Pearls of Wisdom and Foolish Mutterings (Book) http://www.Writing.Com/main/books.php/item_id/1371613/action/archive It's all heating up again and no matter where you turn, people are getting really snippy and confrontational. Yes, I'm talking about the political arena. The 2012 elections are bearing down on us and there seems to be no escape from the constant chitter-chatter and sniping back and forth. It's enough to make man or woman wish for a remote con...[Read Full Post] Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:31:36 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/732226 I've been studying my picture that is posted at the top of my blog and I believe the camera used to take that picture distorted my nose. I promise my nose is not huge like that. I wasn't truly convinced it was the camera and was becoming fearful that my nose might actually have bloomed all over my face until I read an article about photography by...[Read Full Post] Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:14:21 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/731101 Sheesh! You write a blog entry and suddenly you look up and eight days have passed. Is the world turning faster or something? I swear I was just here. I just came from Party's blog where he was reminiscing about the Glory Days of Blogville. **sigh** I miss those days, too. He described it as the Perfect Storm - which I thought was the perfect way...[Read Full Post] Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:38:49 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/729435 It's been a long, long time since I wrote here at WDC. I've been writing over at Open Salon for two years - and it's been an eventful two years. I popped in here the other day because some kind soul commented on one of my pieces and I got an email notifying me about the comment. Once I got here, I had to go looking around for old friends and ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:58:56 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/728677 This Christmas wasn't the best I've ever had, nor was it the worst. But it leaned enough toward the not-so-great side that it left me aching to call my mom and be the kid with the scraped knee who needs a band-aid and a quick hug. But, of course, I can't call my mom. February of 2010 will be the fourth anniversary of her death. She never real...[Read Full Post] Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:56:36 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/681185 It happened when she was thirteen-years-old. Just out of the blue, with no warning or building of tension or anything like that. She had just come home from school and was in her bedroom sorting through her homework, trying to decide where to start. For once, she didn't hear the familiar drone of the television from the living room, which was odd, si...[Read Full Post] Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:24:27 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/671959 The years passed, time went forward and life in Kimberly's family became a mixture of hope deferred and turmoil. Some days were better than others; some days were filled with simply survival. Kimberly and Michael learned to be as invisible as possible. It wasn't a foolproof plan. Sometimes, the house wasn't big enough for both of them to ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:39:39 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/671466 The little girl named Kimberly was very smart so she quickly learned all the rules of her new family. She also learned to keep all of the secrets, even from Gommy and Bert, although this made her sad. She didn't remember very much about being happy, now. But she was so busy taking care of her brother, Michael, that she didn't have time to think...[Read Full Post] Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:48:36 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/671362 And so it was that the little girl called Kimberly found herself living a life entirely different from the one she had grown accustomed to during the first three years of her existence. Where there had been peace, there was now tension; where there had been security, there was now fear; and where there had been love, there was now anger. She wanted to go...[Read Full Post] Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:28:07 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/670110 Once upon a time, there were two little girls. The first little girl was born to an overwhelmed eighteen-year-old who only thought she was ready to grow up. So the first little girl went to live with her grandparents, while her childlike mother set about trying to find the path to sure happiness for herself. The first little girl was happy. She felt love...[Read Full Post] Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:58:19 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/669785 I've been a bit out of touch lately, although I have popped in on occasion to read a few blogs and post a comment or two. I've missed being here, but I am on a long-delayed and eagerly anticipated week long escape to my sister's house in New Mexico. Kathy's house is where I go when I need to regain my sanity or when I need to recharge or ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:17:08 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/666276 Well, I finally did it. I went to see my doctor and .... DISCLAIMER**** Any men who may be reading this might want to avert your eyes. I'm going to talk about the dreaded and mysterious Wimmin Stuff. ****END OF DISCLAIMER Okay, now where was I? Oh yes, I remember. (mmm hmmm, see, it's helping already!) I went to the doctor and grabbed ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:33:47 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/664946 Hi, Honey! I'm home! What a BIZARRE summer this has been. I feel like I wandered off into an alternate universe and got separated from the pack. Something like that. In actuality, I sort of did exactly that. I wandered over to Open Salon for a while and created a blog there, with every intention of posting there and here, as well. Yeah, so...[Read Full Post] Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:19:52 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/664738 While Charles and I were gone on vacation, Eli took over the job of taking applications and screening potential tenants for the house in LaPorte. I'm happy to report that he did an excellent job and our new tenants signed a lease last night. They move in August 1. YAY!!! That's the good news. The bad news is that now we start on the next house...[Read Full Post] Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:49:24 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/659906 Sooo, it's been a while. I have been working on "building a platform" to give my book some credibility when I query agents. Let me tell you, it has been a full-time job. But, I'm happy to report that it is beginning to pay off. I have submitted story after story to magazine after magazine, e-zine after e-zine; I have entered contest after contest; ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/659818 I'd like to ask a simple question. I consider myself to be a happy person. I like to laugh, I like to joke and I like to make people laugh. I like to make people happy. I don't go around looking for people to pick fights with (although I'll admit, there was a time when I was pretty well-versed at that - I wasn't very happy then.) But that...[Read Full Post] Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:02:47 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/656237 First, Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson. It hasn't been officially announced yet about Michael Jackson, but TMZ is reporting that he could never be revived after suffering cardiac arrest at his home and now some of the news stations are starting to pick it up. Isn't it bizarre how it always does seem to happen in threes...[Read Full Post] Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:25:53 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/656174 Way too much introspection in this here blog lately. I need some lighthearted banter or just some plain old nonsense. As my granddaughter, Olivia, says, "Fewph!" I'm glad I snapped out of it before I naval-gazed myself into oblivion. (Olivia just says the "Fewph" part, not the rest of it. That other part was me. Just to clarify.) Olivia will ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:03:24 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/655766 My brother is forty-nine years old this year. The reason this is significant is because for forty-nine years, more or less, I have been in the business of defending him, taking care of him, bolstering his self-esteem and, essentially, doing whatever I could to make his life better. I've also spent a large amount of that time either worried, terrified...[Read Full Post] Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:33:16 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/655601 This is not a test. But how many of you know the song It's Bad You Know by R.L. Burnside? If you don't know it, check it out here: [Link: 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzC_rGX-XyM'] It's an awesome song. The reason I bring this song up is because when I decided on the subject for my blog today, this song immediately pop...[Read Full Post] Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:51:03 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/655296 I just finished an entry in a campfire creative. The campfire was originally entitled [Link To Item #1522333] . Over time, it has evolved, with the last scenario to which I just responded being a question of would you stay or would you go, if after a number of years, you find yourself no longer in love with your husband/wife/partner/significant other or...[Read Full Post] Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:55:12 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/654640 No more sadness, no more anger. Yay! I have a friend who has always said about me that when I feel something, I feel it all the way to my bones. I guess she's right, because that's what it feels like - like my very bones are sad or angry. The thing is that it's a cumulative thing. I keep pushing all those feelings down, down, down instead of ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:36:24 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/654404 The rose-colored glasses aren't quite back in place yet, but I've at least retired my bitch-mobile for the foreseeable future. Thank you to all my dear friends who offered such wonderful support - you all know who you are and I've responded to each of you individually. There is a great pool of wisdom in my circle of friends here and I value t...[Read Full Post] Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:32:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/654066 Change is inevitable. It's all around us - our lives are constantly evolving, forever moving us in a new direction, pushing us toward that road not taken. Change can be exciting, or scary, or just downright depressing. There's a lot to be said for familiarity. It's comfortable, like a cozy old sweater, and fits well in all the right places. T...[Read Full Post] Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:52:19 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/653584 Today was another day of manual labor. Charles finished priming the overhang on the back patio and wiring the lights out there. And he finished caulking the woodwork around the patio door and all the trim on the porch. I caulked the trim in the master bedroom and cleaned and resealed the tile in both bathrooms. Then I made the mistake of trying the clean...[Read Full Post] Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:33:39 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/653487 I spent the better part of the day today (and yesterday, too, for that matter) doing manual labor. And just in case there are those of you out there in my vast reading audience (if you say it, they will come) who do not know this, I was not born to do manual labor. I am not a manual labor type of girl. In fact, I will do just about anything to get out of...[Read Full Post] Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:18:59 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/653225 Admittedly, I may have gotten a little carried away last night in my Facebook blast. After I ranted and raved, I went straight to Facebook, determined to deactivate my account. I was in the process, and just about to hit the "are you sure?" button and my friend Debra IM'd me. I took the time to chat with her and while I was doing that, I got ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:48:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/653163 Samuel B. Kent served as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in the single-judge Galveston Division covering Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, and Matagorda Counties from 1990 to 2009. He was nominated by George H.W. Bush on August 3, 1990, to a seat vacated by Hugh Gibson, confirmed by the United States...[Read Full Post] Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:28:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/652858 Thank God! May is finally over - I thought it would never happen, but finally, here we are. The first day of June! My excitement is diminished only slightly by the fact that it is also the first day of hurricane season, but not even that can get me down today. In honor of the passing of May - and may I just say "goodbye and good riddance; don&#39...[Read Full Post] Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:29:39 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/652644 Is it just me or does this month seem like the everlasting gobstopper of all months? Good grief! I keep looking at the calendar and it's still May! Not that May is such a bad month - it's not. But it just should be over already, for Pete's sake. And who is Pete, anyway? So, we're only days away from hurricane season. You can ima...[Read Full Post] Thu, 28 May 2009 13:32:59 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/652046 More and more lately, I find myself typing a few opening lines of a blog entry and then deleting it all. It's frustrating - all those false starts. But it does seem to be in keeping with my general mood lately. I've been feeling very restless for a while now and I can't put my finger on the reason. I think those false starts in my blog entrie...[Read Full Post] Tue, 26 May 2009 12:38:05 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/651693 Wow! I gave Maverik the Wonder Lab a gigantic chew bone over three hours ago and he has not stopped chewing on it once! I don't know how he feels, but I'm exhausted just listening to him chew on that thing. When I first gave it to him, he took it in his mouth, looked up at me as I was getting a bagel and promptly spit the bone out so he could sta...[Read Full Post] Mon, 25 May 2009 01:04:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/651503 Something very strange is happening. I think my brain is being taken over by Facebook. I am an avowed Facebook HATER, but I've been on there constantly for the last few days. I can't explain it.... it's as if I'm drawn there. I think someone must have a Facebook Voodoo Doll of me and they're making the tiny little Voodoo Doll sit mind...[Read Full Post] Sun, 24 May 2009 00:56:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/651340 I'm dubbing May "the uninspired month." For me, at least. I just checked my blog calendar and this will only be my 7th entry for the month. Pitiful. And that's only valid if I actually do go ahead and post it, instead of deleting it like I have so many others. It just has not been a very inspired month for me. It's hard for me to ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 22 May 2009 17:26:13 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/651128 What a day today was! Holy crap! It really wasn't all that busy, it's just that I've become such a .... errr... uhhhh.... energy-conservationist (I prefer that term to the less flattering - but, more accurate - "lazy bum") that the activities of a normal day are exhausting. Anyway, one of the things I did today was to pay a visit to my hairstyl...[Read Full Post] Wed, 20 May 2009 22:47:15 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/650830 Update your blog. Update your blog. Update your blog. The preset reminder from the blog police keeps knocking on my virtual door. I know I set it and could just easily disable it. But I must grudgingly admit it does serve a purpose. It got me in here after all. What my own personal blog policeman does not know is that I've made several attempts ov...[Read Full Post] Wed, 20 May 2009 09:43:47 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/650737 Yesterday, I commented in [Link To User troubadour] 's blog, urging him to go for broke working toward getting published. I hope my words inspired Alfred as much as they apparently inspired me. I took my own advice and spent a good part of yesterday researching agents. By the end of the day, I sent out two query letters for my book (No Stone Left Un...[Read Full Post] Fri, 15 May 2009 11:34:37 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/649851 I tried writing a blog entry last night, but when I read back over it, it sounded like this: blahblahblahblahblahblah, WHINE, WHINE, SNIFFLE, SNIFFLE, blahblahblahblah, BOO HOO, WAAAAAHHHHH, WHINE WHINE WHINE, blahblahblahblah. I deleted it and tried again - three times. But every time it sounded the same. So I told myself to shut the hell up and g...[Read Full Post] Thu, 14 May 2009 13:21:08 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/649695 Seems the title of my blog is proving true lately, especially the Foolish Mutterings part. And even those don't come easy lately. I feel strange - out of sorts or ill-at-ease, somehow. You know the old saw about "feeling comfortable in your own skin?" I just can't seem to find that comfortable place in my own skin right now. Usuall...[Read Full Post] Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:22 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/649190 Drivel: to talk stupidly and carelessly Here I sit, with a million words swirling in my brain and not one cohesive thought among them. It's rare that I find myself at a loss for words. I almost always have something to say.Or at least a smart-ass comment to make. What, what, what is causing this log-jam of words in my brain? Why have th...[Read Full Post] Fri, 08 May 2009 20:31:41 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/648844 Reading [Link To User rainbowapple] 's blog entry this morning about the issues she's having with her car and the difficulty of getting it repaired, made a phrase pop into my mind. Planned Obsolescence. Think about that for a minute. Way back in 1980, I heard a very successful businessman from the local community lecture on an insidiou...[Read Full Post] Fri, 01 May 2009 16:53:05 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/647734 The debate still rages over at [Link To User davidmcclain] 's place and it's getting good. Check it out. Come on - you know you want to. ============================================================= Quick update on my friend, Debra. Thank you all for your prayers. The doctors have decided she did not have a stroke. All of her symptoms were...[Read Full Post] Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:38:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/647532 I got a text message in the middle of the night last night that my best friend is in the hospital. They suspect a stroke. She is only 41 (I think that's right - Sorry Debra if I added a year), anyway, she's young. Way too young for a stroke. Of course, they are doing test after test to determine if it really was a stroke, and if not, then what was it? Scary...[Read Full Post] Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:10:23 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/647437 HA! I woke up early this morning, made my way to my laptop and started writing a whiny, boo-hoo, the evil witch called me, I feel so rattled blog entry. Then I came to my senses. C-R-R-R-A-A-A-C-C-C-K-K-K!!!! Did you hear that? It was the sound of me getting my backbone back. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! No more whining and navel-gazing for this girl - Nos...[Read Full Post] Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:04:42 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/647071 Here we are in the early hours of a lovely Sunday afternoon. I've already been to church, eaten lunch (a late breakfast actually - at I-Hop), unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, checked my email and read a few blogs. Charles is watching boxing and I have nothing to do that requires my immediate attention. This should be the perfect time to sit down and churn out a leisurely Sunday blog entry. Yep. Should be. All th...[Read Full Post] Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:17:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/646972 Well, well, well. A really cool thing happened yesterday. After I reached deep inside myself and pulled up some of those buried memories about Mom and her journey through hell with hospice, I decided I should probably write a letter to someone - I wasn't sure who - the Attorney General, maybe? - and tell what had happened to her. I typed "hospice fraud" into the search ...[Read Full Post] Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:31:32 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/646576 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** My mother loved maple fudge, maple donuts, just anything maple. I can never pass up buying maple-flavored anything, whether it's donuts or candy. As an example, yesterday when Charles and I were driving home from spending the weekend at his company ranch, we stopped at Bucky's (my idea - I wanted to sto...[Read Full Post] Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:03:02 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/646355 Thank you all for your sensitivity and kindness in your comments to my last post. I almost didn't make that post public after struggling through getting it written because I thought it seemed indulgent and that I should quit harping on the hurricane and Bolivar Peninsula. At the last minute, I impulsively changed the access to "make public, allow...[Read Full Post] Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:30:49 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/646286 **It has taken me hours (literally) to struggle through this post. Consequently, the time frame I began writing about was much earlier. I offer this explanation because I don't want to change the entry. I'm leaving it as it was written, beginning at about 5:00 this afternoon.** It's storming here - heavy rain, lots of thunder and ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:21:09 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645731 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** One of the stories from Ike that I've never been able to get out of my mind is the story of a Crystal Beach woman named Gail Ettinger. Here is her story. Gail Ettenger made her last phone call at 10:10 p.m. She was trapped in her Bolivar Peninsula bungalow with her Great Dane, Reb...[Read Full Post] Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:48:50 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645570 [Link: 'http://picasaweb.google.com/kayspage/HurricaneIkeAftermathSixMonthsLater?fe...'] Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:37:32 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645526 Hold on a minute. Maybe I should have been more concise in my comments about Bolivar Peninsula. The small town of Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula is the furthest thing you could get from a resort community and none of the residences in Crystal Beach could ever be described as "sumptious private residences." Probably 85% of the "beach house...[Read Full Post] Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:32:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645459 Today is our 32nd wedding anniversary. When we got married, we were both such babies, April 15th was just another day to us. It didn't really occur to us that we were getting married on Tax Day. Not until people would ask when our anniversary was and we'd tell them and they would say, "You got married on Tax Day?!" Now, 32 years later, as...[Read Full Post] Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:16:34 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645441 Hey, where is everybody? Did Easter do all of you in, or what? I had a very pleasant Easter Sunday, thank you very much for asking. My son was home from college for the weekend (although my other son took off with friends to parts unknown for the weekend) and we had a fun, relaxing (HA! not with four rambunctious grandkids under 6 - no way), excit...[Read Full Post] Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:34:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/645050 Oh my gosh! Charles and I just watched the movie 7 Pounds!! I can't tell you anything about it, because if I do, it will spoil the entire movie, but I absolutely loved it. Charles thought it was a really good movie too. I cried my eyes out, so if you watch it, be prepared with some Kleenex. It's available on DVD and if you're looking f...[Read Full Post] Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:25:09 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/644889 A woman in Haltom City, Texas (Dallas area, I believe) called 911 from a restaurant to report that she didn't get enough shrimp in her shrimp fried rice. She was quoted as saying, "what has to happen to get a police officer up here?" Excuse me, but can I just say: ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? HOW MANY KINDS OF STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:47:54 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/644636 Well, I watched all of the episodes of In Treatment that I had DVR'd, so I got my Gabriel Byrne fix. He is one good-looking man. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep watching it though, because it just irritated the heck out of me. Maybe last year when I was watching it, I was overcome by Gabriel Byrne's good looks and charm to the point that I overlook...[Read Full Post] Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:33:57 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/644435 Did I mention that our Arby's burned to the ground here in Pasa-get-down-dena? Yep, it did. Half the town was gathered around the area that was roped off with yellow tape and police cars, watching it burn as a ladder truck dumped water on the roof and thick gray smoke billowed out from the eaves. Like any typical curious good citizen, I parked my car a few bloc...[Read Full Post] Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:41:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/644231 I am a member of ABC Club (the name has been changed to protect the innocent - namely me) and periodically receive emails from them - well, advertisements in email form. Take a look at the subject line in the one I received today: Portable tasking is not so tasking with ABC Club Normally, I just delete the emails without even looking at them...[Read Full Post] Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:21:35 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/643953 Well, well, well, well, well. I have the most incredibly good news. The timing of this news is uncanny, given the subject matter of my blog yesterday. (And BTW, thank you all for your very supportive and encouraging words!) I'm sure you have all guessed the nature of my news by now, but no matter, I'm still compelled to spell it out. I received t...[Read Full Post] Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:24:15 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/643700 My brother called me last night. He was calling from work, on a break, and had apparently been caught up in thoughts and reminiscing about the last several years of our lives and all the turmoil that ruled those years. Mike works nights and his position as a supervisor often allows him the luxury of time to let his thoughts wander. So, it's not surpr...[Read Full Post] Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:14:28 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/643461 Yikes! I was up late last night - my old friend, insomnia, was paying a visit. I decided to check out Jimmy Fallon's new late night show. Holy crap! I don't even have the words to tell you how bad it was. I was embarassed for him. There is only one word for his opening monologue - CHEESY. His jokes (and I use that term very loosely)...[Read Full Post] Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:03:00 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/643365 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I ask you, is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby? This particular cutie-pie is my grandson, Ray. Today was a Mimi day - all four of my grandkids were here at some point. The day started with this little darling. He stayed with me while his mother took his brother, Isaiah, to a c...[Read Full Post] Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:59:40 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/643214 I'm feeling rather 'random' this morning, so prepare yourself to be yanked from one subject to another with absolutely no warning. In search of some inspiration this morning, I perused the WDC site, reading snippets of blogs that I have never read before. From that exercise, I have deduced that this particular strain of malaise is rampant...[Read Full Post] Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:49:48 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/642928 I don't have a lot to say today, it seems. I've been sitting here having a stare-down with a blinking cursor for a couple of hours. Oh, I've written a phrase here and there, but my backspace key has gotten quite the workout. I'm happy to report that it works quite well. You should be happy about that, too, since you've been saved from...[Read Full Post] Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:07:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/642844 Silly me. Apparently, I have been sadly misinformed. All this time, I've been saying Amsterdam, when I should have been using the correct pronunciation: HAMPSTERDAM. Aiden and Olivia, my 6 and 4 year old granchildren, came to see me last night and they were quick to point out that the nifty houseshoes I brought back for Aiden have the wrong...[Read Full Post] Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:22:18 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/642155 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Incredible, historic, medieval, majestic Brussels - what a delight it was! On a whim, we took the train to Brussels-about a 2 ½ hour trip. The Central Station was a beehive of activity, but it was nothing compared to what greeted us on the street. Throngs of people, cars and motor-scoot...[Read Full Post] Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:29:58 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/641793 It's another fine day in Amsterdam. It's a little overcast, but still dry and the weather is wonderful. Just the right amount of cold - not enough to make you shiver, but just enough for me to get some use out of those gorgeous sweaters that I never get to wear at home in Houston. Hubby is at the conference all day today, so it's Girls&#39...[Read Full Post] Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:10:29 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/640815 I don't have much time to write this - my battery is about to die on my laptop, but I uploaded some of my favorite pics that I've taken so far. You can view them on my Picasa Pics page at: [Link: 'http://picasaweb.google.com/kayspage/Amsterdam0309?feat=directlink'] Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:14:13 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/640730 Just landed about an hour ago at Schipol in Amsterdam. Long, long flight, but on the plus side, I watched two and 3/4 movies that I've been wanting to see. The first one was Doubt with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It wasn't as good as I expected, but it's always worth it to watch anything that either of those two are in. A...[Read Full Post] Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:04:12 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/640480 Hubby and I will be jetting off to Amsterdam tomorrow for a week-long stay. He is going to attend a petroleum engineers conference and I am tagging along to... what else? Shop, go to museums, shop, go to Delft, shop, hang out in my hotel room and write in the peace and absolute quiet with no chance of being interrupted, shop, and then shop more. I don&#3...[Read Full Post] Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:37:49 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/640221 I've figured it out. The way I've been feeling for the last few days was apparently anticipatory depression. Take a look at the email message I received this morning: The Court advised our office that it would require a hearing on the approval of your Final Account. Ordinarily, accountings are approved without any kind of a hearing, and ne...[Read Full Post] Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:49:25 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/639979 For whatever reason, I have been extremely sensitive lately. I'm not sure why - maybe it's just another ugly tentacle of that monster menopause. Whatever the cause, it's not fun being me right now. I'm hoping this won't last long - whatever this is. I've tried to stay upbeat, concentrate on the positive, all the stuff I kno...[Read Full Post] Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:58:51 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/639826 Hmmmmm.... I am a bit puzzled. Where is everybody? Has everyone gone out and found themselves a life or something? I mean, I know it's springtime and all, but this is spooky. For the longest time, it was nearly impossible for me to keep up with reading everyone's blogs and comment in them. I even found a few other good blogs that I just didn'...[Read Full Post] Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:12:53 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/639764 My buddy [Link To User partyof5] and I have had a running conversation lately. I've been sending him all the "Texanisms" I can come up with concerning folks of a certain ilk. (Excuse me for a moment while I go off on a tagent... Don't you just love that word ilk? If you've been paying attention - otherwise known as 'hanging on my every word', you'll have noticed that I've become fond of using that word lately. It's a great word. Become friends with it. Bud...[Read Full Post] Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:50:27 EDT http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/639415 I'm in Austin this weekend, visiting my baby boy. I'm sure he wouldn't take kindly to me calling him that, since he's a 6'2" junior in college who's 22 years old. Nevertheless, he still is, and always will be 'my baby.' Here's a picture of my baby and his girlfriend of 3 years, Tiffany. ** Images For Use By Upg...[Read Full Post] Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:18:53 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/639235 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:55:11 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/638611 Didn't the President just get a new dog? I have a great idea for a new bumper sticker. It could make millions. First, we put a pic of PO (that would be President Obama) alongside his new dog, hereafter known in certain circles (this one) as Toto. The sticker will have the words, We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Huh? Huh? What do you t...[Read Full Post] Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:15:55 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/638604 Is it just me or does anyone else out there get the feeling that our brand-spanking new President is sooooo out of his depth? Every time I see him on the news or in a news clip or picture, he looks just a little more freaked out. Reminds me of the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for." I really do hope he proves me completely wrong over ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:08:11 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/638546 Check out my other blog at: [Link: 'http://kayjordansworld.blogspot.com/'] for a slideshow of the Houma Mardi Gras Parade. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:27:31 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/638307 I have to say I've been pretty lazy about getting the pictures uploaded that I took at Mardi Gras. I bought a new IPhone and, truth be told, I've been spending all of my time playing with my new toy. I'm the biggest electronics gadget geek ever. I have also spent a fair amount of time trying to upload the videos we took from the handy cam to ...[Read Full Post] Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:27:05 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/638206 Well, I'll be darned. I have had an absolutely charming day with some of the most wonderful people. I am in Houma, Louisiana at this very moment. Hubby got a promotion, moved over to a different division within the same company and his new boss invited insisted that he attend Mardi Gras in Houma this week. The new boss is part of a crew here i...[Read Full Post] Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:52:37 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/637194 My name buddy [Link To User mkay] wrote a blog a couple of days ago about her grandmother catching a chipmunk in a Doritos bag. If you haven't read it, well you need to skeedaddle on over there and read it because it's hilarious. The other reason I mention it is because it reminded me of something that happened at our house once that I still la...[Read Full Post] Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:02:13 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/636631 I'm conflicted. My son has come back to the fold. He has blogged two days in a row. I'm trying to contain my excitement to keep from jinxing it. This kid (well, he's a kid to me - he's actually a "grown-ass man", as he puts it - he's 24) anyway, he has a killer sense of humor. He apparently also has an extremely out-of-control...[Read Full Post] Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:27:30 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/636503 I can't keep quiet any longer. I'll probably get in trouble for this, but I've never been one to shy away from controversy. I am compelled to write about a little-known tragedy of Hurricane Ike. I've held my virtual tongue as long as possible and now the words must come tumbling out. Bear with me as I set the stage. Anyone who has eve...[Read Full Post] Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:28:46 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/636142 Remember how I went on and on a while back about finally getting all the paperwork to the lawyers so they could draw up the final accounting to send to the judge for approval so I could FINALLY, after one, two, three, FOUR long years get my dad's estate closed out? Well, that was just the first step, it seems. The second step has been getting tho...[Read Full Post] Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:52:26 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/635600 Some days, it just isn't worth chewing through the restraints. I read those words on a refrigerator magnet at my daughter's house yesterday. She has had that magnet for a long time, but it's on the side of the fridge, not the front, so I don't notice it all that often. But every time I do, it makes me laugh al over again and...[Read Full Post] Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:09:25 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/635436 For the last two nights, I have taken Tylenol PM to help me sleep. Holy crap! Apparently it's been so long since I took any that I completely forgot the TOTALLY FREAKING BIZARRE dreams it causes me to have. My dream factory was on overdrive and I woke up this morning with the following thought in my head: Where the heck did that come from? ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:03:20 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/634857 Will somebody please shoot me and put me out of my misery? I have spent the last two days fielding calls about a car we are trying to sell. It's the last car from our completely misguided (and when I say misguided, I mean STUPID) attempt at buying used cars at an auction and selling them for a profit. Not one of our brighter moments. So, after ma...[Read Full Post] Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:09:59 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/634641 I only have a couple of things to say tonight - really quick before the blog police show up on my doorstep and demand that I make an entry. I hate when that happens. I feel so violated. I want Tor to hurry up and get back here where he belongs. I have a great "oxymoron" story to tell him. It's too good to hold on to, though,so I simply mus...[Read Full Post] Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:56:47 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/634183 Lately I have felt like a sputtering car that goes in fits and starts and idles so roughly that it ceases to run whenever it comes to a stop for too long. That's me. As long as I keep moving, I may be sputtering and uneven, but I keep going. But when I see a stop sign coming up and I have to slow down and eventually come to a complete stop, even mome...[Read Full Post] Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:20:07 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/633640 After the much ballyhooed announcement a few days ago of the AD36 fat virus, I've been faithfully monitoring the news for any further developments. And by faithfully monitoring, I mean occasionally thinking about it when I happen to catch a bit of news between Nip/Tuck and Leno. I'm here to report to you today... NOTHING. Not another word have I ...[Read Full Post] Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:16:10 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632897 ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** KATHLEEN PHIFER My step-mom passed away this morning at about 12:45. She and my dad were married for 45+ years. I'm not sure of the exact number of years because I didn't get to spend any time with them as I was growing up. I was a baby when my mom and dad divorced and I di...[Read Full Post] Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:42:50 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632575 Well, Glory Hallelujah! Finally science is making itself useful to the Average Joe or Josephine. It seems that a Fat Virus has been discovered. I knew it! I knew there had to be a reason that I no longer have the svelte body of my youth. I knew there had to be an explanation for why I avoid mirrors at all costs and when I do accidentally catch a glimpse ...[Read Full Post] Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:31:20 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632294 I just spoke with Debi. She talked with the nurse at the hospital who told her that they have given Eric something to control his vomiting. He is resting some now. They want to scope him to try to figure out what is going on, but can't do it until they control the vomiting. His blood pressure is very low also right now. Debi sounded a lot calmer ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:05:55 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632075 I just spoke with Debi Wharton. Eric was taken to the hospital this morning by ambulance. He is very sick, they don't know what's wrong, he is in intensive care in critical condition. Debi is on her way driving from Mississippi. She is a wreck, so please pray for her safety, as well. Please pray for Eric. Debi's son lives in Knoxville, s ...[Read Full Post] Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:04:04 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632057 Here's a quick update on my friend who was shot the other day. He put his hand up to protect his head after he was shot the first several times and fell on the ground. One of the shooters tried to shoot him in the head as he moved his hand up to cover his head. He played dead after that so they would hopefully believe he was dead and it apparently w...[Read Full Post] Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:15:20 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/632006 Thanks to everyone for their great comments on Maverik and his Kolache Kaper! What he got in to in the trash bag was a not-quite-empty can of white latex paint. Eli washed it off of him as much as he could, but he still has some that will just have to wear off. Here's a picture after his first scrubbing. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ...[Read Full Post] Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:00:03 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/631721 The ever-curious Chocolate Wonder Lab, Maverik, was roaming around my son's house the other day - click-click-clicking on the tile as he ambled through the living room, past the kitchen, heading to the back door. **Sniff, Sniff** Wait a darn minute, here, he thought as he passed a trash bag stuffed full of every manner of detritus accumulating...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:12:07 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/631533 I'm sorry but I just have to comment on the hideous pantsuit that Hillary was wearing for her first press conference as Secretary of State. Did anyone notice it besides me? I operate as a member of the clothes police often in my own hometown, but I had to break protocol and go outside the boundaries of my territory in this instance. I mean, seriously...[Read Full Post] Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:45:20 EST http://www.Writing.Com/main/books/entry_id/631515