quick update

I have been busy. Since I last posted, I have continued working full time and teaching religion classes one day a week. I have maintained my position as chief dog-hugger and vet-payer, as well as wife, mom, and grandma. I have done very little else.

My grandson, on the other hand, has not only made the a/b honor roll at his school but has also been Baptized, received his First Communion and been Confirmed. His dad came up for these events, which pleased all of us who love the boy, but none more than the boy himself.

So, belated Happy Easter, belated Happy Mother's Day, Happy Anniversary to me and my husband, and I think I'll throw in a presumptive Happy Memorial Day and Happy Father's Day just in case.

Happy St. Patty's

What's Irish and left on the lawn all summer?











Paddy O'Furniture!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Y'all!

Another Proud Moment (Can you guess who it's about?)

There are moments in every child’s life when a parent, or a grandparent, can glimpse the adult that the child will become. I watch my grandson grow up, moment by moment, and I am blessed in this. He has a good heart, this boy, although, as his doctor says, he is a very normal 9 year old little boy.

Last year, when Maggie May had to be destroyed, he was a man.

Today, he was also a man, in a much less heartbreaking way.

In our church, during the Offertory, while the collection is being taken, the smaller children take their donations up to the altar themselves. They place their money in the basket and then Father hands them a little sermonette, mostly I think to keep them occupied during the Consecration. This has always been one of Moose’s favorite parts of Mass.

We were talking last week, he and I, about getting older and the duties and responsibilities this entails. He is currently in Sacraments class and will be making his Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation the first week of May. I told him that after he made his Sacraments, he would no longer be a small child but would be an adult member of the Church.

I am never quite sure if he listens to me when I speak or if, in his mind, I sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. You know, like this:



Then, this morning, when the Offertory came along, Moose’s mom handed him her collection money and whispered to him that she didn’t have any little money for him to take up. We usually give him a dollar. I overheard and fished a dollar out of my pocket and handed it to him. He handed it back to me and said, “No thanks, Grandma”. He stayed in his seat and, as the man of his family, put the donation in the basket.

He made me cry, he did. I only hope that most of the tears he causes me are as grateful and happy and proud as these were.

Abby's Mall

I love words. My daughter loves words. Her son loves words. We are also all sarcastic sons of guns and take great delight in other folks’ faux pas.


One of our local newscasters, several months ago, mentioned a HOOGE range fire. I love me a HOOGE anything and a new family favorite word was stolen. We had HOOGE problems, HOOGE fun, and HOOGE hips (trust me, these are genetic). We thought HOOGE was pretty much the hugest thing going.


Wrong.


I was watching the local news a couple of weeks ago and they were discussing the situation at the county jail in the neighboring state. There have been several escapes recently, deputies fired for selling contraband, and other various and sundry problems. The newscaster said the situation was pretty much just Abby’s Mall.


Abby’s Mall? Oh yeah, abysmal.


I love Abby’s Mall. Now whenever anything odd strikes my fancy, like when we saw the donation jar for the lady with kidney problems who is dying and wants help with her funral (sic) expenses, I just open a new store in Abby’s Mall.


Retail may be suffering in this country right now but, trust me, Abby’s Mall is healthy and thriving.

No more excuses

* Blogging without obligation

After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone’s blog starting with “I’m sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.” Tartix decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it. I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation.
*If you feel the same way feel free to grab the logo, make a logo or whatever you would like to do!
*Because you shouldn’t have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.
*Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.
*Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.
*Because sometimes less is more.
*Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.
*Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.
*Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be “bloggable”.
*Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won’t be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time.

This idea was copied from Willowtree who copied it from tartix.com simply to speed up the page load, it’s all her idea (I’m not trying to make it look like it’s mine.)

Fun Monday - Read a Good Book Lately?

This week's Fun Monday is hosted by Angela at AOJ&the Lurchers. Her assignment? This: So for Fun Monday on 2nd February, firstly tell me what book you are reading now. What's it about? Are you enjoying it and why? If not, why not?And secondly, if you were to be stranded on a desert island, what one book would you take with you.

I am currently reading (actually, I just started this last night) On Account of Conspicuous Women by Dawn Shamp.

I picked this book strictly for it's title. I fear that I am becoming a conspicuous woman. When I am not fearing conspicuosity, I am relishing it. I will let y'all know how I like this book after I finish it. So far, about two chapters in, I am delighting in well-written prose.

As for what book I would take with me to that desert island, I know the PC answer is the Bible. Sorry. I would take with me

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

I could, and do, reread this book often. I first picked it up strictly by happenstance when my husband and I were still driving truck. I started reading it to myself and, by page 100, had decided it was too good to keep to myself. I read, aloud, all 4 volumes of the Outlander series that were then in print to my husband. We have since read the other 2, also. There were times when we were supposed to trade duties and I was supposed to drive and he was supposed to sleep when I just kept reading. We read and cried and laughed together and could not wait for another chance to read more. So, on that island, I could not only relive Jamie and Claire's love story but my own.

Remember When

I was browsing earlier this evening and ran across this post at AFF. I will have to admit that I have never heard of this cartoon. When I saw, on her post, the letters "J E M" I thought of "To Kill a Mockingbird". I did start thinking though about the things that make me remember and this song immediately came to mind.





I love how songs will take me back. Songs take me back to good times and to bad times and to those times (and people) that I still remember fondly. Different songs for different folks, you know? I still have songs that can bring me to tears instantly which is why I play them when I need a good cry and just can't get one started. I have songs that make me sing along aloud in public. I have songs that make me nostalgic and songs that make me thankful to have survived. I just love the soundtrack of my life.