was big, it isn't big anymore..."
I just blandly let her know that I understood what she meant.
You mean, I'm so HUGE that when I enter a room, there's no space for anyone or anything else. Right?
"No!! I mean that space is smaller...I mean that you aren't fat, it's just that places and spaces are just smaller, that's what I mean!"
I laughed out loud and she beamed, certain that I didn't know she was really saying that I'm beyond fat.
The little vampires know how to get into my locked bathroom. They use the holding end of a soup spoon and twist it into the little slit in the door knob and wahlah they're in there.
I was taking a bubble bath one day last week, suddenly they were all three blasting into the bathroom like gangsters - "Mammy, we KNEW you were taking a bubble bath, can we get in with you??"
I grabbed a towel, got out, and scolded them, "No, get out of here!"
Mallory drolly looked at the bubbles, then at Mikyla, then pointed to the water, saying, "Too late. She stood up and the water went away."
For my Uncle Don!!
Happy Belated Birthday!!
I'm sorry I didn't post it here earlier, forgive me, my only excuse is that I SUCK at remembering ANYthing lately.. but I love ya, hope you had a good birthday!
The Golden Rule
The principal of my old elementary school signed a book for me. He wrote, "You're a delightful young lady, blahblahblahbahdeblahblahblah. Etc...and he closed by saying, "Always remember to live by the Golden Rule and you will go far in life."
I remember furrowing my brows, I was maybe 8, 9 years old, and I wondered which rule that one was. I hadn't had any of the teachers make me write that one down 10 times, or do an essay on it. I figured teachers and apples went together.. and there were such things as golden delicious apples, I thought, so I was pretty sure it had something to do with not playing with, bruising, or otherwise destroying said apples. Or..maybe it had something to do with not scribbling or drawing in those "Little Golden Books" children's books. I made a mental note to ask someone the first chance I got, because, a worrier, even back then, how could I know if I was breaking it if I didn't know what it was... I sure as hell didn't need any rule breaking discipline there, my Mom worked there.
I got busy, as kids do, and time after time, forgot to ask someone, "Hey, what exactly is that Golden Rule that Mr. Mahan was going on about?" It'd come back to my mind from time to time but as time went on, I figured if I hadn't broken it thus far, it was likely I wouldn't break it any time soon, so I could stop worrying about it... and too, if I did break it, I'm sure someone would take me to task for it.
I went to many churches over the span of my life, but in all honesty, never once did any of the ministers or deacons, or any of the congregation ever nudge me and mention this "Golden Rule", much less explain it. I remember finding out what it was from, of all things, a television commercial.
Oh sure, Mom taught me to treat others like I wanted to be treated, but she didn't say it was the "Golden Rule" - I just thought that was her idea, like "Take those shoes off before you come in the house." and "Take your elbows off the table!"
In case you're interested, here's an online essay. How cool is the net?!
January 18, 2008
Okay...
I'm crass, coarse, and opinionated. At the risk of insulting mental health professionals everywhere, this has slithered into my own mentally slanted mind and must now manifest itself into a rant as usual, here on my journal.
How the hell do Mind Doctors know for sure when someone's cured of a mental disease? You can't do a blood test or take an xray, so how do you know when someone who isn't mentally stable is done being unstable and has reached a stable state? How do you know they're not just tricking you, or that whatever triggered the illness in the first place isn't waiting in one brain cell or another just waiting for the right synapse to bring it on again?
Consider this:
Aunt Kills Self, 2 Kids Walking Into Traffic
This article says that this woman had recieved treatment for mental illness, within the last year - but it was a brief isolated incident in her life.
The children's parents thought they were safe with her.
Love their hearts, that's horrible.
Now.. I'll forever be wary of someone who was only a little bit nuts and only once, just a while back.
I'm sorry. I told you I was crass.
SHE WAS A HELL OF A LOT NUTTIER THAN ANYONE KNEW, THE NEWS SITE SAYS THAT SHE TOOK OFF HER CLOTHES, THE KIDS CLOTHES AND WALKED THEM SPANG INTO TRAFFIC!
How the heck does someone with that much cheese sliding off their cracker come across as if nothing is wrong? My God some people are tricky. Tricky, tricky, tricky. Grrrrrrrrr!
Running on Empty - Jackson Brown
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-o-one
I dont know where Im running now, Im just running on
Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But Im running behind
Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I dont know when that road turned onto the road Im on
Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But Im running behind
Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I dont know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, thatll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I dont know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too
Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But Im running behind
Honey you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
Id love to stick around but Im running behind
You know I dont even know what Im hoping to find
Running into the sun but Im running behind
6 months ago today...
...the nightmare of losing Dad began.
I didn't realize before how absolutely horrible anniversaries can be.
Someone accused me of not liking males today and I just sit baffled about that. I'm grieving for one tonight so badly that I can hardly breathe.
It's true, there are alot of males I can't like. But then, there's just as many females I'm not too fond of either.
6 months. Dad, I miss you. You died the first time on the 18th and they brought you back. I miss you so much. Now, instead of the heat of summer, it's the icy cold of winter. This weather is much more appropriate for death. WHO THE HELL DIES SPANG IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER?
January 14, 2008
These Kids!
Joel and Tristan were here from just before 10 until a little after 3.. then Mik and Mal came in from school. They had a good day, got their progress reports and so far they've only missed 3 days of school, and zero tardys!! YAY, good job girls! Mal made straight S's, and Mik made S's and O's. I was tickled with the reports. :)
Maegan wanted Pizza Nut for dinner - I guess she had a taste for some - she asked about 20 times this evening. No, that's not a typo, she asked specifically for Pizza Nut, not Pizza Hut. lol.. that kid's getting too big too fast!
Mallory made me laugh tonight. I read her note from school, outlining her week, and I said oh, Cody has to bring treats on Friday. She looked at me so seriously and said, "Cody has a bad attitude." lol.. I guess that means she's not looking forward to Cody-treats. Wonder what he'll be bringing?
Mikyla's ears are all healed now, she had them pierced just before Christmas. Now she can wear my ear rings. She tried on a pair the other day, I gave her all I had in one jewelry box, but they were too heavy for her. She put her hoops back in that mom got for her.
We didn't hear from Sarah last night, or tonight, but then it's just 8:45 where she is now, maybe she'll call here in a while. Diane called last night to check on them. The girls made me laugh over that too, they didn't spend much time talking to her, because my leg went to sleep, I was walking a big circle in the den, trying to wake it up and Maegan made a game out of following me, so naturally Mik and Mal had to follow Maegan so that they were following me like a bunch of ducklings, giggling and laughing. They rushed Diane off the phone to do it. The rascals!
That's all I can think of tonight. I think I'll go to bed, and get a few hours extra sleep tonight so I don't feel all tired tomorrow.
G'nite world!
January 13, 2008
January 12, 2008
Written By Mallory.
I LOVE MY MAMMY SHE is sweet to me SHE IS A LITTLE CRAZY I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE MY MAMMY FROM MALLORY
I Am Legend
I forgot to say, but I saw it last week, I LOVED IT! If you get a chance watch it, Will Smith does a wonderful job! It's not too much like the old one, "The Omega Man" - but it's a really good movie!
Have any of you ever heard of the Sylvia Likens murder? The child was killed by the woman her parents paid to care for her during the summer while they were away with a carnival. The woman somehow talked her own children and neighborhood children into abusing and finally killing this child. Sylvia went through a summer of hell, and though I just finished reading 2 books about it, I never did get a real understanding of what the hell her twisted motive for doing that was. "The Girl Next Door" by Jack Ketchum is based on this murder. If you read it, get a box of tissues, it's horrible. This happened in the mid 60's. I sometimes think things happening today are shocking and horrible, that it can't possibly be as bad for violence as it's getting now, but reading this one, I guess our world has always had whacko's doing wicked things.
These Headlines Today..
It's crazy.
"Mom put Son in Oven as Punishment."
"Body of 1 of 4 Kids Thrown From Bridge Found."
"Stabbed Woman, 4 Kids Found Dead in Burning Home."
Social Services Knew...
This one involves a mom killing her 4 daughters back in September and they've just been found in their apartment in Washington.
Crazy.
January 11, 2008
In the old days...and in the new days...
Sarah would have done anything she could for anyone who needed help. Now, it seems she's having a hard time just helping herself. I worry about her. I guess I always will. She called this afternoon, sent some money for the girls..she sounded alright. She said they were heading into Louisiana to work today.
In the old days, Dad would have been at the supper table with us tonight. He and Lisa would have sat there shooting the shit about work, test results, other employees.. mom and I would have been rolling our eyes, laughing about private jokes... getting curious glances from Dad and Lisa from time to time. That was fun. The kids would have gotten on Dad's nerves while he would be sitting there pretending they weren't bothering him at all, not one bit...and we'd have laughed about that.
In the old days, Nick would have had 2 slices of cake, and wouldn't have looked so lost and forlorn as he was in my den tonight. He'd have been hounding Dad to hurry - that they had to get to the store to get their lottery tickets before it got too late.
Dippy would have been pacing, checking the fireplace, listening to the table talk, contributing now and then with the craziest things to make Dad laugh.
Tonight, I looked around at those at my table. The only real part of my life I can depend on, I can count on to be here, who've always been here. And so though Dad wasn't here to carry on with Lisa, I had to give thanks. And I do, from my heart.
This sounds like so much mind mush. I suppose only I can know what I'm trying to say.
In the old days, I used to believe pretty much anything told to me, at least a big portion of it. These days I nod and pretend I believe, all the while wondering when it came to pass that I became such a dumbass it was thought by some that I was gullable to believe just about anything. I like to think I've toughened up. I think I've shown one of the chronic liars in my life that I have. And I have. I will accept no more of it. Period.
Sometimes I sit here late at night when the house is quiet, and I wonder where my own little girls went. I wonder where these current little girls are going to be in 20 years - and will they be safe and happy. I know I can't dwell on that...that's for them to decide. But while they're here, while they're mine for a time - I'll see to it that they're safe, warm and happy, and very very loved. And they are.
Mom, Lisa, Nick, Dips - Thank you all. For everything. I love you.
In the old days, we didn't get wicked lightening and thunder storms in almost mid January. That was freaky tonight, but I have to say I did enjoy it.
I think Bonnie is upset with me. She and Kelly brought the boys last night, and after a while I got Tristan and I put a blanket down in the den on the floor, much like I did with the rest of them when they were Tristan's age. Then I just lay beside him, and talked to him and then just started picking at him when he started smiling at me, responding to me, and I'll be danged if I didn't coax his very first outright belly laugh out of him! His laugh! It's deep and gravelly! He laughed like I would expect an old man wearing nothing but a trench coat would sound like as he flashed some unsuspecting victim.. it was so comical. He did it twice for me, true deep laughter, all the way to his eyes.. when Bon and Kelly heard that here they came, boy, down on that floor, trying to get him to laugh for them. I eased up and back to my spot at the kitchen table to watch them, the goings-on, and Kelly said Tristan laughed for him twice too. I didn't hear it, but I know I wanted to belly laugh at their attempts, so it's pretty likely Tristan did too. *laughs* Bon, I'm sorry I got his first laugh.. NOT!!!
Well, enough of the old and new for another night. I'm going to bed. G'nite world!
January 08, 2008
Just This and That..
The girls are doing really well.. they've calmed back down, are minding again and now if I could get them to stop fighting it would ...feel like the Twilight Zone around here. Mallory made me laugh yesterday.. she kept instigating fights, every time I looked up she was either pushing Mikyla, punching her, pinching her or otherwise trying to start a fight. I put her in the time out chair 3 or 4 times, then while I was cooking dinner I glanced in the living room where they'd been dancing - just in time to see her push Mikyla back and almost knocked her down. Mal threw up her hands and went straight to the time out chair on her own without being told. I couldn't help it, it cracked me up.. like she was thinking, okay, I pushed her and it was worth time out! Lordy that kid.
Maegan is in a growing spurt.. she seems to have gotten 3 or 4 inches taller in the past week. She talks up a storm and carries conversations with me like a 6 year old would. She's so smart it's hard to believe she's just two. Pretty as a picture too, she looks like a walking talking baby doll. She came through the kitchen today and said, "Mammy, where's that purse I got for Cwis-mas." 2 years old!
Mikyla's got her hands full trying to find her own private space. It's hard for her because Mallory wants to imitate every move she makes, and Maegan follows her around like a faithful puppy dog. Sometimes she gets cross about it, but for the most part she's a good sport. Maegan calls her "Mommy-Mikyla" and Mik melts. Maegan gets her way and everybody's happy.. for 5 minutes or so, until Mallory invades Mik's space.
We've not heard from Sarah and Roy since they called on the 4th to let us know they made it there. Roy's mom called this afternoon, said she'd gotten ahold of them and that they're out of minutes on their prepaid cell phone but were supposed to be getting some today so they can call and check on the girls. In case you don't get to do that Sarah, and in case you get to read here instead.. they're just fine. Their biggest concern in life right now is that Zoe from Zoe 101 left on the Nickelodeon Movie, and might not come back.. now that has them worried!
Bonnie's taking some college courses and brought the boys to us for a couple of hours yesterday and today. She's pretty good about getting back here as fast as she can, she knows we pretty much have our hands full. It's not so bad when Mikyla and Mallory are in school, but still, Dips and I like to have some down time once in a while.. so it's all good. :)
I've got some more pictures that I haven't had time to post, maybe I'll get them up tonight. Lisa took some cute Christmas pics and gave them to me the other day, I need to go through them.
I haven't taken many myself this week, I've been lazy about that. I can't find the charger that goes to my new camera.. we've bought 2, had 1 and none of the three work. The camera fits, but won't charge on them. I am too ignorant to be able to figure out on the kodak help site which is supposed to work with my camera, but the two we bought were for Z series ezshare cameras (which I have) yet neither worked. Sooo if any of you out there can tell me precisely the charger to get, that will truly work, let me know, cuz I'm tired of buying the wrong ones! Mine's a Z712 IS Kodak EZShare.
Okay, time to get the girls in bed for school. Stay safe, stay warm, love you all!
G'nite!
January 04, 2008
Sarah and Roy M..
..went back to Mississippi yesterday. She called at 5 this evening to say that they'd just gotten there.
