tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77738401860739238592024-03-12T20:03:51.022-05:00Thriving In The ChaosHere's a small corner where I share bits and pieces of my life, internal and external frustrations, joys and ramblings that float to the surface of my days.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-86418265492706727482011-07-10T22:51:00.000-05:002011-07-10T22:51:13.699-05:00I'm in Transit! Moving!<em><span style="color: blue;">Like my sister Kelly, I'm on the move to a new blog home at Wordpress. My new </span></em><a href="http://www.thrivinginthechaos.wordpress.com/"><em><span style="color: blue;">blog</span></em></a><em><span style="color: blue;"> is a work in progress and I'm not fully unpacked and arranged. Almost as time-consuming as a non-virtual move!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Blogger is great, but, I like mixing things up, so I'm trying out a new home. This will probably be my last NEW post in this home, so I hope you'll add my new address to your favs or feeds:</span></em><br />
<a href="http://www.thrivinginthechaos.wordpress.com/"><em><span style="color: blue;">Thriving in the Chaos!</span></em></a><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Come on over and visit, but excuse the disarray!</span></em> Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-25704683864822269252011-06-19T15:55:00.000-05:002011-06-19T15:55:11.827-05:00The Dog Days of Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfSFEscZL4i34oQoHpWDlevFVGYB6jl8gkPwiYF9ld6slgn_z9lteEsv_dnLugFfD6n1y6vXUjUB7WafPAI4SFpFqHmjJea1GOgpVZC1q32yiF-ezLMcYtFScN56euwcD0eQkMwS6zI4/s1600/The+Boys+of+Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfSFEscZL4i34oQoHpWDlevFVGYB6jl8gkPwiYF9ld6slgn_z9lteEsv_dnLugFfD6n1y6vXUjUB7WafPAI4SFpFqHmjJea1GOgpVZC1q32yiF-ezLMcYtFScN56euwcD0eQkMwS6zI4/s320/The+Boys+of+Summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">It's HOT! That about sums it up in my neck of the woods!! The dog days of Summer are in full force. Speaking of dog days, I thought I'd share a few photos of the pack chilling in the backyard. I use the term "chilling" loosely.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka6OT6WXMHn8y7PZTkgl9q8VJrD_YjcXyMnHGCeK7OBgXdUvuBoYXprQOXZdRfmrSJzvLlzQApPnF48Zd0ykVa12mYYC6Cd3nRszUeieChZw3RPvE1ZLTW9WiTTL4BOG0jKJ69LcBkgI/s1600/Hot+Time+in+the+Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka6OT6WXMHn8y7PZTkgl9q8VJrD_YjcXyMnHGCeK7OBgXdUvuBoYXprQOXZdRfmrSJzvLlzQApPnF48Zd0ykVa12mYYC6Cd3nRszUeieChZw3RPvE1ZLTW9WiTTL4BOG0jKJ69LcBkgI/s320/Hot+Time+in+the+Summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Smokey loves to sun.....but...this is almost torture!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnUNjlwY_VAF2RFBxC2G3Id-VvZTKtF8I0fSpWpoTTy3AODGbFOXrxqqq_rP9NCLNh2MzKOCo0LquM4V-5Y2nICF-FFttdEvf3RebJVuOVlPNsbGb3qN3vIHqxgV3MTMOYc7eaboUt60/s1600/It+Bit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnUNjlwY_VAF2RFBxC2G3Id-VvZTKtF8I0fSpWpoTTy3AODGbFOXrxqqq_rP9NCLNh2MzKOCo0LquM4V-5Y2nICF-FFttdEvf3RebJVuOVlPNsbGb3qN3vIHqxgV3MTMOYc7eaboUt60/s320/It+Bit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Mac says it's never too hot to chase those annoying squirrels!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oK8kRQwCLBq3b9GbSXS1qXbNo1cS-J_lCVnDcROJ6gHzMlFe_8tSHPG4VBcwPFY7uhwHcP9QizpagUBVTpUfvmf7Gq3xDl8CnsC1i2mNOJ65SqJVDDj_9sb2BvNMsrFGVzuFfr8UfHs/s1600/Summer+Spank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0oK8kRQwCLBq3b9GbSXS1qXbNo1cS-J_lCVnDcROJ6gHzMlFe_8tSHPG4VBcwPFY7uhwHcP9QizpagUBVTpUfvmf7Gq3xDl8CnsC1i2mNOJ65SqJVDDj_9sb2BvNMsrFGVzuFfr8UfHs/s320/Summer+Spank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">And here's my little poser. He has limited tolerance for the heat....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ23Zs5k1GULD9_DfaHrqDGQ45yLQfI58d27YzbSqUGHexOutuO9t7jCdUmkmEmiOibr2-7kLwefsJ3Cq-1-n6AAIA1roxLS2geJ6Ik9MdCQmf-ctHA8cpq19BeQ5AxxrovMr5VBPhSA/s1600/Sweet+Summer+Spanky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ23Zs5k1GULD9_DfaHrqDGQ45yLQfI58d27YzbSqUGHexOutuO9t7jCdUmkmEmiOibr2-7kLwefsJ3Cq-1-n6AAIA1roxLS2geJ6Ik9MdCQmf-ctHA8cpq19BeQ5AxxrovMr5VBPhSA/s320/Sweet+Summer+Spanky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Unless there's a bone to chew, that is...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLUud-UmGyEvr9bKjFHGoVNEUXzbSY0gWRfKJjQRj0q22PQ-a6QVRz8bTo6SjFAi2xl7wwj4CXhfKSiodtfyDpGH-ZcdnDkuR86IbRfTQQFTJkEwfIvAFZ8uASTo0LAa8rQ7b2Pe3ecU/s1600/Summer+Mo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLUud-UmGyEvr9bKjFHGoVNEUXzbSY0gWRfKJjQRj0q22PQ-a6QVRz8bTo6SjFAi2xl7wwj4CXhfKSiodtfyDpGH-ZcdnDkuR86IbRfTQQFTJkEwfIvAFZ8uASTo0LAa8rQ7b2Pe3ecU/s320/Summer+Mo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Can we go in now?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">As for the rest of us.... Trish has a new job that looks really fun and promising. Connor, morphing into typical teenage behavior, rarely ventures out if his room except to eat, swim (once) and visit a friend.. Sam is opting for indoor activities during this triple-digit heat bubble. We took a few cute photos of the 5th grade Luau that marks the end of elementary school at Wyatt.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__8DKr6TQ_zIs6AlCMaYraVDZ2CJXoHnggNjO7Te0Nuig6IH9GozIZd3KwvpJFLzs7QFHWPXS6RaURo_BjHywn3NdjNN_op7_UPlP1Nr1vfRL7BgI9xu5NSnYndk662CcMMdCel9czcs/s1600/Luau+Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__8DKr6TQ_zIs6AlCMaYraVDZ2CJXoHnggNjO7Te0Nuig6IH9GozIZd3KwvpJFLzs7QFHWPXS6RaURo_BjHywn3NdjNN_op7_UPlP1Nr1vfRL7BgI9xu5NSnYndk662CcMMdCel9czcs/s320/Luau+Sam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfSv6qAC-rY_JrdyffvAhEUDApiN9f6J91hTjwnP5FEXpDcsik9_xB6ZEmfIlWVLnGO4SDv8XsjTQ0CbrIqOwL0IC8ealCCn2nDFem-Q2fbbnefILe2428_Yl-MZOxFuiwm-FSypiJ_w/s1600/End+of+elementary+school+Luau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfSv6qAC-rY_JrdyffvAhEUDApiN9f6J91hTjwnP5FEXpDcsik9_xB6ZEmfIlWVLnGO4SDv8XsjTQ0CbrIqOwL0IC8ealCCn2nDFem-Q2fbbnefILe2428_Yl-MZOxFuiwm-FSypiJ_w/s200/End+of+elementary+school+Luau.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIQb3nTqgLnAllzdjL7RUIauDaAjKgvNfHqzkjVWstnGuBDfnVFccfy_e7-j3QRJD3veZFP48IanHV6smhTfBcn80agDiW2sXdsTx7ArJhxnKM3A-Hn0p7jBAGTTdsGfYzYzHudNgiw/s1600/Mega+Hula+Hoopster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIQb3nTqgLnAllzdjL7RUIauDaAjKgvNfHqzkjVWstnGuBDfnVFccfy_e7-j3QRJD3veZFP48IanHV6smhTfBcn80agDiW2sXdsTx7ArJhxnKM3A-Hn0p7jBAGTTdsGfYzYzHudNgiw/s200/Mega+Hula+Hoopster.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52CSU8Agxi6nbPUZI_BZECf7D7YndX8ShbqLG_nCrFkw_CNrFHYXs9p5FXEGAXBLKvK1HV9FAh0FR2HbFmhST2VM-Ly_r77GhUnAHipvztUsEu4H7n14LgBXgYTYJfJMPGRRwdnt_g1o/s1600/A+little+limbo+action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52CSU8Agxi6nbPUZI_BZECf7D7YndX8ShbqLG_nCrFkw_CNrFHYXs9p5FXEGAXBLKvK1HV9FAh0FR2HbFmhST2VM-Ly_r77GhUnAHipvztUsEu4H7n14LgBXgYTYJfJMPGRRwdnt_g1o/s320/A+little+limbo+action.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Limbo, Hula Hoops and Snow Cones ushered him out of elementary school and into Summer. Me, I'm catching up on things I haven't had time for during the school year, and beginning to mark things off my Summer To-Do List</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-1768286383374278132011-06-03T08:11:00.002-05:002011-06-03T08:15:51.537-05:00Goodbye Elementary School!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBQsbONMbOU9mHeA8k1F994ZL6GelNn5LYjhDHk15374jo3zcEYAGmU8CRxcIwv5QuSJWofNqyrn3xSAYz9qzag8c4oH6KmyK0qIHhANDVT576mJ-4nLA0lF9wzkIPrUeFGGYM2t8EnA/s1600/Goodbye+elementary+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBQsbONMbOU9mHeA8k1F994ZL6GelNn5LYjhDHk15374jo3zcEYAGmU8CRxcIwv5QuSJWofNqyrn3xSAYz9qzag8c4oH6KmyK0qIHhANDVT576mJ-4nLA0lF9wzkIPrUeFGGYM2t8EnA/s400/Goodbye+elementary+school.jpg" t8="true" width="302" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">How time does fly! Last night Sam graduated from 5th grade. The soon-to-be middle schooler was so nervous he dropped and crushed his glasses pre-lineup and survived the ceremonies half-blind. I hate to say it but the broken glasses probably enabled him to not pass out from anxiety while on the stage. He rocked!</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXglokpB55LKU5mh7NT3Un2RSY1BDutlay48CpZLYC-2ujv4zX_xbAIoX9TwJ_iAQFSJNTsO_AxrjQXUbC_NZlf02I5A7DjMg7KejaN22KCc0a7I8LCHpDNwwb8u8y0SEQrzd60YWx8pg/s1600/Graduation+jitters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXglokpB55LKU5mh7NT3Un2RSY1BDutlay48CpZLYC-2ujv4zX_xbAIoX9TwJ_iAQFSJNTsO_AxrjQXUbC_NZlf02I5A7DjMg7KejaN22KCc0a7I8LCHpDNwwb8u8y0SEQrzd60YWx8pg/s400/Graduation+jitters.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">This fall he will join Connor at middle school, and the only elementary schooler left will be moi as substitute teacher. That's my niche so I'm being held back.....forever! :) </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">We're very proud of Sam. He had a much better school experience this year and is actually looking forward to next year. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Sunday afternoon Bryan graduates from high school in San Antonio. I'm very proud of him, also. I hate missing the chance to see him as he walks across the stage, but the timing made it too difficult for me to get down and back for the last day of school here. Monday is our 'snow day'. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Congratulations to both my graduates! I'm a very proud grandma</span></em>! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrWfTI58EzixzOOTtXX1NSc2z9kOwjC4zVSP_UaZrpm_qNZn8hMqiJ7WkHO3ErTWaPF3wjoj5Z0yigLccuM6SKMvDP0hUeJ6OKL9z7SpT0PKCRDktP_489gjLE52VTCuD5E-jCYNyxp4/s1600/Bryan+grad+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrWfTI58EzixzOOTtXX1NSc2z9kOwjC4zVSP_UaZrpm_qNZn8hMqiJ7WkHO3ErTWaPF3wjoj5Z0yigLccuM6SKMvDP0hUeJ6OKL9z7SpT0PKCRDktP_489gjLE52VTCuD5E-jCYNyxp4/s400/Bryan+grad+3.jpg" t8="true" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpntAAkBtj-s1PEZDzVYYmpHiH8fuxWyKL6ID6o3MJShRZzGkMCtiWP67YqnDzf4TcaDx4pc_-n0NfMK5yJSGJeMpviM58bSlrck1SfVKedQ3SK3q0mGwASdPtNIyHMEKQSHmJmxG0xU/s1600/Handsome+Grad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpntAAkBtj-s1PEZDzVYYmpHiH8fuxWyKL6ID6o3MJShRZzGkMCtiWP67YqnDzf4TcaDx4pc_-n0NfMK5yJSGJeMpviM58bSlrck1SfVKedQ3SK3q0mGwASdPtNIyHMEKQSHmJmxG0xU/s400/Handsome+Grad.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjDo62dysF-U0L1eFJldUXu3Vgjx1T6EG6yqCsBo04CxTauDlYbgrH50R6KMjxtArJ7XHY6b9qhtj3c-5glCG3Ey3M_Ic3HfsOqyFNvr3ye6GsehM3CF82PZhX-j7lqcMLhQB-WrFcdQ/s1600/High+school+grad+Bry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjDo62dysF-U0L1eFJldUXu3Vgjx1T6EG6yqCsBo04CxTauDlYbgrH50R6KMjxtArJ7XHY6b9qhtj3c-5glCG3Ey3M_Ic3HfsOqyFNvr3ye6GsehM3CF82PZhX-j7lqcMLhQB-WrFcdQ/s400/High+school+grad+Bry.jpg" t8="true" width="143" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-84661047208401945302011-05-06T22:16:00.002-05:002011-05-06T22:20:52.403-05:00How quickly they Grow! <img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG128DuGsEVskrG6bIXDx60Te9nyu27XX14xwTBl6pYt4OsUuf7WaG0DJUpMbZQ4eeYD__w-bPaQwThZOae20xQhuwB6G9A4lGxsSrzwBsGlK9TcNmNshyphenhyphenLPKMn766rouPbNzKICXGw_o/s640/Connor+Spring+2011+2.jpg" width="412" /> <br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I got the boys' Spring school photos this week and I'm struck with how much they've grown and matured this past year. I suppose that since Connor turned 13 last November I shouldn't be surprised that with puberty has come maturity and changes. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sam is beginning to show signs of a burgeoning maturity, in some ways, also. With the help of therapy and the right medication we are seeing longer stretches of the sweet boy that he is, at heart. Kind, loving, bright and truly funny, it makes me smile and warms my heart to see these signs that the 'old' Sam is still there and coming to the surface. It's been a long, challenging, frustrating and often frightening couple of years with him emotionally and medically speaking. His anxiety and his severe ADHD are co-existing with less anger,aggression and volatility. There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. I see it every day now in that sweet smile. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a few weeks Sam graduates from 5th grade. The elementary school days will be behind us. Sam will join Connor in middle school this fall and there will be new challenges to meet. I'm ready for summer. It's going to be a somewhat bittersweet time. My oldest grandson Bryan graduates from high school, Connor will enter his last year of middle school this fall and Sam is about to graduate from elementary school. Time marches on, as it should; but, I can still see the sweet babies that they were ....only yesterday.</span></em><br />
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</div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-77549338571284031782011-05-01T13:45:00.001-05:002011-05-01T13:46:35.095-05:00Picnic Pasta<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJpL8yQsTMDw5xaVTpJ3y88Egp7JKMphAEbpK2gMOUNxmdnqUD59IBQ3TJ6mTOBsxV2r1tir8SaXElqHv2kR1hJ7bHdWaU9rwDOEl6R5hBsgYmpek70IMH916jv4mVCbSqGjKJBOKuTM/s1600/100_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJpL8yQsTMDw5xaVTpJ3y88Egp7JKMphAEbpK2gMOUNxmdnqUD59IBQ3TJ6mTOBsxV2r1tir8SaXElqHv2kR1hJ7bHdWaU9rwDOEl6R5hBsgYmpek70IMH916jv4mVCbSqGjKJBOKuTM/s400/100_0476.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Recipes and cooking are more my sister Kelly's purview than mine. My daughter Trish is also a fan of cooking and trying new recipes. Last week, however, I saw the title recipe in the Dallas News and it sounded like a winner to my taste buds. </span></em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>It did not disappoint. In fact, Trish made it for the second time this morning before she left for work. I'm sharing it because it's not only yummy, but also easy and not too shabby on the health charts.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Picnic Pasta</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 cups assorted grape and cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered, depending on size</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely minced</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3/4 cup red onion, peeled and chopped very fine</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">12 large basil leaves, washed, dried and finely chopped (about 1/3 cup when chopped)</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano leaves</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 1/2 finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2/3 cup olive oil</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Juice from 1/2 lemon, strained</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 pound bowtie or fusilli pasta</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1 1/2 to 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (optional) We love it both with and without!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Place the tomatoes, garlic, onion, herbs, SALT, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice in a large bowl. Stir to combine (may be left at room temperature for several hours before combining with pasta). </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Boil the pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain the cooked pasta and combine it with the tomato mixture. The salad may be prepared to this point several hours before serving and kept at room temperature, loosely covered. When ready to serve, toss with feta and chicken, if using. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Serves 6</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Note: It's important to chop the onion very fine and to mince the garlic so that they integrate or meld with the other flavors.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>It's great! I just finished a serving for lunch an hour ago.</em></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-86191766138229002322011-04-23T13:38:00.001-05:002011-04-23T13:55:24.662-05:00You've Come a LONG way, baby!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBVdDv169KMrBfArtJSOAMdPMNpjz3TdvsaonPGk_scajCx_31QV2PnwPi21MuD0QZ3oJnhvxik7YlgX_U_uZa6TkTuu-qiuvsFxNYufZDma8m6dE6VpUW4iuXkzVcFtOphFHwfOfgU0/s1600/Trish+and+Connor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBVdDv169KMrBfArtJSOAMdPMNpjz3TdvsaonPGk_scajCx_31QV2PnwPi21MuD0QZ3oJnhvxik7YlgX_U_uZa6TkTuu-qiuvsFxNYufZDma8m6dE6VpUW4iuXkzVcFtOphFHwfOfgU0/s320/Trish+and+Connor.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Wednesday evening Connor was inducted into the Junior National Honor Society at Rice Middle School. Only a year ago we would have never imagined this event for him. Due to his having Pediatric Bipolar Disorder and High Functioning Autism he has been, for 4 years, in a BSU (Behavioral Structured Unit) in the elementary and now middle school he attends. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>The school setting has never been a comfort zone for this child (excuse me...YOUNG MAN) as he was easily frustrated and such an outsider when it came to his peers. It wasn't until he was in about 4th grade that the developmental differences (due to his Autism) really made us realize how significant the gap between Connor and his peers really was. Social Skills are still an uncomfortable and difficult landscape for him to navigate. Progress in this realm is still in the baby-step stage. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Over this past summer Connor began to mature and grow. As he hit the magic teenage milestone his voice had changed and puberty began to set in. He's taller than both his mom and me. And, he began to blossom academically in spite of himself. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>His teachers (our heroes!) gently moved him into several "out" classes, and there will be more next year. Suddenly, the boy that hated school and had no motivation to even be in the classroom setting began to actually care about his grades and become more frustrated when he didn't make the grade he wanted than when he had to 'work'. He is now able to do homework without major meltdowns (for the most part) and he has discovered (surprise, surprise) he likes much of what he's learning. School is no longer a battle ground. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>There are still struggles, and he's by no means ready to be tossed into the general education arena totally or without safety nets and life preservers. Perhaps that day will come. Right now he's stable and it's the Autism quirks that give him the most trouble. Most of his moodiness is more the puberty bugaboo than bipolar related. This is major progress.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>So, what a proud family we were when we watched him be recognized for his academic achievements this week! It's been a long and difficult struggle to reach this milestone in his academic and personal life. We're looking forward to the coming challenges and progress as he continues to navigate the remainder of his academic years.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Congratulations Connor Reeves!! We love you and we're beaming with pride!</em></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-90094373953181110672011-02-04T10:11:00.001-06:002011-02-04T10:17:05.416-06:00Snow Dreams Realized!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavzHWchyoF2XQt55WDfkL5_OY20IvM95ExZ-YYbO3U9Fmxore7XySaRnEeqOBceuQ-fBD_8UGsQe3VAe-PiuKTa0kgo4902g7qKWLj2yxFaa6ylsNNxkiQNyzAlp90Vilslt3ZwzoCDA/s1600/Love+to+eat+snow+and+chase+the+birds%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavzHWchyoF2XQt55WDfkL5_OY20IvM95ExZ-YYbO3U9Fmxore7XySaRnEeqOBceuQ-fBD_8UGsQe3VAe-PiuKTa0kgo4902g7qKWLj2yxFaa6ylsNNxkiQNyzAlp90Vilslt3ZwzoCDA/s320/Love+to+eat+snow+and+chase+the+birds%2521%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">OK, this is an amazing turn of events! My snow dreams have come to pass! This morning I woke to a winter wonderland!</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tuesday brought a major sleet storm and deep freeze to my little corner of the world. Monday was the first and last day of school of this week. The ice virtually closed down the area. As the temp. stayed in the teens and low 20s the ice stood its ground, didn't budge. Last night the forecast called for a light dusting of snow here to top the ice. And then......</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>This morning I woke to a winter wonderland!! It is simply unreal! The world around me is white and fluffy and absolutely beautiful!! Yes, it's also treacherous, since beneath the fluffy white is a dangerous layer of stubborn ice. Slip, sliding is the name of the game. Spanky loved the ice and loves the snow! I can't keep him inside. Every few minutes he barks at the patio door wanting out to romp, eat snow, play with the ice and pester the birds at the feeders. He races around the yard like a crazy dog!!! He's fun to watch!</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>This is not good news for Jerry's World and the impending Super Bowl and related activities. The natives are restless and a bit stir crazy with cabin fever. It's been PJ days most of the week since we're unable to get out and about.....beyond the front or back yard that is. </em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq539t0t9l_hjy1mEcdyWEspKCNpIcNl5hQZjNLbZHNy9UJFjJx5eNPsLY50_A49mGs_6ccPBzq4kyLtU_tmbvYgF1uEuZIhkO3cyVnl7ksLqhC5Emn5ACgANSQka8UxkD1pGOpGuFNU/s1600/Feeders+full+of....snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq539t0t9l_hjy1mEcdyWEspKCNpIcNl5hQZjNLbZHNy9UJFjJx5eNPsLY50_A49mGs_6ccPBzq4kyLtU_tmbvYgF1uEuZIhkO3cyVnl7ksLqhC5Emn5ACgANSQka8UxkD1pGOpGuFNU/s320/Feeders+full+of....snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>Tomorrow the temp will climb beyond the freezing mark and the thaw should begin. Meanwhile, I'm loving this realization of my fondest dreams. I'm locked in a beautiful winter wonderland!</em></strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq539t0t9l_hjy1mEcdyWEspKCNpIcNl5hQZjNLbZHNy9UJFjJx5eNPsLY50_A49mGs_6ccPBzq4kyLtU_tmbvYgF1uEuZIhkO3cyVnl7ksLqhC5Emn5ACgANSQka8UxkD1pGOpGuFNU/s1600/Feeders+full+of....snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq539t0t9l_hjy1mEcdyWEspKCNpIcNl5hQZjNLbZHNy9UJFjJx5eNPsLY50_A49mGs_6ccPBzq4kyLtU_tmbvYgF1uEuZIhkO3cyVnl7ksLqhC5Emn5ACgANSQka8UxkD1pGOpGuFNU/s320/Feeders+full+of....snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21sxzo5NXGGbndRG3s4o3jyWDbeJRa9eGAA0FDYdA17brI2DRU7czrrPjSAXT_CMpXQKOwox1qbcgau0P8zKG_grJ6nQpCVsbLHYyKHhOlGyuQDEuonA71eozjlTatcC_0MKNboLHDPw/s1600/Look+at+me%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21sxzo5NXGGbndRG3s4o3jyWDbeJRa9eGAA0FDYdA17brI2DRU7czrrPjSAXT_CMpXQKOwox1qbcgau0P8zKG_grJ6nQpCVsbLHYyKHhOlGyuQDEuonA71eozjlTatcC_0MKNboLHDPw/s320/Look+at+me%2521%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>And here he is wanting me to come out and play with him. Look as this face! The caption for this photo is "Look at ME!!"</em></strong></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-76422680959422712762010-12-26T18:41:00.000-06:002010-12-26T18:41:03.617-06:00All was Bright!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOjCGELcxY8Ak54O3fVaN5WUMB5-Ta0eoufqHs5gt_gOq3pgiMe7syaHtnEvJX-GYvjjdW5lzyly8jj1zGDK-Q8MWESRyytINKqGpnqDQZBpHVNekJp5iz6nTwyndXSwIZBVdjbUILQM/s1600/Christmas+2010+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOjCGELcxY8Ak54O3fVaN5WUMB5-Ta0eoufqHs5gt_gOq3pgiMe7syaHtnEvJX-GYvjjdW5lzyly8jj1zGDK-Q8MWESRyytINKqGpnqDQZBpHVNekJp5iz6nTwyndXSwIZBVdjbUILQM/s320/Christmas+2010+2.JPG" width="308" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Christmas was full of good cheer this year. With our boys, one can never predict whether gifts will be a boon or a bust. We nailed it this year! Happiness ruled the day! We began early, as in off and on from about midnight on..... I could hear Trish herding them back into their rooms from time to time with cries of "too early!!" </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>By 6 AM the excitement could no longer be contained and the usual Christmas morning chaos began. By 8 AM the gamers were in full force with new Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360 games. Sam wanted and got an entire arsenal of Nerf weapons, several of which were as big as he is!! Foan bullets were flying. It was fun and the fights, for once, were few and far between. </em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Later in the afternoon I visited with my brother and his wife at my niece's home. This was a nice finish to a wonderful Christmas Day!</em></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaBrsE_IT44mQJu5MWvF7BAYLGoQbSQ_ZxRP4f2HH4jOE5xl4E5Xb7DFI34larqn-xwr6SlFzno2DwjutE0OcXeggvhuQySMtiRvHxZDdvM7fiNbsDj_Se1vcn7WTezr5VdXDLk31lCA/s1600/Sam+Christmas+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaBrsE_IT44mQJu5MWvF7BAYLGoQbSQ_ZxRP4f2HH4jOE5xl4E5Xb7DFI34larqn-xwr6SlFzno2DwjutE0OcXeggvhuQySMtiRvHxZDdvM7fiNbsDj_Se1vcn7WTezr5VdXDLk31lCA/s320/Sam+Christmas+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30oQCKXgWf0Lq3fJ7W53kCbbAbcsb4ho9JWvv2lecHM6OImQvqOoaak9KYaj9-JTiBY7OkfQ_dB52mKPb2AAF10O7SXiNSG8zyBGPbjMc0HebhtYsa_ROmlUtfZZ6n3KmAIW4SAHJmy8/s1600/Connor+Christmas+2010+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30oQCKXgWf0Lq3fJ7W53kCbbAbcsb4ho9JWvv2lecHM6OImQvqOoaak9KYaj9-JTiBY7OkfQ_dB52mKPb2AAF10O7SXiNSG8zyBGPbjMc0HebhtYsa_ROmlUtfZZ6n3KmAIW4SAHJmy8/s200/Connor+Christmas+2010+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zWvCvRTKOntUhBOqQPa_3uweaDO82yfPiKtTUw18_GRpfT5XqX3PGePbL-AvG162gYjB5yT71UUaXu7SI9qjK8FIVr7oXZKeFOJTf8nfgO3JZansPvjrVFn9t4PBCwpw3_SY63LHGTs/s1600/Christmas+2010+Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2zWvCvRTKOntUhBOqQPa_3uweaDO82yfPiKtTUw18_GRpfT5XqX3PGePbL-AvG162gYjB5yT71UUaXu7SI9qjK8FIVr7oXZKeFOJTf8nfgO3JZansPvjrVFn9t4PBCwpw3_SY63LHGTs/s200/Christmas+2010+Sam.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Smiles were the light of the day!!!!</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqly1CgLRIKuUwguMnhKA5ip2HlScd77lAlgpgeMqEY9KqATih1VETLTFXI5q5NGYdQ7rH2URwo9iWfX-JgpA-l0KiU6GugpWUuvsf-CfnimmZdobByEmqzQcUE2V_nCQvRIPw_Y4LTJU/s1600/Christmas+2010+Mac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqly1CgLRIKuUwguMnhKA5ip2HlScd77lAlgpgeMqEY9KqATih1VETLTFXI5q5NGYdQ7rH2URwo9iWfX-JgpA-l0KiU6GugpWUuvsf-CfnimmZdobByEmqzQcUE2V_nCQvRIPw_Y4LTJU/s200/Christmas+2010+Mac.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzp23vx8jwaXK4Ff2bKVofATkkOpIJLxalcRkLK4BHfZvXm4u4qwnactDRLEGjFmWvc0y_kaplDAA8pRIpaOKwfPbyAI2CGHjcGm4yzrwmFgy31m_AUjzbK8smymdk9LByeIUkQM8OVqw/s1600/Christmas+2010+Smokey+and+Spanky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzp23vx8jwaXK4Ff2bKVofATkkOpIJLxalcRkLK4BHfZvXm4u4qwnactDRLEGjFmWvc0y_kaplDAA8pRIpaOKwfPbyAI2CGHjcGm4yzrwmFgy31m_AUjzbK8smymdk9LByeIUkQM8OVqw/s320/Christmas+2010+Smokey+and+Spanky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Santa Paws paid a visit to the pups, much to their delight!</em></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02-qCOf7bEl5dQ936rU0mYtL8EciugHjGnMeYjfs1cVPkv6W-B436QbKfdGQp7tITV2sFC4fazR7xef2PJT9mfWGV3Slx5vcBGQpxU57a8iGJ8tHcHgMQXtqumwnaiqlL408HwtdlsLw/s1600/The+Boys+Christmas+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02-qCOf7bEl5dQ936rU0mYtL8EciugHjGnMeYjfs1cVPkv6W-B436QbKfdGQp7tITV2sFC4fazR7xef2PJT9mfWGV3Slx5vcBGQpxU57a8iGJ8tHcHgMQXtqumwnaiqlL408HwtdlsLw/s320/The+Boys+Christmas+2010.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2XYerW_nKzs_pj92EII_DpyIhdcffFQ0KENSPG4cQSYvhLWeFMamu8RjEwTktqr0Z4uE0JU7GYL1-53wNfUGiS7Y3wiIqF1IVRWUeloCIliShiYHaNCzwsbgDuz14bEyh8kCv9yRI0Q/s1600/Nestled+all+snug+in+his+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2XYerW_nKzs_pj92EII_DpyIhdcffFQ0KENSPG4cQSYvhLWeFMamu8RjEwTktqr0Z4uE0JU7GYL1-53wNfUGiS7Y3wiIqF1IVRWUeloCIliShiYHaNCzwsbgDuz14bEyh8kCv9yRI0Q/s320/Nestled+all+snug+in+his+bed.jpg" width="303" /></a></div> <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em> It was a very good Christmas!</em></span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-35570639583301896812010-12-24T21:21:00.000-06:002010-12-24T21:21:42.155-06:00The Stockings are hung<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hBXaD1cdw4MNn-R1Gd2DwBGEgtSRIexYkIKQHC8gnPWAh9iXkdenn4t5BxI1uI9uLjzwWWsmwIpVNySu7fUbfoYItzgimsz7CVlErCA_4WBAaVF8KmP8Y1YZ22d4kBHoPelY681BrAc/s1600/Night+before+Christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hBXaD1cdw4MNn-R1Gd2DwBGEgtSRIexYkIKQHC8gnPWAh9iXkdenn4t5BxI1uI9uLjzwWWsmwIpVNySu7fUbfoYItzgimsz7CVlErCA_4WBAaVF8KmP8Y1YZ22d4kBHoPelY681BrAc/s320/Night+before+Christmas.JPG" width="299" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">Yes, the stockings are hung, the kids are asleep, then awake, then back to sleep.... Trish and I could be up for quite awhile. Last year the boys were up at 3 AM..... I predict that sleep will be scarce this Christmas Eve.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">The boys are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve. It's one of our traditions that, frankly, makes Christmas Eve less stressful for those of us who have to endure their whining and boredom all day. Trish worked until 5; Connor played his video game and Sam and I went to Christmas Eve service at 3. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">The weather was frightful, I must say. We had a cold rain all day and into the evening. We needed the rain, but I'm dreaming of last Christmas when we had a delightful WHITE Christmas! Those who know me know how I do love snow and how I loved last winter when we had a most unusually snowy winter. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">La Nina has cursed me this year, I'm afraid. Last week we had an 85 degree day that smashed records. I was NOT happy! At least it's cold for Christmas, although the forecast calls for at least one 70-something day as the year draws to a close.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">I think Santa is going to make a couple of little boys (not so little) happy tomorrow. Actually, Connor has the Santa thing figured out, while Sam does, too......kinda.... He desperately wants to believe. So, I told him that he can definitely believe. I said that I will always believe since Santa is the spirit of Christmas, of giving. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">So, believing.... in the meaning of Christmas and the spirit of Christmas is what it's all about.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">Happy Birthday Jesus, and Merry Christmas Eve to all my friends and family!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">This Jolly Old Elf has miles to go before she sleeps.....</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-43048683817494491862010-11-14T19:58:00.001-06:002010-11-14T19:59:25.087-06:00And so begin the Teenage years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhfg-i8yWr2G6VEqsyvJDDtWnOpMOIzBPMyeUMR9ZJBrAHJa5DmrvXKs4rzmbtxA_6RXoAhsVoUVyuxhVMiRL7VJRmoI9rSsFACPFbN85EZymFS1qzKne7sNBwIyZEO7oKSa_Bz4Gn9w/s1600/New+Teenager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhfg-i8yWr2G6VEqsyvJDDtWnOpMOIzBPMyeUMR9ZJBrAHJa5DmrvXKs4rzmbtxA_6RXoAhsVoUVyuxhVMiRL7VJRmoI9rSsFACPFbN85EZymFS1qzKne7sNBwIyZEO7oKSa_Bz4Gn9w/s320/New+Teenager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em><strong><span style="color: blue;">We have a teenager under our roof as of this past Monday. Things will never be the same. Connor turned 13, and he is quick to remind us that he is now a teenager. Puberty, however, began to creep in over the summer, so we were more or less prepared, I guess.</span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">The now healing black eye on the new teenager is the result of he and his brother (who has a knot on his forehead) jumping on a neighborhood kid's trampoline with more than one kid on at a time. Sam's foot smashed into Connor's head and Connor's whatever caught Sam in the forehead. Both boys had been prohibited from jumping on said trampoline due to an earlier incident that resulted in injury. Must have slipped their memories,.....</span></strong></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjRd1g0_pLl-RR8tTAZSDBxAoUJPfPEwI54LkeM1xucuI8_IkB-qVz3e5SPZsy19XvQHWHa02uqDfZy56ZVMQyYYpYsljBS13OWxIUetWrGMOd4qAnIUwltPNRHYnweVOUO9SzBEamZM/s1600/Teenage+dream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjRd1g0_pLl-RR8tTAZSDBxAoUJPfPEwI54LkeM1xucuI8_IkB-qVz3e5SPZsy19XvQHWHa02uqDfZy56ZVMQyYYpYsljBS13OWxIUetWrGMOd4qAnIUwltPNRHYnweVOUO9SzBEamZM/s320/Teenage+dream.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">Our new teenager has been awfully grumpy as of late. I'm not sure if this is due to the new state of being or just the usual ups and downs of kid who is often unstable. Probably both. Oh joy.</span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">I have a feeling that this kid is going to be a bit harder to contain in the little bubble he's lived in all of his life due to being bipolar and Autistic. He's never had much interest in venturing out into the world of peers or even, very often, the neighborhood. Times they are a changing....</span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">This year he joined his first after-school club and went to his first party since kindergarten. These were milestones that we were thrilled about. However, this is a child who we can't lose sight of in Wal-mart since he wanders off to follow whatever catches his attention at the moment. The coming years will be fraught with new and, for his mom and me, uneasy concerns. </span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">But, for now, we are getting used to the newly evolved teen who is grumpy and sleeps most of the weekend. In so many ways he's just a typical newly- minted teen. Come to think of it, the teenage years are an emotional roller coaster ride that Connor is already familiar with. He's been riding an emotional roller coaster most of his life. This might just be old hat to him.</span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: blue;">Yep, the birthday boy is growing up. His voice is deeper and he's taller than his grandma. It seems like only yesterday he was a little fella flying around the house in his Spider-Man costume.</span></strong></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlto0bA7JR_uTtfb8qc8UrNTbz3Ex3z8LrtcPZtxNy3R3_K4pL7xHsO6ycrbZmYItwgVa_t-pNZxlPZ2sKnjHq1-28B_N25fz6bOPXiG78AQtFXiCKQNEt54chawOUBH1-xjiH1NPj1M/s1600/connor+and+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlto0bA7JR_uTtfb8qc8UrNTbz3Ex3z8LrtcPZtxNy3R3_K4pL7xHsO6ycrbZmYItwgVa_t-pNZxlPZ2sKnjHq1-28B_N25fz6bOPXiG78AQtFXiCKQNEt54chawOUBH1-xjiH1NPj1M/s320/connor+and+truck.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-4954466351196411762010-11-01T11:17:00.003-05:002010-11-01T11:30:50.719-05:00It was a dark and spooky night...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA3PPNZ7WMcVWkSYLiDN1V_JTtIbDNNDGm3b_7AoLpirT9psrzf9JT9vLnO7nIS0yO3i9C_uaBJB-uLa7zqe0BKIS_-Of7Y8t9CLOtJTiALPT21flkk1cgl5m69XCroGLLfOOXaUpmyU/s1600/halloween+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA3PPNZ7WMcVWkSYLiDN1V_JTtIbDNNDGm3b_7AoLpirT9psrzf9JT9vLnO7nIS0yO3i9C_uaBJB-uLa7zqe0BKIS_-Of7Y8t9CLOtJTiALPT21flkk1cgl5m69XCroGLLfOOXaUpmyU/s320/halloween+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">We do Halloween as we do most holidays around here. We go all out with decorations to set the mood, to get into the spirit of the occasion. It's been a haunted house for weeks with spooky decor. The furkids are not fond of many of the sights and sounds of the season of the witch. Mac has never liked hanging objects, things that sway and dangle. Witch cackles and talking spiders that creep across the floor do not set well with any of the 3 furkids. They were not happy pooches last night. The only night they hate more is 4th of July.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">The goblins that reside here were decked out for the candy crusade. Connor became a Greek Warrior for the night while Sam started out as Harry Potter, changed his mind, and with Harry's magic, morphed into a business dude, complete with facial hair. Trish escorted the candy crusaders. </span></em><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXhAPl6HGEh8MxoRWNqXJF3v3CPStldOe0l8vw9k4VcPm0Zyifyz0k1akixE2Qgmr8dgoT4lqQ3RymDhcaWxBQseJNL5KjrspIpuuJQiESbcjkKd6WGZmfzpgqPmAmwUUbOar_Cgpw4/s1600/Greek+Warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXhAPl6HGEh8MxoRWNqXJF3v3CPStldOe0l8vw9k4VcPm0Zyifyz0k1akixE2Qgmr8dgoT4lqQ3RymDhcaWxBQseJNL5KjrspIpuuJQiESbcjkKd6WGZmfzpgqPmAmwUUbOar_Cgpw4/s320/Greek+Warrior.jpg" width="213" /></a><em><span style="color: #990000;">I, as tradition dictates, kept the home pot brewing and handed out sweet treats to the procession of small vampires, fairies, superheros, witches, creatures and the assorted princesses, bees and lady bugs. I did this while watching a disappointing 4th game of the World Series. My Rangers got tricked, I'm afraid.</span></em></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">As I type, the vestiges of Halloween have disappeared into the attic or garage and the turkeys have been trotted out (thankful, as every year, that they are not live and endangered). They will preen until thanks have been given and the flood of snowmen, angels and ornaments send them off to join the ghosts and Easter bunnies. I have to admit that the season of snowmen, angels and Christmas trees are my favorite time of the year. Listening to a stuffed turkey gobbling on the coffee table makes me smile knowing that magical season is just around the corner!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOpg9bRtz8bo8y_lw6go27UtoUVjOT_SKJ6HdMfNA8mKTgrMDw8S1dGxxOmQ6Y7ynIv8BAZA4F4IhOA7eT90sTqArrqFrmKnqbZH0bL9wnSEgNM0irF861AE0SaD-YvWge_GG8_wLfhs/s1600/Halloween+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOpg9bRtz8bo8y_lw6go27UtoUVjOT_SKJ6HdMfNA8mKTgrMDw8S1dGxxOmQ6Y7ynIv8BAZA4F4IhOA7eT90sTqArrqFrmKnqbZH0bL9wnSEgNM0irF861AE0SaD-YvWge_GG8_wLfhs/s320/Halloween+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em><strong><span style="color: #783f04;"> Hope you had a spooktacular night!</span></strong></em></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-29021714065679722212010-09-11T12:20:00.000-05:002010-09-11T12:20:32.627-05:009/11/10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpulRAxgCMGsGWIX1d7Ke8iPnfC3BCJoIVozmbSVgvZBzlnp4vbkCr2jDtYSV12-oiOxKd42tqzx0FtEH8WYpXYgzwLp4dyYcSXroySpv_m_xnYgfPD6b2llrfdEuOSwt9LBI-C2gnik/s1600/Kelly+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpulRAxgCMGsGWIX1d7Ke8iPnfC3BCJoIVozmbSVgvZBzlnp4vbkCr2jDtYSV12-oiOxKd42tqzx0FtEH8WYpXYgzwLp4dyYcSXroySpv_m_xnYgfPD6b2llrfdEuOSwt9LBI-C2gnik/s400/Kelly+bday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Today is a special day. No, I'm not talking about the horrible disaster that befell our country 9 years ago on this date. Today is my favorite and only sister's birthday!!! It was her special day before the horror of that nightmare we now remember on this day.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I remember how excited I was when she was born. I was 14, in Jr. high school on that day. I threw my books in the air with excitement on the news that I had a baby sister (already had 2 little brothers). I went to find my brother in study hall and totally embarrassed him with the news. In those days and on into high school, said brother preferred not to associate with me. When I drove him to school he always walked ahead of me so as not to be 'with' me. Sister "Cootie factor", I assume! </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">We lost our father when Kelly was 11, our mother when she was only 17. We've always been extra close and I can't imagine my life without her- my sister, my friend.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">So, Happy Birthday, dear sister!! Today we celebrate your birthday!!!!!!</span></em></strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAs5DBwfy1_wMWz4yV7xJ-m_rAybBaLF-pdTWjZJ7VLS4a7kMHA7El7E-4kwLEoNOXl_VLeomMX4C8E0-Y516rieeUm5QPdRc5ge-57jtnkKaSIbBp8JLRVSnr5H_wjq7-Hv7MA0eusc/s1600/kelly+bday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAs5DBwfy1_wMWz4yV7xJ-m_rAybBaLF-pdTWjZJ7VLS4a7kMHA7El7E-4kwLEoNOXl_VLeomMX4C8E0-Y516rieeUm5QPdRc5ge-57jtnkKaSIbBp8JLRVSnr5H_wjq7-Hv7MA0eusc/s400/kelly+bday2.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-48667305843141674462010-08-18T14:48:00.008-05:002010-08-18T15:02:48.729-05:00Mirror Mirror and BFF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VqIy7KmCoqqGpkcZmyB2rdg-h2oRdflUH5VwjtUKrST_9ruDqlsxIBsvlNE0JYNMLMhoRTT43K7HxpHpqc-hqz5t6uuRE932QShvA3J_EqO-SwSEF5GZYKuBHgZB19_hVS770QHGAXQ/s1600/puppy+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VqIy7KmCoqqGpkcZmyB2rdg-h2oRdflUH5VwjtUKrST_9ruDqlsxIBsvlNE0JYNMLMhoRTT43K7HxpHpqc-hqz5t6uuRE932QShvA3J_EqO-SwSEF5GZYKuBHgZB19_hVS770QHGAXQ/s320/puppy+love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;">It's a slow day. We finally got a brief shower and that was a welcome relief. I managed to capture some fun photos worthy of the "awwwwwwwwwwwwww" factor. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75;">Spanky ADORES Mac! Chews on him and is in his face constantly! However, from day one, Mac has been the member of the pack that has Spanky simply can't stay away from. Mac lets him know when enough is enough.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75;">Mr. Curious discovered himself in the mirror while I was in here on the computer. It was too cute!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75;">Hope the photos brightened your day!!</span>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-33803053568576866252010-08-16T17:42:00.001-05:002010-08-16T17:42:56.877-05:00He Tells Me About the Tar Monster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VfF8CDcHUu0OYAyBPxSYCMCXXMa2VFc5rS3eBqKJqgRljP_Nou3CI3yEC6tWefUsDxaq6vEhLjz_nsZot5cG1e4xB4IyD_Vio1wEqOUL1UDkm-tfRNIwJEij9KR-yTz4Q5lt5O0KSbs/s1600/100_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VfF8CDcHUu0OYAyBPxSYCMCXXMa2VFc5rS3eBqKJqgRljP_Nou3CI3yEC6tWefUsDxaq6vEhLjz_nsZot5cG1e4xB4IyD_Vio1wEqOUL1UDkm-tfRNIwJEij9KR-yTz4Q5lt5O0KSbs/s320/100_0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Another new poem. We shake our head at the tales that our Connor spins here and at school. They are a combination of reality, Connor's reality, fantasy and facts he's read or heard. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75;">He tells me</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">about the</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Tar Monster</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">who eats kids</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">whole. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">One</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">was seventeen.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">It ate an entire village.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">I question</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">and he tells me he</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Googled it</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">but it’s no longer there.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">It scared people</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">so they took it away.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Columbus</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">and Presidents</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">people </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">his family</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">tree</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">so a teacher</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">informs us.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">There are details</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">only he knows.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Nessie is real;</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">it’s a fact.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">I learned of a bird</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">at our feeder</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">that is not found</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">in Texas. It’s</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">an Oklahoma bird</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">that must be lost.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">He says</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">he sees</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">people we</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">can’t see,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">and we</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">nod</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">knowing</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">this is not</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">part of his disorder.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">When a therapist</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">questions</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">the details</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">spin </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">then melt </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">back</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">into the nebulous</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">web of his psyche. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">This child</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">of my heart</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">spins</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">his reality</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">like cotton candy</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">on a warm day,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">sticky details that</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">melt</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">with the telling,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">yet,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">he keeps spinning,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">adamant</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">in the tale,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">his mind</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">a web of</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">whirling fancy.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">I can see him</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">building</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">thread </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">upon</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">thread</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">and I am mystified.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #351c75;">~~~~8/16/10</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-27293683237823085942010-08-13T11:39:00.002-05:002010-08-15T13:11:36.455-05:00A Chance Encounter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hQyLgVmWuBoha3hBCzY-nUBnojBCCrkqjVASh0eB6COuvWzKCTWM1oUKogNFBU6jTfT60QrW708SOcujS5CuwcsvwZoCMH9wGbYAOU4D88b4r1kca7gpSE4xzFCbMRF_CzglaXneXK0/s1600/Back+in+the+day...high+school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hQyLgVmWuBoha3hBCzY-nUBnojBCCrkqjVASh0eB6COuvWzKCTWM1oUKogNFBU6jTfT60QrW708SOcujS5CuwcsvwZoCMH9wGbYAOU4D88b4r1kca7gpSE4xzFCbMRF_CzglaXneXK0/s320/Back+in+the+day...high+school.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">And yet another new poem sparked by and old, new friend and the upcoming school year.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZSoDlEPVXS5qoVRA7hchMcgUhgv6WKx9M_vhkJ5TkmXorcQ82s2rXs9aWpiPqep368-gTBU1-kGZ_Gj1TNS06KhJj8SURunf2g0mizXMoSeDTpMwKYR3xuURSTVsKYE9ajLSdIZFz4A/s1600/Senior+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ZSoDlEPVXS5qoVRA7hchMcgUhgv6WKx9M_vhkJ5TkmXorcQ82s2rXs9aWpiPqep368-gTBU1-kGZ_Gj1TNS06KhJj8SURunf2g0mizXMoSeDTpMwKYR3xuURSTVsKYE9ajLSdIZFz4A/s320/Senior+Year.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">A chance encounter</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">stumbled upon among half-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">forgotten names in a virtual</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">yearbook sent me spiraling</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">back into musty halls clogged</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">with the muffled echoes of teenage angst.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Snapshots appear then</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">disappear into a dormant scrapbook</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">where images blur and bleed into each other,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">the Kaleidoscope collage from a long barren field.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Memories are like sandcastles</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">on shifting sand--</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">tiny grains of truth and half-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">truths watered down with the waves</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">of eroded emotions.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Swells of first love</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">and small triumphs crash</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">against pangs of rejection</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">amid tugs of uncertainty. It’s</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">a roller coaster of</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">insecurity cloaked in brash spirit--</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">a wobbly ride over untested landscape.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">I fumble my way </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">among the fossils, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">like a blind woman</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">picking the bones of a distant land, </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">detached, yet not…</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">immune to lingering echoes.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">~~~8/12/10</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODPsLZD231fux-MgfkWuJjubnmmztWT1rysvld-UJYYWdPoaxjnKMaQHnrK-l6tbNwKthzl0h3NuNABp1GHGz3t_Ogwsz2KLEKniibP0AXVEivQuUYprvchdtRobT_jtG1lVjSElFwwI/s1600/scan0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODPsLZD231fux-MgfkWuJjubnmmztWT1rysvld-UJYYWdPoaxjnKMaQHnrK-l6tbNwKthzl0h3NuNABp1GHGz3t_Ogwsz2KLEKniibP0AXVEivQuUYprvchdtRobT_jtG1lVjSElFwwI/s320/scan0004.jpg" /></a></div><em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-26621043308192325772010-08-12T15:03:00.001-05:002010-08-15T13:14:19.764-05:00New Poems<em><span style="color: #990000;">The unbearable heat lately has forced me inside, for the most part. That being said, the heat has been good for my creative juices. I've written a few new poems that I thought I'd post.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">"August"</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">This heat</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">assaults me </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">like the uninvited</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">embrace</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">of a stranger,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">his stale breath</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">pressed</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">against my cheeks</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">as I blink back</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">the assault of an angry sun.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">August</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">straddles</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">my limbs </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">and stifles</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">my soul.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">Languid thoughts</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">drowse</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">on cushions</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">Of distant snow angels.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">~~~~8/11/10</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">"Intrusion"</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">Small</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">shards </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">of</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">discontent</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">prick</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">my illusion</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">of</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">contentment</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">and</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">I </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">turn away</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">from</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">the</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">sting.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">~~8/11/10</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">What if</span></em> <br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">we could go back</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">and rewrite</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">a story</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">or even a paragraph in time?</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">What if </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">we could insert</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">a word or</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">conversation </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Into a completed chapter?</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">The days are blank pages</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">as we journey through them,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">one word, sentence,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">one scene at a time….</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">no editing allowed once the ink has dried.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">~~~8/10/10</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAFEeeFjRaHOTmD_0T5XFHgap-s0eNXtzomHsNNU7LrOrYtcol3Kr9BcrgnNpGYamQ9eu_JaInZEokOV22bUUXN0j76MIgs55rCrVBS14H3pigpnJbk1jJdzt-nC0BYADZOKt-KfmcaA/s1600/9th+or+19th+grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAFEeeFjRaHOTmD_0T5XFHgap-s0eNXtzomHsNNU7LrOrYtcol3Kr9BcrgnNpGYamQ9eu_JaInZEokOV22bUUXN0j76MIgs55rCrVBS14H3pigpnJbk1jJdzt-nC0BYADZOKt-KfmcaA/s320/9th+or+19th+grade.jpg" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #741b47;">Back in time.....9th or 10th grade</span></em>.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-41379854159050973272010-08-04T10:48:00.005-05:002010-08-04T17:49:18.881-05:00Another Chapter in My Mad World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBvGTiv-ivLYP8gY8fGkmpgEhqlclI4-TWXvb1fiprFSfQPY-WMF6rgpsvxCfWyOCZh-10VRBYQ2OOyjFA7pAKPK_UuABrApCU1WjVnFIZULr14rGfW6atbxdL0QirpJN8_ShO1p9MLk/s1600/water+damage3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBvGTiv-ivLYP8gY8fGkmpgEhqlclI4-TWXvb1fiprFSfQPY-WMF6rgpsvxCfWyOCZh-10VRBYQ2OOyjFA7pAKPK_UuABrApCU1WjVnFIZULr14rGfW6atbxdL0QirpJN8_ShO1p9MLk/s320/water+damage3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Let's just say that life is never dull in my little corner of the world. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Friday my new computer arrived. The old trusty desktop (and I still prefer a desktop) had reached the blue-screen daily, or almost, stage and I knew it was imperative I break down and get a new one before Old Trusty was abruptly ripped off life support. Over the past year Old Trusty had slowed to a crawl and limped along while irritating and frustrating me on a regular basis. Also, my computer time had been severely curtailed due to working every day and the escalating chaos around here. Old Trusty didn't make it easy for me to spend my limited time online.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">So, I broke down and got a sleek new computer with Windows 7. Love it! Also had to replace my 10-year-old deskjet and scanner with a sleek new wireless all-in-one Photosmart printer. Again, love it! Boy, has printer technology come a long was in a decade!! That was last weekend. Today is the first day I've had to really begin my relationship with Old Trusty's replacement. As usual, chaos intervened.</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXPDpiOp6NxTnreKY4B6gq6BEM1nRwlKOoXnYxeF9dQIITr8qOmhQEVVHVu0O5wRlH4bKFlqhh0LSaHdRXH_7Rxj60sK4QGMs7IlYp3GVQ-pwlYvXj77hqfvFBe4hXqzUfAOxjHklass/s1600/water+damage+and+new+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXPDpiOp6NxTnreKY4B6gq6BEM1nRwlKOoXnYxeF9dQIITr8qOmhQEVVHVu0O5wRlH4bKFlqhh0LSaHdRXH_7Rxj60sK4QGMs7IlYp3GVQ-pwlYvXj77hqfvFBe4hXqzUfAOxjHklass/s320/water+damage+and+new+computer.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">While replacing Old Trusty with New Hot Tech I noticed what looked like water damage around the edge of my carpet and baseboard beneath my desk. Said desk sits in front of a window where I can watch my birds come and go at the feeders off my patio. I enjoy that during the day. Anyway, I was appalled and had no clue what was causing the damage since there was no indication on the window or wall that water had leaked to cause the damage I discovered. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Oh great! Just what I needed: another, possibly expensive, issue to deal with!! I was not happy and the excitement of initiating my relationship with New Hot Tech was considerably "dampened". The floor and baseboard were dry at the time of discovery to I sprayed Moldex on the area and, on Sunday, cleaned that portion of the carpet. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">As I said, New Hot Tech arrived late Friday and I was up until 2 AM on Saturday setting up and transplanting NHT from Old Trusty. The only hitch in the process was the dampened mood and undercurrent of anxiety over what the water damage meant. Saturday dawns, I take Trish to work and return to do my usual chores and cleaning of one or more fish tanks. I wanted to get all that done as quickly as possible so I could play with NHT. Like I said, however, chaos intervened.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">I don't even remember the trigger at this point, but while I was cleaning the house something set Sam off and all Hell broke loose! He literally threw virtually the entire contents of his bookcases and room out into the hall and the family room area!!! I couldn't do much to stop him as he was hurling things in my direction. I got the 3 dogs out and closed Connor's room door. (Connor came out some time later, before I even made a dent in the mess, and asked..."What happened?" This is how clueless and hyper-focused he is when playing a video or computer game. Part of his Autism.). After annihilating his room Sam refused to help clean up, cussed me on the way to his mother's room where he slammed the door and remained for some length of time. I was horrified and almost didn't know where to begin with the cleanup. I had no choice as it was extremely hot outside where I had banished the dogs and I had to get them back in as soon as possible. Spanky, being a typical puppy, was sure to find all the broken bits and small Legos. Not a good idea, so I just jumped in and tackled the disaster. I probably had the dogs back inside in under an hour. By then I had gotten all the books into containers where I could pick up or sweep up the small and broken items. I spent the majority of the rest of the morning and afternoon until time to pick Trish up from work, putting his room back together, primarily all the books back in the book cases. It was one of those messes that couldn't be left to have his mother make him clean up. Book are our friends and I wanted to get them picked up and put back out of harm's way. The broken and unimportant items I swept up and threw away. I salvaged the video games and put them in Connor's room.</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">This, my friends, is just a small example of what life can be like with kids who have mental illness. It's not pretty and it can be very chaotic. One or more unstable kids is volatile with a 90-something chance of violent weather patterns!!</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Soooooooooooo Hot Tech had to wait. Sunday I had more time to get to know the newbie. I also cleaned, as I said, the damaged carpet area and made a mental note to consult with good old Mr. Larry as to what the problem might be and who I should call to deal with it. Monday was a busy day and I never got that chance. Monday evening I had to attend to some business that my dear brother brought to my attention. It was tedious and took the better part of the evening. Some of it I had to do on the new computer and that made the going a bit slower. Office has changed in the past 7 years! </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Yesterday morning, before I took Trish to work, I noticed the water-damaged area was wet again. Bummer! It also dawned on me that I'd just run the sprinkler in the area outside my window to water the container gardens. OK.... Looked like the source of the water had to do with the sprinkler right outside that window and the fact it had a 360 degree head on it which constantly sprayed my window when the sprinkler was running. The "where" it was getting in was another matter. So, anxiety rising like a tide in my belly again, I took Trish to work, stopped by the mail center and got the work I'd done the night before notarized and sent off (NOT inexpensively!), came home and called Mr. Larry.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRAYjdkA4h-t_0AKGIYKiArr4Svoale2UDmOIVJJ9i0YE-zBdx3XiFI0GykkWLd__VqMVvYCYHloWD8v71Xeo31J-bk1zsXFF6pVbJMj9NHvFyB7okZjx-xS0-FUsjGvA9s3Tm969p7g/s1600/water+damage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRAYjdkA4h-t_0AKGIYKiArr4Svoale2UDmOIVJJ9i0YE-zBdx3XiFI0GykkWLd__VqMVvYCYHloWD8v71Xeo31J-bk1zsXFF6pVbJMj9NHvFyB7okZjx-xS0-FUsjGvA9s3Tm969p7g/s320/water+damage4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">He decided it was probably the fact that the sprinkler head constantly sprayed the window and the caulking around the outside of the window was eroded. He thought it was probably pooling in one corner and going down behind the brick, but not into the wall area. So, we replaced the sprinkler head with a 190 degree one and he re caulked the outside of the window. The cost:? A 24-pack of Miller Lite in the can, his beer of choice. He helps me out because he's the perfect next-door-neighbor and has been, along with his wife, for the entire 16 years I've lived here. Years ago, when he refused to take anything for the help he provides from time to time, I insisted and we decided on Miller Lite. Mr. Larry had come to the rescue again!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Trish is off today and has gone to Dallas with the boys for a doctor's appointment. I'm home with the furkids and relishing the alone time, a drying carpet and pad, and the chance to resume the new relationship with Mr.New Hot Tech. I took some photos of the water damage and new computer and decided to indulge in a new blog post on the newbie.</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-90980604044056671952010-07-27T21:45:00.002-05:002010-07-27T21:49:54.254-05:00One of those Thriving in the.... days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc5eyNdHnPz2mboSAC3GThP9xdgrnux0LFLfMip9oJDZAYEmuVhViPFuaee-z759xItm9d2GaIiOVbtXKhW7OHqnTqvIRzWoJ5_jduPwzFjwOxsTcW_1Iiq2jrbmguHuFZ_kUZN66WTQ/s1600/Sam+and+Skunky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMc5eyNdHnPz2mboSAC3GThP9xdgrnux0LFLfMip9oJDZAYEmuVhViPFuaee-z759xItm9d2GaIiOVbtXKhW7OHqnTqvIRzWoJ5_jduPwzFjwOxsTcW_1Iiq2jrbmguHuFZ_kUZN66WTQ/s400/Sam+and+Skunky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Yesterday I spent a chunk of time playing with my blog, redesigning it. Today I lived the new photo under the blog title. It was one of those mad-world days.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Sears was scheduled to come today for the second time in a week to see why the pilot light on my 5-year-old water heater keeps going out. Thank God for my Master Protection Agreement with Sears on many of my larger appliances! It's really paid off in recent years. Anyhoo.... first go round the Sears person tells me that the water heater is one of those newer "closed systems" where the pilot light is controlled by sensors and a spark, not the old light- it- with- a- lighter type of yore. Seems that's the current requirement for safer water heaters. Mine was probably clogged with whatever from the attic and kept killing the pilot light. The guy cleaned it thoroughly and told me to go up there and clean out the pan under the heater about once a month and it should be good to go.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Yeah, right. Four days later, Sunday, no hot water. As always when these emergencies arise, my good neighbor Mr. Larry comes over the gets the pilot light going again. I call and set up another repair call with Sears and that brings us to this afternoon. "Between 10 and 2 " usually translates into sometime after the allotted time. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Today got off to an early start, 5 am to be exact. Sam woke Connor and they proceeded to play computer games, complete with sound effects, yanking the entire household out of dreamland and into a waking pre-dawn nightmare. It wasn't pretty, the reaction they got. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">At 9 am I have to deal with the garage door repair people who need to replace a beeping backup battery which is just difficult enough for me to defer to the experts, not to mention the costly battery that I can't run to Walmart or CVS to pick up. That set me back enough to tick me off. </span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">Meanwhile, I'm doing things around the house, waiting for the eventual Sears person and the boys are amping up both in volume and behavior as they play some online Pirates of the Caribbean game, one on their computer and one on Trish's. It's getting to the point I'm having to try to tamp down the electricity in the highly charged room with threats of ....whatever I can think of within reason. They are already on my you-know-what-list after the morning fiasco. I'm also trying to dodge 3 dogs running around the house, under foot as they work out the newest round of toy or chew theft from each other. Spanky is a little puppy bully and the other two bark,nip and chase him when they've had enough. I have visions of the nasty fall I'm sure to take one day. I'll be on the floor, hip or leg or arm broken, in horrendous pain, screaming for the kids to call 911..... and the dogs will keep running around messing with each other, and the boys will keep doing whatever they're doing and no one will hear me or respond and I'll still be there writhing in pain, half dead, dogs barking at me because by that time they're hungry and the boys either still playing dueling computers or so amped up they've fried each other ..when Trish gets home from work.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Deep breath............ </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">It's nearly 3:00 pm when Sears person finally arrives. He arrives when I'm in the middle of trying to deal with a computer issue, naturally. During the time he's working in the attic I'm back with the computer problem. The dogs are outside in the heat barking at me and the boys are behind the closed door of Connor's room. That last fact eluded me until after the Sears man left. He's there about 30 minutes replacing a sensor or whatever on the water heater telling me that the reason it keeps going out and the reason it needs replacing is that there is not enough air flow in the attic to keep it lit. Didn't they tell me that when they installed it 5 years ago? NO, as a matter of fact, they never mentioned an air flow issue, nor did they tell me that this newly- required type of water heater wasn't maintenance free. I needed to keep it dust free or lint free or whatever... I should see about a fresh air system for the attic or the water heater. Call a specialty plumber, they'll know what you need. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">$$$$$$$$$ ...that's what is flashing in front of my eyes as he's telling me all this crap. My stress level is rising along with the heat outside, not to mention the attic. He leaves, I let the panting dogs back in, and, again, fail to compute the closed door to Connor's room. I go online and research attic ventilation things, groan and envision a large expenditure. Then I call my trusty Mr. Larry neighbor and he comes over, checks things out and tells me I do have ventilation and it sounds like I should be fine for another 5 years, not to worry about it. I relax and as I close the door behind him I finally realize that the boys are behind a closed door..... It also registers that I'm hearing bumps and thuds. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Connor's room looks like a hurricane ripped through it!! The funnel clouds are laughing and throwing stuffed animals all over the room. Furniture is moved around to make a fort... it's a mess!!! The boys are wired to the max!!! It barely registers that I'm in the room yelling at them!! I finally get through, Sam gets mad, grabs his mother's laptop and stomps out of the room refusing to help clean up the damage. He slams his own room door for emphasis. Connor and I proceed to wade through the mess and restore order to his room. Bless his heart, this type of effort is not his forte. He's about as useless when it comes to order and cleaning as an umbrella in a windstorm. This afternoon he gave me hope... :)</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">So, it was one of those days. Both boys are peacefully sleeping in their rooms as are the three furkids, one on Trish's bed, one on Connor's and mine on the bed behind me. I'm here at the computer (which is now behaving) writing this with "America's Got Talent" on the TV in the background. Trish will be home from work soon and we'll have a good laugh about the day. </span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-53703483618114550272010-07-24T14:20:00.000-05:002010-07-24T14:20:18.365-05:00The Final Purge!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CyqRaI1yrddANLVQwhkH39gYZn25aIt2V9zF_xqQt6A-eYHqguZiF3hvFlDeS-P_dnhqwQcUsXE8Qp4E8e4Pp2TpVWucIkbnxoFZHZZ2trEkl77u0IwSIuW7u54nFn533y8PYeOg5BI/s1600/garage+purge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CyqRaI1yrddANLVQwhkH39gYZn25aIt2V9zF_xqQt6A-eYHqguZiF3hvFlDeS-P_dnhqwQcUsXE8Qp4E8e4Pp2TpVWucIkbnxoFZHZZ2trEkl77u0IwSIuW7u54nFn533y8PYeOg5BI/s400/garage+purge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Well, at least the final massive purge on the cleaning list for the summer. The above photo amounts to what's left after my two-day purge and two days of the alley scavengers helping themselves to whatever they might want and take to salvage. The pile is about half as big as the initial purge. What remains on Wed. will be hauled away by the city. I'm feeling very satisfied with all the cleaning and tossing I've done the past couple of months. This morning I tackled the last closet left undone and revisited my own closet for a final toss-out and rearranging. I still have the plantation shutters, wooden blinds and fan blades to clean in the next couple of weeks. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">My daughter is on the third day of her new job and happily settling in. The sharp rise in her self-confidence is so evident it's like a neon sign! I like that! The boys are also adjusting nicely to Mom being back at work and Pammy once again being "the boss of them". :) There were issues the first day, but yesterday and today the waters are calm. My Equilibrium is feeling steadier already, and breathing is easier as the air clears. The stress level for all members of the household, human and fur, is back to healthy levels. For the time being. :)</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-72045939586323668472010-07-16T16:26:00.000-05:002010-07-16T16:26:38.621-05:00Kings of the Earth and Odds and Ends <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMThrtqT1GmVpP6kHDKxDezRb-KFSQ4aTu7dCKjjaKPREn9boyn3Xx1zff95Mga-BjE09nogfu3NhcJrkaqpmsn0HSqgNAb0XAbsHzX6XeAdRlY689ej5B_RXNeePTbKPoergFTtYNDI/s1600/Kings+of+the+Earth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMThrtqT1GmVpP6kHDKxDezRb-KFSQ4aTu7dCKjjaKPREn9boyn3Xx1zff95Mga-BjE09nogfu3NhcJrkaqpmsn0HSqgNAb0XAbsHzX6XeAdRlY689ej5B_RXNeePTbKPoergFTtYNDI/s200/Kings+of+the+Earth+2.jpg" width="134" /></a><br />
<a href="http://amzn.com/1400069017">Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch</a><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">This is an amazing book; read it!! I read a review in my Sunday paper last week and was so intrigued I bought it and jumped right in. It springs from a true story of 3 bothers and is the work of Jon Clinch, the wonderful author whose acclaimed first novel was FINN ( the imagined story of Pap Finn, Huck's dad). Wow! I already had several HUGE stacks of to-read books, but this one grabbed me, forced me to buy and start reading. I'm loving it!!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Wed. Mr. I've-Spent-Most-of-My-Life-Of-Six-Months-In-Confinement went in to be clipped and chipped. He is, once AGAIN, confined for 2 weeks so he will heal correctly. I just don't remember having to confine my other male pups for any length of time after neutering. Times have changed, I guess. To say he's ticked, confused and chomping at the bit is putting it mildly. Poor fella. His personality is bound to be warped by all this restraint and his inability to just be a frisky, naughty, normal puppy. I'm sure he'll make up for lost time when the new prison sentence is up. He did after the 10 weeks of apres-surgery on his leg.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Today I scratched the need-to-clean-and-purge itch and tackled several fronts. I tore through the clothes in my closet with a vengeance! When it comes to clothes, especially my massive tee shirt collection, I'm loathed to let go of anything. At least once a year I stick my toe into the tee-shirt-purge effort and toss a few. Today I got serious! I also ripped through all the DVDs, VHS and game cases in both boys' rooms. I tossed all the cases that had no corresponding game/movie and organized them neatly. No, I didn't alphabetize them or anything crazy like that. I'm hardly THAT OCD!! LOL! Besides, the boys would destroy those efforts in one fell swoop!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">One major job left....the garage. The crown jewel of purging this summer! I had thought the attic would win that title, but I've change my mind. It's the garage, by far. I'm already salivating and I can't even begin until late next week. Bulky trash pickup is a week from next Wed. I've already added a few additional jobs to the to-do list, however: clean all the wooden blinds and shutters in the house. Also, clean all the fan blades in the ceiling fans.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">And, on my breaks--read!! I'm over halfway through KINGS OF THE EARTH.</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-77989814087833272322010-07-11T12:58:00.001-05:002010-07-11T13:21:48.718-05:00Morning with Sam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfZs6j71CKdWlXFQFmXuD94Q4fkE4k5Q29dDmxKbwI_QKBGx2lFM5ar0xDr_kSj5eX1v1FL4o-NdSJRDv1nRGaQnsAmGFdFk_LayD3UcCPjw4A2WxQ7XlevQrMesaVZjlHRAIxP_A9eY/s1600/Sam+and+Skunky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfZs6j71CKdWlXFQFmXuD94Q4fkE4k5Q29dDmxKbwI_QKBGx2lFM5ar0xDr_kSj5eX1v1FL4o-NdSJRDv1nRGaQnsAmGFdFk_LayD3UcCPjw4A2WxQ7XlevQrMesaVZjlHRAIxP_A9eY/s400/Sam+and+Skunky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Most mornings with Sam are, to put it mildly, chaotic, to be perfectly blunt, a nightmare! This morning was no exception. Given his severe ADHD, combined with the medications he takes, sleep is elusive and not a high priority for him. He might fall asleep early, say 9 pm, is back up an hour later and it might be 11 or so before he's back asleep. His mornings start early, jolting everyone out of bed anywhere between 3 and 6 am. When the jolt is before 5:30 or 6 am, he can sometimes be contained long enough for some semblance of extended slumber to lightly blanket us again. I use the word "slumber" loosely- "cat nap" is more accurate. Let's just say I've forgotten the last time I slept past 6 am. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Sam is loud, blundering around like an elephant, making strange noises, laughing, banging, babbling, slamming doors, cabinets and generally being a nuisance. Shocked out of sleep, the dogs begin barking, his mom yells and I stumble out of bed to get the new pup outside to do his thing. And, so, the day breaks, literally. There can be accidental or deliberate breakage, door slamming, and, if he wakes his brother (most of the time), sibling brawling. All this before the inevitable: Sam is sentenced to a couple of hours of time out. Even time out is not pretty. On a good day, calm is restored to the burgeoning day (at least for a few hours) by 8 am.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Anyway, on a creative note, I was prompted to write a poem about our morning mayhem.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Mornings,<br />
chaos spills out</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">of his room</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">like a Pandora’s box-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">furies scattering,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">snatching the sleep from our eyes.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Noises</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">rival rush hour</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">in a city with no traffic lights-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">honks and howls,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">babbling, barking,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">assaulting the pre-dawn silence.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">Teeth on edge we add</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">a complimentary jolt of caffeine to the chaos.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">On my kitchen perch,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">oasis in the brewing storm,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">I sit and sip</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">as the furies </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">swirl and nip</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">the edges of my calm.</span></em><br />
<em><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: purple;">7/11/10</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-70378152227512328012010-07-07T16:14:00.000-05:002010-07-07T16:14:15.244-05:00This and That<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOTA1UzkSyPYxv5_JzhW61Er2tbQHaKbC1zOx2zSfGtpZAqEY_-IguGwlW14EeMffT19BAOCmStVahG-ut26NMes7aBkyz-b0fNhOinUSXn_HaL6XDXghoRQX0JptJTrkUMmBEKSu_D8/s1600/pam+and+mac+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOTA1UzkSyPYxv5_JzhW61Er2tbQHaKbC1zOx2zSfGtpZAqEY_-IguGwlW14EeMffT19BAOCmStVahG-ut26NMes7aBkyz-b0fNhOinUSXn_HaL6XDXghoRQX0JptJTrkUMmBEKSu_D8/s400/pam+and+mac+3.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">It's been a busy week, so far. Monday I took Bryan to the airport. We really enjoyed his visit ( first in 2 years), and, considering he's a typical busy teenager and big into sports, I was thrilled I got time with him this summer. He'll be a senior next year and it will be more difficult to squeeze in time with him!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my niece and her little one. They just moved about 10 minutes away and I got to see the new digs and meet Mr. Mac for the first time. They had lived in Southlake, not THAT far away, unless you're short on time to even go down the street, as I have been this past year. The one time I visited her there she was pregnant with the little man! The drive time to her old house was at least an hour.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">The visit was fun (loved the new home) and Mac began to warm up to me by the time I left. As you can see by the above photo, he had NOT warmed up when this was snapped just before a sleepy baby with a strange person in the house was put down for a nap! I was laughing, Sandy was laughing and Mac was screaming bloody murder!!!! For the next HOUR, Sandy and I tried to send this photo to her dad to surprise him. It was a riot! NOTHING was working for us! Of course, in the end, we succeeded, over and over and over again. I lost count of how many times I got the photo on my phone and my email. Nick probably got it just as many time. Technology is great until it's not and gets finicky.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Today I decided to mark another clean-out and clean-up item off my to-do list. I tackled the front living and dining rooms which have needed purging for over a decade!!! They are the throw-up (keeping the metaphor alive) rooms for seasonal items that don't get up in the attic or other things that need a 'temporary' resting place. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Well, it took the better part of the day, but I was delighted to finally have it purged and clean!! The only HUGE task I've got on tap for the summer is the garage. I'm already itching to get at it! Given that my free monthly pick up for bulky items is the last week of the month, I'm not scratching that itch.....yet.</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-33017133488949244852010-06-30T14:55:00.001-05:002010-07-11T13:22:50.996-05:00Birth of a New Poem<em><span style="color: purple;">Have you ever had an image of something swirling around in your head for days, nagging at release in some creative form or other? From time to time I see something, taste or smell something that triggers a memory from the past. It can be a smell that hurtles me into the home I grew up in or a smell that brings back one of my grandmothers. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Recently, I thought about the dress I wore at my high school graduation. It was THE perfect dress! I loved the way it fit, the way I looked and felt when I wore it. Naturally, I can't put my hands on a photo of me in the dress although I know I have several stashed away in some box or other. Anyway, I asked a couple of female friends if they ever had a "special" dress or outfit that stood out above all others in some way, for some reason. Turns out every one of them said they did.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">This morning I felt the need to make time to be creative. Another half-formed poem was germinating in the back of my mind, so I sat down to bring it to life. I also needed to "do something" with THE dress. And so I did. Here is the poem that sprung from that need:</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">The Dress</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Most women,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">I suspect,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">wear one dress</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">(or two, perhaps)</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">that lingers in memory</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">as perfection,</span></em><br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">that gift wraps</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">a pearl,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">one crystalline stitch</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">in time.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Mine</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">was white cotton,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">gossamer-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">with sleeveless bodice</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">of delicate pleats</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">tightly</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">cinched</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">at the waist,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">cascading in gentle folds</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">to just below the knee.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Twirling before the mirror</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">I could find no fault</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">in my reflection-</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">a rarity, I dare say,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">in the feminine psyche.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Graduation Day,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">threshold of the time of milk and honey</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">and I was Aphrodite,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">Cinderella,</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">cloaked in clarity</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">with one glass slipper atop</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">the translucent pattern</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">that paved the road ahead.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">~~~Pam Patterson 6/30/10</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-7679958763340146652010-06-29T10:43:00.001-05:002010-06-29T10:43:48.730-05:00My Three Amigos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifavPTT_7MfdlLAy8R3Nwei9vg9Gtk6KdTZhUyrY55emMLyQ-2xObI8k4OAn5jBAwmVdLEVhnjoP9KBZiCUbrb7fDsOcJ6COfuH9cRn0Pjb2ZZRIzl0whIZq6AJ1YBn1qm_0Wn_gsiq1A/s1600/3+stooges+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifavPTT_7MfdlLAy8R3Nwei9vg9Gtk6KdTZhUyrY55emMLyQ-2xObI8k4OAn5jBAwmVdLEVhnjoP9KBZiCUbrb7fDsOcJ6COfuH9cRn0Pjb2ZZRIzl0whIZq6AJ1YBn1qm_0Wn_gsiq1A/s400/3+stooges+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><em><span style="color: purple;">Three amigos or stooges, depending on how the wind is blowing at any given minute. We have small, taller and tallest! Number one grandson just keeps on reaching for the sky!! Soon to be 17 (July 8th), h<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">e's</span> 6'4" and growing. Puberty has been slowly but surely morphing Connor into a looming teenager (Nov). THIS, I'm not ready for! He is now my height. Sam, on the other hand, has been doing more growing out than up this year. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Last summer was the first summer Bryan didn't have time to come up from San Antonio for a visit. It's good to have him in the pack this week. Yesterday we spent the day at Six Flags, braving both the difficult-to-take-anywhere younger two boys, and the weather. Storms were predicted but held off until we had spent the majority of the day at the park. Sam, as usual, was piss-poor the entire time. By the time we got home he was in timeout and lucky we hadn't thrown him out of the car on the way home. I rode in the back between Connor and Sam and my sanity was hanging by a thread!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: purple;">All in all, it's good to have Bryan visit. Next year he'll graduate from high school and visits will probably be even harder to come by.</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773840186073923859.post-68895619760820459172010-06-27T11:44:00.000-05:002010-06-27T11:44:26.278-05:00Clean Sweep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9n5leqACRRHYzLiaveU79jiij-yq7fsVwuiJ-1QjcPnEqSqtw8PQmisk4vY2Arl7gSoEkz6BpZ_2E7cgCuVQ__ZWf7SmOn3nYD2tI2Aj1iHd8kqTM1DTtvoOIiW9kt4i5xhs7uh1O_o/s1600/trash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9n5leqACRRHYzLiaveU79jiij-yq7fsVwuiJ-1QjcPnEqSqtw8PQmisk4vY2Arl7gSoEkz6BpZ_2E7cgCuVQ__ZWf7SmOn3nYD2tI2Aj1iHd8kqTM1DTtvoOIiW9kt4i5xhs7uh1O_o/s320/trash.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">There's just something immensely satisfying about cleaning and cleaning out. Actually, I've always been a bit of a neat freak as well as a list maker. Over the years I've managed to relax my impossible standards, somewhat, on the size of my lists and the scope and meaning of "neat" or "clean". Although I'm not always in the mood to clean the results of my efforts never fail to bring about that satisfying feeling. I love a neat and clean home. No matter the chaos or messiness of daily living that swirls about me, clean surroundings provide a necessary calmness that keeps me sane.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Since school's been out I've been binge cleaning and purging. My to-do list on these tasks is ambitious. So far, I've made huge strides in whittling down the list. The above photo shows the result of the first of my two major projects: the attic. I've been wanting to do this for several years, but it was more than I could manage by myself as there were large items like no-longer needed baby furniture that needed discarding. When my 17-year-old grandson said he was coming to visit, I recruited him as my strong man. So, Saturday morning, between my daughter, my 3 grandsons and me, Project Attic was accomplished and crossed off the list. This coming week is my 'bulky waste' pick up by the city trash collection. We get one free bulky waste pick up per month during a predetermined week. Mine, coincidentally, is the last week of the month. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Next month I plan to tackle the second major project: the garage. Due to the amount of stuff that needs to go from there I might need to make this a 2-month project so I can get things hauled away for free. Perhaps I'll wade through one side of the garage in July, the other in August.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">In the several weeks since school's been out, in addition to the attic, I've overhauled my closet floor, my bathroom as well as the boys'. Also, I've cleaned out kitchen cabinets, drawers and reorganized the laundry room. My feeling of accomplishment on the clean-sweep front is soaring! </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">Of course, one project leads to another and I've already added new vistas to THE list: hall closet, boys' rooms and closets, dining room....... I can keep the feeling coming the rest of the summer.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">hmmm....if I run out of places to purge I can always clean the blinds, wash the outside windows, meticulously dust EVERYTHING..... </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: blue;">I get goose bumps just thinking about the realm of cleaning possibilities!! :)</span></em>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.com3