The Unfolding of the Day

Ah...our very first stay-at-home Thanksgiving. That's right. Jerry is 51 and I'll be the big 5-0 in a very short while and today was the first time we have ever just stayed home and had our own Thanksgiving dinner. Just me, Jerry, Nicole, and the two dogs, Gordy and Georgi.



Gordy and Georgi didn't get any of the "good stuff." They had to make do with their regular fare, but they did get an "Oinkie" rawhide and sure did seem to enjoy that!



We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and it was delicious. We used the good china. My mom gave me the china she and dad got when they got married a long time ago. Of course, we rarely use it because it requires handwashing, but for only 3 people, it's not a big chore.



You should see this china - it used to be so ugly to me and now I love it. Let me see, maybe there is a photo online I can grab. Yep, yep... this isn't photographed as good as it could be, but you get the idea:

So, we enjoyed our delicious dinner, and afterwards, Nicole and I decided it would be fun to go see the Twilight movie.... so we did! And it was good. I just hope my daughter doesn't fall in love with a vampire, but that really isn't fit conversation for Thanksgiving Day, now is it?

We also heard on the radio that the mall is opening at midnight. Guess who is going shopping? Oh yeah. Me and the kid. Jerry has to work tomorrow. We're going to my dad's for ANOTHER dinner that we don't have to cook - wooohooo! Two Turkey Days and then....oh yeah.... my surprise party!

Jerry has been watching some never-ending Pink Floyd concert on cable. No kidding it was on while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was on the morning. It's almost 7pm and the darn thing is STILL ON.

This may require kidnapping of the remote or some kind of intervention.

Maybe I'll pop in a Sound of Music DVD - that should do it.

"I've got confidence in sunshine...."

Thanks!

So, the Brazil nuts will have to wait for bit. Here it is a kind of work Friday since we're closed the rest of the week...

and then we're off for a couple of days of family time.

I might not post for a couple of days because I have to actually COOK for my own little family tomorrow. Then, we're getting together with the rest of the family on Friday for another T-Day dinner. THEN...surprise! I have my super-secret surprise party on Saturday. Woohooo!

Did you read that up there... I am cooking. Somehow, I have always escaped hosting Thanksgiving dinners, but this year everyone is scattered off in different directions for Thanksgiving Day. Luckily, it's just Jerry, Nicole, and me, so cooking is really no big deal, but it sounded dramatic. Jerry is a much better cook than I am, but I decided to take this adventure on and am going to embrace it.

I am truly thankful for all the blessings bestowed upon my family and even the trials as I know they are really blessings yet to be. Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving things:

Thanksgiving

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

by Samuel F. Pugh

"O God, when I have food,

help me to remember the hungry;

When I have work,

help me to remember the jobless;

When I have a home,

help me to remember those who have no home at all;

When I am without pain,

help me to remember those who suffer,

And remembering,

help me to destroy my complacency;

bestir my compassion,

and be concerned enough to help;

By word and deed,

those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Amen."

...and just in case I don't make it back here this weekend, know that I love you guys and wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings - filled with joy, laughter, family, and friends.

Blessings!

Whirling Dervishes and Nuts

People... how does life spin so quickly at times? I feel like a whirling dervish.

I could go on and on about the details, but they're not too exciting and I could be typing about something much more interesting.

Like real whirling dervishes. Is "dervishes" a word?

Ever actually ever seen a dervish whirl? You can do that here. (Now, there are other whirling videos on YouTube, but I picked a quick one.)

According to something I read online, here are the basics:

The ritual whirling of the dervishes is an act of love and a drama of faith. It possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual dervishes strive to achieve a state of trans. The music that accompanies the whirling from beginning to end ranges from somber to rhapsodical; its effect is intended to be mesmerizing. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a synthesis which, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, of ecstasy, of mystical flight.

Really rather beautiful, isn't it?

I love learning stuff. Maybe tomorrow, I'll tell you what I learned about Brazil nuts not too long ago.

Brazil nuts?? Yeah. I started wondering how they grew, did they really come from Brazil? etc...

Now don't get me started on the poisonous cashew...

So, when you feel like your life is in a whirl, just spin, spin, spin!

Colonel Update and More

The Colonel's wife called yesterday and said he had been released and was at home. Seems he is obsessed with work, but I can assure you, according to the phone in his office, there hasn't been even one message left in his absence. This will probably tear him up when he gets back, so I hope someone calls over the weekend.

And other sad news... my sister-in-law, Jana, lost her dad yesterday. This is the sis-in-law who is throwing my surprise party next Saturday. Jana's dad was a real character - he had his Masters in music and was once a really good jazz pianist. Arthritis set in and he gave up that gig and became a teacher. He was, however, kind of crochety, but funny. And could the man cuss! Always, of course, choosing a most unopportune time to do so.

Jana and my brother are 43. They have been a couple since the 7th grade. So, Jana's family has been our family for a long, long time.

We'll miss you, Joe Walker.

Uh Oh

The Colonel had a stroke.

Really.

He's in intensive care today, but seems to be improving.

Um...I'm feeling pretty bad for making fun of the man. Of course, it was all true, but right now I'll pray for him and his wife.

He needs to get back or it will be pretty boring around here.

Surprise!

I can't believe it... I am going to have a surprise party. So, why do I know? Because my family is goofy, that's why!

My brother and sister-in-law decided I needed a surprise party for my 50th birthday. Now, I am not a big party fan. They know this and don't care. I love them.

Actually, I haven't had a real party since I turned 18. See, my birthday always falls right around Thanksgiving, plus my dad's birthday is the day before mine, so we've always kind of shared all of it at once - Thanksgiving and the birthdays.

But, my party-planning sis-in-law (Jana) can't control herself. Do you have one of those in your family? The one that decides all holidays will be at her house, decides the menu, and organizes every detail? That's Jana. At first, it used to bug us, but now it's so easy to let her run with it. She LIKES it. So, we all bring things, help her clean up, but we don't have the stress of, "is my house clean," "where will we find extra chairs at the last minute, " "who's getting stuck at the kiddie table," and all those nerve-wracking items.

Okay, Lynda... you still haven't said how you found out. Alright already. My stepmom called and asked if we wanted to do Thanksgiving at the ranch on Friday instead of Thursday because my brother was picking up my mom at the airport on Thursday. Mom? She never comes for Thanksgiving and always comes for Christmas. We do Thanksgiving with Dad (birthdays, etc...).

So, I ask Jerry if he knew my mom was coming for Thanksgiving...he squirmed and pretended like I was speaking Chinese. Like I could just wake up and order fried eggs in Beijing. This meant I had only one option. Call my sister.

Now, my sis, Susan, can't not tell. I say, "Why is Mom coming for Thanksgiving and why didn't I know?" She says, "Okay, but you can't tell Jana I am telling you....blah blah blah." And there you have it.

They were good, though. They got the email addresses of all my friends and sent them Evites for the Saturday after Thanksgiving (my actual 50th birthday). It's going to be an open house, so people can come and go as they like. Quite frankly, I didn't think anyone would come during the holiday weekend (understandably so), but Susan assures me more than I think are coming.

For the first time, I am really looking forward to a party.... I think some of my friends that came to my 18th birthday party will be there. I can't believe I am going to tell you this, but on that cake, this was written: She's a woman now! (18 was the legal age in Texas way back in that other century)

So, I guess this one will say, "She's an old woman now!"

I can take it... why? because I embrace it. I am happy to be 50. I feel really blessed to have such a loving family and caring friends. Life really is good!

One of THOSE Days!

I haven't stopped hopping since I got into work, so I'll just have to do a better post tomorrow.

Boy, are my legs tired!

hop*hop*hop*hop*hop

Friday-itis

My kid...yes, the pretty one in the picture on the right....is SICK again! Ugh.

She is wearing me out. She threw up right before first period (amazingly!). Because she got busted skipping last week and is scared to death to get her car towed (thank you Mr. Assistant Principal [aka Mr. AP] - you have no idea how much I value you!), she decided to check out with the attendance office.

Well, the attendance office said she had to have a note from her A.P. They called the Mr. AP and he brought her right into his office and called me. Lo and behold, he believes she really is sick - she was sweating like crazy, so we agreed to let her go home. Of course, Mr. AP and I had lots of discussion. We made her go turn in her math homework and finish the in-class project, then she went home.

I told her she wasn't going to work or running around tonight when she miraculously gets better. She was very agitated by that bit of information. If you're too sick to stay in school, you're too sick to work or play.

No fun Friday for me, now is it?

God bless my daughter. I need to find a way to get in her head to see what she's thinking.

Shock and Denial

So, the Colonel had his final this morning (see previous post) and, I can't believe this, was voted the one who attained the most benefit from the whole shabang.

*faint*

I heard his presentation and I have one word: smarmy. No lie. It was the epitome of smarminess.

I am digging that word, smarmy, right now. Let's see what it really means:

smarm·y
adj. smarm·i·er, smarm·i·est
1. Hypocritically, complacently, or effusively earnest; unctuous.

Now, for a dip in the Thesaurus:


Adj.
1. smarmy - unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; "buttery praise"; "gave him a fulsome introduction"; "an oily sycophantic press agent"; "oleaginous hypocrisy"; "smarmy self-importance"; "the unctuous Uriah Heep"; "soapy compliments"

Friends, if you just could've heard this. AND, and, and....the Exec. VP was on the line and spewed out how "proud" he was of the Colonel's progress. I am telling you, one of the "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" kids could've come up with a better presentation.

Who put the bar down on the floor with the rugs??

The Final

Greetings, all!

The Colonel is taking his sales "final" today. Yep, as you may recall, he went to a coaching seminar back in September and has had weekly conference call follow-ups since that date. It seems there was various forms of "homework" as well.

Today, he is to make a small presentation via conference call with our BIG boss listening in to the whole thing. Needless to say, he's a nervous wreck. He's not saying he is, but you can tell.

Unfortunately for the Colonel, he got snappy with our Executive VP on the phone yesterday. Subsequently, the Big Cheese (owner & president of our company) informed him that he might not be able to attend the conference call final and the Exec VP might do it in his stead.

The Colonel is fit to be tied!

If he doesn't shut his office door, I plan on making my own personal evaluation.

Updates to follow.

I think he might be missing the bathroom water coffee. The spring water is missing something.

Hmmmm......

Everyone Is Writing Letters

It appears in this grand place known as Bloggy World, letter-writing is the new "thing."

For a while, it looked like give-aways were taking over Blog Land, but that craze seems to be waning. The thing now seems to be to write. Write to whomever we have an issue. This could be our spouses, our bosses, our higher power, our political leaders, our teachers, our coaches, our merchants, or even our fairy godmothers. My favorite part of all these blog letters is when people emphasize a point by typing. like. this. That's when you know it's serious business.

So, to whom will I be writing today? My phone. That's right. The phone at work, so here we go:

Dear Work Phone,

You are brand new here and I want you to know how much you were wanted and wished for.

There's just one thing... you ring too much!

Really, phone, you've got to stop. Your predecessor was old. In phone years, he was probably 137, so he didn't have all your bling. No mute, no redial, no fancy voice mail system, no paging capabilities, and (gasp!), no Caller ID. I wish you knew how much we longed for Caller ID. In fact, we were paying for it all along, but couldn't utilize it.

But now, well, now it's almost a curse. That's right. I see that 770 number and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our Las Vegas rep is calling, and, by picking up the line, I will be trapped on the phone for at least 15 minutes of my actual life. And this 15 minutes will be spent listening to another old coot spout his theories of life and how things should be.

770 is just one of my fears. There's 859 (yep - Kentucky), the whiney baby, and 615 (Nashville), the slow-talker. Don't forget 727 (Florida), the begger, 504 (New Orleans) who, while extremely nice, rambles, and 832 (Houston), the cusser (funny, but a cusser nonetheless).

Phone, your manual doesn't tell me how to make MY calls go straight to voice mail. You two should communicate because I know you know how to do this. Couldn't you leave me a message with detailed instructions?

Please do me a favor and keep those area codes in a special queue and when you see them coming in, send them straight. to. the. colonel.

Welcome aboard, phone. Hope you make it to 137, too!

Sincerely,

Lynda

I Have...

Thanks to Betty for this one:

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

I HAVE….

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

And…

100. Ridden an elephant

Wow - I still have a lot to do!

What Do You Want?

The holidays are rapidly approaching and I want to start shopping. But, (another BIG "but")I am stumped. Now, have no fear when it comes to the 16 year old - I have thousands of ideas - all provided from the source, so that's not an issue.

How about for parents that have whatever they need and want?

How about for the husband who doesn't really have a specific hobby, so there's no buying golf stuff or fishing stuff, etc...?

How about for sisters? brothers?

I can't spend a ton of money, but I would like to get these people nice things or things that mean something more than, "here's a gift because it's Christmas" gift.

So, I'm not asking you for ideas for my peeps in particular, but what have you received that you treasure or what have you given that was a big hit? Or what do YOU want this year??

Help a gal out, won't you?

Giving It Up

Monday morning and a storm is approaching. I guess it's another front heading our way. That's okay... anything that brings more "coolness" is a good thing. I can just hear The Fonz making his "Ayyyyyyyyyyy" noise right now.

I was visiting someone's blog the other day and she was letting people post their secret confessions - anonymously, of course. I was amazed at all the hurt and pain people have been carrying all alone for so long. Why do we do that?

Why are we so scared that people know we have problems or issues? What makes us think people will think less of us if we're not all "together?" And, who really is? Of course, why are we so shocked when people we think ARE all together aren't?

Or is it just me?

Then again, there are people that ALWAYS want to tell their problems and issues. I mean, to excess...that's a whole other post.

Now that I am about to be 50, I realize I have learned a few things along the way:

I don't have to be perfect.
I don't have to do everything perfectly.
It's okay to ask people for help - people will surprise you more often than not - they WANT to help.
God does love us and is always good.
Laugh a lot.
Share.
Most of those old sayings are true... you know which ones I mean.
You never regret telling your loved ones that you do. Love them.

And now, it's time for me to begin my work day. What is your, "One thing I know for sure" thing? (thanks to Oprah for the wording of that question)

Friday Wrap-Up

The week has gone so quickly for me. We've had drama (read: daughter has been skipping school), resolution (read: got caught by the assistant principal), consequences (read: in-school suspension today along with some grounding and removal of privileges by mom and dad), and hopefully we're on our way to a peaceful weekend.

On top of all that, I've been training a new employee, Wendy, all week. She has had to sit right next to me - that doesn't bother me at all - but, with the school calling, etc... it has been a bit uncomfortable. Wendy doesn't work Fridays so I feel a bit more free. I sure am grateful to have her as our business has tripled in the last three months.

When I first started here in May, I thought I would go bonkers because it was so slow, but they kept telling me to just wait - it would get busier. They were right! But, none of us knew we would be THIS busy.

Fortunately for us, when the economy is bad, we're doing great! Unfortunately, that means many others aren't doing well. I hope we come to a healthy balance soon.

So far, we have no plans for the weekend. It's supposed to be absolutely gorgeous weather. See?

It's hard to get used how early darkness falls, but I like it...it feels like Christmas is coming!

What one word describes how you feel right this moment?

Diverticulitis

Oh yes, that's what I said.

No, not me. The Colonel. He couldn't come to work yesterday because he has diverticulitis.

Now, let me ask you...if you had it, would you TELL people. I mean, really, he sent an email to me, the owner of the company, and our VP saying it was flaring up and he just needed to stay home.

The visuals I got were not conducive to good health.

Now we both have a pain in the rear.

Still Alive!

I have a little dilemna... I always do my posting at work and I am training someone this week. So, she is sitting right next to me! Of course, I couldn't possibly show her everything I do. After all, she was hired to help ME.

Of course, I guess I could use a ghost writer.

Don't give up on me. I'll be back on track soon.

Nineteen Years Today

November 1st.

19 years ago on Grand Cayman Island, Jerry and I got married in a church that my great-great grandfather help found.

We spent a wonderful week there doing, well, just what newlyweds do. And we also enjoyed the Caribbean more than I could ever express here. When I close my eyes, I can imagine hearing the constancy of the surf. It was so relaxing and peaceful.

We snorkled and swam and did a lot of lounging.

Today, we had a really nice lunch together and wondered where 19 years went. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were standing in that VERY hot church waiting for the minister to be ready. Later that night, we went to an extremely nice restaurant built over the sea and once the dock light came on, tarpon would swim up to be fed.

Afterwards, we went back to the hotel, changed into our casual clothes and went to Pirate's Week festivities at West Bay, which is where my grandfather was born and grew up. We ran into a lot of cousins and had big fun.

We're happy to say we love each other more now than then.

Here's hoping a lasting love for all who read this post.