Warm Watermelon Juice

Yesterday I read an article which said that the reason watermelon juice is not offered to consumers is because watermelons have low "squeezability" ratings. However, in the future, with new technology, watermelons will be squeezed, and you should find watermelon juice in your grocers juice section.

My grandfather used to play a joke on waitresses. Whenever he would go to a restaurant, he would request warm watermelon juice to drink. I'm sure he pulled the leg of many a waitress. The tables were turned on him once, however, when a friend of his called the restaurant in advance. That time when he requested warm watermelon juice, it was actually brought to his table! LOL

An American favorite for meals and snacks. People can’t seem to get enough of the sweet treat, and nutritionists have long appreciated the health benefits watermelon provides. Recently research has shed new light on its potential health benefits. Watermelon contains high concentrations of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases. Watermelon is fat free, nutritionally low in calories and considered an ideal diet food, and is high in energy, making it a great energy boost!

Watermelon, the fruit that is really a Vegetable. Watermelon can be traced back to Africa and is part of the cucumber and squash family. Early watermelons were mainly rind and seeds. Today's varieties are larger, the flesh sweeter, the seeds smaller and the rind thinner. It is perhaps the most refreshing, thirst quenching fruit of all. Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar, so it is aptly named. Americans eat over 17 lbs of watermelon each year. The largest one on world record (Guinness Book of World Records) weighed 262 pounds.

Nutritional Facts: Fat-free Saturated fat-free Very low sodium Cholesterol-free A good source of vitamin A High in vitamin C

Blessings

I have been blessed twice the past two days. Yesterday, I rolled through a stop sign at a four-way stop. A sheriff was sitting at another stop sign. I was so nervous, I forgot to give him the right-of-way and I took off before him. He didn't even stop me.

Today, same sheriff was sitting on the side of the road. I was going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone. Again, he did not stop me! Praise God!

I surprised the pool man this morning when I walked out onto the back deck wearing my pajamas. Wonder if he'll ever come back! I guess if he feels he's being paid enough.

Yesterday after school the girls and I played The Weakest Link on my computer. It was good practice of their history and geography knowledge and also their ability to speed read. K16 won $207,000; I won $155,000. If only it were real.

Hello, you have reached the__________Police Department voice mail. -To whine about us not doing anything to solve a problem you created for yourself, press1.
-To inquire whether someone has to die before we'll do something about a problem, press 2.
-To report an officer for bad manners when in reality the officer is trying to keep your neighborhood safe, press 3.
-If you would like us to raise your children, press 4.
-If you would like us to take control of your life due to your alcoholic or chemical dependency, press 5.
-If you would like us to instantly restore order to a situation that took years to deteriorate, press 6.
-To tell us that you know the Chief of Police and or some other very important person and that we should respond to your problem immediately, press 7.
-To sue us, tell us you?ll have our badge, that you pay our salary, or proclaim that our career is over, press 8.
-To hear this menu again, wrap aluminum foil around your head and turn around three times.

Fall Festival

The fall festival went well. K13 dressed as a cowgirl. K16 and I didn't dress up. I worked at the fishing booth. I got whacked on the head about 50 times with the clothespin at the end of the fishing pole. Made me think of my childhood:

When I was about five or six, my favorite booth at the festival was the fishing booth. I took it soooo seriously as I held that fishing pole in my hand. I wanted to throw the "hook" over the wall, but the booth worker always did it. I would stand patiently, waiting for "the tug" that told me I had something on my hook. In those days, we didn't get candy. We got prizes!!!!

When I was about 11 or 12, I went to a different school, different festival. My favorite booth there was the Spin Art booth because every year the man who owned the booth would pick helpers, and he picked me every year for some reason. My job was to take the ticket, explain to each kid what to do, encourage him not to use too much paint, turn the spinner on, turn it off, take the painting out and hand it to the kid. Doesn't sound too exciting now, does it? But I loved that job and I wasn't even paid. Oh, yeah, I did get to make one painting for free.

Our local Christian radio station's antenna is out, so we've been listening to a country station. So now I am a huge Tim McGraw fan! Also loving Rascal Flatts and Josh Turner!

We're going to a Shakespeare play this morning, so I've got to run!

Centipedes

We used to get doodlebugs, or what some call "roly polys", in our den. Now we are being invaded by centipedes. Relax, they're not the poisonous kind. If you are a centipede entering our home, your fate is determined by who finds you. If you are found by a cat, you are pawed to death. If you are found by our dog, she rolls over and over on you until you are flat. If you are found by my husband, you will be sprayed to death or sucked through the vacuum cleaner. If you are one of the lucky ones, however, you'll be found by me. I will put you on a piece of paper and let you free in the flower beds. I can't kill anything.

Friday night, me, R and my friend, R, took the girls to Ulta to look at makeup and then to a trip to the mall. It was a lot of fun. K16 bought a new sweater and a shirt at Old Navy. K13 bought some makeup, a hairclip, and some cool socks. We ate at the food court. It was a nice evening out. Tonight the girls go help set up for the fall festival, which is tomorrow. K13 is going to tape Smarties candies all over her jeans and go as a "smarty pants." I doubt K16 and I will dress up. I am helping run the fishing booth.Tonight R and I will have a nice dinner together and watch Wife Swap while the girls are setting up. Can't wait! Ah, it takes so little to make me happy these days!

The weather is beautiful today. Too bad I have ANOTHER doctor's appointment!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween or Happy Fall or whatever it is your family celebrates! I don't care what anyone says, if you have a fall festival on October 31st, you are still celebrating Halloween. What you are doing is turning something negative into something positive. What's wrong with that? It's an alternative. We have never celebrated with anything scary. We used to carve a Jack O Lantern every year and roast the seeds. Just haven't felt up to it the past two years.

A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween. ~Erma Bombeck
I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. ~Author Unknown

~be safe~

Freedom!

I did it! I deleted all 382 unread emails and 488 bulk emails from my box!!!! I even deleted previously read emails from last year! You don't know what a stress reliever this has been for me. Everyday I have dreaded going into my inbox to be faced a new total of unread emails. Woohoo!! I'm thinking about giving my dh the job of sorting through my emails from now on and weeding out the advertisements and junk that I just don't have the time for!

You have freedom when you're easy in your harness. ~Robert Frost

~bye 4 now~

Confrontation Day

Well, today we had our first confrontation between teachers. I am soooo glad I wasn't there. One teacher was being loud (joking with the students); the other teacher next door was in the middle of a tutoring session and asked him to be more quiet. From what I understand, it got a little tense. Well, the gloves are off now, and everything worked out. We'll see how next Tuesday goes.

For those interested, I finished my testing yesterday. So glad to have it done! We're ordering Chinese for lunch! Tonight is Bible study. We are starting the book of Ephesians.

There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works. -- Will Rogers

Happy B-Day, Dusti!

Dusti celebrated her first birthday on Wednesday, October 18th! She's lucky she made it to one year old. The morning of her birthday, the first thing she did was get too excited and pee in our bed! I knew I needed to wash my sheets; I didn't need a reminder!! We bought her a stuffed baby that looks just like her. She proudly carries "Baby" around the house and chews on its butt to make it squeak. The above doggies are made of flowers. Thought you'd get a kick out of that.

Saturday Post

I know that my blog has been completely boring for the past few months. Just nothing to say. Still trying to get adjusted to my new medications.

Mark Kistler, who is a famous artist (was on PBS years ago), is giving drawing lessons at our store. He has sent out over 20,000 flyers with our name on them! He is giving two workshops today. R even broke down a dividing wall between two classrooms to give him space for more students!

While K13 is at the Revolve tour, we decided to do something fun with K16, so last night we went to the drive-in movie. We saw Everyone's Hero, which was directed by Christopher and Dana Reeve. I spent the entire movie trying to figure out who was playing the talking baseball. (It was Rob Reiner.) Whoopi Goldberg was in it, as were Dana Reeve and William H. Macy. We also saw Flicka. I liked Flicka a lot but did not care for the defiant behaviour in the storyline. The horses were beautiful! Guess you can't have it all. Tim McGraw did a good job as the father. Not bad, $5 a person for two movies; but, alas, they always get you at the concession stand. Actually, the food there is decent and less expensive than regular movie theaters. $3.50 for a huge stack of nachos with chili and cheese.

Trivia: The word "Flicka" is a Swedish word for a girl.

~have a great weekend!~

Droodle Day #8

The title of today's Droodle is "Used All Day Sucker." If this is confusing, don't worry as there is another perfectly valid answer. If you turn the page sideways, it becomes "Postcard, Side View."

With the help of my wonderful two daughters and husband, our house has managed to stay relatively straight for over a week. Yippee!!! So any of you who'd like to "drop by" can now do that without causing embarrassment. I can even assure you that I will have an ice, cold Diet Dr. Pepper waiting for you in the fridge.

Ode to a White Duck

Ode to a White Duck

You always made me laugh and smile when you waddled in front of my van.
I watched you lead your little ones across the street.
How could anyone hit you with their car; you traveled less than a mile an hour.
Sometimes I would be irritated by you because you acted like you owned the road and deserved the right-of-way.
I laughed at your goose friend who honked at me and tried to chase my van.
Ducks are funny creatures, and I am sorry that your life was ended in such a violent way.
Isn’t it stupid that tears come to my eyes reflecting on your untimely demise?
Now there is one less goofy bird cussing me on my way to work.


Howard T. Duck: Every duck has his limit, and you scum have pushed me over the line!

Even the guy who works for Kroger knows - it's more fun to shop at Klein's!

I found a new use for the seat warmer in our van - I used it to keep my kolaches warm this morning until I got to my destination.

Today I have become a bit nostalgic about the internet. I remember the first night I ever went "online." I got a free disc from AOL. Didn't know how the AOL files would screw up my computer. I remember pushing "start" and all of these wonderful icons came up on my desktop. I remember saying to myself, "Am I really on?" I had no way to tell. I was clicking on everything to see if it would connect me to another "real" person. I clicked on "shopping", "people", "chat", anything to prove to myself that I was actually on THE World Wide Web. I started out as mom42girls. Once, it wouldn't take it anymore, so I changed it to mom42terrificgirls, and it stuck. I went to chat rooms for teachers, pet lovers, collectors, TV trivia, and Christians, anything to connect. I subjected myself to some pretty vile and ruthless people. But I was happy. I didn't know about the huge internet world that was out there. To me, the internet was so small. Now I know how careful one must be on the internet.There are some real kooks out there. But I met my friend, T, and that was one of the best things that ever happened to me on the internet.

Person of the week, month, or year #6

We have been blessed with S working for us in our store! She has been helping us for over one year. She's 17 years old and is a senior this year! S is self-motivated and industrious. She greets every customer that comes in with a big smile and asks if they need any help. She has also been a great mentor to both of my girls. Thank you, S, for being such a wonderful, young lady!

Haunted Houses and other scary stuff

Around this time of year, I am reminded of one of my pet peeves. Not a peeve, actually. Something that REALLY chaps me. Scary things. Take haunted houses, for instance. All around town there are advertisements for scary haunted houses. There is even one being held at the Children’s Museum in Houston! Why do people think that these are a good thing for children? I remember going to a haunted house when I was a little girl. I got separated from my parents. I was petrified. It probably wasn’t all that scary to older children, but I still remember the grape “eyeballs” and spaghetti “brains.”

And movies. Why do people think that it is okay for young children to watch Chucky and Nightmare on Elm Street. I taught first grade years ago, and while my students had no clue who the U.S. Vice President was, they all knew who “Freddy” was! I say let the child decide what is or is not scary to them. I was petrified of the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and still cannot watch a particular scene in that movie as an adult. My youngest cannot watch the Star Wars movies or E.T. While none of these may seem “scary” to an adult, there is something about Darth Vader and ET that strike a nerve with her, no matter how much she may want to watch them. So, parents, please be cautious about what you expose your young children to. When they mature, they will be ready. They won’t be watching Winnie the Pooh and Winn-Dixie forever. Savor this time.

My friend T’s peeve about overly-cautious drivers leads me to respond. Do you know what I can’t stand? People who have to come to a complete stop before making a right-hand turn into a parking lot or driveway. And when you’re waiting to turn right and someone’s coming toward you and they finally put on their blinker right before they turn. Ugh! I hate that.

On a brighter note, my new radio station has started playing some serious Peter Frampton. I am elated!!!! Now, I long for Bobby Sherman and Julie Julie Julie Do You Love Me and the theme from Here Come the Brides!

Molly Jensen: I love you.
Sam Wheat: Ditto.

Oda Mae Brown: Why don't you go haunt a house? Rattle some chains or something.

Oda Mae just gave a four-million-dollar check to some nuns] Sam Wheat: I'm proud of you, Oda Mae! Oda Mae Brown: You know something, Sam? I don't care if you're proud of me. You just stay away from me from now on. What is that nun going to do with it? She can't even buy underwear.

Droodle Day #7

Today's Droodle is titled "Fat Man Smoking Pipe in Soft Bed."

I can post pictures again - yea!!!!

"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." -- Leo J. Burke

Impatience

Today is one of my impatient days. Have you ever had a customer that obviously does not "belong" in your store? You wonder why they ever walked in the door? This is the person who walks up and down every aisle, looking for absolutely nothing, and looking so misplaced. This week I have had people come in and ask if I sell crepe paper for decorating at parties and/or greeting cards. HELLO! I am a BOOKstore. Although I suppose I do carry some off-the-wall items like iron fillings, hand pointers, and Sea Monkeys. Want to know where the Resale area of my store is? Read the large black & white sign dangling from the ceiling overhead that I had made especially for that area. Don't like that I'm closed on Sunday and Monday? Come shop the other five days of the week because I need a day of rest and a day for field trips and doctors appointments.

On the other hand, I love most of my customers like they were family. So many have supported me for so long and are very appreciative that we're in business. BUT to the lady who is still in my store walking around with one package of tissue paper after five o'clock (my closing time), hint, hint, hint, "I'd like to go home now!"

~thank you~

Good Music

As of yesterday, I can no longer upload pictures to Blogger from my laptop. All I get is the dreaded red "X". Anyone know why that would be? Have deleted temporary internet files, cookies, and rebooted twice.

Today is so boring. I have to do my least favorite job - run reports. It takes me all day, and I have to do the same thing over and over again - not very challenging.

I have 262 unread e-mails in my box and 356 in my bulk box. Think I'll just wipe them all out in one swoop and start over.

We got a new radio station in town that plays oldies from the '60s and '70s, bands like the Eagles and Bread. My one complaint is they play too much Beatles and ZZ Top. Now all I need is to find a station that will play late '60s, like the Cowsills and early '70s, like the Osmonds, Jackson Five, and Defrancos. Then I would be in Heaven!!!!!!

And the night shall be filled with music,And the cares that infest the dayShall fold their tents like the ArabsAnd as silently steal away.~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Day Is Done

~have a great weekend!~

Droodle Day #6

Today's Droodle is titled "Man In Tuxedo Who Stood Too Close To The Front of An Elevator."

Illinois

In honor of my friend, K, who loves Chicago, here are some interesting facts about Illinois that I learned today.

Abraham Lincoln christened the city named after him with watermelon juice and provided watermelon to those in attendance.

The Chicago River is known as the river that flows backward.

Illinois has the largest concentration of transportation facilities in the world.

Chicago is home to the world’s first skyscraper. Three of the world’s five tallest buildings help make Chicago one of the world’s most beautiful skylines.

The Plasa Bird, one of the world’s most mysterious prehistoric remains, is painted high on a bluff near Alton.

Illinois is a principal center of printing and often leads the nation in production of foodstuffs, especially soybeans and corn.

See, the teacher learns as much as the students!

~adios!~

Get Well, R!

This is a rose for my friend, R, who has now been in the hospital 14 days! We are all ready for her to go home! The other night she was on so much medication that she called the nurse in to get a diaper for her stuffed Snoopy dog and got upset when the nurse refused! We love you,R! Get well soon!

Upgrades

Remember the $70 item that someone ordered and then didn't buy? I sold it on Friday! Yea!!!!!

When moving into our new store we upgraded in more ways than just 12,000 square feet. Below are some of the upgrades:

7 TRASH CANS
+ 2 OUTSIDE
2 TRASH PICKUP DAYS
2 PHONE LINES
2 MICROWAVES
4 STAPLERS
LOTS OF LITTLE GRAY SPIDERS
2 CASH REGISTERS
2 BATHROOM STALLS + ONE URINAL (YUCK)
ONE CHANGING TABLE
30 + SIGNS
4 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
4 FLOOD LIGHTS
18 PARTITIONS
8 EMPLOYEES
4 6 FT. TABLES
31 CUSHIONED BLUE CHAIRS
3 DRY ERASE BOARDS
1 LARGE KIOSK
1 LARGE WORK TABLE
4 DESKS
LOTS OF CRICKETS AND GRASSHOPPERS (WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM???)

~c'ya~

Tribute to my Grandfather

Below is an excerpt from a tribute to my grandfather, written by his brother. I never met my grandfather because he died when he was 23 years old, when my mom, Carolyn, was eight months old. He was a lay minister in the Nazarene Church.

Yesterday, February 22nd, Elton would have been 85 years of age. It seems a long time since he, unexpectedly, went to be with the Lord at age 23.Elton was #7 in a family of 11 children – 4 girls and 7 boys. He was four years my senior, and the one in between us being a girl – was perhaps the reason for a special relationship which I enjoyed with him…

… Elton was permitted to bring home the cracked bats, which he taped (sometimes nailed) so as to make them usable. Thus, Elton taught his kid brothers something of the art of baseball. He also taught us to ride a bicycle, and years later taught me to drive a car. Yet, those matters are relatively unimportant in comparison to the main item which I want to relate here.

Later, as the depression really dug a very deep, and painful, financial hole for our family, Elton joined the CCCs, sending our mother a healthy five dollars a month, which would have been the equivalent of perhaps a hundred today. It bought the necessary food products which we would have otherwise been without. Our parents separated, which placed the responsibility of family support squarely on the shoulders of the remaining unmarried sons and one daughter. Every contribution was of tremendous importance.

While away “in the world”, Elton was introduced to alcoholic beverage which would never have been tolerated in our household. With considerable pain, I recall watching him sleep off the results of a night spent with the wrong people indulging in the things of the world. I had come to know the Lord, but possessed very little Bible knowledge. I did know the importance of Elton becoming a Christian, and prayed for that to occur in his life. Our eldest brother (Herbert) was the greatest spiritual influence in our lives, and he invited Elton to attend an evangelistic service at the ______ Rescue Mission where Evangelist Fred ______ was conducting a week of evangelistic meetings. On that occasion, the Lord transformed Elton into a child of God, and a tremendous witness concerning the saving grace of God.

A short time later, I slipped back into the things of the world, and it was Elton whom the Lord used to minister to my heart and need. With pleasant memories, I recall how he tenderly dealt with me concerning my need of surrendering my life to the Lord. May it also be noted that he wept as he shared his concern for my spiritual need.

Elton truly became a dedicated firebrand for the Lord Jesus Christ. In those days, street corner meetings were common, and he was observed publicly kneeling on the sidewalks leading men to acknowledge of the Savior. He also became much involved in the ministry of the local church, the congregation electing him as the director of the youth department, in which I would later become a participant.

But, I’m getting ahead of my story. Before becoming involved in the ministry of Victory Chapel, where Elton attended he came to me with the information that there was “a cute little blonde” in his church with whom I needed to get acquainted. Once more, he was a good influence in my life, as that “cute little blonde” has been my wife for nearly 60 years.

Having been licensed to preach, this dear brother was manifesting a wide and valuable Christian influence in the lives of numerous people. But, in mid-May of 1939, he was sent home from work with an acute abdominal pain which the company doctor, and our family doctor, misdiagnosed as inflammation of the lower bowel. During this time, he and his wife Helen and 8 month old daughter Carolyn Jean decided to make a temporary residence with us on ______ Avenue on the west side of the city. One Saturday evening, ere turning in for the night, I recall standing by Elton’s bedside for prayer. We had a sister who was yet in the world, and on that night was out amid a worldly crowd that had no interest in spiritual things. With vivid memory, I recall how I prayed. As I prayed for
Elton’s need, I also asked the Lord concerning Irene, say, “Lord, whatever it takes, bring her unto Yourself.” I had absolutely no conception as to what that “whatever” would eventually be.

On Monday, Elton was hospitalized, and ere the week was out, he was in the presence of the Lord. Three highly trained physicians had missed a case of appendicitis. It had ruptured, resulting in an abscess on the liver which quickly took his life. As I have later learned that as the Lord May grant physicians a valuable insight into our physical need, He may, at times, blind them to very simple things in order to accomplish His loving purpose.

Following the funeral sermon, some of us were seated in Herb’s automobile awaiting the procession to get underway, when Irene broke down in tears saying: “Oh, why couldn’t it have been me?” To which Herb quickly asked: “And just where would you be [sic] if it had been you?” There in the car, he tenderly pointed Irene to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Although, at that moment, I did not realize that the Lord had provided the “whatever it takes” to bring Irene to Himself, He nevertheless had done so.

Elton’s brother-in-law and his wife accepted Christ as a result of the Lord’s dealing with them during this trial. And, so far as I know, one of their sons is in the ministry today.

This is discovered to be one of those things which is contained in Romans 11:33 – “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.”

Eight months following Elton’s home going, a little boy was born. Helen named him Wayne. From the human standpoint, it is impossible for me to understand, and explain, why a wise and Omniscient God, in His wisdom and knowledge would so work, but in eternity I will not need to request an explanation. God was at work, and men were to stand in awe of His wisdom and judgment.

~sweet dreams~

Yesterday's Photograph

Thanks to those who responded to yesterday's photograph question. The consensus is that it means that once someone goes to hell he finally "believes", but it is too late. I don't like that marquee because I think a lot of people will take it literally.

~more later. i am swamped.~

NON-BELIEVERS

You'll be glad to know that there is no questionnaire tonight. I saw this sign at a denominational church today, and it bothered me. If there are no non-believers in hell, then does that mean that the non-believers go to Heaven? Please tell me what you think!

I regret that I was not able to find an acceptable (to me) quote regarding Heaven or Hell.

~B~

Ketchup, Anyone?

So I go into my bank this morning, and while I am waiting for my transaction to be processed, I notice bottles of Heinz Ketchup lined up along the counter, no signs telling me what they are for. I finally get up the nerve to ask, "Okay, I give up. What are all the ketchup bottles for?" The lady says, "So that you will take out a loan and 'ketchup' on your interest rates." Hmmmm, cute, I guess. For those of you who know my business, I am looking for a gimmick or slogan/ad campaign. Please get creative, but pleeaaase, nothing as corny as ketchup.
We have been open one hour and have raked in a whole $7.00. Looks like it's going to be a sloooow day, nickel and diming it all the way.

“There's an element of truth in every idea that lasts long enough to be called corny” - Anonymous

~have a nice day~

Cutie Pie

Isn't this picture adorable? It made me smile at the end of a looooong day. My brain is fried from looking at the computer all day long. You know what I can't stand? When a customer comes up to the cash register with a whole stack of items, and then puts a huge stack aside and says, "Oh, I don't want these after all." What do I look like, a stocker? Besides, someone has already "stocked" the items once. How can someone change their mind so quickly, in the amount of time it takes to turn away from the shelf and move to the cash register, and with so many unwanted items? What is going on in her brain? Those items weren't pretty enough, aren't on the right level, cost too much, or they weren't durable enough or big enough. And what occurred to make her want the items five minutes ago, enough to take them off the shelves and cause disarray when items fell to the floor? What makes her think I want to spend the next 15 minutes restocking anyway.And what makes the insurance company calling me for the fifth time to sell me insurance think that I want to talk to them when I have refused their calls four times previously and have not once returned their call? I said two posts ago that I was done ranting. I guess I'm not. Well, at least I don't have to go up and down a ladder like my friend T. :o)

It's practically impossible to look at a penguin (or the above photograph - B) and feel angry.
~ Joe Moore

~may you be free of anger & frustration today~

Cool Shades!

This is a picture of my friend E after she had her eyes dilated. Dontcha just loves the glasses? She came in my house and was freaking out because she said she broke her cell phone. "See, look at it!" she wailed. I said, "There's nothing wrong with your cell phone!" She said, "Yes, there is! Look at all the cracks in the face of it!!!" She was almost in tears. Come to find out, the dilation of her eyes caused her to see cracks that were not there! When we figured it out, she yelled, "Praise the Lord!"
Thanks to all of you who listened to me rant last time. I am over it now. I didn't post your comments because some of them were very personal, and didn't want to share them publicly.

Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. ~ Johnny Carson

~catch ya later~

Ranting and Raving Day

Oh, the woes of being a business owner. Today a customer called to tell me to "call off" her special order because she found the item somewhere else. It has already been ordered (not paid for because I trusted that she would pay for it when she picked it up), and I cannot send it back; so, basically, I am stuck with an item in my store that I may never sell. It is only worth about $12, but, hey, keep reading. This is happening too much.

Take last week: Someone I consider to be a friendly acquaintance ordered an item over the phone that costs approximately $70. My mom trusted that she would pay for it when she picked it up. The item came in, and the lady now says she got it somewhere else so no longer needs it. Now I am stuck with a $70-item that may or may not sell this year.

I am losing money being too nice. Is that possible, being too nice? Here is another instance where I feel taken this week. I delivered some items to a location about 30 minutes from here. I unloaded the items on a table and asked if I could leave. The person in charge said "yes." In the ensuing minutes, several items were stolen from the table, and now the company is refusing to pay me full purchase price for the items. They only want to pay half. The items are worth about $100 retail, so I am out between $30 and $60 just because I was nice and delivered these items at no charge. I have proof that the items were on the table, and they agree that I have proof - they're not questioning my delivery at all. They just say that they cannot eat the total cost. An analogy of this situation would be if UPS delivered a box to your home; the UPS man placed it inside your front door in the foyer, and a burglar came into your house ten minutes later and stole the box. Now, would you charge UPS for the missing box? Of course not! The theft happened on your property, not in the UPS truck!
I told the company that if they will not reimburse me the total amount, that I will no longer make deliveries to them; they will have to pick up their own merchandise from now on. Was that fair?

I bend over backwards for my customers, and especially for those who I consider "friends." Changing my policies to include my "friends" always seems to offend someone. But this is a business, and I will eventually (hopefully) have to feed my family off of it in the years to come. My policies will have to apply to EVERYONE from now on. No more favors!
(Disclaimer: Ha ha. There are those of you who read this blog whom these rules just cannot apply to! **wink** **wink*** You know who you are. I can't stand making you pay for someone else taking me for granted. I KNOW you never would!)Thanks for letting me rant and rave today!

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. ~ Mark Twain
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. - Sir Winston Churchill
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.- Napoleon Bonaparte
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.- Thomas Alva Edison
It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.- Oscar Wilde

~always tryin' to do the right thing here~

UPS Man X 4

Why do I look so overwhelmed? Four -- count 'em -- four UPS trucks pulled up in front of our store today and started unloading!

Turns out they were just transferring cargo, and they didn't bring us one thing! Hmph!

I want to congratulate T on winning a laptop! That is totally kewl!!! I want Kim in Tx to know that I am praying for her radiation treatments. I am so sorry that she is having to go through so much, but I know that God will be glorified in the end! I also want to thank B, who happens to share my name, for the delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies she brought to share her last day of work! They were GREAT!

On a Plumber's truck:"We repair what your husband fixed."
On a Plumber's truck: "Don't sleep with a drip. Call your Plumber.." -

~come back soon!~

Only in America

I don't have a creative thought in my head today.

Only in America.....do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America.....do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America....do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America.....do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.
Only in America.....do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER .....Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

~g'nite~

And now it's time for -

- you guessed it - another questionnaire!


1) Who is the last person you high-fived? K16 in the front seat of the van.
2) If you were drafted into a war, would you survive? Doubt it.
3) Do you sleep with the TV on? NO
4) Have you ever drank milk straight out of the carton? Nope
5) Have you ever won a spelling bee? No, I was knocked out on the word “moat” in sixth grade.
6) Have you ever been stung? Stepped on a bee once and stung on the arm by a wasp.
7) How fast can you type? Around 90 words per minute if my nails are short.
8) Are you afraid of the dark? Love the dark. Don’t like nightlights.
9)What is your eye color? Hazel
11) Do you ever wear the same clothes twice without washing them? Yes, if I have stayed home and done nothing.
13) Are you drinking anything right now? A Crystal Light “On the Go”
14) Favorite animal as a kid? Monkeys

15) Can you hoola hoop? YES, but only about four hulas.
17) What do you want for Christmas? An MP3 player. Everyone else in the family has one; why shouldn’t I?

18) Favorite cereal: Grape Nuts with brown sugar added.

19) Do you talk in your sleep? I don’t know; you’d have to ask R.
21) Have you ever flown a kite? Of course. We used to attach ours to the fishing line of Dad’s fishing pole. Easier to bring it in.

23) How many people are on your contact list of your cell? Around 80

24) Have you ever asked for a pony? No.

25) Plans for tomorrow? Finish school for the week, work, maybe rest some.

26) Can you juggle? Only thing I can juggle is my time.

28) How are you feeling today? Not well. Must be allergies.
29) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school? No, but I went to detention once for mimicking the principal.
30) What are you looking forward to? LABOR DAY and the end of the busy season.

31) Have you ever crawled through a window? Not that I can remember. Have crawled under many bathroom stalls in my lifetime, though.
32) Have you ever eaten dog food? NO WAY

33) Movie you can quote line for line? My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Apollo 13, Moonstruck, every Star Wars movie, and more.

34) Favorite fast food breakfast? Scrambled eggs

35) What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? Diet Dr. Pepper, eggs, juice.
36) Any cool scars? Nah, just ugly ones.

38) What do you do when no one is watching??? Not sure how to answer that one.
39) Do you like dancing? yes
40) Who did you last talk to on the phone? R called to tell me he was on his way home from work.

41) Where was the last place you ate? The Nook for lunch
42) What is the last movie watched? Pleasantville

43) What song did you hear last? Cha Cha Slide.

44) How many emails do you get a day? Around 20 personal. About 40 business.

I tag Kim in Tx, T, and Txartcgal.

~so long~

I'm Waaaaay Behind

Awhile back I told you that my job is to empty tubs. I now have 86 tubs or boxes (ran out of tubs) to empty! I have never been this far behind, and it scares me.Above are photos of the tubs awaiting me. This picture was taken two days ago (three rows of tubs). There are now 3 1/2 rows of tubs.I say this not to ask for your pity, but for your prayers.

~thanks!~

Top of the List

I'm in total boredom tonight and don't have a way to download pictures, so I did a mindless blogger search of the words "Reverse Skate." Much to my surprise, there were 3,904 items found, and I was #10. Now, it seems to me that because my blog is actually called Reverse Skate, I should be at the top of the list! And I didn't show up on a Yahoo search at all!

Heading into our second full week of school. All my lesson plans and check sheets are done, tests are typed. K16 and K13 start sewing/quilting lessons on the 7th, and then we will be in full school mode. K13 has been asked to help with the children's choir and will be an LIT again this year in AWANA. K16 is reserving her Wednesday nights for church group activities. R is going bowling Tuesday night with men from church, and we signed up for a small group today. Don't know how we're going to fit it in, but we need a night out together during the week.

When one teaches, two learn.
Robert Half

~'night all~

What a life

Meet Lily. She is two years old and loves to "hang out" over the staircase. Sometimes I wish I lived the life of a cat - being lazy, having your every need met by someone else, not a care in the world. You only have to interact with the people you want to and can ignore everyone else.

Yesterday was actually a pretty good day. The cash registers were working, all the computers were working, the DSL was working;my labelmaker, printer, and fax machines were working. We actually got things done in a timely manner. Now if only my brain were working!

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain

"With their qualities of cleanliness, discretion, affection, patience, dignity, and courage, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?" - Fernand Mery Her Majesty the Cat

~have an awesome weekend!~

Cooking Tip #1

Here's what happens when I'm not quite awake in the morning. I took the eggs out of the pan, turned and walked away without turning off the stove. Cooked the end right off the spatula. Funny thing is, no one downstairs smelled the burning plastic. When I got back downstairs, it was in flames. Maybe I should stop cooking until I'm not so distracted. On second thought, maybe I'll just stop cooking altogether. I would gladly turn in my chef's hat with no tears whatsoever.

School is going VERY well! We moved all our school "stuff" to the store. We have a small room upstairs (wish it were bigger) with a window where I can look out over the entire store. There is just enough room in there for the girls' two desks, a small shelf for my things, and an area to put a dry erase board on an easel. We are a bit cramped, and I miss reading on the couch. But the girls have been focusing really well. We are taking them out to dinner tonight to congratulate them for a full week of schoolwork completed!

I don't even butter my bread; I consider that cooking. Author: Katherine Cebrian

My mother's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it. Author: Buddy Hackett

~off to celebrate the end of our first week of school~

Hold it, please!

This is, by far, the strangest thing a customer has ever called and requested that we put on hold - a hand pointer! But there it sits on our "holds" shelf, waiting for its new owner. The name has been hidden to protect the customer's identity.

Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story.
~ Ashleigh Ellwood

~have a pleasant evening~

This Year's Curriculum Choices

At this time of year I remember how BLESSED I am that I have lots of curriculum choices for my kids. If you have kids who learn differently, you might find something here that suits you.
I made a BIG MISTAKE this summer. I broke one of my famous rules - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I chose Teaching Textbooks for my child.
Why? I thought it would make her more independent. What I failed to realize was that it is EXACTLY like Saxon, which SHE HATES! So back to Math U See which was working just fine for us. For grammar - The Great Editing Adventure. My kids learn grammar better by giving them real life examples. No fill in the blanks for them. For Science - Rainbow Science. All the experiments have worked so far exept for one. For vocabulary, Vocabulary Cartoons - hilarious cartoons based on SAT words. For writing - we were using IEW which I loved but have no time for. I am putting them both in a basic paragraph writing course. Next year they will be in an essay writing course. For geography - we are continuing to map each state in the United States. For history - I am switching from TruthQuest, which I loved to Beautiful Feet. We are simply going too slowly. K16 needs to get to government and economics in two years. We are also using Cornerstone books. They will read about events and fill out an information sheet and put the event or person on their timeline. We are passing on spelling this year, as they have done terrific on spelling. They will continue their weekly Bible study, take sewing/quilting and music lessons. I guess that wraps it up. Oh, yeah, couldn't find a photography class for K16, so she will start doing the book work for driver's ed. I will be glad when we start back up, as my kids need to be on more of a schedule, as do I.

~c'ya~

Rascal Flatts

We've been tremendously been enjoying Rascal Flatts. Here's a cute onesie we're buying for our wonderful, adorable friend, S's new baby boy. He'll look really sharp in it! Below is a song that that Rascal Flatts sings that has touched my heart. Hope you can hear it sometime. My thanks to K16 for typing it all out for me. I am swamped at work.

He Ain’t The Leavin’ Kind
By: Rascal Flatts

They tried their best to drag Him out
Of courthouse down in
Montgomery
And now they wanna kick Him out of
School
And take Him off our money
They can take those words off of
Paper and stone
But He ain’t gone No

Chorus:
He ain’t the leavin’ kind
He’d never walk away
Even for those who don’t believe
And wanna leave Him behind

She stayed mad at Him for a lot of
Years
For takin’ her husband
Started losin’ her faith
And thinkin’ her life meant nothin’
But when she looks at those kids she raised all by herself
She knows she had some help, Yeah
She knows

Repeat chorus:

No matter what you do
No matter where you go
He’s always right there with you

Even from those who don’t believe
And wanna leave him behind
He ain’t the leavin’ kind
No, no

He ain’t the leavin’ kind
He ain’t the leavin’ kind
Woo, woo
He ain’t the leavin’ kind

~May God bless each of you tonight~

Know You What It IS To Be A Child!

This is taken from the book Life's Greatest Treasure. It was written by Francis Thompson:

Know you what it is to be a child? It is to be something very different from the man of today. It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of baptism, it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief. It is to be so little that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear. It is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice into horses, lowness into loftiness and nothing into everything - for each child has his fairy godmother in his own soul. It is to live in a nutshell and count yourself king of the infinite space; it is
To see the world in a grain of sand,
Heaven in a wild flower,
To hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour.

~blessings to you today~

Droodle Day #5

Today's Droodle is titled "Fried Egg, Sunny Side Down."

"Put all your eggs in one basket, and -- watch the basket." - Mark Twain

~later gator~

Losing Your Head

This picture gives new meaning to the phrase of losing one's head!

~b~

Can You Believe Another Questionnaire?

Hey, did any of my friends ever figure out how to spell it? When I tried spell check on Blogspot using both spellings, I get nuttin. I could get up off my butt and walk over to the resource section of my store and check it out in a dictionary, but I'm too lazy.

Haven't been here in awhile. You probably think that all this blog is is questionnaires; don't you? I've been really occupied and preoccupied. I won't be back much during the summer. I am just not that motivated right now. Okay, below is a questionnaire that I got from an unnamed source, unnamed because I am embarrassed that I do visit her site. A double fudge brownie goes to the person who can figure out whose site it is! Again, I tag whomever reads it cuz I don't know how many people read my blog. If you read and never comment, how about leaving me one today so I know you have been here? Just hit "0 comments" to post a comment.

1) What country/region/state do you live in?Texas – yeehaw!

2) How long have you been homeschooling? Just getting started, old pro or somewhere in between? 7 full years

3) Write a little something about your family. Ages? Stages?
Daughter K16 who is – you guessed it – 16. Daughter K12 who is – you guessed it again – 12. R, my husband and Dusti my doggie.

4) Share some good homeschooling advice you've run across.
Don’t make your homeschool like a school, make it like a home.

5) Tell us something you're passionate about (besides your family and homeschooling, those are givens!).
Helping people and saving them money.

6) If you could take the ultimate field trip, where would you go and why?New York – I’ve always wanted to go there! Washington D.C. would be my second choice.

7) What is a resource you can't do without?
My store because I give myself a nice, big discount.

8) How do you homeschool? Classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Unschooling, Eclectic?
I have no idea what we are called. Relaxed homeschoolers? Eclectic? We use very few “textbooks", and we are NEVER up early! Okay, LAZY, relaxed (except during math), eclectic homeschoolers, that's us!

9) Share a website or two that you visit often - can be your favorite blogger or a curriculum supplier, just any sites you really like.
http://www.teachingmom.com/ and get images for your timeline free at http://www.google.com/. Hit “images” to search. Be careful! Make sure you’re with your children if they are searching. You might get some bad pictures!

10) Tell us about one of your favorite projects/activities/trips you've had in the past few months.
Watching the girls do their Texas history projects. See photos down the page a bit.

11) What is a current/previous homeschooling challenge you've faced?Running two businesses and homeschooling at the same time. WHAT was I thinking????

12) Share an accomplishment, something about you or your children. Come on, brag about it!
My daughter K16 can crochet practically anything! My daughter K12 can sing practically anything. My husband, R, can fix practically anything.Me? I can burn or ruin practically anything!

13) What are you looking forward to over the coming year?
The end of the busy season. The start of school where we actually have a routine again and know what to expect. I’d like to go to the beach next week. T's pending visit!

14) Name three things you like doing in the summer with your family.
barbeque outside, swim, go for an evening walk, watch movies and stay up later than we do during the school year

15) Have a favorite homeschooling quote? Share it here.
It may not be a homeschooling quote, but it's true for homeschooling >>> “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” I should have heeded that advice last month. Mmwwahhhhhhhh!

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.
-- J. Andrews

~nice to see you here again!~

Questionnaire or Questionairre?

I absolutely CANNOT remember how to spell that word and am in too much of a hurry to look the thing up today! Here's another one of "those" for my friends who love to answer questions. Enjoy!

1.What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning?
Not again.

2.The last person you talked to?
My kids.

3.If you wrote a book about your life, what title(s) would it have?
Reverse Skate, although the real Reverse Skate is not about me.

4.And if someone made a movie out of it, who should play your part?
Oh, please! Someone beautiful, I hope! Okay, get real… Stockard Channing.

5.Is there a movie you feel close to?
Nuts

6.A movie that makes you cry everytime you see it?
Ghost

7.A movie that makes you laugh everytime you see it?
9 to 5. I absolutely love the hospital corridor/corpse scene.

8.Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts?
Sandra Bullock

9.If you could go back in time TWICE, where would it be?
My wedding, the births of my girls. Oops! That’s three!

10.Can death seem like a dream?
No, it’s very real. BUT you live forever if you’ve accepted Jesus!

11.Is a thought a hard thing to control?
Okay, now that is a VERY stupid question to ask someone with OCD!

12.Is there life after love?
Of course.

13.What is your favourite song at the moment?
Any song from Grease. The Christian song about “You are my strong tower.” Don’t know the name of it.

14.What is your lucky number?
9

15.Do you have a middlename?
Yes, but I changed it to my maiden name, much to my mother's dismay.

16.Do you bite your fingernails?
Not anymore.

17.What is on the walls of your room?
Just paint. I hate hanging things on walls.

18.What are you looking forward to?
The end of the busy season, a relaxing 4th of July.

19.What would you do with a million dollars that you could use only for YOURSELF?
A thousand massages, another set of braces, and a motorcycle complete with leather jacket.

20.What will you do when you have posted this questionnaire?
Answer an e-mail that just came ine.

I tag whomever reads this post, and I doubt there are many.

Save the Earth, it's the only planet with Chocolate

~ttyl~

Completed Projects

Here are L and K12 with their completed Alamo Project.



S and K15 with their completed Texas Cattle Ranch project.

Droodle Day #4

K15 drew today's Droodle. Doesn't she do awesome work on the computer? Today's Droodle is titled "Elephant giving an Ant a friendly Pat on the Back."

"There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisdom of almighty God as the Elephant." Edward Topsell, The Historie of Foure-Footed Beastes

Laundry Excuse

As mom, I was not "allowed" to do my laundry yesterday or today. This is the sign I found on our utility room door when I got home from work last night. Sometimes when you are the youngest in the family, in order to be heard, you have to make a sign! This is from the same daughter who said yesterday that she saw a dead "amarillo" on the side of the road. Always keeps me smilin'.

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.
Bruce Barton

~outta here~

Person of the Week, Month, or Year #6!

I'd like to introduce y'all to my friend, D! She works in our store! I knew her before she started working here, but now I consider her a really good friend. She is a hard worker and very creative. She is definitely a "take charge," "let's get in there and get it done" type of gal. I am blessed to have her in my life.

Customers love D's friendly smile and helpful attitude. And her northern accent is a delight! Thank you, D, for being my friend!

Some blessings from friends this week were:
1. One friend called me every day to check on me.
2. One friend took my daughters to history class and to the library and helped with the Texas history project.
3. One friend invited my daughters to an awesome Bible study and let the girls stay at her house all day yesterday while I had to work.
4. One friend gave me several cards this week that lifted my spirits.
5. Another dear friend sent me an email card for our anniversary!
6. Another friend is helping me sent up new credit card processors to save me money and is helping get our shopping cart on our website ready!
I LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS!!!

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.Walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

~have a great day!~

More Project Photos

The Alamo without a face.

Edible grass made from coconut.

It's shaping up!

K15 constructs a barn for the cattle ranch.
Will post final pictures soon! K12 has to write a 3-page report. K15 has to write a 5-page report.

When you want to test the depths of a stream, don't use both feet
Texan Proverb

~y'all come back now, ya hear?~

Texas History Project

Yesterday the girls started on their Texas History projects. Above are K12 and her friend L plastering the Alamo!

This is K15's friend S. L above and S are sisters. S is modeling the proper way to close your eyes when someone is taking your photograph.

The above photo shows how the Alamo appeared originally, as a plain, cardboard box.

K15 is enjoying making a barn for her Texas cattle ranch project. Ah! That floor looks mighty comfortable!

Never trust the man who tells you all his troubles but keeps from you all his joys
Texan Proverb

~more later~