It's All About The Biggest

and The Tiniest : )



Biggest called: She said, You don't love me!

What?

You write whole posts about Mid and Littlest all the time but you never say anything about me.

What? Yes I do, BUT just for Princess PITA...

Biggest is 37 weeks pregnant. She's ALL baby. We suggested she paint her stomach orange and draw a face on it for Halloween... she didn't like that idea. She looks beautiful. She isn't due till November 22cd but the doctor told her the baby was big and really could come at any time so she's convinced she's in labor about twice a week. Though I point out to her on a regular basis that she will KNOW a real contraction when she feels one, she still calls me every few days to ask about things she's feeling. She hasn't read many books to prepare her for having a baby because she says she has ME for that, and a lot of stuff in the books about things that go wrong scare her and make her worry. Despite the fact that I haven't been pregnant in 18 years, I try to remember as well as I can. She calls at least once a week to worry that there will be something wrong with the baby. I tell her, if there is, you will deal with it. But I'm sure everything is fine. Even though her parents torture her, because Biggest was standing by the sink and DecentGuy threw a chunk of ice in it and the loud noise seemed to startle the baby and make her jump around. So they did it again.....

 She has picked out a most adorable and lovely name and I'm relieved it isn't 'Tree' or 'Axe' or 'Bobette Marley.' In keeping with her lifestyle she has decorated the nursery with a 'Forest Friends' theme from Target.

 This is the Target ad, not the real room.



The real room is small and cozy and yellow and it's the sweetest. DecentGuy worked hard painting and putting in new flooring and bought wooden letters to spell her name and painted them to put  up over her crib. He's an excited future Daddy and we have (another) spoiled little girl in our future. They are as ready as they can possibly be.

Biggest is already thinking about good schools and what toys and tv shows are appropriate and savings accounts. She originally thought about starting an account for college but then decided to start one for the Great-She's Finally Big Enough to Enjoy It- trip to Disney World when the baby's old enough-after all she was conceived there- Then they will start a college savings.
She is busily going through her nesting stage, which is really something because she's already OCD about everything being in it's place. She's re-folded baby clothes a thousand times and everything looks perfect. She is going to be a terrific Mom because she already has an active Worry Button that came pre-installed and if the child so much as bats an eye she'll be standing over her watching like a hawk to figure out why and what she should do about it. She's going to be Fine. She's going to be a Fine Mama. And she's Finally going to drive me completely crazy ; )

So My Sunshine, I am very proud of you and excited too! And there will be plenty more posts in the future about you as a Mama. You are going to be Amazing : ) You know the music we played for you when you were little to help you sleep. You have your own copy now. Just Remember...

Except For The Part About Me
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for me, I'm going in for some restoration. I'll be heading to the highlands to sit on my rock and listen to the creek and see some colors besides green. Even though it's my favorite color, the eye and the soul need a change from time to time and it's been several years since I've been able to go in the fall. Plus I'll get to wear my sweaters and boots! I need it desperately right now. Even more so because I have a series of work projects as soon as I get back.
I told Biggest to quit trying to have that baby early and cross her legs, because if she goes into labor while I'm gone I'll never speak to her again.  The new definition of Never being, as soon as I can rush back and get ahold of my granddaughter. But hopefully the little Bug will keep cooking a little longer and come when she's supposed to, just in time for Thanksgiving. And I will be thankful indeed!



© 2013 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

It's Wednesday But I Refuse To Be Silent

HOLY FOUR WHEELS and A STEERING WHEEL! For the First Time Ever-

ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS HAS A FOR REAL DRIVERS LICENSE!

That's right. Yesterday Littlest took the test and received a regular drivers license despite the fact that she's only had a learners permit for 4 weeks. Apparently if you're over 18 you can do that. Her dad and my mother in law both threw her to the highway wolves and gave her a crash course-pardon the reference- in driving. And she passed. I am very proud of her. However, regardless of what the state says there is still no way in hell she's getting any where near My Car!...so I will still be chauffeuring..oh well...

Biggest called: She said, Do you know what DecentGuy said? I was complaining about my back hurting and he said his back hurt too, he'd been working all day. I said, you don't understand, this is bad. It really hurts. And He said, "I could wear a pillow under my shirt and it would be the same."

Oh yes he did. As far as I know he's still with us.

And Middlest called: She said: I had a doctor visit and they heard the heartbeat. They told her that was the earliest she'd ever picked up a heartbeat on the Doppler! She's somewhere around 7 weeks.
I guess she thought about it a lot because this morning she sent me a text.

Middlest Message:

Nothing like the horrifying thought of Oh God, what if they heard the heartbeat so early because there's actually two thus making it louder and I'm either having twins or a Timelord.

Let's hope for a Timelord shall we? Maybe he can chauffeur Biggest in his police box.

; )

© 2013 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

We Interrupt Our Previously Scheduled Post

Because I completely screwed up my back a week ago yesterday and have been laying around on heat/ice packs and getting adjusted and getting deep tissue massages and electrical stimulation and traction and I'm still screwed up but some stuff's been happening and I wanted to share. If you have little ones they might enjoy this.

First of all. Biggest has been changing shape all over the place and she walked in last week looking a little deformed. I felt a little freaked out and wasn't sure what to say but then she pulled these out of her bra.

Baby Squirrels. A lady brought them to her because their nest fell out of the tree. She tried to put it back up but after 24 hours their Mama was a no show so now Biggest is their Mama. She carries them around in her bra to keep them warm.
At least she's getting some extra practice on feeding something every two hours : )

 

 

 

 

Usually Littlest is not the one I have this problem with BUT, even though I distinctly remember uttering the words, "NO-put it out deep in the woods and it will be fine", I walked out on the porch and found an old Hamster cage with this on top.



 

Hi My name is Herbert. My front legs aren't working too well right now. But I'm just a baby.

 I am not vermin. Please don't hurt me. If I'm feeling better tomorrow I'll leave.

 

This Is NOT a baby Squirrel

 

It IS a Baby Wood RAT!

 

It had a sprained ankle apparently.

 It is Not Staying

anymore after today. Four days is plenty of time and he's getting around just fine.

 

 

 

Last of all, this is the great Birthday week marathon and I wish a Happy Birthday to Decent Guy, my brother; Anonymous Brother N, My sister; The Mighty Ms. K, my Dad in Heaven and most of all,

 

My Middlest is turning 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 My Dreamer.

My Child of Faith and Creativity

My Free Spirit

 

My Moonlight.

 

You don't need a Full Moon to Glow.

The Light Is Always Around You.

 

I am very proud of you sweetheart.

No matter how winding your journey and wherever it finally ends, I'm with you all the way.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

 

Love You : )

 

 

 

As for the meaningful posts I originally took time off over a month ago to dream up? Yeah. Still not happening, so anyway....

Now, I have to rest because I'm supposed to work next week but before I head back to my heating pad I'm going to attempt to sit here a little longer and visit a few blogs. But I admit I've finally given in and taken some drugs so if I visit you God knows what I will say to you ; )



© 2013 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

When Does Nothing Happen Around Here, Seriously?

I said I'd be back if anything happened, but July just sorta slipped away from me too. Not like  'a suntan oiled palm', as in my June post, exactly. More like a bottle rocket. But as July's go for me, it hasn't been all that bad.

I totally lost track of time but in the interim;

Littlest's was supposed to ship out August 19th, but none of her MOS's- (job choices)-had come up with an opening. So her ship date was moved back to-'we have no idea when'-but then...an opening just came up in Asian Pacific Linguistics (that's all I'm allowed to tell you) and if she gets chosen for it she will be leaving for boot camp...we have no idea when.  It's going to be a surprise.
Possibly with up to a few days notice-YAY...
But that's ok because she bought these boots.

Middlest decided not to join the Navy but fell in love with an Army Man instead and had a very romantic whirlwind two weeks with him before he was sent to Germany for a year. YAY...sorta..

I don't have a picture of that but it involves looking Mooney eyed,  and because of time zones, staying up till all hours, just to say 'have a nice day',  and life or death timing accuracy for her work breaks to say,  'goodnight.'


Biggest called this morning. She said: Tell me if I'm crazy. It feels like my stomach is thumping.

Hee Hee : ) Because....


She recently had an ultrasound and ..and..we're getting a GRANDGIRL! YAY!!

 

And that's her foot. BABY TOES! :-D

 

 

On another note. During a dinner conversation the other day the girls complained that though I had posts that mentioned everyone, they hardly ever had a post of their own. Down at the bottom of the page, Dears, my labels will tell you that Littlest (accused of getting the most) has 25 Posts. Middlest has 28. Biggest has 15. But when I began this blog you were already a grown up and you actually have 16. The hardest post I ever wrote was about you and it was so hard I couldn't leave it on this blog. I put it on the other one. And I don't want you to read it. However, Mid is grown up now and Lit is leaving, and you are pregnant. I'm sure you'll be catching right up.
OK?

Stay tuned. Coming up next,  I will have another fascinating pictorial concerning what I was doing when I 'wasn't doing this.' We'll take a peek in my bedside table. Riveting stuff I tell you-Riveting.

: )





© 2013 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

It Will be Just Like Christmas In June!

We are down to the wire folks and I couldn't be happier. When I walked out of my high school a million years ago it never occurred to me that I would be back. And I didn't look back. Then I had kids and quite honestly did everything in my power to keep my kids out of it. At least I started Biggest there and figured it would be okay until I yanked her out five months later and home schooled her. I then started preparing the younger girls for a magnet school to avoid it and was successful until their sophomore years when the School for the Arts became an unhappy stressful environment instead of a wonderful opportunity. So. There we were. Back at 'cool' school where the Alma mater are so pleased with themselves that they throw an "all year reunion" every year because we are such a special club.  It's difficult to escape because I suspect they put a chip in your diploma that prevents you from ever leaving this town. The reunion is always packed. I never attend because I might run into someone I went to school with ; ) Out of all my highschool years I do know a few souls who escaped. Two actually made it to Broadway, two are in a cult and the other five are dead.

It isn't a bad or dangerous school. It's a ridiculous school.
 And some how by next week I will be done with it. FINALLY.

 To the place where I smoked in the locker room and wrote poetry on the bathroom stalls and fell through a crack. The place where the SeaMonkey didn't show up if there were waves and nobody cared because it's possible the teachers were at the beach too. And if anyone was stoned it didn't matter because our math teacher was stoned too and would usually send someone out for donuts.
 The place that let my Honor Roll student oldest daughter fall, not just through a crack, but through a wide gaping hole to hell. The place that ignored the documented brilliance of my middle child and would not bend a pinkie to help figure out the best way to deal with her mind, that would not fit the box, and the best course to use her talents and let her fall through the rabbit hole.(Except for her Chemistry teacher-He Was Amazing-and home schooled his own kids) And finally the place where my very strong youngest straddled the crack, despite her hung over math teacher and apathetic guidance counselors that dismissed her from being of interest when they learned she was joining the military, instead of going to college- We will gloriously say goodbye.

How's it go?

No more conferences
No more expensive year books
No more PTA's dirty looks!

Pretty sure that's it  ; )

During the next week we have-senior award night-baccalaureate- and next Monday-
OUR VERY LAST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION!
And even more important-I Am Done With the PTA FOREVER! : )

Can I hear HALLELUIAH?

So I'm little extra busy this week. I'll be dropping by blogs whenever I have a free moment.

IN NEXT WEEKS ISSUE: Sappy Graduation Post For My Wonderful Littlest!
Stay Tuned : )



© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Sunday 12:13 PM

I came to my computer trying to think of a post but ended up spending half an hour going through photo's. Watching our family over the past few years. We will have a lot of changes this year but I know that some things will never change. Who we are always has it's inner core.

Littlest who spent her early teenage years hiding in a hoodie and keeping to herself except for occasional inappropriate comments or scathing insults on 'people', spent the weekend two weeks ago at a boot camp simulation, field day type event between different regional recruiting offices, with the the other delayed entry 'poolee's for the Marine Corps. She competed in the crunches category because she still had a cast on her arm but is looking forward to next time because she is capable of doing 7 pull ups and is her recruiting offices secret weapon. She has met some other poolees she likes and it gives her some friends to work out with. The following weekend her cast was off and she turned into a princess. Looking drop dead gorgeous, she went to the prom with her boyfriend and other high school friends and being discerning young people, they spent most of the evening in a side room, where a jazz band was playing instead of the fray in the main ballroom and apparently she Actually Danced.  Last night she went to a club with a bunch of people in the 25 to 40 year old range from her Jiu Jitsu class to watch some of their team mates MMA fighting. She wasn't competing but may have wished she was when a young man from a different school, who had seen her fight before, told her, "Pretty girls shouldn't join the Marines." Which drew from her the statement, "People are weird. I think I'll go back to being anti social."


Biggest has been being Biggest and is up and down with worry and fretting.  Her boss is Peruvian and Biggest told me the other day she asked her what she would do after the baby was born. She told Biggest, "You will come back to work? Your Mama will watch the baby for you. That is how everyone does it in Peru."

I said: Heh..ha ha...hahahahahahahhahha.

Biggest said: Yeah. That's what I told her.

I'm five months from being done. I love her and I'm excited but- oh hell no.

However, she has had her first ultra sound and though it's early yet, everything looks fine. She and Decent Guy told me they are pretty certain they are having a dinosaur.

And Middlest? Middlest will always be Middlest. No matter how old she grows. She didn't even flinch when Biggest said that she was picking Littlest to be God Mother, because if something happened and they left the baby to Mid she would set it down and wander off and forget where she put it. She had no argument for that. The other day I noticed she had been off of work for awhile and I hadn't heard from her. And even though she's going on 20 I still worry. So I sent my generic message: Where's You?

She replied: Sword Fighting

She then sent a photo of herself and a friend with PVC in a parking lot. I told her not to run with pipes. She replied with a picture of a hole in her forehead-captioned-Good Advice

I said, I know you well.

I'm actually very proud of her. She's started going to a different church on her own and is painting a mural for their youth room.I think she may be learning to just be Mid without other people doing the steering. And that is a very good thing.

So that's what we've been up to. Just being us. As it stands on a Sunday. at 12:13 PM

I missed the moon a bit but I think this is still appropriate : )

© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Did Someone Say Get Me Out Of Here?

My work schedule has been grueling and I was supposed to work through this weekend as well. BUT. That has been postponed. The Wonderful SeaMonkey surprised me the other day by saying that to celebrate our 27th! Anniversary he is taking me to my favorite place! For 5 Days! And the high will only be in the thirties for a couple of those days! There is a chance of snow flurries but he said he can't guarantee there will be snow. I said, That's fine as long as it's cold and I'm Not Here.

We have had a warm winter and summer is barreling down on me like a locomotive transporting coconut scented suntan lotion and inadequate deodorant. If you've been around long enough you know what that thought does to me. So for all of you currently stuck in frigid temperatures and buried in snow who are asking yourselves, Is this woman a lunatic?  The answer is Yes. Yes. I . Am.

And a very happy one.

As always I wanted to make sure you all knew I was leaving because I know that otherwise you would all be sitting at home worrying about where I was ; )
I'm in the mountains. ok?

have I ever mentioned that it snowed in Florida in March the day I got married? Of course I have : )
How appropriate.

In light of the Full Snow Moon, for the time being I will leave these questions behind;

Will Middlest behave herself like a mature young adult and stay home and take care of things? Or will she become intoxicated and allow total strangers into my home while we're gone?

Will Littlest call if Middlest misbehaves and disrupt my serenity? Or will she reprise a previous role and put Middlest in a headlock and lock her in a shed so she can't get away?

And last but not least will Biggest find anything more beautiful than this to share?


Moon Music Courtesy of Biggest.

I think not.

A translation in the YouTube comments says the words are these:
English lyrics: Don’t be disheartened Neria. God is with you. May your heart be strong , be strong. God is with you. Death is jealous. It separates those in love. Don’t be disheartened my sister. God is with you. Don’t be disheartened Neria. God is with you. Work hard Neria. God is with you. Neria. Neria, ooooh. Don’t be disheartened Neria. God is with you. Don’t be disheartened Neria. God is with you. Work hard Neria. God is with you.

I certainly hope so. Nah. I know : )



© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

The Guard

He's been guarding his family and his house for twelve years.

Standing sentinel where he has a full scale view to warn off unsavory characters riding bikes and of all things, walking other dogs past his establishment.

He was once formidable.

Head held high. Barrel chest proud. If he slipped the gate and decided to take a stroll  I was immediately besieged by calls from panicked neighbors letting me know the Guard was patrolling beyond his designated area.

What they never saw was him letting 'his kitties' rub all over him and lay with him. He still cleans them. Or him doing the Hokey Pokey with me. Because he really could.

He's getting scraggly. His fur thinning and patchy. His ears falling.

He is deaf as a post. You have to stand in front of him and use sign language to let him know it's time for dinner.

He is becoming senile and sometimes wanders around licking the floor...and occasionally the furniture.

His back end has become brittle and frail. Wobbly. His rear legs weaving precariously back and forth.  He rarely shows pain. He can still make the stairs. Just slowly. He still will give a good tussle a go with his little buddy. Who now outweighs him by 60 pounds. But he just plants his front legs firm and bites at the feet of the wildly jumping young dog bouncing around him. He never gives ground. He always wins.

But it's true that standing and sitting are short lived .
His spindly old legs can bear his weight only so long.

He gets tired.

But he never

Never.

Abandons his post.























© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Oh. That's Right. I Have a Blog.

Well. I've been taking an inadvertent blog break. And look, Geez, disappear for a few weeks and you lose a follower..or two. I can't really remember how many there were but anyway...I haven't been around. I haven't been busy either.  I haven't been working or traveling. Our projects all are starting tomorrow and I will be busy then. I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my back that made the thought of sitting at the computer akin to a monkey who'd been through shock research for behavior modification,  but mostly,  I think I just needed some time to be still and find my balance.
 Not completely still. I cooked and cleaned and did errands and painted a balcony. But mentally still. I didn't write, I barely read and I watched a little TV but otherwise, I floated. I think it's a good idea to sometimes just let the mind be at rest and tick in it's own way. Although I admit, when I do it the sort of thing that usually happens is waking up with Waltzing Maltilda stuck in my head. But I had balance. I was preparing to think of weighty issues. Like this stack of papers that need to be filled out and do not have to be, but will be signed.

You wouldn't think a small stack of papers would weigh that much but these do.
So now I'm trying to Balance the Weightiness with Stillness. It's been working out pretty good. Aren't most of our lives a balancing act of some kind? So I've been balancing. On one toe. In the middle of a tight rope. With a weight in one hand and a balloon in the another. Wearing a tutu and a tiara...ok not really..but that was fun..anyway.. We have been doing things.

My oldest sister, the Big D, called me the other day. She lives about an hour away. I haven't talked to her in about 4 years. She called wondering where my other sister, the Mighty Ms. K, was because her phone was disconnected. The Mighty Ms. K suddenly moved to another state and didn't tell her she was leaving.  But I think she's the one who gave the Big D my phone number so I might tell her where she is : )
The Big D said the Mighty Ms. K was crazy. I just laughed and said, I think we're all a little crazy.'
 She said, 'I'm not crazy!' I said ...ok.
   Now I'm just waiting until I get old enough to see if there is a genetic predisposition in my family   caused by my parents union that creates sudden onset midlife batshit crazy when we hit sixty or if it's just from the two of them being 13 months apart and sharing a room together while growing up.

My sweet Middlest needed a hug last night. I think she will always be my hugger. She asked me if she was weird. I was a little surprised because I thought that had been established long ago. I told her that yes, she was a little odd and awkward but not in a bad way. She said she was a dork. I told her that she was the most beautiful dork on the planet. She is also smart and talented so, so what if she's a dork? all of it is true She has been working hard and showing more responsibility. And 'not dating' her ex boyfriend who she hangs out with three or four times a week?...ok

Biggest called. On Monday she was going to volunteer for two weeks in Kenya. On Tuesday she was going to become an LPN and stay in Africa half a year. On Wednesday she was going to stay in a hostel in Rwanda....yesterday she called from the book store trying to decide between the King James bible, because she thought it would be more accurate or the NIV because it's easier to understand. She was looking for it to complement her research on Rastafarian's..ok..
I told her I had both kinds here so she bought a book about Martin Luther King Jr. instead to celebrate his day.

Littlest has been doing well. We had a lovely day on Friday. We headed out to the bookstore to see if they carried any in depth guides to military careers. It's a weighty decision and should be carefully researched. Within feet of the door we were met with a giant display of Doctor Who goodies and lost a good ten minutes looking through them until I noticed the Big Bang stuff on the other side and devoted another 7 or so to that, giggling and laughing and snorting through our noses at who we would like to give the various items to. But we had to get serious and moved further into the store and began the arduous task of reading hundreds of titles in the reference and business section. We couldn't find anything though we found some wonderful titles. Including, 'How To Survive the End of the World As We Know It.' We were on our way to another section to search some more when Littlest was distracted by this book: This Is Not My Hat. By John Klassen

 After knocking down an entire shelf of children's books and replacing them we stood in the store and read it and giggled. I Highly recommend it to anyone with small children. It's exactly the sort of thing I would have to bought for mine when they were little...which may not be a good recommendation come to think of it...but at least stand in the store and read it if you see it.

Anyway...we searched further for the serious book to help with weighty decisions but it could not be found. We had to give up. And though I successfully avoided allowing myself into the fiction section so we would make it home that day we did not leave empty handed. I bought

this magnet for the SeaMonkey (pardon the glare)

and this for the Littlest.




Sonic Screwdriver

She's been asking for a Sonic Screwdriver for ages. It makes a wondrous noise. So I said..ok.

and it resulted in screams of "MOM, why did you let her get that!" emanating from Middlests room.

But I wasn't really paying attention. I was trying to remember the words to Waltzing Matilda.

You see? Balance. : )

hmmm..it would be interesting to see how they get along with each other when they're in their sixties.


P.S. I love both my sisters. I really do.

P.S.S. I'm traveling after the 26th, so if I miss ya now I'll catch ya later : )

© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Boo..and stuff..

First Of All-  For everyone enduring the awful storm on the East Coast. I hope everyone comes through safely and with minimal damage. No one was expecting that kind of scary this week and we could do without it.  My Thoughts and Prayers Are With You!

In other news I'm getting ready for Halloween:

I bought the candy.

You just don't get what you pay for anymore.

 

Red ones? They make red ones?

 





 

 

 

 



As always I didn't have to pay alot of money for decorations because nature supplies them for me.
These spider webs are all over the outside of the house. They obviously are spooky and from another planet because whenever you try to photograph them they GLOW.

 

So I had to look for another source. This is what they look like:

One look at those when the trick or treaters approach and I might not need all that candy after all ; )

Spiny Backed Orb Weaver.

Photo courtesy of the University of Florida.

 

 

 



Speaking of scary things in Florida, I took on a nightmare for everyone and recently went to Miami for you. Now you never have to go there to see it for yourself.

 

Thanks aren't necessary. I do it because I care.

 

 

 



Because this is the year of last, I've been reminiscing about the old days. Right about now my sewing machine would be out-and so would the glue ; ). My dining room table would be covered with colorful fabrics being transformed into kimono's and gypsy skirts and princess frocks. Fairy wings sparkling with jewels and sequins. Glitter sprinkled wands or occasionally the makings for a swashbuckling lady pirate. A couple of times there were green felt tunics for Robin Hood or Peter Pan. And of course we had a few witches and the Hogwarts years. But now, they are grown. Does this stop the grounded girls? Of course not. They just do it themselves. And Littlest is now at my dining room table creating her own costume.

...on my dining room table...

She's going to be a Zombie Hunter. Her boyfriend is the Zombie.
She finally found a way to literally drag that poor boy around with a chain ; )

For the Last Halloween, Zombie Moon Music.

Be Safe Everyone!


© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

They'll Be Begging to Go to Their Rooms

And my kids think I'm too tough?

Sometimes: My kids think I'm mean. They think my rules aren't fair. They think I'm unreasonable.

I  think I'm too easy on them much of the time.

Perhaps they would be a little more appreciative if they had a different parent.

Like the one in Singapore who found my blog by Googling:

"I want to cane my daughter and cut off all her hair"

This was the actual link to the search.

15 Jun

09:19:58 AM

www.google.com.sg

i want to cane my daughter and cut her hair really short #6

They must have been very disappointed to find a Moon Music post about general goofiness and my daughters cutting their hair against My Will. The only canes I'll be using are the kind you walk with, when I'm old and a haircut is more likely to make ME cry than it will them. Can I understand what might have prompted this reaction from a parent? Yes actually. I can. I'm hoping they got it out of their system with that Google search and moved on to a better solution.

I feel like the most Awesome Parent in the planet right now. I'll be making sure mine know about it.

Next time your kids are in trouble and tell you you're "mean or unfair:"
 Feel Free To Share This Post.

That'll fix the little buggers ; )
© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

This....

My favorite bag boy turned 80 a few months ago. He may move at the speed of a gentle breeze but he's still moving. He has Parkinson's disease but has it pretty well under control, moving in short, slightly shuffling steps. He knows how I like my things bagged. He knows I don't like hot weather. When he's there we have a nice chat, particularly if he's working my favorite check out lady's register. I never make him take my things to the car. Few people do, except the very elderly ladies.  I keep it even by never letting anyone carry them out.  I never help him bag to move things along. I have plenty of time. It's an unspoken camaraderie among the regular patrons.  And they are watching.  The store was recently bought out. Several new faces showed up. There is a reason some lines are always full while others just get the stragglers.

One of the reasons I shop at my grocery store, instead of  "Bright Lights Big City Supermarket" where Middlest actually works,  is that I like the quirkiness of my store. The flower lady behind her counter intoning, "Thank you for shopping with us today", like the greeter at a haunted morgue attraction, complete with a strange little smile on her face. My favorite checkout lady, who knows what all my kids are up to. She's been around long enough to be a manager but she seems to prefer check out. Catching up with her regulars. Sometimes they put her on the 'under 10 items' register because everyone flocks to her line and the others are empty.  Sometimes I get the other bag boy, who was fired from BLBC Supermarket. He is an articulate and personable young man, extremely courteous and helpful and completely lacking any kind of filter between his brain and his mouth. The other day when I refused his offer of help to the car, my favorite checkout lady said in a pleading voice, Please let him! Get him away from me for a few minutes. : ) There is my second favorite checkout lady who has been there for 35 years and who I know personally enough to know that she used to think people were following her and watching her with cameras. She's in her fifties, She lives with her mother. She's very good at her job. Also the rather bumbling store manager,  who sometimes forgets to shave and often seems to be wandering the aisles aimlessly like he's lost. He always asks, "Are you finding everything alright?" I'm sometimes tempted to answer, Yes, have you found your way out of here yet? The other day in the snack aisle I overheard one employee approach another and quietly ask, "Have you seen the mail bag?"  "No, Why?" The first replied, "It had the payroll in it." As I traveled through the store the news and questions followed me in frantic whispers. Up front? In the back? Ask so & so. What about...? I sure hope they found it : ) They are under scrutiny. Everyone needs to be on their best game.

  I was very pleased last week when I arrived at the register and saw my favorite bag boy,  shuffling over as quick as he could to beat 'Filterless'. It has been several weeks since I saw him and I was afraid he might be ill or something had happened to him. I noticed he looked gaunt. He is not a 'little old man.' He has a full head of white hair and is over six feet tall with a large frame and only the slightest slope to his shoulders. This made the new thinness stand out, the skin on his face sagging, his large wrist bones protruding.  I was sure he must have been in the hospital. I knew he wasn't on a vacation. I remembered a few years ago when he tried to go off his very expensive Parkinson's medications. His Insurance doesn't cover all of it and he wanted to save money. Within weeks he degenerated to the point of being in a scooter chair and it was a couple of  months before he was straightened out enough to return to work. He lives alone. He's a Marine Corp veteran. He doesn't work there because he's bored and wants something to do. As he began pulling bags out I asked, "Where have you been?" I was floored when he answered, "They cut my hours back. I've only been getting about six a week...and they want you to check it on the computer now...I used to be able to call in and find out my schedule....now it's all on the Internet"...his voice trailed off.

I see.

My favorite bag boy cannot afford the Internet not to mention a computer to find out when he's supposed to work. He can't afford to work fewer hours. He hasn't lost so much weight because he's  been sick. And This.....is scary. This makes me feel angry and powerless. This..is wrong..

UPDATE: I was very touched by the outpouring of concern this post inspired.  I wanted to let everyone know that my general busybody-ness and butting into other peoples business, did lead me to find out that though the situation isn't perfect,  it's under control.  It's still wrong, but for the time being things will be OK. In sweeter news-my bag boy has a new girlfriend- she's adorable!


© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Yeah. And Don't Forget My LifeAlert Pendant.

or,
To Quote Shel Silverstein

"I tripped on my shoelace, and I fell up."

Over the past thirty years I have injured my ankle:

Falling down on roller skates.
Falling down steps (2 whole steps)
Walking down a mountain.

and...now...

On Tuesday I was sitting cross legged on the ground and as I proceeded to gracefully rise UPWARD in one fluid motion from the ground....something went terribly wrong.

I tried to ignore it but by Wednesday it became apparent that...

 This great fall from a distance of approximately 1 foot off  the ground had resulted in:

Sprained Right Ankle

and

                                                    Strained/Twisted Left Knee


Further aftermath of this curious incident has been a peculiar behavior pattern in Middlest and Littlest:

Telling their mother to go sit down and relax and quit doing stuff.

I actually heard this as I was slowly sneaking down the stairs.

"Is she up again?!"

"YES!"

"Mom! Go Lay Down!"

I could get used to this.

Oh. And Biggest called. She asked if they should start saving up for my Hoveround.


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I had to sneak off to write this post. Next time I make a break for it I'll visit blogs.



© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

Wildflower Wednesday

She is wild. Strong and firm in her growth. And her convictions. She spreads out and owns the space about her. Rising high and golden as the sun lording over all at her feet. Earthy.Warm.Vibrant.

She is free. She cannot be contained. She will spread with the wind in all directions.  An arresting spark of vivid beauty standing out on her own. Flourishing wherever she lands. And in whatever she chooses. Wistful. Dreamy. Bright.

She is enduring. Resistant to interference she will grow her own way. And go her own way. Petite but vigorous. She lies unassuming and catches by surprise. A tiny burst of jewel like splendor. Steadfast. Rich. Deep.



I may nurture. I may cherish. But in the end wildflowers cannot be contained.
They will conquer the world with stubbornness.
No grand roses, shrinking violets or delicate orchids here.
No wallflowers either ; ) That's the kind of garden I grow .    .



© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

What Is It About These Shoes?

It all started with the Go Go boots. Or maybe with the 'bee bops', as my mom called them. The saddle shoes I wore when I was little and that I really loved . But I have to say the first real yearning was the new white Go Go boots the sisters across the street were wearing when I was in third grade. I begged. I pleaded. I got some. My life was complete. This desire was addictive by the time I was fourteen and wore my mother down until she agreed to the black satin sandals with the six inch heel and gold ankle chain that I wore to the Christmas party Where. She. Worked. as a finishing touch to the skin tight royal blue sweater dress. Poor Mom. As the years passed I became a shoe connoisseur. I quickly grew in knowledge and taste and abandoned the hookerish for very expensive beautifully made shoes and as the eighties approached developed a penchant for the funky. My shoe store of choice at this time was Wild Pair where I also found my wonderful bright red ballet flats that laced to the knee as  well as my beloved camouflage high top converse and really bitchin scrunched ankle boots. But I  still had a deep appreciation for quality and owned a pair of outrageously expensive Italian white leather pumps  made for dancing, even though I don't dance. They were smooth as butter reminiscing for a moment. A friend spent the night and borrowed them the next morning when my brother was trying to flirt with her and asked her to go for a ride and they decided to take a walk through a construction site and she tramped around in the mud in them and I have never forgiven either of them....anyway...

As my life changed so did my shoes. As a young mom I toned it down a bit. Both in style and budget but never stopped longing for and loving wonderful shoes. I know I'm not the only blogger who loves shoes. I have seen the posts. I find myself in a quandary about a shoe decision and need some advice. I never thought I would see this day but it seems my judgment is slipping. Could someone help me out?

Be Honest. Why do these shoes make me feel like the worlds biggest dork?

I was looking for something casual and comfortable (bad sign already, I know) that were a little nicer than tennis shoes.   Now deck shoes have never really been my thing but when I saw those shoes I wanted them. I thought they were cute and looked comfortable and tried them on. Perfect! But now I have a problem.  No offence to anyone else who is wearing these shoes. If I saw you in them I would compliment you and tell you I like them. But when I put them on and look in the mirror...
I See My Mothers Shoes. And it freaks me out and I take them off.

Please tell me...

Are they old lady shoes? Am I turning into an old lady?

Is my judgement off? Now last year I recognized that the indigo blue suede short cuffed ankle boots with the six inch stiletto were not for me even though I could imagine the outfit they belonged with and tried them on along with both Littlest and Middlest because they were the most awesome thing on the planet and I will never forget them, but I'm starting to wonder if I can trust my instincts.  I saw these and I bought them too. I eyed them for a long time because I had a suspicion they were actually slippers because the sole is basically straw but they were in the shoe section and I also suspected they might be teenager shoes. That suspicion was confirmed when Littlest saw them and said, "I am Borrowing those shoes!" Uh Oh. Am I too old for these shoes?

Because I am perfectly comfortable wearing them. I like how they look. They have as much support as notebook paper and probably are responsible for 2/3 of my back pain but I don't care. I'm obviously wearing them to shreds
Does that make me young at heart or a silly old woman? I really don't know.
Or is Littlest turning into an old woman? Hmmm...possible..maybe...

Hey, I still have pretty decent ankles though, for an old lady. Wanna see my surgery scar from my roller skating injury when I was 17? You can click to blow it up and really see it well!  I've blown that bugger out three times but it's never been as good as the first. Not even when I busted it coming down a mountain.

Yeah. Good times.

Don't even ask how I had to contort myself to get that picture. Why am I here again? Anyway....
So seriously, about the first pair. I put them on and took them off at least five times and then threw them in the closet where they've been since September.

Could someone please tell me, what is it about those shoes? Why do I hate them more (on me) every time I see them? What the heck is an age appropriate shoe for someone in their mid forties? Is there such a thing as an appropriate shoe for middle age?  How much do you think I could get for them on eBay?

Should I do a blog contest and give them away as prize? I could call it Walk In My Shoes. Everyone can write a post about where they would go in those shoes. PTA meeting? Miniature Golf? Bingo?

...maybe someday. For now just tell me: Where would you wear those shoes? I can't really ship them to you but best answer wins a photo of them to hang on your fridge ; )

Deep stuff this week I know.

Believe it or not I'm in the middle of a full time project right now. If I don't reply to you right away don't despair. I'm in my work shoes........
© 2011 All Rights Reserved

21st. Century? Grab Our Canes.

Do you know how they say that there comes a time when roles are reversed? When children become adults and parents return to childhood. Well I guess it's here. I just wasn't expecting it so soon.

The SeaMonkey has been resisting progress and still using a simple old flip phone. Not only that but, to the deep frustration of the girls,  for years he has staunchly refused to Text message. Would not do it under any circumstances.  As the owner of a business he finally realized it would be more professional to get with it. Calling the girls or his mom several times a day and hoping they were home to check his email when we are traveling and then dictating his responses was becoming a little too uncertain. Not to mention, if I told you what industry we are in you would say, "Are you kidding? ", which is what the guy at the phone store said when the SeaMonkey told him his occupation and that this was his first smart phone .

Anyway...Needless to say he was like a little kid at Christmas last night. He was so inspired by his new toy that he actually decided to Text Message! I heard him giggling downstairs and my phone chimed to reveal, I Love You : ). But that wasn't enough, he couldn't wait to surprise the girls and immediately sent a text to Middlest:

OMG! I'm texting.

To which he received a prompt reply:

OMG! I'm working.

Yeah. Any day now they will be whispering behind our backs and going silent when we walk in the room. Putting their arms around us and being understanding and suggesting that driving might be a little much for us these days with the car keys being lost in the freezer behind a Pink Floyd CD and that piece of baloney being found in our music collection.


© 2012 All Rights Reserved by MOTPG

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Peace and Joy...

Tuesday 7:38 PM

Earlier this evening The SeaMonkey was visiting Biggest. He had a meeting set up with Decent Guy who has a fresh shrimp connection and had made a deal for 40 lbs.

Anyway...he had just walked in the door when Biggest called....She said....
Da Droov ahh wi maaa caaa  on hes ruuuf anwahh Sobb sobb  ...Decen guuyyy follwwahhh hiimmm buh Da whaa wasn payiinnn attteennnttiiooonn annn sheee juuummmppppeeed an III cannnn finnnn herrrr  iiii  waaas weeeowww whaaaa...

Which translated was:
Dad drove off with my cat on his roof and Decent Guy followed him but dad wasn't paying attention and she jumped off and I can't find her. It was Willow!

Decent Guy was following flashing his lights and honking and there was a cat on the roof and The SeaMonkey noticed None of This. Now he's devastated and feels horrible.

But not as horrible as me because in the middle of all this I walked in the family room and found a half eaten decomposing squirrel laying in the middle of the carpet.

A little treat the dog found in the yard and snuck past the door without us noticing.  

I'm so glad we don't allow the hustle and bustle of the holidays to distract us from the little everyday things that make life worthwhile.


© 2011 All Rights Reserved

Time Capsule

Back in October I decided to chance the deep dark depths of the closet under the stairs. I took some pictures while I was doing it and in keeping with the system by which I created my time capsule I'm just getting around to organizing this into a post. If this is the first time you are visiting my blog let me recap that my daughters are 24, 18 and 16 years old. We moved into this house when they were 2,4 and 10. At that time there was only one thing in the closet and it's still there. This was a very emotional experience. I am sentimental and so are my daughters. I have tried to do this before and they prevented me so I finally waited till they were not here and dove in. The SeaMonkey has been complaining and threatening to throw it all away for years.

Let's start with what I would find when I opened the door. Don't ask why there are blinding blue walls with big white splotches all over them. It was a family project. That's all. See that pile of stuff to the left? Middlest left these things when she moved in with Biggest-in September-and back in- last month- and has been asked to move them to the shed or back in her room.

Want to know where they are now? Just a second, let me turn around.

That's right. In my office.

So anyway. Beyond the norm like luggage and sleeping bags,

 I find more of my most recent child to reach adulthood.

Mid practices painting using old cardboard to save money so I had a whole lot of cardboard

 and also canvas in there.

More Mid. wth? Seriously.

This is a box of stuff left from when my mom lived with us in 2007

 and it's all junk but I didn't want to deal with it at the time.

Then a little further back to when Biggest moved out.

 This is a really nice pair of handmade cowboy boots that she says she has no place to wear. She admired a pair a regular customer was wearing when she was about 18 and working at a sandwich shop. The next week they brought her a pair.

 Because that kind of stuff happens to Biggest.

I put them in Mids room.

Ah, and then I hit the dress up bag. Oh boy. The mommy hormones started to hit about that time but I persevered. The doll is gone. The costumes? Ok yeah, They're still there.

Are you kidding Ms. G.?

GONE!

This is Ouchy.

Ouchy belongs to Littlest. There is not much of her stuff in there because there is yet another big closet upstairs and it is still full. But Ouchy?

Ouchy stays.

This was one of my dads hats. He died 11 years ago.

This? Oh yes! This IS a totally Awesome purse from  the 80's.

What do you mean? Where do You THINK it is? : )

Mm Hmm. Doesn't fit a single toilet in the house. But! You never know.

 Then we hit another clean the kids rooms out session. Thomas the train, cars and a naked Barbie.

I was going to dispose of these. Guess who saw them in the trash pile and asked me to put them back? The Seamonkey. Mr. "Just throw it all out." Mm hmm.

 And whales. Of course there where whales. And there still are.

Pooh and boxing gloves. The story of my children in one photo.

Yes. That is exactly what it looks like.

Feel feel to use the photo to confound the children on family trivia game night.

Alright. Sometimes being a pack rat is very cool. No these have not been under the stairs since World War II ended.

 But they had been under there so long I forgot I owned them.

Do you know what all this is?

Neither do I, so I just put it back in the box and left it under there.

Back a few more years to Pooh.

 And Grumpy

At the very back a box of Biggest. The first one. Softball trophies and Birthday Barbie.

You know those stayed too.

Last of all was our crib comforter. My parents bought it for us when I was pregnant with Biggest. Yes. It stays.

All in all I sorted thru 7 large bags of stuffed animals to be donated or disposed of.

There are two left. (One entirely filled with whales). I was troubled by the lack of apes and when questioned by Biggest realized she doesn't have them either. The monkeys have escaped!

God help us if we don't find them somewhere. You should have seen her face.

I also threw away a few boxes of junk and am proud to say you can now walk five feet into the closet. Or at least you could until The Seamonkey said, "Look at all that space"and put his stuff in it.

But while it was empty I saw something I haven't seen in many years. At the very back the closet takes a left turn and reduces to three feet high. Just the right size for a young child to sit and play Barbies in the Barbie house their mother contorted herself to create and stenciled and hand painted the walls of. There are actually six rooms but my knees didn't allow me to stay in there long.

I still refuse to concede that, as my children claim, "they are screwed up because I kept them in a closet under the stairs when they were little. "

Ingrates.

I even let all three of them paint the clouds all over that blue sky.

And no, this will never be repainted as long as I live.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to pieces of the past? Or are you a ruthless clutter killer?

© 2011 All Rights Reserved