Apparently

I mentioned this a bit ago - and today received word of the first charity that STG is supporting.

You can read all about it by going here.

Read about how the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice will match dollar for dollar contributions made to aid victims of Hurricane Charley.

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Apparently - bob's my uncle - well, no, not really - but, good grief, he apparently thinks he is. I have been deleting bob after bob after bob spam. He has several different isp's and as many different email addresses. Sheesh! Bob - get a different hobby - poker,poker,poker - is that ALL you can think about?

Apparently.

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Well, my bags are packed and I'm ready to go . . . . leaving on a jet plane. Yup, all set to go - one last day of work and I am on my way. I plan to go in at 8:30 and work straight through until 2:30 with no lunch break. Then I can come home and relax a bit (you know - relax - wash dishes - straighten the house - reLAX!) before grabbing a shower and heading out to the airport here for the short hop to Anchortown.

Not sure if I will be able to do it - but I might pop in for a quick hello from time to time. It just depends on whether or not I can use my friend's 'puter - and more importantly - if I really want to. ;-)

But there will be a report when I get home - okay?

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Tomorrow is the day - first day back to school for S, M, and D. The kinders don't get their first day until NEXT week. Miss J is a tad upset about that - she thinks she ought to be able to go to school NOW. Poor, poor teacher. Heh. Master T is excited about going to school, too. HIS teacher has a piano in her room. Very cool, bubby.

Well, that's it from me. You all be good and enjoy the next coupla weeks without the moose.

see you soon.

Strengthen the Good

I mentioned this a bit ago - and today received word of the first charity that STG is supporting.

You can read all about it by going here.

Read about how the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice will match dollar for dollar contributions made to aid victims of Hurricane Charley.

As with anything of this nature, please do your own investigation and decide for yourself if this is something that you can support. I will leave these links here for the next little while - actually, probably until I return from my trip to Ohio.

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Credit where credit is due. The lovely redesign of my blog was done as a surprise by my talented designing daughter, Lessa. I especially like the purple moose hiding back there in the background - you can see him before the page loads completely. Thanks, kiddo. Nice 'do. And, you know how I love to be surprised.

So, folks, if you are looking for a re-do of your own - Lessa's your gal. ;-)

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Okay, so I am coming down to the wire for my vacation. I leave Kenai Tuesday evening - fly to Anchorage - hop a jet to Chicago - another to Columbus, and arrive Wednesday afternoon. My friends will meet me and then comes the fun of just relaxing - doing as much or as little as we want - simply enjoying each other. There are some planned things as well, but mostly this will be a down time for me.

One of my friends from church tonight said it best - a time to heal - what a thoughtful and caring thing to say. I sometimes feel selfish for taking this extra time - after all, hubby and I just had a dream vacation in Hawaii for our anniversary - but then again . . . sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. I am blessed that he is so understanding about this - blessed to have the time off work - blessed to have friends who will put me up in their home.

And, it will be nice to get out of the smoke for a bit. Not sure, but it may be what is causing all of my sneezing and such. I'm sure that it is an allergy of some sort, but have not had it this bad in years past. So, perhaps it is all of the smoke still in the air from the various fires around the state.

Night, friends.

Favorites and things I did today

Favorite Olympics commercial:
Sea*y Mattr**s commercials - especially the synchronized (swimmers) sleepers. I giggle everytime I see it. Next is the top bunk high jump. Okay, so I am easily amused. It may also be tempered by the fact that I really could use a new mattress. zzzzzzzzzzzz snork

Over there to the left you will see a new button: Strengthen the Good. Please go to the website and check it out. We can all afford to do a little bit to help a lot. Thanks to Jenn for the heads up.

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Renewed my driver's license today. It is not due until my birthday in January, but I wanted to get it done before leaving on Tuesday. You see, my SS# was on the old one and I wanted that taken off - I really hate showing it all of the time anyway - and to have to show it umpteen times when traveling is just plain annowying. (the easiest way for identity theft to occur is with your SS#) ANYway - waited for an hour at the DMV in order to accomplish that - and, some people's kids . . . a guy came in with 6 kids - no mom in sight - and allowed them to run amok while he filled out a sheaf of paperwork, which in the end turned out to be mostly the wrong forms. Geesh! One of the kids kept bouncing a ball and almost broke the camera they use to spy on watch us the counter.

I also voted absentee today. Our primary is Tuesday and I just know that it is going to be a hectic enough day without having to try to remember to vote, too. So, that is done and I proudly displayed my "I VOTED TODAY" sticker.

Tomorrow? A baby shower to welcome twin daughters of friends - and then getting my hair cut for the trip. Woo-hoo! (method to my madness - get the new license BEFORE the haircut - makes it look like the license is older - HAHA! Of course it has the date AND time right there showing that I got it today.)

Well, this is a short entry - all together now, PHEW! - heh. I am going to close down and head out for the lounge chair to take in some zzzzz's - no, I mean to watch the Olympics. Yup, that's right, the Olympics. I must say that young Michael Phelps is impressing me beyond words with his actions of today. His mother must be so proud of him.

'night, friends.

No cover

When you were younger - or maybe even still - didn't you just love it when a club advertised a band and had those sweet words added . . .No Cover Charge. It was doubly nice if the band happened to be good - or your favorite - or you had a crush on the lead singer/guitarist/drummer/your pick.

All this week we have been treated to nightly performances of a local favorite band - at no cover charge. You see, the leader lives in the house catty-corner across from us. The band members pull up, park their vehicles, pop open the garage door, tune up the mics and instruments, and let go. They must have a gig coming up.

Sometimes it is good - sometimes it is tedious as they go over the same riff, the same drum solo, the same vocal line . . . over and over and over again. Sometimes it is extremely loud as the noise bounces off the houses and reverberates through the open windows (remember the "heat" story of a couple of days ago) and over the noise of the Olympics on our tv.

I will say this for them, however. They always close up by 10 p.m. at the latest. And, that is a blessing. I do sorta wish the drummer would improve - but then I always did like a good drummer.

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On a good note for us . . . it began to rain during the night. Yay! And, it is a steady dripping sort of rain. The air is a bit cleaner this morning and the temps have gone down a good 20 degrees. It was noted on the weather report last night that yesterday was the 44th day (not consecutive) this summer that Anchorage and areas surrounding had temps exceeding 70 degrees. That bested the previous record of 43 days. Today is a welcome reprieve.
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We had Employee Appreciation yesterday at our all staff meeting. The director baked her "better than s*x" cake which I had heard everyone rave about, but which I had not yet tasted. (can we say sinfully YUM? I knew we could) One of the supervisors had put together a couple of neat activities - one was a list of activities such as "I like to walk my dog" and we each had to go around to find someone to fit that category. The one that most people asked me about was scrapbooking, although I did sign a couple for country music. We only had two people who were born in Alaska. That was sort of cool.

Each supervisor gave her staff an appreciation card - as I have no staff, being a supervisor of one, I gave cards to the receptionist and another staff person, both of whom have helped me in various ways recently. We all received a certificate of thanks and a rose.

I had been asked by the activities person to put together a "slide show" and had a great time doing that. I dug through envelopes and boxes full of pictures showing how our agency got its start - from hole in the ground to today. Then I asked Lessa to do some scanning for me, and then I put together a power point presentation. Wow! That brought back a lot of memories - people who are now gone - people who have moved on to other jobs or towns - people who are now in elected office . . . and oh, my, the hairstyles!!!! One photo was greeted with "oh, that must be from the 60's" but in reality was taken in the early 80's. Does that say something about how far behind Alaska is in hairstyles and other such things? lol

The presentation had to be approved by the director before I could show it and I was a bit nervous about that because there were pics of her in there taken a long time ago. She doesn't like her picture taken much so I wondered if I would have to delete those. Thankfully, she flipped through the slides and approved it on the spot. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and I got a lot of comments that made it totally worthwhile.

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One of the photos brought back a lot of memories. It was a shot of the lady who hired us sight unseen to come from Ohio to live and work at the fish plant. It looks like she was one of the movers and shakers for our agency, too. It was cool to include her in the show and to let folks know that she was part of the reason I am here.
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Countdown: I leave for Ohio in five days. My friend has promised me as much time to myself as I need - as much together time as we both need - some snarfing about for Ohio historical markers - some fresh tomatoes from the garden (yay-yum). In short - a vacation!!! She is able to take some time off work herself, and we will go together to visit my aunt whose daughter recently died of breast cancer.

The reunion is on Saturday the 28th and I am looking forward to that as well. I have gathered up pins from the local mayors and our state senator and representatives to take for everyone. Am also taking some purple moose (of course) and a couple of t-shirts from our recent run. Those will be given as door prizes.

Not sure if I will get any computer time while at my friend's house. So there may not be any updates. But I will bring home pictures and maybe some stories to share.

Okay, folks, I need to get my act together and get dressed for work. I just had to quit writing long enough to run outside to take the trash can to the end of the driveway . . . not a pretty sight - I am in my robe, hair still wet from my shower - no time to get dressed because I could hear the truck coming down the street next to us. Phew! Made it back into the house before the men on the truck got a "treat" for their eyes - but the neighbor had a visitor just coming into her driveway. Sigh! So much for clandestine, eh?

Have a great day, everyone.

Burning up

Literally . . . Alaska is burning up. We have had a phenomenal summer. All sun and no rain. Sounds like a perfect summer, eh? Well, one would think so, but not for us here in Alaska.

Wild fires have been raging in the interior part of the state for months now. When Bluepoof and her friends visited from California via their motorcycles, there was a LOT of smoke in their path both coming to and going from Anchorage. Trust me – while that much smoke is bad enough when riding INSIDE a vehicle, it is that much worse while out in the open on a motorcycle.

But all of that was up north of us. We weren’t being bothered by the smoke so, while we were empathetic, we just went about our own business.

Yet we were H-O-T!!! We’ve been melting at an increasingly uncomfortable rate. Now, I know that to many of you who might pop in from time to time to read this – 75 degrees does not seem H-O-T. Trust me, it is. We Alaskans have become melted Popsicles. We are puddles of sticky goo. We are flat out uncomfortable.

Mornings are not so bad, mind you. As I type this my toes and my fingers are a tad chilly. By the way, it is amazing to me just how much warmer my feet feel when I simply put on a pair of birk sandals. You wouldn’t think, perhaps, that sandals would warm up your feet – but they do.

As the day goes on and the sun burns off the early morning fall fog, the temps begin to go up and up and up. Yesterday, in fact, they went UP so much here on the peninsula that one of our communities garnered the HIGH temp for the state – Cooper Landing hit 90+ degrees yesterday afternoon. Now, friends, that is H-O-T by ANYONE’s book, I’m thinking.

We also had an increased amount of smoke yesterday afternoon. It settled like a veil over Kenai and eyes teared as noses itched and we sneezed and sneezed and wiped eyes. Miserable. We blamed it all on the fires in the Interior, of course, because – what did we know? Apparently nothing. You see, there were four new fires yesterday, and two of them were within a half hour’s drive of where we live. THAT, my friends, is too close for my comfort.

I had wondered at one point yesterday why all of those sirens were going off. It almost sounded like the Emergency Siren, but not quite. Turns out that every fire company on the peninsula practically was called out to fight the fires. I don’t smell smoke this morning like I did yesterday, so perhaps their fight paid off.

I hope so. The entire peninsula is a tinderbox. It has been for years. The spruce were hit by the spruce bark beetle and we have lost most of them. A drive towards Homer or Anchorage is quite unsettling – to see all of those once stately green/black needled trees reduced to dry, shriveled up, red-brown shadows of themselves. Sigh. Add to the dryness of the trees, the overall dryness of the area, due to the no rain situation, and we are living in the midst of a tinderbox.

On a good note – even though I dread winter each year – the fireweed has topped out and that means that snow is only a few weeks away. We will probably see white in about 6 weeks or so. On a bad note – I understand that the height of the fireweed stalks supposedly tells you how deep the snow will be. If that is true, my friends, we are in for a LOAD of snow this winter. Better get the snow-blower tuned up and the studded tires ready for mounting.

Oh, and I need a new winter coat, too. I gave last year’s away because it had gotten too big on me. Of course, I could always wear my purple leather riding jacket. ;-)

tough anniversary

The pain lessens, but the memories never go away.

This is the sort of thing we hear each year. And, well intentioned they are - and tough to hear - but they will prove true . . . . eventually.

This is the fourth anniversary of our Jacey's homegoing. He would have been 6 years old 9 days from today. He would have been 2 years old nine days after his departure from us.

He was a bright eyed, cheerful little guy, always ready with a hug and a smile, full of life and mischief. He was the apple of the Ladybug's eye, and a joyous addition to our home.

One morning he did not wake up - and our world was turned upside down.

It is something that is hard to describe - something that is hard to overcome - something that is nigh impossible to watch your daughter and her family suffer.

I was asked to write something for his memorial program:

Jacey –
hair of flaming red
and eyes the bluest of blues
active boy running about in
your favorite Sesame Street shoes

for each visitor, a soft “hi!”
and little arms held up for a hug
then you’d smile and begin to twirl
and dance on the living room rug

you were our joy to know
right from the very start
your too soon departure leaves
gaping holes in our hearts

good night, sweet boy-
we’ll see you in the morning

Love, Nana

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Today is also Isaiah's 6 month birthday. I held him just a wee bit tighter tonight as I sang to him - each grandbaby gets to hear me sing to them on their birth-date each month for the first year. He smiled back at me and I couldn't help but notice that he has his brother Jacey's flaming red hair.

The Ladybug mentioned that she thinks it might be appropriate each year from now on to have a half-year birthday party for young Isaiah - to make a very sad time just a wee bit brighter.

It sounds like a fine idea to me.

Have a wonderful, peaceful Sunday, everyone.

Why Alaska??? Reasons

So, after my last entry Lorraine asked a good question . . . what made the moose move to Alaska.

The question is so very much easier than the answer - so bear with me, please.

Back in 1978 - oh, so very long ago - hubby and two young daughters and I were living in a quiet neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. We had a four bedroom, two story home, two vehicles, and hubby had a decent job where he'd been for about 4 or 5 years at the time.

We worshipped in a small (no longer so small) church and enjoyed visiting with traveling missionaries and preachers, often having them to our home for dinner after morning worship. One of those traveling missionary/preachers was from an even smaller church in Kenai, Alaska. I don't think he and his wife ever shared table with us, but we loved to visit with them after services and to hear their stories of church planting in Alaska.

One day the fellowship's magazine came in the mail and the cover photo was of that pastor - in a boat - on Cook Inlet - with Mt. Redoubt in the background. I was smitten - we didn't have much water around Columbus and had NO mountains at all! I read the accompanying article and called hubby at work. Our conversation went something like this:

me: honey, what would you say if I said let's move to Alaska?
dh: what in the world took you so long?

Fast forward to about 6 weeks later - several long distance conversations between us and that Alaskan pastor - a job offer from someone he knew, but dh would have to be in AK the following weekend to take it.

shivers of anticipation - lots of fretting and nervousness - set in. We had NO money, honey. How was this going to work? We both KNEW that we were supposed to be in Alaska. Hubby called the pastor back and accepted the position but told him that we didn't have to money for him to fly up in time to take the job. No problem, Pastor said, the owner will front your ticket and it will come out of your paycheck.

Now, mind you, the pay was not all that great - it is funny what you will do in order to achieve a dream that you know in your heart of hearts is the right one. Hubby accepted. He would fly up and the girls and I would close out our house and dispose of whatever furnishings would not be shipped up - in other words, dispose of EVERYTHING.

We had put feelers out on selling the house as soon as we had made the decision to move - even before we had the job offer. It sold almost immediately, and because it was an assumption, the deal closed in record time. We were allowed to stay in the house until time for the girls and me to follow hubby - which was a week after his departure.

To show you how RIGHT the move was - we sold our house, two cars, all of the furnishings, and had shipped up whatever was left, in a very short period of 3-4 weeks! Hubby flew to Alaska on Sept. 12th, 1978 and the girls and I followed on Sept. 19th. That was a loooooooonnnnnggggg week. Hubby and I had never spent more than one night apart in our 9 years of marriage.

We were soooooo ready to get to Alaska - to see hubby - to see daddy. To start our new life.

Let me tell you about the job that awaited us - I say "us" because it was to be a joint effort. We were the winter caretakers of a fish packing plant. We called it a cannery, although no canning had been done in that plant for years - fish was frozen and shipped frozen.

We had left our four-bedroom home to live together in an 8 by nothing trailer! ACK!!! That was how I always described the trailer - 8 by nothing. I'm sure it was a bit larger than that, but when you walked down the hallway and your hips scraped the sides, well that "nothing" had a bit more meaning to it. ;-)

We used a company truck to go to worship services - the ONLY time we were ALL allowed to be off-property at the same time. At all other times, either hubby or I had to be on property to watch over the boats stored for the winter. A couple of months later hubby had to take work off-site to boost our meager salary ($750/month plus trailer for living - woot!). When he did that I had to stay onsite whenever he was gone.

This was a true testing time for my spirit. In the dead of winter nobody else was around the plant - the staff had all been let go for the winter - the owners were in Hawaii most of the winter - hubby was at work all day - oldest daughter (8) was in private school - youngest (3) and I were home all day by ourselves. There was some mild depression that first winter - the LONG DARK, in more ways than one. I thank the Lord that He sent me good friends to bring me up and out of that darkness and back into the light - they were true God-sends.

It was not all dark, however. I absolutely fell in love with Alaska that first winter. Outside the trailer on one side of us was one set of mountains. On the other side was another set of mountains and the OCEAN!! (in the form of Cook Inlet). And, to the rear of the trailer, on the other side of the plant, ran the Kenai River. Oh, how glorious was the view!!! How quickly and how fast did I fall in love with Alaska that first winter.

There is, of course, much more to tell. But, this is already quite long, so I will stop for now. Maybe I will write onward at another time. Thanks for asking, Lorraine - for allowing me a trip down memory lane.

This is a test

or . . .

you know you live in a small town when . . . .

I grew up in a small neighborhood surrounded by a big city. There were hundreds of thousands of people living in my city - but I only knew the streets and blocks comprising my neighborhood.

I grew up in "the Bottoms" of Columbus Ohio. Okay, a nickel to the first person who can tell me what area that is - it isn't called that, even jokingly, now. It has a much posher name. But, the streets are the same - the neighborhood is the same - only the name has changed. I love talking to people who say they grew up in the area of Columbus that I did - but who have no clue where "the Bottoms" might be. Hmmmm - I say - are you SURE you didn't grow up in, oh, say Upper Arlington? Yeah, that is almost a swear word to those of us who grew up in "the Bottoms." Upper Arlington was the poshest of the posh - at least that is what we thought.

I grew up surrounded by many different ethnicities - but, oh my, we certainly did not call them that. My family is Irish - Irish Catholic descent. We rubbed shoulders with those of Polish descent and Italian descent. I'm sure there were others nearby, but those I am sure about.

We lived in Holy Family parish - an even smaller community within our community. That is how things went back then. You had "the" church on the main street - the convent right next door - the priest house (rectory) a block away - and the school yet another block over from there. All within walking distance.

Within that smaller parish community was the community of my family - my Dad's family, that is. Mom-Mom, the matriarch lived in a two story house one block further over from the school. Across her back yard lived one of her sons and his family. Across the street lived a daughter and her son and two doors down lived another son and his family. Down the street the other way lived my Mom and my sister and me - from the time I was 13 or so. Before that, when my parents were still together, we lived across the freeway over by two of the other daughters and another son.

We girls could - and did - walk from aunt to aunt on errands or to be babysat. We did a lot of walking then. Mom never drove - never got her license. We walked or rode the city bus. (we even used to have trolley busses in our town - I can remember the sparks that the wires made on contact with the overhead wires. And, oh, how the trolleyman used to get disgusted with the youngsters who would toss snowballs at the trolley to knock the wires loose, thuse causing a loss of power. (but I was a small girl when all that happened)

Mom walked to her job at the nearby hospital laundry five days every week - she walked back and forth to work, no matter the weather, and no matter how tired she was after a long day of extremely hot work. I know that my sister and I took her for granted - well, I guess I should only speak for myself. I feel badly that I never thanked her properly for her years of sacrifice for our little family.

Sis and I walked to school every day when we were in grade school. When we got to the ninth grade and attended high school, we had to ride the city bus - after walking three blocks away to catch the right one - we rode it to the end of the line (or very near) and then had to walk another three blocks or so to the school. We were in pretty darned good shape - for the shape we were in.

Communities within communities within the larger whole of a thriving city. All traversed with a sense of safety - a sense of family - a sense of being "home".

I think of that sometimes when I jump into the car to drive a block and a half away. I miss those sweet and innocent times. It is a fact of life that those times have to go behind us, but it is bittersweet, those memories.

Night all

That intoxicating smell

. . . of chlorine. AhhhhCHOO!

Today we celebrated the tenth anniversary of our first granddaughter's birth. Her actual birthdate is August 4th, but she wanted a pool party so it had to wait until today.

And much fun was had by all.

This looks toward the shallow end of the Nikiski pool. We used to have family swim time on Friday nights. That is, until Ladybug was too uncomfortably pregnant with the youngest - it has been quite awhile since we have all been there. The green "shroom is a water umbrella - off at the time this pic was taken by Lessa. That is the kiddie pool where, by the way, Nana Moosie spent most of her time today - gotta look after the littles, you see.

The water gets gradually deeper until you come to the Deep End where you will find the Big Toy - the water slide. Miss M and her friends and all but the littlest one got bracelets to go down the slide. Paw-Paw was exhausted after the second or third (fourth?) time down with one of the little guys. The picture makes it look pretty quiet here, but all of the action is in the kiddie pool (the Moose is ALWAYS where the action is, heh) or on the slide. ;-)

Speaking of being where the action is . . . check out the cake that the Ladybug made for Miss M. Nana found the perfect BRATZ® doll set - pretty nifty, huh? Ladybug used a super secret method and recipe to make the pool - but I'll bet if you ask her, she'll let you in on the secret. Pretty smart gal, that one.

We played hard in the pool - then adjourned outside to the play area where the littles romped and played to their hearts' content. Lessa fixed picnic wraps for everyone - presents were opened - and cake was shared. What more could a 10 year old ask for her special day?

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone.

juvenile delinquency

When I was a little girl – oh, so very long ago – I sassed my Mom . . .

One day – I was probably about 6 or 7 years old – I told her that I was running away – she was a mean Mommy and I was leaving. She said “all right – let me help you.” And, she packed a bag for me and set it beside me where I sat pouting on the front porch.

As you might well imagine, I did not run away that day. When my tummy reminded me that it was nearly dinner time, I picked up my bag and went back into the house where Mom had lovingly set a place for me at the table – just in case.

Just in case I came to my senses – just in case I cared to join her and the family – just in case she was right and I was wrong. She never lorded it over me. She was much too smart for that. She had spoken volumes without saying a word – in that one action of packing my bag so that I could leave whenever I so chose. She knew without saying so that there was no way I was going to leave, or if I did, no way that I was going very far.

Consider, however, what might happen in today’s world. A youngster gets a bit sassy and says that she is running away and Mom packs a bag. Do you know what would happen to that Mom (or Dad) if the child proceeded to go on a walkabout? Yup – a coupla hours in the nearest cop shop being grilled on what bad parents they were.

And, just who is calling the shots in this case? Mom-Dad? Nope! Cops? Nope, again! How about child protection services? Nope, not even them. No, the one calling the shots is the child who takes it into his or her head to go on that walkabout. The child has mom and dad and the police and even child protection services right where s/he wants them – and s/he can wriggle the worm on the hook and watch the baited ones squirm.

It’s a sad day – this day and age when we are not allowed – under any circumstances – to spank our children for misbehaving – to punish by taking toys away – to punish by confining to a room – to do anything other than allowing the little hellions to do completely as they want to do.

Just so you know – I am NOT in favor of child abuse. I don’t consider a swat to the padded backside of a child to be abuse. God provided a handy padding there and a swat will hardly hurt. A swat mainly gets the attention of the little truant long enough to allow him or her to listen. That is, if respect has been demanded and received in their younger years – if both parents are willing to stand together in disciplinary matters – if the child is made to understand that the family is a unit, not run by him or her alone – if we could just keep nosy, busybody folks (albeit well meaning) out of everyone else’s business but their own – if pigs could fly and rocks could sing. Yup, just as impossible as that, I’m guessing.

This old world of ours is in sad shape – and, just think, friends. The delinquent of today – is the leader of tomorrow, or at the very least the one who will be calling the shots. Seriously. The lack of respect of children, teens, young adults for their elders is frightening in and of itself.

While I remember the nuns rapping our knuckles with a ruler when I was small – I respected them as I grew up. We hear stories today of teachers who complain about having too many children in their classrooms – at 24 or 25 children – and I laugh, because the elementary classrooms I learned in had 30-35 children sitting at their desks. And, yet we rose whenever the teacher walked into the room and greeted him or her (not all of the teachers were nuns) with respect and a good morning. If a teacher dropped an eraser or piece of chalk, we vied for the joy of picking it up and handing it back. We begged to be allowed to carry bags home for them after school.

Was I any different back then, than the children of today? Only in that I suffered a swat on my britches – or some discipline – from time to time from my mother. And, I suffered it in silence and a deep respect for the pain I had brought her. Would that the children of today could appreciate the same thing.

Something's Pfishy

I'm sure that none of you would follow through on one of those phony emails from places such as e b a y - right? Right.

Received one today and instead of just deleting it like I normally would, I decided to report the pfishiness of the thing directly to e b a y and let them handle it. Sent them the entire email, header and all - let them sort it out.

They are grateful - or so their email messages have said - of course, along with the email messages are all of the warnings about NOT opening such emails, especially NOT to open any attachments one might come with - and all of the nice comments about how one should protect oneself, and one's identity and such.

So far I have not fallen prey to such as these - hubby did one time a few months ago and he entered panic city when it hit him that things were just a half bubble off plumb. He called the credit card company (!!!!) and had the number changed - new card sent out, etc. Then he called me to "fess up" to what he had done. Poor thang - I felt a tad sorry for him, but then just wondered . . . . WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??????

He is much more careful now. Lesson learned. the hard way.

So - how was your Tuesday? Mine was busy - but okay - and that is a good thing. Have begun working on the second non-profit's tasks set before me. ;-) Balanced their checkbook tonight - found a $50 error, in the bank's favor, but not a terrible mistake. All corrected now. Bills have been paid. That was an hour's work. (there were three months worth of bank statements!)

I'll need to get some supplies - stamps for one thing, and a file box to keep all of their paperwork in. Really, it is a small group so a file box will be plenty large enough.

Ahead
- getting their website back to functional and completely overhauled and brought up to date.
- start over on their newsletter; it has been a few months since one was published and they would like a monthly. I used to do it for this organization a LONG time ago - the newsletter needs work.
- get the vendors used to another pretty face
- get the suppliers used to bills being paid in a timely manner
- likewise the authorities getting used to paperwork being filed in a timely manner.

Geesh - I have my work cut out for me, huh? I'd better get out of here and get some sleep so I'll be all perky and ready for it tomorrow. You all have a wonderful Wednesday. See ya later.

Monday, Monday

Record breaking temps all over the Kenai Peninsula today. Whew! Yes, we glow quite heavily (because a lady does NOT sweat, you see) when the thermometer hits the upper 70's.

And, I am leaving for the 80's in three weeks. Heh - what AM I thinking? That it is gonna be SO much fun to visit with my friends - and my aunt - I am looking forward to visiting with them.

oh, and to see people I have had NO contact with since 1968 - yeah, that last one is a big winner, huh? Nah, we'll have a good time. I have fun whereEVER I go and with whomEVER I be. Yup - party on, moosie . . . snork.

Have had a couple of comments about not being able to get to the Ladybug's site - there is a reason I no longer have links to your websites, friends. I had a little troll awhile back and I don't want to inflict that troll's activities on all of you. She will soon tire of her antics - as will her buds - and then all will be well again.

However, if you want to see the Ladybug, just email me - addy up there in the upper right hand corner - take out the NOSPAM - and I will get it to you, 'kay?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Today was the first day of the new reduced hour schedule. Kinda sucked. Kinda made me a bit depressed and sad.

But you know what? The Lord has it all in His control. I have been fretting a bit because the insurance company has been dragging its feet about paying the bills from my little trip in the woods - and then today I received a check from something that I thought they were NOT going to cover. So, I just breathed a thank you, Lord and will get a nagging doctor bill paid off.

I think it is just His way of telling me that I should quit fretting and just let Him handle it all. Yup, I think so. And that just puts a whole different light on it, now doesn't it?

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday. I'm thinking mine will be just fine, itself.